In a message dated 11/7/99 2:58:00 PM Eastern Standard Time, AHLGRIMK@cedarnet.cedarville.edu writes: > ubj: [ILMACOUP-L] The Year and the Day-Birthday Book > Date: 11/7/99 2:58:00 PM Eastern Standard Time > From: AHLGRIMK@cedarnet.cedarville.edu (Kimberly S. Ahlgrim) > To: ILMACOUP-L@rootsweb.com > > Greetings from Ohio, > I found in a birthday book given to Bettie Borough by Edith Pearson > in 1909. It contains wonderful signatures on birth dates, an article > and a beautifully written lineage account. > I am including quotes from the article and the lineage. > Some names in the birthday book: Anderson, Borough, Cherry, Harris, > Brock, Weatherford, Pearson, Rutherford and much more! Edith Person's Lockyer daughter Rosemary Lockyer lives in TN and may like to have copy of book. Minnie Edith "Edith" PEARSON LOCKYER was born near Humansville, Polk County, MO March 6, 1885. Edith married Lucius William LOCKYER July 18, 1917 in Gillespie, Macoupin County, IL, at 32 years of age. Edith died December 4, 1982 in Knoxville, Knox County, TN, at 97 years of age. At the time of her death she resided with her daughter Rosemary. Obituary from The Carlinville Democrat, Carlinville, IL, Thursday, December 9, 1982: Minnie Edith Pearson Lockyer died Saturday in Tennessee Minnie Edith Pearson Lockyer, 97, formerly of Gillespie, died Saturday, at her residence in Knoxville, Tennessee. Born March 6, 1885 in Humansville, MO, she was the daughter of James Martin and Susan Clarissa Rose Pearson. She worked as a schoolteacher. Visitation was held from 7 until 8 o'clock Sunday evening, December 5, at Kravanya Funeral Home, in Gillespie. Services were held at 1 o'clock Monday afternoon at the United Methodist Church with Rev. Donald DuRall officiating. Burial was in Mayfield Memorial Park Cemetery, Carlinville. She was preceded in death by her husband Lucius William and a son James William Lockyer. Survivors include two sons, Jesse L. of Bellevue, Wash., and Charles R. of Frankfort, KY; one daughter, Miss. Rosemary S. Lockyer of Knoxville, Tenn.; one stepdaughter, Mrs. Robert Davenport of Carlinville; eight grandchildren and ten great grandchildren. Her body was interred Mayfield Cemetery in Carlinville, Macoupin County, IL. Minnie Edith Pearson was known as "Edith." When she was about five years old the family moved to Illinois to farm her deceased grandfather's land near Gillespie, IL. In 1911 they moved to Gillespie. Edith had dark hair and eyes. She said she tried to imitate her sister Ollie because people always praised her for being such a good little girl. One highlight of her earlier days was attending the World's Fair in St. Louis, MO in 1904. She earned a Teacher's Certificate, taught all grades in several county schools and later 6th Grade in Gillespie, IL. In the country schools she also served as her own janitor; in the beginning she came by horse and buggy, later on she rode the trolley part of the way and walked the rest. She was of the Methodist faith and for many years taught Sunday School. Edith wrote many poems for self-enjoyment and that of her friends and relatives, a number of which were published. She liked music, reading and traveling. She went to every state except Alaska. At 75 she, with her daughter Rosemary, made an 80-day trip around the world. She visited relatives in England, with her son Jesse and family stationed in Germany and with son Rob and family in Bangkok, Thailand. Historical events during the life of Minnie Edith "Edith" PEARSON Lockyer: Statue of Liberty arrives in NY harbor on June 19, 1885; Siam declared war on Germany and Austria on July 22, 1917; Democratic National Committee voted to admit women on September 27, 1919; Irish Free State is established on January 15, 1922; birth of Alan Sheppard, 1st American into space on November 18, 1923; birth of Peter Sellers, (not now, Kato) on September 8, 1925; Seiko began selling the TV-wrist watch - smallest TV yet on December 23, 1982. ************************************************************************ Following is copy of my favorite poem that Edith Pearson Lockyer wrote: Little Myrtie McPeak by Minnie Edith "Edith" Pearson Lockyer There was in our area A little babe very ill; Mother and a neighbor Stayed with it until The flame of life flickered, And then the spirit went Back to the God of love From whom it was sent. 'Twas in the early morn And ma could not speak Telling of the death Of little Myrtie McPeak. Myrtie left two brothers-- Oliver and Harry-- And two little sisters-- Bessie and Carrie. Perhaps neighbor men The little coffin made, And in it sorrowing women The little darling laid. I was a tiny girlie then And in the graveyard place I viewed the folded hands And wax-like baby face. The Babe's dress was long And made very neat; Someone lovingly folded it Over the baby's feet. And in the tiny coffin From the woodland bowers Someone gathered and placed within Timber daisy flowers. Kind men filled the grave When the rites were o'er Then sorrowing kin Knew they could do no more. On the wooden headstone I saw letters bespeak, Carved by a kindly hand-- "Little Myrtie McPeak." Many years have passed Since little Myrtie died, And they who loved her so Stood around and cried. I visit sometimes that graveyard place And think of her so meek Whose wooden headstone read "Little Myrtie McPeak." (Myrtle McPeak born March 19, 1894, died April 21, 1894 buried Wheeler Cemetery, Gillespie Township, Macoupin County, Illinois.) Kathie Mirabella