Tuesday, April 21, 2015

Ahnentafel #53 - Susanna Morehead

Susanna Morehead

Born: 1837 in Kentucky
Died: January 20, 1883 in Wayne Co., IL

Buried: Bailey Church Cemetery (Arrington Prairie) in Wayne Co., IL

Married:
1) Leonard Cagle Gurley, Sept. 30, 1857 in Massac Co., IL
2) Leonard Cagle Gurley, Sept. 5, 1869 in Louisville, IL
3) Peter Hockenberger, Oct. 1878 probably in Wayne Co., IL

Susanna and Leonard were divorced between 1867 and 1869.  He accused her of adultery with several men.  She counter sued denying the charges.  Susanna also sought an injunction against Leonard to keep him from liquidating property in order to prevent her from getting it.  In that injunction filing she claimed that he prevented her from going to
Fairfield to appear in court.

Immigration: Susanna's father moved the family to Massac County, Illinois about 1840.

Records:
1840 not found on census

1845  not found on census

1850 Illinois, Massac Co. census - age 13 living with her widowed mother and siblings

1855 not found on census

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. [Wayne County Courthouse burned, early deed records no longer exist.]

1860 Illinois, Wayne Co. census - age 23 living with Leonard and seven children ages 1 to 14.  Six are her stepchildren. Her stepson John is listed as deaf and dumb from birth. 

1865 Illinois, Wayne Co. census - age 28 living with Leonard and ten children, newborn to 20 in age.  Susanna is the mother of four of them.

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.

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

1870 Illinois, Wayne Co. census - age 32 living with Leonard and nine children, ages 1 to 24.  The six youngest children are Susanna's.  Included in the household are Charles Bobbitt a 22 farm hand, Julia Keen a 22 housekeeper and Julia's 2 year old son, Henry.

1871 - August to 1876 Illinois, Wayne Co. - Partition & Dower.  Leonard's older children & Susanna sued the minor children in order to settle the estate and obtained their inheritance.  The documentation runs to 69 pages and includes signed receipts and accounts of the different distributions to the children over the course of the case until all the assets were liquidated and money completely distributed to all heirs equally.  The main portion appears below. 

Susanna Gurley, Daniel Gurley, Eliza Milner, Joseph Milner, John J. Gurley & William M. Gurley vs. Sarah J. Gurley, Mary A. Gurley, Henry Gurley, Nancy A. Gurley, Louis Gurley, Ellen Gurley, Leonard Gurley, James R. Gurley, Alley Gurley. 

NW1/2, NE1/4 and NE1/4, NW1/4, Sec. 18, T1S, R6E

On this 3rd day of the term came the complainants by S.F. & J.G. Crews their solicitors, and the defendants, Sarah J. Gurley, Mary A. Gurley, Henry Gurley, Nancy A. Gurley, Louis Gurley, Ellen Gurley, James R. Gurley, Alley Gurley and Leonard Gurley by R.D. Adams their Guardian ad litem:

And it appearing to the court that each of said defendants, were duly served with process, more than ten days previous to the commencement of this term of court:

And it having further appeared that said defendants, are minors, under the age of twenty one years, and the Court having appointed R.D. Adams, Guardian ad litem for said defendants:  And the said Guardian ad litem having filed a general answer thereto:  and the court on the 5th day of the term having ordered that this cause be referred to Allen Bleakley as Special Master to take proof of the matters alleged in said bill, and report the same to the court:  and the said Master having made his report which is hereby approved and confirmed, and this cause coming on to be heard upon the bill the answer of said defendants by R.D. Adams their guardian ad litem together with exhibits, and testimony taken and reported to the court by the said Special Master:

And the court being fully advised in the premises, on consideration thereof doth find:  That on or about the 23rd day of August, A.D. 1870, on Leonard Gurley late of said County, departed this life intestate, leaving the complainant Susana Gurley his widow, the complainants, Daniel Gurley, Eliza Gurley intermarried with Joseph Milner, John J. Gurley and William H. Gurley and the said defendants, his children and only heirs at law.  That at the time of his death the said Leonard Gurley was seized in fee simple of the following lands situate in said County and State, to-wit:

SE1/4, SE1/4; SE1/4, NE1/4 and the NE1/4, SE1/4 Sec. 7, T1S, R6E

W1/2, SE1/4, NE1/4; 40 acres off the E1/2 NW1/4; SW1/4, NE1/4 and the W1/2 NE1/4, NW1/4 Sec. 18, T1S, R6E

The Court doth thereof order, adjudge, and decree that the said complainant Susana Gurley, widow of the said Leonard Gurley, deceased be endowed of one full third part of the said lands and premises and that the said Daniel Gurley, Eliza Milner, John Gurley, William Gurley, Sarah Gurley, Mary A. Gurley, Nancy A. Gurley, Henry Gurley, Martha Gurley, James Gurley, Alley Gurley, Leonard Gurley and Louis Gurley are each entitled to one thirteenth of said premises in fee simple subject to said dower.

