From: The McLeansboro Times, 07 March 1890, p. 1

Obituary

            Sister Mariah Wheeler, nee Campbell, was born in Williamson County, Tenn., on Aug. 10^th, 1800, and died Feb. 27^th, 1890, aged 89 years, 6 months, and 17 days.

            Her life covered a great deal of the nations history and her recollection of incidents was wonderfully acute and accurate to the last.

            Among the first was the great earthquake which occurred before the War of 1812, and which like so man omen’s did not fail to result in religious awakenings, where both saint and sinner rushed to the Church to make preparation for the final wind-up which they deemed the inevitable.

            After the Battle of New Orleans sister Wheeler saw General Jackson returning army with that noted personage at the head of the columns.

            When Jackson became president and the Indian troubles came up she had one son¹ to offer his services and risk his life in the Black Hawk War.

            James K. Polk was one of her neighbors and after his election to the presidency of the United States her father-in-law was honored by a visit from the President and his wife.

            Aunt Mariah was a Christian.  She professed saving faith in God and joined the Methodist Church in 1819 or 35 years after its first annual conference in the United Stat4es.  On her removal from Tennessee to Illinois she brought her church letter and soon afterward joined the Concord Class in which she has been a consistent member for over a half a century.

            Her last illness was brief, yet she expressed her willingness to die in saying she was only waiting the Lord to come and take her to rest.

            Aunt Mariah leaves a host of relatives and friends to mourn her loss, but their loss is heavens gain.  May we all live so as to meet the redeemed in heaven, where parting is not known and pains are a stranger.

            E. M. B.²

1. Her son would have been only twelve years old at the time of the Black Hawk War.  It may be that reference was intended to be to her brother, William Campbell, who was a private in the Company of Capt. Ardin Biggerstaff of Hamilton County.
Identity of E. M. B. not known at this time.

  Maury County, Tenn., Marriage Book No. 18008-1837: Joseph Gill to Mariah Campbell (Bond, August 11, 1819) m. August 12, 1819

Federal Census Schedule, Hamilton County, Ill., 1830, p. 246: Joseph Gill: males: 2 under 5, 2 between 30—4-; females: 1 from 5 – 10; 1 from 30—40.

Joseph Gill died 02 Oct 1834 in Hamilton County, Ill.  Probate box 1, File 15.  Mariah Gill, adm., bond filled by John Campbell and Daniel Morris.  (John was her brother and Daniel the husband of her sister, Elizabeth.)