John Cameron was born in White county, Tennessee and died in Hancock county, Illinois.  His father, whose given name was William, was born in Scotland.  His mother’s maiden name was Frances Nolan.  His father served in the United States Army during the War of 1812 and was with the forces under the command of General Jackson at the battle of New Orleans.  When his father entered the service, John was the oldest child of the family, though only thirteen.  Being a stout healthy lad, and very resourceful for one of his age, his mother depended upon him very largely for assistance during his father’s absence.  This responsibility, which was thrust upon him so early in life, deprived him of what little opportunity there was for schooling, but the experience developed a wonderful self-reliance, and fitted him for the duties of a pioneer life that was subsequently to be his.

John Cameron married Elizabeth Lee on March 19, 1818.  She was a daughter of Roland and Kizziah, nee Brammer-Lee, and was born in White county, Tennessee.

In 1831 John Cameron loaded all of his chattels on his old linchpin wagon, and with his ox team, started north with his family.  He took along some extra cattle and one horse.  They drove as far as Sangamon county, Illinois, where they went into winter quarters.  The following spring they drove on to Hancock county, where they "entered" a track of land that lay north of Crooked Creek, in Sec. 17 in what is now Hancock township.  He paid $1.25 per acre for the land.

When they arrived at their destination, there were seven children in the family.  Six were born in Tennessee and one while they were sojourning in Sangamon county.  Upon their arrival at the destination, no shelter awaited them, for they had pushed out to the very edge of things.  Experience under these conditions prompted them, after they had a house of their own in which to welcome the traveler, to always be prepared to entertain any one who might need a shelter.  No pay was ever accepted for extending such hospitality.

Thirteen children were born to the Camerons.  The first died in infancy, but all the others lived to be grown and married, with one exception, had children of their own.  As soon as old enough, each child was taught to do its individual share of the work, and held responsible for the faithful discharge of its duty.

In addition to the twelve children of their own, they raised four orphans.  Two of these were their own grandchildren, but the two others were no relation to them.

The isolation of the Camerons after coming to Illinois often called for courage and quick action, and the emergencies that occasionally arose brought to the surface the husbands initiative.  He was naturally skillful, and had become quite proficient in the use of the lance and forceps, before he was grown.  For twenty years after coming to Illinois his services were in demand where any case in the settlement required the use of either of these two instruments.  No charge was ever made for these services.

The country doctors of those days were general practitioners possessing but a limited amount of either knowledge or experiences, and with the exception of handling their homes without drugs, John Cameron was considered as dependable as the average physician.

After the birth of their first child, the husband with the assistance of the neighbor women attended the wife during all the subsequent confinements, with the exception of one or two.  Sympathy and common sense aided by the God-given laws of nature, took the wife safely through those crisis of motherhood.

It is of interest to note the maternity hospitals of today, equipped with everything known to modern science, and under the supervision of specialists in obstetrics, and with trained nurses constantly in attendance, show an average efficiency far below the record of the Cameron home.

For years after coming to Illinois the Camerons lived strenuous lives.  Toil from day light till dark, day after day, except Sunday, was their lot, and when company came that day, an extra load was assumed by the women folks.

Three well fashioned fireplaces were conveniently located in the spacious two and one half story dwelling, and all the work requiring artificial heat, was done on these for several years, but in due time however, the "new fangled" method of cooking on a stove was adopted.

With the exception of one daughter who had been rendered lame from an accident, every member of the family was favored with health and strength far above the average.  These qualities coupled with unlimited ambition, intelligently directed, enabled them to abundantly supply, independent of outside resources nearly every necessity of a pioneer family.

On account of the former experience and early training of the head of the family, it was among the most resourceful of the settlement.

In addition to the product of the farm, the Indians who had so recently and unwillingly abandoned that part of the state, left behind them a wealth in forest and stream that is beyond the conception of a person who has never pioneered.

