Obituaries
and Death Notices
in Pulaski County, Illinois Newspapers
4 Jan. - 25 Dec. 1924
Mound City, Pulaski County, Illinois
Transcribed and annotated by Darrel Dexter
Friday, 4 Jan 1924:
Mrs. Ben Rushing, age 33, of Cairo,
died at her home in Cairo Tuesday after an
illness of several months. Mrs.
Rushing is survived by her husband and
two daughters, Miss Lillian Simmons
and Helen Louise Rushing, the latter
four years old. The funeral was held
Wednesday at 1:45 p.m. at the Tigert
Memorial Church, interment at Beech Grove
Cemetery. Mr. Rushing formerly
resided here and is a brother of James and
Charles Rushing of our city.
W. J. Davidson, of Grand Chain, who
has been ill for several months, died at his
home at 3:20 p.m. Sunday. Deceased was
quite well known and is survived by three
sons and three daughters. Funeral
services were held Tuesday.
Mrs. Tillie Brophy, a former resident
of this place, passed away Dec. 23 at the
home of her son in St. Louis. She is
survived by her two sons, Carl and Maurice,
both residing in St. Louis. Funeral
was held Dec. 26.
Mr. and Mrs. Roscoe Scroggins, of
Naperville, Ill., are bereaved parents in
the passing away of their little son.
The body was brought here Wednesday and the
funeral took place today. Mrs. James
Reed, the grandmother, who was called
Saturday to their home, accompanied them.
Mrs. Ebie Scottland, a negress,
recluse said to be 107 years of age, burned
to death in her hut last Sunday morning.
It was thought that she was bathing her arm
which had been broken, in kerosene, and that
she threw a saturated cloth she was using in
the stove the flames quickly spread to her,
igniting her clothing. The accident
occurred about six o’clock in the morning
and death came about eight-thirty. She
lived in a one-room shanty and was alone at
the time the accident occurred. She
was buried last Monday. (Ullin)
(This may be the same person as Eda
Martin, who married David Scotland
on 16 May 1869, in Pulaski Co., Ill.
David Scottland married Anna
Vaughn on 20 Apr 1866, in Pulaski
Co., Ill.—Darrel Dexter)
Michael N. Moyers, a former resident
of this city, passed away in Poplar Bluff,
Mo., Sunday, Jan. 6, 1924, after a
protracted illness of several weeks.
The body was brought to Grand Chain for
interment Tuesday Jan. 8th.
Rev. Kean, pastor of the M. E.
church of this city, conducted the funeral
services, which were held in the
Congregational church in Grand Chain.
Mr. Moyers was a former resident of
Pulaski County, having grown to manhood and
engaged in business in Grand Chain for
several years. He removed to Poplar
Bluff about 16 years ago. He is
survived by his wife, a son and daughter, of
Poplar Bluff, three brothers, W. N. and J.
J., of Mound City, and L. A. of Morrison,
Iowa, four sister, Mrs. C. A. Buffington,
of Morrison, Iowa, Mrs. G. J. Bennett,
of Mt. Carroll, Ill., Mrs. Sarah Davis,
of McDonald, Kan., and Mrs. N. C.
Shafstall, of Sisson, Cal.
(Clifford A. Buffington married Bell
Moyers on 24 Dec 1891, in Pulaski
Co., Ill.
Granville J. Bennett married
Mary E. Moyers on 6 Jul 1893, in
Carroll Co., Ill.
Willis C. Davis married Sarah
Moyers on 24 Jun 1896, in Carroll
Co., Ill.—Darrel Dexter)
Like an appalling specter, death haunts
every pathway of life and dims every vision
of joy. Noiselessly and ceaselessly it
treads in man’s footsteps from the cradle to
the grave. None can escape its
advance. Infancy in its purity, youth
in its beauty, and manhood in its strength,
find no exemption from it.
Roy B. Wilson, passed away at 1:30
Tuesday afternoon at St. Mary’s Infirmary in
Cairo, where he had been taken the day
previous. Roy came home ill Saturday,
Dec. 29, and on Sunday was considered
critically ill, with symptoms of typhoid
fever. Deceased was born and reared in
this city and had he lived until the 13th
of next month he would have been 29 years of
age. Surviving him are his wife, two
daughters, Virginia, age 6, and Eleanor Ann,
age 3, and his mother, Mrs. Eleanor
Wilson. Deceased was well and
favorably known and had a legion of friends.
In his passing away the distracted mother is
left alone having buried a husband and three
sons.
Funeral services were held Tuesday afternoon
at 2 o’clock at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church
conducted by Rev. Clinton Cromwell,
assisted by Rev. Roy Kean, pastor of
the Methodist church. Interment taking
place in Beech Grove Cemetery. G. A.
James being the undertaker in charge.
(C. F. Wedgewood married Mrs. Luella
Curren on 14 Dec 1901, in Pulaski
Co., Ill.—Darrel Dexter)
Mrs. W. C. Rife, of Villa Ridge, is
in Hickman, Ky., called from Miami, Fla.,
where she had gone to spend the winter by
the serious illness of her brother-in-law,
Frank Moore.
P. B. Lawler, of Villa Ridge, a
former railroad employee, was arrested
Friday at Carbondale on charge of murder in
connection with the mysterious death of Sam
Brooks in Centralia, an Illinois
Central conductor, who was found dead in the
caboose of his train, here August 15 last.
Mr. Brooks had been shot in the head.
Lawler Friday was indicted for the
alleged murder.
We just learned through friends that Mrs. M.
B. Baker, wife of Rev. Baker,
passed away in December at Philadelphia.
They resided here several years ago, Rev.
Baker being pastor at the Methodist
church.
Frank Moore, formerly of Pulaski
County, died Thursday at his home in
Hickman, Ky., having been an invalid from a
paralytic stroke a year ago. Deceased
is a brother-in-law of Dr. and Mrs. Rife
of Villa Ridge. The body will be
buried at Hickman.
(W. C. Rife married M. Lilley
Royall, daughter of Dr. B. A. Royall
and Jane Bankson, on 10 Sep 1895,
in Pulaski Co., Ill.
Frank Moore married Stella
Ethel Royall, daughter of Berry A.
Royall
and Jenny Bankson on 15 Jun 1898, in
Pulaski Co., Ill.—Darrel
Dexter)
Hugh Edward Freeze, 6 years old son
of Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Freeze, of
Ullin, was struck by an Illinois Central
passenger train No. 5 Thursday noon.
The little fellow was on his way home from
school and while waiting for the freight
train to pass he was struck by the
passenger. He was taken to St. Mary’s
hospital in Cairo where he died at 9:30 in
the afternoon.
Thirty-three men are dead and seven others
are seriously injured as a result of a gas
explosion, which occurred at the “East Mine”
of Searies Coal Company in Johnston City,
shortly after two o’clock Friday afternoon.
More than four hundred men were in the mine
at the time of the explosion occurred in the
eleventh and twelfth entries of the main
east. All the men succeeded in making
their way to safety, except near fifty who
were in the entries where the explosion
occurred and forty-two who were in the tenth
entry adjoining the eleventh.
__. H. Ames, traveling salesman for
Marshal Field & Co., and who is well
known here, recently was bereaved in the
death of his 13-year-old son at Mt. Vernon.
The lad in coasting was hit by an automobile
and so seriously injured that he died.
Mr. Ches. E. Feeney, of St. Mary’s
Church, attended the funeral.
James Oliver Brown, age 74 years, 4
months and 11 days, died at his home in this
city Tuesday. He had been ill for
several months. He leaves a widow and
seven children. Funeral services were
held Friday morning at the home, Rev. A. H.
Dace conducting the services.
Interment in Beech Grove Cemetery. G.
A. James in charge.
While parked along the hard road at the
Dongola cemetery last Sunday, when Hugh
Edward Freeze was being buried,
little Louis Frechette, was run over
by a car coming from the north. The
car coming around a curve was just passing
the funeral procession when the boys,
members of Hugh Edward’s Sunday school
class, were crossing the road. Louis
had just started across the hard road when
he was stuck by a Ford driven by O. B.
Murphy of Mounds. Fortunately he
was tripped before the car struck any vital
spot, remaining flat on the ground until the
entire car passed over him. The only
injuries received were a slight scratch on
the right knee and a bruise on the head,
neither of which was serious.
One of the largest funerals held in Ullin
was that of Hugh Edward, son of Mr. and Mrs.
Edward Freeze, last Sunday, the day
being fair, the ___ acquaintances of the
family, the tragic manner in which his death
occurred joined in to make it a day when
crowds attend.
Hugh Edward was born July ___, and was run
down by a passenger train on the Illinois
Central Thursday, Jan. 31, 1924. He
was returning from school to dinner at the
___ and while waiting for the freight train
to pass, was struck by the engine of No. 5,
___ into the station from the ____.
The body was picked up by the grandfather,
Thomas Hileman, and carried to his
store ___ the street. Dr. Robinson,
the physician for the family, who was the
railroad physician at ___ once ordered the
body taken to St. Mary’s hospital in Cairo,
which was down by the crew on ____. So
badly was the body ___, however, that death
came to relieve him at 4:30 p.m. ___
he had regained consciousness.
The body was brought home ___ afternoon
prepared for burial and was viewed by
hundreds of people before the funeral , as
well as a twenty-three car procession at the
church ____ afternoon, where the funeral was
held.
Funeral services were conducted by Rev. C.
L. Phifer, of the M. E. Church, where
Hugh Edward was a constant attendant in the
Sunday school, ___ where the church was ___
and still more on the ___, amidst the
beautiful ___ of flowers, bowers of ___
covered the bier and pul___ platform, the
last sad rites were conducted and the body
laid to rest in the I. O. O. F. Cemetery at
Dongola, beside a brother, who preceded him
into the great beyond, seven months earlier
on July 5, 1923.
Hugh Edward leaves to mourn his loss, his
father, mother, sister, grandfather, Thomas
Hileman and other friends and
relatives who all miss him.
He is not lost, but gone to wait for those
ones left in a beautiful abiding place which
he now pulls through ___ and example.
(Markers in I. O. O. F. Cemetery at Dongola
read:
Hugh Edward Freize Born July
3, 1917 Died Jan. 31, 1924.
Thomas Bryon Freize Born Nov.
26, 1921 Died July 5, 1923.
Samuel E. Freeze 1899-1928
Edna Freeze his wife 1899-
.—Darrel Dexter)
To our friends, neighbors, Rev. Kean
and others who assisted at the funeral
service of our beloved wife and sister and
especially to class nine of the M. E.
church, we wish to express our gratitude and
appreciation to the many kind things you
have done for us.
Mrs. C. L. Otrich died at the home of
her son, Lowell, in Sesser, Ill., Wednesday,
and the body was brought to the home of her
son, Mark L. Hughes, near Olmsted,
from which place the funeral will be held
Saturday afternoon at 4 o’clock.
Deceased was the sister of L. D. Stophlet,
of this city. Rev. Burgess and
the church choir will conduct the service.
(Charles L. Otrich married Mrs. M. L.
Hughes on 1 Apr 1885, in Alexander
Co., Ill.
M. L. Hughes married Mrs. Mary
E. Amonett on 17 Sep 1878, in Pulaski
Co., Ill.
W. M. Amonett married M. E.
Stophlett on 22 Jul 1874, in Pulaski
Co., Ill.
Mark L. Hughes, son of Mark L.
Hughes and Mollie E. Stophlet,
married Ora A. Anderson on 20 Nov
1900, in Union Co., Ill.—Darrel Dexter)
Mrs. Luella Wedgewood, age 50 years,
died at her home in Valley Recluse,
Wednesday afternoon of pneumonia. She
leaves a husband and a daughter, Mrs. H. G.
Isenberger, of Olmsted. The
funeral service will be held this afternoon
at the home, Rev. Corzine, conducting
the service. Interment in Beech Grove
Cemetery.
(C. F. Wedgewood married Mrs. Luella
Curren on 14 Dec 1901, in Pulaski
Co., Ill.—Darrel Dexter)
One boy was drowned and another escaped
death in a thrilling rescue from a cake of
floating ice, when the small rowboat in
which they were attempting to cross the
Mississippi River was crushed by ice Sunday
afternoon.
The two boys, William James, 15, and
Joe Fisher, 15, of Cairo, had just
shoved off for the Missouri shore, when
according to James, who was rescued,
the boat was caught between two huge cakes
of ice and was crushed. James leaped
to one of the ice cakes, while Fisher
immediately disappeared.
James
had drifted over two miles and had passed
the junction of the Ohio and Mississippi
rivers when he was sited by Louis
Dekemper, who with C. D. Bryant,
John Pullim, and J. C. McKee,
was returning to Cairo from Wickliffe in
Bryant’s motor boat. Carefully
piloting the boat into the floe, which was
breaking up as it entered the warmer waters
of the Ohio, Bryant succeeded in
running alongside the cake of ice, barely 8
feet square, to which James shivering
and speechless was clinging. The boy
had drifted for nearly two hours and the
cake already was becoming submerged.
Joe Fisher is a son of Fred Fisher,
who formerly conducted a shoe repair shop at
Mounds.
Sunday morning at the hour of 12:55 a.m. the
ruthless hand of death, reached out and
removed form life, Mrs. Stella Sims,
age 29 years, 11 months and 11 days at her
home in this city. She had been a
sufferer of cancer from which she had been
an invalid for several weeks. Deceased
was born at Plumers Landing, Ky., Feb. 28,
1894, and had been a resident of this city
for five years. Surviving her are her
husband, to whom she was married two years
ago, the 18th of this month, her
father, four brothers James, Thomas and
Harry Gaines, of Galesburg and Y. G.
Gaines and Mrs. O. J. Jackson
of this city.
The funeral was held Tuesday afternoon at
2:30 o’clock from the home, Rev. Roy N.
Kean, conducting the services.
Interment in Beech Grove Cemetery.
Deceased was a member of class 9 of the
Methodist Sunday school and member of the
class acted as pallbearers and flower
bearers. The remembrances being many
and profuse.
Mrs. Rebecca Thompson, one of the
oldest and most respected citizens of Ullin,
passed into eternity at Houston, Texas,
Thursday, February 7, after a brief illness
of a few days with pneumonia. She was
visiting at the time with her sister in
Houston, Melvina Ryan, when the end
came and the body was shipped home, arriving
there Saturday.
The funeral was held at the home in Ullin
Sunday morning and the body was taken this
___ to Tamaroa, where interment occurred
that afternoon. Services were largely
attended by friends of the deceased, which
numbered by score. At __ o’clock the
Eastern Star from Dongola, of which she was
a member, begin their work and at ten thirty
the religious service began and was
conducted by her pastor, Rev. Phifer,
songs, favorites of the deceased, were sung
and ___ from far and near came to attend the
last sad rites of a friend they held so
dear.
Mrs. Thompson was an active, ___sive
Christian lady, assisting the leadership
when things were at stake for the Kingdom of
God. For years she taught a Sunday
school class at the M. E. church, of which
she was a member. A touching ___ of
the funeral was the ___ce of many men, men
having now families of their own, ___ raised
in the Sunday school, ___ the advice and
counsel of the beloved lady. Such
tributes of respect are seldom seen and when
they appear, they have an influence in the
lives and ___ of those who hold dear the
noblest in human life.
Mrs. Thompson has remained a widow
since the death of her husband, P. W.
Thompson, some __ years ago, conducting
her life in the same place she lived since
coming to Ullin. The funeral cortege,
comprised of a sister, Mrs. Eveline Ryan,
and sons-in-law of Houston, Texas, Mr. and
Mrs. Robert ____, Rev. C. L. Phifer,
L. H. Needham, Clarence Mowery,
___ Sneed, Delbert Mathis, ___
Rutter, accompanied the family to
Tamaroa, where they were met by more
relatives of that section and friends of the
deceased. Here the body was placed in
the cemetery beside her husband and brother,
all of whom had preceded her to the great
beyond.
(Peter W. H. Thompson married Rebecca
E. Evans on 21 Apr 1878, in Perry
Co., Ill.—Darrel Dexter)
Friday, 22 Feb 1924:
God in His infinite wisdom has seen fit to
remove from our midst our mother, Mrs.
Wedgewood. We bow in submission
and desire to thank the friends and
neighbors for their many acts of kindness
and words of sympathy. The Rebekahs
for their service at the grave.
(She is identified as Mrs. George Kesler
elsewhere in the same issue. Her
marker in Mt. Pisgah Cemetery near Wetaug
reads:
Katherine Miller Kesler Born
Aug. 21, 1907 Died Feb. 16, 1924.—Darrel
Dexter)
C. F. Womack, died at his home at 263
Chickasaw Avenue, Blytheville, Ark., Feb. 8th,
at 10:51 p.m. Short services were held
at the residence on the 10th at 7 o’clock
p.m., after which the body accompanied by
his family and near relatives departed on
the 8:46 train for his parents’ home near
Karnak, Ill.
School teaching was his chosen profession,
having taught since early manhood beginning
his career in Southern Illinois as a rural
teacher, later holding the principalship of
Equality school before moving with his
family to Mississippi County, Arkansas, some
eighteen years ago, where he followed his
profession, teaching many schools in
Missouri as well as Arkansas.
It is said of him that his pupils advanced
more rapidly under this tutorage than anyone
who had preceded him. He believed in
thoroughness in the school room and his
scholars were mindful of this and knew they
must do their best.
The deceased was principal of Dell School a
number of years, where he was employed at
the time he was stricken with that dreadful
disease diabetes, where he kept up the fight
for his life’s work until carried from the
school never to return. He was in
Blytheville hospital for some time, where he
had the best of nurses and medical
attention. He was dismissed from the
hospital and for several days was able to be
up and around in his home, but suffered a
release which developed into
spetcipnuemonia. All that medical aid
and loving hands could do was of no avail
and he passed to his reward.
