The Still Genealogy

The Still Genealogy

By Jared L. Olar

October 2007

Updated February 2019

My deepest thanks to Phillip Sherwood Still, a descendant of William Andrew Still and Mary Elizabeth Riggs, for sharing the fruits of his genealogical research which have greatly augmented the meagre data and traditions that we had collected about our Still ancestors. I am also grateful to Patty Meado, who like Phillip is a descendant of Frederick Still of Murrayville, Illinois, for sharing several important Still family documents and vital records; to Graham and Pamela Axworthy of Nottinghamshire, England, for their invaluable assistance in researching the Still-Axworthy connection; and to Dan Graser of Virgina, a descendant of George Frampton and Annah Still of Fontmell Magna, for sharing his research on his Still-Frampton ancestry.

The English surname "Still" originated in two ways. Sometimes an Englishman or Scotsman would be called "Still" because of his calm or quiet temperament or personality, but more often the Still surname in England derives from the fact that the ancestor lived near a stell or still, the Middle English word for a fish trap in a river. Our Still ancestors came from an ancient village in Dorsetshire named Fontmell Magna, where persons of the surname Still first appear on record perhaps as early as the 1300s. From the 1500s through the 1800s, the surname of Still was rather common in Fontmell Magna, and many of those Still families were no doubt related.

A vista in the English village of Fontmell Magna, County Dorset, as seen in a vintage photograph from the 1800s. Fontmell Magna was the ancestral home of the Still family.

A view of modern day Fontmell Magna and its post office building, as seen from the graveyard of St. Andrew's Church. The photograph was taken by Phillip Still of Michigan during a visit to his ancestral village in September 2010.

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Five Generations of the Still Family

1. WILLIAM STILL, of Fontmell Magna, Dorsetshire, England, born perhaps circa 1725. The parish registers of Fontmell Magna show that on 5 June 1749 in Fontmell Magna, William Still married MARY STILL, who, given her maiden name, may well have been a cousin, perhaps a distant cousin, of William. The Fontmell Magna parish registers record the births of a daughter and two sons of William and Mary Still: "Annah dau of William & Mary Still," baptised 27 Feb. 1749/50; "Richard son of William & Mary Still," baptised 7 April 1752; and "Joseph son of William & Mary Still," baptised 9 Dec. 1754. It appears that Joseph was our ancestor of that name, who married in 1784. It's also noteworthy that Annah, also called "Johanna" and "Ann," had a child out of wedlock with George Frampton of Fontmell Magna. Their son, George Still, was born on 25 June 1765 in Fontmell Magna and died October 1837 in Shaftesbury, Dorset. George Still has living descendants.

An examination of the Fontmell Magna parish registers shows the baptisms of two other Joseph Stills who were born around this same stretch of years, but neither of them could be our Joseph Still. One of them, "Joseph son of Joseph & Jenny Stille," was baptised 2 Feb. 1746/7, but the parish burial records show that this Joseph died in Dec. 1748 when he was about 2 years old, being buried in Fontmell Magna on 16 Dec. 1748. Another Joseph Still, "Joseph son of Charles & Mary Still," was baptised 16 July 1753, but died when he was 19 years old, being buried in Fontmell Magna on 29 Jan. 1773. Since neither of those Joseph Stills were alive in 1784, by process of elimination the only Joseph in the baptismal registers who could be our Joseph is the one who was baptised in 1754. That Joseph is also a good candidate on chronological and onomastic grounds. First, this identification would mean our ancestor Joseph was 29 years old when he married -- a bit later than young men in that time and place usually married, but within the normal range. We also know that our Joseph had only one recorded son, named William, who may well have been named after his paternal grandfather. Significantly, our Joseph's son William was 28 years old when he married, an age range which agrees with the chronology that indicates William's father was 29 when he married.

These considerations are not absolutely conclusive, of course, because it is possible that our Joseph was not born and baptised in Fontmell Magna at all, but came there with his family later. But if our Joseph was born in Fontmell, the only possible candidate in the baptismal registers is Joseph Still, son of William and Mary.

