Lorena Mae Oetzel Nee. Rowe (211.2)

Born: 5/2/1900 Sherrard, Mercer County, Illinois

Died: 6/25/1984 Bradenton, Manatee County, Florida

Parents: John W. Rowe Jr. and Ellen Sophie Nee. Lilliman (Unanglicized as Elin Sofia Liljeman)

Spouse: Theodore “Ted” Elmer Oetzel (1924) / Walter Leroy Carr (6/11/1953 - Washington, Tazewell County, Illinois) /

Children: Theodora “Doddie” Ann Oetzel 1925-2012 / Jack Boyton Oetzel 1927-2003 / June Oetzel

Bio:

Lorena and Clarence

Ages 8 and 10, probably taken in Mercer County

In 1910, Lorena is 9 years old and living in Sherrard. In 1910, Sherrard was experiencing the highest population it had seen at that point, with 906 residents in 1910. the town consisted of “seven saloons and an equal number of houses of ill-fame”. The town was surrounded by the booming coal mine, the dominant employer of the town and the reason many men had their families located in the town. There were three or four blocks of business district that included City Hall and other stores to support the small town.

Young Lorena was the second youngest of six, split evenly between boys and girls. Her mom has had eight kids, with seven still alive at 1910. Her father Charles works at the general store, while all neighbors work in the coal mine. Most kids on the census go to school. There are many first-generation immigrants, from Sweden, Switzerland, England, and Germany with all speaking English.

Daughter and Dad

Lorena and her father John, around the time of relocating to East Peoria.

Sometime between 1910 and 1921, Lorena had relocated to East Peoria, where her father dies at the end of the 1922. In 1921, she is living at 208 Main in East Peoria, likely living with Gladys Rowe. They are both employed at Allaire-Woodward in East Peoria. Allaire-Woodward was a patent medicine production and pharmaceutical packaging company, that had been in the business since the late 19th century. There were a great number of companies involved in the practice. Some of the common ingredients in pharmaceuticals at the time included cocaine, hemp, and natural opiates. In 1920, the company would be charged with a $50 fine for adulteration of their powdered capsicum, and in 1926 were fined $25 for adulteration of Blue Cohosh.

In 1922, Lorena was living with her dad, John, at 301 E. Washington Street in EP. John is listed as a miner, a profession he lived around for his adult life, but seemingly had been able to avoid until the end of his life. By 1923, Lorena has moved from the house she shared with her father, and at the time lived at 518 E. Washington Street. She is a seamstress at Chic Manufacturing. Chic operated a garment factory in downtown Peoria, that was the largest exclusive manufacturer of ladies and children’s aprons. They were in business from 1900 until the 1970s. In 1923, there were essentially no labor laws in the country to determine break periods, lunch, and work hours. here is no overtime or hazard pay, and most seamstresses are young women. A role young women filled all throughout the world during the industrial revolution. Safety regulations were just emerging, with the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire leading to implementation of fire safety regulation in the workplace. There were two bridges that Lorena could have taken to get to Peoria, but it is likely that she would have taken the Cedar Street bridge to Peoria every day. This was a steel bridge, responsible for much of the traffic in and out of earl Peoria.

A Small Pharmaceutical Product

A product from Allaire-Woodward, where Lorena first worked when coming to East Peoria. Thymus Vulgaris, or Thyme, once used to treat fungal infections.

In 1924, Lorena and Ted would be married. Ted is a veteran and 34 while Lorena is 24. They would have their first kid the following Spring, Doddie. In 1927, Lorena and Ted are living at 127 Schertz Street in EP with one kid and one more on the way. Ted is a machinist, while the wife’s occupation is not listed. it is likely that she did not work but was the house maker. They rent their house for $20. They also have 4 “roomers”. Two of them are 18 and two of them are 23 and they work all sorts of jobs, including as a bridge carpenter and timekeeper at a tractor manufacturer. Lorena has many neighbors who are veterans including 52-year-old Benett Hill, who was in the Spanish American War. The house does have a radio set.

Chic Manufacturing

Chic MFG. building located in Peoria, early 20th century, where Lorena worked in the early 1920’s.

By 1940, the family has moved to rural Groveland, Tazewell County, Illinois. They live with 15-year-old Theodora, 12-year-old Jack, and 5-year-old June. Jack attends the 5th grade while Theodora is in the 7th grade. Ted is still a machinist at a tractor manufacturer, making $1400 annually. This is one of the higher salaries on the census. In 1944, Ted and Lorena are living at 739 E. Washington Street, and Ted is still a machine operator.

127 Schertz Ave.

The house that Lorena and Ted raised their family in.

By 1953, Lorena and Ted have separated, with ted moving to Danville, Vermillion County. Lorena would marry Walter Leroy Carr, who was also machine operator. They lived in rural Washington, Illinois where Lorena also worked as a machine operator at Princess Peggy, a subdivision of Chic Clothing Manufacturers that focused on day and house dresses. They would continue to live in Washington until she passed in 1984, and he passed in 1998 while staying in Florida.