A Biography

of

Frances Phyllis Skrzenta

by

her Grandnephew,

William Mortensen Vaughan

dated September 29, 2023

Frances was born, in Illinois, in March of 1911.

She married Anthony Peter Martin, Sr., in Joliet, Will County, Illinois, on October 28, 1928.

Frances bore Anthony Sr. a girl named "Beverly C. Martin," on April 6, 1930. She also bore Anthony Sr. a son named "Anthony Peter Martin, Jr.," in 1932; the infant died that same year. According to the U.S. Census of 1940, this family of four resided in Joliet; however, it must not have included the first of two boys who were both named "Anthony Peter Martin, Jr."

According to the U.S. Census of 1940, a boy named "Anthony Martin," who was about four years old (born circa 1936) resided with a head of household named "Anthony Martin," a wife named "Francis Martin," and a sister named "Beverly Martin." No record specifically of the second Anthony Peter Martin, Jr.'s birth is extant; this census is the earliest record of his birth, so it is unclear who the mother was, but Y-DNA testing indicates that the father was probably William Swift Vaughan, a postal clerk, in his mid-fifties, who resided with a wife named "Maud Osborn Knowlton," and their two sons, Bill and Sid, in Glen Ellyn, DuPage County, Illinois. Maud had been born in Joliet.

By 1950, Frances and Anthony Sr. were "separated," according to the U.S. Census. Frances had moved into an apartment, in Joliet, with Beverly and Anthony Jr.

Anthony Sr. was still "married," but had moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where he resided with a woman named "Viola Martin," five other children, who bore his surname; and two young women, surnamed "Schram," identified as his stepdaughters. Two of the boys were born at approximately the same time (1932 and 1935) as the Anthony Peter Martin, Juniors. Presumably, Anthony Sr. had been having an extramarital affair with Viola, as early as 1932, and as late as 1940.

William Swift Vaughan's wife, Maud, died in 1947. William then moved to Joliet, where he remained until he died, approximately five years later, in 1952.

Frances died on January 18, 1994, in Joliet.

Beverly survived, at least until 1992, when public records indicate that she resided, in Downer's Grove, Illinois. Although she has a tombstone in St. John's Cemetery, in Joliet, it does not have a year (let alone a date) of death. Furthermore, no record of her death is extant, so she may still be alive.

Anthony Peter Martin, Jr., died in June of 2021.

Research Notes:

Anthony Peter Martin, Jr.'s Y-DNA test results were published by FamilyTreeDNA, on September 10, 2021, approximately three months after his death. We share 105 of 111 markers, and FamilyTreeDNA identifies him as my "UNCLE."

See also:

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/107350602/beverlee-c-martin

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/252555350/anthony-peter-martin

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/107350610/anthony-peter_joseph-martin