James MUSTAIN, Biography, McDonough County, Illinois Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives Copyright 2000 Sandi Evilsizer Koscak James A Mustain was born September 24, 1829 in Pittsylvania Co, Virginia. He was the son of John and Elizabeth Mustain, who with a large family moved to this county in the fall of 1832 when deceased was about three years of age, settling on the northwest quarter of Section 16 of Blandinsville township. Here deceased was raised to manhood and lived his entire life in Blandinsville and Scoita townships. He was married on the first day of March 1855 to Emmeline Roberts who died March 4, 1900. To this union six children were born as follows: Elizabeth J Eblesizer of Blandinsville; Anne E Huff, who died August 6, 1879; Douglas Mustain of Scotia township; Frances A Gebbart of Galesburg; James G Mustain of Victoria and Samuel Mustain of Hire Twp. He leaves thirteen grand children and many other relatives. He was the last of his father's family, six brothers and three sisters having passed away. He was a member of the Blandinsville Baptist church and also a member of the Good Hope Lodge No 617, AF & AM. James A Mustain was initiated as an Entered Apprentice Mason on December 3, 1892. Was passed to the degree of Fellow Craft February 28, 1894 and was raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason June 21, 1894 in Good Hope Lodge No 617 at Good Hope, Illinois and has remained a faithful and highly esteemed member until the time of his death which occurred at his home in Blandinsville Thursday, June 1, 1911. He was buried with Masonic honors on Sunday afternoon June 4th by Blandinsville Lodge at the request of the parent lodge. A great crowd was in attendance and the impressive ceremonies were conducted by pastor, Rev J Clark Onager. The interment was in Hillsborough where the beautiful ceremony of the Masonic ritual was carried out. The deceased was one of the pioneers of the vicinity, and was one of its oldest and most .....citizens. Coming here as a child seventy-eight years ago, his eyes looked upon a wilderness, where now are rich fields and beautiful homes. No one now living here has had a greater part in making this transformation than he. He lived on the old homestead near Blandinsville and on his neighboring farm in Scotia township during most of his busy life and in that time was among the foremost in every good work for the public interest. He enjoyed the love and highest esteem of every one who knew him and even the stranger who knocked at his gate was never turned away unaided. In his own community he served the public in every office that his time would allow him to fill. He was for a long time a justice of the peace and in his office his honesty and good judgment were never impeached. For many years he served the county as ...the board who erected the present courthouse, and the last one of that board to answer the call of the grim reaper. He was nominated for county clerk at the time that Horace Greeley ran for President, and only the dissatisfaction with the head of the national ticket kept democrats enough away from the poles to cause his defeat by a small margin. He was given the nomination for state senator unsolicited, and the earnest support off all who knew him well swelled his vote beyond the rest of the ticket. Honored as he was by the public, it was in his private life, in his lodge, and church, and home, and in his dealings with men, that his fine manhood and sterling character was best displayed. His life was clean, his word was good as a bond, and his name made respectable and trustworthy anything with which it was associated. His monument is built of love and honor in hearts of hundreds of loving friends who remember him for his goodness, his gentleness and his strength and "were everyone for whom he had a kind act to drop a blossom upon his grave, he would.......in a wilderness. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 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: Sandi Evilsizer Koscak