John Preston WAKELAND

  Noted events in his life were:

• Alt. Death, After 3 Jul 1894. ¹⁰⁸

• Census, 1870, , Mercer, Illinois.

• Obituary: The Times Record, 1916, Aledo, Mercer, Illinois. ¹¹¹ SLIDING EARTH KILLS WAKELAND
Millersburg Man Found Dead By Stream's Bank Was Stripping Coal Coronor's
Verdict Was Accidental Death
Funeral Services Held Today At Millersburg

John P. Wakeland age 50 years of Millersburg was killed Monday afternoon Dec.11,1916 on the Nelson Stead Farm by being caught under a slide of earth from the bank above, where he was stripping coal. Wakeland had not been working at the coal vein for several days, but went back Monday to clean out some dirt, which had been left the week before. Wakeland had been working alone and members of the family became alarmed when he did not return to supper at the usual time. Mrs. Wakeland and son Oral went to the Stead farm to see if he had been there, but Mr. Stead had not seen him and did not know that he was working. Mr. Stead and the son then went to the coal bank and found that 4 feet of the bank had slid down over the working place. Mr. Stead directed the boy to go for help and began removing the debris. Before help came he had found the cap and later the head of the unfortunate man.
The body was removed to the Wakeland home in Millersburg and Coroner Mackey notified. When found, the body was still warm, allowing that the accident had occured late in the afternoon. A deep wound in the forehead had been caused either by it striking the pick or by a sharp stone. Wakeland was evidently working with the pick when caught by the slide. Coroner Mackey empanelled the following jury: C.T.Gilmore foreman ;F.W.Goddard;J.P. Hyett; Oren Morris; Schulyer Burgess and George Bistline. After hearing the testimony of Nelson Stead , George E. Close and Oral Wakeland, the Jury returned a verdict of accidental death,caused by being caught under an earthslide while working at stripping on the Nelson Stead farm in Duncan Township. The deceased leaves a wife (the former Martha Alice Wagoner) and 3 children Oral,Raymond and Lois.
The funeral services were held today from the Millersburg Methodist Church, Mercer,County Rev. Parker of the Marston Church officiating. Interment was in the Millersburg Cemetery.
(This obit was taken from The Times Record December 1916 )

• Gravestone: Millersburg, Mercer, Illinois, , Oakridge Cemetery. ¹¹²