Early Days in Lyman #22

EARLY DAYS IN THE TOWN OF LYMAN
by Bela Foster

Continuing . . .
John Shambrook came from England in 1857 and settled in Illinois in 1866, on section six of what is now the Town of Lyman. His wife was Mary Parkin, sister of William and James Parkin and an aunt of the James E. Parkin who is the present supervisor of Lyman. Their family consisted of one son and three daughters. Three sons and one daughter were born after they settled here. The mother died while the family were still young. In those early years there was much hardship, much illness and many deaths. Fathers and mothers were taken from their children and children from their parents. Three score years ago when the insect pests could enter houses without bars of any kind and scatter disease among its occupants.
In 1875, Mr. Shambrook married Mrs. Hammett, a widow with three children and brought them to his home. Mr. Shambrook died in 1900. His second wife died in 1910.
The oldest girl, Polly Hammett, married Fred Shambrook, the oldest son of John Shambrook. The second girl married Robert Shambrook who died recently. The boy, William Hammett, lives in Indiana. Ida Shambrook married Alfred Toon (Known to many Roberts people as "Mike" Toon.) They were here recently. The live at Pontiac. Selena Shambrook married Milton Moller. Vanda Shambrook married Luther Montz. Luther Montz was a farmer in this locality for several years. For many years he worked at the mason trade. They had four girls Maggie, Carrie, Lillie and Elsie. Maggie married Mr. Austin and they live near DelRey. Carrie married Reinhold Barz and they live two miles east of Roberts. They have one son and one daughter. Lillie married Thomas Parkin. They live two miles north of Roberts. They have one daughter. Elsie married Arthur Shambrook and they live at Forrest. Mr. Montz is dead. Mrs. Montz lives with her daughter Lillie.
Fred Shambrook purchased the Huxtable home and improved it with new buildings and a new orchard. He also bought his uncle Robert's farm on the east side of the road. He was supervisor in 1917 and 1918. Mr. and Mrs. Fred T. Shambrook had two sons and one daughter, Walter, Elmer and Etta.
Walter married Emma Rossbach. They have one son and one daughter. Walter lives on the home place. Elmer married Pearl Taylor, daughter of John Taylor who lived for many years with the James Jeffrey family. He was as a son to them. Elmer and his family, wife and two sons, live on what was his grandfather's farm in section six. Etta married James Ireland. They live in Flint, Michigan. Her mother lives with her. James Ireland is a grandson of T. A. Ireland who settled in Section 36 in the early day. They moved to Buckley many years ago.
James Shambrook, son of John and Mary Shambrook married a daughter of John Taylor, mentioned above. She was the oldest daughter, Nellie. They live in section six. They have two sons and three daughters. The sons are married and have homes of their own. The oldest daughter married Samuel Patton. She is deceased. The Shambrooks are good horsemen. You seldom see a Shambrook driving any team except a good team and well equipped.
Harrison Shambrook married Lizzie Rossbach. At present they are living in Wall Town. They had one daughter; she died when about five years of age. Mr. and Mrs. Shambrook are willing workers in the church as was his brother, Fred and others of the family.
Fred Shambrook retired from the farm about twenty years ago and moved to Roberts, where he died in 1920.
James Parkin came to Lyman with his step-father and his mother and his half brother, Thomas Parkin in 1872. James Parkin worked many years in the tile factory and many more years in the elevator. He also knows how tile should be laid in the ground. In 1893 he married Mrs. Adeline Nagle, a widow with two daughters and a son. Mrs. and Mrs. Parkin had one daughter, Jessie. She is a talented musician. She married Harold Frederick. They had one son who died in infancy. They have an adopted daughter. They live in Paxton. Mr. Parkin has held many public offices. He is supervisor at the present time. The father of James Parkin )Thomas Parkin) died in 1867 when James was two years old. Later his mother married William Parkin, brother of Thomas Parkin. Mrs. William Parkin died in 1909 and Mr. Parkin in 1923.
Lottie Nagle (the oldest step daughter of James Parkin) married Alvin Emmons. They live in Champaign. They have one daughter. Gertrude Nagle, younger sister of Lottie, married J. E. West. They live in Paxton. They have three daughters.
 
--Roberts Herald. 14 August 1935. Bela Foster.