MARGARET M. BAUMAN
- Funeral services were held at 1:30 p.m. Thursday at the Allen Funeral Home in Sterling for Margaret M Bauman, Rt. 1, Sterling , who died Tuesday in her home. the rev. Richard Hanson, pastor of the St. John’s Lutheran Church of sterling, officiated at the services with burial in Riverside Cemetery . Cecil Wade was at the organ during the services. the pallbearers were Leslie Long, Albert Otten, Frank Kunde, Edward Dietz, Junior Spencer, and Ervin Walters. the flowers were cared for by Swartley’s, Mrs. Leslie Long and Mrs. Russell Hess.
Contributed by Margaret Mangers from the Feb 7, 1967 Sterling Gazette
ARMANDO BENEDETTI
, 60, operator of the Morrison Candy Kitchen the past 20 years, passed away at the V.A. Hospital, Quincy, after being in failing health the past five years. Funeral services will be held Wednesday at 2 p.m. in the Reynolds Funeral Home, with burial in Grove Hill Cemetery, with military services at the grave. Friends may call at the funeral home after 10 a.m. on Tuesday.
Armondo Beneditti was born May 22, 1908, in Italy, coming to the United States when he was 14 years of age and began working in the Candy Kitchen until he bought it out 20 years ago. He married Loretta Green on Aug. 14, 1946, in Morrison. He was a member of the American Legion and VFW. He was a sergeant in the Air Force in World War II.
He is survived by his widow, one son, Ray at college in Des Moines, Iowa; five brothers and one sister in Italy and one brother in Canada. He was preceded by his parents.
Contributed by Melva L. Taylor - The Daily Gazette, Sterling-Rock Falls, Illinois
August 5, 1968 -
LEMUEL M. BENT
, died at his home in Morrison February 26th, age 87 years. He was born in Denmark, New York and moved to Milledgeville, Illinois in 1858. The following year he moved to Union Grove township, Whiteside county, where he bought a farm. He resided there until 1881, when he retired from the farm and moved to Morrison. In 1839 Mr. Bent married Miss Betsey Parks in New York, She died in 1892. Two years later he married Mrs. Lurissa A. Colon, who died in 1899. Two children, Orrin M. Bent and Mrs. Adelaide L. Hall, survive. Funeral services were conducted at the home Monday afternoon by Rev. Geo. Patterson. Interment was made in Grove Hill Cemetery.
Contributed by Karen Fyock - 1904 Scrapbook Clipping
PEGGY SUE BILLINGS
, Funeral arrangements are complete for Peggy Sue Billings, 10, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James A. Billings, 1112 W. 21st St., in Rock Falls. She was fatally injured in an auto accident while on vacation in Chilhowie, Va. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Monday at the First Nazarene Church in Sterling, with Rev. D. C. Hatton, officiating. Burial will be in the Riverside Cemetery in Sterling. Friends may call at the Wheelock-Allen Funeral Home from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. on Sunday. The body will be taken to the First Nazarene Church at noon on Monday to lie in state until the hour of the services.
Peggy was born on April 2, 1959 in Sterling, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James A. and Marjorie Maberry Billings. She was a baptized member of the First Nazarene Church and a fifth grade student at Dillon School. She is survived by her parents; one sister, Debbie, at home; maternal grandmother, Mrs. Fern Maberry of Kewanee; several aunts, uncles and cousins.
Contributed by Melva L. Taylor - The Daily Gazette, Sterling-Rock Falls, Illinois July 5, 1969 - Saturday, pg 2
G. HESKETT BLAGG
, 54, passed away Saturday morning at the Morrison Community Hospital following a short illness. Funeral services will be held Tuesday at 1:30 at the Gardner Chapel, Prophetstown, the Rev. A. Dean Lundstrom officiating, with burial in Lyndon Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home this evening (Monday).
G. Heskett Blagg was born May 7, 1914 in Lyndon, the son of Theodore and Myrtle (Sell) Blagg. He was educated in the Lyndon schools and Monmouth College. He married Ruth Healey of Milledgeville in June of 1919 in Missouri. He was a bookkeeper for the Rock River Lumber and Grain of Prophetstown.
