Illinois Archives

LongeviQuest is pleased to announce the age validation of Anna Musick of the United States at age 110. She was born in Quincy, Illinois, United States on 14 October 1872. In 1880, the family moved to a farm near Golden when she was 7-8 years old. She attended Elm Grove School near Golden until sixth grade when she had to quit to work at home.

On 21 February 1895, she got married and then had six children. The couple farmed in the Golden-LaPrairie area for over 30 years and retired in LaPrairie in 1927. Musick used to do a lot of sewing, quilting, and crocheting besides all her other work.

Musick (left) as a young woman, along with her two brothers and parents.
(Source: The 110 Club)

Musick passed away in Golden, Illinois, USA, on 11 January 1983, at the age of 110 years, 89 days. She was survived by four of her children, 13 grandchildren, 33 great-grandchildren, and 46 great-great-grandchildren. At the time of her death, she was the oldest known living person in the U.S. state of Illinois. Following her death, she was succeeded by Olive Bay.

LongeviQuest congratulates Anna Musick’s family on her posthumous recognition.

For more information, please view Musick’s Directory Profile here.

LongeviQuest recently reviewed the case of Mary Curley of the United States– a previously validated supercentenarian who was a former longevity record-holder for the U.S. state of Minnesota (1992–2008). She was born in Chicago, Illinois, United States on 24 April 1867 and passed away in Waseca, Minnesota, United States on 29 May 1994.

Her case was researched by the Kestenbaum Study and validated by the Gerontology Research Group, with a birthdate of 21 November 1882, and a final age of 111 years, 189 days. However, in November 2023, following a thorough review of documentation uncovered by Jimmy Lindberg, the Global Validation Commission reached the conclusion that Curley’s claimed date of birth (21 November 1880) was accurate.

On 8 July 1990, following the death of 111-year-old Alice Barwise of Minneapolis, she became the oldest living person in the U.S. state of Minnesota.

On 22 April 1992, at the age of 111 years, 153 days, she surpassed Barwise’s final age, becoming the oldest known person to ever live in Minnesota. She subsequently became the first person in the state to reach the ages of 112 and 113. She held this record until her final age was surpassed by Catherine Hagel on 5 June 2008.

For more information, please view Mary Curley’s Directory Profile here.

LongeviQuest recently reviewed the case of Fannie Thomas of the United States – a previously validated supercentenarian who was the second-oldest living person and the second-oldest documented person on record (previously believed to have been the oldest person ever). She was born in Denver, Hancock County, Illinois, United States on 24 April 1867 and passed away in San Gabriel, Los Angeles County, California, USA, on 22 January 1981.

On her 100th birthday in 1967.
(Source: Find A Grave)

On 17 November 1980, at the age of 113 years, 207 days, she surpassed the final age of Mary Kelly (1851–1964), becoming the oldest person to ever live in the U.S. state of California, as well as the third-oldest person ever, behind Underwood (who was still living at the time), and Delina Filkins. On 25 November, she surpassed Filkins’ final age, becoming the second-oldest person ever. She held the title of California’s longevity record holder until 7 April 1996, when her final age was surpassed by Miriam Carpelan.

Fannie Thomas’s age was recognized by the Guinness Book of Records during her life, and the validation was later recognized by the Gerontology Research Group. However, the GRG validated her date of birth as 14 April 1867, contrary to the claimed date of birth of 24 April 1867. In November 2023, following a thorough review of documentation uncovered by Jimmy Lindberg, the Global Validation Commission reached the conclusion that Thomas’ claimed date of birth was accurate.

For more information about her life and previous validation, please view Fannie Thomas’s Directory Profile here.

LongeviQuest is pleased to announce the age validation of Lois Arbanas of the United States at age 110. She was born in Forestville, Michigan, United States on 1 December 1907. She attended elementary school in a one-room schoolhouse and later resided with a family in a neighboring town to attend high school. She was a sister, a wife, and a mother to 2 daughters.

At the age of 17, she moved to the Detroit area and took a job at General Motors. During the market crash of 1929, she held a job and rented a room in a private residence. At a church social event, she met a young attorney who eventually became her husband. The couple married in 1934. Right after the reception, the young couple relocated to Washington, D.C., where her husband began working for the federal government

As an elderly lady, with her husband.
(Source: ABC 7 Chicago)

In 1955, the family made a significant move to Wilmette, Illinois, where they remained until her husband’s retirement in 1968. Seeking a change of scenery, they then relocated to Rancho Bernardo, California, nestled in the heart of San Diego County. However, when her husband’s health began to decline, they decided to return to Illinois. Upon their return, they settled into a retirement community in Arlington Heights, a vibrant suburb northwest of Chicago.

Arbanas passed away in Arlington Heights, Illinois, USA, on 26 December 2017, at the age of 110 years, 25 days.

LongeviQuest congratulates Lois Arbanas’s family on her posthumous recognition.

For more information, please view Arbanas’s Directory Profile here.

LongeviQuest is pleased to announce the age validation of Hazel Nilson of the United States at age 111. She was born in Chicago, Illinois, United States on 21 August 1908 to German-born parents. After high school, she and her future husband enrolled in a physical education school affiliated with Indiana University. They married in 1932 and had two sons. In 1964, they retired to a house on Stone Lake in Wisconsin.

