Mrs. Maggie Lou Harrison, 80,whose grandfather built the first hotel in Decatur on Lincoln Square, died at 8:40 pm Thursday in her home on Green Switch road where she passed most of her life. Her death followed a heart attack Tuesday morning. Mrs. Harrison was reared and married in the homestead known as the Renshaw place. She was born July 11, 1855 in a house near Morgan and William streets, the daughter of John and Anna Steels Renshaw.
The family moved to the Renshaw place and she was married there May 1, 1844 to Matthew M. Harrison. He died Feb 7, 1929.
Mrs. Harrison's grandfather James Renshaw was the first to build a hotel and tavern in Decatur. The log building also was a general store.
The head of a large family of children and grandchildren, Mrs. Harrison's hospitality was known to many boys who have played beneath the two 50 foot evergreen trees at Renshaw place and in manhood have become leading citizens of Decatur and Macon county.
She leaves nine children, 25 grandchildren and five great grandchildren. Three sisters are living. Mrs. Carrie T. Green of Decatur, Mrs. Cora Keller of Redondo Beach, Calif. and Mrs. May Dressen of Los Angeles, California.
The children are Guy R. of rural rr 2, Mrs. Gertrude Longstreet of Decatur, Ben F. of Lincoln, John W. of rr 2, Miss Carrie L, who lives at home, Mrs. Mattie Marohl of rr 2 and Mrs. Alyce Wikoff of Decatur. Most of these sons and daughters always have lived on farms near the Renshaw place since leaving the homestead. One child preceded Mrs. Harrison in death. She was a member of Central Christian church.
The body was taken to Dawson & Wikoff funeral home and will be returned to the home Friday evening. Funeral services will be at 1:30pm Saturday in the home and burial will be in Greenwood cemetery.
- Decatur (Il) Daily Review 9/6/1935
The family moved to the Renshaw place and she was married there May 1, 1844 to Matthew M. Harrison. He died Feb 7, 1929.
Mrs. Harrison's grandfather James Renshaw was the first to build a hotel and tavern in Decatur. The log building also was a general store.
The head of a large family of children and grandchildren, Mrs. Harrison's hospitality was known to many boys who have played beneath the two 50 foot evergreen trees at Renshaw place and in manhood have become leading citizens of Decatur and Macon county.
She leaves nine children, 25 grandchildren and five great grandchildren. Three sisters are living. Mrs. Carrie T. Green of Decatur, Mrs. Cora Keller of Redondo Beach, Calif. and Mrs. May Dressen of Los Angeles, California.
The children are Guy R. of rural rr 2, Mrs. Gertrude Longstreet of Decatur, Ben F. of Lincoln, John W. of rr 2, Miss Carrie L, who lives at home, Mrs. Mattie Marohl of rr 2 and Mrs. Alyce Wikoff of Decatur. Most of these sons and daughters always have lived on farms near the Renshaw place since leaving the homestead. One child preceded Mrs. Harrison in death. She was a member of Central Christian church.
The body was taken to Dawson & Wikoff funeral home and will be returned to the home Friday evening. Funeral services will be at 1:30pm Saturday in the home and burial will be in Greenwood cemetery.
- Decatur (Il) Daily Review 9/6/1935
Mrs. Maggie Lou Harrison, 80,whose grandfather built the first hotel in Decatur on Lincoln Square, died at 8:40 pm Thursday in her home on Green Switch road where she passed most of her life. Her death followed a heart attack Tuesday morning. Mrs. Harrison was reared and married in the homestead known as the Renshaw place. She was born July 11, 1855 in a house near Morgan and William streets, the daughter of John and Anna Steels Renshaw.
The family moved to the Renshaw place and she was married there May 1, 1844 to Matthew M. Harrison. He died Feb 7, 1929.
Mrs. Harrison's grandfather James Renshaw was the first to build a hotel and tavern in Decatur. The log building also was a general store.
The head of a large family of children and grandchildren, Mrs. Harrison's hospitality was known to many boys who have played beneath the two 50 foot evergreen trees at Renshaw place and in manhood have become leading citizens of Decatur and Macon county.
She leaves nine children, 25 grandchildren and five great grandchildren. Three sisters are living. Mrs. Carrie T. Green of Decatur, Mrs. Cora Keller of Redondo Beach, Calif. and Mrs. May Dressen of Los Angeles, California.
The children are Guy R. of rural rr 2, Mrs. Gertrude Longstreet of Decatur, Ben F. of Lincoln, John W. of rr 2, Miss Carrie L, who lives at home, Mrs. Mattie Marohl of rr 2 and Mrs. Alyce Wikoff of Decatur. Most of these sons and daughters always have lived on farms near the Renshaw place since leaving the homestead. One child preceded Mrs. Harrison in death. She was a member of Central Christian church.
The body was taken to Dawson & Wikoff funeral home and will be returned to the home Friday evening. Funeral services will be at 1:30pm Saturday in the home and burial will be in Greenwood cemetery.
- Decatur (Il) Daily Review 9/6/1935
The family moved to the Renshaw place and she was married there May 1, 1844 to Matthew M. Harrison. He died Feb 7, 1929.
Mrs. Harrison's grandfather James Renshaw was the first to build a hotel and tavern in Decatur. The log building also was a general store.
The head of a large family of children and grandchildren, Mrs. Harrison's hospitality was known to many boys who have played beneath the two 50 foot evergreen trees at Renshaw place and in manhood have become leading citizens of Decatur and Macon county.
She leaves nine children, 25 grandchildren and five great grandchildren. Three sisters are living. Mrs. Carrie T. Green of Decatur, Mrs. Cora Keller of Redondo Beach, Calif. and Mrs. May Dressen of Los Angeles, California.
The children are Guy R. of rural rr 2, Mrs. Gertrude Longstreet of Decatur, Ben F. of Lincoln, John W. of rr 2, Miss Carrie L, who lives at home, Mrs. Mattie Marohl of rr 2 and Mrs. Alyce Wikoff of Decatur. Most of these sons and daughters always have lived on farms near the Renshaw place since leaving the homestead. One child preceded Mrs. Harrison in death. She was a member of Central Christian church.
The body was taken to Dawson & Wikoff funeral home and will be returned to the home Friday evening. Funeral services will be at 1:30pm Saturday in the home and burial will be in Greenwood cemetery.
- Decatur (Il) Daily Review 9/6/1935
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