*The picture on the right hand side of this page is of Jemima's ggggg-granddaughter talking about Jemima's life. The talk was given in Pleasant Grove cemetery, where she and her husband Elihu are buried. The cemetery is on the Henry-Des Moines county line in Iowa.
TEXT OF PRESENTATION
My name is Jemima Chandler. In Kentucky I was considered strong-minded. Strong-willed too, I suppose. At seventeen I married Mr. James Dobson, and together we began a family that included four children. But nine years later I found myself a widow. Life gives us adversity. One must pick up. One must move on.
What does a young women of 26 do with four young children? I perhaps surprised even myself with the decision to moved to this new territory-Iowa. It was 1834. The territory had been opened to settlers for over a year. At age 30 I decided there was nothing to loose and everything to gain, so here we arrived where I joined my sister. We were given squatters right, until the land was surveyed, which did not begin until 1836; land sales did not begin until 1838.
Here I met Elihu. Mr. Chandler had traveled from Maine to Ohio in 1830,and then to Henderson County, Illinois. This was during the Black Hawk War, and he was engaged in building and guarding the rude fort in that county.
Elihu was one of the first to cross the Mississippi River and engage in the arduous task of creating a new life in this undeveloped country. He arrived in 1834, when Burlington-or Pinhook as it was once referred to-had only two or three cabins.
It didn't take long to recognize a good man. Elihu and I married in June of 1835.
Life in this new land was always an adventure. The first years were difficult for pioneer families. There was usually little or no money, nowhere to buy anything, and often a shortage of food until the first crop could be harvested.
Indians were numerous and usually friendly. Mrs. Burge related that once she returned to her home only to find several Indians in the hut, one holding the baby and others talking to the children. Suppressing her panic, she bought out food to offer the guests, who ate greedily and left in good humor.
We could always find plenty of bees in the area trees, and honey and beeswax were exchanged in Burlington for supplies that took us through the winter. Elihu made many trips to Burlington with a team of oxen, leaving early in the morning and returning at near to 2:00 a.m. the next morning!
We pounded grain in the hollowed-out top of a stump, Indian-fashion, to make meal for eating. Wolves sometimes scratched on the door at night, and livestock had to be well guarded. Indians were seen almost daily.
Soon the land was offered for sale and we were able to purchase 320 acres for $1.25 an acre. Of course, we had chosen this area for it plentiful wood and wild game.
The forest, the floods, the savage, all disputed our progress, but with stout hands and stouter hearts, we weathered the years.
Adversity?
...Of course, but as I said it can break you-or you can take troubles by the heel and turn them inside out."
...From Barb Chandler
-----------
Her first husband, James Dobson, whom she had married on July 10, 1822, in Green County, Kentucky, died in Green County, in 1832. She and her four children--William M., Jemima, Moses Parker (Jemima's sister, Mary Ann, had married a man named Moses Parker in 1814 and perhaps this son was named to honor Parker), and Elizabeth--moved to Iowa with her brother, William Mathis, and his family.
------------
Burlington (Iowa) Daily Hawk-Eye, April 16, 1888:
Died at her home in Baltimore township, Henry county, Iowa. Mrs. Jemima Chandler, in her 84th year of her age. Deceased was born in Green County, Kentucky August 15, 1804 [her gravestone says 1805], was married to James Dobson July 11, 1822. Mr. Dobson died September 27, 1831[a courthouse document says 1832] leaving her a widow with four children. In October 1834 she moved with her family to Iowa. In June 1835 she was married to Elihu Chandler the result of the union was four children. All her children except two have proceded her to that better land. Deceased was converted and joined the Baptist church in 1824. She has since lived a devoted and earnest Christian life as was evinced in her last moments, dying as she had lived with full radiance on Him who doeth all things well.
Hepsiba "Hepsy" Philpott Mathis (Jemima's mother) and Jemima's sister Hepsiba Mathis and Jemima traveled from Kentucy to Iowa in 1834. That fall they helped organize the Long Creek--now Danville Baptist Church.
