Obituaries, Death Notices and Biographies
for the Hilton Family

Cerney, Robert (c.1896-1902)

Jonesboro Gazette, Oct. 25 1902:

Son of Jacob Cerney, a farmer 4 miles east of Anna, died Thursday (Oct. 23, 1902) and was buried in Cobden. He was digging sweet potatoes and tried to climb on the rear of a loaded wagon when a box fell on his neck and shoulder.

Hilton, Henry (1816-1899)

Jonesboro Gazette, Jan. 6, 1900:

Henry Hilton died Dec. 29, 1899, at his home 1 mile south of Cobden. He was buried in the (St. Joseph) Catholic cemetery.

Carbondale Free Press, Jan. 6, 1900:

One of the oldest citizens of Cobden, Henry Hilton, died last Friday of last week at the age of 84 years, He was the originator of the process of making hot-beds for the purpose of starting early plants to grow tomatoes for the St. Louis and Chicago markets. He shipped the first baskets of tomatoes ever sent from Cobden, which is now the largest tomato-growing point in the state.

Hilton, Joseph Walter (1887-1938)

Jonesboro Gazette, Dec. 16, 1938:

Joseph Walter Hilton was killed Sunday (Dec. 11, 1938) when he stepped in front of a car when crossing the road in front of Lirely's Garage in Cobden. There was a coroner's inquest. His funeral was at the Congregational church in Cobden. He was born April 27, 1887, the son of James and Lucinda Hilton. He left his widow, a daughter, one son, Norman Hilton, who just opened a new farm machinery shop in Anna.

Hilton, Lafayette (1885-1891)

Jonesboro Gazette, Feb. 21, 1891:

Lafayette Hilton, oldest son of John and Maria Hilton, died Feb. 11, 1891, aged 5 years, 5 months, 4 days and was buried in Cobden Cemetery.

Hilton (neé Maher), Margaret (1826-1898)

Jonesboro Gazette, Feb. 5, 1898:

Margaret Maher Hilton, wife of Henry Hilton, died Jan. 30, 1898, at her home one mile southeast of Cobden, and was buried in the (St. Joseph) Catholic cemetery. She was born in 1826 in Kilkenny, Ireland, and came to Cobden in the early 1860s. She left a large family of children.

Hilton (neé Rich), Maria (1856-1926)

Jonesboro Gazette, Sept. 24, 1926:

Maria (Rich) Hilton died Sept. 16, 1926, at home in Cobden, and was buried in Cobden Cemetery. She was born Dec. 23, 1856, on the family homestead two miles east of Cobden, the sixth of 12 children of the late William Carroll and Millie C. Rich, Sr. Her father was the former sheriff of Union County. She taught two terms in a rural school. She was a member of United Congregational Church of Cobden. She married on March 27, 1883, John H. Hilton, of Cobden. She had two daughters, Marie Thomas, of Cobden, and Mamie Wallace, of Cobden; and two sons, Fay Hilton and Charles Hilton, who both died in infancy. She also left two grandchildren, C. Joseph Thomas and Charles Frederick Thomas, of Cobden; two brothers, Lafayette Rich, of Jonesboro, and Will J. Rich, of Lick Creek; and four sisters, Kate McMahon, of Goreville, Johnson County, Matilda E. Halterman, of Anna, Lou Rich, and Lizzie Rendleman, of Cobden.

Lockard, John (1823-1906)

Perrin, William Henry, 1883, History of Alexander, Union and Pulaski Counties, Illinois, O.L. Baskin & Co., Historical Publications, p. B134-135:

COBDEN PRECINCT.

JOHN LOCKARD, farmer, P. 0. Makanda, was born in Lawrence County, Tenn., June 20, 1823, to William and Mary (Ayres) Lockard. She was born in North Carolina, but he in Tennessee. October, 1837, they came to this county. They remained here till 1844, when they moved to Missouri. In 1846, they moved to Arkansas, and she died there in 1854. He died in 1865.

To them six sons and three daughters were born. Our subject is the oldest of the family. He and two brothers are all of the family now living. They are still living in Arkansas. Our subject's parents living on the frontier all the time, and continually moving, his early life was full of deprivations. November 14, 1844, he was married to Sarah Hagler. She was born in this State to Paul and Betsie (Clutts) Hagler. They were both early settlers in this county from North Carolina, and died here.

To Mr. and. Mrs. Lockard the following children have been born : Alfred, Mary, William. Adam, James, Catherine, John, Sarah Ann (deceased), George and Lilly Melvina. Our subject also moved to Missouri, but in 1847 came back to Illinois and settled on his present farm, and has been actively engaged in farming and fruit-raising since. In his farm there are 220 acres, 120 of which are in cultivation. He and wife are members of the Baptist Church. His first vote was cast for James K. Polk. Since voted for Lincoln, etc., but now has adopted the Greenback platform.

Carbondale Daily Free Press, August 9, 1906, p. 3:

Uncle John Lockard, residing in the settlement two miles southeast of Makanda known as "Toppingtown," died the first of this week. He was 84 years old and a resident of that locality for a great many years.

Lockard, Jr., John (c.1859-1925)

Murphysboro Daily Independent (Makanda Newspaper), March 30, 1925, p. 4:

John Lockard, who died in Carbondale (Jackson County) Thursday (March 19, 1925), was brought down and buried in Lockard graveyard (in Cobden).

