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Decendants ofJoshua Vandruff
3. JOSHUA2 VANDRUFF (HENRY1) was born January 03,1791 in Greene County, Pennsylvania16, and died April 07,1856 in RockIsland, Rock Island, Illinois~17. He married ELIZABETHWISECARVER, "BETSY" Bef. 1814 in Greene County, Pennsylvania. She wasborn December 20, 1792 inFrederick County, Virginia17, and died April 04, 1875 inUnknown,Kansas18.
Notes for JOSHUA VANDRUFF:
Transcription of Historical Information From The Past and Present ofRock Island County, Ill.
Published by H. F. Kett & Co., Chicago
1877
HISTORICAL
Milan was originally called Camden, and was laid out by William Dicksonin 1843. In 1848 the name was changed to Camden Mills, on account ofthere being another Camden inSchuyler County. In 1870 the name was changed to Milan. The place wasincorporated as a village in 1865.
When white settlers first arrived here, the famous Sac village of BlackHawk stood on the opposite side of the river. A colony of Kickapoosoccupied the south shore below the town.Where the flouring mills are now standing were rows of red cedar postsextending a considerable distancefrom the water's edge up the bank to
where the village is situated, which are supposed to have been sheds,belonging to the trading post which once existed there. In 1828, RinahWells came here and settled among theIndians, who did not leave their village until 1831. Joshua Vandruffcame the year following. For two or three yearsthese pioneers and the Indians lived together, and had their friendlyintercourse and their disputes andquarrels. Part of Mr. Wells' old cabin is still standing on the northside of the river. Mr. Vandruff built whereSears' Mill now is, and lived there til he built his house on theisland which bears his name, where he died and was buried,about 1859. His remains were afterwards taken up and removed toChippiannock Cemetery. Mr. Wellsdied suddenly in 1852, being found dead in his buggy on the road.
William Dickson, the founder of the town, was the father of Col. JohnDickson, now and for many years Justice of Map from “Travels In Time”New Era Print, Mediapolis, IA, 1982
Date of preparation unknown
the Peace in Milan. He was born in Newburg, N.Y., March 27, 1783. Hisfather was a Captain in the Revolutionary War. His grandfather andgrandmother were murdered by theIndians and Butler's Rangers in the famous Cherry Valley massacre.After the Revolution the father ofWilliam Dickson moved to Westmoreland
County, Pennsylvania where William was brought up til the age ofeighteen, when he moved to a farm in Erie County, Pennsylvania, nearthe shore of Lake Erie. Here he was marriedand became quite a noted man of his time, being at one time a member ofthe Board of Canal Commissioners ofthe State of Pennsylvania. He raised a family of nine children, sevensons and two daughters. In the spring of1834 he visited this portion of Illinois on horseback, and returnedhome in the fall. In 1836 he returned here andwas one of the proprietors of the famous "Rock Island City" scheme. Inthe spring of 1837 he brought his familyhere and resided on the site of the old Sac town til 1867, when he soldto D. B. Sears, and moved to Milan,where he died Nov. 25, 1869.
Col. John Dickson was born in Erie County, Pennsylvania, Feb. 6, 1813,and came to Milan in 1844. In this connection should be mentioned thenames of James Johnston, G. W.Heflin, James Dickson, Ira L. Whitehead, N. D. Bradley, William Young,F. M. Young, and Daniel Pinkley - whowere among the prominent old settlers.
The Dickson & Brunot Flouring Mill, now owned by James Johnston,was built in 1843 by James Dickson and Felix R. Brunot. In 1846, Howard& Weeks built a saw mill justbelow the above. In 1848, it was converted into a flouring mill andcarding machine by James Dickson and N. D. Bradley.It now belongs to James Johnston,
considerable changes and improvements having been made to it.
In 1843, Joshua Vandruff and Zadoc Kalbaugh built a saw and flouringmill at the north end of the dam on Vandruff's Island. The flouringmill was struck by lightning and burntin 1857; the saw mill became dilapidated, and fell into disuse, andfinally rotted down some years age.
(3/6/94)
Transcription of Historical information From Early Rock Island by
William A. Meese
Published under the auspices of the Rock Island County HistoricalSociety
Moline, Illinois
Press of DeSaulniers & Co.
1905
FIRST WHITE SETTLERS
The first white settler in this county was George Davenport, who cameto the island of Rock Island in the spring of 1816 with Colonel WilliamLawrence and the Eighth Regiment of UnitedState regulars at the time Fort Armstrong was built. In 1817 Davenportbuilt a double log cabin on theisland of Rock Island at the place where the "Old Davenport House" nowstands, one part of which he used as astore in which he carried on the business of an Indian trader. The oldruin now standing on the north shore ofthe island was built in 1833 and was for many years the mostpretentious residence above St. Louis, In 1824Russel Farnham came from Warsaw and entered into a partnership withDavenport under the firm name ofDavenport & Farnham. In 1826 Davenport & Farnham built thehouse on the mainland afterwards occupied by JohnBarrel. This was used for many years as the seat of justice for thiscounty and in our county records isreferred to as the "House of John Barrel."
In 1828 the county along Rock River had not yet been surveyed andconsequently was not open to entry. Yet the fame of the fertility ofthe soil and the beauty of the country hadattracted the pioneer who is always in advance of the settler, and whooften is termed the squatter, and these people,relying on the protection of Fort Armstrong, began to select homes inthis valley. During the year 1828 there wereeight settlers to arrive - Captain B. W. Clark, an old soldier namedHaney, Judge Pence, who settled on RockRiver; and John Kinney, Thomas Kinney, George Harlan, Conrad Leek andArchibald Allen, the latter fivesettling where Rapids City now is.
The year 1829 brought a number of new-comers - Judge John W. Spencerwho had been here the year before; Louden Case, Sr., and his threesons, Jonah, Louden, Jr., and Charles,who settled on what is now known as Case place on Rock River; RinahWells and his four sons, Rinah, Jr., Lucius,John and Samuel, who also settled on Rock River; Joel Wells, Jr., whosettled near Hampton; Joel Wells, Sr.,Levi and Huntington Wells, who settled at Moline; Joseph Danforth, amile above Moline, Michael Hartlett, whereDeere & Mansur's factory now is, George Goble and his son Benjamin,about two miles above Moline, WilliamBrashar who settled south of the present city of Rock Island, JoshuaVandruff and his sons, who settled onVandruff's Island, Charles H. Case and Benjamin F. Pike.
ROCK ISLAND SETTLERS IN 1832 (excerpted)
Goble, Benjamin
Vandruff, Joshua
Vandruff, Henry
Vandruff, Samuel
(3/6/94)
Transcriptions and Excerpts From Travels In Time
Published by New Era Print
Mediapolis, Iowa 52637
1982
Library of Congress Number 82-061138
Transcribed from section entitled "Early Settlers"
From the Notebooks of John Hauberg
(Rare Book Collection, Augustana College), Sept. 23, 1915
This afternoon I went out in my electric and picked up Orin S. Holt, wewent down to Sears and picked up Mr. David Sears, and together with acouple of cameras we went out toVandruff Island to take pictures of some of the historic places there.First of all we went to the site of JoshuaVandruff's house. The foundation stones are still there, the foundationmeasures, I believe eighteen by twenty-four feet,the old well was still there, and David Sears said that he himself hadfilled that well, he had filled it acouple of times, but the rocks he threw in would sink and he'd have tofill it over again. This is one of the earliestdwellings around here, and in the picture Mr. Sears stands just whereBen Goble said Black Hawk knocked in the headsof the whiskey barrels, which is mentioned in Black Hawk'sautobiography.
Vandruff was a great man at gaming, he used to play all sorts of gameswith the Indians, games of chance, and in these games he would get awayfrom the Indians their pelts, theirtraps, their guns, their money, their houses, and besides he would getthem drunk and get about all the Indians had. Thisenraged Black Hawk so that he insisted that Vandruff had to leave, andon account of Vandruff not quitting thesale of whiskey to the Indians, Black Hawk took it upon himself to goand destroy his whiskey supply.
P. A. Armstrong in his"Black Hawk War" declares that Vandruff was thecause of the Black Hawk War, starting it in order that he might keep uphis sale of whiskey to the Indians,or rather that he might get rid of Black Hawk.
Mr. Sears says that we dare not put in print all the things thathappened at this place. At one time the country was flooded with whatwas called Bigelow money, and there is very littledoubt but what the money was made here in the cellar of Mr. Vandruff'shouse, counterfeit.
Peter Cartright in his book telling of reminiscences of the early days,gives Mr. Vandruff a rather unfavorable reputation. And Cartright'saccounts of his crossing there one time,was printed in the Rock Island Union sometime ago. Ben Goble was ason-in-law of this Vandruff and at thepresent 2 of the descendants, a grandson and granddaughter (G. W.Griffin and sister, Mrs. Jack Horton) areliving in Milan.
Joshua Vandruff
by Esther VanDruff McAfee
Joshua Vandruff was born in Pennsylvania in January, 1791. He came fromAllegheny County, Pennsylvania to Rock Island County, Illinois in 1828.He first came alone and hisfamily, consisting of his wife and nine children, joined him late in1829 or early 1830. Two more children were born inIllinois.
Joshua got along well with Chief Black Hawk and his people, theIndians, for a number of years being almost their only neighbors. Hewas allowed to remain among them and tocultivate a portion of land when others were not.
Mr. Vandruff was doubtless the first to make a permanent location inwhat is now Black Hawk Township.
Vandruff Island bears his name. Described as a short, staunchly builtPennsylvania Dutchman, Joshua was a shrewd, energetic and thrifty man.
The north branch of the Rock River being quite deep at that point andabout 300 feet wide, Mr. Vandruff saw the utility and financialadvantage of building a flatboat and operating aferry, which he did for many years. The fee for crossing was 50 cents.
In those days, whiskey was found in every home and used on alloccasions. Joshua brought a whiskey still with him from Pennsylvania,and apparently made and sold or traded thiscommodity to the Indians as well as to the other settlers. This, ofcourse, caused many problems.
Not all the Indians were friendly and Joshua and his family along withthe other settlers sometimes had to flee to Ft. Armstrong for safety.In April, 1831, a petition was got up fromthe citizens of Rock Island to Gov. Reynolds requesting protection from600 to 700 Indians who were destroyingsettlers' crops and livestock and threatening lives. Troops wereorganized and the Indians were driven to the Iowashore. This was known as the "first" Black Hawk War.
In April of 1832 the settlers again had to move to Ft. Armstrong. Thiswas known as the "second beginning" of the Black Hawk War. They couldnot tend to their crops while living inthe Fort, away from their homes. This was the second year they failedto raise any crops and their stock hadall run wild.
Benjamin Goble, who the following year - 1833 - would become Mr.Vandruff's son-in-law, tells the well-known "turkey scare" story.
One Sunday in June of 1832 Joshua and Hackley Sampson went fishing onRock River. They took their guns but told their families if they heardany shooting they had better startfor the Fort as they were not likely to meet any game but Indians.
In about two hours nine shots were heard. The alarmed women andchildren started for the Fort. John Spencer then lived on the southside of the slough, opposite the Island. Someof Joshua's older boys reached Mr. Spencer's first and gave the alarm.Benjamin Goble and Pike Smithcaught some horses and started for the scene.
They met women and children along the road for half a mile.
Near where Chippiannock cemetery is now, they came upon Joshua and hisfriend - a flock of wild turkeys of which they had shot three, and hadcaused the alarm. They quickly rodeback to correct the mistake. They met Major Bliss with a company oftroops, who upon learning the facts,turned back to the Fort.
It was a constant struggle to survive, they had one hardship afteranother year after year. The summer of 1834 was the driest season inmany years. The crops were very poor.Consequently they had no feed for their stock in 1835.
In 1837 the country was flooded with "Michigan wildcat" paper money.About this time the Michigan banks all went "broke" and their money wasworthless. They received low pricesfor what they had to sell and paid high prices for what they had tobuy. This was due to a lack oftransportation except in summer. Traders took
advantage of this.
For all his efforts, Joshua had to mortgage his property and finally inSeptember of 1845 his land was sold by the sheriff to James E. Coolyfor $3782.81.
Joshua was married to Elizabeth Wisecarver, who was from Virginia. Shewas born December 20, 1792.
Joshua died April 7, 1856 and Elizabeth on April 4, 1872.
They were parents of eleven children. Their home was a populargathering place for all the young people; the five pretty daughtersbeing one attraction and Elizabeth's culinaryability the other. She was known to be an excellent cook.
The eleven children were:
Henry, born in Pennsylvania in 1814. He never married.
Barbara, born in Pennsylvania in Greene County in 1816. She marriedBenjamin Goble in 1833, theirs was only the second license issued inthe county. She died in 1893.
Catherine, born in Pennsylvania. She married P.H. Ogilvie in 1842.
John Welsey, born in Pennsylvania in 1818. He married Melissa Hunter in1859.
Susanna, born in Pennsylvania in 1819. She married George Griffin.Years later her daughter, Mary Griffin Horton, told of the frustratedambitions her grandparents, theVandruffs, had for their young daughter. They wanted her to marry arich man, but she married Griffin and when shemoved her parents gave her nothing at all,
so she tied all her belongings in a red handkerchief - and startedhousekeeping with her beloved. It was said of Mary Horton, "put pantson her and you'd have a perfect image of oldJoshua Vandruff." Susanna died in 1856.
Peria, born in Pennsylvania in 1820. She married Zadock Kalbaugh in1838, and died in 1844 at the age of 24.
Joseph, born in Pennsylvania February 8, 1826. He married Eliza JaneEverhart in 1851. He died in Kansas in December, 1901.
James, born in Pennsylvania in 1825. He married Almira Everhart in 1850.
Jacob, born in Pennsylvania in 1827. He married Louisa Everhart.
