Alfred Clayton SCHMUCKER pioneer merchant of Morrison, passed away suddenly Sunday evening at his home on W. Wall Street. He had been afflicted with heart trouble for some years and for the past week had not been feeling as well as usual. Sunday evening he had expected to attend services at the Methodist church where he was a prominent and active member, but on account of a severe headache remained at home. His wife and daughter attended the services and returning home, found him on the bathroom floor. A physician was called, but life was extinct, death being caused from leakage of the heart. Alfred Clayton Schmucher was born near Marion , PA , Nov 18th 1852 . When about 12 years of age he came with his parents to the vicinity of Franklin Grove. He received his education in the high school there and later at Naperville College , teaching for 9 years in the vicinity of Franklin Grove. December 24th 1874 , he was united in marriage to Miss Maggie Miller of Franklin Grove, and came to Morrison February 28, 1884 , where he has been engaged in the grocery business successfully since that time. He was a man held in high esteem and was an active member of the Methodist church, joining shortly after locating in Morrison. He had been active I church work during his residence in Franklin Grove. He is survived by his wife and daughter, Miss Grace Schmucher. Funeral services will be held on Wednesday afternoon at 3 o’clock at the home on West Wall street and at 3;30 at the Methodist Church , Rev. R. P. McMahon officiating. Interment will be made in Grove Hill cemetery.

Contributed by Suzy Wert The Sterling Daily Gazette, Monday, 16 Oct 1922 page 7 column 5
[Transcriber’s note: The son of Jacob Schmucker and Catharine Kring Schmucker. Despite the obituary, as far as I know, his family never lived anywhere in Pennsylvania except Somerset Co, which is located a couple counties west of Marion , PA. His name was also Albert Clayton Schmucker, not Alfred Schmucher, according to censuses and also the biography of his brother, Henry C. Schmucker of Dixon, Lee Co., Illinois .]

BERNARD SCUDDER died Tues. morning Oct.5, 1993 at CGH Medical Center in Sterling, IL. following an extended illnessMemorial services for Bernard, age 77, of 309 4th. Ave. Rock Falls, Il. were held Oct. 6th. at the Wheelock-AllenFuneral Home, Rock Falls. The body will be cremated. Bernard was born Dec. 8, 1915 in Moline, IL. the son of Clair B. and Lucia Henderson Scudder. He married Mahala Dodd 1936. He married Gene Levengood before 1947. He was united in marriage to Frances Gorzney Bohms on Mar. 22, 1969. He was a set-up person at General Electric for many years, prior to his retirement in 1975. He was then a charter bus driver for R.C. Smith Transportation prior to his illness. He is survived by his wife, Francis; two daughters, Mrs. Charles (Sally) Medenblik of Fulton, IL. and Mrs. Jesse (Donna) Bewley of West of West Reading, PA.; two step-daughters, Mrs William (Judy) Conboy of Morrison and Mrs Leon (Connie) Schwitters of Stillman Valley, IL; four grandchildren, four step grandchildren, two great-, grandchildren and four step great-children; one brother, Clair Scudder of Morrison; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, one grandson, one brother Gerald and one sister, Mrs. Beulah Fletchic. A memorial has been established for the Rock Falls Fire Department, or CGH Emergency Services (Ambulance).
Contributed by Judy Hook

BEVERLY JEAN (BRUMBLY) SCUDDER , 67 of Rock Falls, Il. formerly of Morrison died Friday Nov. 12, 1999 at CGH Medical Center, Sterling. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Mon. at Grove Hill Cemetery. There will be no visitation. Arrangements were made my Bosma-Renkes Funeral Home. Mrs. Scudder was born Nov. 10, 1932 in Moline, Il. the daughter of Neal P. and Betha(Bosenworth) Brumbly. She married Ray L. Scudder Sr. on Dec. 17, 1948 in Lyndon, Il.He preceded her in death on May 4, 1990. She attended Lyndon grade school. She was a L.P.N. and worked at the former Whiteside County Nursing Home, the Whiteside County Health Dept. and the Morrison Community Hospital as an activity coordinator. She was a member of St. Anne's Episcopal Church. She is survivedby four sons, Jerry Ray Scudder of Mn. Neal C. Scudder of Milwaukee, Wis., Ray Jr. of Carpentersville, Il. and David L. Scudder of Morrison; a brother Richard C. (Doris) Brumbly of Prophetstown,IL.; 13 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by a brother Neal J. Brumbly
Contributed by Judy Hook

