Person:John Byars (1)

JOHN BYARS [BARES, BARRS, BOWERS, BYERS, BIAS, BIERS, BUYERS] [My thanks to the other researchers who have shared the information in this collection.]

1755 & 1766: Birth years listed in many Family Trees - too early. Conflict re North or South Carolina.

1770-1775: Birth range using Dollarhide's Census Comparison Chart & census years 1820 & 1830

   By 1880 only two of their children were living. Mary (Byars) Vancil reported that her father had been born in Pennsylvania and her mother in North Carolina. Her sister Ameila (Byars) Vancil said that both her parents had both been born in Kentucky.

1790-1792: John & Elizabeth were probably married about this time in North or South Carolina. 1792-1800: Children born in Carolina: In 1850 MaryAnn (Byars) Yates reported her birth in South Carolina, but in 1860 she said it was North Carolina. 1850 both Ira and Irijah Byars reported their birth in North Carolina. Imri Byars reported in 1860 that he was born in Kentucky. North Carolina seems to be the most popular choice.

1800: FIND IN CENSUS, NC, SC, or KY?

There are many microfilms available FHL Barren Co - TO DO - order and check for other Byars & Thomas. Who was John Johnson d 1808 Barren Co., John Byers administrator? ORDER Barren Co Tax Books 1799-1816 FHL #7865

1802: John Byars family living in Kentucky; Mary Thomas (Byars) Vancil contestant in census birth place.

1804 Mar: Entered land in Barren Co, KY. [FHL 976.972; Janet K Lehnhof Nov 1996] 1804 Nov: John Byars appointed constable. Barren Co, KY Court Records, Vol 2 [FHL 976.972 Lehnhof] 1808 Jul: John Byers administrator of John Johnson. Barren Co. Court Records, Vol 3 [FHL 976.972 Lehnhof] Barren Co., KY Order Book, Vol 1 1799-1802, 976.972 P2p, Available [FHL SLC] Barren Co., KY Order Book, Vol 1 also on microfilm; FHL #1036664 item 3 Barren Co., KY Order Book, Vol 2 1803-1805, 976.972 P2p, MISSING [FHL catalog 2007] Barren Co., KY Order book, Vol 3 1806-Apr 1812, 976.972 P2p, Available

1809 Feb 3: Congress created the Territory of Illinois

1810 CENSUS PROBLEM: Jackson Co., Illinois: [John Byars 22010-40110]; John Byars & wife age 26-45, daughter over 16; 2 sons 10-16; 2 sons & 4 daughters under age 10. (Lehnhof Nov 1996) [Jackson Co wasn't formed until 1816; probably Randolph County]

 1810 Illinois census images not listed at Ancestry.com, NARA Catalog or HeritageQuest
 1810 US Census: Randolph Co., Illinois Territory; Census extant for Randolf Co. [Thorndale/Dollarhide].
 Illinois Territory Federal Census www.sources2go.com, down for maintenance [3 Jun 07 CHECK BACK].
 Illinois Territory, Randolph Co., index on CD#313, AIS Index & 1 other index [Dollarhide]. 
   Accelerated Indexing Systems [AIS], comp. by Ron V. Jackson. Illinois Census, 1810-90 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 1999. [ancestry.com; No Images]:
        1810 Illinois, Randolph County, Grand Tower twp: J. Bires page 13; W. Biers page 20.

ORDER Illinois Census returns 1810, 1818, by Margaret Cross Norton, on 5 microfiche FHL # 6104020 from a series of Collections of the Illinois State Historical Library

ORDER Randolph Co. IL, Land Records, Recorder's Register & Grantor Index 1796-1814, film #974431

 Deeds 1799-1807 and v. G-K 1768-1807 #956815; Deeds v. L-M 1804-1815 #956816

1810: "Rachel [Byars] Gill moved to Big Muddy in this county in 1810, where her father, John BYARS, and family resided ..." [her obit, see her notes]

????: John Byars original land entry was in township 9-2West. [Jackson Co., Illinois, Early Settlements; FHL 977.3994; Lehnhof 1996]

1814: A man named Byars took a boat load of stock from the vicinity of Brownsville in 1814. [Jackson County Notes by John W. Allen 1945, page 14-15 "Ferries"]

1816 Jan 10: Jackson County formed from Randolph & Johnson Counties, Illinois Territory [Handybook]

1816-1828: John Byars served as county commissioner. [Jackson Co., Illinois, Early Settlements; FHL 977.3994; Lehnhof 1996]

1816: John Byars elected county commissioner with Jesse Griggs and Conrad Will. Duty was to locate the county seat [Brownsville, now a ghost town]. The above three were also members of the first county court. John Byars and his large family settled south of Big Muddy River. (Newsome's Historical Sketches of Jackson Co., Illinois, p 49) [Janet K. Lehnhof Nov 1996]

