






KILLED AT EIGHTY
James Querry, of Argenta, Struck by a Coal Car
Last evening shortly after 5 o'clock James Querry, an aged farmer of Friends Creek township, was knocked down by a coal car and instantly killed. He was passing over the Wood street crossing of the Illinois Central road when a Central switch engine, No. 267, was backing some coal cars down to the water works, and Mr. Querry who was deaf and had his head bandaged did not hear the cries of warning given by the trainmen, neither did he see the cars. He was knocked fifteen feet and thrown into a ditch. Coroner Bendure had the body removed to his office at the Bullard undertaking establishment.
The deceased was in the 79th year of his age, and settled in Macon county in 1831. He owned 240 acres of land near Argenta, and was worth about $10,000. In 1832 the deceased was married to Elizabeth Williams at Decatur. Their eldest daughter, Mrs. E.A. Piper, died many years ago. She was the mother of Richard and Edward A. Piper. Four other children are dead. The six living children are Bart, Eri, Charles and Warner Querry, Mrs. William Myers and Miss Belle Querry. They all reside in the neighborhood of Mr. Querry's old homestead in Friend's Creek township, three miles northeast of Argenta. There Mr. Querry had lived for more than half a century. He was in the Black Hawk war, but was never in the government's service afterwards, although, during the war of the Rebellion, he went to Vicksburg to look after his sons, who were in Grant's army. Four of five years he has been troubled with a cancer and has been trying to cure it at various places. He was last under the treatment of Dr. Brandon, who has been attending him four or five weeks. He was able to walk between St. Mary's hospital and the doctor's office; although he was quite feeble he preferred walking, because he could not withstand the jar of riding. He had come down from Argenta Monday forenoon. He was a good citizen and a man who was held in highest esteem. The inquest was held to-day. A verdict of accidental death was returned.
The jurymen were Jacob Sine, J.S. Hewes, J.Q.A. Odor, John Helmick, B.N. Adams and H.N. Plotner.
Decatur Republican, 12 Sep 1889
Mary A. Queary, widow of John Queary(sic), died at 1:15 Saturday morning (5 Aug 1905) at her home, 550 West King street.
Mrs. Queary had been in reasonably good health for one 95 years of age until four months ago when a cancer developed on her tongue and this caused her death. She suffered a great deal, but at the last slept away peacefully.
Mrs. Queary was born in Virginia Jan 4, 1810 in Wythe Co, VA. In 1829 she came to Illinois with her parents, who settled near Long Creek, and where she was united in marriage with John Queary (George W.). To this union twelve children were born, four of whom are surviving. They are: W.B. Queary, Arthur; Rose A. Terry, Nebraska; J.A. Queary and Virginia Booker of Decatur; two of the children died in infancy and the remaining six lived to be grown.
There are fifty grandchildren, sixty-nine great grandchildren and three great great granchildren, most of them residents of Macon county.
The funeral will be held at Long Creek church Sunday afternoon at 3:30. Interment will be in Long Creek cemetery.
Decatur Review, Aug 5, 1905, p. 5
(Mrs. Querry's other children: Lucretia, John Wesley, Mary A., James, Emeline, Louisa, & Armena)



