"We found the cemetery in Marengo where he was buried," Parenti said. That gave the Parentis some vital statistics. They could also determine from four nearby grave markers the make up of Wayne's family. Wayne's wife Ellen died in 1900, a daughter lived from 1851 to 1854, and the son, Charles, from 1855 to 1905. (This would be the Marengo City Cemetery.)
"I kept asking around Marengo if anyone knew about the house in Union," said Mrs. Parenti. "I kept asking though and I came across a club made up of village descendants of the first Marengo area pioneers. It's called the Ladies Home Circle today.
"The club had an annual event where all the members attended an all-day meeting. The whole family would come in the early days. (Was this the predecessor of the annual Marengo Settlers Days festival to be held this year from October 7-10?)
"At any rate I got in touch with the club members. One of them told me about a woman in Elgin and this woman in Elgin had a neighbor who was a relation of the Waynes.
"This relative was named Claude Britton."
--Old Secesh
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