The following biographical sketch, from Historical Encyclopedia if Illinois and History of Mercer Co, is presented as transcribed by Mary Ann (Duncan) Dobson:
Pg.742-743: CHARLES W. SOUTHERN, farmer, Green Township, Mercer County, was born in Giles County, Va., April 8, 1829, a son of John and Elizabeth Sarah Duncan (Duncan) Southern. In 1848 Mr. Southern located on a farm in Duncan Township, and, in 1852, moved to his present farm ... Enlisted in the Union Army ... On Jan. 16, 1848, he was married to Sarah Duncan, who died April 16, 1849, and Aug. 6, 1851, he was married to his present wife, Mrs. Ruth McManus, and of their children, Catherine E., Sarah E., and Marion L., are living, and two - William and Martha - are deceased. Republican, Commissioner of Highways for 21 years, member of the United Presbyterian church at Viola.
Obituary and Burial Notice
From The Times Record (Mercer County, IL), 15 Dec 1921
Charles William Southern was born in Pearisburg, Chiles [sic] county, Virginia, April 8th, 1829, and died at the home of George Martin, December 7th, 1921, aged 92 years and 8 months.
When 13 years of age he went to Cedar county, Iowa. After a short residence there he came with his parents to Duncan Prairie, Mercer county, Illinois, where he grew to manhood. On August 6th, 1851, he was united in marriage to Ruth Ruema McMannis of New Boston. After their marriage they moved to their farm three miles southwest of Viola, Illinois, where they lived until the death of Mrs. Southern, June 6th, 1905. To this union were born five children. Catherine B. Martin, Viola, Illinois; Eva Ashenhurst, Tingley, Ia.; William S. Southern, who died at the age of [23?] years; Martha Selma Southern, who died in infancy, and Mariob [sic] S. Southern of Viola, Ill. There are seventeen grandchildren, forty great grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren.
On October 21, 1908, he was united in marriage to Mrs. Elizabeth Stewart of Adair, Iowa. She preceded him in death February 10th, 1912, at Adair, Iowa. Mr. Southern was a pioneer of Mercer county, having lived in the county for about seventy years. He was a private in Co. D, 83rd Regiment, Illinois Volunteers.
In early life Mr. Southern a profession of his faith in Christ and united with a Free Presbyterian church that was located a little west of Viola in the Carnahan neighborhood. Later on, in the seventies, he and his wife became members of the United Presbyterian church of Viola where he remained a member until the time of his death, with the exception of a short time he lived at Adair, Iowa. The allotted time for man on earth is said to be three score and ten, but Mr. Southern has outlived this time by more than twenty years. It can well be said of him that he came to his "grave in full age, like a shock of grain cometh in its season." A short time ago he seemed to realize that the end might not be far off for him and he selected that passage of scripture to be read, the 55th chapter of Isaiah, and the text, the 6th and 7th verses of the chapter.
The funeral services were held from the home of George Martin, Saturday December 10th, at 11 a. m., in charge of his pastor, A. S. Bailey. The pallbearers were Messrs Fred Morris, J. M. Tary, W. A. Anderson, Alex. McGaughy, James Mack and M. A. Forsythe. Burial was in the Mercer County Bethel cemetery west of Viola.
CARD OF THANKS
We desire to express our heartfelt thanks to our friends and neighbors for their kindness during the sickness and burial of our beloved father. We also extend our thanks to the singers and for the beautiful floral offerings. Mr. and Mrs. Geo. Martin and family; Mr. and Mrs. O. T. Ashenhurst and family; Mr. and Mrs. M. L. Southern and family.
From The Times Record (Mercer Co., IL), 8 Dec 1921
NONAGENARIAN, HEAD OF FIVE GENERATIONS, TO BE BURIED SAT.
Charles Southern, born in Giles Co., Virginia, and for more than seventy years a resident of Mercer county died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Geo. Martin, near Viola Wednesday afternoon, December 7, 1921, at the ripe old age of 92 years and 8 months.
