Annie Alice Boyer, Iroquois County

Annie's obituary told the sad story of her journey to Illinois. She was born in Cambridgeshire England on February 1, 1860, where first her mother died. The family decided to move to the United States and her father took his ten children by ship. Unfortunately, he died on the ship, leaving all of his children orphans. In New York they were unable to connect with their uncle and the family was split up, some of the children finding work and others going to the New York Juvenile Asylum. Annie was just four years old and lived in New York for twelve years before being sent to Illinois. Annie was placed with the Hershperger family in Thawville and spent the remainder of her childhood with that family. Although she was 16 years old when she came to Illinois, she stayed with the Hershpergers for fifteen years.

Annie married in 1891to Peter Wallis. They continued to live in Iroquois County and had five children: George, Frank, Bessie, Daisy and Joseph. Annie died December 17, 1938. Her obituary listed just one sister living in Canada.