Descendants of The Family of Spurgeon


Generation No. 1

1. THE FAMILY OF1 SPURGEON

Notes for THE FAMILY OF SPURGEON:
THE SON OF SPARROW


"It is wise for us to recur to the history of our ancestors. Those who have no regard for such history and for their posterity---those who do not look upon themselves as a link connecting the past with the future by the transmission of life and family name, do not perform their duty to the world. To our ancestors and their posterity in our thought and affection, living in the memory and retrospect of the past and caring with affection for those who are to come after us. We are true to ourselves only when we feel a becoming pride in the blood we inherit and which we are to transmit to those who shall fill our places." by Daniel Webster 1782-1825.
Essex, England is a county in southeastern England. It has a coast line on the North Sea with fertile soils. Along with oyster fishing, its main products include wheat, barley, vegetables and fruit. London lies on the southwestern part of the county. It was first conquered by Rome, then, the Saxons in the 6th century, and then, by the Danes in the 9th and 10th centuries. (1) The Essex Spurgeons probably migrated from Denmark as the area in which they came (Essex) was conquered and settled by the Danes.
The name Spurge originated in Scandinavia and was a common first name given to our Viking ancestors meaning sparrow, finch, or sparrow like bird. The "on" ending was tacked on by the English meaning "son of", thus, our name meaning son of sparrow. Spurgeon, Spurgeants, Spurgin, Spurge, and Spergon are common spellings of our family name in the past and in different cultures and times in history. All of these, plus a few more variation of the spelling, were written in records as names of our Spurgeon progenitors. The Son of Sparrow (Spurgeon), our first Spurgeon ancestor was probably born in the 1300's AD in England. It was at that time in England that surnames were beginning to be used.
The American descendants of this writing possibly descend from John Spurgen born 1520 in Halstead, County Essex, England. John Spurgen is recorded as the earliest known progenitor of Charles Haddon Spurgeon in the book, "The Spurgeon Family, Being an Account of the Decent and Family of Charles Haddon Spurgeon." This research was done for Charles Haddon Spurgeon covering the Spurgeon family of Essex England. Our family was located in Essex, England before coming to America. (2) The Spurgeons of the family of Charles Haddon were carpenters, farmers. laborers, butchers, preachers and possibly millers. (3)
Although, at this time to my knowledge, (October 12, 2011), a direct linage has not been secured, a number of Spurgeon researchers agree that the Essex Spurgeon family of Charles Haddon Spurgeon is the same Essex Spurgeon family of John Spurgin, born 1678 in London, County of Essex, England.
Some possible ancestors of our first known progenitor, William Spurgin are John Spurgen born 1678 - Clement Spurgin born about 1657 and m. Elizabeth Morley -- Clement Spurgin born about 1624 and married Mary -- Vincent Spurgin born about 1576 m. unknown -- John Spurgeon born about 1543 and married Joan Wangford -- to John Spurgen born 1520 in Halstead, Essex Co., England, died 1570 and married Ellen who died in 1566.
The following compilations, inferences and writings are done at the best of my (Roger Glen Spurgeon Sr.) ability to find the true story of the Family of the Son of Sparrow.

The painting of the Coat of Arms of Reverend John Norris Spurgeon was done by my close friend, Jim Truax.

Child of THE FAMILY OF SPURGEON is:
2. i. JOHN2 SPURGIN, b. London, Essex, England.


Generation No. 2

2. JOHN2 SPURGIN (THE FAMILY OF1 SPURGEON) in London, Essex, England. He married MARY ELIZABETH OSTER May 26, 1692 in London, Middlesex, England. She was born 1678 in London, Middlesex, England.

Notes for JOHN SPURGIN:
Little is known about the life of John Spurgin and his wife Elizabeth of England. John Spurgin is recorded by Dr. Gary Allen Dickey as being a tobacccionist (a dealer and/or manufacturer of tobacco. William and James, possible sons of John were indentured servants sent to America by the courts of England as endentured servants. Possibly later, after gaining their freedom,They became plantation owners planting tobacco.
Tobacco was a popular recreational drug in England. Since it was only grown in warmer climates, tobacco brought a good price in England. The colonists of the warmer areas of America were quick to exploit the monitary benefits from the very addictive drug. I wonder if John became a tobacctionist before or after his possible sons came to America. I wonder if these son's sent their tobacco to their father. More research is need in this story. Little is known about the life of John Spurgin and his wife Elizabeth of England. John Spurgin is recorded by Dr. Gary Allen Dickey as being a tobacccionist (a dealer and/or manufacturer of tobacco. William and James, possible sons of John were indentured servants sent to America by the courts of England as endentured servants. Possibly later, after gaining their freedom,They became plantation owners planting tobacco.
Tobacco was a popular recreational drug in England. Since it was only grown in warmer climates, tobacco brought a good price in England. The colonists of the warmer areas of America were quick to exploit the monitary benefits from the very addictive drug. I wonder if John became a tobacctionist before or after his possible sons came to America. I wonder if these son's sent their tobacco to their father. More research is need in this story.

More About JOHN SPURGIN and ELIZABETH OSTLER:
Marriage: May 26, 1692, London, Middlesex, England

Children of JOHN SPURGIN and MARY OSTER are:
3. i. WILLIAM3 SPURGIN, b. May 07, 1704, Mile End, New Town, London, England; d. Abt. 1750, Virginia.
4. ii. JAMES SPURGIN, b. Abt. January 01, 1699; d. Abt. 1784.
iii. ELIZABETH SPURGIN, b. November 03, 1701.


Generation No. 3

3. WILLIAM3 SPURGIN (JOHN2, THE FAMILY OF1 SPURGEON) was born May 07, 1704 in Mile End, New Town, London, England, and died Abt. 1750 in Virginia. He married MARY (STYLES?).

Notes for WILLIAM SPURGIN:
William Spurgin possibly was christened May 28, 1704 in Saint Dunstan Parish, Stepney, County of Middlesex England. Parents of William were listed as John and Elizabeth Spurgin. Later in 1718, a William Spurgin was accused of having stole two sheets, a shirt, a smock, two aprons, a handkerchief and a pillow case and gave them to Mary Styles. In 1718, William's possible brother James was also arrested for petty theft. William of the parish of Stepney and James of St. Mary, Matfallon (Whitechaple), County of Middlesex suburbs of London, were later tried, sentenced and bonded as indentured servants. Then, they were transported to America on the ship "Margaret" and their indentures bought by a Richard Snowden an iron worker of Maryland in 1719. Also, an Ann Spurgin was transported on the ship Margaret and was sold to Rosanna Lees in 1719. Later, under similar circumstances, in 1728, a John Spurgin came to America from a neighboring community of St. Mary, Stratford Bow, County of Middlesex.(6) One might wonder what motivated the thefts performed by James and William. They could have been desperate and needed this to live on, or they could have done this to obtain a ticket to the New World. Whatever the case, the acts were not without cost for, the indentures were often for 7 to 14 years. This was extreme punishment and so too, was the economic desperation of the common people of England during the 1700's. (7)
In 1728, Mary Styles was on a ship going to the colonies, and so was a John Spurgin.(8) William gave the articles he stole to Mary Styles. William's wife was Mary. Mary the wife of William could very possibly be Mary Styles. With a myriad of possibilities of relationships or associations between these Spurgins and Mary Styles. One might wonder what took place or what the link was between them if any. Whatever links or associations there were, my ancestor William and wife Mary begot their son William on June 6, 1734.(4)
In 1737, our first known progenitor William Spurgin purchased 200 acres on the west side of the Shenandoah River.(10) A map dated in 1737 shows Spurgeants on the Potomac River.(9) William and James Spriggen paid for 50 acres to John Moore in 1741.(10) The property on the map and that which was bought in 1741 is the same property and is located on Packhorse Ford of the Old Philadelphia Road in Prince George's County (now Fredricks County), Maryland. At Prince George County, August court of 1734, William and James Spurgen were listed with others who had not burned their tobacco according to law.(11) One could conjure up many reasons for this pair not burning their crops. Possibly, they didn't want to deprive themselves and their father in England of the lively hood the crops gave on both sides of the Atlantic. One could only guess the arrangements made between the three possible Spurgeon players (that of John, James and William) at this time, if any. This we can be sure of, my ancestor on the American side of the Atlantic prospered.
William died sometime before April 4, 1750. It has not been found how he died. Because of the time that he died and the fact that researchers only record three children in William's immediate family causes another question in my mind. Most families had many children, as many as 21 that I have found. Why didn't this family have more children. Possibly they did and they weren't recorded, or the researchers haven't found them. Possibly, they died of sickness or accidents, or William and Mary didn't have more children. Another possibility keeps me wondering is, that maybe they were killed in the French and Indian War. William died at the same time the French and Indian War began to simmer. In 1750, the French decided to take control of the Ohio Valley.(12) Packhorse Ford was an established Indian route through the difficult terrain of that area and there were only a few routes. Packhorse ford became a highway for warring Indians who were attacking the Colonial settlements from Pennsylvania and the Ohio valley.(13) The Spurgeons were located right on the main Highway! Possibly William, and/or some of his children were killed in this conflict. The toll that this war took on the Spurgeon family is kept from us at this time. What part the Spurgeon played in this war is unknown except the fact that that they did play a part. In the rolls of the Maryland Militia 1732-1774, the following Spurgeons were listed: James Spurgen, John Spurgen, Samuel Spurgen and William Spurgin. Another muster roll lists John Spurgen three times. (14) On May 18, 1756, England formally declared war on France.(12) Possibly grievous of the conflict, and the toll cast on the family, William Spurgin the son of the Deceased William sold the family's property in the Packhorse Ford area and the Shenandoah Valley. The family then relocated in the Abbott's Creek area of North Carolina.(15) This area being further from the conflict was, no doubt, a more suitable area to raise a family.


With the forming of the United States of America, and as the United States expanded, the descendents of James and William moved with the expansion, often preceding it, and took part in the development, growth and pains as well of this amazing journey. James Spurgin's family migrated into Pennslyvania and then on to Ohio and other states (Northern Migration). William's family migrated south then through Kentucky, Indiana and other states(Southern Migration). (16)




(1) Microsoft (R) Encarta (R) 98 Encyclopedia, "Essex, England".
(2) Spurgeon Quarterly, Issue 20, Page 490.
(3) Spurgeon Quarterly, Issue 10, Pages 234-235.
(4) Spurgeon Family History, A3, By Allan Dicky, 22167 Bryant St., Canoga.
(5) Spurgeon Quarterly, Issue 3, page 62.
(6) "Debrett Study", research for William A. Spurgeon Esquire of Muncie, Indiana.
(7) Class Orations of Dr. John Larson, Prof. of History, Purdue University, 1st Semester, 1987.
(8) Notes of Bob Spurgeon, Entry February 26, 2001.
(9) Spurgeon Quarterly, Issue 5, page 124.
(10) Spurgeon Quarterly, Issue 20, page 490.
(11) Spurgeon Quarterly, Issue 3, page 62.
(12) "America Past and Present", second edition, by Divine, Breen Fredreickson, William, pages 111-113.
(13) Spurgeon Quarterly, Issue 15, page 362.
(14) Spurgeon Quarterly, Issue 14, pages 64.
(15) Spurgeon Quarterly, Issue 4, pages 81-99.
(16) Spurgeon Quarterlies, All issues.


Notes for MARY (STYLES?):


Children of WILLIAM SPURGIN and MARY (STYLES?) are:
5. i. COLONEL, WILLIAM4 SPURGIN, ESQUIRE, b. June 06, 1734, Fredericks County, Maryland; d. August 13, 1806, Charlottesville, Ontario Province, Canada.
6. ii. MAJOR JOHN SPURGIN, d. 1784, At Charleston Road and Old 96th Road, South Carolina.
7. iii. SAMUEL SPURGIN, b. Abt. 1738, Orange County, Virginia; d. January 1789, Rowan County, North Carolina.

4. JAMES3 SPURGIN (JOHN2, THE FAMILY OF1 SPURGEON) was born Abt. January 01, 1699, and died Abt. 1784. He married SUSANNAH.

Notes for JAMES SPURGIN:
By Thomas Steven Neel, 210 E. Main, New London, OH 44851:

James Spurgin (ancestors possibly from Halstead, Essex) of St. Mary Matfallon alias Whitechaple, Middlesex, Eng., laborer, stole clothing items from Mary Fletcher 6 February 1718; held 25 Feb. 1718 Newgate Prison; transported May 1719 on "Margaret" to Oxford, MD. Sold as indentured servant Sept 1719 to Richard Snowden, Baltimore Co. landowner. 1733 settler of Monocacy. John Moore to James Spriggens 23 June 1741 Prince Georg's Co., 50 acres on Potomac River near Teaggs Ferry called "Spriggens Delight" part of larger tract called Antietam Bottom, half to Nathaniel Foster 28 Agust 1754 Frederick Co. (E,524-7). James Spurgen, warrant 226 acres Frederick Co. dated 1 Sept 1750 for "Trembling" on Cotoctin Creek, sold to Michael Baeghler 29 Nov 1760 (F,1198-1200). Taxed Federick Co. 1753-1773. "Spurgent" settlement shown on 1755 Fry & Jefferson map across Potomac in Frederick Co. VA. James Spurgen to Ulrick _____, 50 acres Frederick Co. MD tract "Stony Hill" 16 Nov 1757 (F,342-4). Patent 29 Sept 1763 "Spurgeon's Choice" on Town Creek, Frederick Co., 300 acres; 50 acres to William 9 Nov 1769 (M, 624-5); 50 acres to James Jr. 9 Nov 1769 (M. 636-7) both Frederick Co. deeds; 50 acres to James Collins 22 Aug 1786 (C,280) now Colerain Twp. Bedford Co. tax lists 1772, 81, 83-4 (50 acres, no livestock, cabin, 3 persons, "old"). Will book 22, p. 122, James Spurgin Sr. made 25 Dec 1784 "being Stricken in years", made his mark, executors Samuel & Ezekiel Spurgin, "friend" George Elder, proven 1 July 1790, recorded 1956. Wife Susannah named in deeds; "Ann" interlined 1784 will. Children named in will: John, James Jr., William, Samuel, Ezekiel, Ann, Mary, Elizabeth, Rebecca, Lydia.

Children of JAMES SPURGIN and SUSANNAH are:
i. JOHN4 SPURGIN.
ii. JAMES JR. SPURGIN.
iii. WILLIAM SPURGIN.
iv. SAMUEL SPURGIN.
v. EZEKIEL SPURGIN.
vi. ANN SPURGIN.
vii. MARY SPURGIN.
viii. ELIZABETH SPURGIN.
ix. REBECCA SPURGIN.
x. LYDIA SPURGIN.


Generation No. 4

5. COLONEL, WILLIAM4 SPURGIN, ESQUIRE (WILLIAM3, JOHN2, THE FAMILY OF1 SPURGEON) was born June 06, 1734 in Fredericks County, Maryland, and died August 13, 1806 in Charlottesville, Ontario Province, Canada. He married (1) MARY JANE WELBORN Abt. 1752 in Maryland or Virginia, daughter of JOHN WELBORN and ANN CRABTREE. She was born June 20, 1736 in Chatham County, Maryland, and died August 03, 1803 in Rowan County, North Carolina. He married (2) ANN REDDICK BEDSAUL Abt. 1787 in Virginia/Pennsylvania. She was born in Virginia/Pennsylvania.

Notes for COLONEL, WILLIAM SPURGIN, ESQUIRE:
From "Pathfinders Past and Present, a History of Davidson County, North Carolina" p. 15:

"Abbots Creek Settlement

From gravestones and other records, it appears that the first settlers of the Abbots Creek community were English, Welsh, Irish and German. The earliest deeds were dated around 1758 but it is known that several families were living in this community some years before that date.
One of the first settlers was William Spurgeon in possession of whose family today are some interesting documents relating to his life. Of a noted Spurgeon family in England, he had come from the Maryland side of the Potomac early in the 1750's to fertile land on the headwaters of Abbots Creek. There he purchased a large acreage, persuaded his brother John and Mother to come and buy a plantation near his, and became an influential figure in the county. He was one of the first Justices of Rowan County. His family, too, as other chapters will show, played important roles in later years. In Volume I of the Moravian Records it is noted that [the early part of the year 1767 was marked by a good deal of missionary work on the part of Richard Uttley, English minister of Wachovia.] Frequently on Saturday a messenger would arrive from one of the adjacent settlements and would take Br. Uttly back to preach for them on the following Sunday. Among the places mentioned more or less frequently was Justice William Sporgin's (sic) house on Abbots Creek..."{1}
During the turmoil of the French and Indian War, William sold his father's property at Packhorse Ford on the headwaters of the Potomac River and on the west side of the Shenandoah River. William, his wife Mary Jane, mother Mary, and brothers, John and Samuel moved near Abbott's Creek, North Carolina.
William bought 310 acres from John Fullerlane on October 2, 1759. From July 6, 1771 on through August of 1772, William buys and sells properties and gives property to the Welborn family, suggesting relationship of the Welborn's to William's family.{2} Some researchers of the Welborn family claim Mary Jane's maiden name to be Welborn, and because of the above described buying and selling, many of the Spurgeon researchers believe Mary Jane Sellers maiden name to be Welborn. Son Joseph Spurgin stated that his mother's name before marrying William was Mary Jane Sellers, so she must have been married previously to a Mr. Sellers.
From the earliest surviving Rowan County court records, William appears as Justice of the Peace of that county from1764 to 1775.{3} Family sources say, the "first court ever held in Rowan County was under an oak tree, and William Spurgin was a Justice of the Peace under King George III, and helped hold that court".{4} No Doubt, William received a good education (probably a credit to his parents) before arriving in North Carolina.
On January 10, 1776, William and other Justices were directed by Governor Josiah Martin "to erect the King's standards to raise, levy, muster , and array in arms all his Majesty's loyal and Faithful subjects within your respective counties..." {5} America's revolt against England had begun. William did as he was commissioned. He fought with Boyd's Provincials of North Carolina, and in North Carolina, the fighting was described as, "bands of Whigs and Tories raiding each others areas, plundering, burning and killing. Whatever their origin, whoever their leaders, civil war was being fought in the Carolinas. Bloody combats and bitter violent brutal fighting flared from both sides with quarter unknown."{6}
In late 1778, the British sailed onto the South Carolina and Georga coast. There were British, Hessians and Tory units. The Tory units were under Lt. Col. Archibald Cambell. They landed at Tybee Island at the mouth of the Savannah River. As this occurred, British General Augustive Prevost moved up the coast from British Florida with his command. American General Robert Howe tried to stop the union of the two units to no avail. By January of 1779, the British had captured Sunbury, Georgia and all of the Savannah River up the Augusta.{7}

