The Carthage Republican
Carthage, Illinois
Wednesday
March 31, 1909
Page 2
Column 2Henry Reuck was born in Louisville, Ky., Dec. 6, 1832. At the tender age of five years his parents both died, when he came with his elder brother to Adams county, Ill. On March 23, 1856, he was married to Miss Elizabeth Wood; to which union were born eight children, namely, John R., Jan. 22, 1857; Geo. W., Jan. 1, 1859; Lovey, Sept. 26, 1861, Alexander, Dec. 2, 1865; Harry, Sept. 17, 1868; Willie, April 8, 1870 and two who died in infancy.
He came from Adams county to Hancock county in 1866, settling near Middle Creek, where he spent the balance of his days. He, like all the early settlers, had to endure many hardships in the way of clearing his farm and in the construction of his family residence, which lumber was hauled by team from Dallas City, Ill., the carpenter work being done by his nephew, the late Levi Smith, whose initials may still be seen, being made by nails artfully driven into the door facing.
On Jan. 5, 1886, he was bereft of his first wife and afterwards in 1891 he was married to Miss Amanda E. Gillenwater, who also passed away July 31, 1907.
At an early age he became a member of the Christian church with which organization he was identified during the remainder of his life, being a very consistent member whose great delight was in conversing on the things pertaining to the holy scriptures.
He died March 16, 1909, at the age of 76 years, 3 months and 10 days.
He is survived by three children, Mrs. Lovey VanDyke, of Carthage, Alexander, of Jacksonville, and Willie, of Middle Creek, besides other distant relatives in Missouri and California.
Hancock County Historical Society
Carthage, IllinoisObit 7
Page 48Henry Reuck, father of Mrs. George VanDyke, of this city, died at his home near Middle Creek last evening. Funeral Thursday at 10 o'clock at Elm Tree church. Burial at Holland cemetery.
