Part 2: 6: Children

6. Children seemed especially at risk.

In 1905, physicians noted the Waukegan infant mortality with some alarm. “Of the 150 births so far this year [Sept], 37 babies are reported dead.” The cause of the death was attributed to bad bottled milk, since bottle feeding was an increasingly common practice. It was noted, however, that “the death rate is especially high in the foreign district where little knowledge is shown in the raising of children.” 12 of the deaths were due to Cholera. (1)

The railroads on either side of the street were a constant threat. The crossing over the Northwestern tracks that separated Market Street from the rest of the town known as “the forty steps” seemed particularly hazardous, even with a crossing guard station at that intersection. Southbound trains it seems, used the eastern track, closest to Market Street, blinding a western-bound pedestrian from seeing north-bound trains hidden behind it on the western tracks; many a fatal mistake occurred when children ran out across the tracks as soon as the southbound train had cleared, without knowing a northbound train was fast approaching.

There was Winnefred Hatton, of 522 Market eight, killed with a valentine still in her hand, which she had hoped to mail to a friend; she is survived by her 11 siblings.(2)

There was poor Joe Stuner, age six, of 611 Market, who lost a leg one Thursday morning to a Northwestern train on the way to school.(3)

There, too, John Costini, aged 12, of 512 Market street, struck down in front of his two cousins, aged 4 and 6; all three had darted across the tracks headless of the warnings of the gateman, with the younger two making it to the east side safely. While John was taken by ambulance to the local hospital, where he did not survive, the cousins led the gateman to Costini’s mother’s home. Hysterical upon hearing the news, “she became almost a raving maniac, clawing at her hair and beating herself upon her breast, at the same time shrieking out in anguish… Then, although thinly clad with one foot shoeless, she grabbed up another of her children and started up Market street. Several women of her own nationality soon gathered about her and all conversed in excited tones shaking their fists in the air and apparently calling down all kinds of malediction upon the railroad company….Seemingly unaware of the fact that one of her feet was protected from the ice and snow by only a thin stocking, the mother tamped back and forth for fully 20 minutes. But she refused to be comforted and her grief was awful to behold.” (4)

Joe Cankar, age 8, of 620 Market, again on his way to school one morning killed by a train at the forty steps.(5)

Wedged between two sets of railroad tracks, there was no place for the children of Market Street to safely play. Eleven year old Andrew Skof was playing ball with two friends in the street one fall day in 1920 when he was struck by a car. His injuries were serious but did not seem to be fatal. (6)

 Dan Rodgers, a truck driver, hit and killed young Beatrice Sodolski one Friday night in July.  “It was dusk the driver did not perceive the baby playing in the street, but for the bump caused by the when running over her body.” Beatrice was 18 months old. (7)

Andrew Jones lost control of his car one summer day in 1952, which jumped the curb onto a Market Street sidewalk and killed young Sandra Ann Parks. Jones, 38, was held on $30,000 bond for reckless homicide and involuntary manslaughter. They both lived at 541 Market Street. (8)

While walking on the sidewalk, “Horace, the 7-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. R Wallace of 701 Market street” was struck by and injured by an adult male bicyclist. The boy was unconscious for two hours, and his injuries to the head and internal were considered serious. It is unknown if the biker was ever caught. (9)

Jo Ann Steele, aged 6, of 326 Market Street was killed trying to cross busy Belvidere Street near McAllister with her twin sisters Ellen and Eileen, 9. Jo Anne had run “a few feet ahead of them,” when she was struck by a car driven by Jean Ogrin, who was released on bond, charged with reckless driving and excessive speed.(10)

Herman Sledge of 538 Market drowned in Fox Lake on a July day in 1937. He was 14. (11)

Three young Market Street girls survived a harrowing adventure adrift on Lake Michigan one day in May of 1935. Lucille de Leon, her brother Robert and her 4 years old sister, Helen of 576 ½ Market, and Gloria Villalavo, 12 years old, 572 Market street were playing on the beach near Belvidere and Market when they found a dilapidated old boat tied nearby, and Robert amused the girls by towing them back and forth. At some point, Robert dropped the line and a strong easterly wind blew the boat quickly off the shore. Robert watched helplessly as the three girls drifted further and further out, the waves increasing and the boat starting to take on water. Gloria tried unsuccessfully to row back to shore with the one tattered oar while Lucille bailed water with her cupped hands. At one point, little Helen panicked and jumped into the water, but was quickly rescued and pulled back into the boat. After two hours, they were two miles off shore, drifting east. After Robert finally sounded the alarm, the harbormaster was dispatched and found the girls shaken but otherwise unharmed. They attributed their rescue to prayer. (12)

In a rare, positive story, nine-year old John Bankhead was awarded a watch and named “Man of the month” for helping to rescue five children from a fire at 537 Market in October, 1953. (13)

There were household accidents and diseases.

