Elisabeth Ana Franelich
Elisabeth (Lizie) Ana was Thomas and Odelia Franelich's 3rd child and 1st to survive into adulthood. She was the little girl, Lizie, referred to in Thomas Franelich's letter to his or Odelia's mother when Thomas sent her to get a doctor for her mother, Odelia. Elisabeth was born September 8,1855, and died February 25, 1924, (68 years old) after a long illness in her home at 307 S Lawrence Street. She was survived by, one stepson, Edward P. Leach and his son, Joseph B. Leach; two sisters, Lucy Webster and Mary Teresa Burlison; and, one brother, Nicolas Franelich.
Elizabeth Franelich (Elizabeth R. Franelich) married George Washington Cox November 26, 1885. In 1893 Elizabeth was living as widow of George Cox at 406 S. Cedar St.
Her second husband was William J. Roach, they were married November 21, 1894 at St. John's Rectory. William Roach (Roche) immigrated from Ireland in 1880 and was from time to time a timberman, bayman and longshoreman. William Roach (Roche) was born in Ireland April 15, 1844, and died at his home r (rear) 303 S. Lawrence March 7, 1919. Elisabeth and William were renting the house at 305 Eslava St. around 1900–1903, 204 S. Claiborne around 1909-1910 and at r (rear) 303 S. Lawrence St. around 1919-1924. (Mobile)
Edward Peter Leach seems to be a son of William Roach's previous wife and when she died he remained with William. Later, when William married Elisabeth, he became their stepson. Edward married Nora Kelly September 18, 1913 (marriage license date) and they had one son, Joseph B. Leach, born May 30, 1916 and died June 22, 1931 in Wachula, FL. Escambia County, Florida, records show a Nora Kelly Leach getting married in 1929. There is a record of Joseph B. Leach born in Mobile on May 30, 1916, and dying in Wachula, Florida, June 22, 1931.
Edward Peter Leach was born September 1, 1874, and died July 12, 1927. In 1898 he lived at 253 Bloodgood and was a tmberman, in 1899 he was a "bayman." 1900 and 1901 finds him as a timberman living at 305 Eslava. 1908 through 1915 he lived at 204 S. Claiborne and worked as a bartender in 1908, He was a timberman in 1910, a bayman in 1911, a laborer in 1912, and bartending again in 1915. In 1918 he was living at 301 1/2 Monroe and working as a ship's carpenter. In 1922 he was living at 303 S. Lawrence. In 1924 he was living at 303 S. Claiborne with his wife Nora Kelly Leach, and working as a Helper for Todd Dry Dock & Ship Building company. In 1926 he is again a timberman living at 305 S. Lawrence, in 1927 he was a helper living at 307 S. Lawrence when he died. In 1928 & 1929 Nora lived at 559 S. Broad. Edward Peter Leach died intestate and Nora petitioned the court for a resolution. She again petitioned the court for guardianship and control of her son's estate.
One obit shows Edward to be Elisabeth's son, a 1900 Census shows Edward as a son, a 1910 Census shows Edward as a stepson. On Edward's death certificate his mother is listed as Elisabeth Leach and there are other documents interchanging Edward as son or stepson.
Elisabeth Roach (Roche) bought a cemetery lot in Magnolia cemetery in 1899; east half lot 119, square 27 (12x20), where her mother Odelia is buried. The name on the concrete steps leading up to that section is Roach.
When I was a child my grandmother would take my brother, myself and sister to visit Mrs. Eugenie Cox, who lived just down the street at 1004 Springhill Ave. Mrs. Cox was noticeably older than my grandmother but I don't think by a generation. A guess is she was the daughter-in-law or sister-in law of George Cox. It seemed to be a keep-in-touch visit as there were no other social interactions. My grandmother always implied there was a family relationship somewhere—we just didn't understand the connection. I remember she was a widow who's husband, J. Tom Cox, died and her son, Fred L. Cox, committed suicide with a pistol shot to the head a few weeks afterwards (May 20, 1945). Fred Cox dated my great aunt Laura Odelia Franelich around 1942.