Biographies

Adams, Dr. William Henry Harrison

1840—1890

Dr. William Henry Harrison Adams was born on March 30, 1840 in Effingham County, Illinois. He w...

Allin, James

1788—1869

James Allin was born on January 13, 1788 in North Carolina. He was the son of Isaac and Sarah F...

Annette, Madame

Mysterious “Mme. Annette” interviewed all—from jailbirds to society matrons At the turn of the ...

Anthony, Susan B.

1820—1906

Champion of temperance, abolition, the rights of labor, and equal pay for equal work, Susan Bro...

Austin, Grace Jewett

1872—1948

Grace Merrill Jewett Austin was born on January 12, 1872 in Laconia, New Hampshire.  She was th...

Bach, Maria Sophia

1836—1917

Maria Sophia (Koehler or Kahler) Bach was the wife of pressman and political dissident, William...

Bakewell, Edwin

1812—1901

Edwin Wells Bakewell was born in Wellsburg, Brooke County, Virginia (today located in West Virg...

Barton, Lucinda

1838—1929

Lucinda Robinson Barton was born on January 18, 1838 in Washington Co., Missouri. When she was ...

Becker, Augusta "Gussie"

1882—1982

Augusta Becker, known as “Gussie” to most, was born in Berlin, Germany on November 13, 1882, to...

Beich, Paul F.

1864—1937

Paul Frank Beich was born in Wehlau, East Prussia (now part of Russia) on May 22, 1864. He was ...

Belt, Augustus "Gus"

1895—1954

     Augustus “Gus” Hamilton Belt was born on January 14, 1895, to John and Margaret (McReynold...

Belt, Edith Pressler

1896—1972

     Augustus “Gus” Hamilton Belt was born on January 14, 1895, to John and Margaret (McReynold...

Benjamin, Reuben Moore

1833—1917

Reuben Moore Benjamin was born on June 29, 1833 in Chatham Center, Columbia County, New York (2...

Blue, Richard

1842—1921

     Richard Blue was born on February 22, 1842 in Dayton, Ohio. The names of his parents are u...

Bradner, Judith Ann

1814—1912

Judith Major Allin Bradner was born on May 9, 1814 in Bourbon County, Kentucky to William T. an...

Brokaw, Abraham

1815—1905

Abraham Brokaw (he preferred to go by Abram), was born November 6, 1815 in Somerset County, New...

Brown, Henry L.

1913—1987

Henry Brown was never afraid to learn new skills to overcome the challenges life threw at him. ...

Bunn, T.J.

1832—1916

Thomas Jefferson (T.J.) Bunn was born on August 29, 1832 in Xenia, Green County, Ohio. He was t...

Burnham, Almira Sarah Ives

1840—1932

At the turn of the twentieth century, when the public reception of visual arts in Bloomington, ...

Burnham, John Howard

1834—1917

John Howard Burnham was born on October 31, 1834 in Essex, Massachusetts. His parents, John Bur...

Butler, James Preston

1838—1918

At the passing of James Preston “Press” Butler in 1918, newspapers, both near and far, took the...

Bynum, Edward

1895—1954

True and literal meaning is leant to the phrase “brothers in arms” by and his younger brother L...

Bynum, Lincoln

1900—1977

True and literal meaning is leant to the phrase “brothers in arms” by Lincoln Bynum and his old...

Cahill, Francis

1922—1938

Francis Cahill, Jr. was born on April 5, 1922 in Chicago, Illinois. He was the oldest of four s...

Calcote, Matilda

1910—1990

Matilda Bell Heaston entered the world on November 30, 1910. Born to Jake and Doshie (Robinson)...

Calimese, Louise

1895—1985

Napoleon J. Calimese (pronounced Calimeez) was born February 18, 1890 in Irvine, Kentucky. He w...

Calimese, Napoleon

1890—1972

Napoleon J. Calimese (pronounced Calimeez) was born February 18, 1890 in Irvine, Kentucky. He w...

