Aaron W. Cooper and His Neighbors

AMOS COOPER > JOHN L COOPER > AARON WASHINGTON COOPER

I talked about John Cooper's kids here - they just seem to be a bit of a mess generally. I recently ran across this article regarding Aaron before he left Stephenson and Winnebago Counties, Illinois for /Butler/Bremer County and later Franklin County, Iowa.

The divorce of Anna Blaser from Aaron took place in 1904 in Butler County.

This may well have had something to do with the sale of property in 1904 and early 1905

He died in 1920, having never married again. 

Hannah Cooper: Crazy as a Hawk

AMOS COOPER > JOHN L COOPER >  HANNAH H COOPER

Elgin Asylum

This small mention of the life and times of Hannah Cooper, who died at the young age of 45 during a brief stay at Elgin Insane Asylum in Illinois. Living with her single brothers and parents as of the 1880 census in Stephenson County, Illinois, it's likely she was still with the brothers remaining in  the area in 1891. Learn about her brothers here.

She died on 16 May 1891, after being committed only two weeks previously.

The Neverending Job: Robert Thompson Cooper, Again

AMOS COOPER > WILLIAM LLOYD COOPER > CHALKLEY JARED COOPER > ROBERT T

COOPER

Many moons ago, I had researched Capt Robert T. Cooper, stalwart and engaged citizen in some detail. You can read about it here. Doing the research is NEVER done. I do a round of research and then start all over again to see what new tidbits have been added to the volumes I've already collected.

I had already discovered that he lost his wife early in their marriage. I knew of some of his business dealings and his war record, but discovering his obituary recently filled in some of the blanks.

If you remember from reading about the Cooper's trip west, they were a Quaker family who left Pennsyvlania to go to a Quaker settlement at the edge of Crawford and Clark Counties, Illinois, where the pioneering journey of the family begins.

Nephew WW Fisher, a veterinarian, seems to have enjoyed his uncle's company. Joseph Cooper had early on worked with his brother Robert in the milling business when he was a tinsmith. He lived a full, fruitful life, but one without a life's companion by his side. Always kind of made me sad for him.

Civil War in Stephenson County, Illinois

Battle of Fort Donelson

Franklin Boyd

I was recently going through some muster rolls for various Illinois Infantry Regiments and noticed that the bulk of our relatives served in one of two places: in the earlier part of the war, many of the family joined up with Co B, 46th Illinois Infantry. It was a kick-butt regiment that saw a lot of action. It fought at Ft Donelson, the Battle of Shiloh, and the Siege of Vicksburg, among other battles.

It was organized in 1861 at Camp Butler, Illinois and mustered out in January 1866 at Baton Rouge, La. The company was discharged two weeks later in early February 1866. The original 3-year enlistment of these men expired in 1864. The government asked them to voluntarily reenlist. It met with great success:

"With the initial three-year enlistment of the Regiment about to expire, the Government issued General Order number 191, relating to the re-enlisting of Veteran Volunteers. This was to be a voluntary re-enlistment, and with the enthusiastic support of the officers and noncoms, three-fourths of the 46th Illinois Volunteer Infantry signed up on January 4, 1864, for another three years or less, depending on how long the war was to last. The re-enlisted Regiment now numbered twenty officers and three hundred and thirty four enlisted men, who were embarked on a steamer headed north. They reached Freeport, Illinois on January 23, where they proudly marched through the town to a hall where the citizens gave them a big reception and dinner. After the festivities ended, they marched out to the fairgrounds west of town, where they were given a 30-day furlough.

Having made a name for itself, the 46th Illinois was able to attract new volunteers to join the ranks. Recruiting offices were set up in Lee, Ogle, Whiteside, and Stephenson counties, hoping to bring the Regiment back to full strength by the end of the leave. On March 2, 1864, the Regiment left Freeport with a total of nine hundred eighty-seven men, heading south." http://www.illinoiscivilwar.org/cw46-hist.html

Included in this bevy of soldiers from both the original group and the later additions were the following family members:

• Private Franklin Boyd (married Elizabeth Beams Cooper, youngest daughter of William Lloyd & Elizabeth Beams Cooper)

  

  Capt Robert Cooper

• Private Amos J Cooper (son of John L. Cooper and Asenath Maples)
• Captain Robert F Cooper (son of  Chalkley Jared Cooper and Margaret Thompson)
• Private George Washington Cooper (son of John L Cooper and Asenath Maples)
• Private Jonathan E. Thompson (son of Robert Thompson and Susannah Gourley).
• Private Robert Scott Thompson (son of Robert Thompson and Susannah Gourley. Two of their children married Coopers)
• Private Peter Wagner (son of William Wagner, brother to Mary Waggoner, wife of Peter Smull)
• Private Jacob N Kryder (brother-in-law to Catherine Smull, daughter of Peter Smull and Mary Waggoner)
• Private Jacob Lauck (brother-in-law to Emma Meyer Lauck, granddaughter of Peter Smull and Mary Waggoner)

Another Thompson, Private John A. "Jack" Thompson, brother to Johnathan E. and Robert Scott Thompson, served in Co A of the 11th Illinois Infantry and died in battle at Fort Donelson in February 1862.

The other Stephenson County-heavy company with several family members, was Company E, 147th Illinois Infantry. It was organized late in the war, at the beginning of February 1865 and was mustered out in late January 1866 They had a brief fighting history and mostly engaged in minor skirmishes and engaged with guerrillas.

