Walker Family Obituaries
Contributed by ChesterH. Neff
Lafayette Walker
(1864 Psuedo Obituary, written by Howard Walker in1998)
“Private Lafayette Walker, 29, of Company “C,” 1st Indiana InfantryVolunteers, was killed 15 Jun 1864 during a skirmish at Pine Knob nearMarietta, Ga. Pvt Walker sustained a fatal gunshot wound and died on thefield of battle. Interment was made at the Marietta National Cemetery.Pvt Walker enlisted 20 Dec 1863 and was mustered into Federal Service atCamp Morton, Indianapolis on 6 Jan 1864. He was assigned to Company “C,”81st Regiment Indiana Volunteers, Second Brigade, First Division, IV Corps,Army of the Cumberland. He received indoctrination in the field at Ooltewah,Tenn. During General Sherman’s Atlanta Campaign, he was at Tunnel Hill,Rocky Face Ridge, Buzzard’s Roost Gap, Resaca, and Kingston. Pvt. Walkerwas survived by his wife Delilah J (Tipton) Walker, a son John Wesley,and daughters Sarah, Eliza Jane, and Laura Ellen; mother Mrs Rachel Holcomb,formerly Mrs William (Keath) Walker, Camanche, Iowa; brothers Walter, alsoa Pvt in Co “C,” 81st Rgmt Ind Vols; Samuel, Indianapolis; Joseph Hayes,Georgetown; Andrew J, Pvt, Co “C,” 23rd Rgmt Inf Ind Vols; and sistersMrs Lydia Ann Lingard, Camanche, Iowa; Mrs Sarah A Cozine, Shawnee Co,Kansas; and Mrs Mary J Mahon, Sutter Co, California.”
Mrs. Jane Rippetoe
(Obituary, Rushville Times, September 1907)
“Jane Coe was born in Russell County, Kentucky, January 2, 1814; diedin Rushville, Sept. 9, 1907, aged 93 years. In early childhood she cameto Illinois with her parents and in 1837 was married to James Rippetoeand located in McDonough county, removing to Rushville a year later, whereshe has made her home. Mr. Rippetoe died Sept. 6, 1888. From this unionwere born ten children, six of whom have passed over the river of death.The living are: Mrs. Martha Lee, St. Louis, Mo.; Mrs C. W. Gorges, Mrs.Lola Morehead, and Robert Rippetoe of Rushville. The deceased is rememberedboth as one of the eldest and most esteemed citizens. To a well developedmoral character she added the grace and beauty of a devoted christian life.Her’s was a life long lived in the way of righteousness, her feet havingtrod this way for over three score and ten. She accepted Jesus Christ andunited with the Christian church and her Master. She therefore passes fromus beloved by those who knew her and leaving behind the sweet aroma ofthe christian life.”
William Walker
(Obituary, Rushville Times, February 1920)
“William Walker died early Monday morning at his home southeast ofRushville following a few days’ illness from pneumonia, which developedafter he had been ill from the “flu”. He came to Rushville last Thursdayand the exposure brought about the illness which caused his death. Conditionsat the Walker home were pathetic as father, mother, and six children, rangingin age from 3 months to twelve years, were all ill at the same time, andfor several hours on Saturday the family were in a helpless condition,no member being able to care for the others. When the attention of neighborswere attracted to the condition of the family, aid was extended and theMWA lodge and Red Cross notified and the stricken family was given theneeded attention. On Sunday, Marao Walker and wife came to attend themand were with his brother when he died.”
Lola Morehead
Obituary, Rushville Times, Feb 1921)
“Lola Morehead was born in Schuyler County on June 13, 1864 and diedJanuary 25, 1921, at the age of fifty-six years, seven months, and twelvedays in Beardstown. She was married to Harry Morehead in 1890. To thisunion was born one child, Mrs. William W. Walker of Rushville. Lola wassurvivied by her husband, daughter, six grandchildren, one sister, Mrs.C.W. (William) Gorges, and one brother Robert Rippetoe. Mrs. Morehead liveda christian life for many years and at the time of her death was a memberof the Rushville Union Baptist Church. She had been in poor health formore than a year. Funeral services, conducted by the Rev. Lucy Waddell,were held at the late home, 1102 East 9th Street, at 1:30 o’xlock, Wednesday,January 26. Interment was in the Rushville cemetery.”
