🏠» Genealogy » Faulkner family
Compiled and written by Kimberli Faulkner Hull
Granddaughter of Charles Fountain Faulkner
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© Kimberli Faulkner Hull
Charles Fountain Faulkner was born on 3 July 1881 in Nortonville, Kentucky to Hutchins Burton Faulkner, Jr. and Margaret Francis “Fanny” Mills.1 Charles was most likely named after his grandfather, Charles W. Mills. The Fountain middle name is believed to be from a family association with descendants of Rev. Peter Fontaine (1691-1759). The Fontaine surname was Americanized to Fountain in some geographic areas. The use of Fountain as a middle name is found in both the Faulkner and Mills lines.2
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Charles’ childhood was spent with his parents and siblings, Mary Elizabeth, John A., and Thomas Burton, in Hopkins County, Kentucky until his father’s death in 1888.3
Charles’ mother, Fanny, remarried to Philip Taylor in October 1888.4 The family moved to Nashville, then on to Louisville, Kentucky, and grew in size with additional children born: Phenaty May, Margaret, and William Miller Taylor.5 Charles served briefly in the Army in 1898.6
In 1902, Charles was living at the back of 18th SE at the corner of A street in Louisville and was working as a machinist. By 1904, he was living with his brother, Burton, on 26th street in 1904 in Louisville. It is doubtful he was actually working as an acrobat – more likely Burton having a bit of fun with the directory information. The brothers had moved to Cairo, Illinois by 1908. 7
Charles married Lora E. Swafford on 7 March 1908 in Shelby County, Tennessee.8 Their first child, William Melvin, was born in Tennessee.9 They soon moved to St. Louis, Missouri, where their daughter, Frances M., was born in St. Louis in 1909.10
Charles’ mother, Margaret Frances “Fanny,” Mills Faulkner Taylor died in 1909 in Tennessee.11 Following her death, Lora, Charles, and their children lived several years in Cairo, Alexander County, Illinois with his step-father, Philip Taylor, and Charles’ half-siblings.12 Charles and Lora’s third child, Philip Lawrence, most likely named after Charles’ stepfather, was born in Cairo in 1916.13 The family soon moved to Chicago, Cook County, Illinois, and continued to grow with Carl, Clarence Charles, Dorthy, Ernest L., and Abe born between 1918 and 1930.14
In Chicago, Charles operated a business, printing and distributing circulars in the Chicago area and the boys would help distribute the circulars.15
By 1942, Charles and Lora had moved to 7217 S. Stewart and Charles was working for Kane Watch Service on Wacker in Chicago.16
Charles and Laura remained living in Chicago throughout their lives.17 Most of their children moved out of state, however, some would return for visits or occasions, and Clarence Charles’ family lived nearby.18
![Charles Faulkner (Chicago, Illinois) to Marshie and Gene Faulkner [grandchildren], letter, 27 Oct 1949](https://i0.wp.com/cooladventures.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Charles-Fountain-Faulkner-Chicago-Illinois-to-Marshie-and-Gene-Faulkner-grandchildren-letter-27-Oct-1949.jpg?ssl=1)
In 1954, Charles attempted to locate William Melvin by newspaper listings in Memphis, Tennessee, and later in Tampa, Florida, where William Melvin was living at the time.19
Charles Fountain Faulkner died on 9 October 1955 in Blue Island, Cook County, Illinois.20
Charles is buried at Evergreen Cemetery and Mausoleum.21
Charles Fountain Faulkner Documentation with transcripts/abstracts
Charles Fountain Faulkner descendant DNA matches
Endnotes
1. Commonwealth of Kentucky, State Board of Health, Delayed birth certificate 117443, Nortonville, Hopkins County, Charles Fountain Faulkner, 3 July 1881. Note: Both parents’ names are spelled incorrectly on the delayed birth certificate.
2. Research of the author; Fountain/Fontaine connection not proven at the time of this writing, however, tangential relationships exist.
3. The exact date of Charles’ father’s death is unknown, however, Charles’ mother, Margaret Frances “Fanny” Mills, filed a guardianship bond for three of her four known children with Hutchins Burton Faulkner, Jr in April 1888.
Hopkins County, Kentucky, Guardian Bonds 1886-1895, p. 137, 20 April 1888, Mrs. M. F. Faulkner for guardianship of Mary E., Chas. F., and Thos. B. Faulkner.
Also, Charles’ parents and siblings are listed on the 1880 census, one year prior to his birth.
1880 U.S. census, Curtail, Hopkins County, Kentucky, population schedule, enumeration district (ED) 190, sheet 46 B, dwelling 319, Hutch B Faulkner household.
