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#4. Elizabeth (George) West 4th Generation

4      127.      Elmer H. West

February 11, 1861, Elba Twp., Knox co., Illinois. His early education was acquired in district schools which he first attended at the age of ten. In 1878 he entered Yates City, Illinois ;school for eight months, then in the autumn of 1879 he entered Lombard College at Galesburg, Illinois, graduating with a AB and Masters degree in 1885.

Elmer opened his own law office at Yates City and successfully followed his profession. Also in 1885 he purchased the hardware business from his sister Florria Westbay and did a thriving business. In 1883 he was admitted to practice law before the Supreme Court of Illinois.

m. February 24, 1885, Anna M. Brewster, b. Pike co., Illinois, October 24, 1863; dau of Charles T.(native of Indiana) and Melvina Brewster.

Elmer d. February 13, 1893, at age 31 years & 4 days ~ Anna M. West d., April 2, 1937 ~ Burial was at Yates City, Illinois.

4      128.      Florria M. West

May 1862, Yates City, Illinois. Florria operated a hardware store in Yates City and sold out to her brother Elmer before she got married.

m. 1894, Knox co., Illinois, Charles Westbay, b. April 1861, the son of William Westbay, (buried at Farmington, Illinois) who served in the Union Army during the civil war.

Charles d. in 1917 & Florria d. March 1, 1950; both buried at Yates City Cemetery.

4      129.      Luella ‘Lula’ I. West

February 12, 1870, Yates City, Illinois. m., May 1899 (at the residence of the brides mother, Mrs. Elizabeth H.(Ouderkirk) . West, No. 140 Wright St.) John William Duehring.

Luella and John moved to Los Angeles, California, where they resided and lived in at 1427 Georgia St.
Luella taught music at the University of California, during the early 1900’s and John worked for the railroad.

Luella Duehing d. at Los Angeles, California ca 1943. No children

4      130.      Charlotte West

December 4, 1861, on homestead north of Yates City, Knox co., Illinois. Her mother died giving birth but Charlotte, know as "Aunt Lottie", lived to be 92 years old. m. in 1879, Francis Hayden "Frank" Chamberlain, of Yates City, Knox co., Illinois, b. in New Vienna, Ohio, December 29, 1847. His father John came from New Jersey and his mother, Mary Jane Smithson, b. in Ohio, came from Virginia. Frank was a hardware and furniture merchant at Yates City many years.

Frank d. February 18, 1930, at the age of 82 and Charlotte d. at age 91, June 15, 1953 at Yates City - both are buried at Yates City Cemetery.

4      132.      Charles August West

December 18, 1867 on the old homestead about 1 mile north of Yates City, Knox co., Illinois. m. February 16, 1887 at Yates City, Susan Mae Nixon, b. April 16,1868. Lived for awhile between Yates City and Elmwood, Illinois ; migrating ca 1900 with their five children to Gary , Oklahoma ;and Miami, Oklahoma ;and on to Tulsa, Oklahoma ; in 1904. At that time there were no sidewalks or paving in the town.

Charles was a pioneer Real Estate Broker, selling railroad property. When the Midland Valley railroad ;went to a new town (near Miami, created to service railroad) he was asked to name this town. When the train arrived a young Indian woman with a small child disembarked, Charles choose the Indian name that meant "young woman with baby", "Skiatook, Oklahoma ;".

Charles and Susan lived to celebrate their golden wedding anniversary, February 16, 1937.

Relatives have been notified of the death of both Mr.& Mrs. Charles A. West of Tulsa Oklahoma, former Miami residents, both 74 years old. Mr. West d. at 3 o’clock Tuesday morning, Aug. 31 followed by the death of Mrs. West the following evening at 7:45 O’clock. The two had been in failing health the last several months.
Survivors include a dau. Mrs. Marie E.Darkenwald of Los Angeles, California, four sons, Charles C. West and O. L. of Tulsa, Marion L. West of Bakersfield, California and several grandchildren.
Double funeral services will be held at 10 o’clock Friday morning at the Winterringer Funeral home in Tulsa. Burial will be in Memorial Park at Tulsa.

