And the Martin family from England to IL, I forgot to add them. All my research was done in the UK with help from a volunteer. Took over a year, since this is so extensive and so many other families tie into mine. As I said before, some married into my family in the UK and also here in the US.

Martha in CA

(((((Wayne)))))) Thank you dear !!!!! I wanted to THANK YOU !!!!! You've helped more than you know. I know that the Bird family had a clothing store in the Batavia area in the 1890's thru I believe the 1950's. Charles Bird seemed to be a big business man.

I've tried as hard as I could to look up more in the IL area on the Bird family, as I know there must be some ancestor's there today. Tho I do know that some of the family did move to IA.

As with my Bend family, I know they were big business people in DeKalb Co. I also know this much that Lewis Bend bought alot of acreage and built a huge farm. Later on his son who was nicknamed Joe (Joseph Bend) bought more land and built another farm close to the main one for their children, and so on. When Joe died he left everything to his son Frank Bend.

I know that the farms still stand today !!! Someone told me they made the centennial farm, for a farm 100+ years old. I would just love to see a picture of it, as well as try to find some living realative.

Same goes for my Arnold family. Their farms (Alford Arnold Farm) was drawn, someone told me it is in the DeKalb bio book. They seemed (The Arnold Family) to have had quiet a few farms there, but cannot find out if any still stand today. Also would love to find any living realatives for all three families. Can't find much on my Nicholson line, other than some served in the civil war, and one was favored by his commander a Brig. Gen. And wrote home letter's and diaries. Which someone researched and wrote on, and is sending me. Which I am paying for.

I have found my cousin's of these families thru my Sturgis/Sturges line. I am trying to write what I call a genealogical book just on these family lines. Everyone has begged me for pictures, which I don't have (very limited). So when another family member shares some with me, I share with all the others. This all stems from my Grandma, she started me off as a child.

Problem being, she promised me (when she died) I would get the family bible, all photographs,

phone books, etc. Especially my GrGrGrandparents Emanuel & Margaret (Sharkey) Sturgis

picture and Emanuel's civil war papers and more.

But when she did die, it was her third husband, who decided to hand it to her niece (I was 12)

and he fancied her. He just stated, your to young, and she will love me and take care of me and marry me. So I have nothing. I was mad then. Let that all go. But I don't even have anything to show my children.

In my book (just for the family), I want to include not just the info on the ancestor but a small picture, small story if I can find one. Trying to bring them alive. Give them life briefly. Show what they went thru, where they came from. Living history. Hope you understand what I mean.

I have made good headway with most of them. My GrGrGrandparents Samuel & Sarah Allen are my mysteries right now.

All I know of them is this, they are from England, but not the same city that Emanuel and the rest came from.

We find Samuel, Sarah and their 3 children in DeKalb, 1860.

They are in the 1860 DeKalb head count census, which I wish I could take a peek at.

By 1870 Samuel is living in the home of Emanuel a widow now.

Where did she die? Where is she buried?

Samuel Allen died 1881 is all I have referrence to. Where is he buried?

Since there are no early death records, etc., in DeKalb. I was  hoping there would be so I could locate a maiden name on Sarah. Which would be MOST IMPORTANT in locating her in England. There are to many Samuel Allen's...Don't know where to begin. But it looks like they married before coming to the US.

Thank you for everything.

Martha in CA

Do you have this information?

 

Notes for LEWIS BEND:
       Lewis Bend, farmer, section 29, Victor Township, was born Jan 5, 1831, in Lincolnshire, England, of which country his parents, William and Sarah (Watson) Bend, were also natives. He received the education common to his class, and was reared at home through the years of his minority. On leaving home he came to seek a wider field of operation than that afforded by the conditions which surrounded him in his native country. He made his way to Scottsville, Monroe Co., N. Y., where he worked by the month as a farm laborer a year and a half. He proceeded next to Ohio, where he remained six weeks only, the situation not suited to his taste. He came to Illinois and passed three years in farm labor at various places, after which he located in De Kalb County, taking land in Victor Township to work on shares. After operating in this manner for eight years, in 1866, he bought 160 acres of land, where he established his homestead, and which he still retains in his possession. He also owns 97 acres on section 30. He has erected substantial and valuable buildings on his farm, and has a fine stock and grain barn constructed at an expense of $3000. He is interested in raising, and in the sale of fine grade stock. In political views and actions, Mr. Bend had until the election of 1884 affiliated with the Republican party; in that year he cast his vote for the Democratic ticket. He has officiated as School Director.
       He was united in marriage Sept. 1, 1852, to Jane Sturges, and they have 12 children, three of whom are deceased : Mary A., Lewis W., John T., Emma L., Esther E., Rosella, Joseph J., Metta J., and Lucy E. are still living.
       The portraits of Mr. and Mrs. Bend appear on the pages of this work. [Portrait and Biographical Album DeKalb County, Illinois, Chapman Brothers (Chicago), 1885, p.653.]

Hello Martha-

  Been looking for Nicholson's for a while. I was wondering if any of yours is related to any of mine.from Paris and Marshall, IL. You can reach me at [email protected] or on here.

 

Thank You,

Verna