It's been a long time since I have been on the list. I posted these a couple years ago, but thought I'd do it again so Alice can pick up on them for the website. They are from my great grandmother's scrapbook. Although I haven't been on the list I was keeping up with the archives. Todd in Knox County, IL London Times, London Mills, IL 1890 Mrs. Catherine Cowman, _ _ _ born in Highland Co., Ohio, February 3rd, 1817, and was married to David Cowman, September 10th, 1835. At the age of 12 years she was converted and joined the M.E. church of which she remained a faithful member until she was called to join the church Triumphant, on the 30th day of May, 1890, aged 73 years, 3 months, and 27 days. Mr. and Mrs. Cowman came to Illinois, June 1st, 1838, and soon after moved to the farm where they continued to reside till her death. Mrs. Cowman was the mother of eleven children, four of whom preceded her to the other shore. There are still living three sons and four daughters all of whom are married except the youngest son. On Friday morning Mrs. Cowman called her children to her bedside one by one and told them she could not be with them long and earnestly exhorted them to meet her in heaven. With her children she leaves her husband and many warm friends to mourn their irreparable loss. The following is a letter written by Mrs. Cowman on the day of her Golden wedding, and was found in her trunk at her death. "This is the tenth day of September. To-day we have been married fifty years. I have been studying and thinking away back to the days of my youth, and I have nothing to complain of, but I do feel to praise God for his goodness and his mercy. It has been over fifty years since I started to serve God and I feel that my feet are upon the rock, that 'the Lord is my shepard and I shall not want.' Oh! how I do feel to praise the Lord for the prospect that I have of meeting my loved ones. I have four children who have gone on before. My daily prayer is that we make an unbroken family." ***** London Times, London Mills, IL 1898 DAVID COWMAN One of the earliest settlers of Fulton County passes away. David Cowman died at his home in this place, Monday morning, April 25th, 1898, aged 82 years, 6 months, and 11 days, after a breif illness from pneumonia. The funeral service was held at 10 a.m., Wednesday in the M.E. Church, Rev. Richard Haney of Monmouth, assisted by Rev. Welsh and Rev. White of this place, officiating. It was one of the largest funerals ever held in London, and it was a long procession that followed the remains to their last resting place in the cemetary at Midway. David Cowman was born in Rockbridge County, Virginia, Oct. 14th, 1815. In 1832 he with his parents settled in Ohio. There was that he was married, Sept. 19, 1835, to Miss Catherine Combs. They came to Illinois in 1838, settling that same year on a part of the farm east of town which he owned at the time of his death. To them were born 11 children, seven of whom, together with a large number of grandchildren and great grand children, still survive. The living children are: Eliza Ann wife of Henry P. Mosher; Mary, wife of John Combs; Mandy Ellen, wife of Cyrus Betterton; Lydia Jane, wife of James Thurman; General L. Cowman, John L. Cowman, and Frances N. Cowman. The mother of these children died May 30, 1890. On Sept. 10th, 1891, Mr. Cowman was again married, this time to Rebecca A. Welch, who survives him. Uncle Davey Cowman as the deceased was familiarly styled, was a man of sterling integrity and great force of character. He was a strong man in every sense of the word and has been a part of the history of the settlement and developement of this section of country. He has been an active member of the Methodist church for nearly sixty years, a man of unwavering faith, and a power for good in the community. His has been a long life of active service, and he has passed to his rest and reward. The portrait of the deceased shown in this article is from a photograph taken a number of years ago, and is a splendid likeness as many of our older readers remember him. ***** Galesburg Paper July 16, 1938 Cecil V. Combs London Mills Funeral services for Cecil V. Combs were held Tuesday afternoon fron the M.E. Church at 2 o'clock, Rev. R.W. Van Alsyne officiating. Cecil Vivian Combs, son of Henry and Emma (Norval) Combs, was born near London Mills, Oct 29, 1901. He spent his entire life in that community. He was united in marriage to Miss Velma Spurlock in December , 1924, and to this union five children were born, Betty June, Robert Duane, Wanda Mae, Benjamin Henry and Cecil Eugene. Besides the wife and five children, his aged father Henry Combs, and two brothers, Lowell and John, all of London Mills, survive. His mother preceded him in death. He united with the M.E. Church about 18 years ago. *********** Galesburg Paper June 6, 1949 Elmer Combs Fairview Elmer Combs, retired farmer died this morning at 7:45 o'clock at his home in Fairview. He was born in London Mills Dec 11, 1863, the son of John and Mary (Cowman) Combs. The father and mother, three brothers and one sister preceded him in death. On march 29, 1899, Mr. Combs married Mary Belle Stout at London Mills. Most of their married life has been spent in or near Fairview. The widow, one sister, Mrs. Myrtle Hummel of Rapatee, and one brother, Bruce Combs, of London Mills survive. Funeral services will be held Wednesday afternoon at 2 o'clock, CST, at the Fairview Methodist Church. Burial will be in the Fairview Cemetery and friends may call at the Combs residence until the hour of the services. *********** Galesburg Paper November 27, 1957 Mrs. Mary Combs, 86, Lifetime Resident of Fairview, Dies Today Mrs. Mary Belle Combs, 86, a lifetime resident of this community, died at 12:15 p.m. today in the home of a sister, Mrs. Hepsy Wright, at Norris, where she had been residing the last few weeks. She had been ill for several months. Born June 21, 1871, near Fairview, a daughter of Mathia J. and Sarah Ann (Dunn) Stout, she was married in London Mills to Elmer Combs who preceeded her in death. Surviving in addition to the sister in Norris, are three other sisters, Mrs. Luells Melick, Miss Sisie Stout and Mrs. Kate Johnson and a brother, H.M. Stout, all in Fairview. Burial will be in the Fairview Cemetery. ************ Galesburg Register Mail November, 1954 Earl Combs, 67, of Maquon, died Thursday at 10:40 a.m. in St. Mary's Hospital, where he had been a patient for two days. He was born near London Mills March 3, 1887, had resided in Maquon for 12 years and retired from farming two years ago. He was married in Galesburg June 10, 1919, to Emma M. Tasker, who survives. Also surviving are two daughters, Mrs. Nellie V. Owen and Mrs. Alice F. Owen, of Maquon; a son Howard M. Combs of Maquon; three sisters, Mrs. Verda Vermillion of Hermon, Mrs. Tressa Sampson of Sheridan, Wyo., and Mrs. Mary Langford of Abingdon, and five grandchildren. His parents and a brother preceded him in death. Funeral services will be conducted Saturday at 2 p.m. in the Klinck Chapel at Knoxville. The Rev. Ira Moats will officiate and burial will be in the Maquon Cemetary. Freinds may call at the chapel this evening. --------------------------------- Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! 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