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Jonas A. Prentice of Rochelle, Ogle Co., Illinois
By Linus Joseph Dewald Jr., Editor
Spring 2002 and Revised 19 Aug 2003
Update of 21 Jul 2002: Correspondence of 18 and 19 Jul 2002 establishes that Jonas is almost certainly the son of Nathan Prentice and Clarissa Heath and, although not yet fully documented, it is probable that he is the grandson of Nathan Prentice and Hannah Wood of Broome Co., NY; in our PRENTICE book we have traced his roots back many additional generations.
(Original Article)
1. Jonas A./W. Prentice was b. c. 1851-52 in NY and d. 1887, probably in Rochelle, Ogle Co., IL. Our article on Illinois Marriages shows that Jonas m. Mary E. Slaughter on 10 Mar 1873 in Ogle County, IL. She was b. 26 Jun 1852, Coshocton, OH and was the dau. of Daniel Slaughter and Hanna Parks. The 1920 census shows her living with her son, Maynard, unmarried, in Winnebago Co., IL.
On 8 Feb 2002 we received from Jodi LeBow Unger two undated newspaper clippings which provided additional information. The contents of the clipping pertaining to Maynard is set out with his name, below. The clipping pertaining to Mary (Slaughter) Prentice contains the following information:
Mrs. Mary E. Prentice, who moved to Rochelle (Ogle County, IL) in a covered wagon in 1857, died early Sunday morning at her home on Corey's bluff. She was 81 years old (died c. 1933).
The daughter of Daniel and Hanna Slaughter, Mrs. Prentice was born in Coshocton, OH on 26 Jun 1852. At the age of 5 (c. 1857), when her parents moved west in a covered wagon, she accompanied them.
Mrs. Prentice spent her girlhood on a farm near Flagg Center (Ogle Co.) and married Jonas W. Prentice at Rochelle in 1873. After the death of Mr. Prentice in 1887, she moved to Rockford (Winnebago Co.) and purchased the old Washeim homestead on Prairie road at the top of Corey's bluff, where she had resided since.
Surviving her are 2 sons, Maynard, at home, and Lloyd S. Prentice, Red Deer, Alberta, Canada, and 3 sisters: Mrs. Addie E. Tipple,Rockford township, Mrs. Vida Macoy, Shabbona, and Mrs. Stella Wetzel of Ashton.
Funeral services will be held at the home at 1 p.m., Thursday, the Rev MelvinC. Smith officiating. The body will be taken to Flagg Center for burial at 2:45.
The known children of Jonas and Mary are:
- Guy W. Prentice, b. c. 1873-74, IL (per 1880 Portlandville, Plymouth Co., IA census.
- Mabel P. Prentice, b. c. 1875-76, IL (per 1880 Portlandville, Plymouth Co., IA census.
- Maynard W. Prentice, b. 19 Mar 1880 in Rochelle, Ogle Co., IL. . . . [2]
- Lloyd S. Prentice. The 1900 census indicates he was b. in IA. At the time of his mother's death about 1933, he was living at Red Deer, Alberta, Canada.
- Roy Prentice, b. c. 1878-79, IL (per 1880 Portlandville, Plymouth Co., IA census.
2. Maynard Prentice, b. 19 Mar 1880 in Rochelle, Ogle Co., IL (the 1880 census indicates he was b. c. 1876-77) and d. 1937 at the age of about 57 and at that time was still living in Rockford, Winnebago Co., IL in his deceased mother's home on Prairie Road where he had been living since at least c. 1933 when she died. Maynard lost an arm sometime in his life from a sawmill accident. Maynard died while vising relatives in St. Louis, MO. In the 10 years prior to his death he had been employed at the Atwood Vacuum Machine Company. He is bur. in the Flagg Center cemetery.
He m. 1st Margaret Shankle, dau of Alexander Shankle and Margaret Goins. She was b. March 1886 in Louisana, d. 1955, and is bur. in Good Hope Cemetary, Vernon Parish, LA. Daughters:
- Clara Prentice. . . . . . . . . . [3]
- Dorothy Mae Prentice, b. 29 Mar 1915, Canada. . . . . . [4]
- (infant) Prentice, a boy, that was buried in Zion Hill Cemetary, Vernon Parish, LA. He is buried with Margaret's parents, Alexander and Margaret.
Maynard m. 2nd Vivian. Jodi LeBow Unger advises that Vivian is not related to Margaret, Maynard's first wife.
3. Clara Prentice. She m. Ed Zastrow. Children:
- Maynard Zastrow.
- Twila Zastrow.
- Katrina Zastrow.
4. Dorothy Mae Prentice was b. 29 Mar 1915 in Canada and d. 9 Jun 1998 in Houston, Harris Co., TX. She married Ray Martin Morrison on 24 Jun 1933 in Louisana. He was the son of John Morrison and Emma. Jodi relates there is no avilable evidence showing a relationship to Margaret and Vivian, mentioned above. He was b. 14 Jan 1913 in Louisana and d. 24 Jul 1979 in Tyler Smith Co., TX. Dorothy Mae was bap. 28 Nov 1954 in the First Baptist Church, Jacinto City, Houston, TX and is bur. at Good Hope Cemetary, Anacoco, Verson Parish, LA. Ray is also bur. at Good Hope Cemetery. Children:
- Ronald Gene Morrison, b. 16 Jan 1940.
- Gwendolyn Ruth Morrison, b. 26 Dec 1941. . . . . . . [5]
5. Gwendolyn Ruth Morrison, b. 26 Dec 1941, Rockford, Winnebago Co., IL and d. 22 Feb 1982, Tyler, Smith Co., TX. She m. Joe Will Lebow Jr. on 10 Mar 1961, Houston, TX. She was bap. 28 Nov 1954 at the First Baptist Church, Jacinto City, Houston, TX and is bur. in Good Hope Cemetary, Anacoco, Vernon Parish, Louisiana. Joe is still living in 2002.
If you have any information which can help us identify the ancestry and descendants of any of the folks mentioned above, please contact us at the Prentice Newsletter.
Fn. 1: There is a little uncertainty whether Jonas' middle initial is "A," or whether it is "W." Our Marriage Index shows "A." but that might be a typo in view of the fact that Jodi LeBow Unger advises that Jonas appears in the 1880 Portlandville, Plymouth Co., IA census as "Jonas W.", that an obituary about his wife (above) calls him "Jonas W.", and that Jonas' headstone reads "Prentice, J. W."