The Landiss Family in Illinois

Isaac Landiss

The oldest son of William and Mary Henderson Landiss, was the first of the family to settle in Illinois. He was born in Granville, North Carolina on December 28, 1788. Having grown to manhood he went to another neighborhood thought to have been Mecklenburg County, where he remained until after his marriage. One day the young people of the community where Isaac was stopping arranged for a picnic, and Isaac being a newcomer among them was invited to be one of the party. When the picnic lunch was spread, among other good things to eat was a large dish of sweet potatoes. Isaac was very fond of sweet potatoes, and these were prepared to his liking. After one or more generous helpings he expressed a desire to know the girl who could cook sweet potatoes in such an appetizing way. Others of the party, seeing what they thought to be an opportunity to have fun, seized Esther King and presented her, all blushing, to Isaac. Whether it was Esther's blushes or the way she could cook sweet potatoes that won the heart of Isaac we may never know, but the sweet potato incident marked the beginning of their courtship. They were married March 21, 1811, and soon thereafter joined Isaac's family in their westward migration to Tennessee. There in Bedford County they made their home until the family moved into Indiana in 1816.

While he was living in Bedford County the War of 1812 occurred, with the general uprising of the Creek and Seminole Indians which threatened the settlements of Alabama and Tennessee.

General Andrew Jackson was commissioned to raise an army and take the field against the Indians. Isaac Landiss joined this army, enlisting in September 1813 and receiving his discharge in December of the same year.

In 1816 Isaac and his family joined in the migration to Indiana, and settled with the others in Crawford County. Eleven years later finds him preparing for another move, this time westward into the Illinois country. Sometime in 1827 they said good bye to his father's family and with two ox wagons, a pony and a few sheep, began their journey. Danger threatened at the crossing of the White River which was swollen with recent rains. Here most of the sheep were lost, and William, the oldest son, came near losing his life. In his efforts to save the sheep the pony, which he was riding, was caught in the current and it was with difficulty they escaped drowning.

The Wabash River was crossed at Vincennes without incident, and the travelers pushed on through the lowlands to the wide prairies. After weeks of slow and difficult travel, and having traversed almost the entire width of the state, they came to rest on a timbered knoll in Greene County, about three and one half miles east of Carrollton.

They had no money to pay the necessary fees for entering land so they became squatters, and in great faith built their cabin home and began clearing the land for a crop. It was a hard life. Many times the question of food became acute. Isaac taught a small subscription school, and did other work by which he gained a little money or food, and was thus able to provide for his family. Much of the time he was away from home and the responsibility of clearing land and making the crop fell chiefly upon the son William.

Then there came a day when envious eyes were cast upon the land with its improvements. When the owner of those eyes found no entry had yet been made of the land he determined to jump the claim and thus have it for his own. He was unwise in telling of his plans and warning was carried to Isaac. The message brought consternation in the family. The little hoard of money that had been so slowly accumulating for the purpose of entering the land was counted over and over; but no matter how many times counted it was not enough. Appeal was then made to neighbors, all as poor as himself; but kind hearts gave willingly of their little and the necessary amount was secured. Then, when night had fallen, the son William, mounted on the faithful pony, slipped away to ride through the darkness to the U. S. Land Office at Edwardsville, Illinois. Morning found him in the town and when the Land Office was opened William was first to file his entry. On his return journey he met the enemy riding hurriedly toward Edwardsville, but he was now too late to disturb them in the possession of their land.

Once again William rode through the night to Edwardsville and the U. S. Land Office, but on that occasion it was to save the land of another, one who had befriended them in their time of need.

Isaac and Esther King Landiss had nine children, only four of whom left issue; but the names of all are interest to one concerned with family history. The children were:

Of these William, Jane, John and Mary were born in Tennessee. All the others were born in Indiana.

Isaac Landiss was early licensed as a Local Preacher in the Methodist Episcopal Church. At the first services were held in his home and in the homes of others as opportunity offered, thus paving the way for the organization of a permanent church. His name and that of his wife and two of his children are found on the roll of the first Methodist Class organized in Green County.