Charles Edward Womack, son of Mr. and
Mrs. S. L. Womack, was born in Spring
Garden, Ill., Nov. 12, 1872, departed this
life at his home in Blytheville, Ark., Feb.
8th,1924, at 10:51 p.m., aged 51
years, 2 months and 18 days. Was
married to Alice Pickering July 10,
1901, at Dorsey Valley, five miles south of
Equality.
To this union was born five children,
two having died in infancy. The three
living are Corrine, Bernice and Jessica,
aged 19, 16, and 13 years respectfully who
are left to mourn his death together with
his wife, parents, one brother, James L., of
Chicago, five sisters, Carrie Wilson,
of Harrisburg, Ill., Annie Douglas
and Lelia Douglas, of Karnak, Ill.,
Maude Alleman, of Carlin, S.D., Bera
Shields, of Elwood, S.D., and other
relatives and a host of friends. He
was honored by having some of his old time
friends from Gallatin and Saline counties
attending the last sad rites. The
great interest manifested by the kindness,
solicitude and the loving helpfulness of the
host of friends attest to the great esteem
in which he was held. He will be sadly
missed for many days in the community where
he lived.
(Her marker in Calvin-Barber Cemetery reads:
Mary E. Otrich Hughes
Born April 14, 1859 Died Feb. 15, 1924.
M. L. Hughes Born Feb. 11,
1848 Died Dec. 7, 1881.
William E. Hughes
Born
Feb. 21, 1881 Died June 28, 1888.—Darrel
Dexter)
Eleven years ago last Thursday (14th) Rev.
Joseph Buie was found dead at the
right-of-way of the Big Four above town.
Mrs. Betty Oliver, age 49 years, 5
months and 27 days, died at her home on
Pearl Street Wednesday morning at 4:30 after
several weeks’ illness of cancer. She
leaves a husband and one daughter, Mrs.
Clarence Jobe. Funeral services
were held Thursday morning at 9:30 o’clock,
Rev. Pearman, Pentecostal minister of
Cairo conducting the burial services.
Interment in Beech Grove Cemetery.
(Her marker in Mt. Pisgah Cemetery near
Wetaug reads:
Katherine Miller Kesler Born
Aug. 21, 1907 Died Feb. 16, 1924.—Darrel
Dexter)
The death angel called in our town last
Wednesday, Feb. 13th and summoned
from life’s work Mrs. Luella Wedgewood,
of Valley Recluse, who had been ill some
weeks with influenza and symptoms of
pneumonia. Mrs. Wedgewood was
born in Belknap in 1874 and this would make
her __ years, 11 months and 4 days old at
the time of her death. She was twice
married, her first husband being John
Curran, to whom she was married in 1888,
and passed away several years ago. To
this union were born five children, two
having died, and the surviving ones are Mrs.
H. Isenberger, of Olmsted, C. F.
Curren, of Mt. Vernon, and W. F.
Curran of New Burnside. In her
second marriage she was married to Mr.
Wedgewood, who preceded her in death two
years ago.
Funeral services were Friday afternoon at
(rest illegible)
The death knell was sounded and one of the
oldest residents answered the call.
Henry J. Hudson, a resident of
Pulaski County for over half a century died
at his home in Mounds ____ afternoon
following a siege of failing health.
Mr. Hudson was a native of ___, but
came to Pulaski County from Clinton, Ky.,
when ___ and was in his 57th year
____. For a number of years he ____
farming, also conducting a store at
Friendship. He moved to Mounds in 1901
and established the mercantile business.
Deceased was twice married, his first wife
passed away in 1917. Six sons survive
that union, Ira J. Hudson, of this
county, Dr. Otis Hudson, of Mounds,
Hearty T. Hudson, agent for the
Cotton ____ at Cairo, Roy and Omar Hudson
of East St. Louis, and ___ Hudson or
Bisbee, Ariz. He is survived also by
his second wife. Funeral services were
held ___ afternoon at 2:3_ at the Methodist
church in Mounds, ___ Dever
officiating. Interment taking place at
Beech Grove Cemetery.
Mr. Hudson was a direct descendant of
Capt. Henry T. Hudson, whom the
Hudson River was named. In the family
as an heirloom for years was kept the ___l
box of Capt. Hudson.
(Henry J. Hudson married Annita
Lentz on 4 Oct 1876, in Pulaski Co.,
Ill.
A marker in New Hope Cemetery near
Ullin reads:
Claris L. infant dau. of H. J. &
Tabitha Hudson Died June 18, 1891
Aged 14 Yrs., & 4 Ds.—Darrel Dexter)
Henry Hillerich, well known ___ a
siege of illness of ___ months from asthma,
___ at his home in this ____ Monday night.
He was in his 67th year, being 67
years __ months and 10 days old. He
came here from ___ Ky., where he was ___ had
been a citizen of ___ nearly for 22 years.
He ____ alderman in our city and had engaged
in business as a florist for several ____.
He leaves in mourning his companion, four
sons, ___ Hillerich, of Rockford, W.
Va., ____ Hillerich, of this city, R.
F. Hillerich, of Mounds, and J. Earl
Hillerich of Memphis. Also six
grandchildren, three brothers, ___ sisters.
He was a member of the Congregational church
and from this house of worship the funeral
services were held at 2:00 o’clock Thursday
afternoon, Rev. S. J. Burgess
officiating. The interment taking
place in Beech Grove Cemetery.
William Marion Stringer, was born in
Livingston County, Ky., Jan. 30, 1845.
Departed this life at the home of his
daughter, Mrs. J. N. Miller in
Herrin, Ill. Feb. 8, 1924, aged 79 years and
8 days. He was the fifth child of a
family of ten children, none of whom
survive.
At the age of nine his family moved to
Missouri and from there to Illinois during
the Civil War. The family settled in
Pulaski County which has been his home until
the present time.
In 1868 he was united in marriage to Mary
Jane Kelly, of Villa Ridge, and
together they established a residence a mile
and a half southeast of Pulaski which has
been their home since that time, a period of
fifty-six years. To this union five
children were born, four of whom survive.
Frank Marion Stringer, Detroit,
Mich., Mrs. J. N. Miller, Herrin,
Ill., Mrs. C. I. Parker, Pulaski, and
Leman H. Stringer, Lilton, Wis.
He is also survived by six grandchildren,
Mrs. Ray Higdon, Britt, Iowa, Ralph
E. Stringer, Paul W. and Betty Jane
Miller, Mary Leeta Parker,
Pulaski and Mary Frances Stringer,
Milton, Wis, one great-grandchild, Ralph E.
Stringer, Jr., Herrin, Ill. At
an early age he confessed Christ and united
with the Baptist church and later became a
member of the Seventh Day Baptist Church at
Villa Ridge.
He, together with James Palmer and
Willis Needham, was active in the
organization of a C. E. society at the Mt.
Pleasant School, which proved to be a source
of spiritual and educational uplift to the
community. Since that time he has been
an ardent supporter of the Christian Church.
Throughout his life he stood for the
principals that make strong character.
He opposed evil in every form. He was
a tireless worker and had the welfare of the
community at heart. Now he passes his
torch to their hands. The pioneer has
crossed the river.
(William N. Stringer married Mary
Jane Kelly on 28 Sep 1869, in Pulaski
Co., Ill.
Joseph Newton Miller married
Lulu Stringer on 22 Jul 1896, in
Pulaski Co., Ill.—Darrel Dexter)
Henry Terrell, negro, 24 years old,
was taken to St. Mary’s Infirmary from Ullin
Saturday suffering from severe burns
received when he fell into a vat of scalding
water at the veneer plant. The flesh
of his left side, both hands and his right
leg were cooked. It was stated that
the hospital that he is expected to recover
unless complications develop.
John J. Dermody, age 54 years, and
vice president of the Order of Railway
Telegraphers for 19 years, died at his home
in Washington, D.C., Feb. 21st.
Deceased is a son-in-law of Mrs. Margaret
Crain, of this city, having married her
daughter, Alice.
Mr. Dermody, before becoming vice
president of the Order, had been an employee
of the Illinois Central railroad, serving as
operator at Mounds, Centralia and other
towns along the line. He was
successful in getting the telegraphers well
organized on the I. C. system, later serving
as their general chairman.
The funeral services were held February 22
at the residence and thence to St. Gabriel’s
Catholic Church, where mass was said at 10
o’clock.
Interment was made in Mt. Olive
Cemetery.
Mr. Dermody during the World War was
appointed a member of the board of wages and
working conditions by Secretary McAdoo
at the time the government took over the
operation of the railroads. He served
two years in that office and during that
time was granted leave of absence by the
telegraphers, so that he might serve the
workingmen in another capacity—as a member
of the board. He was a resident of
Washington for six years. He was born
in Clay City, Ill., Oct. 5th, 1869, was a
member of Putworth Citizens’ Association and
of Council No. 224 Knight of Columbus.
He is survived by his wife, four children
and two brothers.
(John Joseph Dermody, son of James
Dermody and Mary Madden, married
Alice Margaret Crain, daughter of
John Crain and Margaret Vonnida,
on 23 May 1900, in Pulaski Co., Ill.—Darrel
Dexter)
William R. Givens, formerly
trainmaster for the Illinois Central train
at Mounds, died in Chicago Thursday.
(His marker in Jonesboro Cemetery reads:
William M. Hurst
1877-1924.—Darrel Dexter)
S. Moses, who died of heart failure
Friday on his farm west of Mounds, was
buried at St. Mary’s Cemetery, Mounds,
Sunday. He had been a resident of that
section for many years. He came to the
United States from Syria, when he was a
young man and after spending six years in
this country returned to bring with him his
wife and son, George Moses, who
survives him and who lives in
Mounds. Funeral services were conducted by
Father Finney, of St. Michael’s
Church, of Mounds.
(His marker in St. Mary Catholic Cemetery
reads:
Samaha Moses 1853-1924
Mother.—Darrel Dexter)
_____ Spencer, age 68 years, ___ High
Priest of the ___ Lodge of Illinois,
prominent ___ Chapter of Cairo, ___ of the
Alexander County National Bank, died
Saturday about 3 o’clock at his home on
Eleventh Street, Cairo after an illness of
but a few days, ___ of kidney and heart ____
general breakdown.
____ Spencer was born at Ullin,
Pulaski County, June 9, 1856, ____
thereafter his parents moved to a farm near
____ where he grew to manhood. Most of his
early life was at Bloomington, _____ he
stayed with his ____er during the winter
____ attended the public school. He
attended the state normal at Normal,
graduating from Grammar school in
1875. ____ 1878 he taught a ____ school
adjoining his ____ January 1878, he came
____ where he has resided ____ and accepted
a position ____ Internal Revenue office ___
as assistant postmaster under Postmaster
John Wood, ____ of the present
mayor, ____ H. Wood. Tiring of ____
life on March 1, 1894 he ____ a position as
assistant ___ the Alexander County Bank of
Cairo, this ___ of honor and trust he ___
1923, when he was ____ to cashier to the
bank ____ retirement of James H. ______.
____ Spencer was married ____r 2,
1879, to Miss Abbie _____. His wife, son,
Frank Spencer, Jr., of Mobile, Ala.,
____ John F. Welson, of ____ and two
grandchildren, Frank Lovering Spencer
and _____ Hardwick Spencer of ____
survive him.
Funeral services were held ____ afternoon at
1:30 o’clock at the Church of the Redeemer,
conducted by the rector, Fr. L. ___ ton,
the Masonic Lodge, ____ Eastern Star.
Interment was made in the Beech Grove
Cemetery. The funeral was a large one
people from ____ of the county being _____.
Whereas our comrade and brother, John
Gleason, who died February 27th,
1924, has answered the final bugle call and
stacked arms forever and gone to the land
where no strife or discord ever
enters. Therefore
RESOLVED, That in the death of him we have
lost one who was ever loyal to his country,
was a brave, true and upright citizen, and
has gone down to his grave in ripe old age,
bearing the respect and love of all who knew
him.
RESOLVED, That we bear our united testimony
to the worth of our Brother and extend to
the bereaved family our most sincere
sympathy in this, their great loss, with the
earnest prayer that the God of all grace may
comfort them with the hope and assurance of
floating him in glory, where parting is no
more.
RESOLVED, That we drape our charter for
thirty days and that a copy of these
resolutions be handed to the bereaved
family, be spread upon our minutes, and
furnished the paper for publication.
John Gleason, a resident of Wetaug
for 40 years, died at the home of his son,
George E. Gleason, in Wetaug,
Wednesday a.m., following a siege of failing
health since last October.
Mr. Gleason was a native of Ireland,
came to this county with his parents at the
age of six and was 81 when he passed
away. At the age of 18, he enlisted in the
U. S. Navy; after serving about two years he
was honorably discharged. He was brought up
in the Catholic faith, was a member of Lodge
343 I. O. O. F. of Dongola, Ill., for 34
years and a member of the G. A. R. Post 553,
of Anna, Ill. During his active business
life, he was engaged in the grocery and
other business, but for the past several
years has been retired. He was married in
the year of 1877 to Miss Helen Jones,
who died July 1st, 1905. They
were the parents of five children, one of
whom, John, died in infancy. The others who
survive are Mrs. Maggie Lay, of
Kansas City, Mo., George E. and James E., of
Wetaug, Harry, of Detroit, Mich. The
funeral was held at the home of his son,
George, Friday, February 29, conducted by
Rev. F. Millhouse. Interment was
made in the Anna Cemetery.
(John Gleason married Helen James
on 20 Feb 1878, in Pulaski Co., Ill.
Their marker in Anna City Cemetery
reads:
John Gleason Born Sept. 27,
1843 Died Feb. 27, 1924.
Helen E. wife of John Gleason
Born Jan. 23, 1857 Died July 1, 1905.—Darrel
Dexter)
Mrs. Alex Parker, aged 74 years, who
has been making her home with a
granddaughter, at Johnston City, died this
week and the busy was brought to Beech Grove
Thursday for burial.
Deceased leaves a husband, a son,
George Parker, and Gladys and Helen
Parker, of W____son, Ill. Albert and
___ of this city are her grandchildren.
(The deceased’s name was Florence Parker.
James A. Parker married
Florence Howpe on 1 Jan 1867, in
Pulaski Co., Ill.—Darrel Dexter)
Mildred Cathrene, infant daughter of Mr. and
Mrs. Gilbert Tally died at 6 o’clock
March 11. Interment took place in the Beech
Grove Cemetery. Rev. Roy Kean
conducted the service.
Friday evening, March 7th, Gladys Moore,
wife of Ronald Moore, passed away at
her home on Park Street, following the death
of babe born to her at 3 o’clock that
afternoon. Deceased was a daughter of Mr.
and Mrs. Curt Hogue of Metropolis,
being nearly 23 years of age. She had
resided in this city for a number of years
and besides a husband, her parents she
leaves a number of brothers and sisters and
many sorrowing friends. Cecil Albright,
of Pine Bluff, Ark., and Claude Albright,
of Olmstead, brothers, were in attendance at
the funeral, which took place from the home
at 2 o’clock Sunday afternoon, Rev. Roy N.
Kean conducting the
services. Interment in Beech Grove
Cemetery. G. A. James was in charge.
While Officers Walbridge, Wilson
and Riding were looking for white
mule in an old barn in the north part of the
city Monday, they noticed some fresh dirt
and digging about they unearthed a cigar box
containing a small baby. Evidently a
premature birth. The woman who had given
birth to the babe had removed to Future
City.
___ old babe of Mr. and Mrs. ___ Britt,
who died ___ing was buried Monday ____. A
prayer service ___ the home by Rev. Roy
___. Interment in Beech Grove Cemetery.
___elene Kelly, daughter of Mr. and
Mrs. Theodore Kelly, ___ March 17th,
age 1 year, ___ months and 9 days. The ___
succumb to pneumonia, ____ visited the home
and ____ consolation. The body ____
Ridgley, Tenn., the ___ of Mr. and Mrs. ____
where the interment ____. The bereaved
parents have the sympathy of the community.,
Funeral and burial service of ____ Parker,
who died ____ of her granddaughter, ___
Bundrer in John___ ____ week, was held
at _____ Cemetery, Thursday. ____
Anderson pastor of ___ church, conducted
____. The grandsons of ____ Albert and
Carlos ____ and Clifford Parker, ____
Lee Lawless were the pallbearers.
____ Parker was formerly Miss ____
Haupe, and was born ____nia, October 6,
1849. She was married to Mr. Parker
____, 1867. To them were born ___ children,
three of whom preceded their mother in
death, ____ children, George Parker,
___ F. Lawless, both of ____, La.,
with their aged ____, she also leaves ____
children. She joined ____ church at
Bloom____ at the age of 14.
Louise Reichert, wife of August
Reichert, Sr., died at her home in Grand
Chan Sunday ____ at 8 o’clock a.m.
She was 60 years, 11 months and 2 days of
age, having ____ three months with ___
disease. She leaves besides her husband,
eleven children, ____ being 20 years of age,
two other sisters, ____. Deceased has
resided ___ city for 33 years having ____
her husband from St. _____.
Funeral services were held ____ morning at
10 o’clock ___ Catherine’s Church in Grand
Chain, ___ Rev. Charles Feeney ____
Mound City conducting ___. The bereaved
husband, ____ children have the sympathy of
the entire community.
