Oscar Benjamin BRITTON

1860 - 1924  (63 years)

• Name	Oscar Benjamin BRITTON  [1]
  	His two-column obituary is partially quoted: "....Mr. Britton has been in the employ of E.A. Vandeveer, deceased, and Major W.T. Vandeveer, since coming to Taylorville in 1891, later becoming cashier of the Vandeveer Ban. At the death of E.A. Vandeveer he was chosen to manage the numerous farm properties of Mr. Vandeveer's heirs. He was always prominent in the Methodist church of this city, taking an active part in all of the church's work. he was superintendent of the Sunday school, holding that office for the last twelve years. Mr. Britton was a deacon of the church and a member of the bilding committee. For many years Mr. Britton was honored by the presidency of the district school boards and was a member of the Taylorville library board at the time of his death. he served years ago as deputy under Sheriff H.W. Johnson. he was a member of the Hyperion lodge I.O.O.F. Amprehel encampment and the Rebekah lodge. Mr. Britton was born in 1860 near Charksdale, receiving his education in a nearby country school, later teaching near Palmer and Stonington....In the death Ben Britton, Taylorville loses a most valuable citizen. Always good-natured, and charitable in his judgement of others he had made and held thousands of friends, who were shocked by his untimely death. He was all that could be desired in a city -- he was progressive, always on the right side of all public questions...He was a high typ of man and his place in the community cannot be filled." "O.B. BRITTON DIED SUDDENLY EARLY TODAY ONE OF THE CHRISTIAN COUNTY'S BEST AND MOST WIDELY KNOWN CITIZENS" "One of the biggest shocks that has come to this community in months fell with the death of O.B. Britton, sixty-four years old, who died at 5:15 o'clock this morning at his home on First Street from an attack of heart disease. Business men and employees told the sad news to one another as they met on their way downtown this morning and with the news a gloom seemed to settled about. Mr. Britton, for twenty-three years cashier of the Vandeveer Bank in Taylorville, for the last eight years manager of the Vandeveer Estate, and a prominent church and lodge man, was known far and wide in Christian County. Death came suddenly and unexpected. Mr. Britton, apparently in the best of health, attended the Methodist Church, of which he was a member, yesterday morning teaching the Sunday School class of Mose Wetzel, by special request of Mr. Wetzel. Last evening he attended the Baptist Church. On the street after the evening services while waiting for a street car at the corner of Stokes Drug Store, he greeted his friends who were passing by. Mr. Britton was born near Clarksdale in 1860. In 1887 he married Miss Nellie Little of Palmer after serving as a school teacher. A few years later he became cashier of the Vandeveer Bank and remained in this capacity as long as it continued in operation, then taking charge of the estate. For a number of years Mr. Britton was president of the ward school board and at the time of his death was a member of the library board He belonged to the following lodges: Odd Fellows, Rebeccas, Court of Honor and Royal Neighbors. He was a member of, and a faithful worker in, the Methodist Church fron childhood. Mr. Britton was one of Christian Counties best and most helpful citizens and his presence will be greatly missed. Surviving are his widow and the following children: harold of Philadelphia, Pa., Mrs. William Lomax of Taylorville, Howard and Edna at home, and the following brothers and sisters: J.O. Wells, Mt. Olive; Alvin Wells, Taylorville, Mrs. Rebecca Cress, California; and Mrs. Minnie Lewis, Oklahoma. Arrangements for the funeral have not yet been made, pending the arrival of Harold Britton from Philadelphia." The Daily Breeze, Monday, March 17, 1924
  Birth	4 Oct 1860	Christian County, Illinois   [1]
  Gender	Male
  Census	1900	Living in Taylorville, Christian Co., Illinois   [2]
  Census	1910	Living in Taylorville, Christian Co., Illinois   [3]
  Census	1920	Living in Taylorville, Christian Co., Illinois   [4]
  Fact	Son of Lorenzo Dow Britton and Melissa Adaline Barfield
  Death	17 Mar 1924	Taylorville, Christian Co., Illinois   [1]
  Burial	Oak Hill Cemetery, Taylorville, Christian Co., Illinois
  Person ID	I72245	Main Tree
  Last Modified	27 Jun 2022

  
  

  Family	Nellie LITTLE,   b. 26 Jul 1869, Virden, Macoupin Co., Illinois d. 26 Apr 1958, Taylorville, Christian Co., Illinois (Age 88 years)
  Marriage	28 Aug 1887	St. Charles, St. Charles Co., Missouri   [1]
  Children	1. Harold Dow BRITTON,   b. 13 Jul 1892, Taylorville, Christian Co., Illinois d. 17 Apr 1956, Newtown Square, Delaware Co., Pennsylvania (Age 63 years)  [Birth] + 2. Edith Vivian BRITTON,   b. 1 Dec 1896, Taylorville, Christian Co., Illinois d. 5 Feb 1929, Taylorville, Christian Co., Illinois (Age 32 years)  [Birth]   3. Edna Lillian BRITTON,   b. 22 Aug 1898, Taylorville, Christian Co., Illinois d. 5 May 1957, Taylorville, Christian Co., Illinois (Age 58 years)  [Birth] + 4. Howard Benjamin BRITTON,   b. 27 Jan 1911, Taylorville, Christian Co., Illinois d. 11 May 1966, Akron, Ohio (Age 55 years)  [Birth]
  Family ID	F29235	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	27 Jun 2022

  
  

• Sources

  [S5499] Ellen Gerwitz, "Little and Slawson Family Histories". [S5494] 1900 Census Taylorville, Christian County, Illinois. [S5491] 1910 Census Taylorville, Christian County, Illinois. [S5495] 1920 Census Taylorville, Christian County, Illinois.