The Wedding of John L Coakley and Helen Elizabeth Struck

Helen & John

On her 25^th birthday, Helen Elizabeth Struck, started praying to meet someone who would be good for her so they could have a good life together. She went to mass at noon on Sunday’s at Blessed Sacrament Catholic church in Kansas City, Kansas. One Sunday she and her cousin, Lloyd Kroner, were going to a church picnic and they picked up John Leonard Coakley and a friend of his. John didn’t realize that Helen was Lloyd’s cousin. When he found out a couple of weeks later he called Helen and they started dating.[1]

Helen - 1919

Helen grew up in Quincy, Adams County, Illinois and after graduating from Quincy High School in 1917 she attended Gem City Business College.[2] By 1924 she moved to Kansas City, Kansas and was living with her aunt and uncle, John and Mary (Clay) Kroner, at 2712 Roswell Avenue and working for Prudential Insurance Company first as a stenographer and later a bookkeeper recording premiums collected by insurance agents in ledger books.[3]   

John served in World War I in the 17^th Field Artillery, Battery B and was wounded in France in 1918.[4] His left foot and part of his lower leg were amputated.[5] After he was discharged, John returned to Kansas City and studied engineering at the University of Missouri at Rolla.[6] He was admitted as a special student since he had dropped out of school after 6^th grade to help support the family after the death of his father in 1906.[7] When he met Helen he was working as a draftsman at Missouri Valley Bridge Company.[8]

John - 1920's

Helen visited her parents and friends in Quincy in May 1925 and announced her engagement to John.[9]

The couple were married at Blessed Sacrament on 10 June 1925 at 9:00 a.m. by Reverend E. Dekat.[10] Helen “wore a white crepe frock, made straight line. Her full length tulle veil was fastened with clusters of fern and smilax, and her bouquet was a shower of bride’s roses and baby breath.” Her maid of honor was Margaret Coakley, John’s cousin. Margaret was dressed in “peach color crepe and a white hat, with a bouquet of Sunburst tea roses.” John’s best man was Lloyd Kroner.[11]

Margaret Coakley, Lloyd Kroner, Helen Struck & John Coakley

After the wedding, breakfast for the bridal party and immediate family was served at the Grand Hotel, 1702 Main Street, Kansas City, Missouri. That night a reception for about thirty guests was held at the home of John and Mary Kroner. In addition to the bride’s parents, Stephen and Susan (Clay)Struck from Quincy, Illinois, the out of town guests in attendance were Mr. and Mrs. William Struck from St. Joseph, Missouri; Mr. and Mrs. Will Hartman and Mrs. Amos Conger, both from Quincy.[12]

Family & Friends at the Kroner home

John and Helen made their home at 2915 North Twenty Seventh Street until they moved to California.[13]     

---

[1].     Helen Struck Coakley (Kansas City, Missouri), recorded interview by Jackie Coakley Catlett, 10 July 1984; Coakley Family Collection; audiotape and transcript privately held by Barbara Coakley, [address for private use,] Dallas, Texas, 2022.    

[2].     Helen Elizabeth Struck, Diploma, Quincy High School, Quincy, Adams, Illinois, 15 June 1917; Coakley Family Collection; privately held by Barbara Coakley, [address for private use,] Dallas, Texas, 2022.    

[3].     Helen Struck Coakley (Kansas City, Missouri), recorded interview by Jackie Coakley Catlett, 10 July 1984; Coakley Family Collection; audiotape and transcript privately held by Barbara Coakley, [address for private use,] Dallas, Texas, 2022. Also,  Gate City Directory Co., compiler, Polk’s Kansas City Kansas Directory 1924, (Kansas City, Missouri: The Gate City Directory Co., 1924), 981; also subsequent year by the same title: (1925) 844.   

[4].     John L Coakley, Honorable Discharge from The United States Army, 29 August 1919, Des Moines, Iowa; Coakley Family Collection; privately held by Barbara Coakley, [address for private use,] Dallas, Texas, 2022.   

[5].     John L Coakley, health history compiled by Helen Struck Coakley, Kansas City, Missouri, 1973; Coakley Family Collection; privately held by Barbara Coakley, [address for private use,] Dallas, Texas, 2022.   

[6].    John Leonard Coakley, academic transcript; School of Mines and Metallurgy, University of Missouri, Rolla, Missouri; supplied 15 January 1945 to John L. Coakley; privately held by Jackie Coakley Catlett [address for private use,] Overland Park, Kansas, 2022.      

[7].    John Leonard Coakley, Jr., “Remembrances of My Parents,” p. 1, not dated (Overland Park, Kansas); Coakley Family Collection; privately held by Barbara Coakley, [address for private use,] Dallas, Texas, 2022.         

[8].    Gate City Directory Co., compiler, Polk’s Kansas City Kansas Directory 1924, (Kansas City, Missouri: The Gate City Directory Co., 1924), 226.    

[9].    "Helen Struck To Wed On June 10 In Kansas City," (Quincy, Illinois) The Quincy Whig-Journal, 8 May 1925, digital image Quincy Public Library, (http://quincypublicil.advantage-preservation.com/viewer/?k=coakley%20struck&i=f&d=01011838-12312021&m=between&ord=k1&fn=quincy_whig-journal_usa_illinois_quincy_19250508_english_4&df=1&dt=10 : accessed 23 May 2022) page 4 column 2.

