Honeyman Family of Mercer Co, Illinois
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Honeyman Family
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Alternate Spellings: Hunniman, Hunnaman, Hunneman (Note: these spellings were never used by this Honeyman family, but were sometimes used by stonecutters for tombstones and by census takers if they were of German extraction)

Links: Noble, Jackson, Finch, Eikenberry, Long, Davis, Thornton, Willits, Woodward, Pullen, McGreer, Joseph Noell's Web Site (has information on the Honeyman and Thornton family)

Contacts: Jill Martin and Nadine Holder are both descendants of David Honeyman(email Nadine on About Us page); Nora Eisenhour for the John Long Honeyman family; Vivian Thurman for the William Jackson Honeyman family; Joseph L. Noell for the George W. & Sarah Thornton Honeyman family; Raylene Lamb for the William Jackson Honeyman family. We owe much to Nora Eisenhour, Marie Musgrave, and Gale Spitler Honeyman. Marie has done a book on the Honeymans and Gale Honeyman has researched them for years. .

Photos: John Long Honeyman; Sarah Jarvis Honeyman; George Washington Honeyman; Sarah Thornton Honeyman; George Washington Honeyman Family;
Children of Cyrus &Isophene Honeyman Davis (see our Davis web page for more on this family); Charles & Barbara Honeyman Tombstone, Belle Honeyman Tombstone

The descendants of David Honeyman who came to Mercer County were children of David and Isabella Long Honeyman. David was the son of Charles and Barbara Moore Honeyman of Virginia, and Miami County, Ohio. He was born March 26, 1802 in Hampshire County, Virginia (now part of West Virginia). This Honeyman family is thought to be descended from Samuel Honeyman of England and William and Anne Honeyman of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Members of the family are buried at Christ Church in Philadelphia. The Honeyman Family in Scotland and America by A. Van Doren Honeyman, 1909, contains interesting history of the family and its achievements. There is little about David and family, but some speculation on his ties to Samuel Honeyman. Marie Musgrave of Hutchinson, Kansas, published much of the Honeyman research done to date in 1995, including that done by genealogist Gale Spitler Honeyman. The name of the book is The Honeyman Family. The book is out of print, but we do know that Marie placed a copy in the LDS Library in Salt Lake City. We also have a copy of both books.

David Honeyman was married first to Elizabeth Sterling of Fayette County, Pennsylvania. She died early and as far as we know there were no surviving children of this marriage. David married second to Isabella Long, daughter of Andrew and Jemima Santee Long, on September 10, 1823, in Fayette County, Pennsylvania. Many of the Long descendants came to Mercer County, Illinois, some as early as 1835.

The Move to Indiana

The Honeymans and Longs, Retherfords and Pratts and probably other families, migrated together to Union County, Indiana, sometime before the census of 1830. The journey was about 300 miles and probably followed the Cumberland Road which passed through Miami County, Ohio. David Honeyman's parents may have accompanied these families but stopped off in Miami County, Ohio, where they lived out their lives. (Photo of tombstones of Charles & Barbara Honeyman, courtesy Gale Spitler Honeyman - note Hunnaman spelling.) Some of David's brothers were in Miami County as early as 1820 but his father is not listed in that census. Both Charles Honeyman and son Michael are actually listed in the 1830 census in Hardy County, Virginia (formerly part of Hampshire County, Virginia): Charles Honeyman 1 male 10-15, 1 60-70; 1 female 50-60. Next to him: Michael Honeyman 1 male 5-10, 1 15-20, 1 30-40; 2 females under 5, 1 female 5-10, and 1 female 20-30. This indicates that Charles and family may have migrated a little later.