Carman, George

1838—1868

“‘To write, or not to write: whether ‘tis nobler in the mind to sit and scratch your pate in va...

Cheney, Owen Lee

1846—1911

Owen Lee Cheney (1846-1911) was a quixotic man in his quest for fame, fortune, and new experien...

Christian, Annie May

1866—1941

Annie May Christian (who went by May for most of her life) was born on November 28, 1866 to Mat...

Christian, Elizabeth Jane Mitchell

1842—1923

Elizabeth Jane Mitchell, called Lizzie, was born on July 16, 1842 at Stout’s Grove near Danvers...

Clark, Lue Anna Sanders

1892—1992

Much of what we know about Lue Anna Brown Sanders Clark comes from her own words, in the form o...

Claxton, Belle Blue

1872—1926

Belle Blue Claxton was born in Bloomington, IL on April 30, 1872.  She was a daughter of Richar...

Colby, Celestia Rice

1827—1900

Celestia Rice Colby was born on December 19, 1827 in Andover, Ohio.  She was the fourth child b...

Colby, Dr. June Rose

1856—1941

June Rose Colby, known to friends and family as Rose, was born at Cherry Valley, Ohio on June 4...

Cotting, James M.

1825—1886

James M. Cotting was born on March 18, 1825 in North Chatham, New York. He married Katherine M....

Cotting, Katherine M.J. Vanderpool

1826—1908

James M. Cotting was born on March 18, 1825 in North Chatham, New York. He married Katherine M....

Covington, Dr. Eugene

1872—1929

Dr. E. G. Covington was the first established and successful African American medical doctor in...

Crandall, June W.

1878—1910

One of the early labor and socialist party leaders in Bloomington, June Crandall, was deeply co...

Crothers, Dr. Eli Kirk

1826—1893

Dr. Eli Kirk Crothers (1826-1893) was a successful physician and druggist from the time of his ...

Crothers, Dr. Marie Louise

1833—1920

Dr. Mrs. Marie Louise (DePew) Crothers (1833-1920), wife of well-respected physician and druggi...

Davis, Elmer

1889—1928

Elmer Ray Davis was born in Bement, Piatt County, Illinois, on October 6, 1888. He was the elde...

Davis, Judge David

1815—1886

David Davis was born on March 9, 1815 at Mercer Plantation, Maryland to David and Anne Mercer D...

Davis, Judge David

1815—1886

David Davis was born on March 9, 1815 at Mercer Plantation, Maryland to David and Anne Mercer D...

Davis, Sarah

1814—1879

Sarah Woodruff Walker Davis was born on September 4, 1814 in Lenox, Massachusetts.  She was one...

Davis, William O.

1837—1911

William Osbourne Davis was the son of a Quaker farmer from Chester County, Pennsylvania and beg...

DeMotte, Harvey C.

1838—1904

Harvey Clelland DeMotte was a devoted and beloved teacher who worked to bring out the best in e...

Dietrich, Julius R.

1858—1910

Julius R. Dietrich was born in September of 1858 in Heinichen Saxony, Germany.  He spent most o...

Dillon, Ellis

1816—1899

Ellis Dillon was born on March 25, 1816 in Clinton County, Ohio to Jesse and Hannah Pugh Dillon...

Dillon, Martha Fisher

1827—1910

Ellis Dillon was born on March 25, 1816 in Clinton County, Ohio to Jesse and Hannah Pugh Dillon...

Dodge, Flora Pennell

1868—1949

Flora Pennell Dodge was born on September 14, 1868 in Normal, Illinois.  She was the youngest o...

Doubleday, Ulysses Freeman

1792—1866

Ulysses Freeman Doubleday was born on December 15, 1792 in New Lebanon, Columbia County, New Yo...

Duff, Alverta

1885—1968

 Alverta Duff was the oldest child of Peter Charles and Fannie E. (Walker) Duff. She was born o...

