Susan Beales, daughter of James and Nancy Beales/Beal/Beale was born in Bellair, Illinois in June 1862, the eldest of her siblings. Her mother Nancy died when Susan was 11 years old, and shortly thereafter, she went to find work in the nearby big city, Vandalia, Illinois. There, she married her first husband, Mr. Johnson. He died soon after marriage, leaving Susan a very young widow.
Susan was hired by J.W. Morehead as a cook at his hotel and it appears in many newspapers across the county advertised as a cozy hotel with delicious foods. She worked there from 1876 to 1881. I wonder if this is how she met Francis? Maybe he traveled to Vandalia, stayed in the hotel, and dined there, meeting Susan.
Anyways, Susan’s father died in 1881, which we then find Susan getting married to Francis Marion Hornbeck. On their marriage certificate, it had the full names of both sets of parents. Susan bore him 4 children and she died when her youngest son was 5 years old on August 21, 1897. Her grave is missing, and that's another thing I am trying to find more information about.
I wish I could have found out more information on the hotel Vandalia she worked at. If you’re a history buff and have knowledge about this hotel, I would love to find out more about what kind of dishes the hotel served.
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