Three Thomas Hamalls Timeline
A Visual Journey Through 87 Years at 291 Lionel Road
Three men named Thomas Hamall maintained connection to one property across three generations, with documentary evidence for each touchpoint.
The Property
291 Lionel Road, Riverside, Illinois
24×24-foot one-room cottage • Purchased for $300 in 1911 • Still standing as of 2025
This timeline uses 22 primary sources, including forensic photographic analysis that proved connections across three generations—even when family members were captured in separate frames.
Generation I: Thomas Henry Hamall (1880-1938)
Thomas Henry Purchases 291 Lionel Road
Thomas Henry purchases the cottage for $300 to build a home for himself and his mother Kate Hamall. Borrowed $400 from Kate to establish the homestead.
Illinois Supreme Court caseGeneration I begins connection to property
Confirmed Residence
Thomas Henry living at 291 Lionel Road, proven through WWI Draft Registration Card.
WWI Draft CardConfirms continuous residence from 1911-1918
Father & Son in Riverside
Thomas Henry remarries in Riverside. Thomas Eugene (age ~18) attends wedding. Though photographed separately, forensic photographic analysis proves both were at Olmsted bridge the same day—identical location, lighting, and shadows.
Wedding photographs (separate frames) Photographic analysisDetective work: Separate photos prove they were together. Thomas Eugene knew Riverside community.
Four Years in Court
Ex-wife Emma sues for $2,500 back child support, seeking to seize 291 Lionel Road. Thomas Henry fights for four years to protect the cottage.
June 20, 1928: Thomas Henry WINS Supreme Court case Hamall v. Petru, 331 Ill. 465. Property protected as homestead. Creates legal precedent still used today.
Supreme Court opinion Case cited 12+ timesThomas Henry Dies
January 28, 1938. Thomas Eugene (age 34) inherits 291 Lionel Road. The promise kept: a protected place passes to his son.
Death certificateGeneration I ends • Property passes to Generation II
Generation II: Thomas Eugene Hamall (1904-1967)
Saturday Visits Begin
Thomas Eugene's son, Thomas Kenny (age 6-9) remembers "Saturday visits" to the cottage. Photographs show Thomas Eugene with the dog at the property. Though captured in separate frames, the dog connects father and son to this place and time.
"Riverside House" photographs Oral historyThomas Kenny's photographs of the same dog—proves shared visits
Generations II and III overlap at property
The Critical Claim
Thomas Eugene claims 291 Lionel Road as legal residence on WWII Draft Registration Card. Visible correction: original address crossed out, cottage address typed in.
The Timeline:
• April 1940: Census shows intact family at 33 N Menard Avenue
• October 1940: Draft card shows Thomas Eugene at cottage
• Emergency contact: Margaret at separate address
When everything falls apart, you go home. Marriage over—separation occurred between April and October 1940.
Family Moves to Miami
Margaret takes Thomas Kenny to Florida. Thomas Eugene follows later with mother Emma. Geographic separation: 1,200+ miles from Illinois. "Had to leave the dog behind."
1945 Florida census Oral history1,200 Miles for Connection
Thomas Eugene travels from Miami to Washington DC to visit Thomas Kenny during seminary years. Distance: ~1,200 miles. Though photographed separately, photographic analysis confirms both were at U.S. Capitol—matching perspectives, identical architectural details, same time period.
DC photographs dated 1947 (separate frames) Photographic analysis "Pivotal" visitDetective work: Separate photos prove the visit. Love doesn't have a custody agreement. Father-son connection maintained across 1,200 miles despite divorce.
Thomas Eugene Dies
Generation II ends.
Death certificateGeneration III: Thomas Kenny Hamall (1932-2010)
Journey to Relive Memories
Thomas Kenny travels to the area to relive the memories. Though he may never have known the exact address, he remembered. The place. The Saturday visits. His father. The dog.
Oral historyFull circle: Returns to honor childhood "Saturday visits"
Preserving the Evidence
Thomas Kenny carefully preserves photographs in "Riverside House" envelope. Shares oral history with family. Records memories that would later be verified 100%.
"Riverside House" envelope Family oral historyEvery factual claim later verified with documentary evidence
Thomas Kenny Dies
The "Riverside House" envelope is passed through his wife to their daughter Mary. The photographs preserved. The memories protected. The story waiting to be proven.
Generation III ends
Research Completed
Mary Hamall Morales receives "Riverside House" envelope from her mother after Thomas Kenny's death. Locates 22 primary sources. All oral history claims verified. BCG Genealogical Proof Standard met. Case study BCG Portfolio Quality.
Complete research packageThe memories he preserved proved the story he remembered. Every word true.
The Cottage Across the Years
1911-1938 (27 years) • THOMAS HENRY HAMALL
Purchased 1911 • Lived there (proven 1918) • Defended in court (1924-1928) • Left to son (1938)
1938-1941 (3 years) • THOMAS EUGENE HAMALL
Inherited 1938 • Brought son for visits (1938-1941) • Claimed as legal residence (October 1940) • Moved to Miami (~1941)
1941-2025 (84 years) • STATUS UNCLEAR
Thomas Eugene relocated to Miami by 1948-1950 but may have retained ownership for a period of time • No deed transfers found • Cottage address likely unknown to Thomas Kenny
Father-Son Connections Across Fracture
Generation I → Generation II: Separated by divorce ~3-20 miles. Connection maintained through 1922 wedding attendance, 4-year legal battle (1924-1928), and 1938 inheritance of protected cottage.
Generation II → Generation III: Separated by divorce and geography ~1,200 miles. Connection maintained through Saturday visits (1938-1941), 1947 cross-country visit to DC, and 1957 wedding attendance.
The Detective Work: Photographic Analysis
1922 Riverside Wedding: Thomas Henry and Thomas Eugene photographed separately at Olmsted bridge. Forensic analysis of lighting, shadows, architectural details, and perspective proves they were there the same day.
1940s Saturday Visits: Thomas Eugene photographed with dog at cottage. Thomas Kenny has photograph of the same dog at the cottage. Separate frames, but the dog proves shared visits to the same place.
1947 DC Seminary Visit: Thomas Eugene and Thomas Kenny photographed separately at U.S. Capitol. Analysis of architectural features, camera angles, and dating confirms both were there together.
They weren't posing for family portraits—they were living their lives. The photos prove what the memories preserved.
Three Promises Kept
Thomas Henry to Thomas Eugene (1911-1938)
"I will defend and protect this place. It will be yours."
Built a home for himself and his mother (1911). When threatened by a $2,500 judgment, fought 4 years through Illinois courts to protect it as homestead. Won the case. Left the cottage to his son.
✓ Promise kept in 1938
Thomas Eugene to Thomas Kenny (1938-1941)
"I will create memories and maintain a connection to my son."
His son remembers Saturday visits. Created memories at the cottage. Traveled 1,200 miles for pivotal DC visit. Left photographs and stories.
✓ Promise kept across 1,200 miles and 27 years
Thomas Kenny to His Father's Memory (Lifetime-2010)
"I will remember. I will preserve. I will pass it on."
Kept photographs safe for 70 years in "Riverside House" envelope. Shared the stories with family. Traveled to relive the memories. Left evidence that would prove it all.
✓ Promise kept—passed through his wife to daughter Mary, verified in 2025