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From: "Susan Tilleman" <>
Subject: [[SEARS-L]] SEARS Family of Fayette Co., IL
Date: Wed, 9 Jul 2003 19:56:22 -0700
References: <b8.440219df.2c3ce3ab@aol.com>


This is in reply to Brenda's () posting to this list
yesterday inquiring about the town where my direct ancestor John SEARS lived
in Fayette Co., IL. John SEARS lived in Bingham, Fayette Co., IL, at the
time of his death.

I have a copy of the book "History of Fayette County, Illinois, 1878." The
following references to the SEARS family appear in that book:

Page 23: "BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, 1868 ... Levi Sears ... [TOWN]
Hurricane." ... "BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, 1869 ... Levi Sears ... [TOWN]
Hurricane."

Page 37: "METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, VANDALIA ... Dr. McCurdy, J. W.
Ross and Rev. H. Sears constituted the building committee. Dr. McCurdy was
the largest contributor. Rev. H. Sears was at the time pastor."

Page 67, topic Ramsey Township: "The first sermon preached in the township
lies between Rev. Mr. Dodson, Charles Radcliff, who was a member of the
mission party Baptist, James Street and Henry Sears, but which of them
preached first and the date the first sermon was preached is in doubt. All
of them were members of the Regular Baptist Church." [Note that I am also a
direct descendant of "Rev. Mr. Dodson."]

Page 67, topic Ramsey Township: "In 1865, one of those pistol-fights took
place between Thos. M. McClanahan, an ex-lieutenant of the army, and Thos.
Sears, who was a member of the 'Klingman Gang,"and a terror to the whole
country. Thompson Culbertson, a friend of Sears, while looking at the
fight, received a pistol-shot in the neck, from which he afterwards died.
McClanahan was tried for the killing, but acquitted. The general impression
prevailed that McClanahan did not intend to shoot Culbertson. Sears was
badly wounded in the fight, and after recovery left the country, and is
supposed to have settled in Missouri. McClanahan also finally left for
parts unknown."

Page 79, subject Hurricane Township: "EARLY SETTLERS were Alexander Prater,
Paschal Isbell, John Sears, Henry Hinton, Wm. B. Harris, John Ward, Jerry
Ward, and B. Massey." [Note that I am a SEARS, HARRIS, and MASSEY
descendant. The PRATER and HINTON families were also associated with my
family.]

Page 80, subject Hurricane Township: "During the war in 1864 a party
composed of U. S. troops and some citizens, in passing through the township
stopped at the home of John Sears, where some misunderstanding arose which
resulted in the shooting and death of Mr. Sears and his wife. During their
funeral a man named Smart passing by where the troops still were, was killed
by them, and not heeding the summons, he was shot and dragged by his horse
some distance, when another shot was fired striking him in the head which
caused instant death. These troops were sent to suppress the Klingman
gang."

Page 80, Hurricane Township biographical sketches: "JOHN M. PRATER
Prominent among the names worthy of mention in this work is that of John M.
Prater, who was born about one mile from his present residene in Hurricane
Township, Fayette County, on the 6th of February, 1834. He is the youngest
living child of Alexander and Mary (Sears) Prater; and brother of
ex-Treasurer Holloway S. Prater, whose biography may be seen elsewhere in
this work. ..."

Page 80, Hurricane Towhship biographical sketches: "HOLLOWAY S. PRATER ...
Holloway S. Prater is a native of Bond County, and was the eldest child of
Alexander and Mary (Sears) Prater. His father was born in Tennessee, and
his mother in Kentucky. They were married in Bond County in 1826, where Mr.
Prater located in 1819. Their son Holloway, was born September 18th, 1827.
In 1832 his parents moved to Fayette County, soon after which his father
enlisted in the Black Hawk war. ..."

Page 81, Hurricane Township biographical sketches [my direct ancestor,
through his daughter Emily who is pictured on my home page]: "LEVI SEARS
The eldest child of John and Hannah (Johnson) Sears, was born November 17th,
1818, in Warren County, Kentucky. His father was a native of North and his
mother of South Carolina, were married in Kentucky and emigrated to Illinois
on October 8th, 1828, and located about one mile south of the present
residence of their son Levi Sears.
Young Levi's childhood and youth were passed on his father's farm, working
and going to school whenever opportunity afforded.
He married Sept. 19th, 1839, Miss Frances J. Harris, daughter of Wm. B.
Harris, one of the early settlers of the township. They have had thirteen
children, eight of whom are now living in the following order of their
births, William, Cynthia, Emily, Smith, Starling, Pattie, Joseph, Delilah.
Mr. Sears has endeavored to be just and upright in all of his dealings in
life. He has been industrious and energetic, and has, for one commencing
without means, accomplished considerable, and is now in the enjoyment of a
competency. He is a Democrat in politics, and has been elected Supervisor
from his township. During the war a terrible tragedy was enacted at the
house of his parents, which resulted in their death.
Their son Levi erected over their graves a monument, upon which is the
following inscription:--
In memory of John Sears, who fought under Gen'l Jackson at New Orleans,
and was killed in his own house by the soldiers of the 41st Regiment, Ill's
Volunteers, August 11th, 1864, aged sixty-eight years, ten months and
seventeen days.
In memory of Hannah J. Sears, who was killed by soldiers of the 41st Reg't
Ill's Volunteers, August 11th, 1864, aged seventy-five years, eight months,
eight days."

Page 98, subject Partial List of Patrons, Township 8, Range 1 West , Ramsey:

Sears, Levi Sec. 16 Farmer an Stock Dealer Warren Co. Ky
1828
Sears, Frances J. Wife of L. S. Hickman Co., T. 1828
Sears, John Father of L. S. "killed Aug. 11, 1864" N.C. 1828
Sears, Anna Wife of J. S. "killed Aug. 11, 1864" S.C. 1828

Susan Cearlock Tilleman
San Antonio, TX
http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/t/i/l/Susan-E-Tilleman/?Welcome=1
057798414

----- Original Message -----
From: <>
To: <>
Sent: Tuesday, July 08, 2003 8:19 PM
Subject: [[SEARS-L]] RE: Looking for info on Henry Mil...


> In a message dated 7/4/03 11:03:39 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
> writes:
>
> > Any relation to John Sears that settled in Fayette County Illinois.
> >
> > Thank you
> >
> > Vivian
> >
> >
>
> What town?
> Brenda



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