AGNES (THOMSON) TORRANCE

Agnes (Thomson) Torrance gravestone
(Photo by Vernon B. Paddock)

B. June 1835 in Ohio
D. November 9, 1909 in Hebron, McHenry County, IL
Find A Grave memorial (click here)

  • Father: George Thomson born 1807 in Glasgow, Scotland; married Agnes Langmuir on January 25, 1829 in Gorbals, Lanrk, Scotland; George died June 1, 1884 in Avon Township, Lake County, IL (See section pertaining to George Thomson buried in the Fort Hill Cemetery)
  • Mother: Agnes (Langmuir) Thomson born 1809 in Glasgow, Scotland; Agnes died July 4, 1872 in Avon Township, Lake County, IL (See section pertaining to Agnes (Langmuir) Thomson buried in the Fort Hill Cemetery)
  • Husband: A. Jarvis Torrance born about 1825 in New York; married April 16, 1859 in Lake County, IL; A. Jarvis died June 20, 1896 in Elgin Insane Hospital, Kane County, IL (NOTE: possible, but unverified, related to Gabriel. D. Torrance born January 14, 1823 arriving 1845 in Lake County and to 1869 in McHenry County; married Samantha M. Huson in 1846 in Lake County, IL, daughter of Elijah L. Huson (1792-1860) and Alzada (Tyler) Huson (1796-1873) buried in Volo Cemetery, Wauconda, Lake County, IL)
  • Children:
    1. Etta (Torrence) Rowe born September 4, 1860 in Volo, Lake County, IL; family moved to McHenry in 1863; taught in McHenry County schools for 19 years; married Peter Rowe of Hebron on February 20, 1890; one son, Francis T. Rowe, was born in 1895 and died in 1914; Etta died on December 7, 1931 in San Francisco, San Francisco County, CA; Etta and her son, Francis are buried in Mount Auburn Cemetery, Harvard, McHenry County, IL
    2. Frank Nelson Torrance born 1865; married Frances Lena Conn (1864-1948); Frank died 1933 in Polk County, MN; Frank and Frances are buried in Hebron Cemetery, Hebron, McHenry County, IL
  • Siblings:
    • Jane S. (Thomson) Cable born 1830 in Scotland; married David D. Cable (1821-1861) on February 16, 1849 in Lake County, IL; in 1860 they lived in Muskegon County, MI; Jane died 1863

According to the Findagrave memorial of George Beecher Cable (1858-1920) #27038696 by “priscilla ross-fox” and contributed by L. Winslow:

“Suggested edit: George, the son of David and Jane Thomson Cable, was left an orphan in infancy.  His boyhood and youth were spent in Avon Twp. with his maternal grandparents, George and Agnes (Langmuir) Thomson.
   He married Mary Hart Feb. 22, 1882.
   George was a farmer south of Lake Villa until he retired and moved to Grayslake.  he served as a school director for many years.”

According to the Libertyville Independent (Libertyville IL) Thursday, May 6, 1920, page 7 in regards to George Cable:

   “George Beecher Cable was born in Muskegan, Mich., May 24, 1858, and passed away at his home in Grayslake, Ill., April 29, 1920, aged 61 years, 11 months and 5 days.  February 22, 1882 he was united in marriage to mary K. Hart, and to this union one child was born, Henry David Cable, of Grayslake, who with the wife and one sister, Mrs. Ben Hendee, also of Grayslake, with other relatives and many friends survive to mourn his loss.”

According to the Probate Petition for Appointment of Administrator in Muskegon County, MI dated November 29, 1861:

“That David D. Cable late of the Township of Muskegan in the said County of Muskegan departed this life in said Township of Muskegan on Wednesday the thirteenth day of November in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-one… And your petition further shows that the names and residence of the heirs at law of said deceased, and other person interested in his estate, are as follows:
Jane S. Cable, the widow of said deceased David D. Cable
Ellie Cable
Emma Cable
Charles Cable                         {Infant heirs of said deceased
George W. Cable
Laurence D. Cable”

    • Margaret Thomson (1833-1849)
    • Isabella (Thomson) Rathbun (twin) born June 14, 1837 in Bedford, Cuyahoga County, OH; married Bela Frost Rathbun (1833-1903) on October 29, 1867 in Lake County, IL, son of Saxton Rodney Rathbun (1805-1886) and Mariah (Lander) Rathbun (1807-1888); Isabella died December 17, 1926 in Plainfield, Will County, IL; Isabella and Bela are buried in Wheatland Township Cemetery, Wheatland, Will County, IL
    • Sophia T. (Thomson) Kapple (twin) born June 14, 1837 in Bedford, Cuyahoga County, OH; married James Clark Kapple (1834-1866) on October 21, 1857 in Lake County, IL, son of James Kapple (1795-1871) and Dorothy (Clark) Kapple (1791-1875); Sophia died February 6, 1924 in Chicago, Cook County, IL (See section pertaining to Sophia T. (Thomson) Kapple buried in the Fort Hill Cemetery) (See section pertaining to James Clark Kapple buried in the Fort Hill Cemetery)
    • William Thomson born January 1, 1842 in Illinois; married Alice E. Lusk (1846-1918) on November 9, 1863 in Lake County, IL, daughter of Chancelor “Chauncey” Lusk (1828-1900) and Adaline Orlana “Orland” (Bliss) Lusk (1825-1893) (See section pertaining to Chancelor “Chauncey” Lusk buried in the Fort Hill Cemetery) (See section pertaining to Adaline Orlana “Orlana” (Bliss) Lusk buried in the Fort Hill Cemetery); William died July 3, 1909; William and Alice are buried in the Grayslake Cemetery, Grayslake, Lake County, IL
    • John L. Thomson (1844-1848)
    • Frances Elizabeth (Thomson) Burr born in 1845 in Illinois; married Henry F. Burr (1835-1876) on January 12, 1870 in Lake County, IL, son of Gershom and Mary E. (Norris) Burr; Frances died September 15, 1902 in Colorado Springs, El Paso County, CO; Frances and Henry are buried in Evergreen Cemetery, Colorado Springs, El Paso County, CO

