Obituaries - Surname O
Madison County ILGenWeb Coordinator - Beverly Bauser
OAKLASS, JANE/Source: Alton Evening
Telegraph, April 12, 1907
The funeral of Mrs. Jane Oaklass,
who came to Alton from Kentucky when she was a young woman and
who died Tuesday night at the age of 80 years, was held this
morning from St. Mary's church where a requiem mass was said by
Rev. Fr. Meckel. Burial was in St. Josephs cemetery and the
obsequies were attended by a large number of friends and
neighbors of deceased and of her family. Many beautiful floral
offerings were made
O’BANNON, M. W./Source: Alton Telegraph, August 28, 1879
Died at Moro, August 18, 1879, of consumption, Mrs. M. W.
O’Bannon; aged about 45 years.
OBEN, HENRY/Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, October 8, 1900
After many months of suffering with dropsy, Henry Oben is dead.
His death came unexpected Sunday morning as he was in his home.
He has been in bad health a long time, and has traveled in vain
to benefit his condition. Saturday he was on the streets, and
greeted his friends, and in the afternoon went out for a ride.
He was taken ill that night and death followed at 10 o'clock
Sunday morning. His death is a relief to him after his many
months of pain and suffering. He was a glassblower by trade, and
was 29 years of age. The funeral will take place Tuesday
afternoon at 2 o'clock, and services will be at the home, 926
east Fifth street. Rev. Theo. Oberhellman will conduct the
services. John Oben, a brother in Denver, will arrive to attend
the funeral.
OBEN, MINK/Source: Alton Telegraph, March 13, 1884
Mr.
Mink Oben, a native of Germany, for many years a resident of
Alton, died yesterday at the age of 57 years, after a long and
painful illness. He left a wife and several children to mourn
his death. The funeral will take place Friday afternoon from the
family residence on Fifth Street, east of Ridge Street.
OBEN, SOPHIE/Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, April 8, 1918
Mrs. Sophie Oben, for many years a resident of Alton, died
Sunday at 12:22 p.m. at the residence of her daughter, Mrs.
Charles Stritmatter, 1313 State street, aged 70 years, after a
week's sickness with pneumonia. She was born August 22, 1848, in
Germany, and came to Alton at the time of the assassination of
President Lincoln. She had lived at the Oben homestead on East
Fifth street until five years ago, when she went to make her
home with her son, William, at Godfrey. She was a member of the
Alton Evangelical Church and Ladies' Aid Society. Surviving her
are the following children: Mrs. Margaret Harvey and Mrs. Carl
Stinquist of Los Angeles, Cal.; John Oben of Denver, Colo.;
Frank Oben, Mrs. Stritmatter, Mrs. William Schmoeller of Alton;
William Oben of Godfrey; and Mrs. Edward Abenbrink of
Edwardsville. The funeral will be Tuesday afternoon at 2 o'clock
from the Stritmatter home on State street, thence to the
Evangelical Church on Henry street.
OBERBECK, AMELIA/Source: Alton Telegraph, November 1, 1883
Died in Alton, October 29, after a lingering illness, Mrs.
Amelia, wife of F. W. Oberbeck; aged 51 years a 8 months.
OBERMUELLER, LOUISA/Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, August
6, 1909
Mrs. Louisa Obermueller, widow of the late
Christopher Obermueller, a former well known painter who died
thirteen years ago, died Thursday evening at her home, 407 east
Third street, after a long illness. She leaves three daughters,
Mrs. Clare Belle Rutter and Misses Louisa and Aurelia
Obermueller, all of Alton. She also leaves a son by a former
marriage, Ferdinand Unger, who lives in Wichita, Kas. Two
brothers, Charles and Fred Henick, and one sister, Mrs. H.
Meyer, all of Alton, survive. Mrs. Obermueller was born in
Cincinnati, Ohio, and was 66 years of age. The funeral will be
held Sunday morning at 9 o'clock from the residence, private.
Services will be conducted by Rev. Eitelgeorge, and burial will
be in City Cemetery.
O'BRIEN, CATHERINE (MOTHER HENRIETTA)/Source: Alton Evening
Telegraph, September 16, 1909
Mother Henrietta, who was Miss
Catherine O'Brien before she entered the convent, died at 5:30
o'clock this morning at the Ursuline Convent. She went to mass
Monday morning, and after that time complained of feeling
unwell. The Sisters did not think she was seriously ill,
although her feebleness caused much concern. This morning at
5:30 o'clock she died peacefully and without pain. She came to
Alton to make her home 63 years ago when a girl ten years of
age, direct from Cork, Ireland. Fourteen years later she took
the veil in the Order of the Ursulines, and has ever since been
a teacher and adviser in the Ursuline convent in Alton. Mother
Henrietta was known as a kind soul who spread much sunshine
among those with whom she came in contact. The Sisters and
students of the Convent for many years past will learn with deep
regret of her death, for she was beloved by all of them. The
funeral will be held Saturday morning.
O'BRIEN, CHRISTOPHER/Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, October
23, 1908
The funeral of Christopher O'Brien was held this
morning from SS. Peter and Paul's Cathedral. The funeral party
accompanying the body arriver from St. Louis at 9:30 o'clock and
went to the Cathedral. After services there the body was taken
to Greenwood cemetery for burial.
O'BRIEN JOHN/Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, October 24,
1904
Deputy Coroner Will Bauer was called to Glassboro Monday
and held an inquest in the cause of the demise of John O'Brien,
who was found dead in his bed about 5:30 Monday morning. The
verdict of the coroner's jury was death from heart failure,
super induced by alcoholism. O'Brien was about 65 years of age,
and was employed on the Terminal railway as a sectionhand. He
boarded with the section boss, Mr. Watson, but little is known
of him. The body was interred in Milton Cemetery [Alton] Monday
afternoon.
O’BRIEN, PATSY/Source: Alton Telegraph, August 27, 1885
Three boys went across the river in a skiff last Thursday, in
search of wild grapes. One of the number, named Patsy O’Brien,
fell from the limb of a tree that he had climbed in search of
grapes, and broke his neck, causing almost instant death. The
companions of the unfortunate lad came back and gave the slsarm.
Captain S. S. Foster and some others went to the place and
brought the body over, and it was taken to the family residence
on Front Street, between Ridge and Henry Streets.
O’BRIEN, THOMAS/Source: Alton Daily Telegraph, June 2, 1853
We learn that Henry Stoeckle of Wood River settlement, who
accidentally shot and killed Thomas O’Brien on the 27th ult.,
was, on Tuesday last, arrested under a warrant from Justice
Woods of Alton, for involuntary manslaughter. The examination
continued until a late hour in the night, and resulted in the
defendant’s being held to bail in the sum of three hundred
dollars, for his appearance at the next term of the Circuit
Court. The inquiry was very ably conducted by Judge Martin for
the people, and Levi Davis, Esq., for the defendant.
O'BRIEN, THOMAS/Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, April 6,
1908
Thomas O'Brien, a native of East Alton, died yesterday
about noon at St. Joseph's hospital from dropsy. He was 55 years
of age, and has spent a great deal of his life away from Alton
in railroad work, his last position being roadmaster of a road
running into Hot Springs, Arkansas, a position he held at the
time of his death. He was unmarried and leaves a brother, Martin
O'Brien, a well known C. & A. railroad man now living at Blue
Springs, Missouri. Martin has been here since his brother was
brought from Hot Springs to the hospital about three weeks ago.
Assessor J. J. Hammond is a nephew of deceased. The funeral will
be held Tuesday morning at 9 o'clock from St. Patrick's church,
and burial will be in Greenwood cemetery.
O’BRIEN, UNKNOWN MAN/Source: Alton Daily Telegraph, May 28,
1853
We learn that yesterday, on the line of the Terre Haute
and Alton Railroad, near Wood River, an Irishman named O’Brien
was accidentally shot by Henry Stickley of Upper Alton, and
expired immediately. The report is that they were playing
carelessly with a revolver, when it went off, the whole charge
taking effect in the neck of O’Brien. The affair is stated to be
an entire accident, though it certainly exhibits gross
carelessness.
O'CONNELL, WILLIAM/Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, October
28, 1921
William O'Connell, 74, died at 7:40 o'clock this
morning at St. Joseph's hospital after a long illness. He had
been at the hospital four weeks. Mr. O'Connell had been a
resident of Alton for many years. He was born in Cork, Ireland.
For several years he was janitor at St. Patrick's school. He is
survived by his widow and seven daughters and a son. The son is
Joseph O'Connell of Alton, and the daughters are: Mrs. L. D.
Quintal of Alton; Mrs. L. R. Raymond of Flat River, Mo.; Mrs.
Dan Harinelt of Alton; Mrs. Thomas Maguire of Alton; Mrs. Herman
Kennedy of Kansas City; Mrs. Elmer Moorhead of St. Louis; and
Mrs. William Smell of Alton. The body has been removed to the
home of Mrs. Quintal, 1208 Central avenue, and the funeral will
be from there, Monday. Requiem Mass will be sung at St.
Patrick's church at 9 a.m. Monday. Interment will be in
Greenwood Cemetery.
O'CONNOR, JOHN/Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, May 15, 1905
John O'Connor, aged 60, who was burned March 11 at East Alton
while lying asleep on a pile of grass which was ignited as he
slept, by a passing locomotive, died Sunday night at St.
Joseph's hospital. Dr. E. A. Cook of Upper Alton turned the body
over to Coroner Streeper after having made an ineffectual search
to find the friends and relatives of the man. O'Connor told Dr.
Cook that for twenty years he had heard nothing from his family.
He believed he had a sister in Chicago, but Dr. Cook could not
find her. O'Connor was given the best of attention by Dr. Cook,
who is county physician of Woodriver township, where the man was
burned. No inquest will be held as Dr. Cook will issue a death
certificate. The day O'Connor was burned he was sound asleep
when the flames raced across the dried meadow and caught on the
pile of grass. His clothing was burned off him and he sustained
bad, deep wounds. All the money the man possessed was in his
trouser's pockets, which were destroyed and the money with it.
O'Connor said he had been a tramp for thirty years.
O’DAY, NONA/Source: Alton Daily Telegraph, February 24, 1887
Nona, infant daughter of Mr. Thomas O’Day, died yesterday
morning at the age of 13 months. The body was taken to North
Alton today for burial.
ODELL, GEORGE JR./Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, July 5,
1911
Drowned at Hop Hollow
George Odell, aged 20, son of
Mr. and Mrs. George S. Odell of Holland street in the North
Side, was drowned at Hop Hollow Tuesday. With his brother,
Joseph Odell, and two other young men, he had gone swimming. The
young man had been very unfortunate on Fourth of July. Two years
ago he was very badly burned at the Western Military Academy
grounds during a picnic when someone lighted a package of
firecrackers he had in his trouser's pocket. Thereafter, he had
been very cautious in handling fireworks, and had been warned
many times to let them alone. He seemed to be just as
apprehensive of fireworks and their danger, and he let them
alone, so went swimming as part of his day's festivities. He
could not swim very well, but doubtless could have taken care of
himself in the water, and it is supposed that in diving he
struck his head on a stone, and he never came up. He had worked
at the old Charles Kuchn store on State street for six years,
and was depended upon and highly esteemed by his employers.
After Mr. Kuehn's death he continued in the store, and Mrs.
Kuehn and her daughters had the utmost confidence in him. When
informed of his death they were among those who were the most
grief-stricken. The parents have seen their share of misfortune.
Last winter their house was burned in the North Side, and
everything in it was destroyed. They even lost all their clothes
and neighbors had to lend them clothes until they could
replenish their supply. In their latest affliction, they have
the sympathy of everyone. The body of George Odell was found by
the searchers last night at one o'clock. A fisherman who had
been dragging the river picked the body up near the dike, where
the drowning occured. The body had not floated from the place it
sank. The funeral will be held tomorrow afternoon from the
family home.
ODELL, GEORGE SR./Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, March 15,
1912
George Odell died Friday morning at 10 o'clock at his
home, 1221 Holland street, after an illness of five months from
Bright's disease. He was 50 years old and leaves a wife and four
children, Joe, Marie, Florence and Glenny. He was born in
Franklin county, Mo., and came to Alton twelve years ago. During
practically all of the time since he worked for Beall Bros., and
was an industrious, honest, good man. The Odell family has
experienced many hard knocks from fate in recent years. A few
years ago the house caught fire one night when most of the
family were at a neighbors, and it and the contents were burned.
