HE TRIED TO CLEAN UP THE UNION BUT INSTEAD PAID WITH HIS LIFE - Jack Kaufman

One of the points I try to make with this blog is that every person has a story.  You cannot tell just by looking at a tombstone what the story is of the person buried there.  Such is the case with Jack Kaufman, buried at Jewish Waldheim Cemetery in Forest Park, Illinois at Gate No. 5 - B'nai Ruven.  His tombstone, based loosely on "tree tombstones" popular at the time, gives no clue to the story buried there:

You would never guess, looking at that tombstone, that Jack Kaufman tried almost single-handedly to clean up the corruption that was rampant in the Motion Picture Projectionists Union in Chicago and as a result was murdered in cold blood - shot five times.

Let's see what we can "dig up" about Jack Kaufman and find out the story that led to his murder. Readers of the New York Times of June 22, 1931 saw the following story from Chicago:

SEEK SIX IN CHICAGO FOR A LABOR KILLING

Executive of the Motion Picture Operators' Union Is Among Those Hunted by Police.

CHICAGO, June 21 (AP). - Jacob Kaufman, said by officials to have aided them in a grand jury investigation now under way into alleged labor-racketeering among motion picture operators, was shot to death early today.  Assistant State's Attorney Varles Bellows immediately ordered the arrest of Thomas Maloy, head of the Chicago Motion Picture Operators' Union, and five other men. 

The others sought are Danny Stanton, South Side gunman, under indictment in Wisconsin for the slaying of Jack Zuta; Ralph O'Hara, an associate of Maloy; Eddie Donovan, a Cicero gunman, and Jock Quinn and Ralph La Pointe, union executives. 

Although he declined to disclose information as to the men, Mr. Bellows described the slaying as an attempt to embarrass the grand jury's inquiry.

"This is a union killing," he said.  "There is no doubt about that.  Maloy and his crowd have overstepped themselves this time.  The murder will react against them rather than disorganize the grand jury work, as apparently it was intended to do."  

Kaufman, a motion picture operator, was shot down as he stood in the entrance of a South Side radio shop by one of three gunmen who drew alongside the curb in an automobile.

The victim had long been at odds with Maloy and recently led a minority movement to unseat him in favor of Henry Gusenberg, brother of Frank and Pete Gusenberg, who were slain in the St. Valentine's Day massacre.

Wow!  Chicago is, and always was a union town, and publicly challenging the union can have dire results.  Let's see what brought Jack Kaufman to this point where he would be murdered in cold blood at a young age.

Jack Kaufman was born Jacob Kaufman in 1893 in Ukraine which was then a part of Russia.  His parents were David and Ada (sometimes spelled "Edella") Kaufman and he joined siblings Bella/Betty, Carl, and Samuel.  Jack Kaufman came to the US in 1914 when he was twenty-one years old.  He did not waste any time when he got here, because on November 4, 1914 he married Mary Leiss (1891-1955) in Chicago. 

Jack and Mary were blessed with three children:  Myron/Mike (1916-2003), Leonore (1919-1987) and Frances Edith (1922-2006).

The 1920 US Census saw the family (then spelled "Kauffman") living at 1906 S. Albany in Chicago.   Twenty-nine year old "Jake" was the head of the household.  He listed his occupation as "Moving".  I assume it was Moving Pictures not moving furniture.  The census also listed his wife Mary, and children Myron and Lenore, all of whom listed their native language as "Jewish".  Living with them were Jake's mother Edella Kaufmann, Jake's divorced sister Bella Okun, and Bella's son Norman.  Unfortunately 1906 S. Albany is now a vacant lot.

By the 1930 US Census, the Kaufman family was living at 1322 S. Spaulding in Chicago.

1322 S. Spaulding, Chicago

"Jake" now listed his job as "Electrician" in an "Electrical Shop".  But we know he was also working as a motion picture projectionist, when he could find a job.  

And that takes us up to the fateful day of June 21, 1931 when Kaufman's life was snatched from him.

As you can imagine, over the next few days the newspapers were full of news and speculation about the murder.  On June 24, the Chicago Daily Tribune reported in detail about an re-enactment of the murder at the murder scene, the garage behind 9525 Princeton Avenue in Chicago:

RE-ENACT MURDER OF KAUFMAN, FILM UNION INSURGENT

Children Watch Drama in South Side Garage.

With policemen acting the roles of the killer and his victim, the murder of Jacob Kaufman, insurgent member of the Motion Picture Operators' Union was reenacted yesterday in the garage at 9525 Princeton avenue, where Kaufman was shot to death last Saturday night.

