Obituary of Mary Robey Hartsough

MRS. MARY HARTSOUGH

Mrs. Mary Hartsough died at the home of her son James Elmer Hartsough, of Warren, Illinois September 12, 1935, after having lived for 45 years at Nora, Illinois. Her death came after nine months of illness following a fractured hip. Her friends marveled throughout at her patience and cheerfulness, but a failing heart could no longer stand the strain imposed upon it. Relatives, friends, and neighbors and acquaintances will miss her greatly because she was unique in her genius for sincerity of companionship. Her belief in the goodness of other people was unfailing. Her standards of right and wrong were very clear cut, and very binding upon herself, bu6t the failings of others were analyzed with an understanding and forgiving heart. She was an unfailing exponent of the golden Rule. She was always prodigal of her strength in her service for others, and it has been no uncommon thing to hear gray-headed men say of her that she had been like a mother to them in the years of their early struggle. Those who were hers by the ties of blood were literally always upon her mind, and even to the day of her death she was worried, planning to do something kind for the distant ones.

She was born Mary Mariah, daughter of Levi and Almira Wait Robey, of Waddams township, Illinois, March 27, 1848. She was always proud of the fact that she was born in a log cabin, and that she came of pioneer stock, for her grandfather, William Robey, Jr., and his family came to Illinois by ox team in the fall of 1834. The son, Levi, took up land, Section I of Waddams township, on which he filed papers, February 14, 1835, showing him to be the first settler of that township. There was not a single house in Freeport, or in Winslow. Waddams Grove was but a claim, entered by one, William Waddams. Mary Hartsough's brother, William Asa Robey, was born September 21, 1836, and was the first child of record to be born in Stephenson County. Her mother, Almira Wait, was one of the earliest members of the Methodist church to be settled in that territory, as also was her grandmother, Lydia Kendall Wait. Galena was the metropolis of northwestern Illinois. Chicago was but a name. Ransomberg, their nearest town, was but a small settlement, but at that date it was the largest place in Stephenson county. It speedily dissolved as incoming settlers took up holdings ever farther away from it.

Her parents came here from Portsmouth, Scioto county, Ohio, where the parental stock had been living since about 1797. Previously they had come from Pennsylvania, traveling by keel boat and from Hagerstown, Maryland by pack horse, and Virginia had sheltered earlier generations.

On May 5, 1867 she was married to James Laverty Hartsough, who with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Jonathan Hartsough had come to Illinois from Indiana county, Pennsylvania. They spent a few years on the Hartsough farm near McConnell, Illinois, where three of their children were born. Later they left McConnell to resume farming, spending three years at Prophetstown. Early in 1890, they moved to Nora, Ill., where the home has been maintained ever since.

Five children came to bless this union: Frank Robey Hartsough, the eldest son, died in May, 1925. The daughters, Mrs. Jennie E. Marshall, and Mrs. Louella L Consalus of Nora, Ill., and Mrs. Anna Gallagher of West Olive, Michigan, and the youngest son, Mr. James E. Hartsough of Warren, survive her. She also leaves 13 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren. Her husband preceded her June 28, 1910.

Funeral services were held Sept. 15, at 2 p.m. from the home of her son, James E. Hartsough of Warren. Dr. Bloomquist of the Embury Methodist Church of Freeport officiated. Songs "Sweet Peace, the Gift of God's Love" and "In The Garden" were rendered by Mrs. Wm. Wilbur and Mr. Ross Waddington. Burial was at Lena.

From a Freeport, Illinois Newspaper, after 12 September, 1935. Typed from a hand-written copy made by my great-aunt, Viola Young Borger. R. Campbell, Ed.