My Present Past
A genealogical experience
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Tiskilwa, Illinois
1877 Voters & Taxpayers of
Bureau County Page 141
1877 Voters & Taxpayers of
Bureau County Page 142
1877 Voters & Taxpayers of
Bureau County Page 143
Sampson Cole made the first settlement in 1833, on what was afterward the Simon Kinney Farm.
Cole afterward built the first house in what is now Tiskilwa in 1885.
On January 15, 1836 the site of Windsor was founded by Dr. Augustus. Langworthy which lies in what is the part
of Tiskilwa in Arispie township. In March of 1836, West Windsor was added by J. W. Kinney which included
Tiskilwa that lies in the township of Indiantown.

The two towns were combined in 1840, which then became Tiskilwa
The first mill was erected in 1845 and owned by Arius Simmons.

Tiskilwa, which means "Gem of the Valley" was incorporated in 1856.

The first grade school was built in 1867.

David B. Sherwood issued the first newspaper, The Tiskilwa Register on September 02, 1876.

The Chicago Rock Island & Pacific services the town of Tiskilwa.

The town of Tiskilwa lies in both Indiantown and Arispie townships.
Edward J. Engel, while working at the Chicago Rock Island & Pacific depot in Tiskilwa, became acquainted with
Erastus P. Boyden who owned the Tiskilwa House (1876) which was the main hotel in town.

E. P. Boyden was born on February 16, 1823 in Pelham, Hampshire County, Massachusetts to Plyna and Clarissa
(Fales) Boyden. He married Mary R. Dunbar of Belchertown, Hampshire County, Massachusetts on November 13,
1843 in Pelham, Massachusetts. She died September 10, 1869 in Henry County, Illinois. Together they had six
children, John D, Clara E, Ella A, Frank L, Charles Dwight and Hattie M.
Erastus then married Marcia A. Penney, the daughter of Edwin and Hannah (DeLong) Valentine on December 30,
1869 in Henry County, Illinois.
Marcia Valentine was previously married to Theodore M. Penney on June 18, 1857 in Andover, Henry County,
Illinois. Together they produced two children, Ella Phoebe, born July 21, 1860 and Theodore Norton, born
February 05, 1862, both in Andover, Henry County, Illinois.
Theodore Penney, joined the 112th Regiment Illinois Infantry, Company D on August 11, 1862 in Andover, Illinois.
He was mustered into service on September 20, 1862 and was killed in action during the battle of
Campbells Station in Knoxville, Tennessee on November 18, 1863.
His body remained on the battlefield after the skirmish and was buried there along with his brothers in arms.
1880 Census Hattie Boyden Tiskilwa, Illinois
1877 Voters & Taxpayers of
Bureau County Page 248
1877 Voters & Taxpayers of
Bureau County Page 409
1885 History of Bureau County
H. C. Bradsby  Page 465
Hattie M. Boyden was born May 05, 1862 to Erastus P. and Mary R. (Dunbar) Boyden in Atkinson, Henry County,
Illinois. Her mother died September 10, 1869. She moved with her family in 1876 to Tiskilwa, Bureau County,
Illinois, where her father purchased the "Tiskilwa House," the main hotel in Tiskilwa.
Hattie married Peter Holmes Updike on May 02, 1894 in Tiskilwa, Bureau County, Illinois
She moved to Harvard, Clay County, Nebraska in 1894 and to Los Angeles, California in early 1900, where
Peter was involved in the banking business up until his death in 1943.
Hattie M. Boyden Updike died December 15, 1949 in Los Angeles, California
1900 Census Hattie Boyden Updike
1940 Census Hattie Boyden Updike
Background:
Plow Hollow near Tiskilwa, Illinois
Beautiful Bureau by Skilling & Masters
1894
Hattie Boyden                                     February 11, 1879
Tiskilwa, Illinois