WEBSTER CEMETERY HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS |
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Author - Marcia Farina |
Excerpt from the History of Hancock County, Illinois, edited by Thomas Gregg, 1880:
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. Household of Mary Duff
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. enumerated November 19, 1850, dwelling #2427 Joseph Landys, 64, male, farmer, born PA, could not read or write
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:
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