The Feuerstein Family
FIRESTONES of Missouri also Proffit or Prophet and Bingham
As compiled by George Blackwell, 1979
Information taken from the following sources:
- FIRESTONE Family of America, Chicago, 1904. Copy at the Genealogical Society, Salt Lake City,
Utah, includes five genealogical charts.
- Knittle, W.A.; Early Palatine Emigration, 1937
-Strassburger and Hink; Pennsylvania- German Pioneers
-Pennsylvania Archives, Series Three, Five, and Six
-First Census of the United State, Washington, D.C., 1790
-Lancaster Orphans Court Records, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
-W.J. Hinke, Pastoral Records of Reverand John Waldschmidt, Cocalico, Lancaster County,
Pennsylvania, 1752-1786.
-Lutheran Church Records, Berg Alsace, France
-W. M. Clemens, Virginia Wills Before 1779. 1952 Edition
-Greene County, Missouri Census Records
-Clear Creek Cemetery Records, Greene County, Missouri
-Family Bible of several Firestone Families.
FOUNDERS of the AMERICAN FIRESTONE FAMILY
Among the many Alsation families which emigrated from Europe to America in the mideighteenth century were the Feuersteins of Berg, a far village forty miles northwest of
Strassbourg. Though Germans in customs and religion and language, they were French subjects
and the men were liable for conscription in the French army. Contracting their services as farm
laborers in exchange for ship passage, many Alsatians migrated to Pennsylvania. Once
qualifying for entry at Philadelphia, they generally disappeared from the records for several
years, to later reappear as farm owners and to Anglicize their names, to inter-marry with
Pennsylvania German or Alsation families, and after the Revolutionary War to migrate to
Virginia, Ohio, Maryland, and other states. This account tells of the first three generations in
America. It is based upon original documentary sources and family records.
GENERATION ONE:
Hans Nicholas FEUERSTIN, born March 25, 1712, at Berg, Alsace, was according to family
tradition as son of Hans FEURSTEIN. Nicholas, Johan, and THEOBOLD FEUERSTEIN established
the Feuerstein family at Berg in the fifteenth century from the Bergenz Forest, Province of
Voralberg, Austria. Because of the loss by fire of the Berg Lutheran Church, at which most of the
births of their children were recorded. Known as Nicholas, he was a carpenter and a farmer.
According to family tradition, when their oldest son became subject to conscription into the
French army, they abandoned their ten-acre farm, and went to Holland. With his wife and
children, Nicholas sailed from Rotterdam on the ship "Peggy", Captain James Abecrombie,
Master, arriving at Philadelphia September 24, 1753 and qualifying for entry the following day.
According to family tradition, he indentured himself and his sons as farm laborers in Lancaster
County, Pennsylvania, in exchange for ship passage. It is related that he finally settled on a farm
of his own on the Concocheague Creek, in what was then Cumberland County, now Peters
Township, Franklin County, Pennsylvania, where he is said to have died in 1763. Their children
were:
- Anna Catherina FEURSTEIN, born August 23, 1733. Probably the Catherina Feurerstein,
who marrried Conrad STAUTZENBERGER June 3, 1754, Trinity Lutheran Church,
Lancaster, PA.
- Johann Nicholas FIRESTONE, born April 17, 1735, married Eva Catharina SCHWAB, in
1763 and died in 1807. (this family continues)
- Johan Joseph FIRESTONE, born May 7, 1787, possibly the Joseph taxed in Cumberland
Township, York County, PA in 1780. A Joseph died shortly before January 14, 1793,
leaving a widow whom married Reynolds KELLISON, and minor children.
- Eva Catharina FIRESTONE, born June 3, 1739, possibly married John STIEFLER before
1763.
- Rosina FIRESTONE
- Susanna Catharina FIRESTONE, born July 2, 1742
- Johann Mathias FIRESTONE, born April 5, 1744, and married Anna BIEBER, in 1774. Died
in 1829.
- Christina Dorothea FIRESTONE, born February 17, 1747
- Johann P. FIRESTONE, born June 6, 1747, moved to Londoun County, Virginia, and later
settled on Laurel Hill Creek, near Ursina, Somerset County, Pennsylvania; had four sons.
- Johann Nicholas FIRESTONE, born August 10, 1748
- Anna FIRESTONE.