Last Fourth of July George, the oldest son, was drowned at Hopp
Hollow. The widow and children have the sympathy of the
community. Funeral arrangements have not been made.
ODDY, UNKNOWN WIFE OF WILLIAM/Source: Alton Evening
Telegraph, March 21, 1921
The death of Mrs. William Oddy
occurred at the family home at 1113 Milnor Avenue Sunday morning
at one o'clock. She was in her 85th year. Mrs. Oddy had been in
fairly good health up until about two weeks ago when she became
ill, although it was not until a week ago that her condition
became serious. Mrs. Oddy was born in Leeds, Yorkshire, England,
August 11, 1836, and came to America with her family in 1881
going to Canada. She came to Alton in 1896 and has made her home
here since. Mrs. Oddy was an earnest Christian woman and has
been for many years a member of the First Baptist Church. She is
survived by four children, Mrs. L. S. Shaver, Mrs. J. B.
Mawdsley Sr., Mr. Thomas Oddy, all of Alton; and Mr. Alfred Oddy
of St. Louis; also ten grandchildren and three
great-grandchildren. The funeral services will be held Tuesday
afternoon at 3 o'clock from the family home. Rev. M. W. Twing
will officiate.
ODDY, WILLIAM/Source: Alton Telegraph, December 26, 1912
William Oddy, in his 75th year, died before noon today at his
residence, 1113 Milnor avenue, after an illness of about one
year. Mr. Oddy was taken down just before Christmas a year ago
and his condition was thought to be hopeless at that time, but
he regained some strength and was able to be up and down town,
attending to his work in his shop on Market street where he did
cabinet work that required skill in its execution. He was known
as a skillful mechanic. On November 17, he suffered another
severe illness, paralysis developed, and his death was looked
for at any time since then. He leaves his wife, two sons, Thomas
and Alfred Oddy, and two daughters, Mrs. J. B. Mawdsley and Mrs.
Eleanor Shaver. Mr. Oddy was a native of Leeds, England. He came
to America in 1881 and after living in Canada a while he went to
Elgin, Ill., and from there to Minneapolis, thence to Alton. He
had lived in Alton seventeen years. Four years ago Mr. and Mrs.
William Oddy celebrated their fiftieth wedding anniversary. When
Mrs. Oddy was one year old her mother went over to the Oddy home
to see Mr. Oddy when he was a week old, and they grew up
together as playmates and later were married. The funeral will
be held Thursday afternoon at 2 o'clock from the home on Milnor
avenue.
O'DONNELL, ANNA/Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, October 23,
1915
The funeral of Mrs. Anna O'Donnell was held this morning
from the Cathedral to Greenwood Cemetery. The body arrived this
morning from Granite City and was taken at once to the Cathedral
where mass was said by Father Costello and Father Marion of
Brighton delivered the sermon.
O'DRISCOLL, MARY/Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, August 31,
1906
It was Mrs. Mary O'Driscoll of east Fifth street, not
Mrs. D. J. Discoll of Lincoln avenue, who died yesterday
afternoon. She is survived by her husband and several children,
three of whom, Misses Theresa, Gertrude and Jennie, live in
Alton. The family came from the East six or seven years ago. The
funeral will be held Saturday morning from St. Patrick's church
at 10 o'clock. Mrs. O'Driscoll was a member of Madison Hive
Ladies of the Maccabees, and was an officer of the hive.
OEHLER, JOHN/Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, January 12,
1900
The coroner was summoned to Venice this morning to hold
an inquest on the body of John Oehler, whop dropped senseless on
a ferryboat at Madison and died without regaining consciousness.
OETKEN, DORA (nee DEPENDAHL)/Source: Alton Evening Telegraph,
August 2, 1918
Mrs. Dora Oetken, wife of George Oetken of
Fosterburg, died at a hospital at Indianapolis, Ind., of cancer,
Thursday at 2:30 p.m. Her only son was present at her bedside.
The remains were brought to Alton this morning and taken to the
residence at Fosterburg. She leaves her husband and one son,
Benjamin, her daughter-in-law and four grandchildren, also her
aged father, John F. Dependahl, nearly 90 years old. She also
leaves three sisters, Mrs. William Nienbrugge of Fosterburg,
Mrs. O. F. Straube of Alton, Mrs. Henry Gvillo of Fosterburg,
and two brothers, William of Brighton and John of Fosterburg.
Mrs. Oetken was a member of the Zion Presbyterian Church of
Fosterburg, from which place the funeral will be held Sunday at
2 p.m. ______nephews will act as pall bearers and Rev. B. F.
Fieselman will have charge of the funeral services. She was
president of the Sewing Circle of the Zion Church from its
origin to her death, a faithful member of the church, a loving
mother and grandmother and a devoted wife. Mrs. Oetken was one
who always had a good word for everyone, and was loved by the
entire community.
OETKEN, FENNA C./Source: Alton Telegraph, February 4, 1886
From Bethalto - Mrs. Behernd O. Oetken died at her son’s (Ben)
residence in Fort Russell, Saturday morning, of cancer. She had
been operated upon twice this winter by Dr. Fred Gaertner, but
the operations did not prove successful. She leaves a husband
and several grown up sons and daughters. The funeral took place
from the Lutheran Church, and was largely attended. The remains
were deposited in the Bethalto Cemetery. [She was born October
15, 1818. Burial was in the Bethalto United Methodist Church
Cemetery.]
OGG, CARRIE [HART]/Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, April 29,
1907
Woman Shot by Husband While Carrying 19 Months Old Baby
Walter Ogg, a negro, shot and killed his wife, Carrie Ogg, aged
19, Saturday night. She was a daughter of Sam Hart. At the time
the woman was shot, she was carrying her 19 months old baby,
going to her father's home. She was at North and Pearl streets
when her husband overtook her, and in the presence of several
witnesses shot her through the heart. The woman, after being
shot, laid her baby down on the ground to avoid hurting it, and
then fell over dead. Her husband fired another shot into her and
then fled. The couple had quarreled and were living apart. The
woman was staying with her father and Ogg, with his mother. She
had been to the home of Ogg's mother Saturday night and was on
her way home after a quarrel. The murderer did not try to shoot
the child, it is supposed, as he could have done so easily. The
shooting occurred at the place of Alexander Wegener. Within a
short time after the shooting a big party of infuriated negroes
were helping the police to search for the murderer. It was
supposed he had taken to the willows along the river front, but
a careful search there failed to result in his capture. It is
supposed he went to St. Louis or Paducah, Ky. If he had been
caught by the searchers it is believed the police would have had
a hard time saving him, as there were many threats to kill him
if captured. Ogg and his wife had been living at the home of W.
S. Voyles, keeping house for him, and Voyles put them out last
week. After that event the couple separated, as Ogg was
worthless and seldom, if ever, worked, and could not support his
wife. Deputy Coroner Keiser will hold an inquest this evening
over the body of the victim of Ogg. The funeral will be held
Tuesday afternoon from the Union Baptist Church.
O’HARA, HUGH/Source: Alton Telegraph, March 24, 1881
From
the Daily of March 19 – Mr. Hugh O’Hara, a native of Ireland,
who had lived between the Coal Branch and Upper Alton for twenty
years, but who had been working as a coal miner for the past two
years in Jersey and Macoupin counties, was found about 9 o’clock
last night at the Summit, lying within two feet of the railroad
track, dead, with a terrible fracture of the skull on the crown
of the head above the left ear. Mr. J. F. Toomey, Night Yard
Master, took a switch engine as soon as the sad news arrived,
went to the place and conveyed the remains to the Chicago &
Alton Freight Depot, where the inquest was held by Coroner
Youree, he having arrived by the I. & St. Louis Road, soon after
10 o’clock. A jury was impaneled with A. G. Wolford as foreman,
and the following witnesses were examined – Anderson Scroggins,
J. F. Toomey, B. Diamond, John Chessen, James Webster. Mr.
Scroggins gave the most important evidence, as he was with
deceased in the city yesterday evening, got on the Springfield
accommodation train at the same time, both intending to go to
Delhi, and saw him led off the train by the conductor shortly
after leaving the city (because deceased had no money with which
to pay his fare), the train being stopped perfectly still for
that purpose. This was done without any disturbance or
resistance. When his body was searched, it was found that he did
have thirty cents in change, more than enough to pay his fare to
Godfrey, in addition to a few other articles. The evidence of
the other witnesses was not very important, with the exception
that James Webster stated that deceased, about noon yesterday,
had quite a roll of bills in a pocket book, but witness did not
know the amount. There were rumors of foul play in connection
with the case, but nothing to show that it was other than an
accident. Deceased was known to many of our citizens. He left
quite a large family of children, his wife having been dead
several years. Two sons, who lived at Mount Olive, were
telegraphed for and are expected here this evening. The verdict
of the jury was to the effect that deceased came to his death by
being struck by a passing train at the Summit, Friday evening,
March 18, after being put off the cars for the non-payment of
fare. The verdict did not exonerate the railroad company from
all blame.
O'HARE, MICHAEL/Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, June 28,
1904
Michael O'Hare, whose sudden death Sunday morning at the
home of J. C. Pope, recorded yesterday, was buried yesterday
afternoon in Greenwood cemetery. Services were conducted at the
Cathedral. The pallbearers were James Mathie, Thomas Mathie,
John Mathie, William Hall, Charles Mook, and Robert Baird.
O’HARE, UNKNOWN INFANT/Source: Alton Daily Telegraph, October
24, 1882
Mr. and Mrs. James O’Hare were deeply afflicted
Monday morning, by the death of their infant child, seven months
old. When Mrs. O’Hare first awakened, the child was lying dead
on her arm. Dr. Garvin, after an examination of the case,
pronounced it heart disease. The funeral took place today.
O'HAVER, ADELAIDE/Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, November
1, 1909
Mrs. Adelaide O'Haver died at her home at 319 East
Fourth street at 7 o'clock Sunday morning after an illness of
less than a week's duration. She had been in good health up to
the time of her death, and the members of her family and her
many friends were greatly shocked over her sudden death. Mrs.
O'Haver was born in Milford, Michigan, December 2, 1845, and
came with her parents to Illinois at the age of 12 years, living
in Carrollton and Kane, being married in the latter place. Later
she removed to Alton where she has resided ever since. Nine and
eleven years ago respectively she lost her two daughters, Misses
Minnie and Mae O'Haver, through death. Since that time she has
been known only to those close friends and acquaintances who
knew her as a sweet, patient woman with a cheerful and kindly
disposition, and who was always helpful to others. Mrs. O'Haver
leaves of her own immediate family one son, John O'Haver of East
St. Lois, and four sisters, Mrs. Ulrich Eberhardt of Newark, N.
J., Mrs. Joseph L. Dressell of Kane, Miss Sara Hudson of this
city, and Mrs. William Cartwright of Upper Alton. The funeral
will be held from the home on East Fourth street at 1 o'clock
Wednesday afternoon, Rev. M. W. Twing will conduct the funeral
service at the home after which the remains will be shipped to
Kane, Ill. for burial.
O'HAVER, MARY/Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, June 26, 1901
Miss Mary O'Haver died at her home on Fourth street at 5 o'clock
this morning after a long and weary illness. Miss O'Haver was
for many years a primary teacher in the public schools of Alton
where she held the esteem of her co-workers and the many patrons
whose little ones were in her charge. She was born at Kane,
Greene county, Ill., April 29, 1866, and her childhood was spent
in that place and in Alton, where she passed her subsequent
life. She was a graduate of the Alton High School, and her best
interests have always been directed toward its welfare. She was
much interested in musical work as well, finishing a course in
the Alton Conservatory and continuing her work in this line has
taught her beloved art to many little children. In religious
work also, Miss O'Haver's presence will be missed as she was an
earnest Christian Endeavourer and Sabbath school helper of the
Congregational church and its Mission school. Miss O'Haver
leaves her mother, Mrs. Adelaid O'Haver of this city, and a
brother, John O'Haver of East St. Louis, to mourn her death,
besides many near relatives. Her death following so soon after
that of her sister's, Miss Minnie, has caused a sad and tearful
shock to her friends. The funeral will take place Friday morning
at 7:30 o'clock from the home on Fourth street. Interment at
Kane, Ill.
O'HEARN, WILLIAM/Source: Alton Telegraph, August 28, 1913
William O'Hearn, a councilman of Benbow City, died suddenly at 3
o'clock yesterday morning after a 6 hours' illness. O'Hearn has
been tending bar in the Marsh saloon for several months and
waited on customers in the saloon until 9 o'clock Tuesday night.