Joshua, born in Illinois in 1831. He married Catherine Williams in 1856.
Elizabeth, born in Illinois in 1835. She married John Cross in 1855.
In 1868, five of the children left for Kansas, settling in JeffersonCounty, near the town of McLouth.
They were: Henry, John, Joseph, Joshua and Elizabeth. They all died andare buried there except Henry, who requested that his body be sent backto Illinois for burial.
In Kansas they were farmers and merchants. Joseph was part owner of amercantile store. John was a farmer and also had a livery stable for atime..
John was my great-grandfather. He died October 5, 1894. Mygreat-grandmother Melissa Hunter Vandruff died in February 1921. Theirson Martin, my grandfather, was a veterinarian.He married Sarah Harkins.
Their son Grover was my father. He was born June 9, 1893. He marriedLila Schrader March 11, 1922. He died April 18, 1954. He was a veteranof WWI. He worked for the railroad fora time and later was a police officer for 25 years.
I was born, the fifth generation, Esther Allene Vandruff on February18, 1923. I married Herman McAfee July 15, 1944. He is a ranch foremanand we moved from Kansas to Pawhuska,Oklahoma four years ago.
Four of my brothers live in Kansas within a 30 mile radius of where ourgreat-grandfather John Vandruff settled in 1868.
My grandfather's brother married a lady who thought the name as written"Vandruff" was too "plain" and changed it to a two word spelling"VanDruff." Some of the family went alongwith her idea and some did not. When my cousin, George VanDruff and Istarted to school in the fall of 1929 wewere each writing it a different way. The teacher told us to ask ourparents which was correct to avoidconfusion. We ended up with the two-word spelling.
One family of cousins still use the original one-word spelling.
We have "come full circle" as my oldest son, Richard McAfee is nowliving in Rockford, Illinois, not too far from where hisgreat-great-great-grandfather, Joshua Vandruff settled in1827-28.
Ed Note: Two photographs are inserted in the original document, whichcannot be reproduced here, of scenes depicting gatherings of people onVandruff's Island. The captions areas follows:
Site of Joshua Vandruff's cabin on Vandruff's Island, 1916. "I took aparty of young men, went to his house, took out his barrel, broke inthe head and poured out the whiskey." - BlackHawk. (Rock Island County Historical Society photograph)
Black Hawk Prairie Club, March 27, 1920, at the site of JoshuaVandruff's cabin. (Rock Island County Historical Society photograph)
(7/4/94)
Transcription of relevant items in a Chapter entitled "Calendar":
1813
17 October - Ben Goble was born at Fort Compton, Illinois Territory inwhat is now Wabash County. He was a grandson of Revolutionary Warpatriots, Benjamin Goble and StevenArnold. (Goble - An Illinois Pioneer)
1816
24 April 1816 - Barbara Vandruff (Goble) was born.
1829
26 May 1829 - Ben Goble arrived here from southern Illinois. (Goble -An Illinois Pioneer)
1831
Rock River Rangers organized for protection against Indians. Membersfrom Black Hawk Township were:
William T. Brasher, John Bane, Jonah Case, Joshua Vandruff and HenryVandruff.
1833
27 August 1833 - Benjamin Goble and Barbara Vandruff were united inmarriage by Joel Wells, Jr. J.P. This was the second marriage licenseissued in Rock Island County. (CountyClerk's Office, Rock Island County)
1834
4 March 1834 - George Davenport, Rinnah Wells and Joshua Vandruff werelicensed to operate a ferry over Rock River in Blackhawk Township.(Milan Independent)
1835
7 May 1835 - George Griffin married Susan Vandruff. License No. 9,married by William Porter, J.P. (Rock Island County Clerk)
1836
Two hundred men were employed in Vandruff's Island to build a canalaround the rapids of Rock River. (Argus) It cost the State of Illinois$70,000 for a big ditch something overone fourth of a mile long and a single lock only partially completed.(Chicago Democratic Press) March - GeorgeDavenport and Joshua Vandruff renewed their ferry license across RockRiver for one year at a cost of $8.00, plusfees. (County Board Record)
1838
25 December 1838 - Miles W. Conway, J.P. united in marriage ZadockKalbaugh and Peria Vandruff.
1839
27 May 1839 - Henry Vandruff entered land in NE portion, Section 22 onBig Island. (Land Entry Book)
29 June 1839 - Joshua Vandruff entered land in the SE quarter ofSection 14 on Vandruff's Island. (Land Entry Book)
1842
13 October 1842 - Miles W. Conway, J.P. united in marriage P.H. Ogilvieand Catherine Vandruff. (Rock Island County Clerk)
1843
Joshua Vandruff and Zadock Kalbaugh built a saw and flour mill at thenorth end of the dam on Vandruff's Island. It was struck by lightningand burned in 1857. (Milan Independent)
1844
4 March 1844 - The diagram for the original town of Camden was filed byP.H. Ogilvie, surveyor, for James and Cyrus Dickson per order of theiragent William Dickson. (Rock IslandCounty Recorder) P.H. Ogilvie, county surveyor, platted the town ofLowell located in the SE quarter ofSection 14 on Vandruff's Island for Joshua Vandruff, Zadock Kalbaughand Thomas Patterson. It was named afterLowell, Massachusetts and expected to grow into a great manufacturingcenter.
December 1844 - P.H. Ogilvie submitted a proposition to make a map ofRock Island County. This was accepted. (Rock Island County Supervisor'sRecords)
1845
18 March 1845 - 97.54 acres on Vandruff's Island Section 14 waspurchased by Joshua Vandruff. (Rock Island County Recorder)
23 October 1845 - Died on Sunday, the inst., Pliny Augustus, son ofP.H. and Catherine Ogilvie, two years and two months. (UpperMississippian and R.I. Republican)
1856
7 April 1856 - Joshua Vandruff died. C.B. Knox was the undertaker andThomas Martin the doctor who attended him. Those survivors named in theestate papers were: Elizabeth, widow,James, Sarah Vandruff, west of Camden, Jacob Vandruff of Camden. TheVandruff house sold for(illegible) with M. Ferguson, the auctioneer
and W.Q. Ferguson, the clerk. (Probate - Rock Island County)
(7/4/94)
Transcription of information concerning Dickson Cemetery, as providedby the Blackhawk Genealogical Society This cemetery is located in BlackHawk State Park in the city of RockIsland. It was laid out in 1838 by William Dickson, who intended todeed it to a Presbyterian Church. David B.Sears was the next owner and he deeded it to Rock Island County onOctober 1, 1878. On January 22, 1918 it wasdeeded to the City of Rock Island. Later it became a part of Black HawkState Park, 14th Street & 42ndAvenue, Rock Island, Ill.
July 24, 1975 Sally Schroeder visited the cemetery and copied thefollowing inscriptions for Blackhawk Genealogical Society, P.O. Box912, Rock Island, Ill. 61201
The markers were removed several years ago and someone intended to makea patio of them - they were then piled in the northeast corner of thecemetery. The cemetery is notmowed or cared for in any way.
(Ed. Note: Only those individuals who appear to have a tie to theVANDRUFF lineage are excerpted and printed below):
On May 3rd 1918 Mr. David Sears, Searstown, Ill. went with anindividual to the Dickson Cemetery and the following are excerpts froma typed, unsigned copy which is in the RockIsland County Historical Society.
Susanna GRIFFIN, born Nov 9th 1819, died 1856. (She was daughter ofJoshua Vandruff, and she was the mother of Mrs. Jack Horton and GeorgeWashington Griffin, both ofMilan, Ill.)
ZOBRIESKI (a son in law of Vandruff, and his wife are also buried here)
Jos. H. VANDRUFF, son of J A & E J Vandruff. Died July 9, 1860.(Think this was Jake Vandruff's son.
Josephene VANDRUFF, daughter of J & A. Vandruff, died Oct 24th 1855.
(Also Jake Vandruff's child - he lived on Big Island where the canallock is located.)
(One of the Hunter's married John Vandruff. She was Henry Hunter'ssister.
Paulina, daughter of J & M Vandruff, died Nov 2nd 1855.
Peria, 1st wife of Zedock KALBAUGH. (She was the oldest daughter ofJoshua Vandruff/ She died Dec, 31st 1844. Age 24 years. (Kalbaugh'ssecond wife was a Hunter Girl.)
Ed. Note: As of this writing (8/20/94) have developed no information onZOBRIESKI or his wife, a daughter of Joshua Vandruff)
Transcription of extraction from the Rock Island Republican, 24 May,1854:
Old soldiers who attended the meeting, Joshua VanDruff of Camden Mills;no land warrant, served 1 month in the Blackhawk War. Henry VanDruff ofCamden Mills, no land warrant, served1 month in the Blackhawk War.
(9/11/94)
Extraction from 1850 Census, Rock Island County, IL
House # 1294
Vandruff, Joshua, age 61, farmer, born in PA
Vandruff, Elizabeth, age 59, born in PA
(9/14/94)
Transcription of Census extraction by the Cornerstone GenealogicalSociety Waynesburg, Pennsylvania
1820 Census, Cumberland Township, Greene County, PA
Joshua Vandroff
3 males under 10 yrs of age, 1 male 10-16 yrs of age, 1 male 26-45 yrsof age
3 females under 10 yrs of age, 1 female 26-45 yrs of age, 1 female over45 yrs of age
Family head listed as engaged in manufacturing.
(9/17/94)
Transcription of Administrator's Notice
Administrator's Sale!
Notice
I hereby (illegible) that the undersigned, administrator of the Estateof Joshua Vandruff, late of the County of Rock Island and State ofIllinois, deceased, will on Friday the 18thday of July next, commencing at ten o'clock a.m. at the House of HenryVandruff on Big Island, near Camden, in saidCounty sell at public sale, all the personal property, goods andchattels belonging to the said estate, andnot reserved to the widow of the said decedant.
Terms. For all sums under five dollars, cash in hand, and for all sumsover five dollars, six months credit on note with approved security.
Camden June 19th 1856
/S/ John Vandruff
Administrator
State of Illinois ) SS
Rock Island County )
I, John Vandruff, Administrator of the Estate of Joshua Vandruff,deceased, do hereby certify that I have caused the notice of which theabove is a true copy to be posted up in four ofthe most public places in said Rock Island County, at least three weeksprior to the sale in said referred to, towit;
One on the Court House door in Rock Island and one on the City postoffice door in Rock Island, one on the door of the post office inCamden and one on the door of (illegible) inCamden; said notices having been posted on the day of the date thereof.
Admin.
(9/30/94)
Transcription of undated receipts provided by Rock Island Countycourthouse
$366.00
Received of John Vandruff, administrator of the estate of JoshuaVandruff, deceased late of Rock Island county, Three hundred and sixtysix dollars, being in full of the separateallowances appraised and set apart (illegible) as the widow of saidJoshua Vandruff, dcd.
/S/ Elizabeth Vandruff
Received Camden February (illegible) of John Vandruff, administrator ofthe estate of Joshua Vandruff decd six dollars and thirty one cents infull for my share of said estate
/S/ Barbra Goble
(9/30/94)
Also on file, but almost unreadable, and not transcribed here is a copyof the bond for two appraisers of the estate of Joshua Vandruff, JohnJ. Gilmore and A. Everts in the amount of$75.00, and a copy of the Administrator's bond of John Vandruffconcerning the estate of Joshua Vandruff. Thelatter bond is dated May 26, 1856.
(9/30/94)
Transcription of Excerpt from Collections of the Illinois StateHistorical Library Volume XXXV
The Black Hawk War 1831-1832 Volume I Illinois Volunteers Compiled andEdited by Ellen M. Whitney
Published by Illinois State Historical Library Springfield 1970
p. 113-114
COMPANY OF CAPTAIN BENJAMIN F. PIKE
Muster Roll of Captain Benjn. F. Pike's Company of Volunteer Militia(Rock River Rangers) Enrolled at Fort Armstrong Illinois by virtue ofDepartment order (No. 26 of 1831) ofMajor General E. P. Gaines for the service of the United StatesCommanded by Bvt. Major John Bliss from the 16th.June 1831 when last mustered to the
day of its disbandment & discharge from service on the 2nd. July1831.
No. 31 Vandruff, JoshuaPrivate5th June 1831 lost one Rifle screw driver
No. 32 Vandruff, SamuelPrivate5th June 1831 (Unable to identify SamuelVandruff)
No. 33 Vandruff, Henry Private5th June 1831
(11/26/94)
Transcription of Epitaph On the tombstone of Joshua Vandruff From thecollection of Ruby Roberts Coleman
Joshua Vandruff
Born Jan. 1791
Died Apr. 7, 1856
The is no death, the Stars go down
To rise upon some fairer shore
And bright in Heaven's Jeweled Crown
They shine forever more.
(1/23/95)
Transcription of Chippiannock Cemetery record Plot V, p. 99-100
VANDRUFF
North side: Henry/Vandruff/born/Dec 19 1814/Died Jan 30 1890
"Call not back/the dear departed/anchored safe/where storms are O'er
On the border/land we left them/soon to meet/and part no more."
West side: Jacob V. VANDRUFF/Born/Sept 1827/Died June 1 1880
"The summer flowers have/bloomed upon thy grave/and hopes long cherished
been rudely crushed/yet sacred memory ever/kind and true/brings thee inbeauty/from the dust."
South side: Joshua VANDRUFF/Born Jan 1791/Died Apr 7 1856
"There is no death/the stars go down/to rise upon/some fairer shore
and bright in heavens/jeweled crown/they shine forever more."
North side: Elizabeth/VANDRUFF/Born/Jan 16 1793/Died Apr 5 1875
"A Previous one/from us has gone/a voice we loved is stilled
A place is vacant/in our home/which never can be filled."