The A. Van Doren History states the family went to Union County and settled near Brownsville and Dunlapsville in 1827. We think it far more likely the Honeymans traveled with the Long family and there was a Long marriage in Fayette County as late as November 1828. The History says of David, written by "one who knew him well": "David Honeyman wore the conventional dress of Revolutionary times, viz., standing collar, frock over-coat and leggins, all of a buckskin shade, and tall beaver hat. He rode on horseback and carried saddle-bags. I, as a boy, knew him by this dress and his patriotism. On the Fourth of July there could be expected a rally of the oldest citizens at the town of Dunlapsville where a platform would be erected for thirteen of the oldest ment. When the Declaration of Independence was read, and speechmaking was indulged in, David Honeyman, a patriotic Democrat, would take his share in the proceedings. I remember a characteristic saying of his that 'this is a cold wet rain', and the saying became a byword. His neighbors would say: 'it is one of Dave Honeyman's rains.' His son, William J., was also a well-dressed conventional young man in those early days. David left Brownsville in 1864, and resided for the later years of his life at New Boston, Illinois." We searched the Mercer County newspapers in vain for some indication that David Honeyman continued his speechmaking at public events there but found nothing. Then we realized that Mercer County was strongly Republican so David was probably silent on public occasions since he was a strong Democrat.

David & Isabella Long Honeyman's children

John Long Honeyman (4/23/1825) and Mary Ann Honeyman (12/3/1826) were born in Fayette County, Pennsylvania. Sarah Honeyman Eikenbary's census records indicate she was born in Indiana; she was born November 30, 1828. William Jackson Honeyman was born October 30, 1830 in Union County, Indiana. Elizabeth (11/3/1832), Rebecca Emma (12/30/1834), James Oliver (2/7/1837 d. 2/22/1842), Ellen M. (3/11/1839), George Washington (6/3/1841) and Louisa C. Honeyman (4/5/1844) were all born in Union County, Indiana.

Death of Isabella Long Honeyman

Isabella Long Honeyman died in Union County, Indiana, September 11, 1855, and is buried next to her son-in-law Zachariah Eikenbary in Silver Creek Cemetery. Isabella's census records show her about five years younger than her actual age. This must have been a sore point with the family as her tombstone gives her birth date, death date, and her age in years. Someone was making sure the real information came out!

The Move to Illinois

Isabella Long Honeyman had a sister Jane Long who had married a Malaby in Union County. After his death she emigrated with other Long family members to Mercer County, Illinois, where she married John Summerfield Noble. She was again a widow in 1857 and returned to Union County and married David Honeyman September 24, 1857. She brought young Noble sons with her to Union County and left a married Malaby daughter in Mercer County. It was probably her desire to return to Mercer County that resulted in the families migration to Mercer in 1864.

David and Jane Long Malaby Noble Honeyman had a daughter Isabelle Honeyman born November 7, 1859 in Union County. Isabelle had a very sad history which is related at the end of this piece.

By 1864, David and Jane Noble Honeyman had made up their minds to move to Mercer County, Illinois. They and several of their relatives made up a large wagon train and set out in the fall.

The wagon train is documented in an obituary of David Honeyman's grandson, Marcellus Honeyman, "Mr. Honeyman came to Illinois with the wagon train of the Honeyman family in the fall of 1864." The approximate date can be established by a number of factors. First and foremost was likely the pending Union Army draft taking place in about September 1864. We know none of the Honeyman sons took part in the Civil War and at least five of the family members were by age eligible for service. The Honeyman family were "peace Democrats," those that thought the issues surrounding the war could be solved by negotiation. (This is not the same as "copperheads" who openly sympathised with the South.)

David Honeyman's daughter, Mary Ann Kennedy, had a child on September 23, 1864. William and Mary Ann Kennedy remained behind in Union County but David probably waited for the safe arrival of his grandchild. William Jackson Honeyman's wife, Martha Jane Swallow, died August 12, 1864 and his son John N. died September 20, 1864 and both are buried in Union County. The wagon train thus did not likely depart until about October 1, 1864. Sarah Honeyman Eikenbary purchased land in Mercer County on January 16, 1865, so we know the wagon train arrived by then. We know from records of the time that the crossing from Union County, Indiana, to Mercer County, Illinois, was extremely difficult because of many sloughs and bogs and soil that was very slippery when wet. The crossing was likely purposely planned for wintertime when the ground was frozen.

We know from letters of the time that the winter of 1864 was an unseasonably warm one with much rain. Likely a northern route was selected to avoid as much boggy land as possible and to take advantage of winter freezing. In addition, we know from travelers' accounts of the time that central Illinois was infested with Secessionists who harassed any travelers under the assumption that they might be Union sympathisers.

