John M. Bennett and Nancy Ellen Bennett were mother's adopted parents. We have not found any records of that as yet and they may be sealed so we will not be able to determine for certain. Mother, however, took the name "Bennett" as her maiden name. That is the name she entered in their marriage license when she and Dad were married so I assume it was an adoption rather than the Bennetts being foster parents. Mother told Lou Deane that "Mom Bennett", as she called her, had told her who her natural mother was and where to find her when she turned 18. That would have been about 1920.
The 1920 Census lists John M. Bennett, Nancy E. Bennett and Hazel Bennett as living in St. Mary's Township of Hancock County (Plymouth, Illinois) and lists John M. as being a clerk in a shoe store. The census was completed in January so Mother had not seen her 18th birthday as yet, since it would come on June 16th.
I do remember spending the night with "Aunt Nancy White" as she was known to me. White was her maiden name. I was under the impression that she was living alone at the time. She would show me a collection of song bird eggs and one of butterflies that she said her husband had collected. She had a big fluffy feather tick on her bed which also impressed me. She died on February 23, 1929 so I couldn't have been more that four or five at the very most. Her obituary in the Macomb Daily Journal said she died southwest of Industry after a long bout with cancer of the colon and was buried in the cemetery at Doddsville. I will try to visit Doddsville in the spring, if God is willing.
Most of this information was gathered for us by a lady, Kay Easly, of Industry, IL.
A gentleman named Max Bowen of Wisconsin has sent me information also. He sent a copy of the marriage license of Mother and Dad, a copy of the 1900 census taken in McDonough County, Illinois and a copy of the marriage license of John M. Bennett and Nancy Ellen White. Max is related to Nancy White.
We have not been able to find where John M. Bennett went or when he died. Max believes, and I have to concur, that he was possibly entered into a TB Sanitorium near Springfield. He has found records of a John Bennett there but has not been able to confirm the connection as yet.
This is the only picture I have of "Aunt Nancy White". Left to right: C. F. Schwanke (Grandfather), appears to be Veda Huston with a girl I don't know, Aunt Nancy with Bill Schwanke, and O. F. Schwanke (Dad)
