Sunday, March 9, 2014

52 Ancestors: #10 - Clarissa JOLLETT Sampson

Amy Johnson Crow of No Story Too Small has issued a challenge:  write one blog post each week devoted to a specific ancestor.  It can be a story, a biography, a photograph, an outline of a research problem – anything that focuses on one ancestor.




One of my favorite ancestors is my 3rd great grandaunt Clarissa Ann JOLLETT, supposedly the second daughter of James and Nancy Walker JOLLETT.  She was born in Orange County, Virginia about 1793.  When she was 20, she married John SAMPSON, with her father giving permission and her brother-in-law Peter MARSH providing the bond. 

The Sampsons were a prosperous family in Virginia, all well established with very large farms.  So why John and Clarissa picked up roots and joined the westward movement is rather a mystery.  John and Clarissa were hardly a young couple starting out.  It was 1836 – they were nearly 50 years old.  But they did it anyway with 8 children in tow. 

While I don’t know the exact route they took, it is likely they went north to Maryland to pick up the National Road.

National Road
from Google Images

This was the first major improved highway funded by the United States government.  It was truly the gateway to the west for travelers and pioneers alike. 

Columbus, Ohio was their first significant stop where they spent the winter.  A granddaughter was born there.  Then in the spring of 1837, the Sampson gang arrived in Wayne County, Indiana, where they farmed for several years.  In a book honoring the early pioneers of Indiana, several of the Sampsons were featured.  John and Clarissa’s son John recalled that there were deer and turkeys roaming the woods near their farm and that they always had plenty of food on the table as a result. 

Two years later they moved on into Clay County.  There in Dick Johnson township, John and Clarissa purchased about 80 acres of land.  Over the years they added to the parcel, developing quite a valuable farm.

John Sampson died on his farm in Clay County, Indiana, at age 73.  In 1875, Clarissa died at the home of her son Sanford.  The two are buried in the Stunkard Cemetery in Brazil, Clay County, Indiana.  Other members of their family are buried nearby as well.

Tombstone of John and Clarissa Jollett Sampson
photo courtesy of Shirley Ziemer

Sources:
Blanchard, Charles.  A History of Clay County Indiana.  F. A. Battey & Co, 1884.
Lots of research provided by Shirley Ziemer, a Sampson/Jollett descendant and researcher  

THREE GENERATIONS:

Clarissa Ann JOLLETT (1793 Orange Co, Virginia - 9 Sep 1875 Clay Co, Indiana) & John SAMPSON (1790 Orange Co, Virginia – 29 Jan 1857 Clay Co, Indiana) 2 Mar 1813 Orange Co, Virginia

1. Louisa SAMPSON (4 Feb 1819 Orange Co, Virginia – about 1845 Indiana) & Andrew M. CASEBOLT (1807 Bath County, Virginia - 25 Oct 1882 Cape Girardeau County, Missouri) 25 Sep 1834 Orange Co, Virginia
  • Mary Jane CASEBOLT  (Nov 1836 Ohio - 4 May 1906 Carr Township, Jackson, Indiana) & David W. WRIGHT (16 Jan 1829 Indiana – 1 Dec 1907 Carr Township, Jackson, Indiana)  10 Nov 1865 St. Clair Co, Missouri     
  • Sanford CASEBOLT (1831 Indiana - Before 1870 Indiana) & Leora UNKNOWN (1846 Indiana - )
  • John Munroe CASEBOLT (5 Mar 1844 Indiana - 11 Sep 1911 Butler County, Missouri) & Eliza Jane MOODY (7 Mar 1848 Alabama – 22 Jun 1918 Butler County, Missouri) 05 Sep 1865 Marion County, Missouri
  • Wesley CASEBOLT (About 1841 Indiana - ) & Emma UNKNOWN (About 1843 Missouri)
  • Jonathan Beard CASEBOLT (About 1844 Indiana - 5 Sep 1899 San Francisco, California) & Mahala SMITH (About 1846 Illinois - ) 1865
2. Sanford Woodard SAMPSON (11 Oct 1819 Orange Co, Virginia - 20 Mar 1907 Dick Johnson, Clay, Indiana) & m1) Mary Jane AKERS (10 Nov 1833 Indiana – 6 Jan 1875 Indiana)  21 Feb 1856; & m2) Elizabeth PATTERSON (26 Aug 1833 – 27 Jul 1903) 5 Oct 1876 Indiana;  & m3) Elizabeth SANDERS (1840 Indiana - ) 17 Jan 1905 Indiana
  • Jacob Morton SAMPSON (2 Jan 1857 Indiana - 26 Dec 1928 Indiana) & Mary Ella ALLEN (1861 Indiana - 27 Mar 1944 Indiana)  15 Sep 1878 Indiana
  • Peachie Parolee SAMPSON (30 Sep 1858 Clay County, Indiana - 29 Jan 1908) & m1) Stephen M. MCBRIDE (15 Jun 1858 - 18 Feb 1895) 16 Dec 1886 Indiana; & m2) William J. WALKER 10 Sep 1903  Indiana
  • William Rosswell SAMPSON (16 Jan 1860 Indiana - Jul 1926 Indiana) & Clarissa DOWNING (10 Nov 1861 Indiana - 25 Jun 1935 Indiana)  22 Dec 1889 Indiana     
  • Sanford Crittington SAMPSON (29 Jun 1861 Indiana - 19 Jul 1863 Indiana)
  • George Franklin SAMPSON (06 Apr 1863 Indiana - Sep 1864 Indiana)
  • Roxy Velenet SAMPSON (4 Jun 1865 Indiana - 20 Nov 1868 Indiana)
  • Mary Jane Mollie SAMPSON (23 Oct 1867 Indiana - Jul 1944 Indiana) & Henry CAMPBELL 1 Jan 1900 Indiana
  • John Henry SAMPSON (25 Feb 1869 Indiana - 11 Jun 1959 Indiana) & Frances Alvena HOUK 30 Jun 1909 Clay Co, Indiana
  • Mandana SAMPSON (28 Apr 1871 Indiana -23 Sep 1871 Indiana)
  • Alex Alphonse SAMPSON ( 20 Feb 1873 Dick Johnson, Clay, Indiana - 7 May 1934 Cook County, Illinois) & Lillian CAMPBELL (Nov 1877 Indiana) 1898

