FAMILY TRAGEDY

I read with interest and sympathy the story in the July issue about Mother Allison’s sacrifice of her four sons to the Union cause during the Civil War. She was not alone. Many years ago, I was exploring a country cemetery in the wooded hills and cornfields of Northwestern Illinois. I found a fairly large stone with much family history inscribed on it. After reading about Mother Allison, I determined to again find this little country cemetery to see if my memory was truly correct. Unfortunately it was.

Near the small village of Loran (current population 40—maybe) is the Clay Cemetery. A large stone tells the story of the family of James and Lucretia Parkinson. Their son John, a sergeant in the 3rd Missouri Cavalry, was killed at Palmyra, Mo., and William died near Island No. 10 on