Saturday, August 8, 2009

Getting Closer ~ Jesse J. Anderson

Ok. After more research - some interesting finds in the search for Jesse J.'s father.

"Also during 1817, James Ballew, William Gillapsy, and Henry Anderson, of North Carolina, accompanied by their families, settled on the Gasconade River about twelve miles southwest of the site of Waynesville, near the Laclede County line. Josiah Turpin, of Kentucky, also located there the same year. Soon after, Elijah and Elisha Christeson settled on the land in the vicinity of the site where Waynesville is now located. Cyrus Colley, settled in a "hollow", which was later named after him. Later that year, Jeptha West, Jesse A. Rayl, Sr. and Thomas Starke settled near the Christesons. "

In the fall of 1828 my father and mother, mother's parents, John and Bethia Hillhouse, and my uncle, Josiah M. Hillhouse moved from Lawrence county, Tennessee, and on the 19th of November pitched their tent on the Osage Fork of Gasconade river, about fifteen miles east of where Lebanon now stands, just above where Farris' mill was afterwards built.....Just across the river from our cabin, in calling distance lived Jacob Anderson and his young wife, whose maiden name was Duff, and his two sisters, Levisa and Polly, and a younger brother, Jesse J. Anderson, not yet grown......the Andersons were the great-uncles and aunts, on mother's side, of Rev. E. J. Stanley, of Montana. Just up the river a mile or two lived James Campbell and his wife, Ruth. She was an Anderson. They were both Methodists, and the grandparents of Brother Stanley.....I remember being often at these two houses, and that I had an exalted opinion of "Aunt Ruth's" piety which was confirmed after I had grown to man's estate. I suppose Mr. Campbell was not very demonstrative; I only remember that he was very tall, fair-skinned and redheaded; that he kept a blacksmith shop and acted as deputy sheriff.....The society consisted of Jacob Anderson and Peggy, his wife, Josiah M. Hillhouse and Peggy, his wife, James Campbell and Ruth, his wife, and his brother, Moses Campbell; I think he had been a member before and had license to preach or exhort, but was in a backslidden state and was restored; he afterwards preached occasionally. Also, Levisa Anderson, Polly Anderson, Jesse J. Anderson and Patsy and Nancy Hillhouse, and possibly some others."



Looking at this map, you can see that where Henry Cook Anderson settled in 1817 is the same location where Jacob, and his family (including Jesse J.) were living in 1828. Which leads me to believe they are family.

Now, the birthdates don't seem to line up with Henry being old enough to be the father of Jacob and Ruth, but perhaps a brother. ???? Does anybody have information on who are the parents of Henry Cook Anderson or Ruth Anderson Campbell? This would help a great deal! Ruth is said to be the grandparent of - and the other Anderson's Great aunts and uncles - so the others are family.

Now, we already know they came from North Carolina, to Tennessee, then Missouri - and we know that in their Dawes application they mention "Alex Anderson and Nancy Anderson" and also "William and Nancy Anderson".

The book says that Henry Cook went there in 1817, it is also listed on different family trees that I've seen, that Ruth Anderson and James Campbell were married in Missouri in 1819. So, it would make sense that Ruth and the other siblings were with Henry's party.

There is an eleven year span between the time of Henry's arrival and the time that we have documented that the Anderson siblings are there. SO, did their parents pass away and the other children go to stay with their older sibling? Ruth and her husband moved down the road? But, Henry is not mentioned in the 1828 story.

If anyone knows any information about this, please let me know. I will keep hunting!






Sources:
(may be included)
"Missouri Marriages Before 1840", compiled by Susan Ormesher, Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc. (1982)
"Kansas Pioneers", by Topeka Genealogical Society, Topeka, KS (1976)
& supported by various websites.