- Michael FIRESTONE, born June, 1750: said to have lived in Pennsylvania, Virginia, and
Tennessee.
GENERATION TWO:
Johann Nicholas FIRESTONE, (Nicholas Firestone, Jr.) was born April 17, 1735 at Berg, Alsace,
France, a son of Nicholas and Catharina NUNNEMACHER Feuerstein. His age was given as 21
when the family arrived at Philadelphia in 1753. He married Eva Catharina SCHWAB in 1761. In
1763 they had a child baptized at Salem (Strayers) Church, Dover Township, Bedford County,
Pennsylvania. In 1774 he was taxed at Dublin Township, Bedford County, where in 1779 he
owned 100 acres. He owned a 150-acre farm in Peter’s Township, Cumberland, now Franklin
County, in 1779-1782. In 1781 he served as a private in the Cumberland County Militia. The
family moved in 1786 to Trapp, (now Jefferson), Frederick County, Maryland, where he owned
a farm on Mill Creek, ten miles from Frederick City, and where in 1790 he was head of a family,
with two sons under age sixteen, and four females. He sold his Maryland farm in 1796
purchased a farm near Natural Bridge, Rockbridge County, Virginia. He died in 1807 at Mill
Creek, Botetourt County,Virginia. His will was filed June 20, 1804 and probated n Botetourt
County, Virginia in November 1808, in which he mentions his wife and eight children:
Eva Catharina FIRESTONE, baptized July 3, 1763 by Rev. Jacob LISHEY of Salem Reformed
Church, Dover Township, York County, Pennsylvania, married John KALBFLEISCH, and died in
1850 in Cumberland County, PA:
- Nicholas FIRESTONE, Jr., born January 30, 1767, married (1) Elizabeth SHANE, February
3, 1789, Frederick County, Maryland, (2) Elizabeth HOOVER, September 2, 1838; settled
in Fairfied Township, Columbia County Ohio in 1801; died August 3, 1847 in Fairfield
Township.
- John FIRESTONE, born May 20, 1769, married Margaret THRASHER, August 2, 1803,
Botetourt County, Virginia, died July 20, 1854 near Amsterdam, Botetourt County.
- Catharine FIRESTONE, born in 1772, married Charles LONG, December 16, 1793 in
Frederick County, Maryland, died in 1834 near Unity, Columbia County, Ohio.
- Mathias FIRESTONE, born in 1775, first wife Mary Polly HILL, and had six children by her,
then the second time married Mary Polly FENNY and they had three children. He died in
McMinn County, Tennessee, April 20, 1850. (see next generation for continue.)
- Mary Magdalen FIRESTONE, born 1778, married John WREN, January 21, 1880,
Rockbridge County, Virginia. Died 1850 near Salem, Roanoke County, Virginia.
- Susannah FIRESTONE, born March 24, 1780; married (1) Phillip HEILMAN of near
Lexington, Rockbridge County, Virginia, in 1799. She also married. (2) John DINGLEDINE
in 1812, and died April 9,1851, near Mason’s Creek, Salem, Roanoke County, VA.
Eva Catharina SCHWAB Firestone, the wife of Johann Nicholas, was born in Bedford County,
Pennsylvania in 1741. After her husband died 1807 she moved to McMinn County, Tennessee,
with her son, Mathias FIRESTONE by 1827. She died in 1828 in McMinn County and her will was
executed September 1, 1828, in Will Book A, Page 172 as follows:
- All estate to son Mathias; daughters Eve KALBFLEASCH, Kitty LONG, Mary RICE,
Susannah DINGLEDINE, Elizabeth LAMPARTER, otherwise Elizabeth JOHNS, and sons
Nicholas, and John to receive nothing. Exec: son Mathias Witness: Samuel McConnell
and G. Cantrell. Signed by mark. (Court Record #2, Page 369, June 2, 1829)
GENERATION THREE:
Mathias FIRESTONE, son of Johann Nicholas Firestone, and Evan Catharina SCHWAB Firestone,
was born October 16, 1777, in Dublin Township, Bedford County, Pennsylvania, where his
father owned 100 acres of land. The family moved to Peter’s Township, Cumberland County, in
1779, to Frederick County, Maryland in 1781, ten miles from Frederick City. In 1796 they moved
to Rockbridge County, Virginia. Then in 1807 they were in Botetourt County, Virginia. He
married Mary (Polly) HILL, who was born September 15, 1773, in New Jersey, the daughter of
James and Sarah HILL. They had six children:
- William FIRESTONE, born unknown, died March 1836 wife unknown. Issue: Matthias,
Nancy, and Sarah Ann.