Duff, Julia

1895—1984

Julia Edith Duff was born on June 5, 1895 in Normal, Illinois, the daughter of Peter Charles an...

Duff, Peter

1856—1919

Peter Duff (1856-1919): Peter Duff moved to Normal, IL after fleeing Kentucky following the end...

Dyson, Nancy “Nannie” McCullough Orme

1834—1912

Nancy “Nannie” McCullough Orme was born on October 23, 1834 in McLean County.  In 1853 she marr...

Edwards, Ruby

1906—1977

Ruby A. Jackson was born on January 29, 1906 in Bloomington, Illinois.  She was the daughter of...

Ela, Frances Harriet Rowell

1835—1924

Frances Harriet Rowell was born on November 15, 1835 in Waterford, Vermont.  She was one of fou...

Ela, George Porter

1832—1898

Frances Harriet Rowell was born on November 15, 1835 in Waterford, Vermont.  She was one of fou...

Elder, Mary

1835—1889

Mary Elvira Elder was born in Bloomingburg, Fayette County, Ohio on September 18, 1835 accordin...

Erickson, Alexander G.

1863—1950

Swedish immigration during the nineteenth century was part of a larger trend occurring in the w...

Esque, Eliza (Davis)

1845—1914

Eliza Davis Esque was born around 1845 in St. Charles County, Missouri.  Little is known about ...

Eyer, Lloyd

1885—1951

Lloyd Eyer served as physical director of the Bloomington YMCA for twelve years from 1905 to 19...

Eyestone, Lura

1872—1965

Lura Mary Eyestone was born in Bloomington, Illinois on October 14, 1872 to Theodore Riley and ...

Fell, Hester Vernon

1819—1906

Hester Vernon Fell was born on March 2, 1819 in Little Brittain, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania...

Fell, Jesse Weldon

1808—1887

Jesse Weldon Fell was born on November 10, 1808 to Jesse Fell and Rebecca Roman Fell at his fat...

Ferre, Goodman

1806—1897

Goodman Ferre (pronounced Ferry) was born on January 27, 1806 and died on September 24, 1897.  ...

FitzHenry, Judge Louis

1870—1935

Louis FitzHenry was born in Bloomington on June 13, 1870. He was the oldest son born to Hiram a...

Fitzwilliam, Sarah Raymond

1842—1918

Sarah Raymond Fitzwilliam (1842-1918) was born in Kendall County, Illinois on October 11, 1842....

Foster, Daniel T.

1841—1920

Captain Daniel T. Foster was born on July 22, 1841 in Waitsfield, Washington County, Vermont. H...

Fox, Elizabeth “Lizzie” Irons Folsom

1861—1935

Elizabeth “Lizzie” Irons was born in September 1861 in Peoria to Charles and Ettie Maria Englis...

Frank, Henry “Teddy”

1841—1881

Henry “Teddy” Frank was born in Pennsylvania sometime in 1840 or 1841 and remained there until ...

Funk, Benjamin Franklin

1837—1909

Benjamin Franklin Funk was born on October 17, 1837 to Isaac and Cassandra Funk. Benjamin was t...

Funk, Florence Mae Risser

1871—1923

Florence Mae Risser Funk (1871-1923) was one of McLean County’s most renowned suffragists and s...

Funk, Henry

1858—1938

Henry Funk was a career orchardist, apiarist, poultry man, and horticulturalist. Though not to ...

Gage, Dorothy Louise

1898—1898

The life of Dorothy Louise Gage, although brief, was certainly meaningful, leaving an impact th...

Geneva, Carolyn Schertz

1892—1992

Carolyn Schertz Geneva was born on October 13, 1892 in Hudson. Illinois. She was the daughter o...

Goodheart, James

1830—1913

James Goodheart is recognized in our local history as the son of two “honored pioneers” as well...

