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Dabbs, Harris, Hancock, Hutchinson, Worthey


James Dabbs and Mary Harris

Part Two of Joseph Dabbs and Nancy Ann Hoggatt


Proposed James Dabbs Lineage

Compiled by Judy Griffin, 2007 - email address




James Dabbs

James Dabbs (Nathaniel2, Joseph1) was born between 1778-1782, probably in North Carolina, and died December 19, 1841 in Jersey County, Illinois. He married the fourteen-year-old Mary Harris 1802 in South Carolina, probably the daughter of James Harris and Elizabeth. Mary was born in 1788 in South Carolina and died on September 8, 1852 in Jersey County, Illinois. There was only one James Harris enumerated in 1800 in Union County, South Carolina, the same county where James’ father, Nathaniel Dabbs, was living by 1795. The Dabbs family migrated to Warren or Barren County, Kentucky, where they remained until circa 1819. Mary’s father, James Harris, also settled there, he was living near James Dabbs in 1810. (1) In the 1810 census for Warren County were James Dabbs, his wife Mary and three sons under age ten (one male 26-45, one female 16-26, three males under 10). The sons were probably William, our Samuel and James, Jr. In the Harris family were James and Elizabeth and nine children or others. A James Harris is said to have married an Elizabeth Gillespie. Many members of the Harris family moved to Kentucky circa 1803 and were in Tennessee by 1825. (2)

There was a James Harris mentioned in a land record in or near Anson County, North Carolina (but in South Carolina), in 1754: (3) “James Harris ? a Plantation or tract of Land Cont’g 200 Acres situate as Supposed when run out to be in Anson County in the Province of N. Carolina on the S. Side of the Catawba river on the N. side of fishing Creek, Joining on the N. side of Wm Mills Survey ? Originally granted the 3d day of Feby 1754 to the Memorialist ? by the Hon’ble Matthew Rowan then President of N. Carolina but by a late resurvey of the boundary line between N. & S. Carolina the above tract of Land falls within the Province of S. Carolina in Craven County ? (sworn) the 1st of Decr 1772 Samuel Young, D.S. (signed) James Harris.”

Some of the first explorers in the Warren County, Kentucky area were the Long Hunters, so termed due to the long periods of time they spent away from home. (4) It was their explorations that helped open mid-Kentucky for settlers, including the Dabbs and Harris families. There is an 1806 Kentucky land grant for a James Harris in Warren County, two hundred acres on the Hanging Fork Big Buck Creek water course, surveyed March 7, 1806. (5) A survey was done as part of the land grant process.

In circa 1819 James Dabbs and his family left Kentucky for Madison County, Illinois, settling in Fosterburg Township. “. . . About the same time, James Dabbs settled on another branch [of the Wood River], a mile northwest of a man named Honeycutt. This branch has since been known as Dabbs’ creek. He left about the same time, and probably with Honeycutt. Honeycutt’s name was also given to streams.” (6)

A newspaper clipping before Jersey County was established had an interview with a Rowel Honeycutt: (7)

There were Illinois land patents for a Rudolph Honeycutt dated April 17, 1818, and one for a James Dabbs, dated January 18, 1819, but both patents were for land in areas much further north, in present-day Fulton and McDonough counties respectively. There was an Arthel Honeycutt in Madison County in 1818. By the 1820 census, James Dabbs was in Wood River Township, Madison, County. (8)

By 1821, Greene County was formed from part of Madison County, and in 1839 Jersey County was formed from Greene. By about 1826 the Dabbs were in Greene County, finally ending up in Jersey County by 1834. There were Dabbs/Dobbs in Illinois as early as 1817 to 1819, and others in various counties in the 1830s. Whether these other early Dabbs/Dobbs were related is not known.

In this compiler’s files, there is a note by a family member stating “my Grandfather fought in this Battle,” written on a newspaper article on Andrew Jackson and the Battle of New Orleans. Unfortunately, I did not record my source for this, though I believe it is the same person who had made handwritten notes on the Dabbs family with some mentions of the Hutchinson family, the source of which I also did not record. I knew it had to be either a Dabbs or, much less likely, a Hutchinson. I now believe it was referring to the James Dabbs, who entered 160 acres in McDonough County in 1819. A soldier who served in the War of 1812, who desired to take advantage of the military land bounty in Illinois, could only obtain land in the Military tract in mid-western part of Illinois, which did not include Madison County. The present McDonough County was part of the Illinois Military Tract. A search of available records did not turn up any other James Dabbs, or name variations, in Illinois up to and including 1820 and 1830. However, it is difficult to determine why James did not decide to settle in McDonough County. This James Dabbs stated that he served as a private in Robinson’s [unreadable word] 7th Regiment of Infantry. This Regiment did serve at the Battle of New Orleans, a battle that has such an interesting history, not to mention the great 1959 song.

There is interesting information contained in the 1820 Illinois state (territorial, not federal) census for a James Dabbs in Madison County. The entry lists a James Dabbs as head of household with one free white male over 21, eleven free white individuals and twelve free people of color. I have not been able to verify the accuracy of this information. This census appears to include information from the 1818 state (territorial) and 1820 federal censuses combined. In the 1820 federal census, James was listed, with one male and one female age 26-45 (James and Mary), four males and one female age 10-16 (William, Samuel and James Jr., one female and male unknown), and five males and one female under age 10 (John, George, Jesse, Elias and Susannah, one male unknown). There are no persons of color listed and the total household is 13, in contrast to the 12 individuals listed in the 1820 state census. James Dabbs was not listed in a check of an online 1818 Illinois census, which does agree with the information above that stated he came to Illinois in 1819. By 1824, only eleven Illinois counties were slave, Fayette, Jefferson, Wayne, Randolph, Jackson, Franklin, Hamilton, White, Gallatin, Pope, and Alexander. (9)

James Dabs [sic Dabbs] gave testimony in the county’s first murder trial, held in Edwardsville, Illinois in 1823. (10) The murder was committed on Christmas Eve, 1823, between the forks of Wood River and caused great excitement in the county, resulting in the first case of capital punishment in the county. A man by the name of Eliphalet Green, who was working at Abel Moore’s distillery, had a quarrel with another worker that ended in a fistfight. Green was badly beaten. He became enraged, got his gun and shot the other worker. Green then ran away into the forests, but returned on Christmas day and gave himself up. Court was held on January 13, 1824, and James Dabbs, among others, gave testimony. The jury returned an indictment, stating that Eliphat Green “. . . not having the fear of God before his eyes, but being moved and seduced by the instigation of the Devil . . . did kill and murder, to the great displeasure of Almighty God, . . .” Green was found guilty and “hanged by the neck until he be dead, dead, dead!” on February 11, 1824. Spectators came from a distance, possibly James and his family were in the crowd.