And the court doth further order, adjudge and decree, that the said Susana Gurley recover her dower in the said premises, and that after the assignment of dower, partition be made of the remainder between the said heirs, according to their respective interests therein; that Ephraim Cates, Isaac Anderson, and Joseph Bailey, neither of whom appear to be connected with any of said parties, by consanguinity or affinity and are entirely disinterested, be and they are hereby appointed commissioners to assign dower and make partition of said premises; that each of said commissioners shall take an oath as required by law, and go upon the premises and first set off, allot, and assign to the Susana Gurley her dower in said premises, by metes and bounds, according to quality and quantity of said premises, giving her the homestead or dwelling house of the homestead if she desires it, and they may assign the whole of said dower in a body, or out of two or more of such tracts, as they may deem best of all persons, interested;

and secondly, after assigning the widower's dower, as aforesaid, said commissioners are ordered to make partition of the remainder of said premises between the aforesaid heirs of said Leonard Gurley, respectively assigning, to each one Thirteenth part thereof by metes and bounds, and make report under their hands, and seals, to the court during the present or next succeeding term thereof and if said Commissioners shall find that said premises are so circumstanced that dower cannot __ assigned or a division made without manifest prejudice, to the proprietors of the same, they will make a fair and impartial appraisement of the value of the above described Real Estate and so report to the Court and cause continued.

And whereas at the April term 1872 of said Court a further decree was rendered in said cause, to-wit:

Susanna Gurley et al vs. Alley Gurley et al, partition and dower

And now on this 3rd day of the term came Isaac Anderson, Joseph Bailey and Ephraim Cates, Commissioners appointed by the Court to assign dower and make partition of the lands mentioned in the decree obtained in the above cause at the August Term, 1871, of this Court, and made report of their proceedings in the words, and figures following, to wit:

State of Illinois, Wayne County

Wayne Circuit Court to April Term 1872

Susana Gurley et al vs. Alley Gurley et al, partition and dower

We the undersigned commissioners, appointed by the court to make partition and assigns dower of the following described lands, to-wit:

SE1/4, SE1/4, SE1/4, NE1/4, and NE1/4, SE1/4 of Sec. 7 and the W1/2 of the SE1/4, NE1/4, N1/2 NE1/4 40 acres off the E side of the E1/2 NW1/4 and SW1/4, NE1/4 of Sec. 18 and the W1/2, NE1/4, NW1/4 Sec. 18 all in T1S, R6E of the County and State aforesaid, being the land of which Leonard Gurley died seized, would respectfully report that we went upon the said above described

premises, and assigned dower to the widow Susana Gurley upon the following lands on which the homestead is situated, to-wit:

The NE1/4, NE1/4 Sec. 18, also W1/2, SE1/4, NE1/4, Sec. 18 and the E1/2 SW1/4, NE1/4, Sec. 18 T1S, R6E and that in our opinion

the remainder of the said lands are not susceptible of division without manifest prejudice to the properties of the same that if the remainder of said premises were divided among the thirteen heirs, the amount to each would be so small that it would be of little value to any of the parties owning the interests, and that we appraise the value of said premises as follows, to-wit:

  • NE1/4, NW1/4, Sec. 18, 40 acres, $360
  • NE1/4, NE1/4, Sec. 18, 40 acres at $500
  • W1/2, SE1/4, NE1/4 Sec. 18, 20 acres at $220
  • E/12, SW1/4, NE1/4, Sec. 18 20 acres $220
  • W1/2, SW1/4, NE1/4, Sec. 18, 20 acres $200
  • E1/2, SE1/4, NW1/4, Sec. 18, 20 acres $200
  • NW1/4, NE1/4, Sec. 18, 40 acres $320
  • SE1/4, SE1/4, Sec. 7, 40 acres $320
  • NE1/4, SE1/4, Sec. 7, 40 acres $260
  • SE1/4, NE1/4, Sec. 7, 40 acres $260

all situated in T1S, R6E, Wayne County, Illinois.

Given under our hands and seals this 3rd day of October 1871.

Ephraim Cates (seal), Isaac Anderson (seal), J.S. Bailey (seal)

Sworn to and subscribed before me this 3rd day of October 1871.  J.R. Dales J.P.

And the court having examined the said report doth find, that the assignment of dower and the appraisement of said lands, was fairly and impartially made by said Commissioners and that they have in all respects, proceeded in accordance with the law and the terms of the decree heretofore made in this cause and being fully advised in the premises doth order, adjudge and decree that the proceedings of said Commissioners, and their report, be, and the same are hereby approved.  And thereupon, this cause coming on to be heard upon said report, and the court being fully advised on consideration thereof, doth order and decree, that the title to the dower assigned by said commissioners in and to lands therein named to-wit:

NE/14, NE1/4, Sec. 18; W1/2, SE1/4, NE1/4 Sec. 18 and E1/2, SW1/4, NE1/4 Sec. 18 T1S, R6E

and the same is hereby vested in the said Susana Gurley during her life and the said lands, shall be sold subject to the said dower estate, and that the remainder of said premises, to-wit:

