George Davis: The High School Years

My father George Davis past away in 2020. He married Louise Schlick the daughter of Frank and Mae Schlick. George grew up in the Englewood area on Chicago’s southside from the mid nineteen thirties through the late nineteen fifties. Dad and I spent several days, weeks and months prior to his death on discussing his remembrances of growing up. Amongst some of the memories he shared was going to Chicago Vocational High School and the places he lived at while growing up.

Above photo is of George Stuart Davis (Age 18) shown in the Chicago Vocational High School Yearbook for 1952 – 1953. George graduated in February 1953 from the School.

Chicago Vocational High School (2100 E 87th St,) is a public 4–year vocational high school located in the Avalon Park neighborhood on the south side of Chicago. The school opened in 1941, the school is operated by Chicago Public Schools district. The school building was recently named in 2022 to the National List of Historic Places.

This photo of the Chicago Vocational High School was taken by Lee Bey and from the WBEZ-FM website. Bey is author of the book Southern Exposure: The Overlooked Architecture of Chicago’s South Side.

My father in his handwritten memoirs of his high school years at Chicago Vocational writes: “I was unhappy all 4 years, and my grades reflected that.” I own two high school year books my father had saved.

The cover and title pages for the 1952 – 1953 Chicago Vocational High School Yearbook called “The Technician”.

George assisted putting together the Chicago Vocational High School newspaper called “The Trademaster”. His graduation certificate showed he had a degree in linotype machines.

George’s name and role in putting together the newspaper was that of being a “makeup” staff member. “Newspaper makeup” is the design of a newspaper page or the manner in which pictures, headlines and news stories are arranged on a page.

George lived with his parents George G. and Florence Marie Brose Adelsperger Davis. During these years that he was in high school in his junior and senior years the family lived at 62nd and Harper Ave in Chicago. The home was located next to the Sherwood School (now Hyde Park Academy High School) on Stony Island the street just to the east. Beyond their home and to the east was Jackson Park. According to my father this was “the worst place we ever had. It had one room a roll up bed and a closet converted with a two burner stove and oven. We had one large bath that was shared with two other families.”

Prior to the home they were rented at 62nd and Harper Ave they lived across the street from the Sherwood School at 6048 Sangamon in Chicago. They rented the second floor of the home and my dad noted that “there were no rats this time” at this home.

George began working at the Sears store at 63rd and Halsted while in high school. This area was considered Chicago’s “second downtown”.

My father’s favorite free time activity was going to the movies at one of the movie palaces then in business on Chicago’s south side. His favorite movie was Warner Brothers “God is my Co-Pilot“. They prayer (see below the movie poster image) recited in the movie was used during my father’s memorial services at Assumption Cemetery following his death.

“They who had scorned the thought of any strength except their own to
lean on,
Learned at length, how fear can sabotage the bravest heart.
And human weakness answering to the prod of terror calls, “Help us oh God”.
Then silence lets the silent voice be heard, bringing it’s message like
the spoken word.
Believe.
Believe in me.
Cast out your fear.
For I am not out there beyond the sky,
But here, right here in your heart.
I am the strength you seek.
Believe!

And they believed.”

Mystery Photo: St Michael Catholic Church Wheaton Illinois

The above photograph was taken in the City of Wheaton Milton Township DuPage County Illinois at St. Michael Roman Catholic Church. I am posting this photo due to the fact that it is a mystery. There is nothing written on the back of this photograph. Casper and Susan (Daleiden) Schlick (my great-grandparents) are in this photo, they are in the second row and just above the baby in the front row. In looking at this photo it would appear to be a baptism. The baby in the front row in a women’s arms is dressed in what appears to be a baptismal or christening gown. I would like to see if anyone out in cyberspace can provide some suggestions on who is in the photo.

Martin Armbrust Obituary Rediscovered

I spent some time this past week searching online past issues of the Hampshire (Illinois) Register via the Ella Johnson Memorial Public Library in Hampshire Illinois website. I ran across several interesting articles from the “Burlington” column of the Register. Some of the articles are from the 1940s and 1950s. The Schlicks were a very social group of people. They were always visiting each other on the weekends or staying for awhile at Mary Anne (or “Annie) Armbrust/Schlick and Joseph Schlick’s home at Main and Water Streets in beautiful downtown Burlington Illinois in Kane County. I will be sharing several of these postings online.

Today, I am going to feature Martin Armbrust’s obituary. Martin was the father of Mary Anne Schlick and the father – in – law of Joseph Schlick, Sr. The obituary featured below was published in a January 1914 issue of The Hampshire Register.

