Catterlin - LaPorte County Indiana Connections
Sometimes you see a name in a cemetery listing or on a stone
and wonder what the connection was with others in the community and how
an individual came to be buried in a particular cemetery. So it was
with this Catterlin group for me. Below is a synopsis of what I was
able to find on these individuals and their families that followed.
Author - D. West
James Catterlin (Joseph, Francis), his son James and his
brother Solomon were laid to rest in Rolling Prairie Cemetery, Rolling
Prairie, LaPorte County, Indiana. So to understand how they connect to
the other Catterlin group, found through out the US, we have to do a
migration path and follow the paths they took so very long ago.
James' father, Joseph Catterlin (Francis), b. about 1741 in Middlesex
Co.,NJ and died 10 NOV 1822 in Fairfield,Butler
Co.,OH buried at Old Miami Chapel Cemetery , was a captain in the
Revolutionary War.
It is written in several articles, but not proven to this author as of
this date, that Joseph first married Margaret Darby b: ABT 1745 m. in
about 1764 in Somerset Co.,NJ
Their children :
1. William Catterlin b: ABT 1765 in Somerset Co.,NJ married Rachel Drake in Frederick Co., VA Nov. 12, 1788. William had a son which he named William Drake Catterlin. We find evidence of this William (son of Joseph) moving with the rest of the group to Butler County Ohio and William's son is living in Hamilton township in 1820. And the name has been terribly misspelled, but I believe William Sr. from viewing the 1807 tax lists, proves that he is also living in Butler County Ohio with the rest of the group. For more on William's son William Drake Catterlin, see family file contributed by Judy Simpson at 2simpsons@earthlink.net at the bottom of this page.
2. Mary Catterlin b: ABT 1767 in Somerset Co.,NJ married Joshua Buckley b. about 1749 married in Frederick Co., VA 1790. A Joshua Buckley appears on the 1807 Butler County Ohio Tax list.
3. Rachel Catterlin b: ABT 1769 in Somerset Co.,NJ married Peter Ferser in Frederick Co., VA in 1793
4. Joseph Catterlin Jr. b: ABT 1771 in Somerset Co.,NJ he married Sarah Brecount in Frederick Co., VA 1793
5. Abigail Catterlin b: between 1771 and 1775 in Somerset Co.,NJ married Stephen Elken in Frederick Co., VA Dec 28, 1796. Abigail appears to be 79 years of age in the 1850 Federal census for Butler County, Ohio and living in the same household with Thomas Smith age 50 and Lucy age 47 and their children in Reily township. She then appears on the next years tax list too. One can assume that she died shortly after 1851 in Butler County, Ohio. Abigail had nine children, seven of whom grew to maturity.
6. Darby Catterlin b: ABT 1777 in
Somerset Co.,NJ Married Thursa or Thurza Elkins in Frederick Co., VA
Mar 9, 1799 2nd marriage to Rachel Thomas June 25, 1829. Darby stayed
in Butler County and died around 1842.
Darby appears on the 1807 tax lists for Butler Co., Ohio. Darby may
have died 17 February 1842, Butler Co., OH.
7. Ephraim Catterlin b: ABT 1779 in Somerset Co.,NJ m. Sarah McKinstry
in Butler Co., OH Oct 13, 1805
They went west to Clinton County, Indiana about 1823, after his father
Joseph's death. They settled there and had several children and he died
in about 1854. (See Clinton County, Ind. For more information on this
group.)
8. Charlotte Catterlin b: ABT 1781 in Somerset Co.,NJ m. Jacob Staley December 19, 1805 in Butler Co,OH
Joseph Catterlin second
marriage and family Joseph met Mary Ann Mercer,
m. 10 JUN 1801 in Fredrick Co.,Va
This is where the group that settled or passed through LaPorte County
comes into the realm of understanding.
Joseph Catterlin and Mary Mercer married June 10, 1801 at Winchester,
Mary died 1832
Joseph Catterlin died Nov 10, 1823 aged 83 years.
