Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-02-12
AGED COUPLE LIE
IN SINGLE CRAVE
Mr.. and Mrs. George D. Crabs Among
Earlier Settlers Of Rock
Island County.
Especial to The Argus).

Especial to The ArguS).
Reynolds, Ill.,, Feb. IAN event of
unusual interest occurred at Hamlet
last Wednesday when the double fu-
neral service of Mr. and Mrs. George
D. Crabs was held. They died just one
week apart and were buried side by
side in single grave Mr.. Crabs had
reached the advanced age of 81 years
and Mrs. Crabs was 80. They had been
married for more than sixty-five years.
They were pioneer settlers in Rock Is
land and Mercer counties and were
widely known, having lived here most
Of their lives.
The funeral service was held at their
old home and was conducted by Rev.
Otto l.. Carr, pastor of the Hamlet
Presbyterian church. They were laid
to rest in the Hamlet cemetery. There
were many beautiful floral offerings.
George Dyffield Crabs, son of Philip
and Sarah Duffield Crabs, was born in
East Springfield, Jefferson county,
Ohio, Dec. II, 1924, and passed away
1916. His early life was spent in his
| native state where, as an apprentice
| under his father, he learned the car
penter and joiners trade, also that of
| cabinet maker. He and his father and
| two brothers erected many large frame
| buildings in the early days when they
went into the timber, during the win
| ter, to prepare the material to erect
the buildings in the summer time. In
| those days the carpenters did all the
mill work" During the bad, stormy
weather and slack times they made
furniture, and when occasion arose,
did the work Of undertaken, construct
ing many collins and caskets. At the
age of 20 years he came to Rock Island
county, travelling by boat down the
Ohio river and up the Mississippi to
| Drury's landing, taking a number Of
weeks to make the trip. After coming
to this state he made his home with
his brothers-in-law, John Edgington
and Daniel Wheaton, of near Edging-
ton. He followed his trade of carpen-
tering, and many buildings still stand
as testimony to his efficient and
capable work as a builder. He was
converted and united with the Metho-
dist church in 1S48, and was for many
years an officer in and choir leader of
the Edgington church. And even after
moving to Hamlet he would walk to
Edgington, distance of five miles, in
order that they might have singing at
the services, and this was in the days
when musical instruments in the
churches were unknown.
Sarah B. Hazlitt, daughter of Alex
ander and Sarah Mackay Hazlitt, was
born in Roxburg, Warren county, New
Jersey, Jan. 2, 1927, and passed away
at her home near Hamlet, Jan. 81. In
1887 she with her parents started by
wagon for the west, reaching Ohio in
the late autumn. The roads were very
muddy, 80 they spent the winter with
an uncle, starting for Illinois in the
spring and reaching La Sale county in
the late summer. When they came
through Chicago, then known as Fort
Dearborn, it was swamp occupied
by United States soldiers as fort. In
the spring Of 1889 they came to Rock
Island county, making a home about
midway between Reynolds and Edging-
ton. She spent her early life with her
parents, attending school at Stephen
son, now Rock Island. She was con.
verted when but child and united
with the Presbyterian church at Edg-
ington, and since then becoming a
member of the church at Hamlet. She
was life member of the Woman's
Missionary society and was, for a
time. president of the society. She
was united in marriage to George D
Crabs. July 9. 1850 After their mar,
riage they built home in the soutf
part Of the village of Edgington. where
| they lived until the spring of 1859
when they moved to Hamlet, where
they spent the remainder of theil
lives. To this union seven children
were born, of whom six are living
Armenia, Elda, Sara and Emerson, a
home; Mrs. ]. D. Cooke of near Joy
and Fay Of Chicago, besides 10 grand