Rockford Illinois Genealogy – Access Genealogy

Biographical Sketch of Richard Stewart

Richard Stewart, the youngest son of John H. Stewart, was born in Rockford, Illinois, June 2, 1850; came with his parents to California in 1852, and to San Bernardino County in 1865, where he has resided ever since. His principal occupation has been stock raising and farming. His ranch of seven-two acres, situated two miles east of San Bernardino on the Harlem & Rabel Springs Motor Railway, is one of the finest agricultural tracts in the country, being especially adapted for alfalfa and grazing. It is valued at $14,-000. He owns a number of choice pieces of city property, including … Read more

Biography of Clarence Stewart

Clarence Stewart, a well-known businessman of Riverside, is a native of Rockford, Illinois, dating his birth in 1848. In 1849 his father, John N. Stewart, came to California and engaged in mining. In 1851 he returned East, and the next year brought his family to the State and located in Sacramento for about three years, and then moved to Sonoma County, where he engaged in farming until he came with his family to San Bernardino in 1865. The subject of this sketch was reared in California and schooled in her public schools. Shortly after his arrival in San Bernardino he … Read more

Biography of Thomas Page

For upwards of half a century, Thomas Page has been one of the prominent commercial figures in Kansas. With possibly one exception, he is the oldest miller in the state, and for years has been a factor in the milling and grain interests and as much as any other individual has contributed to make Topeka a center for the manufacture of flour. A native of Scotland, he was born in the little manufacturing hamlet of Dunshalt in Fifeshire, September 3, 1843. With a practical schooling he began an apprenticeship in the milling business. For some time he was employed in … Read more

Biography of Aaron B. Perine

Aaron B. Perine. One of the few remaining of the old pioneers of Kansas. Aaron B. Perine, of Topeka, came to this state sixty-three years ago, and has been a permanent resident of Kansas since 1854, except for the two years he was out of the state. In the early days he was engaged in work among the Indians for the Government, later turned his attention to the blacksmithing trade, and for many years now has been at the head of the successful Perine Plow Works. He was born at Dansville, Livingston County, New York, May 4, 1836, and is … Read more

Warnock, Samuel B. – Obituary

Samuel B. Warnock, pioneer of Day Ridge, died Friday, November 11, 1927, at La Grande, where he had gone a few days before for treatment for Bright’s disease. He had been in poor health for several months and with his wife had spent the summer and fall at the warm springs on Joseph Creek. About three weeks ago they went to the home of their daughter, Mrs. Kenneth Johnson, on Day Ridge. Mr. Warnock was taken worse and went to la Grande, where his wife and Mrs. Johnson were summoned last Wednesday. The body was brought to Enterprise Saturday by … Read more

Biography of John Henry Stewart

John Henry Stewart, one of the most prominent citizens of San Bernardino, was born of Scotch parents in Williamstown, Massachusetts, April 28, 1823. His father, Samuel Stewart, removed his family to Oswego County, New York, when John Henry was but two years old, and his childhood and youth were passed there. At an early age he learned the trade of house carpentering and joining, which he followed for many years. Being the oldest in a family of eight children and his father not enjoying good health, a large share of the support of the family fell on his shoulders,-a burden … Read more

Ancestors of Horace Alden Keith of Brockton, MA

Horace Alden Keith, founder of the Brockton Webbing Company, one of the successful and thriving industries of Brockton, and one of that city’s enterprising and progressive business men, is a descendant on both his paternal and maternal sides of historic old New England ancestry. Mr. Keith was born in West Bridgewater May 25, 1862, eldest son of the late Henry Snell and Thalia (Alden) Keith. The ancestral line of the branch of the Keith family in this country to which Horace Alden Keith belongs, and which follows, is given in chronological order from the first American ancestor. Rev. James Keith, born in 1644, was educated in Aberdeen, Scotland (as tradition says at the expense of a maiden aunt), where he was graduated likely from Marischal College, his name appearing on the roll of 1657, said college having been founded by George, the fifth Earl of Keith Marischal, in 1593. At the age of eighteen years he emigrated to this country, arriving at Boston in 1662. He was introduced to the church at Bridgewater by Dr. Increase Mather, and became settled as the minister of the Bridgewater Church Feb. 18, 1664. Rev. James Keith passed away in West Bridgewater July 23, 1719, aged seventy-six years, having labored in the ministry of the town for fifty-six years.

