Mary Emma Dawson

Grandma was born in 1890 (1893 according  to her death certificate) at Chariton Iowa.  She was the second youngest of nine. Her brother, Ben, was two years younger.
Her parents were John and Margaret (Newell) Dawson.

She and her husband, Heinrich Wilhelm Alfred Popkin, were the parents of Herman John and Doris Marion.

She later married Fred Samuel Herrick.

She spent most of her life in Chicago IL. I believe she left Iowa as a young woman to work in Chicago.

Heinrich Wilhelm Alfred Popkin was my maternal grandfather.

Person Sheet 

Name Heinrich Wilhelm Alfred Popkin

Birth 25 Dec 1891 Porter Porter Co IN

Death 1 Jun 1947 Chicago Cook Co IL

Burial Oak Woods Cemetery

Occupation Chauffeur, Auto Mechanic

Father Herman Jacobs Popken (~1852-1923)

Mother Henrietta Wilhelmine Sophie Brinkmann (?-1924)

I never knew my grandfather, Henry Popkin. He died when I was six years old. He was 55 years old when he died on June 1, 1947.  He was buried at Oak Woods Cemetery.

In 1910 he was living at Chicago, ward 3. His occupation was "Occ Sealer/railroad". He worked at Mitchell Automobile, 234 Michigan Ave. (1910 census)

Herman and Mary, my grandmother, were divorced in 1926. Their children, Herman and Doris, were 12 and 7 years old when they divorced.

The Popkin Family was in Porter County Indiana when Henry was born. He was born on Christmas Day 25 December, 1891, at Porter County, Indiana.

William Cottay was born about 1843 according to the 1880 United States Federal Census.
William arrived at Mobile AL from England in 1867 according to the 1892 Chicago voter registration list.  What brought him to Chicago from Mobile? The construction of the Illinois and Michigan Canal could be the answer. While living in Chicago it is believed that he worked on the salt docks.

William and Ellen Jones were married at Holy Family Church in Chicago on Aug 18, 1872. Their witnesses were Patrick Melony and Ellen Hopkins.

William Catty

 in the 1880 United States Federal Census

Name: William Catty

Age: 37

Birth Year: abt 1843

Birthplace: England

Home in 1880: Chicago, Cook, Illinois

Race: White

Gender: Male

Relation to Head of House: Self (Head)

Marital Status: Married

Spouse's Name: Ellon Catty

Father's Birthplace: England

Mother's Birthplace: England

Occupation: Labourer

Household Members: Name Age

William Catty 37

Ellon Catty 35

Joseph Catty 7

Charles Catty 6

William Catty 3

Susan Catty 1

Source Citation

Year: 1880; Census Place: Chicago, Cook, Illinois; Roll: 190; Family History Film: 1254190; Page: 157A; Enumeration District: 069; Image: 0315

William was in a streetcar accident in Chicago and lost an arm. The company settled with him. He used the money to buy a small grocery store at the corner of 31st and Wallace. That is where he was living in 1892 according to the 1892 Chicago voter registration list.


William Cottay
 in the 1900 United States Federal Census
Name: William Cottay
[William Collay]
Age: 57
Birth Date: Aug 1842
Birthplace: England
Home in 1900: Chicago Ward 5, Cook, Illinois
Race: White
Gender: Male
Immigration Year: 1848
Relation to Head of House: Head
Marital Status: Married
Spouse's Name: Ellen Cottay
Marriage Year: 1872
Years Married: 28
Father's Birthplace: England
Mother's Birthplace: England
Occupation: View on Image
Household Members: Name Age
William Cottay 57
Ellen Cottay 53
Charles Cottay 24
Mary Cottay 17
George Cottay 11
Source Citation
Year: 1900; Census Place: Chicago Ward 5, Cook, Illinois; Roll: 249; Page: 8B; Enumeration District: 0132; FHL microfilm: 1240249

William and Ellen had seven children, Joseph, Charles, William, Susan, Ellen (Aunt Nell), Mary (Aunt Mayme) and George (Grandpa  George). William and his family were living at 544 Union Street in 1880 according to the 1880 census. He was living at 10234 Avenue L in 1920 with his son, George.
He died on Oct 7, 1920 at the age of 76 years. He was buried in Mount Olivet Cemetery, Chicago IL.

Ellen died 17 years earlier on Jan 3 1903.


