SIXTH GENERATION

32. Raphael FINOT was born on Jul 18 1839 in Thorey sous Charny, Cote-d'Or, France. He died on Oct 31 1920 in Anna, Union Co., IL. Raphael's death certificate states that he died on October 31, 1920, but the records at Anna State Hospital show that he died on October 30, 1920. He was buried on Nov 2 1920 in Mt. Joy Cem. Levan Twp., Jackson Co., IL. At the time of his marriage to Marie Josephine Prenat, Raphael was living in Creux, in the community of Izieux, canton of Saint Charmond, District of Saint Etienne, Department of Loire. His marriage document states that he was 27 and a mechanic, and had lived in Creux for more than eleven years. Raphael first came to America in 1868 as a result of his banishment from France by the rule of Napoleon III.
Raphael applied for his "Declaration of Intention", on November 4, 1893 and his "Petition for Final Papers and Final Oath" on March 17, 1896. His witnesses were two Frenchmen, and friends, Louis Peinter and Prosper Jacquot. Raphael became a naturalized American citizen on the 17th of March, 1896. He was later called Ralph. It is reputed that the original Finot homestead was/is in Overland, MO (near St. Louis). There are still some of the descendants of Raphael's son Louis John Finot in or around the St. Louis area. My uncle Gerald Williams was treated by a Dr. Philip Finot in 1944 in Indianapolis, IN who claimed to be the owner of this original homestead.
Raphael was very troubled by excessive drinking, bitterness and ill health at the end of his life. He had invented several very significant and useful tools and technology ahead of his days, but when going into business or partnership with others to sell them, had always been taken advantage of and lost his right to, and interest in them. We have just discovered two of those inventions that he had patented here in the US after having patented inventions in France. One of his inventions was apparently the first "two-way" plow for farmers, whereby, they no longer had to drag their plow back down the field after plowing up the field one way, but (using his invention) could now plow both ways. His second significant invention was an improvement to the corn planter of his day, making it plant the corn in an even and orderly fashion across the field. These significant inventions were patented in 1894 and 1899 respectively.
He was still at home in January of 1920 for the 1920 census even though family recollections remember that Jennie and other family members were having a very difficult time keeping him at home. They finally had him committed to the State Hospital on September 25, 1920. Records at the Hospital show him to be a Catholic, married with 2 children and list notes by the staff stating that he was "quick tempered and head strong". The records also state that Raphael completed "Common School" in France. He passed away later in that year on October 30th at the State Hospital in Anna.

He was married to Claudine MICHEL (daughter of Antoine MICHEL and Josephine CAIRE) on Jul 30 1860 in , , France. Claudine MICHEL was born about 1836 in Rive de Gier, Loire, France. She died on May 21 1866 in Izieux-St. Chamond-St. Etienne, Loire, France. She was buried on May 23 1866 in Izieux-St. Chamond-St. Etienne, Loire, France. Raphael FINOT and Claudine MICHEL had the following children:

+49 i. Antoinette Stephanie "Fanny" FINOT.
+50 ii. Louis Jean "John" FINOT.

He was married to Marie Josephine PREYNAT (daughter of Jean Marie PREYNAT and Marie Anne FRECON) on Sep 3 1866 in Izieux-St. Chamond-St. Etienne, Loire, France. Witnesses to Raphael and Marie's marriage were: Etienne Talla, barman, forty-nine years of age; Jean Pierre Roussier, retired, eighty years of age; Pierre Erbuel, blacksmith, sixty years of age; and Sebastian Schmitt, sheriff, fifty-three years of age. Marie Josephine PREYNAT was born on Sep 30 1843 in Izieux-St. Chamond-St. Etienne, Loire, France. She died about 1869 in prob St. Louis, St. Louis Co., MO. In the marriage document of Marie's marriage to Raphael, it states that she was a housewife, 23 years of age domiciled at Creux in this community of Izieux (Loire), born at Izieux, legitimate daughter of Jean Marie Prenat, sixty two, domiciled at the above said place, and of Marianne Frecons, deceased at Izieux on February eleven, eighteen sixty-one.

He was married to Francoise "Frances" FINOT (daughter of Jean Baptiste "John" FINOT and Jeanne "Eugenia" MEUNIER) on Jul 13 1872 in St. Louis, St Louis Co., MO. Francoise "Frances" FINOT was born on Sep 8 1848 in Bligny les Beaune, Cote-d'Or, France. She died on Apr 6 1925 in Murphysboro, Jackson Co., IL. She was buried on Apr 8 1925 in Mt. Joy Cem. Levan Twp., Jackson Co., IL. Frances states in the census of 1900 that she first came to America in 1860 and it doesn't list her as being a naturalized citizen. We now know for a fact she did come to the states in 1861, and was only about 12-13 years old and came with her parents. Her given name was Francoise but she changed it to Frances and married Raphael, her first cousin. In letters from the current President and Secretary of the Icarian Society in St. Louis, MO, it seems to indicate that Frances was a member of that Society. Being a member, might also suggest that her parents were also members or at least associated or interested in the Icarian teachings and communal way of life.
Frances was living with Jack and Eugenia Sorrels at the time of her death. Their home, which was located at 2120 Wall St., in Murphysboro, was damaged in the March 18, 1925 tornado that hit Murphysboro, IL. Frances was confined to a bed or wheel chair at the time because of a stroke that left her partially paralyzed on her left side, and in the midst of the tornado damage the wheel chair that she was sitting in was apparently overturned and she wound up underneath her nearby bed severely injured. She died about three weeks later from her injuries sustained in that tornado. Raphael FINOT and Francoise "Frances" FINOT had the following children:

+51 i. Eugenia Angeline "Jennie" FINOT.
52 ii. Marie Lucie "Mary" FINOT was born on Jun 24 1878 in , Jackson Co., IL. She died on Sep 14 1880 in , Jackson Co., IL.
53 iii. Raphael Jean FINOT Jr. was born on Mar 1 1881 in , Jackson Co., IL. He died on Sep 17 1888 in , Jackson Co., IL. When Raphael, Jr. was about seven, he contracted measles and when he was about over them he went outside in the rain and played. He then got pneumonia and died.

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