WILLIAM SHANNON - Founder of Shannon Illinois - Died, of apoplexy, in Emporia, Kansas, William Shannon, Esq., of Shannon, Ill., July 26 in the 56 year of his age. “The dead live in the recollections of those that survive them.” As the sudden hand of death has taken from among us one of our most prominent and honored fellow citizens, it is deemed fitting that we pay our respects to his memory in some appropriate and becoming way. A life has been suddenly concluded among us upon whom a eulogy might justly be pronounced. Fresh in the minds of all of us who knew him stand the recollections of the history of a life that told in the direction of right. If he had some faults it will be remembered by the candid that he also had many virtues. Ours is no aim of an unjust panegyric, but rather to outline the somewhat eventful life of Mr. Shannon. Born of poor but respectable parentage, he by determined energy fought his way to competency and honor. From the unknown walks of common life, he lifted himself to the peerage of independence and respectability. Mr. Shannon was born in Sudbury, Northumberland County PA., in 1819. He learned the printer’s trade of his father, who was distinguished in his time as a journalist. Upon the death of father of his father he was cast upon his own resources, and seeing the sternness of the situation, left home at early age of sixteen to seek his fortune. With a pittance from his father’s slender income and a mothers blessing he crossed the threshold never again to return. He wandered through all the New England States and, from time to time, he found temporary employment in printing offices. When this resource failed him he turned his hand to whatever of labor he chanced to find. The manual service he performed and the hardships he endured he used to relate with more than ordinary pleasure. Thu, life sped on with ever recurring monotony of burden until he reached his majority. It cannot be doubted that his success in after life was born of these early struggle. The school experience ever makes angular men, but it also makes strong ones. As the sublimes heroism is begotten amid carnage and the giant oak defies the storm, so the highest life is evolved out of the obstacles that beset it. Immediately after his majority he wended his way to Bath County Kentucky, where he engaged in the mercantile business with success for a term of years. It was at this place and time that he terminated his peregrinations and became permanently settled. Here, by his indomitable energy he built a name for himself that still survives. Here, too, in 1842, he won the affections and led to the alter Miss Martha Rice by whom he had three children. In 1847 he removed to Jackson, La, where he founded and successfully edited the Southern Mirror. Here, in 1850 he lost his wife and in looking over an old file of his first newspaper we see the following obituary notice with appropriate comments. “Died in Jackson April 26th, Mrs. Martha Shannon, wife of Wm. Shannon, Esq., of the Southern Mirror, in her 28th year.” After the occurrence of this painful even he removed to Kentucky again where in 1854 he married a second time to Miss Harriet Kinney, by whom he had seven children, only two of whom are now living. Shortly after he deemed it necessary to remove to Monroe, La., where he started a literary newspaper entitled the Anatolia Register, which he controlled for many years. Here he entered into the political arena and became prominent in his espousal and advocacy of the cause of Democracy. Here, also, he obtained the agency of the U.S. Land Office, under the administration of Mr. Pierce. This was an office of considerable profit and indicates his prominence in the party to which he attached himself. Having faithfully discharged the duties of the office he was reappointed under the administration of James Buchanan. In 1856, two circumstances induced him to change his place of residence—his wife was in feeble health and his children lacked educational advantages. He decided to remove to Freeport, Illinois, and accordingly located his family there in the spring of 1867. He purchased a farm near Yellow Creek which he superintended with success. His wife’s health declined until in 1862 she died.

From the “Christian Times “we clip the following notice of her death.

Died ---In Freeport, August 26, Mrs. Harriet Shannon, wife of Wm. Shannon, Esq. in her 37th year with the following compliment to her Christian character and faith: In 1859, Mr. Shannon purchased Section 19 in one quarter of which the city of Shannon is now situated. This land, he put under cultivation immediately after he purchased it. It was in the early part of 1863 that he celebrated his marriage to Miss Eliza Roe of Rockford, daughter of the late reverend Charles Roe of Belvedere. This estimable lady still survives him with two children. When the W. U. R.R. was projected through this section, Mr. Shannon secured this point for the location of the station and named it after himself. He deserved special commendation for the very liberal terms on which he disposed of the lots to purchasers. No poor man was distressed in consequence of inability to meet payments, but with generous kindness never failed to extend the time. Mr. Shannon engaged in the drug trade in the early days of Shannon. The public spirit that actuated him elsewhere influenced him here. He practically identified himself with the progress of every material interest of the town and community. To the building up of our schools he gave his influence and energy, and the different charitable donations received his pecuniary and moral support. In politics he as in everything else, Mr. Shannon was an indefatigable worker, and though unsuccessful in his candidacies, yet he always commanded suffrage beyond the pail of his party. He was nominated as democratic candidate for State Senator in 1872 and ran so far ahead of his ticket as to almost entirely extinguish the large republican majority. His friends could have no more gratifying index of his popularity. In September of 1872 Mr. Shannon when into the banking business with G. F. Van Vechten Esq. of Lanark under the name of Van Vechten & Company. The partnership extended until 1873, when Mr. Shannon bought out Mr. Van Vechten interest in the concern and continued the business in his own name. In 1875 inconsequence of declining health and inability to attend to the details of the business Mr. Shannon sold out to Messrs. Sherwood & Cook. Since then he has attended almost exclusively to recovering his shattered health. A short time since he obtained the consent of family to remove to Kansas provided he could be suited in the purchase of lands there, he was feeling unusually well and started last week to visit that section when death suddenly terminated the enterprise. His remains were returned here on Monday and were taken to Freeport Cemetery for internment the Rev. H. L. Soule officiating. Mr. Shannon’s religious history extendes back to his 19th year. He was converted at a Methodist camp meeting which circumstances had great influence on his life. He joined the Methodist Church and continued a member thereof until his removal to Freeport in 1857, where he connected himself with the Baptist church, of which he was a member till his death. For the last few years of his life he has exhibited great interest in matters of religion. Everyone remembers the deep interest he took in the success of Mr. Soule’s first revival in this place. Mr. Shannon has a host of friends who point with pride to the Christian generosity that governed his conduct. Peace to his ashes and a long but not final farewell! While we extend to the bereaved relatives our heartfelt condolence let us remember that death is sometimes sudden and the afterlife in Christ depends our proper use of this. <