Book Purge - Illinois - Clay County

Clay County Genealogical Society. Clay Roots, Summer, Louisville, IL: Clay County Genealogical Society, 1994

Page 5 - Partial List of Clay County Soldiers who were Interred in Clay County During Hostilities of the Civil War - columns: name, date of death, unit, cemetery

• Hardin, John S. 10/29/1861, unit unknown, Burke, Bible Grove Twp.

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Clay County Genealogical Society. Clay Roots, Fall, Louisville, IL: Clay County Genealogical Society, 1994

Pages 20-24 - Eleventh Regiment, Missouri Infantry Volunteers

The report of the Adjutant General, State of Missouri, 1865, gives the following information: Eleventh Regimental Infantry, Missouri Volunteers was raised in the states of Missouri & Illinois between mid June and August, 1861 and organized the first of August the same year at the U.S. Arsenal at St. Louis, Missouri.  It was raised as a rifle regiment -- On the 6th of August, Captain David Bayles, promoted to Colonel, started with the regiment to Cape Girardeau, then to Perryville and on to Ironton, Missouri. It also saw service at New Madrid Island #10 and Shiloh, Tennessee, Corinth, Mississippi and, under General Sherman's Corp, marched to Vicksbug. This was the only entire regiment of General Sherman's Corps that reached the fort and the only regiment of that Corps that planted its regimental colors on the parapet. 

The Southern Division was merely a designation of part of the Union Forces. The following are those who made up the 11th Missouri:

• Brooks, Alexander
• Butler, Amos
• Butler, George (3)
• Butler, John
• Butler, James
• Cornwell, Edward
• Eppley, Jacob R.
• Erwin, John
• Erwin, William
• Fitzgerald, James J.
• Gentle, William S. 
• Hopkins, Horatio N.
• Irwin, John H.
• Meek, William H.
• Moorehead, David
• Parks, James W.
• Robertson, Wm. E. 
• Shepherd, Chas. M.
• Shepherd, John W.
• Wilson, Douglas
• Wilson, James
• Wilson, John
• Wilson, Shelby
• Wilson, Wm. O.B.

Page 41 - The Southern Illinois Record, Oct. 31, 1918 - Partial list of deaths from Spanish inluenza in and near Flora, which occurred during the week [16 total]

• Jesse Wolf, brakeman on railroad
• Jos Tolliver s/o John Tolliver
• Brought to county for burial, John Dove, private U.S. Service, died in New York

Page 48 - Meaning of Early Gravestone Art

• Anchors & ships - seafaring profession
• Arches - victory in death
• Arrows - mortality
• Bouquets - condolences, grief
• Buds - renewal of life
• Bugles - resurrection / military
• Candle being snuffed - time, mortality
• Coffins - mortality
• Crossed swords - high ranking military person
• Darts - mortality
• Dove - soul, purity
• Father time - grim reaper
• Flowers - brevity of early existence, sorrow
• Flying bird - flight of the soul
• Fruit - eternal plenty
• Garlands - victory over death
• Imps - mortality
• Hand of God chopping - sudden / unexpected death
• Handshakes - farewell to earthly existence
• Hearts - soul in bliss, love of Christ
• Horns - resurrection
• Hourglass - swiftness of time
• Lambs - innocence
• Picks & shovels - passageway to the eternal journey
• Portals - mortality
• Roses - brevity of earthly existence
• Sheaves of wheat - time, the divine harvest
• Shells - pilgrimage of life
• Suns - resurrection
• Thistles - remembrance
• Tombs - mortality
• Trumpeters - heralds of resurrection
• Willows - earthly sorrow
• Winged death's head - mortality
• Winged effigies - flight of the soul 

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Clay County Genealogical Society. Clay Roots, Summer, Louisville, IL: Clay County Genealogical Society, 1995

Page 4 - Clay County History in Review by Ernest Elliott

. . . Are we happier than our ancestors were? Do we live longer than our ancestors did? Only sometimes. I see by the 1840 census there were three Revolutionary soldiers living in Clay Co. Samuel Parks, age 93 years; Moses Johnson, 100 yrs. and Nathaniel West, age 90. Another man born July 4, 1776, was alive and a vigorous man in 1876 and then living in Blair twp. He died in 1879, known as Grandpa Baity. 