[10].  Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church (2203 Parallel, Kansas City, Kansas), Certificate of Marriage, (privately held by B Coakley, [Address For Private Use,] Dallas, Texas, 2022), John Coakley and Elizabeth Helen Struck, marriage certificate (1925).        

[11].  Marriage of Helen Struck and John Coakley, undated clipping, 1925, from unidentified newspaper; Coakley Family Papers, privately held by Barbara Coakley, [Address for Private Use], Dallas, Texas, 2022. Inherited in the 1980's from her aunt, Charlene (Lineberry) Coakley, daughter-in-law of Helen and John, of Kansas City, Missouri.         

[12].   Marriage of Helen Struck and John Coakley, undated clipping, 1925, from unidentified newspaper; Coakley Family Papers, privately held by Barbara Coakley, [Address for Private Use], Dallas, Texas, 2022. Inherited in the 1980's from her aunt, Charlene (Lineberry) Coakley, daughter-in-law of Helen and John, of Kansas City, Missouri.      

[13].   Marriage of Helen Struck and John Coakley, undated clipping, 1925, from unidentified newspaper; Coakley Family Papers, privately held by Barbara Coakley, [Address for Private Use], Dallas, Texas, 2022. Inherited in the 1980's from her aunt, Charlene (Lineberry) Coakley, daughter-in-law of Helen and John, of Kansas City, Missouri. Also, Gate City Directory Co., compiler, Polk’s Kansas City Kansas Directory 1927, (Kansas City, Missouri: The Gate City Directory Co., 1927), 167.      

John L Coakley's Military Service

John Leonard Coakley was one of 4,700,000 men and women from the United Sates who served in uniform during World War One. He was also one of the 375,000 US casualties of the war. The injury he sustained would impact him for the rest of his life.

On May 19, 1917, the Selective Service Act was passed and President Woodrow Wilson was granted the authority to increase the size of the military temporarily.  The first registration was on June 5, 1917; all men between the ages of 21 and 31 were required to register.  John fell into this age group and completed his draft registration card in Benton, Saline County, Arkansas where he was working for Little Rock, Maumelle & Western Railroad as a grade laborer. 

John enlisted as a Private in the Army at Little Rock, on August 20, 1917. He would serve in the 17th Field Artillery unit which was organized at Camp Robinson, Wisconsin in June 1917. Once they arrived at Camp Robinson, the men were organized into batteries. John was assigned to Battery B. Drills and instruction were the routine. On December 5, 1917 the unit received orders and they prepared to leave behind the cold Wisconsin weather.  On Sunday, December 9 they set out for New Jersey. Arriving in Weehawken, New Jersey on December 12th where they were assigned to a transport ship. The unit boarded the U.S.S. Covington at the port in Hoboken, New Jersey and sailed for France on December 13, 1917 where they would join the Second Division.

 Troop Transport List

U.S.S. Covington, Boston Navy Yard, October 4, 1917

The Covington was part of a fleet of eight ships accompanied by the battleship North Carolina. "The Covington was crowded. Every available inch of space was utilized. The bunks were arranged in tiers from floor to ceiling. Even the mess halls were sleeping apartments during the night. At night no light, not even a cigarette was allowed to betray the ships position to possible submarines. The few blue lights in the passage ways made a weird effect. Lifeboat drills occupied much of the time for the troops. On December 27, at 8:00 am the lighthouse off the coast of France was sighted." Eleven airplanes guided the ships into the harbor at Brest. The men remained on the ship until December 31st when they were moved to the railroad station. It was a cold, uncomfortable train trip across northern France toward the Swiss border. On January 2nd the men arrived at Valdahon. Sometime during the trip, John sent a postcard to Rose, his mother, telling her he had arrived safely in France.

Kansas City Times, January 9, 1918

Valdahon was setup as a fire school to introduce the Americans to French guns, shells and methods. French officers were assigned to each battery to assist in the instruction. The unit remained at Valdahon until March 8th when they were ordered to Rupt, on the line south of Verdun. By this time John had been promoted to Corporal.  "The Regiment was the first artillery in the Division to throw shells over the line. The regiment familiarized itself in the different kinds of fire; such as -fire for destruction, harassing fire, counter-battery, counter-offensive and participation in coups de main. The French officers in charge commended the regiment upon its high grade of work."

John received a medal for his participation in the battle of Verdun

The Second Division was organized as an independent unit. On May 14, the regiment left on a three day march to Vannault les Dames. They continued to move to Revigny and then on to Chambors. After division maneuvers in the vicinity of Lattainville, they moved again, this time by train through Paris east toward Meaux. They detrained and marched 38 kilometers, "complicated by the presence of many civilian refugees and retreating French soldiers, the Regiment was halted at Cocherel. On June 4 the firing batteries were moved into position in the Chateau-Thierry sector." The successful action stopped the German drive toward Paris.

