Person:Rachel Byars (1)

From Martha Ruff: Rachal Byars b Feb 20, 1806 m Peter Gill, they lived near Elkville, IL.

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

1845 Feb 7: Deed - Irijah Byars and others to Tolbert & Oliver Glenn: Between Peter Gill and Rachel his wife, Daniel C. Vancil and Amelia his wife, Irijah Byars and Imri Byars of the county of Jackson, state of Illinois and Tolbert Glenn & Oliver Glenn. Tolbert & Oliver Glenn paid $400 for four 1/8th sections of a tract of land (see for description). Rachel Gill and Amelia Vancil signed dower release. [photocopy sent by Nancy Attey; Noted: Board of Investigation, Book E]

From Janet K. Lehnhof: Rachel BYARS: FHL 977.3994 Cemeteries of Jackson County, IL, vol. 3. "Rachel Gill wife of Peter died 11 Mar 1869" buried in Gill Cemetery in Elk Township, Jackson Co, IL.

1850 US Census: North Dist., Jackson Co, Illinois, M432_110, page 195

 26/26 Peter Gill, age 48, Farmer, $600, b Virginia

Rachael Gill, age 44 [c1806], b Kentucky Aletha Gill, age 23, b Illinois Adela Gill, age 16, b Illinois Benton Gill, age 14, b Illinois Leper Gill, age 10, b Illinois Oliver Glenn, age 23, b Illinois

1860 US Census: DeSoto PO, Township 7 Range 1 W, Jackson, Illinois; M653_186; Page: 328

 77/77 Benton G Gill, age 24, farmer, $2000/2000, b Illinois

Permilla Gill, age 19, b Illinois Rachel Gill, age 45, b Virginia Leper Gill, age 19, b Illinois Edward Henderson, age 16, farm laborer, b Illinois

MRS. RACHEL GILL - Date of death: 11 Mar 1869 Jackson Co., Illinois

  The subject of this obituary was born on the 20th day of Feb 1803 in the State of Kentucky, and moved to Big Muddy in this county in 1810, where her father, John BYARS, and family resided until 1829 when they remove to this prairie. She was married Dec. 29th, 1823 to Peter GILL, who died on the 28th day of Oct. 1857. During his lifetime he held places of honor and trust, having been elected twice to the office of Associate Justice of the County Court and did much towards the development of the resources of our then infant county. 
  There were born unto Peter and Rachel GILL seven children, four of whom, Amelia PYLE, of Worth county, MO., Adelia ADKINS, Benton and Leaper of this prairie, are still living, while Aletha, first wife of Thomas M. LOGAN, Edwin T. and an infant have long been on the other shore. Mrs. Gill knew something of the hardship of pioneer life, and not withstanding the many comforts thrown around us by the civilization of today, she yet loved to dwell upon the olden times, and recount her upbringing (?). She and her husband moved to this prairie upon a rude sled, into a house without floor or roof, if such could be called a house. She remained in this house three days and three nights with no companions save her children, Aletha and Edwin T. the former four and the latter two years old, while her husband returned to Big Muddy after their stock. At that time, 1829, there were but two families living in the prairie, the DAVIS family and Edward SCHWARTZ and neither of them nearer than three miles. 
  The wolves made those long nights hideous by their barkings, and would have caused a less courageous heart to quail with fear at the lonely surroundings. There are few women now living who if called upon could endure the same.  The silken cord of her existence was interwoven with the incidents of almost three quarters of a century. Making her entrance upon the stage of life while Jefferson was president, a few million souls and sixteen states, she lived to see tenfold increase in our population and our states advanced to thirty-eight. 
  Her part in live's drama has been played; to the grave to nature and natures God has she been consigned. She lived to see the desert in which she lived touched by the wand of progress turn to the rose of civilization and her children settled happy and respected. Her mission then in life was ended and she laid down to rest. The night breezes will blush the spring day flowers into perfume over her grave, the birds will sing upon it in summer, the autumn winds will play funeral duges through the fallen leaves, the snow will melt round it in winter, but at all seasons untill the generations that have known her worth shall have passed sway her name will be her best epitaph.

Elk. [Jackson County, Illinois Trails History and Genealogy; Jackson County Obituaries, collected by Carol Dean & Susan Cook 1998 http://www.iltrails.org/Jackson/obits.htm.]

1870 US Census: Elkville PO, Elk Prairie pct., Jackson Co., Illinois, page 98, date 20 Jul 1870

 198/198 Benton Gill, age 31, Farmer, $3500/1000, b Illinois

Danina Gill, age 27, keeps house, b Illinois Cate Gill, age 8, b Illinois

 199/199 Leaper Gill, age 29, Farmer, $3500/1100, b Illinois

Rachel Gill, age 64 [c1806], keeps house, b Tennessee

1. ↑ Correspondence.

   9 Mar 1984, from Martha Ruff of Modesto, Illinois; List of children of John & Elizabeth (Thomas) Byars by Edna Herr

2. ↑ Correspondence.

   9 Jun 1996; Janet Kay Lehnhof of Murray, UT; Family Group Sheet

3. ↑ Correspondence
   Cemeteries of Jackson Co., Illinois, Volume III.

   Janet Kay Lehnhof of Murray, UT; 3 Nov 1996; Family Group Sheet & Notes for family of Peter Gill & Rachel Byars

4. ↑ .

   Cemeteries of Jackson Co., IL, Vol 3.