Page 343 - Just another English family (Sep 2019)

In the 1910 census John H is shown as being married to Alta Soothill (born around 1866 in California), aged 44 in 1910, and living in Shasta, California. In the 1910 census Alta’s father is shown as being born in Illinois (Indiana in the 1930 census) and her mother in English-speaking Canada. In the 1920 census John H. (now aged 57) and Alta (now aged 54) are shown as living in Santa Cruz, California. By the 1930 census 64-year-old Alta is shown as widowed, still living in Santa Cruz. For Alta, the alternatives names of Zumwait C. and Alta C. Soothill (and Southill) are shown.
In the records of Winnebego Co. Illinois, Fred H. Soothill, aged 50, is recorded as marrying Harriett Soothill, aged 46, on 31 December 1918. Fred Holroyd Soothill is recorded as dying on 24 December 1954. In fact, Harriet(t) seems to be Harriet Dell (1873-1939) who was born in Wisconsin and died in McHenry, Illinois. Harriet’s parents are shown from another source as Edward Alonzo Learned and Rachel Hill, so presumably ‘Dell’ is Harriet’s name from an earlier marriage. Perhaps she is shown as Soothill in this record as they were cohabiting prior to the marriage. Certainly in the 1910 census the record suggests that something has happened! Harriet Soothill (aged 37 and born in Wisconsin with both her parents shown as being born in Ohio) is identifed as living in Harvard Ward 2, McHenry, Illinois, as a wife to the head of household, but only Harriet and 3-year- old Julia Irish are shown as members of the household at the time of the census. The surname ‘Irish’ is a puzzle. Anyway, as stated, eight years later Fred H. and Harriet are formally married. While there is a Julia/Julie mentioned elsewhere (see below), I don’t think it is the same as Julia Irish.
Fred H. (born in Illinois) is shown in the 1910, 1930 and 1940 censuses, while Harriet appears as a Soothill in the 1910 and 1930 censuses. Fred and Harriet are shown as living in Harvard, McHenry, Illinois in both the 1910 and 1930 censuses, and – after Harriet’s death – remains there is as recorded in the 1940 census
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