The Regiment was actively engaged in fighting for the next month. The Americans took the offensive and regained almost all the territory that had been lost in the Spring of 1918. The Regiment was relieved on July 7 and 8, moving back to northeast of La Ferte-Sous-Jouarre. The rest didn't last long, they moved to advanced positions on July 11 and 12. "The evening of Sunday, July 14, The Regiment received orders to march immediately to the wood near Betz. The march was begun a short time after midnight. There was no moon, but the sky was clear and the stars gave sufficient light for traveling. Our destination was reached about noon on the 15th." They continued to move to the line south of Soissons. "The spirit of the men was high during the march. Though they were compelled to spend two nights practically without sleep and though many of them were on foot during the entire march there was no complaining. All the men seemed eager to take part in what they felt was going to happen. During the brief stops men would doze for a few minutes at the side of the road and some would fall asleep in their saddles; but when it was time to move again the column went forth without delay."

American Gunners Sighting and Firing a Big Bun of the Howitzer Type and Destroying German Defenses in Preparation for an Advance by the Infantry

The battle began early in the morning of Thursday, July 18th. "It was a splendid day for the Allies. The Germans surrendered by the hundreds and the advance was hindered more by the difficulty of bringing up new troops, supplies and ammunition than by the opposition of the Germany Army. Very soon it as evident that the enemy had retreated so far that the 17th could not work effectively in its positions of the morning, so the pieces were ordered to advance."  The Allies successfully attacked again on the morning of July 19th and moved forward again. The unit remained there through the 25th. The men were fatigued but continued to answer the call to fire while under continuous fire. They captured German ammunition and had a good time using it to fire on the Germans.

On the night of July 25th the French relieved the Batteries and the entire regiment slept at the Regimental Echelon and rested the next day. During the month of August, the Regiment moved a number of time, both marching and riding on trains, ending up near Mereville. Replacement troops arrived and officer changes were made.

September 3, 1918 the Regiment was ordered to move. "The wagons were packed late in the afternoon and after dark the front of the column moved out. An air raid over some nearby ammunition factories and aviation field added excitement to the departure." The Regiment was headed for St. Mihiel. At 1:00 am on September 12th the attach against the Germans started. "Since the Germans had concentrated a great deal of artillery in the St. Mihiel salient, it had been expected that there would be stiff resistance. But the Germans, having some idea of what was coming, had started to get most of their artillery back the night before. What was left was completely smothered. Many veterans pronounced this barrage the most complete that the war had produced."

Another march and train ride took the troops south of Somme-Py. The barrage started at 6:00 am on October 3rd. It was effective but the Germans held firm. The battalions underwent constant shelling and the fire from German machine gunners.

On October 6, 1918 German Chancellor Prince Maximillian send a note through the neutral Swiss government requesting that peace be restored through an immediate armistice with terms. President Wilson rejected the proposal. If there had been a different response to the request, John's life may have been very different.

On the night of October 9, 2018 members of Battery B, including Corporal John Coakley were firing the Number 4 gun. The gun took a a direct hit and members of the gun crew were killed or wounded. John lost his left foot and his right thigh was badly torn. He made sure the other three injured men on his crew were attended to before he accepted help. A fellow soldier recalls John saying, "never mind me, Lieutenant, tend to the others first." For this he was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross and the French Croix de Guerre.

WWI Military Cablegrams - AEF and War Dept

After two fierce attacks the Germans were pushed back. "A great many horses were killed, but the loss in men was not as great as would be expected from the amount of shelling that the battalions underwent." On October 11th the Germans were making a general retreat. "So in the afternoon the guns, wagons, and caissons were hitched up and the pursuit began... Since the Germans were burning the villages that they left, the entire northern horizon was aglow."

The unit moved on to Meuse-Argonne. The Germans were defeated and they lost territory they had held through numerous previous battles.  The Armistice was signed at 5:00 am Paris time on November 11, 1918 and went into effect at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month. The fighting continued right up until 11 pm.       

The damage to John's left leg was extensive and part of his lower leg was amputated below the knee.  After spending time in the hospital in France, John was sent to Brest where he boarded the U.S.S. Leviathan on February 3, 1919 with other wounded soldiers for the trip back to the US.

Troop Transport List

U.S.S. Leviathan

The Leviathan arrived in New York on February 11, 1919. John was sent to the army hospital at Fort Dodge, Des Moines, Iowa where he was fitted with a wooden leg. While he was in the hospital John was awarded his Distinguished Service Cross and Croix de Guerre medals. There was an awards ceremony on the Fourth of July at the Fort Dodge parade grounds.

The Distinguished Service Cross is the second highest US Army military award. It is given for extreme gallantry and risk of life in actual combat.

 Distinguished Service Cross Certificate, John L Coakley

  Distinguished Service Cross Awarded to John L Coakley

The Croix de Guerre was awarded by France for individuals who distinguish themselves by acts of heroism involving combat with enemy forces. John was recommended by the regiment level so his medal included a bronze star on the ribbon.

Award Certificate

John L Coakley's Croix du Guerre Medal

John was discharged on August 29, 1919 and returned to Kansas City, Kansas. He had surgery on the leg in the Spring of 1941 so he could have a new prosthesis fitted.

