JOHN SEE (1757-1846), SON OF FREDERICK SEE

The third son, and youngest child of Frederick and Catherine See, was born in 1757 in Hampshire County, Virginia. His early life has already been related. We know that Greenbrier County was his home in manhood along with his brothers George and Michael. Near the close of the Revolution on September 3, 1780, he was married to Margaret Garrat. (The name Jarrett was corrupted into a variety of spellings as further records reveal). This is according to Rev. John Alderson's marriage record.

John See's services in the War for Independence is best described in his own petition for a pension in 1832 while he was living in Henry County, Indiana.

State of Indiana Henry Circuit Court

Henry County September term 1832

On this 29th of September in the year 1832 appeared before the Honorable Henry Circuit Court (it being a court of record) in the State of Indiana, John See aged 75 years who being duly sworn according to law deposeth and doth upon his oath make the following declaration in or on/ac to obtain the benefits of the provisions of the act of the 7th of June 1832: That he enlisted in the army of the United States in the year 1776 under Captain Arbuckle in Greenbrier County Virginia for the term of one year for the purpose of defending the western frontier of Virginia from the incursions of the hostile Indians.

He was then marched to the mouth of the Kenhawa where they remained for nearly twelve months and in the meantime they erected a fort at the mouth of the said Kenhaway and was discharged in September 1777 having served one year.

That he thinks it was in the year 1779 he enlisted in the Army of the United States for the term of three years in Bottetourt County Virginia under Captain Lapsely in the 12th Virginia Regiment in General Scott's Brigade, from thence he joined the main army at a place called West Camps in Pennsylvania under the command of General Washington. We then went into winter camp at Valley Forge, at this time your applicant was under the command of Captain Breckenridge, from Valley Forge the main army was marched to Monmouth, New Jersy, where a battle was fought where your applicant engaged with the rest of the army. The army was then marched to White Plains, they re turned to New Jersy and went into winter quarters in Middleboro. During the next winter the army encamped on the North River and your applicant was discharged the next Spring at Camden, South Carolina, having served three years. During this service he was in the battle of Monmouth under General Washington at Stony Point, General Wayne and in Germantown under General Washington and the aforesaid John See, the applicant, relinquished every claim whatsoever to a pension or annuity except the present and he declares that his name is not on the pension roll of any agency in any state or territory in the United States.

Sworn and subscribed in open court this 29th day of Sept. A.D. 1832.

his

Witness John Elliott Clk. John X See

mark

State of Indiana Henry Circuit Court Sept. Term 1832 Henry County

And the said court do hereby declare their opinion that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier and served as he stated.

Byrone Cadwallerader Judges

John Anderson

I, John Elliott Clerk of the Court of Henry County do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of said Court in the matter of the application of John See for a pension.

SEAL In testimoney whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of this office this 29th day of September A.D. 1832

Witness John Elliott, Clerk

Further record shows that John See's name was inscribed on the roll of Indiana at a rate eighty dollars per annum to commence on the 4th day of March 1834 when he received arrears and semi-annual allowance to the amount of two hundred dollars.

Evidently John See's memory at 75 was not so reliable as it was earlier. He surely enlisted in 1777 rather than 1779 for the battle of Germantown was fought October 4th, 1777, and General Washington made winter quarters at Valley Forge December 1777.

From his declarations, John See is shown to be one of the sturdy, rugged soldiers who endured all of the hardship, privation, and suffering that dogged the colonial army through the entire war. John See trudged from the mouth of the Kanawha to White Plains, New York and ended his service after a torturous march through the swampland of the south at Camden, South Carolina; the infantry traveled on foot and usually made their way home from point of discharge as best they could.

We are glad to find this record of compensation for his endurance and valor, found in Virginia Military Patent Records Vo. 10, page 206, December 1797. Warrant No. 4833 for 100 acres, land issued to him in consideration for his services for three years as a private in the Virginia Continental Line in the Revolution.

From a book called War 4, page 352, Virginia State Library is another record: John

See's balance of full pay as a sergeant of infantry in the Virginia Line Continental Establishment, amounting to �58-18s 3d. was delivered to George Clendenen.

John See and Margaret, his wife, were residing in Kanawha County in 1809 for they executed many deeds to lands in the county. The U.S. census 1810, Kanawha County lists the John See family of thirteen members, six boys and five girls, two were over 26 years of age and two under ten years.

