Hancock County, IL Pioneers
Jackson, Little and Quint Families 1838-1900


Stories from the files of Ray Parsons, ray970@yahoo.com
These and many other family stories and photos can be seen on his web page
http://members.aol.com/rayparsons/index.html

My parents, Philip George Parsons and Hazel Kathryn Quint. were active in collecting genealogy information for many years and I inherited the job of preserving and adding to it. Along with the statistical collection of data on genealogy my folks were always interested in collecting stories of individuals and events to make genealogy more interesting. Over the years they convinced many relatives to write stories of events in the lives of their children, siblings, parents, grandparents, or themselves. Four stories related to Hancock County, IL are reprinted here.

1. Jackson Brothers Emigrate

Story by Lela Ferguson in letter to Mrs. Jenny (Quint) Dunwoody, written about 1935


In 1832 the three Jackson brothers came from Scotland. They lived south of Glasgow in another county. James 1806, William (Uncle Billy) 1808; Archie 1810. Aunt Mary of whom you speak was my grandfather Ferguson's sister. Mary Ferguson later married James Jackson.
It's this way: she and my grandfather Ferguson's parents; Sarah, her brother and parents, were on the same sailing vessel; Sarah married Robert Ferguson - my grandparents. They had lots of time to get acquainted, 13 weeks. ha! So apparently the Jackson boys were on the same boat.

They all moved to the Mohawk valley. James rented, since no evidence of owning property. He and James Jr. are buried there.

Then William and Archie got inheritance money and went to Albany, there they encountered a Mormon Scout, and together bought 160 acres of Illinois land. They took a place on a caravan to the Ohio River, to Vincennes, Indiana by boat, to East St. Louis by caravan again. They walked to Carthage, 250 miles, presented the receipt, got the land. Said " The man was honest after all.", and walked to their place. It was four miles east of Nauvoo, located one half mile west and one mile north of my home.

In 1838, Billy sent to Scotland for Aunt Ellen (Allyson) and they were married in Carthage. Archie lived with them until 1848, when he bought 60 acres of land and moved a Mormon house on it. Two rooms down, attic up, this was known as Archie Jackson place.

"Now, in 1847 Martin and Sarah Little moved from Xenia, Ohio with their children, Lorenz, Gus, Catherine, Frank, Sarah, Mildred and Jane, and pulled east of Nauvoo to scout for land. He bought south of Pontoosuc. In the mean time, Archie met Catherine Little, and April 1848, they were married in Carthage. He was 38 and she was 20. Martin Little gave his boys each 40 acres when they were married, then Catherine an equal share in horses, wagon, material. She rode a horse into Pontoosuc, bought bolts of material, put it in two sacks across her horse. Your mother said grandmother told her the one attic room was full of provisions for her, Jane, Philoma, Catherine, Isabell and on.

"When your mother, Isabell Jackson, was to be married, she took her bolts of material to mother (Philoma Jackson-Ferguson) at Carthage, and spent time, while my mother made her things. You have seen the wedding picture with the dress of 15 yards, all those ruffles, I sure.

2. Jotham Sewall Quint

December 3, 1814 - August 21, 1897

Story by grand-daughter, Mrs. Hazel (Quint) Parsons, June 23, 1970


Benjamin Quint and Lydia Smith, daughter of Abraham and Susannah (Brock) Smith, of Maine, were married the 26th of January 1814 at Farmington, Maine. Abraham Smith was the first Deacon of the Old South Congregational Church of Farmington, Maine.

Benjamin and Lydia Quint had one child, Jotham Sewall Quint, born the 3rd of December, 1814 in Maine. According to family tradition, Benjamin passed away when Jotham was about three years old. Later, Lydia married a John Savage, who died a few years after marriage. She married third a man by the name of Moore, possibly William Moore.

About 1837, Jotham Sewall Quint moved by covered wagon to Indiana. Here, at a party he met Mary Parker Tufts who, with her parents John and Prudence (Parker) Tufts, had recently moved from Wilton, Maine to Aurora, Indiana. They soon discovered they had lived in the same vicinity in Maine, but had not known each other there. On December 6, 1840 they were married at Aurora, Indiana. Mary Philena Quint and Benjamin Quint were born in Indiana.

