Some of the following information is from a biography written by Edwin C. Silliman in 1913, that was published in one of the Princeville "History and Reminiscences".
Benjamin Smith was born March 1, 1773, probably in Maine, but possibly in Vermont. Benjamin Smith was married to Susannah Greenleaf, who was born April 25, 1778, also probably in Maine. Eleven children were born to Benjamin Smith and Susannah (Greenleaf) Smith, four dying in infancy. Their home was located near Litchfield, Maine in either Lincoln County or Kennebec County. The children are believed to include;
1. Jabez Smith, born c. March 28, 1796 near Litchfield, Maine. Jabez is believed to have died young, possibly c. 1802.
2. Susannah Smith, born March 11, 1798 near Litchfield, Maine. Susannah was married on October 28, 1832 in Putnam County, Illinois to Harris Wesley Miner (3-8-1808 Vermont - 1858), who was the son of Harris Minor, who was born c. 1781/82 in Connecticut, and Charlotte (Reynolds) Minor. At the time of the 1830 census, Harris Minor is found residing near Benjamin Smith and John B. & Lydia (Smith) Dodge, just on the other side of Issac Essex in an area of Putnam County, Illinois that will in 1839 become part of Stark County, Illinois. His family at that time appears as follows;
1 male between 40 and 50. (Harris Miner Sr.)
1 male between 20 and 30. (Harris W. Miner)
1 female between 30 and 40. ( ? )
1 female between 5 and 10. ( ? )
Harris W. Minor/Miner was married in Peoria County, Illinois to a Nancy Grass on February 14, 1831. Harris and Nancy are believed to have had one son, Horace Minor/Miner, who was born on January 6, 1832 in Putnam County, Illinois and who died on January 8, 1853 in Stark County, Illinois. Horace' mortal remains were laid in the Lafayette Cemetery in Lafayette, Stark County, Illinois. See his Find A Grave Memorial# 13017026.
Nancy (Grass) Minor may very have died in 1832, very possibly in childbirth and then Harris Wesley Miner was married to Susannah Smith on October 28, 1832 in Putnam County, Illinois.
In 1839, the area where the Smiths, Dodges and Miners lived became part of the newly formed Stark County, Illinois. At the time of the 1840 census, H. W. Miner and family are found in Stark County, Illinois as follows;
1 male 30 to 40 (H. W. Miner)
1 male 20 to 30 ( ? )
2 males 5 to 10 (Horace Miner & Addison Miner)
2 males 0 to 5 (Carlos Miner & Harrison Miner)
1 female 40 to 50 (Susannah Smith Miner)
1 female 5 to 10 (Laura Miner)
The children born to Harris Wesley Miner and Susannah (Smith) Miner include;
A. Laura Miner, born c. 1833/34 in Putnam County, Illinois. Laura was married to George Dexter
B. Addison Miner, born 1834/35 in Putnam County, Illinois. Addison was married to Lucy Reynolds, who was born in Canada c. 1836/37.
a. Matilda Miner, born Nov./Dec. __, 1859 in Goshen Township, Stark County, Illinois.
C. Carlos Miner, born c. 1837/38 in Putnam County, Illinois. Carlos was married to Laura __________.
D. Harrison Miner, born ___________ __, 1840 in Stark County, Illinois. Harrison Miner was married to Avice/Adice Parish on November 14, 1861 in Stark County, Illinois.
The children born to Harrison and Avice include;
a. Ida L Miner, born c. 1862/63 in Stark County, Illinois
b. Edgar Miner, born c. 1863/64 in Stark County, Illinois.
Harrison was a partner in a Bank in Kewanee, Illinois. Harrison died on ___________ __, 1913.
At the time of the 1850 census, Susannah and her family are found in Stark county, Illinois;
Harris W Miner M 42 Vermont
Susannah Miner F 52 Massachsetts
Horace Miner M 18 Illinois
Laura Miner F 16 Illinois
Addison Miner M 15 Illinois
Carlos Miner M 12 Illinois
Harrison Miner M 9 Illinois
Harris Miner M 68 Connecticut
Harris Wesley Miner died on August 26, 1858 in or near Lafayette, Putnam County (later Stark County), Illinois and today his mortal remains are found in the LaFayette Cemetery in LaFayette, Stark County, Illinois.
At the time of the 1860 census, Susannah and her family are found in Goshen Township, Stark County, Illinois;
Susannah Miner F 62 Mass
Harrison Miner M 19 Ills
Martin Miner M 19 Ills
At the time of the 1870 census, Susannah is found residing with her son, Harrison, and his family in Goshen Township, Stark County, Illinois;
Harrison Miner M 29 Illinois
Avis Miner F 28 Illinois
Ida L Miner F 7 Illinois
Edgar Miner M 6 Illinois
Susan Miner F 72 Massachusetts
Louis Hedney M 24 Sweden
At the time of the 1880 census, Susannah is living with her son, Harrison, in Goshen, Stark County, Illinois. She is widowed. Her father and mother are listed as having been born in Vermont and Maine, respectively;
Harrison Miner Self M 39 Illinois
Adice Miner Wife F 39 Illinois
Ida L Miner Daughter F 17 Illinois
Edgar S Miner Son M 16 Illinois
Earnest Miner Son M 8 Illinois
Evert H Miner Son M 5 Illinois
Susana Miner Mother F 82 Maine
Harriet Tredway Sister F 77 Vermont
G H Keckler Other M 19 Pennsylvania
Susannah (Smith) Miner died on July 16, 1881 in Saxon, Stark County, Illinois and her mortal remains were laid in the Lafayette Cemetery in Lafayette, Stark County, Illinois. See her Find A Grave Memorial# 13016976.
3. Lydia Smith, born c. March __, 1812, most likely 1812, near Litchfield, Maine. Lydia was married to John B. Dodge on November 7, 1828 in Licking County, Ohio. A year later, "They came to Essex Township in 1829. He was a Captain of Militia, a reckless character, and finally, getting into difficulty at a horse race in Rock Island, had to leave the country. Last heard from in Texas. His wife had five children by him and one by her second husband, a Mr. Magby."
Lydia may be the Lydia B. Magby, who died on August 10, 1882 at the age of 70 in Marshall County, Iowa. Her mortal remains were laid in the Pleasant Hill Cemetery in Le Grand, Marshall County, Iowa. See her Find A Grave Memorial# 48856623.
4. Greenleaf Smith, born September 25, 1805 near Litchfield, in either Kennebec or Lincoln County, Maine. Greenleaf died in 1848. He married Lettice Sparr, who died in 1862, and both are buried in the Sheets Cemetery. They were the parents of at least eight children. See Greenleaf's Find A Grave Memorial # 55111791 for more information about him and his family.
5. William Paul Smith was born Nov. 24, 1807, in Maine. and was seven years old when his family moved to Ohio, and 23 when they moved to Illinois. On Jan. 1, 1835, he was married to Fanny Silliman, a daughter of Rev. Gershom Silliman who had settled in 1828 in what is now Medina Township, Peoria County. After his marriage they settled on a farm two miles north of Prince's Grove, where they raised a family of seven children. After these were grown he moved to Princeville. leaving the farm in charge of a son-in-law William Andrews, who married his eldest daughter, Mary.
William Paul Smith died in 1882.
6. Sewell Smith, born March 29, 1810 in Maine. Sewell was married on January 9, 1838 in Knox County, Illinois to Sarah M. Lake, a sister of the first wife of William Easton. They lived in the area of Putnam County, Illinois that would in later become part of Essex Township of Stark County, Illinois.
The children born to Sewell and Sarah include;
A. Edwin L. Smith, born c. 1838/39 in Putnam County, Illinois. Edwin L. Smith was a member of Co. K., 86th Illinois Infantry, enlisting at Princeville in August, 1862. He died in hospital in Gallatin, Tenn., Dec. 30, 1862. The writer was at that time clerk for the Commandant at that Post, and as an intimate friend, it became his duty to inform the family of his death and to arrange to have the body sent home. While in camp at Peoria, on the way to the war, he was married to Miss Hattie Benjamin, who afterward married Joseph Barnum, editor of the Princeville Telephone.
B. Sophia E. Smith, born c. 1841/42 in Putnam County, Illinois.
C. Alice Adelaide Smith, born c. 1843/44 in Putnam County, Illinois. Alice was married to Andrew Auten, of Princeville, Illinois.
D. Frances A. Smith, born c. 1846/47 in Putnam County, Illinois. Frances is believed to have been married to ___________ Barnes, who was an attorney.
