Friday, February 11, 2022

Dorothy Agnes Butts, Research Report, the As It Is Series

Copyright 2022, CABS for Reflections From the Fence

This continues what I hope I can turn into a series of posts, done in a very efficient (make that speedy fast) manner to share some research on the ancestors.  This is NOT intended to be the end all to end all report.  It's a work in progress, to show you what I have found, right or wrong. Kind feedback is welcomed via comments.

Let's begin - - 

Meet, Dorothy Agnes Butts - - 


You will note, first of all, I do not have a death date input for Dorothy, that is because there is the slightest chance that I have some of this wrong, but, for now, this is what I have on Dorothy:

Dorothy Bulls  *** Bad, it really reads Bulls, SIGH
in the 1920 United States Federal Census
Name: Dorothy Bulls
Age: 14
Birth Year: abt 1906
Birthplace: Illinois
Home in 1920: Harvard Ward 3, McHenry, Illinois
Street: n Division
Residence Date: 1920
Race: White
Gender: Female
Relation to Head of House: Daughter
Marital Status: Single
Father's Name: Albert Bulls
Father's Birthplace: Illinois
Mother's Name: Agnes Bulls
Mother's Birthplace: Illinois
Able to Speak English: Yes
Attended School: yes
Able to read: Yes
Able to Write: Yes
Neighbors: View others on page
Household Members Age Relationship
Albert Bulls  57 Head
Agnes Bulls  50 Wife
Ruby Bulls  19 Daughter
Dorothy Bulls 14 Daughter 

Dorothy Butts is found on the 1930 U.S. Census of Altona Village, Knox County, Illinois, ED 48-57, sheet 2A, page 282, she is a boarder in the home of John H. Larson and his wife Anna C.  Dorothy is 24 years of age, single, born Illinois, both parents born Illinois, teacher in high school.

Dorothy Butts
in the 1940 United States Federal Census
Name: Dorothy Butts
Age: 38
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1902
Gender: Female
Race: White
Birthplace: Illinois
Marital Status: Single
Relation to Head of House: Lodger
Home in 1940:  Abingdon, Knox, Illinois.
Map of Home in 1940: Abingdon, Knox, Illinois
House Number: 200
Inferred Residence in 1935: Howard, Illinois
Residence in 1935: Howard, Illinois  ** This reads Harvard, Illinois
Resident on farm in 1935: No
Sheet Number: 62B
Number of Household in Order of Visitation: 108
Occupation: Teacher
House Owned or Rented: Rented
Attended School or College: No
Highest Grade Completed: College, 4th year
Hours Worked Week Prior to Census: 30
Weeks Worked in 1939: 39
Income: 1100
Income Other Sources: No
Neighbors: View others on page
Household Members Age Relationship
Esther M Cluber 28 Head
Dorothy Butts 38 Lodger

From the Harvard Herald, Harvard, McHenry County, Illinois, published on February 9, 1972:
     "Dorothy Butts, James M. Davidson, Exchange Vows
     Dorothy Agnes Butts, of Rockford, the daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Albert Butts, of Harvard, was united in marriage with James M. Davison, 801 N. Lincoln Street, son of the late Mr. and Mrs. David Davidson at Trinity Lutheran Church on January 29, at 7 p.m.  The Rev. Luther C. Mueller officiated at the single ring ceremony.
     For her wedding the bride chose a three piece powder blue knit suit with white trim and carried a bouquet of white roses, mums, baby's breath and greens.  Her attendant, Mrs. Paul Neidhold wore a tangerine three piece knit suit and a corsage of white roses, mums, baby's breath and greens.
     Ralph Davidson was best man.
     Mrs. Cheri McFarlin, organist, accompanied soloist Herman Alley, and was also a soloist during the ceremony.
     The wedding dinner was served by the Paul Neidholds at their home, 605 N. Division Street.  The beautifully decorated wedding cake was furnished by Mrs. Cheri McFarlin.
     The bride taught high school for 42 years, University of Illinois Extension in Rockford, teaching Botany for five years, five years part-time at Rockford College, five years and eleven summers at Teacher's Workshop, Rockford College, to held teachers' get their master's degrees, five years at Rock Valley College teaching Botany, Advanced Botany and Economic Botany.
     The groom is a 1924 graduate of Harvard high school, attended Beloit College for two years and at the University of Illinois received a P.A. Summa cum Laude, 1928; M. A. Degree in 1940; elected to Phi Beta Kappa and Sigma XI and the Phi Mu.  He is a graduate of Metropolitan Business College, Elgin.  Prior to his retirement he was an assistant cashier at the First State Bank of Harvard.  At present he is a real estate broker.
     Mr and Mrs. Davidson are residing at 801 N. Lincoln St."

From the Register-Republic, Rockford, Illinois, published on January 9. 1973:
     "Divorces filed
     Dorothy A.  Butts Davidson vs. James M. Davidson, married Jan. 29, 1972, in Harvard; charges mental cruelty; seeks return of maiden name, all personal possessions."

From the Register-Republic, Rockford, Illinois,  published on March 23, 1973:
     "Injury accidents
     7:05 p.m. Thursday, three-car accident at Summit Street and Greenview Avenue. Injured were Dorothy Butts, 67, 208 Oak Knolls Avenue North; Anna Frankenberg, 38, and Susan Frankenberg, 12, both of 911 St. Andrews Way."

From the Register-Republic, Rockford, Illinois, published on April 8, 1976:
     "Thefts
     Reported Wednesday
     208 Oak Knolls Ave., Dorothy Butts, groceries taken from home while away; value unknown."

