Young Settlers’ Association

    Some time since a suggestion was made through the Free Trader that a Young Settlers’ Association be formed, consisting of those who were natives of La Salle county and now over thirty years of age; and all such were requested to send a statement to Charles J. Skinner, of this city, containing name and date and place of birth. Up to the present time the following have been received by that gentleman:

George Galloway, born April 12, 1828, in Fall River; farmer.
(Mr. Galloway was the first white male born in the county.)
E. F. Dimmick, May 24, 1849, at Vermillionville; farmer.
James Collins, June 6, 1838, Ottawa; laborer.
Gilbert P. Brown, March 28, 1851, Dayton; painter.
Charles L. Eaton, Dec. 6, 1845, Deer Park; farmer.
Robert J. Wallace, May 28, 1852, Utica; laborer.
William Haynes, June 1, 1839, La Salle; merchant.
George Howland, August 10, 1848, South Ottawa; farmer.
Albert Maierhofer, May 27, 1851, Ottawa; plow manufacturer.
William H. Daggett, Dec. 13, 1843, Ottawa; boatman.
Samuel Richolson, March 25, 1841, Holderman’s Grove; attorney.
Benjamin Lewis, Sept. 26, 1833, Serena; farmer.
John S. Clayton, June 17, 1837, Deer Park; stock raiser.
William R. Clayton, May 8, 1835, Deer Park; farmer.
Charles J. Skinner, Feb. 10, 1841, Dayton; clerk.
W. W. Calkins, May 29, 1842, Farm Ridge; lumber merchant, Chicago.
Mary Jane Painter, Nov. 24, 1847, Bruce; now wife of T. L. Green, and postmistress at Reddick,                   Kankakee county, Ill.
John G. Armstrong, July 7, 1836, near Morris, then a part of this county; editor.
R. E. Skinner, May 10, 1843, Serena; clerk.
William Richards, Dec. 25, 1852, Farm Ridge; farmer.

The above list is scarcely a commencement of that which might be obtained were all who come within the thirty years’ limit to affix their names. A society once organized could not be otherwise than successful, and their annual meetings would be an appropriate complement to that of the present Old Settlers’ Picnics. Or, if it be deemed best, finally, not to complete the organization, still the possession of the list would be an advantage to the Old Settlers’ Association, and a matter of history for the county. We would therefore suggest that all others who were born in La Salle county and are now over thirty years of age forward on a postal card to Mr. C. J. Skinner, Ottawa, the desired information.¹

1. Ottawa, Free Trader, March 10, 1883, p. 5, col. 3

With no surnames in common, it might be hard to realize that the Warner, Wolfe, Tanner, and Luce families in the Dayton cemetery are related, but they represent a couple and their three married daughters.

Joel Foster “Faut” Warner was born June 14, 1831, in Syracuse, New York. On July 3, 1856, he married Mary Ann Inman in New Buffalo, Michigan. She was born January 15, 1839, in Butler County, Pennsylvania. Joel served in the Civil War from Michigan in Company F, 25th Michigan Infantry. He was wounded at the battle of Pumpkin Vine Creek. After his discharge in 1865, he returned home and moved to Kendall County, Illinois, where he farmed. In 1877, he fell under a train and his left leg had to be amputated four inches below the knee. Following this accident, he gave up farming and supported himself with various jobs. In 1882 he moved to Dayton, where he was able to work as a fisherman. He died September 26, 1911 and was buried in the Dayton cemetery. Mary lived with her daughter Ada in Ottawa until her death on January 20, 1918. She too was buried at Dayton.

Ida and Ada, twin daughters, were born October 1, 1857, in Michigan. Ida married Alvin Tanner December 23, 1880, in Kane County, Illinois. They also moved to Dayton before 1900 and lived there for the rest of their lives. Alvin died on December 29, 1927 and Ida on June 18, 1930. Both are buried in the Dayton cemetery.

Twin sister Ada married George Wolfe June 19, 1883 in Kendall County, Illinois. They also moved to the Dayton area, settling across the river in Rutland township. George died January 5, 1909 in Ottawa and was buried at Dayton. No record has been found of Ada’s death but presumably she is buried with her husband.

Daughter Edith Warner was born May 22, 1860 in Three Oaks, Michigan. She married Edgar H. Luce, a farmer, on September 24, 1881 in Kendall County, Illinois. Edgar died November 23, 1899 and was buried at Dayton. After his death Edith moved to Ottawa, where she died on April 14, 1937 and was also buried in the Dayton cemetery.