Sgt John Smull

• Sgt Johnathan Smull (son of Peter Smull and Mary Waggoner)
• Private Samuel Smull (son of Peter Smull and Mary Waggoner)
• Private Barton Gourley Cooper (son of Chalkley Jared Cooper & Margaret Thompson)
• Private Alfred Kaup (his daughter Minnie Kaup married Chalkley Jared "Jay" Cooper, Jr.)

Susannah Gourley Thompson, Oldest Rock Grove Resident

JOSEPH GOURLEY > SUSANNA GOURLEY m Daniel Thompson

We don't have a plethora of southern antecedents. Most come originally from the Puritan northeast US, not the more free-wheeling commerce-driven settlers who landed in Virginia and parts south.

Yet, the Gourley's had long been in Loudoun County, Virginia. Their origins are most likely Scottish and their presence in Virginia goes back until at least the mid 1700s. I've found indications that they were Quakers. Waterford, the town in which Susanna's father Joseph was born, was a Quaker settlement started by Pennsylvanian Amos Janney in 1733. Joseph and his wife Grace Morgan's antecedents started from Pennsylvania. I'm slowly chipping away at the story.

The birthday gift giving list looks like
Who's Who of my family tree

Susanna was one of at least eight children born to Joseph Gourley and Grace Morgan. In some of my research of Grace's family, it appears they may have been part of the Keithian Quakers, a group that split from the Friends in 1690 over disagreements on things like water Baptisms, which the Quakers had foregone some time previously. These Keithian Quakers often ended up as Baptists. If you hear the term Baptist Quaker or Primitive Baptists, that's most likely what's being referred to. It walks like a Quaker and talks like a Quaker, but isn't a Quaker. This makes sense as most of the Cooper's who settled in Iowa ended up as Baptists.

This interesting story comes from a Gourley relative, Patty, who shared the information online:

"A letter from Mary Verniece Byrd, one of the descendants of Susannah Gourley Thompson, dated April 18, 1973, to Reeva Decker. Susannah Gourley, born 1801, married Robert Thompson, born 1799, in Louden County, Virginia. She was born in either Pittsylvania County or Spotsylvania County, Virginia. Susannah Thompson had a son Scott who was much younger than her other children and full of the devil. Scott's wife Marietta was alive in 1937 as my little boys and I stopped to visit her a few hours in passing through. It is through her that I got my history about Susannah Gourley Thompson as she knew her well before she died. She told me that Susannah Gourley Thompson said that she well remembered the War of 1812. She had 3 brothers who fought in it. Her father - Joseph Gourley- was too old but he hauled provisions to the soldiers at Point Lookout, Maryland. If you look on your map it is a point south of Washington, D. C. at the edge of the Chesapeake Bay and the Potomac River joined. She said she wore a blue dress and stood in a wagon, and waved a flag as the soldiers marched by. She would have been at least 11 years old." 

Susanna married Daniel Thompson about 1819. Daniel was born about 1800 in Virginia. Unfortunately, after having 11 children, he died in his 40s after their arrival in Stephenson County, Illinois.  Susanna's siblings spread out as well, some staying in various parts of Virginia and some moving to Clark and Crawford County (remember, there was a very large contingent of Quakers in the area), and then on to Livingston County or Stephenson County, and one to Champaign County, Ohio.

Susanna's son Daniel, born in 1828 in Virginia, married into the Quaker Cooper family, marrying Ann Cooper on 05 May 1850 in Illinois. They had seven children before he died prematurely at age 37 in Osage, Mitchell County, Iowa in 1864. His will made his wife not only the beneficiary of his estate, but the sole executor of Daniel's will.

Susanna's daughter Margaret Ann, was born 28 Oct 1821 in Virginia. She married a Cooper, as well, marrying Chalkley Jared Cooper on 28 Jul 1840 in Crawford County, Illinois. C J and Margaret had nine children before Margaret's death in 1880 in Rock Grove. CJ survived until 1885.

Susanna eventually became Rock Grove's oldest citizen. She had her 83rd birthday in 1884, but she still had a lot of life left in her. She resided with son-in-law CJ Cooper in some of the last years of her life. "Grandma Thompson," as she was known by all, lived on to the age of  97 and died of complications of age cared for by her daughter Grace. She outlived all but two of her children.

I hope to talk a little more about some of the other Thompson kids in a future post.

Mystery Muddle: Who is Rebecca Cronoble?

PETER SMULL m Mary Waggoner > PETER L SMULL m Rebecca Cronoble

Our brothers Smull, of Centre County, can be learned about here.

Peter Smull, one of the four brothers, had 12 children, including Peter L Smull was born in about 1833 in Centre County, Pennsylvania. He moved to Stephenson County, Illinois in the early 1850s. In 1861, he married Rebecca Cronoble.

Rebecca also hailed from Centre County. The mystery is in which Grenoble/Cronoble branch did she come? Here's a little summary of my findings, but this mystery has yet to be solved.

It's my belief that the originating immigrant is Johann Jacob Grenoble, born in 1702 in Germany and who came to Philadelphia in 1743 with his infant son, Lorentz and wife Agnetha. Daughter Anna Barbara did not survive to make the trip and died before age 2. Some reports say Agnetha died before the trip, but I cannot yet confirm that fact. Johann remarried (this is in itself another mystery for another day) to the widow of  Johannes Beverts.

