MARTIN (VAN BUREN?) TOMPKINS

Born - July 3, 1809, probably in Tennessee.

Parents - William Tompkins and Elizabeth Owens.

Married - Most sources seem to agree that he was married three times. He first was married to Patience (Unknown), 2) to Jane Riley and 3) to Mary Ann Riley. He lived his adult life in Illinois and died on May 2, 1891 in Cornwall Township, Henry County, Illinois. In my opinion, it is possible that Patience and Jane are one and the same. Would welcome any evidence in either direction.

Died - May 2, 1891 (There is a death record for a Thompkins - Martin Thompkins who died in Cornwall township on 2 May 1891.)

There has been a question on his middle name. Some researchers say his middle name was Van Buren. However, no proof of this has surfaced.

CENSUS

TAX RECORDS

Martin Tompkins was listed as one of the first taxpayers in Champaign County, Illinois. Please visit our partial History of Champaign County, Illinois .

MISC REFERENCES

First Tax Assessment, Champaign County, Illinois 1833

Clocks/ Pleasure/Horses/Cattle/Watches/Carriages/Total Tax
Name No./Value No./Value No./Value No./Value Value Assessment

Tompkins, Martin 0 4/$50 0 0 $50 $.25

Past and Present of Bureau County, Illinois, by George B Harrington, 1906 - ".....Martin Tompkins came to the county in 1833."

History of Bureau County, by H.C. Bradsby, published by World Publishing Company, Chicago, 1885, page 101 - "At the Old Settler's meeting, September 6, 1877, under the signature of "S", was written a stirring "Greeting Song" .............. the officers chosen at this meeting for the ensuing year were: President, Elder John Cole; Vice-Presidents, Simon Elliott and William Hoblett; Secretary and Treasurer, E. S. P."elps; Directors, H.C. Field, C. W. Combs and Martin Tompkins."

History of Bureau County, by H.C. Bradsby, published by World Publishing Company, Chicago, 1885, page 171 - "In 1833, Robert Scott, Martin Tompkins and A. Holbrook came."

History of Bureau County, by H.C. Bradsby, published by World Publishing Company, Chicago, 1885, page 177 - "In 1833 Robert Scott became a resident of the settlement, and about the same time Martin Tompkins and Alexander Holbrook made claims near the east line of the county, where H. W. Terry now lives." and "in 1836 .... a committee, after exploring the country in different parts of the States selected Township 15, Range 8 (now Indiantown), for their their future home. The land in this township was then vacant, except a few tracts in the southeast corner, and it was without inhabitants, with the exception of Martin Tompkins and Mr. Burt."

History of Bureau County, by H.C. Bradsby, published by World Publishing Company, Chicago, 1885, page 432 - "Mr. Tompkins came to Mineral in 1864."

In 1855, Martin Tompkins applied for guardianship of the minor children of Alfred and Nancy (McCason) Tompkins in Bureau County, Illinois in order to sell the parent's land. Alfred died in Texas in 1852 and Nancy in Bureau County in 1854. I will be posting the exact guardianship papers when I receive them, thanks to Jan Cerbin.

CHILDREN OF MARTIN TOMPKINS

From Patience Unknown

William Tompkins, born about 1831

From Jane Riley

John C. Tompkins, born about 1835, Bureau County, Illinois

Married Laura Heathman on August 31, 1856 in Bureau County, Illinois - she was the daughter of Unknown and Elmira Heathman. Copy of Marriage Record in file.

They had three children:

Andrew J Tompkins - born May 22, 1857 in Bureau County, Illinois

Martin L Tompkins - born April 04, 1859 in Bureau County, Illinois

John Gad Tompkins - born August 26, 1862 in Bureau County, Illinois

Looking for corrections/additions to this family.

1860 Mineral Twp, Bureau County, Illinois Household 2343, Family 2370 TOMPKINS, John C 25 farmer $3000/600 ILL Laura E 21 OH Andrea J? 3 Martha L? 1

Elizabeth O Tompkins - born 1837 in Bureau County, Illinois

Married John S. Forman before 1860 in Bureau County, Illinois

1860 Center Twp, Wyanet PO, Bureau County, Illinois FORMAN, John S 25 farmer $2000/$500 MA Eliz 23 ILL TOMPKINS Sarah 22 -- $500 ILL Daniel 2 ILL Joseph 1 ILL

Would like information on who Sarah Tompkins and her two children, Daniel and Joseph are.

From Mary Ann Riley - married March 21, 1839 in Bureau County, Illinois - copy in file

Susan Emma Tompkins - born March 21, 1850 in Bureau County, Illinois

Died January 2, 1922 in Sheffield, Bureau County, Illinois

Married Jonathan Lee on December 22, 1872 in Mineral, Bureau County, Illinois

1880 US Census, Mineral, Bureau County, Illinois Household 93 Johnathan LEE 32 farmer ILL KY IND Susan E 30 ILL TN William M 9 ILL Stella May 4 ILL Ada Pearl 1 ILL Martin Tompkins 70 father-in-law TN TN TN Claudius L Tompkins (male) 69 uncle TNTNTN 1920 US Census, Sheffield, Bureau County, ILL Household 68/68 LEE, Jonathan Head M W 71 Md ILL TN OH Susie E Wife F W 69 Md ILL TN OH OBITUARY Source unknown November 4, 1926 JONATHAN LEE PASSES AWAY THIS MORNING Jonathan Lee, who has been ailing for some months and confined to his bed for several weeks past, quietly passed away just before 7 o'clock this morning at the home of his son-in-law and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. Tom Duke, with whom he had lived the past two years or more. He was 78 years old. Funeral arrangements have not yet been made, but services probably will be Saturday afternoon, at the Congregational Church, of which Mr. Lee was a deacon. He is survived by five daughters and one son, as follows: Mrs. S. W. Smith, Sheffield; William Lee, Peshastin, Wash.; Mrs. Pearl Macafee, Atkinson; Mrs. Tom Duke, Sheffield, Mrs. Lillian Ballard, Woonsocket, So Dak.; and Mrs. Harry Walker, Leicher, So Dak.

Some sources show that Martin Tompkins and Mary Ann Riley had three other children - William, Mary and Cynthia, all born in the 1840's. The Mary and Cynthia I am sure comes from the 1860 census (above). These girls are daughters of Alfred Tompkins. I welcome any corrections or additions to this.

Page Created March 16, 2000 by Mary Thompson Saban

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