USA > Illinois > DeKalb County > Sandwich > History of the Somonauk United Presbyterian church near Sandwich, De Kalb County, Illinois : with ancestral lines of the early members > Part 13
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"I was born in the town of Micklemox, Parish of Buttle, in the year 1755, and in 1769, we moved to the new town in the Parish of Twenhold in the Stewartry of Galloway, Scotland, near Kilcudbright, where we lived five years under Lord Sel- kirk.
"In 1774, my father, Robert McClellan, and my mother, Nicholes Gordon, and six children of us-William, John, Grisey, Robert, Mary and Nancy-set out for America. We set sail at the mouth of the River Dee, sailed around to the Isle of Whitham, where we took in the most of our passengers.
"Then we set sail on board of the ship Golden Rule; she proved leaky and we put into Dublin to get her refitted, where we remained three days. The ship Jenny started the same hour each about 250 passengers.
"We had a long passage of three months and four days to New York, the ship Jenny getting in one day before us. We had provisions pretty plenty found us and paid about five guineas each per passenger.
"Then we went from New York to Albany, from thence to Manchester, New Hampshire, from there across the Green Mountains to Burley, only fourteen miles, the road being new, we were four days getting over there. There never had been a wheeled carriage across there before. From Burley we went to Springfield in Vermont, on the Connecticut River, where we remained about ten years.
"We got there late in the fall and the Revolution broke out the next spring.
"In the year 1784 we moved from Springfield to Black Creek, now called Hebron, in the County of Washington and State of New York.
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SOMONAUK CHURCH
"Our father and mother and part of the family lived in Salem a number of years. Our father, Robert McClellan, died in the year 1789, aged 73 years, and was buried in Salem.
"Grissey, our eldest sister, married Colen Maxwell of Cam- bridge. They had one child, George, and soon after he was born his mother died in the year 1792, aged 23 years, and was buried in Salem.
"In 1799, our mother died, aged 69 years, and was buried in Cambridge where our brother John had moved.
"Our brother-in-law, John Hall, had moved to Argyle, died and was buried there in 1828, aged about 64 years.
"Our brother, Robert McClellan, died in the year 1829, aged - years, and was buried in Hebron.
"I, William McClellan, was married to Janet Thompson, of Salem, on the 2nd day of March, 1786.
"We had eight children, four sons and four daughters. We lived happily together 22 years, 8 months and 5 days. She died the 7th day of October, 1808, aged 42 years, 4 months and 22 days. She was buried in the burying ground in Hebron. 'The sweet remembrance of the just shall flourish when they sleep in the dust.' She was one of the best of women and died so, I believe.
"In two years and three months after my first wife's death I married Rachel Armitage, daughter of John Armitage, of Cambridge, with whom we lived agreeably to this date.
"Our youngest sister, Nancy, was first married to Rev. John Cree, afterward to John Moody. She died April 22, 1832."
JAMES (3) MCCLELLAN, born April 4, 1794; died February 8, 1869; married Hannah Nelson, born September 13, 1794; died August 12, 1855; a daughter of John Rogers Nelson, of Hebron. They had eight children.
Children: i. Samuel Nelson (4), born Nov. 9, 1826.
ii. James, born Sept. 18, 1830. (See page 186.)
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THE MCCLELLAN FAMILY
SAMUEL NELSON (4), MCCLELLAN, born in Hebron, Washington County, New York, November 9, 1826; died in Squaw Grove township, De Kalb County, Illinois, July 28, 1898; married, in the home of Mrs. Jemima Hoy Cummings, in Somonauk township, De Kalb County, September 30, 1856, Margaret Macklin; born in Glenagoosland, Ireland, Septem- ber 16, 1836; died in Squaw Grove township April 22, 1898, daughter of James and Margaret (Tompson) Macklin. Mrs. McClellan came to Hebron, New York, when six years of age and lived there until she came with Mrs. Cummings to Somon- auk in 1855.
