Rebecca Tolch

Grandma WM. Tolch died peacefully and resigned at the home of Mr. and Mrs. L. A. Fulle, on East Main Street, Teutopolis, Illinois, Sunday Morning 7:00 o’clock, July 1, 1923 in the presence of her children.

Funeral services were conducted Tuesday afternoon, one o’clock at the Roslyn Church, Cumberland County followed by interment at the Brush Creek cemetery beside her husband, two children, and brothers. All her children, two brothers, many relatives, neighbors and friends of Teutopolis and vicinity attended the obsequires. Reverend Dautenhahn of Sigel officiated, and preached a very eloquent and appropriate funeral sermon. Over 100 cars followed the remains from the church to the cemetery.

Miss Rebecca McElhiney was born in Ireland, November 3, 1836, being the daughter of John and Nancy McElhiney. At the age of 10 years she came with her parents to this country and located at Philadelphia. After some years the family moved west and settled in Cumberland County, Illinois near Woodbury, which was their trading point in those early Pioneer days.

On the trip from Philadelphia to Cumberland County, they traveled via Chicago which at that time was only a small village of three or four houses. The journey was made in an Overland wagon.

At the age of seventeen years, she came to Teutopolis where she was employed as a domestic by different families. When nineteen years old she was married to Wm. Tolch of Teutopolis……….ten children John Tolch of Roslyn, (Mary) Mrs. Chas. Mascher of Clarinda, Iowa, (Nancy) Mr. Wm. McClain of Roslyn, (Lizzie) Mrs. A.W. Bigler of Sigel, (Carrie) Mrs. Geo. Eckjan of Teutopolis, S. F. Tolch of Dieterich, and (Alice) Mrs. L.A. Fulle of Teutopolis…….Two brother survive, Chas, McElhiney of Roslyn, and Sam McElhiney of Toledo……….