The Three Thomas Hamalls
Three Generations, One Cottage
How documentary evidence rescued a family story and validated memories kept alive across 70 years
The Case at a Glance
291 Lionel Road, Riverside, Illinois
24×24-foot one-room cottage
Purchased 1911 for $300
Still standing as of 2025
Did three men named Thomas Hamall maintain meaningful connection to this property across three generations (1911-1998), despite divorces that fractured each father-son relationship?
Oral history alone. No deeds. No wills. No custody records. Just memories of "Saturday visits" and a 1928 Supreme Court case that mentioned the cottage.
October 1940 WWII Draft Registration Card showing visible correction: Thomas Eugene Hamall crossed out his address and 291 Lionel Road was typed over it as his legal residence.
22 primary sources proving continuous three-generation connection (1911-1998). Every oral history claim verified. 100% correlation between memory and documentary evidence.
Meets all five elements of the Genealogical Proof Standard:
✓ Reasonably exhaustive research
✓ Complete & accurate citations
✓ Thorough analysis
✓ Resolution of conflicts
✓ Written conclusion
The Three Men Named Thomas
Three generations. One cottage.
Generation I
Thomas Henry Hamall
(1880-1938)
The FighterPurchased the property at 291 Lionel Road in 1911 for $300 to build a home for himself and his mother Kate Hamall. When his ex-wife sued for $2,500 in back child support and tried to seize the property, he fought for four years all the way to the Illinois Supreme Court—and won.
His 1928 victory created legal precedent still cited today. He died in 1938, leaving the cottage to his only son.
Key Evidence:
- Illinois Supreme Court case Hamall v. Petru (1928)
- WWI Draft Registration showing residence (1918)
- Wedding photographs at Riverside (1922)—forensic analysis proved father and son photographed separately at same location
Generation II
Thomas Eugene Hamall
(1904-1967)
The SonInherited his father's cottage at age 34. Two years later, when his own marriage fell apart, he moved into that cottage—crossing out his in-laws' address on his draft card and then typed over it was: 291 Lionel Road.
His 8-year-old son remembers Saturday visits to "Riverside", memories that endured for 70 years. In 1947, he traveled 1,200 miles from Miami to Washington DC to visit his son in seminary—a journey his son later called "pivotal."
Key Evidence:
- October 1940 WWII Draft Card (the "smoking gun" correction)
- "Riverside House" photographs—Thomas Eugene with dog, forensic analysis connects to Thomas Kenny's photos
- 1947 Washington DC trip (1,200 miles to visit son)—separate photos, same location
Generation III
Thomas Kenny Hamall
(1932-2010)
The KeeperRemembered those Saturday visits for 70 years. Remembered the dog they had to leave behind. Remembered his father's trip to Washington when he was in seminary—"pivotal," he called it.
Though he may never have known the exact address, he traveled to the area to relive those memories. And he preserved the photographs in a "Riverside House" envelope—evidence that his wife passed to their daughter Mary after his death, and that would eventually prove every word was true.
Key Evidence:
- Birth certificate (1932) linking him to Thomas Eugene
- "Riverside House" photographs preserved in original envelope
- Oral history (lifetime)—100% corroborated by documents
- 1947 DC photographs with father—forensic analysis proved shared visit
What Makes This Case Study Special
For Professional Genealogists
- BCG Exemplar: Demonstrates all five GPS elements
- Particularly strong in evidence correlation and conflict resolution
- Suitable for BCG portfolio case study submission
- Model for oral history verification
- Photographs as primary evidence, not just illustration—forensic analysis techniques
For Clients & Families
- Not just property ownership, but why it mattered
- Family legends verified: Saturday visits, the dog, DC trip—all true
- Understanding multi-generational impact
- Legal precedent still cited today
- Professional documentation suitable for legal use
For Legal & Historical Researchers
- Hamall v. Petru established Illinois homestead precedent
- Case cited in 12+ subsequent Illinois decisions (1930-2020)
- Demonstrates intersection of family law and genealogy
- Model for using court cases as genealogical sources
- Documents social history of divorced fathers
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See all 22 primary sources with full citations and BCG analysis.
View DocumentsThe Human Story
purchased a $300 property to build a home for himself and his mother. When his ex-wife tried to seize it years later, he fought the Illinois Supreme Court for 4 years to protect it—and won. He died in 1938, leaving the cottage to his son.
inherited that cottage when his father died. Two years later, when his own marriage ended, he moved into it and brought his 8-year-old son there for Saturday visits. He knew what his father had sacrificed to protect this place.
carried those Saturday visits in his memory for 70 years. Though he may never have known the exact address, he traveled to relive those memories. He preserved the photographs in a "Riverside House" envelope that his wife passed to their daughter after his death. Every memory proved true.
This is what genealogy can do when it asks not just "what happened?" but "what did it mean?"
The Evidence in Numbers
Companion Blog Posts: The Human Stories Behind the Documentation
This case study is supported by six narrative blog posts that explore the human stories, patterns, and methodology behind the research. These posts demonstrate how rigorous documentary evidence and compelling storytelling work together.
Thomas Henry's four-year legal battle to the Illinois Supreme Court
Forensic photographic analysis methodology across three generations
Identifying Emmett Holland through forensic ear analysis
Economic necessity and multi-generational households
Thomas Eugene's 23-year effort to maintain connection
Near-extinction, child mortality, and family survival
Methodology Note: Each blog post demonstrates specific research techniques—forensic photo analysis, legal document interpretation, oral history verification, pattern recognition across generations—that contributed to this BCG-compliant case study.
Ready to Discover Your Family's Story?
Every family has stories waiting to be proven. Fragments of memory that deserve documentary evidence. Connections across generations that matter more than dates on a page.
Storyline Genealogy specializes in multi-generational research, legal records analysis, oral history verification, and BCG-compliant case studies that honor both rigor and heart.
This case study is dedicated to Thomas Kenny Hamall (1932-2010), who kept the one and only photograph of his grandfather, remembered one pivotal trip, and held onto his memories of Riverside. His determination to not forget made it possible to remember everything.