Alvin Best

Notes:

Name:

1910 "Alvin"; 1920 "Eldon."

Other Events:

• Parents:

  Death index names his parents as "Elvin Best" and "Mary Bullock."

• Residence:

  When his parents' marriage broke up, August Leslie "Les" was taken by Silvia Wilson Randle to raise.

• Census: 22 Apr 1910, Dorchester township, Macoupin County, Illinois, USA;

  1. Best, Leslie, head, male, white, 23, first marriage, married 0 years, North Dakota, U.S., U.S., farm labor, farm work, can read and write, tenting house 2. _____, Annie, wife, female, white, 16, first marriage, married 0 years, 1 child 1 living, Illinois, Germany, Illinois, can read and write 3. _____, Alvin, son, male, white, 1 month, Illinois, North Dakota, Illinois

• Census: 13 Jan 1920, Mt. Olive township, Macoupin County, Illinois, USA;

  1. Best, Lesley, head, renting, male, white, 33, married, can read and write, South Dakota, Illinois, Illinois, farmer, general farm, own account, farm schedule no. 70 2. _____, Annie, wife, female, white, 25, married, can read and write, Illinois, Germany, Illinois 3. _____, Eldon, son, male, white, 9, attending school, Illinois, South Dakota, Illinois 4. _____, Clarence, son, male, white, 8, attending school, Illinois, South Dakota, Illinois 5. _____, Nora, daughter, female, white, 3 10/12, Illinois, South Dakota, Illinois 6. _____, Hazel, daughter, female, white, 2 312, Illinois, South Dakota, Illinois 7. _____, Opal, female, white, 11 months, Illinois, South Dakota, Illinois 8. Schultz, Walter, boarder, male, white, 15, single, can read and write, Illinois, Germany, Illinois, farm laborer, working out

• Census: 7 Apr 1930, Ft. Russell township, Madison County, Illinois, USA;

  1. Best, Leslie, head, renting, farm, male, white, 43, married, first married age 24, can read and write, South Dakota, Illinois, Illinois, farmer, farm, not a veteran, farm schedule no. 11 2. _____, Anna, wife, female, white, 36, first married age 16, can read and write, Illinois, Illinois, Illinois 3. _____, Alvin, son, male, white, 20, single, can read and write, Illinois, South Dakota, Illinois 4. _____, Clarence, son, male, white, 18, single, can read and write, Illinois, South Dakota, Illinois 5. _____, Nora, daughter, female, white, 14, can read and write, Illinois, South Dakota, Illinois 6. _____, Hazel, daughter, female, white, 12, can read and write, Illinois, South Dakota, Illinois 7. _____, Opal, daughter, female, white, 11, can read and write, Illinois, South Dakota, Illinois 8. _____, Myrtle, daughter, female, white, 9, Illinois, South Dakota, Illinois 9. _____, Edna, daughter, female, white, 6, Illinois, South Dakota, Illinois

• Census: 3 Apr 1940, Mt. Olive township, Macoupin County, Illinois, USA;

  1. Best, Leslie, head, male, white, 53, married, completed grade 3, South Dakota, rural Macoupin County farm in 1935, out of work 32 weeks, laborer, road construction, income $519 2. _____, Anna, wife, female, white, 45, married, completed grade 6, Illinois, 3. _____, Myrtle, daughter, white, 19, single, completed grade 8, Illinois 4. _____, Edna, daughter, white, 16, single, completed grade 9, Illinois

August married Annie Augusta Maria Schultz about 1909. Annie was born about 1894 in Illinois, USA; died after 1970. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Died:

Annie was living at the time of her husband's 1970 obituary.

Children: 1. Alvin Best was born about 1910 in Illinois, USA. Clarence Thomas Best was born on 3 Aug 1911 in Illinois, USA; died on 29 Nov 1970 in Litchfield, Montgomery County, Illinois, USA; was buried in Mt. Olive, Cahokia township, Macoupin County, Illinois, USA. Nora Best was born about 1916 in Illinois, USA. Hazel Best was born about 1917 in Illinois, USA. Opal Irene Best was born on 7 Feb 1919 in Poag, Madison County, Illinois, USA; died on 23 Aug 2012 in Litchfield, Montgomery County, Illinois, USA; was buried in Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery, Mount Olive, Macoupin County, Illinois, USA. Myrtle Best was born about 1921 in Illinois, USA. Edna Best was born about 1924 in Illinois, USA.

Other Events:

• Parents:

  Elvin's 1935 death certificate names his father as "Joseph Best," does not name his mother. However, he appears in the 1860 census with apparent parents Joseph Best and wife Susan. Marriage record for Joseph Best to Susan "Allhousen" in September 1849 and Elvin was born 10 months later.

