Cooley Obituaries

Pike County, Illinois Genealogy Trails:

"KENNETH COOLEY , 68, of Barry, IL passed away on his farm near Fishhook, IL. He was born in New Salem, IL to Floyd and Maud Bimson Cooley. He married Sharon Sutton on June 9, 1958, in Hernando, Miss."

At this site there are four obituaries for members of the Cooley family of Pike county, Illinois.

There is a link between the Cooley and Henthorn families. Yesterday I added these obituaries to my own genealogy file.

If you are interested in sharing information about the history and genealogy of either of these two families please contact me.

Moon, Cleo Margaret (Hanthorne)

Cleo Margaret (Hanthorne) Moon

Cleo Margaret Moon was born February 19, 1904 in [Eagle City], Dewey County, in the Oklahoma Territory to William Parker and Emmaretta (Richardson) Hanthorne. She died at Lamoni Nursing and Rehab. Center in Lamoni, Iowa on July 25, 2000.

She was the youngest of eight children. Her next older sister, Ruth, and Cleo helped each other go to college. Cleo attended college in Chickasaw, Oklahoma, with an English degree at the Oklahoma College for Women. She received her M.A. degree at the University of Oklahoma. After teaching in her home state for a while she moved to Lamoni, Iowa and became a high school instructor. There she taught high school English, acted as librarian, directed plays, and taught hand sewing.

Cleo arrived in Lamoni by train and spent her first night in the home of Mrs. Lou Blair on 10th street. She later roomed there. For several years Cleo's mother lived with her in what is known as the Gold house in west Lamoni. Cleo's mother said that those years were the happiest in her life. She was active in the Mite Society, a group of women who quilted together one day a week.

Cleo held a B.S. in Library Science from Columbia University in New York City. She became librarian at Graceland College transforming a meager collection of books into a viable academic library. She was instrumental in planning the Fredrick Madison Smith Library building and presided over the human chain that moved thousands of volumes from the second floor of Briggs Hall to the new library. For twenty-three years she held the position of librarian at Graceland. Even after retirement she continued to make frequent walking trips to Graceland and the library where she worked on a part time basis.

During the Christmas season in 1944 Cleo married Willard Charles Moon and left Graceland in the spring of that year. During a period of twelve years she lived an activity-filled life in which, among other things, she involved herself in the business of raising and selling parakeets. When she gave up the parakeet business a short time before returning to Graceland she started selling Frankoma pottery. She was asked several times during those twelve years to return to the college but she said she was not yet ready. She was enjoying herself, and it was not until she felt a need for cultural association that she returned in 1956 as a teacher of Creative Writing and Cataloger for the library.

Cleo and Willard made their home on North Walnut Street across from what is now the elementary school building. Later they moved to an apartment building, created by Willard, and decorated by Cleo, at the corner of Main Street and Walnut. The attractive decor was brought to the attention of the Des Moines Register and was featured in the Sunday newspaper. Her husband bought her a shop adjoining their home where she sold pottery and other gift items, including pottery from student artists at Graceland College.

Cleo became best known as a poet. She was a primary contributor to the body of Graceland poetry. A collection, "The Bell Tower's Eye" was published and many of these same poems were reprinted in the volume, "Threads of Blue and Gold" commermorating Graceland's first 100 years. Her close observation of human experience, her understanding of human emotion, and her sensitivity for language served as a catalyst for her poetic gift. Many of Cleo's inspirational poems have been set to music as hymns of the RLDS Church or as Graceland standards. Several of the finest hymns in "Hymns of the Saints" articulate her profound religious vision and have inspired the hundreds who have sung them. A residence house for Graceland women, Hanthorne House, has been named in her honor. She was named poet laureate of Graceland, and conferred with the honorary degree of Doctor of Humane Letters. Her memorable words, which themselves have become an important part of Graceland's heritage and tradition, have embodied the thoughts of all of those who, through the years, have built on Graceland's hill.

