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Samuel V. Warner was born on Sept. 12, 1859 in Millersport, Fairfield County, OH, the son of Benjamin and Nancy Jane (Bateson) Warner. As a youth he migrated to Central Illinois with his parents, settling in the farming town of Arcola. Samuel did not marry until later in life, when he was age 38. On July 26, 1898, he entered into wedlock with 28-year-old Cynthia May Cox (March 27, 1870-1924), a native of Bloomington, IN and the daughter of John B. and Esther (Griffith) Cox. They were a decade apart in age. The couple produced one son, Glenn Harry Warner, who was born in 1899. Said the Tuscola Journal, Cynthia "lived in Indiana until August 1876 when she came with her parents to Douglas county. During her young womanhood she taught school and at one time was teacher of the Town Line school."
When the federal census was taken in 1910, Samuel, Cynthia and son Glenn resided together on their farm near Arcola. Also living under their roof was Samuel's 48-year-old, unmarried sister Rebecca Catharine "Kate." They were members of the Christian Church of Kemp. The 1920 census shows the family unit in Arcola, but Samuel's sister no longer made her home with them. He retired in about 1922, with the couple moving into town. Their final address together was on West Jefferson Street. Grief blanketed the family when Cynthia passed away at the age of 54 on June 11, 1924. She was laid to rest in the Arcola Township Cemetery. An obituary in the Tuscola Journal said she "had been in ill health for a number of years suffering with heart trouble." Rev. John I. Gunn presided over the funeral rites, conducted in the Warner residence. Among her survivors were sisters Mary Breedlove of Kemp, IL, Eliza Weller of Tuscola, Cora McCarty of Peoria, Mattie Cox of Kemp, Laura McBride of Lisbon, ND and Pearl Newman of Humboldt in addition to one brother Smith Cox of Arcola. Samuel outlived Cynthia by 18 years. He married again, on Aug. 15, 1928, to 58-year-old Clara Bell (Eisele) Shelton (1870-1944). In announcing the happy event, the Journal said they had tied the cord at the county court house, with Judge Harley C. Helm officiating. His son and her daughter Pearl stood as witnesses. Clara Belle was a native of Miltonville (or "Middletown"), Butler County, OH, and had been married once before to Robert Anderson Shelton. She thus brought four stepdaughters to the new combined family, Pearl Ernest, Lydia Kennedy, Nellie Souders and Lenna Gioglio.
The federal census of 1930 shows them together on the family farm. Samuel and Clara Bell received a visit in September 1942 from his sister Kate and her husband Charles Roberts, having traveled from their new home in Shreveport, LA. are known to have traveled to Arcola in September 1942 for a visit. On the fateful and tragic day of Oct. 2, 1942, while driving the brother-in-law about town in his Model T Ford, the two elderly men were killed when their vehicle was "struck by a southbound Illinois Central freight train at the Jefferson street crossing here," reported the Decatur Daily Review.
A coroner's inquest was held at a local funeral home. The remains were laid to rest in Arcola Township Cemetery. Clara Bell lived for another two years. Burdened with heart problems, she died at home in Arcola on Nov. 18, 1944, when she was 74 years of age. The funeral was led by Rev. Casper Allen, in the Arcola Baptist Church, followed by interment in Arcola Cemetery. Her obituary appeared in the Journal. Stepdaughter Pearl Shelton married William Ernest/Ernst. Their home was in Arcola in the 1940s. Stepdaughter Lydia Shelton wed (?) Kennedy. Her dwelling-place in 1944 was in Lowell, IN. Stepdaughter Nellie Shelton entered into marriage with Souders. The pair moved to Indianapolis. Stepdaughter Lenna Shelton was joined in wedlock with (?) Gioglio. They resided in Long Beach, CA in 1944.
~ Son Glenn Harry Warner ~
Son Glenn Harry Warner (1899-1961) was born on April 14, 1899. As a young man, he was of medium height and build, with blue eyes and black hair. When required to register for the military draft during World War I, Glenn stated he was age 19 and employed "helping farming at home." He continued to be a farmer for decades.
