Sturges, Emanuel

Emanuel STURGES (1825 - 1902) and Margaret SHARKEY (1837 - 1906)

my gg-grandparents

g-grandmother Maggie May (STURGES) EATON (1870-1947)
grandmother Dora Mae (EATON) GAPINSKI (1905-1970)

Margaret (SHARKEY) STURGES was my mother's mother's mother's mother. Her mother was probably Bridgida LEE, but nothing else seems to be known, so my maternal line ends here. The ancestry of Emanuel STURGES can be traced further back, in Lincolnshire, England.

I've traced the ancestry of Robert TWELL, his g-grandfather, back 3 more generations. I have pages for all of the males in the diagram, as well as Edward TWELL, father of Robert. (Sorry about the patriarchal organization. It is easiest.)

Emanuel in England

Emanuel STURGES was born in the County of Lincolnshire, England, about 1825, the son of William STURGES and Elizabeth MARTIN, of Hacconby, Lincolnshire, England. His record on Findagrave gives the birth date 19 Sep 1825, but there is no source cited. The location of Lincolnshire comes from his son William's biography, below. Emanuel STURGES died on 20 Oct 1902, in Lily Lake, Kane, IL.

In 1841, Emanuel was about 15, probably working as a farmhand, and staying in the DENNIS household, Hacconby.

Immigration

A single man of 25, Emanuel STURGES immigrated to America, arriving in New York on 3 Mar 1851. He traveled on the ship Princeton, with "a party of friends."

Some of Emanuel's siblings, and possibly also his father, immigrated at about the same time. They settled in Kane and DeKalb counties, IL, as well as Seneca County, NY. See the William STURGES page.

According to [HKC, Vol. 1, p. 121], the STURGES family came directly from England in 1854, and settled in Virgil Township, Kane County, IL. The 1900 US Census (below) says that Emanuel immigrated in 1852, and his future wife Margaret in 1854.

Marriage and First Child

On 24 Apr 1860 in Sycamore, DeKalb, IL, Emanuel STURGES married Margaret SHARKEY. The evidence is somewhat ambivalent. The 1900 US Census tells us they had been married 40 years, so they were married about 1860. The Illinois Marriage Index has the following record:

As shown by the clipping below, commemorating a 60th anniversary, there was an Emanuel Sturges near Shabbona, Kane County, IL, who had married Margoret THANCRE about 6 May 1860. 

Emanuel and Margaret's first child was John, born in May 1860, according to the 1900 US Census. Margaret must have been very pregnant on 24 Apr 1860. There may be some reason to doubt that John was Emanuel's son. The biography (shown below) of William STURGES, son of Emanuel and Margaret, lists William's siblings, but neglects to mention John and Emma. The lawsuit involving Margaret's estate (also shown below), from 1906, also mentions all the children, except John. It does mention a John KENNEDY. 

The Mysterious Margaret SHARKEY

Margaret/Mary SHARKEY/SHANCRE/ THANCRE was born Jan 1837 in Ireland. Nothing seems to be known for certain about her before 24 Apr 1860, when she married Emanuel STURGESS, in DeKalb County, IL.

The 1900 US Census tells us that Margaret immigrated to the US in 1854, and her future husband, Emanuel, immigrated in 1854. There were at least 5 Margaret or Mary SHARKEYs, born 1835-8, who immigrated to America in 1852-4. Also, one Margaret SHARKEY was accused in the death of her infant son in 1858, Wheeling, WV. 

If Margaret was born in Jan 1837 in Ireland, with the birth name SHARKEY, this could be her: 

The city of Bray is in County Wicklow, on the east coast of Ireland, about 10 miles southeast of Dublin. The civil parish of Templemichael is in County Longford, in central Ireland.

If the marriage record above is for my gg-grandmother, then it seems that she didn't immigrate in 1854, as stated in the 1900 US Census (below), but probably after 13 Feb 1855, as Margaret/Margarita KENNEDY, and probably accompanied by Thomas KENNEDY.

There was a Thomas and Mary KENNEDY, both age 24, Irish, on the ship Bridgewater, arriving in New York on 2 Aug 1858 from Liverpool. 

This lawsuit concerning the estate of Margaret (SHARKEY) STURGES was filed on 23 Oct 1906. She appeared in the 1900 US Census (below), taken 8 Jun 1900. She must have died between those dates.

Living in DeKalb and Kane Counties, IL

Emanuel STURGES worked as a farmhand all his life. After his arrival in New York on 3 Mar 1851, he went to DeKalb County, IL. He married in 1860, and moved his family to various places in DeKalb and Kane counties, apparently going where there was work.