William Cottay
 in the 1910 United States Federal Census
Name: William Cottay
Age in 1910: 70
Birth Year: abt 1840
Birthplace: England
Home in 1910: Chicago Ward 2, Cook, Illinois
Race: White
Gender: Male
Immigration Year: 1858
Relation to Head of House: Head
Marital Status: Widowed
Father's Birthplace: England
Mother's Birthplace: England
Neighbors: View others on page
Household Members: Name Age
William Cottay 70
Mayme Cottay 27
Source Citation
Year: 1910; Census Place: Chicago Ward 2, Cook, Illinois; Roll: T624_242; Page: 6B; Enumeration District: 0202; FHL microfilm: 1374255



William Cottay
 in the 1920 United States Federal Census
Name: William Cottay
Age: 82
Birth Year: abt 1838
Birthplace: England
Home in 1920: Chicago Ward 8, Cook (Chicago), Illinois
Street: Avenue L
Race: White
Gender: Male
Immigration Year: 1860
Relation to Head of House: Father
Marital Status: Widowed
[Widow]
Father's Birthplace: England
Mother's Birthplace: England
Native Tongue: English
Able to Speak English: Yes
Naturalization Status: Naturalized


Household Members: Name Age
George J Cottay 29
Pearl Cottay 24
Robert G Cottay 3
[3 11/12]
William Cottay 82
Source Citation
Year: 1920; Census Place: Chicago Ward 8, Cook (Chicago), Illinois; Roll: T625_318; Page: 8B; Enumeration District: 524; Image: 182

George Joseph Cottay was born on 16 October, 1888 in Chicago IL. His mother was Ellen (Jones) and His father was William Thomas Cottay.
His mother was from Ireland and his father was from England.


George Cottay
Illinois Births and Christenings

Name George Cottay
Gender Male
Event Type Birth
Event Date 16 Oct 1888
Event Place Chicago, Cook, Illinois
Father's Name Wm. Cottay
Mother's Name Ellen Jones

CITING THIS RECORD
"Illinois Births and Christenings, 1824-1940," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V22F-GFC : accessed 31 January 2016), George Cottay, 16 Oct 1888; Birth, citing Chicago, Cook, Illinois; FHL microfilm 1,287,880.

He lived in Chicago all of his life.  His occupation was "machinist" in the steel mill industry.

In 1914 he married Pearl Wilkening. They had one son, Robert George, born in 1916 in Chicago.

In 1920, George was 29 years old and living in Chicago, IL with his wife, Pearl, son and father.

In 1930 he was divorced and living with his brother-in-law. His son, Robert, age 13, was living with him. (1930 census)  He later married Julia Duggan.

In 1941 he was 53 years old and living with his wife, Julia. His was working for "Chicago Printed String Co."
Source: Draft Registration Card, 1942

George died April 13, 1966 at the age of 77.

Robert George Cottay was born in Chicago Illinois on December 2, 1916 to George J and Pearl (Pauline Wilkening) Cottay.

In 1920 he was living with his mother, father and grandfather on Avenue L. (U.S. Census)

Dad was a good student and was popular in school.  He attended Gallistel Grade School and Bowen High School.
Below is a picture from his high school yearbook.

Dad traveled out west with some friends before he and Mom were married. This is a postcard he sent to her while traveling.

In the early 1940's, Dad played softball.  Softball originated in Chicago (about 1886) so it must have been very popular there.  Their uniforms were heavy white cotton. It must have been uncomfortable to wear that on a hot summer day.

Bob and Doris celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary at their home in Palos Heights, IL.

He died June 28, 2002 at Traverse City,  Michigan and was buried at Willow Springs Memorial Park, Willow Springs, IL.

Doris Marion Popkin

My mother, Doris Marion Popkin, was born Dec 20, 1918 in Chicago, IL.

Mom had two older brothers, Neil and Herman. Neil was her half brother.

Mom spent some time at the Chicago TB sanitarium when she was young.

She attended Bowen High School in Chicago. She also attended a beautician school and received her Beauty Culture Certificate on the 19th of March, 1938.

When I was very young, about three years old, Mom had a "beauty culture" business of her own. I remember that we lived in the rear of the building behind the shop.  It was fun for me because I received so much attention from her customers.

Mom was a good cook. She was also a "healthy" cook. She didn't want us to have too much sugar so cans of pop were a "no-no".

She cooked a lot of meals in that tiny kitchen in Mount Greenwood.

She died March 6, 2005 at the age of 86. She is buried at Willow Springs Memorial Park, Willow Springs, IL.