OBITUARIES FOR DEWITT COUNTY, IL
OBITUARIES FOR DEWITT COUNTY, IL
submitted by Sue Barnett Gaumer
April 30, 1886
Death of One of the Early Pioneers
ALEXANDER L. BARNETT Joins the Silent Majority
The history of the BARNETT family is an important part of the early history of DeWitt County. They came from Kentucky, and made their first home in what is now called Barnett township—being named in honor of the family. The Barnetts were of Scotch-Irish stock, and settled in Virginia in the beginning of the eighteenth century. The grandfather of Alexander L. BARNETT was born in Virginia in 1754, and during the revolutionary war served as regimental surgeon in the Virginia continentals. Dr. BARNETT was an ardent admirer of the teachings of Thomas Jefferson, and he resolved that his children should not dwell on a soil tainted with slavery. He did not get to this land of freedom himself, but in his will he provided that his sons and their families should carry out his wishes. Two of Dr. Barnett's sons died without issue, and his surviving son, John, was entrusted the carrying out of the Doctor's wishes. The Barnett family had removed from Virginia to Bourbon County, Ky., at the close of the revolutionary war, where they bought seven hundred and ten acres of land. In the Doctor's will it was provided that three hundred and twenty acres of the land should be sold and invested in free soil for the benefit of his descendants, and the remainder of the land was willed to John BARNETT, the father of Alexander L., and his sister's descendants in fee simple. John Barnett was a soldier in the war of 1812. In 1830 he came to Illinois and bought land in this county. Robert F. BARNETT, the oldest son of John, came to this county in 1832 and settled on lands previously entered by his father. Alexander L., the third son, came from Kentucky in 1831, and located in Clintonia Township, on the farm which he owned till the time of his death. John Barnett, the father of the DeWitt county Barnetts, removed to this county years after his sons came here, and spent the remaining days of his life on free soil, carrying out the wishes of the old revolutionary hero, Dr. Alexander Barnett. So intensely opposed were the elder Barnetts to the institution of slavery that they made no effort to bring slaves to this State, although under the existing laws at that time they could have done so.
Alexander L. BARNETT, who died at the home of his son in this city this morning, at half-past three o'clock, was born in Bourbon County, Ky., on the 15th of October, 1810, so that at the time of his death he was seventy-five years, six months and fifteen days old. His death thins out the number of the early settlers of DeWitt County. There is probably not more than two or three now living in the county who were here when Alexander L. Barnett came. The only name of the early settlers we can now recall is that of Judge John J. McGRAW, who for two or three months past has been confined to his home by sickness.
In early life Alexander L. Barnett acquired a fair education, and in his younger days studied the art of surveying. In 1839, seven years after he came to this county, he was elected the first surveyor of the county, which office he held continually for nearly twenty-one years. Although he was the owner of nearly four hundred acres of land, within four miles of this city, he did not give much attention to farming, his professional duties requiring almost his entire time. Even after he went out of office he did the greater part of the surveying in all parts of the county, as the old settlers thought no one as capable as Mr. Barnett. In 1879 he was again elected county surveyor, and held the office till the time of his death. Indeed it might be said that he died in the harness, for when he was taken sick one week ago yesterday he was engaged in surveying near Kenney.
Politically, Alexander L. Barnett was a Democrat till the time of the organization of the Greenback party a few years ago. His first Presidential vote was cast for Martin Van Buren, and he kept faithfully in the ranks till Peter Cooper's candidacy. He never belonged to any church or secret society.
Alexander L. Barnett was a man of vigorous mind and marked characteristics of character. He was positive in his views and would not swerve from what he considered right. He was not dogmatic, and conceded to others the same rights he demanded for himself—the right to exercise his own judgment in religion, politics, and on all public questions. In his dealings with the world he was fair and honorable, but unfortunately for his own pocket he was not exacting in his demands when it came to his own private business. His friendship could always be relied upon, and he was just as tenacious in his dislikes. An open opponent he respected, but he had the utmost contempt for that class of people who go through the world with a "knife up their sleeves." His home was always open for the entertainment of friend or stranger. In his younger days Mr. Barnett was a great hunter, like all of the early settlers, and the habit clung to him through his life. With his dog and gun he enjoyed the hours he could spare from his business. He said that where Clinton now stands he often enjoyed the chase for deer and other game.
