These are obituaries for three members of the Yates family. John Elvin Yates married Georgia Wild Townsend (sister to my great grandmother Anna Sarah Townsend Claycomb) 7 November 1889 in Sycamore, Illinois. William Yates was their son.
All obituaries are from the Sycamore True Republican.
This damaged photo is from a school in Sycamore, Illinois, about 1892. Some names can still be read. And I can see my grandfather, Amos Claycomb, in the second row, 4th from the right. Also on the photo, but not scanned: “Prof A. J. Blanchard” and “Anna Tepson” who might be the teachers.
This is how I see the names:
Third row from top left to right are
1. Ralph Horn
2. Ernest Husberg
3.
4. Eddie Peterson
5. Bert Stroberg
6. Earl Van Galder
7.
8. Mable Hix
9. Diana Harrington
10. Ruth Townsend
Bottom row left to right are
Roy Knights and Cecil Wyman…
Next to last row left to right are
___ Harmes; Max (Mary?) Librant; Bessie
… Hilda Anderson; ___; …Morris, Ethel Chatfield, Fran…
Fred Beckler, …Amos Claycomb [4th from right in 2nd row]
The Class of 1905 Sycamore High School, Sycamore, Illinois. The only person I can identify is my grandfather, Amos Townsend Claycomb, top left.
This was the home of MaryAnn Sanderson Oakland and Thomas Lewis Oakland in 1918 at the time of his death. I don’t know how long they had lived there.
It’s going to be part of the Historic Tour of Homes next week in Sycamore organized by the Sycamore History Museum.
The photos come from Mom’s scrapbook. I think the handwriting on the first page is my grandfather’s (Thomas L. Duncan). Thomas Oakland was his father-in-law.
Wish I could be there for this tour!
Gochenour Plot, Elmwood Cemetery, Sycamore, Illinois.
The small stone to the left of Mary and Wesley’s stones is for their daughter Jessie M. Gochenour and her husband John S. Swanlund.
William Tapper, his two children, and cousins Eleanor Claycomb and Marion Webster were in San Francisco at the Palace Hotel for the 1906 earthquake.
This is from the Sycamore True Republican paper, 21 April 1906.
Mom was the guest of honor at many bridal showers before her wedding.
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Her co-workers at the Central Illinois Light Company gave a combined shower and farewell party.
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This society page entry was follow by a correction in the hostesses’ names – wouldn’t want to leave anyone out or give credit not earned. I can imagine there was a call to the newspaper after the first article appeared.
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This shower took place at the Fargo Hotel which still exists. I’m considering staying at the Fargo on my next visit.
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Here Harriet’s aunts and grandmothers gave her a shower.
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And finally one hosted by her best friend, Frances Duffey. There were ‘gifts of a personal nature’ – and I’m guessing lots of laughter. Later when Fran was engaged, mom threw her a shower. As best friends do.
On the back of this postcard Dad wrote “The front part of this hospital was Great Grandma Townsend’s Sycamore home – given to Sycamore for a hospital. Located on Somonauk St.”
Great Grandma Townsend is Eleanor Pierce Townsend, wife of Amos Townsend. Eleanor was born in 1839 in Neversink, New York. All of her five children were born in DeKalb county, Illinois. She died there 20 December 1904.
February 1911 was an important month in the lives of my grandparents. Amos had traveled from where he was living in Texas to his hometown, Sycamore, Illinois. Ruth Bressler came to visit and meet the family. And then Amos traveled to her hometown, Wayne, Nebraska, to meet her family.
Wednesday, February 1, 1911
Went over to DeKalb after dinner and had the other side of my nose fixed.
Thursday, February 2, 1911
Went over to DeKalb this a.m. but came home right away. Went over again after supper and staid all night at a hotel.
Friday, February 3, 1911
Met Ruth this morning when she arrived about six o’clock. Came right over home and staid here most of the day. Louise, Dutch, Ruth and I went up to a dance at Pierce’s Hall about 9:30 and came home at 11:30.
Saturday, February 4, 1911
Staid home most of the day but saw the vaudeville at DeKalb tonight with Ruth, Louise and Dutch.
