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More Information on the Hillsboro Slaybacks
HILLSBORO
DEMOCRAT
EARLY REMINISCENCES. At what date the Slaybacks arrived in our County, we can't learn exactly. Mrs. Margaret Seward, wife, or rather widow of the late Israel Seward, who came previous to the organization of the County, and settled what is called Seward's Grove, south of Butler, was of the Slayback family, and came first. Afterwards three brothers, Solomon, and David Slayback with their families came, besides John an old bachelor. They made their settlements farther west, near the West Fork of Shoal Creek. David settled in the edge of the prairie, while Solomon settled nearer the creek, in the timber, and John made his bachelor establishment a little north of David's, where he lived all by himself, and was the first person we ever saw who literally kept bachelor's hall, and run a farm. He lived and died there at an advanced age. Solomon Slayback after living on the West Fork for some years, removed we believe to Madison, and afterwards to St. Clair County, where he raised his family, and some two years ago he and his aged wife died at a very advanced age, (over eighty,) within eight days of each other in Collinsville, leaving six children, all grown, all married, and perhaps all have descendants. They were Abraham, Margaret, Mary, Susannah, Amanda and Julia. Abraham we believe is married and lives in California and we are not farther posted about the details of his family. (I believe this is a mistake because it was Abel that settled in San Francisco, he's in the 1870 Census ,one of his sons died in Sonoma County. D. Holm) Margaret married Henry Brown, and resides at Lebanon, in St. Clair county, and has five children, all small. Willie, Alice, Lyman, Libbie and Frank. They have arrived at great wealth, and Mr. Brown uses it freely in the advancement of the Methodist church, and its interests, of which he is a prominent member, and we trust he will be long spared to fill the full measure of a Christian gentleman. Susannah married Mr. Shafer, who died early near Collinsville, leaving three children,---Mary, James, and Emma, all grown. Mary married Mr. Turer, son of Capt. Turer, of one of the Atlantic Steam Ships. They have three children, all small. They still reside in Collinsville. James is fast becoming an old bachelor, which fact precludes farther comment. Emma, married Mr. Sanders and died early leaving two children in Collinsville. Amanda married Charlie Wilkins, one of the leading merchants of Collinsville. They have we believe several small children. Julia
married Mr. *S.C. Moore, a manufacturer of Bells, Etc., in Collinsville, and
estimated to be the wealthiest man in his county. They have several children,
all small. Mary is dead but whether she ever married or left any descendants we can't say. Mrs. Seward has already been sketched. She was present at our semi-centennial where she spoke of the days of yore. We are sorry to learn that she is sick at her daughter's (Mrs. Coudy) in St. Louis. David Slayback was the progenitor of the Slayback family, raised in our County. He had been married before he came to Illinois with his second wife, who also had been married before. Mr. Slayback had by his first wife three children. Ann, Sarah, and Isaac, and by his second wife, Mrs. Peck, who we believe, had four children by her former husband. Mrs. Newell, of Cincinnati, and Owen Peck of Indiana. Phoebe now Mrs. Gray, of California, and Nancy, widow of John Tennis, now of California, who we learn is married again. Of the Slayback children of Mrs. Peck, were Solomon, Crozier, Ashton, Chamberlain, Clement, Anderson, Mary and Eurilda. Ann Slayback, married Benj. Wykoff, and settled on the West Fork, near the old Slayback homestead, where they raised five children. John Jerome, David, Morrill, and Henry. John
Wykoff was killed by the cars running over him near Butler, a few years since;
he was unmarried. David
married Miss Massa, who died leaving one child, and a short time ago, he again
married a Miss Yowell, sister of the wife of Jerome. They live on the