1817: John & Ira Byars opened accounts in a Brownsville store. 1818 Accounts were opened by Irijah Byars and Peter Gill. [Jackson Co., Illinois, Early Settlements; FHL 977.3994; Lehnhof 1996] http://www.usgennet.org~iljacksn/ledger.htm In 1999 Brownsville Store Ledger Book B was on-line with images. John Byars account listed on page 5, Hall Store Ledger. This web address no longer works in 2007; not in USGenWeb Archives; not found using Google; only four pages of legal transactions from it now listed on Illinois Trails History & Genealogy, Jackson County]

1818 Dec 3: Illinois became the 21st state of the Union 1818: Illinois State Census; Jackson Co.: John Byars 2-9-0-0, 2 white males 21 & over, all other whites 9. No free blacks or slaves. John Deason 1-8-0-0 [Jackson Co., IL GenWeb page]

1820 US Census, Crab Orchard pct, Jackson Co., Illinois, M33-11, p 64, line 1: John Byers 100301-04010

  Possibly accounts for Males: Isri b c1812; Ira, Imri & Irijah, and John
 Females: Polly (in the wrong box), Rachel, Amelia & Minerva; Elizabeth

1825: "John Byars was granted permission to establish a ferry at his farm on Big Muddy in 1825." [Jackson Co. Notes; JW Allen, 1945] 1829: "...John BYARS... removed to this prairie [Elk]." [Obit of Rachel (Byars) Gill]

1830 US Census: Jackson Co., Illinois; Roll 22; page 81, line 9: John Byers: 00001001- 00002001

 Possibly accounts for Males: Irijah; John       Females: Minerva & Amelia; Elizabeth 

1835: John Byars Justice of the Peace. [Jackson Co, IL, Early Settlements; FHL 977.3994; Lehnhof 1996]

1836: "The first school of the township [Elk] was taught in 1836 by John Byars. An old cheese building was moved to the spot a short distance west of Eklville (sic), and served as a schoolhouse. The school began with only one side of the roof on. Mr. Byars taught for one week and then dismissed school promising to return and teach a year when the house would be completely roofed." ["Elk Township In It's Pioneer Days" from the Elkville Journal, 1957. Article noted that information was from "History of Jackson About the Year 1878." Have faded photocopy of one page stamped by Jackson Historical Society, Murphysboro.]

1836: A Letter from John and Elizabeth Byars, September 29, 1836 Dear Children, with gratitude I take my pen in hand to inform you that we are all in the land of the living and all enjoying good health at present with the exception of your mother. She had the misfortune to get her left arm broke or fractured on the 14th of August and has not been able to make much use of it since and has been a cause of her being in a low state of health since it happened but though ornier she is gaining health and strength in her arm. We are desirous to hear from you hoping you are all well as we have had no account from you since we left you. I don't see much change in MINERVA'S situation sometimes she seems to be considerably better and at other times nearly to her former state of health. There has been some sickness through our section of country but nothing very fatal and appears to be abating very fast. I received a letter from DANIEL THOMAS in August. It gave account of considerable sickness in that part of the country and a poor prospect of corn crops there. Their cotton crops was very promising. He worte that without something unknown he would be in our part of the country in November. We have had no account from YATES since we left you. If you have had any since I will be glad if you will let us know in your letters at any time you may hear from them. Our connection here are all well at present. We have had a very wet season for some time past. We have a very good mart and wheat crops is reasonable good and corn which renders us a bountiful harvest in the necessaries of life. There has been a great quality of land entered in the country. Since I came home the price of property has taken a considerable rise. In our section of country horses and cattle are very high to what they have been some time back. I cannot give you any certain account of what will be the established price of pork this season. There is different opinions among the people and a great difference as to the price it will be. Some think it will be as high as seven dollars per hundred others as low as three dollars per hundred and different opinions between the two extremes. I have nothing more worthy your attention at present. I wish to write when convenient. We received letters from JOHN BYARS and his ___ stating they had good crops and that JOHN is married but gives no account who he got. Their letter was very short. So I conclude with ascribing ourselves your affectionate Father and Mother till death. John and Elizabeth Byars September 29th, 1836. [Copied from the original by Martha Ruff in 1981. The writing was good and so was the grammar. Written as found, excepting that Edna Herr added the capital letters at the beginning of sentences. Edna Herr correspondence 1983. No one said to whom this letter was addressed. Names in caps by jlsm.]

1837 Sep 5: John Byars purchaser; Federal Land; Description: SWSE, Section 06, township 07S, Range 01W, Meridian 3; Jackson County; Price per acre: 1.25; Total: 50.00; Volume 31; Page 104; Acres: 40.00; Type of Sale: FD. Illinois Public Domain Land Tract Sales Database http://www.ilsos.gov/GenealogyMWeb/PublicLandSalesNameServlet?purchaserNumber=0355952

1837-1839: John Byars served as county treasurer. [Jackson Co., Illinois, Early Settlements; FHL 977.3994; Lehnhof 1996]

1839 Dec 5: The court was ordered to furnish copy of probate court having balance due the county by John Byars, former treasurer, deceased. [Meetings of the Court 1823-1841; p 64; FHL 977.344; Lehnhof 1996]

1843 Jan 10: FIRE in the Brownsville Courthouse destroyed all the records, some of the more current ones with unfinished business were reconstructed. '1843 Board of Investigation' is indexed on the Jackson Co, IL GenWeb site. Nancy Attey has the microfilm.