He is survived by one brother, Russell, of Olathe, Kan.; three sisters, Mrs. Clarence (Madge) Hunt of Lyndon; Mrs. Carley (Thelma) Harrison of Sheffield and Mrs. Marvin (Theadora) Karnitz of Rockford. He was preceded by his father, mother and one brother.
Contributed by Melva L. Taylor - The Daily Gazette, Sterling-Rock Falls, Illinois
August 5, 1968 -
E.F. BROCK
, formerly for many years a well-known and highly respected resident of Sterling, died in Chicago, on Sunday, March 12. Mr. Brock was born at Bono, Lawrence county, Ind., March 26, 1838. He came to Carroll county, Ill., in 1848, where he resided until about 1860, when he located in Sterling and entered the employ of the late D. M. Crawford. In the times of the war he was engaged in provost marshal duty. During the intervening time, until recently, he made his home in Sterling. A widow and five grown sons survive him. Fred Brock, as he was usually known, had a wide circle of friends. He was richly endowed with a broad and general information, a conversationalist both entertaining and instructive, and was attractive in both manner and person. The funeral was held from the house of his sister, Mrs. A. S. Ferguson, on the 14 inst. - Sterling Gazette
Contributed by Karen Fyock - dated 1893?
WILLIAM BOSTLEMAN SR.
, 57, 1001 6th Ave., Sterling, a former Tampico resident, died Wednesday morning (20 Aug 1975) at St. Anthony's Hospital in Rockford.
Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m. Friday at Schmitt Chapel in Tampico. The Rev. Thomas Harmon of the Tampico United Methodist Church will officiate. Burial will be in Tampico Memorial Cemetery. Friends may call at the Schmitt Chapel from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday. A memorial has been established.
William Bostelman was born May 16, 1918 in Chicago and was educated in Chicago and was married to Mary Kravchuk July 13, 1941 at Chicago. He lived in the Tampico area for 20 years and was employed as custodian at Tampico High School for 15 years. He moved to Sterling in 1968 and served as custodian at Woodlawn School to the present time.
Survivors include his widow, one daughter, Mrs. Dwight (Dolores) Ford of Rock Falls, one son, William Bostelman Jr. of Morrison; four grandchildren, Matthew, B. J., Chris and Cullen; two brothers, Arthur and George of Chicago; one sister, Mrs. Charles Ceasare of River Forest.
He was preceded by his parents and two brothers.
Contributed by Melva L. Taylor - The Daily Gazette, Sterling-Rock Falls, Illinois
August 21, 1975 - Thursday, pg 4
MARY BROGAN
, passed away at the Sterling Public Hospital, Friday evening at 9 o'clock, the result of being struck by an automobile while crossing the street near her home Wednesday afternoon. The body was taken to the Woods Funeral Home, where it may be viewed by friends until 1 o'clock Sunday afternoon, when it will be removed to the late home, 407 Avenue C. The funeral will be held Monday morning at 9 o'clock at St. Mary's Catholic Church, with interment in Calvary Cemetery. The pallbearers will be Daniel Donahue, William Doyle Sr., E. F. Williams, Albert Frank, John Cuniff and Joseph Melberg.
Miss Brogan was born in Trenton, N.J., June 2, 1855, the daughter of the late Jeremiah and Bridget Ryan Brogan. She came here with her parents as a small child, settling on a farm near Como and, later, moving to a farm south of Rock Falls. As a young woman, Miss Brogan came to Sterling, where she learned the dressmaking trade, at which she has since been constantly occupied. Her father passed away in 1916; her mother in 1900. She is survived by two brothers and two sisters -- C. J. Brogan of Chicago, Thomas, Anna and Ella Brogan, all of this city. Three sisters and two brothers preceded her in death. They were Mrs. M. C. Williams, Mrs. Michael Real, Mrs. Calvin Anspatch, James Brogan and John Brogan. Miss Brogan was of an unusually cheerful disposition, beloved by all who knew her and her tragic death has cast a gloom over the entire community.