At the age of 21 years, the deceased came to Mercer county, being one of the oldest resident pioneers at the time of his death. He is survived by four succeeding generations. Funeral services will be held at the Martin home at 11 a. m. Saturday, December 10, Rev. Bailey of the Viola United Presbyterian church officiating.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
See this website for a transcription of letters he wrote home during the Civil War:
http://ancestraldata.com/ahnentafel/62/
Pg.742-743: CHARLES W. SOUTHERN, farmer, Green Township, Mercer County, was born in Giles County, Va., April 8, 1829, a son of John and Elizabeth Sarah Duncan (Duncan) Southern. In 1848 Mr. Southern located on a farm in Duncan Township, and, in 1852, moved to his present farm ... Enlisted in the Union Army ... On Jan. 16, 1848, he was married to Sarah Duncan, who died April 16, 1849, and Aug. 6, 1851, he was married to his present wife, Mrs. Ruth McManus, and of their children, Catherine E., Sarah E., and Marion L., are living, and two - William and Martha - are deceased. Republican, Commissioner of Highways for 21 years, member of the United Presbyterian church at Viola.
Obituary and Burial Notice
From The Times Record (Mercer County, IL), 15 Dec 1921
Charles William Southern was born in Pearisburg, Chiles [sic] county, Virginia, April 8th, 1829, and died at the home of George Martin, December 7th, 1921, aged 92 years and 8 months.
When 13 years of age he went to Cedar county, Iowa. After a short residence there he came with his parents to Duncan Prairie, Mercer county, Illinois, where he grew to manhood. On August 6th, 1851, he was united in marriage to Ruth Ruema McMannis of New Boston. After their marriage they moved to their farm three miles southwest of Viola, Illinois, where they lived until the death of Mrs. Southern, June 6th, 1905. To this union were born five children. Catherine B. Martin, Viola, Illinois; Eva Ashenhurst, Tingley, Ia.; William S. Southern, who died at the age of [23?] years; Martha Selma Southern, who died in infancy, and Mariob [sic] S. Southern of Viola, Ill. There are seventeen grandchildren, forty great grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren.
On October 21, 1908, he was united in marriage to Mrs. Elizabeth Stewart of Adair, Iowa. She preceded him in death February 10th, 1912, at Adair, Iowa. Mr. Southern was a pioneer of Mercer county, having lived in the county for about seventy years. He was a private in Co. D, 83rd Regiment, Illinois Volunteers.
In early life Mr. Southern a profession of his faith in Christ and united with a Free Presbyterian church that was located a little west of Viola in the Carnahan neighborhood. Later on, in the seventies, he and his wife became members of the United Presbyterian church of Viola where he remained a member until the time of his death, with the exception of a short time he lived at Adair, Iowa. The allotted time for man on earth is said to be three score and ten, but Mr. Southern has outlived this time by more than twenty years. It can well be said of him that he came to his "grave in full age, like a shock of grain cometh in its season." A short time ago he seemed to realize that the end might not be far off for him and he selected that passage of scripture to be read, the 55th chapter of Isaiah, and the text, the 6th and 7th verses of the chapter.
The funeral services were held from the home of George Martin, Saturday December 10th, at 11 a. m., in charge of his pastor, A. S. Bailey. The pallbearers were Messrs Fred Morris, J. M. Tary, W. A. Anderson, Alex. McGaughy, James Mack and M. A. Forsythe. Burial was in the Mercer County Bethel cemetery west of Viola.
CARD OF THANKS
We desire to express our heartfelt thanks to our friends and neighbors for their kindness during the sickness and burial of our beloved father. We also extend our thanks to the singers and for the beautiful floral offerings. Mr. and Mrs. Geo. Martin and family; Mr. and Mrs. O. T. Ashenhurst and family; Mr. and Mrs. M. L. Southern and family.
From The Times Record (Mercer Co., IL), 8 Dec 1921
NONAGENARIAN, HEAD OF FIVE GENERATIONS, TO BE BURIED SAT.
Charles Southern, born in Giles Co., Virginia, and for more than seventy years a resident of Mercer county died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Geo. Martin, near Viola Wednesday afternoon, December 7, 1921, at the ripe old age of 92 years and 8 months.
At the age of 21 years, the deceased came to Mercer county, being one of the oldest resident pioneers at the time of his death. He is survived by four succeeding generations. Funeral services will be held at the Martin home at 11 a. m. Saturday, December 10, Rev. Bailey of the Viola United Presbyterian church officiating.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
See this website for a transcription of letters he wrote home during the Civil War:
http://ancestraldata.com/ahnentafel/62/
The following biographical sketch, from Historical Encyclopedia if Illinois and History of Mercer Co, is presented as transcribed by Mary Ann (Duncan) Dobson:
Pg.742-743: CHARLES W. SOUTHERN, farmer, Green Township, Mercer County, was born in Giles County, Va., April 8, 1829, a son of John and Elizabeth Sarah Duncan (Duncan) Southern. In 1848 Mr. Southern located on a farm in Duncan Township, and, in 1852, moved to his present farm ... Enlisted in the Union Army ... On Jan. 16, 1848, he was married to Sarah Duncan, who died April 16, 1849, and Aug. 6, 1851, he was married to his present wife, Mrs. Ruth McManus, and of their children, Catherine E., Sarah E., and Marion L., are living, and two - William and Martha - are deceased. Republican, Commissioner of Highways for 21 years, member of the United Presbyterian church at Viola.
