Family:Westrall Gunn and Betsey Sharp (1)

Some sources indicate he was born in Preble, Cortland County, NewYork (south of Syracuse), and died in Eaton County, Michigan.

The GUNN family of LaPorte, Indiana (Matthew Lipsey): Westrall Willoughby GUNN (1808-1876). His wife was Betsey Sharp, and both of them were from New York, having passed through Ashtabula Co., OH, on their way to Eaton Co., MI. (The following is from "Portrait and Biographical Record of Kalamazoo, Allegan & Van Buren Counties, Michigan," 1892, Chapman Bros., Chicago) "...[Westrall] was a graduate of Yale College, in the law department...practiced in Lockport, Pa....and settled in Ashtabula Co., OH, continuing in the legal business and also engaging somewhat in the oldest dealers in cattle in Ohio. He drove cattle to Buffalo until 1867, in which year he moved to Eaton County, this State. When on a visit to his daughter in LaPorte, Ind., in 1876, he was taken sick and died, aged 68 years."

In 1850 it was stated that Westrall and William Orrin were about to depart for the State of Wisconsin. Westrall appears in 1850 census living in Wayne Township of Ashtabula County (as was Noble King). page 281

He was a graduate of Yale College, in the law department, and practiced in Lockport, Pa. He was married soon after leaving college to Betsey Sharp, a native of New York, and in 1829 left Lockport, Pa., and settled in Ashtabula County, Ohio, continuing in the legal business and also engaging somewhat in farming in connection with droving, being one of the oldest dealers in cattle in Ohio. He drove cattle to Buffalo until 1867, in which year he moved to Eaton County, this State. ... His good wife died in Eaton County, in 1886, at the age of seventy-five years. They had fourteen children born to them, eight boys and six girls, ten of whom are now living. Two of the sons, Perry and Conrad, enlisted in the army, Perry in the Thirteenth Wisconsin Infantry, serving nine months. He was injured at the battle of Pittsburg Landing, and was discharged from the service. [Portrait and Biographical Record of Kalamazoo, Allegan & Van Buren Counties, Michigan (Chapman, 1892), pages 838 & 841]

Was Westrall named for this person? --> WILLOUGHBY, Westel, Jr., a Representative from New York; born in Goshen, Conn., November 20, 1769; moved to Newport, N.Y.; studied medicine and engaged in practice; appointed judge of the court of common pleas of Herkimer County in 1805 and served until 1821; president of the Herkimer County Medical Society 1806-1816 and 1818-1836; served in the State assembly in 1808 and 1809; president of the College of Physicians and Surgeons for the Western District of New York 1812-1844; member of the medical staff of the militia and served in the War of 1812; successfully contested as a Republican the election of William S. Smith to the Fourteenth Congress and served from December 13, 1815, to March 3, 1817; founded the town of Willoughby, Ohio, and also Willoughby College (now a part of Syracuse University); died in Newport, Herkimer County, N.Y., October 3, 1844; interment in the First Baptist Church Cemetery. [Biographical Directory of the United States Congress - http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=W000565]

Note: "Dr Willoughby of Newport, Herkimer County, New York kept a Station of the Underground Railroad" in Ohio Historical Society, The Siebert Collection - http://www.ohiohistory.org/undergroundrr/siebert.pdf

--Gunnj 12:38, 8 September 2009 (EDT)

1. ↑ Marriage Records 1812 - 1822 *, in Ohio. Probate Court (Ashtabula County). Marriage records, 1812-1951; index, 1812-1965. (Salt Lake City, Utah: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1971, 2004)
   v.A p.204.
   • Marriages to 1834 included
     Rec. 819
     Westril W. Gunn and Betsey Sharp
     To Sam^l Hendry Clerk of Court of Common Pleas.
     I hereby certify that agreeable to permission from your office, was joined in the bands of Matrimony on the thirtieth day of September AD 1827 Westril W. Gunn and Betsey Sharp by your humble servant Sheffield October 8th AD 1827 -
     Joshua L. Gage J.P.
     Recorded October 13th AD 1827
     by Sam^l. Hendry Clerk C.P.