Zachariah Crews (1838- ), possible grandson of Jeremiah Crews & Elizabeth Harland

This is a continuing series on the possible children and grandchildren of Jeremiah Crews & Elizabeth Harlan of Vigo County, Indiana. Jeremiah was the son of David Crews, Sr., of Madison County, Kentucky. This information is largely the courtesy of Marian Kay Abbott, a descendant of Jeremiah.

Zachariah Crews, the third son born to David Cruse and Jane Jewell, was born in 1838 in Sullivan County, Indiana (1). David, of course, is strongly believed to be a son of Jeremiah Crews & Elizabeth Harland. The 1840 Sullivan County, Indiana census shows a male Zachariah's age in the David Cruse household (2). About 1846, when Zachariah was about eight years old, his father died. Either before or after his father's death, the family moved to Honey Creek Township in Vigo County, Indiana. Jane is found here in the 1850 census with her children, including Zachariah (3).

On 14 January 1858, Zachariah married Rachel Lane in Vigo County, Indiana (4). Rachel's parents are unknown, but in the 1850 census she is found living in Honey Creek Township in Vigo County, Indiana with Thomas Meak, 30 years old, and Orpha Meak, aged 33. There are a number of other children in the household, but the relationship to Thomas and Orpha is not stated on the census (5).

Zachariah and Rachel made their home in Honey Creek Township. In 1859, their first child, a boy they named John, was born (6). 

Zachariah served as a private in the Civil War in the 31st Regiment, Indiana Infantry, Company C (7). This unit saw extensive fighting and served from the beginning of the war until the end. 

During the war and afterwards more children were born - Benjamin Franklin Cruse in 1861 and Joseph Cruse in 1863, Amanda Cruse, and the couple's only daughter, born in 1865, Edward Cruse, born in 1872, Henry Harrison Cruse, born in 1847, and William Thomas Cruse, born in 1876. 

It is believed that Zachariah and Rachel died within two weeks of each other sometime between 1876 and 1880. While John may have been close to 19 when his parents died, the other children were younger, with William Thomas Cruse no older four years. 

Zachariaha and Rachel are believed to be buried in Hull Cemetery in Vigo County, Indiana, where so many other members of the Cruse family are buried. If so, their graves are unmarked.



(1) Civil War Enlistment papers according to Marian Kay Abbott. 
(2) 1840 U. S. Federal Census, Sullivan County, Indiana, David Cruse's household.
(3) 1850 U. S. Federal Census, Honey Creek Township, Jane Cruse's household.
(4) Vigo County, Indiana marriage document, courtesy of Marian Kay Abbott but also found on ancestry.com.
(5) 1850 U. S. Federal Census, Honey Creek Township, Thomas Meak household.
(6) 1860 U. S. Federal Census, Honey Creek Township, Zachariah Cruse's household.
(7) National Park Service. U. S. Civil War Soldiers 1861-1865 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2007.
(8) Ancestry.com. U. S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015. 

Jeremiah Cruse (1836-1918), possible grandson of Jeremiah Crews & Elizabeth Harland

I will be continuing my series on the possible grandchildren of Jeremiah Crews and Elizabeth Harland. Currently I am detailing these grandchildren through his son David Crews and Jane Jewell. Most of this information is courtesy of  Marian Kay Abbott, a descendant of Jeremiah. The rest is my added research.

Jeremiah Cruse is proven to be a son of David Cruse and Jane Jewell through his death certificate (1). He was born on 12 August of 1836 in Indiana (2) and was the second son born to David Crews and Jane Jewell, having been born two years behind older brother Josiah Cruse. While Jeremiah's parents were married in 1833 in Vigo County, they were living in Sullivan County, Indiana when the U.S. Federal Census was taken in 1840. Likely, Jeremiah was born either in Vigo before his parents moved or in Sullivan County after they moved (3). Sometime about 1845 shortly before his tenth birthday Jeremiah moved with his parents to Honey Creek Township in Vigo County. About 1846 or 1847 Jeremiah's father, David Cruse died, and Jeremiah's mother, Jane, is listed as the head of the household in the 1850 Vigo County, Indiana census. The family was still living in Honey Creek Township.

