Brief mention was made in last weeks issue of the Progress of the death of
Samuel Machesney of Grant Park, who died of cancer at the Wesleyan Hospital
Chicago at 10 o'clock p.m. Thursday March 27, 1902.
Deceased was born Jan. 21st, 1841 in Schoharie county, N.Y. He came to Illinois
in the spring of 1861, in company with his friend, Mr. Stephen Pemble and
together they commenced the struggle for their part of this world's goods in
Sumner Township. commenting at the bottom round of the ladder they proved to be
men of far more than ordinary energy, vigor and economy. For several years. Mr.
Machesney labored as a farm hand for the early settlers in Sumner, until by the
extreme of frugality he had acquired sufficient means to purchase 40 acres of
land in section 27. Then in addition to his farming interests he took up with
corn shelling, threshing, and other machinery, and general trader. As one who
has known him intimately since he first came to Illinois, the writer is prepared
to venture the remark that his equal in this line of work has never been equaled
in this county, perhaps not exceeded by any in the state. As a result he has
accumulated a competence which will insure the surviving members of the family
from want for all time to come. After several years of prosperity there he
transferred his interest to the eastern part of the township where he located on
a farm of about 200 acres one mile west of Grant. On the 18 of Nov. 1872 he was
united in marriage with Miss. Annie Spinney. To them seven children, five
daughters and two sons were born as follows: Mary Elizabeth William Nelson,
Gertrude May, Charlotte Irene, Hattie Belle, Anna Olive and Samuel Wilber. Two
of these Hattie Belle and Samuel Wilber have died, the rest with the sorrowing
wife survive him.
While he was a man of most rigid economy, and cautious in his dealings with
others, he was noted for his liberality with the members of his family providing
every necessity and many of the luxuries of life. Each child was provided with a
good education, and William is about completing a medical course at the
Northwestern Medical College. The result of his efforts in this direction will
be a monument to his memory for many decades to come. Lizzie the eldest child is
the wife of Mr. Fred Teverbaugh, and Gertrude is the wife of A.C. Bothfuhr,
postmaster and furniture dealer of Grant Park. About 18 years ago he became a
victim of cancer, and although he has employed the best medical aid in the land
and has had a large number of operations performed, the dread and fatal disease
has gained steadily upon him. For several years past he has been a great
sufferer and has endured the affliction with super human courage, knowing that
the end was only a matter of time. About five weeks ago he was taken to the
Wesleyan Hospital Chicago where the final operation was performed. This he
endured with his usual fortitude and was rallying with a fair prospect of once
more returning to his home when erysipelas set in with fatal result. He lingered
for another week when death came to his relief. His was a case without parallel.

Funeral services were held at the M.E. church last Sunday afternoon at 2 o'clock
in charge of the Odd Fellows of Grant assisted by a delegation from Momence.
Rev. J.G. Evans the local pastor preaching the sermon. The remains were laid to
their final rest in the cemeter at Union Corners.

Credit: The Momence Progress, April 4, 1902 page 5. A copy of the article is
available on Facebook at Momence Genealogy Corner.