Frain Family Tree - Illinois Branch

Frain, John and Ellen Farmer

John Frain was the son of Luke Frain and Mary Sweeney, born May, 1863, in Durham, England. Little is known of him at this time. John was still living when his father died in 1922, but by the time of his brother Luke's death in 1939 he had died in Spring Valley, Illinois. "Illinois Death Index by Name" shows John Frain died April 22, 1931 in Spring Valley (Certificate #0060187).

John Frayne is found on the 1881 census of England with his family. The locale was 33 South Street, Helmington Row, He is listed as John Frayne, a son, is age 21, born in Leadgate Parish and is a coal miner.  Leadgate and Medomsley are two towns approximately 15 miles northwest of the city of Durham. Lanchester is a town about halfway between Leadgate and Durham. This is where his mother and father were married.

From Godfrey Duffey and his research of the Durham Records Office: born 13 May 1859, bapt 05 June 1859, John Frayne son of Luke Frayne & Mary Sweeney. Godparents Thomas & Sarah Brady. 

Not judging, just pointing out that his parents were married on March 8, 1859.

The BUREAU COUNTY REPUBLICAN MARRIAGE EXTRACTIONS - 1878 - 1900 shows John Frain and Ellen Farmer, both of Spring Valley, getting married on Feb 29, 1892. The ceremony was performed by Rev. John F. Power.

There is recorded in the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit Court in Ottawa, La Salle County, Illinois a recording of a naturalization of:

John Frayne No. 2259 Record Book 11 Page 214

Admitted October 11, 1888.

It is not known if this is the same John Frain.

Research from the 1900 Ill. census reveals the following facts. He and his wife, Ellen, were renting their home at 597 Cleveland St. in Spring Valley, Ill. She was born in England in Nov. 1872 and emigrated in 1882. They were married in 1892 and had no children by 1900. His occupation is shown as day laborer. His emigration date is shown as 1888. This in error, he emigrated in June, 1886 with his 2 younger brothers, Patrick and Martin.

The error on the census and the naturalization of John Frayne shown above could indicate that John was consistent in believing he emigrated in that year.

The 1910 US Census shows John and Ellen living in at 715 E. 63rd St., Chicago.  From the context of the address and associated numbers it appears they lived in apartment 169.  James Farmer is a lodger.  John is a car repairer and James is a barber.

Since other age errors have been uncovered in 1910 and 1920 census data, the following appears to be John on the 1920 census.

The 1920 U.S. Census Index shows John Frain, born in England, a white male age 55 living on East 2nd Street in Arlington, Bureau County, IL. He was enumerated with his brother in law, James Farmer. Ealenor Frain is shown as James Farmer's sister and is probably John's wife in this context. She is 45. She was Ellen in the 1900 census. Arlington is a very small town about 12 to 15 miles north of Spring Valley. His emigration date is barely readable but looks like 1881 and was naturalized in 1895. She emigrated in 1883 and was naturalized in 1890. She was born in England, but her parents were both born in Ireland, similar to John's experience. John is a laborer in a coal mine. The conflicts with names and dates points out the inconsistency of census data.