Preceding her in death were her father in 1917; mother in 1941; four sisters; three brothers; and her husband, Willard, on April 12, 1995.

In her last years Cleo made her home at the Lamoni Nursing and Rehab. Center. She is survived by Willard's daughter, Sadi Negaard and husband, Leland, of Independence, Missouri, and their family: Doris Negaard, Kristen Negaard, Kerri Wade and husband, Eric, one great grandchild, Brooke; nephews, Dale Moon and wife, Frances of Lamoni and Donald Conkling of Dorchester, Nebraska; niece Wanda Bain and husband, Harold, of Climax Springs, Missouri; great great niece, Muriel Crownover of Santa Rosa, California; special friends, Clara Morrell and Marie Hawley both of Lamoni; plus many members of the Graceland alumni family who hold her memory and contributions in affectionate regard.
(Source: Written by Sadi (Moon) Negaard - furnished by Muriel Crownover)


BURIAL:
Cleo Margaret (Hanthorne) Moon
Born: February 19, 1904, Eagle City, Oklahoma Territory
Died: July 25, 2000, Lamoni, Iowa
Funeral Service: Slade-O'Donnell Funeral Home, Lamoni, Iowa
Date and Time: July 29, 2000, 10:00 a.m.
Officiating: Evangelist Les Gardner and High Priest Barbara Higdon
Organist: Richard Clothier
Soloist: Alma Blair, "Help Us Express Your Love, Oh Lord," lyrics by Cleo Moon
Bearers: Hale Collins, Bruce Graybill, Jerry Hampton, Marie Hawley, Robert Johnson, Dale Moon
Honorary Bearers: Christy Christenson, Delmar Goode, Leslie Kohlman
Interment: Rose Hill Cemetery, Lamoni, Iowa

Central Church of Christ Cemetery, Wood Co., WV

Central Church of Christ Cemetery, Wood Co., WV

[Note: A blank line means there were one or more graves between entries in this list. Cemetery is probably near Rockport, WV.]

Henthorn, Elizabeth
D-9/12/1877 A-60y9m7d
Henthorn, Phebe
D-8/6/1901 A-81y11m28d
[Elizabeth and Phebe Henthorn were single daughters of Adam and Nancy (Hood) Henthorn and aunts of Lafayette Baldwin.]
.
Henthorn, Ephriam [sic, Ephraim]
Co E 116th Ohio Inf
[Ephraim H. Henthorn, b. 5 Dec 1839, d. 29 Dec 1886, s/o Joseph and Ruth Ann (Boughner) Henthorn.]
.
Shutts, George C.
1826-1914
[George Cornelious Shutts, s/o Henry & Sarah Shutts.]
Shutts, Margaret L.
1830-1911
[Nee Margaret Lemley, d/o Robert & Jane (Brock) Lemley and a descendant of George & Eva Catherine (Yoho) Lemley.]
Shutts, John M. s/o G & M
D-2/7/1873 A-14y11m5d
[Son of George C. and Margaret L. Shutts. Born Abt. 2 Mar 1858.]
Shutts, Albert W.
2/14/1870-4/3/1902
[Albert William Shutts, son of George C. and Margaret L. Shutts. Husband of Salley Emerick.]
.
Baldwin, Lafayette
1841-1933
[Layfayette Baldwin, s/o Eli and Ann (Henthorn) Baldwin of Monroe Co., OH. Layfayette Baldwin was the nephew of Elizabeth and Phebe Henthorn. He and his wife were living with the aunts at the time of the 1870 census of Wood Co., WV.]
Baldwin, Indiana E. w/o L
D-7/18/1873 A-70y5m21d
[Also listed as, Julianna in the 1870 census of Steele Dist., Wood Co., WV.]
.
Yoho, Jacob L.
1842-1905
[Born 24 Dec 1842 in Monroe Co., OH, d. 20 Aug 1905 in WV. Son of James and
Isabelle (Mullens) Yoho]
Yoho, Catharine
1851-1914
[Wife of Jacob L. Yoho, Nee Catharine Bowersock, b. 1 Jun 1851 in Caldwell, Noble Co., OH, d. 21 Mar 1914 in Windy, Wirt Co., WV. Daughter of Valentine & Mahala (Carpenter) Bowersock.]
Smith, Harry N. s/o J M & B A
4/16/1895-9/10/1896
[Son of Joseph Milton Smith & Barbara Anna Yoho (d/o Jacob L. & Catherine (Bowersock) Yoho).]
Carpenter, Rebecca
12/ /1801-3/ /1880
[Mother of Mahala (Carpenter) Bowersock]
Bowersock, Valentine
12/23/1827-2/4/1903
[Father of Catherine (Bowersock) Yoho.]
Bowersock, Mahala
2/16/1835-1/9/1907
[Nee Mahala Carpenter, mother of Catherine (Bowersock) Yoho.]
Bowersock, William D. s/o V & M
D-8/28/1882 A-18y9m7d
[Born Abt. 21 Nov 1863. Brother of Catherine (Bowersock) Yoho.]

