JOSEPH DUNCAN
- Funeral services for Joseph Warren Duncan, 75, farmer of this community who died at 1 p.m. Thursday in Savanna Hospital were held Sunday afternoon in the Methodist Church. The Rev. Frank Countryman officiated and interment was in Oak Hill Cemetery. (Note: The date of death was July 3, 1947.) Mr. Duncan had been ill since Sunday and was admitted to the hospital Thursday morning. Death was attributed to a cerebral hemorrhage. Mr. Duncan was born Oct. 24, 1871 near White Mills, Ky., the son of Charles L. and Elizabeth Vinson Duncan of Hardin County, Ky. Mr. Duncan was married three times, to Myra O’Neal in 1899, Mrs. Jessie Lee Witter in 1921 and to Mrs. Cora Pinkstaff Rogers in 1941. He received his education in the common schools of Kentucky and in a higher school in Litchfield, Ky. He taught school several terms in Gravel Switch and Allison, Ky., and then entered the railway mail service for a period of 15 years, living at Gravel Switch, Knoxville, Tenn., Streator and Mount Carroll, Illinois. In 1905 he purchased the Dudley O’Neal farm on Preston Prairie where he farmed until his death. He served several times as a director of his school district and also as a member of the board of education of the Mount Carroll High School District. For several years he was superintendent of the Sunday School in the Wacker Methodist Church of which he was a member. He is survived by his widow; three sons, Neal of La Grange, Donald of Champaign, and Kenneth of Chicago; five grandchildren, Neal, Jr. and Elizabeth Ann of La Grange, John, Barbara, and Bonnie of Champaign; and two brothers, Edgar T. Duncan of Louisville, Ky., and Housan H. Duncan of Eads, Tenn.
Contributed by Alice Horner
CELIA E. (LATHROP) DUNSHEE
- an aged resident of Thomson, passed away about nine o'clock Thursday night at the home of Mrs. Sarah Millard, where she had gone only a week previous to spend the winter. (Note: Sarah Millard appears to also have been living in Thomson.) Celia E. Lathrop was born December 25, 1841 in Brimfield, and died November 2, 1922 at Thomson, aged 80 years, 10 months and eight days. When a girl she came with her parents to York township, where on April 25, 1865 she was united in marriage to Timothy Dunshee, who was one of the pioneer settlers here. (Note: The Illinois Statewide Marriage Index gives the date as 25 Mar 1866 in Whiteside County.) To them was born one son, Byron, who died while young. For many years she gave a mother’s love and care to her husband’s son by a previous marriage, Charles J. Dunshee, who survives her. Mr. Dunshee departed this life in November 1901, and soon after this Mrs. Dunshee moved from the farm to Thomson where she has since resided.
The surviving relatives besides her step-son are two sisters, Mrs. Sarah Snyder of Thomson and Mrs. A. L. Williamson of Mt. Carroll , a niece Mrs. Nena Laughran of Kings, and three nephews, Clare and Hoyt Williamson, and Dwight Barrett.
For many years she was a faithful member of the York Baptist church and until the feebleness of advancing years prevented , she took part in all its activities. In her quiet unassuming way she did much for her Master’s cause. Her home was always open for the use of her church and its services, and her aid was freely given to the orphaned and the destitute, To her friends and neighbors she was ever an angel of mercy, in the dark hours of sickness, sorry. Only those who have known her nearest can tell how deep was her love and how freely she gave to those she deemed less fortunate than herself. May her heavenly reward be great.
Funeral services for the late Mrs. Celia Dunshee were held at her residence in Thomson at 1:30 Sunday afternoon, and were conducted by the Rev. F. Z. Winebrenner of the M. E. Church. Hymns were sung by Mr. and Mrs. James Frost. The pall bearers were Joseph Wilt, Edwin Porter, Richard Groharing, Frank Rush, Kyle Melendy, and Bayard Cole. Burial was made in the Dunshee Cemetery . ( Dunshee Cemetery was later renamed Lower York Cemetery .)
Mrs. Celia Dunshee was the first of the 17 ladies to pass from this life who attended a party given by Mrs. O’Neil at her home early in the summer months for all ladies over Seventy years of age.
Contributed by Alice Horner Thomson Review November 8, 1922
IRENE (PANTLAS) DYSON
, 53, of Savanna died Monday at Jane Lamb Hospital in Clinton, Iowa. Born October 29, 1926, she was the daughter of Virgil and Dorothy (Smith) Pantlas. She married Albert Dyson August 20, 1960. Surviving are one stepbrother, John Foley; and one stepsister, Mrs. Nellie (Charles) Brown, both of Tomah, Wis.Funeral service will be at 1 p.m. Thursday at Law-Jones Funeral Home in Savanna. Burial will be in Lower York Cemetery in Thomson. Friends may call Wednesday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at the funeral home.
Contributed by Alice Horner
LILA (GISZ) DYSON
, 75, 617 N. 5th St., Savanna, died at her home Sunday. Funeral services will be Thursday at 1 p.m. at the Trinity Lutheran Church at rural Mt. Carroll. The Rev. Wayne Schneider will officiate. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Friends may visit from 7-9 p.m. Wednesday at the Frank Funeral Home at Mt. Carroll. Memorials may be directed to the Trinity Lutheran Church Schololarship Fund. Mrs. Dyson was born May 24, 1903, at Fair Haven Township, the daughter of Charles and Clara Daggert Gisz. She married Clifford (Ben) Dyson on June 16, 1923, at Dubuque, Iowa. She was a member of the Trinity Lutheran Church and of its Ladies Aid. Survivors include three sons, Burdette, Ritchie, Md.; Charles, Rock Island; David, Savanna; two daughters, Mrs. Ralph (Catherine) Lee, San Diego, Calif.; Mrs. Larry (Martha) Biase, Savanna; 13 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren; one brothr, Charles and one sister, Mrs. Mildred Gengenbach, both of Mt. Carroll. She was preceded in death by her husband, one sister, one brother and two grandchildren.
Contributed by Melva L. Taylor - The Daily Gazette, Sterling-Rock Falls, Illinois December 26, 1978 - Tuesday
MARY (GRIM) DYSON
, 77, died last night (14 October 1947) about 10:15 at her home here, after suffering a paralyzing stroke on Sunday. Mary E. Grim was born May 27, 1870, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. David Grim. She was married Feb. 22, 1888 to George W. Dyson, who preceded her in death six years ago. Four children survive, Lee Dyson and Mrs. Frank Kimmel of Lanark, Thelma of Springfield, Ill., and Glen of Des Moines, Ia. She was an active member of the Christian church and for several years served as a deaconess. She was also a member of the Order of the Eastern Star, W. R. C. and the Royal Neighbors. Funeral services will be held Friday afternoon, with Rev. E. Y. Knapp officiating and burial will be in Lanark Cemetery.
Contributed by Alice Horner