William Homer McLemore

Notes:

The Janke Tree at WorldConnect shows that he married Joy PERA on 25 Nov 1946, and that they had two children.

William H. "Mac" McLemore was born in Portland, OR on May 31, 1915. He attended St Joseph's Military Academy in Rio Vista and Burlingame High School. Mac entered the Navy in 1934 serving aboard the USS Augusta, part of the Asiatic Fleet and skippered by, then, Capt. Chester Nimitz. He maintained that being on the Augusta with Nimitz was the best education he ever had. He was discharged from the Navy in 1937, and reenlisted for WWII. Mac was then assigned to PT Base Ron 4 which moved to various islands in the South Pacific before he was assigned to PT 121. PT 121 was destroyed by friendly fire on March 27, 1944. Mac and his surviving shipmates evaded capture after the sinking by standing on the reef of a nearby enemy held island for 5 hours before being rescued. Mac was then re-stationed on PT Base Ron 4.

Mac had a wonderful sense of humor and loved to tell stories about his time in the Navy and about the various jobs he held over his lifetime. He worked for GTE Sylvania for over 20 years until his retirement in 1980.

He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Joy, his daughters Joy (Gary Rabins), Jeanne (Gary Roberts), grandchildren Ellen & David Roberts and cousin Camille Whitaker.

Services will be held Tuesday March 6, 2012 at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in San Jose at 11:00 AM.
Published in San Jose Mercury News/San Mateo County Times on March 4, 2012

Notes:

When his mother died in 1910, he was listed as Homer McLemore of Seattle, Wash. However, on the time of the 1910 census, he was a Roomer at a rooming house in Portland, Multnomah, Oregon. He was listed as Single, age 18, and born in Illinois. His occupation was shown as Helper, Telephone company.

Homer married Jessie Dell Tribble after 1910. Jessie was born on 12 Feb 1896 in Mississippi; died on 17 Oct 1959 in San Francisco, San Francisco County, California. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

John Stromberger writes that William had been married first to Permelia Montgomery, however she died only four months after their marriage in late 1869. She was also buried in the Mason City Cemetery. Her photo remained in the family home, and William's second wife and children referred to her as "Aunt Permelia."

https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.2/9FWC-R1Y/p1
Name: William Young Mclemore
Titles and Terms (original):
Death Date: 17 Sep 1940
Death Place: Mason City, Mason County, Illinois
Gender: Male
Marital Status:
Race or Color:
Age: 91
Estimated Birth Year: 1849
Birth Date: 03 Feb 1849
Birthplace: Menard Co., Ill.
Father: William H. Mclemore
Father's Titles and Terms (original):
Father's Birth Place: Sangamon Co., Ill.
Mother: Rachel Smith
Mother's Titles and Terms (original):
Mother's Birth Place: Ky.
Occupation: Dentist
Residence: Mason City, Mason County, Illinois
Street Address:
Spouse: Catherine C. Mclemore
Spouse's Titles and Terms (original):
Spouse's Birthplace:
Burial Date: 19 Sep 1940
Burial Place: Mason City, Mason County, Ill.
Cemetery: Mason City Cemetery
Informant:
Additional Relatives:
Digital Folder Number: 4152366
Image Number: 126
Film Number: 1832234
Volume/Page/Certificate Number: 37702; Reg.# 13
Collection: Illinois, Deaths and Stillbirths, 1916-1947

Illustrated Atlas Map of Mason County, 1874
BUSINESS NOTICES, Page 34
DENTAL SURGERY. Dr. W. Y. McLemore, having pursued the study and practice of his profession with Dr. Greenleaf, of Peoria, and thoroughly mastered all its details. Dr. McLemore came to Mason City in 1871 and opened rooms over Cargill & Swing's. He is prepared to undertake anything ever performed in dentistry. He has also been a student of anatomy and physiology, so that he can meet successfully many complicated cases beyond the reach of ordinary dentists. In proof of his skill he can refer to his former instructor, Dr. Greenleaf, and to the well-known surgeon, Dr. J. P. Walker, of Mason City. He is well provided with all the tools and machinery for preparing plates, making permanent and good fitting jobs. He is a young man and ambitious to stand high in his profession, and therefore, keeps himself informed by study of all the improvements in his art. The operation for cleft palate, by which speech is made perfect, has been frequently performed by Dr. McLemore, and probably by no other surgeon-dentitst in this part of the country.

(Courtesy of Carol Dorward)


DR. WILLIAM Y. McLEMORE
February 3, 1849 September 17, 1946

Funeral Services will be held at the Family Residence,
619 East Elm Street, Mason City, Illinois, Thursday,
September 19, 1940, at 2:30 o'Clock P. M.,
conducted by the Rev. T. H. Tull and
the Rev. E. O. England.

