EDNAH LATHROP (ALLYN) ADAMS - Died - At Pittsfield, on Sabbath morning, the 23rd inst., Mrs. Ednah Adams, in the 78th year of her age. Mrs. A was the widow of the late James Adams, of Stephentown, Rensselaer County, New York. After the death of her husband, she came to this town, about three years since, to reside with her children. For more than 2 years she had been a member of the Baptist church in Stephentown. Mrs A. was a conselent (?), exemplary, devoted Christian. She was remarkable for the simplicity and strenghth of her faith in Jesus Christ. In every time of her trial, her sole reliance, for herself and for her friends, was in her Redeemer She died like one falling asleep. " Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord.
Contributed by Jana Countryman - from her World Connect Website (Pike County Free Press. Thursday, August 26,1846)

ELIZABETH A. (BALLARD) ADAMS - In this place on the 16th ins., Mrs. Elizabeth A. ADAMS, age 24, the wife of George W. Adams. She was most severely burned in the dreadful accident in this town on the evening of the August 4. She was a member of the Congregational Church in this place for more than four years. She left an affectionate husband, 2 children and a large circle of relations and friends to mourn her loss.
Contributed by Mindy Doellman from the Pike County Journal 23 August 1860

RICHARD ADDIS - The death of Richard Addis, father of W.H. Addis occured this morning at 2 o'clock at the residence of his son 463 S. Water St. (Decatur). He was 83 years of age and had been ill a number of months, besides being deaf and almost totally blind. He was the last of a family of 7, his sister passing away in New Jersey a short time ago at age 98. His mother died at the age of 94. Mr. Addis was a farmer but had not been able to do anything for 20 years. He was a member of the Methodist church and attended regularly until he lost his hearing. He was born in Warren Co NJ August 10, 1806. He moved to IL with his parents in 1826 locating at Pittsfield, Pike Co. He was united in marriage to Sarah M. Davis, moving to Fulton County in 1827. In 1868 he moved to Omaha, Nebraska returning to Decatur in 1888 to resume his residence with his son W.H. Addis. He is the father of 11 children, with five surviving; H.C. of San Jose CA; A.D. of Lincoln NE; W.H. of Decatur and Mrs. Ellen Calloway of Los Angeles. His wife died in August 1868.
The Decatur Republican 14 March 1889

GEORGE I. AKERS - Died in Barry, Illinois on Saturday morning April 15, 1882, George I. Akers, aged 86 years. Father Akers was one of our oldest and most esteemed citizens. He was born in New Jersey May 26, 1796. When a boy he removed with his father's family in the state of New York. Here in his 23rd year he was married to Miss Catharine Gee, who died some 16 years ago. In 1823 he removed to Ohio, and in 1828 he removed to Cincinnati where he remained some 8 years. In this city he was converted and joined the Methodist church, of which he has been a member ever since. The memories of his home, and of his conversion and his church relationship in Cincinnati, were very precious to him in all his years. He came to this State in 1836, and in the fall of that year settled upon his farm near Kingston. Here he resided, with only a short interval, until 1877, when he removed to this town. He married his second wife, Mrs. Mary A. Akers, his now bereaved widow, Oct. 11, 1866. Of his family of eleven children only three remain to mourn his loss and honor his memory. One of these, Mr. D.G. Akers, is a resident of this city. The funeral services were held in Kingston on Monday last. They were conducted by Rev. Wm. Hoyt, an old and loved friend of the deceased, and Rev. Wm. Murphy, a pastor. His large number of his former friends and neighbors accompanied the remains to the burying ground on the old homestead, whereby special request of Father Akers they were interred."
Contributed by Mindy Doellman from the Barry Adage 21 April 1882

MAGGIE (SMITH) GRIFFITH ALA was born Aug. 12, 1893 in Atlas, IL and died Feb.11, 1985 in Lancaster , CA. Burial was in Pittsfield West Cemetery , Pittsfield , IL . She married first Clifford Griffith on Apr 29, 1913 in Louisiana , Mo. and second Judson Ala (date and place not stated). Both husbands preceded her in death. Her parents were John and Laura Sealock Smith. She was a former Pittsfield, IL resident and is survived by two sons: Russell Griffith of Buena Park, CA and Howard Griffith of Newport News, VA; five daughters: Frances King of Lancaster, CA, Pauline Stafford of Yorktown, VA, Catherine Latta of Hannibal, Doris Elliott of Las Vegas, NV, and Helen Ator of Pekin; one step-son: Tom Ala of Pekin; 25 grand, 48 great-grand, 15 great-great-grand and eight great-great-great-grandchildren. Preceded in death by two brothers and one son.

