The Reed Family
First Generation--
George Reed
married Margaret (Couchman?). It is possible that George was
from Hampshire Co., VA, which is now part of West Virginia. George
served in the Revolutionary War in the Virginia forces. He was
married at least twice (his first wife may have been a Miss Renick),
and perhaps three times. We do not know which children were from
which mother, but believe that Elizabeth’s mother was Margaret.
The Reeds were in Bourbon Co., KY, at the time of the 1800 census.
1. John Reed,
married Catherine Starr.
2. Jesse Reed,
3. Daniel Reed,
married Mary S. Wayne.
4. Henry Reed,
5. Mary Magdalene Reed,
"Maude," married John Barber.
6. Katherine Reed,
married Mr. Dawson.
7. Margaret Reed,
married Thomas Barber, brother of John, above.
8. Susan Reed,
9. Elizabeth
Reed,
"Betsy," , born April 27, 1790, perhaps in NC. Married Wesley Arrasmith.
10. Sally Reed,
married Mr. Starr.
11. Mary Ann Reed,
married Hiram Tillett.
The Arrasmith Family
First Generation--
Thomas Arrasmith,
born ca. 1733; died Feb. 7, 1808, about 75 years old. Married
Mary, "Polly," born ca. 1741; died Aug. 8, 1806; about
65 years old. Thomas’ parents may have been William and
Sarah, or Richard and Elizabeth, who lived in Westmoreland Co.,
VA, and had children named Thomas and Elizabeth.
1. William Arrasmith,
born Jan. 30, 1762, in Fauquier Co., VA; died Nov. 15, 1839, in Bath
Co., KY; 77 years old. Married (Sept. 14, 1789, in Farquier Co., VA)
Susannah McBee. William was in the Fife and Drum service for Virginia
in the Revolutionary War.
2. Massey Arrasmith,
born 1763, in Westmoreland Co., VA; died Feb. 11, 1833; 70 years old.
Married Patsy Grant.
3. Richard Arrasmith,
born ca. 1765, in Stafford Co., VA; died April 15, 1815, in Bourbon Co.,
KY. Married (July 27, 1790, in Bourbon Co., KY) Cassandra Fisher.
4. Thomas Arrasmith,
born 1766, in VA; died 1836, in Gallactic, KY; 70 years old. Married
Mary?
5. James Arrasmith,
born Feb. 15, 1770, in VA; July 30, 1852; 82 years old. Married Jane.
6. John Arrasmith,
born 1774. Bond for brother Wesley’s marriage in 1805.
7. Wesley (or Westley) Arrasmith,
born June 8, 1776, perhaps in NC. Married (Oct. 9, 1805, in Bourbon Co.,
KY) Elizabeth Reed, born April 27, 1790, perhaps in NC.
8. Abner Arrasmith,
born Sept. 1781, in VA; died Jan. 2, 1844, in Bath Co., KY; 65 years
old. Married (Feb. 28, 1802, in Bourbon Co., KY) Lenah Patax Conyers.
Second Generation--
Wesley (or Westley) Arrasmith (the name was sometimes found as Arrowsmith),
born June 8, 1776, perhaps in NC; died Jan. 9, 1843, in Richland
Grove, Mercer Co., IL; 66 years old. Married (Oct. 9, 1805, in
Bourbon Co., KY) Elizabeth Reed, born April 27, 1790, perhaps in NC; died
Nov. 29, 1844; in Richland Grove, Mercer Co., IL); 54 years old.
She died in the home of her daughter Peggy. On their marriage
record there were listed as "bondsmen/parents" John
Arrowsmith and George Reed.
The Reed family were living in Bourbon Co., KY, in 1800, as were James,
Thomas, and William Arrasmith families. The Arrasmith families were not
in KY in 1790. But in 1790 there were a Richard (only one person in family)
and a Thomas (8 in family) in VA. I have learned from another researcher
that Thomas Arrasmith was the father of Wesley.
