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.