Ahnentafel #52 - Leonard Gurley

Leonard Cagle Gurley

Born: February 10, 1823, North Carolina
Died: August 23, 1870, Wayne Co., IL

Buried: Bailey Cemetery, Wayne Co., IL

Married:
1) Nancy Ann Warren, Sept. 22, 1844, Massac Co., IL
2) Susanna Morehead, Sept. 30, 1857, Massac Co., IL
3) Susanna Morehead Sept. 5, 1869, Louisville, IL

Divorced Susanna Morehead in 1867 when he accused her of adultery with Francis Hillhouse and other men.  She counter sued and sought an injunction in order to retain her dower rights.  She accused him of being a drunk and attempting to sell all his property in order to keep her from having any.   She also accused him of preventing her from appearing in court when he filed for divorce.
This document gives the following account of their property. 

Susanna owned 80 acres in Massac Co. along with notes and mortgages to be paid to her, a total value of between four or five hundred dollars.

Leonard owned "large amounts of property both real and personal which has been accumulated by the joint labor." That property consists in part of 1 large gray horse, 1 bay horse, 1 bay filly, 1 jack and jenette (jenny), 2 yoke of steers, 3 cows, 2 yearlings, about 40 head of sheep and  about 100 head of hogs.  He owned a steam mill and grist mill worth about $1500.

Occupation: farmer, merchant, grist mill, saw mill

Leonard ran a store near Johnsonville and made runs to St. Louis to purchase merchandise.  It was a gathering place for the farmers in the community.  For lack of entertainment men would fight each other.  Leonard was involved in at least one of these in which his opponent pulled a knife and cut Leonard so badly his intestines came out.  His wife Nancy cleaned them and sewed him up because there was no doctor.  This injury contributed to his death years later.  Another story about Leonard was that he liked to drink and when drunk would throw money into the fire and laugh about it. 

Migration:
ca. 1831 Leonard's parents moved to Tennessee
ca. 1837 the family moved again to Pope County, IL, to the area of which became Massac County in 1843
ca. 1849 Leonard moved his own family to Wayne Co. settling in Arrington Prairie Twp. north of Wayne City and near Bailey Church (Arrington Prairie).

Records: 

1830 North Carolina, Anson Co. census - age 7 living with his parents

1840 Illinois, Pope Co. census - age 17 living with his parents

1845 not found in census

1848 Illinois, Massac Co. - tax roll owed $85

• 30 horses
• 15 cattle
• 20 hogs/sheep
• 20 all other personal
• 85 total value of personal property

1849 Illinois, Massac Co. - tax roll owed $155

• 75 horses/mules
• 15 cattle
• 30 hogs/sheep
• 20 wagons/carriages
• 15 all other personal property

1848 - Oct. 5 - Illinois - Massac Co. - Leonard & Nancy Gurley sold 35 73/100 acres to John Gurley, most likely his brother. 

[Spelling not corrected and yes, I type badly, but I don't spell this badly!] 

This indenture maid and Entered into by and between Lenard Cagle Gurly and Nancy Gury his wife of the County of Massac and State of Illinois of the first part and John Gurly of the State and County aforesaid of the second part witnesseth that the said party of  the first part for and in consideration of the sum of one hundred and thirty dollars curant money of the United States to them in hand paid by the said party of the second part the Receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged Hath this day bargained sold and conveyed and by these presents do bargain sell and convey and confirm unto the said party of the Second part and to his [heirs] or assigns the following tract of land lying and being in the County of Massac and State of Illinois and being in the district of land Subject to Sale at Shawneetown Illinois and known on the maps of the United States Survey as the South East 1/4 North West of Section No. thirty in township No. fourteen South of Range No. five East containing thirty five acres and seventy three hundredths to have and to hold the aforesaid tract of land with all and singular the hereditements and appurtenances there unto belonging or in any wise appurtaining to the same and the said party of the first part do covenant to and with the said party of the second part that they will forever warrant and defend the title to the aforesaid to the said party of the Second part and to his heirs and assigns forever free from the claim or claims of all persons whomsoever lawfully claiming the same and by these presents in testimony where of the said Lenard Cagle Gurley and Nancy Gurley the party of the first part hath hereunto set their hands and seals the day and date first above written. 