CLAIR SCUDDER , was born at Industry, IL. on Mar. 3, 1890 the son of Charles D. and Sarah Jane Russell Scudder. He worked for Libby and Carnation CO. in Morrison. In his leisure he was a lover of horses and a trail rider. He married Lucia Henderson in 1910 in Moline,IL.; to them were born four children Clair, Bernard,Beulah, Gerald.In 1935 he married Geraldine Schryver and had Jack and Sandra. He had been a resident of Morrison for 30 years. Clair passed away at the Whiteside Nursing Home near Morrison on Aug. 10, 1955 after 2 wks. illness. His passing will be mourned by Clair of Morrison, Bernard of Clinton, Gerald of Clinton and Jack in the Armed Forces ; two daughters, Beulah(Kenneth) Fletchic of Morrison and Sandra Scudder of Phoenix, Arizona. His mother, Jennie Scudder of Chicago, 10 grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren; three brothers; Harold of Cordova, Il., Clay and Paul of Los Angelos, California, and one sister Twyla(Lonnie) Hoskinson of Chicago, Il. He was preceded in death by his father, and one brother.Services were held at the Reynolds Funeral Home in Morrison. The reverend James H. Hagerty of the Methodist Church officiated. Burial was made in the Grove Hill Cemetery of Morrison, Il.
Contributed by Judy Hook

CLAIR SCUDDER ,89, of Pleasant View Nursing Home, Morrison, IL died Tues. Aug. 15, 2000 at CGH in Sterling. Clair was born Feb. 24, 1911 in Moline IL to Clair B. and Lucia (Henderson) Scuddeer. He attended Morrison grade schools. He married Dorothy Williams on June 30, 1930 in Rock Island. Clair was employed at the refrigerator plant and then as a truck driver for Volkman's Furniture both in Morrison. He loved music and played the saxophone, guitar and banjo with many bands in the Clinton IA and Sterling / Cordova IL areas. He enjoyed traveling and motorcycle riding. Clair loved the challenge offinding a way to make or fix anything. Survivors include his wife, Dorothy of Morrison, two daughters, Dorothy (John) Tiesman and Judy (John) Hook, both of Morrison; one son, Gene (June) Scudder of Morrison; sixteen grandchidlren and seven great grandchildren; seven great-great grandchildren; one son-in-law, William Blair of Thomson IL; one half sister, Sandra Scudder of AZ and one half brother, Jack of CA. He was preceded by one daughter, Joyce Blair; one son, Ray, two great grandchildren and one sister and two brothers.
Contributed by Judy Hook

DOROTHY (WILLIAMS) SCUDDER , 90, of the Pleasant View Nursing Home in Morrison died Thursday October 2, 2003, at the nursing home. Funeral services will be 1:30 p.m. Monday at the Morrison Chapel of the Bosma-Renkes Funeral Home in Morrison. The Rev. Brent Cloyd, pastor of Como Baptist Church in Sterling, Ill., will be officiating. Visitation will be from 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home. Interment of the cremains will be in the Grove Hill Cemetery, Morrison. Pallbearers will be Roger and Neal Scudder, Kathy Huett, Rick, Josh and Tommy Smith, Steve Blair, Josh and Jay Starr and Jon Widener. She was born Jan. 21, 1913, in Morrison to Harry and Kathryn B. Hermes Williams. She was educated in the Morrison grade schools. She married Clair Scudder on June 30, 1930, in Rock Island, Ill. He died in 2000. She lived most of her life in Morrison except for 10 years in Arizona. She played the organ and accompanied her husband when he played the saxophone in bands for dances. Survivors include two daughters, Mrs. Dorothy (John) Tiesman of Morrison and Mrs. Judy (John) Hook of Morrison; one son, Gene (June) Scudder of Morrison; 16 grandchildren; 39 great-grandchildren; 11 great-great-grandchildren; four brothers, Robert (Marilyn) Williams of Fulton, Ill., Richard (Lavonne) Williams of Morrison, Harvey (Pauline) Williams of Morrison and Harry (Linda) Williams of Los Alamos, N.M.; and one son-in-law, William Blair of Thomson, Ill. She was preceded in death by her husband, one daughter, one son, two great-grandchildren and two sisters. Memorials may be made to the Pleasant View Nursing Home.
Clinton Herald October 4, 2003