Obituary and Burial Notice
From The Times Record (Mercer County, IL), 15 Dec 1921
Charles William Southern was born in Pearisburg, Chiles [sic] county, Virginia, April 8th, 1829, and died at the home of George Martin, December 7th, 1921, aged 92 years and 8 months.
When 13 years of age he went to Cedar county, Iowa. After a short residence there he came with his parents to Duncan Prairie, Mercer county, Illinois, where he grew to manhood. On August 6th, 1851, he was united in marriage to Ruth Ruema McMannis of New Boston. After their marriage they moved to their farm three miles southwest of Viola, Illinois, where they lived until the death of Mrs. Southern, June 6th, 1905. To this union were born five children. Catherine B. Martin, Viola, Illinois; Eva Ashenhurst, Tingley, Ia.; William S. Southern, who died at the age of [23?] years; Martha Selma Southern, who died in infancy, and Mariob [sic] S. Southern of Viola, Ill. There are seventeen grandchildren, forty great grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren.
On October 21, 1908, he was united in marriage to Mrs. Elizabeth Stewart of Adair, Iowa. She preceded him in death February 10th, 1912, at Adair, Iowa. Mr. Southern was a pioneer of Mercer county, having lived in the county for about seventy years. He was a private in Co. D, 83rd Regiment, Illinois Volunteers.
In early life Mr. Southern a profession of his faith in Christ and united with a Free Presbyterian church that was located a little west of Viola in the Carnahan neighborhood. Later on, in the seventies, he and his wife became members of the United Presbyterian church of Viola where he remained a member until the time of his death, with the exception of a short time he lived at Adair, Iowa. The allotted time for man on earth is said to be three score and ten, but Mr. Southern has outlived this time by more than twenty years. It can well be said of him that he came to his "grave in full age, like a shock of grain cometh in its season." A short time ago he seemed to realize that the end might not be far off for him and he selected that passage of scripture to be read, the 55th chapter of Isaiah, and the text, the 6th and 7th verses of the chapter.
The funeral services were held from the home of George Martin, Saturday December 10th, at 11 a. m., in charge of his pastor, A. S. Bailey. The pallbearers were Messrs Fred Morris, J. M. Tary, W. A. Anderson, Alex. McGaughy, James Mack and M. A. Forsythe. Burial was in the Mercer County Bethel cemetery west of Viola.
CARD OF THANKS
We desire to express our heartfelt thanks to our friends and neighbors for their kindness during the sickness and burial of our beloved father. We also extend our thanks to the singers and for the beautiful floral offerings. Mr. and Mrs. Geo. Martin and family; Mr. and Mrs. O. T. Ashenhurst and family; Mr. and Mrs. M. L. Southern and family.
From The Times Record (Mercer Co., IL), 8 Dec 1921
NONAGENARIAN, HEAD OF FIVE GENERATIONS, TO BE BURIED SAT.
Charles Southern, born in Giles Co., Virginia, and for more than seventy years a resident of Mercer county died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Geo. Martin, near Viola Wednesday afternoon, December 7, 1921, at the ripe old age of 92 years and 8 months.
At the age of 21 years, the deceased came to Mercer county, being one of the oldest resident pioneers at the time of his death. He is survived by four succeeding generations. Funeral services will be held at the Martin home at 11 a. m. Saturday, December 10, Rev. Bailey of the Viola United Presbyterian church officiating.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
See this website for a transcription of letters he wrote home during the Civil War:
http://ancestraldata.com/ahnentafel/62/
Pg.742-743: CHARLES W. SOUTHERN, farmer, Green Township, Mercer County, was born in Giles County, Va., April 8, 1829, a son of John and Elizabeth Sarah Duncan (Duncan) Southern. In 1848 Mr. Southern located on a farm in Duncan Township, and, in 1852, moved to his present farm ... Enlisted in the Union Army ... On Jan. 16, 1848, he was married to Sarah Duncan, who died April 16, 1849, and Aug. 6, 1851, he was married to his present wife, Mrs. Ruth McManus, and of their children, Catherine E., Sarah E., and Marion L., are living, and two - William and Martha - are deceased. Republican, Commissioner of Highways for 21 years, member of the United Presbyterian church at Viola.
