If you haven't figured out yet why I call my 2nd great-grandma, Pauline Ilg, brave and courageous then this next part will surely show you her strength. In 1900, Frank and Pauline Ilg were living at 8027 7th Street in Carondelet, St Louis County, Missouri, with their three surviving children: Willie, Otto, and Joe. Frank was working as a shoemaker, which according to the Report on the Statistics of Wages in Manufacturing Industries by Joseph Dame, a shoemaker was a stable job, but didn't pay the most. could range from $1.00 to $3.00 a day for the lower positions. Hours could be 9-14 hours a day. My goodness...
1900 US Fed Census
Carondelet, St. Louis, Missouri
To say that times were tough would be an understatement. At the start of 1901, Pauline would find out she is pregnant with her 9th child. What a great way to start the new year. Her last few children had survived, so she had hoped this one would too. I'm sure she spent the next few months planning, getting ready to celebrate bringing another baby into the world. Money was tight, but as long as they had a steady income, they could make it. Right? Everything was going to be alright, right? Like I usually tell my husband, as long as we have each other, we can get through anything. Well, the worst was yet to come.
On April 25, 1901, Pauline was informed of a horrific accident that occurred at 9:30pm at the Provident Chemical Company. Her husband was injured in an accident along with a fellow co-worker. He was rushed to the Alexian Brothers' Hospital where it was determined he had a skull fracture. According to the newspaper clipping:
"Two men narrowly escaped serious results owing to the slipping of a windlass at the elevator in the Provident chemical works in Carondelet last night, and one of the men may die...Frank Ilg and Thomas Dax were lowering barrels from the second to the first floor of the works...with Dax nearest the elevator windlass. His hand slipped and as he lost control of the lever the crank-handle flew around with rapid speed and struck Ilg on the head and Dax on the arm." - St. Louis Globe-Democrat, April 26, 1901
St. Louis Globe-Democrat
April 26, 1901
St. Louis, Missouri
How horrific! The man you love, the man you share a life with, the father of your children is laying dying in a hospital. I can't fathom that. I don't want to fathom that. She must have been wondering, "Can they fix this? What if they can't? What am I going to do?" Remember, she is currently four months pregnant. And she has three children at home under the age of seven. Talk about feeling helpless. She can't work. There were not a lot of options for women as far as jobs go in the 1900s. Especially for women who were pregnant, had children at home, as we will find out soon, was not in the best health herself. It appears Frank was working two jobs just to support the family. He was working not only as a shoemaker but also as a laborer at this Provident Chemical Works. I wish I could say this ended up being a happy ending, but unfortunately, twelve agonizing days later, Frank Jacob Ilg, passed away from his injuries on May 7, 1901.
Death & Burial Certificate
Frank Ilg - May 7, 1901
Frank was buried at Mount Olive Cemetery two days after he passed. This is where two of Pauline's children were buried as well. And just like her children, there was no headstone placed for Frank. That was just an expense that could not be afforded. How could she with three children and one on the way? Oh, this child would never know his father. Such a depressing thought. But there was no time to feel anything. She had to figure out how they were going to survive. The first order of business, finding somewhere cheaper to live. The family ended up moving to 416 E. Marceau in Carondelet. This area has been redeveloped since they lived there, but looking at the map, it appears it was close to the Mississippi River and railroad tracks. Probably the cheapest place available.
No time to get settled. Pauline's ninth and final child was born on September 24, 1901. Just four months after his father died. His name was Johann Georg Ilg (John George). He was baptized in St. Boniface Catholic Church, just like his siblings, on October 6, 1901. Pauline stayed strong for her family and did all she could to care for her four sons.
The next couple of years were not easy on them. With failing health and the inability to work, their situation was becoming more hopeless. In 1903, they were still living on E. Marceau in Carondelet. The local paper, Carondelet News, ran a story in November and December mentioning their circumstances in hopes of getting them the help they needed. This really broke my heart to read.
Carondelet News
Nov 14, 1903
Carondelet News
Dec 19, 1903
So they were low on food, fuel and winter clothing. The weather wasn't bitterly cold, thank God, but still, it was winter. Christmas would be fast approaching and there would be no presents. There would be no tree. If they were lucky, they would have food to eat and coal for heat. As a mother, this has got to be the most torturous thing in the world. Watching your children suffer and not being able to do a thing about it. The nights she must have cried herself to sleep. The days she had to put a smile on her face for her babies. The times she went without so her children didn't have to. How long would they have to endure this? She must have questioned God many times. Why was this happening? Why did Frank have to die? What is going to happen to her babies? How would she continue?
Well, life did continue. The following year brought some excitement at least. The 1904 World's Fair opened it's doors to the city of St. Louis (and the world) in April 1904. The Fair was located at what is known today as Forest Park which is currently home of the St. Louis Zoo, the Science Center and the Art Museum. The 1,200-acre fairgrounds contained approximately 1,500 buildings that in the months that it was open, would have close to 20 million visitors. According to the Atlantic:
"On display were marvels of technology, agriculture, art, and history, and there were amusement rides and entertainment to be found in a section called “the Pike.” The fair introduced a huge audience to some relatively new inventions such as private automobiles, outdoor electric lighting, and the X-ray machine—as well as foods from across the United States and around the world. The exposition also had a focus on anthropological exhibits—with an approach that is shocking by today’s standards: In some cases, organizers brought people from the Philippines, the Arctic, and elsewhere to the fairgrounds as set pieces among re-creations of their home environment or villages." [a]What an amazing event to be able to attend. The sights to be seen. The food to taste. The sounds of all the different languages and music from around the world. The beautiful architecture that still stands today. I don't know how Pauline was able to swing it, but based on this photo it appears she took her two youngest children for at least one day.
1904 Worlds Fair Co.
Joseph & John Ilg
I found this beautiful photo in my grandma's collection. It was horribly faded, but thanks to some friends, they enhanced it for me. This picture is of Pauline's two youngest children: Joseph (my great-grandfather) & John. I wonder how they enjoyed the day. Were they just able to walk around? Did they try any food? What was their favorite site? Did they ride the Ferris Wheel? I hope after so much tragedy that they made some happy memories. And things were about to get better! On December 7, 1905, an announcement was made in the Carondelet News and this time it was good news!
Carondelet News
Marriage Licenses
Dec 7, 1905
Missouri Marriage License
Jacob Baumgartner & Pauline Ilg
Dec 7, 1905
St. Boniface Church
Marriage Register
Dec 9, 1905
That's right! Pauline found love again. On December 9, 1905, Pauline married Jacob Baumgartner at St. Boniface Catholic Church in Carondelet. How did they meet? Maybe it was at church since that's where they were married. Jacob was a widow with four kids. So all together they had eight children. Talk about a huge family! Would things finally look up for Pauline? She has a family and a new husband.
What is next for Pauline?
Here are some photos of the family.
From L to R:
Joseph, John and Otto
Carondelet, Missouri
abt 1906
School Photo
Carondelet, Missouri
abt 1905
Sources:
[a]: The Atlantic
https://www.theatlantic.com/
[b]: Carondelet News - St. Louis County Library Headquarters
[c]: Ancestry.com
[d]: St. Louis Marriage Records - St. Louis County Library Headquarters
[e]: Personal Collection
[f]: Newspapers.com
[g]: Report on the Statistics of Wages in Manufacturing Industries by Joseph Dame
https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=hvd.hl4p9r&view=2up&seq=50&size=150
[h]: Mount Olive burial records
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