The Peter Frain and Mary McCafferty and Peter Frain and Catharina Dorn Families of South Bend, Indiana Documented in the Census Records
Peter (born 1862), was the son of John Frain and Catherine Holden, friends of my second great grandparents who purportedly travelled by train with them from New York to South Bend. According to a St. Joseph Church Record, he married Mary McCafferty daughter of Johannis McCafferty and Julia Mulligan on April 23, 1890 at St Joseph's Church, South Bend, Indiana.
Research Findings and conclusions: Peter clearly married Mary McCafferty in 1890. John Joseph, son of Petrus Frain and Maria McCafferty was born March 25, 1891 and baptised at St Joseph's Church April 5, 1891. It appears that John Joseph died and was buried at around 5 months on August 12, 1891 (according to a St Joseph Church burial record). "Mrs. Mary Peter Frain" (born Maria McCafferty) appears to have died July 10 and was buried July 12, 1891. The 1900 census shows that Peter Frain had been married to Catherine for 5 years and they had 2 children, Cornelius and Marjorie (the earliest born in 1895). Peter J Frain appears to have married Kate Dorn on August 20, 1895 in St. Joseph County, Indiana after the death of his wife Mary. There was a baptismal record for a Cath M Frain, daughter of Petrus Frain and Catharina Dorn on February 20, 1891 born February 4, 1898 (there is a Marjorie (M?) listed as being born January 1898 in the 1910 census below that I suspect is her. My conclusion is that after Mary Mc Cafferty died in 1891, Peter remarried Catherine Dorn and they had two children by 1910. Peter appears to have divorced Catherine Dorn and their two children are living with Catherine and her new husband Oscar Heinrich and their two children Oscar and Catherine in the 1910 Cook County Census, Chicago Ward 32 District 1563. They had been married 8 years and both of their children were born in Indiana. Cornelius Frain, Stepson was 13 1/2 and Marjorie Frain, Stepdaughter was 12 (both were born in Indiana).
Mary Seed Forsell, a descendent of this family has generously shared information on the Johnstons, Devines, Sinnots and Frains, all of which had family members in the South Bend, Indiana Irish Community. Her extensive research and that of B.L. Shroeder passed on to her by her mom has confirmed some of my research and greatly expanded the trees on the Frain children. Their extensive contribution benefits us all!
I am going to add other records in addition to census records to this page to make it more complete (rather than having a separate page).
Regarding Peter Frain's whereabouts after he divorces Catherine Dorn: There is a 1930 Census record from Merced County, Farmdale Township, California, Merced County Hospital that lists a Divorced Peter Frain age 71 born in Indiana, parents born in Ireland that may or may not be him. He is documented as being a patient on this record.
This is a work in progress!
| Census Yr/ District or other Record | Address | Name | Age | Born; Baptized; Died | Occupation | Marital Status/ Miscellaneous |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1870/ South Bend Indiana, Ward 4 | Franie?, John | 45 | Ireland | Carpenter | Real Estate Value $1000; cannot write | |
| 1870/ South Bend | Franie?, Catherine | 37 | Ireland | Keeping House | cannot write | |
| 1870/ South Bend | Franie?, Michael | 13 | Illinois | School | ||
| 1870/ South Bend | Franie?, Anna | 12 | Illinois | School | ||
| 1870/ South Bend | Franie?, Ellen | 10 | Illinois | School | ||
| 1870/ South Bend | Franie?, Maggy | 9 | Indiana | School | ||
| 1870/ South Bend | Franie?, Peter | 8 | Indiana | School | ||