When he became ill he was taken into the back part of the saloon
where he was kept for several hours. Finally, John Brady and
Jerome Ford, Benbow City marshals, took him to the village hall
where Dr. E. D. Gottshalk was called. Despite all that could be
done, he died at 3 o'clock. O'Hearn was known as the "handy man"
of Benbow City. As Mayor A. E. Benbow was gone a great part of
the time, he was often called upon to do the duties of mayor. At
various times he served as marshal, village clerk, election
judge, fire department volunteer and other similar village
duties. Mr. O'Hearn was known for his generous and helping
disposition and will be greatly missed. The councilman was 39
years of age. He came to Benbow City when it was a very small
place and stayed with it as it grew and then began to decline
owing to the destructive fires. O'Hearn fought at all of those
fires and did such heroic service several times that he became
ill afterwards. The last time a fire test was made in Benbow
City, O'Hearn was slightly burned on the arm and has been ailing
ever since, but this is not thought to be in any way responsible
for his death. O'Hearn was not married and had no relatives
except a grandmother in Fall River, Mass., who was said to be
wealthy. O'Hearn used to be a St. Louis policeman and his mother
died there a few years ago. His friends are making an
investigation in St. louis today to find a cousin believed to be
alive who could give some direction about the burial. If no
relatives are found, Mayor Benbow and the councilmen are
planning to hold a public funeral from the Benbow City village
hall. The body is in charge of Undertaker C. N. Streeper.
OHLEY, LOUIS C./Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, November 4,
1918
Louis C. Ohley died at the family home at 2508 East
Broadway Sunday at 3:30 o'clock after a short illness with
pneumonia. Ohley was 26 years of age last May and was the son of
Mr. and Mrs. Louis A. Ohley. The deceased has a host of friends
to mourn his loss, being well thought of by all who knew him. He
was married to Miss Mary Schneider on the first of November in
1911, and leaves his wife and a little four year old girl,
Dorothy. He is also survived by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Louis
A. Ohley; two brothers, Fred and Charles; and one sister, Ida.
No funeral arrangements have been made.
OHLEY, TYSON WILLIAM/Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, August
29, 1916
The seven months old child of Mr. and Mrs. Louis
Ohley of Yager Park died last evening at 5:40 o'clock. The
little one's name was Tyson William Ohley. The funeral will be
held at 2 o'clock on Thursday afternoon.
OHLEY, UNKNOWN INFANT/Source: Alton Telegraph, March 5, 1885
From Bethalto – Mr. and Mrs. Louis Ohley were sorely afflicted
this week in the loss of their infant babe.
OHLEY, WILLIAM E./Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, January
29, 1908
William E. Ohley died at the home of his parents,
Mr. and Mrs. Henry Ohley, 1108 East Third street, at 5:30
o'clock Tuesday night. The young man had been ill for several
months, and his death was not unexpected by the members of the
family. Several years ago Ohley was shot accidentally, at the
powder works range, while putting up targets for some marksmen.
His health was somewhat impaired at that time, and later he was
injured in another explosion at the powder works. Since then he
had been an invalid. The deceased was 24 years of age, and his
death is a sad blow to his many friends who have cared tenderly
for him during his long illness. He leaves besides his parents,
five brothers and four sisters. The brothers are Otto of
Daleville, Indiana, Henry of St. Louis, John, Edward and Walter
of Alton. The sisters are Mrs. William Wermuth, Mrs. Chris
Picker, and Carrie and Florence Ohley of Alton. The funeral
arrangements will be made when William Wermuth, who is in
Philadelphia, Pa., burying his sister, returns.
OHLSEN, UNKNOWN CHILD OF ALEX/Source: Alton Evening
Telegraph, October 19, 1907
A seven months old child of Mr.
and Mrs. Alex Ohlsen of 617 Spring street died yesterday and was
buried this afternoon from the family home.
O’KELL, GEORGE B./Source: Alton Daily Telegraph, September
26, 1887
Mr. George B. O’kell, a member of the
Drummond-Randle Tobacco Co., previously connected with the
Drummond Tobacco Co. of St. Louis, died at the residence of Mr.
C. H. Randle, this morning, of brain affection and partial
paralysis, at the age of almost 54 years. Deceased had been
prostrated a week by his illness, and during the most of that
time was unconscious. He was born at Brooklyn, New York, in
December 1833. He had resided in Alton about three years. He was
an estimable man of fine business capacity, and was a member of
the Episcopal Church. He left a wife, Mary Elizabeth (Teesdale)
O’Kell, and one daughter, Fanette Blair O’Kell. Funeral services
will take place tomorrow at Mr. C. H. Randle’s residence. The
remains will be taken to Chicago for burial, accompanied by Mr.
Charles H. Randle and Mr. S. A. Hilliard of Chicago.
OKLEY, J. W./Source: Alton Telegraph, March 20, 1874
Died
on March 8 in Alton, of heart disease, Mr. J. W. Okley; in the
48th year of his age.
O’LAUGHLIN, MICHAEL/Source: Alton Telegraph, July 26, 1877
Dr. C. S. Youree of Venice, Coroner of Madison County, arrived
in Alton yesterday afternoon, and proceeded to the Sisters’
Hospital, corner of Second and Walnut Streets in Hunterstown,
where he held an inquest over the remains of Michael O’Laughlin,
who was fatally injured by an engine on the Chicago & Alton
Railroad, about 7 o’clock a.m. yesterday, and who died in less
than two hours afterward. The jury rendered the following
verdict: “We, the jurors, find that Michael O’Laughlin came to
his death by being thrown from the track of the Chicago and
Alton Railroad by Engine No. 130, attached to passenger train
No. 4, near the foot of Cherry Street in the city of Alton, on
July 19, about seven o’clock. We also find from the evidence
that the train was running at an unusual rate of speed within
the city limited.”
The latter part of the verdict seemed
to be a compromise of opinion, as the evidence on the point was
somewhat conflicting. The evidence of every witness was to the
effect that the engine bell rang constantly, showing that the
usual precautions were taken to prevent accidents. Mr. John N.
Guiler, a careful, experienced engineer, was in charge of the
engine, and testified that he did not see anyone on the track
after he left the Union Depot, and did not know of the accident
until almost five hours afterward, when in East St. Louis. He
then examined the cowcatcher and engine, but could find no signs
of an accident having occurred. Mr. Guilder also testified that
the rate of speed within the city limits was something near six
miles an hour.
Two other witnesses were examined, one of
whom testified that the train was running at the rate of 18 or
20 miles an hour. The deceased made an ante mortem statement to
some of the witnesses, and said that his name was Michael
O’Laughlin, that he was a native of county Mayo, Ireland, and
that his parents lived in New York City. The doctor discovered
that his left leg was broken, his head badly bruised, and
besides was, no doubt, injured internally.
OLCOTT, ANTOINETTE/Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, August
26, 1902
The body of Miss Antoinette Olcott, whose death
occurred at St. Louis, has been brought here for burial. Miss
Olcott came here in 1834 and lived here for many years; was once
a teacher here, but for the past sixteen years she has been in
an insane hospital. She was a member of the Baptist church and
the funeral service will be held there tomorrow at 2 o'clock,
the pastor Rev. L. M. Waterman officiating. There are no
relatives of the deceased woman here. A nephew and niece, Mr.
and Mrs. Wendell of Whitehall, will arrive here this evening.
OLCOTT, MARY/Source: Alton Telegraph, April 14, 1881
From
Upper Alton – Miss Mary Olcott, for many years a resident of
Upper Alton, died a few days since. She was about 80 years of
age, and for a long while has been almost helpless. She was a
most excellent woman, a consistent member of the Baptist Church,
and bore her sufferings and privations with great fortitude.
OLDAKER, THOMAS/Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, September
20, 1909
Killed on the Job at Alton Water Company
Thomas
Oldaker, aged 32, a machinist who has been repairing engines and
pumps at the pumping station of the Alton Water Company, was
almost instantly killed Sunday afternoon as he was completing
repairs on the centrifugal pump in the deep pit. He had been
working on the engine and pump several weeks and was just about
to give the engine a trial, when the fatal accident occurred.
The engine had stuck on dead center, and Oldaker placed a piece
of gas pipe in the flywheel to use as a lever, and then bore his
weight on the lever to throw the wheel around. He had turned on
some steam in the engine, which proved to be just enough to
start the engine moving after he had pried it off dead center,
and the flywheel completing the revolution Oldaker had started
with the lever, the piece of gas pipe came around as the wheel
turned and struck him on the side of the head, fracturing his
skull. He was quickly taken out of the engine pit, and died in
about ten minutes before a doctor could see him. His body was
later removed to the family home on Monroe street, and Coroner
Streeper was notified to hold an inquest. Oldaker came here from
Youngstown, Ohio, and was a son of Stephen Oldaker. He leaves
his wife, but no children. He was known as a good machinist, and
had worked in several machine shops in the city before taking
the job at the water works pumping station. Engineer C. E.
Parker says he was standing close to Oldaker, but stepped out of
the way just in time to save himself from getting the blow that
Oldaker received.
OLDENETTEL, MARY/Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, December
24, 1900
Mrs. Mary Oldenettel, wife of John Oldenettel, died
this morning at 5 o'clock after an illness of three weeks with
stomach troubles. Mrs. Oldenettel was 37 years of age, and had
lived in Alton many years. She was a woman of many good
qualities that endeared her to her friends, and makes her loss a
grievous one to her family. She leaves besides her husband, four
children. The funeral will take place Wednesday morning at 10
o'clock from the family home at gold and Bloomfield streets.
OLDHAM, LUCINDA J./Source: Alton Telegraph, November 30, 1866
Died on Saturday morning, of consumption, Mrs. Lucinda J., wife
of George Oldham.
OLDHAM, MARY/Source: Alton Telegraph, June 23, 1871
Died
on June 21 in Alton, of consumption, Miss Mary Oldham, daughter
of Mr. George Oldham, in the 18th year of her age.
O’LEARY, EDWARD/Source: Alton Telegraph, March 21, 1878
Run Over by Freight Train
Mr. Edward O’Leary, formerly night
yard master for the Chicago & Alton Railroad, went out last
night as brakeman on freight train No. 44, which left about 8
o’clock. When the train arrived at Alton Junction [East Alton],
conductor N. B. Clark missed Mr. O’Leary, and immediately
flagged the lightning express and notified the engineer and told
him to look out for the missing man. He also telegraphed back
from Mitchell, search was made, when the remains of the deceased
were found near Bozzatown about one hundred yards from the place
where he had apparently fallen, having been run over by the
freight train, and the lightning express, which in the meantime
had come in from St. Louis. The body was so badly torn, crushed
and dismembered, that but fragments could be found, the largest
being a leg, which was found on the track. The scattered
remnants were collected together by kind hands, and conveyed to
the late home of the deceased, which he had but recently left,
with no thought of the terrible death so soon impending. Mr.
O’Leary was troubled with fits of vertigo or fainting, and the
presumption is that he was seized by one of these spells, and in
that state fell between two of the cars.
The deceased had
a large circle of friends and acquaintances in Alton, by whom he
was highly esteemed, and the terrible nature of the accident
cast a gloom over the entire community. He was about 23 years of
age.
An inquest was held by Dr. C. S. Youree, Coroner,
and examination of N. B. Clark, conductor of the train; James
Driscoll, brakeman; S. B. Bassett, engineer; and J. B. Machin,
fireman; O. E. VanBuskirk, engineer of passenger train No. 3;
and C. Johnson of East St. Louis, fireman; and John H.
Stillwell, yardmaster of the C. & A. Railroad in Alton.
Mrs. O’Leary, wife of the deceased, made a statement to the
Coroner at her residence, to the effect that her husband was
subject to fits, and had one about a week ago. The evidence was
in accordance with the statement above, with the additional
testimony that the train, after leaving the city, ran at the
rate of about fifteen miles an hour. Near Upper Alton Station,
something was seen scattered along the track that appeared like
rags or old clothes, and gave a clue to the place of the
accident. After the train arrived at the depot, some person
immediately went back and gathered up the fragments of humanity
that were strewn along the track for about three-fourths of a
mile, some remains being found near the freight depot. The jury
found that O’Leary came to his death by being run over by
freight train No. 44, near Upper Alton Station, about 8:16
o’clock p.m., March 18, and they exonerated the railroad
employees from all blame.
The funeral took place on
Wednesday afternoon, from the late residence of the deceased,
and was attended by a large concourse of relatives and fellow
citizens, who assembled to pay the last earthly tribute to the
remains of him who had met with such a sudden, appalling death.
