Person:James Snow (16)

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Three James Snows

There are several James Snows living in Indiana in the same time period, and considerable confusion exists regarding their origins and their families. Part of the problem is that there appear to be at least three James Snows coming from Clark County, Indiana at roughly the same time. These include:

James Snow and Elizabeth Johnson

James Snow married Elizabeth Johnson in Clark County, Indiana on the 10th of July 1816. The marriage was performed by John Reese, the father-in-law of Elizabeth's sister Nancy, moderator of the same church where Elizabeth's brother Charles was the Secretary. From Clark County, James and Elizabeth moved, along with other members of Elizabeth's family, to Pope County, Illinois. According to the 1820 Census, they had two young boys living with them, as well as a male and a female probably in their teens, too old to be children of James and Elizabeth. The extra male was most likely John Snow, who is documented as being in Pope County about this time. The extra female may have been the Sally Snow who married a John Anderson on 4 July 1823 in Pope County.^[16] (A John Anderson also married, on 24 January 1827, a Mrs. Polly Martin; and a John Anderson appears in the 1830 Census record for Pope County, Illinois. Although highly speculative, it is possible that that the Sally Snow who married in 1823 died.^[17])

From Pope County, Illinois, James and Elizabeth may have returned to Clark County, Indiana -- as did other members of the extended family -- before moving on to Fountain County, Indiana, or they may have gone directly from Pope County to Fountain County, to join another of Elizabeth's brothers.

The movements of James and Elizabeth can be tracked from Clark County, Indiana to Pope County, Illinois (about 1819), to Fountain County, Indiana (about 1825 or earlier), to Boone County, Indiana (about 1832), to Shelby County, Indiana (about 1838) through property records (which Elizabeth had to sign when the property was sold) and county court records. Both property records and county court records also show a long-term association with other members of Elizabeth's family (Charles, Bailey, William, and John Johnson, Catherine Johnson Roe, Margaret Johnson Storm, and Nancy Johnson Reese).

James also has a long-term relationship with the Isaac Snow who married Margaret Harrod from at least the time Isaac and James were both in Pope County, Illinois (along with John Snow); through Fountain County, Indiana, and Boone County, Indiana. In Boone County first Isaac and then James were involved in laying out the town of Mechanicsburg.^[9] James also seems to have been joined by another brother-in-law, Joseph, in his enterprise. Part of the process of laying out the town of Mechanicsburg apparently involved purchasing and moving a mill.^[9] This was most likely the mill known as Reese's Mill where Joseph was the first Post Master.

While in Boone County, James bought property in Shelby County from Joseph and Nancy Johnson Reese, perhaps in exchange for the mill. (Property records for Boone County for this time period were lost in a courthouse fire.) Currently the last documented record for James and Elizabeth is their sale of the Shelby County land in August 1839 to a member of the Baptist community of which the Reeses and several of the Johnsons were members. James and Elizabeth were residents of Shelby County at the time.

Questions

1) What were James’ ORIGINS?
Elizabeth Johnson’s family lived in and around the town of New Washington, Washington Township, in Clark County, so it is likely that James was living near-by sometime shortly before they married. There is, as yet, no record of any James Snow in any part of Clark County at this time.

The Clark County portion of the 1807 Territorial Census for Indiana has been lost. A Voters List for Clark County for January 1807 does not show any Snows.^[18] Nor does it show the Reeses or Johnsons, who moved to Indiana later in 1807.

The 1810 Census for Indiana has been lost.

On 29 July 1815 there is a James Snow from Hamilton County, Ohio who made payment on the NE 1/4 of Sec 4, T4, R10E (now Jefferson County).^[19]

In 1820 there is a Prince Snow in Charlestown Township, and a Benjamin Snow in Washington Township. The potential relationship of these people to James is as yet undetermined.

2) When and where did James and Elizabeth DIE?
There is no evidence that they died in Shelby County.^[20]

They do not appear in the 1840 Census, perhaps because, having just sold their home, they were living with relatives and not enumerated, or because they were in the process of moving.

They do not appear in the 1850 Census, suggesting that they may have already died.

While living in Shelby County, Indiana in 1839, James and Elizabeth lived near Elizabeth’s sister Catherine Johnson Roe. Catherine and her husband returned to Clark County, Indiana shortly before they both died in 1847. The only record of their death is from the biography of their son Charles Roe. It is possible that James and Elizabeth, like Charles and Catherine, returned to Clark County. Alternately, they could have moved to Sullivan County, where Isaac was living. Or they could have moved to live with one or more of their children. If James no longer owned property, there would be no need for a will or for probate.

