Mattie taught high school English in Wheaton, Illinois, and later served as a district curriculum administrator for the Wheaton school system. She retired and moved to Kansas City, Missouri, where she presently makes her home with her sister, Hilda (Choice) Anderson.

Mattie presently teaches English at a community college, and also teaches classes in family history. In addition, Mattie produces a onewoman show featuring the life of Sarah Josepha Hale, in which she portrays the title character.

It was Mattie who supplied the formal Choice/Williams wedding photograph for this chapter. I am most grateful to Mattie for volunteering her precious time and enormous talents to undertake the monumental task of editorial proofreading for THE CHOICE/CHOYCE COMPENDIUM.

ELIZABETH MARY (CHOYCE) AND WILLIAM JOHN DiBOS, OF LUTTERWORTH AND CHICAGO

Elizabeth Mary Choice, second child of Florence (Thomas) and Joseph Choice, was born 10 Jun 1890, at Lutterworth. Her name, and her parents' names, appear as "Choice" in the Index of Birth Records at St. Catherine's House, London. However, Elizabeth has used the spelling "Choyce" all through her adult life.

Elizabeth was a young girl when she emigrated to the United States, where she joined her mother and brothers in the Chicago area.

Her family is not certain of the year she arrived, nor do they know whether or not she was accompanied by a sibling.

Elizabeth Mary Choyce married William John DiBos in 1917, at Chicago. William, son of Henrietta (Pankonin) and Albert DiBos, was born in 1892, at Chicago.

Elizabeth (Choyce) and William DiBos had one child, Florence Elizabeth DiBos, born in 1920. William died in 1957 and Elizabeth died in 1975. They both died at Chicago, where they are buried.

FLORENCE ELIZABETH (DiBOS) AND ERVIN RICHARD TURNER, OF CHICAGO, CAMP MURPHY, BUFFALO, AND CHICAGO

Florence Elizabeth DiBos, daughter of Elizabeth (Choyce) and William DiBos, was born 3 Sep 1920, at Chicago. Florence married Ervin Richard Turner, 11 Mar 1944, while Ervin was stationed at Camp Murphy, Florida, during World War II. Ervin, son of Nellie Roseanna (Iler) and Ervin James Turner, was born 5 Jul 1919, at Buffalo, New York.

After the war, Florence (DiBos) and Ervin Turner settled at Chicago, where their two children were born. Carol Jean Turner was born in 1948, and William Richard Turner in 1950.

Florence told me that her mother used to speak of spending some time during her formative years in the City of Southampton, England. In her letter of 28 Feb 1983, Florence said:

...mother often spoke of Southampton where they lived in an old castle on the harbor front that had been converted into apartments. Their apartment had the rounded turret with a window seat from which they could watch the ships come and go.

When my Grandmother, Florence Choyce, bought a small summer cottage in Lake Como, Wisconsin (many years ago, I was a small child), she had a sign painted CASTLE HOUSE in memory of their home in Southampton.

With such vivid memories, and an accurate description of Castle House, it would appear that this Choyce family did spend an appreciable amount of time at that address.

CAROL JEAN (TURNER) AND WALTER KING BERNDT, OF CHICAGO, PASADENA, AND NAPERVILLE

Carol Jean Turner, daughter of Florence (DiBos) and Ervin Turner, was born 28 Mar 1948, at Chicago. Carol married Walter King Berndt, 19 Oct 1980, at Naperville, Illinois. Walter, son of Elizabeth June (Whitson) and Walter Cane Berndt, was born 2 Apr 1947, at Pasadena, California.

Carol (Turner) and Walter King Berndt had two children: Corinne Elizabeth Berndt, born 19 Feb 1982; and Michael Christopher Berndt, born 10 Nov 1983.

TERI JEAN (WHITE) AND WILLIAM RICHARD TURNER, OF CHICAGO, EVANSTON, AND WOODSTOCK

William Richard Turner, son of Florence (DiBos) and Ervin Turner, was born 14 May 1950, at Chicago. William married Teri Jean White, 20 Oct 1972, at Chicago. Teri, daughter of Ethel Louise (Morrison) and Loy Alvin White, was born 23 Mar 1952, at Evanston, Illinois.

