Person Page 269

date calculated from headstone inscription:

CATHARINE

WIFE OF

JOHN

JACKSON

DIED

NOV. 20, 1883

AGED 85 YRS.

4 M'S. 16 D'S.¹

OBITUARY - Evening News 1883

Switch Items

Twelve-mile Switch, Nov. 23

Grandma Catherine Jackson, one of the oldest pioneer ladies of this section of the county, died on Monday 10 a.m. at her home, near Bridgeport, aged eighty-five years. She was a native of Washington County, but settled in Carr Township over sixty years ago. Her husband preceeded her to the land of rest. The funeral took place yesterday. Rev. A. Armin, of the U. B. church preaching the sermon. She was laid to rest in the Jackson cemetery. The old lady was highly regarded and was a member of the U. B. Church and consistent Christian. Her surviving sons are Daniel, Henry, James, Tyler, and T. J. Jackson, the daughters are Mrs. Milt McDanields, Mrs. Betsy Robertson, and Mrs. Macy Reynolds.

OBITUARY:

LIVED TO PASS CENTURY MARK

Mrs. Elizabeth Payne Dies at Age of 100 Years and Three Months.

Four years ago when Mrs. Elizabeth Payne of this city celebrated her ninety-sixth birthday she told her relatives and friends that if she could only live to see the hundredth anniversary of her birth she would be perfectly contented to die. On the fifteenth day of last March this wish was gratified and at 12:20 Tuesday morning this aged lady was called to her reward. She had been exceedingly feeble for several days and her death was momentarily expected. She passed away peacefully and with a smile on her lips.

Mrs. Payne was born March 15, 1809, on the banks of the Cumberland river in Tennessee. Her maiden name was Dawault. When she was two years old her parents moved to Indiana, where she was married to William Payne on January 25, 1825. She came with her husband to Texas in 1873 and located in Waxahachie, where she resided continuously until called to her eternal home. Of eleven children born to Mrs. Payne only one survives, Mrs. M. J. Payne, with whom she made her home for several years.

The funeral service over the body was held at the residence on Wilson Street Tuesday afternoon at 4:00 p.m. The interment was made at ...

OBITUARY - Fort Worth Star-Telegram (Texas); June 08, 1909; page 12; (GenealogyBank.com):

CENTENARIAN DIES

Elizabeth Payne Was a Native of Indiana

WAXAHACHIE, Texas, June 8. --- Mrs. Elizabeth Payne, 100 years and 3 months old, died this morning at her home in Waxahachie. Mrs. Payne was a native of Indiana and had been a resident of Waxahachie for thirty-five years.

LETTER:

Waxahachie, Ellis Co., Texas --- May the 6

Elizabeth Payne to

Daniel and sary Dawalt – well brother i received a letter from you some time since and was glad that you remembered me once more – well i did not answer it for i have been so porely ever since i have had the neuralga i was sick with it nearly all last summer and winter but i got consideralla better in febuary and march so that i could go a bout the house and help doe the work and i walked out to the neighbors a time or toe but that was not verry fare well i thought i was a getting wel – but now i am a getting wors with that pain in the left side of my fase and head well you nor no bddy has enny idea how i suffer with it for i never saw enny boddy that had it as i had it the doctors said they never met with such a case before and they done all they cold and done no good and quit well if i get bad a gain i cant live through a nother such a spel my face is a paining me now that it most makes me jump but i will write on for if i get worse i cant write at all -- well i think i took a little cold last weeak for i got up a bout midnight to see the south side of the square burn down well it was a terable fire and four weeks a go their was one building burned down on the east side of the square that was the only frame building the the rest was brick and stone just new last november the west side of the square was a … … down they have got it all builded up a gain with stone and they are splendid buildings well the north side of the square was burned when we came hear they had commensed building it up with stone that side was accidently burned – but the west and east and south was set on fire but no boddy knows whooe done it -- well we have got a railroad hear at this town now and it makes business lively hear and the town is improveing rapidly – markit is good hear for most everything for all garden truck cabbage heads from ten to twenty cents young potatoes is high – we have not had enny potatoes yet but i will have in a few days my beans is a blooming – we have not much garden for the chickens eat it up – wee are not making much butter now we sell at twenty cents a pound I sell chickens at 25 eggs 10 well it has been dry all last year so dry that their was not much raise and so dry all winter that the peach treas never putout untill after it rained the last of march and in april then they bloomed but the peaches has nearly all droped of – well when it rained a nough to put water in our sisterns and wels we was glad – well henry build a house on the farm and man payne is a living their he is a running a milk wagggon i think he will doe some better now than what he had been doing they have five children all girls – well i had been thinking the last year past that iff i was wel i wold go back to old indiana and illinois and spend the summer but i don’t feel able to travel and so i gave it up i don’t expect ever to see Indiana a gain – well dickie and hattie and pappy are all dead and none but henry and jane and i and i think i wont bee hear a great while – i and henry is hear by our selvs henry has a hired hand all the time but he stays out on the place all week comes in satturday eavening – his name is judson clark he lived in new philadelpha when he was a boy he has lived with us for two years – well sally i wish you and daniel wold take a wild goose chase and come down and see us and texas to i shold think it wold be a great pleasure to you – i think if i was able to travel i wold bea a great pleasure to me – well tell your frank that i want him to write to old aunt betsy and john and all the rest of them well i want you to …. And often while we are on this earth for the time will soon roal a round that we will bee numberd with the dead and we shold bee readdy and prepared when the time comes well hear comes some children i cant think of what to write – i wold like to hear how fred leathermain is getting a long – well they have been having a big time hear they odfellows had a big selabration last weeak and the Sunday schools had a picnic and the rellles is a going to have a big reunian before long – the Texas people tryes to kepe up with the biges and get a head of the rest This is a beautiful mornind every thing is a groing nice the prairie looks so green and nice since the good rain we like to see it for it was so dry last summer that their was no green grass – well our boys is a going after dew berries next week they are getting ripe now – the mustang grapes is big enough to make pie

Note: This letter was written by Elizabeth (Dawalt) Payne to her brother, Daniel Dawalt, and his wife, Sarah (Tatlock) Dawalt. It was probably written between 1880 and 1882. The letter was found in a collection of Daniel Dawalt’s letters now in the Filson Library in Louisville, Kentucky.

NEWSPAPER ARTICLE - Fort Worth Star-Telegram (Texas); March 15, 1909; page 4; (GenealogyBank.com)

She is 100 Years Old

Mrs. Elizabeth Payne is Grandmother of Mrs. E. J. Anderson

WAXAHACHIE, Texas, March 15. Mrs. Elizabeth Payne is today celebrating her hundredth birthday anniversary. Mrs. Payne was born in Indiana and came to Waxahachie thirty-five years ago. She is the grandmother of Mrs. S. J. Anderson, wife of Representative Anderson of Ellis county.

Tracy Devault's notes for JOHN JACKSON:

Between April of 2009 and January of 2010, I was working with a group that calls themselves the Hempstead Jacksons. Back in April I had no idea as to the identity of the parents of John Jackson. The Hempstead group had seen my Jackson genealogy on the internet and said they would like to establish that the John Jackson (1795/1796 - 1872) in my file was the son of Revolutionary War veteran Samuel Jackson (b. 1756 in Prince William County, Virginia) and his wife, Vashti Grinnan. They had a good bit of circumstantial evidence to show that the John Jackson who had married Catharine Dawalt was a son of said Samuel Jackson.