SHORT ILLNESS
Preceded Death of Mrs. W.J. Quinlan Which Occurred Thursday at 8 a.m.
A SHOCK TO HER MANY FRIENDS
Native of Kentudky But Had Lived Many Years in Decatur.
Mrs. William J. Quinlan died Thursday morning at 8 o'clock at her home, 222 West William street. She had been sick but a short time and it came as a shock to her friends who were unaware that her condition was at all serious. Last Saturday she caught a cold which resulted in bronchial asthma and was finally complicated with heart weakness, causing her death.
Mrs. Quinlan had been in ill health for some time but she recently visited her sons in Chicago and was thought to be improving steadily until her final illness supervened. Wednesday afternoon she became unconscious and her critical condition was recognized and her sons, Attorney Will Quinlan and Edgar Quinlan of Chicago were hurriedly summoned, arriving here Thursday morning at 5 o'clock
Mrs. Quinlan's maiden name was Alethea Ann Allen and she was born April 23, 1837, in Scott county, Kentucky. While visitng her brother, the late Skillman Allen, who lived near Harristown she became acquainted with W.J. Quinlan and they were married November 24, 1864, at Georgetown, Kentucky. Soon after their marriage they came to Decatur where they have since resided. Her husband and two sons survive her. A daughter Ethel, a twin sister of Edgar Quinlan died in childhood. She is survived also by a brother, Alfred Allen, of Chatanooga, and a sister, Miss Mary Allen, of Georgetown, Ky.
Mrs. Quinlan first joined the Methodist church but when she came to Decatur she became a member of the Episcopal church and has since been one of the prominent members of St. John's parish. She was also a leading in member of the Art class.
In Decatur Mrs. Quinlan was well known and had many friends who held her in the highest regard. She entertained a great deal and was noted for her delightful hospitality. She was pominent socially and her fine qualitites of mind and her delightful wit and delicate sense of humor made her a person with whom it was a privilege to converse. She was widely read and had a pride in keeping up with the current events of both local and national importance. As a friend she was thoughtful and obliging and was loved by all who knew her intimately. In a quiet way she did much to help others less fortunate than herself.
The funeral will occur Saturday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock from St. John's Episcopal church. Rev. G. Taylor Griffith will officiate and the burial will be at Greenwood cemetery.
Decatur Herald, 9 Jan 1903
W.H. QUINLAN A SUICIDE
Body Found in Lake - Ill Health Cause
GREW UP IN DECATUR
Son of W.J.Quinlan, Long Prominent Citizen
Chicago afternoon papers of Saturday had on their first pages accounts of the suicide of William H. Quinlan, son of W.J. Quinlan, long prominent citizen of Decatur. The American account follows:
Lieutenant William H. Quinlan, lawyer and Spanish-American war veteran, for whom all Woodlawn has been searching for two days, was today found drowned in Lake Michigan at the foot of Sixty-sixth street. He is believed to have committed suicide from despondency over his own illness and that of his four-year-old son "Billy."
The body was seen floating near the breakwater just off the Jackson Park bathing beach by Park Patrolman Sloan. He notified the life-saving station and it was recovered by a crew under Captain Frank Sinnegan. Quinlan was clad just as he had left home on Thursday. his money and jewelry were intact, excluding any theory of murder for robbery.
SON ANSWERS PHONE
While the body was being taken from the water, little "Billy" at home, pleaded with his mother to tell him where his "daddy" was. The telephone bell in the home rang and the child rushed to answer.
"Hello papa," he called, taking the receiver from the hook. "When is you coming home?
It was not papa. It was Sergeant William Haedtler of the Woodlawn station calling to notify Mrs. Quinlan of the finding of the body.
POLICEMAN SILENT
The policeman started to reply, hesitated, and then told Mrs. Quinlan, who had taken the receiver, that he had the "wrong number."
I could not get the owrds out of my mouth," explained Sergeant Haedtler. "The kid's question knocked me out. Someone else will have to break the sad news."
WIFE FAINTED
An hour later Alderman Charles E. Merriam broke the news to the widow. She fainted and was placed in the care of a physician.
"I had hoped against hope that he was still alive," she said, when revived. "After my long search without finding trace of him I thought surely that he was in some hospital suffering only a slight lapse of memory.
COINCIDENCE
A peculiar coincidence was the disappearance of Alexander Brewster, a retired farmer, who lived directly opposite the Quinlan home. Brewster, who is seventy-five years old, disappeared almost the same time as Quinlan and no trace of him has been found.
Quinlan was a graduate of Harvard and the Chicago Law School, class of '93. He married Miss Gertrude Burns, formerly of Carthage, N.Y., at Madison, Wis., in November, 1908.
NAVAL RECORD
Quinlan served as lieutenant of the Illinois Naval Reserves in the Spanish-American war. In Cuba he contracted yellow fever and never fully recovered. He was one of the regatta committee in charge of the Lipton races in the fall of 1905. He had a law office at 73 West Adams street. He was forty-six years old.
Decatur Review, 26 Oct 1913
QUINLAN FUNERAL HERE MONDAY
While in Decatur, W.H. Quinlan, who committed suicide in Chicago, was one of the most prominent young men in the city. He was born here, the son of Mr. and Mrs. W.J. Quinlan. His father was interestered in the Chambers, Bering, Quinlan plant, and was living with his son in Chicago at the time of his son's death. Mrs. Quinlan is dead. One brother, Edgar, is in the manufacturing business in the west. E. Wrigt Allen of Harristown is an uncle.
Everybody that knw Mr. Quinlan had a good work for him. in his younger days he was a pleasant fellow to meet and had hosts of friends in Decatur. It was a great shock to many Decatur people Saturday evening to learn of his untimely death.
HARVARD GRADUATE
Mr. Quinlan left Decatur after graduating from the high school here to attend college. He was the valedictorian of his class. After leaving Decatur he entered Harvard university and later graduated from the Chicago law school. He graduated from the Chicago school with the class of 1893 and for the next two years took a post-graduate course at the same school.
When he finised this course he returned to Decatur for the summer and the following winter went to Chicago, where he entered the offices of prominent Chicago attorneys. After several years in this office he started out for himself.
NAVAL OFFICER
In 1908 Mr. Quinlan was married to Miss Gertrude Burns, a wealthy girl of Carthage, N.Y. Mr. Quinlan and Miss Burns met while Mr. Quinlan was in college. To this union one son, William H. Jr., was born.
After graduating from college, Mr. Quinlan was never actively associated in any practice or business in Decatur. He was one of the most prominent members of the Chicago Yacht club. His first nautical experience was gained just after he left college, when he advanced through the ranks from a seaman to the rank of lieutenant in charge of a division. After ten years of active service he received his honorable discharge from this body.
Several years ago the crave for boating again took hold of Mr. Quinlan. He chartered the sloop Columbia and went on an extended cruise.
BODY COMES HERE
The body will be brought to Decatur early Monday morning. The funeral will be held at 10 o'clock Monday morning. Burial will be at Greenwood. Short Episcopal services will be read at the grave.
Decatur Review, 26 Oct 1913



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