Friday, August 28, 2015

August Ancestor: Sarah Green Sickmon

Well I am home with a sick girl today and not feeling the best myself, and August is almost over, so I guess I should blog about my August ancestor. She is my third great grandmother on my mother's side.

Sarah Green was born in Columbia, Herkimer county, New York on 20 July 1824 to Abel Green and Sally (maiden name unknown). I don't know much about her life in New York. According to her obituary her parents died when she was quite young. She married George Sickmon September 1, 1842 in Hamburg, New York. They were there a short time. Their first child Sallie (my second great grandmother) was born in New York in August 1843, and then some time in 1844 they moved by wagon to Monmouth, Warren county, Illinois. They set up a farm just east of Monmouth. There they had 5 more children, 3 more girls Susan, Anna and Eliza and 2 boys Winfield and Charles.

She was a housewife, raising her kids on the farm until her husband retired and they moved into town. I have found them living on the farm in the 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880 censuses. By 1900 George has retired and they are living in town according to the census. Her husband George died in 1908. It is amazing to me they were married over 60 years. Sarah Sickmon dies October 21, 1910 in Monmouth at the age of 86 years, 3 months and 1 day. According to the death certificate she died from septic cholecystitis, which appears to be gall stones in the gall bladder, and secondarily by senility. Two of her children preceded her in death, namely Sallie and Winfield.

So I have found her in 5 censuses: 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880 and 1900. I also just received her death certificate this week. I have been to Monmouth once, located her gravestone and took a photo. And I also have her obituary. I also have a narrative written by her grandson with a little information about her. I do not have a photo of her, would love to get one. So if you're a relative and have one, please contact me. I have just found the funeral home that provided services is still run by a descendant, so I hope to possibly get a funeral home record.