The Joliet Connection: George David Willig and Anna Mary Willig

Background

      Initially, I intended to research Carl Heinrich Willig next. He is listed in several Ancestry trees as the brother of John Willig and the father of John C. Willig. But there were a number of items that did not fit well. In addition, he was from the north side of Chicago and there did not appear to be a lot of overlap with known Willig relatives.
      On the other hand, there are 2 Willigs, George David Willig and Anna Mary Willig that I have stumbled across several times when investigating known Willig relatives. In addition, they both had a connection with Joliet, Illinois, where George Willig, attendee at John Willig's 90th birthday party, was born.

      In this post, I have 2 goals:

1. Investigate the relationship between George David Willig and Anna Mary Willig. I believe they are brother and sister.
2. Investigate the relationship between George and Anna Mary Willig and the currently known Willig relatives in that generation, John Willig and Frederick Willig. I believe they may all be siblings or possibly cousins.

Early Hints About George David Willig

      In 1914, a Christina Willig, widow of George, was living in Hammond, Indiana. Dan's great-grandfather, John C. Willig, was also living in Hammond with his wife Minnie, daughter Anna and daughter Louise. In addition, John C. Willig's son, Carl Willig, was living in Hammond with his wife Irene... Christina is living about 3 miles from John C. Willig and about 2 miles from Carl Willig.  

Ancestry; U.S. City Directories; 1914; Hammond Indiana.

   
      In 1917, Christina Willig, widow of George, was again living in Hammond, Indiana. Dan's great-grandfather, John C. Willig, was also living in Hammond with his wife Minnie, daughter Anna and daughter Louise. Christina is living within 2 miles of John C. Willig. George Willig, son of the immigrant Fred Willig, is working in Hammond, but living in Hegewisch.

Ancestry; U.S. City Directories; 1917; Hammond Indiana.

   
      Christina's husband George died in 1904. Her daughter, Rhoda Mary Willig Strom, died in 1911 in Hammond, Indiana. Christina may have initially moved to Hammond to be closer to her daughter. However, her son-in-law, Charles Strom, does not appear in either the 1914 or 1917 city directory, so he may have moved away after Rhoda's death.

      By itself, these entries do not tie Christina and George Willig to John C. Willig, but it is an initial clue.

George David Willig: Early Life

      George Willig was born about June 1844 in Germany, according to the 1900 census. According to this same census, he immigrated in 1866. However, according to the 1880 census, he was born in 1845 (or even 1846).

George David Willig: Marriage to Rhoda Stewart

      George must have married Rhoda Stewart in about 1872. They had 4 children together: Byrum/Byron (b. 1873), Cora Elizabeth (1876), Frederick Charles (1878) and George (1880). In 1880, the family was living in Lockhart in Pike County, Indiana. George is working as a farmer and Byrum is attending school. All the children are listed as born in Indiana.  

      Byrum appears to have run away from home as a young boy. (See Life in Joliet below.) He was married to Mary Ann Schwartz for about 12 years and they had at least 2 children together.   They divorced in 1908 and I have no further record of him.

      When Cora was about 10 years old, it appears that she was criminally assaulted and a South Side Chinaman was sentenced to 3 years in prison for the offense. Cora married Fred Bishop in 1902 in Kankakee, but they did not appear to have any children. In 1910, 3 of Cora's brothers were living with them: Fred, George and Ferdinand. The Bishop family moved to Nevada. Later, Cora and Fred divorced and Cora lived with her brother Fred.

Newspapers.com; The Inter Ocean (Chicago), 21 Oct 1886, Page 8.

       Fred Willig married Marie Matz in 1901 and they appeared to have 1 son together (Corliss) before Marie died in 1908. He moved out to Nevada with his siblings, Cora and Ferdinand. He died in 1958 in Stanislaus County, California. 

      In 1900, George Willig lived with his family in Chicago Heights and was a laborer in a mill. In 1910, he was living with his sister Cora and 2 of his brothers, but no occupation was listed. He later lived in Hammond, Indiana, probably with his stepmother. He died in 1917, aged 36, in the Indiana Village for Epileptics.   

      Rhoda died on February 11, 1884, and was buried in Selvin Cemetery in Selvin, Warrick County, Indiana, about 10 miles from Lockhart, Indiana. 

George David Willig: Marriage to Christina Baum

      George Willig married Christina Baum on November 15, 1884, in Spencer County, Indiana, after obtaining a marriage licence on that same day.

