My Maternal Genealogical Information

Surnames on this page: Wallace, Story, Beers, (and McKennon). Wallace comes from Scotland of course.  It is believed that the Storys came from Germany. Linda said that she was "Scottish and German"*.

Place Names on this page: Normal, Illinois; Wichita Falls, Texas; and Sherman, Texas.

If you want to know what the symbols on this page mean, please click on this graphic and check out the "Legend".

MY MATERNAL INFORMATION—

                                                                      LEGAL NAME:  Linda  HOUSE NAME:  Ellen Drews  BORN:  Normal (5), Illinois (2 etc.)   [ed. Normal, Illinois, is in McLean County. Brokaw Hospital was the hospital for Normal Illinois in 194_.  It is no longer there, as it merged with another one and the name was changed.  Other hospitals in Bloomington-Normal at that time, were St. Joseph’s and Mennonite.]  Linda was admitted to Methodist Mission Home, September 3, back in the day. (4) (6) ?The searcher told me what Linda's maiden name was and what her married name was. 

LINDA’S BIRTH DATE: August  {[ed. August 6, "back in the day" was 19 (2)---by August 31, "back in the day" she had turned 20 (13)]} ?The searcher in Texas, told me Linda's birth date was August___.

LINDA'S ETHNICITY: Scottish-German-English (5) *Linda told my friend that her ethnicity is Scottish and German.

 LINDA’S RELIGION: Protestant  Post Chapel (4)

LINDA was a Legal Resident of Texas.  (4 etc.)  “Conference: N” (5) [ed. According to the Methodist Church, Wichita Falls, is in the "North Conference".  ?The searcher said that Linda lived in Wichita Falls.  %Richard Wallace's obituary said that he had a daughter Linda _____ in Wichita Falls. &The City Directory for Wichita Falls, lists a Richard and Eleanor Wallace living in Wichita Falls "back in the day".]

LINDA’S "KNOWN" CHILDREN:
%The Dec. 4, 1986 Wichita Falls, Times Record News obit. For Richard Wallace states that he had two grandchildren when he died. ?There is a J. L. McKennon living at ______ Wichita Falls, Texas etc. The searcher indicated, that this was maybe Linda’s daughter. *On the phone, Linda said she had a daughter and a son. Her son was living in Dallas. +I found a Richard O. McKennon who was born in Wichita Falls, Texas, April 30, 1964. He was a lawyer in Frisco, Texas near Dallas. [ed. found by typing "McKennon" and "Wichita Falls" into an "advanced search" on Google.] The March 1, 2006 obituary for Richard O. McKennon [ed. deceased February 26, 2006] said that he had a sister Jana McKennon. His father was Richard McKennon. $ Eleanor Lucille Story Wallace's obituary lists Linda's Children as: Richard McKennon married to Kayla. Jana McKennon.  Linda's grandchildren are listed as: Matthew, Meagan, Alyssa, Kendall, Kyle and Karma. 

LINDA'S PARENTS:

LINDA’S FATHER: Richard; 1920;  6’1”;  198#;  Nationality—Scotch;  Eyes—blue;  Hair—gray, blonde;   Complexion—very fair, ruddy; Education—H.S. Grad, 1 ½ yrs. College; Occupation—Owns Insurance Agency; Special Talents—Mathematical, Mechanical; Additional Information—....years.....during WWII; Mechanic, line chief; Statistical work; Does income tax work also; Baptist. (3)  Was—42[ed. in 19__]; Occupation—insurance agent; [ed. in]—Texas. (5)   Was—42; born—1920; Nationality—Scotch; Occupation—insurance agent; Texas; Te....1 ½ yrs. College; Marital Status—Married. (6) &The City Directory for 19__ says, Richard J. "Jack" Wallace had a general insurance agency known as Government Employee Finance Co. It was located at Sheppard Access Road at Locke Lane.  +The Social Security Death Index, said, "Richard Wallace birth date, May 11, 1920.  SS# issued in Texas.  Death date, Dec. 1986.  ZIP code of last known residence, 76306.  Primary location associated with this ZIP code, Wichita Falls, Texas". %Richard Jack Wallace's obituary of Dec. 4, 1986 said, he was 66.  He was born May 11, 1920, in Sherman, Texas. He died December 2, 1986 in Wichita Falls.  He lived in Wichita Falls, since 1961.  He was a retired Air Force chief master sergeant.  He owned Wallace Tax Service.  He was also a member of Faith Masonic Lodge.  %The obituary listed his address as, ________Wichita Falls, Texas.

