Husband: Michael Henry MOTSINGER

Born: 26 JAN 1798 in Rowan Co., North Carolina Married: 1819/20 in Washington Co., IN Died: 19 SEP 1878 in Canton, Fulton Co., IL Father: Jacob MOTSINGER Mother: Hannah BROWN Spouses: N. HAIGE Property: 08 SEP 1835 Deed Book H, Pg 561; Washington Co, IN Burial Location: Motsinger Cemetary; Fulton Co. IL Notes: In 1835, Mr. Motsinger sold his inherited land to Dempsey Trowbridge, preparing to bring his family of nine children and wife in the spring of 1836. Aaron Gilstrap and Joel Wright signed his bond for the original 80 acres in Orion Twp. This land he sold and removed to Canton Twp. The first year with the help of his children, he opened three acres on which they planted Indian corn and squash. By girding the trees, within three years he had fifty acres under cultivation. He built a round German barn on this area. When three daughters died in 1847, he opened the family cemetary not far from the barn and outlined it with twelve Black Walnut trees. THis area was searched for possible stones remaining, but cattle and horses had broken all of them to pieces. The Motsingers were the third family to settle in Orion Twp. Michael H. Motsinger was born 26 Jan 1798 in Rowan county, N.C., the son of Jacob Motsinger, Sr. and Hannah (Braun) Brown. He came with his parents through the Cumberland Gap to Wilson County, Tennessee about 1800. The family came to the Northwest Territory, as his father appears in the records in that area, now Washington County, Indiana, about 1811. Elder John Wilson, an old Baptist minister from North Carolina, married Michael and Barbara. According to Miss Lulie Davis, Indiana historian genealogist, "When I was a young woman, I copied only the marriages of my direct line from the hundreds of pieces of paper in old Rev. John Wilson's coat. Little did I realize the value of these, as they were the originals." The old ministers of that time thought the marriage papers were their property and kept the certificates. Later, the family members burned Elder John Wilson's coat and with it, the marriage bonds. Rev. Wilson married the sister of Michael Henry Motsinger, Barbara, to his son, Thomas Wilson. Michael Henry Motsinger was the son of old Jacob Motsinger who came to Pennsylvania 1835. His mother, Hannah, was the daughter of old Michael Braun who was one of the early settlers of Rowan county, North Carolina. The Braun old "Stone House" has been restored and is not far from the county seat of Salisbury. Michael H. was given land in Indiana, Washington county by his parents. He, his wife and large family continued to reside there until the deaths of his father, about 1832, and his mother, 1835. They lie buried somewhere on their ground. All traces of their graves have been erased by the plow. It was at this time that six first cousins of Michael came down the Ohio River on a flat barge, each having a horse on the barge. They stopped at the "Lower Falls of the Ohio," Louisville, crossed the river and visited old Michael. He joined them on their trip down the Ohio, having sold his inherited land. Five of the cousins did not like the torn up southern Illinois, now Williamson County. They returned to eastern Tennessee. Michael came on his horse from Shawneetown, Illinois to Lewistown, Illinois where he entered 80 acres of land. His bondsmen were his brother-in-law, Mr. Gilstrap and Joel Wright, the first businessman in Canton, Ill. He then returned to Washington county, Indiana. The following spring he came with two teams of horses, his furniture and nine children settling in Orion Township, Fulton County, Illinois. At the time, they were the third family to settle in that township. The first year, with the help of his children, he was able to clear only three acres of land on which he planted Indian corn, beans and squash. The Indians were troublesome and the bears and timber wolves were constantly threatening. His wife, Barbara Gilstrap, was a true pioneer woman and an expert with the use of ancient rifles, often having to shoot wolves and other wild animals to protect her family while Michael was working the land. Michael and his wife were very religious, attending the old Methodist Episcopal church of that area. He was well versed in the Bible. It is recorded in the Illinois State Journal that Peter Cartwright, the itinerant preacher, so famous for founding many M. E. churches, would take a seat in the congregation when old Michael Motsinger would be led to the pulpit, since he was now blind. This old gentleman not only developed his land of 550 acres, but also opened land in Richardson County, Nebraska, which he deeded to his youngest son, David Motsinger. The young son deeded out also and they came to Fulton County, Illinois on their own original land. The son, David, rented land from the old pioneer, Thomas S. Wolf, for two and half years when he married and then went to Kansas. Michael and his wife were both blind at the time, yet she kept house in her 11-room farm home. The old patriots lost three daughters in 1847 from the effects of cholera. It was then that Michael opened the Motsinger family cemetery. All stones are missing except that of Henry's son who died aged nineteen years. There were twelve old black walnut trees outlining the cemetery. Mrs. Lena Strawn rented this land when she went to Oregon for the health of her husband, and the renters turned stock loose in the area that destroyed the cemetery. The family Bible states who was buried there and dates. Julia Etta Motsinger, 1860-1936, stated that her grandfather, Michael would say on Sundays "I am old and blind and unable to attend my father's house." The church would keep ringing the bell, then grandfather would get both of his canes and keep going towards the sound of the bells. When the congregation would lead the old patriot to the altar or pulpit and this he did all the time he lived in this area. He was the father of twelve children, nine of whom reached majority and married. The children and family bible records are included for posterity. "Great is the man who follows in my steps sayeth the Lord and great his reward." In 1878, he retired early to bed. When his wife, Barbara, approached the bed, a rat jumped off the bed. She felt her husband and discovered he had been bitten by the rat and was dead. She ran to the door and called "Henry come help your mother. Your father has been bitten by a rat in the night and is dead." Henry removed all her black walnut furniture and velvet drapes and burned his father's house to the ground. Deed Book G page 46 Washington Co., Indiana, I, Michael Brown am firmly bound to Jacob Motsinger and his wife Hannah in the sum of $2,000 to be paid Jacob and Hannah, their executors, administrators, assign--Conditions of above obligations are such that if above Michael Brown, heir, executor and administrator, do and shall well and truly, comfortably maintain, keep and supported during their natural lifetime, the said Jacob and Hannah, his wife, that is to say give said Jacob and Hannah, his wife, the free use and unmolested privilege free entry and stairs in said house, together with the upper chamber of said end or room of said house with all or singular conveniences thereto belonging or in otherwise appertaining during said term of life to supply them with them with a good bed and bedding, to have full and free use of the cupboard, and the furniture, the desk, the books and bookcase, and as much kitchen, such as pots, dishes, as they may need to keep them in good fires, good warm comfortable, and decent clothing, and such food and nourishment as may best suit their aged circumstances, and to allow said Jacob Motsinger the privilege of the shop tools at any time he may think proper to use them, to pay strict attention to the well being of said Jacob and Hannah, his wife, both in sickness and health, and shall furnish them with every necessary article or articles of maintenance to support them comfortably during the lifetime of said Jacob and Hannah, his wife, be the same long or short, and a decent burial after death, then the above obligations to be void and of none effect, otherwise to be and remain in full force and virtue. September 4, 1824 In presence of James McCoy Michael Brown John Scott The above document will be proof enough that the Jacob Motsinger Sr., the father and Hannah his wife are the parents of Michael Henry Motsinger are buried on this ground. From the same book, page 14 Jacob and Hannah Motsinger give unto their lawful son and heir SW 1/4 Section 1 N 4E Jan 1-1823. This was the land Henry sold in 1835 to come to Illinois after the death of his father and mother. Motsinger-Michael Henry born Jan-26-1798 Rowan county, N.C., died Sept-19-1878 Canton Township, Fulton county, Illinois, buried in the Motsinger cemetery. Married 1819/20 Washington county, Indiana Hannah Braun, daughter of Michael Braun of Rowan Co. N.C. She was born in Va. 1760 and moved to N.C. with her parents. Children 1-Aaron Motsinger b. 12-Feb-1820 m. Anna Britt 2-Richard R. Motsinger b. 11-Aug-1821 m. 1-Jan-1860 Lucretia Melissa Johnson 3-Hannah Motsinger b. 17-Aug-17-1823 m. Andrew Garren 1839 4-Jacob Motsinger b. 3-Apr-1825 m. Margret--? 5-Henry Motsinger b. 29-Oct-1826 m. Sarah Wolf 6-Nancy Motsinger b. 24-Jan-1829 m. William Miller 7-Selah Motsinger b. 11-Mar-1831 m. Philip Garren 8-Catherine Motsinger b. 15-Dec-1833 9-Susannah Motsinger b. 18-Sep-1837 10-Elizabeth Motsinger b. 18-Sep-1837 11-David Motsinger b. 15-Mar-1840 m. Mary Humphrey Hall 12-Lavinia Motsinger b. 15-Feb-1844 The cholera struck in 1847, causing the death of three of their children, Elizabeth, d. 16-Sep-1847 Lavinia Motsinger, d. 21-Sep-1847 Susannah, d. 22-Sep-1847 They are buried in the old Motsinger cemetery, north of Canton Ill.

