HANNAH KNIGHT LIBBY - Part 21 - John and Hannah at Morleyville

There are no contemporary records of the location or home that John and Hannah resided in when they lived in Illinois.  It has long been a desire of the extended family to know more about them during this period of time but there just aren’t any accounts that survive to today about this – or are there?  It is the great fortune for all of us that we have reconnected with many of our long-lost cousins.  Well, they weren’t lost but we had lost track with them.  The family that remained in Illinois, when Hannah and six of her children left for the west, have a long and rich history.  They also have many answers to our questions as some of their family were excellent record keepers.

So for a discussion of the location and description of Hannah and John’s home we have to turn to our cousin Joe Irvin Conover.  Joe is our cousin twice as he is the 3^rd great grandson of Hannah through Philip Libby Carter and the 4^th great grandson through Almira Carter Tripp.  He was raised on the land that Philip Libby Carter purchased and actually lived on starting in 1851.  So to our cousin Joe we are indebted for much of the following information.

There are a couple of excellent references for information on Morleyville that help us to understand the life of our ancestors who settled in early Morleyville.  The first is a book written by William G. Hartley, “The 1845 Burning of Morley’s Settlement and Murder of Edmund Durfee,” (Salt Lake City: Primer Publications, 1998 Reprint), iv. This booklet was written for the descendants of Edmund Durfee, but has historical importance for other Latter-day Saints whose ancestors lived in the area of Morley’s Settlement.  From this book we learn Morleyville was a mostly rural settlement that spread over three square-mile sections of Walker Township in Hancock County, Illinois.  Morleyville had a “downtown” settlement in Section 32.  The Carters mainly settled in a more rural area in the eastern half of section 31 to the west and south of the main Morleyville settlement.

Hartley went on to state that “It is clear that Saints moved onto land and farmed it and lived there before any of them formally purchased the land.  It is also clear that most did not buy land but lived on lands that their fellow-members bought—the Morleys, Hancocks, and Carters, and others.  They leased, rented, or squatted, while they farmed and built their log homes. (Hartley, p. 65)

Another good site is at mormonhistoricsites.com, specifically at their site on Morleyville.  See:  http://mormonhistoricsites.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/NJ11.1_Historic-Sites.pdf  Though not specifically sited here, it contains good information on Morleyville.

1874 Plat Map of Part of Walker Township

 Above is a portion of the map of Walker Township from the Hancock County Road Plat Book, 1874-1893.  Tioga is the modern name for Morleyville.  That is the “downtown” part of Morleyville and is mainly in the northwest part of Section 32.  After 1851 when Philip Libby Carter arrived in the area, he owned two large tracks of land in Section 31.  The two Dooly Est. tracks obviously belonged to Mary Jane Carter and Jacob Dooley.  Almira Carter Tripp and her husband also owned land south of this area in Adams County.

So back to our narrative on Hannah.  It would be nice if we could know what her home was like while in Morleyville.  At one point we thought we might have found information about it.  Joe Conover is a descendant of Philip Libby Carter (and was, in fact, born in the area we know today as Carter Hill which was land originally purchased by Philip.)  His grandfather wrote in his journal about moving an old cabin to the site of the home built on Carter Hill in 1885.  It was at first thought that this might have been John and Hannah’s cabin but in later thinking we determined it was more likely the original homestead of Philip and his wife Martha since it was located on the land he purchased in 1851.

So where did Hannah live?  We can confidently state that she most likely lived about a half mile north of Philip’s land on a track of land John purchased from his son William in May of 1841.  To simplify the various transactions the following have been prepared.  First is a list of known deeds and following that is the Walker Township map overlaid with numbered boxes representing the various deeds as best as we can determine.  At this time doing this is problematic as many deeds appear to be missing.  Record keeping wasn’t as precise as it is today.

