52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks – Week 27: Independent – Carrie M. Hork Never Married

This is my second year working on this year-long prompt, hosted by Amy Johnson Crow. I will write each week in one of my two blogs, either Mam-ma’s Southern Family or at My Trails Into the Past. I have enjoyed writing about my children’s ancestors in new and exciting ways.

Our theme this week is “Independent.” I have many independent maiden aunts and great-aunts. I have previously written about my Gleeson aunts in “I’d Like to Meet Elizabeth M. Gleeson” and “Maiden Aunts.” My idea of independent for this week’s theme will focus on another of my unmarried aunts, my grandfather’s sister, Carolyn “Carrie” Marguerite Hork.

Carrie on the right with brother,
Cyril, and mother, Julia

Carrie was born 16 October 1881 in Aurora, Kane County, Illinois to Johan Anton Hork and Julia Ann Sievert, their fifth child of ten.[1] She worked most of her life as a clerk in retail stores and never married. I have no idea if she ever had beaus. She had three brothers, Albert, Frank, and Ray, who also never married.

A lot of what I know about Carrie comes from newspapers in Anaconda (Anaconda Standard) and in Hamilton (Ravalli Republic), as well as other newspapers in Montana (Western News, Montana Standard, Tacoma Daily News) that have articles about Carrie.[2] Examples of some news articles: 

• In April 1904, “The Catholic ladies met Tuesday afternoon for the first time and reorganized their sewing circle…At the meeting Mrs. George Taylor was elected president of the circle and Miss Carrie Hork secretary and treasurer.”[3] 

• In October 1905, “Miss Carrie Hork is visiting at the home of her sister, Mrs. Ed Hart, in Missoula.”[4] 

• In November 1907, “Miss Carrie Hork has accepted a position at Frank Burns’ store until after the holidays.”[5] 

• In 1908, “Miss Carrie Hork expects to leave Saturday for Oakland, Cal., for a six weeks’ visit with her sister.”[6] Her older sister, Ida, married Martin J. Colmann of San Francisco, in 1903 at Eagle, Alaska. 

• In 1910, Carrie almost was voted as Carnival queen, however she lost to Miss Laura Harper.[7] 

• In December 1911, “Miss Carrie Hork of the dry goods department of the Valley Mercantile company spent most of this week at Darby, where she conducted a cloak sale for Laird & Kerlee.”[8]

Travel

Many of the articles in the newspapers were about her trips, which she took often. She must have made enough money to be able to travel. She often took trips to visit her sisters in Tacoma, Long Beach, and Missoula. She also took trips with many of her women friends. In October 1949, she traveled to Long Beach along with her brother, Tony, to visit sister, Ida, who was ill.[9] They must have convinced Ida to return with them, as Ida died in Hamilton the following May.[10]

Social Activities

Other articles were about her social activities. She entertained a party of her lady friends in 1914 to play Whist. All of her friends were listed in the paper.[11] She gave a party in honor of her sister, Mrs. B.V. [Ursula] Schwalen, who was moving to Bonner with her husband.[12] She played hostess to members of the Business and Professional Women’s Club in 1927.[13] Later she was elected vice president.[14] She was elected president of the St. Catherine’s Society of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in 1941.[15] She was a member of the St. Paul’s Episcopal Guild and acted as part of the nominating committee in 1958.[16]

Her family was Roman Catholic but sometime in her adulthood she joined the Episcopal church. None of the newspaper articles I found mentioned when she joined the church or when she joined Eastern Star.

Occupation

Some articles were about her job. One of her first jobs was working at Frank Burn’s store during the holidays.[17] Another was helping Miss Julia Krummel during her spring millinery opening.[18] She worked at the Valley Mercantile Company for many years as the head of ladies’ ready-to-wear department.[19] The Valley Mercantile Company put on a Style Show at the Ravalli Theater in 1926 and Carrie was in charge. The latest styles in dress, silk lingerie, knit hose, shoes, bathing suits, men’s and boy’s apparel were shown by girls and boys on the stage.[20] She also worked at department stores in Tacoma and Kalispell.[21] In 1930 when she left for Tacoma, Washington, a lovely Valentine Bridge party was given in her honor and she received a beautiful guest prize.[22] She lived with her brother-in-law and sister, Bernard & Ursula Schwalen, working as a clerk in the department store.[23]

New Facts I Learned

I learned some things about her from reading the articles. In 1939, she purchased lots from Mrs. P.H. Edwards on South Fourth Street and began construction of a three-room cottage.[24] In November, her friends from the Leona Chapter of Easter Star threw a surprise shower of cupboard items for her new home.[25] In 1946, she sold the house to Mrs. Pauline South and moved into the Grube apartments.[26] Now I need to do some deed research.