Mary Mercer, daughter of Job Mercer and granddaughter of Gideon Mercer
married Joseph Catterlin and they had six children. If one notes the
time frame in which Joseph and Mary pass away, you can see that the
responsibility of raising the younger children, must have fallen to one
of the older siblings. This was a factor in finding this group spread
out through out the Midwest during this time frame of 1823 to 1850 when
the census lists individuals.
Joseph and Mary's children:
Margaret Catterlin b: 1802 in
Fredrick Co., VA
(Unproven) Margaret Wilson (nee Catterlin) born Sept 22, 1802 died
April 22, 1840 married James Wilson
James Catterlin b: 9 MAR 1805 in
Chesterfield Co., VA. In the 1830 Federal Census for Hamilton County,
Springfield Township, James Catterlin (male of 20 and under 30) and his
brother Hiram Catterlin (both spelled Catterline on this census) are
found on page 268 and living right next door to each other. Agnes must
be with him in this census as it shows a woman of 20 and under 30, a
male under 5 years of age and a female of five and under ten. Hiram's
information shows also a male of 20 and under 30 , same for a female
and another female 5 or under.
(see below for information on James)
And again in the 1840 Federal Census for LaPorte County we find the two brothers on pages 129 and 130.
Theresa Catterlin b: 1807 in
Butler Co., OH. She married Bushrod Sheeley on Dec 15, 1831 in: Butler
Co., OH
Bushrod and Thrusa, nicknamed Thursey, settled into Greene County Ohio,
the Beaver Creek Township where they can be found with several of their
children in the 1860 and 1870 census. Bushrod declares his age as 62
and Thusey is 68. Thursey Sheeley (nee Catterlin) aged 83 years old
died July 1897.
Hiram Catterlin b: 1809 in Butler
Co., OH. First married Nancy Kimball in Ohio on 08 FEB 1827
so the Ohio marriages state. Then he must have travelled Northwest with
his brother James and perhaps
Solomon and came to LaPorte County where he is found on the 1840 census reports page 130.
There is a Hiram Catterlin that marries a Julia Ann Sheeley in Greene County Ohio, 13 December 1845. I believe Hiram returned to Ohio as did Solomon.
Hiram went to Greene County, Ohio, Silver Creek Township by 1860 where he is found on page 609. There is a Hiram of the same age group there. Perhaps Hiram returned there to be close to his sister Thursa. Family lore states that Hiram died about 1868 but I believe this to be untrue. I found Hiram again in the 1870 census at the age of 62 in Riley Township, Vigo County, Indiana. With him is wife Julia Ann age 60 and two of their sons, Lewis age 23 and James age 21 both born in Ohio.
Solomon Catterlin b: 1811 in Butler Co., OH has been one of the most difficult of the Catterlin's to trace.
Solomon and Anna Maria Cosgrove m. 05 JUN 1855 Cincinnati, Hamilton, Ohio He died December 15, 1870 and is buried in LaPorte County, Indiana at Rolling Prairie Cemetery. We find Solomon in the 1850 census in Jefferson County Indiana, he is 18 from Ohio and working as a Cooper and living with the Edward Monroe family. If this is the Solmon in question, then the name has been misspelled Cathral. And the Solomon Catterlin that purchased property in Adams County is from the Ephraim Catterlin group.
Solomon and Anna Maria Cosgrove m. 05 JUN 1855 Cincinnati,
Hamilton, Ohio; had a daughter, Kate (Katie) Olive Catterlin born about
June 1861 in Kentucky per census records of 1900 New York, New York.
This daughter married Ambrose Everett Stone on 25 August 1879 , New
York, New York. In 1880 Katie, her husband Ambrose and Katie's mother
Anna M. Catterlin are living in New York city.
Flushing, Queens, New York City-Greater, New York page 202C.