Page 8 - Hobart's Schedule of a Common School - Kept by Ollie Herman at Milam in District No. Two in Township No. Two Range No. Six of the First Principal Meridian, in the County of Clay in the State of Illinois. Names & ages of pupils residing in District No. Two in Township No. wo Range No. Six in Clay County, who have attended my school during the time beginning the Third day of Dec. 1886 and ending the 11th day of Jan. 1887 during which time the school was in session 22 school days. 

• Morten Colclasure, age 9, 2 days attendance
• William Colclasure, age 19, 22 days attendance
• Lillie Blackburn age 13, 17 days attendance
• Maude Blackburn age 16, 22 days attendance

Page 12 - Souvenir of the Iola Graded School, District 20, Larkinsburg Twp., 1912-1913 Room No. 2, presented by Lotus Fender, teacher.  A.H. Kellums, principal; G.O. Lewis, County Superintendent. School Board: Chas. Jackson president, L.C. Gullett, clerk, Reuben Williams, treasurer. Pupils: 

• Verlie Fitzgerald
• Lesta Colclasure
• Bonnie Fitzgerald
• Ruth Meeks
• Lucille Fitzgerald

Page 39 - A Bit of History

Flora, at one time, was known as Orchard City, probably because of the large number of fruit trees in the area. Most of the orchards were made up of apple trees, although a few peaches were also raised. . . .

An interesting Flora man, who ran a meat market, then called a butcher shop was Avery Blankenship. He was tall, angular, and an ardent Democrat. 

One day, when William Jennings Bryan came here to make a speech, Avery ran alongside Bryan's carriage, and held onto its fender, just to be near his idol.

Despite his adoration of Democrats, Blankenship did not keep posted on history or politics. But is was a very sad blow to him to have Bryan defeated. 

[p. 40] The next morning, someone opened the butcher shop door as said, "Avery, Ireland went Democratic." 

Responded Blankenship, "Whoopee! Thank God for Ireland." 

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Clay County Genealogical Society. Clay Roots, Winter, Louisville, IL: Clay County Genealogical Society, 1995

Page 3 - Life Story of Lucy Blankenship by J. Palmer Blankenship, 1940 with photo of Lucinda Colclasure Blankenship [b. 1851, d. 1940]

In the pioneer days of Clay County, Illinois, dating back to the eighteen forties, numbered among the old substantial settlers who's memory stands to represent those responsible for "Illinois in the making," there lived in a vicinty west of a point afterwards named and now is the city of Flora, a man named Austin Colclasure [Abraham Austin Colclasure] and his good wife, Caroline. Caroline was the daughter of Henry C. Bryant a noted merchant-farmer and cattle man of his day who having derived from English parentage was known to have exercised dignity with honesty in his dealings.

To the union of Austin & Caroline several children were born; all of whom [p. 4] have lived out the time allotted to them and have long since, one by one passed to the great beyond except one they named Lucinda.

As Lucinda, better known as Lucy, is the honored subject of the story, let us first picture her back inhe days she can well remember. Starting to school at the age of eight, which was considered early enough in those days, little blue eyed Lucy, as she skip-ety hopped along the country road to school, listened to the birds twitter and tweet tweet in the bushes and the red bird called out from the branches "what cheer - what cheer," and after the bob white had whistled his signal and his cousin had answered from the neighboring field, as she stopped to pluck some wild flowers, a mockingbird appeared causing her to laugh with glee when he perched on a limb and began to mimic all the other birds.

Needless to say, her life was sweet and filled with sunshine. No thought had she that soon she would experience the evincible of a horrid picture from life's other side until "the rains came," in the form of a dreaded fever under which sick spell she lay with a hundred to one chance to recover. Finally the turning point came for the better and little Lucy opened her eyes to find the kindly loving face of that wonderful woman, Caroline, bent over her. Then came the period of convalescence, made possible only by that mother's tender nursing combined with God's will.

