Elizabeth Mary (Underhill) Bell (1917 - 1994)

Born 24 Jan 1917 in Chicago, Cook, Illinois, United States

Ancestors

Wife of Robert Charles Potthoff Sr. — married 24 Apr 1937 in Cook, Illinois, United States

Descendants

Died 13 Jan 1994 at age 76 in Rochester, Fulton, Indiana, United States

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Biography

Elizabeth was born on January 24, 1917 in Chicago, Illinois. She was the daughter of Howard Underhill and Jean Wilkie. Elizabeth often went by the nickname "Betty" and she married twice. She had seven known with her first husband Robert.

As an infant, she first appeared in the 1920 US census on January 8th. Elizabeth was living with her mother and father on East 60th Street in Chicago. Her father Howard was 24 and worked as a yardman in stockyards. Elizabeth's mother Jean was also 24 and most likely a homemaker. Elizabeth herself was just shy a month of turning three years old.

As a growing teenager, Elizabeth was recorded on April 5, 1930 as living with her parents at her paternal grandparent's home on South Park Way in Chicago. Her grandfather, Charles, was 59 years old and working as a livestock salesman in stockyards. Her grandmother, Nina, was 58 and most likely a homemaker. Her uncle Donald was 25 years old and worked as a yardman in stockyards. Elizabeth's mother, Jean, was 33 and working as a telephone operator for a doctor's office. Her father, Howard, was 34 and working as a circus actor. Elizabeth herself was 13 years old and a boarder by the name of Mitchell Plunkett, who was a boarder, was 27, born in Ireland and worked as a grocery clerk.

The 1940 census states that Elizabeth was still living in Chicago in 1935, but she didn't marry until 1937.

On April 24, 1937, Elizabeth married Robert Charles Potthoff Sr., in Cook County, Illinois.

About a year later, she and Robert welcomed their first born. Robert Charles "Bob" Potthoff Jr. was born on March 3, 1938 in Chicago.

A little over a year later on August 6, 1939 Elizabeth and Robert welcomed a second son. William Franklin "Bill" Potthoff was born in Chicago as well.

April 12, 1940, the Potthoff family was recorded living in Chicago on South Michigan Avenue. Robert Potthoff was 34 years old and worked as an order clerk. Elizabeth herself was 37 years old and most likely a homemaker. Their son Robert was two years old and baby William was about 8 months old.

Elizabeth gave birth their third son Hugh about two years later. On September 23, 1942, Hugh Edward Potthoff was born.

About three years later, they had a fourth son. Thomas A. Potthoff was born on November 26, 1945.

Some time would pass, until the very unfortunate happened. On April 3, 1956, Elizabeth's husband Robert passes away in Chicago. Elizabeth was 39 years old and Robert was 49. He was buried in Saint Mary's Cemetery in Northbrook, Cook County, Illinois.

A few years down the road, Elizabeth married Francis "Frank" Charles Pechanda Bell in 1958 (confirmed in her obituary.) Frank was a WWII Veteran, the son of Charles A. Pechanda and Frances Bell.

Heartbreak struck again however, because on September 14, 1972, Elizabeth had to say goodbye to her second husband. Frank died in Winamac, Pulaski County, Indiana. He was buried in Masonic Cemetery in Culver, Marshall County, Indiana.

Not a lot is known about Elizabeth's life, aside from what we learn in articles and sources.

She lost her son Robert Charles "Bob" Potthoff Jr. on August 18, 1980. In his obituary, it states that Elizabeth was living in Winamac, Pulaski, Indiana.

A large amount of time went by until Elizabeth passed away in 1994. She died at the Rochester Health Care Center in Rochester, Fulton, Indiana on January 13, 1994. She was 76 years old, passing away just 11 days before her birthday. She was laid to rest in Masonic Cemetery in Culver, Marshall, Indiana. It's noted that at the time of her passing, she had 15 grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren living, with six preceding her in death.