From Wikipedia Encyclopedia on the internet:
"The British began their "southern strategy" by sending expeditions from New York City and Saint Augustine, East Florida to capture Savannah, Georgia late in 1778. The New York expedition, under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Archibald Campbell, arrived first, and successfully captured the town on December 29, 1778.
[edit] British recruitment
When Brigadier General Augustine Prevost arrived from Saint Augustine in mid-January, he assumed command of the garrison there, and sent Campbell on an expedition to take control of Augusta and raise Loyalist militia companies.
Leaving Savannah on January 24, Campbell and more than 1,000 men arrived near Augusta a week later, with only minimal harassment from Georgia Patriot militia on the way. Augusta had been defended by South Carolina General Andrew Williamson leading about 1,000 militia from Georgia and South Carolina, but he withdrew most of his men when Campbell approached. This rear guard skirmished with Campbell's men before withdrawing across the Savannah River into South Carolina.[2]
Campbell then began recruiting Loyalists. About 1,100 men signed up, but relatively few actually formed militia companies. Campbell then began requiring oaths of loyalty, on pain of forfeiture of property; many took this oath insincerely, quickly letting Williamson know their true feelings. An expedition by James Boyd went all the way into North Carolina, where he met with success, and recruited several hundred men. As he traveled south back toward Augusta, more Loyalists joined his company, until it numbered over 600 men in central South Carolina. As this column moved on, the men plundered and pillaged along the way, predictably drawing angered Patriot supporters to take up arms.
South Carolina militia Colonel Andrew Pickens raised 350 men and headed toward Augusta to join Williamson. When he learned of Boyd's passage through Ninety Six, he moved to intercept before Boyd could reach Savannah. Boyd reached Cherokee Ford, where eight Patriots with small swivel guns in an entrenched position repulsed Boyd's approach. Boyd moved north about 5 miles (8.0 km) and crossed the river there. Pickens crossed into Georgia after Boyd, and began following him toward Augusta. On February 14, he caught up with Boyd when he was encamped near Kettle Creek.
[edit] Battle
Boyd was apparently unaware that he was being followed so closely, and his camp, while guards were posted, was not particularly alert. Pickens advanced, leading the center, while his left flank was under the command of Elijah Clarke and the right was under John Dooly. Gunfire between Patriot scouts and the camp guards alerted Boyd to the situation, who managed to form a defensive position atop a hill, and surprise Pickens. Flanking maneuvers by Clarke and Dooly were slowed by the swampy conditions, so they did not immediately arrive on the battlefield."
Things at first went badly for Pickens, but then a lucky musket shot hit Boyd, mortally wounding him, and the Patriot flanks began to emerge from the swamps. The Loyalists, led by Boyd's second in command, William Spurgen, fell back, but the disorganized retreat rapidly became a rout. {7a}

From "Biographical Sketches of Loyalists of the American Revolution", by Lorenzo Sabine (Boston: Little, Brown& Company, 1864), "Boyd", page246, "Spurgeon", page 325:
"Boyd, -----, Of Carolina. Colonel, and in command of a corps of Tories, who were robbers rather than soldiers. What they could not consume or carry off, they burned. Boyd himself was bold, enterprising, and famed for his dishonesty. He had a conference with Sir Henry Clinton at New York, and planned an insurrection in the back part of South Carolina, to be executed as soon as the Royal Army should obtain possession of Savannah. In 1779, at the head of eight hundred men, he passed through the district of Ninety-Six on his way to Georga, and destroyed life and property by sword and fire, along his whole route. In a skirmish with a party of Whigs, under Anderson, of Picken's corps, he acknowledged a loss of one eight of his command in killed, wounded and missing. He endeavored to avoid Pickens himself, but, overtaken by that officer, when un apprehensive of danger, was surprised and defeated. He received three wounds, which proved mortal..." "Neighbor had fought against neighbor; and in the exasperation of the moment, the Whigs doomed seventy of their prisoners to death; but they executed only five. About three hundred escaped, and formed the intended junction with the British troops in Georgia."
"Spurgeon, William. Of North Carolina. Major in Boyd's corps. Authorized by Governor Martin, January, 1776, to erect the King's standards, to enlist and array in arms the loyal subjects of Rowan County, and [to oppose all rebels and traitors.] In 1779, in the battle of Kettle Creek, when Boyd was mortally wounded, and Moore, the Lieutenant-Colonel, exhibited a want of military skill, Spurgeon conducted with spirit, and maintained his ground until overpowered. Estate confiscated."
Major William Spurgeon escaped, , with the about 300 men of what was left of Boyd's Provincials and formed the junction with Lt. Colonel Campell and the British troops.

From www.georgiasocietysar.org/.../pdf/brochure_kettlecreek.pdf:

Clarke and Dooly became bogged down in swampy land on both flanks and provided limited support for Pickens’ attack. Boyd directed Maj. William Spurgen to move most of the Loyalists across the swollen creek, and then Boyd personally led about 100 men up the hill to hold off Pickens. When three shots tore into Boyd, he fell mortally wounded; his troops panicked and fled toward the creek. Spurgen crossed the creek and regrouped the Loyalists where fighting became very intense for over an hour. Clarke, freed from the swamp, was able to enter the fight with Spurgen during which Clarke’s horse was shot; but quickly mounted another. The Loyalists were routed with a loss of 70 killed or wounded, and 150 captured. Boyd died on the battlefield a few hours later. The Patriots reported 9 killed and 23 wounded or missing. Several Loyalist prisoners were later convicted of treason and five hanged, but the rest were pardoned. Spurgen was able to escape with about 270 men and rejoin Lt. Col. Campbell, the remainder probably returned to their homes.

The following is a rebel account of an incident concerning the participation of Major William Spurgin and, a false claim that Major Spurgin was killed. This letter written by General Williamson under the heading of Charlestown, April 7, 1779:
"David Tait Esq; one of Mr. John Stuart's indefatigable deputies in the Creek nations (and now called General, by the enemy) Cherokees and several as savage white men, as far as Fulson's fort on Ogeachie, to join enemy in Georgia... General Williamson having ordered a detachment of horse under the command of Lieut. Col. Ely Kershaw, acting in conjunction with Col. _____ of Georgia, (in all about 200 men) to cross the Savannah River at Beach Island, in order to facilitate the operations of Colonels Hammond and Pickens in Upper parts of that state; he crossed the river accordingly, but not without being discovered by some persons who gave notice thereof to the enemy; Lieut. Col. Prevost ordered Major Spurgin of the Carolina Loyalists, with Major Sharp of the Georgia militia, to attack our detachment. On the 31st of March, at 8 o'clock in the evening, the enemy, amounting to about 200 attacked our people and to it they went. The engagement lasted two hours, when the enemy gave way, leaving Spurgon and several others dead on the field. Our party pursued them two miles, and till they were within seven of the enemy's main body, and after destroying a stockade fort which the enemy had occupied, returned with Sharp, mortally wounded and several other prisoners. Sharp is since dead."{8}
On June 08, 1780, Lord Cornwallis was put in charge of the British Southern Campaign. He turned his troops north to battle at Camden {tradition says William received the commission of Colonel, and John that of Captain} and Wateree and West to Area "96". In Wateree, Cornwallis established a chain of forts. Then by August 15, 1780, Cornwallis' troops defeated the Commands of Gates and Barron de Kalb. Gates' army was reduced from 3,000 men to 700. What was left of these two units was then put under the charge of General Greene who was then joined by Light-horse Harry Lee (the father of Robert E. Lee) and others. The battle of Kings Mountain was fought. Cornwallis engaged Greene at Cowpens in January 1781. Then, Cornwallis pursued Greene to the Dan River {9}, passing by the home of Colonel William Spurgin, Esquire.
"When General Green came to Abbott's Creek Meeting House, he halted two or three days to rest his troops. He made his headquarters at the home of Colonel Spurgin, who was in good circumstances, and lived about a mile from the church.
He was a Tory Colonel, one commissioned by Gov. Martin about the beginning of 1776 and had taken quite an active part in favor of the royal cause. Of course, he was not at home to receive his guest, but his wife Mary Spurgin, was as true a Whig as her husband was a Tory and showed General Green all the kindness, and gave him all the encouragement in her power.
Immediately, he selected his ground for battle should it be needed. He told Mrs. Spurgin, should Cornwallis overtake him and there be a battle, she must take all children in the cellar and remain until fighting was over.
Not having heard a word of Cornwallis' movements since he left the trading ford, he felt very anxious to know if he might cross there. Having no other means of information, and knowing Mrs. Spurgin's patriotic spirit, he asked her if she knew of any one in whom he could confide as he wished to send such a one back to the river to secure information in regard to Cornwallis' movements. She told him her son William was reliable, but like a cautious man he repeated his question, whereupon Mrs. Spurgin insisted her son William could be trusted if he would consent to go and she thought he would.
William promptly consented, was put on his horse and told to go back to the trading ford and if he saw nothing of the British to go up the river a few miles. William rode a fine horse with proper vigilance and had not much to dread. On going to the river he Could not see or hear anything so went up river as ordered.
He reported to General Green, but the General told him he must set out again, that he must have information and at once, and if he saw nothing to continue up to Shallow Ford. So young Spurgin set out again and reaching Shallow Ford about thirty miles from home he found the (Cornwallis) man crossing. He turned his horse and rode as fast as he could and reported again to General Green.
Instantly, General Green ordered his horse and was off to Martinville. General Green had only 2000 men of whom five or six hundred were militia. Cornwallis had between twenty-five hundred or three thousand veteran troops, well fed, clothed and equipped.
In Martinville, a council of war was held, and it was determined not to risk a battle with their inferiority of numbers, but get over the Dan River where they expected re-enforcement and would be safe at present.
But we ought to observe how much service the wife and son of a Tory Colonel rendered at this junction of affairs."{10}
One might wonder if William knew of this "junction of affairs". Mary not only supported the enemy of her husband, but put her son in danger of being hung for a spy by the government that was rightly in charge of the country. William Jr. was surely strongly influenced by his mother in her view of the war.
Cornwallis now headed east for Wilmington, then to Yorktown. The Southern Campaign was over, so here, I believe Colonel Spurgin parted company with Cornwallis. Tradition says that he was hiding with a company of Tories. Could he have been recruiting Tories to regain control of the colonies? Or leading organized raids against them? Or both? I believe that this is the case! Captain John Spurgin became a Major and was killed in South Carolina (see Major John Spurgin's notes). In the South well into 1782, there would be scuffles, raids, and savage encounters largely between Whigs and Tories - extensions of conflicts that had existed before the war and would continue after it. The same was true in the far reaches of the bloody Mohawk Valley, while beyond the Allegheny mountains the fighting would go on for thirteen more years, during which more Americans were killed than in all the major Revolutionary battles combined."{11}
Sometime before the end of the war, William met and married Ann Bedsaul while in the New River area of Virginia. Afterward, he moved to Canada, obtained land grants from the king and became Justice of the Peace at his new home. His first petition states that William had left his property and joined Lord Cornwallis in the last war. He asked for 200 acres of land near Long Point. His order was granted.{12} A second petition was made stating his many services rendered to His Majesty's troops during the American War. He was ordered 1,200 acres.{13} One Thousand acres are recorded in his will. William's will, recorded in the London District, Upper Canada, Surrogate Court, Register "A", 1800 - 1817, PAGES 67 - 71, Will #12:
"In the name of God Amen I William Spurgin of the District of London and County of Norfolk in the Province of Upper Canada and township of Charlottesville Being weak in body but of perfect mind and memory thanks Be given unto god Caulling unto mind the mortality of my Body and knowing that it is appointed for all men once to Die Doo make and ordain this my Last will and Testament that is to Say Principally and first of all I Gave and Recomment my Soul into the hands of almighty God that gave it and my Body I Recommend to the Earth to Be Buryed in a Decent Christian like manner at the Descression of my Executors, Nothing Doubting But at the General Resurrection I shall Receive the Same again by the mighty Power of God and as touching Such worldly Estate wherewith it hath pleased god to Bless me with in this Life I Gave Devise and Dispence with the Same in the following manner and form --- that is to Say first it is my Desire that all my Just depts Should Be Lawfully paid and Discharged. Item - I will and Bequeath unto my oldest Son John Spurgin the Sum of five Shillings Starling money of Great Britan. Item - I will and Bequeath unto my Daughter Margret the Sum of five Shillings Starling money of great Britan. Item - I will and Bequeath unto my Daughter Mary the Sum of five Shilling Starling money of great Britan. Item - I will and Bequeath unto my Son William Spurgin the Sum of five Shillings Starling money of great Britan. Item - I will and Bequeath unto my Daughter Agness the Sum of five Shillings Starling money of Great Britan. Item - I will and Bequeath unto my Daughter Jennete the Sum of five Shillings Starling money of Great Britan. Item - I will and Bequeath unto my Son Joseph Spurgin the Sum of five Shillings Starling money of Great Britan. Item - I will and Bequeath my Daughter Elisabeth the Sum of five Shillings Starling money of Great Britan. Item - I will and Bequeath my Son Isaiah Spurgin the Sum of five Shillings Starling money of Great Britan. Item - I will and Bequeath my Son Josiah Spurgin the Sum of five Shillings Starling money of Great Britan. Item - I will and Bequeath my Son Jessee Spurgin the Sum of five Shillings Starling money of Great Britan. Also - I will and Bequeath all and Singular my property Rail and Personal Lying and Being the State or province of North Carolina in Roan County Recovered or to be Recovered Thereafter to Be Divided as the Laws of that Province Directs amongst the above named famaly. As to Toucing and Concerning my Estate in the Province of Upper Canada --- I will and Bequeath unto my son Aron Sprugin one Lot of Land Containing two Hundred akers more lying and Being in the township of Charlotteville Being Lot no. 11 in Concession togethr with a Sorel Horse with a Blase face Name of fldler and a Bay Horse Named Smoker a year old Horse Colt Named Bird. I will and Bequeath to my Son Samuel Spurgin one Lot of Land Containing two Hundred akers more or Less Being Lot No. 1 in the Eleventh Concession of the township of wallpool one Sorel mare Cauled Snip and a Bay more Colt Sucking of (H). I will and Bequeath to my Daughter Anne Spurgin one Lot of Land of two Hundred akers more or Less Being Lot No. 1 in the tenth Concession of the township of wallpool and one Large Brown Mare Cauled ple (sls). I will and Bequeath to my youngest Daughter Sarah Spurgin one Lot of Land No. two in the tench Concession of the township of Wallpoll Containing two Hundred akers more or Less and one Bay mare Cauled Boney and a Colt Sucking Her. I will and Bequeath unto my Beloved wife Ann Spurgin one Horse Her Bed and Bed Cloathes one Chest one Cloath Lume to Be Her own property ---- furthermore it is my will and Desire that one yoke of working Cattle togethr with all the Remainding part of my Cattle Sheep and Swine one wagon toGether with all my House hold goods and farming Utencils to Be and Remain on my Homestead place together with all my moveble property that I Shall Die Legally possessed of after Discharging the several Legacies Herein mentioned and to be mentioned and the payment of all my Just Debts and funeral Charges for the for the Use and Bringing up of my famaly of Children to be Left in the Care of my Said Beloved wife ann Spurgin as Long as She my said Loving wife Shall Continue to Be my widow. And on the Day of Her marring to another then and in that Case I Devise that my Executors Shall take an Enventory of all and Singular the goods and Chattes that or may Be found Remainding and Continue in the Hands of Her my said Loveing wife at the Descretion of my Said Executors and after the marriage or Death of Her my Loving wife the place whereon I now live in p(urs)ession of Being Lot No. Eleven Begin the front concession of the township of Charlotteville in the county of Norfolk and District of London and the Province of Upper Canada to Be Equally Divided Between my two sons and my two Daughters Aaron Spurgin Samuel Spurgin Anne Spurgin and Sarah Spurgin. Hereby revoking all former wills by me made and I Do hereby nominate constitute and appoint Silas Secord John Curn farmeres together with my Son Aaron Spurgin to Be Executors of this my Last will and testament. In witness whereof I Have Hereunto Set my Hand and Seal the Second Day of August in the year of Our Lord one thousand Eight Hundred and Six and in the forty Sixth year of His Majestys Reign.

Signed William Spurgin

Family tradition from Col. William Spurgin's son Joseph:

1. William was Justice of the Peace in the first court held in Rowan County, North Carolina.
2. William went to meet and saw Lord Cornwallis near Charleston, South Carolina and afterward went with his brother John Spurgin to Camden, South Carolina, where William obtained a commission of Colonel and John that of Captain.
3. Colonel William Spurgin was offered two important offices by the Whig party if he would join them and was finally offered the office of Governor, and his wife and family desired him to join the Liberty party, but he insisted that he could not conscientiously, after having sworn allegiance to the King.
4. William Spurgin with a company, went with Daniel Boone and his company to Kentucky and formed two settlements. William procured the land himself by ax entry where Lexington is now located, and made his settlement there, and Boone about 60 miles off. The Indians became so troublesome that John Spurgin went and sold the land where Lexington stands for a remarkable fine dark chestnut sorrel horse and brought him to his father, who rode him all the remainder of the time that he spent in this country.
{Boone formed a settlement in 1777, so this is probably the time that William Spurgin made his claim of land where Lexington, Ky would develop if this story proves true. Mary Jane's cousin's son, Issac Crabtree was with Boone's son when he was captured and tortured to death by the Indians in 1775. All this cause me to wonder what was the ties or relationship between Boone and the Colonel. Boone was accused of being sided with the Tories. Could his possible relationship with the Colonel given fuel to this belief? William's son Joseph's descendants married into the Boone line. Grandson of the Colonel, William Spurgin, was next door neighbor to Boone's friend, Michajah Callaway in Washington County, Indiana. Grandson Cadwalder Jones, was a hunting companion of Callaway. Were Boone and the Colonel friends, business partners or acquaintances?}
5. When Colonel Spurgin was remaining in the woods concealed, son Joseph took provisions to his father and a company of Tories and to tell him if he could not join the Liberty Party to have nothing to do with the Tory cause. Joseph was chased but not caught by the Whigs on this errand.
6. After peace, William hid in the woods for several years before going to the New River area of Virginia. He returned home in 1792, then went to Canada.{14}
Although compensation of Tory Lands were agreed to by the American government to England at the close of the war, our family did not receive any at all.{15} Mary Jane tried to get the confiscated land back, but was refused. Mary Jane died in Rowan County on August 3, 1803 and was buried in the Abbot's Creek Primitive Baptist Cemetery. William died at Charlottesville, Ontario, Canada on August 13, 1806.

For more information on the children of Colonel William Spurgin Esquire, see the Spurgeon Quarterly, Issue 20, "Four Generations of the William Spurgeon Family.

{1. "Abbots Creek Settlement", Pathfinders Past and Present, A History of Davidson County, N.C. p.15
{2. "The Spurgeon Quarterly", Issue 20, pages 491-193.
{3. "The Spurgeon Quarterly", Issue 20, pages 491-493.
{4. "The Spurgeon Quarterly", Issue 18, page 435.
{5. "The Spurgeon Quarterly", Issue 15, page 372.
{6. "History of the American Revolution", The American Heritage, by Bruce Lancaster, page 311.
{7. "History of the American Revolution", The American Heritage, by Bruce Lancaster, page 322.
{7a "Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia" The Battle of Kettle Creek.
{8. "The Virginia Gazette", May1, 1779, Number 12, Williamsburg: printed by Dixon & Nicolson.
{9. "History of the American Revolution",The American Heritage, by Bruce Lancaster, pages324-330.
{10. "The Old North State of 1776", Caruthers Addition of, second series, pages 39-45.
{11. "History of the American Revolution", The American Heritage, by Bruce Lancaster, page 312.
{12. Ontario, Canada, Dept. of Public Records & Archives, Toronto, Canada, Land Book A 7/15/1794.
{13. Ontario, Canada, Dept. of Public Records & Archives, Toronto, Canada, Land Book B 1/24/1794.
{14. "The Spurgeon Quarterly", Issue 18, page 435.
{15. "America Past and Present", by Divine, Breen, Fredrickson and Williams, page 148.


Notes for MARY JANE WELBORN:
Mary Jane Welborn Spurgeon is a descendant of John Crabtree.

More About MARY JANE WELBORN:
Burial: Abbots Creek Primitive Baptist Cemetery

More About WILLIAM SPURGIN and MARY WELBORN:
Marriage: Abt. 1752, Maryland or Virginia

Notes for ANN REDDICK BEDSAUL:
Some of the children of Ann and Col. Wm migrated to Bartholamew Co., Indiana.