A group of colored urchins gathered around as Assistant State's Attorneys Charles E. Lounsbury and Charles Bellows set the scene.  They placed Dave Greer, unemployed Negro movie operator, on the floor under a squad car, just where he lay installing a radio in Kaufman's machine when a flannel trousered gunman walked in at 7 p.m. Saturday and fired five bullets into his body.  

Place Second Witness.

Another witness, John Drake, Negro handy man, was told to take his place in the reenactment of the tragedy.  Drake, grinning goodnaturedly, picked up an oily rag and bent over the front fender of another automobile, which, with the squad car, almost filled the floor space of the weatherbeaten little garage.

"Here's where I stood, boss," Drake announced.  "I was bending over the front of the car, just polishing away, when the gun went bang.  But I didn't see the man fire the shots.  he was outside the door."

Sergt. Leo Anderson, representing the gunman, was standing just inside the door, pointing his pistol at his partner, Sergt. John Mullarkey, who crouched in the corner, simulating the posture of the dying Kaufman.  "Try it from outside the door," suggested Mr. Bellows.

Sergt. Anderson stepped over the threshold and aimed anew.  His partner, his knee joints cramped by his role, stood up and dusted off his clothes.  The Negro began to talk excitedly.

Witness Verifies Positions.

"It was just like that," the witness averred.  "The man with the gun was outside the door, where I couldn't see him run away.  The the crowd gathered 'round and we carried Mr. Kaufman outside and laid him on the sidewalk."

The prosecutor glanced around the garage.  His eyes fell on a bullet hole, drilled through an upright joist and through the tar paper wall to the left of where Kaufman fell.

Inserting a pencil in the bullet hole and projecting a yardstick from the end of the pencil, Mr Bellows produced a shaft indicating the bullet's supposed path.  Again Sergt. Anderson raised his gun, but the angle of the pistol barrel and the yardstick would not jibe.

"Drake, you're lying," said Mr. Bellows sternly.  The Negro shrugged, rolled his eyes and made no answer.  

Lie Detector Shows Response.

Prosecutor Bellows said he had reason to believe that both Drake and Greer know more about the killing than they have been willing to tell.  The state has been using a "lie detector" in its investigation of the case and Mr. Bellows says both the Negroes have shown well defined reactions on the machine when questioned about Kaufman being "Put on the spot."

The prosecutors decided to question other witnesses.,  In a cottage across the street they found Mrs. Anna Freeman, colored housewife, who saw the killer flee.  Leo Del Magro, an unemployed stage hand, arrested as a suspect Monday night because his brother-in-law had been supplanted by Kaufman in a moving picture job, was marched along to confront Mrs. Freemen.

"No, he's not the man," she answered.  "They're about the same size, but the other man was fairer.  He had white pants and a cap.  He was younger, too, and he ran with a springy step."

"How many suits have you got?" the prosecutor asked Del Magro.  The prisoner said he had only one, the gray suit on his back.  he added that he'd never worn white trousers.

After a moment's conference the prosecutors decided to send the sergeants up and down the street in search of other witnesses while they returned to the garage.  Mrs. Freeman, apprehensive over being mixed up in a murder case, but also inquisitive, called them back.  

"Have you found the man who took the notes?" she asked.  Mr. Bellows looked blank a moment before asking what man and what notes she meant.

New Witness Sought.

The woman then explained that, while Kaufman lay dying on the sidewalk, she saw a motorist alight from a sedan in which a woman sat, take a cushion from the seat, and place it under the victim's head.  Then, for perhaps three minutes before the police arrived, the mysterious motorist talked to Kaufman, taking notes of what the victim said.  

The witnesses, Greer and Drake, were called.  They, too, had seen the note taker and believe he drove away soon after the first police squads arrived.

Casting about for other possible clews, Prosecutor Bellows noticed a skull and bones with a question mark beneath, painted on a garage window.  But Crawford Johnson, mulatto owner of the place, said the sinister design was on the glass when it was put in place of a broken pane some months ago.  Johnson said he got the new pane from a neighbor's basement.

The party returned downtown, Greer, Drake, Del Magro, and Johnson being locked up at the detective bureau.  Mr. Bellows announced they would continue in custody "until we clear this thing up and get the truth.

Statement by Maloy Lawyers.

Meanwhile, Thomas Maloy, autocratic business agent of the movie operators' union, issued a statement through his lawyer, Michael Ahern, regarding a notarized memorandum Kaufman wrote three years ago, asserting that Maloy had slugged him and threatened to "take him for a ride." Maloy, having refused to sign an immunity waiver for appearance before the grand jury Monday night remained at liberty.

