Newspaper Unknown - February 26, 1937

William Shears, Jr., only son of William and Rebecca Shears was born August 1, 1902, in Ashington, Northumberland, England.

As an infant he received baptism in the Church of England. At the age of , he came with his parents to America and made his home in Athens, Illinois, where he attended the public schools and was a graduate of the Athens Community High School in the class of 1922.

On Monday of last week, he became ill of pneumonia and complications developed, necessitating his removal to St. John's hospital the next morning.

On Wednesday he was apparently improving, but Thursday his condition rapidly became worse and at 7:55 p.m. he fell into that last sleep and peacefully passed to his reward at the age of 34 years, 6 months, and 18 days.

During "Bill's" high school career, he was a member of the first basketball team organized in 1919, under H. V. Porter, then principal of the school. He was on the All-star team in five county and district tourneys. In his senior year he was business manager of the Staff and also secretary of the Athletic Board of Control.

After graduation he became an employee in the First National Bank, Springfield, and continued to advance in that connection until his death.

While a resident of Springfield he has been active in sports, civic and social affairs. He was a bowler in the Capital City Bowling League and Captain of the Burgheim team.

The pallbearers were - Hargrave Ayres, Harold Burgheim, Howard Post, Claude Astermeier, Lawrence Meikeljohn and Coy Gillman.

Those caring for the flowers were: Mabel Courtright, Mary E. Wasilewski, Opal Clemens, Lucille Neibert, Irene Hawkins and Dorthelene Barr.

Out of town folks in attendance at the funeral were - Mr. James Hardison, Sr., Petersburg, Ind.; Mr. James Hardison jr., Huntington, Ind.; Mr. And Mrs. M. W. Hardison, Evansville, Ind.; Mr. And Mrs. J. C. Pickett, Indianapolis, Ind.; Mr. Thomas Gutmann, Peoria, Ills. In addition there were hosts of friends and relatives from Springfield and surrounding vicinity.

Funeral services were held from the Methodist Episcopal Church, Sunday afternoon at 2 o'clock, Rev. J. C. Ewing of Pleasant Plains officiating, assisted by the local pastor, Rev. W. W. Harding.

Interment was made in the Hall cemetery.

Transcribed by: Bertha Emmett

William T. Beal, son of the late Geo. K. and Elizabeth Maddox Beal, was born in the State of Tennessee, on August 11, 1852, and died at the residence of his daughter, Mrs. Nellie Pfeil, at 5:20, Monday morning, February 22, 1937, at the age of 85 years, 6 months and 11 days.

At the age of nine months he was brought by his parents to Lawrence County, Illinois, where the family settled.

At the age of 20, deceased was married to Nancy E. Nash at Louisville, Illinois. To this union five children were born; three of whom are living. Mrs. Beal preceded her husband in death in the year 1890.

Deceased united with the Baptist Church near Lancaster, Illinois when 17 years of age. He has made his home in this city since 1917.

The survivors are - one son, Stephen Beal of Athens; two daughters, Mrs. Nellie Pfiel of Athens, and Mrs. Hattie Rictor, Scott City, Kansas; one sister, Mrs. Mary Hopkins, Francesville, Illinois; three brothers, Thomas of St. Francesville; Jacob M. of Vincennes, Indiana; George G., Lancaster, Illinois; 13 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren.

Funeral services were held at Motts funeral home at 2 o'clock Wednesday afternoon, Rev. George Harness of Lincoln officiating.

Interment was made in Hall cemetery.

Transcribed by: Bertha Emmett

Mary Katherine Tennell, wife of John Tennell was born at Southville, Shelby County, Kentucky, November 10, 1866, the daughter of Edmund D. and Amanda Graves.

Deceased was married to John Tennell, July 5, 1888. The family have made their home in Athens for the past nineteen years, coming from Springfield. She joined the Baptist Church in Springfield. Since coming to Athens, she enjoyed the fellowship of the local M. E. Church, serving as an officer in the Missionary Society and various departments of the church and always entertained and worked with the members of the Missionary Society with much pleasure and enthusiasm.