Teri (White) and William Turner had two children: Jennifer Ann Turner, born 6 May 1975;and Dallas Richard Turner, born 2 Nov 1976. Both children were born at Woodstock, Illinois.

HILDA EDITH (CHOYCE) AND AMEDEO ARTHUR BRENTANO, OF LUTTERWORTH, NEWARK, AND CHICAGO

Hilda Edith Choyce, daughter of Florence (Thomas) and Joseph Choyce, was born 20 Jun 1892, at Lutterworth. Hilda's surname was spelled Choice on her birth records, although she always used the spelling Choyce.

Hilda Edith Choyce married Amedeo Arthur Brentano, 30 Nov 1920, at Chicago. Amedeo, son of Elizabeth (Johnson) and Joseph Brentano, was born 24 Nov 1892, at Newark, New Jersey.

Hilda (Choyce) and Amedeo Brentano had one child, Bernice Hilda Brentano, born in 1923. Amedeo died 9 Mar 1980 at Chicago. Hilda died in February of 1988.

BERNICE HILDA (BRENTANO) AND WALTER LAWRENCE BERNDT OF CHICAGO

Bernice Hilda Brentano, daughter of Hilda (Choyce) and Amedeo Brentano, was born 24 Jan 1923, at Chicago. Bernice married Walter Lawrence Berndt, 10 Jun 1944, at Chicago. Walter, son of Louise (Toepper) and William Herman Berndt, was born 18 Feb 1922, at Chicago.

Bernice (Brentano) and Walter Lawrence Berndt had two children, both born at Chicago: William Arthur Berndt, born in 1946; and Ronald Alan Berndt, born 27 Oct 1952. Ronald has not married.

Bernice patiently questioned her mother, as far as she was able, concerning their Choyce family genealogy. In her initial letter, Bernice said:

My mother, her sister, and six brothers, came over from England very young and separately.

My mother came ALONE on the boat at 16 years, very lonely, seasick, etc...but in America, they all joined again. This would place Hilda's date of emigration as about 1908.

NANCY MARIE (TWAROGOWSKI) AND WILLIAM ARTHUR BERNDT, OF CHICAGO AND WINFIELD

William Arthur Berndt, son of Bernice (Brentano) and Walter Lawrence Berndt, was born 25 Jun 1946, at Chicago. William married Nancy Marie Twarogowski, 8 Sep 1973, at Chicago. Nancy, daughter of Eugenia Mary Agnes (Daszkiewicz) and Edward B. Twarogowski, was born 26 Oct 1949,at Chicago.

Nancy (Twarogowski) and William Berndt had two children: David William Berndt, born 23 Apr 1975; and Jeffrey Logan Berndt, born 31 Jan 1980. Both boys were born at Winfield, Illinois.

In a letter written by Bernice's cousin, Florence (DiBos) Turner, Florence mentions the similarity of the names shared with her daughter's husband, Walter Berndt, and with her cousin's husband, Walter Berndt:

My daughter Carol's husband is NO relation to Aunt Hilda's daughter, Bernice Berndt. One of those rare coincidences and rather confusing to have two Walter Berndts in the same family.

Being the skeptic that I am, I would be tempted to make a thorough genealogical study before accepting Florence's statement at face value.

SABINA (JAHNKE), ADELAIDE (GRAF), AND SYDNEY JOSEPH CHOYCE, PLUMBER, OF LUTTERWORTH, CHICAGO, AND HINES

Sydney Joseph Choice, fourth child of Florence (Thomas) and Joseph Choice, was born 7 Jul 1894, at Lutterworth. Although his name was spelled Sidney Choice in English birth records, he used the spellings Sydney and Choyce throughout his lifetime.

We don't know what year Sydney, a redheaded youngster, emigrated to the United States and joined his family in Chicago. He spent the rest of his life in the Chicago area, except for his years of service with the United States Navy.

Sydney enlisted in the U.S. Navy in April of 1918, and served as an Engineman Second Class in World War I. His serial number was 1212903. He was discharged from the Navy, 30 Sep 1921.

Sydney Joseph Choyce married Sabina Jahnke, and had one child, a daughter, Marie Choyce. Marie Choyce married a man named Garwood, and lived at Vinton, Iowa. Sabina (Jahnke) and Sydney Choyce divorced.

