Isabella A (Clark) Elfrey (abt. 1875 - aft. 1940)

Born about 1875 in Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA [uncertain]

Ancestors

Wife of William T. Elfrey — married 25 Oct 1899 in Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Pat Quinn [send private message]

Biography

Isabella (known as Bella) was born in Pennsylvania about 1875. She is the daughter of James Clark (often spelled Clarke) and Alice Hannigan. Cannot find her birth record but since her family lived in Philadelphia from at least 1873 onward, assume she was born in that city. Her name is listed in various records as both Bella and Isabella. Her mother had a sister named Isabella, whom Bella was probably named for.

In 1880 her family lived in a 2 family dwelling at 1248 Fisher St (now Emery St.), Phil, PA. This was in the Port Richmond area of Philly, a Scotch/Irish neighborhood located two blocks from the the Delaware River and the Pennsylvania Railroad Coal Wharves. Here's a link to an 1876 map of Philadelphia which shows Fisher Street, north of Petty's Island, where the Delaware takes a right-hand turn. More than two dozen railroad tracks converged at the coal wharves just a block from their house. The air must have been filled with coal dust and smoke from locomotives and steamships. It had to have been a gritty, noisy neighborhood, but probably handy to her father's work.

In the Philadelphia city directories from 1881 through '98, various blue collar occupations were listed for her father, most commonly, Boilermaker. They give their address as: 1243 Fisher from '81 through '85, and 2543 Fisher from '86 through '92. In 1893 and '94 there is a James Clark-Boilermaker living at 2805 E. York. In 1896 James Clark, Laborer is listed at 3270 Fisher.^[1]

A brother died in 1889, and her mother and another brother in 1891. All 3 were buried in a shared grave at St. Anne's Cemetery which is attached to St. Anne's Church, an Irish Roman Catholic Parish in Philly. (The church and cemetery are still there.)^[2]

When her father died in 1898, his remains were added to the family grave at St. Anne's. He lived at 2521 Emerald St, a 3 bedroom row house, which meant that some of his children were living with him at the time. Bella was 23 and unmarried so probably still lived at home.

In Oct 1899 Bella lived at 2504 Sepviva St, 2 blocks from St. Anne's. Her younger sisters Sarah and Alice were probably living with her. She and her fiance', William T. Elfrey, applied for their marriage license in Orphan's Court, Phila, PA on Oct 25, 1899 and were married in a civil ceremony that same day. William's occupation was listed as "Driver".^[3]

On Dec 27, 1899 a daughter named Alice was born.^[4] Baby Alice doesn't appear on the census 7 months later (or future ones) and Bella later reported that only 4 of her 6 children survived, so she undoubtedly died in infancy.

In 1900 Bella and William were living at 256 Elkhart in Philadelphia. Two of Bella's sisters were living with them; Sadie (aka Sarah and Sallie), age 22, and Alice, age 14. The census asked how many years she and William were married, how many children born, and how many survived. They'd been married "0" years and said they'd had "0" children, probably to prevent others from knowing that a baby was conceived out of wedlock. William was a Wine House Workman, Bella didn't work, Sadie and Alice were Hosiery Loopers.^[5]

Daughter Rose Marie, b. 3/8/1903, Philadelphia.^[6]

Another child, William L, only lived for 4 days and died on Dec 22nd, from "Premature birth, congenital malformation of the heart". Place of death was 2026 E. William St. The child was buried at St. Anne's 2 days later.^[7][8]

In 1910 they rented a home at 2751 Jasper St. Bella had born 6 children, 4 of whom survived. William worked as a Driver for a Furniture business. Bella was a working mother, employed as a Looper at a Hosiery Mill. William and had been out of work 17 weeks, and Bella 52 weeks in 1909, though both were working on April 15, 1910.^[9]

In 1913 Bella's husband died of cancer and was buried at St. Anne's on Oct 29th.^[10]

In 1920 Bella was widowed and living at 713 E Clearfield St. Her 4 children and 2 lodgers lived with her. She didn't work, but 3 of her teenage daughters worked at the Hosiery Mill, 2 were Loopers and the 3rd was a Cutter (at age 14).^[11]

In 1930 she was renting a place at 1478 N. 52nd St. for $35 per month and owned a radio. Her son Joseph and her married daughters Rose Mahoney and Gertrude Vincent were living with her along with Rose and Gertrude's 3 young children. (No sign of Rose and Gertrude's husbands.) Bella didn't work, Joseph was a laborer for a Steam Railway, Rose and Gertrude were both unemployed Carpet Setters at a Carpet Mill.^[12]