When the time was drawing near for the next term of school Lucy was in readiness, so she thought. Poor Caroline's heart was heavy. Tearfully lamenting to a friend that Lucy was looking forward to school days, and that Lucy does not hear well since the fever which may result in bitter disappointment for her, was overheard by Lucy, who exclaimed "It's alright Mamma," don't cry, I can hear pretty good. She did not wish to grieve her mother, however, she found the defective hearing was a greater handicap than she had surmised. The songs of the birds were faint even at close range. The bob white could be faintly heard at cloesr range but no answer was heard from their cousins in the distant fields.

The schoolmaster thought it unfair to have to raise his voice for the benefit of one, but it was not to be for long. The cruel hand of fate appeared again and Lucy's mamma was stricken bedfast. Her condition was not considered serious, however, and Lucy had not been advised to miss school because of it. She well remembers taking a glass of water to her mamma and saying good-bye, scampered off to school and returning in the evening to find her mamma cold and still.

As pictured in the imagination of the writer, these were dark ages for this innocent little girl, confronted with a triple handicap by the time she had reached her tenth birthday. What greater loss could a girl of that age experience than that of losing an affectionate sympathetic mother? Daddy can be a good daddy but he never was a little girl and just cannot understand like a mother can. A greatly impaired sense of hearing was to be part of her lot all the days of her life, to grow worse as the years wore on, ending with total deafness in her advanced years.  Then her hopes of an education were gone because it was decided for her at that time that it would not be essential in her case. Due to the methods of teaching in those days, during her brief schooling she had not advanced to the stage of being taught writing or to figure with pencil. She had only reading of printed matter and a little oral arithmatic. From this foundation she acquired the accomplisment of oral accounting and keeping numbers in her head so that in years to come when it was left to her to balance the family budget she did so adequately and without the use of pen or pencil.

This was the winter of 1860-1861 and a time of confusion in the United States [p. 5] due to the election of Abraham Lincoln for president. The North and the South were quarreling about slavery and this was the man who had declared in his debates with Stephen A. Douglas that the country could not go on, half slave and half free, that it must become one or the other. 

Lucy distinctly remembers Lincoln's campaign for the presidency against the then famous Douglas. She even remembers songs composed and sang by his opposers in their effort to defeat him. It had been predicted by National leaders that, should this anti-slavery advocate be elected, war would be sure to come. By the time Lincoln took his seat in March rumors of war were prevalent. A few weeks later when, after the Confederates attack on Fort Sumter, Lincold gave orders to raise an army of seventy-five thousand soldiers and Jefferson Davis responded with a call for one hundred thousand, the people knew the war was on. Lucy remembers many friends and neighbors answering the call, saying good-bye, many for the last time, Daddies, brothers and sweethearts, one after another during the four long years of the conflict. She remembers the end of the war climaxed soon after by the assassination of Lincoln.

Since it is not the purpose of the story to discuss the war and the hardships which followed, let us now picture Lucy three years later at which time she met her inspiration, in the form of a young man. One of the finest most noble young men of the country. Energetic, splendid morals and the manner of a gentleman. A total abstainer from liquor or tobacco in any form. His name was Alexander D. Blankenship. He was her ideal, and if the readers will pardon a little imagination in the mind of the writer, it may be said that, with all the qualities of this model young man, Lucy, a descendant of a rather proud family, had no feeling of inferiority. She has always maintained hat one could be equal to another in dignity, even though not in achievement, financial or otherwise. Among all the good-looking girls of that time, Lucy with her personality and modest charm overcoming her handicap, was the object of his heart's desire. 

Alexander was a little under the age required in President Lincoln's call for soldiers, however, he did his bit by keeping the home fires burning for his mother and sisters, while his older brothers along with their daddy, answered the call to the colors. 

These were times known as the aftermath of the war. Hard times of course and Alex's proposal to Lucy was a conditional one. If a disabled soldier brother regained his health so that he could help in supporting the parents or if his disabled father was awarded a pension, then Alex could marry.

When Lucy had reached the age of twenty, a double wedding was arranged. A girl friend, Charity Jefferes and her fiance John Brasel, along with Alex and Lucy were happily married at a point one mile west of Flora, with an impressive ceremony by a Rev. Henry in the year 1871.  Alex and Lucy settled on a farm on Buck Creek where they lived humble but happy. Two children were born while living there, Avery [1872-1925] and Lewis [1874-1884]. 