David's daughter and son-in-law, Elizabeth Honeyman and Samuel Daniel McCann, were likely in the wagon train and they settled in Joliet Township, Will County, Illinois in 1864 according to an 1878 History of Will County, Illinois. Samuel McCann apparently had a brother in Joliet and they did not go on to Mercer County, but this is also a clue as to the route of the wagon train. The train likely headed west from Liberty, Indiana, to Indianapolis. A road then led directly northwest to Joliet, Illinois. A fairly direct route then followed the Michigan Canal and the Illinois River toward Mercer County. {Map} This route would greatly minimize the number of streams and rivers that would have to be crossed. The route was no doubt well established as many of the early settlers in Mercer County came from either Union or Wayne County, Indiana.

Persons known to be in the train included:
David Honeyman, age 62, Jane Noble Honeyman, age 48, with children: Louisa Honeyman, age 19, Albert B. Noble, age 13, Lewis A. Noble, age 11, Charles W. Noble, age 8, Isabelle Honeyman, age 4 (Charles Noble is no longer with the family in the 1870 census and it is not known whether he died in Indiana, Illinois, or on the road.)

John Long Honeyman, age 39, Sarah Jarvis Honeyman, age 35, with children: George Washington Honeyman, age 16, Isophene Honeyman, age 14, Josephine Honeyman, age 14, Isabella Anna Honeyman, age 12, Rebecca Emma Alice Honeyman, age 10, Candace Jarvis Honeyman, age 7, Luranah Honeyman, newborn. (Photo of John Long Honeyman, Photo of Sarah Jarvis Honeyman)

Alexander Retherford, age 33, with wife Mary, age 23; James Retherford, age 31, with wife Mary, age 21 (Alexander and James were grandsons of Andrew and Jemima Long.

William Jackson Honeyman, age 34, and three children: Rolandus W. Honeyman, age 9, Marcellus Ethelbert Honeyman, age 7, and George Martine Douglas Honeyman, age 4. This family was accompanied by Frances America Swallow, cousin of William's deceased wife. William Jackson married Frances America Swallow June 6, 1866 in Mercer County.

George Washington Honeyman, age 23, and Caroline Coe Honeyman, age 20; John W. Coe, age 46, and Mary Humphrey Coe, age 47, and children: John, age 17, Samuel, age 14, Joshua, age 11, James, age 7.

William Andrew Jarvis, age 32, Rebecca Emma Honeyman Jarvis, age 30.

Sarah Jane Honeyman Eikenbary, age 36, and sons George Monroe Eikenbary, age 13, Alfred Pierce Eikenbary, age 11, and Francis Washington Eikenbary, age 9.

We know the wagon train arrived by January 1865 as Sarah Honeyman Eikenbary purchased land in Mercer County then. Terry Mattison (not a Honeyman descendant) kindly looked up some Mercer County tax records for us in the month of May 1865. David Honeyman was taxed on income at the rate of 5% for a total of $28.20. He was also taxed $1.00 on a carriage valued at $75.

The families who came on the Honeyman wagon train settled in New Boston Township. The area was already well populated. The 1870 Mercer County census is in very poor condition and in most libraries much of it is unreadable. We obtained good copies for some of the Honeyman families from the Illinois State Archives. We have also obtained a copy of Eulalia Garrett's 1870 census transcription and have also used those records.

1870 - David Honeyman,( page 7, New Boston Township) age 68, farmer, land valued at $6500; Jane, age 54, born Pa, Lewis A. (Noble), age 8 (actually 18), born Illinois, Isabelle Honeyman, age 10. Both David and Isabelle died before 1880. There is more on Isabelle, daughter of David and Jane Honeyman at the bottom of the page. Widow Jane Long Malaby Noble Honeyman is found living with son Albert B. Noble in 1880 in the 3rd Ward, Marshalltown, Marshall County, Iowa: Albert B. Noble, business college, born Il, father born In, mother born Pa; Frans J. L. Noble, wife, 21, born Wi (parent's birthplace not given); Mark C. Noble, son, 1, born Ia; Jane Noble, mother, 65, born Pa, parents born Pa. Albert is probably able to attend business college because of Jane's inheritance from David Honeyman.

