One of the first pioneer settlers of LaSalle county was David Loring, who arrived in this section of the state in 1838, since which time representatives of the name have been prominently connected with public affairs and business interests that have contributed to the general prosperity and advancement of the county. David Loring was born in the state of New Hampshire, on the nth of November, 1775, - the year in which the Revolutionary war began. After some years he enlisted in the United States Navy, and when the second war with Great Britain began he entered his country's service to protect American interests. He married Mercy Benson, a native of Rhode Island, born May 1, 1786, and afterward purchased a farm in East Bloomfield, Ontario county. New York, where he resided with his family until 1832. He then emigrated westward, locating in Medina county, Ohio, whence, in 1838, he came to Illinois, settling on section 32, township 34, range 5, in what has since become known as Manlius township, LaSalle county. There Mr. Loring carried on farming until his death, which occurred May II, 1847, when he had reached the age of seventy-one years and six months. His wife passed away on the 1st of September, 1846, at the age of sixty years and four months. They lived to see all their children married and living in homes of their own near the old family homestead. They had four sons and two daughters: Thomas, Sally, Betsey, David, John and William R.
Thomas, the eldest son of David and Mercy (Benson) Loring, was born in Ontario county, New York, in 1806, and in 1827 married Caroline Hall, a native of Providence, Rhode Island. They had three children, - Thomas, Hannah and Catherine. Coming to Illinois, Thomas Loring, Sr., was serving as the jailer in Ottawa at the time George Gates was hung for the murder of an Englishman named Liley. He was also a deputy sheriff at one time and guard in the state penitentiary in Alton, Illinois. He was on various occasions proprietor of hotels, including the Fox River House, at Ottawa; Sulphur Springs House, just west of Ottawa, and the Kimbol House, at Marseilles. His wife died in Marseilles in 1850, and Mr. Loring afterward married Miss Laura Cooley, of Northville, by whom he had three children, - Jennie. Frankie and Nellie. Mr. Loring died in Marseilles in 1887, at the age of eighty-one years. His son Thomas went to California in 1849 with the Green Company, and spent the remainder of his life in the west, his death occurring in Boise, Idaho, a few years ago. Hannah, a daughter of Thomas Loring, Sr., married Aaron Gage, of Brookfield, LaSalle county, and is still living on the old homestead, although her husband died several years ago. She had seven children. Catherine, the second daughter of Thomas Loring, Sr., married Henry Mitchell, of Ottawa, LaSalle county, and there they made their home for several years, but later removed to La Porte, Iowa, where Mr. Mitchell died, in 1896. She had four children.
Sally Loring, daughter of David Loring, the pioneer of the family in LaSalle county, was born in Ontario county. New York, in 1809, and married Dolphus Clark, of that county. They came to Illinois in 1836, locating on section 5, township 33, range 5. In 1867 they removed to Marseilles, where ]\Ir. Clark died, in 1884, while his wife survived until 1898. They had ten children, - four sons and six daughters: Carlos, Adaline, Mercy, Sally, Caroline, John, Mary, Dolphus, Richard and Clara.
Betsey Loring, the second daughter of David Loring, was born in Ontario county. New York, in 1812, and became the wife of Nelson Morey. In 1836 they came to Illinois, afterward emigrated to Texas, and in 1850 Mrs. Morey died near Galveston, leaving one son, named Harvey Morey.
David Loring, the second son of David Loring, Sr., was born in Ontario county. New York, in 1814, and in 1836 came to Illinois. He drove a stage for Fink & Walker on the old stage route between Chicago and Ottawa, and was a prominent factor in events forming the pioneer history of the county. He married Elizabeth Nichol, of Mansfield, Ohio, and they had eight children, two sons and six daughters, but two of the children died in infancy. Those still living are Malvina, Betsey, Ella. Marvel, Jennie and George. Of this family Malvina married Mr. Hill, by whom she has a son and daughter, and they now make their home in Olympia, Washington; Betsey is now the wife of Mr. Crawford, of Wyoming, and they have three children; Ella is the wife of Mr. Swan, of Olympia, Washington, and they have two sons; Marvel also lives in Olympia; Jennie is married and resides in Ontario county. New York, upon a farm near the old David Loring homestead; and George is married and lives in Salt Lake City, Utah. Mr. Loring, the father of these children, is still living, at the age of eighty-five years, and the mother is now eighty years of age. They reside in Olympia, Washington, and are now enjoying fair health for people of their years.
John Loring, the third son of David Loring, Sr., was born in Ontario county, New York, August 22, 1817, and in 1835, when eighteen years of age, came to Illinois. During the summer months he worked as a farm hand for Joseph Brumbach, and when autumn came returned to Ohio. Li the spring of 1836, however, he again came to this state and for almost half a century he and his wife resided upon one farm in this locality. He was married January 1, 1844, to Lowisa Mickey, of Mansfield, Ohio, who died December 28, 1893, at the age of seventy-six years and eleven months. After her death Mr. Loring resided with his daughter, Mrs. Piester, in Marseilles, and died at the age of eighty-one years and seven months. Mr. and Mrs. Loring were the parents of four children, two sons and two daughters: Eliza, Hulbert L., George and Alzina. The elder daughter became the wife of Milton Piester, of the town of Mission, and for some years they resided on a farm in Rutland. In 1882 they removed to Marseilles, where Mr. Piester purchased an interest in a hardware store and became a partner of Mr. Wilson. He died in 1887, at the age of forty-nine years, leaving his widow and four children - Carrie, Marcia, Alzina and Winnie - all of whom reside in Marseilles. Hulbert L. Loring was born in the town of Miller, September 6, 1846, and was married December 25, 1870, to Mary Bosworth, who died June 27, 1872, after which Mr. Loring lived with his parents until December 25, 1878, when he wedded Mary J. Grove. They live on a farm in Miller township and have two children, George and Wilber. George Loring, the third child of John Loring, was born in the town of Miller, January 13, 1849, and married Addie B. Engle, of Burr Oak, Michigan, December 5, 1878. He lives on the John Loring homestead in the southwestern part of Miller township, LaSalle county, and has two children - Margaret and Raymond. Alzina Loring, the fourth child of John Loring, was born January 1, 1856, and was married September 17, 1879, to John M. Wells, of Nevada, Iowa, where they now reside. They have a daughter named Reine.
William R. Loring, the youngest son of David Loring, was born in Ontario county. New York, on the 22d of August, 1820, and in 1838 came to Illinois. He was married in 1843, to Jane Mickey, of Mansfield, Ohio, a sister of his brother John's wife, and by this union were born ten children, nine sons and a daughter, of whom seven are living, while three have passed away. Mrs. Loring died in Osceola, Iowa, several years ago, and Mr. Loring's death occurred in Peoria, Illinois, in 1897. Of their children, Thomas and May died in infancy; Alonzo died at the age of eighteen years; Riley is married and lives in Peoria; Augustus P. is married and resides in Missouri; Ernest is married and resides in Colorado; Elzie, Jesse and Simeon are living in Kentland, Indiana; and Charles is married and resides in Chicago.
Extracted by Norma Hass from Biographical and Genealogical Record of LaSalle County, Illinois published in 1900, volume 1, pages 47-50.
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