• Census: 26 Sep 1860, Township 7 Range 6, Staunton (post office), Macoupin County, Illinois, USA
• Census: 25 Jun 1870, Township 7 Range 7, Macoupin County, Illinois, USA;

  1. Cullaron, Josiah, 39, male, white, farmer, Illinois 2. _____, Christina, 28, female, white, keeping house, Illinois 3. Best, Elvin, 20, male, white, work hand, Illinois

• Census: 8 Jun 1880, Omphghent township, Madison County, Illinois, USA;

  1. Best, Elvin, white, male, 29, married, farmer, Illinois, North Carolina, Illinois 2. _____, Mary A., white, female, 21, wife, keeping house, cannot write, Illinois, Illinois, Tennessee 3. _____, Charles T., white, male, 2, son, Illinois, Illinois, Illinois 4. _____, Wesley, white, male, [5] months, born December, son, Illinois, Illinois, Illinois

• NEWS: 17 Nov 1893, Princeton, Bureau County, Illinois, USA; "Mrs. Elvin Best, residing near Staunton, eloped with John Beard, her husband's hired hand. It is thought that the couple have gone too Arkansas." [Only one Elvin Best resided in Madison Co, Ill, in 1880 and none in Macoupin. There was an E. Best in Macoupin, of the wrong age and unmarried, who can be discounted. Additionally, the subject Elvin Best is seen in 1900 census as divorced. This is likely his wife.
• Census: 6 Jun 1900, Township 14 Range 9, Morgan County, Illinois, USA;

  1. Wash, Thomas J., head, white, male, May 1863, 37, married 10 years, Illinois, Ireland, Ireland, farmer, can read and write, renting farm, farm schedule 38 2. _____, Martha, wife, white, female, July 1869, 30, married 10 years, 3 children 3 living, Ireland, Ireland, Ireland, can read and write 3. _____, Rosa, daughter, white, female, May 1892, 8, Illinois, Illinois, Ireland, attended school 5 months, can read and write 4. _____, Maurice, son, white, male, July 1893, 6, Illinois, Illinois, Ireland, attended school 7 months 5. _____, Lizzie, daughter, white, female, June 1897, 2, Illinois, Illinois, Ireland 6. Best, Elvin E., servant, white, male, July 1849, 50, divorced, Illinois, Illinois, Illinois, farm labor, [literacy blank]

• Census: 8 Jan 1920, Staunton Rd., Omphghent township, Madison County, Illinois, USA;

  1. Best, Nancy, head, owns, free of mortgage, female, white, 72, widow, can read and write, Illinois, Georgia, Illinois, farmer, small farm, farm schedule no. 34 2. _____, Elvin, cousin, male, white, 70, widowed, can read and write, Illinois, North Carolina, Illinois, labor, farm 3. Eiffert, Blanch M. boarder, female, white, 19, single, can read and write, Illinois, Illinois, Illinois, teacher, district school

• Death: 22 Nov 1935, Macoupin County, Illinois, USA;

  Name: Elvin Best Titles and Terms (Original): Event Date: 22 Nov 1935 Event Place: Carlinville, Macoupin, Illinois Gender: Male Marital Status: Race: Age: 85 Birth Year (Estimated): 1850 Birth Date: 24 Jul 1850 Birthplace: Staunton, Ill. Father's Name: Joseph Best Father's Titles and Terms: Father's Birthplace: unknown Mother's Name: Mother's Titles and Terms: Mother's Birthplace: unknown Occupation: was a coal miner Residence Place: Dorchester, Macoupin, Ill. Address: Spouse's Name: Spouse's Titles and Terms (Original): Spouse's Birthplace: Burial Date: 23 Nov 1935 Burial Place: Carlinville, Macoupin, Ill. Cemetery: County Home Informant's Name: Additional Relatives: Digital Folder Number: 4008394 Image Number: 408 GS Film number: 1765652 Reference ID: 43776

Notes:

Census:

1. Best, Joseph, 62, male, farmer, real estate $880, personal $200, North Carolina
2. _____, Susan, 38, female, Illinois
3. _____, Missouri, 13, female, Missouri
4. _____, Elvin, 10, male, Missouri

NEWS:
"Illinois Incidents," Bureau County Tribune (Princeton, Ill.), 17 November 1893, p. 3, col. 2, item for Mrs. Elvin Best; digital image, Newspapers.com (http://www.newspapers.com/ : accessed 17 August 2021).

Elvin married Mary Bullock on 6 Aug 1874 in Madison County, Illinois, USA, and was divorced between 1890-1897. Mary (daughter of John S. Bullock and Arcadia Baird) was born on 17 Sep 1858 in Staunton, Macoupin County, Illinois, USA; died on 3 Nov 1921. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Died:

Probably died in Edwardsville, Madison County, Illinois, where she lived at the time of death.

Notes:

Married:

Actually the license date--not necessarily the marriage date.