According to the Weekly Gazette (Colorado Springs, CO) Thursday, July 2, 1903, page 3:

“State of Colorado, County of El Paso, ss.
   In the County Court in Probate.
In the matter of the Estate of Frances E. Burr deceased.
   The people of the state of Colorado to Mrs. Agnes Torrance, Hebron, Ill.; William Thompson (sic), Denver, Colo.; Mrs. Isabella Rathbun, Plainfield, Will county, Ill.’ Mrs. Sophia Kapple, 582 E 45th St., Chicago, Ill.; Mrs. Emma C. Hendee, Sumner, Ia.; Charles E. Cable, 62 Wells St., Chicago, Ill.; George B. Cable, Lake Villa, Ill; Mrs. J. Dombsky Hurd, Grays Lake, Ill.; Bernice Dombsky, Grays Lake, Ill.; heirs at law of Frances E. Burr, deceased:
   You are hereby notified that an instrument in writing purporting to be the last will and testament of Frances E. Burr, deceased, who resided in Colorado Springs, El Paso county, Colorado Springs, and departed this life at Colorado Springs in said county and state on or about the 15th day of September, A. D. 1902…”

Additional Information:

According to the 1850 U.S. Census for the Town of Avon, Lake County, IL the household members were:

“George Thompson (sic Thomson), age 43, occupation: farmer, born in Scotland; Agnes Thompson, age 41, born in Scotland; Agnes, Thompson, age 15, born in Ohio, Isabella Thompson, age 13, born in Ohio; Sophia Thompson, age 13, born in Ohio; William Thompson, age 8, born in Illinois; Elizabeth Thompson, age 5, born in Illinois; Charles Walter, age 16, occupation: farmer; born in New Jersey”

According to the 1860 U.S. Census (August 15, 1860) for the Town of Wauconda, Lake County, IL with a Wauconda post office the household members were:

“Jarvis Torrance, age 45, occupation: farmer, born in New York; Agnes Torrance, age 26, born in New York”

According to the 1860 U.S. Census August 16, 1860) for the Town of Avon, Lake County, IL with a Fox Lake post office the household members were:

“George Thompson (sic Thomson) age 53, occupation: farmer, born in Scotland; Agnes Thompson, age 50, born in Scotland; Agnes, age 25, born in Ohio; Jarvis A. Thompson, age 35, occupation: farmer, born in New York; Isabella Thompson, age 23, born in Ohio; William Thompson, age 19, born in Illinois; Frances E. Thompson, age 15, born in Illinois”

According to the McHenry Plaindealer (McHenry IL) Wednesday, July 11, 1877:

   “Constable Wightman and A. J. Torrance, captured a Stolen horse and buggy in this village on the 4th.  The horse was stolen at or near Kenosha, Wis., by a young fellow by the name of Kane whose father lives near Wedgewood’s Corners, in this county.  Constable Wightman received a Postal Card from an officer in Wisconsin, describing the property, which was found at the barn of Ichobed Wells, where the thief put him up, intending no doubt to celebrate in McHenry that day. He was seen by Torrance, but the officer failed to get sight of him, and probably as soon as he heard the horse was taken he lit out. He was captured, however, at Harvard on Saturday last by Officer Van Curen of Woodstock and lodged in jail, from whence he was taken by officers from Wisconsin on Sunday, back to the scene of his crime, where he no doubt will be made to answer for his misdeed.”

According to the 1900 U.S. Census for Hebron Village, Hebron Township, McHenry County, IL the household members were:

“Frank N. Torrance, head, born June 1865, married 14 years, born in Illinois, father born in New York, mother born in Ohio, occupation: V.P. Bank; Frances L. Torrance, wife, born September 1864, age 33, married, 2 children born, 2 children living, born in Illinois, father born in New Hampshire, mother born in New York; Hugh C. Torrance, son, born August 1886, age 13, single, born in Illinois; Bernice E. Torrance, daughter, born November 1891, age 8, single, born in Illinois; Agnes Torrance, mother, born June 1833, age 64, widowed, 2 children born, 2 children living, born in Ohio, parents born in Scotland”

According to the McHenry Plaindealer (McHenry IL) Tuesday, November 24, 1959:

FIFTY YEAR AGO
Taken From the Files
Of Nov. 18, 1909

“Mrs. Agnes Torrance, formerly of this village, passed away at the home of her son, F. N. Torrance, at Hebron, Tuesday.”

According to the Lake County Independent (Libertyville IL), Friday, November 12, 1909, page 3:

   “News was received here Wednesday morning of the death of Mrs. Agnes Torrance, of Hebron, Ill.  She died Tuesday night of Bright’s disease.  Funeral at her home Friday morning.  Interment in Ft. Hill Cemetery.”