GERALD H. SCUDDER , 64, Thomson,Il. formerly of Morrison, died Friday Dec. 9, 1983. The funeral was Monday at 2 p.m. at the Renkes-Reynolds Funeral Home. The body will be cremated. Visitation was 3 to 7 p.m. Sunday in the funeral home officiated by Rev. Alvin Hook. He was born Feb. 12, 1919 in Moline, IL. the son of Clair Brookfield and Lucia Henderson Scudder. He was educated in the Morrison Schools. He lived in the Morrison and Fulton area all his life until moving to Thomson 10 yrs. ago. He worked for G.E. in for 18 yrs. in the Maintenance Dept. He was a WW11 Veteran and member of Clinton Moose Lodge. Survivors include, one daughter, Mrs. Miner ( Margo) Jilderda, Ohio, IL; two brothers, Clair of Morrison and Bernard, Rock Falls; one sister Beulah Fletchic of Morrison; and two grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents.
Contributed by Judy Hook

MAHALA J. (DODD) SCUDDER , 57,of Morrison (formerly of Fulton) died Oct.29, 1969 in the Morrison Community Hospital after a long illness with cancer. Mahala Dodd was born in Morrison on Oct. 5, 1912 to Harold and Rinalda Johnson Dodd. She had been employed at the Volckman Furniture Co. in Morrison for many years until her illness. She was president of the Morrison VFW Post Auxiliary and secretary of the Wa-Tan-Ye Club of Fulton. Survivors include her mother, Mrs. Lantz (Rena)Lindsley; a daughter, Mrs. Charles (Sally) Medenblik of Fulton; two grandsons; Gerald (Casey) Jones and Gary Medenblik at home; one sister, Mrs. Wilson (Betty) Arroyo of Rock Falls; and a brother, Donald A. Lindsley of Deerfield, Ill. She was preceded in death by her father, her stepfather and a grandson Jimmy Medenblik who passed away 6 months ago from cancer. Funeral services were held in the Fulton Bethel Christian Reformed Church. Burial was in Fulton Cemetery.
Contributed by Judy Hook

MARGUERITE (LEAHY) SCUDDER , 87, of Morrison, died Sat. September 6, 2003 at the Morrison Community Hospital Skilled Care Unit. Visitation will be held from 3-7 p.m. Mon. at the Law-Jones Funeral Home,Thomson, IL. with a Rosary Service given at 7 p.m. A Funeral Mass will be held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday Sept. 9 at Immaculate Conception Church of Fulton, IL. with Father James Keenan as Celebrant. Burial will be in Calvary Hill Catholic Cemetery, Fulton, IL. Marguerite was born Sept. 18, 1915 in Albany, IL. the daughter of Henry and Martha ( Beetle) Leahy. She was a 1933 graduate of the Erie High School, Erie, IL. Marguerite worked as an inspector 27 yrs. for G.E. Morrison, IL. Marguerite married Gerald H. Scudder Feb. 18, 1941 in Camanche, Iowa. He died Dec. 9, 1983. Survivors include a daughter, Margo (Miner) Jilderda of Ohio, IL.;two grandchildren Julie (Randy) Berghammer of Markesen, Wisconson and Jeff ( Kay) Jilderda of Tiskilwa, IL.; three great-grandchildren, James and Jordan Berghammer and Tiffany Jilderda; one sister, Theresa Geraldine "Gerry" Leahy of East Moline, IL.; and several nieces and nephews. Marguerite is preceded in death by her husband; both parents; eleven brothers and sisters; and a great grandson, Justin Carl Berghammer in 1987.
Contributed by Judy Hook