Contributed by Melva L. Taylor - The Daily Gazette, Sterling, Illinois September 3, 1938 - Saturday, pg 3
JOSEPH H. BRYANT
, 82, 1710 E. 1st St., Sterling, died Tuesday (July 24, 1984)evening in his home. Funeral services will be held on Friday afternoon at 1:30 p.m. at the Allen Funeral home, Sterling, with the Rev. David L. Beebe, pastor of the First Christian Church, Rock Falls, officiating. Burial will be in Riverside Cemetery, Sterling. Friends may call at the Allen Funeral home on Thursday evening from 5 to 8 p.m. A memorial has been established to the Building Fund at the First Christian Church, Rock Falls. Joseph Bryant was born on Oct. 13, 1901 in Salem, the son of Thomas L. and Hattie A. Wilkins Bryant. On Dec. 24, 1922 he was united in marriage to Sadie L. James in Dixon. He had been employed as a machine operator at Lawrence Brothers, Sterling, for 45 1/2 years prior to his retirement. He was a member of the First Christian Church, Rock Falls. Surviving are his wife, Sadie, one son, Thomas H. Bryant, Chadwick, one daughter, Mrs. Ben (Lois) Cutler, Port Orange, Fla.; eight grandchildren, and five great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, one daughter, Mary Louise in infancy, one grandson, two brothers, one sister and one half sister.
Contributed by Melva Taylor - The Daily Gazette, Sterling-Rock Falls, Illinois July 25, 1984- Wednesday pg A4
MRS. HARRY (TEMPLE) BULTEMA
, 63, rural Mt. Carroll, died at 9 p.m. Monday (10 May 1971) in Community Hospital, Morrison. Services will be held in the First Reformed Church at 3 p.m. Thursday, preceded by a family prayer service at 2:45 p.m. The Rev. William Hoffman will officiate. Burial will be in Fulton Cemetery. Friends may call at the Bosma Funeral Home, Fulton, Wednesday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Memorials may be directed to the First Reformed Church.
Mrs. Bultema was born Feb. 10, 1908, in Fulton, the daughter of Louis and Johann Cooper Temple. She married Harry Bultema Sr. in Muskegon, Mich., March 2, 1927. She was a member of the First Reformed Church, Fulton.
Survivors include her husband, one son, Harry Jr., Gillespie; two daughters, Mrs. Rodney (Dorothy) Renne, Geneseo; Mrs. Doren (Jo Ann) Hill, Sterling; one brother Dick Temple, Polo; one sister Mrs. Paul (Bessie) Harridge, Mt. Carroll; eight grandchildren. She was preceded by her parents, two sons in infancy, three brothers, Henry, Peter and George
Contributed by Melva L. Taylor - Sterling Gazettte May 11, 1971 - Tuesday, pg 2
ANNA (COLCORD) BURGESS
, The final summons that comes to us all has called to rest another esteemed and devoted christian woman, Mrs. Anna Colcord Burgess. She was born in Bath, Fulton County, N. Y., April 5, 1835. She was one of a family of thirteen children, of which only three now survive, Mrs. James DeGroff of Sterling; Mrs. Angeline Terpny [sic] of Morrison, and Ivory Colcord of Battle Creek, Mich. She came with her parents to Illinois in October, 1837. They shipped on a flatboat from Olean Point, N. Y., going down the Alleghany river to Pittsburgh, thence down the Ohio to the Mississippi, and up this noble stream to Fulton, then Baker’s Ferry, Ill. From here they journeyed by wagon and teams furnished by Mr. Baker, who also acted as driver and guide. They crossed prairies and sloughs till they came to Genesee Grove. The whole trip consumed six weeks. Mr. Colcord bought of Wm. Wick a claim, 200 acres of timber and 300 acres of prairie, for $150 in gold. Here he first built a 12x12 cabin, but the following summer erected a larger and more comfortable house for his family. Mrs. Burgess has lived in Whiteside County ever since. She married Caleb Burgess on April 30, 1855, and became the mother of four children, of whom the oldest daughter and the youngest son have passed on before, and the ones surviving the oldest daughter and the and the ones surviving are, Mrs. Frank Stabler of Sterling, and Mr. Warren Burgess of Tacoma, Washington, who has been here since July 4th, to assist in caring for the mother. She also leaves six grandchildren, Della, Emma, Earnest and William Stabler, and Edna and Howell Burgess. After her marriage she went with her husband to the farm in Genesee township that he had purchased in 1853 from the government. It is interesting to know that this couple was the only surviving one, so far as is known, that held the original patent issued by the government, there being no mortgage nor transfer on record against this farm. This farm was her home until 1874 when the family moved to Sterling and lived here continuously since that time. When yet a young girl she became a member of the M. E. church.