Samuel Nelson McClellan came to Somonauk, Illinois, in 1856, and purchased a farm about a mile north of Freeland Corners, where he brought up his family. He united with the Associate Church and was a constant attendant as long as he lived.
Children :
i. James C. (5), born Feb. 12, 1859.
ii. Margaret, born Mar. 22, 1861.
iii. Elizabeth, born Nov. 11, 1864.
iv. Mima C., born Jan. 19, 1867.
v. Jennie, born Jan. 2, 1869.
vi. John R., born Aug. 22, 1871.
vii. Alfred Nelson, born Nov. 23, 1873.
viii. Mattie May, born Mar. 22, 1876.
ix. William Ralph, born Sept. 16, 1880.
JAMES C. (5) MCCLELLAN, born February 12, 1859; married Mary C. Worth.
Children :
i. Margaret Ethel (6).
ii. Verna Hazel.
iii. Cora Madge.
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SOMONAUK CHURCH
MARGARET (5) MCCLELLAN, born March 22, 1861; married January 24, 1884, Hoyt J. Wilcox.
Child :
i. Ethel (6) Wilcox.
ELIZABETH (5) MCCLELLAN, born November 11, 1864; died July 16, 1916; married February, 1883, Ells- worth E. Wilcox.
Children:
i. Edna Pearl (6) Wilcox.
ii. Earl Wilcox.
iii. Myrtle Belle Wilcox.
MIMA C. (5) MCCLELLAN, born January 19, 1867; mar- ried September 13, 1917, Arent H. van Ohlen.
JENNIE (5) MCCLELLAN, born January 2, 1869; died April 24, 1903.
JOHN RUSSELL (5) MCCLELLAN, born August 22, 1871; married October 7, 1896, Irene Hubbard.
Children :
i. Lois Margaret (6). vi. Dorothy Elizabeth.
ii. Mima Elma. vii. Gladys Birdella.
iii. Kenneth Nelson. viii. Cyril.
iv. Ralph Raymond.
v. Preston Russell.
ix. Clifford Alden.
WILLIAM RALPH (5) MCCLELLAN, born September 16, 1880; married January 10, 1909, Lucy Shipman.
Children :
i. Melvin Wendell (6). iii. Beth.
ii. Margaret Iona. iv. Willard.
JAMES (4) MCCLELLAN, born September 18, 1830, in Hebron, New York; came to Somonauk in 1856; united with the Somonauk church and soon after purchased a farm north
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THE MCCLELLAN FAMILY
of Freeland Corners, near his brother, Samuel Nelson, Octo- ber 17, 1861; married Emeline Amanda Stewart, daughter of Elijah and Agnes (McGaughey) Stewart, at Somonauk, Illinois, their pastor, the Rev. W. T. Moffett, performing the ceremony. In 1889 they removed to Monmouth, Illinois, that they might have their children at home while they were attend- ing college. Mr. McClellan and his wife died in Monmouth. Children:
i. Theresa Agnes (5), born Aug. 14, 1863; married Dec. 31, 1885, Alexander Skinner French; born Nov. 8, 1855. Their daughter, Alta Grace, was a teacher for three years in the Pressley Memorial Institute, Assint, Egypt, and has since been ap- pointed a regular missionary. (See page 123.)
ii. William Stewart, born Jan. 15, 1866; married Mag- dalen W. Turnbull; born Dec. 15, 1869, at Morning Sun, Iowa. They are living at Long Beach, Cal.
iii. Ernest Stewart, born May 20, 1869; married Lulu Belle Knox; born June 22, 1867, at Paxton, Ill. Their daughter, Mary Emeline, born April, 1895, is a teacher in Whittier College.
iv. Mary Boyd, born June 23, 1873; married Rev. A. A. Samson; died Apr. 11, 1924. The Rev. Mr. Sam- son was a Reformed Presbyterian minister for eight years in New Concord, Ohio; five years in Topeka, Kan .; seven years in New York City, and two years in Los Angeles, Cal. He died as a result of an automobile accident in Los Angeles.
v. Grace Annette, born Jan. 5, 1876; died Nov. 29, 1895, in Monmouth College where she was a stu- dent.
vi. Harry Vincent, born Dec. 6, 1884; married Ethel St. Clair. He is a teacher of chemistry in Seattle, Wash.
