Obituary of Thomas M. OZEE, Hardin County, Illinois Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives Copyright 1999 Wanda Reed Name of Deceased: Thomas M. OZEE Name of Newspaper: Hardin County Independent Date of Newspaper: 22 November 1928 Editor of the Independent: I am sending you the obituary of Rev. T. M. Ozee as prepared and written by himself, a very unusual thing, which he gave me a few days before his demise, which sad event occurred Nov. 11, 1928. He made arrangements with me some eight years ago, that if he preceded me to the spirit land, that I and Brother W. E. Dutton conduct his funeral, and we did. The Odd Fellows took charge of the remains, which after their ritual services found a lasting place in the Willis Cemetery in Gallatin County, Illinois. Peace to the ashes of this worthy Brother Thomas M. Ozee, and heart felt sympathy for his good wife and children, and all other more distant relatives. Andrew J. Clanton. Obituary: The subject of this sketch, Rev. Thomas M. Ozee, the sixth son of James and Mary Ann Ozee was born in Boone County, in the state of Kentucky March the first (1) 1850. His father moved to Hardin County at about March the twenty second (22) 1853, and located on a farm where the subject of this sketch grew to manhood on his father's farm. He was united in marriage to Eliza Ann Clevenger on the twenty-third (23) day of April 1870, and to this union were born the following children to-wit: William J. Ozee, of Saline Mines, Illinois; Lillian Lee Ozee, now deceased; Martha T. Stanley of Sparks Hill, Illinois; Mary A. Jones, now deceased; James A. Ozee, of Gallatin County, Illinois; Joseph J. Ozee, now deceased; Tim Ozee, of Gallatin County Illinois; Walter Ozee, of DeKoven, Kentucky; and Nellie Lee Winn of Hardin County, Illinois. Rev. Ozee was by trade a farmer and lived most of his life on a farm. He was also a carpenter and stone mason, and for nine years was engaged in the mercantile business. His life was one of toil and hard labor and many times during his life has suffered great losses from a financial stand- point, as well as otherwise. However, he was always able to withstand the strain of such burdens by reason of the Devine Inspiration which he possessed in abundance. He was a member of and affiliated with Round Hill Lodge IOOF, having became a member of this order as early as 1885, and was a consistent and faithful member, and a regular attendant as long as his physical condition would permit, having remained in the organization for upward of forty two years. Rev. Ozee accepted Christ as his personal Savior in the year of 1893. Soon after the conversion and union with the General Baptist of this County, he at once engaged in active work as a christian and was thereafter impressed with the fact that he was called to preach the Gospel, and was, in the year 1895 at Temple Hill, Illinois licensed as a minister. At once became actively engaged in his calling, and was ordained as a full minister at Mt. Zion Church of this County September 9th. 1900. As I am writing this obituary with my own hand, I will take the liberty to say that I have always tried to do my duty as I understand it. I always loved my family and for many years have loved my God and his Christ and his Church, and have the sweet assurance deep down in my soul that he loves me. As to how well I have performed my duty in such minister of the Gospel, I shall leave to those who sit around my lifeless corpse today, and others and as my life's work is ended, and will say, farewell dear wife, farewell dear children and farewell dear friends and kindred ties. I hope that you can meet me in the morning. Thomas M. Ozee. P.S. It is my personal request that Rev. A. J. Clanton assisted by Rev. W. E. Dutton to preach the funeral discourse, and that Rev. M. F. Oxford preach the Memorial at the Ohio Association of General Baptist. ------------------------------------------------------------------ USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organiza- tions or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contri- butor, 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: Wanda Reed