(Her marker in St. Catherine Cemetery at
Grand Chain reads:
Louise Reichert
1863-1924.—Darrel
Dexter)
____ Maud Leidigh, wife of ____
Leidigh, died Friday at ___ o’clock at
her home ____. She was 52 years and ___
months of age, and is survived by her
husband and ____, a sister, Mrs. ___
Edwards of Hazel ____, and a brother
Her___ ___ of Chicago. Deceased was a
daughter of Homer W. ____ and had been a
resident ___ Ridge for 32 years. Funeral
services were held at the Episcopal Church
at that city __day afternoon at 2 ___
interment in Beech Grove Cemetery.
We wish to thank our friends for the
kindness rendered during the illness and
death of our father. To the Masons and all
who rendered service at the cemetery.
Mrs. Louisa Reichert, wife of August
Reichert, Sr., aged 60 years, 11
months and 2 days departed this life March
16, 1924, at her home near Grand Chain,
where she had resided for thirty-three
years.
She was born at Freeburg, Ill., April 14,
1863, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Frederick
Routh. Was united in marriage to
August Reichert September 6th,
1881. To this union were born thirteen
children, two of which died in infancy.
The surviving children are Mrs. Angeline
Merchant, Mound City, Mrs. Kathyrn
Kraatz, of Olmsted, Mrs. Ida Biggs,
Clara Reichert, Permelia Reichert,
Helen Reichert, John A. Reichert,
Fritz J. Reichert, Adam Reichert,
August A. Reichert, Jr., Robert E.
Reichert, and fourteen grandchildren,
all of Grand Chain. Besides here husband
and children she leaves two brothers, Adam
and John Roth, of Belleville, two
sisters, Mrs. Mary E. Evans, of
Freeburg, Ill., Mrs. Anna Maynard,
St. Louis.
Other relatives from out of town attending
the funeral services were Adam Routh,
Mr. and Mrs. John Routh and son Gus,
of Belleville; Mrs. Mary Evans and
son Fred Rouch, Elmer Reichert,
J. K. Reichert and son Richard,
Clarence Reichert and wife; Amil
Serth, Fred Nold, Charles
Becker, all of Freeburg. Earnest
Eberhardt, Granite City, Ill.; Mrs.
Nicholas Flach, Belleville; Mrs. Anna
Maynard, Mrs. Harry Franklin,
Mrs. Richard Repmann, William
Becker, all of St. Louis; Reulpph
Serth, East St. Louis, Mr. and Mrs. M.
J. Mahaffee and daughter, of Cairo;
Mr. and Mrs. John Arnold, of Cairo;
Mrs. Theo Green of Ridgeway, Ill.,
Mrs. Frieda Henselut, California.
She was a devoted wife and a dear mother and
was loved by all who knew her. Funeral
services were held at St. Catherine’s Church
Wednesday, 19th at 1:30 p.m. Rev.
Fr. Feeney of Mound City
officiating. G. A. James of Mound
City in charge.
William E. Shumaker, one of the
oldest and most progressive farmers of
Pulaski County, died Saturday at his home
north of Cross Roads. He was 64 years of
age and leaves a widow and a number of
children. Funeral services were held Monday
afternoon at the Congregational Church in
Villa Ridge. Rev. Joel Burgess
conducting the services. interment taking
place at Beech Grove Cemetery and members of
the Pulaski Masonic lodge conducted their
burial services.
G. A. James was the undertaker
in charge.
Tempy Taylor, an old and well known
colored resident, died Tuesday night at her
home on East First Street. She was a widow
and had been a resident of our city for over
53 years. Funeral service were held
Thursday at the Main Street Baptist church.
Burial in Beech Grove Cemetery.
(The 1880 census of Mound City has:
Armstead Taylor, 35, born in
Louisiana, black, laborer; Tempa Taylor,
29, his wife, born in Alabama, black,
washwoman; and Malinda Woods, 12, his
sister-in-law, born in Illinois.
Tempy’s sister, Malinda Woods,
was the daughter of Washington Woods
and Martha
Hockens, and married Aurelius
Cochran on 11 Mar 1896, in Pulaski Co.,
Ill..—Darrel Dexter)
Mrs. Martha Brown, age 60 years,
passed away, Thursday, March 20th,
at 10 o’clock p.m. after a brief illness of
pneumonia. It was one month and 14 days
that her husband preceded her in
death. Deceased is survived by her mother,
Mrs. Martha Huff, of Charleston, Mo.,
and seven children the latter all residing
here. They are three sons, Benjamin,
Malfus, and Austin and four daughters, Mrs.
Oran Bower, Mrs. Charles Kesee,
Mrs. John Kesee, and Miss Ruth
Brown.
Funeral services was held Saturday afternoon
at 2 o’clock at the home. Rev. A. H.
Dace conducting the service. Interment
in Beech Grove Cemetery. G. A. James
was the undertaker in charge.
Jerry O’Sullivan, age 70 years,
passed away at his home in this city at 6
o’clock Friday morning. He had been ill for
several months. Deceased was born in
Lexington, Ky., and came to this city when 9
years of age and has resided here ever
since. In 1883 he was united in marriage to
Miss Sarah Bray. This union eight
children were born, five of which preceded
him in death. Surviving him are his wife
and three children, Mrs. Ernest McKinney,
of Memphis, Mrs. Mamie Elder, of
Louisville, Ky., and Dan O’Sullivan,
of Chicago and several
grandchildren. Funeral services were held
Sunday afternoon at St. Mary’s Catholic
Church, Rev. Charles Feeney
conducting the services. There were many in
attendance, as Mr. O’Sullivan and
family were well and favorably
known. Interment in St. Mary’s Cemetery
near Mounds. G. A. James was the
undertaker in charge.
(Jeremiah O’Sullivan married Sarah J.
Bray on 12 Apr 1882, in Pulaski Co.,
Ill.
His marker in St. Mary’s Cemetery at
Mounds reads:
Jeremiah O’Sullivan 1853-1924
Father.—Darrel Dexter)
Mrs. S. H. Elias, who went to Denver
several weeks ago, on account of ill health,
passed away Tuesday night. The body was
shipped Thursday and is expected to arrive
Saturday morning in Cairo. Funeral will be
held Sunday at the Episcopal Church in
Cairo. Karcher Brothers in
charge. Mr. Elias has the sympathy
of the entire community in the sad
bereavement. Deceased won many warm friends
during her brief residence here.
William Shumaker, aged 64 years, a
resident of Pulaski County near Olmsted,
died Saturday, March 22.
Deceased was a native of Pulaski County and
spent his whole life there, except nine
years in Kansas. His parents came from
Germany and he was one of fifteen
children. He married his first wife, Mary
A. Daniels, in Kansas in 1882 and
they had seven children, Ed Shumaker,
Mrs. Anna Galliher, Mrs. Ella
Parker, Mrs. Etta Full, Dr. W. E.
Shumaker, and Miss Blanche
Shumaker, Mrs. Winnie Strawbridge. His
wife died in November 1901. He married the
second time in October 1903 to Miss Dora M.
Johnson, and five children were born,
Ruth, Alfred, Dora, Wilma and Henry.
The deceased was a member of Masonic lodge,
Modern Woodmen and Odd Fellows and was
consistent Christian from boyhood. He is
survived by his wife, children, a
stepdaughter, Mrs. Hazel Strawbridge
and six sisters, Mrs. Malinda Meyers,
of Olmsted, Mrs. Sarah Basse, of
Villa Ridge, Mrs. Bertie Higgins, of
St. Louis, Mrs. Mollie Wood, of
Owensboro, Ky., and Mrs. Jane Smith,
of Alva, Okla.
I
desire to thank all who assisted during the
illness and death of our loved one, Mrs.
Jamiley Elias Died in Denver Colo.,
Tuesday, April 1st, 1924, age 25 years. For
the beautiful floral offerings use of their
automobiles, and other expressions of
sympathy and grief.
Mrs. Ollie Livesay, of this city, and
Mr. and Mrs. Met Quarrels and son
Bobbie, went to Vienna, Sunday where they
attended the burial of J. C. Mackey,
who passed away at the home of his daughter
in Marion, Friday. He was 70 years of age
and was well known here. The burial service
were held at the Baptist church in Vienna.
Mrs. W. H. Layton, mother of Joseph
J. Layton, of this city, died at her
home in Cairo Monday afternoon. She was 77
years of age, and had been ill for some
time. Her husband who has been seriously
ill for months, is at death’s door due to
infirmities of age.
Judge Harry Hood, after weeks of
illness died at his home, 33301 Washington
Avenue, in Cairo, at 10 o’clock Saturday
night. He had been a sufferer of Bright’s
disease and he has been confined to his bed
for some time.
Judge Hood was born in August 1880,
at New Burnside, Ill., and this would make
him 43 years old. He accompanied his
parents to Olmstead, where he lived until he
was admitted to the bar in 1901. He started
practice in Mound City and remained there
for five years.
In 1906 he was married to Miss Tatum
Dougherty, and moved to Oklahoma, where
he practiced law for three or four
years. He came to Cairo in 1910 and
established himself there in the profession,
and later was appointed city attorney.
Judge Hood first came into prominence
as a political when he was elected county
judge six years ago. Held the reins of
power of the Republican Party and guided it
unfalteringly as he saw the way. Faction at
opposition developed, but he dominated and
usually carried his point.
He was a member of the Masonic organizations
of Cairo, the Kiwanis Club and other
organizations.
Surviving Judge Hood are his widow,
his mother, Mrs. Victoria Hood,
sister, Mrs. J. F. Martin, of Olmsted
and brother, Judge Fred Hood, of this
city.
The death of Judge Hood while not
unexpected, as he was known to be in a
critical condition for some time, was a
shock to the community and caused grief of
his many friends and associates. His death
leaves vacant the office of county judge of
Alexander County, which he has held for the
past six years.
The funeral was held at 1:30 Wednesday
afternoon at the First Methodist Church
conducted by Rev. J. M. Adams. The
services were attended by throngs of
friends, businessmen and county and city
officials. A splendid eulogy on the life of
Judge Hood was given by the pastor, and
music was furnished by the church
choir. The floral offerings were of great
abundance and beauty, and included many
immense wreathes and floral pieces from
various organizations.
Immediately after the services the cortege
left by automobiles for Mounds where
interment was made in Beech Grove
Cemetery. All of the county officers were
closed that afternoon for the funeral.
(John L. Martin married Jennie F.
Hood on 25 Feb 1895, in Pulaski Co.,
Ill.—Darrel Dexter)
Mrs. Shaker H. Elias, who died in
Denver, April 1st, was buried
Sunday at Beech Grove Cemetery. Funeral
services were held at the Church of the
Redeemer by Rev. L. A. Crittenton,
the rector. The cortege which proceeded in
automobiles was a large one and the floral
offerings were profuse. The entire
community sympathize with Mr. Elias
in his bereavement.
Mr. Elias received a cablegram Monday
from Jerusalem extending condolence from an
uncle of the deceased, who is an
international lawyer in that city.
William Gray, a former member of Co.
K, of Cairo, and war veteran died in San
Francisco, Cal., last week and the body
arrived in Cairo Wednesday.
A
military funeral service was held Thursday
afternoon at 1:30 o’clock at St. Patrick, a
church at Cairo, conducted by Father William
Trombley. Deceased was a brother of
Mrs. Robert Blatter, of Cairo, and
Mrs. Albert Mertz, of this city.
___ Graves, age 56 years, died
suddenly at his home at 4 o’clock ____
morning, and is supposed ____ been caused by
apoplexy ____ trouble. He was a prominent
farmer and well known in the entire county.
Surviving Mr. Graves are his ____
seven children, Henry ___ Moline, Ill., Mr.
P. J. ____ of Cairo; Francis, Mary ___ Agnes
and Nettie Graves, ___d with their
parents and ___ sisters, Mrs. C. R.
Wakeland, of Maplewood, Mo., Mrs. W. ___rer
of Mound City and Mrs. J. W. Bundschuh,
of Therr____, and brother W. O. ____ of
Mounds.
Funeral which was held ____ morning at St.
Mary’s ___ church in this city, conducted by
Father Feeney and was ____
attended. There were ___ 100 automobiles
from Cairo and surrounding county carrying
____wing friends to the church ____er to
Calvary Cemetery at Villa Ridge where the
burial took place. The floral offerings ___
great abundance.
(F. E. Graves, 27, native of
Alexander Co., Ill., son of Samuel Graves
and Mary Littlejohn, married Mary
Elizabeth “Lizzie” Kinker, 24,
daughter of J. H. Kinker and
Catharine Walker, on 25 Jun
1895, in Pulaski Co., Ill.
Charles Richard Wakeland
married Nettie Graves, daughter of
Samuel Horry Graves and Mary
Catharine Littlejohn, on 17
Apr 1895, in Pulaski Co., Ill.
John Wesley Bundschuh married
Flora Graves on 20 Apr 1897, in
Pulaski Co., Ill.
A marker in Calvary Cemetery at Villa
Ridge reads:
F. E. Graves 1868-1924
Father.—Darrel Dexter)
Mrs. W. T. Morris, mother of Mrs. L.
C. Stophlet of this city was stricken
Friday with an attack of heart trouble while
seated at the dinner table at her home in
Jerseyville, Ill., and died after neighbors
summoned by her husband arrived. Mrs.
Morris was 68 years of age and the wife
of Rev. W. T. Morris, pastor of the
Methodist church.
Mrs. Morris recently fell down a
flight of stairs and sustained bruises which
it is thought were contributory to her
death.
Her daughter, Mrs. Stophlet, was
called and had been caring for the deceased
had departed for Chicago where she went to
visit a son, had left the home only a few
hours before death occurred. The body was
taken to Fairfield for burial.
Charles Pleasant Hersley, the
eight-month-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles
Roach, of Mounds, died Monday at the
home of his grandmother, Mrs. Oliver,
in this city, after a brief illness. The
remains were taken to Pulaski Tuesday for
burial. G. A. James in charge.
Clarence Ashby, age 46, a well known
salesman of Cairo, dropped dead late
Saturday afternoon behind the steering wheel
of a truck he was driving north on the
concrete road, just south of the interurban
crossing.
Apoplexy was the cause of his death,
according to the coroner’s jury at the
inquest ___ morning. He was driving a
Coca-Cola Co. truck and headed for Dongola
with a ____. Sitting in the front seat with
him was his son, Sterling, ___ age 18, and
F. White____ had just been conversing
with his son and the other ____. He
suddenly slumped forward dead. While
White held the ____ the son grasped the
wheel and turned off the ignition the
___sting to a stop.
S. Watkins, a well known farmer,
residing near Villa Ridge, passed away at
his home Wednesday morning following a
stroke of apoplexy. He leaves besides
his wife, two daughters, Mrs. S. S.
Thompson and Mrs. L. H. Needham,
of Ullin, and four sons, James, George, Will
and Roy Watkins. The latter son
made his home with his parents.
Funeral services were held from the home
Thursday afternoon with burial at Jonesboro.
(Samuel Watkins married Mary E. E.
Williams on 24 Oct 1875, in Union Co.,
Ill.
His marker in Jonesboro Cemetery
reads:
Samuel Watkins Born Nov. 15,
1852 Died April 30, 1924.
M. Ellen Watkins Born Nov. 16,
1855 Died Oct. 28, 1943.—Darrel Dexter)
Mrs. Ellen O. F. P. Tingle was born
in Joplin, Missouri, Oct. 17, 1850, and died
at her home in Ullin, April 30, 1924.
She was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William
and Elizabeth Tingle.
She was married to Richard Hickman in
1869 and to them were born two children:
Franklyn Hickman, of Ullin, and
Louise, a daughter, who died in infancy.
She left surviving her demise her husband,
son Frank, and three grandchildren:
Alberta, Dorothea Belle and Frances Kate
Hickman, all of Ullin. She also
leaves one brother, Charles Tingle,
of Joplin, Mo., and two sisters, Mesdames
Hettie Ellis of Vancouver,
Washington, and Rachael Cannon, of
Nevada Missouri.
Mrs. Hickman had resided in Ullin for
49 years and both she and her husband were
well known here during those years.
She was a Christian lady and was highly
respected by all who knew her.
Funeral services were held at the residence
Friday afternoon, May 2, conducted by Rev.
C. L. Phifer, after which the body
was laid to rest in the family lot at the
Ullin Cemetery.
(Aaron T. Atherton married Mary H.
Conyers on 8 Nov 1885, in Alexander Co.,
Ill.
Her marker in Shiloh Cemetery reads:
Mary wife of A. T. Atherton
Born Oct. 4, 1859 Died April 27,
1924.—Darrel Dexter)
P. B. Lawler, ex-brakeman for the
Illinois Central Railroad, who was arrested
last September charged with the murder of I.
C. C. Conductor S. L. Brooks, was
acquitted in circuit court at Murphysboro
late Friday evening. The trial
consumed the whole week. Brooks
was found dead in the caboose of his train
when the train arrived at Carbondale last
August 15. Lawler, who lives
near Villa Ridge, was suspected of the crime
and arrested and was later indicted by a
Jackson County grand jury. It is
stated the evidence against Lawler
was all circumstantial, there being no eye
witnesses to the killing. It was a
hard fought case by both sides.
Gibson Hughes, while working with his
automobile at his home Wednesday, suffered a
paralytic stroke, which effected his entire
left side, and for a time was speechless.
He was assisted into his home by his wife
and his resting easier today. He is in
his 81st year and this being a
second attack is proving quite severe with
him. Mr. Hughes has an older
brother, who resides in Baum, Texas.
Mr. and Mrs. William M. Rice motored
to Campbell Hill, Ill. ____ on account of
the death of ____ Benson, mother of
Mrs. Rice, who passed away after
several days’ illness at an advanced age.
(W. P. Rice married Minnie Benson
on 2 Oct 1898, in Jackson Co., Ill.—Darrel
Dexter)
I
wish to express my thanks and appreciation
to the many friends who so kindly assisted
us during the brief illness and death of our
loved one. Also for the many words of
sympathy and the beautiful floral offerings.
