Frain Family Tree - Illinois Branch

Frain, Luke, Jr. and Marie Lillian Mottershaw and  Gertrude Williams

Luke was born Aug. 14, 1905, in Spring Valley, Ill. to Luke Frain and Elizabeth Bird. He was baptized Sept. 10, 1905 at St. Benedicti Church in Ladd, Ill. by Rev. P. Ambrose, O.S.B. His sponsors were Thomas Moran and Elizabeth Soloman.

Luke's first marriage was to Marie Lillian Mottershaw, from Kincaid, on Feb. 1, 1927. Luke lived in Tovey at the time and was a coal miner. Marie lived in Kincaid.

Marie was born in Pawnee, Illinois in 1909. Her mother was Frances Flaherty and her father was John Mottershaw. The 'Illinois Death Index by Name' shows that Marie Lillian Frain died Nov. 1, 1930 in South Fork Township.

They had one daughter, Frances Elizabeth, born Nov. 1, 1928. Luke was 23 years old and Marie was 19 years old when they married. Luke's occupation was coal miner. They lived in Kincaid at the time and later moved to Tovey.

Masthead missing, date is year 1930.

MRS. LUKE FRAIN OF TOVEY DIES THIS MORNING

Mrs. Lillian Marie Frain, 21, wife of Luke Frain, died at 2 o'clock this morning at her home in Tovey. She had been in poor health for some time but had not been bedfast until the last three days.

She was a patient for a year at the St. Vincent hospital, and later was confined to the St. John's sanitarium at Riverton, leaving that place last August.

Mrs. Frain was born Oct. 18, 1909 at Auburn, the daughter of John and Francis Flaherty Mottershaw. She later moved to Kincaid with her parents. She was united in marriage to Luke Frain in February 1927, and they have since resided at Tovey, Mr. Frain is employed at No. 8 mine.

Mrs. Frain's mother proceeded her in death five years ago, and a brother, Led, died at Riverton, 2 years ago. She attended the Methodist church at Kincaid.

Surviving are her husband, one daughter, Frances, aged 1 year; her father, John Mottershaw of Kincaid, one sister, Miss Irene Mottershaw and twin brothers, Grover and Stanley Mottershaw, all of Kincaid.

Arrangements for the funeral are incomplete, although it is probable the services will held some time Monday.

Luke worked at Mine #8 in Tovey From Feb. 17, 1927 to Apr. 1, 1932. Per Joe Craggs, boss at Mine #10, Luke also worked previous years, but the records are incomplete.

Luke's second marriage was to Gertrude Williams, from Tovey. They had two daughters, Donna and Gwendolyn.

The following is from the Memorial Service Card from his funeral.

In Memory Of

MR. LUKE FRAIN

Born

August 14, 1905

Death

September 24, 1976

Services From

Masterson Funeral Home

Kincaid, Illinois

Clergyman

Rev. Howard Wise

Kincaid Baptist Church

Kincaid, Illinois

Burial

Horse Creek Cemetery

Pawnee, Illinois

Masterson Funeral Homes

Taylorville and Kincaid, Illinois

Masthead and date missing:

HOLD FINAL RITES FOR LUKE FRAIN, 71

Funeral Services for Luke Frain who resided at Kincaid, were held at 2 o'clock Saturday afternoon in Masterson Funeral Chapel at Kincaid with the Rev. Howard Wise of the Kincaid Baptist Church as officiant and interment took place in Horse Creek Cemetery at Pawnee.

Pallbearers were John Brandis, Donald Cushing, Earl Warren, Stanley Mottershaw, Henry Hughes and Art Davidson.

Mr. Frain, 71, a resident of the Kincaid area for 52 years, died at 2:45 o'clock Friday morning in Memorial Medical Center at Springfield.

Masthead missing. Friday, September 24, 1976.

Luke Frain, 71, who resided at Kincaid, died at 2:45 o'clock this morning in Memorial Medical Center at Springfield where he had been hospitalized since September 14.

He was born on August 14, 1905, a son of Luke and Elizabeth Bird Frain and had lived in the Kincaid area about 52 years, moving there from Lacon. He was married first to Marie Mottershaw,; who died about 1930. He was then married to Gertrude Williams and she too preceded him in death in 1973. He had worked at one time in the coal mines and then became a general laborer.

Survivors include three daughters, Mrs. Frances Smith, Springfield; Mrs. Donna Morgan of Pawnee; and Mrs Gwendolyn Fanning of Oregon; a brother, Patrick of Chicago; five sisters, Mrs Kathryn Schmelzer of Kincaid; Mrs. Alice Dean of Los Vegas, Nev.; Mrs Bernice Vincent(should be Bensen) of Chicago; Mrs. Elizabeth Briddick of Joliet; and Mrs. Mary Travis of Creve Cour; and several grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held 2 o'clock Sunday afternoon in Masterson Funeral Chapel at Kincaid with Rev. Howard Wise of the Kincaid Baptist Church officiating and burial will follow in Horse Creek Cemetery at Pawnee.

Friends may call in the funeral home from 6 until 9 o'clock Saturday evening and night.

Most of what I remember of Luke is after his marriage with Gertrude was over. He took to the highways and byways. Once every year or two he would swing through Tovey and visit my family. Dad would do what he could to see if he could get Luke to settle down. He didn't have any luck at that, so he would give him a few meals and some clothes. Then one day we would discover Luke had left again.

The last few years of his life Luke did settle down near Kincaid. He managed to 'shack up' near the Kincaid dump and get odd jobs around town to keep body and soul together. He was always in ill health from too much drinking. He was an alcoholic. Aunt Kathryn also gave much aid and comfort to Luke. They were very close. In fact she handled much of the necessary legal work for Luke thru the years for Social Security and such. She would help him get the odd jobs, as well. I don't know who was at fault, him or his daughters, but they didn't keep in touch. In fact, they lived for many years only a block from us with their mother. I don't believe he would even visit them.

There is undoubtedly much I don't know or understand about Uncle Luke. Perhaps I never will.

Traded e-mails with Stephanie Baker.  She is researching her family tree for her daughter.  She married Thomas Daniel Stroisch, son of Luke's daughter Frances and Daniel Stroisch.  Her information about Frances Elizabeth Frain is published at www.genealogy.com.  The page can be viewed by entering Frances Elizabeth Frain in the SEARCH function at www.genealogy.com .   

Click on Frances Elizabeth Frain, , for an extract from her web site.

First 2 pictures are of Luke and some of his brothers and sisters.  Actually the center picture is of all the siblings except Cecilia who had passed away.  Click on the thumbnails to enlarge the pictures.  Use the back button to return.