In about 1922, when he was age 23 and she 18, he married Irene Whanger (1904-1977), daughter of Luther and Sena E. Whanger. Together they bore a family of six known children -- Dale J. Warner, Robert Samuel Warner, Harry "Maynard" Warner, Glennadine Clough Fuller, LPN, Cynthia "Marie" Robinson, LPN and Melba Warner. When the 1930 and 1940 federal censuses were taken, the Warners made their home in Bowdre, Douglas County, IL, with Glenn's occupation marked as "farmer." His divorced aunt, Nellie Kirk, lived under their roof in 1930. The children all attended Hindsboro High School in southeastern Douglas County. . The Warners retired from farming during the 1940s and relocated to Oakland, Coles County, IL. They are enumerated in Oakland in the 1950 federal census. The family held a membership in the First Christian Church of Oakland Glenn died on Dec. 17, 1961, at the age of 62. He was laid to rest in Arcola Township Cemetery. Irene survived him by nearly 16 years and resided in Charleston, IL. She passed away in her home on Sept. 7, 1977, just four days before her 73rd birthday. She joined her husband in eternal repose in the township cemetery.
Son Dale J. Warner (1922- ? ) was born in 1922. He joined the U.S. Army during World War II and was stationed at Camp Wolters, TX. He was discharged in late 1943. He entered into marriage with Helen ( ? - ? ). By 1994, he had relocated to Palm Harbor, FL, and remained as of 2006. Son Robert Samuel Warner (1924-1994) was born on Aug. 27, 1924 in Oakland, IL. At the age of 18, circa April 1943, he married 21-year-old Kentucky native Olean Ford (1921-2000) of Arcola, daughter of Samp and Mary Ford of Tomkinsville, KY. News of their marriage license was announced in the Tuscola Journal. Two known sons of the couple were Robert E. Warner and James Warner. During World War II, he was drafted into the U.S. Army in Sept. 1944 and served with the rank of private. Robert returned home after the war's end and in 1950, when the federal census enumeration was made, they lived in Arcola and he generated income as a farmhand. The marriage dissolved in divorce. Then in about 1965, Robert again tied the marital cord with Helen Louise (Maxwell) Worthington (1926-1970). Helen was divorced from her first husband Roy J. Worthington (1923-1994) and brought three stepdaughters into the union with Robert -- Nancy Myers, Barbara Worthington and Peggy Worthington.. Said a newspaper, Helen "was a typist at the University of Illinois. While a resident of Mattoon, she was employed at Blaw Knox Co. Mrs. Warner was a member of the Arcola Methodist Church." The family was plunged into grief when, at the age of 44, just four years into the marriage, Helen died in Tuscola's Jarman Hospital on Dec. 19, 1970. Her obituary appeared in the Mattoon Journal Gazette. Robert outlived his second spouse by 24 years. He was employed by Hindsboro School District as a school bus driver. He held memberships in the Disabled American Veterans and the Kemp Church of Christ. His third wife was Shirley Lucky ( ? - ? ), whom he wed in 1971. He surrendered to the angel of death on Nov. 2, 1994, at the age of 70, as a patient in Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center. Rev. Mark Lefler preached the funeral service. Burial was in Arcola Township Cemetery, and an obituary was printed in the Journal Gazette. Olean married twice more, next to William McLain ( ? - ? ) and finally to Richard Sloan ( ? - ? ). Their final years together were in Las Vegas. Olean died at the age of 79 at the Harbor House in Las Vegas on Nov. 17, 2000.