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SOMONAUK CHURCH
JOHN (2) MCCLELLAN, married Sarah Thompson, and died in Cambridge, New York.
ROBERT (2) MCCLELLAN was born in 1766, in Mick- lemox, Parish of Buttle, Scotland; died January 6, 1829, and was buried in Hebron, New York; married Mary Thompson; born in 1768, a daughter of William and Sarah (Rowen) Thompson, who were members of the party that, under the leadership of Dr. Clark, migrated from Ireland in 1764 and settled in Salem, Washington County, New York.
Children:
i. Sarah (3), born Dec. 11, 1794; married Alexander (2) Beveridge. (See page 98.)
ii. William, born Oct. 30, 1796.
iii. Robert Gordon, born Sept. 17, 1799.
iv. Nancy, born Feb. 3, 1802.
v. John, born July 24, 1804.
vi. Phoebe F., born Aug. 14, 1808; married William (2) Armstrong. (See page 80.)
ROBERT GORDON (3) MCCLELLAN, born in Hebron, New York, September 17, 1799; died November 11, 1864; married, first, February 19, 1829, Nancy Cruickshank, of Salem, New York; born August 12, 1804; died in Hebron, New York, March 5, 1854.
Children:
i. Peter Cruickshank (4), born Oct. 26, 1829.
ii. Robert, born Sept. 10, 1832; died, Hebron, N. Y., Oct. 21, 1856.
iii. Mary, born Aug. 2, 1834; died, Hebron, N. Y., Oct. 22, 1866.
iv. David Martin, born May 23, 1837, Hebron, N. Y .; died Mar. 6, 1913, at Perth, N. Y.
v. Margaret, born May 25, 1839; died, Oxford, Ohio, Nov. 14, 1921.
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THE MCCLELLAN FAMILY
On January 28, 1857, Robert Gordon (3) McClellan married as his second wife Margaret Liddle, of Salem, New York.
Child:
i. Delliplaine (4), born Hebron, N. Y., Jan. 17, 1860; died Kansas City, Kan., Feb. 13, 1913.
PETER CRUICKSHANK (4) MCCLELLAN, born near West Hebron, Washington County, New York, October 26, 1829; died, Somonauk, Illinois, April 25, 1898; married September 7, 1864, Isabel Beveridge, a daughter of Mathew and Elizabeth (Hutton) Beveridge.
As a boy he made good use of such educational advantages as were afforded and laid a foundation on which he builded throughout his whole life. For a time he taught school in his home county and later in Iowa, and then decided to be a farmer, subordinating personal ambition to promote the in- terests of his younger brothers and sisters.
Being a devoted Christian and descended from generations of church men and women, "he had so partaken of the divine nature," writes one of his descendants, "that he somehow evidenced the presence and power of Christ to his fellow men." It is related that on one occasion a street scoffer was berating the church and demeaning Christians in general. A bystander called attention to Peter McClellan riding by and asked if he included him in his denunciations. The man hung his head for a moment and then replied, "But Peter is different." As a Bible teacher and superintendent of the Sabbath School he made careful and thorough preparation. In consequence he succeeded in this work far beyond the usual layman. It is not surprising to find that he was a responsible citizen who re- received and deserved the confidence of the community.
Child:
i. Mary Ella (5), born Nov. 7, 1869.
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SOMONAUK CHURCH
MARY ELLA (5) MCCLELLAN, born November 7, 1869; married October 11, 1894, Rev. John Ewing Brad- ford. Both Mr. and Mrs. Bradford were graduates of Mon- mouth College, and together they shared the responsibilities of two pastorates held by Mr. Bradford, one in Tranquillity, Ohio, and the other in Media, Illinois. In 1905 they moved to Oxford, Ohio, where for fourteen years Mr. Bradford was Professor of History and instructor in the Bible in Miami University. Since his appointment as general secretary of the Board of Education of the United Presbyterian Church in 1919, their home has been in Chicago.
