Howard Deloss Underhill (1896)

Born 29 Sep 1896 in Colchester, McDonough, Illinois, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Jean Virtue (Wilkie) LaPres — married 29 Apr 1916 in Chicago, Cook, Illinois, United States

Descendants

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Katt Rhodes [send private message]

Biography

Howard was born on September 29, 1896 in Colchester, McDonough, Illinois. He is the son of Charles Underhill and Nina Weir.

The first census that Howard appears in is the 1900 census. The Underhill family was recorded living on Cherry Street in Colchester on June 14th. Charles (Frank) was head of household at the time at the age of 29. He was working as a farmer. Howard's mother, Nina, was also 29 years old and wasn't working, so she most likely was the homemaker. Howard was listed as being four years of age, though looking through other records, many state that he was either born in 1895 or 1896. The two records to work with best are the US Social Security Applications and Claims Index, as it states the month and day he was born, but with 1895; September 29, 1895. When you compare to Howard's US World War I Draft Registration Card, it also states a month and day, but 1896; September 29, 1896. The other census records list both years as well so it seems 50/50. Also living with the Underhill family was Howard's grandmother, Ellen Wier. Ellen was 60 years old and a widow. Annie Weir was Howard's aunt, and she was 24 and single. Neither ladies appeared to be employed but all were able to read and write, with the exception of Howard as he was too young.

Just after his fourth birthday, Howard's little brother was born. Cecil C. "Poppie" Underhill was born on October 15, 1900, also in Colchester.

Four years later that the age of eight, Howard's second and third little brothers were born. Charles and Nina welcomed twins! Donald Leroy and Hugh Weir Underhill were born on May 3, 1905 in Colchester.

A couple more years passed, and at the age of 10, Howard was blessed with a baby sister. Mildred Marie Underhill was born on October 7, 1906 in Colchester.

Some time between the birth of Mildred in 1906 and 1910, the family moved about four hours north east to Chicago, Illinois.

At the age of 13, Howard appeared at home with his family in the 1910 census. On April 26th, they were living on Emerald Avenue in Chicago. Father Charles (Frank) was still head of household and 40 years old. Franks and Nina had been married for 16 years now, and Frank was working as a salesman in stock yards. Howard's mother, Nina, was 39 and most definitely a homemaker, with five children at home. Howard himself was growing into his teen years at the age of 14, little brother Cecil was nine, twin brothers Donald and Hugh were both five, and baby sister Mildred was three.

At the age of 19, Howard married Jean Virtie Wilkie on April 29, 1916 in Chicago. Jean was about the same age, give or take a year, and was born in Canada. Her mother was also from Canada, and her father from Scotland.

A year later, Howard and Jean were blessed with a baby girl. Elizabeth M. Underhill was born on January 24, 1917 in Chicago.

Military World War 1 Draft Registration Cards, 1917 - 1918 show that Howard and his family were living on Prairie Avenue in Chicago. He was a tall man, with a medium build, blue eyes and light brown hair. He was employed through Union Stockyards, in Chicago as a yardman.

Interestingly, Howard appears in two 1920 census records. One where he lived as head of house with his wife Jean and daughter Elizabeth, and a second where he is was listed living with his parents without his wife and daughter. Why he was counted twice is unknown. Nonetheless, it's better to be counted twice than not at all. The records were taken two days apart and by the same woman, so its unlikely that he moved out of Howard's parent's home into his own in such a short time span, but possible. The distance between homes was about two miles, depending on where they were located on both roads.

The first record was taken January 8th, 1920 on East 60th Street in Chicago, so it appears he did not move out of his parent's home into his own in just two days, as he, head of household, was enumerated first before his father. Howard was 24 years old and worked as a yardman in stockyards. Jean was 24 years old as well, probably a homemaker, and their daughter Elizabeth was just shy a month of three years old.

The second record was taken two days later on January 10th, 1920 on Prairie Avenue in Chicago. In this record, Howard's father Charles (Frank) is listed as head of household and 49 years old, working as a cattle salesman. Howard's mother, Nina, was 47 and more than likely a homemaker. Howard's age was recorded wrong, as he was listed as 34 instead of 24, but still listed correctly employed as a yardman in stockyards. His little brothers Hugh and Donald (Don) were both 14 and his little sister Mildred was 12.

April 5, 1930, Howard and his family were enumerated within his parent's home on South Park Way in Chicago. His father Charles was head of household at the age of 59 and working as a livestock salesman in stock yards. Howard's mother Nina was 58 and little brother Donald was 25, working as a yardman in stock yards. Howard's wife Jean was 33 and working as a telephone operator for a doctor's office. Howard himself was 34 and working as a circus actor. Their daughter Elizabeth was 13 and a boarder by the name of Mitchell Plunkett, age 27 from Ireland, was working as a grocery clerk.

Not much else is known about Howard or what his life was like. One could imagine that he had a tight-knit family that was filled with love and hard work. The 1930 census tells us he was a veteran, so sometime he must have been in active duty, though when and where is still unknown. Unfortunately, Howard's death date and location are unknown at the moment.

Sources

• "United States Census, 1900," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MS47-5DN : accessed 2 June 2020), Howard Underhill in household of Frank C Underhill, Colchester township Colchester city Ward 1-3, McDonough, Illinois, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 54, sheet 18B, family 426, NARA microfilm publication T623 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1972.); FHL microfilm 1,240,320.

• "United States Census, 1910," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MK86-CK6 : accessed 2 June 2020), Howard Underhill in household of Frank Underhill, Chicago Ward 32, Cook, Illinois, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 1390, sheet 11B, family 271, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1982), roll 278; FHL microfilm 1,374,291.

• Cook County, Illinois Marriage Indexes, 1912-1942

• "Illinois, Cook County Marriages, 1871-1920", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:N7ZJ-QMD : 10 March 2018), Howard Underhill and Jean Wilkie, 29 Apr 1916.

• "United States World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K68C-QDH : 25 August 2019), Howard D Underhill, 1917-1918.

• "United States World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:74XQ-W96Z : 24 October 2019), Howard D Underhill, 1917-1918.

• Cook County, Illinois, Birth Certificates Index, 1871-1922

• "Illinois, Cook County, Birth Certificates, 1871-1940," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:N79D-BZP : 18 May 2016), Howard Deloss Underhill in entry for Elizabeth Underhill, 24 Jan 1917; Chicago, Cook, Illinois, United States, reference/certificate 1278, Cook County Clerk, Cook County Courthouse, Chicago; FHL microfilm 1,276,273.

• "United States Census, 1920," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MJST-7FG : accessed 2 June 2020), Howard Underhill, Chicago Ward 6, Cook (Chicago), Illinois, United States; citing ED 374, sheet 8A, line 24, family 187, NARA microfilm publication T625 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1992), roll 310; FHL microfilm 1,820,310.

• "United States Census, 1920," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MJST-4LX : accessed 2 June 2020), Howard Underhill in household of Frank Underhill, Chicago Ward 6, Cook (Chicago), Illinois, United States; citing ED 374, sheet 11B, line 95, family 288, NARA microfilm publication T625 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1992), roll 310; FHL microfilm 1,820,310.

• "United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XS2R-ZX8 : accessed 2 June 2020), Howard Underhill in household of Charles F Underhill, Chicago (Districts 0251-0500), Cook, Illinois, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 338, sheet 5B, line 63, family 112, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 427; FHL microfilm 2,340,162.

• Indiana Archives and Records Administration; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Death Certificates; Year: 1994; Roll: 01

• U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007

• Registration State: Illinois; Registration County: Cook; Roll: 1439747; Draft Board: 15