J. W. Hillard

Homer, Illinois newspaper, February 15, 1918

Pneumonia is Fatal to Farmer
Death of J. W. Hillard Was a Distinct Shock
Was Ill only Ten Days
Funeral Will Be Held This Afternoon At The Methodist Church

After an illness of less than a week suffering from pneumonia, death cameWednesday morning about ten o'clock to John Wesley Hillard.

A week ago Wednesday evening he complained of feeling ill and Thursday morning was unable to get up. A physicial was called and after examination found Mr. Hillard to be suffering with pneumonia. Up until Wednesday he had been getting along exceedingly well. Shortly before 10 o'clock his physician visited the bedside and stated that his pulse was normal and that there were hopes of his recovery. Hardly had the physician left the home until he was resummoned, only to find that Mr. Hillard was slowly sinking in death. His change from better to worse had been very sudden. He died about ten o'clock.

John Wesley Hillard was born at McKee, Jackson County, Kentucky, on May 22, 1857. He grew to manhood at this place and remained there a greater part of his life. In 1895, he and the widow came to Illinois and located on the Winsten farm, near Philo. They later, ten years ago moved to the W. D. Clark farm, two miles southwest of Sidney. Mr. Hillard lived there three years. During the time of living near Philo and Sidney he and the family made an unlimited number of friends and acquaintances. Seven years ago he moved to the Conkey farm, and in December of last year held a public sale, in order to retire from farming. On the nineteenth of the same month he and the family moved to Homer, into their property Mr. Hillard purchased a year ago in September, known as the Bruce Conkey residence.

On December 18, 1884, he was united in marriage to Miss Louisa Adams of McKee, Kentucky, at McKee. To this union were born the following who with the widow survive: Susan, Mrs. Mary White, Charley, Bytha, Melvin and Elmer. He also leaves one sister, Mrs. Mahala Hughlett, of Edmore, North Dakota. Mr. Hillard was the fifth child of a family of five children, of Wesley and Louisa Hillard, early pioneers of Kentucky.

Mr. Hillard was a member of the Modern Woodmen of America and of the McKee Baptist church, having never transferred his membership to Homer. However just before his death he remarked that he intended to do so. He was sheriff of Jackson county, Kentucky for four years and politically has always been a staunch Republican.

The deceased was a man well liked by everyone and wherever he went he always made friends. He was always obliging to anyone who asked any favor and his neighbors have never lived beside anyone whom they liked so well.

Funeral services will be held from the Methodist church this afternoon, at two o'clock, in charge of Rev. J. A. Biddle. Burial will take place in the G.A. R. cemetery.

Pall bearers will be J. A. Breedlove, J. M. Boggess, B. M. Custer, Albert Hardesty, T. R. Orr and T. R. Butler.

Submitted by Scott Peters