Information for submitted updates are from information found in probate records from LaSalle County, Illinois on Ancestry, which includes 94 images. (Probate date: 10 Oct 1895, Probate Estate Files, Box 302 No.6-Box 303 No.14, 1895-1898)

Clarence M. Aldrich was the son of Lorenzo Dow and Laura (Strank) Aldrich of Mendota, LaSalle, Illinois. Siblings include brothers Harrison, Henry B., Herbert Clark, & Lorenzo Eugene Aldrich, and sister Abbie (Aldrich) Strong, who are all mentioned in the probate proceedings.
His wife was Mary A. Aldrich. They adopted Clarence Mitchell Hart in 1893. He was the son of John and Emma Hart, who were divorced. Emma Hart gave custody of Clarence Mitchell Hart to Clarence and Mary Aldrich, who officially adopted him and changed his last name from Hart to Aldrich.

Clarence and Mary A. Aldrich were living in Fargo, ND prior to Clarence being admitted to the State Hospital in Jamestown. (Case number 88-642) Per the petitioner Thomas Baker Jr, Administrator of the estate of Clarence M. Aldrich:
"deceased, late of the said County of Cass and State of North Dakota, respectively represents unto your Honor that on, to-wit, the twelfth day of October A. D. 1894, the said Clarence M. Aldrich departed this life, intestate, in the city of Jamestown, County of Stutsman, and State of North Dakota, he being at the time of his death and for a considerable time previous thereto of unsound mind, and having been committed to the Hospital for the Insane at Jamestown, North Dakota by the order of the County Court of the said County of Cass" "Your petitioner further represents unto your Honor that the said Clarence M. Aldrich left him surviving his widow Mary A. Aldrich, and Clarence Aldrich, an adopted son and his only heirs at law."

At the time of his death, Clarence Aldrich owned the following real estate in LaSalle, IL: N1/2 and N 20 acres of the S1/2 NE1/4 of section 12, township 36, range 1. Mortgage dated March 15, 1887 to Allan Wylie for the sum of $3500 due 3 years from date with interest at 7% per annum, payable annually. Also, one mortgage dated November 1, 1893 to C. C. Strong (husband of Clarence's sister, Abbie). May 1, 1894, the mortgage to C. C. Strong was assigned to Lorenzo D. Aldrich (father of Clarence Aldrich) recorded with the office of the Recorder of Deeds, LaSalle County, IL; book 323, page 125 on May 2, 1894. Lorenzo D. Aldrich then assigned the mortgage to Lorenzo E. Aldrich (brother to Clarence Aldrich), though it hadn't been filed as of date of this probate record. Lorenzo E. was living in the residence on the property in question.

Also included in the probate record is a transcript of proceedings of the Cook County (IL) Circuit Court, Hon. Thomas G. Windes presiding regarding the adoption of Clarence Mitchell Hart. August 5, 1893, the following petition was entered into record:
In the matter of the petition of Clarence C. Morton Aldrich, Mary A. Aldrich to adopt Clarence Mitchell Hart:
Following testimony in court and counsel arguments, "the Court finds that the allegations in said Petition are fully proven; that Clarence Mitchell Hart is the minor son of John Hart and Emma Hart; that before the filing of the petition for adoption herein Emma Hart the Mother of said Clarence Mitchell Hart was legally divorced from her husband John Hart, and by said decree the sole care, custody and education of said Clarence Mitchell Hart was given to said Emma Hart, that said Emma Hart is now named Emma Self, and that she has the sole right to consent to the adoption of said Clarence Mitchell Hart by the petitioners herein and that said Clarence Mitchell Hart is now aged five years and upwards. The Court further finds that Emma Self, formerly Emma Hart...consents to the adoption of said child by the petitioners Clarence C. Morton Aldrich and Mary A. Aldrich...that the petitioners are of sufficient ability to bring up the said child and furnish suitable nurture and education therefore, and that it is fit and proper that such adoption should be made. It is therefore ordered, adjudged and decreed in accordance with the State in such cases made and provided, that from this date the said child Clarence Mitchell Hart shall, to all legal intents and purposes, be the child of the petitioners, Clarence C. Morton Aldrich and Mary A. Aldrich, and for the purpose of inheritance and all other legal incidents and consequences, shall be the same as if he had been born to them in lawful wedlock. It is further ordered, adjudged and decreed, that the name of said child be changed to Clarence Mitchell Aldrich according to the prayer of the petitioners herein." Decree made August 5, 1893.

I haven't been able to find further information on Mary A. Aldrich or Clarence Mitchell (Hart) Aldrich, so I'm unable to link them to this memorial.
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