In 1847, the family moved to Illinois, buying a farm in the same neighborhood as the Archibald Jackson farm near Nauvoo. Two daughters, Emily, who died as an infant, and Alice Elvira and one son, Louis Franklin Quint were born here in the farm home. In 1876, Louis Franklin Quint married Isabell Flora Jackson, daughter of Archibald Jackson, at the Jackson farm home. Mary (Tufts) Quint passed away in 1856.
Jotham Sewall Quint married Elizabeth Codry October 29th, 1857. To this marriage three sons were born: Nelson, born in 1859 died of typhoid fever in 1874; Albion born in 1861; and Melvin born in 1864. About 1876 they moved to a farm near Menlo, Iowa later moving into town. After the death of his second wife, he married a Widow Perkins whose daughter, Fannie, was a missionary in China.
In 1896 he went to Oklahoma with his oldest daughter, Mary (Quint) Dale and family. Here he passed away in 1897 and is buried in the IOOF Cemetery at Ponca City, Oklahoma.

Grandfather Quint belonged to the Methodist Church. My two older sisters, Clara and Jennie, remember he always said grace before meals: "Heavenly Parent to forgive us our sins, Treat us from the Bread of Life and in Thy Kingdom save us, for Jesus sake. Amen."

His mother, Lydia (Smith) Moore, in later years, lived with a son in Kansas. She died near Wichita, Kansas at the age of 98. It is said that she walked a mile to vist her son the day before she died.

3.Archibald Jackson

March 20, 1810 - February 27, 1883,

and
Catharine Little

June 11, 1827 - March 7, 1917

This family traditon story written by Clara (Quint) Stevenson about 1945

James Jackson of Glasgow, Scotland, married Isobel Thomson, also of Glasgow. James lived four miles from Glasgow, on land which he leased for 99 years as so many farmers did. He was a good farmer, as well as a prosperous farmer. He would take his farm products across the 'toll bridge' and bring back a load of fertilizer, thus saving toll, which showed his thriftiness.
His three sons, James, William and Archibald and one daughter, who married a man by the name of Thomas Orr in Scotland, emigrated to America. James settled in New York and married Mary Ferguson, William married Ellen Winning and Archibald married Catherine (or Catharine) Little. Achibald and Catherine settled on a farm four miles from Nauvoo, Illinois. The sister, Mrs. Orr and husband come to Nauvoo and became members of the Mormon Church. Archibald Jackson told of himself going to Nauvoo at the time of the 'Mormon Rebellion', in 1847, one cold morning and standing on a hill, trying to persuade his sister and her husband to stay in Nauvoo and not go to Salt Lake in the "Mormon train'. They, however, left with the 'train' but later parted with them and the family went on into California. 'Archie' Jackson was a peace loving man and never would take sides, either for or against the Mormons.
One winter day in 1847 he was out in the timber cutting firewood when a neighbor rode up hurriedly and said, "Now, Archie, the time has come for you to take a stand either for or against the Mormons." He remained firm and replied, "I will not take sides either way."

When he sailed from Scotland for America in 1834, his father gave him a solid silver watch which he always kept and which is an heirloom of his daughter Isabell Quint. (Grace Gilliland, Isabell Quint's daughter in Arkansas City, Kansas, now has the watch.) His mother put a Bible in his trunk with the admonition, "Now don't leave it there."

Archibald and Catherine Jackson went to housekeeping on the homestead four miles from Nauvoo, in a two room house which later was added to as the family grew and prosperity came. Grandmother lived in this home for 65 years and after the passing of her husband and seven children, came to Hill City, Kansas to live with Isabell Quint.

4. Louis Franklin Quint (17-Jul 1852 - 19-Jan1943)

and Isabell Flora Jackson (4-Mar 1854 - 30-Jun1948)


Story by daughter, Hazel K.(Quint) Parsons written June 13, 1970
(Story with PHOTOS can be seen at http:\\members.aol.com\rayparsons\lfq.html )



Louis Franklin Quint, son of Jotham Sewall and Mary Parker (Tufts) Quint, was born on a farm near Nauvoo, Illinois the 17th of July 1852. When he was four years old his mother died, and later his father re-married. He grew to manhood on the same farm on which he was born and received his common school training in the same neighborhood, attending the Gibraltar School in Sonaora Township. He attended the Ft. Madison Academy, taught school one year, then studied telegraphy a few months.

He was married to Isabell Flora Jackson, at her home in the same neighborhood on March 9, 1876. They started housekeeping on the farm where he was born, later moving to Iowa, then to Nebraska, Mitchell Co. Kansas and finally in 1902 to Graham County, Kansas on a farm they purchased two miles east and one mile south of Hill City. Here they spent the rest of their lives, raising a family of eight children, six girls and two boys. Father was known as a good neighbor and citizen wherever he lived. He was industrious, friendly, and always interested in the betterment of the community. In Graham County he served in various offices in Millbrook township, and was assessor for the township for several years. He was devoted to his family, always fair in every way, and was strictly honest in all his dealings. He was always a member of the school board in his community as long as he had children in school, and could be depended upon to work for the best teachers they could hire. He always had time to help his daughters acquire teaching certificates, and apply for schools for the coming term. His example and teaching regarding honesty, fairness and dependability are lessons that made a lasting impression on the minds of his children.