Ambrose is a lawyer and states he was born Mass. In the 1900 Census it
shows him as being born, October 1850 in Massachusetts. They are living
at West 76th Street in Manhattan Burough and mother is no longer with
them. I also found Ambrose and Katie in New York City in 1910 and 1920
. There we no children by this marriage.
Josina Catterlin b: 1814 in Butler
Co., OH
Josina Pearce nee Catterlin born about 1815, married first a Kimball;
second married a Pearce.
James Catterlin
James Catterlin was born March 10, 1805 married first Agnes Johnston - no children by this marriage. Agnes is buried in Rolling Prairie Cemetery in 1842.
James Catterlin born March 9, 1805 died Nov 5, 1887 - Old
Settlers list LaPorte County Catterlin, James born Chesterfield Co., VA
March 9, 1805 arrived in LaPorte County about March 15, 1835
James married Margaret Kyger in Clinton County, Indiana on 27 Jun 1844.
This to has some logic to it. James half brother and his children are
living in Clinton County, Indiana. James must have travelled there
after Agnes died and met and married Margaret
In the Packard, Jasper, History of La Porte County,
Indiana : and its townships, towns and cites La Porte Ind.:
S.E. Taylor & Co., steam printers, 1876, page 133, it states
that James came to Galena Township in 1835. Presbyterian Church of
Rolling Prairie and deacon was James Catterlin when it was organized in
about 1852 so states Packard,
Jasper, History of
La Porte County, Indiana : and its townships, towns and cites
La Porte Ind.: S.E. Taylor & Co., steam printers, 1876.
And then in the History of St. Joseph County, Indiana :
Published 1880 by C.C.
Chapman & Co.
We read:
James Catterlin, one of the early settlers of La Porte county was born March 9, 1805, the son of Joseph and Mary (Messer). (note - this should have read Mercer) Catterlin, father a native of Scotland, and mother of Pennsylvania, and of English descent; the former was a Revolutionary soldier seven years under the command of Gen. Washington; he died in 1823 at the age of 83, and his second wife died in 1831, in her 59th year.
Mr. James Catterlin, the subject of this notice, moved from Ohio to Indiana March 15, 1835, settling in Galena tp., La Porte county where he lived on the same farm 44 years; at present he is living in New Carlisle. He has been twice married, first in 1828 to Agnes Johnston, who, 14 years afterward, died without having any children. Mr. C's second wife was Margaret Kyger, born in 1822 in Virginia; they were married in 1844, and have had 11 children; 3 sons and 3 daughters living. Mr. C. has been a member of the Presbyterian Church 48 years, and all his family are members of the same Church. He was formerly a Whig and is now a Republican.
James and Margaret are buried in Rolling Prairie Cemetery.
Now as to who went where from the children of James and Margaret....
They went that away
With James second marriage to Margaret Kyger and they had 11
children.
1. Sarah Jane Catterlin born 28 November 1844 in Galena Township, La
Porte County, Indiana
on the 2nd of January 1869 married Joseph Irwin Lucas in LaPorte County
and they had six children; Willis S., James, Anna, Loretta, Anna Belle,
Infant now dead. They went to Clinton County, Indiana and in the 1880
census we find them there in Washington Township, Clinton Co, IN on
page 263B
They would live out their lives. Joseph died in 1920 and Sarah in 1907.
2. Mary Catherine Catterlin born 16 May 1846 in Galena Township, La Porte County, Indiana.
She married Alonzo Stofer on the 10 Mar 1872 in LaPorte
County. No children born by this marriage. Unproven information is
family lore states Mary died, 19 FEB 1874. Alonzo then married an
Elizabeth in same county in 1876. But this would also explain the above
history written in 1880 when it stated that living were 3 daughters and
3 sons.
