Charles Elsworth Persels, son of Albert and Lucretia Persels, was born at Farina, Ill., January 16, 1871, and died suddenly at Ft, Myers, Fla., November 16, 1947, where he and Mrs. Persels had arrived but two days earlier, prepared to spend the winter. On March 12, 1892 he became a member of the Seventh Day Baptist Church at Farina, and through the years was a faithful, efficient member. He served as trustee, as Sabbath school teacher, and was, at his death, the moderator of the Church. He served the village and community in many ways: eight years as county supervisor, as president of the Community High School Board, president of the Farina State Bank, and of the Farina Building and Loan. He was a successful farmer and a prominent southern Illinois fruit grower. He was a man of strong convictions, with a sense of honesty and justice, purity and honor so highly developed that any infraction of these rules met with all the resistance of his strong character. He will not only be missed by his family, but by all who knew him, because of his business ability and his Christian associations. He was united in marriage to Miss Lura Randolph on July 26, 1893, and fifty years later they celebrated their golden wedding. He is survived by his wife, and by two daughters, Mrs. Arlouine Seager of Farina and Mrs. Kathryn Lindman of Pasadena, Calif.; by two brothers, Allie of Kirkwood, Mo., and Frank of San Frisco, Calif.; by a cousin, Mrs. Bede McClellan of Milton, Wis.; and by three grandchildren, one great-grandchild, and a number of nephews and nieces. Funeral services were conducted at the Seventh Day Baptist Church on Sabbath morning, November 22, at the regular hour of worship, by his pastor, Rev. C. L. Hill, and burial was made in the Farina Cemetery.