E. Myra M. (possibly Mandana) Smith, born c. 1850/51 in Stark County, Illinois.
F. Charles H. Smith, born c. 1857/58 in Stark County, Illinois. Charles died young.
G. Hattie E. Smith, born c. 1860/61 in Stark County, Illinois.
About 1849, the area of Putnam County, where the Smiths resided became part of the newly organized Stark County, Illinois. At the time of the 1850 census, Sewell and his family are found in Stark county, Illinois;
Sewell Smith M 40 Maine
Sarah M Smith F 32 Vermont
Edwin S Smith M 11 Illinois
Sophia E Smith F 8 Illinois
Alice A Smith F 6 Illinois
Frances A Smith F 3 Illinois
In the 1850's, the township where the Smith's resided was named Essex Township. At the time of the 1860 census, Sewell and his family are found in Essex Township, Stark, Illinois;
Sewell Smith M 50 Maine
Sarah M Smith F 43 Vermont
Edwin L Smith M 21 Ill
Adelaide A Smith F 16 Ill
Francis A Smith F 13 Ill
Myra M Smith F 9 Ill
Charles H Smith M 2 Ill
After the Civil War, Sewell and Sarah moved their family to Galva, Illinois, where both of them died, Sewell Smith on Sept. 14, 1873, and his wife soon after.
At the time of the 1870 census, Sewell and his family are found in Galva, Henry County, Illinois;
Sewel Smith M 60 Maine
Sarah M Smith F 53 Vermont
Hattie E Smith F 9 Illinois
Sewell Smith died in 1873.
7. Rhoda Smith, born November 10, 1816 in Ohio. Rhoda married Minott Silliman in 1833, about the same time her sister Susannah Smith married Harris Miner. Minott was born c. 1810/11 in New York. Both families settled at what is now Toulon. At least one daughter was born to Rhoda and Minott;
A. Clarissa M. Silliman, born October 30, 1837 in Stark County, Illinois. Clarissa Sillaman was married to Elias Wilcox on February 14, 1856 in Stark County, Illinois. Elias was born c. 1832/33, the son of ___________ Wilcox and Sarah (__________) Wilcox.
Two children were born to them in Stark County by 1860. Shortly after the birth of this 2nd child, Clarissa and Elias, in late 1859 or early 1860, Elias and Clarissa moved west to the Nebraska Territory, where at the time of the 1860 census, Clarissa and her family are found in Fort Calhoun, Washington County, Nebraska Territory;
Elias Wilcox M 27 New Jersey
Clarissa Wilcox F 22 Illinois
M E Wilcox F 3 Illinois
Phineas Wilcox M 0 Illinois
Sarah Wilcox F 62 New Jersey
Mary E Rhodes F 16 Illinois
Danl Shaw M 30 New Jersey
Joseph Taylor M 25 Ohio
A Esttlack M 12 New Jersey
At the time of the 1880 census, Clarissa and her family are found in Fort Calhoun, Washington County, Nebraska;
Elias Wilcox Self M 48 New Jersey
Clarissa Wilcox Wife F 42 Illinois
Mary E Wilcox Daughter F 23 Illinois
Phineas Wilcox Son M 20 Illinois
Marshall Wilcox Son M 16 Nebraska
Esther A Wilcox Daughter F 12 Nebraska
Letty Wilcox Daughter F 8 Nebraska
The children born to Clarissa and Elias include;
a. Mary E. Wilcox, born c. 1856/57 in Illinois.
b. Phineas M. Wilcox, born August 17, 1859 in or near Toulon, Stark County, Illinois. Phineas was married to Theressa Bissell (1869 - 1950) on January 3, 1889. At the time of the 1900 census, Phineas and his family are found living next door to his mother in Calhoun Township Calhoun city, Washington County, Nebraska;
Phineus M Wilcox Head M Aug 1859 41 Illinois
Thrissa Wilcox Wife F Jul 1869 31 Wisconsin
Minott D Wilcox Son M May 1892 8
At the time of the 1910 census, the Wilcox family is found in Cuming, Washington County, Nebraska;
Phineas M Wilcox Head M 50 Illinois
Theresa Wilcox Wife F 40 Wisconsin
Minott D Wilcox Son M 17 Nebraska
Levi E Wilcox Son M 7 Nebraska
Chauncey Wright Nephew M 2 Nebraska
Phineas M. Wilcox died on May 27, 1935 in Blair, Washington County, Nebraska and his mortal remains were laid in the Blair Cemetery in Blair, Washington County, Nebraska. See his Find A Grave Memorial# 108740252.
c. Marshall Wilcox, born c. 1863/64 in Nebraska.
d. Esther A. Wilcox, born c. 1867/68 in Nebraska.
e. Letty Wilcox, born c. 1871/72 in Nebraska.
Elias Wilcox died on ___________ __, 1896. At the time of the 1900 census, Clarissa and Letty are found in Calhoun Township Calhoun city, Washington County, Nebraska. Clarissa is listed as widowed and as having had 5 children, all of whom are living;
Clarissa Wilcox Head F 63 Illinois
Letty Wilcox Daughter F 29 Nebraska
Pearl Tucker Boarder F 20 Nebraska
Josephine Tucker Boarder F 55 New York
Clarissa (Silliman) Wilcox died on March 7, 1930 and her mortal remains were laid beside those of Elias' in the Blair Cemetery in Blair, Washington County, Nebraska. See her Find A Grave Memorial# 113534599.
At the time of the 1840 census, Minott and his family are found in Stark County, Illinois as follows;
1 male between 50 and 60.
1 male between 20 and 30.
1 female between 20 and 30.
1 female under 5.
Rhoda Silliman died on May 9, 1841 in Stark County and her mortal remains were laid in the Toulon Cemetery in Toulon, Stark County, Illinois. See her Find A Grave Memorial# 66608226.
On November 4, 1847, Minott Silliman was married 2nd to Lutetia Oziah in Stark County, Illinois. At the time of the 1850 census, Minott and his family are found in Stark county, Illinois;
Minott Silliman M 39 New York
Lutitia Silliman F 25 Pennsylvania
Clarissa M Silliman F 12 Illinois
Levi Silliman M 7 Illinois
Sarah Silliman F 0 Illinois
8. (Daughter) ___________ Smith, born between 1815 and 1820. She is seen in the 1830 census as one of the females between 10 and 15.
Now to continue with the biography of Benjamin Smith and his family;
Benjamin and Susannah Smith raised spent their early years together in Lincoln County, Maine. In 1814, they moved their growing family to Ohio. Susannah (Greenleaf) Smith died there on January 6, 1829, in Ohio. That same year, 1829, Benjamin's son-in-law, John B. Dodge, went ahead to Illinois, to find a place to settle and Benjamin Smith followed with much of the rest of the family in 1830.
Upon arriving in Illinois, John B. Dodge and Lydia (Smith) Dodge initially took up residence in Putnam County, Illinois, Issac Essex being one of his neighbors. When Benjamin Smith came west to Illinois with the rest of his family, he took up residence between John B. Dodge and Issac Essex in Putnam County. This area would later become part of Stark County, Illinois.
The 1916 History of Stark County tells us the following;
"In the fall of 1829 John B. Dodge located a claim and built a cabin in Section 14, directly east of Isaac Essex (The first white settler in the area that was to become Stark County). His cabin (Dodge's) was the second house in the county. The following spring Benjamin Smith, Dodge’s father-in-law, settled in Section 14. His son, Greenleaf Smith, came a little later and located in the same neighborhood. The three cabins of Essex, Dodge and Smith constituted the only habitations in the county at the close of the year 1830. In 1831 came William D. Grant, Thomas Essex, David Cooper, John E. Owings (who occupied the cabin built by Dodge), Sewell and William P. Smith, and a few others, all of whom settled in what is now Essex Township. An election was held at the house of Benjamin Smith in August, 1831, when John E. Owings was elected justice of the peace."
At the time of the 1830 census, the two families appear this way;
John B. Dodge family
1 male between 20 and 30. (John Dodge)
1 male between 15 and 20. ( ? )
1 male under the age of 5. (Possibly John's first child.
1 female between 15 and 10. (Lydia (Smith) Dodge)
Benjamin Smith family
1 male between 50 and 60. (Benjamin Smith)
3 males between 20 and 30. (Greenleaf, William & Sewell Smith)
2 males under the age of 5. (Greenleaf's first two sons, Charles and Benjamin)
1 female between 30 and 40.
1 female between 20 and 30.
2 females between 10 and 15. (One is Rhoda Smith.)
1 female between 5 and 10.
Benjamin Smith settled in Essex Township of Stark County, in 1830. Benjamin was "one of the first Justices of the Peace elected in Stark County in August, 1831, and solemnized the second marriage ceremony in that county, that of Nero W. Mounts and a widow Martindale. He was also one of the first School Trustees in the County. In 1833, Benjamin Smith and Isaac Essex took the only two newspapers in the County, the mail being carried from LaSalle Post Office, where Marshall B. Silliman, father of the writer, was Postmaster in fact. "Galena" Miner or Wesley Miner carried the mail every two weeks on foot, and it took that length of time to get a newspaper from Springfield."
Benjamin Smith died in Essex Township of Stark County, Illinois on May 26, 1847 and his mortal remains were laid in the Sheets Cemetery in Stark County, Illinois.
