9. Documentation for Wilhelmina "Minnie" Fredericka Lorenz
(28 Mar 1866 to 27 Apr 1965)
mother of Roy Burton Older
(10 Feb 1886 to 13 Apr 1964)
Wilhelmina Fredericka Lorenz, Great-Grandmother of Curtis Lynn Older:
1) Wilhelmina Fredericka Lorenz, wife of James Grant Older, parents of Roy Burton Older
2) Roy Burton Older, husband of Ethel Leona Worth, parents of Truxton James Older
3) Truxton James Older, husband of Mavis Lorene Gouty, parents of Curtis Lynn Older
Download Adobe Acrobat File - 9. Wilhelmina F. Lorenz - (The file has the following text plus images.)
Wilhelmina "Minnie" Fredericka Lorenz was born March 28, 1866, the daughter of Gottfeid Lorens and Hannah Stuebe.(1) Truxton James Older, a grandson of Minnie Lorenz, stated to Curtis L. Older that Minnie's given name was Wilhelmina Fredericka Lorenz.
Minnie Lorenz married James Grant Older on May 21, 1885, in Danville, Illinois.(2) James Grant Older was born in Mechanicsburg, Sangamon County, Illinois, on March 14, 1864.(3) He was the son of Samuel Clarence Older and Jane Eliza Baird.(4) James Grant Older and Minnie (Lorenz) Older were the parents of three children. Roy Burton Older was born on February 10, 1886.(5) A daughter, Nellie Pearl Older, was born Mar 13, 1889. Another daughter, Maybelle Older, was born November 10, 1892.(6) Roy Burton Older married Ethel Leona Worth on March 1, 1911.(7) He died April 13, 1964, at Lakeview Hospital in Danville, Illinois, and was buried in Springhill Cemetery.(8) Ethel Leona (Worth) Older died December 26, 1976, and is buried in Springhill Cemetery in Danville, Illinois.(9) Nellie Pearl Older married Frank W. O'Rourke on August 23, 1919. He was born December 23, 1890, and died April 3, 1963, in Dearborn, Michigan. Nellie and Frank are buried in Springhill Cemetery in Danville, Illinois. Maybelle Older married Cody Holmes on October 28, 1919, in Springfield, Illinois. Cody was born August 18, 1892, in Decatur, Illinois. Maybelle (Older) Holmes died May 20, 1959, in Decatur, Illinois. Cody died April 24, 1988, in Decatur, Illinois, and is buried at Monticello, Illinois. The father of Cody Holmes was said to be a close friend of Buffalo Bill Cody and named his son after him.
James Grant Older, Minnie's husband, died March 31, 1946, in Dearborn, Michigan. He was buried at Springhill Cemetery on Voorhees Street in Danville, Illinois.(10) Minnie (Lorenz) Older died at age 99 on April 27, 1965, in Dearborn, Michigan, where she lived with her daughter, Nellie O'Rourke.(11)
Minnie Lorens (Lorenz) appears with her family in the 1870 U.S. Federal Census, Illinois, Vermilion County, Danville Township, Post Office Danville, Ill., page 4, enumerated July 2, 1870, by James A. Davis.(12) Dwelling 34, family 34, Lorens, Gottfeid, age 43, listed as female (that is not correct), white, cabinet maker, $700, $150, born in Germany, male citizen of U.S. of 21 years of age and upwards; Hannah Lorens, age 32, female, white, keeping house, born in Germany; Emma, age 10, female, white, born in Illinois, attended school within the year; Louisa, age 4, female, white, born in Illinois; Minnie, age 3, female, white, born in Illinois; Mary, age 2, female, white, born in Illinois.
The eldest child of Gottfeid and Hanna Lorens who appears in the 1870 Illinois census is listed as age 10. The child is listed as being born in Illinois. Therefore, Gottfeid and Hanna Lorens must have come to Illinois before 1861 or the start of the Civil War. Gottfeid Lorens was born in Germany about 1827. He was about 11 years older than Hanna. Hanna was born in Germany about 1838. Therefore, Hannah came to Illinois between 1838 and 1861. Hannah and Gottfeid may not have come to the United States together or at the same time since there was an 11 year difference between their ages. Gottfeid came to Illinois between 1827 and 1861.