Sunday, February 5, 1911
Whole family went up to Eleanor’s for dinner. Blizzard started this p.m. which stopped the cars and we had to come home in a hack.
Monday, February 6, 1911
Louise, Ruth, Dutch and I went into Chicago this a.m. and came out at 11:15 p.m. Saw the New York Hippodrome this p.m. at the Auditorium and David Warfield in “The Return of Peter Grimm” tonight at the Blackstone.
Tuesday, February 7, 1911
Went over to DeKalb this a.m. Staid in house all day but went up to Dan Wild’s after supper for Ruth and Louise who had been there for a card party.
Wednesday, February 8, 1911
Ruth went up to Eleanor’s to a bridge party this p.m. and I went up town. Staid home tonight.
Thursday, February 9, 1911
Took Ruth’s trunk up to the depot this a.m. Took her over to DeKalb on the 7:30 car tonight and she took the 7:45 train west. Dutch left tonight for Boise.
Friday, February 10, 1911
Went up town this p.m. but staid home tonight.
Saturday, February 11, 1911
Up town this p.m. Home tonight.
Sunday, February 12, 1911
Went over to DeKalb this a.m. to see doctor for the last time. Called at Uncle Fred’s, Gates’ and Dan Wild’s after dinner and ate lunch at Eleanor’s.
Monday, February 13, 1911
Up town both this morning and afternoon. Left DeKalb at 7:45 tonight for Wayne.
Tuesday, February 14, 1911
Reached Sioux City at 8:15 a.m. Staid there until 4:35 p.m. when I left for Wayne getting there about seven. Met by Ruth at the train and went up to the Bressler’s.
Bressler home, Wayne, Nebraska, about 1916.
Wednesday, February 15, 1911
In Wayne all day.
Thursday, February 16, 1911
In Wayne all day. Fire tonight.
Friday, February 17, 1911
Left for Lincoln this a.m. with Ruth and stopped a couple of hours in Omaha. Reached Lincoln about 3:30. Took Ruth out to the Tri Delt house and came back to the Lincoln Hotel. Took Ruth to the Tri Delt annual at the Lincoln tonight.
Saturday, February 18, 1911
Took Ruth to the Lincoln for lunch and to see “Polly of the Circus” this p.m. at the Oliver theater. Talked with her a few minutes after their banquet and started for Texas at 1 a.m. on the Burlington.
Sunday, February 19, 1911
Reached Kansas City this a.m. and left there late at about 10:40. Snow blowing a blizzard all day. Ate dinner at Topeka and supper at Wellington.
Monday, February 20, 1911
Reached Amarillo about 11 a.m. and staid there until 7:30 tonight. Got off at Bush and staid there all night with Harkers.
Tuesday, February 21, 1911
Koot drove me home from Bush this forenoon and staid for dinner. Drove the mares to Wildorado after dinner for my baggage. Snowing all day.
Wednesday, February 22, 1911
Norman went to Amarillo on train today to get a tooth fixed. Am feeding fodder to the horses and calves now as the ground is covered with snow.
Thursday, February 23, 1911
Rode pony up town this a.m. after the mail. Worked around the place this afternoon.
Friday, February 24, 1911
Took train into Amarillo from Bushland this noon and came back tonight. Staid at Harker’s all night.
Saturday, February 25, 1911
Harker came out home to dinner with me. After dinner we drove to Wildorado and then back to Bushland.
Sunday, February 26, 1911
Staid at Harker’s last night. Traded him a fat sow of mine and $5 for two calves.
Monday, February 27, 1911
Drizzled all day.
Tuesday, February 28, 1911
Norther with snow started last night and has been on all day. Am keeping part of the horses in the barn and am feeding the rest of the stock in the pasture.
Cast of Characters:
“Dutch” – I think this is Amos’ brother George. He lived in Boise. His children had nicknames, although I can’t remember his son Ralph’s, but his son Edward was called ‘Pete’ and his son George was called ‘Goob’ – lovely.
