George William "Willie" "Bill" CONANT, born 18 Apr 1902, Sandy Branch, Foster Township, Marion County, Illinois, son of Eli and Valinda Melvin (OWEN) CONANT. He died 17 Mar 1958, from heart failure, at Memorial Hospital, Olney, Richland County, Illinois. He is buried in Sandy Branch Cemetery, Foster Township, Marion County, Illinois.
Bill married Grace BASSETT 24 Dec 1920, at the home of W.J. Chance, Justice of the Peace, which was located at the corner of Kinoka Road and McNicol Road in Foster Township, Marion County, Illinois. The best man was Odell Marvin Conant, Bill?s brother. Lovell Green was the maid of honor.
Grace was born 14 Feb 1903, Bassett Homestead, Foster Township, Marion County, Illinois, daughter of Elmer and Maggie (McWhirter) Bassett. She died 27 Dec 1979, St. Mary's Hospital, Centralia, Marion County, Illinois. She is buried next to Bill in Sandy Branch Cemetery.
Grace was descended from the Mayflower Pilgrims. Her Mayflower lines may be found at: Master Richard WARREN , and Elder William BREWSTER and Master Richard Warren
After Bill and Grace were married, they bought a two-bedroom, four room house on the Kinoka Road, Foster Township, near the Kinmundy Township line. They lived there about five years. Their sons were born there.
Bill and Grace and their sons moved to the Village of Alma, Marion County, Illinois. There they rented a home with two bedrooms, a kitchen, dining room, and a large living room. They lived there about two years. Their daughter, Betty, was born there. While living in Alma, Bill worked for the Wilson Poultry House.
Bill began working in the oil fields, so he decided to move closer to his work. They moved into the Claud Rainey home in Tonti Townhip, Marion County, Illinois. They lived there about two years. Daughter Marjorie was born there. Bill also farmed while living there.
Bill decided to make another move so that he would be closer to his mother. They moved into the Arnold home at Sandy Branch. They lived there for two years. Their daughter Donna was born there.
They decided to build their own place. Bill built a cottage that consisted of two bedrooms, a kitchen-dining room and living room. He built this on the Conant property on the bluff above East Fork Creek (of the Kaskaskia River). A beautiful view. Near this bluff was the Indian spring. The spring had wonderful soft spring water. A lot of Indian arrow heads were also found there. Their daughter, Monna, was born while living there.
After the death of Bill's mother, they moved into the Eli Conant home. This was a nice home with a large barn and out buildings. Located on the hill southeast of Sandy Branch. The setting look much like that of the Walton's home on the tv series.
Bill was a carpenter. He was also an insurance man for Family Life and Mutual of Omaha Insurance. Bill was a hard working man, but it was not easy raising a big family during the depression.
Grace was born into the well-to-do Bassett Family. Although her father had plenty of money, he brought his family up to be hard working. They did not receive the benefits that most rich children received. Their father was a stern man and did not spend his money very freely on his family, although anyone in the community could borrow money from him. He did see to it that they lived in a nice home and were clothed well.
Grace attended the area's country schools. Her main school was Pleasant Grove, commonly called Buzzard Roost, because of the many buzzards in the area. It later became Jones School. It was located on Jones Road in Foster Township, on the west side of the road between Kinoka and Sandy Branch Road. This was section 21. She also attended summer school at Sandy Branch School, which was located on Section 23 on Sandy Branch Road at the south end of Albert Lane (formerly known as Rabb's Road). She received high grades and loved school. She wanted to go to high school, but her father would not pay for her to stay in town so that she could attend high school, even though he had the money to do so. She attended 8th grade twice just so she could have one more year of school. She taught school at Sandy Branch one summer before she was married.
After the death of Bill, Grace and her son, Dale, who was confined to a wheelchair, bought a home in Kinmundy on Porter Street, on the east end of town. The home consisted of one bedroom and kitchen and living room. She had it built onto until it had two large bedrooms, a very large living room, kitchen-dining room, pantry, bathroom, and utility room. She also had a garage built. It was a very nice home. She sold the Conant farm at Sandy Branch. She lived in Kinmundy for several years, but she always missed the country.
In the fall of 1978, she sold her home and bought a mobile-home. She had it placed on the Frakes property, next to her daughter's home on the Kinoka Road in Foster Township. She was happy to be in the country again. She lived there until her death. She was extremely ill for about four months before her death. She was first at St. John's Hospital in Springfield, then St. Mary's Hospital in Centralia, where she died.
