Although she was buried as "Lillian Whitworth", Lillie as she was known, married Carmi Atkinson of Detroit in 1916. Lillie's son Ed Mathews (from her first husband Charles Mathews) was the informant when Lillie died in Detroit and it is not known why the death registration was made out in the name of "Whitworth".
Lillie was a complicated woman. As far as the records indicate, she began life as Catharine Lapoint, daughter of Joseph Lapoint and Nancy Fox, and was born in New York in 1844. She married first Charles Mathews, with whom she had her four children. Although Charles Mathews was alive until 1899, Lillie married Joseph Whitworth in 1881, still using "Catharine" as her given name. At that time she says she is 36 years old, which would mean she was born circa 1845.
Four years later in 1885, she was "Lillie Whitworth" (the name 'Catharine' is never seen again), and states her occupation is 'dressmaker'. She lives with her husband Joseph Whitworth in Jackson, Michigan. She is again shown as "Lillie Whitworth, dressmaker" in 1898. When the census is taken in 1900, Lillie reports that she is 48 years old (born circa 1852). However 10 years later in 1910, widowed, living with her son Edward Mathews, Lillie reports that she is 62 years old (born circa 1848). Then in 1916, she marries Carmi Atkinson and states that she is 64 years old (born circa 1852).
Backing up the above narration are various records of Lillie's children including her daugher Laura L. Mathews; they all state that their mother's name was Catharine Lapoint. However in 1920 Lillie Atkinson, mother-in-law, lives with her daughter Laura/Louisa and Louisa's husband Gustave Wandrei.
Another part of Catharine/Lillie's history is that Lillie's father was somewhat of a wanderer, and as the reader will note if they visit Lillie's father Joseph Lapoint's memorial, a newspaper article kindly posted by the contributor of his memorial states, in part "Joseph LaPoint was supposed to be 74 years of age, although no one can tell exactly. He has had a noted career. Unable to read or write, he has traveled nearly all over the union with horses and wagon, carrying his family with him. A number of times within the past eight or ten years he has settled down in Jackson in the draying business, but a restless spirit after a short time would impel him to start off, when, taking his family in a covered wagon, he would travel about with no particular object in view, living like gypsies. About three years ago he united with the Salvation Army, since which time he has been a steady worker. He leaves a wife and one daughter, both of whom are sick and in destitute circumstances."
The last line of the newspaper article is incorrect; several of Joseph & Nancy's children were alive when he died in 1891. However the "restless spirit" and "traveling in covered wagons" statements are clues to the story of the Lapoint family; Lillie's daughter Laura married an entertainer; Lillie's son Edward was the manager of a theatre. And Lillie, identifying as Catharine when married to her first husband Charles Mathews, seems to have lived in a tent, according to the 1870 census. Lillie's third husband Carmi and his son Tom Atkinson owned and operated various circuses and traveling shows in the first part of the 20th century. A very interesting life!
PS: The other two children of Catharine/Lillie Lapoint are Mary Elizabeth "Libbie" Mathews (married Rudolph L Herhold; Libbie died in Ohio in 1929) and Archibald Mathews, born about 1868 in Michigan; his whereabouts unknown.
Lillie was a complicated woman. As far as the records indicate, she began life as Catharine Lapoint, daughter of Joseph Lapoint and Nancy Fox, and was born in New York in 1844. She married first Charles Mathews, with whom she had her four children. Although Charles Mathews was alive until 1899, Lillie married Joseph Whitworth in 1881, still using "Catharine" as her given name. At that time she says she is 36 years old, which would mean she was born circa 1845.
Four years later in 1885, she was "Lillie Whitworth" (the name 'Catharine' is never seen again), and states her occupation is 'dressmaker'. She lives with her husband Joseph Whitworth in Jackson, Michigan. She is again shown as "Lillie Whitworth, dressmaker" in 1898. When the census is taken in 1900, Lillie reports that she is 48 years old (born circa 1852). However 10 years later in 1910, widowed, living with her son Edward Mathews, Lillie reports that she is 62 years old (born circa 1848). Then in 1916, she marries Carmi Atkinson and states that she is 64 years old (born circa 1852).
