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Please Don't Quote Me HIstory of Lanark, Shannon, Milledgeville, Mount Carroll, Chadwick, Milledgeville, Savanna, Thomson, Fulton, Pearl City, Morrison, Freeport, Sterling, Illinois

PART V — Franklin Langworthy, late of Mt. Carroll, wrote a book concerning the Carroll County ‘49ers “and their trips to the Gold Rush. It apparently, is among the rarest of the rare. Who has read it?” Scenery of the Plains, Mountains and Mines, a diary. Report of the Overland Route to California by way of the Great Salt Lake. Travels in the Cities, Mines Agricultural Districts Embracing the Return by the Pacific Ocean and Central America in the years 1850, 1851, 1852, 1853.” And that was merely the title page, not a condensed version of the story!

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Obituaries

Jeanette M. Piper

Jeanette M. Piper, age 95, of Mount Carroll, Illinois, died on Sunday, August 1, 2010 at the Carroll County Good Samaritan Nursing Center, Mount Carroll. Cremation rites have been accorded and a memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m., Sunday, August 22, 2010 at the United Methodist Church, Mount Carroll with Reverend Mark Harkness officiating. Burial will be in the Oak Hill Cemetery, Mount Carroll. Memorials may be given to the United Methodist Church or the Carroll County Good Samaritan Nursing Center, Mount Carroll. Online condolences and tributes may be left for the family at www.lawjonesfuneralhome.com.

Jeanette was born on June 18, 1915, the daughter of Walter and Ella (Boycks) Murphy in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. She attended Stockton High School and graduated with the Class of 1933. Jeanette married Lowell C. Teeter in 1936 and later married Cecil G. Piper on June 14, 1969. Cecil died on January 6, 2002 in McAllen, Texas.

Jeanette worked as a nurse, receptionist and a bookkeeper for her future husband, Dr. Cecil G. Piper in Mount Carroll. After they were married, Jeanette and Cecil enjoyed traveling, playing golf and wintering at their home in Texas. She was a member of the United Methodist Church, Mount Carroll and was a former member of the Order of the Eastern Star. Most of all, Jeanette cherished spending time with her family and playing Bridge with friends.

Jeanette will be dearly missed by her children, Marcia Roberts of Princeton, Illinois and Norman (Carmelita) Teeter of Memphis, Tennessee; four step-children, Patricia (Loren) Golden of West Dundee, Illinois, Allen (Connie) Piper of Thornton, Colorado, William (Leigh Anne) Piper of Lanark, Illinois and Russell (Cheri) Piper of Mount Carroll; three grandchildren, Christopher (Christine) Roberts, Leslie (Marc) Beauchamp and John Roberts; eleven step-grandchildren, Julie (Jim) Dubensky, Joshua and Zachary Golden, , Jeremy (Paige) Piper, Stephanie (J.C.) Vega, Kelly (Nikki) Piper, Melissa (Liz Bourland) Piper, Ashley (Justin) Moore, Benjamin, William “Will”, and Allen Piper; nine great grandchildren, Courtney, Lindsey, Sean and Kyle Roberts, Finneas Dubensky, Samantha Huffar, Austin Piper, Cole Piper and Jayden Vega; one great-great grandson, Austin; two brothers, Bud (Virginia) Murphy of Stockton, Illinois and Tom (Colleen) Murphy of Bradenton, Florida.

Jeanette was preceded in death by her husband, Cecil; two sisters, Lucille Kensinger and Ethel Barthel; and one brother, David Murphy.

Lois R. Russell

Lois R. Russell, age 91, passed away on Monday August 9, 2010 at FHN Memorial Hospital in Freeport, IL. She was born on December 5, 1918 in Shannon, IL to Archie and Orelda J. (Brandt) Bicksler.

She married Leo B. Russell on October 5, 1935 in Dixon, IL. Lois attended the Lena Evangelical Free Church. She enjoyed gardening and spending time with her family. She hosted “Sisters in the Lord” bible study at the Lena Retreat for a number of years and was an active participant of the Friendship Center in Lena.