Graves, Linus

1815—1897

Linus Graves was born in Williamstown, Vermont on April 2, 1815 one of eleven children born to ...

Green, Fred -"The Flying LaVans"

1858—1897

“The Flying La Vans,” were first known by the name the “La Van Brothers” or the “Brothers La Va...

Green, Harry -"The Flying LaVans"

1867—1952

“The Flying La Vans,” were first known by the name the “La Van Brothers” or the “Brothers La Va...

Gridley, Asahel

1810—1881

A great deal of the information known about Asahel Gridley is based on reminiscences of his fri...

Gridley, Mary

1818—1900

Mary Enos Gridley was born in Onondaga Hollow, Onondaga County, New York on March 18, 1818. Whe...

Guthrie, Adam

1825—1904

Adam Guthrie was born on March 10, 1825 in Circleville, Pickaway Co., Ohio. He was one of twelv...

Haggard, David

1764—1844

David Haggard was proud of his family tree. David was a descendant of Sir Andrew Ogard, a Knigh...

Hall, Helen Ross

1846—1928

Helen Ross was born on September 15, 1846 in the village of Kenagh, in County Longford, Ireland...

Hamilton, Kate Waterman

1841—1934

Kate Waterman Hamilton was born on November 12, 1841 in Schenectady, New York the only daughter...

Hanner, Carl Gustav

1840—1921

Carl Gustav Hanner was born in Kungsholmen Parish, Stockholm, Sweden on August 8, 1840. His mot...

Hanson, Ethel Hamilton

1882—1920

Ethel Hamilton Hanson was a popular member of society circles and active in educational, politi...

Harris, Carter

1856—1944

Carter Harris was born April 15, 1856 on a small plantation in Red Bank, Mississippi. A so...

Hartmann, Mary J.

1845—1932

Mary J. Hartmann was born on October 13, 1845 on a farm in Franklin Township, Washington County...

Hawkins, Absalom

1855—1903

Absalom Hawkins, known as Ab by nearly all, was born on December 25, 1855. According to his obi...

Hawkins, Julia Bee

1863—1888

Julia Bee was born in Illinois on March 29, 1863. It is not known who her parents were but in t...

Hawks, Samuel Lockhart

1832—1905

Samuel Lockhart Hawks, known as “Louis” Hawks, was born in Scotland on March 7, 1832 the son of...

Heafer, Napoleon B.

1823—1898

Napoleon B. Heafer was born on December 14, 1823 in Charleston, West Virginia. At the age of te...

Henderson, Effie

1859—1938

Effie Henderson was born on October 29, 1859 in Towanda, Illinois. Her parents, Franklin and Sa...

Hendryx, Jane Frankeberger

1818—1914

Jane Frankeberger was born in Champaign County, Ohio on September 4, 1818 to Jesse and his seco...

Hewett, Edwin C.

1828—1905

Edwin C. Hewett was born November 1, 1828 in Worcester County, Massachusetts. He was the first ...

Higgins, Hamer

1840—1902

Considering his chosen line of work, one might not be too surprised to learn that Hamer J. Higg...

Hill, Dr. William

1829—1906

Dr. William Hill (1829-1906) was a talented surgeon and one of Bloomington’s most respected phy...

Hobbs, Dr. William C.

1838—1861

Dr. William Hobbs was born in Maryland on December 24, 1800. Very little is known about his lif...

Hogg, Harvey

1833—1862

The Bloomington lawyer and Civil War cavalry commander, Harvey Hogg (originally from Tennessee)...

Holder, Julia

1884—1970

Julia Montrose Holder was on born December 24, 1884 in Bloomington, Illinois to Dan and Kate (S...

Horine, William H.

1840—1907

William (Bill) Horine was born to Adam and Sallie (Mason) Horine on March 3, 1840 in Jessamine ...

Howard, Emily

1836—1914

At the turn of the twentieth century, when the public reception of visual arts in Bloomington, ...