Wesley and Elizabeth’s children were born in KY. Tax records show
Wesley buying property in Bourbon Co. (on Plum Lick) in 1810. In 1812,
he sold it to Thomas, probably his brother. In 1830, they were in Vermillion
Co., IN, living near their daughter and new son-in-law, Parthenia and
Charles Norman. There was also an Alexander living nearby, probably a
brother of Parthenia--he was still there in 1840. Wesley and his family
were the first settlers in Richland Grove, in Mercer Co., IL, being there
by 1835. Wesley and Elizabeth both died and were buried in Mercer Co.,
IL.
1. Parthenia Arrasmith,
born Dec. 15, 1805, in Bourbon Co., KY; died Aug. 20, 1871; 65 years
old. Married Charles Norman.
2. Alvin Arrasmith,
born Sept. 30 (or Oct. 1), 1807, in Bourbon Co., KY; died June 9, 1863;
55 years old. Married (June 11, 1829, in Vermillion Co., IN) Emily Stowers.
Alvin and his wife were also early settlers in Mercer Co., IL.
3. George Arrasmith,
born June 23, 1809, in KY; died July 13, 1810, probably in Bourbon Co.,
KY; one year old.
4. Wesley Arrasmith,
born ca. 1810, in Bourbon Co., KY.
5. Abner Arrasmith,
born July 9, 1812, in Paris, Bourbon Co., KY; died Jan. 19, 1885; 73
years old. Married (Dec. 25, 1831, in Colebrook Twp., Warren Co., IL)
Elizabeth Peckenpaugh. Built the first house in Richland Grove Township,
and laid out the nearby town of Swedonia in 1838. They lived in Kansas
in 1882.
6. Polly Arrasmith,
born June 9, 1820, in Scott Co., KY; died March 11, 1888; 59 years old.
Married John Rhodenbaugh.
7. Louisa Arrasmith,
married (Jan. 12, 1829, in Vermillion Co., IN) Henry Stowers.
8. Peggy Arrasmith,
married John Viols.
9. Emeline Arrasmith,
10. Elizabeth Arrasmith,
Third Generation--
Parthenia Arrasmith, born Dec. 15, 1805, in Bourbon Co., KY; died Aug.
20, 1871; 65 years old. Married (May 3, 1824, in Vermillion Co.,
IN) Charles W. Norman, born Jan. 9, 1801, in Greenbrier, VA; died
Aug. 3, 1892, in Richland Grove, Mercer Co., IL; 91 years old.
Both were buried in the Swedonia West Cemetery, in Richland Grove,
Mercer Co., IL.
They lived in Vermillion Co., IN, at the time of the 1830 census, but
were in Mercer Co., IL, by 1836. In 1850 they lived in Richland Grove.
According to the 1850 census, neither Charles nor Parthenia could read
or write.
1. Wesley Norman,
born ca. 1825, in IN. Married Mary.
2. Sara Norman,
3. Moses Norman,
born ca. 1829, in Indiana. Married (Jan. 30, 1848, in Mercer, Co., IL)
Elizabeth Love.
4. Elizabeth Norman,
born 1829, in Indiana. Married (Jan. 16, 1850, in Mercer Co., IL) Horace
McMullen, born ca. 1828, in NY.
5. Mary Norman,
born Dec. 13, 1836, in IL; died Aug. 21, 1908, in Farragut Co., IL; 72
years old. Married (Nov. 8, 1855, in Aledo, Mercer Co, IL) William McMullen, born ca. 1835 in NY. They had 10 children.
6. Melissa Ellen Norman,
born Oct. 10, 1838, in Mercer Co., IL; died Oct. 9, 1903, in New Windsor,
Mercer Co., IL; 64 years old. Married (Jan. 6, 1859, in Rock Island Co.,
IL) Orvis Charles Richmond.
6. Charles W. Norman,
born June 22, 1840, in Mercer Co., IL; died July 10, 1890; 50 years old.