Benjamin Smith was born March 1, 1773, probably in Maine, but possibly in Vermont. Benjamin Smith was married to Susannah Greenleaf, who was born April 25, 1778, also probably in Maine. Eleven children were born to Benjamin Smith and Susannah (Greenleaf) Smith, four dying in infancy. Their home was located near Litchfield, Maine in either Lincoln County or Kennebec County. The children are believed to include;
1. Jabez Smith, born c. March 28, 1796 near Litchfield, Maine. Jabez is believed to have died young, possibly c. 1802.
2. Susannah Smith, born March 11, 1798 near Litchfield, Maine. Susannah was married on October 28, 1832 in Putnam County, Illinois to Harris Wesley Miner (3-8-1808 Vermont - 1858), who was the son of Harris Minor, who was born c. 1781/82 in Connecticut, and Charlotte (Reynolds) Minor. At the time of the 1830 census, Harris Minor is found residing near Benjamin Smith and John B. & Lydia (Smith) Dodge, just on the other side of Issac Essex in an area of Putnam County, Illinois that will in 1839 become part of Stark County, Illinois. His family at that time appears as follows;
1 male between 40 and 50. (Harris Miner Sr.)
1 male between 20 and 30. (Harris W. Miner)
1 female between 30 and 40. ( ? )
1 female between 5 and 10. ( ? )
Harris W. Minor/Miner was married in Peoria County, Illinois to a Nancy Grass on February 14, 1831. Harris and Nancy are believed to have had one son, Horace Minor/Miner, who was born on January 6, 1832 in Putnam County, Illinois and who died on January 8, 1853 in Stark County, Illinois. Horace' mortal remains were laid in the Lafayette Cemetery in Lafayette, Stark County, Illinois. See his Find A Grave Memorial# 13017026.
Nancy (Grass) Minor may very have died in 1832, very possibly in childbirth and then Harris Wesley Miner was married to Susannah Smith on October 28, 1832 in Putnam County, Illinois.
In 1839, the area where the Smiths, Dodges and Miners lived became part of the newly formed Stark County, Illinois. At the time of the 1840 census, H. W. Miner and family are found in Stark County, Illinois as follows;
1 male 30 to 40 (H. W. Miner)
1 male 20 to 30 ( ? )
2 males 5 to 10 (Horace Miner & Addison Miner)
2 males 0 to 5 (Carlos Miner & Harrison Miner)
1 female 40 to 50 (Susannah Smith Miner)
1 female 5 to 10 (Laura Miner)
The children born to Harris Wesley Miner and Susannah (Smith) Miner include;
A. Laura Miner, born c. 1833/34 in Putnam County, Illinois. Laura was married to George Dexter
B. Addison Miner, born 1834/35 in Putnam County, Illinois. Addison was married to Lucy Reynolds, who was born in Canada c. 1836/37.
a. Matilda Miner, born Nov./Dec. __, 1859 in Goshen Township, Stark County, Illinois.
C. Carlos Miner, born c. 1837/38 in Putnam County, Illinois. Carlos was married to Laura __________.
D. Harrison Miner, born ___________ __, 1840 in Stark County, Illinois. Harrison Miner was married to Avice/Adice Parish on November 14, 1861 in Stark County, Illinois.
The children born to Harrison and Avice include;
a. Ida L Miner, born c. 1862/63 in Stark County, Illinois
b. Edgar Miner, born c. 1863/64 in Stark County, Illinois.
Harrison was a partner in a Bank in Kewanee, Illinois. Harrison died on ___________ __, 1913.
At the time of the 1850 census, Susannah and her family are found in Stark county, Illinois;
Harris W Miner M 42 Vermont
Susannah Miner F 52 Massachsetts
Horace Miner M 18 Illinois
Laura Miner F 16 Illinois
Addison Miner M 15 Illinois
Carlos Miner M 12 Illinois
Harrison Miner M 9 Illinois
Harris Miner M 68 Connecticut
Harris Wesley Miner died on August 26, 1858 in or near Lafayette, Putnam County (later Stark County), Illinois and today his mortal remains are found in the LaFayette Cemetery in LaFayette, Stark County, Illinois.
At the time of the 1860 census, Susannah and her family are found in Goshen Township, Stark County, Illinois;
Susannah Miner F 62 Mass
Harrison Miner M 19 Ills
Martin Miner M 19 Ills
At the time of the 1870 census, Susannah is found residing with her son, Harrison, and his family in Goshen Township, Stark County, Illinois;
Harrison Miner M 29 Illinois
Avis Miner F 28 Illinois
Ida L Miner F 7 Illinois
Edgar Miner M 6 Illinois
Susan Miner F 72 Massachusetts
Louis Hedney M 24 Sweden
At the time of the 1880 census, Susannah is living with her son, Harrison, in Goshen, Stark County, Illinois. She is widowed. Her father and mother are listed as having been born in Vermont and Maine, respectively;
Harrison Miner Self M 39 Illinois
Adice Miner Wife F 39 Illinois
Ida L Miner Daughter F 17 Illinois
Edgar S Miner Son M 16 Illinois
Earnest Miner Son M 8 Illinois
Evert H Miner Son M 5 Illinois
Susana Miner Mother F 82 Maine
Harriet Tredway Sister F 77 Vermont
G H Keckler Other M 19 Pennsylvania
Susannah (Smith) Miner died on July 16, 1881 in Saxon, Stark County, Illinois and her mortal remains were laid in the Lafayette Cemetery in Lafayette, Stark County, Illinois. See her Find A Grave Memorial# 13016976.
3. Lydia Smith, born c. March __, 1812, most likely 1812, near Litchfield, Maine. Lydia was married to John B. Dodge on November 7, 1828 in Licking County, Ohio. A year later, "They came to Essex Township in 1829. He was a Captain of Militia, a reckless character, and finally, getting into difficulty at a horse race in Rock Island, had to leave the country. Last heard from in Texas. His wife had five children by him and one by her second husband, a Mr. Magby."
Lydia may be the Lydia B. Magby, who died on August 10, 1882 at the age of 70 in Marshall County, Iowa. Her mortal remains were laid in the Pleasant Hill Cemetery in Le Grand, Marshall County, Iowa. See her Find A Grave Memorial# 48856623.
4. Greenleaf Smith, born September 25, 1805 near Litchfield, in either Kennebec or Lincoln County, Maine. Greenleaf died in 1848. He married Lettice Sparr, who died in 1862, and both are buried in the Sheets Cemetery. They were the parents of at least eight children. See Greenleaf's Find A Grave Memorial # 55111791 for more information about him and his family.
5. William Paul Smith was born Nov. 24, 1807, in Maine. and was seven years old when his family moved to Ohio, and 23 when they moved to Illinois. On Jan. 1, 1835, he was married to Fanny Silliman, a daughter of Rev. Gershom Silliman who had settled in 1828 in what is now Medina Township, Peoria County. After his marriage they settled on a farm two miles north of Prince's Grove, where they raised a family of seven children. After these were grown he moved to Princeville. leaving the farm in charge of a son-in-law William Andrews, who married his eldest daughter, Mary.
William Paul Smith died in 1882.
6. Sewell Smith, born March 29, 1810 in Maine. Sewell was married on January 9, 1838 in Knox County, Illinois to Sarah M. Lake, a sister of the first wife of William Easton. They lived in the area of Putnam County, Illinois that would in later become part of Essex Township of Stark County, Illinois.
The children born to Sewell and Sarah include;
A. Edwin L. Smith, born c. 1838/39 in Putnam County, Illinois. Edwin L. Smith was a member of Co. K., 86th Illinois Infantry, enlisting at Princeville in August, 1862. He died in hospital in Gallatin, Tenn., Dec. 30, 1862. The writer was at that time clerk for the Commandant at that Post, and as an intimate friend, it became his duty to inform the family of his death and to arrange to have the body sent home. While in camp at Peoria, on the way to the war, he was married to Miss Hattie Benjamin, who afterward married Joseph Barnum, editor of the Princeville Telephone.
B. Sophia E. Smith, born c. 1841/42 in Putnam County, Illinois.
C. Alice Adelaide Smith, born c. 1843/44 in Putnam County, Illinois. Alice was married to Andrew Auten, of Princeville, Illinois.
D. Frances A. Smith, born c. 1846/47 in Putnam County, Illinois. Frances is believed to have been married to ___________ Barnes, who was an attorney.
