Morgan Van Matre
Morgan Van Matre was the son of Joseph and Margaret (Morgan) Van Metre. He changed the spelling of his surname to Van Matre, although I found no reason why.
Born: Oct 1765 on the home farm in Frederick, County, Virginia (now Berkeley County, West Virginia).
Died: 31 Mar 1813 at the age of 47 in Morgantown, Clinton County, Ohio.
Married: 17 Jan 1785 Mary Pierce in Ohio County, Virginia (now West Virginia).
Find A Grave: Memorial #160839038 buried on his own land and is now said to be under a concrete highway (State Route 73) that runs alongside a beautiful country club (Snow Hill Country Club).
Military: At the age of 12, Morgan helped defend Fort Henry during an attack of the Fort in 1777 during the Revolutionary War. See my post Joseph Van Metre for the story.
Mary Pierce (also spelled Pearce), daughter of Andrew and Elizabeth (Johnson) Pierce.
Born: 11 Feb 1770 Cumberland County, Pennsylvania (now Elizabeth, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania). This area was also claimed by Virginia as Augusta County, Virginia at this time.
Died: 9 Aug 1855 at the age of 85 in Clinton County, Ohio, USA.
Married 2nd: 25 Dec 1816 Capt. Nathan Kelly in Deerfield, Warren County Ohio, USA. You will find his story below.
Find A Grave: Memorial #119633023 as Mary Pierce Kelly – burial details unknown.
Note: Nathan and Mary (Pierce VanMetre) Kelly had a daughter: Priscilla Kelly who married William Elliott.
Morgan, like his father and grandfather was a frontiersman, hunter and Indian fighter. He was known for his story telling and playing the fiddle to entertain his guests. He and Mary would have ten children. After he died in 1813, Mary married Capt. Nathan Kelly, who helped raise Morgans young children.
I found many interesting stories about Morgan, who established the town of Morgantown, Ohio, which no longer exists, but was in the vicinity of the current location of Snow Hill, Ohio close to where the Snow Hill County Club is located and about where State Route 73 and State Route 729 meet.
Table of Contents
Ohio County, Virginia 1770-1794
Although Morgan was born at the home farm in what is now Berkeley County, West Virginia, at the age of about 5 years old, his father moved the family and settled in Ohio County, Virginia (now West Virginia) where we can only assume he, like his father and grandfather before him became a frontiersman. Morgan was 12 years old when he and his father Joseph helped defend Fort Henry from attack in 1777 during the Revolutionary War. You can find the story in my post for Joseph Van Metre.
Morgan inherited his fathers land in Ohio County, Virginia (now West Virginia) where they had built Fort Van Metre, just north of Clinton. Another fort called Van Metre Fort aka the Courthouse Fort in what is now West Liberty, West Virginia. These were two separate forts. His uncle Jacob also built a Van Metre fort a bit west in what is now Greene County, Pennsylvania. These Forts were needed due to the continued attacks from the Indians and the British before and during the Revolutionary War.
After his father disappeared in about 1781 and was assumed deceased when he did not return from a fishing trip, Morgan inherited his property. Morgan would have been about 16 at that time.
Morgan married Mary Pierce in Ohio County, Virginia (now West Virginia) in 1785. The location of Morgan and Mary’s wedding is varied in different stories and webgens, but it’s likely that they married in West Liberty, Ohio County, Virginia (now West Virginia).
Northwest Territory 1787
The Northwest Territory, also known as the Old Northwest) was formed after the American Revolutionary War and was known formally as the Territory Northwest of the River Ohio. It encompassed most of the pre-war British colonial territory north of the Ohio river of the Ohio Country, parts of Illinois Country and parts of old French Canada (New France) below the Great Lakes. It existed legally from July 13, 1787, until March 1, 1803, when the southeastern portion of the territory was admitted to the Union as the state of Ohio.
Below is a map of the State Land Claims and Cessions to the Federal Government, 1782-1802. This is during the time that Morgan Van Metre settled in what is now Clinton County, Ohio.
State Land Claims and Cessions 1782-18021
Cynthiana, Harrison County, Kentucky 1794-1796
The British purchased what is now Kentucky in the Treaty of Fort Stanwix on November 5, 1768.
Kentucky was admitted to the Union and separated from Virginia in 1792. Our Van Matre families arrived in Cynthiana most likely about 1794. Harrison County was formed out of Bourbon County in 1794. Cynthiana was established in 1793, and was named after Cynthia and Anna Harrison, daughters of Robert Harrison, who had donated land for its establishment, though Harrison County was named after Colonel Benjamin Harrison, who was an early settler in the area and the sheriff of Bourbon County.
It was reported that Morgan traveled to Ohio with his brothers, Joseph, Isaac and Abraham. Also an Absalom Van Matre (not sure which Absalom from his extended family) was also with the brothers. All of them changed the spelling of their surname to Van Matre about this time. Why is unknown.
Abraham is showing as being married to Mary Worley on June 7, 1792 in Ohio County, Virginia. They were still in Virginia at that time. Joseph was married September 1, 1795 in Harrison County, Kentucky. So, we can assume that they traveled Southwest to Kentucky between 1792 and 1795. Morgan’s son, Andrew Pierce, was born June 1793 (place is unknown). They would most likely not travel with a newborn infant and probably not during the winter, so I suspect they traveled in the Spring of 1794 to Kentucky. It’s also possible they traveled shortly after Abraham’s marriage, June 1792. They probably traveled by boat on the Ohio River. What we do know, is that they were in Cynthiana, Harrison County, Kentucky by 1794.
It appears that the Van Metre’s lived in Cynthiana for a couple of years before moving on to Ohio. Although they were referred to as from Kentucky, I didn’t find any evidence that they had obtained property in Kentucky.
Morgan’s son James is showing as being born in Cynthiana, Bourbon County (now Harrison County), Kentucky in 1795. There is evidence of his brother Abraham being in Kentucky in 1797. Abraham’s first wife, Mary, left him and he posted the following in the Kentucky Gazette on March 17, 1797:
“Abraham Van Matre, Harrison County, says his wife, Mary, has left him and he won’t pay her bills anymore”.
What they did while here, is not mentioned in anything I’ve read, but it is my speculation that the men spent their time, hunting and checking out the land in Ohio, while the women and young children stayed in Cynthiana.
Deerfield, Ross County, Ohio 1796-1800
Morgan Van Matre was one of the Van Matre brothers who since 1796 had lived at Deerfield, now South Lebanon, Warren County, Ohio in one half of a two-room double log cabin. The Johnson family lived in the other room. It appears that Morgan moved his family from Cynthiana, Kentucky to Deerfield in about 1796. They lived in Deerfield while Morgan established his property and built his cabin in Highland County, Ohio (what would later become Morgantown).