"Certain features of the memorandum are true, but in the main it's a lot of boloney," said Mr. Ahern.  "In the first place it was written three years ago and if my client sought to harm Kaufman he'd hardly take three years to do it.  As  of fact the union records will show that Maloy, far from feeling enmity for Kaufman, provided him with work whenever he wanted it."

Acting Police Commissioner Alcock was asked whether the secret service division, recently established under Capt. William Shoemaker, would grapple with the murder mystery.

"You've been calling Capt. Shoemaker's division Scotland yard," the commissioner replied.  "Bear in mind, then, that Scotland Yard always works in secret."

Kaufman, who left a widow, three children, two brothers, a sister, and his mother, will be buried at 10 a.m. today in the Jewish Waldheim cemetery after services in a chapel at 3125 Roosevelt Road.  He was 41 years old.  

The garage is still standing today.  They have built a new house at the front of the lot but you can still see the garage in this photo, at the back of the lot on Princeton:

The June 24, 1931 Chicago Daily Tribune also contained the death notice for Jack Kaufman:

In the days after the murder there were stories in the papers almost every day about new witnesses or lie-detector tests or ballistics tests, and even an indictment of Thomas Maloy in mid-July (for racketeering, not murder), but as they days turned into weeks, the trail grew cold.  In fact, the murder of Jacob Kaufman was never officially solved.  On December 19, 1939, the Chicago Daily Tribune published a list of 29 slayings in Chicago that remained unsolved.  Number 3 on the list of unsolved murders was Jacob Kaufman.  The paper reported that Kaufman:

"was shot to death in a garage at 9525 Princeton Avenue June 1, 1931. He was an insurgent member of the Motion Picture Operators' Union. The grand jury was told that Tommy Maloy, the union czar, had threatened to have him taken for a gangland ride."   

Jack Kaufman

Jack Kaufman - he tried to clean up the union but instead he paid with his life - may he rest in peace.

But what about Tommy Maloy?  Did he really get off scot-free from his crimes?  Did he ever stand trial for the murder of Jack Kaufman?  Did Maloy ever spend a night in jail? That is an interesting story, as well. Check back with this blog next week, when I'll tell the sordid tale of the life and death of Tommy Maloy.

TO RECORD THE GRIEF OF HIS BEREAVED PARENTS AND ONLY SISTER - James Thomas Cairns

I could do an entire blog just on people buried at Rosehill Cemetery in Chicago.  It is such an old and historic cemetery that virtually everywhere you look you see another interesting tombstone.  Here's one I saw there this Spring:

This obelisk marks the final resting place of the Cairns Family:  James and Annie and their son James.  If you move around the obelisk, you will see the following panel:

This Tablet

Is Inscribed To The Memory Of 

James Thomas,

Only Son Of

James and Annie J. Cairns

Who Died Aug. 13, A.D. 1883

Aged 19 Years & 2 Mos.

And To Record The Grief Of His

Bereaved Parents And Only Sister.

A.D. 1884.

I was sure that there was a sad story here and I was right.  Let's see what it was.

James Thomas Cairns was born June 11, 1864 in Clonakilty, Cork, Ireland to James Cairns (1830-1903) and Annie Jones, nee Hughes (1845-1910).  The Cairns family came to the United States in 1865. In fact their other child Lizzie/Elizabeth (1865-1947) was born in Morristown, New Jersey, during the family's journey to Chicago.  James Cairns the elder, was a real estate agent by trade.

They did not participate in the 1870 US Census, but by 1880 they were firmly established in Chicago, living at 1072 (now 2458) Fulton Street. James the elder was a real estate agent and James the younger was a clerk in a grocery store.  A factory now stands at 2458 W. Fulton.

Tragedy struck the Cairns family on August 13, 1883.  Young James died at home from typhoid fever complicated by "severe cholera."  Both diseases are caused by ingesting contaminated food or water.  Both are greatly debilitating diseases, and according to his death certificate, James had been ill for three weeks and two days. Cholera victims often died within hours, so the fact that James held on as long as he did was a testimony to his youth and good health up to that point.  

