RETURN OF A BIRTH - STATE BOARD OF HEALTH, STATE OF ILLINOIS, Clay County

Full Name of Child: Blank - Sex: Female - No. of Child to this Mother: First
Date and Place of Birth: November 6, Blair, Clay County, Illinois
Place of Birth and Age of each Parent:
Father born in Illinois age 23 years - Mother born in Illinois age 20 years
Full Name of Mother and Maiden Name: Letitia Ann Conley - Letitia Ann Smith
Mother' Residence: Blair, Clay County, Illinois
Full Name of Father: James M. Conley - Father's Occupation: Farmer
Dated at Hord: Nov. 6, 1881 - Returned by James Anderson, M.D.

1900 U.S. Federal Census - Bible Grove Township, Clay County, Illinois
Census Date: June 15, 1900
Household:
James Connerly [Connelly] (41
Letitia S Connerly [Connelly] (38)
Pheoby E Connerly [Phoebe Estella Connelly] (15) - Attended School: 2nd grade - Can Read: Yes - Can Write: Yes
Isavilla N J Connerly [Connelly] (16)
Hariett L Connerly [Connelly] (13)
Josiah O Connerly [Connelly] (9)
Gowd Connerly [ Gould Connelly] (2)

MOVED TO NEOGA, CUMBERLAND, ILLINOIS, USA after June 15, 1900, which is the date of the 1900 U.S. Federal Census
UNKNOWN SOURCE: QUOTED FROM THE OBITUARY OF MRS. THOMAS HANKS (Phoebe Estella Conley), "When about the age of eighteen she came with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. James Conley to Neoga and had since made this place her home."

Illinois, U.S., Marriage Index, 1860-1920
Name: Estella Conelly - Gender: Female
Marriage Date: 3 Jul 1906 - Marriage Place: Effingham, Illinois, USA
Spouse Name: Thomas Hanks - Spouse Gender: Male

MARRIAGE LICENSE: Mr. Thomas P. Hanks to Miss Estella Connelly - Issued July 3, 1906 - Married July 3, 1906 - Filed July 3, 1906 by John H. Martin, County Clerk.

ILLINOIS STATE BOARD OF HEALTH
Full Name of Groom: Thomas P. Hanks - Place of Residence: Neoga
Occupation: Painter - Age next Birthday: 45, Race: White - Place of Birth: Ohio
Father's Name: Thomas P. Hanks - Mother's Maiden Name: Southern [Southard]
Number of Groom's Marriage: 2nd
Full Name of Bride: Estella Connelly - Place of Residence: Neoga
Age next Birthday: 25, Race: White - Place of Birth: Clay County, Ill
Father's Name: James Connelly - Mother's Maiden Name: Smith
Number of Bride's Marriage: 1st
Married at Effingham in the County of Effingham and State of Illinois, the 3rd day of July, 1906 - Witnesses to Marriage: Barney Overbeck and J.N. Matthews

Mr. Thomas P. Hanks of Neoga in the County of Cumberland and State of Illinois of the age of 45 years and Miss Estella Connelly of Neoga in the County of Cumberland and State of Illinois of the age of 25 years were married by M. O'Donnell, Justice of the Peace in Effingham, Effingham, Illinois on July 3, 1906. Marriage License was signed by John H. Martin, County Clerk and M. O'Donnell, Justice of the Peace.

Journal Gazette (Mattoon, Illinois) 5 Jul 1906, Thu. Page 1

"LICENSE IS GRANTED TO NEOGA COUPLE - Thomas P. Hanks, 45, and Miss Estella Connelly, 25, both of Neoga, were granted a license to wed at Effingham Wednesday afternoon."