Joyce Westley fell out of her second story window at 430 ½ Market Street in 1955, but upon examination at St Therese Hospital was found to have suffered no apparent injury. The 2 year old had landed on a patch of grass beside the house. (14)

A terrible accident claimed the life of Frank Jappel Jr at age 3. Ignatz Hodnick fell down a dark stairwell while carrying the child and ended up on top of him, fracturing the boy’s skull and causing a brain hemorrhage. Young Frank died before the doctor arrived. (15)

John Ponin, twenty month old, of 628 Market, died of burns from spilling a huge bowl of hot milk on himself, while still in his high chair, at table. (16)

Margaret Palzetta, age 2, of 701 Market, fell into a tub of boiling water one afternoon while the family was eating Sunday dinner in the next room. The parents, believing she would not survive, objected to her being taken to the hospital, preferring her to die at home than away. (17)

In March of 1915, Francis Ogrin, wife of Valentine Ogrin of 728 Market, was visiting her friend Jennie Ogrin, wife of Frank Ogrin up  at  711. “Although the two families are best of friends, having come from the same village in Austria, they are not blood relations.” Jennie had been sick, so Francis had offered to help her with some laundry. She had just set a tub of boiling water on the floor. She looked away a moment, and her 2 ½ -year old playing near didn’t notice the tub and tumbled in. Francis pulled the screaming child from the water, but not before receiving severe burns, her skin peeling off when her clothes removed. A doctor hurried to the scene from Frank Petkovsek’s saloon across the street and the wounds were dressed, but the distraught mother refused to be separated from her child by taking her to the hospital. It seemed unlikely that the child would survive. (18) (The 1920 census 5 years after this incident lists a daughter, Mary, aged 8, having been born in 1912. The timing works to suggest that Mary was the child of the incident and that she survived her injuries. Stanley, her younger brother, was born in 1919. The oldest child, Frank, was 11 in 1920. Victor, born in 1910, is not listed in the 190 census.)

The two year old son of Mr. and Mrs. Dominick Cozmann (?) of 518 (?) Market similarly died from burns after falling into a tub of boiling water that had been placed on the floor. Against the advice of the attending doctor, his mother “could not bear to have the little fellow out of her sight” and refused to let him be removed to the hospital. He did not survive. (19)

The Findleys of 916 Market street had hoped their prayers would cure their 3 year old son Herman of diphtheria, and did not consult a doctor. Herman did not survive. (20)

An unnamed child living at 751 was severely cut on the chin one October day in 1916, creating “an unusually pitiful sight.”. “A little Italian boy of two years of age was playing on the steps of his parent’s home when in some unknown manner he fell and in stumbling down the stairs he struck a milk bottle which had been left on the stairway for the milkman. “ (21)

The Spanish Influenza pandemic of 1918 came to Waukegan and vicinity, closing schools and causing much concern. Like other places, it struck with intensity and then passed within a few months. By October of 1918, the worst seemed to be over. Market street suffered at least three losses:

(?) Bell, 18 month old baby, Steve Grovelch, age 26, of 712 Market street, and Mary Tetluta, [Tenuta] 9 years, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Alonzo Teluta [Tenuta]. (22)

Even at the earliest moments of their lives, children were vulnerable.

Mary Koviskle, a domestic working for S Meyer  at 705 Market, was found beneath some bushes on the shoreline just north of the Sugar Refinery near Elm street one Sept noon. Wrapped covered in the woman’s skirts was a dead child. The coroner’s initial conclusion was that the child had been born alive, and then murdered by its mother by suffocation. Mary was described as a Russian of about 40 years old, “slightly crazed,” a “poorly educated, thoughtless and in fact ignorant girl” though forty, who spoke no English and had been in the country since the previous December; The child, she said had been fathered by a Lithuanian Frank Wolske she met shortly after arriving in the US. (23)

Another grisly find in a sewer just east of Market street, city employees discovered the body of a child, murdered and disposed of. (24)

Three men pursued and captured in the lakefront underbrush Frank Sarois of Market street “who is said to come home drunk and in a frenzy wreaked his temper on his wife and tiny golden haired daughter, the latter of whom he hit in the head with such violence that blood ran from her ears.” Sarois was turned over to the police. The girl was six. (25)

Women’s lives must have been difficult. Families tended to be large, with 4 or more children common. Many women seemed to lack proper medical care.

According to the 1910 census, Annie Hatton of 522 Market, aged 47 in 1910 had 11 children, ages 26, 25, 21, 19, 17, 15, 13, 10, 8, 6, 4, starting when Annie was 21 until she was 43.

Margaret Martina, aged 44 in 1930 had 9 children, ages 25, 23, 21, 19, 18, 16, 9, 7, 4, starting when Margaret was 19 until she 40.

Mary Spiros, age 45 in 1930 had 8 children between the ages of 30 and 40, aged 15, 13, 12, 11, 9, 8, 7, 7, 5.

Mary Sustersic, age 37 in 1920 had 8 children aged 15, 14, 11, 9, 6, 4, 2, starting when she was 22.

Jennie Cusimano, aged 45 in 1930 had 8 children between the ages of 30 and 42, aged 13, 12, 10, 9, 7, 6, 4, 3.