RAY LEROY SCUDDER SR. - Mass will be conducted at 10 A.M. Monday in St. Ann's Episopal Church, for Ray Leroy Scudder Sr. , who died Friday May 4, 1990 at Morrison Community Hospital, of natural causes. The Rev. John Henchle will be lector and server. Visitation will be from 3 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday at Bosma Renkes Funeral Home. Burial will be in Grove Hill Cemetery Morrison, Il. Mr. Scudder was born Dec. 17, 1930 in Sterling to Clair and Dorothy Williams Scudder. He married Beverly Jean Brumbly, Dec. 17, 1948 in Lyndon, Il. He attended the Morrison schools and was employed at Volckman Furniture Company for 38 years. He was a member of St. Ann's Episcopal Church and it's Bishop's Committee. Survivors include his wife; four sons, Jerry Ray of Mn. , Neal Clair of Milwaukee, Wis. Ray Leroy Jr. of Carpentersville, Il. and David Lee of Morrison: his parents, 13 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren; two sisters, Mrs. John(Dorothy)Tiesman and Mrs. Judy Smith both of Morrison and a brother Eugene Clair of Morrison. He was preceded in death by a sister Joyce(Bill) Blair
Contributed by Judy Hook

JAMES SEELEY , 51, of 906 Oak Ave., Sterling, died Tuesday evening (06 January 1987) in Community General Hospital in Sterling. Graveside services will be Friday at 10:30 a.m. at Oak Knoll Memorial Park in Sterling with Rev. David L. Beebe, pastor of the First Christian Church of Rock Falls, officiating. There will be no visitation. Local arrangements were completed by the Allen Funeral Home in Sterling. In the list of survivors, two step-children were inadvertently omitted from the obituary. They are a step daughter, Candy Phillips of Sterling, and a step-son, Russell Hayes of Sterling.
Contributed by Melva L. Taylor - Sterling Gazette January 8, 1987 - Thursday, pg A2, col. 1

LINNIE (DENNISON) SHERE , 78, of Tampico, passed away Tuesday evening (27 December 1966) at the Sterling Community General Hospital. Funeral services will be held Friday at 1:30 p.m. at the Schmitt Chapel, Tampico, the Rev. Roger Baumeister of the Tampico Methodist Church officiating, with burial in the Tampico Memorial Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home after 2 p.m. Thursday. A memorial has been established. Linnie Shere was born April 7, 1888, in the territory of Dakota, the daughter of L.W. and Maud Dow Denison. She was educated in the Tampico grade and high schools. She married John E. Shere Jan. 6, 1909, in Tampico. She was a member of the Tampico Methodist Church and the RNA, and lived in Tampico most of her life. She is survived by one sister, Mrs. H. J. Kolb of Tampico, several nieces and nephews. She was preceded by her parents, husband and one brother, Richard Denison.
Contributed by Melva L. Taylor - Sterling Gazette December 28, 1966 - Wednesday, pg 2, col. 1

HENRY SPRINGMAN of Morrison, Route 2, passed away at 10:20 a.m. Thursday (24 March 1949) in the Dixon public hospital, following surgery to which he submitted March 14. The body was removed to the Shirk funeral home in Milledgeville. Funeral rites will be held Sunday afternoon at 1:30 in the home and at 2 o'clock in the West Jordan cemetery. Mr. Springman had farmed his entire lifetime around Coleta and Morrison. He was a member of the West Jordan Lutheran church and the Round Grove grange. Besides his widow, Mrs. Antonette Bitter Springman, he leaves a daughter Mrs. Howard (Beulah) Cribb; a son Herbert; three grandchildren, Glenn, shirleye and Joyce Springman; one sister, Mrs. John Eckel and one brother, Charles Springman, all of Whiteside county.
Contributed by Melva L. Taylor - The Sterling Daily Gazette, Sterling-Rock Falls, Illinois March 24, 1949 - Thursday, pg. 2, col. 2

