Biographies - Elmira Township

Sturms family.—Much has been written of this family in the sketches of Osceola and Toulon townships, as well as in that of this township. Again in the general history many references are made to them.

For the purposes of this part of the chapter, the following notice of the family is given: Louis Sturms, who came to LaSalle Prairie, Ill., about the period the first settlement was made in Essex township, came to Spoon river about 1834; in 1835, visited what is now Elmira township, remained some time, but returned to Ohio. Matthias Sturms, who came in September, 1834, brought with him his wife and ten children, thus giving a population at once to this part of the wilderness.

In the history of the Methodist Episcopal church throughout the county, many references are made to this pioneer, for in his cabin were held the first Methodist services north of what is now Wyoming, in this county.

Among his sons were Henry S. (not Henry Sturms, who settled here in 1838), Nicholas, who was a juror in 1839, Samuel, Matthias and Simon. Of this number, there were assessed in 1839, Matthias, junior, Henry S., Samuel and Nicholas.

Henry S. was married to Miss Osborne in Ohio, and brought his wife with him, as his sister, who married John Kirkpatrick, brought her husband with her in 1834.

Another sister married the pioneer — Peter Pratt. Matthias Sturms died in February, 1862, aged seventy-six years; but prior to this time the old people had passed away.

The records of the cemeteries all around Elmira and in the township contain the names of this family, even as the marriage record tells of the beginnings of other families of the same name.