Other Kanawha County records include: John See sworn in as grand juror January 6, 1795; August 1, 1796, appointed overseer of the road; however, he seemed derelict in civic duty and was indicted for failure to keep roads in repair March 6, 1797; April l4, 1803, John See was named an appraiser of estate of William Morris.

Page 35 Graham's Family History by David Graham says: "Among the early settlers in the vicinity of Lowell, W. Va. was a man by the name of See, who lived on and owned afterwards the land owned by David Keller Sr. The exact time of his settlement is not known but tradition points to a very early date. He should be classed as among the very first settlers of the locality. See, like Van Bibber sold out to Conrad Keller and sought holdings further west; of his meanderings through the untrodden forests or how often he relocated and then moved onward, nothing is definately known, save that later in life, about 1818, he found a permanent home on the Big Sandy River in Kentucky, where his descendants are today (1890)."

In 1930, I. Will See of Louisa, Kentucky wrote: "When my great grandfather came to Kentucky, he settled on the Big Sandy River, fifteen miles south of Louisa, Ky."

However, in 1818 John See was already in Indiana as is shown by deeds that he executed in Wayne County, Indiana. The Kentucky sojourn of the John See family is uncertain, for in the period between October 17, 1809 and March 13, 1817, they were still in Kanawha where John and Margaret executed many deeds to land.

The final record of John See comes from Macon County, Illinois dated May 20, 1839. From Judiciary Records: John See, Sr. and Jonathon See executed a bond or note to David Morris and John See, Jr., administrators of the estate of George See, deceased. Margaret, wife of John See died in Koscuisko County, Indiana.

JOHN AND MARGARET GARRAT SEE'S CHILDREN

According to the Rev. Michael See, grandson of John See, in a letter dated February 24, 1877, Mediapolis, Iowa to Mrs. Margaret Elizabeth Hayes, of New London, Iowa, great-granddaughter of John See, the family consisted of the following:

George See (1781-1839) married Nancy Wilson in Virginia in 1810. He died in Macon County, Illinois.

David See, (was) born in Kanawha County, Virginia and married there to Leah Jarred (1791-1856) about 1810. They moved to Cass County, Indiana. David See died at the age of 84 years, and both David and Leah See were buried in the Hoover Cemetery in Cass County. They had a family of fourteen children. Their names were: Abraham, Elizabeth, George, Peter, William, John, Margaret, Nancy, David, Jacob, Mary and three children who died in infancy.

Elizabeth See Nice, great granddaughter of John See of Brawley, California gave the following account of the family of David See in a letter dated July 15, 1906, to Captain T. J. J. See, Mare Island, California: "John See died in the Civil War, death caused by a rupture while building breastworks and was buried at the place where he died.

David See died in Benton County, Indiana. Other Kanawha County records include: John See sworn in as grand juror January 6, 1795; August 1, 1796, appointed overseer of the road; however, he seemed derelict in civic duty and was indicted for failure to keep roads in repair March 6, 1797; April 14, 1803, John See was named an appraiser of estate of William Morris.

Page 35 Graham's Family History by David Graham says: "Among the early settlers in the vicinity of Lowell, W. Va. was a man by the name of See, who lived on and owned afterwards the land owned by David Kelley, Sr. The exact time of his settlement is not known but tradition points to a very early date. He should be classed as among the very first settlers of the locality. See, like Van Bibber sold out to Conrad Keller and sought holdings further west; of his meanderings through the untrodden forests or how often he relocated and then moved onward, nothing is definitely known, save that later in life, about 1818, he found a permanent home on the Big Sandy River in Kentucky, where his descendants are today (1890)."

In 1930, I. Will See of Louisa, Kentucky wrote: "When my great grandfather came to Kentucky, he settled on the Big Sandy River, fifteen miles south of Louisa, Ky."

However, in 1818 John See was already in Indiana as is shown by deeds that he executed in Wayne County, Indiana. The Kentucky sojourn of the John See family is uncertain, for in the period between October 17, l809 and March 13, 1817, they were still in Kanawha where John and Margaret executed many deeds to land.

The final record of John See comes from Macon County, Illinois dated May 20, 1839. From Judiciary Records: John See, Sr. and Jonathon See executed a bond or note to David Morris and John See, Jr., administrators of the estate of George See, deceased. Margaret, wife of John See died in Koscuisko County, Indiana.

George See died somewhere in Illinois.

