William T. Daleiden was the only son of Christopher and Margaret Daleiden of Winfield Township, DuPage County, Illinois. As I researched William’s life several tragedies occurred within his lifetime emerged from my research.

William was born on the 17 November 1872 and died 7 March 1916. He was the second born of four children. His three sisters were: (A Catholic nun) “Sister Mary Philippina” Daleiden (Born 1870 – Died 1930), Susan (Nee Daleiden) Schlick  (Born 1877– Died 1945) and Katherine (Nee Daleiden)Armbrust (Born 1880– Died 1953). William is first listed on a U.S. Census at the age of seven in 1880.

Per the Probate file from the DuPage County Clerks Office for Christopher Daleiden on a Proof of Heirship document within the Probate File and dated 1 August 1910 there is listed two other children born of Christopher and Margaret: “Two children, Annie and Peter, died before the death of their father – both in childhood“. Anna appears on the 1880 U.S. Census at the age of 5 years. There is no trace of Peter as being recorded on the 1880 Census, it is assumed that Peter may have been born some time between the years 1868 and prior to 1880 Census being taken. There is no mention of either Annie nor of Peter in Margaret’s Probate File when she died in 1916.

William married Susan Elsen on 24 September 1895. They had seven children: Charles, William B. [See a separate blog on his life asWinfield Postmaster and Store merchant], Catherine, Tony (Anthony), Edward, Mary, and George.

In 1910 the first of two tragedies would occur. The first was reported on 5 November 1909 in the Wheaton Illinoian newspaper:

One can only imagine the scene at the Prendergast home when this tragic accident occurred. A valant attempt by a father to save his young daughter’s life. As a father when first reading this I was emotionally drained as I attempted to put myself into his place attempting to rescue one of my own daughters from a simliar fate. I would image that this event shook the family and William to the core.

I will be doing a separate posting on what the Probate File for Christina reveals about this tragedy in the future that will add some details to this incident.

On 10 March 1916 the following headline and article appeared on the front page of the Wheaton Illinoian newspaper:

In the same year on 15 February 1916 William’s uncle Michael died. Michael was the first Daleiden family member to settle in Winfield Township. 1916 was not a good year for the family.