Civil War Archives – Illinois Genealogy

Biography of Theodore Rust of Dixon

Theodore Rust, born on Heligoland in the North Sea, engaged in the jewelry business in Dixon. His father, Charles Rust, a Bavarian, served in the British Army and later assisted in organizing cavalry troops during the Civil War before dying young. Theodore immigrated to the U.S. with his family and learned the jewelry trade in Hamburg, Germany. He established a successful business in Dixon in 1879 after working in several major cities. Married to Alice Williams, he was active in civic societies and achieved prosperity through hard work and sound management.

Biography of William H. Van Epps of Dixon

William H. Van Epps, born December 18, 1842, in East Bethany, New York, was a prominent merchant and farmer in Dixon, Illinois. Descended from early Dutch settlers, he witnessed the area’s growth from a village to a thriving community. After briefly serving in the military during the Civil War, he joined his father’s mercantile business and later operated his own. Van Epps contributed to local development, building several commercial properties. He married Leah Emery in 1877, and they had a daughter, Charlotte Isabel. He passed away after 37 years of active involvement in Dixon’s business landscape.

Biography of Capt. William S. Frost of Bradford Township

Capt. William S. Frost, born October 7, 1832, in Maine, was a prominent farmer, landowner, and Civil War veteran in Lee County, Illinois. He served as Captain in the Seventy-fifth Illinois Regiment, participating in significant battles and sustaining injuries at Atlanta. After the war, he returned to farming and became an influential community leader, marrying Sophia E. Shaw in 1865 and raising five children. Actively involved in local governance, he contributed to key projects, including drainage improvements. Capt. Frost’s legacy reflects his dedication to both military service and community development.

Biography of Hon. John Dawson Crabtree of Dixon

Hon. John Dawson Crabtree, born November 19, 1837, in Nottingham, England, was a distinguished figure in Illinois as a Civil War veteran, lawyer, and judge. After emigrating to the U.S. in 1848, Crabtree settled in Dixon, Illinois, and later joined the Union Army in 1861, earning the rank of Major. Post-war, he pursued law, becoming County Judge in 1869 and later Circuit Judge in 1888. A staunch Republican, he briefly served as a State Senator before focusing on his judicial career. Crabtree was known for his legal acumen, fairness, and dedication to public service. He was married twice, fathering seven children.

Biography of John W. Wingert of Nachusa Township

John W. Wingert, born on July 18, 1831, in Greencastle, Pennsylvania, was a Civil War veteran and prominent farmer in Nachusa Township, Lee County, Illinois. In 1852, he moved to Illinois with his family, and in 1877, he acquired a 200-acre farm along Franklin Creek, where he raised livestock and cultivated the land. Wingert enlisted in the 75th Illinois Infantry in 1862, participating in significant battles such as Perryville and Stone River. He married Hannah M. Hittle in 1869, and together they raised six children. Wingert was an active member of the Methodist Church and the G.A.R.

Biography of Charles Trainer of Ashton Township

Charles Trainer, born on July 4, 1839, in Lower Canada, was a Civil War veteran who later became a successful farmer in Ashton Township, Lee County, Illinois. The son of Irish immigrants John Trainer and Ann Hagan, Charles enlisted in the 60th New York Infantry in 1861, serving in key battles like Gettysburg and during Sherman’s “March to the Sea.” After the war, he settled in Illinois, where he farmed 240 acres of land. Married to Emily L. Plantz, they had five children. Trainer was active in local politics and a respected member of the G.A.R. (Grand Army of the Republic).

Biography of Ernest Wernick of Dixon Township

Ernest Wernick, born July 8, 1832, in Prussia, settled in Dixon Township, Lee County, Illinois, in 1848. A Civil War veteran and self-made man, he transformed his modest beginnings into a successful farming operation, now encompassing 514 acres. Ernest first married Mary Page, with whom he had three children: Henry, Anna, and Mary. After her death, he married Catherine Helfrich, and they had eight children: George, Minnie, Wesley, Oscar, Carrie, Vernon, Bert, and Stanley. A devout Lutheran and Republican, Ernest is renowned for his industrious spirit and significant contributions to the local community.

Biography of Simon Rhodes of South Dixon Township

Simon Rhodes, born January 12, 1839, in Somerset County, Pennsylvania, is a respected farmer and Civil War veteran in Lee County, Illinois. After serving in the One Hundred and Thirty-third Pennsylvania Infantry, participating in battles such as Antietam and Fredericksburg, he moved to Lee County in 1865. In 1868, he purchased a 120-acre farm in South Dixon Township, which he improved and cultivated successfully. Simon married Mary Moore, originally from Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, and they had six children: Emma, William, Hattie, Fred, Frank, and George (deceased). Simon is a devoted member of the Evangelical Church and a staunch Republican.

Biography of John Mensch of Palmyra Township

John Mensch, born May 29, 1846, in Columbia County, Pennsylvania, served in the One Hundred Fortieth Illinois Infantry during the Civil War at seventeen. After the war, he returned to Whiteside County, Illinois, and later settled in Palmyra Township in 1880. He became a respected farmer and stock-raiser on his eighty-acre farm. John married Lydia Gruver, also from Pennsylvania, and they had eight children: Charles, Mary, Harry, Mabel, Kate, Edward, Evaline, and Iva. Both John and Lydia were active members of the Lutheran Church. John’s parents, Christian and Peggy (Cromley) Mensch, were early settlers in Illinois.

The Burke Family of Cherry Valley

The Burke family, originally from Ireland, settled in Cherry Valley, Illinois, with Luke Burke, born August 20, 1842. Luke served in the Union Army during the Civil War from 1861 to 1864. He married Catherine McGrath on November 25, 1846, and they lived at 202 Grove Street, now home to their grandson Emmett Burke. Luke, a village blacksmith, died in 1897, and Catherine in 1939. Their children included Mamie, Harry, George, and Emmett. Harry ran a dry goods store, while George lived on Genoa Road. The Burke family has significantly contributed to Cherry Valley’s community and history, spanning multiple generations.

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