Joseph John Bracket was born in August of 1856 in
Italy. His parents are listed as John “Brachet”
and Mary “Kusser”. On 09 Jul 1891 in
Rutland, La Salle County, Illinois Joseph John “Brachet” married Mary “Patton”. This record gives Mary’s father as Thomas “Patton”
and mother as Catherine “Mcgeough”.
After the marriage Joseph and Mary Brachet moved to Wenona,
Illinois. The town of Wenona is partly
in La Salle County and partly in Marshall County. Note: I believe
this name may have been Brachetti or Brachotti in Italy and was Americanized to
Brachet/Bracket. The 1900 census of Evans Township of Marshall
County, Illinois includes: Brachet,
Joseph J. born Aug 1856 in Italy Brachet,
Mary P. born Dec 1857 in Illinois Brachet,
Katie born Jan 1892 in Illinois Brachet,
Joseph T. born Sep 1894 in Illinois Brachet,
Nora born Sep 1897 in Illinois Note: This record indicates Joseph immigrated in
1880 and was naturalized. The
1910 census of Benton Township of Berrien County, Michigan includes: Bracket,
Joseph age 49 born in Italy farmer Bracket,
Mary age 50 born in Illinois Bracket,
Catherine age 17 born in Illinois Bracket,
Joseph age 15 born in Illinois Bracket,
Nora age 12 born in Illinois Bracket,
Louise age 7 born in Illinois Mary
(Patten) Bracket died in 1913 and Joseph in 1919. Both are buried in the Calvary Cemetery in
Benton Harbor, Michigan. The News Palladium carried the following death
information about Mary (Patten) Bracket: 11 Jan 1913 “Mrs. Bracket Dead-The death of Mrs.
Bracket occurred this morning at the home in Benton Township and followed a
lingering illness of about a year’s duration.
A husband and four children, one son and three daughters remain.
Services will be held from St. John’s Catholic church Monday morning at 10
o’clock.” 13 Jan 1913 “High Mass Was Sung At Funeral, Monday
At 10 o’clock Monday morning high mass was sung at St. John’s Catholic Church
for Mrs. Joseph Bracket, who passed away on Friday. Quite a large company of friends attended the
funeral services. The bearers were
Messrs. John Oelhoffen, Frank Deittle, Frank Yore, William Cheevers, Edward
O’Brien and Wm. Bradley. Interment was
made in the Catholic cemetery.” “Obituary:
News-Palladium, Benton Harbor, Mich.,-On Friday evening, Jan 10,
occurred the death of Mrs. Mary Bracket at her home near Pearl Grange after a
lingering illness of over a year.
Although after being ill for so long a time death came as a shock to her
many relatives and friends. Mrs.
Bracket, formerly Miss Mary Patten, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Patten, was
born at Magnolia, Ill., Dec. 4, 1858.
When but a child he moved with her parents to Rutland, Ill., residing
there until after her marriage with John J. Bracket on July 9, 1891, afterwards
moving to Wenona, Ill. Four children,
three daughters and one son, were born to Mr. and Mrs. Bracket, Kathryn,
Joseph, Nora and Louise, all at home.
Seven years ago the moved to this city, and purchased a farm southeast
of the city, where they lived until the time of her death. Besides the husband and children, two
brothers and a sister, Thos. Patten and Mrs. Nora Flynn of Rutland, Ill., and
P. W. Patten, who lives on a farm adjoining, are left to mourn the loss of a
kind and loving sister. Mrs. Bracket was
a devoted wife and mother and will be greatly missed by her family. Although suffering a long time she was always
patient. Her first thought was always for her children who did all that was in
their power to help her, but to no avail.
The remains were laid to rest in the Catholic cemetery. Out of town relatives who attended the
funeral were Mr. and Mrs. T. H. Patten, Miss Mary Patten, Mrs. James Flynn and
daughter, Miss Nora, from Rutland, Ill.” The News Palladium carried these death notices for
Joseph Bracket: 10 May 1919 “Joseph
Bracket Dies Following An Operation Joseph J. Bracket of Napier avenue died
this morning at 9:30 o’clock at Mercy hospital.
He was operated upon Wednesday morning but failed to rally. Deceased was a well known resident of this
community, owning a farm on Napier avenue.