A number of the firemen of Alton also were in attendance, as Mr.
O’Leary was formerly a member of the Lafayette Hook & Ladder
Company.
O'LEARY, LOUISE/Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, May 2, 1922
Mrs. Louise O'Leary, wife of Edward O'Leary, aged 39, died soon
after midnight last night at St. Joseph's hospital, following a
surgical operation performed for the relief of a malady which
had been causing her much suffering. About a month ago Mrs.
O'Leary gave birth to a child which died soon after birth, and
her condition had been so bad ever since that it was decided to
operate on her yesterday morning. She did not rally from the
operation. The death of Mrs. O'Leary leaves a family of seven
little children, six daughters and one son, motherless. The
children are Julia, Margaret, Mary, Agnes, Louise, Mabel and
Thomas. She leaves also her husband, Edward O'Leary and one
sister, Mrs. H. A. Nigren of Hodson, Montana. The death of the
young mother, leaving the large family of little children, was a
great surprise to many of her friends who had no thought that
her illness would turn out fatally. She was known in a large
circle of friends and there is the deepest sympathy for the
family in the death of the wife and mother.
O'LEARY, PATRICK/Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, April 13,
1903
Patrick O'Leary, the oldest son of Capt. and Mrs. Thomas
O'Leary, died suddenly at 3 o'clock Monday morning after an
illness of seven hours. He was 26 years of age. The O'Leary
family held a reunion Sunday and all ate Easter dinner and
supper together. Patrick had been feeling as well as usual and
was downtown during the afternoon. After supper he complained of
having a chill, and in a short time he was in a dangerous
condition. An acute case of uraemic poisoning developed, and
after intense suffering death came at 3 o'clock in the morning.
The death of their son was a sad shock to the bereaved parents,
who did not know that he was not in good health. If he had felt
any symptoms of the fatal malady, he had kept them to himself,
and when the last illness came it was not supposed he was in a
dangerous condition. The deceased was an industrious young man,
employed at the glassworks, and he had many friends who will
sympathize with the parents in their affliction. The funeral
will be held Wednesday morning at 9 o'clock from the Cathedral.
O'LEARY, PATRICK J./Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, March
21, 1900
Patrick J. O'Leary, the 14 year old son of Mr. and
Mrs. Thomas O'Leary, died this morning at 6 o'clock at the
family home, 630 Washington street. The funeral will take place
at 1:30 o'clock Thursday afternoon, and services will be in St.
Patrick's church.
O'LEARY, THOMAS (CAPTAIN)/Source: Alton Evening Telegraph,
January 30, 1920
Night Captain on Alton Police Force -
Served in Civil War
Capt. Thomas O'Leary, in his eighty first
year, died Thursday night at his home, 1509 Belle street, after
being bedfast three days. Old age was the cause of his death. He
had been failing in health for the past two years, but was not
sick, and members of his family said that he suffered no pain.
He passed out quietly and peacefully from a general wearing out
of his physical machine. The death of Capt. O'Leary removes from
Alton one of the best known of the old time residents of Alton.
He had come to Alton in 1851, and lived here continuously since
that time. He was born in Enniscarthy, Wexford, Ireland, May 1,
1839. He was married in Alton to Mary Jane Bell in June 1867,
and she survives him. He served during the Civil war under Col.
Mulligan and he rendered brave service to the cause of the
Union. He was one of the first mail carriers in the city of
Alton and served as mail carrier for a long time. He was a
police officer for many years and during his service he was
police captain for about twenty years. He was a brave courageous
man, and had a high conception of duty. It mattered not to Capt.
O'Leary who it was he was called up on to exercise official
authority over, it was all the same. He had been unable for a
number of years to perform any labor, and lived in retirement on
his pension, and the results of his frugality and industry. He
was a staunch Democrat and always was deeply interested in the
welfare and work of that party. He leaves beside his wife, two
daughters, Mrs. Edward Pendleton of Chicago; Mrs. Maggie H.
Allison; and one son, Edward O'Leary of Alton. The funeral will
be held Monday morning at 9 o'clock from SS. Peter and Paul's
Cathedral.
OLIN, FRANKLIN W. JR./Source: Alton Evening Telegraph,
February 5, 1921
Son of President of Western Cartridge
Company Killed in Leap From 3rd Story Hospital Window
Franklin W. Olin Jr., son of Mr. and Mrs. F. W. Olin of 1228
State street, was instantly killed when he leaped from the third
story window of a hospital in New York, where he had been taking
treatment. He had undergone some surgical operations since being
taken to New York, a month ago. He had been in a bad state of
health for several years and the past year had been taking
treatment in a sanitarium. He returned home about the time of
the Christmas holidays, and instead of returning to the
sanitarium, he went East with his mother and brother, where he
began taking treatment there. He has been mentally depressed,
and owing to his condition, induced by worry over his physical
health, he was being attended by three nurses. During the
temporary absence of one of the nurses in charge last night,
Franklin Olin leaped from the window and was found lifeless in
the courtyard below. The tragic end of Franklin Olin Jr. is
distressing to a very large number of friends who knew him and
admired him intensely. His was a career that promised
achievements, as he had a mind of a very high order, and had
received great advantage in education. He was sympathetic with
his fellow creatures. One of the ideas that he had for solving
the never ending strife between capital and labor was that every
man should be paid according to the nervous and physical energy
he expends in doing his work, in theory that today is being
advanced by students of sociology. Friends of the young man are
recalling how he offered his services to his country during the
war. He had been drafted by the local exemption board and like
many other he had been granted an industrial exemption because
of his employment at the Western Cartridge Co. plant. This did
not suit him. He knew that he had a physical defect that would
impair his chances of being accepted in the military service, so
he resigned his job, went to New York, had an operation
performed on his ears, then he was ready to be assigned to any
contingent ready to be sent to training camp. However, he fell
down on a subsequent examination by the doctors and could not be
sent. Following that, he took a position as an instructor in
chemistry in the University of Illinois. He was known as an
intensely human man, interested in the welfare of his fellow
creatures, and he was sincerely respected and loved by a very
large number of people who knew him well. He was an expert golf
player and also an expert at tennis, he having held the local
championship at tennis. Franklin Olin's chief interest was
____red in the study of chemistry. He was a graduate of Cornell
University, where he prepared himself by the study of chemistry
to be of service in the plant of the Western Cartridge Co. He
served both the Western and the Equitable Powder Company.
Franklin Olin, until his breakdown, had an active part in the
supervision of construction work in the plants and he had much
to do with the additions that were made to the plant at East
Alton and with work on the new plant at Springfield and Peoria.
A New York dispatch to the Globe Democrat said the following:
"New York, Feb. 4 - Franklin W. Olin, Jr., of 1128 State Street,
Alton, a son of the president of the Western Cartridge Company,
committed suicide tonight by jumping from the 3rd floor of St.
Bartholomew's Hospital in East Forty-Second street. Olin, upon
whom an abdominal operation had been performed six days ago, was
killed instantly. He was 30 years old and an architectural
engineer. Accompanied by his father and mother, who stayed at
the Waldorf-Astoria to await his expected recovery, Olin came to
New York and went in to the hospital two weeks ago. The
operation was performed by Dr. John Draper, and Dr. F. H.
Cotton, specialists in gastro-internal diseases, and was
considered so successful that both surgeons left today to keep a
professional engagement in Savannah, Ga. Olin, whose family is
wealthy, had a private room in the hospital and was attended by
three men nurses, one of whom was constantly in attendance. The
nurse on duty tonight left the room momentarily, on a necessary
task, and returned in time to see his patient climbing over the
windowsill. The nurse jumped forward, but was too late to check
Olin's fall to the hospital courtyard. J. W. Flake,
superintendent of the hospital, and members of the staff found
Olin apparently lifeless when they reached him. Unsuccessful
efforts were made to resuscitate him. Olin Sr. said tonight that
his son was depressed because of the operation. He added that
all information would have to come from the hospital
authorities."
[Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, February
8, 1921: The body was entombed temporarily in the George Levis
vault in Upper Alton Oakwood Cemetery.]
OLIVE, ABEL JR./Source: Alton Telegraph, November 18, 1875
From Edwardsville, November 16, 1875 – Abel Olive, an early
settler, died at the residence of his son, Dr. William Olive, in
Silver Creek precinct last Thursday. The deceased was one of the
most upright and highly respected citizens of our county. His
wife died on Saint Valentine’s Day 1874. They were both
consistent members of the Christian Church for many years before
their death. Prior to his becoming infirm with age, he, for
several years, held the office of Justice of the Peace of Silver
Creek precinct, and in that capacity officiated at the marriage
of a great many of his younger neighbors. We are particularly
reminded of this fact from having frequently heard him say that
the first time he officiated at a wedding, he was very much
embarrassed and trembled like a leaf, and that he was similarly
affected on every subsequent occasion of the kind. The deceased
has left several children, all adults, a score and upwards of
grandchildren, and a large circle of friends to mourn his
demise. The immediate cause of his death was a cancer on the
face.
NOTES:
Abel Olive Jr. was born on September 8,
1796, in Nash County, North Carolina. His spouse was Elizabeth
Ricks Olive (1797-1874). His children were: Temperance Olive
Wall (1815-1857); Martha Patsy Olive Compton (1817-1841); Jesse
Olive (1820-1881); Charity Olive Tabor (1823-1882); Joel Haden
Olive (1826-1885); John S. Olive (1827-1894); and William Olive
(1836-1933). Abel was buried in the Olive Cemetery in
Livingston, Madison County, Illinois.
OLIVE, JAMES (SQUIRE)/Source: Troy Weekly Call, July 19,
1902; Downers Grove Reporter, July 24, 1902
Madison County
Pioneer; Namesake of Olive Township
James Olive, one of the
oldest and most prominent residents of Madison County, died July
14, 1902, at his farm residence in Olive Township. The funeral
was very largely attended. Deceased was born in Kentucky on June
4, 1817, and was in his 86th year at the time of his death. He
had been a resident of Madison County since 1833, and owned much
valuable farming land and other property. He was the first
Supervisor elected to represent his township on adoption of the
township organization law, and served many terms, as well as
serving as school trustee, justice, etc. Olive Township was
named in his honor. The death of Jesse Olive, a son, occurred
only a day or so previous to that of his aged father.
NOTES:
The Olive family were of English descent, and came to
America during the Colonial period. They took part in the
struggles which resulted in America’s independence. Abel Olive,
the father of James, was born in Virginia on July 20, 1765. He
was twice married. By Elizabeth (nee Wilson), his first wife, he
had five children: Nancy, Jose and Joel (twins), William, and
Ira. By Martha (nee Munter), his second wife, he had eight
children: Abel, Uel, Jesse, Richard, John, Mary, Sarah, and
James.
James Olive, the youngest son of Abel, was born
June 4, 1817, in Kentucky, and came to Alton, Madison County, in
1833. The following Spring, he settled in Township 6, Range 6
(Olive Township), where he continued to live until his death. On
his arrival at Alton, he had 50 cents only in his possession.
The country was then new, and its prairies, timber, and fertile
soil was a deciding factor in making Madison County his home. He
worked as a laborer for $6.00 per month, and in addition took
jobs of rail splitting at 50 cents per hundred. After one or two
years of hard labor, he married Mrs. Linda Tabor, widow of James
Tabor. By this marriage, he came into possession of a 40-acre
tract of unimproved land, which included a log cabin, partially
built. He completed the cabin, and soon bought an additional 40
acres of adjoining land, which he farmed. By judicious
management, James was able to add to his property, becoming a
prosperous farmer. By 1873, he owned 830 acres of finely
improved land, divided into different farms, on which stood six
substantial tenant houses. He built a fine home for his family,
which included a livestock. His property was located north of
Brandt Road, and east of Highway 27 in Olive Township, just
south of Livingston.
James Olive had a strong, vigorous
mind, and was a product of the pioneer blood of this country.
His mind was sharp, and it was stated that he would have been a
very successful politician, were it not for his old-fashioned
honesty. He did, however, hold a number of offices for the
benefit of his immediate community. He was Justice of the Peace
from 1849 to at least 1873, and was elected Township Treasurer
when the free-school system was first adopted in Illinois.
His children by his first wife, Linda, were:
Henry C.
Olive
James M. Olive Jr.
Martha E. Olive
Sarah Olive
Margaret Olive Crowder (1854-1919)
Marinda Olive
Thomas J.
Olive
Mary J. Olive Kienle (1848-1929)
His first wife
died April 21, 1864, and on November 17, 1864, he married Mrs.
