From: rlmiller(a)qosi.net
To: STilleman(a)satx.rr.com
Sent: Monday, August 20, 2001 1:34 AM
Subject: Clarence Cearlock
Sue, I came across an old newspaper clipping while cleaning out some things at my Mother
-in-laws house. Clarence and Ona Williams Cearlock's 50th wedding announcement. The
left side is cut off so I am writing it as I think it should be.
Rev. and Mrs. Clarence Cearlock of Bingham, will observe their 50th wedding Anniverary,
Wed. March 8th. No special event is planned for the occasion, but a surprise
pre-anniversary was given in their honor last Friday night.
Members of the Bingham Baptist Church, where Rev. Cearlock serves as pastor, staged the
event. The basement was decorated in white and gold, with paper chains across the
ceiling, and crepepaper bells. A wedding cake with miniature bride and groom standing on
top adorned the head table, and a gold money tree held a number of USA green issue.
It was the regular night for a church fellowship, and all the ladies had their usual
heaping baskets of food, to help make the occasion more satisfying.
Rev. Cearlock, ordained a minister in 1938, has been pastor at Bingham Baptist 2 years.
He has (?)led 8 churches, including Ramsey Baptist for 4 years.
The Cearlocks were married in Vandalia in the home of Rev. J.E. ??en, who also presided.
Witnesses were Mr. Cearlock's father and Miss Hazel Virden.
The bride was Ona Williams, daughter of the late T.W. (Bud) and Tillie Hill-Williams and
the groom's parents were the late Otis and Minnie Carter-Cearlock.
The newlyweds worked for the Merrill orchards of Mulberry Grove and Ramsey before moving
to Decatur. In 1926 he began working for the Wabash railroad and continued there for the
following 31 years. His starting wage, he recalls, was 38 1/2 cents per hour and on
retirement was making someswhat over $2.00. There were no extra benefits to speak of in
the early years, compared to the many now afforded employees.
Rev. and Mrs Cearlock have one daughter, Mrs. Carl Muirheid (Hazel) of Lexington, KY. and
a foster son Gene Williams, Washington, D.C. He is a nephew of Mrs. Cearlock. His parents
were Mr. and Mrs. Jess Williams, and when Mrs. Williams died only 3 days after his
birth,the Cearlocks took Gene into their home and reared him as a son. He received his
Master's Degree from the University of Illinois and has done work on his PhD.
Following retirement, the Cearlocks moved to their farm residence 3 miles nor of Bingham
where the have resided since.
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There is a picture of them but is isn't very good being a photo copy of a newspaper.
...
rlmiller(a)qosi.net