Mrs. Jane Wyand
(Obiturary, Rushville Times, July 6, 1922)
“Dies In Eighty-Sixth Year. Mrs. Jane Wyand, wife of George Wyand,died Friday night at her home near this city, aged eighty-six years. Mrs.Wyand had been an invalid for the past six years, during which time shewas confined to her bed. Besides her husband, she is survived by the followingchildren: Mrs. Eliza Booker of Canton, John Walker of Rushville, Mrs. LizzieWitchell of Vermont, Mrs. Laura of Ray, Mrs. Clara Lee of St. Louis, andFrank Wyland, who resides with his parents. One son, J. Elmer Wyand, precededhis mother in death a year ago. Funeral Services, conducted by Rev. FrankAshcraft, were held from the late home on Saturday, at 4 o’clock, intermentwas in Sugar Grove cemetery.”
Mrs. John Walker
(Obituary, Rushville Times, June 23, 1926)
“Funeral services for Mrs. John Walker, who with her granddaughter,Eloise Willoughby, of Springfield, was killed in an auto accident lastWednesday afternoon, were held last from the Christian church in this city,Saturday afternoon at 2 o’clock, by Rev. Fred Wilson. Interment was madein the Sugar Grove North Cemetery. The services for the granddaughter,Eloise Willoughby, were held Friday in Springfield, after which the remainswere taken for interment to Rockford, Ill. Brief account of this fatalaccident was given in last week’s TIMES, being received over the telephonejust at time of going to press. No details could be obtained at that timeas member of Mrs. Walker’s family had not even learned of the accident,and the story of the sad accident is here given: What had promised to bea delightful visit with a daughter in Springfield ended in crushing sorrowon Wednesday of last week, when Mrs. Joanna Walker and her granddaughter,Eloise Willoughby, two and one-half year old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. W.H. Willoughby, were killed when the automobile in which they were ridingturned over near the subway on the Beardstown Springfield hard road, twomiles west of Springfield, pinning them beneath the wreckage. Mrs. Walkeris believed to have died instantly, and the little girl, after callingin vain for “Mamma to take her out”, died before help arrived, The carwas driven by the childs mother, Mrs. Ella Willoughby, a daughter of Mrs.Walker, who had been here the past week visiting her parents, Mr. and Mrs.John Walker. Mrs. Willoughby was driving a Buick sedan, and accompaniedby her little daughter, her son Clarence, and her mother, she left theWalker home about 8 o’clock Wednesday morning. Overtaken by a severe electricalstorm, blinded by the rain, and annoyed by the constant crash of thunderand brilliant flashes of lighting, Mrs. Willoughby became nervous and nearthe top of the hill which descends to the subway the rear wheels of thecar left the pavement. This caused the car to skid, turning around severaltimes. The next thing Mrs. Willoughby can recall there was a crash, andthe car turned turtle in a deep ditch. Mrs. Willoughby and son managedto crawl out, but her small daughter and her mother were pinned in by thecar. Mrs. Willoughby made frantic efforts to extricate her loved ones fromthe wreckage, but could do nothing. No help came along for some time, thefirst to appear being a traveling salesman from Indianapolis. He was unableto lift the machine from the bodies and he hastened to a filling stationfor aid. Frank Fleck, who resides near the scene of the accident, thennoticed the wrecked car and summoned aid. When the auto was removed, thebodies of the unfortunate victims were placed on a truck belonging to Fleckand hurried to St. Johns Hospital at Springfield, where life was foundto be extinct. The bodies were removed to a Springfield undertaking parlor,where an inquest was conducted on Thursday afternoon, the verdict beingthe deaths of Mrs. Joanna Walker and Eloise Willoughby was accidental.Funeral services for Eloise Willoughby was held in Springfield on Fridayafternoon, after which her remains were taken to Rockford, Ill. The remainsof Mrs. Walker were brought to Rushville, Friday and on Saturday afternoonat 2 o’clock, impressive funeral services were held from the Christianchurch, Rev. Fred Wilson, assisted by Rev. H. W. Talley, officiating. Intermentwas made in the Sugar Grove (North) Cemetery. Joanna Jane Chapman, daughterof Jacob and Jane DeCamp Chapman, was born