Ancestry Chapter 18
1900 -
A New Century, A Census, Norek Children, More Births and Deaths
(click documents to see details)
The Decade beginning the Year of 1900
Twins Helena and Theresa Norek, born 1900, Chicago, Illinois
Baby Helena Norek was born on February 12, 1900 and christened on February 25th. Her parents Michael Norek and Helena Tibus are listed as residing on 23rd St. Her godparents were John and Anna Boehnlein.
Helena Norek’s christening records, St. Paul’s Catholic church.
Helen and Theresa are listed on the family tree as twins, stillborn sometime after 1897 “exact year not known.” Now we know. Helen survived not only to her christening, but up to July 12th of 1900. Baby Helen is listed below on the 1900 census Like John Norek, death certificates could not be found by the Recorder's office, for either baby Helen or Theresa. I am presuming Theresa Norek, a twin to Helena, did exist and died shortly after birth. If the odd Cook County birth record below was instead intended as a report of death, then Theresa died 4 days after her birth.
Cook County birth record for an unnamed female “Novek” born on February 16, 1900. Born at 107 W. 23rd to “not listed” mother and an “Anton Novek” reported by Annie Soboski, who is presumably the mid-wife, on February 21st. Regardless of the discrepancies, its almost the correct name at the correct address and 4 days after baby Helena's birth – so this document likely is a botched record of Theresa's death four days after her birth.
1900 Census, Chicago, Illinois
Page of 1900 U.S. Census.
The Norek family is listed in the 1900 U.S. Census, as of June 7th, as Michael (misspelled as Michale), Helen, Lucia age 11, Cecilia age 9, Mary age 5, Stephen age 4 (has not yet turned 5), Anton age 4, Annie age 2, and Helen (who would be about 4 months old).
Helena and Michael hedge their age difference by 4 years in this record. Helena's age is listed as 41, born in April 1859 (wrong! -- 43 and born April 1857). Michael's age is listed as 37, born in September 1862 (wrong! -- 35 and born September 1864).
Helena and Michael, plus the first children Lucia and Cecilia, are all listed as born in Germany of parents born in Germany. (West Prussia was part of Prussia and therefore part of Germany to the extent you can define "Germany" before 1920.) The later children, from Mary down to baby Helen, are listed as born in Illinois.
Under citizenship (Michael is still years away from becoming a citizen although well eligible by 1900), lists immigration of Helen, Michael, Lucia and Cecilia in 1891, in U.S. 9 years (wrong! -- 1892 and just 8 years).
Occupations of everyone 10 years or older (in 1900 some children started working in sweatshops at 10), Michael is listed as (coded 4-4-?-0-0082). Lucia and Cecilia are "at school."
The address is ___ 22nd Place, probably then 176 W. 22nd Place, and the occupancy status is that they are renting.
1900 Education in the U.S. Only 8% of American children attended High
School at the turn of the century.
Studio photo of Michael Norek. If this was taken at the turn of the century, in 1900, he is 36 in this photo. Exactly when or why the photo was taken is not known. In this photo Michael Norek looks a lot like his Grandson Michael Norek III, shown on the right.
Baby Helena Norek dies, 1900, Chicago
The Norek’s newest child, Helena, dies on July 12, 1900 at the age of 5 months, and is buried on July 14th at St. Boniface cemetery.
Record of Helena Norek’s death and burial. St. Paul’s Catholic church, Chicago.
Selection by years