Source: Mathis Family History.
TEXT OF PRESENTATION
My name is Jemima Chandler. In Kentucky I was considered strong-minded. Strong-willed too, I suppose. At seventeen I married Mr. James Dobson, and together we began a family that included four children. But nine years later I found myself a widow. Life gives us adversity. One must pick up. One must move on.
What does a young women of 26 do with four young children? I perhaps surprised even myself with the decision to moved to this new territory-Iowa. It was 1834. The territory had been opened to settlers for over a year. At age 30 I decided there was nothing to loose and everything to gain, so here we arrived where I joined my sister. We were given squatters right, until the land was surveyed, which did not begin until 1836; land sales did not begin until 1838.
Here I met Elihu. Mr. Chandler had traveled from Maine to Ohio in 1830,and then to Henderson County, Illinois. This was during the Black Hawk War, and he was engaged in building and guarding the rude fort in that county.
Elihu was one of the first to cross the Mississippi River and engage in the arduous task of creating a new life in this undeveloped country. He arrived in 1834, when Burlington-or Pinhook as it was once referred to-had only two or three cabins.
It didn't take long to recognize a good man. Elihu and I married in June of 1835.
Life in this new land was always an adventure. The first years were difficult for pioneer families. There was usually little or no money, nowhere to buy anything, and often a shortage of food until the first crop could be harvested.
Indians were numerous and usually friendly. Mrs. Burge related that once she returned to her home only to find several Indians in the hut, one holding the baby and others talking to the children. Suppressing her panic, she bought out food to offer the guests, who ate greedily and left in good humor.
We could always find plenty of bees in the area trees, and honey and beeswax were exchanged in Burlington for supplies that took us through the winter. Elihu made many trips to Burlington with a team of oxen, leaving early in the morning and returning at near to 2:00 a.m. the next morning!
We pounded grain in the hollowed-out top of a stump, Indian-fashion, to make meal for eating. Wolves sometimes scratched on the door at night, and livestock had to be well guarded. Indians were seen almost daily.
Soon the land was offered for sale and we were able to purchase 320 acres for $1.25 an acre. Of course, we had chosen this area for it plentiful wood and wild game.
The forest, the floods, the savage, all disputed our progress, but with stout hands and stouter hearts, we weathered the years.
Adversity?
...Of course, but as I said it can break you-or you can take troubles by the heel and turn them inside out."
...From Barb Chandler
-----------
Her first husband, James Dobson, whom she had married on July 10, 1822, in Green County, Kentucky, died in Green County, in 1832. She and her four children--William M., Jemima, Moses Parker (Jemima's sister, Mary Ann, had married a man named Moses Parker in 1814 and perhaps this son was named to honor Parker), and Elizabeth--moved to Iowa with her brother, William Mathis, and his family.
------------
Burlington (Iowa) Daily Hawk-Eye, April 16, 1888:
Died at her home in Baltimore township, Henry county, Iowa. Mrs. Jemima Chandler, in her 84th year of her age. Deceased was born in Green County, Kentucky August 15, 1804 [her gravestone says 1805], was married to James Dobson July 11, 1822. Mr. Dobson died September 27, 1831[a courthouse document says 1832] leaving her a widow with four children. In October 1834 she moved with her family to Iowa. In June 1835 she was married to Elihu Chandler the result of the union was four children. All her children except two have proceded her to that better land. Deceased was converted and joined the Baptist church in 1824. She has since lived a devoted and earnest Christian life as was evinced in her last moments, dying as she had lived with full radiance on Him who doeth all things well.
Hepsiba "Hepsy" Philpott Mathis (Jemima's mother) and Jemima's sister Hepsiba Mathis and Jemima traveled from Kentucy to Iowa in 1834. That fall they helped organize the Long Creek--now Danville Baptist Church.
Source: Mathis Family History.
