Biographies
For 30 years, the Evergreen Cemetery Walk brought to life the voices of McLean County's history. Costumed actors portrayed individuals representing all walks of life from the county's past on the beautiful grounds of Evergreen Memorial Cemetery. We have featured 211 different individuals whose stories illustrate the impact the people of McLean County have had– locally, regionally, nationally, and internationally. One of the lasting legacies of this educational program are the biographies that have been written about every single person that has been featured on the Cemetery Walk. We hope that you will enjoy this glimpse into our local history and find these a useful resource too.Duff, Peter
Peter Duff (1856-1919): Peter Duff moved to Normal, IL after fleeing Kentucky following the end of the American Civil War. Upon his arrival,...
Man
BIPOC
1850s
Featured in
1995
Austin, Grace Jewett
Grace Merrill Jewett Austin was born on January 12, 1872 in Laconia, New Hampshire. She was the daughter of Dr. and Mrs. A.H.C. Jewett. Grace graduated fro...
Woman
1870s
Featured in
2010
Anthony, Susan B.
Champion of temperance, abolition, the rights of labor, and equal pay for equal work, Susan Brownell Anthony became one of the most visible leaders of the wo...
Woman
1820s
Featured in
2020
Claxton, Belle Blue
Belle Blue Claxton was born in Bloomington, IL on April 30, 1872. She was a daughter of Richard Blue and Emily Louisa Cooper. She had a brother, James Perc...
Woman
BIPOC
1870s
Featured in
2003
, 2014
Colby, Celestia Rice
Celestia Rice Colby was born on December 19, 1827 in Andover, Ohio. She was the fourth child born to Joel and Flavia (Bradley) Rice. She was named for an o...
Woman
1820s
Featured in
1998
, 2014
Edwards, Ruby
Ruby A. Jackson was born on January 29, 1906 in Bloomington, Illinois. She was the daughter of Andrew Jackson and Elizabeth (Wilson) Jackson. Not much is k...
BIPOC
Woman
1900s
Featured in
2013
Gridley, Mary
Mary Enos Gridley was born in Onondaga Hollow, Onondaga County, New York on March 18, 1818. When she was a child her parents, William C. and Clarissa Barney ...
Woman
1810s
Featured in
2001
, 2014
Smith, Alice Orme
Alice Orme Smith served as a nurse with the American, British, and French forces during World War I from May 1917 until February 1919. After the war she redi...
Woman
1880s
Featured in
2013
Potter, Mary
Mary Potter (DOB/DOD unknown): In 1910, Mary Potter arrived at the Illinois Soldiers’ Orphans’ Home (ISOH) in Normal, IL. Though the facilit...
Woman
Featured in
1996
Thirty-Third Illinois Volunteer Infantry Regiment
The 33rd Illinois Volunteer Regiment was raised by Charles Hovey, the first president of Illinois State Normal University, during the summer of 1861. Also kn...
Man
1860s
Featured in
1995
Stevenson, Helen Davis
Helen Louise Davis Stevenson was born in Normal on September 17, 1869. She was the daughter of William Osborne and Elizabeth Fell Davis. Her grandfather was...
Woman
1860s
Featured in
2010
Paist, Maria Dawson
Maria Dawson Paist came to Illinois with her family in 1822 at the age of five. The Dawson and Hendrix families were the first permanent settlers in McLean C...
Woman
1810s
Featured in
1995
Withers, Sarah
Sarah Rice Withers was born to John M. Rice and Patsy (Polly) Johnson Rice in Jessamine County, Kentucky on October 25, 1815. She spent her childhood and yo...
Woman
1810s
Featured in
1995
, 2009
Northrup, Rose Whipp
Rose Whipp Northrup was born on September 27, 1850 in Beardstown, Illinois. She was the daughter of John Whipp and Elizabeth VanNess Whipp. Sometime betwee...
Woman
1850s
Featured in
2009
Loomis, Emily Hanks
Emily Hanks Loomis was born October 18, 1837 on a farm in Hickory Point Township, four miles northwest of Decatur, Illinois in Macon County. She was the fif...
Woman
1830s
Featured in
2009
FitzHenry, Judge Louis
Louis FitzHenry was born in Bloomington on June 13, 1870. He was the oldest son born to Hiram and Elizabeth Johnson FitzHenry. The family lived at 319 East L...
Man
1870s
Featured in
2008
McClun, John Edward
John Edward McClun was born on February 19, 1812 in Frederick County, Virginia. He was the youngest of eight children born to Thomas and Elizabeth Bailey Mc...
Man
1810s
Featured in
2008
Hanner, Carl Gustav
Carl Gustav Hanner was born in Kungsholmen Parish, Stockholm, Sweden on August 8, 1840. His mother, Maria Lilja, was an unmarried, twenty-two year old maidse...
Man
1840s
Featured in
2008
Hawkins, Absalom
Absalom Hawkins, known as Ab by nearly all, was born on December 25, 1855. According to his obituary, he was born in Kansas City, Kansas. However, census rec...
BIPOC
Man
1850s
Featured in
2008
Prince, Ezra Morton
Ezra Morton Prince was born on May 27, 1831 in Turner, Maine. His parents were Job Prince and Zilpha Spalding Prince. He had two brothers, Leonard and Rufu...
Man
1830s
Featured in
2009
Van Schoick, William
Thomas William Van Schoick was born on August 2, 1829 in Monmouth County, New Jersey to David and Emily (Williams) Van Schoick. Although his first name was ...
Man
1820s
Featured in
2010
Fell, Jesse Weldon
Jesse Weldon Fell was born on November 10, 1808 to Jesse Fell and Rebecca Roman Fell at his father's farm in New Garden Township, Chester County, Pennsy...
Man
1800s
Featured in
1997
, 2007
, 2009
Malone, Simon Booth
Simon Booth Malone was born into slavery on December 18, 1842 in Tippah County, Mississippi. Simon came to the North as a fugitive slave after the 5th Ohio ...
BIPOC
Man
1840s
Featured in
2009
Lewis, Edward J.
