Delilah Ann Shull
The feature regarding Delilah Ann Shull is written as part of the David Shull family in Hopewell community, Ohio County, Kentucky. Delilah Ann was born March 20, 1838, second child of David and Margarand (Chenoweth) Shull -- nee Reid. Until her thirteenth year, the young and growing family occupied the log cabin at the base of Miles Hill built by Peter Shull -- the child's paternal grandfather. Although named for her two grandmothers; Delilah Clutter Reid. Ann Hetzell Shull, she was called Sis, by everyone. She was thoroughly educated in religious matters and took her public schooling at Julilee. The early death of her father, in 1847, must have placed some load of family-management upon her young shoulders. The family, had nevertheless, occupied a new house much larger and modern than David had completed. At the marriage, in 1851, of her eldest sister Sarah, to Elias Guess Hunley, placed further responsibility upon her as now eldest child in the household. The marriage of her sisters, Louisa K and Mag, in April 1859 left her sole manager more or less of the family now that the mother was in declining health. On Feb. 4, 1861 she was married in Ohio County to William Alexander Langford of Warren County. Until the mid-1870's the Langfords lived in Ohio County near the upper reaches of Green River. There they had eight children; Lulie Davis Langford, born Nov. 20, 1861; Euclid Benjamin Langford, born Jan. 19, 1864; Mary Belle Langford, born June 5, 1865; Dempsey Hunley Langford born Jan. 27, 1867; William Durwood Langford born 1868; John David Langford, born 1873. Twins were born also but data as to when born or sex or names escaped recording their memory. They were buried in the Shull family grave site on the farm. Their graves were never marked although the Langfords returned from Illinois to the little cemetery to locate them. Being unmarked, the graves were parished with the land by coal-stripping. The Langfords settled in White County Illinois from Ohio County, Kentucky circa 1875. Where on Sept. 17, 1879 their eldest child Lulie died, and where, on November 16, 1879, Delilah Ann Langford - nee Shull, died. With burial in the Kuykendall Cemetery. It was always been said among our family that Aunt Sis Langford had eight children and died in 1879. On the other hand the Langfords know little about the early Shull family but say there were but six children. Her early death, and other traumatic events hid records from her descendants for a long time. Her son; William Durwood died in 1883. On Feb. 28, 1882, her husband; William Alexander Langford married Mrs. Elizabeth Dixon in White County. On August 18, 1886, Euclid Benjamin Langford married Mollie Catherine Farmer in White County. Followed by the County marriages of her other offspring; Mary Belle Langford on Jan. 13, 1887 to George Newton Armstrong; Dempsey Hunley Langford on July 26, 1893 to Lena Ward; Mary Belle Langford Armstrong M. II Dec. 4, 1894, D. Edward Hon; and John David Langford on March 9, 1903, to Nellie Frances Hon. William Alexander Langford died Feb. 16, 1905 and was buried in Kuykendall Cemetery, White County Illinois. Mary Belle Langford had; Corrie and Carrie Armstrong (twins, born 1888-1889). Carrie married Clifton Edmonds and had children. Corrie married Hazel Davis, had issue M. II Leda Stanley had: Ronald, Robert, Emily, Richard, Jean, James, Ray, Rebecca. Corrie Armstrong died in 1971. Mary Belle's daughter Jessie Armstrong married William Renshaw by D. Edward Hon. Mary Belle Feb. 20, 1899, married Wheeler Thomas; Pearl Edna Langford, born Jan. 12, 1901 married Raymond Haupman; Harry Kemball Langford, Oct. 30, 1905 married Mary J. Nelson; Hazel Ann Langford, born Feb. 18, 1909 married --- Sigler. John