2g) ELIJAH SUMMERS JOLLIFF was born about 1797 in Fayette Co., Ky. He
was probably named for the Kentucky Baptist preacher, Elijah Summars.
Rev. Summars pastored in Montgomery Co, Ky in 1795, then later moved to
Green County and was there during the great revival of 1800-03.
Elijah’s father, Elder James Jolliff, also a Baptist preacher, moved to
Green County about 1798 to near Knob Lick (in 1799 this area was
separated off and became Barren County).
Elijah went to Indiana with his brother Abner in Sept 1817, following
their oldest brother Richard, who had moved there the year before.
Richard lived in Orange Co. and Abner lived in Dubois Co. It is not
known where Elijah
lived because he did not buy any land.
About the same time William & Rebecca (Casey Nobles) DePriest moved
from Smith Co, Tennessee to Orange Co, Ind. Early the next year, in
1818 Elijah married Lucinda
Nobles, Rebecca DePriest’s daughter by her
first husband, Erasmus Nobles
[Noble], who had died probably before Lucinda was born.
Elijah & Lucinda’s first child, Randolph Casey
Jolliff (named for Lucinda’s grandfather, Randolph Casey), was born in
1818. Randolph’s obituary states that he was born in Kentucky on Dec.
9, 1818. The place would seem to be incorrect though, unless Elijah
& Lucinda went back to Kentucky after they were married for a
visit. Some facts make this a possibility:
(1) Elijah could have taken his new wife home to Barren County, Ky. to
meet his family;
(2) Elijah’s last sibling, born about 1818, was named Lucinda, possibly
for Elijah’s new wife (this seems even more likely if Elijah &
Lucinda had come to visit and maybe even were there when the baby girl
was born (so Randolph was the same age as his aunt!)
(3) Lucinda’s mother’s brother, Isaac Casey also had lived in Barren
Co., Ky. from 1788 to 1803, so maybe they visited both sides of
the family!
In 1819 Elijah, Lucinda, baby Randolph, and the DePriest family moved
to Jefferson Co, Ill. where some Casey relatives had lived for 2 years.
He was in Illinois in the 1820 census,
living in Caseys Prairie twp, Jefferson Co, IL
Elijah Jolliff 1 - - 1 - - - - 1 - - - 1
which means:
1 male 0-10 (son, Randolph C)
1 male 16-26 (Elijah)
1 female 16-26 (Lucinda)
1 engaged in farming
In
1823 Catherine (Jolliff) Alexander joined them. Then in 1824 four other
Jolliff siblings followed: Rachel Rhea, Richard Jolliff, Abner Jolliff
& Jahoda Holtslaw. They all settled around Irvington, Ill., where
the
corners of 4 counties (Jefferson, Washington, Clinton & Marion)
meet.
Rachel Rhea moved away to Sangamon Co, Ill. in 1827. James Jolliff, Jr.
moved to Ill. in 1828 and settled in Clinton Co. Then lastly, Elizabeth
Faulkner was the last of the Jolliff clan to move to Illinois in 1830.
This quote from an early history of Illinois gives a description of
conditions then:
“The farms, as in most frontier
counties, were mere patches enclosed
with rails and/or brush. The houses were round-pole cabins, sometimes
in
rare cases made of small logs, ‘skelped down’ or very lightly hewn,
sometimes
of split logs smoothed a little on the face. Some of the cracks were
chinked and daubed, while some were left open to admit light and serve
as windows. Some of the cabins had cracks so large a dog could jump
through.
“the the floor was anything else but
bare ground, it was made of puncheons or slabs, fastened down with
wooden pins or not fastened at all. Shelves resting on long pins in the
walls served for cupboard, pantry, bureau and wardrobe. since there
were few bedsteads, bed scaffolds were made on two
rails or pieces driven into the walls, one for the side and one for the
end.
the corner of the cabin framed the other two sides. On these, boards
were
placed and on the boards the bed was laid.
“In those early days cooking
utensils were few in number. The well-to-do had a pot and a skillet;
some settlers broiled their meat on the coals
and cooked their ‘johnny cake’ on a board. Many of the first settlers
had
to beat their meal in a mortar which was generally a stump with a basin
burned out in the top o the stump. Meal thus ground was sifted through
a
sieve which was made by punching holes in a piece of deerskin with a
hot
wheel-spindle and by stretching the deerskin over a hoop. The coarser
corn
was used for hominy; the finer for meal.”
Besides being a farmer, Elijah operated a sugar mill. The Jolliffs were
members of the Grand Point Baptist Church in Washington Co., Ill.
