Thank you very much! 

(posted July 1, 2006)

Dr. Richard's email

Robyn's Brick Wall

Here are my brick walls concerning the HALE family:

Elva (Alva) HALE married Henry GEE. Not sure when. We know she died around 1877 or 1878 but can't find any proof of death or burial. She died young leaving behind three young children who were then raised by her brother Marquis HALE.

Solomon Smith HALE has been credited with the development of the Hale Heaven Peach according to family lore. I can find references for a Hale Peach but cannot find any information on who developed it. Any information on this peach would be greatly appreciated. He was a farmer who was considered a horticulturist. 1849-1933

John Riley HALE - born in 1851 in Knox Co. Considered to be the only mean person in the Hale family. He was married twice. First to Olive Gee in 1871 then to Letitia Flake. There is a stone in one of the Hermon cemeteries for Letitia (could be spelled differently) HALE but there is no Date of death listed for John Riley. Some think he is buried in Babbit Cemetery near St. Augustine, IL. Any info on where he is buried for certain and when he died would be greatly appreciated.

Martha HALE born in 1863 in Knox Co. That is all I have on her for sure. She is thought to have married a Gillam but all trace of her has been lost. Any information on her would be appreciated.

Moses HALE born in 1822 married Nancy J. Woods. They packed up their kids, Rily and Mary HALE and headed for California in 1850. He died along the way and was buried on the plains. Hoping there might have been a record made somewhere about his leaving or his death. Newspapers etc.

Those are my HALE brick walls. Thanks for any help! Please email me at  if you have any information.

Robyn MacMillan's email

David & Jeanette's Query

I am looking for descendants of:

Clinton Gilbert Taylor b 23 July 1810 Denmark, Lewis Co NY
d. 16 July 1882 Galesburg, IL bu. in Hope Cem. Galesburg, IL.
marr Eliza Marie Barnes 06 Oct 1835 NY

Had children:

Leona A. b 1836 NY marr Finn A. Cobb,
Annette E. b 1839 NY marr Andrew P. Gibson,
Marquis B. b 1841 NY marr Mary Johnson,
Grandison H b 1845 NY,
Arthur Leray b 1848 (poss) IL marr Annie M. McMillan,
Asa Gilbert b 1851 IL d 1853 IL,
Ella Colburn b 1854 IL marr Edward O. Taber.
(posted December 9, 2005)

Wish to share information about this family!

David and Jeanette Childs' email

Terry's Brick Wall
 

I need help I have been looking for my gggrandmother for a year now and I'm at a dead end so its time for help tryin' to find her parents.  Her father's last name is of course McCarty and her mother's last name is Shay, both born in Ireland. I hope you can find her as she was born in Knox Co., Illinois so here she is:

Jenny Mary McCarty
born: Dec 2, 1863  Galesburg, Knox Co., Illinois
died: May 31, 1942  Los Angeles, Riverside Co., California
married: William Lloyd Cronenberg

I have him but not Jenny. (posted October 25, 2005)

Any help will be very, very great and I thank you!

Terry's email

Sam's Brick Wall

I am looking for my great grandmother, Ann White, aka Ann Medhurst, who was living in the household of Joseph Medhurst according to the 1860 census of Floyd twp, Warren Co. Joseph Medhurst, her son, moved to Rio twp, Knox County in 1863. Ann, his mother, died, according to James White, another son, after his 25th birthday (July 1,1866). She is not buried in Floyd twp., Warren Co. and she is not listed as being buried in any cemetery in Rio Township, Knox Co. Galesburg doesn't have any microfilmed newspapers for 1866 which is unfortunate as I believe she most likely died in the last half of 1866.

(Her maiden name was Ann Bevans, b. England in 1799 or 1800. Her first husband, Joseph Medhurst, died in Seneca Town, Ontario Co.,NY, and she married Richard (?) White in Ontario Co. NY who also died there in about 1842. She had children by both husbands. She is Ann White on the 1850 census and Ann Medhurst on the 1860. (posted September 22, 2005)

Any help you can give me is deeply appreciated.

Sam's email
 

Sharon's Brick Wall

I am searching for information about the family of John A. Buffington b.1833 in Dearborn Co., IN, and moved to Knox Co. ca 1855. He married Cintha LEWIS, daughter of Samuel and Nancy. He had a sister Mary Jane BUFFINGTON who married Samuel Myrick or Merrick, then Daniel Miller. The Miller marriage ended in divorce. There is also a Hannah Buffington (1785-1890), and I am not sure if she is John's mother or grandmother. Any info on these people would be appreciated. (posted September 22, 2005)

 Thanks.

