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Note: Announcement inThe Herman Advertiser-Courier [MO] of Jan 6, 1904. "-Offill-Krickhaus (sic)- Dr. R. Offill and Miss Harriett L. Krickhaus were married in the parlor of the White House last Wednesday by Rev. J. P. Koeller. The bride is a charming little woman, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Chas. Krickhaus, the lesses (sic) of the White House, the groom is a prosperous and industrious dentist located at Breese, Ill., where the young couple will live. A successful and useful life lies before this couple, who are brave and strong with many friend (sic)to share with them their joys. May their life ever be crowned with success." [The White House is a Hotel in Hermann.] Announcement in the Hermanner Volksblatt of 1 Jan. 1904, last page. Am Mittwoch Abend wurde in dem Parlor des White Hauses durch Pastor J. P. Koeller getraut: Dr. R. H. Ofill mit Frl. Harriet L. Krickhaus (sic). Der Bräutigam ist als Zahnarzt in Breese, Illinois, etablirt, und die Braut die Tochter unserer Mitbürger Herr und Frau Charles Krickhaus. Das junge Paar reiste selbigen Abend nach ihrem zukünftigen Heim, in Breese, Ills., ab. Wir wünschen dem (sic) jungen Eheleuten viel Glück zum Bunde! There is a Family Bible with dates of the wedding, births and marriages of the children. (Larry Offill Jr. had the Bible in June 2002). The courthouse with the birth records of the children burned down after Ashley's birth.
Obituary in the Bulletin of the Chicago Dental Society, May 19, 1938 p.10 Dr. Robert Harold Offill was born and raised in Ashley, Illinois, a small town south of Centralia, the youngest of four sisters and four brothers. His family traces itself back to the early 1600's in Virginia. After completing high school in Ashley, Dr. Offill took up his dental studies at Marion Sims-Beaumont School of Dentistry, now a part of St. Louis University, from which he graduated in 1903. The financing of his education was accomplished in part by his working as a trainman on the L. & N. during the exceptionally long summer vacations. In his professional life he shared his knowledge with others. He was an active member of the American Dental Association, the Illinois Dental Society (Life Member), and the Chicago Dental Society. His splendid work for these bodies was recognized by his elevation to the position of President-Elect, 1939-1940, of the Kenwood-Hyde Park Branch of the Chicago Dental Society and his election as an Honorary Alumnus of the Dental School of Northwestern University, an honor which has come to only a handful of men. His contributions to the Chicago Dental Society were many. He was a member of the Exhibit committee and public Service Committee in 1934-1935 and 1936. He serve as Vice-Chairman of the public Relations Committee in 1936 and as Chairman of the Sub-Committee on Public Speaking and planned and secured speakers for may public gatherings such as Lions Clubs, Business Men's Associations, School and Parent-Teachers' Associations. In 1937, he served on the Banquet Committee and helped on the Exhibit Committee although not a member of that committee. He was active on many committees of Kenwood-Hyde Park Branch and served as Chairman of the Membership Committee, Ladies' Entertainment Committee and Clinic Committee. From 1903 to 1916, he practiced dentistry in Breese, Illinois, then for a few months in Jacksonville, Florida. Since the latter part of 1916, he had offices at 2676 East Seventy-Fifth Street, Chicago. Dr. Offill was twice elected President of the East Seventy-Fifth Street Business Men's Association. In early life he joined the Masons, Clay Lodge 153, Ashlely, Illinois, 141 R.A.M. and later in Chicago was active in the Woodlawn community. As a young man, Bob Offill was proficient in baseball and tennis. He had that intense Desire to succeed and to win in everything he started. Nothing was done half way-as evidenced by his remarkable records with golf and ping-pong in later years. As a popular and beloved member of the Chiselers' Club, Pittsfield Building, he rose in ping-pong to be a Class A player, respected by all champions. As a family man, Dr. Offill was Ideal. His thoughtful tenderness to his wife was always in evidence. He made companions of his daughter, Margaret, and his three sons, Robert, Lawrence, and Ashley. Dr. Offill was unselfish in his service, sympathetic in his counsel, and wholehearted in his every activity.
Lawrence Offill Sr. said his father took a lot of pictures and developed them himself in a dark room in the basement.
