William Venard

Birth:   Jan. 29, 1816
           Harrison County, Kentucky

Death:  Jun. 5, 1881
            McDonough County, Illinois

Above, the William and Sarah Jane Venard stone as it appeared about 1973. Photo by Dan Venard of Macomb (now deceased).

Green vegetation covered the cemetery in the summer of 1994 when the stone was still upright yet tilting.  Fourteen years later in March 2008 (below), the stone was on the ground, embedded in mud with the top of the stone further displaced.

One of the pioneer farmers in McDonough County, William Venard was the only son born to John and Sarah (Wilson) Venard. He moved with his parents, sisters, several uncles, aunts and cousins to Illinois around 1830, settling briefly in Morgan County before moving to Bethel Township in 1831. Upon his father's death, he bought out the interest of the other heirs, ultimately owning 200 acres of fully improved, mostly prairie, nearly all under cultivation in the southeast quarter of section 14. In the 1840's he was part of the McDonough County militia serving in Illinois' "Mormon War."

In 1836 William Venard married another native Kentuckian, Sara Jane McClure, daughter of Greenup & Mary (McComsey) McClure. Theirs was the first wedding in Bethel Township. They were the parents of nine children: Isabel, John F., George Greenup, Sarah Jane, James William, Perry Wilson, Robert Y., Thomas Webster, and Josephine.

He shares a large granite stone with his wife (her inscription is on the opposite side).  The stone has been knocked off its base it is lying sideways in the cemetery.  The grave photos above are among the most striking depictions of the manner in which this cemetery has deteriorated over the past 30 years. It will take a great deal of assistance to replace this very heavy granite stone on its pedestal.

William Venard's parents, several daughters, and his in-laws are also buried in this cemetery.

His obituary appeared in the Macomb Journal on June 9, 1881:

"An early settler of McDonough county, William Venard died at his home in Bethel township on June 5th, 1881. He was born in Harrison county, Kentucky in 1816, came to Morgan county, Illinois in 1821, and then to McDonough county. He was married to Sarah Jane McClure in 1836. He is survived by his wife, 6 sons and 2 daughters. The funeral was Monday, and he was buried in the burial ground near his residence. Attending the funeral of their father and brother-in-law were J.F. Venard and Robert McClure of Carroll county, Missouri and J.W. Venard of Cherokee, Kansas."

Primary sources: "Venard-Van Antwerp-. . . McClure . . . etc. Genealogy," by Daniel Lloyd Venard, 1983, Macomb, Illinois, and "Corrections & Additions for Venard-Van Antwerp Genealogy" by Daniel Lloyd Venard, 1988.

Additional biographical information comes from historical newspapers, census records, vital statistics, and marriage records from Ancestry.com, the Illinois Statewide Marriage Index, and from Duane Lester's, "Rural Cemeteries of McDonough County, Illinois, Volume II, Bethel-Industry."

. . .

George Brundage

Birth:   Oct. 10, 1837, McDonough County, Illinois

Died:   Oct. 21, 1838, McDonough County, Illinois
 

Infant son of Mary (Alexander) and Soloman Brundage. The baby died at 1 year and 11 days old. Mary Brundage is also interred in this cemetery.  Another young child, also named George Brundage is likewise interred in this cemetery; that child is a half-brother to this infant from his father's second marriage.

Burial is documented by: Duane Lester's, Rural Cemeteries of McDonough County, Illinois, Volume II, Bethel-Industry.  The stone was located lying flat in March 2008.

Biographical information comes from census records, vital statistics, and marriage records from Ancestry.com and the Illinois Statewide Marriage Index.

. . .

George R. Brundage

Birth: Aug., 1851, McDonough County, Illinois

Died: Oct. 9, 1851, McDonough County, Illinois

This baby died at 1 month, 17 days old. He was the third child born to Soloman Brundage and his second wife, Catherine Smedley.  Another young child, also named George Brundage is likewise interred in this cemetery; that child is a half-brother to this infant by means of his father's first marriage.