Edward J. Lewis was born to Enoch and Lydia Jackson Lewis in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on September 25, 1828. He was born into a Quaker family. His father...
Man
1820s
Featured in
2009
Stearles, Willis
Much of what we know today about Willis Stearles comes from oral history, members of the community, and friends and family that knew him. Willis Stearles was...
BIPOC
Man
1890s
Featured in
2010
Withers, Allen
Allen Withers was born on a farm in Jessamine County, Kentucky about seven miles from Nicholasville, on January 21, 1807. His father married twice and produ...
Man
1800s
Featured in
2009
Pike, Alpheus
Alpheus Pike was born to Harrison Wallace Pike and Susan A. Mayberry Pike in Casco, Maine on August 14, 1846. The Pikes moved to Bloomington, Illinois in 18...
Man
1840s
Featured in
2009
Dillon, Ellis
Ellis Dillon was born on March 25, 1816 in Clinton County, Ohio to Jesse and Hannah Pugh Dillon. Jesse was one of seven brothers who all immigrated to Illino...
Man
1810s
Featured in
2008
Dillon, Martha Fisher
Ellis Dillon was born on March 25, 1816 in Clinton County, Ohio to Jesse and Hannah Pugh Dillon. Jesse was one of seven brothers who all immigrated to Illino...
Woman
1820s
Featured in
2008
Annette, Madame
Mysterious “Mme. Annette” interviewed all—from jailbirds to society matrons At the turn of the last century, when newspapers ruled th...
Woman
Visiting Voice
1860s
Featured in
2012
, 2024
Belt, Augustus "Gus"
Augustus “Gus” Hamilton Belt was born on January 14, 1895, to John and Margaret (McReynolds) Belt in Jerseyville, Illinois. He had one ...
Man
Visiting Voice
1890s
Featured in
2024
Belt, Edith Pressler
Augustus “Gus” Hamilton Belt was born on January 14, 1895, to John and Margaret (McReynolds) Belt in Jerseyville, Illinois. He had one ...
Woman
Visiting Voice
1890s
Featured in
2024
Blue, Richard
Richard Blue was born on February 22, 1842 in Dayton, Ohio. The names of his parents are unknown, but it was reported that his mother was from Virginia ...
BIPOC
Man
1840s
Featured in
2023
Burnham, Almira Sarah Ives
At the turn of the twentieth century, when the public reception of visual arts in Bloomington, Illinois could be characterized as “tepid,” or indeed, “positi...
Woman
1840s
Featured in
2020
Butler, James Preston
At the passing of James Preston “Press” Butler in 1918, newspapers, both near and far, took the opportunity to present editorial obituaries. The Pantagra...
Man
Visiting Voice
1830s
Featured in
2022
Calimese, Louise
Napoleon J. Calimese (pronounced Calimeez) was born February 18, 1890 in Irvine, Kentucky. He was one of six children born to Jerome and Mildred Calimese. It...
Woman
BIPOC
1890s
Featured in
2019
Calimese, Napoleon
Napoleon J. Calimese (pronounced Calimeez) was born February 18, 1890 in Irvine, Kentucky. He was one of six children born to Jerome and Mildred Calimese. It...
Man
BIPOC
1890s
Featured in
2019
Carman, George
“‘To write, or not to write: whether ‘tis nobler in the mind to sit and scratch your pate in vain for thoughts, or manfully to seize the shears and clip—...
Man
1830s
Featured in
2021
Cheney, Owen Lee
Owen Lee Cheney (1846-1911) was a quixotic man in his quest for fame, fortune, and new experiences. Born in Bloomington to settler parents, young Lee Cheney ...
Man
1840s
Featured in
2020
Christian, Annie May
Annie May Christian (who went by May for most of her life) was born on November 28, 1866 to Matthew and Elizabeth (Mitchell) Christian in Decatur, Illinois. ...
Woman
1860s
Featured in
2019
Clark, Lue Anna Sanders
Much of what we know about Lue Anna Brown Sanders Clark comes from her own words, in the form of five oral history interviews that were conducted from th...
BIPOC
Woman
1890s
Featured in
2018
Crandall, June W.
One of the early labor and socialist party leaders in Bloomington, June Crandall, was deeply concerned about the exploitation of the American working class b...
Man
1870s
Featured in
2006
, 2024
Davis, Judge David
David Davis was born on March 9, 1815 at Mercer Plantation, Maryland to David and Anne Mercer Davis. His father died several months before he was born and w...
Man
1810s
Featured in
2003
, 2009
, 2022
Davis, Sarah
Sarah Woodruff Walker Davis was born on September 4, 1814 in Lenox, Massachusetts. She was one of nine children born to William Perrin Walker and Lucy Adam ...
Woman
1810s
Featured in
1995
, 2009
, 2022
Duff, Alverta
Alverta Duff was the oldest child of Peter Charles and Fannie E. (Walker) Duff. She was born on August 25, 1885 in the house her father built at 107 W. Popl...
BIPOC
Woman
1880s
Featured in
2005
, 2021
Duff, Julia
Julia Edith Duff was born on June 5, 1895 in Normal, Illinois, the daughter of Peter Charles and Fannie (Walker) Duff. Her parents came to Normal from Kentuc...
BIPOC
Woman
1890s
Featured in
1997
, 2004
, 2021
Erickson, Alexander G.
Swedish immigration during the nineteenth century was part of a larger trend occurring in the wake of vast economic and social transformation brought about b...
Man
1860s
Featured in
2022
Funk, Henry
Henry Funk was a career orchardist, apiarist, poultry man, and horticulturalist. Though not to be confused with the locally renowned Funk family of Funks Gro...
Man
1850s
Featured in
2018
Hewett, Edwin C.
Edwin C. Hewett was born November 1, 1828 in Worcester County, Massachusetts. He was the first child of Timothy and Lavina Hewett. Hewett’s father was a farm...
Man
1820s
Featured in
2007
, 2020
Hill, Dr. William
Dr. William Hill (1829-1906) was a talented surgeon and one of Bloomington’s most respected physicians in the latter half of the nineteenth ...
