Joseph, Della, & Virginia...1920

Joseph, Della, and 9 month old Virginia (my Mom) lived at 1420 North 23rd Street in 1920. They rented the house. Joseph, a repair mechanic at the Electric company was 25 and Della was 27.

The location of the residence was in North St. Louis close to where Della grew up. Joseph was raised in South St. Louis.

It is noted that Joseph's mother and father were from Alsace Loraine, France and German was their native tongue. On the other hand, Della's parents were from Ireland and their native tongue was Irish.

Michael & Catherine Geraghty and Family

click on image to enlarge

My Great Grandfather, Michael Geraghty was born in Ireland in 1870 and my Great Grandmother, Catherine Ryan was born in Ireland in 1872. Michael was 12 and Catherine was just 10 when they immigrated by boat across the Atlantic to the United States. It must have been quite an experience for each child in 1882 as they were leaving their birthplace and history behind.

By the year 1890 Michael and Catherine had met, become sweethearts, and married. Della A., my Grandmother was born in 1892 and her brother, Michael J. was born two years later. He was to later be known as Mickey, my Great Uncle who operated a corner tavern and Bar-B-Que near the Soulard area of St. Louis. The story goes that Della loved the pigs ears that Mickey prepared on his grill. ( I remember as a young kid in the 50' s visiting his tavern with my family.)

The above image is taken from the 1910 US census for St. Louis. Michael was 40 and his wife, Catherine was 38 at the time. Michael, the father worked as a laborer for the Gas Company. Della was now 18 and working at the shoe factory as a "Fore Lady". Mickey also worked at the shoe factory and he was a "Machine Hand".

The Geraghty's rented a house at the time on 1421 Cleary Ave that was to become the location of Pruitt-Igoe housing complex that was later built in the mid-1950's. My Aunt Dolly shared with me that Michael & Catherine had 2-3 other children, but they had passed away. Julia died of pneumonia on June 21, 1901 when she was just 3 years, 9 months, and 28 days old. Julia was laid to rest at Calvary cemetary. She was my Great Aunt.

Ten years later on the 1920 US census Michael, Catherine, and Mickey were still living at the same address. By this time Della had moved out of the house and was married to Joseph Froehly for two years. They had a little girl named Virginia who was to become my Mom.

John F. & Philenia Simmons...my Great Grandparents

Scroll down to lines 8-16 to locate 236, 238 Simmons, John. Below his name you will find Philenia, his wife. There were 7 children in this family...4 boys & 3 girls. The children were born in this order; John A., Anvil C., Elliot M., Laura E., Carrie, Mary E.E., & Wily. Elliot Monroe is my Grandfather and father of my dad, Amel. Mary E.E. is my Aunt Mary Simmons. The other children are my aunts & uncles that I never knew. All members of this family were born in Missouri, however both of John F. & Philenia's parents were born in Tennesse.
This document is a United States census taken Franklin Township of Dent County on June 21, 1900. It indicates that the family lived on a farm that they owned and not rented. It also indicates that there was a mortgage on the farm. Five of the children attended school and four of the kids could speak english, read & write. My Grandfather Elliot was born in July, 1886 and was just shy of his 14th birthday at this time. My Aunt Mary was just 4 years of age as she was born in August of 1895. The head of the family is listed as a farmer.
My Great Grandfather, John Fielding Simmons was born in January of 1851 & my Great Grandmother, Philenia Simmons was born in January, 1857. Her maiden name is Philenia Belle Cage. John and Philenia were married in 1882.