John Thomas Fanning ^{1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9}

  General Notes:

John's birth date varies from 1866 to 1871 depending upon which record you are viewing. The most predominant year of birth seems to be in Aug 1868.

1866: 1870 census age
Aug 1868: 1900 and 1910 census data; and Lisa Holmes
1871: 1920 census; and Illinois Deaths and Stillbirths, 1916-1947 Database
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There have been at least two different death dates proposed for John Thomas Fanning which vary by a wide margin. One researcher shows that he died in 1930 in Chicago whereas others say that he lived until 1942 and died in Elgin, Illinois.

Date of Death 14 Feb 1930 submitted by Lisa Holmes with the following source reference:
Illinois Statewide Death Index, 1916-1950
Fanning, John - m/w - unk - 0160582 - 1930-02-14 - Cook - Chicago State Hosp. - 30-02-17

However, I can find no such source as "Illinois Statewide Death Index, 1916-1950" but there is the "Illinois Death Certificates, 1916-1950" database offered by the Illinois Secretary of State. A recent search of that database returns no such record for this John Fanning that died in 1930 in Cook County, Illinois. There is one record for a John Fanning that died near that date but that was for a different person originally born in from Pittston, Pennsylvania.

The alternative date of death record of 1942 seems most plausible. This death record gives a date of death as 1 Jun 1942 in Elgin, Illinois. It correctly gives his wife's name as Anna but incorrectly gives his birth location as Kentucky and the birth date of 1871 is questionable except it matches the 1920 census age. What is credible is the occupation as "boiler maker" which matches his occupation listed on the 1910 and 1920 census as well as specifying his residence and place of burial as Rockford, Illinois.

Name: John Fanning
Event Date: 01 Jun 1942
Event Place: Elgin, Kane, Illinois
Gender: Male
Age: 70
Birth Date: 06 Aug 1871
Birthplace: Kentucky
Occupation: Boiler maker
Residence Place: Rockford, Winnebago, Illinois
Spouse's Name: Anna Fanning
Burial Date: 05 Jun 1942
Burial Place: Rockford, Winnebago, Ill
Cemetery: Rockford

Citing this Record:
"Illinois Deaths and Stillbirths, 1916-1947," index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/NQ3N-TYR : accessed 27 Oct 2014), Anna Fanning in entry for John Fanning, 01 Jun 1942; citing Public Board of Health, Archives, Springfield; FHL microfilm 1851522.
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  Noted events in his life were:

• He has alternate birth date of 1866 and a birth location of Cincinnati, OH.

This birth year is probably not correct because his sister, Ida, was born in 1866. Unless they were twins, John's birth year could not have been in the same year of 1866.
. ⁷

• He has alternate birth date of 1869 and a birth location of Cincinnati, OH.

One possible birth year of 1866 conflicts with the same year that his sister, Ida, was born. The birth year of 1969 seems to be the most popular one with researchers yet it also conflicts with the birth year of another sister, Mary. ⁴

• He appeared on the 1870 US Census in Cincinnati, OH on 1 June 1870. ⁷

1870 US Census
Page 5, Dwelling 23, Family 29
Cincinnati, Hamilton County, Ohio
John Fanning..4..OH

(Living with parents.)

NOTE - If his birth date was Aug 1868, then his age should have been 1 instead of 4.
.

• He has alternate birth information of 6 August 1871.

• He has alternate birth date of 1872 and a birth location of Ohio.

This birth year was referenced by his age of 68 on the 1940 US Census. It is considered a disproven date because he appeared on the 1870 US Census.
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• He appeared on the 1900 US Census in Indianapolis, IN on 6 June 1900. ²

1900 US Census
Page 6A, District 138 , Dwelling 102, Family 118
Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana
407-1/2 South Noble Street; house rented
Married 9 years
John T. Fanning..Head..Aug 1868..31..OH..Collector, Insurance

(Living with wife, 2 children, and unmarried sister, Ida.)
.

