A family tree can wither if no one tends the roots.

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These are photographs of John Reuben  Dempsey's school class and his First Holy communion class.  Both were taken at the school in Fowler (name of school unknown). It would probably have been a Catholic school. Both photos would have been taken sometime in the 1890's.  In the school photo John Reuben Dempsey is the third child from the left in the front row.  He is the grandfather of Andrea Britton.  In the photo of the First Holy Communion Class,  John Rueben Dempsey is the third child from the left in the back row. Photos submitted by Andrea Britton.  Andrea is researching Britton, Little, Atwell, Rowland, Dempsey and Billingsley family lines.

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Did You Know?

LDS Family History Centers have lots of information for family historians.  The records of the Vermont Street Baptist Church of Quincy, Illinois, are available on microfilm for use at local Family History Centers.  The records include lists of members, baptisms, dismissals and deaths  from 1856-1890.   The title of the microfilm is Church Records, 1856-1890.  It's FHL US/CAN Film (960876 Items 2)

Anyone needing to know more about using local Family History Centers should visit the Family Search website.

St. Boniface School

This newspaper clipping shows the new St. Boniface parochial school and sisters' home at the corner of Seventh and Hampshire streets in Quincy.  The newspaper caption indicates the picture was taken prior to 1889.  Special thanks to Lois Heath for sharing this clipping.

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Mrs. Anna E. Brown, widow of Charles Brown, was born in Connecticut, in 1830, and died in Quincy October 22, 1893.  Mrs. Brown provided in her will for the establishment of a home for the aged, to which she devised her residence, at the northwest corner of Fifth and Maple streets, and which home she endowed with interest-bearing securities worth $55,000.  Thus was founded what was named the Anna Brown Home for the Aged, in arranging for which the management spent about $18,000 for a new building and other improvements in 1897.  The home was opened in January, 1898.  Acceptable applicants only are admitted, and there is an admission fee of $300.  The management has been such that the institution is in excellent condition every way.  Hon. W. H. Collins is president,  Osman B. Gordon, vice-president;  T. C. Poling, treasurer, and George H. Wilson, secretary, of the corporation.  Miss Elizabeth Carelton is matron.  At this writing there are twelve women and four men in the home.

Past and Present of the City of Quincy and Adams County, Illinois by William Collins.  Chicago: S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1905, p 234.

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Tremont House Fire

June 22, 1904, was the date of the fire at the Tremont House on the north side of Hampshire street, between Fifth and Sixth.  Miss Elizabeth Welch, principal of Jefferson public school, was burned to death, and her sister, Miss Mary Welch, principal of Jackson school, was so badly burned that she died in a day or so.  Among others more or less injured were W. E. Tooke, W. L. Kershaw (both of whom were connected with the S. J. Clarke Publishing Co.), Mrs. Thomas Clow,  Mrs. W. Scott and Thomas Martin.  The property loss was $25,000.

Past and Present of the City of Quincy and Adams County, Illinois by William Collins. Chicago: S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1905,  p 251.

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