E. Myra M. (possibly Mandana) Smith, born c. 1850/51 in Stark County, Illinois.
F. Charles H. Smith, born c. 1857/58 in Stark County, Illinois. Charles died young.
G. Hattie E. Smith, born c. 1860/61 in Stark County, Illinois.
About 1849, the area of Putnam County, where the Smiths resided became part of the newly organized Stark County, Illinois. At the time of the 1850 census, Sewell and his family are found in Stark county, Illinois;
Sewell Smith M 40 Maine
Sarah M Smith F 32 Vermont
Edwin S Smith M 11 Illinois
Sophia E Smith F 8 Illinois
Alice A Smith F 6 Illinois
Frances A Smith F 3 Illinois
In the 1850's, the township where the Smith's resided was named Essex Township. At the time of the 1860 census, Sewell and his family are found in Essex Township, Stark, Illinois;
Sewell Smith M 50 Maine
Sarah M Smith F 43 Vermont
Edwin L Smith M 21 Ill
Adelaide A Smith F 16 Ill
Francis A Smith F 13 Ill
Myra M Smith F 9 Ill
Charles H Smith M 2 Ill
After the Civil War, Sewell and Sarah moved their family to Galva, Illinois, where both of them died, Sewell Smith on Sept. 14, 1873, and his wife soon after.
At the time of the 1870 census, Sewell and his family are found in Galva, Henry County, Illinois;
Sewel Smith M 60 Maine
Sarah M Smith F 53 Vermont
Hattie E Smith F 9 Illinois
Sewell Smith died in 1873.
7. Rhoda Smith, born November 10, 1816 in Ohio. Rhoda married Minott Silliman in 1833, about the same time her sister Susannah Smith married Harris Miner. Minott was born c. 1810/11 in New York. Both families settled at what is now Toulon. At least one daughter was born to Rhoda and Minott;
A. Clarissa M. Silliman, born October 30, 1837 in Stark County, Illinois. Clarissa Sillaman was married to Elias Wilcox on February 14, 1856 in Stark County, Illinois. Elias was born c. 1832/33, the son of ___________ Wilcox and Sarah (__________) Wilcox.
Two children were born to them in Stark County by 1860. Shortly after the birth of this 2nd child, Clarissa and Elias, in late 1859 or early 1860, Elias and Clarissa moved west to the Nebraska Territory, where at the time of the 1860 census, Clarissa and her family are found in Fort Calhoun, Washington County, Nebraska Territory;
Elias Wilcox M 27 New Jersey
Clarissa Wilcox F 22 Illinois
M E Wilcox F 3 Illinois
Phineas Wilcox M 0 Illinois
Sarah Wilcox F 62 New Jersey
Mary E Rhodes F 16 Illinois
Danl Shaw M 30 New Jersey
Joseph Taylor M 25 Ohio
A Esttlack M 12 New Jersey
At the time of the 1880 census, Clarissa and her family are found in Fort Calhoun, Washington County, Nebraska;
Elias Wilcox Self M 48 New Jersey
Clarissa Wilcox Wife F 42 Illinois
Mary E Wilcox Daughter F 23 Illinois
Phineas Wilcox Son M 20 Illinois
Marshall Wilcox Son M 16 Nebraska
Esther A Wilcox Daughter F 12 Nebraska
Letty Wilcox Daughter F 8 Nebraska
The children born to Clarissa and Elias include;
a. Mary E. Wilcox, born c. 1856/57 in Illinois.
b. Phineas M. Wilcox, born August 17, 1859 in or near Toulon, Stark County, Illinois. Phineas was married to Theressa Bissell (1869 - 1950) on January 3, 1889. At the time of the 1900 census, Phineas and his family are found living next door to his mother in Calhoun Township Calhoun city, Washington County, Nebraska;
Phineus M Wilcox Head M Aug 1859 41 Illinois
Thrissa Wilcox Wife F Jul 1869 31 Wisconsin
Minott D Wilcox Son M May 1892 8
At the time of the 1910 census, the Wilcox family is found in Cuming, Washington County, Nebraska;
Phineas M Wilcox Head M 50 Illinois
Theresa Wilcox Wife F 40 Wisconsin
Minott D Wilcox Son M 17 Nebraska
Levi E Wilcox Son M 7 Nebraska
Chauncey Wright Nephew M 2 Nebraska
Phineas M. Wilcox died on May 27, 1935 in Blair, Washington County, Nebraska and his mortal remains were laid in the Blair Cemetery in Blair, Washington County, Nebraska. See his Find A Grave Memorial# 108740252.
c. Marshall Wilcox, born c. 1863/64 in Nebraska.
d. Esther A. Wilcox, born c. 1867/68 in Nebraska.
e. Letty Wilcox, born c. 1871/72 in Nebraska.
Elias Wilcox died on ___________ __, 1896. At the time of the 1900 census, Clarissa and Letty are found in Calhoun Township Calhoun city, Washington County, Nebraska. Clarissa is listed as widowed and as having had 5 children, all of whom are living;
Clarissa Wilcox Head F 63 Illinois
Letty Wilcox Daughter F 29 Nebraska
Pearl Tucker Boarder F 20 Nebraska
Josephine Tucker Boarder F 55 New York
Clarissa (Silliman) Wilcox died on March 7, 1930 and her mortal remains were laid beside those of Elias' in the Blair Cemetery in Blair, Washington County, Nebraska. See her Find A Grave Memorial# 113534599.
At the time of the 1840 census, Minott and his family are found in Stark County, Illinois as follows;
1 male between 50 and 60.
1 male between 20 and 30.
1 female between 20 and 30.
1 female under 5.
Rhoda Silliman died on May 9, 1841 in Stark County and her mortal remains were laid in the Toulon Cemetery in Toulon, Stark County, Illinois. See her Find A Grave Memorial# 66608226.
On November 4, 1847, Minott Silliman was married 2nd to Lutetia Oziah in Stark County, Illinois. At the time of the 1850 census, Minott and his family are found in Stark county, Illinois;
Minott Silliman M 39 New York
Lutitia Silliman F 25 Pennsylvania
Clarissa M Silliman F 12 Illinois
Levi Silliman M 7 Illinois
Sarah Silliman F 0 Illinois
8. (Daughter) ___________ Smith, born between 1815 and 1820. She is seen in the 1830 census as one of the females between 10 and 15.
Now to continue with the biography of Benjamin Smith and his family;
Benjamin and Susannah Smith raised spent their early years together in Lincoln County, Maine. In 1814, they moved their growing family to Ohio. Susannah (Greenleaf) Smith died there on January 6, 1829, in Ohio. That same year, 1829, Benjamin's son-in-law, John B. Dodge, went ahead to Illinois, to find a place to settle and Benjamin Smith followed with much of the rest of the family in 1830.
Upon arriving in Illinois, John B. Dodge and Lydia (Smith) Dodge initially took up residence in Putnam County, Illinois, Issac Essex being one of his neighbors. When Benjamin Smith came west to Illinois with the rest of his family, he took up residence between John B. Dodge and Issac Essex in Putnam County. This area would later become part of Stark County, Illinois.
The 1916 History of Stark County tells us the following;
"In the fall of 1829 John B. Dodge located a claim and built a cabin in Section 14, directly east of Isaac Essex (The first white settler in the area that was to become Stark County). His cabin (Dodge's) was the second house in the county. The following spring Benjamin Smith, Dodge’s father-in-law, settled in Section 14. His son, Greenleaf Smith, came a little later and located in the same neighborhood. The three cabins of Essex, Dodge and Smith constituted the only habitations in the county at the close of the year 1830. In 1831 came William D. Grant, Thomas Essex, David Cooper, John E. Owings (who occupied the cabin built by Dodge), Sewell and William P. Smith, and a few others, all of whom settled in what is now Essex Township. An election was held at the house of Benjamin Smith in August, 1831, when John E. Owings was elected justice of the peace."
At the time of the 1830 census, the two families appear this way;
John B. Dodge family
1 male between 20 and 30. (John Dodge)
1 male between 15 and 20. ( ? )
1 male under the age of 5. (Possibly John's first child.
1 female between 15 and 10. (Lydia (Smith) Dodge)
Benjamin Smith family
1 male between 50 and 60. (Benjamin Smith)
3 males between 20 and 30. (Greenleaf, William & Sewell Smith)
2 males under the age of 5. (Greenleaf's first two sons, Charles and Benjamin)
1 female between 30 and 40.
1 female between 20 and 30.
2 females between 10 and 15. (One is Rhoda Smith.)
1 female between 5 and 10.
Benjamin Smith settled in Essex Township of Stark County, in 1830. Benjamin was "one of the first Justices of the Peace elected in Stark County in August, 1831, and solemnized the second marriage ceremony in that county, that of Nero W. Mounts and a widow Martindale. He was also one of the first School Trustees in the County. In 1833, Benjamin Smith and Isaac Essex took the only two newspapers in the County, the mail being carried from LaSalle Post Office, where Marshall B. Silliman, father of the writer, was Postmaster in fact. "Galena" Miner or Wesley Miner carried the mail every two weeks on foot, and it took that length of time to get a newspaper from Springfield."
Benjamin Smith died in Essex Township of Stark County, Illinois on May 26, 1847 and his mortal remains were laid in the Sheets Cemetery in Stark County, Illinois.