*The picture on the right hand side of this page is of Jemima's ggggg-granddaughter talking about Jemima's life. The talk was given in Pleasant Grove cemetery, where she and her husband Elihu are buried. The cemetery is on the Henry-Des Moines county line in Iowa.
TEXT OF PRESENTATION
My name is Jemima Chandler. In Kentucky I was considered strong-minded. Strong-willed too, I suppose. At seventeen I married Mr. James Dobson, and together we began a family that included four children. But nine years later I found myself a widow. Life gives us adversity. One must pick up. One must move on.
What does a young women of 26 do with four young children? I perhaps surprised even myself with the decision to moved to this new territory-Iowa. It was 1834. The territory had been opened to settlers for over a year. At age 30 I decided there was nothing to loose and everything to gain, so here we arrived where I joined my sister. We were given squatters right, until the land was surveyed, which did not begin until 1836; land sales did not begin until 1838.
Here I met Elihu. Mr. Chandler had traveled from Maine to Ohio in 1830,and then to Henderson County, Illinois. This was during the Black Hawk War, and he was engaged in building and guarding the rude fort in that county.
Elihu was one of the first to cross the Mississippi River and engage in the arduous task of creating a new life in this undeveloped country. He arrived in 1834, when Burlington-or Pinhook as it was once referred to-had only two or three cabins.
It didn't take long to recognize a good man. Elihu and I married in June of 1835.
Life in this new land was always an adventure. The first years were difficult for pioneer families. There was usually little or no money, nowhere to buy anything, and often a shortage of food until the first crop could be harvested.
Indians were numerous and usually friendly. Mrs. Burge related that once she returned to her home only to find several Indians in the hut, one holding the baby and others talking to the children. Suppressing her panic, she bought out food to offer the guests, who ate greedily and left in good humor.
We could always find plenty of bees in the area trees, and honey and beeswax were exchanged in Burlington for supplies that took us through the winter. Elihu made many trips to Burlington with a team of oxen, leaving early in the morning and returning at near to 2:00 a.m. the next morning!
We pounded grain in the hollowed-out top of a stump, Indian-fashion, to make meal for eating. Wolves sometimes scratched on the door at night, and livestock had to be well guarded. Indians were seen almost daily.
Soon the land was offered for sale and we were able to purchase 320 acres for $1.25 an acre. Of course, we had chosen this area for it plentiful wood and wild game.
The forest, the floods, the savage, all disputed our progress, but with stout hands and stouter hearts, we weathered the years.
Adversity?
...Of course, but as I said it can break you-or you can take troubles by the heel and turn them inside out."
...From Barb Chandler
-----------
Her first husband, James Dobson, whom she had married on July 10, 1822, in Green County, Kentucky, died in Green County, in 1832. She and her four children--William M., Jemima, Moses Parker (Jemima's sister, Mary Ann, had married a man named Moses Parker in 1814 and perhaps this son was named to honor Parker), and Elizabeth--moved to Iowa with her brother, William Mathis, and his family.
------------
Burlington (Iowa) Daily Hawk-Eye, April 16, 1888:
Died at her home in Baltimore township, Henry county, Iowa. Mrs. Jemima Chandler, in her 84th year of her age. Deceased was born in Green County, Kentucky August 15, 1804 [her gravestone says 1805], was married to James Dobson July 11, 1822. Mr. Dobson died September 27, 1831[a courthouse document says 1832] leaving her a widow with four children. In October 1834 she moved with her family to Iowa. In June 1835 she was married to Elihu Chandler the result of the union was four children. All her children except two have proceded her to that better land. Deceased was converted and joined the Baptist church in 1824. She has since lived a devoted and earnest Christian life as was evinced in her last moments, dying as she had lived with full radiance on Him who doeth all things well.
Hepsiba "Hepsy" Philpott Mathis (Jemima's mother) and Jemima's sister Hepsiba Mathis and Jemima traveled from Kentucy to Iowa in 1834. That fall they helped organize the Long Creek--now Danville Baptist Church.