A week ago yesterday he was taken sick while engaged in surveying near Kenney. He was brought to Clinton Saturday and taken to his son's (W. B.'s) house. His disease developed into typhoid-pneumonia, and during the greater portion of his sickness he was delirious. His death was not unexpected. The funeral services will take place from the old homestead, three and one-half miles west of Clinton, on Sunday morning at eleven o'clock.
For fifty years he had lived in the old homestead. There all of his children were born. He was the father of twelve children, six of whom with his aged wife survive him. The four sons living are William B., James R., John A., and Alexander. Mrs. Casandra McDONALD and Mrs. Juliet MORROW are his daughters. He had twenty-one grandchildren and one great grandchild.
MRS. NANCY COBB
FUNERAL SERVICE SATURDAY
Mrs Nancy Cobb Died Thursday Afternoon In John Warner HospitalFuneral services for the late Mrs Nancy Cobb will be held Saturday afternoon at 2 o'clock from the new church at Lane. Burial will be made in rose Cemetery.
Mrs Nancy Cobb, an aged lady of Dewitt county, died Thursday afternoon at 1:30 o'clock in the John Warner hospital after an illness of several months. She had been in the hospital for treatment since December 24, 1917, and her advanced age of 77 years was against her in her fight for recovery. Mrs Cobb was the widow of the late Whitfield Cobb who died in December, 1904, and she had been a resident of this county in Creek township for the past forty years. She had become one of the well known citizens of the community and of Dewitt county.
There are surviving the following children of Mrs Cobb: Samuel Cobb of Harp township; Archie Cobb of Dewitt; Adolph Cobb of Jenkins Switch; Mrs Covey of Dewitt; Mrs John Jimmerson of Dewitt and Elmer Cobb of Storm Lake, Iowa, formerly of Clinton. Mrs Cobb was a member of the Christian church of Lane in which she worked for many years. She was a kind and a loving mother and a true friend among those who knew her. The remains were taken yesterday to Oakman Chapel to await the funeral arrangements.contributed by Shayne Pugh
Calvin "Jake" Gaston
The Pantagraph, Bloomington, IL, January 6, 1989 - submitted by Sara Hemp
The Funeral Of Calvin "Jake" Gaston
WAYNESVILLE - The Funeral Of Calvin "Jake" Gaston, 60, of Beardstown, a native of Waynesville, will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at Fricke-Calvert-Schrader Funeral Home, Lincoln.
Michael Peitzmeier will officiate. Burial will be in Evergreen Cemetery, Waynesville, with full military rites accorded.
Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. today at the funeral home.
Mr. Gaston died at 12:35 p.m. Wednesday (Jan. 4, 1989) at Culbertson Hospital, Rushville.
He was born June 17, 1928, in Waynesville, a son of Robert V. "Toots" and Dolly M. Cisco Gaston. He married Jeanie Lisenbee Nov. 12, 1968, in Waynesville. She survives.
Also surviving are his father, Lincoln; six sons, Calvin W., 908 S. East St.; William V., 905 W. Front St.; David L., 1713 W. Illinois St.; and Issac J., 507 W. Grove St., all of Bloomington; Halsey C., Heyworth; and Charles E., Springfield; two daughter St., Bloomington; four stepsons, Larry W. Surratt, Monmouth; Joe D. Surratt, Astoria; Richard D. Surratt, Beardstown; and George H. Surratt, Monroe, La.; two stepdaughters, Shirley Wittler, Camp Point, and Judy Young, Beardstown; one brother, Mannie, Des Moines, Iowa; two sisters, Wanda Morris, Freeport, and Lorine Letterle, Lincoln; 13 grandchildren; and 17 stepgrandchildren.
His mother, two daughters, one sister and one brother preceded him in death.
Mr. Gaston was employed as welder for Bectol Mowers, Sibley.
He was a member of Church of Christ, Beardstown, and was an Army veteran.
A. J. Hoge
Lane Resident Dead
A. J. Hoge of Lane died Tuesday morning at 9:30 of heart trouble. He had been in very poor health for a year or more. His age was about 75 and he was one of the oldest residents of that section. His children are William Hoge, Maroa; Joseph Hoge, Ospur; Charles Hoge, Mrs. Lily Miller, Mrs. Emma Hassinger, Mrs. Rosa Gray, all of Lane. Besides these, the aged wife survives [Daily Review Clinton, Illinois April 12, 1905 - submitted by B. Ziegenmeyer]
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