EARLY DAYS IN THE TOWN OF LYMAN
by Bela Foster
Continuing . . .
by Bela Foster
Continuing . . .
W. B. Flora had three brothers who lived here in the early days. T. A. Flora was a wagon maker here for several years. He farmed part of the time. His wife was a sister of F. A. White. He moved to Paxton and was sheriff and county treasurer. I believe he held other offices there. He died several years ago. Some of his sons are in Paxton now. Samuel Flora lived here a few years and then returned to Kentucky. James Flora came here in his young manhood. He was in the well drilling business part of the time. He married a daughter of Dr. M. Cassingham. They lived in what was later the Sam Newman house. I remember his oldest daughter, Maude, used to wave at me as I passed on my way to school. Milton Rueck lives in the house now. They moved to Paxton in 1893. I have never seen Mrs. Flora or the daughters since. Maude to me is still that beautiful little girl in the window. It is strange how a little child can endear itself to the memory by those tokens of love.
T. W. Wakelin moved on to the north west quarter of section 33. T. W. Wakelin was an active church worker. He often preached in the school houses in the early days. Mrs. Wakelin was a sister of Joseph Whorrall Sr. They had two sons, W. H. who was in business here for many years and Walter, now deceased. Walter married a daughter of Joseph Hurst. They lived several years at the east end of Green Street. In 1909 they moved to California. They had one son and four daughters. Mr. and Mrs. Wakelin and the son Dr. Harvey Wakelin are now deceased. The daughters are Sadie, wife of Henry Waldschmidt, Genevieve Weaver, Mae Squires, and Della Lossing. All of them live near Los Angeles, California. Sadie lives in Garvanza, Genevieve in Compton, Mae in Ontario and Della in Compton.
William H. Wakelin purchased the store building erected by Peter Gose and William Graham, more than fifty years ago. He continued in the business until failing health caused him to give it up. While living here he and Mrs. Wakelin were regular attendants at church and faithful in the church work.
They had one daughter, Grace, who married Robert Reinhardt. After living here a few years they moved to California where Mr. Reinhardt died. Mrs. Reinhardt served for several years as police woman on the Los Angeles force. When her mother's health failed she came back to Roberts to care for her. After her mother's death she returned to California and her father accompanied her. She married Ralph Powell. They live at Fillmore, California, an orange ranch. Mr. Wakelin finds much to interest him in his new surroundings. He is an old man in years but not in looks. His daughter has had much training as a nurse and with her great love for her parents will see that he has good care In his declining years.
Thomas Ensign was one of the first residents of Roberts. He was farming the land which is the village site when the railroad was built through here and the village laid out. His wife was Jennie Boyle, sister of Daniel and John Boyle, also early settlers here. I think they lived in the bungalow that used to stand at the north end of Main Street. He was overseer of highways for many years. He was a hard working man. His wife never slacked in her duties.
Mr. and Mrs. Ensign had several children of which there are surviving three sons and three daughters. These are Charles who lives in California, George of Roberts, William of Indiana. The daughters are Myra, Bertha and Mary. They are all married.
The second son, George D. Ensign is the only member of the family living here. He is president of the village board and president of the consolidated school board. He is in the wholesale flour and produce business, the only wholesaler we have in Roberts. He is not only a good salesman but a good purchaser. He spent several years as salesman in Chicago and received much training in that line. He purchases in large quantities and sells on a small margin and has built up a very large trade. He not only owns his home but several other buildings in Roberts. He has two residence buildings and business buildings. He owns the building that was once the home of the Burnett sisters when it stood just west of the present Cecil Kennedy home. Prior to that it had stood about forty rods east of the cemetery corner on the north side of the road.
Mr. Lieber built this house. Mrs. Lieber eloped with Spencer Compton who lived in this vicinity. Jacob Eppelsheimer purchased the farm. The house was then moved to Roberts. Jacob Eppelsheimer moved to Kankakee about 1890. He was an uncle of George and Philip Eppelscheimer who lived in this vicinity.
--Roberts Herald. 17 July 1935.
T. W. Wakelin moved on to the north west quarter of section 33. T. W. Wakelin was an active church worker. He often preached in the school houses in the early days. Mrs. Wakelin was a sister of Joseph Whorrall Sr. They had two sons, W. H. who was in business here for many years and Walter, now deceased. Walter married a daughter of Joseph Hurst. They lived several years at the east end of Green Street. In 1909 they moved to California. They had one son and four daughters. Mr. and Mrs. Wakelin and the son Dr. Harvey Wakelin are now deceased. The daughters are Sadie, wife of Henry Waldschmidt, Genevieve Weaver, Mae Squires, and Della Lossing. All of them live near Los Angeles, California. Sadie lives in Garvanza, Genevieve in Compton, Mae in Ontario and Della in Compton.
William H. Wakelin purchased the store building erected by Peter Gose and William Graham, more than fifty years ago. He continued in the business until failing health caused him to give it up. While living here he and Mrs. Wakelin were regular attendants at church and faithful in the church work.
They had one daughter, Grace, who married Robert Reinhardt. After living here a few years they moved to California where Mr. Reinhardt died. Mrs. Reinhardt served for several years as police woman on the Los Angeles force. When her mother's health failed she came back to Roberts to care for her. After her mother's death she returned to California and her father accompanied her. She married Ralph Powell. They live at Fillmore, California, an orange ranch. Mr. Wakelin finds much to interest him in his new surroundings. He is an old man in years but not in looks. His daughter has had much training as a nurse and with her great love for her parents will see that he has good care In his declining years.
Thomas Ensign was one of the first residents of Roberts. He was farming the land which is the village site when the railroad was built through here and the village laid out. His wife was Jennie Boyle, sister of Daniel and John Boyle, also early settlers here. I think they lived in the bungalow that used to stand at the north end of Main Street. He was overseer of highways for many years. He was a hard working man. His wife never slacked in her duties.
Mr. and Mrs. Ensign had several children of which there are surviving three sons and three daughters. These are Charles who lives in California, George of Roberts, William of Indiana. The daughters are Myra, Bertha and Mary. They are all married.
The second son, George D. Ensign is the only member of the family living here. He is president of the village board and president of the consolidated school board. He is in the wholesale flour and produce business, the only wholesaler we have in Roberts. He is not only a good salesman but a good purchaser. He spent several years as salesman in Chicago and received much training in that line. He purchases in large quantities and sells on a small margin and has built up a very large trade. He not only owns his home but several other buildings in Roberts. He has two residence buildings and business buildings. He owns the building that was once the home of the Burnett sisters when it stood just west of the present Cecil Kennedy home. Prior to that it had stood about forty rods east of the cemetery corner on the north side of the road.
Mr. Lieber built this house. Mrs. Lieber eloped with Spencer Compton who lived in this vicinity. Jacob Eppelsheimer purchased the farm. The house was then moved to Roberts. Jacob Eppelsheimer moved to Kankakee about 1890. He was an uncle of George and Philip Eppelscheimer who lived in this vicinity.
--Roberts Herald. 17 July 1935.
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