The following is an excerpt from in “The History of Warren County, Ohio“:2
“Deerfield, now South Lebanon, is one of the oldest towns of what is current Warren County. The time of its first settlement is not known with certainty. It is probable that the town was laid out in 1795, and the first settlement commenced in the spring of 1796. … “Shortly after, a settlement was commenced at Deerfield, by Gen. David Sutton, Capt. Nathan Kelly and others.” Morgan Van Matre and family were probably among the “others”.
The new name of “South Lebanon” was adopted when the railroad was built through the neighborhood. A post office was established under the name Deerfield Village in 1828, and the name of the post office was changed to South Lebanon in 1871.
Cincinnati, Hamilton county, Ohio - About 1795
In the stories about Deerfield, there is a reference to the Van Metre brothers of “Cincinnati” and one has reference to Morgan, “of Green Township”.
I suspect the Van Matre brothers were checking out the lay of the land and perhaps stayed in the Cincinnati area during their travels, while their families remained in Cynthiana. Cincinnati is about 55 miles north of Cynthiana.
Morgantown, Ohio 1800-1813
A Forgotten Village
The following story was published in the Cincinnati Enquirer in February 1962:4
Where State routes 20 and 73 intersect near East Fork of the Little Miami River a few miles northwest of New Vienna, in neighboring Clinton County, stands the ghost of once growing and prosperous Morgantown, named for its first and most prominent resident, Morgan Van Meter. Nothing at all remains of the place now—not even a spooky shadow or shiver.
Morgan Van Meter was one of the several Cincinnati Van Meter brothers who since 1796 had lived at Deerfield, now South Lebanon, in one half of a two-room double log cabin. The Johnson family lived in the other room.
Van Meter was a hunter and in 1800, when the woods around Deerfield were beginning to become hunted out, bought 200 acres of woods in present Clinton County for “seven quarters of a dollar an acre” and in spring that year, moved onto it. He was the first permanent white settler in Clinton County.
The hunter unsaddled his pack-horse, threw the saddle and his baggage on the ground, then looked about him at the land that was to be his future home. It was a beautiful country and held a surprise. Just visible through the undergrowth and much too near to be imagined friendly company, was an Indian wigwam. No Indians, so far as the hunter knew, were in the country and a stealthy investigation revealed no Indians there.
The wigwam apparently had been abandoned by a hunting party and long unoccupied. So, Van Meter moved into it and remained until his own cabin had been built. Van Meter moved into it and remained until his own cabin had been built. Van Meter’s cabin was a double one and was the first ever erected in what is now Clinton County.
Van Meter liked his isolation and there was plenty of game. His nearest neighbors were at Bedie’s Station, later Union Village. At the mouth of Todd’s Fork, and the four families at Mount’s station on the south side of the Miami near where Morrow now stands. He hurried his own cabin—he wanted to get out of the wigwam with its smells of stale smoke and the ominous “stink of Indian.”
When the hut was finished, he brought his wife and family from Deerfield and cleared a patch of ground for a garden and planted corn, beans and potatoes. These with his hunting provided the family with a living.
By 1803 when more settlers’ cabins began to dot the woods and the game began to thin, Van Meter built a log mill on East Fork and then turned one room of his cabin into a tavern—the first in the area. The family lived in the other room. With the mill, it was no longer necessary for the settlers to take their corn through the woods to Deerfield or Waynesville for grinding and Van Meter began to grow prosperous.
Soon Van Meter put up a store and others began to build cabins near and around the place. The mill was known as “Abner Van Meter’s mill.” Abner was Morgan Van Meter’s son [note: Abner was not Morgans son. He was most likely Morgans brother David’s son. David died in 1797 when David was 30 years old. It is likely that some of his sons joined Morgan and his brothers in their migration to Ohio]. The place itself became known as “Morgantown.”
When the first of the early roads was being built through the country in 1804 and Van Meter learned that it was to bypass his tavern and town, he met the surveyors at the nearest point with a jug of whiskey and persuaded them “to bend the road” so that it would go by his property.
Thus, Morgantown grew and thrived until Morgan Van Meter died in 1813, then it began to slump away. His leading spirit was gone. Van Meter was buried beside the road who’s building he had influenced with a jug of whiskey, the grave by the roadside in front of his tavern was unmarked. When the road was widened, and improved 11 years later it covered Van Meter’s grave.
That was nearly 140 years ago. Morgantown is gone, the tavern, mill and cabins leveled or rotted away and nothing at all remains of the place. But somewhere there, under the wide smooth pavement over which fleets of powerful modern motor tucks roar and countless automobiles pass, all unmindful of it, sleeps what if anything remains of Clinton County’s first permanent settler—who with a jug of whiskey bribed the bending of the road beneath which he be lost.
After the article was posted, the Wilmington News-Journal posted the following on February 16, 1962:5
By I. C. Clinton
FORGOTTEN VILLAGE – An article in the Cincinnati Enquirer last Sunday, written by Harry Hale, titled “A Forgotten Village” has drawn some local reaction.
Hale’s story describes Morgantown, named after Morgan Van Meter, a settlement near a point where 250 and 73 intersect, “near the east fork of the Little Miami River.”
Hales says nothing remains of the original Morgantown. But folks around here are saying the “forgotten village” is now Snow Hill.
Although Morgans youngest six children were most likely born in Morgantown, their birthplaces noted in a variety of stories and webgens show them as being born in New Vienna, which is about 10 miles south of the location. New Vienna, originally called Buzzrd’s Glory, and was laid out in 1835.
First settler in Clinton County
To put this story in perspective, Clinton County, Ohio was actually in Hamilton County in 1790. The following are the county changes for the area where our Morgan Van Matre settled and established Morgantown:
1790 Hamilton County
1803 Ross County
1805 Highland County
1810 Clinton County
The following excerpt is from “Clinton County, Pioneer Incidents, Chapter V – Pioneer Incidents- Part II – Earliest Settlement” from the USGenNet.org website 6
“It will be difficult to decide who was the first actual settler within the territory now comprising Clinton County, as the evidence seems to show that three persons came about the same time, and located at widely separated points. These were Morgan Van Meter, of Green Township; Amos Wilson, of the township bearing his name; and David Sewell, of Vernon Township. There is trouble in ascertaining the date at which each of these men came, but the latest investigations seem to fix them all in the year 1799. Morgan Van Meter has generally been accorded the honor of being the first arrival, and Judge Harlan prepared the following sketch of him:
“Morgan Van Meter was the first settler within the limits of Clinton County as it now exists, having come here in 1798 or 1799. He was also the first tavern-keeper within the road guides published in the Pittsburgh almanacs of seventy years ago [date written unknown], for the information and direction of travelers by land from that town to Cincinnati. Gen. Cass, in a conversation with one of our citizens a few years ago, made inquiries about this early public house, and stated that, having lain out all night in the woods a few miles southwest from Van Meter’s, he was glad to find it in the morning in time for a late breakfast. This was in very early days.
