U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014
BECKMANN, Margaretha Elsabea Hamm
Margaretha Elsabea Beckman, born 8-16-1824, Wesselburen, Province of Holstein Germany, died 4-14-1914 at Anchor, McLean County, Il at the age of 89 yr 8 mo 4 da. At the age of 27 (1851) years she married
Herman Beckmann in Weddingstedt, Germany. He died in 1880 and is buried in Germany. To this union 10 children were born - seven died before her, including two daughters: Mrs. Margaretha (Johann) Schmidt and Mrs. Claudina (Otto) Guse, buried at St. John's. Four daughters and a son are buried in Germany. Living children: Mrs. Antje (Ferdinand) Landau, with whom she made her home and coming with them to America in 1908; Mrs. Anna (Otto) Moeller; Julius Beckmann of Hamburg, Germany; 22 grandchildren and 30 great-grandchildren. Gibson City Courier 4-14-1914
GADDIS, Emma (Waltmire)
MRS. EMMA GADDIS DIED IN MICHIGAN SUNDAY
Mrs. Emma Gaddis, formerly of Colfax, passed away Sunday, October 27, at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Harlan Stuckey, at Mt. Morris, Mich. The funeral party arrived in Colfax Tuesday evening with the body and the funeral services were held from the Colfax Christian church, Wednesday afternoon at 2 o'clock. Rev. O.L. Hawkins, the pastor, officiated. Miss Ricky Grending and Mrs. S. Weed sang a duet. The pallbearers were: C. Scott, James Fielding, J.H. Discho, Frank Ingram, O.H. Knight, and W.H. Nickerson. Burial was in Wiley cemetery. Mrs. Emma Gaddis was born at New Salem, Ohio on June 19, 1860, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Waltmire. The family removed to Tremont in 1868. She was married
to William Gaddis on Feb. 9, 1882 and they resided on a farm south of Colfax, for several years, moving into Colfax in 1885. They moved to Cleveland, Ohio in 1927. She is survived by two daughters, Mrs. Helen Lavely of Flint, Mich.; Mrs. Grace Stuckey of Mt. Morris, Mich.; two sons, Byron and Dr. Leo Gaddis of Cleveland, Ohio, and six grandchildren. She is also survived by three brothers, Joseph of Flint, Mich.; Charles of Florida, and Elmer of Ft. Wayne, Ind. Among those from out of town attending the funeral were: Byron Gaddis and family, Dr. Leo Gaddis and family of Cleveland, Ohio; Mr. and Mrs. Harlan Stuckey of Mt. Morris, Mich.; Mr. and Mrs. Frank Woltmire of Pekin; Mr. and Mrs. C. Davis and Mr. and Mrs. P. Davis of Tremont; Miles Hicks of Cleveland, Ohio.
GADDIS, Martha (Bennett)
MARTHA GADDIS DEAD
(date of obit, August 10, 1916)
Aged resident of Colfax passed away at the home of her daughter, Mrs. A.M. Hicks, at 5:30 o'clock last Friday morning following an illness of several months. Martha, the daughter of John and Sarah Bennett, was born January 14, 1832, at Dillon, Illinois, the first white settlement in Tazewell County. Her father, John Bennett, being a fuller by trade, and operated a mill at one time on the Mackinaw between the villages of Dillon and the town of Delavan, and later one on his farm in Elin Grove township. He was one of the organizers of the church at Antioch, Dillon township, and filled the office of elder until his death. He was also connected with Eureka College in its organization. On March 2, 1851, she was united in marriage to Rees Gaddis. Six children have blessed their union, two of whom died in infancy or early childhood. The home of Rees and Martha Gaddis became the topping place of the preaching brethren of that day. Such men as Alfred and John Lindsay, Elder James Robinson, R.B. Chaplin, James and Nathan Mitchell, Elder Mass and his son Rufus, H.W. Everest, Eli Fisher, and many others were often in the home and J.E. Beekman, one well known as an eloquent preacher and temperance worker., who also was a step-brother of Mrs. Gaddis. The family continued to reside in Tazewell county until 1885 when they removed to a farm they purchased near Colfax. Here the husband died in 1891, since which time Mrs. Gaddis has made her home with her children, nearly all the time with her son, William, or her daughter, Mrs. A.M. Hicks. She obeyed the gospel and united with the Christian church in her youth and when they came to Colfax she took membership with the church here and continued this relationship until her death. She had the joy of seeing her daughter and sons actively identified with the work of the church. She was sustained by her faith in Christ and frequently recited the 23rd Psalm in her last illness. She was industrious and forgetful of self in her readiness to be of service to others. She was like a mother to a niece, who found a home with Mrs. Gaddis, after her own mother died. About a year ago she suffered a paralytic stroke, since which time her decline strength has been gradual.
