WILLIAM CLARANCE HIRONIMUS

William Clarance Hironimus gravestone
(Photo by Vernon B. Paddock)

B. July 30, 1882 in Fremont Center, Lake County, IL
D. August 3, 1975 (Last residence in Round Lake, Lake County, IL)
Find A Grave memorial (click here)

  • Father: Frank Hironimus born 1840 in Germany; married Catherine Spoerlein on December 26, 1867 in Lake County, IL; Date of naturalization: November 16, 1874; Frank died June 8, 1919 in Kane County, IL; buried in Saint Mary Catholic Cemetery, Fremont Center, Lake County, IL
  • Mother: Catherine “Kate” (Spoerlein) Hironimus born 1845 in Germany; Catherine died April 13, 1914 in Fremont Center, Lake county, IL; buried in Saint Mary Catholic Cemetery, Fremont Center, Lake County, IL

According to the Lake County Independent, Waukegan Weekly Sun (Libertyville IL) Friday, April 17, 1914, page 1:

“DIES AS A RESULT
OF FALL ON ICE ON
MARCH 2ND LAST
———-
Mrs. Frank Hironimous is Vic-
tim of Fall Which Broke
Her Right Thigh.
———-
CRITICALLY ILL EVER SINCE
———-
Was Woman Well Known in
County – Leaves Ten Chil-
dren and Her Husband.
———-

   As a result of the fall she sustained on March 2nd, when she was going into the yard to feed her chickens, Mrs. Frank Hironimous of Fremont, one of the well known residents of that township, died at her home Monday, April 13th, at 10:30.  She was 68 years and 8 months old.
   Her death was directly due to the fall which resulted in her thigh being broken.  She slipped on the ice near the kitchen door and ever since had been confined to her bed.  The injury was such that strong drugs had to be given her and two weeks ago her mind became affected, making the end seem inevitable in the immdiate (sic) future.
   Mrs. Hironimous formerly was Catherine Spoerlin and she had lived in Fremont practically all of her life.  She was married 46 years ago and her husband and these ten children survive:
   John, Waukegan; Mary Hinkle (sic), Volo, Elizabeth Dow, Waukegan; Annie Dorfler, Grayslake; Frank and George of Volo; Joseph, Grayslake; Will, Round Lake; Catherine and Bertha, Fremont.
   Funeral Wednesday at one o’clock, from the late home, two o’clock from Ivanhoe church; burial in Fremont cemetery.
   The Hironimous family is one of the best known in the western part of the county and much concern had been shown about the aged woman’s condition ever since she sustained the fall.”

  • Wife: Agnes Ann (Dunnill) Hironimus born April 30, 1886 in Volo, Lake County, IL, daughter of William “Bill” Dunnill (1863-1954) and Rose A. (Richardson) Dunnill; married William Clarance Hironimus on August 30, 1906 in Waukegan, Lake County, IL; Agnes died January 6, 1950 in Waukegan, Lake County, IL (See section pertaining to Agnes Ann (Dunnill) Hironimus buried in the Fort Hill Cemetery)
  • Children:
    1. Chester Raymond Hironimus born May 23, 1907 in Volo, Lake County, IL; Veteran (1943-1945), Private 1st Class Company B, 749th Tank Battalion; married Ann Britz born October 12, 1909 in Illinois, daughter of Peter Joseph Britz (1876-1920) and Emma Britz (1876-1974); Chester died February 28, 1954 in Waukegan, Lake County, IL (See section pertaining to Chester Raymond Hironimus buried in the Fort Hill Cemetery)
  • Siblings:
    • John Francis Hironimus born September 22, 1868 in Illinois; married Mary Elizabeth Walton (1889-1974); John died April 28, 1960 in Lake County, IL

According to the FindaGrave.com website, Memorial #226085424:

“Eldest child of Frank Hironimus and Catherine Sporlein, lived in Lake County almost his entire life residing in Waukegan, Lake Zurich, and Wauconda. Was a livestock broker. Children Francis (1917 – 1979), James Paul (1911-1970) and Esther Trimble (1908 – 1990).”