It is said of Morgan Van Meter that when the college township road was being located, about 1803 – 04 he met the surveyors and viewers a short distance west of Snow Hill and by generous donations from his whisky jug induced them to change the route of the road so that it should pass near his cabin, northwest of Snow Hill.
“Morgan was the first of five sons of Joseph Van Meter. His brothers were Joseph, Isaac, Abraham and William, all of whom, except William, were at one time residents of the State of Ohio, laid, we believe, of the old town of Deerfield [now South Lebanon], on the Little Miami River in what is now Warren County. The Brothers who came to Deerfield were said to have had families. Morgan lived in the lower part of the little town, not far from the river, in one end of it a double cabin, or a cabin divided into two rooms, the other room being occupied by the family of the late Judge Michael H. Johnson, a well-known resident of the Hopkinsville neighborhood, Warren County. He (Van Meter) removed directly from Deerfield to the head of the East Fork of the Little Miami, near where Snow Hill now is, in Clinton County. The point where he settled is a little cast of south. and distant about two hundred-yards from the present residence of Zephaniah Shears. Here, it is said, he found an unoccupied Indian wigwam. With the exception of this hut, there was not a human habitation within a radius of ten miles. Here he built his cabin and opened it to the public as a tavern. Here Morgantown was afterward laid out. He seems to have belonged to that class of men, once quite numerous, who keep constantly on the border of civilization and follow close upon the footsteps of the Indians as they retire further west at the advance of the white man…”
Morgan Van Matre the Surveyor
The following excerpt is from “A Story of A Van Matre Family” by Joseph M. Van Matre, 1985:7
“Morgan had a surveying business. When the people couldn’t afford to pay the surveyor, he took his pay in land. It is said that he came upon an unoccupied Indian wigwam and he lived in it. It was here he built a cabin and in 1798 opened it to the public as a tavern. He was the first white settler in what is now Clinton County, Ohio. Later the village of Snow Hill was laid out near there. In a short time, the cabin became too small, and so he built a larger one on the road leading from Chillicothe to Cincinnati. Van Matre’s was a conspicuous point in the road guides in the Pittsburg almanacs for the information and direction of travelers from that town to Cincinnati.
Morgan entertained his overnight visitors with violin music and stories. It was not uncommon for him to feed them dark bread and bear meat.
It is said of Morgan Van Matre that, when the college township road was being located in 1803-1804, he met the surveyor and viewers a short distance west of Snow Hill and by generous donations from his whiskey jug induced them to change the route of the road so it would pass near his cabin northwest of Snow Hill.
While I was in Ohio gathering information, I tried to find Morgan’s grave. I learned that he had been buried on his farm and later a barn had been built over the site of his grave. Years later that barn was removed and today Morgan’s remains lie under a concrete highway that runs alongside a beautiful country club.
Morgan fathered ten children.”
Morgan Van Matre and the Campton Brothers
The following excerpt is from the “Early Settlement of Highland County Ohio“, by Daniel Scott, Esq., 1890:8
“Morgan Van Meter locates on the east Fork, opens a hotel, lays out a town, and indulges in bright dreams of future prosperity – Jonathan Berryman appointed Post-Master at New Market – Aaron Watson starts a hotel, and John and William Campton establish a tannery in the same place …
…Early in the spring of 1803 Morgan VanMeter left Kentucky for Ohio. He had a wife and considerable family, and being a backwoodsman, from long habit as a hunter and Indian fighter, he made his location on the head waters of the East Fork of the Little Miami, about fifteen miles north of New Market, then an extreme out-post settlement. His nearest neighbors were the Evans on Clear Creek, the McKibbens and Miller a few miles down the creek, and Adams on Turtle Creek. Ths selection not only gave him an opportunity of locating his warrant on the choice of many miles square of land, but secured to him fine hunting grounds in his own immediate vicinity, which in those days was esteemed an object of first importance.
VanMeter had often been over the ground while it yet remained in the possession of its original and native proprietors, the Wyandotta, and was therefore familiar with the favorite points. Several years before he was one of a party of Kentuckians on their way to attack the Indian towns on the Little Miami, who encamped over night a few miles north of where he chose his new home. One of their number deserted to the enemy and gave warning of their approach, which frustrated the object of the expedition, and they found it necessary for their own safety to turn back. They named their camp the “Deserted Camp,” and it has ever since been a place of notoriety among land surveyors. On this expedition he marked the peculiar merits of the surrounding country and when he pulled up stakes in Kentucky, and set his face northward, he followed the trace from Limestone on through New market to the banks of the East Fork. Here he built his little cabin, cleared out his corn patch and made himself a home, depending entirely on the products of the chase for subsistence during the summer. Some corn was had at a high price in the adjoining settlements but he gave himself very little trouble about bread, substituting “jerk” for it as a general thinking. This jerk is deer meat dried by the fire until it is entirely divested of all moisture. It will keep for a long time and is not a bad substitute for bread in case of extreme necessity. Dry turkey breast was also used in those days for the same purpose.
The point selected by VanMeter was, for the time, rather a good one. Kenton’s trace, or the old Mad River road, as it afterwards became, was then the main thoroughfare north, and as emigration increased very rapidly in that direction from Kentucky, his house, being almost the only one between New Market and Springfield, was soon known far and near as a stopping place for the weary and lonely “mover.” A trace was cut out from Chllicothe to the settlement at Lebanon, which place was laid out in the fall of 1803, which crossed the Mad River road at VanMeter’s improvement and added considerably to the number of persons claiming his hospitality, as well as the importance of his location. he found it necessary during the fall to build another cabin and finally to open a tavern in regular form. VanMeter was well adapted to the times and the vocation of a log cabin landlord. He managed to keep a supply of whisky, venison and cornbread or hominy, and could tell good yarns and play the fiddle for the amusement of his guests. he thus continued to do business and prospered for three or four years. About this time he engaged a surveyor and proceeded to further develop his original plan when he first selected the location. He laid off a town on the beautiful bank of the creek and named it Morgantown. The lots sold for a time pretty rapidly, as many believed the point a good one, there being no town then in existence to interfere with its prosperity. The place improved considerably in the way of log cabins and small clearings. It was then in Ross county, and the supposition of many was that it stood a fair chance to become the seat of a new county at no distant day. When Highland county was organized, Morgantown was within its boundaries bu other civil divisions of the surplus territory being soon after made, the aspiring town on the East Fork was found in the wrong location. It, however, still continued to improve slowly, but finally it stopped, then commenced declining and finally went down and died out entirely. The very name is now almost forgotten by the old settlers, and not half of their children ever heard of it, and nearly every trace of the town has disappeared. …
..This year [1803] John Campton, from Kentucky, established a tanyard in New Market, the first in the present county of Highland. A few months afterwards his brother William [husband of Morgans sister Elisabeth] came and engaged with him in the yard. Tanning in those days, though doubtless quite as necessary for the convenience of the people as is that art now, was carried on under many difficulties. Hides were scarce and dear. Bark they had to gather themselves in the woods as best suited their convenience, and the present indispensable requisite to leather finishing, fish oil, could hardly be procured at any costs. As a consequence leather was very costly. But pioneer tanners was well as hatters and others, were not at a loss for expedients. They fell back upon the natural resources of the country and for years the tanners, not only of New Market, but other parts of the country in Southern Ohio, bought in all the coon, ‘possum, bear and other oils obtained by the hunters from the active animals of the woods This opened up quite a ‘trade, and was not only a source of profit to many, but of convenience to all in those days when money was almost out of the question. They were thus, by ordinary industry and care, enabled to supply their necessary wants in the way of leather. This species of oils was used, pretty generally in this region up as late as 1820, though tanners did not like to acknowledge the fact, for the reason that they were enabled to keep the price of leather up on pretense of the high price of fish oil, little or none of which they in fact used. They, when wild animals became rather scarce, and milch cows plenty, bought all the unsalted butter they could get and used it as a substitute for oil. Tanning, in this way, soon became a most lucrative business and yards became quite common. Some two years after Campton established his yard in New Market, he sold out to his brother William and moved away.”