Discharge Papers of John L Coakley

There was a small hole in the calf of his wooden leg, he told his grandchildren that a yellow bird lived in there. We all believed Grandpa even though the bird was very shy and none of us ever actually saw it.

John's heart was damaged from the extensive blood loss from both the injuries to his left foot and right leg he sustained on October 9, 1918. He suffered a number of severe heart attacks through out his life. His lungs were also damaged, they were full of scar tissue from being gassed during the war so he coughed which aggravated his heart condition.

John didn't let the injuries he sustained while serving his country stop him from accomplishing his goals. He and his wife Helen homesteaded a ranch in California in 1929, they moved to Nevada in 1940 where they had a farm and raised chickens, and when they returned to Kansas he was a Professional Engineer and worked as a mechanical engineer. John loved his country. After the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor, John tried to enlist as a Seabee but he was turned down because of his health issues. 

Sources

Dudek, Debra M. World War I Genealogy Research Guide Tracing American Military and Non-Combatant Ancestors, Electronic Edition Courtesy of The Doughboy Foundation and the US World War One Centennial Commission

"History of the Seventeenth Field Artillery, A.E.F. 1917-1918 Second Division" author not known. Original was in possession of Mrs. Helen Coakley. There is a letter attached dated May 12 1970 talking about a reunion from Don Kreger to James Sykes.

Order 13090 General Headquarters of the French Armies of the East, Personnel Bureau Decorations dated January 2, 1919.

Letters from John K Conant to John L Coakley dated April 2, 1942, June 25, 1966 and July 3, 1966.

WWI Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918, Ancestry.com, stamped A3-1-45.

Texas Transportation Archive, "Tap Line Case" Summary of Little Rock, Maumelle & Western Railroad. https://www.ttarchive.com/Library/Articles/Little-Rock-Maumelle-Western_ICC-Tap-Line.html

Honorable Discharge from The United States Army, John L Coakley, dated August 29, 1919.

Homestead File No 017373 US Land Office Sacramento, CA dated April 11, 1927 John L Coakley.

US Army Transport Service, Passenger Lists, 1910-1939. Ancestry.com Record Group 92, Roll 419.

Kansas City Times, "John Coakley "Over There", Wednesday, January 9, 1918 page 2 column 4, Newspaperarchives.com.

Kansas City Times, "Coris De Guerre Man's Fear," Friday, July 4, 1919 page 3, NewspaperArchives.com.

Topeka State Journal, "Casualties", Monday, December 23, 1918, p 11. NewspaperArchives.com

WWI Military Cablegrams - AEF and War Dept, National Archives, Publication Number M930, Record Group 120. Fold3.com

Des Moines Register, "Make Fourth Glorious at Fort - Three Yank Heroes to be Decorated; Fried Chicken "and Everything"", Friday, July 4, 1919. Newspapers.com

 Framed certificates awarded to John L Coakley Distinguished Service Cross and Croix de Guerre in collection of the author.

The War of the Nation, Library of Congress Item 19013740 page 157. www.loc.gov

The American  Army in the World War: A Divisional Record of the American Expeditionary Forces in Europe,  1921, Overseas Book Company, Manchester NH, p108, archive. org.

Selective Service Registration Cards, WWII: Fourth Registration, National Archives, Record Group 147, Serial Number U367. Fold3.com

Medals awarded to John L Coakley, in possession of his grandson.

Joseph Thomas Clay and Anna Woodman Clay

Joseph Thomas Clay was born in Quincy, Adams County, Illinois on 12 May 1873. He was the son of William Clay and Elizabeth Mallon Clay. He was the maternal uncle of Helen Struck Coakley. Not many records have been located related to Joseph's early years. William and Elizabeth purchased the lot at 1135 North Eleventh street and built a house on it while Joseph was still a baby. 

1135 North Eleventh St, Quincy, IL

In 1884 Joseph went to work as a laborer at the Quincy Saw Mill where his father worked. In approximately 1892 Joseph and his brother John left Quincy and moved to Chicago, Cook County, Illinois where Joseph met Anna Woodman. Anna was the daughter of William and Margaret Woodman. She was probably born in February 1872 in Chicago. William was a stone cutter who probably immigrated from Ireland.

On 19 April 1894 Joseph and Anna were married at Holy Family Catholic Church.

Joseph and Anna had four children. They were all baptized at Holy Family Catholic Church in Chicago:

• Annie Elizabeth was born 10 September 1897 and was baptized 3 October 1897. Annie went by Lillian.
• Margaret Mary was born 6 December 1898 and was baptized 22 December 1898.
• Joseph Alfred was born 22 October 1901 and was baptized 14 November 1901.
• Maria Catherine was born 22 May 1903 and was baptized 11 June 1903. 

The family was close to Anna's family. Joseph, Anna, Annie and Margaret were living with Margaret Woodman on West 13th Street in Chicago on the 1900 census. This is the last time the family is all together on a census record. There are gaps in time when Joseph isn't listed on the Census or in the City Directories. Anna's marital status isn't consistent, on a number of records she is listed as Joseph's widow years before he actually died on 12 September 1932.

