In a letter from Nellie Coonrod written to "Dear brother and sister" in 1940 (or 1948) she said, "Mothers 4 brothers Will, Orrin, Charley and John were all enlisted in the Civil War. Will, the oldest, was a prisoner in Andersonville Prison for 3 months, then exchanged and sent home sick on furlough. Charley marched with Sherman to the sea, was shot in the ankle, sat down by the side of the road and dug the bullet out with his knife and went on. John was just 17 when he enlisted. I think Mother said the two oldest went all through the war. Fathers youngest brother ran away and enlisted when he was only__??. None were wounded except Charley."....Original letter owned by Everett Willoughby, Ray Maxsons uncle who lives in Kansas.

OBITUARY - FAIRBURY, NE (1957)
Nellie Mangeline Coonrod, daughter of Casper and Emily Coonrod was born near Milford, IL July 2 1870 and died at Fairbury August 26, 1957 at the age of 87 years. She was the youngest of seven children and her entire childhood and youth were spent in the Milford community. She married Grant Willoughby January 1, 1890 and ten children were born to this union. The family made their first home on a farm near Milford and then moved to Mahaska, KS in 1905.

In 1908 the family came to Jefferson county to the Pleasant Dale community and later moved to a farm near Munden, KS. In 1933 they came to Fairbury were Mr. Willoughby died in 1937. Mrs. Willoughby was baptized and received into the membership of the First Methodist church of Fairbury, Dec. 5 1951. She was preceded in death by her husband, one son, Scott in 1913, a daughter Grace in 1938 and another son, Grant Jr. in 1952. Surviving are two daughters, Mrs. LK Kirkwood and...

Fairbury Journal AUGUST 1952 Death of Grant Willoughby
Grant Willoughby Jr. passed away at this home near Steele City, Friday, August 8, 1952. He had been in poor health for some time. The son of Grant and Nellie Willoughby, he was born December 19, 1890, near Milford, Illinois and in 1904, the family moved to Mahaska, Kansas, where they lived on a farm for five years before coming to Jefferson county.

In 1916 he married Eva Bloyd and three children were born to them, Eldeena, Milford and Everett. In 1923 Mrs. Willoughby passed away, leaving the children to the care of the maternal grandmother and aunt until 1926, when Mr. Willoughby was united in marriage with Grace Stephens. The family has always lived in the Nebraska-Kansas area, farming in the communities of Mahaska, and Munden, Kansas, and Fairbury, Chester and Steele City, Nebraska. For the past seven years they have made their home on a farm west of Steele City. Mr. Willoughby was a member of the Presbyterian Church at Mahaska, Kansas, a member of the IOOF Lodge at Munden, Kansas, and the Knights of Pythias Lodge at Steele City.

Preceding him in death were his father, a sister, Grace, a brother, Scott, his first wife, Eva, and an infant son, by his second marriage. Survivors include his mother, Mrs. Nellie Willoughby of Fairbury, his wife, Grace; his children, Eldeena Maxson of Pasco, Wash., Milford of Steele City and Everett of Clay Center, Kansas; five grandchildren; five brothers, Byron of Fairbury, Charles of Boise, Idaho, Luther of Rawlins, Wyo., Bruce of Grass Valley, Calif., and Ernest of Chico, California; two sisters, Mrs. L.K. Kirkwood and Mrs. L.C. Watts, both of Fairbury, and other relatives and friends.

Funeral services were held at 2:30 Sunday afternoon at the Nuckolls Chapel with Rev. E. Raymond Heglin, pastor of the Fairbury Presbyterian church, officiating. Burial in the Fairbury cemetery.

OBITUARY - MAHASKA LEADER (15 AUG 1909) Killed by a Horse
Scottie Willoughby, son of Mr. and Mrs. Grant Willoughby, living near Fairbury was kicked in the stomach by a horse last Thursday, and was taken to the hospital in Lincoln Friday, where he died Sunday. As near as we can learn the particulars, the young man was at the home of his sister, Mrs. Inez Kirkwood, and was leading his fathers horse out of the barn when the Kirkwood horse kicked him, and the supposition is that the animal was kicking at the horse the boy was leading, as it was a very gentle horse. The horse struck the boy square with both feet, one hoof striking him in the abdomen and the other near the heart, the force of the blow knocking the lad several feet up against a 2x6, which he struck with such force as to break it.

The young man got up and walked part of the way to the house before his strength gave way, and he had to rest against the fence and call for help. His sister hastened to his rescue and immediately called his folks and the doctor. Seeing he could not help the boy, the physician advised taking him to the hospital, where it was learned that his bowels were paralyzed and nothing could be done to prolong his life, and he passed away Sunday afternoon, being conscious up to the last and apparently suffering but little if any pain. He was 13 years, 4 months and 1 day old.

The funeral was held at the home of his parents near Fairbury, at 10 o'clock Tuesday and the remains laid to rest in the Fairbury cemetery. The Willoughby family formerly resided here and the deceased leaves a number of relatives and a host of friends in and near Mahaska, who extend their heartfeld sympathy to the bereaved parents and brothers and sisters.

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