Children:
i. Margaret (6) Bradford.
ii. Isabel Bradford.
iii. James McClellan Bradford.
iv. Martha Agnes Bradford.
GRISSEY (2) MCCLELLAN, born 1769; died 1792; married Colen Maxwell, of Cambridge, New York. She is buried in Salem.
Child :
i. George (3) Maxwell.
MARY (2) MCCLELLAN, born ; married John Hall, of Argyle, who died 1828.
NANCY (2) MCCLELLAN, born -; died April 22, 1832; married first Rev. John Cree; married second, John Moody.
The McEachron Family
DONALD (1) McEACHRON, with his wife, Anna Mc- Donald, a sister of Mrs. Alexander McNaughton, and their daughter Catharine, came from the Isle of Islay, Scotland, with the first of Captain Lauchlan Campbell's Highland Scotch
190
THE MCEACHRON FAMILY
colonists in 1738, and settled in Kakiate, Orange County, New York. By 1764 Donald (1) had died, leaving his widow with three sons and three daughters.
Children:
i. Catharine (2), born in Scotland. Not traced.
ii. Cornelius, "Neil," born in 1739.
iii. John. (See page 195.)
iv. Peter, born in 1748. (See page 195.)
v. Daughter. Not traced.
vi. Daughter. Not traced.
CORNELIUS (2) McEACHRON was born in 1739; set- tled in Argyle, New York, in 1775, where he died in October, 1817; married about 1767, Katharine Acker, who died in 1819. Mrs. McEachron was of Scotch parentage and was adopted by a Holland Dutch family of the name of Acker. Their five eldest children were born in Tappan, Orange County, New York, and the others in Argyle.
Children:
i. Daniel N. (3), born 1768; died in Argyle, Nov. 19, 1828, unmarried.
ii. Jacob, married Elizabeth, a daughter of Alexander Simpson, Sr.
iii. John N., born Oct. 4, 1771.
iv. Cornelius, married Nancy McEachron [Peter (2), Donald (1)].
v. Peter N., born Oct. 1, 1774. (See page 192.)
vi. Philip, born Oct. 19, 1776. (See page 194.)
vii. Alexander. Not traced.
viii. Catharine, married John Livingston.
ix. Ann, married Samuel Gamble.
x. Sarah, died young.
JOHN N. (3) McEACHRON was born October 1, 1771; died in Argyle, March 30, 1850; married Jane Nelson; born
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SOMONAUK CHURCH
in 1777; died November 1, 1843. Mrs. McEachron was a daughter of Joseph Nelson and Isabel Rogers.
Child:
i. James A. (4), born Dec. 1, 1817.
JAMES A. (4) McEACHRON was born December 1, 1817, in Argyle, Washington County, New York; died September 1, 1867, in Somonauk township, De Kalb County, Illinois; married in Argyle, Margaret McGeoch; born in Washington County, New York, July 14, 1816, a daughter of John and Agnes (McClure) McGeoch; died in Somonauk township, De Kalb County, Illinois, November 25, 1886. They left no children. Arriving in Illinois in 1858, they became members of the church by certificate.
Mrs. McEachron married second, Edward D. Whitney. He died several years ago. They are buried in Oak Mound Cemetery.
PETER N. (3) McEACHRON was born October 1, 1774; died in Argyle, February 1, 1859; married there July 18, 1802, Mary, a daughter of Dougal McKallor; born April 15, 1777; died February 13, 1852. They had nine children. Child :
i. John Andrew (4), born Mar. 20, 1818.
JOHN ANDREW (4) McEACHRON, the ninth child of Peter N. (3), was born in Argyle, New York, March 20, 1818; died near Waterman, Illinois, June 8, 1887; married in Argyle, New York, January 1, 1851, Jeannette, a daughter of George and Mary (Robinson) Lendrum; born September 24, 1825; died near Waterman, Illinois, March 28, 1879.