 

The loss experienced by the Cairns family left them inconsolable.   Just over three weeks before, young James Cairns had his whole life ahead of him.  He was nineteen years old and had a good job.  In addition, he was part of a close and loving family. Then tragedy struck and he was gone.  The family chose a burial plot at beautiful Rosehill Cemetery and laid their son to rest.  Here is his Death Notice from the Chicago Daily Tribune of August 14, 1883:

The Cairns family wanted to memorialize young James in a way that would reflect how special he was, and also be a visible sign of what a shattering blow his death had been to them.  To do this, they erected an obelisk over his grave - the sign of life eternal:

And on the part of the obelisk that faces the graves, they inscribed their pain into the cold, hard stone:

And marking the actual grave of young James Cairns:

"Our Darling Boy"

James Cairns the elder joined his son at Rosehill in 1903; Annie Cairns in 1910.  Both are buried in the Cairns family plot at Rosehill:

Elizabeth "Lizzie" Cairns, James' sister married Homer R. White in 1903. They ultimately moved to Pennsylvania where Lizzie died in 1947.  She is buried in Rosehill Cemetery in Ambler, Pennsylvania:

So that's the story of a family, greatly bereaved at the loss of their son and brother at the age of nineteen.

James Thomas Cairns - May he rest in peace. 

HIS EMPLOYEES FURNISHED HIS TOMBSTONE - Thomas H. Jewell

Last April when I was photographing the tombstone of Henry Boltwood at Rosehill Cemetery in Chicago I noticed another tombstone of interest.  Not too far from the Boltwood tombstone is one erected to Thomas H. Jewell and his wife Jemima.  What makes the Jewell monument interesting is what is inscribed along the bottom:  "Erected by His Former Employees".   

I'm sure that some of my former employees would be willing to contribute for a tombstone for me, but only if I was going to use it right away.

Let's see what we can "dig up" about Thomas H. Jewell.

Thomas Henry Jewell was born March 8, 1842 in St. Stephens Parish, Cornwall, England.  The first record of him that we have in the United States was his arrival on March 16, 1858 when he had just turned sixteen.  In 1863 Jewell married Miss Jemima Imerson (1841-1927).  Thomas and Jemima were blessed with nine children, six of whom lived to adulthood.  They are:

Edward J. (1863-????)

Sarah Anna Rebecca (1865-c1935)

Nellie (1866-c1951)

Thomas (1869-????)

William (1870-????)

Charles (1871-1937)

Fanny Louise (1875-1898) Twin

Harry L. (1875-????) Twin

Ella (1879-1919)

The 1870 US Census found the Jewell family living in Wyandotte, Michigan where Thomas listed his occupation as "Worker in a Rolling Mill".

The 1880 US Census has the Jewell family now living in Chicago at 919 Ashland Avenue (now 1820 N. Ashland).  That spot is now under the Kennedy Expressway.  Thomas Jewell now listed his occupation as "Foreman in Steel Works"

The 1890 US Census for Illinois is lost, but by 1900 Thomas and Jemima Jewell were living at 3535 S. Hamilton Avenue where Thomas listed his occupation as "Superintendent".

3535 S. Hamilton, Chicago

The 1900 Chicago City Directory lists him as Assistant Superintendent at the Illinois Steel Company.

Illinois Steel Company

The 1910 US Census shows sixty-eight year old Thomas Jewell still working - as a "Superintendent in a Rolling Mill."  He and Jemima (now called "Jennie") are living at 6948 S. Vincennes in Chicago.  There is a new high rise building on that spot today.  Fanny Jewell Edmonds' fifteen year old son Ralph Edmonds was living with them.

After I originally wrote this article, I was contacted by Paul Jewell, the great-grandson of Thomas and Jemima Jewell.  He told me that Thomas Jewell had been featured in an advertisement for the International Correspondence School in Popular Mechanics magazine from December, 1910.  So here, thanks to Google Books, is that ad:

Thomas Henry Jewell died on March 4, 1913 in Chicago from angina pectoris complicated by a bout with "la grippe" (the flu).  

According to his death certificate, when he died he was Superintendent at the Wisconsin Steel Company.

Wisconsin Steel Company

Here is his Death Notice from the Chicago Daily Tribune of March 5, 1913:

He was buried in Rosehill Cemetery under that beautiful monument that originally caught my attention:

I don't know what prompted his former employees to purchase this monument for their former boss, but a monument of this size and quality would not have been cheap.  And over 100 years later, their testimonial to their former boss still stands over his grave.

Thomas H. Jewell - loved and admired by his employees - may he rest in peace.     

