Died at his residence near Cato, Crawford County, Kansas, August 31, 1888, of erysipelas, Woolery Coonrod, age 83 yrs., 6 mo., and 17 days --
Funeral services were held at the residence on Sunday, Sept. 2, conducted by Elder T. Fancher of the Christian Church, of which the deceased was a member, and was the largest gathering of sorrowing friends ever assembled on a similar occasion in this community. The Elder's text was Hebrew IV, 9. "There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God." and the column words of consolation and exhortation he gave thereon will long have a place in the memory of every listner.

The deceased was born in Pickwick County, Ohio, Feb. 14, 1805, moving from hence in early boyhood to Morgan County, Illinois, 12 miles west of Jacksonville. Here, on the 6th of October, 1825, he was married to Miss Jane Prewitt, by Justice of the Peace, Seymore Kellogg. Though tottering on the brink of the grave, this wife, a life partner of 63 years, still survives hiim, burdened anew with a load of sorrow thus added to her physical infirmities. The parting scence between this aged couple as she was assisted to the coffin to take a last look at him who had been the sharer of her joys and sorrows since girlhood, was one of the most affecting scences we have ever witenessed, and through the house was filled with grey headed men and women, every eye was dubmerged in tears and every heart shrouded in sorrow. They were the parents of 14 children, of whom six sons and two daughters survive them; the oldest, Adam, being 62 years and the youngest, George W., 37 years.

In 1833 Mr. C. moved from Morgan County, Illinois, to Jasper County, Mo., but retired in a few years, but again removed to Jasper County, in 1838, settling near Carthage (8 miles west of Carthage. according to my mother), where he resided until 1855, when he moved to the Neutral land, settling and improving a farm adjoining the one on which he died. Making this settlement October 17. (copied off by Marilyn Coonrod Flagg April, 1961)
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He married to Jane Prewitt on October 6, 1825 in Morgan County, Illinois.

children:
Adam N. Coonrod (see #30709753) b. 1826,Morgan Co. IL, d. before 1905, mar. to Martha Ann Kerr 27 Aug 1849 Jasper Co. MO.

Martha Jane Coonrod (see #6078733) b. Mar 13 1828 Morgan Co. IL, d. unknown, mar. to Edward W. Black 13 Mar 1828 Jasper Co. MO

Mary Ann Coonrod (see #40805406) b. 1830 Morgan Co.IL, d. June 27 1873 Crawford Co. KS, mar. to James D. Odom (#15021796??) 10 Apr 1853 Jasper Co. MO

John Hillman Coonrod (see #40805270) b. 15 Ma 1831 Coles Co. IL, d. 8 Sept 1915(buried in Old Coonrod Cem.) mar. to (1) Sarah Elvina Odom (2) Elizabeth Ellen Garrison (3) Nancy A. Adams (1)17 Mar 1831 Jasper Co. MO

Elisha Coonrod b 1836

Francis M. Coonrod fag #139243582(found nov 2, 2021) b. 1840 Jasper Co. MO and d. 1917

Thomas Jefferson Coonrod fag #138599249 b. 11 Feb. 1841 Jasper Co. MO, d. 25 Apr. 1922 Texas, mar. to Tilda Elizabeth Hackler, buried in Georgetown, Grayson Co., TX

James P. Coonrod b. about 1844 and unknown death

Emaline Lydia (Emma) married to Henry Gaither in June 9, 1864 in Jefferson Co., KS

William B. Coonrod (see #65579201) b. 1 May 1849 in dist. 41, Jasper Co. MO, d. 25 May 1810 buried at Large Cem., Bourbon Co, KS, mar. to Elizabeth Fowler on 13 Feb 1873

George W. Coonrod (see #69328052) b. 1851 Jasper Co., MO, d. unknown mar. to Yarratilda Lucas

Census 1850 - District 41, Jasper, Missouri
Woolery Conrad 45 OH
Jane 40 IL
Mary 20 IL
John 18 IL
Elsha 14 MO
Francis 10 MO
Thomas 8 MO
James P. 6 MO
Emiline 3 MO
William 1 MO
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"Good Day to ye! I'm Woolery Coonrod. I come to speak to yuh but I'm not much fer public speakin' so I wrote it out, here, what I have to say. Jus to not fergit sumthing important. I come from a long line o' Coonrods. My grandfather, anotehr Woolery, he come over from the Rotterdam on the ship Isaac, in 1749, him and his brother John. Brother Jacob he come the next year on the ship Patience. John was later killed by Injins on the south branch of the P'tomac Valley in Augusta County, Veginya. That'd be March nineteen, eight years later. Back in 1758. Jacob's family settled in Veginya. All his family called themselves Conrads. Well they're still there, in and around Ft Sivert, Veginya.

Anyhow I am Woolery Coonrod, come to jaw with you here today. Ain't so strong as 'a was in 1856, when I first come ta stake land here. Well, but I c'n talk awhile.

I 'as born Febr'y 14, 18 ought 5 in Harrison Township, Pickaway County, Ohia. I grew through my childhood there and went on ta Morgan County, Ill'nois where I married Martha Jane Prewitt October 6, 1825. We dwelt there when Add was born. Jane named him Adam and I just called 'im Add. Janes father, he stayed with us, his declinin' years. He died at near semdy. Add and Little Martha and Mary Ann was reared while we lived there ---and John, born May 5, 1831.

I went to the Army for it was hard country with the Injins and all; but we was young and tough; Jane kep up the farmin'. Injins was a problem...I'd say. I fought in the Black Hawk war --and we'd beat that savage in '32. His band wasn't easy to beat. We lost some good men. We made the frontier safer. Scott was a hard general that year, newly become General of the Army in Washinton. Young fer that responsibility. The young infantrymen, they started to call him Old Fuss and Feathers. He was 46 when President Arthur appointed him. I admired the mane. He fought to win. But then he was a fair man.

In 1834 we was farmin' in Coles County, Ill'noi among a few new settlers. Good folks, and by the Add was about eight year old, and could ease Jane's work, so she's inclined ta help me more. We'd build a cabin with help from the neighbors.

In 1836 we bought two pieces of fed'ral land, a total of 80 acres. Paid dollar-twenty-five an acre. Elisha was born that year. And Franc in 1840. We was in Missouri then. Tom came along in '41, Emma in '47, Will in '49 years of age. I was 46. Add was full grown by then. He was stout, and a pow'ful help to me..I'd say...

In 1856 we moved on to Kansas--Settled on Drywood about a mile from where Cato now stands. By then the chirrn was most grown and later the granchirren commenced to callin me and Jone Old Daddy and Old Mammy. We had called each other Mammy and Daddy to the chirren growin' up so the grandchirren arready had their names for us.

Tom and Will near broke Jane's heart when they went over to the Confederacy; but a family sees lots of heartbreak in the wars. I'd seen some wars. Add took his family into the Ingin Territory. I lived to be 83. Was buried in 1888, in a piece of ground the now call The Coonrod Cemetery. Jane, sweet Jane, followed me a year later. You can find our markers there. Sure I left a lot out, for my story is long, and requires lots of tales; but that'll be all I got for ye now. Thank ye for listenin'. Woolery Coonrod

Notes: I got these information from my cousin John W. Coonrod