Individual Details
James B. "Boone" Sebree
(Abt, 1781 - December 23, 1865)
James B. Sebree's birth is listed by Hand as 1781, near Lynchburg, Virginia, although Swan reports his death at the ripe old age of eighty-three years in 1867, putting his birth about 1784. Hand states that James B. died in 1865 at the age of 84.
The name Boone, often given as the word for James' middle initial B. was apparently not a given name. Hand, speaking of the early days of James SEBREE and his family in Canton, IL, said, "Because he had lived in the Daniel Boone region of Kentucky, and to their minds resembled Dan'l, James Sebree was promptly nicknamed 'Boone' by his neighbors." He had gone as a child with his parents when the family moved from Virginia to Scott Co., KY, in 1792. 1832 he had eight children, seven of them living, he desired a home in a new land where they could grow up with the opportunities of a rapidly developing country. Having glowing reports from the "Military Tract" of the new State of Illinois, he set out with his wife and seven children in the fall of 1832 to go "West". The oldest child, a daughter Nancy, had married Lewis Bidamon, who also accompanied them in this move. (Mrs. Emma Vittum, of Canton, Illinois).
James and Elizabeth moved to Indiana (from Kentucky), settling in Jefferson, Co., near Madison. He was on the tax list there in 1815. The census of 1820 lists him with five sons and one daughter. Another move took them to Ohio; locations being mentioned were Centerville near Dayton in Montgomery Co. and Piqua in Miami Co. A final migration took James SEBREE and His Wife Elizabeth, with seven children (an eighth had died young), to the Village of Canton, where they arrived by prairie schooner and spring wagon, 18 Oct. 1832. It was located in the "Military Tract" on the new state of Illinois.
James SEBRE had an old Prairie Schooner, one that had traveled across the plains and the mountains. It was long and wide in body, and the rear end, when the canvas was stretched, stood about eight feet from the ground. The front wheels were small and the rear ones tall, all out of proportion, and causing the wagon box to be elevated like a hillside at the rear. In addition to this old schooner, they had a light spring wagon. When they loaded their goods, the covered wagon was occupied by the household effects. The wagon and load were so heavy that he had to attach five horses to it. The family rode in the spring wagon to which two horses were hitched. His son Howard, years later, said, "often times as we rode or walked alongside the teams my father would find something which reminded him of his trips about the country. I re call that he made two trips to New Orleans, going by boat and returning on foot. He had a pack horse which carried food sufficient to last him until he arrived at the homes of friendly Indians who gave to him of their corn meal and game." "Our journey across the country between Circleville, Ohio and Perkin, Illinois, was a grand one. We crossed the river (Illinois) at Perkin on October 17th. (My 10th birthday), 1832, and remained overnight at the hotel at the ferry. On October 18th, we drove into the Village of Canton, and were of course greeted by the entire population. More fuss was made over new comers in those days than now". "With us in our party from Ohio, were Lewis Bidamon, who had married one of my sisters, and their children: John Hamilton, who worked his passage; my father, mother and six children, including myself and Mrs. Bidamon." "Shortly after coming here, my father purchased the entire block bounded by Spruce, Avenue A., Main and Ash Streets. He also purchased land south of Canton, where now is located the village of St. David." "We lived in a rented house for a short period while the old clapboarded house at Main and Spruce Streets was being enlarged." This became Sebree's Tavern.
"On June 18, 1835, while seventeen people were seated at the dining table in the Sebree Tavern, the fury of a storm broke over their heads. The table was blown clear across the room when the doors burst open, and all were thrown to the floor. In the Tavern the saving quality was the old stone chimney and fireplace. It as in the center of the building and kept the building from blowing away." (2) W.R.Sebree.
Because he had lived in the Daniel Boone region of Kentucky, and to their minds resembled "Dan'l", James Sebree was promptly nicknamed "Boone" by his neighbors.
In Canton James followed his trade as a cooper, and, joined by his son Howard, made barrels for the pork packing trade and for Stillman's Still House. When barrels were no longer required, they made wagons, boxes, decoy ducks, rowboats, and hunting boats. "Boone" also ran a tavern and was possibly a farmer.
"Old Boone", says Alonzo Swan, "was a genial, honest and intelligent man, a hard worker, and in all respects a good citizen." He died at age 84, in 1865 (23 Dec 1865), in the home of his eldest son, Preston, Sr.
James SEBREE's family played an important part in the affairs of Fulton Co., Indiana; and their contributions are long remembered. An enlarged version of the house that James built in Canton in 1835, now called the "Old Sebree Home", 63 West Spruce Street, was occupied (as of July 1971) by a great great grandson, Charles Tolley. (Holman, "This Old House", Canton Daily Ledger, 17 Jul 1971, page 1.)
Swan related that James B. retained his vigor to the last "...and caught his death cold by wading through swamps and lakes in the Illinois River-bottom, while hunting, only a few weeks before his death. He was 'Old Boone' to the last." (1). Lowell Vokel.