Land Deeds:
1. Film 954598 - Hancock Co – William C Wilson to Wm Carter

   Book I, p 227-8 - 27 Oct 1840
   Part of the East half of the NE quarter of Section 31 – 22 acres
   Begins at SE corner – east 71 rods, north 50 rods, west 71 rods, south 50 rods

2. Film 954598 - Hancock Co - Wesley Williams to William Carter
   Book I, p. 198-99 - 1 Mar 1841
   Part of the NW quarter of section 25 starting in NW corner of said quarter
   20 acres

3. Film 954598 - Hancock Co – William Carter to John Carter
   Book I, p. 300-1 - 26 May 1841
   Land from #1 above

4. Film 954282 - Hancock Co – John Carter Jr to John Carter Sr

         Book 93, p. 92 - 17 Feb 1846
         In the SW quarter of the NE Quarter of Section 3   
         Beginning at the SE corner of land of Dominicus Carter
         ?? acres

     5. Film 954601 - Hancock Co – William C Wilson to John Carter
         Book 19-0, p. 505 - 30 Mar 1846
         In the NW quarter of Section 31 (SE corner of that quarter)
         ?? acres

    6. Film 954604 - Hancock Co – John Carter to Jacob Dooley
        Book 5, p. 418 - 8 Aug 1846
        Same land as #5 – called Dooly Est on map

    7. Film 967548 - Adams Co – John Carter to Jacob Dooley
         Book 4, p. 352-3 - 30 Mar 1848
         In Adams Co -  North half of the East half of the SE quarter Section 5 of Township 2

    8. Film 954600 - Hancock Co – John Carter to Adam Snyder
         Book X, p. 215 - 6 Nov 1848
         Beginning at the SE corner of Jacob Dooly’s land – run East on the south line of the NW Quarter of    Section 31 then North (rectangle 20 by 24 rods) – Just west of the original John Carter purchase.

    9. Film 954347 - Hancock Co – George W Pollard to Philip L Carter
         Source? - 6 Sep 1851
         (Copied wrong deed - !!!)  This should be the south half of the SE quarter of Section 31
         92 acres – tax receipt of 1854

   10. Film 954351 - Hancock Co – Wm J Turner to Philip L Carter
         Book 37, p. 89-90 - 4 Mar 1853
         SW quarter of the SW Quarter of Section 32

  11. Film 954283 - Hancock Co – Robert Gillham to Philip L Carer
        Book 96, p. 338 - 20 Oct 1873
3      3 and a half acres – SW quarter of the NW Quarter of Section 31 and
        8 and a half acres of the west end of the SE Quarter of section 31

  12. Film 954789 - Hancock Co – Mortgage
         Philip L Carter & Mary J Gillham to J. M Tr…
         Book 29, p. 291-2 - 22 Sep 1875
         NW quarter of the NE Quarter of Section
         40 acres

  13. Film 954285 - Hancock Co – Philip L Carter to Charles Carter
         Book 100, p. 40 - 8 Jan 1876
         SW quarter of the NW Quarter of Section 31   - 33 and a half acres
         West end of the SE Quarter of the NW Quarter Section 31 – 8 and a half acres

  14. Dominicus Land – from a book – no specific source
         NE quarter of Section 31 beginning at the NW corner of the farm of said Carter – south 21 rods,          East 26 rods, North 21 rods, west 26 rods

Carter Land Holdings

Remember that each of the numbered boxes is a Section of land that is one mile square.  Morleyville (centered at the modern day Tioga) actually covered Sections 29, 31 and 32.  It is easy to see that the colored boxes are predominately in Section 31.  John and Hannah owned two parcels of land – the one in yellow numbered 1,3 and the purple box numbered 7, which was actually in Adams County.  Most likely their home was located in the yellow box 1-3.  Joe Conover remembers as a child walking up White Oak Creek from his home on Carter Hill (Philip’s land at the Green number 9 box.  Ironically the family had forgotten that north of their farm was where John and Hannah had lived.

John and Hannah were surrounded by properties owned by their children.  Hannah surely must have loved this.  Dominicus owned land number 14 (which we couldn’t specifically identify.)  William besides selling his parents number 1-3 also owned the blue number 2.  Son John Jr (John H Carter) owned the red box numbered 4-8.  Hannah’s daughter, Mary Jane Carter Dooley, owned the orange boxes numbered 5-6 and 12.  Not showing is daughter, Almira Carter Tripp, whose family was about 2 miles south in Lima.  When Philip arrived in 1851 he first bought the green box number 9 and shortly afterwards the blue box number 10.  The box at number 9 would be called the main part of the Carter Hill Farm. 

