Obituary of Christian Heyl, Tazewell County, Illinois Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives Copyright 1999 Jamie Ayres Funeral services were held in the ME church of Manito, Sunday, May 1, 1893. Obituary furnished by Mildred Heyl Easterwood is as follows: Christian Heyl Christian Heyl was born Dec. 27, 1833, in Kleestadt, Hessen-Darmstadt, Germany. With his father, mother, three sisters and one brother, he arrived in Pekin, Illinios, July 4, 1851. The family locted about 5 miles east of Pekin, in Groveland township, Tazewell County. He was converted in November, 1851, in a meeting held in the home of George Ramige. He united at once with God's people, and became one of the founders of the Groveland Evangelical church. He was married May 4, 1858, to Sarah Salome Lux. With his young wife he removed immediately after their marriage to Egypt, Mason County, Illinois. Here at the old homestead there were born to them nine children, five sons, four daughters. With his family growing up around him, Mr. Heyl, by thrift and energy, so commonly characteristic of the German farmer, acquired a competency that secured the comfort of himself and family and did much toward the interests of the commercial circles in which he moved. No other man in Mason county has done so much toward the advancement of the interests of pure bred stock, and for more than 20 years his fine stock farm received a share of his attention and his sons engaged in the same pursuit, had the benefit of his sound business counsel as long as he lived. In March, 1902, urged by failing heath and the loving solicitation of their children, the father and mother came to Manito, where a comfortable home was fitted up, and where they hoped to spend many peaceful years. But about two weeks ago father Heyl was taken to his bed with a complication of diseases and all that medical skill and loving care could do, was of no avail. On Thursday afternoon, April 28th, surrounded by his wife and children, he passed from earth to the home beyond, aged 70 years, 4 months and 1 day. For 53 years, this father in Israel walked with God, and the communion grew sweeter and the way grew brighter, until the eventide. The wife of his youth who mourns her loss today, has been to him a true and loyal helpmate for forty-six years. Their children, William E., George A. of Washington, Ill., Edmund S., Fred A. of Egypt, and Walter c. pastor of the United Evangelical church, Anna, Ill., Mrs. W. D. Himmel, Parkland, Mrs. Henry Rankin, Mrs. J. H. Warner, Egypt and Mrs. F. R. Isenburg, Manito, all surrounded the bed of their dear father and bade him farewell. Of this family of nine children and twentysix grandchildren not one has been called away by death, until the Reaper came for the father of them all. On that last afternoon he gathered them about him and gave them words of advise, testimonials to the power of Christ to make light even the Valley of the Shadow, and with words of praise on his lips he asked them all to sing. Smothering their grief, song after song rose from the circle of loving children. Then asking to be washed and made ready for his long journey, he smiled and said his soul was washed clean and white in the blood of the Lamb and he was ready to go. Gently he sank into an unconscious hour, from which he passed with scarcely a struggle into the waiting arms of the angels. So died Christian Heyl, as he had lived, - patien, faithful, devoted, - a loving husband, a kind father, a man beloved of God. The funeral services were held in the M. E. church of Manito, Sunday morning May first. About 1000 people gathered to pay their last loving respects to the departed. Rev. Morlock of El Paso, Ill., presiding elder of the United Evangelical church, assisted by Revds. Shultz and Schmidt of Bishop, and Rev. Wilson of Manito, conducted the services. The floral offerings were silent witnesses to the esteem in which Father Heyl was held, and their fragrance was as sweet incense to his memory. Gates Ajar, dedicated to "Grandfather" was the gift of the grandchildren; pillows to "Father and Uncle", and numerous bouquets and garlands from old time friends and neighbors made the casket a bower of bloom. One pillow, "From Little Christian to Grandpa" from one of the youngest of the flock, Grandpa's little namesake, the baby son of Rev. W. C. Heyl and wife of Anna. The beloved father was born to his last home by the hands of his five sons and one grandson. Six honorary pall-bearers, W. H. Cogdal, J. G. Spaits, John Gumbel, C. W. Himmel, Geo. List, Rev. Van Freaden, gray haired neighbors and friends, led the way, and in Meadow Lawn cemetery all that could die of Father Heyl was laid to rest. There he sleeps, awaiting the resurrection morn. Among those present from out of town, a faulty memory recalls the following: - Mr. and Mrs. John Miller, Geo. List, N. Zanies, Mrs. Bluemshein and Rev. Van Freaden, Washington; C. R. Krumphardt, William Trager, John Undenstock and C. Haines, Peoria; Geo. Herget, Conrad Luppen, N. Webber, P. Steinmetz, Henry Swartz and family, Fred Eller, George Warner, Sr., Misses Emma and Lillie Van Boening, Mr. and Mrs. Chas. Renner, Mrs. Caroline Warner, Henry Undenstock and Mrs. Geo. Heckman, Sr., Pekin; Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Reeder, Mr. and Mrs. Will Swartz, Mr. and Mrs. Simon Swartz, Mr. and Mrs. John Strickfaden, George Strickfaden, George Pauly, and N. Eller, Groveland; Mrs. Nancy Lee, Mason City; B. F. Starz, Ashland; Fred Biddlingmeyer and Mrs. Fred Starz, Delavan; Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Lux, Rochelle; Mrs. P. Lux, Topeka, Kansas; Mrs. Anna K. Warner, Mrs. George A. Firth, Fred Warner, Mrs. H. C. Clemens, Sylvester Woodrow and Louis Woodrow, Green Valley; Mr. and Mrs. John Greensfelder, and Mr. and Mrs. Philip Greensfelder, San Jose; Chas. Lux and John Meyer, Havana; George Weimer, Charlie Himmel, George Himmel, and Mr. and Mrs. Gottlieb Himmel, Topeka; Mr. and Mrs. Conrad Himmel, Mr. and Mrs. Adam Gumbel, and Mrs. Fred Heinhorst, Bishop; Mr. A Barnes, Mr. and Mrs. John Gumble, Hattie Barnes, Mrs. W. H. Scott, J. B. Kennedy and Oren Kennedy, Forest City. ----------------------------------------------------------------- USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organizations or persons. 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