Mary Shumate, widow of Michael Shumate. His children by his
second wife were:
Lily Belle Olive Livingston (1865-1951)
Harriet Pearl Olive Camp (1867-1951)
Edward Minter Olive
Nora Gem Olive Francy (1870-1957)
John Olive
Jesse Olive
(1875-1902)
James Olive is buried in the Olive Cemetery,
Livingston, Madison County, Illinois.
OLLER, LEONARD/Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, November 2,
1905
Slain by Son in Fierce Fight at Home
Leonard Oller
was killed Wednesday night by his son, Frank Oller, aged 18, at
the family home, 1200 Union Street, after a fierce fight which
resulted over the boy selecting his attorney instead of his
father as guardian. The son defended himself with a rolling pin
against the attack of his father, who had an open pocket knife
in his hand, and after locking the boy in the house, made an
attempt to execute his threat to kill him. Frank Oller, the boy,
has lost his left foot above the ankle as the result of a street
car accident which occurred two years ago. The boy's father sued
for him and secured a judgment in the boy's name for $6,500,
which was affirmed against the Alton, Granite and St. Louis
Traction company in the Supreme court last week. The boy then
decided to select his attorney, Judge D. E. Keefe of East St.
Louis, as guardian. Leonard Oller, according to the members of
the family, was a violent man, addicted to intoxicating liquors
and was frequently drunk. For this reason the boy chose another
guardian. When the father learned of his son's selection, he
raged. The boy has been employed at the glass works since he
procured an artificial foot, and the father went to see him at
the glass works yesterday, demanding that he annul his selection
of Judge Keefe. The boy was firm and refused to do so. The
father was drunk then, it is said by his son, and insisted upon
the boy going over the street to a saloon, there to discuss the
matter. The boy was firm and then the father vowed to kill him.
Wednesday night the father returned home, Frank was seated in
the house. The family had supper and the father renewed his
demands in the guardianship matter. The boy would not consent to
his father's proposal, and finally Oller ordered his son out of
the house, never to return. The boy's mother went for his coat
and hat, and handing them to her son told him to leave. Frank
started to go and the father seized him, remarking that he would
never know the time he left the house alive, as he intended to
kill him first. It developed afterward that the father had
locked the door leading from the front room into the outer
hallway, thus pinning the boy in the room. The father went for
the son with the open knife in his hand. Mrs. Oller had been
using the rolling pin for preparing part of the evening meal,
and the children, it was said, had been playing with it and left
it on the floor. When Oller attacked his son, Mrs. Oller
attempted to separate them, but her husband knocked her down.
Roy Oller, aged 16, made a similar attempt but he too was
knocked down. Roy Oller was a spectator of the remainder of the
tragedy. When the father tried to stab Frank and struck at him
with a chair, Frank snatched up the rolling pin and a terrific
struggle ensued, in which the father was knocked down and
killed. The boy admits that he lost control of himself after he
had knocked his father down, and that he did not know how many
times he struck him. Oller's skull was crushed in on the entire
right side. The boy was so terrified by his father's assault
upon him that he belabored the head of the prostrate man and he
says that the fight must have lasted 20 minutes. Mrs. Oller did
not see all the fight as she ran to get a policeman, and when
she returned her husband was dead. Capt. Ashlock and Officer
Bush went to the Oller house, and there found Frank Oller, who
surrendered himself to the officers. The body of the father was
found lying in the doorway between the front room and the dining
room. The exposed right side of the head was beaten to a pulp.
In the right hand was still the pocket knife with which the
father had committed the assault. The room was covered with
blood which had spurted over the ceiling and walls, and Oller's
body was lying in a pool that covered almost the entire floor.
The body was turned over to Coroner Streeper. The family
insisted that it be removed from the house to the undertaking
establishment of the coroner. The inquest was set for this
afternoon. The dead man was a large, powerful man, weighing
about 190 pounds, while his son, who killed him, was slighter in
build and was handicapped by the fact that he had lost one foot.
Oller was the father of seven children, three of whom were at
home when the killed occurred and were witnesses of it. Mrs.
Oller, when interviewed by a Telegraph reported immediately
after the killing, expressed no regret over the outcome, as she
said it was a clear case of self defense, and that her husband
had been drinking and was making threats of killing the entire
family. She said her son made no effort to run away as he had
done nothing but what he was justified in doing. None of the
members of the family seemed to regret anything except the
manner of the death of the father, as he was said by them to
have been violent in his speech and conduct in his own home,
especially when under the influence of liquor. The boy bears a
good reputation and has the support and sympathy of all his
family and all the people who know both the father and son.
Capt. Ashlock, who first entered the room after the fight, said
that he found the furniture broken up and every article in the
room in a state of disarray. The indications were that a
terrific battle had taken place there, and the sight was a
sickening one as the father lay in the pool of blood on the
floor. The jury impaneled by Coroner Streeper to hold an inquest
concluded taking evidence this afternoon and found a verdict
completely exonerating Frank Oller of any blame. The jury
recommended that he be given his liberty on the grounds of
justifiable homicide, and immediately afterward the boy was
released from custody. The meeting between the mother and son
was an affecting one, and Mrs. Oller almost collapsed from
relief of the strain under which she had been laboring. All the
evidence tended to show that the father had made threats to kill
his son, his wife, himself and the guardian, whoever he might
be, if the father was not appointed to control his son's money.
According to members of the family, Oller had been drinking much
and was very quarrelsome, frequently visiting violence on his
wife.
NOTES:
Frank Oller was later employed by the Western
Cartridge Company at East Alton. He worked as a machinist for
twelve years. In 1919, at the age of 31, he died of a stroke. He
left behind his mother, Maria Oller, two sisters (Mrs. Freda
Harrison and Mrs. Abe Hildebrand), and three brothers (Roy,
Jesse, and John). At the time of Frank’s death, his brother John
was serving with the American Expeditionary Forces in France
(World War I). John was in the trenches for 52 days. He was
wounded in both legs during battle, and lay on the battlefield
for two days before he was found and taken to the hospital. One
of his legs had to be amputated, but he survived. Frank’s
mother, Maria, died in 1935 at the age of 77. Most of the family
is buried in the Upper Alton Oakwood Cemetery.
OLMSTEAD, WILLIAM TROWBRIDGE/Source: Alton Evening Telegraph,
April 28, 1913
Civil War Veteran
The death of William T.
Olmstead occurred this morning at 1:15 at the family home on
State street. Deceased had been ailing several months, but was
taken worse three weeks ago, since which time little hope of his
recovery has been entertained. He was 73 years of age. He is
survived by his wife, Mrs. Almeda Olmstead, and four children,
Miss Grace Olmstead of Chicago; Wallace K. Olmstead of Siloam
Springs, Arkansas; Mrs. John Yokum and John W. Olmstead of this
city. He is also survived by one brother and four sisters, all
of whom live at a distance. The funeral will be held from the
home of his son, John W. Olmstead, 1252 State street, Wednesday
at 2 p.m. Mr. Olmstead was a member of the A. O. U. W., and also
of the M. W. A. He is a veteran of the Civil War, having served
three and one half years in the Third New York regiment.
O’LOUGHLIN, THOMAS/Source: Alton Telegraph, August 7, 1884
From Bethalto – A gentlemen by the name of Thomas O’Loughlin
came up Sunday last to visit his children and brother who live
here. Soon after his arrival, he was taken violently ill with a
congestive chill, and died at four o’clock of the same day. The
remains were interred Monday at the Bethalto Cemetery.
O'MEARA, PATRICK/Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, March 2,
1907
Patrick O'Meara, who has lived in East Alton for 32
years and has been in the employ of the Big Four railroad all
that time, died Saturday morning after an illness of several
days duration, super induced by an abdominal tumor. His
physicians urged him to submit to a surgical operation, but he
steadfastly refused and death intervened. He was an expert
trackman and was a good citizen and neighbor. He was 63 years
old, and is survived by his wife. The funeral will be held
Monday morning from St. Patrick's church, and burial will be in
Greenwood cemetery. O'Meara had an interesting history. He had
worked so long on the Big Four that he was considered a fixture,
and his employers regarded him as such a valuable man that he
held as secure a tenure on his job as the bondholders of the
railroad do on their job. To run the Big Four without O'Meara
was regarded as an impossibility by himself and also by his
superiors. He knew every section line, every landmark, and every
foot of track for miles, and was more valuable than many a
survivor in marking off land. O'Meara made the remark that he
would have been president of the Big Four if it had not been for
his defective education, and there is no one doubts that he
would have risen high but for the handicap of neglected early
training. He was a man of good judgment and good common sense.
His death will remove a valuable servant from the employ of the
railroad, and there is no doubt that high officials of the
railroad will attend the funeral.
O’NEAL, JOSEPH/Source: Alton Telegraph, August 28, 1884
Found in Mississippi River
The body of an unknown man was
found in the Mississippi last week, near the mouth of the Wood
River. It was that of a man about forty years of age, well
dressed, and enveloped in a rubber overcoat. Deceased was quite
bald, and had a dark moustache. The body had apparently been in
the water about five or six days. No effects were found on his
person, with the exception of some pieces of writing paper with
the heading of the Diamond Jo Packet Co. There was some writing
on the paper, but so blurred by water as to be illegible.
Coroner Youree held an inquest last evening, but elicited no
additional facts. The Coroner took the papers home with him in
order to dry them out and try and decipher the writing. The body
was placed in charge of Mr. W. L. Klunk for burial. It is
thought that the deceased might have been a watchman or mate on
a steamboat.
Later: From Elsah – From the description of
the man found in the river at the mouth of the Wood River, it is
the same who took Frank Farley’s skiff and left Elsah on the
17th. The skiff has since been found near Portage, turned bottom
upwards. While here, he worked on the section and boarded with
H. P. Morris, to whom we are indebted for these facts. He first
gave his name as Joseph O’Neal, but afterwards stated that his
real name was Joseph Kennedy. He was somewhat intoxicated when
last seen.
O'NEIL, EDWARD/Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, Monday, June
19, 1899
Edward O'Neil, a well known character, locally, died
this morning at his home. The funeral will be Wednesday morning
and services will be in the Cathedral. O'Neil was a native of
Ireland, but had lived in Alton most of his life. He was a
laborer but had not been able to work for some years.
O'NEILL, ANASTASIA/Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, July 21,
1900
The funeral of Anastasia O'Neill this morning was one of
the largest ever known in St. Patrick's church. Owing to the
extreme sadness of the death because of the previous deaths in
the family, there is general sympathy with the family in its
hour of affliction, and the feeling of the public was expressed
by the large attendance at the funeral services. Rev. Fr.
O'Reilly was the officiating clergyman. Interment was in
Greenwood Cemetery.
O'NEILL, ANN/Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, August 16, 1907
The funeral of Mrs. Ann O'Neill, wife of Michael O'Neill, was
held this morning from the Cathedral and was attended by a very
large number of friends and neighbors. A requiem mass was said
by Rev. Fr. Fennessey, and burial was in Greenwood Cemetery.
There were many beautiful floral offerings.
O’NEILL, MARY/Source: Alton Telegraph, March 13, 1879
From
Edwardsville – Mrs. Mary O’Neill, wife of James O’Neill, and
formerly the widow of Robert Taylor, deceased, died at her late
residence near Edwardsville last Thursday, and her funeral,
which took place Saturday afternoon from the Irish Catholic
Church in Edwardsville, of which she was a worthy and highly
esteemed member, was largely attended.
O'NEILL, MARY/Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, July 27, 1901
Mrs. Mary O'Neill died at her home, 314 east Second street, at 6
o'clock this morning, after two weeks of intense suffering,
which she bore patiently. She was prostrated by the heat two
weeks ago, and all efforts to counteract the prostration failed.
Mrs. O'Neill was 58 years of age, 43 of which she spent in
Alton. She has conducted a boarding house for years at her home,
and she was a kindly, charitable woman, whose loss will be
regretted by all who knew her. She leaves two daughters, Mrs.
Maggie Carson and Mrs. _____ O'Neill, and one sister, Mrs. M.
McDonnell of Main street. The funeral will take place Monday
morning at 9:30 from the Cathedral.