Man
1820s
Featured in
2021
Howard, Emily
At the turn of the twentieth century, when the public reception of visual arts in Bloomington, Illinois could be characterized as “tepid,” or indeed, “positi...
Woman
1830s
Featured in
2020
Kaywood, Florence Stevens
Florence (Stevens) Kaywood was born on October 8, 1864 to William and Sarah (Shields) Stevens in Bloomington. She was the second of five children born to the...
Woman
1860s
Featured in
2019
King, Mary Reed
In the later portion of the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, Captain Samuel Noble King was among McLean County’s m...
Woman
1840s
Featured in
2023
King, Samuel Noble
In the later portion of the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, Captain Samuel Noble King was among McLean County’s m...
Man
1830s
Featured in
2023
Radbourn, Charles "Old Hoss"
Charles Radbourn was born on December 11, 1854 in Rochester, New York. He was the son of Charles and Caroline Gardner Radbourn. His parents were from Bath, ...
Man
1850s
Featured in
1995
, 2004
, 2014
Livingston, Hilda
Sigmund Livingston was born on December 27, 1872 in Giessen, Germany. He was one of eight children born to Mayer and Dora (Bluemenfeld) Livingston. The Livin...
Visiting Voice
Woman
1890s
Featured in
2021
Livingston, Sigmund
Read Must Men Hate onlineSigmund Livingston was b...
Man
Visiting Voice
1870s
Featured in
2021
Marmon, Mary Ann
Mary Ann (Cheney) Marmon (1837-1908) grew up in a log cabin on the Illinois prairie and was a member of one of the earliest white families t...
Woman
1830s
Featured in
2021
Mayes, John Jackson
John Jackson Mayes, Jr. was born on April 7, 1851 in St John’s, New Brunswick, Canada. Mayes was the son of John Jackson Mayes, Sr. and Sybil (Robert) Mayes,...
Man
1850s
Featured in
2023
McCoslin, William
William McCoslin (1830-1878) was born in Vandalia, Illinois on July 27, 1830. While the names of his parents are unknown, we do know that he...
BIPOC
Man
1830s
Featured in
2020
McCurdy, Helen Clark
Helen Clark was born in Bloomington, Illinois on February 21, 1866 to James and Anna (Bacon) Clark. Hallie (as she was also referred to as) was the second of...
Woman
1860s
Featured in
2022
Munsell, Oliver
Oliver Spencer Munsell (pronounced Muhn-sl) was born on June 8, 1825 in Miami County, Ohio to Leander and Hannah (Lee or See) Munsell. He was the second of f...
Man
1820s
Featured in
2019
Ijams, Lewis Ellington
Lewis E. Ijams was born on November 21, 1841 near Zanesville, Ohio. His parents were Lewis and Eliza (Rodman) Ijams who all together raised seven children (...
Man
1840s
Featured in
2011
Rodenhauser, William
William John (Wilhelm Johannes) Rodenhauser (1842-1919) was among a large contingent of German immigrants to arrive in McLean County in latt...
Man
1840s
Featured in
2021
Rhymer, Paul
Paul Mills Rhymer was born in Fulton, Illinois on November 21, 1905. He was the eldest son of Sidney and Mabel (Gale) Rhymer. In 1907, the Rhymer family...
Man
Visiting Voice
1900s
Featured in
2023
Stewart, Grace Huddleston
Grace Huddleston Stewart became known throughout Bloomington after she brought a fair housing complaint to the Bloomington Human Relations Committee during t...
Woman
BIPOC
1910s
Featured in
2020
Stokes, Ella Lee
Ella Lee Luallen is one of many important voices in the Black history of McLean County. She was born to Leslie (Lesley) J. Luallen and Margaret Clara (Jones)...
BIPOC
Woman
1910s
Featured in
2022
Wright, Ebenezer
Ebenezer Wright was born in either 1830 or 1831 in Ludlow, Massachusetts to Rev. Ebenezer and Harriet (Goodell) Wright. He was the second of four children bo...
Man
1830s
Featured in
2019
Guthrie, Adam
Adam Guthrie was born on March 10, 1825 in Circleville, Pickaway Co., Ohio. He was one of twelve children born to Robert and Catherine Spawr Guthrie. His fat...
Man
1820s
Featured in
2000
, 2014
Wakefield, Cyrenius
Cyrenius Wakefield (1815-1885): Dr. Cyrenius Wakefield settled in Bloomington, IL in 1850. Wakefield was an accomplished dr...
Man
1810s
Featured in
1995
Jones, Annie Ethel
Annie Ethel Berry was born in Booneville, Mississippi on May 19, 1899, to Malaci Berry and Ida Eugenia (Bynum) Berry. For most of her life, she went by her m...
BIPOC
Woman
1890s
Featured in
2023
Hendryx, Jane Frankeberger
Jane Frankeberger was born in Champaign County, Ohio on September 4, 1818 to Jesse and his second wife, Rosanna (Rhinehart) Frankeberger. There Jane lived wi...
Woman
1810s
Featured in
2018
Fox, Elizabeth “Lizzie” Irons Folsom
Elizabeth “Lizzie” Irons was born in September 1861 in Peoria to Charles and Ettie Maria English Irons. She was their only child. Lizzie’s father Charles w...
Woman
1860s
Featured in
2008
Wagner, Grace B.
Grace B. Wagner was born on May 1, 1890 to Henry and Nellie Spafford Wagner. The family resided at 1011 N. Main Street in Bloomington, Illinois. Her father o...
Woman
1890s
Featured in
2008
Mandler, Christoph
Christoph Mandler was born on April 23, 1858 in Daubringen, County of Gressen in the Grand Duchy of Hessen, Germany. His parents were Heinrich Mandler and M...
Man
1850s
Featured in
2010
Foster, Daniel T.
Captain Daniel T. Foster was born on July 22, 1841 in Waitsfield, Washington County, Vermont. He worked as a farm hand for several years before he began work...
Man
1840s
Featured in
2010
Harris, Carter
Carter Harris was born April 15, 1856 on a small plantation in Red Bank, Mississippi. A son of a plantation owner and an enslaved mother, Harris was of ...