The baby's burial is documented by: Duane Lester's, Rural Cemeteries of McDonough County, Illinois, Volume II, Bethel-Industry. The surface of the stone is faded, but the aluminum foil overlay technique allowed easy identification as evidenced by the photograph from March 2008 which appears above.

Biographical information comes from census records, vital statistics, and marriage records from Ancestry.com and the Illinois Statewide Marriage Index.

. . .

Lucy Ann (McClure) Brundage

Birth:  Oct. 14, 1819
          Shelby County, Kentucky

Died:  Nov. 20, 1861
          McDonough County, Illinois

Lucy Brundage's gravestone  (above)  was found lying flat and mostly buried in mud and leaves in March 2008.  Her burial is in the Brundage area of the  cemetery.

Lucy Ann (McClure) Brundage was the daughter of Greenup and Mary (McComsey) McClure.  She died at age 42 years, 1 month, 6 days.  This cemetery is located on the McClure homestead that was purchased by her father, Greenup McClure, when he moved his family to Illinois in the early 1830's.

Lucy married John Brundage (born 1818 in Henderson, Kentucky) in McDonough County, Illinois on June 12, 1839. They were the parents of George, James, Mary Jane, Lorinda, Columbus, Margaret A., William, John, and two who died in infancy.  The infants, Nancy and Sarah Elizabeth Brundage, are also interred in this cemetery.  The son named John appears in the 1860 census at 3 years of age, but I cannot locate him in records after that time. He may also have died at an early age, and if so, it's quite possible that he is buried here.

After her death, Lucy's husband, John Brundage, married Susanna Moore in March of 1863. They had three children together before moving to Missouri. John Brundage died in Central City, Putnam Co., Missouri in 1888.

Burial is documented in this cemetery by this source: Duane Lester's, Rural Cemeteries of McDonough County, Illinois, Volume II, Bethel-Industry.

Biographical information comes from census records, vital statistics, and marriage records from Ancestry.com and the Illinois Statewide Marriage Index.

. . .

Mary (Alexander) Brundage

Birth:    Nov. 6, 1800
            Kentucky

Death:  Nov. 13, 1839
            McDonough County, Illinois

She was the first wife of Soloman Brundage. She married him in Kentucky on March 23, 1817. Mary Brundage died at age 39 years, 7 days after giving birth to a healthy, surviving son (Joseph). She was predeceased by an infant son, George, who was buried in this cemetery in 1838. Her other children were: John, Sarah, Elizabeth, Mary Jane, Daniel, Margaret, Nancy, James, and Joseph.

Her husband remarried in 1840, to Catherine Smedley with whom he had four more children. He died in Memphis, Missouri in 1873.  His obituary is as follows and is included here, because he has a wife and two children laid to rest in this cemetery:

Memphis Reveille
Vol. 10 Memphis, MO
Thursday, Feb. 25, 1875
#16, Page 3
DEATH OF AN OLD AND HIGHLY ESTEEMED CITIZEN

Solomon Brundage - Departed this life February 13th, 1875 - age 77 years and 7 days. Father Brundage was born near Winchester, Clark County, Kentucky, Feb. 6, 1798. In the year 1814 and when he was but 16 year old, he served as a private soldier at Buchadad Fort in the state of Indiana, until discharged in consequence of being wounded. After this he married in his native state. In 1826 he removed with his family
to Sagamore County, Illinois. In 1831 he joined the command of Capt. Dawson of this county and fought in the Black Hawk War; served one term; enlisted again and saw many hardships in this campaign, besides being wounded.

When peace was proclaimed he was honorably discharged and returned to his family and farm. In 1836 he removed with his family to McDonough County, Illinois. In 1856 he became a citizen of Scotland County,
Missouri. He was twice married and was the parent of 14 children. He leaves a family consisting of a wife, one widowed daughter, one son and one granddaughter to mourn their irreparable death.

