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Woodford County Brick Walls (and Queries) Have you run into a Woodford County genealogy problem you can't solve? You don't know your great great grandmother's maiden name, and Great Aunt Gertie just died before you could ask--and the courthouse has lost the records?
Well, somebody out there knows!
Just write up your Woodford County genealogy problem and send it to me. I'll post it right here, with your E-mail address, and we'll see just how sharp our researchers really are! Many thanks, Bill Wilson Site Coordinator
Note: in this 12/03/07 revision to this page, the brick walls have been reversed. The most recent is now at the top. Hope this doesn't cause too much confusion. Thanks, Bill |
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My Brick Wall is the Benjamin Butler family who lived in
Washburn/Cazenovia area in the early 1860s. Benjamin was
allegedly born btw. 1838 – 1840 in Vermont. He married a Susan
(or Susannah) Fisher (or Fischer) in November of 1863. They had
11 children:
1. Montezuma – born abt. 1862 (possibly out of wedlock). Montezuma married at the age of 15 to a William Snow. 2. Flora – born abt. 1867 3. Emma – born 1/16/1870 4. Benjamin – born 4/21/1872 5. Laura – born 1873 6. Frank – born abt. 1876 7. Almond D (Donald) – born abt. 1879 8. Carroll Wilson – born 12/25/1881 9. Jessie Jane – born 9/14/1883 10. Bessie – born 9/14/1883 11. James Twedale – born 3/12/1893 (this is my great grandfather) There are stories that Benjamin (the father of these 11 children) is not really a Butler, but a James Wilson who deserted from the Civil War. Interesting, and long, story. Any information on this family prior to 1862 would be very helpful. I have everything from 1862 on, I’m just looking for Ben’s parents or any proof of his life prior to 1862. Thanks! Dena M Lyons 7/16/08 |
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In my genealogy search I have hit a brick wall about the following:
1. What was the cause of death for my great-great grandfather, Philip Seifert, who died at the age of 40 in 1878. He owned a farm in the area of Low Point, Woodford Co. 2. My great-great-grandmother then signed over their 5 children to live with their paternal grandparents - then aged 70. Why would a mother give up her children? Is it possible to check marriage records (maybe she re-married? and death records - maybe she was sick?) If you have any insights into how I can further my search, please advise. Thank you so much. Pat Watson 7/13/08 |
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Armstrong, Merl A.
Any information regarding Merl A. Armstrong or his family
would be greatly appreciated by Mrs. Warren W. Armstrong,
whose husband Warren Willam Armstrong, son of Verl Anson
Armstrong. Warren Armstrong was born in Muncie Indiana
8/25/22. His mothers name was Ethyl who died when Warren
was about 2 years old. He also had a twin sister who died
at a young age, a brother George, a brother Arthur and a
sister Marha Jane.
We believe that Merl A. Armstrong was a brother to Verl
Armstrong and we are trying to make the connection.
Thanking you sincerely
Emily Armstrong
7/13/08 |
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I am conducting a genealogical search on my Great Great
Grandfather, Friederick Bittner ("Biittner" as spelled in
Germany and changed when arriving in the U.S.) who was born in
Bavaria Germany on January 12, 1818, and passed away in the
United States on September 13, 1886. He was buried in Metamora
Township and from my search I see that there are five cemeteries
in Metamora Township.
Can you locate which cemetery he was buried in and are there
any historical notes on what city or town he came from in
Germany? It is my understanding that Friederick Bittner and his
first wife, Dorthea Poppe who was also born in Germany arrived
in the U.S. sometime after 1853. She passed away shortly after
their arrival in the U.S. and Friederick Bittner remarried
Barbara Minger. 5/13/08 |
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My name is Susan Gross, and I'm researching the Dobson
family in Woodford and Marshall County.
Charles Dobson, son of Thomas and Mary Dobson and one of the first residents of Minonk, married Mary Elizabeth Perry between 1850 and 1852. However I have been unable to find out anything about Mary Elizabeth Perry's parents. Any information you could furnish would be greatly appreciated. Many thanks, Susan Gross 5/03/08 |
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My name is Steve Gulzow and I live in North Platte, Nebraska.
My great great grandfather Karl Friedrich von Nordheim lived in
Minonk during the 1870's and 1880's.