BIPOC
Man
1850s
Featured in
2007
Colby, Dr. June Rose
June Rose Colby, known to friends and family as Rose, was born at Cherry Valley, Ohio on June 4, 1856. June Rose was the fourth of five children born to Lew...
Woman
1850s
Featured in
2007
Dodge, Flora Pennell
Flora Pennell Dodge was born on September 14, 1868 in Normal, Illinois. She was the youngest of five children born to John R. Dodge and Caroline Odell. At ...
Woman
1860s
Featured in
2007
Bakewell, Edwin
Edwin Wells Bakewell was born in Wellsburg, Brooke County, Virginia (today located in West Virginia) on July 20, 1812. He was one of six children born to Sa...
Man
1810s
Featured in
2007
McCormick, Henry
Henry McCormick was born on February 5, 1837 in Belmullet, County Mayo, Ireland. He spent his boyhood on his family’s farm and attended the local grammar sc...
Man
1830s
Featured in
2007
Hartmann, Mary J.
Mary J. Hartmann was born on October 13, 1845 on a farm in Franklin Township, Washington County, Indiana. She was the daughter of Jacob and Susan Hartmann. ...
Woman
1840s
Featured in
2007
Litta, Marie
Marie (pronounced Maria) Litta, born Marie Eugenia von Elsner, was born in Bloomington, IL on June 1, 1856 at her family’s home located at 710 E. Front Stree...
Woman
1850s
Featured in
1995
, 2014
Cahill, Francis
Francis Cahill, Jr. was born on April 5, 1922 in Chicago, Illinois. He was the oldest of four sons born to Francis Cahill, Sr. and Margaret (Eilerman) Cahill...
Man
1920s
Featured in
2018
Christian, Elizabeth Jane Mitchell
Elizabeth Jane Mitchell, called Lizzie, was born on July 16, 1842 at Stout’s Grove near Danvers in McLean County, Illinois. She was one of seven children of...
Woman
1840s
Featured in
2007
Becker, Augusta "Gussie"
Augusta Becker, known as “Gussie” to most, was born in Berlin, Germany on November 13, 1882, to Carl and Amelia (Klawitter) Becker. Gussie was one four child...
Woman
1880s
Featured in
2018
Kirkpatrick, Charles
Much of the information about Charles Kirkpatrick’s life comes from an autobiographical interview that was conducted at 10:00 a.m. on December 19, 1952 a...
Man
1870s
Featured in
2019
White, William Richard
William Richard White was born on December 22, 1844 in Goosenest Prairie, Coles County, Illinois. The town, now known as Lerna, is located in Southeastern, I...
Man
1840s
Featured in
2010
Adams, Dr. William Henry Harrison
Dr. William Henry Harrison Adams was born on March 30, 1840 in Effingham County, Illinois. He was the oldest son of Christopher Beeks Adams, (born May 12, 18...
Man
1840s
Featured in
2005
Heafer, Napoleon B.
Napoleon B. Heafer was born on December 14, 1823 in Charleston, West Virginia. At the age of ten, after spending only six months in school, Heafer began to l...
Man
1820s
Featured in
2002
Orme, William Ward
William Ward Orme was born February 17, 1832 in Washington, D.C. William’s parents died when he was 13 years old. He lived with a grandfather who taught hi...
Man
1830s
Featured in
2006
Dyson, Nancy “Nannie” McCullough Orme
Nancy “Nannie” McCullough Orme was born on October 23, 1834 in McLean County. In 1853 she married William Ward Orme. Between 1854 and 1860 the couple had f...
Woman
1830s
Featured in
2006
Hamilton, Kate Waterman
Kate Waterman Hamilton was born on November 12, 1841 in Schenectady, New York the only daughter of Farwell H. Hamilton and his wife Ruth A. Cady Hamilton. I...
Woman
1840s
Featured in
2006
Rayburn, Jennie
Jane “Jennie” Buttolph Rayburn was born May 11, 1858 in Middlebury, Vermont a daughter of William Wallace Buttolph, and his wife Mary Ann. William was a rail...
Woman
1850s
Featured in
2006
Lott, Harrison Clay
Harrison Clay Lott was born August 16, 1848 in Madison, Indiana. When Lott was fifteen years old he enlisted in the Union Army to fight in the Civil War. H...
Man
1840s
Featured in
2006
Cotting, James M.
James M. Cotting was born on March 18, 1825 in North Chatham, New York. He married Katherine M.J. Vanderpool on September 18, 1847 in New York. Katherine was...
Man
1820s
Featured in
2005
Cotting, Katherine M.J. Vanderpool
James M. Cotting was born on March 18, 1825 in North Chatham, New York. He married Katherine M.J. Vanderpool on September 18, 1847 in New York. Katherine was...
Woman
1820s
Featured in
2005
Porter, Ida
Ida Porter was born on September 19, 1863 in Normal, Illinois. She was the daughter of Solomon S. and Amanda M. Shueey Porter. Her father, Solomon, was bor...
Woman
1860s
Featured in
2005
Jackman, Sarah Farnum Sargent
Sarah Farnum Sargent Jackman was born on December 18, 1816 in Boscawen, New Hampshire. She was the oldest of five children born to Isaac, (b. November 21, 17...
Woman
1810s
Featured in
2005
Locher, Beulah Baker
Beulah Baker Locher was born on January 7, 1881 in Gibson City. She was the daughter of Frank R. and Cordelia Shelton Baker. When she was just a few years ol...
Woman
1880s
Featured in
2003
Merchant, Mary Arenz
Mary Arenz Merchant was born on February 28, 1841 in New Berlin, IL the fourth of ten children born to Francis and Louisa Arenz of Arenzville, Cass County, I...
Woman
1840s
Featured in
2003
Graves, Linus
Linus Graves was born in Williamstown, Vermont on April 2, 1815 one of eleven children born to Calvin and Fannie (Robinson) Graves. The Graves family was one...
Man
1810s
Featured in
2003
Sanders, Susan Pike
Susan Augusta Pike Sanders was born in Maine on March 25, 1842. She was the third of seven children and the first daughter of Harrison Wallace Pike and Susan...