For the past several years, Mrs. Tennell has been in failing health and was forced to practically abandon her activities in connection with the church and the Womans Club. Her ailment had been progressing for some years, first by the development of a goitre, which caused a serious condition of the heart, which was the cause of her demise very suddenly at about 9:00 o'clock Sunday night at the age of 67 years, 1 month and 7 days.

Those surviving are her husband, John Tennell, one son, Edmund D. Tennell, two daughters, Mrs. C. H. Hurtt and Mrs. Harold Herbon of Wilmette; four grandchildren, Harold and Betty Hurtt and Donald and Patsy Ann Herbon, two sisters, Mrs. Phil Kleim of Ottawa and Mrs. Frank Roy, Los Angeles, California.

Funeral services were held at 10:00 o'clock, Wednesday morning at the local M. E. Church, Rev. Unger, pastor of the church officiating. Interment was made in Hall cemetery.

Transcribed by: Bertha Emmett

Minerva Jane Dyer, wife of Stephen A. Beal and daughter of Jesse and Susan Dyer, was born at Palmyra, Illinois, June 20, 1883 and died at St. John's hospital in Springfield at 7:20 p.m. Monday, May 16, 1927, at the age of 43 years, 10 months and 26 days.

Her early education was obtained in the Athens schools and practically all her life was spent here. She was a member of the Free Methodist church, having united with that denomination when a girl.

On February 15, 1910, she was united in marriage to Stephen A. Beal at Jacksonville, Illinois. To this union six children were born: three sons, Franklin, Alfred and Glenn, and three daughters, Lula May, Hattie and Helen, who with the husband, survive. She is also survived by four brothers: James H. Dyer of Jacksonville, George and Wesley of Springfield and John of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; one sister, Mrs. Mattie B. Seeley of Pekin.

Funeral services were held at the Methodist church in this city, Wednesday afternoon, May 18, at 2 o'clock, Rev. J. C. Ewing officiating.

Interment was made in the Hall cemetery.

Transcribed by: Bertha Emmett

John Behrends Tobiassen, a prominent and highly respected citizen of Menard County died at the home of William Tobiassen near Fancy Prairie, Wednesday evening, February 15, 1928 at 6:40 o'clock, aged 80 years 2 months and 24 days.

He was born November 22, 1827, in Marx East Friesland, Germany, and came to America in 1868, since which time he resided continually in Menard County.

On February 17, 1878, he was married to Miss Mary Williams, to this union eleven children were born all of whom survive. His wife died November 11, 1816.

He is survived by seven sons, Jerry of Palmyra, John of Athens, Henry of Petersburg, William, Harmon, Thomas and Harry, all of Fancy Prairie; four daughters, Mrs. Anna Johnson of Middletown, Mrs. Dora Ackerman of Williamsville, Mrs. Grace Falkers and Mary Tobiassen of Fancy Prairie; twenty grandchildren and one sister, 94 years old, who resides in Germany.

Funeral services were held at the home of his daughter, Mrs. William Ackerman at 11 o'clock and at the Evangelical Lutheran church at noon, Saturday, February 18, Rev. J. G. Kaiser officiating.

Interment was made in Hall cemetery.

Transcribed by: Bertha Emmett

The death of John Nash, a well known citizen of Athens occurred at St. John's hospital in Springfield, Friday morning, October 21, 1927 at 8:30 o'clock after an illness of a few days. He was taken to the hospital on Monday of last week where he grew rapidly worse until the final summons came.

He was a son of Granville and Nancy Nash and was born at Salisbury, March 22, 1860, and was aged 67 years, 6 months and 29 days.

He was united in marriage to Mrs. Harriett Lacy of Salisbury in 1880. To this union seven children were born, one son dying in infancy.

Surviving are: five daughters, Mrs. Nellie Rixon of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Mrs. Bessie Eadie of Herrin, Mrs. Goldie Hendricks of Springfield, Mrs. Cal Hibbs and Mrs. Harve Wells, both of this city; one son, Harry Nash of Springfield; one stepdaughter, Mrs. Maude Wahl of Farmersville; one stepson, Freeman Gibson of Springfield; one brother, A. J. Nash of this city; two sisters, Mrs. Martha Tibbs of Decatur and Mrs. Margaret Yoakum of Springfield and fourteen grandchildren.

