1
THE BUSEY FAMILY OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY ILLINOIS:
SOME DESCENDANTS OF MATHEW BUSEY (1742-1824)
By:
Irene Hansen
1987
Library and Information Science 451:
Independent Study
Professor Donald W. Krummel
2
Introduction
In order to become acquainted with the various research
materials in genealogy, as well as to develop proficiency in
their selection, evaluation, and use for research and reference
work, I undertook a project to compile a genealogy of the Busey
family.
The Busey family is one that has been prominent in
Champaign County, Illinois history (Notice some of ChampaignUrbana's present sights:
Busey Bank, Busey Avenue, Busey-Evans
Residence Hall).
The Champaign County histories held in the University of
Illinois Library's Reference Room provided me with an excellent
starting point in my research, as well as fascinating reading on
the history of the area and lives of some of the more prominent
Buseys.
From the Reference Room I traveled to the Urbana Free
Library's Archive Room, where I examined a number of genealogical
materials in its collection, including vital records, early
census schedules, land records, and court records.
Even though I
reached a major block in my search, I had the good fortune to
meet and discuss my research with Barbara Roberts, a former
volunteer at the Urbana Free Library's Archive Room as well as a
descendant of the Buseys.
Ms. Roberts informed me that my
"block" actually was a relationship that has never been proven,
the father of Mathew Busey.
Ms. Roberts also shared her personal
research on the Busey family with me, and showed me a published
article on the genealogy of the Busey family:
Murrell.
Harmison, Eva
"Ancestry and Descendants of Mathew Busey of Maryland,
3
North Carolina, and Kentucky." The Detroit Society for
Genealogical Research Magazine. Vol. 21, Nos. 1-4 (Fall 1957Summer 1958).
Although I was disappointed to learn that my work
had all been done before, Ms. Roberts assured me that by
examining the sources cited in previous research on the Buseys, I
would become acquainted with numerous genealogical materials.
Also, I was fortunate that most of these sources could be found
in the University of Illinois Library or the Urbana Free
Library's Archive Room.
Therefore, I combined the information
gathered from my own research with some of both Ms. Robert's work
and the Harmison article, and examined all possible sources cited
in the Harmison article to verify findings.
Time constraints
prevented me from tracing the Busey family to its immigrant
ancestor or to write the narrative paragraphs that are often
included in printed genealogies, but I did manage to examine four
generations of Buseys and to compile a genealogy.
I arranged
this genealogy according to the "register form" a style used in
the New England Historical and Genealogical Register.
This style
of arrangement includes the use of Roman numerals to denote
children, Arabic numbers to indicate individuals traced, and
superscript Arabic numbers to show generation.
Engaging in genealogical research has opened my eyes to the
needs of those on "the other side of the reference desk."
Besides the standard genealogical sources and county histories,
my research has convinced me of the need for librarians to
collect miscellaneous papers:
those documents, newspaper
clippings, personal papers, and other materials that may be
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donated to the library by local citizens.
The Family File at the
Urbana Free Library's Archive Room plus Barbara Roberts
invaluable personal collection enabled me to establish Busey
family relationships I could not find on my own.
Although I have experience in genealogy, having done
genealogical reference work as well as researched specific
genealogical inquiries, I was not prepared for the immense volume
of materials that need to be consulted, the large amount of time
that needs to be devoted to searching these materials, and the
painstaking, detailed work that needs to be done to piece
together and present the results of genealogical research.
I
commend those who have the patience and determination to spend a
lifetime doing this kind of research.
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THE BUSEY FAMILY OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY ILLINOIS:
SOME DESCENDANTS OF MATHEW BUSEY (1742-1824)
1.
MATHEW1 BUSEY
b.
April 9 1742, near Annapolis, Md.; d. Jan. 2, 1824,
Shelby Co., Ky.; m. 1767, Rowan Co., N.C., Edith
(Philpot) Wilcoxen, b. April (Sept.?), 1740, Md.; d.
Shelby Co., Ky.?
Children of Mathew and Edith (Philpot) Busey:
2
i.
Samuel2 Wales Busey, b. Jan. 10, 1768; m. Catherine
Siegler
3
ii.
iii.
Isaac2 Busey, b. Sept. 9, 1769; m. Sarah (Anehback?)
John Bainbridge2 Busey, b. July 17, 1771 Rowan Co.,
N.C.; d. July 25, 1863, Anderson?, Ky.; m. c.
1791, Rowan Co., N.C., Martha Holmes
iv.
Mary2 Busey, b. April (Aug.?) 7, 1773, Rowan Co.,
N.C.; m. John T. Howell
4
v.
Charles2 Busey, b. Sept. 10, 1775; d. ca. 1836,
Champaign Co., Ill.; m. Lydia Ward
vi.
5
vii.
a daughter2, m. (?) Howe
Mathew Elbridge2 Busey (twin), b. March 11, 1779; m.
Sarah Fibel (Fible)
6
viii.
Edith2 Busey (twin), b. March 11, 1779, Rowan Co.
N.C.; d. Oct. 12, 1827; m. 1800, Rowan Co., N.C.,
(Thomas Gaither?)
ix.
x.
Sarah2 Busey, b. May 15, 1782, Shelby Co., Ky
Jacob2 Busey, b. Feb. 14, 1784, Shelby Co., Ky
(Rowan Co., N.C.); d. 1869, Buchanan Co., Mo; m.
April 19, 1810, Elizabeth Laws
7
2.
SAMUEL WALES2 BUSEY (Mathew1)
b. Jan. 10, 1768, Rowan Co., N.C.; d. Nov. 13, 1845, Putnam
Co., Ind.; m. Feb. 10, 1794, Rowan Co., N.C., Catherine
Seigler, b. April 6, 1776, Loundoun Co., Va.; d. Nov.
13, 1845, Champaign Co., Ill.
Children of Samuel Wales and Catherine (Seigler) Busey:
6
i.
Matthew Wales3 Busey, b. May 15, 1798; m. Elizabeth
Bush
ii.
iii.
iv.
Edith3 Busey, b. Nov. 18, 1802, Shelby Co., Ky.
Jacob3 Busey
Mary3 Busey, b. Feb. 8, 1805, Shelby Co., Ky.; m.
March 24, 1825, Boone Co., Ind., Benjamin Beeman
v.
vi.
Lazarus W.3 Busey, b. 1809
Catharine3 Busey, m. Feb. 21, 1828, Putnam Co.,
Ind., Thompson Spencer
vii.
viii.
Samuel Andrew3 Busey, b. April 2, 1803
John H.3 Busey, m. Aug. 25, 1836, Champaign, Ill.,
Nancy Davis
xi.
x.
a daughter?3, m. Solomon Bush
Singleton Wilson3 Busey, b. March 2, 1818
8
3.
ISAAC2 BUSEY (Mathew1)
b. Sept. 9, 1769, Rowan Co., N.C.; d. Jan. 11, 1847,
Champaign Co., Ill. (Rowan Co., N.C.?); m. ca. (Feb.
10?) 1794, Rowan Co., N.C., Sarah (Anehback?), b. May
6, 1772; d. 1834, Champaign Co., Ill.
Children of Isaac and Sarah (Anehback?) Busey:
i.
Edith3 Busey, b. (Rowan Co., N.C.?); d. 1825, Shelby
Co., Ky.; m. Dec. 7, 1820, Mason Martin
ii.
iii.
Arthur3 Busey, b. Feb. 29, 1796
John3 Busey, b. Aug. 3, 1797, Franklin Co., Ky.; d.
1839, Champaign Co., Ill.; m. June n. 20, 1825,
Shelby Co., Ky., Nancy Wilcox
iv.
Jane3 Busey, m. June 23, 1829, Shelby Co., Ky.,
Samuel B. Beckley
v.
Lillis3 Busey, b. Feb. 10, 1806, Shelby Co., Ky.; d.
Nov. 16, 1860, Champaign Co., Ill.; m. June 15,
1831, Shelby Co., Ky., James Thompson Roe
vi.
