Illinois State Journal, 5/25/1954, p.4.

John Tarr sr., of 1116 N. Amos Ave., a retired coal miner, died at 12:40 p.m. yesterday in Memorial hospital. He was 80 years old. Mr. Tarr was born in Devonshire, England, and came to this U.S. in 1892. He first resided for about one year in Petersburg and then moved to Springfield where he since resided. His wife, the former Bertha Baker, died about 15 years ago. Mr. Tarr was employed for a number of years at the old Franz slaughter house west of town before he became a coal miner. He was employed for many years at mine 12 and was a member of the Progressive Mine Workers of America. He is survived by seven sons, Edward J. and Carl H., both of Pawnee; George W., William, John G., Fred W., and Elmer, all of Springfield; three daughters, Mrs. Lilly Hawkins, Pontiac, Mich.; Mrs. Hilda Poetcher, Springfield; Mrs. Dorothy Roehl, Draden Plains, Mich., 31 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren. Remains were taken to Ellinger and Kunz funeral home where services will be held at 1:30 p.m. Thursday. Rev. Lewis Niemoller will officiate and burial will be in Oak Ridge cemetery. Friends may call from 4 to 9 p.m. today, until 9 p.m. tomorrow and until time of services Thursday.

Illinois State Journal, 2-15-1930, p. 14.

TARR, MRS. BERTHA of R.R. 4, died at the residence at 1:45 a.m. Friday, Feb. 14, 1930, age 52 years. Survived by husband, John; three daughters, Mrs. Ben Hawkins, Mrs. Frank Poetcher, and Miss Amelie Tarr; eight sons, Edward, Fred, Carl, George, William, Joseph, John and Elmer; also eleven grandchildren and four brothers, Ernest, Henry, Fred, and George Baker. Funeral services will be held at 2 o'clock Monday at the residence and at 2:30 o'clock at Trinity Lutheran church. Rev. Paul Schultz officiating. Interment will be in Oak Ridge cemetery, Ellinger and Kunz in charge.

State Journal Register, 3/17/1995, p.12:

Elmer J. Tarr, 78, of Springfield died Wednesday at Memorial Medical Center. He was born August 16, 1916, in Springfield, the son of John and Bertha Baker Tarr. He married Barbara Sabo in 1939. Mr. Tarr was a lifelong rsident of Springfield. He was owner and operator of Tarr's Snack Bar for 21 years. He was a member of Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church. Survivors, wife, Mrs. Barbara "Betty" Tarr; a daughter, JoAnn "Jodie" Manning of Springfield; two sons, James E. Tarr of Carbondale and Michael W. Tarr of Springfield; 10 grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; a sister, Hilda Poetcher of Springfield; a brother, John Tarr, of Springfield; and several nieces, nephews and cousins. Services: 11 a.m. Saturday, Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, Rev. Michael Strong officiating. Burial: Oak Ridge Cemetery. Staab Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements."

Illinois State Journal, 3/2/1945, p.11:

PLAN MEMORIAL FOR JOSEPH E. TARR: Memorial services for Joseph E. Tarr, fireman, who lost his life Dec. 3 in the sinking of the U.S.S. Cooper, will be at 1:30 p.m. Sunday at Trinity Lutheran church. Rev. Paul Schultz will officiate. Tarr leaves his wife, Ethel, and two children: Judy and Joey, 115 North Columbia avenue; his father, John Tarr, Sr., R.R. 2 city; seven brothers, Pvt. John, army; Carl and Fred, Pawnee, and Edward, William, George and Elmer, all of city, and three sisters, Mrs. Lil Hawkins and Mrs. Dorothy Roehl, Pontiac, Mich., and Mrs. Hilda Poetcher, city."

He was born in this country and 1830. His parents, Mr. and Mrs. Adam Trumbo, were pioneer residents of Sangamon County, coming here from Kentucky. Trumbo -- died, at 9:30 Friday evening, July 26, 1912 at the family residence in Loami, after an illness of several months, Isaac H. Trumbo aged 82 years. The deceased was born March 13, 1830 and was the son of Adam Trumbo and Mildred Foster Trumbo, pioneer residents of Sangamon County, who resided at the time of Mr. Trumbo's birth on the Major Elijah Iles, now Tansey farm near the city. The deceased was the 11th child, and was the first child to be born in this state, all the other children being born in Kentucky. His parents came to this state and 1828 and move six miles southeast of the city to what is known as the Trumbo farm, Where the deceased was married on Dec. 25, 1854 to Miss Emma Bridges. Soon after their marriage they began housekeeping one mile north of Chatham, where they resided until 1891, when they moved to Loami the next year. The home of Isaac H. Trumbo was the home of many orphan children, among them Walter Bridges of Omaha Nebraska, John F. Trumbo of Bridger Montana, Mrs. R.L Leverton of this city and Miss Rose Southwick who is now deceased.

Donated by Steve Trumbo