The Daily Register, Mt. Vernon, Illinois - February 4, 1895

Wedding Anniversary...On Wednesday, January 16th, 1895, 
Mr. and Mrs. Josiah WILLIS, of Horse Prairie, among the oldest 
pioneers of the county, celebrated their fiftieth wedding anniversary, 
at their old most beautiful country residence, located in one of 
Jefferson County's most fertile prairies, it being surrounded by 
numerous old elms, oaks, maples, evergreens and shrubs of various kinds, 
which were planted by and have received the constant care and supervision 
of Uncle Jo since Sept. 1854.

Josiah WILLIS was born in Jackson Co., Tenn., and emigrated to Southern 
Illinois in April 1834. Mrs. WILLIS was born in Todd Co., Ky., and came 
to Illinois in 1830. On Jan. 16, 1845, they were married by Joseph HARTLEY. 
Ten children have been born to them, most of whom are still living. Among 
those present at the anniversary were W. A. WILLIS, Mrs. J. S. WYATT, of 
Grand Prairie, Mrs. J. L. SHANKS, of Ashley, Mrs. Dr. A. J. FITZGERRELL and 
Sherman WILLIS, together with many of their old neighbors and friends from 
both at home and abroad. Among those present were Rev. J. C. GILLILAND, of 
Scheller; Mrs. A. BLANCHARD and daughter, Mrs. Maud WYKES, Mrs. E. WARD, of 
Tamaroa; Mrs. H. A. COCKRUM, M. W. COCKRUM, Rev. Wm. COCKRUM, of Franklin Co., 
Mrs. M. A. LUSK, Mrs. M. C. JUNKINS, Mrs. Julia MARTIN, Mrs. Lucinda CROUCH 
and Mrs. Ruth CROUCH. The last named are all old-time settlers, who knew this 
country in its infancy.

Many of the guests honored their host and hostess with valuable presents 
suited to the occasion. After all had enjoyed the rich and beautiful repast 
spread upon Uncle Jo's long table,two were appointed to register the names of 
those present, the number reaching eighty-three.

We wish the venerable old couple health and happiness in their declining days 
and hope to have them live to enjoy many more years of peace and happiness.



Daily Register - Mt. Vernon, IL - Monday March 4, 1895

A few days since the Register contained an account of the burning of the Winfield
school house, and as a result Wash Ragland, Hawk Ragland, Sheridan Whitlow,
Elmer Ford, and Miss Mary J. Ragland were arrested on suspicion, as
tracks were found leading from the school house to the home oaf the
Raglands and then away again. The accused had a preliminary hearing last
Saturday, but after the evidence was in the case was dismissed s to Miss
Ragland.  The case occupied nearly the whole day and resullted in the
acquittal of all the defendants. States Attorney Watson was sick and
could not prosecute, so those who had charge of the prosecution employed
attorney Eugene Peavler to prosecute. H. G. Jones defended.

Mt. Vernon IL Register (Weekly) - March 6, 1895
  
Mr. Raynor GILBERT, of this place, has an old book in which his father kept 
a faithful record of the family, beginning with the family of Mr. GILBERT's 
grandfather, which is of great interest to the members of the family and also 
to others on account of its antiquity, the first entry in the book being made 
March 9, 1809.  The various children born since that time, marriages, deaths 
and removals of the family are all carefully chronicled.  Mr. GILBERT's father 
came from Ohio here, traveling by water, owning his own boat, which he sold 
when he reached Shawneetown.  After coming here the father settled in Knob 
Prairie in November, 1839, and put in the first window light that was ever 
put in a building in Knob Prairie.  The building is still standing, but the 
window has been lost out or broken.  Mr. GILBERT also has a Bible which 
belonged to his grandfather that has a date on the fly leaf of January 28, 1803, 
written in a bold, clear hand.  The book may be much older than this, 
as the date of its publication does not show, that leaf having been lost.  
The print is large and easily read, but as in the case of very old books, "f" 
is often used for "s".