Malinda3 Busey, d. Champaign Co., Ill.; m. July 25,
1833, Champaign Co., Ill., John Bryan
9
4.
CHARLES2 BUSEY (Mathew1)
b. Sept. 10, 1775, Rowan Co., N.C.; d. ca. 1836, Champaign
Co., Ill.; m. Feb. 10, 1800, Franklin Co., Ky., Lydia
Ward
Children of Charles and Lydia (Ward) Busey:
i.
ii.
a daughter3
Mathew Wilkinson3 Busey, m. Aug. 13, 1835, Champaign
Co., Ill., Malinda Cook
iii.
iv.
Hampton3 Busey
a daughter?3
10
5.
MATHEW ELBRIDGE2 BUSEY (Mathew1)
b. March 11, 1779, Rowan Co., N.C.; d. March 21, 1864,
Champaign Co., Ill.; m. April 28, 1814, Shelby Co., Ky.,
Sarah Fibel (Fible), b. April 28, 1791, Germany; d. May
13, 1887, Champaign Co., Ill.
Children born to Mathew Elbridge and Sarah (Fibel [Fible])
Ward:
i.
Nancy Drusilla3 Busey, b. 1815, Shelby Co., Ky.; d.
1899?; m. Nov. 24, 1833, Elias Stamey
ii.
Fountain J.3 Busey, b. Feb. 17, 1817, Shelby Co.,
Ky., d. July 25, 1894, Champaign Co., Ill., m. Aug.
23, 1840, Maria L. Shephard
Children:
1. Matthew3 Busey, m. Jane (Eliza?)
Bowman
2. Jerusha4 Busey, m. Lon Wilson
3. James H.4 Busey, (m. Oct. 23, 1854,
Champaign Co., Ill., Anna Mary
Andrews?)
4. Anna4 Busey, m. James Thompson
5. Simeon F.4 Busey, m. Fannie Wilson
6. Mary E.4 Busey, m. Thomas Dougherty
7. Luella4 Busey, m. Joseph M. Lawson
8. Franklin4 Busey
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iii.
Mary Ann3 Busey, b. 1819, Shelby Co., Ky.; d. 1895;
m. April 6, 1837, Solomon Nox
iv.
Susan Jane3 Busey, b. 1821, Shelby Co.,
Ky.; d. 1907; m. June 4, 1840, John Phillippe, Jr.
v.
Elizabeth S.3 Busey, b. 1823, Shelby Co., Ky.; m.
April 10, 1845, Elijah Weaver
vi.
Roderick R. T.3 Busey, b. April 29, 1825, Shelby Co.
Ky., d. 1906; m. Jan. 13, 1850, Susan George
Children:
1. Matthew C.4 Busey
2. Joseph V.4 Busey
3. Scott4 Busey
4. Tillman4 Busey
5. Arthur L.4 Busey
vii.
John Samuel3 Busey, b. 1827, Shelby Co., Ky.; d.
March 12, 1898?; m. (1) Aug. 12, 1851, Aurelia
M. Waterman
viii.
Matthew E. W.3 Busey, b. April 17, 1829, Shelby Co.,
Ky.; d. Oct. 28, 1900, Champaign Co., Ill.; m. March
9, 1854, Champaign Co., Ill., Sarah Ann Cloyd
ix.
Isaac Bainbridge3 Busey, b. 1832, Shelby Co., Ky.;
m. March 28, 1854, Nancy Jane Tole
x.
Sarah Matilda3 Busey, b. 1834, Shelby Co., Ky.; m.
Samuel Littler
xi.
Melinda3 Busey, b. 1836, Shelby Co., Ky.;
m. Aug. 6, 1859, William C. Beck
12
6.
MATTHEW WALES3 BUSEY (Samuel Wales2, Mathew1)
b. May 15, 1798, Shelby Co., Ky.; d. Dec. 18, 1852,
Champaign Co., Ill.; m. 1821?, Elizabeth Bush, b. March
6, 1801, Shelby Co., Ky.; d. Dec. 7, 1880, Champaign
Co., Ill.