Lenard Cagle Gurly {Seal}, Nancy Gurley {Seal} 

State of Illinois, Massac County - on the date hereof personally appeared before me Benajiah Thompson the undersigned an acting Justice of the peace of said county Lenard Cagle Gurly and Nancy Gurly his wife who are persons known to me as the Identical persons who Executed the within and foregoing deed of conveyance and acknowledged the Signing Sealing and delivering of said deed as their free and voluntary act and deed for the purpose therein Expressed and the said Nancy Gurly wife of the said Lenard Cagle Gurly being by me Examined separate and a part from her said husband and the mater being fully Explained she then again acknowledged the Signing, Sealing and delivering the written deed of Conveyance to be an act of her own free will and thereby relinquishes her Right and title to said land in testamony whereof where I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 5th day of October AD 1849 Benajiah Thomson, JP

[The next deed in the book is dated March 5, 1850 from Stephen & Mary Ann Warren to John Gurley $75 for 40 acres: SE1/4 SE1/4 Sec. 21 T14S, R4E]

1850 Illinois, Wayne Co. census - age 27, farmer living with Nancy and 3 children.  William Leatt, 29 is living with the family and listed as a farmer.

1852 - Sept. 2 - Illinois, Wayne Co. - Leonard Gurley bought land from the State of Illinois by a deed.  Conveyed the SW1/4, NE1/4 Sec. 18 T1S, R6E, 40 acres as shown by the Entry Book of Wayne County, Illinois. From Harlan & Vernetta Greenwalt abstract.  [Wayne County courthouse burned, deed books destroyed]   

1853, July 28 - Illinois, Wayne Co. Leonard Gurley bought land from John Trousdale by warranty deed, recorded July 28, 1853 Book F of Deeds page 430. Conveyed the NE1/4, NE1/4 Sec. 18, T1S, R6E.  From Harlan & Vernetta Greenwalt abstract. [Wayne County courthouse burned, deed books destroyed]

1853, Aug. 6 - Illinois, Wayne Co. Leonard Gurley bought land from Aaron Graham by warranty deed, recorded March 17, 1855, Book G of Deeds, page 472. Conveys the W1/2, SE1/4, NE1/4, Sec. 18, T1S, R6E.  From Harlan & Vernetta Greenwalt abstract. 

1855 Illinois, Wayne Co. census - age 32, living with Nancy and six children.

1858, April 4 - Illinois, Wayne Co. Leonard & Susanna Gurley sold land to David A. Moss by warranty deed, recorded December 11, 1858, Book J of Deeds page 401, conveyed 7 acres off the west side of 40 acres off the east side of the E1/2, NW 1/4, Sec. 18, T1S, R6E.  From Harlan & Vernetta Greenwalt abstract. 

1860 Illinois, Wayne Co. census - age 37, living with Susanna and seven children.  Real estate holdings valued at $2662 and personal property $1510.  Son J.J. listed as deaf and dumb.

1865 Illinois, Wayne Co. census - age 42, living with Susanna and ten children

1867 - April 17 - Illinois, Wayne Co. - Leonard gave a mortgage to R.T. Forth recorded April 20, 1867.  Book E of Mortgages, page 470. Conveyed the N1/2, NE1/4 & SW1/4, NE1/4 Sec. 18, T1S, R6E.  Satisfied of record.  From Harlan & Vernetta Greenwalt abstract.

1867 - August - Illinois, Wayne Co. - Bill for Divorce Leonard Gurley vs. Susanna Gurley - in Wayne County Circuit Court, August Term 1867.  

1867 - September 30 - Illinois, Wayne Co. - Injunction Susanna Gurley vs. Leonard Gurley

1870 Illinois, Wayne Co. census - age 47, farmer $2500 real estate and $1400 personal estate living with Susanna and 9 children.  Charles Bobbitt age 22 is a farm hand.  Julia Keen is 22 housekeeper and her 2 year old son Henry are also in the household.

Probate: 
Leonard didn't write a will, but his estate went into chancery court when Susanna and Leonard's adult children sued the minor children in order to force the division of the property. 