Ancestry; Indiana Marriages 1810-2001; George Welleg.

Another marriage record gave his mother as A. Henstein, but there appeared to be a number of errors in that record.

      George Willig and Christina Baum had 2 children together: Rhoda Mary Willig and Ferdinand Wilson Willig. Rhoda was born on December 22, 1885, in Indiana. She married Charles Strom in Kankakee on April 14, 1904. The Strom family lived in Chicago Heights for a while and then in Hammond, Indiana. Rhoda died in Hammond on March 5, 1911. George's son, Ferdinand Wilson Willig, was born in Morgan Park, Illinois, on June 13, 1895. He lived in Harvey, Illinois, but later lived in Nebraska, Nevada and California. He married Inez Eckerd, with whom he had 2 children. He died in 1958 in San Joaquin, California.

George David Willig: Life in Joliet, Illinois

      After the birth of his daughter Rhoda in 1885, the family must have moved to Joliet, Illinois! According to city directories for Joliet, George Willig worked at J. I. & B. F. Company in 1888. (I believe this may be Joliet Iron and Blast Furnaces.) Joliet Iron and Steel Works was once the second largest steel mill in the U. S., but in 1889, it was acquired by Illinois Steel Company. This may explain, why in 1889, George Willig worked as a shoemaker.

NOTE: Initially, I had assumed that the George Willig in Joliet in 1888 and 1889 was actually the George Willig that was the son of Frederick Willig, immigrant! I thought that because George (son of Fred) had been born in Joliet. Even though this latter George's family had moved to Russell County, Kansas, I assumed that he had returned to Joliet to work before getting married in Hegewisch, Illinois, in 1894.

Ancestry; U.S. City Directories 1822-1995; Joliet Illinois 1888; George Willig.

Ancestry; U.S. City Directories 1822-1995; Joliet Illinois 1889; George Willig.

      There are 2 documents, however, that are fairly convincing for the George in Joliet actually being George David Willig!
      First, there is the naturalization record of 1892. This document states that George Willig, born in Germany, was naturalized January 22, 1892, in the Circuit Court of Cook County. Furthermore, John Willig was a witness! I believe this is the John Willig that had the 90th birthday party in Blue Island. The back of the index card, under 'other facts of record' seems to provide the date October 27, 1888, although the date is difficult to read, and references the Circuit Court in Will County at Joliet, Illinois. So, George declared his intention to become a citizen in Joliet in 1888, and then became a citizen in 1892 in Chicago... Since George Willig (son of Fred) was born in this country, the naturalization record must be for George David Willig!

Ancestry; U.S. Naturalization Record Indexes 1791-1992; George Willig (front). 

Ancestry; U.S. Naturalization Record Indexes 1791-1992; George Willig (back). 

      Second, there is a notice in the Chicago Tribune paper of Barum Willig being lost since October 30, 1888 (for about 8 days) in Joliet, Illinois. George David Willig's eldest son was Byron A. Willig and he would have been 15 years old at the time. Although the facts are not exact, I am convinced that this is George David's son! Byron must have been found because he went on to have a family. I am guessing that he ran away from home. His mother died in February 1884 and his father married a second time in November 1884.

Newspapers.com; Chicago Tribune 07 Nov 1888, Page 10, Column 2. 

      So George David Willig came to Joliet some time between 1886 and 1887. He had probably moved away by 1892, when he was naturalized in Cook County.
      We know that Fred Willig lived in Joliet from at least 1867, when his son George was born. He stayed until at least 1877. Sometime between 1877 and 1880, he moved to Russell County, Kansas.
      So at this time, it is not clear what took George David Willig to Joliet! Were there other relatives still living in Joliet? Did several Willigs live in Joliet very early?

George David Willig: Life in Chicago Heights, Illinois

      In 1900, the only census in which George Willig appears with his second wife, George is living in Chicago Heights Village with wife Christina, 4 of his children and a boarder named John Clayton. Cora (23) and George (19) are from his first marriage and Roda (14) and Ferdinand (4) are from his second marriage to Christina. George's listed occupation is running a boarding house.

      George Willig died on May 17, 1904, in Kankakee, Illinois. He was probably visiting Kankakee since his daughter got married in Kankakee on April 14 of that same year. He did not leave a will and his wife petitioned to have Ellis G. Klingler of Chicago Heights, most likely a neighbor, be named administrator.

