Notes
Note N2198
Index
Age i n1820 census listed as 26 to 45, consistant with 1786.
Notes
Note N2199
Index
Probate source: White County, Illinois Index to Probate Journal 1843-1847, 76 Mcallister, James, Dec'd; Edward McAllister-Administraotr; 18 Apr 1844-22 Aug 1845.
Notes
Note N2200
Index
1820 Census lists 2 boys and 2 girls, all under 10 years of age, as well as a girl 10 to 16. His wife's age was listed as 26 to 45.
Notes
Note N2201
Index
1830 Census shows 1 son under 5, 1 between 5 and 10, 1 between 10 and 15, 1 between 15 and 20, one male 40 to 50, one female under 5, one between 5 and 10, one between 10 and 15, 2 between 15 and 20 and one 30-40.
Notes
Note N2202
Index
Census reports 1 male 5-10, 1 in the 10-15 bracket, 1 15-20 and 1 50-60, plus one female 10-15 and one 40-50 years old.
Notes
Note N2203
Index
Mentioned in grandfather James's will dated 14 June 1799 and probated in 1801. Also mentioned in father's will, probate closed 28 Mar 1835.
Marriage document to Catherine Caswell and naming Edward McCallister as father can be found at http://www.hccoky.org/eSearch/HTML5Viewer/ImageViewer.aspx?bHideCartFunctions=False&bIsRefresh=False
According to "History of White County, Illinois", Mrs. Eply was a daughter of James and Sarah McCallister, who came to this county in 1811, with other members of the McCallister family."
The 1820 census reports the family makeup as 2 males under 10, 1 male 26-44, 2 females under 10, 1 female 10-15 and one female 26-44.
The 1830 census reports the family makeup as 1 male under 5, 1 male 5-9, 1 male 10-14, 1 male 15-19, 1 male 40-49, 1 female under 5, 1 female 5-9, 1 female 10-14, 2 female 15-19 and one female 30-39.
Probable probate closure in White County, Ill by Edward McCallister Administrator recorded in White County Probate Journal, Vol A-B, 1820-1844, page 148. Also page 155. Found at https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/9048/images/004669890_00099?ssrc=&backlabel=Return
Estate inventory and item sale documented on pages 76-82 of White County Probate Records Vol 1843-1848 No listing of beneficiaries of the residue of his estate.
Notes
Note N2204
Index
James is listed as a member of Capt. Galloway's Company of the 22nd District in the American Revolution.
Notes
Note N2205
Index
Mentioned in grandfather James's will dated 14 June 1799 and probated in 1801.
Notes
Note N2206
Index
Mentioned in grandfather James's will dated 14 June 1799 and probated in 1801.
Notes
Note N2207
Index
Mentioned in grandfather James's will dated 14 June 1799 and probated in 1801.
Notes
Note N2208
Index
Mentioned in grandfather James's will dated 14 June 1799 and probated in 1801.
Notes
Note N2209
Index
In 1830 Census, one daughter was listed as 5-10 years old, probably Jane Elizabeth.
Notes
Note N2210
Index
I used to have John McCallister as a child of John McCallister and Mahala Smith based largely on two "facts" (one of which I now believe to be inaccurate): the contents of the book "Prairie Days", written by a grand daughter of John McCallister, Nettie Korb Bryson, and 1860 Census reports. Nettie was the was the daughter of Samantha McCallister and Anton Korb, Samantha being the oldest child of John and Hester Ann McCallister. The first fact comes from this paragraph in the book: "Mother's uncle, Harding McCallister, whose covered wagons were in the same caravan with (cousin) John's, parted from him at San Francisco and went on to Oregon, where he settled not far from what is now the city of Portland. Liking the state, he immediately adopted it for his home and began the task of owning all the land he could get his hands on." That Harden McCallister in fact went to Oregon is well established in the census data. Census data shows that Harden (Harding) McCallister was a son of John and Mahala Smith McCallister, m. about 1818 in White County, Illinois. There is no evidence that John and Mahala had a son John, born in 1814 in Kentucky. In fact, it appears that the family moved to Illinois in 1810, making it unlikely that John would have been born in Kentucky in 1814. Further, the 1820 census has no male children recorded.
