Obituary for Samuel C. Oxford, Hardin County, Illinois At his home on Ford's road near Mt. Zion Church, Samuel C. Oxford died August 12, 1941. He was born 29 July 1856; hence at the time of his death he was 85 years and 14 days. His funeral services were supervised by James Herrin and son-in-law, Porter Rose in Mt. Zion Church; where Rev. Arthur Austin the pastor delivered an excellent tribute to his memory. The song service was led by Vernon Joyner, Circuit Clerk of Saline County; after which the mortal remains were taken to and lowered to repose in the Angleton cemetery near the Oxford old homestead, where he was born and reared to manhood. Samuel C. Oxford was one of the second generation of the large Oxford and Patton families. In early pioneer days the first generation settled with their parents on Patton Ridge North of Potts Hill. They were Elihu, James, Elias, Newton, Morgan and Hannah. These inter-married principallly in the Patton family, entered lands from the government office in Shawneetown, developed good farms, built substantial homes and reared large families. Elihu and James became pioneer ministers. Elihu first county Judge of Hardin County and all of them were classed with what rogues of the time called the "Damnable Law and Church Party," because they stood unflinchingly for law and order in a lawless wilderness. Elias wedded Nancy J. Patton. Their sons were Riley, Isaac, John Allen, Samucl C., and George; their daughters being Elizabeth J. Angleton and Hannah Brownfield. Samuel C. was the last of them to quit the walks of men, and he had lived to see his generation of brothers and sisters and cousins go all of them except John Oxford, youngest son of Elihu, who as the last leaf on the twig still weathers the storms of life, living on his farm in Rock Creek precinct of this county. In early life the deceased married Mary (Molllie) Barnes who after becoming the mother of Alfred, Millard and Walter S. succumbed to a lingering illness and ultimately to an untimely death. Only a few years later on returning from his first college year the writer remembers quite well that Sam Oxford who was their president of Central School board, called for me to teach that school and among other things he said, "I have spent about all I had trying to save Mollie's life and if I meet with a few more such misfortunes, I'll not have anything to give the boys, but an education, that is one thing that cannot be taken away from them and I want you to help me to push them through." Later on the writer taught in Yellow Springs district, where the father arranged to send the boys a number of terms. He then moved to Elizabethtown for further schooling and farmed the place on which the writer now lives, and where he also worked as salesman in some of the stores. Alfred soon married and farmed for himself, but died at abouat 30 years years of age. Going out from school, Walter began teaching in his home county. After attending Oakland City College, Millard also taught but soon gave up the profession for the ministery. In the meantime the father married Sarah Shipp, who has made him an industrious companion and faithful stepmother for his sons. She still lives to mourn the loss of a husband to whom she was much attached. He as a stepfather also raised two girls, Nora and Altie to womanhood. A writer should be allowed a little space at least to speak of the material worth of a deceased person to his or her country; for singularly enough in paying their tribute to the dead, preachers usually overlook this. I am frank to admit that a man's religious values is worthwhile, but what he has contributed materially and charitably to society--should not be overlooked as matter of no moment. In his deep interest in learing, Samuel C. Oxford served many years on different boards in the districts and twwnships and because of his knowledge of the values of both personal and real property, he was sought as a deputy assessor. In his eight years of this work he wrote the property of every nook and corner of Hardin County; and was asked by friends to make the race for County assessor and treasurer, but his aversion to politics kept him from offering for office. However perhaps his most devoted convictions connect with the IOOF. The beautiful principles of that order was religion to him. We younger fellows believed that he knew the laws digests and secret mysteries of that great charitable institution by heart. When we needed advice in legal matter or instructions in the unwritten works of passwords, grips, tokens, sign or countersigns, we called on Brother Oxford. He was an IOOF advisor, peacemaker and lawyer, when we visited a sick brother we usually found Brother Oxford already there. We returned to our homes and work but he remained to nurse many a member through a hard spell of sickness. We preached Oddfellowship; he as a good samaritan practiced it. He has argued to the writer more times than one, that since Oddfellowship is founded upon the Bible, as the church is, he believed it would prepare one for immortal bliss; that is, if he lived up to its scriptural principles, and that he himself was trying to do more and more as the years went by. By these principles he was deeply imbued; by them he lived, and by them perhaps as much as by the prayers of loved ones he had faith to his last days to say "I am ready to go." Maybe the Savior meant to provide for a few faithful believers who follow him aside from the main corriders of the church, when he said to his church "other sheep I have which are not of this fold, them also I must bring in." Regretting that space and propriety in newspaper writing forbids me to speak more definitely of experiences and virtues I know of our decesed brother and offering condolence to the bereaved. I am yours in that hope that Jeesus the Christ plants in the hearts of mankind. E.N. Hall Taken from the Hardin County Independent 21 August 1941 Vol 70 #35 ------------------------------------------------------------- UGENWEB 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 Patton Reed