George D. Smallwood, son of Parmenius Smallwood, was born in Ross county, Ohio, March 31, 1810, and came with his parents to this state; attended the first schools of Macon county, and grew to manhood, after which, in 1830, he located in this township. He was among the early settlers, and was here during the " deep snow." The same year, 1830, he commenced, with his father, building a saw-mill, to which he soon after added a burr, and did the grinding for the -community. It was located on the N. E. quarter of Sec. 5. The burr was made from a prairie boulder, which is still in use, and is pronounced to be of very fine quality. Mr. Smallwood was in the Black Hawk war. He was an early surveyor in this part of the country;. was married to Mary Ann Brown, March 24, 1839. The ceremony was performed by James M. Scott, a Christian minister. " (1882 History of De
Witt County, Creek Twp)

OBITUARY OF GEORGE D. SMALLWOOD -- 1886

The following obituary appeared in the 16 April 1886 issue of The Clinton Public.

April 16, 1886
Clinton Public

Death of a Veteran of the Black Hawk War.

George D. SMALLWOOD, one of the early settlers of DeWitt County, died at his home near this city yesterday morning, aged seventy-six years. For several months Mr. SMALLWOOD had been an invalid and confined to his home.

George D. SMALLWOOD was among the pioneer settlers of this county. He was born in Ross County, Ohio, on the 31st of March, 1810. His parents were natives of Virginia, and their ancestors were of Irish extraction. The SMALLWOOD family came to Illinois in 1825 and settled near Decatur. There were fifteen children in the family, George D. being the second oldest. In 1830 George D. Smallwood settled on Salt Creek, in this county, and built a cabin, near which, four years later, his father built a mill which has since been known as SMALLWOOD's mill. George D. had a fair common school education, and studied civil engineering, which business he gave considerable attention to in the early days. In 1839 he was nominated by the Whigs as a candidate for county surveyor, but was defeated by Alexander A. BARNETT. This was the only time he was ever before any convention as a candidate for office. During the winter of 1831-32 the Black Hawk Was broke out, and on the 16th of April Governor REYNOLDS issued a call for troops. Among the number who responded from this county was George D. SMALLWOOD. Among his comrades in the same company were Walter BOWLES, George COPPENBARGER, Asher SIMPSON, Elisha BUTLER, John HENDERSON, James ENNIS, John CLIFTON, John WILLIAMS, C. COOPER, Samuel TROXEL, Thomas DAVENPORT, William ADAMS, William HOOPER, Joseph CLIFTON, and J. G. WRIGHT. They served on the Rock River, and were in Major STILLMAN's command. The DeWitt County men served the full term for which they were enlisted and were then mustered out.

In March, 1839, Mr. SMALLWOOD was married to Mary Ann BROWN, daughter of Henry BROWN, who was one of the early settlers of Texas Township. By this union there was one child, who died in infancy. His wife died in 1867, since which time he has made his home with relatives. For about fifteen years he was engaged in milling, but the greater part of his life was spent upon a farm. His first Presidential vote was cast for Andrew JACKSON, but when the Republican party was organized in 1856, he identified himself with it and remained faithful to its principles to the end of his life.

George D. Smallwood was a man of excellent character, and during his long life in this county he had the confidence and esteem of all who knew him. He was liberal in his giving to relatives and others. Such a life as his sheds a blessing on those with whom he was intimately associated.

During the Black Hawk War, George was a member of Captain I.C. Pugh's Company, 5th Regiment, Illinois Mounted Militia. The members of this militia signed up for 30 days. After the disaster at Stillman's Run - May 1832, the militia was disbanded on May 28th at Ottawa, IL, and most returned home.

He is assumed to be buried in this cemetery with his relatives, including brothers and sisters. I will request a headstone photo if there is one.

If there is no headstone, I will endeavor to get him a government headstone from the VA.