More About WILLIAM SPURGIN and ANN BEDSAUL:
Marriage: Abt. 1787, Virginia/Pennsylvania

Children of WILLIAM SPURGIN and MARY WELBORN are:
8. i. WILLIAM5 SPURGIN, b. Abt. 1763, Rowan County, North Carolina; d. Abt. 1805, Rowan County, North Carolina.
9. ii. JOHN SPURGIN, b. February 07, 1753; d. March 20, 1803, Near Blountsville, Sullivan County, Tennessee.
iii. MARGARET SPURGIN, b. Abt. 1755; m. MR. JONES.
iv. REBECCA SPURGIN, b. May 25, 1757, Rowan County, North Carolina; d. 1787; m. MICHAEL HINKLE; b. September 07, 1749; d. 1789.
v. MARY SPURGIN, b. Abt. 1759.
vi. AGNES SPURGIN, b. February 07, 1763; d. 1847; m. PETER BOTTENHEIMER, January 19, 1793, Rowan County, North Carolina.

More About PETER BOTTENHEIMER and AGNES SPURGIN:
Marriage: January 19, 1793, Rowan County, North Carolina

10. vii. JENNETTE (JANE) SPURGIN, b. Abt. 1768, Rowan County, North Carolina; d. 1831.
11. viii. JOSEPH SPURGIN, b. April 20, 1770, Rowan County, North Carolina; d. May 26, 1859, Davidson County, North Carolina.
ix. ELIZABETH SPURGIN, b. June 02, 1772, Rowan County, North Carolina; d. August 12, 1803, Rowan County, North Carolina; m. JACOB BOTTENHEIMER, June 01, 1792, Rowan County, North Carolina.

More About JACOB BOTTENHEIMER and ELIZABETH SPURGIN:
Marriage: June 01, 1792, Rowan County, North Carolina

12. x. ISAIAH SPURGIN, b. Abt. 1774, Rowan County, North Carolina; d. 1816, Washington County, Indiana.
13. xi. JOSIAH SPURGIN, b. November 13, 1777, Rowan County, North Carolina; d. January 15, 1857, Salem, Washington County, Indiana.
14. xii. DR./JUDGE JESSE SPURGIN, b. June 30, 1780, Rowan County, North Carolina.

Children of WILLIAM SPURGIN and ANN BEDSAUL are:
15. xiii. AARON5 SPURGIN, b. 1787, North Carolina; d. April 11, 1855, Columbus Twp., Bartholomew Co., Indiana.
16. xiv. SAMUEL SPURGIN, b. February 08, 1794, Canada; d. July 1849, Bartholomew Co. Indiana.
xv. ANNE (NANCY) SPURGIN, b. 1796.
xvi. SARAH SPURGIN, b. 1789.

6. MAJOR JOHN4 SPURGIN (WILLIAM3, JOHN2, THE FAMILY OF1 SPURGEON) died 1784 in At Charleston Road and Old 96th Road, South Carolina. He married ELIZABETH PENNINGTON.

Notes for MAJOR JOHN SPURGIN:
From "The Spurgeon Quarterly", Issue 4, pages 90-91:

"John Spurgin, brother of William Spurgin, Esquire, was sued by the King in 12 July 1765 court (not guilty).120 John Spurgin collected a bounty form one wolf on 13 October 1764.121
In the April 1765 court, John Spurgin proved the sale of lots #2 and #12 in the west square of Salisbury for 15 pounds. The seller was Benjamin Robinson and wife Alice and the purchaser was German Baxter, silversmith.122
John Spurgin was sued in 18 April 1767 court by John Mitchel and had to pay 11.3.10 pounds.123 John Spurgin and George Magoune were sued by John Harris on 16 February 1771 court.124
John Spurgin was appointed overseer of the road instead of James Billingsley in the 6 May 1775 court.125
The August 1786 court recorded the transfer of land from William Davis to John Davis for 50 pounds. This is 250 acres adjoining John Monrow (formerly John Spurgin's), William and Henry Davis, being part of a 500 acre state grant which was sold the prior year in August 1785.126
John Spurgin bought 200 acres in Berkley County, South Carolina on 7 April 1762. He and his wife sold in 1771.109 Evidently he did not spend all these nine years in South Carolina as he is documented by Rowan County Court records to be present five times during this 1762-1771 period.

From the "Spurgeon Quarterly", Issue 12, page 280:

"John Spurgin Sr., Major Loyalist of South Carolina during the Revolutionary War, believed to be a son of William and Mary Spurgin, died ca. 1784..."
Major John Spurgin is believed to have died in the following skirmish in 1784.

From "The Annals of Newberry", by O'Neal & Chapman, page 214, See "The Spurgeon Quarterly", Issue 12, page 281.

"On the Enoree River, near the mouth of Duncan Creek, captured eleven or twelve of the party who attempted to kill Mr. Boyce - - among them McComb. These were conveyed to the place where the Charleston Road crosses the old 96th Road (now Whitmire's). And there a "short shift", as strong rope and a stooped hickory applied - - speedy justice to them all - - a common grave, at the root of the tree, is their resting place for all time. Major John Spurgen believed to be one of the twelve - - he was a Tory."

John Spurgin carried on the cause of the king to his death. He probably fought beside his brother, Colonel William Spurgin throughout the British southern campaign (see the notes of Colonel William Spurgin). He probably became a Major after the departure of Cornwallis and fought as many loyalists did in efforts to regain the colonies for the King.

Children of JOHN SPURGIN and ELIZABETH PENNINGTON are:
i. MARGARET5 SPURGIN.
ii. JOHN SPURGIN.
iii. WILLIAM PENNINGTON SPURGIN.

7. SAMUEL4 SPURGIN (WILLIAM3, JOHN2, THE FAMILY OF1 SPURGEON) was born Abt. 1738 in Orange County, Virginia, and died January 1789 in Rowan County, North Carolina. He married SARAH LEDFORD. She died 1829 in Washington County, Indiana.

Notes for SAMUEL SPURGIN:
From "The Spurgeon Quarterly", Issue 20, p. 493:

SAMUEL SPURGEON, born ca. 1738 or earlier, perhaps in what was then Orange Co. VA; d. ca. Jan. 1789 Rowan Co. NC.; wife Sarah or "Sally" Ledford, daughter of William and Elizabeth Ledford, b.ca. 1747, d. 13 February 1829, age 82 years, 5 months; buried Hebron Cemetery, Franklin Twp., Washington Co. IN. Samuel Spurgin was first mentioned on a list discovered in 1944 in the Salisbury courthouse wall which is "purported" to be a 1759 Rowan CO. NC tax list. He was named in a lawsuit with Joseph Hall, 11 July 1766 Rowan County. Samuel Spurgin was appointed overseer of roads, and served from 15 January 1767 through 16 February 1771. He was taxed one poll on 1768 Rowan Co. tax list. In 1772, he received 120 acres on the South Fork of Abbots Creek from Mary Spurgin (8,231-2). That same winter, he began a two years stint as constable in Capt. Harmon's District. He again served to oversee the Roads in 1774. Samuel's name also appeared on the 1778 list of non-jurors who had refused to take the oath of allegiance to the state, and who were to depart the state within 60 days. His land was assessed at 203 pounds. However his land was not confiscated. He and his mother Mary sold the South Fork Track to Jacob Fox in 1784 (10,8); and he was taxed for an additional 225 acres on Brushy Fork, Rowan County, in 1785. Sarah Spurgin was granted administration of her husband's estate 4 February 1789 with Thomas Ledford as security. At least on Ledford researcher believes that the widow Sarah Spurgin married second 10 December 1795 in Rowan County to Fredrick Spoolman. This would fit the their family outline, with Thomas Ledford being a brother of Sarah Spoolman. More research must be done to determine where Sarah lived in census records. Her gravestone in Washington County, Indiana in 1829 calls her "Spurgin".

From "The Spurgeon Quarterly" page 430 by Ralph Spurgeon and his wife Vivian of Brownstown:

Like his brother William, "Samuel and his wife, Sarah Ledford, also settled on land along Abbott's Creek. After 1802, several of the Spurgeon families joined a large group of pioneers headed toward the free lands of the Northwest Territory. Most settled in Washington County, Indiana. Sarah Spurgin, born circa 1746, died in 1829 and was buried in the Old Hebron Cemetery.
Joseph and his wife, Phebe, were both born in North Carolina. They were among those who emigrated northward to Indiana. To them were born six children, including John, Samuel, Joseph, Phebe, Rachel and Mary Emaline. The entire family crossed the muddy Muscatatack River by 1840. Of these children John married Susannah Lockenhaur in 1828 in Washington County, Samuel married Elizabeth Lacy and Joseph Jr. was married to Elizabeth Ann White, both in Jackson County. Rachel was married to Andrew White and later to James Stogdill. Mary Emaline married John Spriggs/Sprague.
Joseph died circa 1852 and is believed to have been buried in Salt Creek Township near Freetown, Indiana. Later Phebe sold the land and removed herself along with daughters Rachel White Stogdill and Phebe Jr. to Mark, Iowa. There her tombstone stands in the Hopkins Cemetery located in Davis County, Iowa. The inscription mutely confirms she was born July 1, 1791, and died February 7, 1882.
John and Hannah Spurgeon became parents of Levi, Eleazar, Napolean "Hun", Elizabeth, John W., Felix, and Solomon D. John W. and Solomon D. Spurgeon both served the Union cause during the Civil War. Solomon died in September 1865 at the hospital in Mobile, Alabama.
Levi Spurgeon, the eldest son of John and Hannah Spurgeon, was married to Susannah Potter in October 1849. After the birth of four children, including Sarah Jane, Hannah L., Cyrus (Bud), and Elizabeth Catherine, mother Susannah was crushed to death by a falling tree limb. All three daughters were eventually married; Sarah to Robert Martin, Hannah to Isaac S. Smith, Elizabeth to William Britt, but only Elizabeth moved from the area and she lived and died in Labette County, Kansas. Cyrus died at age 23, from an injury in Labette County, Kansas.
Levi was married second to Lucy Ann Harper, daughter of Isaac and Marinda Ann Harper. To this union were born ten children. Eight lived to adulthood and each was married; Lycurgus to Roxenna E. Huber, Helen Bell to John Joslin, Florence to William Brock, Marinda to William F. Denny, Myrtle to Charles C. Tinch and Charles to Grace Bower. Mother Lucy had been a school teacher, well loved and industrious, and she died July 4, 1913, in Freetown. Levi, a tall and slender man, possessed a kind and trusty nature. He was a farmer, merchant and postmaster of the Freetown area. Before he died in 1917, he told of the early days in Jackson County when there were only two homes between Brownstown and Freetown, and Leesville was the nearest trading post.
Theodore, one of their sons, moved west and became part owner of a gold mine located near Denver, Colorado. "Dode" was killed in that mine. Later his widow married the mining partner.
Another son, John Wesley, moved west for ten years. He lived in Mexico for several years but later returned to Freetown where he was married to Laura Alice White. She was the daughter of Wesley and Nancy Ann Sutherland White of the Freetown area. "Wes" bought and cleared over 250 acres of land in the river bottoms west of Honeytown. Wes and Laura also owned land west of Freetown and built a two story house on the Hound Hollow Road in 1897. It is now occupied by their youngest son, Russell. John Wesley Spurgeon died in 1917 only a few months after his father. Laura lived on until 1951. Two of the children died while infants. Earl was born in 1895 and later married Nellie Ida Wheeler. Bee was married to Hazel Taylor, while Carrie was married to Maxwell Tinch. Babe was married to Myrtle Browning, while Myrtle was married to Bruce DeLong and Lloyd was married to Vinnie Forgey. Russell was later married to Lorene Buttorff.
Ralph L. Spurgeon, the son of Earl and Nell Wheeler Spurgeon, lived in the river bottom land area west of Honeytown in Hamilton Township. His family included a sister, Lorraine, and a brother John W. Spurgeon..." Continued with Ralph Spurgeon.


More About SARAH LEDFORD:
Burial: Old Hebron Cemetery, Franklin Twp., Washington County, In

Children of SAMUEL SPURGIN and SARAH LEDFORD are:
i. WILLIAM5 SPURGIN, b. Abt. 1763.
17. ii. SAMUEL SPURGIN, b. 1770; d. June 20, 1850, Washington County, Indiana.
iii. JOHN SPURGIN, b. 1775.
iv. SARAH SPURGIN.
18. v. ELI SPURGIN, b. February 06, 1781, Rowan County, North Carolina; d. November 16, 1857, Polk Township, Washington County, Indiana.
19. vi. JOSEPH SPURGIN, b. Abt. 1780, Rowan County, North Carolina; d. Abt. 1849, Jackson County, Indiana.
vii. SQUIRE SPURGIN, b. Abt. 1786.
20. viii. ZACHEUS SPURGIN, b. Abt. 1789, North Carolina; d. 1852, Washington County, Indiana.


Generation No. 5

8. WILLIAM5 SPURGIN (WILLIAM4, WILLIAM3, JOHN2, THE FAMILY OF1 SPURGEON) was born Abt. 1763 in Rowan County, North Carolina, and died Abt. 1805 in Rowan County, North Carolina. He married ELIZABETH.

Notes for WILLIAM SPURGIN:
William A. Spurgeon of Muncie, Indiana did a study on the three Spurgin sons of the Colonel who were recorded to have gone on the scouting mission for General Green. He rationalized that the most likely was William. His comments were: " The year was 1780-81. Reference A3 states son John was sent on the mission, but also states he was a "mere youth". John was born 1755, so would have been about 25 years old. Son William was born about 1763 and would have been about 17 years old. The next son Joseph, would have been about 11 years old, so I suggest William is the most likely one to have gone on the mission."
William's wife was Elizabeth according to a letter of a near relative. He was only about 42 years old when his children became orphaned. Rowan County, North Carolina court minutes for Thursday, May 9, 1805 state: "Ordered that William Clift, constable bring into next said court William, Joseph, Sarah and Keziah Spurgin to be dealt with according to law." Then on page 315, dated August 6, 1805 was the decision: "William Spurgin orphan of William Spurgin, aged 18 years bound to Isaiah Spurgin master to comply with the law to give him a freedom suit to have saddle and Bridle worth $90. Joseph Spurgin, orphan of William Spurgin, aged 16 years, bound to Josiah Spurgin master to comply with the law to give him a freedom suit of a horse saddle and bridle worth $90."
Jesse Spurgin, William's brother, decided to move from Rowan County, and in 1804, went to the Northwest Territory looking for a place suitable for his family. He found land in what is now called Washington County, Indiana. From the "Centennial History of Washington County, Indiana", by Stevens on page 74 is found: "The first white man to locate with his family in the central part of the county was Jesse Spurgeon. He lived alone with the Indians at Royse's Lick for some time in 1804, employing his time hunting and prospecting. When he returned to his old home in North Carolina he gave glowing accounts of this Mecca in the far west. In the spring of 1805, he brought his family out and built a small cabin on the branch about a mile east of the Lick..." Brother Josiah followed, about 1811, and settled on what is now called "Spurgeon Hill", and William's son Joseph possibly migrated with him. William's son William came about 1812 also, and he was said, by family tradition, to have migrated from North Carolina with only a horse and saddle, rifle, shovel and axe. Also, Archibald Johnson, father-in-law of Josiah and William's son William migrated early, around 1809-12. Nephew of Jesse and William, Cadwallader Jones, came early also. Cadwallader, also married one of Archibald's daughters. Brother Isaiah came a little later. Also many of William's Uncle Samuel's family migrated first to Washington County. Samuel's wife, Sarah Ledford Spurgin was buried in Washington County. Those that I know came through Washington County or settled of Samuel's family were his sons Samuel, Joseph, Zacheus and Eli and grandson Samuel. Mother Sarah no doubt came with one of her children.

From the "Centennial History of Washington County, Indiana", Locating the new Home, by Stevens page 120. "When the home seeker came to a section of country that was to his liking, or had gone as far into the interior as it was deemed safe, he went into camp and spent some days inspecting the lay of the land, in order that the most desirable location might be secured. A good spring was the first consideration, and next a rich soil, gently rolling and not too wet. Lands where the paw paw grew in greatest luxuriance were considered the most desirable in this part of the country. As soon as a place was found that suited all parties concerned, the family was located thereon and the work of carving out a new home was begun at once. The women looked after the arrangement and care of the temporary camp, while the men, with such force as they could command, went to work on the cabin. If there were any neighbors anywhere near, they were promptly on hand to lend a helping hand. Horses were belled and turned loose to forage on wild grass and pea vines, which grew in great abundance all over this country. The pea vine when cut and cured, made an excellent substitute for hay, and there was fairly good grazing for stock the winter through, when the snow was not too deep. In two or three weeks time, the cabin was ready for occupancy, and it was generally occupied before it had received the finishing touch. Winter would sometimes find the cabin unfinished, and families were known to have weathered it through with a roof finished on one side only. Very little time was required to keep up the supply of meat, while shelter for man and beast was being provided, and lands cleared up for the coming season's crop, for deer and wild turkey ranged close at hand and were not difficult to bring down with the rifle, being accustomed only to keeping clear of the range of the Indian's arrow, which was not more than half the distance the bullet from the rifle would carry."

Children of WILLIAM SPURGIN and ELIZABETH are:
21. i. WILLIAM6 SPURGIN, b. May 04, 1787, Rowan County, North Carolina; d. April 12, 1872, Washington County, Indiana.
22. ii. JOSEPH SPURGIN, b. January 10, 1790, Rowan County, North Carolina; d. March 22, 1851, South Boston, Washington County, Indiana.
iii. SARAH SPURGIN.
iv. KIZIAH SPURGIN.

9. JOHN5 SPURGIN (WILLIAM4, WILLIAM3, JOHN2, THE FAMILY OF1 SPURGEON) was born February 07, 1753, and died March 20, 1803 in Near Blountsville, Sullivan County, Tennessee. He married ELIZABETH CREADLEBAUGH in Probably Rowan County, North Carolina. She was born July 17, 1754, and died May 06, 1837 in Sullivan County, Tennessee.

Notes for JOHN SPURGIN:
From Issue 20 of "The Spurgeon Quarterly", pages495-6: John was one of three who allegedly made the scouting mission for General Green. He was a large plantation owner of over 1000 acres and was a slave owner. He was a Justice of the Peace in Tennessee and was a representative to the planned State of Franklin.



More About JOHN SPURGIN and ELIZABETH CREADLEBAUGH:
Marriage: Probably Rowan County, North Carolina

Children of JOHN SPURGIN and ELIZABETH CREADLEBAUGH are:
i. CATHERINE6 SPURGIN, b. October 07, 1774.
ii. ELIZABETH SPURGIN, b. July 23, 1777.
iii. JANE SPURGIN, b. December 19, 1779.
iv. WILLIAM SPURGIN, b. April 20, 1782.
v. AGNES SPURGIN, b. October 28, 1785.
vi. SARAH SPURGIN, b. November 15, 1788.
vii. JOHN SPURGIN, b. December 20, 1790.
viii. SAMUEL SPURGIN, b. February 17, 1793.
ix. JOSEPH SPURGIN, b. June 29, 1796.

10. JENNETTE (JANE)5 SPURGIN (WILLIAM4, WILLIAM3, JOHN2, THE FAMILY OF1 SPURGEON) was born Abt. 1768 in Rowan County, North Carolina, and died 1831. She married AQUILLA JONES.

Children of JENNETTE SPURGIN and AQUILLA JONES are:
23. i. CADWALADER6 JONES, b. December 30, 1792, Rowan County, North Carolina; d. March 05, 1876, Washington County, Indiana.
ii. WILLIAM JONES.
iii. JESSE JONES.
iv. BENJAMIN JONES.
v. AQUILLA JONES.

11. JOSEPH5 SPURGIN (WILLIAM4, WILLIAM3, JOHN2, THE FAMILY OF1 SPURGEON) was born April 20, 1770 in Rowan County, North Carolina, and died May 26, 1859 in Davidson County, North Carolina. He married (1) PHOEBE BRAZELTON January 10, 1793 in Rowan County, North Carolina. She was born September 04, 1772, and died August 06, 1827 in Davidson County, North Carolina. He married (2) CHRISTINA HOOVER MOCK Abt. 1825. She was born January 10, 1786, and died June 14, 1862 in Davidson County, North Carolina.