(Note:  There is a biography in "Facts and Folks" for Eli GILBERT, who is the 
father of Menzis Raynor and Philo GILBERT plus 15 other children.)

Mt. Vernon IL Register (Weekly) - May 8, 1895

The First Cumberland Presbyterian Church of Mt. Vernon was organized at 
Home Protection hall last night. Revs. Henry C. YATES of Vincennes, Ind., 
and C. W. YATES of Albion, with the Elders of the Albion C. P. church officiating 
as a session in the presence of about two hundred people.

The exercises commenced with devotional exercises, a brief sermon by Rev. 
Henry YATES terminating with a brief exposition of Cumberland doctrine, after 
which, Rev. C. W. YATES explained the form of church government.  

When the opportunity was given the following persons identified themselves 
with the new organization, either by letter from other churches or forthcoming 
letters or by profession of faith:  Samuel GIBSON, Angeline GIBSON, Adella GIBSON, 
Ellen GIBSON, Ida Palmer, Homer PALMER, L. IRONS, Rose IRONS, Bertha O. KIRBY, 
J. F. BOGAN, James L. POLLOCK, Florence E. POLLOCK, C. M. POLLOCK, William CAPPS, 
Mona E. CAPPS, Philip KARSH, Clariss KARSH, Cora ELLIS, Louisa M. BOGAN, John S. BOGAN, 
W. H. DAMON, Susan S. VARNELL, Daisy VARNELL, E. Leo VARNELL, Emma O. CHANCE, 
Neone O. CHANCE, Katie L. BUCKHAM, Laura J. MEADOR, Lois GOODALE, Mrs. M. M. GOODALE, 
Annie L. PACE, Jessie L. PACE, Kate M. PACE, Mary A. CASEY, Mrs. W. B. CASEY, 
W. B. CASEY, Mary CARLISLE, Dora CARLISLE, Carl H. CROSIER, Mrs. J. G. CROSIER, 
Frank CROSIER, J. G. CROSIER, J. A. WHEELER, A. H. WHEELER, Harriet TROXTELL, 
W. F. HENN, Mary N. HENN, Jane GREEN, J. Eva CASEY, Mrs. J. O. TATE, Nancy PACE, 
Robert E. McMACKIN, Harriet J. McMACKIN, Annie EMMERSON, Ida EMMERSON, Morris EMMERSON.

A congregational meeting was held immediately in which an organization was 
perfected, Bro. C. W. YATES acting as moderator. Morris EMMERSON was elected church 
clerk and Bros. B. F. MICHELS and Charles EMMERSON, of Albion church, were appointed 
tellers.  It was decided to elect three elders by ballot, without nominations, a 
majority vote being required to elect. On the first ballot Bros. Samuel GIBSON 
received 40 votes, W. H. DAMON 42 votes and Morris EMMERSON 40 votes, the remainder 
being scattered among other brethren, and Bros. GIBSON, DAMON and EMMERSON were declared 
elected.

For deacons Bros. James L. POLLOCK, Albert H. WHEELER and L. IRONS were elected, 
and William F. HENN, William CAPPS, and James L. POLLOCK were elected trustees by 
acclamation.

Bro. C. W. YATES then ordained the elders and deacons-elect and the meeting was 
dismissed with the announcement that Rev. Henry Clay YATES would preach at the 
Opera House next Sunday morning at 10:30 and in the evening at 7:30. At 2 o'clock 
next Sunday afternoon a Sunday School will be organized at the Opera House, at 
which time and place all who wish to attend that school will be made welcome, and 
classes will be organized, teachers selected and officers chosen for the school.


