Vollintine Family History

Notable among the pioneers of Christian County are Mr. and Mrs. George Wesley Vollintine (my paternal grandmother's grandfather), who did much to develop the agriculture of the area. Representative of the hardy, self-sufficient stock responsible for the growth of our democracy, the Vollintine family left an indelible mark upon the history of Christian County, although but one descendant is a current resident. He is Eddie Witmer Vollintine, son of Eddie Ulysses Vollintine and grandson of George Wesley Vollintine.   GEORGE WESLEY VOLLlNTINE was born October 14, 1818, near near  New Douglas, Bond County, Illinois, the son of William Bigford Vollintine, a veteran of the War of 1812, and Frances Plant Vollintine, daughter of Williamson Plant, a Revolutionary War soldier. George Wes!ey obtained his early education through subscription schools and later attended an academy. Until he was about 21 years old he worked, with his father on the family farm in Bond County, at  this time going with an older brother to Wisconsin to clear land, thus accumulating the money to begin his own farming operation. On September 2, 1845, George Wesley married Mary Martha Clark. She was born near Hopkinsville, Kentucky, on September 12, 1825, the daughter of  Dr. James Chancellor Clark and Hannah Henderson Clark. The Clark family migrated to Christian County, Illinois, in the early 1830's and the wedding of George Wesley and Mary Martha was performed in the Clark home in Bear Creek Township. James Chancellor Clark, Hannah Henderson Clark, and numerous members of the Clark family are buried in the Clark Family Cemetery, which is located on the Gabriel J. Miller farm about one and one-half miles east of Clarksdale.

George Wesley and Mary Martha Vollintine spent practically all of their married life on their farm just west of Taylorville. The Christian County Fairgrounds is located on a portion of the original farm. The first Vollintine home in the county was a log cabin, but later a large, attractive home was built. Much of the material for the construction of this home was brought from St. Louis, and the house stood for many years as a reminder of the material success achieved through thrift and industry from very humble beginnings. In this house George Wesley died on November 26, 1910, in his ninety-third year, and here Mary Martha passed away on August 29, 1905, aged 80 years.

To the Vollintines were born the following children: Cordelia Susanne (married Andrew J. Willey), Hannah Frances, Cyrena Ann (married Alfred Ewing Boyd), William Ewing, James Clark, Linnaeus Linder, Emma Lydia, George Robert ( my paternal great grandfather married Alice Lucretia Slater.), Mary Belle, Elizabeth Irene (twin, married Clyde H. Sattley), Albert Hale (twin, married Eleanor Minnie Goodenough), Jennie Plant, Martha Henderson, Eddie Ulysses (married Edith Maude Witmer).

The Vollintines were charter members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, which was organized in Taylorville in 1849, and they continued active in this body until it was absorbed by the Presbyterian Church of Taylorville. They were particularly interested in the advance of education and in 1865 were among the founders of Lincoln College at Lincoln, Illinois. Each of their children was given the best academic advantages of the period, and most of them became students at Lincoln.

George Wesley and Mary Martha Vollintine are buried on the family lot in the Taylorville Cemetery. Nine of their children are also buried on the same lot. Albert Hale, Elizabeth Irene, and Eddie Ulysses are buried elsewhere in the cemetery; George Robert is buried at Rochester, Illinois, and Hannah Frances (born October 11, 1849, died October 14, 1849, the only child who did not reach maturity) was among the first to be buried in the Clark Family Cemetery at Clarksdale. Her tiny coffin was carried there for burial by her father as he rode his horse over roads made almost impassable by heavy October rains.

From: Christian County History Book 1-1880 (1969)

WILLIAM BIGFORD VOLLENTINE (my paternal grandmother's great grandfather) was born in Bladen County, North Carolina, March 21, 1791 and died Dec. 13, 1868. He was the son of Hardy and Nancy (Johnson) Vollentine. He immigrated to Humphrey County, Tennessee where he remained until 1816 when he moved to Illinois. In 1816, accompanied by his cousins, Benjamin, Hugh and Edward Johnson, he went to Illinois Territory where, during the summer, a cabin was built and some ground was cleared in Bond County near the present site of Pocahontas. They brought with them 60 heads of cattle which they herded on Mound Prairie north of Shoal Creek in Bond County near the creek. There was a spring near there, too, where they made their camp anal they cut a supply of prairie grass and stocked it ready to feed the cattle for the coming winter. After frost had killed every living thing, a prairie fire broke out and burned their hay, also their camp and all contents. They drove their cattle to St. Louis and at first planned to enter land near that place which could be had at the Government price of $1.25 per acre. They finally decided to locate near Pocahontas.

He was a soldier in the War of 1812 and was a private under Captain Joseph Williams, Co. of Mounted Gunman, Dyers Tennessee Volunteers.

William was married three times and was the father of 23 children. His first marriage was to Fannie Plant, Oct. 8, 1818. Children of this union were: 1. George W. . who married Martha Clark (Taylorville relatives) , 2. Hardy married (?) , 3. Betsey Married a Mr. Cundiff,  4. Nancy first married a Mr. Christian, then a Mr. Brown,  5. William Plant Vollentine married Patsy Jones,  6. Jackson married Nancy Weston (he was a soldier of the Black Hawk War.), 7. Patsy married a Mr. Jones.

William was married the second time to Sophia SUGG, Aug. 6, 1825.
Their children 'were: 1. James, who married Louisa Jernigan (sister to your Aunt Fannie's husband) , 2. John married Alice Watson. 3. Columbus married Sarah Bentley. 4. Ben married Peggy. 5. Fannie married Ben Long. 6. Jane married a Mr. Jones. 7. Rebecca married W. Bunn. 8. Lettie married J. S. Ridgway. Lou1sanns,10. Saunders, 11. Elizabeth, all died young.

He's third marriage vas to Mrs. Elsie Brewer Prickett. Their children were: 1. Charlie, married three times. Last wife lives in Sorento. 2. Jeanette married John Jones. 3. Lou married Dr. Sharp. 4. Maggie married Mr. Williams. 5. Lettie married Mr. Greening.

W. B. Vollentine was one of prominent. Men of Bond County and became a large land owner and at one time owned 2000 acres. He took a lively interest in the affairs of his county. Served as Justice of Peace. He was County Commissioner and an Associate Judge. For many years was a leader in the Methodist Episcopal Church.

 On, the SUGG side were Sophia's two sisters who married PLANTS, brothers of William B. Vollentine's first wife. Brother Josiah SUGG was a prominent man in early history of Bond County. He was County Sheriff and also County Treasurer. (Information from Letty Wise, Granddaughter of Aunt Lettie).

Source:
Information given to Gladys Fern Vollentine-Arbuthnot, daughter of Benjamin George Vollentine and Charlotte (Easley) Vollentine. Other information from Lettie Wise's granddaughter at Greenville, IL.

My Known Vollintine Ancesters: