This is for "Buck" who has shared so much Custer family lore with me and for
any other Custers of this line: The results of a trip to the national
archives and a trip to Pontiac, Illinois:
Family of Israel CUSTER in Pontiac, Livingston County, Illinois
1) US Census of 1850 - Illinois reel 199, Page 110 & 111 (also marked P
800 in pen)
Pontiac Village, Livingston County, Illinois
Custer, Israel 39, flouring miller, no real estate, personal prop.
500, born: Penn.
, Rebecca 24, born Penn
, Charles 12, att. School, born Penn
, Laura 8, att. School, born Penn
2) US Census of 1870 - Illinois reel 247, Page 21 (also stamped on
right 301)
Town of Pontiac, Livingston County, Illinois
Custer, Israel 52 , MillWright real estate = 1800 born: Penn.
, Rebecca 41, Keeping house born: Penn.
, Charles B?)23, at home born: Penn.
, Laurrie E. 18, teaching school born: Penn
, Frank 7, at home born: Ill. Att. school
Gorber, Minerva, 11, at home born: Ill Att. school
(Forber?)
3) Per Jim Melvin, Sexton of South Side Cemetery, Pontiac, Ill, spring, 1999:
August, 1873 Israel Custer purchased a cemetery lot in the South Side
Cemetery, 6 plots for $10.00. There are no stones on these plots today and no
record of any burials having taken place there.
4) US Census of 1880: I found no Israel Custer in the Soundex index.
5) The Pontiac Sentinel, Friday January 23, 1891 (from microfilm at Pontiac
Public Library):
Israel Custer Dead. Sunday night, Israel Custer, an old and respected
president of this city, died suddenly at his residence here. . . He wished to
sit by the store in an easy chair, and about 12 o'clock Mrs. Custer retired in
a room adjoining, leaving him comfortable. About 2 o'clock she got up and
found him . . . He was about 73 years of age and had resided here many years.
The funeral was held at the residence Wednesday afternoon, Rev. D.K. Campbell
conducting.
(Note - the First Presbyterian Church of Pontiac, on a plaque listing former
pastors, shows D.K. Campbell as pastor during that period. There is no record
of Israel Custer's death at the Livingston County Recorder's Office. Deaths
were not required to be recorded until 1916 in Illinois, I was told. JB)
6) The Pontiac Sentinel, Nov. 3, 1893 (from microfilm at Pontiac Public
Library):
Married at Maroa. Last evening at 7:30 o'clock, at the home of the bride's
sister, Mrs. Stafford, In Maroa, occurred the marriage of Miss Florence McVey,
formerly of Normal, and Mrs. Frank Custer, a prominent florist of Pontiac, Ill
. . the ceremony was performed by Rev. W.D. Smith, pastor of the Normal
Presbyterian Church. . . .
7) Records of the first Presbyterian Church, Pontiac. Ill:
April 11, 1897, Israel Custer received into the membership of the First
Presbyterian Church. (a typewritten transcription of church records of that
period) No record was found of a burial service for Israel Custer in 1890s.
8) The Pontiac Daily Leader, Dec. 22, 1898 (from microfilm at Pontiac Public
Library):
in "Local Briefs": "Born to Mr. And Mrs. Charles Custer, a boy"
9) US Census 1900
Pontiac Township, Livingston County, Illinois v 14, e.d. 112, sheet 14, line
25
Custer, Frank born April 1863 in Illinois, Occupation: Farmer, owned
Farm free of mortgage
, Florence W. born Sept 1862 in Illinois
, Luella D. born May 1897 in Illinois
, Rebecca M. born Feb 1828 in Penn., Widowed, 2 of 3 children
living, father born in PA, mother born in NJ
10) Pontiac City Directory of 1897 (oldest city directory available at
Pontiac Public Library):
Custer, Charles, locksmith, shop 118 N. Main St h 629 E. Water St.
11) US Cenus 1900 Soundex Entry
Pontiac Twp. 629 Water St. , Livingston County, Illinois vol 11, E.D. 113
sheet 28 line 5
Custer, Charles, born Aug 1849 in Penn.
, Mary W born Dec 1863 in Ill
, Dollie L. D born Oct 1883 in Ill
, Ina M. D born Oct 1885 in Ill
, Charles A. S born Dec 1898 in Ill
(Note: the house standing at 629 E. Water Street today looks to be over 100
years old, so is likely the same residence. JB)