| 1870/ South Bend | Franie?, John | 5 | Indiana | |||
| 1870/ South Bend | Franie?, Joseph | 8 | Indiana | |||
| 1870/ South Bend | Franie?, Theresa | 1 | Indiana | |||
| 1880/ South Bend, District 161 | Notre Dame Avenue | Frain, John | 53 | Ireland | Carpenter and Joiner | M; can't read or write |
| 1880 South Bend/ District 161 | Notre Dame Avenue | Frain, Catharine, Wife | 50 | Ireland | Wife | M; can't read or write |
| 1880 South Bend/ District 161 | Notre Dame Avenue | Frain, Michael, Son | 24 | Illinois | Carpenter and Joiner | U |
| 1880 South Bend/ District 161 | Notre Dame Avenue | Frain, Nellie, Daughter | 20 | Illinois | Home | U |
| 1880 South Bend/ District 161 | Notre Dame Avenue | Frain, Maggie, Daughter | 18 | Indiana | Home | U |
| 1880 South Bend/District 161 | Notre Dame Avenue | Frain, Peter, Son | 17 | Indiana | Sewing Machine Factory | U; attended school past yr |
| 1880 South Bend/ District 161 | Notre Dame Avenue | Frain, John, Son | 15 | Indiana | Sewing Machine Factory | U; school in past yr |
| 1880 South Bend/ District 161 | Notre Dame Avenue | Frain, Joseph, Son | 13 | Indiana | Home | U; School past yr |
| 1880 South Bend/ District 161 | Notre Dame Avenue | Frain, Theresia, Daughter | 10 | Indiana | Home | U; School past yr. |
| St Joseph Church, South Bend, IN Marriage Record | Frain, Peter married Mary McCafferty April 23, 1890 | Mary was the daughter of Joannes McCafferty and Julia Mulligan; Peter was the son of Johannus Frain and Catharina Holden; witnesses: Richardus J Kennedy and Rosa McCafferty; Stoffel CSC officiated | ||||
| St Joseph's Church, South Bend, IN baptismal record | Frain, John Joseph | born March 25, 1891; baptized April 5, 1891 | His parents were Petrus Frain and Maria McCafferty | |||
| St Joseph's Church, South Bend, IN Burial Record | Frain, Mrs Mary Peter Frain (born Mary McCafferty) | Died July 10, 1891; Buried July 12, 1891 | ||||
| St Joseph's Church, South Bend, IN Burial Record | Frain, John Joseph (son of Peter Frain/Mary McCafferty) | (5 mos of age) | died August 12, 1891 | |||
| Indiana Marriages 1811-1959 St Joseph County, IN familysearch.org | Peter J Frain married Kate Dorn on August 20, 1895 St Joseph County, IN | marriage license obtained on August 19, 1895. A J Stoffel officiated | ||||
| St Joseph Church Baptismal Record | Frain, Catherinam Margaritam (daughter of Peter Frain, Catharina Dorn) | born February 4, 1898, baptized February 20, 1898 | Johannes Dorn and Grace? Sinnott sponsors; there is a Communion Class list from St Joseph Church in 1912 that includes both Catherine and Mary Frain. (microfilm 1617236)- possibly this Catherine. | |||
| 1900 South Bend, Indiana Ward 4 District 128 | E. Sorin | Frain, Peter, Head | 38 | Indiana (born May 1862 and parents born in Ireland) | Carpenter | M; married 5 years (own home with mortgage) |
| 1900 So Bend, Ward 4, District 128 | E. Sorin | Frain, Catharine, Wife | 28 | Indiana (born February 1875 and parents born Ireland) | None | M; married 5 years (2 children, 2 living) |
| 1900 So Bend, Ward 4, District 128 | E. Sorin | Frain, Cornelius, Son | 4 | Indiana ( born June 1895, parents born Indiana) | ||
| 1900 So Bend, Ward 4, District 128 | E. Sorin | Frain, Marjorie | 2 | Indiana (born January 1898, parents born Indiana) | ||
| US City Directories 1821-1989 for South Bend, IN 1901 | 601 S Eddy St South Bend, IN | Frain, Peter | Carpenter | wife if Katie Frain; brother Michael (his wife Rose) live at 1135 N ND Avenue he is a Carpenter too; brother Joseph L (wife Mary L) live at 1120 N St. Louis- he works at Notre Dame. | ||
