Note from Jeanne Delaney:
In the newspaper, this obituary is followed by a column-long paper which Cecil State's physician, Dr. C. O. Trusrott of Cisne, read before the meeting of the Southern Illinois Medical Association, that was held at Fairfield, November 18 and 19, 1897. I will spare you all this long paper, much of it hard to understand, and simply say that Dr. Trusrott presented the paper because the disease that Cecil States had was so rare, the disease having been recognized "comparatively recently". The disease was called "pseudo-hypertrophic paralysis" and was considered to have a "hereditary character." He likened it to "hemophilia" due to the hereditary transmission always through the mother's side and being almost confined to the males.
 

Wayne County Press
14 January 14, 1901

After years of suffering, Eddie Cecil States passed away at 6:30 o'clock Tuesday morning, January 1, 1901, at the home of his parents, two miles northeast of Cisne. He was the son of George W, and Agnes A. States. He was born April 5, 1886, and was therefore 14 years, 8 months and 26 days old at the time of his death. His life was not like that of most children because of the fact that it was filled with affliction. When but a few months old he was stricken with a form of paralysis and did not learn to walk as soon as most children and never walked with ease. Seven years ago he had an attack of double pneumonia, from which he recovered, but he never walked any after that time.

His condition steadily grew worse and worse until death ended his sufferings. The patience and fortitude which he displayed were often a source of surprise to his relatives and friends who well knew that he was suffering from intense pain much of the time. His earthly pilgrimage is now over and he has gone to his reward. He will be greatly missed by his parents, relatives and friends, but their loss is Heaven's gain. Those who attended him during his sad and helpless life have the satisfaction of knowing that willing hearts and helping hands did everything in their power to make his life comfortable.

During the last year of his life he developed considerable talent for drawing and his relatives have quite a good many pictures which are the work of his hands and which are now prised very highly.

Funeral services held in the Christian church at Cisne at three o'clock Wednesday afternoon, conducted by Elder K. A. Williams, after which the remains were interred in the Stine cemetery.