Minnie Lorens (Lorenz) appears in the 1880 U.S. Census for Illinois, Vermilion County, page 10, enumeration district number 211 in Danville, June 3, 1880, by William J. Davis.(13) Dwelling 89, family 92, J. B. Mann, lawyer. Minnie Lorenz, white, female, age 13, female, relation to head of family - servant, civil condition - single, occupation - servant, born in Illinois, father born in Germany, mother born in Germany.
According to Wilma Jane (Older) Zillman, Gottfeid Lorens abandoned his family at some point in time and went to Chicago and married a Gugleman.(14) This seems to fit the data from the 1880 census for Minnie Lorenz. She appears to have been placed with a family that could take care of her by the time of the 1880 census.
James Grant and Minnie Older are listed in the U. S. Census for Michigan, 1920, Wayne County, Detroit, family 343, line 29, 14th and 15th day of June, 1920, enumerated by Wallace Vinsher, enumeration district 72.(15) Line number 29, James G. Older, head, male, white, age 55, married, able to read and write, born in Illinois, father born in Canada, mother tongue was English, mother born in Ohio, mother tongue not given. Line 30, Minnie (G?) Older, wife, female, white, age 52, married, able to read and write, born in Illinois, father born in Germany, mother tongue was German, mother born in Germany, mother tongue was German.
James Grant and Minnie Older are listed in the U. S. Census for Michigan, 1930, Wayne County, Detroit, Ward 14, Block #145, part of Precinct 32, enumerated April 16, 1930, by Elizabeth Wheeler, enumeration district #82-436.(16) Line number 8, Baxter Blvd., 9120, dwelling 2, family 3, James G. Older, head, male, white, age 65, married at age 22, born in Illinois, father born in England, mother born in US, occupation - superintendent, street railroad painter. Line 9, Baxter Blvd., 9120, dwelling 2, family 3, Minnie Older, wife, female, white, age 62, married at age 19, born in Illinois, father born in Germany, mother born in Germany, occupation - none.
James Grant and Minnie Older should appear in the 1940 U.S. Census for Michigan. Minnie Older should appear in the 1950 and 1960 U.S. Census for Michigan, probably listed as living in Dearborn.
Children (Older), born in Illinois:
i. Roy Burton, born February 10, 1886
ii. Nellie, born March 13, 1889
iii. Maybelle, born November 10, 1892, in Danville, Illinois
ORIGINAL SOURCE MATERIAL to support the RELATIONSHIP between
WILHELMINA FREDERICKA LORENZ and her son ROY BURTON OLDER
1) State of Illinois Medical Certificate of Death for Roy Burton Older, registration district #92.0, registered number 347, date of birth February 10, 1886, date of death April 13, 1964, Danville, Illinois, father's full name James Grant Older, mother's full maiden name Minnie Lorenz, signed by Truxton J. Older, son, informant.
2) Illinois Marriage Records, James Grant Older and Minnie F. Lorenz, married May 21, 1885, in Danville, Vermilion County, Illinois. Volume V, Vermilion County, IL, Marriages, Vermilion County Court Records, Film #1298746:1298749.
3) James Grant Older and his wife Wilhelmina Frederika Lorenz are buried together at Springhill Cemetery in Danville, Illinois, next to Roy Burton Older and his wife Ethel Leona Worth. Also buried nearby are Nelle (Older) O’Rourke and Frank O’Rourke. Springhill Cemetery records, Danville, Vermilion County, Illinois, Lot 362, Block 21.
5) Obituary for Wilhelmina Lorenz Older, Danville Commercial News newspaper obituaries, April 28, 1965. Lists her husband as James G. Older, a son Roy, and a daughter, Mrs. Mabel Holmes.
6) James G. Older, Minnie, Roy, Nellie, Maybelle, and James' mother Eliza (Baird) (Older) Wire are listed in the 1900 U. S. Census for Indiana, Vigo County, Terre Haute, Harrison Township, Ward #8, enumerated June 2, 1900, house number 1658, dwelling number 51, and family number 52.
