Perry Township
p.714-716
John Underhill, one of the prominent pioneers of Wayne County, was born in North Carolina, Aug. 15, 1775. His father, John Underhill, came to America from England about 1770, at the age of sixteen, and was a blacksmith by trade. John Underhill, Jr. , in early life developed those traits of character and those superior natural endowments which enabled him to rise above the difficulties which surrounded him in his boyhood and young manhood days, and to become one of the most noted men of his neighborhood, especially in the field of education. He very early developed a passion for learning, and soon mastered all the branches, then taught in the very imperfect district school of that day, and reached a position where the average teacher could not aid him further. He attended a boarding-school for a few weeks, after which he undertook the task of educating himself. He became well versed in history and in the polite literature of his day and time. But it was in the field of mathematics that he excelled, and made himself felt. He explored almost every domain of this important branch of science, commencing on the lowest round in the ladder, resting not until he made himself very familiar with, and proficient in, the same. At an early age he turned his attention to teaching and surveying in his native State. At the age of twenty-five he went to Tennessee, where he continued to teach. His teaching was mainly in a private school, and such was his skill as a teacher that he soon built up a large school. Even men who occupied positions in the higher schools of learning came to him for assistance in some of the higher branches of mathematics. He was married to Jane Jones, who was born in North Carolina, and who moved to Tennessee at the age of seven. Mr. Underhill was strongly opposed to slavery, and not wishing to rear his family in a slave State, he came to Wayne County, locating at Economy, where he entered immediately upon the practice of his profession as a teacher, and had soon built up a flourishing private school, which came to be the most famous in its day and time. About 1815 he and a few others were the authors of the constitution of the first Manumission Society ever organized in the United States. He reared a family of twelve children to maturity, and died Sept. 1, 1834, and his wife's death occurred Sept. 14, 1869. Their youngest child, Jesse B. Underhill, was born Oct. 9, 1829, on the farm where he now resides and where he was reared. His education was obtained in the schools of his township. He resided with his widowed mother till he grew to manhood and assisted and cared for her till her death. He has followed farming through life, and is making a specialty of blooded stock. He was married Sept. 6, 1869, to Sue Bowers, a native of Pennsylvania, who came with her parents to Wayne County in 1863. They are the parents of five children---John M. , Edward F. , Alfred C. , Annie J. and Emmie Armina.
(note: this book is in the public domain)
Perry Township
p.714-716
John Underhill, one of the prominent pioneers of Wayne County, was born in North Carolina, Aug. 15, 1775. His father, John Underhill, came to America from England about 1770, at the age of sixteen, and was a blacksmith by trade. John Underhill, Jr. , in early life developed those traits of character and those superior natural endowments which enabled him to rise above the difficulties which surrounded him in his boyhood and young manhood days, and to become one of the most noted men of his neighborhood, especially in the field of education. He very early developed a passion for learning, and soon mastered all the branches, then taught in the very imperfect district school of that day, and reached a position where the average teacher could not aid him further. He attended a boarding-school for a few weeks, after which he undertook the task of educating himself. He became well versed in history and in the polite literature of his day and time. But it was in the field of mathematics that he excelled, and made himself felt. He explored almost every domain of this important branch of science, commencing on the lowest round in the ladder, resting not until he made himself very familiar with, and proficient in, the same. At an early age he turned his attention to teaching and surveying in his native State. At the age of twenty-five he went to Tennessee, where he continued to teach. His teaching was mainly in a private school, and such was his skill as a teacher that he soon built up a large school. Even men who occupied positions in the higher schools of learning came to him for assistance in some of the higher branches of mathematics. He was married to Jane Jones, who was born in North Carolina, and who moved to Tennessee at the age of seven. Mr. Underhill was strongly opposed to slavery, and not wishing to rear his family in a slave State, he came to Wayne County, locating at Economy, where he entered immediately upon the practice of his profession as a teacher, and had soon built up a flourishing private school, which came to be the most famous in its day and time. About 1815 he and a few others were the authors of the constitution of the first Manumission Society ever organized in the United States. He reared a family of twelve children to maturity, and died Sept. 1, 1834, and his wife's death occurred Sept. 14, 1869. Their youngest child, Jesse B. Underhill, was born Oct. 9, 1829, on the farm where he now resides and where he was reared. His education was obtained in the schools of his township. He resided with his widowed mother till he grew to manhood and assisted and cared for her till her death. He has followed farming through life, and is making a specialty of blooded stock. He was married Sept. 6, 1869, to Sue Bowers, a native of Pennsylvania, who came with her parents to Wayne County in 1863. They are the parents of five children---John M. , Edward F. , Alfred C. , Annie J. and Emmie Armina.
(note: this book is in the public domain)
Family Members
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Hannah Underhill Reynolds
1808–1850
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Lemuel Underhill
1809–1840
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Alfred Underhill
1811–1876
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Emily Underhill Beeson
1815–1845
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Elvira Underhill Hodson
1817–1860
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Clarkson Underhill
1819–1859
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Armina Anna Underhill Triplette
1821 – unknown
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Catherine Jane Underhill McKimmey
1827–1890
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Jesse Butlar Underhill
1829–1898
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