Karl married Catharina Barth at the German United Evangelical Church on December 10, 1872. The Karl von Nordheim family lived in Minonk until 1892 when they moved to Glenville, Clay County, Nebraska. I have an old 1880's -90's photograph showing a family standing in front of a house in Minonk. I can't identify the people in the photograph. My wife and I made a short visit to Minonk several years ago and found the house in the photograph standing at 328 Walnut St. I would appreciate knowing if either a von Nordheim or a
Barth family lived in that house. 4/24/08 |
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I have Mary Ann Warner who married John Harr 7 Sep 1865 in
Woodford Co. I believe this is the Mary Ann who was married to
Calvin Warner. Calvin died in 1862. Mary Ann is in 1880 census
as widow (last name Warner) with her 2 sons, William & George
Warner, dau. Ida Harr, 13, & stepson Gushey? Shrieves 16.
Can anyone help me sort out this mess? Need info on the Harr family. Thanks, 03/13/08 |
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My family settled in Woodford County, Illinois around 1880. The
family name is now "Ridder" but I'm finding it as "Reder" on
early census records.
1880 census reads: William Reder 34 born "Lebedaltsmolt" which I strongly believe is actually "Lippe-Detmold" (spelled phonetically by the census taker) parents from Freizland (Freisland) Johanna 34 Mathias 8 Alena 6 Catherute 4 The family hadn't been in Roanoke, Woodford, Illinois very long before the census. They were in Nebraska in the 1890's, but returned by 1900. Mathias married in Nebraska to Anna Lemster. They had at least one child in Eureka, Illinois (my great-grandmother), Johanna Inzalena Ridder, born January 3, 1900. Mathias and his family migrated to Carroll County, Indiana by 1910. Anyone with information about this family (Ridder) or the Lemster or Mennssen family, please get in touch. Candace (Clawson) Spence 03/02/08 |
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I am researching an unknown Metamora marriage date (somewhere
between
1905 and 1909, most likely 1908) for Alfred Philipp and Winnie (surname unknown). She was born September 30, 1872 in Davenport, Iowa, and he
was a German immigrant, having settled in Rock Island, IL. Her
maiden name would be of great interest, also. Her mother's Sharon Hampton 02/24/08 |
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My name is Gale Red. I am the coordinator for the Illinois
Confederate Graves Project. We are trying to find the graves
of all Confederate veterans buried in Illinois. To date we have
identified 920 men across the state, not including the over
13,00 men buried in the five national cemeteries of the state.
As we find these men, we also try to learn all we can about each man, try to make contact with possible living descendants, and insure their graves are marked. These men are truly our "lost" veterans. Below I am pasting the names of those we have already identified in Woodford County. As you can see, we are missing the cemetery locations for two of the men. If you can help find the cemetery they are buried in, that will truly be a great help. And If anyone can add other possible names, please have them contact me at the below E-Mail address. Thanks so much. Woodford County Confederate Veterans Olio Cemetery at Eureka, Olio Twp: MCCORMICK, Patrick, Pvt., Co. I, 17th VA Infantry, CSA, b.a. 1840 (VA), d. unknown
(This is an unconfirmed veteran)
Panther Creek Church of the Brethren (Dunkard) Cemetery, east of Roanoke: EKISS, John, Virginia Unit, Confederate, VA, b. 1847 (VA), d. 1928 NOFSINGER, William A., Pvt., 12th & 20th Battalions, Battery C (Bowyer's), VA Heavy Artillery, CSA, b. 30 Oct 1826 (VA), d. 8 Jul 1896, Row 1N, Lot 10. SWITZER, John (Johannes) H., Pvt. Co. F, 52nd VA Infantry, CSA, b. 1 Jun 1821 (VA), d. 1908 * Unknown Cemetery, Cruger Twp.:
* SWISHER, Henry K., Cpl., Co. B, 10th Battalion VA
Infantry Reserves, CSA, b. 1826 (VA), d. between 1900 and 1910
* HODGES, Aaron J., Cpl., Co. H, 3rd VA Cavalry, CSA, b.
1830 (VA), d. after 1880
02/11/08 |
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I'm searching for my family who lived in Woodford county:
My
gg great grand parent, Charles A. Blackmon, b. 1838 in Ohio, d.
1873 , Washburn Woodford County.
02/02/08 |
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Dewitt Clinton York resided in El Paso around 1880-1890 until he
passed away in 1924. He is my husband's great-great
grandfather, he was married to Sarah Jane Cannon and they had 7
children together.
Our first brick wall is we are trying to find out who his parents were. We are pretty sure he was born in La Salle County, though...but El Paso is where the paper trail ends...or begins, whichever the case may be. My husband's great grandfather, named Henry Sheely married Dewitt's daughter Mable, which is his great grandmother. I have reason to believe that Henry Sheely was born in Spring Bay according to one census record I found, but we are unable to determine if this was him or his parents for sure. If you could please help us, we would greatly appreciate it. Any information you could provide for the family would be more than welcome! I look forward to hearing from you.
