Obituaries - O
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Obituaries were submitted by Judy Simpson unless otherwise noted.
Charles L. Oakford
November 17, 1899
Clinton Register
CHAS. L. OAKFORD DEAD.
A Former Clinton Merchant Passes Away in This
City, at the Home of His Son-in-law, K. S. Brown.
Last Wednesday afternoon the spirit of Chas. L. OAKFORD passed away, at the home of his son-in-law, K. S. BROWN, on South Monroe street. Charles L. Oakford was born in Bucks county, Pennsylvania, April 2, 1843. At the age of 12 he moved with his parents to Bureau county, Ill. He was married to Miss Martha LeFeber of Princeton, Ill., Sept. 21, 1865. He and his wife united with the Baptist church in 1866 and he stood firm in that belief until his death. "Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord." He departed this life Nov. 15, aged 56 years, 7 months and 13 days, leaving three children, namely; Harry S., Mrs. K. S. BROWN, and Myrtle E., to mourn his death. The funeral was held at the residence of K. S. Brown at 10 a.m. today, conducted by Rev. M. L. Goff. The interment was in Woodlawn.
Submitted by Sheryl Byrd
James O'CONNER
March 4, 1892
Paper Unknown
Like a Flash Went Out the Life of James O'Connor.
James O'CONNOR, better known by the name of "Jerry," left his home and wife and baby Thursday morning to take his regular run as conductor on the south freight that left the depot at 5:15. The night before, after getting home from a hard day's work on his run, he laid down on the lounge and complained of severe pains in the region of his heart, but when he got up yesterday morning he told his wife that he never felt better in his life. After kissing his wife and baby Jerry went to the depot and started out with his train for Centralia. When nearing Elwin station, six miles south of Decatur, about nine o'clock in the morning, Jerry was sitting in the cupola of the caboose with his brakeman, when he said, "They are heading us in, Charley." This remark was suggested because the engineer was running in on the side track. Hardly had he uttered the words when he threw out his arms and would have fallen from his seat had not the brakeman caught him. He never uttered another word. In less than five minutes James O'Connor was dead. As soon as the train pulled in on, the sidetrack a doctor was called, but it was too late. Death was caused by the clogging of the flow of blood through the heart.
James O'Connor was born in Sandoval on the 23d of September, 1866. In 1882 he began braking on the Illinois Central road, and five years ago he was promoted to a freight conductorship. Two years ago last Thanksgiving he was united in marriage to Miss Jo. TRACEY. One child was born to them, a girl, now about eight months old. His mother is a widow and lives at Sandoval. He was a member of Plantagenet Lodge, No. 25, Knights of Pythias, and will be buried by the order on Sunday afternoon, at two o'clock.
Submitted by Bob Halsey
Abram O'DAFFER
November 5, 1897
Clinton Public
Abram O'DAFFER died at his home southwest of Weldon on Saturday, October 30th, aged 28 years. Mr. O'Daffer was unmarried and made his home with his widowed mother, besides whom he leaves two brothers and one sister to mourn his departure. Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Sunday in M. E. church by Pastor STEVENSON. Mr. O'Daffer's disease was consumption. Just before his death he professed faith in Christ and received baptism.
Note: His last name was misspelled Odoffer in the obituary but should be O'Daffer. He was the son of David and Amanda O'Daffer.
James O'DEA
May 30, 1890
Clinton Public
There was buried in the Catholic Cemetery near Wapella, last Sunday, James O'DEA, an Irishman born who came to America forty years ago. He was born seventy-four years ago near the city of Limerick and through all his long life he was a humble tiller of the soil. Forty years ago he left Ireland and poverty and came to this country to better his condition. Twenty years of the time he spent in New York and Ohio, and then he came to DeWitt county. His wife died nine years ago, and he now leaves as his survivors two sons and two daughters. James O'Dea was an honest, hard-working man. Unfortunately he never saw the necessity of owning a bit of land of his own, so he lived and died a renter.
