Individual Details

Birth

Peter S Froom age 57 born Canada, parents born Canada, Grocerer, Eunice E, age 40, born New York father Massachuetts, 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.

Census

Peter Froom age 27 a grocer born in Canada. Amanda age 22 born in New York were married within the year (1850). Ellen Strong age 11 born in New York, Dianea Stewart age 23 born in New York, Geo L Foorm age29 born in Canada. Amanda and Peter are man and wife. George L Froom is probably a brother of Peter. Ellen Strong is possibly a sister of Amanda, are her parents dead?

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 age 37 is a merchant who was born in Canada. He has real estate valued at $5000 and personal property at $1000.
Eunice E wife is 21 born in New York.
Peter M. age 10 born in Illinois
George D age 8 born in Illinois.

Census

Peter S Froom age 57 born Canada, parents born Canada, Grocerer,
Eunice E, age 40, born New York father Massachuetts, 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

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.