Lois is survived by a son- Roger (Kay) Russell of Lena, IL; 3 grandchildren- Brandon (Jessica) of Plainview, MN, Jacey (Justin) London of Roscoe, IL and Brock “B.J.” (Jennifer) of Lafayette, IN; 5 great-grandchildren- Eleanor, Ireland, and Ashlen Russell, and Trey and Maya London; 3 brothers- Russell Bicksler of Freeport, Don (Betty) Bicksler of Mt. Morris, IL and Wayne (Donna) Bicksler of Freeport; 2 Sisters- Ethyl Svanda and Dorothy (Tom) Mahon both of Byron; 2 sisters-in-laws- Leatrice Bicksler of Leaf River, IL and Alta Wehmeyer of Brookville, IL.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Leo, on January 6, 1995 and a brother Kenny Bicksler.

Funeral will take place at 12:00 p.m. on Saturday, August, 14, 2010 at the Lena Evangelical Free Church. Visitation will be from 10:30 a.m. till time of service on Saturday at the Lena Evangelical Free Church. Officiating will be Dennis Bicksler Burial will take place at Grandview Cemetery. A memorial will be established in her name. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.leamonfh.com

Eugene Crofton

Sept 10, 1936-March 18, 2010

Eugene (Gene) Lamont Crofton loved history, camping and hiking, and sharing stories and jokes; especially around a campfire. He was born on September 10, 1936 to Bernard and Margaret Frederick Crofton and raised in Carroll County, Illinois. He attended Milledgeville schools and graduated from Lanark High School in 1955. He attended Illinois Wesleyan University and graduated with his B.A. 1959. After college he moved to Washington State where he spent most of his adult life, raising a family and enjoying the great outdoors. In 2006 he moved to Tucson, Arizona to escape the damp, gray Seattle winters. In the summer he traveled in a small motor home to explore Arizona and escape Tucson’s summer heat.

In 2009 he travelled to Florida to spend some time with his brother, Ivan Crofton, and to Illinois to reconnect with family and friends there. He also attended his Illinois Wesleyan University’s 50th class reunion in Oct. 09

On March 18, 2010 Eugene passed away in Tucson, AZ leaving behind his brother, Ivan Crofton of Sebring, FL, his son, Clayton Crofton of Portland, OR, and daughter Rebecca Crofton, a full time traveler, currently in Park City, UT. Also surviving are a niece Cindy Crofton of Colorado, nephews Paul (Diane) Crofton of Utica, Il and Thomas (Kathy) Crofton of Sebring, FL, Great Aunt Irma Crofton of Sterling, IL as well as a multitude of first cousins.

He was preceded in death by his wife Elaine, his parents, and a sister in infancy and his sister-in-law Dorothy.

In honor of Gene’s life a simple memorial service was held in the desert outside Tucson, Arizona on April 18th. He will be remembered and some of his ashes will be scattered in his final home. Please take some time on this day to remember Gene, say a prayer, or share a fond memory of Gene with your loved ones.

Sometime later this year his remaining ashes will be scattered in Washington in an area where he loved to spend his vacations.

Condolences may be emailed to or mailed to Rebecca Crofton, 256 Rainbow Dr, #15643, Livingston, TX 77399

William Sparboe, Jr.

William Henry Sparboe, Jr., 68, of Mount Carroll, Illinois, died Friday, August 6, 2010 at FHN Hospital, Freeport, Illinois. funeral services will be held at Mt. Carroll United Methodist Church on Tuesday, August tenth at 2:00p.m. with Rev. Mark Harkness officiating. Interment will follow at Oak Hill Cemetery in Mt. Carroll. Visitation will be at Frank Law-Jones Funeral Home in Mt. Carroll from 4:00 to 7:00p.m. on Monday, August ninth.

Frederick E. Dexheimer

Frederick E. Dexheimer, age 88, of Savanna, Illinois, died Friday, August 6, 2010 at the Big Meadows Nursing Facility in Savanna, Illinois. A Funeral Mass will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, August 12, 2010 at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Savanna with Father Dennis Atto as celebrant. Burial will take place at a later date in the St. John the Baptist Catholic Cemetery. Friends may call from 4:00-7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, August 11, 2010 at the Law-Jones Funeral Home in Savanna, Illinois. Memorials may be directed to the St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Fred’s memory.