More on the Children of David Honeyman

John Long Honeyman Family

Son John Long Honeyman was found in the 1870 Rock Island County census, (by Joseph Noell), #21, in Drury Township. Real estate is valued at $12,000. John & Sarah have children, George W., age 21, Josephine, 19, Icelene, 19, Mabelle, 17, Alice, 15, Candis, 13, Louie (f) 5, William, 3 months. Daughter Isabella married Thomas Ross McGreer on 8/11/1870 in Rock Island. John Long Honeyman is reported as having died at Clay Center, Kansas, May 6, 1875. His widow, Sarah Jarvis Honeyman, is found in Clay Center Township in Clay County, Kansas in 1880 (family #20). She is listed as farmer, born Indiana, parents born North Carolina and Tennessee. With her are daughter Luranah, age 15, born Indiana, William J., age 13, born Illinois, and Hortense L., age 9, born Illinois. Next door (family #19) is John & Sarah's son George W. Honeyman, age 32, farmer, born Indiana, wife Sarah J., age 28, born Illinois, daughter Sylvia, age 6, born Kansas, son John M. , age 4, born Iowa, and son Frank O., age 1, born Iowa. Frank O. went to Oklahoma and is found in Payne County in 1920. If the 1880 records are correct, they indicate George went to Kansas, returned to Iowa, and then back to Kansas.

Daughter Josephine married William W. Woodward in Mercer County 5/28/1867. William and Josephine Woodward are household #153 in Eliza Township in 1870. They have son John, 2, and George, infant.

Daughter Icivene (Icelene in the 1870 census) married Cyrus N. Davis 9/24/1867 in Mercer County.

Mary Ann Honeyman Coffman Kennedy

Daughter Mary Ann Honeyman married twice in Union County, Indiana: (1) Samuel Coffman, and (2) William Kennedy. (Canaday). The first marriage either did not take place (i. e. license only in the record) or it was short lived as Mary Ann is found at home with her family in 1850: Liberty Township, Union Co, In, #18 David Hunneman, 45, born Va; Isabella, 46, Pa; Mary A., 24, Pa; Sarah, 21, In. Also in Union County in 1850 we find the following for William Kennedy: #111 William Kanaday, 30, farmer, born Oh; Nancy, 55, Tn; Jn, 26, farmer, Oh; Francis, 19 (male), Ohio, farm laborer; Silas, 17, farm laborer, Oh; Catharine, 18, Oh; James, 11 Ohio; George, 9, In. It is not clear whether Nancy, age 55, is mother or stepmother; because of the gap between Catharine, 18 and James, 11, she might have been a second wife.

We find William and Mary in 1860 in Liberty Township, Union County: #315 William Kennady, 40, farmer, born Oh; Mary, 35, Pa; John, 8, In; Nancy, 7, In; Franklin, 5, In; David, 3, In; and Michael, 1, In. We were unable to find the family in the 1870 census, but we know they were still in Union County in 1878. Money out of Isabelle Honeyman's estate was held for Mary Ann Canada, Quaker Town, Union County, Indiana. Mary Ann Kennedy received $900 from the estate of David Honeyman. We do not find William and Mary in the 1880 census. Part of the difficulty is a myriad of spellings including Canaday and Canada. We did check the census records with the "C" spellings as well. Mary Ann died 7/23/1891 at Pleasant Hill, Missouri. Curiously some of Sarah Honeyman Eikenbary's descendants lived at Pleasant Hill.

Sarah Honeyman Eikenbary

Daughter Sarah Honeyman Eikenbary's family (family #31, 1870) is described on the Eikenbary page along with further history.

William Jackson Honeyman

Son William Jackson Honeyman is in New Boston Township in 1870, age 39, farmer, land valued $4500, born Indiana, Francis (Swallow), age 29, born Indiana, Roland, age 15, Marcellus, age 12, George, age 9, all born Indiana, Charles, age 4, and Amos L., age 1, born Illinois. This family is found as family #267 in Emma Township in Harvey County, Kansas in 1880. J. W. Honeyman, age 50, Frances, age 40, Marcellus, age 23, George age 20, all born Indiana, Homer, age 11, Rhoda, age 9, Edna, age 7, Bruce, age 5, and Ida, age 2, all born Illinois. Several Mercer County families went to this same location but shortly after 1870 (cf. Prouty, Welch and Essley). Marcellus Honeyman returned to Mercer County where he married Lizzie Willits, daughter of Jesse and Mary Shields Willits, on 11/27/1884 (Elizabeth Willits obituary). It is Marcellus's obituary that mentions the wagon train trip. Another obituary in a Rock Island County newspaper verifies he was age 7 when the trip was made.