Source: Mathis Family History.
TEXT OF PRESENTATION
My name is Jemima Chandler. In Kentucky I was considered strong-minded. Strong-willed too, I suppose. At seventeen I married Mr. James Dobson, and together we began a family that included four children. But nine years later I found myself a widow. Life gives us adversity. One must pick up. One must move on.
What does a young women of 26 do with four young children? I perhaps surprised even myself with the decision to moved to this new territory-Iowa. It was 1834. The territory had been opened to settlers for over a year. At age 30 I decided there was nothing to loose and everything to gain, so here we arrived where I joined my sister. We were given squatters right, until the land was surveyed, which did not begin until 1836; land sales did not begin until 1838.
Here I met Elihu. Mr. Chandler had traveled from Maine to Ohio in 1830,and then to Henderson County, Illinois. This was during the Black Hawk War, and he was engaged in building and guarding the rude fort in that county.
Elihu was one of the first to cross the Mississippi River and engage in the arduous task of creating a new life in this undeveloped country. He arrived in 1834, when Burlington-or Pinhook as it was once referred to-had only two or three cabins.
It didn't take long to recognize a good man. Elihu and I married in June of 1835.
Life in this new land was always an adventure. The first years were difficult for pioneer families. There was usually little or no money, nowhere to buy anything, and often a shortage of food until the first crop could be harvested.
Indians were numerous and usually friendly. Mrs. Burge related that once she returned to her home only to find several Indians in the hut, one holding the baby and others talking to the children. Suppressing her panic, she bought out food to offer the guests, who ate greedily and left in good humor.
We could always find plenty of bees in the area trees, and honey and beeswax were exchanged in Burlington for supplies that took us through the winter. Elihu made many trips to Burlington with a team of oxen, leaving early in the morning and returning at near to 2:00 a.m. the next morning!
We pounded grain in the hollowed-out top of a stump, Indian-fashion, to make meal for eating. Wolves sometimes scratched on the door at night, and livestock had to be well guarded. Indians were seen almost daily.
Soon the land was offered for sale and we were able to purchase 320 acres for $1.25 an acre. Of course, we had chosen this area for it plentiful wood and wild game.
The forest, the floods, the savage, all disputed our progress, but with stout hands and stouter hearts, we weathered the years.
Adversity?
...Of course, but as I said it can break you-or you can take troubles by the heel and turn them inside out."
...From Barb Chandler
-----------
Her first husband, James Dobson, whom she had married on July 10, 1822, in Green County, Kentucky, died in Green County, in 1832. She and her four children--William M., Jemima, Moses Parker (Jemima's sister, Mary Ann, had married a man named Moses Parker in 1814 and perhaps this son was named to honor Parker), and Elizabeth--moved to Iowa with her brother, William Mathis, and his family.
------------
Burlington (Iowa) Daily Hawk-Eye, April 16, 1888:
Died at her home in Baltimore township, Henry county, Iowa. Mrs. Jemima Chandler, in her 84th year of her age. Deceased was born in Green County, Kentucky August 15, 1804 [her gravestone says 1805], was married to James Dobson July 11, 1822. Mr. Dobson died September 27, 1831[a courthouse document says 1832] leaving her a widow with four children. In October 1834 she moved with her family to Iowa. In June 1835 she was married to Elihu Chandler the result of the union was four children. All her children except two have proceded her to that better land. Deceased was converted and joined the Baptist church in 1824. She has since lived a devoted and earnest Christian life as was evinced in her last moments, dying as she had lived with full radiance on Him who doeth all things well.
Hepsiba "Hepsy" Philpott Mathis (Jemima's mother) and Jemima's sister Hepsiba Mathis and Jemima traveled from Kentucy to Iowa in 1834. That fall they helped organize the Long Creek--now Danville Baptist Church.
Source: Mathis Family History.
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