IF you have his date of death,have you tried for an obit? IF you do not have date of death, have you tried to locate a probate record for him in county where you think he may have died. In Illinois would be at county courthouse,clerk of the circuit court's office. I found the following(will county VOLUNTARY death index 1877-1915) Septimus SOUTHERN Sr. age 76yrs died 24 May 1914 res. Joliet BURIAL YOUNGSTOWN OHIO. 1889-1890 Youngstown OHIO Directory SOUTHERN Miss Mary s.s.Gladstone,Haselton(south side Gladstone,near? Haseltone or?) SEPTIMUS,works for The Andrews Bros. Co. same residence as Miss Mary. also William HARE at same address. also found this death cert index will county 1877-1915)VOLUNTARY not required by IL until 1916. daughter of M/M E.J. SOUTHERN age 1mo7days died 8 Mar 1900 Joliet buried Oakwood(probably the one in Joliet) the 1920 census entry for Septimus JOLIET,3rd district 400 Hickory Street shows Elmer's father as being born OH Septimus says he was born OH also. his daughter Cecile age 17(born about 1903)says OH birth place also. Youngstown OH,New Castle,PA and Joliet have the Steel industry in common. Lots of traffic by railroad between these locations very early on. Might want to check Youngstown,Mahoring County,OH 1900 census. 2nd marriage maybe in OH? IF 2nd marriage is in will county-a search would cost $13.00-at clerk's office on north chicago street,joliet. Might want to check for an obit for Septimus Sr. Youngstown and Joliet(at Joliet Public Library-reference dept-contact Roger-cost abt. $5.00) Kathy