When Elijah’s sister Rachel Rhea moved to Sangamon Co. in 1827, her
oldest son, James Rhea Jr. (aged 23) stayed behind. On Christmas
morning 1828,
while Elijah & James were examining a gun, which had been a
Christmas
gift, James accidentally shot Elijah in the leg. “A tow wad severed the
femoral artery and Elijah died in the house where he lived near Mt.
Vernon,
when he was bout 31 years old.”
In 1830 Lucinda & her 5 children were living
between the homes of her two brothers, Green & Isaac DePriest.
1830
census, Jefferson Co, IL:
Jolliff, Lucinda 211---------- / 01001--------
which means:
2 males 0-5 (Elijah-5, James-3)
1 male 5-10 (William-7)
1 male 10-15 (Randolph-12)
1 female 5-10 (Betsy-10)
1 female 20-30 (Lucinda-30)
On
April 4, 1834, Lucinda married Asa Foster in Washington Co.
Illinois
State Marriage Index:
FOSTER, ASA & JOLLIF, LUCINDA - WASHINGTON Co - 04/04/1834
They moved
to Richview, Ill. and within 3 months guardians were appointed for her
4 sons: her brother, Green DePriest
was
given custody of 15-year-old Randolph & 7-year-old James, and
Elijah’s brother, Abner Jolliff
was given 11-year-old William &
8-year-old Elijah Jr. Lucinda died before the end of the year; she was
about 34 years old.
(Asa soon married Mary Lively, Feb, 1835).
Where 14-year-old daughter Elizabeth stayed for the few months
following her mother’s death is uncertain, but about 1 year and a half
later, on Aug. 30, 1835 she,
then 15, married 31-year-old widower, James Willard, who had lived 2
houses from hers, and had 4 small children, 1-8 years old.
In May, 1840, 21-year-old Randolph sold the 16 acres
he had inherited from his father’s estate to his mother’s cousin, Green
P. Casey, for $100. In 1847 James Rasmus also sold his inherited part
(16 acres) of his father’s land to Green P. Casey. In 1852 Elijah Jr.
also sold his 16 acres to Green P. Casey. All of the children, except
Elijah Jr., eventually moved to Missouri with uncles, Green & Isaac
DePriest.
Since Elijah Jr. stayed in Illinois he was in the
Union Army during the Civil War, while Randolph in Missouri was in the
Confederate Army.
2g1) Randall/Randle was born Dec. 9, 1818 in Ky (or Ind). He was named
for
his great-grandfather, Randolph Casey. He moved to Missouri with his
uncles, Green & Isaac DePriest. He married Feb. 11, 1845 in Oregon
Co, Mo. to Margaret L. “Peggy” Huddleston (daughter of John Huddleston
& Mary Baty). Children:
2g1a) Elizabeth Jolliff, b July 1846; m 1875 Farris
Self & m 1878 Mark Judd; ch: John George Washington Jolliff (son of
Ambrose Baty), Hemond Judd, Nancy A. Judd, Matilda E. Judd, Rosanna W.
Judd
2g1b) Margaret Jolliff, b 1848; probably died by 1870.
2g1c) John George Jolliff, b Jan 22, 1851; m Nancy
E. Huddleston; ch: Randall, Elvira, Nathaniel Elijah, George Newell,
Lucinda Nobles, Augustus William “Gus”, Lola Belle, Minnie Beulah
“Jack”, Opal Iva, Loucious Lorenzo “Louch”.
2g1d) Mary “Polly” Jolliff, b 1854; m 1872 Henry
Willard (son of Wm. Henry); ch: James Randolph
2g1e) Nancy Jolliff, b 1855
2g1f) James Erasmus “Rab” Jolliff, b Aug 8, 1859; m
1878 to Matilda Tatum; ch: Mandy, Elizabeth M. “Lizzie”, Nora Belle,
Elijah Summers “Lije”, William Randolph “Randle”, James Rasmus “Razie”,
Aaron George, Ava May
2g1g) Rutha Jolliff, b 1861; m 1880 to William D.F.
Trantham (Baty fam:7a1) & Obe B. Judd; ch: Myrtle D., Elijah
Sanford “Lige”, Viola, Alva, Ella
2g1h) William Randolph Jolliff, b 1865; m Carolyn ?
& Tilde ?; ch: Amanda
2g1i) Elijah Summers Jolliff, b 1867; m 1887 to
Belvaretta Willard; ch: Adaline Rutha, Sally M., Randolph Casey
2g2) Betsy
was born April 20, 1820 in Illinois. She married Aug. 30, 1835 in Ill.
to James “Jimmie” Willard, a 31-year-old widower with 4 children. Betsy
was 15 years old when she married James, who lived 2 houses away from
her. (See page on James Willard's'
family for
more pictures.)
