Note: Quotes are from My Family Tree by Beulah Russell Nisbet, 1952.

Caleb McDonald was born 07 April 1841 in Perry County, Illinois. He was the third child and first son of Thomas G Throop and his wife Polly Caroline.

Sometine between 1843 and 1850 the family moved to St Clair County, Illinois. In the 1850 US Census, Caleb M is listed as a ten-year-old in the household of Thomas Troupe in District 11, Centreville, St Clair County, Illinois. When Thomas bought land in Perry County in 1853, his residence was listed as Perry County, so the family moved back from St. Clair County shortly after the census in mid 1850. Caleb M, age 19 is listed in the household of his parents in Perry County in the 1860 census.

Caleb and Susan Jane McClelland were married 22 March 1866 in Perry County, Illinois. On the marriage record, his name is listed as McDonald Throop. Their first child, a doughter, was born 15 June 1867 and named Izela (spelled also as Izeley and Isella). Another daughter, Caroline, was born 30 September 1869.

Listed as C.M. Throop, age 28, on the 1870 census, Caleb is farming land he owns valued at $300. I don't find a record of purchase of public land for him, so assume he bought land either from or near relatives here in Perry County, near Denmark. Caroline and the 2 girls complete the household.

Two more girls were born in Perry County: Almedy (20 November 1871), and Jane (19 January 1874). Almedy died when small, probably before her mother died in 1878, or at least before the 1880 census.

The fifth child and first son was born 10 February 1878. Susan died in childbirth and the infant, John Lee, soon followed her in death 2 March 1878. "Mr. Throop, left with three little daughters to take care of, seemed to be unable to take the strain and whether his health was already poorly is not known, yet he soon passed away." He did have to deal with a number of deaths – Almedy, his father in 1877, his wife and only son – all within months of each other.

Caleb lived all his life in Perry County Illinois except for those few years as he was growing up when Thomas took his family to St. Clair County, Illinois. Before this move the family home place was in Township 5S, Range 1W, section 36 of Perry County. During his teen years and after his marriage, Caleb lived in Townahip 6S, Range 4W of Perry County. One wonders why, if he owned land in 1870, then the girls seemed to have nothing after his death.

Caleb's daughter Jane was told that her father had red hair, but nothing else is known about his appearance or personality.

Caleb McDonald Throop died before the age of forty, sometime between mid 1878 to early 1880.

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