John Colleasure and Margaret Graff
Husband John Colleasure 1
AKA: John Colcasure,2 John Collcasure 3 Born: 1800 - Kentucky 4 Christened: Died: 25 Dec 1875 4 Buried: - Doddsville, McDonough Co, ILMarriage: 1824 5
Wife Margaret Graff 1 3 6 7
Born: 3 May 1802 3 6 7 Christened: Died: 24 Mar 1885 - near Doddsville, McDonough Co, IL 3 6 7 Buried: - Doddsville, McDonough Co, IL
Father: John Graff (1763-1818) 2 3 6 8 9 Mother: Barbara Baum (1775-1841) 1 2 3 6 9
Children
1 F Lucetta Haymaker Colleasure 4
Born: 10 Oct 1826 4 Christened: Died: 22 Aug 1876 4 Buried:Spouse: Irwin Rutledge (1826- ) 4 Marr: 23 Oct 1851 4
2 F Elizabeth Colleasure 4 11
AKA: Elizabeth Colasure 10 Born: Jun 1828 4 Christened: Died: Buried:Spouse: Alexander Y. Barkley (1828- ) 4 12 13 Marr: 18 Nov 1852 4
3 F Margaret Colleasure 14
Born: 1 Jul 1835 14 Christened: Died: Buried:Spouse: [Unk] Christy ( - ) 14 Marr: 21 Feb 1866 14
4 M William Colleasure 14
Born: 21 May 1840 14 Christened: Died: Buried:
5 F Caroline Colleasure 14
Born: 1 Mar 1842 14 Christened: Died: Buried:Spouse: William Black ( - ) 14
6 M James Colleasure 14
Born: Cal 8 May 1847 14 Christened: Died: 25 Feb 1876 14 Buried:
General Notes: Husband - John Colleasure
OBITUARY OF MR. JOHN COLLEASURE.
DIED at Doddsville, December 25, 1875, Mr. JOHN COLLEASURE, in the 76th year of his age.
Mr. Colleasure was born in Kentucky, and at a very early age made his home in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. Here the greater part of his life was spent. In 1824 he was married to Miss Margaret Graff, and together they traveled the journey of life down to the time of his death. He united with the Presbyterian Church at Mt. Pleasant in 1829, then under the pastoral care of Rev. Patterson. He was elected to the office of ruling elder in 1838, in which he has served the church ever since. He moved to Illinois in 1857, where he immediately found work to do for the Master in the churches of New Providence and Doddsville, where his efficiency as an elder and his piety as a Christian will not soon be forgotten. Elder Colleasure, as a Christian, was a living epistle, read and known of all men, and his humble, meek and blameless life was mighty in building up the cause of religion, for the world saw in him a living testimony for Jesus. Therefore the church and community feel that in his removal they have sustained a great loss. Elder Colleasure loved the Sabbath School, and it was his heart's delight to labor in it. He was a most faithful teacher of a Bible class, for many years, till a few months before his death, when, on account of his failing strength, he gave it into other hands; yet he seldom failed to meet with them. The last year of his life he was absent but one Sabbath.
The end of his earthly life was evidently that of one who felt that he was nearing home. He spent much of his time in memorizing the Scriptures and the singing of favorite hymns, such as, "On Jordan's stormy banks I stand," and "Come, we that love the Lord." He loved the Lord, and the Lord showed His love to him by taking him to Himself without lingering pain and suffering. One of the most prominent traits in his Christian character was his unshaken confidence in God. He never gave way to gloom or despondency. When adversity came he never seemed to be cast down or troubled, but confidently trusted that the Lord would do all things well, and with child-like faith he clung closer to God. Like Moses he finished his work faithfully, and the Lord took him gently to Himself.
On Christmas eve he attended an entertainment in the church for the benefit of the Sabbath School, made an earnest and solemn prayer at its opening, and took a lively interest in the proceedings of the evening. Alas! how little we thought that it would be his last prayer.
He went home, and after a secret prayer, at his bedside, of more than ordinary length, he retired in his usual health.
He slept soundly till five o'clock in the morning, when the Master called. He rose up in the bed, spoke of a strange feeling in his breast, but immediately lay down, and before the members of his family could be summoned to his bedside, his spirit had gone from its house of clay to be forever with the Lord, whom so ardently he had loved and so faithfully had followed.
