Samuel Purcell Short was born in Henderson county, Ill. , April 17th, 1841 . At the age of 20 years, he enlisted as a volunteer in Company B, 59th Illinois , and served through the entire war. March 13th, 1864 , he was united in marriage to Harriet E. Curtis and to this union five children were born Gertie L. Wray of Washington D.C. , Adell Blackburn of Council Bluffs , Walter C. Short of Mitchellville, Iowa , Myra H. Nelson of Fort Terry , N.Y. , and Pearl Ewing , who preceded his father four years and a half.

Thirty-seven years ago he experienced religion and at the time of his death was a member of the Baptist church at Oquawka , Ill. He was also a member of the G.A.R. Post. He died Thursday afternoon, May 9th 1907 . He leaves a wife, four children, five sisters and one brother to mourn the loss of a kind and devoted husband, father and brother.

Funeral services were conducted Sabbath afternoon at the Oquawka Baptist church by Rev. C.L. Flanders and interment was in the Biggsville cemetery.

Note: Harriet E. Curtis was daughter of Julia Ann (Bailey) Curtis-Essex . Source: Oquawka Spectator;

Submitted by Peggy Carey:

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Illinois Ancestors