PREVIEW
William F Followell lived through the Revolutionary War, the Indian wars, the birth of the state of Kentucky, the War of 1812, and the early development of Indiana. He married Margery Miles, a pioneer woman, and raised 15 children in the Kentucky and Indiana wilderness. Their children helped populate Indiana, Kentucky, and Southern Illinois. There are roughly 50,000 William F and Margery Miles Followell descendants alive today.
WILLIAM F FOLLOWELL
William F Followell was born in 1776 the fifth child of John and Elizabeth Helm Followell in the central Kentucky wilderness (called Fincastle County Virginia in 1776). While there are almost no records, I believe William F was born south of present day Washington County Kentucky. In 1776 there were about 200 people living in Kentucky.
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| Early Kentucky Counties |
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| Kentucky And Indiana Counties |
I believe the Followell family was living near one or two other pioneer families. This group of families (Helms, possibly Bakers, possibly Miles) supported each other and were dependent on each other. These families were actually a population center representing about 5-10% of Kentucky's entire population. Most of the people in Kentucky were living in fortified locations such as Boonesborough (about 80 miles east of the Followells), Harrodsburg, and Logan's Station (see map).
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| Wilderness Road And Fortified Locations- Completed After 1775 |
Between 1773 and 1786 John and Elizabeth had 9 children. The wilderness isolation created close family relationships. Two of John's sons,William F and John formed a very close bond that lasted the rest of their lives.
REVOLUTIONARY WAR 1775 - 1783
MARGERY MILES
Margery Miles was born in the Kentucky wilderness the first child of Issac Miles and Nancy Nichols Miles in 1786. Issac and Nancy had a total of five children. I believe the Miles family may have been Followell neighbors. Three Miles children married Followell spouses.
JOHN FOLLOWELL DIES
John Followell (40 yrs.), father of William F Followell died in 1787 in Lincoln County Kentucky. The cause of his early untimely death is uncertain. John's death left his wife Elizabeth (37 yrs.) with ten fatherless children ages 1 to 21 in the wilderness of Kentucky. Fortunately, Elizabeth had the support of her brothers, Marquis Helm and Leonard Helm who were neighbors. I suspect that Marquis and Leonard watched over the Followell family after John's death. Most of John's estate went to Elizabeth, however, some of John's livestock and land went to his children.
ELIZABETH HELM FOLLOWELL MARRIES SQUIRE BAKER
Around 1791 Squire Baker moved to Lincoln County Kentucky after fighting in the Revolutionary War in Massachusetts. (See Squire Baker biography: http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=110608288) I suspect that he moved to Kentucky to be near his family (Followell neighbors). In 1792 Elizabeth Helm Followell (42 yrs.) married Squire Baker in Lincoln County Kentucky. In 1794 they had a son, Alexander Baker. See a short Alexander Baker biography at: http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSsr=1&GSmid=47124138&GRid=109136576&
A fascinating year-by-year account of the Followells and Bakers starting in 1791 can be found at: http://genforum.genealogy.com/followell/messages/173.html I suggest you read through Generation 4 prior to reading this website. Take note that the tax collector rode 49 days to reach the Followells and Bakers in Lincoln County. While you are visiting this web site you might explore some of the 200 Followell messages. Message 144 is very informative.
THE FOLLOWELL FAMILY MOVES TO WASHINGTON COUNTY KENTUCKY
Around 1794 the Baker family (Followell neighbors) started leaving Lincoln County Kentucky and moved north to Washington County Kentucky. Around 1795 the Followell family, including Squire and Elizabeth Helm Followell Baker followed the lead of the Baker family and moved to Washington County. By around 1803 Marquis, John, and William F Followell (brothers) were living on Followell Creek (named after our Followell family) in Washington County (present day Marion County Kentucky). The Helm family was living on Rolling Fork, another creek near Followell Creek. (Today Followell Creek is a fishing and recreation area. Google "Followell Creek Kentucky" and "Rolling Fork Kentucky" to get more information.)
