| Page content last modified: | April 16, 2003. |
| WILLIS CEMETERY HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS |
SARAH ELLEN WAY SAMMONS
JAMES SAMMONS MAY. 24, 1835 NOV. 12, 1915 |
SARAH E. SAMMONS BORN MAY 15, 1840. DIED FEB. 1, 1903. |
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These very large markers have toppled off their bases and are lying on the ground. Nearby is the stone for  'Grandma Pennington', James' mother. |
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| This is a portion of a large group picture that will be displayed on this website in the near future. We are thankful that long ago someone wrote names on the back, but there is some question as to which name goes with each pictured individual; further research is necessary. As we know Sarah Ellen was confined to a wheelchair for many years, we are confident that the above two persons are Sarah Ellen and James Sammons. |
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Thomas Gregg, 1880, verbatim transcription James Samons, farmer, section 24; P.O., Joetta; was born May 24, 1835. He is a son of Edward* and Anna M. (Hays) Samons, the former a native of Virginia, and born in 1800; the latter a native of Rutherford Co., Tenn., was born in 1818. Edward came to Illinois in 1831, and lived in Morgan county until 1847, when he moved into St. Mary's town, and was there eight years. He finally moved to the State of Missouri, and lived there until his death in 1857. At the age of 20 James located in McDonough county and there remained four years, and then moved to Hancock county, and has since resided on his present farm of 267 acres, valued at $30 per acre. Mr. S. was married in 1855 to Sarah E. Way, native of Illinois and was born in 1840. They have been blessed with 7 children; viz., Mary J., Edmond, Chas. W., Ruth E., Louisa, Stephen A., Ida May. Mr. S. enlisted in Co. A, 118th Reg., under Capt. Campbell, in 1862; was in battles of Thompkins Hill, and Baker Creek; discharged at Port Hudson, Louisiana, in 1864. He is a Republican. |
The following inscription was recorded for a stone found by Warren L. Van Dine in 1967; the marker was not located during a visit to the cemetery in 2000. Born Feb. 21, 1870 Died Jan. 12, 1882 This would have been the stone for Stephen Arthur Sammons, son of James & Sarah Ellen Way Sammons. There is a discrepancy between the inscription and the birth information shown for Stephen in the 1870 Census. In the latter, he was shown to have been born in March.
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