The 1860 Census a record for Manuel SAYERS that fits. Several family trees have linked this record to Emanuel STURGES, and someone even wrote this in as an alternate name in the Ancestry database.

Their second child was Mary Elizabeth STURGES, born 26 Dec 1861 in Batavia, Kane County. With 2 small children at home, Emanuel joined the US Army, on 11 Aug 1862. 

Emanuel STURGES served in the US Civil War, in the 124th Illinois Infantry, Company B. He enlisted for a period or 3 years, but was discharged after less than 7 months, due to some kind of disability.

The 124th Illinois Infantry mustered into service in Aug 1862, so Emanuel STURGES was there at the beginning. They became active on 10 Sep 1862, entering the war in the Western Theatre, and taking part in the Siege of Vicksburg, which began in Dec 1862, and culminated in the battle on 4 Jul 1863. However the 124th did not arrive at Vicksburg until mid May 1863. Emanuel was discharged for disability in Memphis, on 22 Feb 1863.

The 3rd child was Annie Mae, born 9 Dec 1864. I don't know the birth location. 

In 1865 the family is found in Mayfield  Township, DeKalb County, IL. They have live stock valued at $50, and no grain or other agricultural products. Most of the families in the area had considerably more, so it looks like the STURGES family was very poor.

The 4th child was Susanna J. "Susie" STURGES, born 5 Jun 1866, location unknown. Then 5th, Sarah E. "Sadie" STURGES, born 1867 in DeKalb County, according to her death record.

The 6th child was William, born 5 Jun 1868 in Kane County, according to his death record. He was born on a farm near Sycamore, DeKalb County, according to his biography (below). Both may be true!

Settled in Kane County, IL

By 1870, Emanuel and Mary have a large family in Virgil Township. The eldest son John appears in both 1860 and 1870. There are 5 more children, and Samuel ALLEN, probably a relative, is living with them. Emanuel and Margaret (or Mary) are both illiterate, but Samuel ALLEN can read and write, and the oldest 3 children have been attending school. Samuel ALLEN is a US citizen, but Emanuel STURGES is not. 

Of 6 heads-of-household on the 1870 census page, 2 are very large landowners, and 3 are small landowners. Only Emanuel had no real estate. So he was a farmer, with no farm. If he was working on someone else's farm, he would have been a Farm Worker, not a Farmer. So I think he probably rented a farm.

In 1880, the STURGES family is still in Virgil Township, and is living with an ALLEN family.

All these 11 people were living in one dwelling, in 1880. For some reason, they are listed as one family, although Emanuel is not the head of the entire household. Mary is Mary again. Emanuel is now a Ditcher, along with Samuel. Emanuel, Samuel and Samuel Jr have been unemployed 8 months of the past year. Curiously, John STURGES is "at home" like the other children, although he is now 20 or 21 years old. The record specifically says that James and Henry were 10 months and 8 months, and were born in August and September, respectively.

The term "Ditcher" comes from England. Martha El-Maguid passed along this explanation from an English researcher: "In Lincolnshire around the area where your Ancestors lived, the land was once a Fen (Marsh area) which was then reclaimed and is now prime agricultural land.  Because it was a marsh area, it has to be managed and therefore DITCHES had to be dug in large quantities to make sure the land is kept well drained and it is still the same to the present day.the water drains off the land and is pumped out to the sea. If left undrained, the whole area would flood & revert back to marshland."

The 1900 Census has the STURGES family in Campton Township.

This census gives both the age and the month and year of birth. Emanuel and Margaret had been married 40 years, so they were married about 1860. It says that Emanuel immigrated in 1852 (actually it was 3 Mar 1851, see above), and Margaret immigrated in 1854. Margaret had had 12 children, with 9 still living in 1900. Emanuel was a naturalized citizen. William ALLEN, nephew of Emanuel STURGES, is surely related to Samuel ALLEN, above. All are able to read and write (maybe Emanuel and Margaret learned since 1880?), none have been unemployed in the past year, and Emanuel owned his home.

In the records quoted on this page, STURGES has also been spelled STURGIS, STURGESS, STERGES, STRUGES, and possibly SAYERS. Emanuel has also been Manoel, Manuel, Edmund, and Manville.

Property in DeKalb County

The lawsuit of 23 Oct 1906, shown above, mentions 2 properties in the estate of Margaret STURGES, about 2.5 miles apart, discussed in this lawsuit from Oct 1906. Some of the family probably lived on these properties at some time.

