Obituary provided by Gail Hutchcraft
Moyer Library, Gibson City, Illinois
Gibson Courier
December 28, 1939
Charles F. Barrow
Charles F. Barrow, one of Ford county's esteemed pioneers, died at his home in Gibson City, at one o'clock last Saturday morning, Dec. 23, at the age of 82 years. Funeral services were held at 2:30 p.m., on Tuesday at Lamb's funeral home in charge of Rev. Philip R. Coen, pastor of the Presbyterian church, followed by the Masonic ritual. Burial was in the Gibson cemetery.
Charles Frederick Barrow was born July 22, 1857, at Winchester, Virginia, one of the eight children of Frederick and Mary Barrow. In September, 1867, when he was ten years old, he came with the family to Illinois, settling first in Bloomington and moving the same year to a farm two miles east of the present site of Gibson City, when the nearest trading post was Paxton.
He grew to manhood in the Scotland neighborhood, and was married Nov. 3, 1882, to Awilda McVicker of Gibson City, who died March 13, 1929. They were the parents of one son, Guy R. Barrow, now living in Pontiac, Ill.
He was married Feb. 28, 1933, to Chloe Rady of Gibson City, who survives. He is also survived by one brother, Hamilton J. Barrow of Gibson City. He was a member of the Presbyterian church of Gibson City, and of Gibson Lodge No. 733, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, also of Bloomington Consistory.
Most of his life Mr. Barrow was engaged in farming and stock raising and for some years was engaged with his son in the automobile business in Gibson City. He had developed heart trouble a year or two ago, but still directed the operations of his farm at the eastern edge of the city.
On the day his brother, Hamilton J. Barrow, celebrated his 100th birthday anniversary, on Thursday, Dec. 14, Charles was stricken with paralysis, from which he never rallied.
Among those from out of town attending the funeral were the following relatives and friends: Mr. and Mrs. Chas. F. Harper, Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Phillips, Mr. and Mrs. Earl Tibby, Perry Phillips, Clifford, Phillips, Mr. and Mrs. Ed Ekbom, and Mrs. Pearl Bobo, of Paxton; Mrs. L.W. Barrow and Wm Barrow, of Newman; Miss Faye Preston of Decatur; Mrs. J.B. Sardy, Miss Hazelle Jones, Mrs. F.M. Timmons, Mrs. John Vork, Mrs. Frank Mayer and Mrs. Frank Taylor of Chicago; Mr. and Mrs. Chas. Foster, S. W. Willis and Thos. W. Kasher Sr., of Bloomington; Mrs. A. Wade and Mrs. June Overstreet, of Champaign; and Mrs. Frank Richert of Urbana.