COMPLETE Saunders - A slightly unusual request

[behindthefrogs]

The following is a summary of the details of a person in my tree.  It is derived from a number of secondary sources which I think have been using each others information.

James Saunders born 9 Mar 1848 Bicester Oxfordshire England.  He emigrated to Cook Chicago Illinois in 1865.  He married (1) Anna Dillon (born 1840 Dublin Ireland) 1868 and they moved to Glen Ellyn Du Page Illinois in 1875.  Anna died 1889 and was buried in Forest Hill Cemetery Glen Ellyn. (2) Edith May Goodridge 24 Jan 1893 at Cook.  She died in Dec 1895.  (3)  Grace M Gotlieb (She was born Jun 1858 Illinois.  Both her parents were born in Germany) 1898. She died after 1900.  (4) Marion B  Vanantwerp  (born 23 Jan 1858 New York died 12 Sep 1944 Los Angeles) 28 Oct 1905 Glen Ellyn

He graduated from Bennet Medical College Cook in 1881 and on 6 May 1882 was a registered medical practitioner at Prospect Park Du Page.  He died 19 May 1921 Children:

Grace Maud Saunders born 1 Jan 1873 died 13 Aug 1910 married George Edwin Spears (born 12 Aug 1869 Uxbridge Ontario the son of Alexander Spears and Augusta Mavia Beebe, died 4 Feb 1919 Gary Indiana) 18 Jan 1899  She died 13 Aug 1910 Glen Ellyn

George Saunders born c 1876 Illinois married Nellie May Addie born c 1889 Canada.  George died 1 Dec 1935 Glen Ellyn

James Saunders born 1884 and was buried 7 Feb 1885 Forest Hill Cemetery Glen Ellyn

My feeling is that it is a merger of the details of at least two people and the dates have been manipulated to fit it together.  There are a number of discrepancies.  For example surely Grace Maud Saunders would be the daughter of Grace M Gotlieb.  What little census information that I can find seems to contradict the facts but produce even more inconsistencies.  The only bit I am sure of is in bold.

Has anyone any ideas which can constructively confirm or destroy the above?

David

[Genealiza]

The 1880 census has the following:

Illinois, Cook, Chicago, Wards 1-4

Sanders, James, white, male, 31, father, married, physician,
                    b. Eng, parents b. Eng
               EMMA (I can't read this, but this is what familysearch has transcribed), 30, mother, married, b. Mass,
                    parents b. Ire
               James, white, male, 7, son, b. Ill, father b. Eng,
                    mother b. Mass
               Gracy, white, female, 5, dau, b. Ill, fa b. Eng, mo b.
                    Mass
               Georgie, white male, 2, son, b. Ill, fa b. Eng, mo. b.
                    Eng

[Genealiza]

1900  Illinois, DuPage, Milton Twp

Saunders, James, head, white, male, b. Mar 1864, 46 (should
                   be 36 yrs of age, or b. 1856 as is indicated in
                   the 1910 census),marriage 2, b. Eng, parents, b.
                   Eng, immig 1882, 28 yrs in US, NA(turalized),
                   Doctor, M.D., can read, write, spks Eng, owns
                   home, mortgaged
               
                  Grace M, wife, white, female, b. June 1858, 41,
                    marriage 2, mother of 4 children, 4 children
                    living, b. Ill, parents b. Germany, can read, write,
                    spks Eng
Mathews, Marie, step dau, white, female, b. Aug 1887, 12, b.
                    Ill, father b. (?), mother b. Ger, at school, 9
                    months, can read, write, spks Eng
Gottlieb, Bertha, mother in law, white, female, b. Feb 1825,
                    75, widow, b. Ger, parents b. Ger, immig 1852,
                    48 yrs in US, can read, write, spks Eng

1910 Illinois, DuPage, Milton Twp

Saunders, James, is now 58, marriage 2, 4 yrs, b. Eng,
                    parents b. England
                 Marion B, 52, marriage 1, 4 years, b. NY, parents
                    b. NY

[behindthefrogs]

Thanks genealiza I hadn't found that 1880 one.  As I said any census information just produces more conflicting information.

I suppose Emma could be Anna as the Irish link is there.

Right names for the children but different dates.

Also James would not have qualified as a Physician by the 1880 census.

The 1900 entry seems to be for a different person but he is a Doctor of Medicine.  However for someone who was born in 1864 to qualify by 1881 is very unlikely.  Perhaps the age is right and the date of birth was meant to be 1854  (adjusted towards his wife's age and so could be same James?)  I found a marriage of Grace to a Matthews which would explain the step child.

The 1910 entry takes his age back towards the 1848 birth.

David

[behindthefrogs]

In the 1920 census his dob is back to 1848 and he is married to Marian.

David

[Genealiza]

I found the tombstone inscription:  James Saunders, M.D., 1848-1921  in a book entitled, "Village in a Glen, a History of Glen Ellyn, Illinois"  by Frederick S. Weiser,  NSDAR 1957, page 96.

[nickgc]

The 1900 entry seems to be for a different person

Hi David,

I think the 1900 census is exactly the right person...just some aberrant dates.  He is married to Grace after all, and his mother-in-law is Mrs. Gottlieb, which is Grace's maiden name.  No doubt that Genealiza found the right person.

You've probably seen it, but probably the most believable online genealogy (at least at worldconnect) is by a direct ancestor.

http://www.rootschat.com/links/06e2/

Nick

[behindthefrogs]

Thank you everyone.  I think that you have convinced me that what I had originally was essentially correct.

David

[RJ137]

 (4) Marion B  Vanantwerp  (born 23 Jan 1858 New York died 12 Sep 1944 Los Angeles) 28 Oct 1905 Glen Ellyn

Marion's DC:  http://www.rootschat.com/links/01iy5/