Orange County, California Obituaries

Death of Mr. Spencer JOHNSON.
At Garden Grove, Cali., June 26, 1896, Aged 82 Years. A Pioneer of Kane Co., and for Many Years a Highly Respected Resident of Batavia.
Mr. Spencer JOHNSON, one of the old Pioneer settlers of Kane Co., (Illinois) who came here some 59 years ago, when this beautiful country was but a wild prairie, and assisted in breaking its soil, establishing our city, and to build our school and churches, passed away at his home in Garden Grove, California, June 26th 1896 after a long illness, aged 82 years. Deceased was born at Camden, Oneida Co., N. Y., June 15th, 1814. In 1835 he located at Dover, Ohio, where for some time he followed teaching; came to Illinois in 1837, and purchased a claim in Virgil Township, and for a number of years followed the occupation of a farmer. In 1849 he purchased a fine grain and dairy farm, one mile east of Batavia, which he owned at the time of his death; it being carried on by his son, Wm. R. JOHNSON.
March 24, 1842, Mr. JOHNSON married Miss Sarah M. CHAFFEE, of Campton, Ill., with whom the past 54 years of his life have been pleasantly spent. Ten children were born to them, six of whom are still living, and with the aged mother, are now left to mourn the loss of a kind husband and father.
Deceased was a staunch Republican, a valued member of the Batavia Cong’l church, and for some time served as a Trustee. About ten years ago he moved to Garden Grove, Cali., where he owned a fruit farm, and where one son, E. S. JOHNSON, and a daughter, Mrs. WARE reside, and who tenderly cared for him in his declining years. Mr. JOHNSON was a man highly respected by all, a promoter of good, and a valuable citizen, whose memory will be cherished through all time, and his life be a worthy example to his family and friends. The remains were brought to Batavia, Thursday, July 2d, accompanied by his son, Edmund; (the wife being in too feeble health to endure the long journey.) They were met upon their arrival by the children and friends, and tenderly conveyed to the home of his daughter, Mrs. M. M. KINNE, where funeral services were held at 2:30 p.m., and were largely attended. [Batavia Herald, 9 July 1896, submitted by K. Torp]


Lawrence Hildreth Stone
Lawrence Hildreth Stone, 84, of Buena Park., Calif., formerly of the Quincy (Illinois) area, died Dec. 16 in Anaheim General Hospital in Anaheim. Born on May 31, 1901, near Cooperstown, he was the son of Lloyd Henry and Martha Lorena "Rena" Logsdon Stone. He married Erma Lelah Deeter in 1921. He later married Artie Woodsin California. Mr. Stone worked as a carpenter and a general contractor in the Quincy area for many years before moving to California in the late 1950s. He was preceded in death by a sister and two brothers. Surviving are his wife, Artie; one son, Francis L. of Lodi, Calif.; two daughters, Mrs. Howard (Mildred) Williams of Springfield and Mrs. Aaron (Juanita) Stockhecke of rural Ursa; two sisters, Eula Thomas of Taylor, Mo., and Wilma Munn of Greeley, Colo.; eight grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; several step-grandchildren. Memorial services were held in California. Remains were cremated. Her ashes will be interred at Quincy Memorial Park, near Quincy. [State Journal - Register, January 1, 1986, Page: 12, submitted by S. Hemp]

©2006 K. Torp