On 19 February 1860, just a year before the Civil War started, he married Paulina M. Wilson in Vigo County, Indiana (4). Her name is corrupted in the records in a variety of ways - Palonia, Pilona, Pulona, etc., but her cemetery marker indicates her name was Paulina, so I have used this spelling. Paulina was born on 2 November 1835 in Indiana (5).

I have been unable to find any records that Jeremiah served in the Civil War. That does not mean he did not, it just means in my quick research I was unable to locate anything.

Jeremiah and Paulina made their home in Vigo County, and the 1860 census shows them living in Prairieton. Living with them that year were 18 year old Benjamin Watson and 69 year old Jacob Hess. Jacob Hess is interesting. He was born in Virginia, and according to the 1880 census, Paulina's parents were both born in Virginia. Hess also was in possession of a personal estate valued at $7000 and real estate valued at $1000. So, he was not an indigent elderly person that needed a home. I think the possibility should be considered by researchers that Paulina's maiden name might be Hess, and that perhaps Wilson was a married name. Further research could clear up the matter.

Picture courtesy of www.findagrave.com.
Link in notes below.

Sometime early in 1861, Paulina gave birth to a son whom the couple named Charles D. Cruse. This child lived only three years, dying on 29 September 1864. Charles was buried in Hull Cemetery in Terra Haute in Vigo County, Indiana. According to his burial marker, he was three years, five months, and eleven days old at the time of his death. The stone also records that he was the son of "J & P Cruse" (8).

Six years later on 22 August 1866 he bought 1 1/8 acres in Vigo County, Section 25, Township 11 N, Range 10 W from Mary Hall for $60. Seven months later, he bought an additional 1 1/8 acres also in Vigo County, Section 25, Township 11 N Range 10 W from Nancy J. Gilliland and David W. Gilliland for $25 (9).

On 1 December 1870, Jeremiah and his wife, Palonia, sold for $800 4/6 of 27 acres in Section 28 and also 4/6 of 13 acres in Section 29 all in Vigo County in Township 11 N Range 9 W (9).

While the deed given above for the sale in Vigo County indicates a year of 1870, I have been unable to locate Jeremiah and Paulina in the 1870 census. It is possible they moved for a time to Illinois, but if so, they were once again living in Vigo County when the 1880 census was taken. That year they had their two sons living with them - M. Frances Cruse, aged 17, and David Cruse, aged 10. Interestingly, M. Frances is given a birth state of Illinois, while the others were all born in Indiana, including ten year old David. I looked for Jeremiah in the 1880 Illinois census, but I came up dry. The possibility should be considered that they lived for a short time here. Of course, the biggest burden of not locating them in the 1870 census is that fact that there were likely other children born to this family whose names are not known at this time.

The Terra Haute Saturday Evening Ledger reported on 24 Jan 1880 that Mrs. Jerry Cruse of Prairieton was very sick with the measles. She obviously recovered, for in June the 1880 census was taken and she is listed as still living (see paragraph above).

Picture courtesy of www.findagrave.com.
Link in notes below.

Paulina died on 1 October 1895. She was buried in Hull Cemetery in Terra Haute in Vigo County, Indiana. Jeremiah subsequently moved in with his son David, and he is found living with him six years later in Prairieton in Vigo County in 1900 when the census was taken. Also living with David that year was wife Lena and their six year old son Ira (6). Ten years later, Lena had passed away, Ira was sixteen, and Jeremiah, now 73, was still living with son David and still in Prairieton (7).