Notes

(1) Lake County Independent, Sept 22, 1905, P4

(2)  Valentine may have caused death Libertyville Independent, Feb 16, 1906, p8

(3) Small boy of market street terribly injured for life, Libertyville independent, May 6, 1910, p8

(4) Train kills boy at Waukegan Monday, Libertyville independent, Jan 17, 1913

(5) 8 year old boy on way to school is killed by train, Libertyville independent, April 19, 1917, p1

(6) Boy playing ball in street is run over by an auto Libertyville independent, Oct 7, 1920, p7

(7) Lake County Independent, July 21, 1905, P8

(8) Girl, 4, killed when car runs onto sidewalk, Chicago Tribune Sun Aug 17, 1952, p22

(9) Lake County Independent and Waukegan weekly Sun, June 8, 1906, p.8

(10) Chicago Tribune, Friday July 5, 1957, p4

(11) Chicago Tribune, Friday July 5, 1957, p4

(12) Rescue 3 girls adrift 2 miles off Lake shore Chicago Tribune, Friday May 10, 1935, p10

(13) Chicago Tribune, Thurs Dec 31, 1953, p 30

(14) Girl, 2, unhurt in fall from 2nd story window Chicago Tribune, Thurs July 28, 1955, p2

(15) Misstep results in death of child, Lake County Independent and Waukegan Weekly Sun, Sept 17, 1909, p8

(16) May 19, 1911 Child dies from burns today Libertyville independent, p9

(17) Falls into tub of boiling water—child may die, Libertyville Independent Sept 24, 1915, p7

(18) Falls into Boiling water Lake County Independent and Waukegan Weekly Sun March 19, 1915, p 11

(19) Boy burned by hot water dies from the burns Lake County Independent and Waukegan Weekly Sun , Feb 15, 1917, p6

(20)  (Oct 20, 1921: Parents refuse to call doctor; child is dead Libertyville Independent p11

(21) Boy falls on milk bottle; chin is nearly cut off Lake County Independent and Waukegan Weekly Sun , Oct 26, 1916, p6

(22) Number of Influenza deaths drops; Libertyville independent Oct 10, 1918, P11

(23) Babe born in bushes Libertyville Independent, Sept 18, 1908, p4

(24) Find body of murdered babe in sewer here Libertyville Independent Sept 2, 1920:, p12

(25) Mob menaces girl beater Libertyville independent, June 30, 1911  p8

Appendix

(1) Lake County Independent, Sept 22, 1905, P4

Consternation has struck the homes of Waukegan residents of late because of the unprecedented high death rate among infants of the city. Of the 150 births so far this year 37 babies are reported dead. that high rate of fatalities among infants is due to a bad condition of the milk given them is believed to be true by the physicians as the greater part of the present day babies are bottle fed. The death rate is especially high in the foreign district where little knowledge is shown in the raising of children. Twelve deaths from Cholera infantum alone are shown on the records of the city. 

(2)  Valentine may have caused death Libertyville Independent, Feb 16, 1906, p8

Valentine may have caused death

Small Waukegan girl on way to mail valentine to girlfriend is run down by train

Winnifred Hatton, an eight year old girl was run down by a northwestern train at Waukegan Wednesday and instantly killed. In her small childish hand was found a valentine addressed to a schoolmate which she was on her way to mail. With her two sisters she ha started uptown it being almost school time when the accident occurred.
The crossing is known as the “forty steps.” It is a foot crossing leading from Market street to the bluff and it is difficult to see a train approaching until one has reached the top of the steps. An electric bell sounds warning of the approaching trains but the little girl had her head so muffled up that it is thought she did not hear the bell or the rumble of the oncoming express.
The engineer saw her step upon the track and pulled the whistle cord. The girl then attempted to get out of the way of the engine but it was too late and her small form was thrown many feet by the terrific impact. The skull was fractured and death immediate. The coroner’s jury rendered a verdict of accidental death.

 

(3) Small boy of market street terribly injured for life, Libertyville independent, May 6, 1910, p8

Small boy of Market street terribly injured for life

Joe Stuner, aged 6 tears and the son of widowed Mrs. Stuner of 611 Market street was Thursday near (?) o’clock the victim of a terrible accident which maimed him for life when a Northwestern train cut off the little fellow’s leg. He was taken to the hospital.