(2/18/95)
Transcription of Land Patent Information from the collection of EstherVandruff McAfee
United States of America
To
Joshua Vandruff
Entry of Land
Date: June 29, 1839
Part fractional Southeast Quarter Section 14, on Vandruff's Island, inTownship 17 North, Range 2 West of the 4th P.M. containing 97.54 acreswas entered June 29, 1839 by JoshuaVandruff
Land Book, page 52
(Lower marginal notes)
Patent USA to Joshua Vandruff
Dated June 29, 1843
Filed March 18, 1845
Recorded in Book F of Deeds, page 232
Certificate No. 8510 3/7
Full payment has been made by Vandruff
President - John Tyler
Joshua's land was mortgaged, the sheriff sold it for
$3782.61 to James E. Cooley, 27 Sept. 1845.
(notes from the abstract)
(3/18/95)
Transcriptions from probate documents, copies from the collection ofEsther Vandruff McAfee:
The court having duly examined the attached account (illegible) andeverything appearing fair and just and that all the debts have beenpaid except Burdett & Sanger and leaving$104.17 in the Admin hands for distribution among the Heirs of saidEstate, it is therefore ordered by the Courtthat John Vandruff, Admn. of said Estate be authorized to pay the legalHeirs of said Estate as follows, to wit:(see continued items within the Elizabeth Wisecarver "Notes" page).
3/19/95
More About JOSHUA VANDRUFF:
Burial: April 1856, Unknown
Fact 1: Settled on Rock River island, later named Vandruff Island19
Fact 2: June 29, 1839, Land Patent on file20
Fact 3: May 11, 1875, Reinterred at Chippiannock Cemetery, Private Lot41621
Fact 4: Probate documents on file
Fact 5: August 18, 1997, Submitted Joshuavdf.ftw to World Family Tree
Moved: Abt. 1829, Moved to Rock Island County, IL22
Occupation: Trader, ferry operator, sawmill, flouring mill owner23
Notes for ELIZABETH WISECARVER, "BETSY":
Extraction from the 1820 Federal Census
Cumberland Township, Greene County, Pennsylvania
Series: M33 Roll: 98 Page: 350
Vandroff, Joshua, (Males) (0-9 yrs. of age) 3 (10-15) 1 (16-18) 0(18-25) 0 (26-45) 1 (45 +) 0
(Females) (0-9) 3 (10-15) 0 (16-26) 1 (26-45) 1 (45 +) 0 (Persons notnaturalized) 0
(persons engaged in Commerce) 0 (persons engaged in manufacturing) 1
(6/29/2003)
Transcription of Excerpts
From Bates " History of Greene County"
Involving Wisecarver Surnames
p. 597: William and Salome Orndorf (nee Wisecarver)
p. 669: in 1887, Maj. Herrington was united in marriage with Nannie
(Wisecarver) Worley
(3/19/94)
Transcriptions from
Chippiannock Cemetery records
Plot V, p. 100
East side: Elizabeth/VANDRUFF/Born/Jan 16 1793/ Died Apr 5 1875
"A precious one/ from us has gone/ a voice we loved is stilled/
A place is vacant/ in our home/ which never can be filled."
Old slab type stone: Elizabeth/wife of Joshua VANDRUFF/ born in
Virginia Dec. 20 1792/ Died Apr 4 1875/Aged 83 yrs 3 ms 14 Da.
In front a Red Granite Hdst, "Father"
There appears to be another old falt stone, partially buried - probablyJoshua.
Hdst. Louisa EBERHARDT/ Wife of/ J VANDRUFF/ 1830-1903
(2/18/95)
Extraction from the 1860 Federal Census
Black Hawk Township, Rock Island County, Illinois
Series: M653 Roll: 222 Page: 300
Dwelling 375, Family 359
June 11, 1860
Vandruff, Elizabeth, age 68, widow, b. VA
Vandruff, Henry, age 45, farmer, b. PA
Cross, John, age 26, farmer, b. PA
Cross, Elizabeth, age 24, b. IL
Cross, Asenath, age 2, b. IL
Cross, William, age 1, b. IL
Catherine Essex, age 31, widow & daughter of Old (illegible), b. PA
Wisecarever, John, age 68, day laborer, b. PA
Goble, Jaminimus, m, age 17, servant, b. IL
(6/13/2003)
(Continuation of probate estate disbursement records from the JoshuaVandruff pages):
Elizabeth Vandruff, widow 34.72
1 Henry Vandruff 6.31
2 John Vandruff 6.31
3 Joseph Vandruff 6.31
4 James Vandruff 6.31
5 Jacob Vandruff 6.31
6 Joshua Vandruff 6.31
7 Barbary Goble 6.31
8 Catherine Essex 6.31
9 Elizabeth Cross 6.31
Pearia Kalbaugh now deceased
10 John W. Kalbaugh her only living heir 6.31
Susan Griffin, now deceased
her heirs as follows to wit:
11 Wm R Griffin 1.05
12 Joshua V Griffin 1.05
13 Sarah E Griffin 1.05
14 George W Griffin 1.05
15 James E Griffin 1.05
16 Mary Eliza Griffin 1.05
Transcription of receipts for the above amounts from collection ofEsther Vandruff McAfee:
Received Camden February the 11th 1862 of John Vandruff administratorof the estate of Joshua Vandruff decd six dollars and thirty one centsin full for my share of said estate
\s\ Elizabeth Cross
Received Camden February the 11th 1862 of John Vandruff administratorof the estate of Joshua Vandruff decd six dollars and thirty one centsin full for my share of said estate
\s\Joseph Vandruff
Received Camden February the 11th 1862 of John Vandruff administratorof the estate of Joshua Vandruff decd six dollars and thirty one centsin full for my share of said estate
\s\Barbra Goble
Received Camden February the 11th 1862 of John Vandruff administratyorof the estate of Joshua Vandruff decd six dollars and thirty one centsin full for my share of said estate
\s\Henry Vandruff
Received Camden November the 4, 1862 of John Vandruff administrator ofthe estate of Joshua Vandruff 1.05 dollars in full for my share of saidestate
\s\ Mary E. Griffin
Received Camden November the 4 1862 of John Vandruff administrator ofthe estate of Joshua Vandruff $1.05 dollars in full for my share ofsaid estate
\s\ James E. Griffin
Received Camden November the 4 1862 of John Vandruff administrator ofthe estate of Joshua Vandruff $1.05 dollars in full for my share ofsaid estate
\s\ George W. Griffin
Received Camden Mills Sep 8 1862 of John Vandruff administrator of theestate of Joshua Vandruff decd six dollars and thirty one cents in fullfor my share of said estate
\s\ Catherine Essex
Received Camden Oct 17 1862 of John Vandruff administrator of theestate of Joshua Vandruff decd one dollar and five cents in full for myshare of said estate
\s\ Joshua Griffin
Received Camden November the 17th 1862 of John Vandruff administratorof the estate of Joshua Vandruff $1.05 dollar in full for my share ofsaid estate
\s\ William R. Griffin
Near Idaho, Colorado Ter, Feb 14th, 1863 Consider this my receipt infull for six dollars and thirty-one cents, my share of the estate ofJoshua Vandruff, deceased, John Vandruff beingadministrator of the same
|s| John W. Kalbaugh
Recvd big island october 17 1862 of John Vandruff admn of Estate ofJoshua Vandruff six 31/100 dolars in full for my share of said estate
\s\ John Vandruff
(3/19/95)
Extraction from
"I. S. A. Search # 2, Unitred States,
1820-1829"
Microfiche located at LDS Library
Kirtland, Ohio
Vandroff, Joshua, Greene Co., PA, # 338, Cumberland Twp., 1820
(possibly Census Index listing??)
Extraction from
"I. S. A. Search # 3, U.S.
1830-1839"
Vandruff, Joshua, Jo Daviess County, IL # 313, No Twp. Listed, 1830
(9/13/96)
Transcription of Newspaper Article
From
The Rock Island Argus
Tuesday, May 7, 1946
From Column Titled
"The Town Crier"
by
George Wickstrom
(also appears as Chapter VI "On The Banks of the Rock" from "The TownCrier" by
George W. Wickstrom
published by
The J. W. Potter Company
Publishers of
The Argus
Rock Island, Illinois
(date not known)
There's Nothing to See on Vandruff's Island, Unless You Can see WhatWas Cross the main channel of Rock river on the newly-installed Baileybridge and you will be on Vandruff's island, which is about 5,800 feetlong and 2,200 feet across at its widestplace. There is nothing on the 210 acres of Vandruff's islandespecially interesting, unless you can see in itsruins some of its celebrated moments in history.
Midway on the island and only 200 feet from the right-of-way on the4-lane highway soon to be built is a large thorn tree, growing amid thefoundation rocks which are all that remainof Joshua Vandruff's home. With his sons, Joshua settled there in thespring of 1829. He farmed, ran aferry, and sold whiskey to the Indians.
Chief Black Hawk, a temperance man who had begged the white settlersnot to sell fire water to his followers, one day took six of his bravesto Vandruff's island, where they rolledout the barrel, knocked in the head with their tomahawks, and poured 35gallons of whiskey on the ground.
Black Hawk ordered Vandruff to move from this region, which the Indianscalled Pleasant valley, but soon thereafter the Black Hawk War beganand Vandruff's island was the sceneof a strange "battle." Two thousand soldiers, commanded by GeneralGaines in a steamboat, besieged theisland.
Governor Ford, in his history of Illinois, tells of the attack by thelargest army of Illinoisans ever assembled up to that time. The datewas June 25, 1831. Governor Ford wrote:
"The plan was for the volunteers to cross the slough to this island,give battle to the enemy if found there, and then ford the main riverinto the Indian town, where the soldiers wereto be met by the regular force coming from Fort Armstrong. The islandwas covered with bushes and vines, so as tobe impenetrable to the sight at a distance of 20 feet.
"General Gaines ran his steamboat up to the point of the island, andfired several rounds of grape and canister shot into it to test thepresence of an enemy. The spy battalion formedin line of battle, and swept the island, but it was soon ascertainedthat the ground rose so high within a shortdistance of the bank, that General Gaines shot could not have takeneffect 100 yards from the shore.
"The main body of the volunteers, in three columns, came following thespies: but before they reached the north side of the island, they wereso jammed up and mixed together, officersand men, that no man knew his company or regiment, and scarcelyhimself."
On the Watch Tower bluff of Black Hawk State park General Gaines hadstationed artillery. Governor Ford said it was fortunate that thegrapeshot did not carry across the river intothe tangled thickets of Vandruff's island, for then some friends, butno enemies would have been killed.
General Gaines army was more stranded on Vandruff's island than wereits present-day residents after the bridge collapsed last March 18. Thetroops couldn't find a place shallowenough to ford and they had to stay all "jammed and mixed up" on theisland until scows could be brought toferry them across to Saukenuk, the Indian city across the "bold, deepstream."
Although the Indians had quietly departed in their canoes for thewestern side of the Mississippi, "the volunteers were determined to beavenged upon something. The rain descended intorrents. The Indian wigwams would have furnished comfortable shelterbut, notwithstanding the rain, thewhole town was soon wrapped in flames, and thus perished an ancientvillage which had once been the delightfulhome of six or seven thousand Indians."
Some Has-beens
To the right just after one leaves the main channel bridge and stepsupon Vandruff's island one can look down into the remnants of Illinois'greatest folly. In 1836 the legislatureplanned a system of internal improvements without parallel in thegrandeur of its conception. The lawmakers votedto build 1,300 miles of railroads and
hundreds of canals. Every county was to have either a railroad, a canalor $200,000 to be divided among the population. Work was to start atboth ends of each railroad or canal,so that everybody would be satisfied.
Two hundred men were employed to dig a canal across the tip ofVandruff's island, with the object of by-passing the rapids and makingRock river navigable. A mud hollow is all thatremains of that canal, for the workmen quit when the script with whichthey were paid became worthless, andIllinois, with a population of 400,000, became bankrupt, 110 years ago.
Among the interesting has-beens on Vandruff's island is the 3-storybuilding in a pasture. It is now a machine shop, but old-timers call itthe watch factory or the piano factory.The structure was built in 1871 as a watch works, and legend has itthat for the grand opening 4,000 people cameto Vandruff's island. All the farmer boys and mechanics from town cameto get the jobs which had been promisedthem when stock was sold.
The name of the town of Camden was changed to Milan in order to givethe watch a European name, but no watches - or perhaps only a few -were made. Later, chairs and thenwagons were manufactured there, and from 1905 to 1912 the place was theArtista Piano Player company,manufacturing a cabinet which could be shoved up to the keyboard of aregular piano to hammer out automatic music.
On the mainland shore, near the waterpower dam, stands a vacant oldcotton mill, a 3-story building with floors of wood five inches thick.Unused for 50 years, the mill nevertheless iskept in good repair. Miss Nettie Ailes, who has lived on Vandruff'sisland for 63 years, worked there as a girl.The mill converted cotton into carpet warp, she said.
Next to the cotton mill are the foundations of the Sears flour mill,the "largest in the west," built in 1868 and burned to the ground in1888.
Some of the historic vestiges of Vandruff's island glory will vanishwhen the new bridges and highway are completed. The first bridge willpass over the flour mill ruins. Theembankment of the highway on Hakes' island will cover the sites wheretwo paper mills once stood. Excavating andbeautifying of the shoreline will remove
the last signs of the ill-fated canal of 1836, while dredging iscontemplated to eliminate remnants of the Sears canal along the Rockisland shore.
Part of Milan
Almost all of Vandruff's island is part of mile-square Milan. S.S.Davis of Rock Island owns all but two properties on the island.
Joseph Dasso, a truck gardener, does most of the cultivating now beingdone there, and one of his fields was pointed out to us by Jamie Crist,lifelong resident of the island, asthe place where the Indians apparently manufactured their weapons.Bushels of arrowheads have been found there.
