[Genealogy] House for Rent, A Widow Acknowledges, and More

[Michael John Neill]

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21 June 2026


** House for Rent
** Join Us in Salt Lake--still room
** Midwest Genealogy Center Trip
** A Widow Acknowledges In 1867
** Buy Me A Coffee?
** Getting Updates
** Brick Wall Busters

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House for Rent
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[image: image.png]

Classified advertisements sometimes can provide perspective into a specific
time period (gender expectations and salary levels can be among the
discoveries one makes), but sometimes then can provide additional clues to
specific people as well.

Matilda Trautvetter of Quincy, Illinois, had a home to rent in Mt. Vernon,
Illinois, in 1953.  Classified advertisements were necessarily succinct as
payment was by the word. Extra details will not be included as brevity
lowers the charge for placing the advertisement.

One has to be careful not reading too much into this advertisement for that
very reason. Classified ads get to the heart of the matter–other details
increase cost. While it is probable that Matilda lived on 14th Street in
Quincy as a permanent residence, it is possible that she was just staying
there temporarily and that the address was short-term. A search of Quincy
city directories for the 1950 time period may confirm the length of her
residence there.

It is most likely Trautvetter owned the home in Mt. Vernon or was closely
related to the actual owner. It’s possible that she and a husband used live
there and had retained the home after their move. She may never have lived
in Mt. Vernon.

A search of local land records for the time period may be warranted. There
is a significant distance between Mt. Vernon and Quincy. Why Matilda was
the contact for renting the property needs to be determined.

One needs to be careful conjecturing too far based upon one advertisement.

Use the additional records it suggests (city directories and additional
newspapers would be a good place start) and see where the information leads.

Who would have thought an ad looking for a tenant could be a genealogical
clue?

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Still Room in our Salt Lake Trip
-------------------------
We still have spaces in our trip to the FamilySearch Library in Salt Lake
City this August. Details on our site.
<https://genealogytipoftheday.com/index.php/2022-family-history-library-salt-lake-city-trip/>


5-8 October 2026
4 days of genealogy research

in Independence, Missouri
*save your spot today!*

We are excited to announce an October trip to the Midwest Genealogy Center
in Independence, Missouri.

We will have time for genealogy lectures, consultation, and research. Our
approach is laid-back, conversational, and geared to help you with your
research.

Details are at:

https://genealogytipoftheday.com/index.php/mid-continent-genealogy-library-october-2025-research-trip/

Spaces are limited.

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Buy Me a Coffee
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If you'd like to support *Genealogy Tip of the Day *without a regular
commitment, check out our "Buy me a Coffee" page
<https://buymeacoffee.com/genealogytipoftheday>.
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A Widow Acknowledges In 1867
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In July of 1867, Catherine Belless of Fulton County, Illinois,  signing her
mark and only referenced by her initials, acknowledged her receipt of
property from the estate of her husband. It was her right to receive
personal property from her husband’s estate.

Illinois State Statute allowed widows an allotment from their deceased
husband’s estate to support themselves. That allotment could be in specific
property (within certain limits) or in cash if those items were not a part
of the deceased husband’s estate.

That “widow’s award” is what she is acknowledging the receipt of in this
document.

Recd of Joseph Belless adm of the Estate of Peter Belless Decd Three
Hundred & Eighty five Dollars + forty cents In Property at appraised value

July 26th 1867

her

C J [or L or I] Belless

mark

[note–formatting issues forced me to put the signature on the left
side–normally this would be placed approximately where it appeared in the
original document]

While it may be frustrating that she is referred to by her initials, it is
important to remember that everyone at the time knew who she was and what
her name was. It might not have been deemed necessary to spell her full
name out–although the middle initial could have been written a little more
clearly.

Fortunately her name is spelled out in other documents involved in the
settlement of Peter’s estate.

But it is always advised to try and understand the legal purpose of
documents being utilized in genealogy research.


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Brick Wall Busters 2026 is here!!
--------------------------------------------

*Brick Wall Busters 2026*

*Need to jump-start your research?*

This hour-long presentation is geared towards advanced beginning or
intermediate genealogists. Our focus will be on problems in the United
States between roughly 1700 and 1900. Brick wall ideas will be pulled from
consultations with clients and personal research experience. Approaches
will be practical and down-to-earth.

Handout included. Presentation made by Michael John Neill.

Michael has forty years of research experience in families throughout the
United States. Presentation is based on his personal experience and
consultations he has made to clients on research trips and via virtual
consultations.


Presentation and handout available now for immediate download--for $26.
<https://michael-john-neill.dpdcart.com/cart/add?product_id=249781&method_id=272792>
Download
link sent immediately
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------------------------------------
Michael John Neill
Genealogy Tip of the Day
PO Box 17, Henderson, IL 61439
http://www.genealogytipoftheday.com
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