On 10 June 1918 Jeremiah Cruse died in Prairieton. His death was subsequently reported in the Terra Haute Tribune on 11 June 1918 (on page 2) and reads as follows:

Jeremiah Cruse, 81 years old, died at 3:30 o'clock Monday afternoon at the home of his son, eight miles southeast of Prairieton, Indiana. He is survived by two sons, David Cruse of southeast of Prairieton, and F. M. Cruse of Kansas; two grandsons and one granddaughter. The funeral service will be held at 3 o'clock Wednesday afternoon. Burial will be in Hull Cemetery.

It should be noted that while burial was apparently in Hull Cemetery, possibly alongside wife Paulina and son Charles, he is not found on the website www.findagrave.com. He may well have a marker, but it was not recorded for the website.

(1) Indiana, Death Certificates, 1899-2011, courtesy of Ancestry.com.

(2) Birthmonth, birthyear and birthstate given in death certificate as well as the 1900 Prairieton, Vigo Co IN (son David's household). The actual birthdate found on the death certificate. Death certificate is not specific as to a birth county.

(3) Jeremiah Crews, Possible Children, Part Six: David Cruse

(4) Indiana Marriage Index, 1800-1941.

(5) Cemetery marker found on the www.findagrave.com and seen here.

(6) 1900 U. S. Federal Census, David Cruse, household, Vigo County, Indiana.

(7) 1910 U. S. Federal Census, David Cruse, household, Vigo County, Indiana.

(8) Cemetery marker found on the www.findagrave.com and seen here. It should be noted the byline on the page in regards to the birthdate does not match with the actual picture of the marker.

(9) Land records - courtesy of Marian Kay Abbott.

A Trip to Madison County

I must apologize for my long absence this summer from my blog. I was given the wrong dosage of medicine from the local pharmacy for my thyroid, and I was basically suffering from an extreme case of hypothyroidism all summer long. I am happy to report, though, that the proper dosage has finally kicked my levels back up to normal. I should be posting on a more regular basis and getting back to posting on Jeremiah Crews' family.

This week, I am going to share a post from cousin Mary LaRue. She went to Descendant Weekend at Ft. Boonesborough, Kentucky this past summer. Many of you who follow this blog are descendants of David Crews and Annie Magee. I would like to thank Mary for sharing her trip and pics with us, and I need to apologize for being so long in getting her words put up here.

Recently, I had the chance to travel to the Richmond, Kentucky area in Madison County, Kentucky, home to David Crews and Annie (nee McGee) Crews, my Maternal 6^th Great Grandparents. Their home still stands, although it is completely enveloped by the present-day house shown here.

No part of their original house can be seen from the outside, but the land they lived on is still green and shady with large trees, the way I imagine it must have been when they lived there. Their daughter Mary, and her husband Abraham Newland, my 5^th Great Grandparents, are buried just a few miles down the road from David and Annie’s home site, on land David granted to them. David, and presumably Annie, were originally buried at the home site, but David’s granddaughter, China, had David moved into the Richmond Cemetery in the 1930s.  A photograph of his grave is below, showing the old slab China had made, and the beautiful new marker put up by some of David’s descendants a few years ago. If you go to visit the grave, it is near the front entrance, close to the office. As far as I know, Annie was left behind when David was moved, so she is still a part of their home site, although the location of her grave is unknown to us now.
 

I was also able to visit both the original site and the current reproduction site of Fort Boonesborough, near Richmond. David and Annie, Mary and Abraham, and my other set of 6^th Great Grandparents, William and Sarah (nee Callaway) Hoy, were some of the first pioneers at Boonesborough, and they are all  listed on the monument just outside the reproduction fort.
 

The original fort is long gone, but the site was marked by the D.A.R. 99 years ago with a monument. As you can see from the photograph below, David Crews’ name is inscribed upon the monument that sits inside the area which was once enclosed by the original fort. This site was also where the first Christian church service in Kentucky was held, and also where the first Legislative Session ever held in Kentucky occurred.
 