SE1/4, NE1/4, Sec. 7; NE1/4, SE1/4, Sec. 7; SE1/4, SE1/4, Sec. 7; NW1/4, NE1/4 Sec. 18; W1/2, SW1/4, NE1/4, Sec. 18; E1/2, SE1/4, NW1/4, Sec. 18; and NE1/4, NW1/4 Sec. 18 all in T1S R6E, Wayne County, Illinois

be sold on the premises at public auction, to the highest and best bidder or bidders on the following terms, to-wit:

10% cash in hand and of the remainder ¼ in six months, ¼ in 12 months ¼ in 18 months and ¼ in 24 months from date of sale, the purchaser or purchasers to give notes with approved personal security, and mortgage or mortgages on the premises bought to secure the purchase money.

Court ordered that sale be publicized for four weeks prior to the sale.  The Commissioner was to pay $125 in court costs and attorney fees and bring the balance of the money realized from said sale into court to be distributed among the parties entitled thereto according to their respective interests; and shall report his proceedings herein to this Court at the next term hereof, to which time this cause is continued.

Sale occurred May 30, 1872 between the hours of 10 o'clock a.m. and 4 o'clock p.m. of said day; and whereas at said sale Leander Berry bid the sum of $135.00 for the W1/2, SW1/4, NE1/4, Sec. 18, T1S, R6E also the sum of $135 for the E/12, SE1/4, NW1/4, Sec. 18, T1S, R6E which being the highest  and best bids therefor the said tracts were struck off and sold to him at and for said sums and that the said Leander Berry having fully complied with the terms of said sale.

  • Inventory of estate
  • Sale bill of personal property $1502
  • Notes & Accounts $327.41
  • Amounts collected $28.42
  • Debts $65.39
  • Claims $1602.31
  • Court fees and costs $326
  • Taxes $60
  • Net assets $1792.44
  • Net liabilities $1988.31
  • Total -$195.87

March 23, 1874 - 

  • $95.50 to William Gurley
  • $100 to Eliza Millner
  • $160 to Sarah A. Gurley
  • $34.25 to John Gurley
  • $35.25 Daniel J. Gurley

Money divided among the children

  • Dec. 3, 1872 - $137.72
  • June 4, 1873 - $274
  • Jan. 20, 1874 - $97.65
  • June 1, 1874 - $255.73
  • July 6, 1874 - $70
  • Sept. 1874 - $1235
  • Oct. 16, 1874 - $55.50 

1872 - May 30 - Illinois - Wayne Co. - broadside advertising commissioner's sale included in the above court case:

Commissioner's Sale.  Fine Chance For Investment Ina Large Lot of Splendid Timbered Lands near the line of the proposed East and West Railroad about 20 miles West of Fairfield. BRICK RESIDENCE and Mill Property on the land. Title Perfect.  

By virtue of a decree made and entered at the April term, A.D. 1872, of the Wayne Circuit Court, I will offer for sale on the premises on the 30th Day of May next, between the hours of 10 o'clock a.m. and 4 o'clock p.m., of said day, the following lands, to-wit:

Ne qr ne qr, w hf se qr ne qr, e hf sw qr ne qr, Sec 18, t 1 sr 6e e, (will be sold subject to widow's dower), and se qr ne qr, se qr se qr, Sec 7, nw ne, w hf sw ne, e hf se nw and ne nw SEc 18, all in town one [1] south range six [6] east, 3 P.M., Wayne County, Illinois, being the lands of which Leonard Gurley died seized. Said lands will be sold on a credit of six, twelve, eighteen and twenty-four months, (except ten per cent. of the purchase money, which is to be paid cash in hand), the purchaser giving note with approved personal security and a mortgage on the premises sold to secure the payment of the purchase money.  Dated this 23rd day of April, A.D., 1872. James C. Stanley, Commissioner.  S.F. & J.G. Crews, Atty's. [end of broadside] 

 State of Illinois, Wayne County - J.G. Crews, being duly sworn, on oath says that he posted six printed notices copies of the foregoing, in six of the most public places in said Wayne County, four weeks previous to day of sale.  J.G. Crews.  Subscribed & sworn to July 15, 1872 R.D. Adams, NP

1880 Illinois, Wayne Co. census - age 43 living at the County Poor Farm in Lamard Twp. Listed as Susanna Hockenberger, boarder, abscess on hip, idiotic, born Illinois.  Her children were scattered:
  • Henry aged 22 living in Sangamon Co., IL, farm laborer in Lemuel Babb's home
  • Nancy aged 20 not found on census
  • Louis aged 18 living in Pawnee, IL, servant in George Weber's home
  • Elizabeth aged 15 married Henry Powell living in Bedford Twp. in Wayne Co., IL
  • J.R. aged 14 not found on census yet 
  • Alice aged 12 living in Indian Prairie Twp. in Wayne Co., IL with Stephen Carter's family 
Children:
Henry Morehead
Nancy Ann
Alfred Louis
Elizabeth Ellen
James Robert
Alice

Revised 1/14/2022

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