Thank you,
Jessica Herren
1/18/08 |
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| Thomas and Anne Payne Peacock
were last known to live in Woodford County Illinois in the 1860
Census in Secor. After that they went missing. They were parents of M. Joseph Peacock, his wife Mary Kindred Peacock and 10 grandchildren in McLean County and Bureau County Illinois. From Wyanet Illinois, Joseph and his family came to Iowa to Iowa County to live. The family story is that the older couple died and were buried in
Mossville Cemetery - Peoria County Illinois, where they lived in the
1850's. As you know that Cemetery is abandoned and lost without any
records to go on. I have a photo of Joseph and his mother taken in
Wyanet Illinois September, 1868, so we presume Ann was still living
at that time. Janis Peacock 12/12/07 |
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John MACRANDER arrived in Woodford Co. IL after 1850 in the vicinity of
Metamora, and continued in his occupation of tanner and possibly glove
maker, before beginning a new occupation of farmer, which he continued the
rest of his life until his death in 1910 in northwestern Missouri. Is there
any known historic record of his time spent in Woodford Co., IL?
The limited information I have is drawn from a vanity biographical sketch for residents of Nodaway and Atchison Counties in Missouri, published in 1901 and is limited in descriptions of Woodford Co., IL affiliations. A ancestral grandmother of John MACRANDER in his hometown in the Kingdom of Prussia was a Miss WALDSCHMIDT who married a MACRANDER husband. I have noted the WALDSHCMIDT name among the Woodford Co., surnames. John MACRANDER married Sarah Frances ARTHUR, a native of Bedford Co., Virginia. Their daughter, Mary Elizabeth MACRANDER was born in Woodford Co., in 1854. Parents of Sarah Frances were William Eli ARTHUR and Frances WEST (or HACKWORTH), previously of Bedford Co. and Roanoke Co., VA who may also have been residents of Woodford Co., IL simultaneously with the MACRANDER family. John MACRANDER was born in 1819 at Wetzlar, a town on the Lahn River, Rhineland Province, Kingdom of Prussia, where he had apprenticed at age 15 after attending school, under his father Johannes MACRANDER, a master tanner, to become a white leather tanner. On July 10, 1840, John arrived in Baltimore, MD aboard the brig "EMIL" out of Rotterdam, The Netherlands. He came to join his older brother, Dr. Johann Friedrich Jacob Macrander, a medical doctor in Frederick Co., MD. John Macrander worked in one of the numerous tanneries in Frederick, MD for a few years, then the brothers MACRANDER and the elder MACRANDER's family relocated to Harrisburg, PA and later in 1847, to Big Lick (City of Roanoke), Roanoke Co., VA. John continued as a glove maker in Virginia. He may have worked with Amazia H. ARTHUR, an older brother of his future wife, Sarah Frances, in the glove factory in Roanoke, VA. John journeyed west after the 1850 Federal Census for Virginia. By 1859, the ARTHUR extended family and the MACRANDER couple were in Buchanan Co., MO near Taos Crossroads (now Halleck). In 1860 John and Sarah Frances (ARTHUR) MACRANDER relocated to an 80 acre property suitable for agriculture, in Atchison Co., MO near the East Tarkio branch of the Tarkio River, NE of the village of Tarkio and SE of the present day town of Westboro which was established later when a railway was constructed in the area. The land had been purchased from a couple residing in Woodford County, IL before the ARTHUR and MACRANDER families moved to MO. Jim Macrander 12/03/07 |
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I am searching for two families from the Minonk
area....#1 is the family of Andrew Adams. He came to Minonk abt 1870 from
Pa. His wife got killed or committed suicide by train in about
1895.....I would be interested if there is an obit for her in the Minonk
Paper.
The second family is William H Johnson and his wife
Alma...they had two sons, William b. abt 1871 and Jacob b. abt 1875.....His
widow resided in Chicago in 1900...and information given suggests the
husband and two sons were deceased by then...
Any information will be appreciated....
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My ggrandfather, William Arthur
Chapman, joined the Civil War at age 19 on
May 25, 1864 in Woodford County. He was in Co.I 145th Illinois Inf.
