Passing of Leo Doubler of Atkinson, Illinois
When Leo Doubler arrived from Belgium in 1857, there was, as the newspaper put it, “but one house” on the site that would become Atkinson Village. He came as an early-day resident to what was still a frontier settlement and remained there for the rest of his life — building a household, working the land, and becoming one of the long-remembered figures of Cornwall Township.
The notice published in The Geneseo Republic describes Leo Doubler as an industrious man, respected in Atkinson and its vicinity for nearly six decades. He lived what the article calls a useful and upright life, raising a large family and earning not only “long extended years” but also a comfortable competency. By the time of his death, he had become a familiar name in the community he had helped to shape from its earliest days.
Owner of the NE 1/4 of section 1 and the S 1/2 of the NW 1/4 of section 1 in Cornwall, containing 238.89 acres (= 96.67 hectares).
Today, I-80 runs east–west across this area.
His son John purchased (between 1895–1910) the N 1/2 of the NW 1/4 of section 1 in Cornwall, containing 74.83 acres (= 30.30 hectares).
1900 census
Leo Doubler was reported as having been born in “Caprika, Belgium” on August 17, 1824, and to have come to Atkinson in 1857, living continuously in the community thereafter. He farmed for some years north of Atkinson, and for eight years operated the Burrall farm. Later he purchased a large holding — described as 240 acres — which remained his home for thirty years, before he moved into Atkinson village about eleven years prior to his death.
In 1865, in Rock Island, he married Miss Coletta DeBaene. The newspaper describes a happy married life of fifty years and lists ten children: Mrs. Cerena Billiet of Graceville, Minnesota; Henry Doubler of Walnut Grove, Minnesota; Charles, Frank, Edward, and William Doubler; Mrs. Emma Van Hyfte of Annawan; John Doubler of Atkinson; and Ida Doubler at home.
Funeral services were held in St. Anthony’s Church on Tuesday morning at nine o’clock. Clergy from Geneseo and Annawan assisted in the solemn rites, and a Requiem Mass was sung by the pastor, Rev. Conrads. The pall bearers included August and Jacob Hoogerwerf, Fred Huys, Jacob De Grove, Peter Goldberg, and Alphonse Phillips. Friends and relatives from out of town were present, including family from Minnesota, and acquaintances from Moline and surrounding communities.
His original name was “De Dobbelaere Leonard”, and he was born in Watervliet — not Kaprijke.
Source: The Geneseo Republic, August 6th, 1915. Also referenced in the article: Find a Grave entry .