Schuyler County ILGenWeb - Some Early Deaths from the year 1897

Schuyler County ILGenWeb

The Schuyler Citizen Newspapers
Some Early Deaths 1897

Died—Mrs. Joseph H. Coffman (nee Fannie Leach) died at her home in Augusta Monday,
May 3, in the 35th year of her age.
She was a daughter of J. B. Leach and was well known in Rushville.
The Schuyler Citizen, May 5, 1897

Died—Herman Schmoldt, aged twenty-eight years, son of ex-Mayor R. G. Schmoldt of Beardstown,
died Friday morning of congestion of the brain. He leaves a wife and one daughter.
The Schuyler Citizen, May 12, 1897

Died—Richard G. Breeden; Macomb is in mourning on account of the death of the first citizen in the city.
Mayor Richard G. Breeden died Friday morning of typhoid fever.
He was elected at the recent municipal election and has never been able to serve in his official capacity.
Funeral services took place from the Presbyterian church Sunday afternoon.
The Schuyler Citizen, May 12, 1897

Died—Mrs. Ida Stodgell died last night at the home of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Leroy Sellers,
six miles northwest of this city.
She was about twenty-seven years of age and death was due to heart disease.
Funeral services will take place from Moore’s chapel Wednesday afternoon at 3 o’clock,
Interment at the Moore cemetery.
The Schuyler Citizen, May 19, 1897

Died—infants Lawler, one of the twin boys who were born to Mr. and Mrs. John Lawler, May 8,
died Saturday afternoon and the other Sunday evening.
The Schuyler Citizen, May 19, 1897

Died—Thomas J. Prather, a well-known young man of Beardstown, died last Saturday morning.
He was formerly engaged in the laundry business there and was a prominent member of the M. E. church.
The Schuyler Citizen, May 19, 1897

Died—Mrs. Enoch Hodges; the death of Mrs. Enoch Hodges occurred last evening
at her home in Littleton township, of consumption.
She leaves a husband and four children, two of whom are twin babes.
Mrs. Hodges was a daughter of Jacob Rice, who resides near the Oakwood schoolhouse,
Buena vista township.
Funeral services will take place on Sunday and the remains will be interred at the
Sodom burying ground near Erwin.
The Schuyler Citizen, May 19, 1897

Died—Anna Catherine Decounter, daughter of Mrs. F. S. Decounter, was born Dec. 6, 1876,
and died May 3, 1897, at the home of her mother.
She was united in marriage to John E. Chapman, Dec. 14, 1893.
To them was born one child, which died in infancy.
All her sufferings she bore with patience and said when the Master called she was ready to go.
Funeral services took place from the M. E. church at Ripley conducted by Rev. F. B. Madden,
of Mt Sterling, after which the remains were laid to rest in the Ripley cemetery.
The Schuyler Citizen, May 19, 1897

Died—Frank Armstrong, aged about 24 years, youngest son of Thomas Armstrong
of Bainbridge township,
died early Sunday morning. He had been sick for some time with consumption.
Funeral services took place from the family residence Monday afternoon at 1 o’clock,
interment in Rushville cemetery.
The Schuyler Citizen, May 26, 1897

Died—Joshua Hale, who received a paralytic stroke last Thursday, died at his home in Hancock county,
a few miles west of Augusta, last night at 8 o’clock in the seventy-third year of age.
Mr. Hale was a resident of Schuyler county the greater part of his life,
having resided in Buena vista and Littleton townships.
He moved from the latter place to Hancock county about five years ago.
He leaves four children—Jesse Hale, of Littleton township; Mrs. John Deweese, of Bainbridge township;
Mrs. Letha J. Ross and Mrs. Cora Randall, of Hancock county.
The remains will be interred at Littleton Wednesday afternoon at 1 o’clock.
The Schuyler Citizen, May 26, 1897

Died—Mrs. Elmer Smith; the sad intelligence was received in
Rushville today of the death of Mrs. Elmer Smith,
of San Bernardino, Cal. Mrs. B. A. Irvin received a letter from her sister,
Mrs. H. A. Smith, containing the announcement.
Mrs. Smith died last Monday, May 17, death resulting from kidney trouble.
Deceased was united in marriage with Mr. Smith last summer, and he is left with one child
to mourn the death of a young wife.
Elmer is a son of Prof. H. A. Smith, who for many years was principal of the Rushville public schools.
The Schuyler Citizen, May 26, 1897

Died—Mr. Payne; About 8 o’clock this morning a frightful accident occurred right in the heart of the city.
W. F. Payne was making his regular morning rounds sprinkling the streets and had stopped at the hydrant
at the corner of Washington and Main streets to fill the tank, when the horses, which are driven three abreast,
became frightened and unmanageable. Mr. Payne seized the bits and endeavored to quiet them,
but they continued to rear and plunge, and finally he was thrown to the ground,
dragged several feet and trampled on by one of the animals.
The horse than ran down Main street several blocks and finally drew up at the river.
Payne was carried into Davis’ lunchroom and Dr. Bley called.
He was not thought to be fatally injured, and was soon after carried to his home.
It appears, however, that he had received internal injuries not at first apparent,
for he soon became unconscious and died about 11 o’clock, presumably of congestion of the brain.
Mr. Payne was a hard working, industrious citizen, having been engaged in sprinkling the streets
and driving a city hack since he came here from Jacksonville three years ago.
He was thirty years old, and leaves a wife to mourn his sudden death. —Beardstown Star, May 20.
The Schuyler Citizen, May 26, 1897