The reproduction fort is a wonderful place to visit, and I hope you are able to go see it someday. Take a few minutes to look at the website of the Fort Boonesborough Foundation, they have a lot more historical information and photographs than I could include here. (www.fortboonesboroughlivinghistory.org)

If anyone would like to post stories or pics of their ancestors on our family tree, feel free to contact me at donnahechlerporterbooks.wordpress.com. 

x

The Family of Napoleon Bonaparte Barclay & Martha Isabella Boyd

Recently I was contacted by Terry McDonald Turner, who had purchased my recent genealogy work "Metes & Bounds III: John McQueen & Nancy Crews, Children & Grandchildren." I asked Terry to write a more lengthy biography on Napoleon Bonaparte Barclay than what is currently in my book. The pictures are also courtesy of Terry (with the exception of the sons of Napoleon & Mattie and the last which are both courtesy of Sandra Hargrove). Next week I will return to my postings on the grandchildren of Jeremiah Crews and Elizabeth Harland.

Napoleon Bonaparte Barclay, my second greatgrandfather, was born December 6, 1854 in Woodville, Texas to James Walter Barclay (1816-1873) and Virginia Foster Barclay (1827-1867).  He was named for his uncle, Napoleon Bonaparte Charlton, the husband of his mother’s sister, Sarah Louise Foster.  Napoleon Bonaparte Charlton (1815-1896) was a well-known political figure in Tyler County, Texas, and served in the Texas State Legislature for many years. 

Napoleon "Pole" married Martha Isabella "Mattie" Boyd on March 18, 1880 in Tyler County, Texas.  Martha was born December 27, 1848 in Many, Louisiana.  She was the daughter of James H. Boyd (1810-1859) and Sarah Ann Scott (1816-1885), and the widow of George Delaware Hignett (1849-1873). Mattie and George D. Hignett had two children, John Francis M. Hignett (1870-1918) and Sarah Eliza Hignett Boyce (1872-1964). John Francis "Frank" Hignett was a minister and officiated at the marriage of his half-sister, Viola Ida Barclay to Fredderic Ancel Williamson in April 1917.  

Napoleon Bonaparte Charlton

Martha Isabella "Mattie" Boyd

Pole and Mattie Barclay had five children, two girls and three boys.  The girls were Viola Ida Barclay Williamson (1881-1978) and Eva Virginia Barclay Kelley (1883-1960).  The boys were Bronson Cooper  Barclay (1885-1948), William Thomas Barclay (1887-1968), and Richard Boyd Barclay (1890-1969).  

Eva Virginia Barclay Kelley

Viola Ida Barclay Williamson

left to right - Richard, Will, and Bronson Barclay
(photo courtesy of Sandra Hargrove)

Viola “Ola” Williamson was my greatgrandmother.  She lived about a quarter mile from me when I was growing up, and since she lived to be 96 years old, I knew her quite well.  Many are the stories I have heard from her and my grandmother, Eva Esther Williamson McDonald (1918-2008), about the Barclays of Tyler County, Texas. 

Esther Williamson

Esther Williamson McDonald

The Barclays were Baptists in their religious beliefs, being either Primitive Baptists or Missionary Baptists.  They also voted a Democratic ticket, although as my grandmother Esther told me in a 2001 videotaped interview “the Democrats then weren’t as they are now.”  They had a great sense of humor and loved practical jokes.  Aunt Eva “Evvie” Kelley was the family historian, and she passed her love of this rich history to her niece Esther. 

Among the stories I have heard about Napoleon is that he could speak the language of the Alabama-Coushatta Indians of Tyler County, and that he always traveled with a sheepskin that he would roll out on the floor as his bed when he came for an overnight visit.  My greatgrandmother Ola told me that when she was growing up in Tyler County the Indians would leave her little corncob dolls that they made for her on the porch of their cabin which stood next to the James Walter Barclay cabin in the Harmony Community.  Napoleon was very generous to his children and grandchildren, and would offer to purchase a home for his children when they married.  (My Williamson greatgrandparents declined this ample offer.)  Another story was about the time Napoleon was hosting an important reception for Kirby Lumber Company executives and gave Ola and Eva quite a sum of money to make taffeta tablecloths.  Both daughters thought taffeta was too expensive, and when they suggested another more sensible fabric, he vehemently said no. 