Henry Clay O'DONALD
May 1, 1885
Clinton Public
Henry Clay O'DONALD was born in Waynesville, Ill., Nov. 2, 1853, died in Clinton, April 29, 1885, aged 31 years, 5 months, 28 days. When eleven years of age his parents left their home in Bloomington and moved to Clinton. His father died April 19, 1875. Mr. H. C. O'Donald attended the public school at Clinton for a short time and began the study of telegraphy, completing such study at Peoria when eighteen years of age. He commenced work for the Illinois Central railroad company as telegraph operator, April 1st, 1874, and worked until time of his death. When ten months old, his nurse let him fall, from which his spine was so injured that he was unable to walk without resting his hands on his knees to support the body. At the age of twelve he was called to suffer from a broken ankle. This made it necessary for him to use crutches for several years, and it is believed that the use of crutches straightened and strengthened his spine until finally he walked erect. He has always been a sufferer. In November 1883, began his most severe sickness, which lasted for six months. He has been complaining much for the past month of pain in the breast, heart and lungs. Last Tuesday he complained of severe pains, but ate a hearty supper and retired, having taken some chloroform to deaden the pain. Wednesday, at 7 a.m., his own mother went to his bedside to call him to breakfast, but life had gone and she found her only son a lifeless corpse. Don was of genial disposition and kind-hearted; if a friend, he was a warm friend. He was faithful to his employers and they appreciated his services. For the past year he has taken an active interest in Sabbath schools, in both the Methodist and Presbyterian Churches. In the latter he held the office of treasurer. It was much to the delight of his mother that he began to turn his attention to such things. The funeral services were held at the house, Thursday evening at 7:30, conducted by W. A. Hunter. The remains were taken to Bloomington this morning for interment. W. A. Hunter
Mrs. Martha M. O'NEAL
March 20, 1885
Clinton Public
Passed from the midst of her loved and loving ones on earth, to join the company of the redeemed and glorified in Heaven on the morning of Monday, March 9th, 1885, Mrs. Martha M. O'NEAL, wife of G. W. O'NEAL, of DeWitt.
The departure of our sister was sudden, startling the community and almost overwhelming the family with the painful realization. The sad intelligence carried sorrow, and a keen sense of loss, out into a wide circle of friends and into the church with which she had been so closely identified for many years. And the happy home in which there was so much of the light of love, joy and hope, was suddenly changed into a place of tears and tender memories. . . .Peacefully and quietly, with only a few hours suffering, she was translated to the heavenly home, leaving a husband, two children, an aged mother, two brothers, one sister and many friends to mourn her loss. The deceased was born in DeWitt, Ill., Feb. 21, 1852. Was married to G. W. O'Neal Sept. 25, 1877. She was converted when only fourteen years of age and united with the M. E. Church, in which she was a bright and shining light. . . .The funeral service was held in the M. E. Church, Tuesday evening, at 7 p. m., where the writer performed the last sad rites of love and respect to the memory and remains of the dear departed, surrounded by many friends of the community and members of the church, after which the remains were taken to the depot, and from there to Leroy, where they were laid away in the quiet city of the dead to await the resurrection of the just. L. S. Hitchens, Pastor M. P. Church
Note: The complete obituary is available upon request.
O'NIEL (child)
January 27, 1899
Clinton Public
The one-year-old child of Mr. and Mrs. Hugh O'NIEL died last Tuesday at lanes. Funeral was held at that place Wednesday.
Lucy K. ONSTINE
October 23, 1891
Clinton Public
Death of Mrs. C. H. Moore's Sister.
