Obituaries, Page 18

Compiled by Sue Jones.

These obituaries were copied from the 1894 Robinson Constitution newspaper.

Obituary of Martha (NEAL) RUDDELL, published in The Robinson Constitution 27 Jun 1894
   Martha (Neal) Ruddell was born in Boone county, Kentucky, Dec. 25th, 1805. She was reared under the influence of a Christian home. In early life she gave her heart to her Master, in whom she fully trusted. August 8, 1825, she was married to George Ruddell, of Bourbon county, Kentucky. They commenced life together on a farm in Grant county, Kentucky, which was then an unbroken wilderness, peopled only with wild animals and Indians, where they toiled amid hardships and danger, converting the dense forest into a beautiful profitable farm.
   In 1853 they came West, settling in Lamotte township, Crawford county. In 1855 death claimed her loved companion and eldest son, leaving her with a large family of small children to rear, educate and prepare for the duties of life, which duty she faithfully and nobly performed.
   In 1867, her two youngest sons Z. and J. D., wishing to attend college, she rented the farm, and moved with them to Merom, Inc., ever ready to promote the interests of her children. There she enjoyed church privileges she did not have while on the farm, and with zeal and courage she worked in this new field for her Master, turning many of the young from sin and folly to lives of holiness and usefulness by her precept and example. In 1877, her sons wishing to locate in business in Robinson, Ills., she came with them, gave her name to the M. E. church, where she remained a faithful member till her death.
   For ten years she and her daughter, Sarah, have lived together in a comfortable little home, peaceful and happy till six years ago, when she was stricken with nervous prostration, which greatly affected her mind, from which she never fully recovered.
   Seven of her nine children were with her during her last sickness. She died June 12, 1894. Funeral services conducted by her pastor, Rev. J. W. Jackson, at the M. E. church, after which she was consigned to the tomb in Robinson cemetery, followed by a large circle of relatives and friends.

Obituary of Catherine (JOHNSON) WIRT, published in The Robinson Constitution, 11 Jul 1894
   Catherine Johnson was born in Giles county, Virginia, October 29th, 1830; died in Crawford county Illinois, June 10th, 1894, aged 63 years, 7 months and 12 days. On the 22d day of February 1850, she was united in marriage to Jacob Wirt.
   This union was blessed with five children, who are now devoted children to Christ. She was afflicted with that dreaded malady consumption. Everything that medical skill could accomplish or loving hearts suggest, had been done, yet death claimed her for his own. She was a faithful Christiana and always did what she could. Her husband is a true believer in Christ and with the sweet incense of her life and the memory of joys ever before him, looks for an eternal reunion beyond this vale of tears where God himself shall wipe away all tears from our eyes.
   She leaves a kind companion, three sons and two daughters, besides a host of relatives and friends to mourn her departure. The funeral services were conducted by W. A. Inman in the Christian church at Ogden Grove, Monday June 11th, after which she was laid in the Oblong cemetery to rest till the resurrection morning.

Obituary of Mrs. Lizzie (STONER) SWINGER, published in The Robinson Constitution, 25 Jul 1894
   Mrs. Lizzie Stoner Swinger, wife of Mr. William Swinger, died at her home near Hutsonville, July 23, 1894. Her funeral was preached at the Dunkard church, Lamotte prairie, of which she was a devout member, and she was buried at Oak Grove July 25, 1894. Deceased was a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jesse C. Stoner. She was a most estimable lady. Her parents, her sisters, her husband and her friends all mourn her untimely loss. She died in the faith of a fairer, a purer, and a holier existence. It is trying for friends to give up a near and dear one, but their loss is but her gain.

Obituary of Malinda (DRAPER) BAILIFF, published in The Robinson Constitution, 1 Aug 1894
   Malinda Bailiff was born April 26, 1823, and died July 25, 1894. Her place of birth was two miles north of Hutsonville, where her parents Chalkley and Rhoda Draper settled in what was then a wilderness, in the year 1816. In 1841 she was joined in marriage with Rev. Thomas Bailiff. They settled on a farm three miles west of West York, where she continued to live until her death.
   October 27th, 1861, she united with the C. P. church and was a faithful member during all that time.
   She leaves a family of eight children, a goodly number of grandchildren and a wide circle of acquaintances to mourn her loss. Deceased lived to a greater age than any other one of the Draper family.
   The funeral services were conducted by Rev. Haddex and the remains were buried in the Bailiff cemetery.