Children of Matthew Wales and Elizabeth (Bush) Busey:
7
i.
Simeon Harrison4 Busey, b. Oct. 24, 1824, m.
Artimesia Jones
8
ii.
John Simpson4 Busey, b. June 16, 1827, Putnam Co.,
Ind.; m. Aug. 10, 1856, Caroline Maria Snyder
iii.
iv.
Mary C.4 Busey, m. Oct. 9, 1849, John C. Kirkpatrick
Louisa J.4 Busey, m. Dec. 24, 1840, William H.
Romine
9
v.
Samuel Thompson4 Busey, b. Nov. 16, 1835, m. Mary
Elizabeth Bowen
vi.
vii.
viii.
Sarah A.4 Busey, m. Joseph W. Sim
Elizabeth F.4 Busey, m. Allen McClain
Matthew D.4 Busey, m. Anne E. Hurd
13
7.
SIMEON HARRISON4 BUSEY (Matthew Wales3, Samuel Wales2,
Mathew1)
b. Oct. 24, 1824, Putnam Co., Ind.; d. June 3, 1901,
Champaign Co., Ill.; m. Sept. 22, 1848, Putnam Co.,
Ind., Artimesia Jones, b. Oct. 26, 1826, Putnam Co.,
Ind. (Shelby Co., Ky.?); d. July 18, 1914, Champaign
Co., Ill.
Children of Simeon Harrison and Artimesia (Jones) Busey:
i.
John Wheeler5 Busey, b. Dec. 11, 1849, Champaign
Co., Ill.; d. July 4, 1927; m. March 4, 1877,
Champaign Co., Ill., Alice Almira Tobias
ii.
(Ann?) Augusta5 Busey, b. March 10, 1851, Champaign
Co., Ill.; d. Jan. 20, 1936, San Antonio, Tx.; m.
Jan. 1, 1884, Champaign Co., Ill., William P. Morgan
iii.
Elizabeth Frances5 Busey, b. Dec. 16, 1852,
Champaign Co., Ill.; d. Champaign Co., Ill.; m. Oct.
22, 1873, Champaign Co., Ill., Ozias Riley
iv.
Matthew Wales5 Busey, b. Dec. 7, 1854, Champaign
Co., Ill.; d. Dec. 20, 1932, Champaign Co., Ill.; m.
(1) Nov. 15, 1877, Champaign Co., Ill., Katherine
Wheeler Richards
Children:
1. Paul Graham6 Busey, b. Oct. 5, 1880,
Champaign Co., Ill.; m. Clara Blanche
Black
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2. Virginia R.6 Busey, b. Nov. 4, 1883,
Champaign Co., Ill.; m. James F.
Churchhill
v.
James Buchanan5 Busey, b. Nov. 3, 1856, Champaign
Co., Ill.; d. May 2, 1935; m. Dec. 29, 1880,
Champaign Co., Ill., Mary Katherine Kaucher
Children:
1. Martin6 Busey
2. Simeon6 Busey
3. James6 Busey
4. Frances6 Busey
5. Josephine6 Busey
6. Matthew W.6 Busey
vi.
Alice Jane5 Busey, b. March 15, 1858, Champaign Co.,
Ill.; d. March 5, 1945, Champaign Co., Ill.; m. Oct
11, 1877, Champaign Co., Ill., James (Gus) T.
Freeman
vii.
Lucy Eliza5 Busey, b. Jan. 17, 1860, Champaign Co.,
Ill.; d. May 26, 1860
viii.
George W.5 Busey, b. May 8, 1861, Champaign Co.,
Ill.; d. April 3, 1944, Champaign Co., Ill.; m. May
14, 1890, Kate Florence Baker
Children:
1. Garreta Helen6 Busey
2. Margaret J.6 Busey
3. Jean6 Busey, m. Leonard F. Yntema
ix.
