GENERATION 3: WILLIAM AND TABITHA ANN POPE FOLLOWELL
PERSPECTIVE
Most of the Southern Illinois Followells descended from William and Tabitha Pope Followell. Our family lives in Southern Illinois today because William decided to leave his family in Indiana and move to Illinois around 1868. Approximately 4000 William and Tabitha Followell descendants are alive today.
As you read this document please do not be confused by the name similarity between William F Followell (father) and William Followell (son). William F Followell was born in 1776. William Followell was born in 1818.
WILLIAM FOLLOWELL
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| Indiana Counties |
WILLIAM FOLLOWELL's FAMILY MOVES NORTH TO MONROE COUNTY INDIANA
When William was about 4 years old (about 1822) his family left Crawford County Indiana and moved about 80 miles north to Monroe County Indiana. They traveled via primitive roads and Indian trails through a hilly forested landscape. Monroe County was heavily forested with a population of a few thousand.
By the mid 1820s William's older siblings (Eliza, Lindsey, Cynthia, Nancy) were starting to mature and leave the family home. In 1825 Cynthia (15 yrs.) married Henry Hampton who was living in the wilderness of neighboring Brown County. Cynthia moved to Brown County with her new husband and raised their family there.
Over a period of years at least four other Followell families followed the lead of the William F Followell family and moved to Monroe County. All of these families came from Kentucky or Crawford County Indiana. William F Followell's older brother John Followell and his family always moved with and lived near the William F Followell family.
TABITHA ANN POPE
Simon Pope and Rebecca Prince married in 1826 in Green County Tennessee. Tabitha Ann Pope, the first of eight children was born around 1827. During the 1830s the Popes migrated to Indiana and settled in Monroe County. In 1840 Rebecca's 67 yr. old uncle (Isom Prince) was living next door to the Simon Pope family. The Pope family lived just a few houses away from the George Followell family (William's brother). There were at least fifteen Pope families in Monroe and neighboring counties.
WILLIAM'S FAMILY LEAVES MONROE COUNTY AND MOVES TO BROWN COUNTY INDIANA
When William was about 14 yrs old (about 1832) his family moved from the more populated Monroe County to the wilderness of Brown County (see Indiana map). I believe they moved because of the availability of inexpensive wilderness land. Also, William's sister Cynthia and her husband Henry Hampton were raising their family there. The Followells were among the early settlers in Brown County. The population of Brown County in 1836 was about 150.
I include the following Wikipedia Brown County paragraph to give a perspective of how they lived. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brown_County,_Indiana)
"The country was very wild in 1836. Bears, panthers, and wolves were plentiful. The wolves were so numerous and destructive to livestock that the Commissioners paid $1 for every wolf pelt brought to them. Settlers lived a rugged pioneer type of life for many years. Their cabins and small settlements were mere niches in the great forest that covered hills and valleys. The men hunted deer, rabbits, squirrels, wild turkeys and pigeons for food. As soon as enough land was cleared they planted corn, potatoes, wheat, hops for yeast, flax, and tobacco. Women made quilts, wove wool and flax into cloth, made the family clothes, carried water from a well or stream, cooked food in open fireplaces, raised the children, and nursed them when they were sick."
Around 1836 William F (62 yrs. old) started acquiring several parcels of land, built several log cabins, and started farming in Brown County. William grew up in this burgeoning wilderness hunting and farming.
WILLIAM FOLLOWELL MARRIES TABITHA ANN POPE
Most likely William was visiting relatives (3 families) in Monroe County in the early 1840s when he met his future wife Tabitha Ann Pope. Tabitha's family was living just a few houses away from the George Followell (William's brother) family. During 1845 William Followell (27 yrs.) married Tabitha Ann Pope (19 yrs.) in Monroe County Indiana. William and Tabitha's first child (Lewis Hiram) was born in 1847. Their second child Amanda was born in 1849.
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| William - Tabitha Marriage Record |
WILLIAM, TABITHA AND FAMILY MOVE TO FAYETTE COUNTY ILLINOIS
During the late 1840s, a few years after their marriage, William and Tabitha moved the family from Indiana to Fayette County Illinois (see Illinois map). They moved to be close to Tabitha's parents (Simon and Rebecca Pope) who had moved there. This move had to be a big adventure for William as he had grown up in the wilderness.
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| 1850 Fayette County Illinois Census |
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| Illinois Counties |
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| 1860 Monroe County Salt Creek Census |
While the move to Fayette County Illinois may not have been a success it did pave the way for a future trip back to Illinois.