Roland may have remained behind in Mercer County as he married Maggie Pullen in Mercer County on 2/6/1879. Vivian Thurman is a William Jackson Honeyman descendant and would be interested in hearing more about this family. Raylene Lamb tells us that Charles Ellsworth Honeyman (age 4 in the above census) married Mary Isabelle Stanley. She has more on this family.

Elizabeth Honeyman McCann

Daughter Elizabeth Honeyman married Samuel Daniel McCann on September 13, 1850, in Union County, Indiana. On the wagon train trip they stopped off in Will County, Illinois, where Daniel had a brother. They are found in the town of Joliet in the 1870 Will County census as family #48: Daniel McCann, age 47, farmer, land value $4,000, Elizabeth (Honeyman), age 38, Wesley W. McCann, 19, farm laborer, Lycurgis McCann, 15, Charles McCann, 13, Addie McCann, age 7, all born Indiana. They had a daughter Irene who died February 28, 1862 in Fayette Co, Indiana. They had a daughter Lillie Belle, born Dec 19, 1872 in Will County. Lillie Belle died in 1945 and is buried in Higinbotham cemetery in Joliet along with her parents. Daniel's tombstone reads Nov. 12, 1823-Nov 2, 1873. Elizabeth McCann's marker reads Nov 3, 1832-Feb 9, 1907. Elizabeth was married for a brief time to William Dingley. They were married Jan 2, 1878 in Joliet but by 1880 he was living alone with his Dingley children and Elizabeth had taken back her McCann name. Their marriage certificate verifies that she was Elizabeth Honeyman, daughter of Isabelle Long Honeyman. Elizabeth is found in 1880 in Joliet: Elizabeth McCann, 46, In, father born Va, mother Pa; Charles, 23, In, parents In; Addie,17, In; Lillie, 7, at school, Il.

Son Lycurgus McCann is found in 1880 in Joliet, Will County: Lycurgus McCann, 25, born In, parents born In, farming; Angelina McCann, 23, Il, parents born Ohio; Florence, 2, Il; Edna, 1, Il. His wife is given as Miss Angie P. Watkins on their application for a license on 14th March 1877 in Will County. They were married on March 15 by clergyman Amos H. Dean.

Rebecca Emma Honeyman Jarvis

Daughter Rebecca Emma Honeyman married William Andrew Jarvis August 12, 1855 in Union County, Indiana. The 1870 census of Mercer County shows: William Jarvis, age 38, farmer, land valued $4500, born Indiana; Rebecca Emma, age 36, born Indiana, John S. I. Jarvis, age 4, born Illinois. William Jarvis was son of Samuel Jarvis of Indiana, and sister of Sarah Jarvis who married John Long Honeyman. David Honeyman was sued by Samuel Jarvis and a large part of his estate went to settlement of this lawsuit. We have been unable to learn particulars of the reason for the law suit. At the time of Isabelle Honeyman's estate settlement William & Rebecca Emma were living in Iowa. W. A. Jarvis picked up a registered letter addressed to R. Emma Jarvis, at Weaver, Iowa, on December 5, 1878. The receipt was among Belle Honeyman's estate papers. There was also a return letter from Emma: "Wever Iowa Nov 11th 1876 To the Clerk of the Probate Court, I learn from Mrs. Jane Honeyman that the estate of Belle Honeyman has been settled and the money coming to me left with the court. If such is the fact if you will send a check to the Bank of Fort Madison Iowa I will receipt for it. I know but little about how this business has been managed but understand the amount to be about fifty five dollars. If you send check please notify me at Wever Lee County Iowa. I will receipt to them and they can send it to you. Hoping to hear from you soon I am very Respectfully yours, R. Emma Jarvis." Rebecca Emma died in 1916 in Dallas Center, Illinois.

