Iroquois County Obituaries
Iroquois County Obituaries
Swartz, Fairy Slife, Mary Shortsleeve, William Sarjent, Simeon Skeels, Daniel Skeels, Susan Skeels, Nelson Skeels, Robert Smith, Florence Schroeder, Kelly
Kelly Louise Schroeder, 10 day old daughter of Mr. & Mrs. Melvin Schroeder of Milford, died of natural causes Sunday, July 25, 1982 at her home. (pneumonia)
She was born July 15, 1982 at Iroquois Memorial Hospital, Watseka.
Survivors include a brother, Melvin Glen III at home, maternal grandparents Mr. & Mrs. Ira Stewart and paternal grandparents, Mr. & Mrs. Melvin Schroeder Sr., of Milford.
Paternal great grandmothers are Ruth Schroeder and Anna Tuggle of Milford, paternal great-great-grandmother is Winnie Carter, Hawthorne Lodge, Watseka.
Graveside rites will be conducted at 10 a.m. Tuesday at Maple Grove Cemetery, Milford by the Rev. Donald Studly of Milford Church of the Nazarene.
(transcribed by Carrol Mick)
Mrs. Garfield (Fairy) SWARTZ, 75, of 224 Maple St., Gilman, died at 4:45am Wednesday in Iroquois Hospital where she had been a patient 13 days. She had been in ill health for several years. She was born May 31, 1887 in Chicago, daughter of the late Mr. And Mrs. Louis Nichols, and spent her childhood in Gilman. She was reared by her grandparents, the late Mr. and Mrs. Rufus Miller and was married on July 14, 1916 at Rensselaer, IN. Surviving are her husband: daughter, Mrs. Rhea Crowder of Spring Valley: a brother, Louis of Chicago, and a sister of California. Visiting hours will begin after 2 pm Thursday at the Reilly Funeral Home where services will be held at 1:30 pm Friday, the Rev. Charles A. DeLay officiating. Interment will be in Gilman Cemetery.
Submitted by Linda Mankowski der1888@msn.com
Grandma Slife died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Josiah Darrough Monday morning, aged 79 years, 8 months and 17 days. Mary Good was born Aug. 10, 1828 near Thornville, Ohio, one of a family of 12 children. On Aug. 20, 1846 she married Daniel K. Slife, moving to a farm in Huntington county, Ind. Here their six children were born, Emma, Josie, George, Hulda, Sara and Charles. In 1864 the family moved to Milford settling on a farm just east of town. Their farm became one of the finest in the county. In 1890 Mr. and Mrs. Slife retired and moved to town where Mr. Slife passed away, April 15, 1903. She leaves to mourn her passing, 6 children, 17 grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren. The children are Mrs. Darrough, Mrs. W.S. Button, George and Charles of Milford; Mrs. C. D. Disosway of Sheldon and Mrs. John Stanley, Boswell. Funeral services were held at the Darrough residence, Wednesday afternoon, at 1:30 conducted by Rev. Joe. Bell of Watseka assisted by Rev. L.P. Builta of Milford. Interment was at Maple Grove.
(graciously contributed by Jean Tillman at Jnstargz@msn.com.
The Clifton Advocate, Illinois
January 16, 1935
WILLIAM SHORTSLEEVE
William Shortsleeve died in Watseka, Jan. 18, aged 62 years and 27 days.
He was born in L'Erable Dec. 22, 1873 and grew to manhood in that neighborhood. March 25, 1907 he was united in marriage to Bessie Claussen. To him and his wife were born five children - Roland, of Royal, IL; Raymond, of Pitwood; Harold, of Donovan; Paul, of Gary, Ind.; and Pauline, of Clifton, who makes her home with her cousin, Mrs. Aldaha Laurent.
His wife died July 26, 1919. Surviving him are all his children; two sisters Mrs. Nellie Beaupre and Miss Agnes Shortsleeve, of Kankakee; and one brother, Jasper Shortsleeve, of Kankakee. Two grandchildren and many nieces and nephews survive, Mrs. Aldaha Laurent, of Clifton being a niece. Brothers and sisters who preceded him in death were Mrs. Mary Trudeau, Mrs. Louise Amait, Adeline Belair, George Shortsleeve, and Mrs. Josephine Mayo.
Funeral services were held Monday afternoon at 2: o'clock at the Pittwood Church.
Pauline Shortsleeve and Louis Renville attended the funeral from here.
(graciously submitted by Jan Wagoner at EPAJan@aol.com)
Death of Simeon S. Sarjent
Died at his home in this city, on Tuesday March 4, 1902 , at 6 o'clock.,
Simeon S. Sarjent, aged sixty-nine years,
one month and thirteen days.
Simeon S. Sarjent was the second youngest
son of Elisha and Mary Sarjent and
was born at Attica, Indiana, January 19, 1833. He was married to Dorenda C.
Callahan at Oxford, Indiana, March 16,
1857, where they resided until the
spring of 1863, when they moved to a farm south of Milford. In the spring of 186?
