In Memoriam July 22nd

1818 Mary (Wallick) Harbert, daughter of Philip & Maria (Ensminger) Wallick died in Dearborn Co., IN at age 44.  She was born in York Co., PA in 1773.  Mary married Ebenezer Harbert in 1792 and they had eleven children:  Catherine, Mary , John, Caleb, Sarah, Samuel, Jane, Oliver, Richard, Rachel and Mariah. She is buried in Cloud Cemetery #2 in Milton, IN.

1921 Michael Speer age 91 in Taylor Co., KY, the son of Samuel Speer.  He was born in 1830 and married Emma.  Michael is buried in Speer Cemetery in Taylor Co., KY.

1929 Gertrude (Irwin) Mangus Birrer the daughter of Corbin & Charlotte (Lathrop) Irwin in California, age 40.  She was born in Wayne Co., IL in 1889 and married 1) William Mangus and 2) Roy Birrer.

1940 Iva (Colclasure) Erkman age 18 in Fairfield, IL.  The daughter of Clarence & Marybelle (Fitzgerald) Colclasure, Iva was born in Sailor Springs, IL in 1922.  She married Harold Erkman in 1939 and they had one daughter Trixie.  Iva died of complications from child birth and is buried in Thomason Cemetery in Wayne City, IL.

1943 Death Claims John Shannon - Retired Attorney, First Mayor of Alexandria, to be Laid to Rest Saturday

John S. Shannon, 77, member of one of the pioneer families of Decatur county, first mayor of Alexandria, and retired attorney, passed away at 5:10 a.m. today at the Methodist hospital at Indianapolis.  He had been seriously ill for the past three weeks.

Mr. Shannon was born on March 6, 1866, near Springhill, the son of Thomas C. and Mary Mayne Shannon.  On Jan. 16, 1895, he was married to Margaret A. Lathrop at the Lathrop home at 222 North Franklin street.

After graduating from Indiana University in 1888 with an A.B. degree, he continued his studies there, receiving his LL.B. degree in 1890.  For many years he practiced law in Alexandria in association with John Wallingford, a member of another Decatur county pioneer family.  Mr. Shannon had the distinction of being the first mayor of Alexandria and he was privileged to see the town grow from a mere village to a progressive city.  

In 1909 Mr. and Mrs. Shannon returned to Decatur county, where the family lived on a farm before moving to the present home on North Franklin street.

Mr. Shannon was a member of the United Presbyterian church and the Beta Theta Pi fraternity.  He was active in Republican politics and served as a member of the county council.  For 20 years he served as secretary-treasurer of the Decatur County Farm Bureau.

Surviving with Mrs. Shannon are a son, James Lathrop Shannon, a lawyer in Greensburg; a grandson, James Lathrop Shannon, Jr., and a sister, Mrs. Justina LaRue, of Lebanon, Ohio.  A twin son, thomas L., died in infancy.  Mr. Shannon was the youngest son in a family of ten children.  His eldest brother, Professor Will Shannon, was superintendent of the Greensburg schools for many years.  His father-in-law was the late Rev. James B. Lathrop.

Funeral services will be held at 3:30 p.m. Saturday in the residence, 222 North Franklin street, conducted by the Rev. E.F. Schneider.  A private burial will be held in South Park cemetery.  Friends may call at the residence any time after 3 p.m. Friday.  ~Greensburg Daily News, July 22, 1943

1988 Mildred (Shelton) Lathrop age 75 the daughter of George & Stella (Rash) Shelton.  Mildred was born in Wayne Co., IL in 1913 and married Forrest Lathrop in 1931.  They had seven children: Gordon, Phyllis, Albert , Audrey, Viola, Grant and John.  Mildred is buried in Farnsworth / Mt. Zion Cemetery in Wayne Co., IL.