Sixteenth Generation

1028. Fayette Howe "Fay" ROOT was born on 4 October 1907 in Beloit, Beloit Township, Rock County, WI.¹⁵⁴ He appeared in the census in 1910 in Beloit, Beloit Township, Rock County, WI.³⁰¹ He appeared in the census in 1920 in Beloit, Beloit Township, Rock County, WI.²¹⁹ Fay appeared in the census in 1930 in Beloit, Beloit Township, Rock County, WI.³⁰² He was living with his mother and his occupation was "None." Between 1934 and 1944 he was a teacher at Hononegah High School in Rockton, Rockton Township, Winnebago County, IL.^{154,437,438,439,440} After 1948 he was a manager in the department of Camp and Park Management in Champaign-Urbana, Champaign County, IL.^438,441 at the University of Illinois 4-H Memorial Camp and Allerton Park.

Thoughts of Fay's son, Tom, about his father: "My father's dad, Roy, died when my dad was 15 years old. It was said of Roy that if he built a stairs, the under side looked as good as the top side. My dad, Fay, was a great dad, expecially for boys--shooting targets in the basement, building a paddle boat, making a boomerang, frustrating a vacuum cleaner salesman on a lazy Saturday afternoon, or playing nose tag. He was street smart, ingenious, could build things and always loved to tease.

He liked to have his boys work with him on projects as long as we did what we were told and let him do the thinking. He could be gruff during the work, but later he'd praise you.

If he was mad at you, his gray eyes would flash fire. The worst thing we could do was sass our mother, which could turn him into a charging bull and me into mush.

He knew everyone and everyone knew him. I never ran into anyone who didn't like him. I used to hear it all the time: 'Oh, you must be Fay Root's boy.' Which reminds me of when we were little. Dad would grab hold of us and ask, 'Whose boy are you?' Then he'd tickle us until we'd say, 'Yours, Daddy.' Any other kid in our house was fair game to get tickled or ruffled or messed with in some way.

It was an honor to be his son. I not only loved him; I liked him. He didn't need a book on how to parent, just common sense, time and love. Some of the most prized possessions that I have are his tools. They always remind me of him." Fay died on 22 June 1987 at the age of 79 in Bloomington, McLean County, IL.^154,441 of a heart attack. He was buried in Danvers, McLean County, IL.^154,439 in the Park Lawn Cemetery.

Fayette Howe "Fay" ROOT and Vera Maude SAKEMILLER were married on 11 June 1936 in Bloomington, McLean County, IL.¹⁵⁴ Vera Maude SAKEMILLER was born on 27 November 1905 in Carlock, McLean County, IL.¹⁵⁴

(She could not be located anywhere in the U.S. in the 1910 or 1920 Census.) Between 1930 and 1973 she was a teacher in a grade school and at Honegehah High School in Rockton, Rockton Township, Winnebago County, IL.^154,438,439 She also taught piano and organ. She appeared in the census in 1930 in Rockton, Rockton Township, Winnebago County, IL.⁴⁴² She was a "Boarder" in the household of Charles and Kate Gleasman on Union Street and her occupation was "Teacher, Public School." Vera died on 1 November 1997 at the age of 91 in Silvis, Rock Island County, IL.¹⁵⁴ She was buried in Danvers, McLean County, IL.¹⁵⁴ in the Park Lawn Cemetery.

Fayette Howe "Fay" ROOT and Vera Maude SAKEMILLER had the following children: