John Caleb Kenward, Sr.

James Lossing has several images in his collection he cannot identify.  We posted this to the Roberts History Group FB page asking for identification.  Jean (Thomas) Fox identified Mr. Kenward as her gr gr grandfather.

The following are unidentified.  You can email me if you recognize anyone in these photos.  jandowell@hotmail.com

Above photo.  Possible identification from Jean Fox:  "This might be Hazel Kenward, sister to Nancy Kenward Seng and daughter of Samuel Kenward."

 Above photo.  Possible identification from Jean Fox:  "I believe that this is Nancy Kenward Seng."

--Photo from James Lossing.  FAG Friend.  July 2018.

Roberts Creek?

Possibly "The Grove," not sure.

From James Lossing: 
"My grandmother was Della Melissa Wakelin, youngest daughter of Thomas Walter and Adelaide (Hurst) Wakelin.  These pictures are from her album and must have been taken around 1909, when she was in her teens."

--Photos and information from James Lossing.  FAG Friend.  July 2018.

M. E. Church

 

 

The bottom image is a Christmas card Mrs. Adelaide Wakelin sent out to her Sunday School students in 1904.

--Photos and information from James Lossing.  FAG Friend.  July 2018.

Congregational Church

Notice the smaller steeple to the right, a part of the original building. 

--Photo form James Lossing email to me.  FAG Friend.  July 2018.

Foster Family

Seated: Nettie Haling Wallis, Ed Haling, Martha Foster; Standing: Bela Foster, Christine Foster, Arista Foster (with beard) Angeline Foster Haling, Leda Foster, and George Wallis.

--Photo and identifications from Barbara Arthur Leroy.  RIHG Facebook page.  21 July 2018.

W. H. Wakelin Store

 

 

This store sat on the north side of Green Street. Maybe close to where the Post Office is now located.
The man standing to the right in the photo (and zoomed photo just above) is Thomas Wakelin, father of William H. Wakelin.

--Photo and info from James Lossing.  Email  07/17/18.  FAG Friend.
--W. H. Wakelin Store advertisement from Roberts Herald.  19 December 1917.  Page 8.

Henry Ruedger

Henry Ruedger, a son of John F. and Margaret Gurrad Ruedger.
Henry married Emma Eppelheimer in Roberts 23 Nov 1898. They lived most of their lives in Ridgeland, Iroquois County, where he ran a general store. Henry died in a train/car collision near Gilman in 1926.

--Roberts Herald.  12 May 1926.  Page 1.

 



--Roberts Herald. 20 February 1918.

Irene (Haling) Frazee

--Photo from RIHG blog by Barbara Arthur Leroy.

Methodist Church

--K. Family Photo Album

1879

The I. C. R. R. Co. is putting in a switch about one mile south west of town to accommodate Mr. Van Steenburgh.

The ladies of the Congregational church are preparing to serve a Thanksgiving dinner and supper in the new church, which will be so far completed by that time as to serve for a dining room.
Mr. McNeish has gone into partnership with Christ. Anderson and has removed his shoe and harness shop to the second floor of Anderson's building.  As both are enterprising business men they will undoubtedly prosper and ? ? ? ? such that their patronage will increase as it should.

--Paxton Record.  13 November 1879.

Ludwig Hummel Obit

Died, at the residence of P. S. Gose, Ludwig Hummel, aged 75 years and 9 months.  Mr. Hummel came to this state in the year 18?4, and by his sterling integrity made himself generally beloved.  He leaves six children, all grown to manhood and womanhood, and a large circle of friends to mourn his departure.

--Paxton Record.  4 September 1879.

Accidental Death

The Congregational church and society will soon have an edifice of their own for worship, nearly two thousand dollars having already been subscribed.
Martin Dieterly, a farmer living about one mile southwest of Roberts, had the threshers at work on his farm last Tuesday morning.  The work had begun and all hands were at their posts when the elevator of the machine clogged and demanded the attention of someone.  Mr. Dieterly, notwithstanding the protests of the proprietors of the machine, took it upon himself to strip the elevator clear and when the work was finished, instead of getting down at the side of the machine, as directed, stepped onto the table, when his foot slipped and he fell into the cylinder.  Mr. Gust. Flora held to Dieterly, but before the machine could be stopped one of his legs was literally ground into mincemeat.  Dr. Cassingham was summoned and did his best, but the patient never recovered from the shock and died about two hours after the accident.

--Paxton Record.  4 September 1879.

Lyman & Rice

The hardware store of Mr. G. P. Lyman and lumber yard of Mr. M. H. Rice have been consolidated, and the firm will hence forth be known as Rice & Lyman.

--Paxton Record.  29 May 1879.

--Paxton Record.  20 October 1881.

Homes and Businesses

Thomas McNeish has moved his dwelling house into the western part of town and is making additions to it.
J. B. Meserve has dressed the smoke stack of his elevator in a new coat of paint.  It looks nobby.
The farmers are taking advantage of the favorable weather; they have sown all the flax and oats, some of which is already up nicely, and a large number are planting corn.
Roberts is the only place in Ford County that can boast of a cheese factory.  Mr. Tobey is the proprietor, and we are sure he will turn out a good article as he has employed efficient help.

--Paxton Record.  8 May 1879.

Cabery Photographer

I am searching locally (Illinois photographers) for photos and posting them on Exposure Closure blog.  If you can identify your family, I will mail the photo to you for my cost and shipping.  I usually only pay $1 or $2 for the photos.  See all photos by clicking on the link below:

https://exposureclosure.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2018-07-05T16:01:00-05:00&max-results=7

Mary Gurrad Blesch

--From Ayesah H. Leroy from the Roberts Illinois History Group Facebook page.

Christian Stutzman

Christian Stutzman, oldest son of C. Stutzman, of this town, expired after a short illness on Wednesday, February 28th.

--Paxton Weekly Record.  7 March 1872.

--My Photo.

First Burials

Per Carolyn Wilson and the record books of the Lyman Township Cemetery, the first burials:

Burial #1 -- Record p. 1, Plot A-411, Sarah Schaffer, d 2 Apr 1868, husband A. Schaffer (There appears to have been two different Sarah Schaffers in the area, both with husbands named Abraham.)

Sarah A. Schaffer Stone.
No obit found.
--Photo from Find A Grave, Steven Baker.
Notes from FAG contributor Carolyn Wilson:  Sarah is the very first individual recorded as buried in Lyman Township Cemetery (1868).  Abraham Schaffer is listed in cemetery records as owner of the plot, but it is unclear if Abraham was Sarah's husband or father.
  

Burial #2 -- Record p. 2, Plot A-410, George/Georgie Stutzman(n), d 10 Apr 1868 (marker says 1867, but record says 1868), father C. Stutzman(n)

Georgie Stutzmann Stone.
No obit found.
--Photo from Find A Grave, Steven Baker.
Notes from FAG contributor Carolyn Wilson:
George is one of several individuals recorded as buried in Lyman Township during the first year (1868).  His father was Christian Stutzman.  The records list him as "child" and the marker gives his age as 4 weeks and ? days.
 

Burial #3 -- Record p. 3, Plot-412, Darius Finch, d 22 May 1868, father C.E. Finch, mother S.C. Finch
No obit found.
--No stone pictured in Find A Grave for Darius Finch.
Notes from FAG contributor Carolyn Wilson: 
Father: C. B. Finch
Mother: S. C. Finch
Darius is one of several individuals recorded as buried in Lyman Township Cemetery during its first year (1868). 


Burial #4 -- Record p. 10, Plot A-361, Charles T. Wilcox, d 28 Aug 1868, father Henry M. Wilcox, mother Jane E. Wilcox

Charles T. Wilcox Stone. 
No obit found.
--Photo from Find A Grave, Carolyn Wilson.
Notes from Find A Grave contributor Carolyn Wilson:
This infant son is one of several individuals recorded as buried in Lyman Township Cemetery during the first year (1868).
I am just not sure that this is burial #4.  The map lists this burial as #10 and a Fellwock burial as the #4.


Burial #5 -- Record p. 4, Plot A-409, Laura Fellwock, d 17 Sep 1868, father Charles Fellwock, mother Catherine (sp?) "Katie" Fellwock

Laura Fellwock Stone.
No obit found.  --Photo from Find A Grave, Steven Baker.
Notes from Find A Grave Contributor Carolyn Wilson:  Infant Laura is one of several individuals buried in Lyman Township Cemetery during its first year (1868.)
 

--All the above information provided by Carolyn Wilson unless noted otherwise. 

Exposure Closure

A new blog I just set up to help with identification of "lost and found" photos. Illinois photographers preferred.  Most will have no names with the photos, although some may have identifications included and possibly be for sale.  If so, I will sell to you (and mail to you) what I paid for the photos plus $1, plus shipping. 
There will also be a Facebook page so you can enter photos you need help identifying individuals, homes, or businesses.  Please post to the FB page, and I will transfer to these to the blog. 
Almost all of my photos will be Cabinet Cards from Illinois photographers.
You can always contact me at:  jandowell@hotmail.com

https://exposureclosure.blogspot.com/

The North Lyman Literacy Society

--Paxton Record.  6 February 1879.

The North Lyman Literacy Society is in full blast with D. H. Watson in the chair, and meets on every Tuesday evening.  We have a paper in connection with the society called Lyman Star, edited by David Watson.

Got this at a garage sale in Piper City last week.  I don't know if it is Roberts, Illinois.  I have never read of a "Sportsmans Club."

Bertie Lyman Obit

--Paxton Record.  28 November 1878.

The little son of Sheriff Lyman, Bertie, was buried in the Roberts Cemetery on Sunday last.  The services at the grave were conducted by Rev. Abbott, of Roberts, in a very impressive manner.  The grief stricken parents have the deepest sympathy of friends in this their second bereavement. 

Research:  Need a better photo of Bertie's stone.

More diphtheria deaths . . .

--Paxton Record.  14 November 1878.

Diphtheria, that scourge of the human race is still prevalent in the township, though perhaps somewhat abated as to the malignant type originally assumed by the disease.  Many adults have been attacked with the almost epidemic.
Mr. and Mrs. H. Tinklepaugh, who have been confined to the house with fever, are unending; as is also little Maud, who has been down with a severe case of diphtheria.
Little Minne, only daughter of L. E. Bressie, died Nov. 4th of diphtheria.  The entire community deeply sympathize with family in their sad bereavement.  Henry Michael also buried a little six year old daughter on the 9th inst.  Death by diphtheria.
Mrs. M. Wilcox, mother of H. w. and L. B. Wilcox, of this town, and relict of Rev. L. Wilcox, was buried at this place, Nov. 13th, having died while on a visit at her daughter, Mrs. Penny, of Odell, Illinois.

On Find A Grave Henry Michael, spelled Michaelis.