Mt. Vernon Register - October 2, 1895

The general and reception committees for the entertainment of the 
Illinois Ex-prisoners of War Association and the Jefferson County 
Soldiers' Reunion to be held conjointly at the fair grounds next week, 
met in the parlors of Goodale's restaurant last night and completed 
arrangements for making the occasion one of the most successful ever 
held in this part of the state.  Capt. S. H. Watson was selected 
chairman of the reception committee with Gen. C. W. Pavey as assistant.  
The matter of police protection for visitors  was delegated to Capt. 
Stephenson.  Other persons serving on committees were Will Crooker, 
Harry W. Watson, Wilbur Satterfield, Frank Moyer, Fred Walker, Pearl 
Legge, June Davisson, A. B. Roseberry, Ray Hitchcock, Orlie Claybourn, 
Oscar Easley, Finis Stephenson, F. R. Heiserman, Clarence Harriss, 
Bert Powlesson, and Elmer Harpool. 

Mt. Vernon Register - October 9, 1895

Several hundred people were in attendance at the campfire reunion 
of the Ex-Prisoners of War at the fairgrounds last night.  The event 
was to commemorate the heroism and valor of the citizen soldier from 
'61 to '65.

In one month, the month of August 1863, between 4,500 and 5,000 deaths 
occurred within the stockade at Andersonville. In all, 13,717 Union 
soldiers perished in that prison pen.

(Andersonville was in Georgia and as many as 30,000 were crowded into 
a log stockade that enclosed only 16 1/2 acres. More than 12,000 graves 
are there.  Libby and Belle Island were in Richmond. Other prisons were: 
Rock Island, IL: Johnson's Island in Lake Erie near Sandusky, Ohio; and 
Fort Lafayette in New York harbor.

The last surviving Civil War Veteran, Walter Williams, died 
December 19, 1959 at the age of 117. He was from Houston, Texas and 
served in the Confederate Army. The last Union Veteran, Albert Woodson 
died on August 2, 1956 at the age of 109. He was from Duluth, Minnesota.)

In the national cemetery at Florence, Ala., 4,000 Federal troops lie 
buried, only one of whom is known, the rest are unidentified and unknown.  
In all, nearly 60,000 Northern soldiers died in the military prisons of 
the Confederacy.

At 9 o'clock the Ex-Prisoners Association of the State met in annual 
session in the county court house. The association has the names of 500 
members upon its rolls, not more than 100 of whom were present this morning. 
A slim showing was accounted for by the fact that the officers of the 
association failed to secure reduced rates on any of the railroads of the 
State except those coming into the city. It was naturally expected that 
many would be kept away by the infirmities of age and the ravages of disease.

The meeting was called to order by President Pavey, prayer was offered by 
Rev. J. Carroll Harris, pastor of the First Baptist Church, and an ex-prisoner.  
Committees were appointed, after which Springfield was chosen as the place 
and "Soldiers Day" during the next State Fair as the time of holding the 
next meeting.  Officers for the ensuing year were elected as follows:  
Gen. G. W. Pavey, President, Mt. Vernon; George R. Pinckard, Vice-President, 
Monticello; Dr. J. Little, Bloomington; Rev. John Hood, Chaplain, Galesburg; 
C. C. George and E. R. Roberts, Springfield; J. S. Ewell, Adrian; E. B. Keneipp, 
Mt. Carmel; Dr. J. Little, Bloomington; Executive Committee.

More than 4,000 people were present at the fairgrounds by 1 o'clock.  
The two principal addresses were delivered by Col. Horace A. Clark, of Mattoon, 
and Chaplain McCabe, a Methodist Minister. Col. Clark made the opening address. 
"America" and the "Battle Hymn of Republic were sung, followed by Miss Tyson of 
Jerseyville with a solo, and a medley by the Allman sisters of Salem.

There was not such a gathering of people from the surrounding country as was 
expected at the seventeenth annual reunion.  The three day affair closed with 
an old fashioned soldiers love feast.

The following comprises the list of ex-prisoners of war who registered their 
names as in attendance, with the number of their regiment, present post office 
address, and place of imprisonment.