3) Who were their CHILDREN?
Was Prince Snow one of their children?

Eleven years after James and Elizabeth sold their property in Shelby County, Indiana, a Prince Snow and a Joseph Roe (son of Catherine Johnson Roe and therefore a cousin of any children of James and Elizabeth Snow) is living with the purchaser of that property, suggesting that he might be a son of James and Elizabeth.

This may be the same PRINCE SNOW who married Susannah Giltner in Clark County in 1851, and died in Jefferson County, Indiana in 1857. His parents (or more likely grandparents -- see Terri Terry’s notes on World Connect) were Prince Snow and Mary Morrison.

James Snow and Christina Fine

The James Snow who married Christina Fine on 18 Mar 1822 in Clark County, Indiana is NOT the same James Snow who married Elizabeth Johnson.

Elizabeth Johnson remained alive and married through 1839, so was not a previous wife of the James Snow who married Christina Fine. The James Snow who married Christina Fine died in Clark County, Indiana sometime between 1825 and 1829, while the James Snow who married Elizabeth Johnson continued to live through August 1839.

James Snow of Marion County, Indiana

The James Snow who lived in Marion County, Indiana in 1850 is NOT the James Snow who married Elizabeth Johnson, although it might be tempting to speculate that James and Elizabeth moved to Marion County after 1839.

In 1830 the James Snow who married Elizabeth is living in Fountain County, Indiana with Elizabeth and family.

In 1830 there is another James Snow who is living in Clark County, Indiana. In 1834 a James Snow purchased US land in Marion County, Indiana. In 1840 a James Snow appears in the US Census in Marion County. His household structure in 1840 is consistent with that of the James Snow who is living in Clark County in 1830. The household structure of the James Snow in Marion County in 1840 is not consistent with the household structure of the James Snow living in Fountain County in 1830.

From Fountain County the James Snow who married Elizabeth Johnson moved to Boone County, Indiana. Given his financial investments and problems in Boone County ^[9][10][11], it is highly unlikely that he was also purchasing land in Marion County at the same time. The James Snow who married Elizabeth moved from Boone County, Indiana, where he was living through much of the 1830s, to Shelby County, Indiana. James and Elizabeth were living in Shelby County until at least August 1839, not in Marion County.

The James Snow who married Elizabeth Johnson and the James Snow of Marion County, in other words, are two different people.

Facts and Events

Footnotes

1. ↑ County Court Records, Pope County, Illinois, 1816-1831; LDS #0964530, in Illinois. County Court (Pope County), and Illinois. Court of County Commissioners (Pope County). County court records, 1816-1850. (Salt Lake City, Utah: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1974)
   p. 51.

   22 July 1819
   Joel William appointed suprevisor of Raod from Golconda to Kaskaskia beginning at the house of Thomas Jones to the house of Thomas Rin[d]s, with workers [including but not limited to] Linkham Harper, William Thomas, James A. Whiesides, David Thomas John Whitesides, John Brown, Robert Penny, Enoch Penny, Benjamin McCool, David Mickles, William Penigler, John Johnson, Bala Johnson, James Snow, Henry Shufflebarger, Jesse McCool, . . .

2. ↑ ^2.0 2.1 Pope County, Illinois, in United States. 1820 U.S. Census Population Schedule. (National Archives Microfilm Publication M33)
   76.

   Snow, James, 2 m >10, 1 m 10-15, 1 m 26-44, 1 f 10-15, 1 f 26-45
   on previous adjacent lines: Jonston, Beley and Jonston, Charles

3. ↑ Deed Record A; LDS #0964515, in Pope County (Illinois). Recorder. Deeds v. 1816-1886; index, 1810-1910. (Salt Lake City, Utah: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1974)
   p. 112, 1816-1836.

   Indenture made 16 July 1821
   Between Charles Johnson & Sally his wife of Pope County, Illinois
   And James Snow of same place who paid $300
   For a part of the SE1/4 of S13, T12S, R5E in the District of lands offered in Shawneetown
   Beginning at the SW corner of the said quarter and running thence East 72 and 1/2 poles to a stake, thence North one hundred and 60 poles to a stake, thence west 71 and 1/2 poles to a stake, thence south 160 poles to the Beginning, containing 72 and 1/2 acres
   Signed Charles Johnson, Sarah x her mark Johnson
   Witness Jacob D. Roe, Frederick x his mark Bengard, James A. Whiteside JP
   Recorded August 1821

4. ↑ County Court Records, Pope County, Illinois; LDS #0964530, in Illinois. County Court (Pope County), and Illinois. Court of County Commissioners (Pope County). County court records, 1816-1850. (Salt Lake City, Utah: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1974)
   p. 175, 1816-1831.