Morgan Van Matre's Migration Dates
As you can see, there are many contradictions on where Morgan was from and the timing of his migrations in the many stories that were written. After reviewing the various biographies, stories, birth and marriage dates and places and making my own evaluation, the following what I have concluded:
- 1765 – Born in Frederick County, Virginia (now Martinsburg, Berkeley County, West Virginia).
- 1770 – Moved to the Short Creek area of Virginia (now just southwest of West Liberty, West Virginia) when he was about 5 years old.
- 1794 – Moved to Cynthiana, Kentucky, most likely in 1794.
- 1796 – Moved to Deerfield, Ohio (now South Lebanon, Ohio) about 1796 (with his family and brothers).
- 1800 – Moved his family and established Morgantown, Ohio about 1800. (Morgantown no longer exists but was located close to what is now Snow Hill, Ohio), where many of his children were born.
Morgan Van Matre's Will - 1813
The following is Morgans Will as found in “A Story of a Van Matre Family”, by Joseph M. Van Matre, 1985:9
IN THE NAME OF GOD AMEN.
I Morgan Van Matre of the County of Highland and State of Ohio, being weak of body but of sound mind and memory, blessed be Almighty God for the same, but calling to mind that it is once appointed to all men to die, do make, ordain, constitute and appoint. This My Last Will and Testament, in manner and form following to-wit.
FIRST, I give my spirit to Almighty God, who gave it, and my body to the Earth to be buried in a decent manner by my executors with as little ceremony as possible.
SECOND. I will that all my just debts and funeral expenses be paid out of my estate by my executors.
THIRD. For the balance of my earthly estate, I will and bequeath unto my beloved wife Mary Van Matre sixteen hundred dollars as her dowry.
FOURTH. I will and bequeath unto my children which is namely, Elizabeth Campton, Joseph Van Matre, Andrea Pierce Van Matre, James Van Matre, Abraham Van Matre, John Van Matre, Margaret Van Matre, Lewis Davis Van Matre, Thomas Jefferson Van Matre and Melissa Van Matre the remains of my estate, to be equally divided amongst them, taking into consideration the property which Elizabeth Campton has received which is to go as a part of her legacy agreeable to its value, also the land and other property which Joseph Van Matre has received is to go apart of his legacy, agreeable to its value, the land is to go at two dollars for acre.
FIFTHLY AND LASTLY. I appoint my beloved truly friends, William Campton and Absolom Van Matre the executors to this my last will and testament, by me made in testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal this 28t day of March 1813.
Morgan Van Matre Seal
Signed sealed and pronounced by the above-named Morgan Van Matre as his last will and testament, in presence of us who have hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses in the presence of the testator.
Isaac Van Matre
Abraham Cleavinger Proven June 21st 1813
John Seaman and ordered to be
Hiram Nordyke recorded
William Campton was Morgan’s daughter Elizabeth’s husband. I’ve not definitively determined who Absalom Van Matre was. One option is that it was his brother David’s son, but Smyth states he died at the age of 14. Davids son Abner does appear to have joined them. Two other options are: 1. Absalom is the son of Henry Van Matre who settled in what is now Greene County, Pennsylvania. 2. Absalom is the son of Joseph and Elizabeth (Aikens) Van Matre of Hardy County, West Virginia.
Captain Nathan Kelly
Capt. Nathan Kelly married Morgan’s widow, Mary, after Morgans death in 1813 and Nathan Kelly’s wife in 1815. He would become step-father to Morgan’s young children. I assume he was the namesake of Morgans’ grandson Nathan Kelly Van Matre.
Nathan Kelly was the son of James and Anna (Hill) Kelly and born 30 Sep 1760. He 1st married Hannah Miller, who died in 1815. He 2nd married Morgan Van Matre’s widow, Mary (Pierce) Van Matre. Nathan died 6 July 1845 at the age of 84, in Warren County, Ohio and is buried at the Deerfield Cemetery, South Lebanon, Warren County, Ohio, Memorial #16494403. The inscription on his headstone reads:
SACRED to the memory of NATHAN KELLY Eldest son of James & Ann Kelly who was born Sept 30 1760 and emigrated from the State of Pennsylvania to the west in the Year 1791 & settled near this place on the Year 1797 and died July 6, 1845 aged 84 years, 10 mons & 6 days.
Lo, here lies age who life’s load sustained
Till none who knew his early days remained
At length with wasting care and years oppressed
His weary toilworn frame sunk down to rest.
General Nathan Kelly is named as a Representative of the Ninth General Assembly in 1810; an Associate Judge appointed by the Legislature 1801-1804; and was listed as a Justice of the Peace on October 31, 1825 in Deerfield.
He is also showing as a Mason as follows in The History of Warren County, Ohio:10
Nathan Kelly’s Biography:11
“NATHAN KELLEY, deceased was born in the State of Delaware, and was married to Hannah Miller, of Pennsylvania, and afterward came down the Ohio River on a flat-boat with Judge Bennet, Longworth and others to Cincinnati in 1791; he came from the above place in the night to Deerfield, and purchased land now [1882] owned by M. Hayner. In 1796, he located on the land where he lived and died; he served as Justice of the Peace for many years, and was a man of large executive ability; he died July 6 , 1845, aged 85 years; death came sudden and unexpected, as the day before his death he rode five miles to have his will made; his [first] wife died in 1815. To them were born seven children [actually 8: Ann] Cornelius, James, Thomas, Joseph (who was drowned in the Ohio River), Mary, Sidney, and Cynthia. He was again married to Mary Pierce Van Meter, who bore him one child- Priscilla. He was an exemplary member of the M.E.Church and stood high in the order of Masonry.”
