John C., father Rev. George Olgilvie
Hi, I am wondering if someone could please help. I am doing this research for a 75 year-old woman, that I met where I work as assistant property manager. She wants to travel out of the country on vacation for the first time (and possibly the last) but she can't seem to locate a birth certificate. She always believed she had been adopted but now we are not so sure. She has a copy of an old certificate from Cook County Illinos that says her father was John C. Ogilvie and her mother was Marjorie Ogilvie (maiden name Gable, nickname Martie). However, Cook County and Springfield Illinois have no record of this birth certificate. We have written to other counties with no luck either. Since I do family research and know the miracles that can happen out here I thought I would give Genforum a try.
My friend's name is Shirley Florence Ogilvie b. 4-25-1930. I have her permission to do this research.
Shirley was passed from home to home from the time she was born and later foster home to foster home with a stint in a Children's Home. There were times she lived with John and Marjorie Olgivie. Her experiences are all very sad.
She remembers that John C. Olgilvie was the only dad she ever knew. She remembers being at the wedding of John C. Ogilvie and Marjorie Gable. She was the flower girl. She knows she was young but does not know her age when John and Marjorie got married. John's father, Rev. George Ogilvie officiated at the wedding. Shirley believes this was held in Chicago, Cook County Illinois. It could have been in Leaf River Ogle County Illinois. Right after the wedding she was passed to, whom she believes were, John's mother and grandmother: Florence Hendricks (Hendrickson) and "Grandma Birch". They lived in Leaf River Illinois. Then she went back to live with John and Martie after a while.
She remembers being in court in Freeport, Stephensen County Illinois when she was around 7-11 years old. She thought is was to be adopted. It does not look like that is the case. She had been removed from the home of John and Martie.
We contacted the Children's Home she was in after she was removed from John and Martie's home. They said there is no record of her being adopted.This was upsetting to Shirley because none of what she believed about her past is true. We are sending for more information but they will give us no names because of the laws.
Shirley always thought that John and Majorie were her adoptive parents. Now we think John C. Ogilvie was her biological father and a lady named Betty Barna, who she knows was in love with John C. Ogilvie (but not sure if they were ever married), was her biological mother. Betty Barna later married someone else but continued to come and see Shirley. Marjorie would hide Shirley so Betty could not see her. Betty sometimes would visit Shirley and tell her not to tell anyone. Betty took the name Ogilvie before and after her marriage to that someone else.
Here is a list of what Shirley remembers. Maybe someone can find something in a census or has some information on these people.
1. Her birth name is Shirley Florence Ogilvie as far as she can tell.
2. She believes we was born in Illinois but we are starting to suspect this might not be the case.
3. She was born April 25, 1930.
4. Her father was John C. Ogilvie.
5. Her father had possibly three wives. Betty Barna, Marjorie Gable and ?.
6. John Ogilvie's father was Rev. George Ogilvie. His wife's name may have been Martha but she is not sure.
7. John and Marjorie (Martie) may have married in Leaf River Illinois but for sure lived in Chicago, Cook County Illinois for many years.
8. Shirley remembers someone calling her father Clarence. That could be the C.
9.John's mother may have been Florence Hendricks (remarried) or Hendrickson.
10. John's grandmother or greatgrandmother was Grandma Birch.
11. Betty Barna may be Shirley's birth mother. She did take the Ogilvie name at two points in her life.
11. There is a St. Louis MO connection as John was there in the 1920's. Betty Barna was in Chicago Illinois. John had written a letter to Betty. Shirley is trying to locate the letter.
12. Betty Barna was born 1908/09 and died in 1969. Shirley had been in contact with her up until she died. But no one ever told Shirley who she was, including Betty.
13. Shriley was told that her middle name of Florence came from John C. Ogilvie's mother's first name.
There is even more to the story but I figure this is enough to get some leads. I would greatly appreciate any help anyone could give me. Thank you.
Joan
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made a mistake
Joan Wardzala 3/13/05