VERA D. (SMITH) ALBRIGHT , 72, of Hannibal, died at 9:50 a.m., Thursday, Nov. 30, 2006, at Hannibal Regional Hospital. Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 5, at Smith Funeral Home & Chapel in Hannibal. Pastor Brenda Culp will officiate. Burial will follow at Mount Olivet Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. today, Dec. 4, at Smith Funeral Home & Chapel. Vera was born Aug. 3, 1934, in Pleasant Hill, Ill., a daughter of Raymond O. and Mina F. Herron Smith. She was formerly married to Robert Henry Abright Sr. Survivors include three daughters, Roberta Elliott, Mary Abright and Dora LaFond, all of Hannibal; four sons, John Abright, Bill Abright, Ronnie Abright and Robert Abright, all of Hannibal; 11 grandchildren, Brian Elliott, Amanda Abright, Bethany LaFond, Joshua Kitchen, Jeffrey Elliott, Latisha Adams, Joseph LaFond, Timothy Abright, Kevin Elliott, Channelle LaFond and Yasmine Elliott; two great- grandchildren, Alexis Elliott and Skilar Ward; a stepbrother, Duane Smith of Nebo, Ill., and a special friend of 27 years, Charles Nelson of Hannibal. She was preceded in death by a son, Riman Wesley Abright; three brothers, June Smith, Ronald "Red" Smith and Bill Smith; and a son-in-law, Marvin A. Elliott. Mrs. Abright worked for Stark Bros. Nursery in Louisiana and International Shoe Co. in Hannibal, and was a homemaker. She was a Christian by faith. Memorial gifts may be made to the family, in care of Smith Funeral Home & Chapel. Pallbearers will be Kevin Elliott, Tony Houston, Joseph LaFond, Cheyenne LaFond, Jeffrey Elliott and Brian Elliott. Honorary pallbearers will be Shawn Williams and Kevin Ward.
Contributed by Kathy Robinson

CARROLL ALLEN age 80, of Misson, Texas and formerly of Griggsville, Ill. died Monday (May 10, 2004) at Comfort House in McAllen, Texas. He was born June 21, 1923 in Pearl, Ill. son of the late Harry and Lula Ames Allen. He married Vivian Hillig on August 3, 1946 and she survives. Also surviving are two daughters, Betty Craven and husband Bill and Carolyn DeJaynes and husband Frank all of Griggsville, Ill.; one son Rick Allen and wife Debbie of Griggsville, Ill.; seven grandchildren, Wendy Hartlieb and husband Chris of Highland, Il., Todd DeJaynes and wife Cindy of Springfield, Il., Tasha Miethe and husband Josh of Champaign, Il., and Darin Craven and wife Pollee, Shane Allen and wife Shona, Ricky Allen, and Hayley Martin and husband Doug all of Griggsville, Il.; eight great-grandchildren, Geoffrey and Hannah Hartlieb of Highland, Il., William DeJaynes of Springfield, Il., and Dryden and Francesca Craven, Austin Allen, and Sheldan and Sage Martin all of Griggsville, Il.; two sisters, Vera Gregory of Lowden, Il., and Margie Donithan and husband Earl of Worden, Il.; a sister-in-law Norma Lee Allen of Pittsfield, Il.; five brothers, Dan Allen and wife Margaret of Jacksonville, Il., Jerry Allen and wife Mary and Homer Allen and wife Betty all of Griggsville, Il., Myrel Allen and wife Cheryl of Camden, Il., and Dale Allen of Rushville, Il.; a brother-in-law, Ron Wagner of Versailles, Il.; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; a sister, Linda Wagner; and four brothers, Clayton, Oren, Bob, and Dick Allen. Mr. Allen was a 32 year employee of Illinois Rural Electric retiring in 1978. He was very active in Boy Scouts at the local and district level, receiving the Silver Beaver Award presented by the Cherokee District in 1979. Carroll and his wife had resided in Texas for the past several years. Funeral services will be held 11 a.m. Tuesday (May 18, 2004) at the Airsman-Hires Chapel in Griggsville, Il. with Rev. Earl Clagg officiating. Burial will be in Griggsville Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday (May 17, 2004) at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to Comfort House of McAllen, Tx. or to the Sandy Jo Funk Hospice Program in Harlingen, Tx. both care of the funeral home. Condolences may be left for the family online at www.airsman-hires.com.

