Thoughts by Trill

Tuesday, August 11, 2026

Mary Helene Offerman, 1890-1953

136 years ago this month, one of my Great Grand-Aunt’s was born… and 73 years ago this month, she passed away.

Mary (sometimes listed as Maria) Helene Offerman was born on August 19, 1890, in Otto Township, IL. She was the 11th child (and one of only 3 girls) of Heinrich and Maria Sophia (Doscher) Offerman. She grew up on a big farm in rural Kankakee County. Otto Township is just north of Chebanse. There was not a downtown area, it was simply a rural community. Life centered around grain production, livestock and family farms supplying regional markets thanks to the Illinois Central Railroad.

1898 Offerman family portrait... Mary is the young girl in the middle

1900 census

In the 1900 census, Mary is noted as attending 1st grade. In a later census, we find that her highest level of education was 8th grade. At age 18, in 1908, Mary married Fred W. Meyer. He was just a few years older than her. Fred was noted as a farmer in every census except for 1930. That year, they were living in the small community of Compton, in Lee County, IL. The census states that Frank was a peddler of “spices and medicines.” After that, he went back to farming and the family moved back to the Chebanse/Otto area. In 1950, they were living on Van Siding Road in Limestone (still in Kankakee County).

Mary with siblings

Offerman children with mother Maria Sophia

Frank and Mary had 3 known children… two boys and one girl. I was able to find a biographical sketch written by a nephew of Mary. The memories about Mary are from her son Alfred… “She did or helped with all the things there are to do on the farm, never complaining. She could make a house into a home with very little to work with. She used to like to curl her hair with an iron that she hung in the chimney, then swing around to show us how nice she looked. She would curl her hair before the dances that she and dad would attend. Mom used to tell how she, Aunt Dora and Aunt Minnie used to drink some vinegar before going to dances to make their faces pale, as they had no face powder.” The writer adds at the end that he remembered his Aunt Mary as always happy, jovial and laughing.

Mary passed away in Kankakee County (actual location isn’t known at this time) on August 10, 1953. She was 62 years old. She’s buried at Kankakee Memorial Gardens.

Monday, August 10, 2026

William Hines Hicks, 1804-1868

158 years ago this month, one of my 3rd Great Grandfathers passed away.

William Hines Hicks was born about 1804 in either Wake County, North Carolina or Oglethorpe County, Georgia. He was one of at least six children born to Isaac and Elizabeth (Hines) Hicks. His father had been a Patriot in the Revolutionary War. In fact, William (sometimes referred to as Billy) grew up on land that his father had been given by the U.S. Government for his service in the War. His father and family appear in the 1800 census in NC. I have not been able to find them in the 1810 census at all. In Isaac’s military pension application, he states that he had been residing in Georgia since April of 1815. So I am more inclined to believe that our William was born in NC.

Georgia map showing Oglethorpe County highlighted

As a young man, William felt the pull to head toward the prime woodland country of Southern Illinois, and headed West on his own. He stopped in Livingston County, Kentucky for a while and met and married Miss Elizabeth Lavender, in 1827. Their first child Henry, was born there in 1828, before they set out for Illinois.

Kentucky map with Livingston County highlighted

1827 from the Livingston County marriage record books (middle line)

1827 marriage certificate for William Hines Hicks and Elizabeth Lavender

They were settled in Pope County (before Hardin County broke off of Pope County) by 1830, when their second child was born. In the 1830 census, the family was living next to Elizabeth’s parents. The area they all had settled in, became known as “Hicks” or “Hickstown”. There’s also a creek that runs through the area today, known as “Hicks Branch”. Fun fact… “Hicks Dome” is there, which is a cryptovolcanic feature, thought to have formed about 270 million years ago. Instead of lava, immense gas and magma pressure pushed the rock layers up roughly 4000 feet, creating a 10 mile wide dome structure.

When William’s widowed mother died in 1835, she left him three town lots in Raleigh, North Carolina. No chance we can claim those now (ha ha), as he sold them almost immediately.

William was a farmer. Thanks to the 1850 Ag census, we know that he owned 160 acres, 5 horses, 1 mule, 5 milk cows, 20 other cattle, 9 sheep, 25 pigs. His produce for 1850 was 800 bushels of Indian corn, 21 pounds of wool, 3 bushels of peas/beans, 10 bushels of sweet potatoes, and 50 pounds of butter. The 1860 Ag census tells us he owned 240 acres, 3 horses, 2 milk cows, 4 oxen, 6 other cattle, 10 sheep, and 25 pigs. His produce for 1860 was 100 bushels of wheat, 800 bushels of Indian corn, 10 pounds of wool, 35 bushels of Irish potatoes, 15 bushels of sweet potatoes and 50 pounds of butter.

1850 Federal Census, Hardin County IL

He and Elizabeth had 12 known children. We know that one died in infancy (we do not know a name, or whether it was a boy or girl). The other 11 children consisted of 7 boys and 4 girls. Of the 7 boys, 5 of them enlisted in the Civil War. One of them was sent home on furlough for illness in 1862… he died just a few days after arriving home. Another son died in a Memphis hospital in 1862 and is buried in an unmarked grave in the Memphis National Cemetery. A third son died in a hospital in Louisiana in 1863, and was later re-buried in an unmarked grave in the Vicksburg National Cemetery.

Family stories tell us that William began to suffer from “sore eyes” around 1862. This caused him to be unable to work. After seeing several doctors, to no avail, he passed away on August 22, 1868. Cause of death is listed as “carcinoma of sore eyes.” He is buried in Lavender Cemetery, not very far from the old community of Hicks. His stone is a piece of sandstone, with a simple “W.H.” hand carved on it. At some point in the past, someone planted some greenery behind the stone. I believe it’s the only grave in the cemetery with a real plant.