The Camerons always had a good supply of provisions on hand, both fresh and cured.  The garden, dairy, forest and stream supplied the fresh varieties and the cured ones were stored from the field and from slaughtered members of the herd.  Their own sugar orchard supplied quantities of maple syrup.  A table liberally supplied with wholesome and appetizing viands, selected from such a variety, and prepared in true southern style by good cooks, was certainly tempting to any one with a normal appetite.

The rich virgin soil of the fields furnished hemp and flax, and from the bodies of the flocks and herds came feathers, wool and hides.  From these materials the wearing apparel and bedding for the family were made.  The textiles were passed through the various processes by hand and the work was continued until finished garments for both sexes were ready to wear.  Real dexterity was shown in the fitting, and none were more tastefully or comfortably dressed than the members of the Cameron family.

John Cameron’s father was a shoe maker by trade, and the son was thoroughly apprenticed, as he assisted his father during all phases of the work: beginning with the tanning of the raw hides and ending only when the boot or shoe was ready to wear.  The work included the making of everything by hand, even to the wooden pegs and straight lasts, these being the only kind of lasts in use at that time.  After such a thorough home training, it was an easy matter to provide footwear for the family, especially when the farm supplied abundant raw material.

All those home made articles were superior to the manufactured ones of today.  After any article was outgrown it was passed on to some other member of the family, or given to some neighbor’s child.  Nothing was ever destroyed.

It was a more simple matter to manufacture the furniture than it was to provide the wearing apparel.

All the soap was made with animal fat chemically combined with lye, secured by leaching water through the ashes from the fireplace.

Their first frontier expedient in the way of artificial light, was of a style handed down from the Vestal virgins of old.  It consisted of a burning braid in a receptacle of oil.  Next came the tallow dip.  In making these a number of wicks would be stretched across a frame, then repeatedly plunged into melted tallow, allowing the coating to cool between the dips.  This process would be continued until the candles attained the desired size.  The candle moulds eventually succeeded the "dip."

The exact location of the original Cameron dwelling, which was made of logs, is not known, but it was probably not far from where the combination stone and frame residence was later built.  About 1840 this latter building was constructed.  It stood near the center of the south-east-quarter of Sec. 17, in what is now Hancock township, and just below the brow of the hill that slopes toward the south.  It was protected from the cold north winds by a thick growth of tall timber.

The walls of the lower story of this house were built of stone, with one and one-half stories of frame above.  The stone was quarried by Cameron and his men about a mile to the south-east of where the stone was to be built, and hauled home with the oxen.  Every piece of woodwork in the structure was the product of the farm, and with the exception of the sawing that was done at Sam Brown’s saw mill, every detail of the work was also done on the farm.  A man by the name of Mellion dressed and had [sic] the stones, Josiah Callihan* hewed the heavy timbers and Benjamin Stone had charge of the construction work.  The shingles, flooring and all the material for the frame work were clear white oak; the door and window sashes were white walnut.  The window frames and weather boarding were clear black walnut, and the sills were hewn twelve inches square and the corner posts were hewn eight inches square.  The shingles were riven with a fro [sic] and shaved with a drawing knife.

The base of the south wall of the house was on a level with the ground and the other walls were built back into the excavation made in the hillside.  A broad porch extended entirely across from east to west on both sides of the house.  A portion of each end of the south porch was, after a few years enclosed, but the center was always left open.  The south porch rested on the walls of the lower story, but all the north porch extended beyond the wall of the lower story.  The brought the extreme north side of the porch floor up to a convenient height above the ground.

Looking from the high south porch, a magnificent panorama was spread out to view.  From the house the ground began to slope more gently; the grade becoming less and less until the road was reached, when it was practically level.  From there on the farm stretched away to the heavy forest of beginning timber that formed the back ground near the creek.

About 1883 and long after John and Elizabeth Cameron had been laid to rest in their own family cemetery, their old home was destroyed by fire.  At the time of this conflagration, the farm belonged to a man by the name of Windsor.  After the fire, the old naked chimney which stood in the center of the portion that was enclosed with the stone wall, reared its top forty feet into the air, looked like a massive watch tower guarding the ruins.  Two of the three fireplaces were well up on the sides of the chimney, and when they had been placed to serve the main portion of the dwelling.  These old gaping caverns exhibited black interiors that could be seen for quite a distance in either direction, and they gave the old chimney an uninviting appearance.

