Individual Details

Census

John Albright age 40 Farmer, born New York,
Eliza age 38 born Massachusetts,
...
Elizabeth E. age 11 born New York
...

Marriage

Peter S. Froom of Belvidere to Eunice E. Allbright of Jacksonville, Ill & formerly of Belvidere - Married at the Massion House in Jacksonville, Ill.

Census

Peter S Froom age 37 is a merchant born in Canada, Real estate 5000, personal estate 1000;
Eunice E. age 21 born in New York,
Peter M age 10 born in Illinois,
George D age 8 born Illinois

Census

Peter S Froom age 57 born Canada, parents born Canada, Grocerer,
Eunice E, age 40, born New York, father Massachusetts, mother Vermont;
Albert E age 18, born Illinois,
Lillie E. age 15, born Illinois,
John E age 13, born Illinois,
Ambrose C. age 10, born Illinois,
Henry C age 6, born Illinois,
Reuben C. age 1, born Illinois.

Death-shared

Morn. North June 2 1898
LIFE'S SUDDEN END
P. S. Froom Suddenly Passes Away Yesterday Evening While Sitting in a chair died from stroke or Apoplexy--He was among the first settlers in this city--Conducted a Grocery for Over fifty years in the same Store.
Another of the early pioneers has gone to his final rest yesterday afternoon while sitting in his chair in his home on West Hurlbut avenue, Peter S. Froom suddenly fell forward to the floor where members of the family later found him in an unconscious condition. This was at 4 p.m. He lingered in an unconscious condition until 7:15 when his spirit took it flight to the great beyond. Physicians pronounced the cause of death as apoplexy. Last November he suffered a partial stroke of paralysis from which he never fully recovered but was able to get about by the aid of crutches. He was down town yesterday morning and on the street again in the afternoon apparently felling as well as usual.
The following sketch of his life was taken from data furnished by himself upon his retirement from business several years ago after fifty years of active life in the grocery business. He was born at St. Johns, Canada, in 1823. He left home at the age of 12 years and started in li;fe or himself, working on a farm. His life saw many vicissitudes. Leaving the farm after a few years he became cook in a logging camp, leaving there for the tow path on the Erie canal, afterword becoming steersman a canal boat. He then returned to farming, which he followed for five years before moving to Belvidere in 1845.

The Pioneer Grocer
He conducted the first grocery store in Belvidere when the city was a mere hamlet of wooden shanties away out on the frontier. He went overland to Chicago with a load of wheat, returning with his wagon load of groceries, with which to stock the first grocery store in Belvidere. The wooden building still stands on North State street with the city scales in front of it. There were then but four dwelling houses on the south side and three stores in the city, while outside was unbroken prairie stretching for miles on miles.
For half a century he left out groceries over the same counter, from 1846 to 1896. During his commercial career he erected three store building which still stand on State street. One is the building now occupied by D. Derthie as a meat market.
The deceased was 75 years and 3 old. He was twice married , first to Miss Manda Strong in 1849 and to Miss Eunice E. Albright in 1848. His widow and nine children morn the departure of a husband and father.

The children, six boys and three girls, are as follows: George, of La Grange; Albert and Ambrose, of Chicago; John of Battle Creek, Mich., Henry, Reuben, Irene and Mary, of Belvidere; Mrs. A. E. Cooper, of Mexico City, Mexico. One brother, Eli Froom, lives in California.

The deceased experienced religion last December and has frequently since then expressed his great satisfaction in the steep taken, The funeral will probably be held from his late residence Friday at 2 p.m.

Census

Living at 125 West Hurlburt Ave,
Eunice age 61 born Sept 1838 is a widow has had 8 children and all living born in New York, father born in Mass. and mother born in Vermont, is carer of books (book keeper), owns home with mortgage.
Ruben son born July 1878,
Irene B born July 1881,
Mary H. born July 1884.

Also living at this address is:
Albert Froom born Feb 1845 in Mass. and parents born in Mass. he is a laborer,
Jenny, wife, born December 1850 has had no children and married at age 20, born in Tennessee, and parents born in North Carolina.

Census

Living at 97 seventy ninth street,
Whate H. Osburn age 33 married 1 year, born Oregon and parents born in Pennsylvania, He works in Real estate.
Wife Mary H [Froom] age 25 born in Illinois father born Canada and mother born New York.
Irene V. Froom sister-in-law age 28 is single born in Illinois, father in Canada and mother in New York. She is a teacher at a school.
Eunice E. mother-in-law age 70, born in New York, father in Mass, and mother in Vermont. She is not working.