4      133.      Owen Betterton West

b. August 1, 1869, Yates City, Illinois. Obtained his education in the common schools of Salem Twp., Illinois and attended Lombard College, after which he took a course at Brown’s Business Collage;, at Peoria, Illinois. m. Alpha Van Tassell, March 19, 1895, a native of Peoria, Illinois. Her parents were William W. [b.in NY] and Jane [b in England] (Boardman) Van Tassell.

His first enterprise was in the farm fields, but he remained at this only a short time when he engaged in the grain business in Yates City meeting with much success in the enterprise.

His desire to return to agricultural labors, however, and a good offer made him by M. W. Thompson induced him to sell his grain interests which Mr. Thompson later sold to William Edwin West, Owen’s brother. Owen then again resumed the carefree and independent life on a farm. He continued this successfully until the spring of 1911 when he located in Yates City.

Mr. West was a republican and was elected on the party ticket in the spring of 1910 to the office of supervisor. His political record before 1912 included office of the Mayor of Yates City;, Illinois. In 1942 Owen lived in Williamsfield, Illinois.

Owen d. August 20, 1948. Alpha, b. September 4, 1872, d. May 4, 1952. Both are buried in Yates City Cemetery.

4      134.      Lenora Belle West

b. March 17, (St. Patrick’s Day) 1871,on the old homestead, 1-1/4 miles north of Yates City, Illinois; Knox co., Illinois. ;She graduated from the Yates City Public Schools and attended Lombard College;, Galesburg, Illinois.

"Nora" m., April 25, 1888,to Frederick Soldwell, b.1867 son of Henry and Caroline Soldwell. They first met at a Yates City Annual Harvest Home.

In 1912 they were living in Yates City and in 1917 they moved to Fulton co., Illinois; where Nora was living at 214 E. Olive St., Canton, Illinois.

Fred d. December 29, 1931, and Nora lived on nine more years; she d. May 31, 1942.
Both are buried in Yates City Cemetery, Salem Twp., Knox co., Illinois.

Obituary of: Nora B. Soldwell, as appeared in the Canton Daily Ledger - Tuesday, June 2, 1942

Funeral services for Mrs. Nora Soldwell, 214 East Olive street, who d. in the Graham Hospital, Sunday evening at 5 o’clock, will be conducted at the Presbyterian church at 2 O’clock Wednesday afternoon. Burial will be in Yates City, where she was born. The Rev. A.G. Hinkle, pastor of the Presbyterian church will officiate. Friends may call at the Murphy Memorial home until time for the services. The casket will be open one hour before services in the church.
Mrs. Soldwell was born March 17, 1871, a daughter of Isaac N. and Eliza Ann (Mason) West, and was married to Fred Soldwell April 20, 1890. He preceded her in death Dec. 29, 1931. She had been a resident of Canton, Illinois; for the past 24 years, and was a member of the local chapter of the Order of Eastern Star.
Children surviving her include three sons, Fred of Peoria, Illinois, Ray of Chicago, Illinois and Donald at home and a daughter, Mrs. Gladys Hughes of Chicago, Illinois. Three grandchildren, a sister, Mrs. Charlotte Chamberlain of Yates City, Illinois; and three brothers, Owen West of Williamsfield, Illinois; Charles West of Tulsa, Oklahoma and Charles Edward West of Yates City, also survive her.

4      135.      Marion George West

b. February 20, 1873 at the old homestead near Yates City, Illinois . Educated in the Yates City Public Schools and resided around Yates City most of his life. He did move to Peoria, Illinois; where he held a position as a stenographer with the W.M.C.A, and later with the Keystone Woven Wire Fence Company. Failing health compelled him to give up his work and return home.

His brother Owen went with him to Garden City, kansas and then to Colorado Springs, Colorado but nothing could be done. Marion d. at the family residence, January 26, 1895, age 21 years, 11 months and 6 days.

Funeral services were held at the home, Rev. J. H. Clark conducting the services. The estimation in which the young man was held in the community and the sympathy felt for the sorrowing family was evinced by the immense throng that braved the intense cold in order to attend the funeral.

