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Author: RobertLJackson29
Surnames: ILES, MCBROOM, THOMPSON
Classification: obituary
Message Board URL:
http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.northam.usa.states.indiana.counties...
Message Board Post:
THE BLOOMFIELD NEWS, Bloomfield, Greene County, Indiana, Thursday, December 21, 1922,
Volume XLVII, Number 6, Page 4, Columns 3 & 4, 'DEATH'S HARVEST. ILES.'
[Transcribed on February 27, 2008 by RLJ from microfilm of the original newspaper on file
in the Bloomfield-Eastern Greene County Public Library.]
John E. ILES was born near Logan, Hocking County, Ohio, February 8, 1851, and entered into
rest December 13, 1922, at his home in Lyons, Indiana.
His parents, Jacob and Minerva (MCBROOM) ILES, reared to maturity eight sons and four
daughters. John was the second son, and is survived by three sisters and four
brothers-five of whom now live in as many distant states.
When he was ten years old the family migrated from Ohio and settled near Fairmont,
Vermillion County, Illinois, where John grew to manhood on his father's farm, there
learning thoroughly the chief occupation of his life.
After making a trip to Kansas in an emigrant wagon and spending a winter in Iowa, he
prepared himself for teaching. He attended the Illinois Normal University at Normal,
Illinois and Southern Illinois Normal University at Carbondale. At the latter place he
was one of the founders of the still existing Zetetic Literary Society, and took part in
the athletics of those days-boxing and baseball-but above all else, he was a diligent and
successful student. He taught his first school in 1876, and combined teaching and farming
until 1891, except for not quite five years he spent in Dakota. He always retained a
genuine interest in education, and gave all his children exceptional educational
advantages.
On March 19, 1878, he was united in marriage with Mary J. THOMPSON, the daughter of a
neighboring farmer, and a native of Kentucky. She, with the five children of this
fortunate union, survives him. They began their married life on a rented farm near
Fairmont, Illinois, and in 1883 located on a claim near Esmond, Dakota Territory (now
South Dakota). The returned in 1888 and purchased a farm near Sidel, Illinois, where they
lived until 1893, when the moved to Dudley, Illinois. Ten years later they came to Lyons,
where Mr. ILES continued to engage actively in farming until his robust health suddenly
failed.
He did not devote his entire energy to teaching and farming. A Republican in politics, he
locally supported the man judged to be the best candidate. He held but on public office,
and it came to him unsought.
His chief service to his community was in connection with the church. For him religion
was not a thing apart. Belief and practice were inseparable. Like his father and
grandfather for whom he was named, he was rigidly hones that truthful, and had a hatred
for all sham and pretense. In 1877 he united with the Methodist Episcopal Church, and for
many years was active in religious work, serving as Sunday school teacher or
superintendent and prayer meeting leader. He was on the building committee for two
churches, and contributed to the erection of a number of others. In his home he followed
the practice of his father-worshiping daily at the family alter, and his faith became the
faith of his children.
The failure of his health lessened his business and religious activities and kept him from
public gatherings, but his later years held many joys.
His keep humor never deserted him, and with his faithful companion he quietly enjoyed the
ample fruits of remarkable industry and good judgment. ON especially pleasant even was an
extended visit to his boyhood home in Ohio in 1919.
He followed with deep pride and unbounded love the careers of his two sons and three
daughters, who held him in equal esteem and affection, and for many years never failed to
gather at the parental home once a year, and more recently twice a year.
His business cares were assumed by his second son, and he seemed to have awaiting him many
pleasant years of companionship with his wife and his children and his four grandsons, but
on October 6 he received the slight injury which resulted in his death from blood
poisoning after weeks of intense suffering.
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