7. Parthenia A. Norman,
born ca. 1842, in Mercer Co., IL. Married (Feb. 3, 1859) John C. McElhiny.
8. Malinda Norman,
born ca. 1846, in IL.
9. Aaron J. Norman,
born March 31, 1847, in IL; died Nov. 8, 1885; 38 years old. Buried in
Swedonia West Cemetery.
10. George Norman,
born ca. 1857, in IL.
• Abner Norman,
born ca. 1829, in Indiana. He was living with the family at the time
of the 1850 census, perhaps a cousin (or perhaps Charles’ youngest
brother) living with the family to help out on the farm. His name was
listed after the names of the other children, and occupation was listed
as laborer.
The Wilcox Family
First Generation--
Almond Wilcox,
born 1790-95, perhaps in Vermont. Married (probably in NY) Charlotte McMullen.
1. Elsie Wilcox,
born March 7, 1822, in NY; died Feb. 24, 1905, in Greenfield, Adair Co.,
IL; 82 years old.
Second Generation--
Elsie Wilcox, born March 7, 1822, in NY, died Feb. 24, 1905, in
Greenfield, Adair Co., IA; 82 years old. Married (April 23, 1840,
in Mercer Co., IL, in the home of her father Almond Wilcox) Major McMullen, born Oct. 29, 1818, in NY; died March 2,
1870, of consumption; 51 years old. Major was buried in the Swedonia
West Cemetery, in Mercer Co., IL. Elsie was buried in Greenfield
Cemetery, in Adair Co., IA. 1850 they were living in Rivoli township,
Mercer Co., IL. At the time of the 1860 census, Hugh’s widow
Ersula was living with the family.
By 1888, Elsie was living in Adair Co., IA, apparently having moved there
with son William and his family (per her application for Major’s
military pension).
Major fought in the Civil War, a private in Co. C, 102nd Ill. Inf. He
enlisted Aug. 11, 1862 for a three year term, but was discharged Jan.
15, 1863, on grounds of disability. According to the pension application
Elsie made later, it was during a march from Frankfort, KY, to Gallatin,
TN, that the conditions were so poor (sleeping in the open and on the
ground) he caught a cold which settled in his lungs. According to the
pension claim, it developed into chest pain, cough, and kidney problems.
He was unable to do his work as usual after returning home, and died
seven years later of consumption. According to the pension application,
Major was 5’11" tall, had a light complexion, grey eyes, and
brown hair. He was a farmer, and gave his home as Center Ridge, IL.
1. James McMullen,
born Aug. 2, 1846; died Feb. 7, 1875; 28 years old.
2. William McMullen,
born Nov. 1851 (or 50), in Mercer Co., IL; died April 8, 1911, in Colorado;
61 years old. Married Mary Norman.
3. Harriet Louise McMullen,
born ca. 1853. May have married Hezekiah Elliott. If so, they had a daughter
Edna P. Elliott, who married (1904, in Adair Co., IA) Frank W. Luers,
brother of Emma Luers who married Calvin McMullen (below) in Adair Co.,
IA.
4. Mary Ellen McMullen,
"Ellen," born June 24, 1859, in Mercer Co., IL. Moved to Greenfield,
IA, with her mother, and was living with her while she was receiving a
widow’s pension for her husband’s service in the Union Army during
the Civil War.
5. Sara Jane McMullen,
"Jane," born Jun. 8, 1863, in Mercer Co., IL. Moved to Greenfield,
IA, with her mother, and was living with her while she was receiving a
widow’s pension for her husband’s service in the Union Army during
the Civil War.
Sources:
Mrs. Genevieve McMullen, for the earlier generations--her husband is
a descendant of the earlier William McMullen and Mary Norman.
Elsie McMullen’s application for pension based on late husband Major’s
Civil War service, including info from the family’s Bible
Census reports
Mattie "Boots" Barranco, for information on the Reed family
March 1, 2013
Polli Turner