Children: Thomas Best was born about 1878; died on 9 Apr 1947 in Wood River, Madison County, Illinois, USA. Clarence Best was born about 1883. 2. August Leslie "Les" Best was born on 21 Apr 1886 in South Dakota, USA; died on 25 Apr 1942 in Cahokia, Macoupin County, Illinois, USA; was buried in Mt. Olive, Cahokia township, Macoupin County, Illinois, USA. Howard Best was born about 1889 in Illinois, USA; died on 9 Jun 1946 in Cook County, Illinois, USA. Arcadia Best

Other Events:

• Census: 1830, "Cahocy" [Cahokia] precinct, Macoupin County, Illinois, USA;

  Joseph Best household 2 males under 5 2 males 5-10 1 male 30-40 [Joseph Best, abt 30] 1 female 20-30

• Census: 1840, Macoupin County, Illinois, USA;

  Joseph Best household 2 males under 5 [Fanny, age 2; Mary infant?] 2 males 5-10 2 males 10-15 1 male 15-20 1 male 30-40 [Joseph Best, abt 40] 2 females under 5 2 females 5-10 1 female female 10-15 1 female 20-30

• Census: 2 Nov 1850, Township 7N 6W, Macoupin County, Illinois, USA;

  1. Best, Joseph, 50, male, farmer, 700, North Carolina 2. _____, Susan, 27, female, Illinois 3. _____, Fanny, 12, female, Illinois 4. _____, Mary, 10, female, Illinois 5. Alhousen, Samuel, 10, male, Illinois 6. _____, Henry, 8, male, Illinois 7. _____, Christian, 7, male, Illinois 8. Best, Henry, 6, male, Illinois 9. Alhousen, James, 6, male, Illinois 10. _____, Masoura, 4, female, Missouri

Joseph married Susan M. Walker on 10 Sep 1849 in Madison County, Illinois, USA. Susan (daughter of Samuel Allen Walker and [First Wife]) was born about 1823 in Illinois, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• Parents:

  Susan is consistently named as a daughter of Samuel Allen Walker based on her 1839 marriage to Charles N. Ohlhousen. She was underage and the marriage required her father's consent. See "Ohlhousen Notes 1" and "Ohlhousen Notes 2," both from Darryl Morrison (Richland, WA), by way of Lawson "Stan" Howland, with whom I have communicated by email on several occasions. He sent me two pages of Darryl's work, email dated 18 June 2014, containing references to this permission. I have obtained copies of the certificate and the filing for Susan's marriage, but neither references a permission. WPA records indicate that permissions were required for underage brides and were filed. I called the county clerk, who assured me that I have all of the records available for this marriage. I contact an archivist at the Illinois State Archives who stated that those records are all retained in the counties, and the archives has none of them. I sent a sub-contracted researcher in person to search for the document and she had no more success than I did. On 19 June 2014 I called Darryl Morrison in Richland, WA (509-375-1125) and left a message with both my phone number and my email address, telling him my interest and asking for a contact.

• Census: 2 Nov 1850, Township 7N 6W, Macoupin County, Illinois, USA;

  1. Best, Joseph, 50, male, farmer, 700, North Carolina 2. _____, Susan, 27, female, Illinois 3. _____, Fanny, 12, female, Illinois 4. _____, Mary, 10, female, Illinois 5. Alhousen, Samuel, 10, male, Illinois 6. _____, Henry, 8, male, Illinois 7. _____, Christian [Christina], 7, female, Illinois 8. Best, Henry, 6, male, Illinois 9. Alhousen, James, 6, male, Illinois 10. _____, Masoura, 4, female, Missouri [Though the name is clearly spelled as "Christian," she is designated female. In light of Elvin Best appearing in the home of "Christina" Cullaron, age 28, in the 1860 Macoupin County census.

• Census: 26 Sep 1860, Township 7 Range 6, Staunton (post office), Macoupin County, Illinois, USA

Notes:

Susan is consistently named as a daughter of Samuel Allen Walker based on her 1839 marriage to Charles N. Ohlhousen. She was underage and the marriage required her father's consent.

See "Ohlhousen Notes 1" and "Ohlhousen Notes 2," both from Darryl Morrison (Richland, WA), by way of Lawson "Stan" Howland, with whom I have communicated by email on several occasions. He sent me two pages of Darryl's work, email dated 18 June 2014, containing references to this permission.

I have obtained copies of the certificate and the filing for Susan's marriage, but neither references a permission.

WPA records indicate that permissions were required for underage brides and were filed. I called the county clerk, who assured me that I have all of the records available for this marriage. I contact an archivist at the Illinois State Archives who stated that those records are all retained in the counties, and the archives has none of them. I sent a sub-contracted researcher in person to search for the document and she had no more success than I did.

On 19 June 2014 I called Darryl Morrison in Richland, WA (509-375-1125) and left a message with both my phone number and my email address, telling him my interest and asking for a contact.

Census:

1. Best, Joseph, 62, male, farmer, real estate $880, personal $200, North Carolina
2. _____, Susan, 38, female, Illinois
3. _____, Missouri, 13, female, Missouri
4. _____, Elvin, 10, male, Missouri

Notes:

Married:
"Illinois, County Marriages, 1810-1940," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9B2K-5Y4 : 22 August 2021), film 005203007 > image 496 of 724, for Joseph Best-Susan Allhousen, Madison County (1849); county clerk, Edwardsville.

Children: 4. Elvin Elliot Best was born on 24 Jul 1850 in Staunton, Macoupin County, Illinois, USA; died on 22 Nov 1935 in Carlinville, Macoupin County, Illinois, USA; was buried in "County Home" Cemetery.

John married Arcadia Baird. Arcadia was born in in Ohio, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]