We are called upon this week to chronicle the death of one of the oldest citizens of the county, in the person of P. H. Dorsey, who passed away at his farm home near this city, Monday evening, December 6th at 10:30 after an illness of scarcely four weeks. Mr. Dorsey was one of the widest known men in the county, having spent the greater part of his life here. Coming to Macoupin county in l853 he settled on the farm where he died. This farm consists of 420 acres and is situated just south of this city. It is a part of the large body of land that was entered by his father. With the exception of fifteen years, when he resided in Bunker Hill in order to educate his children, he has always resided on this farm.

Mr. Dorsey was a Kentuckian by birth, having been born in Jefferson County, Kentucky, November 8, 1833 and is the son of Elias and Martha (Booker) Dorsey. His father was a native of Maryland and came with his parents to Kentucky during childhood. At an early age Mr. Dorsey's father purchased 13,000 acres of land in Madison and Macoupin counties, Illinois. His death took place in 1872 in Bunker Hill, in the 77th year of his age.

While "Uncle Plute", as he was familiarly known among his friends and acquaintances, followed general farming, he was never able to get away from the raising of horses and mules, and to the time of his death was deeply interested in the raising of mules, and was one of the best posted stock men in this county. He was formerly the raiser of fast horses and had owned a number during his life. He never missed attending the Macoupin County Fair and was always one of the most interested spect¬ators. Mr. Dorsey was a very active man up to within four weeks of his death. He was in Gillespie nearly every day and took great interest in keeping up with the news of the day. He was a man who was very outspoken yet he had a kindly heart and was always jovial and had a good humor.

In March 1854, Mr. Dorsey was married to Olivia Williams, who was born September 25, l834 in Washington, D. C. and died on the farm south of this city July 26, 1902. Eight children were born to this marriage as follows: Mrs. Eugenia Robinson of St. Louis; P. H. Dorsey, Jr.; Harriet Hornsby of Bunker Hill; Maria L., who resided with her father; Oscar L. of this city; Ada who died at the age of two years; Cora, who died at the age of eight years; and Mayo who is residing in Bunker Hill.

His children were all present at the home south of this city when Uncle Plute closed his eyes in his last sleep, and during his short illness he was ministered to by loving and willing hands.

Mr. Dorsey has led an active and useful life and when the age arrived at which most men retire from business, he was still in the harness doing his part in the management of his big farm, assisted by his sons, Oscar and P. H. Dorsey, Jr.

His was a life well spent, a life filled with activity and when his time came, he passed to the great beyond, surrounded by his children.

Mr. Dorsey was a strong democrat in politics, ardently supporting its old time principles. He has served as supervisor of his township, was a Director in the Gillespie National bank at the time of his death and one of the honored citizens. He leaves, besides his family, a host of staunch friends who knew and loved him for his real worth, that of a gentleman of the old school, who believed that in labor we find our most pleasure.

The funeral services will be conducted from the residence, near the city Thursday, December 9th at 11 a.m. and the interment will take place in the Bunker Hill cemetery.

In the death of Mr. Dorsey our county has lost one of its oldest men, this community an honored citizen, and his family a kind and loving father. Peace be to his ashes.

_____________________________________________________

Gillespie (Illinois) News, December 8, 1915 – S. P. Preston Editor