The group had been using Y-chromosome DNA tests to establish that various Jackson lines were genetically connected. They asked me if I knew of a direct male-line descendant of John Jackson. If I could identify such a person and if he would agree to DNA testing, we could all know for certain if our John Jackson was a son of their Samuel Jackson.

I provided the Hempstead group with contact information for Nathan Kenneth Jackson, son of Carl Warman Jackson. At that time, and to the best of my knowledge, Nathan was the only living direct-male-line descendant of John Jackson. Nathan agreed to provide a DNA sample. However, analysis of Nathan's DNA showed that he was not a descendant Samuel Jackson. The Hempstead group suspected that there had been a "parental event" somewhere in Nathan's paternal up-line and that Nathan's DNA was not representative of John Jackson's male-line DNA. They asked me to provide another candidate for DNA testing.

After looking over my Jackson file, I decided that the only real possibility was that Harold H. Jackson (son of Otto Franklin Jackson) might still be living or might have had a son who was still living. The most recent information I had on Harold was that he was alive in 1940 when his father died. Much time was spent trying to track down information on Harold Jackson. Finally it was learned that he had married Isabelle Rozalia Smith and that they had had a son and two daughters before Harold was killed in a tragic work-related accident. After eight months of searching we learned that Harold's son, Glen Harold Jackson, was alive and living in Lexington, Kentucky. Glen agreed to submit a DNA sample. It turned out that Glen's results exactly matched Nathan Kenneth Jackson's results, pretty much confirming that the John Jackson that married Catherine Dawalt was not a descendant of Samuel and Vashti (Grinnan) Jackson.

However, during my initial contact with Glen Harold Jackson, he said that he had come into possession of a very old Jackson family Bible, with some family information on the beginning pages. He said that this Bible might provide some information on John Jackson's ancestors. The Bible was now in the possession of Glen's sister, Jean (Jackson) Hanz. Jean sent me copies of the Bible pages. They were in terrible shape and the family notations are very hard to read. This is what I was able to glean from the pages.

The Bible is about 3" by 5" and appears to be very old. The date is missing but the Bible was printed in Edinburgh, Scotland by Adrian Watkins, His Majesty's Printer. There are many references to Adrian Watkins Bibles on the internet. They appear to have been printed between 1747 and 1760. (Adrian Watkins held the title "His Majesty's Printer" from 1747 to 1766.) There are several hand-written notations on four pages.

On what appears to be the title page of the Bible

"Andrew Pearsall Jackson was born January the 26th ?? 1828."

On a blank page

"Garrett was born the ??th December 1782"

"William Jackson, the son of William & Margret Jackson was born October 30 1788"

"Mary Nancy Jackson was born November the 14 1790"

"Ann Jackson was born March the 3 1793"

"John Jackson was born March (?) the 28th 1795"

"James Jackson was born August 7th 1797"

On the bottom of a page that is identified "The End of the Old Testament"

"Jeremiah Jackson, son of Wm Jackson and Margaret his wife was Born on the 5th day of

december in the year of our Lord 1801"

On another blank page

"Haz??? the daughter ..... and Margaret was born the eighth day of February ????"

"Rachel upon the tenth day of December 1781"

"Elizabeth upon the tenth day of July 17??"

"Margaret Pearsall was born January 2, "

"William was born October 30 1788"

"Nancy Jackson was born November the 14 ????"

"Ann was born March the 3 1793"

Note: The information on William, Nancy and Ann appear to be duplicate entries.

In 2001 a fellow by the name of Robert Jennings published a genealogy on RootsWeb that showed that Jeremiah Jackson, born in Louisville, Kentucky on 5 December 1801 had married three times, the first time to Adagale Brown and that Andrew Pearsall Jackson was the first child of Jeremiah and Adagale. The genealogy shows that Jeremiah died in Clark County, Indiana.

I looked at the 1820 and 1830 Census records for Clark County, Indiana. It appears that the family of William and Margaret Jackson were living in Clark County, Indiana by 1820 and possibly as early as 1810.

In the 1820 Census there are three Jackson families living in Wood Twp., Clark Co., Indiana. William Jackson Sr., William Jackson Jr. and Zephaniah Jackson. In William Sr.'s household there are two males under the age of 10, two males between the ages 19 and 25 and one male over 45 years old. The older male is probably William Sr. The two boys between 19 and 25 could be Jeremiah Jackson (age 19 and not yet married).and John Jackson (age 25 and not yet married).

In the 1830 Census for Clark County, Indiana there are three Jackson families living next to each other. They are William Jackson, John Jackson and Jeremiah Jackson. These are almost certainly three of the Jackson siblings mentioned in the Bible. The age of the oldest males in each of these families match with William Jackson Jr. (now age 42), our John Jackson (now age 35) and Jeremiah Jackson (now age 29). There are four male children listed in John Jackson's family: two under 5 years old and two between 5 and 10 years old. The age of these male children match exactly with the information we have on John's family. There are also two females listed in John's family. One is in the correct age range to be his wife, Catharine (Dawalt) Jackson. The other is over 70 years old and probably John's mother. Zephaniah Jackson is still living in Clark Co., Indiana. There are some additional Jacksons living in Clark County, Indiana including a John Jackson Sr. and John Jackson Jr. Neither of these John Jackson families match our John Jackson.

It seems pretty clear that our John Jackson was a son of William and Margaret Jackson and not a son of Samuel and Vasti Jackson as the Hempstead group had supposed.

GRAVE MARKER

JOHN

JACKSON

DIED

JUNE 4, 1872

AGED 76 Y'RS

3 M's 20 D's.

Henry Davault was the first child born to Frederick and Margaret Davault. He was also the first child born at the joint homestead of Frederick and Valentine Davault. Henry was thirteen when his parents moved from the farm at DeVault's Ford on the Watauga to Leesburg. It was here, at the DeVault Tavern, that Henry lived until he moved to Missouri with his brother, Peter, and Peter's wife. There are several dates given for this move, some as early as 1827. However, records show that Henry and Peter were in Tennessee from October of 1830 until October of 1831. Peter was married on October 27, 1831, and it is believed that the three of them left for Missouri shortly after that.

Henry lived with Perter and his wife for a while after they moved to Missouri. In 1833 he made a trip To St. Louis to enter some land for Peter. In a letter to his sister, Mary, in Tennessee, dated, September 1, 1833, he stated that he had bought a farm five miles west of Peter's. In this same letter he had this to say on the subject of marriage: "I haven't spoken to any girl yet and don't intend to. I haven't seen one that was worth having. There are several girls in the neighborhood. I won't marry any girl that ain't worth anything. If they have a bed they do lay and sleep when they ought to be up and working. I won't have no such girls if I do know it. I will live single all my life." A little less than a year later Henry married Virginia Maughs. Her family had moved to Montgomery County from Fleming, Kentucky in 1832.

In 1834, when the town of Danville was selected as a county seat for Montgomery County, land for the new town was donated by Henry Davault and Conrad Carpenter. Henry owned the western part and Conrad Carpenter owned the eastern part.

