WILLIAM DUFF 1786-1837, wife MARY DUFF 1792-1868

 

WEBSTER   CEMETERY
HANCOCK  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS

 

WILLIAM DUFF 1786-1837
MARY DUFF 1792-1868

(tombstone not yet photographed)

 


 
WILLIAM DUFF
Born in South Carolina
Dec. 25, 1786
Died in Hancock Co. Ill.
Oct. 24, 1837
The pains of death are past
Labor and sorrow cease
And life's long warfare closed at last
His soul is found in peace.
 

 
MARY
Wife of WILLIAM DUFF
Died April 12, 1868
Aged 76 Ys. 2 Ms. 25 Ds.
 
Rest mother rest in quiet sleep
While friends in sorrow o'er thee weep
And here their heartfelt offerings bring
And near they grave thy requiem sing.
 

 

Author - Marcia Farina

Excerpt from the History of Hancock County, Illinois, edited by Thomas Gregg, 1880:

Fountain Green Township

Page 819: "The earliest settler in the township is supposed to have been Ute Perkins, who came in 1826. The next was John Brewer, in 1827; followed by Abram, James and Mordecai Lincoln, Benjamin Mudd, John Day, Andrew and Pittillo Perkins and Wm. Saylors, all in or about 1830. Then Wm. Duff, Jabez A. Beebe and Jonathan Prior, 1831; Stephen G. Ferris, 1832; Amos Hobart, 1833; Wm. Allton, 1834; Jary White, 1835; Martin Hopkins, 1836; Col. Thomas Geddes, 1836; David Allton, 1836."

William Duff made the trip from Kentucky to Hancock County, Illinois, and settled within the boundaries of what would eventually be named Fountain Green Township.  When the government made the land available for sale, William Duff was given the right of preemption: since he was already living on the land he was offered first choice to buy it.  The certificate was recorded on October 10, 1840, but by then William was almost 3 years dead.

William Duff's 80 acres were due east and a bit north of where Fountain Green would soon grow to a thriving little village.  Follow this link to view a representation and a precise description of the location.  Return using your browser button.

Mary Duff, maiden name undetermined, was left to fend for herself, albeit with the help of daughters, a teenage son and, perhaps, an adult son who married in 1839 and was in his own home by 1840.

1840 Illinois Census, Hancock County, page 208, line 23

Household of Mary Duff
Males 15 thru 19 - 1 (born abt. 1821-1825)
Females 5 thru 9 - 1 (born abt. 1831-1835)
Females 10 thru 14 - 1 (born abt. 1826-1830)
Females 20 thru 29 - 1 (born abt. 1811-1820)
Females 40 thru 49 - 1 (born abt. 1791-1800)
Total - 5
Persons employed in agriculture - 1

From this point on, we are dealing in supposition.

State of Illinois marriage records indicate that a woman named Mary Duff married Joseph Landis on May 3, 1847.  (Usually when a woman had been married previously, marriage licenses were issued with the title Mrs.)  Based on near neighbors in 1840 and 1850, this couple was living in the same general area in 1850 as where Mary Duff was counted in 1840, the latter location presumably being on the property described above.

1850 Illinois Census, Hancock County, page 438B
enumerated November 19, 1850, dwelling #2427

Joseph Landys, 64, male, farmer, born PA, could not read or write
Mary, 59, female, born TN
Caroline Duff, 19, female, born IL

Mary died in 1868 according to the inscription on her tombstone, so we should be able to find her in the 1860 Federal Census - but no.  Nor is Joseph Landis found.  Mary's household is one of a handful in Fountain Green Township we believe were missed in that accounting.

As to the children of William and Mary Duff, we'll start with the Caroline Duff who was living with Mary in 1850.  Was Caroline Duff Mary's daughter?  It's possible but seems a stretch.  If Mary's birth year is accurately deciphered from the inscription on her tombstone, and if Caroline Duff was really born about 1841, that means Mary gave birth at 48.  Mary's other children (tentatively) were born approximately between 1811 and 1820.  We think it more likely Caroline was a granddaughter. She married George W. Landis about June 29, 1856.  This couple is also not in the 1860 census so we don't know where they were living - perhaps with Mary and Joseph?  Another outstanding question is whether or not George was Joseph's son.

About July 29, 1867, Mrs. Caroline Landis married Cyrus Gardner.  In 1870 this couple, was living in Sheridan Township, Crawford County, Kansas.  Caroline was reported to have been born in Illinois, age 29, hence born about 1841.

Tentatively the Duff children were:

i. Catharine Duff, born about 1811 in Tennessee, married Jesse Snyder about December 24, 1845.  In 1860 they were in Beat 14, Panola County, Texas.  Catharine's age was 49, birth state Tennessee.
 
ii. Thomas Duff, born in Kentucky in 1815, married Rachel Lincoln about March 24, 1839.  She was born in New York about 1820.  Thomas and Rachel lived in Hancock County for a number of years, then moved to Van Buren County, Iowa.  They were in Jackson Township in 1870 and Milton Precinct in 1880.  They were the parents of at least 12 chldren, all born in (probably) Hancock County, Illinois.  Thomas died February 22, 1882, and was buried at Oak Point Cemetery, Milton, Van Buren County.
 
iii. Frances Duff, born about 1818 in Kentucky or Tennessee, died after June 1, 1880.

About January 20, 1847, she married James Westfall, a widower with children.  Frances and James had at least five children before his death in 1858.  Follow the link to James for more information on their children.

Frances married Edward Ing about December 1, 1865.  She and three of her children were counted with Edward in 1870 in Pilot Grove Township, Hancock County.  In 1880 she was listed as a widow and had resumed using the surname Westfall.
 

iv. Joshua G. Duff, born July 15, 1820, in Montgomery County, Kentucky.  He died August 31, 1897, in Decatur County, Iowa.
 

 

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