Charles Marion Mort, eleventh child of Jacob and Jane Mort was born in the state of Pennsylvania on June 20th, 1855, and died at his home in Hancock township, near Joetta, in the early morning of Jan 6th, 1929, aged 73 years, 6 months and 16 days.

Mr. Mort, while not a rugged man, has for the past several years been very active and helpful in and about his farm and home.  But on New Years night he was stricken with a severe hemorrhage of the stomach that brought about a weakness that he in his declining years was not able to overcome.

As a mere boy Charlie Mort made a brave struggle and gained a little above the average common school education for boys in his locality (now pioneers of the country), and for several years worked as a carpenter in partnership with his father, who was a carpenter, cabinet maker and also a mill-wright, later on in life entering as clerk into a store owned and operated by Peter Weakley in Joetta, Ill.  In this store, which was a commercial center for trade of various products of the countryside for miles and miles each way, the subject of this sketch worked for many years.

As a business associate Mr. Mort had few equals.  He was kind, considerate and jovial and won friends while here at this work that have been faithful, dependable and sympathetic until death.

Here in the Weakley home he met Mrs. Mary E. Mourning, and on Feb. 4th, 1890, they were married by Justice of the Peace Albert S. Bear at his home in Joetta.  After the ceremony Mr. and Mrs. Bear served a nice wedding supper to the newlyweds.

Mr. and Mrs. Mort went directly to their home farm which Mr. Mort had previously purchased and here they have since resided.  To this union one son Wilburn Charlie was born. Another child died at birth.  When this son grew up and was married this homeloving father welcomed him and his bride into the family circle where they have almost continuously made their home since.  A stepson, Lawrence Mouring [Mourning] was given all care, love and consideration from his tender years, up to young manhood, by this father.  Mr. Mort always expressed much love and concern for these boys and their families.

Besides the grief-stricken wife, who has been ill for many months with heart trouble and its complications, he leaves these two sons, five grandchildren and two sisters, Mrs. Christina Pearce [Christiana Pierce] of Moline, Ill., and Mrs. Fannie White, of Tennessee, Ill.

Mr. Mort accepted his citizenship as both a privilege and a responsiblity.  He was a strict adherent to his party and believed in the wisdom of his party's policies, holding offices in his township at various times during his life time.

He was a member of the Modern Woodman lodge of Fountain Green of some thirty years standing.

He was converted many years ago during a revival meeting held at Liberty church under Mrs. Brewington's preaching and held a membership there until services at the old church was entirely suspended.  His religious nature was a quiet, faithful, consistent kind.

In all his relations in the home, in the community and as a neighbor, friend and citizen he held not only the respect, but the effections of all, prompted him to shoulder uncom- prompted him to shoulder uncomplainingly the many and varied responsibilities that were placed upon him and these he conscientiously and cheerfully performed. His life was unassuming and yet full of kindly deeds.

Funeral was held at Friendship church Wednesday, Jan 9.  Interment in the beautiful cemetery there. Rev. E. L. Fahnestock having charge of the services, taking his theme from the sayings of Job.

A quartette composed of Mr. and Mrs. Leland Hobart, Miss Adda Spangler and Clem Duffy with Miss Ellen Lenix at the piano, sang beautifully, "Sometime We'll Understand", "Looking This Way" and "It is Well With My Soul."

The Modern Woodmen of Fountain Green held services at the grave.

Published obituary, unknown original news source; clipping from the Mae Peck Conn scrapbook donated to the Hancock County Historical Society by Marilyn Shelley.  Verbatim transcription, except for [bracketed additions]. Also from the records of Helen Mort Myers; her notes indicate a print date of Jan 16, 1929.

Laurence Mourning and wife, of Elreno, Okla., came to the Charlie Mort home on Friday for a short visit with Mr. Mourning's mother and family, intending to take the train at Keokuk for home on the Monday following.  But some time in the night, Mrs. Mort was taken critically ill, and remained in such a serious condition all day Monday, that Laurence and his wife did not start home until Tuesday morning.  Dr. Harrison, of Colchester, was called to relieve Mrs. Mort, and he pronounced the cause of her illness to be leakage of the heart.  This Wednesday morning finds her very weak, but resting easy.  We hope to be able to give you a better report next issue.

At the time of the 1860 Federal Census, the family was residing in Osage County.  By 1870 the Wilsons were located in the village of Tennessee, McDonough County, Illinois.

Betty was first married on October 18, 1880, to John Lawrence Mourning, son of Lewis Ball Mourning and Lucinda Keithley.  This marriage produced two children before John moved on.  Marriage License

The Mourning children were:

i.	Lulu Mourning, born November 2, 1881.  She was adopted by Margaret (Wilson) Anderson and was living in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in 1900. She died at Asbury Park, Monmouth County, New Jersey, on August 22, 1951.	Lawrence Mourning
ii.	Lawrence John Mourning, born July 14, 1883, in Illinois.  He died December 9, 1954, in Orange County, California.

