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 1846 - 1924 (77 years)
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| Name |
Lydia Ann Tombow |
| Born |
26 Aug 1846 |
E. Lampeter, Lancaster Co, PA  |
| Gender |
Female |
| Died |
15 Aug 1924 |
Sterling, IL |
| Buried |
Riverside Cemetery, Sterling, IL |
| Person ID |
I04328 |
Tombeau Family Tree |
| Last Modified |
24 Feb 2007 |
| Father |
William Herzkey Tombow, b. 6 Jul 1813, Lampeter, Lancaster Co. PA , d. 18 Apr 1865, Sterling, Whiteside Co. IL (Age 51 years) |
| Mother |
Elizabeth Rohrer, b. 13 Jul 1818, Lancaster Co, PA , d. 29 Mar 1853, E. Lampeter, Lancaster Co, PA (Age 34 years) |
| Married |
Abt 1838 |
Lancaster Co, PA |
| Family ID |
F1356 |
Group Sheet | Family Chart |
| Family 1 |
Aaron Fluck, Sr., b. 22 Sep 1833, Bucks Co., PA , d. 6 Oct 1899, Hume Twp. (Age 66 years) |
| Married |
15 Nov 1864 |
Sterling, IL |
| Children |
| | 1. William ("Willie") Fluck, b. 22 Aug 1865, HumeTwp.., IL , d. 22 Aug 1865, Hume Twp., IL (Age 0 years) |
| + | 2. McClellan ("Mack") Fluck, b. 15 Oct 1866, Hume Twp., IL , d. 14 Sep 1938, Sterling, IL (Age 71 years) |
| + | 3. John S. Fluck, b. 31 Mar 1868, Hume Twp., IL , d. Aug 1947, Hume Twp., IL (Riverside Cemtery, Sterling) (Age 79 years) |
| + | 4. Ida May Fluck, b. 29 Dec 1869, Hune Twp., IL , d. Caanda (?) burial there also |
| + | 5. Aaron Fluck, Jr., b. 15 Mar 1873, Hume Twp., IL , d. 1958, Dixon,IL (burial in Dixon) (Age 84 years) |
| | 6. Benjamin Franklin Fluck, b. 22 Feb 1875, Hume Twp., IL , d. 18 Mar 1875, Hume Twp., IL (Age 0 years) |
| + | 7. Katherine Matilda Fluck, b. 31 May 1877, Whiteside Co, IL , d. 27 Jul 1938, Palatine,IL (burial: Rand Hill Cemetery, Arlington Heights, IL) (Age 61 years) |
| | 8. Matilda Fluck, b. 10 Sep 1878, Hume Twp., IL , d. Jul 1938, Whiteside Co, IL or Anaheim California (Age 59 years) |
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| Family ID |
F1621 |
Group Sheet | Family Chart |
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| Photos |
 | Matilda Fluck, Aaron Fluck, Jr., Lydia Ann Tombow, Aaron Fluck, Sr., McClelland Fluck, Kate Fluck, John Fluck, May Fluck
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 | Home of Aaron Fluck, Sr. and Lydia Tombow Fluck
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| Notes |
- The Descendants of Lydia Ann Tombow and Aaron Fluck, Sr.
II-5: Lydia Ann Tombow was the fifth of the nine children of William Tombow, Jr., and Elizabeth Rohrer of Lampeter Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. She was born on 26 August 1846, according to her entry in the Portrait and Biographical Album of Whiteside County, IL (p. 368). She most likely was named after her paternal aunt Lydia Tombow Groff. Her paternal grandparents were William Tombos, an immigrant from the Netherlands, and Mary Herzkey, born in America of German descent.
There are three records that indicate that Lydia Tombow was the daughter of William Tombow, Jr.: the Lancaster County 1852-55 register of Births, Marriages and Deaths where she is recorded in her youngr brother William's birth entryin 1852. She is also mentioned as William Tombow, Jr.'s heir in the Letter of Administration filed in 1865 in the Whiteside County, IL, Circuit Court. Thirdly, she is mentioned as his heir in papers filed in 1904 by David Kauffman in Whiteside County Circuit Court against the heirs of William Tombow, Jr., in order to obtain clear title to William's property 39 years after his death.