He was the father of nine children; three died in infancy. The remaining six he lived to see members of the Presbyterian Church, who, with his aged companion, still live to mourn the loss of a kind husband and an affectionate father, whose godly example they will ever remember till they shall meet him, with songs of joy, in the Father's house above; and the church at Doddsville will long remember him as a faithful and earnest leader, whose Christian life is worthy of imitation.H. C. MULLAN.
General Notes: Wife - Margaret Graff
OBITUARY OF MRS. JOHN COLLEASURE.
MRS. MARGARET COLLEASURE was born May 6, 1802, and died at the home of her daughter near Doddsville, Illinois, March 24, 1885. She was the sister of Jacob Graff and Mrs. Elizabeth Armstrong, who are generally known. In 1824 she was married to John Colleasure, in Pennsylvania, and in 1857 they removed to Illinois and settled in Schuyler county. Theirs was a happy life. Nine children were born to them of whom some are yet living. On Christmas morn, 1875, the husband and father passed to his reward. Early in life her mind was turned to sacred things by a prayer-book presented to her by a minister of the Gospel. She united with the Presbyterian Church of Pleasant Unity in 1829. Though several years elapsed between the time of her conversion and her union with the church, yet they were not misspent. Un-assuming, almost to a fault, she manifested in her daily life the religion she professed. She lived not for herself but for her friends and family. For several years she had been a sufferer from asthma. This seemed to have developed into congestion of the lungs a few weeks preceding her death. Her nights were spent in intense suffering, but with coming of day, her suffering would diminish. She seemed to feel that her end was near. Her faith would reach up beyond things earthly and give her glimpses of the celestial city. Her death was peaceful and painless. "See! see!" she whispered to her children and friends as they gathered around her bedside. They were angels who had come to carry her home. She gently closed her eyes and fell asleep in Jesus.
The funeral services were held in the Presbyterian Church at Doddsville. A large number of friends and neighbors assembled to pay their last tribute of love and esteem. After a very appropriate sermon her remains were laid to rest by the side of those of her husband in the Doddsville Cemetery. Well can we say, "O death, where is thy sting; O grave, where is thy victory?"
1 —, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, Her People Past and Present (Chicago, IL: J. H. Beers & Co., 1914), Pg 328.
2 —, History of Indiana County, Pennsylvania (Newark, OH: J. A. Caldwell, 1880), Pg 360.
3 J. T. Stewart, Indiana County, Pennsylvania - Her People Past and Present (Chicago, IL: J. H. Beers & Co., 1913), Pg 711.
4 Paul Graff, History of the Graff Family of Westmoreland County (Philadelphia, PA: Privately published(?), 1891), Pg 62.
5 Paul Graff, History of the Graff Family of Westmoreland County (Philadelphia, PA: Privately published(?), 1891), Pg 65.
6 John W. Jordan, LL.D, A Century and a Half of Pittsburg and Her People, Vol. IV (New York: The Lewis Publishing Company, 1908), Pg 141.
7 Paul Graff, History of the Graff Family of Westmoreland County (Philadelphia, PA: Privately published(?), 1891), Pg 6.
8 —, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, Her People Past and Present (Chicago, IL: J. H. Beers & Co., 1914), Pg 328, 614.
9 George P. Donehoo, Pennsylvania - A History (NW) (New York, NY; Chicago, IL: Lewis Historical Publishing Company, Inc., 1926), Pg 16.
10 —, History of Indiana County, Pennsylvania (Newark, OH: J. A. Caldwell, 1880), Pg 371.
11 —, History of Indiana County, Pennsylvania (Newark, OH: J. A. Caldwell, 1880), Pg 507.
12 —, History of Indiana County, Pennsylvania (Newark, OH: J. A. Caldwell, 1880), Pg 371, 507.
13 —, Commemorative Biographical Record of Central Pennsylvania, Including the Counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion. (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1898), Pg 1155.
14
Paul Graff, History of the Graff Family of Westmoreland County (Philadelphia, PA: Privately published(?), 1891), Pg 63.
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