1. One 80-acre plot in Township 39N, 5E (which is now called Pierce Township), the west half of the southeast quarter of Section 6. This is near the northwest corner of the township. In the 1892 Atlas [DCH], it appears under the name M. HALEY. In the 1929 map, it appears under the name of Maria HALEY. So Maria HALEY/HEALY must have won the lawsuit.

2. In the village of Cortland, lot number 1 in block 10. In the 1929 map, I think this is the lot with part of the P in “PORTERS ADD.” At the corner of Sycamore and Chestnut streets.

Descendants

Margaret (SHARKEY) STURGES had 1 child by her 1st husband and 9 more by her 2nd. One daughter went to Los Angeles, CA, and the rest stayed in IL, as far as I can tell.

Margarita Margaret SHARKEY b: Jan 1837 in Bray, Wicklow, Ireland, d: Oct 1906 in DeKalb, IL, age 69

+ Thomas KENNEDY m: 13 Feb 1855 in Templemichael, Ireland
... 1. John KENNEDY STURGES b: May 1860 in Sycamore, DeKalb, IL, d: 14 Mar 1919 in Geneva, Kane, IL, age 58

+ Emanuel STURGES b: 19 Sep 1825 in Hacconby, Lincolnshire, England, m: 24 Apr 1860 in Sycamore, DeKalb, IL, d: 20 Sep 1902 in Lily Lake, Kane, IL, age 77
... 2. Mary Elizabeth STURGES b: 26 Dec 1861 in Batavia, Kane, IL, d: 7 Sep 1948 in Lily Lake, Kane, IL, age 86
... + Samuel ALLEN b: 10 Mar 1854 in Buffalo, Erie, NY, m: 1878 in IL, d: 13 Apr 1927 in Campton, Kane, IL, age 73
... 3. Annie Mae STURGES b: 19 Dec 1864 in Kane, IL, d: 14 Oct 1920 in Vermilion, IL, age 55
... + John Thomas WILLETT b: 05 Aug 1862 in Kirkwood, Warren, IL, m: 13 Oct 1888 in Woodbury, IA, d: 17 May 1950 in IL, age 87
... 4. Susanna J. "Susie" STURGES b: 05 Jun 1866 in IL, d: 18 Mar 1920 in Geneva, Kane, IL, age 53
... + Ernest Almon RICHMOND b: 04 Mar 1867 in Kane, IL, m: 15 Feb 1893 in Kane, IL, d: 28 Feb 1936 in Geneva, Kane, IL, age 68
... 5. Sarah E. "Sadie" STURGES b: 1867 in DeKalb, IL, d: Dec 1938 in Los Angeles, CA, age 71
...  + William K. FARLEY b: Dec 1850 in IL, d: 1927, age 76
... 6. William E. STURGES b: 05 Jun 1868 in Sycamore, DeKalb, IL, d: 07 Aug 1943 in Woodstock, McHenry, IL, age 75
...  + May Birdie HANSEN b: 1883 in CA, m: 07 Jul 1922 in Hart, Oceana, MI, d: 1948, age 65
... 7. Maggie May STURGES b: 17 Oct 1870 in Batavia, Kane, IL, d: 25 Jun 1947, age 76
... + George William EATON b: Sep 1870 in Elgin, Kane, IL, m: 30 Nov 1892 in Kane, IL, d: 11 Oct 1928 in Hanover, Cook, IL, age 58
... 8. Emma STURGES b: 1876 in Virgil, Kane, IL, d: 1954 in IL, age 78
...  + Charles Alanson COON b: 01 May 1871 in IL, m: 1904, d: 14 Nov 1917 in Aurora, Kane, IL, age 46
... 9. Carrie Bell STURGES b: 26 Sep 1877 in Virgil, Kane, IL, d: 14 Sep 1947 in Woodstock, McHenry, IL, age 69
...  + William MOSS b: 1875 in MI, m: 07 Sep 1909 in Chicago, Cook, IL
... 10. James STURGES b: Aug 1879 in IL, d: Aft. 1920

1. John KENNEDY STURGES was born May 1860, in Sycamore, DeKalb, IL, and died 14 Mar 1919 in Geneva, Kane, IL, at age 58. He does not appear to have married or had children.

John was born John KENNEDY, son of Margaret by her first husband, Thomas KENNEDY. John was born after his mother had remarried, to Emanuel STURGES, and he was adopted by Emanuel, since he was called John STURGES in some later records. Thomas KENNEDY must have died or left his pregnant wife in late 1859 or early 1860.

John STURGES appears in the family of Emanuel STURGES in the 1860, 1870, 1880 and 1900 censuses. The 1860 Census is questionable because the surname is SAYERS instead of STURGES. In 1900, John's birth date is given as May 1860. So in the 1880 Census, taken 12 Jun 1880, he should be 20, which agrees with the record. In the 1870 Census, taken 2 Jul 1870, John is 11, but he should be 10. Still, May 1860 is probably correct. 