Henry died in 1849 and was buried in the Davault Family Plot across the road from Peter's house. Henry's wife, Virginia, died in 1895 and was buried in the New Florence Cemetery. Just 23 days later, Henry's body was removed from the Davault burial grounds and buried beside his wife. The bodies of Peter Davault and his wife were transferred to New Florence Cemetery at the same time.

Peter operated the tavern on Boone Licks Road.

Mary Ann Davault was the third child of Frederick and Margaret Davault. She was born January 1, 1818, on the joint homestead of Frederick and Valentine Davault. On May 28, 1838 she married James W. Duncan. James was the son of Joseph Duncan who lived five miles from the tavern. Joseph was an elder in the Presbyterian Church at Leesburg. James spent most of his life in the mercantile business in Greene County, Tennessee. For a while he was in partnership with his brother Joseph Duncan, Jr. Joseph, Jr. had married Mary's sister, Elizabeth.

Russell (Frederick Russell) DeVault had this to say in regard to the Duncans: "Uncle Jim (James W.) was dressy and smart. Generally wore fine shirts, stand up collars and a high silk hat. I never knew a Duncan that was not a Presbyterian -- Scotch people -- Blue Stocking type."

In the settlement of her father's estate in 1850 there appears this notation: "Paid to James W. Duncan and wife and son, $656.01." Apparently Mary and James had a son, but no other information is known. Mary was living in Charlotte, North Carolina at the time of her death.

Headstone legend:

JOHN DEVAULT

BORN

JULY 30, 1819

DIED

FEB. 4, 1897

AGED

77 YRS. 6 MOS. 4 DAS.

John Davault was the sixth child of Frederick and Margaret Davault. He was born in Leesburg, Tennessee, in 1819, while the Tavern was being built. In 1842 he married Amanda Jane Russell. Amanda died in 1865 and John married Mary C. Carmack in 1867. John and Amanda lived in a house across the road from the Tavern and he operated the Tavern after the death of his father.

John inherited the DeVault home in Leesburg, Tennessee.

During his life he made three trips to Missouri. The first trip, to see his brothers, Peter and Henry, and his sister, Catherine, was made in 1841. He made the trip on horseback and kept a day-by-day diary of expenses and mileage. It took him 19 days and the total cost one way was $16.60. He spent 58 days visiting in Missouri and his return trip took 25 days as it was then winter time. When John arrived at Peter's home, neither Peter, nor his wife, Mary, recognized him. They would not believe that he was John until he showed them the name in his hat band. When Peter and Mary left Tennessee, in 1831, John was just twelve years old -- it had been ten years since they had last seen him.

John's second trip was made in the late summer of 1850 and was in regard to the settlement of his father's estate. John was the executor and payments were to be made to Peter, Henry and Catherine. He made this trip in a two-horse carriage, with his wife and young son, William Bruce DeVault, then three years old. His last trip to Missouri was made in 1859. He traveled by train, boat, train again and finally by stage.

John fought in the Civil War in the Confederate Army. There is a story that was told by Russell (Frederick Russell) DeVault about his father. It seems that the lines of the two armies were continually changing. Sometimes the Union soldiers were near the Tavern and sometimes the Confederates. From time to time John would return home to see his wife. When the Union troops were near the Tavern, John would hide in a hole dug under the floor boards of one of the slave cabins located behind the Tavern. Across the road from the Tavern there is a spring house. (It is still standing today.) Next to the spring house was a large oak tree. Russell says that once, when he was a boy, he picked a peck of bullets out of this tree after a skirmish. Three months after the war ended John was sworn back into United States citizenship.

John died in 1897 and was buried in the graveyard of the nearby Presbyterian Church. The name on his stone is spelled DeVault, a spelling he never used, but was used by all of his children.

Headstone legend:

In memory of

MRS. ELIZABETH DUNCAN

BORN FEB. 25, 1872

DIED AUG. 28, 1843.

Elizabeth Davault was the seventh child of Frederick and Margaret Davault. She was born in 1822 at the DeVault Tavern in Leesburg, Tennessee. She married Joseph Duncan, Jr. Joseph, Jr. was a brother of James W. Duncan who married Elizabeth's sister, Mary Davault. At one time the two Duncan brothers were in the merchantile business in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Elizabeth and Joseph had no children. She died two years before her father.

Samuel DeVault was the eighth child born to Frederick and Margaret Davault. He was born in 1824 at the DeVault Tavern in Leesburg, Tennessee. In 1848, Samuel married Nancy Kitzmiller, the daughter of his first cousin, David Kitzmiller. Samuel and Nancy were married in her parent's large 2 1/2 story brick home near Buffalo Ridge. At the time it was built, it was the finest home west of Roanoke, Virginia. It was reported to be a double wedding, with Nancy's sister, Sarah Kitzmiller marrying Samuel Backman.

After the wedding, according to Russell (Frederick Russell) DeVault, Samuel DeVault and Samuel Backman went into business together in Leesburg under the name of BACKMAN AND DAVAULT. The building they used was the same building that Frederick Davault had lived in while building the Tavern. The two families were living together in Leesburg. By 1860 the families were no longer living together, the Backmans having moved to Sullivan County near Kingsport.

Samuel and Nancy had settled on a farm at Cedar Creek and opened a grocery business. They joined Buffalo Ridge Baptist Church, the first Baptist church in Tennessee. Nancy's brother, David, and grandson, Robert, were ordained there. Samuel and Nancy's son, Frederick, was pastor at Buffalo Ridge from 1905 - 1910.

In 1860, Samuel and Nancy's two-story frame house was destroyed by a cyclone. Their son Frederick was left sitting on the fireplace hearth.

Both Samuel and Nancy are buried in the Buffalo Ridge Church Cemetery.

OBITUARY - Daily Review, Decatur, Illinois, March 31, 1905

AGED MOWEAQUA MAN IS DEAD.

Joseph Duncan had lived Forty Years on his Farm

Moweaqua. Ills. March 31. Joseph Duncan died Thursday at 12:30 a.m. aged 88 years.

Mr Duncan was born in Morgan county, Tenn. in 1817*. At the age of 23 he was married to Miss Susan Debaul of Washington county, Tenn. They moved to Illinois in 1849 and in 1867 they settled on a farm near Moweaqua. They have been living near Moweaqua for nearly forty years. Three years ago his wife died leaving him with his children, Mrs. Mary C. Francis, M.T. Duncan and Joseph Duncan, Jr., of Mowequa and J. T. Duncan of Decatur. Mr. Duncan was a well respected citizen by all who knew him. Since a young man he has been a member of the Baptist church. Funeral services will he held Sunday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock, Rev. Mr. Cooper officiating.

* There is no evidence to support the statement that Joseph was born in Morgan County, Tennessee.

OBITUARY (with photo)

A GOOD MAN GONE

AT OCTOGINARIAN LAID TO REST

Father Duncan One of Our Oldest and Most Highly Esteemed Citizens Enters the Home at the End of the Way.

Thursday, March 30th, at 12:30 a. m. our well known and aged citizen Joseph Duncan. Sr., passed from the scenes of time to those of eternity. While his death was not unexpected yet it was sad. To one who had held with such tenacious firmness to life's affairs, it was truly pathetic to see the hour of surrender come. Mr. Duncan was an honorable and honored man. To know him was to esteem him.