 

(4) Train kills boy at Waukegan Monday, Libertyville independent, Jan 17, 1913

Train kills boy at Waukegan Monday

Gate man at Water street crossing did all in his power to save lad

(The boy died at midnight Monday)
John Costini, 12 years old, son of Mr. and Mrs. costini of 512 Market street was probably fatally injured this noon when he was struck by a fast train no 205, the same train which a few weeks ago struck an automobile resulting in the death of one woman and serious injuries to other occupants of the machine.
The injured boy was rushed to the Jane McAllister hospital at once in the Conrad & hart ambulance. He was unconscious and it is impossible to tell how badly he has been injured, although it is believed that he cannot survive.
On way to school
This boy who with two cousins, Joe Castini, 6 years old and Sam Costini, aged 4, were on their way to school when the accident happened. They waited on the east side of the tracks on the water street crossing while a southbound train passed. Then, without waiting for the gate to be raised and without pausing to see if the other track was clear, they darted across the track. Two of the boys got across safely, but john, who was several feet behind, stepped upon the other track just in time to be struck by the northbound train.
The train stopped within a remarkably short distance and the boy’s unconscious body was picked up and carried to the northwestern depot where it was placed in the ambulance which arrived a few minutes later.
Mother is frantic
As soon as he heard of the accident Joseph Bomkamp a section foreman in the employ of the northwestern road located the other two Costini boys and asked them to take him to their home so that he might see their mother and tell her of the accident, thinking she would be the best person to break the news to her sister.
The boys did not seem to understand and took him to the home of the injured boy’s mother. Then without any warning they blurted out the facts so far as they knew them. A sudden change went over the mother and in a second she became almost a raving maniac, clawing at her hair and beating herself upon her breast, at the same time shrieking out in anguish.
Then, although thinly clad with one foot shoeless, she grabbed up another of her children and started up Market street. Several women of her own nationality soon gathered about her and all conversed in excited tones shaking their fists in the air and apparently calling down all kinds of malediction upon the railroad company.
Seemingly unaware of the fact that one of her feet was protected from the ice and snow by only a thin stocking, the mother tamped back and forth for fully 20 minutes. But she refused to be comforted and her greif was awful to behold.
Gateman tells story
Theadore Bomkamp who for the last eight years has held the position of gateman at the water street crossing wept as he told his story of the accident.
“I did all that anyone could do to prevent the accident,” he cried. “Time after time I had told these same boys to refrain from crossing the tracks until the gates are raised but despite this they always disregarded my warnings and darted across as soon as the train from the north had passed,” he continued. “I saw the boys standing on the east side of the track waiting for the train to pass, and I rang my bells and shouted to them to wait until the other train also had gone by. I was afraid that they would try to cross as they always have done, and I knew that if they did that the other train would surely strike them.
“Sure enough, the rear end of the south-bound train had barely passed before they slipped under the gate and started across. They did not see the other train, which was barely 20 or 30 feet away. I waved them back and shouted for them to look out. But they didn’t seem to understand and there was not time for me to rush out and keep them back by main force. God knows I did all in my power to save them and if I were to die tonight I would know that the maker would not hold me accountable for the accident.”
He explained further that not only had he warned the boys in advance several times but also told their parents that if they were not careful an accident would happen some day.

 

(5) 8 year old boy on way to school is killed by train, Libertyville independent, April 19, 1917, p1

8 year old boy on way to school is killed by train

Little Cankar boy of Market street hit by north-western train

Waukegan April 12
Little Joe Cankar, aged 8, son of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Cankar of Market was fatally injured when he was struck by a passenger train on the Chicago and northwestern railroad at the “forty steps” crossing this morning at 8:40o’clock. The lad died on his arrival at Jane McAllister hospital.
The little fellow was on his way to school when the accident happened. The supposition is that he became confused while crossing the tracks and stepped in front of the south bound train. The boy’s body, crushed and bleeding, was hurled some little distance.
 The engineer applied his brakes but could not stop in time to avoid the accident. He backed his train to the point where the boy’s body lay. The lad was placed in the baggage car tenderly and the train backed to the passenger depot in Waukegan.
Dr. E Ford Gavin, surgeon for the Northwestern railroad was summoned. E found that while the boy’s skull was crushed terribly, that he was still breathing. A hurried call was sent for the Conrad and Wetzel ambulance and the little fellow was removed to the hospital where he expired without having regained consciousness.

 

 (6) Boy playing ball in street is run over by an auto Libertyville independent, Oct 7, 1920, p7

Boy playing ball in street is run over by an auto

Eleven year old Andrew Skof of market street is rushed to the hospital

Andrew Skof, aged 11, of Market street, Waukegan, was run over by an automobile and quite seriously hurt while playing ball in the street Saturday morning at 9 o’clock. Both wheels of the car are said to have passed over his abdomen. The car which ran over him was driven by Walter E Noceto of the American Can company.
The Skof boy, together with two companions of the same age were playing ball in the street. One of the boys was pitching to the other two. Without noticing the approach of the automobile the Skof boy and one of his playmates began to scuffle for possession of the ball.
Both fell to the street. One of them noticed the danger and managed to squirm out of the way, but the auto passed over the Skof boy despite the efforts of the autoist to stop the car. Noceto threw on the brakes, but the boy slid along on the pavement.
The injured boy was removed to the office of Drs Foley and Bellows where he was given a thorough examination. He then was removed to the hospital. The boys side was punctured near the hip but the attending physician did not think that the injuries would be fatal, as there was no indication that he had been hurt internally.