They moved to town where it was more convenient to his business, he at that
time being the mail carrier from Milford to Old Middleport. The family has since
resided here. To Mr. and Mrs. Sarjent
six children have been born, three
whom have preceded the aged father: William, Watson and Ella, now Mrs. M. E.
Morton surviving, together with the mother.
They all live in this city, a half
brother lives at Bridgeport, Alabama.
Mr. Sarjent was an honored and respected
citizen. He has always been a
hard and faithful worker. About a year his health commenced to fail him and he
went down quite rapidly, being taken to his bed some five weeks ago. In the
fall of "84" he united with the Christian church of which he has been a faithful
and consistent member. Mr. Sarjent was
a man loved and respected by all who
knew him.
The funeral services were held at the Christian church this afternoon at
1:30 o'clock. Interment taking place in the Maple Grove Cemetery.
All of the above were submitted by Lucy D. Briscoe/Green jeneobug@aol.com
Burr Oak newspaper
July 16 1939
D. H. Skeels Rites this Eve
Prominent Farmer, Aged 73, Had Been in Ill Health for Some Time.
Only a few minutes after he had returned home from a trip to Burr Oak, D. H. Skeels, 73, prominent farmer and stockman of the Otego neighborhood, died Tuesday morning. He has been in ill health for some time, but had been around and attending to business matters up to the time of his death.
Funeral services will be held this evening at 7 o'clock, at the Burr Oak cemetery with Rev. C. R. Vasey officiating.
The obituary follows:
DANIEL HENRY SKEELS
Daniel Henry, only son of Robert and Susan Skeels, was born near Onarga, IL on Nov. 15, 1865. With his parents and his only sister, Mary, and a few friends of the family, they traveled overland by ox team, bringing all their worldly goods and located a home on White Rock creek, five miles southwest of Burr Oak. They had their early privations and difficulties along with all other new settlers. When their crops were completely destroyed by the grasshoppers-in Grasshopper year-they returned to Illinois, where Mr. Skeels received his education, including a course in the Onarga Business College.
When Daniel Henry was 17 years old, the family returned to Jewell County and bought back their former farm home. When his parents moved to Burr Oak, Dan had full control of the farm, where he continuously resided for 48 years.
In 1887 Dan was united in marriage to Miss Myrtle Drake of Edmond, Kan. One daughter, Vera, was born to bless their home.
Mr. Skeels united with the M.E. church in early manhood, gave liberally to its upkeep and enjoyed its fellowship. He attended church services regularly as long as his health would permit. He was conscientious and honest in all his dealings, loved his neighbors and friends and constantly sought to be of service to others.
He loved his family better than anyone else in the world, but he was also a great lover of children and many a mother's baby was lulled to sleep by his crooning of some tuneful lullaby. His affection for dumb animals, particularly the horse and the dog, was unusual.
He traveled but little, but broad reading and much study gave him an understanding
of many things. Few men have so many admirable characteristics and his place will not soon be filled.
Some years ago he suffered a nervous breakdown which gradually broke down his health and strength and made him
an invalid for several months. He passed away quietly at his home on the morning of July 18, 1939, at the age of
73 years, 8 months, and 3 days. His going will be sadly missed by his faithful wife of the home, by his daughter
Mrs. William Brandt, and grand-daughters
Helen Ann and Rosalee of Colorado Springs, Colo; by his sister Mary Grubbs of Sterling, Colo; and by other relatives and a large circle of friends and acquaintances.
Appropriate funeral services will be held at Burr Oak cemetery this evening at 7 o'clock in charge of Rev. C. R. Vasey, the procession will leave the Merritt Funeral home at 6:30. Music will be furnished by a double quartet, consisting of Medames Florence Pixler, Francis Davis, Lora Modlin, and Lillie Mann and Messrs Donald Modlin, Alfred Craighead, Dallas Davis and W. L. McCormick. A vocal solo will be sung by W. M. Green of Jewell City. The hymns selected are: "A City Foursquare," "Mercy," and "O, Love that Will Not Let Me Go." The pallbearers are Messrs Clarence Fearing, Charles and Emmet Lewis, A. B. Tegley and Laurel Pixler.
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Jewel County, Kansas
Western Advocate
March 11, 1892
Susan Skeels
In the death of Mrs. Susan Skeels Burr Oak loses one of the best members of its society. She was an earnest Christian. A large circle of friends mourn her untimely death, and extend their sympathy of the grief stricken family.
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Nelson Skeels died at his home in Union Town, Washington Township, April 25th. He was born in Franklin County, Ohio, Jan. 9th, 1822. He was one of the first settlers in Iroquois and one of the first businessmen in Onarga, coming here from Ohio in 1837. He was a brother of Mrs. Hiram Lowe. He built a number of houses in town, residing for a long time in the J. B. Clark place. He leaves a wife and five children.