Backing up the above narration are various records of Lillie's children including her daugher Laura L. Mathews; they all state that their mother's name was Catharine Lapoint. However in 1920 Lillie Atkinson, mother-in-law, lives with her daughter Laura/Louisa and Louisa's husband Gustave Wandrei.
Another part of Catharine/Lillie's history is that Lillie's father was somewhat of a wanderer, and as the reader will note if they visit Lillie's father Joseph Lapoint's memorial, a newspaper article kindly posted by the contributor of his memorial states, in part "Joseph LaPoint was supposed to be 74 years of age, although no one can tell exactly. He has had a noted career. Unable to read or write, he has traveled nearly all over the union with horses and wagon, carrying his family with him. A number of times within the past eight or ten years he has settled down in Jackson in the draying business, but a restless spirit after a short time would impel him to start off, when, taking his family in a covered wagon, he would travel about with no particular object in view, living like gypsies. About three years ago he united with the Salvation Army, since which time he has been a steady worker. He leaves a wife and one daughter, both of whom are sick and in destitute circumstances."
The last line of the newspaper article is incorrect; several of Joseph & Nancy's children were alive when he died in 1891. However the "restless spirit" and "traveling in covered wagons" statements are clues to the story of the Lapoint family; Lillie's daughter Laura married an entertainer; Lillie's son Edward was the manager of a theatre. And Lillie, identifying as Catharine when married to her first husband Charles Mathews, seems to have lived in a tent, according to the 1870 census. Lillie's third husband Carmi and his son Tom Atkinson owned and operated various circuses and traveling shows in the first part of the 20th century. A very interesting life!
PS: The other two children of Catharine/Lillie Lapoint are Mary Elizabeth "Libbie" Mathews (married Rudolph L Herhold; Libbie died in Ohio in 1929) and Archibald Mathews, born about 1868 in Michigan; his whereabouts unknown.
Although she was buried as "Lillian Whitworth", Lillie as she was known, married Carmi Atkinson of Detroit in 1916. Lillie's son Ed Mathews (from her first husband Charles Mathews) was the informant when Lillie died in Detroit and it is not known why the death registration was made out in the name of "Whitworth".
Lillie was a complicated woman. As far as the records indicate, she began life as Catharine Lapoint, daughter of Joseph Lapoint and Nancy Fox, and was born in New York in 1844. She married first Charles Mathews, with whom she had her four children. Although Charles Mathews was alive until 1899, Lillie married Joseph Whitworth in 1881, still using "Catharine" as her given name. At that time she says she is 36 years old, which would mean she was born circa 1845.
Four years later in 1885, she was "Lillie Whitworth" (the name 'Catharine' is never seen again), and states her occupation is 'dressmaker'. She lives with her husband Joseph Whitworth in Jackson, Michigan. She is again shown as "Lillie Whitworth, dressmaker" in 1898. When the census is taken in 1900, Lillie reports that she is 48 years old (born circa 1852). However 10 years later in 1910, widowed, living with her son Edward Mathews, Lillie reports that she is 62 years old (born circa 1848). Then in 1916, she marries Carmi Atkinson and states that she is 64 years old (born circa 1852).
Backing up the above narration are various records of Lillie's children including her daugher Laura L. Mathews; they all state that their mother's name was Catharine Lapoint. However in 1920 Lillie Atkinson, mother-in-law, lives with her daughter Laura/Louisa and Louisa's husband Gustave Wandrei.
Another part of Catharine/Lillie's history is that Lillie's father was somewhat of a wanderer, and as the reader will note if they visit Lillie's father Joseph Lapoint's memorial, a newspaper article kindly posted by the contributor of his memorial states, in part "Joseph LaPoint was supposed to be 74 years of age, although no one can tell exactly. He has had a noted career. Unable to read or write, he has traveled nearly all over the union with horses and wagon, carrying his family with him. A number of times within the past eight or ten years he has settled down in Jackson in the draying business, but a restless spirit after a short time would impel him to start off, when, taking his family in a covered wagon, he would travel about with no particular object in view, living like gypsies. About three years ago he united with the Salvation Army, since which time he has been a steady worker. He leaves a wife and one daughter, both of whom are sick and in destitute circumstances."