When Charles and Betty married, they both reported being residents of Joetta, in Hancock Township, Hancock County.  Named as witnesses were Benjamin F. Barb and John Daugherty.  Marriage Documents

The Mort children were:

i.	Wilburn Charles "Fib" Mort, born September 3, 1892, in Hancock Township, Hancock County.  He died October 29, 1938, in Warren County, Illinois.  Burial at Majorville Cemetery, Hancock Township.
ii.	Unnamed Mort infant, born in Hancock Township, died at birth, burial location undetermined.

Note that Betty's children by John Mourning were not accounted for in the censuses of 1900 and 1910.

Betty died January 27, 1931, and was buried beside Charles at Friendship Cemetery.

See also:

Jacob B. & Jane Oakman Mort (Charles' parents) Lucy Jane Wilson (Betty's sister) Charles E. Wilson (Betty's brother) Sarah J. "Nettie" Wilson (Betty's sister)

T B Wilson, 28, male, day laborer, value of personal estate 200, born PA
Sarah W, 25, female, born KY
M Elisabeth, 3, female, born MO
L Jane, 1, female, born MO

Mort, Jacob, 52, male, white, farmer, value of personal estate 1000, born PA, male citizen of the U.S. aged 21 or more
[continued on next page]
Mort Jane, 45, female, white, keeping house, born PA, mother foreign born
John, 24, male, white, farm laborer, born PA, male citizen of the U.S. aged 21 or more
Bigler, 17, male, white, farm laborer, born PA
Charles, 15, male, white, born PA, attended school within the year
Oliver, 13, male, white, born IL, attended school within the year
Susan, 11, female, white, born IL, attended school within the year
Frances, 9, female, white, born IL, attended school within the year
Thomas, 7, male, white, born IL, attended school within the year
Julia, 5, female, white, born IL
Jennie, 3, female, white, born IL
Jacob, 10/12, male, white, born IL, born Aug

Wilson, Thomas, 37, male, white, laborer, value of personal estate 400, born PA, male citizen of the U.S. aged 21 or more
Sarah, 34, female, white, keeps house, born KY
Mary E, 14, female, white, born MO, attended school within the year
Lucy J, 11, female, white, born MO, attended school within the year
Charles E, 7, male, white, born IL, attended school within the year
Sarah J, 2, female, white, born IL

Way, Charles, white, male, 38, married, farming, born IL, father born [no entry], mother
born MD
Mary E, white, female, 28, wife, married, keeping house, born KY, father born OH, mother
born KY
William, white, male, 6, son, single, at home, born IL, father born IL, mother born KY
Orval, white, male, 3, son, single, at home, born IL, father born IL, mother born KY
Clara, white, female, 11/12, born July, daughter, single, at home, born IL, father born IL, mother born KY
Mort, Fanny, white, female, 19, servant, single, housekeeper, born IL, both parents born PA
Mort, Charles, white, male, 24, servant, single, laborer, born PA, both parents born PA

Mort, Charles M, head, white, male, June 1855, 44, married for 10 years born PA, both parents born PA, farmer, months not employed - 0; could read, write and speak English, paying on a mortgage on his farm, farm schedule 125

Mary E, wife, white, female, [born month not shown, year illegible], 43, married for 10 years; mother of 1 child, living; born MO, both parents born MO, could read, write and speak English

Charles W, son, white, male, Sept 1891, 8, single, born IL, father born PA, mother born MO, attended school for 5 months, could read, write and speak English

Mort, Charley, head, male, white, 53, married (1st) for 20 years, born PA, both parents born PA, spoke English, farmer, general farm, employer, could read and write, owned his farm home free of mortgage, farm schedule 120

Mary, wife, female, white, 52, married (1st) for 20 years; mother of 2 children, 1 living; born MO, both parents born PA, spoke English, could read and write

William, son, male, white, 18, single, born IL, father born PA, mother born MO, spoke English, could read and write, attended school after Sept. 1, 1909

Mort, Charlie M, head, owned his home free of mortgage, male, white, 62, married, could read and write, born PA, both parents born PA, spoke English, farmer, general farm, working on own account, farm schedule 136

Mary E, wife, female, white, 62, married, could read and write, born MO, father born PA, mother born KY, spoke English

Mort, Mary E, head, owned her home, owned a radio, lived on a farm, female, white, 72, widow, age at first marriage - 22, could read and write, born MO, both parents born U.S., spoke English, farmer, stock farm

Wilbur [sic] C, son, male, white, 38, married, age at first marriage - 19, could read and write, born IL, father born PA, mother born MO, spoke English, driver, garage, whether a veteran of the U.S. military or naval forces mobilized for any war or expedition - no

Mae, daughter, female, white, 35, married, age at first marriage - 16, could read and write, born IL, both parents born IL, spoke English

Mary O, granddaughter, female, white, 5, single, did not attend school after Sept. 1, 1929, born IL, both parents born IL