The next move was to a farm five miles east of Flora. In this well built log house on this farm the Blankenships were blessed with the arrival of a baby girl. I have it from good authority that she was one of the prettiest baby girls that ever lived. She was named Flora. [Flora Pearl b. 1877, d. 1966]  It is better that we not mention just how long ago. Will just say, this baby lady is now a resident of Vincennes Avenue in Flora and is known as Flo Medley, with whom the honored subject of our story is now living. 

Page 6 - The Blankenships were reasonably successful making a living in Illinois, however, as likened unto the grazing stock when the grass looks more green in the distant field, they along with some neighbors decided to leave their ative state in search of greater prosperity whereby they might become better able to care for their families financially.

These were days when long distant moving was done with covered wagons drawn by horses or mules. They settled on a farm in Lonoke County, Arkansas where they were again fairly successful, raising cotton and livestock for six years. A son, Clarence was born while living there. [Clarence Elvis b. 1879, d. 1911]

At this time they were visited by a favorite nephew from Flora, Illinois for whom they had named their first son, Avery. Probably rememberd by the old timers as Big Avery to distinguish him from Alex's litle Avery. While visiting there Avery wore a worried expression. He feared Uncle Alex would be be aging prematurely as a result of the hard work in clearing the brush and wooded land on which to raise more cotton, and prevailed upon him to return to Flora to enter into business with him, making his appeal effective telling of Flora's need for a first class meat shop such as they could operate together.  The Blankenships had never overcome that longing for their native land so yielding to the temptation they sold out and returned to Flora, where another son, Perley was born. [1884-1884]

For a decade between 1883 and 1893 the firm of Alexander Blankenship and his nephew, Avery Blankenship served the public in Flora and with their motton of honest weight and fair dealings they gained many life long friends of that generation.

It was during this period that the Blankenships were struck with the first hard blow of their married lives by the loss of two of their children in an epidemic of measles and pneumoni. The victims were Perley, the latter born, and Lewis, described as the bright eyed flaxen hair boy born on Buck Creek ten years previous.  Folded between the pages of Alex Blankenship's seventy year old Bible lies a letter in the hand writing of Lewis, written to his Grandpa Colclasure o never returned with the family from Arkansas. Lewis was stricken before the letter was mailed and it has remained in this state of preservation these fifty-five years. Also during this same decade to replace in number, though not in the hearts of the parents, two more children were born, Ethel and J. Palmer [1890-1967]

While the business career of the Blankenships proved fairly successful they had never gotten over the hankering for farm life, and finally bargained for a farm east of Flora, later trading it for an eighty acre farm one mile east of the log house where the pretty baby girl was born eighteen years previous.  This was the last move for Alex. After about four years peaceful living at this place he was called to lay life's burdens down. [1898]

The writer, who happens o be one of the survivign three of the family of seven children, who had gone two terms of school at old Long Prairie well remembers the accident with the runaway horse, leading up to his last sickness and death from a ruptured appendix which was removed by the then young Dr. Ed Park and his father the Senior Ed assisted by Dr. Fairchild after it was too late to save his life. 

Memories of the clouds of gloom that shadowed our home and brought sorrow to the entire neighborhood shall be forever mine. How neighbors and friends from far and near came to pay tribute of respect to the memory of this man who's ambition it had been to have and to hold the good will of his fellow man. Our home had been happy and this was the first time in my life to see my mother cry. 

Page 7 - This is the age in a boy's life when he thinks his own big strong daddy is a hero and as great as any king. The happening was even before the horse and buggy days in our lives. Alex was the possessor of a two wheel cart which was the next step ahead of the two horse wagon in modes of travel and it was in this he was riding at the time of the accident. I can clsoe my eyes and picture him as he was ready to leave on that fatal morning, to do his work as township assessor. Being a lover of horses he proudly untied the giddy filly hitched to the cart and mounting to the seat cheerfully called out those familiar words, "bye, bye sonny, be a good boy and mind mamma."  

