CHARLES ALEXANDER YETTER 1856-1920, MARTHA ELLEN MILLER 1854-1938, BALLARD PRESTON JONES 1857-1937

 

Page content last modified: September 30, 2008, updated 1900 census transcription.
May 7, 2006, added text on Ballard Preston Jones, 1930 census transcription.
May 1, 2005, added obituary for Charles Miller.

MAJORVILLE   CEMETERY
HANCOCK  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS

 

CHARLES ALEXANDER YETTER 1856-1920
MARTHA ELLEN YETTER (nee MILLER) 1854-1938

(Tombstone photo/s not yet available)

 


 
CHARLES A. YETTER
Apr. 17, 1856
Oct. 14, 1920
 
 
 

 
MARTHA E.
Wife of
CHARLES A. YETTER
Mar. 19, 1854
Jan. 18, 1938
 

 

Author - Marcia Farina

Carthage Republican
October 20, 1920

CHARLES A. YETTER

After long and weary weeks of patient suffering, Charles A. Yetter passed away at his home one-half mile north of Webster, on Oct. 14th, 1920, aged 64 years, 5 months and 27 days.  He was the son of Lewis and Martha Yetter - early and honored pioneers of Fountain Green township.

Of their family four survive: Mrs. Maggie Hayford, of Kansas City, Mo.; Mrs. Susie Fortney, of Willmathsville, Mo.; Mrs. Ella Day and Morris Yetter of near Fountain Green.

Charles Alexander Yetter was born April 17, 1856, and can be claimed as a life-time resident of this community, where he has long lived and labored.

He was united in marriage Jan. 7, 1875, to Miss Ellen Miller of Hancock township.  Four children were born to them.  One son, Lewis, passed away in early childhood; one daughter, Florence, grown to young womanhood answered the call of the Master some sixteen years ago, leaving a large vacancy in the hearts of her devoted parents, to whom she was so deeply endeared.  Beside the faithful, affectionate wife, who has been a most efficient helpmeet during all the years, there remain to mourn their loss, one daughter, Mrs. Mollie Bullock of Kankakee and one son, Walter of this vicinity.  There are also three grandchildren and one great grandchild.

Charlie Yetter was a kind husband and father, a good friend and neighbor at all times willing to lend a helping hand.  He was industrious and upright.  His days were filled with honest toil and his pleasant county home the abode of peace and good will.  Its comfort was rudely shattered something over two months ago when Mr. Yetter was stricken with a para-typhoid which from its inception was alarmingly severe.  The passing days brought deepened anxiety and lessened hope as his physical system failed to repond to the skilled physicians whose profficient ministry has brought relief and restoration to so many score of sufferers similiarly affected.  Later regular typhoid fever developed with added complications whose dire ravages the best of medical aid and the untiring attention of his faithful family were powerless to arrest.  The lengthening of his life for a few weeks and the lessening in a measure of his intense suffering was all that resulted from their constant care and perservering efforts.  He from the first seemed assured that his malady would be fatal and so confidently affirmed.

Mr. Yetter had been converted some years ago and made a public confession of his faith in Christ and repeatedly expressed his entire submission to the Father's will and his _______ to meet the summons which would pull him home and with life's _____ ended he peacefully passed to his reward.

Funeral services were held at Majorville Sunday at 11 o'clock, conducted by Rev. Mr. Clagett of the Presbyterian church of Fountain Green.  Interment in Majorville cemetery.

Card of Thanks.

We desire to express our heartfelt appreciation of all the acts of kindess shown us in our dark hours of sorrow.

Mrs. Ellen Yetter,
Mrs. J. S. Bullock,
Walter Yetter


Obituary from the files of Cora R. Swift, verbatim transcription.

On January 3, 1875, Lewis Yetter wrote a note to the Clerk of Hancock County, asking that his son, Charles, be issued a marriage license.  Parental approval was required because Charles was not yet 21 years old.  Charles delivered the note on the 6th and the Clerk, in lieu of a formal affidavit, simply attached Lewis' note to a blank affidavit form and issued Hancock County marriage license #4933.  Charles and Martha were married on January 7 at Fountain Green by A. S. Atherton, Minister of the M. E. church.  Marriage Documents

The Yetter children were probably all born in Fountain Green Township:

i. Lewis M. Yetter, born about 1877, died July 30, 1879, burial at Majorville Cemetery.
 
ii. Mollie Yetter, born in 1875, died January 26, 1966, at Marietta, Georgia (according to burial records), or Atlanta, Georgia (according to an obituary).  Burial at Rockville Cemetery, Rockville, Maryland.
 
iii. Florence Luella Yetter, born May 3, 1880, died May 28, 1904, burial at Majorville Cemetery.
 
iv. Walter B. Yetter, born August 12, 1890, died between 1938 and 1966.
 