Lorentz married Sabina Fruh. They had four children. The surviving male was Jacob, born in 1775 in Lehigh, Pennsylvania, who in turn married Katarina Willeman about 1794. They had 10 children.In that bunch, we start to see the reversion of the last name from Grenoble to Cronoble (the original German name) and Crownoble. While several of the children remained in Pennsylvania, one moved to Stephenson County, Illinois - George W Grenoble/Cronoble who married Sarah Runkle.

1850 Census - George Cronoble Family, Centre County

I've located eight children of this union, but no Rebecca in the bunch The Rebecca's among the other descendants are not possibly Rebecca Cronoble Smull.

Records I am currently able to locate leave me with this hypothesis: Rebecca is either Elizabeth or Margaret, born in 1833 and 1835 respectively. There is evidence that Jacob, and possibly John also made the trek West later, but based on timing, marriage year, etc., I believe Rebecca to be a child of George.

I would love, love, love if someone has some thoughts or their own theory or information to support this hypothesis.

Peter L Smull died 13 Sep 1900 in Stephenson County at the home of his sister, Mrs Matilda (Daniel) Meyer. We don't know when Rebecca died, or anything really, about how she lived either. I'd like to give her some identity beyond a name that may or may not be correct.

The Waggoners of Centre County: William Wagner

JOHN WAGGONER > William WAGNER m Julia Rider

Peter Smull married Mary Waggoner/Wagner, daughter of John Waggoner/Wagner. I've not ascertained who the mother is, but it appears as though John, brother William, and the Smulls were all neighbors in 1830/1840 census.  As a whole bunch of people from Miles Township did, William Wagner and his family moved on to Stephenson County, Illinois in the 1850s, settling in Oneco. Father John and wife are no longer living in the 1850 census. It also appears there is at least one other child of John - aged 30-40, married, with at least three children living with them. Who that is, I don't know yet. Still working on that angle.

William, born in about 1797 married Julia Rider. She was born in 1805 in York, Pennsylvania. The couple had ten children, some of whom stayed in Pennsylvania as their parents and other siblings

Wm Wagner, died Oneco,
Stephenson County 1870

moved west.

William lived until 29 Sep 1870 and died in Oneco. His will went through probate in December. His wife lived on until 20 Apr 1879, and also died in Oneco.

1. Margaret was born 03 May 1827 in Miles Township, Centre County. She married William Herman and I've thus far located three children, John Henry, Clark, and Arabella  Herman Keen, all of whom settled in Pennsylvania. She died 03 Sep 1893.

2. Sarah was born about 1829 and died in 1865 in Miles Township, Centre County. She married first George Aurand and had a daughter, Emily Jane. George died and she married Samel Shutt and had four more children.

3. Joseph Wagner was born 04 May 1831 in Miles Township, Centre County. He married Mary Hershey about 1855. She was born 06 Jun 1837 in Canada. They had three children, Nancy Amelia, Abraham, and William "Will" Washington Wagner. Joseph and his wife originally settled in Stephenson County, Illinois and then moved on to Black Hawk County, Iowa. Nancy & Will both moved to Iowa; Abraham remained in Stephenson County. Joseph's grandson, William Joseph Wagner, played professional baseball from 1915-1919 for the Pittsburgh Pirates and Boston Braves. I'll post about him separately.

4. George Wagner was born in Oct 1833 in Miles Township, Centre County. He married Anna Margaret Weiss. They had eight children and lived in the Lock Haven area of Pennsylvania. George died in 1921 in Lock Haven. His wife Anna, died in 1888.

5. William Wagner was born 1835 in Miles Township, Centre County He married Elizabeth Rex about 1858. They moved to Floyd County, Iowa. Their five children were raised in Floyd County. Elizabeth died in 1922 and William died in 1913.

6. Mary Wagner was born about 1837 in Miles Township, Centre County. I have no other information on this child.

Rosa Klontz Wagner

7. Jacob R Wagner was born in 1840 in Miles Township, Centre County. He married Eliza Jane Divan on 17 Feb 1867 in Green County, Wisconsin. They then located to Illinois and then southern Wisconsin, the moved on to Iowa and settled in Butler County. Their twelve children are spread across Wisconsin, Illinois,  and Iowa. Jacob died in 1925 in Butler County and his wife preceded him in death in 1919.

8. Peter Wagner was born 23 Aug 1841 in Miles Township, Centre County. He reportedly died on 02 Aug 1918 in Oneco, Stephenson County, but I have not been able to find a lot on this Wagner. His wife was Catherine Divan, sister to Jacob's wife.

9. Samuel Wesley Wagner was born in 1848 in Miles Township, Centre County. He married Rosa A Klontz in Stephenson County about 1872. They had six children who were raised and lived in Marble Rock, Floyd County, Iowa.Samuel died in 1927 and Rosa died in 1928 in Floyd County.