• His occupation on 16 February 1905 was a Solicitor in Chicago, IL. ⁵

• He appeared on the 1910 US Census in Rockford, IL on 16 April 1910. ³

1910 US Census
Sheet 3A, District 171, Dwelling 42, Family 53, Roll 336
Rockford, Winnebago County, Illinois
830 Mulberry Street; house rented
Married 17 years
John Fanning..Head..41..OH..Boilermaker, Boiler Factory

(Living with wife and 4 children.)
.

• He appeared on the 1920 US Census in Rockford, IL on 7 January 1920. ⁸

1920 US Census
Page 4A, District 179, Dwelling 73, Family 83, Roll 416
Rockford, Winnebago County, Illinois
418 Market Street (4 families); home rented
John T. Fanning..Head..49..OH..widowed..Boiler Maker Shop
Russel Fanning..Son..21..IN..Printer, Printing Office
Helen Fanning..Daughter..18..IL
Elizabeth Fanning..Daughter..14..IL..Sick at Home

(John was widowed and living with his 3 youngest children.)

NOTE - If his birth year was in Aug 1866, then his age should have been 53 instead of 49.
.

• He appeared on the 1940 US Census in Rockford, IL on 23 April 1940. ⁹

1940 US Census
Sheet 7B, District 101-30, Family 177, Roll 912, Ward 3
Rockford, Winnebago County, Illinois, United States
802 Elm Street; Home rented, $25
Earl Williams..Head..40..IL..Widowed..4th grade..Painter, Contractor
John Fanning..Lodger..68..OH..Widowed..6th grade
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John married Anna M. Heitkam, daughter of Charles A. Heitkam and Elizabeth Bierworth, on 24 March 1893 in Chicago, IL.^{1 2 3} (Anna M. Heitkam was born on 26 January 1867 in Indianapolis, IN,^{10 11 12} died on 16 December 1919 in Rockford, IL ¹³ and was buried on 19 December 1919 in Rockford, IL.)

  Noted events in their marriage were:

• Marriage Image: 24 March 1893, in Chicago, IL. ¹

• They appeared on the 1900 US Census in Indianapolis, IN on 6 June 1900. ²

1900 US Census
Page 6A, District 138 , Dwelling 102, Family 118
Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana
407-1/2 South Noble Street; house rented
married 9 years
John T. Fanning..Head..Aug 1868..31..OH..Colletor, Insurance
Anna Fanning..Wife..Jan 1869..31..IN..2/2
Josephine Fanning..Dau..Oct 1894..5..IN
John R. Fanning..Son..Oct 1898..1..IN
Ida Fanning..Sis..Mar 1866..34..OH..Single..Trained Nurse
.

• They appeared on the 1910 US Census in Rockford, IL on 16 April 1910. ³

1910 US Census
Sheet 3A, Roll 336, District 171, Dwelling 42, Family 53
Rockford, Winnebago County, Illinois
830 Mulberry Street; house rented
married 17 years
John Fanning..Head..41..OH...Boilermaker, Boiler Factory
Anna F. Fanning..Wife..39..IN..4/4..Finisher, Leather Factory
Josephine Fanning..Dau..16..IN..Finisher, Tannery
Russell Fanning..Son..11..IN
Helen Fanning..Dau..7..IL
Elizabeth Fanning..Dau..5..IL
.

  Marriage Notes:

Name: John Fanning
Spouse's Name: Anna Heitkam
Event Date: 24 Mar 1893
Event Place: St Patrick's Church, Chicago, Cook, Illinois

Citing this Record
"Illinois Marriages, 1815-1935," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V2P6-C1F : 10 February 2018), John Fanning and Anna Heitkam, 24 Mar 1893; citing St Patrick's Church, Chicago, Cook, Illinois; FHL microfilm 1,502,547.
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John and Anna were married in and lived in Chicago where all of their children were born.

Their daughter Josephine's marriage to Frank Roy Holmes was "arranged" when she was 18. Frank's first wife had died and left him with 2 young daughters to raise so Frank needed a wife to assist him.

Helen met Kenneth John Carey in Chicago and they were married in Ken's home town of Rockford.

Russell was a journalist for The Boston Herald and married Evelyn Brown.

Their fourth child, Dorothy Elizabeth, died at the age of 15.
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