(Source: Wood County Cemetery Inscriptions, p. 113 - furnished by Dale E. Miller, editorial comments, in brackets [], by Richard E. Henthorn)

Goddard Cemetery

Goddard Cemetery

There are two Goddard Cemeteries in Wetzel county, West Virginia. They are usually confusingly known as Goddard Cemetery. Linda (Goddard) Stout, to reduce confusion, calls one of them the Old Goddard Cemetery and the other the New Goddard Cemetery. The two cemeteries are located in the same area. In fact, Route 89 divides the fields in which the two cemeteries lie.

The Old Goddard Cemetery is located at the upper end of a meadow (now wooded) which was originally part of the old Goddard homestead. The land, is probably owned, as of 2002, by Clyde and Lisa (Kocher) Stillion. Lisa is a granddaughter of Woodrow Garner. She is the daughter of Eldon and Ardith (Garner) Kocher.

The New Goddard Cemetery is located about 1/4 mile out Nicely Ridge on the property of Linda Stout's uncle, Robert "Bob" Allen Goddard.
(Furnished by Linda (Goddard) Stout - Apr 2002)

Henthorn Obituaries

Yesterday I copied four obituaries for members of my Henthorn family from the Internet and posted them to my RootsMagic genealogy file. This morning I posted the links to the source pages on my Delicious account. If you are interested in reading the obituaries sign on to Delicious.

• Wrex Henthorn, Jr.
• Lillian Olive (Blixt) Henthorn
• Shirley Nadine (Henthorn) Ludwig
• Robert Wayne Henthorn

Wrex Henthorn, Jr. was my cousin and the only one of the four that I ever met face-to-face.

Mr. Dickie

Conger, Benjamin Cortis

Benjamin Cortis Conger

HONORS: Benjamin Cortis Conger, 1840, was an Honor Guard for President Abraham Lincoln as he lay in state at Springfield, Illinois. (Source: The Conger Family of America, Vol. I, p. 39a & 41 - Maxine Crowell Leonard)

MILITARY: Washington P. Conger enlisted for the Civil War from Center, Illinois on 18 Sep 1864 in Co. H, 146th Illinois Infantry, as did both his brothers, Benjamin Cortis and David H. The latter was killed while in service, 28 Nov 1867 [sic]. Washington was mustered out of service, 8 Jul 1865, at the close of the war. (Source: The Conger Family of America, Vol. I, p. 502 - Maxine Crowell Leonard)

AKA: According to records of Elmer Cortis Conger, the middle name is not, Cortez. (CFA I, p. 41)

RESIDENCES: As a boy he lived at Wyanet, IL. He moved to Marshalltown, IA. He moved to Nebraska in the mid-1870's. (CFA I, p. 41)


ANNIVERSARY: 59TH ANNIVERSARY - HARBINE COUPLE CELEBRATED HAPPY EVENT LAST SUNDAY - They have resided in Jefferson County for the past Forty-One Years.