Carter Hill about 1930

Carter Family Cemtery 2009 (after restoration)

When the Mormon part of the family fled Illinois in early 1846 some sold their land to Philip or John.  Others sold to other individuals.  Philip and his descendants, over time, eventually came to own most of the land in Section 31.  The home built in 1885 by Philip’s son Charles on Carter Hill (and Philip’s original cabin) were located at the black dot in box 9.  Adjacent to the home was the Carter Family cemetery where Philip was buried when he died in 1876.  Charles descendants believe Philip to be the first Carter buried in that cemetery so John, when he died, must have been buried elsewhere so tradition that he was buried in the Fletcher Cemetery is probably true. Charles Carter and the others of early days in this area attended an early Mormon school house at the dot just to the west (left of box 9.)  By Joe Conover’s day he had to walk along the lane which was the line at the west edge of box 9 to the center of Section 31 and then across fields until he reached the school house just inside section 30.

Thus Hannah, though living in a largely rural area, was surrounded by her family and resided only a half mile from the settlement at Morleyville.  Unfortunately, her idyllic surrounding remained idyllic for only a couple of years.  Conditions rapidly would deteriorate until they would have to flee Illinois to avoid mobs intent of driving them out or even killing them.

HANNAH KNIGHT LIBBY – Part 9 – HANNAH'S PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION

              In this episode we will take a break from the narrative of the history of Hannah Knight Libby Carter and spend a little time in trying to learn a little about what Hannah looked like.  Since she died in 1867 we are severely limited in images of her.  In fact, there are no photographs and just one portrait of her in existence. 

              This portrait has a quite interesting history of its own.  Archibald F. Bennett described what he knew about the portrait in his text book, Finding Your Forefathers in America, 1962, pp. 252-255:

            “Years ago I wrote: ‘There was said to have been a picture of her in existence, but none has yet been located.’ We now believe that picture has been found.  In June 1955 my wife and I paid a visit to Mrs. Dora Bolt, daughter of Charles Carter and granddaughter of Phillip L. Carter, at Lima, Illinois.  She brought out for our inspection an old case containing letters and family heirlooms.  She showed us the portrait of a lady of the pioneer period, and said she understood it had been sent to her father from relatives in Utah.  Her father Charles had visited Provo, among the relatives.  He had corresponded with Dell Roberts and it may have come from him.  While there we took photographs of the portrait, which was badly worn away in places from being rolled for many years.

            Upon our return to Utah we made a careful investigation.  Adelbert Roberts had died 7 Nov. 1919.  His obituary spoke of him as one of Provo’s pioneers.  His widow, Martha Eliza York Roberts, died at the age of 82, on 31 Dec 1931.  She was a 1^st cousin to Charles Carter on both the Carter and York lines.

            It would be logical for the oldest daughter of Hannah Knight Libby Carter who came west (Hannah Carter York, wife of Aaron M. York), to have possession of a portrait of her mother, who stayed with her in later life, and to pass it on to her daughter, Martha, with whom I am told she spent her last years.  In comparing the face of the portrait with photographs of Hannah’s children, there certainly seems to be a family resemblance.

            Mr. Leslie A. Carter of Detroit, Mich., is descended from Richard Carter, a brother of John Carter (husband of Hannah Knight Libby).  He has done a prodigious amount of scholarly research on the Carter ancestry in Maine and New Hampshire.  On December 2, 1952 he wrote of a visit he made to Mrs. Dora Bolt at Lima, Ill.

‘The Bolts are in possession of a remarkable collection of early deeds, old letters, and miscellaneous papers dating back to Newry, Maine, 1835.  They also are the owners of a portrait done in oil of an elderly unidentified woman, with light color or blue eyes.  The enclosed color photograph is a picture of the portrait taken by me.  It is being sent to you in the hope that you might be of assistance in having the woman in the portrait properly identified by persons who might have seen the original portrait at one time or another.

It cannot be ascertained how or when this portrait was first received by Charles Carter, though it is believed to be a picture of his grandmother, Hannah Knight (Libby) Carter (1786 – 1869).’”

               The above was copied so the reader can appreciate the work that has gone on prior to the portrait re-surfacing in the last few years.  For those of us in the Utah part of the clan the portrait was virtually unknown from the 1860’s until it was “rediscovered” by Leslie A. Carter in about 1951.  A few family members were aware of its existence but its whereabouts were unknown again until the last few years when we of the Utah clan were introduced to Joe Conover, who came into possession of it after his mother’s death and has recently had it restored.

