Simon Jerome Carlisle, son of Daniel and Mary Drake Carlisle, was born in Frederick County, Va., April 5, 1837, and died at his home at Farina, Ill., Sunday, August 24, 1924, aged 87 years, 4 months and 19 days.
He was one of a family of eight children, seven boys and 1 girl, and is the last one of the family living. When seven years of age he moved with his family to Pennsylvania where he spent his childhood. His father was a miller. When nineteen years of age he was thrilled with a desire to go West in search of gold, during the excitement in California. He worked his way out to St. Louis on a coal boat and, finding his finances low, went to Peoria, Ill., in search of work and drifted to a farm near Alta, Ill., where he was a faithful hand several years. It was while here he met Miss Sarah Langworthy, who later became his bride, April 3, 1861, and who proved to be more than an ordinary wife and companion.
To this union were born four daughters, all living except Martha, the oldest, who died in 1906. She was the wife of Carroll A. Davis. The other three are Lettie C. Ferrill and Mrs. Hattie C. Carlisle of Farina and Mrs. Mayme Crandall of Milton, Wis., who was present at the funeral.
In early life he was happily converted and baptized by Rev. Mr. Hakes at West Hallock, Ill., and three years later embraced the Bible Sabbath and remained a loyal Seventh Day Baptist and member of the Farina Church until his death. He was a hard working man, honest and upright in all his dealings. He and his good wife bought and paid for a large farm and always found time to attend church and be true to their God and Sabbath.
In 1866 they moved from West Hallock, Ill., to a farm southwest of town where they lived and reared their family until the year of 1898, when they moved to our village, where they spent many years close to the church. On March 19, 1911, the loving mother was called away.
His life was a life of usefulness. He was a teacher in the Sabbath school for years, he was a firm believer in the Bible. He was remarkably healthy and stout until this spring. He began to fail in May after planting a large bed of strawberries. His going home was as peaceful as a tired child goes to sleep. He did not suffer, just declined. He was tenderly cared for by his children.
He leaves to mourn his departure one grandson, Floyd Ferrill of Madison, Wis.; three granddaughters, Frances Ferrill Babcock, Battle Creek, Mich., Mrs. Dessie D. Kenyon, St. Paul, Minn., Mildred C. Hudson, Milton, Wis.; and one great-grandson, Leroy Babcock, Battle Creek, Mich. Farewell services were held at the Seventh Day Baptist church August 26, at 2 o'clock, conducted by Rev. Earl C. Phillips of the Methodist Episcopal Church in absence of our pastor, C. L. Hill, who had not returned from Conference.