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1843: PROBATE File A--2--73 Estate of John Byars, deceased, administrator Ira Byars. Poor faded photocopy (two pages sent by Martha Ruff) of nine signed receipts for money paid by Ira Byars for the bills owed by the estate of John Byars.

 [first page]
  Recd. of Ira Byars administrator of John By.. Deceased late treasurer of Jackson County the sum of Twenty Dollers in part of the amount due by him to the County of Jackson. January the 23th 1825  Jacob Shultz Co. Treasurer

  Received of Ira Byars administrator of John Byers deceased Two dollars and fifty cents for the season of a mare this 3rd of Sept 1847  Jno. I Gregory

  Received of Ira Byars, Administrator of the estate of John Byars deceased former Treasurer of Jackson County Thirty dollars in a county order being in part payment of an account allowed Jackson County by the probate court and against said Estate. Wm. R. Phelps Co tres.

  Estate of John Byers deceased - To Ira Byars adminr. of said Estate - 

For P___ on $925$55.50 five days ----illegible 5.00 And paid for attys fee 5.00[total =] $65.50

[next page]
  [first one is illegible, by Collector, appears to be for taxes]

  Received of Ira Byars four dollars and 14 cents in full the tax on the SW qr of S63g SR w containing 160 acres and 63 of the SE pt of NW qr of _1 in 3g SR2 for 1841 this 7 day of March 1842 Benj. R Holliay Collector.

 [typed] ref: Real Estate Taxes on SW quarter, section 6, T-9-S, R-1-West (Carbondale)
         NW quarter, section 1, T-9-S, R-2-West (Murphysboro)

  Red. of Iry Byars the administrator of John Byars 2 Dollars and 10 cents tax on SW 6 Tg R1W 160 acres & 60 acres s pt NW of S1 in TgRw@@ in full Feb 1840 A.F. Reynolds

  No. &   March the 4th AD 1844

An Inventory of the goods & Chattels and personal Estate of John Byars, deceased, as follows (to wit) ammount of the Appraisment Bill $540.87 Sah Bill ammounting to$493.00 Cash on hand$135.50 Notes on hand$282.00 A Second Sale 15 --[total = $] 925.50

 State of Illinois
 Jackson CountyIra Byars Administrator of John Byars Decd., being duly sworn deposes and says that the above inventory is just & correct so far as this aff_t knows & as he believes, & further says not    [signed] Ira Byars Administrator

  Mr. Ira Byars to Edtr. Southern Ills. Advocate, Dr.. To advertising Administrators Notice of Estate of John Byars decd. $2.25. Sept. 28. 1841 Rcd of the said Ira Byars the Amt. of the above account in full. D.H. Burk agent.

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Children of John and Elizabeth (Thomas) Byars, list from Edna Herr [sent by Martha Ruff, 9 Mar 1984]

 1. Mary Ann Byars b 20 Jan 1792; m Robert Yates - Indiana nr Terra Haute
 2. Nancy Byars b 19 Mar 1794; m Isaac Glenn - they lived on the old Byars place in Jackson County, IL
 3. Ira Byars b 30 Sep 1796; m Mary Dacon (Deason?) - Lived in Jackson Co., IL
 4. Imri Byars b 7 Aug 1798; m Udocia Osborn - lived in the old Byars place in Jackson County, IL
 5. Irijah Byars b 21 Feb 1802; m1) Hulda Beason; m2) Charlotte Rich
 6. Polly (Mary) Thomas Byars b 21 Feb 1804; m 1824 Edmond C. Vancil; d 29 Dec 1901
 7. Rachal Byars b 20 Feb 1806; m Peter Gill - lived near Elkville, IL
 8. Amelia Byars b 29 May 1808; m Daniel Vancil, a widower with 2 children and a cousin to E.C. Vancil. Lived in Iowa and Lawrence, Kansas; where Mr. Vancil died. Went to Washington Territory in a wagon after she was 80, expecting to meet her son, Lyri Vancil. He was drowned while his mother was on the way. She lived to be 90.

Research by Janet Kay Lehnhof is published www.familysearch.org in the Ancestral File database. See www.familysearch.org for Family History Library Catalog. Many listings for Jackson Co., IL microfilm.

1. ↑ Census Comparison. (See Notes).
2. ↑ See notes.

   Meetings of the Court, 1823-1841; p 64; FHL 977.344; research by Janet K. Lehnhof; Correspondence 1996