Family Name | Anderson – Finding the Yellow Bricks

Devine Anderson | Sister

Devine Anderson married Elizabeth Brown in 1847 and is listed in the 1850 US Census with his new wife and infant daughter — and not in his parents’ household. As the 1850 US Census was the first census to list the names of household members beyond the head of household, this has made it difficultContinue reading “Devine Anderson | Sister”

T. C. Anderson | Given Name

T. C. Anderson, the middle son, of Devine and Elizabeth (Brown) Anderson had a tricky given name. More often than not, he went by his middle name, Clinton, or his initials: When his given name is used, more often than not, it is mis-spelled as the writer attempt a phonetic spelling of his unusual givenContinue reading “T. C. Anderson | Given Name”

James Brown | 🪚 Woodworking

Miller James Brown (ca. 1802-1867) is said to to have built the first saw-mill in Astoria, Fulton County, Illinois. The History of Fulton County details that “The first saw and grist-mill was built by James Brown. Mr. Brown and others ran it for about twelve years, when it fell into the hands of H. L.Continue reading “James Brown | 🪚 Woodworking”

James Brown | Pearse Family Connections

Very little is known about the family of James Brown (ca. 1802-1867) outside of his children and his second wife, Rachel Pearse. (Note on spelling: earlier records typically used a Pearse/Pearce spelling; later records typically used a Pierce spelling) A rough outline of Brown’s life can be reconstructed through census records and his daughter’s obituary.Continue reading “James Brown | Pearse Family Connections”

Devine Anderson | Sawmill

Devine Anderson is recorded in the History of McDonough County, Illinois on page 818 as having built a saw mill with J. O. C. Wilson on section 14 of Chalmers Township in 1840. The mill is marked on the 1871 Atlas of McDonough County. The excerpt shows sections 10, 11, 14, and 15 of ChalmersContinue reading “Devine Anderson | Sawmill”

Devine Anderson | Traveling to Kansas

Devine Anderson (1824-1867) lived in Illinois for most of his life. In 1865, he wrote a letter to a former neighbor about moving to Kansas. The obituary for his daughter, Tabitha Anderson (1861-1935), describes how she and her family moved from Illinois to Kansas in 1866 by covered wagon. The letter is transcribed below, with additional facts interspersed that connect to the letter contents.