Woman
1840s
Featured in
2003
Seibert, Leonard
Leonard Seibert was born on August 18, 1831 in Koenig, a borough of Essen, Germany. He came to the United States around 1855 living first in New York City, t...
Man
1830s
Featured in
2003
Hawks, Samuel Lockhart
Samuel Lockhart Hawks, known as “Louis” Hawks, was born in Scotland on March 7, 1832 the son of Robert and Margaret (Lockhart) Hawks. He married Emeline Pres...
Man
1830s
Featured in
2003
Ferre, Goodman
Goodman Ferre (pronounced Ferry) was born on January 27, 1806 and died on September 24, 1897. When he arrived in Bloomington in the 1840s the population was...
Man
1800s
Featured in
2006
Moore, Asa Harvey
Asa Harvey Moore was born on October 20, 1820 in Rutland, Westchester County, Massachusetts. He was the oldest child of Asa and Sabra Lovell Moore, both of R...
Man
1820s
Featured in
2005
Wolcott, John Laurens
John Wolcott was born in Berkshire County, Massachusetts on August 30, 1808. He learned his trade by working with his father, a cabinet maker and undertaker...
Man
1800s
Featured in
2006
Gridley, Asahel
A great deal of the information known about Asahel Gridley is based on reminiscences of his friends and family, enemies and rivals, hearsay, conjecture, ...
Man
1810s
Featured in
1998
, 2014
Doubleday, Ulysses Freeman
Ulysses Freeman Doubleday was born on December 15, 1792 in New Lebanon, Columbia County, New York. He was the son of Abner (born: February 3, 1757, died: ...
Man
1790s
Featured in
2005
Dietrich, Julius R.
Julius R. Dietrich was born in September of 1858 in Heinichen Saxony, Germany. He spent most of his early life in Germany having been educated in schools an...
Man
1850s
Featured in
2005
Stevenson, Adlai E. I
A devout Democrat in a staunchly Republican district, Adlai E. Stevenson I managed to be twice elected to the U.S. Congress by the people of McLean County in...
Man
1830s
Featured in
1995
Beich, Paul F.
Paul Frank Beich was born in Wehlau, East Prussia (now part of Russia) on May 22, 1864. He was the son of August, a government hospital inspector and later t...
Man
Visiting Voice
1860s
Featured in
2022
Pillsbury, Arthur L.
Arthur L. Pillsbury was born in Bloomington, Illinois on November 29th, 1869. He grew up in Bloomington and attended schools in Normal. His father, William L...
Man
1860s
Featured in
2002
Funk, Florence Mae Risser
Florence Mae Risser Funk (1871-1923) was one of McLean County’s most renowned suffragists and society women. Politically well-connected, Fun...
Woman
1870s
Featured in
2020
Bynum, Edward
True and literal meaning is leant to the phrase “brothers in arms” by and his younger brother Lincoln, who served in France as fellow soldiers of Company K o...
Man
BIPOC
1890s
Featured in
2017
Bynum, Lincoln
True and literal meaning is leant to the phrase “brothers in arms” by Lincoln Bynum and his older brother Edward, who served in France as fellow soldiers of ...
Man
BIPOC
1900s
Featured in
2017
Geneva, Carolyn Schertz
Carolyn Schertz Geneva was born on October 13, 1892 in Hudson. Illinois. She was the daughter of David and Carrie (Kaufman) Schertz. By 1900, the family had ...
Woman
1890s
Featured in
1998
, 2017
Holder, Julia
Julia Montrose Holder was on born December 24, 1884 in Bloomington, Illinois to Dan and Kate (Saltonstall) Holder. She was one of two children born to the co...
Woman
1880s
Featured in
2017
Noble, Clyde Van
Clyde Van Noble (1881-1955) became a jeweler’s apprentice as a teenager and had a promising career in his chosen trade. However, that career was put on hold ...
Man
1880s
Featured in
2018
Stevenson, Adlai E. II
Politics was in his blood. Adlai Ewing Stevenson II was a member of the two most influential political families in the region; the Republican Fell and th...
Man
1900s
Featured in
1997
, 2014
, 2018
Vrooman, Carl
Carl was born in Macon County, Missouri on October 25, 1872. He was the son of Judge Hiram Perkins and Sarah (Buffington) Vrooman. His father, a native of Ne...
Man
1870s
Featured in
2008
, 2017
Hanson, Ethel Hamilton
Ethel Hamilton Hanson was a popular member of society circles and active in educational, political, and charitable work in the community. Sh...
Woman
1880s
Featured in
2017
Higgins, Hamer
Considering his chosen line of work, one might not be too surprised to learn that Hamer J. Higgins, born on February 14, 1840, entered this world in the comp...
Man
1840s
Featured in
2016
Jackman, John
John Adams Jackman was born March 22, 1816 in Boscawen, New Hampshire, where his great-grandfather and grandfather—Deacon George Jackman and Squire George Ja...
Man
1810s
Featured in
2016
Jung, Jacob
Jacob Phillip Jung was born on February 9, 1850 in Nauvoo, Hancock County, Illinois to parents Christian and Elizabeth (Brandenburger) Jung—both natives of G...
Man
1850s
Featured in
2016
Murray, Ethel
Much of what we know today about Murray comes from oral history which can sometimes contradict existing historical documents. In situations where there i...
BIPOC
Woman
1910s
Featured in
2016
Read, Roland
Roland Spencer Read was born in Bloomington, Illinois, on May 26, 1895. He was one of three sons born to Dora “Dottie” (Hodge) and George Burt (G.B.) Read. D...
Man
1890s
Featured in
2017
Shipley, Richard
Richard Shipley, like many young people of his day, became captivated with the circus. Not only did many circuses regularly pass through Bloomington-Normal, ...
Man
1900s
Featured in
2016
Thompson, Jennie
Jane “Jennie” Lynd Thompson was born on October 28, 1860 in Bond Head, Canada—located in the present-day province of Ontario. She was the oldest of (eventual...