Among the many acts of kindness rendered by the Camerons, one in particular will be mentioned. This occurred during the fifties, when a family of new comers, consisting of five people, moved into the settlement.  The whole lower "flat" of the Cameron dwelling was vacated and turned over to these new people.  In addition to the fireplace this lower story was provided with an oven that had been built into the chimney.  This portion of the house was occupied by this family exclusively, and entirely free of charge, until their own house being built on an adjoining tract, was ready for occupancy.

For many years during the early history of Hancock county, the schools were supported entirely by subscription.  The expense necessary to run them was prorated among the patrons on the basis of the number of pupils attending from each family, the teacher to "board around" on the same basis. The plan did not always work out in practice for various reasons.  Some failed to bear their share of the burden, and in such cases John Cameron always came to the rescue and assisted in carrying his share of the extra load.  The teacher was always welcome, at Camerons, regardless of whether he was overstaying his time or not.

John and Elizabeth Cameron united with the Christian church when it was a young and struggling organization.  The same liberal support which he gave to the schools and their teachers, was extended to the church and its ministers.  With possibly one exception, all the Cameron children united with the Christian church.

If every one today had such teeth as did Mrs. Cameron, the dentist would have to go out of business.  She lived to be seventy-three years of age and retained her full set of teeth; all of which were sound at the time of her death.

Three of the Cameron children received special educational training, Frances and Margaret attended the Liberty Seminary of Blandinsville, in McDonough county, Illinois, and Andrew J. attended the Abingdon college at Abingdon, Illinois.  That college has since been consolidated with the Eureka College at Eureka, Illinois.  Both of these institutions were sponsored by the Christian church.

After his graduation, Andrew J. served for a number of years on the board of trusties [sic] of his alma mater.

While attending the Liberty Seminary, Margaret was awarded first prize for delivering the best extemporaneous speech, in a contest where all the best speakers of both sexes competed.  It was Margaret’s ambition, "had she been a man" to prepare for the ministry, but she fully realized the restrictions placed upon her sex at that time, and knew it would be useless to lay any plans along the line of her coveted profession.

Margaret had met with a serious accident when a very small child which rendered her very lame all her life and which made it necessary to use a crutch.  Yet on account of her wonderful ambition, despite this handicap, she did more work than the average housewife of her neighborhood.

Five of the Cameron children were school teachers.  They were: Frances, Margaret, Martha, Jemima and Andrew J.

With two exceptions, the twelve Cameron children that lived to be grown, married residents of Hancock county.

William, born in White county, Tennessee, the 28th of December 1818*.  Died in the same county, in which he was born, on the 10th of April 1820.

Susannah, born the 13th of May 1820*, married William Dye, the 15th of March 1839*, died near Kirksville, Missouri, 08 November 1908* at eighty-eight years of age.

James, born the 24th of November 1821, married Almira Ballou of McDonough county, Illinois, the 21st of March 1845*.  Died in Hangtown, (now known as Placerville), California aged twenty-eight.

Additional items on the life of James Cameron will be given in another article.

Sarah, born the 12th of December 1823, married Stokley P. Rhea, on the 10th of October 1844. Died in Hancock county, Illinois on the 15th* of May 1850 at twenty-six years of age.

Elisha, born the 9th of August 1825, married Elizabeth Roberts on the 29th of January 1845*, died near Nortan, Kansas, 01 February 1901 at seventy-five years of age.

Kizziah, born the 19th of August 1827, married Henry Robertson [Robinson], on the 18th* of March 1847.  Died in Decator county, Kansas, the 19th* of May 1911, at the age of eighty-three.

Fidelia Frances, born the 20th of July 18__, married R. R. Owen of San Jaque county, California*, on the 2nd of December 1858.  Died at Santa Rosa, California on the 23rd of August 1919, at the age of ninety years of age.

