Obituary for Thomas Rutherford, Hardin County Illinois The death of Thomas Rutherford one of the oldest citizens of Hardin County occurred at his home at Rock Creek a short time before noon Tuesday. Mr. Rutherford, who was 83 yrs. old, had been as well as could for one of his age, until 8 days before his death when he was taken ill with a chill. He was the son of the late Arch Rutherford, he was born in this county and with the exception of when he served as a county commissioner and lived in Elizabethtown, he llived all of his life at Rock Creek. He is survived by his widow, Mrs Emma Rutherford, 2 sons, T.B. Rutherford near Cave-in-Rock and Walter Rutherford, Dearborn, MI; several grand-sons and great grnd children and 1 great, great grandchild, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert Edwards, Detroit. Walter Rutherfrod has been notified of his father's death but has not arrived yet. The funeral was to be held at his home this afternoon, with Rev. George Dutton in charge. Interment will be made at the Adams cemetery. Mr. Rutherford was commissioner of Hardin County for 2 terms, his 1st commission was signed by Govenor George R. Tanner 13 Nov. 1899. "We ran the county on $2900.00 and had $2000.00 to the good when I went out the first term" he used to say. Dr. Martin and Bob Hill who are both dead now, were on the board with Mr. Rutherford. He said the commissioner paid the county clerk and circuit clerk $400.00 then, and the sheriff got $900.00 per year. His 2nd. term as commissioner was in 1913. The commissioners that term voted $200.00 of the $2000.00 in the treasure to build a bridge over the lower Peters Creek Road, the 1st county bridge to be built and later built the one at Bassett. C.H. Dutton had been circuit clerk in Mr. Rutherford's first term. B. F. Herrin, county Clerk and Pernett Ferrell Sheriff. Mr. Rutherford was clerk of Hardin County one day, during his 2nd. term as commissioner, when he served in that capacity at the time of the Death of Clerk Dimick. Taken from the Hardin County Independent, Hardin Co. IL. ------------------------------------------------------------- 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