He is said to have been remarkably gifted in prayer. During the later years of his life he lived in Carrollton, Illinois and people would often stand at his gate or at the side fence to listen to him pray at the time of his morning devotions. Many have said that the prayers of Isaac Landiss helped them in their time of trial and through life's day. He was a good man and honored for his goodness. He died at Carrollton, Illinois April 8, 1867 at the age of 79, the same age as was his father. One of his grand daughters has said that even in old age he never lost his love for sweet potatoes, and that he always grew a supply of them in his garden.

William Henderson Landiss

He was the eldest son of Isaac and Esther King Landiss, and was born in Bedford County, Tennessee, March 19, 1812.

It is said that at the time of his birth, or almost immediately after, a wind storm uprooted a large tree that in falling barely missed crushing the cabin in which the mother and child were; that its branches so blocked the door that there was no getting in or out until Esther's brother came and chopped the tree away.

When William H. was four years old the family moved to Indiana. He was seventeen when the family arrived in Illinois in 1827. He assisted his father in building the cabin, in clearing the land and fencing their fields. In fact most of this kind of work fell on him during their first years in Illinois, and most of the eighty acres first entered was cleared by him. Thus he become an expert woodsman. In later years he sought to encourage me in becoming proficient with the axe by boasting that when he was my age he could cut and split 300 rails in a day. He also became a skilled hunter and marksman. Often times he pointed out to me places where he had killed a deer or been chased by wolves, and several times I had proof of his marksmanship in seeing him shoot the head from a quail at a distance of fifty or more yards, when he was past seventy years of age. In all his hunting he never used any arm but his old fashioned long barreled rifle.

He was married April 24, 1838, to Sarepta Crane, who died within a few months. In 1840 he married again, this time to Mrs. Jane Moore McEvers. She died in July 1841 without issue. His third venture in matrimony was May 14, 1846, when he was married to Mary Frances Alverson, daughter of Benjamin and Mary Jeffries Alverson. To this union was born nine children, the same number as were in his father's family. They were:

William Henderson Landiss learned the trade of cabinet making and followed it for a time, but the greater part of his life was spent as a farmer. He was a staunch Methodist, being Class Leader and Exhorter. He also was a man of positive convictions, hating intemperance and tobacco. He died in Carrollton, Illinois February 7, 1893, lacking but a few weeks of being 91 years old. To a host of people he was known as "Uncle Billy Landiss". During the later years of his life his hearing became dull, and it was a sore trial when he could no longer listen to the sermons in his church. A good man who bore the name of Landiss with credit to his ancestry.

Jane King Landiss

Daughter of Isaac and Esther King Landiss, was born September 10, 1813. She married Samuel (?) Carrico but I know practically nothing about her family.

John King Landiss

Second son of Isaac and Esther King Landiss, was born March 25, 1815. He married Mary A. Brown, daughter of Wilson Brown, March 8, 1838. He died of tuberculosis April 12, 1843, leaving no issue. His wife did not long survive him, dying in 1846.

Mary Landiss

Daughter of Isaac and Esther King Landiss, was born December 12, 1816. She married John Brown (no relation to the Mary whom John Landiss married) December 28, 1837. They had six children as I recall:

Samuel King Landiss

Third son of Isaac and Esther King Landiss was, born September 21, 1817. He married in January, 1841, and died in July of the same year.

Catherine Landiss

Daughter of Isaac and Esther King Landiss, was born December 20, 1822. She married William Speaks. For several years they lived In Carrollton, Illinois, then moved to Kansas when that country was new, settling near Salina. They left several children, but I think Mrs. Vada S. Gregg of Ontario, California, is the only living one.

Catherine Landiss had a remarkable memory and an intimate knowledge of the Scriptures. When the first Sunday School Lesson Leaves were introduced in the Methodist Sunday School in Carrollton the pastor selected the subjects for study, but requested Catherine to choose the portion of Scripture that applied. This she did until a uniform lesson leaf was arranged for the use of the whole denomination.