10. Emily Wagner was born about 1851 in Miles Township, Centre County. That is all I know about her at this time.

Peter L Smull Family: Oscar S Smull, County Home Superintendent

UNK SMULL > PETER SMULL > PETER L. SMULL > OSCAR SAMUEL SMULL

I wrote about my questions and points related to Oscar's father, Peter L Smull, here. Oscar S Smull was born 13 Sep 1861 in Rock Grove, Stephenson County, Illinois. In 1870, he was living with his parents, Peter L and Rebekah Smull. Peter L Smull, Jr., the eldest of the two boys, was not living at home. In 1860, he had been living with his grandparents, Peter and Mary Smull. The 1870 Census indicates Peter L Jr. was living with Simon and Rebecca (Brown) Rote in Lancaster, most likely as labor. He was 12. In 1880, Oscar was working as a farmhand on the C.A. Sullivan farm in Stephenson County.

Oscar grew up and married Miss Cora Stites on 02 Oct 1887. She bore him three children: Lucy Amanda, Archie Leroy, and Florence. She died 28 Jul 1895. In  1900, Oscar and his daughters were living with his cousin Thomas Newcomb Smull. Newcomb and his wife had one child who had died during her first year of life. They ended up raising the girls, and later, Archie, after his living situation at the John McDaniels farm.

Oscar married Lena Gerbitz, who was born on 23 Mar 1888 in Cadiz, Green County, Wisconsin. They married 09 Oct 1907 in Dubuque, Iowa. They had four more children: Edrye, Marjorie,  Oscar James "Jim," and Francis W.

Between 1910-1913, Oscar was appointed as Superintendent of the County Poor Farm, later called the County Old Folks' Home. In 1935, his pay was $1,800 per year.  Thinking back, that was a time when the poor elderly and infirm needed some provision for their care. This was a time before Social Security. When the old age pension was started in 1935, the Home had 70 residents; with 30 of those over the age of 65. Those under 65 years old would be able to remain in the home once the new pension started.

In 1927, a terrific fire destroyed the 3-story stone and brick building and annex after a fire of unknown causes started in the attic. Smull was working in the fields and saw smoke from the fire. Amazingly, all 59 old residents were rescued, including the six who were missing at the original count. Only two firefighters were injured. Smull was reappointed by the County Commissioners each year until his retirement in 1942.

After his retirement, he and his wife moved to 1408 South Chicago Ave, Freeport and lived in town. Friends gave them a little shower with gifts since they were basically reestablishing their home all over again.

Oscar died 11 Dec 1945 and Lena died 20 Oct 1952 in Freeport.

Mystery Muddle: Who is John W "Johney" Smull of Centre & Stephenson County?

I believe John W. Smull is the "missing" son of Peter Smull and Mary Waggoner. This has been a major ponderable in my studies. Without a birth or death certificate, it leaves some room for question, but I'm pretty sure I solved this particular mystery at last.

Who is John W. Smull of Centre County who moved to Stephenson County in 1870?

Records are sadly lacking with any specificity for the era 1800-1850. No names on census reports except the household head, no great newspaper items for rural areas, blah, blah.

Here's what I know:

The various census from 1820-1840 indicate that Peter and Mary had a dozen children. I was able to identify 11 and believe the missing child was a boy born between 1826-1830.

John W. Smull's middle initial stands for "Wagner." If he is Peter & Mary's child, he would be the first son of the union and Waggoner is Peter's wife's maiden name. Mary's father's name was John. Germans often named their children after someone specific - in this case, it would be his maternal grandfather John Waggoner.

Now, we know that John W. "Johney" Smull was born 30 Apr 1826 in Pennsylvania and as of the 1850 census, resided in Rebersburg. It is reported that in 1850, he married his wife, Amelia Kahl. They lived in Pennsylvania until 1867, when they are found in Illinois. They were the last of the Peter & Mary children to head west. In 1880, they are in Waddams, Stephenson County.

Click to enlarge

Peter's son, Peter L., is still a bit of a mystery and I don't know how he was with his children. When Peter L's son Oscar's first wife died, Oscar's son Archie went to live Ella & JW McDaniel - but that didn't work out so well. The three children and Oscar resided with "his cousin" Thomas N Smull, who is Thomas Newton Smull, son of John W. Smull. The children remained with TN Smull and his wife after Oscar's remarriage and are often confused with being TN Smull's children, when they are in fact, Oscar's by his first wife.

Johney's first son is named Myron Peter Smull. Peter would be Johney's father if my surmise is correct.

The only fly in the ointment is that Peter and Mary also had a son named Johnathan Smull, born in 1834 (my 2nd great grandfather). Would they have two such similarly named sons? German children often had three names at baptism and could have been called any of those names at any point in their lives. Hmm. Very curious. Johnathan (1834) is never referenced with a middle name nor middle initial. He was also referred to as Johnathan, not usually John or Johnny. Based on all of the German naming traditions and varied uses of their 3-name system, I would say it would be possible to have both a John and a Johnathan in the same family - especially if children were named after specific other people.

Johney died in McConnell, Stephenson County 04 Feb 1903. Amelia died 05 Oct 1907.

I'm calling it - this is indeed the last of the Peter Smull, Mary Waggoner children.

Roy Brownlee, A Victim of the Philippine Insurrection

American Infantry Soldiers in Philippines

UNK SMULL > HENRY SMULL > ABIGAIL SMULL m Lorenzo Brownlee > HARRISON BROWNLEE m Carrie Morton > ROY A BROWNLEE

Daughter of Henry Smull and first wife Elizabeth Royer, Abigail Smull, married her husband, Lorenzo Brownlee, while living in her native Centre County, Pennsylvania. They resided in Clinton County at the 1850 Census and sometime around 1851, they came to Stephenson County, where many of Abbie's father's brother Peter's relatives had come years before.

