Obituary of Jesse Hopwood NEECE, Morgan Co Illinois ©2006 Submitted by:
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Name of Deceased: NEECE, Jesse Hopwood
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Date of Obituary:
Obituary: Jesse Hopwood NEECE, the seventh son, one of the thirteen children, descendants of Robert and Peninah NEECE, was born near Carrollton, Greene county, Illinois, January 25, 1839, and died at his home in Waverly, Illinois, April 24, 1907, aged 68 years, 2 months and 29 days. At the age of eighteen he moved with his widowed mother to the vicinity of Waverly. Sept. 18, 1860, he was united in marriage to Julia E. TALKINGTON, who died Aug. 23, 1896. To this union were born two children - Willie Emery, who died at the age of twelve, and Minnie Aletha, who survives him, and who nursed him with such tender love and devotion. We can only commend her to the God whom she loves. Of his brothers and sister, three are still living: Mrs. Elizabeth JONES of Alsae, Oregon; M. C. NEECE of Waverly, Ill., and Mrs. Jane SELF of Hamilton, Ill.
He joined the Apple Creek Baptist church about thirty-five years ago and moved his membership to the Waverly Baptist church twenty-three years ago. A faithful and consistent member of his much-beloved church, each year of his life has witnessed an increased and renewed devotion to the work of upbuilding this society.
He was one of the oldest members of Waverly Lodge A. F. and A. M., No. 118; also a member of Waverly Chapter No. 320, Order Eastern Star, and a member of the Traders’ Live Stock Exchange of East St. Louis, Ill. Blessed with a genial and hospitable nature, his home has been the visiting place of a large and ever-widening circle of friends, who will feel keenly the death of their neighbor and friend.
This short sketch of the life of the deceased would be incomplete without mention of one of the idols of his home, Mrs. Jesse BRIAN of Tolar, Tex., who was a member of his family from early childhood until her marriage.
Funeral services were conducted from the home at 1:30 p.m. Friday, by the Rev. G. W. CLAXON, pastor of the Baptist church. During the services a select choir, composed of Miss Alberta COURTNEY, Mrs. J. H. SHUTT, and Messrs. C. F.WEMPLE and Wayne CARTER, rendered the following appropriate selections: “Nearer, My God, to Thee,” “Come Unto Me.” “Rock of Ages,” and :Some Time We’ll Understand.” Interment in East cemetery followed, where the impressive burial service of the Masonic order was rendered at the grave. As the casket was lowered into the grave the choir sang, “We are Going Down the Valley.”
The pall bearers were: Dr. W. H. ALLYN, A. C. MOFFET, Chas. W. LOWE, J. C. DEATHERAGE, W. H. GRAVES and Wm. L. HORSTMAN.
The services at both the home and the grave were attended by a large concourse of our citizens and many relatives and friends from a distance.
The following persons from out of the city attended the funeral: O. W. MORROW, Mrs. Jas. BRADWAY, Virden; Mr. and Mrs. Chas. TALKINGTON, of Girard; Mr. and Mrs. A. A. CURRY, of Pisgah; John JONES, of Roodhouse; Allan RANGE, Lafayette SMITH and Wm. WEATHERFORD, of Palmyra; Miss Maggie MCELVAINE, of Auburn; Henry HORTON, of East St. Louis; Mr. Nathaniel DRESSER, of Greenville; Mr. and Mrs. Fred BAUMBERGER and Mr. Allan PARMENTER, of Reno; Mrs. H. E. ENSLEY and Miss Margaret COFFEY, of Springfield; Miss Bessie NEECE, of Taylorville; Wm. COVERDALE, Sr., and Wm. COVERDALE, Jr., of Girard; George G. HUFFAKER of New Berlin; Mr. and Mrs. L. J. BRIAN of Tolar, Texas.
Obituary of Ada J. NEWBERRY (HART), Morgan Co Illinois ©2006 Submitted by:
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Name of Deceased: NEWBERRY, Ada J. (HART)
Name of Newspaper: Waverly Journal
Date of Obituary: March 17, 1900
Obituary: Ada J. HART, the fourth child of Mr. and Mrs. Alex. HART of this city, was born in Virden Feb. 17, 1871.
The days of her childhood and youth were spent within a few miles of Waverly. When she was 19 years of age her parents moved to this city where they now reside. On Oct. 27, 1898, at the age of twenty-seven years she was married to Mr. W. O. NEWBERRY, and together they lived in their cozy home in this city with the prospect of a long and happy life before them. God, however, had not so planned it. Our ways are not always His ways. In the midst of the life we are in death in a day when we think not death comes. Death came to this home. He entered it as he does most homes - uninvited, unannounced, unexpected and aimed his arrow with unerring precision and when his bow was bent his victim fell - a soul entered eternity - and the beloved Mrs. NEWBERRRY, wife, mother, child, sister and friend, left her newly acquired earthly home to take possession of her better one which fadeth not away, - “a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.” Her husband, infant daughter, father, mother, six brothers, three sisters, and numerous friends mourn because of this separation. But we are not here to mourn her death: she is “not dead, but sleepeth.” Let us rather rejoice in the hope of immortality and blessedness - in the Saviors declaration: “He that liveth in Me shall never die: and though he were dead yet shall he live again.”
The date of her conversion is unknown; but in February, 1890, she was baptized and received into the Baptist church of this city of which she continued a faithful member until her death. In all the departments of church work she was always active; a faithful attendant to all services when practicable; an enthusiastic member of the B. Y. P. U., and a leader of the primary department of the Sunday school until last December, when ill health compelled her to withdraw from active work. She was ready to go, triumphant in the Savior’s grace. Her last moments on earth were peaceful beyond the comprehension of one who did not witness them. Again and again she asked her loved ones not to weep for her, and fully satisfied she entered into “that rest prepared for the people of God.” Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord; that they may rest from their labors.”