Newspaper & Date unknown

J.M. Derry was born in London county, Virginia, September 19, 1822, and died at his home in Petersburg, Ill., Thursday, February 23, 1905, aged 82 years, 5 months and 4 days. He came to Illinois when twenty-seven years old and settled on a farm near Springfield. He was married to Cordelia Kalb April 17, 1851, and to this union was born three children; one dying in infancy. Those surviving are: Mrs. J.H. Elmore, of Chula, Mo., and E. Derry, of Menard county. His first wife died Oct. 6, 1854. Mr. Derry was again married to Martha Pollock October 17, 1861. To this union was born ten children: Charles, Benjamin, Lilly, Libbie, Ethel, Mrs. John White, Mrs. Samuel Ennis, all of Menard county, A.E. Derry, of Piatt county, Mrs. Homer Clark, of Sheridan, Mo. There are twenty-six grand children and four great grandchildren with many other relatives and friends to mourn his loss. He united with the Methodist church when quite young and until about five years ago, when his health failed him, was a very attentive member. He was a devoted husband and loving father.

Newspaper & Date unknown

A Good Woman Called Home

Obituary of Mrs. Martha J. Derry, Who Passed Away in Petersburg, Jan. 15, 1917.

Martha Jane Pollock, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Pollock, was born in Jefferson Co., Ohio, July 19, 1841. Departed this life Jan. 15, 1917, aged 75 years, 5 months, and 27 days. She came with her parents to Illinois, settling on a farm near Athens in 1851. She married James M. Derry Oct. 17, 1861, who died Feb. 23, 1905. To them were born four sons, John, who died in infancy, Chas. H., Addison E., Benjamin J., of this county, six daughters, Emmer White, Anna Ennis, Lily Patton, Ethel Robbins, of Menard county, Libby Batterton of Bloomington and Ada Clark of South Dakota. She is survived by one brother, Rev. H. B. Pollock of Decatur, two step children, Mrs. J.H. Elmore of Polo, Mo., and E.N. Derry of this county, nineteen grand children and two great grandchildren. Decedent had five brothers in the Civil War, one, William, was killed in the battle of Jackson, Miss. She became a Christian and united with the M.E. church when she was fourteen years of age and remained faithful to the end. She lived in a loving and loyal obedience to her Master and was a faithful attendant upon the church services while strength lasted. There never was a more kind and affectionate mother, a more loving wife, nor a kinder neighbor. The funeral services were held at the M.E. church in Petersburg on Wednesday, Jan. 17, conducted by Rev. W.F. Hunter. Burial at Rose Hill.

Petersburg Observer, January 24, 1880

Died. On Rose Hill, on the 14th inst., of croup, Jacob, son of John O. and Regina Harms, aged 1 year, 8 months and _ days. Interred in Rose Hill Cemetery. S

Petersburg Democrat, July 8, 1876

Mr. James Killion, whose dangerous illness was noted last week, died at his residence near Greenview on Wednesday evening and was buried at Rose Hill on Thursday afternoon. The deceased was personally unknown to the writer, but we understand he was a sterling citizen, long a resident of the county, and was universally esteemed by an extensive acquaintanceship.

Petersburg Observer, January 22, 1887

Mrs. Arabella Killion, wife of S.D. Killion, resident near Greenview, died on Monday last, of dropsy. Deceased was a lady of many good qualities, was highly esteemed, and her death is sadly mourned by quite a number of relatives and friends. The funeral services were held Wednesday and the remains were interred at Rose Hill cemetery.

Petersburg Observer, August 1, 1913

Death of Jesse McManaway.

Died, at the home of William Bracken, near Curtis, on Tuesday July 29, 1913, Jesse McManaway age 85 years. The interment took place at Rose Hill on Wednesday. The undertaker, Marshall _ Moore, officiating. The decedent leaves two sisters living in Mason county and one brother whose residence is unknown. He was never married.

Petersburg Observer, December 18, 1931

Mrs. James W. Power Is Dead

Died Monday In Pekin; Funeral Services Were Held On Wednesday

Mrs. Nancy Jane Power, wife of James W. Power and a resident of this city throughout most of her life, died Monday December 14 at the home of her son Robert in Pekin at the age of almost sixty years. She had been in failing health for some time, but the immediate cause of her death was a paralytic stroke.

Nancy Jane Rogers was born in Menard county on November 8, 1872 and here grew to young womanhood. In May 1890 she was united in marriage with James W. Power, and to this union were born six children, Robert W., Edith Helen, Jessie Irene and James Jr., three of the children, Charles Roy, Edith Helen and Jessie Irene, preceded her in death.

She spent all of her life with the exception of the last few years in Menard county and the greater part of the time in this city where she was held in the highest esteem for her many fine characteristics of kindness, gentleness and goodness. During the last few years she had made her home in Pekin.