As an aside, crimes at this early time included burglary, kidnapping, theft, larceny, forgery, vagrancy, etc. For some of these, the punishment was a public whipping, from 15 to 40 lashes on bare back, well laid on, the number of lashes determined by the crime, jury, and/or judge. This was graphically described by an observer in nearby Carrollton: (11)

By 1826 James was living in Greene County, in the area that would become Otter Creek, Jersey County in 1839. James purchased 30 acres there from the Federal Government for $50.00 on December 30, 1826. (12)

According to the county histories:

The 1872 biographical entry for James’ son, Jesse, gives similar information on James and Mary: (16)

The children of James Dabbs and Mary Harris purchased land in Jersey County in the 1830s, some while it was still Greene County, most just after Jersey County was formed from Greene County in early 1839. (17) In 1834 (Greene County), John purchased land in what is now Rosedale Township, just west of Otter Creek. In 1835 (Greene County) our Samuel purchased land in what are now Otter Creek and Quarry East Townships, just below Otter Creek; and John purchased land in Piasa Township, located in western edge of Jersey County. In 1836 William purchased land in Greene County. In 1839 Samuel, George and John purchased land in Piasa Township; George and Samuel purchased land in Mississippi Township, just east of Otter Creek; Jesse purchased land in Otter Creek Township. In 1840 James and George purchased land in Otter Creek Township. This last purchase is probably the father James, since his son named James had died by 1830, and this would have been just before our James, Sr. died. A Mary Dabb [sic] purchased land in Piasa Township in 1839, it is not known if this is Mary Harris.

These journal entries of a family, probably Mormon, making the trek across the plains on their way to Salt Lake City, mentions our Dabbs family: (18)

James and Mary attended the Baptist services and later the church in Jersey County. Sometime after James died, Mary went to live with her son, Jesse. In the 1850 census she was living with Jesse; and, according to this census, Mary Harris could not read or write. They were said to have had ten children, eight sons, two daughters. We have found nine sons, two daughters. Their children were: (19)

There was a George W. Dabbs, residing at Jerseyville, who served in the Civil War, Company I, 144th Infantry. (43) A George Dabbs purchased land in Otter Creek Township in 1854. It is not known if this was the son of John W. Dabbs, or the son of James Dabbs, also named George W, or neither of these.



William Dabbs

William Dabbs (James3, Nathaniel2, Joseph1) was born between 1805-1806 in North Carolina, South Carolina or Kentucky. William married, first, Elzina Hill (possibly Hicks) on November 2, 1826 in Greene County, Illinois. (44) He married, second, Polly (Mary) Lewis on March 28, 1859 in Jersey County, Illinois. (45) In 1836 William purchased forty acres in Greene County, near Carrollton. (46) By 1860 (census) William was living in Otter Creek Township with his second wife and his son, Emanuel. Elzina may have died or they divorced. The Jerseyville (Illinois) Republican Examiner of 1883 stated: “People living in county 50 years or more - Wm Dabbs born in North Carolina came to Illinois 1807/1817? from Madison Co. Ill.” William Dabbs was NOT found in the 1880 census and may have died before 1880. William and Polly/Mary probably had no children. None are listed with them in 1860 census, but that was just after they married and Mary was age 51 in 1860, so it is unlikely they had children. Polly/Mary was probably previously married, since she was circa 50 when she married William. The children of William and Elzina were: (47)


The Jersey County Historical Society has a letter from an Earl A. Thompson that may give additional information (no sources listed) on the descendants of William Dabbs. (54) Thompson stated that William Dabbs had a daughter Eva, born in 1871. This seems unlikely, given the ages of William and his wife. By 1880 an Evey (Eva) Dabbs was listed in Jersey County, with a William H. Dixon and his wife Martha, possibly adopted. Thompson related the following information on Eva:

“. . . Shortly after the 1880 Federal Census, Eva left the Dixon farm and until about 1891 she worked for her room and board at successive farms. About 1891 she married her first husband, William Raymond, a junk dealer, who had been born about 1865 in Illinois. At the time of the 1900 Federal Census, they lived in Jerseyville. In January 1892, Eva had a son, my half-uncle, Brower Earl Raymond. Brower later worked as a laborer in a washing machine factory in Alton, and he had a son, Leo. Brower died (in the 1960s?) in Alton, Illinois. In February 1894, Eva had another son, my half- uncle, Harry Earl Raymond. Harry moved to Arizona, had children, and died in Arizona (in the 1960s?). On March 17, 1899, Eva had a daughter, my half-aunt, Birdie Bell Raymond, who died on February 23, 1902, probably in Illinois.

By 1913, Eva had remarried. Eva’s husband was then William Thompson, who had been born about 1870, in Missouri. On November 28, 1913, while they were living at 2030 Missouri Avenue, Granite City, Illinois, they had a son, Earl Alfred Thompson (my father.)