On June 27, 1875, she with her daughter, Florence (Mrs. Stabler), during the meeting held by Knowles Shaw, of Indiana, united with the Christian church in Sterling. Her husband united with the church about a month later. Her demise leaves Mrs. Stabler, the oldest surviving resident member of this church. She was always an active and interested member and faithful supporter of the work of the church. She often spoke with pleasure of her attendance and interest in the work. The present pastor has at every visit, until the last few weeks of serious illness, always been asked about the status of the work at present, indicating her interest retained until the last. Her many relatives and friends will miss this devoted and helpful mother and christian neighbor. Her summons to a better land came at 3:35, July 26, making her age, 78 years, 3 months and 21 days. Beside those present, a grandson, Earnest Stabler, is the only out of town relative expected to attend the funeral. The sympathy and condolence of the community will go to the berift husband and children and grandchildren because of their great loss. The funeral services will be held Monday [07/28/1913] afternoon at 2:30 at the home by Rev. Chas. A. Stevens and interment will be in Riverside cemetery.
Funeral Notice: The funeral of Mrs. Rose Anna Colcord Burgess were conducted yesterday afternoon at 2:30, at the family residence, 201 5th avenue, Rev. Chas. A. Stevens of the Christian church officiating. A ladies’ quartette, the Misses Ellmaker and Stanley, Mrs. Hendricks and Mrs. Stevens sang, “Will There Be Any Stars in My Crown.” Rev. Stevens read encouraging extracts from I Thess. and Revelation and offered prayer. The quartette then sang two verses of “Beautiful Isle.” The music was beautifully rendered. Rev. Stevens spoke of the firm foundation of our faith and hope as given in the scriptures and in the life of Jesus. He then called attention to certain acts as indicative of the deeper things of the soul, despite many visible imperfections, impressing the thought by several apt illustrations. In closing he urged the imitation of a Godly, fruitful christian life. The quartette sang the concluding verse of “Beautiful Isle.” At Riverside cemetery Rev. Stevens sang two verses of “Dear is the spot where christians sleep,” and pronounced the benediction. A large number of neighbors and friends were present at the funeral.
Contributed by Larry Reynolds - The Sterling Evening Gazette, July 26, 1913, page 3, column 6
BETTY JANE (MAYBERRY) BURGESS
, 83, of rural Rock Falls died Friday Feb. 4, 2005 at CGH Medical Center. Mrs. Burgess was born March l, 1921 in Sterling. the daughter of James William, and Anna Theresa (Hurley) Mayberry. She married Claude Merle Burgess on April 15, 1939 in Clinton. Iowa. He died June 8. 1987. She was a member of the Rock Falls Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary, Rock Falls American Legion Auxiliary and Women of the Moose, Sterling.
Survivors include two daughters. Patricia (Ronald) Dickinson of Waterloo. Iowa, and Mary (Reiley) Smith of Erie; a brother James Holland of Rock Falls; her stepmothers Doris Mayberry of Sterling; six grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren. The funeral is at 10 a.m. Tuesday at McDonald Funeral Home. Rock Falls with the Rev. Dominguez of St. Mary Church Sterling officiating. Burial is at Tampico Memorial Cemetery.
