Martha Jane (Wilkey) Herron
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MARTHA J. HERRON Martha Jane Wilkey was born February 11, 1870 in Hamilton County, Illinois, one of ten children of James A. J. and Ruth Cates Wilkey. Of this large family only two survive, Mrs. Ellen Bond of Delafield, Illinois and Marshall Wilkey of Decatur,Illinois. On March 20, 1890, Martha Wilkey became the wife of Charles Wesley Herron, and for twenty-four years they continued to reside in that part of the state, (Jefferson County), until better opportunities for their growing children invited them to this vicinity where, for another quarter of a century, twenty-six years to be exact, they have made their home, making fifty years, lacking only nine days of their Golden Wedding Day when Mr. Herron slipped away to the Eternal Home on March 11,1940. As the years went by with toil and cares and hopes, a large family came to the worthy couple, ten children, of whom seven remain; William, Morley, Mrs. Luella Arends, Walter, Ransom, Harley and Raymond, all of Washburn, except Mrs. Arends of El Paso, Harley of LaRose, and Raymond of Geneseo. Two daughters passed away in early childhood; Viola, at six, and Nannie May, in infancy. The second son, Charles Homer, laid down his life in France in his country's service on the day the Armistice of war was declared, November 11, 1918. There are also twelve grandchildren, belonging in almost equal numbers to the seven living children of the parents now united on the farther shore.Mrs. Herron was the only Gold Star Mother of the American Legion Auxiliary of Washburn. Her costly sacrifice was borne with fortitude worthy and generally to be found in mothers of large families, worthy of the Spartan mothers of old, worthy of the stalwart sons and loyal daughters whom she has left to carry on in her place.
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Submitted By: David Herron |
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