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| 1800 Washington County Kentucky Tax List |
WILLIAM F FOLLOWELL MARRIES MARGERY MILES
William F Followell (27 yrs.) and Margery Miles (17 yrs.) were married in Washington County Kentucky on October 13, 1803. Since Margery was under the age of 21, Issac Miles (Margery's father) had to give permission for Margery to marry. William F and Margery had 15 children between 1804 and 1827 including our 3rd grandfather William Followell See a description of the marriage arrangement at: http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/d/u/n/Bdavid-Duncan-Arkansas/WEBSITE-0001/UHP-0101.html
FOLLOWELL - HELM LAWSUIT
A lawsuit was filed by Marquis Followell (John's first child) against Marquis Helm (Marquis Followell's uncle) in 1807. Marquis Followell claimed that he had inherited land from his father John Followell. Marquis Helm claimed that he had farmed the land for several years and owned the land. There was a second Followell - Helm lawsuit in 1811. A short description of the lawsuits can be found at: http://www.pricegen.com/finding-genealogical-jewels-in-court-records/
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| 1810 Washington County Kentucky Census |
Indian fighting in Kentucky during the War Of 1812 was fierce. Around 1811 William F, Margery and family fled Washington County Kentucky and moved to Harrison County Indiana (later split to create Crawford County Indiana). Within a year John Followell who had been a soldier in the War Of 1812 followed his brother William F and moved to Harrison County to escape the violence. The William F Followell family and the John Followell family (brothers) were very close and continued to move together and live close to each other for the rest of their lives. By 1820 several other Followell families were living near the William F Followell family.
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| 1820 Crawford County Census William F Followell |
THE WILLIAM F FOLLOWELL FAMILY MOVES TO MONROE COUNTY INDIANA
During the early 1820s the William F and John Followell families left Crawford county and moved about 80 miles north to Monroe County Indiana. They most likely took the Sparks Ferry road north towards Brown and Monroe Counties. These roads were actually Indian trails through hilly hardwood forests. Most settlers used oxen drawn wagons to traverse these trails (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brown_County,_Indiana second paragraph under History).
Their long time friends, the John Hoover family, made the move with the Followells. The John Hoover family was very close to the William F Followell family. The Hoover's always moved with and lived close to the William F and John Followell families. John Hoover married William F and Margery's daughter Nancy.
Monroe County (population a few thousand) had established schools, was fairly safe and had a basic level of commerce. By 1830 there were five Followell families (siblings and nephews) living near William F and John Followell.
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| 1830 Monroe County Census William F Followell |
THE WILLIAM F AND JOHN FOLLOWELL FAMILIES MOVE TO BROWN COUNTY INDIANA
During the early 1830s both the William F (56 yrs) and John Followell (58 yrs.) families left Monroe County and moved to the wilderness of Brown County Indiana. This remarkable move demonstrated a certain amount of courage, self reliance, and comfort with the pioneer lifestyle. Brown County was a hilly hardwood wilderness with a population of about 150. There were no established schools, and no medical services. Settlers lived a pioneer lifestyle in log cabins that were mere niches in the great forest. Perhaps William F and John made this move because of the availability of inexpensive wilderness land. Or, perhaps they just liked living in the wilderness. Or, perhaps William wanted to live near his daughter's family (Cynthia and Henry Hampton) who were living in Brown County. During the mid to late 1830s the population of Brown County started growing and commerce expanded. By 1840 the population had grown to around 2400. See the history of Brown County: http://genealogytrails.com/ind/brown/washingtontownship.html (The Followell name is mentioned 10 times).
During the late 1830s the William F (60 yrs.) and John Followell (62 yrs.) families acquired land, built several log cabins, opened a log cabin grocery store, sold liquor, and started farming. Years later the Followell grocery store closed and became a school house. William F became an official in the county government (Overseer Of The Poor). He continued to purchase land into 1844 (in Jeffersonville, Brown County). At one point William F acquired an entire section of land (one square mile).