SUSAN STEIMLE , 40 of Pontiac, formerly of Sterling. Mrs. Sherry Schwab and Mrs. Sheila Davis, received word of the death of their sister-in-law, Susan Steimle. She is survived by her husband James; her children, Mark, Gregg, and Roblee Dooly, all of Pontiac and her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Ross Laver of Pontiac
Contributed by Melva L. Taylor - Daily Gazette, Sterling-Rock Falls, Illinois, March 3, 1982 - Wednesday pg 4

ELMINA (WOODWORTH) STEWART , 91, passed away Saturday at the Clinton Manor Home in Clinton, Iowa, where she had been a resident for the past two years. Prior to her residency at the Clinton Manor, she was a resident of the Sarah Hardy Home of Clinton. Elmina Stewart was born Aug. 30, 1875, the daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Mathew Woodworth of the Leon community in rural Prophetstown. She was educated in the Prophetstown area schools. She married Fred Stewart and they attended school and studied together at Kirksville College of Osteopathy. Dr. Fred Stewart preceded her in 1951. She is survived by one son, Raymond Stewart of Clinton, Iowa; one grandson, Raymond Jr. of Stratford, Conn.; three great grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded by her parents, husband, two sisters and one brother. Funeral services were held at Fay Briagonire Funeral Home in Clinton, Monday at 2 p.m., the resident Methodist pastor of the Sarah Hardy Home of Clinton officiated, with burial in Clinton. Mrs. W. Bakel was the organist and J. H. Duling was the soloist. The pallbearers were Lester Lindahl, Kenneth Stewart, Dr. Robert S. Henick, Paul Mathews, Quinten Smith and E. H. Utrospa.
Contributed by Melva L. Taylor The Daily Gazette, Sterling-Rock Falls, Illinois February 7, 1967 - Tuesday, pg 2

ELOISE L. (McNAMARA) STEWART , 89, of Prophetstown went home to be with the Lord peacefully on Saturday, June 114, 2008 at Hillcrest Home, Geneseo. Eloise was born April 26, 1919 in the home she had lived in all her life, located on Kiner Road, Prophetstown, the daughter of George Washington and Fannie May (Plumley) McNamara and was 1937 graduate of Prophetstown High School. She married Everette LeRoy Stewart on October 16, 1940 in Lyons, IA. He died June 16, 2001. Eloise was a lifetime member of the Prophetstown United Methodist Church; a member of the Faith Circle of the church as well as serving on the Mission and Evangelism committee. She also served as an acolyte trainer. She enjoyed crocheting (having made her own left handed crochet patterns), singing, gardening, baking and canning produce from her garden. She enjoyed her farm cats and feeding them. Eloise always enjoyed visiting and seeing her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. She always loved windmills, taking pictures and being creative. She had called news in to the local newspaper many years ago. Eloise was an excellent homemaker. Surviving are her children: Larry Lee (Pat) Stewart of Prophetstown, LaFaughn Christine (Rich) Rosenow of Prophetstown, Lynette Susan Post of Canton, and Leo Ray (Joanie) Stewart of Prophetstown; two sisters Juanita Smith of Prophetstown and June Powell of Annawan; 8 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband. Funeral services were held on Tuesday, June 17, 2008 at the Prophetstown United Methodist Church with the Reverend Insun Yoon officiating. Burial was at the Riverside Cemetery. Arrangements were complete by the McDonald Funeral Home, Prophetstown. Memorials in her memory to the Prophetstown United Methodist Church, American Cancer Society or to Happy Tails Shelter would be appreciated.
Contributed by Debbie Thormahlen - The Prophetstown Echo June 17, 2008