For the kind words spoken by the pastor and
to those who extended the use of their cars
to get the friends and relatives to the
cemetery.
Gibson Hughes, age 81, who was
stricken last week with a paralytic stroke,
passed to his reward at 8:30 Saturday
morning. He was rendered speechless by
the stroke, but was conscious almost to the
last. He leaves a widow and a brother,
who is five years his senior, at Beaumont,
Texas.
The funeral services were held at the M. E.
church Monday afternoon at 1:30 o’clock
conducted by Rev. Roy N. Kean, pastor
of the church. The services were
largely attended, the floral offerings were
many and beautiful. After the services
the funeral cortege left by automobile for
Olmsted where burial was made in the Masonic
Cemetery, G. A. James, undertaker in
charge.
(Gibson Hughes married Fredonia
Walker on 14 May 1879, in Pulaski Co.,
Ill.
His marker in Olmsted Masonic
Cemetery reads:
Gibson Hughes
1843-1924.—Darrel Dexter)
When we step across the bridge of death, it
is no foreign land that we enter, but our
native home. We are made to mourn and
miss those that familiar forms that pass out
constantly from us and the dear home circle
and in the light of morning their faded
forms were vividly brought back to view.
And yet they are not dead, they are but
sleeping.
It is only with deep regret that we
chronicle the passing out from life another
highly respected woman of this city.
Mrs. Lillie Sheerer, beloved wife of
Edward Sheerer, where death occurred
Friday morning at 11 o’clock.
Mrs. Edward Sheerer was born Dec. 2,
1869, this making her 54 years and 6 months
old at the time of her demise. She was
united in marriage to Edward Sheerer
in 1888. To this union five children
was born, namely Samuel, who preceded his
mother in death several years ago, Mrs. Earl
Giles, of Mounds, Mrs. Oma Watson,
Calvin and Miss Mary Ann Sheerer, of
this city. With the husband, the four
children and a number of grandchildren
survive the deceased.
Only a month ago her brother, Edward
Graves, died suddenly and while Mrs.
Sheerer had been in ill health, her
death was a shock to the community.
Stricken with a paralytic stroke, she never
regained consciousness.
Funeral services were held Sunday afternoon
at the Methodist church, Rev. W. P.
Anderson, of Cairo, assisted by Rev. Roy
N. Kean, conducted the services.
The church was packed and the cortege of
automobiles to the cemetery was a large one.
Mrs. Sheerer was a member of Zion
White Shrine of Jerusalem No. 58 and the
officers of this order conducted burial
services at the grave. Deceased was
the first member of the local order to pass
away.
Mrs. Lily Sheerer was born December
2, 1869, at Valley Recluse. At the
time of her marriage in 1888, to Edward
Sheerer, she came to Mound City where
she has since resided.
When about sixteen years old she united with
the Christian Church where she held
membership at the time of her death.
Mrs. Sheerer was a member of the
Eastern Star. In 1921 she helped
organize the White Shrine being one of the
charter members of that lodge.
Mrs. Sheerer’s death followed an
illness which began in February, but from
which she had apparently recovered.
Wednesday night May 21, however, she was
stricken suddenly and after lingering until
Friday about noon she slipped quietly into
the better world.
Mrs. Sheerer’s life was devoted
wholly to her family. Were her
children and grandchildren happy, then her
cup of joy was full. No sacrifice was
too great for her to make: no task of
love too difficult for her to do.
Two sisters and one brother also survive the
deceased. Mrs. C. R. Wakeland,
St. Louis; Mrs. J. W. Bundschuh,
Thermal, Cal., and Mr. W. O. Graves,
Mounds.
Then there are ten living grandchildren, who
will miss their grandmother’s love.
Two, Florence and Madeline, granddaughters,
Mrs. Sheerer took the place of a
mother, having had the care of them since
infancy. The other grandchildren are
Clyde, Edward, Calvin Earl and Maxine
Watson; Louis and Earl Giles,
Jr.; Dale and Edward Sheerer.
We know not why death must come, but
sometime we’ll understand in God’s good
time, we’ll understand.
(William E. Sheerer married Lilly D.
Graves on 14 Jul 1888, in Alexander
Co., Ill.—Darrel Dexter)
He who doeth all things well in his entire
portion has deemed it fitting to remove from
among us and take beyond the confines of
this earth the wife of William H. Leidigh.
Mrs. Elizabeth Leidigh, aged 81
years, 11 months passed away at 9:30 o’clock
Thursday night, at the Leidigh home
three miles east of Villa Ridge. She
had been in failing health all winter and
her death was not unexpected.
Mrs. Leidigh whose maiden name was
Elizabeth Hogendobler, was a native
of Chester Hill, Lancaster County, Pa., and
accompanying her parents removed to near
Dayton, Ohio, when a small girl. The
Leidigh family also native
Pennsylvanians also removed to Ohio and Mr.
Leidigh enlisted in the Union army
from Ohio. At the close of the war,
they were married and a few months later, in
December 1865, they removed to Villa Ridge,
settling upon what is now the Spaulding
place. Later they acquired the present
Leidigh homestead and have lived
there for 44 years.
Besides her husband, who survives, are a
brother, Horace G. Hogendobler, of
Villa Ridge, and eight children:
Walter, Minnie, Mrs. Harry Neistrath,
Harry, Dee, Fred, of Dongola, Charles who
recently removed to Valparaiso, Ind., and
Maggie. With the exception of two, all
reside in this county within a few miles of
their parents’ home.
There are also thirteen grandchildren and
sixteen nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were held Sunday afternoon
at 1:30 o’clock at the residence. Rev.
Charles H. Armstrong, of Nashville,
Tenn., a close friend of the family,
officiated. Interment in Villa Ridge
cemetery.
The large attendance of friends and loved
ones and the beautiful floral offerings
indicated the esteemed in which she was
held. She was much devoted to her
family and friends.
(Her marker in Cairo City Cemetery at Villa
Ridge reads:
Elizabeth M. Leidigh
1842-1924.—Darrel Dexter)
Judge William N. Butler, age 67, of
Cairo, passed quietly away at his home early
Monday morning following an attack of the
heart. With the diligence
characteristic of his thirty-seven years of
judicial service, he remained on the bench
until the docket was cleared the day before
the fatal stroke.
After receiving the degree of bachelor of
laws in 1883 from the Albany Law School,
four years after completing a course of
study at the University of Illinois, Mr.
Butler settled in Cairo. For
sixteen years he filled the post of state’s
attorney competently and well. In 1903
he was elected judge of this circuit and has
been returned to office regularly every four
years by a people appreciative of his
merits.
Surviving are his wife, Mrs. Mary Mattoon
Butler, and five children, Comfort
Strait, William Glenn, Franklin M., Mary and
July Royce.
Funeral services were held Wednesday morning
at the Presbyterian church of which he was a
member. Interment followed in the
cemetery at Anna the home of his early
youth.
(His marker in Anna City Cemetery reads:
William N. Butler
1856-1924.—Darrel Dexter)
Mrs. M. J. McBride, age 65 years, and
11 months, of Villa Ridge, died Wednesday
noon at St. Mary’s Infirmary in Cairo after
a brief illness that was not considered
fatal. Her death comes as a distinct
shock to the many friends who had always
known her to be in apparently perfect
health.
Mrs. McBride, who was Lizzie A.
Sharrick before her marriage, was born
in Pennsylvania. At an early age she
moved to Pulaski County where her friendly
personality and amiable disposition won the
love and respect of the countryside.
With her husband, who is a well known
horticulturalist, she has worked
industriously at the homestead for more than
forty years, until it had become a model
home and farm.
Besides her husband, she is survived by one
son, Orland L. McBride, two brothers,
Andrew M. Sharrick and William H.
Sharrick, both of Villa Ridge, also a
sister, Mrs. Mary A. Helman, of Fort
Worth Texas.
Funeral services will be held at 2 o’clock
Friday afternoon in Villa Ridge
Congregational Church, Rev. Armstrong
of near Nashville, Tenn., officiating.
Interment in the Villa Ridge cemetery.
(Martin J. McBride married Lizzie A.
Sherrick on 16 Jan 1884, in Pulaski
Co., Ill.
Her marker in Cairo City Cemetery at
Villa Ridge reads:
Lizzie A. McBride
1858-1924.—Darrel Dexter)
We take this means to thank the friends of
our beloved father for their many kindnesses
during his illness and for the beautiful
floral offerings and generous use of
automobiles at the funeral. These
manifestations of a warm sympathy and
thoughtfulness are not to be quickly
forgotten.
Miss Elizabeth Kelly, aged 85,
formerly of Villa Ridge, died last Saturday
morning at St. Mary’s Infirmary in
Cairo. Fore more than twenty-five years she
had lived with her sister, Mrs. O’Leary,
of Villa Ridge. Last September,
however, she took her home in the Cairo
hospital on account of her feeble condition.
Funeral services were conducted in St.
Joseph’s Church in Cairo Monday morning.
The remains were then taken to Calvary
Cemetery at Villa Ridge and interred.
Pallbearers were: T. M. __ley,
J. H. Galligan, E. J. Snider,
J. E. Luby, J. B. Delaney, and
Thomas Campbell, of Mound City,.
Lewis Gore, age 76, pioneer farmer,
died Sunday at his home five miles west of
Olmsted. He was widely known
throughout Pulaski County, having for many
years operated a large country store and
served as postmaster.
Mr. Gore is survived by two sons,
Edward B., of Olmsted, and Don, who lives on
his father’s place, and a daughter, Bessie,
of Chicago, Ill.
Funeral services were held Tuesday afternoon
at Center Church.
(Lewis Gore married Hulda Waters
on 23 Sep 1873, in Pulaski Co., Ill.
His marker in Concord Cemetery near
Olmsted reads:
Lewis Gore 1848-1924
Hulda Gore 1852-1919.—Darrel
Dexter)
Charles Thomas Moyers, age 7 years, 1
month and 19 days, died from the effects of
scarlet fever at 1:45 o’clock last Saturday
morning. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs.
C. J. Moyers and the only child.
Funeral services were conducted from the
house Sunday afternoon by Rev. Joel
Burgess. Interment followed in the
Thistlewood Cemetery north of Mounds.
Director G. A. James had charge of
funeral arrangements.
John Spencer Bowles, age 23,
succumbed to a life long attack of
tuberculosis at 7 o’clock Saturday night at
the home of his mother, Mrs. Jane Bowles,
about four miles west of Mounds. Mr.
Bowles was an enterprising young
farmer and liked by everybody with whom he
dealt. He has been unable to work
since last November on account of an injury
to his left leg which necessitated
amputation.
He is survived by his mother and brothers,
Cecil, of Cairo, and Arthur, Ernest, Dudley
and Roy, of near Mounds. A sister,
Miss Myrtle, lived with him on the farm.
Funeral services were held Sunday afternoon
from the Baptist church of Mounds, Rev.
George Waldron officiating.
Interment in the Thistlewood Cemetery.
G. A. James had charge of the funeral
arrangements.
A
pioneer was lost at Mounds last Saturday
night, when Mrs. Sarah Ann Runnals,
age 73, was called into the world beyond.
Valvular heat disease was the cause of the
death.
Mrs. Runnals was born in Stalbridge,
England, April 24, 1852, and came to this
country 42 years ago, setting in Illinois,
She came to Mounds when it was scarcely more
than a wilderness. Her husband, Rev.
J. H. Runnals, formerly pastor of the
Congregational church, died exactly ten
years ago to the day of her death.
She is survived by three sons and two
daughters: W. Runnals, agent of
the American Railway Express Co., at Cairo;
D. Runnals, agent for the Illinois
Central at Carbondale; L. Runnals, of
Eagle Rock Calif., Mrs. A. L. Norfleet,
of Danville, and Miss Ethel Runnals,
who made her home with her mother.
Funeral services were conducted from the
Congregational church Monday afternoon by
Rev. George B. Waldron.
Interment was made in Beech Grove Cemetery,
Director G. A. James in charge.
Mrs. Sallie Wilford, aged 74 years,
died Sunday at her home in Mounds, after
ailing gradually for some time. She
was an amiable woman with a wealth of
respect from all who knew her.
Mrs. Wilford is survived by eight
married daughters, all of whom were
represent at the funeral Tuesday afternoon:
Mrs. O. C. Walker, Mrs. H. D.
Wilkinson, Mrs. Bess Rollins, of
Mounds, Mrs. F. M. Ireland, of Gary,
Ind., Mrs. Percy Clark of Oklahoma
City, Mrs. Sadie Flack, of Savannah,
Ga., Mrs. B. L. Poyner, and Mrs. Ina
B. Caccaro, of Memphis.
The deceased was laid to her final rest in
the Thistlewood Cemetery, services being
conducted from the First Methodist Church.
Mrs. M. O. Cole had charge of the
funeral.
The body of Mose Dickins, age
60, colored, was found in Cache River
Tuesday evening one mile from the old
Spencer mill near Pulaski by Dewey
Cruze. At the inquest Tuesday
night, Coroner John Steele, of Mound
City, returned a verdict of accidental death
by drowning.
Dockins
was a bachelor who lived with John Mize
on the latter’s farm. He had been
missing since July 4, but not thought that
he was in the water.
___rville Ray Hale, two-year-old son
of Mr. and Mrs. Roy Hale, died at the
home of his parents in Mound City last
Thursday. The infant had been
suffering from congestion of the stomach.
Interment was made July 4th in
the Shiloh Cemetery.
Eliza Sanders, age 42, colored, died
at her home in Mound City on Thursday night.
Funeral (rest missing)
Charles E. Dishinger, age 58 years, 8
months, was summoned to the world eternal at
12:25 this morning at his home ___th Main
Street, following a five-year fight with
tuberculosis. He has been ex___ ill
for the past six ___.
Mr. Dishinger is well known by
everybody in the country, ___ lived in Mound
city all _____. His father, John
Dishinger, who was born in Germany,
settled in this city ___ was no more than a
____.
Mr. Dishinger was employed in the
shipyards for thirty-five years ___ starting
in as a carpenter apprentice, then taking
____ of the blacksmith shop. ___t his
own home more ____ years ago.
The deceased is survived by ___ second wife,
Mrs. Mary Dishinger, and two sons, C.
W. Dishinger, of Jacksonville,
Fla., and Henry Dishinger, of Mound
City, a brother John, of America, a sister,
Mrs. Elizabeth Wil____ of Mound City,
also five grandchildren, Willie Jr., of
___ville, Fla., Harry Jr.. ____ Frederick
Jr., and ___ of Mound City.
Funeral services will be conducted from the
home at 2:00 tomorrow by the Knights ____.
Rev. Joel Burgess ___ the last rites
and the Congregational church choir will ___
music. Interment will be in the Beech
Grove Cemetery. Director G. A.
James in charge.
(Charles E. Dishinger married Lillie
L. Simpson on 8 Jan 1889, in Pulaski
Co., Ill.—Darrel Dexter)
He came to the United States when nineteen
and afterward returned to Scotland, coming
back to this country in a short time and
settling at Springfield, Ohio. Here he
met and married Miss Kate Sullivan,
October 11, 1870, and to this union there
were born ten children, three of whom have
preceded their father into the next world.
They were: Grace, Winnsford and James
Alexander. The surviving children are
Mrs. Maud Short, of Ullin, William
Guild, of Tamms, Mrs. Millie Vaughan,
of Sheridan, Wyoming, Jonathan Guild,
of Rock Island, Ill., Mrs. Nellie
Creswell, of Arvada, Wyoming, Daniel
Guild, of Ullin, Ill., and Mrs. Mary
Mowery, of Ullin, Ill.
His first wife died January 17, 1912, and
was buried at Mt. Pisgah, near Wetaug, where
on Tuesday, July 15, he himself was laid to
rest.
Funeral services were conducted at the Mt.
Pisgah Church on last Tuesday morning by
Rev. C.L. Phifer, pastor of the M. E.
Church at Ullin. This church was
crowded with friends and relatives, who had
come to pay their last respects to a man who
had lived so long in their midst.
He was a member of the old Reformed church
at Wetaug a number of years ago, but when
Pisgah was built, he and his first wife
joined there and have since been members.
About two weeks ago Mr. Guild fell
from the barn and suffered complications
from which he died. Ever since his
injuries he has been telling his children of
his profession in Christ.
He was again married May 18, 1915, to Mrs.
Sarah Zimmer, of St. Louis, the
present wife surviving his demise.
Mr. Guild was one of the most
prosperous farmers in this country.
His home is in Alexander County, but his
trading places were in Pulaski and he had a
wide acquaintance. He came to the farm
where he died when it was gown up in woods,
cleared the land and has since lived on the
same place. He was a lover of home and
seldom went away from the farm.
(Paul Ernest Mowery married Mary
Agnes Guild on 31 Oct 1914, in Union
Co., Ill.—Darrel Dexter)
Mrs. Irvin Connell and Mr. and Mrs. Roy Connell were
called to Mound City last week on account of
the death of their stepfather Charles
Dishinger.
John Mitchell, age 8 years, 3 months,
son of Ernest Mitchell, who lives on
the Meridian Road one mile north of town,
drowned at 2 o’clock Wednesday afternoon in
Hess’s Bayou.
The young Mitchell had been playing
with his brother on the creek bank. He
stepped on a log, lost his balance and fell
into the creek, drowning in four and one
half feet of water.
Funeral and interment were held in Beech
Grove Cemetery yesterday morning. Director
G. A. James officiating.
James Malley, age 70 and a resident
of Mounds for a quarter of a century, died
at 3:15 o’clock yesterday afternoon at his
home on North Delaware street. He had
been ailing in health for some time.