Services at the grave by Mason City Lodge
No. 403 A. F. & A. M. and Jackson-Kern
Post No. 496 American Legion.

Friends will be received at the Residence.

Interment in Mason City Cemetery

(Courtesy of Carol Dorward)

Obituary

Dr. McLemore, Last Civil War Vet in Mason Cty, Dies

Mason City, Ill., Sept. 17 (Special) - Dr. William Young McLemore, 91 years old, Mason County's last Civil War veteran, died at his home at 4:10 o'clock this morning. He had been ill for several years.

Funeral services will be held at 2:30 p.m. Thursday at the residence with the Rev. T. H. Hull of Villa Grove and the rev. E. O. England of the Mason City Methodist church in charge. Masonic and American Legion ritual will be given. Burial will be in Mason City cemetery.

Dr. McLemore was born February 3, 1849 in Menard County where he received his early education and then when to Chicago where he studied dentistry and optomerty.

On August 3, 1873, he married Catherine Sheppard at Washington, Ill. His wife and three children preceded him in death.

In the spring of 1864 he enlisted with Company H, 145th Volunteer Infantry.

In 1874 Dr. and Mrs. McLemore came to Mason City. He practiced dentistry here until 1918 and optometry until 1935.

He was a member of the Methodist church, G. A. R. and Mason City lodge A. F. and A. M. of which he was a past master.

Surviving are three daughters, Mrs. C. B. Wheeler of Miami, Fla.; Mrs. W. S. Middleton of Chicago and Miss Mamie McLemore of Mason City, and four sons, Calvin of Los Angeles, Calif., Frederick of Roseland, Calif., W. D. of Caldwell, N. J., and Harvey of Miami, Fla.

(Courtesy John Stromberger)

(Research):

Census Listings:

1880 Census
Illinois, Mason County, Mason City Twp
Enumerated 3 Jun 1880
District 138
120-122
McLemore, W. U. W M 31 Dentist Ill Tenn
McLemore, Catherine W F 28 Wf Keeping House Ill Ohio Ill
McLemore, Calvin W M 5 son At Home Ill Ill Ill
McLemore, Mamie W F 4 Dau At Home Ill Ill Ill
McLemore, W. Dennis W M 2 Son Ill Ill Ill

1900 Census
Illinois, Mason County, Mason City Twp
Enumerated 15 Jun 1900
SD 8 ED 64 Sheet 16A
Pine/Pinn? Street
364-368
McLemore, William Y Head W M Feb 1849 51 M 26 Ill Tn Ky Dentist
McLemore, Catharine C. Wf W F Nov 1851 48 m 26 10/8 Ill Oh Ill
McLemore, Mamie J Dtr W F Jan 1876 24 S Ill Ill Ill
McLemore, William D Son W M Jan 1878 22 S Ill Ill Ill Teacher School
McLemore, Ella M Dtr W F Feb 1881 19 S Ill Ill Ill Clerk Ra???t Store
McLemore, Fred M Son W M Dc 1882 17 S Ill Ill Ill
McLemore, Hattie M Dtr W F July 1887 12 Ill Ill Ill
McLemore, Homer S Son W M July 1891 8 Ill Ill Ill
McLemore, Harvy R Son Sept 1893 6 Ill Ill Ill

1910 Census
Illinois, Mason County, Mason City Township
Enumerated 5 May 1910
SD 11 ED 72 Sheet 15B
401-410
McLemore, W. Y. Head M W 61 m2 36 Ill Ky Ind Offician Office
McLemore, Catherine Wf F W 58 m1 30 10/8 Ill US Ill
McLemore, Mamie Dtr F W 34 S Ill Ill Ill
McLemore, Hattie Dtr F W 22 S Ill Ill Il Teacher Public School
McLemore, Ella Dtr F W 29 S Ill Ill Ill Saleslady Store
McLemore, Ray Son M W 16 S Ill Ill Ill

1920 Census
Illinois, Mason County, Mason City Twp
Enumerated 8 Jan 1920
SD 12 ED 87 Sheet 10A Stamped 139
Manard Street
211-213
McLemore, William Head M W 70 Wed Ill Tn Ky Doctor Dentist
McLemore, Mamie Dtr F W 43 S Ill Ill Ill Clerk Dry Goods Store

1930 Census
Illinois, Mason County, Mason City Twp
Enumerated 19 and 19 April 1930
ED 63-17 SD 18 Sheet 13A Stamped 231
619-366-368
McLemore, William Y Had M W 81 Wd 23 Ill Tn Ky none
McLemore, Mamie Dtr F W 54 S Ill Ill Ill Probation Officer County

William married Catherine Charlotte "Lottie" Sheppard on 3 Aug 1873 in Washington, Tazewell County, Illinois. Catherine was born on 16 Nov 1851 in Cooper, Tazewell County, Illinois; died on 18 Apr 1910 in Mason City, Mason County, Illinois; was buried in Mason City Cemetery, Mason, Mason County, Illinois. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Catherine's tombstone is engraved with the dates 16 Nov 1851-18 Apr 1910. However, as she is listed with her family on the 1910 census, dated 5 May 1910. Perhaps the census reflected all individuals as of April 1, 1910?

