Return to Contents Page

VII. SEVENTH GENERATION THOMAS RALSTON

head view photo
headview

Thomas, fifth child of Peter Ralston and Janette Brown, was born 21 August 18271,2 at Homeston, Campbeltown Parish, Argyleshire, Scotland. 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.
Picture of gravestone.
Thomas and Jean had seven children:7

  • +1) Peter William (Willie), born 24 Mar. 1858, Harlem Twp., married 6 November 1890 to Hannah J. McAffee, he died 5 Jan. 1949, Chicago, Ill.
  • 2) Janette Brown (Nettie), born 20(?) June 1860, Harlem, married 7 February 1889 to David McNaughton, she died 2 September 1926 at Redwood Falls, Minn.. They had two children.
  • 3) Isabelle Greenlee (Belle), born 14 Feb. 1863, Harlem, married 18 October 1900 to James M. Smith, she died 27 September 1919 at Rockford. They had no children.
  • 4) Martha (Mattie), born 22 Oct. 1865, Harlem, married 28 January 1897 to Henry White, she died 31 May 1936 at Salisbury, Mo. They had two children.
  • 5) John Thomas (Uncle John), born 28 Nov. 1868, bachelor, he died 25 June 1945, Roscoe.
  • 6) Elizabeth Helen (Lizzie), born 10 Apr. 1873, married 10 January 1895 to Daniel McKay, she died 14 Feb. 1949. They had eight children.
  • 7) Thomas Charles, born 16 Jan. 1876, Harlem, he died 6 Mar. 1891, Harlem.

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 19 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.

To top of page

Return to Contents Page

Design and material may be copied only with author's permission, © 2005.