Trimmer, Walter Havens

Walter Havens TRIMMER
Born - 16 Jan 1862 Hudson, Mc Lean Co., IL
Died - 24 Jan 1917 Chicago, Cook Co., IL

Note - Walter Havens Trimmer

BIOGRAPHY:
Walter Havens Trimmer, deceased, was for many years a prominent citizen of
McLean County, IL. He was born at Hudson, Ill., Jan. 16, 1862, the son of John
Anderson and Maria (Clark) Trimmer.

John Anderson Trimmer was born at Havens Grove, Ill., May 11, 1834, and died at
Uniontown, Kan., July 15, 1880. He was a farmer during his life and had lived
in Kansas since 1870. His wife was born July 4, 1836, and died in 1864. They
were the parents of one child, Walter Havens, the subject of this sketch.

Walter Havens Trimmer was reared on his father's farm and at the age of 20
years began railroading on the Chicago & Alton Railroad. He was a fireman for
several years and was promoted to engineer in 1893. Mr. Trimmer was killed in
a railroad accident on Jan. 24, 1917, when his engine was struck by a
Pennsylvania switch engine, running wild. He was backing his engine into the
Chicago Union Station when the accident occurred. Mr. Trimmer's only other
accident was when his train left the tracks at Hopedale, Ill.

On Nov. 22, 1911, Mr. Trimmer was married in Bloomington to Miss Alice Scibird,
a native of Bloomington, and the daughter of Joseph H. and Frances (Clark)
Scibird, the former a native of Delaware County, Ind., and the latter of
Kingston, Ind. Joseph H. Scibird was a major during the Civil War, having
enlisted at Bloomington in the 70th Illinois Volunteer Infantry. He was the
photographer that took the pictures of the indignation meeting at the time of
President Lincoln's assassination. Mr. Scibird was a well-known photographer
and his brother, John, was in business with him. He served as postmaster of
Bloomington in 1870 and was the founder of the Leader, a newspaper later merged
with the Bulletin. There were three children in the Scibird family, as
follows: Mrs. Alice Trimmer; Albert Clark, deceased; and Florence, married to
Walter H. Craber, lives in Chicago. Mr. Scibird died Jan 1, 1889, at the age
of 48 years and his widow now lives with her daughter, Mrs. Trimmer. Mr. and
Mrs. Trimmer had no children.

Mr. Trimmer was a Republican, and a member of the Locomotive Firemen and
Engineers. He belonged to the Knights of Pythias and the Masonic Lodge, No.
43, of Bloomington. He was active in the Consistory and Shrine and was elected
a 32d degree Mason in September, 1916, but was killed before receiving the
degree. Mr. Trimmer was a substantial citizen, who stood well in the esteem of
his fellow citizens. His widow lives at 911 South Fell Street, Normal, IL.
(Source: History of McLean County Illinois, Jacob Louis Hasbrouck, 1924, p.
941-942)