On March 9, 1926, the Quints celebrated their Golden Wedding Anniversary at their home in Hill City, having retired from the farm a few years previous. Their eight children came home to enjoy the reunion. Many friends called, including old classmates of theirs in Illinois, and friends from Michell County, Kansas. A fine dinner was prepared by the daughters and mother and the table was decorated with flowers sent by old friends in Hill City. Many gifts were received. On March 9, 1938, at the age of 84 and 86 they celebrated their 62nd Wedding Anniversary, also at their home in Hill City, having been residents of the state of Kansas for 54 years. Both were in good health at this time, well able to care for themselves, do their own housework and gardening; their minds were keen and they kept posted on all current events.

Father and Mother gave all of their children a good education in spite of hardships along the way, and all of their daughters followed the tradition of the family by teaching school. The sons became farmers. By thrift and industry, they accumulated sufficient means to retire in their declining years, and leave a good inheritance for their children.

Father passed away at the home in Hill City on January 19, 1943 at the age of 90 years. Mother passed away on June 30, 1948 at the home, aged 94 years.
Isabell Flora Jackson, daughter of Archibald and Catharine Jackson, was born on the Jackson farm near Nauvoo, Illinois, March 3, 1854. She grew up on this farm, received her common school education in the country school, and attended Fort Madison Academy. She taught school near Nauvoo. She united with the church in 1868 at Nauvoo, Illinois, and was baptized in the Mississippi River. She married Louis Franklin Quint, of the same neighborhood, in her home on March 9, 1876.

In spite of the many hardships of Kansas farmers during the years her family was growing up, she always managed to keep a happy home. She used to say, "Just because we are poor is no reason not to be clean." She was always active through the years, and helped in every way to bring in a "little extra" cash by raising chickens, turkeys, milking cows, and making and selling butter to Hill City customers. She had a regular customer from Hill City who used to always visit us once a week to take home a gallon of buttermilk. He always said there was no place where he could get as good butter or buttermilk as from "Mrs. Quint". She always enjoyed her family and was never too busy to stop and do things for them. She was a good seamstress and was skillful in making over clothes for her growing children until the older girls were able to sew.

Mother always believed in having some good reading material in the home and for years subscribed to "The Youths Companion" which all the children enjoyed. Later, after the children were all grown and away from home, she let her subscription expire. However, she missed it so much she re-subscribed and then sent it to one of her grandsons. In her later years, she enjoyed getting books from the library. She was a member of the Community Methodist Church in Hill City and attended the Philathea Sunday School Class.

On March 9, 1941, Mother and Father celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary at their home in Hill City. The Hill City Times had this to say: "It was not a festive day in the lives of Mr. and Mrs. Quint, but one of quiet happiness on which friends and relatives called to offer congratulations, and stacks of cards and letters, which had been received during the previous week were looked over.

"The home of Mr. and Mrs. Quint presented a typical American scene when a Times reporter called there the first of the week. A large bouquet of flowers, which had been sent to them by one of their children, held a place of prominence in the room, and on a day bed, which neither Mr. or Mrs. Quint give signs of using during the day, lay a rag rug, partly finished, and the large family Bible in which the earliest date to be noted was 1848.
"Mr. & Mrs. Quint grew up together, having been raised on adjoining farms. They were married in Hancock Co., Illinois, at the home of Mrs. Quint's parents, four miles east of Nauvoo, by a Presbyterian minister. Details of their wedding hold a foremost place in their memories. Mrs. Quint's wedding dress was a grey poplin in which fifteen yards of material were used. The skirt was made with ruffles to the waist. Mr. Quint was resplendent in a black broadcloth suit with Prince Albert style coat. Music was furnished by a stringed orchestra. About fifty friends had been invited to the wedding and dinner which followed. The bride's table featured a wedding cake with a cupid for decoration. Mr. and Mrs. Quint entertained their friends with a wedding dance following the dinner."

I have been told Mother was known as "the belle of Nauvoo"; she was very nice looking. She and her sister, Philoma, made her wedding dress.

Mother celebrated her 90th birthday in 1944. A birthday cake baked by her daughter, Mrs. Perry A. Loyd of Salina, was decorated with 90 lighted candles, and the cake was served from a crystal cake stand which formerly belonged to her mother, Cathrin Jackson, 75 years ago. She received many cards and personal greetings from friends and family.