John was "at home" in 1880, at age 20, so perhaps he was an invalid. However, in 1900 he was a Farm Laborer. Since John is not mentioned in his half-brother William's biography. However he is called a son of Emanuel STURGES in the 1880 and 1900 censuses. 

The 1910 US Census for Geneva, Kane, IL has a John STURGESS as a ward of the Kane County Almshouse, listed as feebleminded. His age is 43, and we would expect John to be 50 or 51, so this may be the wrong person. He died at the Almshouse on 14 Mar  1919. The death record says he was there 13 yrs, 7 mos, 19 ds, so he was admitted on 26 Jul 1905. 

2. Mary Elizabeth STURGES was born 26 Dec 1861 in Batavia, Kane, IL, and died 7 Sep 1947 in Geneva, Kane, IL. She married Samuel ALLEN.

Mary STURGES appeared in the 1870 Census (above) at age 6. In the 1880 Census she was 18 and married. Mary and Samuel ALLEN and their child, Henry ALLEN, were living with her parents in 1880 (above). Her brother William's biography (above) names "Mary, the wife of Samuel Allen, a teamster, residing at Lily Lake." 

This must be the right person, but her father is Manville STRUGES. I suppose Emanuel or Manuel sounds like Manville. 

One records tells us that Mary STURGESS and Samuel ALLEN were married in DeKalb County on 19 Jul 1877. Another record says Mary STURGIS and Samuel ALLEN were married in Kane County, 15 Dec 1878. At any rate, Mary married very young, as she was 6 in the 1870 Cenus, and 18 in the 1880 Census.

In 1900 the ALLEN family had a rented home in Virgil Township. Samuel and Mary had been married 23 years, which says that they were married between 19 Jun 1876 and 18 Jun 1877. Mary had 12 children, with 11 still living in 1900. Only 8 are present, so there must be 3 more who had left home, including the eldest, Henry, who would be 20.

Samuel and Mary are both in their first marriage, which was 32 years before 1910, which agrees with the 19 Jul 1877 date, not with 15 Dec 1878. It says Mary has had 13 children, with 2 still living. Clearly the 2 is incorrect; it must be that 2 of the 13 are no longer living. They are both illiterate, and they own their home, free of mortgage. For son Patrick ALLEN the answer to "Out of Work April 15" is "No" but "Number of weeks out of work" is "52." Samuel's occupation is "Own Income."

In 1920, Samuel owns his home, free of mortgage. Samuel, Mary and Samuel Jr are illiterate; the others are literate. The 4 children present are grown, but still single. 

Samuel ALLEN died in Campton on 13 Apr 1927, at age 73.

Mary and Samuel had at least 12 children, all born in Kane County, IL, from 1879 to 1902. Blanche and Jessie were twins. Samuel and Anna were born less than 10 months apart, if these dates are correct.

2. Mary Elizabeth STURGES b: 26 Dec 1861 in Batavia, Kane, IL, d: 07 Sep 1948 in Lily Lake, Kane, IL, age 86
+ Samuel ALLEN b: 10 Mar 1854 in Buffalo, Erie, NY, m: 19 Jul 1877 in DeKalb, IL, d: 13 Apr 1927 in Campton, Kane, IL, age 73

... i. Henry ALLEN b: 26 Sep 1879 in Kane, IL, d: 06 Aug 1937 in Waupaca, WI, age 57
...  + Edna Idell COON b: 1881, d: 1951 in Virgil, Kane, IL, age 70

... ii, Sadie Jane ALLEN b: 12 Sep 1880 in Kane, IL, d: 01 Oct 1954, age 74
...  + Levi Franklin DODD b: 02 Feb 1882, m: 18 Nov 1908 in Elburn, Kane, IL, d: Jan 1980, age 97

... iii. William ALLEN b: 12 Jul 1882 in Virgil, Kane, IL, d: 1945 in Kane, IL, age 63

... iv. Margaret May "Maggie" ALLEN b: 04 Mar 1883 in Kane, IL, d: 20 Dec 1953 in Sweet Grass, MT, age 70
...  + Charles Elmer JONES b: 06 Mar 1875 in Columbia City, IN, d: 16 Mar 1966 in Sweet Grass, MT, age 91

... v. Patrick Henry ALLEN b: Feb 1886 in IL

... vi. Carrie L. ALLEN b: Jan 1887 in IL, d: 22 Mar 1905 in Campton, Kane, IL, age 18