               Below are three images.  The first is a copy of the photograph of the portrait as Leslie saw it in 1951.  In the middle is a digitally enhanced version of the portrait.  Finally, a photograph of the newly restored original portrait.

Leslie Carter Photo

Digital Enhancement

Restored Portrait

               So are there any accounts of what she looked like or any personal accounts of her?  We actually have five records that I would like to provide that help bring Hannah alive for us.

               First is a second-hand account from "Sketch of the Life of Hannah Knight Libby Carter" by A. F. Bennett: “Those who remember her described her as short in stature with a round face, impressive blue eyes, and a refined and dignified bearing. She frequently wore a lace cap and was very prim and neat. She was well educated and always very industrious, keeping her knitting close by and working even in her advanced years.”

               Lastly are three first-hand accounts originally quoted in Richard Cater/Carter of Dover, New Hampshire and Some of His Descendants, by Robert E. Givens, 1972, pp. 47-48, that were originally found in Sunday school genealogy class manual that I no longer have possession of.  They date from the 1930’s.  I believe the narrator of the following is none other than Archibald F. Bennett.

“On Dec. 24, 1933, Mrs. Ella K. Miliner dictated to me the following description: She was of medium height, less than 5 feet 2 inches, very slim and proud, with a delicate face, brown hair, and big blue eyes, a handsome woman.

She always had her hair, combed straight down, parted in the middle, straight down at the the ears, and tied by a ribbon in a bow at the back. She was real dressy, and had a beautiful black dress, with a plain waist, high neck and a lace collar.”

“Francis Carter Knight, a daughter of Dominicus Carter, at 84 years of age, described her grandmother  thus: She was short and had a round face, was light-complexioned, and her eyes were a light color. She did not look as old as she really was. Her hair was grey when I knew her. She wore a little lace cap. She had a good education and was always very industrious, keeping her knitting close by, and working when she was what might be considered too old to work.”

                           

“Melissa Carter Bates, another granddaughter of Dominicus, and 79 years old, remembered Hannah, who lived in Melissa’s home in her later years: She was short, and had a round face. She wore a little black lace cap. You could not help but remember her eyes, but you could not be sure of their color. She had a good education. She lived in father’s home when I saw her.”

“Sarah York Tiffany, a great-granddaughter said: Hannah Knight Libby Carter was short and wore a lace cap. Her eyes were blue and her skin was fair. She seemed so white in comparison with my mother’s family, who lived in Arizona and were tanned with the sun. Her eyes were large and seemed so blue that I always remember them, for those in our family had dark eyes. She sat in the chair or on the bed and pieced quilt blocks, and her sewing was neat. She was childish and would cry when left alone very long.”

              The above exhausts what this writer knows about Hannah from contemporary accounts.  If anyone who reads this should happen to have any other first-hand accounts of her, please let us know.  Hopefully this has helped you better picture our ancestor, Hannah Knight Libby Carter. 

LIFE OF JOHN CARTER - Part 23 - THE FINAL CHAPTER

Portion of William's letter announcing John's death

           We know when John died from a letter written by his son William to his wife Sarah on 5 Feb 1854, though the letter has Boston listed on it, this letter was surely posted from Illinois as William was staying with his siblings in Lima and Tioga while he regained his strength following the illness he had contacted in India during his mission there that had caused him to be sent home.  In the letter William (LDS Church History Library – William Furlsbury Carter from Boston (sic), to Sarah Carter, 1854 Feb 5, Manuscript 19589 – this original was donated to the library by the author) it states simply – “Father Died in Illinois Hancock, Co. August 13 AD 1852.”[1]   

            This brings us to probably the most interesting document in existence related to John Carter – his last will and testament.  It was filed in Adams County, IL August 19, 1852, Probate Court, Box 167.  The following is a transcript of this interesting document:

“In the Name of God Amen I, John Carter, of the County of Hancock in the State of Illinois, being of sound mind and Memory (blessed be Almighty God for the same) do make and publish this my last Will and Testament in Manner and form following (To Wit.)

1^st.       It is my will that any funeral expenses and all my just debts be fully paid.