See also: Lewis Yetter & Martha E. Wright
John L. Miller & Nancy Jane Myers
Mrs. Cleta Yetter Schutte (granddaughter)

The News of Fountain Green
February 29, 1928 - verbatim transcription

Jones-Yetter

On Thursday, February 23, 1928, our community was visited by a Leap Year wedding when Martha Ellen Yetter, 73, of Webster became the bride of B. P. Jones, 70, of Blandinsville. They were married at Keokuk, Iowa by Justice of the Peace Edward E. Hawkes with Mr. and Mrs. Tracy R. Miller as witnesses.

Mrs. Jones was the widow of the late Charlie Yetter, and since his death has resided on a small farm about two miles west of Fountain Green.

The groom has lived the past few years on a farm west of Blandinsville.  He is not very well known around this vicinity, but nevertheless they have a host of friends who unite in wishing them a happy and prosperous married life.

On Monday evening about one hundred young and old friends gathered at their home, west of Fountain Green and gave them a rousing charivari.  After so much noise, they were treated to candy and cigars, then enjoyed a few hours of visiting after which they departed for their various homes.


Ballard Preston Jones was born July 3, 1857 or '58 in Virginia.  He died January 28, 1937, in Hancock County, and was buried at Glade City Cemetery, Blandinsville, McDonough County, next to his wife, "Cathern", who died December 23, 1921.

Mrs. Ellen Yetter

Contributed by Majorville Correspondent.

Mrs. Ellen Yetter passed away at the farm home of her brother, John Miller, south of Webster, Illinois, Tuesday, January 18, 1938, after several weeks of suffering from cancer of the stomach, at the age of 83 years, 9 months anl 29 days.

Martha Ellen Miller Yetter was the daughter of John L. and Nancy Jane (Meyers) Miller, and was born in Vigo county, Indiana, near Terre Haute, March 19, 1854.  She came to Illinois from Indiana when she was only two years old.  She came with her parents in one of those old pioneer covered wagons.  She was second eldest in a family of six daughters and four sons.  Only three of this large family remain to mourn the loss of their sister.  The living ones are: Walter J. and John L. Miller of Hancock township, Hancock county, Illinois, and Mrs. Mandy Gibson of California. When this family came to this country in 1856 they settled on the farm south of Webster, now occupied by the son, John, and family.

Here Martha Ellen grew to womanhood and was a pretty and popular bride at the age of twenty, when she married Charles A. Yetter, an industrious young farmer of Fountain Green township.  To this union two sons and two daughters were born.  Of these only Mrs. Mollie Bullock, of Newtonville, Mass., and Walter B. Yetter, who lives on the old family homestead, near Webster, are left to mourn the passing of their mother.  Lewis M. died July 30, 1879, and Florence L. died on May 28, 1904. Mrs. Yetter’s husband, Charles A. Yetter, died Oct. 14, 1920.

Mrs. Yetter also leaves to mourn her passing two grandchildren and three great grandchildren. A favorite granddaughter, Mrs. Cleta Yetter Schutte, of Fort Madison, Iowa, proceeded Mrs. Yetter in death on last November 1st.  Friends of the family state that Mrs. Yetter never fully recovered from the shock of that sudden death.

Mrs. Yetter has been a life-long resident of the Webster-Fountain Green community, having lived more than fifty years at her present homestead.  Her neighbors proclaim her to have been a good neighbor, a loving mother, and a hard-working, home-loving, honest woman.  Indeed, they are sad for her passing.

The funeral of Mrs. Yetter was held at Majorville church on Friday afternoon, Jan. 21, 1938, where a large number of relatives, friends and neighbors gathered to pay their last respects.  The casket was covered with beautiful flowers.  Pallbearers were Kenneth McConnell, George Latherow, Russell Meyers, Jabez Beebe, Guy and Gabe Ebert.


Published obituary, unknown original news source and print date, from the Siegfried scrapbook, Vol. X, at the Hancock County Historial Society, verbatim transcription.

1860 Census Record for Lewis Yetter and Family Not Found

Several families known to have lived continuously in Hancock County are absent from 1860 census records, leading to the conclusion that these families were missed altogether, or lines were missed during transcription, or some of the original pages were lost.