Eva had a half-sister, Amanda Dabbs, born about 1845 in Illinois, and two half-brothers, Emanuel Dabbs (who was Amanda’s twin), and a male, name unknown, born about January 1850. The father of these three children was William Dabbs and their mother was Elzina Dabbs (Her maiden name was Hill). From these three children [he probably meant Eva’s children], at least two daughters were born, Madeline, last name unknown, and Hazel Chatt Cummings Baumer. On May 29, 1943, Hazel married John (Baumer?). Hazel and John lived in Chicago.

Eva had a third husband, name unknown, and it is unknown if she married him before, or after, she had married William Thompson. About 1935, Eva moved to California and she died there on September 1, 1955. . . .”


Samuel Dabbs

Samuel Dabbs (James3, Nathaniel2, Joseph1) was born in 1808 in Kentucky, and died on December 12, 1853 in Jersey County, Illinois. Samuel was declared insane a few years before his death and he may have died at the Central Hospital for the Insane, Jacksonville, Morgan County, Illinois. He married Mary Link circa 1830, daughter of William Link and Sally Grim (see Link/Linck family history). She was born circa 1809 in Tennessee or Virginia, and died on September 12, 1855 in Otterville, Otter Creek Township, Jersey County, Illinois. In the 1850 census, Samuel was listed as age 42 born in Kentucky, the county histories list his birthplace as South Carolina.

The history of Jersey County give the follow information on Samuel: “Samuel Dabbs, a native of South Carolina, made a settlement on section 8, in this township, about the year 1826. His son, W.W. Dabbs, is a resident of the township still, living near the old homestead.” (55)

There were two Samuel Dabbs in Illinois. One is the son of Nathaniel and brother of our James Dabbs, the other was our Samuel, son of James Dabbs. This has undoubtedly resulted in errors, one of which is the year our Samuel Dabbs came to Illinois. It is more likely that our Samuel came to Illinois in 1819 with his father James. Pat Poshard stated that a Samuel migrated to Illinois with his brother James Dabbs in 1805, which is before our Samuel’s birthdate.

Samuel and his wife were Baptists. (56) Samuel, according to the census, was a farmer. Samuel and his wife were buried in the old cemetery at Otterville. Morris Dabbs (a descendant who maintained the Dabbs cemetery) told the author that their graves were moved to the Dabbs Cemetery. The author walked up the long and steep hill to the Dabbs cemetery and recorded the transcriptions on the gravestones. Samuel’s gravestone is engraved: “Samuel Dabbs died Dec 28 1855 aged ?47 yrs. 11 mo.”

Mary (Link) Dabbs was either a Baptist or Methodist Episcopal. According to the 1850 census, she was born in Virginia circa 1809. Her gravestone in the Dabbs cemetery is engraved: “Mary wife of Samuel Dabbs Sept. 14 1856 Aged 45 years”, which gives a birth date of 1810/11. She died just after Samuel’s will was probated. Mary was not literate, as noted in the 1850 census and by the fact that she made her mark on the documents in her husband Samuel’s probate.

In 1853 when he was about 43 years of age, Samuel Dabbs was declared insane:

Samuel was admitted to the hospital just two years after it opened. Miss Dorothea Dix early applied herself to the bettering of their pitiable condition [insane]. According to the Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois, when the State legislature met, she addressed to them an eloquent and convincing argument favoring the establishment of an asylum for the care of the insane. Accordingly, such a hospital was located on a beautiful stretch of prairie-land a mile south of Jacksonville. In November 1851 the first patient was received. J. M. Higgins was the first superintendent of the Central Hospital for the Insane at Jacksonville, Morgan County, Illinois.

Samuel Dabbs died intestate. Since he was insane, he was probably not capable of making a will before he died. His probate lists his death as December 28, 1855. After Samuel’s death, Mary “Polly” was allowed the following:

Polly (Mary) Dabbs made her will on June 23, 1856. Her probate file is large, but contains documents related to her husband’s estate, perhaps because she died before Samuel’s probate was completed. In August 1856 Polly received $35.00 each for the board and care of her son W. W. Dabbs (William Washington) and for the board and washing for her son Jacob W. Dabbs. She also received $35.00 for board and Doctor Bill &c, possibly for herself, since she was probably ill when she made her will in June. There appears to be a doctor bill for services for Polly from January to September 13, 1856, the day before she died. There is also a record of her purchases for this time period, during which she purchased items such as smoking tobacco, sugar, coffee, nails, calico, and matches. Her coffin and case cost $32.00. Polly’s will:

There is a probate file for Emiline/Emeline/Emaline and her brother Jacob, in which Emiline is named as heir of her father Samuel and a “devisee of her Mother the late Polly Dabbs.” Her brothers, W. W. Dabbs and Jacob Dabbs are only mentioned as heirs of their father Samuel in one document, but Jacob and Emeline are named as heirs of Polly in another.

Since both Samuel and Mary died relatively young, there are only five children, though there may have been additional children who died in infancy. Their children were:

The children of Absalom and Catherine were John Thomas born circa 1867, Absalom born circa 1869/70, Lillian Mae, Nelson D., Kersey (Kirt), & Frederick. (70) In 1870 (census), only Isaac and Susan were with Absalom. Catherine and Sarah M. were with John Davenport (possible grandfather), Elizabeth may have been a domestic servant with a local physician. In the Illinois Statewide Marriage Database there are two possible marriages for Elizabeth Davenport, one to a Thomas W. Cook in 1875, another to a Thaddeus Patton in 1889. There is one possible marriage for Sarah, a Thomas Gleason in 1879.


William Washington Dabbs

William Washington Dabbs (Samuel4, James3, Nathaniel2, Joseph1) was born on June 8, 1836 in Otter Creek Township, Jersey County, Illinois and died on October 5, 1917 in Otter Creek Township, Jersey County, Illinois. (71) William was variously called W.W., Washington and “Wash” Dabbs. According to his Funeral Record, he died of senility. He married Leaner Catherine “Kate” Worthey on November 5, 1856 in Jerseyville, Jersey County, Illinois, daughter of John Worthey and Elizabeth Hires. Leaner Catherine Worthey was born on December 12, 1840 in Tennessee and died on April 30, 1929 in Jersey County, Illinois (see Worthey family history).