2^nd.      I give and bequeath to my Daughter Almira Trip, late Almira Carter, five Dollars to her

            and her heirs respectively.

3^rd.       I give and bequeath to my son Philip Carter five Dollars to him and his heirs respectively.

4^th.       I give and bequeath to my Daughter Mary J. Dooley late Mary J. Carter, All the rest of my

            estate real personal or mixed of whatsoever kind description or quality of which I shall

            die seized and possessed or to which I shall be entitled at the time of my decease.  To

            have and to hold the same during her Natural life.

5^th.       I give and bequeath to my Grand son John Dooley the reversion or remainder of my

            Estate Real person or mixed of what soever kind description or quality and all the profit

            in come and Advantage that may result there from.  From and after the Death of my

            said Daughter Mary J. Dooley late Mary J. Carter.

6^th.       I do nominate and appoint my Daughter Mary J. Dooley, late Mary J. Carter to be

            Executrix of this my last Will and Testament.

In testimony where of I have here unto set my hand and seal and publish and decree this to be my last Will and Testament in presence of these Witnesses named below the Ninth day of August in the year of Our Lord One Thousand Eight hundred and fifty two.

                                                                                    John Carter (seal)

Signed sealed declared and publish by the said John Carter as and for his last Will and Testament in presence of us who at this request and in his presence and in presence of each other have subscribed Our Names and Witnesses hereto.

                                                                                    Geo. Ensminger

                                                                                       His

                                                                                    Martha L.  (X)   Wilson

(seal)                                                                                            mark

Filed in Adams County, Illinois                                    Catharine Carter

August 19, 1852

Recorded, page 406.[2]

Will of John Carter

            This will is a classic genealogical record that teaches the genealogist to beware of single sources.  It clearly sets out that John has three living children Mary J. Carter Dooley, Almira Carter Tripp and Philip L Carter.  The interesting signature on the will is Catharine Carter.  For a long time we were not sure who she was.  In correspondence Joe Irvin Conover he mentioned that his great grandfather, Charles, mentioning an Aunt Catherine Carter.  Upon a little more research, I think Catherine Carter is actually the Catherine Carson who married Varanes Carter (son of Richard Carter Jr. our John Carter's brother.) This would make Catherine Carson Carter John's niece by marriage.   There is a Geo. Emsminger who witnessed the will too.  Emsmingers marry into the Varanes Carter line - though after the signing of the will - so they become family members and probably knew John’s family in the 1850's as neighbors, etc.

The will though is remarkable for what it doesn’t say rather than what it does say.  In this will John fails to mention his estranged wife, Hannah, and living children:  Dominicus, Hannah, William, Philip Libby, John “Harrison”, and Eliza Ann. (Son, Richard Harrison had died in 1848 as part of the Mormon Battalion march to California.) Therefore, John wrote out the entire Latter-day Saint part of his family.  This shouldn’t be viewed as unusual or vindictive in nature.  The LDS part of the family had left Nauvoo in 1846 and had probably never returned and may have had only sporadic, if any, communication with John after they left.  For all intents and purposes what John had left was a small acreage and the Utah part of the family wouldn’t be interested in that.

John Richard Dooley
(by Gregory Park at Findagrave.com)

            It might be noted that in the deed Philip and Almira are given $5 each.  It can be presumed that Mary Jane Carter Dooley was being rewarded for caring for her father in his old age.  John and the Dooleys were closely associated for the last twelve years of John’s life as he had lived around them when Mary Jane married Jacob and again when they were in Hancock County.  John had already sold a part of his land to Jacob some years earlier.  It is most interesting that John would single out his then four years old grandson, John Richard Dooley, to inherit all his property once his mother, Mary Jane, died.  This seems to show that John may have had a favored grandson (John Richard) and one can only imagine that he had grandpa twisted around his little finger.  This is a rare opportunity to see John as a living, breathing, feeling person.

