February 11, 1893

"For many years no citizen of Danville was better known than Dr. Theo. Lemon. He was a brainy man of strong personality and great will power, finely educated and courteous in his manners.  He was a fine physician and enjoyed a splendid practice until within a few years before his death, and only when he arrived at that age when it was impossible to endure the fatigues and exposures of a large practice.   He was also a fine mathematician and for several years, at intervals, taught that branch of learning to small classes at his residence on south Hazel street.   He was a ready and fearless writer, and was editor of several newspaper publications in Danville before and after the war, the last being the Danville Democrat, published by Geo. S. Cole.

"Dr. Lemon was a native of Virginia, and graduated in the cities of Baltimore, Md. and Washington, D.C.  In the year 1845 he made the trip from Bunker Hill, Va., his birthplace, to Danville with an uncle, the Rev. James Chenowith, by horse and wagon. He first taught school in what was then known as the Presbyterian church building on south Walnut street, but his practice growing rapidly he was compelled to give the school up.  In a comparatively short time he was recognized as one of the foremost physicians in the place, and in Eastern Illinois.  He was a fine and close student, and kept abreast of all the latest developments in his profession.  At the same time he devoted considerable time and thought to other branches of advanced studies, notably that of mathematics.   During his many years of citizenship he held several offices of trust, and was always to the fore in the advocating of measures which he believed would enhance the prosperity of Danville.  He died in 1875 in his 74th year. His funeral was largely attended, especially by the older citizens. Rev. C. H. Little of the First Presbyterian church officiated.  The remains were laid away in Springhill cemetery.

"His parents were natives of Virginia but his grandparents were of Scotch-Irish descent.  He was a cousin of Ward H. Lamon, biographer and counsellor of President Lincoln.  The family name was originally Lamon, but the people of Danville persisted in calling him Lemon and the doctor finally inserted the "e" in place of the "a" in spelling his name and it afterward became the recognized orthography.

"He was one of a family of seven sons and six daughters, of whom the following survive:  George, a farmer in Texas; Virginia D., widow of J. H. Moores, residing at Salem, Oregon; R. Bruce, Washington, D.C., and judge advocate Pension Department under Cleveland; Ella E., widow of I. R. Moores, residing at Salem, Oregon, and Dr. Charles E., practicing physician residing at Fairmount, this county.  Those deceased are Joseph B., Rebecca R., James C., Ann E. John E., Lucy A. and Mary E.

"On the 14th day of September, 1848, Dr. Lemon married Miss Lavinia E. Sconce at the residence of the bride's parents, James and Mary Sconce, who resided at the time on South street.  The officiating minister was Rev. A. Bradshaw, a well known Methodist minister in those days.  The wedding was attended by a large number of persons, and was what was then considered, a social event of no ordinary importance.  An infair was held the next day at the residence of the groom's mother, on a farm three miles south of the city, which was known until a few years ago as the Lemon farm.  The attendants were Ward H. Lamon and Miss Margaret Culbertson, a full sister of Mrs. John Woods, who now resides in Colorado, and half-sister of Mrs. Dr. Fithian, deceased, and Mrs. Dr. W. H. H. Scott, deceased.  The newly married couple immediately went to housekeeping on south Jackson street, where Mrs. Beard, mother of Mayor Beard, now resides.  Afterward moved on to Main street, where they resided until 1852, when Dr. Lemon erected the present residence on south Hazel street, which was then the finest in the city.  There were born to Mr. and Mrs. Lemon, eleven children, eight of whom are now living and grown, viz: Albert J., Charles V., Edward B., Theodore H., Harry L., John James, Lavinia E. and Lafayette Fay.

"The parents of Mrs. Lemon came from Bourbon county, Ky. where she was born in 1828, and settled in Danville, where they resided until their deaths, Mr. Sconce dying in 1857 and Mrs. Sconce in 1862.  He was 63 and she 70 years old.  Mrs. Lemon is 64 years old, is in fairly good health and resides at the old homestead on south Hazel street, surrounded by her family of strong men and fair young women."

"Dr. and Mrs. Lemon were the parents of eleven children, of whom three died in infancy.  None are married, and when not absent from the city on business all make their home with their widowed mother." ......"All the sons have adopted music as a profession, and all are performers of note, being frequently called upon to fill engagements all over the country.  Their musical predilections were derived from their maternal uncles, who were ell-known musicians.  The family have the entire confidence, good-will and esteem of the entire community, as well on their own account as on that of their honored father".

The 1870 U.S. Federal Census shows that the Theodore Lemon household has made up of the following: Theodore age 57, Lavinia age 42, Albert age 21, Charles age 17, Edward age 14, Theodore age 10, Mary age 8, John age 5, Lavinia age 3, and Byron born in May of 1870.  Local newspaper articles and histories of Vermilion County that include the family list the youngest child as Lafayette Fay Lemon.  The 1880 Census lists the youngest child as Byron F., the 1910 Census lists the youngest male as Fay, 1920 shows B. F. Lemon as youngest. My conclusion is they are referring to the same person.