Obituaries, Page 14

Compiled by Sue Jones.

These obituaries were copied from the 1888 Robinson Constitution newspaper.

Obituary of Frank D. MOONEY, published in The Robinson Constitution 28 Mar 1888
   Died - Monday night, March 26, about 8 o'clock, at his residence, five miles southeast of Robinson, Frank D. Mooney, after being sick less than one week, with pneumonia. Rev. Fields preached the funeral discourse at Swearingen Chapel, near Duncanville, this am. At 9:30 o'clock, after which his remains were conveyed to the cemetery near Wesley Chapel and there interred. Mr. Mooney came to this county from Ohio some twenty years ago and settled in the southeast corner of this, Robinson township. He leaves a wife and five children, two of which are young ladies and one a young man. Frank Mooney was a clever, genial man and a good citizen, and will be greatly missed by his large circle of friends and acquaintances.

Obituary of Eliza Jane (EWELL) GOGIN, published in The Robinson Constitution, 4 Apr 1888
   Eliza Jane (Ewell) Gogin, wife of O. W. Gogin, of this city, died April 2, 1888, of pneumonia, after a little over a weeks illness.
   She was born November 28, 1822, in Greenbriar county, Virginia, and moved to this county April 4, 1841. She has been a resident of this State for 47 years, and most of that time of Crawford county, residing for a number of years in Mattoon, Coles county, Illinois, but subsequently returning to this county and settling in Robinson. She was married to O. W. Gogin, March 31st, 1844, in Montgomery township.
   She was the mother of four children, three now living, Mrs. Emma Price, who resides at Frankfort, Indiana, Dorr, who is in California, and Miss Nellie; also six grandchildren. She was an earnest temperance worker, as well as a devout christian, becoming a member of the Royal Templars of Temperance in Mattoon and was ever found defending its principles. She was also, a Rebekah, in the I.O.O.F. taking the degree in the order over thirty years ago. But, Monday, death closed her long and useful earthly career of over 64 years.
   Funeral services were held today at Wesley Chapel, conducted by Elder J. L. Griffin and her remains were laid to rest in the cemetery near by.

Obituary of James C. WILSON, published in The Robinson Constitution, 25 Apr 1888
   Died - James C. Wilson an old and highly respected citizen of Robinson, Monday morning after an illness of several days. Mr. Wilson was born at Palestine in the year 1827, and resided in this county all his life, with the exception of two or three years, which he spent in Texas. He leaves a wife and five children, all of whom are grown, three live in this city and two in Texas. Mr. Wilson had been a member of the Presbyterian church for about thirty years. Funeral services were held yesterday morning at the family residence conducted by his pastor, Rev. J. A. Bartlett assisted by the Rev. J. W. Field, after which the remains were interred in the Robinson cemetery.

Obituary of Mrs. Abigail (FITCH) (PHELPS) WILSON, published in The Robinson Constitution, 20 Jun 1888
   Mrs. Abigail Wilson died in Olney, Ill., June 9th, 1888, aged 84 years, 5 months, and 8 days. She was born in Cayuga county, New York. Her father, Elisha Fitch, came to York, Illinois, in 1818, built there a log cabin, returned home, gathered his family and humble stores together and stared from New York on his return to the then wild prairies of the northwest. It took him fifty-two days to make the homeward trip.
   Look at this little family journey - he crosses Cayuga lake on the ice, took a flat-boat at Ocean Point, on the Alleghany, floated down to the Ohio and down that river to the Wabash; pulled and "bushwhacked" up that river until he arrived at York, June 20th. A three months trip. The first milling was done at Fort Harrison; the nearest trading point was Vincennes; coffee was a luxury, Sunday morning was the only time it appeared on the frugal table. The sugar was of home manufacture. Calico was 50 cents, Cotton was a home production; all the clothing was the same - what mothers those were in those days.
   Her father removed after two years to five miles west of Hutsonville, Mr. Fitch kept tavern in those days; sold whiskey which he paid 20 cents a gallon for. It was pure at that - better than the black bottle of today, though kept for choice customers! In 1833 Mr. Fitch removed to Palestine and kept tavern in the old Stewart House standing on the site of the Presbyterian church of today.
   In 1826 Abigail was married to Capt. Joel Phelps. One daughter was born to them - now Mrs. McClain, of Olney.
   Capt. Phelps died after three years of married life, and in 1844 Mrs. Phelps was married to James H. Wilson.
   One daughter was the issue of this marriage, who died in 1853.
   Mrs. Wilson united with the Methodist church in 1852. She remained a member till after her second marriage, she then took a letter to the Presbyterian church of Palestine, where she remained until her death, although of late residing with her daughter in Olney.
   Of Mrs. Wilson it may truthfully be said she has left the record of a useful life; faithful in all the relations of life - a humble, helpful woman; the epitaph upon her tomb shall read: "She hath done all that she could;' may shall rise up at the last day and call her blessed."
   The funeral services were conducted by Rev. Mr. Bartlett in the Presbyterian church at Palestine, and a large concourse of friends followed the deceased to her final resting place.

