Vital Information
| Field | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Full Name | William J Adams | 1920 Census; 1930 Census; NUMIDENT |
| Born | ~1879-1880, Illinois | 1920 Census (age 40); 1930 Census (age 51) |
| Father | Unknown (born Canada) | 1920 Census; 1930 Census |
| Mother | Unknown (born Illinois) | 1920 Census; 1930 Census |
| Spouse | Mary Danaher (~1880-1881, IL) | NUMIDENT; 1920 Census; 1930 Census |
| Children | May (~1902), Alice (~1904), Harold (~1906), Annabelle/Anna (~1908), Lucille (~1910), Sarah Rita "Sadie" (1912-1993), Bessie (~1913), William Jr. (~1915), Helen/Eleanor (~1916), John (~1919-1920) | 1920 Census; 1930 Census |
Their Story
William J Adams was born around 1879-1880 in Illinois. His father was born in Canada and his mother in Illinois, placing the Adams family in a Canadian-to-Illinois migration pattern that would be unusual for the heavily Irish Beverly neighborhood where the family later settled.
William married Mary Danaher, also born in Illinois (both of her parents were born in Illinois). Together they had ten children, all born in Illinois, over an approximately 18-year span from ~1902 to ~1920.
By the 1920 census, the family lived in Chicago (ED 264, Ward 5). William was 40, Mary was 39, and they had ten children at home ranging from 18-year-old May to 1-month-old John. By 1930, the household was in Chicago's Districts 2377-2626. William was 51 and Mary was 50. All children except Harold (then ~24) were still in the household.
Susan Stokes Mullaney (great-granddaughter) confirms that William owned a funeral home. After William's death, his son Harold took over the business but mismanaged it, and the funeral home was lost. The Adams-Feldhoff & Whitesel Funeral Home at 1811 W 103rd St (Beverly border) remains a candidate for the firm William founded or operated, though this has not been confirmed from records.
Open Questions
- Which funeral home did William own? Adams-Feldhoff & Whitesel at 1811 W 103rd St (Beverly border) is a candidate. Census images would confirm his occupation.
- Parents: father born Canada (which province?), mother born Illinois. No names yet.
- Death date and burial unknown. Harold took over the business "after he died," so William predeceased Harold.
Document Sources
| Document | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| US Census 1920, Chicago ED 264 | federal census | Head of household, age 40, born IL, father born Canada, mother born IL |
| US Census 1930, Chicago Districts 2377-2626 | federal census | Head of household, age 51 |
| NUMIDENT of Sarah Rita Fitzgerald | federal record | Confirms father "William J Adams" |