Huggins, Sophia

1832—1903

Much of what is known about Sophia Huggins is based on two newspaper interviews: one with The P...

Ijams, Lewis Ellington

1841—1919

Lewis E. Ijams was born on November 21, 1841 near Zanesville, Ohio.  His parents were Lewis and...

Jackman, John

1816—1896

John Adams Jackman was born March 22, 1816 in Boscawen, New Hampshire, where his great-grandfat...

Jackman, Sarah Farnum Sargent

1816—1896

Sarah Farnum Sargent Jackman was born on December 18, 1816 in Boscawen, New Hampshire. She was ...

Jones, Annie Ethel

1899—1991

Annie Ethel Berry was born in Booneville, Mississippi on May 19, 1899, to Malaci Berry and Ida ...

Jones, Eva

1930—1987

Eva Mae Gaiter Jones (1930-1987) was a Bloomington civic leader with a conviction to serve her ...

Jung, Jacob

1850—1933

Jacob Phillip Jung was born on February 9, 1850 in Nauvoo, Hancock County, Illinois to parents ...

Kaywood, Florence Stevens

1864—1928

Florence (Stevens) Kaywood was born on October 8, 1864 to William and Sarah (Shields) Stevens i...

Kessler, Clara Louise

1893—1968

Clara Louise Kessler (1893-1968) “knows and loves children and is vitally interested in them,” ...

Kessler, Frances

1887—1975

Frances Flower Kessler (1887-1975) had a passion for music and education. Music was always an i...

Kimball, Luella

1854—1891

Not much is known about Luella Kimball, sometimes known as Luella Rankin. Luella was the fourth...

King, Mary Reed

1842—1928

In the later portion of the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, Captain Samuel Noble King...

King, Samuel Noble

1834—1913

In the later portion of the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, Captain Samuel Noble King...

Kirkpatrick, Charles

1879—1971

Much of the information about Charles Kirkpatrick’s life comes from an autobiographical intervi...

Klemm, C.W.

1845—1930

Carl Wilhelm (C.W.) Klemm was born on May 1, 1845 in Haynrode, Saxony, Germany. His grandfather...

Law, David D.

1852—1916

David D. Law was born in Lebanon City, Pennsylvania on March 30, 1852 and was the son of Willia...

Lewis, Edward J.

1828—1907

Edward J. Lewis was born to Enoch and Lydia Jackson Lewis in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on Sept...

Litta, Marie

1856—1883

Marie (pronounced Maria) Litta, born Marie Eugenia von Elsner, was born in Bloomington, IL on J...

Livingston, Hilda

1872—1962

Sigmund Livingston was born on December 27, 1872 in Giessen, Germany. He was one of eight child...

Livingston, Sigmund

1872—1946

Read Must Men Hate onlineSigmund Livingston was born on December 27, 1872 in Giessen, Germany. ...

Locher, Beulah Baker

1881—1978

Beulah Baker Locher was born on January 7, 1881 in Gibson City. She was the daughter of Frank R...

Loomis, Emily Hanks

1837—1911

Emily Hanks Loomis was born October 18, 1837 on a farm in Hickory Point Township, four miles no...

Lott, Harrison Clay

1848—1924

Harrison Clay Lott was born August 16, 1848 in Madison, Indiana.  When Lott was fifteen years o...

MacGillivray, Dr. Margaret

1845—1892

Dr. Margaret MacGillivray was born in Dunfermline, Scotland on October 21, 1845. She was a very...

Major, William Trabue

1790—1867

William Trabue Major was born on March 1st, 1790 about three miles from Frankfort, Kentucky.  H...

Malone, Simon Booth

1842—1925

Simon Booth Malone was born into slavery on December 18, 1842 in Tippah County, Mississippi.  S...

Mandler, Christoph

1858—1949

Christoph Mandler was born on April 23, 1858 in Daubringen, County of Gressen in the Grand Duch...