GRACE (BLAGG) STOUDT , 87, of Erie, died Tuesday evening (19 October 1976) in Morrison Community Hospital. Funeral services will be held Thursday in the Erie Christian Church. Burial will be in the Erie Cemetery. Visitation will be Wednesday (tonight) at the Schilling-Reedy Funeral Home in Erie. A Memorial has been established to the Illini Christian Childrens Home in Erie. She was born May 20, 1889 in Erie, the daughter of Elias and Elizabeth Osborn Blagg. She married Thomas Stoudt in Morrison on Dec. 10, 1889 and he preceded her in death in 1908. She was a member of the Erie Christian Church, the Loyal Workers of the Erie Christian Church and the Erie Women's Club. She formerly operated Grace's Coffee Shop in Erie. She is survived by one son, Uhlan of Erie; two grandchildren and five great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, one son and on sister.
Contributed by Melva L. Taylor - The Daily Gazette, Sterling-Rock Falls, Illinois - October 19, 1976, Tuesday, pg 4

BERNADINE R. (SIPPEL) STURGILL , 76, of Kewanee, formerly of Prophetstown, died Friday, May 21, 1999 at CGH Medical Center. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Leon United Methodist Church, with Carl Hood, pastor, officiating. Burial will be at Riverside Cemetery, Prophetstown. Visitation will be from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. Monday at Gardner Funeral Home, Prophetstown. A memorial has been established. s. Sturgill was born March 5, 1923, in Prophetstown, the daughter of John and Winifred (Fries) Sippel. She graduated from Prophetstown High School in 1941. She married Frank Ashpole. She later married James Sturgill on Sept. 30, 1964. He survives. She was employed for Schuneman Agency for 17 years. She owned and operated the Dec-Or-Fab shop in Prophetstown prior to retiring in 1979. She was a member of Leon United Methodist Church. Her hobby was creating stained glass artwork, and she made the stained glass windows for the Leon Church. rvivors include a daughter, Lynne (Rowan) Butts of Rock Falls; a son, Ronald (Mary) Ashpole of Kewanee; a step-daughter, Rita Preston of Louisville, Ky., Phyllis (Dean) Epperly of Wheaton and Lynn (Jim) Frost of Florida; a stepson, Douglas Sturgill of Aledo; five grandchildren; six great grandchildren; seven step-grandchildren; 14 step-greatgrandchildren; two brothers, Kenneth (Lucille) Sippel of Moline, and Arlyn (Norma) Sippel of Phoenix, Ariz. e was preceded in death by three children in infancy and a stepgrandson.
Contributed by Melva L. Taylor - The Daily Gazette, Sterling-Rock Falls, Illinois May 23 1999 - Sunday, pg A5 col 2

LUCETTA (CROOK) SWEDERUS , 90, of Prophetstown, passed away yesterday (20 January 1967) at the Colonial Acres Rest Home, Sterling. Funeral services will be held at the Gardner Funeral Chapel Monday at 1:30 p.m., the Rev. A. Dean Lundstrom officiating, with burial in Riverside Cemetery in Prophetstown. Friends may call Sunday afternoon and evening at the funeral home. A memorial has been established for the Congregational Church of Prophetstown. Lucetta C. Swderus was born March 30, 1876 in Hume Township, the daughter of Rodney and Mary (Brydia) Crook. She was educated in the Prophetstown grade and high schools and lived in Prophetstown her entire life time and has been in the nursing home the past four years. She married Axel Swederus Oct. 16, 1906 in Prophetstown, where they lived their entire married life. She was a member of the Prophetstown Congregational Church and a 50 year member of the Prophetstown OES. She is survived by a number of cousins, including George S. Brydia, former State Representative; two great nephews, Glenn Sandstrom of Loves Park and Raph Sandstrom of Freeport; one great niece, Great Youngblutt of Crown Point, Ind. She was preceded by her parents and husband.
Contributed by Melva L. Taylor - The Daily Gazette, Sterling-Rock Falls, Illinois January 21, 1967 - Saturday, pg 2