The last line of the newspaper article is incorrect; several of Joseph & Nancy's children were alive when he died in 1891. However the "restless spirit" and "traveling in covered wagons" statements are clues to the story of the Lapoint family; Lillie's daughter Laura married an entertainer; Lillie's son Edward was the manager of a theatre. And Lillie, identifying as Catharine when married to her first husband Charles Mathews, seems to have lived in a tent, according to the 1870 census. Lillie's third husband Carmi and his son Tom Atkinson owned and operated various circuses and traveling shows in the first part of the 20th century. A very interesting life!
PS: The other two children of Catharine/Lillie Lapoint are Mary Elizabeth "Libbie" Mathews (married Rudolph L Herhold; Libbie died in Ohio in 1929) and Archibald Mathews, born about 1868 in Michigan; his whereabouts unknown.
Lillie was a complicated woman. As far as the records indicate, she began life as Catharine Lapoint, daughter of Joseph Lapoint and Nancy Fox, and was born in New York in 1844. She married first Charles Mathews, with whom she had her four children. Although Charles Mathews was alive until 1899, Lillie married Joseph Whitworth in 1881, still using "Catharine" as her given name. At that time she says she is 36 years old, which would mean she was born circa 1845.
Four years later in 1885, she was "Lillie Whitworth" (the name 'Catharine' is never seen again), and states her occupation is 'dressmaker'. She lives with her husband Joseph Whitworth in Jackson, Michigan. She is again shown as "Lillie Whitworth, dressmaker" in 1898. When the census is taken in 1900, Lillie reports that she is 48 years old (born circa 1852). However 10 years later in 1910, widowed, living with her son Edward Mathews, Lillie reports that she is 62 years old (born circa 1848). Then in 1916, she marries Carmi Atkinson and states that she is 64 years old (born circa 1852).
Backing up the above narration are various records of Lillie's children including her daugher Laura L. Mathews; they all state that their mother's name was Catharine Lapoint. However in 1920 Lillie Atkinson, mother-in-law, lives with her daughter Laura/Louisa and Louisa's husband Gustave Wandrei.
Another part of Catharine/Lillie's history is that Lillie's father was somewhat of a wanderer, and as the reader will note if they visit Lillie's father Joseph Lapoint's memorial, a newspaper article kindly posted by the contributor of his memorial states, in part "Joseph LaPoint was supposed to be 74 years of age, although no one can tell exactly. He has had a noted career. Unable to read or write, he has traveled nearly all over the union with horses and wagon, carrying his family with him. A number of times within the past eight or ten years he has settled down in Jackson in the draying business, but a restless spirit after a short time would impel him to start off, when, taking his family in a covered wagon, he would travel about with no particular object in view, living like gypsies. About three years ago he united with the Salvation Army, since which time he has been a steady worker. He leaves a wife and one daughter, both of whom are sick and in destitute circumstances."
The last line of the newspaper article is incorrect; several of Joseph & Nancy's children were alive when he died in 1891. However the "restless spirit" and "traveling in covered wagons" statements are clues to the story of the Lapoint family; Lillie's daughter Laura married an entertainer; Lillie's son Edward was the manager of a theatre. And Lillie, identifying as Catharine when married to her first husband Charles Mathews, seems to have lived in a tent, according to the 1870 census. Lillie's third husband Carmi and his son Tom Atkinson owned and operated various circuses and traveling shows in the first part of the 20th century. A very interesting life!
PS: The other two children of Catharine/Lillie Lapoint are Mary Elizabeth "Libbie" Mathews (married Rudolph L Herhold; Libbie died in Ohio in 1929) and Archibald Mathews, born about 1868 in Michigan; his whereabouts unknown.
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