He had a remarkable dream; it was related to your correspondent by the family of deceased that three years ago he had a dream or vision anda voice said, "Are you ready to die?" Answer, "Yes?" voice. Three years shall lapse and you must die. Those words came true with the exception of three days. Father Brundage died as he had lived, without an enemy in the world, and in full faith that his sufferings were forever at an end.

The funeral ceremonies were conducted by Rev. Bartlett Anderson, and although the day was extremely cold and disagreeable, yet his remains were followed to their last resting place by relatives and a large concourse of friends; realizing as they stood there in the cheerless, pitiless and freezing storm of wind that they were consigning to another earth one whose hand had ever been ready to feed the hungry; help the fatherless and the widows and extend charity to all mankind.  Scotland County Missouri Feb. 1875 M.T.H.

Sources:

Burial of Mary (Alexander) Brundage is documented by: Duane Lester's, Rural Cemeteries of McDonough County, Illinois, Volume II, Bethel-Industry.

Biographical information comes from census records, vital statistics, historical newspapers and marriage records from Ancestry.com and the Illinois Statewide Marriage Index.

Sarah Ann (Husted) Buzzard

Birth:  1828
            Coshocton County, Ohio

Died:  1899
           McDonough County, Illinois

She was the daughter of Caleb and Phebe (Purdy) Husted, and she was the wife of David Buzzard, a farmer, who was born in Pennsylvania about 1817. They were married Feb 26, 1849 in McDonough County. Several of their children were born in Iowa: Franklin about 1858, Timothy about 1860, Elvira in 1862, and Daniel in1865. Their youngest child, Peter, was born in Illinois in 1867.

The World Family Tree database on Ancestry.com shows two additional children for this couple, Clarinda (born 1850) and Simon (born 1856) both born in McDonough County, IL, but they do not appear on any census records for the family.

Sarah's brothers Talmon and Amos are also buried in this cemetery in graves close to her own.  Her parents died in McDonough County and are possibly also interred in this cemetery.

The photo of her tombstone was taken in March 2008.  As of May 2010, this stone has been toppled forward by the cows roaming through the cemtery. 

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. . .

Samuel Calvin (County Commissioner)

Birth:    Feb., 1800
             Mason, Kentucky

Died:    Apr. 23, 1866
            McDonough County, Illinois

Samuel Calvin was first married to Pheobe Currey (1801-1841).  They married September 22, 1821 in Brown County, Ohio.  Phoebe Currey Calvin is possibly also interred in this cemetery.  Together they had at least six children:  Robert Curry, John, William Harvey, Indiana, George Bailey, and Mary L. He married Mary Haney (or Hainey) in January 1842 in Schuyler County, Illinois. They had at least two children, Harry C. and Margaret Ann.

Samuel Calvin was politically active in McDonough County.  He was a Democratic candidate, successfully elected as a McDonough County Commissioner in 1848, and in 1853 he was elected as an Associate Justice.  He served as a private in the McDonough County militia that was raised for the so-called "Mormon War" of 1844.

The 1850 federal census shows Samuel Calvin, farmer, living in Bethel Township, McDonough County, Illinois with his wife Mary, who was born in Pennsylvania about 1811. Two sons listed in the household, "Harvey" (22), and George (19) and his daughters Indiana (24) and Mary (16) were also born in Ohio. Two more children, Harry (7 yrs) and Margaret A. (6 months) were born in Illinois.
Duane Lester's, "Rural Cemeteries of McDonough County, Illinois, Volume II, Bethel-Industry," biographical notes document that Samuel Calvin served from McDonough County during the "Mormon War" in the 1840's, and he was also a McDonough County commissioner during that era.  Other biographical information compiled from census records, vital statistics,  and S. J. Clarke's 1878 History of McDonough County.

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James E. Frisbie

Birth:  Jul., 1872
           McDonough County, Illinois

Died:  Jan. 2, 1873
          McDonough County, Illinois

Inscription: "Son of W. & M., age 5 m 5 d"

This infant was the son of William and Margaret (Griffin) Frisbie who were married 9/9/1869 in McDonough County. Siblings of this child were Philemon (1871), William (1875), Joseph (1877), and Robert (1879).