Some of the following information is from a biography written by Edwin C. Silliman in 1913, that was published in one of the Princeville "History and Reminiscences".
Benjamin Smith was born March 1, 1773, probably in Maine, but possibly in Vermont. Benjamin Smith was married to Susannah Greenleaf, who was born April 25, 1778, also probably in Maine. Eleven children were born to Benjamin Smith and Susannah (Greenleaf) Smith, four dying in infancy. Their home was located near Litchfield, Maine in either Lincoln County or Kennebec County. The children are believed to include;
1. Jabez Smith, born c. March 28, 1796 near Litchfield, Maine. Jabez is believed to have died young, possibly c. 1802.
2. Susannah Smith, born March 11, 1798 near Litchfield, Maine. Susannah was married on October 28, 1832 in Putnam County, Illinois to Harris Wesley Miner (3-8-1808 Vermont - 1858), who was the son of Harris Minor, who was born c. 1781/82 in Connecticut, and Charlotte (Reynolds) Minor. At the time of the 1830 census, Harris Minor is found residing near Benjamin Smith and John B. & Lydia (Smith) Dodge, just on the other side of Issac Essex in an area of Putnam County, Illinois that will in 1839 become part of Stark County, Illinois. His family at that time appears as follows;
1 male between 40 and 50. (Harris Miner Sr.)
1 male between 20 and 30. (Harris W. Miner)
1 female between 30 and 40. ( ? )
1 female between 5 and 10. ( ? )
Harris W. Minor/Miner was married in Peoria County, Illinois to a Nancy Grass on February 14, 1831. Harris and Nancy are believed to have had one son, Horace Minor/Miner, who was born on January 6, 1832 in Putnam County, Illinois and who died on January 8, 1853 in Stark County, Illinois. Horace' mortal remains were laid in the Lafayette Cemetery in Lafayette, Stark County, Illinois. See his Find A Grave Memorial# 13017026.
Nancy (Grass) Minor may very have died in 1832, very possibly in childbirth and then Harris Wesley Miner was married to Susannah Smith on October 28, 1832 in Putnam County, Illinois.
In 1839, the area where the Smiths, Dodges and Miners lived became part of the newly formed Stark County, Illinois. At the time of the 1840 census, H. W. Miner and family are found in Stark County, Illinois as follows;
1 male 30 to 40 (H. W. Miner)
1 male 20 to 30 ( ? )
2 males 5 to 10 (Horace Miner & Addison Miner)
2 males 0 to 5 (Carlos Miner & Harrison Miner)
1 female 40 to 50 (Susannah Smith Miner)
1 female 5 to 10 (Laura Miner)
The children born to Harris Wesley Miner and Susannah (Smith) Miner include;
A. Laura Miner, born c. 1833/34 in Putnam County, Illinois. Laura was married to George Dexter
B. Addison Miner, born 1834/35 in Putnam County, Illinois. Addison was married to Lucy Reynolds, who was born in Canada c. 1836/37.
a. Matilda Miner, born Nov./Dec. __, 1859 in Goshen Township, Stark County, Illinois.
C. Carlos Miner, born c. 1837/38 in Putnam County, Illinois. Carlos was married to Laura __________.
D. Harrison Miner, born ___________ __, 1840 in Stark County, Illinois. Harrison Miner was married to Avice/Adice Parish on November 14, 1861 in Stark County, Illinois.
The children born to Harrison and Avice include;
a. Ida L Miner, born c. 1862/63 in Stark County, Illinois
b. Edgar Miner, born c. 1863/64 in Stark County, Illinois.
Harrison was a partner in a Bank in Kewanee, Illinois. Harrison died on ___________ __, 1913.
At the time of the 1850 census, Susannah and her family are found in Stark county, Illinois;
Harris W Miner M 42 Vermont
Susannah Miner F 52 Massachsetts
Horace Miner M 18 Illinois
Laura Miner F 16 Illinois
Addison Miner M 15 Illinois
Carlos Miner M 12 Illinois
Harrison Miner M 9 Illinois
Harris Miner M 68 Connecticut
Harris Wesley Miner died on August 26, 1858 in or near Lafayette, Putnam County (later Stark County), Illinois and today his mortal remains are found in the LaFayette Cemetery in LaFayette, Stark County, Illinois.
At the time of the 1860 census, Susannah and her family are found in Goshen Township, Stark County, Illinois;
Susannah Miner F 62 Mass
Harrison Miner M 19 Ills
Martin Miner M 19 Ills
At the time of the 1870 census, Susannah is found residing with her son, Harrison, and his family in Goshen Township, Stark County, Illinois;
Harrison Miner M 29 Illinois
Avis Miner F 28 Illinois
Ida L Miner F 7 Illinois
Edgar Miner M 6 Illinois
Susan Miner F 72 Massachusetts
Louis Hedney M 24 Sweden
At the time of the 1880 census, Susannah is living with her son, Harrison, in Goshen, Stark County, Illinois. She is widowed. Her father and mother are listed as having been born in Vermont and Maine, respectively;
Harrison Miner Self M 39 Illinois
Adice Miner Wife F 39 Illinois
Ida L Miner Daughter F 17 Illinois
Edgar S Miner Son M 16 Illinois
Earnest Miner Son M 8 Illinois
Evert H Miner Son M 5 Illinois
Susana Miner Mother F 82 Maine
Harriet Tredway Sister F 77 Vermont
G H Keckler Other M 19 Pennsylvania
Susannah (Smith) Miner died on July 16, 1881 in Saxon, Stark County, Illinois and her mortal remains were laid in the Lafayette Cemetery in Lafayette, Stark County, Illinois. See her Find A Grave Memorial# 13016976.
3. Lydia Smith, born c. March __, 1812, most likely 1812, near Litchfield, Maine. Lydia was married to John B. Dodge on November 7, 1828 in Licking County, Ohio. A year later, "They came to Essex Township in 1829. He was a Captain of Militia, a reckless character, and finally, getting into difficulty at a horse race in Rock Island, had to leave the country. Last heard from in Texas. His wife had five children by him and one by her second husband, a Mr. Magby."
Lydia may be the Lydia B. Magby, who died on August 10, 1882 at the age of 70 in Marshall County, Iowa. Her mortal remains were laid in the Pleasant Hill Cemetery in Le Grand, Marshall County, Iowa. See her Find A Grave Memorial# 48856623.
4. Greenleaf Smith, born September 25, 1805 near Litchfield, in either Kennebec or Lincoln County, Maine. Greenleaf died in 1848. He married Lettice Sparr, who died in 1862, and both are buried in the Sheets Cemetery. They were the parents of at least eight children. See Greenleaf's Find A Grave Memorial # 55111791 for more information about him and his family.
5. William Paul Smith was born Nov. 24, 1807, in Maine. and was seven years old when his family moved to Ohio, and 23 when they moved to Illinois. On Jan. 1, 1835, he was married to Fanny Silliman, a daughter of Rev. Gershom Silliman who had settled in 1828 in what is now Medina Township, Peoria County. After his marriage they settled on a farm two miles north of Prince's Grove, where they raised a family of seven children. After these were grown he moved to Princeville. leaving the farm in charge of a son-in-law William Andrews, who married his eldest daughter, Mary.
William Paul Smith died in 1882.
6. Sewell Smith, born March 29, 1810 in Maine. Sewell was married on January 9, 1838 in Knox County, Illinois to Sarah M. Lake, a sister of the first wife of William Easton. They lived in the area of Putnam County, Illinois that would in later become part of Essex Township of Stark County, Illinois.
The children born to Sewell and Sarah include;
A. Edwin L. Smith, born c. 1838/39 in Putnam County, Illinois. Edwin L. Smith was a member of Co. K., 86th Illinois Infantry, enlisting at Princeville in August, 1862. He died in hospital in Gallatin, Tenn., Dec. 30, 1862. The writer was at that time clerk for the Commandant at that Post, and as an intimate friend, it became his duty to inform the family of his death and to arrange to have the body sent home. While in camp at Peoria, on the way to the war, he was married to Miss Hattie Benjamin, who afterward married Joseph Barnum, editor of the Princeville Telephone.
B. Sophia E. Smith, born c. 1841/42 in Putnam County, Illinois.
C. Alice Adelaide Smith, born c. 1843/44 in Putnam County, Illinois. Alice was married to Andrew Auten, of Princeville, Illinois.
D. Frances A. Smith, born c. 1846/47 in Putnam County, Illinois. Frances is believed to have been married to ___________ Barnes, who was an attorney.