The Brownlee's took the long overland journey by covered wagon and upon their arrival, Lorenzo set up business as a shoemaker, which he followed for many years.

The couple had six children: Mary Jane, Sarah Elizabeth, Harrison, Mattie, and William.

Harrison was born 18 Oct 1848 in Mill Hall, Pennsylvania. He married Carrie Morton and they had four children; three sons and a daughter. Carrie was born 12 Sep 1856 in Clinton County, Pennsylvania.

Their oldest son Roy Arthur was born 10 Aug 1876 in Stephenson County. He joined the Army and served in the Coastal Artillery in Washington state and then was shipped to the Philippines during the Philippine Insurrection which had started in 1899, in 1900 as part of Co C, 34th Illinois Infantry Regiment. Not long after his arrival, his family received word that he had died, but this report turned out to be false. In fact, he had not been shot at all, but was gravely ill. This report was partially credited to gossip as bits of information were known and passed along with more, incorrect information.

After spending months in the hospital there, he was medically discharged. Doctors could not figure out what was causing the painful problem with...his ear. On his return to the US, he stopped at an Army hospital in California in hopes the doctors there could figure out what was causing the painful discharge that seemed to have started during a period of severe fever while in the tropical environs of the Philippines.

His situation did not improve and he spent most of the remainder of his life in and out of Disabled Volunteer Soldier homes in Milwaukee and Ohio. Somewhere in there, he married, but to whom is not known. It's not believed he had any children. The 1940 census had him still alive, married, but living alone as a boarder in Freeport, Stephenson County, Illinois and that is the last trace of him.

Jacob Marean and Mary Bolender

HEINRICH BOLENDER > MICHAEL BOLENDER > MARY BOLENDER

Jacob Marean & Mary Bolender; Anna,
John (back), William, Edith (front)

AESEBEUS MAREAN > JACOB MAREAN

Two Bolender brothers, Reuben John "John" and Michael, headed west from Snyder County, Pennsylvania in 1840 and would intertwine with northern Illinois/southern Wisconsin families for generations to come.

I recently talked about John's son Levi, who married Sarah Haas, sister of Valentine M Haas, who married WL Cooper's daughter Hannah Cooper. Today, I'm talking about John Bolender's brother, Michael, who had a daughter, Mary, who would marry Jacob Marean, the brother of Anna Christina Marean Lauck, whose son Edward Dietz Lauck married the daughter of Matilda Smull, yet another of my relatives. But try to draw that out - it's just crazy! Suffice it to say, the Bolenders of Pennsylvania and No Illinois/So Wisconsin are part of the great story of our family.

Michael Bolender married Catherine Decker and the couple had at least 12 children; eighth in line was Mary. She was born 24 Mar 1844 on Oneco Township, Stephenson County. She married Jacob Marean, son of Aesebeus Marean in about 1868 in Illinois. Michael died 08 Jun 1882 in Stephenson County and Catherine died 03 Jun 1878.

Aesebeus' father Jacob Marean, came from Germany, settling in Pennsylvania. Aesebeus married Elizabeth Miller in May 1830 in Schuykill, Pennsylvania. Aesebeus was a plasterer by trade and also farmed in Juniata County. In 1847, after they sold the farm at a good price, he, his wife, and seven children moved west to Illinois by canal to the Ohio River, and then overland to Jo Daviess County, Illinois. A team brought their things east to Buckeye Township. Aesebeus purchased 120 acres at $3.50 per acre.The family cared for the farm while Aesebeus plied his plasterer's trade. At his death in 1874, they had acquired a total of 154 acres. His wife Elizabeth died in 1875.

Jacob Marean, Civil War

Jacob was born 17 Aug 1838 in Juniata County, Pennsylvania. Jacob attended school in winter and worked the farm in the summer. At age 22, Jacob enlisted in the Army during the Civil War, when he joined Company A, 11th Illinois Volunteer Infantry. He participated at the battle of Ft Donelson, Pittsburg Landing, and the battle of Vicksburg. He later served in Co B, 8th Illinois Infantry, where he served until the end of the war.

Jacob and his wife Mary resided in Buckeye Township. He operated his father's farm until 1870 and then crossed the Mississippi and bought a tract of land in Pike County, Missouri. They lived there for seven years before returning to the Orangeville area in Stephenson County, where they spent the remainder of their lives. Jacob built a beautiful new home on the old property and a large barn.

The couple were Lutherans. They had four children; two boys and two girls. He was active in town affairs and considered a solid citizen. Unfortunately, his entire life change in a moment on the morning of 07 Oct 1906. What started as a normal day ended up being the last day of his life. While on the way back from the stock market with his stock wagon and team, his horses were spooked and did a runaway. In the ensuing chaos, Jacob got his heels caught in the spokes of one of the wheels and ended up being dragged for over a mile, killing him before the horses could be slowed. The corner's inquest declared it an accidental death.

Mary lived for another 20 years, until 05 Sep 1926.

Levi Bolender & Sarah Haas of Rock Grove

JOHN H HAAS > VALENTINE C HAAS > DAVID HAAS > SARAH HAAS m Jacob Marean

Levi Bolender

The earliest Haas in the line discussed here in the last post I have worked with, is John Heinrich Haas, born 07 Nov 1741 in Trappe, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. He married Elizabeth Pannebaker in 1767 in Philadelphia. They had at least 10 children, including Captain Valentine Haas, born 20 Nov 1770 In Upper Providence, Montgomery County.

