I am researching the Westfall family. My great grandmother was Henrietta Westfall, daughter of John and Lenore (Wolf). They are buried in Crown Hill Cemetery in Colorado. My great grandmother had a brother Robert L that married a Violet Forsythe Nelson. I have been told just recently that Violet had a first husband ?? Hertel, had 9 children and then married Robert L. I have been told that the 9 children took the Westfall last name when Robert and Violet married. I am trying to find more about the 9 children.
I do have a son, Robert N. Westfall b) Jan 14, 1921 d) May 19, 1971. He is buried in the Fairmont Cemetery in Denver Co. His death certificate says he was divorced, but also his brother Harry signed the death certificate.


I find a Harry Westfall in the SS records:
b) Jan 17, 1922
d) Dec 22, 2000
buried in Illinois, but lived in:
Denver, Jefferson, Colorado
Lakewood, Jefferson, Colorado
Morrison, Jefferson, Colorado
Wheatridge, Jefferson, Colorado.

I believe this could be the son of Robert L/Violet.

If anyone knows about Harry I would love to hear from you.
Marriages, children, etc.?

I was told Robert L/Violet had a son named Alex...

To make things more confusing, I found the following records about a Violet Nelson...maybe these are her first husband and some of her children:

1) Howard John Hertel
b) July 14, 1918
Parents Gustave Hertel and Violet Nelson

2) Gustav Hertel married Violet Nelsen (spelled Nelsen, not Nelson) April 20, 1901 in West Northfield,Cook, Ill

3) Willamena Agnes Augusta Hertel
b) July 19, 1907 Chicago
Parents Gistave Adolf Hertel and Violet Nelson

4) Margaret Bertha Hertel
b) Sept 19, 1916 Chicago
Parents Gustaf Hertel and Violet Nelson (Gustaf, not Gustav)


If anyone know about Harry Westfall or his siblings, I sure would love to hear from you.

Thanks alot,
Anna in Colorado

Will try and help.
1st thing, the Harry you saw in social seurity death index was born 17 jan 1912 not 1922
Violet NELSEN,age 18 of NORTHFIELD,married Gustav HERTEL of Mt. Prospect in West Northfield(township)Cook by minister G.W.MAEDE post office box WHEELING,Cook,IL

1900 census NORTHFIELD township Cook,IL
NELSON
Thomas Oct 1845 Scotland,USA 1868,married 1869
Minnie,Oct 1851 Scotland,USA 1868,married 1869,had 14 children-11 alive now
William Jun 1873IL
VIOLET Aug 1883IL(year is wrong should be 1885)IL
Nathaniel Nov 1885 IL(Nathan died 5 May 1965 obit sis Violet Westfall)
Edward Jan 1889 IL(Edward Dixon obit 15 aug 1955 sister Violet WESTFALL)
George Jan 1891 IL(obit George L. 3 may 1961 sister Violet WESTFALL)
Jessie Nov 1892 IL
Grace Sep 1894 IL
Harrey Jul 1896 IL
(NOTE Violet Forsythe Nelson's birth name..usual for scots to use a surname of ancestor for a middle name..in this case Forsythe)
Gustav is in Elk Grove township,Cook,IL b. Jun 1879 Germany,USA 1894 under his parents Louis wife Augute(Augusta?)

next time I found them
1920 census Chicago 29th ward,Cook,IL
HERTEL
GEORGE A(Gustav Adolf on birth cert=George A. here)1881 Germany
VIOLA(aka Violet)1885
Williamina 1908 IL(matches birth cert 1907)
Alma,1911,IL
Harrie 1913 COLORADO age 7
Elinore 1916 IL
Margarete 117,IL(birth cert Margaret Bertha 1916)
John 1919,IL(birthy cert Howard John 1918)

IL State Archives death index 1916-1950
Cook County
Chicago
HERTEL
Gustav A., died 31 Oct 1945
Lake County
Waukegan
HERTEL
George A.,died 20 Apr 1944
(WHEN & WHERE did Robert L. WESTFALL marry Violet? might help determine some more info)

Now WESTFALLs
Robert L. b. 23 Dec 1892 died Jan 1976 Arvada,Jefferson,CO
wife Violet b. 25 aug 1885 died Mar 1980 same location
(violet's matches census 1920 The 1900 census yr is off by 2 but month matches)

1900 census Victoria village,Copley township,Knox Co.,IL
WESTFALL
John A. Aug 1852 OH,father VA mother OH
LEONORAH,Nov 1856 IN parents OH,married 1872,had 11 children-11 alive now
Etta H.,Jul 1883,KANSAS(parents in Marion,Burbon,KS in 1880 census)
Eugene H.,Jun 1885 Il
Katie L.,Aug 1887 IL
Minnie F.,Oct 1889 IL
Unice P.,Oct 1891 IL
John A.,Sep 1893,IL
ROBERT L.,DEC 1895 IL(3 years off should be 1892 but month is right)
1910 census they're in Oneida 1st ward,knox co.,il
1920
Weld,CO
IL State Marriage Index to 1900
WESTFALL John to Leonora WOLF 30 Jul 1874 Knox County
cert # 00003287
contact Mollie Kennedy for copy
mollx.com
1860 and 1870 census WESTFALL
John found with parents Copley township,knox co.,IL

suggestions in case you havge gotten
1. get obits on Robert wife Violet,son Robert N...try library in city where they died also check Galesburg,Knox Co.,IL
2.check through your local library for access to databases such as
newsbank america's genealogy bank and hertitage quest.
3. post to Cook County board for Nelson and Hertel
4. Post to Knox Co.,IL for WESTFALL and WOLF
5. Check with Galesburg,Knox Co.,IL library for obits on
WESTFALL-John and lenora,etc.
6. check for genealogy/historical societies knox county,il
Hope these help
Kathy

HI Kathy,
I really owe you an apology. I am usually so good at replying to replies thanking them for their time, etc.
For some reason I think I missed your reply...almost 2 years ago.
Your reply gave me all kinds of new info.
Based on the info I just checked Find-a-grace and googled for
1) Nanthiel d) May 5, 1965
2) Edward d) Aug 15, 1955
4) George d) May 3, 1961

Can you please tell me where you found their obits?

Violet Westfall (their sister) died in Colorado...so I am trying to figure out if they stayed in Illinois or moved to Colorado also.

Thank you again so much for all the wonderful new info and I sure do apologize for taking almost 2 years to get back to you.
Anna in Colorado

I got the obits by using my local library card number and accessing online database newsbank america's genealogy bank.
Violet's brothers obits-they stayed in Illinois

Kathy

HI Kathy,
I used my Denver Public Library card and was able to access this data base....I found all of the obits.

Thank you soooooooooo much for all your help,
Anna