The 1910 City Directory lists Joseph at 1413 S Centre Avenue; this is the same address where Ann and the family, including Margaret Woodman, were living on the 1910 Census. Joseph was included with the family on the census.

Joseph isn't listed again until 1914, in both 1914 and 1915 he is living at the same address as Anna and her mother.

In 1917 the City Directory lists Anna as the widow of Joseph. Three of her children - Joseph, Lillian, and Margaret are living at the same address and Joseph isn't listed in the City Directory. 

In 1920, Anna and the four kids are still living with her mother and Joseph isn't listed. The family was still living at 1413 Centre Avenue. Anna was the head of the family even though her Mother is still living with them. There was a border living with them and Anna was working outside the home to support the family. Anna's marital status shows married.

In 1923, Anna and Joseph are both listed at the same address 3617 Lexington. Anna is listed as Joseph's widow and Joseph is working as an express helper.

In 1930 on the census, Anna, Margaret, and Marie with her husband, Robert Dressel, were living at 4853 Adams. Anna is listed as a widow and it working as a cook at a hospital.

Joseph died 12 September 1932 and was buried in Mount Carmel Catholic Cemetery. At the time of his death he was living with his son, Joseph A. His death certificate says he was married to Anna. No obituary for Joseph has been located.

Anna obituary was published in the Chicago Tribune on Wednesday, December 26, 1951 and she is listed as "the beloved wife of the late Joseph".

The wording in her obituary sounds like the couple was happily married but the other records don't paint the same picture. The references to Anna as a widow before Joseph's death could have been due to incorrect information provided to the Census taker and the person who collected information for the City Directories, but since it happened multiple times that doesn't seem likely. Joseph was missing from records for multiple years; however, the gaps in the records don't correspond with the references to Anna as a widow. According to his death certificate, Joseph was living with his son when he died, which could support that he and Anna may have been estranged. Unless more records are found, we may never know what the truth is about the relationship between Joseph and Anna.

Sources

1. Chicago Tribune, 26 December 1951 page 36.
2. Death Certificate and Correction of Death Record of Joseph T Clay, Chicago, Cook County, IL, Certificate #24093, Newspapers.com.
3. 1900 US Census,  Chicago, Cook County, Illinois, ED 200, Sheet 13B, Ancestry.com.
4. 1910 US Census, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois, ED 1471, Sheet 9A, Ancestry.com.
5. 1920 US Census, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois, ED 2248, Sheet 13B, Ancestry.com
6. 1930 US Census, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois, ED 16-104, Sheet 5A, Ancestry.com
7. City Directories, Chicago, Illinois 1892-1923, Footnote.com.
8. City Directories, Quincy, Adams County, Illinois 1884-1891, Quincy Public Library.
9. Interment Register, Mount Carmel Cemetery, p 196, FamilySearch.org, Illinos, Archdiocese of Chicago, cemetery records, 1864-1989.
10. Marriage License, Cook County, Illinois, certificate 216402.
11. Baptism records, Holy Family Parish, Chicago, IL.
12. Quincy Herald, 1 September 1875 page 4, "Building Permits".
13. Deeds, Adams County Courthouse - book 66 page 475; book 88, page 449; book 14 page 448; book 18 page 323; book 218 page 350.

Clara Was A Wrestling Fan

Clara Ziebold Sennott was the perfect grandma. She always had home-baked cookies, she was comforting when you took a tumble out of the red wagon going down the terrace in the back yard, she grew African Violets, and always had time to read a story.

Every morning, Clara, cut up bread and put it in the bird feeder that hung in the Willow Tree in the back yard. After the bread was in the feeder, she tapped on the top of the wooden bird feeder with the saucer, and we went back into the kitchen and watched through the window. There were sparrows, cardinals, and blue jays that came to the Willow Tree for breakfast every morning.  Clara would get upset was when the squirrels would get into the bird feeder. She kept a stick by the back door and she would go running out the door waving the stick telling the squirrels to get out of the bird feeder.

Clara's sewing machine was in the attic at the head of the stairs, it was a Singer that operated with a foot pedal. It was a huge temptation to "sew" and boy did we make a mess a couple of times. It took Clara a long time to untangle the thread and fix the tension.

I was surprised to learn that Clara was a fan of "Gorgeous George" the wrestler. She would watch his matches whenever she could. 

According to the WWE Hall of Fame profile, George Wagner was born in 1915. After a few years as a wrestler he got an idea and created Gorgeous George, "a snooty, platinum blonde villain who draped himself in lace and fur and entered the ring to the strains of 'Pomp and Circumstance'. Accompanied by a manservant who sprayed the ring down with Chanel perfume, George would enrage the audience just by walking into an arena."

George was one of the first to create a persona and quickly became one of the biggest attraction in wrestling. In the 1940's he was the highest-paid athlete in the world. George was a major star through the 1950s and Clara was a big fan. He passed away in 1963. 

George inspired wrestlers that came after him like Ric Flair and Buddy Rogers. He also influenced others like Muhammad Ali, Bob Dylan and James Brown. 