Miss Ella Gannon, however, told us that she has never found an Indianrelic in her life. She lives next to the field in the same cottage inwhich she was born 78 years ago. Her fatherworked in a stone quarry an the island and at lime kilns where mortarwas made.
The new bridges and highway will bring some changes to Vandruff'sisland, but the eagles, we hope, will stay.
Every winter the eagles come there to fish in the open water below thedam. For years they have used the same trees and seem to get a "littlemore domesticated" each season. Twentyseven eagles were the largest number ever counted in one group by themen in the Davis powerhouse.
(11/4/96)
Extraction from
U. S. Congressional Documents and Debates, 1774-1873
Journal of the House of Representatives of the United States
Volume 25
Monday, January 16, 1832
On motion of Mr. Duncan, Resolved, That the Committee of Claims beinstructed to inquire intothe expediency of satisfying the claims of Joshua Vandruff and RenoWells, for depredations committed on theirproperty by the Fox and Sac Indians.
Volume 30
Monday, February 13, 1837
page 395 of 765
Mr. Reynolds, of Illinois, presented documents relating to the case ofJoshua Vandruff, of the State of Illinois, for remuneration for Indiandepredations.
(and after some other unrelated presentations and petitions)
Ordered, That the said petitions and documents be referred to theCommittee of Military Affairs.
(5/26/2001)
More About ELIZABETH WISECARVER, "BETSY":
Burial: April 08, 1875, Chippiannock Cemetery, Private Lot 416, RockIsland, IL24
Children of JOSHUA VANDRUFF and ELIZABETH WISECARVER are:
i. HENRY3 VANDRUFF, b. February 20, 1814, GreeneCounty,Pennsylvania25; d. January 31, 1890, McLouth, Jefferson,Kansas26.
Notes for HENRY VANDRUFF:
Extraction from Bureau of Land Management
Land Patent Records
Online at www.glorecords.blm.gov
Patentee: Vandruff, Henry
State: IL
County: Rock Island
Issue Date: 5/1/1843
District Land Office: Galena
Doc. Nr. 8439
Accession or Serial Nr.: IL4450_.034
(8/13/2003)
Transcription of extraction
From the Rock Island Republican
Rock Island, Illinois
May 24, 1854
Old soldiers who attended the meeting, Joshua Vandruff of Camden Mills,no land warrant, served 1 month in the Blackhawk War. Henry Vandruff ofCamden Mills, no land warrant,served 1 month in the Blackhawk War.
(9/11/94)
Transcription of Obituary
From the McLouth Times
McLouth, Kansas
(Jefferson County)
Thursday, February 7, 1890
Henry Vandruff, an old citizen of this part of the country, died at theresidence of his sister, Mrs. John Cross, on Thursday of last week,aged 75 years, 1 month and 11 days. He wasborn in Pennsylvania in 1814; had lived a number of years in the statesof Indiana and Illinois, and cameto this state in 1869. The funeral was
held in the United Brethren church in this city on Friday, Rev. C. J.Stark officiating. His remains were accompanied by Mrs. Cross and W. D.McPherron to Rock Island, Ill.,where he owned a lot in the cemetery in which his mother and fatherwere buried. He was a brother of Joseph,John and Joshua Vandruff of this
township and had never been married.
(3/12/94)
Transcription of Memorial, inserted into Unknown/undated Bible
Provided by Rose Vandruff Balao
In Loving Remembrance
Henry Vandruff
Died Jan. 31, 1890
Aged 70 years
A precious one from us has gone,
A voice we loved is stilled;
A place is vacant in our home,
Which never can be filled.
God in His wisdon has recalled,
The boon His love had given;
And though the body moulders here,
The soul is safe in Heaven.
(11/25/94)
Transcription of
Chippiannock Cemetery record
Plot V, p. 99
Henry/VANDRUFF/ born/ Dec 19 1814/Died/Jan 30 1890/ North Side
"Call not back/the dear departed/anchored safe/where storms are O'er/onthe broder/land we laft them/soon to meet/and part no more."
(see also Jacob Vandruff (West side inscription) and Joshua Vandruff(South side inscription)
(2/18/95)
Extraction from 1860 Census (Index only)
Family No. 359 (all members shown under family no. 359)
VANDRUFF
Henry
Elizabeth
GOBLE
Jaminimus
(2/18/95)
Transcription of Last Will and Testament of Henry Vandruff, copy fromthe collection of Esther Vandruff McAfee
Will of Henry Vandruff
In the name of God amen I Henry Vandruff of Jefferson County Kansasbeing of sound mind and disposing memory do make & publish anddeclare this to be my last will andtestament hereby revoking all former wills heretofore by me made.
First
I desire that my executor herein named pay all my just debts
Second
It is my will and desire that my body be buried in the same grave lotin the cemetery in Illinois where my Father and Mother are buried andthat my said executor shall pay allfuneral expenses, any expenses of taking my body to Illinois and shallerect a suitable monument on my grave andshall pay to Merrit Goble the sum of
One Hundred fifty dollars to be by him invested in a safe and perpetualfund at interest, the interest arising from said One Hundred &fifty Dollars to be annually applied tokeeping said grave lot on which I am buried in a proper condition andsaid executor shall pay all costs &expenses of administering my estate and for all
the purposes in this second request there shall not be expended a sumexceeding Eight Hundred Dollars and said lot shall be enclosed by a cutstone wall to be paid out of saidsum of said fund of Eight Hundred Dollars (illegible.)
Third
I give and bequeath to my brother John Vandruff of Jefferson CountyKansas out of my estate the sum of Seven Hundred Dollars ($700.00) andalso one promissory note datedMarch 4, 1882 executed by John W. Vandruff and John Vandruff for thesum of ($225) Two Hundred twentyfive dollars & accum interest less all
payments thereon heretofore made.
Fourth
I give and bequeath to Joseph Vandruff my brother of same county thesum of Eight Hundred & Forty Six Dollars ($846) and also apromissory note dated January 15, 1877 forFifty-two & 50/100 Dollars & also a promissory note of sixtydollars executed in 1887 including allinterest on each & less all payments heretofore
made on each.
Fifth
I give and bequeath to each of the following children of my sisterSusannah Griffin the sum of One Hundred Dollars cash to each - WilliamGriffin - George W. Griffin, Jr. -Joshua Griffin - James Griffin - Mrs. Mary Horton and Mrs. ElizabethWest.
Sixth
I give and bequeath to John Kalbaugh, the son of my sister Mrs. PerieKalbaugh the sum of Five Hundred ($500.00) Dollars Cash.
Seventh
I give and bequeath to Mrs. Peria Lutitia Reed the sum of Five HundredDollars cash and hereby appoint Merrit Goble of Moline, Illinois astrustee to take in charge thisbequest and to invest the same for the sole benefit of said Mrs. PerieLutitia Reed paying to her such sums thereofboth principal & interest as her personal comfort and needs mayrequire and said Merrit Goble shall notbe required to give any bond as such trustee.
Eighth
I give and bequeath to my sister Mrs. Barbara Goble the sum of ThreeHundred ($300.00) cash.
Ninth
I give and bequeath to Farrel Goble all the following described landssituated in Rock Island County, Illinois to wit The south fraction ofthe South East fractional quarter (on BigIsland) of Section Twenty one (21) in Township (17) seventeen of Range(2) Two West containing (39 1/3)Thirty nine & one third acres more or less in fee simple to him& his heirs
Tenth
I give and bequeath to each of the following children of my brotherJacob Vandruff in equal shares the total sum of five Hundred Dollars incash and the following described realproperty situated in Rock Island County, state of Illinois to wit - Lotnumber (3) in Block Number two(2) in (illegible) & Baldwin's addition to the town of (illegible)upon the recorded plat of said addition theintention herein being to give to each child one tenth of said fivehundred Dollars & one tenth part ofsaid real property said children named as follows Charles H. Vandruff -Lemuel A. Vandruff - Oscar Vandruff -Jacob A. Vandruff, Jr. - Edward E. Vandruff - Edwena E. Wyans - AnnaVandruff - Martha Vandruff -Elizabeth Vandruff and Estella Vandruff
Eleventh
I give and bequeath to my brother James T. Vandruff the sum of OneThousand Dollars in Cash
Twelfth
I Give and bequeath to my brother Joshua Vandruff the sum of TwoThousand Dollars in cash and also a promissory note dated Oct 14, 1889,for two hundred Dollars signed bysaid Joshua Vandruff
Thirteenth
I give and bequeath to my sister Elizabeth Cross the sum of TwoThousand Dollars in Cash.
Fourteenth
I give and bequeath to Eva L. Cross a daughter of said Elizabeth Crossthe sum of Five Hundred Dollars in cash and to be paid to the said EvaL. Cross by my said executor at thetime of her arriving at the age of Eighteen years and in the meantimeinvested at interest for her benefit.
Fifteenth
I give and bequeath to Mrs. Asenath McPherron the sum of Eight HundredDollars in cash and also a promissory note dated September 15th 1888for one hundred dollarssigned W.D. McPherron less payments heretofor made theron if any
Sixteenth
I give and bequeath to Mrs. Clara Magill the sum of Five HundredDollars in cash
Seventeenth
I give and bequeath to Mrs. Georgianna Davison the sum of Five HundredDollars in cash.
Eighteenth
I give and bequeath to Miss Eva May Vandruff the sum of Five HundredDollars in cash.
Nineteenth
After the payment of all debts and bequests and trusts as hereinspecified if there should be any balance of my estate still undisposedof under this will by reason of matters hereinbefore stated then and in such case i give and bequeath all suchbalance remaining as aforesaid to Jacob AVandruff son of my brother Jacob Vandruff
I hereby nominate and appoint John Cross and W. D. McPherron ofJefferson County, Kansas my sole executors under this my last will andtestament giving to them fullpower to perform such conditions and (illegible) contained in the sameand it is my will and desire that mysaid executors act as such and that no bond be required by any court ofthem as such executors in theircapacity of executors.
In witness whereof I have herein set my hand to this my last will andtestament and caused the same to be duly attested to this 18 day ofJanuary 1890
\s\ Henry Vandruff (X - his mark)
(3/19/95)
More About HENRY VANDRUFF:
Burial: February 02, 1890, Chippiannock Cemetery, Private Lot 416, RockIsland, IL27
Fact 1: Will on file
Fact 2: Bible page copy (source unknown) says death date Jan. 31, 1890
Obituary: On file 3/12/94
Occupation: Farmer (bachelor)28
15. ii. BARBARA VANDRUFF, "BARBARY", b. April 24,1816, Greene County,Pennsylvania; d. May 05, 1893, Moline, Rock Island, Illinois.
16. iii. JOHN WESLEY VANDRUFF, b. November 12, 1817,Waynesburg,Greene, Pennsylvania; d. October 05, 1894, McLouth, Jefferson, Kansas.
17. iv. CATHERINE VANDRUFF, b. April 18, 1818,Unknown, Pennsylvania;d. January 16, 1863, Unknown.
18. v. SUSANNA VANDRUFF, b. November 09, 1819,Waynesburg, Greene,Pennsylvania; d. Abt. 1856, Unknown.
19. vi. HESPERIA VANDRUFF, "PERIA", b. Abt. 1820,Greene County,Pennsylvania; d. December 31, 1844, Rock Island County, Illinois.
20. vii. JOSEPH H. VANDRUFF, b. February 08, 1826,Greene County,Pennsylvania; d. December 11, 1901, McLouth, Jefferson, Kansas.
21. viii. JAMES T. VANDRUFF, b. January 16, 1827,Waynesburg, Greene,Pennsylvania; d. April 24, 1894, Unknown, Nebraska.
22. ix. JACOB ARTHUR VANDRUFF, b. September 08,1827, Greene County,Pennsylvania; d. June 01, 1880, Black Hawk Township, Illinois.
23. x. JOSHUA VANDRUFF, JR., b. April 01, 1832, RockIsland, RockIsland, Illinois; d. January 12, 1895, McLouth, Jefferson, Kansas.
24. xi. ELIZABETH VANDRUFF, "AUNT BETSEY", b.September 02, 1835, RockIsland, Rock Island, Illinois; d. August 05, 1903, McLouth, Jefferson,Kansas.
xii. SAMUEL VANDRUFF, b. Unknown, Unknown; d.Unknown, Unknown.
Notes for SAMUEL VANDRUFF:
COMPANY OF CAPTAIN BENJAMIN F. PIKE
Muster Roll of Captain Benjn. F. Pike's Company of Volunteer Militia(Rock River Rangers) Enrolled at Fort Armstrong Illinois by virtue ofDepartment order (No. 26 of 1831) ofMajor General E. P. Gaines for the service of the United StatesCommanded by Bvt. Major John Bliss fromthe 16th. June 1831 when last mustered to the day of its disbandment& discharge from service onthe 2nd. July 1831.
No. 31 Vandruff, Joshua Private5th June 1831 lost one Rifle screw driver
No. 32 Vandruff, Samuel Private5th June 1831 (Unable to identify SamuelVandruff)
No. 33 Vandruff, HenryPrivate5th June 1831
(11/26/94)
Transcription of Extract
From Bureau of Land Mamagement
General Land Office Records
(Via on-line information supplied by Raymond A. Kilius
10/4/2000)
Accession/Serial # IL4440_.013
BLM Serial # IL NO S/N
State: Illinois
Patentee Name: Samuel Vandruff
Document # 8510 2/7
Issue Date: May 1, 1843
Cancelled: No
Authority: April 24, 1820: SAL ENTRY (S Stat. 566)
Acres: 82.12
Land Office: Galena
Comments: On Vandruff Isl Rock River
Legal description: All that part of the South West fractional quarterlying on Vandruffs Island in Rock river of Section thirteen, inTownship Seventeen of Range two West, in theDistrict of Land subject to Sale at Galena, Illinois, containing eightytwo acres and twelve hundredths ofan acre.
