"Helen Louisa Springer, daughter of Isaac and Charlotte Springer, pioneers of this community, was born at Moon's Point, Livingston county, Illinois, October 20, 1844, and died at Clinton, Illinois, December 6, 1929. At the age of four years she came with her parents to what was then called Cherry Point, later known as Sandy Community, about four and one-half miles north of Wenona. Here she grew to womanhood. A child of Godly parents, she early expressed her religious convictions. She was a great Bible student. Her earliest memory was of looking as far as the eye could see in any direction, over a vast expanse of blooming prairie, not a home or building in sight. She said it was unspeakably beautiful.
She is the last of twelve children, and has the unusual distinction of having three brothers who became Methodist ministers, namely, Creighton, Lewis, and Milton Springer. Creighton joined the Central Illinois Conference in 1856, and was an honorary member when he died at the age of 94. Lewis Springer had the honor of delivering the first sermon ever preached in Streator. At this time the town was being built, and the pulpit furnished Reverend Springer, was a number of boxes piled together.
Helen Springer's early life's pleasures were centered around Sandy church (now a memory) where they enjoyed wonderful revivals, camp meetings, Sabbath school picnics, and quarterly meetings, as I listened to the singers paying a last tribute to this dear woman, singing "Shall We Gather at the River," I thought how many times I heard her sing the same song at dear old Sandy church.
On March 17, 1890 [1870], Helen Springer was united in marriage to John W. Axline. For some years they lived on Sandy. Later they spent five years at Paxton, then moving to Lacon. They lived there eighteen years.
Then came the sad news that a dearly loved husband and father had been called home. Just thirty-five years ago since them, Mrs. Axline has made her home in Wenona. Six years ago, Mrs. Axline had another sad bereavement, in the death of her daughter, Mrs. Myra Fosbender, well known and loved by all Wenona people.
For more than thirty years she has been active in her church relations in the Methodist church in Wenona, as much as health would permit. She was much loved by her Sabbath school class of middle aged ladies. The past five years with the feebleness of age, she spent her summers with her daughter, Mrs. Ida Carey, at Clinton, and winters with her son, Elmer C. Axline, at Illmo, Mo. [Scott Co.] It has been her great pleasure to watch the progress of this community from the log cabin to a modern home, from the Old Oaken Bucket to the faucet in the home; from the prairie schooner to the automobile; from an occasional community sing in the home, to a radio in every home and music every night.
When fourteen years old she watched the building of the Illinois Central railroad through Wenona and saw the first railroad train pass through Wenona. As she watched the progress of material things, she lived the development of things spiritual. To me, the growth of her spiritual life is like the growth of the climbing rose of the prairie, each clinging tendril as it fastens itself to a firm support, is her faith in her God. The myriads of roses are the shining lights radiating to the multitudes of spiritual needs. The leaves are the may who have been touched by the light of her faith. this beautiful rose of the prairie has reached its perfection and now shines in the heavens.
Those surviving her are her children, Mr. and Mrs. Harry Carey, of Clinton [DeWitt Co.] ; Mr. and Mrs. Elmer Axline, of Herrin [Williamson Co.] ; Mr. and Mrs. Edward S. Axline, of New York; her grandchildren, Mr. and Mrs. Elmer Fosbender, of Los Angeles, California; Mr. and Mrs. Stanley S. Whittier, of Chicago; Mr. and Mrs. Fred Fosbender, of Los Angeles, California; Mr. and Mrs. Dooley [Dolan], of Jefferson City, Mo. [Cole County]; Elmer and Hobert Axline, of Herrin, Illinois."
The Wenona Index, "Mrs. Helen Axline– Mrs. Belle Wright Writes Beautiful Outline of Deceased's Life," Dec. 12, 1919.