Early Hints About Anna Mary Willig

      When researching Friedrich Willig, I found the passenger list below! Friedrich departed from Bremen, Germany, and arrived in New York City on the bark, 'Columbus' on September 12, 1862. He was 21 years old, born in Hessen, worked as a carpenter and listed his destination as Chicago. Also listed is a Marie Willich, age 24, born in Hessen and destined for Chicago. Even though the last name is spelled differently, I believe this is Fred's sister! 

Ancestry.com;  New York, passenger Lists, 1820-1957;  Fried. Willig.  

      Furthermore, this date is consistent with the 1863 immigration date reported for Anna Mary Willig in the 1900 census. Ancestry actually transcribed the immigration date as September 12, 1863, but when I viewed the document, it looked like September 12, 1862.
      There is also a passenger list record for Anna Willig, 17 years old, from Hesse, sailing from Le Havre, France, to New York City, on the E. D. Peters, arriving in New York City on May 28, 1857. At this time, though, I think the above record is a better fit!

Life of Anna Mary Willig

      Anna M. Willig was born January 12, 1839 in Germany. Her birthplace is given as 'Fre.man, Germany' and the birthplace of both parents is given as 'Breeman, Germany'. I am not sure how to interpret this! Were they actually born in Bremen or is this a reflection of the fact that when they came to the United States, they departed from Bremen!  However, Fred's obituary states he was born in Bremen, Germany!
      According to her death certificate, her parents were Conrad Willig and Dorothea Amonstern.  As noted above, George David Willig's parents were given as Conrad Welleg and D. Anstein. I believe this fairly conclusively identifies Anna Mary Willig and George David Willig as brother and sister.

Ancestry; 'Cook County, Illinois, Deaths Index, 1878-1922'; Anna M. Vebele.

      Anna married her husband, George Uebele, in about 1864, according to the 1900 census. George was born in 1839 in Switzerland, immigrated in 1856, and was naturalized in 1860. In 1865, G. D. Uebele is on a U. S. IRS Tax Assessment List for Joliet, Illinois. He is listed as a butcher and is assessed $10. Based on this, it appears that Anna M. Willig was probably living in Joliet, Illinois, when she met and married George D. Uebele! Fred Willig, with whom Anna appears to have come to the United States, was living in Joliet in 1867, when his son George was born!

Ancestry; U.S. IRS Tax Assessment Lists; G D Yebele.

      George may have, though, actually been a resident of Chicago, with some business in Joliet. In the 1864 city directory for Chicago, he is a butcher, living at 168 Harrison. In 1875 and 1878, he owns a market at 82 W. Van Buren. By 1900, he owned his home at 9201 Commercial Avenue, in Hyde Park Township, free of a mortgage and was working as a saloon keeper.

      The 1900 census also states that Annie had had 1 child, but 0 were living. At the same time, there is a George D. Uebele, age 16, living at the same address. George Jr. was born in February 1884, perhaps in Kansas, perhaps in Indiana. I think the likeliest explanation is that they had a child who died and later adopted this George D. Uebele, Jr. I say this because in the Oak Hill Cemetery, there are 3 Uebele's: Anna, George D. Sr. and a third entry that was probably an infant... At the same time, George Uebele Jr. does claim George D. Uebele Sr. and Anna M. Willig as his parents in the record for his marriage to Clara Louise W. Behrens. George Jr. married 3 different times: to Florence Irene Hart in 1904, to Clara Louisa Wilhelmine Behrens in 1909, and to Estelle E. Kraus. George Jr. has numerous articles written about him due to dramas surrounding his marriages and he is described as a wealthy Chicago merchant, son of a millionaire real estate man and son of wealthy South Chicago parents.

      Anna died on August 6, 1919, in Chicago, Illinois. She was buried in Oak Hill Cemetery in Hammond, Indiana, 3 days later.

      In 1920, Anna's husband George is still living at 9201 Commercial Avenue, with a Hungarian-born married housekeeper. George's occupation is listed as retired butcher!

      George died on July 29, 1925, in Cook County and is buried in Oak Hill Cemetery with his wife. George Sr. is listed as a retired merchant, living at 9747 Commercial Avenue.

      There is one item that perplexes me. George D. Uebele Sr. appears to have been a butcher and may have owned a market at one point. Is this really the George D. Uebele who was a wealthy real estate man?!   
    