Adams, H. W.		89th Ill., Tamaroa; Libby
Adams, James		80th Ill., Centralia; Libby
Anderson, DeWitt	60th Ill., Mt. Vernon; Libby
Andrews, S. J. N.	17th Ill., Farina; Andersonville
Andrews, T. S.		80th Ill., Sedan; Belle Isle
Angel, David		115th Ill., Chapin; Richmond
Armour, M. R.		83rd Penn., Mt. Vernon; Libby
Belcher, Henry		11th Ill., Patoka; Andersonville
Branch, Levi		5th Ill. Cav., Centralia; Carterville
Brookman, W. H.		35th Ill., Divide; Libby
Broom, H. H.		3d Tenn. Cav., Centralia; Andersonville
Brown, J. L.		80th Ill., Centralia; Belle Isle
Bruce, J. V.		80th Ill., Mt. Vernon; Belle Isle
Bryant, John		13th Ill. Cav., Richview; Camp Ford, Texas
Bundy, George		80th Ill., Walnut Hill; Belle Isle
Burddick, S. G.		85th N.Y., Centralia; Andersonville
Carpon, Wm.		114th Ill., Marion; Andersonville
Carroll, George M.	49th Ill., Richview; Libby
Chastain, C. W.		80th Ill., Mt. Vernon; Belle Isle
Church, R. H.		81st Ill., Ashley; Andersonville
Claybourn, James	80th Ill., Mt. Vernon; Belle Isle
Collins, Wm. K.		44th Ill., Mt. Vernon; Florence
Constant, N. E.		114th Ill., Williamsonville; Andersonville
Cover, Thomas		3rd Ohio, Mt. Vernon; Belle Isle
Crayton, John		7th Ill., Ramsey; Andersonville
Crosier, John G.	58th Ind., Mt. Vernon; Libby & Andersonville
Davis, Samuel A.	44th Ill., Spring Garden; Libby
Douglas, H. V.		130th Ill., Mt. Vernon; Tyler, Tex.
Eyers, Sylvester	80th Ill., Mt. Vernon; Belle Isle
Eyestowne, J. W.	7th Ill. Cav., St. Elmo; Belle Isle
Friend, Elijah		80th Ill., Virden; Belle Isle
Gore, Joseph G.		115th Ill., Taylorville; Libby
Guy, W. H.		14th Ill. Cav., Vandalia; Charleston
Haase, Charles		1st Mo. Eng., Stansbury, Mo; Columbus
Harriss, J. Carroll	8th Ill., Mt. Vernon; Andersonville
Harriss, E. M.		81st Ill., DuQuoin; Andersonville
Hitchcock, James	6th Ind., Mt. Vernon; Andersonville
Hodges, I. E.		22d Ill., Sedan; Chickamauga
Ingram, S. H.		80th Ill., Centralia; Richmond
Ives, A. F.		6th Ill. Cav.,Bloomington; Andersonville
Keneipp, E. B.		48th Ill., Mt. Carmel; Andersonville
Kirk, John C.		60th Ill., Ina; Libby
Lane, J. W.		80th Ill., Little River, Kas; Libby
Little, J. H. U.	24th Mo., Bloomington; Libby
Love, Geo. H.		22d Ill., Centralia; Andersonville
Maffett, V.		44th Ill., Ashley; Richmond
Massey, S. C.		114th Ill., Mt. Vernon; Chattanooga
Maxewell, F. W.		80th Ill., Springfield; Belle Isle
Maxey, W. C.		80th Ill., Boise City, Idaho; Belle Isle
McBrian, C. C.		21st Ill., Bonnie; Andersonville
McCoy, Francis M.	37th Ill., Terre Haute; Andrsonville
Melton, Nathan		80th Ill., Mt. Vernon; Belle Isle
Morgan, George		55th Ohio, Cleveland, Ohio; Andersonville
Moss, Thad		60th Ill., Mt. Vernon; Libby
Natt, Joseph		114th Ill., Taylorvillle; Andersonville
Nichols, W. H.		11th Ill., Centralia; Shiloh
O'Brien, Henry		74th Ill., Walnut Hill; Libby
Pavey, C. W.		80th Ill., Mt. Vernon; Libby
Porter, L. G.		21st Ill., Smithboro; Macon
Rahn, James K.		80th Ill., Centralia; Bull Island
Ramsdell, John		85th Ind., Mt. Vernon; Libby
Reece, W. P.		9th Ill., Marion; Andersonville
Reid, J. B.		130th Ill., Greenville; Mansfield
Roots, Henry		15th Mo., Highland; Andersonville
Scudamore, J. A.	6th Ill., Mt. Vernon; Andersonville
Seeay, J. W.		14th Ill., Mt. Vernon; Andersonville
Singleton, W. D.	111th Ill., Mt. Vernon; Andersonville
Sprouse, John		62nd Ill., Colfax; Paroled
Stephens, Geo. W.	53d Ind., Pigeon; Andersonville
Stort, J.		85th Ill., Centralia; Andersonville
Sulcer, A. H.		6th Ohio, Mt. Vernon; Libby
Taft, Geo. F.		3d R. I. Cav., Richview; Camp Ford
Valentine, E. S.	1st Wis. Cav., Patoka; Andersonville
Vaughn, N. A.		130th Ill., Smithboro; Tyler, Tex.
Wall, John A.		44th Ill, Mt. Vernon; Libby
Zollars, L.		106th Ill., Skelton; Tyler, Tex.