Napoleon was well-loved by his children and grandchildren.  He died on November 6, 1936 in Silsbee, Texas at the home of his son Bronson.  Mattie died August 22, 1925 in Woodville, Texas after a long battle with cancer.  They are both buried at Hart-Mill Cemetery near Woodville.  

The picture below is of some of the children (and wives and husbands) of James Barclay & Virginia Ann Foster (and brothers, sisters, and in-laws of Napoleon Bonaparte Barclay) taken at a Barclay Family Reunion dated 1910-1916 and is courtesy of Sandra Hargrove who has graciously shared it with relatives who have asked. 

Back row, left to right, Charles Bullock Barclay, Martha Isabell Boyd Barclay (Napoleon's wife), Napoleon Bonaparte Barclay, Donna Dunmon Barclay (Charles' wife), James O. Lindsey (Sarah's husband), Thomas Boston Beaty (Mary's husband)

Front row, left to right, Phoebe Arizona Barclay Bevil, Sarah Anderson Barclay Lindsey, Mary Louise Barclay Beaty, Avarilla Barclay Risinger, Jane Elizabeth Barclay Bullock

Possible Grandchildren of Jeremiah Crews: Laeticia Nelson

Laeticia Nelson was born to James Nelson and Susannah Crews, and Susannah was probably the daughter of Jeremiah Crews and Elizabeth Harland as explained here. Laeticia, therefore, would have been a granddaughter of Jeremiah Crews and a great-granddaughter of David Crews and Annie Magee of Madison County, Kentucky. 

Laeticia was born in Kentucky in 1827 (7, 8, 9) prior to her parents' move from there to Indiana where they joined the families of Crews, Nelson, and others in Vigo County by 1830. She is probably the free white female under the age of five in James Nelson's household in the 1830 Vigo County, Indiana census. In the 1840 Vigo County census, she was probably one of two white females aged 10-14 in James' household. Both the 1830 and 1840 census records show the Nelsons living in Honey Creek Township.

About 1854, Laeticia married Willis Milam (1). While the marriage record states Willis' father to be James, the 1860 Vigo County, Indiana census enumerates 68 year old John Milam as living in Willis' household. Willis and Laeticia subsequently lived in the Honey Creek Township in Vigo County, Indiana. By the time the 1860 census was taken, Laeticia had borne four children - Mary Milam, born 1855, Susanna Milam, born 1856, James Milam, born 1858, and perhaps LettiAnn or Laeticia Milam, who was only three months old at the time the census was taken in June of 1860. Willis was a carpenter, and it appears from the census that he was perhaps born in Kentucky, although the writing is not clear.

Sometime about 1863, Willis must have died, and on 8 November 1865 Laeticia married a second time to Henry Loveall in Vigo County, Indiana (3).

Henry had been born in March of 1819 in Kentucky (8). He had first married in Henry County, Indiana, on 10 August 1847. The marriage record gives her name as Judy Hays (4) but the 1860 census record, as well as notes from genealogists on Ancestry.com, indicate her name to have been Anna. I am not certain at this time if they were the same person, or if Judy died early in the marriage and Henry married a second time to Anna. 

By 1860, Henry and Anna had moved to Lost Creek Township in Vigo County, Indiana, where Anna died about 1865. At the time of her death, she was survived by not only Henry, but children Susanna Loveall, born 1848, America Loveall, born 1850, Mary E. Loveall, born 1851, James Loveall, born 1853, Naomi Loveall, born 1856, and Amanda Loveall, born 1859 (5). Another child, Noah Loveall, was born in 1862 prior to Anna's death (6).