James Oliver Honeyman

Son James Oliver Honeyman died in Union County, Indiana, at the age of 5 in 1842.

Phebe Ellen Honeyman Lyons

Daughter Ellen Honeyman married James V. Lyons in Union County, Indiana, and died there 7/4/1863 at the age of 24. She is listed as Phebe E., age 12 in the 1850 Union County census of David Honeyman's family (listed as Hunneman).

George Washington Honeyman

George Washington Honeyman is given in Honeyman histories as marrying Caroline Coe 6 October 1863 but we do not find a marriage record in Illinois.

1870 Family #41 in New Boston Township is son George Honeyman, age 29, farmer, land valued $3000, born Indiana, Caroline (Coe), age 26, born Indiana, Coe Casette (male) age 4, and Mary Etta, age 2, born Illinois. George Washington Honeyman remained in New Boston Township and is found in the 1880 census: Washington Honeyman, age 39, born Indiana, father born Virginia, mother Pennsylvania; Caroline (Coe), age 34, born Indiana, father born Indiana, mother born Pennsylvania; Marietta, age 12, Eugene G., age 7, and Jennie M., age 4, all born Illinois. (Coe Castella died 1/10/1873 and is buried in New Boston Cemetery.) John W. Coe, age 62, born Indiana, parents born Virginia, and Mary Coe, age 63, born Pennsylvania, parents born Pennsylvania, are living with them. Ron Honeyman, son of William Jackson Honeyman, is living next door with his wife Maggie, and father-in-law, Elias Pullen.

Daughter Jennie Maud married Edmund Noble in Mercer County 2/2/1898.

Daughter Mary Etta married Charles Jackson, son of Brunson Jackson and Harriett Pullen on 12/31/1885.

Son Earl Eugene Honeyman, married Cora May Finch, daughter of James Monroe Finch, 26 July 1898 in Mercer County.

G. W. Honeyman was listed as a "stallion keeper" on tax lists for New Boston in the 1860's.

Louisa Honeyman Jackson

1870 Family #37 is Thomas Jackson, who married daughter Louisa Honeyman August 12, 1868, as second wife: Thomas, age 32, born Indiana, Louisa, age 36, born Indiana. According to the History of Mercer County 1882 they had one child, Gid Jackson, born 4/23/1875. However they apparently had a daughter, Myrtle P. Jackson, born and died in 1881 and buried in New Boston Cemetery.

Land Records

The 1875 plat map of New Boston Township shows David Honeyman living on the northeast quarter of Section 20, next door to J. F. Pauley who was married to Jane Noble Honeyman's daughter Sarah Malaby. George Honeyman lives nearby in the northwest quarter of Section 21. Next door in Section 16 is Alfred Noble, Jane's son. Thomas Jackson and William Jarvis are in the northwest quarter of Section 8 next door to Sarah Honeyman Eikenbary. The 1875 plat map of the western part of Eliza Township shows William Jackson Honeyman on the NE quarter of Section 35.

Cemetery Records - New Boston Cemetery

David Honeyman 3-18-1874 72yr 7m 22d
Sarah Jane Honeyman Eikenbary, wife of Zachari, May 30, 1884 55 yr 6 m
(Sarah Jane died in Muscatine Co, Iowa, but was returned to Mercer County to be buried beside her father. Nadine Holder's grandfather remembered attending her funeral.)
G. W. Honeyman 1841-1915
Caroline Coe Honeyman 1844-1924
Mary Etta Honeyman Jackson 1868-1937
Charles B. Jackson 1858-1949
Helen Honeyman 1899-1918
Earl Honeyman 1872-1944
Louisa H. Jackson 1844-1930
Mary Humphrey Coe 1816-1898
John W. Coe 1817-1899

More on Isabelle Honeyman, daughter of David and Jane Long Malaby Noble Honeyman:

Isabelle had no descendants, but her story has several aspects that tell us of the life and times of an intrepid and beautiful young lady. We can state unequivocally that she was beautiful. One of the most interesting aspects of the 1909 Honeyman History is many family photographs showing that the young ladies of the family were beautiful. We have a photo of her step-sister, Viella Malaby, and she was beautiful. Isabelle was named for her grandmother, Isabella Long, but in her formal papers she is referred to as Belle V. Honeyman. We think she was indeed a "belle."