John Stromberger found the following brief articles about Lottie, quoted verbatim, from a Washington, Illinois newspaper:

October 17, 1901: "Mrs. Dr. McLemore, of Mason City, is visiting her parents, D. S. Sheppard, Sr. and wife, and her brother, J. S. Sheppard and sisters Mrs. H. L. Zinser and Mrs. Anna S. Lester."

November 16, 1906: Mrs. Lottie McLemore came up from Mason City today to spend her 55th birthday with her parents Capt. and Mrs. D. S. Sheppard. Mrs. McLemore was born hera at Cooper."

Washington News, Washington, IL, April 26, 1910, Page 3.

OBITUARY OF MRS. W. A. [sic] MCLEMORE

A Mason City, Ill., special in the Bloomington Pantagraph contains the following:

Catherine Charlotte, wife of Dr. W. Y. McLemore, died at the family residence on East Elm street Monday following a two years' illness with cancer of the stomach and liver.

Catherine Charlotte Sheppard, daughter of Major and Mrs. D. S. Sheppard of Washington, Ill., was born in Washington on November 16, 1851, and on August 3, 1873, she was united in marriage to W. Y. McLemore. In March of the following year Mr. and Mrs. McLemore came to this city where they have since resided. Ten children were born to them, two of whom have preceeded [sic] the mother to the Great Beyond. The decedent was for many years a devoted member of the M. E. church of this city and for fourteen years secretary of the Ladies' Aid Society of that church and an active and honored member of the local chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star. She is survived by her husband, father, one brother, D. S. Sheppard Jr. of Peoria; two sisters, Mrs. H. L. Zinser of Washington, Ill., and Mrs. Anna S. Lester of Peoria, the following children: Calvin A. McLemore of Orosi, Cal., Prof. W. D. McLemore of Nantucket Island, Mass.; Mrs. Ella McLemore of Salt Lake City, Utah; Fred Mc Lemore of Manilla, P. I.; Homer McLemore of Seattle, Wash.; and Mamie, Harriet and Rae McLemore at home.

The funeral services were held under the auspices of Madeline Chapter, O. E. S. of this city at the late residence on East Elm street on Wednesday afternoon at 2 o'clock and were conducted by the Rev. Thomas H. Tull, pastor of the M. E., church. The interment was made in the Mason City cemetery.

Mrs. McLemore when a young lady taught school for six years in the vicinity of Washington. She commenced teaching at the age of 15 and taught in Tazewell, Woodford and Livingston counties.

(Courtesy of Carol Dorward, via email on 16 Aug 2012--Carol also noted that Charlotte's parents were Major Dennis Scovel Sheppard and Mary Jane Young)

Notes:

Married:
The online Illinois Statewide Marriage Index of the Illinois State Archives has marriage of Wm Y McLemore to Catherine Sheppard on August 3, 1873 in Tazewell Co., IL. Volume D, Page 36. (Courtesy of Carol Dorward)

Notes:

John Stromberger writes that William Harvey McLemore was a confederate soldier in the Civil War, and was taken prisoner September 14, 1863, dying of Pneumonia on December 12, 1863 while being held prisoner in Alton, Illinois.

(Research):

Census Listings:

1860 Census
Illinois, Menard County, Twp 19 Range 5. P. O. Sweetwater
Enumerated 1 Aug 1860
915-876
William McLemore 44 M Farmer Tennessee (Ancestry has this indexed, in error, as Pennsylvania)
Rachel McLemore 41 F Kentucky
James McLemore 16 M Illinois
Joseph D. McLemore 14 M Illinois
William G. McLemore 11 M Illinois
Mary A. McLemore 9 F Illinois
Robert J. McLemore 1 M Illinois
Elizabeth Montgomery 16 F Domestic Indiana

William married Rachel Smith before 1844. Rachel was born about 1819 in Kentucky; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

(Research):

Census Listings:

Illinois, Menard County, Twp 19 Range 5 W, P. O. Fallula?
Enumerated 2 Sept 1870
Page 24
189-184
McLamoor, Rachel 31 M (sic) W Farmer 5000 400 Ky
McLamoor, James 26 M W Ill
McLamoor, William 21 M W Ill
McLamoor, Jerome 10 M W Ill
Cantral, Clay 35 F W Ill