The second fact is the ages and places of birth of the Iowa census reports. They consistently indicate an 1814-1815 birth date in Kentucky. The McCallisters moved from Virginia to Kentucky by 1800 and began moving to White county Illinois around 1810. The two families still in Kentucky around 1814 were James and Simeon, sons of Edward. James seems to be the most likely candidate for John's father, since James married Sarah Caswell in Hardin county Kentucky in 1806. The 1820 census shows that James' family included 2 males and 2 females under 10. The two females have been identified, but the two males have not. Therefore, it is possible that John was one of those two males. Simeon married later than James (in 1814) and has the expected progression of children. No other descendants of the immigrant James McCallister can be placed in Kentucky at the time and of the right age to be possible parents of John. If this parentage is correct, then Harding McCallister is actually the cousin, once removed of Nettie Korb's mother, not her uncle.
The McCallisters were of Irish origin. John was born in Kentucky, then his parents moved across the Mississippi River into Illinois in the early pioneering days of that state, where John grew to manhood. He became a famous character in Southern Illinois, being captain of one of the earliest Mississippi steamboats.
Some further insight is gained from this account by his cousin Miles Wesley McCallister: He says: "My grandfather, Edward McCallister, came from Ireland when a small boy; grew up in Virginia and served as a soldier through the Revolutionary War; was in the battle of Cowpens with General Morgan. After the war he married Miss DeHart, a French Huguenot, and settled in Kentucky. In 1810 he came to Illinois territory. At this time he had eight children, my father being one of the youngest. He came down the Green and Ohio rivers and up the Wabash river in a pirogue, landing at Cadd's ferry, where Marshall's ferry is now. He built a cabin and was living there at the time of the earthquake. My father was a child about 4 years old, and remembers his mother gathering up the children and taking them to the pirogue; saying that if the earth sank, they would be safe as the land and came ashore. All the stock was very much disturbed and frightened; horses nickering, cattle lowing, hogs squealing, and all the stock on the range running to the house.
Peter Godfrey is among the best known settlers of 1832, and he and his wife are among the oldest and most honored couples belonging to the "Old Settler' Association of Knox County." John Denney and John and Simon McAllister arrived two years later.
After his marriage to Hester Coy, he moved over into Iowa in search of rich land at a reasonable price. Finding what he wanted, he bought five hundred acres and developed them, thus being "very comfortably situated" for the day and time.
In later life, he became a breeder, trainer and racer of thoroughbred horses, and many are the tales concerning his travels and adventures. Race tracks were far different from modern ones, but they were apparently surrounded by the same spirit of intense excitement, and John must have cut a figure with his strings of horses, his trainer and his jockeys.
They lived in or near Wassonville, Iowa. That was in Washington county, Lime Creek Township, on or near the English River.
Property Transactions
John McAllister to James A Smith, date of instrument 8 Jul 1844, Deed book J, pg 301
John McCollister and wife to Thadeus Squires, date of instrument 25 July 1846, Deed book B, page 248
John McCallister and others to N. P. Cooper and wife, date of instrument 1 Apr 1852, Mortgage book B, page 30
John McCallister to William Barnett, date of instrument, 16 Apr 1852, Mortgage book A, pg 263
John McCallister and wife to William Barret, date of instrument 18 Apr 1852, Mortgage book A, pg 263
John McCallister and wife to School Fund, date of instrument 2 Mar 1853, Mortage book B, page 32
John McCallister and wife to Miller Austin, date of instrument 9 Dec 1853, Deed book D, pg 531
John McAllister and wife to Alex Brawner, date of instrument 16 June 1856, Deed book G, page 535
John McAllister and wife to John S Gano, date of instrument 20 Dec 1856,
John McAllister and wife to Daniel Fordice, date of instrument 22 Mar 1858, Deed book J, page 368
John McAllister to wife, date of instrument 22 Dec 1860, Deed book J, page 455
Hester McAllister to John McAllister, date of instrument 22 Dec 1860, Deed book J, page 456
John McAllister and wife to William Allen, date of instrument 22 Dec 1860, Deed book J, page 462
John McCallister and wife to Samuel C Gardner, date of instrument 9 Feb 1861, Deed book J, page 622
In the 1851-1855 General Index for Washington county, Ia, there is a record of a mortgage dated 16 April 1852, filed May 1, 1852 indicating entry on page 263 of Book A where John McCallister and Hester sold land to William Bamet??. The legal description was NE 1/4 SE 1/4 and NW 1/4 SW 1/4 Section 20, Township 77 Range 8 and SE 1/4 SE 1/4 Sec 24, Township 77, Range 9.