According to the early censuses, Kate could not write. After W.W. died, she married his cousin, Joshua Elias Dabbs, on October 17, 1918 (see Joshua Elias below). They lived together for a while, but sometime in the 1920s Kate went to live with her son Linly/Linley. Perhaps she and Joshua could no longer manage their household. Her great granddaughter, Hilda Hutchinson, said that Josh would visit Kate, bringing her peppermint stick candy. It is likely that Joshua lived with his family in Rosedale and visited her when he could get transportation. She had become legally blind and in March 1928 she petitioned the Board of Supervisors for relief, providing an examiner’s certificate stating she was totally blind. (72) Relief was granted by the board. She told her great granddaughter, Hilda Hutchinson, that she, with her parents (John Worthey and Elizabeth Hires), rode from Kentucky on a horse to settle in Jersey County. As described by Hilda, Kate was a small woman, with white hair parted in the middle and knotted in the back. She wore a skirt, blouse and apron, even though she never helped with any work, just sat in a rocking chair. She had very poor eyes, but could always see if she thought your skirt was too short. We slept in the same bedroom. She had a painted 3/4 feather bed, and always slept on two pillows on her left side because she said her heart bothered her. Her obituary stated that she came with her parents in October 1850 and settled three miles northwest of Otterville. Kate’s funeral record stated that she died of chronic interstitial nephritis (kidney disease). The children and grandchildren of W.W. and Kate contributed to her funeral expenses - Linly and his son Arthur, Margaret E., and William Oscar. Kate was buried on May 2, 1929 in the Dabbs Cemetery. Their gravestones in the Dabbs cemetery state: Wm W. Dabbs June 8, 1836 - October 5, 1917; Catherine his wife Dec 12 1848 [transcription error?].

W.W. and Kate were said to have had fourteen children, but only eleven have been found. (73) Four were said to have died as infants and nine had died by the year W.W. died. There are two children listed in the Jersey County Birth Records, one born in 1878 and another in 1882 that are not listed below. W.W. was a prominent member of the community in Otter Creek, evidenced by his long obituary and frequent mentions in the local newspapers. However, in 1865 he was listed as delinquent on his personal tax of $5.90 with property only valued at $120. (74)

When he was in his thirties and forties, W.W. was involved in local and state politics. (75) When the “Liberal Republicans of Otter Creek” held a meeting in September 1872, Wm. McAdams, candidate for the state legislature from the district, had been invited to speak, presenting the issues in an earnest and impressive manner for an hour and a half. W.W. followed, eloquently appealing to the audience on behalf of Horace Greeley and the reform movement for half an hour. He had been elected a member of the Republican Central Committee for Jersey County at the Radical Convention held just three weeks prior. In 1868 W.W. had been the Vice President of the Grant Club in Otter Creek, the strongest Republican precinct in the county at the time. During the last campaign [presidential] he had served as the acting chairman of this club.

While Grant was elected to a second term, there had been a split in the Republican Party that resulted in the defection of many Republicans to Horace Greeley, among them our W.W. A group of dissident Republicans formed the Liberal Republican Party and nominated Greeley. Just after the popular vote, but before the Electoral College convened, Greeley died.

In 1880, while he was building a new barn, he had time to speak at a Greenback political discussion between Claridge, who evidently was a Greenbacker, and T. C. Brock and W.W. who had previously been Greenbackers but were now Republicans. (76) R. R. Claridge was editor and proprietor of the Jerseyville Independent newspaper.

W. W. was elected as a delegate to the Republican State Convention twice, was twice a member of the Jersey County Board, was a supervisor of Otter Creek Township in 1902-1903, and held the office of school director.

W. W. was a butcher in the 1870s. It must have been a prosperous business, he was also busy buying land in the Otterville area. (77) By the time he died, he owned 534 acres in Otter Creek Township. In addition he was involved in the building of a new school house at the mouth of “Dabbs Hollow” that was to replace the old log one. (78) By 1880 the new school was nearly ready, located on W.W.’s farm. The son of T. B. Brock (sic?) was to be the teacher. The Wabash School Furniture Co. had sold to W.W. all the furniture needed for the school house. (79)

In 1955, W.W.’s son, William Oscar, sponsored a Buckeye School reunion, the school on the Dabbs property where most of W.W.’s descendants received their education until it was closed, probably in the 1940s or 50s: (80)

W.W. continued his butcher business in Otterville in the 1880s, engaging in this business for thirteen years. In 1882 he had purchased a new beef wagon for his business. (81) He may have also been raising hogs. He was taking hogs to Jerseyville in 1883. By 1886 he had added a Sorgum mill to his business enterprises. (82)

There is interesting information about W.W.’s Sorgum Mill, related by his son, Oscar in 1955 (William Oscar would have been seventy-five at the time):

W.W.’s great granddaughter, Hilda, commented on this article. (84) She said, “Uncle Linn had the sorghum mill for years and although it says top of Dabbs hill, I’m sure it was always at the bottom and right across the road from Aunt Rose and Uncle Linn’s house. I always hated sorghum and we also had Karo syrup for pancakes too, but everyone seemed crazy for sorghum and it was like the article you sent. A horse or mule pulled the big wooden thing that pressed the juices out of the cane.” “He used to grow sorghum cane and made sorghum molasses in huge vats – out in an open shed – the cane crusher was manned by a horse or mule.” She was living with W.W.’s son, Linly, and writing about the 1920s. A later telephone conversation indicated that the sorghum made by Linly was a mill, a smaller operation, but still used a mule. Sugar was more available by this time, why Linly operated a small sorghum mill is unknown, perhaps a preference for some at the time and/or less expensive.

You don’t know what sorghum is? It is commonly called molasses and was often the only available sweetener available besides honey at the time. Sugar, as we know it, was not readily available and expensive for the early settlers. For the really curious, a number of historical websites have sorghum mills in operation for demonstration.

