Climbing My Family Tree

Mrs. Margaret Thornton Noll was the daughter of Edward Thornton, a brother to my 3rd great-grandfather, James Patrick Thornton.

17 Aug 1937, Alton Evening Telegraph, Alton, Illinois.
Mrs. Margaret Noll Dies at Virden
Mrs. Margaret Thornton Noll, wife of Jacob Noll, died last night at 7 o’clock at her home in Virden, Ill.
Mrs. Noll was born and reared in Alton, but had resided in Virden since her marriage.
She is survived by her husband, one son, Henry; a daughter, Eleanor, and a grandchild, Mary Noll.
Mrs. Noll also leaves one brother, Philip Thornton of New York; two sisters, Mrs. Mollie Blackburn of Alton and Miss Annie Ward of Granite City; a nephew, Philip Blackburn, and a niece, Mrs. Frank Womack, of Alton.
Mrs. Noll suffered a heart attack at 6 o’clock and her death occurred one hour later. She had been ailing for several days.
Requiem mass will be sung by the Rev. Fr. W. B. Whalen at St. Catherine’s Church in Virden Thursday morning at 9 o’clock, and burial will be in the Virden cemetery.

Miss Annie Ward lived a long life and never married.  I haven’t yet figured out who her mother was.  I can’t seem to find mention of her. I know that she had 5 siblings, and that their father was Edward Thornton (a brother to my 3rd great-grandfather, James Patrick Thornton).  Her mother’s father was Patrick Ward, a well-known man who held many different offices in Alton, Illinois.  She appears to have lived with him for many years (before his death).  You will notice that her last name is listed as “Ward” instead of “Thornton”.  Her siblings went by Thornton, although a couple of them used Ward as a middle name.  I need to do some further investigating to see what may have happened to her.  

Miss Annie Ward Dies at Age 83
Succumbs at Home of Nephew

Miss Annie Ward, 83, died Tuesday at 1:50 p.m., at the home of her nephew, Philip E. Blackburn, 418 Belleview, where she had resided since last November. Her death followed by two days that of a brother-in-law, John B. Ehret, 83.
Miss Ward was a granddaughter of the late Patrick Ward, one of the early city clerks in Alton, and she lived with him.
She was born at Virden, Ill., Jan. 25, 1844, but came to Alton in childhood and with exception of 27 years when she was housekeeper for the Rev. Father N. Costello in Granite City, had spent all of her life in Alton. She was a graduate of Ursuline Convent and a member of one of the early classes to receive diplomas at the school.
During the past 12 years, Miss Ward had suffered injuries at several different times in falls, but had recovered to the extent that hse could be up and about the house.
Tuesday morning, when she arose she complained to Mrs. Blackburn of chest pains, and after taking a drink of water decided to go back to bed. Soon after she had been helped to her room by Mrs. Blackburn she became ill and Mrs. Blackburn ministered to her until she could summon aid of neighbors.
Later Miss Ward lapsed into a coma and died before a doctor could be found to attend her. Death apparently was due to a heart attack.
While in frail health, Miss Ward had been able to get about in her nephew’s car, and Sunday he had taken her to church and to visit her niece, Mrs. Frank Womack, following the death of her father, John Ehret.
Miss Ward had been closely associated with her niece and brother-in-law and shock of death of Mr. Ehret is believed to have brought about her fatal attack of illness.
With exception of her nephew Blackburn, and niece, Mrs. Womack, she leaves no relatives.
Funeral rites will be conducted Friday at 10 a.m., with solemn requiem high mass in Old Cathedral. Burial will be in Greenwood cemetery. The body is at Staten funeral home where friends may call after 7 p.m., today. The rosary will be recited Thursday at 8 p.m.
Annie