 

(7) Lake County Independent, July 21, 1905, P8

 Last Friday night while driving down Market street Dan Rogers who operates a transfer line struck and fatally injured Beatrice Sodolski an eighteen month old child. as it was dusk the driver did not perceive the baby playing in the street, but for the bump caused by the when running over her body would not have known of the accident. The child was picked up unconscious and remained in that condition until death followed.

 

(8)  Girl, 4, killed when car runs onto sidewalk, Chicago Tribune Sun Aug 17, 1952, p22

Girl, 4, killed when car runs onto sidewalk

Sandra Ann Parks, 4, Negro, of 541 Market st Waukegan was killed yesterday when she was struck by an automobile on the sidewalk near her home. Police said the driver, Andrew Jones, 38, Negro, of the same address lost control of the car and overran the curb and parkway. He was held in $30,000 bond on reckless homicide and involuntary manslaughter charges.

 

(9) Lake County Independent and Waukegan weekly Sun, June 8, 1906, p.8

Horace, the 7-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. R Wallace of 701 Market street, was run down by a bicyclist last evening and seriously injured. He was unconscious for two hours and is now under Dr Tombaugh’s care. Injuries to the back of the head besides those internally make the case a most serious one. As near as can be learned, the “scorcher” was a man and it was while walking on the sidewalk the Wallace boy was struck.

 

(10) Chicago Tribune, Friday July 5, 1957, p4

Jo Ann Steele, 6, of 326 Market Street Waukegan was fatally injured when she was struck by a car as she crossed Belvidere Avenue near McAllister Avenue in Waukegan with her twin sisters Ellen and Eileen, 9. Police said the other girls reported the child had run a few feet ahead of them when the car hit her. She died in Waukegan’s St Therese hospital. Mrs. Jean Ogrin, 35 of 1427 N Jackson, Waukegan, a housewife and driver of the car was charged with reckless driving and excessive speed and released on bond.

 

(11) Chicago Tribune, Fri July 16, 1937, p3

Edwin Gold, 17 years old, 2445 California Avenue and Herman Sledge, 14, colored, of 538 Market street, both of Waukegan, drowned yesterday while swimming in different parts of Fox Lake.

 

(12) Rescue 3 girls adrift 2 miles off Lake shore, Chicago Tribune, Thurs Dec 31, 1953, p 30

Rescue 3 girls adrift 2 miles off Lake shore

Suffer from exposure

Three young Waukegan girls rescued
Rowboat adrift two miles out
Rescued trio are Lucille de Leon, (?) years old, and her sister Helen 4 years old, of 576 ½ Market, and Gloria Villalavo, 12 years old, 572 Market street, Waukegan.
Spray from the waves had drenched them and all were suffering from exposure, but otherwise unharmed.
About 4 pm the girls and Robert de Leon, 8 years old a brother of Lucille and Helen found the rowboat,
A dilapidated craft, tied up on the beach near Belvedere and Market Streets. For a time they amused they amused themselves, the girls sitting in the boat and letting Raleigh tow them along the beach.
Wind blows craft eastward
The Raleigh let go the line. The wind was blowing strongly from the west. Out drifted the little skiff. In it was a single oar and with this Gloria endeavored to scull back to land, unsuccessfully. Her task grew more hopeless as the minutes passed. Farther off shore the wind was stronger and the waves more menacing. As stormy waves two miles out in Lake Michigan lapped high against the sides of the rowboat in which three Young Waukegan girls were drifting helplessly eastward late yesterday afternoon, the children employed their last resource. They prayed.
Their prayers were answered. Two hours after their eventful trip started, a motor launch in which sat the Waukegan harbormaster Milton J Larsen and two policemen drew up beside them and towed them safely back to shore.
Little Helen cried and tried to leap into the water. She was rescued by Lucille. Gloria laid aside her futile oar and bailed with her hands. That seemed as futile as the oar, but she did her best. Lucille helped when she could take her attention, a few seconds at a time, from Helen.
Pray, but keep bailing
Wearied and hopeless, they at length began their prayers aloud. Even the littlest one, in the intervals of her weeping, asked God to help her. They mingled their appeals and their bailing—and kept drifting further out.
On shore, after watching with interest for perhaps an hour, Raleigh decided to do something. He went home and told a family friend. The family friend spread the alarm. Policeman Cal Hoff and Leonard Duncan hastened to the harbormaster. The harbormaster put forth his launch after a far speck on the horizon had been identified as three girls in a boat.
 “We never stopped praying,” said Gloria as she landed. That’s how we got back.”

 

(13) Chicago Tribune, Thurs Dec 31, 1953, p 30

Nine year old John Bankhead, who led five children to safety from a flaming building at 537 Market st, Waukegan last Oct 22, was awarded a watch and named "Man of the month" for November by the Waukegan Junior chamber of Commerce. The presentation was made before an assembly of the boy's fellow students at McAllister School.

 

(14) Girl, 2, unhurt in fall from 2nd story window Chicago Tribune, Thurs July 28, 1955, p2

Girl, 2, unhurt in fall from 2nd story window

Joyce Westley was taken to St Therese hospital, Waukegan yesterday after she fell out of a second story window in her home at 430 1/2 Market Street, Waukegan. She landed on a plot of grass. Physicians said she apparently suffered no injury.

