Louis Bill Sr.

Louis Bill was born March 28, 1892 in Roanoke, Illinois. He was the 10th child born to Godfrey Bill and Anna Elizabeth Zoss and the 6th of their children to be born after their arrival from Switzerland. There were 8 more siblings that followed him. This number could be off as there are 4 children that I only have names for and no other information. It's possible that there was a child known by more than 1 name.

Bill Family late 1892 (Louis is the baby in his mother's lap)

Shortly after Louis was born the family suffered the loss of his sister Emma. She died at age 8 in 1892 from burns received while burning cornstalks with her father. His brother Joseph born and died just 5 months later in 1897. 

Louis makes his first appearance in the 1900 census with his parents and 3 brothers (Herman, Ben, and Walter) and sister (Huldah). At this time Louis is missing from the 1910 census. His parents are listed living alone. It's assumed that he was living with one of his siblings or on another farm working as a farm hand in Woodford County, Illinois. On June 5, 1917 Louis registered for the draft and was living in Benson, IL (a town in Woodford County) and employed by Herman Bill in Clayton Township.

Louis and Carrie seated
this could be their wedding photo as the date estimate is 1918-1920

On February 28, 1918 he married Carrie Poppinga and 2 months later was drafted into the army at Camp Grant in Winnebago, Illinois. In June he sailed on the S.S. Olympic as part of Company F 360th Infantry 90th Division, which left New York on the 14th. Not much is known of his time in service but it's believed he spent most of his time in France. As a child I remember seeing a card indicating he had been awarded a purple heart for something relating to a lung injury. My mother remembered a family story about this possibly being related to mustard gas but we have no documentation of this at this time.

On May 27 1919 Louis departed from St. Nazaire, France on the S.S. Mongolia to Camp Devens. They arrived in Boston on June 7, 1919. He was officially released from military service on June 14, 1919.

The 1920 census was taken on January 7th, 1920. I imagine a very pregnant Carrie answering the census taker's questions. The lived in Benson, IL. Louis and Carrie would welcome there daughter less than 2 months later on February 29, 1920. Four years later they would welcome a son Louis Bill Jr. (November 17, 1924)

In 1925 Louis and his family joined some of Louis' brothers in Chicago but frequently returned to Roanoke for visits.

The 1930 census finds them at 2214 W. 23rd Street in Chicago. and in 1940 they had moved down the street to 2224 W. 23rd Street. Of note is the 2 additional children living with them in 1940 named Hellen (age 13) and Thomas (age 10). I haven't located any further information on these 2 children and any family I've asked doesn't know who they are.

In 1942 Louis would again register for the draft. This time it would be his son who would serve in Europe.

Louis and Carrie with son in law Larry and grandson Pat about 1946

Louis and Carrie with Geneva and Louis and (future?) daughter in law Shirley Kampfert

Louis lost his wife in August of 1952 and married Malita Pidde Kopping in December 1953. Malita was a widow with 6 adult children.

Louis died September 7, 1973 in Chicago and is buried at Bethania Cemetery in Justice, Illinois.