James Willard
pictured at right.
Two of her Willard step-children married her Jolliff cousins. In 1840
they were in Jefferson Co., IL. In 1850 they were in neighboring
Washington Co.
They moved to Oregon Co., Mo. about 1856, where her brothers Randolph
& William Jolliff, and James’ brother Martin Willard already lived.
James died Aug. 8, 1893 (age 89). Betsy lived with son Bill until she
died Oct. 2, 1903 (age 83). Both were buried in Jolliff Cemetery near
Rover, Mo. in Oregon Co.
Children:
2g2a) LUCINDA J. WILLARD, b Nov. 4, 1837 (named for
her grandmother, Lucinda Nobles Jolliff); m Jan 14, 1854, IL to her
second cousin, Thomas
Waite Russell (2b1a); d Nov. 13, 1857 (age 20) in Washington Co, IL
(both their mothers' were named Elizabeth Jolliff); children:
....... 2g2a1) Harriett Elizabeth Russell, 1856-1938; m 1877 Stephen
Mitchell
2g2b) ISAAC GREEN WILLARD, b 1840, IL; m June 17,
1860, Oregon Co, MO to Octavia McKelvey; d 1878, MO (age 38); children:
....... 2g2b1) Mary Elizabeth Willard, b 1861/2; m
Mitchell
Michael Wright; ch: Octavy (1877), Julia (1880; m Patrick Giles &
Nathan L. Wood), John E. (1883; m Amy E. ?), William, Dave (1893;m Lola
May ?), Gene, girl (m Clyde Smith)
....... 2g2b2) John Martin Willard, 1865-1895; m Mary
Frances King; ch: Ray William (b1885; m May Baser), Amos Green (1887; m
Josie Viola Cross), Bird Luck (1889/90; m Dovie Andrews & Lizzie
Huddleston), Fred (1891/2; m Lottie Williams), Hubert (m Silvia
Garrett, Naomi ? & Maxine Moais?), Arnie (1896; m John Squires),
Hosie (1898; m Elfie Huddleston), Gertrude (m John Griffith), Mable (m
Jay Garrett)
....... 2g2b3) Barbara J. Willard, b 1871/2; m
Matthew K. Judd; ch: Cora May (1892; m Charley Parson), Grace M. (1895;
m Fred
Haywood), Herman William (1898; m Mollie Haywood), Ernest (1901-1924),
Alva (1905; m Alice Bridwell), Edna (1908; m Henry Hugh Huddleston),
Inez,
Edward, Gene
....... 2g2b4) Marshall G. Willard, 1875-1937; m
Ollie R. King; ch: Hubert (1896-97), Claude L. (1898; m Jene Miller),
Samantha (1900-07), Clowie (m Earl Russell), Emmett “Josh” (1905-47),
Nova (1907;
m Ray Holmes), Othel (1912-62), Hugh (1909-76; m Pauline Earls), Viola
(m
Luther White)
2g2c) JAMES E. “Jickey Jim” WILLARD, b Mar 14/15,
1842, Washington Co, IL. Was in the Civil War, Union Army, Co. F, 60th
Ill. Inf. with his brother Bill. He m July 14, 1865 to Amanda C. Pace;
moved to MO by 1869; Amanda d 1889 and Jim m 2nd Mrs. Zilpha Smith.
James d Aug 19,
1923, Oregon Co, MO, but. Jolliff Cem. Children:
....... 2g2c1) Octavia Willard, b 1867; m John
George Huddleston & William
H. Jolliff ("Bill Muck"); ch: Argie (m James Wm. Moore), Joe D. (m
Edna Riggs)
....... 2g2c2) Martin Willard, b 1868 IL; may have
d before 1880
....... 2g2c3) John George Willard, 1872-1954; m
Matilda Ann “Nancy” Hamilton; ch: Posey William “Little Pode” (b 1896,
shot in
Rover, 1921), Ida O. (1894), Lizzie M. (1900)
....... 2g2c4) James P. Willard, b 1875; m Betty
Combs; ch: Amanda, Reuben, Ara
....... 2g2c5) Caroline Willard, b 1876 MO; m Owen
M. Bales & William Jolliff ("Bill Bunter", her father’s 1st cousin)
....... 2g2c6) Posey Woodside Willard, b 1879 Mo; m
Matilda E. (Judd) Peters; ch: Alice Clara, Mildred, Irma Louise
....... 2g2c7) Franklin M Willard, b 1885; m Pearl
Ford; ch: Hershel (1910)
....... 2g2c8) Charley Willard, b 1885?