(10/17/2000)
More About SAMUEL VANDRUFF:
Burial: Unknown, Unknown
Note 1: No evidence of Samuel's birth or death has yet been found29
Notes for JOSHUA VANDRUFF:
Transcription of Historical Information From The Past and Present ofRock Island County, Ill.
Published by H. F. Kett & Co., Chicago
1877
HISTORICAL
Milan was originally called Camden, and was laid out by William Dicksonin 1843. In 1848 the name was changed to Camden Mills, on account ofthere being another Camden inSchuyler County. In 1870 the name was changed to Milan. The place wasincorporated as a village in 1865.
When white settlers first arrived here, the famous Sac village of BlackHawk stood on the opposite side of the river. A colony of Kickapoosoccupied the south shore below the town.Where the flouring mills are now standing were rows of red cedar postsextending a considerable distancefrom the water's edge up the bank to
where the village is situated, which are supposed to have been sheds,belonging to the trading post which once existed there. In 1828, RinahWells came here and settled among theIndians, who did not leave their village until 1831. Joshua Vandruffcame the year following. For two or three yearsthese pioneers and the Indians lived together, and had their friendlyintercourse and their disputes andquarrels. Part of Mr. Wells' old cabin is still standing on the northside of the river. Mr. Vandruff built whereSears' Mill now is, and lived there til he built his house on theisland which bears his name, where he died and was buried,about 1859. His remains were afterwards taken up and removed toChippiannock Cemetery. Mr. Wellsdied suddenly in 1852, being found dead in his buggy on the road.
William Dickson, the founder of the town, was the father of Col. JohnDickson, now and for many years Justice of Map from “Travels In Time”New Era Print, Mediapolis, IA, 1982
Date of preparation unknown
the Peace in Milan. He was born in Newburg, N.Y., March 27, 1783. Hisfather was a Captain in the Revolutionary War. His grandfather andgrandmother were murdered by theIndians and Butler's Rangers in the famous Cherry Valley massacre.After the Revolution the father ofWilliam Dickson moved to Westmoreland
County, Pennsylvania where William was brought up til the age ofeighteen, when he moved to a farm in Erie County, Pennsylvania, nearthe shore of Lake Erie. Here he was marriedand became quite a noted man of his time, being at one time a member ofthe Board of Canal Commissioners ofthe State of Pennsylvania. He raised a family of nine children, sevensons and two daughters. In the spring of1834 he visited this portion of Illinois on horseback, and returnedhome in the fall. In 1836 he returned here andwas one of the proprietors of the famous "Rock Island City" scheme. Inthe spring of 1837 he brought his familyhere and resided on the site of the old Sac town til 1867, when he soldto D. B. Sears, and moved to Milan,where he died Nov. 25, 1869.
Col. John Dickson was born in Erie County, Pennsylvania, Feb. 6, 1813,and came to Milan in 1844. In this connection should be mentioned thenames of James Johnston, G. W.Heflin, James Dickson, Ira L. Whitehead, N. D. Bradley, William Young,F. M. Young, and Daniel Pinkley - whowere among the prominent old settlers.
The Dickson & Brunot Flouring Mill, now owned by James Johnston,was built in 1843 by James Dickson and Felix R. Brunot. In 1846, Howard& Weeks built a saw mill justbelow the above. In 1848, it was converted into a flouring mill andcarding machine by James Dickson and N. D. Bradley.It now belongs to James Johnston,
considerable changes and improvements having been made to it.
In 1843, Joshua Vandruff and Zadoc Kalbaugh built a saw and flouringmill at the north end of the dam on Vandruff's Island. The flouringmill was struck by lightning and burntin 1857; the saw mill became dilapidated, and fell into disuse, andfinally rotted down some years age.
(3/6/94)
Transcription of Historical information From Early Rock Island by
William A. Meese
Published under the auspices of the Rock Island County HistoricalSociety
Moline, Illinois
Press of DeSaulniers & Co.
1905
FIRST WHITE SETTLERS
The first white settler in this county was George Davenport, who cameto the island of Rock Island in the spring of 1816 with Colonel WilliamLawrence and the Eighth Regiment of UnitedState regulars at the time Fort Armstrong was built. In 1817 Davenportbuilt a double log cabin on theisland of Rock Island at the place where the "Old Davenport House" nowstands, one part of which he used as astore in which he carried on the business of an Indian trader. The oldruin now standing on the north shore ofthe island was built in 1833 and was for many years the mostpretentious residence above St. Louis, In 1824Russel Farnham came from Warsaw and entered into a partnership withDavenport under the firm name ofDavenport & Farnham. In 1826 Davenport & Farnham built thehouse on the mainland afterwards occupied by JohnBarrel. This was used for many years as the seat of justice for thiscounty and in our county records isreferred to as the "House of John Barrel."
In 1828 the county along Rock River had not yet been surveyed andconsequently was not open to entry. Yet the fame of the fertility ofthe soil and the beauty of the country hadattracted the pioneer who is always in advance of the settler, and whooften is termed the squatter, and these people,relying on the protection of Fort Armstrong, began to select homes inthis valley. During the year 1828 there wereeight settlers to arrive - Captain B. W. Clark, an old soldier namedHaney, Judge Pence, who settled on RockRiver; and John Kinney, Thomas Kinney, George Harlan, Conrad Leek andArchibald Allen, the latter fivesettling where Rapids City now is.
The year 1829 brought a number of new-comers - Judge John W. Spencerwho had been here the year before; Louden Case, Sr., and his threesons, Jonah, Louden, Jr., and Charles,who settled on what is now known as Case place on Rock River; RinahWells and his four sons, Rinah, Jr., Lucius,John and Samuel, who also settled on Rock River; Joel Wells, Jr., whosettled near Hampton; Joel Wells, Sr.,Levi and Huntington Wells, who settled at Moline; Joseph Danforth, amile above Moline, Michael Hartlett, whereDeere & Mansur's factory now is, George Goble and his son Benjamin,about two miles above Moline, WilliamBrashar who settled south of the present city of Rock Island, JoshuaVandruff and his sons, who settled onVandruff's Island, Charles H. Case and Benjamin F. Pike.
ROCK ISLAND SETTLERS IN 1832 (excerpted)
Goble, Benjamin
Vandruff, Joshua
Vandruff, Henry
Vandruff, Samuel
(3/6/94)
Transcriptions and Excerpts From Travels In Time
Published by New Era Print
Mediapolis, Iowa 52637
1982
Library of Congress Number 82-061138
Transcribed from section entitled "Early Settlers"
From the Notebooks of John Hauberg
(Rare Book Collection, Augustana College), Sept. 23, 1915
This afternoon I went out in my electric and picked up Orin S. Holt, wewent down to Sears and picked up Mr. David Sears, and together with acouple of cameras we went out toVandruff Island to take pictures of some of the historic places there.First of all we went to the site of JoshuaVandruff's house. The foundation stones are still there, the foundationmeasures, I believe eighteen by twenty-four feet,the old well was still there, and David Sears said that he himself hadfilled that well, he had filled it acouple of times, but the rocks he threw in would sink and he'd have tofill it over again. This is one of the earliestdwellings around here, and in the picture Mr. Sears stands just whereBen Goble said Black Hawk knocked in the headsof the whiskey barrels, which is mentioned in Black Hawk'sautobiography.
Vandruff was a great man at gaming, he used to play all sorts of gameswith the Indians, games of chance, and in these games he would get awayfrom the Indians their pelts, theirtraps, their guns, their money, their houses, and besides he would getthem drunk and get about all the Indians had. Thisenraged Black Hawk so that he insisted that Vandruff had to leave, andon account of Vandruff not quitting thesale of whiskey to the Indians, Black Hawk took it upon himself to goand destroy his whiskey supply.
P. A. Armstrong in his"Black Hawk War" declares that Vandruff was thecause of the Black Hawk War, starting it in order that he might keep uphis sale of whiskey to the Indians,or rather that he might get rid of Black Hawk.
Mr. Sears says that we dare not put in print all the things thathappened at this place. At one time the country was flooded with whatwas called Bigelow money, and there is very littledoubt but what the money was made here in the cellar of Mr. Vandruff'shouse, counterfeit.
Peter Cartright in his book telling of reminiscences of the early days,gives Mr. Vandruff a rather unfavorable reputation. And Cartright'saccounts of his crossing there one time,was printed in the Rock Island Union sometime ago. Ben Goble was ason-in-law of this Vandruff and at thepresent 2 of the descendants, a grandson and granddaughter (G. W.Griffin and sister, Mrs. Jack Horton) areliving in Milan.
Joshua Vandruff
by Esther VanDruff McAfee
Joshua Vandruff was born in Pennsylvania in January, 1791. He came fromAllegheny County, Pennsylvania to Rock Island County, Illinois in 1828.He first came alone and hisfamily, consisting of his wife and nine children, joined him late in1829 or early 1830. Two more children were born inIllinois.
Joshua got along well with Chief Black Hawk and his people, theIndians, for a number of years being almost their only neighbors. Hewas allowed to remain among them and tocultivate a portion of land when others were not.
Mr. Vandruff was doubtless the first to make a permanent location inwhat is now Black Hawk Township.
Vandruff Island bears his name. Described as a short, staunchly builtPennsylvania Dutchman, Joshua was a shrewd, energetic and thrifty man.
The north branch of the Rock River being quite deep at that point andabout 300 feet wide, Mr. Vandruff saw the utility and financialadvantage of building a flatboat and operating aferry, which he did for many years. The fee for crossing was 50 cents.
In those days, whiskey was found in every home and used on alloccasions. Joshua brought a whiskey still with him from Pennsylvania,and apparently made and sold or traded thiscommodity to the Indians as well as to the other settlers. This, ofcourse, caused many problems.
Not all the Indians were friendly and Joshua and his family along withthe other settlers sometimes had to flee to Ft. Armstrong for safety.In April, 1831, a petition was got up fromthe citizens of Rock Island to Gov. Reynolds requesting protection from600 to 700 Indians who were destroyingsettlers' crops and livestock and threatening lives. Troops wereorganized and the Indians were driven to the Iowashore. This was known as the "first" Black Hawk War.
In April of 1832 the settlers again had to move to Ft. Armstrong. Thiswas known as the "second beginning" of the Black Hawk War. They couldnot tend to their crops while living inthe Fort, away from their homes. This was the second year they failedto raise any crops and their stock hadall run wild.
Benjamin Goble, who the following year - 1833 - would become Mr.Vandruff's son-in-law, tells the well-known "turkey scare" story.
One Sunday in June of 1832 Joshua and Hackley Sampson went fishing onRock River. They took their guns but told their families if they heardany shooting they had better startfor the Fort as they were not likely to meet any game but Indians.
In about two hours nine shots were heard. The alarmed women andchildren started for the Fort. John Spencer then lived on the southside of the slough, opposite the Island. Someof Joshua's older boys reached Mr. Spencer's first and gave the alarm.Benjamin Goble and Pike Smithcaught some horses and started for the scene.
They met women and children along the road for half a mile.
Near where Chippiannock cemetery is now, they came upon Joshua and hisfriend - a flock of wild turkeys of which they had shot three, and hadcaused the alarm. They quickly rodeback to correct the mistake. They met Major Bliss with a company oftroops, who upon learning the facts,turned back to the Fort.
It was a constant struggle to survive, they had one hardship afteranother year after year. The summer of 1834 was the driest season inmany years. The crops were very poor.Consequently they had no feed for their stock in 1835.
In 1837 the country was flooded with "Michigan wildcat" paper money.About this time the Michigan banks all went "broke" and their money wasworthless. They received low pricesfor what they had to sell and paid high prices for what they had tobuy. This was due to a lack oftransportation except in summer. Traders took
advantage of this.
For all his efforts, Joshua had to mortgage his property and finally inSeptember of 1845 his land was sold by the sheriff to James E. Coolyfor $3782.81.
Joshua was married to Elizabeth Wisecarver, who was from Virginia. Shewas born December 20, 1792.
Joshua died April 7, 1856 and Elizabeth on April 4, 1872.
They were parents of eleven children. Their home was a populargathering place for all the young people; the five pretty daughtersbeing one attraction and Elizabeth's culinaryability the other. She was known to be an excellent cook.
The eleven children were:
Henry, born in Pennsylvania in 1814. He never married.
Barbara, born in Pennsylvania in Greene County in 1816. She marriedBenjamin Goble in 1833, theirs was only the second license issued inthe county. She died in 1893.
Catherine, born in Pennsylvania. She married P.H. Ogilvie in 1842.
John Welsey, born in Pennsylvania in 1818. He married Melissa Hunter in1859.
Susanna, born in Pennsylvania in 1819. She married George Griffin.Years later her daughter, Mary Griffin Horton, told of the frustratedambitions her grandparents, theVandruffs, had for their young daughter. They wanted her to marry arich man, but she married Griffin and when shemoved her parents gave her nothing at all,
so she tied all her belongings in a red handkerchief - and startedhousekeeping with her beloved. It was said of Mary Horton, "put pantson her and you'd have a perfect image of oldJoshua Vandruff." Susanna died in 1856.
Peria, born in Pennsylvania in 1820. She married Zadock Kalbaugh in1838, and died in 1844 at the age of 24.
Joseph, born in Pennsylvania February 8, 1826. He married Eliza JaneEverhart in 1851. He died in Kansas in December, 1901.
James, born in Pennsylvania in 1825. He married Almira Everhart in 1850.
Jacob, born in Pennsylvania in 1827. He married Louisa Everhart.
Joshua, born in Illinois in 1831. He married Catherine Williams in 1856.
Elizabeth, born in Illinois in 1835. She married John Cross in 1855.
In 1868, five of the children left for Kansas, settling in JeffersonCounty, near the town of McLouth.