Here was the widowed Lucy, here and after we refer to as Mother Blankenship, left in a predicament such as would cause many women to throw up their hands in despair. The last payment had been made on the farm but there were many other expenses; funeral, doctors, taxes to be paid while a living was to be made from this thin soil. She had children to clothe, feed and send to school but she had her health and strength, and did no sit down and feel sorry for herself. Emergency relief was not popular at that time. In fact, it was often considered a disgrace to ask for public assistance of any kind. Something that would be hard to live down.

Mother Blankenship was too proud to ask for it so being possessed with a keen sense of sound judgment and good management who with the help of her children proceeded to keep the wolf from the door. 

The two horse wagon was used for marketing the farm products. There would be buckets and a tub or two of eggs packed in oats, a basket or two of butter molded into pounds with old family mold with the imprint of a swan on top. Mother Blankenship came from town one day much elated over the fact that good country butter had reached fifteen cents a pound and because of the superior quality of her butter a certain store had offered to contract her entire output for a whole year at that figure. In summer the butter was hung in the well with small ropes until market day. A gallon crock of it was kept back for the family's use. If a neighbor was out of butter it was cut from this stock in a hunk and was not measured or weighed because there was no money charged for it. Just goodwill and neighborly feeling. 

It sometimes took the whole of a day to make the trip to market and back through mud roads and cold weather, however, Mother Blankenship did this and with less complaining than we do today when the heater in our car is not working just right during a few minutes ride.

Mother Blankenship's vegetable garden was always one that she was proud to show her neighbor. If there was a surplus of something her neighbor did not have, it was shared with her. She ook pride in keeping the garden in good condition. Many times when I would have enjoyed swimming in the brook more, I have heard her say, 'come children, let's weed this garden today' or 'come children, let's pick blackberries today and make ready for winter.'  Thus she seemed to enjoy working day after day in the preparation of foods - canned, pickled, dried and preserved in various ways for the table.

Although cash was very limited in our home it could not be siad that her children ever had to go to bed hungry. Long before time to pay taxes on the old farm she would be putting aside a little money as she could spare it to meet this and other obligations she knew were sure to come. It was her great delight to have it ready with a smile when due.  Mother Blankenship believed in and lived up to the 'pay as you go and you will never owe' plan.  Being a total abstainer from installment buying after she had raised her family, and retired from management of the old farm, there were no unpaid bills or unfinished business to be handed down [p. 8] to her offspring. Around the age of sixty-six she became broken down physically in the lower limbs because of a rheumatic condition after which she could do litle walking and only with the aid of crutches. After being confined to her chair, she made herself useful in the homes of her children, and forever thankful that her eyesight had been spared and that she was able to make and mend, doing any jobs that she could do with her hands, getting much pleasure from being able to render such service. During the late years she has been forced to retire from active duty, and spends much time retracing her thoughts back over the years.  She has been confined to her chair for many years but feels that there are many things to be thankful for.  First of all she was permitted to retain her health and strength while raising her family. Through the clouds that have shadowed her life there were many intervals when she could see and appreciate the silver lining. She loved her home though humble it was, her neighbors and friends. She loved her children, the more she could do for them the more she seemed to enjoy living. While disabled she became an extensive reader of newspapers keeping the family, who has less time to read, informed on current topics and news.

Early in life she exemplified faith in her Creator and life beyond the grave by uniting with a church. The church of her choice was the Flora Christian of which she was an active member before defective hearing had advanced to a stage where she could no longer render service or derive benefits by her presence. Thus, she has been practically barred from church and social activities for many years. Yet she does [not] hold this against the supreme Master, and has pointed out many times when folks seemed to be feeling sorry for her the fact that loss of hearing could not be nearly as bad as being blind - thinking of the many unfortunate ones who can never look upon the faces of loved ones and can never view the wonders of nature placed upon God's green earth.  Five times the death angel has crossed her life's pathway rendering her grief stricken by taking a loved one from her, including her companion and four of her offspring.  Althoguh her loving companion has been gone from her more than forty-two years, she had never ceased to love and cherish memories of him, and is patiently waiting to join him in the land of "from who's borne, no traveler returns.'  

With all of her handicap impariment, Mother Blankenship has fought a good fight and may it be said, 'Well done, good and faithful.'

Now that we are ending the last page of her life book, may it also be said, "The world has been made better by her having lived."  We are looking forward to her 90th birthday, January fifth, at which time a demonstration of appreciation is being planned by offspring. 

