Illinois Burial Customs

The term “Illinois Indians” encompassed various Algonquian tribes, including the Illinois Confederacy. Early accounts describe their burial customs, highlighting a respect for the dead through careful burial practices. Joutel detailed how they utilized lofty coffins, sometimes hanging bodies in trees. Celebratory dances accompanied burials, marking a contrast with other tribes’ mourning rituals. Presents were offered, and food for the deceased’s journey was included in graves. These customs reveal the diverse ways Illinois Indians honored and remembered their dead across generations.

Biography of David Greiner

David Greiner, born in Ashland County, Ohio, on May 7, 1837, emerged as a notable pioneer in the West. After a formative education and apprenticeship as a carpenter, he ventured to Iowa before crossing to Walla Walla in 1864, where he combined farming and carpentry. Greiner settled in the Grande Ronde Valley in 1892, becoming a successful agriculturist. He was initially married to Mary J. Sweeney, who died in 1868, and later wed Jennie Jaycox in 1883. Together, they raised a family and contributed positively to their community.

Biographical Sketch of Edmund G. Ross

Edmund G. Ross, born on December 7, 1826, in Ohio, played a significant role in Kansas’s fight against slavery. A skilled journalist, he was actively involved in the free-state movement and became a prominent editor in Topeka. As a politician, he participated in the Wyandotte Constitutional Convention and later served as a U.S. senator, famously voting against President Johnson’s impeachment. Ross’s career spanned various roles, including military leadership in the Civil War and governor of New Mexico. He passed away on May 9, 1907.

Biography of Columbus M. Hixon

Columbus M. Hixon, born June 3, 1854, in Ohio, exemplified integrity and public spirit, earning his election as county treasurer of Washington County through a transparent record and business acumen. Moving to Idaho in 1877, he engaged in education and then stock-raising, contributing to the state’s economy. An active community member, he was the first postmaster of Weiser and participated in Idaho’s inaugural state legislature. Married to Adrietta Applegate, they raised two children and remained involved in their church and local governance.

Biography of James R. Strong

James Russell Strong, born on September 24, 1849, in Ohio, is a prominent judge of the probate court in Latah County, Idaho. He hails from a lineage of military service, with his grandfather participating in the War of 1812 and the Civil War. After working as a teacher and farmer, he ran a cheese factory in Kansas before moving to Idaho in 1889. A Republican, Strong has held various public roles, including postmaster and justice of the peace, and was elected probate judge in 1898. He is married to Mary M. Putnam and has four children.

Biographical Sketch of Russell Emmett Burdick

Russell Emmett Burdick, born May 28, 1848, in Alfred, New York, was a merchant and prominent figure in Ohio. He was educated at Alfred University and married Mary H. McCutchen in 1874, with whom he had three children. Burdick served as captain of Troop A in the Ohio National Guard in 1895 and participated in the Spanish-American War as captain of the 1st Ohio Volunteer Cavalry in 1898. He also held positions as aid-de-camp for several generals and was president and treasurer of the Bowler Burdick Co., jewelers.

Biographical Sketch of Oriel D. Eshelman

Oriel D. Eshelman, a lawyer born in Ashland, Ohio, is the son of David and Harriett Landis Eshelman. He attended various educational institutions, including German Wallace College and Ohio Northern University, where he earned a B.S. and LL.B. Admitted to the bar in June 1909, he began his law practice in Cleveland the same year, operating independently. Eshelman has served as a director and treasurer for multiple companies and held memberships in various fraternal and business organizations, specializing in general and commercial law.

Biographical Sketch of Thomas B. Richards

Thomas B. Richards, a real estate broker, was born on September 10, 1869, in Nova, Ohio. He was the son of Albert N. and Clarioco Poag Richards. On April 3, 1889, he married Carrie B. Bruce in Nova. A community member, Richards was affiliated with Phoenix Lodge, I.O.O.F., No. 233, and Protected Home Circle, No. 32 in Lorain, Ohio. In his leisure time, he enjoyed bowling.

Biographical Sketch of Benjamin Parmely

Benjamin Parmely, born on October 9, 1869, in Ashland, Ohio, was a prominent lawyer educated in Dayton public schools and later at Garfield University and the University of Michigan. He admitted to the bar in 1893 and held various legal positions, including service as an assistant U.S. attorney. Parmely married Mary E. Tolford in 1904 and had one daughter, Elizabeth. He was active in multiple legal associations and participated in several law firms throughout his career, focusing on corporation law.

Biography of J. E. Zimmerman

J. E. Zimmerman, born on October 10, 1873, in Ashland County, Ohio, played a significant role in Bourbon County as the president of the Citizens State Bank of Bronson and an accomplished farmer, stockman, and oil producer. A descendant of German settlers, he spent much of his early life in Missouri before moving to Bourbon County in 1902. Residing in Bronson since 1909, he successfully transitioned to oil production. He married Abbie Minich in 1895, and they established their home on a thirteen-acre property in Bronson.

Biography of Joel H. Rickel

Joel H. Rickel, born in Ohio in 1844, has had a distinguished career since moving to Chanute in 1896. A Civil War veteran, he served in the Twenty-fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry and participated in numerous significant battles, earning respect for his bravery. After the war, he pursued various ventures, including farming and a turtle fishing expedition, which led to an impressive collection of marine curios. In Chanute, he owns a successful carriage shop and a productive farm, remaining active in community and veteran affairs. Rickel is married and has children from two marriages.

Biography of George W. Scholes

George W. Scholes, a prominent farmer in Harlan township, Iowa, was born on July 7, 1840, in Ohio. After moving to Iowa with his family in 1851 and engaging in pioneer life, he served in the Eighth Iowa Cavalry during the Civil War. Following the war, he settled on his current farm in 1869, where he raised both grain and livestock. Scholes was married to Elizabeth C. Blair, and they had seven children. He has been a dedicated member of the Reformed Presbyterian church for over three decades.