I think it is interesting to point out the last sentence of the obituary. We forget that many families ended up taking in family members unable to take care of themselves later in life. Annie Schlick also took care of Marie Sittler (Hoffman/Lycke) when her mother, Annie’s sister Caroline Armbrust/Sittler died after giving birth to Marie. Today’s times we live in move family members to assisted or long term care facilities.

The Martin Armbrust family. Martin is the man with the long white beard. Mary Anne Schlick is the lady on the far left and her sister Caroline is on the lady on the far right.

Hampshire Illinois’ Ela Johnson Memorial Library District History Collection

The town of Hampshire is located in Hampshire Township in Kane County Illinois. The Schlick family lived near Burlington, Illinois in Burlington Township in Kane County. The Village of Hampshire played an important role in the Schlick family history. The family attended the St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church in Hampshire.

One excellent resource for Hampshire and area history is the Ella Johnson Memorial Library District located in a building on the main street of downtown Hampshire Illinois. The library has two excellent resources that I have used. The first is a digitized and searchable copies (1885 -2009) of the Hampshire Register newspaper via their website. The second source of visual and documentary information is the Library’s Illinois Digital Archive Ella Historical Collection. There are many historical photos available for research and viewing at the IDA website. Here is one example of a photo available at the IDA website.

St Charles Borromeo Roman Catholic Church Built 1878 Addition: 1886 Picture: 1886. Hampshire Hampshire Township Kane County Illinois. (Source: Ella’s Historical Collection-Images – Ella Johnson Memorial Library District Hampshire Illinois.)

Joseph Schlick Memorial Plaque at Forest Preserve Headquarters Rediscovered !

My wife recently contacted the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County (Illinois) to find out the fate of a memorial plaque dedicated to Joseph Schlick, my mother Louise Schlick’s brother who was killed in Vietnam in March of 1968.

Originally the stone/plaque was at the former Forest Preserve maintenance facility on Geneva/ Saint Charles Road in Glen Ellyn near what is now the Churchill Woods Forest Preserve. The stone and plaque was later moved to the second Forest Preserve Headquarters located off of Illinois Route 53 and south of Roosevelt Road in Glen Ellyn. When a new headquarters was built on the former Dan and Ada Rice Estate on Naperville Road south or Illinois Route 56/Butterfield Road in Wheaton the plaque was relocated near the main entrance to the new headquarter building.

My wife and I want to thank Dan Weeden the GIS Coordinator and Jeannine Kannegiesser Chief Partnership & Philanthropy Officer for the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County (Illinois) for locating it and for the photos and aerial map of the headquarters. Mystery solved!

For further information on Joseph Schlick see my previous blog entry on his life and service to the country.

Casper F. Schlick of Mack Road Part 1

Casper Francis Schlick was my great great grandfather. He was the son of Joseph Schlick of Burlington Illinois in Kane County. Casper grew up during the first part of his life in Burlington. He was born 17 August 1878 on his father’s farm located in Burlington Township in Kane County, Illinois.

Casper Schlick and his bride Susan (Daleiden) Schlick on their wedding day 1906.

Casper’s father was born December 1, 1855 in Prospect Park (now Glen Ellyn), Milton Township in DuPage County Illinois. His grandparents were both born in Bavaria, Casper Schlick and Margaret Weidner.

He had several brothers and sisters in his family.

The children of Joseph and Mary Anne (Armbrust) Schlick in 1906. This photo was taken at the Schlick home located at Main and Water Street in Burlingon Illinois.

Casper married Susan Daleiden on October 10, 1906. Susan was the daughter of Christopher and Margaret Weidner.

Joseph Schlick home in a 2023 photograph at the corner of Main and Water Street in Burlington, Kane County Illinois. The older photo above this photograph shows the family on the north facing porch.

Casper and Susan gave birth to their first child (a girl) on 20 February 1909 at 12:10 a.m. They were living on their farm northwest of Burlington in Kane County Illinois. However, I surmise that Susan may have given birth at her Mother and Father In-laws home (Joseph and Mary Anne Schlick) located at the corner of Main and Water Street in the Village of Burlington Illinois. The infant lived for only a half-hour. Apparently the baby died due to a “contracted pelvis of mother“. C.P. Reid was the attending Doctor and Undertaker. The baby was buried on 21 February 1909 at the St. Charles Barromeo Catholic Cemetery located on hill on Getzelman Road in Hampshire Illinois.

Casper and Susan’s infant daughter death certificate (Source: Kane County Clerk’s office Geneva Illinois).