From the 10th Edition (1977-78) of Who's Who of American Women:
     "Butts, Dorothy Agnes, ret. educator, civic worker; b. Harvard, Ill., Aug. 25, 1905; d. Albert and Agnes (Jackson) Butts; B. A. summa cum laude, U. Ill., 1928, M.A., 1940; postgrad. (Hills Found. scholor) U. Minn, Ill. Conservation Sch., 1945, (Kellogg Found. scholar) So. Ill. U., 1949, 50.  Tchr. biology, pub. high schs., Altona, Ill., 1928-37, Abingdon, Ill., 1937-42, East Moline, Ill., 1942-45, Rockford, Ill., 1945-46; instr. botany U. Ill., Extension, 1947-52; asst. prof. botany Rockford Coll., 1953-58, cons., summers 1955-65; asso. prof life scis. Rock Valley Coll., Rockford, 1966-72, Hostess women's council Bay Cliff Health Camp, Big Bay, Mich., 1965-76; vol. worker psychiat. dept. Swedish-Am. Hosp;., Rockford, Ill., 1973-75.  Recipient Outstanding Tchr. award Rockford Women's Club, 1968-69. Mem. NEA., Ill., Rockford edn. assns., Bus. Profl. Women's Club, Phi Beta Kappa, Sigma Xi. Republican. Mem. Congregational Ch. Club:  Eastern Star.  Home:  208 N. Oak Knolls Rockford Il 61107"

Dorothy Butts
U.S., Public Records Index, 1950-1993, Volume 2
No record image
Name: Dorothy Butts
Birth Date: 25 Aug 1905
Address: 208 Oak Knolls Ave
Residence Place: Rockford, Illinois, USA
Zip Code: 61107-4634

Dorothy Butts
No Image Available
"United States Public Records, 1970-2009", database, FamilySearch 
Dorothy Butts, 1998-1999.
Name Dorothy Butts
Previous Residence Rockford, IL
Previous Residence Postal Code 61107
Residence Date from 1 Jan 1998 to 1 Jan 1999
Residence Place Rockford, Winnebago, Illinois, United States
Residence Place (Original) Rockford, Illinois, United States
Birth Date 25 Aug 1905

Here is where my caution/reluctance takes hold - - 

Consider:
Dorothy Davidson: Social Security Death Index (SSDI) Death Record
Name: Dorothy Davidson
State of Issue: Illinois
Date of Birth: Friday  August  25, 1905
Date of Death: December  1983
Est. Age at Death: 78 years, 3 months
Last known residence:
City: Rhinelander; Lake George; Monico; Pelican; Starks; Stella; Sugar Camp; Woodboro
County: Oneida
State: Wisconsin
ZIP Code: 54501
Latitude: 45.6521
Longitude: -89.3386

From the Rhineland Daily News, Rhinelander, Oneida County, Wisconsin, published on December 27, 1983:
     "Dorothy Davidson
     Dorothy Davison, 78, of 220 W. Frederick St., died Saturday at her home.
     She was born Aug. 15, 1905 in Illinois.
      Mrs. Davidson had been a biology teacher in Rockford.  She was a Rhinelander resident for the past eight years, residing with her friend Marian Peterson.
     She is survived by her husband James of Rockford, Ill, and one niece Gloria Bowen of California.
     There will be no funeral services. Hindebrand Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements."
     
From the January 01, 1984 issue of the New North, Rhinelander, Oneida County, Wisconsin:
     "DOROTHY DAVIDSON, 78, of 220 W. Fredrick Street, Rhinelander, died Saturday, December 24, 1983.  She was born on August 15, 1905, in Illinois. She is survived by her husband, James of Rockford and a niece, Gloria Bowen of California.  She lived in town with her friends, Mrs. Marian Pederson.
     (Hildebrand Funeral Home)"

The use of her married name, in the obituaries and Social Security Death Index after many years of using her maiden name in such things as directories and the Who's Who directory is attention getting.  It's not that abnormal, but, it is one of those things that researchers note and are concerned about.  We also note the birth day is in error in the obituaries, again, "it happens".  And, we note it.

Dorothy has a memorial at Find A Grave, # 107748528. Dorothy A. Butts, born 1905, has a headstone at the Mt. Auburn Cemetery, McHenry County, Illinois.  


Her headstone never had any death year added.  Photo taken by Moi in 2004 when we visited McHenry County Illinois for research.

I have not ordered a death certificate from the State of Wisconsin.  As much as I would love to have a copy, the price for kin this far out on our family tree is just high enough to make this penny pincher gun shy.



* Disclaimers, I use Find A Grave, Ancestry dot com, FamilySearch, several newspaper subscriptions, free sites, such as Virginia Chronicles, Virginia Chancery Cases online at the Library of Virginia and more to research my ancestors.  I pay for subscriptions, full price.

** My judgements may or may not be correct.  Transcriptions may or may not have errors.

*** Links, URL's, for the most part will not be included henceforth on my posts, as so many of them change and then I have to come back and try to re-discover and relink.  Frankly folks, I have no desire to spend my limited time here on this side of the sod with those kinds of do overs.  As researchers, or just members of the internet community, sites such as Find A Grave are easy to find, some are free to use and with the information I am sharing you, hopefully, you can duplicate the research/findings. That said, I have seen memorials at Find A Grave be removed.  If you have questions, I suggest you leave a nice comment for me. OR find the method I have outlined on my blog for contacting me.

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