With her husband.
(Source: apg-wi.com)

Nilson kept driving until she was 104 and lived independently until she moved to New Hampshire at 106. She was a devout member of the First Lutheran Church of Stone Lake and led exercise classes at her assisted living facility. Nilson also regularly attended the Kearsarge Community Presbyterian Church in New London, New Hampshire.

Nilson passed away after a short hospitalization in Sunapee, New Hampshire, USA, on 20 November 2019, at the age of 111 years, 91 days. At the time of her death, she was the oldest living person in the U.S. state of New Hampshire. She was survived by two daughters-in-law, six grandchildren, and 13 great-grandchildren.

LongeviQuest congratulates Hazel Nilson’s family on her posthumous recognition.

For more information, please view Nilson’s Directory Profile here.

LongeviQuest is pleased to announce the age validation of Gladys Schlossman at 111 years old. She was an American supercentenarian born on 7 February 1908 in Chicago, Illinois, USA.

Glady got her Bachelor of Arts degree from Northwestern University where she was admitted to Delta Mu Delta. It is a prestigious international business honor society that recognizes academic excellence among students. She was also included into Phi Chi Theta which is a professional co-educational society in the field of business and economics. Gladys was also a member of the American Society of Women Accountants.

Undated.
(Source: The Dignity Memorial)

On 14 November 1931, she was married to Arthur Schlossman and the two of them had no children together. Aside from being a bookworm, Gladys loves to travel with her three sisters and her husband. Together they explored Europe and the United States and would spend winters in Florida with Arthur.

Her husband passed away on 25 January 1995. On the other hand, Mrs. Schlossman died on 3 March 2019 in Crystal Lake, Illinois, USA, when she was 111 years and 24 days old.

For more information, please visit Gladys Schlossman’s Directory Profile here.

LongeviQuest is pleased to announce the age validation of Ara Prahm of the United States at age 110. She was born in Rosamond, Illinois, United States on 4 January 1868. In 1893, the family moved to Vandalia. As a child, her father purchased the Vandalia Union, a weekly newspaper that he continued to publish for many years. Prahm’s brothers later owned the company, until they sold their interests in 1945.

As a young woman.
(Source: The 110 Club)

In 1907, Prahm got married to her husband. They moved to St. Louis, where her husband worked for the Big Four Railroad. At some point, she returned to Vandalia and became the community’s first telephone operator.

On her 105th birthday in 1973.
(Source: The Rock Island Argus)

Prahm continued to attend the First Methodist Church until her late 90s. On her 100th birthday, her younger brother, Ira, was still alive and approaching his 93rd birthday. He passed away in June of that same year. At the time, Prahm was still reading a lot, sewing, and watching television. However, at the age of 101, she fell unconscious while running upstairs and broke her ankle. After this, she decided to move into a nursing home.

Prahm passed away in Vandalia, Illinois, USA, on 10 May 1978, at the age of 110 years, 126 days.

On 13 April 1978, following the death of 110-year-old Nellie Renne, she became the oldest known living person in the U.S. state of Illinois. Following Prahm’s death, Gertrude Stunkel became the oldest known living person in the state.

LongeviQuest congratulates Ara Prahm’s family on her posthumous recognition.

For more information, please view Prahm’s Directory Profile here.

LongeviQuest is pleased to announce the age validation of James Holt at 111 years old. He was an American supercentenarian born on 25 December 1865.

He was born in Edwards, Illinois, USA, to parents Joseph and Martha Pelham Holt. James and his three brothers were sent to Cannon, Tennessee after their parents passed away in 1868 which made them young orphans.

He was already living independently at the age of 13 years old where he would work and travel throughout multiple states in the 1870s. According to him, he lived with the chief of a Native American tribe in Missouri for several years before he went to work as a cowboy in Oklahoma 1889 Land Rush.

James Holt with his wife in an undated photo.
(Source: The 110 Club)

James married Clara Hyder on 1 November 1899 in Lamar, Missouri. The couple had five children together. Their marriage went on for 38 years just before Clara died in 1937. He was remarried to another woman who also died 18 years later after the wedding.

In his later years, James began living with one of his daughters in Oklahoma City.

James Holt passed away on 7 January 1977 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA. He was 111 years and 13 days old at the time of his death.

For more information, please visit James Holt’s Directory Profile here.

LongeviQuest is pleased to announce the age validation of Doris Noreen at 110 years old. She is an American supercentenarian born on 15 September 1913 in Rockford, Illinois, USA.

In 1942, she married Carroll Noreen who unfortunately passed away six years after their wedding due to a heart condition. After this, Doris was left to raise their two daughters alone. She moved back to live with her parents to have a support in raising the kids while she worked at the Barber-Colman factory. She remained in this textile and milling machinery manufacturing company for 29 years until Doris retired in 1978.

In September 2023, aged 110.
(Source: Rockford Register Star)

Upon reaching 98 years old, she moved into a continuing care retirement community where she is currently residing now.

For more information, please visit Doris Noreen’s Directory Profile here.

LongeviQuest is pleased to announce the age validation of Wenonah Bish of the United States at age 111. She was born in Springfield, Illinois, United States on 2 October 1912. She was a wife and a mother to 2 children.

A few days before her 111th birthday in 2023.
(Source: The State Journal-Register)

At the age of 109, she underwent hip replacement surgery. She recovered from COVID-19 on two occasions. As of her 111th birthday in October 2023, she was the second-oldest known living person in the U.S. state of Illinois, behind Susie Lewis (born 11 August 1911).

For more information, please view Wenona Bish’s Directory Profile here.