Mr. Malley has fought the good fight.
He was respected and admired by all who knew
him for the genial nature that attached
itself to his moral integrity.
It is expected that the funeral services
will be held at 9 o’clock tomorrow from St.
Raphael’s Church. Rev. J. T. Sonnen
of Mound City officiating. Karcher
Brothers of Cairo will direct the interment
in St. Mary’s Cemetery
(His marker in St. Mary’s Cemetery at Mounds
reads:
James Thomas Malley Born ___
__, 1855 Died July 17, 1924, Aged 69
Years.—Darrel Dexter)
Lee Walker, age 46 years, and seven
months, died at 8:15 o’clock last Thursday
evening at his home one and one quarter
miles east of Grand Chain, following a brief
illness of three weeks and an attack of
typhoid fever.
Mr. Walker was a well known and
respected farmer. Before moving to
Grand Chain 18 years ago, he made his home
in Mound City. His passing into the
great beyond was quiet and peaceful.
Surviving him is his wife and three sons,
Albert, Esper and Harry, three brothers,
Albert E. Walker of Mound City, Ira
Walker, of Toledo, Ohio, and Luther
Walker of St. Louis, Mo. and a
sister, Mrs. Harry Stout, of
Bloomington, Ind. All were present at
the funeral. James V. Walker,
father of the deceased, was unable to
attend.
The last services were held Saturday
afternoon in the Congregational Church, Rev.
L. C. Belknap of Mattoon, Ill.,
officiating. Rev. Belknap was a
close and admired friends of Mr. Walker
when he occupied the Grand Chain parsonage
up until three months ago. Interment
was made in the Grand Chain cemetery.
(Lee Walker, 22, born in Dongola, son
of James V. Walker and Elizabeth
Woodard, married Cyrus A. Steers,
daughter of Cyrus Steers and Nancy
Cline, on 22 Jul 1900, in Pulaski Co.,
Ill.
His marker in Grand Chain Masonic
Cemetery reads:
Lee O. Walker Born Dec. 13,
1877 Died July 17, 1924.—Darrel Dexter)
Seymour Welch, age 38, of Olmsted,
died at 9:390 o’clock Tuesday morning on the
Wilson lawn east of Villa Ridge after
an all night chase of the negro murderers.
Mr. Welch had been suffering from
heart trouble and was will when he entered
in the excitement of the cross country hunt.
Ed B. Gore was with him at the end.
Mr. Welch remarked that he was
feeling weak, requiring the assistance of
Mr. Gore to stretch out under a tree.
He lay quiet, muttered once that he was
feeling better, then in two minutes was gone
forever.
He is survived by a wife and six children.
Funeral services were held Thursday
afternoon. Rev. Corzine, pastor
of the Southern Methodist Church or Cairo
officiating. Interment followed in
Concord Cemetery near Olmsted.
(His marker in Concord Cemetery near Olmsted
reads:
Seymore Welch Born Aug. 13,
1884 Died July 22, 1924.
Rosa wife of Seymore Welch
Born Aug. 12, 1892.—Darrel Dexter)
Miss Daisy Wilson, beautiful
18-year-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. C.
Wilson, was shot and instantly killed
at 10:35 o’clock Monday night when she went
to the defense of her father, who was
attacked in his store by two unknown negro
robbers.
Mr. Wilson operates a grocery store
on the old Zimmerman place, two and
one half miles east of Villa Ridge. He
had just closed up for the night and a half
dozen or more of his neighbors who had been
sitting on the front porch, Bob Endicott,
Lou Endicott, Elmer Koonce,
Earl Hillman, Bill Bour, and
Steve Lampley, had departed for their
several homes.
Two negroes called to him from the road,
asking if he would open up the store to sell
them a sack of flour. He had got out
the flour and was cutting some meat when one
of the negroes pushed a gun in his face and
commanded Mr. Wilson to put up his
hands. The merchant at once grappled
with the man and at one time had almost
wrested the gun from his grasp.
Hearing the scuffle in the store and not
knowing what was detaining her father, Daisy
ran from the house to assist him. She
beat the negro and threw a scale weight at
him. The fight carried them out the
rear door of the store. Ten feet form
the door, beneath the cherry tree, Daisy
fell and in attempting to arise, the small
black negro shot point blank and instantly
killed her, the bullet passing through her
forehead above the left eye.
The other assailant, who is said to be
slightly mulatto and three inches taller
than his companion, ran into the store to
get whatever money he could only to make
away with 24 cents.
Mrs. Wilson came from the house with
an unloaded shotgun and seeing her daughter
fall, dropped the gun and rushed to her
side. Mr. Wilson secured shells
and fired a couple of times through the
peach orchard, but the night had swallowed
the darkies.
Within a half hour the whole countryside was
aroused and in arms. Sheriff I. J.
Hudson and special agents Winchester
and Cruze of Mounds went to the scene
immediately. Bloodhounds were brought
from Mounds and Water Valley, Ky., and put
on the trial which led down the Meridian
Road, passed Joe Bour’s place, then
across fields in the direction of north
Mounds. Here the scent was lost.
These were immediately taken to the city
jail of Mounds and held for preliminary
identification. Mr. Wilson was
summoned and after a long study said that he
thought they were the guilty ones.
The captives were guarded and taken to the
county jail in Mound City where they
remained the rest of the day. Sheriff
Hudson sensed the growing sentiment
against the prisoners and at 7:15 o’clock
arranged for their removal by Deputies A. J.
Riding and James Wilson in
Riding’s curtained touring car.
Hudson and Winchester met the car
further down the street and the four guards
and three prisoners two from Memphis and one
Fred Hale of Cairo, proceeded rapidly
to an undisclosed place of security.
Deputy Charles Walbridge was left in
charge of the jail and its 11 negro
occupants. The spiriting away of the
suspects had been accomplished so smoothly
that the mob which formed during the night
would not believe they were not there.
When several of the leaders, who had been
taken in to inspect the jail, returned and
told the crowd that the men had gone, they
were hooted at and called liars and cowards.
The mob Tuesday night was composed chiefly
of drunken ruffians many of whom were young
men. The courthouse square and street
adjoining were one tangle of automobiles and
excited humanity. Many cars were
parked bearing Herrin and Marion nameplates.
The Villa Ridge farmers had nothing to do
with the demonstration Tuesday night.
All night the 18 deputies stood patient
watch on the jail porch and in the
courthouse. Riot guns were available
for use in emergency. Profanity and
hesitancy characterized the mob which
insulted the deputies, threw rocks, and
fired a shot into Mrs. Hudson’s
apartment in the jail house, the bullet
going through the living room and burying
itself in the kitchen wall. A shot was
also fired into the vault of the county
clerk’s office. The street light was
smashed with a rock.
Walbridge
telephoned Gov. Small at 1 o’clock
who ordered Co. K of Cairo to proceed with
all haste to Mound City. When the
infantry arrived everything had quieted.
At 3 o’clock the demonstration had ceased
entirely. The sheriff returned at 5:35
o’clock.
Whether Moore and Jones of
Memphis are the criminals is a mooted
question. They have an unshakable
alibi in their own story and in the
testimony of a brakeman who brought them in
from the south Tuesday morning.
What authorities consider to be the best
description of the murderers was given by
Mrs. Oma Currie and daughter Ruby,
negresses, with whom the slayers Monday
afternoon tried to arrange a date. The
Currie woman states firmly that the
suspects from Memphis are not the ones she
conversed with and eluded.
Funeral services for Miss Wilson were
held at 2 o’clock Wednesday afternoon from
the Wilson home. Rev. C. R.
Dunlap pastor of the Lutheran Church of
Cairo paid an eloquent tribute to the
character and bravery of the beautiful
woman.
When the funeral cortege arrived at Beech
Grove Cemetery a great throng had already
assembled to attend the simple commitment
services at the grave. The casket was
banked with many beautiful floral offerings
from friends of the girl.
Mr. and Mrs. Pete Deimund and family
of Cape Girardeau, and Charles Diemund
of Cairo, brother-in-law of Mr. Wilson
also Mrs. Wilson’s brother, Jessie
Wilson, of Cobden, were at the funeral.
(F. H. Moreland, who organized the
Klan in Pulaski County, was from Cairo.
He was born in March 1852 in Kentucky
and was married in 1898 to Mrs. Gertrude
Ort, who was born January 1862 in
Iowa.—Darrel Dexter)
Mrs. Mary Herron, age 25 years, died
at 9 o’clock Monday morning at St. Mary’s
Infirmary in Cairo. She was the
daughter of G. W. Gibberson, Captain
of the Salvation Army, in Oskaloosa, Ia.,
and the first Salvationist in charge of the
Army in Cairo.
Mrs. Herron’s son, Clarence, age four
months and three weeks died last Saturday
afternoon. Both bodies left Cairo at
11:10 o’clock Tuesday morning on the
Illinois Central for burial in Decatur, Ill.
Youthful Accomplice Given Life Term at Chester After Both Murderers
Plead Guilty
HANGING SET FOR OCTOBER 17th
COURTROOM CROWDED WEDNESDAY NIGHT
Hess Conners, 22, negro of 218
Twenty-eighth Street, Cairo, was sentenced
Wednesday night by Judge D. T. Hartwell
to hang for the killing of Miss Daisy
Wilson, daughter of J. C. Wilson,
who was shot and killed Monday night, July
21, when she came to the defense of her
father attacked by negro robbers.
The execution of Conners will
take place Friday, October 17, in the Mound
City courtyard.
The state’s statute provides that a
man must not be hung within fifteen days
after he is sentenced, or before the tenth
day of the next term of the Supreme Court.
This is to allow a chance for review
where review is necessary.
The Supreme Court of this state
convenes October 7. In passing sentence,
Judge Hartwell fixed the earliest
possible date of execution.
Fred Hale, of Cairo, 19,
colored, accomplice of Conners, was
given a life term sentence of hard work at
the Southern Illinois State Penitentiary at
Chester.
For the remainder of his “entire and
natural life,” he is to labor on the rock
pile, and on the anniversary of the killing
he is to be put in solitary confinement for
a day’s reflection.
The courtroom was thronged Wednesday
afternoon when the murderers entered their
formal plea of guilty after the judge had
explained and repeated to them their legal
right to a jury.
They were asked four times if they
clearly understood the consequences of their
plea, and each time they assented.
The penalties by law were made plain
by the judge.
The trial of Conners and
Hale was set for 10 o’clock Wednesday
morning after the grand jury had turned in
an indictment the day before.
When they first appeared and pleaded
guilty, judge Hartwell refused to
accept their plea on the ground that they
were not fully acquainted with their legal
rights.
The court then appointed Carl S.
Miller and Judge W. A. Wall, two
of the ablest attorneys in their part of the
state, to advise with the prisoners for two
hours.
Court was adjourned until 1:15
o’clock.
When the court reconvened in the
afternoon, the prisoners were firm in
maintaining their plea of guilty, which the
judge finally accepted.
Investigation into the evidence was
ordered at once, and J. C. Wilson,
father of Daisy Wilson, was the first
to testify.
Mr. Wilson gave a straight
forward account of how the negroes which he
pointed out as Conners
and
Hale came into the store in the
afternoon of Monday, July 21, Conners
buying a package of cigarettes.
They returned later to make
arrangements for some groceries, which they
were to call for late that evening.
After everyone had left the store and
Mr. Wilson had locked up, a voice
from the road hailed him:
“Hey, Can we get them groceries?
We just got to have some groceries
tonight.”
Mr. Wilson got the keys and
opened the store reluctantly.
Hale did the talking.
He asked for a sack of flour, and
then for a piece of meat.
When the storekeeper had finished
cutting the meat, Conners stuck a 38
caliber Smith and Weston in his side and
commanded him to “stick ‘em up.”
A scuffle ensued, the fight carrying
them out the back door.
Miss Daisy Wilson had entered
the store with her father, and now
unhesitatingly came in his assistance.
The fight was carried on through the
rear entrance of the store, Conners
retaining the gun.
Hale took no part in the
fight, but grabbed a cigar box containing 26
pennies and ran.
Conners testified Wednesday
night that he shot “just to be shootin’.”
Miss Daisy was on the ground and as
she attempted to rise, the negro fired, the
bullet entering her brain and killing her
instantly.
After the killing, Conners
joined Hale in the peach orchard
across the road.
They went down the Meridian Road,
turned off past Joe Bour’s place,
then separated, Conners heading south
toward Mound City, and Hale going off
west in the direction of Mounds.
Hale was captured the morning
after the slaying, along with two Memphis
negroes.
Conners was not arrested until
late last Friday afternoon in Future City
when his suspicious actions brought about
his capture by Deputy Sheriff John
Whittfield, negro, Alexander County.
A colored boy stumbled on Conners
hiding in the weeds and was at once attacked
by Conners who thought the boy to be
a deputy.
After being knocked down three times
by the boy Conners hit the superior
pugilist with a brick and fled.
By this time, however, Whitfield
was attracted to the scene, gave pursuit and
forced Conners to halt.
James Wilson, deputy sheriff
of Pulaski County, went alone into the cell
of Conners last Saturday morning and
came out with a confession of the whole
affair, which implicated Fred hale,
Cairo negro, who had been arrested and taken
to Murphysboro Tuesday evening, July 2, with
Ike Moore and Arthur Jones,
Memphis suspects.
Hale also signed a written
confession when he learned that Connors
had told everything Hale and
Connors were kept apart until time for
the trial Wednesday morning.
Testimony in court Wednesday
afternoon by Sheriff I. J. Hudson,
Dr. O. T. Hudson, Dallas
Winchester, Deputy James Wilson
and Chief Deputy Roche of Alexander
County corroborated the details of the story
of the killing and capture as related above.
Everyone who had seen the criminals
on the afternoon of the shooting recognized
in Hale and Connors the guilty
pair.
Judge Hartwell took no chances
in leaving out part of the evidence, but
adjourned court at 4:10 o’clock until 7
o’clock in order to hear the testimony of
Mrs. Oma Currie, Villa Ridge,
negress, and daughter, Ruby, with whom the
defendants tried to date on the afternoon of
the shooting.
Oma Currie had previously in
her testimony before the grand jury picked
out Connors and Hale from 22
negroes who were lined up in the county jail
as the one who had talked to her.
The courthouse was again packed
Wednesday night, fully 800 people crowding
into the main assembly and overflowing past
the railing into the space reserved for the
operations of the court.
A hundred or more cars were parked in
the court yard and on the adjacent streets.
Order was preserved through the
entire proceedings by the vigilance and
precautions of the sheriff and his 82
deputies.
Seven-six men were made special
deputies Wednesday morning and given a bit
of blue ribbon as a badge of their
authority.
Many of these men were called from
their business to ensure the protection of
the prisoners.
Cruse and Riding were
stationed at the front door to search
everyone that entered the building.
Other deputies were posted at the
side doors.
When the culprits were brought into
the courtroom Wednesday night, they came in
the escort of deputies armed with shotguns.
Sheriff Hudson was taking no
chance of a slip-up either on the part of
the prisoners or on the part of the
audience.
Q
the night was warm and the room
filled with quiet and intent faces.
The tension increased when hale
arose to take the stand.
A bench in the rear of the room
collapsed with spectators too eager, giving
forth a sharp sound like the report of a
gun.
Hale’s story corroborated the
evidence of the other witnesses.
Conners then desired to take
the stand.
He had no defense.
H9si replies were general and
intended to be indefinite.
Several times his actions indicated
that he was trying to falsify.
He concluded with:
“IU pleads guilty and begs the honor
of the court.”
Before declaring sentence upon the
murderers, Judge Hartwell summarized
his impressions of the evidence, stating he
was glad of one thing, that there could be
no doubt of the guilt of the pair before
him.
He spoke of the quick and usually
sure method of the English law courts.
Then in severe terms, he denounced
the defendants for the way they had
attempted to shirk work and get by with
robbing a country merchant of his till.
“Two big strong men like you,” he
said, “to deliberately shoot down a
beautiful young girl who had heroically come
to the assistance of her unprotected father.
Would that these whom the law places
here to protect you men tonight, could have
been at hand to protect that innocent and
defenseless child.”
When Connors was given the
death penalty, Hale was seen to sink
in his chair.
He was visibly relieved after the
judge sentenced him to life imprisonment.
Hale will be taken to Chester
possibly tomorrow, as soon as the records
are put in shape and the necessary papers
made.
The last hanging in Mound City was
that of Eli Bugg, Friday, February
17, 1905.
James R. Weaver was sheriff at
that time, and E. P. Easterday
circuit clerk.
Mr. Easterday issued the death
warrant for Bugg.
Miss Hazel Reed, of Indianapolis, Ind., arrived home
Wednesday morning, being called by the death
of her grandmother, Mrs. Virginia
Broshears.
J. W. Welker died last Saturday. This community
(Olmsted) lost a good citizen, the church
lost a valuable member, and the family a
devoted father and grandfather. We all
mourn the loss.
William (Big Bill) Martin, alleged king of Franklin County
bootleggers, was shot and killed by Lloyd
Clayton, his brother-in-law, when he
attempted to enter Clayton’s home at
West Frankfort to force Mrs. Martin,
who had left him and was staying with the
Claytons to accompany him home.
We wish to thank all who in any way assisted
us at the death of our mother and
grandmother, Mrs. Virginia Brashears.
John W. Welker, aged 82 years, three
months, died Saturday morning at the home of
his daughter, Mrs. Kittie Caster in
Olmsted following a stroke of paralysis a
couple of weeks ago. Mr. Welker
is a retired farmer and a resident of
Olmstead for the past 18 years.
Funeral services were held at 2:30 o’clock
Sunday afternoon. Rev. Corzine,
pastor of the Southern Methodist Church of
Cairo officiating. Director G. A.
