Person:Frank Henry (13)

Frank was born on March 12, 1884 in Webber Township, Jefferson County, Illinois to John W. and Mary Elizabeth Henry. It is likely that he was born on the family farm that was 40 acres on the county line with Wayne County about a mile north of Mt. Olive Church , 2 miles east of Bluford and about 2 miles south of his grandfather's farm. His parents owned the farm but carried a mortgage on it. He was the youngest of eight children. Two of these had died as infants. His oldest brother was 16 when Frank was born. The others ranged in age from 10 to two. He was the fifth boy, but two of the boys had died as infants. He had three sisters. His father was 37 years old and his mother (known as Mollie) was 38 or 39. We have no idea how they came up with his first name, but his middle name probably came from the Democratic candidate for U.S. President Grover Cleveland. He had many Henry aunts, uncles and cousins living in the area. He probably attended Weatherspoon School that was not far away. The family may have gone to Mt. Olive Church that was also nearby.

As an adult, Frank earned the nickname "High Pockets" because he was so tall. When he was twenty years old he married Martha Etta Davis who was 15 years old (but would be 16 in about a month). Her family lived in the next county (less than 10 miles away) to the southeast, Hamilton. They married on Dec. 22, 1903 in Jefferson County. Three years later they had their first child, George Murl. We do not know where the family took up housekeeping in these early years. It is likely they rented a house somewhere in the vicinity of their parents. It may be that they lived on land that Martha's father had in Webber Township. Just sixteen months after their first child was born, along came Elsa Oda (later named Jane) in September 1907.

Sometime between September 1907 and August 1909, the family moved to Oklahoma. Their second daughter, Gussie Louise, was born there. By January 1910, the family had returned to Illinois and settled around Bluford. They rented a house and Frank was a laborer doing "odd jobs." Children kept arriving. Osa Ona was born in 1912, Iva Lizzbeath in 1914 (she died at six months old), Lynard Lewis on August 31, 1915, and the twins- Paul Frank and Purl Thomas in 1918. The family of nine probably struggled to make ends meet. By 1920, Martha Etta had seven children ranging from 14 to two years old. As you can tell from this, Frank was not drafted into World War I, he would have been too old, at age 33, in 1917.

At an unknown date between October 15, 1918 and January 1920, the family moved north to Fithian in Oakwood Township of Vermilion County, Illinois. They rented a house on John's Street and Frank worked at bailing straw and hay. This line of employment obviously was not lucrative. I have no idea why they moved to this area. The arrival of children slowed down significantly though Martha Etta was relatively young being in her mid-30s. Ethel Etta was born in 1923 and Burl Dean came in 1925. Gloria Murle was the last born in 1930 when Martha was 42 years old. The older children began leaving home in this period. Murl went off to Missouri and died there in 1930. Ona married in 1928. Gussie and Jane also probably married in this period. So by 1930, the family consisted of Frank, Martha Etta, Lynard age 15, the twins age 12, Ethel age 7, Dean age 5 and Gloria just born. That was still eight mouths to feed and the country had plunged into the Great Depression.

At some time before 1935, the family moved to Danville, Illinois also in Vermilion County. Perhaps they moved as early as 1930 since Murl was buried in a cemetery in Danville Township. They lived at ?. When Lynard Lewis applied for his first marriage license he listed his father (who would have been 51) as a contractor and his mother as homemaker. Three years later on Lynard's second marriage license he indicated his father was a bricklayer. The family believes that he had a girlfriend in Danville sometime who committed suicide.

Martha Etta died on July 21, 1952 after being in St. Elizabeth Hospital in Danville for eight days. She had been ill with cancer for about six months. Five of her children lived relatively nearby: Gussie in Oakwood, Lynard in Chrisman, Dean in Westville, Ethel and Gloria in Danville. Funeral services were at Barrick & Sons Funeral Home in Danville and she was buried in Stearns Cemetery near Fithian.

Lyonard Lewis severely broke his leg in the late 1940s and Frank stayed with Lyonard's family for awhile to help. They lived on Road 2700 in Ross Township, Edgar County. This house was rented from a farmer and was way out in the country. While Frank was there, the grandchildren remember that one of the twins showed up drunk asking for money. Frank ran him off the property.

Frank returned to southern Illinois and married his long-time girlfriend, Nellie Keen on Oct. 2, 1954. Frank's children believe that Nellie's family was not happy about the marriage. The Keen's were a fairly well-to-do family with the town, Keene, being named after them. They were probably married in Wayne County. Frank was 70 years old at the time of the marriage.