The known children of William and Mary Still were:

     --  ANNAH STILL ("Johanna," "Ann"), baptised 27 Feb. 1749/50, had a son out of wedlock on 25 June 1765
     --  RICHARD STILL, baptised 7 April 1752
     2.  JOSEPH STILL, baptised 9 Dec. 1754

2. JOSEPH STILL, of Fontmell Magna, Dorsetshire, England, almost certainly the same as "Joseph son of William & Mary Still" who was baptised on 9 Dec. 1754 in Fontmell Magna. On the other hand, our ancestor Joseph Still may not have been born in Fontmell Magna but rather came there sometime later. Be that as it may, according to the parish records of Fontmell Magna, Joseph married EDITH SHARP, from the village of Compton Abbas (located just north of Fontmell Magna), on 2 Sept. 1784 in Fontmell Magna. The marriage of Joseph and Edith was witnessed by William Monkton and Lucy Foot. The parish records of Compton Abbas show several individuals named Sharp, but the baptism of Edith Sharp is not found in the village baptismal registers.

The Fontmell Magna parish records say that Joseph and Edith had two daughters and a son. Their eldest child, DINA STILL, died when she was less than three months old, and the parish burial records say "Dina Still, infant daughter of Joseph & Edith Still" was buried in Fontmell Magna on 11 March 1787. Joseph and Edith's son was named WILLIAM STILL, who was born in Fontmell Magna and was baptised 2 June 1788. William thus was born in May or very early June 1788, and he may have been named after his paternal father. Nothing further is known of Joseph and Edith Still at this time. They had the following children:

     --  DINA STILL, baptised 29 Dec. 1786, died March 1787, buried 11 March 1787
     3.  WILLIAM STILL, born in May or June 1788.
     --  EDITH STILL, baptised 16 March 1791

3. WILLIAM STILL, son of Joseph and Edith Still, born 1788 in May or early June in Fontmell Magna, Dorsetshire, England; died in Dec. 1854 in Dorsetshire, probably in Fontmell Magna. William was an agricultural laborer of Fontmell Magna. He was baptised 2 June 1788 in Fontmell Magna, and his baptismal record identifies his parents as Joseph and Edith Still. On 5 Dec. 1816 in Fontmell Magna, the banns were read for the marriage of "William Steel, bachelor of Fontmell Magna" (signed "William Still") and MARY KIMBER, "spinster of Fontmell Magna," born probably in 1785, in Stower Provost (Stour Provost), a Dorsetshire village in the vicinity of Fontmell. Mary's father was probably William Kimber, probably of Stour Provost. The marriage was witnessed by Robert Spinney and Elizabeth Andrews. Mary's maiden name is also recorded in the 1883 marriage record of her son Jeremiah. The 1841 English Census shows our ancestor William as "William Still," age 50 (so born circa 1791), a resident of the village and parish of Fontmell Magna, located in the Sixpenny Handley hundred of County Dorset. Listed with him in the 1841 census are his wife Mary, age 50 (so born circa 1791), and his sons Edward, age 20 (so born circa 1821), Jeremiah, age 15 (so born circa 1826), and Frederick (spelled "Frederic"), age 12 (so born circa 1829). The 1841 census says all members of William Still's family were born in Dorsetshire. Ten years later, in the 1851 English Census, William and Mary Still are again listed as residents of Fontmell Magna. The 1851 census document says they lived on Woodbridge Street, and shows William's occupation as agricultural laborer. The document also says William was 62 years old (so born circa 1789) and was born in "Dorset Fontmell," and says Mary was 64 years old (so born circa 1787) and was born in "Dorset Stower Provost." Seven years after William's death, the 1861 English Census shows his widow "Mary Still," age 76 (so born in 1785), a farm servant living alone in the hamlet Bedchester, Fontmell Parish, Shaftesbury Registration District, born in "Dorset Stour Provost." Bedchester is just a mile west of Fontmell Magna.

