John W. Siepel was born in Shenandoah county, Virginia, June 12, 1850, and died at his home in Hancock Co Ill., April 3, 1893.  He was married to Miss Mattie Ellis, of Newton County, Mo., Dec 24, 1874.  To this happy union were born four children, three boys and one girl, all of whom with the wife and mother survive him.

He was converted when sixteen years of age and joined the U.B. Church.  The class of which he was a member becoming disorganized he united, about fifteen years since, with the M.E. Church, at Majorville appointment, Colchester Circuit, of which he was a faithful and consistent member until death, filling the various offices of the Church acceptably.

His last illness was protracted and painful.  He bore all patiently and was ready for the change that called him into the fuller life above.  The wife loses a loving husband, the children a kind father, the Church a good and safe counselor and the community a good citizen, but our loss is his eternal gain. We shall meet again. ---Wm. P. Weekly.

John's parents were:
Philip Ira Siepel & Eliza Ann Fawver

Click on the image to view Martha's funeral booklet.

From a Hancock County newspaper, October 24, 1935, verbatim transcription: Fountain Green - Funeral services for Mrs. Mattie Siepel, 82, who died October 6 at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Alf Prentice, were held October 8 at Majorville in charge of Rev. Keith Loveless.  Pall-bearers were four grandsons, George and Vernon Prentice, John Siepel, and Virgil Siepel, and two nephews, Russell Huey and Lawrence Kimbrough.  Lois Conn and Kathryn Parker sang "In the Garden" and "Beautiful Isle."  Burial was in Majorville cemetery. Martha, daughter of Ira and Minerva Ellis, was born in Newton County in Southwestern Missouri, July 15, 1853, and on December 24, 1874, she became the wife of John William Siepel in Missouri. Four years later they moved to this neighborhood which, with the exception of one year in the state of Washington, has been her home.  Her husband died in 1893. She joined the Methodist church in childhood and was one of the solicitors for funds to build the Majorville church.  She lived in pioneer days when spinning and weaving were a part of the household tasks and during the Civil War saw much of the border conflicts. She is survived by the following children: Philip and Ira of West Liberty, Iowa: Joseph C. of Glasford, Ill.; Willard E., and Mrs. Alf Prentice, both of this vicinity. There are 12 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren.  One brother, Bascara, lives in Oklahoma.

Corrections to the above: Mattie's surviving brother's name was Bascom, as given in other family records.  Her daughter, Eliza Minerva/Manerva was Mrs. Alpheus Prentice.  The family has no records of her having a son Ira, as listed in the obituary, but she did have a grandson, Ira, the son of her son, Joseph Siepel.  The obituary reference should have read, "Philip Ira of West Liberty, Iowa".

Martha's death certificate states her mother was Minerva Ford.  The marriage page in her family Bible states that she and John Siepel were married at the home of her father, Ira Ellis Sr.  Witnesses were Rev. J.M. Proctor and Ira Pogue Sr.  The certificate was signed L. W. Pearce, P.C. Pineville Circuit.

Below, another obituary with some of the same errors.

Martha, daughter of Ira and Minerva Ellis, was born in Newton county in southwestern Missouri, July 15, 1853, and peacefully passed away on October 6th, 1935, at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Alf Prentice, of near Majorville.  She was 82 years of age.

On December 24th, 1874, in Missouri, she became the wife of John Wm. Siepel.  Four years later they moved to this neighborhood which, with the exception of one year spent in the state of Washington, has been her home.

Her husband died in 1893 and she lovingly made a home for their children.

She gave her heart to her Maker in childhood, uniting with the M. E. church and has been a faithful member during her life.

She lived in pioneer days when spinning and weaving were a part of the household tasks and during the Civil War saw much of the border conflicts[.]

She was one of the solicitors for funds with which the Majorville church was erected.

There are left to cherish her memory the following children: Philip, Ira and Rena, his wife, of West Liberty, Iowa; Joseph C. and wife, Erma, of Glasford, Illinois; Williard E., whose wife, Olive is deceased; and Eliza Minerva, and her husband, Alf Prentice, both of this vicinity.

There are twelve grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.  One brother, Bascara, who lives in Oklahoma, and other relatives are in Missouri.  Also the sisters-in-law, Mrs. Fannie Siepel and Mrs. Vina Dunham and her husband, Abe Dunham, of Camp Point.  There are five nephews and eight nieces of her husband and one nephew, Ira Pogue, of her own.

Funeral services were held at Majorville Tuesday afternoon, conducted by Rev. Keith Loveless. The pall-bearers were four grandsons, George and Vernon Prentice, John Siepel and Virgil Siepel, and two nephews, Russell Huey and Lawrence Kimbrough.

Lois Conn and Kathryn Parker sang "In the Garden" and Beautiful Isle."

Burial was in Majorville cemetery.