On August 1, 1957 Frank died at age 73, in Keenes, Wayne County, Illinois. He passed on at 7:30 p.m. while a patient at Fairfield Memorial Hospital. His funeral was conducted by and at Richardson Chapel in Wayne City, Illinois. He was buried at Mt. Zion or Salem Cemetery in Four Mile Township of Wayne County, Illinois. Nellie survived him.

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3} Mt. Vernon Register. Frank Grover Henry Obituary. (Aug 2 & 3, 1957).
2. ↑ Funeral Director. Richardson Funeral Service. (Correspondence w/ Renee Henry, Sept. 18, 1999.).
3. ↑ Funeral Director. Richardson Funeral Service. (Correspondence w/ Renee Henry, Sept. 18, 1999.).

   Frank's son, Dean, made the funeral arrangements.

4. ↑ 1900 Jefferson County, Illinois Federal Census.

   Frank G. is living listed with his father and family living in Webber Township, Jefferson County, Illinois. He was born in March 1884 and was 16 years old.

5. ↑ Family Tradition.

   His first two children were born here.

6. ↑ Family Tradition.

   Daughter, Gussie, is born in Oklahoma.

7. ↑ Renee Henry. Interview with Ona Henry. (October 1, 2000 (?)).

   She said that Frank and Etta went in a wagon to Oklahoma. The road was full of ruts and Martha Etta was pregnant.

8. ↑ 1910 Jefferson County, Illinois Federal Census
   132 0116 0015.

   Frank G. Henry lived in Webber Township, Jefferson County. He was age 26 yrs. (born 1884 in Illinois) had been married 6 yrs. He was a laborer who identified his job as "odd jobs>" He rented his house. Wife, Etta, was listed along with three children: Merle, Gussie and Elsa.

9. ↑ Family Tradition.

   This is based on the location of the birth of their children.

10. ↑ 1920 Vermilion County, Illinois Federal Census.
11. ↑ Family Tradition.
12. ↑ 1920 Vermilion County, Illinois Federal Census
    vol 233, ed 199, sheet 1, line 35 Roll 412.

    Frank Henry lives on John's Street in Fithian, Oakwood Township. He is 34 yrs. (born 1886 in Illinois). His father was born in Kentucky, his mother was born in Illinois. His job is bailing straw and hay. He rents his home. He is listed with wife, Etta, and seven children: Murl, Elsie, Gussie, Ona, Lynard, Paul and son, Pearl.

13. ↑ ^13.0 13.1 County Clerk. Marriage Record - Vigo County, IN. (Nov. 9, 1935).
14. ↑ ^14.0 14.1 Fountain County Clerk. Marriage License for L. L.. Henry. (Nov. 18, 1938).
15. ↑ Family Tradition.

    While Frank kept this as his formal address, he is said to have spent quite a bit of time in southern Illinois and for some period in the 1940s lived with his son Lynard's family in Edgar County, Illinois. The family believes that Martha's mental illness was becoming more evident and she was difficult to live with. He returned to his hometown area and perhaps to a girlfriend often.

16. ↑ Danville City Directories
    1929 & 1930.

    1929 Directory
    Henry, Frank G. (Etta; 4 children) laborer h. 1418 Oakwood Ave. (Vermilion Heights)
    
    1930 Directory
    Henry, Frank G. (Etta; 4 children) laborer h. 1418 Oakwood Ave. (Vermilion Heights) also at this address was his daughter, Gussie Henry.

17. ↑ 1930 Vermilion County Illinois Federal Census. (Ancestry.com)
    ED 92; SD 16, p. 3A, 4 Apr 1930.

    1418 Oakwood Ave., House 62 Family 64
    Henry, Frank G. Rents home $7/month No radio Age 46 first married at 19 yrs. b. IL par. b. IL Laborer Odd Jobs Not Vet
    Etta M. wife age 42 first married at age 16 b. IL par. b. TN
    Gussie L. dau age 20 single b. OK
    Lyonard L. son age 14 single b. IL
    Paul F. son age 11 single b. IL
    Ethel E. dau age 7 b. IL
    Burl D. son age 5 b. IL
    Ratliff, Truman C. son-in-law age 27 first married at age 22 b. IL fath. b. KY moth. b. IL Trucking at Foundry Not Vet
    Elsie dau age 22 first married at age 17 b. IL Waiter at restaurant

18. ↑ Danville City Directories
    1932.

    Henry, Frank G. (Etta M.; 5 children) driver h 223 Cunningham Ave. (Vermilion Heights) also at this address is Henry, Gussie L. and Lyonard L. student.