All of the above children were born in White county, Tennessee.

Margaret was born in Sangamon county, Illinois on the 04th of December 1831.  Married Moses F. Printy on the 19th* of May 1859 in Hancock county, Illinois.  Died 8th* of November 1908 at the age of seventy-seven years of age.  Margaret and Sarah are the only ones of the children buried in Hancock County.

The children listed below were born in Hancock county, Illinois.

Levina was born the 14th of February* 1834 and married James Tolman on the 30th of September 1853*.  Died in Kanoma, Burton county*, Missouri on the 23rd* of May 1918 at age of eighty-two years.

Martha was born the 19th of March, married T. B. McCubbin the 24th of December 1859*. Died near Selma, Fresno county, California the 15th January 1890 at fifty-three years of age.

Andrew Jackson was born the 19th of December 1837 and was married to Julia Wilson the 3rd* of August 1860.  Died at Peoria, Illinois on the 22nd of October 1910.  Age seventy-two years of age.

Jemima born 9th of September 1839 and married J. C. Paxton the 15th of August 1861.  Mrs. Paxton is still living at eighty-five and makes her home with her son Dr. Charles Cameron Paxton at Palmer, Nebraska.

Mary Jane born 13th of November 1841 and married D. E. Browning the 12th of March 1868*. Died in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma on the 7th of January 1918* at sixty-six years of age.

A study of the genealogical chart of the Cameron family shows wonderful longevity.  If we except the first child who died in infancy, we find that the average length of life including the parents to have been seventy years, one month and twenty-two days, with one member still living.

John Cameron was born 03 June 1799 and died 23 October 1866 at the age of sixty-seven.  His wife was born the 12th of September 1799 and died 26th of December 1872 at the age of seventy-two.  After the close of long and useful lives, they remains were laid to rest, side by side, on the old farm where they had spent all their days, subsequent to 1832.  Both by precept and example they have as their many worthwhile accomplishments, left a wonderful heritage, not only to their posterity, but to all the inhabitants of Hancock county who have followed them.

Josiah Callihan, named as one of the men who helped John Cameron build his home, was more likely Josiah Callison, the same man who performed the marriage of Sarah Cameron and Stokely Rhea in 1844.  The Callihan surname is not impossible, but we have extensive documentation on the Callihans in Hancock County, and a Josiah Callihan was not one of them.  There was a Josiah Callison in Hancock County in 1840, but no Josiah Callihan as best we know.

In 1840, between October 10 and November 3, the Quincy land office issued patents for 4 parcels totaling 200 acres in what was eventually named Hancock Township.  The surnames on the certificates were Camron, Camren and Cameren.  The land mentioned above, in Section 17, was purchased in the name of Thomas McCubbin and assigned (transferred to) John Cameren at the time the patent was issued.  In 1849, John bought another 40 acres; the surname on that certificate was Camren.  View a representation of the location of these purchases; return to this page with your browser button.

John and Elizabeth had strong ties to their religion.  In Tennesee, they were affiliated with The Disciples of Christ. After settling in Hancock County, they were responsible for the establishment of Christian Church services in their locale, and later were charter members of the Berea Christian Church.  For greater detail, follow this link to Ron Bryant's website to read an informative essay also written by grandson John Cameron McCubbin and published in 1925.  Return to this webpage with your browser button.

Prior to her death in 1850, Sarah Cameron Rhea picked out a spot on her father's farm where she wished to be buried.  Her parents joined her there, John in 1866 and Elizabeth in 1873.  The burial area became known as the Cameron Cemetery. Follow this link to Ron Bryant's website to read more about the Cameron Cemetery. Return to this webpage with your browser button.

