Frain Family Tree - Illinois Branch

Frain, Elizabeth and Thomas Briddick

Elizabeth was the firstborn child of Luke and Elizabeth Bird Frain. She was born on November 22, 1896 in Spring Valley, Illinois. (The 1900 census shows 1895). She was named after her  mother.

The 1881 England census shows the Thomas and Mary Briddick family living in West Rainton, Durham , England.  That is just a few miles northeast of the city of Durham.  Since the Frain (Frayne) family lived near Durham, as well, and both families were coal mining families, they may have known each other before moving to the Northern Illinois area.  

Grandma Frain (Elizabeth), with daughter, Liz, on the left and granddaughter Alvira Erdey.  The baby is probably William or Kenneth.

Grandma Frain (Elizabeth), daughter Liz, Alvira's son Bill, Alvira

Much of the following concerning the Briddick family and its descendancy was provided by Lois Mae Tallman Briddick, wife of Earl Francis Briddick the son of Thomas and Elizabeth Frain Briddick.

Thomas George Briddick was born on Sept. 28, 1894 in Marquette, Illinois. Thomas was the son of Thomas Briddick and Mary Ann Scarf, both from England. Thomas Briddick from England was the son of Steve Briddick and Annie Lawnsdale. Annie was the daughter of Abe and Ester Lawnsdale. Mary Ann Scarf was the daughter of Robert and Sarah Scarf.

Elizabeth and Thomas were married in Spring Valley on May 28, 1916. They had four children; Alvira Theresa born on Jan. 21, 1918, Thomas George born on Nov. 10, 1919, Mary Cecelia born on Oct. 8, 1922 and Earl Francis born on March 14, 1925. I have been supplied with an extensive decendancy list. I never knew I had so many cousins in the Joliet area. A separate chart on this branch of the family is attached.

Elizabeth was Catholic.

Elizabeth died in Joliet, Illinois on August 12, 1985. She is buried at Elmhurst Cemetery, in Joliet.

From the Herald-News, Joliet, Illinois, on Wednesday, August 14, 1985:

BRIDDICK, ELIZABETH

At Draper Plaza Nursing Center, Monday, August 12, 1985. Age 88 years. Beloved mother of, (Mary) Mrs. Harvey Wilson of Channahon, two sons, Thomas (Elizabeth), Earl (Lois) Briddick, one son-in-law, William Erdey all of Joliet, nine grandchildren, 21 great grandchildren, three sisters, Mrs. Mary Travis of Creve Coeur, IL, (Kathryne) Mrs. Rudolph Schmelzer of Kinkaid (sic), IL, Mrs. Bernice Bensen of Arlington Heights, one brother Patric (sic) (Alice) Frain of Calumet City, also several nieces and nephews. Born in Spring Valley, IL, has lived in Joliet for the past 50 years. Preceded in death by her husband, Thomas G. Briddick in 1960, one daughter; (Alvira) Mrs. William Erdey in 1967, her parents, three sisters, two brothers. Funeral services will be held at the Carlson Funeral Home, Youngs near Cass St., Thursday, August 15 at 11am, Rev. Al Streyffeler officiating. Interment Elmhurst Cemetery. Friends may call Wednesday, 2-4 and 7-9.

For some time, Elizabeth and Thomas lived in Tovey, Illinois. They moved there between the time their daughter Mary Cecelia was born in Standard, Ill. in 1922 and when their son, Earl Francis was born in Tovey, Ill. in 1925. Their son, Thomas, graduated from Tovey Elementary School in 1935. Some time after that they moved to Joliet, Ill. where they stayed.

Lois Mae Talman Briddick provided a Thomas and Elizabeth descendancy.  Review it at Briddick Descendancy by Lois Mae Talman Briddick.

The following are e-mails from Amy Nelson. She is descended from the same Briddick family that my Aunt Elizabeth married into.

Thomas Briddick and Mary Ann Scarff had at least two children.  Elizabeth Ann Briddick and Thomas George Briddick. Elizabeth married Thomas E James.  They are Amy's great-grandparents.  Thomas George Briddick married my Aunt Elizabeth.

The following is some information summarized from Amy's emails.

"I have been doing research on my father's line. His grandparents were Thomas E. James & Elizabeth Briddick.  While searching for information on Thomas Briddick (hoping to find either Elizabeth's father or brother), I found your site.  It contained information on her brother, with a bit of information on their parents. The information I have on the Briddicks has come from my paternal Aunt, Norma.  She told me Elizabeth's brother, Thomas, married an Elizabeth.  They called her Aunt Liz. They had 2 daughters: Alivra (she was diabetic) and "Doll".  She couldn't remember what her real name was, everyone called her Doll. I have a copy of Elizabeth Briddick James' death certificate.  It gives the names of her parents as Thomas Briddick & Polly Scarff.  It also says there were from England.  The death certificate was filled out by her husband Tom.   

I know you have their mother as Mary Ann. I am not certain, but I think Polly was a fairly common nickname for Mary. From the information on your site that I shared with Aunt Norma, she believes Doll probably was Mary Cecilia.  She's trying to remember this information from 45-50 years ago.  We don't know too much about the Briddick side of the family.  What we do know is sketchy at best. Thomas E James married Elizabeth Briddick.  They had several children: Frank and Thomas George (my grandfather) amongst them. Most of the  children were born in Seatonville, Diamond, Braidwood, or the surrounding area. Just before Uncle Frank died, my father had a few lengthy chats with him.  Uncle Frank mentioned the Briddicks were possibly from Wales. Elizabeth may have been about 5 years old when the family came to America. Uncle Frank said the family was NOT warmly welcomed in America; possibly because they were from Wales.  To date, we have not been able to prove or disprove this.  Aunt Norma says they didn't see too much of the Briddicks when she was young.  She remembers going to Oglesby, Illinois a couple of times to visit them. While our family was there, the other Briddicks would come to visit.  She remembers Alvira & Bill's two boys. She doesn't remember but maybe once or twice any of them coming to visit Rockford. As far as she knows, they kinda kept to themselves. She does remember that they had accents. Think Uncle Tom was diabetic.  Alvira was diabetic.  Norma seems to think Alvira was in a wheelchair, and that she did have her leg (or part of) amputated. She said Uncle Tom & Alvira passed over before Aunt Liz. After Alvira died, her husband, Bill, took good care of Aunt Liz until she passed also."

Amy contributed the George Briddick descendancy she compiled.

Amy has her own web page for her family history.  She would welcome visitors.   Visit her at http://www.geocities.com/aljn2000