Fletcher Cemetery (many stones missing)

            With the death of John recorded and his will noted, there is only one last topic to cover, the question of where he was buried.  John has been variously mentioned as buried at Fletcher Cemetery in Lima, Adams County, Illinois.  Lima is the nearest modern community but there is no evidence that John is in fact buried there.  Family members have been sent to the cemetery and to the county historical society, but no record of a burial was found for John in the Fletcher Cemetery.  At least one researcher stated that the cemetery had been hit twice by tornadoes and possibly the stone was lost to a twister.  That seems a little far-fetched.  In discussing this with Joe Irvin Conover he stated:  “As for the Fletcher cemetery, I know only what Charles’ daughter Dora (my grandmother) always said: that she understood from Daddy (Charles) that John was buried there.  Perhaps I mentioned once that a son and I searched the cemetery for a stone and found none, even those we were told had been discarded at the cemetery’s edge.  I was told (perhaps by a local historian in Tioga) that the cemetery records were lost in a house fire many years ago. I think I once looked for cemetery records in the Hancock County Courthouse without luck.  So, no, no actual evidence of John being buried in the Fletcher cemetery.”

Carter Hill Cemetery

Without discounting entirely the contention that John was buried in the Fletcher Cemetery, this writer would like to propose an alternative location. In the previously cited biography of Charles Carter is found the following in referencing his father and mother’s burial, he recorded, “…he (Philip) engaged in general agriculture pursuits and stock raising up to the time of his death, which occurred July 27, 1876.  His wife survived him for two decades, and died at the home of her son Charles in January, 1897, when her remains were interred in the family graveyard on the farm by the side of her husband.”[3]  This cemetery has been located in Walker Township in section 31 a little south and west of Tioga (Yelrome).  This same property was owned by Philip Libby Carter as can be seen on the 1874 Map of Walker Township.[4]   This is only an alternative, John’s last resting place is unknown to the modern generation, so with this last mystery we formally close his life story.

Epilogue

            With this the story of John Carter comes to an end. It is also time to consider a passage previously quoted from the Barton L. Carter biography of his son Dominicus: “Let us be kind in our judgment of those who stayed in Illinois.  John Carter was at the time nearly sixty-four years old.  Though he was not of the faith, his love for his wife and family had steeled him to endure the same hardships as they.”[5]  Hopefully after reading this, you have a better understanding of our ancestor John Carter.    Though he did not personally join the LDS church his posterity today number in the tens of thousands and a majority of them are members of the Church.  So LDS or not, many people owe their life to the complex man who traveled the path of the early Mormon pioneers all the way from Maine to Illinois.  John Carter, our honored ancestor, we salute you.

---

[1] William Furlsbury Carter from Boston (sic), to Sarah Carter, 1854 Feb 5, LDS Church History Library, Manuscript 19589 – this original was donated to the library by the author)

[2] Adams County, Illinois, Probate Court, Box 167, August 19, 1852

[3] Biographical review of Hancock County, Illinois, op, cit.

[4] Historical Atlas of Hancock County, 1874, p. 95 (Family History Library Film # 954296, Item 2.)

[5] Barton L Carter, op. cit.

LIFE OF JOHN CARTER - Part 22 - LIFE AFTER THE MORMON EXODUS

Mary Jane Carter Dooley

                The final years of John’s life were spent in more peaceful circumstances.  Since he wasn’t a Mormon he was probably treated tolerably well as he showed no inkling to move.  He appears to have lived with his youngest daughter Mary Ann Carter Dooley.  Two deeds from John to Mary Ann’s husband, Jacob Dooley, during this time would bear out the likelihood that John resided with Mary Ann and Jacob.

                The first deed was drawn on 8 August 1846 – just six months after the rest of the family had left town.  It was between John Carter of the County of Hancock and State of Illinois and Jacob Dooley of the same county and state.  For $150 John sold the same property he had purchased on 30 Mar 1846, from William C Wilson and wife Rose Ann, for $175.  Based on the size of the property – 3.9 acres – it probably contained the family homestead.  It was probably here that the aging John lived with his daughter’s family.^[1] 

                On 30 March 1848 John again sold some land to Jacob Dooley.  This time he sold the 40 acres he had bought from Alexander Hills and Eliza Ann his wife across the county line in Adams County that he had bought on 20 Apr 1843 for $150.  He sold it this time for $100.^[2]  John was probably retiring from active farming and was turning over the operation of the farm to his son-in-law.