Obituary of Robert DAVIS, published in The Robinson Constitution, 27 Jun 1888
   Robert Davis, of Russellville, died Wednesday of lock jaw. While shaving kindling he ran a small splinter in his hand between the thumb and fore finger which he pulled out and thought no more about it until two or three hours after when his hand began to swell and pain him. He took the lock jaw and died before noon. He was a young man well respected and leaves a wife and small child to mourn his death.

Obituary of Mrs. Margaret NETHERLY, published in The Robinson Constitution, 18 Jul 1888
   Mrs. Margaret Netherly died at the family residence July 13th, 1888, and was buried on Sunday, July 15th. The funeral services were conducted by the Rev. J. A. Bartlett at her late residence in the presence of a large concourse of sympathizing friends and neighbors.
   Mrs. Netherly was born in Ireland in 1819, married John Netherly in 1843. They emigrated to America in 1850.
   A settlement was first made in Green county, Ohio but, in 1865 they removed to Crawford county, Illinois, and have since removed about three miles south of Palestine. Mr. And Mrs. Netherly have been for twelve years members of Beckwith Presbyterian church. They were both present at the last Communion held in June last.

Obituary of B. M. ARNOLD, published in The Robinson Constitution, 25 Jul 1888
   B. M. Arnold, residing a few miles north of Oblong, died Sunday morning after a lingering illness of several months with that dreaded disease, consumption. The deceased was about forty years of age and leaves a wife and three children. The burial took place yesterday afternoon, the funeral being conducted by the Masonic fraternity of which order the deceased was an honored member, the Rev. J. W. Field, of this city, delivering the funeral sermon, after which his remains were laid to rest in the Wilkin cemetery. Mr. Arnold was well and favorably known in Crawford county and was a good man and a citizen whom the community in which he resided so long will greatly miss.

Obituary of Mrs. Mollie JOHNSON, published in The Robinson Constitution, 25 Jul 1888
   Mrs. Mollie Johnson who went to her old home at York several days ago, was taken sick last week and her husband Mr. M. Z. Johnson, was telegraphed for and went to her Friday night. She continued to grow worse and died yesterday morning at three o'clock. Mrs. Johnson had been ailing for several years but just what caused her death we are not able to state at this time. Riley was sent for yesterday morning after his mothers death and left at once to attend the funeral. The deceased was about fifty years of age, well known here and liked by all who had the pleasure of her acquaintance. She leaves a husband and one son together with a host of friends in Robinson to mourn her loss.

Obituary of Mary Ann (SNYDER) KEENAN, published in The Robinson Constitution, 12 Sep 1888
   Died - Mary Ann Keenan nee Snyder, wife of Andrew Keenan, at Annapolis, Monday, September 3d, after several years of declining health, at the ripe old age of 68 years. She was born in 1820, in New Jersey, and when seven years old moved with her parents to New York and four years later to Perry county, Ohio. At the age of twenty-one she married Andrew Keenan, of Somerset, Ohio, residing there 'till 1860, when she moved with her husband to Illinois, locating in Crawford county. She was the mother of seven children, four girls and three boys, four of whom survive her, W.D., Mary J., Thomas and Mrs. Emma C. Reese, three having preceded her to the unknown beyond. Mrs. Olive S. Hiser, Elizabeth and Frank. The funeral services took place the following day at her son's residence, Wm. D. Keenan, at Annapolis. Her remains were laid to rest in the Mount Pleasant Cemetery.

 

This page last updated on March 18, 2022.