Our America 250 Salute to the Revolutionary War Veterans buried in Tazewell County was spectacular! TCGHS was joined by the Peoria Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution, Zeally Moss Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution, the Tazewell Area Ceremonial Team Honor Guard, and the Patriot Guard Riders on May 30 at Antioch Cemetery. Jared Olar was there that day and helped us out taking photos and telling stories. He later commented that “yesterday’s event was EXACTLY how everybody should be celebrating the U. S. Semiquincentennial.” Thanks to everyone that helped make the day so special.

All history is local until it is woven together with other stories to become part of the National fabric and there is no aspect of National history that doesn’t touch Tazewell County.

Henry W. C. Woost (1832-1903) was married to Mary Elizabeth Koch (1842-1917) in Peoria on 9 February 1859 and immediately thereafter the newlyweds made their home in Pekin. Henry immigrated in 1856 via the Port of New York, filed his Declaration of Intent to become a citizen in 1858 and took his Final Oath in 1862 in Pekin. He was a tailor by trade and was first employed by E. P. Brereton then Charles Riefenstahl. He was a member of the German Methodist Church, Independent Order of Mutual Aid, German Workingmen’s Society, and an Honorary Member of German Maennerchor.

The couple had seven children that grew to adulthood: Sophia Thurman (1860-1929), William H. (1862-1935), Emma J. Flagg (1864-1957), Henry G. (1866-1945), Louisa Schneider (1869-1957), Charles O. (1870-1958) and Frank (1878-1970).

Sophia married Arthur Thurman 21 April 1880 and they had two girls, Fannie and Carrie. Sophia was widowed young and worked as a tailoress, saleslady, and milliner in Pekin.

William was married to Caroline Bequeaith (1859-1930), a daughter of Nicholas and Mary Jane Vancil Bequeaith. The couple had two daughters, Louise O. Dimmick (1887-1920) and Frances Strauch (1899-1981). William was a painter and paper hanger in Pekin. Frances moved to Moline after she married and later to New England. 

Louise O. married Arleigh N. Dimmick 26 December 1903 in Pekin. He was a son of Ephraim and Harriet Vancil Dimmick. The 1910 Aurora census records a happy family. Arleigh was a civil engineer working for the C. B. & Q. railroad with a wife and two little girls, Dorothy 3 and Helen 2. Then tragedy struck and both little girls died of pneumonia in 1911 which seems to have led their father to a nervous breakdown as he was then admitted to the Peoria State Hospital Asylum at Bartonville where he died 20 July 1915 after being a patient there for 4 ½ years.

A news story at the time of her death describes Louise as going to live for a while in Moline, often visiting her parents in Pekin but she eventually took a job in Chicago. It would seem she never fully recovered from all the loss and in a fit of melancholy, she committed suicide 22 April 1920. Louise and her little girls were buried at Lakeside as were her parents and paternal grandparents.

Emma married George Flagg 13 November 1890 in Pekin. Their children were Edward, Verna, George and Emma.

Henry was married to Kate Goodheart 12 September 1889. She was a daughter of John and Sarah Shober Goodheart and a sister to Josephine Goodheart who was the Principal of Pekin High School. Kate had been a music teacher prior to her marriage. Henry was also a paint, paper, and furniture dealer for a while, then a bookkeeper for T H Smith, then moved to Tremont where he worked briefly at the bank and post office before returning to the business he knew best. H. G. Woost & Co. operated in Tremont. Their children were Josephine, Sophie, and George.

Louisa married Christian Schneider 12 June 1901 in Pekin. Their children were Robert and Ruth.

Charles married Achsah Albie 1 September 1900 and he too, followed the family trade of paint, paper, and decorating. The children were Henry, Elmer, Earl, Oscar and Alice.

Frank married Edith Glaiyser and was employed as a railroad conductor that moved around the country. They had one son, Frank.

The Tazewell County Genealogical & Historical Society is an award-winning 501c3, all volunteer organization that has been in continuous service to our members and the public for 47 years. TCGHS operates an archive, library and research facility at 719 N. 11th St., Pekin. Visit our website at www.tcghs.org to learn more about us. If you have any point of interest that you would like to know more about, stop in at TCGHS or drop us a line.