... vii. Samuel ALLEN b: 30 Jan 1893 in IL, d: Oct 1966 in Batavia, Kane, IL, age 73

... viii. Anna Florence ALLEN b: 19 Oct 1893 in Kane, IL, d: 29 May 1970 in San Francisco, CA, age 76
... + Halbert Patrick BOYD b: 30 Apr 1889 in WI, m: 21 Mar 1912 in Williston, Williams, ND, d: 26 May 1962 in Saginaw, MI, age 73
... + Emeil Adam UBRICH b: 29 Jun 1882 in MN, m: 31 Aug 1918 in Clarke, WA, d: 17 Nov 1946 in San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, age 64
... + Charles A. LAMARR b: 1899 in Moundridge, McPherson, KS, m: 14 Jun 1949 in San Francisco, CA, d: 21 Aug 1978 in Kane, IL, age 79

... ix. Blanche M. ALLEN b: Mar 1896 in IL

... x. Jessie J. ALLEN b: Mar 1896 in IL

... xi. Rosella Lillian "Rose" ALLEN b: 26 May 1899 in Virgil, Kane, IL, d: 19 Apr 1989 in Elgin, Kane, IL, age 89
... + Alfred Evelyn STARKS b: 06 Oct 1878 in Kane, IL, m: 22 Nov 1917 in Chicago, Cook, IL, d: Nov 1974 in Elgin, Kane, IL, age 96

... xii. Floyd ALLEN b: 06 Jan 1902 in Lilly Lake, Kane, IL, d: 31 Aug 1926 in Virgil, Kane, IL, age 24
... + Grace Irene STARKS b: 07 May 1892 in Kirksville, Adair, MO, m: 07 Mar 1911 in Kane, IL, d: 08 Nov 1970 in MO, age 78

3. Ann M. STURGES was born 19 Dec 1864 in Illinois, and died 14 Oct 1920. These dates appear on her gravestone, in Floral Hill Cemetery, Iroquois County, IL. She was with her parents in the 1870 US Census, Kane County, IL, above. 

In 1880 Ann STURGES was a 14-year-old servant in the ARNOLD home.

The biography of her brother William names "Annie, the wife of John Willett, a real-estate dealer of Hoopeston, Illinois".  John T. WILLETT was born 5 Aug 1862, and died 17 May 1950. He is buried next to Annie, in Floral Hill Cemetery, Iroquois County, IL.

The 1895 Iowa State Census has the WILLETT family in Oto, Woodbury, IA. John was a Real Estate Dealer. Their religion was Presbyterian.

Between 1905 and 1910, the family moved about 500 miles east, to Hoopeston, in east IL. 

In 1910 the family had a rented home at 601 Penn Street. John WILLETT was a Dealer in Real Estate. John and Annie had been married 21 years, so they were married about 1889. Annie had had 4 children, all still living. 

The 1920 US Census has the WILLETT family at 601 West Penn Street, Hoopeston. John WILLETT owns the home, free of mortgage. Louis is already widowed, and Freda is married, but her husband is not present. Since Louis, Jeanne and Freda were born in Iowa, the family lived there from 1893 to 1904.

3. Annie Mae STURGES b: 19 Dec 1864 in Kane, IL, d: 14 Oct 1920 in Vermilion, IL, age 55
+ John Thomas WILLETT b: 05 Aug 1862 in Kirkwood, Warren, IL, m: 13 Oct 1888 in Woodbury, IA, d: 17 May 1950 in IL, age 87

...i Helen M. WILLETT b: 13 Nov 1890 in Oto, Woodbury, IA, d: 13 Sep 1960 in Star, Pulaski, IN, age 69
...  + James Haddock CAMPBELL b: 08 Oct 1886, d: 05 Sep 1966 in IL, 79

...ii, Louis Glenn WILLETT b: 24 Jan 1893 in Oto, Woodbury, IA

...iii. Frieda WILLETT b: 22 Aug 1897 in IA, d: 10 Jun 1964 in IL, age 66
... + DECKER b: IN
...  + Lucien B. DYER b: 17 Aug 1889, d: 28 May 1949 in IL, age 59

...iv. Margaret Jeanne WILLETT b: 03 Dec 1903 in Oto, Woodbury, IA, d: 29 Nov 1973 in IL, age 69
...  + Donald Edward SHOARD b: 28 May 1892 in London, England, d: 27 Jun 1958 in IL, age 66

4. Sarah "Sadie" STURGES was born about 1867, in Illinois. She must be the "Sadie, who makes her home in Fulton, this state" who is mentioned in her brother William's biography, above.