Obituary of Lizzie (STONER) SWINGER, published in The Robinson Constitution, 22 Aug 1894
   Lizzie Stoner Swinger, daughter of Jess C. and Mary Stoner, and wife of William Swinger, departed this life July 23rd, 1894, aged twenty-three years, seven months and twenty-two days.
   She was born in Montgomery county, Ohio, Dec. 1st, 1870. Was united in marriage to William Swinger Dec. 20th 1893. At the age of sixteen she united with the German Baptist church and lived a constant Christian life. Although her sufferings were great she never murmured. A few days before her death she asked to see all her near friends and bid them all farewell, and admonished them to be faithful and prepare to meet her in "sun bright clime of never ending day." She also selected her text and hymns to be used at her funeral, which was conducted by Elder Troxel of Cerro Gordo, Ill., to a large congregation of sympathizing friends.
   Rest tells what a wonderful person she was.

Obituary of Jacob STIFFAL, published in The Robinson Constitution, 29 Aug 1894
   Mr. Jacob Stiffal, the oldest resident of this county, died at his home in Robinson, Aug. 23, 1894. Mr. Stiffal was born in Germany, December 4th, 1802, and came to this country In 1815. Although he lived under the protection of the United States government for seventy-nine years he never renounced his allegiance to his fatherland to become a citizen here, consequently never cast a vote. He was for years a member of the Methodist church and his daily walk through life was such that no one could say aught against him. The funeral services were conducted by Rev. Jackson at the M. E. church after which the remains were placed at rest in the Robinson cemetery.

Obituary of Samuel PARKER, published in The Robinson Constitution, 12 Sep 1894
   Samuel Parker, after an illness of several months, died at his home in Robinson, September 7th, 1894, at the advanced age of 78 years, 3 months and 15 days.
   He was born in Butler county, Ohio, May 22, 1816, and came to Illinois with his father, October, 1818, who settled in what is now Honey Creek township, this county. In 1835, he was united in marriage, in Clark county, with Emeline Lanham, who remained his faithful companion until August 16, 1888, when death claimed her.
   For three years after marriage he lived in Clark county and worked on the "National Road," which was then under construction. He then moved to Lawrence county and resided there for a short time on Allison prairie, and then returned to this county and engaged in farming until 1865, when he moved to New Hebron and burnt the brick used in building the Masonic building in this city. In October 4, 1866, he became a citizen of Robinson, where he has since lived a retired and comfortable life as he had by good management secured a competence sufficient to supply his wants in his old age. There are surviving him his three children, Mrs. Mary J. Barrack, Mrs. Salina A. Dean and hon. G. N. Parker of this city.
   Funeral services were conducted at the late residence by Elder Steel, after which the remains were placed at rest in the Robinson cemetery.

Obituary of Mrs. Betsy PRICE, published in The Robinson Constitution, 10 Oct 1894
   Mrs. Betsy Price, formerly the wife of Sam Price, an Englishman, who once owned the old Cyrus Mitchell place, was found dead in her bed on Sunday morning. She had been working in Robinson and was on a visit to her son who lives on a little place owned by her three miles southeast of Oblong. A coroner's jury was empanelled to determine the cause of her death. An examination of her clothing disclosed a two ounce phial marked "laudanum" in the pocket of her dress; also a letter stating that she was tired of life and intended suicide. The jury found that she came to her death by her own hands. Poverty, hard work and trouble had undoubtedly driven her to this rash act.

Obituary of Edward C. PRICE, published in The Robinson Constitution, 7 Nov 1894
   Edward C. Price was born in Crawford county, Illinois, June 5, 1870, and departed this life November 2nd, 1894, being 24 years, 4 months and 27 days old. While attending school at Danville, Indiana, he was attacked by the la grippe, which resulted in that destroyer, consumption. He went to Colorado in hope of regaining his health, but to no avail. After remaining five months and receiving no benefit he returned home. He lived nearly three years after he was attacked by the disease and everything was done that could be done to save his life, but all failed.
   He made his peace with God and was baptized by Rev. G. W. Hale four months before his death. He never murmured nor complained, but said the will of the blessed Lord be done. He died with a smile on his face and his last words were, "Jesus stay with me." He leaves a father and mother, one sister and three brothers and a large circle of friends to mourn their loss which is his eternal gain.

Obituary of James WIMAN, published in The Robinson Constitution, 28 Nov 1894
   Mr. James Wiman, a highly respected citizen, died at his home in Licking township, this county, at an advanced age, November 8th, 1894. Had he lived until the first of December next, he would have been 82 years old. When the subject of this sketch was four years of age his parents moved to this county from Kentucky, settling on the Lamotte prairie and this county has since been his home. Deceased was the father of nine children all of whom survive him but one. Saturday November 10th the remains of this old pioneer father were placed at rest in the West Harmony cemetery. A large circle of relatives and friends mourn his demise.

 

This page last updated on March 18, 2022.