AMERICAN CIVIL WAR 1861 - 1865
Several Followells participated in in the Civil War according to the records found at http://www.nps.gov/civilwar/soldiers-and-sailors-database.htm. William (about 43 years old) did register, but did not participate for unknown reasons. Two of William's cousins with the same name did participate.
WILLIAM, TABITHA, AND FAMILY MOVE TO CUMBERLAND COUNTY ILLINOIS
Around 1868 William (50 yrs.) moved the family about 250 miles west from Monroe County Indiana to Cumberland County, Cottonwood, Illinois (see Illinois map). I believe William moved the family to Cumberland Illinois because of the economic opportunity that came with the growth of railroads (ie. Illinois Central) in the Cumberland County area. The William Followell family was the first Followell family to move to Illinois. Several Followells participated in in the Civil War according to the records found at http://www.nps.gov/civilwar/soldiers-and-sailors-database.htm. William (about 43 years old) did register, but did not participate for unknown reasons. Two of William's cousins with the same name did participate.
WILLIAM, TABITHA, AND FAMILY MOVE TO CUMBERLAND COUNTY ILLINOIS
The 1870 Cumberland County federal census indicates that William was a farm laborer and his personal wealth was about $200. During this period seven of William's children were living in his home. Five of his children (including David our great grandfather) were attending school. His second child, Amanda, had married and moved out of the house. His oldest child Lewis (23 yrs.) was living with his parents and working as a farm laborer.
During 1880 three different Followell families were living in the small town of Cottonwood (pop. about 1500), Cumberland County Illinois. These families lived within a few houses of each other. In addition, at least two in-law families lived nearby. By 1880, most of William's children had matured and moved out of his house. Only, Amanda, Eliza, and John were living in the family home. In addition, five grandchildren and a son-in-law were living in his home. The 1880 census indicates that William was a farmer.
THREE GENERATIONS OF WILLIAM FOLLOWELL'S FAMILY MOVE TO DESOTO ILLINOIS |
| 1870 Cottonwood Cumberland Co. Census |
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| 1880 Cumberland County Census |
During the 1890s William, Tabitha and three of their son's families (John, Thomas, Lewis) moved to Desoto Illinois. Another son (David) moved his family to the Dietze Settlement a few miles southeast of Desoto. The move was probably driven by job opportunities for his sons.
Unfortunately, David's wife Katie died after the move to the Dietze Settlement leaving David with five motherless children. It would have been difficult for David to continue working and raise the children. David moved his children into his brothers homes where they had supervision and family support.
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| 1900 Desoto Illinois Census |
WILLIAM's CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN ASSIMILATE INTO THE SOUTHERN ILLINOIS COMMUNITY
During the 1880s, and 1890s the coal industry started growing rapidly in Southern Illinois. William's sons and grandsons found work in the coal mines around Cambria Illinois. William's grandchildren married into the Southern Illinois community and raised their families in Williamson and Jackson Counties.
WILLIAM FOLLOWELL DIES Around 1904 William (86 yrs.), Tabitha (78 yrs.), their son John McClellan and his wife Emma Loretta moved to Coles County, Mattoon Illinois. William and Tabitha were living with John and Emma Loretta when William (89 yrs.) died in 1907. Their address was 2113 Marion, Mattoon. William died of dysentery after a 14 day sickness. He was buried in Dodge Grove Cemetery, Mattoon Ill (section 7, division J, grave 13).
TABITHA ANN POPE FOLLOWELL DIES
Tabitha continued to live with John and Emma Loretta in Mattoon after William's death. Tabitha died in 1910 in Mattoon Ill. She was 84 when she died.
William and Tabitha were strong people who were devoted to their family. Brothers raised nephews and nieces. Elderly parents lived in their children's homes. Brothers lived within a few houses of each other. William and Tabitha moved their entire family five times in search of security and prosperity. Throughout all of these moves they always seemed to land on their feet and the family remained strong. This family oriented, risk taking spirit was typical of the Followell lineage.
DESCENDANT CHART FOR WILLIAM FOLLOWELL
There is confusion about William's middle name or initial. The Monroe County Clerk lists his middle initial as "F" (the same as his father's middle initial) on his marriage license. Most of the family trees on Ancestry.com list his middle name as "Jefferson". Descendants of the Luis Hiram Followell family think his middle name is "Benjamin". None of the census records indicate he has a middle name or initial. There are no birth records. With this uncertainty I have decided not to include a middle name or initial for William Followell.
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