WILLIAM F FOLLOWELL DIES
William F Followell (70 yrs.) died around 1846 in Brown County Indiana. He lived with his wife Margery (60 yrs.) until he died. There were at least five Followell families, including the John Followell family, living in Brown County at the time of his death. After William F's death Margery moved into the John and Nancy Followell Hoover home. John Hoover (William F's son-in-law) was the administrator of his estate.
MARGERY MILES FOLLOWELL DIES
During 1850 Margery Miles Followell (64 yrs.) was living in John and Nancy Followell Hoover's home in Washington, Brown County Indiana. Two of Margery's children's families were living nearby. Margery (78 yrs.) died in 1864 in Brown County Indiana.
POSTSCRIPT
William F and Margery were courageous, strong, self reliant, family oriented American pioneers who lived in extraordinary times. They grew up in the Kentucky wilderness and were comfortable living there. Throughout the first half of their lives they lived under the threat of Indian violence but they survived and prospered. They led their extended family through three major moves across Kentucky and Indiana wildernesses. After living in semi-populated Monroe County Indiana they decided to move back into the wilderness of Brown County Indiana. This courageous move turned out to be successful. William F became a successful business man, land owner and County official. Throughout all of this William F's extended family continued to move with his family and live near his family.
William F Followell Descendant Chart
Use the horizontal scrollbar at the bottom of the screen to move to the right.
During the late 1830s the William F (60 yrs.) and John Followell (62 yrs.) families acquired land, built several log cabins, opened a log cabin grocery store, sold liquor, and started farming. Years later the Followell grocery store closed and became a school house. William F became an official in the county government (Overseer Of The Poor). He continued to purchase land into 1844 (in Jeffersonville, Brown County). At one point William F acquired an entire section of land (one square mile).
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| 1840 Brown County Census William F and John Followell |
WILLIAM F FOLLOWELL DIES
William F Followell (70 yrs.) died around 1846 in Brown County Indiana. He lived with his wife Margery (60 yrs.) until he died. There were at least five Followell families, including the John Followell family, living in Brown County at the time of his death. After William F's death Margery moved into the John and Nancy Followell Hoover home. John Hoover (William F's son-in-law) was the administrator of his estate.
During 1850 Margery Miles Followell (64 yrs.) was living in John and Nancy Followell Hoover's home in Washington, Brown County Indiana. Two of Margery's children's families were living nearby. Margery (78 yrs.) died in 1864 in Brown County Indiana.
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| 1850 Brown County Census Margery Miles Followell |
POSTSCRIPT
William F and Margery were courageous, strong, self reliant, family oriented American pioneers who lived in extraordinary times. They grew up in the Kentucky wilderness and were comfortable living there. Throughout the first half of their lives they lived under the threat of Indian violence but they survived and prospered. They led their extended family through three major moves across Kentucky and Indiana wildernesses. After living in semi-populated Monroe County Indiana they decided to move back into the wilderness of Brown County Indiana. This courageous move turned out to be successful. William F became a successful business man, land owner and County official. Throughout all of this William F's extended family continued to move with his family and live near his family.
William F Followell Descendant Chart
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I have been unable to find original source information confirming William F Followell was the father of William Followell. There are no birth records in Kentucky until the 1880s. In addition, the early census lists do not show household members. Because of this I have relied on more than 20 Followell Family Trees on multiple web sites to confirm the parentage of William Followell. There is almost unanimous agreement that William F is the father of William Followell (b. 1818). However, a small uncertainty remains. My daughter (Cara) and I have discovered that there were two William Followells in Monroe County Indiana during the 1840s. Our William Followell (b. 1818) married Tabitha Ann Pope and moved to Illinois. William M Followell (b. 1812) married Margaret Breedlove, lived in Indiana, and died in the Civil War. Most likely both of these Williams were grandsons of John Followell and Elizabeth Helm. With this uncertainty I am comfortable that William Followell (b. 1818) was the son of William F and Elizabeth Followell. Hopefully future research will shine more light on this issue.
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