GADDIS, William
COLFAX MAN DIES
William Gaddis, former citizen there, expires in hospital in Cleveland. Word was received at Colfax Tuesday evening by Mrs. A.M. Hicks that her brother, William Gaddis had died in a hospital at Cleveland, Ohio. William Gaddis, the son of Reese and Martha Bennet Gaddis, was born in Tremont, Ill., June 30, 1857. He was married
to Emma Waltmire of that place on February 9, 1882. To this union were born four children, Leo, Grace, Byron and Helen. In the spring of 1885 Mr. Gaddis came to Colfax to live, locating on a farm southwest of Colfax. About fifteen years ago he purchased the telephone exchange and conducted that business until four years ago, when he retired because of ill health. For the past year Mr. Gaddis has been living in Cleveland, Ohio, and in Michigan, where he has spent much of his time in out of door sports, with the hope of regaining his health. Several months ago he submitted to an operation of a serious nature in a Cleveland hospital, and recovered temporarily, but the old trouble returned which resulted in another operation, followed by his death on Tuesday. Mr. Gaddis was a prominent citizen, an efficient worker in the Christian church of Colfax and a member of the Masonic lodge. Mr. Gaddis is survived by his wife, Mrs. Emma Gaddis, and four children, Dr. Leo Gaddis of Cleveland, Ohio; Byron of Cleveland; Mrs. Grace Stuckey of Mt. Morris, Mich., and Helen of Colfax. One sister, Mrs. A.M. Hicks, and two brothers, Alpheus Gaddis of Beaver City, Neb., and James Gaddis, of this place. The body arrived at Colfax Wednesday evening. As yet no funeral arrangements have been made.
GARNER, Bertha A.
Bertha Alice Garner, 89, Colfax, a lifetime Colfax area resident, died at 7:50 a.m. yesterday 2-6-1988 at Heritage Manor Nursing Home, Bloomington, where she had resided one week. Her graveside funeral will be at 1 p.m. Tuesday at Wiley cemetery, Colfax, the Rev. Dan Sullivan officiating. There will be no visitation. Duffy-Pils Memorial Home, Colfax, had charge of arrangements. Mrs. Garner was born 1-26-1899 in Ava, a daughter of Dempsey Monroe and Mary Devada Killian Ditzler. She married
Grover S. Garner on 12-24-1917 in Colfax. He preceded her in death in June 1938. She is survived by one son, Gerald, Colfax; two daughters, Erma Bowen, Cooksville, and Norma Jean Chrisman, Bloomington; three half sisters, Hazel Duncan, Hobart, Ind., Lois Smith, Pueblo Colo., and Norma Dean, Oklahoma; six grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-granddaughter. One brother and two stepsisters preceded her in death. She was a member of the Colfax United Methodist Church and a lifetime member of the Colfax American Legion Ladies Auxiliary Davis-Kerber Post 653. Mrs. Garner worked at the Woolworth store in Bloomington for 20 years before retiring in 1962. She owned and operated the Arcade Cafe in Colfax for three years. Memorials may be made to the Colfax United Methodist church or to the Eastern McLean County Ambulance Association.
