Monday, July 17, 2017

Obit of Joseph L. DeLong-Civil War Hero-1900


Obit of Joseph L. DeLong, Civil War Hero from a Kankakee, IL. newspaper.
I have been looking for years for this. It was recently added to his memorial at Findagrave by Roy DeLong.

March 17, 1900
Joseph L. Delong, an esteemed citizen of Bradley, was instantly killed Saturday evening while returning to his home from the republican primary polls.
The only witness to the accident was D. Struder, who stood about ten feet behind Mr. DeLong and who relates the circumstances as follows: He was going to his home on the east side of the Illinois Central tracks. Mr. Delong and himself stopped at the street crossing just north of the depot while a north-bound freight train was passing. Mr. DeLong started across the tracks and was struck by the south-bound New Orleans limited which was running at high speed. Mr. DeLong had just stepped upon the track when he was hit. His body was caught by the pilot and thrown against the boiler and then projected about forty feet where a blood stain marks the spot of this fall. He body was then bounded and rolled about sixty feet further until it stopped under the operator's window in the depot. Mr. Struder says that Mr. DeLong was dead when he got to him.
Mr. DeLong was 61 or 62 years of age. He was born in Ohio where he enlisted and went to the Civil War, in which he served three years. He went to Gilman in the early 70's and engaged in the nursery business. In 1875 he went into the merchandising business in Chatsworth, where he burned out three times. In 1893 he came to Bradley. 
He was of an inventive turn of mind and his business for several years has been that of a salesman on the road, selling a number of ingenious wooden novelties that he invented and had made at Schumacher's shop in Bradley. He was a well educated man and often regretted that he had not fitted himself to one profession. 
Mr. DeLong leaves a wife and four children--Albert, who resides in Iowa; Raymond, night ticket agent for the I.C.R. at Kankakee; Gussie, a teacher in the Bradley public schools and Mary, residing at home. 
Funeral will be in the St. Patrick's church at 10 o'clock tomorrow morning. Members of the GAR are invited to attend.

Saturday, July 15, 2017

Obit of Donald G. Baker


Husband of Pat (Rosenboom) Baker
Donald G. Baker, 78, Fairbury, died at 10:53 pm Thursday, July 13, 2017 at Gibson Area Hospital, Gibson City. Cremation rites have been accorded. Graveside inurnment will be in Forrest Twp. Cemetery. Duffy-Pils Memorial Home, Fairbury is assisting with arrangements. Mr. Baker was born December 15, 1938 in Pontiac, IL the son of Clarence and Helen Burtch Baker. He married Patricia Rosenboom on December 29, 1962 in Chatsworth. She survives in Fairbury. Other survivors include one daughter, Rebecca (Steve) Wagner, Fairbury; one son, Eric Baker, Chatsworth; seven grandchildren and eight great grandchildren and one sister, Melinda Wilgus, Chandler, TX. He is preceded in death by one son, one daughter and one sister, Louise Snyder. Mr. Baker formerly worked at Interstate United Canteen and later Wackenhut Security at State Farm Insurance. In lieu of flowers the family suggests memorials be given to the Donald Baker Memorial Fund.


Thursday, July 13, 2017

July 12 Update


New Photos

2 new photos added the the Hornickel Family Album
4 Generation Photo added.


Found News Treasures

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Obit of Laverne Bittner

Cook at the Old Chapel Inn
LaVerne Bittner, 89, of Fairbury, died at 9:30 pm, Tuesday, July 11, 2017 at OSF St. James-John W. Albrecht Medical Center, Pontiac. Mrs. Bittner was born August 5, 1927 in Normal, one of five daughters of William and Lena (Demler) Schaab. She graduated from University High School in 1945. She married Wayne E. Bittner on September 15, 1948 in Normal. Their devoted 65-year marriage produced five children. He died June 4, 2014. Her parents, two sisters, two brothers, one daughter, Connie Mueller, and one son, Paul Bittner, also preceded her in death. Survivors include her children, Gary (Linda) Bittner of Silver Spring, MD; Jane (Al) Freehill of Chenoa; Keith (Vickie) Bittner of Fairbury; two sisters, Arlene Gittings of Bloomington; Martha West of Congerville; sisters-in-law Roseann Schaab of Normal; Jean Bittner of Fairbury; and Emma (Pete) Schaffer of Fairbury; 23 grandchildren, 38 great-grandchildren and 1 great-great-granddaughter. Mrs. Bittner’s beautiful hands undertook a lifetime of loving work. She used them to work at a photography studio in Normal as a teenager and cook at the Old Chapel Inn in Chatsworth years later. She helped on the Bittner family farm and loved to grow flowers and vegetables in her garden. Those hands also baked countless cookies and pies, as well as knitted and crocheted many a blanket. She also corresponded faithfully with her large family through the years, never failing to send a letter or remember a birthday. She was a member of the Country Domestic Science Club for over 50 years. She also enjoyed card games like Canasta, Skipbo, and later, bingo. There will be a private family funeral service and burial will be in South Apostolic Christian Cemetery, Fairbury. Visitation will be 4:00 to 8:00 pm, Friday, July 14, 2017, at Duffy-Pils Memorial Home, Fairbury, and memorials be directed to S.E.L.C.A.S of Fairbury or OSF St. James-John W. Albrecht Medical Center, Pontiac.

Sunday, July 9, 2017