Marmon, Mary Ann

1837—1908

Mary Ann (Cheney) Marmon (1837-1908) grew up in a log cabin on the Illinois prairie and was a m...

Mayers, Aaron

1827—1888

Aaron Mayers was born in Manheim, Pennsylvania in about 1827. It is unknown when exactly Mayers...

Mayes, John Jackson

1851—1918

John Jackson Mayes, Jr. was born on April 7, 1851 in St John’s, New Brunswick, Canada. Mayes wa...

McClun, John Edward

1812—1888

John Edward McClun was born on February 19, 1812 in Frederick County, Virginia.  He was the you...

McCormick, Henry

1837—1918

Henry McCormick was born on February 5, 1837 in Belmullet, County Mayo, Ireland.  He spent his ...

McCoslin, William

1830—1878

William McCoslin (1830-1878) was born in Vandalia, Illinois on July 27, 1830. While the names o...

McCullough, William

1811—1862

William McCullough was born on September 11, 1811 in Flemingsburg, Kentucky.  He was the son of...

McCurdy, Helen Clark

1866—1962

Helen Clark was born in Bloomington, Illinois on February 21, 1866 to James and Anna (Bacon) Cl...

McNulta, John

1837—1900

John McNulta was born on November 9, 1837 in New York City, New York.  His father was Irish and...

Merchant, Mary Arenz

1841—1921

Mary Arenz Merchant was born on February 28, 1841 in New Berlin, IL the fourth of ten children ...

Milner, Angeline Vernon

1856—1928

Authors: Angela Bonnell, Morgan Bueza, and Candace SummersAngeline Vernon Milner, often known a...

Moore, Asa Harvey

1820—1901

Asa Harvey Moore was born on October 20, 1820 in Rutland, Westchester County, Massachusetts. He...

Moratz, Palma

1879—1911

Palma Moratz was born on April 6, 1879 in Bloomington, IL to German-born parents, Hermann and E...

Moratz, Paul

1866—1939

Paul O. Moratz had a passion for building and design that started at a young age. For 34 years ...

Morgan, Lucy Orme

1858—1944

Lucy Orme Morgan was born on January 21, 1858 in Bloomington, Illinois. She was the third of fo...

Munsell, Oliver

1825—1905

Oliver Spencer Munsell (pronounced Muhn-sl) was born on June 8, 1825 in Miami County, Ohio to L...

Murray, Ethel

1917—1990

Much of what we know today about Murray comes from oral history which can sometimes contradict ...

Muxfeld, Louise

1853—1909

Louise Muxfeld, known as “Lizzie” by all, was born as Johanna Louise Catherine Tobecksen on Jun...

Neville, Edith

1885—1936

Edith Neville, one of Bloomington’s most wealthy and eccentric citizens, was born in Bloomingto...

Noble, Clyde Van

1881—1955

Clyde Van Noble (1881-1955) became a jeweler’s apprentice as a teenager and had a promising car...

Noble, Emily Vecchi

1886—1963

Emily (Vecchi) Noble was born on Church Street in London, England on February 4, 1886 to Enrico...

Northrup, Rose Whipp

1850—1944

Rose Whipp Northrup was born on September 27, 1850 in Beardstown, Illinois.  She was the daught...

Orme, William Ward

1832—1866

William Ward Orme was born February 17, 1832 in Washington, D.C.  William’s parents died when h...

Paist, Maria Dawson

1822—1906

Maria Dawson Paist came to Illinois with her family in 1822 at the age of five. The Dawson and ...

Pike, Alpheus

1846—1892

Alpheus Pike was born to Harrison Wallace Pike and Susan A. Mayberry Pike in Casco, Maine on Au...

Pillsbury, Arthur L.

1869—1925

Arthur L. Pillsbury was born in Bloomington, Illinois on November 29th, 1869. He grew up in Blo...

Porter, Ida

1863—1947

Ida Porter was born on September 19, 1863 in Normal, Illinois.  She was the daughter of Solomon...