Of the other children of Isaac and Esther King Landiss none reached maturity.

Elizabeth died at the age of eleven of a sickness that the medical knowledge of that day could not diagnose, and it was whispered by the superstitious that she had been bewitched.

Nancy died when about 18, being remembered as a most lovable character.

Alexander died at the age of four.

Sarepta Jane Landiss

First child of William Henderson and Mary F. Landiss was born September 15, 1848. She married John H. Seelye of White Hall, Illinois, April 14, 1868. He had been a soldier of the Civil War and suffered many years from a disease contracted in the service. He died in White Hall, Illinois February 19, 1881. His wife, Sarepta, survived him for a number of years, dying at the home of her daughter in Rossville, Illinois March 12, 1913. They left one daughter:

Catherine Sabina Landiss

Second daughter of William H. and Mary Landiss, was born December 17, 1849. She married Joseph R. Fuller November 8, 1871. They lived for a while in Greene County, Illinois then moved to Kansas. They passed through the hardships of the early settlers, grasshoppers, drought and poverty, but in time won through. They are spending the closing years of life on a little place at Covina, California. Their children are:

Joanna Landiss

Daughter of William H. and Mary F. Landiss, was born July 2, 1851. She married Norton J. Sanders November 30, 1870, and went to live on a farm east of Greenfield, Illinois. About 1880 they moved to Carrolton, Illinois and a few years later went to California which since has been the family home. Mr. Sanders died several years ago, and she now makes her home with her daughter, Ola, in Glendale, California. Their children are:

Frances Emmaline Landiss

Fourth daughter of William H. and Mary F. Landiss was born April 9, 1853 and died May 2, 1926. She married James M. Smith (August 31, 1847 - February 9, 1915) April 29, 1874. For a number of years they lived on farms east of Carrollton, Illinois then, in 1912, moved to Monroe Louisiana. Their children are:

Isaac Landiss

First son of William H. and Mary F. Landiss, was born August 19, 1855, died June 17, 1930. He married Mary H. Clark December 27, 1885. Their children are:

Ella Janette Landiss

Fifth daughter of William and Mary F. Landiss, was born November 17, 1857, died August 1, 1914. She married Howard Rumrill May 9, 1878. Their children are:

Alice Minnie Landiss

Sixth daughter of William H. and Mary F. Landiss, was born January 4, 1861. She married Henry Curtius March 17, 1880, died March 27, 1882. (Daughter:)

Effie Maria Landiss

Seventh daughter of William H. and Mary F. Landiss, was born June 2, 1864, died December 13, 1891. Married Lee Farrow on a cold winter day in 1884. I remember because I froze an ear driving to meet the train. (Son:)

William Landiss

Second son and last child of William H. and Mary F. Landiss, was born December 2, 1867, on the old homestead east of Carrollton, Illinois. He married Helen C. Andrews, daughter of Charles W. and Mary E. Andrews of Chattanooga, Tennessee on December 27, 1893. They have children as follows:

William Landiss entered the ministry of the Methodist Episcopal Church and joined the Illinois Conference in September 1893, his first charge being, Batchtown Circuit. After a few years of serving churches in Illinois failing health sent him to the mountains of Tennessee. There he gradually recovered his health and returned to work in the Illinois Conference in 1905. He continued to serve charges in this conference until the health of his family made it necessary to seek another climate.

In September 1915 he transferred to the St. Johns River Conference and was appointed to the New Springfield, now Livingston Memorial, church in Jacksonville, Florida. In May 1918 he relinquished his charge in Jacksonville, Florida and went to France as a Y. M. C. A. Secretary. Returning from France in 1919 he was appointed pastor of the church in St. Cloud, Florida which he served for four and a half years. He is still active in the ministry, and at present (1930) is pastor at Welaka, Florida.

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