| US City Directories 1821-1989 for South Bend, IN 1903 | 811 E Jefferson, South Bend, IN | Frain, Peter | wife is Katie- no occupation listed for Peter; brother Joseph L and his wife Mary A still live at 1120 N St Louis- he is a Steam Fitter; brother Michael (wife Rose) live at 1135 N ND Avenue; he is a Carpenter. | |||
| 1910 Cook County Ward 32, District 1563 Chicago, Illinois | Three Timorth? Avenue | Heinrich, Oscar, Head | 36 | Germany | Carpenter House | M; First Marriage, married 8 yrs; naturalized 1888. |
| 1910 Cook County Illinois ward 32 | Three Timorth Avenue | Heinrich, Catherine, Wife | 35 | Indiana (parents born in Ireland) | None | M; Second Marriage, married 8 yrs, 4 children 4 living |
| 1910 Cook County Illinois Ward 32 | Three Timorth Avenue | Heinrich, Oscar, Son | 5 | Indiana (dad born Germany, mom Indiana) | None | Catherine Dorn appears to divorce Peter Frain and married Oscar Heinrich on August 11, 1903 in St Joseph County, Indiana. |
| 1910 Cook County Illinois, Ward 32 | Three Timorth Avenue | Heinrich, Catherine, Daughter | 1 11/12 | Indiana (dad born Germany, mom Indiana | None | |
| 1910 Cook County Illinois, Ward 32 | Three Timorth Avenue | Frain, Cornelius, Step son | 13 1/2 | Indiana (parents born Indiana) | None | |
| 1910 Cook County Illinois, ward 32 | Three Timorth Avenue | Frain, Marjorie, Step daughter | 12 | Indiana (parents born Indiana) | None | According to an obit relayed by Mary Seed Forsell implies that Marjorie Frain died at the age of 16- see records below. |
| South Bend Tribune article on the Death of Marjorie Frain of South Bend | Frain, Marjorie of South Bend | 16 | died April 12, 1914 South Bend, IN at home due to gas asphyxiation from a quarter in the slot gas meter. She died in her sleep | |||
| Indiana Deaths 1882-1920 | Frain, Majoria C (Daughter of Peter Frain/ Catherine Dorn) | 16 | Died April 12, 1914 | City Health Office Book CH 47, Page 77. | ||
| South Bend Tribune Obituary for Mrs Oscar A Heinrich (aka Catherine Dorn ex wife of Peter Frain) | residence at time of death 130 N Hill Street, South Bend, IN | Heinrich, Mrs Catherine A (ex wife of Peter Frain, mother of Marjorie and Cornelius Frain) | 59 | Died Sunday August 4, 1963 River Park Nursing Home. | (born January 17, 1874 Kentland, IN; to So Bend in 1880. James "Frame" her son was living in Eagle Lake, MI at the time of her death. Funeral at St Joseph Church, South Bend, IN and burial Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens. | |
| Social Security Death Index for James Frain, ancestry.com database | 46635 South Bend, St Joseph County, IN | Frain, James (Son of Peter Frain/ Catherine Dorn) | Born June 7, 1896, died January 1982 Indiana | SSN 307-09-8432 | ||
| U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs BIRLS Death File 1850-2010 | Frain, James (son of Peter Frain/ Catherine Dorn) | Born June 7, 1896, died January 11, 1982 | SSN 307-098432; Army, ENlistment Date August 5, 1917; Release Date January 17, 1919 | |||
| Obituary for James C (Connie) Frain | 915 S 27th; formerly of Eagle Lake, Edwardsburg, Michigan | Frain, James C (Connie) (Son of Peter Frain and Catherine Dorn) | 85 | Born June 7, 1896 South Bend, IN; Died January 11, 1982 at St Joseph's Medical Center | Married Mary M Bella on February 3, 1923 in South Bend, IN; Former employee of South Bend Lathe, retired from the Bendix Corporation; Survived by two sisters (Mrs Frank (Gertrude) Schaefer and Mrs Catherine Davis of South Bend. Funeral St Mathew's Cathedral, South BEnd, Burial St Joseph Valley Memorial Park. |
These records were acquired from the ancestry.com federal census (database online) for the years 1900-1910, Provo, Utah, Ancestry.com.