Joseph Frank Prenger1,2,3

Family Chart
ID# 7351, (1885 - 1943)
FatherFrederick Prenger4,3 (Mar 1833 - 9 Jan 1919)
MotherMary Lucas5,3 (Mar 1845 - )

Key Events:

Birth: 28 Aug 1885, Peoria, Illinois6,7,8
Marriage: 1908, Peoria, Peoria Co., Illinois, Jessie Myrtle Watson (5 Nov 1886 - 27 Oct 1917)9,10
Marriage: Edith Virginia Fenelon (8 Feb 1899 - 25 Jan 1967)11,12,13
Death: 22 Sep 1943, Peoria, Peoria Co., Illinois14,15
Burial: St. Josephs Cemetery, West Peoria, Peoria Co., Illinois16

Copyright Notice

Narrative:

     Joseph Frank Prenger was born on 28 Aug 1885 in Peoria, Illinois.6,7,8
     He appeared on the 1900 Federal Census of Peoria, Peoria Co., Illinois, in the household of his parents, Frederick Prenger and Mary Lucas.4 He attended Spalding Institute, a Catholic high schools for boys near downtown Peoria, completing three years of high school.17,18
     Joseph married first Jessie Myrtle Watson, daughter of John Quincy Watson and Lucy Florence Walker, in 1908 in Peoria, Peoria Co., Illinois.9,10
     After their marriage Joseph and Jessie lived with her elder sister, Min, and her husband Edwin Lehmann at 1709 N Perry Ave.19
     Joseph and Jessie moved to 208 Goodwin about 1910.20 Joseph and Jessie appeared on the 1910 Federal Census of Peoria, Peoria Co., Illinois, at 208 Goodwin, enumerated 18 Apr 1910, reporting they were renting their home. Thomas J. McPherson, a mechanic on a steam railway, is listed as rooming with them.21 Jessie's parents, Lucy and John Quincy Watson, moved in with her and Joseph about 1914, living with them until Jessie's death.22 About 1913 they all moved across the street to 219A Goodwin.23 About 1916 they all moved to 602 5th Ave.24
     His wife died on 27 Oct 1917 in Peoria, Peoria Co., Illinois.25,26,27
     After his wife's death in Joseph and their two young sons moved in with her sister, Min, and her husband, Edwin Lehmann. They continued to live with the Lehmanns until the boys were grown and the Lehmanns moved away in 1935.28,29,30
     Joseph was a watchmaker by 1904, at age 18, working for Welte & Wieting, a jewelers with stores at 307 Main & 309 S. Adams. He was listed in the City Directories as a watchmaker or jeweler with that firm until 1906.31 From 1907 through 1909 he was listed as a watchmaker for John C. Weolfle, a jeweler at 112 South Adams, then worked briefly as a collector for N. Martin Dry Goods Co.32,33
     He returned to the jewelry business by 1912, with Weiser Jewelry and Optical Co., and was listed with them until 1920, variously as a watchmaker, in sales, and as a manager.34,35,36
     Joseph registered for the draft for World War I on 12 Sep 1918, while living at 1201 North Monroe, Peoria, Peoria Co., Illinois, reporting he was employed as a watchmaker for William Wisser, at 315 South Adams.1 He then returned to Welte & Wieting for about four years, listed as a watchmaker there from 1921 through 1924.37
     He became a proprietor of his own jewelry store, at 439 Main, about 1925. He maintained that business until about 1933. In 1934 he is listed as a jeweler for B & K Co., then is not found until 1937 when is listed as a clerk for Kennedy Brothers, a jewelers at 313 Main. He is listed there as a jeweler, in sales, and as a manager, until his death. In the 1940 census he reported he had worked 48 hours the last week of March, and had worked 52 weeks the previous year, earning $1,000.38,39,40,41
     Joseph appeared on the 1920 Federal Census of Peoria, Peoria Co., Illinois, in the household of his late wife's sister, Min and her husband Edwin with his two sons, Joseph and Edwin.42 He appeared with his sons on the 1930 Federal Census of Peoria, Peoria Co., Illinois, in the household of Min and Edwin.30
     Joseph married second Edith Virginia Fenelon, daughter of James E. Fenelon and Bridget A. Brady.11,12,13
     Joseph appeared with his second wife Edith on the 1940 Federal Census of Peoria, Peoria Co., Illinois, at 1105 Knoxville Ave., in the household of Bridget A. Brady, her mother, reporting they had also lived in the same house in 1935.43
     Joseph registered for the draft for World War II on 27 Apr 1942, while living at 1105 Knoxville Ave., Peoria, Peoria Co., Illinois, reporting he was employed by Kennedy Jewelers, at 311 Main St.44
     Joseph died on 22 Sep 1943 in Peoria, Peoria Co., Illinois, at age 58.14,15 He was buried in St. Josephs Cemetery, West Peoria, Peoria Co., Illinois, next to his first wife.16

