Obituary Joel Robert English Joel Robert English, aged 85 years, 2 months and 29 days, died at his home in Jonesboro Monday afternoon, March 6, after a lingering illness due to the infirmities of old age. Funeral services were conducted at the residence Wednesday afternoon at 2 o’clock by Rev. W. E. Browning of the M. E. church, and interment made in the Jonesboro cemetery. Agreeably to a proclamation of the mayor, all business was suspended in the town during the funeral hour. Mr. English was born at Jackson MO., December 7, 1836. He grew to manhood there, and after the civil war came on enlisted in the confederate army, serving under General Marmaduke. Most of his service was in the states of Louisiana and Texas, and when discharged, after the surrender of Lee at Richmond, he had been in the army four years and three months. Then, in company with a younger brother, C. C. English, lately deceased, he turned his footsteps homeward, walking most of the way from the point in Texas where he was discharged to Jackson, Mo. Outside of his family he seldom or never in after life alluded to his war experiences. The Lost Cause was to him a closed incident. He came to Jonesboro in 1866, and for some years engaged in the butcher business, subsequently turning his hand to almost anything that came along and acquiring the reputation of an industrious, faithful and conscientious workman, and one who was seldom unemployed. He was married December 15, 1870, at Dongola, to Miss Jane Harris, by Rev. I. N. Albright, the ceremony being performed at the home of the bride’s sister, and they returned immediately to Jonesboro which was always afterwards their home, and where they celebrated their golden wedding December 15, 1920. Eleven children were born to them, of whom the five living are William S. of the Cairo Bulletin, Calvin B., in business at Kankakee, Ill., Mrs. May Forsee of Jonesboro and Mrs. Kittie Bizzel of Anna. The three sons all arrived here last Sunday. He is also survived by one brother, Harker R. English, of Michigan Valley, Kan., who visited here in 1920 and the brothers met for the first time since the civil war. Honest, upright, unpretentious and unassuming, Joel R English lived a good and useful life and earned the respect and esteem of all. He had also earned his rest. The widow, sons and daughters have the sympathy of those among whom he had lived so long, for they knew his worth. He was a member of the M. E. church of Jonesboro ------------------------------------------------------------- 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: Linda Wright