James bore the remains to Golconda
Monday afternoon, where interment was made.
IN AN EDITORIAL Monday, the Cairo Evening
Citizen comments upon the speedy and
efficient manner in which the slayers of
Miss Daisy Wilson were captured and
upon the averting the mob violence through
the courage and cool-headedness of Sheriff
I. J. Hudson, and his dependable
deputies. To quote:
“Pulaski County is to be congratulated.
She escaped mob rue during the excitement of
last week. And in that excitement
innocent negroes might have been made the
victims of the mob’s wrath.
“But Pulaski County is also to be
congratulated because through the efforts of
the authorities of both counties the guilty
persons have been captured.”
Cairo has been the scene of mobs and
lynching parties in the past. People
there know full well the horror and the
uncontrollable daemonic impulses that are
brought to the top when the judgment of an
embittered mob is paralyzed by excitement.
An individual in a mob is swept off of his
feet by the rush of events and the popular
clamor. He is made to believe that
people are acting in their sovereign
capacity to restore justice and to punish a
suspected wrongdoer. But more
important in mob psychology is the illusion
of security that comes with mass action.
Responsibility is shifted from the
participant and the individual mobber merges
his con consciousness in the cry of the
pack.
Jasper Davis, age 50, was found lying
dead on East First Street at the rear of
Settlemoir’s grocery store at 5:20
o’clock Wednesday morning. He was
discovered by William Biggs, while on
his way to work at the power plant.
Davis had previously complained of heart trouble and it is
thought that this was the cause of his
death. He had started out Tuesday
morning to pick blackberries.
The deceased may be remembered as the
husband of Pearl, a vegetable monger.
G. A. James, assisted by Jim ___nault,
were on the job early. A dog, faithful
friend of Davis’s, would allow no one
to touch the body for some time.
Nine leaders in the mob which attempted to
storm the county jail Tuesday night, July
22, in the belief that Ike Moore and
Arthur Jones, Memphis negroes first
suspected of slaying Miss Daisy Wilson
on the night of Monday, July 21, were
confined there, were indicted jointly on
three counts by the grand jury in its report
yesterday to Judge D. T. Hartwell.
Names of the men will not be made public
until Sheriff Hudson has had time to
serve the bench warrants. Conviction
carries a penalty of one year in jail or
$1,000 fine or both. It is expected
they will be tried in the present term of
court.
The Memphis suspects whom the sheriff
removed to Murphysboro early Tuesday
evening, July 22, with Hale, were
released Wednesday morning. July 30,
after the guilt of Conners and
Hale was established.
Halfred Dorothy Vance, age one month
and 23 days, infant daughter of Mr. and Mrs.
Alfred Vance, died at midnight
Wednesday from intestinal trouble. Mr.
and Mrs. Vance moved here from
Kentucky five weeks ago. The child was
buried yesterday afternoon in the
Thistlewood Cemetery.
Mrs. Francis Sparks, 35, died at the
home of her sister, Mrs. J. R. Henson,
at 11:50 o’clock Tuesday morning from
pulmonary tuberculosis. up to the last
year or so Mrs. Sparks had made her
home in East St. Louis.
Funeral services were conducted from the
house at 2:30 o’clock Wednesday afternoon by
Rev. W. J. Ward of Jonesboro.
Interment followed in the Thistlewood
Cemetery, Director G. A. James in
charge.
Mrs. Virginia Brashears, age 84
years, passed away at the homer of her
son-in-law, Henry Reed, north of
Mound city, Wednesday evening at 8:00
o’clock. Mrs. Brashears was
born at Grayville, Illinois, in 1840, and
had made her home here since 1887, coming
here from Metropolis, Illinois, with her
husband, William Brashears, who
passed away several years ago, and who was
well known here. She was the mother of
four children, of whom none are living.
Besides her son-in-law she leaves to mourn
their loss, seven grandchildren and four
great-grandchildren. Funeral services
were held Thursday afternoon, conducted by
Rev. Burgess. Interment at
Beech Grove Cemetery, G. A. James in
charge.
John Belcher, aged 63 years, colored,
a resident of Mound City for the past 30
years, died at 2:30 o’clock Sunday morning
from apoplexy. He had been a partial
invalid for some time. Funeral
services were held Wednesday afternoon,
interment in Spencer Heights at Mounds,
Director G. A. James, in charge.
James Dexter, 73 years old, of Ullin,
passed away on August 1, 1924. He was
born in Alexander County, Illinois, April 6,
1851, aged 73 years, 3 months and 28 days at
the time of his demise. Mr. Dexter
was married to Miss Malinda Jane Mowery
August 11, 1874, and to this union there
were born ten children. One of them
passed away in infancy and another, Charles
died at the age of one year. Those
surviving the demise of Brother Dexter
and his wife, who preceded him June 28,
1920, are: S. E. Dexter, Sarah
Sowers, Cora Miller, Harvey
Dexter, Albert Dexter, Frank
Dexter, Ben Dexter and Lucy
Rider, who were all raised in the church
and for whom the father and mother now
passed, have prayed and succeeded to all but
one seeing them untied with and actively
engaged in church work. Harvey, one of
the sons, has been superintendent of the
Beech Grove Sunday school for over a dozen
years. Besides the children, Brother
Dexter left one sister, Mrs. S. L.
Cox. All the relatives live near
Ullin. Twenty-one grandchildren also
survive him and hundreds of friends who held
Brother Dexter in the bonds of
Christian fellowship.
Brother Dexter was converted early in
life and united with the Reformed Lutheran
Church at Wetaug, where his wife already had
belonged. When they removed to the
country they both united with the Beech
Grove M. E. Church from there whey were both
buried.
Funeral services were held on Sunday
morning, the regular preaching hour, the
sermon being preached by Rev. S. Albrecht,
a former pastor, assisted by the pastor.
The body was laid to rest immediately after
the services in St. John’s Cemetery.
Five of the nine men indicted for
participation in the mob that attempted to
take the jail here, Tuesday night, July 22,
in the belief that the suspected slayers of
Miss Daisy Wilson were confined
there, have been arrested by Sheriff I. J.
Hudson. Officials have not been
able to locate the other four men. It
is believed that they have left the state.
The five that will appear before Judge D. T.
Hartwell in the present term of
circuit court which reconvenes Monday August
18, are: Mack Morse, and O. W.
Bradbury, of Cairo, Oscar Reid,
of Mounds, Webb Hill and George
Nemier, of Karnak. They have all
been released on $500 bond.
John Mahoney, Villa Ridge farmer, was
fined last Saturday by State’s Attorney
Loren Boyd $25 and costs and given
permission not to come back to Mound City
until after the first of the year.
John was lodged in the county jail Wednesday
when he became vociferous in attempting to
peddle watermelons in the courtroom where a
large crowd had assembled to witness the
murder trial of Hale and Connors.
Florence Earnest, age 7 years, 8
months, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Elmer
Earnest, of Mounds, died late Thursday
night of last week. Funeral services
were held Saturday afternoon at the New Hope
Church near Ullin, interment following in
the New Hope Cemetery. Director G. A.
James had charge of the arrangements.
(Her marker in New Hope Cemetery near Ullin
reads:
Florence Earnest Born Nov. 4,
1916 Died July 31, 1924.—Darrel Dexter)
Richard Caldwell, Jr., 17 months,
infant son of Mr. and Mrs. D. A. Caldwell,
formerly of Mound city, died Monday noon at
the home of its grandparents, Mr. and Mrs.
W. F. Caldwell. Interment was
made in Thistlewood Tuesday afternoon,
Director, G. A. James in charge.
We wish to extend our most sincere thanks to
friends who were so kind to us during our
bereavement at the death of our beloved
husband and father. Especially do we
wish to thank the choir, and those who sent
the beautiful flowers.
Mrs. Frieda H. Burd, aged 80 years,
died at her home in Mounds Wednesday, August
6, after a gradual decline in health for the
past two years. Funeral services were
conducted from the house last Thursday by
Rev. Dever, pastor of the Methodist
church.
Mrs. Burd is survived by two
daughters, Mrs. John Sadler, and Mrs.
J. T. Knupp, both of Mounds, and a
brother, E. G. Burd, who lives out in
the country.
Mrs. M. O. Cole had charge of the
funeral arrangements. Interment was
made in Liberty Cemetery.
(Joseph Burd married Fredona Codle
on 19 May 1870, in Pulaski Co., Ill.
Her marker in Liberty Cemetery reads:
F. H. wife of Joseph Burd Born
July 7, 1844 Died Aug. 6, 1924.—Darrel
Dexter)
Thomas B. Hileman, aged 76 years,
died last Friday morning at his home two
miles from Olmstead, a respected and
established member of the community in which
he had made his home for the past 52 years.
Mr. Hileman was a veteran of the
Civil War. He was married to Miss Margaret
Jane Cline January 14, 1872, to which
union there were born three children.
He is survived by his wife, one son, Henry
S. Hileman and one daughter, Miss
Sarah A. Hileman.
Funeral services were conducted Sunday
afternoon at Center Church, Rev. Dr. H.
McGill of Anna, pastor of the Mount
Moriah Evangelical Lutheran Church
officiating. Interment was made in
Concord Cemetery, Director G. A. James
in charge.
(Thomas B. Hileman enlisted as a
private in Co. A, 81st Illinois
Infantry on 1 Feb 1865, was transferred to
Co. A, 58th Illinois Infantry and
mustered out 31 Jan 1866.
Thomas Hileman married Jane
Cline on 14 Jan 1872, in Pulaski Co.,
Ill.
His marker in Concord Cemetery near
Olmsted reads:
Thomas Benton Hileman
1848-1924
Margaret Jane Hileman
1850-1939.—Darrel Dexter)
Clyde O. Boyd, 39 years old, of Grand
Chain, died at 7:20 o’clock Monday morning
at his home in Grand Chain, following a
lingering illness of several months.
He is survived by his father, William S.
Boyd; a brother, Norman Boyd; and
a sister, Miss Gertie Moore, all of
Grand Chain. The deceased was born and
reared in Grand Chain where his affability
won the cordial respect of his many
associates. Funeral services were
conducted from the house and interment made
in the Grand Chain Cemetery.
(His marker in Grand Chain Masonic Cemetery
reads:
C. O. Boyd 1886-1924.—Darrel
Dexter)
Word has been received of the passing of
Rev. Edmond Phares in Los Angeles,
Calif., Rev. Phares will be
remembered as pastor of St. Peter’s
Episcopal Church here for many years.
The following was clipped from a Los Angeles
paper:
Funeral services for Rev. Edmond Phares,
76 years of age, retired Episcopal minister,
will be conducted at 10 a.m. today at the
St. Matthias Church, Washington Street and
South Normandie Avenue.
Mr. Phares died Saturday at a private
sanitarium following a nervous breakdown.
He had been unofficially connected with the
St. Matthias Church here form some time.
A
native of Ohio, he was born in 1848 and was
ordained in 1891 and held parishes in
Illinois, Ohio, Missouri, and Kentucky,
where he retired in 1922. He then came
to California.
He is said to have a brother living in the
East.
Harry Winters, of Urbandale,
prominent as a local wrestler, was arrested
last Saturday by Sheriff I. J. Hudson
on a bench warrant issued by Judge
Hartwell for participation in the mob,
which gave trouble on the night of Tuesday,
July 22, at the county jail in the belief
that the negro slayers of Miss Daisy
Wilson were confined there.
The sheriff was located all of the mob
leaders indicted by the grand jury, but two,
Roy Ogden and Floyd Galbraith,
who are not to be found anywhere close.
The men, now out on bond, who will be
retried in the October term of circuit court
are Mack Morse and O. W. Bradbury,
of Cairo, Oscar Reid, of Urbandale,
Harry Winters, of Mounds, Webb
Hill and George Neimier, of
Karnak and Robert Staten, of Mound
City.
Ray Wilburg, three months old baby of Mr.
and Mrs. Joe Layton, died at 9
o’clock Tuesday night in spite of the most
persistent efforts to save the young man’s
life. Ray has a twin brother, Robert,
who is in perfect health. Funeral
services were held yesterday from the house
interment in Beech Grove Cemetery.
G. A. James directed the
arrangements.
Mrs. Sarah L. Hughes, aged 70 years,
a former resident of Mounds, died at 8:30
o’clock Saturday night at the home of her
brother, John B. Hughes, of St.
Louis.
She is survived by one son, John D.
Hughes, of St. Louis; three daughters,
Mrs. Alice Steger, of Cairo, Mrs.
Lizzie Kinslow and Mrs. James
Ledbetter of America; one brother, Henry
McCullum of St. Louis; two sisters,
Mrs. Fannie Bankston, of Mounds, and
Mrs. Kate Inmon, of Cairo; nine
grandchildren and two great- grandchildren.
The remains were brought to Mounds Sunday
and funeral services were held at 3 o’clock
Sunday afternoon in the First M. E. Church,
Rev. Dever officiating. Interment was
made in Beech Grove Cemetery, G. A. James
in charge.
Word was received yesterday that Mrs. Emma
Ward, formerly Mrs. Dick Aldridge,
of this city, passed away at 11 p.m.
Wednesday night in the General Hospital at
Memphis, Tenn.
The deceased is survived by one son, Ruby
Aldridge, two brothers, Ed Harlan,
of Calion, Ark., and Tom Harlan, of
Memphis; two sisters, Mrs. Will Allen,
Mrs. Will Peasley, of Memphis; and a
stepmother, Mrs. W. J. Knight of
Mounds.
(William Henry Peasley married Martha
Elizabeth Harland, 22, born in Mound
City, daughter of J. B. Harland and
Lucy Coonrod, on 10 Mar 1901, in
Pulaski Co., Ill.—Darrel Dexter)
Friday, 26 Sep 1924:
Mr. and Mrs. J. T. Armstrong and son
Ray, of Carterville, and Mr. and Mrs. James
Rouse of Memphis, attended the
funeral.
Mrs. Lorena Brooks, age 89, a former resident of this city,
passed away at the infirmary in Cairo Sunday
evening, Sept. 21, after several weeks’
illness. She was well known here,
being the mother of Mrs. Edgar Miller
___red Culp of this city and ___ L.
Crain, of Villa Ridge. The
funeral was held Tuesday at noon and burial
near Anna that being the old home.
(John Brooks married Louvana P.
Hale on 12 Oct 1854, in Union Co., Ill.
Marshall Culp married Sarah J.
Brooks on 25 Apr 1872, in Union Co.,
Ill.
Edgar S. Miller married
Girtrude Culp on 8 Jul 1897, in
Pulaski Co., Ill.
A marker in Brooks Cemetery in Union
County reads:
John M. Brooks
Died
Oct. 30, 1905 Aged 72 Yrs., 9 Mos., & 24 Ds.
Lorana P. wife of John M. Brooks.—Darrel
Dexter)
W. P. Minnich died at his home in
Fair Hope, Ala., last Saturday morning, age
about 75 years, a well known citizen of
Villa Ridge, but removed to Fair Hope about
15 years ago and has since that time made
his home there. Besides Mrs.
Minnich he leaves several brothers and
sisters to mourn his death. Funeral
services and burial took place at Villa
Ridge Tuesday afternoon at 3 o’clock Rev. S.
J. Burgess conducting the services.
(William P. Minnich married Emma G.
Brown on 5 Dec 1881, in Pulaski Co.,
Ill.
His marker in Cairo City Cemetery at
Villa Ridge reads:
William P. Minnich
1851-1924.—Darrel Dexter)
John Milford, of Pulaski, Illinois,
passed away at St. Mary’s Infirmary, Cairo,
Saturday, October 4th, after an
operation and illness of two weeks. He
had passed the 70th milestone on
his earthly pilgrimage and was prepared for
his master’s call to come up higher.
He professed faith in his Savior at 18 years
of age and united with the Baptist church at
Pulaski and remained a consistent Christian
to the end.
Mr. Milford was born in Texas and
came to Illinois with his parents at the age
of 5 years. He grew up in this county
wand was married to Miss Elizabeth
Biggerstaff. To this union were
born eight children. Two of these and the
mother preceded him to the better land.
He leaves to mourn his departure four sons,
Thomas, William, Edward and Oscar.
Three daughters, Mrs. William King,
Mrs. A. D. Anglin and Mrs. Pansy
Davis, by second marriage.
Nineteen grandchildren and 13
great-grandchildren. The funeral
services were held Sunday afternoon Oct. 5th
and were conducted by Rev. W. J. Ward
of Jonesboro and Rev. H. E. Vick of
Pulaski.
A
large crowd attended the cortege was taken
to the New Liberty Cemetery and there laid
to rest.
(John Milton Milford married Mary E.
Biggerstaff on 14 Mar 1869, in
Pulaski Co., Ill.
Adolphus Anglin married Mary
Bell Milford on 28 Apr 1895, in
Pulaski Co., Ill.—Darrel Dexter)
Lula Clara Nelms (Henson) was
born December 3, 1904. Departed this
life October 3, 1924, at her home in Cairo,
Ill. Age 19 years and 10 months.
On December 21, 1919 she was married to
Walter C. Henson; to this union were
born two children, one daughter and one son.
She, a beloved and loving wife, a faithful
and devoted mother, leaves her husband and
two children. Also her mother, three
brothers and two sisters.
It is not only an hour of unanticipated
sorrow to the immediate relatives, but all
who knew her, join them in their grief over
the going of an associate and friend.
While Lula never affiliated with any church,
she was a regular attendant, and several
days before her death she knew that the
“hour of her departure” was soon to come.
Therefore, we are persuaded to believe that
she has gone to live in the presence of
“That God which ever lives and loves” and
there await the coming of friends now on
earth.
For them the light of life increased
Who rest tonight beside the seas.