The 1920 US Census has William K. and Sarah E. FARLEY at 715 10th Ave in Fulton. William owns the home, free of mortgage. They rent to the Edward ROBBINS family. 

William FARLEY was first married to Jennie ARNOLD, who died in 1912. William married Sarah STURGES between 1912 and 1920, and he died in 1927. William and Jennie share a gravestone in the Fulton Township Cemetery in Fulton, Whiteside, IL.

5. Susan J. "Susie" STURGES was born about 1868, in DeKalb, IL. The middle initial J is on her gravestone. Her brother William's biography, above, names "Susie, the wife of Ernest Richmond, a farmer of Campton township".  Susie appeared with her parents in the 1870 Census, but not in the 1880 Census. 

In 1880 Susie STURGES/STURGIS, age 11, lived with the OBRECHT family in DeKalb County. Unfortunately, the relationship to head-of-household is "at Home". So I don't know why she was not with her parents.

Susan "Susie" STURGES married Ernest A. RICHMOND on 15 Feb 1893 in Kane County, IL. 

In the 1900 Census, Ernest RICHMOND is a Day Laborer, and owner of a house, free of mortgage. Ernest and Susan have been married 6 years. Susan has had one child, still living, who is obviously Elmer C. RICHMOND.

In 1920 the family is still in Campton. Ernest is owner of a home on Elburn Ill Rte 1. Occupation is "none" for the entire family. Elmer is unable to read or write. It must be a mistake that Susie's parents are said to have been born in Pennsylvania. Susie (STURGES) RICHMOND died 9 days after this census was taken.

Susie and Ernest had two sons, Elmer and Harry, who seem to have been lifelong bachelors, and shared a gravestone near their parents' grave in Garfield Cemetery, Kane County. Harry outlived his parents and brother by 48 years.

5 Susanna J. "Susie" STURGES b: 05 Jun 1866 in DeKalb, IL, d: 18 Mar 1920 in Geneva, Kane, IL, age 53
+ Ernest Almon RICHMOND b: 04 Mar 1867 in Kane, IL, m: 15 Feb 1893 in Kane, IL, d: 28 Feb 1936 in Geneva, Kane, IL, age 68
...i. Elmer Clarence RICHMOND b: 04 Feb 1894 in Kane, IL, d: 14 Feb 1935 in Lee, IL, age 41
...ii. Harry W. RICHMOND b: 26 Aug 1904 in Kane, IL, d: 20 Mar 1984 in South Elgin, Kane, IL, age 79

6. William E. "Willie" STURGES was born on 5 Jun 1868 in Kane County, IL and died 7 Aug 1943 in Woodstock, McHenry County, IL, at age 75. The biography of William STURGES, shown below, has a great deal of useful information, although it names his father Edmund instead of Emanuel. 

The biography above lists William's siblings, but neglects to mention John, the eldest, and Emma, who married Charles COON.

In the 1910 US Census (in the section on Carrie STURGES), William is found living with his sister Carrie, and her husband, William MOSS, in Virgil, Kane, IL.

In 1920, bachelor brothers William STURGES and James STURGES had a rented home on RFD2. 

William married May Byrd "Berdie" (HANSEN) THIES on 7 Jul 1922, in Hart, Oceana, MI. May was born about 1883 in CA, the daughter of Bernard HANSEN and Rebecca THRANE. William was 54 and May was 39 when they married. 

Berdie was granted a divorce from William on 16 Jan 1928, citing extreme cruelty and non-support. They had no children. Note that the marriage date on the divorce certificate is 7 Jul 1923, not 1922.

7. Margaret "Maggie" STURGES was born 17 Oct 1870, in Batavia, IL, and died 25 Jun 1947, age 76, in Elgin, Kane, IL. She married George William EATON on 30 Nov 1892 in Kane, IL. Maggie and George were my g-grandparents. 

See the George EATON page.

8. Emma STURGES was born in Oct 1876, in Illinois. She appears with her parents at age 8 in the 1880 US Census for Virgil, Kane, IL (above) and the 8 is clearly written in the census, but I think she was 3 at the time. She is not mentioned in her brother William's biography (above). 

In 1900, at age 23, Emma was a servant in the household of John HURD, in a rented home at 317 Main Street, Aurora, Kane, IL. 

Emma married Charles COON, on 1 Aug 1904, in DuPage County, IL. Charles Alanson COON was born 1 May 1871 in IL, and died 14 Nov 1917 in Aurora, Kane, IL. He was the son of Alanson COON and Amanda ADDYMAN.

Charles COON had served as a Private in the Spanish-American War (1898), in the 3rd Illinois Infantry, Company I.