Further, on page 248 of the county land records, there is another sale of land dated 25 July 1846. The text reads as follows: This Indenture made and entered into this 25th day July 1846 by and between John McCallister and Hersteran his wife party of the first part and Thadeus Squires of the second part all of Washington county Iowa Territory witnesseth that the said John McCallister and Hesteran his wife party of the first part for and in consideration of the sum of twenty three Dollars seventy five cents to him in hand part? the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged have granted bargained sold and conveyed and by these presents do grant bargain sell and convey unto Thadeus Squires party of the second part and to his heirs or assigns the following described piece of Land. To wit, beginning at the N.E. corner of S.W. quarter of section 19.7.77. N of R.I.W. thence south 20 chains to the S.E. corner of the qr of the qr thence west 4 chains 50 links to the post thence N. 26 1/2 chains west to the post on half section line thence east along said line 14 chains and fifty five links to the place of beginning containing nineteen acres and six rods in the County of Washington Iowa Territory for him the said Thadeus Squires his heirs or assignees to have and to hold the said land with all and singular the appertainces thereunto belonging to his or their own benefit and use for ever and we the said John McCallister and Hesteran his wife for our selves and our heirs do covenant with the said Thadeus Squires his heirs and assigns that we have legal right and good authority to sell and convey the same in manner aforesaid and that the premises are free from encumbrance and that we will covenant and defend the same from all lawful claims whatsoever.
In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands and seals this day and year. First above written and signed in presence of Andrew J Willson, Ian N Willson. John McCalister Hesteran McCallester.
NOTE: At each name there is an X with the comment "his mark" and "her mark". This suggests that neither John or Hester knew how to write.
Washington County, Iowa Territory SS. Personally appeared before me Horace H Willson an acting Justice of the Peace in and for said County, John McCallister and Hesteran his wife who are personally known to me to be the persons who executed the within deed of conveyance and severally acknowledged the signing and sealing of the same to be their own voluntary act for the purposed therein expressed. Given under my hand this 25th day of July 1846. Horace H Willson, Justice of Peace. A copy of the original this 11th day of August AD 1846. George Brokaw, Recorder W.C.I.T. (Washington County Iowa Territory?).
The Washington County Iowa Landowners 1859 Plat Map Indexed shows that John McCallister owned two properties at that time: The NW 1/4 of section 25, as well as the NW 1/4 of the SE 1/4 of that section and the SW 1/4 of section 36 of Lime Creek Township. Anton Korb owned the SW 1/4 of Section 25, so the two families were no doubt well acquainted. John also owned 120 acres of section 19 and 120 acres of section 30 in the east part of Lime Creek Township.
Abstracts of land transactions are incomplete, but a search by Washington Title Company suggested that John McCallister divested himself of all his real estate by 1870. Much of the land was purchased by the Downings, which is why his farm is often referred to as the Downing farm.
John's name is not included in the family census report in the 1860 Iowa Census, page 21, dated 18 Jun 1860.
There is a John McAllister listed in the 1840 Knox county Ill Census. This refers to the son of Edward who was born in 1793, not the husband of Hesteran.
In the chapter on Orange Township in "Annals of Knox County" we read the following. "Orange, as present defined and bounded, was one of the first townships in the county to attract the attention of early immigrants to northern Illinois, and the pioneers were not wholly free from fear of predatory visits from the original owners of the soil. As a matter of fact, however, in 1830--the year the first settlers arrived-the Indians were migrating to the west, and the comparatively few of them remained...The first white family to settle within the present limits of Orange was that of Joseph Wallace, who located on Section 15,in 1830, and found a rudely constructed cabin suffice for their shelter. After the death of his wife, on the old farm, Mr. Wallace removed to Iowa...James Ferguson came from Kentucky, with his family, in the same year with Mr. Wallace settling on Section 11...Peter Godfrey is among the best known settlers of 1832, and he and his wife are among the oldest and most honored couples belonging to the "Old Settlers' Association of Knox County". John Denney and John and Simon McAllister arrived two years later.