Being a wrestling fan, seemed so out of character for Clara. When Clara's daughter told me about her watching Gorgeous George's matches, I was surprised. It just goes to show that we can all have many varied interests. 

Sources

1. WWE website - https://www.wwe.com/superstars/gorgeousgeorge

Who is Anton Wilke?

Christian Hoffmeister was the maternal grandfather of Clara Ziebold Sennott. He was a business owner, alderman and prominent citizen of Carondelet. At the time Carondelet was a separate city, it has since been annexed and is now part of St. Louis.

A search in the St. Louis Genealogical Societies Probate Abstracts resulted in a number of estates that named Christian Hoffmeister as executor. One of the estates that named Christian as executor was the estate of Anton Wilke. Reviewing the estate papers led to an important piece in the puzzle of Christian's family.

Anton was Christian's step father. His mother Wilhelmina Brunke married three times. Her first husband was Heinrich Dege. They had at least one son, Heinrich Dege. After his death she married Carl Hoffmeister. They had at least three children - Christian, Wilhelm and Johanna. After Carl's death Wilhelmina married Anton Wilke.

Anton Wilke and Wilhelmina Brunke Dege Hoffmeister Wilke came to the United States from Hannover sometime before 3 June 1848  when Christian Hoffmeister purchases Lot number 8 in Block number 2 of Blow & Le Beaume's addition to the City of St. Louis for $105.00. The property had a 30 feet front on Third Street and ran back 132 feet 6 inches to an alley . Wilhelmina Wilke, wife of Anton Wilke has use of the property for the term of her natural life and after her demise the property defaulted to Christian Hoffmeister.

In 1850, Anton and Wilhelmina appear on the Federal Census in the City of St. Louis. Wilhelm and Johanna are living with them on the census. Anton is working as a laborer and Wilhelm is a butcher.

On 9 November 1852 Anton and Wilhelmina purchased lot number 10 in block number 3 of John B Duchouquette's addition to the City of St. Louis which has a 29 foot front at 740 Columbus Street and runs 146 feet and 2 inches deep for $1650.00. There was a promissory note filed on the same day in the deed books, Anton and Wilhelmina borrowed $510 which was to be repaid in two years with 6% interest.

Anton wrote his will on 28 August 1853, "being according to my own apprehension of infirm state of health and sensible of my liability to sudden death but at the same time of sound and proposing mind and being at the same time anxious to make a suitable disposition of my real and personal personal estate." In his will, Anton included the names of the first two husbands of his wife, Wilhelmina and the living children of each marriage.

Anton passed away on 20 October 1853 of consumption. He named his wife, Wilhelmina as his Executrix. Unfortunately, she died a few days later on 24

October, 1853. Anton was buried 21 October 1853 in the church cemetery after a mass at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church. Wilhelmina was buried in Holy Ghost cemetery, she was a member of the German Evangelical church.

Christian Hoffmeister was appointed Administrator of Anton's estate. His heirs were Heinrich Dege, Christian Hoffmeister, Wilhelm Hoffmeister and Johanna Hoffmeister, the children of his wife Wilhelmina.

Since Anton passed away before the promissory note on the property he purchased on Columbus street, the property was sold for $2200. The note was repaid and the balance was included in Anton's estate.

Christian paid Heinrich Dege, Wilhelm Hoffmeister and Johanna Hoffmeister each $100 for improvements that Anton and Wilhelmina made to the property on Third Street.  Johanna's share was paid to Heinrich Dege as her guardian since she was of unsound mind and incapable of managing her affairs.

The inventory of Anton's estate was valued at $96.85 and included clothing, household items, furniture, a saddle, a wheel barrel, a stove, and two cows. Christian, as administrator, was allowed to dispose of the property in lieu of holding a sale since much of the property was "from the old country into this country and is not customary here and almost worn off."

After all the debts were paid, the final settlement of Anton's estate was $1781.11. $800 was set aside for Johanna and the balance was divided between the four heirs. They received $245.27 each. 

Thanks to the completeness of Anton's will, we know who Christian's parents and siblings were.

Sources
1. "Missouri Probate Records, 1750-1998," images, Family Search (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9LM-CS9R?cc=2399107&wc=QZ9D-HRT%3A1327907501%2C1328512742 : 22 September 2014), St. Louis (Independent City) > Wills, 1849-1862, vol D-F > image 228 of 797; Missouri State Archives, Jefferson City.
2. "Register of Deaths, 1850-1909," images, Ancestry.com, St Louis,  Missouri Death Records, Missouri State Archives, Jefferson City, p 89.
3. " Church Records, 1844-1974," Catholic Church, St Vincent de Paul, St. Louis, Missouri, FHL film 1872288, Item 6, Burials 1845-1864.
4. 1850 US Federal Census, St. Louis Ward 1, St. Louis (Independent City), Missouri, M432, Roll 415, page 144B, Lines 16-24.
5. Deed, St. Louis, Missouri, Book S4, Page 514, FHL Film 531580. 
6. Deed, St. Louis, MIssouri, Book M6, Page 271, FHL Film 531608.