William and Peter See died in Cass County and were buried in the Hoover Cemetery there.

Jacob See (father of Mrs. Nice) was born in Kanawha County, Virginia. Emigrated at the age of seven with his parents to Henry County, Indiana, then later to Grant County, Indiana, where he was a pioneer settler. In 1849 he crossed the plains with a covered wagon and oxen to California, secured interests in the gold mines and ran a provision store for the miners.

In 1850, he returned to Grant County and married Mary Jane Lisbon, October 5, 1851. The next year, he again crossed the plains to California accompanied by his wife, his brother David and wife and his brother Abraham See's eldest son, William. They had some very narrow escapes from the Indians. Mrs. Nice states that she was born November 27, 1852 at Salmon Falls, in Elorado County, California, where her mother died August 1, 1853 at the age of twenty one.

"My father returned to Indiana in 1855, going by water to the Isthmus of Panama, thence by boat to New York, then by rail and stage to Indianapolis, from there to his father's home in Cass County on horse back; he carried me, his baby, on the horse. In 1856 he married Catherine Etter. Of this union, four children were born, one of whom is now living, Frank See of Logansport, Indiana. Catherine See died in 1863."

"Mary See, who married a Jarrett, died at Logansport, Indiana. She was buried in Hoover Cemetery. Abraham See, who served in Company 13, 46th Regiment of Indiana, volunteered for three years of the Civil War, died in Logansport April 5, 1895, at the age of 72 and was also buried in Hoover Cemetery, Cass County."

Mary or Polly (born December 20, 1787 - died 1877) eldest daughter of John and Margaret Garred See, married John Nugen (1775-1858) in Virginia, then moved to Cass County, Indiana, where they reared their family. Four of their sons moved to Iowa in 1840. Jarred See (1785-1957) married Florence (or Flora) Garred (1795-1885) in 1813. In 1820 they moved to Lawrence County, Kentucky, where his father-in-law, David Garred lived. Their children were Emily, Jane (1816-1891), married Jacob H. Peters in 1838, John, William, Margaret, David, Garred, Florence and Elizabeth.

Charles Frederick See, the father of the Rev. Michael See of Wyman, Iowa, was born in Kanawha County, Virginia in l790, married Sarah Milburn (1794-1859). Died in Missouri.

John See, Jr., married Elizabeth Philpott and died in Indiana. Michael See, who died young in Indiana, married Hannah Nugent. Elizabeth See married Elihu Ellis. They lived in Grant County, Indiana where she lived to a great age. Hannah See (1795-1866) married Wesley Prior. She is buried in a cemetery near New London, Iowa where some of her descendants live. Her grave has been marked by the John See Chapter of D.A.R. of New London with a bronze tablet mounted on a small boulder as a memorial to a "real daughter" of a Revolutionary soldier.

THE CHILDREN OF MICHAEL SEE, JR. (751-1792) AND HIS WIFE ELIZABETH MORRIS

They were the parents of five children, George, Frances, Michael, Frederick and William.

George See, the eldest child, born about 1778, married Mary Wilson, November 17 1810 and lived at Lynchburg, Virginia. November 24, 1814, they "gave title to lands descended to him and four brothers and sisters from their father, Michael See, deceased, deed to James E. Harris, for 200 acres below the mouth of Campbell's Creek." (Deed Book D, Page 328, Kanawha County Court record). Also, August 10, 1807, Page 311 of same Deed Book, George See and other four heirs of Michael See, deeded to Andrew Donnally 400 acres of land. Kanawha County Court records account for one thousand acres of land bequeathed to the daughter and four sons.

It is said George and Mary (Polly) See were childless and that they moved to Charleston, Virginia, where he became a contractor.

FRANCES SEE, DAUGHTER OF MICHAEL SEE, JR.

The date of her birth is uncertain. She married her cousin, Carroll Morris, a grandson of old William Morris, Sr., the pioneer of Kanawha County. Carroll Morris was the son of Major "Billy" Morris and his wife, Catherine Carroll.

The Department of Archives and History of West Virginia, Rage 125, names Carroll Morris in Captain John Morris' Company of Rangers of Kanawha County, called into service by General Henry Knox, Secretary of War, May 1 to September 30, 1791. He lost his life attempting to swim across the Kanawha River, just below Upper Creek Shoals. He was an excellent swimmer, but in crossing the river near the shoals, the current drew him under the water.