In 1916, just a year before W.W.’s death, the family celebrated the sixtieth wedding anniversary of W.W. and Kate:

Two obituaries for W.W. appeared in the Jerseyville newspaper: (85)

The children of William and “Kate,” all of whom lived within ten miles of each other, were:


Jesse E. Dabbs

Brother of Samuel Dabbs

Jesse E. Dabbs (James3, Nathaniel2, Joseph1), a carpenter, builder, farmer and miller, was born on December 22, 1817 in Barren County, Kentucky, and died on August 9, 1873. He married, first, Matilda Marsh on May 7, 1837 in Jersey County, Illinois. She was born in 1818 in Calhoun County, Illinois, and died on November 19, 1865 in Otter Creek Township, Jersey County. (112) Tombstone transcriptions in the Dabbs Cemetery give Jesse’s and Matilda’s birth and death years: Mathilda Dabbs, 1818-1865; Jesse Dabbs, 1818-1873. In 1870 Jesse was a widower. Living in his household were his son Edwin (Ephriam Edwin) and a Mary J. Tucker, age 17, who he may have hired to take care of household duties, and who was to marry Ephriam Edwin in 1871. Jesse married, second, Isabel Carson Devlin (Devling/Develin) on October 21, 1871 in Jersey County, Illinois. Isabel, much younger than Jesse, was born on December 1, 1851.

Jesse’s probate was filed in October 1873 by Isabel Dabbs, administrator. According to papers in Jesse’s probate file in 1873, Isabel had re-married before the estate was settled (her surname changed in the documents). This was the George (Andrew) Worthy who married Isabel Dabbs on January 1, 1874 in Jersey County (Illinois Statewide Marriage Database). One puzzle in Jesse’s probate file was the James Dabbs listed as an heir (all of Jesse’s other children were accounted for). It turns out that Jesse and Isabel Devlin had a son, born circa 1873, not long before Jesse’s death (not in birth index). Isabel and George Worthy moved to Texas in the mid to late 1870s, taking with them James Dabbs and the children of Isabel and George Worthy (see 1880 census). The remaining puzzle is whether George Worthy, born in Tennessee, was related to the two Worthy sisters (our Worthey/Worthy line, see the Worthey family) who married W.W. Dabbs and Jesse’s son Joshua Elias.

Jesse’s biographical information was published in 1872: (113) “Jesse Dabbs was by trade a carpenter and builder, which he followed in early life. He was married, May 7, 1837, to Miss Matilda Marsh, daughter of Ephriam and Mary Marsh, of this county. His wife died November 19, 1865. He was again married, October 21, 1871, to Miss Isabel, daughter of Bryant and Elizabeth Devling. Mr. D. has lately followed farming. He is one of the substantial citizens of the community in which he has spent over forty years of an active, industrious life.”

Jesse struck out on his own just after he turned eighteen, purchasing forty acres of land in 1836 and marrying slightly more than one year later. His next land purchases from the federal government were not until 1854. His real estate was valued at $2,000 in 1860 and $3,000 in 1870.

Jesse did not leave a will. The administrator’s bond for Jesse’s estate was signed by Isabel (with her mark), her father B. Devlin (Bryant) and O. H. Burris on October 1, 1873, though Isabel was the administrator. Burris was also one of the appraisers. The estate was comprised mainly of “household goods, etc.,” estimated to be worth about $250. The heirs, in addition to Isabel, were named (children in no particular order): James Dabbs, Ephriam Dabbs, Henry Dabbs, Joshua Dabbs, Sarah Chappee, Amanda McDow, Mary J. Houston, and George Dabbs. Charles had died in 1865. Isabel was allowed the usual items (clothing, books, sewing machine, beds and bedding, stove, one cow, four sheep, a horse, provision, and fuel) valued at $627.90. The estate was valued at $229.90, not including real estate. While the estate inventory contained the usual household items of the times, there was a surprising small amount of farm equipment, only one mare and colt, a sow, and some standing corn. Jesse was only 55, he would probably still have been actively farming. Jesse’s three properties were valued at $800 total, subject to three mortgages held by John W. Terry as follows: one for $200 given to the School Trustees dated April 1854, one for $600 given to [unreadable name] dated September 6, 1870, and one for $200 given to John W. Terry dated October 21, 1872. In 1870 John W. Terry was a Baptist preacher, living in the Campbell household near Jesse, with real estate valued at $6,000. None of the three properties seem to have been Jesse’s original land grant properties.

Jesse and Matilda sent all their children to school (probably Hamilton School, Mary Jane was a pupil there in 1851). Their children were:


Joshua Dabbs

Brother of Samuel Dabbs

Joshua Dabbs (James3, Nathaniel2, Joseph1) was born circa 1822 in Woods River, Madison County, Illinois, and died on May 1, 1864 in Jersey County, Illinois. He was buried in Noble Cemetery. He married, first, Sarah Jane (Brown) White on March 9, 1851 in Jersey County, Illinois. (132) Sarah Jane was born on April 1, 1825 and died on September 7, 1858 and was buried in Noble Cemetery. They had one child, Anna M. Dabbs, born in 1854. Joshua married, second, Sabrina L. Schaff on June 21, 1859 in Jersey County. Sabrina Bingham was previously married to Henry Schaff on September 20, 1854 and had two children, Louis (1852-1933) and Alvinia (1859-1886). (133) Another researcher states that Joshua was born on January 9, 1822 in Greene County (later Jersey) and died on May 1, 1864 in Jersey County, buried in Otterville Cemetery, Otterville. (134) This same researcher states that Sabrina was born circa 1837 in New York. According to the 1860 census, Joshua was a merchant in Grafton, Jersey County. Joshua and Sabrina had two daughters: Sarah Jane, born February 1860 and Martha W., born circa 1862. His probate listed the following heirs: Adda Marion, Sarah Jane, and Martha Dabbs. Adda was born circa 1852, Sarah Jane was born circa 1860 (1860 census), and Martha W. was born circa 1862. Adda’s name may have been Anna and she may have been born in 1854.