David Langford, son of William Alexander and Delilah Ann Shull Langford, in 1894 became brother-in-law of D. Edward Hon by his marriage on March 9, 1903, became his son-in-law, D. Edward Hon was son of Lewis and Lucinda (Hart) Hon. Nellie Frances Langford was daughter of D. Edward and Mary (Bernwich) Hon. John David Langford had; Vonda Langford born April 16, 1905 married Aug. 9, 1922 Frank King had issue; and John Hon Langford, born Dec. 26, 1909 married Irene Frazier had issue. John David Langford died in White Co., Ill. on Feb. 2, 1965. Euclid Benjamin Langford eldest son of William and Delilah Shull Langford, had; George Everett Langford born July 11, 1886 died Jan. 13, 1887; Alsey Victor Langford born Feb. 20, 1888; and Nellie Fay Langford, born July 6, 1892 died Sept. 8, 1892. Mollie Catherine Farmer was daughter of Samuel and Caroline (Brown) Farmer born Dec. 17, 1867 in White County Ill. died May 9, 1944 -- her husband; Euclid Langford died Jan. 2, 1907, both buried Kuykendall Cemetery. Alsey Victor Langford married April 1, 1909, Icey Ella daughter of Milo J. and Lucy (Graves) Hart, b. Jan. 1, 1889 White Co. died June 30, 1969, bur. Kuykendall. Lucy Elizabeth, dau. of Thomas and Lucy (Greer) Graves, b. Feb. 24, 1886 White Co. Ill. died in Evansville Ind. Aug. 19, 1936 buried in West Union Cem. White Co., Ill. Thomas Graves born circa 1825 in Illinois son of Richard Graves (born circa 1773 in Virginia - died Jan. 11, 1849) and Cassandra Riggs (born circa 1786 in Virginia.) Thomas Graves married June 22, 1862, Lucy Elizabeth Greer, born May 15, 1833 in Illinois dau. of Asa Greer (born July 15, 1801 in Virginia, married July 17, 1823 Levina F. Napier born 1804 in Tenn) Lucy Greer Graves died circa 1913 in Oklahoma.
Issue of Alsey Victor and Icey Ella (Hart) Langford; Blanche Murriel Langford born April 24, 1910; Darrell Edwin Langford, born Sept. 27, 1911; Doris Eloise, born April 25, 1915; Norman Langford born March 18, 1918, and Iris Gladys Langford, born Sept. 18, 1926, Darrell E. Langford married Gladys Louise Hargraves has descendants; Doris E. Langford married (first) Frank Miller (divorced) married (second) Ole Odegaard (he died 1970) Norman Langford married Mildred Foster has descendants; Iris G. Langford married (first) Dan Engstrom (had one son) married (second) Dec. 19, 1964) Fred Sielaff (had one son), Blanche Murriel Langford married Sept 5, 1931 in Cook County Ill. to Herman Russell Smith -- Born Nov. 11, 1906, in Woodford County Ill. To Frederick J. and Melissa Mary (Battershell) Smith - died Feb. 9, 1967 buried Memory Gardens Arlington Hts., Illinois. Her offspring (all born in Cook County) Elizabeth Ann Smith, Dec. 30, 1935; Sue Ellen Smith, Dec. 19, 1937; Melissa Mae Smith Nov. 6, 1941; and Laurel Louise Smith, July 5, 1946. The marriages of her daughters; Elizabeth Ann, Aug. 10, 1957 to Thomas Eugene Wick; Melissa M. April 17, 1965 in Brunswick Maine to William Wilfred Mercier (now divorced), Sue E., Sept. 1, 1968 to Thomas Clanton Courington; and Laurel L. Oct. 5, 1969 to David Michael Nicol. These girls live from Oregon to Maine.

William Alexander Langford had several brothers and sisters. His brother, John D. Langford was married to Elizabeth, daughter of John and Mary (Shull) Hunsaker. Thus the wives of Wm. A. and John D. Langford were first cousins. Also the brother-in-law of Delilah Shull (John Calvin Hunsaker) and sister-in-law (Elizabeth Langford) were brother and sister. William B. Langford, son of J. D. and Elizabeth Hunsaker Langford married Florence Farmer and was brother-in-law of Euclid B. Langford.
[From the Ohio County Times, Hartford Kentucky November 10, 1977 -- Transcribed by Christine Walters]

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