Sharon's email

Marilyn's Brick Wall

I am searching for information on the following family members. Any help with knowledge of persons living/dead; places lived, churches attended or occupations; children or parents or any historical mentions in Memory books or Bibles would be ever so greatly appreciated. Please contact me with anything you think pertinent.

SPRINGSTEEL: Theodore m. Clara Merita ARMSTRONG, James m. several times (1) Mary Jane Hendrickson (2) Mercy Ann CROWELL (3) unknown; Thomas J. b. 1846 m. Sarah HIVELY; William b. 1826 m. 1851 Uriah LOMAX; another Thomas b. 1850; Frank SPRINGSTEEL d. 1862, father was James; Hattie Springsteel, mother was Martha GEER father was James SPRINGSTEEL. (posted August 28, 2005)

Thank You in advance!

Marilyn's email

Judith's Brick Wall

I've done lots of research on Hiram and Darius MILLER of Knox Co, IL.....I'm pretty certain they were brothers as Hiram's name is in Darius MILLER's Will.  Is there ANYONE out there who might know who their father and mother were?  I'm also pretty certain they were from VT.  Hiram MILLER is written up in a Fulton Co, IL History and it says he was raised on a "sterile farm" in Vermont. Darius died very young in 1845 and his wife, Eliza Jane OUDERKIRK remarried to John CARROTHERS.  Any help would be appreciated! (posted July 27, 2005)
                   

Judith's email

Karen's Brick Wall

I am trying to learn the relationship of Lafayette Swegle of Knox Co. IL to Mathias Swegle [1797] and Daniel Swegle [1801] of Fulton Co. IL.

Mathias and Daniel were brothers. We know that their father John Swegle was b 1769 Germany d 24 Sept 1845 Fairview, Fulton Co. IL. Mathias b 08 Jun 1797 Morris Co NJ [the first settler in Fairview Twp, Fulton Co. IL left Illinois 1848] d. 28 Sep 1861 Marion Co. Oregon. Daniel b 16 Apr 1801 Morris  Co. NJ, d 07 Aug 1871 Fairview, Fulton Co. IL.

We do not know who Lafayette Swegle’s parents are but census records indicate they were born in NJ. Lafayette Swegle b 24 Sep 1824 Sussex Co NJ, d 17 Jun 1889 St. Augustine, Knox Co. IL. (see complete bio). The 1850 census lists his name as A. Lafayette Sweegle.

We have one clue that these men are related in the autograph book of Sarah F. Swegle b 1860. Sarah’s ancestors were father Isaac Daniel b1828; grandfather Daniel b1801; great-grandfather John b1769; all lived in Fairview, Fulton Co. IL. The transcript of the autograph book includes the persons name, relationship to Sarah and for some the place they lived. Autographs were recorded in the book between 1881 and 1884.  Of the people listed, there are eleven identified as her cousins. I can account for seven being her first cousin [grandchildren of Daniel Swegle] and one a second cousin, and all born in the 1860s living in Illinois in Fulton & McLean Counties. We do not know how the following three cousins fit in the family. (posted June 20, 2005)

 Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.

Visit Karen’s website to write her...

Lisa's Brick Wall

I am looking for any info or connection to the MANN family. What I have so far is:
Clifford E. Mann, born May 9, 1905 in Canton to Grover C. Mann and Emma C. Haack-Mann. He married Grace Watts on March 25, 1931 in Galesburg. Grace was born December 30, 1910 in Green Valley to John Watts and Edna Lathan Watts. Grace died July 13, 1994. Clifford died April 19, 1995. (posted May 01, 2005)

Thank you!

 Lisa's email

Jana's Brick Wall

I am searching for Alexander TOWNSEND, my great-great-great-grandfather. He was born in Athens County OH circa 1825 and moved to Knox County around 1838. He married Sarah Jane STEGALL on September 16, 1845 in Knox County. Their children are as follows: Daniel, Sarah, Charles, Margaret, Susan, Francina, Elizabeth, Solomon and Irene. Sometime after 1873, Alexander reportedly moved to Kansas, possibly with his son, Daniel and his wife Mildred CALHOUN. From that point, we do not know where he lived or when he died. His wife, Sarah died in 1898 and is buried at Hope Cemetery in Warren County. Any information would be greatly appreciated. I would be glad to exchange information. Thank you. (Posted on Feb. 21, 2005)

Note from Janine Crandell: Jana, please contact me when you have a free moment; your email address is obsolete. Ronald would like you to contact him. He might be able to help you!