Listed in the 1900 census in household of his mother, single, occupation RR laborer. 1910 Census, Clinton Co.,IL - Breese Village - Main Street North Offill, R. H., Head, Age 31 married 6 years, Born IL, Dentist, General Practice; Harriet, Wife, Age 31, married 6 years, Born MO, Father born Germany, Mother born MO., 3 children, 1 living; Robert, Son Age 2, Born IL . Moved briefly in 1916 to Jacksonville Florida in the hope that the climate there would be better for the health of Harriet. Lived on Colfax Ave briefly (Chicago) before moving to 7417 Kinston, Chicago. 1920 Census, 7417 Kingston Ave, Chicago, IL, 9th Ward, Enumeration Dist. 473, Sheet 5A (Jan. 7); Offill, Robert H. Head, Age 42 widowed, Home owned and mortgaged, Born IL, Parents born IL(sic) & US, Occupation - doctor, dental; Robert son, 12; Lawrence son, 9; Ashley, son, 7; Jones, Annette R Housekeeper 45 M? Born IL, Parents born Germany and IL. (Robert's 2nd wife) 1930 Census, Chicago, IL, Cook Co., Ward 7, Block 175, Enumeration District 16-285 7417 Kingston Ave. Offill, Robert H. Head, owns home of $25,000 value, had a radio, M, 55, 25 at first marriage, did not attend school, able to read or write, born IL, parents born KY & TN, dentist in dental office, worked previous day, not a veteran; Annette R., wife H. F, 55, 25 at first marriage, did not attend school, can read or write, born IL, parents born Germany & IL, can speak English, not employed; Robert O., Son, M, 22, single, did attend school, can read or write, born IL, parents born IL, can speak English; not employed; Lawrence G., son, M, 19, single, did attend school, can read or write, born IL, parents born IL, can speak English, not employed; Ashley W., son, M 18, single, did attend school, can read or write, born IL, parents born IL, can speak English, not employed. [Ashley and his future wife, Betty Divine, lived about two blocks apart when the 1930 census was taken. But they first met a few years later when they rode to work at Montgomery Wards with the same person.]
From the Washington County Gazette (Ashley, IL) May 5, 1938 p. 1 [2002. Tom Offill has the original. No place seems to have issues of this paper.] "DR. ROBERT H. OFFILL DIED SUDDENLY IN HOSPITAL AT CHICAGO, Funeral Held in Ashley Dr. Robert H. Offill died in Chicago on Monday, May 2, at 1 o'clock A.M. An affection of the heart caused his death. He complained of illness for two or three days and was prevailed upon by his family to consult a physician, who advised him to enter a hospital for observation. He spent Sunday in the hospital, and shortly before 1 o'clock that night he called his wife to inform her that he felt better and was going to retire for the night. A few moments later he expired. Robert H. Offill was born in Ashley on August 9,1878, the youngest of a family of nine children of I. H. and Elizabeth Lee Offill, three of whom survive him. They are Mrs Hettie brown, Mrs Otto Thon and Thomas R. Offill, all of Ashley. He grew to young manhood in Ashley, and entered the Marion-Simms Beaumont college of Dentistry, now Washington University, from which he graduated in 1903. Following his graduation he practiced dentistry at Breeze, Ill., until 1916, when he removed to Chicago, where he continued the practice of his profession until his death. The remains were brought to Ashley Tuesday and taken to the residence of Mr. and Mrs Otto Thon, where they rested until Wednesday afternoon, when funeral services were held at the M. E. Church, the pastor, Rev. Gail W. Hines, officiating. Dr. H. A. Walker pronounced a brief eulogy over the remains. Burial was in Odd Fellows cemetery. The funeral was held of the auspices of Clay Lodge, No. 153, A.F.&A.M., of which the deceased was a member. He was also a member of Ashley Chapter, No. 141. R.A.M., Bethlehem Chapter O.E.S., of , and Woodlawn Commandry, Knight Templar, of Chicago. An escort of Knights Templar from Cyrene Commandry,, Centralia, attended the funeral services and burial. Dr. Offill is survived by his wife, who was Miss Annetta Reuter, of Nashville, three sons, Robert O., Lawrence G., and Ashley W. Offill, and a daughter, Mrs. J. B. Hayford, all of Chicago; two sisters, Mrs. Hattie Brown and Mrs. Otto Thon, and one brother, Thomas R. Offill, all of Ashley. Those who attended the funeral from a distance were: Mrs. Robert H. Offill, Mr. and Mrs. Robert O. Offill, Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Offill, Mr. and Mrs John B. Hayford, Ashley W. Offill, Dr. and Mrs. Harry A. Walker, Mrs. Stanley Hasemeier, all of Chicago; Miss Alice Krieckhaus, Kenneth Allen, Mrs. Joseph North and son, Robert, Mrs. Faith Denbeaux, Mrs. Granville Moore, Miss Ruth Duggan, Mrs. J. W. Offill and son, Raymond, all of St. Louis. Mrs. Theo. Reuter, Mr. and Mrs. WYSE Campbell, Mrs. Frank Davidson, Mr. and Mrs., S.D. Hasemeier, Mrs. K.O. Weihe, Mrs. Julius Huegel, Mr. and Mrs. Fred Reuter, N.E. Allen, Mr. and Mrs. Elmer Ayers, Dr. and Mrs. Leeman, Dr. and Mrs. Paul Raben neck, Mrs. Emma Hoffman, Mrs. B.C. Holston, Mrs. Byron O. House, Mrs. B.C. Buckner, J.P. (rest not in copy available) In Jan. 2002, Ashley Offill identified: Mrs. Theo. Reuter as sister of Annetta Offill; Mr. and Mrs. W. S. Cambell as some kind of cousin: Mrs. K.O. Weihe as living across the street from "grandmother Reuter"; and Dr. and Mrs. Leseman as from Nashville, where the Reuters were from.
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