Sunday, October 16, 2011

MARY JANE ROPER ALLEN






Mary Jane Roper, the daughter of James and Mary Pitt Roper, was born in 1847 in West Bromwich, Staffordshire, England. She married George Allen November 4, 1867 at Handsworth, Staffordshire, England. George and Mary Jane lived at 23 Tunnell Road in West Bromwich. Her parents lived on the same street. George was a laborer in the ironworks. He was born about 1845 in Golds Hill, West Bromwich, Staffordshire, England.

In 1888 Mary Jane and the children came to the United States. They came into the port of Philadelphia and then went to Chicago. Mary Jane made the long ocean voyage with George, Arthur, Mary Alice, Annie Winifred, Fanny Edith, and Charlotte Maud, an infant. The children ranged in age from 11 to 1. Three of her sons had died as babies. They arrived October 17, 1888 on the ship "British Prince". Mary Jane Roper died May 27, 1892 in Chicago, Cook, Illinois. Her husband George came to the United States at a later date after the death of Mary Jane. He died July 8, 1917 in Glenwood, Cook, Illinois.

Children born to George and Mary Jane Allen included: James Francis (1869), George Henry (1870), Harry (1871), George (1874), Arthur Thomas (1876), Mary Alice (1877), Annie Winifred (1879), Albert Edward (1881), Fanny Edith (1883*), and Charlotte Maud (1885).

Fanny Edith Allen, my grandmother, married Clarence Allen Day, Sr. They lived in Armada, Michigan, the home of several generations of Days. After they parted ways Fanny Edith went to live in Clam Lake, Wisconsin with her son (my dad). They had a fur farm and raised fox, mink, and chinchillas.

Fanny's sister, Annie Winifred Allen also lived in Clam Lake. She lived with my aunt Winifred and Uncle Harry Werts in a lakeside home that my dad built for them. She had a big garden and raised chickens.

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