GARNER, Gerald
Gerald Grover Garner, age 73, a lifelong resident of Colfax and a retired telephone service technician died at 4:01 a.m. Monday 1-27-1992 at Carle Foundation Hospital, Urbana. Cremation rites were accorded. His graveside service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at Wiley cemetery, Colfax, with the Reverend Pat Allin officiating. Military rites will be accorded by Davis-Kerber American Legion Post 653, Colfax. There was no visitation. Duffy-Pils Memorial Home, Colfax was in charge of arrangements. Mr. Garner was born 2-6-1918 at Colfax, a son of Grover S. and Bertha Alice Ditzler Garner. He married
Lois R. Hill on 10-13-1942 at Colorado Springs, Colorado and she survives. Other survivors include two sons, Gerald Grover Garner II of Hudson and Steven Lee Garner of Cooksville; two daughters, M. Jolene Klintworth of Anchor and Kay Ann Mizell of rural Bloomington; two sisters, Erma Bowen of Cooksville and Norma Christman of Bloomington; nine grandchildren and one great-granddaughter. Mr. Garner, a 1937 graduate of Colfax High School was a service technician for GTE Bloomington for 36 years. He retired in 1985. He was a member of Local 51 of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Bloomington. He served as a staff sergeant with the Army's 1st Battalion 411th Infantry Division in the Rhineland and Central Europe during WWII. Mr. Garner was a member of Davis-Kerber American Legion Post 653, Colfax and a former member of John H. Kraus Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 454, Bloomington. He was a member of the Colfax United Methodist Church, a former Boy Scout scoutmaster and a former member of the Loyal Order of Moose Lodge, Bloomington. Memorials may be made to his church or to the Eastern McLean County Ambulance Assn.
BEECHER, Edward William
Edward Beecher, 68, of rural Colfax, died at 3:10 p.m. 12-15-1986 at Americana Healthcare Center, Normal. Services will be today at 2 p.m. at St. John's Lutheran Church, Anchor. Officiating will be Pastor Melvin C. Blobaum with burial in the church cemetery. Visitation was Wednesday from 5 - 8 p.m. at the Duffy-Pils Memorial Home, Colfax, and one hour before the service at the church. Mr. Beecher was born 2-1-1918 in Anchor, a son of John Edward and Maude Emma Hasty Beecher. He married
Melba Genevieve Hughes 9-23-1940 in Hannibal, Mo. She died 5-15-1977. Survivors include three daughters, Doris L. White of Fairbury, Alice J. Clodfelter of Normal, and Carol A. Sutton of Pontiac; three sisters, Ida Schleeter of Colfax, Melba Bane of Sibley and Mildred Trembley of Colfax; two brothers, Delmar of Pontiac and Ralph of Bloomington; nine grandchildren and one great-grandson. He was preceded in death by one brother and one sister. He was a member of St. John's Lutheran Church, Anchor, a lifetime resident of the Colfax-Anchor area and farmed in the area. He was a past employee of the Pontiac Correctional Center, 1962. He was also a roofer for a number of years in Pontiac. Memorials may be made to his church or the Eastern McLean County Ambulance Association. (The Colfax Press Thursday 12-18-1986)
BEECHER, Ernest Louis "Ernie"
Ernest Louis Beecher, age 93 of LeRoy died at 1:07 a.m. Wednesday 11-28-2001 at LeRoy Manor in LeRoy. Memorial services were at 4 p.m. Saturday at Calvert-Belangee-Bruce Funeral Home in LeRoy with Pastor Stephen Goodwin officiating. Graveside memorial services were at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday at St. John's Lutheran cemetery in Anchor followed by a service of celebration of Mr. Beecher's life at St. John's Lutheran Church. Visitation was from 3 - 4 p.m Saturday at the funeral home. Mr. Beecher was born 3-30-1908 in Anchor Twp to Henry Claus and Margaret Wilhelmina Schroeder Beecher. He married
