My paternal great Aunt
Cora was born on June 8th, 1897 in O'Fallon, Illinois. She was the third daughter of Gertrude Marguerite Fix and William Constance Powell (affectionately known as Mom & Dad Powell) to reach adulthood.
We are lucky Cora's oldest sister Blanche loved genealogy and family history. Blanche documented the life story of her family members including Cora's. I recently was sent some lovely pictures of Cora and her family by one of Bill Mathias's nieces. So while posting the pictures, I thought I would document Cora's life.
The first known record of Cora was in the 1900 US census. On June 18th, 1900, her family was living in a rental home in Collinsville, Madison County, Illinois. 3-year-old Cora was living with her parents William (age 29) and Gertrude (29), and her sisters Blanche (8) and Mabelle (6). William's occupation was listed as common laborer. Blanche and Mabelle both attended school in the prior year.
Cora is also listed in the 1910 US census with her parents and siblings. On April 18th, 1910, her family was living on 158 Seminary street in Collinsville, Madison County, Illinois. Her parents William (age 38) and Gertrude (age 27) had been married 19 years and had 6 children all living. It was a first marriage for the pair. William was working in the coal mines. Living with them were Blanche (17), Mabelle (15), Cora (14), George (9), Maude (6) and Dorothy (3 months).
According to Blanche's bio, Cora went to the Normal school and became a teacher. When Cora was 20 years old she married William Mathias. The couple was married January 1st, 1917 in Franklin, Missouri. A copy of the marriage record was obtained from the Missouri Marriage Records, 1805-2002 database in Ancestry.com. The record states both Cora and William were residents of Collinsville.
On March 4th, 1918, Cora gave birth to a baby daughter in St. Clair, County, Illinois. They named the child Gertrude Mae after Cora's mother.
On June 5th, 1918 William and Cora were living in Kansas City, Missouri. On his WWI draft registration card William, a resident of Kansas City, Missouri was employed by the Morris & Co. in Kansas City, Kansas as a clerk. William was born on July 30, 1886 in Decatur, Illinois and had two dependents, a wife and child. He was described as 5'3" tall, 148 lbs., blue eyes, and brown hair. It was notated that he was bowlegged and suffered from hemorrhoids.
It appears the Mathias family didn't stay in Kansas City very long. On August 185h, 1919 Cora gave birth to a second daughter who they named Marguerite Georgette.
According to the 1920 US Census, on January 7th, 1920, the Mathias family was living in Collinsville, Illinois. William, age 31 was working as a stock clerk at a packing plant. With him were Cora age 22, Gertrude 21 months, and Marguerite 5 months. The family had two boarders, Oscar Schneider, age 22 and Ralph Wyatt, age 17.
On August 30th, 1921 Cora gave birth to a son. William Leroy Mathias was born in Collinsville. William would complete their family.
On March 4th, 1918, Cora gave birth to a baby daughter in St. Clair, County, Illinois. They named the child Gertrude Mae after Cora's mother.
On June 5th, 1918 William and Cora were living in Kansas City, Missouri. On his WWI draft registration card William, a resident of Kansas City, Missouri was employed by the Morris & Co. in Kansas City, Kansas as a clerk. William was born on July 30, 1886 in Decatur, Illinois and had two dependents, a wife and child. He was described as 5'3" tall, 148 lbs., blue eyes, and brown hair. It was notated that he was bowlegged and suffered from hemorrhoids.
It appears the Mathias family didn't stay in Kansas City very long. On August 185h, 1919 Cora gave birth to a second daughter who they named Marguerite Georgette.
According to the 1920 US Census, on January 7th, 1920, the Mathias family was living in Collinsville, Illinois. William, age 31 was working as a stock clerk at a packing plant. With him were Cora age 22, Gertrude 21 months, and Marguerite 5 months. The family had two boarders, Oscar Schneider, age 22 and Ralph Wyatt, age 17.
It appears that the Mathias family was missed in the 1930 census. Their street was the dividing line between enumeration districts 23 and 24. The Mathias family was living in the home formerly occupied by her parents located at 258 N. Seminary. The families located at 240, 244 and 264 Seminary were enumerated on page 25 of district 24. It appears the homes at 246, 252, and 258 all enumerated in the 1920 and 1940 censuses were missed.
According to the 1940 US Census, On April 3rd, 1940, the Mathias family was living at 258 Seminary in Collinsville, Illinois in a home they owned. William, age 52 with 2 years of high school education was working as a salesmen in the "Meat W-R" industry with a $3600 income. With him were Cora age 42, with 1 year of college, Margy age 20 with 2 years of college, Gertrude "Atkins" 22 with 3 years of college and her husband Gene Atkins age 23 with 3 years of high school. Gertrude was working as a hospital nurse making $225 and Gene was working as a mechanic at the meat packing plant although the census indicated he had worked all 52 weeks in the previous year, no income was listed for him. The Lorenz family was renting a home at the same address in a separate residence.
Their son Bill was not living at home, he had enlisted in the Navy on January 4th, 1939. In February of 1940 Bill was admitted to the naval hostpial in Honolulu having been burned while working aboard the USS Dayton. Bill's injury didn't prevent him from serving 11 years in the Navy.
In 1942, 53-year-old William was required to register for the WWII draft. He was living at 960 St. Louis Road in Collinsville, Madison County, Illinois. He was working for the Hunter Packing Company located at 2nd and Lynch in East St. Louis, Ill. The registration card lists his birth as July 30, 1888 in Decatur, Illinois. He listed his wife Cora at the same address as the contact person who would always know where he was.
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| Gertrude |
In 1942, Cora paternal aunt, Elizabeth Powell died. Cora was appointed as the administrator of the estate.
The following is a picture of Cora's oldest 2 grandchildren, Jeannie Atkins, daughter of Gertrude born in 1943 and David Stillerman, son of Marguerite.
In January 1967, Cora and Will celebrated their Golden wedding anniversary.
Later that same year Cora passed away on Oct. 2nd, 1967 at the age of 70. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch listed a burial permit on Oct. 6th for Cora Elizabeth Mathias. My records show Cora was buried in St. John's cemetery in Collinsville, Illinois.
William passed away in October 1976 at the age of 88.
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