Notes for JOSEPH SPURGIN:
Joseph Spurgeon was one of the three of Colonel William Spurgin Esquire's sons said to have done the Scouting mission for General Greene. From "Spurgeon-Spurgin Searchings" Vol. 1 Fall 1983, #3 page 9:

" Many of the children of William and Mary Jane followed the migration west. However one of their sons, Joseph, lived his entire life in North Carolina. He and his wife, Phoebe Brazelton, were the parents of 9 children. During his early life Joseph managed to become a Justice of the Peace and served as a North Carolina State Senator for Rowan County. In 1822, he introduced the bill which erected Davidson County."

More About JOSEPH SPURGIN:
Burial: Abbot's Creek Baptist Cemetery

More About PHOEBE BRAZELTON:
Burial: Abbot's Creek Baptist Cemetery

More About JOSEPH SPURGIN and PHOEBE BRAZELTON:
Marriage: January 10, 1793, Rowan County, North Carolina

More About JOSEPH SPURGIN and CHRISTINA MOCK:
Marriage: Abt. 1825

Children of JOSEPH SPURGIN and PHOEBE BRAZELTON are:
i. SARAH6 SPURGIN, b. September 17, 1793.
ii. JOSIAH SPURGIN, b. October 27, 1795.
iii. JOHN SPURGIN, b. June 24, 1797.
iv. WILLIAM SPURGIN, b. July 18, 1799.
v. ISAIAH SPURGIN, b. January 14, 1802.
vi. JOSEPH SPURGIN, b. November 25, 1805.
vii. ELIZABETH SPURGIN, b. October 21, 1811.
viii. JANE EMILY SPURGIN, b. November 09, 1814.

Child of JOSEPH SPURGIN and CHRISTINA MOCK is:
ix. LAURETTA MATILDA6 SPURGIN, b. February 01, 1826.

12. ISAIAH5 SPURGIN (WILLIAM4, WILLIAM3, JOHN2, THE FAMILY OF1 SPURGEON) was born Abt. 1774 in Rowan County, North Carolina, and died 1816 in Washington County, Indiana. He married SUSANNA.

Notes for ISAIAH SPURGIN:
Gave one acre of land to the Old Sharon Baptist Church in 1815. An Elizabeth Spurgin was buried in the church cemetery.

Children of ISAIAH SPURGIN and SUSANNA are:
i. JESSE6 SPURGIN, b. Abt. 1799.
ii. JOSIAH SPURGIN.
iii. ISAIAH SPURGIN, b. June 06, 1808.
iv. JOSEPH SPURGIN.
v. ELIZABETH SPURGIN, b. Abt. 1797; d. September 15, 1825.

More About ELIZABETH SPURGIN:
Burial: Sharon Cemetery, Washington County, Indiana

13. JOSIAH5 SPURGIN (WILLIAM4, WILLIAM3, JOHN2, THE FAMILY OF1 SPURGEON) was born November 13, 1777 in Rowan County, North Carolina, and died January 15, 1857 in Salem, Washington County, Indiana. He married ELIZABETH JOHNSON Abt. 1803 in Rowan County, North Carolina, daughter of ARCHIBALD JOHNSON and MARY IDOL. She was born September 22, 1785 in Rowan County, North Carolina, and died November 10, 1858 in Washington County, Indiana.

Notes for JOSIAH SPURGIN:
Josiah came to Washington County, Indiana in 1810. Josiah returned to North Carolina to obtain money buy the Washington County land. His wife Elizabeth found her neighbor, Mrs. Colloner and her two children dead by Indian tomahawk one day, so she put her three children on horseback and went eighteen miles to stay in the fort at Utica.

From "The Spurgeon Quarterly", Issue 5 page 108:

[It has been requested by the Spurgeon family that an article published in the Salem Democrat in October of 1914 about the settlement of Spurgeon Hill be republished. Spurgeon Hill is near Harristown in Washington County and it is claimed that it is the highest point of land in the county. Editor.]
"Among the settlers coming to the country a little more than a hundred years ago was the Spurgeon Family; stopping about four miles east of Salem, they selected a site of high elevation -- the highest in the county -- and which bears the name Spurgeon Hill, given in honor of the Spurgeon Pioneers, who selected the site and entered the land -- the grant including the hill which is famous for altitude and the many kinds of geological specimens found there.
Blazing their way through the forest forty years before Harristown was founded and the same length of time before the event of the 'iron horse' in Washington County Josiah Spurgeon and his family came from North Carolina in 1810; his forefathers having come from England to America. His son, William, born in North Carolina, grew to manhood in the new home in the wilderness at the Spurgeon Hill farm and was united in marriage to Rebecca Young, whose father, Nicholas Young, was born in Germany but emigrated to this county from Ohio..."


More About JOSIAH SPURGIN and ELIZABETH JOHNSON:
Marriage: Abt. 1803, Rowan County, North Carolina

Children of JOSIAH SPURGIN and ELIZABETH JOHNSON are:
24. i. WILLIAM6 SPURGEON, b. 1804.
ii. SUSANNAH SPURGIN, b. 1806.
iii. ARCHIBALD SPURGIN, b. Abt. 1808.
iv. CLOAH SPURGIN, b. Abt. 1810.
v. POLLY SPURGIN, b. Abt. 1812.
vi. CHARLES SPURGIN, b. 1814.
vii. PHEBE SPURGIN, b. Abt. 1816.
viii. JANE SPURGIN, b. 1818.
ix. JESSE FRANKLIN SPURGIN, b. December 19, 1821.
x. JOSEPH SPURGIN, b. 1823; m. ELIZABETH WESTON; b. Abt. 1823; d. February 15, 1903.

More About ELIZABETH WESTON:
Burial: Winslow Cemetery, Washington County, Indiana

25. xi. WILEY SPURGEON, b. February 24, 1825, Washington County, Indiana.
26. xii. ELIZABETH SPURGIN, b. May 12, 1831, Washington County, Indiana; d. July 11, 1909, Washington County, Indiana.

14. DR./JUDGE JESSE5 SPURGIN (WILLIAM4, WILLIAM3, JOHN2, THE FAMILY OF1 SPURGEON) was born June 30, 1780 in Rowan County, North Carolina. He married LYDIA BRAZELTON December 24, 1800 in Guilford County, North Carolina. She was born May 09, 1789 in Guilford County, North Carolina.

Notes for DR./JUDGE JESSE SPURGIN:
Jesse Spurgin came to Washington County in 1804 looking for a suitable place for his family and lived with the Indians for a short while and prospected. He returned in 1805 with his Family being the First white settler in the county with his Family. He was a member of the Old Sharon Baptist Church and a Peacher, Doctor and Farmer. He was the First Justice of Peace in the county. He was the executor of his brother Isaiah's will and probably took several of his children to raise. He later moved to Illinois, Misouri and then to Utah with the Mormons in their migration.

See the "Spurgeon Quarterly", issue 17, pages 405-12, "Jesse Spurgin: A Mormon Journey"

Some extractions from the Diary kept by Warren Foote a Mormon who journeyed with Jesse to Utah:

"March 4th, 1846 - Dr. Spergen came her today and examined the breach. He said that it was under the arch, and could not be got back without cutting, but his hand was so lame, that he could not do it. He told us what to do for her, but it did no good. At night, I saw that she was failing very fast. She asked me what the doctor thought of her. I told her that he thought her case very doubtful. She then asked how long he thought she would continue. I answered not long without she got help. I then asked her if she was anxious to depart. She said she was. She complained of feeling very bad all through her body and was very restless."

"May 4th, 1846 - Isaac Ferguson and I have been very busy making our wagons and getting them ironed. I have one ready to move in. Isaac had got five yoke of oxen towards his place in Adams County and has agreed to let me have a yoke to move with. Since March I have been two trips to Adams county, and several times to Nauvoo. Having all things in readiness, we started for the West, and like Abraham of old not knowing whether we are going, and not caring much, so we can get away from our enemies, and find a land where we can live in peace and worship God according to the dictates of our consciences. This privilege we have been denied in our boasted land of liberty. Although my Grandfathers fought in the army of the Revolution and Grandfather Foote lost his life in the struggle for freedom and religious liberty, yet, I am not permitted to enjoy that liberty. Our government has become corrupted. Mobbers, murderers and house burners stalk abroad boasting of their wicked deeds, and should any of them be taken by the law, their trials end in a farce, the fact is that all the officers of our government from the President on down to a Constable, secretly rejoice in our persecutions, and their greatest desire now is, that we may perish in the wilderness. But we are willing to trust ourselves with all we possess in the hands of the God of Abraham, having an assurance that He will protect us. Our company consists of nine wagons viz. Father Myers one, Eliju Allen one, Dr. Spergen one, Isaac Ferguson two, Franklin Allen one, my sister Betsey Clement one, Bro. Levi one, and myself one. We camped four miles south of Nauvoo, on the banks of the Mississippi opposite of Nashville where we are going to cross the river."

Also, May 9th 1846 - Jesse Spergen was appointed to defend the accused, and I was elected Clerk...
May 14th 1846 - Dr. Spergen gave me an emetic which worked me well...
July 2nd 1846 - We started for the Bluffs, Dr. Spergen not being ready we left him...



More About JESSE SPURGIN and LYDIA BRAZELTON:
Marriage: December 24, 1800, Guilford County, North Carolina

Children of JESSE SPURGIN and LYDIA BRAZELTON are:
i. LUCRETEA6 SPURGIN, b. 1813.
ii. JANE SPURGIN.
iii. SARAH ELIZABETH SPURGIN.
iv. JOHN SPURGIN.
v. SAMUEL SPURGIN.

15. AARON5 SPURGIN (WILLIAM4, WILLIAM3, JOHN2, THE FAMILY OF1 SPURGEON) was born 1787 in North Carolina, and died April 11, 1855 in Columbus Twp., Bartholomew Co., Indiana. He married ANN MOOR January 31, 1808 in Charlottville, Ontario, Canada.

More About AARON SPURGIN:
Burial: Garden City Cemetery

More About AARON SPURGIN and ANN MOOR:
Marriage: January 31, 1808, Charlottville, Ontario, Canada

Children of AARON SPURGIN and ANN MOOR are:
i. WILLIAM6 SPURGIN.
ii. MARGARET SPURGIN.
iii. RACHEL SPURGIN, b. Abt. 1817.
iv. SARAH SPURGIN, b. May 03, 1819.
v. NANCY SPURGIN, b. April 20, 1849.
vi. AARON SPURGIN, b. Abt. 1826.

16. SAMUEL5 SPURGIN (WILLIAM4, WILLIAM3, JOHN2, THE FAMILY OF1 SPURGEON) was born February 08, 1794 in Canada, and died July 1849 in Bartholomew Co. Indiana. He married MARY MCFALL. She was born 1803 in Kentucky.

Notes for MARY MCFALL:
Mary (Polly) McFall was the daughter of Mary (Polly) McFall.

Children of SAMUEL SPURGIN and MARY MCFALL are:
i. WILLIAM D.6 SPURGIN, b. Abt. 1827.
ii. AARON SPURGIN, b. Abt. 1832.
iii. MARY ANN SPURGIN, b. Abt. 1834.
iv. SUSAN SPURGIN, b. Abt. 1840.
v. NANCY JANE SPURGIN, b. Abt. 1843.

17. SAMUEL5 SPURGIN (SAMUEL4, WILLIAM3, JOHN2, THE FAMILY OF1 SPURGEON) was born 1770, and died June 20, 1850 in Washington County, Indiana. He married MARY HOUK August 08, 1806 in Rowan County, North Carolina. She died Aft. 1850.

More About SAMUEL SPURGIN:
Burial: Old Hebron Cemetery, Franklin Twp., Washington County, In

More About SAMUEL SPURGIN and MARY HOUK:
Marriage: August 08, 1806, Rowan County, North Carolina

Children of SAMUEL SPURGIN and MARY HOUK are:
27. i. ELEAZOR6 SPURGIN, b. July 23, 1809, North Carolina; d. March 29, 1892, Davis County, Iowa.
28. ii. FELIX SPURGIN, b. 1812; d. May 04, 1896, Fabius Twp., Davis County, Iowa.
iii. PHEBE SPURGIN.
iv. SAMUEL SPURGIN.
v. ZERILDA M. SPURGIN.

18. ELI5 SPURGIN (SAMUEL4, WILLIAM3, JOHN2, THE FAMILY OF1 SPURGEON) was born February 06, 1781 in Rowan County, North Carolina, and died November 16, 1857 in Polk Township, Washington County, Indiana. He married RACHELL NUSCOMB April 20, 1806 in Rowan County, North Carolina. She was born March 1789 in Maryland, and died September 05, 1848 in Washington County, Indiana.

Notes for ELI SPURGIN:
Eli Spurgin fist went to Kentucky from Rowan County, North Carolina, then in 1828 came to Washington County, Indiana.

More About ELI SPURGIN:
Burial: Flowers/Williams Cemetery, Polk Township

More About RACHELL NUSCOMB:
Burial: Flowers/Williams Cemetery, Polk Township

More About ELI SPURGIN and RACHELL NUSCOMB:
Marriage: April 20, 1806, Rowan County, North Carolina

Children of ELI SPURGIN and RACHELL NUSCOMB are:
i. WILLIAM6 SPURGIN, b. March 18, 1806.
ii. LEVI SPURGIN, b. December 17, 1808.
iii. AMELIA SPURGIN, b. May 16, 1810.
iv. WILEY J. SPURGIN, b. October 17, 1812.
v. SYNTHIA SPURGIN, b. 1816.
vi. JAMES N. SPURGIN, b. January 22, 1818.
vii. SAMUEL M. SPURGIN, b. April 30, 1820.
viii. JOHN B. SPURGIN, b. February 05, 1822.
29. ix. GEORGE MILTON SPURGIN, b. April 20, 1825, Russell County, Kentucky.
x. OVALINE SPURGIN, b. January 11, 1829.

19. JOSEPH5 SPURGIN (SAMUEL4, WILLIAM3, JOHN2, THE FAMILY OF1 SPURGEON) was born Abt. 1780 in Rowan County, North Carolina, and died Abt. 1849 in Jackson County, Indiana. He married PHEBE. She was born June 01, 1791 in North Carolina, and died February 07, 1882 in Fabius Twp., Davis County, Iowa.

Notes for JOSEPH SPURGIN:
Went to Jackson County, Indiana from Rowan County, North Carolina about 1811. See "The Spurgeon Quarterly, Issue 20, page 500.

More About PHEBE:
Burial: Hopkins Cemetery

Children of JOSEPH SPURGIN and PHEBE are:
30. i. JOHN6 SPURGIN, b. Abt. 1809.
31. ii. WILLIAM SPURGEON, b. Abt. 1810; d. January 1847, Jackson County, Indiana.
iii. JOSEPH SPURGIN, b. 1821.
iv. SAMUEL SPURGIN, b. 1823.
v. RACHEL SPURGIN, b. 1824.
vi. PHEBE SPURGIN, b. Abt. 1829.
vii. MARY EMELINE SPURGIN, b. Abt. 1832.

20. ZACHEUS5 SPURGIN (SAMUEL4, WILLIAM3, JOHN2, THE FAMILY OF1 SPURGEON) was born Abt. 1789 in North Carolina, and died 1852 in Washington County, Indiana. He married (1) MARY TEAGUE December 02, 1813 in Rowan County, North Carolina. He married (2) EVERILLA TURPIN February 15, 1836 in Washington County, Indiana.

Notes for ZACHEUS SPURGIN:
See page 500, "The Spurgeon Quarterly".

More About ZACHEUS SPURGIN and MARY TEAGUE:
Marriage: December 02, 1813, Rowan County, North Carolina

More About ZACHEUS SPURGIN and EVERILLA TURPIN:
Marriage: February 15, 1836, Washington County, Indiana

Children of ZACHEUS SPURGIN and MARY TEAGUE are:
i. ELI6 SPURGIN, b. Abt. 1819.
ii. ZACHEUS SPURGIN, b. Abt. 1825.
iii. ISAAC SPURGIN, b. Abt. 1829.

Children of ZACHEUS SPURGIN and EVERILLA TURPIN are:
iv. THOMAS6 SPURGIN, b. Abt. 1837.
v. SQUIRE SPURGIN, b. Abt. 1839.
vi. JOHN SPURGIN, b. Abt. 1840.
vii. MILLY SPURGIN, b. Abt. 1842.
viii. DANIEL SPURGIN, b. Abt. 1845.
ix. ELIZABETH SPURGIN, b. Abt. 1846.


Generation No. 6

21. WILLIAM6 SPURGIN (WILLIAM5, WILLIAM4, WILLIAM3, JOHN2, THE FAMILY OF1 SPURGEON) was born May 04, 1787 in Rowan County, North Carolina, and died April 12, 1872 in Washington County, Indiana. He married HANNAH JOHNSON Abt. 1813 in Washington County, Indiana, daughter of ARCHIBALD JOHNSON and MARY IDOL. She was born 1791 in Rowan County, North Carolina, and died October 03, 1837 in Washington County, Indiana.

