Wilfred David DeGrace

Wilfred David DeGrace

This weeks theme for 52 Ancestors was favorite name. I chose Wilfred, not so much because the name is a favorite but because his often flip flopped. We first see David Wilfred DeGrace baptized in December 1861. It appears that his birth date is December 13 1861 based on the baptismal record in Rimouski, Quebec at Cathédrale St-Germain from the Drouin Collection. He was born to Joseph DeGrace (34) and Celina Marie Hache Ache Gallant (33) He was the 6th of 9 children and the 2nd to last one born in Canada. Sometime in 1864-1866 the family crossed the border into the United States. Mary DeGrace is listed as born in Canada but she wasn't born until 1866. Later reports indicate earlier immigration dates. It's not clear what brought them here at the end or just after the American Civil War. Joseph and his eldest son Alexander worked as carpenters, so perhaps there was post-war opportunity. The family 1st appears in the US census in 1870 in Detroit, Michigan when Wilfred (as he was listed) is 9 years old. His father Joseph and oldest brother Alexander are listed as Carpenters. There is no street listed. Sometime after the census Wilfred's sister Adelia was born on November 5, 1870, and died July 9, 1871.

On November 22, 1879 Wilfred's brother Albert was born when Wilfred was 17. The 1880 census shows them at 251 Sixteenth Street. At the age of 18 Wilfred worked as an Iron Moulder. His little brother Albert died July 4 1881.

On October 10, 1882 Wilfred entered the US Army at Ft. Wayne, Michigan. He was part of the 10th Infantry Company A. At some point his military service took him to Ft. Lyon, Colorado and he is listed in the Colorado state census of 1885.  He indicated that his mother was born in Spain. This is the only mention of that I have seen thus far.

According to the enlistment logs, Wilfred was discharged from the Army on October 9, 1887. Wilfred reported later that he married Lena Godfrey on July 19, 1887 in Las Animas, Bent County, Colorado (no records found). But it appears that their son William David DeGrasse (note spelling change) was born January 24, 1887 when Lena was just 17. The dates could be accurate but the location of William's birth is reported as Illinois. This does not match up with his military service so more research is needed to confirm these dates and locations. We do know that by 1888 they were living in Chicago. Their daughter Mary Etta DeGrasse was born April 30, 1888. In 1889 Wilfred is listed in a Chicago directory at 118 N. Robey.

On September 1, 1891 Lena and Wilfred welcomed a son, Leo Benjamin. A daughter Eleanor was born in 1892, a daughter Inace on April 9, 1896, a daughter Fanchon on November 15, 1900.

The 1900 census has them listed as Josephine and Wilfert DeGrace. They lived at 456 Washburne Ave. in Chicago. He was working as a Showcase Manufacturer. Wilfred's father Joseph passed away on May 21, 1901 at 73 years of age. One more daughter was born to Lena and Wilfred in 1903, Blanche. Blanche only lived about 3 years, passing on May 20, 1906.

In 1910 they had moved to 6823 S. Winchester, also in Chicago. His wife is again listed as Lena but he is listed as William DeGrasse. He was working as a Cabinet Maker. Wilfred's mother passed away April 16, 1913 when she was 85.

The 1920 census lists Wilfred and Lena with daughter Eleanor and 2 borders, Loraine Maypole and Eleanor Schuler. Loraine is 3 years old. I have heard stories about Loraine and how Lena raised her as their own daughter. Earlier census records show a Maypole family living on the same block as the DeGrasse family. Eleanor is 20, so she may be Loraine's mother. They lived at 907 W. 63rd Street.

In 1930 Wilfred and Lena lived with daughter Fanchon and her husband at 9021 S. Carpenter St. Loraine Maypole is still living with them as is a Frances Terboult that is 17. Wilfred is not employed or at least no employment is listed. Lena passed away on January 3, 1937 at 67. Wilfred's application for naturalization is dated August 5, 1937. I had heard stories that he applied for his pension from the military and discovered he was not a citizen. He had thought his father became a citizen when he had come to the US when Wilfred was a small child. It turned out to not be the case. Despite 5 years of military service Wilfred was not a US citizen! At age 75, on November 18, 1937, Wilfred became a naturalized citizen of the United States.

The 1940 census lists David DeGrace age 79 living at 6617 S. Peoria, still in Chicago. he is employed as a carpenter and living with daughter Mary Etta and her family.

Wilfred lost another daughter, Mary Etta passed away May 25, 1953.

Wilfred died at age 97 on January 31, 1959 in Chicago. He is buried next to his wife in an unmarked grave at St. Mary's Cemetery in Evergreen Park. He is listed as David Wilfred.

Wilfred as pictured on his naturalization record