Summary

      I believe that George David Willig is related to other known immigrant Willig relatives in his generation as follows:

1. I believe that George David Willig is related to John Willig (1841) because John Willig is a witness at his naturalization hearing on January 22, 1892, in Cook County.
2. I suspect that George David Willig is related to Fred Willig (1843) because they both lived in Joliet, Illinois, although admittedly not at the same time! Fred Willig appears to have left Joliet between 1877 and 1880 to go to Russell County, Kansas. George came to Joliet about 1886-1887... George named his second son Fred and Fred named his eldest son George.
3. I suspect that George David Willig is related to John C. Willig (1860) because George's widow lives about 2-3 miles from John C. Willig in Hammond, Indiana... John C. Willig named his youngest son John Fred.   

      I believe that Anna Mary Willig is related to other known immigrant Willig relatives in her generation as follows:

1. I strongly believe that Anna Mary Willig is related to Fred and believe she is probably his sister! Anna and Fred came over on the same ship, both were born in Bremen and both appeared to live in Joliet, Illinois, about 1865.

      I believe that Anna Mary Willig and George David Willig are brother and sister because both have a father, Conrad Willig. Anna's mother is given as Dorothea Amonstern and George David Willig's mother is listed as D. Anstein.

      In summary, my best guess at this point is that Fred Willig, Anna Mary Willig and George David Willig are all siblings! 

Willig Overviews

I have created 2 pages on this blog to help layout the relationship between the early Willigs in the Chicago area. 

1. Early Willigs in Chicago Area, Diagram.
2. 4 Willig Immigrants, born about 1840.  

Sources

1. Ancestry, www.ancestry.com 
2. www.newspapers.com

Machinists by Trade: Relating John C. Willig and George Willig

Background

      In a previous post, "John Willig's 90th Birthday Bash", I started to explore the relationship between 4 different Willig immigrants: John Willig, Wilhelmina (Willig) Steinhart, Johann Conrad Willig and Fred Willig. In another post, I documented the evidence for Johann Conrad Willig and Wilhelmina (Willig) Steinhart being brother and sister. In this post, I am going to explore the relationship between Johann Conrad Willig and Fred Willig, and by extension, Fred's son George. They are clearly related and I suspect that Fred is Johann's uncle.

      In the past, I have referred to Dan's great-grandfather as Johann Conrad Willig because that is how he appears on the passenger list from Germany. In the United States, however, he was always known as John C. Willig, so that is how I will refer to him going forward.

Evidence to date for John C. Willig's relationship to George

      At this time, there are no known DNA matches between Dan and a known relative of George. However, we have the following evidence for a connection:

1. Three of John C. Willig's children attended the 90th birthday bash of John Willig. George Willig attended the birthday bash, together with his daughter and son-in-law.
2. John C. Willig and George Willig both lived in Hegewisch, near the border of Illinois and Indiana.
3. John C. Willig and George Willig both worked as machinists.
4. John C. Willig and George Willig are both buried in Concordia Cemetery in Hammond, Indiana.

  

Life of George Willig in Chicago

      Based on Chicago census data, George was born in Illinois, in about 1867, but both of his parents were born in Germany. One census, however, stated that he was born in Kansas.
  
      The earliest record for George Willig in the Chicago area is his marriage to Caroline Moeller, on June 3, 1894, in Hegewisch, Cook County, Illinois. At the time, George was 27 years old and Caroline was 20 years old. (Hegewisch is immediately west of Hammond, Indiana.) 

      At the time of the 1900 census, taken June 8th, George Willig was residing at 13236 Houston Avenue in Hyde Park town, in Illinois. (Hyde Park was a later name for Hegewisch.) He was living there with his wife Lena and his 4-year old daughter Mamie. They were living with, and renting from, William and Catherine Moeller and their children William and Christina. They were Caroline's parents and some of her siblings! (Caroline's parents were both born in Hessen, Germany.) George and Lena had been married for 6 years and the census taker reported that they had only had one child. At this time, George worked as a machinist.  

Ancestry.com; 1900 U. S. Census; Chicago Ward 33; Page 11A; George Willig.

                                                                               Page 11 B.

             NOTE: In the 1900 census, John C. Willig was living at 13156 Houston Avenue,
             less than a block away from George Willig. John C. was working as a machinist
             foreman in the Pressed Steel Car company. 
              

Ancestry.com; 1900 U. S. Census; Chicago Ward 33; Page 13A; John C. Willig.

