Louisa George, daughter of Jacob and Christina George, was born September 27, 1855.  The 1860 Federal Census indicated she was born in Indiana, the 1870 Census reported Illinois.

In 1860 the Georges were apparently near neighbors to the family of Samuel and Lucy Duke.  The George family was counted in household #2106, the Duke family was in household #2113 in Hire Township, McDonough County, Illinois.  Lucy was the former Lucy Salisbury, daughter of Wilkins Jenkins Salisbury and Katherine Smith (sister of the famous Mormon, Joseph Smith).  By 1870 Lucy and her younger children were living Carthage Township, Hancock County.  This included Newton M. Duke, born about 1855 (perhaps in the area of McDonough County named Hire Township in 1857).

On November 25, 1873, Louisa and Newton were married; both bride and groom would have been about 18 at the time.  It was not what one would call a rare occurence for young men to marry at eighteen, but in that era they were usually older with either the wherewithal or good prospects of being able to support a family.  Since Newton was under 21, his mother had sent a note giving her permission. Marriage Documents

Louisa died four and a half years later, on March 25, 1878, and was buried at Friendship Cemetery.

On June 15, 1878, Newton married Jane (Jennie) Taylor, who was then about 17.  And on July 26th, a little girl named Dora Bell Duke died at the age of 3 years and 2 months, which calculates to a birth date of May 26, 1875.  Dora was buried at Friendship Cemetery.  Louisa had a younger sister with the same name.

The catch here is that the inscription on Dora's tombstone reportedly reads "Dau. of N. & J."  In the general area of McDonough and Hancock Counties, we have not located in 1860 or 1870 another couple by the names of N. and J. Duke.

Has the inscription been incorrectly deciphered?  Was Dora the daughter of Louisa and Newton, regardless of the inscription?  Had Louisa and Newton long been estranged?  Jane would have been only 14 or 15 when Dora was born.  But was she Dora's mother?  It will be interesting to see where little Dora was buried in relationship to Louisa's grave.

Considering the moral attitudes of 1878, it's notable that Louisa's marker bears the surname George. In addition, in a 1907 biography of Louisa's father, both of the deceased George daughters were named.  Katie's married name was included, but Louisa's married name was not.

At the time of the 1880 census, Newton, Jane and their infant son, Adam, were residing in Colchester, McDonough County; Newton was employed as a coal miner.

Newton was married again on July 16, 1884.  This marriage took place in Adams County, Illinois, and the bride was Ettie O'Brien.  We lose track of Newton after that date.

Jacob George, 30, male, farm, value of real estate 650, value of personal estate 700, born Hesse
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Catharn George, 31, female, born Hesse Ger
Mary E, 9, female, born OH, attended school within the year
John H, 7,male, born OH, attended school within the year
Louisa, 4, female, born IN
William P, 2, male, born IN
Lewis F, 4/12, male, born IN

Samuel Duke, 32, male, farmer, value of real estate 750, value of personal estate 240, born NC, male, citizen of the U.S. aged 21 or more
Lucy, 25, female, born OH
Andrew, 9, male, born IL, attended school within the year
Henry C, 7, male, born IL, attended school within the year
Newton, 6, male, born IL, attended school within the year
Milten, 2, male, born IL

George, Jacob, 41, male, white, farmer, value of real estate 6000, value of personal estate 2000, born Hesse Darmstadt ?, both parents foreign born, male citizen of the U.S. aged 21 or more
Catharine, 41, female, white, keep house, born Hesse Darmstadt ?, both parents foreign born
Mary E, 18, female, white, born IL, both parents foreign born
John H, 17, male, white, born IL, both parents foreign born, attended school within the year
Louisa, 15, female, white, born IL, both parents foreign born, attended school within the year
William, 12, male, white, born IL, both parents foreign born, attended school within the year
Cornelius, 8, male, white, born IL, both parents foreign born, attended school within the year
Catharine, 5, female, white, born IL, both parents foreign born, attended school within the year
Clara, 4, female, white, born IL, both parents foreign born
Dora, 10/12, female, white, born IL, both parents foreign born, born Aug

Duke, Lucy, 36, female, white, keeping house, value of personal estate 400, born OH
Newton, 15, male, white, born IL, attended school within the year
Ida, 9, female, white, born IL, attended school within the year
Robert, 7, male, white, born IL, attended school within the year
Emma, 4, female, white, born IL

Rhodes, Jane, white, female, 29, [border or bordes], single, house keeper, born IL, father born VA, mother born PA
Duke, Nuton, white, male, 24, married, c miner, born IL, father born TN, mother born OH
Jane, white, female, 19, wife, married, house k, born OH, both parents born OH
Adam, white, male, 10/12, son, born IL, father born IL, mother born OH