After Joshua’s death, Sabrina married Ephraim Hughes on July 31, 1864. Ephraim Hughes died February, 19,1870, and Sabria married William S. Reeson/Reesor on November 3, 1872. (135) Sabrina had two children with Ephraim, Eva or Effie Sabria, born circa 1865, and Herbert Leon, born circa 1870. (136) She had three children with William Reeson/Reesor: Willie, Mary, and Beatrice (1880 census). Sabria and William evidently moved to Montana after 1880. According to the 1902 Butte, Montana directory, Sabria was a widow.



Endnotes

1 James Dabbs household. 1810 Kentucky Federal Census, Warren (Barren) County, Film 252 , roll 8, p. 255. James Harris is found on this same census page, only two people were enumerated between James Dabbs and James Harris.

2 South Carolina Magazine of Ancestral Research (SCMAR, Volume XI, Number 1, Winter, 1983, Requests for Information, SCMAR, Vol. XI, Winter 1983, No. 1, p.53. Robert J. Cozby, (1700 Devon Dr. Carrollton, TX 75007) needs to contact descendants of Mathew Gillespie d. 1793 Abbeville Co. SC m. Francis (Fanny) Pickens, sister of William Pickens of S.C. Revolutionary War. Their children; Elizabeth m. James Harris, Fannie m. John Brown, John P. m. ?? Glover, Margaret m. 1st James Trimble 2nd Gresham Clemons, Martha m. ?? Davis, Lemma m. David B. Clemons and Nellie m. James Cosby. Many of these moved to Kentucky ca 1803 and in Tennessee by 1825.

3 South Carolina Magazine of Ancestral Research (SCMAR, Volume VII Number 2, Spring, 1979, Some Early Settlers on Fishing Creek (Continued from Vol. VII, p.10), vol. 12, p. 16.

4 The Kentucky Encyclopedia, edited by John Kleber. Copyright c1992. Cited on Barren County Kentucky GenWeb, www.rootsweb.com/~kybarren/, accessed January 2005.

5 Jillson, Willard Rouse. The Kentucky Land Grants, Vol. I-II. Louisville, KY: Filson Club Publications, 1925. Vol. 1, Part 1, Chapter IV, Grants South of Green River (1797-1866), p. 327. Harris, James, Acres: 200, Book: 13, Survey Date: 3- 7-1806, County: Warren, WaterCourse: Hanging Fk Big Buck Cr. Ancestry.com. Kentucky Land Grants [database online]. Orem, UT: Ancestry.com, Inc., 1997.

6 Fosterburg. History of Madison County Illinois, W.R. Brink & Co., Edwardsville, IL 1882.

7 “Tales From the Past,” Newsletter, Jersey County Historical Society, Summer 2005.

8 James Dabbs household. 1820 Illinois Federal Census, Wood River Township, Madison County, Roll M33_11, page 109.

9 Illustration, Free and Slave Counties in 1824. O. P. Barnes, Story of Illinois and Its People, 1913.

10 Fosterburg. History of Madison County Illinois, W.R. Brink & Co., Edwardsville, IL 1882.

11 Dr. Samuel Willard, “The Whipping Post in Carrollton in 1832,” published in the Carrollton Patriot, February 2, 1906.

12 Illinois Public Domain Land Tract Sales Database, online at www.sos.state.il.us/departments/archives/databases.html, accessed February 2005.

13 The Red House 150th Anniversary 1834-1984 (at the Jerseyville Library).

14 History of Jersey and Greene Co., Continental Historical Co. 1885.

15 History of Jersey and Greene Co., Continental Historical Co. 1885, pp. 79-80.

16 Atlas Map of Jersey County, Illinois, Davenport, IA: Andreas, Lyter & Co., Davenport, IA, 1872, p 60.

17 The information on land purchases is confusing. The Illinois Public Domain Land Tract Sales Database has dates that differ from the General Land Office (GLO), Bureau of Land Management for various Dabbs land purchases.

18 “Chronology of the Life of Hezekiah Mitchell and Sarah Mallinson Mitchell,” Taken from Hezekiah Mitchell’s Journals and other sources, by Sidney F. Mitchell. lythgoes.net/genealogy/history/HezekiahMitchell2.php.

19 Pat Poshard. All information from Pat Poshard unless otherwise indicated.

20 History of Jersey and Greene Co., Continental Historical Co. 1885, p. 397.

21 Illinois Statewide Marriage Index 1763-1900, online at www.sos.state.il.us/departments/archives/databases.html, accessed January 2005. Vol. 1, page 23, license 660.

22 John Dabbs household. 1850 Illinois Federal Census, Township 8 Range 10, Jersey County, Roll: M432_111, Page: 53, dwelling 38, family 38.

23 Illinois Statewide Marriage Index 1763-1900, accessed February 2005.

24 Past and Present of the City of Springfield and Sangamon County Illinois, by Joseph Wallace, M. A. of the Springfield Bar, The S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., Chicago, IL, 1904.

25 Illinois Statewide Marriage Index (1763-1900), accessed January 2005.

26 A??? Newel household, 1850 Illinois Federal Census, Illinois Precinct, Calhoun County, Roll: M432_99, Page: 306, Dwelling 56, Family 56.

27 Illinois Public Domain Land Tract Database, online at www.sos.state.il.us/departments/archives/databases.html, accessed January 2005.

28 Bureau of Land Management - General Land Office Records, online at www.glorecords.blm.gov/Visitors/, accessed January 2005.

29 George W. Dabbs Family Group Record, FamilySearch™ International Genealogical Index v5.0, North America, Batch Number: 7727104, Sheet: 38, Source Call No.: 1126122. Form submitted by a member of the LDS Church.