O'NEILL, NELLIE LORETTA/Source: Alton Evening Telegraph,
August 22, 1901
After weeks of lingering, painful illness,
Miss Nellie Loretta O'Neill, aged 21 years, died this morning at
6:30 at the family home, 1012 East Third street. She leaves a
mother, Mrs. Mary O'Neill, and five sisters, Mesdames Bailey and
Herman and Misses Kate, Lucy and Gertrude, and numerous other
relatives and friends to grieve over her early taking away. Miss
O'Neill was a bright and talented girl, a graduate of the Alton
High School class of 1899, and gave promise of accomplishing
great good in her chosen profession, that of teaching. Her death
will be regretted sincerely by all who knew or ever met her.
Funeral arrangements have not yet been made.
OPEL, IDA/Source: Alton Telegraph, September 6, 1883
Murder or Suicide?
From Edwardsville – The wife of John F.
Opel, a well-to-do farmer residing at Carpenter, and their
six-year-old daughter, were missing yesterday morning, and a
search being instituted, resulted in finding their dead bodies
in a small shallow stock pond, but a few rods from the family
residence. They were firmly tied together by their necks with a
rope. The full facts developed at the inquest are not in our
possession, but some people are loathed to attribute the sad
affair to suicide, and favor further investigation.
Source: Alton Telegraph, September 13, 1883
The inquest since
held by a Justice of the Peace developed but a few facts. The
bodies were found bounc tightly together with ropes. The water
where they were found was only two feet deep. The verdict of the
jury of inquest was that the mother committed suicide, taking
the little girl, only six years old, into the water with her.
The bodies were clad only in night clothes, and the indications
were that the mother had arisen from bed, taken the sleeping
child with her, fastened it to herself with a rope, and then
left the house, deliberately walked into the pond, lay down and
drowned both the child and herself. The occurrence is mysterious
in every respect, and creates great excitement in the
neighborhood. Mrs. Opel was the wife of a well-known farmer, and
had never evinced any symptoms of derangement. She had a good
home, and so far as known, her domestic relations were pleasant.
The motive, therefore, for the terrible deed, is unknown. While
there are whispers of foul play, there does not seem to be
anything to found suspicion upon, but in order to develop all
the facts in the case, another investigation is to be held
tomorrow by Coroner Youree. Later – A verdict of suicide was
returned by Coroner Youree.
NOTES:
Ida Opel was born
November 1836, and was the wife of John F. Opel. They were the
parents of four children – Wilhelmina Opel Buchta (1860-1958);
Louisa Katherine Opel Nitzel (1864-1950); and William
Christopher Opel (1871-1942); and the unknown daughter who was
drowned with the mother (1877-1883). Mrs. Opel was buried in the
Immanuel United Church of Christ Cemetery in Hamel. Her husband,
John F. Opel, was born in March 1826, and died May 8, 1888, at
the age of 62. He was buried in the same cemetery.
OPPERMANN, ALBERTINE/Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, March
24, 1904
The funeral of Mrs. Albertine Oppermann, who died
Tuesday at his [sic] home in Bethalto, was held this afternoon
from the family home. Mrs. Opperman was 63 years old.
O'REILLEY, KATE/Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, July 20,
1901
Mrs. Kate O'Reilley, widow of William O'Reilley, died at
noon at St. Joseph's hospital from an illness of two years with
cancer of the side. Her illness had been a painful one, and to
her family was a relief to see the last of the painful
breathing, every minute of which was one of agony of body. She
was 30 years of age and had lived in Alton all her life. She was
the daughter of Timothy Driscoll, one of the best known of the
older residents of the city, and since last December she had
been an inmate of St. Joseph's Hospital where kindly hands
ministered to her and all that tender friends and relatives
could do was done to lighten her suffering. She leaves one son.
She leaves also two brothers, Rev. Fr. Driscoll, Dennis
Driscoll, and four sisters, Mrs. Charles Kane, and Mrs. William
Bell of Alton; Mrs. Frank Schuelle and Mrs. John Haggarty of St.
Louis. The body was taken this afternoon to the home of Charles
Kane, and from there the funeral will be to St. Patrick's church
Monday morning at 9:30 o'clock.
O'REILLEY, MARGARET/Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, January
23, 1914
The funeral of Miss Margaret O'Reilley, who died at
St. Joseph's Hospital Wednesday evening, was held Friday morning
from St. Patrick's Church, which was filled with sorrowing
friends, relatives, and former neighbors. A requiem high mass
was said, the celebrant being an uncle of deceased, Rev. Fr.
Driscoll of Jerseyville, Rev. Fr. Mee of Jerseyville was deacon
and Rev. Fr. Manning of St. Patrick's was sub-deacon....Burial
was in Greenwood Cemetery and the mound was covered deep with
flowers, the offerings of sorrowing friends.
ORGAN, MARY/Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, April 20, 1910
Mrs. Mary Organ, widow of John Organ, died Wednesday morning at
her residence, 323 Dry street, after an illness of less than
four hours with neuralgia of the heart. Mrs. Organ was
apparently in perfect health when she arose this morning, and
began attending to her customary duties, but was taken ill about
8 o'clock. A physician was summoned and was in constant
attendance until death came shortly before noon. Mrs. Organ
lived with her only daughter, Mrs. Henry Loehr. She had lived in
Alton about fifty years, and was married here. Her husband died
thirteen years ago. Mrs. Organ's name was Mary Curtin, and she
leaves one sister in Ireland, Mrs. Michael Curtin. It will be
remembered that some time ago she received a nice legacy from
the estate of her brother who died in Australia. The funeral
will be held from SS. Peter and Paul's Cathedral, and will
probably be Friday morning.
ORR, ELMER ELLSWORTH/Source: Alton Telegraph, November 1,
1861
Died in Alton on the 25th inst., Elmer Ellsworth, infant
son of W. L. and E. C. Orr.
ORR, MARGARET/Source: Alton Telegraph, October 22, 1842
Died, in Edwardsville, on Saturday morning, the 15th inst., in
the 18th year of her age, after a short illness, which she bore
with Christian fortitude and resignation, Miss Margaret Orr,
fifth daughter of the late Rev. Joseph Orr, who was for many
years Pastor of the Reformed Presbyterian Congregation of
Drumbalg, County of Derry, Ireland. She, with her brothers and
sisters, immigrated to this county from Ireland in the fall of
1840; and though her stay was short in this place, yet she has
left lasting impressions of esteem and respect upon the
affections of all who knew her. Truly her brothers and sisters
have reason to be consoled in the evidence which she gave in her
last moments that with her to die was gain.
ORR, WILLIAM L./Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, April 3,
1905
Civil War Soldier
William L. Orr, formerly a
resident of Alton, died at the Soldiers' Home in Danville, Ill.,
after a long illness. Many years ago Mr. Orr was a well known
resident of Alton, and his body will be brought back for burial
in City cemetery, where his wife and other members of his family
are buried. He leaves one daughter, who lives in Chicago. Mr.
Orr was a member of Piasa lodge, No. 27, A. F. and A. M., Alton
Chapter, R. A. M. and Belvidere Commandery, Knights Templar. Mr.
Orr was for many years grand tyler of the Illinois Masonic Grand
Lodge until he was stricken with the malady which rendered him
helpless and finally caused his death. The beginning of his
disability was several years ago when he suffered an apopleptic
stroke. He was finally moved to the Soldiers' Home at Danville
where he passed the last few months of his life. During the
Civil War, Mr. Orr was an engineer on one of the gunboats, and
when the war ended he was not discharged from the service, but
was kept on duty for some time, and afterward was technically on
duty, but he never received any compensation for it. A bill is
now in Congress for a special appropriation in his behalf, but
it was never passed. The body will be brought to Alton, and the
burial will be under Masonic auspices, and will be conducted by
Piasa lodge. The funeral will be held Wednesday afternoon at 2
o'clock from the parlors in the Masonic building on State
street.
OSBORN, EARL W./Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, November 7,
1918
WWI Soldier Dies of Influenza at Paris Island
George
H. Osborn of 2408 Brown street, principal of the Humbolt school,
received a telegram today announcing the death of their son,
Earl W. Osborn, at Paris Island, S. C., from an attack of
influenza and pneumonia. Earl was the second son of Mr. and Mrs.
Osborne, and was 19 years old. He graduated from the Alton High
School in the Class of 1917. He entered Shurtleff College in the
fall of 1917. In July last, he went to the Great Lakes, joining
the Marines, and was later transferred to Paris Island where he
was a member of Company 248. The first telegram of November 5
announcing his sickness followed immediately after the receipt
of a letter from the young man stating that he had been
inoculated four times and was feeling fine. The body will be
brought to Alton for burial. This is the second bereavement that
recently has befallen Mr. and Mrs. Osborn, their 3 year old
daughter, Dorothy, passing away six weeks ago.
Source:
Alton Evening Telegraph, November 9, 1918
George H. Osborne
of 2408 Brown street, principal of the Humbolt school, received
a telegram this morning announcing that the body of his son,
Private Earl W. Osborne, would arrive in Alton from Paris
Island, S. C., on Monday morning. Mr. Osborne stated that the
funeral services would be held late Monday afternoon and would
be private. Rev. M. W. Twing, pastor of the First Baptist
church, will officiate, and the burial will be in Oak Grove
cemetery.
OSBORN, GEORGE H./Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, July 30,
1919
Humboldt School Principal Dead
George H. Osborn,
principal of Humboldt School, died shortly after the noon hour
today at his residence, Brown and Jersey streets, in Upper
Alton. His death was due to a meningial development from
infection following an operation for the removal of a growth in
his nose. About ten days ago he underwent the operation in a
hospital in St. Louis. He was supposed to have recovered from
the operation, or nearly so, when unexpectedly he developed
symptoms of infection in the nose, which turned into a form of
meningitis, and resulted in his death. He was known to be in a
serious condition yesterday, though the turn for the worse had
come just the day before. It was not generally understood,
however, that there was danger of the illness turning out
fatally. Mr. Osborn was for a long time principal of McKinley
School in the North Side. He had served there very acceptably
for a number of years and when there was a vacancy in the
Humboldt School principalship, he took that post. Less than two
years ago he bought a place in Upper Alton and moved there. Mr.
Osborn was a son of Rev. James Osborn of Upper Alton. Osborn was
born in England on June 12, 1864. He has lived in Alton for the
past twenty years. For sixteen years he was the principal of the
North Alton schools, and four years ago he was promoted to the
position of principal of Humboldt School. He is survived by his
wife, Mrs. Angie Osborn, present truant officer of Alton; and
three children, Leland, Lucille and Ralph. He leaves two
brothers, James Osborn of Kaskell, Okla.; Professor Clyde Osborn
of Oak Park, and one half-brother, Carey Osborn of Iowa; as well
as three sisters, Mrs. Bertha Richer of Urbana, Mrs. Maud
Stewart of Troy, and Mrs. Ella Auwater of Troy. His is the third
death in the family within a year. His daughter, Dorothy Louise,
was the first influenza victim in Alton. She died on September
25, 1918. Less than two months later his son, Earl Osborn, aged
19, died at Paris Island while he was awaiting to be sent to
France. He was brought back to Alton and buried on the day the
armistice was signed.
OSBORN, JAMES (REVEREND)/Source: Alton Telegraph, November 6,
1913
Rev. James Osborn, a prominent Baptist clergyman, pastor
of the Troy Baptist Church for 23 years, died at his home in
Upper Alton yesterday from kidney trouble after an illness of
seven years. He had been seriously ill for the past week, and
his death was expected. He was a native of England and was 75
years, 11 months and 5 days old. He came to America in 1866 and
settled at Bridgeport, Ill. There he worked at his trade of shoe
maker and became convinced he ought to engage in preaching, when
he was in middle age. He began his studies and took up preaching
in 1880. He graduated from Shurtleff College in 1885, when he
was 48 years of age. He filled the position of the moderator of
the Illinois Baptist Association at one time. He is survived by
his wife and seven children, Clyde of Chicago, Ella Auwater of
Troy, Carey, S., George H., of Alton, Mrs. Maud Stewart of
Pleasant Plains, Iowa, Mrs. Bertha Richards of Batavin, Ill.,
and James Osborn of Oklahoma.
OSBORN, JOHN/Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, June 22, 1917
John Osborn, aged 45, colored, dropped dead while building the
fire at the Madison Hotel this morning where he was employed as
second cook. The inquest was held over the body this afternoon
at the William Bauer undertaking rooms.
OSBORN, JOHN ALLEN/Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, December
1, 1922
John Allen Osborn, who died over Thanksgiving day,
was supposed to be in such a bad condition from heart trouble
that he was discharged from the army during the Civil War for
heart disease. He was liable to die at any minute, the army
surgeon thought, and he was released after serving three years
in the union army, according to his brother, A. J. Osborn. But
the soldier's heart was stronger than was counted on. He never
did die from heart disease. He went through life nearly another
sixty years, taking care of that crippled heart, and he finally
died from old age. He was in his eighty-seventh year when he
died at his home, 2215 Brown street. Another interesting fact is
that he leaves his wife to whom he was married in the year 1856.