Merrill Wykoff, also married a Miss Yowell, sister of his brothers' wives. They have several children, concerning whom we have not sufficient information to speak. Henry married Miss Brookman, and we believe have no children. Benjamine Wykoff and wife are still living at their homestead on the West Fork, and tho' we have not seen them for several years they must be getting old and infirm. Sarah Slayback, married Benjamine Ware, brother of Obadiah, who died several years ago leaving one son, Justus Ware, who occupies the old homestead in Ware's Grove, with whom Aunt Sally still lives. She is still a hale old woman, who no doubt remembers the early scenes of our County. Justus Ware married Miss Luceba Brigham, of New Hampshire, and they have three living children out of four. Mary, George and Amy, all small. Justus is very prosperous. Isaac Slayback, married Miss Paden, sister of Uncle Jimmy Paden, and settled near Wares Grove, where his wife died early, leaving three children, Benjamin, William, and Mary. Isaac afterwards married Kate Scherer, daughter of the late David Scherer; he died soon after, leaving no children by his second wife; who afterwards married Dan Hefley, and is living north of Butler. After the death of Isaac Slayback, Uncle Jimmy Paden raised his children to man and womanhood. When Benjamin and William died within a few weeks of each other. Mary married Frank Chrisman, and resides in Hillsboro. Uncle Jimmy Paden had so managed the Isaac Slayback estate that on her marriage, Mary may be said to have been the richest bride in the county. Solomon Slayback, Jr. married Sarah Kennedy, and for many years occupied the old homestead, and there raised three children, Allen, James and Harriet. Allen married Martha Cline, daughter of the late John D. Cline, and resides in Missouri, where they are raising a family of four or five children. James married a Miss Maria Cheatham, and now resides in Missouri, where his wife recently died suddenly leaving two children. Harriet first married Eli Cress son of the late Joseph Cress, who died early, leaving one child. Eli still living. Harriet afterwards removed with her father and brothers to Missouri, where she again married a Mr. Gregg, who now lives at Fort Scott in Kansas. Solomon and wife are still living in Missouri. She is in poor health. We will continue the Slayback family next week. ------------------------------------------------------- Wednesday Evening, Dec. 3.
MONTGOMERY
COUNTY We commenced last week a sketch of the Weber family, and promised a continuation this week. We spoke of M.N. Weber, and Louisa, Nicholas, Harry, Lawrence, Marshall and Olive. We now proceed to say that Minerva Weber married Crosier Slayback, son of David Slayback who made a very early settlement on the West Fork, where he raised a large family whom we will sketch in a future article. Crosier first settled near Cherry Grove, and after several removals, he bought the place on which he now resides some six miles north of Hillsboro, where he has raised a large family, Emeline, (Whitaker) Charles, Olive, Byron, (now dead) Amelia, (Willer) and Eurilla. Amelia married Doctor L.L. Whtiaker, and has four living children of five. Frank,Byron, Maggie, and Blanche. Charles has studied medicine, and obtained his degree of M.D., though we believe he does not practice yet. He settled at Butler, and engaged in the sale of drugs, but has recently sold out, and is now living in Pana? aiding his successor. He is still a bachelor, and if he dont hurry up and get married he will soon be called an old bachelor. Olive is fond of literature, and can use her pen freely. She is now engaged in teaching in the public schools of Hillsboro. Amelia is still at home, a fine buxom lass, full of fun, and mischief and the life of the home circle, some of the bachelors had better be looking after her if they want a good wife. Byron, after having arrived at manhood, died at home, unmarried, a fine scholar and an excellent young man, whose loss was deeply mourned and regretted. Willie is beginning to think himself a man, being 17 years old, and still at home. Eurilla is 13 years old, the baby and pet of the family. Age is mellowing the locks of Crosier and Minerva, who are quietly growing old together, surrounded as they are by their large family. Joseph Weber, brother of Michael N. Weber, came about 1841, bringing his father and mother who were quite aged. Grandfather Nicholas Weber died about 1843, and his wife died a few years later. Joseph Weber brought his wife and family also. His wife died soon after his father, and he afterward married Mrs. Weller widow of John Weller, and mother of the Weller family in this County, whom we will sketch on a future occasion. Joseph Weber was the father of several children, Jacob, Margaret, Martha, Pearl, Perry, Wm. Wallace, Willard, Julia and Hattie. He settled we believe the place now owned by Crosier