Capt Haas married Mary Elizabeth "Polly" Mauck in 1798 and they too had at least 10 children, among them David, father of Valentine M., who married into our Cooper line with his marriage to WL Cooper's daughter, Hannah.

Captain Haas served as a Justice of the Peace beginning in 1822 and also served in the 77th Pennsylvania Militia during the war of 1812 under Lt Col George Weirick.

David and Barbara Mitterling, his first wife, had six children. Among them was Sarah, born 27 Apr 1834 in Snyder County, Pennsylvania. She came west with her family and resided in Stephenson County and married Levi Bolender 19 Oct 1852 in Rock Grove. Her parents shortly thereafter moved slightly north to Spring Grove, Green County, Wisconsin.

Sarah Haas Bolender

Levi's family had come to Stephenson County in 1840. His father Reuben John "John" and his father's brother Michael had made the trek west, leaving their parents in Snyder County, Pennsylvania. They were well-situated, Michael purchased land near the state line in Oneco Township and John in Buckeye Township. John purchased 400 acres upon his arrival. After John's death, Levi purchased 150 of those acres and farmed that himself. Their farm was located about one mile east of Rock Grove. Levi was active in civic and political affairs and was considered one of the most influential men in the area at the time. He served the township as highway commissioner and served as a school trustee. He also was vice president of the Old Settlers Association. Shortly after the death of Sarah on 19 Jan 1888 in Rock Grove, Levi retired from active farming but lived, on until 15 Jan 1908.

Levi and Sarah also had at least 10 children. Son Allen would die tragically, due to suicide related most likely to his ill health.

What is a truck farm? I had to look it up! Truck Farming is a horticultural practice of growing one or more vegetable crops on a large scale for shipment to distant markets. It is usually less intensive and diversified than market gardening. At first this type of farming depended entirely on local or regional markets. infoplease.com

Peter Smull Family: Sgt Jonathan Smull

PETER SMULL > JOHNATHON SMULL m Mary Jane Cooper

Click image to enlarge

My 2nd Great Grandfather. Johnathan Cooper was the eighth of 12 children born to Peter Smull and Mary Waggoner. He was born in 1834 in Centre County, Pennsyvlania and came to Stephenson County, Illinois with his parents in the 1850s.  John married Mary Jane Cooper, daughter of William Lloyd Cooper and Elizabeth Beams, 06 May 1860 in Monroe, Wisconsin, making this the second Cooper/Smull connection. Mary Jane's sister Ann's daughter Lorena Thompson married Samuel Smull, John's brother.

John was a sergeant during the Civil War, serving a year with the 147th Illinois Infantry Regiment. The regiment was organized at Camp Fry, Chicago, for a year on 18 Feb 1865 and were attached to the 1st Brigade, 2nd Separate Division, District of Etowah, Department of the Cumberland to July 1865 and to the Dept of Georgia to January, 1866. They saw service primarily in Georgia, including skirmishes with guerillas and regular soldiers for the next several months. They then returned to Springield, Illinois in January 1866 and John was discharged on 08 Feb 1866. The regiment lost three enlisted to battle/injuries and 31 to disease.

Johnathan Smull and Mary Jane Cooper

Since they had just started their family with two children before he left for war, they continued adding upon his return, adding six more, all born in Stephenson County, except the last three, who were born in Chickasaw County, Iowa. John owned 80 acres in Dakota, Stephenson County in 1866, which he sold prior to leaving for their next adventure. The Smull's moved to Chickasaw County in 1876 to farm in the Bradford area. According to his death record at the Chickasaw County Courthouse, John would die at age 51 on 16 Oct 1885 of a chronic intestinal enlargement of the liver for which he was treated by Dr. J. D. Horton. Dr. Horton indicated the condition was longer in duration than the last treatment period. Mary would move the family into Plainfield in neighboring Bremer County.

An older Elizabeth Beams Cooper,
mother of Mary Jane Cooper Smull

She cared for her elderly mother, Elizabeth Beams Cooper until her mother's death in June of 1897 in Plainfield. Mary Jane would die in Plainfield 14 Feb 1905 after a long illness.

The Smulls had eight children, including my great grandmother Katherine Mabel "Kate" Smull. The children of John and Mary Jane would play a significant role in the community and life of the small town of Plainfield for the next hundred years.

Listing the children, who will each be profiled at some point are:

1. Ulyssus: 1863, Rock Grove, Stephenson County, Illinois to bet 1881-1885 in Chickasaw County, Iowa. There are no dates on his grave. He is listed in the 1880 US Census but not the Iowa 1885 Census. There is no death record for him in Chickasaw County. 

2. Franklin Sylvester: 06 Mar 1865, Rock Grove to 12 Jul 1904 in Plainfield.

3. Jennie Elnora: 27 Jul 1869, Rock Grove to 09 May 1956 in Iowa. She would also connect withe the Jacob Smith family heretofore mentioned many times.

4. Viola Geneva: 06 Aug 1871, Rock Grove to 21 Nov 1947.

5. Katherine Mabel "Katie: 27 Sep 1873, Rock Grove to 04 Mar 1956, Waverly, Bremer, Iowa. Kate would also marry into the Jacob Smith line.