CHICAGO'S MATZOH KING - Levy Wittenberg

As I have mentioned before, Jewish Waldheim Cemetery in Forest Park, Illinois has many beautiful and distinctive monuments.  I have featured some of the more interesting monuments in this blog, but Waldheim has its share of unusual monuments as well.  Such is the case at Gate 45 - Kovner. Wandering around on a bleak winter day in February of 2012 fulfilling Find a Grave photo requests I happened upon this unusual monument:

As you can see, there is a bust of a solemn looking man at the top. Below that it says:

Levy Wittenberg

Died June 12, 1907

Donated

From

L. Wittenberg

to the

Congregation

Auel Jacob

1899

I had a feeling that there might be an interesting story here and I was right.  Let's see what we can "dig up" about Levy (also spelled "Levi") Wittenberg, Chicago's matzoh king.

Levy Wittenberg was born in Kolnich, Russia in February of 1850 to Israel Wittenberg and Sara, nee Cohen.  We know that Levy had at least two siblings, Abraham (1865-1934) and Isaac (1880-1937) because they sued Levy for libel in 1903 - but more on that later.  Levy Wittenberg came to the United States in 1880 and settled first in New York and then finally in Chicago.  

While still living in Russia, Levi Wittenberg married Gitel (Katie) nee Newman (1850-1940) circa 1870 while both were twenty years old. Katie told the census taker in 1900 that she had given birth to seven children, and all seven were still alive at that time.  Here they are:

Louis (1870-1915), born in Russia
Hyman (1873-1911), born in Russia
Leah (1875-1945), born in Russia

Ida (1879-1912), born in New York

Levi/Harry (1885-1979), born in New York

Moses/Morry (1888-1975), born in Chicago

Alexander (1889-1941), born in Chicago.  Alexander used the surname "Witte"

In later years Levy said that he had moved to Chicago in 1883 but that is unlikely unless he came out to Chicago ahead of the rest of his family.

Levy Wittenberg became a naturalized US citizen on October 17, 1890.

No matter when he actually arrived, Levi quickly established himself as one of the top Jewish bakers in Chicagoland.  Here is a photo of Wittenberg's bakery, circa 1900:

Levi Wittenberg was not without his share of controversy.  The following article appeared in the Chicago Daily Tribune on June 30, 1903:

TWO BROTHERS SUE A THIRD

Charge Him With Libel in Issuing Circulars Attacking Their Business Integrity.

Three brothers are complainants and defendant in a libel case brought before Justice Richardson yesterday.  Abraham and Isaac Wittenberg, bakers at 529 Jefferson street, charging Levy Wittenberg with libel. The trouble started shortly before the Passover feast in April.  The matzos for the feast were bought from Abraham and Isaac Wittenberg, at a reduced price.  Then, it is charged, Levy Wittenberg issued circulars of a libelous character, attacking the quality of the food sold by his brothers.  One circular stated:

"Do not buy from them what are called matzos, while in fact when you open the bundle you find the broken fragments of various food articles."

According to the complainants, the circulars were intended to attack their honest.  Justice Richardson continued the case until July 9th.

It is not recorded how the case turned out, but Levy Wittenberg's bakery was still producing and selling matzoh long after the founder was gone:

Now what about the monument that piqued my interest in the first place?

As I mentioned, at the top is a bust of a stern faced man.  Lower down it says "Levy Wittenberg, Died June 12, 1907" and then "Donated From L. Wittenberg to the Congregation Auel Jacob 1899."

Is the bust at the top a bust of Levy Wittenberg?  Here's his photo, and a closeup of the bust - judge for yourself:

I'm afraid that my research has hit a brick wall here.  I could not find anything about the Congregation Auel Jacob, past or present, nor could I find anything about Levy Wittenberg donating a monument or a bust of anyone.

Levy Wittenberg did die on June 12, 1907 at home, 580 N. Canal Street, from lobar pneumonia complicated by diabetes.  According to his death certificate he was fifty-eight years old:

As I mentioned above, he was buried at Jewish Waldheim Cemetery in Forest Park, Illinois at Gate 45 - Kovner.  In addition to the imposing monument, his grave is also marked with a more conventional tombstone:

So the mystery of the monument "Donated from L. Wittenberg to the Congregation Auel Jacob in 1899" will have to remain a mystery for now.  Maybe one of my readers will have some information that will solve the mystery for us.  One of the frustrating parts of genealogical research is that there are some mysteries that never are solved; some questions that are never answered. But that's what makes it so much fun, as well.

Levy Wittenberg, Chicago's Matzoh King - may he rest in peace.  

WHAT HOPES LIE BURIED HERE - Willie Omohundro

The office where I work closed early on July 3rd to allow everyone to start enjoying the 4th of July holiday early.  So, I used this opportunity to drive out to the South Side of Chicago to Oakwoods Cemetery to photograph some graves for a Find a Grave friend.  It was a beautiful Chicago summer day and Oakwoods is such an interesting and historic cemetery.  I only wish it was a little closer to where I live and frankly in a better neighborhood.  I have never had any problems in the cemetery, but the neighborhood that surrounds it is rough, to put it kindly.  

