Click to view 1878 letter |
Thomas, fifth child of Peter
Ralston and Janette Brown, was born 21 August
18271,2 at Homeston, Campbeltown Parish,
Argyleshire, Scotland. 1827
Parish Record. He emigrated with his parents,
Peter and Janet, from Campbeltown, Scotland in 1840 to
New York on the ship "British
Barque Tay" and they went to live with his
mother's brother, Alexander Brown in Cincinnati,
Ohio, and then in Illinois in 1843 3,4 to
Argyle on West Lane Road.3,4 He married
Jean Ralston, daughter of
John Ralston and Isabelle
Greenlee on 1 April 1857.5,6 He died on the
farm near Roscoe, 19 May 1879, age 51, as a result of
injuries received while he was administering medication
to a horse. When Thomas died he left his widow and 7 children with
the farm (3 sons and 4 daughters). 1. Peter William
(Willie)1858-1949 2. Janette B. (Nettie)1860-1926 3.
Isabelle G. (Belle) 1863-1919 4. Martha (Mattie)1865-1936
5. John Thomas (Uncle John)1868-1945 6. Elizabeth Helen
Lizzie)1873-1949 7. Thomas Charles 1876-1891
Thomas and Jean had seven children:7
On the 29 August 1853 he (age 26) purchased from Luther Brown of Ashtabula, Ohio, the farmland described as W½ NW¼ Section 10 Township 45 North Range 2 East. Containing 80 acres and recorded in Vol. 17, page 66 at the General Land Office at Washington, D.C. The price was $400.00. This property later contained the farm buildings on McDonald road in Harlem Township, Winnebago County, Illinois. Luther Brown had bought it from the Government in October 28, 1839.8 On 8 February 1854 he purchased from Paul and Abigail Torrey of Naples, Ontario County, New York, the farmland described as E½ SW¼ Section 3 Township 45 R 2E. containing 80 acres. The price was $1,000.00. Paul B. Torrey had bought it from the Government April 15, 1841.9 On 5 June 1869 he purchased from his father Peter Ralston farmland described as NW part of NE¼ of NE¼ Section 14 (looks like 19 but probably 14) Township 45, containing 7 acres more or less. The cost was $100.00.10 On 1 November 1870 he purchased from Jabez and Lydia Love the farmland described as NW¼ SE¼ Section 3 Township 45, containing 40 acres. The price was $1,200.60.11 On 17 March 1873 he purchased from Jabez Love and Milton Rhodes and their wives the farmland described as S½ W½ SW¼ Section 3 Township 45, containing 40 acres. The price was $1,600.00.12 The farm on McDonald Road then had a total of 240 acres. |