Thomas Lindsey ⁴⁴¹

History of Iroquois County
by H. W. Beckwith

At age 15, Tom came to Knox Co., Ill with his parents but made home later with his Uncle Ira at Iroquois Co. in 1839. The county was, at the time Tom came here, very new, occupied mostly by deer and wolves, which he hunted with great success. The latter paid, especially as their scalps were valuable for paying taxes, the sheriff carrying them to Springfield on horseback, where he went yearly to pay the state tax.

In 1845 he went to Washington, Tazewell Co., Ill and was a blacksmith, then to Wisconsin. In 1848, Thomas returned to Iroquois County, and in company with Mr. Seneca Amsbary, bought and put up the first saw-mill on Spring Creek and began the manufacture of timber with which the pioneers could build houses to take the place of their first cabins.

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History of Iroquois County
by H. W. Beckwith
p. 333

The artesian water found in this region is an interesting feature of geological information of this part of the country. Wells are obtained at a depth varying from twenty-five to 150 feet. Though his reasoning concerning the water-supply was limited to a comparatively small area, Thomas Lindsey, of Onarga township, was the first to bore with intelligent theory and distinct purpose. Until 1854, none but surface wells were made...... Lindsey bored in the bottom of two wells with so much success as to set others to thinking that they could get water by boring from the top.

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"Suffers with a disease of the eyes which almost blinds him."

  Events

• He worked as a farmer, stock raiser, and lawyer.

• He had a residence in 1845 in Washington, Tazewell County, Illinois. He engaged in the business of blacksmithing.

• He had a residence after 1845 in Wisconsin.

• He had a residence in 1848 in Del Rey, Iroquois County, Illinois.

• He appeared on the census in 1850 in Onarga, Iroquois County, Illinois.

• He appeared on the census in 1860 in Onarga, Iroquois County, Illinois. Real estate valued at $4000. Personal estate valued at $1600.

• He appeared on the census in 1870 in Onarga, Iroquois County, Illinois. Real estate valued at $1200. Personal estate valued at $2600.

• He appeared on the census in 1880 in Onarga, Iroquois County, Illinois.

• He was buried at Del Rey Cemetery in Del Rey, Iroquois County, Illinois.

Thomas married Caroline F. Grice in 1849.⁴³⁹ (Caroline F. Grice was born 18 February 1828 in Mason County, Virginia,³⁸¹ died 4 April 1851 ³⁸¹ and was buried after 4 April 1851 in Del Rey, Iroquois County, Illinois at Del Rey Cemetery ³⁸¹.) The cause of her death was consumption.

Thomas next married Elizabeth Harriet Hall, daughter of William Alexander Hall and Violeta Fargo, 28 June 1860 in Onarga, Iroquois County, Illinois ⁴³⁹.^,440 (Elizabeth Harriet Hall was born 18 September 1844 in Mason County, Virginia,^439,440,443 died 14 July 1918 in Onarga, Iroquois County, Illinois ⁴⁴⁰ and was buried 17 July 1918 in Watseka, Iroquois County, Illinois at Oak Hill Cemetery ⁴⁴⁰.)