Carroll and Frances See Morris had six children: Maria married John Hansford; Letitia married Norris Whitaker; Parthenia (Pantha Jane) married John Greenlee; Catherine married Dr. Southerland; Michael; and Carroll, Jr.

After Carroll's death Frances Morris married Christopher Ringsberry and lived at Terre Salinas a few miles from Charleston, Virginia. Later they moved to Wayne County, Iowa around 1844 where she wrote to kinfolks back home that it was the "best country she ever saw. Everything grows well." She died at Blue Grass.

Frances See Morris has been described by her sister-in-law, Nancy Greenlee See, wife of Michael See III as being tall and very strong, having piercing black eyes and dark complexion. It is said that she could stand in a half bushel measure and lift a two bushel bag of wheat to her shoulder. It is also related that she shot a wild turkey which was sitting on the limb of a dead tree on the opposite bank of the Kanawha, a distance of some three hundred yards.

FREDERICK SEE, SON OF MICHAEL SEE, JR.

Few traces of this fourth child of Michael and Elizabeth Morris See are to be found. His name is on the deed Michael's heirs made to Andrew Donnally for 400 acres of land August 10, 1807, Deed Book D, Page 311, Clerk's Office, Kanawha County, Virginia (West Virginia). Miss Clara See gives an account of Frederick as related by her father, who was a nephew. Frederick See was said to have been with a showboat which plied its itinerary up and down the Ohio and Mississippi. In New Orleans he made the acquaintance of a well-to-do widow from Texas. Their friendship climaxed in marriage and he returned with her to her native state to live. One unfounded story tells that he was a soldier with Sam Houston in the Mexican War. Mexican War records do not list his name.

The last reference to Frederick See was during the Civil War when young Charles Michael See, son of Shull M. See, came in contact with a couple of young See brothers, Confederate prisoners under his guard. They identified themselves as the sons of Frederick See as described above. Details of this meeting have not survived the passage of time.

WILLIAM SEE (1792-AFTER 1844), SON OF MICHAEL SEE, JR.

William See was the fifth child of Michael See and Elizabeth Morris. His birth occurred the night of May 17, 1792, the fateful night that saw his father slain as he directed the cultivation of the crops for the settlers forced to stay at Fort Randolph, because of the depredation of the Wyandottes, Mingoes, and other tribes, up and down the Ohio River.

Nothing remains to tell us of his life except the terse legal records of the county courts of Kanawha and Mason Counties and that of the War Department, Washington, D.C.

William's name is the last in the list of heirs of Michael See granting the 400 acres of land to Andrew Donnally; also from the Deed Book D, Page 328, December 12, 1814, William See of Mason County, Virginia, 1/5 interest as a child of Michael See, deceased, to James E. Harris lands.

Records in the Adjutant General's Office, War Department, show "that William See served as a private in the War of 1812 in a company of infantry commanded at various times by Lieutenant and Captain Andrew Bryan and Lieutenant Moses McClintic, 2nd Regiment (Evans) Virginia Militia." His service commenced September 21, 1812 and ended March 20, 1813. This company was from Mason County.

William See married Sarah Prewett and had a large family. His descendants have lived in Mason County, West Virginia down to the present The last contact with this branch of the family was made many years ago when Dr. Granville Prewett accompanied a patient to Parkersburg, West Virginia and spent some time in trying to locate these distant See kin. He eventually found one old lady who remembered his parents, Stokes and Minerva See Prewett, and the time of their departure for Illinois. Dr. Prewett, Marshall, Illinois, was a grandson of Nancy Greenlee See and Michael See III.

MICHAEL SEE III (1785-1827), SON OF MICHAEL SEE, JR.

Michael, with his mother Elizabeth Morris See and the three brothers and sister, continued to live at Fort Randolph, Point Pleasant, Virginia for some time after his father's death at the hands of the Wyandottes. He was born April 1, 1785. He was married February 15, 1808 to Nany Greenlee, daughter of John Greenlee and his wife Jane Reynolds in Mason County, Virginia by Francis Watkins. Nancy was born March 10, 1794 and was only fourteen years old at the time of their marriage.

Michael's name is included in the heirs in Deed Book D, Page 311, who made the deed to Andrew Donnally August 10, 1807, for 400 acres of land in Kanawha County, Virginia.