Woman
1860s
Featured in
2016
Calcote, Matilda
Matilda Bell Heaston entered the world on November 30, 1910. Born to Jake and Doshie (Robinson) Heaston in Randolph, Tennessee, Matilda was one of 15 childre...
BIPOC
Woman
1910s
Featured in
2015
Crothers, Dr. Eli Kirk
Dr. Eli Kirk Crothers (1826-1893) was a successful physician and druggist from the time of his arrival in Bloomington in 1850. He is most re...
Man
1820s
Featured in
2015
Crothers, Dr. Marie Louise
Dr. Mrs. Marie Louise (DePew) Crothers (1833-1920), wife of well-respected physician and druggist Dr. Eli Kirk Crothers, was one of the firs...
Woman
1830s
Featured in
2015
Davis, William O.
William Osbourne Davis was the son of a Quaker farmer from Chester County, Pennsylvania and began his career as a teacher and on again, off again farmer. He ...
Man
1830s
Featured in
2015
DeMotte, Harvey C.
Harvey Clelland DeMotte was a devoted and beloved teacher who worked to bring out the best in every student. A long-time member of the faculty at Illinois We...
Man
1830s
Featured in
2015
Ela, Frances Harriet Rowell
Frances Harriet Rowell was born on November 15, 1835 in Waterford, Vermont. She was one of four children born to Guy and Clarissa (Rankin) Rowell. Her fath...
Woman
1830s
Featured in
1995
, 2011
Ela, George Porter
Frances Harriet Rowell was born on November 15, 1835 in Waterford, Vermont. She was one of four children born to Guy and Clarissa (Rankin) Rowell. Her fath...
Man
1830s
Featured in
2011
Esque, Eliza (Davis)
Eliza Davis Esque was born around 1845 in St. Charles County, Missouri. Little is known about her family including the names of her parents. However, it is...
BIPOC
Woman
1840s
Featured in
2011
Kessler, Clara Louise
Clara Louise Kessler (1893-1968) “knows and loves children and is vitally interested in them,” said actress Jane Cowl after reading Kessler’s poetry. Clara K...
Woman
1890s
Featured in
2015
Noble, Emily Vecchi
Emily (Vecchi) Noble was born on Church Street in London, England on February 4, 1886 to Enrico and Emily Vecchi. She had two sisters, Margherita and Roma, a...
Woman
1880s
Featured in
1997
, 2018
Riebsame, Christian
Captain Christian Riebsame (1839-1913) was a German-born citizen who came to the United States in 1853. During the Civil War he served in the 116th Illinois ...
Man
1830s
Featured in
2015
Rogers, Dr. Thomas
No matter one’s opinion regarding Dr. Thomas Pierce Rogers’s professional practice or political leanings, one cannot refute that Rogers was a “man who did th...
Man
1810s
Featured in
2015
Brown, Henry L.
Henry Brown was never afraid to learn new skills to overcome the challenges which life threw at him. After his parents divorced and the Great Depression came...
Man
BIPOC
1910s
Featured in
2013
Eyer, Lloyd
Lloyd Eyer served as physical director of the Bloomington YMCA for twelve years from 1905 to 1917, was manager of Read’s Sporting Goods (then known as W.B. R...
Man
1880s
Featured in
2013
Goodheart, James
James Goodheart is recognized in our local history as the son of two “honored pioneers” as well as for the many experiences he enjoyed due to his long time r...
Man
1830s
Featured in
2013
Green, Fred -"The Flying LaVans"
“The Flying La Vans,” were first known by the name the “La Van Brothers” or the “Brothers La Van.” They were the first of many Bloomington born-and-bred aer...
Man
1850s
Featured in
2013
Green, Harry -"The Flying LaVans"
“The Flying La Vans,” were first known by the name the “La Van Brothers” or the “Brothers La Van.” They were the first of many Bloomington born-and-bred aer...
Man
1860s
Featured in
2013
Horine, William H.
William (Bill) Horine was born to Adam and Sallie (Mason) Horine on March 3, 1840 in Jessamine County, Kentucky. He had seven siblings: Adam, Sarah, Anderso...
Man
1840s
Featured in
2011
McNulta, John
John McNulta was born on November 9, 1837 in New York City, New York. His father was Irish and his mother was from Scotland. McNulta received his education...
Man
1830s
Featured in
2011
Rice, Martha Baker
Martha H. Baker (Rice) was born in Richmond, Kentucky on September 4, 1817. Her parent’s names are not known. She had five brothers and sisters whose names...
Woman
1810s
Featured in
2011
Roeder, John Conrad
John C. Roeder was born in Nordeck, Germany in about 1836. He was the son of Conrad and Elizabeth Roeder. While there is little information about his early...
Man
1830s
Featured in
2011
Smith, Dr. Lee
Dr. Lee Smith was born on May 8, 1832 near Havens Grove, Illinois. He was the first child born to John and Anna (Havens) Smith. Smith’s father was a native o...
Man
1830s
Featured in
2011
Stipp, Dr. George Winfield
Dr. George W. Stipp was born on January 27, 1799 near Winchester, Frederick County, Virginia. The details of his family are unknown other than he moved with...
Man
1790s
Featured in
2011
Funk, Benjamin Franklin
Benjamin Franklin Funk was born on October 17, 1837 to Isaac and Cassandra Funk. Benjamin was the seventh of the ten children born to Isaac and Cassandra. Be...
Man
1830s
Featured in
2012
Hobbs, Dr. William C.
Dr. William Hobbs was born in Maryland on December 24, 1800. Very little is known about his life before coming to Bloomington including who his parents were....
Man
1800s
Featured in
2012
Huggins, Sophia
Much of what is known about Sophia Huggins is based on two newspaper interviews: one with The Pantagraph and the other with The Daily Bulletin. ...
BIPOC
Woman
1830s
Featured in
2012
, 2024
Sanders, Isaac
Isaac Joshua Beasley Sanders was born in Little Rock, Arkansas on January 17, 1878. He was the son of Lou (or Lewis) and Anna (Hoard) Sanders. He had one kno...