Notes for WILLIAM SPURGIN:
William Spurgin, son of William the Rider, grandson of Colonel William Spurgin Esquire, migrated from Rowan County, North Carolina about 1812. Tradition says that he came with nothing but a horse and saddle, rifle, shovel and axe and that there were five Spurgins of the same family that settled early in Washington County, Indiana. No doubt, this was William, his brother Joseph and his uncles Jesse, Josiah and Isaiah.
In 1804, Jesse Spurgin (uncle of William) made a journey from his home in North Carolina to the frontier in the Indiana Territory. He spent his time prospecting and checking the area out to see if it was a suitable place to bring his family. It was unknown to him, that at about the same time, the Shawnee Prophet, Tenskwatawa, received a vision and began to teach an anti-American religion to the Native Americans in the frontier territories. Many of those who would not reason with the Prophet and follow his teachings were frightened into going along with his teachings. He found out about a solar eclipse from white frontiersmen and used it to his advantage by foretelling of it and manipulating the supernatural beliefs of the Indians to bring himself power as a holy man. The Prophet would accuse his Indian enemies of witchcraft and murder those accused. The Prophets brother, Tecumseh, had already been fighting since before his defeat by General "Mad" Anthony Wayne in the Battle of Fallen Timbers. This defeat forced the Treaty of Greenville which was not attended by Tecumseh, nor did he acknowledge it. Tecumseh spent his energies attempting to unite the Indian nations in the Indiana Territory. The Miami and the Wea, for the most part, held to the Greenville Treaty, but Tecumseh gained many other allies, and a promise from the English that they would aid them in their struggles. The War of 1812 ensued, and within this turmoil William Spurgin and many of his relatives pioneered their homes on the Indiana frontier.
The following is witness of a time when the county was still Indiana Territory and is from a newspaper article found at the Stevens Museum in Salem, Indiana under the heading, "An Octogenarian" : "Morris B. Denny, who resides in Monroe Township, Washington County, Indiana, one mile east of Kossuth post office, was 80 years old last week. He was born in Mercer County, Kentucky, August 11th, 1811. From his recollections the following facts have been noted for the Leader. His parent, Elisha and Polly Denny, were both natives of Virginia, the father have been born in Frederick County, and the mother June 22nd, 1790, in Culpeper County. They reached Washington County April 12th, 1812, with Morris, their first born, an infant 8 months old, and applied for admission to Fleenor's Stock House or Fort, 3 miles northeast of Salem. The proprietor, John Fleenor informed them there was no room for them except in a small cabin at one corner of the stockade which had been made around the Block House for defense from Indian attacks. They accepted the offer, although the cabin formed part of the enclosure and was liable to be made the point of attack by the hostile Indians. The stockade consisted of heavy slabs of timber set deep in the ground and standing probably 14 or 15 feet above ground. Morris remembers traces of this picketing that showed its extent, and thinks it enclosed nearly or quite an acre of ground, including the site of Wiley Jones' present residence. In the autumn of 1811, Elisha Denny came to the Fleenor Fort and Selected and entered the quarter section just northeast of the quarter on which the fort stood, and during the summer, fall and winter after they came to the Fort cleared a patch of ground in the dense forest that covered the land he had entered large enough for a yard and garden, and built one of the largest cabins then in the settlement. It was 10 or 18 foot wide and about 20 foot long, of logs with the sides scutched, roofed with long oak boards, rived by hand and held in place by weight poles instead of nails. The chimney was of sticks and mortar, and the fireplace large enough for a roaring fire. In this lonely cabin, they spent the winter of 1813-14, and in that yard Morris' parents made their home the remainder of their lives and were highly respected by all who knew them. For a long while their home was a free tavern for persons looking for a home in the new country, and for those passing from Kentucky further north and west in Indiana, and vice versa; and was also a free meeting house from which no preacher of the Gospel was ever excluded on account of denominational membership. When a preacher came, the neighbors were "warned" to come to the meeting at candle-light, and generally a goodly number gathered, no matter who the preacher was. Those were happy days; times of good will and neighborly kindness, in which selfish pride was a stranger in that community.
Returning to the cabin at the fort. Morris remembers being told that his brother James Denny was born in it, February 2, 1813, and that he heard "Granny" Johnson say James' birth was the first obstetrical case in Indiana. Mrs. Johnson was the wife of Archibald Johnson Sr., and the mother of Archibald Johnson Jr., who died some years since in that neighborhood. Morris' father told him that one night while they occupied that cabin an Indian climbed upon the roof, and when they heard it they supposed it was a wild animal, but the dog in the fort discovered him and began to bark when the Indian jumped off and ran down a path toward the spring, which was a short distance west of the stockade. Next morning his moccasin tracks were seen in the path. That was the only time they knew of any attempt at mischief at that fort, by the Indians although, the Pigeon Roost and Walnut Ridge are other massacres occurred while people were forted at Fleenor's. Morris was too young to remember all who occupied the fort, but from statements from his parents and other who were there, he recalls the following: John Fleenor, wife and some 9 or 10 children; George House, wife and 2 children; Elisha Denny, wife and 2 children; Charley Carter, wife and children; William Spurgeon --- does not know whether then married or not. Elisha Hobbs, William Hitchcock and Lewis Woody he thinks, all lived in the settlement, south of the fort, but thinks none of them occupied the fort and were never harmed by the Indians. While the people were forted the men went out by day and did farm work, much of which was cutting and burning timber off the land so as to raise the grain necessary to subsist on. Some stood guard while others did the work. One night after all were inside and the fort closed, it was discovered that something was stirring about in the vicinity of some burning log heaps. At once an alarm of supposed Indians was raised and a council of war Held. It was agreed that one man only should reconnoiter, to know for sure what was causing the alarm. Elisha Denny volunteered to perform the task, and taking William Spurgin's rifle, he crawled stealthily along until near enough to distinguish the moving beings when all of a sudden they were transformed from imagined Indians to real horses, which had strayed into the vicinity of the fort..."
William settled on acreage in Monroe Township part of which is called "Spurgeon Hollow" today. The longest hiking trail in Indiana has a trail head there called the Knobstone Trail which begins next to Spurgeon Lake. He farmed and made his residence on property he owned across the road from the hollow, lake and where the Spurgeon School was and next to his father-in-law, Archibald Johnson. William married Hannah Johnson about 1812-13. Hannah's father, Archibald, was a revolutionary soldier, farmer, deacon of the church and preacher. Her mother was a woman Doctor according to the article of Morris Denny. In those days women doctors were called "Granny". Hannah's sister, Elizabeth married William's Uncle Josiah. Josiah settled in Washington County on what is now called Spurgeon Hill which is now famous for rare fossils that have been mined there. Josiah was a farmer and politician and was noted to have controlled the elections in his area for years. Hannah's sister, Clara, married Cadwalader Jones, a cousin of William's. Cadwalader was the son of Aquilla and Jennete (Jane Spurgin) Jones. Cadwalader a noted pioneer in the county was a famed hunter and sidekick of Micajah Calloway. Micajah was a side kick of Daniel Boone and like Boone was captured by the Indians where he was forced to be a slave for 5 years. Micajah was a famed guide and scout for General Mad Anthony Wayne during his campaigns against the Indians. Micajah was William's next door neighbors. Several of Micajah's grandchildren married Archibald Johnson's grandchildren. Also, Cadwalader's son, Wiley, married Michajah's daughter, Sarah. Cadwalader made several flatboats near the mouth of Delaney's Creek and made several successful trips to Saint Louis. William's Uncle Jesse Spurgin farmed, preached and was the first Justice of the Peace in the county, a doctor and a county commissioner. Later, Jesse moved to Illinois, then on to Missouri, then to Salt Lake City with the Mormons. William's Uncle Isaiah came to Indiana, but died about 1816-18. Joseph, brother of William, served with Capt DeWalt's Company of Indiana Militia from November 28, to December 27, of 1812. In 1822, he bought land in Harrison County, Now Washington County farmed and ran a mill on his property on the Blue River. He married Rachel Hawn and they had seven children. William farmed and prospered at it. When he died, his estate, recorded in the Washington County court house, left record of his children and two of his grandchildren, William and his sister Susan. William and wife Hannah are buried in the Peugh Cemetery.
On September 29, 1875, Washington County held an Old Settler's day celebration. William Spurgin had died in 1872 Cadwalader Jones had the following to say about the old days: " I was born in North Carolina the 29th of October, 1791, and will be soon be eighty-four years old. I was always afraid of Indians--they never looked good to me. Many a night have I laid awake, listening for the red beggars to make a raid on the house, getting up occasionally when some little noise was heard outside and peering around as best I could to see if any of them were trying to slip in upon us unawares. About the fist thing we learned to do in those early days was to work up flax, while the girls were taught to spin and weave. Much of our clothing was made of flax and tow.
People had very little use for doctors then, Most every housewife had laid by a collection of roots and herbs and when any of us were ailing they knew just what kind of tea to make or poultice to apply. Old Doctor Lamb couldn't half way make a living practicing medicine, so he started the first store in the county at Royse's Lick, but his stock of dry goods was not very extensive. I could have carried it all in one armful" Question: "Didn't they churn in bottles?" "If we had anything in bottles it was better than cream. I have manufactured many gallons of whisky. I knew how to make it and how to drink it. It wasn't poison as it is now." From the "Centennial History of Washington County, Indiana", by Stevens, page 644.
William's daughter, Fanny, 1814-1832, died when she was 17 years old and is buried in the Peugh Cemetery. His daughter, Grace, 1818-1876 married Thomas Overman , and daughter, Sally 1818-1876 never married. His Daughter Elizabeth 1823-1903 married a Mr. Weston and youngest daughter Phebe 1829-1887 married Eli Lumley. Eli and Phebe didn't have any children. Son Harvey 1821-1896 married Susannah Trueblood and they had 11 children, William H., Jane, David, Cornelious, Ellizabeth, Amanda, Franklin, Margaret, Robert, Adaline, and Sherman. Son Levi 1826-1887 had 21 children by two wives, Sarah Weston and after her death, Elvira Gordon children first marriage, Wiley Harriet, Eliza N., Mariah, Thomas, Jesse (Jet), Walter, Oliver, Charles and Mary, children second marriage, Howard, Milton, Sarah M., Maranda, Samantha, Sally, Emma, Cloe and Lillie, two I can't find. Son Joseph 1819-1865 married Kisiah England and had three children Sarah A., Margaret Susannah and William H.

More About WILLIAM SPURGIN:
Burial: Puegh Cemetery, Monroe Twnshp, Wash County, IN

Notes for HANNAH JOHNSON:
Hannah Johnson is a descendent of Johan Barnhart Eitel and Archibald Johnson.

More About HANNAH JOHNSON:
Burial: Peugh Cemetery, Monroe Twp, Washington County, Indiana

More About WILLIAM SPURGIN and HANNAH JOHNSON:
Marriage: Abt. 1813, Washington County, Indiana

Children of WILLIAM SPURGIN and HANNAH JOHNSON are:
32. i. JOSEPH M.7 SPURGIN, b. Abt. June 27, 1819, Salem, Indiana; d. March 31, 1865, Salem, Indiana.
ii. FANNY SPURGIN, b. November 11, 1814, Washington County, Indiana; d. May 24, 1832, Washington County, Indiana.

More About FANNY SPURGIN:
Burial: Peugh Cemetery

iii. SALLY SPURGIN, b. 1817.
33. iv. GRACIE SPURGIN, b. March 03, 1818, Washington County, Indiana; d. September 22, 1876, Washington County, Indiana.
34. v. HARVEY SPURGEON, b. August 09, 1821, Washington County, Indiana; d. November 17, 1896, Washington County, Indiana.
vi. ELIZABETH SPURGIN, b. 1823.
35. vii. LEVI SPURGEON, b. July 02, 1826, Washington County, Indiana; d. April 14, 1900, Washington County, Indiana.
viii. PHEBE SPURGIN, b. November 18, 1829, Washington County, Indiana; d. December 04, 1887, Washington County, Indiana; m. ELI LUMLEY.

More About PHEBE SPURGIN:
Burial: Peugh Cemetery

22. JOSEPH6 SPURGIN (WILLIAM5, WILLIAM4, WILLIAM3, JOHN2, THE FAMILY OF1 SPURGEON) was born January 10, 1790 in Rowan County, North Carolina, and died March 22, 1851 in South Boston, Washington County, Indiana. He married RACHEL HAWN September 26, 1826 in Clark County, Indiana. She was born Abt. 1802 in North Carolina, and died Aft. 1880.

Notes for JOSEPH SPURGIN:
Joseph Spurgin was a veteran of Capt. DeWalt's company of Indiana Militia, serving from November 28 through December 27, 1812. He was a farmer who resided in Harrison County, Indiana now Washington County and entered 160 acres in the SW 1/4, Section 21 of Franklin Township, Washington County in 1822. Joseph perhaps owned a mill in Washington County. Commissioner's Book B, from the 1830"s includes a petition from a group of settlers desiring a "Cart Road" from "Joseph Spurgin's" mill on the middle fork of the Blue River. Which was in the vicinity of Joseph's tract.
Rachel Hawn Spurgin received two land grants and a pension on Joseph's War of 1812 Service.
Joseph Perhaps first came with his Uncle Josiah in 1811 to Washington County, Indiana and no doubt visited his many relatives.

Most of the above Courtesy of Emma Wood, 1113 Clinton, Des Moines, IA 50313, She gives much of the credit to Ralph and Vivian Spurgeon of Brownstown.

More About JOSEPH SPURGIN:
Burial: Rodman Cemetery

More About JOSEPH SPURGIN and RACHEL HAWN:
Marriage: September 26, 1826, Clark County, Indiana

Children of JOSEPH SPURGIN and RACHEL HAWN are:
36. i. WILLIAM7 SPURGEON, b. May 26, 1829, Washington County, Indiana; d. August 01, 1916, Bedford, Iowa.
ii. CATHERINE SPURGIN, b. Abt. 1832.
iii. SARAH SPURGIN, b. Abt. 1834.
iv. ABRAHAM SPURGIN, b. Abt. 1838.
v. RACHEL SPURGIN, b. Abt. 1841.
vi. JOSEPH SPURGIN, b. Abt. 1842.

23. CADWALADER6 JONES (JENNETTE (JANE)5 SPURGIN, WILLIAM4, WILLIAM3, JOHN2, THE FAMILY OF1 SPURGEON) was born December 30, 1792 in Rowan County, North Carolina, and died March 05, 1876 in Washington County, Indiana. He married (1) CHLOE JOHNSON Abt. 1811, daughter of ARCHIBALD JOHNSON and MARY IDOL. She was born April 12, 1792 in Rowan County, North Carolina, and died January 17, 1848 in Washington County, Indiana. He married (2) ROXIE WATTS Aft. 1834. She died February 17, 1889 in Washington County, Indiana.

Notes for CADWALADER JONES:
From the "CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, INDIANA" by Stevens, pages 541-2.

" Among the prominent men who assisted in developing the county was Cadwallader W. Jones. He was from North Carolina and located in the county in 1812. The Indians were numerous and hostile at that time, and after he put up his cabin a few miles east of Salem they ran him to Hensley's fort a time. The last time the savages made a raid in Jones' neighborhood was in 1815, when they succeeded in getting away with a number of horses. The band was pursued by a company of settlers, but they succeeded in getting back west without being overtaken. On this raid the Indians killed John Huffman and wife who lived on the head waters of Silver Creek and carried off their two children. One of the children was rescued about five years afterward, but nothing was ever heard of the other one. Jones was a flatboatman for a few years, making several successful trips south from the north part of the county. He built and loaded his boats near the mouth of Delaneys Creek. Jones was a great hunter and used to spend much time roaming through the unsettled parts of the county with Micajah Calloway in quest of game. Next to the Beck, he probably killed more deer, bear, and wolves than any other man in the county. He and John Pyles killed a number of elk, while hunting in the northeast part of the county and in the low lands that formed the Muscatatuck bottoms. His death occurred on May 5, 1876, when he was over eighty-four years old. He was a powerful man, over six feet high and was classed among the Washington County Giants." (See the biography of Thomas Denny for more information on "Washington County Giants, And the biography of George Hattabaugh, "The Hattabaugh Family", for more information on flatboating. See the notes for Thomas Denney, "the Alarm and Pursuit" for more information on Indian raids. Many of those who pursued the Indians were not named. However, knowing the nature of those of my family alive today, I can't imagine the Spurgeon's, Jones' and the rest of my family not joining in on those pursuits. Roger G. Spurgeon)

More About CADWALADER JONES:
Burial: Old Hebron Cemetery, Franklin Twp.

More About CHLOE JOHNSON:
Burial: Old Hebron Cemetery, Franklin Twp.

More About CADWALADER JONES and CHLOE JOHNSON:
Marriage: Abt. 1811

More About ROXIE WATTS:
Burial: Old Hebron Cemetery, Franklin Twp.

More About CADWALADER JONES and ROXIE WATTS:
Marriage: Aft. 1834

Children of CADWALADER JONES and CHLOE JOHNSON are:
37. i. PHOEBE7 JONES, b. September 12, 1812, Washington County, Indiana; d. January 01, 1899, Washington County, Indiana.
38. ii. WILEY JONES, b. September 26, 1820.
iii. SARAH JONES, b. September 16, 1823.
39. iv. JANE JONES, b. January 11, 1834, Washington County, Indiana; d. December 16, 1904, Washington County, Indiana.
v. REZIN JONES, b. June 23, 1834.
40. vi. BENJAMIN JONES, b. August 19, 1818; d. May 15, 1902, Washington County, Indiana.

24. WILLIAM6 SPURGEON (JOSIAH5 SPURGIN, WILLIAM4, WILLIAM3, JOHN2, THE FAMILY OF1 SPURGEON) was born 1804. He married REBECCA YOUNG.

Notes for WILLIAM SPURGEON:
Continued from Josiah, from The "Spurgeon Quarterly", Issue 5, page 108:

"William and Rebecca Young Spurgeon started their new home near Spurgeon Hill, where the Charleston road formerly intercepted the railroad; living the simple life of all the hardy settlers who cleared the forest and made a path for civilization. They were the parents of five children; Jacob, David, Mary, Emeline, and Jane. About 1843, they moved to Salem -- rented a farm south of Crown Hill and lived in a two story house, the property of Col. Young on the brow of the hill which now overlooks the deep cut in the railroad. After five or six years, William and Rebecca Spurgeon moved to northwest Salem, end of Shelby street to reside with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Nicholas young, who were now old and needed their care and help in tending their land which extended west to where the reservoir is now. About this time William Spurgeon started a meat market in town; for many years he was a butcher -- gaining much prominence by his honest dealing and faithful service to his patrons. Of his family there is but one to represent the third generation (1914) and that is Jacob, the subject of our sketch..." Continued with Jocob Spurgeon.

Children of WILLIAM SPURGEON and REBECCA YOUNG are:
i. JACOB7 SPURGEON, b. September 22, 1827; m. ELIZABETH MCKINNEY, November 1848; b. November 28, 1826, Washington County, Indiana; d. February 12, 1895, Salem, Indiana.

Notes for JACOB SPURGEON:
From the "Spurgeon Quarterly" issue 5 pp 108-110.

"Jacob the subject our sketch, the oldest one of the children, who was born September 22, 1827 at Spurgeon Hill, and lived there until he was sixteen years old when he came with his father's family to Salem. He has been a farmer spending all his life in this county; for many years before the railroad was built he was a teamster -- hauling merchandise to and from Louisville. After the railroad was built, he gave up teaming and devoted all his time to farm work investing in land in the north part of the county on the river. He never moved his family there on account of the frequent overflow of the river. He sold this farm and bought on Rush Creek where he lived for awhile. Selling out, he returned to town and bought a lot in west Salem on the Orleans road, where he built a cottage and resided until the death of his wife Elizabeth McKinney; then he went to live with his daughter, Mrs. John Soliday.
His first school was a Hebron school house and Annis Barker was the teacher with only ten or fifteen scholars. A log school house in the midst of dense forest trees and underbrush; only enough ground cleared to build the house which was covered with clapboards; a huge fireplace holding six foot wood; and poplar logs cut in half formed the backless benches where the scholars sat to study for three months in the dead of winter; they never had any recess but were given an hour at noon to play and Saturday found them in their places just the same, for the term was so short no weekly holiday was needed. All the books he ever carried to school in the country were the arithmetic and an old elementary spelling book which he went through two or three times; the spelling came noon and night and was the exciting lesson of the day. Standing in a ring "head and foot", they spelled each other down, and choosing up to see who could be "captain", Mr. Spurgeon was a good speller and kept near the head. Nicholas Naugle and Emily Dixon were the champion spellers -- could spell every word in the book. Fielding Briscoe was always at the foot.
The great yawning fireplace had to be supplied with fuel, which the boys had to chop and carry in from a clearing where hundreds of cords of dry oak and beech lay seasoning, just at the school house door. One evening the boys concluded, as it was very cold, to carry in the wood before they went home from school and did so bringing in a lot of poplar bark to start the fire with the next morning. In the night the house caught fire and burned to the ground -- seen only by Harve Rodman. Mr. Spurgeon spoke of going to school that morning -- standing around the smoldering remains, of the fire talking with the Norris boys, the Garrisons, Charley Mobley, George, Harry and Christopher Paynter. This ended school days in the country, for about the time the house was rebuilt, they moved to Salem, where he went to school in the basement of the Presbyterian church and attended one session of school under John I. Morrison.
In a reminiscent mood, he said much hard work had to be done by the pioneers to get food and clothes; his mother always sat up until nine and ten o'clock at nigh spinning flax. Plowing was much easier to do than now. The soil was loose and fertile; very often the corn ground could be made ready by using a brushy stick to stir it up. At the age of seven he commenced plowing and remembers well the first day in the field. With "Fox" hitched to the old moldboard plow he started in the furrow, carrying a paddle with which to scrape the wooden share as it became full of the fresh plowed soil. The boyish hands of seven years guided the horse straight and going away from the barn had no trouble with old Fox, for he stopped whenever it was necessary to clean the plow but turning the field coming back, he refused to stop until he reached the barn -- the plow just skimming over the ground. This provoked the lad, who persevered all the day but succeeded in plowing only one side of the field. When his father came home that evening he asked why he plowed only one side of the field. On hearing the reason the father decided on a good remedy.
The next day a pair of dragon bits was put in the horse's mouth and no more trouble was experienced by the young lad who proved good at his work and always afterwards made a "hand" in the field and in the wheat harvest where he carried water for the men and also many a jug of whiskey of which the men always took a drink but nobody ever got drunk. There were no threshing machines yet and the wheat was tramped out by horses. He would take two or three horses -- riding one and leading the others back and forth over the scattered bundles of wheat until the grain was slowly separated from the stalk. Another important event he mentioned was his first train ride on the first train that entered Salem the 15th day of January 1851. Early that morning with a number of companions, among whom were George Fultz and Robert Morris, he walked east to meet the train and were just below Harristown when it came in sight. They waved their handkerchiefs and the conductor, Brown, stopped, took them on and charged them a dime a piece to ride back home. There were two or three coaches -- half as large as now and all full that trip. The train left New Albany that morning at 9 o'clock and arrived in Salem at half past eleven.
His first Presidential vote was cast for Zachariah Taylor; election then held second monday in August -- privilege was given the men to vote in each township or at the county seat, but most all men preferred coming to Salem. This right of choosing the place to vote was taken advantage of by some men, who sneaked in a vote at home and then came on to Salem. -- voting again -- hence the later law compelling men to vote in their own precinct. Mr. Spurgeon remained a Republican in the politics but on account of failing eyesight did not take an active part in the political issues of the day.
Mr. Jacob Spurgeon, the subject of this sketch, was the great grandfather of Robert Spurgeon and Osborn Spurgeon of Salem and Mrs. Ocal Barrett their sister in California."