Anyway, I found the graves I wanted to photograph in Ravinia Section B4 and snapped the photos. I photographed the individual stones as I usually do, and then I stepped back for a shot of the gravesite in the area where it sits, to give the requestor some idea of what that section of the cemetery looks like.  Here's the photo I snapped:

After taking the photos that were requested I stopped to take a look around.  Oakwoods is similar to Rosehill in that every where you look you see history.  What caught my eye here was a zinc monument directly behind the stones I had photographed:

The front of the monument said:

WILLIE.

only son of

Wm. R and Bessie C.

Omohundro.

Died

September 11, 1887.

Aged

3 Years, 5 Mos.

What Hopes Lie Buried Here

Let's see what we can "dig up" about the short life of Willie Omohundro.

William Nathanial Omohundro was born April 20, 1884 in Chicago to William Rainey Omohundro (1861-1900) and Bessie nee Hurdle (1865-1927).

William Rainey Omohundro was born July 8, 1861 in Richmond, Virginia to Silas Omohundro (1807-1864) and Corinna, nee Clark (1820-????). The origin of the name Omohundro has been lost in the mists of time. There are several Omohundro websites that put forth numerous conjectures about the origin of the name, but they all agree that the Omohundro line started in England in the Middle Ages.  The Omohundro family in the United States was said to be descended from original settlers who left England to escape religious persecution. William Rainey Omohundro (and his son William) are direct descendants of Richard Omohundro who fought in the American Revolution in the Virginia Militia.

William Rainey Omohundro's father Silas was a "trader" according to what he told the census taker.  As was the case with many in Virginia at that time, Silas owned slaves.  In the 1850 US Federal Census Slave Schedule, Silas Omohundro listed forty-six different slaves that he owned.  William Omohundro was a lawyer by trade.

Interestingly, in 1776 William Omohundro was one of the signers of the famous "Ten Thousand Name Petition" wherein ten thousand Virginians petitioned for the dis-establishment of the Church of England and the freedom to choose one's own religion.  

In 1882, twenty one year old William Omohundro married seventeen year old Miss Bessie C. Hurdle of the District of Columbia.  She was the daughter of Samuel Vincent Hurdle (1828-1880), also of Washington, DC and his wife Grace Minerva, nee Calvert (????-1897).  Samuel Hurdle was a bricklayer by trade (or as he put it a "brick mason.")

After their marriage, the newlyweds moved to Chicago where William began practicing law.  The Chicago City Directories for the late 1800s show that William R. Omohundro was a patent attorney with his offices at 225 Dearborn Street in Chicago.

On the home front, their first child, a son, named William Nathanial Omohundro was born April 20, 1884 in Chicago. 

Cook County, Illinois, Birth Certificates Index, 1871-1922 about William Nathanial Omohundro

Name: William Nathanial Omohundro Birth Date: 20 Apr 1884 Birth Place: Chicago, Cook, Illinois Gender: Male Father Name: William Rainey Omohundro Mother Name: Bessie Hurdle FHL Film Number: 1287838

Tragically, little Willie Omohundro died on September 11, 1887 of capillary bronchitis.  He was three years and four months old.  He had only been ill for three weeks.

At the time of Willie's death, the Omohundro family was renting a house at 4400 Lake Avenue in Hyde Park (under the old address system). Living on the south side, a natural choice for a cemetery was Oakwoods, and after little Willie's funeral, they erected the beautiful zinc monument that caught my attention 127 years later:

(I know alot of people don't like zinc monuments but I love them - and they hold up surprisingly well in Chicago's harsh and ever-changing climate.)

Death came again to the Omoundro family again in 1900 when William Rainey Omohundro died suddenly from an attack of appendicitis.  Here is his obituary from the Chicago Daily Tribune of October 15, 1900:

William Omohundro's widow Bessie went on to remarry.  On December 30, 1909, she married Willliam M. Hopkins (1868-1919), who was also an attorney.  Bessie Hurdle Omohundro Hopkins died in Chicago on June 3, 1927 at the age of sixty-two.  

It was not all sorrow for the Omohundro family - they had a daughter, Bessie (later called Betty), born on February 16, 1889 in Chicago. Bessie Omohundro went on to marry Van Vechten Lain in 1909 and died in Chicago in 1977.  Van V. Lain was chairman of the Lain Funeral Homes - at one time, one of the largest undertakers in Chicagoland.

