Francis Whitcomb took as good care of them as a woman could. He provided their food as well as possible where there was nothing to be had fit for ill people to eat. He did their washing, attended their wants, and rendered all assistance possible under the circumstances, with no doctors, and no drug stores near where aid or medicine, could be procured. In spite of the care this young man could give the children, one by one wasted away, and died. No lumber or plank was to be had with which to make their coffins, but the men split rough boards from a walnut tree that grew a short distance from Butler's branch, and made crude caskets. These strong men inured to hardships, silently and with sad faces buried the children, with no minister to say a prayer nor relatives to mourn as the graves were filled.
Francis Whitcomb, went to Butler's Point the saltworks, and took up the farm afterwards known as the one Richard Jones lived on. The house he built is yet standing. He lived here a number of years and sold his farm to Henry Jones himself going to McLean County, where he died and was buried.
Francis Whitcomb, was the father of six children.
History of Vermilion County --- Chapter XV- Part 1
Francis Whitcomb took as good care of them as a woman could. He provided their food as well as possible where there was nothing to be had fit for ill people to eat. He did their washing, attended their wants, and rendered all assistance possible under the circumstances, with no doctors, and no drug stores near where aid or medicine, could be procured. In spite of the care this young man could give the children, one by one wasted away, and died. No lumber or plank was to be had with which to make their coffins, but the men split rough boards from a walnut tree that grew a short distance from Butler's branch, and made crude caskets. These strong men inured to hardships, silently and with sad faces buried the children, with no minister to say a prayer nor relatives to mourn as the graves were filled.
Francis Whitcomb, went to Butler's Point the saltworks, and took up the farm afterwards known as the one Richard Jones lived on. The house he built is yet standing. He lived here a number of years and sold his farm to Henry Jones himself going to McLean County, where he died and was buried.
Francis Whitcomb, was the father of six children.
History of Vermilion County --- Chapter XV- Part 1
Family Members
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