4      137.      William Edwin ‘Ed’ West

b. July 10, 1876, on the old homestead about 1.5 miles N. of Yates City, Illinois. Ed or W. E. as he was called, first attended the old Salem Center School that was located about one mile east of the home place. Mary Stone Bond (Mrs. Clayton .Bond) was his first teacher. He received the balance of his education at Yates City later attending Lombard College, at Galesburg, Illinois.

m. December 14, 1899 at Chicago, Illinois, Miss Vena Lorella Ewalt, b. August 27, 1879 at Yates City, Illinois, the dau. of Jonas Montgomery (1850-1915) and Lura Ellen (Hensley) Ewalt (1855-1887). Vena had two brothers John Earl and Herman O’Neal and one sister, Ethelyn Belle.

Ed was very active in civic affairs and became involved in many undertakings, he was Supervisor of Salem Twp., Secretary of the school board, Mayor of Yates City; and served as the Postmaster of Yates City from Sept. 22, 1925 to June 6, 1934. He was for many years engaged in the grain business.

He was a member of the Yates city band and was talented with a beautiful tenor voice and sang with the Yates City Male Quartet on many occasions.

William E. West d. April 12, 1952, Vena his wife d. December 29, 1954,
both are buried in the Sunset Memorial Park, San Antonio, Texas.

4      138.      Arthalis ‘Lettie’ Angelette McBride

b. December 24, 1856, at Yates City, Knox co., Illinois. On November 14, 1872, she m. Mah[l]on Dickenson . In 1877 the family migrated to Fremont co., Iowa, settling near Farragut, Iowa where they lived for 34 years.

On March 14, 1901 they moved to Greenwood co., kansas , settling near the town of Eureka, Kansas. Mahon and Lettie had property in Bitler’s Addition in Eureka, kansas , also in Townships 25 and 26, Range 12. In 1940 Mahon and Lettie deeded the property to their children.

Mahon, the son of Calvin H.and Susan (Tester) Dickinson { Susan, b. Oct., 1823, England & living in 1900 with family) was born in Morris co., New Jersey, September 16, 1849. He d. May 2, 1942, at the age of 92 years, 7 months and 16 days. Lettie d. August 10, 1944, at the age of 88 years, 7 months and 17 days. Both are entombed at the mausoleum at Greenwood Abby, Eureka, Kansas.

4      139.      Lena I. Kleckner

b. 1866 - m. June 5, 1888, Charles D. Comstock, b. 1862, d. 1943. Lena I. Comstock, d. at age 79, July 21, 1945, at Farragut, Iowa. Both are buried at Farragut Cemetery, row 22.

4      140.      Lora Clyde Kleckner

b. August 27, 1870. m. Sarah Booth Roy, b. January 9, 1871, Page co., Iowa. The family lived in Fisher Twp., Iowa Fremont co., Iowa P.O. Farragut, Iowa. Sarah Kleckner d. from complications a few days after giving birth to there daughter Sarah, April 2, 1902, at age 32 years and 3 months.

Lora m. 2nd., August 10, 1905, Grace Rush, b. May 2, 1870. No children were born from this union. Grace preceded her husband in death, February 3, 1936. Lora d. November 8, 1946. All three are buried at Farragut, Iowa, row 17.

4      141.      Earl L. Kleckner

b.      Douglas, Knox co., Illinois, March 12 1880. m. August 15, 1900, Ethel Chaney, b. 1878, lived at Farragut, Iowa, in 1900. Earl d. January 6, 1933. Ethel m. 2nd.,------- Perkins, she d. in 1975. Both Earl & Ethel are buried in Farragut Cemetery, row 17.

4      142.      Pearl L. Kleckner

b. Douglas, Knox co., Illinois, March 12 1880. m. John H.Booth, 1876-1960.

Pearl L. Booth d. at age 67, Sept. 5, 1947, at Shenandoah, Iowa. no natural children.

4      143.      Elba Lincoln West

b. March, 1870, Knox co., Illinois. Moved to Sharpsburg, Iowa with his mother and step father Jacob Irons. m. *December 25, 1895 to Maggie E. Hamblin, b. February 1871, Iowa, the dau. of Dennis (1836, NY) and Eliza (McWilliams) Hamblin (b. 1839, Ireland). In 1906 he [they] moved with his parents to the homestead in Alpha, North Dakota Golden Valley co., North Dakota. In 1909 he moved back to Taylor co., Iowa returning to their former farm-stead at Sharpsburg, Iowa .