The funeral was conducted at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Nathan Francis, Sunday at 2:30 p. m. in the presence of a large number of sympathizing friends. The service was in charge of Rev. A. D. Cooper assisted by the other ministers of the town. Rev. Rob't. Irwin also made a brief talk. The music was furnished by a quartette consisting of Mrs. A. J. Combs, Sella Thomas, J. W. Gregory and Morton Gregory. The body was laid away in the West Side Cemetery.

The following are the facts of Father Duncan's life as prepared by those who knew him best:

OBITUARY

Joseph Duncan, Sr., the subject of this sketch was born in Washington county, Tennessee, near Jonesborrough, on February 27, 1817. He grew to manhood on the farm receiving a common school education.

In 1842 he was married to Miss Susan Devalt. This union lasted till Mrs. Duncan's death, about fifty-seven years. Father Duncan was one of the pioneers to Illinois, having settled near Jacksonville, 1851. Later he bought a farm and moved to Green county,. near Fayette. He was converted at the age of twenty-two, uniting with the Baptist church. He has been identified with the same denomination while in this State.

In 1866, Mr. Duncan bought a farm in Shelby county, near Moweaqua. He resided on this farm until a few years ago when he and family moved to Moweaqua. Since the death of Mrs. Duncan, he has lived with his daughter, Mrs. Mary C. Francis.

Through all his life Mr. Duncan been a hard working man, sober, of sturdy and industrious habits. He was a faithful, useful church member. Giving liberally of his time and means to the cause he loved. He was the honored senior deacon of the Moweaqua Baptist church. He gave an endowment fund to this church. He was a man of strong principles and decided convictions. His health began failing over two years ago and since last November has been steadily declining until death came to his relief and went to rest, peacefully trusting in his Saviour. His children are Mrs. Mary C. Francis, Martin K., Sarah, Jennie, James T., Robert and Joseph F. Duncan. Three deceased -- Sarah, Jennie and Robert.

Those in attendance from abroad were: J. D. Francis, Girard; Joseph Duncan, Palmyra; Martin Owen, Decatur; Miss Emma Duncan, White Hall; Mrs. R. P. Duncan, D. Sanders, Oscar Owen, Mr. and Mrs. Jesse Owen, all of Stonington; Mr. and Mrs Jas Duncan and Mr. H. Grooms, Decatur; Wheeler Brown, Blue Mound, M. K. Duncan; Mrs. Ada Corzine, Mr. Hight, Assumption; Mr. and Mrs Hilvety, Decatur; Mrs. Edgar, the nurse of Decatur.

NOTE: J. D. Francis was Joseph D. Francis, grandson; Joseph Duncan was Joseph B. Duncan, nephew; Miss Emma Duncan is Emma S. Duncan, niece and M. K. Duncan was Martin Kitzmiller Duncan, son.

OBITUARY:

Mary Worts Houck was born in Hanover, Pa., February 4, 1807 and departed this life October 15, at the advanced age of 95 years, 8 months and 9 days. She was joined in matrimony with George Houck in Pennsylvania, May 16, 1824. To this union 13 children were born, four of whom are still living. Two sisters are still living in Pennsylvania. There are 21 grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren. She with her husband and family moved to Indiana and located in Centerville about the year 1856, where she has spent the remainder of her life.

In Pennsylvania she became a member of the Lutheran church in her childhood, and on locating in Centerville she joined the M. E. church and ever lived a consistent christian life, always dilligent, with the children in attending all services of the church and ready to contribute her part in the social meetings as well as in all other departments of church work. Her faith in the principals and promises of the gospel was strong and her joys were many.

She was a good kind neighbor, always doing for the poor and the needy, even not willing to turn a tramp from her door without supplying his needs. Therefore she had the respect and love of all who knew her, for her long life was filled with good deeds.

For five years past she has been confined at home, unable for the most part to leave her chair, and amidst all, finally she lost the power of speech, but no murmur of complaint was heard, but she attributed all to the will of God and she was happy. After 95 long years of service she has now entered upon the joys awaiting her in the better land.

OBITUARY:

Death of Mrs. Henrietta Beecher

Mrs. Henrietta Beecher, widow of William Beecher, formerly of Eden, died on Tuesday evening at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Bertha Conley, of Philadelphia. Her illness was of short duration, and her death was due to pleuro-pneumonia.

Mrs. Beecher was a Miss Wertz [Wortz] before marriage, and although in her eighty-fourth year, was remarkable active and well preserved. She was twice married, and for years was a resident of Eden, this county, in which vicinity she was widely known and universally esteemed. She was a devout member of Trinity Lutheran Church. Her surviving children are Mrs. Conley, of Philadelphia; Mrs. Jacob Ranck, Cedar Lane; and Lewis Groff, residing in the West. A twin sister, Mrs. Louisa Forney, of Hanover, also survives. The funeral will be held in Lancaster, but the arrangements have not yet been made.

BOOK: An Authentic History of Lancaster County, 1860. "6 PAPER MILLS"

Of the early history of Paper-making in Lancaster county, we have very little definite information. Fifty years ago, the late Mr. John Triewitz, of this city, had a paper mill at Ephrata. At that time he was manufacturing "pasteboard"' by the old and tedious hand-process. He also manufactured print paper, and in later years supplied Mr. Baer with paper for the Volktfreund. Of course, the paper was all made by the old fashioned hand-process. The mill was subsequently converted into a saw-mill. About thirty years ago B. B. Eshleman was engaged in the manufacture of handmade paper, at what was for many years known as Eshleman's Mill, on the West Branch of the Octoraro, in Bart township. We are unable to fix the exact date of the enterprise. The manufacture, however, was earned on only in a small way, and was not a financial success.

In December 1854, Juo. R. Bitner, C. A. Bitner, Baltzer Lipp, Wm. C. Beecher, and Samuel Beecher purchased the old "Fulling Mill," on the Conestoga, at Eden, from D. Q. Swartz, and commenced remodeling it for a paper mill. They procured a new cylinder paper machine from Nelson Gavitt. of Philadelphia, and had their rag engines constructed at the mill. In the fall of 1855, they commenced operations, Mr. Lipp being Superintendent. The mill was calculated for a production of 1500 Ibs per day, but it was soon found that the power was inadequate for such a result. On the 31st of March 1856, one half of the interest of the Messrs. Bitners was sold to Dr. J. II. Kurtz, and shortly after the concern passed into the hands of Kurtz & Lipp, the Bitners and Beechers withdrawing. In 1859 the enterprise failed, and in 1860, the mill was purchased by Emanuel Shober, who ran it very successfully for six or seven years, his being the first pecuniary success in paper-making in this county. He supplied the deficiency in water-power with a steam engine and thus doubled the production. During most of this time George Ehrhart was foreman of the mill, and John A. Shober business manager.

BOOK: A History of 1894 Eden Road and Local Area, 1985. 8

The earliest known owner of the surrounding area on the East Lampeter side of the Conestoga was David Binkley. His properties were centered upon his grist and saw mill at the present day site of the Eden Paper Mill. In 1789 he built a beautiful stone arch bridge on this site. Subsequently the local Post Office was called Binkley's Bridge. The bridge collapsed in 1857. Its old approaches can still be traced.