In the section on Orange Township in "Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois and Knox County" we read "There are, however, two other cemeteries, which are well kept up and which contain many handsome monuments. These are the Haynes, on Section 20, and the McAllister, on Section 12."
In "Dewey's County Directory" by J.L. Deyew, 1868 we find a listing for McCallister, J with post office of Knoxville and a McCalister with post office of Abingdon. I can't tell if these are relatives of this family or not. It is also interesting to note that Knox County has a "Blood Horse Association" with the goal of "the improvement of thoroughbred horses, and all other stock. Holds annual meetings in September, on the National Race course and Driving park, two miles south of Galesburg. Rich premiums given for running and trotting, and premiums for best grade of stock of all kinds. Stakes open for 2 and 3 year olds; closed in May. Run in September." Perhaps John's interest in horse racing began while in Illinois.
In the listing of Illinois Public Domain Land Tract Sales, there are the following purchases by a John McCallister in Knox county.
13 Jun 1835, E2NE, section 13, twp 10N, 80 acres, $1.25/acre
10 Oct 1835, SWNE, section 13, twp 10N, 40 acres, $1.25 /acre
30 May 1836, NESE, section 13, twp 10N, 40 acres, $1.25/acre
30 May 1836, E2NW, section 12, twp 10N, 80 acres, $1.25/acre
30 May 1836, W2NW, section 01, twp 10N, 86.02 acres, $1.25/acre
1849 Iowa Census doesn't break down family into age groups, just gives total of 6 persons. Listed just above Benj Coy.
Age given as 35 in 1850 Census
1851 State Census listed seven family members.
1854 State Census listed seven family members
Age given as 42 in 1856 census
The 1859 Landowners Plat Map for Washington County, Iowa, indicates that John McCallister owned the following properties:
SE 1/4 Section 36 Twp 77 R9W
NE 1/4 Section 25 Twp 77 R9W
NW 1/4 of SW 1/4 Section 25 Twp 77 R9W
N 1/2 of SW 1/4 of Section 30 Twp 77N, R8W
W 1/2 of NW 1/4 of Section 30 Twp 77N, R8W
SW 1/4 of SW 1/4 of Section 19, Twp 77N, R8W
N 1/2 of SW 1/4 of Section 19, Twp 77N, R8W
Marriage images on film 005204709 do not name parents of either John or Hesteran, but includes a statement that Hesteran's parents vouch that she is over 18 years of age.
http://www.familysearch.org/library/books/idurl/1/160193 "PERSONNEL OF BOTETOURT COUNTY COMPANIES AS DISTRICTED Following is a list of men registered for recruitment in the Revolutionary War and is copied verbatim from the original papers found in the basement of the Botetourt County Clerk's Office:
At a meeting of the field officers this 31st August, 1782 for the County of Botetourt for the purpose of carrying into execution an Act entitled An Act for recruiting this state's quota of Troops to serve in the United States Army for the Term of three years, or during the War...
That James Moss, John Lewis, John Herbert, William Hamm, Drury Hamm, James McMullin, Drury Smith, John McCalister, James McCalister, David Rees, John Rees, Wm. Logur, David Tate, jnr., James Brown and John Neill of Capt. Galloway's Company be considered the 21st District.
That Lt. Wallace Estill, Owen Neel, William Neel, Thomas Carpenter, David Glasburn, Jesse Bennett, John Robinson, Richard Manley, Joseph Hunter, Elijah Knox, Wm. Hunter, Abraham Dick, David Dick, Richard McCalister, Garret McCallister, of Capt. Galloways Company to be considered as the 22nd District, also James McCalester....
That Lt. James Armstrong, Moses Mann, John Jones, John Kincase, Robert Kincade, William Kincade, James Davies, Thos. Barbery, Edward McCallester, Wm. Corder, Wm. Smith, David Robinson, James Robinson, John Richardson of Capt. Ballar's Company be considered as the 26th district. That William Wright, Thomas McCallister, Wm. Sprowl, Robert Viers, Moses Mann, Junr., Esau Mann, Joseph Clark, Jeremiah Carpenter, Jno. Smith., David Smith, Bryan Smith, George Clark, of Capt. Ballar's Company; David Whooley, Thomas McMurry, Wm. McMurry of Capt. Baird's Company be considered as the 27th District."--Portions of pages 121-127 of "A Seed-Bed Of The Republic" by Robert Dojthat Stoner.