They removed from Washington County, New York, to De Kalb County, Illinois, in the spring of 1866, and pur- chased a farm in Clinton township from Milo Tuttle. They joined the United Presbyterian Church at Somonauk by certif-
192
THE MCEACHRON FAMILY
icate of good standing from the Argyle church, and their chil- dren later became members. They are buried in Oak Mound Cemetery.
Children:
i. Frank (5).
ii. Mary, married Daniel Weigle. He died some years ago.
Children:
i. Nora (6) Weigle. iv. Roscoe Weigle.
ii. Rose Weigle. v. Jeanette Weigle.
iii. Aravista Weigle.
iii. Acker.
iv. Helen, died unmarried.
v. Nora, married Gilbert Henry.
vi. Duncan Lendrum.
FRANK (5) McEACHRON, married Florence Miller. They are both dead.
Children:
i. Jeanette (6).
ii. Norma.
iii. Harold.
ACKER (5) McEACHRON married Finette Norton in 1886, at Waterman, Illinois, and soon after went into business with a lumber company at Franklin, Nebraska, of which town he was mayor for some years. In 1910 he was nominated for governor of Iowa on the Prohibition ticket. Later he was stationed at Oak Park, Illinois, for a number of years. From there he removed to Waterloo, Iowa. At present he is living in Goldfield, Iowa.
Children:
i. Ruth (6), married and has four children. She is a leader among women in many departments of good work.
193
SOMONAUK CHURCH
ii. Scott A. is married and has two children; lives in California, where he is prominent in the banking world.
iii. Paul N. is Professor of Psychology in Oberlin Col- lege, Ohio; is married and has four children.
DUNCAN LENDRUM (5) McEACHRON married Ella Scott at Burlingham, Kansas. Their children were born at Topeka, Kansas.
Children:
i. Don Scott (6). iv. Robert.
ii. Lendrum S.
v. Jean.
iii. John Douglass.
Professor McEachron has been associated with Washburn College as a teacher for thirty years. He is now vice-president and was for many years dean of the college. Among his many duties he has charge of the endowment fund of $200,000. Mrs. McEachron, a superior woman, busy in church, school and social work, has made a beautiful home as well.
PHILIP (3) McEACHRON was born October 19, 1776; died in Argyle, March 27, 1842; married first, Elizabeth, daughter of Henry Tinkley, Jr .; married second, Catharine McKallor; born in Argyle, February 16, 1781; died there March 18, 1852. She was a daughter of Dougal McKallor, son of Archibald (1) and Janet (Reed) McKallor.
Child by second marriage:
i. Thomas (4), seventh son of the above; born Oct. 13, 1819.
THOMAS (4) McEACHRON was born October 13, 1819; died November 29, 1902; married in 'Argyle, New York, March 12, 1846, Margaret Gregg, a daughter of George Lendrum and wife Mary, daughter of Duncan and Jeannette
194
THE MCEACHRON FAMILY
(Robeson) Robinson; born in Argyle, October 20, 1823; died January 8, 1897.
In the spring of 1867, Mr. McEachron came with his family to Somonauk, Illinois, where he purchased a farm in Clinton township, built a house, and made further improve- ments; and here the parents spent the rest of their lives. Mr. and Mrs. McEachron and their children were devoted mem- bers of the Somonauk United Presbyterian Church.
Children, born in Argyle:
i. George Lendrum (5), born June 21, 1848; died Oct. 28, 1910; married Cornelia McGeoch.
ii. Mary Robertson, born Jan. 20, 1851; died Dec. 7, 1892; married Andrew Graham. (See page 134.)
iii. Anna Jennette, born Dec. 27, 1854; married James (4) Graham. (See page 137.)
iv. Emma G., born Aug. 31, 1860; died Dec. 4, 1900; married Dec. 13, 1888, John Elsey, of Seattle, Wash.