In 1808 David Binkley sold a 130 acre "plantation" to Abram Zook. This land included the site where two mills were later constructed and much of the surrounding land north toward the New Holland Pike. The deed recognized the existence of water power on the property, and it included water rights ("the right to go through and over the lands of Christian Rohr to repair the dam"). But the deed contained a special clause prohibiting the construction of a grist or saw mill. Binkley undoubtedly inserted this clause to prevent competition with his own grist and saw mill.

By 1815 Abram Zook had built two mills. In 1818 Joseph Zook inherited the property from his father. Sometime before 1834, the Zooks sold the two mills to Andrew Swartz, retaining most of their farm, however. Their dwelling is shown on maps in a location which is very likely the present day Ahl's house. This Zook family is part of the clan after which Zook's Corner is named.

For a time, Andrew Swartz ran the two mills as a "woolen and fulling mill and a card manufactory." The card manufactory was the downstream building and it got its power by means of a mechanical linkage from the upstream building. In 1834 Swartz sold the downstream building to Israel Groff along with rights to continue using the mechanical linkage. Israel Groff turned the card manufactory into a foundry and machine shop. In 1848 Israel Groff built the Eden Covered Bridge and then sold it to the County. He died in 1853.

In 1853 William C. Beecher, Samuel W. Beecher Jr. and Benjamin Harnish bought the foundry from Israel Groff's estate. The property is described as a "factory, machine shop and foundry, dwelling, stable and other improvements," having 1.5 acres. They undoubtedly modernized the foundry's power supply, because they sold their rights to the adjacent mill's mechanical power in 1855. In 1859 Sam Beecher sold his interest to the other two partners. In 1870 William C. Beecher bought Harnish's interest making him the sole proprietor of the Eden Iron Works which had previously been known as Beecher and Harnish Iron Works. The present building (apartments) probably dates around 1865.

Andrew Swartz continued to operate his woolen mill until around 1854 when he sold it to Emanuel Shober who turned it into a paper mill. The Beecher brothers were part of a venture in 1854 which purchased Binkley's Mill and converted it to a paper mill. That paper mill failed in 1860 and was reorganized in 1865. Emanuel Shober was still operating his paper mill at Eden in 1864. By 1868 Benjamin Harnish, Beecher's partner in the foundry, purchased Shober's mill and converted it to a grist mill. In 1881 he sold the grist mill to Jacob K. Umble. A Samuel Harnish, probably Benjamin Harnish's son, was the foreman at Eden Iron Works. He lived on Eden Road.

The two lots or purparts which make up 1894 Eden Road originally came from a 99 acre tract which was claimed or "warranted" by James Marshal in 1733. Marshal never paid the Penn government for it and so he sold his claim to Robert Patten in 1761. Patten quickly resold it to Sebastian Graffe in 1762. The farm remained intact, but the identities of its owners are unknown until Michael Shallenberger sold the "99 acre tenement or plantation" to Christian and Elizabeth Rohr in 1801. It was passed to son John Rohr in 1835, and to his son Abram in 1848. Both John Rohr and his son Abram sold off parts of the farm around its edges for individual dwellings. These included all of the properties on the south side of Eden Road between Conestoga Creek and New Holland Pike.

The two tracts which make up present day 1894 Eden Road were sold from the Rohr's farm at different times. John Rohr sold the first purpart to Jacob Groff in 1847. Abram Rohr sold the second purpart to the Beechers in 1867.

Abram Rohr continued to live on this farm at least until 1899 when he still owned 70 of the original 99 acres. The "old farm road" which still can be traced from the base of the front steps toward Jones' house undoubtedly accessed Rohr's farm before John Rohr sold this land in 1847. It was then replaced with the "bicycle trail" which was used as principal access to the farm after Abram Rohr moved his dwelling to a site very near the corner of the 1894 Eden Road property. (See Maps.)

Jacob Groff was Henrietta Beecher's first husband, also a "machinist." In addition to the tract bought from John Rohr in 1847, Jacob and Henrietta Groff owned and probably lived in the house which was on the site of the present day pumping station. (It was torn down in 1959.) When Jacob Groff died in 1855, Henrietta assumed ownership. Around 1847 Henrietta Groff married William C. Beecher.

William C. Beecher appears for the first time in Manheim Township tax records in 1849 as a "machinist" and "singleman." His father, Samuel W. Beecher, Sr., owned a nine acre farm near the present day intersection of Eden Road and Euclid Drive. William C. Beecher resided there in 1850. He is repeatedly listed as a machinist throughout the 1850's. He probably worked at Israel Groff's foundry before buying it in 1853.

His brother, Samuel W. Beecher, Jr., was listed in the tax records as a machinist until 1851 when he is listed as "innkeeper." In the 1850 tax records for Manheim Township, in the taverns section, is a note the S. W. Beecher "intended an application in January 1850." This confirms that Samuel W. Beecher, Jr. built the Eden Hotel. Tax records indicate that he sold the hotel in 1854. He had a wife, Mary.

In 1857 W. C. Beecher is listed for the first time as a property owner in Manheim Township. Almost surely the same dwelling in which Jacob and Henrietta Groff lived, Beecher acquired the property (on the pumping station site) through his marriage. William and Henrietta Beecher either lived here or across the road on "purpart one." They sold the property on the pumping station site to George Leaman in 1864.

In 1867 William and Henrietta Beecher purchased the 2nd purpart of "1 acre, 30 perches" from Abram Rohr, which, together with the 1st purpart of "1 acre, 20 perches" already owned by Henrietta Beecher, made the present day configuration of 1894 Eden Road. 1867 tax records confirm this, indicating that W. C. Beecher "bought 2 ½ acres" and listing his occupation as "gentleman." (Although Beecher would already have owned purpart 1 by common law through his marriage, he probably never recorded this information until her purchased purpart 2 and combined the two purparts into one property.)

Purpart 2 was probably the land to the rear of the present day house, used mostly for open space. Purpart 1 contained buildings in 1853 which seem dissimilar to the present layout. (See map.) Whether the Beechers built anew on this property or altered existing buildings is unknown. If the 1853 map is correct, they built a new "mansion house" there sometime between 1853 and 1867, probably some years after their marriage in 1857. There is no doubt, however, that Beecher supplied the ornamental iron work for the house and erected the barn in 1873.

In 1868 Beecher repurchased the little house (on the pumping station site) and the white double house (where Jesse lives.) He bought both of these Emanuel Shober, owner of Shober's Paper Mill. Shober had purchased the white double house from Jacob Groff prior to his death in 1855. He had purchased the other house (on the pumping station site) from George Leaman.

In 1870 Beecher purchased a 6 acre property for $1170. It was located upstream on the Conestoga around its junction with Landis Run. So, by 1870, Beecher owned 4 contiguous properties in Manheim Township.

Several facts suggest that Jacob Groff was related to Israel Groff: 1) their names are the same; 2) Jacob Groff was a machinist, probably working at Israel Groff's foundry; 3) Jacob and Henrietta Groff lived across the road from Israel Groff (see map 1853); 4) deed research indicates that Jacob Groff owned the property listed as "Israel Groff Estate" on 1853 map'97. This was the tract (purpart 1) John Rohr sold to Jacob Groff in 1847.