Mt. Vernon IL Register (Weekly) - October 9, 1895
 

Soldiers and Sailors who registered at the State Fair.  
The following comprises the list of ex-prisoners of war 
who registered their names as in attendance, with the number 
of their regiment, present post office address, and place of 
imprisonment:
 

IVES, A. F., 		6th Ill. Cav., Bloomington; Andersonville
WALL, John A., 		44th Ill., Mt. Vernon; Libby
HITCHCOCK, James, 	6th Ind. Cav., Mt. Vernon; Andersonville
McCOY, Francis M., 	37th Ill., Terre Haute; Andersonville
LITTLE, J. H. U., 	24th Mo., Bloomington; Libby
BELCHER, Henry, 	11th Ill., Patoka; Andersonville
PAVEY, C. W., 		80th Ill., Mt. Vernon; Libby
KIRK, John C., 		60th Ill., Ina; Libby
CARROLL, George M., 	49th Ill., Richview; Libby
EYESTOWNE, J. W., 	7th Ill. Cav., St. Elmo; Belle Isle
GUY, W. H., 		14th Ill. Cav., Vandalia; Charleston
HARRISS, J. Carroll, 	8th Ill., Mt. Vernon; Andersonville
BRYANT, John, 		13th Ill. Cav., Richview; Camp Ford, Texas
CHURCH, R. H., 		81st Ill., Ashley; Andersonville
ANDREWS, S. J. N., 	17th Ill., Farina; Andersonville
MASSEY, S. C., 		114th Ill., Mt. Vernon; Chattanooga
ARMOUR, M. R., 		83rd Penn., Mt. Vernon; Libby
SEEAY, J. W., 		14th Ill. Cav., Mt. Vernon; Andersonville
MELTON, Nathan, 	80th Ill., Mt. Vernon; Belle Isle
CROSIER, John G., 	58th Ind., Mt. Vernon; Libby and Andersonville
MOSS, Thad., 		60th Ill., Mt. Vernon; Libby
ANDERSON, DeWitt, 	60th Ill., Mt. Vernon, Libby
MAXEY, W. C., 		80th Ill., Boise City, Idaho; Belle Isle
BURDDICK, S. G., 	85th N.Y., Centralia; Andersonville
COVER, Thomas, 		3rd Ohio, Mt. Vernon; Belle Isle
O'BRIEN, Henry, 	74th Ill., Walnut Hill; Libby
MORGAN, George, 	55th Ohio, Cleveland, Ohio; Andersonville
CLAYBOURN, James, 	80th Ill., Mt. Vernon; Belle Isle
REID, J. B., 		130th Ill., Greenville; Mansfield
VALENTINE, E. S., 	1st Wis. Cav., Patoka; Andersonville
NATT, Joseph, 		114th Ill., Taylorville; Andersonville
GORE, Joseph G., 	115th Ill., Taylorville; Libby
EYERS, Sylvester, 	80th Ill., Mt. Vernon; Belle Isle