William Harrison5 Busey, b. Sept. 13, 1865,
Champaign Co., Ill.; d. Nov. 29, 1905, Champ. Co.,
Ill.; m. Jan. 19, 1899, New York, N.Y., Myra E. Burt
15
8.
JOHN SIMPSON4 BUSEY (Matthew Wales3, Samuel Wales2, Mathew1)
b. June 6, 1827, Putnam Co., Ind.; d. Sept. 19, 1887,
Champaign Co., Ill.; m. April 10, 1856, Champaign Co.,
Ill., Caroline Maria Snyder, b. June 23, 1837,
Honesdale, Pa., d. Nov. 28, 1907, Champaign Co., Ill.
Children of John Simpson and Caroline Maria (Snyder) Busey:
i.
Clinton Matthew5 Busey, b. Nov 5, 1857, Champaign
Co., Ill.; d. March 10, 1950, Plano, Ill.; m. (1)
Sept. 20, 1888, Eads, Colo., Viola A. Goff
ii.
John Francis5 Busey, b. Nov. 2, 1859, Champaign Co.,
Ill.; d. Nov. 9, 1943, Champaign Co., Ill.; m. Oct.
1, 1889, Champaign Co., Ill., Margaret Ann Sutton
iii.
Frederick Harrison5 Busey, b. Feb. 9, 1862,
Champaign Co., Ill.; d. May 7, 1939, Bondville,
Ill.; m. July 23, 1885, Sterling, Kan., Ida Purcell
iv.
Mary Asenath5 Busey, b. Dec. 21, 1863, Champaign
Co., Ill.; d. Champaign Co., Ill.; m. March 1, 1899,
Champaign Co., Ill., George Lindsey
v.
Samuel Thompson5 Busey, b. Feb. 10, 1867, Champaign
Co., Ill.; m. (1) March 5, 1896, Kansas City, Mo.
Mary J. Jacobs
vi.
Carolyn Elizabeth5 Busey, b. June 15, 1874,
Champaign Co., Ill.; d. June 13, 1957, DeSoto, Mo.;
m. Oct. 7, 1908, Champaign Co., Ill., William H.
Gratton
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9.
SAMUEL THOMPSON4 BUSEY (Matthew Wales3, Samuel Wales2,
Mathew1)
b. Nov. 16, 1835, Putnam Co., Ind.; d. Aug. 12, 1909, (Lake
Mantrap, Minn.?); m. Dec. 25, 1877, Delphi, Ind., Mary
Elizabeth Bowen, b. June 21, 1854, Delphi, Ind.; d.
1930, Champaign Co., Ill.
Children of Samuel Thompson and Mary Elizabeth (Bowen)
Busey:
i.
Marietta Ruth5 Busey, b. Nov. 23, 1878, Champaign
Co., Ill.; d. Dec. 31, 1949, Champaign Co., Ill.; m.
April 5, 1909, Champaign Co., Ill., Guy A. Tawney
Children:
1. George6 Busey, b. July 7, 1912
2. Elizabeth6 Busey, b. Feb. 4, 1916
ii.
Bertha L.5 Busey, b. June 28, 1887, Champaign Co.,
Ill.; d. Jan. 1, 1923
iii.
Charles Bowen5 Busey, b. Jan. 22, 1887, Champaign
Co., Ill.; d. Nov. 1, 1918, Bois-des-loges, France;
m. June 7 (6?), 1911, Dallas, Tx., Louise Carter
Child:
Charles Bowen6 Busey, Jr., b. Nov. 15, 1915
17
Sources Examined
Abstracts of the Minutes of the Court of Pleas and Quarter
Sessions, Rowan County, North Carolina.
Barnes, Robert, comp.
Maryland Marriages, 1634-1777.
Barnes, Robert, comp.
Maryland Marriages, 1778-1800.
Biographical Directory of the American Congress, 1774-1949.
The Biographical Record of Champaign Co., Illinois. c. 1900.
Brumbaugh, Gaius Marcus.
Maryland Records. Colonial,
Revolutionary, County and Church from Original Sources.
Calendar of Maryland State Papers. No. 1. The Black Books.
