Owen County IN

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.

Biographical Sketch of Jackson A. Bartlett

Jackson A. Bartlett, born on August 31, 1847, in Indiana, is a significant business figure in Drewsey, Oregon. After serving in the One Hundred and Forty-ninth Indiana Volunteer Infantry during the Civil War, he moved to Missouri, where he married Arminta J. Myers in 1870. The family later relocated to Oregon, where he engaged in farming and established a successful hotel and livery stable in Drewsey. Despite a fire destroying the hotel in 1899, Bartlett rebuilt and continued to thrive, raising a family of seven children alongside his entrepreneurial pursuits.

Biography of Z. A. Johnson

Z. A. Johnson, born February 16, 1851, in Owen County, Indiana, is a prominent businessman in Ozark and a former sheriff of Christian County. His family moved frequently, eventually settling in Ozark in 1873. With a strong work ethic and tenacity, Johnson succeeded in various ventures, including mining and retail. Elected sheriff in 1885, he was respected for his integrity and dedication. He also holds positions in local banking and furniture businesses. Johnson is a family man, married to Maggie Boyd, with three children.

Biography of William R. Zook

William R. Zook, born in Indiana in 1846, was a Civil War veteran who significantly impacted early Kansas settlement. Enlisting in the Union Army at seventeen, he served with the Second Nebraska Volunteer Cavalry before homesteading in Republic County, Kansas, in 1869. Despite facing hardships, including conflicts with Native Americans and resource scarcity, Zook became a respected landowner and community member. He married Nancy Casteel and had five children, exemplifying the resilience and determination of early pioneers while contributing to the region’s development. He later retired in Cuba, Kansas.

Biographical Sketch of Jacob Ernst

Jacob Ernst, born on March 30, 1839, in Wurtemberg, Germany, immigrated to the United States at fifteen, eventually settling in Coles County, Illinois, in 1857. He married Julia Anna Joose in 1861, with whom he had nine children, eight of whom survived. Ernst cultivated 159 acres through hard work and served as School Director and Commissioner of Highways. His journey reflects a dedication to both family and community, showcasing his contributions to his township and the agricultural landscape.

Biographical Sketch of Granville F. Raper

Granville F. Raper, born January 28, 1836, in Owen County, Indiana, was a dedicated farmer and family man. He married Mary H. Roberts in 1855, and they had nine children, six of whom survived. After living in Indiana for over twenty years, he moved to Illinois, engaging in various farming ventures across counties including Hancock, Douglas, and Coles. Eventually, he settled near Seven Hickory, owning 160 acres he acquired through hard work. His family roots trace back to Indiana and Kentucky, where his parents were married.