Jana's email

Norma's Brick Wall

I am looking for my Grandfather's family from Galesburg. Rudolph Garfield Whitehead was born Dec. 1878, Galesburg, Ill. Parents are not known. He had a photo of a relative named J. Richard Whitehead who graduated from Galesburg High School in 1921. I found Richard's parents were John M. and Easter Mumed Whitehead. They lived on Kellogg St. They had a daughter, Garnette Lucile, who taught school in Galesburg until the late 20's and then in Springfield, Ill. After 1930 John, Easter and Richard are not listed in the Galesburg Directory. Easter died in 1932. Garnette is listed in the Springfield Directory and then nothing.  

I believe John is my Grandfather's brother but I haven't been able to find proof and no one could find a birth certificate on my Grandpa. Another thing I found was a wedding date for John and Easter in 1899. Another John M. and Easter Minnier were married on the same date in Galesburg. I think they are the same people. If that is right then John's Father is Joseph H. Whitehead.  

My Grandfather went by Robert not Rudolph. He worked as an electrician in Utah and Montana. He had three children. The youngest was my Dad, Ephriam Alvin Whitehead. My Grandparents and their children are buried in Butte, Mt.

I would appreciate any information on these people.

Norma's email

Mike's Brick Wall

My brickwall is finding the rest of the family of Edward and Michael Huston. I found these two brothers on the 1870 census living in Galesburg. Michael, 23, was married to Ellen Minhon and Edward was single living with them, he was 25 years old.

My great-great-grandfather, Edward married Ellen Bertha Dean Daughter of Samuel Green Dean of Henderson, Knox County. It's possible that Edward worked for his present father-in-law as a shoemaker. Later on he worked for the railroad.

The story of these Hustons was told to me by my Mildred Huston, the wife of Raymond Dean Huston, son of Samuel Dean Huston, son of Edward Huston, born in Ireland. As the story goes, the mother of Edward and Michael, when her husband died and her in-laws wanted to take her children, fled to the America with her 4 or 5 children and changed her name to Huston.

I was told many of the Hustons still live in the general area. I would love to find out more about this mother who left Ireland and any Hustons who still live in Illinois. Thanks! (Posted on July 10, 2004)

Mike's email
 

Beryl's Brick Wall

My brickwall is about N. Briggs, a photographer/artist, who lived in Galesburg. I have two photos taken by N. Briggs.  On one it states "N. Briggs, Artist, Galesburg, Illinois" and affixed to that board is an aging photo of my great grandfather, Thomas MUIR who emigrated from Glasgow Scotland, first to Allegeny County, Maryland, and then to Knox County, IL.

The other photo of a small child sitting in a fancy "photographer's studio chair" is affixed to a printed board that says at the very bottom "No. 5, Briggs' Old Stand" . Printed above it and partially covered by the glued on photo is a word beginning with a capital letter (more about this below), a space, then what I believe to be an "&" , space, then "Co." "Galesburg, Ill."

The first word showing only the bottom of each letter could begin with a capital "P" followed by two lowercase letters than have shapes that could be "n" or "h", then an obvious "p", and "o" or a "b" and the final letter is probably a "t" or an "l". I cannot come up with a word that the above would indicate, but it obviously reads "? and Co., Galesburg, Ill".  I have no idea what "Briggs' Old Stand" is but it has to be connected somehow to N. Briggs, Artist, who evidently was the photographer of the first photo.

I really would like the dates that Briggs was in business to help me determine the child in the second photo. I am guessing that the photos were taken in the 1865-1880 time frame but I may be wrong. My grandfather, Hunter H. MUIR, (son of Thomas MUIR) was born in 1870. (Posted on August 30, 2003)

Any help or clues that you can provide would be appreciated.

Beryl's email

Jude's Brick Wall

I am researching the Jeremiah Coffey family of Galesburg between 1865 and 1915. Jeremiah, a shoemaker, married Anna Flynn in Chicago in the mid-1860's and shortly after, they moved to Galesburg, Illinois, and raised a family of 8 children. Jeremiah and Anna both came to America from Newport, County Tipperary, Ireland. Anna died in 1884; Jeremiah in 1907. I'm trying to locate their date of arrival on American soil, and their parents names. I am also researching Anna's family in Galesburg, especially her brother Daniel W. Flynn, a well-known liquor dealer at the turn of the 20th century. He married twice, first to Catherine Norton, who passed away, and second to Nano Ryan. (Posted on June 17, 2004)

Any and all information is welcome!