One more item of note:  Bessie Omohundro Lain and her husband Van had a son in 1912.  They named him (you guessed it) William. 

Little Willie Omohundro - may he rest in peace. 

LOVED AND REMEMBERED EVERY DAY - Martin L. Drach

Inasmuch as today is the Fourth of July, I though that it would be fitting to tell the story of a member of the military who lost their life in the service of our country.  In this blog I have featured men and women who have served all the way back to the Revolutionary War, but up until now I have never featured anyone who lost their life during the Korean War.  So this week, I will tell you the story of the mysterious death of Martin L. Drach.

Readers of the Chicago Daily Tribune of September 7, 1955 saw this startling article:

KOREAN GUARD SLAYS CHICAGO AIRMAN IN SEOUL

It Was Murder Says Mother.

Mrs. Roma R. Judt, 2852 W. Belle Plaine av., awaited complete details from the air force yesterday about the fatal shooting of her son, Martin L. Drach, 22, by a Korean guard in Seoul Sunday.

"This is plain murder," Mrs. Judt said.

Drach's fiancee, Patricia Kulick, 18, of 2232 Milwaukee av., concurred.  She said she and Drach, an airman first class, had planned to be married this winter.

Reports His Death.

An air force telegram reported only that Drach was shot to death Sunday by a Korean guard, and said that additional details would be sent by letter.  The telegram, from Maj. Gen. R.J. Reeves, director of military personnel headquarters of the air force read:

"It is with deep regret that I officially inform you of the death of Airman 1/C Martin L. Drach. He died in Korea Sept. 4, 1955, as the result of a gunshot wound inflicted by a Korean guard."

Mrs. Judt said her son may have been the victim of one of the many demonstrations in Seoul protesting the presence of communist truce inspectors.  His last letter mentioned "filth and lack of sanitation" in Seoul, she added.

Want All Facts.

"We want all the facts, a complete probe," Mrs. Judt said.  "If he had been killed in war, all right; but to be shot when there is no war, that's murder.  They must find out the truth."

Miss Kulick, secretary for a Loop real estate firm, said that she and Drach, who had been friends since childhood, became engaged just before he left for Korea.

Drach joined the air force in Chicago Feb 2, 1953.  He had been an assistant manager of a dry cleaning firm.  He was transferred to Korea last February, and was promoted to airman first class Aug 1.  He attended Roosevelt High School.

Martin Drach's mother reading the telegram announcing his murder in Korea

Combat in Korea ended in July of 1953, so Drach was not killed in combat.  It is no wonder that Mrs. Judt said that her son was murdered. Let's look into the life and mysterious death of Martin Drach and see what we can "dig up."

Martin Lester Drach was born May 2, 1933 in Michael Reese Hospital, Chicago to Lester G. Drach (1905-1941), an unemployed clothing salesman and Roma Ruth, nee Martin (1905-1998).  Martin L. Drach was their first and only child. 

1933 was the depths of the Great Depression and times were tough all over.  When their son was born, the Drachs were living at 3844 N. Sheffield in Chicago:

3844 N. Sheffield, Chicago

By the 1940 US Census, Lester and Roma Drach were divorced. Roma (now calling herself "Drake") had a job as a legal stenographer and was living by herself at 745 W. Garfield Boulevard in Chicago.

745 W. Garfield Boulevard, Chicago

Six year old Martin L. "Drake" was living with Roma's mother Tillie and her new husband Albert F. Strand at 2854 Belle Plaine Avenue in Chicago. 

2854 W. Belle Plaine, Chicago

Lester does not seem to have participated in the 1940 US Census, either as "Drach" or as "Drake."   It was reported, however, that Lester Drach died February 21, 1941 in Chicago at the age of 36. 

The next time we encounter Martin Drach is in the Chicago Daily Tribune of May 12, 1952 in an article entitled "Shot by Deputy":

SHOT BY DEPUTY

Ray Slapinski, 17, of 3551 Elston av., was in serious condition in Manor hospital yesterday with a bullet wound in his neck.  He was shot earlier in a scuffle with Deputy Sheriff Edward Mack, 64, of 3911 N. Christiana av.  Mack was arrested on a charge of assault with intent to commit murder.

Mack told police he returned home late at night, parked his car in Irving Park rd. around the corner of his house, and called police after getting in an argument with five or six boys in another car.  He said the boys then knocked him down and that he drew his revolver and fired what he thought was a warning shot in the air.