They were: Henry, John, Joseph, Joshua and Elizabeth. They all died andare buried there except Henry, who requested that his body be sent backto Illinois for burial.
In Kansas they were farmers and merchants. Joseph was part owner of amercantile store. John was a farmer and also had a livery stable for atime..
John was my great-grandfather. He died October 5, 1894. Mygreat-grandmother Melissa Hunter Vandruff died in February 1921. Theirson Martin, my grandfather, was a veterinarian.He married Sarah Harkins.
Their son Grover was my father. He was born June 9, 1893. He marriedLila Schrader March 11, 1922. He died April 18, 1954. He was a veteranof WWI. He worked for the railroad fora time and later was a police officer for 25 years.
I was born, the fifth generation, Esther Allene Vandruff on February18, 1923. I married Herman McAfee July 15, 1944. He is a ranch foremanand we moved from Kansas to Pawhuska,Oklahoma four years ago.
Four of my brothers live in Kansas within a 30 mile radius of where ourgreat-grandfather John Vandruff settled in 1868.
My grandfather's brother married a lady who thought the name as written"Vandruff" was too "plain" and changed it to a two word spelling"VanDruff." Some of the family went alongwith her idea and some did not. When my cousin, George VanDruff and Istarted to school in the fall of 1929 wewere each writing it a different way. The teacher told us to ask ourparents which was correct to avoidconfusion. We ended up with the two-word spelling.
One family of cousins still use the original one-word spelling.
We have "come full circle" as my oldest son, Richard McAfee is nowliving in Rockford, Illinois, not too far from where hisgreat-great-great-grandfather, Joshua Vandruff settled in1827-28.
Ed Note: Two photographs are inserted in the original document, whichcannot be reproduced here, of scenes depicting gatherings of people onVandruff's Island. The captions areas follows:
Site of Joshua Vandruff's cabin on Vandruff's Island, 1916. "I took aparty of young men, went to his house, took out his barrel, broke inthe head and poured out the whiskey." - BlackHawk. (Rock Island County Historical Society photograph)
Black Hawk Prairie Club, March 27, 1920, at the site of JoshuaVandruff's cabin. (Rock Island County Historical Society photograph)
(7/4/94)
Transcription of relevant items in a Chapter entitled "Calendar":
1813
17 October - Ben Goble was born at Fort Compton, Illinois Territory inwhat is now Wabash County. He was a grandson of Revolutionary Warpatriots, Benjamin Goble and StevenArnold. (Goble - An Illinois Pioneer)
1816
24 April 1816 - Barbara Vandruff (Goble) was born.
1829
26 May 1829 - Ben Goble arrived here from southern Illinois. (Goble -An Illinois Pioneer)
1831
Rock River Rangers organized for protection against Indians. Membersfrom Black Hawk Township were:
William T. Brasher, John Bane, Jonah Case, Joshua Vandruff and HenryVandruff.
1833
27 August 1833 - Benjamin Goble and Barbara Vandruff were united inmarriage by Joel Wells, Jr. J.P. This was the second marriage licenseissued in Rock Island County. (CountyClerk's Office, Rock Island County)
1834
4 March 1834 - George Davenport, Rinnah Wells and Joshua Vandruff werelicensed to operate a ferry over Rock River in Blackhawk Township.(Milan Independent)
1835
7 May 1835 - George Griffin married Susan Vandruff. License No. 9,married by William Porter, J.P. (Rock Island County Clerk)
1836
Two hundred men were employed in Vandruff's Island to build a canalaround the rapids of Rock River. (Argus) It cost the State of Illinois$70,000 for a big ditch something overone fourth of a mile long and a single lock only partially completed.(Chicago Democratic Press) March - GeorgeDavenport and Joshua Vandruff renewed their ferry license across RockRiver for one year at a cost of $8.00, plusfees. (County Board Record)
1838
25 December 1838 - Miles W. Conway, J.P. united in marriage ZadockKalbaugh and Peria Vandruff.
1839
27 May 1839 - Henry Vandruff entered land in NE portion, Section 22 onBig Island. (Land Entry Book)
29 June 1839 - Joshua Vandruff entered land in the SE quarter ofSection 14 on Vandruff's Island. (Land Entry Book)
1842
13 October 1842 - Miles W. Conway, J.P. united in marriage P.H. Ogilvieand Catherine Vandruff. (Rock Island County Clerk)
1843
Joshua Vandruff and Zadock Kalbaugh built a saw and flour mill at thenorth end of the dam on Vandruff's Island. It was struck by lightningand burned in 1857. (Milan Independent)
1844
4 March 1844 - The diagram for the original town of Camden was filed byP.H. Ogilvie, surveyor, for James and Cyrus Dickson per order of theiragent William Dickson. (Rock IslandCounty Recorder) P.H. Ogilvie, county surveyor, platted the town ofLowell located in the SE quarter ofSection 14 on Vandruff's Island for Joshua Vandruff, Zadock Kalbaughand Thomas Patterson. It was named afterLowell, Massachusetts and expected to grow into a great manufacturingcenter.
December 1844 - P.H. Ogilvie submitted a proposition to make a map ofRock Island County. This was accepted. (Rock Island County Supervisor'sRecords)
1845
18 March 1845 - 97.54 acres on Vandruff's Island Section 14 waspurchased by Joshua Vandruff. (Rock Island County Recorder)
23 October 1845 - Died on Sunday, the inst., Pliny Augustus, son ofP.H. and Catherine Ogilvie, two years and two months. (UpperMississippian and R.I. Republican)
1856
7 April 1856 - Joshua Vandruff died. C.B. Knox was the undertaker andThomas Martin the doctor who attended him. Those survivors named in theestate papers were: Elizabeth, widow,James, Sarah Vandruff, west of Camden, Jacob Vandruff of Camden. TheVandruff house sold for(illegible) with M. Ferguson, the auctioneer
and W.Q. Ferguson, the clerk. (Probate - Rock Island County)
(7/4/94)
Transcription of information concerning Dickson Cemetery, as providedby the Blackhawk Genealogical Society This cemetery is located in BlackHawk State Park in the city of RockIsland. It was laid out in 1838 by William Dickson, who intended todeed it to a Presbyterian Church. David B.Sears was the next owner and he deeded it to Rock Island County onOctober 1, 1878. On January 22, 1918 it wasdeeded to the City of Rock Island. Later it became a part of Black HawkState Park, 14th Street & 42ndAvenue, Rock Island, Ill.
July 24, 1975 Sally Schroeder visited the cemetery and copied thefollowing inscriptions for Blackhawk Genealogical Society, P.O. Box912, Rock Island, Ill. 61201
The markers were removed several years ago and someone intended to makea patio of them - they were then piled in the northeast corner of thecemetery. The cemetery is notmowed or cared for in any way.
(Ed. Note: Only those individuals who appear to have a tie to theVANDRUFF lineage are excerpted and printed below):
On May 3rd 1918 Mr. David Sears, Searstown, Ill. went with anindividual to the Dickson Cemetery and the following are excerpts froma typed, unsigned copy which is in the RockIsland County Historical Society.
Susanna GRIFFIN, born Nov 9th 1819, died 1856. (She was daughter ofJoshua Vandruff, and she was the mother of Mrs. Jack Horton and GeorgeWashington Griffin, both ofMilan, Ill.)
ZOBRIESKI (a son in law of Vandruff, and his wife are also buried here)
Jos. H. VANDRUFF, son of J A & E J Vandruff. Died July 9, 1860.(Think this was Jake Vandruff's son.
Josephene VANDRUFF, daughter of J & A. Vandruff, died Oct 24th 1855.
(Also Jake Vandruff's child - he lived on Big Island where the canallock is located.)
(One of the Hunter's married John Vandruff. She was Henry Hunter'ssister.
Paulina, daughter of J & M Vandruff, died Nov 2nd 1855.
Peria, 1st wife of Zedock KALBAUGH. (She was the oldest daughter ofJoshua Vandruff/ She died Dec, 31st 1844. Age 24 years. (Kalbaugh'ssecond wife was a Hunter Girl.)
Ed. Note: As of this writing (8/20/94) have developed no information onZOBRIESKI or his wife, a daughter of Joshua Vandruff)
Transcription of extraction from the Rock Island Republican, 24 May,1854:
Old soldiers who attended the meeting, Joshua VanDruff of Camden Mills;no land warrant, served 1 month in the Blackhawk War. Henry VanDruff ofCamden Mills, no land warrant, served1 month in the Blackhawk War.
(9/11/94)
Extraction from 1850 Census, Rock Island County, IL
House # 1294
Vandruff, Joshua, age 61, farmer, born in PA
Vandruff, Elizabeth, age 59, born in PA
(9/14/94)
Transcription of Census extraction by the Cornerstone GenealogicalSociety Waynesburg, Pennsylvania
1820 Census, Cumberland Township, Greene County, PA
Joshua Vandroff
3 males under 10 yrs of age, 1 male 10-16 yrs of age, 1 male 26-45 yrsof age
3 females under 10 yrs of age, 1 female 26-45 yrs of age, 1 female over45 yrs of age
Family head listed as engaged in manufacturing.
(9/17/94)
Transcription of Administrator's Notice
Administrator's Sale!
Notice
I hereby (illegible) that the undersigned, administrator of the Estateof Joshua Vandruff, late of the County of Rock Island and State ofIllinois, deceased, will on Friday the 18thday of July next, commencing at ten o'clock a.m. at the House of HenryVandruff on Big Island, near Camden, in saidCounty sell at public sale, all the personal property, goods andchattels belonging to the said estate, andnot reserved to the widow of the said decedant.
Terms. For all sums under five dollars, cash in hand, and for all sumsover five dollars, six months credit on note with approved security.
Camden June 19th 1856
/S/ John Vandruff
Administrator
State of Illinois ) SS
Rock Island County )
I, John Vandruff, Administrator of the Estate of Joshua Vandruff,deceased, do hereby certify that I have caused the notice of which theabove is a true copy to be posted up in four ofthe most public places in said Rock Island County, at least three weeksprior to the sale in said referred to, towit;
One on the Court House door in Rock Island and one on the City postoffice door in Rock Island, one on the door of the post office inCamden and one on the door of (illegible) inCamden; said notices having been posted on the day of the date thereof.
Admin.
(9/30/94)
Transcription of undated receipts provided by Rock Island Countycourthouse
$366.00
Received of John Vandruff, administrator of the estate of JoshuaVandruff, deceased late of Rock Island county, Three hundred and sixtysix dollars, being in full of the separateallowances appraised and set apart (illegible) as the widow of saidJoshua Vandruff, dcd.
/S/ Elizabeth Vandruff
Received Camden February (illegible) of John Vandruff, administrator ofthe estate of Joshua Vandruff decd six dollars and thirty one cents infull for my share of said estate
/S/ Barbra Goble
(9/30/94)
Also on file, but almost unreadable, and not transcribed here is a copyof the bond for two appraisers of the estate of Joshua Vandruff, JohnJ. Gilmore and A. Everts in the amount of$75.00, and a copy of the Administrator's bond of John Vandruffconcerning the estate of Joshua Vandruff. Thelatter bond is dated May 26, 1856.
(9/30/94)
Transcription of Excerpt from Collections of the Illinois StateHistorical Library Volume XXXV
The Black Hawk War 1831-1832 Volume I Illinois Volunteers Compiled andEdited by Ellen M. Whitney
Published by Illinois State Historical Library Springfield 1970
p. 113-114
COMPANY OF CAPTAIN BENJAMIN F. PIKE
Muster Roll of Captain Benjn. F. Pike's Company of Volunteer Militia(Rock River Rangers) Enrolled at Fort Armstrong Illinois by virtue ofDepartment order (No. 26 of 1831) ofMajor General E. P. Gaines for the service of the United StatesCommanded by Bvt. Major John Bliss from the 16th.June 1831 when last mustered to the
day of its disbandment & discharge from service on the 2nd. July1831.
No. 31 Vandruff, JoshuaPrivate5th June 1831 lost one Rifle screw driver
No. 32 Vandruff, SamuelPrivate5th June 1831 (Unable to identify SamuelVandruff)
No. 33 Vandruff, Henry Private5th June 1831
(11/26/94)
Transcription of Epitaph On the tombstone of Joshua Vandruff From thecollection of Ruby Roberts Coleman
Joshua Vandruff
Born Jan. 1791
Died Apr. 7, 1856
The is no death, the Stars go down
To rise upon some fairer shore
And bright in Heaven's Jeweled Crown
They shine forever more.
(1/23/95)
Transcription of Chippiannock Cemetery record Plot V, p. 99-100
VANDRUFF
North side: Henry/Vandruff/born/Dec 19 1814/Died Jan 30 1890
"Call not back/the dear departed/anchored safe/where storms are O'er
On the border/land we left them/soon to meet/and part no more."
West side: Jacob V. VANDRUFF/Born/Sept 1827/Died June 1 1880
"The summer flowers have/bloomed upon thy grave/and hopes long cherished
been rudely crushed/yet sacred memory ever/kind and true/brings thee inbeauty/from the dust."
South side: Joshua VANDRUFF/Born Jan 1791/Died Apr 7 1856
"There is no death/the stars go down/to rise upon/some fairer shore
and bright in heavens/jeweled crown/they shine forever more."
North side: Elizabeth/VANDRUFF/Born/Jan 16 1793/Died Apr 5 1875
"A Previous one/from us has gone/a voice we loved is stilled
A place is vacant/in our home/which never can be filled."