Children:
i. Ernest (6) Elsey.
ii. Everette Edward Elsey.
iii. William Floyd Elsey.
iv. Marguerita Ellen Elsey.
v. George Leigh Elsey.
vi. Thomas Reed Elsey.
JOHN (2) McEACHRON married Mary, daughter of Duncan and Mary (Gillis) Taylor. This family changed the name to McCarter and settled in New York City.
PETER (2) McEACHRON was born in 1748; died in Argyle, New York, December 19, 1841; married Maria, daughter of George and Eva Gertrude (Dings) Kilmore, of Argyle, New York. Mrs. Peter (2) McEachron's sister, Eva Kilmore, married John Allen and, with her family was killed
195
SOMONAUK CHURCH
by a band of Indians, in Argyle, New York, July 25, 1777. Mr. McEachron is mentioned as having been on picket duty in Salem on that day.
Child:
i. Nancy (3), married Cornelius (3).
The Mahaffey Family
JOHN (2) MAHAFFEY was a son of John (1) and Ella Mahaffey, both of Monaghan County, Ireland; born in Gort- more, April 16, 1837; died March 11, 1917, in De Kalb, Illinois; married, December 25, 1861, Martha, daughter of John and Mary Brant, of Essex County, New York. She was born October 4, 1837, in Montreal, Canada; died June 3, 1894, at her home near Hinckley, Illinois.
Children:
i. Thomas J. (3), born Sept. 21, 1862.
ii. Martha I., born Oct. 12, 1864.
iii. Robert David, born Nov. 2, 1866.
iv. John Andrew, born Apr. 20, 1869.
v. Margaret McClellan, born June 30, 1871.
vi. Mary Winifred, born Sept. 21, 1873.
vii. William Armstrong, born July 18, 1876.
viii. Gordon Kennedy, born Nov. 17, 1878.
THOMAS J. (3) MAHAFFEY, born September 21, 1862, in Argyle, New York; married Myra Overbaugh, December 28, 1887. They farmed for several years, but Mr. Mahaffey is now engaged in the real estate business in Sandwich, Illinois. Child :
i. William B. (4), born Aug. 22, 1890; married May 4, 1915, Bertha Childs. They are living in Aurora, Ill., where Mr. Mahaffey is engaged in the real estate and insurance business.
Child:
i. Charles Thomas (5).
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THE MAHAFFEY FAMILY
MARTHA IDELLETTE (3) MAHAFFEY, born Octo- ber 12, 1864, at Argyle, New York. She came to De Kalb County with her parents when a child, but returned to East Greenwich, Washington County, and married Eli Matteson, on December 28, 1899.
Child :
i. Clarence (4) Matteson, married Etta Chamberlin. Clarence and his wife Etta live with Mrs. Matte- son, in Salem, N. Y.
ROBERT DAVID (3) MAHAFFEY, born November 2, 1866, near Hinckley, De Kalb County, Illinois; married No- vember 7, 1892, in Chicago, Illinois, Margaret Malone. Robert David has been for many years connected with the American Well Works, Aurora, Illinois, and is now vice- president and treasurer of this company.
Child:
i. Lois Vivian, who lives with her parents.
JOHN ANDREW (3) MAHAFFEY, born April 20, 1869, near Hinckley, Illinois; married Etta McClymonds, at Kirk- wood, Illinois. He is pastor of the United Presbyterian Church at Stronghurst, Illinois. He was a graduate from Monmouth College and from Xenia Theological Seminary.
Children:
i. Mary Lois (4), married Henry Gilliland, June, 1926.
ii. Frances.
iii. Jean.
MARGARET MCCLELLAN (3) MAHAFFEY, born June 30, 1871, near Hinckley, Illinois; married May 27, 1896, James A. Watson, at Aurora, Illinois, where they now reside.
Child:
i. Martha Ruth (4) Watson, married C. Frederick Toenniges, a musician of Detroit, Mich.