   4 June 1822 Ordered that Lincoln Harper be appointed Supervisor on the Franklin road, from the Kaskaskia road, to the crossing of the Big Bay Creek, and . . . Cato Whitesid, James A. Whitsid, John Whitesid, James Snow, Isaac Snow, John Snow, Jacob Roe, William Johnson, Bailey Johnson, Charles Johnson Jur, . . . Abraham Shufflebarger, Jacob Sufflebarger, John King, Fredrick A[pple]yard, Jesse McCool, Benjamin McCool [crossed out in original], . . . allotted to to work on the same

5. ↑ United States. Bureau of Land Management, General Land Office Records
   Document Nr.: 4821.

   JAMES SNOW of Fountain County, Indiana
   E1/2 NW1/4 Sec 13/ T20-N R 8-W 2nd PM Fountain County, IN, Acres: 80
   Issue Date: 2/20/1827 Land Office: Crawfordsville

6. ↑ ^6.0 6.1 Fountain County, Indiana, in United States. 1830 U.S. Census Population Schedule. (National Archives Microfilm Publication M19)
   p. 83.

   Snow, James, 2 males under 5, 2 males 10-15, 1 male 15-20, 1 male 30-40, 1 female 5-10, 1 female 30-40

   There is another James Snow in Fountain County at this time (p. 73):
   Snow, James, 1 male 60-70, 1 female under 5, 1 female 20-30

7. ↑ ^{7.0 7.1 7.2} Volumes 2-3; LDS #1321427, in Fountain County (Indiana). Recorder. Deed records, 1827-1887. (Salt Lake City, Utah: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1983)
   1831-1833.

   2-217
   Indenture made 23 Mar 1831
   Between William Johnson and Emily his wife of Vigo County, IN
   and James Snow of Fountain County, IN who paid $225
   for the West fraction of NW1/4, Sec 18, T20N, R7W, containing 80 acres and 7/100s
   Signed William Johnson, Emily x her mark Johnson
   Witness R. B. Owens JP, Abraham x his mark [We]bb
   Recorded 24 Nov 18831
   2-215
   Indenture 14 June 1831
   Between James Snow and Elizabeth his wife of Fountain County, IN
   and John Crook and William Crook of same place who paid $225
   for the fraction of the NW1/4 of Sec 18, T20N, R7W, containing 80 acres and 7/100s
   Signed James x his mark Snow, Elizabeth x her mark Snow
   Witness James Miller JP, Hirem Webster
   Recorded 24 Nov 1831
   2-231
   Indenture 12 October 1831
   Between James Snow and Elizabeth his wife of Fountain County, IN
   and Joseph Wood of Scott County, KY who paid $300
   for the E1/2 of the NW1/4 of Sec 13, T20N, R8W, containing 80 acres more or less
   Signed James Snow, Elizabeth x her mark Snow
   Witness John Hopkins, David Anderson JP
   Recorded 30 Nov 1831

8. ↑ United States. Bureau of Land Management, General Land Office Records
   Document Nr.: 17015.

   JAMES SNOW of Fountain County, Indiana
   NW1/4, Sec 30/ T20-N R1-E Boone County, IN, Acres: 135.2
   Issue Date: 9/3/1834 Land Office: Crawfordsville

9. ↑ ^{9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3} Harden, Samuel, and Spahr. Early life and times in Boone County, Indiana: giving an account of the early settlement of each locality, church histories, county and township officers from the first down to 1886; histories of some of the pioneer families of some of the prominent men and women... (Salt Lake City, Utah: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1968 (originally published 1887)).

   [Mechanicsburg], so beautifully located on a high piece of ground near the junction of Brown's Wonder and Sugar Creek, was laid out in the year 1835, by James Snow. It is near the Clinton County line and also near the line dividing the townships of Clinton and Washington, being, however, in the latter, on the road leading from Lebanon to Frankfort, about nine miles from the former and seven from the latter.
   Vol. 2, p. 290 - Account of Nathan B. Garrette, who settled near Mechanicsburg in October 1836: The first mill was erected by Bowman Stout. He sold it to Isaac Snow, who sold to James Snow, when it was taken down and removed further west. This mill was in operation and the frame for a grist-mill up when I came. James Snow was the proprietor of Mechnicsburg.