 

(15) Misstep results in death of child, Lake County Independent and Waukegan Weekly Sun, Sept 17, 1909, p8

Misstep results in death of child

Man and baby plunged down two entire flights of stairs when Chodnick missed a step in the darkness—fractures the skull and hemorrhage of the brain caused the death—inquest verdict accident

Falling down two flights of stairs at his boarding house on Market street Sunday evening, Ignatz Hodnick crushed the life from a baby he carried in his arms, by falling on top of it. The death occurred a few minutes after the fall had occurred and before a physician, who had been summoned, could arrive. The affair was purely accidental and no blame was attached to Chodnick at the inquest next morning.
Frank Jappel  Jr, the baby was about three years old. He was being carried by Chodnick, who started to go down the stairs with him from the third story of the boarding house. A sharp turn is at the top of the stairs and in rounding this, in the dusk, Chodnick missed the top step and plunged downward.
Man and baby crashed down two entire flights and when the bottom was reached the little baby lay under the man. Chiodnick was badly bruised but not seriously hurt. The boy’s skull was fractured and the death occurred from this and from the hemorrhage of the brain.
The inquest was held at the Larsen and Conrad morgue the next morning, with the verdict of accidental death. The accident happened about 7:45 o’clock last night.

 

(16) May 19, 1911 Child dies from burns today Libertyville independent, p9

Child dies from burns today

Twenty month old son of Mrs. and Mrs. John Ponin pulls down of hot milk over on its head at home Monday

(from Wednesday’s Sun)
John Ponin, the twenty-month old son of Mr. and Mrs. John Ponin of 628 Market street died at the Jane McAllistrer hospital this morning as a result of burns received in his home Monday.
Monday, while the child was seated in a high chair at his home, he reached upon the table and pulled over a huge bowl of hot milk or mush which is not known, the contents of the bowl spilling over the head and face of the child.
Dr. Daniels was summoned and saw at a glance that t condition of the child was serious. He advised that the

 

(17) Falls into tub of boiling water—child may die, Libertyville Independent Sept 24, 1915, p7

Falls into tub of boiling water—child may die

Little Margaret Palzetta meets frightful injuries Sunday at Market street home

Waukegan Sept 20
Margaret, the two year old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Natali Palzetta, an Italian family at 701 Market street lies ate point of death as a result of being terribly burned Sunday noon when she fell into a tub of boiling water, just as the other members of the family were eating dinner in an adjoining room.
The water had just been lifted from the stove and was at the boiling point. The child was playing near it and in some manner fell backward into the tub. Her screams brought help and she was lifted from the boiling liquid.
She was scalded all over, the worst burns being on her back and arms, for she had on but very scant clothing and therefore was quite unprotected. A doctor was called at once and he relieved the child’s suffering as much as possible and dressed the burns.
The family objected to the little victim being taken to the hospital, believing that her burns were such that she surely would die anyway and if the end came they wanted her to die at home rather than away.

 

(18) Falls into Boiling water Lake County Independent and Waukegan Weekly Sun March 19, 1915, p 11

Falls into Boiling water

Child cannot live

Two and a half year old child was so badly scalded that it cannot survive
Other was washing
Had just placed tub of hot water on floor when child toppled into it

Waukegan March 14

Mary, the little 2 ½ year old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Valentine Ogrin of 728 Market street was probably fatally scalded this morning when she toppled into a tub of boiling hot water which her mother had placed on the floor. The child was so badly burned that her flesh dropped off in places.
Mrs. Ogrin accompanied by her little daughter had gone to the home of Frank Ogrin at 711 Market street this morning. Although the two families are best of friends, having come from the same village in Austria, they are not blood relations.
Mrs. Frank Ogrin has been ill and Mrs. Valentine Ogrin had gone to her home to do a washing for her.
She heated the water and poured it into a tub on the floor. Meanwhile her little daughter played about on the floor. At this time the child decided to go out of doors to play. She started backing toward the door. The tub of water was in her path but she had forgotten it. The mother’s back was turned and the did not perceive the imminent danger in which her child was placed.
Suddenly the mother started to hear a scream of agony from the child. She whirled about just in time to see the child fall into the boiling water.
With one hand the mother reached for the child’s side and grabbed it from the bath but not until the child was frightfully scalded. It was some moments before the mother could tear off the little child’s clothing. As she removed it patches of flesh and skin came away with the clothing.
A young woman who was staying in the house ran across the street to the Frank Petkovsek saloon and implored him to send for a doctor. A call was made to Dr. Kalowsky and in almost less time than it takes to tell it he was racing to the scene in his automobile.
He dressed the burns which covered nearly the entire body and then urged the mother to send the child to the hospital where it could receive more expert care. He said there was a hope that the child might recover if taken to the hospital—otherwise he said the child would die.
The idea of having her little daughter taken from her even to go to the hospital did not appeal to the mother. There was a terror in the idea of separation. She burst into tears and said she would never consent to the plan. She felt that if mother love and care could not save the child’s life nothing could
It is said the child has hardly one chance in a thousand of recovering.

