Ezra Louis Shols

Narrative:

     Ezra Louis Shols was born on 10 May 1900 in Charlotte, Illinois.^8,9,10
     He appeared on the 1900 Federal Census of Charlotte Twp., Livingston Co., Illinois, in the household of his parents, Louis W. Shols and Elizabeth Schade.⁴
     He moved to town with his parents between 1900 and 1910. He appeared on the 1910 Federal Census of Chatsworth, Livingston Co., Illinois, in the household of his parents.⁵
     Ezra registered for the draft for World War I on 12 Sep 1918, while living at Chatsworth, Livingston Co., Illinois, reporting he was employed as farming.²
     He appeared on the 1920 Federal Census of Chatsworth, Livingston Co., Illinois, in the household of his parents, Louis W. Shols and Elizabeth Schade.¹⁵
     He and his brother were both shown as farmers, on their own farm, in the 1920 census. This may have been the family farm, as their father was shown as having no occupation. When he married a few months later he reported his occupation as owner and manager of a garage.^15,1 He was an auto mechanic for Ingram Motor Car Company by 1921. In 1925 he was a salesman for them but by the following year was again a mechanic and continued to work in their service department until about 1932 in Peoria.^16,17,18
     Ezra married Eva Henrietta Glabe, daughter of Sebastian Glabe and Anna Katherine Ruppel, on 26 May 1920 in Chatsworth, Livingston Co., Illinois, with Rev. J. A. Giese, pastor of the Evangelical Church, officiating. His father had given his assent since he was a minor. She was the elder sister of the two sisters his first cousins William and Erasmus would marry serveral years later.^11,12
     Ezra and Eva moved to Peoria after their marriage. By 1921 they were living at 510 N. Madison Ave.¹⁹ Ezra and Eva moved to 309 E Virginia Ave. by 1926.²⁰
     The following year they moved to 343 Callender.²¹ They appeared on the 1930 Federal Census of Peoria, Peoria Co., Illinois, at 343 Callender, enumerated 7 Apr 1930, reporting they owned a home valued at $8,000, and owned a radio. Their children Margery and Doris were listed as living with them.²²
     He was working as a salesman for Smith Brothers, Inc., dealers in Packard and Nash motor cars, by 1933. After working for them a few years, about 1937 he became a foreman for Landis Motor Company, dealers in Nash and Lafeyette motor cars. The next year he was a salesman for J. T. Bower Motors, a Buick dealer.²³
     Ezra and Eva appeared on the 1940 Federal Census of Peoria, Peoria Co., Illinois, at 343 Callender, enumerated 3 Apr 1940, reporting they owned a home valued at $6,000, and had lived in the same house in 1935. Their children Margery and Doris were listed as living with them.²⁴
     By 1940 he was the owner of a used automobile dealership located at 110 W. Washington, East Peoria. That year he reported working 70 hours the last week of March, and 52 weeks the prior year.^25,24
     Ezra registered for the draft for World War II on 16 Feb 1942, while living at 343 Callender Ave., Peoria, Peoria Co., Illinois, reporting he was employed as a farmer.²⁶
     By 1943 he was working as a shopman for R. G. LeTourneau, manufacturers of heavy construction equipment. By the following year he had returned to the automobile business, as a salesman for Jarvis Downtown Chevrolet. By 1948 he had left the automobile business and was a salesman for Commercial National Estate. Two years later he was again a salesman for J. T. Bower Motors.²⁷
     Ezra and Eva appeared on the 1950 Federal Census of Peoria, Peoria Co., Illinois, at 343 Callender, enumerated 12 Apr 1950, reporting they lived in a home that was not on a farm.²⁸
     Ezra and Eva returned to Chatsworth in 1955.²⁹
     Ezra died on 31 Jul 1971 at age 71.^13,14 He was buried on 3 Aug 1971 in Chatsworth Cemetery, Chatsworth, Livingston Co..³