This infant's father, William Frisbie, was born in Virginia about 1836; his mother was born about 1848 in Illinois.

As pictured in March of 2008, the stone is broken and lying flat. This burial is also documented in Duane Lester's, Rural Cemeteries of McDonough County, Illinois, Volume II, Bethel-Industry.  Biographical information comes from census records, vital statistics, and marriage records from Ancestry.com and the Illinois Statewide Marriage Index.

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Elizabeth (Matthews) Fugate

Birth:    Dec. 21, 1825
            Cass County, Illinois

Death:   Mar. 29, 1906
             McDonough County, Illinois

Elizabeth E. Matthews was born in Cass County, Illinois. She was the daughter of Benjamin and Mary "Polly" (Shoopman) Matthews who were both born in Virginia and died in McDonough County, Illinois.

She married Isaac Quincy Fugate, January 10, 1849 in McDonough County, Illinois. They owned a farm on section 21 in Bethel Township, McDonough County, Illinois. They were the parents of George (Nov. 4, 1850); Nancy Caroline (b. April 1852) [m. John Haney]; Mary Catherine "Kate" (b. Oct 1855) [m. John Raymond Gunning]; Martha J. (b. 1857) [m. Samuel Bowman]; Benjamin Martin (1860), Sarah Eleanor "Ella" (Oct. 1863) [she is interred in this cemetery], and Edward (1865).

Biographical information comes from census records, vital statistics, and marriage records from Ancestry.com, the Illinois Statewide Marriage Index, and from Duane Lester's, "Rural Cemeteries of McDonough County, Illinois, Volume II, Bethel-Industry."

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Isaac Quincy Fugate

Birth: Apr. 4, 1820
           Russell County, Virginia

Died: Sep. 20, 1895
          McDonough County, Illinois

Isaac Fugate was born in Russell County, Virginia, a son of Martin and Nancy B. (Hobbs) Fugate.

Isaac Fugate married Elizabeth Matthews, January 10, 1849 in McDonough County, Illinois. They owned a farm on section 21 in Bethel Township, McDonough County, Illinois. He served in the 1840's "Mormon War" as a soldier from McDonough County.

Isaac and Elizabeth Fugate were the parents of George (Nov. 4, 1850); Nancy Caroline (b. April 1852) [m. John Haney]; Mary Catherine "Kate" (b. Oct 1855)[m. John Raymond Gunning]; Martha J.(b. 1857) [m. Samuel Bowman]; Benjamin Martin (1860), Sarah Eleanor "Ella" (Oct. 1863) [she is interred in this cemetery], and Edward (1865).

Isaac Fugate's parents were natives of Virginia who moved their family to Monroe county, Indiana in about 1830. In 1832 they moved to McDonough County, Illinois where they purchased 160 acres of land on section 30 in Bethel Township. His brother John W. Fugate was also a well-known farmer in Bethel Township.

Biographical information is summarized from: History of McDonough County, Illinois, 1885, Continental Historical Co., Springfield, Illinois. Transcribed by Karl A. Petersen for McDonough County ILGenWeb.

Additional biographical information comes from census records, vital statistics, and marriage records from Ancestry.com, the Illinois Statewide Marriage Index, and from Duane Lester's, "Rural Cemeteries of McDonough County, Illinois, Volume II, Bethel-Industry."

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Sarah Eleanor "Ella" Fugate

Birth:   Oct. 2, 1863
             McDonough County, Illinois

Died:   Aug. 26, 1885
            McDonough County, Illinois

*"Daughter of I.Q. & E.E. Fugate"

Ella Fugate was a daughter of Isaac Q. and Elizabeth E. (Matthews) Fugate who owned a farm on section 21 in Bethel Township, McDonough County, Illinois. (Please see their bios on this site and photo of the stone they share). Ella's siblings were: George (Nov. 4, 1850); Nancy Caroline (b. April 1852) [m. John Haney]; Mary Catherine "Kate" (b. Oct 1855) [m. John Raymond Gunning]; Martha J.(b. 1857) [m. Samuel Bowman]; Benjamin Martin (1860), and Edward (1865).

