Yesterday I actually had a little success in my research of my Great Great Grandparents Charles and Katherine Ball! Special thanks to Jackie at the South Suburban Genealogical Historical Society! Jackie and I searched the Chicago City Directories from 1899 to 1923. City Directories can provide a wealth of information; names, addresses and occupations! Although these city directories are in very fragile condition, in the 1899 city directory, I found my GG Grandfather Charles J. Ball. He worked as a nurse (which I already knew) and he and Katherine resided at 631 Larabee! In 1902 and 1903 I could only find Katherine who was working as a nurse at the time and lived at 9135 Houston Aveune. There were a few years when neither Charles or Katherine appeared at all in the city directories, for what reason, I can not say. By 1907 Katherine was listed as a widow of Charles and resided at 5219 S. Wood. I was saddened to learn that fact.
As I continued searching, I found Katherine in the 1908, 1911, 1912, 1913, and 1917 Chicago city directories. She continued to move around the city of Chicago. I do not know what happened to her after 1917. She was not listed on the 1923 Chicago City Directory.
Of course, I wouldn't let an opportunity slip through my fingers. While I was searching for Charles and Katherine Ball, I also had a little success finding a few of my Guinee and Sawicki ancestors as well. All in all, it was a great afternoon!
Now my search moves in yet another direction. I have written a research request to IRAD (Illinois Regional Archives Depositories) to see if they can come up with any information on Charles and Katherine Ball. We'll see what happens.
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