The combined household of Henry and Laeticia (Nelson Milam) Loveall in the 1870 Vigo County, Indiana census boasted of nine children, with only James' older two daughters, Susanna and America, being absent. The only child of the nine shared by Henry and Laeticia was two year old Alice Loveall, and she would be the only child Henry and Laeticia would share in common (7). Also living with  the Lovealls that year was 73 year old James Nelson, who was probably Leticia's father.

Laeticia is last seen in the 1880 census record. When the 1900 census was taken, Henry was living in Honey Creek Township in Vigo County, Indiana as a boarder with John and Lillian Jordan's household. 

Nothing further is know of Laeticia nor Henry.

(1) Ancestry.com. Indiana, Select Marriages Index, 1748-1993 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2014. Although, date is based on birth of first child, as the database offers none.
(2) Date based on birth of first child named in 1850 census.
(3) Vigo County, Indiana; Index to Marriage Record 1840-1920 Inclusive Volum, W. P. A. Original Record Located: County Clerk's O; Book: 4; Page: 106.
(4) Dodd, Jordan. Indiana Marriages to 1850 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 1997.
(5) 1860 Vigo Co IN census, Henry Loveall's household. 
(6) 1870 Vigo Co IN census, Henry Loveall's household.
(7) 1880 Vigo Co IN census, Henry Loveall's household. It shows no other surviving children beyond Alice's birth.
(8) 1900 Vigo Co IN census, John Jordan's household, giver birthmonth and birthyear. All census records, it should be noted, support Kentucky as the birthstate. 
(9) 1850 Vigo Co IN census, James Nelson's household.

Josiah Cruse (1834- ), grandson of Jeremiah Cruse & Elizabeth Harland

The past few weeks, thanks to the research of Marian Kay Cruse Abbott, I have been able to post up-to-date information on Jeremiah Cruse and Elizabeth Harland, much needed information which has heretofore been difficult to find. This week, I will turn my attention, and for the next few weeks, to Jeremiah and Elizabeth's grandchildren through their son, David Cruse and his wife, Jane Jewell. According to the 1850 Vigo County, Indiana census, they had the following children: Josiah, Jeremiah, Zachariah, William, John, James, and daughter Elizabeth.

This week, we will focus on their oldest child - Josiah Cruse.

Josiah Cruse was born in 1834 in either Vigo or Sullivan County. His parents were married in the former, but by 1840 they had moved to the latter. At some point, they were back in Vigo County and in Honey Creek Township, and about 1846 Josiah's father, David, died. Josiah was twelve years old at the time. Josiah's mother, Jane, continued living on their land in Honey Creek Township, and Josiah, along with his younger brothers and sister, is enumerated in her household in the Vigo County, Indiana census in 1850.

On 30 October 1856 in Vigo County, Indiana, at the age of 22, Josiah married Elizabeth Shumaker. Two children quickly followed the marriage, Malinda Cruse in 1857, and David Cruse, born in August of 1859 (1860 census taken in June and gives his age as 10/12).

In June of 1863, while living in Honey Creek Township in Vigo County, Josiah registered for the Civil War draft. There is no record, however, of his having ever served in the Union forces. Sometime after his draft registration but before 1870, he left Vigo County and moved to to Sullivan County, Indiana, settling in Curry Township where he was  enumerated in the 1870 census with his wife, Elizabeth, and children Malinda, 13, William Thames, 8, John, 6, and May E., 2. David is not enumerated, and since he would have been only 10 years old, it is quite possible he had died by this date.

Three more children followed - Anna in 1871, Josiah in 1874, and Cora in 1876. After Cora's birth, the family left Indiana and moved to Licking Township, Crawford County, Illinois. Elizabeth Shumaker Cruse died between 1876, the date of Cora's birth, and the 1880 census, but whether she died in Indiana or after the family moved is not known.