BIPOC
Man
1870s
Featured in
2012
Scott, Charlotte Ann Perry
Charlotte Ann Perry was born on September 18, 1831 in Athens, Tioga County, Pennsylvania. She was one of seven children born to Reverend David I. and Maria ...
Woman
1830s
Featured in
2012
Trotter, Georgina
Georgina Trotter (1836-1904) was a dynamo of energy and a force to be reckoned with. According to The Pantagraph, “the history of t...
Woman
1830s
Featured in
1998
, 2012
, 2024
Wunderlich, Gerald “Jerry” White
Gerald “Jerry” Wunderlich (sometimes spelled Wonderlich) was born on August 25, 1889 in Chicago, Illinois. His biological parents are unknown. When he was a...
Man
1880s
Featured in
2012
Vrooman, Julia Scott
Carl was born in Macon County, Missouri on October 25, 1872. He was the son of Judge Hiram Perkins and Sarah (Buffington) Vrooman. His father, a native of Ne...
Woman
1870s
Featured in
2008
, 2017
Burnham, John Howard
John Howard Burnham was born on October 31, 1834 in Essex, Massachusetts. His parents, John Burnham and Sarah Choate Perkins, were descended from some of the...
Man
1830s
Featured in
2002
Fell, Hester Vernon
Hester Vernon Fell was born on March 2, 1819 in Little Brittain, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. She was the sixth child born to William and Rachel (Milner)...
Woman
1810s
Featured in
2002
Hawkins, Julia Bee
Julia Bee was born in Illinois on March 29, 1863. It is not known who her parents were but in the 1880 census she was listed as the daughter of Henry and Ell...
BIPOC
Woman
1860s
Featured in
2002
Henderson, Effie
Effie Henderson was born on October 29, 1859 in Towanda, Illinois. Her parents, Franklin and Sarah Metcalf Henderson, strongly influenced her later decision ...
Woman
1850s
Featured in
2002
Rankin, Melinda
Melinda Rankin was born in Littleton, New Hampshire on March 21, 1811. She attended and taught school in New Hampshire until the 1840s when she, like many pe...
Woman
1810s
Featured in
2002
, 2004
Scott, John Milton
John Milton Scott was born on August 1, 1823 in Belleville, St. Clair County, Illinois. His parents were Samuel and Nancy Briggs Scott. Samuel was a farmer f...
Man
1820s
Featured in
2002
Milner, Angeline Vernon
Authors: Angela Bonnell, Morgan Bueza, and Candace SummersAngeline Vernon Milner, often known as “Ange.,” served as Illinois State Normal University’s...
Woman
1850s
Featured in
2007
, 2024
Morgan, Lucy Orme
Lucy Orme Morgan was born on January 21, 1858 in Bloomington, Illinois. She was the third of four children born to William Ward Orme and Nannie McCullough Or...
Woman
1850s
Featured in
2010
Jones, Eva
Eva Mae Gaiter Jones (1930-1987) was a Bloomington civic leader with a conviction to serve her family and community. She began her efforts t...
Woman
BIPOC
1930s
Featured in
2006
, 2024
Kessler, Frances
Frances Flower Kessler (1887-1975) had a passion for music and education. Music was always an interest for her, and she credited her family ...
Woman
1880s
Featured in
2023
Fitzwilliam, Sarah Raymond
Sarah Raymond Fitzwilliam (1842-1918) was born in Kendall County, Illinois on October 11, 1842. Once the superintendent of the Bloomington, ...
Woman
1840s
Featured in
1996
, 2024
Klemm, C.W.
Carl Wilhelm (C.W.) Klemm was born on May 1, 1845 in Haynrode, Saxony, Germany. His grandfather sold Brazilian coffee and his father was a dry goods merchant...
Man
1840s
Featured in
2001
Elder, Mary
Mary Elvira Elder was born in Bloomingburg, Fayette County, Ohio on September 18, 1835 according to her grave marker, or November 15, 1835 according to her o...
Woman
1830s
Featured in
2001
Benjamin, Reuben Moore
Reuben Moore Benjamin was born on June 29, 1833 in Chatham Center, Columbia County, New York (20 miles southeast of Albany). His grandfather, Ebeneezer Benja...
Man
1830s
Featured in
2001
Bunn, T.J.
Thomas Jefferson (T.J.) Bunn was born on August 29, 1832 in Xenia, Green County, Ohio. He was the son of Lewis and Margery Haines Bunn. The Bunn family came ...
Man
1830s
Featured in
2001
MacGillivray, Dr. Margaret
Dr. Margaret MacGillivray was born in Dunfermline, Scotland on October 21, 1845. She was a very intelligent and cultured woman and became one of the first fe...
Woman
1840s
Featured in
2001
Neville, Edith
Edith Neville, one of Bloomington’s most wealthy and eccentric citizens, was born in Bloomington on August 29, 1885. She was the daughter of James and Nellie...
Woman
1880s
Featured in
2001
Bach, Maria Sophia
Maria Sophia (Koehler or Kahler) Bach was the wife of pressman and political dissident, William Bach Sr. Both immigrants from Germany, the couple met in Phil...
Woman
1830s
Featured in
2013
Brokaw, Abraham
Abraham Brokaw (he preferred to go by Abram), was born November 6, 1815 in Somerset County, New Jersey. He was the son of William and Helen Ditmus Brokaw. Th...
Man
1810s
Featured in
2000
Bradner, Judith Ann
Judith Major Allin Bradner was born on May 9, 1814 in Bourbon County, Kentucky to William T. and Margaret (Shipp) Major. In 1834 her father and his brothers ...
Woman
1810s
Featured in
2000
Haggard, David
David Haggard was proud of his family tree. David was a descendant of Sir Andrew Ogard, a Knight of Bradenham Castle in County Norfolk which lies on the east...
Man
1760s
Featured in
2000
Scott, Julia Green
Julia Green Scott was born to privilege and distinguished ancestry on February 14, 1839 in Danville, Kentucky. She was the daughter of Rev. Lewis Warner, a r...
Woman
1830s
Featured in
2000
Barton, Lucinda
Lucinda Robinson Barton was born on January 18, 1838 in Washington Co., Missouri. When she was four, her parents, Robert and Jane Robinson, moved from Missou...
