I am looking for my great grandparents. Effie was born in 1877 and may have been orphaned at the age of 2. She was married first to William Richard Rittenhouse who died in 1904 and then to William Mark Howell. He died in 1921 and she died in 1923 leaving 5 children orphaned.
My grandmother, Irma Grace Howell and at least one of her brothers, Gail, were sent to the Soldiers and orphans home in Bloomington Normal. Grace worked as a servant after she grew up and eventually married Harry Harold Huser.