197
SOMONAUK CHURCH
MARY WINIFRED (3) MAHAFFEY, born September 21, 1873, near Hinckley, Illinois; married April 10, 1901, Bert V. Mead. Mr. Mead died about 1921, at Eagle Grove, Iowa.
Child:
i. Gordon V. (4) Mead, who is now attending the University of Illinois.
WILLIAM ARMSTRONG (3) MAHAFFEY, born July 18, 1876; died August 5, 1908; married Elizabeth Hillard, in Aurora, Illinois. At the age of thirty-one years William Armstrong, who was in business with the American Well Works, in Aurora, was drowned.
Child:
i. Chauncey Elbert (4) married in September, 1925, Florence Yates. They are living at Ottumwa, Iowa.
GORDON KENNEDY (3) MAHAFFEY, born Novem- ber 17, 1878; died April 24, 1879.
John Mahaffey, after his marriage in 1861, engaged in farming in Argyle, Washington County, for about four years. In the spring of 1865 he removed with his family to Somon- auk, De Kalb County, Illinois. They later bought a farm of eighty acres near Hinckley. On their arrival at Somonauk they joined the United Presbyterian Church by certificate of good standing from their church in Argyle, New York. They are buried in Oak Mound Cemetery.
The McKee Family
WILLIAM (1) McKEE was born July 28, 1806; died June 4, 1883; married first, -. He was the owner of a woolen mill in Jefferson County, Ohio.
Children:
i. Joseph (2).
iv. Sarah.
ii. Alexander.
v. Samuel.
iii. Maria.
vi. John.
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THE MERCER FAMILY
William McKee married second, Mary Stewart (6), born at Coitsville, Ohio, June 5, 1812; died June 16, 1878, at her home in De Kalb County, Illinois. Mary Stewart was a sister of Elijah (6) Stewart, who was for thirty-seven years an elder of the Somonauk United Presbyterian Church. She had cared for their invalid mother until her death, when she married William McKee, March 8, 1860. They resided in Jefferson County, Ohio, for three years until 1863, when they moved to Victor township, De Kalb County, where they had purchased a farm. Mr. McKee's daughters lived with the family until they married, and were, like their parents, mem- bers of the Somonauk church, as were also Joseph and Alex- ander until they returned to the East to live. Joseph was a volunteer in a Pennsylvania regiment in the Civil War and was wounded, being partially crippled for life. Mr. and Mrs. McKee are buried in Oak Mound Cemetery.
The Mercer Family
DAVID SMITH (1) MERCER, born in Hockstown, Beaver County, Pennsylvania, May 12, 1827, was a son of Robert and Elizabeth (Smith) Mercer and a grandson of Joseph and Comfort (Nottingham) Mercer; married Novem- ber 14, 1850, Margaret Thornberg, a daughter of James and Nancy (Veasey) Thornberg; born in Beaver County, Penn- sylvania, February 9, 1831; died in November, 1888.
Mr. Mercer was a farmer and he and his wife set up house- keeping in Beaver County, Pennsylvania. They were members of the Service United Presbyterian Church in the same county. In November, 1854, they were visited by a severe stroke of misfortune. Returning from church on Sabbath afternoon, they found that, during their absence, their house had been reduced to ashes by a fire of unknown origin.
The next year, 1855, Mr. Mercer visited Somonauk and bought eighty acres in Clinton township. The following spring
199
SOMONAUK CHURCH
he brought his family west and settled on this land. The family united with the Somonauk church and in 1857 Mr. Mercer was elected to the office of ruling elder, which position he filled for many years. He also held many township offices while he lived in Clinton. In 1892 he removed to Sandwich, where he died, July 1, 1903.
Children:
i. Robert James (2), born 1854.
ii. Joseph, born 1856.
iii. Thomas, born 1858.
iv. John, born 1860.
v. Alvin, born 1861.
vi. William Moffett, born 1863.
vii. Samuel W., born 1865.
viii. Ida B., born 1868.
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