Wisconsin Forums

[geri_s]

I have a few, which I have kept trying to verify as fact, and I have old documents proving it. The first one was my great-great Uncle Norman Lilley. He was from a cavalry unit out of Wisconsin. He was from Weyauwega, and was taken prisoner, was sent to a notorious prison camp during the Civil War, and actually made it home alive. I think the camp was Rock Island or something like that.

Next, my great -grandmother's name was Angie McCoy. She was from the Tennessee/Kentucky borderline, and was a member of one of the clans that were legendary for it's fighting, the Hatfield's and McCoys. ( No wonder everyone in my family argue all the time!!!)

Last one, and my favorite, my grandmother's best friend in elementary school was Evelyn Frechette, later to be known as Billie, the girlfriend of John Dillinger. My grandmother went to school with her at the Menominee Tribal School, even though my grandmother was not Native American, but her family( the McCoy side) lived in the town of Red Springs. A few days before the big shoot-out at Little Bohemia, my grandfather waited in his car by the five & dime store in Clintonville, John Dillinger was waiting across the street, sticking out like a sore thumb in a black new shiny car, which wasn't seen in many of these parts back in the depression days era. Billie and my grandma were in the store, talking, and catching up on what had been going on. They weren't there long, because of the fear of being noticed, but my grandfather always said he will remember how John Dillinger looked; he said he was like a rich, dapper gentleman, the way he was dressed in a pinstriped suit, and spats and a fedora. Imagine, my grandparents knew when a most wanted man was around. They were dirt poor and could have used the reward, but never told a soul. My grandma loved her friend, and always told me how bad she felt about Billie's life turning out like it did. I believe this did happen, as I had seen photos of my grandma and Billie from school together, and my grandfather was a simple, honest, hardworking man, who I don't think would make something up like that.