They adhered to no particular religion, although I had often heard Grandma Grace say that she had enough Baptist in her to believe such-and such. She was a good woman, wife, mother and grandmother. She loved to laugh and she had a smile that just made you happy when you saw her smile. I can still hear her laughing and see her smiling and smell the aroma of her freshly made homemade bread. She was a wonderful lady. A jewel. I was only six months old when Grandpa Bill died, so I never knew him.
Bill and Grace were both Republicans. Grace's family were Republican, but all of the Conants were Democrat. Bill changed his politics to Republican. Grandma Grace said that some Grandpa's family blamed her for him changing, but she insisted that she had nothing to do with it.
Both Bill and Grace had their funerals at Linton's Funeral Home in Kinmundy. Rev. Albert W. Perry officiated at Bill's. Rev. Russell Fry officiated at Grace's. They are buried next to each other with the other Conants at Sandy Branch Cemetery, Foster Township, Marion County, Illinois.
Children of George William and Grace (BASSETT) CONANT:
1. Lyle Eli CONANT, born 1 Dec 1921 and died 24 Sep 1988. Burial in Sandy Branch Cemetery.
Joan Evelyn REDDEN (1926-1959), of Northamptonshire, England.
2. Elmer Dale CONANT, born 28 Sep 1925 and died 29 Jun 1961. Burial in Sandy Branch Cemetery.
3. Betty Lou CONANT, born 31 May 1927 and died 12 Jan 2014. Burial in Sandy Branch Cemetery.
Betty married 1st Charles Robert SEE (1921-1990).
Betty married 2nd Bill BOYD (1926-2009).
4. Marjorie Edith CONANT, born 15 Dec 1929 and died 25 Jun 2013. Burial in Sandy Branch Cemetery.
married Darrell Floyd JONES (1926-1993). Burial in Sandy Branch Cemetery.
5. Donna June CONANT, born 1 Jun 1932 and died 31 Jul 1946. Burial in Sandy Branch Cemetery.
6. Monna Marilyn "Polly" CONANT, born 17 Dec 1933.
Monna married Philip Howard FRAKES (1929-2005). Burial in Sandy Branch Cemetery.
Grandchildren of George William and Grace (BASSETT) CONANT:
1. Lyle Conant REDDEN, born 28 Aug 1944, Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, England.
Lyle married Diana Kathleen PAGE. She was born 25 Sep 1945.
2. Connie LaDon JONES, born 15 Sep 1949, Marion County, Illinois.
Connie married James Ray BRUBAKER. He was born 8 Jul 1946, Salem, Illinois.
3. Stanley Floyd JONES, born 31 Oct 1951, Salem, Illinois.
Stan married Linda Gayle MITCHELL. She was born 12 Jul 1952, Salem, Illinois.
4. Pamela Reneé "Pam" SEE, born 29 Mar 1953, Oak Park, Cook County, Illinois.
Pam married Douglas Mark FONTANA. He was born 30 Jul 1955, Phoenix, Arizona.
5. Roger Merle JONES, born 21 Aug 1953, Salem, Illinois.
Roger Cathy Ann DeVORE. She was born 2 Jan 1956, Salem, Illinois.
6. Tanya Rae FRAKES, born 7 Jul 1955, Highland, Illinois. Tanya died 23 Jan 2010, Salem, Marion County, Illinois.
Tanya married 1st Roddy Alan COURTRIGHT.
Tanya married 2nd David Joseph BELFIORE.
7. Stephen Philip Howard FRAKES, born 2 Oct 1957, Highland, Illinois.
8. Terri June FRAKES, born 22 Apr 1962, Highland, Illinois.
Terri married Richard Dale ADAMS. He was born 9 May 1961, Centralia, Illinois.
Great-Grandchildren of George William and Grace (BASSETT) CONANT:
1. Bernadette Joan REDDEN, born 2 Sep 1967, Northamptonshire, England.
Bernadette married Jonathan Mark FRISBY. He was born 13 Feb 1963.
2. Louise Catherine REDDEN, born 23 Jun 1970, Northamptonshire, England.
Louise married Phillip Paul MORTIMER. He was born 10 Sep 1972.
3. Nathan Roddy Alan COURTRIGHT, born 11 Dec 1973, Centralia, Illinois.
Nathan married Angela Jaye "Angie" (ALBERT) RILEY. She was born 18 Mar 1972.
4. Stephanie Joan "Steph" BRUBAKER, born 7 Nov 1975, Litchfield, Illinois.
Stephanie married Matthew Alan LAWSON.
