Ann Rucker was born in 1796. Ann married Peter Tilton Conover, son of Garret Cownover and Lydia Tilton, on 15-Jun-1829 at Adair County, Kentucky.
     Ann Rucker was also known as Joann Rucker.

     (Unknown) married Margaret Conover, daughter of Garret Cownover and Lydia Tilton.

      Mary Osborn Conover was born on 2-Jan-1852 at Menard County, Illinois. She was the daughter of Robert Conover and Sarah Ann Osborne. Mary married Charles Pitman Horner, son of Malachi Horner Sr., on 27-Aug-1872 at Menard County, Illinois. Mary Osborn Conover died on 27-Sep-1939 at age 87. Mary was buried after 27-Sep-1939 at Oakland Cemetery, Petersburg, Menard County, Illinois.

      Charles Pitman Horner was born on 6-Sep-1842 at Salem County, New Jersey. He was the son of Malachi Horner Sr. Charles married Mary Osborn Conover, daughter of Robert Conover and Sarah Ann Osborne, on 27-Aug-1872 at Menard County, Illinois. Charles Pitman Horner died on 17-May-1928 at age 85. Charles was buried after 17-May-1928 at Oakland Cemetery, Petersburg, Menard County, Illinois.

      Robert Conover Horner was born on 16-Jul-1873 at Menard County, Illinois. He was the son of Charles Pitman Horner and Mary Osborn Conover. Robert married Clara Edna Bird on 18-Dec-1901 at Tremont, Illinois. Robert married Ms. Josephine Chandler; 2nd marriage Robert. Robert Conover Horner died on 22-Jun-1954 at age 80. Robert was buried after 22-Jun-1954 at Oakland Cemetery, Petersburg, Menard County, Illinois.

      Clara Edna Bird was born on 18-Dec-1880 at Tremont, Illinois. Clara married Robert Conover Horner, son of Charles Pitman Horner and Mary Osborn Conover, on 18-Dec-1901 at Tremont, Illinois. Clara Edna Bird died on 2-Jul-1934 at age 53. Clara was buried after 2-Jul-1934 at Oakland Cemetery, Petersburg, Menard County, Illinois.

      Robert Bird Horner was born on 19-Mar-1908 at Petersburg, Menard County, Illinois. He was the son of Robert Conover Horner and Clara Edna Bird. Robert married Margaret P. Meets on 1-Jun-1929 at Chicago, Cook County, Illinois. Robert married Mary Van Note at Florida. Robert Bird Horner died on 23-Nov-1979 at Tallahassee, Florida, at age 71.

     Mary married Robert Bird Horner, son of Robert Conover Horner and Clara Edna Bird, at Florida.

      Margaret P. Meets was born on 29-Mar-1908. Margaret married Robert Bird Horner, son of Robert Conover Horner and Clara Edna Bird, on 1-Jun-1929 at Chicago, Cook County, Illinois. Margaret P. Meets died on 2-Nov-1988 at age 80.

      Charles Edward Horner was born on 31-Aug-1912 at Pekin, Tazewell County, Illinois. He was the son of Robert Conover Horner and Clara Edna Bird. Charles married Katherine Howe Harrington on 31-Dec-1952 at Arlington, Arlington County, Virgina. Charles Edward Horner died on 23-Sep-1989 at age 77. Charles was buried after 23-Sep-1989 at Oakland Cemetery, Petersburg, Menard County, Illinois.

      Katherine Howe Harrington was born on 19-Mar-1912 at Waban, Middlesex County, Massachusetts. Katherine married Charles Edward Horner, son of Robert Conover Horner and Clara Edna Bird, on 31-Dec-1952 at Arlington, Arlington County, Virgina. Katherine Howe Harrington died on 12-Feb-1982 at age 69. Katherine was buried after 12-Feb-1982 at Oakland Cemetery, Petersburg, Menard County, Illinois.

     Josephine married Robert Conover Horner, son of Charles Pitman Horner and Mary Osborn Conover; 2nd marriage Robert.

      Florence Annella Horner was born on 3-Jan-1876 at Menard County, Illinois. She was the daughter of Charles Pitman Horner and Mary Osborn Conover. Florence Annella Horner died on 26-Sep-1877 at age 1. Florence was buried after 26-Sep-1877 at Oakland Cemetery, Petersburg, Menard County, Illinois.

      Sarah Leeanna Horner was born on 10-Sep-1877 at Menard County, Illinois. She was the daughter of Charles Pitman Horner and Mary Osborn Conover. Sarah Leeanna Horner died on 22-Jan-1878. Sarah was buried after 22-Jan-1878 at Oakland Cemetery, Petersburg, Menard County, Illinois.

      John Robert Conover was born on 8-Oct-1854 at Menard County, Illinois. He was the son of Robert Conover and Sarah Ann Osborne. John Robert Conover died on 6-Mar-1929 at Blytheville, Mississippi County, Arkansas, at age 74. John was buried at Oakland Cemetery, Petersburg, Menard County, Illinois.

      Judson Tilton Conover was born on 14-Nov-1857 at Menard County, Illinois. He was the son of Robert Conover and Sarah Ann Osborne. Judson Tilton Conover died on 5-Apr-1873 at age 15. Judson was buried after 5-Apr-1873 at Oakland Cemetery, Petersburg, Menard County, Illinois.

      Sarah Annella Conover was born on 31-Jan-1860 at Menard County, Illinois. She was the daughter of Robert Conover and Sarah Ann Osborne. Sarah married Dwight Rood in 1884 at Chautauqua County, New York. Sarah Annella Conover died on 14-Apr-1940 at Huntington Park, Los Angeles County, California, at age 80.