Although Lydia was in Lancaster County, PA, in 1850, age 4, her entry has not yet been found in the 1850 Federal Census for Lancaster County. Despite her tender age her father had already found another family to raise her. The Federal Censuses in Pennsylvania and Illinois confirm over and over again that William farmed his children out to relatives and co-religionists in the Mennonite Faith.
Some clue to her whereabouts is given in the Portrait and Biographical Album of Whiteside County, Illinois (p.368): "Her mother died when she was 7 years old, and she was placed in the charge of Mr. Landis, now of Sterling Township, by whom she was brought up and with whose family she came to Whiteside County. Her father in the meantime had married again and moved to Sterling a year previous to her coming to this Coun- ty. She continued a member of Mr. Landis family until her marriage."
Oral tradition that has survived in Lydia's descendants indicates that Mr. Landis was not a kindly man. At her death in 1924 scars from beatings she had as a child were still visible on her back.
Another oral tradition that has survived in her descendants is that when she came from Pennsylvania, she came by train all the way to Dixon, IL, where she disembarked and went by horse-drawn conveyance the rest of the way to Sterling. The blue-green prairie grass still dominated the landscape upon her arrival and was ten feet tall.
Our first glimpse of Lydia is in the 1860 Federal Census of Whiteside County, IL. In the spring of 1853, after the death of his first wife, Lydia's mother, William Tombow, Jr., sold his property in Lampeter Township, PA., and moved to Whiteside County, after marrying his second wife, Fanny. The year of his arrival in Whiteside County appears to be 1856. In her biographical sketch above she notes she came a year after her father did and her obituary indicates she came in 1857. She also notes in her brother Jacob's pension application that her father came in 1856.
By that time a wooden Bridge crossed the Rock River at Dixon. Prior to 1855, however, railroad passengers had to cross by ferry to continue their journey.
The 1860 Federal Census confirms her statements that she lived with a Landis family, although the first name of the head of the household is not clear. Lydia's last name is contorted to "Tornbow" in the wretched writing of the census taker of that year. (Entry 3022/2909, Sterling Township, p. 309, Whiteside County, IL, 1860 Federal Census):
Morris (?) Landis, age 40, male, farmer, born in PA.
Mary A., age 39, female, born PA.
Lydia A. Tornbow, age 14, female, born in PA.
Julia (?) everheart, age 1, female, born In IL.
Amos McCordy, age 11, male, farm laborer, born INPA
John Vickerson, age 21, farm laborer, born in PA
Hershe (?) Landis, age 40, female domestic, $200 real estate, $150, personal property, born In PA
Benj (?) Landis, age 9, born in PA
Hattie A. Horn, age 14, female, born in PA
Jacob Horn, age 7, male, born in PA.
Lydia Ann Tombow married 15 November 1864 in Sterling, IL, to Aaron Fluck, Sr., born 22 September 1833 in Bucks County, PA, the son of John Fluck and Elizabeth Leight. (Biographical Sketch noted above)
Aaron Fluck, Sr., according the above biographical sketch came to Whiteside County, IL, in 1857 and became a prosperous farmer in Hume Township. His home is noted to be the largest and most valuable in the township and a picture of this home is part of this family history.
The reader is referred to the Chapman Brother's Portrait and Biographical Album of Whiteside County, Illinois (1883), pp.367-8, for further details on the ancestry and life of Aaron Fluck, Sr., contained in the appendix of this section.
Aaron Fluck, Sr., was involved in real estate speculation and the reader is also referred to the Whiteside County Deed Books to trace his many real estate purchases during the late 1800's.
His first recorded purchase was from Benjamin Rohrer for $750 on 23 December 1857 (Deeds, Book 2, pg. 111). Subsequent purchases of land were made 8 April 1859 for $206 (Deeds, Book 13, pg. 248); 10 October 1859 for $250 (Bk. 15, p. 35); 27 May 1864, no sum of money mentioned (Bk. 27, p. 80); 10 November 1864 for $400 (Bk 33, p. 37); 2 December 1868 for $250 (20-21-7); and 7 October 1874, prpoperty in Sterling.