CALEB BURGESS
, was born at Ira, Cayuga County, New York, on the fifteenth day of June, 1834. After an illness of three weeks he died this morning (December 16, 1916) at 6:45, aged eighty-two years, six months and one day. He was the oldest of a family of five children, of whom only two survive, they being William Burgess of Garvin, Ia., and Mrs. Ruth Siddles of Coleta, Ill. The Burgess family came west in the spring of 1851 and settled in Genesee township. The journey was by canal to Buffalo, thence via steamer to Detroit, thence via ox team to Michigan City, Indiana, thence to Chicago, via railroad to Aurora, (the terminus) and from Aurora by horse team to Genesee township.
In 1853 the son Caleb worked on a farm for $12.50 per month and the same year purchased from the government an eighty acre farm in Genesee township, paying $1.25 per acre for it. This deed he held at the time of his death the same as the day he received it from Uncle Sam, and so far as known he was the only settler holding a government deed for land purchased in the early fifties, without a transfer or mortagage record against it. On April 30, 1855, he was married to Rose Ann Colcord, to which union four children were born, they bing Ophelia V. and Fred E. now deceased, and Mrs. F. P. Stabler of this city and Mr. Warren E. Burgess of Sacramento, Calif. The farm in Genesee was their home until 1874 when the family moved to Sterling. They resided at 201 Fifth avenue until the death of Mrs. Burgess on July 26, 1915, since which time Mr. Burgess has lived with his daughter Mrs. Stabler.
Mr. Burgess united with the Christian church in 1876 and has always been an interested and supporting member of that church. His faith was steadfast and his hope always bright. He was a man of the highest integrity. His was a strong and true nature, and never a kinder, more unselfish man lived. His warm heart and genial nature made him hosts of friends. Besides his brother, sister, and two children he also leaves six grandchildren: Della, Emma, Earnest and William Stabler, and Edna and Howell Burgess. The funeral services will be conducted by Rev. J. W. Robbins of the Christian church at the residence of F. P. Stabler, 1002 Fourth avenue, Monday [12/18/1916] afternoon at 1:30.
Contributed by Larry Reynolds from the Daily Gazette
JAMES BURGESS
of Sterling died Sunday morning after several years of protracted illness. He was a cousin to the late Mr. Terpenny and was afflicted about the same way. He was buried Tuesday forenoon in the presence of a large gathering of relatives and friends.
Contributed by Karen Fyock - dated March 23, 1902
JOSEPH M. BURGESS
, 73, who had been a patient at the Round Grove Nursing home, died at 7 a.m. Tuesday (28 May 1957) at the Morrison Community Hospital. The body was removed to the Parent Funeral Chapel where friends may call. Funeral services will be conducted at the funeral home Thursday at 2 p.m. the Rev. C. A. Belis, pastor of the Church of the Latter Day Saints, Clinton, Iowa, officiating. Burial will be in the Tampico Memorial Cemetery. Mr. Burgess was born May 4, 1884 at Xenia, Ill., the son of Mason and Matilda Burgess. He was reared and educated at Xenia. Survivors are one daughter, two brothers, Phil Burgess, Tampico; Jesse Burgess, Xenia; and one sister Mrs. Lora Henson, Rock Falls. He was preceded in death by his parents, four sisters and five brothers.
Contributed by Melva L. Taylor - The Daily Gazette, Sterling, Illinois May 29, 1957 - Wednesday, pg 6
LULU CECIL (BURROUGHS) BURGESS
, 65, RFD Three, Sterling, died Tuesday (8 June 1971) in Community General Hospital after a week's illness. Funeral rites will be held at 2 p.m. Friday in St. Paul Lutheran Church with the Rev. Warren Weeg officiating. The burial will be in Riverside Cemetery. Friends may call from 2 to 9 p.m Thursday in Behrens Mortuary.