The couple had been husband and wife for 66 years. He leaves
also four sons and two daughters. Mr. Osborn was born in Monroe
county, Ky., and he grew up to young manhood there. He enlisted
in the 10th Kentucky and served three years in the Civil War
until discharged for disability with the bad heart. Once during
the war, it is related by his only brother, A. J. Osborn, a long
time resident of Alton and old soldier, the two brothers met at
Kenesaw Mountain and had their first reunion they had enjoyed in
eleven years. About a dozen years ago, J. A. Osborn came to
Alton to live. He had visited here, like the place, and wanted
to be near his brother. All the rest of his life he spent here.
He was granted an increase of pension from $50 to $72 a month
about six months ago because of his helplessness and the
necessity of giving him constant attention. The death of Mr.
Osborn had been expected several days, but his final illness was
a short one. During the last two or three years he was sick a
good deal of the time but was able to get about practically all
the time. On last election day, Nov. 5, he made a trip to the
polls and cast his ballot. He had not been getting around much
of late, but he never intended to miss voting and he told his
family he was going to walk to the polls. They objected to this,
and someone sent an automobile to his home which took him to the
polls. The last two weeks his decline was rapid. He did not
appear to have any particular illness other than the infirmities
of age. His strength started to leave him and it continued to
fail a little each day until the end came on Wednesday night.
Mr. Osborn leaves a large number of descendants, very probably
more than any one person whose death in Alton has occurred in
many years. When asked this afternoon by a Telegraph reporter as
to the exact number of grandchildren and great-grandchildren the
aged man leaves, member of his family had no idea. After getting
pencil and paper and discussing the matter for some time, they
counted the grandchildren to be 42, and the great-grandchildren
44. The aged Civil War veteran also leaves his widow who was 81
last February and is as well and able to do her own house work
as any of her age. The sons and daughters who survive Mr. Osborn
are John A. Osborn Jr. of Clawson street, Upper Alton; William
of Owensboro, Ky.; Michael C., James Alfred Osborn and Mrs.
Annie Sebestian of Breckenridge County, Ky.; and Mrs. Nora Davis
of Alton. These sons and daughters are the parents of 42
children and the grandparents of 44. The funeral will be Sunday
afternoon from the family home on Brown street, at 2 o'clock.
Services will be conducted by Rev. Dr. Magill of the College
avenue Baptist church, in which Mr. Osborn held membership. He
had been a near lifelong member of the Baptist church.
OSBORN, MARGERY/Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, March 27,
1903
The North Alton public schools are closed today out of
sympathy for the sorrow of the principal, Mr. George H. Osborn
and wife, because of the death this morning of their lovely and
lovable little daughter, Margery. The child, who was nearing
seven years of age, was ill for ten weeks with typhoid fever,
but was in a fair way to recover when heart failure attacked her
and the end came rapidly. The funeral will be Sunday afternoon
at 2 o'clock.
OSBORN, UNKNOWN CHILD OF CHARLES C./Source: Alton Evening
Telegraph, March 30, 1905
The 4 years old child of Mr. and
Mrs. Charles C. Osborn died Wednesday night at the home, 22 East
Seventh street. The funeral will be Thursday afternoon.
OSBORNE, UNKNOWN INFANT/Source: Alton Telegraph, February 26,
1885
From Upper Alton – Rev. and Mrs. James Osborne have
suffered a sore bereavement in the loss of a son, who died on
Tuesday, aged six weeks, from spinal meningitis.
OSBORNE, UNKNOWN TODDLER/Source: Alton Evening Telegraph,
March 23, 1922
A little toddling 16-months-old son of Mr. and
Mrs. Hugh Osborne, residing south of Hartford, went forth in
quest of adventure this noon and found it - life's most
beautiful adventure. A short time after the two-year-old toddled
forth to see the world, he was lying crushed and bloody and
still, the victim of the giant wheels of a great passenger
engine pulling a train that daily had dashed past his home amid
roar and puffing of steam and clanging of bell. The little
fellow got in the way of the big train. He did not know it did
not have sense enough to stop for him. Everybody and everything
else he had ever known had stopped and let him go by, and he
perhaps thought the big choo-choo would do the same. He had
evaded his mother's watchful care only a few minutes when the
mother knew something had happened. There was the crunch of the
brakes, the grinding of wheels, the big train stopped. The
mother dashed out to find her little baby lifeless. Death
apparently was instant. Then the big train, the Alton Limited,
moved on its way with a heart sick load of passengers. The
mother had left the baby asleep while she busied herself with
her work, he had waked, and wandered out to the railroad track
on his fatal adventure.
OSBY, JOHN/Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, February 23, 1904
The funeral of John Osby was held this afternoon from the Union
Baptist church, where services were conducted by the pastor.
Interment was in Oakwood Cemetery.
OSBY, LILLIAN MAY/Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, March 3,
1903
Lillian May Osby, aged 22, colored, was buried
yesterday in the Upper Alton cemetery. The mourners who attended
the funeral were put to great inconvenience by a refusal of the
pastor of the Upper Alton Methodist church to allow the funeral
to be held in the church building. A Baptist preacher had been
engaged by special request of the deceased made before her
death. Rev. Mr. Coats, pastor of the Methodist church, met the
funeral party at the church door and told them they would have
to "head on down the street" to the colored Baptist church, as
he would allow no Baptists to preach in his pulpit. The
arrangements had been made to hold services in the Methodist
church, and it was after long delay that the funeral party
reached the Baptist church, had it opened up ready to receive
the funeral party, and then held the last services over the body
of the deceased.
OSELAND, CHARLES/Source: Troy Call, Friday, March 1, 1918
Charles Oseland, one of the old and well known residents of
Troy, was found dead in bed at his home Monday morning [Feb. 25]
by his son William, who made his home with him. Mr. Oseland had
been a sufferer for the past several years with asthma and for
some months had been seriously ill. Monday morning when the son
awoke he found his father cold and still. He immediately
summoned a physician who, upon examination, found that life had
been extinct for some hours, possibly since midnight. The
funeral took place Wednesday afternoon at 2 o'clock, services
being held at the residence by Rev. G. W. Dame, pastor of the M.
E. church, and interment was in the Troy cemetery. Those from
out of town attending the funeral were: Mr. and Mrs. Oliver
Loder and son, Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Taylor, Mr. and Mrs. Alfred
Capelle and William Morgan of St. Louis. Deceased was a native
of Staffordshire, England, and born May 31, 1835. He came to the
United States in 1861 and was married in St. Louis to Miss
Jennie Morgan on April 30, 1866. Eleven children were born to
them - four sons and seven daughters - and of these only one son
and three daughters survive. The family moved to Troy in 1890
and the wife and mother passed away here on December 31, 1900.
The surviving children are Mrs. Sarah Loder, Mrs. Laura Taylor
and Mrs. Iva Capelle of St. Louis, and William Oseland of Troy.
There are also three grandchildren. Besides these Mr. Oseland is
survived by five brothers and one sister who are: William, John
and Richard Oseland of Taylorville; Rhome Oseland of
Springfield; Thomas Oseland, who is at the soldiers' home, and
Mrs. Mary Richardson of Alton. The latter is the eldest and is
now in her 94th year. Mr. Oseland worked as a miner practically
all of his life both here and in England, but was forced to
retire some years ago on account of his advanced age.
OSLAND, W. A./Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, August 1, 1910
Inmate of Poor Farm Commits Suicide by Slitting Throat
C.
E. Trabue, superintendent of the poor farm, telephoned to Alton
today that a man named W. A. Osland, an inmate of the poor farm
four years and a victim of epilepsy, fatally cut himself on the
throat this afternoon just outside of the poor house. He was
dying when Trabue telephoned. It is said he has relatives in
Alton or vicinity.
OST, JOHN/Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, January 24, 1920
John Ost died Friday afternoon at the home of his brother,
Charles Ost, at Fosterburg, at the age of 66 years. Ost had been
sick for the past week with pneumonia, and from the first his
condition was serious. He is survived by two daughters, Mrs.
Louis Hannold of Brighton and Miss Edna Ost of St. Louis; also
by two sons, Joseph and William Ost of Edwardsville. He also
leaves two sisters and two brothers, Mrs. August Seiler, Upper
Alton; Mrs. Tillie Mason, Brighton; Charles and Louis Ost, of
Fosterburg. Ost was a well known Madison County politician, and
served in various positions. He was a Democrat. From 1902 to
1903 he served as supervisor and at the present time was a
central committeeman for his district. For several years he was
a justice of the peace at Fosterburg, and for several years also
served as manager of the Poor Farm at Edwardsville. He was a
blacksmith by trade. He was the only Democrat in Fosterburg
township who could be elected to office, as Fosterburg always
goes Republican. The funeral will be held Sunday afternoon at 2
o'clock from the Baptist church at Fosterburg. Ost was a member
of the Woodman lodge and took an active part in lodge work.
OST, LILLIE/Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, April 8, 1904
Surrounded by those who loved her, Mrs. Lillie Ost on Thursday
morning at 1:47 o'clock peacefully fell into the sleep that
draws the curtain on this life and reveals to her the mystery of
the other side. Her death had been hourly expected for several
days, and her illness has been the cause of concern of every
person in the community. Mrs. Ost was 38 years old, and beside
her husband, Charles Ost, and aged mother, Mrs. Nancy Dillon,
she leaves three brothers and a sister: Thomas Dillon of
Fosterburg; John Dillon of Edwardsville; Millard Dillon of Los
Angeles, Cal.; and Mrs. Rebecca Skaggs of Cleghorn, Iowa.
Funeral services were held at the Baptist church on Easter
Sunday, just eighteen years having passed since Mrs. Ost joined
the Baptist church, as she became a member of that congregation
on Easter Sunday, 1886. The funeral procession was the largest
ever seen in Fosterburg, and the beautiful floral offerings
plainly evidenced the sorrow and esteem felt for the living and
the pity for the dead. The most profound sympathy of the entire
community goes out to the bereaved family in an earnestness that
cannot be mistaken. The casket was borne by Martin Thompson,
Charles Harrison, Rodney Thompson, Charles Plager, Harry
Thompson and Frank Mason.
OST, NICHOLAS/Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, March 30, 1906
Death of Old Soldier
Nicholas Ost, a resident of
Fosterburg fifty years, died at the Soldiers' Home at Danville
Friday, and the body will be brought back from Danville for
burial Sunday at Fosterburg. He would have been 80 years of age
next Wednesday. Mr. Ost was a native of Germany and was born
April 4, 1826. He was a blacksmith by trade and was a well known
resident of Fosterburg. His wife died nine years ago. He leaves
five children, John Ost of Edwardsville, Charles and Lewis of
Fosterburg, Mrs. Tillie Mason of Brighton, and Mrs. Minnie
Fieler of Fosterburg. He leaves also seven grandchildren. He
went to the Soldiers' Home last January to spend the remainder
of his days.
OST, UNKNOWN WIFE OF CHARLES/Source: Alton Evening Telegraph,
April 2, 1904
The funeral of the late Mrs. Charles Ost will
be held tomorrow afternoon at 2 o'clock from the family home at
Fosterburg.
OTEY, AUSTIN (REV)/Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, March 2,
1905
The funeral of Rev. Austin Otey was held this afternoon
at 2 o'clock from the Union Baptist church, Rev. J. H. Barton
officiating. The deceased had occupied the pulpit of the church
many times, and many a member of the church had heard deeply
spiritual sermons from the lips of the aged, but devoted
preacher. There was a large attendance of friends and many
floral tokens, the gifts of his white friends, were laid on the
casket of the old preacher who had started on his "long march,"
as he was wout to express it.
OTEY, AUSTIN/Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, July 19, 1916
Austin Otey, colored, son of Rev. and Mrs. J. W. Otey, died at
the home of his parents, 106 West Seventh street, Wednesday
morning at 3 o'clock, after a long illness. He was 26 years of
age and leaves his wife, one child, his parents, and one sister,
Mrs. Grant Parker. Funeral arrangements have not been made.