The newly wed couple is found in the 1865 Illinois State Census as follows in the city of Sterling:
Fluck, Aaron 1 F 10-20 years old; 1 M 30-40 years old
The young family of Aaron Fluck, Sr., and Lydia Ann Tombow can be found in the 1870 Federal Census of Hume Township (Entry 88/87):
Fluck, Aaron, age 36, male, born PA, farmer
Lydia, age 24, female, born PA
McClellan, age 4, male, born IL
John, age 3, male, born IL Ida (Dec.) age 6 months, female, born IL.
The 1880 Federal Census records the growing family of Aaron Fluck, Sr. and Lydia Ann Tombow (Hume Township, entry 88/88)
Fluck, Aaron, age 47, farmer, born in Pa as were parents
Lydia A., age 34, wife, born in PA as were parents
McClellan, age 13, son, born in Il
John, age 12, son, born in Il
Ida M. age 10, dau. born in IL
Aaron (Jr.), age 7, son, born in IL
Kate, age 3, daughter, born IL
Matilda, age 1, daughter, born IL.
Two other children, Benjamin Fluck and William Fluck, were also born to Aaron, Sr. and Lydia Tombow Fluck, but according to the biographical sketch mentioned above were deceased by 1883.
Aaron Fluck did not serve in the Civil War except for a month long impressed service in Arkansas where he happened to be on a trip at the outbreak of hostilities. He escaped from encampment and returned to the North up the Mississippi on the last boat allowed through the Southern blockade. The Chapman Brothers' biographical sketch, noted above, does not mention further service for the North. With the National Civil War Soldier Registry nearly totally computerized in 1993 it may eventually be possible to locate a record of his Arkansas experience there or with the National Archives.
Aaron's obituary appeared the day he died in the 6 October 1899 Sterlng Gazette as follows:
"Aaron Fluck, an old and respected citizen of this county, died suddenly this morning at his home east of the city while sitting in his chair, from the effects of heart disease with which he has long been a sufferer. The deceased was in the 67th year of his age at the time of his death, he having been born September 22, 1833.
"Aaron Fluck came to this city in 1857 from Bucks County, PA, his birthplace and the home of his ancestors for two previous generations. Just previous to the breaking out of the war of the rebellion, Mr Fluck went to Arkansas, where he remained but a short time owing to his political sentiments which favored the Union. He returned to the city and in 1864 he purchased a farm and married Miss Lydia Tombow, who survives him. Six children, all grown, survive their father.
"Aaron Fluck was a fine type of the men who have done so much to build up this glorious western country. Thrifty, honest, and public spirited, he was always ready to do his share in pushing forward any measure for the public good. His long and active life in the community has won him the respect and confidence of all and his death will be looked upon as a public loss."
Lydia Tombow subsequently remarried to Thomas Coates 12 February 1907 (Marriage Lic. 12609) The 1910 Census For Whiteside County, IL, has the following entry for Thomas and Lydia (Sterling, Ward 2, entry 374/374):
Coates, Thomas, age 78, retired farmer, born In SC as were parentsLydia, age 63, wife, born in PA as were parents
Fluck, Matilda, age 31, single, step daughter (to Thomas), bookkeeper and baker
Lydia Ann Tombow died 15 August 1924 in her home on East Ninth Street in Sterling, IL. She was survived by five of her eight children: McClelland Fluck of Sterling, John Fluck of Hume Township, aaron Fluck, Jr., of Nelson, Kate Fluck Winter, wife of Howard Winter, residing in Independence, IA, and Matilda Fluck, who lived with her mother until her death. (Obituary, August, 1924, Sterling Gazette).
Aaron Fluck, Sr., and Lydia Ann Tombow are buried in Riverside Cemetery, Sterling, IL. Their graves are marked with a large granite headstone.
Aaron Fluck, Sr., and Lydia Ann Tombow had eight children: William ("Willie") Fluck, McClellan Fluck, John Fluck, Ida May Fluck, Aaron Fluck, Jr., Kate Matilda Fluck, and Matilda Fluck, according to the Fluck Family Bible currently in the possession of Lydia's grandson, Ralph ("Pete") Fluck, Luther Road, Rock Falls, IL.
Compiled and written by
Patrick L. Tombeau
May 1, 1993
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