If they are related, Israel Groff was father-in-law or brother-in-law to Henrietta Beecher, and she was related through both her husbands to the "ironmaster." She was certainly the most enduring individual to live at 1894 Eden Road. She lived in the house on the pumping station site by 1853, or before. She lived in the "mansion house" until her death in 1903. She outlived William C. Beecher who died in 1897, and she passed the property on to her daughter Laura Ranck, who lived there until 1914. In 1899 she sold the house on the pumping station site to Abram Kreider.

Abram Kreider bought 1894 Eden Road from Laura Ranck in 1914. He owned it until 1938 when he lost it along with 8 other properties to the Conestoga National Bank in a mortgage foreclosure. While he owned the property, Kreider made several additions to the buildings. He added the service stairs on the north of the house, he enlarged the dining room on the west, and he installed the old central furnace. On the barn, he added a garage to its south side.

John and Edna McNinch bought the property in order to improve it and resell it. Their improvements were mainly in the nature of painting and cleaning up. According to Harris Arnold, Sr., improvement was much needed because Abram Kreider, in his later years, had taken very poor care of the property, even letting farm animals wander through the house. When the bank came to foreclose, Kreider removed everything of value from the house, including the iron fence that was on top of the front wall. Harris Arnold might well have known. He was the attorney for Conestoga National Bank who handled the foreclosure.

When Arnold bought the property, he installed all new electrical wiring, plumbing, bathrooms and hot water heat. He added a new chimney to the south end of the house for a new colad furnace, as well as the laundry room (now kitchen dining) and the bathroom above. In what was the original large kitchen, he carved out a smaller modern kitchen, powder room, front closet and library. In the barn, he converted stable into a second garage.

Helen Arnold was a prolific gardener, and the Arnolds did a generous amount of landscaping on the property. They relocated and rebuilt the front walk, planted hemlock trees to the north of the house, and added the large patio and terracing on the southwest corner of the house. In 1957, Arnolds added the screened-in porch and modernized the kitchen.

THE GARDENS OF EDEN BED & BREAKFAST

In 2005 the home of Harriet (Wortz) Groff-Beecher went on sale. Mark Vogel had the following comment: "The home is a magnificent estate known as The Gardens of Eden, located in the village of Eden outside Lancaster, Pennsylvania. It currently operates as a bed and breakfast. The date listed by the owner is wrong—it was built before the Civil War, probably in the 1840s. Three generations of my ancestors lived there: Henrietta Wortz lived there with her first husband, Jacob Groff, who died in 1851. She married William C. Beecher. They had a daughter Laura Elmira Beecher who inherited the home. She married Jacob Ranck. They had a daughter Henrietta Bertha Ranck. She was the last generation of my family to live there. Bertha is my dad’s mom.

LISTING DESCRIPTION

GARDENS OF EDEN BED AND BREAKFAST $750,000

Eden exists in Lancaster County Pennsylvania. Experience the grand early Victorian house and the lovely gardens that is the Gardens of Eden Bed and Breakfast.

This hideway tucked into a wooded glen on the banks of the Conestoga river was built c.1867 by a wealthy local ironmaster. Constructed of brick, with elaborate use of ironwork trim, the house blends elements of Federal and early Victorian styles. The 3.5 acre site overlooks the Conestoga River with terraced grounds that include wildflowers, perennials, woodsy trails and scores of song birds. The heavily wooded acres are brightened by sweeping areas of naturalized wildflowers, hostas and ferns. Perennial beds and herb gardens add to the beauty and fragrance of the landscape.

Inside and out, this small bed and breakfast is delightful with beautiful gardens, a river view and a beautifully restored home filled with heirlooms. The main house has 3 guest rooms and one owner bedroom and 4.5 baths. The restored kitchen has working bake ovens in the walk-in fireplace. During warm weather, breakfast is served on the screened porch overlooking the falls. The private guest cottage in the restored summer kitchen provides a sitting room with a working fireplace, dining area, and kitchen facilities downstairs; and a bedroom and bath upstairs. The bank barn has a 2 car garage and additional off street parking for 9 cars.

OBITUARY -- Hanover Record Herald, January 31, 1917

OLDEST WOMAN DEAD

MRS. ABNER W. FORNEY LACKED THREE YEARS OF THE CENTURY MARK.

Lived An Exemplary Christian Life and Leaves a Wide Circle of Friends -- Died One Day Before 97th Birthday Anniversary.

Following the illness of one week from grippe, Mrs. Louisa A. Forney, of No. 309 Baltimore Street, widow of the late Abner W. Forney and Hanover's oldest and one of her most estimable women passed peacefully to the Great Beyond at 1 0'clock this morning. She was aged 96 years, 11 months and 29 days, lacking but one day reaching her 97th birthday anniversary, and within three years of the century mark.

For a number of years Mrs. Forney held the honor of being one of the oldest citizens of Hanover. She was a daughter of the late Jacob and Julian Wortz homestead, now known as the Henry Menges farm, mear McSherrystown.

After her marriage to Mr. Forney at the age of 22 years, she moved to the Forney farm, along the Becker Mill road, near town, residing there until her husband retired from active duties and moved to her late home on Baltimore Street. This was about forty-two years ago. Their son the late David F. Forney then took charge of the farm and his son, William Forney, now resides on the old homestead.

The deceased was a life-long member of St. Matthew's Lutheran church, and older residents will recall that when she was but a girl, over three quarters of a century ago, she sang on the choir of Hanover's mother church. She was always active and interested in church work until the weight of years compelled her to give up these duties.

Mrs. Forney was a true and sincere Christian lady, loved by all who knew her, and notwithstanding her extreme old age, always read her Bible and kept in touch with the progress of Hanover and the outside world by reading the papers. She possessed a kind and lovable disposition and was ever ready to aid and comfort those in distress. Her many acts of kindness, as well as, the exemplary life she led will live long in the memory of those she befriended.

She leaves two children, Ezra Forney, residing on the Becker Mill road and Miss Lucy Forney, at home. There are also ten grandchildren and three great-grandchildren surviving.

Funeral, Friday, Feb. 2d, services at the house at 2 p.m., Rev. Wm. I. Redcay, pastor of St. Paul's Lutheran church, officiating. Interment on the family lot in Mount Olivet cemetery.

OBITUARY - Special to the Gazette, 1917

HANOVER'S OLDEST LADY DIES ON EVE OF BIRTHDAY

Death of Mrs. Louisa Forney Followed Weeks Ilness From Grip - In Her 97th Year

Hanover, Jan 31 -- By the death of Mrs. Louisa Forney, widow of the late Abner W. Forney, which occured at her home on Baltimore Street at 1 o'clock this morning, one day before her 97th birthday, Hanover looses not only her oldest resident, but a woman of infinite worth, who will be sadly missed by a wide circle of friends. Death followed a week's illness of the grip. Mrs. Forney, who was the daughter of Jacob & Julian (DeWald) Wortz, of near McSherrystown, is the last surviving member of a family of five children.

In 1849 she was married to Abner W. Forney, who preceded her in death, 22 years ago. After her marriage she resided on the Forney farm, near Hanover, until 1875, whe she and her husband moved to 309 Baltimore St. where she died. Two children survive her. On Feb. 1, last year, the deceased was hostess at a birthday dinner which was attended by her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Mrs. Forney was interested in the affairs of the day and read papers, daily, from Hanover and Philadelphia. She was also an active worker in St. Matthews Luthern Church, having been a zealous worker in the choir of that church during her younger days.

