Dusham, Lombard

One of Wilmette's earliest settlers was Lombard Dusham, who came to the area about 1837 and purchased 100 acres from Antoine Ouilmette just north of the Ouilmette family reservation, at 10 cents an acre. Lombard Dusham (the name, it is believed, was originally Du Charme) built himself a log cabin near the present intersection of Elmwood and Michigan avenues. He cleared the land, began farming, and two years later, sent for his wife. There his sons, John L. Dusham Sr. and Max Dusham were born. Some of his best corn fields were along the lake shore, although, since there was no beach in those days, a northeast storm would often tumble large areas of land into the water. Some of the land was later sold to members of the Gage family. He built a corn crib, so the story goes, from wreckage of the Lady Elgin which washed ashore. Lombard Dusham was active in the early civic life of the township and served as overseer of highways in 1960 and 1861. His son, Max, held the same position from 1870 to 1877 and from 1880 to 1881. John L. Dusham Sr. built a home near the site of the cabin in 1872, the year after his son, John L. Jr., was born in the cabin. The latter, now retired from the United States Steel Company, has been a life-long resident of the village. He lives at 503 Park Avenue. Mrs. Dusham, the former Miss Elizabeth Neithaver, came to Wilmette as a girl. Their children are Howard F., 1616 Forest Avenue; John N., 1622 Wilmette Avenue; Mrs. Katherine Thorpe, 524 Park Avenue; and the late James C. Dusham.