Person:Bertha Manuel (1)

Bertha married Frank Blake about 1910 and they had divorced by 1930. According to articles about Lucy Jess and the 1926 Paris City Directory, they had six children. We know the names of five: Naomi Blanche (1910-1943), Robert Deneen (1911-2001), Lucy Jess (1914-bef. 2016), Francis Manuel (1915-1988), and Mary Geraldine (1919-2016), Billi Woodson (1924-2003).

Naomi married Frank Summers(1906-) and they had four children: Roberta (1929-1987), Frank William (1933-2004), Martha Jean, and Mary Lou. Frank William spent 21 years in the Air Force.

Robert lived his life in Paris, IL. Francis served in WWII as a Warrant officer. He was divorced at the time and had no dependents.

Mary G. married a Harris (1943 uses this name) and then Paul Barnett (her obit in Herald & Review, Decatur, IL). Lucy Jess married married Louis Gray in Champaign/Urbana, IL and became very active in the city as an entrepreneur, public servant and active church member. According to one biography of her, she was the first black to be employed in retail in downtown Champaign in 1952. They had one son, Steven.

Francis listed his mother as Bertha M. Porter on his 1936 SS application. And she is listed as Mrs. Porter of Decatur in Monroe Carother's 1938 obituary which is in a Family Tree on Ancestry.com rogsbear2. She is listed as Blake in the 1940 Census with her sister, and Mrs. Bertha Blake in Naomi's 1943 obituary. So maybe the marriage to Porter was brief during the 1930s, and then she took back her first married name after the divorce.

1. ↑ United States. Social Security Administration. U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936–2007. (Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, 2015)
   1965.

   Bertha Fredrika Manuel Blake white b. 20 Jul 1889 Oakland, Coles Co., IL
   father William J. Manuel mother Alfreda White
   Claim date 26 Oct 1965
   
   Bertha Fredrika Manuel Blake b. 20 Jul 1892 Oakland, Coles Co. IL
   father William J. Manuel mother Alretta White
   Application date Apr 1940
   
   The two entries have different SS numbers.

2. ↑ Edgar, Illinois, United States. 1920 U.S. Census Population Schedule
   1920.

   Paris, Edgar Co., IL 607 Douglas house 142 family 145 Owns home with mortgage
   Frank Blake Mulatto age 34 Married b. IL parents b. UNK Plumber at Shop salaried
   Bertha Mulatto age 30 Married b. IL parents b. UNK
   Nami Mulatto age 10 b. IL
   Robert Mulatto age 8 b. IL
   Lucy Jess Mulatto age 6 b. IL
   Francis (daug.- incorrect) Mulatto age 3 b. IL
   Mary Geralee Mulatto age 7/12 b. IL

3. ↑ Edgar, Illinois, United States. 1930 U.S. Census Population Schedule
   1930.

   Paris, Edgar Co., IL 607 Douglas St. House 160 Family 172 Owns home worth $2000
   Frank Blake Negro age 45 Divorced b. IL father b. KY mother b. GA Plumber at Plumbing Shop
   Robert D. Negro age 18 single b. IL father b. IL mother b. OH laborer Odd Jobs
   Lucy J. Negro age 16 single b. IL
   Francis M. (son) Negro age 13 b. IL
   Mary G. Negro age 10 b. IL
   
   Cannot locate Bertha in Paris, IL or Danville, or anywhere else...

4. ↑ Edgar, Illinois, United States. 1940 U.S. Census Population Schedule
   1940.

   Living with sister, Blanche Reed and her children, and her mother, Retta Corothers.

5. ↑ Edgar, Illinois, United States. 1910 U.S. Census Population Schedule
   1910.

   Paris, Edgar Co., IL Ward 1 Adams St.
   Frank Blake black age 25 married first one b. IL father b. KY mother b. IL Laborer Common
   Bertha black age 20 married first one one child who is living b. IL father b. IL mother b. OH
   Naomi black 5/12 age b. IL

6. ↑ Newspaper obituary, in Decatur Herald (Decatur, IL)
   12 Oct 1943.

   Mrs. Naomi Blanche Summers, 33, died 3 p.m. yesterday at Macon Co. Sanitarium where a patient for 7 months. Funeral services at Zierin Funeral Home, Paris Weds. with burial in Paris. Born 10 Nov 1910 in Paris, married Frank Summers who survives. Leaves three daughters: Roberts, Martha Jean, Mary Lou; son Frank William all of Decatur. Leaves mother Mrs. Bertha Blake, 204 E. Marion St. and father, Frank Blake, Urbana. Two sisters: Mrs. Mary Harris, Decatur; Mrs. Lucy Gray, Urbana. Three brothers: Robert, Indiantown Gap, PA; Francis Ft. Husachuca, AZ, and Billi Camp Wallace, TX all in the armed services. and Grandmother Retta Carothers, Paris. Member of Baptist Church, Paris. Body at Brintlinger's Funeral Home.

7. ↑ ^7.0 7.1 Newspaper obituary, in Decatur Daily Review
   29 Mar 1966.

   Funeral services for Mrs. Frank (Bertha Fredericka) Blake, 77, will be at 2 p.m. Weds. at Zieren-Carroll Funeral Home, Paris. Burial at Edgar Cemetery. Died Monday morning at home, 445 E. Decatur St. Born 20 Jul 1888 in Oakland to Will and Retta White Manuel. Lived in Paris most of childhood and early adult life. Surviving three sons: Robert D., Rockford; Francis M., Paris; and Billi Woodson, Carmichael, CA. Two daughters: Mrs. Lucy Jess Gray, Urbana; and Mrs. Mary Geraldine Barnett, Decatur; 7 grandchildren, and 14 great grandchildren. Preceded in death by husband, a daughter, and a sister.

8. ↑ Paris, Illinois City Directory
   1926.

   Frank & Bertha Blake 607 Douglas laborer (6 children under 17)

9. ↑ Paris, Illinois City Directory
   1908.

   510 La Salle, Frank Blake (Bertha F.) emp. Rowe's Drug Store h. Adams & Hunter Car Shop Add.