Lockard (neé Hagler), Sarah Ann (1823-1897)

Jonesboro Gazette, Jan. 23, 1897:

Sarah Ann “Aunt Sally” (Hagler) Lockard, wife of John Lockard, died Jan. 1, 1897, of intussusception of the bowels, aged 73 years, 1 month, 21 days. She was born in Union County and married on Nov. 14, 1844. She and her husband joined the Freewill Baptist Church in Ripley Co., Mo., in August 1845. She was the last of a family of eight children. She had six sons and four daughters, of whom two daughters preceded her in death.

Lockard, William (1849-1928)

Carbondale Daily Free Press, Oct. 23, 1928:

The funeral of William Lockard, of Makanda, who passed away Thursday at his home, was held Saturday at the family residence by R.E. Zipprodt, pastor of First Baptist church of Pinckneville, Ill. Interment will be at the family cemetery.

William Lockard, the third child of John and Sarah (Hagler) Lockard, was born on the old family homestead, 3˝ miles southeast of Makanda on October 12, 1849, and departed this life at his home on October 18, 1928, age 79 years and 6 days.

On June 15, 1883, he was united in marriage to Harriet Tippy, who survives him. To this union were born eight children, seven boys and one girl, namely: W.C., who died Oct. 15, 1928 (a misprint, the date is actually 1918); J. Timothy and Louis A., of Makanda; George R., of West Frankfort; H. Lee, of Murphrysboro; Melvin C., of Cobden; Mrs. Lafayette Dillaw of Jonesboro,; and H.E., of Smithboro.

In 1876, he professed his faith in Christ, and united with the M.E. church of Venice, Ill. He was also a member of the I.O.O.F. Appolo Lodge No. 407 of Makanda until the lodge disbanded. For twelve years he served as a member of the Board of Directors of Toppington school. He was a faithful husband and a dutiful father to his children.

He leaves to mourn their loss a breaved wife, six sons and one daughter, one brother, Geo. W. Lockard of Makanda, and one sister, Mrs. Ben Basler (Lillie Lockard), of Cobden.

Lockard, William Calvin (1884-1918)

Jonesboro Gazette, Oct. 18 1918:

Rev. W. C. Lockard died Tuesday (Oct. 15 1918) at home in Anna, of double pneumonia following influenza, aged 34 years, and was buried in Lockard Cemetery east of Makanda. He left a family. He was a member of Anna Mutual Relief Association. (See also Nov. 8, 1918, issue.)

Lockard, William Henry (1872-1963)

Carbondale Southern Illinoisan, Oct. 13, 1963, p. 24

WILLIAM LOCKARD, CARTERVILLE, DIES

William Henry Lockard, 91, of 312 Washington St., Carterville, died at 9:30 p. m. Friday in Herrin Hospital. He was a retired fanner. He was born March 26, 1872, in Union County, near Cobden, the son of Alfred and Frances Luthergen Lockard. He was a member of the Free Will Baptist Church near Cobden. He leaves a sister, Mrs. Nellie Strouse of Houston, Tex.; a brother, George Lockard of Marion; and several nieces and nephews. His wife, the former Seula Frederick, preceded him in death. Funeral services will be 1:30 p. m. today at Riggin Funeral Home, Carterville. Rev. Charles Mills will officiate. Burial will be in Lockard Cemetery near Cobden. Friends may call at the funeral home.

Rich, Lafayette (1850-1937)

Jonesboro Gazette, July 23, 1937:

Rich, William Carroll (1819-1915)

Jonesboro Gazette, Dec. 31, 1915:

William Carroll Rich died last Monday (Dec. 27 1915) at home in Cobden, aged 96 years, 1 month, 9 days, and was buried in Cobden Cemetery. He was born Nov. 18, 1819, in Alabama, the son of Thomas and Catherine (Noah) Rich. He married Millie C. Guthrie, daughter of Ansalen Guthrie. He was the founder and president of First National Bank in Cobden. He had 11 children, Samantha Tripp, Catherine wife of Louis McMahan, of near Goreville, Johnson County, Matilda Moreland wife of John Halterman, Eliza Condon, Lafayette Rich of the western part of the county, Amalphus Rich (deceased), William Rich, of the eastern part of the county, Maria wife of John Hilton, Lou Rich (who lived with her father), Lizzie wife of Crit Rendleman, and George Rich (who died a few years ago).

Swafford, Jim (?-1925)

Jonesboro Gazette, March 27, 1925:

Jim Swafford died and his funeral was Sunday (March 22, 1925) at Murphsyboro, Jackson County.

The Jim Swafford here, may in fact be the same person as the John Swafford in the next obituary. If so, he died in the tornado disaster of March 18, 1925.

Swafford, John (1870-1925)

Murphysboro Daily Independent, April 02, 1925, p. 2:

Coroners Death List in the City

List compiled from Death Certificates Checked by Agents to Return Blanket Verdict in Time of Catastrophe

John Swafford, son of James Swafford, age 54 years, 11 months, and 28 days.

The catastrophe is the Tri-State Tornado of Wednesday, March 18, 1925, which was the deadliest tornado in U.S. history With 695 confirmed fatalities. Murphysboro was hit the hardest, with 234 killed, the most in a single city in U.S. history. His cousin John Lockard appears to have died from injuries received in the same disaster.

Swafford (neé Lockard), Mary (1847-1887)

Jonesboro Gazette, Jan. 14, 1888:

References:

• Dexter, Darrel (transcriber), Obituaries and Death Notices in the Jonesboro Gazette (Union County, Illinois) - 1858-1939 - available on the website of the Genealogy Society of Southern Illinois (GSSI).