From the 6th Mumford Reports, Page 303 - "In 1814 Michael See brought suit in Mason County against .... Greenlee, and claimed a tract of land demised (willed) to him by Michael See. This suit was decided in See's favor by the Court of Appeals of Virginia in 1819."

The above mentioned Greenlee was doubtlessly William Greenlee, whose name re-appears from time to time in the history of Michael and Nancy See's family.

In 1812 when war broke between Great Britain and the young nation of the United States, Michael and Nancy G. See were living in Mason County on a small farm some distance from Point Pleasant. In 1815 Michael enlisted at Point Pleasant in the Virginia volunteers and served as Captain of his own company known as Captain Michael See's Company, 106th Regular Virginia Militia. His service commenced February l8, 1815 and ended March 8, 1815. (From War Department, Adjutant General's Office). He was sent to Norfolk, Virginia, and returned home after an absence of one month in consequence of peace having been declared.

Under an Act of March 3, 1855, entitled "An Act in addition to certain Acts granting Bounty Land to certain Officers and Soldiers who have been engaged in The Military Services of the United States"; Nancy See, widow of Michael See, Captain Virginia Militia, War 1812, received a grant #95,89O for 120 acres issued December 28, l859. This land was located in Melecosta County, Michigan and was sold to Delos A. Blodget, October 27, 1862. At this time Nancy 0. See was living in Marion County, Illinois, and the document of sale was witnessed by her son-in-law, F. B. Shelton and C. A. Russell, when she personally appeared before Tilman Baser, Justice of the Peace.

Michael See III died September 10, 1827 at their farm in Mason County and left Nancy widowed at thirty three and nine children. Their names and births were Schull Morris See, born February 19, 1809; Jane, born February 26, 1811; Elizabeth (Betsy), December 27, 1812; Minerva, January 23, 1815; Frances, April 23, 1817; John, July 13, 1819; Henry, February 27, 1822; Michael, March 18, 1824; and Frederick, September 17, 1826.

The following sketch of the family is given by Miss Clara See, Kinmundy, a granddaughter of Michael and Nancy Greenlee See and related to her by her father, their son Michael See.

"The Salt Works" in Charleston were the greatest in America at that time. By accident, a man digging a well, found a deposit of salt. In early times Charleston was known as "the licks" as the deer would go there to lick salt. Shipping the salt on flat boats to the West was important. Grandfather (Michael See III) worked on flat boats carrying the salt from Charleston down the river to the Ohio at Point Pleasant. Grandmother's (Nancy Greenlee) brother Hamilton Greenlee was a pilot on the Kanawha for several years.

Grandfather owned a small farm and a water mill. At the time of his death a company had built a mill above him and had taken the water from him. Grandfather was engaged in a lawsuit to recover these rights at the time. Later the case was dismissed. He left his wife and children in very poor condition financially.

He was described as a large man, dark complexioned, very strong, and well liked by all who knew him.

After his death, Grandmother, who was always sickly, was forced to take her family to live with her father John Greenlee and her brother Hamilton. Aunt Jane had gone to Charleston to stay with her Aunt Frances Ringsberry

Once Aunt Frankie and Jane came to visit Grandmother and her family. After a short stay, Aunt Frankie asked Jane if she were ready to go back home. Jane replied, "I am not going to leave this half-clad, underfed family. My duty is here with them." Jane was then about 18 years old. They moved back to the little farm. They had a team of horses and a few farming implements, including hoes. Shull was old enough to work on the river. John, only about ten years old, plowed and used the team. The younger ones, with the help of Jane, hoed. My father said Jane could get more work out of a boy with a hoe, than anyone he ever knew.

Their crops were much better than those raised by the neighbor men. Jane could weave and had learned to make men's clothing while with her Aunt. After this the family was free from want.

The sisters and the brothers, Shull and John, married quite young. This left Uncle Henry and my father to keep a home for Grandmother and Aunt Jane. Fred lived with Aunt Betsy and Uncle Eldred Shelton. My father began working on the river when he was 14 years old. Uncle John was never on the river as he always farmed.

About 1840 people began going West to buy government land in Indiana, Illinois, and Missouri, offered at one dollar and twenty-five cents an acre. Uncle Stokes Prewett's (he married Minerva See) half-brother, Robert Prewett, had moved to Marion County Illinois. He wrote to his relatives of the fine country in Illinois. Soon Stokes and Minerva Prewett and two or three small children moved and bought land adjoining that of Robert Prewett whose house was just west of the present I.C.R.R. reservoir south of Kinmundy. Aunt Minerva soon wrote her mother urging the family to come to Illinois.

