1Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois and History of Shelby County Vol. II George G. Chafee 1910.. "Notes from Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois and History of Shelby County Vol. II George G. Chafee 1910.
page 665
Washington Armstrong improved the place oc-
cupied for years by Daniel Yantis, called Buck
Grove. Old settlers say it was no uncommon
sight to see a herd of one hundred deer at a
time, in or around the grove."2News Moweaqua Call of 28 Apr 1887. ""Washington Armstrong, a former resident of this place and uncle of JO Armstrong and Beverly Armstrong, died at his home in Fresno, California 17 April of blood poisoning.".".
1The Academy Cemetery (Ash Tree Echo, Fresno Genealogical Society. Volume IV). "Deliah Renfro Armstrong is buried at the Academy Cemetery with her Husband. Fresno, Ca.".
1Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois and History of Shelby County Vol. II George G. Chafee 1910.. "Notes from Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois and History of Shelby County Vol. II George G. Chafee 1910.
page 665
Washington Armstrong improved the place oc-
cupied for years by Daniel Yantis, called Buck
Grove. Old settlers say it was no uncommon
sight to see a herd of one hundred deer at a
time, in or around the grove."2News Moweaqua Call of 28 Apr 1887. ""Washington Armstrong, a former resident of this place and uncle of JO Armstrong and Beverly Armstrong, died at his home in Fresno, California 17 April of blood poisoning.".".
1Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois
nd History of Shelby County Vol II
istorical Encyclopedia of Illinois. "Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois
and History of Shelby County Vol II
George G Chafee 1910
Penn Township page 663
Daniel Roach and Aaron Armstrong, while
scouting during the War of 1812, passed through
what is now the county of Shelby and, being
pleased with this of it, so stated it to all
their friends. John Armstrong, in company with
Daniel Roach as guide,Robert Tolley,Elias Arm-
strong, and David Roach as companions, set out
to investigate, and in October, 1825, John se-
lected a site on Section 6, Town 13, Range 3.
The place is now occupied by Jacob Barr. They
brought with them stretchers and log chains,
set to work,cut logs and hauled them to the
place selected, and John began the erection of
the first log cabin in the north part of what is
now Penn Township and Shelby County. Dur-
ing this trip the rain was so frequent they only
laid the foundation for the cabin. Running short
of provisions, they all returned to their former
homes. John Armstrong (who had previously
married Miss Jane Roach) returned to this lo-
cality in November with his wife and child in
an ox-wagon, and the honor falls upon John
Armstrong to have been the first permanent
settler of what is now known as Penn town-
ship. He was born in Warren County, Ky, in
1803, emigrated to Madison County, Ill., in 1809,
with his fatheer, who settled five miles south of
Edwardsville, where he improved a farm and
resided until his death in 1833. The family con-
sisted of himself, wife and thirteen children.
John, with the help of his brother Elias and
Robert Tolly, finished the cabin begun in Oc-
tober, moved in,and began to keep house and
improve his farm. Mr Armstrong had several
page 664
encounters with the wild beasts that roamed
abroad in those days. He killed three panthers
near his cabin, one of these being the largest of
its kind killed in this part of the country. The
pelt measured eleven feet 4 inches in length.
Believing in utilizing all things, he tanned the
hides and pelts taken, and made them into
moccasins,pants and hunting shirts. His
market was St. Louis, and he also did his milling
there. Salt, coffee and wiskey were the prin-
cipal articles of merchandise needed; the bee-
trees furnished the sweetening. When Mr. Arm-
strong settled here, his nearest neighbor was Levi
Casey, who lived ten miles southeast, on Robin-
son Creek. His next nearest neighbors were a
Mr. Walker, who lived twelve miles east, in what
is now part of Moultrie County; Field Jarvis,
who resided in what is now Christian County,
fifteen miles west. Robert Tolly settled on
Section 12, now known as Flat Branch Town-
ship.
Henry Johnson settled here in 1830, on section
31, Town 14, Range 3, later the Middlesworth
place. He built a log cabin, cleared about four
acres of land, became dissatisfied, sold his im-
provements to Armstrong for a hunting shirt,
and moved away. His father, who was an In-
dian doctor, remained part of the time living
with the Indians.
The first white child born in what is now Penn
Township, was Mary, daughter of John and Jane
Armstrong, now Mrs Mary Campbell.
Pickaway Township second column page 664
Early settlers.-- Elias Armstrong had the
honor of being the first settler and builder of
the first log cabin. He located here in the year
1828, on section 7. Soon after he came he mar-
ried a young lady residing in Madison County,
Ill. He resided here for a few years, when he
sold out his improvements to his brother John,
and removed to Flat Branch, and settled where
he lived until his death.
page 665
Washington Armstrong improved the place oc-
cupied for years by Daniel Yantis, called Buck
Grove. Old settlers say it was no uncommon
sight to see a herd of one hundred deer at a
time, in or around the grove."2History of Aaron Armstrong and RElatives.. "Aaron Armstrong(father of Henry L and Washington Armstrong)
Mathew Roach (his daughter, Jane, married John Armstrong.)
These men were in the Blackhawk War 1831-1832
All mustered in at Edwardsville, Madison Co Illinois.
Capt Aaron Armstrong
Sargent Henry Armstrong
Pvt David Armstrong
Pvt John Armstrong
Pvt William Armstrong
(Elias Armstrong not listed, but Shelby county lists him as serving. He may
have
entered at a different location.)
DBradford."3Estate Sale of Aaron Armstrong Born 1777.
1Federal Government, 1850 Fayette County, Illinois Census.
2Carol Rhodes Van Valkenburg email ctv@gte.net. "Carol Rhodes Van Valkenburg email ctv@gte.net.
22 Feb 2000
Found your page through Rootsweb.
Anyway, Elasbey/Elseba Renfroe's husband William Riley Merriman is my 1st
cousin 4 times removed. His parents were Elisha Merriman and Jennie or Jane
?.
William was born abt. 1824 in Tennessee. He was a farmer. He and the
family are shown in the 1850 Fayette County, Illinois census with 3
children. They are shown in the 1870 Fayette County, Illinois census in
Bear Grove Twp., Fayette County, Illinois with 5 more children.
Children I have are:
1. Farabey/Phebe Merriman b. 1847/48 Fayette County, Illinois
2. Almira/Elinora Merriman b. 1849 Fayette County, Illinois
3. Elisha Merriman b. 1849 Fayette County, Illinois - Elisha is shown in the
1850 census but not the 1870 census.
4. Elizabeth Merriman b. 1852 Fayette County, Illinois
5 Jordan Merriman b. 1854/55 Fayette County, Illinois
6. William Merriman b. 1856 Fayette County, Illinois
7. Bryant Merriman b. 1859 Fayette County, Illinois
8 Jane Merriman b. 1861 Fayette County, Illinois.".3Federal Government, They are shown in the 1870 Fayette County, Illinois census in
1870 Census Bear Grove Twp., Fayette County, Illinois wi.
1Will: Date of birth: Joshua from Mr. Tullock. "Will: Date of birth: Joshua from Mr. Tullock
Joshua Rentfro, b. Jane 3, 1796. Served as 2nd Corp. Capt.
William b. Whitesides's Co, US Mtd. Rangers, War of 1812.
Applied for pension, Sep 28 1850. No record of having been granted.".