Epilogue
Sarah Ann Cunningham-Parkinson never remarried. She kept a boarding house and remained in Centralia, Illinois until approximately 1920, when she moved to Long Beach, California. Sarah Ann died in Long Beach on March 30, 1926 at the age of 90.Zettie Parkinson continued to live with her mother in Centralia until 1920. In the 1880 census, her occupation was listed as music teacher, and in the 1910 census, she was listed as a secretary. Zettie moved to Long Beach, California with her mother in 1920. Both Sarah and Zettie are listed in the 1924 California voter registration as residing at 411 E. Ocean Blvd. After her mother's death, Zettie returned to Centralia. According to the 1930 census, at the age of 71 (in 1928), Zettie married an 88 year old by the name of Joseph Hefter. He was born in Hungary in 1840. They were married for 5 years before Joseph passed away. Zettie died August 16, 1946 in St. Louis, Missouri.
Oscar Vernon Parkinson worked as a store clerk and lived with his mother and sister in 1880. On January 19, 1887, Oscar married Mora Bumgardner in St. Louis, Missouri. They had 3 sons: Chester Bumgardner Parkinson, born February 10, 1890, W. Ben Parkinson, born in 1891 and died in 1894, and Vernon McClure Parkinson, born February 14, 1894. In 1900, Oscar was a postmaster and in the 1910 census, he was listed as a dry goods merchant in Centralia. In the 1920 and 1930 census, he was living in St. Louis, Missouri and working as a real estate agent. Oscar died March 26, 1949 in St. Louis, Missouri.
John Parkinson was discharged from the service on August 16, 1864, and returned to the family milling business. By the 1870 census, John was listed as a retired miller. The Parkinson sons probably sold the mill when their father, Hugh Parkinson, died in 1867. John married Sarah Janes around 1859, and they had four children: Addia, Anna, William, and Charles. In the 1880 census, his occupation was listed as pro saw mill. In the 1900 census, John and his wife, Sarah, were still living in Centralia, and John was listed as a farmer. According to the Centralia Sentinel, John died May 16, 1901.
James Parkinson continued to live with Sarah (his sister-in-law) and her children until 1867 when he married at approximately 40 years of age. His bride was 21 year old Ann Warren. They had four children: Frederick, Thomas, James G. and Junia. James also retired from the family milling business and was listed in the 1880 census as a mail agent.
Thomas (Leander) Parkinson was living with William, Sarah, James and Zettie in Centralia according to the 1860 census. His occupation was miller. He married Clara Warren in 1862, and they had two children: Mamie, born in 1864 and Pella, born in 1871. In the 1880 census, Leander's occupation was listed as an engineer (probably a railroad engineer), and he lived with his first wife in Centralia next door to Sarah, Zettie and Oscar. Family records indicate that Leander's second wife was Joannetta (Nettie) M. Kell, and he had one daughter with her, Mora. According to the Centralia Sentinel, Leander survived his second wife, who died in 1906.
Hugh and John (Silas) McWilliams, William's nephews, were the sons of Alexander McWilliams and Martha Parkinson. Hugh resigned April 18, 1862, but died shortly after the battle at Donelson, the effects of exposure. Silas served in the 11th Illinois for three years and was mustered out July 18, 1864. He married Rose Milburn, and they had a son, Hugh. Silas was killed at Pana on I.C.R.R.T. in 1872.
Sarah's half brother, Samuel Wylie Cunningham, was born in 1822 and moved to Salem, Illinois, in 1850. In 1855 he was ordained a ruling elder in the Salem Reformed Presbyterian Church. Cunningham enlisted in Company G of the 22nd Illinois Infantry on June 11, 1861. Both he and his son, George, were wounded and taken prisoner at the Battle of Stone River, Tennessee, on December 31, 1862. George was sent to Richmond, Virginia, and then Maryland. Samuel was soon paroled and hospitalized in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, where he contracted typhoid fever and died on February 15, 1863.
For a more detailed family history, see the Parkinson Family History written by Katherine Parkinson Andrews and read at the Parkinson reunion in Centralia, Illinois, on September 25th, 1912.
©2006 C.S. Parkinson