The family must have lived in Chicago for a short time, as Elmer, their 1st child was born there, on 13 Aug 1905. They were back in Aurora, Kane County by the time Clarence, their 2nd child was born, on 4 Jul 1907.

The newspaper clippings, above, illustrate the close relations between Emma, her sister Carrie, and her brother James. Emma's son Clarence is called Leon - I don't know if this was a nickname, or just a typo. Her son Elmer was in the US Navy in 1926, when her youngest son, Howard, was killed in a gun accident.

The 1910 US Census had the Charles COON family in Aurora, Kane, IL. They have a rented home at 26 North Anderson Street. Charles is an electrician for the Street Railway. Charles and Emma have been married 6 years, the first marriage for each, so they were married about 1904. Emma has had 2 children, both still living, and obviously they are Elmer and Clarence.

I don't know the date on the picture above, but these would be the kind of streetcars that Charles COON worked on, around 1910. Charles died in 1917, at age 46.

In 1920 the family is found in a rented home, at 796 New York street, Aurora. (This is the same address given for Emma in her brother James' draft card, dated 12 Sep 1918, below.)  Emma is now a widow, with 3 sons. Emma is a machine operator at a tool factory. The next listed family in the census, also apparently at the same address, is Freda ANDERSON and her 2 children.

The 1930 US Census finds Emma, her son Elmer, and her brother James, at 1208 Fenton Street, Aurora. Emma is the owner of the home, valued at $2,500. 

In 1940, Emma lived with her son Clarence and his wife, who had been married less than 3 years. They had a home rented for $35/month, at 1218 New York Street, Aurora. Emma was unemployed, but had some source of income. 

Emma COON died in 1954. She and Charles are buried in Spring Lake Cemetery, Aurora, Kane, IL. The gravestone reads:

8. Emma STURGES b: Oct 1876 in Virgil, Kane, IL, d: 1954 in IL, age 78
+ Charles Alanson COON b: 01 May 1871 in Chicago, Cook, IL, m: 1904, d: 14 Nov 1917 in Aurora, Kane, IL, age 46

... i. Elmer Belmont COON b: 13 Aug 1905 in Chicago, IL, d: 07 May 1946 in NM, age 40, buried in Capitan Cemetery, Capitan, Lincoln, NM

... ii. Clarence Ellsworth COON b: 04 Jul 1907 in Aurora, Kane, IL, d: Nov 1973 in IL, age 66
...  + Kathryn Dorothy KEIL b: 31 Jan 1914 in IL, m: 23 Nov 1937 in Davenport, Scott, IA, d: 10 Mar 1995 in IL, age 81

... iii. Howard COON b: 1913 in IL, d: 22 Mar 1926 in Kane, IL, age 13, killed in gun accident

The birth date of 1871 for Charles is at odds with the 1910 Census (above), which says he was 30 in 1910. The birthdates of both Emma and Charles are somewhat questionable, since the records vary.

Emma and Charles had 3 children, all sons. 

i. Elmer Belmont COON was born 13 Aug 1905 in Chicago, IL, and died 7 May 1946 in NM. He does not seem to have married, or had any children. Elmer was in the US Navy, and on 16 Aug 1937, Elmer applied for a Seaman's Protection Certificate.  This application tells us that he served on the USS Shirk, and was discharged on 1 Oct 1927, with rank S. M. 2C. 

The 1940 US Census had Elmer as a patient in the US Marine Hospital in San Francisco, CA. The nature of the illness is not stated. It says that he was living in Aurora in 1935.

By 16 Oct 1940, Elmer was at Fort Stanton, Lincoln, NM, apparently still under medical care, as shown by his WWII draft card.

Elmer COON died on 7 Mar 1946, at age 40, and is buried in Capitan Cemetery, Capitan, Lincoln, NM. The US Marine Hospital at Fort Stanton was the site of the Sanitarium for Consumptive Sailors, established about 1899. It was thought that the desert climate was favorable for victims of consumption (tuberculosis). 

ii. Clarence Ellsworth COON was born 4 Jul 1907 in Aurora, Kane, IL, and died in Nov 1973 in IL, age 66. He married on 23 Nov 1937 in Davenport, Scott, IA to Kathryn Dorothy KEIL, who was born 31 Jan 1914 in IL, and died 10 Mar 1995 in IL, age 81. Kathryn was the daughter of Frank KEIL and Margaret MUSICK. I have not found any evidence that they had children. If not, then Charles and Emma had no grandchildren.

The 1940 US Census (above), from Apr 1940, has Clarence as a draftsman. His WWII draft card, dated 16 Oct 1940, says his employer was the Barber Greene Co.