3. Margaret Elizabeth Catterlin born 13 July 1848 in Galena Township,
La Porte County, Indiana
married Robert B. Craig in LaPorte County, on 1 Feb 1875. They had 6
children: James D, Robert H., Lawrence J, Nellie, Earl G., and Finnis
Raymond Craig. Margaret died 15 July 1930 in Harvey, Cook County,
Illinois
4, Anna P. Catterlin born 21 June 1850 in Galena Township, La
Porte County, Indiana . First married Steven Tappan and they lived in
New Carlisle, St. Joseph County, Indiana where we find them along with
her parents in the 1880 census. See 1880 census for above County and
state for more individuals living with them.
She than married James V Snyder and no children by this marriage. I did
not investigate this family further.
5. James A. Catterlin born 30 September 1854 in Galena
Township, La Porte County, Indiana married Josephine Rogers b, October
1856 on 26 OCT 1876 and they had children:
Willie, born in 1879 would die in 1881 and is buried in Rolling Prairie
Cemetery, LaPorte Co., IN.
Edwin T. born January 1882, Ada M. born March 1884, Clyde M. born June
1886, Floyd J. born November 1890 per the 1900 Federal Census for New
Carlisle, Olive Township, St. Joseph County, Indiana. Pages 124 A
& B.
Further, in 1910 they are at the same location. They are both buried in
Rolling Prairie Cemetery along with their
Son William (Willie). James died 1913 and Josephine died in 1918.
http://www.ingenweb.org/inlaporte/Images/cemeteries/rollingprairie/rollingatog.htm
6. Hiram Sylvester Catterlin born 27 April 1856 in Galena
Township, La Porte County, Indiana.
married Dora Smith and had 4 children. In 1900 they are living in
Harvey City, Thornton Township, Cook County, Illinois In 1930 we find
Hiram living with his son Virgil b. about 1903 and son's wife in
Indianapolis, Marion County, IN - ED: 373 page 58. In 1910 and 1920
they are living in Indianapolis, Indiana. Hiram died 5 JUL 1930 in
Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana and Dora died 15 November 1931 in
Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana
Their children were as follows: Mamie, born Mar 1885, Lucy Belle born
NOV 1888, Mabel, 15 NOV 1891 in Harvey, Cook County, Illinois, Raymond
R., born June 1894, Noble born March 1900 in Illinois and Virgil born
28 Feb 1904 in Indiana.
7. Schuyler C. Catterlin born 19 JUN 1861 in Galena Township,
La Porte County, Indiana.
He married Emma E. Harris on the 1 Apr 1886 in Warren County, Indiana.
They had two children, Elsie J., James Deneene. First moved to Cook
County, Illinois and then in his later years settled in King County,
Seattle Township, Washington. He died on 20 July 1954 at the age of 93.
(1900 census shows his month and year of birth date as June 1861 and
others as follows) Elsie b. June 1889, in Indiana; James D. b. January
1892 in Illinois and mother Emma E. Harris Catterlin b. August 1862 in
Illinois and couple has been married 14 years.
Emma died in Seattle, Washington at the age of 85 on 11 Aug 1948.
Note: in the 1930 census for State listed under references, niece,
Dorothy Lane age 20 b. Washington is living with Schuyler and his wife.
WILLIAM D. CATTERLIN, Clinton Public DeWitt County, Illinois
Friday, April 14, 1882
WILLIAM D. CATTERLIN, who ranked as one among the earliest settlers of
Clinton, died on the first of April, and on the following day was
buried with military honors in the Mills cemetery, one mile west of
town. A squad of the 107th Illinois Infantry, under command of Dick
Robbins, took charge of the ceremonies and fired the farewell shots
over the grave of their old comrade. The funeral procession was a very
large one, and in it were those who had lived in Clinton with the
deceased nearly forty years ago. For nearly a year before his death,
Mr. Catterlin had been suffering from a disease which finally
culminated in the softening of his brain. He was confined to his bed
less than two weeks before his death. Nearly forty years ago Mr.
Catterlin came from Logan county and settled in Clinton as a
blacksmith. For a time he quit the forge and engaged in the mercantile
business in which he was reasonably successful. He drifted back again
to his blacksmith shop, and when the 107th regiment organized for the
war he was one among the first to respond to the call of his country.