William Hines Hicks ("W.H." grave marker at Lavender Cemetery in Hardin County, IL

Saturday, February 7, 2026

Peter Jan Sterrenberg, 1838-1916

Family history post:

110 years ago a 2nd Great Grand Uncle passed away. Peter John Sterrenberg died on February 6, 1916, in Charlotte, Livingston County, Illinois.

Peter was born in Ostfreisland, Germany, on September 23, 1838. He was one of 8 known children (his obit states that he was the eldest of 10) born to Jan Peter and Fijke Willems (Bleij) Sterrenberg. His closest sibling in age was a younger sister by two years, Amke Feyke Sterrenberg. She is my 2nd Great Grandmother.

an old postcard picture

In 1850, at the age of 12, Peter was sent to Holland, to learn the carpenter trade. He remained there for four years, and returned to his parents’ home at that time. Two years later, in 1856, his father passed away and Peter took it upon himself to provide for his mother and siblings, at the age of 18.

In 1866, Peter and his brother William left Germany and came to America. They settled in Minonk, IL. Peter was a carpenter there. The following year, he sent for his mother and the rest of his siblings to come to America. They would arrive sometime in 1868.

In 1876, Peter went back to Germany to visit with family. Since I was only able to find 8 children born to JP and Fijke in our US Census records… it’s possible that two siblings remained in Germany…they could be who he went to visit. Upon his return to America, he married Helena Schmidt in 1877. They had 6 known children

I was unable to find Peter in the 1870 census. In the 1880 census, Peter and his family were living in Danforth, IL, and he was still using his carpentry skills. In 1883, they moved to Charlotte, IL. Shortly after that, Peter entered into a partnership with Frank Manssen. They opened a mercantile, which lasted for 20 years. The business is listed in the Charlotte Business Directory in 1898 as “Sterrenberg & Manssen”, and they sold general merchandise, farm implements and lumber.

map showing location of Charlotte IL

Backing up a little bit… I found a Chatsworth IL Centennial history book from 1967 online. In it, there is a page about the history of the village of Charlotte. It mentions that in 1887, the Lutheran Church was built…by Peter Sterrenberg. I also found a mention elsewhere that its members were mostly German immigrants from the area.

from the Chatsworth IL Centennial book, 1967

In the 1900 census, Frank Manssen was living with the Sterrenberg family. Frank’s occupation is Grocer, while Peter’s is Grocery Bus.

According to Google, a grocery bus at that time was exactly what you might think it was…. A wagon someone used to sell/deliver food from.

Like today’s food truck…but with groceries instead of a kitchen. 🙂

1900 US Census

In 1903, Frank had retired and left town. The business officially became known as Sterrenberg & Sons. I tried to find an old ad or something in a newspaper, but was unsuccessful. After Peter’s death, the store was renamed again to Sterrenberg Bros.

1906, from the Chatsworth Plaindealer paper

In the 1910 census, Peter had retired from the store and is listed as a farmer.

He died 6 years later and is buried in the Chatsworth-Charlotte Cemetery in Chatsworth, IL.

1916 Chatsworth Plaindealer paper, part 1

1916 Chatsworth Plaindealer paper, part 2

1916 Chatsworth Plaindealer paper, part 3

Wednesday, February 4, 2026

Rev Harvey Horatio Wallace, 1870-1933

Rev Harvey Horatio Wallace

16th Pastor of Herrin IL FBC

1910-1912

Born: February 18, 1870… Elva, Marshall County, Kentucky

Died: August 16, 1933… Memphis, Tennessee

His father was Isham Everett Wallace. At age 18, Isham left home after a quarrel with his father, and settled in Monroe County, IL. He married Sarah Ann Chenoweth there in 1857, and had three children. During that time in Monroe County, the Civil War was in progress. He was recovering from typhoid fever when a group of Union soldiers (on recruiting duty) attempted to draft him into the army. They believed he was faking his illness, and when he refused to go with them, they became abusive. They eventually left him alone. Isham was sympathetic to the Confederacy, but doubted its ability to win independence. His first wife died in 1864 after their youngest child was born. He returned to his father’s home and less than a year later, married Sylvia Baker. They had two sons, one being our former pastor. During this time, Isham entered the ministry, and was ordained by the Blood River Baptist Association. He held numerous pastorates in and around Marshall County, KY. Sylvia died in 1879, and he soon married for the third and final time to Clara Jane Green. They had two children.

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1880 Census - Strington, Marshall, Kentucky

**Harvey is listed as being "lame" in the Sick column

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"In early boyhood, he gave evidence of public speaking ability. He declared his intention early, to become a minister, and was ordained by the New Harmony Baptist Church (Marshall County, KY) about 1888. He held pastorates in Benton IL, Herrin IL, Sturgis KY, Ewing IL, Tyler TX, and various other places. He also served a term in the Texas Legislature, representing Smith County."

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Married Lucy Adair Frizzell, March 29, 1891

Marshall County, Kentucky

H.H. Wallace and Lucy Frizzell marriage record, 1891

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1900 census - Jonesboro, Union, Illinois

*Minister

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He and Lucy had four children… Howell Urban, Sylvia, Dwight Spencer, Marion Throgmorton, and Fount Adair.

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1910 census - Marion, Williamson, Illinois

*Gospel Minister, lived at 402 South Duncan, Marion

We know that he was the pastor at Herrin's First Baptist church from 1910-1912.

Rev. H.H. Wallace

”He was kindly, jovial, generous and unpretentious. He had an excellent speaking voice and considerable eloquence. He had a ready wit and humor, which he often employed in his sermons, which, however, were never lacking in dignity.”