Ada B. Briscoe, Westfield, Illinois 1880

Ada B. Briscoe, June 1880

Ada Belle Briscoe was the eldest daughter of Dr. William Thomas Briscoe, a physician and politician, and his wife, Rosanna Keller. She was born in Clark County, Illinois, on May 15th, 1858. She had one older brother, Heber, and two younger sisters, Zouie and Hester.  

In 1880, the year this photograph was taken, 22-year-old Ada was living at home in Westfield, Illinois with her parents and sisters. (This photo was taken in Terre Haute, Indiana, not too far from Westfield. My best guess is that Terre Haute was simply where the nearest photo studio was.) In 1887, a notice in the Bloomington, Illinois Pantagraph stated that Ada and a Miss Stella Callen had rented rooms and started "an establishment for commercial and legal shorthand business." Stella Callen was a stenographer and court reporter, and it is possible Ada was as well, though I could find no further information about their business. 

In 1891, 66-year-old Dr. William Briscoe was in declining health. After a bout of flu, Dr. Briscoe overdosed on morphine and died on May 1st of that year. His wife, Rosanna, died three years later. By 1900, Ada and her sisters were living together, along with 16-year-old farm laborer, Russell Umbarger. The three women, now in their 30s, are all listed as farmers in the census. After a long illness, Zouie Briscoe died in a private sanatarium on March 9th, 1904 at the age of 42. Her sisters continued to manage the farm. In 1906, the Briscoe sisters recieved $10,000 (equivalent to over $372,000 in 2026) from the Ohio Oil Company for 80 acres of their land. According to The Effingham Democrat, this was the "highest bonus yet paid for a lease in Westfield Township, being $125 an acre." I have to imagine that Ada and Hester lived quite comfortably after this.

1916 Map showing land owned by Ada and Hester in Clark County, Illinois.

Ada Belle Briscoe died just days before her brother, Heber, on February 4th, 1922 at age 63. Hester Briscoe lived to the age of 80, passing away on March 30th, 1944. The Briscoes are buried together beneath a beautiful family monument in Maple Hill Cemetery in Westfield, Illinois.

If you recognize Ada, let us know in the comments!

Max and Clark H. "Jack" Sturgeon, 1940s

"Max Sturgeon
(the tall one) w/ friend"

"Jack Sturgeon
Camp Stewart Ga. 1942"

These snapshots capture a moment in the lives of brothers Max and Jack Sturgeon as they served in World War II.

Max Eugene and Clark H. "Jack" Sturgeon were the sons of Clark Henry Sturgeon, Sr. a baker, and his first wife, Margaret Sybil Seass. Clark Sr. and Margaret had three children. Their eldest, Thelma, was born in Brown County, Indiana, in 1920. She was followed by her brother Jack in 1922 and Max in 1924. 

In 1925, Margaret died at age 26 of septicemia due to a pregnancy. Just a week later, Margaret's sister, Flora Seass Ledbetter, filed a petition to have "J.A. Webb" named as the guardian of her niece and nephews. It seems her petition was successful; a 1939 notice in The Decatur Review states that J.A. Webb was discharged as guardian of Thelma but would continue to act as guardian of Jack and Max. Regardless of their legal guardian at the time, the Sturgeon children were living with their father and stepmother, Roxa Beryl Dayhuff (whom he married in 1927), in Brazil, Indiana, in 1930. Clark and Roxa's marriage was short-lived, and in 1932, he married his third wife, Bertha Maude Lowery.

In 1940, the Sturgeons were living in Paris, Illinois, where Clark worked as a farmer, Thelma worked as an office clerk, and Jack and Max attended school. 

In June 1942, following the United States' entry into World War II, 18-year-old Max enlisted in the army. In September of the same year, 20-year-old Jack enlisted as well. Unfortunately, I can find little on Jack's time in the war beyond the fact that he was a Private First Class. We know that he spent time at Camp Stewart, Georgia, in 1942, as this is where his photo was taken. The camp was used for training and as a holding place for German and Italian POWs. Jack's service ended on November 5th, 1945.

I was able to find more on Max, who served as a Private in Company K of the 137th Infantry Regiment, 35th Infantry Division. He served 11 months overseas before becoming wounded in France in Spetember 1944. His hospital admission card notes that he sustained injuries to his hands, face, and neck due to artillery shell. While in the hospital, he was also diagnosed with rheumatic cardiovascular disease. Max was discharged on medical leave on April 23rd, 1945. On June 2nd of that year, Max married Faye Robbins, an employee of the Naval Air Station in San Diego, California. According to their wedding announcement in The Knoxville Journal, Faye wore "a blue suit with white accessories and a corsage of white roses" to the small ceremony. The couple made their home in San Diego, where Max worked as a welder inspector at the Ryans Aircraft Factory. By 1950, the young couple had left California for Urbana, Illinois. They went on to have three sons: Bruce Wayne, Max Clark, and Gregory. 

Max Sturgeon died on January 7th, 1956, at just 31 years old. His cause of death was hypostatic pneumonia, which is caused by prolonged immobility and is common in those with chronic illnesses and injuries that require bedrest. It is possible that Max's injuries during the war ultimately led to the decline in his health. He was laid to rest in Zachary Taylor National Cemetery in Louisville, Kentucky. His headstone inscription states that he was a recipient of a Purple Heart, which is awarded to those who are injured or killed while serving with the U.S. military.

Jack Sturgeon went on to marry Gertrude "Trudi" Waschitz, with whom he had a daughter, Jackie Lynn. The couple also had a son, Lawrence Wayne, who died shortly after birth in 1954. Jack died on June 1st, 1990, at age 68. He was laid to rest in Marshall Cemetery in Marshall, Illinois. 

If you recognize these brothers, please let us know in the comments!