E. Myra M. (possibly Mandana) Smith, born c. 1850/51 in Stark County, Illinois.
F. Charles H. Smith, born c. 1857/58 in Stark County, Illinois. Charles died young.
G. Hattie E. Smith, born c. 1860/61 in Stark County, Illinois.
About 1849, the area of Putnam County, where the Smiths resided became part of the newly organized Stark County, Illinois. At the time of the 1850 census, Sewell and his family are found in Stark county, Illinois;
Sewell Smith M 40 Maine
Sarah M Smith F 32 Vermont
Edwin S Smith M 11 Illinois
Sophia E Smith F 8 Illinois
Alice A Smith F 6 Illinois
Frances A Smith F 3 Illinois
In the 1850's, the township where the Smith's resided was named Essex Township. At the time of the 1860 census, Sewell and his family are found in Essex Township, Stark, Illinois;
Sewell Smith M 50 Maine
Sarah M Smith F 43 Vermont
Edwin L Smith M 21 Ill
Adelaide A Smith F 16 Ill
Francis A Smith F 13 Ill
Myra M Smith F 9 Ill
Charles H Smith M 2 Ill
After the Civil War, Sewell and Sarah moved their family to Galva, Illinois, where both of them died, Sewell Smith on Sept. 14, 1873, and his wife soon after.
At the time of the 1870 census, Sewell and his family are found in Galva, Henry County, Illinois;
Sewel Smith M 60 Maine
Sarah M Smith F 53 Vermont
Hattie E Smith F 9 Illinois
Sewell Smith died in 1873.
7. Rhoda Smith, born November 10, 1816 in Ohio. Rhoda married Minott Silliman in 1833, about the same time her sister Susannah Smith married Harris Miner. Minott was born c. 1810/11 in New York. Both families settled at what is now Toulon. At least one daughter was born to Rhoda and Minott;
A. Clarissa M. Silliman, born October 30, 1837 in Stark County, Illinois. Clarissa Sillaman was married to Elias Wilcox on February 14, 1856 in Stark County, Illinois. Elias was born c. 1832/33, the son of ___________ Wilcox and Sarah (__________) Wilcox.
Two children were born to them in Stark County by 1860. Shortly after the birth of this 2nd child, Clarissa and Elias, in late 1859 or early 1860, Elias and Clarissa moved west to the Nebraska Territory, where at the time of the 1860 census, Clarissa and her family are found in Fort Calhoun, Washington County, Nebraska Territory;
Elias Wilcox M 27 New Jersey
Clarissa Wilcox F 22 Illinois
M E Wilcox F 3 Illinois
Phineas Wilcox M 0 Illinois
Sarah Wilcox F 62 New Jersey
Mary E Rhodes F 16 Illinois
Danl Shaw M 30 New Jersey
Joseph Taylor M 25 Ohio
A Esttlack M 12 New Jersey
At the time of the 1880 census, Clarissa and her family are found in Fort Calhoun, Washington County, Nebraska;
Elias Wilcox Self M 48 New Jersey
Clarissa Wilcox Wife F 42 Illinois
Mary E Wilcox Daughter F 23 Illinois
Phineas Wilcox Son M 20 Illinois
Marshall Wilcox Son M 16 Nebraska
Esther A Wilcox Daughter F 12 Nebraska
Letty Wilcox Daughter F 8 Nebraska
The children born to Clarissa and Elias include;
a. Mary E. Wilcox, born c. 1856/57 in Illinois.
b. Phineas M. Wilcox, born August 17, 1859 in or near Toulon, Stark County, Illinois. Phineas was married to Theressa Bissell (1869 - 1950) on January 3, 1889. At the time of the 1900 census, Phineas and his family are found living next door to his mother in Calhoun Township Calhoun city, Washington County, Nebraska;
Phineus M Wilcox Head M Aug 1859 41 Illinois
Thrissa Wilcox Wife F Jul 1869 31 Wisconsin
Minott D Wilcox Son M May 1892 8
At the time of the 1910 census, the Wilcox family is found in Cuming, Washington County, Nebraska;
Phineas M Wilcox Head M 50 Illinois
Theresa Wilcox Wife F 40 Wisconsin
Minott D Wilcox Son M 17 Nebraska
Levi E Wilcox Son M 7 Nebraska
Chauncey Wright Nephew M 2 Nebraska
Phineas M. Wilcox died on May 27, 1935 in Blair, Washington County, Nebraska and his mortal remains were laid in the Blair Cemetery in Blair, Washington County, Nebraska. See his Find A Grave Memorial# 108740252.
c. Marshall Wilcox, born c. 1863/64 in Nebraska.
d. Esther A. Wilcox, born c. 1867/68 in Nebraska.
e. Letty Wilcox, born c. 1871/72 in Nebraska.
Elias Wilcox died on ___________ __, 1896. At the time of the 1900 census, Clarissa and Letty are found in Calhoun Township Calhoun city, Washington County, Nebraska. Clarissa is listed as widowed and as having had 5 children, all of whom are living;
Clarissa Wilcox Head F 63 Illinois
Letty Wilcox Daughter F 29 Nebraska
Pearl Tucker Boarder F 20 Nebraska
Josephine Tucker Boarder F 55 New York
Clarissa (Silliman) Wilcox died on March 7, 1930 and her mortal remains were laid beside those of Elias' in the Blair Cemetery in Blair, Washington County, Nebraska. See her Find A Grave Memorial# 113534599.
At the time of the 1840 census, Minott and his family are found in Stark County, Illinois as follows;
1 male between 50 and 60.
1 male between 20 and 30.
1 female between 20 and 30.
1 female under 5.
Rhoda Silliman died on May 9, 1841 in Stark County and her mortal remains were laid in the Toulon Cemetery in Toulon, Stark County, Illinois. See her Find A Grave Memorial# 66608226.
On November 4, 1847, Minott Silliman was married 2nd to Lutetia Oziah in Stark County, Illinois. At the time of the 1850 census, Minott and his family are found in Stark county, Illinois;
Minott Silliman M 39 New York
Lutitia Silliman F 25 Pennsylvania
Clarissa M Silliman F 12 Illinois
Levi Silliman M 7 Illinois
Sarah Silliman F 0 Illinois
8. (Daughter) ___________ Smith, born between 1815 and 1820. She is seen in the 1830 census as one of the females between 10 and 15.
Now to continue with the biography of Benjamin Smith and his family;
Benjamin and Susannah Smith raised spent their early years together in Lincoln County, Maine. In 1814, they moved their growing family to Ohio. Susannah (Greenleaf) Smith died there on January 6, 1829, in Ohio. That same year, 1829, Benjamin's son-in-law, John B. Dodge, went ahead to Illinois, to find a place to settle and Benjamin Smith followed with much of the rest of the family in 1830.
Upon arriving in Illinois, John B. Dodge and Lydia (Smith) Dodge initially took up residence in Putnam County, Illinois, Issac Essex being one of his neighbors. When Benjamin Smith came west to Illinois with the rest of his family, he took up residence between John B. Dodge and Issac Essex in Putnam County. This area would later become part of Stark County, Illinois.
The 1916 History of Stark County tells us the following;
"In the fall of 1829 John B. Dodge located a claim and built a cabin in Section 14, directly east of Isaac Essex (The first white settler in the area that was to become Stark County). His cabin (Dodge's) was the second house in the county. The following spring Benjamin Smith, Dodge’s father-in-law, settled in Section 14. His son, Greenleaf Smith, came a little later and located in the same neighborhood. The three cabins of Essex, Dodge and Smith constituted the only habitations in the county at the close of the year 1830. In 1831 came William D. Grant, Thomas Essex, David Cooper, John E. Owings (who occupied the cabin built by Dodge), Sewell and William P. Smith, and a few others, all of whom settled in what is now Essex Township. An election was held at the house of Benjamin Smith in August, 1831, when John E. Owings was elected justice of the peace."
At the time of the 1830 census, the two families appear this way;
John B. Dodge family
1 male between 20 and 30. (John Dodge)
1 male between 15 and 20. ( ? )
1 male under the age of 5. (Possibly John's first child.
1 female between 15 and 10. (Lydia (Smith) Dodge)
Benjamin Smith family
1 male between 50 and 60. (Benjamin Smith)
3 males between 20 and 30. (Greenleaf, William & Sewell Smith)
2 males under the age of 5. (Greenleaf's first two sons, Charles and Benjamin)
1 female between 30 and 40.
1 female between 20 and 30.
2 females between 10 and 15. (One is Rhoda Smith.)
1 female between 5 and 10.
Benjamin Smith settled in Essex Township of Stark County, in 1830. Benjamin was "one of the first Justices of the Peace elected in Stark County in August, 1831, and solemnized the second marriage ceremony in that county, that of Nero W. Mounts and a widow Martindale. He was also one of the first School Trustees in the County. In 1833, Benjamin Smith and Isaac Essex took the only two newspapers in the County, the mail being carried from LaSalle Post Office, where Marshall B. Silliman, father of the writer, was Postmaster in fact. "Galena" Miner or Wesley Miner carried the mail every two weeks on foot, and it took that length of time to get a newspaper from Springfield."
Benjamin Smith died in Essex Township of Stark County, Illinois on May 26, 1847 and his mortal remains were laid in the Sheets Cemetery in Stark County, Illinois.