....... 2g2c9) Randle C. Willard, b 1886
....... 2g2c10) Elijah Willard, b 1886
....... 2g2c11) Alpharetta Willard, b 1890 (Zilpha’s daughter); m ?
Prater
2g2d) WILLIAM RANDEL “Bill” WILLARD, b Apr 10,
1843, IL (named for his mother’s brothers, William & Randolph);
Civil War: Union Army, Co. F. 60th Ill. Inf. with brother James.
....... 2g2d1) Henry Willard b Nov. 26, 1872; m Aug.
14, 1897, Oregon Co., Mo. to Annie Nichols (sister of Ida); d 1930. Ch:
William Payton (b1898), Paul (b abt 1900), Alfred E. (1902-1918), Vera
(b
abt 1904, m Harry Griffith), Evelyn (b abt 1906), Bernice
....... 2g2d2) William Perry Willard, b May 3, 1877;
d June 1968; m Sept. 14, 1898, Oregon Co. to Edith “Eda” Goodwin
(1882-1959); buried Jolliff Cemetery. Children: Archie (1899-1960; m
Maggie Andrews), Orvell K. (1901-1973; m Bertha G. Walker), Clide
Willard (b/d1905 2 mos), Add Lee Willard (1907-1924), Leta Mae Willard
(1909), Rachel Willard (1912)
....... 2g2d3) Rachel E. Willard, b abt 1879; m July
28, 1897, Oregon Co. to Charles E. Kemp; Children: 2 daughters, 1
son.
2g2e) MARTHA F. WILLARD, born 1848, Ill.; married ? Wright; died
Nebraska
2g2f) MARY ELIZABETH WILLARD, born about 1851, Ill.;
married Johnnie George (bro. of Matilda) abt 1865; children: raised by
Bill & Matilda (George) Willard
....... 2g2f1) Matilda E. George, b June 18, 1867,
Ill.; m Elijah J. Sanford “Doc” Trantham; ch: Ora (m Randolph
Jolliff, Jolliff Fam: #g1i3), Hade (m Clara VonAllmen), Nora, Clyde,
Add, Alta
....... 2g2f2) Mary E. George
2g2g) CAROLINE “Call” WILLARD was born Jan. 17,
1854, in Ill. She married 1st Aug. 31, 1871, in Oregon Co., MO to
widower, John Franklin Short [born 1839 in TN; he was m 1st to Melissa
?; John & Melissa were living in Oregon Co. in 1870, no
children]. He died Mar. 3, 1905 & Cal married 2nd Sept. 19,
1912 to William James Edwards. They lived in Thayer, Mo.
She died Dec. 15, 1935, and was buried in Spring Creek Cemetery, Oregon
Co. with John Short. Children:
....... 2g2g1) Mary Elizabeth Short, 1872-1903; m
William Cowens, Sept 23, 1889
....... 2g2g2) Charlotte “Lottie” Short, 1874-1930; m
Charley Millsap, Jan 8, 1898; bur Hickory Grove Cemetery, Oregon Co.
....... 2g2g3) Amanda Jane “Mandy” Short, 1879-1953; m Jesse Greene
Dodson, Mar 29, 1899; buried Hickory Grove Cemetery. Children:
Pearl Artie (b1901, m George Richard Owens), William Haston (b/d1905),
Elizabeth Ann
(b1906; m William Culver), Joseph Noel Dodson (b1909; m Elsie Joyce
Waller,)
....... 2g2g4) Ella Mae Short, 1882-1910; m James
Lewis Dodson, May 10, 1899; buried New Salem Cem, Oregon Co.
....... 2g2g5) James Andrew Short, 1885-1973; m Pet
Alcorn, July 7, 1906; buried Rogers, Ark.
....... 2g2g6) Agnes “Aggie” Short, 1886-1929; m
Wheeler Caruthers, Oct 17, 1912; buried Hickory Grove Cemetery, Oregon
Co.
....... 2g2g7) Ethelee Short, 18911966; m Dave F.
Brandell, 1918; buried Artesia, N.M.
....... 2g2g8) Frank Middleston Short, 1895-1964; m
Gertrude Moore, 1916; bur Hickory Grove Cem, Oregon Co.
2g2h) Dinah Willard, born 1855, Ill.; died young.