On 30 August 1891, in Jasper County, Illinois, Josiah married a second time to Martha Noblett. They are subsequently found living in Crawford County, Illinois when the 1900 census was taken, but they disappear after this date. 

----------------------------------------------


Sources used courtesy of Marian Kay Abbott Cruse:

U.S. Federal Census for 1840 Sullivan Co IN census (David Cruse's hh)
U. S Federal Census for 1850 Vigo Co IN census (Jane Jewell Cruse's hh)
U. S Federaral Census for 1870 Sullivan Co IN, 1880 (Josiah's hh)
U. S Federatl Census for 1900 Crawford Co IL (Josiah's hh)

Indiana Marriage Index 1800-1941

Illinois Marriage, 1815-1935

Additional Sources:

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA); Washington, D.C.; Consolidated Lists of Civil War Draft Registration Records (Provost Marshal General's Bureau; Consolidated Enrollment Lists, 1863-1865); Record Group: 110, Records of the Provost Marshal General's Bureau (Civil War); Collection Name:Consolidated Enrollment Lists, 1863-1865 (Civil War Union Draft Records); NAI: 4213514; Archive Volume Number: 1 of 3

Jeremiah Crews, Possible Children, Part Six: David Cruse

    Another possible child of Jeremiah Crews/Cruse and Elizabeth Harland was David Cruse who was, according to the 1840 Sullivan County, Indiana census, born between 1801 and 1810. If this David was the son of Jeremiah, then I believe he was more likely born closer to 1801 if not before. Sister Mary Amelia Cruse is documented in several census records as having been born in 1801, and Jeremiah left Madison County, Kentucky, about 1800, more than likely after a series of bitter disputes with his father (Porter, Metes & Bounds II: David Crews, Ancestors & Descendants, 195). David Crews' remarriage to Mildred Williford Carlew in 1802 after the death of Jeremiah's mother Annie (Magee), probably about 1797, did not help matters. 
   Supposedly, Jeremiah and brother Elijah Crews were so upset at being cut from their father's will that they changed the spelling of their name and subsequently left Madison County, although it is possible Jeremiah left between his mother's death and his father's remarriage. Regardless of the timing of his move, it seems unlikely that Jeremiah would have named a son after his estranged father. More than likely, David Cruse was born in Madison County, but he if not, then he may have been born in Clark County, for Jeremiah Cruse purchased property there in 1800 (Porter, Metes & Bounds II:, 195).

     David Cruse spent little time in one place during his childhood and young adult years. By 1810, Jeremiah had left Clark County, Kentucky, and had moved to Henry County, Kentucky (1810 census). Between 1810 and 1820 Jeremiah moved on to Daviess County, Kentucky. It is possible that in 1919 David Cruse received two grants of land from the General Land Office of the United States. The first was recorded on 13 March 1919. The deed does not convey the number of acres on its face, although the second deed, which was recorded at the Vincennes Land Office as well, this time a week later on 20 March 1919, states this second grant was for 40 acres.  It also appears David might not have filed them until years later, for on the face of it they both appear to not have been patented until 10 December 1841 and the 1 August 1839 respectively. The deed patented officially in 1841 states David was living in Sullivan County, Indiana. (Both land grants, which were copies of the typed originals, were given to me courtesy of Marian Kay Cruse Abbott). 

    Both of the above grants were for lands in township 10, but as Honey Creek township, where David ultimately settled, was numbered 3, these grants were not located there, although he did receive two grants in that township at some point (see here for a map of those lands.) When David moved from Sullivan County to Vigo County is not known, but by 1830 Jeremiah Cruse was living in Vigo County, Indiana, where he is found in census that year, along with the families of Boone, Nelson, and Adams, David was more than likely here as well, and he was probably the male aged 20-29 in Jeremiah Cruse's household that year. 