3. Fielding L. SAMPSON (25 Jan 1823 Orange Co, Virginia - 29 Aug 1903 Vigo, Indiana) & Catherine CASTEEL (1828 – 7 Aug 1894) 23 Sep 1844 Wayne Co, Indiana

  • Clarissa SAMPSON (1846 Indiana - ) & William WYNN (1840 Indiana – About 1915 Illinois)
  • Lucy C. SAMPSON (27 Dec 1853 Indiana – 15 Mar 1918 Charleston, Illinois) & William Francis RYAN (13 Nov 1855 Chicago, Illinois – 21 Jan 1943 Charleston, Illinois)
  • Mary E. SAMPSON (1858 Indiana - )
  • James D. SAMPSON (1860 Indiana -15 Nov 1875 Illinois)
  • William Seymour SAMPSON (5 Apr 1863 Illinois – 14 Dec 1930 Charleston, Illinois) & Minnie UNKNOWN (1840 – 1931)
  • Bertie SAMPSON (1868 Illinois - )
  • Elizabeth SAMPSON (1849 Illinois - )
4. Clarissa Ann SAMPSON (27 Aug 1823 Orange Co, Virginia - 14 Jun 1884) & m1) Jacob RODENBARGER (1825 Ohio – Before 1870 Indiana)  14 Jun 1841 Wayne Co, Indiana ; & m2) Franklin SAMPSON (1820 Orange Co, Virginia - ) 28 Mar 1883 Indiana
  • Noah RODENBARGER (1842 Indiana – Before 1883) & Phoebe UNKNOWN (About 1849 - )
  • Elizabeth RODENBARGER (1844 Indiana - )
  • John RODENBARGER (Apr 1848 Indiana – 27 May 1915 Indiana) & Sarah D. BLAIZE (Feb 1842 Ohio – 23 Jul 1923 Indiana) 1 Dec 1881 Indiana
  • Francis E. RODENBARGER (1851 - )  & m1) George EASTER 30 May 1867 Clay Co, Indiana ; & m2)
  • Unknown MOPPS
  • George W. RODENBARGER (1855 Indiana - 1923 ) & Susan M. HARDESTY (1856 – 1920 Clay Co, Indiana) 8 Aug 1880
5. Elizabeth Ann SAMPSON (19 Jun 1827 Orange Co, Virginia - 11 Feb 1887 Indiana) & Samuel DEBOY  21 Jun 1848 Wayne Co, Indiana
  • Pansy DEBOY (1849 Indiana - )
  • Ellis DEBOY (1855 - )
  • Francis M. DEBOY (1858 - )
6. John J. SAMPSON (2 Dec 1831 Orange Co, Virginia - 7 Mar 1914 Clay Co, Indiana) & m1) Mary Elizabeth HOCK (24 Mar 1832 -  4 Jan 1877 Indiana)  23 Jun 1853 Wayne Co, Indiana; & m2) Hannah DIEL (About 1828 -  4 Jan 1877) 11 Jan 1869 Wayne Co, Indiana; & m3) Martha J. MOORE (About 1849 - 18 Jan 1923) 12 Jun 1887 Indiana
  • Viola V. SAMPSON (16 Oct 1854 Indiana - 22 Oct 1862 Indiana)
  • Lucinda SAMPSON (30 Oct 1856 Indiana - 31 Oct 1929 Indiana) & Joseph ROCKHILL  (1844 Ohio – 18 Jan 1919 Iowa) 8 Aug 1875 Clay Co, Indiana
  • Joseph H. SAMPSON (4 Apr 1859 Indiana - 15 Feb 1945 Indiana) & Mary GONTER (4 May 1860 Indiana -  27 Oct 1923 Indiana)   22 Feb 1880 Clay Co, Indiana
  • Franklin L. V. SAMPSON (Mar 1861 Indiana - 22 Oct 1862 Indiana)
  • Harry C. SAMPSON (1865 Indiana - )
          John J. SAMPSON and Hannah DIEL had the following child:
  • Perry Seymore SAMPSON ( 12 Jun 1869 Indiana - 9 May 1944 Illinois) & m1) UNKNOWN in 1886  Ada, Oklahoma; & m2) Nora JOHNSON (Oct 1871 – 12 Apr 1956) 18 Jan 1892
7. Peachy Frances SAMPSON (22 Jun 1834 Orange Co, Virginia - 20 Jan 1893 Page Co, Iowa) & Alphonso EDMONDS  (1830 Clermont, Ohio -  1916 Page Co, Iowa)  21 Sep 1856 Clay Co, Indiana
  • Seth Warren EDMONDS (18 Sep 1857 Page Co, Iowa - 16 Jan 1945 Clarinda, Page Co., Iowa)   & Sarah Jane PLANK (13 Aug 1854 Faucett, Missouri  - 14 Jul 1930 Clarinda, Page Co., Iowa)  2 Apr 1884 St. Joseph, Missouri.
  • Amanda C. EDMONDS (1 Feb 1860 Clarinda, Page, Iowa - 23 Jul 1954 Gravity, Taylor, Iowa) & Henry S. STAFFORD  (6 Jun 1861 Clarinda, Page, Iowa -22 Sep 1946 Iowa City, Allamakee, Iowa)   5 Jan 1882 Clarinda, Page, Iowa  
