Hometown Spotlight: Bloomington, Illinois

Bloomington, Illinois was home to the Bryant and Ingersoll families for more than fifty years.  The city of Bloomington is located in central Illinois and serves as the county seat of McLean County.   Its claim to fame is that AbrahamLincoln represented clients in several cases here in the circuit court as a young lawyer. 

Here is a timeline of some historical and family events:

1820s             The first white settlers arrive and call the area Blooming Grove.

1831                The city of Bloomington is founded.

1837                The Bryant family, Eben and Martha and sons Eben Francis and John Henry, move from Massachusetts to Illinois, settling in Pike County.  Eben buys 160 acres and runs a farm.  The parents remain on the family farm for the rest of their lives.

1837                Bloomington’s first newspaper is published.

1838                Lawyer Abraham Lincoln makes his first court appearance in Bloomington.

1845                Henry Jackson Ingersoll of Ohio, marries, his first wife, Lydia Ann Veatch, in McLean County.

1850               Wesleyan University is founded.

1851                Henry J. Ingersoll and Amanda Melvina Baker of New York marry in McLean County.

1852                The railroad comes to Bloomington.

1859                John Henry Bryant, a carpenter and contractor, relocates to Bloomington with his wife Nancy English Bryant and their young family.  Between 1859 and 1887, his company is in charge of building Bloomington City Hall, Turner Hall, the German Methodist Episcopal Church and the Eagle Block, and many city residences.

1860               John H. and Nancy Bryant, and children George, 3, and Alice, 1, reside in Bloomington, according to the U.S. Census.

1860               H. J. and Amanda Ingersoll, and children Lydia (from Henry’s first marriage), 12, Charles, 6, William, 4, and Cora, 2, reside in Bloomington, according to the U.S. Census.   H. J. is a carpenter and owns real estate valued at $500.

1861                Robert Francis “Frank” Bryant is born to John H. and Nancy.

1861                The American Civil War begins.

1862                Mary Ellen Ingersoll is born to Henry J. and Amanda.

1863                John H. Bryant and Henry J. Ingersoll register for the Civil War Draft.

1865                The American Civil War ends.  President Abraham Lincoln’s funeral train stops in Bloomington. 

 1870               John H. and Nancy Bryant, and children George, Alice, Frank, Arthur, and Charles, live in Bloomington, according to the U.S. Census.  Father John is a carpenter who owned $2,500 worth of real estate. 

 1870               Henry J. and [Amanda] Malvina Ingersoll, and children Lydia, Charles, William, Cora, and Mary E., live in Bloomington, according to the U. S. Census.  Father Henry was a carpenter and owned real estate valued at $3,000.

 1880              The Bryant family resides at 806 West Olive Street in Bloomington, their longtime home.  Father J. H. is a contractor and builder.  Sons George, Francis (Robert), and Arthur work as carpenters, presumably employed by their father. 

 1880              The Ingersoll family lives at 913 South Main Street [now a Walgreens parking lot] in Bloomington.  Father Henry works as a carpenter.  Son William works as a grocery store clerk. 

 1892               Jerome Calvin Bryant is born to Robert and Mary Ellen.

 1896               Amanda Melvina (Baker) Ingersoll dies.

 1900              Fire destroys many historic structures in downtown Bloomington.

 1900              John H., 66, and Nancy Bryant, 67, and grown son George reside at 805 [sic] West Olive Street, according to the U.S Census.  John is a contractor and George is a carpenter.

 1900              Robert and Mary Bryant, and children Ethel, 13, Monroe, 11, Jerome, 8, Robert, 4, and Arthur, 2, reside at 1110 North Park Street in Bloomington, according to the U.S. Census.  Father Robert is a carpenter.

 1901               J. H. Bryant dies. 

 1907               Henry Jackson Ingersoll dies.

 1910               The Bryant family live at another house in Bloomington.  The street name is illegible.  Father Robert works as a carpenter on his own account.  Sister Ethel is a milliner in a shop.  

 1912               Jerome and Alice's first child is born in Bloomington.

 Abt 1913        Most of the Bryant family move to Los Angeles, perhaps traveling Route 66 by car.

 1918                Nancy (English) Bryant passes away in the hospital succumbing to her injuries                             after an accidental kitchen fire.

 1920s             Some of the extended Ingersoll family continue to live in

                         Bloomington until around the 1920s.

 

1984                According to an article in the Bloomington Pantagraph newspaper, an old                                     record book dating back to the 1820s once belonging to Henry Jackson Ingersoll                          and perhaps his father Henry Ingersoll is found in the wall of old house.