Discharged September 23, 1864 at Camp Butler, Il. (Was there a town
named
Kappa?) He was born in Oneida Co, NY. I thought perhaps his parents lived in Woodford County. The next I can find him, he and my ggrandmother, Nellie May Schwartz, are living in Burlington, IA and my grandmother, Gertrude Louisa is five years old. I don't know if he married in Woodford County or met Nellie May in Iowa. I don't know how to find out if the Chapman family lived in Woodford County. Can you give me some guidance? Dee Harding
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William S. WORTHINGTON
His family was there on the 1860 Woodford County census. William joined the Union Army, 77th Reg. Co. H, in 1861and was killed at Vicksburg MS, May 22, 1863. I have his military records. Their oldest son, William Worthington died at age 12, 22 Aug. 1862 and is buried in the Davison Cemetery. Are there newspapers that may have carried an obituary for him? Sarah WORTHINGTON sold the farm and moved to Nebraska in 1872.
9/18/07 |
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Jessie Mildred Bayles was a one-room country
school teacher for 30 years from the time she graduated from
Illinois State Normal University in 1918, until she retired in 1948
when the country schools were consolidated.
Today, her grandchildren and great grandchildren know that she taught in both rural Woodford County and rural McLean County but we don’t know exactly where and what the names of the country schools were. If anyone knows, or was taught by Mrs. Bayles, I would appreciate hearing from them. Sincerely, Marie in Illinois 9/05/07 |
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I am looking for info
on the ISCH family.
According to the 1910 census they were in Cazenovia, Woodford, Illinois. Father John Isch, wife Lucia, and children Bertha, Ida, Lucia, Jeanette, Amelia, Henry and George. It has been said that the family owned a jewelry store in town somewhere, but I don't know when or where. They did not arrive in the US until Jan of 1885 so it had to be after that point. Any info you have on the family at all would be appreciated. John and Lucia
would be my great, great, great, great grandparents. 9/05/07 |
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Asahel Theodore Hayes died 1 October 1888 and
a small notice on his death was found in the EL Paso Newspaper.
This stated he was buried in the HART Cemetery.
Does anyone know of this cemetery?
His wife Nancy McFaddin Hayes died in 1885
and possibly she maybe buried in this cemetery also.
Shirley Weber
8/30/07 [There is a Hartman Cemetery listed in Eureka. Could anyone do a "look-up" on that cemetery? Thanks, Bill] |
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I am looking for information on my GGG
Grandparents John & Jane (Cochran) Hull.
I know they moved from Perry Co. Ohio to Woodford Co. between the 1850 & 1860 Census. I have found them on the 1850 census in Perry Co. Ohio & the 1860 census for Woodford Co, Ill. I have not been able to find any other information on John or Jane other than the 1860 census. I am looking for Death & Burial records for them. I would also like to find marriage records for their daughters Mary, Francis & Catherine. Any help would be greatly appreciated. I know there is a land deed for the sale of land from John & Jane Hull of Woodford, Co Ill. to Samuel Hull of Perry Co. Ohio. I would like to get a copy of this as well if possible.
Rick Covic
8/29/07 |
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My g grandfather Owen Henry Sowards was born
in 1830 in Woodford County (or an adjoining county.) He died in the
1890's in Marshall County.
He married Eda Hunter, daughter of Eliza Jane Martin (sister of Joseph Martin and niece of Nathan Owen) and James Hunter. He had a brother John Sowards (not the John Sowards, son of Daniel and Sarah Sowards). Though there are several Sowards' in the area at the time, I have never found proof of his parents. One story says he was orphaned at an early age. Any help you could give me would be greatly appreciated. Colleen Benedickt 8/16/07 |
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I'm looking
for Matthias Schwenk, Mary or Mary Ann Kerker, Caroline (Carrie)
Schwenk, and William Souba.
I know that Matthias and Mary were married Feb 3, 1870 and Carrie was born 1871. Carrie married William unk date and she is buried in Washburn. Her second husband was John Heitz. I would appreciate any leads.
8/15/07 |
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I am researching Jacob Wilson's family in Missouri and Kansas.
I think that I have the right Jacob Wilson. My information
states that Jacob was b. 1799, m. 13 Jan 1817 in Jackson Co.,
Indiana and d. 15 Sep 1869 in Tazewell Co., Illinois.
It looks like Jacob Wilson settled in Spring Bay, Woodford
County, Illinois in 1828.
His son Reid Wylie Wilson married Martha Jane Brown. Her
parents were Abram Joseph Brown and Margaret Holland Wilson.
Abram died 3 May 1849 in Woodford Co., Illinois. Reid and
Martha died in Harrison County, Missouri.
I'm trying to find out more about who Reid's brothers and
sisters might be and if I have the right Jacob Wilson.
There is a Jacob, Jr. and Jacob, Sr. mentioned on an 1820
Fayette County, Indiana.
