Miss Lizzie Champ, daughter of Robert Champ, near Milford, died on Sabbath [September 7, 1889], and was buried on Monday. Milton Parsons, with Siling & Woolley, who were employed as undertakers, report that while deceased was but eleven years of age, it necessitated a six foot casket, she being five feet ten inches in height. Contributed by: Shelli Steedman
The body of Mrs. Melinda BOWMAN arrived here from Greensburg this afternoon for burial here. She is the widow of the late Hugh BOWMAN, well known here. The funeral of Melinda Bowman took place this afternoon [May 21, 1913], with services at the Hoover Chapel. The funeral was conducted by the Talma IOOF. Contributed by: Shelli Steedman
Died, near Winfield, Cowley County, Kansas, December 31, 1883, at 12 p.m., Mrs. Cynthia A., wife of the Rev. Solomon Ferguson, aged 61 years, 11 months, and 5 days. Mrs. Ferguson was born in Bartholomew County, Indiana. She moved with her parent, the Rev. James McEwen when quite young to Decatur County where in October 1838 she was married to Solomon Ferguson, by whom she had ten children, two sons and eight daughters. Two daughters died in infancy; the others are left with the bereaved husband to mourn her loss, all member of the church. She was converted in 1843, … Read more
William B. Hawkins, retired farmer; P. O. Humbolt; the subject of this sketch is one of the early settlers of this township; he was born in Boone Co., Ky., July 31, 121. He married Miss Abigail Morgan Feb. 20, 1843; she was born in Ohio, and died Oct. 8, 1846; they had two children, viz., Francis M. and Louisa A.; his present wife was Miss Nancy Danner; they were married Oct. 4, 1848; she was born in Rush Co., Ind., Oct. 11, 1823; he lived about two and a half years in Kentucky,. when, with his parents, he moved to … Read more
Rev. R. C. Hill, farming and stock; P. O. Charleston; the subject of this sketch was born in Sullivan Co., Ind., Dec. 11, 1817. He married Miss Mary A. Woods Dec. 10, 1839; she was born, in Sullivan Co., Ind., May 23, 1817; they had six children, four living, viz., Franklin P., John W., Martha J. and Elizabeth M.; he lived in Indiana twelve years, when, with his parents, he came to Illinois and settled in Clark Co., where they engaged in farming; in 1846, he came to Coles Co. and settled in La Fayette Tp., remaining one year; he … Read more
J. W. Farrar, farmer and stock; P. O. Mattoon; the subject of this sketch was born in South Carolina, near Charleston, March 4, 1827. He married Miss Ann M. Talbot Oct. 12, 1851; she was born in Henderson Co., Ky., Oct. 9, 1832; they had eight children, two living, viz., Joseph F. and Lizzie A. He lived about eighteen months in South Carolina, when, with his parents, he moved to Perry Co., Mo., where he engaged in the warehouse and wood business; he lived here with his parents about six months, when, with his grandparents, he went to Illinois and … Read more
Abraham Bennett, minister of United Brethren Church, Westfield; was born in Meade Co. Ky., Nov. 15, 1828; after remaining at home until the age of 18, he started out in life for himself, flat-boating on the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers for some five or six years; in the year 1852, he commenced traveling in the ministry of the United Brethren Church, having from his youth been connected with that Church; in the same year, leaving his family in Kentucky, he traveled circuit for some six years in Indiana, when, having returned to Kentucky, was engaged in missionary work through that … Read more
Jacob Ernst, farmer and stock-raiser; P. O. Humbolt; the subject of this sketch was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, March 30, 1839. He married Miss Julia Anna Joose Aug. 16, 1861 she was born in Baden, Germany, June 20, 1844; they had nine children, eight living, viz., George A., John M., Flora May, Mary A., Harry D., Willis E., Clarence and Jacob E.; Charlie died June 4, 1866. He lived in Germany about fifteen years, when he came to the United States and settled in Meadville, Penn., where he lived until 1855; he then moved to Owen Co., Ind.; thence to … Read more
William H. Brandenburg, farmer; P. O. Hutton; was born in Clay Co., Ind., Oct. 19, 1824, and came to this county with his parents at 4 years of age, and remained with them up to the age of 17, when he went to Wisconsin, working upon a farm for two years, then returned to his parents’ home, and, making up a team, returned to Wisconsin, and was engaged in hauling lead for nine years; in 1852, he returned to Hutton Tp. and worked out for two years, when he settled upon the farm on Sec. 13, which he had purchased; … Read more
C. P. Brandenburg, farmer; P. O. Hutton; was born in Clay Co., Ind., Aug. 24, 1828; his parents, Solomon O. and Alezan, were among the first settlers of this county, having settled in the year 1829, on Sec. 14 of Hutton Tp.; his father died in 1861, and his mother went to reside with his brother William H., and died in May, 1875; Mr. Brandenburg lived with his parents up to the age of 17, when he went to Wisconsin and engaged in hauling lead during the summer for eleven seasons, returning to his father’s during the winter months; his … Read more