OTEY, JOHN W. (REVEREND)/Source: Alton Evening Telegraph,
June 6, 1922
Rev. John W. Otey, a colored preacher, well
known in Alton and vicinity, died at his home on Johnson street
at 5 o'clock Monday afternoon, after a lingering illness. He had
been in failing health since December, but was confined to his
bed the last three weeks of his life. He was well known to both
colored and white people in Alton. He was a member of the Union
Baptist church. His services were much in demand in conducting
religious services, but his ?beey days were occupied at hard
work. He was a man of giant size and strength. He came to Alton
when very young. He was born March 16, 18??, at Huntville, Ala.
He leaves his wife, one daughter, Florence Baird, and seven
grandchildren. The funeral of Rev. Otey will be held Thursday
afternoon at 2 o'clock from the home to the Union Baptist
church. Services will be conducted by Rev. Griswold.
O'TOOLE, CHARLES/Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, September
15, 1915
Charles O'Toole, the 12 year old son of Mr. and
Mrs. Charles O'Toole, died at St. Joseph's Hospital Wednesday
morning between 9 and 10 o'clock from lockjaw, after lingering
close to death since last Saturday. The lad was injured Tuesday
of last week while sliding down a banister on the back porch at
the family home, 1022 Phinney avenue. He was playing with his
brother, when the accident occurred. Nothing was thought of the
injury at the time, and until Friday he suffered no ill effects.
He was taken sick at St. Patrick's school where he attended, and
that night his case became very bad, after he had carried a
newspaper route. The lad was taken to the hospital Saturday
morning with a bad case of lockjaw, and from the first the
attending physician and nurses held out no hope to the parents.
He suffered extremely up to the time when the end was very near.
The lad is a member of a large family and beside his parents he
leaves five sisters and two brothers. He was known in the
neighborhood as a bright, happy little fellow, and the sad
plight into which he fell as the result of what seemed a minor
injury is the cause of much sorrow in the neighborhood and at
the school where he attended. The funeral will be Friday morning
at 9 o'clock from St. Patrick's Church.
OTT, CHRISTIAN/Source: Alton Telegraph, August 12, 1875
Christian Ott, a farmer who lived on the farm of Metcalf and
Keown, a half mile north of the bridge over Silver Creek on the
Troy and Marine road, rode into the water one day last week to
drive some cows, and both he and his horse were drowned. He was
born in Germany, December 24, 1833, and was 41 years of age. He
was buried in the Troy City Cemetery.
OTT, EDWARD H./Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, April 10,
1903
Edward H. Ott, aged 32, died at the home of his sister,
Mrs. C. J. Martini, Sixth and Vine streets, Friday morning at 3
o'clock, after a three-day illness with pneumonia. The young man
was employed at Beall's shops as a machinist, but had been
unable to work the last four weeks because of an injury to one
of his hands. Three days ago he was taken ill with pneumonia,
and the disease terminated fatally Friday morning. He was an
industrious young man and was well liked by all who knew him. He
leaves one brother, George Ott, and two sisters, Mrs. Martini of
Alton and Mrs. Martin Seiler of Pana. The funeral will be held
Sunday afternoon at 2 o'clock from the family home, and burial
will be in City Cemetery. Services will be conducted by Rev.
Theodore Oberhellman.
OTTY, HARRY/Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, November 30,
1917
The funeral services of Harry Otty, who died November 29
at his home, 1327 Taylor avenue, will be held Sunday afternoon
December 2, at 2:30 o'clock from the Union Baptist church.
Burial will be in the City Cemetery.
OTWELL, WILLIAM/Source: Alton Telegraph, September 21, 1844
Died, at his residence near Edwardsville, on the 4th inst., of
the congestive fever, William Otwell, Esq., aged about 65. The
deceased removed to Illinois in 1809; has twice represented this
county in the State Legislature; and was a useful and exemplary
member of the Methodist Episcopal Church; and enjoyed in a high
degree the esteem and respect of his fellow citizens. He has
left an afflicted widow, and a large family of children,
together with many friends, to deplore his loss.
OULSON, FRANK/Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, April 11, 1901
Godfrey News - The funeral of Frank Oulson, oldest son of John G.
Oulson, took place Friday from the family residence. He was 26
years of age.
OULSON, LOUISA BISHOP/Source: Alton Daily Telegraph, February
15, 1882
From Upper Alton – The community was shocked this
morning by the intelligence of the death last night of Mrs.
Louisa Bishop Oulson, wife of Mr. John G. Oulson. Mrs. Oulson’s
illness was of but a few day’s duration, and her sudden death is
a great blow to her family. She leaves three small children. The
bereaved husband has the sympathy of his large circle of friends
in and around Upper Alton.
OVERATH, ANTONETTA/Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, April 6,
1903
Mrs. Antonetta Overath, wife of Max Overath, died
Saturday night at the family home on North Street after an
illness with pneumonia. She was 50 years of age and leaves
beside her husband, four children, two sons and two daughters.
The funeral will be held Tuesday morning at 9 o'clock from St.
Mary's church.
OVERATH, CARTER HENRY/Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, May
23, 1914
Boy Drowns in Mississippi
The body of Carter
Henry Overath, the 10 year old son of Mrs. Catherine Overath,
formerly of Alton, was recovered from the Mississippi river at
St. Louis yesterday afternoon. The boy was drowned a week ago
while his mother was in Alton attending the funeral of her
sister-in-law, Mrs. Louis Overath. The body will be brought to
Alton Sunday afternoon, arriving here at 1:35 o'clock and the
funeral will be from SS Peter and Paul's Cathedral, as soon
thereafter as practical, the funeral party going direct from the
train to the church. Burial will be in Greenwood Cemetery. The
boy leaves his mother, three sisters, Anna, Florence and
Kathleen, and .... [unreadable].
OVERATH, HELEN/Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, September 1,
1913
Miss Helen Overath, of 1106 Garden street, died Sunday
morning at 4 o'clock at her home after an illness for three
years. She had been confined to her home four months. Miss
Overath was forewoman at the Alton Steam Laundry for seventeen
years, and worked faithfully at her post of duty. She was a
daughter of Mathias Overath, and leaves one sister, Miss Mary,
who has stood in the place of the mother since Mrs. Overath
died, and one brother, Leo. Eighteen months ago her brother,
John, died, and last January her grandmother and namesake, Mrs.
Helen Overath, died. Miss Overath was a member of the Catholic
Knights and Ladies of America, a consistent member of St. Mary's
Church. She was highly esteemed among all who knew her, and
especially so at the place where she was employed for so many
years. The funeral will be held Tuesday morning at 9 o'clock
from St. Mary's Church, and burial will be in St. Joseph's
Cemetery.
OVERATH, HENRY/Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, November 23,
1905
Henry Overath, aged 45, a former teamster at the glass
works, was found dead in the glass works stables this morning by
William Wentzell, the foreman of the stables. Overath probably
died from heart trouble, as he had suffered with it for many
months, and according to members of his family had been unable
to sleep at nights except in a sitting position. He was
dismissed from service at the glass works a week ago. Some time
during the night he managed to gain entrance to the glass works
yards and was seen by workmen passing around toward the stables.
Early this morning he was seen there by two men working in the
stables who reported to the foreman that Overath was asleep
there. When Wentzell investigation, he discovered that the man
was dead. Overath had removed his coat, vest, shoes and hat, and
had lain down with the garments as a pillow. It is believed that
he did not know where he was and that while under the influence
of liquor he returned to his old place of employment and laid
down for his last sleep. It happened as a coincidence, it is
believed, that he happened to die while sleeping there. When
found he had rolled off the improvised pillow he had made of his
garments and was lying on the concrete floor. There was not a
mark upon his body nor a single other evidence that the death
was anything but a natural one. The fact that he was afflicted
with heart trouble is taken as conclusive evidence that he died
from heart disease. Overath was a member of a family well known
in Alton. He had lived here many years, and besides his wife
leaves a family of six children. His wife and children live at
1403 east Third street. The body was moved from the glass works
stable immediately after its discovery by Deputy Coroner Keiser.
All the information that could be secured tended to show that
Overath had been drinking heavily of late, and especially since
his dismissal from the glass works employ. The inquest will be
held tomorrow evening by Deputy Coroner Keiser. The time of the
funeral has not been set.
OVERATH, MAX/Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, September 9,
1914
Max Overath, aged 65, died last night at his home, 1106
Garden street in Alton, after a long illness. He was a member of
the Alton Board of Highway Commissioners for several terms and
was well known. He was a native of Germany, but came to Alton
when he was six years of age. He leaves two children, Mamie and
Leo; and two sisters, Mrs. Charles Gerner and Mrs. Otto Schmidt;
and two brothers, Louis and Joseph Overath. The funeral will be
held Friday morning from St. Mary's Church at nine o'clock.
OVERSTREET, CHARLES/Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, October
27, 1900
Mrs. Charles Overstreet of Seventh and Belle streets
made a startling discovery on awakening this morning. She found
her husband dead in bed by her side, where he had been sleeping.
He had been in bad health, but the discovery was a great
surprise to her. Overstreet was 40 years of age, and was a well
known laboring man. He had lived in Alton many years, and was a
hard working man. The funeral will be Monday.
OVERSTREET, UNKNOWN CHILD/Source: Alton Daily Telegraph,
March 5, 1887
A little son of Mr. Charles Overstreet, aged
between two and three years, died yesterday of inflammation of
the lungs. The funeral took place this afternoon.
OWENS, EDWARD/Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, July 21, 1922
Killed In Explosion At Equitable Powder Company
A blast in
the corning mill at the plant of the Equitable Powder Co. today
caused the death of Edward Owens, aged 37, who was at work in
the mill alone when the explosion occurred. The mill building
was destroyed and the machinery badly damaged. The explosion
occurred just a few minutes before 7 o'clock this morning. Owens
had gone to work only a few minutes before it happened. His duty
was to feed the big cakes of powder into the mill for them to be
ground up. It is the practice in such mills to have one man
working there alone. A few months ago, a similar blast occurred
in the corning mill and the man in charge of it was killed. The
mill had been rebuilt and put into service again. Owens was
brought here from a powder plant at Marlow, Ky., to take charge
of the job. He was an experienced powder mill hand. He leaves a
wife and six children, who did not accompany him to East Alton
when he came here to take the job, a month ago. There was in the
mill at the time of the explosion about a ton and a half of
powder. The explosion shook Alton. Immediately after the
explosion, it was distinguished from the blasts across the river
which frequently rock this territory, by the great umbrella
shaped cloud of smoke which rose and hung suspended over the
powder works. The corning mill is a wooden structure covered
with sheet iron, and houses machinery in which one of the near
final steps in powder making is done. The work is known as
dangerous, yet explosions there have not been numerous. The two
which have occurred recently are the nearest together in a long
time. The one that occurred today will never be explained, and
will remain a mystery, just as the preceding one remained. The
body of Owens will be taken back to Marlow to the family there.
The wife was notified immediately of the death of her husband,
and that the body would be brought to her.
OWENS, HARRY/Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, January 5, 1920
Harry, the four year old son of Mr. and Mrs. Sidney Owens, died
at the family home, 3rd and Penning avenue, this morning at
10:30 o'clock. Death was due to pneumonia. The child had been
ill since last Friday, when the family returned from a visit
with relatives in Tennessee, but at no time was his illness
considered dangerous until a doctor who was called in this
morning, diagnosed the case as pneumonia. Besides his parents
there are also three brothers who survive him. The father,
Sidney Owens, is employed as a switchman on the Terminal
railroad. Funeral arrangements have not yet been completed.
OWENS, MARY/Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, February 2, 1899
From Moro - Mrs. Mary Owens died at her home on January 25, at
the advanced age of 76 years. She was born at Staffordshire,
England, and came to this country in 1853. She was the widow of
William Owens, whose death occurred in 1895. Will A. Green
conducted the funeral services Friday afternoon.
OWENS, SARAH LAVINA (nee JONES)/Source: Alton Evening
Telegraph, July 1, 1902
Mrs. Sarah Lavina Owens died at her
farm home in Fort Russell township Tuesday morning at 11 o'clock
from Bright's disease. Mrs. Owens was 76 years and two months
old, and was one of the old guard of Madison County. She was
born and lived all her life on the farm where she died,
respected by all who knew her. Three children survive her, viz:
Riley P. Owens, the well known attorney of Upper Alton; Mrs.
Rosa Trabue of Jerseyville; and Z. B. Owens, who lived at the
homestead with his mother. Three brothers also survive her: John
Jones, age 78, of Bunker Hill; Solomon Jones of Hillsboro; and
Franklin Jones, aged 65, of New Douglas. The funeral will take
place Thursday at 10 a.m. from the homestead.