- Samuel FIRESTONE, born 1801 in VA., died October 1868 wife Rispa born 1798 in S.C.
died unknown. Issue: James C. born 1828, move to AL., Persha born 1833, married
Thomas Martin, Tabitha born 1835, married John BRANDON, Mary married Jesse
GIVENS of GA, Sarah born 1836 married Jesse PURDY of TX, Pamely married James and
S. POLK.
-
John FIRESTONE, born 1815 in Tennessee, died 1887 in Missouri. Married Delana
PROPHET who born 1817 n N.J. and died 1893 in Missouri. (see next generation)
Alfred FIRESTONE moved to GA
Elizabeth FIRESTONE married Joseph COBB. Issue: Martha married Joseph WARE, David
who died unmarried, Mary who married John MAYFIELD in Polk Co., TN, Sarah.
Second Marriage to Mary FENNY the following children:
- Mary Ann FIRESTONE married Archibald MILES and John CROSS
- Matthias FIRESTONE Jr., born 1844, killed in Civil War in 1862
- Nancy FIRESTONE
(ALL of this in McMinn County, Tennessee, until about 1855.)
His first wife died in May 7, 1838 and he married the second time to Mary (Polly) FENNY, on
March 26, 1839. His second wife died May 26, 1850, in McMinn County, Tennessee. Mathias,
had moved to Hiwasee, McMinn County, Tennessee, about 1827 when he was 52, as well as his
mother Eva, who died soon after and made him her sole heir and executor of her estate.
Mathias was a carpenter, as was most of the Firestones’ and he built his home on Sec. 29, Twp.
5, Rng. 1, east of Median. He owned land which he sold to David FIRESTONE Febuary 4, 1835,
also land sold to Alfred FIRESTONE, and some to Isaac FENNY, January 17, 1829. His home place
was about five miles east, and five miles south of Athens, Tennessee. He died April 2, 1850. His
will as executed April 21, 1850 with orders for the executor to "build a house for my widow and
my tow children at Winton Springs."
McMinn County was a stopping place for the people from the Carolinas, who had crossed the
Appalatian Moutains, on their way to Missouri, and other state west. The Peter and Lydia
(Padgett), BLACKWELLS, who arrived in 1823, the HUGHES, PATTERSONS, FORTNERS, FINNEYS,
Etc… Soon knew the Firestone family as "Pennsylvania Dutch", and many of the younger ones
married and moved west to cross the mighty Mississippi River to begin new lives.
Mathias and his wife Polly were buried in a small cemetery near their home and their lives are
but memories to their descendants who are scattered over many states.
GENERATION FOUR:
John FIRESTONE as the son of Matthias Firestone and Mary (Polly) HILL Firestone, and was born
February 27, 1815, at Mill Creek, Botetourt County, Virginia. By 1827 his father and the rest of
his family had moved to Hiwassee, McMinn County, Tennessee. On January 26, 1837 John
Married Delana PROPHET, the daughter of Arton PROPHET (1793-1885) and Jamima BINGHAM
Prophet, from New Jersy. Delana was born in 1817, wand was twenty years old and John was
twenty-two when they were married. They lived in the southern part of McMinn County,
Tennessee, near the Hiwassee River, that flows northwest from North Carolina into the
Tennesssee River, just west of McMinn County.
John was a carpenter, wagon maker, and farmer. His mother Mary (Polly) HILL Firestone, died in
1828 and his father married the second time to Mary (Polly) FENNY. Matthias died on May 5,
1850, and his second wife died May 26, 1850. The estate was settled and there was great news
that in Missouri, there was land almost free, with springs, timber, and fertile soil, so they made
plans to join the hundreds of their relatives, and neighbors leaving for Missouri.
