History of Fulton County, Illinois; together with
Sketches of its Cities, Villages and Townships, Educational, Religious,
Civil, Military, and Political History; Portraits of Prominent Persons
and Biographies of Representative Citizens. Chas. C. Chapman & Co.,
Peoria, Illinois, 1879, page 894-895, Union Township
Stephen Tompkins, merchant, Avon, is a son of Brownell Tompkins,
and was born Jan. 17, 1815, in Madison Co., N. Y.; removed to
Galesburg, Ill., and entered the farm he now owns adjoining Avon, and a
portion of the town plat of Avon, in ’37, and in ’38 removed to his
land and began improving it. Mr. T. is a much married man, having
married three sisters: Mary F., Ethelinda G. and Julia P. Woods. His
love affairs are rather sadly romantic. He first became attached to
Mary, and as her father was about to start to this country, Mr. T.
could not think of forever parting with the one he so dearly loved,
hence he also started for Illinois, but was permitted to live but a
short time with her until she was called away by death. He shortly
afterward married Ethelinda, who also died in a short time. He then
returned to the house of his double father-in-law and took the
remaining daughter, with whom he has since happily lived. They have had
8 children born to them, - 7 boys and one girl, 4 of whom are living.
When he first settled here he followed shoemaking and began keeping a
few groceries, after which he established the first store in Avon, and
is still in business in this place with his sons, Albert B. and Stephen
L. In ’41 he erected a tannery, which he operated for several years;
and in 1856 built the Avon flouring-mill, at a cost of $20,000.