This burial is documented by: Duane Lester's, Rural Cemeteries of McDonough County, Illinois, Volume II, Bethel-Industry.

*The stone is photographed as it appeared in March 2008.  Due to the weathered condition of the stone, aluminum foil overlay was gently applied and rubbed to obtain a relief image of the inscription.

Biographical information also comes from census records, vital statistics, and marriage records from Ancestry.com and the Illinois Statewide Marriage Index.


. . .

Mary Ann (Wilson) Gibson

Birth:    Feb. 1, 1830
             Champaign County, Ohio

Died:     Jul. 29, 1867
             McDonough County, Illinois

Mary Ann (Wilson) Gibson was the wife of Isaac W. Gibson, a farmer in Bethel Township, McDonough County, Illinois.  They were married on July 1, 1858.  She was born Feb 1, 1830, in Champaign Co., Ohio, a daughter of John and Jane (McComsey) Wilson. Her parents and a brother, Eli Wilson, is buried in this cemetery along with several of her cousins, an aunt, nieces and nephews.

Census records do not reveal evidence of any living children born to Mary Ann and J.W. Gibson. However, the mortality index for Bethel Township in 1860 does show that a one-month-old male, William Gibson, died in November 1859.  In the 1860 census enumeration Mary Ann Gibson's mother, Jane Wilson, and sister, Malissa Chenney, were living with her and her husband. The 1870 census shows that her husband still farming in McDonough County with his late wife's sister, Malissa Chenney, living as a domestic in his home. 

The stone, photographed in March 2008, was found lying flat on the ground.  If the infant mentioned in the 1860 mortality index was indeed her son, it is likely that he is also interred in this cemetery.

Biographical information comes from census records, vital statistics, and marriage records from Ancestry.com, the Illinois Statewide Marriage Index, and from Duane Lester's, "Rural Cemeteries of McDonough County, Illinois, Volume II, Bethel-Industry."

. . .

Jesse F. Hite

Birth:    Nov., 1868
             McDonough County, Ilinois

Died:     Jul. 20, 1870
             McDonough County, Ilinois

This infant was born in McDonough County, Ilinois. He was the child of John S. and Rebecca (Stoneking) Hite, who were married in McDonough County on September 7, 1867. The baby appears in the 1870 census at age 1, the only child in the household at that time. At that time they resided in Industry where the 24-year-old father, originally from Indiana, worked as a laborer.  The mother was 23 years old, born in Virginia.

By June of 1880, John and Rebecca Hite were living in Crawford County, Kansas with two children:  George M., age 8, (born in Illinois) and daughter, Laura, 3 months old, born in Kansas in March 1880. John Hite's father (Alexander) and several of his siblings occupied the adjacent property in Kansas. All were engaged in farming.

Biographical information comes from census records, vital statistics, and marriage records from Ancestry.com and the Illinois Statewide Marriage Index.

Burial is documented by: Duane Lester's, "Rural Cemeteries of McDonough County, Illinois, Volume II, Bethel-Industry.

The tombstone was photographed in March 2008, broken and laying on its back.

. . .

Amos Husted

Birth:   1831
            Coshocton County, Ohio

Died:    Mar. 14, 1866
            McDonough County, Illinois

Inscription: "34 y, 4m, 19d"

Amos Husted was born in Coshocton, Ohio, the third child of Caleb and Phebe (Purdy) Husted. His entire family relocated to McDonough County, Illinois sometime after 1848.  He married "Mrs. Jane Driskell" in McDonough County, Illinois on December 18, 1856. There are no documented children for this couple. After his death, his widow married for the third time (to John Allison) in 1875.