According to Fontmell Magna's parish burial records, William's son Edward died in July 1846 at age 22, though he was actually about 25. The records say "Edward Still, age 22, of Woodbridge" was buried in Fontmell Magna on 2 Aug. 1846. Edward's older brother Thomas Still, a shoemaker, came to the U.S. in 1849 at the age of 28 (so born circa 1821). Thomas' obituary says he was born 8 Aug. 1820 in "Fontanett" (a misreading of "Fontmell"), and his gravestone in Godfrey Cemetery, Godfrey, Madison County, Illinois, says he was born in 1820. Thomas was living or working elsewhere at the time of the 1841 census, and so was not listed in his parents' household. He arrived in New Orleans on 27 Feb. 1849 on the S.S. Boadicea, which had sailed from Liverpool, England. With Thomas were his wife Anne, age 24, three children, Anne, age 3, Edward, age 2, and John, age 10 months, and Frederick Still, age 18 (so born circa 1831), a farm laborer, who is known from other records to have been Thomas' younger brother. Thomas and Frederick settled in southern Illinois, and Frederick worked farms in Murrayville, Morgan County, Illinois. Also in the party of Thomas and Frederick was a victualler named Thomas Cosser, age 18, who is evidently the Thomas Cosser, age 12, son of Thomas and Ann Cosser of Fontmell Magna, who appears in the 1841 English Census. Thomas and Frederick's brother Jeremiah followed them to Illinois in 1851.

The 20 Aug. 1900 obituary of William and Mary's son Jeremiah says Jeremiah was one of "five" brothers. However, record has only been found of the four mentioned above -- Thomas, Edward, Jeremiah, and Frederick. It is certainly possible that another second was born between Edward and Jeremiah, say circa 1825, a son who may have died between censuses. Be that as it may, the known children of William and Mary Still are:

     --  THOMAS STILL, born 8 Aug. 1820 in Dorsetshire, England.
     --  EDWARD STILL, born circa 1821 in Dorsetshire.
     4.  JEREMIAH STILL ("Jeremy" or "Jerry"), born 7 Aug. 1827 in Dorsetshire.
     --  FREDERICK STILL, born circa 1830 in Dorsetshire.

4. JEREMIAH STILL ("Jeremy" or "Jerry"), son of William and Mary Still, born 7 Aug. 1827 in Fontmell Magna, Dorsetshire, England, died 16 Aug. 1900 at home in Alton, near Godfrey, Madison County, Illinois. Jeremiah was baptised at Fontmell Magna on 2 Sept. 1827. He appears in the 1841 English Census as "Jeremiah," age 15 (so born circa 1826), a resident of the village and parish of Fontmell Magna, Dorsetshire. The census shows him as one of three sons of William and Mary Still, a family of agricultural laborers. On 9 Sept. 1849 at St. Peter Port, Guernsey, in the Channel Islands, Jeremiah married CHARLOTTE AXWORTHY, born 13 June 1830 in Spriddlestone, Brixton Parish, County Devon, died 17 Sept. 1877 in Madison County, Illinois, daughter of John and Elizabeth (Clark) Axworthy of Plymouth, Devonshire, England. Their marriage record identifies them as "Jeremiah Still, aged 22 years, son of William of Fontmall in the county of Dorset" and "Charlotte Axworthy, aged 20 years, daughter of John of Plymouth of the County of Devon." Jeremiah and Charlotte had six daughters and one son. On 30 Jan. 1883 in Alton, Madison County, Illinois, Jeremiah took a second wife, MARY ATTER ALLEN, born 24 Dec. 1850 in Alton, died 8 Dec. 1917 in Alton, daughter of James and Ann (Joyce) Allen, who were immigrants from England. No children were born of the marriage of Jeremiah and Mary.

In 1851, Jeremiah, age 24 (so born circa 1827), and Charlotte, age 21 (so born circa 1830), left England and came to America with their daughter Sophia, age 10 months (so born circa 1850). They arrived in New York Harbor on 16 June 1851 on the S.S. Guy Mannering, which had sailed out of Liverpool. The passenger list of the Guy Mannering identifies Jeremiah as a shoemaker, and says he and his wife and daughter were headed to Illinois. No doubt they were planning to join Jeremiah's brothers Thomas (1820-1907) and Frederick (1829-1918), who had come to Illinois two years earlier on the S.S. Boadicea, sailing out of Liverpool, England, and landing in New Orleans on 27 Feb. 1849. All three brothers, Thomas, Jeremiah, and Frederick, settled in southern Illinois, with Thomas and Jeremiah residing in Madison County. Frederick worked on farms in Murrayville, Morgan County, Illinois, where his niece Luvenia and her husband Albert Riggs later came to live. Thomas and Jeremiah each have a single passing reference in the 1882 History of Madison County, Illinois that was published by W. R. Brink & Co. In the section on the early settlers of Godfrey Township, on page 506, it says, "Henry P. Rundle occupied a cabin on the site of the present residence of Jeremiah Still," while on page 507 it says, "Richard Blackburn settled the place on which Charles Wenzel now lives; and David Davis, that which Thomas Still now occupies."