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Burr Oak Herald
July 9, 1931
Robert Richard Skeels
Prominent Pioneer Citizen is Gone
Picture if you will, a young man, strong, energetic, determined, walking into the little village of Burr Oak, March 1, 1872, having made the journey on foot with heavy baggage from Scandina, ? which was the farthest he could come by rail. He settled on the farm on White Rock creek five miles northwest of Burr Oak, and moved his family here the following fall. He resided there two years and returned to Illinois in 1874, only to come back to the same farm in 1881. He hauled lumber from Waterville by ox team to erect a home in the far west. There was something in the wild west that appealed to Mr. Skeels. He loved the out door life, the green earth, the face of town in the country, the unspeakable???, the sweet ???? of the freet. The sun and ???? breeze, and the solitary ???/ and??? and the summer holidays and ???? the wild meats, and the ??? and the candlelight, and the fireside conversation.
When he worked, he worked strenuously and when it was over there was recreation to his liking. He loved a horse, a dog, and a gun, and in those days, ample opportunity was given for them all.
In the sod house and dug-out days, friends were friends and neighbors were neighbors. Everyone who entered this home received a warm reception.
Later on when other villages in the country sprang up, Rev Breel who was the first pastor of the Burr Oak Charge, made frequent visits to the home, and in turn with an ox drawn wagon sojourned to their place near Jewel Centre, and on every occasion, the Skeels family sang the familiar hymn, Home of the Soul.
He took an active part in all enterprises of an uplifting nature. He was a charter member of the first Methodist church. This organization was located one mile? of Burr Oak, and he remained a faithful and loyal member to the last.
Few men indeed have filled so many varied and worthy places of trust in this family and town as did he, acting in the capacity of County Commissioner over a period of fifteen years, trustee of the school board in every district in which he lived, filled every office in the church, and was director of the old time singing schools before the use of instruments was known. Not only did he have a fine voice, but he enjoyed and was a good judge of music. It is hard to say in a few lines what it took one long life to fill. He was heir to all of the hardships that befell the early settlers, the Indians, grasshoppers, prairie fires, hot winds in the summer and hard blizzards in winter, but undaunted, he carried on, having faith in himself, his country, and God. "Those coming first build up for those who follow, paving the future though they know not of it."
Robert Richard Skeels was one of three children, born to Henry Skeels and wife in Onarga, Illinois, January 30, 1842. Mr. Skeels had been married three times. He first wedded Susannah Riner, September 1861, and to this union two children were born, Mary Grubbs of Sterling, Colo., and Dan H. of Burr Oak. These good people were also foster parents to orphan relatives, Annie and Emmett Kennison and Jake Kiser. After his wife's death in 1892, Mrs. Frances Darling of Burr Oak became his wife. She, too, died in 1907. Mr. Skeels and Mrs. Sarah Beanblossom were united in marriage in 1911, she preceding him in death by only a few months.
Uncle Robert's life had been despaired of for some time, and after fitfully flickering for some time, the candle of life was snuffed out, the loving heart ceased to beat, and the proud spirit took its flight to that God whom he loved and feared and served on the evening of July 2, 1931, at the age of 89 years, 5 months, 2 days. He leaves to mourn his going, his son and daughter, three grandchildren, and four great grandchildren who, with a host of other relatives and friends was limited in number to the circle of his wide acquaintances.
So passes another of the few pioneers of this section of the country who are left.
A man who radiated the sunshine of good cheer and good fellowship, a man who always had time to aid any good work for moral and material advancement of the community, giving to such work not only of his means but of his valuable time.
A public spirited citizen, a loyal friend, a devoted husband and father, a Christian gentleman and an honest man.
The funeral services were held at the M.E. Church Sunday afternoon July 5, conducted by Ira Wagoner, assisted by Kermit C. Walker. Suitable music was rendered by the quartet and internment was made in the Burr Oak cemetery.
the above two obituaries graciously submitted by Jeanne Bedwell jbedwell@blueriver.net
Florence B. http://genealogytrails.com/ill/iroquois/Onarga.htm, 61, Watseka, died at 6:25 a.m. Friday, June 16, 1989, at Iroquois Memorial Hospital, Watseka. She was born Aug. 19, 1927, in Bloomington, Ind., to George M. and Opal I. Lashbrook Brady. She is survived by her mother, Opal Brady, Watseka; five daughters: Leah Stevens, Delphi, Minn., Linda Lester, Black Rock, Ark., Donna Tobeck, Watseka, Vickie Eheart Yuma, Ariz., and Debbie Brown of Watseka; three sons: Wililam Austin, Rooster, Ark., George Austin, Watseka, adn Greg Austin of Sheldon; 24 grandchildren; five brothers; and three sisters. Mrs. Austin was preceded in death by her father, one brother, one sister and two grandchildren. Funeral services are 2 p.m. Tuesday at the DeValk Funeral Home, Watseka, with the Rev. Joe Hughes officiating. Burial will be in the Sheldon Cemetery. Visitation is from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. today at the funeral home.
(These obituaries were graciously submitted by Joan Brady Norstedt at past-lane@adelphia.net)
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