Thank you for your time!
Sue Clark
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I am
looking for information ( or contacts with their descendants)
about the following individuals who I believe to be related to my
great grandfather John G. Schieber (born 2-11-1842 in Germany and
died April 1, 1908 at Metamora, IL)
1. David Christian Schieber (born 1-28-1855 in Germany and
died February 15, 1926 at Secor) believed to a brother to
John G. Schieber
2. Helen (Mrs. Gotfried) Harseim born about 1832 in
Germany. She is listed in the obituary of John G. Schieber
as being his sister. I found her on the 1880 census as
living at Secor with Godfred Harseim and a daughter Mary age 19.
I haven't been able to find her on other census.
3. Marie P. Zinkan (born 9-22-1880 in Germany and died in
1961 at Secor). Her obituary states that she is the
daughter of William P. and Rosina Schieber Lutz. John G.
Schieber's obituary states that Mrs. Mary Zinkan, a
granddaughter, of El Paso attended.
Thank You
A. Meyer
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I am the great-grandson of Samuel Wilson,
born in Secor, Woodford, Illinois, November 7, 1853. It seems that
he may have moved to Ford County sometime before 1878 as he was married
on February 28, 1878 to Mary Jane Kirk.
I wondered if you
might have any further information about his family? I know from
family records that his father's name was Jonathan Roberts Wilson,
but not sure about the maiden name of his |
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I am trying to find
Gilbert Field. He married Rhoda Soward 18 Oct 1818, paid taxes on
land in 1825 in Lasalle Prairie Ill, was in the 1830 census in
Tazwell Ill.,purchased land in 1835 in Woodford Cty, and was buried
in Section 15 Partridge Township in Ill. Rhoda was listed in the
1840 census with Filander, Hyram, Sarah, and Melissa but she had no
husband so he must have died between 1835 and 1840. I cannot find
his grave or who his father was or where he was born. If anyone know
anything, please let me know.
Thanks Marilynn Wood |
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My grandmother was
born on May 16, 1874. Her name was Gertrude Bleull and her
parents were, Otto Bleull and Rosella Schickling. Her
grandparents were, Chris Bleull and Anna Stabb. That’s all I
know about them. I’m not sure that my grandmother was born in
Woodford County, but her brother and sister were born in Benson,
Woodford County, Illinois. Her sister, Mary Margaret, was born
on Dec 17 ?? and married John Wimer Schlosser on October 15, 1901.
She died February 11, 1945. Her brother, Joseph, was
born December 13, 1880 in Benson and he married Margaret Mary
Schlosser on January 11, 1905. He died on March 19, 1952.
As you can see, there’s a strong Schlosser connection there.
I always hit a dead end when I try to find out more about my grandmother and her family. So if there is anyone out there that has a tidbit about the Bleulls or the Schlickings, Stabbs or Schlossers, I would be happy to hear about it. I would be ecstatic if someone had pictures. All I have is a picture of my grandmother when she was very old. Jane Miscavich |
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| Jacob
Baker( b. Mar 2, 1832) married Elizabeth Bradle on Aug. 12 1862 in
Woodford County. He died Jan 26, 1888 in Eureka. They had 9 children
including Ella Baker Wingstern ( wife of John) who lived in Eureka until
her death in 1966. I know nothing of Jacob prior to his marriage. Any
information would be greatly appreciated.
Jacqueline Sabharwal |
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| The
brick wall I am working on at the moment is Robert Sharpe, his daughter Mary Agnes (Mayme) married Robert Render . I have found him in the cemetery but am having trouble finding anything else about him. Thank you, Alice Dierker Alice's E-Mail |
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I am always looking for information on Richard G. Crouch, my Great Grandfather, who lived in the Metamora area in the late 1840's. It is my understanding he owned a blacksmith shop and owned a saw mill on Panther Creek. His first wife Sarah Crouch is buried in Oakwood Cemetery. |
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I would be interested in any information on Thomas M. Truitt who lived in Woodford County around 1880 to 1905. Also Samuel Jones who married Hattie Truitt and Owen Ison Truitt. Thanks, Bob Butler |
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Here's my highest brick wall! My gg grandfather, John R. Warner, died abt. 1860-61. His wife Sarah died abt. 1880-81. Can't find where they are buried. Olive Branch Cemetery is located on the farmland they owned. There are 3 marked graves there, but nothing for John R. & Sarah. The rest of the Woodford County Warners are buried in Secor Cem. & Evergreen Cem. in ElPaso.
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Copyright © 2007 Bill
Wilson & all Contributors
All rights reserved
Illinois Ancestors