7) 1910 U. S. Census for Illinois, Macon County, city of Decatur, Decatur Township, Ward #6, enumerated April 21, 1910, enumeration district #117, Sheet 10 A, house number 1657, dwelling number 226, and family number 271. States that three children are all living. Nellie age 21 and Mabel age 17 are still in the household.
8) 1930 U. S. Census for Michigan, Wayne County, Part of Precinct 32, Township - Detroit, enumerated April 11, 1930, Roll T626_1049, Page 17A, Image 0824, Baxter Blvd., House 9125, Dwelling Number 2, Family Number 3. Lists James G. Older, Minnie Older, Frank O’Rourke, Nell O’Rourke, and Truxton J. Older living in the household. Truxton J. Older was a son of Roy Burton Older and James Grant Older and Wilhelmina Frederika Lorenz were his grandparents.
9) There probably is an obituary for James Grant Older in the Danville Commercial News shortly after March 31, 1946, his date of death. The obituary probably names his wife and children who were all living at the time of his death.
10) There should be a Death Certificate for Wilhelmina Fredericka Lorenz Older, either in Detroit or Dearborn, Michigan, or possibly in Danville, Illinois.
REFERENCES
1. Danville Commercial News, Danville, Illinois, April 28, 1965, obituary for Wilhelmina Lorenz Older; statement by Truxton James Older to Curtis Lynn Older indicating her full name was Wilhelmina Fredericka Lorenz and that her parents were Gottfeid Lorenz and Hannah Stuebe.
2. Marriage License, State of Illinois, Vermilion County Court House, Danville, Illinois, Volume V, Vermilion County, Illinois, Marriages, married May 21, 1885, Vermilion County Court records, film #1298746:1298749.
3. Tombstone of James G. Older, Springhill Cemetery, Lot 362, Block 21, Voorhees Street, Danville, Illinois.
4. 1870 U.S. Census for Illinois, Vermilion County, Danville Township, enumerated July 4, 1870, by James A. Davis, page 15, dwelling 124, family 123, James Older.
5. State of Illinois Medical Certificate of Death for Roy Burton Older, registration district #92.0, registered number 347, date of birth February 10, 1886, date of death April 13, 1964, Danville, Illinois, father's full name James Grant Older, mother's full maiden name Minnie Lorenz, signed by Truxton J. Older, son, informant.
6. Death certificates for Roy Burton Older and Nellie Pearl (Older) O'Rourke should be on record at the Danville, Vermilion County, Illinois, courthouse. The death certificate for Maybelle (Older) Holmes probably is recorded at Decatur, Macon County, Illinois. Dates given were provided by Janet Kay (Zillman) Shinkle, a cousin of Curtis L. Older.
7. Statement of Wilma Jane (Older) Zillman to Curtis L. Older in November 2003.
8. State of Illinois Medical Certificate of Death for Roy Burton Older.
9. State of California Certification of Vital Record, Certificate of Death for Ethel Leona Worth Older, Ventura County, local registration district 5600, certificate number 2405, date of death December 26, 1975, date of birth January 8, 1893.
10. Springhill Cemetery, Danville, Illinois, Lot 362, Block 21.
11. Danville Commercial News, Danville, Illinois, April 28, 1965.
12. U. S. Census of Illinois, 1870, Vermilion County, Danville Township, enumerated July 2, 1870, by James A. Davis, p. 4, dwelling 34, family 34, Minnie Lorens, age 3, born in Illinois.
13. U. S. Census of Illinois, 1880, Vermilion County, enumeration district number 211 in Danville, enumerated June 3, 1880, by William J. Davis, p. 10, dwelling 89, family 92, J. B. Mann, lawyer. Minnie Lorenz, white, age 13, female, servant, born in Illinois.
14. Statement of Wilma Jane (Older) Zillman to Curtis L. Older.
15. U. S. Census of Michigan, 1920, Wayne County, Detroit, family 343, line 29, enumerated June 14 and 15, 1920, by Wallace Vinsher, enumeration district 72.
16. U. S. Census of Michigan, 1930, Wayne County, Detroit, ward 14, block number 145, part of precinct 32, April 16, Elizabeth Wheeler.
