JOSEPH LUBLINER , died at his residence at 7 o’clock this morning, the immediate cause of his death being heart failure which was brought about through an attack of dropsy from which he had suffered for sometime past. Colonel Lubliner was an old and well known citizen of Sterling for many years and the history of his life is of unusual interest. He was seventy-eight years and seven day of age at the time of his death, having been born in Kalitza, Poland, March 17, 1824. he was one of seven children. He received his education at the University of Cracow which city now belongs to Austria. As a Young man at college he gave two years to the study of law. In 1848, at the time of the attempt of Austria to absorb Hungary, he, in the company with about two hundred other students, went to the aid of Kossuth who bravely endeavored to free his country from the yoke of oppression, and was given a position as aide on the staff of that noted general with the rank of colonel. At the end of ten months of hard fighting he was taken prisoner by the Russians, and was sentenced to twenty-five years of service in the Russian army. He was stationed at Moscow for some time, after which he was detailed as imperial guard to Czar Nicholas. He had no intention, however, of spending the best of his life in service to a country which he despised, and while on regular duty, as he chanced to pass his early home, he made a dash for liberty. He was disguised by friends who also provided a passport with which he succeeded in escaping to Brussels and finally to Hamburg, from which place he proceeded to England.

At Liverpool he rejoined General Kossuth. Together they came to America. Where they received an enthusiastic welcome from the American people. Later he was entertained at Commodore Vanderbilt’s and with General Kossuth, was honored at various public receptions. In 1852 he went to the Pacific coast and for five months worked in the gold mines. His wealth becoming impaired, he returned to San Francisco and entered the employ of William T. Coleman, a wealthy mine owner. For two years he served as a member of the Pioneer Guards of San Francisco, also for the same time as captain of the vigilance committee which restored law and order after a period of terror and lawlessness. After three years in the west he returned to New York, and thence came to Sterling. During the following nineteen years he traveled for large cloth houses. He then became a farmer, and for a few years farmed in Palmyra, Lee county, making a specialty of raising live stock, and, as in all other ventures, made a success. On Christmas day, 1859, the colonel was married to Julia A. Harrison of New York state. Mrs. Lubliner died June 4, 1897. Politically the colonel was a Democrat but has never sought or held office. Although not a member of any church he has been a regular attendant of the Presbyterian church of which his devoted wife was a member. The funeral services over the remains of Mr. Lubliner will be held at his late residence Tuesday [] afternoon at 2 o’clock. The Rev. L. C. Logan, the pastor of the First Methodist church, will be the officiating clergyman. The interment will take place at Riverside cemetery. Mr. Lubliner had no heirs. He left an estate of eighty acres of valuable land, but this was given away to a friend before his death.
Contributed by Larry Reynolds - The Sterling Daily Standard, March 24, 1902, page 1, column 3

FRANK L. LUCAS , 60, 109 Clark St., formerly of Sterling, died today at Lakeside Medical Center in Chicago. Mass of the Resurrection will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at St. Mary’s Parish Center with the Rev. Thomas Bales officiating. Burial will be in Oak Knoll Memorial Park. There will be no visitation. He was born July 10, 1928 in Brentwood, Mo., the son of Louis and Maude DeMoss Lucas. Mr. Lucas attended Sterling schools and was a machinist for Solar Flame Manufacturing in Marengo. He was a veteran of the U.S. Navy, serving in World War II, and was a member at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Sterling, the Sterling and Marengo VFW, the American Legion Halls in Sterling and Marengo, and the Moose Lodge in Marengo. He is survived by three daughters, Mrs. Tom (Gwen) Molitor, Mrs. Tim (Diana) Lauff, and Rhonda Sue Knows, all of Sterling; one sister, Mary Smitchner of Prairie du Chien, Wis., five grandchildren and one great grandchild. He was preceded in death by his parents, one brother, and one grandchild
Contributed by Melva L. Taylor - The Daily Gazette, Sterling-Rock Falls, Illinois March 7, 1989 - Tuesday, pg A2 col 7

WILLIAM LUDWIG , 75, of 433 Garden Circle, Rock Falls, died Monday [04/10/1978] evening at Community General Hospital, following an extended illness. Private services will be held Wednesday at the Melvin-Schilling Funeral Home. There will be NO visitation. He was born December 22, 1902 in New Jersey, N. J. He married Elizabeth C. Manning on January 24, 1931 in Belvidere. The couple moved to Sterling in 1951 where he was self-employed as a contracator in the painting business. He was a member of the L.O.O.M. of Sterling and the First Congregational Church. Survivors include his widow, three sons, William Charles of Erie; Bradley Lee of Sterling, Joseph Robert of Rock Falls, one daughter, Mrs. Kenneth (Cynthia) K. Harrington of Sterling; six grandchildren; four brothers, Edward, Walter, Harry all of Janesville, Wisc. and Elbert of Tuscon, Ariz.; one sister, Mrs. James (Ella) Comstock of Janesville, Wisc. He was preceded in death by his parents, and one brother.
Contributed by Larry Reynolds - The Sterling Daily Gazette, April 11, 1978, page 4, column 2

BILLIE A. LUMBARD , 63, 709 9th Ave., Rock Falls, died (24 Oct 1984) Wednesday evening in Community General Hospital following a short illness. Funeral servcices will be held on Friday afternoon at 2 p.m. at the Allen Funeral Home, Sterling, with Dr. H. C. Hatton, pastor of the First Church of the Nazarene, officiating. Burial will be in Grove Hill Cemetery, Morrison. There will be no visitation. Billie Lumbard was born on March 19, 1921 in Morrison, the son of Ray and Mary Bridgestock Lumbard. He had been a set-up man at General Electric in Morrison for the past 17 years, retiring in February of 1984. He was a member of the Sterling American Legion Post 296. He was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II. Surviving are his wife, Betty; one son, Jeffrey Lumbard, Sterling; one daughter, Mrs. G. Jack (Melaine) Schuler, Rock Falls; two grandchildren; one sister, Mrs. Joseph (Ruby) Regan, Galt. He was preceded by his parents, one brother, Roy, who also died Wednesday.
Contributed by Melva L. Taylor - Gazette, Sterling-Rock Falls, Illinois October 25, 1984 - Thursday, pg A6

ROY E. LUMBARD , 68, 815 W. 19th St., Sterling, died ( 24 Oct 1984) Wednesday afternoon at St. Anthony's Hospital after a sudden illness. Private funeral services will be held on Saturday at the Melvin Schilling Funeral home. Burial will be in Oak Knoll Memorial Park. Visitation will be on Friday from 6 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home. A memorial has been establilshed. Roy Lumbard was born on Feb. 15, 1916 in Prophetstown, the son of Ray and Mary Bridgestock Lumbard. On Sept. 7, 1940 he married Phyllis I. Bleitz in Iowa City, Iowa. He was the assistant superintendent at Lawrence Brothers Manufacturing and would have worked there 50 years this February. He was a member of the Wesley United Methodist Church, Sterling. Surviving are his wife, Phyllis, Sterling; on daughter, Jo Nell Lumbard, Sterling, and one sister, Mrs. Joseph Ruby Regan, Galt. Preceding him in death were his brother who also died Wednesday.
Contributed by Melva L. Taylor - Gazette, Sterling-Rock Falls, Illinois October 25, 1984 - Thursday, pg A6