Wife of "Bishop" W. H. Rayburn (who is buried either in Ireland or in a pauper's grave in Paris, France). Reverend Rayburn was a pastor of the Methodist Church at Williamsville until he was "deposed but not expelled" in 1869 over a matter concerning his conduct. According to reports at the time, he was charged to have advocated the doctrine of "Free Love" & was said to have been divorced by his wife & living with his girlfriend/common-law wife Mattie.

It is said that he purposefully built the highest monument on a high hill in Oak Ridge so that Mattie could look down upon all the people who had looked down upon her in her lifetime.
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Mrs. Mattie Rayburn, wife of the Rev. W. H. Rayburn, died last Tuesday in New York city, aged 50 years. Mrs. Rayburn, in company with her husband, who is a missionary, and the Rev. Obenshain of Rushville, returned to New York city from a visit to Egypt and Palestine about two months ago. They visited Springfield two weeks ago, this being Mr. Rayburn's former home. When they returned to New York, Mrs. Rayburn died.

The funeral services were held in the M. E. church in New York City on last Wednesday. The remains arrived here on the Wabash train last night and were taken to the residence of Mrs. Grube, where services will be held this afternoon. The interment will be in Oak Ridge cemetery.

IL State Register, Springfield, IL, Friday, 10-16-1891
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The popular granite and marble dealers, Messrs. Richter & Doland, have just finished one of the finest pieces of statuary in Italian marble ever shown in this city, which can be seen for a short time at their establishment. It is a statue of the late Mrs. W. H. Rayburn, is pronounced a splendid likeness of the deceased and is readily recognized by all who knew the lady while living. The statue is made larger than life-size, so that when placed upon the top of the fifty feet high granite monument, now being constructed, will appear about life-size. No one should fail to call and see this handsome piece of art work.

Note: the monument was stated as costing $8000.

IL State Journal, Springfield, IL, 10-15-1893

Wife of "Bishop" W. H. Rayburn (who is buried either in Ireland or in a pauper's grave in Paris, France). Reverend Rayburn was a pastor of the Methodist Church at Williamsville until he was "deposed but not expelled" in 1869 over a matter concerning his conduct. According to reports at the time, he was charged to have advocated the doctrine of "Free Love" & was said to have been divorced by his wife & living with his girlfriend/common-law wife Mattie.

It is said that he purposefully built the highest monument on a high hill in Oak Ridge so that Mattie could look down upon all the people who had looked down upon her in her lifetime.
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Mrs. Mattie Rayburn, wife of the Rev. W. H. Rayburn, died last Tuesday in New York city, aged 50 years. Mrs. Rayburn, in company with her husband, who is a missionary, and the Rev. Obenshain of Rushville, returned to New York city from a visit to Egypt and Palestine about two months ago. They visited Springfield two weeks ago, this being Mr. Rayburn's former home. When they returned to New York, Mrs. Rayburn died.

The funeral services were held in the M. E. church in New York City on last Wednesday. The remains arrived here on the Wabash train last night and were taken to the residence of Mrs. Grube, where services will be held this afternoon. The interment will be in Oak Ridge cemetery.

IL State Register, Springfield, IL, Friday, 10-16-1891
====================
The popular granite and marble dealers, Messrs. Richter & Doland, have just finished one of the finest pieces of statuary in Italian marble ever shown in this city, which can be seen for a short time at their establishment. It is a statue of the late Mrs. W. H. Rayburn, is pronounced a splendid likeness of the deceased and is readily recognized by all who knew the lady while living. The statue is made larger than life-size, so that when placed upon the top of the fifty feet high granite monument, now being constructed, will appear about life-size. No one should fail to call and see this handsome piece of art work.

Note: the monument was stated as costing $8000.

IL State Journal, Springfield, IL, 10-15-1893

Bio by: Connie Nisinger