Wayne County Press
Fairfield Illinois
date unknown

A few hours less than a week following the death of his life companion, Minatree Whitson, of near Johnsonville passed away at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Nellie Campbell, near Rinard. He has been in poor health for several months and his passing was not unexpected..

Funeral services were conducted Tuesday morning at eleven o’clock from the Cisne M. E. church by Eld. W. D. Crippen. Interment was by the side of his wife in the Cisne cemetery. The following obituary was read at the funeral service.

Minatree, son of James and Margaret Whitson was born in Memphis, Tenn., December 9th , 1849. Departed this life near Rinard on Christmas day at 2:15 o’clock in the afternoon, aged seventy-eight years and sixteen days. At the age of three years he removed with his parents to Illinois where he has lived the remainder of his life. He professed faith in Christ and united with the M. E. Church at the age of thirty-eight years and remained a faithful member until his death.

He was united in marriage with Martha Alice Ellis February 15th , 1876. This union was blessed with nine children, two of whom have preceded their parents in death. The surviving children, as enumerated in the Mother’s obituary, also four brothers and one sister with a host of other relatives and friends mourn his passing.