They were ready to leave for Missouri by June of 1852, a six hundred mile trip to be made by
wagon train or on foot. The Tennessee River must be crossed twice and the mighty Mississippi
River crossed, a major endeavor alone. They may have made it across the Tennessee River the
first day where there was a town called Soddy-Daisy. It was approximately three hundred and
thirty miles to the Mississippi River, but this route had been traveled many times before and
there probably were trading posts where food and supplies could be purchased. There was a
decision to be made, to move many miles to the north where the Mississippi River would be
easier to cross, or to head west to a crossing called Cottonwood Point, which would be nearer
but more dangerous. They decided on the Cottonwood Point crossing. (all this related by
daughter Sarah sixty years later.)
Also in the Firestone wagon train were Delana’s parents, Arnton PROPHET, who was 59 and
Jamima BINGHAM Prophet, who was 54; Pleasant PROPHET, her brother who was 17; Ben A.
PROPHET her brother who was 32 and his wife Eunice GRIGG Prophet, who was 24; and Jesse
GRIGG, who was married to Delana’s sister Jane PROPHET. Then there was young John FENNY,
a relative of John FIRESTONES’ step-mother, who was riding a horse on the trip, and when they
reached the river decide to return to McMinn County. He carried the news that they had
crossed the river and were in Arkansas. (National Genealogical Quarterly Item.) After about
sixteen days travel they were ready to leave Tenneesee, and the mighty Mississippi was their
next challenge. They had to wait their turn for the barge, the doubling of teams to pull through
the mud and willows, and a mighty rope was stretched from bank to bank, anchored at each
end to a sturdy cottonwood tree. A pair of pulleys could be adjusted so that the bow of the
barge was upstream from the stern, causing the current of the water to force the barge
forward, with a tow team on the other bank, just in case. Then there were the miles of muddy
river bottoms and willows to pull through to the western side of the river as a heavy load on the
teams. At last they were across.
Now another and new fear arose hostile Indians. The trail led sharply to the northwest, and the
next six days of travel they were warned to be on guard and ready to fight the Indians. They
were advised to group up with other families and to post sentries at night. The fear was greater
than the danger for no hostile attack was made. (As related by daughter Sarah, many years
later.)
At last the weary trip was over, and they arrived in Greene County, Missouri, to begin a new life
in a new land. On March 4, 1857 daughter Harriet Rebecca married Ceola HUGHES, when she
was 17, and he was 18. In May 1858 another son, Alfred was born to John and Delana. He died
at birth. On February 9, 1860, Martha Ann was born to John and Delana, the last one of their
family, Delana was 42.
In 1860, John and Delana were living in Center Township, Green County, Missouri, with eight
children at home, with Martha, their youngest 4 months of age. Son James married Mary Jane
THURMAN in November 1860 and in 1867 Rispa Adeline married James CAMPBELL. In 1865
Sarah Elizabeth married Joel H. BLACKWELL, the son of Sylvester BLACKWELL, whose family
were also from McMinn County, Tennessee.
In 1870 John and Delana owned forty acres of land in Sec. 4, Twp, 29, Rng 23 west, in Greene
County. John was Justice of the Peace, son James lived on forty acres about a mile south. Joel
and Sarah owned 80 acres north east.
In 1880 John and Delana were living on the same forty acres, John was Justice of the Peace,
daughter Martha Ann had married Frank M. BEACH and was living with them, as was William
FIRESTONE, who was 25, and know as Sam Bill FIRESTONE.
The FIRESTONE family of pre-McMinn County were Lutheran by religion, but the PROPHET and
GRIGG families were Methodists. John could still speak German, but all the rest spoke southern
Applatian dialect.
A great community developed at a place called Clear Creek, where there were several springs. A
school was built on five acres adjoining the community cemetery, and a Methodist church was
organized in it. In 1874 there was a new Methodist church building constructed for $1,200.00
dollars a short distance east of the cemetery near a spring.
John died in 1887, at the age of seventy-two and was buried in Clear Creek Cemetery. Delana
died in 1893 at the age of seventy-five and was buried beside of her husband.
Grave markers in Clear Creek Cemetery are as follows:
- Arton PROPHET 1793-1885 (Parents of Delana FIRESTONE)
- Jamima PROPHET 1793-1881
- P.T. PROPHET 1835-1909 (Brother of Delana F.)