                                                                              Page 13B

      At the time of the 1910 census, taken May 9th, George and his family were living at the same address, but they now had an additional child, Annie, who was 5 years old. Mamie was 14 years old and attending school. George was working as a machinist in a shop. The Moeller family had been replaced by the Philo family, which does not appear to be related. Both the Willig and Philo families were renting.   

             NOTE: In the 1910 census, John C. Willig had moved to 189 Sheffield Avenue
             (4433 Sheffield today) in Hammond, Indiana, which is where he lived until his
             death. This is still only 2.5 miles from where George lived! John C. worked
             as a foreman in a machine shop and had been out of work for 26 weeks during 1909.

      In the 1917 City Directory for Hammond, Indiana, and West Hammond, Illinois, George and Caroline Willig are listed as residing in Hegewisch, Illinois. George is listed as a machinist for Hammond Brass Works. 

             NOTE: John C. Willig was working as a foreman. John C. Willig and his
             children were the only other Willigs listed in the directory, with the exception
             of Christina Willig, widow of George, who resided at 318 Sibley. At this time, 
             the identity of this Christina and George Willig is unknown. 
             (There is also a B. Willick, who could potentially be related.) 

Ancestry.com;  U. S. City Directories; Hammond, Indiana (and West Hammond, Illinois). p. 661.

       At the time of the 1920 census, taken February 3rd, George Willig was living with his wife and 2 daughters at 13224 Brandon Avenue. There was a second family at the same address, Charles and Anna Luceberg, but they do not appear to be related. Charles, however, was working as a machinist at a steel plant. George was working as a machinist at a car factory and owned his home free of a mortgage. Mamie (23) was not working, but the younger Anna (15) was attending school.        

             NOTE: John C. Willig was working as a foreman at a car shop, possibly the same
             car factory at which George was working. John was living at his Sheffield address.  

      At the time of the 1930 census, taken April 17th, George Willig was living with his wife Carolina at the same address. George owned his home, valued at $6,000 and was renting to a second family. George was 63 years old and appeared to have retired. On August 16, 1931, George attended the 90th birthday party of John Willig with his daughter Ann and her husband. 

             NOTE: John C. Willig was working as a foreman at a steel mill in 1930, although
             he appears to have retired in 1931. He was still living at his Sheffield address.

      At the time of the 1940 census, I have not been able to find George or his wife or his 2 daughters!

      In 1950, George's wife Caroline died and was buried in Concordia Cemetery, in Hammond, Indiana. On April 3 or 4, 1961, George Willig died in Chicago and was also buried in Concordia Cemetery. 

             NOTE: John C. Willig was also buried in Concordia Cemetery. John C. had been

             the founder and director of the Concordia Cemetery association! 

Connecting George Willig to his birth family!

  

  Newspapers.com, The Times (Hammond, Indiana), 5 Apr 1961, image 19, page B-3, column 2. 

      This obituary, by naming two of his siblings (Fred Willig and Mrs. Mayme Ellis), connects George to his birth family, who were never located in Chicago! If George lived in the Chicago area for 66 years, he must have come to Chicago in 1895. 

      Since there is no 1890 census, the easiest way to locate George Willig before his arrival in Chicago is to check the 1880 census. There is a George Willig, age 13, born in Illinois, living in Paradise Township, Russell County, Kansas in 1880. He is living with his parents, Fred and Elizabeth H., and siblings Lena (11) and John (10). Both parents were born in Prussia and both siblings were born in Illinois. Fred is working as a farmer... This George matches on age and birthplace, but we do not see the siblings named in his obituary!

      Moving back, I have not been able to find an 1870 census for either George or his possible father Fred. 

      

      Moving forward, I found a Fred Willig living in Kansas City, Kansas, in 1900. He is living with his wife Elizabeth, daughter Mary (19) and son Fred (17). So this would be the brother, Fred Willig, from Kansas City, Kansas, named in George's obituary! And Mayme is a nickname for Mary! In the 1905 Kansas census, in Kansas City, Kansas, Fred and Elizabeth Willig are living with daughter Mrs. Maime Dunall (23) and Fred Willig Jr. (21). So this must be the sister Mayme mentioned in George's obituary! In 1910, Mary Ewing, widowed, is living with her widowed mother Elizabeth Willig! In 1915, Mayme Ewing married Charles Ellis, and by 1930, they were living in Denver!

      So at this point, we have determined that George's parents were Fred and Elizabeth, and his siblings were Lena, John, Mayme and Fred! We also know that he lived in Russell County, Kansas, as a boy.

