I have some letters from a Mrs. George Poss that involve the placement of some Madison children including Charley b. 1893, John M. b. 1898, and Mamie b. 1899 with the childless family of George and Mary Poss. The 1900 Census shows that two older girls Lizzie b. May 1891 and Mary b. April 1892 Madison were inmates of the St. Mary's Orphanage. I believe the Mother to be Lizzie McAvoy Madison of St. Louis, MO who was born in Ireland.

The letters were in a set of microfilms of orphanage records that I copied. They concern early adoptions or placements from St. Joseph Orphan Asylum and St. Ann's Asylum in St. Louis, MO.

The 1910 Census for McLeansboro shows George, 48, farmer, Mary A. 42, wife, Charley 17, John M. 12, and Mamie 10.

The 1920 Census shows only George, Mary, and Mamie.

The 1930 Census for McLeansboro shows Mary, a widow 63, and Mamie, 30, who works in a shirt factory.

SSDI shows Mamie Poss b. 11 Aug 1899 d.April 1981 McLeansboro, IL.

The children, according to the letters, were fostered by the family because the mother would not release them for adoption.

There is a John M. Madison b. 1898 MO in the 1930 Census for Los Angeles, California who may be the John M. Madison
fostered by the Poss family. John M Madison 32, Susan Evans Madison 31, John M Madison 7, Annette Madison 4 4/12.

I also found that the Hamilton County Historical Society has four cd's of remembrances by Mamie (Madison) Poss available.

Please contact me if you have an interest in these papers.

Kathy@FamilyWeSearch.com