John DeLap was born in Tennessee in 1819, and came to this county in 1832 and entered some land in Indian Creek Township. In 1833 he went to Tennessee and married Melinda Harrel, returned to this township with his wife and located on section 6, Town 6, Indian Creek Township, where he cleared a farm. He was one of the best farmers in the county. He died on his farm June 7, 1873, and is buried in the Mt. Oval Cemetery. He was the father of twelve children, ten living--Polly, Catherine, Matilda, Joel H., Raby, John, Margaret J., Ella C., James, Julia. Mrs. DeLap is living, aged seventy-three, and is hale and hearty.

Source: History White Co., Il 1883
Submitted by: Misty Flannigan

Elizabeth Prudence Brown (Duncan) was born in Mecklenberg County, North Carolina, Jan. 26, 1833, came to Crawford County, Illinois, in 1852, was married to John A. Duncan April 23, 1857.  She united with the Associate Reform Presbyterian church at the age of 18, after moving to Crawford county united with the Old Seceders, moved to White county 1868.   She then became identified with the United Presbyterian church at this place.  She has always lived from the time of her exposure to Christ a consistent and devoted child of God until her death, which occurred April 4, at 5:30 o’clock a. m., 1904.  She leaves a husband and three children, two sons and one daughter, six grandchildren, one great-grandchild and one sister and many kin and friends to mourn her departure, three children having preceded her to the Heavenly land where sickness never comes and loved ones part no more.  Funeral services were conducted by Rev. D. Manley at the West Union church, after which the body was laid to rest in the cemetery near by.

Submitted by:  Linda Roberts
[Endnote:  This is the wife of John A. Duncan, Sr.]

DEATH OF JOHN A. DUNCAN
WHICH OCCURRED AT HIS HOME NEAR BROWNSVILLE FRIDAY NIGHT [Dec. 19, 1902]

The death of John A. Duncan, Jr., who had been seriously ill for several weeks, occurred at his home near Brownsville last Friday night at 8 o’clock.

He was an exemplary citizen and one of the leading farmers in that community.  He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. John A. Duncan, Sr., who have lived to see him cut down while in vigorous manhood.  He also leaves a wife, the sister of Harvey and Robert Crozier, of this city, four children, two brothers, and one sister, Mrs. Alfred Hadden, of Carmi.

The deceased was a member of the United Presbyterian church at West Union, and the funeral and burial occurred at that place last Sunday.  The services were conducted by his pastor, Rev. D. McClung.  He was also a member of the Modern Woodman of America.

Submitted by:  Linda Roberts

BELOVED CHRISTIAN WOMAN CALLED BY DEATH ANGEL

Funeral for Mrs. Icy Duncan, who died at Matteson, Ill., Held at West Union Last Thursday.

As the cycles of time go by we are made to realize more and more the uncertainty of Life and the certainty of Death; as our friends and loved ones are called to the Great Beyond.  Icy Crozier Duncan was born July 12, 1867, and departed this life January 20, 1930, aged sixty-two years, five months and twenty days, at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Howard Smith, at Matteson, Illinois.  Death did not come unexpected or find her unprepared.

She was united in marriage to John Duncan, April 6, 1891.  To this union were born five children, Mrs. Howard Smith, of Matteston, Ill., Mrs. Charles Christ, of Cabery, Ill., Ralph, of Kankakee, Joe, of Brownsville and one child and her husband having preceded her in death.  Besides the above named children she leaves three brothers, Harvey H. Crozier, of Carmi, Houston and Montgomery, and one sister, Mrs. Charlie Boyd, all of Brownsville.  One brother, Robert, and one sister, Mrs. George Brockett, having gone on before.

Early in life she accepted Jesus Christ as her Savior and united with the church at West Union, holding fast her faith until she was to the church triumphant.  She was a loyal friend, a good neighbor, a fond and devoted mother.  Her going leaves sadness and loneliness down here but yonder on the eternal hills of Heaven, in the beautiful city of God, there is gladness and welcome.

Funeral services were conducted at West Union church last Thursday afternoon, by Rev. Morse, of Enfield.  W. R. Archer directed the funeral.

Pall bearers were Fred Crozier, John Silliman, Raymond Duncan, Robert Duncan, Frank Barnes, and J. Quillman.  The flowers were in charge of Miss Lucy Jane Crozier, Mrs. Fred Crozier, Mrs. Frank Barnes, Mrs. Jimmie Quillman, Mrs. John Silliman, Mrs. Glenard Lee and Miss Ruby Lee.