More About JACOB SPURGEON and ELIZABETH MCKINNEY:
Marriage: November 1848

ii. DAVID SPURGEON.
iii. MARY SPURGEON.
iv. EMELINE SPURGEON.
v. JANE SPURGEON.

25. WILEY6 SPURGEON (JOSIAH5 SPURGIN, WILLIAM4, WILLIAM3, JOHN2, THE FAMILY OF1 SPURGEON) was born February 24, 1825 in Washington County, Indiana. He married MARY F. MCKINNEY. She was born January 16, 1795 in Tennessee.

Child of WILEY SPURGEON and MARY MCKINNEY is:
41. i. DR. WILLIAM A.7 SPURGEON, b. February 01, 1852, Near Salem, Washington County, Indiana.

26. ELIZABETH6 SPURGIN (JOSIAH5, WILLIAM4, WILLIAM3, JOHN2, THE FAMILY OF1 SPURGEON) was born May 12, 1831 in Washington County, Indiana, and died July 11, 1909 in Washington County, Indiana. She married (1) VANDIVER NICHOLSON August 08, 1850 in Salem, Indiana. She married (2) WILLIAM DOUGLAS WINSLOW April 20, 1854 in Salem, Indiana. He was born March 25, 1832 in Washington County, Indiana, and died March 18, 1887 in Washington County, Indiana.

More About ELIZABETH SPURGIN:
Burial: Plattsburg, Monroe Twp, Washington County, Indiana

More About VANDIVER NICHOLSON and ELIZABETH SPURGIN:
Marriage: August 08, 1850, Salem, Indiana

More About WILLIAM DOUGLAS WINSLOW:
Burial: Plattsburg, Monroe Twp, Washington County, Indiana

More About WILLIAM WINSLOW and ELIZABETH SPURGIN:
Marriage: April 20, 1854, Salem, Indiana

Children of ELIZABETH SPURGIN and WILLIAM WINSLOW are:
i. AMANDA J.7 WINSLOW, b. Abt. 1854.
ii. DAVID THOMAS WINSLOW, b. February 16, 1857.
iii. MARY ALICE WINSLOW, b. 1865.
iv. ELIZABETH WINSLOW, b. January 03, 1868.
v. OTTO WINSLOW, b. October 08, 1874.

27. ELEAZOR6 SPURGIN (SAMUEL5, SAMUEL4, WILLIAM3, JOHN2, THE FAMILY OF1 SPURGEON) was born July 23, 1809 in North Carolina, and died March 29, 1892 in Davis County, Iowa. He married (1) RHODA MOTSINGER July 23, 1829 in Washington County, Indiana, daughter of JACOB MOTSINGER and CHRISTENA TASH. She was born Abt. 1811, and died January 10, 1845 in Washington County, Indiana. He married (2) ELIZABETH (JONES) SKELTON November 02, 1845 in Washington County, Indiana.

More About RHODA MOTSINGER:
Burial: Old Hebron Cemetery, Franklin Twp., Washington County, In

More About ELEAZOR SPURGIN and RHODA MOTSINGER:
Marriage: July 23, 1829, Washington County, Indiana

More About ELEAZOR SPURGIN and ELIZABETH SKELTON:
Marriage: November 02, 1845, Washington County, Indiana

Children of ELEAZOR SPURGIN and RHODA MOTSINGER are:
i. CHRISTINA7 SPURGEON, b. Abt. 1839.
ii. PHOEBE SPURGEON, b. Abt. 1841.
iii. NOAH SPURGEON, b. Abt. 1848.

28. FELIX6 SPURGIN (SAMUEL5, SAMUEL4, WILLIAM3, JOHN2, THE FAMILY OF1 SPURGEON) was born 1812, and died May 04, 1896 in Fabius Twp., Davis County, Iowa. He married (1) MARY ANN HURST June 01, 1833 in Washington County, Indiana. She died May 05, 1847 in Washington County, Indiana. He married (2) NANCY M. Abt. 1849.

More About MARY ANN HURST:
Burial: Old Hebron Cemetery, Washington County IN

More About FELIX SPURGIN and MARY HURST:
Marriage: June 01, 1833, Washington County, Indiana

More About FELIX SPURGIN and NANCY M.:
Marriage: Abt. 1849

Child of FELIX SPURGIN and MARY HURST is:
i. MARY7 SPURGIN, b. 1842.

Child of FELIX SPURGIN and NANCY M. is:
ii. RACHEL7 SPURGIN, b. 1850.

29. GEORGE MILTON6 SPURGIN (ELI5, SAMUEL4, WILLIAM3, JOHN2, THE FAMILY OF1 SPURGEON) was born April 20, 1825 in Russell County, Kentucky. He married EVALINE LEONARD January 30, 1845 in Washington County, Indiana.

Notes for GEORGE MILTON SPURGIN:
From "The History of Washington County, Indiana, 1804, pp. 911-12:

"George M. Spurgeon, a prominent citizen of Polk Township, was a native of Russell Count, Kentucky, where he was born April 20, 1825, being the youngest in a family of nine children born to Eli and Rachel (Newcomb) Spurgeon, who were natives of North Carolina and Maryland respectively, and came to this State in December of the year 1828, settling on the farm now owned by our subject. George has always lived on the old homestead farm. His mother died September 5, 1848, and his father November 16, 1857. He received in early life a limited education, such as the facilities of his day afforded. January 30, 1845, his marriage with Evaline Leonard was solemnized, and to their union the following named children have been born: Franklin, who married Cora Blake; Perry, whose wife was Caroline Jackson; Newton, unmarried; Paris, whose consort was Jane E. Cramer. Our subject's occupation has always been farming, and he has been very successful in that pursuit. He now owns 170 acres of well-improved land. He makes a specialty of raising large fruits. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, but is now on demit from the Salem Lodge. In politics he is a staunch Democrat, and interests himself in the political affairs of the community in which he lives. He served as the Township Assessor one term."


More About GEORGE SPURGIN and EVALINE LEONARD:
Marriage: January 30, 1845, Washington County, Indiana

Children of GEORGE SPURGIN and EVALINE LEONARD are:
i. FRANKLIN7 SPURGIN.
ii. NEWTON SPURGIN, m. POLLY A. CALLOWAY.
iii. PARIS SPURGIN.
iv. PERRY SPURGIN, m. CAROLINE JACKSON.

30. JOHN6 SPURGIN (JOSEPH5, SAMUEL4, WILLIAM3, JOHN2, THE FAMILY OF1 SPURGEON) was born Abt. 1809. He married HANNAH LOCKENOUR.

Notes for JOHN SPURGIN:
Jackson County, Indiana Spurgeons

Children of JOHN SPURGIN and HANNAH LOCKENOUR are:
42. i. LEVI7 SPURGIN, b. July 11, 1829.
ii. ELEAZAR SPURGIN, b. 1831.
iii. FELIX SPURGIN, b. 1833.
43. iv. NAPOLEAN B. SPURGIN, b. 1835.
v. ELIZABETH SPURGIN, b. 1840.
vi. SOLOMON D. SPURGIN, b. 1842.
vii. JOHN WESLEY SPURGIN, b. 1844.

31. WILLIAM6 SPURGEON (JOSEPH5 SPURGIN, SAMUEL4, WILLIAM3, JOHN2, THE FAMILY OF1 SPURGEON) was born Abt. 1810, and died January 1847 in Jackson County, Indiana. He married SARAH MOTSINGER November 16, 1837 in Washington County, Indiana.

More About WILLIAM SPURGEON:
Burial: Old Spurgeon Cemetery, N. of Freetown, Indiana

More About WILLIAM SPURGEON and SARAH MOTSINGER:
Marriage: November 16, 1837, Washington County, Indiana

Children of WILLIAM SPURGEON and SARAH MOTSINGER are:
i. GEORGE RILEY7 SPURGEON, b. July 11, 1839.
ii. SANTFORD SPURGEON, b. Abt. 1841.
44. iii. JOSEPH MADISON SPURGEON, b. Abt. 1843, Jackson County, Indiana; d. April 1877, Indian Creek, Kansas.
iv. POLLY ANN SPURGEON, b. Abt. 1845.


Generation No. 7

32. JOSEPH M.7 SPURGIN (WILLIAM6, WILLIAM5, WILLIAM4, WILLIAM3, JOHN2, THE FAMILY OF1 SPURGEON) was born Abt. June 27, 1819 in Salem, Indiana, and died March 31, 1865 in Salem, Indiana. He married KISIAH ENGLAND September 28, 1848 in Salem, Indiana, daughter of JONATHAN ENGLAND and ELIZABETH WARINNER. She was born Abt. 1821 in Adaire County, Kentucky.

Notes for JOSEPH M. SPURGIN:
When Joseph and Kisiah were married log cabins were beginning to dot the landscape of Washington County, Indiana. Family tradition says that they set up housekeeping in one themselves. In my visits to this county, I found it to be one of the most beautiful areas of Indiana, if not the most. The area is very hilly, almost mountainous. Tobacco is still grown in this area and old farm buildings give it a quite nostalgic look. Great-Uncle George Denny said that this was God's Country. He requested to be buried there and is buried at the Peugh Cemetery near William Spurgin, son Joseph and other family. Today, I find that visits to this area feels like I was going home, even though I was born in Northern Indiana. Joseph was, no doubt, a farmer like his father and contributed much as did the rest of his siblings to his father's success. These true pioneers settled in the forests of Washington County and literally carved out their homes from the wilderness. Heavy forests, log cabins, and pole buildings gradually turned into the homes, schools, churches, farms and industries that are seen there today. Tending the farms, and building the homes with hand tools and horses, without the aid of the modern machinery and electricity, caused the pioneers to become strong in body and ingenious in mind to which we can contribute much of our culture and pampered life styles. With each generation life became easier as our forefather modernize. Our forefathers laid the foundation for our society, socially, physically and morally. To them, we owe all that we are.
In 1850, Joseph and Kisiah are listed in the Washington County census as living on a farm in Monroe Township. In the 1860 census, his children Sarah A., 5 years old and Margaret, 1 year old are listed in the family set. The 1870 census shows Kesiah 49 years old, Susan (Margaret Susan or our Aunt Suze as she was called by my cousin, Fred Schwanke) age 16 years old, and William age 7 years old. Joseph according to family tradition, died of milk poisoning. Abraham Lincon's mother had died of what was then called milk disease in the Pigeon Roost area a few miles east of Washington County. Milk disease was no disease, but a poison that was ingested into the milk when the milk cows ate snakeroot, a wild plant that grew in the area. He died March 31, 1865 and was buried next to his Father in the Peugh Cemetery, north of Salem, Indiana. So far, what became of Sarah has not been found. Aunt Suze married Joseph Ribelin and had nine children and lived out her life in the Washington County area. Son William married Sarah Lauena Denny and they moved with their family to DeMotte, Indiana in 1907.
The search for the mother and father of Kisiah has been narrowed down to the following: The 1840 census shows Jeramiah, Jesse, John, Joshua and William England living in the Washington, Jackson County area. They were sons and grandsons of Johnathan and Susannah England of Adair County, Kentucky. The 1850 census lists Kisiah as coming from Kentucky. William Weston married Louisa England and presented to Washington County, an affidavit stating that he knew of no reason why Kisiah should not marry Joseph Spurgin dated September 27, 1848. Louisa England was the daughter of Jonathan England who died about 1835. Kisiah married Joseph in 1848, so Jonathan having died was not available to sign an affidavit. Jonathan was married to Elizabeth Warinner and some of the children are recorded to have been assigned to a guardian by Washington county and lists their children placed on guardianship to be Thomas Jefferson, Joseph, Louisa, Judiah, Mary Ann, Susan and Triphina. Kisiah was connected her to the family by the affidavit. She was no doubt a sister of Louisa. Judah England married David Shields May 18, 1847 in Salem. Kisiah's mother married a Mr. Joseph Goodson after the death of Johnathan and is buried in the Winslow Cemetery .
After the death of Joseph, Kisiah married Jonathan Winslow on September 19, 1879. The 1880 census lists Kiziah 58, Susannah Spurgeon 20 and William Spurgin 17 with Johnathan Winslow age 74. I came across an article on Jonathan commending him as being one of the fine citizens of the area and was in quite good shape at the age of 80. He still went horseback riding at that age.
The following articles show growth in the community of our forefathers. They also name some of our forefathers and families that lived in the area at the same time as William and Joseph Spurgin that became allied with our family. These articles are found in "The History of Washington County, Indiana" by Stevens pages 701 through 703:

Settlement of Monroe Township
"The first settlers of what is now Monroe Township were Thomas Denny, Dempsey Rice, Jacob Hattabaugh and William Logan, who came in 1809. Adam Houch, Jacob Zink, Michael Ring and George Hattabaugh settled the next year..." {William Spurgin and Archibald Johnson came about 1812 but are not named in this article. Roger G. Spurgeon} "At the close of the War of 1812, the settlement went on more rapidly..."



Manufacturing Enterprises
" Mathew Robinson, in 1817, built a saw and grist-mill on the place owned by Thorton Calloway, on Delaney's Creek; it was run about thirty years. John DePauw, in 1819, built a saw and grist-mill on the Muscatatuck, at Millport. It was run as a water-mill, until about 1850, when the dam was washed out. The people above objected to its being rebuilt, and he erected a large steam-mill at the same place, which he operated for several years. James Winslow & Son built a saw-mill on Delaney's Creek about 1835. It was in operation fifteen or twenty years. Joseph Goodson also had a saw-mill on Delaney's Creek. Andrew Housh sank a good tan yard on the road, between Plattsburg and Millport about 1816. James and John Winslow had one on Delaney's Creek about 1820. It changed hands several times, and was last owned by Josiah Winslow, son of the latter. It did quite a large business. Zero Cole (a Mormon) had a Tannery, which he ran for several years. It was opened in 1850. At about the same time, James Coffey opened one on land now owned by George McCauley. He soon sold it to Henry Bottorff, who ran it for several years. Two others, one owned by a man named Moore, and the other one by Herron, were in existence a short time. "



Stores, Distilleries, Post Offices, Etc.
" Thomas Denny opened a store about 1830 on the place where Joseph Denny Sr. now lives. He carried only a small stock of groceries and dry goods. Two or three years later he moved it to Plattsburg. Jacob Prince opened one in 1833 or 1834 where William Barnett lives. In about a year he move it to Kossuth, and soon after sold it to Botts & Logan. John De Pauw had one at Millport, managed by Jesse Patterson. The distilleries in operation between 1820 and 1830 were very numerous. Dempsey Rice had one where F. M. Godfrey lives; William Logan, one near Kossuth; William Logan one near Kossuth; George and Phillip Hattabaugh, one each at Plattsburg; Samuel Brown had one on the place now owned by Dempsey Rice; George Housh one, John Elliott's place; Ezekiel Logan one, George Peugh's place; Thomas Denny one, Joseph Denny Sr.'s place; William Lane, William Warinner, Reuben Shields, Matthew Robinson, one each on Delany's Creek. The first post office was called "Walnut Ridge", and the first Postmaster was Thomas Denny. Between 1850 and 1853 another office was established called Kossuth, with S.B. Peugh as Postmaster. Dempsey Rice was Postmaster at Walnut Ridge Post Office at this time. Franklin Peugh is the present Postmaster. There is also another office at Millport, Dennis Sanford is Postmaster. It was formerly on the Jackson County side of the river. It was transferred to this side, and Jesse Patterson was made Postmaster. In 1871, a post office was established at Delaney's Creek, with E.H. Peugh, the present incumbent, as Postmaster..."


More About JOSEPH M. SPURGIN:
Burial: 1865, Peugh Cemetery, North of Salem, Indiana

Notes for KISIAH ENGLAND:
The last name of England is Recorded in the Cherokee Rolls.

More About JOSEPH SPURGIN and KISIAH ENGLAND:
Marriage: September 28, 1848, Salem, Indiana

Children of JOSEPH SPURGIN and KISIAH ENGLAND are:
45. i. WILLIAM HARRISON8 SPURGEON, b. January 12, 1863, Salem, Indiana; d. July 13, 1945, Rural DeMotte, Indiana.
ii. SARAH A. SPURGEON, b. Abt. 1855, Washington County, Indiana.
46. iii. MARGARET SUSANNAH SPURGEON, b. October 05, 1859, Washington County, Indiana; d. December 09, 1935, Washington County, Indiana.

33. GRACIE7 SPURGIN (WILLIAM6, WILLIAM5, WILLIAM4, WILLIAM3, JOHN2, THE FAMILY OF1 SPURGEON) was born March 03, 1818 in Washington County, Indiana, and died September 22, 1876 in Washington County, Indiana. She married THOMAS OVERMAN.

Children of GRACIE SPURGIN and THOMAS OVERMAN are:
i. HANNAH8 OVERMAN, b. 1845.
ii. CHARLES OVERMAN, b. 1848.
iii. MIRANDA OVERMAN, b. 1850.
iv. WILLIAM R. OVERMAN, b. 1856.

34. HARVEY7 SPURGEON (WILLIAM6 SPURGIN, WILLIAM5, WILLIAM4, WILLIAM3, JOHN2, THE FAMILY OF1 SPURGEON) was born August 09, 1821 in Washington County, Indiana, and died November 17, 1896 in Washington County, Indiana. He married SUSANNAH TRUEBLOOD August 15, 1844 in Salem, Indiana. She was born August 28, 1827 in Washington County, Indiana, and died December 21, 1913 in Washington County, Indiana.

Notes for HARVEY SPURGEON:
Uncle Harve's obituary:

" Harvey Spurgeon, one of Monroe township's best known and honored citizens, died at his residence, 9 miles northeast of Salem, on Delaney's creek, Tuesday, Nov. 17, 1896, at 11 A.M., at the age of 75 years. Mr. Spurgeon had been suffering for the past four months with dysentery, which was followed by complication of liver and kidney trouble, which resulted fatally. Mr. Spurgeon was the father of ten children, one of whom is dead. His wife, whose maiden name was Trueblood, survives him. He was a straight forward, honest and upright citizen, a Republican in politics, and one of the oldest native residences of the county, and one of her most substantial citizens. He was a member of the Delaney Creek Baptist Church, and was consistent in his life and duties. His funeral took place Thursday, Oct. 19, at noon conducted by Eld. Scott Applegate. Burial at the Hicksite, Quaker cemetery, 2 miles northeast of Salem. A large number of old friends and relatives attended the funeral and burial."