Arrested on assault and disorderly conduct charges were George Peckham, 18, of 3807 N. Albany av.; Robert Hagerstedt, 18, of 3828 N. Francisco av., Roy Walford, 18, of 3705 N. Spaulding av., and Martin Drach of 2852 Belle Plaine av.  Russell Rossman, 18, of 3732 N. Troy st. and Warren Jacobsen, 18, of 4117 N. Albany av. were charged with disorderly conduct.  All are scheduled to appear in Boys' Court today.

Mack had been guarding a prisoner in County hospital.  He had been assigned to the sheriff's police for six years before becoming a deputy about three months ago.

We know from the writeup about his death that Martin Drach had joined the Air Force in Chicago on February 2, 1953.  We do not know if his enlistment in the Air Force was connected in any way with his arrest but if so, he would not be the first young man who had been given the choice of the military or jail.

On September 8, 1953, Martin's mother Roma, remarried.  He new husband was Otto J. Judt (1913-1981) of Chicago.

On March 28, 1955 Martin Drach departed for Tokyo, Japan en route to his final destination of Seoul, Korea where he would meet his untimely death.

On September 8, 1955 the Chicago Daily Tribune published the following article:

GENERAL TELLS MOTHER OF GIs KOREA SLAYING

Martin L. Drach, 22, was shot to death by a Korean while he and other airmen were talking with Koreans at the fence guarding Kimpo air force base, west of Seoul, his mother, Mrs. Roma  R. Judt, 2852 W. Belle Plaine av., was informed yesterday.  The death occurred Sunday.

Maj. Gen. R.J. Reeves, director of air force personnel, Washington, in a letter, stated that the subject of the conversation was unknown, but that an investigation was being conducted.

Drach, who left for Korea last March, was a radar operator at the jet base control tower.  Drach was to have been married this winter to Miss Patricia Kulick, 18, of 2232 Milwaukee av.

The next (and final) story about the death of Martin L. Drach appeared in the Chicago Daily Tribune of September 21, 1955:

BODY OF SLAIN AIRMAN DUE HOME FROM KOREA

Funeral services for Airman 1st Class Martin L. Drach, 22, slain by a Korean guard on Kimpo air force base outside Seoul September 4, will be held Saturday at 1:30 p.m. in the chapel at 3100 Irving Park rd.  his body will arrive today with a military escort.

Drach's mother, Mrs. Roma R. Judt, 2852 Belle Plaine av., disclosed yesterday that her son's squadron commander, Capt. Joseph Wright, wrote that Drach was shot to death while attending a squadron picnic inside the base perimeter fence.

Capt. Wright said a disturbance arose, "inciting" a Korean national outside the fence to summon a Republic of Korea guard who shot Drach "for reasons unknown."  capt. Wright praised Drach's character and ability and said he lived up to the standards of the air force "in all respects."  A complete investigation is being conducted.

Here is the death notice for Martin Drach from the Chicago Daily Tribune of September 22, 1955:

Martin L. Drach is buried in the Irving Park Cemetery in Chicago under a tombstone provided by his mother (not a military issue tombstone):

If there actually was an investigation, the results of it were not released to the public because there is no further mention of Martin L. Drach, his life or his death in the Chicago Tribune except for this small item on the Obituary page of the Tribune on September 4, 1956:

Similar notices were run in September of each year, with the final one appearing in September of 1965:

Roma and Otto Judt retired to Florida where Otto died on December 3, 1981 and where Roma Drach Judt died on July 9, 1998 a the age of  92.

What about Martin Drach's fiancee Patricia Kulick?  She married Frank M. Wilson on March 11, 1957 in Chicago, and there her trail goes cold.

There was nothing further published about the investigation into the death of Martin Drach.  There is probably some report buried in the bowels of the Pentagon but nothing more was released to the public. Whatever the "official" explanation about the death of Martin Drach, I'm sure it was not a sufficient explanation for Roma Judt.  It reminds me of a song written before the United States entered World War I called "I Didn't Raise My Boy to be a Soldier."  Here is a portion of the lyrics:

Ten million soldiers to the war have gone,

Who may never return again.

Ten million mothers' hearts must break,

For the ones who died in vain.

Head bowed down in sorrow in her lonely years,

I heard a mother murmur thro' her tears:

Chorus:

I didn’t raise my boy to be a soldier,

I brought him up to be my pride and joy,

Who dares to put a musket on his shoulder,

To shoot some other mother’s darling boy?

Let nations arbitrate their future troubles,

It’s time to lay the sword and gun away,

There’d be no war today,

If mothers all would say,

I didn’t raise my boy to be a soldier.

Airman 1st Class Martin L. Drach - May he rest in peace.