Frain Family Tree - Illinois Branch

Frain, Mary and U.S. Grant Travis/George Riggs

Mary Frain was the daughter of Luke Frain and Elizabeth Bird. She was born on Christmas day in 1898 in Spring Valley, Ill. Mary was a Catholic.

Jack and Violet Travis, one of Mary's sons and daughter-in-law, wrote me a very nice reply to the questionnaire that I sent to family members. It is they who have provided me with the following information.

Mary's first marriage was to George Riggs. They had two sons, George and Delbert. Both sons are deceased now as is their father.

George D. Riggs, wife Mary and son George A. are found on the 1920 US Census in Marshall County, Illinois - Henry Township, Henry City.  Mary is shown as Mary J.  This is the only place I have seen a middle initial for her.  George is 21, Mary is 2 and son George is 1 1/2 years old.  All were born in Illinois.  Mary's father was born in England and her mothet in Pennsylvania.  George is a laborer.

Mary's second marriage was to U. S. Grant Travis who was born on Nov. 29, 1898. They also had two sons, Rollen Gene who was born on Nov. 3, 1931 and Donald Jack , born Mar. 7, 1933 in IL - died Apr. 9, 1997 in Clinton, OK.  Rollen Gene was killed in action in Korea. The following newspaper account has been saved, however, the date and masthead are not available. It also appears to have been cut short since the last sentence does not end with a period.

Killed In Action

CREAVE COEUR (TPS) -- Mr. and Mrs. Grant Travis, 216 Scenic Park Drive, Creve Coeur, received word by telegram Sunday night from the Department of Defense that their son, PFC Rollen Gene Travis, 19, had been killed in action in Masan, Korea, Sept. 3.

PFC Travis served as a jeep driver with the 35th Infantry regiment, 25th division since his enlistment Jan. 19, 1949. He was stationed in Japan for more than a year and was sent to Korea about July 15.

He was born in Peoria Nov. 3, 1930, and was a graduate of St. Patrick's grade school in Peoria. Prior to his enlistment he was employed with his father in Travis and Sons Greenhouse, Creve Coeur.

Besides his parents he is survived by his brothers, George and Delbert Travis, both of Peoria, Jack Travis at home, and one grandmother, Mrs. Elizabeth Frain

End of article.

Note that the article says he is survived by his brothers, George and Delbert Travis.  They are his half brothers by their mother's first marriage to George Riggs.

At the time the Jack and Violet sent me their letter, Mary was in a nursing home suffering from cancer.

Mary died on October 9, 1989 in Pekin, Ill. She was buried in Fon du Lac Cemetery in East Peoria Ill.

Mary's obituary was as follows:

Mary Travis

Mary Travis, 90, of Beechwood Healthcare Center, Pekin, formerly of 216 Scenic Park Drive, Creve Coeur, died at 5:30 AM Monday at the healthcare center.

Born Dec. 25, 1898 in Spring Valley to Luke and Elizabeth Bird Frain, she married Ulysses S. Grant Travis Nov. 29, 1929 in Peoria. He died July 3, 1964. She was also preceded in death by three sons, two brothers and five sisters.

Surviving are one son, Donald J. of Creve Coeur; one brother, Patrick Travis (probably should be Patrick Frain of Plant City, FL) of Plain City, Fla.; one sister, Mrs Bernice Bensen of Arlington Heights; five grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; 5 great-great-grandchildren; 8 step-grandchildren; and 25 step-great-grandchildren.

She and her husband owned and operated Travis Greenhouse in Creve Coeur. She was a member of the Creve Coeur Ladies Auxiliary and was a Goldstar Mother, having one son killed in Korea. She was also a member of Sacre Coeur Catholic Church in Creve Coeur.

Services will be at 2:00PM Wednesday at Preston-Hanley Funeral Home, Creve Coeur Chapel. The Rev. Joseph Hartman will officiate. Burial will be no Fondulac Cemetery, East Peoria. Visitation will be held one hour prior to services at the funeral home.

The following was taken from the Memorial Service Card.

SERVICES FOR

MARY TRAVIS

DATE AND PLACE OF BIRTH

December 25, 1898

Spring Valley, Illinois

DATE AND PLACE OF DEATH

October 9, 1989

Pekin, Illinois

PLACE AND TIME OF SERVICES

Preston-Hanley Funeral Home

Creve Coeur, Illinois

October 11, 1989 2:00 P.M.

CLERGYMAN

Rev. Joseph Hartman, O.S.A.

St. Joseph's Catholic Church

ORGANIST

Kevin J. Stark

INTERMENT

Fon du Lac Cemetery

East Peoria, Illinois

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PALLBEARERS 

Gene Riggs

George Riggs

Greg McAvory

Delbert Riggs

Scott Simpson

Michael Wilhite