Biography of Colonel Charles L. Walker

Col. Charles Leander Walker, a member of one of the leading law firms of Rock Island County for more than a quarter of a century, is a native son of Illinois. He was born at Queen Ann, McHenry County, Illinois, December 27, 1851. He is a son of Reverend Leander Smith Walker and Miriam Lavilla Walker. His father was a Methodist minister and a leader in the Rock River conference. He was for a period of years stationed at Rockford, Winnebago County. From 1865 to 1870 he was financial agent for the Rock River Seminary and Collegiate Institute, located at … Read more

Biography of Edwin Ruthven Heath

Edwin Ruthven Heath, a prominent physician and specialist of Kansas City, Kansas, had a record among Kansas citizens that is unique. As a boy he knew the terrors, excitements and thrilling incidents of life in California following the discovery of gold in ’49. As a traveler both in North and South America he had contributed a part of the world’s knowledge of geography, peoples and science. He spent twelve years in South America, practiced medicine in remote construction camps and among wild and semi-barbarous tribes, and he helped build some of the pioneer railways of that continent. To as great … Read more

Biography of William Taylor

For twenty-eight years William Taylor has resided in Latah County, and is therefore one of the honored pioneer farmers of the locality. He has not only witnessed the entire growth and development of this section of the state, but has ever borne his part in the work of progress, and his name should be enduringly inscribed on the pages of its history. A native of the Emerald Isle, he was born in county Armagh, Ireland, April 15, 1820, his parents being Joseph and Elizabeth (Rankin) Taylor. In 1840 the father came to America, bringing with him his wife and seven … Read more

John Wesley Somers

John Wesley Somers, one of Ida Grove’s oldest and distinguished residents, died Saturday morning, August 2, 1919, at the age of 84 years, 8 months, and 15 days. The funeral was held at the late home Monday, in charge of Rev. John T. Pierce. The interment was at the Ida Grove Cemetery. The pall bearers were Charles S. Macomber, W. J. Scott, James E. Easton, B. S. Noble, A. Sykes, and Card Kiner. Mr. Somers was born at Rockford, Surrey County, North Carolina, on November 17, 1834. While still in youth, he moved to Rockford, Illinois, where he met Sarah … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Bernard T. Duffey

Duffey, Bernard T.; insurance; born, Rockford, Ill., July 5, 1869; educated, public schools of Rockford; married, Beloit, Wis., August 15, 1892, Lillian Knapp; married, Chicago, Ill., June 15, 1910, Bertha Agnes Nye; children, Bernard P., Jr., John Nye; engaged in fire insurance with Rockford Insurance Co., Rockford, Ill., 1887, continuing with that company until 1900; then with Royal Insurance Co., Ltd., of Liverpool, England; now state agent in Ohio for that company; member Cleveland Athletic Club.

Biography of Harrison B. Oatman

HARRISON B. OATMAN. – This gentleman, a pioneer of the early days, and at present one of the capitalists of Portland, was born at Cortland, New York, in 1826. As a child he moved with his parents to Ohio, and at the new home in Bellevue attended school, laying a good foundation for his later study and information. At twelve he removed with his parents to Rockford, Illinois, and was married there in 1847 to Miss Lucena K. Ross. In 1853 he made with his family the toilsome journey to Oregon, crossing the plains with ox-teams, and establishing his home … Read more

Lorenzo D. Todd of Elyria OH

Lorenzo D. Todd7, (Marvin6, Daniel5, Daniel4, Daniel3, Samuel2, Christopher1) born July 29, 1820, in Lowville, N. Y., died April 8, 1895, in Elyria, Ohio, where he was buried, married, Nov. 9, 1845, in Watertown, N. Y., by Rev. Isaac Brayton, Harriet S. daughter of David W. Mills, who was born Sept. 13, 1826, in Watertown, N. Y., died May 25, 1900, in Elyria, Ohio, where she too was buried. Mr. Todd was a shoemaker by trade and worked at the business most of the time, though farming at intervals. He and family moved to Elyria, Ohio, about 1850, and lived … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Frederick D. Kellogg

