ANNETTA JOSEPHINE F. “JOSEPHINE” (CLEVELAND) RALPH

Annetta Josephine F. “Josephine” (Cleveland) Ralph gravestone
(Photo by Vernon B. Paddock)

B. December 5, 1874 in Avon Township, Lake County, IL
D. August 25, 1945 in Round Lake, Lake County, IL
Find A Grave memorial (click here)

  • Father: George Francis Cleveland born May 25, 1837 in Starkey, Yates County, NY, son of John Milton Cleveland (1804-1891) and Mary Ann (Tyler) Cleveland (1818-1902); married Caroline Marie Fox on March 21, 1864 in Salem, Kenosha County, WI; George died May 6, 1916 in Avon, Lake County, IL; buried in Grant Cemetery, Ingleside, Lake County, IL

According to the Lake County Independent (Libertyville IL) Friday, May 12, 1916, page 7:

“On Thursday, March 4th, occurred the death of Mr. Geo. F. Cleveland.  He was born in Columbia Co, New York, the second child of a family of eleven.  He was married to Caroline Fox in March 1864.  Seven children were born, of which four sons and two daughters remain to mourn his death.  Funeral was held Sunday at 2:00 P. M. at Round Lake, C. A. Miller officiating.  Burial at Grant cemetery”

  • Mother: Caroline Marie (Fox) Cleveland born May 29, 1838 in Mentor, Lake County, OH, daughter of Hiram Fox and Rachel (Grover) Fox
  • Husband: Elmer Samuel Ralph about 1918; Elmer was born December 8, 1877 in Ursa, Adams County, IL son of Roland R. Ralph and Louisa U. (Stafford) Ralph; married Elmer Samuel Ralph about 1918; (still living in 1942 according to the U.S. World War II Registration Card)
  • Siblings:
    • Storm Frederick Cleveland born June 18, 1865 in Avon Township, Lake County, IL; married (1) Mary G. Usher (1870-1961) on November 18, 1888 in Anderson County, KS; married (2) Quintilla Sheets (1870-1952) on November 25, 1916 in Chicago, Cook County, IL; Storm died October 25, 1926 in Cook County, IL; buried in Arlington Cemetery, Elmhurst, DuPage County, IL
    • Charles Frances Cleveland born June 28, 1867 in Avon Township, Lake County, IL; Charles died April 30, 1926 in Norwood Park, Cook County, IL; buried in Grayslake, Lake County, IL

According to the Lake County Illinois Genealogical Society. “Strang Funeral Home – Grayslake, Illinois – 1908-1964”. Mundelein IL. 2015:

“Surname: CLEVELAND; Name: Charles; Birth Date/Place: (blank); Death Date/Place: 30 Apr 1926, Dunning Co. Hospital; Cause of Death: Arterio Scierosis; Age: 58 yrs; Occupation: (blank); Minister – Funeral Home: Rev. JESSE, Undertaking Room; Burial Place – Next of Kin: Grayslake Cem (Next of Kin – blank)”

    • Dexter David Cleveland born August 26, 1869 in Lake County, IL; married Lelia ? (1881-?) on March 27, 1912 in Chicago, Cook County, IL, divorced before 1930; Dexter died June 15, 1943 in Waukegan, Lake County, IL (See section pertaining to Dexter David Cleveland buried in the Fort Hill Cemetery)
    • William Alonzo Cleveland born January 20, 1873 in Avon Township, Lake County, IL
    • George Tyler Cleveland born May 22, 1878 in Avon, Township, Lake County, IL; married Edith A. Bauer (1882-1969) on March 14, 1904 in Chicago, Cook County, IL daughter of Frederick Bauer (1857-1902) and Esther Elizabeth (Brown) Bauer (1860-1896); George and Edith divorced between 1920 and 1930; Edith is buried in Grant Cemetery, Ingleside, Lake County, IL; George died June 17, 1943 in Round Lake, Lake County, IL (See section pertaining to George Tyler Cleveland buried in the Fort Hill Cemetery)
    • Robert Henry Cleveland born November 14, 1880 in Avon Township, Lake County, IL; Robert died September 1, 1881
    • May B. Cleveland born March 1885 in Illinois