Mrs. Lula Clara Henson, age ___ and wife of
Walter Henson died at her home in
Cairo Friday following an illness of seven
days. Besides her husband, she leaves two
children, Vivian and ____ Floyd.
Her body was taken to the home of her
mother-in-law, Mrs. ___ Henson and
funeral services were held Sunday afternoon
at ___ o’clock, conducted by Rev. ___ pastor
of the Baptist church. Many beautiful
flowers ___ the marks of sympathy from
relatives and friends. Automobiles
____ the cortege to ____ where the ____.
Will Pay Penalty for Killing Villa Ridge Girl Last July—No Effort
to Stop Hanging—Doomed Man Calmly Awaits
Fatal Day
Hess Conners, of Cairo, who pleaded
guilty before Judge D. T. Hartwell to
the killing of Miss Daisy Wilson,
18-year-old daughter of J. C. Wilson,
of Villa Ridge last July 21, will hang next
Friday, October 17, on the court house lawn
here unless a last moment plea is
recognized.
No effort has been made by either the
negro or his relatives to stop the hanging,
and it is thought that the negro will walk
to his doom as unconcernedly as he has taken
his sentence and solitary confinement in the
county jail.
Conners was caught Friday July 25th, following four
nights and three days of dodging a frenzied
thousand citizens of Pulaski County and
officials of both Pulaski and Alexander
counties as well as officials in the
neighboring counties.
He was picked up in Future City north
of Cairo by colored Deputy Sheriff John
Whitfield, of Alexander County.
He was taken to the county jail in
Cairo and held there until he had confessed
and arrangements had been made for his
trial.
His confession was given to colored
Deputy James Wilson of Pulaski County
after an interview I which Wilson
told him that his had confessed and said
that Conners had done the shooting.
When Conners was arraigned before
Judge Hartwell Wednesday, July 30, he
immediately pleaded guilty, but the judge
refused to accept the plea, upon the grounds
that the negro did not fully understand his
legal rights.
Court was adjourned until the
afternoon.
The court investigated the evidence
thoroughly and after explaining the ruling
of the state that no man can be hanged until
the Supreme Court has had a session,
sentenced Conners to hang on October
17, and Fred Hale, Conners’
accomplice, to the state penitentiary for
life, with solitary confinement on July 21st
of each year of his nature life.
Conners did not move or show
any emotion whatever when the judge
pronounced his sentence.
He has taken everything with the same
stoical indifference since that time.
The negroes were captured, tried and
convicted within nine days after the crime
was committed.
Sheriff I. J. Hudson says the exact
time of the execution has not been set and
will not make any statements regarding the
arrangements for the hanging.
He states that “anything may happen
within a week.”
The hanging will be a private affair
with only the deputies of the court in
attendance, together with a jury to
pronounce death.
The following is a quotation from the
command given by the circuit court for the
execution.
This sets forth the possible hours
and place for the execution.
“Now, therefore, we do command you, that you
don, on Friday the 17th day of
October A. D. 1924, between the hours of
nine o’clock in the forenoon and four
o’clock in the afternoon of said day, take
the body of him, the said Hess Conners,
who is now confined in the common jail of
Pulaski County, and within the walls of said
jail, or an enclosure adjacent and connected
with said jail, and that you do then and
there, hang him, the said Hess Conners,
by the neck until he is dead.”
(The article includes a two column
photograph of Hess Conners in the
county jail.—Darrel Dexter)
Mrs. Fannie Busam, age 73 years, died
at her home in this city at 1 o’clock
Thursday morning. She suffered a
dislocated hip which she sustained at her
home about six week ago and was unable to
survive the injury. She leaves a
daughter, Minnie, who resided with here, and
three daughters, who live in St. Louis.
The body was prepared for burial by Director
G. A. James.
Funeral services were held at the home of
Mr. and Mrs. Chris Keller at 10
o’clock Friday morning. Interment in the
Beech Grove Cemetery followed.
(George Busam married Frances
Rivington on 7 July 1871, in Pulaski
Co., Ill.
Christian Keller married
Lizzie Revington on 28 Oct 1867, in
Pulaski Co., Ill.—Darrel Dexter)
CARD OF THANKS
We wish to thank the friends and all who so
kindly rendered assistance and aid during
the bereavement of our beloved mother and
sister, Mrs. Fanny Busam. Also
to those who tendered their automobiles.
Joe Goins, Jr., 20, son of Joe
Goins, Sr., of Olmsted, was fatally
wounded Saturday night about 10:30 by a
negro named Willie Carter at a negro
picnic near Olmstead on the farm of John
Tapley.
No report of the shooting was made to
Sheriff Hudson until 9:30 Sunday
morning. The negro had escaped and no
clue as to his whereabouts has yet been
found. Immediately upon hearing of the
affair, the sheriff hurried to the scene of
the shooting and began investigation.
Reports to the effect that a crap game was
in progress at the time were emphatically
denied by John Tapley, manager of the
picnic. Some claim that Tapley
left the barbecue stand upon the arrival of
Goins and went to the crap game to
get Carter who it is said was to act
as bouncer. Tapley asserts that
he called Carter to get a team and
take the remnants of the picnic home.
Tapley was arrested Monday night for investigation and is being
held in the county jail here.
The boy was then removed to his home and
retained consciousness until death came
Sunday morning at 8:15. Dr. Oscar
Carraker was summoned immediately, but
the boy was past help from the physicians.
No word of the shooting had been sent to
Sheriff Hudson until after the boy
had died. Investigation began
immediately upon the arrival of the sheriff
and was not concluded until nearly noon.
Descriptions of the negro were sent to all
of the places the negro is likely to visit.
Carter it is understood has been
making his home with Frank Tapley in
Cairo for some time. He is a
son-in-law of John Tapley.
During the investigation letters were found
in a trunk belonging to Carter from
his mother in Mississippi stating that she
was ill and requested him to come home
immediately. Charles Carter,
brother of Willie Carter, was hauled
into police headquarters Wednesday morning
in Cairo to ____ed concerning the ___ of his
brother. He ____ knowledge of his ___
destination, although ___ heard of the
shooting and ___ his brother was charged
with the crime.
Funeral services for the dead boy were held
at the home of the father at 1:30 Tuesday
afternoon by Rev. Corzine of Cairo,
who is pastor of the Southern Methodist
Church of Olmstead. Interment was made
in the Grand Chain cemetery. The
largest procession in years was lined up
behind the hearse of undertaker George
Hartwell of Mounds.
(John Tapley, 25, married
Rachel Baker, 17, on 19 Mar
1889, in Pulaski Co., Ill.—Darrel Dexter)
The funeral of Mrs. Fannie Busam, who
died at her home here Thursday was held
Friday morning at 10 o’clock at the home of
her sister, Mrs. Chris Keller.
Rev. Kean, pastor of the Methodist
church conducted the services.
Interment was made at Beech Grove Cemetery.
The deceased was 72 years of age and is
survived by four daughters, Misses Minnie,
of Mound City, Dolly, Rose and Ida, of St.
Louis.
W. A. Gaunt, a highly respected
citizen of Grand Chain, died Wednesday after
an illness of several weeks. He was 68
years of age and was a pioneer resident of
that place. He is survived by a widow
and daughter and a larger number of friends
mourn his death. He was the present
mayor of Grand Chain.
A life-long Christian and a man whose
worth to his friends and the community will
leave a great void.
The funeral will be held this Friday at 2:30
o’clock with interment at the Masonic
cemetery. Rev. W. T. Anderson,
pastor of the First Christian Church, Cairo,
will conduct services.
(His marker in Grand Chain Masonic Cemetery
reads:
W. A. Gaunt 1856-1924.—Darrel
Dexter)
A
reprieve until January 16th was
granted Hess Conners, Cairo negro,
who was sentenced to hang today by Governor
Small Wednesday. The plea of
Attorneys that Conners has been
mentally unbalanced since childhood was the
fact leading to the reprieve. An
inquiry will be made in the circuit court
here to test the mentality of the negro.
Attorney D. B. Reid of Cairo is
understood to have been the leading attorney
in the intercession for Conners.
Cairo negroes are understood to have been
instrumental in interesting the attorney in
the case.
The negro was sentenced to hang by Judge D.
T. Hartwell in the circuit court here
last July to the killing of Miss Daisy
Wilson, who was fighting Conners
and Fred Hale, his companion after an
unsuccessful attempt to rob the Wilson
store.
Preparations for the execution had already
been made. The enclosure which was to
hide the hanging from curious eyes had
almost been completed and the scaffold was
in place when the news came Thursday to
Sheriff I. J. Hudson the reprieve had
been granted. The sheriff has not yet
decided whether or not he will take the
enclosure and scaffold in place or tear them
down and rebuild at a later date. The
scaffold was borrowed from the sheriff of
Murphysboro.
Clarence Eubanks, 55, was shot and
instantly killed Saturday night at a
barbecue picnic by Raymond Meeks, 20,
at the home in Boar Creek bottoms three
miles west of Pulaski. Meeks,
it is claimed, owed Eubanks a dollar,
which the latter intended to collect.
During collection proceedings, Eubanks
produced a revolver and attempted ___ target
practice in the direction of Meeks,
who was disappearing behind a barn.
Eubanks fired three shots at the other
negro and followed him to the house for the
remaining __ shots. Meeks
produced his ___ery from his armory and took
two shots at Eubanks, one making a
flesh wound in the leg and the other
striking him near his heart, killing him
almost instantly.
Meeks was exonerated by testimony at the coroner’s inquest which
was held Sunday morning by Coroner O. T.
Hudson of Mounds upon entering a plea of
self defense.
Sheriff I. J. Hudson and Deputy James
Wilson looked for the negro all day
Monday, but were unsuccessful in their
undertaking. They returned to the
house of the negro Tuesday morning very
early and found him. He is now in the
county jail awaiting action of the grand
jury. The arrest was made at the
request of the Masonic Lodge, Eubanks
being a member of good standing.
Investigation will be ___ed in the October
term of circuit court which will convene the
27th.
The grim scaffold which has been a part of
the courthouse scenery for the past couple
of weeks has been torn down and stored away
until January 16th, when it will
be taken from its place of rest and send
Hess Conners to his master.
The stockade which enclosed the scaffold
will be allowed to remain intact until the
wind blows the rest of it down. The
north side of it was blown down Thursday.
The scaffold was borrowed from Sheriff E. C.
White of Jackson County through the
efforts of Sheriff Hudson.
Mrs. Rosa Stern passed away quietly
at her home at 1 o’clock Thursday morning at
the age of eighty years. Mrs. Stern
was Mound City’s oldest resident, having
lived here sixty-five years. Mrs.
Stern was born in Lissa, Germany,
January 7th, 1843. She was
the wife of William Stern, also
deceased. She is survived by two of
her eight children, Mrs. Lucy Robbins
and Miss Lena Stern both of whom have
made their home with the mother for several
years, also two grandchildren, Misses
Dorothy and Winifred Schuler.
Funeral services will be held at the home of
the deceased at 3 o’clock Sunday afternoon.
(William Stern married Rosa Wright
on 12 May 1867, in Pulaski Co., Ill.
Edward Ira Schuler married
Emma Stern on 20 Feb 1895, in Pulaski
Co., Ill.—Darrel Dexter)
Oscar Durning, 45, lifelong resident
of Mound City, succumbed Thursday morning to
an attack of appendicitis. He died in
the ambulance of the Sister’s Hospital of
Cairo while en route from Mound City to
Cairo for an operation.
Mr. Durning was an established
citizen in Mound City. He was a son of
James Durning, deceased, and was born
and reared in this city. He has been
employed at the Sears-Roebuck Company plant
in the drainage district prior to his death.
Mr. Durning was a member of the K. of
P. lodge in this city. The lodge will
be in charge of the funeral arrangements for
which have not yet been made.
The deceased is survived by his wife,
Gladys; two sons, James and Floyd; one
daughter, Louise; and one sister, Mrs. J. D.
Quarrels of Chicago. Mr.
Durning’s mother is also living.
Mr. Durning had been ill only a short
time, having taken down Sunday afternoon
immediately after a motor trip to Marion.
(James M. Durning married Lula
Michem on 27 Dec 1877, in Pulaski Co.,
Ill.—Darrel Dexter)
Oscar Durning, the son of Mr. and
Mrs. James Durning, was born
September 22, 1879, in Mound City, Illinois,
where he resided until his death, which came
Thursday morning, October 30, 1924.
Age 45 years, 1 month and eight days.
On April 22, 1906 he was married to Miss
Gladys Bush. To this union were
born three children, two sons and one
daughter.
He is survived by his wife, Gladys, two
sons, James and Floyd, and one daughter,
Louis; his mother, and one sister, Mrs.
Quarrels of Chicago.
While he spent a comparative short life on
earth, he will be missed by all who knew
him, as a man with a kind word and a
generous deed for all.
He attended church regular an often spoke of
the joy received from attending the worship
of his Maker. He was not a member of
any church, but just before his death, he
expressed hopes of obtaining mercy.
Mr. Durning is not dead, only his
sins and misery have died, even if the death
angel had an ugly faced, wore a tattered
coat, and knocked rudely a the door, it was
only a messenger from a distant land,
bringing good news of his Savior. The
Bridegroom of his soul and of the
inheritance purchased by his blood and
reserves fro him in heaven.
We wish to thank the many kind friends whose
sympathy and help came to us in our
bereavement. To Rev. Dunlap for
his comforting words, and beautiful tribute
to our dear mother and grandmother, to the
choir for their sweet music, to those who
sent flowers and those who gave their
presence.
We wish to thank all our friends and
neighbors and members of the K. P. Lodge who
assisted and were so kind to us in our
bereavement and for the beautiful flowers
that were sent.
__Jane Ebbert was born in ___man
County, Indiana, __y 18, 1845. She
came to Pulaski County Illinois, with her
___ at the age of eight years and lived in
this state ever since. She has lived
in and near ____ the past sixteen years.
She was married to Judge Ed. Ebbert
October 30, 1878; her husband surviving her.
To this union were born two children:
___ and Ethel N. Huddle___ both of
whom survive her. There are also her
grandchildren and numerous other relatives
and a host of friends.
Mrs. Ebbert died on Friday, October
31, 1924, after an illness of more than two
weeks. She ___ together with her
husband ____ Effingham, Illinois, ____
brother of Mrs. Evert. ___ buried on
Thursday, ___ 23. When she returned
home in Ullin she immediately took to her
bed and never ____.
She was aged at the ___er demise 79 years, 8
months and three days.
Funeral services was conducted at the
resident in Ullin Sunday afternoon, November
2, ___ C. L. Phifer, pastor of the
Methodist church and the body ___ early
Monday morning ___ Effingham where interment
was made.
Joseph Marder, who would ___ seventy
years of age ___ passed away at his home in
Ullin on Thursday night, November 6th.
Mr. Marder has ___ health for the
past ___ having been forced to ___ at his
work as head foreman of the box factory.
Oc____ he has been forced to ___ his
condition was not considered serious until
about ____ ago, when he began ___ rapidly.
Thursday night ___ away, all his children
___ arrived before his demise.
Mr. Marder was one of the ___
citizens of Ullin. He was widely known
as “Uncle ___” and was very fond of every
___ the smallest of children.
___ member of the ___ church and died and
___ in that faith. At ___ Saturday the
M. W. A. ___ their ritualistic services ____
was also the leading ___ the Knights Pythias
___ and was Keeper of the Sacred Seals at
the time of his death.
____ came to this ____ Germany when he
___ing man in 1879. ____ Ullin and
worked ___ Box Company. ___ and
industrious ___ He was married to ___ ___ch
January 13, ___ resided in Ullin ____.
To this union ___ children: Anna, Mrs.
Frank Ogg, of ___ ___ph Marder,
Jr., ___lle Mo. One ___ his
wife’s former ___ Frieda Heim, also
____ __emise. Besides ____
grandchildren: Mar___, Phillis Heim,
of ____ Edwin Heim of ___ survive;
besides ___ relatives and friends.
____ was held Saturday ___ November 8,
interment ___ in the Ullin Cemetery and a
great concourse of relatives and friends
were present at the last rites to testify to
the friendship they had for the departed
husband and father. (Ullin)
(Joseph Marder married Regina Zach
on 13 Jan 1884, in Pulaski Co., Ill.
His marker in Ullin Cemetery reads:
Joseph Marder Born April 12,
1855 Died Nov. 6, 1924.—Darrel Dexter)
James Johnson, Jr., 7-year-old
colored boy, was fatally wounded Tuesday
when a shotgun in the hands of Ollie
Shafter, 14, his playmate, went off.
He died soon after the accident. The
coroner’s jury disagreed and Shafter
was arrested by Sheriff Hudson at the
request of the dead boy’s father, Jim
Johnson. According to Shafter
he was cleaning the gun preparatory to a
rabbit hunt. Shafter is being
held in the county jail however he may be
released later.
Another murder was rumored the same day.
Hunt Johnson, negro of Mound City,
was supposed to have followed his wife to
the cotton field of B. J. Hargan,
near America and killed her.
Immediately upon hearing of the episode
Sheriff Hudson dispatched Deputies
Riding and Wilson to the scene of
the supposed shooting. Upon the
arrival at the Hargan farm they were
informed that nothing had been heard or seen
of their Johnson or his wife.
They reported to Sheriff Hudson and
were told to go to Villa ridge and check up
the woman’s relations there. They
again reported and were sent to Hodges Park.
Nothing had been seen or heard of the
supposed murder or of the supposed
participants. On their return the
deputies inquired at several cotton fields
and finally found the woman picking cotton
on one of the farms between Mound City and
Villa Ridge.
