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Note: Biographies of Peoria County People, <http://www.peoriacountyillinois.info/bios/bios_l.html#lonsdalerichard>
RICHARD LONSDALE. One of the most attractive rural abodes in Kickapoo Township is situated on section 32, and was the home of the late Richard Lonsdale. It is now under the able management of his widow, Mrs. Ann (Wadsworth) Lonsdale, who is wisely conducting affairs, keeping up all improvements upon the estate and securing from it an adequate income. It consists of between five hundred and six hundred acres, divided into fields of convenient size, adorned with orchards and groves, and supplied with a complete line of farm buildings, all well built and sufficiently commodious for their purposes. Crowning the whole is the family residence, whose tasteful exterior shadows forth the comfort and attractiveness of its internal arrangements and the household economy.
Mr. Lonsdale was born in Lancashire, England, September 26, 1817, being the fifth in a family consisting of fourteen children. His parents, Thomas and Ellen (Holstead) Lonsdale, came to America in 1842, settling in Peoria County, Ill., where they departed this life. Mr. Lonsdale was united in marriage with Miss Ann Wadsworth on Christmas day, 1838, their marriage rites being celebrated in his native shire. He was employed as an engineer in a cotton factory and continued to reside in the mother country until 1849. He then emigrated to America and settling in Kickapoo Township, this county, engaged in farming the remainder of his life.
The death of Mr. Lonsdale took place at his home June 10, 1888. A reliable citizen and honorable man was thereby removed from among men, and a kind and devoted husband and parent from the family to which he was so dear. He had held the office of Highway Commissioner, creditably discharging its duties. His political adherence was given to the Democratic party. The fine estate which he left affords a standing record of his industrious life and prudent management of his worldly affairs, while the place which he holds in the memory of those who knew him is the best monument which could be reared to his personal character.
The parents of Mrs. Lonsdale were natives of Yorkshire, England, known as John and Betty (Ovenden) Wadsworth. They had eleven children, of whom Mrs. Lonsdale was the tenth in order of birth. She was born in Yorkshire, April 24, 1818, and under the careful training of good parents grew to womanhood with a mind filled with useful knowledge, a heart of goodness, and the habits that enabled her to worthily fill any sphere in life to which she might be called. She remained with her parents until her marriage and removal to Lancashire, in which place they afterward made their home until called hence.
Mrs. Lonsdale bore her husband twelve children, whose record is as follows: Martha is the firstborn; William married Ellen Mitchell, who died in Kickapoo Township: John married Miss Eva Manville who died in Kickapoo Township October 5, 1883, leaving two children�Myrtle A. and Minnie A. The widower subsequently married Ellen Wolstenholme who has borne him one child-�James A. Richard married Miss Euphemia Jones; Mary H., is the wife of Charles Warner; Sarah A. is the wife of William Wolf; Ernest was killed in Peoria by an accident when twenty-one years old. The other members of the household band died when quite young.
The surviving children of Mrs. Lonsdale have received excellent educational advantages and the home instruction which would strengthen and develop their mental abilities and worthy traits of character, and by which they have been fitted for a useful and honored career in life. They are numbered among the best citizens of their respective localities and add to the worth of the name which they bear. Mrs. Lonsdale is a communicant of the Church of England, endeavoring at all times to practice the precepts of Christianity and to deserve the "well done" when her earthly race is accomplished. (Portrait & Biographical Album of Peoria, Illinois (1890), pages 378-379, submitted by Janine Crandell)
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