Morgan and Mary (Pierce) Van Matre Children
1. Elizabeth "Betsy" Van Matre
daughter of Morgan and Mary (Pierce) Van Matre
Born: 25 Mar 1788 in Ohio County, Virginia (now West Virginia), USA.
Died: 4 Sep 1864 at the age of 76 in Clinton County, Ohio, USA.
Married: 24 Jul 1806 William Campton in Highland County, Ohio, USA
William Campton son of Robert and Lavina Campton.
Born: 27 Feb 1783 most likely in Virginia, (now West Virginia), USA. Many webgens show him born in Cynthiana, Harrison County, Kentucky, USA, but Cynthiana was not formed until 1793 and our Virginia Pioneers migrated to Kentucky in the mid 1790’s and they were some of the first. He is noted to have migrated to New Market, Highland County,Ohio with his brother John in 1803 arriving from Kentucky.
Died: 23 Jan 1829 at the age 45 in Hillsboro, Highland County, Ohio, USA.
Military: Private, 1 Regt (McCarthurs), Ohio Vols. and Mil., War of 1812.
William and Elizabeth “Betsy” (Van Matre) Campton Children:
- William Campton Jr. (1812-1885) married Margaret Anderson.
- Morgan Campton (1813-1902)
- James R. Campton (1815-1845) married Phoebe Tegarten.
- Andrew Pierce Campton (1818-1879) married Marjorie Heard.
- Cynthia Ann Campton (1820-1845)
- Lucinda Campton (1822-1841)
- Mary Campton (1826-1897) married John Ligett.
- Abraham V. Campton (1827-1915) married Emaline Canon.
- Elizabeth Campton (1829-?)
2. Joseph Van Matre
son of Morgan and Mary (Pierce) Van Matre
Born: 13 Oct 1791 most likely in Ohio County, Virginia (now West Virginia), USA. Note: some webgens show him born in Cynthiana, Kentucky, but the family had not migrated to Cynthiana until about 1794 from what I could determine.
Died: 1875 at the age of 84 in Oneco, Stephenson County, Illinois, USA.
Married 1st: 29 Mar 1812 Catherine Clevenger in Clinton County, Ohio, USA.
Married 2nd: 17 Sep 1818 Catherine Matthews in Clinton County, Ohio, USA
Residence: 8 Sep 1850 Oneco, Stephenson, Illinois, USA per 1850 US Federal Census.
Find A Grave: Memorial #2400884737 buried at Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Ocenco, Stephenson County, Illinois, USA.
Military: There is a Joseph Van Matre showing as Lieutenant showing as Sergeant in Trimble’s Mtd Reg’t Ohio Vols. and Mil, War of 1812. This may or may not be this Joseph, although the age and location does fit, I could not find any other service mentioned for him.12
Note: Joseph was one of the brothers who walked from Ohio to Michigan Territory with his siblings, Andrew Pierce, John Johnson, Lewis and Melissa in 1826. You’ll find this story in my post John Johnson Van Matre (coming soon).
Catherine Clevenger daughter of William Thomas and Frances (Acker) Clevenger. Also spelled Cleavenger in some records.
Born: About 1792 in Virginia (now West Virginia) USA.
Died: About 1816 at the age 24 in Ohio, USA.
Catherine Matthews daughter of Joel and Phoebe Matthews.
Born: About 1795 in Maryland, USA.
Died: About 1870 at the age 75 in Stephenson County, Illinois, USA.
Joseph and Catherine (Clevenger) Van Matre Children
- Morgan J. Van Matre (1813-1883) married 1st Elizabeth Ross; married 2nd Susanna Luanna Denio.
- William Van Matre (1815-1873) married 1st Sarah Shockley; married 2nd: Cynthia ?.
Joseph and Catherine (Matthews) Van Matre Children:
- Andrew P. Van Matre (1822-1850)
- Margaret Van Matre (1825-1900) married George Howe.
- Priscilla Van Matre (1828-1915) married Cyrus Howe.
- John Jefferson Van Matre (1835-1917) married Nancy Humphrey.
- Joseph Nogle Van Matre (1837-1878) married Elizabeth Trotter.
- Sylvia Van Matre (1845-1907) married Ephraim Watkins Marble.
3. Andrew Pierce "A.P." Van Matre
son of Morgan and Mary (Pierce) Van Matre
Born: 25 Aug 1793 most likely in Ohio County, Virginia (now West Virginia), USA.
Died: 5 Jun 1834 at the age of 40 in Willow Springs Township, Lafayette County, Wisconsin.
Married: An Indian girl.
Land Office: 27 April 1840 – 80 acres at Mineral Point, Wisconsin Territory. Charles Bracken and heirs of Andrew P. Van Matre.
Land Office: 1 Jan 1846 – 422 thousandths of an acre in the town of Galena to Heirs of Andrew Pierce Van Matre.
Find A Grave: Memorial #2400884737 buried at Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Ocenco, Stephenson County, Illinois, USA.
Andrew Pierce Van Matre, referred to as A. P., migrated to what is now Galena, Jo Davies County, Illinois, in the spring of 1819. He appears to be the one who influenced the migration of his brothers and sister to Wisconsin to mine lead.
A.P. was the father of two little girls who died of lead poisoning caused by drinking water from a sluice box used in washing lead.
A.P. owned land in the city of Galena, Illinois, near his brother Joseph. He died at an early age, forty years old, and was buried under a white oak tree, west of the Mineral Point – Darlington highway, a short distance south of the present [1985] location of the Willow Springs church. After his death, his wife returned to her tribe.13
Although not in the direct line I am following, I found his story interesting and relevant to his brothers, so added it to my series. You’ll find his post at Andrew Pierce Van Matre (coming soon).
4. James Van Matre
son of Morgan and Mary (Pierce) Van Matre
Born: 14 Oct 1795 in Cynthiana, Harrison County, Kentucky, USA.
Died: 1 Dec 1865 at the age of 70 in Wiota, Lafayette County, Wisconsin, USA.
Married: 14 May 1819 Sidney Ann Mc Mahon Kelly in Warren County, Ohio, USA.
Find A Grave: Memorial #101746868 buried at Miller Cemetery, Wiota, Lafayette County, Wisconsin, USA.
Note: James joined his brothers and sister in what became Shullsburg, Wisconsin, in 1827. You can find the story at my post John Johnson Van Matre (comng soon).
Sidney Ann McMahon Kelly daughter of Nathan and Hannah (Miller) Kelly. [This is the Nathan Kelly who 2nd married Morgan’s widow, Mary, so Sidney and James were step siblings]
Born: 26 Jun 1802 in Warren County, Ohio, USA.
Died: 17 Sep 1881 at the age of 79 in Wiota, Lafayette County, Wisconsin, USA.
Married: 14 May 1819 Sidney Ann McMahon Kelly in Warren County, Ohio, USA.
Find A Grave: Memorial #223970034 buried at Miller Cemetery, Wiota, Lafayette County, Wisconsin, USA.