Esther Siler on 1-11-1940 in Bloomington. Survivors include his wife, Esther Beecher; one son, John William (Cecilia Vucich) Beecher of Moorehead, MN and two grandchildren, Emma Elizabth Beecher, a graduate of Macalester College in St. Paul, MN and William Vucich Beecher, a junior at Stanford University in Stanford, CA; two nephews; one niece. He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, William Carl Beecher and Carl Edward Beecher; two sisters, Ruby Golleher and an infant sister. Mr. Beecher ws baptized by Pastor Andrew Hahn at St. John's Luthran Church of Anchor; a church that his Grandfather Beecher helped found in 1877. He was involved in farming all of his life. Due to his father's death in 1922, Mr. Beecher quit school when he was 16 and began working with his brother William on the family farm north of Gibson City, which his parents bought in 1911. That farm remains in the Beecher family today. Since the early 1940's, Mr. Beecher farmed in West Twp, near LeRoy and Arrowsmith, with his wife, Esther. They retired in 1983 and moved into LeRoy. Mr. Beecher has been a resident of LeRoy Manor since February 1997. A longtime member of the LeRoy Country Club and the LeRoy Kiwanis Club, Mr. Beecher served for a number of years as a commissioner of the White Star Drainage District in West Twp. Mr. Beecher was a member of the Bloomington Consistory Class of 1950 and was a 50-year-member of LeRoy Masonic Lodge 221. He was a member of the St. John's Lutheran Church of rural Anchor. Throughout his lifetime, Mr. Beecher was a firm believer in the importance of education. He was a member of the Board of Education of the LeRoy Community Unit School District 2 from its organization in 1947 until April 1956, serving as president in 1954-55. Memorial contributions may be made to the LeRoy Education Advancement Foundation.
BEECHER, Henry Claus
b. 2-4-1876, Anchor Twp. d. 3-8-1920, age 44 1/4. He had suffered from cancer of the stomach for six years. He leaves his wife, Margaret Schroeder Beecher; three sons, Carl Beecher, William Beecher, Ernest Beecher, and a daughter, Ruby Beecher, all at home. He was preceded in death by an infant daughter. Gibson City Courier 3-11-1920
BEECHER, John Edward
The funeral for John Edward Beecher, 86, who died Friday night at the Kinsell Nursing Home, Saybrook, will be at 2 p.m. Monday at St. John's Lutheran Church, south of Anchor. Pastor Alexander Youck will officiate. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Visitation will be from 4 - 9 p.m. Sunday at the Harper Funeral Home in Colfax. Mr. Beecher was born 2-13-1884 in Sibley, a son of William and Anna Stroh Beecher. He married
Maud Hasty 2-21-1906 at Anchor. She died 1-30-1952. Surviving are three daughters, Mrs. Walter (Ida) Schleeter, Anchor; Mrs. Roy (Melba) Quinn, Gibson City; and Mrs. LaRue (Mildred) Trembly, Bloomington; three sons, Ed, Delmar and Ralph, all of Pontiac; two sisters, Mrs. Henry Lage, Gibson City, and Mrs. John Lorig, Waseca, Minn.; 22 grandchildren; 27 great-grandchildren. A son and a daughter, six brothers and two sisters, a grandson and a great-grandson also preceded him in death. Mr. Beecher was a member of the St. John's Lutheran Church.
BEECHER, Marvin Louis
Marvin L. Beecher, 34, died at 8 a.m. Friday 8-18-1944 at St. Joseph's Hospital after an illness of six weeks. The body was removed to the M.B. Wilhoite Funeral Home in Colfax where services will be held at 1:30 p.m. Monday and at 2 p.m. at St. John's Lutheran Church, Anchor. The Rev. H.H. Harms will officiate and burial will be in the church cemetery. He was born 7-18-1910 at Anchor, the son of John Edward and Maud Hasty Beecher. He married
Miss Bell Zoll of Bellflower on 10-3-1935. They made their home in Arrowsmith, Il. Surviving besides his wife are three sons; Robert, Wayne and Larry; one daughter, Beverly Joan, all at home; his parents; three brothers, Edward and Ralph both of Colfax; and Delmar somewhere in the Pacific; Mrs. Ida Schleeter, Mrs. Melba (Roy) Quinn both of Anchor and Mrs. Mildred Trembley of Colfax.
