McLean County IL Archives Obituaries.....Sylvester, Thomas J. February 19, 1932 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/il/ilfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Carol Sylvester Heagartwo@aol.com February 10, 2013, 12:53 pm Febuary 20, 1932 The Daily Pantagraph, Bloomington, IL (now called The Pantagraph) Thomas J. Sylvester, 86, a pioneer in Normal and a brick mason and contractor here for 46 years died at his home, 302 West Vernon Ave. Normal, shortly before 6 p.m. Friday after an illness of several weeks. Mr. Sylvester came to Normal in the spring of 1869 and at that time there was not a brick business building in the city. He helped in the construction of the first such structure at 102 North Street and with only three exceptions had a part in the erection of all other brick structures now standing in the business section of the city. He also had a part in the errection of many other brick structures in Bloomington-Normal and vicinity. Including the Pantagraph Printing and Stationary company building at Jefferson and Madison Streets Bloomington. He built the first smokestack at Illinois State Normal University and had a part in the erection of most of the other buildings on the campus. He built the smokestack at the Illinois Soldiers and Sailors Children's School and constructed the first school house at the institution. During the later years of his business career, he became a contractor and contracted for many of the buildings at the Children's School which are now in use. He laid the brick for the Christain Church of Normal and built the first bake oven installed at the Children's School. Mr. Sylvester retired from brick masonary in 1916 but had remained active in other circles until recently. He was the oldest member of the Normal Masonic Lodge. He had served on the Normal city council and was a vice-president and member of the board of directors of the Normal State Bank. He was a charter member of the Building and Loan Association of Normal and was appraiser for this organization at the time of his death having served for may years in that capcity. Mr.Sylvester was born in Cheshire, England Jan. 26, 1846 and came to Normal in 1869. He married Miss Martha Ellen Dunseth on October 27, 1870. She died Nov. 3, 1915. To the Union was born 12 children 10 of whom survive. There are 38 grandchildren and 21 great grandchildren. The children surving are Frank, Webster City, Iowa; Thomas J., John, William, Neal, Charles, Mrs. Nettie Shileds and Mrs. Fannie Pepple all of Normal, and Mrs. Anna Lydia and Mrs. Louise Kies of Bloomigton. Two daughters Miss Lizzie and Mrs. Minnie Green preceded him in death. He was married a second time Oct. 29, 1921 to Mrs. Samantha J. Phillips who survives him. Funeral arrangement are not complete. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/il/mclean/obits/s/sylveste893gob.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/ilfiles/ File size: 3.1 Kb