19. ↑ Renee Henry. Interview with Gloria Fauver. (10/12/2000(?)).

    They lived on Gilbert Street. Hank worked at the corner store to the South, now it is an insurance place, used to be a candy shop. She was not yet in school.

20. ↑ Danville City Directories
    1935.

    Henry, Frank G. (Etta M.) laborer h 705 W. Williams.

21. ↑ Renee Henry. Interview with Gloria Fauver. (10/12/2000(?)).

    They lived on Fairchild and Williams on west side when she was not yet in school.

22. ↑ Renee Henry. Interview with Gloria Fauver. (10/12/2000(?)).

    He worked on the roof of an oil station at Fairchild and Bowman Avenues. She could remember him carrying brick for the Red Cross building. He put a wall in the front yard for some black people.

23. ↑ Danville City Directories
    1936.

    Henry, Frank G. (Etta; 3 children) laborer for Inter-State Water Co. h 715 N. Walnut also at this address is Henry, Lyonard L. and Paul F., student.

24. ↑ Renee Henry. Interview with Gloria Fauver. (10/12/2000(?)).

    They lived on Walnut Street just north of Williams, the railroad and near the old fire station.

25. ↑ Danville City Directories
    1936.

    Henry, Frank G. (Etta; 3 children) laborer for Inter-State Water Co. h 715 N. Walnut.

    No other entry in all city directories gives the name of the company he worked for.

26. ↑ Danville City Directories
    1937 & 1938.

    1937 Directory
    Henry, Frank G. (Etta; 3 children) laborer h 940 Cleveland (possibly a Ruby M. Wills lives here, too. She was a nurse at Lake View Hospital) also at this address Henry, Lyonard laborer.
    
    1938 Directory
    Henry, Frank G. (Etta; 3 children) laborer h 940 Cleveland (he may have owned it.)

27. ↑ Renee Henry. Interview with Gloria Fauver. (10/12/2000(?)).

    She remembered it as 930 Cleveland St. where Beard Street runs into it. They lived there when she was in second grade.

28. ↑ Danville City Directories
    1939.

    Henry, Frank G. (Etta) residence 1006 N. Collett.

29. ↑ Renee Henry. Interview with Gloria Fauver. (10/12/2000(?)).

    They lived at 1006 N. Collett when she was 10-11 years old, in 1940s.

30. ↑ Renee Henry. Interview with Gloria Fauver. (10/12/2000(?)).

    She remembered that they were on "relief" when they lived on Collett St. They got canned goods, hogs "head", and two dresses. This was during the winter.

31. ↑ Danville City Directories
    1942.

    Henry, Frank G. (Etta; 2 children) laborer resides rear 15 E. Voorhees

32. ↑ Renee Henry. Interview with Gloria Fauver. (10/12/2000(?)).

    She remembered it as 13 E. Voorhees. They lived in the back and Lyonard and Genieve lived in the front. Aunt Sis was 11-12 years old. They were living at 30 Tillman Avenue when she was 14 or 15.

33. ↑ Renee Henry. Interview with Gloria Fauver. (10/12/2000(?)).

    They were living at 30 Tillman Avenue when she was 14 or 15.

34. ↑ Renee Henry. Interview with Gloria Fauver. (10/12/2000(?)).

    Frank was a janitor at Oaklawn School when they moved to Tillman Avenue.

35. ↑ Renee Henry. Interview with Gloria Fauver. (10/12/2000(?)).

    When Etta and Frank separated, he lived on Quincy then Florida Avenue. He had a girlfriend named Ice who he lived with. He tried to get social security, but he would have had to have sold his car. Then he went to Mt. Vernon.

36. ↑ Danville City Directories
    1947 & 1949.

    Mrs. Etta Henry is listed alone in these directories. Frank may have been living in Edgar or Jefferson Co., Illinois.

37. ↑ Family Tradition.

    Lyonard Lewis severely broke his leg in the late 1940s and Frank stayed with Lyonard's family for awhile to help. They lived on Road 2700 in Ross Township, Edgar County. This house was rented from a farmer and was way out in the country. While Frank was there, the grandchildren remember that one of the twins showed up drunk asking for money. Frank ran him off the property.

38. ↑ Danville City Directories
    1953.

    Henry, Frank resides 440 E. Van Buren as does Mrs. Lola Williams who is owner of the building, widow of Carlos C. Williams and is employed as a maid.

39. ↑ Renee Henry. Interview with Gloria Fauver. (10/12/2000(?)).

    He rented a room on VanBuren Street from a Mrs. Lewis [this is incorrect]. They may have had an affair.