   Three years later, on 1 May 1833, David married Jane Jewel in Vigo County, Indiana (Ancestry.com. Indiana, Marriage Index, 1800-1941 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2005.) Jane was eighteen years old at the time of the marriage, having been born in Indiana in 1815 according to both the 1850 and 1860 Vigo County, Indiana censuses. (The 1870 gives a birth year of 1820 which is unlikely, as such a date would  indicate she was merely 13 years old at the time of the marriage.) 

   Seven years after their marriage, the 1840 Sullivan County, Indiana census enumerates the David Cruse household as having 3 males under the age of 5, 1 male aged 5-9, 3 males aged 30-39, and 2 females aged 20-29. One of the older females is obviously Jane, and one of the older males is obviously David, but who the others are is not known. According to later census records, the male aged 5-9 was probably David and Jane's oldest son, Josiah Cruse, born in 1834. Behind him, and in the under 5 category, were likely son Jeremiah Cruse, born in 1836 and aged 4 at the time of the census, son Zachariah Cruse, born in 1838 and aged 2, and son William Cruse, born in 1840. 

   More children followed after 1840 - John Cruse in 1843, James Cruse in 1844, and the only daughter the couple would have, Elizabeth Cruse, born in 1846. Around this time, or not long after Elizabeth's birth, David died. Jane never remarried, but continued to live in Honey Creek Township in Vigo County on their farm. In the 1850 census, she was 35 years old and was enumerated as the head of the household along with her seven children.

   On 1 July 1850 David's sister and her husband, Susannah and James Nelson, granted to David Crews, deceased, and his heirs, a tract of land in Vigo County, Indiana. No money is mentioned as changing hands in the deed, and a further note clearly states Susannah gave up her right of dower to the property. The deed was recorded in  Vigo County on 8 November 1850. It is unclear whether this property was sold to David and a deed had not yet been recorded, or whether it was possibly part of a settlement of their father Jeremiah's estate that had not been handled at the time of David's death. Unfortunately, there are no details given on the deed. (Original copy of deed given to me courtesy of Marian Kay Cruse Abbott.) 

   The 1860 Vigo County, Indiana census still enumerates Jane as the head of the household, this time with only her last four children living with her. A year later, the Civil War started. Sons John, Zachariah, and James enlsited in Co Co, 31st Indiana, and John was subsequently killed in the Battle of Chattanooga on 5 August 1864. He was buried in Chattanooga National Cemetery in Hamilton County, Tennessee (www.findagrave.com.) 

   By the time the 1870 Vigo County, Indiana census was taken, only daughter Elizabeth Cruse, aged 23 and apparently unmarried, was living with Jane, but there is a year old male child named Elijah Cruse living with her. This child may have been born out of wedlock, for Elizabeth and Elijah are found living in her brother Josiah's household in the Crawford County, Illinois census ten years later in 1880. She is still given the surname Crews, as is Elijah, who is enumerated as Josiah's nephew.  Jane, in the 1870 census, is enumerated as being 50 years old which is an error as it conflicts with previous census records and would also indicate a marriage age of 13 which is rather unlikely.

    A year later, on 4 August 1871, Jane sold to Stephen Lovell for $50 1/3 acre of land in township eleven (which was Riley Township and not Honey Creek) in Vigo County, Indiana, which was her life dower of 1/3 interest. (Copy of original deed courtesy of Marian Kay Cruse Abbott.) It is possible Stephen was her son-in-law, having married Elizabeth Cruse the previous year (Vigo County, Indiana; Index to Marriage Record 1840-1920 Inclusive Volume, W. P. A. Original Record Located: County Clerk's O; Book: 5; Page: 340). If so, I have no explanation for why her surname is given as Cruse in her brother's subsquent census in 1880. Since 1/3 interest is mentioned in the deed, it is more than likely deceased husband David Cruse's property and not property she inherited from her father. It was also located in another township and not Honey Creek. 

    Jane must have died after this date and before the 1880 census, for she is not enumerated in her own household nor in that of her children.