– Hutch B Faulkner, age 24, farmer, born in Kentucky, both parents born in Kentucky
– Margaret F. Faulkner age 21, wife, born in Kentucky, both parents born in Kentucky
– Mary E. Faulkner, age 1, daughter, born in Kentucky
– John A. Faulkner, age 8 months, son, born in October 1879 in Kentucky
4. Hopkins County, Kentucky, Marriage Bonds 1887-1890, p. 514-515, bond and certificate, P. J. Taylor–Mrs. M. F. Faulkner, 31 Oct 1888.
Also, Hopkins County, Kentucky, Marriage Index and Register, Taylor–Faulkner, 31 Oct 1888.
Groom: P J Taylor. Bride: Mrs. M. F. Faulkner. Witnesses: L. Woodson and L.D. Smith. Where and by Whom Married: Mortons Gap by J. R. Booth. Date of Issue: 31 Oct 1888. Date of marriage: 31 Oct 1888.
5. Charles’ half-sister, Phenaty May Taylor, was born in 1890 in Nashville, Tennessee. Commonwealth of Kentucky, certificate of death, no. 6478, Lexington, Fayette County, Mrs. Phenaty May Johnson, 22 Mar 1939. Birth: 13 July 1890, Nashville, Tennessee.
In 1900, Charles was living in the household of his stepfather, Philip J. Taylor, and his mother, Fanny at 1702 A Street in Louisville, Kentucky.
1900 U.S. census, Louisville, Jefferson County, Kentucky, population schedule, ward 11, p. 7 (penned), enumeration district (ED) 143, sheet 290-B, family 132, Philip J. Taylor household; NARA microfilm publication T623, roll 533.
– Philip J. Taylor, age 38, born Mar 1862 in Kentucky, married 11 years, axe handle finisher
– Fanny M. Taylor, wife, age 41, born July 1858 in Kentucky, married 11 years, 8 children born, 6 children living
– Phenaty M Taylor, daughter, age 9, born July 1890 in Tennessee
– Maggie E. Taylor, daughter, age 8, born Aug 1891 in Tennessee_
– William M. Taylor, son, age 3, born Apr 1897 in Kentucky
– Charles F. Faulkner, stepson, age 18 born July 1881 in Kentucky
– Thomas B. Faulkner, stepson, age 17, born Apr 1883 in Kentucky
– Mary Goatley, servant
6. Veterans Affairs form 3-7202a, Army, claim number 16546317, Charles Fountain Faulkner, Charles Taylor index card; Veterans Affairs master index, prior war file, 76193916, RG 15, Falkenburg, Herman Grant – Fayard, Walter Joseph, dup roll 68A, pt. 3 of 4, 1917-1940.
Faulkner, Charles Fountain, Taylor, Charles. Army. 8603 Vincennes Ave., Chicago, Ill. Born: 7 3 81. Enl. 2 1 98. Dis 8 25 98. C [claim number] 16546317.
7. C. K. Caron, president, Caron’s Directory of the City of Louisville (Louisville, Kentucky: Caron Directory Co., 1902), p. 427, Chas. F. Faulkner, mach, b 18th se cor A.
Also, C. K. Caron, president, Caron’s Directory of the City of Louisville, vol. 34 (Louisville, Kentucky, Caron Directory Co., 1904), p. 449, Chas. F. Faulkner and Thomas B. Faulkner, 2408 26th street.
Also, Geo. B. Walker, compiler, Walker’s Cairo City Directory for 1908-1909 (Cairo, Illinois : George B. Walker, 1908). p. 81, Burton Faulkner and Charles F. Faulkner.
8. Shelby County, Tennessee, Marriage Licenses 1 Jan-30 Apr 1908, marriage license with return, Faulkner–Swafford, 7 Mar 1908. Also, Shelby County, Tennessee, Marriage Licenses and Bonds, B1:530, marriage bond, Faulkner–Swafford, 7 Mar 1908.
Shelby County, Tennessee, Marriage license: Chas. F. Faulkner and Mrs Nora Swafford, 7 Mar 1908; return same day. Marriage by Justice of Peace. Marriage Book B 1, p. 530.
Note: Lora’s name was spelled as Nora instead of Lora and it states her title was “Mrs.” No other previous marriages have been found for Lora Swafford.
9. Birth of William Melvin Faulkner.
State of Tennessee, Delayed Certificate of Birth, William Melvin Faulkner, 24 Feb 1908. Birth: 24 Feb 1908, Memphis, Shelby County, Tennessee.
10. Birth of Frances M. Faulkner.
St. Louis City, Missouri, Registry of Births, Frances Faulkner, 10 Oct 1909.
11. Death of Charles’ mother, Margaret Frances “Fanny” Mills Faulkner Taylor.
Davidson County, Tennessee Board of Health, death certificate, file no.674 (1909), Mrs. Margaret Francis Taylor, 24 June 1909; Faulkner-Hull Family Papers, privately held by Kimberli Faulkner Hull.
