In the spring of 1838, Fitzgerald Woolley and family left the state of New York for the west, coming direct to this township, where they arrived on the 1st day of October, 1838, traveling the entire distance overland by wagon.  They settled on the southeast quarter of section 32, where they lived until 1847.  At that time the family, with the exception of one son, Pardon, who resides in Walnut Grove township at present, removed to Webster, Hancock county, where Mr. Woolley died, in February, 1861.  Mrs. Woolley died in 1876, in Hire township, at the advanced age of 89 years.

Note: When the Woolleys arrived in McDonough County, the area they settled in had no name at all other than the coordinates established when The Military Tract was surveyed in 1815-1816. Named Rock Creek Township in 1856, it was changed to Hire Township in 1857.

As read by Warren Van Dine in 1965, the date of death for F. Woolley may have been either February 6 or February 8, 1861, and Sarah's age at time of death was a best guess.  We have not been able to locate Sarah Woolley in the 1870 Federal Census.

Sarah's maiden name is taken from Ancestors and Descendants of John Coney of Boston, England and Boston, Massachusetts, written by Mary Lovering Holman and published in 1928. This work is a primary source of information on son Pardon Woolley.

Household of Fitsjerel Woolly
Males 15 thru 19 - 3
Males 20 thru 29 - 2
Males 40 thru 49 - 1
Females 10 thru 14 - 1
Females 15 thru 19 - 1
Females 50 thru 59 - 1
Total - 9
Persons employed in agriculture - 3

Fitzgerald Wooley, 66, male, farmer, value of real estate 200, born NY
Sarah, 62, female, born NY
Pardon, 25, male, occupation - none, born NY
Janet Ingles, 15, female, born NY

Fitz Jerald D Woolly, 74, male, farmer, value of real estate 800, value of personal estate 500, born NY
Sarah, 72, female, born NY
Eve, 14, female, born IL

In both 1850 and 1860, the Woolleys were counted near the household of Lloyd and Millicent Robinson, long time residents in the Webster area of Fountain Green Township.