Elba d. October 4, 1935 (10-4-35) and Maggie d. after, (no death date recorded on marker). Both are buried in the (very old-old) Lexington Cemetery, N. of Bedford, Iowa . (Row 8 #22)

Their daughter Gladys is also buried there. (not known if she married or not)

Note: Maggie Hamblin’s older sister, Anna Laura, 26, was married on the same *day to

Charles Smith, 25, son of Rufus and Florence (Hastings) Smith.

4      144.      John W. West

b. Lived, 1908, Great Falls, Montana. He was a naturalist & taxidermist and had a nice little home by the Sun River there. He was very tall and handsome but unstable mentally. Committed suicide in 1912 and is buried in Beach, North Dakota. never married.

4      145.      Jennie Aldona West

b. Illinois. m. William Wright, lived 1908 in Sharpsburg, Iowa. Some time later they had a fruit ranch in Grand Junction, Colorado and are both buried there. no children.

4      146.      Olive May West

b. 1878, Illinois. m. February 4, 1898, Harry Herbert Harpster, in Sharpsburg, Iowa. Harry was b. August 16, 1879 at Winfield, Iowa, the son of Cyrus and Phoebe (Smith) Harpster. The couple moved to Golden Valley co., (near Beach) Alpha, North Dakota homestead in 1908. Later they moved into Beach, North Dakota where Harry was the Sheriff. In 1933-34, "Ollie" & Harry Harpster moved to Enid Oklahoma where they bought a motel. Some time later about 1936, they moved west to Lebanon, Linn co., Oregon. Mr. Harpster was employed by Mountain State Power co. until his retirement. Harry d. August 10, 1952 at the Lebanon Hospital. "Ollie" was mentally unstable and she d. in a mental institution at Salem, Oregon, March 12, 1958. Both are buried at Lebanon, Oregon, in the Mason Odd Fellows, cemetery, combination graves, 582, #4 & 5. They had no children.

4      147.      Sevilla Belle Kay

b. February 10, 1869, on the old homestead Douglas Corners, North side of the road, Douglas, Knox co., Illinois. m. November 5, 1885, at Yates City, William Manson (West) Thurman, b. October 19, 1858 at Elba Twp., Yates City, Illinois, the son of Allen G.and Elizabeth (Truit) Thurman. His grandparents were early settlers traveling by wagon from Ohio and originally from Virginia.

William was named "William West Thurman" but later changed his name to William Manson Thurman to avoid confusion with another person with the same name.

William had many occupations, carpenter, painter, contractor, and farmer. He built many houses in and near Yates City. Around 1880 the family migrated west to the state of Montana where they settled two claims, near Kalispell. He homesteaded a wheat farm six miles out of Kalispell and after proving up on it he homesteaded a timber claim and had a saw mill. He took the first two steam thrashing machine rigs into that part of Montana. The house he built on the timber claim in the 1880’s is still in use.

"They moved back to Illinois when my mother was 10 or 12. Mom told me grandad let the Indians put their Tepees on his place to use during hunting season. During the summer mom and her sister used to play in them. My grandad was an expert shot and got winter meat for his neighbors as well as himself. He told me he would trade eleven deer hides for a single box of shells. When they moved back to Yates City, they would rule him out of the annual Turkey Shoots because he would win all the prizes."

Later, about 1905, they moved back to Yates City, Illinois, where they lived until 1930 at which time the family moved to Camden, Illinois, where they purchased a farm. William d. on this farm March 27, 1946. Sevilla stayed on the farm for some time until she moved in with her children. She d. at Monmouth, Illinois, April 19, 1961; Both are buried at Yates City cemetery.

Six children born, all near Yates City, Knox co., Illinois, except William, who was born at Kalispell, Flathead co., Montana.

4      148.      Elizabeth West Kay

b. June 21, 1871, on the old homestead at Douglas Corners, Douglas, Knox co., Illinois. m. November 8, 1888, William Tecumseh Sherman, b. December 17, 1866, Haw Creek Twp., Knox co., Illinois, the son of Jonathan, (b. 1838, Ill.) & Ann Marie, (b. 1842, Ill.) (Bradford) Sherman (b. Ill); both b. Illinois.