Life of George Willig before Chicago

       George Willig was born on March 30, 1867, in Joliet, Illinois, the first child of Fred and Elizabeth Willig. Fred and Elizabeth married in about June 1866.

      Sometime between 1877 and 1880, the family moved to Kansas. In 1880, George (13) was living in Paradise Township, Russell County, Kansas, with his parents, Fred and Elizabeth H., and siblings Lena (11) and John (10). 

      I have not been able to locate George Willig between 1880 and 1895. Initially, I thought the George Willig listed in the 1888 and 1889 Joliet city directory was this George, but it is far more persuasive that it was in fact George David Willig, a likely relative of this George.
     
      In the 1895 Kansas census, taken on March 1, Geo Willig (28) is listed as living in Kansas City, Kansas, with father Fred, mother Lizzie, sister Lena (26), brother John (24), sister Mamie (15) and brother Fred (12). The 3 oldest children are listed as born in Illinois and the youngest 2 are listed as born in Kansas.

Ancestry.com;  1895 KS census; Wyandotte County, Kansas City Ward 3; Page 79; Dwelling 512.

This census entry is confusing because George married his wife Caroline in Hegewisch, Illinois, on June 3, 1894. But it is consistent with the obituary's report of 66 years in the Chicago area. Had he gone home for a short visit? 

Life of Fred Willig, Immigrant, father of George

      Fred (aka Friedrich, aka Frederick) Willig was born October 27, 1844, in Germany. One source states that he was born in Bremen, but this is probably confused with his departure port! He departed from Bremen, Germany, and arrived in New York City on the bark, 'Columbus' on September 12, 1862. He was 21 years old, born in Hessen, worked as a carpenter and listed his destination as Chicago. Also listed is a Marie Willich, age 24, born in Hessen and destined for Chicago. Even though the last name is spelled differently, I wonder if this might be Fred's sister! 

Ancestry.com;  New York, passenger Lists, 1820-1957;  Fried. Willig.  

      Frederick Willig, resident of Chicago, at age 21, entered service in the Civil War on February 29, 1864, in Chicago, for a period of 3 years. He joined up with the 51st Illinois Infantry, Company G, as a private. He was mustered in on March 20, 1864,  in Chicago and mustered out on September 25, 1865, in Camp Irwin, Texas, with an honorable discharge. Fred was listed as a carpenter, 5'8", with dark hair, hazel eyes and fair complexion. 

Name:	Frederick Willig
Rank:	Private
Company:	G
Unit:	51st Illinois Infantry
Height:	5' 8
Hair:	DARK
Eyes:	HAZEL
Complexion:	FAIR
Occupation:	Carpenter
Birth Date:	Abt 1843
Birth Place:	Germany
War:	Civil War
War Years:	1861-1865
Service Entry Age:	21
Service Entry Date:	29 Feb 1864
Service Entry Place:	Chicago, IL
Joined By Whom:	CPT BROWN
Period:	3 YRS
Muster In Date:	20 Mar 1864
Muster In Place:	Chicago, IL
Muster Out Date:	25 Sep 1865
Muster Out Place:	Camp Irwin, TX
Muster Out By Whom:	CPT WILSON
Residence Place:	Chicago, Cook CO, IL
Record Source:	Illinois Civil War Muster and Descriptive Rolls

Ancestry.com; Illinois, Databases of Illinois Veterans Index, 1775-1995; Frederick Willig. 

      In about June 1866, he married Elizabeth H. Their first 3 children were born in Joliet, Illinois. George was born in 1867, Lena in 1868 and John in 1871. On November 2, 1872, Frederick Willig was naturalized in the county court in Joliet. From 1872-1877, Fred Willig was residing at 8 Gardner Street in Joliet, and working as a carpenter. In 1877, he was listed as a builder and general contractor, as well as a carpenter.  

      In the late 1870's, he moved to Russell County, Kansas, where he worked as a farmer, fighting the grasshoppers and the hot winds. In October, 1879, Frederick did apply for a Civil War pension as an invalid. According to the 1880 census, Fred and his family were living in Paradise Township. Fred owned 60 acres of tilled land and 260 acres of unimproved land. The farm was valued at $400, farming implements at $250, livestock at $150 and farm products at $50. Fred had 20 acres of mowed grassland and harvested 20 tons of hay in 1879. Fred owned 3 horses. As noted earlier, family members were Fred (34), Elizabeth H. (33), George (13), Lena (11) and John (10). Fred and Elizabeth were listed as born in Prussia and all 3 children were born in Illinois. In 1883, he is listed on the muster roll of the Grand Army of the Republic Larrabee Post, No. 164, located at Russell, Kansas. Cause of discharge is listed as 'S. O .No 1', which may indicate Standing Order #1.

