Logan County IL Archives Obituaries.....Corwine, George D Sr 1925
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Bill Stephenson woodart@srbfl.com August 18, 2006, 6:43 pm

Lincoln Courier, Lincoln IL
Obituary of George D. Corwine, Sr
transcription by William L. Stephenson, Jr., Warrick Family Historian

Search Led to Cistern Near House
Believe Depression From Ill Health Cause of Rash Act Early Today
Host of Friends Shocked at Demise

The body of George D. Corwine, Sr., was found floating in a cistern in the 
yard near his residence on Eighth street early Tuesday morning after an hour’s 
search of the premises had been made for him by his wife, maid and neighbors.

The body was clad only in night clothing and a pair of trousers; other of his 
wearing apparel were near his bed in the home where he had left them upon 
retiring last night.  A huge iron cover for the cistern had been removed and 
laid to one side, affording a large opening through which the entrance was 
readily afforded and through which the body was removed by neighbors at the 
end of the search.

Mr. Corwine had been complaining since his return from California two weeks 
ago and had remarked to friends and relatives that he could not sleep and 
was “all in.”  It is believed that some time during the night he had suffered 
of restlessness and had quietly left his bed and house and while in a 
temporary state of extreme distress took his own life by submerging himself in 
the cistern.

Miss Hattie Milburn, who had been assisting with household duties at the 
Corwine home recently, went to her work as usual this morning.  She found 
everything quiet and supposed Mr. and Mrs. Corwine were asleep or resting and 
made no investigation until Mrs. Corwine informed her of Mr. Corwine’s absence.

Was Missed from Bed
Mrs. Corwine awoke about 5:30 and noticed that Mr. Corwine was not in his bed 
as usual.  She was a sound sleeper but nevertheless was somewhat alarmed at 
not being aware of his rising.  She noticed his shoes and clothes except his 
trousers were in the place they were left last evening and supposed Mr. 
Corwine was about the residence somewhere.  She sought in vain about the house 
for him and then knowing his illness called neighbors to aid in a search for 
him.  Seth Warrick, a nephew, was called from his home south of the city and 
he with Charles Lauer, nearest neighbor, searched the entire premises for the 
missing man but to no avail.  Mr. Warrick thought of the cisterns in the yard 
and a glance at them revealed the cover removed from one.  The grewsome find 
there in put an end to the fruitless search and revealed the lifeless form of 
the man floating in about seven feet of water.

Dead for Some Time
Dr. Rhoads was summoned as was Sheriff Albright and Coroner Taylor.  Neighbors 
who had joined in the search assisted the officers in removing the body from 
the cistern.  In the meantime Dr. Rhoades came and upon examination of the 
body expressed the belief that life had been extinct for several hours.

Coroner Taylor called the following jury to inquire into the particulars of 
the tragedy: Thomas H. Stok__
foreman; A. J. McGhee, Dr. C. Ogle, Sam Cosby, Harry Maltby and Charles 
Harry.  The inquest will be held at the coroner’s office in the court house on 
Wednesday evening.

Although he complained of not doing well Mr. Corwine was about as usual and 
transacted business down town on Monday afternoon.  He was able to drive his 
automobile and had been using it for pleasure and business purposes since his 
return to this city ___ly extreme depression on account of his health can be 
given as cause for the rash act of taking his life, which he seems to have 
done.

Born in Ohio
George D. Corwine was born in Pike county, Ohio, Jan 20, 1850, and at the time 
of his demise was in his seventy-fifth year.  He was the son of Richard and 
Elizabeth Ragon Corwine and when 5 years of age came to Illinois with his 
parents.  They lived at Galesburg for two years and then came to this 
community and resided on what is how known as the John F. Talmage farm near 
Griggs station south of the city.

Married Nearly Fifty Years
Here Mr. Corwine resided and labored as a young man.  He was married to Polly 
S. Rankin, daughter of Edward Rankin, on Jan. 14, 1875.  They would have 
celebrated their golden wedding anniversary next January.  Mr. and Mrs. 
Corwine resided on a farm southwest of the city for many years.  After moving 
to Lincoln they lived for a time on Fourth street and then purchased the 
residence on the site of the new Immanuel Lutheran parsonage, Kankakee and 
Pekin street, which was their home until they purchased the late B. P. Andrews 
property on Eighth street where they have resided for about fifteen years.

Has Daughter and Two Grandsons
One daughter, Mrs. Rachel Hansch of san Diego, Cal., lately removed from North 
Dakota, was born to their marriage.  Mrs. Hansch has tow sons, Corwine, aged 
7, and Paul, aged 2, and it was with the daughter and grandchildren with whom 
Mr. and Mrs. Corwine spent the past winter season in the west and from whose 
home they returned to Lincoln only a fortnight ago.

Mr. Corwine is survived by one brother, J. R. Corwine, of Delavan, and the 
members of the Thomas Corwine family, andther brother of Springfield.  
Numerous other more distant relatives of Mr. Corwine also reside in this city 
and Mrs. Corwine has a number of relatives in the Warrick family residing 
south of Lincoln.

Prominent in Elks Lodge
George D. Corwine was a member of Lincoln lodge No. 914, B.P.O.E., and served 
as trustee of the lodge for a number of years, retiring only this year.  He 
was a large land owner and spent the summer season in personally supervising 
the extensive land holdings of himself and Mrs. Corwine southwest of the city 
in Broadwell township and the Nicholson farm just north of Lincoln, which they 
purchased several years ago.

Mrs. Corwine and the daughter have been in poor health for a number of years 
and the family spent much time in traveling and sojournings in more favorable 
climates.  They often went to Florida for the winters and of recent years have 
been going to California.

Mr. Corwine was one of the most prominent and widely known men of the 
community and although a man of considerable means was always most democratic 
in his manner and has a large number of acquaintances and friends who where 
shocked to hear of his passing early Tuesday morning.

The arrangements for the funeral [text ends]

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