6. Saidee L.: 11 Jan 1877, Bradford, Chickasaw County, Iowa to 02 May 1962, Denver, Bremer, Iowa.

7. Florence: 20 Jun 1883, Bradford to 19 Aug 1963.

8. Amy: Dates unknown, died as infant/young child.

John Smull, Civil War Veteran and wife Mary Jane Cooper Smull
Son Ulysses' stone is next to his mother's
Greenwood Cemetery, Nashua, Iowa

Peter Smull Family: Henry Smull

PETER SMULL > HENRY SMULL m. Elizabeth "Lizzie" Smith

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Henry Smull (1842*) was born 23 Feb 1842 in Centre County, Pennsylvania, to Peter Smull and Mary Waggoner. He came with his family to Stephenson County, where he attended school. After school, he began working as a farm hand and also did carpentering on the side. On 04 Nov 1864, he married his wife Elizabeth "Lizzie" Smith, daughter of John S. and Catherine Smith. She was born on 23 Aug 1846 in Stepehenson County.

Please refer to the discussion of the parentage of Henry's father Peter here.

Smulls at work (left to right)
WW Smull (standing), Earl, Charles, Roy,
HA Smull (standing)

In 1875, they moved to Shelby County. Henry purchased a parcel of 80 acres to get his farm started, later adding to the holdings. In the intervening years, he worked to improve his property and effectively cultivate the land until he decided to retire. They moved into Macon in Shelby County and built a home. Even after his retirement, he retained 120 acres. 

Henry was an independent in his politics, and according to the Portrait and Biographical Record of Macon County, 1893, "He has never been an office-seeker, in fact, has always avoided office, and though twice elected Justice of the Peace, refused to serve." 

Henry died 01 Mar 1900 in Macon. His wife Lizzie lived to age 86 and died 22 Mar 1933 in Decatur, Illinois.

The Smulls had six children, two of whom died as the result of a horrible car-train accident and one in infancy.

1. William W. was born 21 Nov 1865 in Stephenson County, Illinois. He married Hannah Belle Curry on 17 Oct 1888 in Mowequa, Shelby County. The couple farmed. She was born 03 Sep 1863 in Indiana to Enos and Catherine Curry. William died 30 Dec 1931 in Penn, Shelby County and Belle on 22 Feb 1947. They had two children: Earl and Edith.

WW Smull Hannah Belle Curry Wedding

2. Henry Arthur Smull was born in Freeport, Stephenson County on 30 Dec 1867. He married Martha Jane "Mattie Denton" 26 Aug 1891 in Shelby County. She was the daughter of Johnathon Denton and Eliza Jane Campbell and was born on 01 May 1868 in Oconee, Shelby County. Henry also farmed. They had six children: Roy Arthur, Ethel, May Lucille, June, Gladys Ruth and Ferne. H. A. died 27 Mar 1954 in Decatur and Mattied preceded him on 20 Jun 1933 in Macon.

3. Bertha C. was born 07 Sep 1871 in Stephenson County and died 27 Feb 1947 in Decatur. She lived with her mother until her death and then retained the family home. In 1930, she was listed as a "gardener." She was critically injured in a car-train accident that killed her sister instantly and injured three other women. Bertha died of her injuries the following day.

4. Elizabeth was born 28 Jul 1876 in Shelby County and married Dr. Oscar F. Plummer in 1913.Dr. Plummer was a widower with two children: Harold and Fred. Dr. Plummer died 14 Jun 1938 in Macon and Elizabeth died 26 Feb 1947 in a car-train accident that took her sister's life and injured three others. 

5. Charles E. was born 24 Feb 1879 in Shelby County. In 1910, he was clerking at Draper and Webb's drug store. He married Eula R. Kitch Koehler, a divorced woman with one child, in 1914. At that time, Charles was a restaurant keeper. He maintained his restaurant for 12 years until his death. Charles had a long illness and died 26 Feb 1925 in Macon. He had no children.

6. Pet was 22 Mar 1883 and died a month later in April in Shelby County.

* I will always refer to this Henry as Henry Smull (1842) in order to differentiate him from his uncle Henry who will play a part in the stories here. He will be referred to as Henry Smull.

Peter Smull Family: Julia Smull

PETER SMULL > JULIA A SMULL m John Haas

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Julia was born 08 Nov 1830 in Centre County, Pennsylvania and married John Haas, son of David Haas and Barbara Mitterling in 1847 in Pennsylvania. John was born 20 Dec 1832 in Juniata County, Pennsylvania. My family will intersect with this sprawling Haas clan again on the Cooper side of the family.

John was also the grandson of Capt Valentine Haas, a veteran of the War of 1812 serving in the 77th Pennsylvania Militia under Lt Colonel George Weirick. Valentine was also a justice of the peace. The family at that time resided in Snyder County.

The Haas' moved, along with many of the Smulls, to Stephenson County, Illinois after their marriage and settled near Dakota where they farmed. Their daughter Ida was born on 06 Oct 1871 in Rock Grove, Stephenson County. 

