|
The Times Record (Mercer County, IL), 15 Dec 1921
Charles William Southern was born in Pearisburg, Chiles [sic]
county, Virginia, April 8th, 1829, and died at the home of George Martin,
December 7th, 1921, aged 92 years and 8 months.
When 13 years of age he went to Cedar county, Iowa. After a short
residence there he came with his parents to Duncan Prairie, Mercer county,
Illinois, where he grew to manhood. On August 6th, 1851, he was united in
marriage to Ruth Ruema McMannis of New Boston. After their marriage they
moved to their farm three miles southwest of Viola, Illinois, where they
lived until the death of Mrs. Southern, June 6th, 1905. To this union were
born five children. Catherine B. Martin, Viola, Illinois; Eva Ashenhurst,
Tingley, Ia.; William S. Southern, who died at the age of [23?] years;
Martha Selma Southern, who died in infancy, and Mariob [sic] S. Southern of
Viola, Ill. There are seventeen grandchildren, forty great grandchildren and
two great-great grandchildren.
On October 21, 1908, he was united in marriage to Mrs. Elizabeth
Stewart Of Adair, Iowa. She preceded him in death February 10th, 1912, at
Adair, Iowa. Mr. Southern was a pioneer of Mercer county, having lived in
the county for about seventy years. He was a private in Co. D, 83rd Regiment,
Illinois Volunteers.
In early life Mr. Southern a profession of his faith in Christ and
united with a Free Presbyterian church that was located a little west of
Viola in the Carnahan neighborhood. Later on, in the seventies, he and his
wife became members of the United Presbyterian church of Viola where he
remained a member until the time of his death, with the exception of a short
time he lived at Adair, Iowa. The allotted time for man on earth is said to
be three score and ten, but Mr. Southern has outlived this time by more than
twenty years. It can well be said of him that he came to his "grave in full
age, like a shock of grain cometh in its season." A short time ago he seemed
to realize that the end might not be far off for him and he selected that
passage of scripture to be read, the 55th chapter of Isaiah, and the text,
the 6th and 7th verses of the chapter.
The funeral services were held from the home of George Martin,
Saturday December 10th, at 11 a. m., in charge of his pastor, A. S. Bailey.
The pallbearers were Messrs Fred Morris, J. M. Tary, W. A. Anderson, Alex.
McGaughy, James Mack and M. A. Forsythe. Burial was in the Mercer County
Bethel cemetery west of Viola.
CARD OF THANKS
We desire to express our heartfelt thanks to our friends and
neighbors for their kindness during the sickness and burial of our beloved
father. We also extend our thanks to the singers and for the beautiful
floral offerings. Mr. and Mrs. Geo. Martin and family; Mr. and Mrs. O. T.
Ashenhurst and family; Mr. and Mrs. M. L. Southern and family. |