2g2i) MISSOURI EMALINE “Emma” WILLARD, born 1857,
Mo. (she was probably named Missouri because she was born right after
they
moved to Mo.); married 1st Thomas E. Skinner; married 2nd Payton
Allen Thomas (grandson of Nancy Huddleston Thomas); Emma died 1935,
buried Thayer Cemetery, Oregon Co. Children:
....... 2g2i1) James Frank (Skinner) Thomas, b abt
1875; m 1st Katie Kennedy; m 2nd Mollie Kempher; m 3rd JoElla Wooldridge
....... 2g2i2) Pearl Caroline Thomas, b abt 1877; m
James Lewis Edwards, Dec 1, 1895; 7 children: Ruth Edwards (m Clarence
Perkins, grandson of Wm. Jolliff), Emma Edwards (m Newell
Huddleston)
....... 2g2i3) Francis Thomas, b abt 1878; unmarried
....... 2g2i4) Harriet Thomas, b abt 1879; unmarried
....... 2g2i5) Matilda May Thomas; unmarried
....... 2g2i6) Wayne Thomas, m Julia Bell; 4 children
....... 2g2i7) Allen Thomas, m Allie Kennedy; 3
children
....... 2g2i8) Winston Thomas; m Edith ?; no children
....... 2g2i9) Wilda Waymon Thomas; m Chloe Stubbs; 2
ch
2g3) Bill was born in 1823 in Ill. (named for his great-grandfather
William
Norris). He was raised by his uncle Col. James Jolliff. He was living
in
Oregon Co, Mo. in 1851, where William was a minister. By 1854 he was
back
in Illinois and married to Margaret Louiza Pace, but they soon moved to
Missouri
again.
He was in the Civil War and was called “Bill Bugler” the rest of his
life because he played the bugle in the army. I don't know which side
of
the War William was on. His brother Randolph was on the Confederate
side
from Missouri, and his brother Elijah Jr. was on the Union side from
Illinois.
After the War he and his family moved back to Washington Co, Ill where
they lived for 23 years. His place of death is unknown; 2 of his
children, Elijah & Dock were in Oregon Co, Mo in 1900.
Note: Since William was a common name in the Jolliff family, 3
relatives had nicknames to tell them apart: Bill Bugler (#2g3),
Bill Bunter
(#2g3e), and Bill Muck (#2g5e).
Children Mary, James & Randolph probably died young. His
granddaughter, Nancy (Perkins) Green said, "Mother (Della) had 3
brothers, Lige, Bill
& Dock, and 3 sisters, Mat Anderson, Lou Speck and Sarry Massey."
Children of William Norris & Margaret:
2g3a) MARY JOLLIFF. b 1857, Mo; d or m before 1880
2g3b) MARTHA “Mattie” JOLLIFF, b Oct 1858; m 1st Aug
17, 1876 to James W. Ford; m 2nd Jesse M. Anderson; m 3rd ? Wadley.
Children:
....... 2g3b1) Lula/Lewella Ford, b 1880; m Lee Henry
Huddleston
....... 2g3b2) Willie B. Ford, b 1883; m Bessie E.
?
2g3c)
ELIJAH S. “Lige” JOLLIFF, b Oct 8, 1860/1, Mo;
m Oct 20/30, 1879, Washington Co, IL to his 2nd cousin, Alpharetta
“Alfredie” Faulkner (gr-daug of Elizabeth Jolliff Faulkner). They moved
to Oregon Co, Mo in 1887. He died Feb 11, 1911 (age 50); buried Jolliff
Cemetery. His
sons, Charles, Rufus & Adolph were rowdy characters as young men.
Rev.
Ben Meeks related that when he began preaching at Shiloh Baptist Church
in
Rover about 1925-30, these Jolliff boys would try to disrupt the
services.
They would ride up to the church and stay outside until the preaching
started. Then they would tromp in with their boots and spurs making so
much noise
that Bro. Meeks would have to stop and wait until they were seated.
About
when the message got a little tense, they would get up and shuffle out.
Outside they would wait until the service was over, then they would
ride through the crowd shooting their guns. Lige pictured at right, and with his wife
and 2
children at left (not sure which 2 children, but I would guess Rufus
and Adolph).