Benjamin Smith was born March 1, 1773, probably in Maine, but possibly in Vermont. Benjamin Smith was married to Susannah Greenleaf, who was born April 25, 1778, also probably in Maine. Eleven children were born to Benjamin Smith and Susannah (Greenleaf) Smith, four dying in infancy. Their home was located near Litchfield, Maine in either Lincoln County or Kennebec County. The children are believed to include;
1. Jabez Smith, born c. March 28, 1796 near Litchfield, Maine. Jabez is believed to have died young, possibly c. 1802.
2. Susannah Smith, born March 11, 1798 near Litchfield, Maine. Susannah was married on October 28, 1832 in Putnam County, Illinois to Harris Wesley Miner (3-8-1808 Vermont - 1858), who was the son of Harris Minor, who was born c. 1781/82 in Connecticut, and Charlotte (Reynolds) Minor. At the time of the 1830 census, Harris Minor is found residing near Benjamin Smith and John B. & Lydia (Smith) Dodge, just on the other side of Issac Essex in an area of Putnam County, Illinois that will in 1839 become part of Stark County, Illinois. His family at that time appears as follows;
1 male between 40 and 50. (Harris Miner Sr.)
1 male between 20 and 30. (Harris W. Miner)
1 female between 30 and 40. ( ? )
1 female between 5 and 10. ( ? )
Harris W. Minor/Miner was married in Peoria County, Illinois to a Nancy Grass on February 14, 1831. Harris and Nancy are believed to have had one son, Horace Minor/Miner, who was born on January 6, 1832 in Putnam County, Illinois and who died on January 8, 1853 in Stark County, Illinois. Horace' mortal remains were laid in the Lafayette Cemetery in Lafayette, Stark County, Illinois. See his Find A Grave Memorial# 13017026.
Nancy (Grass) Minor may very have died in 1832, very possibly in childbirth and then Harris Wesley Miner was married to Susannah Smith on October 28, 1832 in Putnam County, Illinois.
In 1839, the area where the Smiths, Dodges and Miners lived became part of the newly formed Stark County, Illinois. At the time of the 1840 census, H. W. Miner and family are found in Stark County, Illinois as follows;
1 male 30 to 40 (H. W. Miner)
1 male 20 to 30 ( ? )
2 males 5 to 10 (Horace Miner & Addison Miner)
2 males 0 to 5 (Carlos Miner & Harrison Miner)
1 female 40 to 50 (Susannah Smith Miner)
1 female 5 to 10 (Laura Miner)
The children born to Harris Wesley Miner and Susannah (Smith) Miner include;
A. Laura Miner, born c. 1833/34 in Putnam County, Illinois. Laura was married to George Dexter
B. Addison Miner, born 1834/35 in Putnam County, Illinois. Addison was married to Lucy Reynolds, who was born in Canada c. 1836/37.
a. Matilda Miner, born Nov./Dec. __, 1859 in Goshen Township, Stark County, Illinois.
C. Carlos Miner, born c. 1837/38 in Putnam County, Illinois. Carlos was married to Laura __________.
D. Harrison Miner, born ___________ __, 1840 in Stark County, Illinois. Harrison Miner was married to Avice/Adice Parish on November 14, 1861 in Stark County, Illinois.
The children born to Harrison and Avice include;
a. Ida L Miner, born c. 1862/63 in Stark County, Illinois
b. Edgar Miner, born c. 1863/64 in Stark County, Illinois.
Harrison was a partner in a Bank in Kewanee, Illinois. Harrison died on ___________ __, 1913.
At the time of the 1850 census, Susannah and her family are found in Stark county, Illinois;
Harris W Miner M 42 Vermont
Susannah Miner F 52 Massachsetts
Horace Miner M 18 Illinois
Laura Miner F 16 Illinois
Addison Miner M 15 Illinois
Carlos Miner M 12 Illinois
Harrison Miner M 9 Illinois
Harris Miner M 68 Connecticut
Harris Wesley Miner died on August 26, 1858 in or near Lafayette, Putnam County (later Stark County), Illinois and today his mortal remains are found in the LaFayette Cemetery in LaFayette, Stark County, Illinois.
At the time of the 1860 census, Susannah and her family are found in Goshen Township, Stark County, Illinois;
Susannah Miner F 62 Mass
Harrison Miner M 19 Ills
Martin Miner M 19 Ills
At the time of the 1870 census, Susannah is found residing with her son, Harrison, and his family in Goshen Township, Stark County, Illinois;
Harrison Miner M 29 Illinois
Avis Miner F 28 Illinois
Ida L Miner F 7 Illinois
Edgar Miner M 6 Illinois
Susan Miner F 72 Massachusetts
Louis Hedney M 24 Sweden
At the time of the 1880 census, Susannah is living with her son, Harrison, in Goshen, Stark County, Illinois. She is widowed. Her father and mother are listed as having been born in Vermont and Maine, respectively;
Harrison Miner Self M 39 Illinois
Adice Miner Wife F 39 Illinois
Ida L Miner Daughter F 17 Illinois
Edgar S Miner Son M 16 Illinois
Earnest Miner Son M 8 Illinois
Evert H Miner Son M 5 Illinois
Susana Miner Mother F 82 Maine
Harriet Tredway Sister F 77 Vermont
G H Keckler Other M 19 Pennsylvania
Susannah (Smith) Miner died on July 16, 1881 in Saxon, Stark County, Illinois and her mortal remains were laid in the Lafayette Cemetery in Lafayette, Stark County, Illinois. See her Find A Grave Memorial# 13016976.
3. Lydia Smith, born c. March __, 1812, most likely 1812, near Litchfield, Maine. Lydia was married to John B. Dodge on November 7, 1828 in Licking County, Ohio. A year later, "They came to Essex Township in 1829. He was a Captain of Militia, a reckless character, and finally, getting into difficulty at a horse race in Rock Island, had to leave the country. Last heard from in Texas. His wife had five children by him and one by her second husband, a Mr. Magby."
Lydia may be the Lydia B. Magby, who died on August 10, 1882 at the age of 70 in Marshall County, Iowa. Her mortal remains were laid in the Pleasant Hill Cemetery in Le Grand, Marshall County, Iowa. See her Find A Grave Memorial# 48856623.
4. Greenleaf Smith, born September 25, 1805 near Litchfield, in either Kennebec or Lincoln County, Maine. Greenleaf died in 1848. He married Lettice Sparr, who died in 1862, and both are buried in the Sheets Cemetery. They were the parents of at least eight children. See Greenleaf's Find A Grave Memorial # 55111791 for more information about him and his family.
5. William Paul Smith was born Nov. 24, 1807, in Maine. and was seven years old when his family moved to Ohio, and 23 when they moved to Illinois. On Jan. 1, 1835, he was married to Fanny Silliman, a daughter of Rev. Gershom Silliman who had settled in 1828 in what is now Medina Township, Peoria County. After his marriage they settled on a farm two miles north of Prince's Grove, where they raised a family of seven children. After these were grown he moved to Princeville. leaving the farm in charge of a son-in-law William Andrews, who married his eldest daughter, Mary.
William Paul Smith died in 1882.
6. Sewell Smith, born March 29, 1810 in Maine. Sewell was married on January 9, 1838 in Knox County, Illinois to Sarah M. Lake, a sister of the first wife of William Easton. They lived in the area of Putnam County, Illinois that would in later become part of Essex Township of Stark County, Illinois.
The children born to Sewell and Sarah include;
A. Edwin L. Smith, born c. 1838/39 in Putnam County, Illinois. Edwin L. Smith was a member of Co. K., 86th Illinois Infantry, enlisting at Princeville in August, 1862. He died in hospital in Gallatin, Tenn., Dec. 30, 1862. The writer was at that time clerk for the Commandant at that Post, and as an intimate friend, it became his duty to inform the family of his death and to arrange to have the body sent home. While in camp at Peoria, on the way to the war, he was married to Miss Hattie Benjamin, who afterward married Joseph Barnum, editor of the Princeville Telephone.
B. Sophia E. Smith, born c. 1841/42 in Putnam County, Illinois.
C. Alice Adelaide Smith, born c. 1843/44 in Putnam County, Illinois. Alice was married to Andrew Auten, of Princeville, Illinois.
D. Frances A. Smith, born c. 1846/47 in Putnam County, Illinois. Frances is believed to have been married to ___________ Barnes, who was an attorney.
