John Flannery Byars married Pelixnia Ann Alvis, daughter of Carrol and
Lucinda (Simmons) Alvis. The Alvis family were charter members of
Panther Fork Church. Their children were
- William Elmer (1873-1941) married Mamie Hawkins,
- Oscar (1876-1961) married Tina Howard,
- Charles E. (1878-1878).
John Flannery's wife, Pelixnia died in 1880 and he married
Rose Brown. To this union was born
- Perry Clark (1881-1971) who married Artie Soger,
- James Burl (1883-1915),
- Alice Webster (1884-1976) who married W. L. Wimberly,
- Leroy Frank (1886-1888),
- Inez Byars (1891-1973) single,
- A. Clyde Byars (1894-1966), and
- Ora Susie (1894-1959) married W. F. Blankenship.
- William Elmer married Mamie Hawkins, daughter of John and Nancy Hawkins
and settled in Field Township north of Divide, Illinois. They were
members of the Panther Fork Church. To this union was born
- Belle,
- Icel,
- Edith,
- Vernie,
- John F.,
- Elza,
- Wallace,
- Charles, and
- Dalmer.
The family moved to Howell County, Missouri where the last three children were born.
- William Elmer and wife, Mamie, moved back to Illinois in 1917.
- Belle married J. L. Bandy in Missouri and returned to Illinois in 1942.
- Icel married J. A. Bandy and lived in northern Illinois before returning to Marion County in 1924.
- Edith married P. H. Robinson and lived in Ohio returning to Illinois in 1966.
- John married Opal Lowry of Iuka and moved to the Joel Simmons farm in Field Township in 1931.
John and Opal joined Panther Fork church where John served many years as. a Sunday School
teacher and also Deacon.
- Elza married Edith Burge, who also served as a Sunday school teacher and
Deacon at the Panther Fork church. Elza died in 1977. They are both buried
in Panther Fork cemetery.
- Wallace married Fay McMeans, foster daughter of George and Emma Hawkins of
Field Township. They lived in Haines Township and also were members of Panther
Fork church. Fay died in 1976 and is also buried in Panther Fork cemetery.
They had a son, Bill, who is now deceased. His wife, Delores, was left to
raise two sons, Jeff and Greg.
- Dalmer married Ruth Frost, daughter of the late Frank and Lucy (Simmons)
Frost, and settled on the Charles Ratliff farm in Section 35 of Field
Township. They are both members of Panther Fork Church. Dalmer served
as song leader and Sunday School teacher for twenty five years. Dalmer
has many cousins and among them are: Henry Byards of Marlow, Betty Austin
of Field Township, Edgar and Donald Byars, Austin and Vernon Bandy of
Haines Township, Doris Riley of Salem, Lois Garlinghouse, Phyllis Smith,
Alma Bishop of Mt. Vernon, Shirley Wilson and Viola Beal of Dix, Dean
Robinson of California, Eunice Robinson of Missouri. Two cousins died
in World War Two: Willis Bandy, son of Belle, in Italy and Ivan Bandy,
son of Icel, in the South Pacific.
*NOTE*
Some ommisions may have occured to protect living individuals.
"Facts and Folks A History of Jefferson County, Illinois"
Jefferson County Historical Society
Printed by Taylor Publishing Company, Dallas, TX Page 107
Submitted by Sandy Whalen Bauer
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