- Unice PROPHET 1844-1926 (Daughter of Sylvester BLACKWELL)
- B.A. PROPHET 1820-1885 (Brother of Delana F.)
- Eunice PROPHET 1828-1907 (GRIGG, sister of Mrs. Sylvester BLACKWELL)
- Jesse R. GRIGG 1827-1910 (Brother of Eunice P.)
- Jane GRIGG (Sister of Delana Firestone)
- John FIRESTONE…born n Tennessee n 1815 and died in Missouri in 1887, Delana
PROPHET Firestone, born in New Jersey in 1818 and died in 1893 in Missouri.
Family of John and Delana: (ALL buried in Clear Creek Cemetery)
- James H. FIRESTONE 1837-1888
- Mary Jane THURMAN 1842-1918
- John P. FIRESTONE 1839 at birth in Tennessee
- Harriet Rebecca FIRESTONE 1842-1927
- Ceola HUGHES 1838-1919
- Rispa Adeline FIRESTONE 1840- James CAMPBELL
-
Sarah Elizabeth BLACKWELL 1844-1914
Joel H. BLACKWELL 1843-1878
Jamima FIRESTONE 1847-1923
William MINOR 1849-1880
Mary Delena FIRESTONE 1850-1924
Joel M. CAMPBELL 1849-1933
David A. FIRESTONE 1852-1918
Clarice J. MINOR 1855-1942
William Samuel FIRESTONE 1854-1919
Della HASELTINE 1858-1917
Alfred FIRESTONE 1858-1858
Martha Ann FIRESTONE 1860-1951
Frank M. BEACH 1850-1893
GENERATION FIVE:
James H. FIRESTONE 1838-1888
Mary Jane THURMA (Firestone)
Issue:
- Felix FIRESTONE 1871-1949, buried at Odd Fellows Cem, Mt. Vernon, MO
- Holie M. HOYAL, 1st wife
- Carrie SPENCR, 2nd wife
- Arthur FIRESTONE (infant) Clear Creek Cem.
- Martha who married McCONNEL Clear Creek Cem.
- Frankie FIRESTONE 1873-1891 Clear Creek Cem.
- Annie POTTER 1874-1967 Clear Creek Cem.
- Lea Logan 1884-1954 Clear Creek Cem.
- Lucy Firestone/FRAME 1868-1903 Clear Creek Cem.
- Jacob FRAME (husband) 1855-1922 Clear Creek Cem.
- Sonra FIRESTONE 1867Sarah Elizabeth FIRESTONE Blackwell 1845-1914
Joel Haque BLACKWELL 1843-1878
Issue:
- James O. BLACKWELL 1866-1933 Clear Creek Cem.
- Maude PATTERSON (wife) 1873-1942 Clear Creek Cem
- Alfred BLACKWELL 1867-1867 Clear Creek Cem
- Isom J. BLACKWELL 1868-1945
- Venie PATTERSON (wife) 1870-1934 Clear Creek Cem
- John W. BLACKWELL 1871-1949 Clear Creek Cem
- Ida PHILLIPS (wife) 1873-1945 Clear Creek Cem
- Martha Delana BLACKWELL 1873-1945 Ingelwood, CA
- William A. BUCHTEL (hus) 1869-1945 Inglewood, CA
- Rebecca BLACKWELL (4mths) 1875-1876 Clear Creek Cem
- Charley Jones BLACKWELL 1877-1955 Clear Creek Cem
- Eva CHAMLEE (wife) 1883-1953 Clear Creek Cem
**Joel, Martha, Alfred and Rebecca are buried in Row 8, Section 1, adjoining the lot of Joel’s
father Sylvester on the south. Joel H. BLACKWELL was a confederate soldier in the battle of
Wilson’s Creek.