Hazel E. Rigler was born June 5, 1906, in Hopkins Township, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Leonard (Hannah Stern) Rigler. She attended the Rock Falls schools and was united in marriage Oct. 5, 1928 to George J. Bruns in the parsonage of the First Lutheran Church of Jordan. They farmed their entire married life on Route Three, Sterling.
Mrs. Bruns was a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church. Surviving are her husband, George; two sons and one daughter, Wayne L. Bruns of Sterling, Robert G. Bruns of New Glarus, Wis., and Mrs. Dale (Mary Jane) Janssen of Route Four, Sterling; nine grandchildren and one brother, Clyde Rigler, Route Three, Sterling. A memorial has been established.
Contributed by Melva L. Taylor - Sterling Gazette June 9, 1971 - Wednesday, pg 2
MARY (O'CONNOR) BURGESS
, died very suddenly this morning between 2 and 4 o’clock at her home in the Pratt addition to Rock Falls. She had been quite well and at 2 o’clock, talked with her husband who had been up to look after the fire in the heating stove. When he awoke at about 4 o’clock his wife was rigid in death. It is supposed that the cause of her death was fatty degeneration of the heart. Mary O’Connor was born in Cary, Ireland, about forty-five years ago. She came to this country when she was sixteen years old and settled with her family in Detroit, Mich. Later she moved to Chicago, where she was married to George Burgess in May, 1884. Their children are, Joseph, Nellie, Edith, Charles, May, Margaret, who remain with the grief-stricken husband to mourn her death. Her parents are both dead, the father having passed away about a year ago. Two brothers and three sisters live in Chicago. They are Martin and John O’Connor, Mrs. C. Mahoney, Mrs. Dennis O’Connor and Mrs. Sarah O’Brien. Another brother Jerry O’Connor lives in Ireland. Mr. and Mrs. Burgess moved from Chicago to Savanna, Ill., and lived there until about five years ago when they came to this city. Mrs. Burgess was a Catholic and believed implicitly in the faith. She was an honest, upright, noble woman, who lived only for her family and the good that she could do. The stricken family have the sincere sympathy of their friends in their hour of sorrow
(The Sterling Daily Standard, December 14, 1899)
The funeral over the remains of Mrs. J. G. Burgess was held Sunday [12/17/1899] afternoon at the Christian church. The Rev. Silas Jones officiating. The services were attended by a very large number of the sorrowing relatives and friends of the good woman. The service was brief but appropriate and the choir sang “Nearer My God to Three” [sic] “Asleep in Jesus” and “Sheltered in Thee,” the last of which had been a favorite with Mrs. Burgess and she had asked her daughters to sing it for her the evening before her death. A very large concourse of people followed the remains to the Rock Falls cemetery where they were laid tenderly to rest by the following pall bearers:
Charles Rawson, Thomas Wormell, D. D. Stone, Julius Smith, A. B. Titus, E. A. Macomber
Contributed by Larry Reynolds - (The Sterling Daily Standard, December 18, 1899)
PHILLIP E. BURGESS
, 75, passed away Monday morning (6 Feb 1967) at his farm home south of Tampico. Funeral services will be held at the Methodist church, Tampico, Thursday at 1:30 p.m., the Rev. Roger Baumeister officiating, with burial in Tampico Memorial Cemetery. Friends may call at the Schmitt Chapel in Tampico after 2 p.m. Wednesday. A memorial may be directed to the heart fund. Phillip Burgess was born June 27, 1891 in Wayne County, the son of Mason and Matilda Brown Burgess. He was educated in Wayne county schools. He married Lulu C. Burroughs Aug. 1, 1913 in Marion County. They lived in and around Tampico for 47 years where they were engaged in farming. He was a member of the Tampico Methodist Church and the Yorktown Masonic Lodge 544. He is survived by his widow at home, three sons, Fred of Dixon; Claude of Tampico; Lyle of Evanston; one brother Jesse of Xenia; seven grandchildren, eight great grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded by his parents, six brothers, five sisters, two sons in infancy, one granddaughter and one great grandson.