The children of John Cameron and Elizabeth Lee were:

i.	William Cameron, according to John McCubbin, was born December 29, 1818, in White County, Tennessee, and died there April 10, 1820.  See the following notes for Susannah.
ii.	Susannah Cameron, also known as Susan, born in White County, Tennessee.  She died in the Kirksville area, Adair County, Missouri, interment at the Bullion Cemetery in Adair County. In his history of the Camerons, McCubbin stated that Susannah was born May 13, 1820; the birth date on her tombstone is May 13, 1819.  Susannah's husband was born January 10, 1820, according to his tombstone, and four of 5 census records from 1850 on indicate that she was older than he, with the 1900 census specifically reporting that she was born in May of 1819. Another conflict arises from William Cameron's reported birth date, December 29, 1818, which is not possible if Susannah was born May 13, 1819.  Something is amiss. Also, according to the above transcription of the Cameron history, McCubbin wrote that both Susannah Cameron Dye and Margaret Cameron Printy died November 8, 1908. Susannah's date of death was not inscribed on her tombstone.  Margaret died on November 28, 1908, according to her obituary. Susannah's marriage license shows she was married on March 25, 1841, not March 15, 1839.
iii.	James Cameron, born November 24, 1821, White County, Tennessee.  He died June 20, 1850, in Hangtown (now Placerville), El Dorado County, California, and was buried there in an unmarked grave.  James' marriage license indicates he married Almira Ballou on February 20, 1845, rather than the date given in the above history.
iv.	Sarah Cameron, born December 12, 1823, White County, Tennessee.  She died of consumption at her father's home in Hancock County, Illinois, and was buried at the site she chose on her father's farm, now known as the Cameron Cemetery.  The above history stated she died on May 15, 1850; her tombstone reads May 16, 1850.
v.	Elisha Cameron, born August 9, 1825, White County, Tennessee.  He died February 1, 1901, in Norton County, Kansas.  Elisha married Elizabeth Roberts on January 29, 1846, not 1845.
vi.	Kizziah Cameron, born August 19, 1827, White County, Tennessee.  She married Henry Robinson on March 19, 1847, not March 18.  She died in Decatur County, Kansas, on May 19, 1911, according to McCubbin; died May 18, 1911, according to researcher Jackie Wilson Goddard.
vii.	Fidelia Frances Cameron, born July 20, 1829, White County, Tennessee, died August 23, 1919, in Santa Rosa, Sonoma County, California.  She did marry on December 2, 1858, but her husband, Randolph R. Owen, was born in Alabama, not "San Jaque county, California". The marriage took place in Hancock County, Illinois.  They did subsequently live in San Joaquin County, California.
viii.	Margaret Cameron, born December 4, 1831, Sangamon County, Illinois.  Margaret's marriage license shows that she and Moses F. Printy were wed on May 18, 1859, not May 19.  According to her obituary, she died November 28, 1908, not November 8 as written by McCubbin.  Interment at Holland Cemetery, St. Mary's Township, Hancock County.
ix.	Lavinia Cameron, named as Lovina and Lavina in various census records, Levina in the above family history, Lavinia on her marriage license and Mrs. Lee V. Tolman on her death certificate.  She was born on February 14, 1834, according to the Cameron history; born March 22, 1834, according to her death certificate.  Died May 23, 1916, in "Kanoma, Burton county, Missouri", according to the Cameron history; died May 22, 1916, in Richland Township, Barton County, Missouri, according to her death certificate.  We have not located a map or other illustration of townships in Barton County, but we presume that Kenoma was a town near her residence, as the doctor who treated Lavinia and the person who provided information for her death certificate were both from Kenoma.  Burial was in Lamar, also in Barton County. Lavinia and James Tolman were married on "September 31", 1857, according to their marriage license, not 1853.
x.	Martha Cameron, born March 19, 1836. She died January 15, 1890, in Selma, Fresno County, California, interment in that county at Reedly Cemetery. Martha and Thomas B. McCubbin, parents of the author of the above family history, were married on December 20, 1860, not the date published in the history.  The correct date of their marriage was reported in Thomas' obituary, also written by the son.  William Booz performed the marriage.
xi.	Andrew Jackson Cameron, born December 19, 1837.  He died October 22, 1910, in Peoria, Peoria County, Illinois.  Andrew was one of the witnesses at the murder trial of Rebecca Brown Dye. Andrew wed Julia E. Wilson on August 2, 1860, rather than August 3.
xii.	Laura Jemima Cameron, born September 9, 1839.  She died October 27, 1929, in Payette County, Idaho, near Fruitland.  Interment in an unmarked grave at Fairview Cemetery, located about 3 1/2 miles southwest of Papillion, in Sarpy County, Nebraska.
xiii.	Mary Jane Cameron, born November 13, 1841, Hancock Township, Hancock County, Illinois. She died in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma County, Oklahoma, on January 7, 1916, according to Jackie Wilson Goddard, January 7, 1918, according to McCubbin's history. Mary Jane and Daniel Edmund Browning were married March 12, 1863, rather than 1868.