in Browning Township, SchuylerCounty, Illinois, May 4, 1860. Departed this life near Springfield, Ill.,June 16, 1926, at the age of 66 years, 1 month, and 12 days. She met instantdeath when the car in which she was riding with her daughter and two grandchildrenwas wrecked on the wet pavement during a severe electrical storm. Whenshe was two years of age her parents moved to Oakland Township near Ray,Ill., and in that vicinity she grew to young womanhood. She was one ofa family of thirteen children. On August 5, 1877, she was united in marriageto John Walker, and for nearly forty-nine years this couple have sharedlife’s joys and sorrows together. Thirteen children were born to them,three dying in infancy, and one daughter, Bertha May, wife of Oliver Swisher,died in December 1906, leaving two daughters, Gladys and Ruby. One son,William, died in February 1920, leaving six children. The children leftwith the devoted husband to mourn her departure are : H. L. of Bloomington,Floyd A. of Galesburg, John E. of Chicago, Oscar of Ray, Maro of Rushville,Bessie, wife of Clarence Wells of Littleton, Ella, wife of Harry Willoughbyof Rockford, and Nora, wife of Olen Akers, residing at home. There aretwenty-three grandchildren, some of whom have made their home with thegrandparents and received the same loving care as their own, and four greatgrandchildren. Also three brothers; John Chapman of Vermont, Chester ofRushville, and Charles of Plymouth. And a host of relatives and friends,who will miss this woman who was always ready to greet them with a cheerysmile and extend to them a hearty welcome to her home. She was blessedwith a genial disposition and was able to rise above the petty cares ofevery day life and look upon the bright side of everything. She mad herpeace with God many years ago and was associated with the Baptist Churchat Christian Neck, where she loved to go and her help was always welcomedin the singing service. of late years she has been a sufferer and was notpermitted to attend church, but has told her family many times she wasprepared to go when the Master called.”
John W. Walker
(Obituary, Rushville Times, Dec 26, 1946)
“John W. Walker, Aged 91, Died at Beardstown “Funeral services forJohn Wesley Walker, 91, who passed away Saturday in the Valley Nursinghome in Beardstown, were held Tuesday afternoon from the Voohees Memorialhome in Rushville. Rev. H. S. Crede officiated at the services, and burialwas in the Sugar Grove North cemetery. John Wesley Walker, son of Lafayetteand Jane Tipton Walker, was born in Georgetown, Indiana, April 17, 1855.He came to Illinois with his parents when eight years old, and spent thegreater part of his life in Schuyler count. On August 5, 1877, he was unitedin marriage to Joann Jane Chapman, and to this union were born 13 children.His wife and eight children preceded him in death. The surviving childrenare: John of Beardstown, Floyd of Galesburg, Bessie Wells Hansen of Waukegan,Ella Fell of Rockford, and Nora Austin of Rushville. He is also surviviedby two sisters, Lizzie Mitchell and Laura Aten of Vermont, one half-sister;Mrs Clara Lee of St. Louis, Mo.; and one half-brother, Frank Wyand of Rushville.There are 24 grand-children, 16 great-grandchildren, and two great-great-grandchildren.”
Verna Haber
(Obituary, Verna Haber, Rushville Times, Mar 1997)
“BEARDSTOWN – Verna Haber, 81, of Beardstown died Monday evening (March3, 1997) at the home of her son in Springfield. Funeral services will beat 11 a.m. Thursday at Sager Funeral Home, 202 E. 8th St., Beardstown.Burial will be in Rushville City Cemetery, Rushville. Visitation will befrom 5 to 7 p.m. today at the funeral home. Mrs. Haber was born June 17,1915, in Schuyler County, a daughter of William and Alta Morehead Walker.She married Thomas Haber. He died in 1964. Survivors include a son, JohnLung of Springfield; two daughters, Betty Neff of Champaign, and Lois Rittenhouseof Colchester; 10 grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren. She was precededin death by her parents, two brothers, and three sisters. Mrs. Haber attendedSchuyler County schools. She previously worked for Culbertson MemorialHospital in Rushville and Heritage Manor Nursing Home in Beardstown. Memorialcontributions may be made to Hospice of Sangamon County.”
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