William T. & Elizabeth relocated to Brainard, Minnesota where he farmed for thirteen years. They then returned to farm the home place at Douglas, Knox co., Illinois.

From Descendants of Charles Bradford: Ann Maria Bradford, b. April 6, 1841, Persifer Twp., Knox co., Illinois. dau. of Harvey Stetson Bradford. m. December 7, 1859 in Knox co., Jonathan Wood Sherman, son of Isaac and Eliza (Wood) Sherman. He was b. August 1, 1836 in New York and d. March 15, 1914, Elba Twp. Ann Maria d. August 3, 1920, Elba Twp., Knox co., both buried Yates City cemetery.

Jonathan Wood Sherman came to Illinois from New York with his parents in 1837. He and Ann Maria originally resided in Persifer twp. but established a farm residence in Elba Twp. ca 1870 where they reside d the rest of their lives.

Their children:

Ida May, b. Oct. 31, 1861, m. William J. Callahan n/c - Clara Isabel, b. July 26, 1864 - William T. - Charles Albert, b. May 21, 1869 - John A., b. Sept. 12, 1875 - Ethel Maude, b. Dec. 12, 1882.

William T. d. January 14, 1927, age 60, & Elizabeth d. November 8, 1955.
Both buried at Yates City, cemetery, Yates City, Knox co., Illinois.

The Yates City Banner - January 20, 1927

The townspeople and surrounding community were greatly shocked on hearing of the sudden death of William Tecumsch Sherman Friday night, January 14th. He went home from the post office at 6:20 p.m. and upon entering his residence he complained of a pain in his head and went and lay down, became unconscious and died about 9:00 p.m., from a stroke of apoplexy. He seemed to be in his usual degree of health leading up to the change, performing his duties on the farm during Friday.

He leaves his wife, four sons, three sisters and two brothers to mourn his death. Mr. Sherman was highly respected as a citizen and always fulfilled his promises. He was the son of John Wood Sherman and Ann Maria Bradford Sherman, and was born in Haw Creek township, Illinois, December 17, 1866 and passed away Jan. 14, 1927, aged 60 years and 28 days. he received his education in the district public schools and when entering manhood he was united with Elizabeth West Kay, Nov. 8, 1888.

Mr Sherman devoted his entire life to farming. Several years of his life he lived near Beardsley, Minn., the rest he lived in Elba and Salem townships [Knox co., Illinois]. He was a member of the M. W. A. and a member of the school board at Douglas over six years.

Children of John & Ann Sherman from the 1870 census, Elba Twp. Knox co., Illinois
- Ida M. (m. Wm. Callahan), b. 1862 - Clara B., (Mrs. W. S. Baird of Oklahoma City in 1927) b. 1864 -
- *William T., b. 1866 & Charles, b. 1869 -
Also living with the family; Alice Bradford, age 18, servant - {sister to Ann Marie

4      149.      Launa Ann Kay

b. February 28, 1873, on the old homestead first house east of Douglas Corners, north side of the road at Douglas, Knox co., Illinois. In 1920 they were living in Calloway co., Missouri.

Launa m. Oscar Blair Knox, b. 1869, d. December 1935 at Elmwood, Illinois. Launa d. October 23, 1940, both buried at Yates City cemetery, Knox co., Illinois.

4      152.      Emma Ruth Kay

b. February 16, 1880 at the old homestead at first home east of Douglas Corners, Douglas, Knox co., Illinois. Emona m. 1st, Arthur Murphy, & two children were born. After Arthur d., "Ruthie" m. 2nd., Ollie Oberholtzer. To this union three children were born, all in the state of Minnesota. Emona Ruthie Oberholtzer d. in 1941.

4      153.      Nellie M. Kay

November 26, 1882, on the old homestead Douglas Corners, north side of the road, Douglas, Knox co., Illinois. Nellie m. November 28, 1900 at Yates City, Illinois, Lloyd Henry Oberholtzer, native of West Elba, Illinois, born February 5, 1874. The family lived and farmed the Jacob Oberholtzer farm for a few years. In ca. 1909 the family migrated to Barry, and later to Beardsley, Minnesota;, where they lived until the fall of 1927. This time the family moved west settling in Clay Twp., south of Mohall, near Lansford, North Dakota;, where they acquired two quarters of land. In 1949 Lloyd and Nellie sold the home place to his son, Harley and purchased a home on Central Ave., in Mohall. Lloyd was 87 years old when he d. April 14, 1961, burial was at Mohall Comm. Cemetery.