E. Myra M. (possibly Mandana) Smith, born c. 1850/51 in Stark County, Illinois.
F. Charles H. Smith, born c. 1857/58 in Stark County, Illinois. Charles died young.
G. Hattie E. Smith, born c. 1860/61 in Stark County, Illinois.
About 1849, the area of Putnam County, where the Smiths resided became part of the newly organized Stark County, Illinois. At the time of the 1850 census, Sewell and his family are found in Stark county, Illinois;
Sewell Smith M 40 Maine
Sarah M Smith F 32 Vermont
Edwin S Smith M 11 Illinois
Sophia E Smith F 8 Illinois
Alice A Smith F 6 Illinois
Frances A Smith F 3 Illinois
In the 1850's, the township where the Smith's resided was named Essex Township. At the time of the 1860 census, Sewell and his family are found in Essex Township, Stark, Illinois;
Sewell Smith M 50 Maine
Sarah M Smith F 43 Vermont
Edwin L Smith M 21 Ill
Adelaide A Smith F 16 Ill
Francis A Smith F 13 Ill
Myra M Smith F 9 Ill
Charles H Smith M 2 Ill
After the Civil War, Sewell and Sarah moved their family to Galva, Illinois, where both of them died, Sewell Smith on Sept. 14, 1873, and his wife soon after.
At the time of the 1870 census, Sewell and his family are found in Galva, Henry County, Illinois;
Sewel Smith M 60 Maine
Sarah M Smith F 53 Vermont
Hattie E Smith F 9 Illinois
Sewell Smith died in 1873.
7. Rhoda Smith, born November 10, 1816 in Ohio. Rhoda married Minott Silliman in 1833, about the same time her sister Susannah Smith married Harris Miner. Minott was born c. 1810/11 in New York. Both families settled at what is now Toulon. At least one daughter was born to Rhoda and Minott;
A. Clarissa M. Silliman, born October 30, 1837 in Stark County, Illinois. Clarissa Sillaman was married to Elias Wilcox on February 14, 1856 in Stark County, Illinois. Elias was born c. 1832/33, the son of ___________ Wilcox and Sarah (__________) Wilcox.
Two children were born to them in Stark County by 1860. Shortly after the birth of this 2nd child, Clarissa and Elias, in late 1859 or early 1860, Elias and Clarissa moved west to the Nebraska Territory, where at the time of the 1860 census, Clarissa and her family are found in Fort Calhoun, Washington County, Nebraska Territory;
Elias Wilcox M 27 New Jersey
Clarissa Wilcox F 22 Illinois
M E Wilcox F 3 Illinois
Phineas Wilcox M 0 Illinois
Sarah Wilcox F 62 New Jersey
Mary E Rhodes F 16 Illinois
Danl Shaw M 30 New Jersey
Joseph Taylor M 25 Ohio
A Esttlack M 12 New Jersey
At the time of the 1880 census, Clarissa and her family are found in Fort Calhoun, Washington County, Nebraska;
Elias Wilcox Self M 48 New Jersey
Clarissa Wilcox Wife F 42 Illinois
Mary E Wilcox Daughter F 23 Illinois
Phineas Wilcox Son M 20 Illinois
Marshall Wilcox Son M 16 Nebraska
Esther A Wilcox Daughter F 12 Nebraska
Letty Wilcox Daughter F 8 Nebraska
The children born to Clarissa and Elias include;
a. Mary E. Wilcox, born c. 1856/57 in Illinois.
b. Phineas M. Wilcox, born August 17, 1859 in or near Toulon, Stark County, Illinois. Phineas was married to Theressa Bissell (1869 - 1950) on January 3, 1889. At the time of the 1900 census, Phineas and his family are found living next door to his mother in Calhoun Township Calhoun city, Washington County, Nebraska;
Phineus M Wilcox Head M Aug 1859 41 Illinois
Thrissa Wilcox Wife F Jul 1869 31 Wisconsin
Minott D Wilcox Son M May 1892 8
At the time of the 1910 census, the Wilcox family is found in Cuming, Washington County, Nebraska;
Phineas M Wilcox Head M 50 Illinois
Theresa Wilcox Wife F 40 Wisconsin
Minott D Wilcox Son M 17 Nebraska
Levi E Wilcox Son M 7 Nebraska
Chauncey Wright Nephew M 2 Nebraska
Phineas M. Wilcox died on May 27, 1935 in Blair, Washington County, Nebraska and his mortal remains were laid in the Blair Cemetery in Blair, Washington County, Nebraska. See his Find A Grave Memorial# 108740252.
c. Marshall Wilcox, born c. 1863/64 in Nebraska.
d. Esther A. Wilcox, born c. 1867/68 in Nebraska.
e. Letty Wilcox, born c. 1871/72 in Nebraska.
Elias Wilcox died on ___________ __, 1896. At the time of the 1900 census, Clarissa and Letty are found in Calhoun Township Calhoun city, Washington County, Nebraska. Clarissa is listed as widowed and as having had 5 children, all of whom are living;
Clarissa Wilcox Head F 63 Illinois
Letty Wilcox Daughter F 29 Nebraska
Pearl Tucker Boarder F 20 Nebraska
Josephine Tucker Boarder F 55 New York
Clarissa (Silliman) Wilcox died on March 7, 1930 and her mortal remains were laid beside those of Elias' in the Blair Cemetery in Blair, Washington County, Nebraska. See her Find A Grave Memorial# 113534599.
At the time of the 1840 census, Minott and his family are found in Stark County, Illinois as follows;
1 male between 50 and 60.
1 male between 20 and 30.
1 female between 20 and 30.
1 female under 5.
Rhoda Silliman died on May 9, 1841 in Stark County and her mortal remains were laid in the Toulon Cemetery in Toulon, Stark County, Illinois. See her Find A Grave Memorial# 66608226.
On November 4, 1847, Minott Silliman was married 2nd to Lutetia Oziah in Stark County, Illinois. At the time of the 1850 census, Minott and his family are found in Stark county, Illinois;
Minott Silliman M 39 New York
Lutitia Silliman F 25 Pennsylvania
Clarissa M Silliman F 12 Illinois
Levi Silliman M 7 Illinois
Sarah Silliman F 0 Illinois
8. (Daughter) ___________ Smith, born between 1815 and 1820. She is seen in the 1830 census as one of the females between 10 and 15.
Now to continue with the biography of Benjamin Smith and his family;
Benjamin and Susannah Smith raised spent their early years together in Lincoln County, Maine. In 1814, they moved their growing family to Ohio. Susannah (Greenleaf) Smith died there on January 6, 1829, in Ohio. That same year, 1829, Benjamin's son-in-law, John B. Dodge, went ahead to Illinois, to find a place to settle and Benjamin Smith followed with much of the rest of the family in 1830.
Upon arriving in Illinois, John B. Dodge and Lydia (Smith) Dodge initially took up residence in Putnam County, Illinois, Issac Essex being one of his neighbors. When Benjamin Smith came west to Illinois with the rest of his family, he took up residence between John B. Dodge and Issac Essex in Putnam County. This area would later become part of Stark County, Illinois.
The 1916 History of Stark County tells us the following;
"In the fall of 1829 John B. Dodge located a claim and built a cabin in Section 14, directly east of Isaac Essex (The first white settler in the area that was to become Stark County). His cabin (Dodge's) was the second house in the county. The following spring Benjamin Smith, Dodge’s father-in-law, settled in Section 14. His son, Greenleaf Smith, came a little later and located in the same neighborhood. The three cabins of Essex, Dodge and Smith constituted the only habitations in the county at the close of the year 1830. In 1831 came William D. Grant, Thomas Essex, David Cooper, John E. Owings (who occupied the cabin built by Dodge), Sewell and William P. Smith, and a few others, all of whom settled in what is now Essex Township. An election was held at the house of Benjamin Smith in August, 1831, when John E. Owings was elected justice of the peace."
At the time of the 1830 census, the two families appear this way;
John B. Dodge family
1 male between 20 and 30. (John Dodge)
1 male between 15 and 20. ( ? )
1 male under the age of 5. (Possibly John's first child.
1 female between 15 and 10. (Lydia (Smith) Dodge)
Benjamin Smith family
1 male between 50 and 60. (Benjamin Smith)
3 males between 20 and 30. (Greenleaf, William & Sewell Smith)
2 males under the age of 5. (Greenleaf's first two sons, Charles and Benjamin)
1 female between 30 and 40.
1 female between 20 and 30.
2 females between 10 and 15. (One is Rhoda Smith.)
1 female between 5 and 10.
Benjamin Smith settled in Essex Township of Stark County, in 1830. Benjamin was "one of the first Justices of the Peace elected in Stark County in August, 1831, and solemnized the second marriage ceremony in that county, that of Nero W. Mounts and a widow Martindale. He was also one of the first School Trustees in the County. In 1833, Benjamin Smith and Isaac Essex took the only two newspapers in the County, the mail being carried from LaSalle Post Office, where Marshall B. Silliman, father of the writer, was Postmaster in fact. "Galena" Miner or Wesley Miner carried the mail every two weeks on foot, and it took that length of time to get a newspaper from Springfield."
Benjamin Smith died in Essex Township of Stark County, Illinois on May 26, 1847 and his mortal remains were laid in the Sheets Cemetery in Stark County, Illinois.
Family Members
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