Submitted by:  Linda Roberts

From History of White County (IL) Gallatin County – Bear Creek Township (ca 1882-1884), P.  962-963

Rev. Robert Macklin Davis, son of Rev. William and Polly Davis, was born in White County, Ill., Mary 5, 1824.  His parents were natives of North Carolina and Tennessee, of English descent, and came to Illinois in 1811.  Both his grandfathers were in the Revolutionary War, and both were wounded.  His father died when he was thirteen years old.  He was obliged to work hard on the farm, and his education was mostly obtained by home study.  He became a candidate for the ministry Oct. 29, 1843.  He was licensed to preach on probation Sept. 28, 1844; ordained to the whole work of the ministry March 31 1849.  He was married Feb. 27, 1844, to Mary Sharp.  After his marriage and admission to the ministry he availed himself of the opportunity of attending school two winters.  He preached at several places in the bounds of the Ewing Presbytery, and received a great many members into the church at Eagle Creek, Equality, Galatia, McLeansboro, New Haven and other places.  He organized the Palestine church near his own residence in 1852, and has been its only pastor.  He took charge of the village church in 1851, and preached there twenty-six years  He took charge of the Union Ridge church in 1855 and has continued as its pastor without intermission to the present time.  He organized a church in New Haven I 1868, and one at Oak Grove in 1860, both off-shoots of the Union Ridge church.  He organized the church at McLeansboro, assisted by Rev. J. M. Miller, and took charge of it in 1876, and is still its pastor.  he has had charge of the Norris City church since 1879.  He has never had less than four churches under his supervision, and has taken about 1,500 members into the church.  Mr. and Mrs. Davis have four children – Prof. William Isaac Davis graduated at Lincoln in the classical course, and has been President of Hamilton College, and Principal at Mt. Vernon ten years, and is now teaching in Bryant, Iowa; M. M. and S. M. are in the dry-goods business in Omaha, the firm name being R. M. Davis & Sons; Jennie has attended Hamilton College, and is now attending school in Omaha and teaching music.  Mr. David has been very successful in temporal affairs.  he began on a farm in 1844 with nearly nothing, and now has 270 acres of fine farming land and also considerable town property.  He is worth about $10,000.  His first public speech was on temperance.  He has never tasted liquor as a beverage.  His wife has always been a helpmate to him, both in temporal and spiritual affairs.

Submitted by:  Linda Roberts

From History of White County (IL) Gallatin County – New Haven (ca 1882-1884), P.  949-950

William S. Dale, Jr., son of Wm. S. and Sarah (Eledge) Dale, natives of Illinois and Alabama, respectively, was born in Emma Township, White Co., Ill., Oct. 24, 1840.  He lived on the home farm until his father’s death in 1852, when the family, consisting of five sons, was moved to Cape Girardeau, Mo., afterward the spot where Marmaduke and the Federals had the skirmish.  Mr. Dale moved to New Haven after the war.  He afterward settled in White County, and married Sarah R., daughter of Rev. Wm. Slocumb, of White County.  They returned to New Haven, where they have since resided.  They have a family of four children – Edward L., Charles A., Maud and Cora L.  He enlisted in Company D, Marble City Guards, where General Jackson called for 50,000 men; was out six months, and then enlisted in Company D., Brown’s Battalion.  He was in the State service under General Price, and was transferred to the navy, on the gunboat Arkansas.  He was wounded three times at Altoona Pass, -- one shot in the head, one through the breast and one in the left leg.  Of 125 who went out only seven came out alive, and with one exception, every man was wounded three times.

Submitted by Linda Roberts

Source:  History of White County, IL, Phillips Township (ca 1882-1884) p 930-931

C. R. Davenport, farmer; post office, Calvin; son of Thomas Jefferson and Rebecca (Driggers) Davenport, natives of Missouri and Illinois respectively.  There parents were natives of Virginia.  They raised a family of three children, and died in Illinois.  C. R. was born in Illinois, Dec. 4, 1859.  He was educated at Valparaiso, Ind., since which time he has been dealing in cattle until the last three years.  he now owns 300 acres of fine land on section 10, Phillips Township.  He votes the Republican ticket.

Submitted by:  Linda Roberts

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