Jamima FIRESTONE Minor 1849-1880 Clear Creek Cem
William MINOR (hus) 1847-1923 Clear Creek Cem
Issue:
- S. Jennie MINOR Marshall 1892-1953 Clear Creek Cem
- Jesse L. MARSHAL (hus) 1871-1948 Clear Creek Cem
- Ollie Minor MARSHALL 1874-1939 Clear Creek Cem
- James MARSHALL (hus) 1873-1948 Clear Creek Cem
- Edward Franklin MINOR 1854-1958 Clear Creek Cem
- Lizzie Abbie BROWER (wife) 1875-1958 Clear Creek Cem
- Ellen MINOR (unmarried) 1878-1881 Clear Creek Cem
Joel Marion CAMPBELL 1849-1933 Clear Creek Cem
Mary FIRESTONE Campbell 1850-1924 Clear Creek Cem
Issue:
- Etta Jane CAMPBELL 1873-1882 Clear Creek Cem
- Mary Ionia CAMPBELL 1876- Lewis Coleman HARRISON 1870- John Hiram CAMPBELL 1878-1878
- William Homer CAMPBELL 1881-1959 Birmingham, AL
- Edith Pansy WILLIAMS (wife) 188701967 Birmingham, AL
- Kate Ann CAMPBELL 1885-1965 Tulsa, OK
- Ira FOWLER (hus) 1887-1918 Springfield, MO
- Jessie Edith CAMPBELL 1887-1896 Springfield, MO
- Joel Grover CAMPBELL 1890-1902 Springfield, MO
Frank M. BEACH (hus) 1850-1893 Clear Creek Cem
Martha Ann FIRESTONE 1860-1951 Clear Creek Cem
Issue:
- Russell BEACH
- Clarence BEACH Bethany Cem. St. Louis
- Minnie Mae Champbless/Muger 1890-1950 Clear Creek Cem
- Mary Frances EVANS 1888-1964 Clear Creek Cem
- Charles H. EVANS 1881-1965 Clear Creek Cem
- Clara Jane FREIBERG Hazelwood Cem.
- John FEIBERG Haselwood Cem.
William Samuel FIRESTONE 1854-1919 Clear Creek Cem
Della HAZELTINE Firestone 1858-1917 Clear Creek Cem
Issue:
- Arch J. FIRESTONE 1855-1943 Greenlawn Cem
- Archie BLYTHE Firestone 1886-1971 Greenlawan Cem
- Verna FIRESTONE Clear Creek Cem.
- Charles VAUGHN (hus) Clear Creek Cem
- Myra FIRESONE
- Charles DONNELL (hus)
Harriet Rebecca Jane FIRESTONE 1842-1927 Clear Creek Cem
Ceola HUGHES (hus) 1838-1919 Clear Creek Cem
Issue:
- J.W. HUGHES 1856-1856 Clear Creek Cem
- Mary Jane HUGHES 1858-1935 Clear Creek Cem
- James CORGIN (hus) 1854-1931 Cave Springs Cem
- C. Elizabeth HUGHES 1861- Sylvester GRIGGS (hus)
- John E. HUGHES 1866-1947 Wesley Cem
- Lucy DODD 1878-1951 Wesley Cem
- Sarah Delana HUGHES 1867-1943 Wesley Cem
- William L. FORTNER (hus) 1868-1949 Wesley Cem
- George S. HUGHES 1870-1951 Clear Creek Cem
- Myrtle THOMAS (hus) 1877-1968 Clear Creek Cem
- Della O. HUGHES 1880-1958 Cave Springs Cem
- Eldo FORTNER (hus) 1885-1933 Cave Spring Cem
- Fred Leander HUGHES 1883-1943 Wesley Cem
- Bertha WILLIAMS (wife) Wesley Cem
- Martha HUGHES 1834-1958 Clear Creek Cem
- Laura HUGHES 1873-1914 Clear Creek Cem
- C.B. HUGHES 1875-1885 Clear Creek Cem
- D.H. HUGHES 1874-1877 Clear Creek Cem
- M.F. HUGHES 1870-1871 Clear Creek Cem
James H. CAMPBELL 1844Rispy Adeline FIRESTONE 1840Issue:
- Nancy J. CAMPBELL 1868- Mary CAMPBELL 1869- A.S. CAMPBELL 1871—
- S.A. CAMPBELL 1873—
- D.W. CAMPBELL 1876- M.D. CAMPBELL 1878- Frank CAMPBELL 1880
**James H. CAMPBELL is the brother of Joel Marion CAMPBELL who married Mary Delano
FIRESTONE. Campbell family came to Greene County abt 1860 settled in the Bois D’Arc/Clear
Creek Community. Many CAMPBELL family members are buried in the Clear Creek Cemetery
including James and Joel’s parents Hiram H. CAMPBELL.