     Dwight married Sarah Annella Conover, daughter of Robert Conover and Sarah Ann Osborne, in 1884 at Chautauqua County, New York. Dwight Rood died in 1935.

      Thompson McNeely was born circa 1804 at Kentucky. He was born in 1813 at Adair County, Kentucky. He was the son of John William McNeely and Margaret Conover. Thompson McNeely died on 4-Aug-1834 at Morgan County, Illinois.

      Robert Tilton McNeely was born on 4-Feb-1805 at Adair County, Kentucky. He was the son of John William McNeely and Margaret Conover. Robert married Ann Mariah Ware, daughter of Louis Ware and Fanny (Unknown), on 12-Sep-1834 at Morgan County, Illinois. Robert married Susan Wright on 11-Sep-1843 at Menard County, Illinois. Robert Tilton McNeely died on 17-Dec-1886 at Petersburg, Menard County, Illinois, at age 81. Robert was buried at Rose Hill Cemetery, Petersburg, Menard County, Illinois.

      Ann Mariah Ware was born on 23-May-1817 at Kentucky. She was the daughter of Louis Ware and Fanny (Unknown). Ann married Robert Tilton McNeely, son of John William McNeely and Margaret Conover, on 12-Sep-1834 at Morgan County, Illinois. Ann Mariah Ware died on 25-Jul-1839 at Morgan County, Illinois, at age 22.

      Thompson Ware McNeely was born on 5-Oct-1835 at Jacksonville, Morgan County, Illinois. He was the son of Robert Tilton McNeely and Ann Mariah Ware. Thompson married Mary Henrietta Derickson on 27-Nov-1872 at Berlin, Worcester County, Maryland. Thompson Ware McNeely died on 23-Jul-1921 at age 85. Thompson was buried at Rose Hill Cemetery, Petersburg, Menard County, Illinois.
     

Hon. Thompson Ware McNeely and his wife M. Henrietta Dirickson McNeely purchased a block of ground from Amory K. Johnson at the south edge of the city, which was covered with blackberry briers and oak trees, and built a home which they called "Edgewood" because of the wooded grove which extendedjust south of the block, 30 acres of which were also owned by Mr. McNeely. The house was built in 1876, the contractor being John Carver, who built many homes in this community.

Mr. McNeely came to Petersburg from Jacksonville where he was born in 1835. His father and mother were natives of Kentucky. After coming to Menard county, Mr. McNeely lived for a time with the Robert Conover family near Tallula, until his father, Robert McNeely moved to Petersburg and engaged in the mercantile business. His store was located on the west side of the square. After being employed by his father for a short time, he attended school in Peoria and Galesburg where he studied law. After being admitted to the bar he enteredthe law department of the University of Louisville, Kentucky.

In 1868 T. W. McNeely was elected on the Democratic ticket as a member of Congress from the Ninth Congressional District of Illinois, serving two terms in Washington, since he was reelected in 1870. It was in Washington that he became a close friend of William Jennings Bryan, who visited in the McNeely home many times.

Mrs. McNeely was the daughter of Col. and Mrs. L. L. Dirickson of Berlin, Maryland. The McNeelys' had one daughter. Miss Betty, who married Nelson Horner Greene of Tallula.

The house, a two-story white frame, has a hipped roof and is crowned by a cupola. Eight of the ten rooms in the house have fireplaces, one of which is onyx, the other seven marble, one being and-carved and was imported from Italy by the McNeelys. The original plastering in this house is very ornate with molded cornices and ceiling medallions, differing in each room. The woodwork is of walnut, the walnut stairway extending to the third floor.

After Mr. and Mrs. McNeely moved to a smaller home, the house and adjoining land became the property of JohnHurie. For many years this house stood vacant.

The house passed through various ownerships and in 1944 came into the possession of Dr. and Mrs. Thomas V. Plews, who like the original owners took delight in its handsome formality, which they were able to restore.

Dr. Plews was born in Cobourg, Ontario. After graduating from Queens University at Kingston, Ontario, he practiced medicine in Brantford, Ontario for a time, coming from there to Petersburg in 1926. Dr. Plews was a 33 Degree Mason. Since his death in 1962, the house has been occupied by Mrs, Plews and her sister. Miss Ruth Johnson.

SOME INTERESTING MENARD COUNTY HOMES by Matilda Johnson Plews in 1923.

      Mary Henrietta Derickson was born on 25-May-1849 at Berlin, Worcester County, Maryland. Mary married Thompson Ware McNeely, son of Robert Tilton McNeely and Ann Mariah Ware, on 27-Nov-1872 at Berlin, Worcester County, Maryland. Mary Henrietta Derickson died on 31-Dec-1921 at age 72. Mary was buried at Rose Hill Cemetery, Petersburg, Menard County, Illinois.

      Bettie Derickson McNeeley was born on 16-Oct-1873 at Illinois. She was the daughter of Thompson Ware McNeely and Mary Henrietta Derickson. Bettie married Nelson Horner Greene, son of Scott Greene and Sarah (Unknown), on 10-Jun-1897 at Menard County, Illinois. Bettie Derickson McNeeley died on 16-Jan-1954 at Menard County, Illinois, at age 80. Bettie was buried at Rose Hill Cemetery, Petersburg, Menard County, Illinois.
     In the census on 5-Jun-1900 Bettie Derickson McNeeley was named Betty D. McNeeley.

      Nelson Horner Greene was born on 16-Mar-1873 at Illinois. He was the son of Scott Greene and Sarah (Unknown). Nelson married Bettie Derickson McNeeley, daughter of Thompson Ware McNeely and Mary Henrietta Derickson, on 10-Jun-1897 at Menard County, Illinois. Nelson Horner Greene died on 1-Apr-1949 at age 76. Nelson was buried at Rose Hill Cemetery, Petersburg, Menard County, Illinois.