In 1940 they rented a home at 6022 Haverford Ave. The census information was given by her 14 year old grandson and full of errors. Reading between the lines, this might be the correct information about the household. Bella: 65, widowed, worked in the house, 8th grade education. Rose Mahoney: 36, (probably widowed), 2 yrs high school, worked 52 weeks in 1939 as "Textile" in Silk Mill, earned $800. Rose's 2 teenage children, still in school. Bella's son Joseph: 30, married, 4 yrs high school, worked 52 weeks in 1939 as Helper in Steel Mill, earned $1200. Joseph's wife, Catherine, and their 2 young children. Gertrude Vincent: 34, widowed, 1 yr high school, worked 52 weeks in 1939 as "Textile" in Silk Mill, earned $800. Gertrude's teenage son, still in school. They had all been living in the same house in 1935.^[13]

This is the last record found for Bella. Cannot locate death certificate.

Sources

1. ↑ Fold3.com Philadelphia city directories.
2. ↑ Saint Anne Cemetery Register, Volume ca. 1874-1899, pg 45. In the cemetery's burial records, the children are identified as "James Clark's child" and her mother as "Mrs. Clark", but burial dates match death certificates and they share the same grave number. [1]
3. ↑ "Pennsylvania Civil Marriages, 1677-1950," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QKJW-CHRW : accessed 3 April 2016), Wm Elfrey and Bella C Clark, 25 Oct 1899; citing Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, Register of Wills Offices from various counties; FHL microfilm 1,276,644.
4. ↑ "Pennsylvania, Philadelphia City Births, 1860-1906," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V1M5-VYH : accessed 3 April 2016), Wm. Elfrey in entry for Alice Elfrey, 27 Dec 1899; citing bk 1899 p 387, Department of Records; FHL microfilm 1,289,339.
5. ↑ "United States Census, 1900," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M3WV-1JW : accessed 3 April 2016), William Elfry, Philadelphia city Ward 33, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States; citing sheet 17A, family 356, NARA microfilm publication T623 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 1,241,475.
6. ↑ "Pennsylvania, Philadelphia City Births, 1860-1906," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VBY4-64V : accessed 3 April 2016), William Elfrey in entry for Rose Marie Elfrey, 08 Mar 1903; citing bk 1903 p 181, Department of Records; FHL microfilm 1,289,343.
7. ↑ "Pennsylvania, Philadelphia City Death Certificates, 1803-1915," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:J63J-NZ1 : accessed 3 April 2016), William L. Elfrey, 22 Dec 1906; citing cn 31058, Philadelphia City Archives and Historical Society of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia; FHL microfilm 1,319,481.
8. ↑ Saint Anne Cemetery Register, Volume ca. 1904-1939], Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania. Pg 61. http://digital.library.villanova.edu/Item/vudl:312653#?c=0&m=0&s=0&cv=60&z=0.0803%2C0.3679%2C0.97%2C0.4055
9. ↑ "United States Census, 1910," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1951-23082-13121-87?cc=1727033 : accessed 1 May 2016), Pennsylvania > Philadelphia > Philadelphia Ward 25 > ED 554 > image 10 of 35; citing NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
10. ↑ Saint Anne Cemetery Register, Volume ca. 1904-1939], Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania. Pg 61. http://digital.library.villanova.edu/Item/vudl:312653#?c=0&m=0&s=0&cv=60&z=0.0803%2C0.3679%2C0.97%2C0.4055
11. ↑ "United States Census, 1920," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MXS6-3LD : accessed 1 May 2016), Bella A Elfrey, Philadelphia Ward 33, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States; citing sheet 1A, NARA microfilm publication T625 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 1,821,626.
12. ↑ "United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1942-22835-10459-56?cc=1810731 : accessed 2 May 2016), Pennsylvania > Philadelphia > Philadelphia (Districts 0251-0500) > ED 475 > image 9 of 61; citing NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002).
13. ↑ "United States Census, 1940," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1942-27818-4521-39?cc=2000219 : accessed 2 May 2016), Pennsylvania > Philadelphia > Philadelphia City, Philadelphia, Ward 34 > 51-1146 Philadelphia City Ward 34 (Tract 34-I - part) > image 18 of 22; citing NARA digital publication T627 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2012).

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Acknowledgments

Thanks to Pat Quinn for starting this profile.