Woman
BIPOC
1830s
Featured in
2000
Moratz, Palma
Palma Moratz was born on April 6, 1879 in Bloomington, IL to German-born parents, Hermann and Emilie Eisner Moratz. Her father, Hermann, immigrated to the Un...
Woman
1870s
Featured in
2000
Tipton, Judge Thomas F.
Thomas Foster Tipton was born to Hiram and Deborah Ogden Tipton in Franklin County, Ohio, on August 29,1833. The family came to McLean County in 1844 and set...
Man
1830s
Featured in
2000
Moratz, Paul
Paul O. Moratz had a passion for building and design that started at a young age. For 34 years Moratz designed concert halls, schools, libraries, hospitals, ...
Man
1860s
Featured in
2016
White, Samuel
Prominent contractor and builder Samuel White’s personal and professional “rags to riches” story is interwoven with the history and development of Bloomingto...
Man
1840s
Featured in
2016
Covington, Dr. Eugene
Dr. E. G. Covington was the first established and successful African American medical doctor in Bloomington-Normal, serving the Black, as well as the white, ...
Man
BIPOC
1870s
Featured in
2001
Frank, Henry “Teddy”
Henry “Teddy” Frank was born in Pennsylvania sometime in 1840 or 1841 and remained there until the outbreak of the Civil War. He served in Company A of the P...
Man
1840s
Featured in
1999
, 2004
Hall, Helen Ross
Helen Ross was born on September 15, 1846 in the village of Kenagh, in County Longford, Ireland. She was the oldest of nine children born to John and Elizab...
Woman
1840s
Featured in
1999
Major, William Trabue
William Trabue Major was born on March 1st, 1790 about three miles from Frankfort, Kentucky. His parents were John Major and Judith Trabue Major. His fathe...
Man
1790s
Featured in
1999
McCullough, William
William McCullough was born on September 11, 1811 in Flemingsburg, Kentucky. He was the son of Peter and Levina McCullough. In 1826 the family moved from K...
Man
1810s
Featured in
1999
Schroeder, Baroness Maria von Buchau
Much of what we know about Herman Schroeder comes from his own accounts. Some of this information must be taken with a grain of salt as he was known to ...
Woman
1820s
Featured in
1999
, 2004
Schroeder, Dr. Herman
Much of what we know about Herman Schroeder comes from his own accounts. Some of this information must be taken with a grain of salt as he was known to ...
Man
1820s
Featured in
1996
, 2004
Stevenson, Letitia Green
Letitia Barbour Green Stevenson was born in Alleghany City in Western Pennsylvania on January 8, 1843. Her father was Reverend Lewis W. Green, a Presbyterian...
Woman
1840s
Featured in
1999
Wickizer, Jennie MacDonald
Jennie MacDonald Wickizer was born on December 31, 1852 at Knightswood, Scotland, located just outside of Glasgow. She was born to Daniel and Elizabeth MacDo...
Woman
1850s
Featured in
1999
Williams, Private Gus
Augustus “Gus” Williams was born in Jacksonville, Illinois on September 22, 1892. He was the son of Moses and Suthenie “Thenie” (Smith) Williams, who were ma...
BIPOC
Man
1890s
Featured in
1999
Allin, James
James Allin was born on January 13, 1788 in North Carolina. He was the son of Isaac and Sarah Frances (Randle) Allin. In 1798 at the age of ten, his family m...
Man
1780s
Featured in
1998
Kimball, Luella
Not much is known about Luella Kimball, sometimes known as Luella Rankin. Luella was the fourth child of Holt Kimball and Harriet Rankin, following sister El...
Woman
1850s
Featured in
1998
, 2004
Thomas, George Washington
George Washington Thomas was born in Wisemantown, Kentucky, around 1860 or 1861. At that time Kentucky was still a slave state but there are no records that ...
BIPOC
Man
1860s
Featured in
1998
Price, John Joseph
John Joseph Price was born on October 16, 1835 in Cincinnati, Ohio. Little information is known about his early life including the names of his parents. In 1...
Man
1830s
Featured in
1998
Davis, Elmer
Elmer Ray Davis was born in Bement, Piatt County, Illinois, on October 6, 1888. He was the eldest son and one of six children born to Oscar and Katherine (Tr...
Man
1880s
Featured in
1997
Mayers, Aaron
Aaron Mayers was born in Manheim, Pennsylvania in about 1827. It is unknown when exactly Mayers moved to Bloomington and there is little information availabl...
Man
1820s
Featured in
1997
Gage, Dorothy Louise
The life of Dorothy Louise Gage, although brief, was certainly meaningful, leaving an impact that carried on long after her death. Gage was born on Saturday,...
Woman
1890s
Featured in
1997
Eyestone, Lura
Lura Mary Eyestone was born in Bloomington, Illinois on October 14, 1872 to Theodore Riley and Martha (Liston) Congleton. When Lura was born, the family live...
Woman
1870s
Featured in
1997
Hogg, Harvey
The Bloomington lawyer and Civil War cavalry commander, Harvey Hogg (originally from Tennessee), led an eventful and principled, albeit short, life. He was a...
Man
1830s
Featured in
1996
Law, David D.
David D. Law was born in Lebanon City, Pennsylvania on March 30, 1852 and was the son of William and Elizabeth Carmaney Law. David and his family most likely...
Man
1850s
Featured in
1996
, 2004
Muxfeld, Louise
Louise Muxfeld, known as “Lizzie” by all, was born as Johanna Louise Catherine Tobecksen on June 7, 1853 in the city of Schoenburg in the province of Schlesw...
Woman
1850s
Featured in
1996
, 2004
Saltzman-Stevens, Minnie
The story of Minnie Saltzman-Stevens is a Cinderella story of the musical arts. She rose from a choir singer in Bloomington to become a Wagnerian soprano sin...
Woman
1870s
Featured in
1996
Witherspoon, Julius
Captain Julius C. Witherspoon (1859 – 1906)Introduction/OverviewA wall mural at 100 E. Monroe Street, Bloomington, Illinois, i...