Rev. Christian b. Thummel D.D., was born in Germany, in 1802, and died at his home in Prairievillc, May 24, 1881. His ancestors were worthy and prominent people in the Fatherland, and his grandfather, who was a ship surgeon, served for many years on the commercial vessels of Holland. His father, Gerhard Thummel, was born in Jager, Germany, in 1755, and after receiving his education in his native place, engaged in mercantile pursuits there until his death, in 1826. He was a prominent business man and an energetic and upright citizen. The mother of our subject, Margaret (Meycrn), Thummel was born in Germany, and died in Jager, in 1841, at an advanced age. The parents were faithful and active member? of the Lutheran Church. Our subject was educated for the ministry at the University of Halle, in Prussia, and later graduated from the University of Tubingen, in Wurtemberg. In his native province, he was licensed to preach, in 1824, and two years later was ordained to the ministry, soon after which he came to the United States, in August, 1856, embarking at Amsterdam in a sailing-vessel and landing at Philadelphia seventy days later. Afterward Mr. Thummel studied at Hartwick Seminary, in Otsego County, N. Y., where he was professor of languages, and also held a professorship in the Lutheran Seminary, of Lexington, S. C. In 1845, he removed to Illinois and settled at Prairievillc, where he soon afterward organized the Lutheran Church and was its pastor for many years. Some years after he came to Prairieville, the degree of Doctor of Divinity was conferred upon him by a college in Ohio. He was a kind and patient man, a profound scholar and worthy citizen, and left many warm friends to mourn his death. For many years he was Secretary of the Farmers' Mutual Insurance Company, of Palmyra Township, which he founded. Politically, he was a Republican.

In New York State, Dr. Thummel was married to Miss Catharine tat tin, who was born in Hartwick, N. Y-, and educated in the academy at that place. Her parents, William and Abiel (Hurd) Lattin, were natives of Connecticut, but spent many years in Hartwick, N. Y., where they resided on a farm. Later they went to Ohio, where the father died. The mother then returned to New York State, and there passed from earth at an advanced age. Mrs. Thummel is a lady of much refinement and broad culture, and makes her home in Prairieville. Dr. Thummel and his estimable wife became the parents of five children, viz.: Anson K., of whom see biography; Charles D., who is married and occupies a stock farm of more than seven hundred acres in Marshall County, Kan.; George H.,who is married and is an attorney at Grand Island, Neb.; Warren, who lives in Des Moines, Iowa, where he is an attorney, and Kate L., wife of Herman I. Fischer, a farmer of Palmyra Township.

Portraits and Biographical Lee County IL 1892