I am not certain when or where Mary Schmidt was born, or even what her correct name is! I have found her maiden name given as both SMITH(46) and SCHMIDT.(47) Here is what I do know, or think I know, about Mary.
Mary was born somewhere in Germany; the 1870 US census gives her birthplace as Bavaria.(42) Her year of birth varies, depending on the source. The 1870 census gives her age as 37, implying a birth in 1833. Her death record indicates she was age 35 at the time of her death in 1878, indicating a birth year around 1843.(364) A court record Aug 1878 also gives her age as 35, indicated a birth year of 1843(364). Her oldest child, James, was born in 1864, meaning she was either 21 or 31 at the time of his birth.(78) Age 21 seems more likely for the birth of a first child in the 1800s. I’d like to find a birth or marriage record for Mary indicating the year of her birth, but that may not be possible. If you have any ideas for how I can find this, drop me a note.
Mary was married to Jacob Kolk, most likely before their immigration to the United States. As was typical of the time, Mary was a housewife and mother of at least five children.
Mary was born somewhere in Germany; the 1870 US census gives her birthplace as Bavaria.(42) Her year of birth varies, depending on the source. The 1870 census gives her age as 37, implying a birth in 1833. Her death record indicates she was age 35 at the time of her death in 1878, indicating a birth year around 1843.(364) A court record Aug 1878 also gives her age as 35, indicated a birth year of 1843(364). Her oldest child, James, was born in 1864, meaning she was either 21 or 31 at the time of his birth.(78) Age 21 seems more likely for the birth of a first child in the 1800s. I’d like to find a birth or marriage record for Mary indicating the year of her birth, but that may not be possible. If you have any ideas for how I can find this, drop me a note.
Mary was married to Jacob Kolk, most likely before their immigration to the United States. As was typical of the time, Mary was a housewife and mother of at least five children.
James J. (1864-1947)
John J. (1867-1948)
Henry Jacob (1867-1916)
Anna (ca 1868)
William J. (1870-1951)
In August 1878, Mary was declared insane and sent off to the Illinois Southern Hospital for the Insane in Anna, Union County, Illinois.(902) Mary died at the hospital just a few short months later, 10 Nov 1878. The official cause of death is acute dysentary complicated by acute melanchola(364) and is buried in an unmarked grave in the hospital cemetery.
You can view the family group sheet for this family here.
Sources
42. “1870 U.S. Census,” KOLK, Jacob Family, Monticello Post Office, Township 6, Range 9, Madison County, Illinois, 26 Jul 1870, FamilySearch.org, https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-266-12873-283316-48?cc=1438024, 1 Jun 2015.
46. KOLK, Henry J - WEISS, Emma J, “Marriage Record,” Madison County Register of Marriages, Madison County, Illinois, 30 Apr 1894, License # 3125, IRAD, Carbondale, Illinois.
47. KOLK, James - WOLF, Mary, “Marriage Record,” Madison County Register of Marriages, Madison County, Illinois, 20 Jan 1892, License # 1936, IRAD, Carbondale, Illinois.
364. KOLK, Mary, “Death Record,” 10 Nov 1878, Union County Register of Deaths, pg 134, Union County, Illinois, File #195, IRAD, Carbondale, Illinois, 28 Mar 2007.
902. KOLK, Mary, “Illinois Probate Records, 1819-1988,” Insanity Trial, Madison County, Illinois, Probate records 1876-1879 vol I, pg 426, 14 Aug 1878, FamilySearch.org, https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1-16384-25993-21?cc=1834344&wc=SFKT-827:162588001,162824001, 26 Jun 2011.
42. “1870 U.S. Census,” KOLK, Jacob Family, Monticello Post Office, Township 6, Range 9, Madison County, Illinois, 26 Jul 1870, FamilySearch.org, https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-266-12873-283316-48?cc=1438024, 1 Jun 2015.
46. KOLK, Henry J - WEISS, Emma J, “Marriage Record,” Madison County Register of Marriages, Madison County, Illinois, 30 Apr 1894, License # 3125, IRAD, Carbondale, Illinois.
47. KOLK, James - WOLF, Mary, “Marriage Record,” Madison County Register of Marriages, Madison County, Illinois, 20 Jan 1892, License # 1936, IRAD, Carbondale, Illinois.
364. KOLK, Mary, “Death Record,” 10 Nov 1878, Union County Register of Deaths, pg 134, Union County, Illinois, File #195, IRAD, Carbondale, Illinois, 28 Mar 2007.
902. KOLK, Mary, “Illinois Probate Records, 1819-1988,” Insanity Trial, Madison County, Illinois, Probate records 1876-1879 vol I, pg 426, 14 Aug 1878, FamilySearch.org, https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1-16384-25993-21?cc=1834344&wc=SFKT-827:162588001,162824001, 26 Jun 2011.