It should be noted that Riggs family tradition says Jeremiah and Charlotte had come from England with three daughters. An old typed genealogy of the Albert Riggs family says of Albert's wife Luvenia La Dora Still that, "Her parents and family of three daughters came to America from England . . . ." However, the passenger list of the S.S. Guy Mannering shows they arrived with only their daughter Sophia, who was apparently their firstborn child. Jeremiah and Charlotte had six daughters and one son, and Luvenia, born in 1857, was their fourth child. But if Jeremiah and Charlotte had arrived with three daughters, then their daughter Charlotte, born circa 1855, would have to have been born in England, which means they couldn't have arrived in America until 1855 at the earliest. The Guy Mannering's passenger list makes clear that only their eldest child, Sophia, was born in England, so the rest of their children had to have been born in the United States. It could be that the tradition that Jeremiah and Charlotte came with three daughters is a garbling of the facts pertaining to Jeremiah's older brother Thomas, who came from England when he was 28 years old with his wife Anne, age 24, and three children, Anne, age 3, Edward, age 2, and John, age 10 months.

Jeremiah (also called Jeremy and Jerry) and Charlotte settled at Alton, Madison County, Illinois. The 1855 Census of Madison County, page 76, shows "J. Still" as a resident of Alton Township. Madison County records show that Jeremiah was naturalised as a U.S. citizen in April 1859, having given his intention to become a citizen in 1856. His older brother Thomas was naturalised in September 1860, having given his intention in 1857. In June or July 1863, Jeremiah registered for the Civil War military draft. The draft registration book shows him at the top of page 312, identifying him as a resident of the City of Alton in Illinois' Twelfth Congressional District, named "Still Jeremiah," age 35 as of 1 July 1863, white, "Boot Maker" by trade, born in England.

This is a detail of the 1863 Civil War draft registration of Jeremiah Still, showing him as a 35-year-old English native working as a boot maker of Alton in Madison County, Illinois. In fact he was 36 at the time.

After his 1851 arrival in America, Jeremy had five more daughters and a son, including his fourth child, Luvenia, born in Alton in 1857. Jeremy's eldest daughter Sophia married Harry L. Paddock on 21 May 1870 in Macoupin County, Illinois. The 1870 U.S. Census shows the Jeremiah Still family living in Alton, including Jeremy, age 42 (so born circa 1828), his wife Charlotte, age 40 (so born circa 1830), and daughters "Charlote" (Charlotte), age 15 (so born circa 1855), "Lavinia" (Luvenia), age 13, "Eveline" (Evaline), age 11, and Ida, age 7. Their only son, William J. Still, died in infancy in June 1868 and was buried in Alton Cemetery. Jeremy's wife Charlotte died in 1877 and was buried in Alton Cemetery near her daughter Mary Elizabeth, who had died at age 13 of typhoid fever on 20 April 1865. Their daughter Ida Mae died at age 18 of tuberculosis on 23 Dec. 1879 and was buried near her mother and sister. In the 1880 U.S. Census, Jeremy (called "Jerry"), age 54 (so born circa 1826), is shown as a widower and a resident of Godfrey, Madison County, Illinois. The 1880 census also shows Jerry's eldest daughter Sophia, age 30, living in Godfrey with her husband Harry Paddock, age 38, three children, Mattie, age 7, Jerry, age 5, and Rollo, age 2, along with Sophia's sister "Eveline" Still, age 20, and a certain John King, age 60. This census also shows Jeremy's occupation as "shoemaker," and he, his mother, and his father are reported to have been born in England.

Three years later -- about six years after the death of his first wife Charlotte -- Jeremiah remarried. This marriage was noted in the 1 Feb. 1883 Alton Weekly Telegraph, page 5, column 1, as follows: "HYMENEAL -- Mr. Jeremiah Still and Miss Mary Allen were married Tuesday evening, at the Presbyterian parsonage, Rev. Thos. Gordon officiating."

