Notes for: Flora Viola Berdine
From Ronny Bodine (June 10, 2020):
History of Matthew and Jane Ellison Family, by Mary Siegfried, the Country Printer, Carthage, IL, 1980 (2nd Edition).
John Thomas Thornber was born near Burnley, Lancashire, England, on October 16, 1854, during his parents' brief residence there. When he was nine months old, his parents returned to America. They spent the first winter after their return in his grandfather Ellison 's home and in the spring of 1856 moved to the farm his father bought in Section 6 of Rock Creek Township, Hancock County, Illinois. -- He grew to manhood on this farm and followed farming all of his life. His education was received at the Lincoln School three quarters of a mile east of his home where all his brothers and sisters and many of his cousins attended. When he was only 12 years old, his mother died and his older sister Mary quit school and assumed the full care of her younger brothers and sisters and the household until his father remarried in 1868. -- On September 13, 1877, John was united in marriage with Flora Viola Berdine, daughter of Jacob S. and Mary (Randolph) Berdine, who was born in Marshall County, Illinois, February 22, 1858. They were married in Rock Creek township by Rev. Matthew Waldenmeyer, Presbyterian minister of Nauvoo. -- They began housekeeping on a farm owned by his father one half mile east of the Rosseter corner, the present site of Powellton. He inherited this farm from his father 10 years later and lived on it the remainder of his life. To John and Flora Thornber were born four children. -- John Thornber improved the farm he inherited with a fine two-story house and good barns and other buildings. He also built a tenant house on the east half of the farm. He purchased 80 acres across the road, and after the death of his stepmother in 1930 he and his son Frank bought the Thornber homestead. He became one of the most prosperous farmers in the locality, one to whom his neighbors came for advice on their problems. Politically he was a Republican and he served one term as township highway commissioner, but he never sought public office. -- Flora Thornber died July 28, 1922, after a lingering illness, from stomach trouble and complications, at her home near Powellton, Illinois. -- John Thornber was the last survivor of his family. He died suddenly of a heart attack early in the morning of April 2, 1938, while sitting in a chair at the table. Both were laid to rest in the Thornber Cemetery.
John and Flora Thornber were buried in Thornber Cemetery, Powellton, Hancock County.
CALLED TO HER REWARD
Obituary of Mrs. John T. Thornber---Good Woman Gone.
After a life of usefulness and goodness, death came last Friday morning, July 28, 1922, at 6:30 o'clock, to Mrs. John T. Thornber, at her home near Powellton, Ill. She had been in ill health for some time and bedfast for over three months with neuphritis and other complications. During her illness she was very cheerful and patient never giving up hope of recovery. All that kind hands and medical skill could do was done but it was of no avail. Flora Viola Berdine was born on February 22, 1858, in Henry, Ill., and at the time of her death was 64 years, 5 months ad 6 days of age. She was the daughter of Jacob S. Berdine and Mary A. Berdine, both of whom preceded her in death. She came with her parents to Hancock county in early childhood and had lived in this vicinity ever since. On Sept. 13th, 1877, she was united in marriage to Mr. John T. Thornber. To the union were born four children, three of whom, with her husband, survive to mourn her loss. They are: Mrs. Grace Martin of Winnebago, Minn.,; Frank of Chicago, Ill., and Mrs. Edrie LaCroix of Powellton, Ill., also eight grandchildren, and two brothers, J. R. Berdine of Dallas City, Ill., and Chas. S. Berdine, of Seward Neb. One child, Henry died in infancy, and her only sister, Mrs. Anna McFarland, passed away May 12, 1918. For nearly forty-five years she had been married to Mr. Thornber and she had been a model wife and mother, a loyal and loving helpmate, in the truest sense of the word. She wsa devoted to her home and family, and was never happier than when surrounded by her family. It was this ideal home life which rendered all the more poignant the sorrow of the members of her family at her death, and for them the deepest sypathy is felt. Deceased was a faithful member of the Powellton W. C. T. U. since about 1889, also an active member of Prairie Queen camp, 5902, R. N. A. While not affiliated with any church she always lived an exemplary Christian life. She was of a kindly, amiable temperment, and charitable in her nature. In her death the family loses a kind wife and mother, her associates a true friend and the community a valuable and highly respected member. Truly, a good woman, one that will be sadly missed, has been called to her eternal home. The funeral was held Sunday afternoon, services being conducted at 2:00 o'clock at her late home by Elder A. L. McArthur of Hamilton. The funeral cortege was one of the largest ever seen in this community, attesting the high regard in which the deceased was held. Interment was made in the Powellton cemetery. The floral contributions were many and very beatiful, among them being a number of huge designs. The pallbearers were: F. M. and John Whitcomb, Thos. Thornber, Millard Walker, Jos. Wolfenbarger and Jos. ___grist.
Children: Grace Margaret (11 Aug 1878), Henry (6 Jan 1880), Frank (20 Oct 1883), Edrie (24 Oct 1888).