Oak Hill Cemetery

04/01/2026

03/30/2026

Daily Ledger
Canton, Illinois •
Tue, Jul 25, 1967

03/24/2026

Earlier in the month, I posted about the need to clear off any decorations on the graves at Oak Hill Cemetery. The mowing season is about to begin and the main reason for this clean up to to make it easier to mow within the cemetery. Anything that is a permanent part of the grave like baskets, rods or saddles is fine.
People leave all kinds of things on the gravestones, in the fall, someone put pumpkins on a grave. The people that mow don't know what is good and what is trash. If there is something there that you want not to be thrown out, you can either go get it or talk to the sextant.

03/11/2026

If there is anything you have placed on a grave at Oak Hill Cemetery that you don't want to be thrown away, you have until March 27th to remove it. All other decorations left on the graves after that will be thrown away.

10/17/2025

SAMUEL CAMPBELL, an honored veteran ^^^ of the late war. is classed among the intelligent, capable, enterprising farmers of Lewistown Township, who have contributed so largely to raise it to its present high position as a great agricultural center. His farm is one of the finest in the place, and here he has a handsome residence and one of the coziest of homes.

Mr. Campbell is of Kentucky birth. He was born July 21, 1830, two and one-half miles from Versailles, in Woodford County. Samuel Campbell was the name of his father, and he was a Virginian, born in 1717 near the Natural Bridge. His father, whose name was George Campbell, is supposed to have been born in the same State, coming of an old Scotch family. He removed from there to Kentucky in I796 and was a pioneer of Woodford County. He was well educated for those days and taught school. For many years he was afflicted with rheumatism and was unable to perform any manual labor. He bought a tract of land near Versailles, and there his declining years were spent. The maiden name of his wife was Nancy McClure, and she was also a native of Virginia. Besides his homestead he bought a large tract of land in Boone County, on which some of his children settled.

Samuel Campbell, Sr., was nineteen years old when his father moved to Kentucky. Two years later he returned to Virginia to settle some of his father's business, making the entire journey to and fro on horseback. He adopted the calling of a farmer, to which he had been bred, continued to live with his parents until their death, and occupied the old homestead until 1836. In that year he too became a pioneer, starting for Illinois with

teams and taking with him his wife and ten children, leaving the old home September 29, and arriving in Fulton County, this State, October 29. He at once bought a tract of land including the southwest quarter of section 13, Lewistown Township. There was a house on it, partly of logs and the rest of it frame, a log barn also stood on the place, and eighty-five acres of the land was under cultivation. He paid §2,600 for the farm, and immediately entered upon its further improvement. Fulton County was then very- thinly inhabited, and this portion of it was mostl}' well-wooded and deer, wild turkeys r.nd other kinds of game roamed throughout the forest. There were no railways and Liverpool, then quite a flourishing town on the Illinois River, was the principal market. Hero Mr. Campbell performed much useful pioneer labor and zealously aided in developing the country until his untimely death April 12, 1852.

Prior to her marriage the mother of our subject was Phoebe Kiikham, and she was born in Kentucky in 1792. She was a daughter of Michael Kirkham, a native of Virginia, and a descendant of Scotch ancestry. He was one of the early pioneers of Kentucky, removing thither during the Revolutionary War. For some years after he settled in that State the Indians were hostile and committed man}' murders. He and his few neighbors gathered together and built a fort, in which they staid at the approach of the red men, and at times they were nearly starved, as they were afraid to venture forth for game that was plentiful. At one time when Mr. Kirkham vvas out with the other men in a campaign against the savages, his wife walked to the farm, three miles distant from the fort, every day to attend to the crops. The harvests were often bountiful, and one year corn was large enough to grate, six weeks from the time of planting. He and his wife both passed the remainder of their lives in Woodford County. Ky. Her maiden name was Nancy Campbell, and she was of mingled Scotch and English blood and was born near the State line of Pennsylvania and Virginia. She and her husband both died at the home of the parents of our subject in Fulton County, on their old homestead, and were buried in the family cemetery. The mother of our subject survived her husband many years and her death finally occurred February 3, 1875. The names of the ten children whom she reared to maturity are: Mary H., Naucy. Sarah, George M., Caroline R., Michael K., Robert, Prudence. Samuel and .John B.