Sydney's second wife was Adelaide Graf. Adelaide (Graf) and Sydney Choyce had one child, Conrad Choyce, who married and had two daughters, names are unknown to me. Conrad Choyce lived for some time at Arlington, Texas.

Sydney Joseph Choyce died 9 Feb 1952 at the Veterans Administration Hospital, Hines, Illinois. He is buried in Acacia Park Cemetery, Norwood Park, Illinois. Sydney was survived by his widow, Adelaide (Graf) Choyce and his two children.

EVELYN AND FREDERICK JOHN CHOYCE, SWITCHBOARD REPAIRMAN, OF LUTTERWORTH, CHICAGO, AND MILWAUKEE

Frederick John Choyce, fifth child of Florence (Thomas) and Joseph Choyce, was born 17 Aug 1896, at Lutterworth. Records at St. Catherine's House, spell his surname and that of his parents as Choice. However, Frederick always used the spelling Choyce.

Frederick emigrated to the United States alone as a youth. He first settled in the Chicago area, but, in later years, he moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Frederick married a woman whose first name is Evelyn but whose surname is not known. They did not have any children. Frederick was a switchboard repairman for Wisconsin Bell in Milwaukee. He is now deceased. I have no information concerning his widow.

ROSE (NEYLEN) AND LEONARD HENRY CHOYCE, METER REPAIRMAN, OF KING'S NORTON AND CHICAGO

Leonard Henry Choyce, sixth child of Florence (Thomas) and Joseph Choyce, was born 30 Mar 1899 at King's Norton, England, possibly at South Birmingham, Warwickshire, although there is a King's Norton east of Leicester; 20 miles northeast of Lutterworth. However, family members remember tales of life near Birmingham. So, perhaps the King's Norton in question is the one located on the southern perimeter of Birmingham, some 30 miles west of Lutterworth.

It does appear that Leonard's father had either changed the spelling of his surname to Choyce by this time, or had insisted upon the correct spelling in public records. Whatever the reason, the birth record for Leonard uses the spelling Choyce for parents and child.

Family members say that Leonard would have been a very young boy when he emigrated to the United States, but no details are available. He,too, made his home with family members who had emigrated before him and settled in the Chicago area. Leonard later worked as a meter repairman for Commonwealth Edison, in Chicago.

Leonard Henry Choyce married Rose Neylen, probably in Chicago. They did not have any children. Leonard is now deceased. Rose's whereabouts are unknown.

FLORENCE EMILY (THOMAS) AND JAMES LINNETT CHOYCE, CIRCULATION MANAGER, OF KING'S NORTON AND CHICAGO

James Linnett Choyce, seventh child of Florence (Thomas) and Joseph Choyce, was born 3 May 1901, at King's Norton, England. All surnames pertaining to James's birth were spelled Choyce. His middle name, Linnett, does not appear on his Choyce side of the family. Perhaps it is a clue to his mother's genealogy.

Family members report that James Linnett Choyce was but a mere child when he emigrated to the United States and joined his family in the Chicago area. James began his employment with the Chicago SunTimes newspaper in the circulation department.

James married Florence Emily Thomas. No particulars are available concerning Florence. Perhaps she was related to James's mother. Florence (Thomas) and James Choyce had one child, Jean Choyce, who married a man with the surname Sorice. No further particulars are available to me.

James Linnett Choyce is now deceased.

MILDRED ALICE (KRUSE) AND IVOR CHOYCE, ELECTRICIAN, OF ASTON, CHICAGO, DES PLAINES, AND ARLINGTON HEIGHTS

Ivor Choyce, youngest child of Florence (Thomas) and Joseph Choyce, was born 12 Nov 1906, at Aston, North Birmingham, England. The surname was spelled Choyce for all parties. Ivor's date of birth was obtained from his son, Richard. His place of birth was taken from the Index of Births, at St.Catherine's House, and refers to a Registration District, rather than a specific location.

The name Ivor does not appear in any other Choyce family, Perhaps it originated on the distaff side of the family.

Ivor emigrated as a toddler, with his mother. They made their home with daughter/sister Hilda Edith Choyce in Chicago for a while.