  • Almira EDMONDS (7 May 1863 Iowa - ) & m1) Albert VAN HORN ( - 10 Feb 1900) 2 Sep 1896 ; & m2)
  • George Edwin SMITH (About 1854 Missouri - 13 Jul 1922) ; & m3) Benjamin SPIERS ( - May 1934)
  • Charles Vinson EDMONDS (14 Sep 1870 Page Co, Iowa – 19 Feb 1968 Maryville, Missouri) & Martha KELLY (17 Sep 1875 Muskingum, Ohio – 25 Sep 1968 Clearmont, Missouri) 24 Mar 1897
8. Permelia Ellen SAMPSON (22 Jun 1834 Orange Co, Virginia, USA – 20 Sep 1912 Clarinda, Page Co, Iowa) & m1) Wilkerson Burk T. “Wilkes” EDMONDS  (20 Feb 1832 Clermont, Ohio - 4 Dec 1865 Page Co, Iowa)  23 Sep 1852 Clay Co, Indiana ; & m2) Albert BUNKER  (20 Sep 1837 Delaware, Ohio  - 15 Apr 1900 Page Co, Iowa)  5 Dec 1875 Page Co, Iowa
  • Araminta Minnie EDMONDS (5 Jan 1854 in Page, Iowa – 18 Jan 1885 Page Co, Iowa) & Joseph P. BERRY (1842 Ohio - ) 7 Jan 1872 Clarinda, Page, Iowa
  • Maxmilla Millie EDMONDS (Apr 1856 Iowa - 21 May 1937 Page County, Iowa)  & Joshua Harlan STAPLETON (17 Apr 1845 Rush County, Indiana  - 29 Mar 1922 in Lindsay, Platt, New Brunswick, Canada)  1874 Page Co, Iowa
  • James Kenyon EDMONDS (5 Jul 1858 Iowa - 5 Jul 1944); & m1) Mary Belle WOLFE (Jul 1861 Illinois - ) 1879 Iowa ;  & m2) Lucile LEGRAND Mar 1904 Clarinda, Page, Iowa 
  • Cyrus Nathan EDMONDS (16 Nov 1860 Iowa, USA - 14 Feb 1953 Clarinda, Page, Iowa)  & Amanda PENDERGRAFT  (18 Sep 1861 Lucas, Iowa - 27 Oct 1926 Clarinda, Page, Iowa ) 11 Nov 1883 Clarinda, Page, Iowa
© 2014, Wendy Mathias.  All rights reserved.

8 comments:

  1. A huge adventure to begin at the age of 50!

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    1. Isn't that the truth! That couldn't be an easy trip, even on an "improved highway" in 1836.

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  2. I love pioneer stories...perhaps I was one in another life.
    50...what a great lady to take on that challenge...no wonder you like her so much :)
    Happy Sunday!

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    1. No doubt you were a pioneer! You could clock how many miles per day on foot??

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  3. The National Road...hmmm, apparently I've traveled along part of that road, myself. Don't suppose it was quite the kind of adventure it was for forty-somethings John and Clarissa, though.

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    1. Oh, I'm sure with caring for your aunt and doing a little research, you had many an adventure on the National Road.

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  4. Wow! Clarissa was a real trooper to up and move at close to 50 years old. Especially when she was already prosperous on a well-established farm. It also must have been difficult if she left any of her Jollett relatives behind.

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    1. You know what, I wonder if this big move is a clue to the death dates of her parents, James and Nancy Walker Jollett. They don't show up in the 1840 census, so I've concluded they were gone by then. No aging parents to care for -- all siblings settled -- no reason to stay, I guess. (PS -- some of the siblings went with them, as I'll discuss in the coming weeks. Shh don't tell.)

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