      In 1890, he moved to Kansas City, Kansas. In the 1895 Kansas census, taken on March 1, Fred Willig (52) was living with his wife Lizzie (48), son Geo (28), daughter Lena (26), John (24), Mamie (15) and Fred (12). The oldest 3 children were born in Illinois and the youngest 2 children were born in Kansas. We later learn that they had a sixth child that died. By 1894, Fred was working as a grocer at North Thirteenth Street. A January 1896 newspaper article reported that "Bill" Johnson forged a check to Fred Willig. When Bill was jailed based on those charges, his brother, U. S. Johnson, tried to persuade Fred to drop the charges and threatened to cause Fred's arrest by claiming he had sold liquor. As a result, Fred was arrested, charged with selling beer and whiskey without a government license and tried in the federal court at Leavenworth. It was written up in the paper as a case of vindictiveness and abuse of official power. Fred was eventually acquitted.   

     In 1899, Fred accused a man named Sheldon of stealing from him. Sheldon knocked Fred down and kicked him until he was unconscious, breaking his nose and jaw. (Sheldon was arrested.) In the 1900 census, Fred Willig is living at 2074 N. 13th Street with his wife Elizabeth and his youngest 2 children, Mary and Fred. He owns his home with a mortgage. Fred is working as a coal and feed merchant and 17-year old Fred is working as a teamster. (It appears that his store changed from a grocery store to a coal and feed store, based on either his troubles with the malicious prosecution or the beating!) In 1901, a 2-story building owned by Fred Willig on Thirteenth Street, but occupied by another family, was destroyed by fire. The building was valued at $700 and insured.The fire had started in an adjoining building.   

      In 1905, the same 4 persons are in the household, but Mayme is now listed as Mrs. Maime Dunall. Evidently, she has since married, but is not living with her husband. Fred Willig, Jr., is working as a machinist. 

      In the November 1906 county auditor report for Wyandotte County, Fred Willig of precinct 12 is paid $3.50 for services as judge and messenger. 

      In 1907, Fred wrote an article in the Kansas City Kansas Globe, urging municipal ownership of the water plant, rather than allowing it to continue to be run by a private company. Fred believed that the water franchise was unnecessarily expensive and did not serve the public good.

      Fred served as a claim agent for the city of Kansas City, Kansas. Presumably, this meant that he investigated claims for damages. Another source states that he was a City Purchasing Manager for KCK, but I don't know the basis for this statement... During his life he also belonged to Knights of Pythias, a fraternal organization and secret society involved in philanthropy. He also belonged to Knights of the Maccabees, a fraternal organization that provided low-cost insurance to its members.  

     Fred Willig died on September 28, 1909, after an illness of more than a year. At the time, he resided at 2032 N. 13th Street. He was buried in Mount Hope Cemetery in Kansas City, Kansas. Buried on the same plot are wife Elizabeth, son John, daughter Mayme Willig Ellis, son Fred and daughter-in-law Eva. About a month later, his wife Elizabeth filed for a Civil War pension based on her status as a widow of a Civil War veteran.   

   

www.newspapers.com, The Gazette Globe (Kansas City, KS), 28 Sep 1909, Page 1, Column 5.

  

www.findagrave.com, Memorial # 98448891, 'KsCityKim',

Fred Willig, brother of George

      In the course of researching George Willig and his father Fred, I discovered that George's brother, Fred Willig, was also a machinist. So I wanted to find out a bit more about his life.

      Fred William Willig Senior was born September 14, 1884, in Russell, Kansas, the youngest child of Fred and Elizabeth Willig. His siblings were George, Lena, John and Mayme. In 1890, his family moved to Kansas City, Kansas. Fred attended 8 grades of school, and by at least age 15, he was working as a teamster.

      On May 16, 1905, Fred Willig married Maud Cunningham Mainor in Leavenworth County, Kansas. By September 1914, Fred Willig had filed for divorce against Maud. He claimed that she would stay away from home for days at a time and would not say where she had been. She would not keep house or cook meals and finally abandoned him. There do not appear to be any children from this marriage. During this time Fred was working as a machinist for the State Manufacturing Company and rented a home at 1330 Lafayette Avenue. In March 1911, Fred and Maud returned home to find their front door and rear door ajar and the lower floor filled with smoke. An investigation showed that kerosene had been poured in many places and set alight. Although considerable damage was done, the house was not totally ruined.