Mr. And Mrs. B. C. Conger of Harbin celebrated their fifty-ninth wedding anniversary at their home in that city last Sunday. A large number of relatives and friends were gathered to assist them on this joyful occasion and the day was one long to be remembered by all present.

Mr. Conger was born in Pennsylvania; in 1861, he united in marriage to Miss Altana Hand of Marshalltown, Iowa. To this union seven children were born, four of which are still living., three daughters and one son, they are Mrs. John Sisler and Mrs. Thomas Rand of Fairbury, Mrs. L. Oaks of Beatrice and E. C. Conger of Edgar.

Mr. and Mrs. Conger are old settlers here, coming to Jefferson County 41 years ago from the state of Iowa.

There were eighty guests at the Conger home last Sunday, including the children, their families and relatives, the W. R. C. and the G. A. R. of Plymouth. All present enjoyed a bountiful dinner which was served from 12 to 4, the bride and groom of fifty-nine years and their children were served from on table while their grand children and great grandchildren, occupied another table. They were the recipients of many valuable and useful presents.

Mr. And Mrs. Conger are a very spry old couple at the age of 80 years. The guests departed wishing them many more years of happy wedded life. (Source: GAZETTE-Vol. 49 No. 9, Oct 1920, probably in Harbine or Beatrice, NE - Furnished by Diane (Sisler) Kupar)


OBITUARY: BENJAMIN C. CONGER

Benjamin Cortis Conger was born at Wilkesville, PA. March 17, 1839. He passed away at his home in this city at 4am December 25, 1928. His age was eighty-eight years, ten months and twenty-three days. He was a son of Calvin Conger and Aranda Horton Conger.

While a small boy, he moved with the family to Wyanet, IL., where he grew to manhood. He was married, at Marshalltown, IA., to Miss Altana Hand in 1861. They resided at Wyanet for a few years, then moved to Marshalltown. Some years later, they moved to Jefferson county, Nebraska, where they remained for forty-two years. Most of that time they lived on a farm. The last ten years of that period were spent in Harbine. Ten years ago, they moved to Beatrice and this city has been their home continuously since that time.

He served as a soldier in the Union army during the Civil war, enlisting in 1863 at Wyanet. He had the unusual experience of serving as a guard over the body of Abraham Lincoln when it lay in state at Springfield. He also accompanied the body to its last resting place.

He leaves his aged wife, Mrs. Altana Conger; four children, Mrs. Sarah Sisler of Fairbury, Mrs. Emma Oakes of Beatrice, Mrs. T. C. Rand of Beatrice, and Elmer Conger of Edgar, Nebraska; four brothers and sisters, Mrs. Susan [Moran] and Will Conger of Princeton, IL., Washington Conger of Marshalltown, IA., and Mrs. Mattie Sharp of Waterloo, IA.; nine grandchildren and three great great grandchildren.

Mr. Conger was a life long member of the United Brethren church. He was a good Christian man. He was a kind and loving husband and father, always thoughtful of the welfare of his wife and children. He was especially patient during his long period of illness.

Mr. Conger was a hard working man. He shared the experiences that were common among the pioneers a half century ago. Many friends living in the communities where he was best known, join sympathetically in the sorrow caused by his death. His last illness covered a period of about seven weeks.

The funeral service was held at the home, Thursday afternoon, December 27. Rev. C. O. Stuckenbruck had charge of the service. He was assisted by Rev. C. W. Olewine. Music was furnished by Mrs. H. Baker and Mrs. M. S. Calvin. Interment was in Evergreen Home cemetery.

