Parke County Obituaries - Pre 1900

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Parke County Indiana Obituaries

Before 1900 - Surname "C"

“David Cahill died at Bridgeton on Sunday morning last, at the advanced age of 79 years. The deceased was one of the early settlers of the county, and for many years was a consistent Christian and a devoted and exemplary member of the M. E. church. He was the father of Mrs. A. M. Jacks, of Bridgeton, and has lived as one of the family since the death of his wife. Truly a good man has passed away.” – Rockville Republican, February 28, 1882

Died – On the 10th inst., near Armiesburg, Nellie Camper, aged seventy-nine years. Nellie Camper was born in Ohio, in 1806. While in Ohio she became a member of the Friends Church. In 1831 she came to Parke County, after which she joined the Methodist Church and has since lived a devoted Christian life. She is the last old settler of the Wabash Valley, that we know of. The funeral services were conducted by Revs. Cummings and Maris.” - Rockville Republican, March 18, 1885

“Berry Catterson who was wounded some two weeks since in an affray with John L. Phipps, we learn, died from the effects of his wound at the residence of his brother in Sugar Creek Township, on Saturday last. Phipps made his escape, and for ought we know in now with the Old Fourteenth in the Army of the Potomac.” - Parke County Republican, March 2, 1864

"Joseph Chew, of Company B, Eighty-fifth Regiment Indiana Volunteers, died this morning at 3 o'clock, of congestion of the brain. His death was sudden and unexpected, and has cast a gloom over our Company. He was a true soldier, and one of our most cherished comrades. His home is near Montezuma. Wm. Herron - Franklin, Tenn., March 25, 1863." – The Rockville Republican, April 8, 1863

“A dispatch was received by Mrs. Belle Stith Clark this morning, announcing the death of her husband at Las Vegas, New Mexico, on Sunday last. His remains will arrive at Indianapolis on Friday night. Mrs. Clark left for Indianapolis this afternoon.” - Rockville Republican, May 4, 1887

“On Wednesday last Gideon Crooks and William Clark were drowned near Bridgeton, while attempting to cross Raccoon Creek in a skiff. The bodies of the drowned men have not yet been recovered. This lamentable accident awakened feelings of deep sorrow and sadness among a large circle of friends and acquaintances. Mr. Crooks was a man well advanced in years, had long resided in Bridgeton, and was universally beloved and esteemed by all who knew him. Mr. Clark was held in like esteem by those who knew him best. He was comparatively young in years and to him life was full of hope. He served his country faithfully in the gallant old 14th Indiana, and endured the privations, hardships and dangers of four long years of war, without serious harm, but in an hour when least looked for, death marked him as a victim, and he is taken away. Truly it is said ‘In the midst of life we are in death’.” - Parke County Republican, May 13, 1868

“Mrs. Wm. Cole, of north Rockville, died of pneumonia yesterday morning. She had been sick only four or five days. Two other members are down with the disease. – Rockville Tribune, February 26, 1891

Joseph Coleman was buried by the G. A. R. at Pleasant Valley cemetery last Sunday evening in the hour appointed for memorial services. Rev. Cannon preached the funeral, after which the remains were taken to the cemetery where a large crowd witnessed the ceremonies. After the burial they proceeded to decorate the graves of the soldiers. Mr. Coleman being an old soldier the ceremonies were closed at the grave. This, to our minds was a burial and memorial service in the fullest sense of the word - a memorial service that will be remembered by many for years to come as being one of the saddest. Rev. John Griffith gave the memorial address to a large crowd after, which the services of the day closed. – Rockville Tribune, 03 June 1897

“Died, Aug. 27, 1897, at his old home, after an illness of two weeks, Zopher Coleman, in his 72d year. A pioneer of early days; his father came to this country when it was wilderness and entered land along the banks of the Big Raccoon, near Mansfield, where his son was born, Sept. 6, 1825. He has always lived a good neighbor, an honest citizen, a true Christian, doing unto others as you would have them do unto you. April 28, 1845 he was married to Telitha Pruett and to them were born twelve children, nine of whom survive him – six sons sand three daughters – and his aged companion, who are left to mourn the loss of a kind husband and loving father. In 1867 he was untied with the Primitive Baptist church and since then the Bible has been his constant study and guide. During his illness he called his wife, whom he had lived with for 53 years, to his bedside and throwing his arms around her, told her he felt his life had been a success and that she has been a good companion, but they would soon have to separate. He said he was wiling and not afraid to die; he trusted in the Lord as he lived. So he died, falling asleep in Jesus. Funeral services were conducted at North Union, by Rev. Skelton, who delivered a beautiful discourse from Acts I: 24 on the goodness of man and the resurrection of the body, in which he was a strong believer. His body was then laid to rest in the beautiful cemetery that surrounds the church to wait the coming of the Lord. Alice Coleman Harmless.” - Rockville Tribune, September 9, 1897