Our subject was educated in the pioneer schools of this county, which were conducted in log houses, provided with home-made furniture, and a log was taken out to admit the light, and in the aperture greased paper was inserted instead of glass. He resided on the home farm until August, 1862. In that month he entered upon the life of a soldier, enlisting in Company H, One Hundred and Third Illinois Infantry, and was mustered in at Peoria October 2. In the following November he was sent with his regiment to Tennessee. At the battle of Holly Springs he was captui-ed by the enemy, but immediately paroled. He then obtained a leave of absence and remained at home until spring, when he went into the parole camp at St. Louis, and in June of that year he joined his regiment at Yazoo River. He and his comrades were employed there in keeping Johnston s forces at bay. After the fall of Vicksburg they went to Mississippi and were active in the battle of Jackson. Mr. Campbell was taken sick soon after that event and received a furlough of three months, which he spent at home. He rejoined his regiment at Scottsboro, Ala., and in the month of May, 1864, he and his fellow soldiers were dispatched to Chattanooga to accompany Sherman on his remarkable campaign to Atlanta and the sea. The brave boys did excellent service in the siege and capture of that city, and in the various engagements that took place between the Union forces and the enemy, and marched with their leader's victorious troops to the sea, and thence through the Carolinas and on by the way of Richmond to Washington. Mr. Campbell was in the Capitol City- at the time of the Grand Review, but on .account of sickness was unable to tr.ke part in it. He was afterward sent with his regiment to Louisville, K}'., and was there mustered out of the service, and received his final discharge papers at Chicago, in the month of July, 1865.

After the exciting experiences of life on the battlefield Mr. Campbell returned home and quietly resumed his calling on the old homestead which he now owns and occupies. He has greatly increased the value thereof and improved it by erecting a substantial and well-appointed set of buildings, including a fine brick house built in the modern style of architecture. To the lady who presides over his pleasant home, and renders it an abode of comfort, our subject was married March 12, 1867. As a girl her name was Emma llanna, and she was born in Illinois, a daughter of the Rev. John C. and Martha (Wi******er) Hanna. Jlr. and Mrs. Campbell have h.ad nine children — Eva L., Prudence O., Pluebe Martha, Warren L.. Sarah C, Adela. Bertha, Ralph W. and Roy. Bertha, the second child, died at the age of eleven years; Ralph, the fourth child, died at the age of five years; Roy died in infancy.

The parents of the subject of this sketch were both members of the Presbyterian Church, and he and bis wife, who are devout Christians, adhere strictly to that faith and are connected with the church of that denomination in Lewistown Township. Our subject also inherited his political beliefs from his father, seemingly as the latter was a Whig, to vvliich party the son belonged until the formation of the Republican party, when he fell into its ranks and has since been one of its sturdiest supporters both in times of peace and in times of war.

10/09/2025

MOSES BORDNER. This county is certainly one of the most attractive portions of the State, if not of the entire Mississippi Valley. It is the home of many agriculturists 'whose comfortable dwellings, fine barns and other outbuildings, gardens, orchards and groves stamp them as among the most intelligent, enterprising and thrifty of their class. A prominent place among those who have succeeded pre-eminently in their life work belongs to the gentleman above named, whose beautiful home is in Lewistown Township.

The birthplace of Mr. Bordner was Dauphin County, Pa., and his natal day July 27, 182.3. His father. Peter Bordner, was born in Bucks County, and his grandfather, who also bore the name of Peter, is believed to have been a native of the same State. It is known that he was a pioneer of Laughlin County in which he spent his last years, his occupation being that of a farmer. The father of our subject followed the trade of a carpenter and joiner in his native State until about 1825, when he became a pioneer settler in Licking County, Ohio, to which he removed with teams in accordance with the customs of the day. He bought timber land, erected thereon a rude log house and established his home with such comforts as his limited means would allow. He had a wife and five children depending upon him, and for their support industriously labored at his trade and other kinds of work. He lived an honored life until September 11, 1881, reaching the extreme age of ninety-nine years, his widow still surviving and being now in her one hundred and first year.

The marriage of Peter Bordner took place in 1810, to Miss Christiana Losh, a native of Dauphin County, Pa., whose father, Stephen Losh, is believed to have been a native of the same State. He died in Dauphin Count}'. His wife, formerly Margaret Whitmore, passed away in Perry Count}', Ohio. Mrs. Christiana Bordner now makes her home with her children, in each of whose dwellings she is received as a most honored guest and feels perfectly at home. In October, 1889, a party was given at the home of our subject in honor of her one hundredth birthday, and upwards of two hundred friends and relatives gathered. She was one of the most lively of the number present, enjoying the occasion to the fullest extent. At that time her descendants, living and dead, numbered as follows: Thirteen children, ninety-nine grandchildren, two hundred and seventeen great-grandchildren and twenty-four great-great-grandchildren. Her sons and daughters were christened Jonathan, Kathlenne, Angeline, -Moses, Lavina, George W., Margaret, Peter, F***y, Temperance. Alfred and Christiana, one other having died in infancy.