In March 1844, Grandmother, Aunt Jane, the three boys, Henry, Michael, and Frederick, together with Uncle Eldred and Aunt Betsy Shelton left Mason County, Virginia for Marion County, Illinois.

They had three wagons. Uncle Eldred had a fine team and wagon. He was bringing with him about one thousand dollars in gold he had received from the Shelton estate. He loaned his money at 10% interest. Money was so scarce it was almost impossible to get any in this new country.

Grandmother had a good team and a funny old wagon. It had been made by her father, John Greenlee, at his blacksmith shop. Uncle Henry and Father had bought a new wagon and each had a fine young mare. Father had worked for a man a summer for his colt. It was bred from the same stock as General Robert E. Lee's horse, "Travellar."

These young men were the handsomest chaps ever seen! Lovely dark curly hair, complexions prettier than a girl's, and eyes beyond description. (Old timers have told me this - old ladies!) They knew all the new steps and songs, having always returned home by steamboat from Cincinnati and New Orleans. They were the best wrestlers yet.

They traveled to Illinois most of the way on the Old National Trail. Father said you could see anything from a handcart to the finest carriages of that day. Everybody going West.

As they had no house when they arrived, they rented a little cabin northeast of the present Kinmundy Cemetery. It was the property of Uncle Harvey Gray and his mother, who had gone to Tennessee to settle an estate and expected to be away a year.

The boys, Henry and Father, bought eighty acres of prairie land and eighty acres of timber in what is now Kinmundy Township. (The prairie land where we (Cousin Clara and I) now live. The boys did not farm their own land that first year. They rented a field of Robert Pruett's. They plowed from the present Methodist Church west to the road in front of the Jack Foster place. The large stump of an oak tree that is in front of the Foster place (1938) is that of an oak tree the boys would climb to take aim at deer that came to drink from a branch of a creek just east of the old Judge Snelling house.

Between fanning the boys hauled logs. After they finished their corn, they built a double log house, joined by a covered dog-run a quarter of a mile north of the Shelton's with whom Uncle Fred lived; they made a log stable for the horses, and split out rails for fence to keep the stock (Jane had a cow) and dug a well. They moved into the cabin in December.

The boys wanted to buy more land. There was then government land in what is now Omega Township. There was no work to earn money in this country. Uncle Fred had decided to go back to Virginia to work on the river - "a boating."

Uncle Henry suggested that one of them (Uncle Henry or Father) go back, too, and earn money to buy the land.

My father and Uncle Fred started back to Virginia about the 18th of January 1845. It has been Spring-like weather all Fall and Winter, but the day they left the weather changed. They had to walk to Odin in the bitter cold to catch the stage for St. Louis. From here, they went by boat to Cairo and then up the Ohio to Point Pleasant. My father was in Virginia about one year. He came back home on the Ohio River to Shawneetown, then walked home. The money he had earned was in coin. It first wore through a thick leather wallet. He wrapped it in his handkerchief - it, too, wore through; when he reached home, his pockets were worn out.

The boys, Henry and Mike, now bought land in Omega Township, eighty acres of timber and eighty acres of prairie. Uncle John See, who came to Marion County from Mason County, Virginia after 1845, bought the farm still owned by the John Lenhart family (south of Kinmundy) but wanted to go where he could have a large farm. He sold his farm to a man named Gibbs, then moved to land in Omega (still owned by his descendants).

As the double log house began to seem small for two families, Uncle Henry proposed to my father that if he would give him five hundred dollars for his share of the improvements and help him put up buildings on his new homestead, he would take the Omega land and give Father the Kinmundy land.

My mother had just been paid money from her father's estate; so Father bought Uncle Henry out, exchanging deeds. I do not know the year Uncle Henry moved. I think he rented a house to live in while he prepared his home. (This is true).

My father said he would ride over to Uncle Henry's each day. He would "cross the prairie." He would start from home cross-country to where the Ed Craig farm now is. No fences, prairie grass was higher than his head on horseback. There were whipsawed boards Uncle Henry and Father sawed in the smokehouse many years later when I boarded with Cousin Charlie See as a teacher at the Old Camp Ground school.

Uncle Fred stayed on in Virginia, married Virginia Barnett and moved with her people to Wayne County, Iowa, near Corydon. They came to Illinois during the Civil War.

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