Children:
....... 2g3c1) Alva Claude Jolliff, b Jan 16, 1881,
IL; m 1902, Mo, to Maude Bales; ch:
....... ....... Eulice Grant (b ; m Esther Huddleston); ch: James
H. (m Nancy Sharpe), Alva Dale (Barbara Counts)
....... 2g3c2) Emma Lula Jolliff, b Aug 1884, IL; m
Jason Martin Redburn, 1901, ch: Louie (m Mattie VonAllmen & Amy
Dunkin)
....... 2g3c3) Charles Jolliff, b Jan 1891, Mo; m
Clara Redburn, 1907; ch: Marie (m Melvin Trantham), Jesse (m Amy Dunkin)
....... 2g3c4) Rufus H. Jolliff, b Dec 1895, Mo; m
1922 Marie Perkins
....... 2g3c5) Adolph L. Jolliff, b Sept 1897, Mo;
m 1919 Meda Blackburn
....... 2g3c6) Tulie Jolliff (maybe?)
2g3d) JAMES JOLLIFF, b abt 1861/2
2g3e) WILLIAM N. JOLLIFF, Jr (called “Bill Bunter”),
b July 1862/4, IL; m? Caroline (Willard) Bales (2g2c5) or Etta Willard.
“South Missourian newspaper, May 3, 1900, community of Rover:
“Bunter
Bill Jolliff is canvassing the county with a combination monkey wrench.
It’s worth half the money to hear him sing his little song.”
....... 2g3e1) Amanda Jolliff, b 1902
....... 2g3e2) Allie Jolliff, b 1905, Ark; m Theodore
Judd; ch: Floyd (m Margaret Willard)
2g3f) LUCINDA B. “Lou” JOLLIFF, b 1866; m John H.
Howe, 1887
2g3g) RANDOLPH JOLLIFF, b abt 1871
2g3h) SARAH P/F JOLLIFF, b abt 1873; m J.M. Massey, Aug 7,
1887
2g3i) DELLA JOLLIFF, b Dec 17, 1875/7; m July 25
1893, Oregon Co, MO to William Perkins (1842-1944, age 102, called
Uncle Billie); d 1907; children:
....... 2g3i1) Frances Perkins, m Delmar Fry
....... 2g3i2) Nancy Perkins, m Layton Green
....... 2g3i3) Clarence Perkins, m Ruth Edwards
....... 2g3i4) Nellie Perkins, m Charles King
....... 2g3i5) Rosetta Perkins, m Arthur Grinstaff
2g3j) “DOCK” M (J.G?) JOLLIFF, b Feb 10, 1878, IL;
m Myrtle ?; South Missourian newspaper, Alton, Mo, Feb 16, 1899,
community of Attie: “Dock Jolliff whilst out hunting happened to the
misfortune of losing his fine greyhound got after a rabbit and ran so
fast he ran against a tree and killed himself.” Children:
....... 2g3j1) Marion L. Jolliff, b Dec 1899, Mo.
2g4) ELIJAH JOLLIFF, Jr. was born Sept. 9, 1825, IL.He was raised by
his aunt Rachel Jolliff Rhea. In 1850 he was living with his aunt
Rachel
Rhea in Sangamon Co, IL. He was the only one of Elijah Sr’s children
who
did not move to Missouri.
He joined the Union army and fought on the opposite of his brother,
Randolph. It isn't known whether they were ever in the same battle, but
they did
both fight in Mississippi.
He was a private in the Union Army during the Civil War in Co. C, 11th
Ill. Inf., the first company that was organized in Centralia, IL and
saw a lot of action. He was at the capture of Ft. Donaldson
(where he
was wounded), at Ft. Hindmon, and at the seize of
Vicksburg.
He was with Grant at Natchez, Mississippi.
His military record described him as 6’1”, red hair, grey eyes and
light complexion. During Jan & Feb 1864 after a furlough at home,
he took
a steamboat to Vicksburg, Mississippi to join his company. This proved
to
be an exciting trip as a letter to his brother (probably William)
explains:
GUERRILLA FIGHT
Don’t Know the Word Surrender
Vicksburg, Miss., March 26, 1864
Dear Brother: It is with pleasure I write you a few lines to let you
know that I have got back to my regiment all right, although we had a
right
smart fight on the boat. We were attacked by a band of guerrillas
opposite
Island No. 18. No danger being apprehended the boat landed on the
Arkansas shore for the purpose of wooding. Many of the passengers had,
as usual, strolled out upon the bank when a party of twenty to
thirty-five
guerrillas suddenly made their appearance from the woods and opened
fire
upon the steamer and those who were on shore; killing a soldier, a
negro,
and wounding eight others. The head and spring lines being out and a
strong
wind blowing on shore, it seemed impossible to get the boat into the
stream.
Part of the rebels rushed on board the boat, when the fight commenced
in
earnest. I was on the hurricane deck and at first supposed the boys
were
firing for mischief, until they called out guerrillas and said we were
attacked.