(2/18/95)
Transcription of Land Patent Information from the collection of EstherVandruff McAfee
United States of America
To
Joshua Vandruff
Entry of Land
Date: June 29, 1839
Part fractional Southeast Quarter Section 14, on Vandruff's Island, inTownship 17 North, Range 2 West of the 4th P.M. containing 97.54 acreswas entered June 29, 1839 by JoshuaVandruff
Land Book, page 52
(Lower marginal notes)
Patent USA to Joshua Vandruff
Dated June 29, 1843
Filed March 18, 1845
Recorded in Book F of Deeds, page 232
Certificate No. 8510 3/7
Full payment has been made by Vandruff
President - John Tyler
Joshua's land was mortgaged, the sheriff sold it for
$3782.61 to James E. Cooley, 27 Sept. 1845.
(notes from the abstract)
(3/18/95)
Transcriptions from probate documents, copies from the collection ofEsther Vandruff McAfee:
The court having duly examined the attached account (illegible) andeverything appearing fair and just and that all the debts have beenpaid except Burdett & Sanger and leaving$104.17 in the Admin hands for distribution among the Heirs of saidEstate, it is therefore ordered by the Courtthat John Vandruff, Admn. of said Estate be authorized to pay the legalHeirs of said Estate as follows, to wit:(see continued items within the Elizabeth Wisecarver "Notes" page).
3/19/95
More About JOSHUA VANDRUFF:
Burial: April 1856, Unknown
Fact 1: Settled on Rock River island, later named Vandruff Island19
Fact 2: June 29, 1839, Land Patent on file20
Fact 3: May 11, 1875, Reinterred at Chippiannock Cemetery, Private Lot41621
Fact 4: Probate documents on file
Fact 5: August 18, 1997, Submitted Joshuavdf.ftw to World Family Tree
Moved: Abt. 1829, Moved to Rock Island County, IL22
Occupation: Trader, ferry operator, sawmill, flouring mill owner23
Notes for ELIZABETH WISECARVER, "BETSY":
Extraction from the 1820 Federal Census
Cumberland Township, Greene County, Pennsylvania
Series: M33 Roll: 98 Page: 350
Vandroff, Joshua, (Males) (0-9 yrs. of age) 3 (10-15) 1 (16-18) 0(18-25) 0 (26-45) 1 (45 +) 0
(Females) (0-9) 3 (10-15) 0 (16-26) 1 (26-45) 1 (45 +) 0 (Persons notnaturalized) 0
(persons engaged in Commerce) 0 (persons engaged in manufacturing) 1
(6/29/2003)
Transcription of Excerpts
From Bates " History of Greene County"
Involving Wisecarver Surnames
p. 597: William and Salome Orndorf (nee Wisecarver)
p. 669: in 1887, Maj. Herrington was united in marriage with Nannie
(Wisecarver) Worley
(3/19/94)
Transcriptions from
Chippiannock Cemetery records
Plot V, p. 100
East side: Elizabeth/VANDRUFF/Born/Jan 16 1793/ Died Apr 5 1875
"A precious one/ from us has gone/ a voice we loved is stilled/
A place is vacant/ in our home/ which never can be filled."
Old slab type stone: Elizabeth/wife of Joshua VANDRUFF/ born in
Virginia Dec. 20 1792/ Died Apr 4 1875/Aged 83 yrs 3 ms 14 Da.
In front a Red Granite Hdst, "Father"
There appears to be another old falt stone, partially buried - probablyJoshua.
Hdst. Louisa EBERHARDT/ Wife of/ J VANDRUFF/ 1830-1903
(2/18/95)
Extraction from the 1860 Federal Census
Black Hawk Township, Rock Island County, Illinois
Series: M653 Roll: 222 Page: 300
Dwelling 375, Family 359
June 11, 1860
Vandruff, Elizabeth, age 68, widow, b. VA
Vandruff, Henry, age 45, farmer, b. PA
Cross, John, age 26, farmer, b. PA
Cross, Elizabeth, age 24, b. IL
Cross, Asenath, age 2, b. IL
Cross, William, age 1, b. IL
Catherine Essex, age 31, widow & daughter of Old (illegible), b. PA
Wisecarever, John, age 68, day laborer, b. PA
Goble, Jaminimus, m, age 17, servant, b. IL
(6/13/2003)
(Continuation of probate estate disbursement records from the JoshuaVandruff pages):
Elizabeth Vandruff, widow 34.72
1 Henry Vandruff 6.31
2 John Vandruff 6.31
3 Joseph Vandruff 6.31
4 James Vandruff 6.31
5 Jacob Vandruff 6.31
6 Joshua Vandruff 6.31
7 Barbary Goble 6.31
8 Catherine Essex 6.31
9 Elizabeth Cross 6.31
Pearia Kalbaugh now deceased
10 John W. Kalbaugh her only living heir 6.31
Susan Griffin, now deceased
her heirs as follows to wit:
11 Wm R Griffin 1.05
12 Joshua V Griffin 1.05
13 Sarah E Griffin 1.05
14 George W Griffin 1.05
15 James E Griffin 1.05
16 Mary Eliza Griffin 1.05
Transcription of receipts for the above amounts from collection ofEsther Vandruff McAfee:
Received Camden February the 11th 1862 of John Vandruff administratorof the estate of Joshua Vandruff decd six dollars and thirty one centsin full for my share of said estate
\s\ Elizabeth Cross
Received Camden February the 11th 1862 of John Vandruff administratorof the estate of Joshua Vandruff decd six dollars and thirty one centsin full for my share of said estate
\s\Joseph Vandruff
Received Camden February the 11th 1862 of John Vandruff administratorof the estate of Joshua Vandruff decd six dollars and thirty one centsin full for my share of said estate
\s\Barbra Goble
Received Camden February the 11th 1862 of John Vandruff administratyorof the estate of Joshua Vandruff decd six dollars and thirty one centsin full for my share of said estate
\s\Henry Vandruff
Received Camden November the 4, 1862 of John Vandruff administrator ofthe estate of Joshua Vandruff 1.05 dollars in full for my share of saidestate
\s\ Mary E. Griffin
Received Camden November the 4 1862 of John Vandruff administrator ofthe estate of Joshua Vandruff $1.05 dollars in full for my share ofsaid estate
\s\ James E. Griffin
Received Camden November the 4 1862 of John Vandruff administrator ofthe estate of Joshua Vandruff $1.05 dollars in full for my share ofsaid estate
\s\ George W. Griffin
Received Camden Mills Sep 8 1862 of John Vandruff administrator of theestate of Joshua Vandruff decd six dollars and thirty one cents in fullfor my share of said estate
\s\ Catherine Essex
Received Camden Oct 17 1862 of John Vandruff administrator of theestate of Joshua Vandruff decd one dollar and five cents in full for myshare of said estate
\s\ Joshua Griffin
Received Camden November the 17th 1862 of John Vandruff administratorof the estate of Joshua Vandruff $1.05 dollar in full for my share ofsaid estate
\s\ William R. Griffin
Near Idaho, Colorado Ter, Feb 14th, 1863 Consider this my receipt infull for six dollars and thirty-one cents, my share of the estate ofJoshua Vandruff, deceased, John Vandruff beingadministrator of the same
|s| John W. Kalbaugh
Recvd big island october 17 1862 of John Vandruff admn of Estate ofJoshua Vandruff six 31/100 dolars in full for my share of said estate
\s\ John Vandruff
(3/19/95)
Extraction from
"I. S. A. Search # 2, Unitred States,
1820-1829"
Microfiche located at LDS Library
Kirtland, Ohio
Vandroff, Joshua, Greene Co., PA, # 338, Cumberland Twp., 1820
(possibly Census Index listing??)
Extraction from
"I. S. A. Search # 3, U.S.
1830-1839"
Vandruff, Joshua, Jo Daviess County, IL # 313, No Twp. Listed, 1830
(9/13/96)
Transcription of Newspaper Article
From
The Rock Island Argus
Tuesday, May 7, 1946
From Column Titled
"The Town Crier"
by
George Wickstrom
(also appears as Chapter VI "On The Banks of the Rock" from "The TownCrier" by
George W. Wickstrom
published by
The J. W. Potter Company
Publishers of
The Argus
Rock Island, Illinois
(date not known)
There's Nothing to See on Vandruff's Island, Unless You Can see WhatWas Cross the main channel of Rock river on the newly-installed Baileybridge and you will be on Vandruff's island, which is about 5,800 feetlong and 2,200 feet across at its widestplace. There is nothing on the 210 acres of Vandruff's islandespecially interesting, unless you can see in itsruins some of its celebrated moments in history.
Midway on the island and only 200 feet from the right-of-way on the4-lane highway soon to be built is a large thorn tree, growing amid thefoundation rocks which are all that remainof Joshua Vandruff's home. With his sons, Joshua settled there in thespring of 1829. He farmed, ran aferry, and sold whiskey to the Indians.
Chief Black Hawk, a temperance man who had begged the white settlersnot to sell fire water to his followers, one day took six of his bravesto Vandruff's island, where they rolledout the barrel, knocked in the head with their tomahawks, and poured 35gallons of whiskey on the ground.
Black Hawk ordered Vandruff to move from this region, which the Indianscalled Pleasant valley, but soon thereafter the Black Hawk War beganand Vandruff's island was the sceneof a strange "battle." Two thousand soldiers, commanded by GeneralGaines in a steamboat, besieged theisland.
Governor Ford, in his history of Illinois, tells of the attack by thelargest army of Illinoisans ever assembled up to that time. The datewas June 25, 1831. Governor Ford wrote:
"The plan was for the volunteers to cross the slough to this island,give battle to the enemy if found there, and then ford the main riverinto the Indian town, where the soldiers wereto be met by the regular force coming from Fort Armstrong. The islandwas covered with bushes and vines, so as tobe impenetrable to the sight at a distance of 20 feet.
"General Gaines ran his steamboat up to the point of the island, andfired several rounds of grape and canister shot into it to test thepresence of an enemy. The spy battalion formedin line of battle, and swept the island, but it was soon ascertainedthat the ground rose so high within a shortdistance of the bank, that General Gaines shot could not have takeneffect 100 yards from the shore.
"The main body of the volunteers, in three columns, came following thespies: but before they reached the north side of the island, they wereso jammed up and mixed together, officersand men, that no man knew his company or regiment, and scarcelyhimself."
On the Watch Tower bluff of Black Hawk State park General Gaines hadstationed artillery. Governor Ford said it was fortunate that thegrapeshot did not carry across the river intothe tangled thickets of Vandruff's island, for then some friends, butno enemies would have been killed.
General Gaines army was more stranded on Vandruff's island than wereits present-day residents after the bridge collapsed last March 18. Thetroops couldn't find a place shallowenough to ford and they had to stay all "jammed and mixed up" on theisland until scows could be brought toferry them across to Saukenuk, the Indian city across the "bold, deepstream."
Although the Indians had quietly departed in their canoes for thewestern side of the Mississippi, "the volunteers were determined to beavenged upon something. The rain descended intorrents. The Indian wigwams would have furnished comfortable shelterbut, notwithstanding the rain, thewhole town was soon wrapped in flames, and thus perished an ancientvillage which had once been the delightfulhome of six or seven thousand Indians."
Some Has-beens
To the right just after one leaves the main channel bridge and stepsupon Vandruff's island one can look down into the remnants of Illinois'greatest folly. In 1836 the legislatureplanned a system of internal improvements without parallel in thegrandeur of its conception. The lawmakers votedto build 1,300 miles of railroads and
hundreds of canals. Every county was to have either a railroad, a canalor $200,000 to be divided among the population. Work was to start atboth ends of each railroad or canal,so that everybody would be satisfied.
Two hundred men were employed to dig a canal across the tip ofVandruff's island, with the object of by-passing the rapids and makingRock river navigable. A mud hollow is all thatremains of that canal, for the workmen quit when the script with whichthey were paid became worthless, andIllinois, with a population of 400,000, became bankrupt, 110 years ago.
Among the interesting has-beens on Vandruff's island is the 3-storybuilding in a pasture. It is now a machine shop, but old-timers call itthe watch factory or the piano factory.The structure was built in 1871 as a watch works, and legend has itthat for the grand opening 4,000 people cameto Vandruff's island. All the farmer boys and mechanics from town cameto get the jobs which had been promisedthem when stock was sold.
The name of the town of Camden was changed to Milan in order to givethe watch a European name, but no watches - or perhaps only a few -were made. Later, chairs and thenwagons were manufactured there, and from 1905 to 1912 the place was theArtista Piano Player company,manufacturing a cabinet which could be shoved up to the keyboard of aregular piano to hammer out automatic music.
On the mainland shore, near the waterpower dam, stands a vacant oldcotton mill, a 3-story building with floors of wood five inches thick.Unused for 50 years, the mill nevertheless iskept in good repair. Miss Nettie Ailes, who has lived on Vandruff'sisland for 63 years, worked there as a girl.The mill converted cotton into carpet warp, she said.
Next to the cotton mill are the foundations of the Sears flour mill,the "largest in the west," built in 1868 and burned to the ground in1888.
Some of the historic vestiges of Vandruff's island glory will vanishwhen the new bridges and highway are completed. The first bridge willpass over the flour mill ruins. Theembankment of the highway on Hakes' island will cover the sites wheretwo paper mills once stood. Excavating andbeautifying of the shoreline will remove
the last signs of the ill-fated canal of 1836, while dredging iscontemplated to eliminate remnants of the Sears canal along the Rockisland shore.
Part of Milan
Almost all of Vandruff's island is part of mile-square Milan. S.S.Davis of Rock Island owns all but two properties on the island.
Joseph Dasso, a truck gardener, does most of the cultivating now beingdone there, and one of his fields was pointed out to us by Jamie Crist,lifelong resident of the island, asthe place where the Indians apparently manufactured their weapons.Bushels of arrowheads have been found there.
Miss Ella Gannon, however, told us that she has never found an Indianrelic in her life. She lives next to the field in the same cottage inwhich she was born 78 years ago. Her fatherworked in a stone quarry an the island and at lime kilns where mortarwas made.