Children:
     Children with Jessie Myrtle Watson:

Children:
     There were no children with Edith Virginia Fenelon

Citations

  1. [S3475] Joseph Frank Prenger, World War I Selective Service System Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918.
  2. [S3517] "Deaths: Prenger," The Times-Picayune, 6 Mar 1985, shows name as Joseph Frank Prenger.
  3. [S3462] "Illinois Deaths and Stillbirths, 1916-1947," FamilySearch.org, record for Joseph F. Prenger, citing FHL #1983537 and certificate no. 37150.
  4. [S3478] Frederick Prenger household, 1900 U.S. Census, Peoria Co., Illinois.
  5. [S3478] Frederick Prenger household, 1900 U.S. Census, Peoria Co., Illinois, shows the girl as son of Mary's husband, and that the parents had been married longer than the age of the child.
  6. [S3476] Joseph Frank Prenger, Selective Service Registration Card, World War II, Fourth Registration, shows date, city, and state.
  7. [S3475] Joseph Frank Prenger, World War I Selective Service System Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918, shows date.
  8. [S3477] Joe F Prenger household, 1910 U.S. Census, Peoria Co., Illinois, shows age 24 and state.
  9. [S66] Pound, Family File "POUNDA~1.FTW," 31 Jan 1999, shows year, as 1908, city, county, and state.
  10. [S3477] Joe F Prenger household, 1910 U.S. Census, Peoria Co., Illinois, shows them married zero years.
  11. [S3476] Joseph Frank Prenger, Selective Service Registration Card, World War II, Fourth Registration, shows her as his wife.
  12. [S3462] "Illinois Deaths and Stillbirths, 1916-1947," FamilySearch.org, record for Joseph F. Prenger, citing FHL #1983537 and certificate no. 37150, shows her as his spouse.
  13. [S3546] Bridget Fenelon household, 1940 U.S. Census, Peoria Co., Illinois, shows them as married, he as son-in-law and her as daughter of Bridget.
  14. [S3462] "Illinois Deaths and Stillbirths, 1916-1947," FamilySearch.org, record for Joseph F. Prenger, citing FHL #1983537 and certificate no. 37150, shows date, city, county, and state.
  15. [S500] Findagrave.com, online, memorial # 158391950, Joseph Frank Prenger, shows year and includes tombstone photo showing same.
  16. [S500] Findagrave.com, online, memorial # 158391950, Joseph Frank Prenger, includes tombstone photo.
  17. [S3471] Franks Peoria City Directory, 1901 pg 515 shows Joseph as student at Spalding Institute.
  18. [S3546] Bridget Fenelon household, 1940 U.S. Census, Peoria Co., Illinois, shows he attained 3 years of high school.
  19. [S3471] Franks Peoria City Directory, 1909 pg 668 shows Joseph at 1709 N Perry av, the address of the Lehmanns.
  20. [S3471] Franks Peoria City Directory, 1910-1911 pg 707, and 1912-13 pg 790.
  21. [S3477] Joe F Prenger household, 1910 U.S. Census, Peoria Co., Illinois.
  22. [S3471] Franks Peoria City Directory, 1913-1914 pg 1092 shows John Q. and Lucy F. at 208 Goodwin.