1910 U.S. Federal Census - Neoga, Cumberland, Illinois, USA
Residence: Maple Street
Household:
Thos P Hanks (62)
Peheobia [Phoebe] Hanks (28) - Can Read: Yes - Can Write: Yes - Years Married: 3 - Number of Children Born: 1 - Number of Children Living: 1
Alice Hanks (1)
Gould Conenelly [Connelly] (11) - Brother of Phoebe Hanks

RESIDENCE OF FATHER 1910: James M. Conley was living with his sister, Vinoa "Vina" Ellen Conley Graus in Grant Township, Custer County, Oklahoma. The 1910 U.S. Federal Census for Grant Township, Custer County, Oklahoma confirms his presence in the household and states he is DIVORCED. None of his five children are living with him.

RESIDENCE OF MOTHER 1910: No 1910 U.S. Federal Census was found for Letitia Ann Smith Conley; mother of Phoebe, Icy, Harriet, Josiah and Gould Conley. She was committed to the Kankakee State Mental Hospital, Kankakee, Illinois sometime between Jun 1909 and the year 1920. She was listed on the January 10, 1920 U.S. Federal Census in the Kankakee State Hospital as a patient.

COMMENT REGARDING THE CHILDREN OF JAMES M. AND LETITIA ANN SMITH CONLEY IN 1910 - Phoebe was married to Thomas P. Hanks and living in Neoga, Illinois; Icy was married to Ulysses Grant Young and and living in Neoga, Illinois; Hariett Conley's history is unknown; Josiah was sent to his uncle, William Conley in Deer Creek Township, Custer County, Oklahoma, where he remained until he married; Gould Conley was sent to live with Phoebe and Thomas Price Hanks in Neoga, Cumberland, Illinois.

Between April 1910 and the time of her death on July 8, 1914, Phoebe suffered with a prolonged case of Tuberculosis. Her brother Gould was sent to other relatives; it is unknown who cared for him until he reached adulthood. On February 26, 1920, Gould [abt age 20] is found living in the household of Spurgeon Griffis as a lodger, which was in Ranger, Eastland, Texas, USA. He was working in the oil fields.

Journal Gazette (Mattoon, Illinois) 7 May 1914, Thu. Page 1

"Mrs. Thomas Hanks is quite ill at her home in Neoga."

JOURNAL GAZETTE (Mattoon, Illinois) 9 Jul 1914, Thu. Page 1

"MRS. T. P. HANKS DIES AT HER HOME IN NEOGA

Young Woman Succumbs After Year's Illness From Tuberculosis

Special to Journal-Gazette - Neoga, Ill., July 9 -- Mrs. T. P Hanks of this place, who has been ill of tuberculosis for the past year, died at her home on Wednesday morning about five o'clock. She was formerly Miss Connelly, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James Connelly, and was married to Mr. Hanks about eight years ago. She is survived by a husband, one daughter, six years of age; her mother, one sister, Mrs. Grant Young, and a brother, Josiah Connelly, all of Neoga.

The funeral was held today in Neoga, interment following in Neoga cemetery."

"FUNERAL NOTICE - Funeral Services of MRS. THOMAS HANKS will be held at the Methodist Church Thursday, July 9, 1914, at 10:00 o'clock a.m., conducted by Rev. W. W. Drake. Interment at Neoga Cemetery. Friends of the family are invited."

MATTOON COMMERCIAL-STAR (Mattoon, Illinois) 10 Jul 1914, Fri. Page 10

"TUBERCULOSIS PROVES FATAL

Neoga, Ill., July 9. -- Mrs. Thomas Hanks passed away at her home in this city Wednesday morning at 3 o'clock death coming after a prolonged illness of tuberculosis.

Phoebe Estella Conley was born in Clay County, Illinois, November 6, 1881. When about eighteen years of age she came with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. James Conley to Neoga and had since made this place her home.

On July 3, 1906, she was united in marriage to Thomas Hanks and to them was born one daughter, Alice, who now at the age of six years is left to bear the loss of a good and loving mother. She is also survived by her husband, two step-children, Mrs. Grace Moxley of Lebanon, Ind., and D. W. Hanks of Neoga; her mother, Mrs. James Conley, one sister, Mrs. Grant Young both of Neoga and two brothers, Gould and Joe Conley living in Oklahoma.