3. Ryan Stanton JONES, born 4 Jun 1978, Centralia, Illinois. (Son of Stan and Linda)
4. Benjamin James "Ben" BRUBAKER, born 21 Feb 1979 in Litchfield, Illinois.
Ben married Jennifer Kaye "Jenny" GRAHAM. She was born 17 Sep 1980.
5. Denise Lynn JONES, born 10 Feb 1981, Centralia, Illinois. (Daughter of Stan and Linda)
6. Joseph Adam "Joey" JONES, born 3 Jul 1981, Centralia, Illinois. (Son of Roger and Cathy)
Joey married Candice Michelle MALONE.
7. Trent Maurice ADAMS, born 5 Dec 1982, Centralia, Illinois.
8. Elaine Nichole "Elly" JONES, born 29 Sep 1983, St. Louis, Missouri. (Daughter of Roger and Cathy)
Elly married 1st Justin Joseph GRZEGOREK.
Elly married 2nd Troy OWENS.
9. Dustin Kade "Dusty" JONES, born 23 Aug 1985, Effingham, Illinois. (Son of Roger and Cathy) He died 22 Apr 2005, Foster Township, Marion County, Illinois.
10.Brock Richard ADAMS, born 26 Sep 1985, Centralia, Illinois.
Brock married Lauren Elizabeth Matheny.
11.David Philip Anthony BELFIORE, born 18 Oct 1985, Orlando, Florida.
David married 1st Samantha DANIELS. She was born 17 Aug 1990.
David married 2nd Andrea MORLAN. She was born 23 Jan 1991.
12.Daniel William Eli BELIFRORE, born 3 Feb 1992, Belleville, Illinois.
Daniel married Erica Amber-lynn CASNER. Daughter of Nikki CASNER and Terry L. GARREN. She was born 21 Jul 1994.
Great-Great-Grandchildren of George William and Grace (BASSETT) CONANT:
1. Christopher James FRISBY, born 3 Nov 1991, Northamptonshire Engalnd.
2. Matthew Lyle MORTIMER, born 3 Oct 1997, Northamptonshire, England.
3. Thomas Phillip MORTIMER, born 17 Feb 1999, Northamptonshire, England.
4. Mitchell Connor FRISBY, born 17 Dec 1999, Northamptonshire, England.
5. Madison Jaye COURTRIGHT, born 29 Mar 2002, Breese, Illinois.
6. Jayden Mikeal McCLELLAND GRZEGOREK, born 5 Aug 2002. (Son of Elly and adopted son of Justin.)
7. Wyatt Joseph JONES, born 10 May 2006, Breese, Clinton County, Illinois. (Son of Joey and Candice.)
8. Macee Lynn GRZEGOREK, born 28 Sep 2007, Illinois.
9. Emma Eileen "Emie" JONES, born 2007, daughter of Joey and Candice.
10. Hannah Grace LAWSON, born 31 Dec 2008, Rush Copley Hospital, Aurora, Kane County, Illinois.
11. Wyatt Rodney William BELFIORE, born 17 Dec 2009, Breese, Clinton County, Illinois. (Son of David and Samantha (Daniels) Belfiore.)
12. Emma Eileen BRUBAKER, born 23 Jan 2010, Illinois.
13. Grace Marie "Gracie" BRUBAKER, born Thursday, 26 Apr 2012, Illinois.
14. Ryleigh Rae BELFIORE, born 6 Dec 2013, Centralia, Marion County, Illinois. (Daughter of Daniel and Erica.)
15. child OWENS, born 2014, Illinois. (child of Elly and Troy)
16. Hadleigh BELFIORE, born 11 Jul 2014, Breese, Clinton County, Illinois. (Daughter of David and Andrea.)
17. Grayson Leo ADAMS, born 17 Aug 2015, Effingham, Effingham County, Illinois. (Son of Brock and Lauren (Matheny) Adams.)
18. Waylon David Maverick BELFIORE, born 26 Nov 2015, Breese, Clinton County, Illinois. (Son of David and Andrea.)
19. Ryleigh Jaymes JONES, born 3 Jan 2017, Fenton, Missouri. (Daughter of Ryan and Amanda (Register) Jones.)
20. Zella Rose BEASLEY, born 24 Jan 2018. (Daughter of Dennis and Denise (Jones) Beasley.)
21. Emmett Warren BELFIORE, born 30 Oct 2018, Effingham, Effingham County, Illinois. (Son of Brock and Lauren (Matheny) Adams.)
22. Riley WILKINS, born Jan 2022, Breese, Illinois. (Son of Adam and Jill (Riley) Wilkins.)