Mrs. Russell Pearson, aged 27, passed
away in East St. Louis Thursday morning
after an illness of several weeks. She
had been in a hospital in Springfield
receiving treatment and had been removed to
East St. Louis. The remains were
brought to Mound City to the home of her
parents, Mr. and Mrs. Joe Sullivan
Saturday and on Sunday morning the remains
were taken to Wickliffe, where services were
held and interment took place.
Deceased was bereaved of a ten month-old son
Sunday previous to her demise and the body
was also interred in the North Ballard
Cemetery. Besides the husband, she
leaves a daughter, Lavernia Goforth,
and a son, Aaron Pearson, and four
stepchildren, also her parents and a large
number of friends.
A
negro named Will Carter and fitting
the description somewhat of the Will
Carter who shot and killed Joe Goins,
Jr., October 11, was caught at Blodgett,
Mo., and taken to Benton, the county seat of
Scott County. The sheriff at Benton
held the negro until Sheriff Hudson
called and brought the negro to Mound City
for identification.
Identification could not be made by Olmstead
citizens Monday so the negro was released
Tuesday and sent back to Blodgett by Sheriff
Hudson.
Raymond Meeks, who escaped Thursday
night with three other prisoners, was caught
Saturday near Sandusky by Sheriffs I. J.
Hudson of Pulaski County and Leslie
Roche of Alexander County ands several
deputies.
Sheriff Hudson followed a tip to the
cabin of one of Meeks’s nephews in
Alexander County and found the negro in bed
with a big gun at his side. He told
the sheriff that he had intended to give
battle, but when he saw the officers he
decided that it would be useless.
Meeks had been lying low for the past few days awaiting money
from the sale of his cotton to make his get
away. He also informed the sheriff
that if he had not been taken Saturday he
never would have been caught.
The negro was indicted by the grand jury in
its last session for the murder of Clarence
Eubanks, near Pulaski, October 18th,
over a dollar debt.
Friday, 21 Nov 1924:
We wish to express our deep appreciation and
thank our friends for their many kindnesses
extended us after the death of our beloved
daughter, wife and mother, Minnie Fray
Jaccard. They have done much to
lessen our sorrow.
Mrs. W. T. Jaccard was found dead at
7 a.m. Wednesday morning at her home on
First Street here. She had stayed up until
slightly after nine o’clock Tuesday evening,
listening in on a radio program and was
presumably in excellent health until her
death, which was caused by heart trouble.
Mrs. Jaccard was a member of the
Congregational Church of this city and a
prominent member of Rebecca Lodge. The
deceased leaves one daughter, Miss Mildred
Jaccard, of this city; a son, Nile,
of Chicago, who is married and has 2
children; her mother, Mrs. Delia Fray,
of this city; and her husband, W. T.
Jaccard, a prominent businessman of
Mound City.
Mrs. Jaccard was born January 14th,
1868, in Pulaski County and has lived here
all her life. Her death is a severe
blow to all who knew her because of her
unparalleled sweet disposition. As far
as can be learned, she never had an enemy in
her life.
The son, Nile, arrived from his home in
Chicago Thursday morning.
Upon finding the body in bed the family
called Dr. J. F. Harrigan, who
answered immediately and stated that she had
been dead fully half an hour.
Funeral services were held at _ a.m. today
in the Congregational church of this city.
Interment was made in Beech Grove Cemetery.
The service will be conducted by Rev. S. J.
Burgess pastor of the Congregational
Church.
(Henry H. Fray married Delia Kirk
on 15 Feb 1869, in Pulaski Co., Ill.—Darrel
Dexter)
Mrs. Henry Rife Passes Away
Mrs. Clara Rife, wife of Henry
Rife, age 56 years, passed away at her
home in Pulaski Monday. She had been
ill for some time. Deceased leaves a
husband, a son at home, a daughter, who
resides in Tamms, and another son in New
Mexico, besides a large circle of neighbors
and friends. The funeral was conducted
Wednesday at the Baptist church in Pulaski
and the building was not large enough to
seat the large gathering of mourners.
The eulogy on the deceased by the pastor was
most impressive and at the grave Mrs. Elmer
Boyd was worthy matron and Mrs. E. P.
Easterday as chaplain conducted
services for the Eastern Star and there were
a large number of these in attendance.
(Samuel H. Rife married Clara A.
Lackey, 28, born in Pulaski, daughter of
Thompson M. Lackey and Jennie
Parker, on 18 Oct 1896, in Pulaski Co.,
Ill.
Her marker in Rose Hill Cemetery
at Pulaski reads:
Clara Lackey Rife
1866-1924.—Darrel Dexter)
Deputy Sheriff James Wilson is on a
trip to Toledo, Ohio where he was sent by
Sheriff Hudson to bring back Tom
Alexander, who killed a negro in Mounds
five years ago. Wilson has been on
track of the murderer since the crime.
Alexander had dodged the officers
until his apprehension in Toledo by.
Deputy Wilson will return with his
prisoner Saturday.
Henry J. Aldrich, one of the oldest
residents of Villa Ridge, passed away
Tuesday at Biloxi, Miss., at the age of 84.
Funeral services were held at the home of
Thomas Aldrich, of Villa Ridge,
Thursday afternoon under Rev. S. J.
Burgess. The funeral director in
charge was G. A. James of Mound City.
Interment was made in Villa Ridge cemetery.
(His marker in Cairo City Cemetery at Villa
Ride reads:
Henry J. Aldrich
1840-1924.—Darrel Dexter)
John Gardner, 47, of Ullin, died
Tuesday while bringing in a load on his
wagon from the Bud Anderson farm on
which he has been located for several years.
Mr. Gardner leaves a wife and family
of children. He was well known in and
around Ullin having lived there for several
years.
(His marker in Ullin Cemetery reads:
John A. Gardner 1878-1924
Zoe B Gardner
his
wife 1880-1957.—Darrel Dexter)
___ Bour passed away ____ __ear
Mounds Saturday after an illness of a ___
weeks. She was 63 years of age and
leaves a husband to mourn her demise.
The funeral services were held Tuesday
evening at the Methodist church in ___ with
Rev. S. J. Burgess ___ ___ Dever in
charge. Interment was made in Beech
Grove Cemetery.
___ing his death ___ ___ to transact some
____ while talking to a ___ remarked that a
severe ___ stricken him in the ____ the
head. The neighbor ___ him to lie
down, which ___, when consciousness left him
never returning. He was stricken about
ten o’clock a.m. and death came about three
in the afternoon.
Besides his immediate family he leaves to
mourn his departure a half brother, Harry
Bishop, of Decovan, Ky., a grandmother,
Mrs. Bishop, and many friends who
will miss him in his daily routine duties of
life. He was a member of the board of
education and an active member of the
Pulaski County Farm Bureau. Few men in
Pulaski County excel in the manly qualities
of John Gardner. He was a hard
working farmer, honest to the
minutest detail and a man of high Christian
character, who measures life by service and
gain by friendships.
Funeral services were conducted from the
Baptist church at Ullin Wednesday afternoon
December 10, interment being in the Ullin
Cemetery. ___ services were conducted
____iman of Anna, ____ Christian
Church ____ of which church _____.
Bessie M. Troutwine, daughter of E.
M. Troutwine, died at the home of her
father, north of this city Saturday morning
at 7:30 after an illness of several weeks.
Funerals services were held at the home of
the girl’s father Sunday afternoon,
conducted by Rev. Jesse Parrish of
the Church of God at Cairo. The
remains were laid to rest in Beech Grove
Cemetery.
Mrs. Alfred Schweiger of Mounds,
Illinois, died at her home at 2:20 Tuesday
afternoon after a brief illness. She
is survived by her husband and two children,
one of two years old and a two week old
infant. Also a mother, Mrs. Joe
Littz, of Union Street, Cairo, survives
her. The funeral was held Wednesday.
Homer Beverly, the five-week old son of Mr.
and Mrs. Homer Beams, of this city,
died at the home of its parents at 4:30
Tuesday afternoon after a rising in the head
of the infant had burst. Funeral
services were held at the Catholic church
here Thursday afternoon at 2:30.
Interment was made in St. Mary’s Cemetery at
Mounds.
MOUND CITY CLAIMS OLDEST CITIZEN OF STATE
In Aunt Becky Johnston, of this city,
according to the best authority possible in
the form of emancipation papers and stories
drawn from old resident of Mound City, lies
the claim of Mound City to the oldest in the
state.
Aunt Becky is 108 years and four
months old according to data from the above
sources.
The aged colored woman was born in
Baltimore, Maryland, in August 1816.
her maiden name was Rebecca
Hawkins, but according to custom at that
time in states where slavery existed, she
took the name of her master, which was
Runicker.
While the property of the
Runickers at Baltimore, Aunt Becky
married a negro preacher, also a slave.
On the 19th day of October, 1861,
Aunt Becky received her emancipation papers
from the clerk of the Superior Court of
Maryland.
The papers were signed by George F.
Langston.
According to Aunt Becky’s own story
she was freed by her mistress for having
been such a contented and industrious
worker.
The family of Baltimore took the newly freed
woman into their home and cared fro her
until her preacher husband was freed by
President Lincoln’s proclamation in
1863.
Mr. Johnson was freed the pair
made their way to Illinois and settled in
Pulaski County.
They lived in Grand Chain for several
years.
When James Weaver was elected
sheriff of the county, he brought Aunt Becky
and her husband to Mound City to see the
prisoner
in jail, but could not bear the
employ of Sheriff Weaver so left and
began keeping house for Mrs. Thomas
Higgins.
While she was employed at Mrs. Higgins’,
the husband died and left Aunt Becky
dependent upon hr own resources.
She tried to other husbands late in
life, but neither proved very successful.
For the past several years she has
been left practically upon the charity of
the people.
The first Pulaski County husband was
named Aldridge, the other King.
She has no children.
The condition of the aged woman is now
critical indeed.
She is practically deaf.
Her speech is impaired, and she is
paralyzed from her knees down.
Mrs. Thomas Higgins has taken
upon herself the burden of seeing that the
old lady is cared for, and that a doctor is
provided for her.
Mrs. Higgins states that when
the end comes the old lady will be buried at
Grand Chain.
Aunt Becky was employed in the house of Mrs.
Higgins when Harry and W. J. Perks
were boys.
They too are highly interested in the
old lady as she once was the source of many
a pocket full of cookies for them.
The aged woman is known here as Aunt Becky
Johnston, however her real name is
Rebecca King.
No pension or compensation of any
sort has been awarded her at any time during
her life.
(Published with the front-page article is a
photograph of “Aunt Becky.”
Thomas Aldridge married Mrs.
Rebecca Johnson on 16 Feb 1888, in
Pulaski Co., Ill.
Squire D. King married Mrs.
Beckie Aldridge on 24 Dec 1890, in
Pulaski Co., Ill.—Darrel Dexter)
We wish to extend our heartfelt thanks to
all those who sympathetically rendered
assistance in the bereavement of our father.
For the floral tokens and the kind words
spoken.
Fred Stadler, aged 80 years, for the
past 45 years a resident of Villa Ridge,
Ill. died at his home on a farm southeast of
Villa Ridge Monday night at 10:00. He
is survived by his wife, a daughter and one
son. Funeral services were held
Wednesday afternoon at one o’clock conducted
by Rev. Schaffer. Interment
wads made in Beech Grove Cemetery.
Dewitt Finley, 88, of this city,
passed away Friday evening at 7:30 at the
home of his son, James Finley, after
an illness of about a week. The aged
man’s death was caused by a hardening of the
arteries. Funeral services were held
at the home of James Finley Monday
afternoon at 1:30 with Rev. Roy N. Kean
in charge. Interment was made in Beech
Grove Cemetery at Mounds.
Mr. Finley had been a resident of
Mound City for the past sixty five years.
He came here from Paducah, Ky., where he was
born. Mr. Finley served in a
Kentucky regiment during the Civil War.
He is survived by three sons, James, of this
city, Frank, of St. Louis, and Ira, of
Pittsburg, Pa., also a daughter, Mrs. Kate
Sneed of McAllister, Oklahoma.
All three sons were present at the funeral.
The daughter was unable to attend.
(Joseph H. Sneed married Kate
Finley on 17 Feb 1896, in Pulaski Co.,
Ill.—Darrel Dexter)
Mounds
Independent
Mounds Independent, Thursday, 11 Dec 1924:
(His marker in Ullin Cemetery reads:
John A. Gardner 1878-1924
Zoe B. Gardner, his wife,
1880-1957.—Darrel Dexter)
The body of a man was found by special
watchman W. G. Bard in a car of
lumber arriving in the Mounds Yards on train
number 152 at 10:10 p.m. Dec. 8th,
1924.
At the inquest held by Coroner Hudson
it developed that the man was Eddie
Johnson, white and aged about 27 years.
The coroner’s jury rendered a verdict that
death was due to gun shot fired by parties
unknown. He had been struck in the right
breast by a large caliber bullet the same
ranging downward and not going entirely
through the body.
It has been ascertained that Johnson’s
father resides in Covington, Tenn. The
young man left home on Dec. 8th,
ostensibly to visit his uncles, Will and
Davie Miller, in Jackson, Tenn.
The body was turned over the undertakers
Cole and Hartwell.
Mr. John Gardner, of Ullin, who
several years ago came from the North and
purchased the Ben Anderson farm just
south of Ullin, was suddenly stricken by
apoplexy while in Ullin on business Tuesday,
Dec. 9th, and never regained
consciousness. Death followed in a few
hours.
Mr. Frank Bour, his daughter and sons
desire to express their sincere thanks to
their friends and neighbors for their many
acts of kindness during the sickness and
after the death of their beloved wife and
mother.
Peter Johnson, familiarly known as
“Dago Pete,” died Saturday, Dec. 13th,
at the Pulaski County Home for the
Poor. His health had been failing for some
time, but he had been in the county home
only a few days when death came.
Verna Comers, daughter of Mr. and
Mrs. H. J. Comers, was born near
Metropolis, Ill., Aug. 11th,
1905, and died at her home in Mounds, Ill.,
Dec. 16, 1924.
Only July 10, 1922, she was married to
Alfred Swigger. She leaves to mourn
her passing her husband, two small sons,
aged respectively 15 months and 2 weeks, her
father, a sister, and a brother. Her mother
died Feb. 17, 1907.
The funeral services were held at her home
on Oak Street, Dec. 17, at 2:30 p.m. The
Rev. J. S. Dever officiated. She was
laid to rest in Beech Grove Cemetery.
We wish to express our heartfelt thanks to
those who so kindly befriended us in the
death of our beloved father. Also for the
beautiful floral offerings and use of cars.
John Vonnida, son of Mr. Conrad and
Marguerite Vonnida, was born in St.
Louis, Mo., March 12, 1846, and died at his
home in Mounds, Ill., Dec. 15, 1924, at the
age of 78 years, 9 months and 5 days. He
moved with his parents to southern Illinois
in 1858 and was united in marriage to Miss
Sarah Littell Feb. 25, 1872, at Villa
Ridge, Ill., with Rev. Sullivan
officiating. To this union ten children
were born, nine of whom are surviving,
namely: John Vonnida, of Cairo; Mrs.
Charles Minton, Seth, Charles and
Ethel Vonnida, of Mounds; G. O.
Vonnida, Mrs. Samuel Atherton and
Mrs. R. J. Johnson, of Villa Ridge;
and Phillip Vonnida, of Centralia.
He was a Civil War veteran, having enlisted
at the age of 17.
He served as a Union soldier from
Sept. 17, 1864, until he was honorably
discharged at the close of the conflict in
1865.
He was converted and united with the Shiloh
Baptist Church, Pulaski Co., Ill., some
forty years ago and for many years has
served in the capacity of a deacon of that
body, in which position he was wrought nobly
and well.
Beside the above named loved ones, he leaves
to mourn their loss, two sisters, Mrs.
Margaret Crain, of Mound City, and
Mrs. Emma Stewart, of Cairo, fourteen
grandchildren, two great grandchildren and a
number of nieces and nephews.
The funeral services were held in the Shiloh
Baptist Church Dec. 17 at 2 p.m. Rev. H. C.
Crosslin officiated. The services at
the grave were in charge of the
Masons. Interment was in Shiloh Cemetery.
(John Vannida, of Villa Ridge,
enlisted as a private in Co. I, 144th
Illinois Infantry and was mustered out on 14
Jul 1865.
John Vonnida married Sarah J.
Littell on 25 Feb 1872, in Pulaski
Co., Ill.
Charles Minton married Kate
Vanida on 19 Nov 1895, in Pulaski Co.,
Ill.
R. J. Johnson married Sallie
Vonida on 3 Nov 1901, in Pulaski Co.,
Ill.
His marker in New Shiloh Cemetery
reads:
John Vonnida Born March 11,
1846 Died Dec. 15, 1924.—Darrel Dexter)
(T. W. Finley, 28, son of James W.
Finley and D. E. Braden, married
Lillie M. Wright on 2 Dec 1896, in
Pulaski Co., Ill.—Darrel Dexter)
Mary J. Scruggs was born May the
eighteenth, 1857, near Knoxville, Tenn., and
died at her home in Valley Recluse, Dec. the
eighteenth, 1924. She was married to D. F.
Barnett, on August the twenty-eighth,
1881.
Six sons were born to this union,
namely: Isaac Betram, William Henry, Berry
Royall, George Edgar, Charles R., and John
Wallace. Four of these boys preceded their
mother to the great Beyond.
She leaves to mourn her death her husband,
D. F. Barnett, two sons, Henry and
John, five grandchildren, two brothers,
James A. Scruggs and George M.
Scruggs, and numerous nieces and
nephews.
She was a member of the Methodist Episcopal
Church of Villa Ridge and was a devoted
Christian. |