She was not affiliated with any church, but was a firm believer in the Christian religion and while a resident of this city frequently attended the Cumberland Presbyterian church and was much interested in the growth and progress of the Cause of the Redeemer.

She is survived by her husband, three sons, three grandchildren, Mrs. June McFarland, Stewart and Audrey Jean Power all of Pekin, three brothers, Peter Rogers of Mountain Grove, Missouri, Charles Rogers of Petersburg, and Isaac Rogers of Wild Cat, Wyoming, two sisters, Mrs. John Clemons of Athens, and Mary E. Rogers of Urbana, with a number of more distant relatives and a multitude of neighbors and friends.

Funeral services were held at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, December 16 from the Cumberland Presbyterian church in this city, conducted by Rev. W. M. Groves, and burial was in Oakland cemetery.

Petersburg Observer, November 5, 1937

James W. Power, Pekin, Is Dead

Death Occured Monday In Hospital; Funeral Held Here Tuesday Afternoon

James W. Power, a native of Menard county and a resident of the Petersburg community throughout the greater part of his life, died Sunday morning October 31 at the State Hospital in Bartonville, at the age of almost sixty-six years.

Mr. Power was born January 8, 1872 on a farm east of Petersburg, the son of George S. and Maria Powers. He grew to manhood in the community in which he was born, and engaged in farming, which occupation he followed for a number of years. Later he came to Petersburg where he lived until some ten years ago, when he moved to Pekin. He spent the remainder of his life there, returning to Petersburg occasionally for a short time. For some time he had been a patient at the State Hospital.

Mr. Power was married in May, 1890 to Miss Nancy Jane Rogers, and to them were born six children. Surviving are three sons, Robert and James Jr. of Peking and Chester of this community. One son, Charles Roy and two daughters, Jessie Irene and Edith Helen, preceded him in death, and Mrs. Powers died on December 14, 1931. In addition to his three sons, he is survived by one brother Frank Power of Texas, two sisters, Mrs. Chan Cleveland of Boulder, Colo. and Mrs. Anna Fulton of Petersburg, besides a number of grandchildren and other relatives and friends.

Funeral services were held at the Thompson & Harms Funeral Home in this city at 2 o'clock Tuesday afternoon conducted by Rev. Aubrey C. Todd of the Congregational Church of South Pekin, and burial was in the family lot in Oakland cemetery.

Petersburg Oberserver, Date unknown

Aged German Passes Away
Louis Schmidt, a Highly Respected Cititzen is Mourned by Relatives and Friends

Louis Schmidt, aged 83 years, 9 months, and 20 days, a highly respected citizen, died Sunday October 13, at the home of his son six miles south of the city. The deceased was born in Germany but came to the United States when comparatively early in life. He has resided in Illinois for thirty-seven years. His home is in Cass county where he owned a farm, but for the past thirteen years he has lived with his son, Fred. The deceased is survived by two sons and four daughters: Henry of Athens and Fred of near Tallula; Mrs. Lizzie Yeske, Mrs. Bertha Scharfner of Springfield, Mrs. Anna Johnson of this city and Mrs. Hannah Hendricks of Cass County. The funeral services were held Wednesday at 1 p.m., Rev. Theodore Krueger officiating. Interment was made in Rose Hill cemetery near Petersburg.

Petersburg Observer, November 9, 1917

Death of Prominent Citizen

Henry Wernsing of Greenview Passed Away Last Sunday Morning, November 4, 1917

Henry Wernsing was born in Badbergen, Germany, April 22, 1859. After graduating from the schools of higher education in Badbergen and Bremen he served as apprentice in the business houses of Gossling in Osnabruck. Having received his certificate there he served as a volunteer in the German army until honorably discharged. He came to the United States in April, 1883.

He was married to Miss Anna Marbold Sept. 20, 1883. To this union were born five sons, three of whom are living, Harry, 2d lieut. in the National Army at Camp Grant, Rockford; Otto, at home, and Rudolph at Camp Logan, Houston, Texas.

After his marriage he established himself in business and by foresight, honesty and thrift, succeeded to be one of the foremost business men of the village. He despised questionable methods in business and conduct, but loved honesty and truth, and those who called Henry Wernsing their friend had a friend in him in deed and in need, and whenever he extended aid and help he would not suffer his left hand to know what the right hand did.

After many months of sickness and suffering he passed away Sunday morning, November 4, 1917, aged 58 years, 6 months and 12 days, leaving a deeply stricken wife, his three sons, a brother and sister in Germany, and a large circle of friends.

The funeral services were held at his late home in Greenview on Tuesday afternoon last, conducted by Rev. Theo. Krueger of this city and attended by hundreds from all over this and adjoining counties. At the request of the deceased the music was special numbers - violin solo by Lawrence Watkins, piano accompaniment by Frank Howell; quartette, Messrs. Fouche, Jurgens, Warnsing and Aachte.

Interment was had at Rose Hill cemetery.