7. Deed, St. Louis, Missouri, Book V6, Page 164, FHL Film 531788

8. Deed, St. Louis, Missiouri, Book 161, Pages 176-178, FHL Film 531797.

9. St. Louis Probate Court Digitization Project, 1802-1900, Probate file of Anton Wilke, Missouri Digital Heritage,  https://www.sos.mo.gov/Images/Archives/Judicial2/C30912_142063.pdf  

10. "Register of Deaths, 1850-1909," images, Ancestry.com, St. Louis, Missouri Death Records, Missouri State Archives, Jefferson City, p. 92.

John G Clay - Racketeer or Straight Arrow?

Helen Struck Coakley told a story about her uncle, John G. Clay, who was killed in Chicago. She thought he was one of the victims of the St. Valentine's Day Massacre.

On February 14, 1929 seven men were murdered at the garage at 2122 North Clark Street in the Lincoln Park neighborhood on Chicago's North Side.  The victims were all part of or affiliated with the Bugs Moran Gang. The assassins, allegedly members of Al Capone's Gang, impersonated police officers. They burst into the warehouse, ordered the victims to line up and face the wall, gunned them down, and fled the scene. The victims were James Clark, Peter Gusenberg, Frank Gusenberg, Adam Heyer, John May, Dr. Reinhardt H Schwimmer and Albert Weinshank. John G. Clay was not among the victims. 

Family stories may not be completely accurate but usually there is something behind them that is directionally correct, so I decided to research the death of John G. Clay to see how he died. 

John G. Clay - Picture from Chicago Tribune, Saturday, November 17, 1928

John G. Clay was the Secretary-Treasurer of the Laundry & Dye House Drivers' and Chauffeurs' Union Local No 712. On Friday, 16 November 1928, he was sitting at his desk which faced the big window in the front of union headquarters at 639 South Ashland Avenue in Chicago. At 6:50 pm two men walked up the front steps and fired through the window using an automatic pistol and a sawed-off shotgun. Eight bullets hit John in the chest and abdomen. The two gunmen escaped by automobile. 

Headquarters of the Laundry & Dye House Drivers' and Chauffeurs' Union Local No 712

According to multiple newspaper accounts, John's body lay in state at union headquarters on Sunday, 18 November 1928 where thousands of mourners filed past his body. His coffin was placed near the spot where he was gunned down. There were two funeral services. The first was a requiem high mass was said on Monday morning at 10 am at St. Cajetan's Catholic Church, 112th Street and Artesian Avenue. The second was a memorial service at Carmen's Hall, Van Buren Street and Ashland Boulevard. Members of the Elk's Lodge that John belonged to and union officials conducted the memorial service.  He was laid to rest after the second service on the Goeppner family plot along with his wife's parents and other family members at St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery.

Surviving John were his wife Theresa (nee Goeppner), his son John W. Clay; his sisters Anna Clay, Margaret Clay, Mrs. Susan Struck, Mrs. Mary Kroner; and his brother Joseph Clay.

The gunmen were never charged. The most credible theory is that John was killed by members of the Moran Gang that were killed in the massacre. The clothing industry was full of strife between the various parties. The main players were:

• The Laundry & Dye House Chauffeurs' & Drivers' Union No 712. John was one of the principal organizers of the union and served as the Secretary-Treasurer. The union represented the drivers who moved the clothing from the tailor or cleaners store front to the cleaning plant where they were cleaned and then back to the store front. 
• The Cleaners', Dyers' & Pressers' Union. Ben Abrams headed this union. The workers ran the equipment in the cleaning plants.
• The Retail Cleaners' & Dyers' union headed by Albert Borris. The members of this union worked in the store fronts and took in the clothing from the public. 
• The Chicago Master Cleaners & Dyers' Association directed by F.W. Crowley and Max Krauss. The association owned and operated most of the city's cleaning and dyeing plants. They strong armed cleaners and laundromats who were forced to pay excessive dues to belong to the association. Prices for services went up and customers started taking their business to the suburbs. 
• Central Cleaners and Dyers Association, a partnership of small North side cleaning shops who broke off from the Master Cleaners & Dyers' Association. They enlisted Bugs Moran to protect them from the violence of the Master Cleaners' & Dyers' Association. Moran took over the association eventually installing Albert Weinshank (one of the St.Valentine's Day Massacre victims) as president. Moran escalated the violence in the industry and he tried to infiltrate the Laundry & Dye House Chauffeurs' & Drivers' union, allegedly to take control of their $250,000 treasury. 
•  Sanitary Cleaning Shops, Inc. was started by Morris Becker. Becker was bankrupted by the Master Cleaners & Dyers' association. They bombed his plant because he wouldn't raise his prices in 1927. That was followed by a strike that left him without workers. He filed a complaint with the State's Attorney that went nowhere. He lost his business. Becker built a new cleaning company with his new partner, Al Capone.  

Bombings and workers being beaten up was the norm. Bugs Moran was hired by the Central Cleaners and Dyers Association for $1800 a week to combat the violence and strong arming by the Master Cleaners & Dyers' Association. The violence escalated and Moran tried to take over the Central Cleaning Company. He sent one of his men to negotiate an agreement when he couldn't provide authorization for the negotiation, Clay refused to negotiate and wasn't intimidated by Moran's gang. Moran also tried to take over the Union from Clay and failed. Morris Becker partnered with Al Capone and the Moran gang was out maneuvered. The violence stopped until the night John Clay was killed. 