Shown at left is an advertisement for Jeremiah Still's shoemaker's shop from an old Alton City Directory. In the middle is shown the location of Jeremiah's shop, at the corner of Wall and State streets in Alton, Illinois. The building with the grey facade -- the old firehouse -- apparently was built on the site of Jeremiah's shop, though it looks old enough to have been around in Jeremiah's lifetime. Remarkably, just one block north, at 400 State Street, there is a shoe repair shop at the corner of State and Fourth streets, as shown at right. The firehouse photograph is courtesy of Patty Meado. The shoe shop photograph was taken by the author on 31 Aug. 2013.

As indicated above, Jeremy was a shoemaker by trade, and was one of the first to open a shoemaker's shop in Alton. James T. Hair's "Gazetteer of Madison County" (1866), page 235, shows Jeremiah Still as a shoemaker located at the southwest corner of Wall and State streets in Alton. Also, in the 1890 Alton, Illinois, City Directory, Jeremiah Still is listed as a shoemaker located at 316 State St., while the obituary of his widow Mary, published in the 8 Dec. 1917 Alton Evening Telegraph, says, "She was the widow of Jerry Still, who for many years was a shoemaker off State street." Jeremiah evidently ran his shoemaking business from the location of 316 State St. for about 40 years, but in January 1895 he moved his shop to a different location on State Street, near what was then called Short Street. As reported in the 18 Jan. 1895 Edwardsville Intelligencer, the move was to make way for a new firehouse: "Shoemaker Jerry Still Moved out of his State street quarters, Saturday, to make room for the new hose house. Jerry had occupied that same corner 40 years. He says it was one of the finest buildings in Alton when he first moved into it. Alton has changed much for the better in these forty years." A few years later, some remodeling work was done to the front of Jerry's new place of business, as was mentioned in the 19 Jan. 1900 Alton Evening Telegraph: "Charles Bowman has been awarded the contract for remodeling the front of the building of Jerry Still on State street."

This photograph provided by Patty Meado shows the former home of Jeremiah Still at 617 Bond St., in Alton's historic Christian Hill neighborhood, a short distance northwest of Jeremiah's shoe shop. A description of the house from the records of the 1984 Alton House Tour says Jeremiah lived there as early as 1854 and that his second wife Mary continued to live there until the year of her death (although in fact, in the last years of her life, Mary usually lived with her only sister, Mrs. Arthur Dixon). The description also says, "Originally it was only one room -- that being the existing front room. Later the rear and side additions were added . . . This home is an early representation of an early workers house commonly called 'shot gun' design."

On 24 Oct. 1890, Jeremiah's daughter Evaline ("Eva") Still Hathaway died of a heart attack in Godfrey and was buried in Brighton City Cemetery. Ten years later, Jeremiah died of heart disease on 16 Aug. 1900, and was buried in Alton Cemetery the following day in the plot where his wife Charlotte and children Mary, Ida, and William previously had been buried. His gravestone gives his dates of birth and death, but the year of death mistakenly says "1899" instead of "1900," which suggests that his gravestone was placed at his grave some time later. His initial obituary, published the day of his death in the 16 Aug. 1900 Alton Evening Telegraph, is as follows:

"DEATH OF JERRY STILL
"Well Known Man Dies After a Short Illness
"Jeremiah Still, the well known shoe maker, died at noon at his home near Godfrey after a short illness. He was 75 (sic -- 73) years of age and had been in the shoe making business in Alton many years. He leaves a wife and two daughters, Mrs Harry Paddock and Mrs Eva Hathaway. (sic) The time of the funeral has not been announced. Mr Still's death will be a surprise to his friends in Alton. It was not known he was seriously ill and he had been away from his place of business only a few days."

It should be noted that the author of the obituary was ignorant of Jeremiah's true age, and also confused his daughter Evaline ("Eva"), who had died in 1890, with his other daughter, Luvenia (Mrs. Albert Riggs), who was then living in Murrayville. Additional details of the circumstances of his death are found in a follow-up obituary published the next day, in the 17 Aug. 1900 Alton Evening Telegraph:

"Jerry Still's Death was Sudden.
"The death of Jerry Still at his home at Godfrey, yesterday, was very sudden. He was in his yard when he was suddenly stricken and fell to the ground. He was seen by members of his family and assistance was summoned from Godfrey. Death came before medical aid could be given. Coroner Bailey was notified to hold an inquest and went to Godfrey last night. The funeral will be Sunday at 2 p.m. and service will be at the home."