    • Mary (Hironimus) Henkel born July 25, 1870 in Fremont Center, Lake County, IL; married Frank Xavier Henkel (1863-1993) on May 26, 1897 in Fremont Center, Lake County, IL, son of Xavier Franz Henkel (1824-1891) and Magdelena C. (Hauser) Henkel (1829-1892); Mary died 1957 in Waukegan, Lake County, IL; Mary and Frank are buried in Saint Mary Catholic Cemetery, Fremont Center, Lake County, IL
    • Elizabeth “Lizzie” (Hironimus) Dowe born July 3, 1872 in Fremont Center, Lake County, IL; married William Dowe (1877-1915) in 1904 in Lake County, IL; Elizabeth died in 1957; Elizabeth and William are buried in Saint Mary Catholic Cemetery, Fremont Center, Lake County, IL
    • Anna Margaret “Annie” (Hironimus) Dorfler born March 8, 1879 in Fremont Township, Lake County, IL; married Frank Joseph Dorfler (1871-1947) on October 28, 1901 in Lake County, IL, son of Christoph Dorfler (1838-1890) and Agnes (Rauch) Dorfler (1845-1922); Anna died January 1, 1946; Anna and Frank are buried in Saint Joseph Catholic Cemetery, Round Lake, Lake County, IL
    • Frank Hironimus born February 23, 1876; married Harriet Nicholls (1883-1961) on January 30, 1904 in Chicago, Cook County, IL, daughter of Harry Nicholls (1856-1933) and Sarah Ann Nicholls (1858-1912); Frank died January 1, 1968; Frank and Harriet are buried in Wauconda Cemetery, Wauconda, Lake County, IL
    • Joseph John Hironimus born May 8, 1878; married Rose Ann Vasey (1883-1936) on October 9, 1901 in Lake County, IL daughter of John A. Vasey and Jane (Richardson) Vasey; Joseph died 1957; Joseph and Rose are buried in Wauconda Cemetery, Wauconda, Lake County, IL
    • George Hironimus born September 3, 1880 in Fremont Center, Lake County, IL; George died October 22, 1949 in Waukegan, Lake County, IL; buried in Saint Mary Catholic Cemetery, Fremont Center, Lake county, IL
    • Kathryn “Catherine” Hironimus born September 13, 1885; Kathryn died January 19, 1972 in Lake County, IL; buried in Saint Mary Catholic Cemetery; Fremont Center, Lake County, IL
    • Bertha C. (Hironimus) Frederick born June 18, 1888 in Fremont Center, Lake County, IL; married Bernard George Frederick (1891-1962) on November 26, 1942 in Fremont Center, Lake County, IL, son of Jacob Frederick (1836-1921) and Helen (Erhart) Frederick (1851-1940); Bertha died November 1976 in Fremont Center, Lake County, IL; Bertha and Bernard are buried in Saint Mary Catholic Cemetery, Fremont Center, Lake County, IL

Additional Information:

According to the 1900 U.S. Census for Fremont Township, Lake County, IL the household members were:

“Frank Hironimus, head; born February 1876, age 24, single, born in Illinois, parents born in Germany, occupation: farmer; Joseph Hironimus, brother, born May 1878, age 22, single, born in Illinois, parents born in Germany, occupation: farmer; Willian Hironimus, born July 1882, age 18, single, born in Illinois, parents born in Germany, occupation: farm laborer; Elizabeth Hironimus, sister, born July 1872, age 27, single, 1 child born, 1 child living, born in Illinois, parents born in Germany, occupation: housekeeper; Lily Hironimus, niece, born July 1897, age 2, single, born in Illinois, parents born in Germany”

According to the 1910 U.S. Census for Round Lake Village, Avon Township, Lake County, IL the household members were:

“William Hironimus, head, age 26, married once for 4 years, born in Illinois, parents born in Germany, occupation: livery man – general; Agnes Hironimus, wife, age 23, married once for 4 years, 1 child born, 1 child living, born in Illinois, father born in England, mother born in Illinois; Chester Hironimus, son, age 2, single, born in Illinois; George Hironimus, brother, age 29, single, born in Illinois, parents born in Germany, occupation: laborer – livery”

According to the U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918:

“Name: William Hironimus; Permanent Home Address: Round Lake, Lake County, Ill; Age in Years: 37, Date of Birth: July 30, 1881; Present Occupation: Hardware Mechanic; Employer’s Name: Brown & Smith; Place of Employment: Round Lake, Lake County, Ill. Nearest Relative: Wife (Agnes Hironimus); Medium Height; Medium Build; Color of Eyes: Blue; Color of Hair: L Brown; Physically disqualified: Right Eye – Vis lost; Signed: 9/12/1918”

According to the 1930 U.S. Census for Round Lake Village, Avon Township, Lake County, IL the household members were:

“William Hironimus, head, age 44, married at age 20, born in Illinois, father born in Luxemburg Germany, mother born in Pennsylvania, occupation: patrolman – state highway; Agnes N. Hironimus, wife, age 42, married at age 18, born in Illinois, parents born in England”

According to the U.S. World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942:

“Name: William Hironimus; Place of Residence: Cedar Lake Ave., Round Lake, Lake County, Illinois; Mailing Address: same; Telephone: 3361 Round Lake 3361; Age in Years: 60; Date of Birth: July 30, 1882; Place of Birth: Fremont Center, Illinois; Name and  Address of Person Who Will Always Know Your Address: Bertha Hironimus (sister) Mundelin (sic), Illinois. R.R.; Employer’s Name and Address: Village of Round Lake, Round Lake, Ill; Place of Employment: same; Height: 5 ft, 1 in.; Weight: 185; Eyes: blue; Hair: Brown; Complexion: Ruddy; Physical Characteristic: Right eye is bad; Signed: 4-27-42”

According to the 1950 U.S. Census for Round Lake Village, Avon Township, Lake County, IL living on Cedar Lake Rd, the household members were:

“William Hironimus, head, age 65, widowed, born in Illinois, Occupation: Drives grader – City Maintenance; Rose Dunhill, mother-in-law, age 84, divorced, born in Illinois”