Additional Information:

According to the 1880 U.S. Census for the Town of Avon, Lake County, IL the household members were:

“Georg (sic) F. Cleveland, age 43, married occupation: farmer, born in New York, parents born in New York; Caroline M. Cleveland, age 42, wife, married, born in Ohio, parents born in Ohio; Storm Cleveland, age 15, son, single, occupation: farm laborer, born in Illinois; Charles Cleveland, age 13, son, single, born in Illinois; Dexter Cleveland, age 11, son, single, born in Illinois; William Cleveland, age 7, son, single, born in Illinois; Josephine Cleveland, age 5, daughter, single, born in Illinois; Georg (sic) Cleveland, age 2, son, single, born in Illinois.”

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

“Caroline Cleveland, head, born May 1838, married 36 years, 8 children born, 7 children living, born in Ohio, parents born in Ohio; Charles F. Cleveland, son, born June 1867, age 32, single, born in Illinois; Dexter D. Cleveland, son, born August 1869, age 30, single, born in Illinois; William H. Cleveland, son, born January 1873, age 27, single, born in Illinois; Josephine Cleveland, daughter, born December 1874, age 25, single, born in Illinois; May B. Cleveland, born March 1885, single, born in Illinois” (NOTE: George F. Cleveland, father of Dexter, was living with living with his son, Storms Cleveland)

According to the 1920 U.S. Census for the Village of Maywood, Proviso Township, Cook County, IL living at 514 6th Avenue, the following household members were:

“Armen (sic) Ralph, head, age 42, married, born in Illinois, parents born in Illinois, occupation: operator – railroad; Josephine Ralph, wife, age 42, married, born in Illinois, parents born in Illinois.”

According to the 1930 U.S. Census for the Village of Maywood, Proviso Township, Cook County, IL living at 319 Sixth Avenue, the household members were:

“Elmer S. Ralph, head, age 52, married at age 39, born in Illinois, father born in Illinois, mother born in North Carolina, occupation: telegraph huster – railroad; Josephine F. Ralph, wife, age 52, married at age 39, born in Illinois, parents born in Illinois; Maxine Toops, niece, age 11, single, born in Kansas, father born in New York, mother born in Illinois.”

According to the 1940 U.S. Census for Avon Township, Lake County, IL living on Round Lake Rd., the following household members were:

“George Cleveland, age 62, married, highest grade completed: 8; born in Illinois, lived in same place in 1935; E. S. Ralph, brother in law, age 64, married, highest grade completed: 8, born in Illinois, same place in 1935; occupation: steam operator – R. R.; Josephine Ralph, sister, age 65 married, highest grade completed: 8, born in Illinois, lived in same place in 1935.”

According to the Chicago Tribune (Chicago IL) Sunday, August 26, 1945, page 17:

“CONVICT’S WIFE FOUND HANGED

   Mrs. Josephine Ralph, 70, of Round Lake, Lake county, whose husband, Elmer, was sentenced two months ago to the Vandalia state penal farm for taking indecent liberties with a 10 year old girl, was found hanged yesterday in the garage at her home.”

According to the Lake County Illinois Genealogical Society. “Strang Funeral Home – Grayslake, Illinois – 1908-1964”. Mundelein IL. 2015:

“Surname: ROLPH (sic); Name: Josephine nee TYLER; Birth Date/Place: 06 Dec 1873, Avon Twp.; Death Date/Place: 25 Aug 1945, Round Lake, IL; Cause of Death: (blank) Married; Occupation: Housewife; Minister – Funeral Home: Chapel; Burial Place – Next of Kin: Fort Hill, Geo CLEVELAND (Avon Twp.) – Father, Mary Ann TYLER (NY) – Mother”