Obituary of Sharon Pursell Wright, 1941-2019

Sharon Kay Wright, age 78, of Pinckneyville, IL, passed away on Friday, December 13, 2019 at 6:04 p.m. in Marshall Browning Hospital, DuQuoin, IL.

Sharon was born on October 24, 1941 in Pinckneyville, IL, a daughter to Roy Arkell and Carrie Gladys (Williamson) Pursell. On June 24, 1961, she married Stuart Russell “Stu” Wright in Johnston City, IL and he preceded her in death on December 20, 2015. She was a homemaker and also worked as the accountant for her family’s business Wright’s Inc. in Pinckneyville, IL. She was a member of First United Methodist Church in Pinckneyville, IL, she was also a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution and she volunteered at Pinckneyville Community Hospital.

Survivors include two sons, Scott (Molly) Wright of Pinckneyville, IL and Stu (Valerie) Wright of Caledonia, MS; seven grandchildren, Samantha (Ryan) Schupbach, Shannon (Josh) Hauser, Sydney Wright, Trenton (Linnie) Hagene, Stuart (Ally) Wright, Nathaniel Wright and Emma Wright; seven great-grandchildren, Ayla Hagene, Lexi Hagene, Stuart Wright V, Mavery Wright, Evelyn Schupbach, Henry Schupbach, and Chloe Hauser; a sister, Norma Jones of West Frankfort, IL; and a very very special friend Louis Kellerman.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, infant son, Steve Wright two brothers, Carl Pursell and Ed Pursell, and sister, Irene Dixon.

A celebration of life will be held at First United Methodist Church, Pinckneyville, IL on Tuesday, December 17, 2019 at 6:00 p.m. with Reverend Don Meeks officiating.

Memorial donations may be made to the Hospice of Southern Illinois or Perry County Historical Society.

Pyatt Funeral Home, Pinckneyville, IL have been entrusted with the arrangements.

Irene Pursell Dixon Obituary, 1928-2019

[Note: Irene Dixon was a wonderful lady. She was descended from Reuben Logan, a Union Civil War veteran, and Anna Guthrie (Logan). This obituary was posted online by the Searby Funeral Homes of DuQuoin and Tamaroa, Illinois.]

M. Irene Dixon (January 28, 1928 — March 12, 2019)

M. Irene Dixon, 91, of Du Quoin, passed away … Tuesday, March 12, 2019 at her residence.

Irene had been owner and teacher at Park-A-Tot Nursery School for thirty years. She began her career at Lower Arm School in 1946. Irene graduated from Pinckneyville High School in 1945 and then graduated from SIU in the early 1950s. She had also worked on her master’s degree. Irene was a member of the First Christian Church in DuQuoin, where she had been a deacon and an elder. At the church, she was also President of C.W.F. and was in charge of the rummage sales. She was also a member of the Marshall Browning Hospital Auxiliary, Perry County Historical Society, Perry County Jail Museum, Red Hat Society, Order of the Eastern Star, V.F.W. Auxiliary, and D.A.R. Irene was a founding member of the A-Wa-We-Go Camping Tribe and served as Chaplin.

She was born January 28, 1928 at Pinckneyville, IL, the daughter of Roy Arkell and Carrie Gladys (Williamson) Pursell.

She married Curtis E. Dixon on March 8, 1952 at Pinckneyville, IL, and he preceded her in death on December 20, 1981.

She is survived by four children — Sue Dixon of Pinckneyville, Todd Dixon of DuQuoin, Clay Dixon and wife Evelyn of Carterville, and Kent Dixon of DuQuoin, two sisters — Norma Jones of West Frankfort and Sharon Wright of Pinckneyville, three grandchildren — Seth Dixon and wife Nicole of DuQuoin, Cory Dixon of New Baden, and Emily Crain and husband Stephen of Chesterfield, MO, nine great grandchildren — Collin Dixon, Kylie Dixon, Emmett Crain, Alden Dixon, Matthew Rees, Michael Daniel, Makayla Davis, David Peters, Dayonna Peters and one on the way, and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, three brothers — Carl Pursell, Ed Pursell, and Wilford Andrew Pursell in infancy, two brothers-in-law — Kenneth Junior Jones and Stuart Wright, and three sisters-in-law — Isabelle Pursell, Theresa Pursell and Patricia Pursell.

Funeral services will be at 10:00 A.M., Monday, March 18, 2019 at the Searby Funeral Home in DuQuoin with David Gross officiating.

Burial will be in the Sunset Memorial Park at DuQuoin.

Friends may make memorials to the Marshall Browning Hospital Tree of Life, First Christian Church in DuQuoin, or the donor’s choice and will be accepted at the funeral home.