12. 1910 U.S. census, Cairo, Alexander County, Illinois, population schedule, enumeration district (ED) 16, sheet 8-B, family 162, Philip Taylor household.
– Phillip J. Taylor, age 48, widowed, born Ohio, both parents born in Ohio, occupation: blacksmith, owns shop
– May Taylor, age 19, born in Illinois, both parents born in Ohio
– Margaret Taylor, age 19, born in Illinois, both parents born in Ohio
– William Taylor, age 12, born in Illinois, both parents born in Ohio
– Lora Faulkner, boarder, age 22, widowed, born in Tennessee, both parents born in Tennessee, occupation: sales woman, dry goods
– Milton, boarder, age 3, born in Illinois, both parents born in Tennessee
– Francis, boarder, age 1, born in Illinois, both parents born in Tennessee
Notes: All of the birth locations and parents’ birth locations are incorrect. Lora was listed as widowed; she would have been married in 1910. William Melvin is listed as Milton and Charles was not enumerated with the family.
13. Birth of Philip Lawrence Faulkner.
United States World War II Draft Registration Card, Philip Lawrence Faulkner, serial no. 760, Local Draft Board no. 28, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois.
14. Charles and Lora were living at 810 E. 57th St. in Chicago when Charles registered for the WWI draft. United States World War I Draft Registration Card, Charles Fountain Faulkner, serial no. 679, Local Draft Board no. 15, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois.
Also, 1920 U.S. census, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois, population schedule, ward 7, enumeration district (ED) 444, sheet 4-A, dwelling [blank], family 71, Charles Faulkner household.
– Charles Faulkner, age 38, married, born in Kentucky, father born in U.S., mother born in Kentucky, occupation: distribution of circulars
– Lora Faulkner, age 37, married, born in Illinois, both parents born in Illinois
– William Faulkner, age 13, born in Tennessee
-Francis, age 10, born in Missouri
– Phillip Faulkner, age 3, born in Illinois
Birth of Carl Faulkner.
Chicago, Cook County, Illinois, Cook County Clerk, Cook County Courthouse, birth certificate no. 25156, Carl Faulkner, 19 July 1918.
Birth of Clarence Charles Faulkner.
Chicago, Cook County, Illinois, Cook County Clerk, Cook County Courthouse, certificate no. 64421, Charles Clarence Faulkner, 10 Jan 1920. Notes: Birth record was registered in 1942. Also, name on record was listed as Charles Clarence Faulkner, but he used Clarence Charles Faulkner.
Birth of Dorthy Faulkner.
Chicago, Cook County, Illinois, Cook County Courthouse, Cook County Clerk, Birth Index, certificate no. 11221, Dorthy Faulkner, 21 Mar 1922.
Birth of Ernest L. Faulkner.
State of Illinois, birth certificate, Cook County, Chicago, no. 29362 (1923) Ernest L. Faulkner, 16 July 1923; Faulkner-Hull Family Papers, privately held by Kimberli Faulkner Hull, Massachusetts.
Also, 1930 U.S. census, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois, Block no. 136, population schedule, ward 8, p. 5 (stamped), enumeration district (ED) 16-341, sheet 5-A, dwelling 46, family 113, Charles Faulkner household.
– Charles Faulkner, age 49, married, born in Kentucky, both parents born in Kentucky, occupation: circular disp in the advertising industry
– Lora Faulkner, wife, age 52, married, born in Illinois, both parents born in Illinois
– William Faulkner, son, age 24, married, born in Tennessee, occupation: automobile mechanic
– Phillip Faulkner, son, age 14, single, born in Illinois, attended school
– Clarence Faulkner, son, age 10, single, born in Illinois, attended school
– Ernest Faulkner, son, age 7, single, born in Illinois, attended school
– Betty Faulkner, granddaughter, age 4 months, single, born in Illinois, both parents born in Illinois
Also, personal knowledge of the author’s father, Ernest L. Faulkner, son of Charles and Lora Faulkner, as told to Kimberli Faulkner Hull.
For Abe Faulkner, no birth record was found. However, the author’s father frequently mentioned “his brother, Abe.”
Searches for Faulkner, Falkner, Fawkner, Fakner, Falknor, Falconer, Faulconer 1924-1934, of:
– “Cook County, Illinois Birth Index, 1916-1935,” Ancestry; no record found.
Notes: Only first and last name of child are listed, if Abe was a middle name it will not be found; parents also not listed in index. Faulkner child born with no first name, cert no. 6050096, Cook County, Illinois, [no first name] Faulkner, birth 9 Nov 1925 was a son of Leo Bernard Faulkner and Lucille Vines.
