Frain Family Tree - Illinois Branch

Frain, Martin and Annie Murphy

Martin Frain immigrated from England to the U.S. with his family in 1886. He was the son of Luke Frain and Mary Sweeney and was born in Durham, England in Sept., 1872. Annie was born in England of English parents in April, 1873 and immigrated to the U.S. in 1885 or 1886.

Martin is found on the 1881 English census with his family. The locale was 33 South Street, Helmington Row, Durham .  He is listed as Martin Frayne, a son, is age 11, born in Sunnybrow Parish and is a scholar.  Sunnybrow is about 7 miles Southwest of Durham.

From the research by Godfrey Duffy of the Durham Records Office: born 31 October 1870, bapt 13 November 1870, Martin Frain son of Luke Frain & Mary Gallagher[priest's error?] Godparents Thomas Roach & Mary Nigley

Martin emigrated from Durham, England on the same boat as his brothers John and Patrick, the HMS 'City of Berlin'. They departed Liverpool, England and arrived in New York on June, 23, 1886. Still looking for the ship's log for his father, mother, sister and brother Luke.

The BUREAU COUNTY REPUBLICAN MARRIAGE EXTRACTIONS - 1798 TO 1900 shows Martin Frain and Annie Murphy, both of Spring Valley, obtaining a marriage license on 6 June 1896.

The 1900 census shows Martin married to Annie and they had 2 children. The 1st was Martin J. who was born in May 1896 and the 2nd was Daniel who was born in May 1900. Martin and Annie were married in 1896, most likely in Spring Valley where they resided at the time of the census. They were renting their home on East Cleveland St. Martin was a coal miner as were others in the family.

The 1920 U.S. Census Index shows Martin Frain, born in England, white male age 50 living in Schram, Montgomery County, IL (should be Schram City which is next to Hillsboro in Montgomery County), East Fork Township. His wife Anna is from England and is age 46. Anna's parents were both English. His family living with him and his wife were; Dan age 19, Luke age 17, Mary Jane age 12 and Margaret age 9. Martin and Anna owned their home. Martin's parents were both born in Ireland and their native tongue was Irish. Martin was a track layer in a mine. Dan was a driver in a mine. Luke was a laborer at a glass factory.

The 1920 U.S. Census Index shows Martin Frain (Martin and Anna's son), born in Illinois, white male age 22 living in Schram City, Montgomery County, IL. Living with him were his wife Evelyn born in Illinois age 21, his sister-in-law Rosa Fitcomb born in Illinois age 18 and his father-in-law Henry Fitcomb born in Illinois age 65. Martin's parents are shown as born in England (see previous paragraph). Evelyn's parent's were both born in Illinois. Martin was an electrician in a coal mine. He and his wife rented their home.

Luke, Jane (perhaps Mary Jane) , Martin and Dan's name were on a floral wreath at Luke Frain's funeral in 1939. Luke is shown as a nephew from St. Louis attending Patrick Frain's funeral in 1950. This would be consistent with the fact that Martin Frain Sr. and family moved to Hillsboro, Ill. which is not far from St. Louis. Mrs. Jane Carbon (married Joseph Carbon) of Chicago attended Patrick's funeral, as well. It appears Martin J., Daniel and Jane all moved to Chicago while Luke moved to St. Louis.

Social Security death records show Martin Frain, born May 11, 1897 and died July, 1965. This is most likely Martin and Annie's son.

The 'Illinois Death Index by Name' shows Martin Frain died Nov. 4, 1924 in Spring Valley (certificate # 006345). He may have been taken from Hillsboro to Spring Valley to die as was his brother Luke in 1939.

At the time of Patrick Frain's funeral in 1950, Martin J. and Dan Frain were listed as nephews and lived in Chicago. Martin J. was accompanied by his wife.

Martin Sr.'s grandson, Martin D. Frain, died tragically in a plane crash on Aug. 12, 1943. The newspaper account follows:

MARTIN FRAIN FATALLY HURT IN ACCIDENT

Relative of Patrick Frain Dies in Fighter Plane Crash

Patrick Frain Monday received news that his nephew's son, Flight Officer Martin D. Frain of Chicago was killed Sunday when his fighter plane crashed on a mountainside in California. He was on a routine flight from Shreveport, La., to Salina, Kan., via the coast when the crash occurred.

His body was identified Monday and his father, Martin J. Frain, an engineer with the Westinghouse Electric and Manufacturing Company, Chicago, notified.

Twenty-three years old, Frain held the Purple Heart for burns suffered when his plane was shot down in the North African Campaign last fall and he was obliged to make a forced landing with his ship blazing fiercely.

En route to Africa, Frain had survived the torpedoing of his transport ship, spending many days in an open boat before being rescued, and in Africa another of his strafing ships was forced down behind the enemy lines, after which he had made his way safely back to Allied Territory.

About two months ago, while on convalescent leave, the young flier visited his grand uncle here. He had attended Hyde Park high school in Chicago and joined the army three years ago. In the city he made his home with his Uncle Daniel Frain at 5933 North Paulina St.

I received the following information via e-mail on the Internet from William C. McKee. I have cut and pasted it from the e-mail to this document. Isn't the Internet great!!?

Start of e-mail.

Hello Joe - Luke Frain, son of Martin and Annie, was my uncle. His daughter, Jane Frain Chesser, wife of Clyde (Tub) Chesser, lives in Hillsboro. Last August, my family attended a family reunion at their home. This was the Klauser family. Luke's wife was Ann Klauser, my mother's older sister. All members of that generation are deceased. William C. McKee

End of e-mail.

Also from the Internet.  Received an e-mail from Marc McDonald via this web site.  It follows:

Joseph,
>>
>>     I research old military plane crashes.  While looking through the
>> archives of the Santa Maria Daily Times in Santa Maria, California, I came
>> across an article about Flight Officer Martin D. Frain.  After doing an
>> internet search on his name, I found your family history website and read
>> the article you posted about him.  I've had much success finding military
>> crash sites in Southern Califoria, and intend to put Martin's P-39
>> Airacobra on my list of planes to find.  Do you know where I can get a
>> picture of him?  Any help appreciated.  Thanks,
>>
>> Marc McDonald

I put together the information received from him and from what I have and set up the following web page: Martin Frain plane crash.