                Interestingly on 6 Nov 1848, not 8 months later, John sold the same piece of land mentioned above to Adam Snyder for $40.  There must be a story behind this reselling of the property and for the low price mentioned here.  It wasn’t until 6 Mar 1850 when John actually recorded the deed so the $40 must not have been forthcoming following the initial agreement.^[3]

                The 1850 census was a real disappointment for finding John.  Tradition has been that John lived with his daughter Mary Jane Carter Dooley in his later years but no evidence of John is found on this census, though Mary Jane Carter Dooley in Hancock County and Almira Carter Tripp in Adams County were easy to locate.  Whatever the case John is nowhere to be found that year.  If we didn’t know that he was alive we could almost guess that he might have died.

Philip Libby Carter

                It is in this time period the last child of John and Hannah finally moved west.  This is detailed in the previously cited article on John’s grandson Charles Carter: “The father of our subject (I.E. Philip Libby Carter) was a blacksmith in Massachusetts and removed from New England to the Middle West, settling in Hancock County in May 1851.  He took up his abode in the farm which is now occupied by his son, Charles, in Walker Township, and there he engaged in general agriculture pursuits and stock raising up to the time of his death, which occurred July 27, 1876.”^[4]

Charles Carter and Dora Carter Bolt

Carter Hill Home of Charles Carter (built on the property where Philip Libby Carter lived and had his home.)

         

                It has been published in the past that during this time John married again.  There is no evidence in the county marriage records of any marriage of John subsequent to the time that Hannah left Nauvoo for the West.  If a marriage or a liaison did occur there has been evidence of this that has come to light.  So again it must be presumed that John probably lived out his life at the home of one of his children living in the Nauvoo area.

---

[1] Hancock County, Illinois Deeds, Book S, p. 418 (Family History Library Film 954604).

[2] Adams County, Illinois Deeds, Book 4, p. 352 – 353 (Family History Library Film # 967548).

[3] Hancock County, Illinois Deeds, Book X, p. 215 (Family History Library Film 954606).

[4] Biographical Review of Hancock County, Illinois, op. cit.

LIFE OF JOHN CARTER - Part 21 - MORLEYVILLE BURNS

The story behind the two previous deeds (land purchased from his sons John Jr and William) was the end result of the schism in the family that had begun with the conversion of Hannah to Mormonism some 11 or 12 years earlier.  The family had since 1836 been moving apart and coming back together as the Mormon part of the family traveled and was driven by mobs with the other Saints from Ohio to Missouri to Illinois.   John had somewhat followed behind the bulk of the family but had finally settled with them in the far southern part of Hancock County.  Possibly he hoped that mob violence was finally over as they were in an area where the issues of North vs. South were not an issue as it was in Missouri.  Another possibility was that he felt that if there were mob problems in Illinois that they were far enough from Nauvoo that they might be able to avoid problems in Morleyville (or Yelrome) as it was known.

            Life in Morleyville, as a result of the anti-Mormon mobs, turned ugly:

            “While the residents of Yelrome had their share of blessings, they also had problems with persecution.  As pressures against the Saints in Hancock County increased, Yelrome became the target of mob attacks.  Yelrome was vulnerable to attack for several reasons.  First it was rather isolated.  Second, it was situated between Warsaw on the north and Adams County on the South – both of which contained strong anti-Mormon elements.

            The people of Yelrome were especially vulnerable to attack because of the presence of the noted anti-Mormon leader Colonel Levi Williams, who lived in Green Plains, about ten miles distant.”[1]

            In Hannah’s life story the following is recorded:

            “In the space of 5 years fertile farms had been developed and the community was a veritable hive of industry.  On June 15, 1844, a mob of two thousand men headed by the bitter anti-Mormon Col. Levi Williams, came upon the Saints at Morley’s Settlement and ordered them to make a choice of one of three alternatives.  First they were to take up arms, join the mob and go with them to Nauvoo and help them arrest the Prophet Joseph Smith and 17 other leaders.  They must abandon their homes and go to Nauvoo, or third give up their arms and remain neutral.  They were given until eight o’clock to decide and told that if they did not join the mob they would ‘smell thunder.’

Martyrdom of Joseph and Hyrum Smith 

            These brave and devoted Church members did not join the mob or remain neutral, so they were compelled to leave their homes and flee to Nauvoo for safety.  The Prophet heard their story and sent messengers to report this outrage to Governor Ford.  Before any action was taken, however, the martyrdom of the Prophet and Hyrum occurred on June 27 at Carthage Jail.