 

(19) Boy burned by hot water dies from the burns Lake County Independent and Waukegan Weekly Sun , Feb 15, 1917, p6

Boy burned by hot water dies from the burns

Waukegan Feb 12

The two year old child of Mr. and Mrs. Dominick Cozmann (?) of 518 (?) Market street died this morning at 6 o’clock, succumbing to burns received when the boy fell into a tub of boiling water on Jan 27th. Coroner (?) of Libertyville has been called but it is not known positive just when the inquest will be held.
Mrs. Cozmann had filled the tub with scalding hot water (?) in a …
The mother turned in time to perceive the child (running?) and shouted a warning to him… he turned around and as he did so toppled over backward into the boiling water.
Dr. Connell of North Chicago was summoned. He advised that the child be removed to a hospital, but the mother could not bear to have the little fellow out of her sight. She said she thought that the tender ministrations of a mother would save his life if anything would. Dr. Connell held little hope for saving the child’s life.

 

(20)  (Oct 20, 1921: Parents refuse to call doctor; child is dead Libertyville Independent p11

Parents refuse to call doctor; child is dead

Three year old Herman Findley of Market street died of Diphtheria this morning

Call coroner’s inquest

Following the death from diphtheria this morning of 3 year old Herman Findley, son of Mr. and Mrs. Herman Findley of 916 Market street a coroner’s inquest was ordered because the parents of child had not summoned the physician. The Findleys, who are colored, are members of the church of Christ in god, which is said to advocate healing by faith and prayer rather than by aid of medical treatment.

The child became ill about a week ago. Findley informed his friends the child was ill of ptomaine poisoning following the eating of a pie given him by a baker. Members of the church visited the Findley home and offered prayers but no physician was called in because it was against the religious beliefs of the family.
“If I make up my mind that the child is going to die I will call in a doctor in time to sign the death certificate,” Findley is said to have stated.
Tuesday afternoon Dr. Foley’s attention was called to the illness of the child and he at once diagnosed the ailment of diphtheria and had the house placed under quarantine at once. The death of the youngster took place this morning about 5 o’clock. The city physician refused to sign the death certificate because he did not attend the child.
A coroner’s jury was sworn in and it expected that the inquest will be held at the Holland funeral home about Friday. The jury went to the Findley home today and viewed the remains of the child through the window. This permitted the immediate burial as provided by law.

 

(21) Boy falls on milk bottle; chin is nearly cut off Lake County Independent and Waukegan Weekly Sun , Oct 26, 1916, p6

Boy falls on milk bottle; chin is nearly cut off

One of the most unusual accidents that has occurred in Waukegan in some time took place at 751 Market street Sunday evening. A little Italian boy of two years of age was playing on the steps of his parent’s home when in some unknown manner he fell and in stumbling down the stairs he struck a milk bottle which had been left on the stairway for the milkman. As he struck the bottle it broke and one large piece of the glass cut a gash in his head. In fact, it was such an unusual cut that the glass nearly severed the young lad’s chin from his face. His chin merely hung by a thread when the baby was picked up and taken to Dr. Brown’s office where the wound was sewed up. It was one of the most unusual accidents that has taken place in the community in some time. The lad has said to have presented an unusually pitiful sight with his chin practically severed.

 

(22) Number of Influenza deaths drops; Libertyville independent Oct 10, 1918, P11

Number of Influenza deaths drops;

Situation clears
A decided drop in the number of new influenza cases and the death toll from the disease is the most encouraging news Waukegan has heard since the epidemic first gripped the city. A few new cases of the disease are reported daily but they are small in comparison to the number reported up to a few days ago.
The casualty list
The latest deaths reported are:
----Bell, 18 month old baby died this afternoon at parent’s home on Market street from influenza
Steve Grovelch, aged 26, residing at 712 Market street, died at the Jane McAllister hospital Monday night at 9 o’clock of influenza and pneumonia. Mr. Grovelch was a bachelor. He was recovering from an attack of influenza and got up too soon and had a relapse and contracted pneumonia.
Mary Tetluta, 9 years, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Alonzo Teluta, Market street,  at 7:30 due to influenza and pneumonia.

 

(23) Babe born in bushes Libertyville Independent, Sept 18, 1908, p4

Babe born in bushes

Amid the shrieks of noonday factory whistles and the platter of passing trains a new life was ushered in down under the bushes on the lake front near Elm street Thursday.