He has resided in the vicinity for the past ten years, was sixty one
years of age and leaves one son, Joseph B. Bracket, a student at Kalamazoo
college, and three daughters, Katherine, Nora and Louise. His wife died several years ago. Mr. Bracket was a member of the St. John’s
Catholic church. The funeral will be
held Monday morning at 9 o’clock at St. John’s Catholic church, with burial at
Calvery cemetery.” 12 May 1919 “Joseph Bracket Buried Today Funeral
services were held this morning at St. John’s Catholic church for the late
Joseph J. Bracket, Sr. a farmer residing on Napier avenue road. Rev. Father D. Mulcahy officiated. Burial was at Calvary cemetery where the late
wife of the deceased rests. Bearers were
Messers. Frank Yore, Mat Yore, Phillip O’Brien, Timothy O’Brien, Edward Burks
and Wm. Cheevers. The only son, Joseph
Bracket, Jr. will remain on the farm with his sisters, Katherine, Nora and
Louise, the two former being teachers in the rural districts. He had about four more weeks of his college
courses at Kalamazoo before the college … for summer vacation, but his father’s
death will prevent him finishing.” There is a World War I draft registration card for who appears to be the son of Joseph and Mary Bracket. Joseph T. Brackett who was born on 12 Sep 1894 in Wenona, Illinois was reportedly living in Kalamazoo Michigan when he was registered on 05 Jun 1917. He was a patient in a TB sanatorium at that time. He appears to be one in the same as the Joseph T. Bracket buried in the Calvary Cemetery in Fremont, Dodge County, Nebraska. Nora Bracket can be found in the 1920-30 census of
St. Joseph, Michigan. She is listed as a
teacher. When she was 50 years of age
she married on 09 Dec 1948 to Francis Burton Loshbough. She died on 12 Nov 1969 and they are buried
in the Resurrection Cemetery in St. Joseph, Michigan. The News Palladium carried an obituary for Nora
Loshbough on 13 Nov 1969 and it reads:
“Mrs. Burton (Nora B.) Loshbough, 72, of 1603 South State street, St
Joseph, was dead on arrival at 8 a.m. Wednesday in Memorial hospital. Mrs. Loshbough was born in Rutland, Ill.,
Sept. 12, 1897, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Bracket. She was a retired teacher in the Benton
Harbor and Battle Creek school systems.
Surviving are her husband Burton, whom she married on Dec. 9, 1949, in
St. Joseph; two sisters, Mrs. Kathryn Burr of St. Joseph and Mrs. Louise Best
of Traverse City. Requiem Mass will be
celebrated at 11:30 a.m. Friday in St. Joseph Catholic church. The Rev. Edwin F. Schoettle will be the
celebrant. Burial will be in
Resurrection cemetery. Friends may call
at the Kerlikowske and Starks funeral home.”
Kathryn Bracket married on 22 Oct 1921 in Berrien
County to Edward Burr. The 1940 census
indicates she was a substitute teacher in a parochial school. She died on 10
Mar 1972. They are buried in the Spring
Run Cemetery, Royalton Township. The News Palladium carried an obituary for Kathryn
Burr on 11 Mar 1972 and it reads: “Burr
Rites Set Requiem Mass will be celebrated at 9:30 a.m. Monday in the St. Joseph
Catholic church for Mrs. Kathryn Burr, 80, of 519 Colfax avenue, Benton
Harbor. The Rev. James O’Leary will
serve as celebrant. Burial will be in
Spring Run cemetery, Scottdale. The
Rosary will be recited Sunday at 4 p.m. in the Kerley and Starks funeral home
where friends may call after 7 p.m. today.
Mrs. Burr was born Jan. 5, 1892, in Rutland, Ill. She was a graduate of Benton Harbor high
school and Western Michigan University and had taught school in Berrien county
for over 25 years. Her husband, Edward,
whom she married in 1921, preceded her in death in 1958. Surviving is a sister, Mrs. Louise Best of
Traverse City. A sister, Mrs. Nora
Loshbough, and a brother, Joseph Brackett, preceded her in death.” Louise Bracket can be found in the 1930-40 census
and city records of Niles, Michigan. She
is recorded as being a teacher. She
married J. W. Best and lived in Traverse City, Michigan in 1970 and then
retired to Florida. She is one in the
same as the Louise Best who is buried in Resurrection Cemetery, St. Joseph,
Michigan who died in Pinellas, Florida in 1987.
She was born on 02 Dec 1902 and died on 29 Sep 1987. The Herald Palladium carried an obituary for
Louise Best on 03 Oct 1987 and it reads:
“Louise Best, 85, of 15H Tahitian Gardens, Holiday, Fla., former area
resident, died Tuesday in Tarpon Springs, Fla.
Graveside services will be held Wednesday at 2 p.m. at resurrection
Cemetery, St. Joseph. Arrangements are
by Kerley & Starks Funeral Home. St. Joseph. She was born Dec 2, 1902, in Rutland, Ill.,
and was a former manager of Avon Distributing.
There are no known relatives.”
Louise is buried next to her sister, Nora (Bracket) Loshbough. The 1945 Niles City Directory shows Mrs. J.
W. Best living at the same address where Louise lived in 1942. There is a James William Best, found in Niles
records, that appears to be the person she married but no marriage record has
been located. |