ELVA (GALLAHER) ALLENSWORTH - Funeral services for Mrs. Elva Allens- worth, 82, of New Canton, will be conducted at 2:30 P.M. Sunday at the New Canton Metho- dist Church. Rev. J. O. Craig will officiate and burial will be in Taylor Cemetery at Rockport, IL. Friends may call at the Clark Funeral Home in Hannibal after 5 P.M. Saturday and at the church here Sunday from noon until the hour of services. Mrs. Allensworth was found dead at her home at 11 A.M. Thursday having apparently died in her sleep sometime Wednesday night. She was born in Liberty, IL., February 9, 1885, a daughter of the late Abraham and Martha Jane Sims Gallaher. She was a member of the New Canton Methodist Church and WSCS; also a member of the American Legion Auxiliary. She was married April 18, 1900 in Quincy to Lawrence C. Allensworth who died in 1964. Surviving are four daughters, Mrs. John (Leona) Gray, Mrs. Lewis (Viola) Main and Mrs. Robert (Dorothy) Hees, all of New Canton and Mrs. Clarence (Mary) Epperson of Baylis; two sons, Frank and Herman Allens- worth of New Canton; one half brother, Crench Clark of Sweet Springs, MO.; 17 grandchildren, 33 great grand- children, four great great grand- children and other relatives.
Contributed by Carmen Megehe

ANNA RUTH ALLISON , daughter of Russell and Erma Scranton Allison was born at Nebo, Ill., March 7, 1936, being the fourth child in a family of five children. Since the death of her mother on May 12, 1937 she had made her home with her grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. James Allison. She contracted a severe sold and later developed pneumonia which she was unable to overcome, and passed away at 9 o’clock, October 17, 1937 at the age of 1 year, 7 months and 10 days. Everything that loving hearts and tender hands could do was done to ease her suffering and keep her with us, but God, who doeth all things well, saw fit to take her unto Himself, where she is to dwell forevermore. She leaves to mourn her departure, a loving father, two brothers and two sisters, her grandparents, a host of other relatives and friends. Funeral services were conducted Monday afternoon by the Rev. Boniford of Pearl with burial in the Allison Cemetery.
Contributed by Carolyne Conner Puskas

IRMA ALBERTA (SCRANTON) ALLISON , was born May 25th, 1910, died May 12th, 1937, being 26 years, 11 months, and 17 days old. She was converted in the year 1922 and was faithful to the Lord until the time of her death. She was married to Russell Allison, July 4th, 1931. To this union were born five children, three girls and two boys. She leaves besides her husband and five children, her father and mother, Mr. and Mrs. L.B. Scranton, also three brothers and three grandparents, besides many other dear relatives and friends to mourn her departure. Funeral services were held in the Nebo Baptist church Friday afternoon burial in the Allison Cemetery.
Contributed by Carolyne Conner Puskas

JAMES NATHAN ALLISON , was born in Pike County, Illinois, the 16th day of January, 1876, and departed this life March 7, 1941, at his home near Nebo. April 20th, 1899, he was married to Edith Bixby who survives him. Of the eight children born to this union, two are gone; Alvin who died in infancy, and Anna Smith who departed this life, Oct. 10, 1935. Those living are Russell, Everett, and Lowell of Nebo, Eva wife of Charles Barnett of Madison, Verna wife of Loren Willman of Mozier, Ill., and Austin of Lonoake, Calif. He leaves one sister, Ola Stevens of East Alton, and one brother, Almer, of Filer, Idaho. Besides these there are 23 grandchildren, a group of nieces and nephews, and a host of friends who mourn his departure. He was converted at the Nebo Baptist church, where he remained a member until his death. Mr. Allison who has been ill several years grew rapidly worse after a severe attach at the supper table Friday night and passed away soon, remaining conscious to the end. Funeral services were conducted Sunday afternoon, March 9 at the Nebo Baptist Church by the Rev. Wm. Edwards and burial was in the Allison Cemetery, G.H. Hobbs in charge.
Contributed by Carolyne Conner Puskas

