Obituary of Nathan A Musgrave, Crawford County, Illinois Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives Copyright 2000 Jim Admire Note: I have no connection to this family. I'm just posting an Obit that was sent to me by Barbara Dix who is transcribing old news articles for the website.                                    N. A. MUSGRAVE DEAD Prominent Citizen Answers Final Summons Nathan A. Musgrave was born in Hutsonville in what is now the A. C. Musgrave home, January 26, 1866. His parents were William P. and Catherine Voorheis Musgrave. Both preceded him in death, his mother dying Jan. 26, 1896 and his father March 1, 1915. Practically all his life was lived in this community where he became well known and highly respected as a friend, neighbor and citizen. Thirty five years of his life was spent in his present home. On October 25, 1894, he and Olive Davis, of near Palestine, Ill.. were united in marriage and to which union five children were born, namely, Paul D. ; Palmer A, ; Catherine V. ; Emma M. ; and Mary O. All are living. Besides his wife and children the near relatives serviving him Mahlon H. Musgrave of Hutsonville, a brother, Mrs. Mary Prevo of Palestine a sister; and Mrs. Zora Cox of Los Angeles, California, a half sister. The deceased was raised in the faith of the Friends Church. It was the church of his childhood and much of his manhood and to it he adhered untill about fifteen years ago when he became a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church at Bailiff of which he was member until his death. Much could be said of his Christian life, his faith in God and in Jesus Christ his Savior. His whole life can be summed up in the following words, his faith was the faith of his fathers; he has lived consistenly amongst us. Every moral issue presented for determination found him in the forefront advocating its righteons principles. The welvare of every human being was the burden of his heart. He made no distinction as to man, class or group when it came to helping others---his life was a life of service. A kind friend, a helpful neighbor, a loving father and husband fell to sleep Friday, February 6, 1925, when death claimed all that was mortal of Nathan A. Musgrave. "We cannot say and we will not say he is dead, he is just away". With a cheery step and a wave of the hand he has enterned into that brighter land. And left us dreaming how very fair it needs must be since he entered there. And you yearn for the old time step and the glad return. Think Think of him still as the same today, He is not dead, he is just away." LIFE OF N. A. MUSGRAVE His father, was engaged in the mercantile business at the time of his birth in Hutsonville but soon removed to the farm, three miles northwest of that town, owned and occupied at that time by Dee Rains. At the age of thirteen his father moved to Coloma Indiana, where he again engaged in the mercantile business for four years then returning to Crawford County living on the farm now owned by Ed Lindley, for a short time, and then to the farm where Nate, as he was commonly called, lived untill death excepting about five years in the town of Hutsonville. Early in life he exhibited a desire to accumlate something so that in older age render a service to mankind and while only a young man purchased the farm where he lived. In 1897 he purchased half interest in J. M. McNutt hardware business in Hutsonville and for several years took an active interest in the business but after his house having burned in town the call "Back to the farm" was too strong to resist and the active management of the Hardware business was turned over to others and he returned to and devoted his time to the farm.  Among many of the characteristics peculiar to N.A. Musgrave was a very deep desire to help everybody living in his neighborhood to a better physical and moral condition. It was before the days of good roads and automobiles about eighteen years ago, a number of children was being deprived of the spiritual uplift, he felt was due them on account of having no church in that district, so he built and furnished solely at his own expense a church and at all times since largely bore the expense of its upkeep. At York and also at Bailiff the church building needed repairs and through his encouragement and financial help everything was set in order.  In no way did he confine his church activities to his own denomination but with a heart overflowing with love to all his acquaintences a hand was extended in sympathy and financial aid. Secret Orders and Lodges never held a leading place in his life but the Church of Jesus Christ was head and shoulders above all other organizations and to that end he gave the best of his life and energies. The esteem of the people of the entire country was expressed when 256 automobiles and five buggies being over a thousand people to the little chapel Sunday Feb. 8, 1925 to pay their respects to his life and to drop a tear of sympathy with his immediate family. A very ------  service was conducted by Rev. H. B. Shoaff of the Hutsonville M. E. Church assisted by Rev. Myers, Pastor of the Friends Church. Mr. T. A. McComb also spoke on "The Value of a Man in the Country". Song Service was in charge of the M. E. Church Quartett. As the body left the Chapel to the hearse, and also from the hearse to the grave, several hundred Christian men stood on each side of the line of march with bared heads as guards to the last resting place of the body of the man whose Soul went out into the Great Beyond. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organizations or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb Archivist with proof of this consent. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Jim Admire