The day after his funeral, in the Monday, 20 Aug. 1900 Alton Evening Telegraph, page 2, column 3, the following extended obituary was printed:

"Funeral of Jeremiah Still.
"The funeral of Jeremiah Still was held Sunday afternoon and services were conducted at the Paddock home, Godfrey, by Rev. G. W. Shepherd. Interment was in the city cemetery at 4 o'clock. The Odd Fellows lodges of Alton took charge of the remains at the cemetery and the services there were according to their ritual. The pall bearers were Thomas Corbett, D. Busse, David Tomlinson, Louis Berner, Benj. Rose and William Flynn. There was a very large attendance at the funeral services.
"Mr. Still was born at Fontmell, England, Aug. 7, 1827, and in 1847, (sic -- 1849) was united in marriage to Charlotte Axworthy in Guernsey. Of this union seven children were born, one in England and the others in this country. Of these seven children, but two survive him, Mrs. Sophia Paddock of Godfrey, and Mrs. Louvenia Riggs of Murraysville, (sic) Ill. The mother of these children died Sept. 17, 1877. In 1858, (sic -- 1851) Mr. Still came to this country with his wife and young daughter, settled in Alton and has remained here or in the near vicinity ever since. Mr. Still was married a second time in 1883, to Miss Mary Allen, of Alton, who survives him. Mr. Still was one of the oldest members of Western Star lodge, I. O. O. F. of Alton. The second oldest lodge in the State. He was high in the councils of Wildey Encampment of the same place, and was held in great respect by the brotherhood. Mr. Still was one of five brothers, two of whom survive him, Thomas Still of Godfrey and Frederick Still, of Murraysville, Ill. Mr. Still was a kind and loving father, a devoted husband, a good neighnor and was respected by all."

Jeremy was buried in Alton City Cemetery, and his widow, Mary Allen Still, is buried close by, in the Allen family plot which is not far from the Still family plot. Jeremy's older brother Thomas died in Godfrey, Illinois, on 9 Dec. 1907, and was buried in Godfrey Cemetery -- Thomas' obituary says, "Besides his wife, Mr. Still leaves one brother, Frederick Still, of Murrayville, Ill., and eight children . . . Mr. Still was one of the oldest and best known men in Madison county. He had a brother living in Alton, Jerry Still, who died a few years ago." Jeremy's eldest child, Sophia Still Paddock, died at the age of 68 on 19 Aug. 1918 at her home in Godfrey and was buried in Godfrey Cemetery on 21 Aug. 1918, but her grave has no gravestone.

At left is Jeremiah Still's gravestone and at right is the gravestone of Jeremiah's second wife, Mary Atter Allen Still. Jeremiah and Mary are buried in Alton City Cemetery in separate family plots, but their gravemarkers are identical in size, shape and style. Alton City Cemetery records show that Jeremiah's first wife Charlotte and their children Mary, Ida Mae, and William are all buried with Jeremiah, but only Jeremiah has a gravestone. Evidently it was Jeremiah's second wife Mary who placed the stone at his grave, and probably at that time arranged to have an identical stone prepared for herself, directing that she be buried with her parents and siblings about 20 to 30 feet north of the Still plot.

Photo of Jeremiah's gravestone courtesy of Phillip Sherwood Still

At the time of his death, Jeremy owned various parcels of land in Alton and Godfrey, including his place of business in Alton and a farm in Godfrey. However, Jeremy died without leaving a will. His Madison County probate file shows that he left a personal estate appraised at a value of $755 (including Jeremy's library, a milch cow, two sheep, and a horse). On 21 Aug. 1900, his widow Mary successfully petitioned to be appointed administratrix of Jeremy's estate. The probate file lists Jeremy's survivors as his widow Mary, his daughters Mrs. Sophia Paddock and Mrs. "Levina" Riggs and their children, and his grandchildren Sophia Hathaway and Charles Hathaway (the children of Jeremy's daughter Evaline, who had predeceased him.) After an inventory of his estate and the settling of all claims submitted by Jeremy's creditors, the real estate was auctioned off in early January 1901, with his daughter Sophia buying his farm and his widow Mary buying two lots of land that he had owned. The Alton Telegraph of 4 Jan. 1901 reported the estate auction as follows:

"Realty of the Jeremiah Still estate was offered at public sale by the master in chancery. Mrs. Sophia Paddock bid in the farm at Godfrey at $1200; G. F. Crowe, the State street business premises, near Short, at $1525; Louis Berner, a Fifth street dwelling, $500; Ben Rose, four lots on Bloomfield, $84; and Mrs. Mary Still, two lots in Godfrey & Gilman's addition, $1410."