More About HARVEY SPURGEON:
Burial: Hicksite Cemetery, Washington County, Indiana

More About SUSANNAH TRUEBLOOD:
Burial: Hicksite Cemetery, Washington County, Indiana

More About HARVEY SPURGEON and SUSANNAH TRUEBLOOD:
Marriage: August 15, 1844, Salem, Indiana

Children of HARVEY SPURGEON and SUSANNAH TRUEBLOOD are:
47. i. WILLIAM N.8 SPURGEON, b. May 12, 1845, Washington County, Indiana; d. 1896.
48. ii. JANE SPURGEON, b. April 29, 1847; d. May 01, 1873.
49. iii. DAVID M. SPURGEON, b. July 04, 1849, Washington County, Indiana; d. March 08, 1936, Washington County, Indiana.
iv. CORNELIUS SPURGEON, b. October 18, 1851.
v. ELIZABETH SPURGEON, b. December 03, 1853, Washington County, Indiana; d. June 08, 1939, Washington County, Indiana; m. LEO DOBBINS, September 15, 1872; b. November 26, 1849; d. March 19, 1918, Washington County, Indiana.

More About ELIZABETH SPURGEON:
Burial: Hicksite Cemetery

More About LEO DOBBINS:
Burial: Hicksite Cemetery

More About LEO DOBBINS and ELIZABETH SPURGEON:
Marriage: September 15, 1872

vi. AMANDA SPURGEON, b. February 28, 1856.
vii. FRANKLIN SPURGEON, b. June 08, 1858, Delaney's Creek, Washington County, Indiana; d. November 13, 1939; m. MARTHA, 1929, Jerome, Idaho.

Notes for FRANKLIN SPURGEON:
Obituary of Frank Spurgeon:

"Frank Spurgeon, son of Harvey and Susanah Spurgeon, was born June 8, 1857, in Delaney's Creek and died November 13, 1939, age 82 years, five months and five days. He leaves to mourn his death, two sisters, Mrs. Amanda Warriner and Mrs Margaret Payne of Salem, Indiana; two brothers, Robert Spurgeon of Tulsa, Oklahoma, and Sherman Spurgeon of Boseman, Montana, also a host of other relatives and friends. He was one of 11 children, three brothers and three sisters having preceded him in death. He spent the earlier part of his life in Delaney's Creek, later going west where he made his home. He was happily married in 1929 in Jerome, Idaho. His wife, Martha Spurgeon died March 7, 1936. Frank had many lovely qualities. He was always ready to joke, yet always ready to help a friend in need. He was of a kind, cheerful disposition, never complaining. His many good qualities and his many disposition endeared himself to a wide circle of friends, who, with his relatives, mourn his departure.

More About FRANKLIN SPURGEON and MARTHA:
Marriage: 1929, Jerome, Idaho

50. viii. SARAH MARGARET SPURGEON, b. September 29, 1860, Washington County, Indiana; d. December 29, 1949, Washington County, Indiana.
ix. ROBERT SPURGEON, b. January 04, 1863.
x. ADDIE SPURGEON, b. 1866.
xi. SHERMAN SPURGEON, b. 1868.

35. LEVI7 SPURGEON (WILLIAM6 SPURGIN, WILLIAM5, WILLIAM4, WILLIAM3, JOHN2, THE FAMILY OF1 SPURGEON) was born July 02, 1826 in Washington County, Indiana, and died April 14, 1900 in Washington County, Indiana. He married (1) SARAH JANE WESTON June 15, 1848 in Salem, Indiana. She was born March 15, 1825 in Gibson Twp, Washington County, Indiana, and died May 27, 1870 in Washington County, Indiana. He married (2) ELVIRA GORDON May 11, 1871, daughter of HOWARD GORDON and MARY. She was born December 09, 1844, and died August 11, 1923 in Washington County, Indiana.

Notes for LEVI SPURGEON:
Levi Spurgeon had 22 children by his two wives, There is only 20 listed.

Obituary of Levi Spurgeon:

"Levi Spurgeon died at his home, seven miles north of Salem, Saturday evening of a complication of diseases terminating in a stroke of paralysis, from which he failed to rally. He had been ailing for four years, being confined to his room since last fall. He was 73 years, nine months and twelve days old, being born July 3, 1826. He was first married to Sarah J. Weston, and to them were born thirteen children. After her death, he was married to Elvira Gordon. nine children were of this union. Eleven children by the first wife and eight by the second wife are living, sixteen of them being at the funeral. The funeral occurred at the residence Sunday afternoon. Interment at Winslow cemetery.

More About LEVI SPURGEON:
Burial: Winslow Cemetery, Washington County, Indiana

More About SARAH JANE WESTON:
Burial: Peugh Cemetery, Monroe Twp, Washington County, Indiana

More About LEVI SPURGEON and SARAH WESTON:
Marriage: June 15, 1848, Salem, Indiana

More About ELVIRA GORDON:
Burial: Winslow Cemetery, Washington County, Indiana

More About LEVI SPURGEON and ELVIRA GORDON:
Marriage: May 11, 1871

Children of LEVI SPURGEON and SARAH WESTON are:
51. i. WILEY8 SPURGEON, b. May 02, 1848, Washington County, Indiana; d. January 09, 1916, Washington County, Indiana.
52. ii. HARRIET SPURGEON, b. August 18, 1853, Washington County, Indiana; d. July 23, 1928, Pulaski County, Kentucky.
53. iii. ELIZA N. SPURGEON, b. 1856, Washington County, Indiana; d. March 05, 1905.
54. iv. MARIAH SPURGEON, b. 1858, Washington County, Indiana; d. March 05, 1905, Washington County, Indiana.
55. v. WILLIAM THOMAS SPURGEON, b. 1859, Washington County, Indiana; d. December 13, 1916, Indianapolis, Indiana.
56. vi. JESSE (JET) SPURGEON, b. January 22, 1862, Washington County, Indiana; d. October 12, 1931, Washington County, Indiana.
vii. WALTER SPURGEON, b. 1863.
57. viii. OLIVER P. SPURGEON, b. 1865, Washington County, Indiana; d. August 31, 1920, Washington County, Indiana.
58. ix. CHARLES SPURGEON, b. January 09, 1870, Delaney's Creek, Washington County, Indiana; d. June 27, 1943.
x. MARY SPURGEON, b. 1868.
xi. ROBERT SPURGEON, b. Abt. 1864, Washington County, Indiana; d. May 14, 1883, Monroe Twp, Washington Co., Indiana.
59. xii. HANNAH J. SPURGEON, b. Abt. 1851.

Children of LEVI SPURGEON and ELVIRA GORDON are:
xiii. HOWARD8 SPURGEON, b. 1873.
xiv. MILTON SPURGEON, b. February 11, 1875, Salem, Washington County, Indiana; d. January 19, 1948, Elma, Washington; m. SUSANNA.

More About MILTON SPURGEON:
Burial: I.O.O.F. Cemetery, Elma, Washington

60. xv. SARAH MARGARET SPURGEON, b. March 29, 1876; d. January 11, 1952.
61. xvi. MARANDA CATHERINE SPURGEON, b. October 07, 1878, Washington County, Indiana; d. June 14, 1951, Washington County, Indiana.
xvii. SAMANTHA SPURGEON, b. 1879.
xviii. SALLY SPURGEON.
62. xix. EMMA ELVIRA SPURGEON, b. January 20, 1881, Washington County, Indiana; d. August 21, 1951, Washington.
63. xx. CLOE SPURGEON, b. October 26, 1882, Washington County, Indiana; d. December 26, 1953.
xxi. LILLIE SPURGEON, b. July 21, 1886; m. JOHN JACKSON.

36. WILLIAM7 SPURGEON (JOSEPH6 SPURGIN, WILLIAM5, WILLIAM4, WILLIAM3, JOHN2, THE FAMILY OF1 SPURGEON) was born May 26, 1829 in Washington County, Indiana, and died August 01, 1916 in Bedford, Iowa. He married MARGARET BARNETT Abt. 1849, daughter of DAVID BARNETT and MARY SLOAN. She was born August 23, 1833 in Kentucky.

More About WILLIAM SPURGEON:
Burial: Fairview Cemetery

More About WILLIAM SPURGEON and MARGARET BARNETT:
Marriage: Abt. 1849

Children of WILLIAM SPURGEON and MARGARET BARNETT are:
64. i. DAVID TAYLOR8 SPURGEON, b. October 14, 1850, Washington County, Indiana; d. October 05, 1925, Springdale, Arkansas.
ii. MARY SPURGEON, b. September 07, 1853; m. JOHN O. HARRIS; b. August 19, 1840.
iii. MARTIN MALACHI (MACK) SPURGEON, b. June 02, 1856, Davis County, Iowa; d. April 09, 1931, Bedford, Taylor County, Iowa; m. SARAH ELIZABETH SNELL, December 09, 1880, Davis County, Iowa; b. February 14, 1861, Davis County, Iowa; d. September 03, 1954, Bedford, Taylor County, Iowa.

More About MARTIN MALACHI (MACK) SPURGEON:
Burial: Fairview Cemetery

More About SARAH ELIZABETH SNELL:
Burial: Fairview Cemetery

More About MARTIN SPURGEON and SARAH SNELL:
Marriage: December 09, 1880, Davis County, Iowa

iv. WILLIAM (BUD) SPURGEON, b. July 04, 1859, Davis County, Iowa; d. March 12, 1921, Taylor County, Iowa; m. SARAH E. CARTER, November 26, 1884, Taylor County, Iowa; b. June 04, 1861, Missouri; d. May 05, 1948, Bedford, Iowa.

More About WILLIAM (BUD) SPURGEON:
Burial: Fairview Cemetery

More About SARAH E. CARTER:
Burial: Fairview Cemetery

More About WILLIAM SPURGEON and SARAH CARTER:
Marriage: November 26, 1884, Taylor County, Iowa

37. PHOEBE7 JONES (CADWALADER6, JENNETTE (JANE)5 SPURGIN, WILLIAM4, WILLIAM3, JOHN2, THE FAMILY OF1 SPURGEON) was born September 12, 1812 in Washington County, Indiana, and died January 01, 1899 in Washington County, Indiana. She married THOMAS WILLIAMS December 17, 1829 in Washington County, Indiana. He was born August 05, 1805 in North Carolina, and died November 17, 1888 in Washington County, Indiana.

More About PHOEBE JONES:
Burial: Blue River Quaker Cemetery, Washington County, Indiana

More About THOMAS WILLIAMS:
Burial: Blue River Quaker Cemetery, Washington County, Indiana

More About THOMAS WILLIAMS and PHOEBE JONES:
Marriage: December 17, 1829, Washington County, Indiana

Children of PHOEBE JONES and THOMAS WILLIAMS are:
65. i. CHLOE8 WILLIAMS, b. October 05, 1831, Washington County, Indiana; d. May 14, 1905, Washington County, Indiana.
ii. WILEY WILLIAMS, b. November 04, 1833.
iii. JANE WILLIAMS, b. September 27, 1835, Washington County, Indiana; d. March 05, 1865, Washington County, Indiana; m. SETH WINSLOW; b. May 19, 1825; d. September 08, 1904, Washington County, Indiana.

More About JANE WILLIAMS:
Burial: Blue River Quaker Cemetery, Washington County, Indiana

More About SETH WINSLOW:
Burial: Blue River Quaker Cemetery, Washington County, Indiana

iv. WILLIAM WILLIAMS, b. Abt. 1836.
66. v. ELIZABETH WILLIAMS, b. October 21, 1839, Washington County, Indiana; d. January 01, 1926, Washington County, Indiana.
67. vi. SALLY WILLIAMS, b. January 26, 1842, Washington County, Indiana; d. August 25, 1922, Washington County, Indiana.
vii. EMILY WILLIAMS, b. Abt. 1847.
viii. INFANT WILLIAMS, b. May 25, 1851.

38. WILEY7 JONES (CADWALADER6, JENNETTE (JANE)5 SPURGIN, WILLIAM4, WILLIAM3, JOHN2, THE FAMILY OF1 SPURGEON) was born September 26, 1820. He married SARAH CALLAWAY March 31, 1842 in Salem, Indiana, daughter of MICAJAH CALLAWAY and FRANKIE HAWKINS.

Notes for WILEY JONES:
From the "History of Washington County, Indiana 1804",

"Wiley Jones is a native of Washington County, Indiana, born September 26, 1820. Cadwalader Jones, his father, was a noted pioneer in the history of this county, as can be learned by turning to the history of the early settlement of the county. He was a native of North Carolina, and married Clara Johnson, a lady of the same nativity as himself. Wiley Jones is one of the few remaining of the county's oldest citizens who were born here. He commands the respect and esteem of all who know him. He is a republican and the owner of 150 acres of fine land. March 31, 1842, he took for a help-mate through life Sarah Callaway, the daughter of those old pioneers Micajah and Frankie (Hawkins) Callaway, and by her is the father of a family of children whose names are here subjoined: Hardin, Harriet, Chloe, Reason and John H."

More About WILEY JONES and SARAH CALLAWAY:
Marriage: March 31, 1842, Salem, Indiana

Children of WILEY JONES and SARAH CALLAWAY are:
i. HARDIN8 JONES.
ii. HARRIET JONES.
iii. CHLOE JONES.
iv. REASON JONES.
v. JOHN H. JONES.

39. JANE7 JONES (CADWALADER6, JENNETTE (JANE)5 SPURGIN, WILLIAM4, WILLIAM3, JOHN2, THE FAMILY OF1 SPURGEON) was born January 11, 1834 in Washington County, Indiana, and died December 16, 1904 in Washington County, Indiana. She married (1) JASPER RODMAN. He was born March 14, 1826, and died July 09, 1903 in Washington County, Indiana. She married (2) WILLIAM RODMAN.

Child of JANE JONES and WILLIAM RODMAN is:
i. BENJAMINE D.8 RODMAN, b. 1866.

40. BENJAMIN7 JONES (CADWALADER6, JENNETTE (JANE)5 SPURGIN, WILLIAM4, WILLIAM3, JOHN2, THE FAMILY OF1 SPURGEON) was born August 19, 1818, and died May 15, 1902 in Washington County, Indiana. He married ELIZABETH NEWBY, daughter of BENJAMIN NEWBY.

More About BENJAMIN JONES:
Burial: Franklin Cemetery, Washington County, Indiana

Children of BENJAMIN JONES and ELIZABETH NEWBY are:
i. MARY E.8 JONES, b. 1850.
ii. WILLIAM JONES, b. March 23, 1858, Washington County, Indiana; d. March 25, 1859, Washington County, Indiana.

More About WILLIAM JONES:
Burial: Quaker Orth. Cemetery, Wash. Co. Indiana

iii. JOHN JONES.

41. DR. WILLIAM A.7 SPURGEON (WILEY6, JOSIAH5 SPURGIN, WILLIAM4, WILLIAM3, JOHN2, THE FAMILY OF1 SPURGEON) was born February 01, 1852 in Near Salem, Washington County, Indiana. He married (1) MINERVA A. WHITNEY. He married (2) ELVIRA CHUTE August 29, 1872. She died 1878 in Freetown, Indiana.

Notes for DR. WILLIAM A. SPURGEON:
From the "Spurgeon Quarterly", issue 3, page 58-9:

The following sketch of Dr. William A. Spurgeon of Muncie, Indiana, appeared in the "A Portrait and Biographical Record of Delaware and Randolph Counties, Indiana" (Chicago: A. W. Bowen & Co., 1894) , pp. 456-8. This is the grandfather and namesake of Bill Spurgeon.

"Dr. William A. Spurgeon, of Muncie, Ind., was born near Salem, Washington county, Ind., February 1, 1852, and is the eldest son of Wiley and Mary F. (McKinney) Spurgeon. Wiley Spurgeon was born February 24, 1825, and Mary F. (McKinney) Spurgeon in 1824, both in Washington County, Indiana, and were there married, February 27, 1848. Wiley's father was Josiah Spurgeon, born November 13, 1777, in North Carolina, came to Indiana in 1811, and settled near Salem, Washington county. James A. McKinney, the father of Mary F. Spurgeon, was born in Tennessee, January 16, 1795, and settled near Salem, Indiana also in 1811. Wiley Spurgeon was the youngest son in a family of five boys and six girls. He was reared near Salem, and received a good common school education. He served under General Taylor in the Mexican War.
The father of the subject of this sketch, Wiley Spurgeon, served as county commissioner and in other official positions for a number of years. He has been for many years an elder in the Christian Church. He was always regarded as a man of great firmness and integrity of character. His home, with his aged wife, is now (1893) on the farm near Beck's Grove, Indiana, where they enjoy fine health and a competency gained by years of industry and economy. Mary F. (McKinney) Spurgeon was next the youngest daughter in a family of three boys and four girls. William A. Spurgeon was reared on a farm, with one brother and four sisters. He received his preparatory education at the common schools until sixteen years of age, then attended ,two years, the academy at Clear Springs, Indiana, after which he taught school during the winters, attending the academy at Salem in the summers, for two years and later attended college at Bedford, Indiana. In 1871, he began the study of medicine under Dr. George H. Chute, a prominent physician of southern Indiana, and in 1872 entered the Physio-Medical college of Indiana, at Indianapolis, from which institution he graduated in 1875, and returned to his former partner, with whom he continued until 1877. Soon after his graduation from the college at Indianapolis, he was elected to the chair of descriptive and surgical anatomy in the college where he received his degree, and continued a member of the faculty, delivering regular coursed of lectures each year until 1893, when he resigned in order to give more time to his professional duties. Dr. Spurgeon removed to Muncie, Indiana, April 13, 1880. He soon took a leading rank in his profession, and beside attending to his extensive practice the doctor gave some time to other matters pertaining to his profession. He is a member of the American Association of Physio-Medical Physicians and Surgeons, and was appointed to deliver an annual address before that body at its meeting at Chicago, 1890. He has been a member of the Physio-Medical Association of Indiana since 1875, serving a term as its president, and contributing freely to its medical literature. He was sent by the Physicians which met in New York in 1891. In politics the doctor was a republican till in 1886, when he joined the prohibition party, and in 1888 was a candidate for the legislature, and made an aggressive campaign, obtaining more votes than any other man on the ticket. In 1890, he made the race for secretary of state, when he again ran ahead of the ticket, and though the party as an organization seemed hopelessly in the minority, he remained true to its principles, and in 1892 he was the parties candidate for congress in the Sixth Indiana district, and made a dignified and effective canvass. The doctor was married August 29, 1872, to Miss Elvira Chute, daughter of his preceptor and partner. Of this union were born three sons and one daughter: The eldest son, George Wiley, and the second son Alva Osten, died in infancy. The third son, Orville Elmer, and the daughter, Mary Alice, are living in Muncie. Mrs. Spurgeon died at Freetown in the summer of 1878. The doctor's second marriage was in the summer of 1883, to Miss Minerva A., daughter of Lafayette Whitney, of Muncie. This union has been blessed by the birth of four children, viz: Nora June, Olive Fern, Kenneth Albertus, and William Chase. The doctor early united with the Christian church (Disciples), the congregation being known as the Buffalo church, at Beck's Grove, Indiana, and has been active in church and Sunday school work. He was appointed to the eldership of the First Christian church, of Muncie, Indiana, in 1881, which relation he still sustains."

More About WILLIAM SPURGEON and ELVIRA CHUTE:
Marriage: August 29, 1872

Children of WILLIAM SPURGEON and MINERVA WHITNEY are:
i. NORVA JUNE8 SPURGEON.
ii. OLIVE FERN SPURGEON.
68. iii. KENNETH ALBERTUS SPURGEON.
iv. WILLIAM CHASE SPURGEON.