Died, at the residence of Mrs. H. Furness, San Francisco, California, October 1st, 1891, Miss Lucy K. ONSTINE, of peritonitis. She was a daughter of Mr. George ONSTINE, long since deceased, and who was an early settler in Amherst. His brothers and father, with himself, came here about 1819. Many of the early settlers of Lorain County will remember him, with his large family of daughters, of whom the deceased was the youngest. In her early years she spent some time in Europe, most of the time in France and Germany. She was a fine French and German scholar; read and translated readily in both languages. After returning from Europe she spent a year or two in Amherst. After her mother's death she left for San Francisco, which was her continued home. She was a sister of A. C. MOORE, M.D., Mrs. CORNWELL, Mrs. M. C. SEELEY, Mrs. B. O. BRADLEY, Mrs. C. H. MOORE, Miss Fannie ONSTINE and Mr. John B. ONSTINE, all of whom are living in North Amherst, except Mrs. Bradley and Mrs. C. H. Moore who reside in Illinois. While death has been very busy with the six brothers of George Onstine and their families, none of whom are now living, this is the first death that has occurred in the family of George Onstine. A few of the oldest of the old settlers will remember Frederic ONSTINE and his seven stalwart sons who contributed their full share toward the development of Amherst. The remains of Miss Onstine were embalmed in San Francisco and, accompanied by Dr. N. CORNWELL, were brought to this place and buried in the North Amherst cemetery on Friday, the 9th instant.
We copy the above from the Elyria (Ohio) Republican of October the 15th and will add that most of the Clinton people will remember the deceased as a very pleasant and intelligent lady who spent about a year with her sister in Clinton, only leaving here in April 1890.
Abraham ONSTOTT
November 27, 1885
Clinton Public
Death of One of the Early Pioneers of DeWitt County.
At the advanced age of eight-six years Abraham ONSTOTT, one among the first settlers of this county, died at his home in Waynesville township on last Tuesday. Mr. Onstott was born in Kentucky. In 1828 he came from Sangamon county to what is now DeWitt county and located a farm in Waynesville township. The following year he moved his family to his new home, and for fifty-six years, except for the few months he made his home in Clinton with his daughter, he lived on the same farm. The mother of Mr. William GAMBREL is the only one of the first settlers of Waynesville township who still survives, she and her husband being the first white settlers who located there. Mr. Onstott was a plain, unassuming man, and during his long life made friends of all who had the pleasure of his acquaintance. He leaves a widow (his second wife), and three children by his first marriage are still living. Mrs. Jennie O'DONALD, of this city, is one of his daughters.
Albert ORAHOOD
February 28, 1865
Clinton Public
DIED-On the 6th inst., Albert, infant son of Milton A. and Adeline ORAHOOD, aged 18 months.
Mrs. Jane A. ORAHOOD
March 17, 1882
Clinton Public
Mrs. Jane A. ORAHOOD, wife of Mr. A. P. ORAHOOD, died in this city on the 15th inst., at the age of thirty-three years. She leaves a husband and five children to mourn for her. Her funeral took place on the 16th inst., and was largely attended. She was a member of the Baptist church of this city.
Newell A. ORAHOOD
July 14, 1882
Clinton Public
Died, in Clinton, July 9th, 1882, Newell A. ORAHOOD, youngest son of A. P. and Jane ORAHOOD, of cholera infantum. Aged four months and nine days.
Samuel OWSLEY
February 7, 1908
Paper Unknown
Word has been received here by Mrs. N.R. PERSINGER of the death of Samuel OWSLEY at his home in Sal Surias, Texas, on Monday January 20. It seems that Mr. OWSLEY had asked his wife to attend to the store for a short time while he went to the toilet room. Upon his failure to return, Mrs. OWSLEY went to hunt and found him dead, with a bullet hole in the right temple. No explanation is given for the deed, some thinking that it was an accident while others believe it was done with suicidal intent. The body was taken to Lexington, Oklahoma, for burial. Mr. OWSLEY was formerly a Kenney business man, having conducted a jewelry store here and at one time was postmaster, Kenney Gazette. Mr. OWSLEY was a son of Dr. W.H. OWSLEY, who lived in Kenney many years, and moved to Lexington, Oklahoma, several years ago where he died a few years ago. Mrs. W. OWSLEY is the sister of N.R. PERSINGER and Mrs. L. C. WATTS.
Submitted by Unknown