The city directory for Aurora has Clarence E (Kathryn D) COON in 1954, 1959 and 1960. They lived at 916 Pennsylvania Ave, and Clarence was an engineer at Barber-Greene.

iii. Howard COON was born about 1913 in IL, probably in Aurora, and died 22 Mar 1926 in Aurora, age 13, killed in gun accident.

Other COONs

The extended COON family in Kane County, IL has used the names William, Charles, Elmer and Clarence many times. There was a Howard COON in the 1933 Elgin High School yearbook, a senior. However, our Howard COON was killed in 1926, near Aurora.

I find it useful to keep track of the others, since I keep running across them, and have to keep deciding whether records refer to the right individuals. There was another Charles COON who was born in 1882:

This is clearly the wrong Charles COON. There is also a WWI draft card for a Charles Oscar COON in Genoa, DeKalb, IL, b. 9 Jan 1882, but his wife was named Anna. I have not found Charles b. 1871 in the military records. Did he die in WWI? It appears that there was a Charles COOLS in Co. I 3rd Ill. Inf.

9. Carrie Bell STURGES was born 26 Sep 1877 in Sycamore, DeKalb, IL and died 14 Sep 1947, at age 69, in Woodstock, McHenry, IL. Her brother William's biography names "Carrie, who is still at home as housekeeper for her brother." The 1902 City Directory for Aurora, Kane County, IL has her listed as a domestic, at 168 Fox St.

She married William MOSS, on 7 Sep 1909, in Chicago.

The 1910 Census has Carrie and her husband William MOSS living with her older brother, William STURGES. Although William STURGES is reported to be a Boarder, he is actually a brother-in-law, and he is the one renting the farm. William and Carrie MOSS had been married within the past year, and Carrie has had no children.

In 1920 Carrie MOSS is divorced, and working as a housekeeper in the home of Albert GEORGE, a farmer with a mortgaged farm. Carrie MOSS has a daughter, Marguerite MOSS. 

I don't know what became of William MOSS. He married Carrie Bell STURGES on 7 Sep 1909, but they were divorced by 30 Jan 1920, and Carrie was a widow when she died on 14 Sep 1947. 

9. Carrie Bell STURGES b: 26 Sep 1877 in Virgil, Kane, IL, d: 14 Sep 1947 in Woodstock, McHenry, IL, age 69
+ William MOSS b: 1875 in MI, m: 07 Sep 1909 in Chicago, Cook, IL

... i. Marguerite H. MOSS b: 29 Jan 1911 in Virgil, Kane, IL, d: Nov 1966 in Woodstock, McHenry, IL, age 55
... + Melvin STALHEIM b: 15 Oct 1891 in Fordal Soqn, Norway, m: 26 May 1931 in Capron, Boone, IL, d: 15 Mar 1969 in Clay, MN, age 77

10. James STURGES was born on 1 Aug 1879, in Illinois. He was with his parents in the 1880 Census (above). His brother William's biography names "James, a farmer, making his home near Aurora".

In 1918 James was working as a farm laborer, for George SMITH, of Aurora. 

In the 1900 US Census, James was a farmhand, working on the farm of Lafayette ANDERSON. In 1920, he was still a farmhand, and still single, living in a rented home with his brother William STURGES (above). 

James lived with his sister, Emma COON, in 1930, in Aurora. (see above)

The 1934 City Directory for Aurora, IL has a James Sturges, residing at 1208 Fenton Ave. He was a gardner, working at a nursery.

Sources

[ADC] Atlas and plat book of De Kalb County, Illinois (1929)

[BRKC] The Biographical record of Kane County, Illinois, 1898

[CBHK] Commemorative Biographical and Historical Record of Kane County, Illinois, 1888, by Legget Beers

[DCH] DeKalb County 1892 Historical Atlas

[EH] Elgin History has 2 transcribed books by E. C. Alft. (1) Elgin: An American History (1984), and (2) Elgin: Days Gone By (1992)

[HDC] History of DeKalb County, Illinois, 1868, by Henry L. Boies

[HKC] History of Kane County, Ill (1908) by R. Waite Joslyn and Frank W. Joslyn     Vol 1     Vol 2

[PBDC] Portrait and biographical album of DeKalb County, Illinois, 1885

[PPDC] Past and present of DeKalb County, Illinois, 1907, by Lewis M. Gross

[PPK] Penny Postcards from Kane County

[SLR] Digital Archives of the Shabbona-Lee-Rollo Historical Museum has newspapers 1870-1919 from Lee and DeKalb Counties, IL

Updated 26 Jun 2023 by William Haloupek. Contact haloupek at gmail dot com.