Sources

• "Illinois, Cook County, Birth Certificates, 1871-1940," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:N79D-BZG : 18 May 2016), 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-7F5 : accessed 2 June 2020), Elizabeth Underhill in household of Howard Underhill, Chicago Ward 6, Cook (Chicago), Illinois, United States; citing ED 374, sheet 8A, line 26, 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, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XS2R-ZXD : accessed 2 June 2020), Elizabeth Underhill in household of Charles F Underhill, Chicago (Districts 0251-0500), Cook, Illinois, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 338, sheet 5B, line 64, family 112, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 427; FHL microfilm 2,340,162.

• "Illinois, Cook County Marriages, 1871-1920," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q212-97T9 : 28 November 2018), Robert C Potthoff and Betty Underhill, 24 Apr 1937; citing Marriage, Cook, Illinois, United States, citing Cook County Clerk. Cook County Courthouse, Chicago; FHL microfilm 102394207.

• "Illinois, Cook County, Birth Certificates, 1871-1940," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q2S8-KY8B : 18 May 2016), Elizabeth Underhill in entry for Robert Charles Potthoff, 03 Mar 1938; Chicago, Cook, Illinois, United States, reference/certificate 8097, Cook County Clerk, Cook County Courthouse, Chicago; FHL microfilm .

• "United States Census, 1940," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KWYW-HPV : 15 December 2019), Elizabeth Potthoff in household of Robert Potthoff, Ward 6, Chicago, Chicago City, Cook, Illinois, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 103-395, sheet 13A, line 12, family 266, Sixteenth Census of the United States, 1940, NARA digital publication T627. Records of the Bureau of the Census, 1790 - 2007, RG 29. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2012, roll 933.

• "Michigan Obituaries, 1820-2006," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q2T3-CJST : 1 April 2020), Mrs Elizabeth Potthoff Bell, 1994; citing Michigan, United States, Obituary, Grand Rapids Public Library, Michigan; FHL microfilm 2,369,511.

• "BillionGraves Index," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q2B2-PNQY : 27 February 2017), Elizabeth Potthoff Bell, died 1994; citing BillionGraves (http://www.billiongraves.com : 2012), Burial at Culver Masonic Cemetery, Culver, Marshall, Indiana, United States.

• Cook County, Illinois Birth Index, 1916-1935

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

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

• The South Bend Tribune; Publication Date: 20/ Aug/ 1980; Publication Place: South Bend, Indiana, United States of America; URL: https://www.newspapers.com/image/517548071/?article=9e0c3061-77d8-4c59-9534-4897c5eb2577&focus=0.19481519,0.67541003,0.34750777,

• The South Bend Tribune; Publication Date: 14/ Jan/ 1994; Publication Place: South Bend, Indiana, United States of America; URL: https://www.newspapers.com/image/520337531/?article=dddb89f2-4ae6-4bea-a89e-b7e0062ceb94&focus=0.80795264,0.65117604,0.96360457,

• The National Archives in St. Louis, Missouri; St. Louis, Missouri; WWII Draft Registration Cards for Illinois, 10/16/1940-03/31/1947; Record Group: Records of the Selective Service System, 147; Box: 1436

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

• Social Security Administration; Washington D.C., USA; Social Security Death Index, Master File

• Web: Indiana and Michigan, Michiana Genealogical Cemetery Index, 1800-2010

• "Find A Grave Index," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QV2L-VHTB : 18 March 2020), Elizabeth M. Underhill Potthoff Bell, ; Burial, Culver, Marshall, Indiana, United States of America, Masonic Cemetery; citing record ID 74931043, Find a Grave, http://www.findagrave.com.

• Elizabeth M. “Betty” Underhill Potthoff Bell

BIRTH 24 Jan 1917 Chicago, Cook County, Illinois, USA DEATH 13 Jan 1994 (aged 76) Rochester, Fulton County, Indiana, USA BURIAL Masonic Cemetery Culver, Marshall County, Indiana, USA Find a Grave MEMORIAL ID 74931043