Siple, John W, white, male, 30, married, born VA, father born Hesse Darmstadt, mother born VA
Martha, white, female, 26, w [ife], married, born MO, father born NC, mother born TN
Philip J [sic], white, male, 4, son, single, born MO, father born VA, mother born MO
William E [sic], white, male, 2, son, single, born MO, father born VA, mother born MO
Joseph C, white, male, 5/12, born Dec, son, single, born MO, father born VA, mother born MO

John Seiple, who lives near Joetta, Hancock county, had two valuable mares killed in his pasture. The villain who committed the deed had evidently reached in between the hind legs and drew the knife forward, making a cut from the stomach, completely disemboweling both animals.  Mr. Seiple had a horse killed several years ago by having its throat cut.  Frank Willis also had a horse killed three years ago by having its throat cut.  The party who killed Mr. Willis' horse was apprehended, tried and convicted and sentenced to the penitentiary.  He served his sentence out and sometime during the past winter returned to the vicinity of Joetta and we understand suspicion points strongly to him as the individual who killed Mr. Seiple's animals.--Colchester News.

Siple, Martha, head, white, female, July 1853, 46, widow, [married for 26 years - crossed out]; mother of 4 children, all living; born MO, father born NC, mother born TN, could read, write and speak English, paying on a mortgage on her farm home, farm schedule 139

Philip I, son, white, male, Nov 1875, 24, single, born MO, father born VA, mother born MO, farmer, months not employed - 0, could read, write and speak English

Willard E, son, white, male, Aug 1878, 22, single, born MO, father born VA, mother born MO, laborer day, months not employed - 4, could read, write and speak English

Joseph C, son, white, male, Dec 1879, 20, single, born IL, father born VA, mother born MO, laborer day, months not employed - 4, could read, write and speak English

Elisa M, daughter, white, female, May 1882, 17, single, born IL, father born VA, mother born MO, at school for 9 months, could read, write and speak English

Siepel, Williard, head, male, white, 31, married (1st) for 0/12 years, born MO, both parents born IL [sic], spoke English, farmer, general farm, employer, could read and write, rented his farm, farm schedule 122

Olive, wife, female, white, 32, married (1st) for 0/12 years, born IL, both parents born IL, spoke English, could read and write

Mattie, mother, female, white, 58, widow; mother of 4 children, all living; born MO, father born North America, mother born TN, spoke English, could read and write

Prentice, Alpheus H, head, rented his home, male, white, 46, married, born MO, father born MA, mother born VT, spoke English, farmer, general farm, farm schedule 37

Eliza M, wife, female, white, 37, married, born IL, father born VA, mother born MO, spoke English

Ella N, daughter, female, white, 16, single, attended school after Sept. 1, 1919, could read and write, born IL, father born MO, mother born IL, spoke English

Elma D, daughter, female, white, 13, single, attended school after Sept. 1, 1919, could read and write, born IL, father born MO, mother born IL, spoke English

Vernon A, son, male, white, 5, single, born IL, father born MO, mother born IL

George R, son, male, white, 3 11/12, single, born IL, father born MO, mother born IL

Alpheus, father, male, white, 93, widower, could read and write, born MA, both parents born MA, spoke English

Siepel, Martha, mother-in-law, female, white, 66, widow, could read and write, born MO, both parents born TN, spoke English

Pogue, Ira C, boarder, male, white, 27, single, could read and write, born MO, both parents born MO, spoke English, laborer, general farm

Prentiss, Alf, head, renter, did not own a radio, lived on a farm, male, white, 56, age at first marriage - 29, could read and write, born MO, father born MA, mother born VT, spoke English, general farm, whether a veteran of the U.S. military or naval forces mobilized for any war or expedition - no, farm schedule 114

Eliza, wife, female, white, 47, married, age at first marriage - 21, could read and write, born IL, father born VA, mother born MO, spoke English

Ella, daughter, female, white, 26, single, could read and write, born IL, father born MO, mother born IL, spoke English, teacher, public school

Elma, daughter, female, white, 24, single, could read and write, born IL, father born MO, mother born IL, spoke English

Vernon, son, male, white, 15, single, attended school after Sept. 1, 1929, could read and write, born IL, father born MO, mother born IL, spoke English

George, son, male, white, 14, single, attended school after Sept. 1, 1929, could read and write, born IL, father born MO, mother born IL, spoke English

Paul, son, male, white, 10, single, attended school after Sept. 1, 1929, could read and write, born IL, father born MO, mother born IL, spoke English

Carrie, daughter, female, white, 5, single, did not attend school after Sept. 1, 1929, born IL, father born MO, mother born IL

Richmond, son, male, white, 3 6/12, single, born IL, father born MO, mother born IL

Sieple, Martha, mother-in-law, female, white, 77, widow, age at first marriage - 20, could read and write, born VA, father born VA, mother born IL, could read and write