Streator, Illinois at the turn of the Century

The population of Streator was growing, it was slow, but gradually increased from just over 14,000 at the turn of the century.  Industry was moving in creating openings in factories.  Though a mine may close, there were other opportunities for workers that paid better than mining.  Two sought after jobs were as glass blowers, and of course railroad workers. They were able to earn a living without supplementing their income with livestock and a large garden to ensure their families would eat.  The Sauer's, Wahl's, and Korstick's belonged to St. Anthony's Church in Streator.  In 1903 a Knight's of Columbus chapter was formed.  A new library whose structure was funded in part with Carnegie money was opened in early 1903.  Unfortunately, later that year brought a very destructive and deadly tornado that killed six and left others injured.

To read more of Streator's history see http://archive.org/stream/biographyinblack00fran/biographyinblack00fran_djvu.txt 

At the time the 1900 Census was enumerated, Phillip and Mathias' sisters families had grown considerably.  So, spelling names as they appear on the census: Nikolas Wahl, who was working as a railroad section foreman, had been married to his wife Catherine Willems Wahl for 13 years, producing seven children.  The census recorded their ages as follows:  Peter, born September 1877, age 12, Charles, born December 1889, age 10, Catherine, born January 1893, age 7, Mary, born September 1894, age 5, Frank, born April 1896, age 4, James born November 1897, age 2, and one year old William who was born March of 1899.  All of the children were born in Illinois.  The three oldest children attended school for nine months of the year (note the longer school year compared to their agricultural Arkansas cousins who typically went to school 5 to 6 months).  Catherine was listed as being the mother of eight children with seven of them living.  She was unable to read or write. Nikolas, was reported as owning the house free of mortgage that the family lived in at 1006 Bronson Street in Streator, and was listed as being an alien.

Catherine's younger sister Margaret Willems Sauer was enumerated as living in Farm Ridge Township outside Streator (an 1898 directory reports they had 80 acres).  Her husband, John, who like his brother-in-law Nickolas Wahl, also worked for the railroad.  Maggie was the mother of six children, all of them living.  They were listed as follows:  John, born June 1864, age 35, Maggie, his 34 year old wife, born Jan. 1866, lived in the house they rented.  Their six children were all born in Illinois. The three oldest had attended school 9 months.  Six year old Willie had just begun school and had only gone 2 months.  The children were enumerated as Mary, age 11, born March 1889, Nickalas, age 10, born May 1890, daughter Katie, 8, who as born June 1892, Willie, 6, born January 1894, John, age 4, born January 1896, and Cristina, a two year old born September 1897--(The name Cristina was a misconstrued record of Justina, the youngest daughter who was born in December and later, as a grown woman married Joseph Peter Hart).  John Sauer was reported to be a naturalized citizen.  He and Maggie had been married 11 years and all six of the six children Maggie had given birth to were living.

Living in the city of Streator was the youngest Willems sister, Katherine, and her husband Charles Korstick.  They were enumerated as Charles Korstick, born June 1858, age 41, and Catherine, his wife, born December 1870, age 29.  They'd been married 11 years.  Though Katherine had given birth to six children, only three of them lived at the time of the census.  They are Mathew, born July 1890, age 9, Nick, born January 1894, age 6, and ten month old daughter Catherine who was born July of 1899.  The family's house was a rental.  Only the oldest child, Mathew, went to school.  The Korstick's were reported to be naturalized citizens.  (The children who'd died before the 1900 census were Charles, who'd been born while in Germany, Mathilda, and John, who all died at a very young age.)  Charles Korstick's occupation was not listed.  The poor man had health problems and could no longer mine.  To make ends meet they opened a small grocery store in the front of their house. This grocery store was run by Katherine's son and eventually by her grandson until it was closed in 2001.

When Charles Korstick died July 22, 1913,  the Times Press ran the following obituary:

click on image to enlarge

Katherine Willems Korstick and children after the death of Charles Korstick; L-R Katie, Matt, Katherine, Nick, William, and Anthony Korstick

John and Katherine's marriage license

Katherine, now a widow with five children to support married the widower John Klever.  He was a native of Essen, Germany and was almost nine years her senior. (John and first wife Kate Poetkin, had three children together.)  They married August 4, 1914 in LaSalle County, Illinois.







Much of the information, newspaper clipping, record, and photo are courtesy of Bill Korstick, a wonderful family historian, who is a descendant of Katherine Willems and Charles Korstick.  
Many thanks Cousin Bill!