BRUCE, J. V., 		80th Ill., Mt. Vernon; Belle Isle
SCUDAMORE, J. A., 	6th Ill., Mt. Vernon; Andersonville
VAUGHN, N. A., 		130th Ill., Smithboro; Tyler, Texas
DAVIS, Samuel A., 	44th Ill., Spring Garden; Libby
CHASTAIN, C. W., 	80th Ill., Mt. Vernon; Belle Isle
SINGLETON, W. D., 	111th Ill., Mt. Vernon; Andersonville
CRAYTON, John, 		7th Ill., Ramsey;Andersonville
CONSTANT, N. E., 	114th Ill., Williamsonville, Andersonville
ANGEL, David, 		115th Ill., Chapin; Richmond
SPROUSE, John H., 	62nd Ill., Colfax; Paroled
COLLINS, Wm. K., 	44th Ill., Mt. Vernon; Florence
CARPON, Wm., 		114th Ill., Marion; Andersonville
ROOTS, Henry, 		15th Mo., Highland; Andersonville
ADAMS, James, 		80th Ill., Centralia; Libby
PORTER, L. G., 		21st Ill., Smithboro; Macon
KENEIPP, 		48th Ill., Mt. Carmel; Andersonville
MAXEWELL, F. W., 	80th Ill., Springfield; Belle Isle
DOUGLAS, H.V., 		130th Ill., Mt. Vernon; Tyler, Texas
RAHN, James K., 	80th Ill., Centralia; Bull Island
RAMSDELL, John, 	85th Ind., Mt. Vernon; Libby
ZOLLARS, L., 		106th Ill., Skelton; Tyler, Texas
HARRISS, E. M., 	81st Ill., Duquoin; Andersonville
BROOKMAN, W. H., 	35th Ill., Divide; Libby
ANDREWS, T. S., 	80th Ill., Sedan; Belle Isle
McBRIAN, C. C., 	21st Ill., Bonnie; Andersonville
FRIEND, Elijah, 	80th Ill., Virden; Belle Isle
BUNDY, George, 		80th Ill., Walnut Hill; Belle Isle
HAASE, Charles, 	1st Mo. Eng., Stansbury, Mo.; Columbus
LOVE, Geo. H., 		22d Ill., Centralia; Andersonville
HODGES, L. E., 		22d Ill., Sedan; Chickamauga
ADAMS, H. W., 		89th Ill., Tamaroa; Libby
BROOM, H. H., 		3d Tenn. Cav., Centralia; Andersonville
INGRAM, S. H., 		80th Ill., Centralia; Richmond
BRANCH, Levi, 		5th Ill. Cav., Centralia; Carterville
NICHOLS, W. H., 	11th Ill., Centralia; Shiloh
TAFT, Geo. F., 		3d R. I. Cav., Richview; Camp Ford
REECE, W. P., 		9th Ill., Marion; Andersonville
STEPHENS, Geo. W., 	53d Ind.,  Pigeon; Andersonville
MAFFETT, V., 		44th Ill., Ashley; Richmond
BROWN, J. L., 		80th Ill., Centralia, Belle Isle
SHORT, J., 		85th Ill., Centralia; Andersonville
SULCER, A. H., 		6th Ohio, Mt. Vernon; Libby