– “Illinois, Cook County, Birth Certificates, 1871-1949,” Family Search; no record found.
Note: Parents listed for almost all records.
– Cook County Vital Records, Family Search; no record found.
Note: Birth certificates only available through 1922
Also, Charles Fountain Faulkner (1881-1955) and Abe Faulkner, ca. 1930, Chicago, Illinois; Faulkner-Hull Family Papers, privately held by Kimberli Faulkner Hull. Back of photo reads “Dad and Abe.” Handwriting of Lora Swafford Faulkner.
15. Ibid. Also, personal knowledge of the author’s father, Ernest L. Faulkner, son of Charles and Lora Faulkner, as told to Kimberli Faulkner Hull.
16. When Charles registered for the WWII draft on 27 April 1942, Charles and Lora were living at 7217 S. Stewart, Chicago, Illinois, and Charles was working for Kane Watch Service at 211 Wacker Drive in Chicago. United States World War II Draft Registration Card, Charles F. Faulkner, serial no. 1891, Local Draft Board no. 29, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois.
17. Personal knowledge of the author’s father, Ernest L. Faulkner, son of Charles and Lora Faulkner, as told to Kimberli Faulkner Hull.
No census record enumerating the Charles and Lora Faulkner family has been located for 1940.
Residence 17 Nov 1937: When Charles registered with the social security administration on 17 Nov 1937, they were living at 6448 Stony Island, Chicago, Illinois, and Charles was working for Kane Watch Service at 54 West Randolph. Charles Fountain Faulkner, SS no. 360-09-0104, 12 Dec 1937, Application for Account Number (Form SS-5), Social Security Administration.
6448 Stony Island is located near the intersection of S Stony Island Ave and 65th Street East, across from Jackson Park. 6448 S Stony Island Ave, an apartment building. The Charles Faulkner household was not found.
1940 U.S. census, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois, population schedule, ward 6, enumeration district (ED) 103-346, sheets 17A-17B, 6448 S. Stony Island Avenue.
Residence 27 Nov 1942: When Charles registered for the WWII draft, their address was 7217 S. Stewart, Chicago, Illinois. United States World War II Draft Registration Card, Charles F. Faulkner, serial no. 1891, Local Draft Board no. 29, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois.
7217 S. Stewart Ave is near the corner of w. 72nd Street and S. Stewart Avenue, near Hamilton Park. In 1940, address 7217 S. Stewart was enumerated in enumeration district (ED) 103-1128, sheet 12 A. The Faulkner household was not listed.
1950 U.S census, Illinois, Cook County, Chicago, population schedule, enumeration district (ED) 103-1649, sheet 26, dwelling 271, Charles Faulkner household.
Address: 8682 Vincennes Ave, Apt 2-4
– Charles Faulkner, age 68, married, born in Kentucky
– Lora Faulkner, age 62, married, born in Illinois, practical nurse
18. “3 Brothers Meet at Wedding for First Time in 4 Years,” Pvt. Clarence Faulkner and Lillian Albert marriage announcement, Southtown Economist (Chicago, Illinois), 11 Feb 1945, p. 10, col. 3.
Also, Charles Faulkner (Chicago, Illinois) to Marshie and Gene Faulkner [grandchildren], letter, 27 Oct 1949; privately held by Marsha Faulkner Nagib, digital copy provided to Kimberli Faulkner Hull.
19. “Wanted, One Man, Elderly Chicago Man Trying to Locate William M. Faulkner, 47,” newspaper notice, The Tampa Tribune (Tampa, Florida), 6 Sept 1954, p. 9, col. 2. Note: William Melvin’s daughter, mentioned in the notice, would have been Betty Lou Faulkner Love.
Also, “Missing Persons, William M. Faulkner,” newspaper notice, The Commercial Appeal (Memphis, Tennessee), 7 Feb 1954, p. 40, col. 4.
20. State of Illinois, Medical Certificate of Death, no. 42094, Blue Island, Cook County, Charles Faulkner, 9 Oct 1955; Faulkner-Hull Family Papers, privately held by Kimberli Faulkner Hull.
Also, Charles F. Faulkner,” obituary, Chicago Tribune (Chicago, Illinois), 11 Oct 1955, p. 67, col 5.
21. Headstone reads: Charles F. Faulkner / 1881 – 1955
Find A Grave, memorial 169083032, Charles Fountain Faulkner (1881–1955), Evergreen Cemetery and Mausoleum, Evergreen Park, Cook County, Illinois; memorial created by Kimberli Faulkner Hull (contributor 49572158).
Citing this page: Kimberli Faulkner Hull, author, “Charles Fountain Faulkner,” Cool Adventures (https://cooladventures.com/genealogy/charles-fountain-faulkner-1881-1955/ : published 2021).