Son Harry "Maynard" Warner (1926-2000) was born on Nov. 4, 1926. He married Georgann Rodgers (1931-1995), daughter of Albert and Josephine Rogers. They resided for years in or around Mahomet, Champaign County, IL. Their brood of four offspring were George "Andy" Warner, Lee Warner, Rochelle Williams and Dianne Cox. Maynard was employed for many years with Bohlen Ice Company. Georgann passed away on March 31, 1995, with her obituary appearing in the Champaign News-Gazette. Maynard survived for another five years in Mahomet and died at the age of 73 on Aug. 11, 2000. Burial was in Payne Cemetery in Brocton, Edgar County, IL, with the Decatur Herald and Review printing an obituary. He was survived by nine grandchildren. Burial of the remains was in Payne Cemetery in Brocton.
Daughter Glennadine Warner (1929-2006) was born on Feb. 2, 1929 in Kemp, IL. Glennadine was twice married. When both were age 19, her first husband circa 1948 was William F. Clough ( Jan. 21, 1929-1993), son of Russell and Lantha (Mobley) clough of Edgar County. News of their marriage license was published in the Bloomington Pantagraph. Three children resulted from their coupling -- Glenn Russell Clough, William "Maynard" Clough and Cheryl Hite. William was a U.S. Navy veteran who earned a living as a truck driver. They eventually divorced. In 1976, at the age of about 37, she wed her second husband, John Herman "Heck" Fuller (July 11, 1924-1995), originally from Lake Paradise, IL and the son of Ivy and Mabel Louise (Webster) Fuller. They resided in Mattoon, IL. John had been wed previously to Evelyn Bidwell ( ? - ? ) and brought two stepdaughters into the second family, Jo Ann Van De Langeryt and De Anna Bean. John was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II, having served with Gen. George S. Patton's Third Army in the European, African and Middle Eastern Theatre. He received a Purple Heart, two Bronze Stars and three Overseas Services Bars in recognition of his service. For three decades, John was employed by Blaw-Knox Construction Equipment Company in Mattoon, a manufacturer of paving equipment owned by White Consolidated Industries that later became part of Ingersoll-Rand. Soonafter their marriage, Glennadine became a licensed practical nurse (LPN), a designation which she obtained on Feb. 2, 1977. She went on to a career with Mattoon Health Center. She held a membership for 63 years in the Christian Church in Oakland, and John belonged to the Mattoon Free Methodist Church. Sadness blanketed the family when John died at home at the age of 70 on March 30, 1995. He was pictured in his obituary in the Mattoon Journal Gazette. Rev. Mark Lefler presided over the funeral rites, and burial followed in Campground Cemetery in the rural outskirts of Mattoon. The widowed Glennadine remained in Mattoon at least through 2000 and later in Yorba Linda, Orange County, CA. She returned to Charleston where she succumbed to the spectre of death at age 77 on Sept. 18, 2006. She was pictured with her obituary in the Journal Gazette, in which the family asked that any memorial contributions be made to the American Cancer Society. Pastor Bill Phillips presided at the funeral, with the remains lowered under the sod of Campground Cemetery. Former husband William Clough made his final home in Hindsboro and died at the Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Centeer at the age of 64 on Nov. 16, 1993.
Daughter Cynthia "Marie" Warner (1931-2002) was born on April 12, 1931 in Arcola, Douiglas County, IL. On Feb. 17, 1952, in Paris, IL, she was married to Joseph "Tom" Robinson ( ? -1985). Together, they produced a duo of sons -- John David Robinson and Scott Lydell Robinson. As did her sister Glennadine, Marie obtained her LPN designation from the Parkland College School of Nursing. She was employed as a nurse with several convalescent care homes in and around Mattoon, IL. She held a membership in the Oakland Christian Church and the local lodges of the Rebekahs and Moose. Sadly, Tom died on April 2, 1985. As a widow, Marie made her home in 1994 was in Charleston, Coles County, IL and in Humboldt, IL in 2000. She spent her summers as a volunteer with vacation Bible school. She wrote poetry and once published a book of her writings. She also made paintings, several of which captured prizes. Marie died on Oct. 1, 2002, with an obituary and her photograph published in the Mattoon Journal Gazette. The obituary said that she was her family's "rock and pillar -- she was our hero... A generous person, she was always ready to assist anyone and everyone, whether they be family or friend and those she helped were countless." Pastor Joe Diener led the funeral rites, and burial was in Roselawn Cemetery.