Household of John Camron
Males 0 through 4 - 1            [born abt 1836-1840 Andrew]
Males 10 through 14 - 1       [born abt 1826-1830 Elisha]
Males 15 through 19 - 1       [born abt 1821-1825 James]
Males 40 through 49 - 1       [born abt 1791-1800 John]
Females 0 through 4 - 2       [born abt 1836-1840 Martha, Laura Jemima]
Females 5 through 9 - 2       [born abt 1831-1835 Lavinia, Margaret]
Females 10 through 14 - 2   [born abt 1826-1830 Fidelia Frances, Kizziah]
Females 15 through 19 - 1   [born abt 1821-1825 Sarah]
Females 20 through 29 - 1   [born abt 1811-1820 Susannah]
Females 40 through 49 - 1   [born abt 1791-1800 Elizabeth]
Total - 13
Persons employed in agriculture - 3

John Cambron, 50, male, farmer, value of real estate, born TN
Betsey, 50, female, born TN, could not read or write
Frances, 20, female, born IL, attended school within the year
Margaret, 19, female, born IL, attended school within the year
Lovina, 16, female, born IL, attended school within the year
Martha, 15, female, born IL, attended school within the year
Andrew, 12, male, born IL, attended school within the year
Jemima, 9, female, born IL, attended school within the year
Jane, 8, female, born IL, attended school within the year
Calvin M Rhea, 5, male, born IL [grandson]
Delia F Rhea, 2, female, born IL [granddaughter]

There are Cambron burials in the Lincoln Cemetery near Fountain Green. A Thomas Cambron was one of the witnesses to John Roberts' will, prepared in March 1841. (John Roberts was the father of Elizabeth Roberts, who married Elisha Cameron.) At the time there were two Thomas Cambron's in Hancock County, a father and son.  The elder, born about 1774 in Maryland and perhaps the above mentioned witness, seems to have migrated first to Kentucky, where most of his dozen or so children were reportedly born in various counties.  Some of those children came with him to Hancock County.  He passed away September 1842.  In that same year, Thomas Camberon was listed on the 1842 tax index in township 6N5W (later named Fountain Green Township).  The younger Thomas' birthplace, Grayson County, Kentucky, was inscribed on his tombstone.  His surname is seen with several spellings: Cambron, Camborn and Camron. We believe the Cameron surname was simply mispelled in the 1850 federal census.  There is no evidence connecting John Cameron to Kentucky, and nothing to tie the Hancock County Cambron's to Tennessee.

John Camren, 61, male, farmer, value of real estate 4000, value of personal estate 600, born TN
Elizabeth, 61, female, born VA
Martha, 24, female, born IL
Andrew, 23, male, farm laborer, born IL, attended school within the year
Jane, 21, female, born IL, attended school within the year
Adelea Ray, 12, female, born IL, attended school within the year [granddaughter]
Jemima, 19, female, born IL, attended school within the year
James Bickett, 23, male, farm laborer, born KY

Tolman, James, 39, male, white, farmer, value of real estate 2000, born OH, male citizen of the U.S. aged 21 or more
Lerina, 36, female, white, keeping house, born IL [Lavinia, aka Lovina]
Mattie, 10, female, white, born IL, attended school within the year
Cameron, Elisabeth, 70, female, white, retired, born TN