LINDA’S MOTHER: Eleanor;  Born—4-24-19;   5’2” ;  108#; Eyes—brown; Hair—dark  brown; Complexion—dark; Nationality—German; Education—H.S. Graduate; Occupation—Secretary/housewife; Special Talents—none; Additional Information—Methodist. (3)  Age—43 [ed. "back in the day"]; Occupation—housewife (pregnant-expecting anytime). (5)  Birth date—43, 19; Nationality—German; Occupation—housewife (pregnant-exp. any time); Place of Employment—Secretary; Education--......,Ill.; Marital Status—married. (6) ?The searcher said her name was Eleanor S. (Story) Wallace.  And that she lived at ________ Wichita Falls, Texas.  She said that Eleanor's birthdate was, 04-24-19.  &The City Directory for "back in the day", in Wichita Falls, says that an Eleanor S. Wallace lived with a Richard J. "Jack" Wallace at 1706 Katherine Drive. %Richard Jack Wallace's obituary listed Eleanor as his surviving wife.  His address was listed as ________Wichita Falls.  +The Social Security Death Index, says that an Eleanor L. Wallace born April 24, 1919 died November 26, 2003.  $Eleanor Lucille Story Wallace online obituary, says, she was 84.  She was born, April 24, 1919.  She was born in Chicago, Illinois.  She died, November 26, 2003.  She died in Wichita Falls, Texas.  Her spouse was, Richard Jack Wallace.  Her mother was Myrtle Story.  Her father was William Story. $ Sent away March 12, 2006, for Eleanor Lucille Story Wallace obituary from the public library in Wichita Falls, Texas. It came March 20, 2006. It said she was 84.  She died Wednesday, Nov. 26, 2003. She was born April 24, 1919, in Chicago, Illinois to William and Myrtle Story.  She married Richard Jack Wallace, Nov. 20, 1941, in Bloomington, Illinois. +B. student (at?) “Mildred”  C. clerk State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co.  D. Eleanor L Story clerk State Farm Ins. Co. r 109 E. Kelsey  +1930 Census: ELEANOR     Dghtr  age 11   Born in IL, Father born in IL, Mother born in IL; (was 17 in 1909) +SSDI: ELEANOR L WALLACE 24 Apr 1919 26 Nov 2003

LINDA’S KNOWN SIBLINGS:

Brother Gary: Born "back in the day" [ed. possibly in October]  Fair C; Blonde H; Blue E; Marital Status—single; Address—with parents. (6)  Blonde hair; blue eyes; fair comp.; Normal infant; 62. (3)

{How I came to the possible birth month:---Born "back in the day" [ed. possibly in October]—On page 3, with no date [ed. but probably 11-29-__ as in (4)], says Gary born ___.  On page 5, no date, [ed. but Linda was 20—therefore after birthday August 19__] Eleanor listed as “housewife (pregnant-expecting anytime)”.  On page 6, no date but as on page 5, says also, “housewife (pregnant-exp. any time)”.  On page 11, [ed. which is probably from Sept. 19__ as it is a medical form which records several tests and the dates they were preformed—dates are all Sept. 19__], under “multiple pregnancies”, it says, “none, no siblings yet”—also, under other heading says, “Mother 43, L ? W, 8 mo. preg.”.  [ed. So, if Eleanor was 8 months pregnant in September 19__, then Gary was possibly born in October 19__.] } ?The searcher said that Gary was "Gary_____".  She also said he was listed as living at __________, in Wichita Falls.  %Richard Jack Wallace's obituary says, he had a surviving son, Gary of Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii.  [ed. if someone is in the military, they sometimes use a "back home" address as their legal address.] + According to what I found on a genealogy web site Gary was born in September. $ Eleanor Lucille Story Wallace's obituary states that her survivors include: a daughter Linda and her son, Gary and his wife Judy.

Brother Richard:  From page 6, [ed. no date but Linda listed as 20]; Birthdate—23; college grad; ??? [ed. possibly, H th, or 11^th ?]; USAF; P ½ Bro. [ed. Paternal half brother.] [ed. ?%+Not mentioned by searcher, or obituary of Richard Jack Wallace. Can't seem to find this person on any genealogy searches either. I do not find him listed in any genealogy reference. I can't find one that would fit what I have, in the SSDI.  I don't seem to find this name via Google---with dates that would fit.  He isn't on the Vietnam Memorial Wall either. Thank God! How can someone seemingly fall of the face of the earth?]  [ed. September 17, 2006 Today, I found a family tree online.  It was for the Wheless family.  It said that a Mary Ruth Wheless died in 1940. She was buried in Sherman, Texas. (The Rootsweb page for the West Hill Cemetery in Sherman, says that Mary Ruth Wallace died in 1939.) She was married to a Richard Jack Wallace who was a Major in the Air Force, Wichita Falls.  Mary Ruth died giving birth to a son, Richard Porter [ed. Wallace]. Not completely sure this is about "my" Richard Jack Wallace. See Below.] http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/v/e/l/RHONDA-M-VELASQUEZ/ODT2-0001.html]

Eleanor and Richard:

