Notes |
- Du Quoin Tribune, Du Quoin, Illinois, May 28, 1915, page 4, column 4:
Mrs. William Elstun
A Former Du Quoin Resident
Member of Prominent Pioneer Family
A Devout Christian and Saintly Mother
Mrs. William Elstun died at 6 o'clock yesterday afternoon at the home of her daughter, Mrs. D. A. Dryer, after a long sickness. A complication of diseases caused her death. Her maiden name was Sidney Ann McCreery, and she was born in Franklin County, Illinois, April 1, 1834. Her father and mother, Alexander and Ann McCreery, emigrated from Kentucky to the southern part of the Illinois Territory in 1817, and were among the earliest settlers. There Mrs. Elstun grew up. Her parents provided teachers for their children, and they were given every possible advantage available to the pioneer days.
First School and Conversion
Sidney McCreery taught a country school after she was graduated from the Young Ladies' Seminary at Mt. Vernon, Ill. She united at the age of 16 with the Methodist Episcopal Church of which she was a faithful member for more than sixty five years.
Her Marriage
She was married April 7, 1853 to William Elstun, and went to Benton, the county seat of Franklin County, where they lived until 1857, when they moved to Du Quoin. Mrs. Elstun came to Emporia with her family in June, 1880, returned to Illinois in 1886, and after the death of her mother, came again to Emporia, 1888. Judge William Elstun died in Emporia March 26, 1893.
Her Children
Mrs. Elstun is survived by four children, all of whom were with her in her last hours. They are Robert W. Elstun, of Colorado Spring; Mrs. Anna E. Dryer, of Emporia; W. A. Elstun, of Moline; Anna G. Elstun and Wayman K. Elstun, of Colorado, are living and she is survived by a sister, Mrs. M. M. Kennedy, and a brother, Ashby McCreery, of Colorado Springs.
Friend of Mary Logan
The death of Mrs. Elstun brings sorrow to many Emporia homes, for she was a beautiful character and there are many persons in the town whose hearts are saddened by her death. During her long sickness, Mrs. Elstun was patient and thoughtful, and when her children were called to her bedside, her great love for them seemed to give her strength and she lived many days after her life was despaired of. Mrs. Elstun was loved by all who knew her, and her long life was a useful, helpful, happy one. Among Mrs. Elstun's close friends from girlhood was Mrs. Mary C. Logan, widow of the statesman and soldier, Gen. John A. Logan.
Funeral Rites
Funeral services will be held Saturday morning at 10 o'clock in the Dryer home. The Rev. L. M. Potts, of the First Methodist Church, will conduct the services, assisted by the Rev. Mr. Smith, district superintendent of the Methodist Church. - Emporia (Kansas Gazette of May 21, 1915.)
Devotion
--------------------
A tribute by William Allen White
--------------------
For eleven weeks Mrs. William Elstun has been slowly dying. During those weeks two of her three sons have been with her all the time- one spelling another while he went back to his business in many other towns and other states. And the daughter for years has given her best strength to the mother. Such devotion means that in the family there was deep, sweet, abiding love. So many families have only the seeming of love, the solidarity of men and women who stand together in self defense. But in a family where love is the foundation of its strength, there also is joy; there also is good citizenship, there also is a spiritual growth that makes for happiness. And mothers always furnish the cement that makes that kind of a home. It is the nearest thing to infinite beauty that we have developed on this earth. To have lived and loved and made love count in the world, is the nearest approach to God that men know. - William Allen White in Emporia (Kansas) Gazette of May 22, 1915
--------------
The Funeral of Mrs. Elstun
--------------
The funeral services of Mrs. William Elstun were held this morning at ten o'clock at the D. A. Dryer home. The Rev. L. M. Potts of the First Methodist Church conducted the services, assisted by the Rev. Bernard Kelly and Rev. J. D. Smith, presiding elder of the Methodist Church. The Methodist choir were the singers. The pall-bearers were J. M. Knox, B. F. Kinkead, Carl nation, Card Goodwin, H. O Frantz and A. E. Kraum. Interment was in Maplewood,- Emporia (Kansas) Gazette of May 22, 1915
Source: Becky Carson, Email 1/19/2010
|