Ruth Clara Halliday

Ruth is first listed in the 1910 Niles IL US census, with her father, Matthias (31), mother Elizabeth (32), and sisters Dorothy V (7years), Magdalena (5), and Frances M (3). Their residence is listed just as Main St. in Morton Grove. Elizabeth's mother is listed as being born in Illinois, her father in Germany. Matthias is listed as being born in IL, both parents from Germany. They've been married 8 years, she's had four children, all of them alive so far. He's a laborer in a greenhouse (August F. Poehlmann's, who lives just down the street). The Yehl's home is owned free and clear. Their next neighbors are the Thielens. On the previous page ( living also next door, on the other side) there is Ruth's aunt (her mother's sister), Anna Sophia (Mrs. John) Paroubek (widowed, own income, no job listed, owns her home free and clear), 35, and her daughter Helen, 3 years old. In the same household is Anna's brother Leo P. Haupt (26, sales, butcher shop) and their sister Clara (22).

They are also in the 1920 census, as follows: Matthew Yehl 47 (owns his house, free and clear) born Bavaria, foreman, greenhouse (a LOT of the neighbors are working in the local greenhouse operations) Elizabeth Yehl 42, born IL Dorothy 17 Magdalen 15 Frances 12 Ruth 10 Howard 7 Bernice 5 Sophie and Helen Paroubek are still next door. Sophie is working as an independent dressmaker.

Ruth is next mentioned in the 1930 census, with father Mathias (52, head of household), mother Elizabeth (52), sister Dorothy (27), brother Howard (18), and sister Bernice (15). They are living at 6025 Lincoln Avenue.n They own their home (valued at $10,000), have a radio set, and have been married 24 years. He works as a hothouse florist. The only other person listed as being employed is Ruth, who is a commercial artist.

At 6105 Lincoln, lives Peter Haupt (50) and his wife Anna (37), with their children Harold (15), Marian (14), Robert (12) and Dorothy (10) They are renting. Relations of Elizabeth (her brother). Peter is a butcher (meatcutter, in the census).

From her obituary: "Mrs. Halliday was born March 1, 1909, the fourth of six children in the marriage of Matthew Yehl and Elizabeth Haupt. She was a talented artist, employed in the local fashion industry for many years. She continued to work for the industry even after most firms moved to New York and abroad, while perfecting her landscape watercolor techniques. Ruth married advertising writer Stuart Halliday in 1935. Survivors include three daughters, Nancy, Sue Brooks and Ann Ellis; one son, Stuart; seven grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and one sister, Frances Holcomb. She was preceded in death by her husband, Stuart E.; three sisters, Magdalen Brod, Dorothy and Bernice; and one brother, Howard."

and from the newspaper notice: " Birth: Mar. 1, 1909 Death: Oct. 15, 2005

"Ruth Y. Halliday, nee Yehl, age 96, of Skokie, beloved wife of the late Stuart E.; dear mother of Nancy, Sue Brooks, Stuart and Ann Ellis; loving grandmother of seven; cherished great-grandmother of six; fond sister of Frances Holcomb, the late Magdalen Brod, Dorothy, Howard and Bernice Yehl. Funeral Saturday 10 a.m. at Haben Funeral Home, 8057 Niles Center Rd., Skokie. Interment St. Peter Catholic Cemetery, Skokie."