The location of Tonjes Jurgens’ will from Adams County, Illinois, in 1864 raises more questions that it answers.

To be honest, what I know about Tonjes in the United States is minimal and much of what I know comes from an unsourced family history. The dates and places of birth for Tonjes and his family in Germany appear to come from church records, but I’m starting to question other facts I have on him:

• “sources” indicate he died in Galesburg, Knox County, Illinois, but his probate was executed in Adams County, Illinois. It is known that one of his sons lived in Galesburg in the 1870s, but the execution of his probate in Adams County seems to indicate that he was there.
• Tonjes would have been in his very late 50s when he died. It is possible that he immigrated shortly before he died and that he did not immigrate at the same time as his children.
• Based upon the way his wife is referenced in his will, it is possible that she did not immigrate with him. He mentions a separation of marital property, but this may have taken place in Germany and not in the United States.
• Family sources indicate Tonjes’ wife Schwantje Jurgens Bless also died in Galesburg in 1875. There’s no reference to where this information was obtained and local death records for Galesburg do not extend that early. It is possible that Schwantje came to the United States after Tonjes died.

A second reading of Tonjes’ will confirmed that no real property is mentioned. The only items bequeathed are ones involving money or personal property. This does not mean that land records in Adams County should not be referenced, but it would explain why no land records for Tonjes are located if that is the case.

The estate packets for Adams County, Illinois, should also be referenced. At this point, I’ve not looked to see if they are online or not.