Potter, Mary

Mary Potter (DOB/DOD unknown): In 1910, Mary Potter arrived at the Illinois Soldiers’ Orphans’ ...

Price, John Joseph

1835—1905

John Joseph Price was born on October 16, 1835 in Cincinnati, Ohio. Little information is known...

Prince, Ezra Morton

1831—1908

Ezra Morton Prince was born on May 27, 1831 in Turner, Maine.  His parents were Job Prince and ...

Radbourn, Charles "Old Hoss"

1854—1897

Charles Radbourn was born on December 11, 1854 in Rochester, New York.  He was the son of Charl...

Rankin, Melinda

1811—1888

Melinda Rankin was born in Littleton, New Hampshire on March 21, 1811. She attended and taught ...

Rayburn, Jennie

1858—1942

Jane “Jennie” Buttolph Rayburn was born May 11, 1858 in Middlebury, Vermont a daughter of Willi...

Read, Roland

1895—1954

Roland Spencer Read was born in Bloomington, Illinois, on May 26, 1895. He was one of three son...

Rhymer, Paul

1905—1964

Paul Mills Rhymer was born in Fulton, Illinois on November 21, 1905. He was the eldest son...

Rice, Martha Baker

1817—1904

Martha H. Baker (Rice) was born in Richmond, Kentucky on September 4, 1817.  Her parent’s names...

Riebsame, Christian

1839—1913

Captain Christian Riebsame (1839-1913) was a German-born citizen who came to the United States ...

Rodenhauser, William

1842—1919

William John (Wilhelm Johannes) Rodenhauser (1842-1919) was among a large contingent of German ...

Roeder, John Conrad

—1905

John C. Roeder was born in Nordeck, Germany in about 1836.  He was the son of Conrad and Elizab...

Rogers, Dr. Thomas

1812—1899

No matter one’s opinion regarding Dr. Thomas Pierce Rogers’s professional practice or political...

Saltzman-Stevens, Minnie

1873—1950

The story of Minnie Saltzman-Stevens is a Cinderella story of the musical arts. She rose from a...

Sanders, Isaac

1878—1929

Isaac Joshua Beasley Sanders was born in Little Rock, Arkansas on January 17, 1878. He was the ...

Sanders, Susan Pike

1842—1931

Susan Augusta Pike Sanders was born in Maine on March 25, 1842. She was the third of seven chil...

Schroeder, Baroness Maria von Buchau

1827—1901

Much of what we know about Herman Schroeder comes from his own accounts.  Some of this informat...

Schroeder, Dr. Herman

1821—1905

Much of what we know about Herman Schroeder comes from his own accounts.  Some of this informat...

Scott, Charlotte Ann Perry

1831—1917

Charlotte Ann Perry was born on September 18, 1831 in Athens, Tioga County, Pennsylvania.  She ...

Scott, John Milton

1823—1898

John Milton Scott was born on August 1, 1823 in Belleville, St. Clair County, Illinois. His par...

Scott, Julia Green

1839—1923

Julia Green Scott was born to privilege and distinguished ancestry on February 14, 1839 in Danv...

Seibert, Leonard

1831—1905

Leonard Seibert was born on August 18, 1831 in Koenig, a borough of Essen, Germany. He came to ...

Shipley, Richard

1903—1973

Richard Shipley, like many young people of his day, became captivated with the circus. Not only...

Smith, Alice Orme

1889—1980

Alice Orme Smith served as a nurse with the American, British, and French forces during World W...

Smith, Dr. Lee

1832—1911

Dr. Lee Smith was born on May 8, 1832 near Havens Grove, Illinois. He was the first child born ...

Stearles, Willis

1890—1956

Much of what we know today about Willis Stearles comes from oral history, members of the commun...

Stevenson, Adlai E. I

1835—1914

A devout Democrat in a staunchly Republican district, Adlai E. Stevenson I managed to be twice ...