They called on the Captain to surrender, which he did as far as he
could. I soon saw there was no one to take the lead, as the one who had
command was wounded, and the balance appeared to be backward about
doing anything, and a good deal of hiding going on. I had no notion of
being taken prisoner by a gang of thieves and robbers, so I told the
boys we must go in on them; that we could hip them. In a short time I
got three or four of the boys
and rushed forward on them. I had nothing to fight with at first, but
gathered some revolvers and pitched in. I saw three of them bite the
dust. They shot six holes through my clothes, put a revolver so close
to my face that the powder burned my whiskers.
I thought I would resort to strategy, and called out to the boys to get
their arms and fall in and make a charge on them. They ordered me to
surrender or they would low my brains out. I told them I belonged to
the 11th Illinois, and I didn’t know the word surrender; that I had
[plenty?] of men on the boat to whip them, and if they didn’t surrender
I would kill the last man of them; that they were nothing but a gang of
thieves, anyway. About this time a little citizen and number of others
run up with revolvers and fired into them, when the rebels got up and
dusted.
The Captain of the boat ordered me to surrender the boat; I told him
I was on the boat and had been out too long to be taken by a gang of
thieves, and if I heard any more from him I would shoot him on the
spot. One of
the deck hands run out and cut the lines and let the boat adrift. Some
of the furloughed officers acted very brave, and some very cowardly.
One
Colonel had his shoulder straps taken off for being hid up on a state
room.
The commanding General at Memphis sent for me. He had heard about the
fight and wanted to know the particulars, that he understood I had
taken an active part, and asked me if I saw the Colonel during the
fight. I told him just how it was and that he never showed up. He
complimented me highly, hoped I would always prosper, and sent a
recommendation to our Colonel.
Our regiment were in two fights while I was home, and they whipped the
rebels every time. But I must come to a close.
I remain yours, Elijah Jolliff
Elijah was offered the rank of captain for recapturing the Union
steamboat, but refused. He was discharged Oct 9, 1865 with this remark:
“Discharged as a corporal having refused promotion for bravery.”
Elijah was 41
years old when he married 15-year-old Sarah Ellen Forbes, Nov 1, 1866,
and raised her 3 younger brothers. Sarah died in 1874 having had 5
children
in only 8 years; she was only 23 years old.
Elijah married 2nd May 3, 1876 to Malinda Ann (Bryant) Faulkner (abt
34, widow of his cousin, Charles J. Faulkner #2e12). Elijah & Ann
had
a son, Edward, and a stillborn son in 1879, then they were apparently
separated by 1880, when Elijah was living with his children Lewis,
Julia & Cora, and Ann had her children Alpharetta, Emma &
Delana & their son Edward. But Edward and his wife Maggie lived
with Elijah before he died Aug 26,
1900 near Irvington, IL; buried Grand Point cemetery, Patoka (Marion
Co),
IL. Children: (a-e: Sarah’s; f: Malinda’s)
2g4a) LEWIS BENJAMIN JOLLIFF, b abt 1866; m 1886
Emeline Faulkner (2 ch; div) & 1909 Mary E. Bissonette (1 ch); ch:
....... 2g4a1) Clarence William Jolliff, b May 30,
1887; m Maude Miller 1909; ch: Clarence William Jr (m Anna ?), Theodore
Lewis (m Lela M. Butler), Mildred Elise (m Vince Bierman), Mary
Elizabeth
(m Alfred Knott), Opal Irene (m Fred Greathouse)
....... 2g4a2) Emma Jolliff, b Apr 22, 1893; m 1909
Frank Howard & 1926 John Behling; ch: Elsie (1911, m Kenneth
Meister), George Francis (1912; m Margaret M. Boland)
....... 2g4a3) Francis Jolliff, b Feb 21, 1911; d 1967
2g4b) WILLIAM N. JOLLIFF, b 1868; d 1869
2g4c) JULIA A. JOLLIFF, b June 1, 1870; d 1886
2g4d) ALLEN THOMAS JOLLIFF, b Apr 10, 1872; d 1890
2g4e) CORA ALICE JOLLIFF, b abt 1874; m ? Collier
2g4f) CHARLES EDWARD NORRIS JOLLIFF, b Mar 26, 1877;
m 1886 Mary M. “Maggie” Stinde; ch:
....... 2g4f1) Charles Albert Jolliff, b Aug 21, 1900
....... 2g4f2) Herbert Jolliff, b Nov 1, 1902; m 1923
Chrissie Maroon; ch: Eugene, Gail, Mary Ann
....... 2g4f3) Ernest Jolliff, b Aug 28, 1905
....... 2g4f4) Ruby Jolliff, b Feb 10, 1908; m Lynn
Taylor; ch: Jack, Jim (adopted)
....... 2g4f5) Oscar Jolliff, b Dec 24, 1910; m 1933
Annabelle Sanders; ch: Jacqueline June (m James McKee), Jerry Neil (m
Marilyn Flannigan), Janet, Judith Irene, Jimmy Lynn
....... 2g4f6) George Jolliff, b Oct 28, 1914
....... 2g4f7) Leo Francis Jolliff, b Aug 1, 1917;
m ?; ch: Benjamin Edward (m Sandy ?)