Our subject was quite young when his parents removed to Ohio, in which State they remained until 184G. He attended the pioneer schools which were held in the log house whose only window was of greased paper pasted over an opening where a log had been cut out, and whose furnishing was of the most primitive description, including slab benches and a writing desk formed of a board laid upon pins inserted in the side-wall. He assisted his father upon the farm to which his parent devoted a portion of his time, until he was twenty four years old when he came to Illinois. Buying two hundred acres of timber land in Lewistown Township, this county, he labored hard to obtain money with which to make his payments. Twelve acres had been cleared and a log cabin built. On the clearing he sowed wheat, which he disposed of at Liverpool at eighty cents per bushel, thus securing the wherewithal to pay his indebtedness. He has since been a resident of the township, where he owns eight hundred and twenty acres of land, all in one body. A few years after his settlement here his parents located in Liverpool Township, but after a time removed to that in which their son resides. Mr. Bordner has been twice married, his first alliance having been constructed in 1847, and his

companion on tlie interesting occasion was Miss Maria, Bearce. This lady was a native of the Prairie State, and a daughter of Eli H. Bearce, of whom further notice is found in the biography of Orsen Bearce, on another page in this Album. She passed away- in 1864, leaving five children — Lewis, Charles, Mary, George and Temperance. The present wife of Mr. Bordner bore the maiden name of Elvira Ewers. She is a native of Ohio, a daughter of Jonathan and Sarah A. ( Duckworth) Ewers. This marriage has resulted in the birth of the following children now living: Madeline, Louisa, Elizabeth, Charlotte, Marvin II., Shannon, Jennie, Jonathan and Clifton.

The energy and prudence exhibited by Mr. Bordner in the accumulation of property makes him one of the best examples of the self-made man to lie met with in this vicinitj'. The reliable manner in which he has ever performed the duties devolving upon him as a citizen of a great commonwealth, a member of society, and a professor of religion, has won for him the esteem of all who know him. His wife and family are accorded their due measure of regard likewise. Mr. Bordner is a Democrat in politics and a Presbyterian in religion. In addition to the conduct of his personal affairs he finds time to discharge the duties of Assessor and School Director in which offices he has served many years.

A lithographic portrait of Mr. Bordner appears elsewhere in this volume.

09/30/2025

Simeon Peter Shope was born on December 3rd, 1834 in Akron Ohio. As a boy he was incredibly athletic and retained a physically strong physique throughout his life. When he was young, his family moved to Woodfard County, Illinois. In Illinois, Shope attended Eureka College. Shope studied law under Judge Powell and Judge Purple before entering into his own practice. Upon his admittance to the bar, Shope moved to Lewiston, Illinois and began his own private practice.

As a lawyer, Shope quickly became known for his eloquence as a speaker. His oratory power led not only to success in the legal field, but also in the realm of politics. Shope was an avid Democrat and became heavily involved in the party in Illinois. From 1862-1864 Shope served as a representative in the Illinois House of Representatives.

In 1877, Shope was elected Circuit Court Judge of the 6th Judicial Circuit of Illinois. He was re-elected to another term as Circuit Judge but stepped down after his second term and set his sights on the Supreme Court of Illinois. Shope successfully ran and was elected to the Supreme Court of Illinois on June 1st of 1885. He moved to Chicago upon his election to the Supreme Court; however, he stepped down in 1894 after serving only one term. Despite his having served but one term, in 1889 Shope acted as Chief Justice to the court. After retiring from the Supreme Court, Shope continued his private practice of law up until his sudden death. In his life time, Shope was a member of a number of elite organizations including the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, the Knights of Pythias, and the Masonic Order.

Shope was unfortunate enough to witness the death of all of his immediate family. Shope had lived with his daughter in Chicago, until she died in 1918. Although four grand-children survived him, friends stated that with the death of his daughter, a “light had gone out of his life.” On January 23rd, 1920 Simeon Peter Shope was killed in a car accident in Chicago.