The mother is Mary Kovizkle, a domestic employed by the S Meyer family on Market street and she is being closely guarded on suspicion of having murdered her child and the baby boy was born in such strange surroundings is dead.
Officer Nichol’s strange find
About Twenty minutes after twelve today while officer Nichols was passing along the lake shore near the standard oil company tanks on his regular beat as special patrolman for the Elgin Joliet and eastern railroad at elm street his attention was attracted by the sight of a woman lying on the lake front beneath a clump of bushes.
He went over to the spot and found that the woman was slightly delirious and had just given birth to a child. The child lay wan and white dead by her side. The officer did not realize completely what had happened until he took away the skirt that the woman had either placed over the child’s head to hide it, or to aid her in snuffing out its scarce begun existence.
Woman at hospital
Rushing from the spot which is just north of the sugar refinery, the officer called for the Larsen and Conrad ambulance, and the woman was removed to the hospital, the body of the child being placed in the morgue.
Later the woman, who is believed to be slightly crazed, was put under guard, as it is believed she may have killed her child and may try to escape from the hospital ward.
The child was dead when found but there are no marks to show foul play and there may be nothing to the murder theory.
History of woman
The woman has been working in the family of S Meyer of Market street for two and a half months. She is a Russian and has been in the country since Christmas. The brother resides on market street and another on tenth street. The woman is about forty years old.
Went there deliberately
The woman seems to have chosen the lake front deliberately as the…
With tears trickling down her cheeks and beads of perspiration on her forehead as she lay on the cot in the Jane McAllister hospital, Mary Koviszke told Dr. Taylor, six jurymen and a SUN reporter all the facts connected with the  birth and death of the nameless child.
The jury, after weighing the facts as related by the poorly educated, thoughtless and in fact ignorant girl decided to enter a verdict of infanticide without criminal intent. The girl was charged with the death of the innocent babe but will not be prosecuted. Instead the coroner has suggested that she be deported from the country as an undesirable.
Miss Kovitzeke told the jury at length of her trouble at banks (?) of the lake front. She positively stated that she had intended asking permission to be taken to the hospital and be cared for but that she had waited too long. She blames frank Wolske (?) for her downfall. He is the father of the child she claims
Wolske is well-known among the Lithuanian circles of Waukegan and resides until recently at the corner of Marion and Browning avenue. Miss Kovitzeke met Wolske soon after her arrival in the country. She will ask that he be compelled by law to marry her, she says.
The case has attracted county-wide attention, many hoping that the young foreigner would be called upon to answer for the alleged sin committed. It is hoped that she will be sent home as soon as she is discharged from the hospital
A post-mortem held over the remains of the little babe proved that the child had partaken of the breath of life on earth. It had not been born dead, but must have died from loss of blood or exposure. Miss Kovitzkie stated that the child was alive when born and that it had died soon after. Had the child lived she would have gladly cared for it.
Sunday an attempt was made to get a warrant for the arrest of john  Wolske….Police Magistrate…refused the warrant as the child is dead and any move to prosecute Wolske if he is the man wanted, would be to make him pay for the support of the child for alleged bastardy.
The woman is anxious to have her alleged lover marry her and her friends say they will try to bring this about.

 

(24) Find body of murdered babe in sewer here Libertyville Independent Sept 2, 1920:, p12

Find body of murdered babe in sewer here

Body found by street employees; exhumation ordered today by Dr. Foley

Coroner starts a probe
Employees of the street department making repairs to the south avenue sewer Friday afternoon made a gruesome discovery.
Inside the manhole just east of Market street they discovered the corpse of a baby, mute evidence of probable murder.
It was John Nauta who discovered the little babe. He reported the matter to William McVennon, street foreman. Without stopping to think that a crime might have been committed the foreman instructed the laborer to bury the body in a nearby lot.
Word of the ghastly find came to the ears of city physician J C Foley and he immediately reported the matter to coroner J L Taylor who promised to come to Waukegan this afternoon to conduct a thorough probe, with assurance that the police would be asked to assist in locating the guilty party.
Pending the arrival of coroner Taylor, Dr. Foley gave orders to have the body exhumed and removed to an undertaking establishment where an inquest would be held.
The body of the child is sufficiently large to make it probable that the person who dropped it into the sewer must have lifted the manhole cover to do so. John Nauta asserted that the body of the child was in a good a state of preservation, indicating that it had been in the water but a short time.
City officials to whose attention the matter has been called seemed to agree that the child must have been murdered and thrown into the sewer. There is a possibility also that the infant may have been alive when dropped in the sewer.
The probe that the coroner plans to make probably will decide definitely whether it was an inhuman manner of disposing of…

 

(25) Mob menaces girl beater Libertyville independent, June 30, 1911  p8

Mob menaces girl beater

Three young men, Charles McMansmen, an engineer, George Mason, a gas man, and Al Cooper, Sun Circulator Sunday night pursued and captured in the underbrush at the lakefront a Market street man who is said to come home drunk and in a frenzy wreaked his temper on his wife and tiny golden haired daughter, the latter of whom he hit in the head with such violence that blood ran from her ears.

A crowd gathered from the street and from a nearby saloon and menaced the man, Frank Sarois, with violence, after which he fled toward the lake shore. McManaman and Mason pursued him closely and captured him in the bushes. He started to put up a fight but a glance at his husky captors soon got this notion out of his head. The prisoner was turned over to Officer Metz, who took him off to jail. The little girl was 6 years old and seems to have been terribly beaten.