What her cottage looks like today

Death

She died 23 March 1965 at the age of 83.[27] The funeral services were held at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church. Her obituary also mentioned she was a member of Women’s Club and Leona Order of Eastern Star.[28] In addition, the obituary stated:

“All of the old times of Hamilton area knew Carrie Hork, respected her years of service in her chosen line of work, were aware of her exceptional business ability, and loved her because of those intrinsic traits of friendliness and helpfulness which were nature.

“She possessed an exquisite sense of humor which enabled her recently to tell a friend that she was ‘all falling to pieces and couldn’t find any new parts.’ She much for other people and said nothing about it. Those who knew her are happy that she was able to keep going until a very brief illness claimed her life. She would have preferred it that way because she was a very independent lady.”

My father received a letter from his cousin, Richard A. Hork, who was Carrie’s administrator of her estate. She had purchased fourteen $100 bonds and added her fourteen nieces and nephews names to them. Richard wrote, “As you know Auntie Carrie deeply and sincerely loved all fourteen of her nieces and nephews.”

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[1] Kane Co, Illinois, Certificates of Birth, “Births 1 May 1880-31 Jan. 1882,” 1881, Carrie Marguerite Hork, filed 1943, FHL film 1481153.

[2] All of these newspapers were downloaded from Newspapers.com on 2-3 July 2019.

[3] “News of Hamilton and the Bitter Root,” 22 Apr 1904, p. 14,.

[4] “Hamilton Notes,” 27 Oct 1905, Anaconda Standard, p. 11.

[5] “Hamilton Notes,” Anaconda Standard, 4 Nov 1907, p. 2.

[6] “Bitter Root Brevities,” The Western News, 8 Jul 1908, p. 8.

[7] “Carnival is a Success,” Ravalli (Hamilton, Mont.) Republic, 23 Dec 1910, p. 1.

[8] “In Hamilton,” Anaconda Standard, 24 Dec 1911, p. 5.

[9] Untitled article, Ravalli Republic, 4 Oct 1949, p. 3.

[10] State of Montana, State Board of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics, Death Certificate, Ravalli Co, certificate #3564, Ida M. Colmann.

[11] “Evening of Whist,” Ravalli Republic, 16 Jan 1914, p 8.

[12] “Mrs. Schwalen Given Party,” Ravalli Republic, 16 Apr 1915, p 8.

[13] “Evening of Pleasure,” Ravalli Republic, 24 Feb 1927, p. 1.

[14] “Officers Chosen by Women’s Club,” The Montana (Anaconda) Standard, 5 Jun 1932, p. 52.

[15] “Church Society Elects Officers,” Ravalli Republic, 18 Dec 1941, p. 8.

[16] “Episcopal Guild Has Business Meeting, Tea,” Ravalli Republic, 15 Apr 1958, p. 1.

[17] Untitled article, The Anaconda Standard, 7 Nov 1904, p. 2.

[18] Untitled article, The Western (Stevensville) News, 23 Mar 1904, p. 8.

[19] “Funeral Rite Pending for Miss Carrie Hork,” Ravalli Republic, 23 Mar 1965, p. 1.

[20] “Style Show Tonight,” Ravalli Republic, 19 Mar 1926, p. 1.

[21] For Tacoma, see “Leaves for Tacoma,” The Missoulian, 16 Feb 1930, p. 18. For Kalispell, see Untitled article, The Missourian, 7 Jun 1936, p. 13.

[22] “Miss Hork Honor Guest at Affair,” Butte Montana Standard, 16 Feb 1930, np.

[23] 1930 U.S. census, Pierce Co, Washington, Tacoma, ED 27-105, sht 1b, dwelling 14, fam 18, Bernard V Schwalen digital image, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com), citing NARA T626, roll 2511.

[24] Untitled article, Ravalli Republic, 17 Aug 1939, p. 8.

[25] Untitled article, Ravalli Republic, 9 Nov 1939, p. 4.

[26] Untitled article, The Missourian, 3 Nov 1946, p. 10.

[27] Montana State Board of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics, Death Certificates, death certificate 5977 (1965), Carrie M. Hork.

[28] “Carrie Hork Taken By Death Tuesday, Rites Tomorrow A.M.,” The Western News, 24 Mar 1965, p. 

Copyright © 2019 by Lisa S. Gorrell, My Trails into the Past. All Rights Reserved.