1860 Illinois Census, Hancock County, Hancock Township, page 732
enumerated July 24, 1860, dwelling #3339

John Miller, 34, male, farmer, value of real estate 3000, value of personal estate 1500, born OH
Nancy J, 25, female, born IN
Mary A, 7, female, born IN
Martha, 5, female, born IN
Alfred, 3, male, born IL
Matilda, 2, female, born IL

1870 Illinois Census, Hancock County, Fountain Green Township, page 126A
enumerated June 4, 1870, dwelling #108

Yetter, Leuis [sic], 36, male, white, farmer, value of real estate 5000, value of personal estate 1000, born PA, male citizen of the U.S. aged 21 or more
Martha, 40, female, white, keeping house, born TN
William, 16, male, white, born IL, attended school within the year
Charles, 14, male, white, born IL, attended school within the year
Thomas, 12, male, white, born IL, attended school within the year
James, 8, male, white, born IL, attended school within the year
Maggie, 6, female, white, born IL, attended school within the year
Ellie, 5, female, white, born IL
Susie, 1, female, white, born IL

1870 Illinois Census, Hancock County, Hancock Township, page 161B
enumerated June 20, 1870, dwelling #153

Miller, John L, 42, male, white, farmer, value of real estate 7000, value of personal estate 1000, born OH, male citizen of the U.S. aged 21 or more
Nancy J, 38, female, white, keeping house, born IN
Mary A, 17, female, white, born IN, attended school within the year
Martha E, 16, female, white, born IN, attended school within the year
Alferd, 13, male, white, born IL, attended school within the year
Matilda, 11, female, white, born IL, attended school within the year
Sarah J, 8, female, white, born IL, attended school within the year
John W, 5, male, white, born IL
Charly, 1, male, white, born IL

1880 Illinois Census, Hancock County, Fountain Green Township, page 118B
enumerated June 23-24, 1880, dwelling #213

Yetter, Charles A, white, male, 23, married, farmer, born IL, father born OH, mother born TN
[continued on next page]
Yetter, Marthe E, white, female, 25, wife, married, keeping house, born OH, father born OH, mother born PA
Mary, white, female, 5, single, at home, born IL, father born IL, mother born OH
Infant, white, female, 1/12, born May, daughter, single, at home, born IL, father born IL, mother born OH

 

1900 Illinois Census, Hancock County, Fountain Green Township, page 114A
enumerated June 12, 1900, dwelling #149

Yeatter, Charls A, head, white, male, Apr 1856, 44, married for 25 years, born IL, both parents born OH, farmer, months not employed - 0, could read, write and speak English, owned his farm home free of mortgage, farm schedule 119 [incorrectly numbered, between farms 108 and 110]

Marthia E, wife, white, female, Nov 1854, 46, married for 25 years; mother of 4 children, 3 living; born IN, father born OH, mother born IN, could read, write and speak English

Florance L, daughter, white, female, Mar 1880, 20, single, born IL, father born IL, mother born IN, hired girl, months not employed - 4, could read, write and speak English

Walter B, son, white, male, Aug 1890, 9, single, born IL, father born IL, mother born IN, [no indication of school attendance]

 

1910 Illinois Census, Hancock County, Fountain Green Township, page 77A
enumerated April 16, 1910, dwelling #32

Yetter, Charles A, head, male, white, 53, married (1st) for 34 years, born IL, both parents born IL, spoke English, farmer, general farm, working on own account, could not read or write, rented his farm home, farm schedule 24

Ellen M, wife, female, white, 56, married (1st) for 34 years; mother of 4 children, 2 living; born IL, both parents born OH, spoke English, could read and write

 

1920 Illinois Census, Hancock County, Fountain Green Township, page 105B
enumerated January 8, 1920, dwelling #93, farm

Yetter, Charley, head, owner, paying on a mortgage, male, white, 64, married, could not read or write, born IL, both parents born OH, spoke English, farmer, general farm, working on own account, farm schedule 72

Ellen, wife, female, white, 63, married, could read and write, born IN, father born OH, mother born IL, spoke English

1930 Illinois Census, Hancock County, Fountain Green Township, page 104B
enumerated April 17-18, 1930, dwelling #119

Jones, Preston, head, owner, did not own a radio, lived on a farm, male, white, 72, married, age at first marriage - 24, could not read or write, born VA, both parents born VA, spoke English, farmer, general farm, whether a veteran of the U.S. military or naval forces mobilized for any war or expedition - no, farm schedule 98

Ellen, wife, female, white, 76, married, age at first marriage - 20, could read and write, born IN, father born OH, mother born IN, spoke English

 

Majorville Index
A - H
Majorville Index
I - R
Majorville Index
S - Z
Census
Transcriptions