30 Letter from Ramona Koegler, January 4, 1985.

31 Samuel Burdie household. 1850 Illinois Federal Census, Township 8 Range 13, Jersey County, Roll: M432_111, Page: 90, dwelling 55, family 55.

32 Illinois Statewide Marriage Index 1763-1900, accessed January 2005. Vol. 1, page 41, license no. 181, Calhoun County.

33 Elias Dabbs household. 1860 Illinois Federal Census, Jersey County, Otter Creek Precinct, Post Office Otter Creek and Grafton, Series: M653, Roll: 188, page 150, Dwelling 106, Family 103. Accessed Heritage Quest, March 2004.

34 Jersey County Democrat, June 29, 1866. Delinquent Personal Tax List (delinquent for 1865 tax). Dabbs, Elias; Val. 80 ; Tax, 1.60.

35 Jersey County Democrat, April 19, 1867. Rebecca Dabbs vs Elias Dabbs, divorce granted (no date of divorce given).

36 Jersey County Democrat, August 30, 1867. Married, August 6, 1867. Elias Dabbs and Elizabeth Applin.

37 Carlinville Free Democrat, February 11, 1863. Roster of Co. K, 122nd Regiment Ill. Vol. Infantry. Elias Dabbs, transferred to Co. C.

38 Database of Illinois Civil War Veterans, online at www.sos.state.il.us/departments/archives/databases.html, accessed January 2005.

39 Illinois Statewide Marriage Index 1763-1900, accessed January 2005.

40 1850 Jersey County Illinois Mortality Schedule, enumerated by Jona(than) Plowman and located on pages 353,356,357, 359 and 362 of the original census schedule on microfilm. Online at Jersey County ILGenWeb, www.rootsweb.com/~iljersey/1850Mortality.html, accessed March 1999. Pat Poshard states that he died of consumption, according to his death record.

41 1850 Illinois Federal Census, South West Part of District No. 22, Montgomery County, Roll M432?121, p. 112A.

42 dgmweb.net/genealogy/FGS/F/FisherReuben-MaryAnnDabbs.shtml, no title, accessed February 2005.

43 Database of Illinois Civil War Veterans, online at www.sos.state.il.us/departments/archives/databases.html, accessed January 2005. Dabbs, George W., Private, Company I, 144 IL US Infantry, residence Jerseyville.

44 Illinois Statewide Marriage Index 1763-1900, accessed January 2005. Dubbs (sic), William; Hill, Elzina; November 2, 1826; Vol. 1, page 7, license no. 184; Greene County. Pat Poshard lists Elzina’s surname as Hicks.

45 Illinois Statewide Marriage Index 1763-1900, accessed January 2005. Dabbs, William; Lewis, Polly; March 28, 1859; Vol. A, page 64; Jersey County.

46 Illinois Public Domain Land Tract Database, online at www.sos.state.il.us/departments/archives/databases.html, accessed January 2005. Township 10N, Range 12W, Greene County, Vol. 324, page 186.

47 William Dabbs household. 1850 Illinois Federal Census, between Macoupin and Apple Creeks, Greene County, family 993, Roll M432_108, page 73.

48 Illinois Statewide Marriage Index 1763-1900, accessed January 2005.

49 List of Marriages, Jersey County. Jerseyville Public Library.

50 Gubser Funeral Home Record.

51 Jerseyville Republican, November 8, 1923, n.p.n.

52 Jersey County Index of Burials, online at www.rootsweb.com/~iljersey/Cemetery/cemeteryD.htm, accessed January 2005.

53 Miller Family, author Sharon Reck, updated: 2004-09-19. Posted on Ancestry.com Family Trees, accessed January 2005.

54 Letter. Earl A. Thompson to Jersey County Genealogical Society, December 11, 1995.

55 History of Jersey and Greene Co., Continental Historical Co., 1885.

56 History of Jersey Co., Hamilton , 1919.

57 Illinois Statewide Marriage Index 1763-1900, accessed January 2005. Vol. A, No. 126, Jersey County. The marriage record states McGinnis, and other sources spell the name variously McManus/McManns/McMinis.

58 Re: John W. Dabbs, GenForum, Posted by: Bob Hewitt, July 25, 2001. “. . . Laren Jane Dabbs, b 1831 and dau. of Samuel and Mary Link. Laren mar. a Thos McManus and one of their chil. was Mary McManus my grandmother who mar. John G. Hewitt. . . .”

59 1880 Illinois Federal Census, Otter Creek, Jersey, Family History Library Film 1254216, NA Film Number T9-0216, Page 105C.

60 1870 Illinois Federal Census, Township 7 Range 12, Jersey County, Otter Creek, Roll: M593_233, Page: 777.

61 1850 Illinois Federal Census, Township 7 Range 12, Jersey County, Roll: M432_111, page: 44. Married within the year on the census record.

62 Photocopy of one page of Mary (Dabbs) Davenport’s probate file. Sent to Cara Russell from Jersey County Historical Society. Copy on file.

63 Absalom source: www.teri-jo.com/about.html

64 Re: DAVENPORT / COOK / HARTGROVE Marriages, Cara Russell, October 30, 2006. Ancestry.com message board, Jersey County.

65 Catherine Davenport’s husband, Lewis M. Clark was supplied by Kathy Dunne Woelfel. This marriage is also listed in the Illinois Statewide Marriage Index 1763-1900, Vol. A. p. 60, Jersey County.

66 DAVENPORT/COOK/HARTGROVE Marriages, Kathy Dunne Woelfel, March 1, 2004. Ancestry.com message board, Jersey County.

67 Illinois Statewide Marriage Index 1763-1900, Vol. B, Jersey County.

68 Jersey County Burial Index.

69 Index to Register of Births 1857 -1900+, IL Regional Archives Depository, Univ. of IL, Springfield, transcribed from microfilm copies of the original book.