  23. [S3471] Franks Peoria City Directory, 1913-1914 pg 835, 1914-1915 pg 767, and 1915-1916 pg 797.
  24. [S3473] Peoria City Directory, 1916 pg 796 shows the Prengers at 602 5th av and pg 878 shows John Q. and Lucy Watson at same address.
  25. [S3462] "Illinois Deaths and Stillbirths, 1916-1947," FamilySearch.org, record for Jessie Prenger, citing FHL#1543608, cert no 1201, shows date, city, county, and state.
  26. [S199] Pound, e-mail to author (100), "Misc questions", 5 May 1999, citing family Bible for date.
  27. [S500] Findagrave.com, online, memorial # 158391951, Jessie Watson Prenger, shows year and includes tombstone photo showing same.
  28. [S24] Interview, Carmen Glabe Reigel, 7 Oct 1998.
  29. [S1883] Edwin Leahmann household, 1920 U.S. Census, Peoria Co., Illinois, shows Joseph and his two sons in the household.
  30. [S1725] Edwin Lehmann household, 1930 U.S. Census, Peoria Co., Illinois.
  31. [S3471] Franks Peoria City Directory, 1904 pp 556, 731; 1905 pg 566, and 1906 pg 636.
  32. [S3471] Franks Peoria City Directory, 1907 pg 602, 1908 pp 665, 1207, 1909 pg 668, and 1910 pg 707.
  33. [S3477] Joe F Prenger household, 1910 U.S. Census, Peoria Co., Illinois, shows occupation as watchmaker, industry as jewelry store.
  34. [S3471] Franks Peoria City Directory, 1912-1913 pg 790, similarly in 1914-1915 and 1915-1916.
  35. [S3473] Peoria City Directory, 1916 pg 796, similarly in 1917 through 1919; and 1920 pg 883.
  36. [S1883] Edwin Leahmann household, 1920 U.S. Census, Peoria Co., Illinois, shows occupation as jeweler, for a jewelry company.
  37. [S3473] Peoria City Directory, 1921 pg 887, similarly in 1922 and 1923; and 1924 pg 709.
  38. [S3473] Peoria City Directory, 1925 pg 571, similarly through 1929.
  39. [S1725] Edwin Lehmann household, 1930 U.S. Census, Peoria Co., Illinois, shows occupation as proprietor, of a jewelry store.
  40. [S3474] Polk's Peoria City Directory, 1930 pg 599, similarly 1931 and 1932, 1933 pg 451, 1934 pg 453, 1937 pg 383, not found in 1938, with Kennedy in 1940 and 1941, 1943 pg 385.
  41. [S3546] Bridget Fenelon household, 1940 U.S. Census, Peoria Co., Illinois, shows occupation as jeweler, industry as retail store.
  42. [S1883] Edwin Leahmann household, 1920 U.S. Census, Peoria Co., Illinois.
  43. [S3546] Bridget Fenelon household, 1940 U.S. Census, Peoria Co., Illinois.
  44. [S3476] Joseph Frank Prenger, Selective Service Registration Card, World War II, Fourth Registration.
  45. [S3512] "Deaths: Prenger," The Times-Picayune, 29 Sep 1981.
  46. [S1883] Edwin Leahmann household, 1920 U.S. Census, Peoria Co., Illinois, shows Joseph as brother-in-law to Edwin, and young Joseph as his nephew.
  47. [S1883] Edwin Leahmann household, 1920 U.S. Census, Peoria Co., Illinois, shows Joseph as brother-in-law to Edwin, and young Edwin as his nephew.
  48. [S13157] Edwin F. Prenger obituary, Herald-Whig.