Carothers, Bettie Sterling, comp.
1776 Census of Maryland.
The Champaign-UrbanaNews-Gazette. Centennial-Progress Edition,
Champaign, Ill., 23 November 1952.
Clark, Raymond B., Jr.
An Index to "Wills of Calvert County,
Maryland Wills, 1654-1700."
18
Clark, Raymond B., Jr.
Index to Calvert County Maryland Wills,
1700-1777.
Cunningham, Joseph O., ed.
Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois
and History of Champaign County. 1905.
Cunningham, Joseph O., ed.
History of Champaign County
(Illinois). c. 1905. Vol. II.
Decorations. United States Army, 1862-1926. Civil War Service
Records, Adjutant General's Office, Illinois State
Archives.
Dolan, J.R.
English Ancestral Names.
Early Kentucky Wills.
Gravestone Inscriptions, Mayview (Mt. Olive) Cemetery, Champaign
Co., Illinois.
Harmison, Eva Murrell.
"Ancestry and Descendants of Mathew
Busey of Maryland, North Carolina, and Kentucky." The
Detroit Society for Genealogical Research Magazine. Vol. 21,
Nos. 1-
4 (Fall 1957-Summer 1958).
Heads of Families of the First Census of the United States in the
Year 1970, North Carolina.
19
Illinois Blue Book, 1931-32.
Index of Champaign County Histories Dated 1905 and 1918.
Index of Persons Mentioned in Three Champaign County Histories
Dated 1878, 1887, and 1900.
Index to the 1800 Census of North Carolina.
Indiana 1830 Census Index.
Kentucky Court of Appeals, Deed Books.
Kentucky 1830 Census Index. (but no Buseys listed)
Kentucky Marriage Records.
Linn, Jo White.
Abstracts of the Minutes of the Court of Pleas
and Quarter Sessions, Rowan County, North Carolina.
Lothrop, J.S.
Champaign County Directory, 1870-1 with History of
the Same, and of Each Township Therein.
Magruder, James M., Jr., comp.
1634-1777.
Index of Maryland Colonial Wills
20
Marriage License Abstracts, Vermilion County, Illinois, 18261852 and 1853-1874.
Marriage Records, Champaign Co., Illinois.
Marriage Records of Franklin Co., Kentucky, 1794-1851 and 18161851.
O'Brien, Mildred Bowen, comp.
Calvert Co. Maryland Family
Records 1670-1929.
Roberts, Barbara. Urbana, Illinois. Personal Collection, Busey
Family.
Stewart, J.R.
A Standard History of Champaign County Illinois.
1912.
United States Census, Rowan Co., North Carolina, 1790.
United States Census, Washington Co., Indiana, 1820.
Urbana Free Library, Urbana, Illinois.
Family File. "Busey."
Miscellaneous documents.
Willes, George L.
History of Shelby County, Kentucky. c. 1929.
21
Woodlawn Cemetery Inscriptions.
Wright, F. Edward.
1725.
Maryland Eastern Shore Vital Records, 1648-
22
Other Helpful Sources
Land Records of Putnam Co., Indiana.
Land Records of Shelby Co., Kentucky.
Marriage Records, Rowan Co., North Carolina.
Marriage Records, Shelby Co., Kentucky.
Records of Deeds, Rowan Co., North Carolina.
Records of Deeds, Shelby Co., Kentucky.
Records of Wills, Shelby Co., Kentucky.
Simeon H. Busey Family Bible.
Tax Records of Franklin Co., Kentucky.
Tax Records of Rowan Co., North Carolina.
Tax Records of Shelby Co., Kentucky.
Torrey, Clarence A.
David Roe of Flushing, New York and His
Descendants. 1926.
23
United States Census, Rowan Co., North Carolina, 1800.
United States Census, Shelby Co., Kentucky, 1830.
United States Census, Washington Co., Indiana, 1830.
Wilson, Donald L. "The Bussey (Busey) Families of Maryland."
Prince George's County Genealogical Society Bulletin
(May 1980).