The funeral services were held at the Methodist church Thursday morning at 10 o'clock, conducted by her pastor, Rev. W. W. Drake with interment in Neoga cemetery."

OBITUARY: MRS. THOMAS HANKS - NEWSPAPER UNKNOWN - Obit found in the personal papers of her daughter, Alice Harriette Hanks Thomas.

Mrs. Thomas Hanks passed away at her home in Neoga Wednesday morning July 8, 1914, at three o'clock, death coming after a prolonged illness of tuberculosis.

Phoebe Estella Conley was born in Clay County, Illinois, November 6, 1881. When about eighteen years of age, she came with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. James Conley to Neoga and had since made this place her home.

On July 3, 1906, she was united in marriage with Thomas Hanks and to them was born one daughter, Alice, who now at the age of six is left to bear the loss of a good and loving mother. She is also survived by her husband, two step-children, Mrs. Grace Moxley of Lebanon, Ind. and D.W. Hanks of Neoga; her mother Mrs. James Conley, one sister Mrs. Grant Young both of Neoga and two brothers, Gould and Joe Conley living in Oklahoma.

Mrs. Hanks united with the Methodist church at the beginning of Rev. Drake's pastorate in Neoga and was a faithful Christian woman until death.

The funeral services were held at the Methodist church at ten o'clock, conducted by her pastor, Rev. W. W. Drake with interment in Neoga Cemetery.

Card of Thanks

We wish to thank all the neighbors and friends for their help and sympathy extended to us during the illness and death of our wife and mother, Mrs. Thos. Hanks.
Thos. Hanks - Mrs. Grace Moxley - D.W. Hanks - Alice Hanks - George Hanks

JAMES M. CONLEY and LEITITA ANN SMITH FAMILY HISTORY

LETITIA ANN SMITH CONLEY (mother of Josiah Arthur Conley) - Photo to left: Letitia, Phoebe holding daughter, Alice Harriette Hanks, and Gould Conley.
Letitia Ann Smith Conley was committed to the Kankakee State Hospital, Kankakee, Kankakee, Illinois, USA around 1910. The 1910 U.S. Federal Census could not be found for the Kankakee State Hospital. The 1920 U.S. Federal Census places Letitia Conley at the Kankakee State Hospital as a patient. Around January of 1927, Letitia was transferred to the Jacksonville State Hospital for the insane; listed as an inmate on the census report. She died 17 May 1930 at 5:15 a.m. as a result of cancer of the head. Letitia Ann Smith Conley is buried at Neoga, Cumberland, Illinois, USA in the Ulysses Grant Young, Sr.

JAMES M. CONLEY (father of Josiah Arthur Conley)
After the commitment of his wife, Letitia, to the state hospital at Kankakee, James Conley was not able to care for Josiah or Gould Conley, his two young boys. Gould was sent to live with his sister, Phoebe Conley Hanks and Josiah went to live with his Uncle William Thomas Conley in Custer County, Oklahoma, USA. The 1910 U.S. Federal Census places James M. Conley in his sister's household in Grant Township, Custer County, Oklahoma, near his brother, William's residence. His sister, Vinoa "Vina" Ellen Conley Graus was living with her husband, Frank, and their three children: Harold, Ruby and Ralph Graus. The Marital Status of James Conley is listed as DIVORCED on the census report and he was working as a farm laborer. If anyone in the Conley family knows what happened to James M. Conley or his daughter, Hariett Conley, please contact his 2nd Great-Granddaughter at [email protected].