Amos Husted's sister, Sarah (Husted) Buzzard, and his older brother, Talmon Husted, are also interred in this cemetery. His parents and his wife may also be buried here.

Burial is documented by: Duane Lester's, Rural Cemeteries of McDonough County, Illinois, Volume II, Bethel-Industry.

Biographical information comes from census records, vital statistics, and marriage records from Ancestry.com and the Illinois Statewide Marriage Index.

 . ..

Talmon Husted (Civil War Vet)

Birth:   1825
            Coshocton County, Ohio

Died:    Dec. 9, 1875
            McDonough County, Illinois

*Inscription: "Co A., 78th Ill Infantry"

Talmon Husted was born in Coshocton, Ohio, the eldest child of Caleb and Phebe (Purdy) Husted. His entire family relocated to McDonough County, Illinois after 1848.  He married Martha V. (Pendams) in Schuyler County, Illinois on February 4, 1856.  She died in 1870.

He served in Company A, 78th Illinois Infantry in the Civil War enlisting as a private on August 11, 1862. He fought in major battles incluidng Chickamauga, GA and Missionary Ridge, TN, before mustering out on March 24, 1864. 

He married his second wife, Lucinda N. Davis, on August 23, 1874 in McDonough County.

His sister, Sarah (Husted) Buzzard, and his brother, Amos Husted, are also interred in this cemetery. His parents and his first wife may also be buried here.

Burial is documented by: Duane Lester's, Rural Cemeteries of McDonough County, Illinois, Volume II, Bethel-Industry.
*The aluminum foil overlay/rubbing method was used to clearly distinguish the inscription on the phone for easy reading and to enhance photography.

Biographical information comes from census records, vital statistics, and marriage records from Ancestry.com and the Illinois Statewide Marriage Index.

. . .

Elizabeth Wilson

Birth:  1853

Died:   1865, McDonough County, Illinois

Elizabeth Wilson was the daughter of Eli Wilson and Sarah (Beck) Wilson. Her parents were early settlers in Bethel Township in McDonough County Illinois. She she shares this tombstone with her father and her brother, Edward.


. . .

Eli Wilson

Birth:    Sep. 27, 1824
             Mechanicsburg (Champaign County), Ohio

Died:    1867
             McDonough County, Illinois

Eli Wilson was a son of John Wilson and Jane McCompsey. He was born in Mechanicsburg, Champaign County, Ohio in 1824. On Sep 25, 1851 he married Sophia E. Beck in McDonough County, Illinois. She was born in Greencastle, Indiana in 1830, a daughter of James and Elizabeth Beck (both born in North Carolina). Sophia died in 1917 in Kirkman, Iowa where she is buried in Rosehill/Kirkman cemetery.

Eli Wilson shares his tombstone with two of his children: Edward B., 1852-1854 and Elizabeth, 1853-1865.

Other known children born to Eli and Sophia Wilson:  Jacob born 1849-1934 in McDonough Co.; Jane, born 1854, per the 1860 census; Oliver Browning "Brum" Wilson 1855-1942 (died in Shelby Co., Iowa); Mary Bell born 1857; Anna Catherine 1859-1916 (married to Elijah Flack—and is buried in Industry, IL); Melissa born 1860; Alice born 1864; and Eli born 1867.

Eli Wilson's parents and a sister, Mary Ann (Wilson) Gibson, are also buried in this cemetery. His aunt, Mary "Polly" (McCompsey) McClure, and cousin Sarah Jane (McClure) Venard are likewise interred here.

Biographical information comes from census records, vital statistics, and marriage records from Ancestry.com and the Illinois Statewide Marriage Index and from Duane Lester's, "Rural Cemeteries of McDonough County, Illinois, Volume II, Bethel-Industry."

Check out the video clip taken on Memorial Day weekend in May 2010 to see the current condition of this stone.  It's the fourth clip in this blog post, the one with the green border. The stone is now toppled from its base because of damage by cows inhabiting the cemetery.


. . .

