The venerable gentleman whose name heads this sketch and who resides at the corner of Fifth street and Second avenue, Mendota, Illinois, came here from the Green Mountain state in 1856, and has lived here ever since, an honored and respected citizen. He has marked the town's growth from its infancy. At the time he arrived it had only one store, that owned by Giles & Wells. He engaged in the marble business, which he conducted successfully until about 1880, when he sold out, having since that time lived retired from active business life.
Thomas Imus was born in Bennington county, Vermont, in the town of Arlington, August 21, 1815, a son of William and Annie (Rising) Imus, the former a native of London, England, and the latter of Suffield, Connecticut. Six children composed their family, two sons and four daughters, all of whom have passed away except the subject of this sketch, who was the youngest. The father was a watchmaker by trade, which he followed in the early part of his life. He came to America in 1753, located in Suffield, and subsequently removed to Bennington county, Vermont, where he became the owner of about one hundred and fifty acres of land and where he spent the rest of his life in agricultural pursuits. He died in 1830, at the age of ninety-six years. He was twice married. By his first wife, Lucy Buck, he had nine children, and by his second wife six, the subject of our sketch being one of the latter. The second wife was eighty-four years old at the time of her death. They were all Episcopalians. During the Revolutionary war William Imus was three times drafted into the service, but would not fight against his own country and relations, and each time hired a substitute.
The paternal grandfather of our subject was William Imus. He was the father of four sons, and was a large property owner. He lived and died in England. The maternal grandfather also was an Englishman. He came to America in the eighteenth century, settled on a New England farm and devoted his energies to agricultural pursuits the rest of his life, and reached a ripe old age.
Thomas Imus, the direct subject of this review, was reared on his father's farm in Vermont, and after his father's death he began learning the marble-cutter's trade, being at that time twenty-one years of age.
On the 28th of February, 1845, he married Miss Louisa Gleason, a daughter of Newton and Annis (Mixer) Gleason, and two children, a son and daughter, were born to them. The son, Newton, married Isabella Wyrick and lives in Mendota; they have one child, named Mable. The daughter, Mattie, is the wife of William E. Wixom, and they have one child, named Blossom. Mrs. Thomas Imus died August 2, 1894, at the age of seventy-three years. She was a devoted Christian and a member of the Baptist church.
Mr. Imus has always been a temperance man, and in his younger years was a member of the Rechabites and the Good Templars. Also he was for years a member of the Masonic fraternity. His early political affiliation was with the Whig party, and when the Republican party was organized he identified himself with it and has since given it his support. For a number of years he was a school director in Mendota, and his influence has always been directed on the side of right and progress. Now in his old age he enjoys the confidence and esteem of his many friends in the town where he has lived for nearly half a century.
Extracted 26 Dec 2016 by Norma Hass from Biographical and Genealogical Record of LaSalle County, Illinois published in 1900, volume 2, pages 417-418.
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