For Sue, Some suggestions: Since Charles married in will county in 1877, get a copy of his marriage license. Should have residence and possibly parents names. 1920 census cook county,proviso township(NOT city of Chicago),Forest Park Village ED2150 page 13A address 1032 Elgin,owns house,mortgaged GORKE Charles age 67,came USA 1871,naturalized 1876,born Hamburg,Germany,parents born Hamburg-no occupation Louise,wife,age 63,came USA 1866 naturalized 1876, born Hamburg,Germ.,parents born Hamburg OTTO,boarder,age63,widower,came USA 1876,naturalized 1883,born Hamburg,etc. Now then Otto GURKE,married Kankakee County 4-4-1878 Margaret Marco. Forest Park,Proviso twp,Cook County,is just above eastern Will county and Kankakee County. 1888 Chicago voters registration has both Charles & Otto listed.-no other info available. 1892 Chicago voters has the following 489 California Ave. Chas. Gorke,born Germany in precinct 4 1/2yrs,in county 21 years**(makes that about 1871)in state 21 yrs.,naturalized in 1876-court not known. 1880 census index,Illinois cook county,rich twp,matteson village page 442 has GIRKE, Charles. Matteson is just above Forest Park which is just above eastern Will and Kankakee counties. Illinois state death index GORKE Emil A. died 3-18-1937 Cook County,Forest Park Grace Alina died 3-31-1930 Cook,Forest Park Louise died 6-3-1948 Cook,Forest Park Charles died 4-27-1931 Cook,Chicago Checked Kankakee County death index and master cemetery index GHERKE,Adelaide book 1 page 73(death between 1877-1892)matches GEHRKE,baby died 1895 buried Mt. Airy,Ganeer twp,Kankakee GIERKE,Anna Sophia book 4 page 155(matches GIERKE,Anna Sophia died 1908 buried Maple Grove cem.,Salina twp GIERKE,John died 1912 buried Mound Grove Cem.,Kankakee city GIERKE,john h. died 1908 buried Maple Grove cem.,Salina twp GIERSKI?,Chas. died 1917,buried St. Rose of Lima cem.,Kankakee city(catholic cem.) Your Charles may have gotten marriage license in will county but appears to have lived most of his life in parts of cook county. If I were you, I'd check the 1880 census and the 1900-1910 census. The 1900 census (has month and year of birth for example for each person in the household). Hope this helps, Good Hunting, Kathy

Does anyone know if there are any city directories for Lockport and/or Joliet between 1880 and 1900? I am trying to trace the whereabouts of my GRAY (John B., Eliza P.) and BALL (Catherine, John, Ann, Frank) ancestors after the 1880 census. Thanks, Gordon