Pace Ancestors and Louise Baker Tabb, 1883-1937

Louise Baker Tabb is our maternal Grandmother.

We really don’t know too much about her.

After all, she died before we were born. We had no relationship with Kenneth from whom we may have gleaned a few details.

In looking over the records, there is not much family history.

Looking over what is available to memorialize their lives, one is left with a feeling of sadness and emptiness.

The Pace ancestry, from which Louise derived half of her genes, is characterized by the early deaths of females and children.

Of note, when you look over the immediate ancestors of Louise, you quickly find a string names that show up in our family.  

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Louise’s parents were William Drew Tabb (1845-1920) and Cora Pace (1852-1886)

Let’s look a bit further back to her maternal grandparents and their family.

Cora’s parents were John Harvey Pace 1826-1873) and Louisa M Guthrie (1823-1862). (Note: Louisa lived to be 39.)

Cora had three siblings: Robert F (1844-1909); Sarah M (1847-1862); Willis A (1850-1868). As you can see, two of them died at early ages. [Cora also had an older, half-Sister, Mary Augusta “Gussie” Pace (1866-1960), from her Father’s marriage to Rachel Cressy (Cressie) (1841- ).]

Robert F Pace (Cora’s Brother) - Robert’s first wife, Mary Virginia Strattan (1850-1887) died shortly after losing a Son, Steven Willis (1887-1887) just after childbirth.

A few more words about Robert and Mary. Mary Virginia Strattan (1850-1887) married Robert on 25 June 1873 in Mt. Vernon, Jefferson County, Illinois. On Sept 7, 1887 she gave birth to a Son named Stephen Willis Pace. He only survived for two days. Mary never recovered from the birth and subsequent death of her son and she passed away twenty-one days later on 28 September 1887. She was buried beside her infant son in the Oakwood Cemetery. She was 37 years old.  Robert did not remarry until 1896, when he married Margaret E Jessup (1872- ). They had a Daughter named Cora Cherry (1900-1946). Cora Cherry died when she was 46 years old. On 5 May 1909 her husband Robert ended his life by drowning. He was 53 years old. Robert was laid to rest beside his first wife, Virginia, and infant son.    The link connects to a very dramatic article about this tragic event appeared in the Mount Vernon Daily Register. Please take a few minutes to read it. As you do, think about the similarities between this incident and our Brother's death.

Cora Pace and William Tabb married in May 1870.

US Census 1870 records them in Jefferson County, Illinois. In 1880, they lived in Saline County, Illinois. Both locations are in southern Illinois.

Cora and William had two Daughters: Gertrude “Gertie” Pace (1875-1931) and Louise Baker (1883-1937). Both were born in southern Illinois.

So, from what ancestor did Cora and William draw the name Baker for Louise’s middle name? The only family member I can find anywhere with the name Baker is Sarah Baker Knowles (1641-1692), Cora’s great-great-great-great-great Grandmother. It is however, possible that the name is derived from an ancestor of Louise Guthrie, Cora’s Mother, about whom there are no records whatsoever.

To appreciate the childhood and early adulthood of Gertrude and Louise, we need to detour for a moment.

There are question about the year and location of William Tabb’s death and where he is interred.

According to the Find-a-Grave page for Cora, William died in 1895 Jefferson County, Illinois and is buried at the Oakwood Cemetery in Mount Vernon, Illinois the same location as Cora. Other records indicate he died in 1920 in Gray County (Dodge City), Kansas. The Kansas connection is plausible because at least two of William’s Brothers, Dempsey Thomas (1843-1920) and Beverley Porter (1853-1947), had settled and were living in Gray County in 1920. [There are also records indicating William re-married on 28 November 1892: Mary P Deichman.]

I am satisfied that William died in 1895 and is buried at the Oakwood cemetery in Mount Vernon, although he and Cora are not buried side-by-side.

Remember, Cora died in 1886. She was 34. 

Our Mother died when she was 49. Her Mother, Louise, died at 53. Louise's Mother died when she was 34. Cora's Mother, Louise, died at 39.

A pattern?

Yes.

Significant? 

You decide.