Elizabeth, daughter of John and Dorothy Beeley was born in Sheffield, England, April 16, 1839 and died at the home of her brother, Joseph Beeley, near Arenzville, Ill., May 26, 1916, being 77 years, 1 month and 10 days old. She was one of 8 children. Three sisters, Sarah Beeley, Elizabeth Beeley and Martha Ellen Saunders and one brother, George Milton Beeley, preceded her to the Home Beyond.She came with her parents to America when she was but 3 years old and settled in Concord, Ill., where she grew to womanhood. She was converted in the old M. E. church in Concord when a small girl, but became a member of the Concord Christian church in 1867, thus being a charter member of the organization. She moved her membership to the Christian church, Coldwater, Kansas, about 1884 where it remained until her death.
She was known as a faithful Christian woman and taught a class in the Sunday school in the Christian church in Concord, Ill., for many years. Even in her last sickness she did not falter or forsake her Lord. She was married to Lewis Zerby about 1859. He died in 1864. She leaves to mourn her loss two brothers, Joseph Beeley, Arenzville, Ill., and Thomas Beeley, Meredosia, Ill.; a sister, Mary Ann Skinner, Meredosia, Ill.; 2 sons, Lorenzo Zerby, Eureka, Ill., J. H. Zerby, Supply, Okla.; 3 daughters, Clara Griffith and Kitty Griffith of Coldwater, Kans., and Lottie Bachman of Glendale, Arizona; 26 grandchildren, 7 great-grandchildren and a host of friends.
Funeral services were conducted in the M. E. Church in Concord, Ill., Sunday afternoon, May 28, at 3 o'clock by L. M. Mulliken, pastor of the Christian church, assigned by Rev. Fairchild, pastor of the M. E. church. The pallbearers consisted of the nephews of the deceased, Edgar and Grover Beeley, Carl and Frank Skinner and Joseph and Ruel Parlier. Among those attending the funeral from away were, Mr. and Mrs. I. L. Zerby of Eureka, Ill., Mrs. Clara Griffith of Coldwater, Ks., Cecil Griffith of Plains, Kans., Chester Skinner and family, Mary Skinner, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Beeley of Meredosia, Ill. and Wilbur Skinner of Jacksonville, Ill. Interment was in the Concord cemetery.
Also see:
Death List of Pioneer Settlers, 1898 to July 1923
Published in The Western Star, August 3, 1923.
Thanks to Shirley Brier for finding, transcribing and contributing the above news article to this web site!
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