The James Van Matre Family as related by Eleanor Van Matre Casely, as documented in “A Story of a Van Matre Family” by Joseph Van Matre, 1985:14
James and Sidney Kelly Van Matre came from Lebanon, Ohio, to Wisconsin in 1838 and settled in Wiota Township in LaFayette County where he was a farmer. He built a brick home, which still [1985] stands, from brick made in a kiln near his home. He was a member of the town governing board and of the Masonic Fraternity. Some of the older children remained in Ohio. The descendants of one family with whom I [Joseph Van Matre] corresponded still use the spelling of Van Meter for their name.
James Kelly Van Matre, the son of James and Sidney, was in the 5th Battery of the Light Artillery in the Civil War. He was an aide to General Sherman and went with him on Sherman’s “March to the Sea”. After the war was over he accidently had one arm shot off when a cannon backfired in a July 4th celebration. He bought a farm in the Wiota Township from people by the name of Welty, who had received it as a land grant. Later he sold it to his son, Arthur Scott Van Matre.
James Kelly Van Matre married Margaret Jane Scott, who ha been a schoolteacher. She was a very stern person and a Methodist.
In Wiota, Sept. 17th, 1881, Mrs. Sidney M. Van Matre, aged 79 years 2 months and 22 days.
Mrs. Van Matre was born in Warren county, Ohio, June 26, 1802; was married to James Van Matre in 1817; she was the mother of fourteen children, eight of whom survive her—six sons and two daughters; they all live near here, except one son who lives in Ohio. They moved to Wisconsin in the year 1846, and settled not the farm on which she died. They made their journey from Ohio here with teams, and wagons, bringing their stock and provisions with them, camping where night overtook them, reaching their destination in the mont of October
Her husband died January 18, 1863, after a brief illness. Shortly after his death, Morgan J. His eldest son, bought up the old homestead, and moved on to it, after which the subject of this sketch made her home with him, until called to join her husband and children that had gone before.
Mrs. van Matre received a paralytic stroke inJanuary 1880, which completely paralyzed her right side, and otherwise disabled her so that she was entirely helpless, and had to be waited on like an infant. On the 20th of August last she had another stroke, from which she never rallied. During all her long and painful sickness her mind seemed clear and strong. She was always glad to have any of her old neighbors or friends call, and would converse with them for hours upon the scenes of the past.
Since the 20th of August she suffered the mot excruciating pain, and it seemed at times that it was impossible for her to live an hour; still her iron constitution refused to yield to the pale horse and its rider, but bore all her afflictions with patience and christian fortitude, until the morning of the 17th, at one o’clock, when she peacefully fell asleep to wake no more, until the morning of the resurrection.
Thus had passed away a long and busy life; one that was held in high esteem by all who knew her, as the large concourse of sympathizing friends that followed her remains to the silent city of the dear attest. She was a true and affectionate wife, a kind and indulgent mother, and one of the best of neighbors.
“Grannie” (the name we all loved to call her) farewell! Farewell! Rest in Peace. May we all imitate your good qualities and prepare to meet you in the better land. J.S.
Wiota Sept. 18, 1881
James and Sidney (Kelly) Van Matre Children:
- Morgan Van Matre (1819-after 1880) married Mary Jane Woods.
- Nathan Kelly Van Matre (1821-1899) married Ruth Ann Wilson.
- Mary Ann Van Matre (1823-1907) married 1st Elijah M. Swank; married 2nd George W. Dobbs.
- Carolines Van Matre (1881-?) married Joshua Lieurance.
- Hannah Jane Van Matre (1832-1896) married George Hawley.
- Katherine Van Matre (1834-1870) married John White.
- Lewis Jefferson Van Matre (1834-1894) married 1st Mary Ann French; married 2nd Martha A. Martin.
- John Van Matre (1835-1900) married Sarah Ann Agnew.
- James Kelly Van Matre (1839-1913) married Margaret Jane Scott.
- Andrew P. Van Matre (1841-1928) married Lucretia Hortensia Griswold.
- Washington J. Van Matre (1844-?) married Levisa Miller.
- Sydney A. Van matre (1848-?)
- Cynthia Van Matre (?-?)
- Unknown
5. Abraham Van Matre
son of Morgan and Mary (Pierce) Van Matre
Born: 20 Apr 1801 most likely in Deerfield, (now South Lebanon), Ohio, USA.
Died: After 1831.
Note: I was unable to find further information about Abraham. Please share if you know more.
6. John Johnson Van Matre
son of Morgan and Mary (Pierce) Van Matre
Born: 24 May 1803 in Morgantown, Ross County (now Snow Hill, Clinton County), Ohio, USA.
Died: 27 Jul 1880 in Fayette, Lafayette County, Wisconsin, USA.
Married: 23 Jan 1823 Mary “Polly” Matthews in Clinton County, Ohio, USA.
Find A Grave: Memorial #101270126 buried at Union Cemetery, Lafayette County, Wisconsin, USA.
Note: He is one of the brothers who migrated to Wisconsin with his siblings. He is an ancestor I will follow. My post John Johnson Van Matre will be coming soon and will cover the adventure.
Mary “Polly” Matthews daughter of Joel and Phoebe (?) Matthews.
Born: About 1804 in Ohio, USA.
Died: 6 Jun 1866 at the age of about 62 in Willow Springs, Lafayette, Wisconsin, USA.
7. Margaret Van Matre
daughter of Morgan and Mary (Pierce) Van Matre
Born: 24 Aug 1805 in Morgantown, Highland County (now Snow Hill, Clinton County), Ohio, USA.
Died: 24 Oct 1878 at the age of 73 in Freeport, Stephenson County, Wisconsin, USA.
Married: 23 Dec 1819 Lewis Gibler in Highland County, Ohio, USA.
Find A Grave: Memorial #16274646 buried at Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Oneco, Stephenson County, Illinois, USA.
Lewis Gibler son of Ladwick Lewis and Magdaline (Smutz) Gibler.
Born: 1 Nov 1799 in Shenandoah County, Virginia, USA.
Died: 2 Oct 1884 at the age of 84 in Oneco, Stephenson County, Illinois, USA.
Find A Grave: Memorial #77236034 buried at Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Oneco, Stephenson County, Illinois, USA.
Note: Margaret married Lewis Gibler when she was 15 years old. Lewis established the first distillery in Highland County, Ohio. They later moved to Wisconsin.
Lewis and Margaret (Van Matre) Gibler Children:
Margarets Obituary (found on her Find A Grave memorial) states she was the mother of 13 children).
- Morgan Gibler (1822-?) married Eliza Jane Van Matre (daughter of Joseph Whitnack and Elizabeth (Ray) Van Matre).
- John L. Giblelr (1823-1893) married Mary Norris.
- Sarah Gibler (1825-1892) married Andrew Hinds
- Jessie E. Gibler (1828-1895) married Eunice Rebecca Hartson.