Children of WILLIAM SPURGEON and ELVIRA CHUTE are:
v. GEORGE WILEY8 SPURGEON.
vi. ALVA OSTEN SPURGEON.
vii. ORVILLE ELMER SPURGEON.
viii. MARY ALICE SPURGEON.

42. LEVI7 SPURGIN (JOHN6, JOSEPH5, SAMUEL4, WILLIAM3, JOHN2, THE FAMILY OF1 SPURGEON) was born July 11, 1829. He married (1) SUSANNAH POTTER Abt. 1849. He married (2) LUCY ANN HARPER Abt. 1859.

More About LEVI SPURGIN and SUSANNAH POTTER:
Marriage: Abt. 1849

More About LEVI SPURGIN and LUCY HARPER:
Marriage: Abt. 1859

Children of LEVI SPURGIN and SUSANNAH POTTER are:
i. SARAH JANE8 SPURGEON, b. 1850.
ii. HANNAH L. SPURGEON, b. 1852.
iii. CYRUS L. SPURGEON, b. 1854.
iv. ELIZABETH C. SPURGEON, b. 1858.

Children of LEVI SPURGIN and LUCY HARPER are:
v. LYCURGUS8 SPURGEON, b. 1860.
vi. MARY SPURGEON, b. 1861.
69. vii. JOHN WESLEY SPURGEON, b. 1863.
viii. HELLEN BELL SPURGEON, b. 1866.
ix. FLORENCE SPURGEON, b. 1868.
x. MARINDA SPURGEON, b. 1871.
xi. LEORA SPURGEON, b. 1873.
xii. MYRTLE LEOTA SPURGEON, b. 1877.
xiii. CHARLES HOPPER SPURGEON, b. 1879.
xiv. THEODORE SPURGEON, b. 1864.

43. NAPOLEAN B.7 SPURGIN (JOHN6, JOSEPH5, SAMUEL4, WILLIAM3, JOHN2, THE FAMILY OF1 SPURGEON) was born 1835.

Child of NAPOLEAN B. SPURGIN is:
70. i. KINGS BERRY8 SPURGEON.

44. JOSEPH MADISON7 SPURGEON (WILLIAM6, JOSEPH5 SPURGIN, SAMUEL4, WILLIAM3, JOHN2, THE FAMILY OF1 SPURGEON) was born Abt. 1843 in Jackson County, Indiana, and died April 1877 in Indian Creek, Kansas. He married SARAH JANE KNOX January 05, 1868 in Elk County, Kansas.

Notes for JOSEPH MADISON SPURGEON:
From the "Spurgeon Quarterly", Issue 21, pages 1 through 5 "Memoirs of J.R. Spurgeon":

" I know very little about my ancestors. I have often wondered what they were like and what they did.
So, I am going to write a few things about my own life. I hope it will be of interest to someone in the future. There has been greater changes in the 60 years that I have lived than in any 60 years since the beginning of time.
First, I am going to tell you what little I know about our ancestors. From Uncle Santford Spurgeon, I have the following:
A few years prior the Revolutionary War, two brothers, Samuel and William Spurgeon and their aged father left their home in England and came to America. The brothers had hardly settled in their new home in North Carolina, before trouble began with the Mother country. The Spurgeon family had been residents of England for many generations. Hence, it was not strange that the brothers found it hard to join the Continental Army and fight against their homeland and all their "Kith and Kin". So one of the brothers decided he would go to Canada to that part of the Colonies that was not in rebellion. The other brother decided he would cast his lot with the colonies and join the Continental Army and fought under George Washington and General Green. After the War was over and the Colonies had gained their independence and had become the United States of America, both of the brothers returned to North Carolina and both reared a large family." (Roger G. Spurgeon Comment: family tradition has truth in it but gets distorted as it is passed down from father to child and hides facts/secrets that are best not told to a child! God forgive us for being Tories! Only in the last generation can one claim to have been descended from a Tory and not have a tainted character. I suppose that even today there may be those who would look down their noses at a Tory descendent. The Col's son, or Joseph's family, attempted to minimize the Col's involvement in the the war, while mine dropped it all together. I am ashamed for my society for being so narrow minded and judgmental of people. Personally, I'm proud of our forefathers and, given the hard facts of the matter, the Tories were more in the right than the Whigs and even though I'm not ignorant of these hard facts, it takes too much script to explain, so I won't go into that subject here.]
"Our family came from Samuel. However, we have a record of William's sons who were Joseph, John, William, Josiah, Jessie, and Aaron. Seven in all. Beyond this, we have no record of William or any of his family. Samuel's sons were William, Samuel, John, Eli, Joseph, Squire and Zachis, also seven sons. No record of any daughters, although I imagine both had daughters. Most of these sons as well as Samuel and William lived in North Carolina and Kentucky and reared large families. One son, Joseph, from whom we are direct descendents, moved to Washington Co., Indiana, a new stated that was then offering inducements to settle. Joseph remained in Washington Co. awhile then moved to Jackson Co. Indiana near the town of Seymour.
Joseph reared six sons. Joseph's sons were: Eleazor, John, William, Samuel, Joseph, and Eli. Most of these sons lived in Indiana and Iowa, a few going farther west.
William, my grandfather married Sarah Mottsinger, a beautiful woman about the year 1832 (actually 1837). They lived on a farm near Seymour, Indiana. To them were born four children, three sons & one daughter. This is the first mention of a wife or of a daughter. William's children were George Riley, Santford, Joseph Madison, and Polly Ann (Mary Ann). This is the first time a double name is used. They lived near Seymour, Indiana until about the year 1850 when William (my grandfather) died, leaving a widow and four minor children. The widow afterward married Eli Lorance. In 1857, they sold the farm in Indiana and came in a covered wagon to Iola, Kansas. The boys walked most of the way and drove the cows behind the wagon. Grandfather Lorance took a claim about one mile northwest of Iola, Kansas, 160 acres on the Neosho River. This was in the Territorial days when a great contest was on which was to decide whether Kansas should be a free or a slave state. These were the old days of old John Brown of Osawatomie.
Kansas was admitted to the Union January 29, 1861 as a free state. Abraham Lincoln was inaugurated President of the United States March 4, 1861. Civil War began April 12, 1861. President Lincoln called for 75,000 volunteers for three months. George Riley was married, but Uncle Santford and Joseph Madison, my father enlisted in the Union Army. Father was in the 9th Kansas Calvary, Comp. E. Uncle Santford was in the regiment but in Co. D. They enlisted from Iola, Kansas and rode their own horses. When the three months was up, the boys re enlisted and served until the close of the war. Their service was confined to Missouri, Kansas and Arkansas. Father was 19 and Uncle Santford was 21. They were in the battles of Wilson Creek, Pea Ridge, Prairie Grove, Stone Land and other smaller engagements, including one with Quantrill, the same Quantrill that burned Lawrence, Kansas.
During the war father and Uncle Santford saved their money which gave them a start in live. About the close of the Civil War, the land known as the Osage reserve came in for settlement. This land comprised the last two tiers of counties in Southern Kansas. In 1866, Father pre-empted the farm in Elk County, Kansas known as the SE 1/4 of section28, Town 28, Range 13 East. This was in the northeast corner of Elk County three miles west of New Albany, Kansas and 5 1/2 miles southeast of Fall River, Kansas and 11 miles northwest of Fredonia, Kansas, the county seat of Wilson County.
New Albany was founded by Mr. and Mrs. Robert Mooney and named after their hometown in Indiana. Fall River was founded in 1880 by the Frisco Railroad because New Albany would not give them land for a round house. They built the roundhouse at Neodesha, Kansas, then founded Fall River to kill New Albany. Father selected this farm in 1863 while he was in the Army. His company was stationed here guarding a large band of Osage Indians. They wanted to keep them from joining the Confederates under General Price.
The following is from my mother: One morning in the early Spring of 1866, father started to ride to New Albany, Kansas. As he rode into the ford on Indian Creek on the east side of our farm, he saw a covered wagon. They had camped there the night before and had hitched up the horses to start on their journey for the day and had drove into the creek so the horses could drink. In the back of this wagon was a girl about 18 years old. She had long wavy black hair and blue eyes. She was standing in the back end of the wagon combing her hair. Father asked her where they were from and if they were looking for land? On being told the were, he said he knew of a good farm just west of his own. The folks in the wagon was Mr. & Mrs. George Knox and the girl was their oldest daughter, Sarah Jane Knox. They were form Danville, Illinois. The trip to New Albany was forgotten and father located his new friends on the farm adjoining his own on the west. The friendship then formed culminated in the marriage of Joseph Madison Spurgeon and Sarah Jane Knox, my father and mother. This was the first marriage in Elk County. The official history of Elk County mentions the marriage thus, January 5, 1868. In 1868, armed with the proper license Joseph Madison Spurgeon and Sarah Jane Knox rode on horseback to the only minister's house in the county to be married. They were told that he was on the bank of Fall River splitting rails. They rode over to where he was, made known the purpose for which they came. The minister's wife brought the Bible from the cabin and without dismounting from their horses, they were married and lived happy ever afterward.
They lived in a log house on the south side of Indian Creek. In this house, January 4, 1869, brother John was born. Andrew Johnson was President of the U.S.
The Bloodsoe boys. There were plenty of Indians in the County. Some white folks did not regard their rights as they should. The Indians claimed that the Bloodsoe boys stole their ponies and had shot some Indians so they notified the white men that if the boys were not killed by the first moon, they would scalp every white settler on Fall River.
In order to appease the Indians, a Vigilante Committee captured the Bloodsoe boys and shot them just a few hundred yards north of Taylor Wickersham's place near a big rock where everybody used to cut their names. Charley Kiccox gave five acres and the Bloodsoe's were buried there. This is the beginning of the Jackson Cemetery. Jackson was a brother-in-law and partner of Hiccox. Hence the cemetery took his name. Warrants were issued by Greenwood County for Dr. Taylor and Dr. Brown, supposed to be leaders of the Vigilantes. After several years, they finally come clear and the matter was dropped..." Continued on the notes of Joseph Ridgeway Spurgeon.

More About JOSEPH MADISON SPURGEON:
Burial: Jackson Cemetery, Elk County, Kansas

More About JOSEPH SPURGEON and SARAH KNOX:
Marriage: January 05, 1868, Elk County, Kansas

Children of JOSEPH SPURGEON and SARAH KNOX are:
i. JOHN8 SPURGEON, b. January 04, 1869.
71. ii. JOSEPH RIDGEWAY SPURGEON, b. May 28, 1876; d. 1955.
iii. CHARLEY SPURGEON.


Generation No. 8

45. WILLIAM HARRISON8 SPURGEON (JOSEPH M.7 SPURGIN, WILLIAM6, WILLIAM5, WILLIAM4, WILLIAM3, JOHN2, THE FAMILY OF1 SPURGEON) was born January 12, 1863 in Salem, Indiana, and died July 13, 1945 in Rural DeMotte, Indiana. He married SARAH LAUENA DENNEY October 15, 1885 in Salem, Indiana, daughter of THOMAS DENNEY and ANN HATTABAUGH. She was born December 22, 1867 in Salem, Indiana, and died December 15, 1957 in Beaverville, Illinois.

Notes for WILLIAM HARRISON SPURGEON:
In 1865, when William was about 2 years old, his father died. Family tradition says that he died of milk poisoning. Later, in 1878, William's mother married Johnathan Winslow. William was about 15 years old when this happened. William stated in later life that he did not get along with his step-father. Johnathan wouldn't let him go any place, so he would throw the saddle and bridle over the horse, and walk it a ways from the barn, being sure to keep out of sight of his step-father. Then, he would tighten up the saddle and gear and ride away. I guess, this is how he got away from home to court his bride. After he and his sister Suze received their inheritance from their Grandfather, and when he was about 22 years old, Willliam married Sarah Lauena Denny, on October 15, 1885.
William and Lauena bought a farm down at the bottom of "Lick Skillet Hill" in Monroe Township. The house, barn and chicken house set high up on the side of a hill, and the lane to the house weaved in and out of a creek bed that ran on the south side of the property. While living here all their children were born, Hattie born1886, Ellis born 1889, Nellie died in infancy, Ada born 1895, John Murray born 1898, Azalia born 1901, Beulah born 1904 and Joseph born 1906. The good farm land was used for farming rather than put a building on it. I visited the farm in the early 1990's, and none of the buildings were left standing. All that was left of the place was an open well. I was snooping around, when I by chance met an old Gentleman, Mr. Roy Ewing, who was at least 90 years old. He knew my grandparents and kindly show me around the old farm, and told me where all the buildings were at in the years past. At the corner of William's property was the Delaney Presbyterian Church. The property on which it stood was donated by William before it was build on June, 2 1904. It was being used for farm storage but, when I looked inside I could see that when it was a church it must have been beautiful. The walls were of naturally finished wooden boards which were still elegant as I looked in. Pastors James Hogue and Floyd Shafer, who held services in the church for years must have been proud of the beautiful wooden interior. When we finished our tour of the farm in my truck, Mr. Ewing asked me where the family got off to. He said that he used to play with John Murray as a child. I told him the family move to DeMotte. He told me to come back any time as we parted and that he was glad to meet me. For me to meet someone who knew the family more than seventy years after the family moved away was just short of miraculous. I was indeed happy to meet him also.
About 1907, William moved his family to a farm southeast of DeMotte, Indiana, that was bought from Henry Wood. The sand and muck lands of the farm was part of the Blue Sea. This large sea, which stretched from Wolcott to the Kankakee River was actually a large swamp that was drained in the early 1900's when a deep channel was dredged, clearing the Kankakee River. According to family tradition, by 1909 all the family was homesick and they sold the farm and moved back to Vallonia, Indiana, not far from Salem. At Vallonia, they raised onions on their farm. Here, Lauena became one of the first woman telephone switchboard operators. A cousin told a story that while Lauena was operating the switchboard, she looked up and saw a small child driving up the lane in a horseless carriage. She exclaimed, "Look there, that child has no business driving at that age." A close look revealed that her son, Joseph was at the wheel, barely able to see where he was going.
In 1912, William bought the same 100 acres that he had bought and sold on the families first trek north. This was the last move for William and Lauena and they made their home at this farm for the remainder of their years. By the time William had grandchildren, he was driving a horse drawn school bus. Cousin Janet in her old age tells of how she loved to see "that old country Gentleman" come up the lane with his horses to take her to school. Cousin Lee stated that William had a set of Morgan work horses that he was very proud of. Lee said that the Morgans were bread bigger then and were smarter than most work horses. They pulled together rather than separately as many other breeds. Lee said that William won a lot of bets pulling his Morgans against other horses that were bigger.
The "Great Depression" of the 1930's made hard times for most people in the United States. The farmers, however, were better off than most since they had a means to raise food. William and his family was, like most farmers of these bad times, mostly self sufficient. Lauena would raise turkeys and sell them every year to pay the taxes on the property.
World War II began in the late 1930's. William's youngest son, Joseph, joined the Army. Grandchildren Dale and Fred Schwanke joined the Air Force, while Doris Schwanke went in the Army and served with General Eisenhower's staff. Other of the family went, but I am ignorant of all who participated. On Doris' last leave home, William told her that he would not be around to see her again. His premonition proved true. In 1945, William became ill. Cousin John Spurgeon, a young lad at the time, was looking sad and down hearted being hurt and confused with what was going on with Grandpa. Grandpa noticed John's dilemma and reached down and patted John on the head saying, "Don't worry son, there ain't no Spurgeons died till he was at least eighty." After a pause he continued. "Unless someone shot him first."
William died shortly after at 3:33 P.M. July 13, 1945. His funeral was held at the Todd Funeral Home and he was buried in the DeMotte Cemetery. Many of the neighbors of Uncle John Muray heard of William's death and went to Murray's ripe wheat field and harvested it for him in this time of mourning. Aunt Ada thought very highly of their neighbor's consideration for their grief at this time.
Lauena remained on the farm until she was near death. She died at Beaverville, Illinois in a nursing home, one week before her ninetieth birthday. She too, was shown at the Todd Funeral Home and was buried in the DeMotte, Cemetery next to William. William and Lauena were members of the Methodist Church of DeMotte and took an active part in the community's church and welfare life. William was a deacon of the church. William and Lauena had 31 grandchildren.
Fred Schwanke (William Ferdinand), grandson of William and Lauena, a son of Ada and Earl Schwanke was born in 1918. He went to college at Indiana University and was a navigator on a bomber aircraft in WWII. After the war, he became a lawyer and set up practice in Monticello, Indiana. He married Imogene Snider and they had two children, Cheryl L. and Michael F. Fred and Imogene also had over a dozen foster children. After my father had died, Fred took a special interest in me. He became my father role model about the time I (Roger Spurgeon) became a teenager. He also insured that I knew the family on my father's side. He was a father and friend to me and I am deeply grateful to him and Imogene.
William and Lauena's children were: 1. Hattie 1886-1976 m. Harry Lusk, children Robert L., Grace E., Mildred, Glen Wm, Pauline, Harry C., and Eugene. 2. Ellis H. 1889-1968 m. first Rosa Hellen Snow, second Hulda Clark, children Kenneth R., Carl M., and Maurice R. 3.Nellie B. died in infancy. 4. Ada E. 1895-1972 m. Earl Schwanke, children Janet, Wm Ferdinand, Doris M., Marcella, Dale W., Earl Boyd, Bethel, Leland, Verlin (Gus), and Norma (died two years old). 5. John Murray 1898-1978 m. first Clara Terpstra second Ida (Terpstra) Schnelle, children first marriage Harry Bill, Grace Lauena, children second marriage John A., Clara Mae, Charles M., Jerry Joe and step-son James E. Schnelle. 6. Azalia M. 1901- m. Jay Pettet, child Eugene. 7. Beulah E. 1904-1970 m. first Millard Hart, second John Hissian children first marriage Shirley, Carol. 8. Joseph Thomas 1906-1961 m. first Edith Cox, second Ermil Maryla( Lilly) Spencer, children first marriage Paul Robert, Charles Roy, children second marriage Roger Glen and step-children Dallas D. Spencer, Essie K. Spencer and Calvin Duane Spencer.

William is connected to his Joseph Spurgin's family set by various court proceedings, settlement of Grandfather's estate and by 1840 through the 1880 census', and by his death certificate.

More About WILLIAM HARRISON SPURGEON:
Burial: July 16, 1945, DeMotte Cemetery

More About SARAH LAUENA DENNEY:
Burial: December 18, 1957, DeMotte Cemetery

More About WILLIAM SPURGEON and SARAH DENNEY:
Marriage: October 15, 1885, Salem, Indiana

Children of WILLIAM SPURGEON and SARAH DENNEY are:
72. i. JOSEPH THOMAS9 SPURGEON, b. October 24, 1906, Salem, Indiana; d. July 25, 1961, Rural DeMotte, Indiana.
73. ii. HATTIE SPURGEON, b. October 06, 1886, Washington County, Indiana; d. 1967.
74. iii. ELLIS HARRISON SPURGEON, b. March 03, 1889, Washington County, Indiana; d. March 26, 1968.
75. iv. ADA ESTHER SPURGEON, b. July 10, 1895, Washington County, Indiana; d. 1972, Demotte, Indiana.
76. v. JOHN MURRAY SPURGEON, b. August 11, 1898, Washington County, Indiana; d. November 27, 1978, DeMotte, Indiana.
77. vi. BEULAH EDITH SPURGEON, b. June 03, 1904, Washington County, Indiana; d. 1970.
vii. NELLIE B. SPURGEON, b. Washington County, Indiana.
78. viii. AZALIA MAE SPURGEON, b. April 21, 1901, Washington County, Indiana.