The children of Jeremy and Charlotte were:

     --  SOPHIA C. STILL, born 26 Nov. 1849 in England, md. Henry Lee "Harry" Paddock
     --  MARY ELIZABETH STILL, born circa 1852, died of typhoid fever 20 April 1865.
     --  CHARLOTTE STILL, born circa 1855, probably in Alton, Illinois.
     5.  LUVENIA LA DORA STILL, born 27 Feb. 1857 in Alton, Illinois.
     --  EVALINE F. STILL ("Eva"), born 5 Oct. 1859 in Alton, married Benjamin Crane Hathaway
     --  IDA MAE STILL, born circa 1861, died of tuberculosis 23 Dec. 1879.
     --  WILLIAM J. STILL, born Oct. 1867, died of spasms June 1868, buried 14 June 1868.

5. LUVENIA LA DORA STILL, daughter of Jeremiah and Charlotte Still, born 27 Feb. 1857 in Alton, Madison County, Illinois; died 21 April 1934 in Jacksonville, Morgan County, Illinois, at the home of her daughter Ida Ketner. Her death certificate gives her cause of death as myocarditis. According to the Estate Administrations Probate Court records of Morgan County, her eldest son Waldon and youngest son Charles were executors of her will. Luvenia married on 13 May 1874 at Godfrey, Madison County, Illinois, to ALBERT RIGGS, son of Albert and Mary Elizabeth Riggs, born 19 Aug. 1852; died at age 68 on 8 Jan. 1921 while waiting for the train at the C. & A. station in Jacksonville, Illinois. Albert and Luvenia are buried in Murrayville Cemetery, Murrayville, Morgan County, Illinois. The 1880 U.S. Census says Albert was born in Illinois, but family records say Albert was born in New York City and first came to Illinois when he was 8 years old (i.e., circa 1860). In the 1880 U.S. Census, Albert, 28, and his wife Luvenia, 23, are listed with two children, Mary, 5, and Scott, 1. After the marriage of Albert and Luvenia, they lived for several years in the village of Godfrey (formerly called Monticello), where their first four children were born. While they lived in Godfrey, Albert was head gardener of Monticello Female Seminary (today called Lewis and Clark Community College), and Luvenia, a gifted seamstress, did sewing for the Monticello employees and students. They moved to Murrayville in June 1885. Albert and Luvenia had eleven children, including two boys, Clarence and William, who died in infancy, and an unnamed infant son who died the day of his birth and is buried with his older sister Mary Elizabeth in Bethel Cemetery, Murrayville, Illinois. It is uncertain when Clarence and William were born, so they are listed last in order, but the other children are listed below in order of birth, starting with the firstborn child of Albert and Luvenia -- Mary Elizabeth, who was born 1875 in Godfrey, Madison County, Illinois.

Luvenia's death was announced in the Jacksonville Daily Journal on Sunday, 22 April 1934, page 4, column 6:

Levinia Riggs Passes Away at Daughter's Home
Mrs. Levinia (sic) Riggs passed away Saturday afternoon at 4 o'clock at the home of her daughter, Mrs. B. C. Kitner at 226 Hardin Avenue after a lingering illness.
She is survived by the following children: Walter, Charles, Mrs. B. C. Ketner, Jacksonville; Mrs. C. U. Million, and Herbert Riggs, Murrayville, and George L. Riggs, Nortonville.
The body was taken to the J. E. Thompson Funeral Home in Murrayville where it will remain until the funeral services which will be held at Murrayville in the M. E. Church on Monday afternoon at 2 o'clock. Rev. Houldridge will officiate. Burial will be in the Murrayville Cemetery.

