Clark County IL Archives Obits.....
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Obituary of George S. Connelly

29 August 1906, Clark County (IL) Herald


George S. Connelly was born in Parker township, Clark county, Illinois
March 6, 1849, and departed this life at Anna, Illinois, Aug. 30, 1906,
aged 57 years, 5 months and 24 days.

On March 9, 1876, he was united in marriage to Catharine Rogers.  To this
union were born two sons, Everett and Wayne.  On Sept. 30, 1901, his
beloved wife departed this life.  Although a man of unusual strength of
mind and body, this misfortune was more than he could endure.  His love and
devotion to his wife being more than the ordinary, his grief for her never
assuaged; and (as is alas too often the case) he sought "surcease of
sorrow" in intoxicants.  From the day of her death his entire conversation
was of her who was dearer to him than light and life, and from whom he
extracted all the happiness of manhood's years.  He seemed thence to have
no further object in life, and freely expressed himself that his hope of
happiness reposed inthe time when he should be called to go and be with
her.

In February 1903, he took with himself a stong obligation absolving himself
from intoxicants, which he faithfully kept; becoming a relentless foe to
the liquor cause.  In the meantime his grief had become inordinate.  Those
with whom he was associated say that he was often found in secluded places
bitterly weeping.  When asked the cause, he would reply, "I have nothing to
live for since the death of my wife."  This awful sorrow proved too stong
for his will power.   So about August 1, 1905, while employed at the
Illinois State Reformatory at Pontiac his reason became unbalanced.  He was
taken to the hospital for the insane at Anna for treatment, when after a
year in hopeless insanity, he took his spiritual flight to the shade of his
beloved companion, in the great beyond.

In this case of pathetic devotion to a departed companion all hearts will
be touched.  Can such a spirit die?  In religious belief he was a
Universalist.  While he made no profession other than this, he was an
ardent believer in the infinite love of God and that all men, including
himself, would be saved finally.  He looked upon the Christ as his friend,
and his unwavering faith was that He would in His own way reconcile him to
his Father, and his God.  He had faith that his companion was in the land
of the Leal, and that beyond doubt they would be re-united through Christ.

The two sons, Everett and Wayne, survive.  The latter is a prosperous
farmer in Oklahoma.  The elder and former, Hon. Everett Connelly, is county
judge of this county.  Many sorrowing friends deeply sympathize with these
survivors and regret that the serious illness of his wife prevented Wayne
from attending the obsequies of his father.

The funeral services were conducted at the Baptist church in Casey Sunday
by Rev. James L. Ryan of Greenup, after which the remains were laid, to
rest beside his companion who had preceded him in the Casey cemetery. 

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