Children of Leonard & Nancy (Warren) Gurley:
Daniel J. b. 1845 md. Julia (Miflin) Keen 9/4/1870 

• Charles b. 1874 may be the same as Charles M. Gurley living in Montgomery Co., IL
• Lidora b. 1/1880

John Jasper b. 1/1846, d. 10/3/1927 md. Mary Eichorn 5/3/1893.  J.J. & Mary were both born deaf and dumb.  They had no children.
Eliza b. 1848, d. 10/31/1897 md. Joseph Milner 1866

• Matilda Nancy b. 5/24/1867, d. 8/13/1933 md. James Darneille 1893 
• Joseph Darnelle
• Helen Darnelle
• James Darnelle
• Clara Darnelle
• Matilda Darnelle
• Mary Jane b. 1/9/1870, d. before 1880
• Emma b. 8/3/1873 md. Albert Baker 5/24/1908
• Eloise Baker
• Olive Belle b. 8/15/1876, d. 6/14/1947 md. Warren Hardy, 6/22/1910 
• Amherst Hardy

William M. b. 1849
Sarah Jane b. 1854, d. 1882 md. Jeremiah Whetstone 2/22/1877 

• Elmer Levi b. 7/1879, never married

Mary Ann b. 8/15/1855, d. 2/1931 md. 1) William Fraim 1/18/1874, 2) Henry Wilfong ca. 1882, 3) John Henson 12/7/1893 & 4) Alfred Maxwell 6/2/1910

• Ella Fraim b. 4/9/1875, d. 2/15/1956 md. 1) William Turner 12/27/1898 & 2) Austin Talbert 1/3/1906 
• Kenneth Talbert b. 3/29/1907, d. 3/1/1993 md. 1) Roberta Hammel 1927 & 2) Gladys Daniels 1943 - children: Charles & Gene
• Vernon Talbert b. 1909 md. Evelyn (--?--) - children: Beverly & Gerald
• Louis Oliver Talbert aka Luke b. 1/30/1911, d. 10/10/1995 md. Lola Butler 1936 - Diane & Jeannette
• Louella Marie Talbert md. 1) Noah Chapman 1932, 2) Howard Robertson 1941, 3) Chester Newby 1960 - child: Bernard Chapman
• Lillie May Fraim b. 6/1879 md. 1) Nicholas Henson & 2) James McKinney 7/12/1915 
• Lewis Henson
• Herbie Henson
• unnamed child
• Cicero Henson
• Nora Henson
• Clyde Henson
• Ollie Myrtle Wilfong b. 5/10/1886, d. 9/3/1929 md. William Henson 11/13/1904
• Goldie Henson
• Pansy Henson
• Bernard Henson
• Glenn Henson 
• Leonard Henson
• DeForest Henson
• Donald Henson
• Billy Henson
• Emery Wilfong b. 8/25/ 1889, d. 1968 md. Minnie Reynolds
• Kenneth Wilfong 
• Emery Wilfong
• Wanda Wilfong
• Chester Wilfong b. 1/20/1892, d. 1/31/1920 md. Laura Freese 1/29/1911 
• Herman Wilfong 
• Herschel Wilfong
• Audrey Wilfong
• Chester Wilfong
• John Henson Jr. b. ca 1895, d. 1965 md. Eva Holler 1913 
• John Henson
• Nettie Henson b. 1898

Children of Leonard & Susanna (Morehead) Gurley:
Henry Morehead b. 11/28/1858, d. 10/21/1913 md. 1) Sarah Anderson 9/19/1887 & 2) Clara Davis 11/1/1901 

• Fannie Mae b. 6/10/1888 d. 6/16/1966 md. Joseph Mateer 5/19/1920, no children, raised by Louis & Fannie (Runyon) Gurley below
• James b. 9/28/1889, d. 10/27/1911, age 22, never married

Nancy Ann b. 11/23/1860, d. 1/13/1930 md. Theodore Ellis 10/15/1885 

• Jesse Ellis b. 8/1886, d. 1907, age 21 never married
• Grace Ellis b. 11/1887
• Florence Ellis b. 6/1893

Alfred Louis b. 3/23/1862, d. 10/30/1934 md. Fannie Elston Runyon 1/30/1890 no children, they raised Fannie Mae after her parents died
Elizabeth Ellen b. 1865
James Robert 
Alice b. 8/25/1869, d. 11/30/1929 md. Joseph Perrine 1/10/1893 no children
Leonard Cagle Jr. b. 1871 after his father had died, d. 11/28/1876 age 5

Revised 1/20/2022