- Mary Gibler (1830-1915) married 1st Isaiah Martin; married 2nd William Ludwig Conrad.
- Jefferson Gibler (1831-?) married Theresa Hartson.
- Malisa Priscilla Gibler (1835-1912) married William Vanwinkle.
- Lewis Van Gibler (1837-1910) married 1st Ellen Shoemaker; married 2nd Mary E. Parish.
- Margaret Gibler (1843-?) married Thomas Smith Bowen
- Cathrine Gibler (1849-1934) married William Bowers.
- Fredrick Gibler (1854-?) married 1st Sarah Ann Shippee; married 2nd Eliza A Heise.
- Unknown
- Unknown
8. Lewis Davis "L.D." Van Matre
son of Morgan and Mary (Pierce) Van Matre
Born: 20 Sep 1807 in Morgantown, Highland County (now Snow Hill, Clinton County), Ohia, USA.
Died: 15 Apr 1886 at the age of 78 in Monroe, Green County, Wisconsin, USA.
Married 1st: 13 Jan 1831 Nancy Donaldson in Clinton County, Ohio, USA.
Married 2nd: About 1857 Matilda A. Mathews in Illinois.
Find A Grave: Memorial #101746868 buried at Miller Cemetery, Wiota, Lafayette County, Wisconsin, USA.
Note: Lewis joined his brothers and sister in what became Shullsburg, Wisconsin, in 1827 and worked with them in sinking the shaft for the Badger mine and in developing the Badger Lot diggings in what is now the city park in Shullburg. You can find the story at my post John Johnson Van Matre (coming soon).
They later lived in White Oak Springs township near Galena, Illinois and after that moved to Green County, Wisconsin, a short distance south of what is now [1985] the city of Monroe. He lived near his brother Joseph who had settled just south of the Wisconsin-Illinois state line.
Nancy Donaldson Alexander daughter of Benjamin H. and Jane (Bowles Hill) Alexander.
Born: 7 May 1807 in Kentucky, USA.
Died: 4 Oct 1855 at the age of 48 in Oneco, Stephenson County, Illinois, USA.
Find A Grave: Memorial #16273654 buried at Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Oneco, Stephenson County, Illinois, USA.
Matilda A. (Mathews) Van Matre daughter of unknown Mathews and widow of Lewis’ brother Thomas Jefferson Van Matre.
Born: 24 Nov 1817 in Clinton County, Ohio, USA.
Died: 27 Nov 1896 at the age of 79 in Green County, Wisconsin, USA.
Married 1st: 25 Sep 1834 Thomas Jefferson Van Matre (brother of Lewis Davis Van Matre).
Find A Grave: Memorial #16274259 buried at Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Oneco, Stephenson County, Illinois, USA.
Lewis Davis and Nancy (Alexander) Van Matre Children:
- Thomas Jefferson Van Matre (1834-1894) married Mary Ann French.
- Mary Elizabeth Van Matre (1836-?) married William F. Shaffer
- Melissa Van Matre (1838-1910)
- Joseph Wilson Van Matre (1838-1909)
- Caroline Van Matre (1840-1886)
- Lewis P. Van Matre (1842-1846)
- Lucy Pierce Van Mare (1843-1923)
- William N. Van Matre (1850-?)
- Nora Van Matre (1859-?)
- Matilda Van Matre (1862-?)
9. Thomas Jefferson "T.J." Van Matre
son of Morgan and Mary (Pierce) Van Matre
Born: 12 Aug 1809 in Morgantown, Highland County (now Snow Hill, Clinton County), Ohia, USA.
Died: 22 Jun 1856 at the age of 46 in Yuba County, California, USA.
Married: 25 Sep 1834 Matilda A. Mathews in Clinton County, Ohio, USA.
Find A Grave: Memorial #207598143 burial details unknown.
Note: Thomas Jefferson Van Matre went to California during the Gold Rush and died while mining for gold there.
Matilda A. (Mathews) Van Matre daughter of unknown Mathews and widow of Lewis’ brother Thomas Jefferson Van Matre.
Born: 24 Nov 1817 in Clinton County, Ohio, USA.
Died: 27 Nov 1896 at the age of 79 in Green County, Wisconsin, USA.
Married 2nd: About 1857 Lewis Davis Van Matre (brother of Thomas Jefferson Van Matre).
Find A Grave: Memorial #16274259 buried at Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Oneco, Stephenson County, Illinois, USA.
Thomas Jefferson and Matilda A. (Mathews) Van Matre Children:
- Joseph Lewis Van Matre (1839-1862) married Helen Claracy Marble.
- Mary Jennie Van Matre (1841-1874) married L. Phelps.
- John Calvin Van Matre (1844-1884) married Nettie Maria Morrill.
- Rachel Ann Van Matre (1847-1920) married Austin Luther Darling.
10. Melissa Van Matre
daughter of Morgan and Mary (Pierce) Van Matre
Born: 12 Aug 1814 in Morgantown, Highland County (now Snow Hill, Clinton County), Ohia, USA.
Died: 3 Jul 1893 at the age of 78 in Winslow, Illinois, USA.
Married: 20 Aug 1826 Jesse W. Shull in Shullsburg, Crawford County, Michigan Territory (now Lafayette County, Wisconsin, USA).
Find A Grave: Memorial #234226148 buried at Rock Lily Cemetery, Winslow, Stephenson County, Illinois, USA.
Note: You can find her obituary / biography at her Find A Grave Memorial #234226148.
Jesse W. Shull son of Frederick and Catherine (Bartleson) Shull (also spelled Scholl).
Born: 1 Apr 1785 in Somerset County, Pennsylvania, USA.
Died: 12 Feb 1864 at the age of in Winslow, Stephenson County, Illinois, USA.
Find A Grave: Memorial #16136159 buried at Mount Pleasant Cemetery (Also known as Van Matre Cemetery), Oneco, Stephenson County, Illinois, USA.
Military: Private, Capt. Enoch Duncan Company, Col. Dodge. Served in the war of 1812, with the Illinois Volunteers, Mounted Rifles and the Black Hawk War (1832). After his death, his widow, Melissa received a pension until her death in 1893.
Note: Jesse was with A.P. Van Matre (story coming soon) in the early days 1818-1825 of exploring what would become Wisconsin and Illinois. In the story, he appears to have been married to an Indian girl, who died of smallpox. At the age of 40 he then married our 15 year old Melissa Van Matre.
Melissa, Jesse and Shullsburg as docmented in “A Story of a Van Matre Family” by Joseph Van Matre, 1985:16
The tenth child, Melissa, was born on. August 11, 1811, just two years before her father’s death. At the age of fourteen she walked [another source states they went by steamboat] to Wisconsin with three of her brothers. Only a few days after she reached the age of fifteen, on August 20, 1826, she married Jesse W. Shull and was the mother of all of his children.