Dr. C. P. (Charles Patrick) Reid, M.D. of Hampshire Illinois was the Schlick’s physician. He was “recognized as of the best physicians in the north part of Kane County. Dr. Reid was present during the birth of the infant child of Susan and Casper. Dr. Reid was born near Kingston, Frontenac County in Canada on 16 October 1848 and came with his parents to Kane County Illinois. His father was born near Glascow Scotland and hsi mother was born in Pennslyvania. Dr. Reid attended the Bennett Medical College in Chicago. He worked in Elgin for Dr. Kelly. (Source: The Biographical Record of Kane County Illinois. S.J. Clarke Publishing Co. 1898. page 28 – 29.)

In the next post I will cover Casper and Susan’s move to DuPage County and into Winfield Township on Mack Road.

The Diary of Hiram Leonard of Warrenville Illinois 1843 – 1878.

The four volume Diary of Hiram E. Leonard is available for research at the Warrenville Public Library in Warrenville Illinois. [Schmidt, Leone. Diary of Hiram E. Leonard: [Mar. 31, 1843-Oct. 27, 1878] 1984-1991.].

The four blue covered bound volumes were meticulously transcribed and indexed by the late Warrenville City Historian Leone Schmidt. Schmidt and I worked together for several years to edit and publish the Warrenville Historical Society’s newsletter. Leone was recipient of the Illinois Humanities Council’s Studs Terkel Humanitarian Service Award in recognition of her body of written work and volunteerism in the City of Warrenville in documenting the City’s history.

Leone Schmidt, Warrenville Illinois City Historian.

The Diary entries of Hiram Leonard provide a glimpse into the life of an early resident of DuPage County and Winfield Township in Illinois. The Warrenville Historical Society has been publishing the diary entries in a blog for several years. While many of the entries are mundane and short several record the births, deaths and life events of Leonard’s neighbors, family members and associates.

Hiram Leonard
(Photo: Warrenville Historical Society)

Leonard’s Diaries span the time period of March 31, 1843 to October 27, 1878. In scanning the index to the diaries I located several entries that came to my attention for the following: Mack Family of Mack Road (neighbors of the Daleiden and Schlick family); Israel Mather (landowner whose heirs sold land to Michael and Christopher Daleiden in the mid to late 1860s; Jude Gary (owner of land that is now the St. James Farm Forest Preserve in Warrenville Illinois); the Fairbank family (neighbors of the Daleidens and hosts to escaped slaves on the underground railroad); the Galusha family (one of their homes and land would become part of St. James Farm). There are also entries on: Turner Illinois (West Chicago); Bloomingdale; the East Branch of the DuPage River; Danby, Illinois (Glen Ellyn) and Winfield Station (Winfield Illinois).

One entry was on the tragic death of Mrs. Louisa Henrietta Krebel Kline the wife of Caspar Kline. They owned a farm located just north of Winfield Illinois. Here is a photo of the page of this Diary entry. It provides a sample of Schmidt’s transcription work and an example of an entry one would encounter:

Hiram Leonard Diary entry for Saturday 5th of February 1876 detailing the death of Mrs. Casper Kline via a train accident. (Source: Leonard Diaries Warrenville Public Library District Collection).

Mrs. Caspar Kline (Source: Find a Grave.com )

The Grave of Caspar and Louisa Kline, Calvary Cemetery, West Chicago, Winfield Township, DuPage County Illinois. (Source: Find a Grave.com)

Daleiden Home in Winfield

The Christopher and Margaret Daleiden home in 2023. This home was formerly located just north on the same block that the newer St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Winfield Illinois. It was moved and relocated to this location.

Within the past year of two the former Christopher Daleiden home in Winfield was purchased by another family. The exterior of the home has been refurbished with new colors and siding. This home was once located just to the north of the St. John the Baptist Catholic Church old Chapel on Church Street. It’s address is: 27W156 Sunnyside Avenue, Winfield, Winfield Township, DuPage County, Illinois.

Former Joseph & Mary Anne Schlick and James Weberpal Home Sold in 2023.

The former residence of Joseph and Mary Anne Schlick and James Weberpal was finally sold this past summer 2023 to a new owner. The home was originally built by Joseph Schlick in 1906. The home is located at 224 South Main Street, Burlington, Burlington Township, Kane County Illinois. The home had been on the market following the death of the last owner James “Jimmy” Weberpal.

Schlick Home Circa. 1906

Schlick / Weberpal Home Summer 2023 prior to it being sold. This photo is of the north side of the home. The porch still attached to the home.

The Schlick / Weberpal home at Main and Water Street in Burlington Kane County Illinois. The home is shown in September 2023 with new siding and nice new blue color. It was sold in July 2023. Has more curb appeal and the porch looks great.