Jude's email

Madonna's Brick Wall

Here's my Knox County brickwall! I am looking for information regarding Leonard Sykes who was born (according to his death certificate) in Galesburg on July 8, 1858. According to Leonard's marriage register his parents were Andrew Sykes and Kath Schweigtert. In 1880 Leonard is in Cook County working as a painter. I have no idea how long he lived in Knox County. Any help would be great. (Posted on Sep. 1, 2003)

Madonna's email

Romona's Brick Wall

I am looking for any descendants of Brazil Powers and Ida Britt who lived in Galesburg.  Ida, Brazil's second wife, had two children with Brazil: George B. and Betty.  Brazil's first wife, Matilda Mahurin, had one son with Brazil: Clarence Sandford, my grandfather.  Brazil Powers died in Galesburg on February 18, 1932.  I would love to find Brazil's kin as my father, Clarence Sandford's son, is still living at the age of 79 and I would love to introduce him to his family! (Posted on August 17, 2003)

Romona's email

Jennifer's Brick Wall

I am looking for anyone else researching John Basil Allen. He was born in Indiana around 1828, according to census, his parents were also born in Indiana. He married Julia Diana Hubbell, daughter of Ephraim and Rachel McLeod Hubbell in 1866. Although on the marriage certificate her name is J. Dinia. Their children were William, John B., Jacob Homer, Gertrude Elizabeth, Arthur Sylvester, Thomas Ephraim, and Edward Burk Allen. John Allen is on the 1850 (22 yrs old) census for Orange Township. In the 1870 & 1880 census he and Julia were in Truro Township. In 1868 they were in Yates City for the birth of son William, in 1870 they were in Truro Township for John's birth, in 1872 in Elba Township for the birth of son Jacob, in 1877-1879 they went back to Truro Township for the birth of Arthur and Gertrude, 1881-1883 in Elba Township again for the birth of Thomas and Edward. John died in London Mills on October 10, 1903 and is buried in Maquon. I am stuck on finding his parents and siblings. Can anyone help?

Jennifer's email

Scott's Brick Wall

My brick wall is the enigma of Jeremiah H. Patrick. Jeremiah was born in 1825 in Bath County, Kentucky. I believe that Enoch Patrick was either his father or uncle. Enoch was born in Virginia in 1802. He married Polly Martin in 1823 in Bath County, Kentucky. Enoch died on Valentine's Day in 1865 and is buried in Knoxville, Illinois in Knox County. Polly died seven years later.

Jeremiah married Martha Jane Cox on New Years Eve in 1846 in Knox County, Illinois. Martha Jane was born in Indiana in 1827 or 1828. Jeremiah and Martha Jane had six children : Mary Elizabeth, George, William, Enoch, Elzie, and unknown.

Jeremiah served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. He was 1st Sergeant of the 27th Illinois Infantry Volunteers, serving in company H. Jeremiah was wounded during the Battle of Chickamauga in north Georgia and died of his wounds six weeks later. He is buried in the Chattanooga National Military Hospital in Chattanooga, TN.

Martha Jane died in Orion, Illinois in 1883 or 1888 and is buried in Western Township Cemetery in Henry County, Illinois. Her sons George and Elzie are buried with her.

I am trying to establish the parents of Jeremiah and Martha Jane. Jeremiah could be the son of Enoch Patrick or Herod Patrick. I have no information on Martha Jane's family. Could anyone please provide any scraps of information concerning Jeremiah H. Patrick and Martha Jane Cox Patrick? Thank-you!

Scott Bos' email

R. F. Curtis' Brick Wall

R. F. Curtis' email

Kathy's Brick Wall

I am looking for James and Josaphine Lacey who lived in Galesburg in the 1880's. Where did they go from there?  Josaphine's maiden name was Baddicker perhaps.  Any information on their children would be appreciated as well.  HELP! (Posted on April 30, 2004)

Kathy's email

Gizzy's Brick Wall

I am looking for Richard (from Wales) and Sara (from Dewey, Illinois) Williams who had 4 sons and 2 daughters, one of whom was Anna Elizabeth, born in 1884. They lived in Knox County somewhere though I'm not exactly sure in which township.  Any information on this family would be most welcome!(Posted on June 1, 2004)

Gizzy's email