Died—Francis M. Justus; Departed this life, Friday, May 14, 1897,
at his home in Summum, Fulton county,
Francis M. Justus, aged 67 years, 4 months and 24 days.
Deceased was born Dec. 22, 1829.
In 1853 he was married to Miss Elizabeth Mercer.
To this union were born thirteen children,
ten of whom survive with their mother to mourn the loss of a loving father and husband.
Though sick and suffering for many days he was patient and resigned.
He was converted when young and has since been walking in the path that leads to glory.
On the day before he died he called his children one by one to his side
and advised them to lead Christian lives,
expressed his willingness to go, and told them all to meet him in heaven.
Thus one by one earth’s ties are broken as we watch our loved ones fall into the last peaceful sleep.
The Schuyler Citizen, May 26, 1897

Died—Beulah Maud Toland, the six-year-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Milton Toland, of Oakland township,
died Tuesday evening. Funeral services were held at the family residence Wednesday afternoon.
The interment was in the Chockley cemetery.
The Schuyler Citizen, June 2, 1897
Died—Luther Peckenpaugh; William Luther Peckenpaugh was born in
Buena vista township April 30th, 1874,
and died of consumption at the same home May 28th, 1897, aged 23 years and 28 days.
It is with feeling of regret that we chronicle the death of this noble young man,
yet we will endeavor in a humble way to pay tribute to the memory
of one of the best young men in Schuyler county.
The announcement of his death, although not unexpected, was a terrible shock to his many friends.
Luther was taken ill some three years ago,
though it was not known to be serious
until the beginning of this year,
when it was found that he was rapidly growing worse.
He was conscious until about an hour before 1:30 a.m.,
when he was relieved from his great suffering
and passed from the shore of trials and troubles upon the threshold
of which he was just entering in this world,
to that blessed shore where all is peace, love and happiness.
He suffered greatly during his illness, but his death came gently,
as though he was only going to sleep.
Being born and raised in the community in which he died
he was known and loved by almost every man, woman and child.
He was converted to God Feb. 4th, 1897, and although not a member
was in close sympathy with the church
and while in health he attended the Methodist Sunday School in Rushville,
of which he was a member.
In Rushville, where about three years of his life was spent,
Luther had a large circle of friends.
Always cheerful, courteous, kind and pleasant to all
he was pointed to all as a model young man;
while with his parents he was the idol upon which their fond homes were centered,
being the youngest of four children,
only two of which, together with two half sisters and a half brother,
remain to bless the sad home.
The funeral occurred at the Mt. Zion church on Sunday afternoon at 2 o’clock,
conducted by Rev. J. B. Horney.
The church was draped in black and decorated with many plants and flowers.
Rev. Horney delivered a very appropriate and touching discourse with deep feeling,
and almost the entire audience was moved to tears.
At the conclusion of the services the solemn march to the Hughes cemetery was taken up
and we do not remember of ever seeing so long a funeral procession.
Arriving at the cemetery the friends gathered around the floral–lined grave
in silence to witness the last sad rites
performed over the remains of their beloved friend and in reverence
bow their heads while his body
was consigned to the dust from whence it came.
The floral offerings strewn upon the coffin were beautiful and numerous.
Mr. Wm. Peckenpaugh desires us on behalf of himself and family
to thank the many friends who so kindly and generously assisted in caring for their loved one
during his long illness
and for the sympathy so universally expressed
and manifested during their sad and trying hours.
The Schuyler Citizen, June 2,1897
Died—Hiram Evans, Esq., a resident of Rushville and vicinity for sixty-one years,
died at 12:20 this morning in this city.
In December 1894, Mr. Evans became an invalid, and since that time has been helpless.
Nearly two years ago his brother, Virgil Evans, moved from Hannibal, Mo.,
to take care of the invalid brother,
and administered to his wants until he passed away last night.
Hiram Evans was born in Washington county, Virginia, Nov. 4th , 1810.
At the age of fourteen years he commenced to learn the carpenter’s trade,
which he followed under the direction of his father until he was twenty years of age,
when he left home and spent a few years in Kentucky and Mississippi.
On May 6, 1836, he located in Rushville, where he followed contracting and building for many years,
but finally turned his attention to loan and general brokerage.
In 1845 he was united in marriage with Miss Susanna Carrick, a native of Scott County, KY.
To them were born two children, both of whom died in childhood. Mrs. Evans died in 1849.
Funeral services conducted by Elder D. E. Hughes will take place from the
Christian church Friday afternoon at 3 o’clock.
The Schuyler Citizen, June 2,1897
Died—James McClintock died Friday night at his home in Mt. Sterling, aged 76 years.
He was a brother-in-law of Jas. L., George and Joseph Greer of Rushville, having married Lucinda Greer.
He was a farmer of Brown county for many years.
Messer James L., George E., Joseph and Robert L. Greer attended the funeral services
conducted by Rev. F. B. Madden,
in the M. E. Church in Mt. Sterling Sunday afternoon at 2 o’clock.
The Schuyler Citizen, June 2,1897

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