PHOEBE ESTELLA CONLEY HANKS (sister of Josiah Arthur Conley)
Phoebe Estella Conley married Thomas Price Hanks, Jr. 3 Jul 1906 in Effingham, Effingham, Illinois. He was about 58 years old and Phoebe was only 24 years old when they married. They had one child, Alice Harriette Hanks born 13 Jan 1909 in Neoga, Cumberland, Illinois. In April 1910, Gould Conley was living in his sister's household following the commitment of their mother, Letitia Ann Conley to the Kankakee State Hospital. When Phoebe became ill, Gould Conley moved west and by the 1920 U.S. Federal Census he was found in Ranger, Eastland, Texas, USA working in the oil fields. Phoebe died 8 Jul 1914 of tuberculosis in Neoga, Cumberland, Illinois, USA. Aunt Icy Young became a caring aunt for Alice, as she helped Thomas Price with her raising. Aunt Icy's children were considered siblings rather than cousins through out the life of Alice Harriette Hanks. This line of the Conley family remained very close until their deaths.

ICYVILLA "Aunt Icy" NANCY JANE CONLEY YOUNG (sister of Josiah Arthur Conley)
IcyVilla Nancy Jane Conley married Ulysses Grant Young, Sr. 1 Nov 1903 in Toledo, Cumberland, Illinois. On 19 Apr 1910, they were living in Neoga, Cumberland, Illinois, USA on Toledo Road. Their 1st child, Raymond Young was born in 1904 and died the same year. They had three living children: Dorothea born 1906 (special needs child). Dorothy married Dewey Werth and had no children, they lived with Dewey's parents throughout their married life; Ruby Young born 1908, she married William David Checkley and had no children; and Frank R Young born 1910 (special needs child). Frank R. Young lived in a care facility in the latter parts of his life. Blanche Young was born 1913 and died the same year. Mary Jane Young was born in 1914 (special needs child) and lived with family all her life, she never married. Then in 1917, Ulysses Grant "Bud" Young, Jr. was born. Bud was a farmer in Illinois and he and his wife, Charline Ellen Starwalt raised a son, Larry Grant Young. In 1922, Aunt Icy gave birth to a set of twins, Virginia Maxine "Ginny" and Virgil Dean Young. Virgil Dean died at three months and 6 days and Virginia lived to marry Charles Fredrick Ister and adopted a daughter.

HARIETT L. CONLEY (sister of Josiah Arthur Conley)
Hariett L. Conley is listed in the household of James Connerly (Conley) on 15 Jun 1900 in Bible Grove Township, Clay County, Illinois, USA. In 1910, she would have been about 23 years old. It is unknown if she passed away or married before 1910. Died before 17 May 1930 - Source: Obituary of Letitia Conley.

MATTIE ANGEL CONLEY - (sister of Josiah Arthur Conley)
Mattie Conley was born in 1888 and died the same year. The burial place of Mattie Conley is unknown.

JOSIAH ARTHUR CONLEY
After the confinement of his mother, Letitia Conley, Josiah was sent to live with his Uncle William Thomas Conley and his wife, Nancy Ann Ooton Conley in Deer Creek Township, Custer County, Oklahoma, USA. The 1910 U.S. Federal Census for Deer Creek Township, Custer County, Oklahoma confirms his presence in the household. He remained with his aunt and uncle until his marriage to Anna Elizabeth Chastain 11 Apr 1914 in Custer County, Oklahoma, USA.

GOULD CONLEY (brother of Josiah Arthur Conley)
The 1910 U.S. Federal Census for Phoebe Conley Hanks tells us she was living on Maple Street, Neoga, Cumberland, Illinois with her husband, Thomas P. Hanks, along with their daughter, Alice Hanks, who was born on January 13, 1909 in Neoga, Cumberland, Illinois, USA. Gould Conley, brother of Phoebe, was also living in the household. He was listed as a grandson; however, that was incorrect. His sister, Phoebe, died on July 8, 1914 after a prolonged illness of tuberculosis. When his sister became ill, Gould went west to live and on 26 Feb 1920 he is found in Ranger, Eastland, Texas, USA working the oil fields. In 1920 or 1921, he married Beatrice Claudia Black and together they had four children. Gould Conley remained in contact with his Illinois relatives throughout the years.