"A precious one from us has gone,
A voice we loved is stilled;
A place is vacant in our home,
That never can be filled."
(Furnished by Diane (Sisler) Kupar)

Conger, Tacy (Barr)

Tacy (Barr) Conger

BIRTH-DEATH: She died on 25 Dec 1881 at the age of 84 years, 4 months, 14 days according to her obituary. Birth date calculated, Abt. 11 Aug 1797.

CENSUS: Head of household in the 1856 census of Wapello Co., IA.

PENSION-CHILDREN: When Tacy Conger applied for her widow's pension in 1857 she claimed that her children were: Benjamin P., Enoch, John B., Zachariah S., and Samuel M. However, in the 1845 cenus there were 3 other Conger children, relationship not given. They may have been Benjamin's. He was 55 when he married Rebecca Blanchard in 1872.
(Source: The Conger Family of America, Vol. II, p. 238 - Maxine Crowell Leonard)

AKA: Tacey in her obituary

OBITUARY: Death of Mrs. Conger.
At her home near County Line, Dec. 25th, 1881, of paralysis, occurred the death of Mrs. Tacey Conger, aged eighty-four years, four months, and fourteen days. In the death of the subject of this sketch Jefferson County, [IA] loses another of its pioneers, so many of whom have departed within the past few years.

Mrs. Conger's maiden name was Tacey Barr. She was born in Philadelphia in 1797 and lived there until 1816, when she was married to Zacharia S. Conger, a young man of Morristown, NJ, who had been honorably discharged at Philadelphia after service in the recent War of 1812. Mr. Conger was five years her senior. The young couple married on the 3rd of July, and the following day they turned their faces westward.

They journeyed until they reached Indiana. Here they stopped in what is now Dearborn County, until 1842, when they removed to this state arriving soon after the Indian treaty was made permitting white settlers in this part of the country.

The fall of 1845 brought a sad bereavement to Mrs. Conger in the death of her husband. This event occurring before the land sales, it devolved upon Mrs. Conger to make the purchase of a claim, which she did with the means at her disposal, securing a tract of land in the eastern edge of Wapello County. In the fall of 1860 she met with another breavement in the death of three sons, all occurring within a period of three months.

During the latter years of Mrs. Conger's life she was much afflicted with ill health.

She is survived by two sons, one Benjamin, living here, the other Enoch, living in Oregon.

The funeral occurred December 26th, when her husband's remains were disinterred from the pioneers grave where they had rested for thirty-six years, and the remains of both were interred in the Dunn graveyard, in Des Moines township, where lie their sons and other members of the family.
[Note: It is not clear if Des Moines Twp. is in Wapello Co., or Jefferson Co., IA. REH]
(Source: The Fairfield Tribune, Fairfield, IA, Jan. 12, 1882, page 3, col. 4 - The Conger Family of America, Vol. II, p. 238 - Maxine Crowell Leonard)


PROBATE: Tacey's heirs were: Benjamin P., 64; Enoch, 61; and children of her son John B.: Joseph A., 1851, Sarah Graves, 1853, James Marshall, 1854, Louisa, 1858, John Isaac, 1861 and a Sarah Carver. Tacey, 1856, [daughter of John B.] had drowned at the age of 14 on 17 Jul 1870.
(Source: The Conger Family of America, Vol. II, p. 238 - Maxine Crowell Leonard)


PROBLEM: According to the obituary of Tacy (Barr) Conger she lost 3 sons within three months in the fall of 1860. CFA II, p,. 238 lists them as: Henry, 1841; Francis, 1845; John, 1847. Was Frances (Francis) a son of Zacharia Conger who died in Sep 1845? Who was the father of John Conger?


QUESTION: Where did Tacy Barr die? From the obituary it is not clear whether she died in Jefferson Co., IA where Fairfield lies or in Wapello Co., IA, to the west, where the Ottumwa lies. CFA II, p. 238 lists the death place as, Wapello Co., IA.