The 1910 census indicates that Julia had three children, with two living, but I have found no evidence of other children at this time. Ida is the only one who resided with them during any available census of 1880 and 1910, but I've not located the 1860 and 1870 census for this family so it's totally possible an older child grew up and was gone before the 1880 census. There is a stone on either side of the Haas main monument - both unreadable. I believe one is an infant and since Ida's obit says she is buried in this cemetery, I believe the larger stone to the right is hers. I've been to this cemetery and there is no other monument for Ida here. (CEMETERY: Rock Grove Union Cemetery, Stephenson County, Illinois).

In 1880, their household consisted of John, Julia, Ida and Julia's sister, Charlotte Amanda, who had been cared for by her parents until their deaths (she was classified as "Idiot"). Amanda, as she was called, died three years later at age 38.

John died on 27 Sep 1881 in Dakota at the age of 48. His widow, Julia, remarried at some point, to a man named Miller. The 1910 census supports this as well as her sister Mary Smull Meyers Frantz's 1908 obituary which has Julia Miller as a surviving sister.

Julia died on 24 May 1912 in Dakota.

Ida remained single her entire life and in the 1930 census, she is listed as a servant in the Oscar and Lena Smull's home in Silver Creek in Stephenson County. Oscar was the son of Peter Smull, Jr. Her death record indicates she died on 10 Apr 1938 in McConnell, Stephenson County and her job was listed as housekeeper. Services for her were held at the Oscar Smull home.

Peter Smull Family: Matilda Rebecca Smull

PETER SMULL > MATILDA REBECCA SMULL m Daniel Meyers

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Matilda Rebecca Smull was the fifth child of Peter Smull and Mary Waggoner. The brother presumed to have been born prior to her is unknown, though we know by news account that there were 12 children - six boys and six girls - and by the census records prior to 1850 that a male would fit into this spot. Matilda was born 15 Oct 1828 in Centre County, Pennsylvania. In 1851, in Miles Township, Centre County, she married Daniel Meyer, son of Henry Meyer and Hannah Bierly. The Bierly name is one seen frequently in both Centre County and Stephenson County, Illinois. 

Matilda R Smull Meyer
1828-1915
Dakota Cemetery

Daniel's great grandfather, Anthony Bierly (1747-1825) was one of the pioneer settlers of Brush Valley, the same area where the Brothers Smull settled. He was born in Bavaria and came to Snyder County before settling in Brush Valley. He and Daniel's grandfather, Nicholas, cleared enough land to begin work on his 300 acres near Rebersburg. Anthony served in the militia during the Revolutionary War, but little is known of his involvement. 

Daniel served an apprenticeship as a cabinet maker in his youth in Pennsylvania under Major John Meyer, but wanted to seek his fortune out west. They arrived in Stephenson County on the last day of 1853. Finding there was no great need for cabinet makers, Meyer started farming and was successful. He retired in 1895 and they moved into Dakota for their retirement. Matilda died in December 1915 and Daniel on 28 Sep 1918 in Dakota.

The Meyer's had nine children, six of whom preceded their parents in death.

1. Sarah was born 19 Dec 1851, in Rebersburg. She married George McGilligan on 02 Mar 1875 in Stephenson County. They had one son, Willard Erwin McGilligan, born 03 Apr 1876 and died 07 May 1944 in Bremer County, Iowa. Sarah died 08 Mar 1898 in Chicago and George died 12 Sep 1924 in Bremer County. 

2. Dora Hanna was born 22 Oct 1853 and died 01 Apr 1854 in Stephenson County.

3. Newton Henry was born 28 Jan 1855 and died 01 Jan 1873 in Stephenson County. He died as a result of an accidental shooting while hunting.

4. Thomas Ephriam was born 03 Oct 1856 in Rock Run, Stephenson County. He married Hilda Charlotte Nelson, born 20 Sep 1858 in Sweden, and they had five children. He died 01 Aug 1897 in Winnebago County, Illinois and she on 08 Apr 1935 in Pecatonica, Winnebago County.

5. John Franklin was born 21 Nov 1858 in Stephenson County. He married Anna May Holsapple (another name found in both Centre and Stephenson Counties) on 18 Jul 1883 in Chicago. Anna was born 21 Sep 1870 in Dakota. They had five children. J. F. died in 1950 and Anna on 22 Aug 1928 in Rock Run, Stephenson County.

6. Peter David was born 09 Apr 1861 in Stephenson County and died on 11 Feb 1875 in Rock Run, Stephenson County. 

7. Emma Jane was born on 22 Oct 1863 in Dakota. She married Edwin Dietz Lauck on 08 Jan 1885. Ed was born to John A Lauck and Anna Christina Marean on 18 Oct 1863 in Rock Grove, Stephenson County. They operated a creamery and ice cream factory in Spencer, Iowa and in 1905 moved to farm in Peabody, Kansas. I highly recommend you visit this website to learn tons about the history of Ed's family and the early days of  Ed and Emma. Ed died 20 Nov 1933 in Peabody, Marion, Kansas and Emma on 16 Nov 1945 in Peabody. They had four children.

Emma, grandson Bobby, and Edwin 
photo Donald Good

8. Effie Susan was born 09 Mar 1866 in Rock Run. She married Lincoln A. Goodman in 1893 and they had two children. Lincoln was born 11 Nov 1863 in Wisconsin. He died 19 Jul 1935 in Rock Run from the heat after working near his timber land on the farm. Effie died 14 Oct 1943 in Freeport, Stephenson County.

9. Mary was born 11 Aug 1868 and died 20 Sep 1868 in Stephenson County.