Greenleaf Obits

Obituary Onarga, Iroquois, Illinois Luther Berge Greenleaf was born in Hartford, Connecticut, August 11, 1834. The family consisted of three brothers, only one of whom survived. Mr. Greenleaf came to Illinois with an uncle when only 7 years old. Later the parents came and settled in Peoria, where the children grew to manhood. Luther Berge attended school and graduated at Knox College, Galesburg. After graduation he studied law in the office of Robt. Ingersoll, and was admitted to the bar in Peoria. But instead of practicing law, he went into the office of the Peoria Transcript, where he had charge of the literary work of the paper, a calling in which he took great pleasure, and he remained there a number of years. From there he went to Kansas City, where in 1877 he was married to Hester J. Balding, whom he had known in Peoria. Later he lived in several places in Kansas, part of the time connected with a mattress factory he established in Salina, and part of the time as a traveling salesman. Seventeen years ago his health began to fail, and he with his little family came back to Illinois, and settled in Onarga. Most of the years since have been those of suffering more severe than many knew, and this has gradually wore out a naturally strong and robust constitution. For five years he has scarcely left the house, and most of the time confined to his bed, and to his room. In May 1889 Mr. Greenleaf united with the Presbyterian church under Rev. Millar. During all his long sickness his confidence in his Savior never faltered and he often referred to his love and confidence in his first pastor, and to the direction of his mind in that experience. He expressed his readiness to go and said that he trusted entirely in his Savior, that however unworthy, Christ was sure to accept those who gave themselves to Him. His wife and six children are left behind, and most faithfully have they ministered unto him in this long sickness and have borne the burden cheerfully and uncomplainingly. Those from out of town who attended the funeral were, Mrs. G.M. Bagley and son, and Mrs. Robt. Hiblo and children, of Hoisington, Kansas, and Walter Balding and wife, of Milford. All returned to their homes Monday except Landon Bagley, who will remain.

Watseka Republican May 1955 Obituary of Florence Greenleaf Dowell Funeral services for Mrs. David Dowell, 76, who died at her home May 21 were held at the Amerman funeral home Tuesday afternoon, May 24, at 2 o’clock. Florence Greenleaf was born at Peoria May 29, 1878. She moved to Onarga when she was a small child. Her marriage was to David Dowell in 1904. She is survived by four children, Jessie of Chicago, George of Peoria, Edward, Onarga, Ralph, California; a brother, Clyde Greenleaf of Chicago and a sister, Mrs. Hattie Reed, Aurora, Mo.

Pulaski County Democrat Thursday 24 May 1945 Mrs. Caroline Tharp Mrs. Caroline Tharp died last Thursday afternoon at the home of her son-in-law and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. John Chamness as the result of a heart ailment from which she had suffered for several years. She was sixty-three years of age. Funeral services were held Monday afternoon at the Sandridge church at Bourbon with burial in the nearby cemetery by the side of her husband, Edgar N. Tharp, who was killed in a traffic mishap last March 3 as he was returning from work at Kingsbury. Mrs. Tharp was born March 29, 1882, at Salina, Kans., and came here several years ago from Onarga, Ill. She was married to Mr. Tharp in Chicago in 1905. Survivors are three daughters, Mrs. Leona Cox of Logansport, Mrs. Darlene Miller of Goshen, and Mrs. Mary Chamness; three sons, George Tharp of Osceola, Marvin of Logansport and Clyde in the Navy; brothers Clyde and Witt Greenleaf of Chicago; sisters, Mrs. Hattie Reed, Kansas City, Mo., and Mrs. Florence McDowell of Onarga, Ill.; nineteen grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.