When David Honeyman died Jane Honeyman, Alfred Noble, Jesse Willits, and E. J. Denison, all of Mercer County, put up a bond for $4000 to assure that Jane Honeyman properly managed the affairs of her ward, Belle V. Honeyman. By this time females could be appointed guardians of their minor children. Jane received her Letters of Guardianship for Belle on July 20, 1874. On March 22, 1876, Jane, as guardian, received $800 for her ward. This was the first installment of the $1500 legacy left to Isabelle by her father, David Honeyman . (See Honeyman Papers Section at the bottom of the page. For David�s will and estate papers.)

On March 25, 1876, Isabelle Honeyman opened a charge account with Denison & Stewart & Co of New Boston. Isabelle was 16 years old. The list of items charged tells us much of the life of a young lady of privelege, including lace, ribbons," perfumery" and many fine fabrics (See Honeyman Papers section below). Charges continued until March 17, 1877 when Isabelle charged 2 pair of overshoes and a shawl for $10.50. We know from another document that on March 20, 1877, Isabelle had three teeth filled by her dentist.

The next document we have is a guardian's report filed by Jane Honeyman on August 22, 1877. She records the receipt of the additional $700 of Isabelle's legacy on October 3, 1876. She records the dental visit of March 20, 1877, and records on the same day $50.00 for a trip to "Dacota" for her ward. She records the payment for the bills to Denison & Stewart. She also records the purchase of a tombstone for her ward in the amount of $100. Isabelle, age 17, had died.

Things became more mysterious when we heard from a descendant of John Long Honeyman, Nora Honeyman Eisenhour, who had found Isabelle's burial place. We had long wondered why we could not find her in Mercer County, knowing that a tombstone had been purchased. Belle V. Honeyman is buried in the Bethel Baptist Church Cemetery in Clay County, South Dakota. There is no doubt that it is her. Date of death is June 22, 1877 and the tombstone reads "daughter of D. & J. Honeyman, age 17 years, 7 mo, 15 dys." (For photo of tombstone, courtesy of Nora {Click}) We knew that Isabelle's cousin, George Monroe Eikenbary, was in Dakota Territory at this time but we also knew they were near Bismarck in future North Dakota while Clay County is south in future South Dakota. A clue popped up when we entered the Long family data. Jane Long Malaby Noble Honeyman had a brother Hugh Long. Nora found land warrants for Hugh in Clay County, Dakota Territory. Hugh's son, William Washington Long married in Clay County in Dakota Territory in 1872. It is likely that Isabelle was visiting her uncle Hugh Long and her cousins in Clay County.

Jane Honeyman, as Guardian, filed a report on the disposition of Belle's estate on August 30, 1878 in Mercer County. The heirs listed included: Louisa C. Jackson, Sarah I. Payley (Pauley), Viella M. Huston, A. B. Nobel, Alfred Noble, Sarah J. Eikenbary, Elizabeth H. McCann, William J. Honeyman, George W. Honeyman, heirs of John Honeyman in Kansas, heirs of Mary Ann Canada, Quaker Town, Union County, Indiana (actually she was not deceased) and heirs of Mrs. William Jarvis in Iowa (she too was not deceased).

Honeyman Family Papers

We have chosen to put up copies of original documents. If you have difficulty reading them on your computer, try printing them.

David Honeyman's Will and Estate

Link to David Honeyman's will page 1.
Link to David Honeyman's will page 2.
Link to David Honeyman's Estate Papers .

Belle Honeyman�s Papers

Link to Belle's store account page 1.
Link to Belle's store account page 2 .
Link to Belle's report of estate.

Updates:
2/28/2007 Added census records for William and Mary Ann Honeyman Kennedy.
9/7/2007 Removed the reference to Frederick County, Virginia as the place of origin of Charles and Barbara Honeyman. It is a logistical nightmare to figure out what area was called what in the formation of Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia, so to avoid possible error we have simply used "Virginia." Also added the 1830 census for Charles Honeyman and family in Hardy County, Virginia, and a note they may have migrated later than the David Honeyman family.



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