One son, Ezra, who resides in Penn township, and one daughter, Miss Lucy, at home, survive with the following ten grandchildren and three great-grandchildren: Sister Mary Anna of Baltimore; Raymond, William, Claude, Bertha, Irene, Wirt, Elmo, Robert, and Abner Forney and Marx, Louise and Beecher Forney.

The funeral will be held Friday afternoon at her late home on Baltimore Street, at 2 o'clock, Rev William T. Redcay, of St. Pauls Lutheran Church officiating. Interment will be made in Mt. Olivet Cemetery.

MARRIAGE ANNOUNCEMENT - The Gettysburg Times, Gettysburg, PA, December 29, 1941

Out OF The Past

(From the files of the Star and Sentinel and The Gettysburg Times)

ONE HUNDRED YEARS AGO

Married: On Thursday morning, by Professor Baugher, Mr. Daniel D. Gitt, of Berwick Township, to Miss Hannah Wierman, daughter of Isasc Wierman, Esq., of Menallen Township.

On Thursday evening, by the same, Mr. David Wortz, of Conowago Township, to Miss Rebecca Catharine Gitt, daughter of Mr. Henry Gitt, of Berwick Twp.

PHYSICIAN'S CERTIFICATE OF DEATH

State of Illinois

County: Macoupin

Name: Elizabeth C. Kitsmiller (Kitzmiller with an "s")

Sex: Female

Color: White

Age: 72 years 0 months 4 days

Occupation: Housewife

Date of Death: Dec 18 1879 Hour: 3:05 P.M.

Widow

Nationality and place where born: U.S. Pennsylvania

How long resident in this State: Twenty two years

Place of death: South Palmyra Township

Cause of Death: Pneumonitis Duration of disease: Six and one half days

Complications: Fibroid of uterus - no operation Duration of complication: About one year

Place and date of burial: Girard

Name and place of Undertaker: S. Berry, Palmyra, Ill.

Dated at: Palmyra Dec 19th 1879

S. D. Carlile M.D. Residence: Palmyra.

Death and Obituary Notices Appearing in the Herald and Tribune, compiled by William A. Burns

Vol. XXVI. #43 Wed., Feb. 20, 1895

Hunt, Mary C.

Mrs.--- Hunt (my note: Mary C., widow of Warrington Hunt - WAB) died at the residence of her son-in-law, A.C. Broyles, Esq., on Friday night (15th) of last week. She was over eighty-five years of age. Funeral services were conducted at the house Saturday afternoon by Rev. J.C. Hickson, of the M E. Church, South., after which the remains were buried in the old cemetery.

Vol. XXVI. #45 Wed., March 6, 1895

Hunt, Mary C. nee DeVault

Mrs. Mary C. Hunt, nee DeVault, was born in York County, Pa., January 30, 1810. Her father, with a large family of children, moved to Tennessee in 1831. She was married to (an arrow points to this section and written in ink in the margins is: "He died 5 Dec. 1876 Chuckey Valley, TN, according to descendant. J. Troffer. She stated that Jacob DeVault was his father-in-law. Mrs. Troffer also stated that Cynthia A. Hunt who married Luther B. Henley Apr. 6, 1848 (page 34) (Vol. XXVII. #7 Wed., June 12, 1895 - GMO) and two brothers Thomas Hiter Hunt & Warrington Cary Hunt, were children of Henson & Mary (Pope) Hunt.") Warrington C. Hunt, in 1833, and soon afterwards joined the Christian Church. She died in Jonesboro, Tenn. at the home of her daughter, her only child, Mrs. A.C. Broyles, on the 15th February 1895, a little more than eighty-five years of age. Only two brothers and two sisters are still living.

Letter from Lucy Nell Thomas to Newland Devault, August 21, 1952

"The branch of the DeVault family which sprang from the marriage of Mary DeVault to Warrington Hunt has always been close to my mother's. Louise Hunt, who married Andrew C. Broyles, lived for years in Jonesboro, Tenn, where we also lived. In later years they sold their home in Jonesboro and lived with their children, spending some time with each one. When Cousin Louise died and the children carried her body back to Jonesboro for burial in the Old Cemetery there, we entertained them for dinner in our home, my mother being the head of the household at that time, my father having died in 1912. Cousin Mary Hendricks, daughter of Geo Henry DeVault and Emily Berry, who lived in Bristol, Tenn. were with us on that day also. I think all the children of Louise and Andrew Broyles were in Jonesboro at that time."

Henry established a tannery at Elizabethton, Tennessee and it was here that he met Emily Berry.

Letter from George DeVault's grandson, David Sullins DeVault, to Newland DeVault, February 6, 1951

"There is an episode that may be worth telling. During the Civil War, a friend of my Grandfather (George Henry DeVault) told him that a band of Unionists were planning to burn his property at Elizabethton and kill him. He hastily packed what he could carry in two wagons and at 2 A.M. set out for the Tenn-Va state line, arriving at Goodson (now Bristol) Va at 3 P.M. the next day and bought a house at or on the Virginia side of town."

Remarks by William Bruce Gillmore:

Grandmother, Rachael DeVault Hunt, was about eight years old when her mother died and her sister, Susan was a year younger. Their father did not marry Elizabeth Scott until about 1835. During the years that he was a widower, the little girls spent much time at the home of Warrington and their sister, Maria Catharina (DeVault) Hunt. Their father complained that at home there were only the slave children with whom they could play. At sister Maria Catharina's there was their cousin, Louisa Ann Eliza (Lou) to play with, and no doubt the little girls fared better there than they would at home where they would be cared for by the slaves.

It was here with Warrington and sister Kate that Grandmother learned to spin, weave and sew, also to tailor men's clothing, an art that her sister had learned from her DeVault ancestors. Also it was here that Rachal met and married Warrington's brother, Thomas Hyder Hunt, when she was sixteen years old.

Rachel and Susan were always very close, and I was grown before I knew that Grandmother had other sisters and brothers. Apparently, she did not get to know her step-mother very well. I can recall no stories concerning her, but I never heard an unkind word about Elizabeth. She seems to have been a quiet, retiring woman who busied herself with her household, and had little time for visiting.

In 1850, Thomas Hyder Hunt took his family and with a number of relatives and friends, went by covered wagon to Illinois. It was quite a caravan, a dozen or more wagons. Mother was six years old and remembered many incidents of the long journey.

At that time the economy of Tennessee was based upon slave labor, and slaves were expensive, costing from $500.00 to $1500.00. My mother remembered a wedding at which the father presented the bride with a slave girl, and the tale was that it was a $500.00 present. Under such conditions, a poor man who had to buy land and slaves had a hard time getting ahead. Illinois offered better opportunities. Land was cheap and a man and his family did the work and every one was on the same footing.

In the party making the trip were Grandmother's brother, Michael DeVault, and her sister Susan (DeVault) Duncan and their families. Thomas Hyder Hunt's sister, Elizabeth (Hunt) Peugh and family were also in the caravan, and there may have been other relatives. There were also many friends who went along.

They settled in Macoupin County, Western Mound Township, where the family of Thomas Hyder Hunt lived until 1869, when they migrated to Barton County, Missouri. Near here, in the Reader Cemetery four miles north and a little east of Chesterfield, Thomas Hyder Hunt and his son James were buried and in 1900 Rachel Hunt was taken to lie beside them.