In July of 1968, Nellie M.Oberholtzer moved to the Westhope Home for the aged.

4      154.      Everett Robert Kay

b. June 11, 1886 at the old homestead the first home east of Douglas Corners, Knox co., Illinois. Everett attended Douglas Grade School and Maquon High School. He 1st., m. Ethel Wertz. Everett farmed north of Yates City; m. 2nd., Ruth Anderson Olson. Everett d. Yates City, Illinois, May 16, 1970 at Yates City, burial was in the Wataga cemetery.

During the depression years, Everett & his brother Harrison, served some time in Joliet prison for bank robbery and auto theft. He paid his dues and after his release he took over a farm near Yates City. He worked hard the rest of his life accepting the role of a farmer in the local community. - The reason he was temped to involve himself into these crimes is not known, however one of the reasons was do to the extreme hard ships during the depression years.

Obit of Everett R. Kay from the Galesburg Register Mail - Monday, May 18, 1970 - page 11

YATES CITY - Everett R. Kay, 83, died Saturday afternoon at his home. He was born June 11, 1886, at Douglas and he had farmed in Elba Township all his life. He married Ethel Wertz. Later he married Ruth Anderson Olson in 1937. She survives with a son Harrison M., and a daughter, Mantie Kay, both of California; a step-son, Dale Olson, and a foster- daughter, Mrs. Dorothy Palmer Olson, both of near Maquon; three grandchildren and two sisters, Mrs. Lela Weber of Yates City and Mrs. Nellie Oberholtzer of Minot, ND...

4      155.      Harrison M. Kay

b. 1887/8, on the old homestead Douglas Corners, north side of the road, Douglas, Knox co., Illinois. He attended Douglas grade school and Maquon High School. m. at Galesburg, Illinois, August 31, 1910, Mame M.Foster, b. 1887/8, at Rapatee, Illinois, tha dau. of Richard Foster & Ella Plummer.

During the depression years, Harrison & his brother Everett, served some time in Joliet prison for bank robbery & auto theft. They said the law hung them by their thumbs with ice-packs on their heads, trying to get them name others in the theft ring. They wouldn’t give out any names, Harrison was a trustee in prison and he worked out-side the wall. Just three months before the time of his release he ran away. He went to Ohio, changed his name and re-married some women that had some money.

The reason he was temped to involve himself into these crimes is not known, however one of the reasons was do to the extreme hard ships during the depression years.

Harrison sold his farm in Knox Co. and moved to Whiting, Iowa, where he went into the cattle buying business. Harrison d. in 1962, place not known.

4      156.      Samantha ‘Mantie’ Elizabeth Kay

b. November 2, 1890, at the old homestead at first home east of Douglas Corners, Douglas, Knox co., Illinois. She was called Mantie for short. She m. at Galesburg, Knox co., October 19, 1910, Warren Woolsey Nelson, farmer, of Elba Twp., b. 1891, son of Frank E. and Angelia (Woolsey) Nelson. Samantha d. in 1937, and Warren d. (grave marker not finished concernng d. date); burial for both was at Yates City cemetery.

4      157.      Lela Loretta Kay

b. August 29,1895, at the old homestead, east of .Douglas Corners, Illinois, Douglas, Illinois, Knox co., Illinois. m. March 27, 1912, at Davenport, Iowa, Merwyn C. Webber, b. at Monica, Illinois, June 2, 1893, the son of Henry and Susan ( Shane) Webber. The Webbers took up farming and purchased a farm one mile east of Lake City , Utah and lived on this farm for 53 years. Merwyn d. January 3, 1963, at age 69 and Lela d. December 4, 1985. Both are buried in the Yates City cemetery.

Note: Merwyn’s brother, Orville Webber, m. #380. Nina Elizabeth Thurman, dau. of Lela’s sister, Sevilla (West) Thurman.

End 4th Gen. #4. Elizabeth (George) West