Slayback. Jacob Weber married Jane Kendrick, daughter of the late Rev. J.C. Kendrick, she died early, leaving one child Ellen, now grown and keeping house for her father at his place six miles north of Hillsboro. Jake never married again, and is a staid old widower, not likely to marry unless some woman should surround him and capture him unawares. Margaret and Martha died early, before reaching maturity. Pearl married Mary Osborn, the daughter of the late James Osborn, he died early leaving his wife and one child that died soon after; his widow married Joseph Grantham, and died soon after leaving one child. He settled the Jake Weber place. Perry after arriving at manhood died unmarried. Wm. Wallace married Elizabeth Osborn, also a daughter of the late James Osborn, and sister of the wife of Pearl Weber. They with two children reside near Irving. Willard married Mary Rutledge, daughter of Mark Rutledge, and lives near Audubon, with we believe five children. Willard fought through our Civil War and returned all right. He is now one of the Supervisors of the County, and is becoming quite corpulent and dignified, and we believe is prospering well. Julia married Mr. James P. Hancock, who died in the service in our Civil War, leaving his widow with three children. She resides in Hillsboro. Hattie first married Dan Tyler, of Litchfield, who died soon after their marriage, leaving no children. She afterwards married Mr. Hacker and resides in St. Louis.
MONTGOMERY COUNTY
Crosier Slayback has already been sketched in connection with the Weber family. He and his family are we believe all that bear the name in Montgomery. The rest are all settled throughout the Western States and Pacific slope. Ashton Slayback who also married into the Weber family has been sketched. He has no descendants in Montgomery. Chamberlain went to California several years ago; he now resides in Idaho, and we believe is unmarried. Clement went to Missouri a few years ago and there married and settled. We have no further detailed information about him or family. Anderson went to Texas many years ago and there married and settled. He has several children, concerning whom we have not sufficient information to speak. Mary Slayback and her sister, Durilla, went to California many years ago with Allen Gray and there married brothers of the name of Lowe, and from there removed to Coos County, Oregon, where they settled, and where they still live-- Their husbands are both County Officers; David, Eurilla's husband being County Judge. They both have families concerning whom we are not sufficiently posted to speak. Of Mrs. Slayback's Peck children we remarked that two of them, Mrs. Newell and Owen Peck never came to Illinois. Nancy and Phoebe however, did come and married here. Nancy married John Tennis, and raised quite a family. After the death of her husband, she and family removed to California, where she married again, and still lives. Of her children, Clarinda married Wm. P. Harkey, son of Soloman Harkey, and with her husband returned on a visit a few years since; he has arrived at wealth. His mother and brother, Lee, are now visiting him. The rest of Mrs. Tennis' children, Caroline, James, Lansing and Parthenia, we believe, are all married and prospering. Phoebe Peck married Allen Gray and went to California. Beyond the names of the three oldest children Adam, Polk and Dorey, we can give no further information. It may be said of the Slayback family that at an early day they took a prominent position; and living on a State road, David kept "Public House," and his name was known far and wide as a good stopping place for travelers. Indeed there was once quite a rivalry between the "Slayback Route" and the "Seward Route" to Springfield; and that rivalry was so great, and bothered the Legislature that had entire charge of the establishment of roads------so much that the whole matter of establishing and changing roads was delegated to the counties, to get clear of the whole subject. The Slaybacks were generous, upright, and an energetic people, and we are sorry that so few of them are left among us. It seems that they all inherited the frontier spirit, and could not be contented to remain in an old settled country; hence they are found in Texas, Idaho, California and Oregon; and where else we can not learn but we doubt not they can be found in any new region. ***************************************************** For more Slayback information:
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