....... 2g4f8) Irene Jolliff, b May 24, 1920
....... 2g4f9) Irwin Jolliff, b Oct 27, 1923; m Betty
Copple; ch: Randall
2g5) "Rasmus" (named for his
two grandfathers, James Jolliff &
Erasmus Nobles) was born 1827, IL. His father died when he was one year
old, and his mother died when he was 7. He was raised by his uncle
Green DePriest, who took him and his brother Randolph to Oregon Co, Mo
in 1841.
battles
from Mexican War:
on
left is Battle of Buena Vista (Feb 1847)
on right is Battle of Vera
Cruz (Mar 1847)
He was 5’10” tall and was a private in Co. A, 2nd Ill.
Inf. in the
Mexican War (1846-47) with his cousin Gilbert Faulkner. There is a
story from the Illinois Jolliffs that "Rasmus" enlisted near Centralia,
IL [should
be Alton] for the Mexican war under Gen. James Shields who joined Scott
in Mexico. The story goes that he was [in the battle between Gen.
Taylor's
4,600-man army against 15,000 Mexicans] at Buena Vista
[on Feb 22-23,
1847
in the north of Mexico] and also in all of the hard fighting [from the
coastal
invasion to Mexico City, Mar-Oct, 1847] at Cerro Gordo [Apr 18],
Chapultepec
[Sept 13], and that at the storming of Mexico City [Sept 14], Rasmus
was
the first man on top of the wall. [Although, all the battles
mentioned
in this story do line up with actual conflicts, not sure if he could
have
been in both the northern battle in Feb. and the invasion from the
coast
in Mar?]
He married Martha J. Waymon, Feb 26, 1848, IL. In 1850 he was in
Washington Co, IL; moved about 1867, probably to Mo. James died
1880, West Plains, Mo. In 1880 Martha was in Highland township,
Oregon
Co, Mo. with Lucinda, William & Willis.
Children:
2g5a) RANDOLPH C. JOLLIFF, b 1849 (on 1850 census
Washington Co, IL)
2g5b) MARY E. JOLLIFF, b June 8, 1850/2; stayed in
Illinois with uncle William Wayman when the family moved away; m 1871
William
M. Cowens; 1880 in Oregon Co, Mo; d 1942, West Plains, MO.
2g5c) LUCINDA JOLLIFF, b 1854/5; may have m Curtis
Speck in 1891 (or the daughter of Wm. N. Jolliff may have m Curtis
Speck):
ch:
....... 2g5c1) Elmer Speck, b Sept 1892; m Carrie E.
Huddleston
2g5d) RACHEL ANN JOLLIFF, b abt 1858, IL; m 1877,
Daniel Perry Wright in Mo.; d 1900; ch: William F., Sarah B., Matilda
2g5e) WILLIAM H. JOLLIFF (called “Bill Muck”), b Feb
1863, IL; m Eliza J. ? (b 1871 Oh); m 2nd 1885 Octavia (Willard)
Huddleston; 1900 in Oregon Co, Mo; d 1947, West Plains, Mo
2g5f) WILLIS JONAS F. JOLLIFF, b Sept 1868/70; m
Sarah d. Kimbrough (1867-1926); 1900 in Howell Co, Mo. Children:
....... 2g5f1) Nora E. Jolliff, b 1894, Mo
....... 2g5f2) Daniel B. Jolliff, b Oct 1895, Mo
....... 2g5f3) William M. Jolliff, b Nov 1899
Site map: Generations
- Richard - James
- Elijah - Randolph
- Rab
- school - pictures - home
If
you would like to check my database to see if the information on your
family is correct, go to my ancestor
file then search for the name of one of your ancestors. (Only those
born before 1930 or no longer living are listed by name. I have names
of the living, but they are not displayed in the online database.) Please
email me if there are any
corrections or additions!!