Some time after 1860, Michael DeVault and family moved to Pike County and Joseph and Susan (DeVault) Duncan with their family moved to Macon County.

When Jacob Hunt came home from the war in 1865, at the age of 22, he found himself the head of the family, his father and older brothers having died. Mary Emily and Louise were young ladies, but Belvia, Eliza, Bruce and Julia were children.

The family had suffered reverses. The oldest son, James, and the father had died. The boys who were old enough to farm had been drafted, probably because they were southerners, and the widow and the children left to do the best they could. Taxes and interest went unpaid while Henson and Jacob were in the army. So Jacob gave up the farm and went to Pike County and settled near Pittsfield near his Uncle Michael DeVault. They lived there until 1869. It was there that Mary Emily Hunt married Ephraim B. Gillmore.

In 1871, Jacob rented the Stephens farm. It was one mile square, 640 acres, with plenty of running water, some woods, and pasture land and fertile fields. By now Bruce was old enough to make a hand in the field. The farm is one half mile west of Kenoma, Missouri. Later the Ft. Scott and Memphis railroad crossed the farm near the house. They were six miles south and east of Lamar.

It was here that Louise was twice married; first to Oscar Hannah, and after his death, to Frank Barrett, who was a civil engineer on the construction of the new railroad. Here also, Belva married Reason Burr, and Eliza married John Lindsey.

After some sixteen years on the farm, Jacob had a sale and went to Lamar and opened a bank, and later engaged in other business activities until about 1890, when he and Bruce moved to Bates County and located near Adrain. A few years later they went to Indian Territory and prospered. Jacob lived for many years at Alex, Oklahoma where he died. For a few years, Bruce farmed near DeRider, Louisiana and later moved to Jackson County, Missouri. There he, Alice and their daughter, Mildred died.

This brief story would be incomplete without mentioning Walter Howey (born October 4, 1873, married Effie Hampton, December 1, 1901 and died June 12, 1954), a boy whom Jacob raised, and who grew up as one of our cousins. Walter and his younger brother, Edward, lost both of their parents at about the same time by pneumonia when Walter was about four years old. An improvident neighbor family by the name of Denham was caring for the little boys, and appealed to the authorities for relief. The county authorities, being unable to locate any relatives of the little boys, were looking for homes for them. Jacob agreed to take Walter, but as he was a bachelor, refused to adopt the child. Edward was adopted by a family by the name of Sharp. Mrs. Sharp was a sister to Celestia Stuart Peugh, and lived west of Lamar. So the little boys were almost in the same family, and grew up knowing each other. These boys never gave their foster parents any grief, and grew up to be fine men. In Bates County, when Walter became twenty-one, Jacob helped him get started farming. He went to the Indian Territory with them. There he married and later settled in Missouri, nine miles west of Jasper City. He raised a fine family of six children, and they were all doing well when last I visited them in 1928.

OBITUARY:

A MOTHER IN ISRAEL

Death of Susan DeValt Duncan, a Beloved Wife and Mother at Rest In Heaven

HER FAITH WAS IN GOD TO THE END.

Susan DeValt beloved wife of Jos. Duncan, Sr., quitely passed away in death at the family home in this city Feb. 1st, 1899, at 1 o'clock p. m., after a lingering illness of, consumption in which she bore her sufferings patient and uncomplainingly. When asked by her friends how she felt, most always answered she felt better, a proof that she was cheerful and her mind lingered on the bright side of life in which no clearer manifestation of a true christian character could have been exemplified. When told of the death of others that had taken place during her last days, she would say it looked almost too bad for so many younger, more useful persons to be taken while she lingered on, thereby manifesting that she felt her allotted time was drawing to a close. She was a kind affectionate wife and mother who loved her husband, and children and she likewise being loved by them in return.

She was a good neighbor and true friend in the years we have personally known her. We could mention many beautiful incidents in connection with her life, but one of the most impressive recalled to our memory was several years ago when her three sons professed religion. And at an afternoon meeting in the old Baptist Church, Robert, James and Joseph all were baptized and united with the Church, she was so happy her heart was overflowing and being unable to control her feelings. She shouted God's Praises in real earnest until there was not a person in the audience who did not shed tears of joy with her. Her family, including her sister were at her bedside when the end came. The funeral took place Friday afternoon at 2 o'clock from the Baptist Church was conducted by Rev. Jo. B. Rogers assisted by Rev's Paisley, Jos. Thomas, and J. J. Midkiff. The Pall Bears were, Robt. B. Wilson, H. A. Pratt, Robt. W. Hight, H. Grooms, Wallace Gregory and Samuel Cushing. The remains were laid to rest beside those of her two daughters in the I.O.O.F. Cemetery west of town.

Those who attended the funeral from abroad were: Wm. Hight, Mr. and Mrs. R. W. Hight, of Macon, H. Grooms of Decatur, Rev. J. J. Midkiff, of Stonington, J. W. Brown of Blue Mound and Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Cushing of Assumption.

OBITUARY:

Susan C. DeValt Duncan, daughter of Jacob and Rachel DeValt was born near Hanover, Pa., Feb. 13th, 1824 and died at Moweaqua, Ill., Feb. 1st, 1899, age 74 years, 11 months and 12 days. She removed with the family to Tennessee when she was a child of about four years. She was married Oct 18th, 1812 to Joseph Duncan and moved to Jacksonville, Illinois in 1851. Living there about one year, they moved to Fayette, Green county, residing there until Feb. 10th, 1867 when they moved to the neighborhood of Moweaqua and later to the home in this city. Bro. and Sister Duncan lived as man and wife together for more than 56 years. To them were born eight children, Sarah A, Jennie, Robert, and a child dying in infancy have passed to the otherside, Mary, Martin, James and Joseph living. Besides the aged husband and four children, Sister Duncan leaves one brother and a sister, Mrs. Hunt, of Tulsa, Indian Territory, who was present during the last months of her illness. She and Bro. Duncan both joined the Baptist Church before they were married, and united with the Church here in 1867, and have been members in good standing ever since.

History of Shelby Co., Illinois, by Newton Bateman and Paul Selby, 1910, Page 869

Nathan Francis: In September 1865 Mr. Francis married in Macoupin Co. Mary C. Duncan, born near Jonesboro, Washington Co., TN, February 24, 1844, a daughter of Joseph and Susannah C. (DeVault) Duncan. Joseph Duncan was born February 27, 1817 near Jonesboro, Washington Co., TN, and moved to Illinois in the fall of 1851, settling in Jacksonville and later buying a farm near Fayette, Green Co., on which he resided only a few years. He then purchased a farm near Moweaqua in Shelby Co., where he lived until locating in the city where he became Senior Deacon of the Baptist Church. After the death of his wife, he made his home with his daughter Mrs. Nathan Francis until his own death occurred March 30, 1905, when over 88 years of age. In 1842 he was married to Susannah C. DeVault and this union lasted 57 years, her death occurring at the family home in Moweaqua, February 1, 1899, when she was nearly 75 years old. Joseph and Susannah C. (DeVault) Duncan had 8 children: Martyn, Sarah, Jennie, James, Robert, Joseph, Mary C. and a son who died in infancy.