The new bridges and highway will bring some changes to Vandruff'sisland, but the eagles, we hope, will stay.
Every winter the eagles come there to fish in the open water below thedam. For years they have used the same trees and seem to get a "littlemore domesticated" each season. Twentyseven eagles were the largest number ever counted in one group by themen in the Davis powerhouse.
(11/4/96)
Extraction from
U. S. Congressional Documents and Debates, 1774-1873
Journal of the House of Representatives of the United States
Volume 25
Monday, January 16, 1832
On motion of Mr. Duncan, Resolved, That the Committee of Claims beinstructed to inquire intothe expediency of satisfying the claims of Joshua Vandruff and RenoWells, for depredations committed on theirproperty by the Fox and Sac Indians.
Volume 30
Monday, February 13, 1837
page 395 of 765
Mr. Reynolds, of Illinois, presented documents relating to the case ofJoshua Vandruff, of the State of Illinois, for remuneration for Indiandepredations.
(and after some other unrelated presentations and petitions)
Ordered, That the said petitions and documents be referred to theCommittee of Military Affairs.
(5/26/2001)
More About ELIZABETH WISECARVER, "BETSY":
Burial: April 08, 1875, Chippiannock Cemetery, Private Lot 416, RockIsland, IL24
Children of JOSHUA VANDRUFF and ELIZABETH WISECARVER are:
i. HENRY3 VANDRUFF, b. February 20, 1814, GreeneCounty,Pennsylvania25; d. January 31, 1890, McLouth, Jefferson,Kansas26.
Notes for HENRY VANDRUFF:
Extraction from Bureau of Land Management
Land Patent Records
Online at www.glorecords.blm.gov
Patentee: Vandruff, Henry
State: IL
County: Rock Island
Issue Date: 5/1/1843
District Land Office: Galena
Doc. Nr. 8439
Accession or Serial Nr.: IL4450_.034
(8/13/2003)
Transcription of extraction
From the Rock Island Republican
Rock Island, Illinois
May 24, 1854
Old soldiers who attended the meeting, Joshua Vandruff of Camden Mills,no land warrant, served 1 month in the Blackhawk War. Henry Vandruff ofCamden Mills, no land warrant,served 1 month in the Blackhawk War.
(9/11/94)
Transcription of Obituary
From the McLouth Times
McLouth, Kansas
(Jefferson County)
Thursday, February 7, 1890
Henry Vandruff, an old citizen of this part of the country, died at theresidence of his sister, Mrs. John Cross, on Thursday of last week,aged 75 years, 1 month and 11 days. He wasborn in Pennsylvania in 1814; had lived a number of years in the statesof Indiana and Illinois, and cameto this state in 1869. The funeral was
held in the United Brethren church in this city on Friday, Rev. C. J.Stark officiating. His remains were accompanied by Mrs. Cross and W. D.McPherron to Rock Island, Ill.,where he owned a lot in the cemetery in which his mother and fatherwere buried. He was a brother of Joseph,John and Joshua Vandruff of this
township and had never been married.
(3/12/94)
Transcription of Memorial, inserted into Unknown/undated Bible
Provided by Rose Vandruff Balao
In Loving Remembrance
Henry Vandruff
Died Jan. 31, 1890
Aged 70 years
A precious one from us has gone,
A voice we loved is stilled;
A place is vacant in our home,
Which never can be filled.
God in His wisdon has recalled,
The boon His love had given;
And though the body moulders here,
The soul is safe in Heaven.
(11/25/94)
Transcription of
Chippiannock Cemetery record
Plot V, p. 99
Henry/VANDRUFF/ born/ Dec 19 1814/Died/Jan 30 1890/ North Side
"Call not back/the dear departed/anchored safe/where storms are O'er/onthe broder/land we laft them/soon to meet/and part no more."
(see also Jacob Vandruff (West side inscription) and Joshua Vandruff(South side inscription)
(2/18/95)
Extraction from 1860 Census (Index only)
Family No. 359 (all members shown under family no. 359)
VANDRUFF
Henry
Elizabeth
GOBLE
Jaminimus
(2/18/95)
Transcription of Last Will and Testament of Henry Vandruff, copy fromthe collection of Esther Vandruff McAfee
Will of Henry Vandruff
In the name of God amen I Henry Vandruff of Jefferson County Kansasbeing of sound mind and disposing memory do make & publish anddeclare this to be my last will andtestament hereby revoking all former wills heretofore by me made.
First
I desire that my executor herein named pay all my just debts
Second
It is my will and desire that my body be buried in the same grave lotin the cemetery in Illinois where my Father and Mother are buried andthat my said executor shall pay allfuneral expenses, any expenses of taking my body to Illinois and shallerect a suitable monument on my grave andshall pay to Merrit Goble the sum of
One Hundred fifty dollars to be by him invested in a safe and perpetualfund at interest, the interest arising from said One Hundred &fifty Dollars to be annually applied tokeeping said grave lot on which I am buried in a proper condition andsaid executor shall pay all costs &expenses of administering my estate and for all
the purposes in this second request there shall not be expended a sumexceeding Eight Hundred Dollars and said lot shall be enclosed by a cutstone wall to be paid out of saidsum of said fund of Eight Hundred Dollars (illegible.)
Third
I give and bequeath to my brother John Vandruff of Jefferson CountyKansas out of my estate the sum of Seven Hundred Dollars ($700.00) andalso one promissory note datedMarch 4, 1882 executed by John W. Vandruff and John Vandruff for thesum of ($225) Two Hundred twentyfive dollars & accum interest less all
payments thereon heretofore made.
Fourth
I give and bequeath to Joseph Vandruff my brother of same county thesum of Eight Hundred & Forty Six Dollars ($846) and also apromissory note dated January 15, 1877 forFifty-two & 50/100 Dollars & also a promissory note of sixtydollars executed in 1887 including allinterest on each & less all payments heretofore
made on each.
Fifth
I give and bequeath to each of the following children of my sisterSusannah Griffin the sum of One Hundred Dollars cash to each - WilliamGriffin - George W. Griffin, Jr. -Joshua Griffin - James Griffin - Mrs. Mary Horton and Mrs. ElizabethWest.
Sixth
I give and bequeath to John Kalbaugh, the son of my sister Mrs. PerieKalbaugh the sum of Five Hundred ($500.00) Dollars Cash.
Seventh
I give and bequeath to Mrs. Peria Lutitia Reed the sum of Five HundredDollars cash and hereby appoint Merrit Goble of Moline, Illinois astrustee to take in charge thisbequest and to invest the same for the sole benefit of said Mrs. PerieLutitia Reed paying to her such sums thereofboth principal & interest as her personal comfort and needs mayrequire and said Merrit Goble shall notbe required to give any bond as such trustee.
Eighth
I give and bequeath to my sister Mrs. Barbara Goble the sum of ThreeHundred ($300.00) cash.
Ninth
I give and bequeath to Farrel Goble all the following described landssituated in Rock Island County, Illinois to wit The south fraction ofthe South East fractional quarter (on BigIsland) of Section Twenty one (21) in Township (17) seventeen of Range(2) Two West containing (39 1/3)Thirty nine & one third acres more or less in fee simple to him& his heirs
Tenth
I give and bequeath to each of the following children of my brotherJacob Vandruff in equal shares the total sum of five Hundred Dollars incash and the following described realproperty situated in Rock Island County, state of Illinois to wit - Lotnumber (3) in Block Number two(2) in (illegible) & Baldwin's addition to the town of (illegible)upon the recorded plat of said addition theintention herein being to give to each child one tenth of said fivehundred Dollars & one tenth part ofsaid real property said children named as follows Charles H. Vandruff -Lemuel A. Vandruff - Oscar Vandruff -Jacob A. Vandruff, Jr. - Edward E. Vandruff - Edwena E. Wyans - AnnaVandruff - Martha Vandruff -Elizabeth Vandruff and Estella Vandruff
Eleventh
I give and bequeath to my brother James T. Vandruff the sum of OneThousand Dollars in Cash
Twelfth
I Give and bequeath to my brother Joshua Vandruff the sum of TwoThousand Dollars in cash and also a promissory note dated Oct 14, 1889,for two hundred Dollars signed bysaid Joshua Vandruff
Thirteenth
I give and bequeath to my sister Elizabeth Cross the sum of TwoThousand Dollars in Cash.
Fourteenth
I give and bequeath to Eva L. Cross a daughter of said Elizabeth Crossthe sum of Five Hundred Dollars in cash and to be paid to the said EvaL. Cross by my said executor at thetime of her arriving at the age of Eighteen years and in the meantimeinvested at interest for her benefit.
Fifteenth
I give and bequeath to Mrs. Asenath McPherron the sum of Eight HundredDollars in cash and also a promissory note dated September 15th 1888for one hundred dollarssigned W.D. McPherron less payments heretofor made theron if any
Sixteenth
I give and bequeath to Mrs. Clara Magill the sum of Five HundredDollars in cash
Seventeenth
I give and bequeath to Mrs. Georgianna Davison the sum of Five HundredDollars in cash.
Eighteenth
I give and bequeath to Miss Eva May Vandruff the sum of Five HundredDollars in cash.
Nineteenth
After the payment of all debts and bequests and trusts as hereinspecified if there should be any balance of my estate still undisposedof under this will by reason of matters hereinbefore stated then and in such case i give and bequeath all suchbalance remaining as aforesaid to Jacob AVandruff son of my brother Jacob Vandruff
I hereby nominate and appoint John Cross and W. D. McPherron ofJefferson County, Kansas my sole executors under this my last will andtestament giving to them fullpower to perform such conditions and (illegible) contained in the sameand it is my will and desire that mysaid executors act as such and that no bond be required by any court ofthem as such executors in theircapacity of executors.
In witness whereof I have herein set my hand to this my last will andtestament and caused the same to be duly attested to this 18 day ofJanuary 1890
\s\ Henry Vandruff (X - his mark)
(3/19/95)
More About HENRY VANDRUFF:
Burial: February 02, 1890, Chippiannock Cemetery, Private Lot 416, RockIsland, IL27
Fact 1: Will on file
Fact 2: Bible page copy (source unknown) says death date Jan. 31, 1890
Obituary: On file 3/12/94
Occupation: Farmer (bachelor)28
15. ii. BARBARA VANDRUFF, "BARBARY", b. April 24,1816, Greene County,Pennsylvania; d. May 05, 1893, Moline, Rock Island, Illinois.
16. iii. JOHN WESLEY VANDRUFF, b. November 12, 1817,Waynesburg,Greene, Pennsylvania; d. October 05, 1894, McLouth, Jefferson, Kansas.
17. iv. CATHERINE VANDRUFF, b. April 18, 1818,Unknown, Pennsylvania;d. January 16, 1863, Unknown.
18. v. SUSANNA VANDRUFF, b. November 09, 1819,Waynesburg, Greene,Pennsylvania; d. Abt. 1856, Unknown.
19. vi. HESPERIA VANDRUFF, "PERIA", b. Abt. 1820,Greene County,Pennsylvania; d. December 31, 1844, Rock Island County, Illinois.
20. vii. JOSEPH H. VANDRUFF, b. February 08, 1826,Greene County,Pennsylvania; d. December 11, 1901, McLouth, Jefferson, Kansas.
21. viii. JAMES T. VANDRUFF, b. January 16, 1827,Waynesburg, Greene,Pennsylvania; d. April 24, 1894, Unknown, Nebraska.
22. ix. JACOB ARTHUR VANDRUFF, b. September 08,1827, Greene County,Pennsylvania; d. June 01, 1880, Black Hawk Township, Illinois.
23. x. JOSHUA VANDRUFF, JR., b. April 01, 1832, RockIsland, RockIsland, Illinois; d. January 12, 1895, McLouth, Jefferson, Kansas.
24. xi. ELIZABETH VANDRUFF, "AUNT BETSEY", b.September 02, 1835, RockIsland, Rock Island, Illinois; d. August 05, 1903, McLouth, Jefferson,Kansas.
xii. SAMUEL VANDRUFF, b. Unknown, Unknown; d.Unknown, Unknown.
Notes for SAMUEL VANDRUFF:
COMPANY OF CAPTAIN BENJAMIN F. PIKE
Muster Roll of Captain Benjn. F. Pike's Company of Volunteer Militia(Rock River Rangers) Enrolled at Fort Armstrong Illinois by virtue ofDepartment order (No. 26 of 1831) ofMajor General E. P. Gaines for the service of the United StatesCommanded by Bvt. Major John Bliss fromthe 16th. June 1831 when last mustered to the day of its disbandment& discharge from service onthe 2nd. July 1831.
No. 31 Vandruff, Joshua Private5th June 1831 lost one Rifle screw driver
No. 32 Vandruff, Samuel Private5th June 1831 (Unable to identify SamuelVandruff)
No. 33 Vandruff, HenryPrivate5th June 1831
(11/26/94)
Transcription of Extract
From Bureau of Land Mamagement
General Land Office Records
(Via on-line information supplied by Raymond A. Kilius
10/4/2000)
Accession/Serial # IL4440_.013
BLM Serial # IL NO S/N
State: Illinois
Patentee Name: Samuel Vandruff
Document # 8510 2/7
Issue Date: May 1, 1843
Cancelled: No
Authority: April 24, 1820: SAL ENTRY (S Stat. 566)
Acres: 82.12
Land Office: Galena
Comments: On Vandruff Isl Rock River
Legal description: All that part of the South West fractional quarterlying on Vandruffs Island in Rock river of Section thirteen, inTownship Seventeen of Range two West, in theDistrict of Land subject to Sale at Galena, Illinois, containing eightytwo acres and twelve hundredths ofan acre.
(10/17/2000)
More About SAMUEL VANDRUFF:
Burial: Unknown, Unknown
Note 1: No evidence of Samuel's birth or death has yet been found29