           

            

Morleyville Burning

              In the months that followed the situation became more peaceful and the group returned to their homes in Morley’s settlement, and peace reigned until September 10, 1845.”[2] 

            This story can be continued from one of the life stories of John’s son William Furlsbury Carter:

Morleyville Burning

            “On September 10, 1845, another mob bent on destruction came upon the settlement at Morelyville.  For eight days and nights they fired upon the settlers, burned between seventy and eighty homes, all of their stacks of hay and grain, shops and other buildings.  The inhabitants were forced out into the cold night in a drenching rain.  The aged, sick, and little ones suffered intently, and many deaths occurred.  Brigham Young and the leaders advised them to abandon their homes and possessions to the mob, but to save as many of their families as they could and again flee into Nauvoo.  Teams and wagons were sent from Nauvoo to assist in bringing them in.”[3]  It was during this September persecution that town leader Edmond Durfee was shot and killed by the mob.

            In most of the records of the family there is never any mention of John and Hannah having to move or having their home burned.  William’s home and shop were burned in this September attack on Morleyville.  It isn’t known about the other family members but most likely those of the Mormon faith lost their homes.  The fate of John and Hannah’s home is actually noted in the biography of their grandson Charles Carter, son of Philip Carter who would eventually move to Hancock County.[4] In the article on Charles Carter (1846 – 1925) he states in referring to John and Hannah Carter: “With a band of colonists they came westward to Hancock County at an early day and were owners of a cottage which was torn down during the attack made upon the Mormons by settlers of this part of the state.”   It would have to be presumed that they then moved either into Nauvoo or more likely to the homestead of either Mary Jane Carter Dooley or Almira Carter Tripp.

            It was apparent by the beginning of 1846 that the Saints were going to have to move once again.  It was at this point that John finally put his foot down and refused to move yet again.  In Dominicus Carter’s life story this situation is well described:

            “Hannah Knight Libby Carter, Dominicus’ mother, had cast her lot with the Saints nearly twelve years previously in the waters of the Bear River in Newry, Maine.  Somehow she had managed to keep her family together through all the troubles in Ohio, Missouri and Illinois.  Now, however, her non-member children and husband refused to go further.  John elected to stay at Morley Settlement and there he died.  Hannah came west with Dominicus and was buried in the Provo City Cemetery.  Before leaving Nauvoo she was sealed for time and eternity to Isaac Morley.

            Let us be kind in our judgment of those who stayed in Illinois.  John Carter was at the time nearly sixty-four years old.  Though he was not of the faith, his love for his wife and family had steeled him to endure the same hardships as they.  He must have been at the end of patience and just plain tired and wanting to settle down.  He had worked all his life for that.  Sadly without the passion of belief, he chose rest and repose rather than his wife and her religion, his other children and the rigors of another trail.  If he had gone ahead, the others in the family might ultimately have followed.”[5]  Some of the “facts” in the forgoing are not accurate but the general picture is true.

            At this point the last two deeds, mentioned above can be put into context.  When John purchased these lands from John Jr. and William C Wilson it was at the height of the departure of the Saints from Nauvoo.  As the summer of 1846 arrived the Carter’s left in Nauvoo were John, and his children:  Almira Carter Tripp and family in Lima and Mary Jane Carter Dooley and family in Tioga (Morleyville), with whom he probably lived.  His remaining non-Mormon son, Philip Libby Carter and family were at this time living in Lowell, Middlesex, Massachusetts.

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[1] Reference Book for Nauvoo Family History and Property Identification Department, op. cit., p. 23.

[2] Anonymous, Biography of Hannah Knight Libby (1786 – 1867 in Arthur D. Coleman: Carter Pioneers of Utah, (Provo UT: J. Grant Stevenson, 1966), pp.137-145.

[3] Leora Carter Scharrer; Life of William F. Carter, op. cit., page 5.

[4] Biographical Review of Hancock County, Illinois : containing biographical and genealogical sketches of many of the prominent citizens of today and also of the past,” Chicago : Hobart Pub. Co., 1907, pages not cited but transcribed by Leslie A Carter.

[5] Barton L Carter; Dominicus Carter, Latter-Day Pioneer, (self-published, no date), p. 30