Adelsperger / Davis Family

My father George Davis passed away in February 2020. My parents (Louise Eleanor Schlick and George) were married in August of 1959. Louise’s grandfather was Casper Schlick. Casper lived on Mack Road in Warrenville, Illinois.

When our relatives die we find ourselves mourning their loss. Another aspect of a relative passing away is the housekeeping and often mundane tasks that come with their passing. There may be estates to settled with our lawyers and the court system. On other tasks that needs to be done is going through their personal belongings they leave behind. What does one do with all of the stuff they leave behind?

My father left behind a few personal items of interest to my personal quest to pull together the fabric of his family’s history. At first it did not appear to be too many documents or letters left behind. However, I was wrong in my assumption. I have found several documents, and documentary paper fragments and many photos left behind as I began pulling together and reviewing materials this past summer.

George’s Grandmother Mary Agnes Adelsperger Davis was an important influential person in my father’s life. My dad spent most of his young life in the Englewood neighborhood on Chicago’s Southside. When things got rough at home Grandma Mary would be there to take my dad out of his cramped apartment and treat him to a meal and ice cream sundae at the the S.S. Kresge Co. lunch counter located near the Sears store at 63rd and Halsted. Afterwards, she would take him to see a show and movie at one of the many local theatres in the Englewood neighborhood.

My dad also recalls a train ride with Mary when he was twelve years old out west to Cody Wyoming to visit the Buffalo Bill Cody Wild West Museum and the National Parks. It was memorable trip. Memorable not only due to the places they visited but due to his Grandmother suffering a heart attack at one point during the trip. They had to stay longer than anticipated at a local hotel until she recovered enough to travel back to Chicago. The good news is that she did recover and both her and my father made it back to Chicago. I cannot imagine what my dad felt during this trip and at the age of twelve.

Through the use of Ancestry, Family Search and Newspapers.com websites I have begun to gather the treads of my father and his Adelsperger family line. Many of the fragments and threads still need to be sewn together.

This is what I know at this point of my research: “Mary Agnes Adelsperger [See photo below] was born on 21 August 1878, in Centre, Pennsylvania, United States, her father, Joseph Alexander Adelsperger, was 26 and her mother, Clara C Katen, was 20 at the time of her birth. Mary met and then married Stuart Vernon Davis on 27 April 1897, in Chicago, Cook, Illinois, United States. They were the parents of at least 1 son, George Germaine Davis. Prior to moving to Chicago Mary is shown on the 1880 Census as living in Rush Township, Centre, Pennsylvania, United States. Mary’s husband Stewart worked for the Chicago L line as a driver. Mary worked as a clerk for a local department store and later a cleaning person for a couple in the Beverly neighborhood area of Chicago. She died on 20 February 1958, in Chicago, Cook, Illinois, United States, at the age of 79, and was buried in Worth, Cook, Illinois, United States“. It was unfortunate that my father was not in Chicago to say farewell prior to her death. George had been drafted into the U.S. Army around the time of his Grandmother’s death and was deployed as a missile transport driver in Germany on the front lines of the Cold War.

One of the photos I ran across in one of the boxes my dad left behind was an Adelsperger Family photo. The photo was taken at Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Adelsperger’s golden wedding anniversary party held in Hammond Indiana at the Lyndora Hotel.

The Jospeh Adelsperger Family. Mary Agnes Adelsperger Davis is the fourth person from the left second row. The event was taken on the Adelsperger’s wedding anniversary in the 1920s. (Source: The George S. and Louise E. Davis Estate Archive).

Here is a list of the people in the above photograph. This information was obtained via a posting of the above photo in Ancestry.com entry for the Adelsperger family. Back row of photo: Helen Adelsperger Gruzella (Granddaughter), Florence Brase (sic Brose) Adelsperger (Wife of James Adelsperger, Frances Einbecker Adelsperger (Wife of James Katen Adelsperger), James Adelsperger (Grandson), Emma Adelsperger Carlson (Daughter) and husband Gus Carlson, Josephine Adelsperger Campbell (Daughter) and Husband Edwin Campbell, Adeline Adelsperger (Granddaughter) and Mabel Adelsperger (Granddaughter). Front row: Geraldine Adelsperger (Granddaughter), Frances Adelsperger (Granddaughter), Clara Katen Adelsperger, Joseph Alexander Adelsperger, Gus Carlson, Jr. (Grandson), and Evelyn Adelsperger (Granddaughter).

Hammond Times (Indiana) January 26, 1925, page 1 article on the Joseph Adelsperger’s wedding anniversary.

I will be posting more concerning my Adelsperger family line in the future.