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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William Thompson

Birth:     1823
               Kentucky or Indiana

Died:      Jan. 27, 1873
              McDonough County, Illinois

William Thompson shares this stone with his wife Lorren and four of their children. Inscriptions documenting their burials can be found on each side of the stone.

William Thompson was a farmer in McDonough County, Illinois.  He married Lorren McClure on March 2, 1848 in McDonough County. Census records in 1860 and 1870 list his place of birth as Kentucky. In 1880 census his children list their father's birthplace as Indiana.

This biographical note for his wife Lorren from the History of McDonough County, Illinois, 1885, Continental Historical Co., Springfield, Illinois states that the Thompson farm in Bethel township, consisted of "160 acres, 40 acres of it timber, the balance under a good state of cultivation, and well improved, on section 10."

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

The Thompsons attended the M. E. church. Most census records found them living in Bethel Township; however, in 1870 the family was living in Ward 4 in the city of Macomb in McDonough County.

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

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