Two days later, on Tuesday, 24 April 1934, page 2, column 6, the Jacksonville Daily Journal reported at length on Luvenia's funeral:

Hold Final Rites for Mrs Riggs at Murrayville
Largely Attended Services Held Monday
Murrayville Apr. 23 -- Largely attended funeral services for Mrs. Luvenia Riggs who passed away Saturday afternoon at the home of her daughter, Mrs. B. C. Ketner of Jacksonville, were held here Monday afternoon at 2 o'clock in the Methodist Church with Rev. E. A. Houldridge officiating. Music was furnished by a quartette composed of Mr. and Mrs. T. G. Beadles, Mrs. Harry Stringer, and J. E. Simons, with Mrs. M. J. Benscoter at the piano. The selections given were "Does Jesus Care," "Safe in the Arms of Jesus," and Going Down the Valley."
Those caring for the flowers were granddaughters: the Misses Lucille Riggs, LaDora Ketner, Esther Million, Margaretta Ketner, and Mrs. Earl Ruby of Jacksonville, and Mrs. Iva Stansfield.
The casket bearers were grandsons: Ralph Riggs, Thomas Ketner, Phillip Riggs, Brook Ketner of Jacksonville, Carl Riggs of near Bluffs, and David Million.
Burial was made in the Murrayville Cemetery. The American Legion Auxiliary had charge of the services at the grave with Mrs. Susan Carlson, unit president and Mrs. Maud Rimbey, unit chaplin (sic) in charge.
Among the relatives and friends from out of town who attended the services were: Mr. and Mrs. Walter Riggs, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Riggs and son, Phillip, Mr. and Mrs. Howard Riggs, Mr. and Mrs. Earl Ruby, Mr. and Ms. B.C. Ketner and family, Mrs. Clara Ketner and family, Mr. and Mrs. H. J. Rodgers, J. J. Reeves, J. H. Dial, Mr. and Mrs. Willard Tarzwell, Miss Lucille Riggs, Miss Esther Million, Mrs. H. C. Osborne, Mrs. Edward Ketner, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Roberts, and Mr. and Mrs. Earl Hughes all of Jacksonville; Mr. and Mrs. G. L. Riggs and family of Nortonville and Mr. and Mrs. Carl Riggs and family of near Bluffs.

     --  MARY ELIZABETH RIGGS, born 14 March 1875, md. William Andrew Still, her cousin.
     --  WALDON SCOTT RIGGS ("Walter"), born 8 Feb. 1878, md. Emma Adelia Million.
     --  HERBERT BENJAMIN RIGGS, born 7 Aug. 1880 in Godfrey, Ill.
     --  GEORGE LAWNSBERRY RIGGS (or "Lonsberry"), born 28 April 1883, md. Myrtle Blanch Kent.
     --  IDA MAE FRANCES RIGGS, born 1885, md. Basil Cameron Ketner.
     --  SADA AMELIA RIGGS ("Sadie"), born 30 June 1889, md. Clinton Uriah Million.
     --  CLARA CLARISSA RIGGS, born 29 April 1892, m1. Clifford H. Ketner; m2. Charles J. Roberts.
     --  CHARLES VERTREES RIGGS ("Charlie"), born 11 March 1895, md. Lelia Ann Galloway.
     --  "Infant Son", born and died 19 Oct. 1897.
     --  CLARENCE RIGGS, died in infancy.
     --  WILLIAM RIGGS, died in infancy.

On 16 May 1892, Luvenia's first cousin, William Andrew Still, born 1864, married Luvenia's eldest daughter Mary Elizabeth Riggs, born 14 March 1875 in Godfrey. William was the son of Frederick Still, younger brother of Luvenia's father Jeremiah. William Andrew Still and Mary Elizabeth Riggs had one child, Thomas Lee Still (also called Lee Thomas Still or Lea Thomas Still), born 14 Aug. 1896. Mary Elizabeth died 12 June 1898 and was buried in Bethel Cemetery, Murrayville, Morgan County, Illinois, next to the grave of her unnamed baby brother who had died soon after he was born in 1897. Her son Thomas Lee has living descendants. After Mary Elizabeth's death, William married Matilda J. Spencer (1872-1969), daughter of Jonas and Josephine Spencer. William died in 1953, and he is buried with his second wife Matilda in Murrayville Cemetery.

Other Still Genealogy Resources:

Fontmell Magna - Dorset Online Parish Clerk website Fontmell Magna Village Archive The Still Family of Fontmell Magna Alton Cemetery Index (including the Jeremiah Still Family Plot) Still Surname Message Board Still Family Genealogy Forum Murrayville Cemetery Index Children of Albert and Luvenia Riggs (with errors) Riggs burials in Murrayville

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