James Brandenburg, farmer; P. O. Diona; was born in Hardin Co., Ky., April 20, 1820; when he was about 3 years of age, his parents moved to Clay Co., Ind., and from there, in the year 1829, came to this county. Mr. Brandenburg lived at home, working in the neighborhood, until he was 18 years of age, when he went to Wisconsin and was engaged in teaming for two years; in 1844, he settled southeast of Salisbury, in this township, and lived there for twelve or thirteen years, when he purchased a farm on Sec. 32, and after being there … Read more
Ezekiel Gilbert, farmer; P. O. Charleston; was born in Lawrence Co., Ind., Nov. 20, 1828; in the year 1830, his parents, Simon and Elizabeth Gilbert, who were natives of Kentucky, moved to Vermilion Co., Ill., and in 1838, came to Coles Co., and settled on the farm now occupied by Joshua Johns, on Sec. 9, and six years afterward moved to the farm on Sec. 7, where their son Ezekiel now resides; Mr. Gilbert lived with them up to the time of their death. He married Oct. 28, 1847, Miss Nancy, H. Stone, daughter of Stephen Stone, a native of … Read more
C. P. Davis, farmer; P. O. Hutton; was the eldest of nine boys, and was born in Lawrence Co., Ind., Sept. 13, 1829. In 1829, while he was still an infant, his parents, John C. and Elizabeth Davis, moved to what was then Clark Co., and settled in what is now Hutton Tp., of Coles Co., and first having lived in different localities in the township, about the year 1840, settled on Sec. 34, where they lived up to the time of their death, Mr. Davis dying Nov. 30, 1871, Mrs. Davis’ death having occurred January, 1862. Mr. Davis was … Read more
William O. Ormsby, 89, died at 6:15 o’clock Friday evening [August 16, 1946] a his home, 4 ½ miles west of Colfax in the White Church neighborhood. He had been seriously ill for the past two months. Mr. Ormsby, prominent retired farmer, was born December 23, 1858, at Ashland, Kentucky. He was married in Crawfordsville, August 14, 1884, to Violet M. Coyner. His wife preceded him in death on April 20, 1911. Mr. Ormsby was the second oldest man living in Sugar Creek township, where he had been so prominent over a long period of years. He served four years … Read more
John H. Gross, 77, for over a half century a resident of Blackford County, died Thursday night [September 28, 1939] at 10 o’clock at his home, four miles south of Hartford City on Slate Road 3. Mr. Gross’ death, attributed to heart disease, was the result of a two-day illness. While his health had been impaired for about two years, he was able to be active in his work. Wednesday he suffered the attack which resulted in his death. A well-known farmer in this county for the past fifty years, Mr. Gross had resided south of the city for some … Read more
Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Keplinger Chapel for Ira B. Gross, 86, a resident of Willow Hall Nursing Home who died there at 11:45 a.m. Thursday of complications. Dr. Roy Turley will officiate at the last rites and burial will be in the IOOF Cemetery. Friends may call at the mortuary after 7 p.m. today. Mr. Gross, a native and life resident of Blackford County, had been in failing health the past week. Born January 14, 1896, Mrs. Gross was the son of John H. and Dora M. Bowman Gross. He was married to … Read more
The brother of a Hartford City resident, Charles E. Gross, 83, Bluffton, suffered an apparent stroke and died early Wednesday morning at his residence. Born in Blackford County, he was a retired grain elevator operator. Survivors include his widow, Martha Gilbert Gross, two daughters, Mrs. Geraldine Pero, Flint, Mich., and Marilyn Gross, Bluffton; a son, Neilon of Flint, Mich.; one sister, Mrs. Clinton (Dorothy) Cheesman, Hartford City, seven grandchildren and six great grandchildren. Services will be at 2:30 p.m. Friday at the Goodwin Memorial Chapel in Bluffton. The Rev. Calvin Ley will officiate. Burial will be in the Elm Grove … Read more
Mrs. Guy Fisher, 24, died at the home of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. John Gross, 4 miles south of town at 7 o’clock Friday morning of consumption with which she had been ill for the past year. Mrs. Fisher was born in this county October 16, 1888 and was married October 28, 1906 to Guy Fisher of this city. She had been afflicted with consumption for the past several years and her condition had been such that she had only been confined to her bed a short time when death relieved her of her suffering. Her husband has been … Read more
Dorothy M. Cheesman, 78, 1415 N. Mulberry St., Hartford City, died at 10:25 a.m., Sunday, October 17, 1982 in the County Manor Nursing Home where she has resided since August 1, 1980. A lifelong resident of Blackford County, Mrs. Cheesman was a member of Trinity United Methodist Church and a member of Eastern Star. Mrs. Cheesman was born March 3, 1904, in Blackford County, the daughter of John H. Gross and Dora M. Bowman Gross. Her husband, Clinton J. Cheesman, preceded her in death September 2, 1980. They were married April 4, 1926 in Hartford City. Survivors include two daughters, … Read more
Clinton J. Cheesman, 76, 1415 No. Mulberry St., Hartford City, died at 5:15 a.m. this morning, September 2, 1980, at Ball Memorial Hospital where he had been hospitalized since August 11. A retired rural mail carrier, Mr. Cheesman, was a former county assessor for Blackford County and a member of the Mental Health Board. He was a member of the IOOF Lodge, the Masonic Lodge, Scottish Rite, Shrine and York Rite as well as member of Trinity United Methodist Church. Mr. Cheesman was born August 1, 1904 in Delaware County, the son of Alva A. Cheesman and Lydia B. Hinsley. … Read more