10. ↑ ^10.0 10.1 Order Book, Civil Boone (County, Indiana), circuit Court, Vol. 1-2; LDS #2418618, in Indiana. Circuit Court (Boone County). Civil Order books, Circuit Court, Boone County, Indiana, 1832-1921
    Vol 1, 19 Apr 1832-Sept 1843.

    p. 93 – 20 Dec 1836
    Thomas T. Breckenridge vs Moses D. Davidson and James Snow
    Case upon Promises, Damages $500
    Sheriff reports Moses D. Davidson “not found”
    James Snow confesses that he is justly indebed to plaintiff in sum of $408.40 by reason of non performance of promises and undertaking
    Court rules plaintiff is to recover $408.40 and cost
    Benjamin Titus acknowledges himself replenary bail
    Plaintiffs Attys rec’d $60 on 21 Dec 1836
    p. 114 – 19 April 1837
    Isaac Jackson and Charles S. Tooley Assignment of Joseph Hill vs Moses E. Davison, Simpson Harrison, James Snow and Joseph Hardesty: Tresspass on the Case in Assumpsit
    Joseph Hardesty not found
    Other 3 confess they are justly indebted to the plaintiffs in the sum of $207.61
    Also $3.43 and 3/4 in interest
    Court rules plaintiff to recover said sums and also the sum of [blank]
    Hezekiah Davison replenary bail

11. ↑ ^11.0 11.1 An Address containing A History of Boone County, Indiana; LDS#977.254 H2n, in Neal, Stephen, and John M Bishop. An address containing the history of Boone County, Indiana: from its organization to the present. (1876)
    p. 6.

    The town of Mechanicsburg, Washington township, was surveyed and platted in the year 1835, Isaac Snow being the original proprietor.

12. ↑ Vols F-H; LDS #1403620, in Shelby County (Indiana). Recorder. Deed records, 1822-1886, and partitions, 1876-1891. (Salt Lake City, Utah: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1984)
    Vol H, p. 208, 11 June 1836-April 1839.

    25 January 1838
    Between Joseph Reese and Nancy Rees his wife of Boone County, IN
    and James Snow of same
    for $2500 paid by Snow, Reese sells land in Shelby county
    E1/2 of the NW1/4 of Sec 14, T12N, R5E
    also NW1/4 of the NE1/4 of said Sec
    also NW1/4 of the NW1/4 of said Sec
    Signed Joseph Reese, Nancy X her mark Reese
    Witness Hiram J. Roberts JP, Joseph Wood
    Recorded 17 May 1838

13. ↑ Vols H-J; LDS #1403621, in Shelby County (Indiana). Recorder. Deed records, 1822-1886, and partitions, 1876-1891. (Salt Lake City, Utah: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1984)
    Vol I, p. 619, 1831-April 1843.

    Indenture 16 Aug 1839
    Between James Snow and Elizabeth Snow his wife of Shelby County, IN
    And Ephraim Tucker of same place who paid $2400 for
    The E1/2 of the NW1/4 of Sec 14, T12N, R5E
    also NW1/4 of the NE1/4 of said Sec
    also NW1/4 of the NW1/4 of said Sec
    Signed James Snow, Elizabeth x her mark Snow
    Witnesses Alexander Miller JP, Charles J. Roe

14. ↑ There is no record of James Snow having sold this land, while there is a record of Charles Johnson later reselling the same land, suggesting that James Snow was paying on time and could not make his payments, in which case the title would have automatically reverted to Charles Johnson.
15. ↑ There is another James Snow in Fountain County at this time (p. 73):
    Snow, James, 1 male 60-70, 1 female under 5, 1 female 20-30
16. ↑ Pope County Illinois Marriage Books A-E, 1813-1877, Vol. 1. FHL #977.3991 V2l, v.1
17. ↑ Illinois Marriages, 1790-1860. Ancestry.com; 1830 US Census, Pope County, Illinois. Ancestry.com
18. ↑ Census of Indiana Territory for 1807, Rebah M. Rraustein, editor. Indiana Historical Society 1980; FHL#977.2 X2c 1807
19. ↑ Jeffersonville Land Entries 1808-1818, compiled by Janet C. Cowen. FHL#977.2 R2c
20. ↑ Index to Estates, Boone County. FHL #977.254 P22p; Index Guardianship Estates Settled, Shelby County, Indiana Jan 1836-1940. FHL #1403500