Contributed by Melva L. Taylor - The Daily Gazette, Sterling-Rock Falls, Illinois February 7, 1967 - Tuesday, pg 2
W. MARSHALL BURGESS
, 62, Erie, custodian at Erie Elementary School, died Monday night (8 May 1972) at Illini Hospital, Silvis. Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday in the Erie United Methodist Church. The Rev. Cecil Dallas, pastor and Elder Harry Park, Moline, of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints, Moline, will officiate. Burial will be in Erie Cemetery. Friends may visit after 2 p.m. Wednesday in the Schilling Funeral home. A memorial has been established in his honor.
W. Marshall Burgess was born Feb. 27, 1910 in Manzanola, Colo., the son of Levi and Lillie Allen Burgess. He married Melia Shaheen on March 13, 1948 at Morrison. He was formerly a farmer, was custodian of Erie Community High School and custodian at Erie Elementary School. He was a member of the Reorganized Church of Latter Day Saints and was past grand officer of Odd Fellows Lodge of New Bedford.
Survivors include his widow; one step-son, Melvin Saad, Erie; four grandchildren; six sisters, Mrs. Eldo Richardson, Streator, Mrs. Ona Southard, Marshalltown, Iowa; Miss Winnie Burgess and Miss Ruth Burgess, both of Moline; Mrs. Lewis Oliver, Moline and Mrs. Robert Ross, Prophetstown; two brothers, Ted, E. Moline and Lee, Mayfield, Ohio. He was preceded in death by one sister.
Contributed by Melva L. Taylor - Sterling Gazette May 9, 1972 - Tuesday, pg 2
LEO BUSHNELL
, who for the past week lay at the point of death of pneumonia, died at the home of his mother, Mrs. Alice Bushnell, on First avenue, Saturday evening at 7:20 o'clock. The young soldier boy made a heroic fight for his life, and though all possible means were taken to save him, nothing could be done. The mother of the young man is prostrate with grief. The deceased was taken ill a week ago last Friday night, and from the very first it has been thought that he could not recover. He was delirious most of the time during his illness, and was under the impression that he was in Porto Rico. He begged to be brought home, and at all times suffered intense mental agony. He did not return to consciousness before he died. Leo Henry Bushnell was the only son of W. H. and LIce Bushnell, He was born in Milledgeville, Sept. 2, 1878, and came to this city with his mother about six years ago. His father died Feb. 18, 1882, at the family home near Milledgeville. At the time of the braking out of the war, Leo was a member of Company E. He desired very much to enlist with the volunteers, and, thought his mother wished him to remain at home, she finally gave her consent. He was with the boys all through the war and bore the hardships with them bravely. He was popular with his fellows, generous, kind hearted and thoughtful, and at no time showed any but the bravest of spirits. He took his lot philosophically and was at all times cheerful. He kept his health until about a week before the company saied for home, when he became ill, and it was necessary that he with a number of others, be left on the island, where they could be given much better care than on board the ship. It was some time before he was able to sail from the island. He landed in the stated in October and was for some time in the government hospitals, where he was given excellent care. He was finally allowed to come home, arriving in Sterling on Christmas day. He rapidly recovered from his illness, though he failed to gain the strength sufficient to tide
him over the attack of pneumonia. His death has caused gloom to fall over the entire company, and, indeed, over the entire city, He was well known, popular and greatly beloved by all who knew him. He was a member of the Presbyterian Sunday school and a student of the Sterling Business College, both before and after the war. He was bright in his studies and his future was most promising. The funeral services were held at the house, Tuesday afternoon at three o'clock, conducted by the Rev. J. F. Horton, of the Presbyterian church. The members of Company E. with arms and in uniform turned out. A firing squad was chosen from its membership which fired a minute over the grave. The Keystone band generously donated its services. The Grand Army also attended in a body. The interment took place in Riverside cemetery.
Contributed by Karen Fyock April 23, 1899 Scrapbook clipping
