Kendall County, Illinois Genealogy

The Old Settlers.

Originally Published in the Kendall County Record, June 28, 1893.
Edited and Compiled by Elmer Dickson.

There was a good crowd of people on the Fair Grounds last Saturday on the occasion of the Old Settlers' picnic, but not the usual general attendance from all over the county. Some say June is too early for the picnic, suggesting the latter part of August or the first part of September would be preferable. But there was a pleasant party out Saturday, and all enjoyed the day.

After the dinner hour, the exercises began in the Implement Building, which had been prepared for the occasion.

The principal address was made by Reverend D. M. Tompkins of Aurora, proxy for Nathan J. Aldrich, who was kept away by law business. Mr. Tompkins made a fine impromptu speech. Milton E. Cornell, President George Cowdrey, Secretary John A. Newell, and others, made brief talks, and all were listened to attentively. The Yorkville band furnished music.

While the speaking was going on, the young people were enjoying the athletic features, and the amphitheatre was comfortably filled with spectators.

There was also a game of baseball between the Plattville and Yorkville nines. It was a fine game for spectators, who enjoyed it highly. The score was 44 to 19 in favor of Yorkville.

There was a scarcity of water on the ground, which should have been provided. A good barrel full with some ice would have been most acceptable.

Names of old settlers who have died since June 16, 1892:

Mrs. Julia R. (Crouse) Carpenter (Mrs. Elias Carpenter) died June 19, 1892, aged 87 years. She came to Little Rock Township in 1846.

Amer Brewer Cook died August 25, 1892, aged 87 years. He came to Little Rock Township in 1838.

John Gilman died April 20, 1893, in the 77^th year of his age. He came to Kendall County in 1837.

Sharley 'Emeline' (Carver) Hollister (Mrs. John Hollister) died April 27, 1893, in the 85^th year of her age. She came to Kendall County in 1838.

John C. Barber died May 17, 1893, in the 76^th year of his age. He came in 1845.

Albert Smith, Sr. (s. Hiram, Sr. & Catherine) died May 24, 1893, aged 56 years. He came to this county with his parents when very young. He came about 1839.

Benjamin Franklin Alden died July 29, 1892, aged 84 years. He came to Bristol in 1837.

Mrs. Deborah Godard (2^nd Mrs. Chancy Y. Godard) died March 14, 1893, aged 78 years. She came to Bristol in June 1849.

Isaac K. Young died May 30, 1893, in the 55^th year of his age. He came to Bristol in 1841.

Harvey Beecher died April 22, 1893, in the 65^th year of his age. He came here in 1843.

Mrs. Nancy (Bennett) Brown (Mrs. Michael Brown) died March 27, 1893, in the 83^rd year of her age. She came to this county in 1843.

David Brown died January 30, 1893, at the remarkable age of nearly 99 years. He came to the town of Big Grove in 1845.

Parmenas Whittaker Coulthurst, Sr. died April 26, 1893, in the 78^th year of his age. He came to the town of Lisbon in 1842.

Ira Scofield died August 20, 1892 in the 87^th year of his age. He came to the county in 1838.

Harriet L. Warner (Mrs. Pernett Warner) died September 23, 1892, aged 79 years. She came to Illinois in 1845.

John Quincy Adams died June 9, 1893, in the 61^st year of his age. He came to Kendall County when two years old, and his father built the first house in Yorkville in 1833.

Oswego  Township.

John Collins died August 2, 1892 aged 84 years. He came to the county in 1843.

Rebecca Williams (Mrs. Christopher Williams) died August 8, 1892, in the 88^th year of her age. She came here in 1847.

William W. Wormley died October 1, 1892, in the 63^rd year of his age. He came to the town of Oswego in 1834.

Andrew J. Wormley died April 22, 1893, in the 66th year of his age. He came to the county in 1838.

Mrs. Louisa Juliette 'Lois' (Warner) Pearce (Mrs. William H. Pearce) died April 15, 1893, aged 68 years. She came to the county in 1835.

Mrs. Paulina R. (Wagner) Hall (Mrs. David Hall) died February 18, 1893, in the 54^th year of her age. She came to Oswego in 1851.

Mrs. Almira H. (Ashley) Shaver (Mrs. Charles F. Shaver) died June 21, 1893, aged 65 years. She came to the county in 1835.

Mrs. Jane (Hooper) Denner (Mrs. James Denner) died February 4, 1893, aged 81 years. She came to the town of Lisbon in 1845.

Mrs. Nancy (Clarke) Bushnell (Mrs. George Bushnell) died April 24,1893, aged 73 years. She came to Lisbon in 1840.

Mrs. Mary E. (Boyer) Smith (Mrs. Gideon Draper Smith) died June 19, 1893, in the 60^th year of her age.

Seward Township.

Edward Jones died February 9, 1893, in the 71^st year of his age. He had lived in the county fifty years. (Came in abt 1844.)

Fox Township.

Mrs. Sarah (Smith) Rarick (Mrs. Samuel 'Perry' Rarick) died March 23, 1893, in the 88^th year of her age.

Palmer Sherman died December 27, 1892, in the 94^th year of his age. He came to the county in 1836.

Reverend Thomas Serrine died June 20, 1893, aged 90 years. He came to Kendall County in 1838.

Matthew Leitch died October 19, 1892, in the 83^rd year of his age. He came in 1857.

Mrs. Mary Jane (Linton) Stevenson (Mrs. Robert L. Stevenson) died June 9, 1893, in the 58^th year of her age. She came here in 1855.

Old settlers who have died out of the county and brought here for burial.

Mrs. Juliet (Harkins) Havenhill (Mrs. C. J. Oliver Havenhill) died at Sheridan, Illinois, December 5, 1892, in the 63^rd year of her age. She came to Kendall County in 1846.

Jeremiah Evarts died at Plainfield February 4, 1893, in the 57^th year of his age. He came to the county in 1855.

Mrs. Elizabeth L. (Baxter) Cleveland (Mrs. Hartley A. Cleveland) died at Normal, Illinois February 6, 1893, in the 58^th year of her age. She came to Kendall County in 1858.

Peter A. Misner died at Sandwich, Illinois May 5, 1893, in the 74^th year of his age. He came to Newark in 1833, where he lived until 1865, when he moved to Sandwich.

Lucius W. Page died at Geneva, Iowa, June 19, 1893 in the 81^st year of his age. He came to town of Bristol in 1840.

Total number of deaths, thirty-seven.

Following the necrological report, the officers for the coming year were elected. Joseph N. Harris was chosen President and John A. Newell was re-elected Secretary for the coming year but declines to serve any longer as Secretary. He has been an efficient officer, but most of the work of the Society falls upon his shoulders. There are many details to look after and he has had to pay part of the expenses out of his own pocket. In addition there apparently there had been some criticism of his efforts. The annals referred to this as follows. 'This is a little too much even for a pioneer, who can stand most any hardship. To be assailed because he has not done more is the last straw, and Mr. Newell gives up the work. It is too bad, for he has been so painstaking with the necrological report.'