Stevenson, Adlai E. II

1900—1965

Politics was in his blood. Adlai Ewing Stevenson II was a member of the two most influential po...

Stevenson, Helen Davis

1869—1935

Helen Louise Davis Stevenson was born in Normal on September 17, 1869.  She was the daughter of...

Stevenson, Letitia Green

1843—1913

Letitia Barbour Green Stevenson was born in Alleghany City in Western Pennsylvania on January 8...

Stewart, Grace Huddleston

1910—1996

Grace Huddleston Stewart became known throughout Bloomington after she brought a fair housing c...

Stipp, Dr. George Winfield

1799—1879

Dr. George W. Stipp was born on January 27, 1799 near Winchester, Frederick County, Virginia.  ...

Stokes, Ella Lee

1912—1996

Ella Lee Luallen is one of many important voices in the Black history of McLean County. She was...

Thirty-Third Illinois Volunteer Infantry Regiment

The 33rd Illinois Volunteer Regiment was raised by Charles Hovey, the first president of Illino...

Thomas, George Washington

1859—1946

George Washington Thomas was born in Wisemantown, Kentucky, around 1860 or 1861. At that time K...

Thompson, Jennie

1860—1924

Jane “Jennie” Lynd Thompson was born on October 28, 1860 in Bond Head, Canada—located in the pr...

Tipton, Judge Thomas F.

1833—1904

Thomas Foster Tipton was born to Hiram and Deborah Ogden Tipton in Franklin County, Ohio, on Au...

Trotter, Georgina

1836—1904

Georgina Trotter (1836-1904) was a dynamo of energy and a force to be reckoned with. According ...

Van Schoick, William

1829—1899

Thomas William Van Schoick was born on August 2, 1829 in Monmouth County, New Jersey to David a...

Vrooman, Carl

1872—1966

Carl was born in Macon County, Missouri on October 25, 1872. He was the son of Judge Hiram Perk...

Vrooman, Julia Scott

1876—1981

Carl was born in Macon County, Missouri on October 25, 1872. He was the son of Judge Hiram Perk...

Wagner, Grace B.

1890—1964

Grace B. Wagner was born on May 1, 1890 to Henry and Nellie Spafford Wagner. The family resided...

Wakefield, Cyrenius

1815—1885

Cyrenius Wakefield (1815-1885): Dr. Cyrenius Wakefield settled in Bloomington, IL in 1850. Wake...

White, Samuel

1846—1917

Prominent contractor and builder Samuel White’s personal and professional “rags to riches” stor...

White, William Richard

1844—1906

William Richard White was born on December 22, 1844 in Goosenest Prairie, Coles County, Illinoi...

Wickizer, Jennie MacDonald

1852—1941

Jennie MacDonald Wickizer was born on December 31, 1852 at Knightswood, Scotland, located just ...

Williams, Private Gus

1892—1918

Augustus “Gus” Williams was born in Jacksonville, Illinois on September 22, 1892. He was the so...

Withers, Allen

1807—1864

Allen Withers was born on a farm in Jessamine County, Kentucky about seven miles from Nicholasv...

Withers, Sarah

1815—1897

Sarah Rice Withers was born to John M. Rice and Patsy (Polly) Johnson Rice in Jessamine County,...

Witherspoon, Julius

1860—1906

OverviewA wall mural at 100 E. Monroe Street, Bloomington, Illinois, includes the visage of Jul...

Wolcott, John Laurens

1808—1887

John Wolcott was born in Berkshire County, Massachusetts on August 30, 1808.  He learned his tr...

Wright, Ebenezer

1830—1900

Ebenezer Wright was born in either 1830 or 1831 in Ludlow, Massachusetts to Rev. Ebenezer and H...

Wunderlich, Gerald “Jerry” White

1889—1937

Gerald “Jerry” Wunderlich (sometimes spelled Wonderlich) was born on August 25, 1889 in Chicago...