RALPH ANDERSON , was born in Hough­ton Lee Springs, Durham county, England, Sept. 5th, 1822, and died March 7th, 1907, of complications, the outcome of lagrippe, at the Anderson home in this city. Deprived of a mother's care in early boyhood, he early asserted the charact­eristics of an English ancestry in a con­servative, quiet nature; a believer in mankind, who was himself a well bal­anced man. His father, Anthony And­erson, possessing a strong mind, and the ability to lead his sons into a full realization of manly attributes, taking the place of father and mother, died in 1850. Mr. Anderson with his brother, Robert, took passage in a sailing vessel at Liverpool in May 1850, landing in New York City in July, the day Presi­dent Taylor was laid to rest. They spent but. a short time in New York, going by steamer up the Hudson river to Albany, thence by rail to Buffalo, then by steamboat to Chicago; from Chicago down the Michigan and Illi­nois canal to LaSalle, Ill , thence down the Illinois river to Griggsville landing, arriving there October 1st, 1851. In 1852 Mr. Anderson settled upon a farm near the river where he lived un­til 1862, when he moved to Nebraska and engaged in farming near Falls City. In 1886 suffering from asthma he re­tired from farming and moved into the mountains of Wyoming, where he en­gaged in the sports of that day, hunt­ing big game. His brother Robert spent several winter seasons there with him, and many evidences of their suc­cess as huntsmen are seen about the home in trophies of the chase. In October of 1889 Mr. Anderson re­turned to his early home in his adopted country to spend his last days in the midst of the unbroken family (until last Thursday) of four brothers and one sister.

He was married in 1862 to Miss Mary E. Langley of Griggsville. To them were born seven children, none of whom survive the husband and father. There are two grandchildren, Grace and Ralph Nebrow of Falls City, Nebr. They were present at the funeral. To the pen it is not given to express the things of life. To those who knew him, his life was an open book responding to every call for sympathy or help, kind to those in error. Faithful to every trust, upright in all of his dealings, equitable to his fellows, prepared in all things, with his house in order. And when the grim Messenger came, found him, one who had fought the good fight, and who could give a good account of his stew­ardship. He was a consistent church­man, looking to the church for spiritual guidance, whose faith he had learned and espoused in his youth. In her burial service the remains were committed to Mother Earth to await the call of his Lord on that grand Easter morn. "I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, write: From henceforth blessed are the dead who die in the Lord; even so saith the Spirit, for they rest from their labors," Rev. 14:13. Funeral services were held at the family residence Sunday, March 10, 1907, Rev. L. D. Crandall officiating, and the interment was in the city cem­etery.
Contributed by Sandi Donaldson

LABERTHA (FOSTER) ARMSTRONG , 98, a resident of Barry for four years, died Wednesday night at 11:30 In Illini Community Hospital at Pittsfield . Funeral services were held Saturday afternoon at 2 in the Lock Funeral Home. The Rev. Hubert Boyd of Hannibal , Mo. , officiated and burial was in Miller Cemetery near Atlas. Mrs. Armstrong was born August 31, 1869, in Indiana, a daughter of William and Elizabeth Coxton Foster. She attended Atlas schools and the Church of God . She was married three times, to Allen Smith, John Lovett and Charles Armstrong. They all preceded her in death. Surviving are a son, George T. Smith of Pittsfield ; a daughter, Mrs. Homer Barber of Rockport; two brothers, William Foster of Hamburg or Burlington , Ia. , and Robert Foster of Winchester ; five step-children and 15 grandchildren. Two brothers and three sisters also preceded her in death.

R.M. ATKINSON The resolutions of respect to the memory of Hon. R. M. Atkinson presented to tile County Court and heretofore published by us were to presented by Jefferson Orr, Esq., who accompanied them, with the following address: MAY IT PLEASE YOUR HONOR: In behalf of the bar and officers of this court, by appointment, heretofore made, at a meeting, held for the purpose of giving expression to the sentiments entertained and cherished of our departed brother, in pursuance of such appointment, it becomes my solemn duty to in­form your Honor that since the last session of the law term of this court, death has been in our midst and borne from time to eternity an honored member of this bar. This venerated custom of the bar—these appointed tributes to the memory of our brothers who go out from among us forever to join the in­numerable and eternal procession, are not the utterances of a spiritless dignity of our procession Such tributes emanate in the deeper sympathies of the human heart, that the virtues of human character may be nourished. Eulogy of the dead is the consecrated privilege end duty of the living. We are taught in the lesson of Divine charities uttered on the Mount by our Lord Jesus Christ, “Judge not." Therefore, of the dead, speak nothing but good As we look in the face of our honored dead, where passion's flush has yielded to perpetual pallor, we realize how solemn it is to die and close forever the book of human purpose, human activity, and human obligation. But death informs us that life is more solemn than death. Life is our only opportunity for responsible work; that makes; the record which must stand---of duty done in the fear and presence of God. Our brother's book of life closed on the fourth day of November, 1880. His body now lies in the tomb, where gentle hands and loving hearts laid it. His life and character is before as and with us. It is indelibly written in the hearts of all who knew him.