Daughter Melba Irene Warner (1944-2022) was born on March 7, 1944 in Arcola, Douglas County, IL. She spent her early years in Oakland, Coles County, IL. Evidence suggests that she may have contracted rheumatic fever at the age of seven which developed into polio. A 2007 article in the Mattoon Journal Gazette said she became sick in the third grade, missed fourth grade, and went back to school in the fifth grade, with her father picking up her homework for her daily. She recalled being treated in an iron lung at a hospital. She was married perhaps eight times. Her first spouse was Richard Taylor ( ? - ? ). They were the parents of Jake Henry Warner Taylor, who sadly died at birth on Feb. 25, 1960. The baby's remains were laid to rest in Roselawn Cemetery in Charleston, IL. By June 1960 that same year, Melba at age 16 obtained a marriage license with 18-year-old Jerry Loughary ( ? - ? ), also of Oakland. News of their license was printed in the Journal Gazette. One daughter born to the pair was Christina Loughary. Their marriage crumbled, with a divorce granted to Melba in Circuit Court in Charleston on July 9, 1964. Jerry moved to Decatur, IL. Then on Aug. 4, 1969, Melba was joined in wedlock with Larry Eugene Rose (Dec. 11, 1943-1971), son of Max H. and Anna (Owens) Rose of Paris, IL. They lived in Oakland, with Larry working as a construction laborer. The daughter they raised together during their brief marriage was Catrina Eugena Rose, with Larry's children Jody Lynn Rose and Brian Eugene Rose from a previous marriage living in East Lynn, IL. Melba brought legal charges against her spouse for battery in November 1970 when she claimed he had struck her. Tragedy struck on the fateful day of March 16, 1971, when Larry was killed as a passenger "in a two-car accident on Illinois 136 one mile east of Gifford," reported the Journal Gazette. The car's driver, Ray Romine Jr. of Del Ray, FL also lost his life in the crash. Funeral services were conducted locally by Rev. Larry Musick, with the body taken to Kansas, Edgar County, IL for interment in Fairview Cemetery. Her fourth husband was John Troutt (1977), with whom she bore a daughter, Regina Keigley. After a divorce, John relocated to Tipton, IN. Regina's next marriage-partner was Ronald Allan Mooney (May 1977) of Mattoon. The Mooneys planted themselves in Charleston and were there later in 1977 at the death of Melba's mother. Melba went on to marry David Alan Coble (May 1981) of Mattoon. By 1984, when her granddaughter was born, Melba was named in the Journal Gazette under the name "Troutt." After the Coble marriage ended, she tied the knot with Carroll Eugene Price (July 1987) of Charleston. Melba and Carroll divorced in May 1988 as reported in the Journal Gazette. Melba's name again was in the news in March 1989 when she reported a forced entry burglary at her apartment on 1400 18th Street. Her final marriage appears to have been with Larry Dean Oliver (Dec. 1992), also of Charleston. By 1994, as named in the obituary of her brother Robert, she went by the name "Price" and continued doing so as of 2002. In the end, she kept company with Phil Grubb of Charleston. She enjoyed making crafts and paper dolls, and held memberships in the First Christian Church of Charleston and the Eagles aerie in Charleston. In her last years, she was confined to her bed or a couch in her living room, and belonged to the Polio Survivors and Friends support group. On Oct. 9, 2010, she was twice-pictured in a Journal Gazette article about her and heer "post polio syndrome," saying her daughter Trina was her full-time caregiver. She died at the age of 78 in Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center in Mattoon on July 17, 2022. Her survivors included nine grandchildren, 22 great-grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren. Her remains were laid to rest in Roselawn Cemetery in Charleston, with the name "Price" etched on the face of the marker.
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