He was a faithful soldier. When his regiment was discharged he returned
to his blacksmith shop and continued in that business till his health
failed a few months before his death. In the early days of Clinton Mr.
Catterlin was considered the wag of the village, and many a practical
joke did he play on citizen and stranger. He was one of the
kindest-hearted men and was ever ready and willing to lend a helping
had to friend or stranger.
(Note—There is an inactive cemetery west of Clinton called the
Cackley-Hickman-Mills Cemetery, which might be the one referred to in
this obituary.) ………….
From the Illinois Statewide Marriage Index:
CATTERLIN, WILLIAM D. MERRYMAN, MARY A. 10/18/1853 DE WITT …………
1860 Illinois Census DeWitt County (Clinton Twp) Page 587
Wm. D. Catterlin 39 M Blacksmith 300 Ohio
Mary A. Catterlin 33 F Canada
Arrabella I. Catterlin 13 F Illinois
Hellen M. Catterlin 11 F Illinois
Laura C. Catterlin 8 F Illinois
Wm. H. Catterlin 5 M Illinois
Nellie Catterlin 2 F Illinois …………..
From the Illinois Statewide Marriage Index:
CATTERLIN, WILLIAM H. WEST, ELIZA A. 09/07/1876 DE WITT
CATTERLIN, ARABELL SHORT, JOHN H. 01/27/1864 DE WITT
CATTERLIN, HELLEN M. JUDD, J. A. 09/04/1866 DE WITT
CATTERLIN, LAURA FAIRFOULL, ANDREW 10/30/1867 DE WITT
CATTERLIN, NELLIE EVANS, W. D. 11/03/1875 DE WITT ………………..
William and Mary were still married in 1880, as per the census. 1880
Illinois Census DeWitt County (Clintonia Twp) Page 349b W. D. Catterlin
W M Head 60 Blacksmith OH VA NJ
Mary A. Catterlin W F Wife 53 Keeping House CAN CAN CAN
Freemont Catterlin W M Son 18 Carriage Apprentice IL OH CAN
Frank Catterlin W M Son 12 Schollar IL OH CAN
Mary Stranslo W F Servant 25 Servant PA __? __?
Henry Cane W M Boarder 26 RR Brakeman IL NY KY
John Walters W M Boarder 23 RR Brakeman IL __? __?
Robt. Wells W M Boarder 25 RR Brakeman IL IRE IRE
Wm. Moltby W M Boarder 24 RR Laborer IL __? __?
John Orr W M Boarder 20 RR Laborer IL __? __? ……………
[This might be their son Frank, listed above.] From Illinois Statewide
Marriage Index:
CATTERLIN, FRANK C. GIBSON, MAUD 11/19/1890 DE WITT ……………
It looks like William and Mary were running a boarding house for
railroad men, and the following newspaper article refers to Mrs.
Catterlin’s boarding house. If this was Mary A., still alive in 1885,
why wasn’t she, or any of their children, mentioned in William’s
obituary in 1882? Just an oversight?
Clinton Public DeWitt County,
Illinois Friday,
July 7, 1885
Sarah F. Force fell down in a fit on the sidewalk at the corner of
Schmith's jewelry store, on Tuesday evening, and was unconscious for
some time. She was taken to Mrs. CATTERLIN's boarding-house.
Refs: 1900 3 Ward Harvey, Cook County, Illinois - Federal
Census page 172B
1910 State: Illinois ,County: COOK Locale: 3-WD HARVEY page 199B
1920 Census, King County, Seattle Township, ED 75 page 1B
1930 Census, King County, Seattle Township, page ED 400 page 8A
Washington State Death Index
Index to Marriage Record 1853 - 1920 Inclusive Volume I Letters A to Z
Inclusive, County Clerk's Office Williamsport Compiled by Indiana Works
Progress Administration 1939