70 The Davenport Directory, homepages.rootsweb.com/~nvjack/davnport/othersx.htm, accessed November 2006.

71 History of Greene and Jersey Counties, Illinois, Springfield, IL: Continental Historical Co., 1885.

72 Jersey County News, March 1928.

73 Kate stated that she had twelve children, six living in the 1900 census; but in the 1910 census she said she had fourteen children, five living.

74 Jersey County Democrat, June 29, 1866. Delinquent Personal Tax List (delinquent for 1865 tax). Dabbs, Washington; Val. 120; tax 5.90.

75 Jersey County Democrat, September 20, 1872, n.p.n.

76 Jersey County Democrat, August 12, 1880.

77 Jersey County Democrat, November 22, 1877.

78 Jersey County Democrat, April 12, 1877.

79 Jersey County Democrat, September 16, 1880.

80 Newspaper clipping, September 8, 1955. From text, Democrat News.

81 Jersey County Democrat, August 31, 1882.

82 Jersey County Democrat, October 21, 1886.

83 Transcription from Jersey County Historical Society, The Prairie Schooner, Spring 1985, pp. 11, 20.

84 Letter. Hilda (Hutchinson) Laird to Judy Griffin, 1983.

85 Jerseyville Republican, October 11, 1917. Transcription only.

86 Jersey County Democrat, April 5, 1877.

87 Dabbs - cemetery listings, Jersey County Historical Society.

88 Obituary.

89 Letter(s) from Hilda (Hutchinson) Laird to Judy Griffin,December 12, 2002. She stated that her Uncle John Dabbs had two daughters, Nellie and Hettie Dabbs. Hettie must have been named for mother’s sister. Obituary, n.p., Dabbs, Hattie.

90 Dabbs cemetery listings, Jersey County Historical Society.

91 In the JCHS Marriage book, a George F. Dabbs married an Elizabeth Kappel on August 21, 1884. In the Illinois Statewide Marriage Index 1763 - 1900, Francis Dabbs married Barbary Kappel, August 21, 1884, Vol. B., Jersey County.

92 JCHS Marriage Book.

93 Funeral Card, Dabbs, Linly L.

94 List of Marriages, Jersey County, from Jerseyville Library.

95 Obituaries and Pat Poshard.

96 Pat Poshard.

97 Pat Poshard.

98 List of Marriages, Jersey County from Jerseyville Library.

99 List of Marriages, Jersey County from Jerseyville Library.

100 1900 Illinois Census, Jersey County, Otter Creek Township.

101 Probate of William Henry Hancock.

102 Obituary, n.p. and daughter Hilda Hutchinson.

103 Information on Margaret Ellen Dabbs from her obituary, Illinois Statewide Marriage Index, Pat Poshard.

104 Newspaper notice, April 1895: Wm. H. Hancock Married Emma E. Springman at Otterville. Emma E. Springman divorced Wm. Springman and married Wm. Hancock. Marriage date from List of Jersey County marriages, Jerseyville Library.

105 Information on the family from obituaries and List of Marriages, Jerseyville Library.

106 The Red House 150th Anniversary 1834-1984, found at Jerseyville Library.

107 Interview, Flowers, Mamie, 1984.

108 Obituary.

109 Jersey County History, 1991.

110 Family information from Interview, Dabbs, Hershell and Freda, 1984. Newspaper clipping, n.p., Wedding anniversary.

111 Family information from Pat Poshard and obituary of Wesley Laverne Davenport.

112 Pat Poshard has her surname as Matilda/Malinda Marsh/March, her birth as 1814/1818 and states that she was a native of Grafton, Illinois. Her parents were Ephriam and Mary Marsh (Pat cites 1840 Jersey County, Illinois census).

113 Atlas Map of Jersey County, Illinois, Davenport, IA: Andreas, Lyter & Co., Davenport, IA, 1872, p 60.

114 Pat Poshard.

115 Information on Joshua and Susan was obtained from Joshua E. Dabbs family record (written by Joshua), censuses, Jersey County histories, and newspaper obituaries.

116 Jersey County Democrat, April 27, 1866. Married. March 24 by Rev. Aaron Dodson, Joshua E. Dabbs and Susan E. Worthy.

117 Fieldon Man Has Part of Old Mill. Angle Brace Was Taken From Water Wheel Support. Jersey County Democrat (Jerseyville, IL) January 17,1935

118 Unnamed newspaper, December 11, 1884.

119 Pat Poshard.

120 Jersey County Democrat, December 15, 1865. Married November 11, 1856, Charles McDaniel and Amanda M. Dabbs.

121 Family information from Pat Poshard.

122 History of Jersey and Greene Co., Continental Historical Co. 1885, p. 277.

123 History of Greene and Jersey Counties, Illinois, Springfield, IL: Continental Historical Co., 1885, p. 342.

124 Illinois Statewide Marriage Index, 1763-1900, accessed January 2004.

125 Illinois Statewide Marriage Index, 1763-1900, accessed January 2004. Vol. 9, page 128, license No. 1656, Madison County.

126 Jersey County Marriage Book Three.

127 His birth is from the 1850 Illinois census. I cannot find my source for his death date.

128 Jersey County Burial Index.

129 Jersey County Democrat, August 15, 1889. Fieldon. 4 yr. old daughter of E. E. and Etta Dabbs is sick.

130 Jersey County Marriage Book Three.

131 Jersey County Marriage Book Two.

132 Marriage record for Sarah Jane Brown to Stephen H. White, July 15, 1847 in Jersey County (Book A, pg. 1 96, Lic#. 1847-51).

133 Re: Schaaf Hill Road, Kim Levy email to JERSEY-L list, August 9, 2005, Re: Sabrina Bingham, email from Kim Levy, to Judy Griffin, August 26, 2005.

134 James Dabbs, email September 19, 2001.

135 Illinois Statewide Marriage Index 1763-1900, accessed January 2005. Vol. A, page 164.

136 Re: Schaaf Hill Road, Kim Levy email to JERSEY-L list, August 9, 2005, Re: Sabrina Bingham, email from Kim Levy, to Judy Griffin, August 26, 2005.