Edward B. Wilson

Birth:   1852
             McDonough County, Illinois

Died:    1854
             McDonough County, Illinois

Edward B. Wilson was the son of Eli Wilson and Sarah (Beck) Wilson.  His parents were early settlers in Bethel Township in McDonough County Illinois.  He shares this tombstone with his father and sister Elizabeth.


. . .

William Cheney

Birth:    Unknown

Died:     Oct. 22, 1851
             McDonough County, Illinois

William Cheney's stone was discovered buried in mud in March 2008. It is not documented in Duane Lester's, "Rural Cemeteries of McDonough County, Illinois, Volume II, Bethel-Industry." The age of the deceased was not discerned due to the deteriorated condition of the stone which is pictured above as it was found, partially buried and laying flat.

William Cheney married Malissa Wilson, daughter of John and Jane Wilson who are buried in this cemetery, on Nov. 29, 1832 (source pending verification: http://www.geocities.com/mccumsey).

Illinois land purchase records show that a William Cheney purchased two parcels of land in McDonough County in 1837. Both parcels lying in Township 05N (not Bethel Township).

S.J. Clarke's published history of McDonough County published in 1878 index lists a William Cheney on page 403. He was an unsuccessful 1850 Whig party candidate for county treasurer.

A search of relevant census records reveals that Malissa Wilson Cheney did not remarry.  She lived with her sister and brother-in-law, Mary Ann and  J.W. Gibson.  Malissa continued as a housekeeper in her brother-in-law's residence after her sister's death and until at least 1870.  By 1880 she and her sister, Margaret Lane, both resided with Margaret's son, Samuel, and his family in Tennessee Township in McDonough Co., Illinois.

. . .

Lorren (McClure) Thompson

Birth:    1825
             Shelby County, Kentucky

Died:     March 16, 1893
             McDonough County, Illinois

The wonderful photo of Lorren, circa 1880, was shared by the late Daniel Lloyd Venard.

Inscription:  “Wife of Wm., age 69y"

Daniel Lloyd Venard's research indicates that Lorren (spelling varies) was born in Shelby County, Kentucky. She married William Thompson on March 2, 1848 in McDonough County, Illinois.

William and Lorren Thompson were the parents of 11 children, and (highlighted in green) at least four of them are also buried in this cemetery:  Mary E. [Keersucker] (born 1849); John Thomas (1851-1871); Joann (1853-1869); Charles (born and died 1859); George (1854); Samuel G. (1856); Rozella (1860); Sarah (1861-1878); Franklin L. (1865); Alice (1866)' and William (1871).

Most census records found William and Lorren McClure residing in Bethel Township; however, in 1870 the family was living in the 4th Ward in the city of Macomb, McDonough County.

This biographical note is quoted from, "History of McDonough County, Illinois, 1885," Continental Historical Co., Springfield, Illinois:

"Mrs. Lorrin Thompson was born at Shelbyville, Kentucky, in 1825. Her parents were Greenup and Mary (Macumpsey) McClure, who moved from Kentucky, to this county, and here died. Her husband died in January, 1872. Mrs. Thompson has a farm in Bethel township, consisting of 160 acres, 40 acres of it timber, the balance under a good state of cultivation, and well improved, on section 10. She is the mother of 11 children, four of whom are deceased."

She was a member of the M.E. Church.

The tombstone is shared by Lorren and William Thompson and four of their children.  Inscriptions for the various family member can be found on each of the four sides of the stone.

This burial is documented by: Duane Lester's, Rural Cemeteries of McDonough County, Illinois, Volume II, Bethel-Industry.

Other sources: Venard-Van Antwerp . . . McClure . . . etc. Genealogy, by Daniel Lloyd Venard, 1983, Macomb, Illinois, and Corrections & Additions for Venard-Van Antwerp Genealogy, by Daniel Lloyd Venard, 1988; federal census records, vital statistics, and marriage records from Ancestry.com, and the Illinois Statewide Marriage Index.



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