Newspaper accounts of the killing painted different pictures of Clay. According to some he was a racketeer and according to others he was as "clean as a hounds tooth" who was caught between two racketeers - Moran and Capone. Clay was instrumental in forming the union when he was a driver. He worked diligently and managed to raise the wages for the drivers and improve working conditions. He built the union treasury up to over $250,000 which was used to help the membership. One of the agreements that he negotiated in 1927 with the Masters association is in the manuscript collection of the Chicago History Museum.

John was respected and admired by his union brethren. In addition to being Secretary-Treasurer of Local No 712 he was a trustee of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Chauffeurs, Stablemen and Helpers of America; a member of the Chicago Federation of Labor Executive Board; a member of the Teamsters' Joint Council; director of the Amalgamated Trust Savings Bank, and director of the South Side Building and Loan Association. 

The probate file for John's estate doesn't support the racketeer charge. His estate was valued at a little less than $72,000. Estate tax of $1079.15 was paid by his estate. One newspaper article makes the point that no racketeer would have left $250,000 in the Union treasury which has merit. John Clay was respected by the union membership for his successful efforts to help them earn a living wage while working in decent working conditions. He would have to have been shrewd and a skilled negotiator to have moved the union to the position of power that it held, but there is no real evidence that he could be considered a racketeer. 

The violence in the clothing industry in Chicago didn't stop with John's death. There are multiple references to his killing as one of the reasons for the St. Valentine's Day massacre. Helen's story resulted in finding out the story of the death of John G. Clay.  

Sources

1. The Mob Museum https://themobmuseum.org/exhibits/massacre-wall/

2.  Death Certificates Index, 1916-1950, Illinois Secretary of State Website http://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/archives/databases/idphdeathindex.html

3. Chicago Police Department Homicide Record, 1870-1930, Illinois Secretary of State Website http://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/archives/databases/homicide.html

4. "Illinois, Cook County Deaths, 1878-1994," database, FamilySearch(https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q2MZ-SH3K : 18 March 2018), John G Clay, 16 Nov 1928; citing Chicago, Cook, Illinois, United States, source reference , record number , Cook County Courthouse, Chicago; FHL microfilm 

5. "Find A Grave Index," database, FamilySearch(https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVV3-LXSR : 13 December 2015), John G Clay, ; Burial, Evergreen Park, Cook, Illinois, United States of America, Saint Mary Catholic Cemetery and Mausoleum; citing record ID 6807789, Find a Grave, http://www.findagrave.com.

6. "Illinois, Archdiocese of Chicago, Cemetery Records, 1864-1989," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q2HJ-ZRR9 : 11 March 2018), John G Clay, 19 Nov 1928; citing Evergreen Park, Cook, Illinois, United States, St. Mary, Archidiocese of Chicago; FHL microfilm 1,643,525.

7. "Illinois Deaths and Stillbirths, 1916-1947," database, FamilySearch(https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:N3C4-QHT : 10 March 2018), John G. Clay, 16 Nov 1928; Public Board of Health, Archives, Springfield; FHL microfilm 1,892,228.

8. "Slay Racket Boss At Desk," Chicago Daily Tribune, Saturday, November 17, 1928 page 1 and back page. 
9. "Mourn Killing of Racketeer Victim," The Chicago Federation of Labor Federation News, Vol 20, No 21, November 24, 1928, pages 1, 3, and 5. 
10. Keefe, Rose, The Man Who Got Away: The Bugs Moran Story: A Biography, p 223-5 and 228-9.
11. "Saint Valentine's Day Massacre: an Edgeeater Connection," Edgewater Historical Society Website http://www.edgewaterhistory.org/ehs/articles/v24-4-7
12. Chicago Federation of Labor, The Official Labor Union Directory, January 1922.
13. "Gunmen Taken Into Business For Trade War," Chicago Sunday Tribune, 27 May 1928 pages 1 and 6.
14. "Hunt Racketeer Chiefs in Killing of Tim Murphy," Chicago Daily Tribune, Thursday, June 28, 1928, pages 1 and 8.
15. "Slick Gangs Get Rich Pickings In Cleaning Racket," Chicago Daily Tribune, Wednesday, November 14, 1928, p 8.
16. Probate File John G. Clay, Archives Reference 01-0781, Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County. 
17. "Cley Points to Moran Gang in Killing of Clay," Chicago Daily Tribune, November 18, 1928 p 5.
18. "Nelson Takes Place of Slain Labor Leader," Chicago Daily Tribune, November 19, 1928 p17
19. "Link Massacre of Seven Gangsters to Clay Slaying," Chicago Daily Tribune, February 21, 1929, p1-2.
20. "Bullets, Bombs, and Blackmail," Chicago Sunday Tribune, April 5, 1936, part 7 page 12. 
21. John G. Clay memorial, Find A Grave, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/6807789/john-g-clay
22. "Death Notices, Chicago Tribune, November 18, 1928, page 16.