Funeral services were held at the Athens Christian church Sunday afternoon, October 23 at 2:30 o'clock. Lewis P. Fisher of Cantrall officiating, assisted by Rev. L. R. Gerber of this city. Interment was made in Hall cemetery.

Transcribed by: Bertha Emmett

It was with a feeling of deepest sympathy and regret that this community received the news of the death of the first one of the Athens boys who have so nobly answered the call of their country when the telegram announcing the death of Private Herman Scantlin was received last Thursday morning.

It was known that he was a very sick man and his wife, Mrs. Mae Scantlin and her sister, Miss Lillie Jameson, departed for New York on Tuesday evening in order that they might be at the bedside of the patient and cheer him in the fight for life but he had passed to the final roll call about two hours before they reached their destination.

Herman departed with the last quota from Menard County on April 6. At that time he was not feeling well but would not complain as he had it in mind that "this would be yellow" as he expressed it.

Shortly after his arrival at the camp at Ft. Totten he was taken ill and sent to a base hospital where his illness was diagnosed as pleurisy. The messages and letters received daily gave his friends hope that the patient would defeat the dread disease and would soon be restored to health.

The medical authorities did all in their power to overcome the disease, but the patient took a turn for the worse and passed away in the early hours of last Thursday morning. His last words being a call for his wife whom he had left behind such a short time ago and in the high hope that he would soon be able to return to the bosom of his family.

Herman's death brings the realization that this horrible world war is now at our very doors. It is reaping its grim harvest of our bravest and best boys and Herman is the first one who has gone from our midst to answer the last call and yet he fell before reaching the reddened fields of France. However this does not mitigate the tears shed and sorrow felt by his friends and the people of Athens with whom Herman was associated and by whom he was held in high esteem. He has done his bit. He did it readily and willingly and this is one ray of brightness in the hour of sorrow and grief. May this be said of us all when we too have surrendered to the enemy of all mankind - Death.

Herman Scantlin, son of Thomas Scantlin was born in Athens, Illinois, June 1, 1888 and died at Ft. Totten, New York, April 18, 1918, aged 29 years, 10 months and 17 days.

He was united in marriage to Mrs. Mae Hall on April 20, 1911. They made their home in this city until the call to the colors came when the home was temporarily closed and Mrs. Scantlin went to Springfield for a short visit with her mother.

He is survived by his wife, Mrs. Mae Scantlin, three sisters, (first two names unreadable), Mrs. Elmer Stone of Kenosha, Wisconsin, his father, Thomas Scantlin and one brother, Thomas Jr. also of Athens.

Funeral services were held at the Christian church in this city, Tuesday afternoon, April 23, 1918 at 2 o'clock, Rev. William Groves of Petersburg, officiating. Interment was made in the Hall cemetery.

The pall bearers were: James Calvert, Gus Shipley, Seth Wineland, George Edmunds, Arthur Jenson and J. S. Sprouse.

The flower girls were: The Misses Clara Hibbs, Bernice Bushong, Elzora McDougal, Dorothy Swingle, Marian Flynn and Marie Smock.

The floral offerings were many and very beautiful. Those deserving special mention were: A broken wheel from the boys of the 4th Reg. Coast Artillery; American Flag from Miners Local No. 633; Lillies from the Athens Vigilance Corps of the American Defense Society; Wreathe from the business men of the city. There were also many beautiful pieces expressive of the sympathy of individual donors.

The members of Local Union No. 633 and the members of the Athens Vigilance Corps attended the funeral in a body and thus attested their respect to the fallen soldier and their sincere sympathy to his stricken family and friends.

The funeral was the largest ever held in this city and was a remarkable tribute of every class of our people to "our boy" who had fallen in the fight to make the world safe for democracy.

Transcribed by: Bertha Emmett