 

Enhanced photo, Fair Grounds, Pinckneyville, Perry County, Illinois, 1912

On April 23, 2017, we posted this wonderful photograph furnished by Sharon Pursell Wright. Another cousin, Patrick Logan, has provided an enhanced version (above). Patrick’s work brings out the facial expressions, the checkered pattern in the dresses, and the facial hair on the gentlemen. Our thanks to both Sharon and Patrick!

1. Scott Miller (son)
2. John Miller (father)
3. Fannie Miller (mother)
4. Charlie Miller (son)
5. James W. Logan (Union Civil War veteran)
6. James Wayland “Wale” Logan (father)
7. Edna Lou Logan (mother)
8. Verna Logan (daughter) (married, first, Choisser; second, Van Horn; third, Setzkorn)
9. Labeled Choisser Van Horn [assume this is Rex Choisser?]
10. ?
11. ?
12. [second row] Josie Taylor (father)
13. Pauline Taylor (daughter)
14. ?
15. Dora Taylor (mother)
16. Ethie Morton (mother)
17. Essie Morton (daughter)
18. John Morton (father)
19. Mrs. John Keene Morton
20. Mary Tipton
21. Joshua Tipton
22. Asa Hall
23. Mary (Hill) Pursell
24. Benjamin Hill
25. [third row?]
26. Gladys Miller (died young)
27. Edith Taylor (daughter) married Dempsey Keene
28. ?
29. Edgar Pursell
30. Arthur Pursell
31. Rewey Pursell
32. Leonard Pursell
33. Albert Pursell
34. Philip Ray Pursell
35. Ira Pursell
36. George Pursell
37. Harry Pursell
38. [bottom row] Laurie Miller (daughter of John and Fannie)
39. Bill Miller (son of John and Fannie)
40. Floyd Davis
41. Mother Davis
42. Father Davis
43. Cecil (Kuhnert) Pursell
44. Wilma Pursell
45. Viola (Kuhnert/Keene) Pursell
46. Elmer Pursell
47. Lena (Birkner) Pursell
48. Bessie Pursell
49. Grayell Pursell
50. Myrna Pursell
51. Roy Arkell Pursell
52. Blanche Pursell
53. Pluma (Jones) Pursell
54. Velma Pursell
55. Henrietta (Jones) Pursell

Some Logan (and affiliated families) references, “Nashville Journal,” Nashville, Washington County, Illinois, 1879, 1902, 1903, 1904, 1905, 1906

25 April 1879: Oakdale (property tax): Sarah Logan is listed.

10 July 1902: Personal Property Tax, Oakdale Township: Elihu Logan is listed.

15 October 1903: Rice: Bert Logan and Wm. Folden, of Pinckneyville, spent Sunday among friends here.

23 June 1904: Rice: Misses May and Lucy Logan, of Pinckneyville, called on friends here Wednesday.

17 August 1905: Oakdale: Ivenson [sic: Iverson] Jones is supplying our town with a nice grade of melons.

6 September 1906: Misses Gail and Dorris Watson, of Ashley, were the guests of Miss Reba Meyer, Sunday. [Gail Watson married Robert O. Logan.]

 

Reuben Logan family updates: “Nashville Journal,” Nashville, Washington County, Illinois, 1902, 1903

6 February 1902 — Rice: Mrs. Ruben [sic: Reuben] Logan and Mrs. J.B. Logan have been on the sick list but are convalescing at present.

8 May 1902 — Rice: Mr. and Mrs. Ruben [sic: Reuben] Logan attended the dedication of the Denmark Baptist church last Sabbath.

29 May 1902 — Rice: The crowd that went to the Okaw river fishing consisting of Ruben [sic: Reuben] Logan, H.C. Jones, Louis McQuade, Bert Redenbo, Squire Chapman, E.J. Jones, Ed. Hunter returned with good success and plenty of fun.

17 September 1903 — Rice: J.W. Ragland and family will move to Pinckneyville in a few days, also E.J. Jones and family and Ruben [sic: Reuben] Logan and family.

 

Carrick family updates: “Nashville Journal,” Nashville, Washington County, Illinois, 1902-1907

30 October 1902 — Oakdale: Ed. Carrick, of Three Mile, is able to ride out and was greeted by his friends on our streets Monday.

24 September 1903 — Oakdale: Ed. and Willis [sic] Carrick have returned home, after spending a few months in Kenney, Ill. [Kenney is a village in DeWitt County, Illinois.]

29 December 1904 — Oakdale: Robert Carrick attended the funeral of Mrs. Apps, of Chicago, Saturday.

23 February 1905 — Entertainment for Oak Grove. The Slade school district will give an entertainment at Oak Grove church, Friday February 24, beginning at 7:45 o’clock p.m.The following program will be rendered: [Play: “Reunion of Longfellow’s Characters”]. Ruth Carrick played the role of Precosia.