Wife: Barbara GILSTRAP

Born: 21 DEC 1799 Died: 17 DEC 1896 Father: Richard GILSTRAP Mother: Nancy Ann WRIGHT Spouses:

Children

01 (M): Aaron MOTSINGER Born: 12 FEB 1820 Died: Unknown Spouses: E. MEDFORD; Anna WILCOXEN

02 (M): Richard R. MOTSINGER (Photos) Born: 11 AUG 1821 in Washington Co., IN Died: 05 FEB 1902 in Canton, Fulton Co., IL Spouses: Nancy ROADS; Lucretia Melissa JOHNSON

03 (F): Hannah MOTSINGER Born: 19 AUG 1823 in Washington Co, IN Died: 22 FEB 1883 in Polk County, IA Spouses: Andrew GARREN

04 (M): Jacob MOTSINGER Born: 03 APR 1825 in Washington Co, IN Died: 21 JUL 1858 Spouses: Margaret G.

05 (M): Henry MOTSINGER (Photos) Born: 29 OCT 1826 in Washington Co, IN Died: 19 NOV 1895 in Fulton Co. IL Spouses: Sarah WOLF

06 (F): Nancy MOTSINGER Born: 24 JAN 1829 in Washington Co, IN Died: Unknown Spouses: William MILLER

07 (F): Selah MOTSINGER (Photos) Born: 11 MAR 1831 Died: 02 DEC 1923 in Bristol Twp, Greene Co., Iowa Spouses: Phillip GARREN; W. ANDERSON

08 (F): Catherine MOTSINGER Born: 15 DEC 1833 Died: Unknown Spouses: J. L. JENKINS; J. ARCHABLE

09 (F): Susannah MOTSINGER Born: 10 NOV 1835 Died: 22 SEP 1847 Spouses: Burial Location: Motsinger Cemetary; Fulton Co. IL

10 (F): Elizabeth MOTSINGER Born: 18 SEP 1837 Died: 16 SEP 1847 Spouses: Burial Location: Motsinger Cemetary; Fulton Co. IL

11 (M): David MOTSINGER (Photos) Born: 15 MAR 1840 in Canton, Fulton Co., IL Died: 04 JUL 1920 in Wallace Co., KS Spouses: Mary Ann HUMPHREY

12 (F): Lavinia MOTSINGER Born: 15 FEB 1844 Died: 21 SEP 1847 Spouses: Burial Location: Motsinger Cemetary; Fulton Co. IL