Obituary and Burial Notice
From The Times Record (Mercer County, IL), 15 Dec 1921
Charles William Southern was born in Pearisburg, Chiles [sic] county, Virginia, April 8th, 1829, and died at the home of George Martin, December 7th, 1921, aged 92 years and 8 months.
When 13 years of age he went to Cedar county, Iowa. After a short residence there he came with his parents to Duncan Prairie, Mercer county, Illinois, where he grew to manhood. On August 6th, 1851, he was united in marriage to Ruth Ruema McMannis of New Boston. After their marriage they moved to their farm three miles southwest of Viola, Illinois, where they lived until the death of Mrs. Southern, June 6th, 1905. To this union were born five children. Catherine B. Martin, Viola, Illinois; Eva Ashenhurst, Tingley, Ia.; William S. Southern, who died at the age of [23?] years; Martha Selma Southern, who died in infancy, and Mariob [sic] S. Southern of Viola, Ill. There are seventeen grandchildren, forty great grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren.
On October 21, 1908, he was united in marriage to Mrs. Elizabeth Stewart of Adair, Iowa. She preceded him in death February 10th, 1912, at Adair, Iowa. Mr. Southern was a pioneer of Mercer county, having lived in the county for about seventy years. He was a private in Co. D, 83rd Regiment, Illinois Volunteers.
In early life Mr. Southern a profession of his faith in Christ and united with a Free Presbyterian church that was located a little west of Viola in the Carnahan neighborhood. Later on, in the seventies, he and his wife became members of the United Presbyterian church of Viola where he remained a member until the time of his death, with the exception of a short time he lived at Adair, Iowa. The allotted time for man on earth is said to be three score and ten, but Mr. Southern has outlived this time by more than twenty years. It can well be said of him that he came to his "grave in full age, like a shock of grain cometh in its season." A short time ago he seemed to realize that the end might not be far off for him and he selected that passage of scripture to be read, the 55th chapter of Isaiah, and the text, the 6th and 7th verses of the chapter.
The funeral services were held from the home of George Martin, Saturday December 10th, at 11 a. m., in charge of his pastor, A. S. Bailey. The pallbearers were Messrs Fred Morris, J. M. Tary, W. A. Anderson, Alex. McGaughy, James Mack and M. A. Forsythe. Burial was in the Mercer County Bethel cemetery west of Viola.
CARD OF THANKS
We desire to express our heartfelt thanks to our friends and neighbors for their kindness during the sickness and burial of our beloved father. We also extend our thanks to the singers and for the beautiful floral offerings. Mr. and Mrs. Geo. Martin and family; Mr. and Mrs. O. T. Ashenhurst and family; Mr. and Mrs. M. L. Southern and family.
From The Times Record (Mercer Co., IL), 8 Dec 1921
NONAGENARIAN, HEAD OF FIVE GENERATIONS, TO BE BURIED SAT.
Charles Southern, born in Giles Co., Virginia, and for more than seventy years a resident of Mercer county died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Geo. Martin, near Viola Wednesday afternoon, December 7, 1921, at the ripe old age of 92 years and 8 months.
At the age of 21 years, the deceased came to Mercer county, being one of the oldest resident pioneers at the time of his death. He is survived by four succeeding generations. Funeral services will be held at the Martin home at 11 a. m. Saturday, December 10, Rev. Bailey of the Viola United Presbyterian church officiating.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
See this website for a transcription of letters he wrote home during the Civil War:
http://ancestraldata.com/ahnentafel/62/
Family Members
Siblings
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Judith Elizabeth Southern Emmons
1807–1886
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Sarah "Sally" Southern Bolton
1808–1888
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Nancy Southern Waddell
1810–1896
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Elcie Southern Emmons
1811–1888
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Susannah Margaret Southern Johnston
1812–1860
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Luke Southern
1814–1900
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Martin Southern
1817–1877
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Elizabeth Southern Miller
1820–1896
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Jane Southern Brown
1824–1857
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Mary Ann Southern McMahon
1826–1863
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Salena Southern Seely
1831–1894
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Braxton Duncan Southern
1833–1915
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