Please join us on June 19th at 10AM in Woodrow cemetery as we dedicate the ISHS marker to the heroic efforts of Nathan Dillon, Johnson Summers, and Samuel Woodrow who rode in pursuit of a kidnapped family and saved them from a terrible fate.

All history is local until it is woven together with other stories to become part of the National fabric and there is no aspect of National history that doesn’t touch Tazewell County. 

William, Alexander, David, John, and Samuel were born to William and Elizabeth Ramsey Mooberry in York County, Pennsylvania.

William (1752-1829) and Elizabeth (1767-1822) relocated to Franklin County, Ohio at an early day and there they lie in repose. William is recognized as a Patriot for his service in the Revolution. Four of their sons moved to Tazewell county and established a farming legacy. The brothers purchased 31 parcels of public domain land. In 1832 David purchased six and John five, all in Groveland township. A little bit later Sam purchased eight and William purchased five but theirs were all over the county.

William (1793-1848) leaves no record of a wife or children but did acquire quite a bit of land here in the 1830’s. He was compensated by the county in 1840 for surveying and platting work. He’s buried in Buckeye Cemetery near Morton.

Alexander (1796-1850) stayed in Columbus, Ohio with his family.

David was born 7 October 1798, married Margaret Stumbaugh 13 February 1823 in Franklin county, Ohio and the couple had at least nine children: Samuel R. (1824-1882), Martha (1824-1864), William (1825-1902), John S. (1826-1898), Elizabeth (1828-1847), Margaret (1830-1912), George (1832-1854), Alexander (1838-1922) who moved on to Nebraska, and Mary McGinnis (1841-1912) who is buried at Springdale in Peoria.

David died 9 July 1849 and was buried in Mooberry Cemetery as was his wife Margaret (1801-1890) and all of the children above except the last two. Although David had settled in Groveland township, his sons Samuel and William were among the early settlers in Fondulac township. William had worked his father’s farm and sawmill until he married but then setup housekeeping in Section 36 as did his brother, Sam. The county minutes indicate that David served on a petit jury in 1838.

John was born 2 February 1801, married Lydia Marion 25 January 1825 in Franklin county and the couple had twelve children: Alexander (1825-1900) who moved on to Dorchester, NE. , Henry E (1827-1910) who moved to Nebraska., Mary J York (1830-1914), Elijah (182-1907) who moved to Shelby County, Illinois, John W (1834-1911), Lucy Ann McVay (1835-1928) who moved on to Murray, NE, Lydia Elizabeth York (1837-1862), Margaret Stout (1840-1924), William C (1841-1863), Samuel R. (1844-1916) who married Clara McCllelan 24 February 1870 in Tazewell, Sarah Amanda Sill (1845-1905) who moved to Moline and Christopher L.(1852-1939).

John died 4 February 1884 and was buried in Roberts cemetery as was his wife, Lydia (1805-1899). Mary, Lucy, William, Sam and Christopher were also buried in Roberts. John farmed and raised livestock in Groveland township. He can be found in the 1839 Tazewell county minutes serving as an election judge in Groveland.

Samuel R. was born 17 December 1804, married Cynthia Flanigan 30 September 1829 in Franklin county, Ohio and the couple went on to have seven children: Minerva (1833-1916) was born in Ohio, married M. L. Smith and ended her life in Los Angeles, California. Sisson (1835-1899) was born in Ohio, married Frances E. Graves 28 November 1858 in Tazewell County and the couple moved to Lawrence, Texas. Wm. H. Harrison (1840-1913) was born in Morton, married Julia Ramsey 30 December 1868 and the couple moved to Woodford County. Mary E. (1842-1909) married David Leighton and relocated to Clarinda, Iowa. Eliza F. (1844-1886) married John O’Hara 14 February 1878 in Tazewell County before relocating first to Kansas then on to Clark Co., WA. Samuel A. (1845-1916) married 16 April 1882 in Kansas. Cynthia Belle (1847-1915) married Charles Floyd in 1867, then Asa Bozarth in 1875. They relocated to Oklahoma.

Samuel Sr. died 8 September 1846 and was buried in Buckeye Cemetery near Morton as was his wife Cynthia (1806-1874). She never remarried. Sam’s will designated his brothers, David and John, as guardian and executor respectively.

If anyone would like more information about any Tazewell family, feel free to contact TCGHS.

The Tazewell County Genealogical & Historical Society is an award-winning 501c3, all volunteer organization that has been in continuous service to our members and the public for 47 years. TCGHS operates an archive, library and research facility at 719 N. 11th St., Pekin. Visit our website at www.tcghs.org to learn more about us. If you have any point of interest that you would like to know more about, stop in at TCGHS or drop us a line.