The Carthage Republican
Carthage, Illinois
Wednesday
June 1, 1910
Page 7
Column 4Greetings.
Oak Grove, Ills., May 23.
Dear Republican and readers one and all I could offer you excuses enough to kill you for not saying it sooner but I think too much of you to kill you and will only tell you that I'm very busy shaking the hands of the friends of my childhood and youthful days and when I hold the hand of the dear old pioneer who assisted me in tramping down the hettles and killing off the snakes of Hancock county. It makes me tell snake stories but providence forbids, but say Charlie Tyler, I'll tell you one should it be my happy lot to meet you this side the other shore as I'm sure from what you said about early times in your letter a few weeks ago, you will understand you wont be the up to date society folk that called on cousin Susan to see the twins when the hired girl as there and had dinner ready, just mention the matter Charlie and I'll tell and you smile I'll forgive you. Yes, about 350 of us Sundayed at Oak Grove church yesterday and laid to rest one of my old time neighbors, Malinda Berry and if God ever made a better woman I never found her.
I am to attend church at the primitive Baptist, near Middle Creek, the second Sunday in June and if you are there I'll be glad to see you.
Kindest regards and best wishes to all of you. Uncle Tom.
T. B. McCubbin
The Carthage Republican
Carthage, Illinois
Wednesday
November 25, 1925
Page 3
Columns 1 & 2THOMAS BENTON McCUBBIN
Died October 31, 1925.
Thomas Benton McCubbin was the youngest child of Joseph and Eleanor McCubbin. He was born on the 15th day of October, 1839, in a little log cabin that stood about two hundred yards to the southeast of where the Oak Grove school house is now located, in Hancock township, Hancock County, Illinois. When he was three years of age his parents moved to a place about one half mile north and a short distance to the east of his birthplace. There he grew to manhood, and after marriage, continued to reside at his father's old homestead until he moved to California, in 1883. His father was of Scotch descent and his mother, whose maiden name was Lipsie, was of Irish descent. Both of his grandfathers served in the revolutionary war, and one of them John Lipsie, lost a leg in battle, and then lived to be one hundred and three years old. This ancestor's remains now lie in the Belknap cemetery, in Hancock township.
On December 20, 1860, the subject of this sketch married Miss Martha Cameron. She, too, like her husband, was born and raised in Hancock township. To this union were born six children. The wife died near Selma, this county, January 15th, 1890. The descendants who still survive, are the following: One son, the writer of this sketch, J. C. McCubbin; two daughters, Mrs. R. E. Zimmerman, of Chowchilla, and Mrs. Zaza Emerson, of Paso Robles, four grandchildren and two great grandchildren, all residents of this state.
When seventeen years of age, the deceased united with the Christian church at Mt. Pleasant. He was one of the charter members of the Oak Grove Christian church, and also one of its first deacons. He later served that organization in the capacity of elder. He made it the rule of his life to attend religious services somewhere whenever possible. His final illness was the only thing that compelled him to discontinue this practice. He was never narrow or restricted in his views, and for the last twenty-five years of his life, he attended any church that was most convenient or where the service specially appealed to him, regardless of the name by which the organization was known.
From the fact that he was always looking for the good and ignoring the evil in people, he appeared to get the maximum of pleasure out of life. Though he rounded out four score and six full years, he never lost a night's sleep in his life.
To use a modern term, he was truly a "mixer," and did an unusual amount of visiting. Of the twenty-five one way trips which he made between Illinois and California, only two of them were of a business nature. In addition to these, he took innumerable ones, of somewhat shorter length, on this coast. These latter ones extended the entire length and breadth of this state, with two trips to Oregon and at least one each, to Nevada and Washington. His journeys would occupy anywhere from two weeks to three months. Grandeur or the beauties of nature had but little attraction for him, and he saw but few of the wonders of world, except what were on his regular lines of travel.
It was next to impossible to wring any gossip from him or to hold him to a conversation that tended toward anything of a pessimistic nature. He carried on an extensive correspondence among his wide circle of friends. This too, like the trips mentioned, was purely of a social nature.
A slight injury to his right hip joint, caused by an accident while on one of his trips to Somoma county, this state, in 1911, necessitated the use of crutches the remainder of his life.
On the fifteenth of last month he celebrated the eighty-sixth anniversary of his birth. On invitation a group of his intimate friends were present and shared with him the pleasure of that occasion.
During the last year, both hips gave him some trouble, and it has been necessary to assist him in dressing and undressing, and also to get up when sitting down. After he was on his feet he could get around fairly well, with the aid of his crutches. He continued to make his usual calls on all the neighbors up to within a few days of his final illness.
One week prior to his death he suffered a paralytic stroke which rendered him absolutely helpless, though there was no pain during this illness. During the last year my sister Rue, (Mrs. R. E. Zimmerman) and my daughter Grace (Mrs. E. H. Spooner) have been with me and one or all three of us, have been constantly in attendance, both day and night, and have rendered every assistance that would add to his comfort. We three were present when the end came, which was on Saturday morning, October 31st, 1925, at the age of 86 years an 16 days.
So far as known, his passing removed from the stage of action, the *oldest person born in Hancock county, Illinois. The remains were laid to rest beside those of my mother in the Reedley cemetery, this county. Four others who were born in Hancock county, Illinois, also rest in that cemetery.
The location of this cemetery is very beautiful, and the flowers, grass and shrubs are always kept in ideal condition. It is situated just outside the city limits, on high ground overlooking the majestic Kings River. The waters of this stream, which are pure and usually as clear as crystal, flow gently past at the foot of the hill. In many respects, this stream might be likened unto the River of Life.
J. C. McCUBBIN.945 Simpson Ave.,Fresno, Calif.,
November 9, 1925
* Mrs. Walty, now living at Colchester, Ill., was born in Plymouth March 25, 1833.