Dan Wild: Eleanor Townsend’s nephew, son of Sarah Pierce and George Wild.
Louise and Eleanor: Amos’ sisters.
Uncle Fred: Fred Townsend, brother of Amos’ mother, Anna Sarah.
Harkers: Ruth Bressler’s sister Maud and her husband, O.A. Harker, who lived near Amos in Texas.
Part 1 can be seen here.
Anna and Frank married 27 December 1882 in Sycamore, Illinois and began their married life on a farm near Cameron, Warren county, Illinois.
At some time in her life, probably before her marriage, Anna learned to paint. And as many of the women of her era did, she copied popular paintings. At least one still exists – her painting of the Pharoah’s Horses originally done by John Frederick Herring. She continued painting after her children were born.
Anna Townsend Claycomb’s painting of Pharoah’s Horses
Their first child, Eleanor Pierce Claycomb, was born 20 August 1884 in Cameron.
She wrote to her brother Frederick Townsend on 13 February 1885. A curious part of the letter is “Fred, are you aware that I am all of twenty one years old, and Nellie will be six months old, one week from today. When I get to thinking everything over that happened while I was at school, I don’t see how I could have done so, and I get to crying about it, and I guess Frank thinks I am a goose! I know it makes him feel badly, because he doesn’t know what I am crying about and thinks I’m not happy. Dear little Nellie was a God-send if ever there was such a thing…” I do wonder what that is all about.
Eleanor and Amos Claycomb
Frank and Anna’s first son, Amos Townsend Claycomb, was born 29 January 1886. In another short letter to Fred, she mentions the children.
On 21 April 1887 Alta Louise Claycomb was born in Warren county. She almost always went by the name Louise. She has aunt Alta on the Claycomb side.
On 25 August 1887, Anna’s father, Amos Townsend. He was 54 years old.
In 1888 the family moved to Sycamore, Illinois.
George Francis Claycomb was born in Sycamore on 5 June 1889. That Fall Anna’s health worsened and she went to a sanitorium in California. Her mother and infant son went with her. I don’t know how long her mother stayed, but Anna returned in May 1890.
Anna Claycomb (in hammock) at the sanatorium in California, 1888/9.
Her son George is the infant held on the right.
On 20 March 1892, the Claycomb’s fifth child, Edward Denman, was born in DeKalb. When he was 19 days old, his mother, Anna Sarah Townsend Claycomb, died. She was 28 years old. The other children were Eleanor, 7, Amos, 6, Louise, almost 5, and George, almost 3.
Anna’s Obituary from a Sycamore Illinois newspaper, 1892
No More of Earth
Mrs. Anna Townsend-Claycomb, wife of Frank E. Claycomb, and daughter of Mrs. E. P. Townsend, died at their home on Friday afternoon., April 8.
Deceased was born near Malta, Ill., on February 9, 1964. In 1876 when she was twelve years of age, the family removed to the Daniel Pierce farm one mile west of this city.
In 1879 she entered Lombard University, Galesburg, Ill., where she remained one year. It was while there attending school she formed the acquaintance of Mr. Claycomb. After the year at Lombard University, she attended school one year at Jacksonville, following with a year at the Rockford female seminary. At each of these schools she acquitted herself with credit and made many friends who mourn her early decease.
She was united in marriage nine years ago last December, and for six years resided with her husband on a farm near Galesburg. Here the three older children were born. Three years ago last November, they removed to the farm west of Sycamore.
In the fall of 1889, on account of failing health, she went to California, accompanied by her mother, where she remained until May, 1890. She returned much improved in health, and remained so till a few days before her death, when her strength failed and death soon came as a welcome messenger.
Besides her husband and five children, she leaves a mother, brother, three sisters, and a large circle of mourning friends.
She entered into church relations with the Sycamore Universalist church ten years ago and was always a most devout and exemplary member.
The funeral was from the house Sunday afternoon, Rev. Dr. White, her old Lombard University Professor, officiating, assisted by Rev. Geo Crum, the pastor. The interment was by the side of her father, Mr. Amos Townsend, in Elmwood.
This I Leave 