The mortality among our old citizens lately has been very great: The deaths are recalled of Mrs. Harry Boyd, of Nyesville; Alex Buchanan, of Judson; Abram Collings of Green township; Alex Puett, Miss Jane Gilkerson, Mrs. Mary Whipple, Jas. S. Rogers and Mrs. Dr. W. D. Thomas, of Rockville. These were all in the neighborhood of the three score and ten limit and several of them four score years of age. – Rockville Republican, December 12, 1894

"On our telegraph pages will be found a full account of the Dalton bank robbery in Coffeyville, Kansas. Charles L. Connelly, the marshal of the city, who was killed by the bandits, was formerly a resident of Parke County, and lived near Annapolis. The Coffeyville Journal speaks very highly of Marshall Connelly as a citizen and of his bravery in the terrible fight where so many lives were sacrificed. He was born at Annapolis, Ind., Nov. 25, 1845. He was the fourth son of David Connelly. At the age of 17 he enlisted in Ninth Indiana Battery and served through the war. In 1867, he was married to Mary McCord. Two children, Bert and Grace, blessed their union. His wife died in '74, and two years afterwards he was married to Sarah Alexander. This union was also blessed with two children but one of whom is living, Miss Jessie. In 1885 he moved to Kansas and became a teacher in the city schools of Coffeyville, and afterwards marshal. He was buried at Independence Kansas." - Rockville Tribune, October 13, 1892

“Elizabeth Ann Johnson was born in Shelby County, Kentucky, March 29, 1829, and died near Hollandsburg, Indiana, July 7 1899, aged 70 years, 3 months and 17 days. When 6 years of age her parents, David and Sarah Johnson, moved from Kentucky and settled in Union Township, Parke county, Indiana, where the subject of this sketch ever after lived. Sept. 17, 1850, she was married to James Harvey Connelly, with whom she lived a happy life for almost forty-nine years. To this union were born six children – Mrs. Sarah Noble and Philemon, of New Market, Mrs. Frances Moore, of Newton, Kansas., William and George, of Hollandsburg, and a daughter who died in 1880. Nellie, a granddaughter, who was so kindly cared for in the family from infancy, felt the loss as much as any. She leaves fourteen grandchildren and two great grandchildren. She requested that the funeral services be held at her late home and to be conducted by Elder James Burford, which was done on Saturday afternoon, in the presence of a very large assemblage of relatives and friends, Elder Airhart assisting, after which the remains were laid to rest in the Mt. Moriah Cemetery to await the morning of the resurrection.” - Rockville Tribune, July 12, 1899

Oliver Copeland, aged 66 years, died on Aug. 12. He has lived near this place since 1851. He was an honest man and died respected by all who knew him. Funeral services were held at the Methodist Church, Rev. Z. D. Maris officiating. - Rockville Republican, August 18, 1897

Rebecca Crawford was born March 7, 1807 in Tazwell county, Virginia. She was married to Joseph Smith in 1828 and arrived in Johnson county, Indiana, Christmas of the same year. They made a home in the wilderness. What changes since that time! They raised two children, a son and daughter the daughter died in 1855. Then she came to Rockville and has since made her home with her son, Robert J. Smith. She leaves three grandsons, one great-grandson and two great-granddaughters. Her time and means were spent to a considerable extent, in the interest of the m. E. church, which she loved and of which she has been a devoted member for nearly 70 years. Her health has been failing for several years, and the last ten months she has suffered so terribly and so often wished to be released from her suffering, that her dearest and nearest should be glad to see her at rest, as we are satisfied she now is. The funeral, Sunday afternoon, conducted by Rev. J. S. Maxwell, at her son’s residence was attended by a large concourse of our people, who thus attested their friendship during her life and reverence for her memory. - Rockville Tribune, 18 April 1895

Sugar Creek - Jasper Cunningham’s wife was buried last Thursday. - Rockville Republican, November 19, 1889