$Eleanor Lucille Story Wallace's obituary states that she married Richard Jack Wallace Nov. 20, 1941.  They were married before she got pregnant... [ed. September 17, 2006 Today, I found a family tree online.  It was for the Wheless family.  It said that a Mary Ruth Wheless died in 1940. She was buried in Sherman, Texas. (The Rootsweb page for the West Hill Cemetery in Sherman, says that Mary Ruth Wallace died in 1939.) She was married to a Richard Jack Wallace who was a Major in the Air Force, Wichita Falls.  Mary Ruth died giving birth to a son, Richard Porter [ed. Wallace].  Wow! How sad.  I am sure this has to be the same Richard Wallace.  He was from Sherman, he had a son Richard, and he was in the Air Force, stationed in Wichita Falls.  If this is "my" Richard Jack Wallace, finding this, explains a lot. Yet, I am not completely sure this is about "my" Richard Jack Wallace.  The obituary I have, says that he was a "retired Air Force chief master sergeant". This family tree, says he was a "major". It also says that Mary Ruth Wheless died in 1940.  My de-identified file says that Linda's paternal half brother Richard was 23 in 1962. That would mean he was born in 1939? The cemetery page says that a Mary Ruth Wallace died in 1939 though. Could the family tree I found have some inaccuracies?  http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/v/e/l/RHONDA-M-VELASQUEZ/ODT2-0001.html]... Some of my speculation below was not accurate. I changed it a little bit. [ed.+Richard was in the Air Force. Eleanor lived in Normal, Illinois. She lived with her siblings and her aunt Hazel Beers. The city directory suggested that she lived in a "rooming house", but I have no other evidence of that. I know from my reading of the Pantagraph archives of August 194? there was a military base in the area. I found a "Chanute Field" in Rantoul, Illinois. I am not sure if that would have been the "local" airbase or not. My file (6) says that Linda had a "P 1/2 Bro." (paternal half brother) Richard.  He was 23 when the form was filled out. Richard was married before he met Eleanor? (Possibly. See above.) Eleanor was around 23 when she gave birth to Linda.  Things must have been very difficult for her at that time. It would have been easy to fall in love with a man in a uniform. I wondered if Eleanor "had" to get married. I am still curious why there was no listing of Eleanor entering or leaving the hospital in the August 194? Pantagraph.  I looked in the "Bulletin Board" which had Marriage Licenses, and Births.  I also looked in the "Hospital Notes" which had lists of people entering and leaving the three hospitals. Linda was born late in the month.  I think we tried to look in the early September 194? Pantagraph archive.  Either we didn't find anything, or someone had checked that reel out when we were there. If you do any reading of Adoption posts that people place when searching for their parents or children, then you will find that "unwed mothers" tend to run in families.  It is very common to see a woman looking for her biological mother and also looking for biological children.]

LINDA’S AUNTS, UNCLES AND GRANDPARENTS:  

F=Father; M=Mother; S=Sibling

LINDA'S Paternal: (Father's Side of the family)

LINDA'S Maternal:  (Mother's Side of the Family) (+The red letters, "A." at the end of the name listings under “Story”, correspond to the years listed under the Bloomington City Directory listings at the end of this doc.)  

From, Bloomington, Illinois City Directories:
Bloomington, Illinois City Directories: (Just looked in a few of them.  Wrote down the later ones first. These were written Oct. 28, 2002.  We were in a hurry.  Probably only wrote down information, that was “different” than the others?  There was the alphabetical listings and then the listing by address.)

A.1930-31 1410 Franklin
Hazel Beers; Evelyn Story student; Melvin Story student; Myrtle Story;
(Myrtle was a widow with 4 children) Last one written.

B.1935 1410 N. East
Hazel Beers Householder at 1410 N. East; Dorothy/Gerald B.; Eleanor/Melvin; Melvin Ins. Agent; Evelyn/Ruth; Eleanor student—Mildred, Ruth; Dorothy SS Kresge sales clerk

C. 1938
Hazel Beers still at 1410 N. East; Dorothy 1412 N. East; Eleanor still at 1410; 1410: Ruth, Melvin, Jerold B. US Army, Evelyn, Eleanor clerk State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co., Evelyn stenographer Aetna Life Ins. Co., Ruth V. Story, W. Melvin Story, teacher;

D. 1941
Eleanor L Story Clerk State Farm Ins. Co. r 109 E. Kelsey; Dorothy M Story stenographer Alexander LBR. Co.; householder, Evelyn A. Story stenographer Mutual Trust Life Ins.; Telephone = Evelyn’s; also at address: Hazel L. Beers also householder

E.1943-1944
Evelyn A Story stenographer Great States Life Ins. r 109 E. Kelsey; Hazel Beers is still there; We don’t know who actually “owned” house.

F. 1946
Ruth V. Story typist State Farm Ins.; Evelyn A. office secretary R.W. Gibson Agency r 109 E. Kelsey; also Hazel Beers

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Wallace  Story  Beers  McKennon  Richard Wallace  Eleanor Lucille Story Wallace  Eleanor Lucille Wallace  Richard J. Wallace Richard and Eleanor Wallace   Linda   Gary  Richard   Illinois  Wichita Falls Texas