Bloomington Pantagraph 16 May 1878

Thomas J. Parr was born in Ohio, March 13, 1814. He came to La Salle county in 1834 and the following year bought 160 acres of land in Dayton township. He married John Green’s niece, Sarah Ann Pitzer on May 26, 1836. Sarah was the daughter of John’s sister, Anna. For Thomas and Sarah’s memories of early Dayton, see here and here.

Thomas and Sarah had eight children, six of whom lived to adulthood :

Jesse N. born January 24, 1839; married January 31, 1867, to Anna Cain; died November 28, 1886

Elizabeth Amanda, born August 5, 1841; married September 24, 1857 to Noah Brunk; died March 14, 1921, in Peabody, Kansas

Joseph Brumbach, born January 8, 1843; married December 28, 1865 to Sarah Knickerbocker; died October 1, 1900, La Salle county, IL.

Francis Marion, born June 10, 1845; married Julia Curyea December 31, 1868; died July 12, 1928

Martha A., born August 1848; married May 26, 1867, to Lyman N. Cole; died November 2, 1902, in Le Mars, Iowa

William Howard, born December 12, 1853; married December 31, 1874 to Mary Ruger; died June 24,1923, in Ottawa; bur  W. Serena

Thomas J. Parr lived another 20 years and died February 19, 1898. Sarah died the next year, August 5, 1899. They are buried in the West Serena Cemetery, near Serena, La Salle County.