As early as 1818, Jesse W, Shull traversed and explored [what would become] LaFayette County. In that same year he was employed by the Hudson Bay Fur Company and dealt with the Indians and some Frenchmen, the only inhabitants of the county. In 1819 Jesse W. Shull and A. P. Van Matre worked together in the Galena, Illinois area until about 1826 when Shull returned to the present location of Shullsburg [Wiscconsin] where he joined Melissa’s brothers John J., Joseph and Lewis Davis.
Old Shullsburg, located about half a mile west of the Shullsburg today, on the ridge opposite Estey’s furnace, was coming into prominence. The improvements then completed consisted of the cabin of Jesse W Shull, a grocery store, and a few miners cabins.
Shullsburg was organized January 12, 1849, when the first town meeting in the village was held. It was named in honor of Jesse W. Shull, an early pioneer and the leading man of the town. A fort or blockhouse, constructed by Shull, occupied the site of Old Shullsburg and was garrisoned by a company of thirty under his command.
The Shulls eventually moved to a farm on the Pecatonica River near Gratiot [Illinois] and reared a large family. [Gratiot, Illinois is about 15 miles east of Shullsburg, Wisconsin.]
Shullsburg Founder a Colorful Pioneer
SHULLSBURG–A century of neglect is ending for Jesse W. Shull, southwest Wisconsin’s first white resident and the founder of Shullsburg.
Shull, whose fifth generation descendants still live in Lafayette County, was the first to venture beyong the Ridge, the dividing line between white man’s civilization and Indian “barbarism.”
His discovery of lead ore, with the Indians’ help, set off a mining boom greater than the California gold rush a quarter century later. Between 1822 and 1828 the white population of the region, including Galena, Ill., swelled from 22 to 10,000.
This spring, visitors will get to know “Miner Jesse” as the symbol of Badger mine and museum which is run by LARC, the Lafayette Assn. for Retarded Children.
Regional historians, Harry Ammann, William Deetz and Cash Ee==Bells, and Mrs. Lela Gage, great granddaughter of Shull, have gathered fuller information about the man who was a reluctant pioneer.
Born in 1786 in Philadelphia and trained as a hatter, Shull was a fur trader for Hudson’s Bay Co. when he first saw the Indian country in 1818. HIs company wanted him to travel there, but he refused because several other traders had been murdered.
An Army colonel at Prairie du Chien called in Sac and Fox Indians and by threats and promises induced them not to harm Shull.
He became their friend and married a Fox woman, but when he went looking for mineral he got into territory claimed by the Winnebagoes, who were Indians of a different color. The drove him out.
Conflicting stories are told of Shull’s discovery of lead.
Indians were not supposed to reveal lead mines to white men, on pain of offending the gret spirit, But, seeing profit in it, friendly Saukies took Shull to the top of Badger hill and told him there was mineral to be found an arrow’s shot away.
“The joker,” related Deetz, “is that they didn’t tell him which way to shoot.”
Shull used the arrow’s fall as a point on a circle. He then walked the circle and found ore. The town that sprang up at his diggings was Shullsburg.
It isn’t known whether he became wealthy, but after the Winnebago uprising of 1827 and the Black Hawk war in 1832, he preferred farming to mining and bought land in green Coudnty.
His Indian wife had died of smallpox, and he married Melissa Van Matre when he was near 40 and she 15. The census of 1850 listed seven children.
A Dutchman, tall bearded, with a powerful voice. Shull sometimes frightened his farm neighbors with his brusque manner.
“Hold on there, Will Deetz, I want some words with you.” he once shouted to the grandfather of William Deetz. The conversation turned out to be cordial.
Shull never rode a horse or mule, according to Deetz, and near the end of his life went visiting on foot. He died in 1864 — or 1875. Accounts vary.
His burial place was long unknown to his descendants. Cash Eells recently discovered it in Mt. Pleasant Cemetery near Winslow, Ill. [Also called Van Matre Cemetery.]
The small marker credits Shull with military service in the Black Hawk War but fails to mention that he also served in the war of 1812. Deetz noted.
Jesse W. and Melissa (Van Matre) Schull Children:
- Andrew Price Shull (1829-1892)
- Lewis “Luther” William Shull (1831-1918)
- Jesse W. Shull Jr. (1833-1920)
- Nancy A. Shull (1836-1885)
- Maryette Shull (1837-1859)
- Morgan George Shull (1840-1923)
- John Jefferson Shull (1844-1925)
- Sarah M. Shull (1848-1920)
- Cupie Shull (1852-1925)
- Percilla D. Shull (1854-1925)
Citations and Attributes:
- The state cessions that eventually allowed for the creation of the Territories North and South West of the River Ohio. By Kmusser - Own work, CC BY-SA 2.5, https://commons.wikimedia. org/w/index.php?curid=1193686
- The History of Warren County, Ohio, Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co. 1882. p. 711.
- Daniel Scott, Esq., The Early Settlement of Highland County, 1890, p 80-81.
- Hale, Harry, "A Forgotten Village" Cincinnati Enquirer (Cincinnati, Ohio), 11 February 1962, p.35.
- "A Forgotten Village", by I. C. Clinton, Wilmington News-Journal (Wilmington, Ohio, 16 Feb 1962 Fri - p 1, col 1.
- Clinton County, Pioneer Incidents, Chapter V - Part II - Earliest Settlement, excerpt retrieved fromUSGenWeb.org, OHGenWeb website (Accessed 19 May 2023).
- Van Matre, Joseph M., "A Story of a Van Matre Family" 1985, unpublished, copy in possession of author.
- Daniel Scott, Esq., The Early Settlement of Highland County, 1890.p 80-81. Reviewed online at archive.org (Accessed 19 May 2023)
- Van Matre, Joseph M., "A Story of a Van Matre Family," 1895.
- The History of Warren County, Ohio, Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co. 1882, p. 501. Online copy available at Google Books: The History of Warren County (Accessed 20 May 2023).
- The History of Warren County, Ohio, Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co. 1882, p. 1058. Online copy available at Google Books: The History of Warren County (Accessed 20 May 2023).
- Joseph Van Matre, Lieutenant, War of 1812, Trible's Reg't Ohio Vols. and Mil., obtained online from Fold3 at https://www.fold3.com.... Membership may be required .(Accessed 21 May 2023).
- Van Matre, Joseph M., "A Story of a Van Matre Family", page 25 1985.
- Van Matre, Joseph, "A Story of a Van Matre Family" Page 25, 1985.
- Sidney (Kelly) Van Matre Obituary, Shullsburg Free Press, Shullsburg, Wisconsin, Thu, Sep 2, 1881, Page 3, columns 4 & 5; obtained online at Newspapers.com https://www.newspapers.com/article/shullsburg-free-press-obituary-of-sidney/125084077/ (Accessed 21 May 2023).
- Van Matre, Joseph, "A Story of a Van Matre Family" Pages 28-29, 1985.
- Location of Northwest Territory. CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index. php?curid=1255728