Kellogg, Frederick D.; The Ohio Quarries Co.; born, Rockford, Ill., Sept. 3, 1880; son of George F. and Anna M. Doubler Kellogg; educated, Grade and High School, Rockford, Ill., High School, Chicago, and Chicago College of Law; married, Winnebago, Ill., May 16, 1902, Florence M. Clark; one daughter, Virginia; seven years banking business in Chicago; moved to Cleveland in 1909, and became connected with The Ohio Quarries Co.; in 1910, was elected sec’y and treas. of the Company; sec’y and asst. treas. Lorain & Southern R. R. Co.; pies. and treas. Quarries Equipment Co.; member Woodward Lodge, Masons, Oakwood Lodge, … Read more

Biography of Ralph Ray Price

Ralph Ray Price, professor of History and Civics in the Kansas State Agricultural College at manhattan, had a more than professional interest in the history of Kansas, since he is a native of the state and his people were factors in the pioneer life of the territory. Professor Price is of Scotch-Irish descent and one of his ancestors fought for American independenes in the Battle of Bunker Hill. He was born on a farm in Willow Springs Township of Douglas County, Kansas, ten miles south of Lawrence on March 6, 1872. For several years he had been out of the … Read more

Marvin Mills Todd of Elyria OH

Marvin Mills Todd8, (Lorenzo D.7, Marvin6, Daniel5, Daniel4, Daniel3, Samuel2, Christopher1) born April 8, 1847, in Rodman, N. Y., died Aug. 5, 1916, in Elyria, Ohio, he was married twice, first, Dec. 20, 1871, Elouise Lord, of Elyria, O., who was born Nov. 10, 1850, in Danbury, Conn., died Feb. 20, 1897, married second, July 4, 1898, Mrs. Elizabeth Glover Lewis. He spent his boyhood days in Elyria, O., and Rockford, Ill. He learned the painters and decorators trade in Elgin, Ill. He returned to Elyria, O., where he married and lived until 1909. He is now (1912) living with … Read more

Biography of Harrison H. Guthrie, M. D.

Harrison H. Guthrie, M. D., has been in the active practice of his profession in San Bernardino since November, 1881. He came to California from St. Charles, Minnesota, where eighteen years of arduous labor and exposure in that rigorous climate had seriously impaired his naturally delicate constitution. He was born in Preston County, West Virginia, in April 1832, and is the son of a house carpenter, who was also a Virginian. The Doctor was left motherless when nine days old, and was taken and reared by his maternal grandparents in Maryland. Being of an active mental temperament, he advanced rapidly … Read more

Leonard Hitchcock Todd of Rockford IL

Leonard Hitchcock Todd7, (Marvin6, Daniel5, Daniel4, Daniel3, Samuel2, Christopher1) born Aug. 12, 1818, in Lowville, N. Y., died Oct. 31, 1861, in Rockford, Ill., married first, Oct. 1, 1840, Betsey A. Hunt, who died June 28, 1841. He married second, March 9, 1846, Laura A. Matheson, who died June 26, 1848. Married third, June 18, 1849, Augusta A. Ruger, who married, second, Gilbert Woodruff, of Rockford, Ill. Children: 1554. Lena M., b. March 1851, unmarried, lives in Rockford, Ill. 1555. Frances Abbie, b. Oct. 10, 1855, unmarried, lives in Rockford, Ill. 1556. Charles S., b. Oct. 1852, d. July 6, … Read more

Winnebago and Boone Counties Genealogy Society

The Winnebago and Boone Counties Genealogical Society has placed online at the Cherry Valley Public Library District website, numerous genealogical indices which cover the counties of Boone, Cook, McHenry, and Winnebago. These free genealogy records are PDF’s downloadable to your computer.