2 March 1905 — Rice: Ed. Carrick left for Kansas City, Mo., Wednesday.

28 December 1905 — Rice: Robert Carrick sold a horse to Wm. Gorman; consideration $140.

1 February 1906 — Oakdale: Ed. Carrick visited Pinckneyville and Sparta this week.

8 February 1906 — Rice: Wilfred Carrick and sister, Ruth, visited relatives in Pinckneyville Sunday.

6 September 1906 — Oakdale: Robert Carrick and Jas. Sloane are attending the reunion at Johnson City. [This was a Civil War — Union — veterans’ reunion.]

6 September 1906 — Oakdale: Ed. Carrick came in on the train Wednesday nursing a broken arm caused by falling when trying to catch a train at some point on his route. He had been gone most of the summer representing the American Yeast Co., and his friends are sorry to learn of his misfortune.

4 October 1906 — Robert Carrick has moved from the farm to this city [Nashville] and now occupies the Marx homestead.

1 November 1906 — The Point: Ed. Carrick, of Pilot Knob, is husking corn for W.G. Martin.

1 November 1906 — Miss Ruth Carrick, of Nashville, spent Saturday and Sunday with Mrs. W.G. Martin.

8 November 1906 — The Point: Ed. Carrick spent Sunday at Pilot Knob.

15 November 1906 — Oakdale: Mr. Carrick visited the home place last week.

20 December 1906 — The Point: Robt. Carrick and daughter Ruth, of Nashville, spent Sunday with Wm. G. Martin and family.

27 December 1906 — The Point: Miss Ruth Carrick, of Nashville, spent Sunday at W.G. Martin’s.

17 January 1907 — The Point: Martin [sic] Carrick called on Sylvia Martin one day during the week.

7 February 1907 — Rice: Roy Carrick spent Sunday with Howard Chapman.

Photograph, Fair Grounds, Pinckneyville, Perry County, Illinois, circa 1912 (some Logans included)

Photograph and labeling courtesy of Sharon Pursell Wright. Our thanks to Sharon so these folks — and this photograph — aren’t lost to time. If anyone has additional information to help fill in the blanks, it would be greatly appreciated.

Top row:

1. Scott Miller (son)
2. John Miller (father)
3. Fannie Miller (mother)
4. Charlie Miller (son)
5. James W. Logan (Civil War veteran)
6. James Wayland “Wale” Logan (father)
7. Edna Lou Logan (mother)
8. Verna Logan (daughter) (married, first, Choisser; second, Van Horn; third, Setzkorn)
9. labeled Choisser Van Horn [assume this is Rex Choisser?]
10.  ?
11. ?
12. [Second row] Josie Taylor (father)
13. Pauline Taylor (daughter)
14. ?
15. Dora Taylor (mother)
16. Ethie Morton (mother)
17. Essie Morton (daughter)
18. John Morton (father)
19. Mrs. John Keene Morton
20. Mary Tipton
21. Joshua Tipton
22. Asa Hill
23. Mary (Hill) Pursell
24. Benjamin Hill
25. [Third row] ?
26. Gladys Miller (died young)
27. Edith Taylor (daughter) md. Dempsey Keene
28. ?
29. Edgar Pursell
30. Arthur Pursell
31. Rewey Pursell
32. Leonard Pursell
33. Albert Pursell
34. Phillip Ray Pursell
35. Ira Pursell
36. George Pursell
37. Harry Pursell
38. [bottom row] Carrie Miller (daughter of John and Fannie)
39. Bill Miller (son of John and Fannie)
40. Floyd Davis
41. Mother Davis
42. Father Davis
43. Cecil (Kuhnert) Pursell
44. Wilma Pursell
45. Viola (Kuhnert/Keene) Pursell
46. Elmer Pursell
47. Lena (Birkner) Pursell
48. Bessie Pursell
49. Grayell Pursell
50. Myrna Pursell
51. Roy Arkell Pursell
52. Blanche Pursell
53. Pluma (Jones) Pursell
54. Velma Pursell
55. Henrietta (Jones) Pursell

 

Memory card, James W. “Bob” Logan, Pinckneyville, Perry County, Illinois, 1918-2006

James Walter “Bob” Logan was the son of James Logan and Blanche Helen Norbury Logan.

Cross Baptist Church, near Pinckneyville, Perry County, Illinois

Many of our Logans and affiliated families attended Cross Church in Perry County, Illinois. Several are buried in Brown Cemetery, close to the former church site.

Cross Baptist Church was torn down, which is unfortunate, but perhaps understandable without a viable adaptive re-use. What is unconscionable is that all the church records were destroyed. This would have been a rich trove of Logan (and many other families’), Baptist, Cross Church, and Perry County history. This archival destruction has to stop! If there were sensitive items in the church minutes, they could have been gently edited out before being shared. Shameful and inexcusable to just destroy them.

James W. Logan Bible “presented to Evaline Logan,” Perry County, Illinois, 1889: births

This document was unearthed by James W. “Bob” Logan from the Jackson County, Illinois, Historical Society.