The Problem of George LeClaire

Most genealogies give his parents as George Henry LeClaire and Marie Sophie Poirier, and I tend to believe that this is valid. However, I think we have to be careful in documenting this connection. I have not yet found a "smoking gun".

I have not yet acquired the death record for Philip, but we do have his obituary. In the obituary it states that his parents were Horace and Louise LeClaire. It states that he was the 3rd child and that the family emigrated in 1866 - the year of his birth. It does NOT mention any siblings by name!

Most genealogies assign 5 siblings to Philip: Alphonse Joseph, Bell, Mary, George, and Michael. Each of the death records of A J, Bell, Mary, and George are consistent with parents names George Henry and Marie Sophie, however, none are exact. A J's says George LeClaire and Sophie Pairie, and is the closest. However, on his death his wife is Eva, and I cannot find that couple anywhere else to build my case. (All other candidate records have a wife named Marcelina.) Bell says H LeClair and Sophie Peron. Mary says Henry LeClair and no mother. George says Henry LeClair and no mother.

The first mention I find of Philip Louis Leclaire is in the 1882 Directory for the city of Chicago. At this time he is not yet settled into 47 Brown St. In 1887 he is listed at 47 Brown St.

In 1888 Philip is still at 47 Brown, but he is joined at that location by Henry LeClair - a carpenter. I assume this is his father! This is the only reference I have found to date for George Henry LeClaire.

In 1890, Philip is joined at 47 Brown by Sophia, widow of Henry! I infer from this that George Henry LeClair died c1889. However, the 1889 directory has no such declaration, as is so often found. In fact, Sophia is also absent from 1889, leaving only Philip at 47 Brown. I wonder if it is possible that an illness caused Henry to move in with Philip in 1888, and as it got worse, He and Sophia returned to Montreal for his final days?

In 1897, Sophia is still living with Philip - now at 497 Brown. In 1898 Philip marries Caroline Melzer, and in the 1900 census Philip, Caroline, and their son Philip John have moved to 497 Sangamon. Sophia is still living with Philip's family in 1900, as is Bell LeClaire - listed as an older sister! This is our first tie to the siblings. In 1900 Sophia reports that she has had 12 children and that 6 survive. This supports the six siblings reported by most genealogies.

By 1910 census, Philip's family has grown to four children and Bell and Sophia are living with Bell's new husband Cornelius Segrue. Note that in 1910 Sophia reports 12 children, 5 of whom still live. I have inferred from this that Michael may have died between 1900 and 1910. (I have essentially no info on Michael at this time.)

One last key document is an 1892 voter list for Chicago which lists three LeClair males - Jas/Jos, Michael, and Philip - each of whom had been in the county and state for 26 years. 26 years is exactly how long someone would be in the county if they immigrated in 1866 and came directly to Cook County. (Also note that Philip uses an "e" at the end of his name but the others do not. Also note that Philip entered the precinct first, c1884, Michael second, c1886, and Joseph last, c1889. Also note that George would be too young and that Sophie and Bell and Mary did not yet have the vote.)

SUMMARY:

• We have a marriage document from 1848 Montreal for George Leclair and Marie Sophie Poirier.
• Directory listings for 1890 and 1897 and the 1900 census suggest Philip's mother was Sophie - NOT Louise.
• 1888 directory suggests Philip's father was named Henry. 1890 and 1897 entries suggest Sophie's husband was named Henry. Death records of George and Mary suggest their father was named Henry.
• The only record using the name George for the father is A J's death. So, if you believe the Pairie is a mis-transcription of Poirier, then you can tie A J to the marriage, but you cannot tie the marriage back to the family of Sophie, Henry, Bell, etc.

CONCLUSION: It seems likely that Philip had a father named Henry and a mother Sophie and a sister Bell. Mary and George are only linked by the name of their father on their death record (reported by someone else). Michael and Jas/Jos are somewhat linked to Philip via the voter record of 1892. Alphonse Joseph is linked to the marriage, but not to the rest - unless you believe Jas/Jos is A J.

TODO:

• Naturalization records seem to be a dead end. The petitions were filed in Chicago Circuit Court, and the website for those archives states that nothing of genealogical value appears on these brief forms.
• Death record of Philip might provide names of parents - but given obit, seems unlikely.
• Trying to link A J to the family in Chicago is probably the best avenue to investigate.

Excerpts from Chicago City Directories
1882 1887 1888 1889 1890 1891 1896 1899	1900 1901 1904 1913 1914

Excerpts from Chicago Voter Registration Lists

1890

1892

NEW FINDINGS:

• The residence at 497 Brown and the residence at 497 Sangamon are the same place. Brown St, from N 1000 to S 2200, was renamed Sangamon St. I wonder if 47 Brown and 497 Brown are also the same place. They may have renumbered Brown in preparation for the renaming. Given this new finding, it would appear that Philip may have resided in the same location from 1887 until his move to Glenview.
• The Alphonse in 1890 is our Alphonse because his profession as "finisher" matches his profession on his death index.
• Jas/Jos on 1890 voter list is living with Philip and Sophie at 47 Brown. This does not jibe with Alphonse, the "finisher", living on Melrose that same year. I am inclined to believe they are the same person.
• 1896: Alphonse, the "finisher", has moved to N Robey.
• The name of Alphonse' wife was Marceline (Rosa). I suspect that Eva on the death index was the person that reported the death - maybe Eva Jacobus (see 1930 census).