Monday Madness, "My Brickwall Ancestor--Charles J. Ball"

First of all I would like to thank Amy at Untangled Family Roots for creating this new Monday meme and Miriam at Ancestories for the brickwall template!

I have been searching and coming up with almost nothing on my Great Great Grandfather Charles J. Ball for over four years now. Here I go with describing my brickwall and may I add ANY SUGGESTIONS for discovering any information about him are welcomed!

This is what I would love to find out: I would love to know when and where Charles J. Ball died and where he is buried.

Here is the known information:

Charles was born about 1857 in Baden, Germany. (Information from Alma's birth record)

Charles J. Ball married Katherine J. Sommer on April 21, 1885 at Central Christian Church in Chicago, Illinois.

Daughter of Charles and Katherine Ball; Alma Ball was born on October 13,1886 at home. Their address at that time was 270 Sangamon, Chicago, Illinois.

Charles worked as a nurse.

Charles was listed on the 1892 Chicago City Directory, living at 4524 Cottage Grove Avenue.

He was also listed on the 1893 Chicago City Directory, living at 479 W. Lake.

On the 1899 Chicago City Directory he is listed as living at 631 Larrabee.


Then he disappears.

On the 1907 Chicago City Directory, Katherine lists herself as a widow of Charles.

Positive and Negative Searches include:

I have a copy of the marriage license of Charles and Katherine and also a copy of the birth certificate of Alma. The birth certificate indicates that both Charles and Katherine were born in Baden, Germany and that both worked as nurses.

Obviously, the Chicago City Directories are another positive search and I was more than thrilled when I found those!

I have in my possession a copy of a picture (most likely a Cartes de Visite) of a young Charles J. Ball taken by R. Holyland photographer. Mr. Holyland was a photographer in Baltimore for a number of years. Perhaps Charles (Chas) had his picture taken when he arrived here in the United States to prove to his family back in Germany that he made it safe and sound to America?

I have been unable to find my Charles (Chas) on any Federal Census record or Katherine for that matter. I thought I hit the jack pot on the 1900 Federal Census with a Charles Ball in Hennepin, Minnesota who immigrated from Germany and his year of birth is close to my Charles Ball. The 1900 Census also states that this Charles Ball was married for about 16 years. No wife/child was listed though and so far I have been unable to connect him to my family. (Coincidentally, Charles and Katherine's daughter Alma married Philip Hirschberg in St. James, Minnesota in May of 1906).

I've searched the surnames of Ball, Bell, Bill, Boll, and Bull with no luck.

I have paid for a death record search for 1889 through 1907 from Cook County, Illinois with no luck.

I have search the burial records for Cook County, Illinois with no luck.

Charles is NOT buried next to Katherine in Oakwoods Cemetery in Chicago, nor do they have a Charles Ball buried in that cemetery.

I cannot locate Charles coming over from Germany on any ship documents I've been able to research.

Possible resources:
I have contacted IRAD and asked that they search for any probate records and naturalization records for Charles J. Ball.
I keep going back to the Charles Ball in Minnesota and although I don't believe he is related I have a feeling there may be some connection????

Wow, that's all I have. Not much I know, but any suggestions or directions I should move in would be appreciated.

Thanks friends!

Brickwalls

Well, I've hit yet another "brickwall" with my GG Grandparents Charles and Katherine Ball. I heard from the Illinois State Archives in regards to my research question concerning nursing licenses in the late 1800's and early 1900's. Unfortunately, they had no information about Charles or Katherine being licensed nurses in Chicago. So, perhaps they were home nurses who didn't need a license to practice? I have no idea and I'm definitely stuck. I will have to explore further.
I have requested two books from my local library to help me with my "brickwalls". The first: 500 brickwall solutions to genealogy problems and More brickwall solutions to genealogy problems. I have also reviewed a number of genealogy blogs which have provided a little more insight into the brickwall problem. Here are some helpful websites and blogs:

Kimberly Powell

Juliana Smith

Diana Smith

ProGenealogists

So, here is what I have done. I have posted about four queries on the Rootsweb message boards regarding my brickwall. Although I am a bit disappointed in not having any luck with the nurse registers, I am not about to quit searching, digging, and questioning until I get some answers. It may take a long time, but hey I may get some great news tomorrow. You just never know. Keep your fingers crossed!

Charles and Katherine Ball

My great-great grandparents Charles and Katherine (Sommer) Ball are an elusive pair! I hit a "brick-wall" regarding everything about them except the date and place of their marriage and the birthdate of their daughter, my great grandmother Alma. They were married here in Chicago at Central Christian Church in 1885. This church no longer exists. I can find one or the other on the Chicago city directories until 1900 and then they both "disappear". According to my great grandmother Alma's birth certificate (which I was very LUCKY to get my hands on considering that documenting birth records at that time was not required) both Charles and Katherine were born about 1857, in Germany . I cannot verify when they came over from Germany, although I have a pretty good idea that Katherine came over by herself in 1880. There is no 1890 Census to check. Charles, Katherine and Alma do not show up on the 1900 Census.
We can all hit a "brick-wall" when searching for our ancestors, you just need to keep on plugging away looking for clues anywhere; in vital records, census records, and talking to any relative who may provide a clue to steer you in the right direction. Wish me luck!