Pages 9-10 - Schools of Clay County - Teachers Employed - P.O. Address 1919

• Red Brush School - Meda Wolf, Louisville

Page 11 Unemployed Teachers - Vida Wolfe, Louisville

Page 25 - Obituary

Fannie May Bryan, daughter of Wesley T. Bryan [Wesley Ingraham Bryan] and Isabell Smith [Catherine Isabelle Smith], was born December 3, 1875 in Bible Grove township where her entire life was spent. She departed this life at Flora, IL July 4, 1953 at the age of 77 years, 7 months and 1 day. She was united with the Christian church at Ingraham at an early age. 

In September, 1893, she was united in marriage to John M. Brooks. To this union was born 7 children, two of whom died in infancy. Her husband preceded her in death July 18, 1940. Surviving are 2 sons and 3 daughters, Marvin W., Louisville, IL, J. Vardy, Ingraham, IL, Mrs. Lela B. Lewis, Flora, IL, Mrs. Jennice Colborn, Louisville, IL and Mrs. Helen Colborn, Louisville. She leaves 20 grandchildren and 24 great grandchildren. Also surviving are 5 brothers and 2 sisters: Everett, Bentonville, Ark; Mrs. Elma Hedrick, Hot Springs, Ark; Norva V., Louisville, IL; W. Grady, Decatur, IL; Warren Cathamet, Washington; Mrs. Sylvia Garrison, Flora, IL; Weber of Westville, IN; and a brother Errett Bryan, deceased. 

[1. John Monroe Brooks 1867-1940, 2. William Brooks 1816-1867, 3. Sarah Carter 1826-1917, 4. William Brooks 1784-1855, 5. Susannah Wyman 1788-1869, 8. Micajah Brooks, 1761-1850 NC-IL, Rachel (--?--) 1750-1850, not our Brooks line out of Ohio]

Page 28 - Clay County Republican, December 10, 1925

Jasper Wolf, a prominent famer and democrat residing north of town was suddenly stricken in death last Friday as the result of appoplexy soon after the dinner hour. During the forenoon Mr. Wolf, seemingly as well as usual had been gathering corn, but did not go back to the field after dinner because he had planned on doing something else. Soon after leaving the house upon finishing the noon meal he returned saying that another spell as he expressed it, was coming upon him. He reached the sitting room where his wife assisted him in lying down, and expired in a very short time, before Dr. Steely, his physician had time to arrive. 

Jasper Wolf came to Clay County with his father William W. Wolf, from Indiana 64 years ago, when only 2 years of age. He was one of a family of nine children, the oldest, and is the first to pass into the great beyond. He was a brother to Lew Wolf, living in the same neighborhood, and the father of two children, Mrs. Thurman Sullivan and W.W. Wolf. Early in life he married a daughter of W.B. Pierson, who with her two children survive him.

His funeral was preached by Revs. White & Pruitt at the Red Brush Church and remains buried in Orchard Hill Cemetery.  

Mr. Wolf's was born at Livona, Indiana, December 20, 1859 departed this life December 3, 1925.  His father and mother's name was William Washington and Naomi Wolf.

His father first came to Clay County in 1857 bought a place and erected what is known as the McKnight Mill at Ingraham, Illinois, then he returned to Indiana after his family, and returned to Illinois.

Jasper & Louella Pierson were married February 18, 1886 in Clay County, IL. 

He also leaves three grandchildren, Lindel Sullivan, Virginia & Allen Wolf, four brothers and four sisters, namely: J.M., W.S., W.B., Frank, Arizona, Cadda Bell, Lovina and Neoma.  All are married and have families. 

[William Washington Wolf md. Naomi E. Pulliam 1857, children: Jasper 1859-1925; John M. 1861-1947, Arizona 1861-1956 md. George Kirkpatrick, Ulysses 1865-1961, William B. 1868-1952, Nancy Lavina 1868-1957 md. Monroe, Caroline B. / Caddie 1872-1927 md. Elvas Golden, Francis Marion / Frank 1872-1956, Neoma 1872-1961 md. John George.  Probably related, but I don't see how yet.]