09/30/2025

HON. SIMEON P. SHOPE, of Lewistown, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Illinois, is one of the most distinguished jurists in the Slate, his legal attainments, his reputation as a judge, and his high character as a man and a citizen, placing him at the head of his profession.
Judge Shope was born in Akron Summit County, Ohio. His father, bearing the same name as himself, was born in Chambersburg, Pa., in 1805. He was a son of Jacob Shope, a native of Wurtemberg, Germany, who was one of three brothers who came to America in 1804. One of them settled in Virginia, another in Maryland, and the grandfather of our subject located in Pennsylvania, where he spent the remainder of his life. He reared a family of ten children.
The father of our subject went to Mississippi when a young man, and was there married to Miss Lucinda Richmond, a native of Louisiana, and of Scotch Irish ancestry. After marriage he went to Akron, Ohio, and lived there two years. In 1837 he removed to Michigan, just prior to its admission into the Union as a State, and was a resident there two years before coming to Illinois. After his arrival in this State he made a short stay at Marseilles, and then opened a hotel in Ottawa. In 1841 Mr. Shope decided to emigrate further Westward, and with his family' started with a team and made an overland journey to Cooper County, Mo., where he purchased a tract of land, intending to make a home there. During that summer his life was saddened by the death of his estimable wife, and he no longer cared to remain there, and in the fall of the year he returned with his children to Ottawa. In that city he began the practice of law, remaining there until 1846, when he went to Bloomington, where he opened a hotel. In 1848 he made another move, and for a time made his home in Woodford County on a tract of wild prairie land that he purchased there. Two years later he took up his abode in Metamora, where he gave his attention to legal pursuits. A few years later he went to El Paso, and there his honored life was brought to a close in the fall of 1867. He had been twice married. His second marriage, which took place in 1844, was with Adeline Dodge, a native of Windsor, Vt. He had four children by his first marriage and five by' the second.
In his youth the subject of this biography attended the public schools, and advanced his education as a student at Eureka College. After leaving that institution he studied under private tutelage. When seventeen years old he commenced teaching, and at the age of twenty began the study of law in the offices of Judges Purple and Powell, of Peoria. He was admitted to the bar in the fail of 1856, his certificate being signed by Judge E. S. Leland and others, and lie commenced the practice of his profession in Metamora.
Our subject, remained in the last-mentioned city until the spring of 1857, when he came to Lewistown, and was actively engaged at his calling until his election to the Circuit Bench of the Sixth Judicial District in 1877. He was re-elected the following year and served until 1885. In that year he was selected as the man best tilted by learning, experience and the possession of masterly judicial qualities for the important office of Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of this State, and was elected to that position. He possesses a clear, comprehensive, analytical mind, which, together with his thorough training and his retentive memory, he being able to cite case after case bearing on any point under consideration, renders him peculiarly fitted for the honorable and useful office whose duties he is so ably discharging. He is keen in direct and cross-examination, takes great care to ascertain all the facts of a case before presenting it to a jury, which is done in a most convincing manner, showing a wide research and a remarkable knowledge of the laws of his native land and oilier countries.
Judge Shope was married in 1857, to Miss Sarah M. Jones, a native of Lewistown, and a daughter of Wesley and Eliza Jones. She was a woman of fine character and many pleasant personal attributes, and by her death, January 4, 1882, her husband lost a devoted wife and true friend, and her children a tender and wise mother. The Judge has two children — Clarence W. and Mabel Ray
Not only has our subject done good service of the public in his judicial capacities , but he has held various other offices of trust in town and county. He was elected to the State Legislature in 1862, and his course while a member of that honorable body showed that he acted from the sincerest desire to promote the best interests of Illinois. lie was at one time a member of the Board of Supervisors here, and he has served as delegate to numerous .State and County Conventions, acting in that capacity at the National Convention in 1868, when Horace Greeley was nominated for the Presidency. Politically, he has always been a Democrat! casting his first Presidential vote for Steplien A. Douglas. He is prominently identified vvith the Masons, as a member of Lewistown Lodge, No. 104; Havana Chapter, No. 44, R. A. M.; Damascus Commandery of Canton, K. T. He is a member of Springfield Order of Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks; Keneth Lodge, No. 146, K. of P.; and of Lewistown Camp, M. W. A. He is thoroughly Democratic and simple in his manners, the honors heaped upon him having in no way elevated his pride or detracted from his frank, cordial friendliness in his in*******se with others.