      By 1917-1918, Fred had married his second wife, Eva Valerie Smith, in Parsons, Kansas. While living in Parsons, Fred worked as a machinist for the Missouri-Kansas-Texas railroad. In April 1917, he entered the company hospital in Sedalia, Missouri, for reasons unknown. On April 5, 1921, their only child, Frederick William Willig, Jr. (aka Bill) was born in Parsons.

      By 1923, Fred had returned to Kansas City, Kansas, where he owned his home at 1304 Stewart Avenue.The home was valued at $1,400 in 1930 and $2,000 in 1940. He worked as a machinist for West Side Machine Works at 3rd and Minnesota. In 1940, Fred was earning wages of $2100 per year, which was quite high. In addition, he claimed to have income from non-wage sources. At this time, his 19-year old son "Bill" worked as a machinist helper.    

      When he registered for the World War I draft, he was described as medium height, slender build, brown hair and gray eyes. In the World War II draft, he was described as 5' 9", 150 pounds, brown hair, blue eyes and ruddy complexion. At the time of the WW II registration, he listed his sister Lena, rather than his wife Eva, as the person who would always know his address.

      In 1956, Fred retired, having been a 50-year member of the International Association of Machinists, Local  #92. In 1960, he lived at 1321 Rowland Avenue. On May 19, 1970, his wife Eva died. On May 2, 1972, Fred died in Kansas City, Missouri, even though his last residence was at Kansas City, Kansas. Both are buried in Mount Hope Cemetery in Kansas City, Kansas.

Fred "Bill" Willig, nephew of George

      "Bill" Willig continued the tradition of Willigs working as machinists!

      Bill served his apprenticeship and became a journeyman machinist at West Side Machine Works, where his father had worked. He then worked 33 years for the Board of Public Utilities, both as a Power Plant operator and Instrument Maintenance Foreman. He eventually retired as Maintenance Supervisor at Nearman Power Station.

      Prior to his career as a machinist, Bill served in the U. S. Navy. He worked at the Olathe Naval Air Station as an Aviation mechanic and then transferred to Ordinance. He served in the Pacific on the Escort Aircraft Carrier Rudyerd Bay, CVE-81. The ship earned five battle stars and Bill was promoted to Chief Petty Officer aboard ship.

It's a Small World!

      By doing some general research, I discovered that Fred "Bill" Willig, referenced above, had a son "DD".

      Many years ago, "DD" Willig and my husband Dan (great-grandson of John C. Willig) were both working at Sprint in Kansas City. "DD" saw Dan in the company directory and called him. At the time, it was not clear whether or not they were related. Now, it appears that they are likely third cousins once removed!

Summary

       The evidence is extremely compelling that John C. Willig and George Willig are related.        

1. Three of John C. Willig's children attended the 90th birthday bash of John Willig. George Willig attended the birthday bash, together with his daughter and son-in-law.
2. John C. Willig and George Willig both lived in Hegewisch, near the border of Illinois and Indiana. At one point, they lived a block apart. Later, they lived about 2.5 miles apart.
3. John C. Willig and George Willig both worked as machinists.
4. John C. Willig and George Willig are both buried in Concordia Cemetery in Hammond, Indiana.
5. John C. Willig was born in Kassel, Hessen, Germany. George Willig's father came from Hessen.
6. John C. Willig lived in the Chicago area after he came to the United States. George Willig's father came to Chicago when he immigrated in 1862 and was a resident of Chicago when he entered Civil War service in 1864.  

      Clearly, John C. and George are not brothers because John C.'s father is Carl and George's father is Fred. My current best guess is that they are first cousins, or possibly second cousins. 

      Additional research on other Willig immigrants, and possibly research in the records of Hessen, Germany, will be needed to confirm the exact relationship.  

      In addition, in the course of doing research, I discovered a living great-nephew of George Willig who lives in the same city that we do!  

         

Sources

1. Ancestry, www.ancestry.com.
2. Find A Grave, www.findagrave.com.
3. newspapers.com.
4. Family Search, www.familysearch.org     (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QV9N-TPN5)
5. porterfuneralhome.com
6. Photobucket, http://photobucket.com/images/machinist%20tools, Tunadude13.