Internet search: "Cross-Trotter Family" Contact: Errol Cross. Lists the children with birth dates of James B. Sebree and wife Elizabeth Trotter.
James B. SEBREE was born in Orange Co., VA, a son of Richard SEBREE and Esther WATTS. His birth is given by Hand as 1781, near Lynchburg, VA, al�though Swan reports his death at "the ripe old age of eighty-three years" in 1867, putting his birth c1784. Hand states that James B. died in 1865 at the age of 84. The name Boone, often given as the word for James' middle initial B, was appar�ently not a given name. Speaking of the early days of James4 SEBREE and his family in Canton, IL, said, "Because he had lived in the Daniel Boone region of Kentucky, and to their minds resembled Dan'l, James Sebree was promptly nicknamed 'Boone' by his neighbors." He had gone as a child with his parents when the family moved from Virginia to Scott Co., KY, in 1792. James married 1) Elizabeth TROTTER in Kentucky in 1806. She was a daughter of George and Agnes TROTTER, who lived near Frankfort. Elizabeth had been born in Culpeper Co., VA. Elizabeth's brother, Robert M. TROTTER, married Sarah (Sally) SEBREE, a sister of James. George TROTTER was said by Hand to have been of Scotch ancestry, but was born and grew up in Ireland. James and Elizabeth moved to Indiana, settling in Jefferson Co., near Madison. He was on the tax list there in 1815. The census of 1820 lists him with five sons and one daughter [Salyers, R65, p.80]. Another move took them to Ohio; lo�cations being mentioned were Centerville near Dayton in Montgomery Co. [Hand, p.2] and Piqua in Miami Co. [Swan, p.87]. A final migration took James" SEBREE and his wife Elizabeth, with seven children (an eighth had died young), to the Village of Canton, where they arrived by prairie schooner and spring wagon 18 Oct. 1832. It was located in the "Military Tract" of the new state of Illinois. In Canton James followed his trade as a cooper, and, joined by his son Howard, made barrels for the pork packing trade and for a still house. When barrels were no longer required, they made wagons, boxes, decoy ducks1 rowboats, and hunting boats. "Boone" also ran a tavern and was possibly a farmer. James SEBREE's family played an important part in the affairs of Fulton Co., many of their contributions are long remembered. An enlarged version of the house that James built in Canton in 1835, now called the "Old Sebree Home", 63 West Spruce Street, was occupied (as of July 1971) by a great great grandson, Charles TOLLEY [Holman, "This Old House", Canton Daily 17 July 1971, p.1]. Swan related that James B. retained his vigor to the last, " ... and caught his death cold by wading through swamps and lakes in the Illinois River-bottom, while hunting, only a few weeks before his death. He was 'Old Boone' to the last." The date of his wife Elizabeth's death or its cause are unknown. It was reported that she underwent a very rare operation in 1839 when Dr. G.P. PERRY removed a breast cancer before anesthesia was known. (The Illinois State Journal, Springfield, IL; 12 July 1839.)
The name Boone, often given as the word for James' middle initial B. was apparently not a given name. Hand, speaking of the early days of James SEBREE and his family in Canton, IL, said, "Because he had lived in the Daniel Boone region of Kentucky, and to their minds resembled Dan'l, James Sebree was promptly nicknamed 'Boone' by his neighbors." He had gone as a child with his parents when the family moved from Virginia to Scott Co., KY, in 1792. 1832 he had eight children, seven of them living, he desired a home in a new land where they could grow up with the opportunities of a rapidly developing country. Having glowing reports from the "Military Tract" of the new State of Illinois, he set out with his wife and seven children in the fall of 1832 to go "West". The oldest child, a daughter Nancy, had married Lewis Bidamon, who also accompanied them in this move. (Mrs. Emma Vittum, of Canton, Illinois).
James and Elizabeth moved to Indiana (from Kentucky), settling in Jefferson, Co., near Madison. He was on the tax list there in 1815. The census of 1820 lists him with five sons and one daughter. Another move took them to Ohio; locations being mentioned were Centerville near Dayton in Montgomery Co. and Piqua in Miami Co. A final migration took James SEBREE and His Wife Elizabeth, with seven children (an eighth had died young), to the Village of Canton, where they arrived by prairie schooner and spring wagon, 18 Oct. 1832. It was located in the "Military Tract" on the new state of Illinois.
James SEBRE had an old Prairie Schooner, one that had traveled across the plains and the mountains. It was long and wide in body, and the rear end, when the canvas was stretched, stood about eight feet from the ground. The front wheels were small and the rear ones tall, all out of proportion, and causing the wagon box to be elevated like a hillside at the rear. In addition to this old schooner, they had a light spring wagon. When they loaded their goods, the covered wagon was occupied by the household effects. The wagon and load were so heavy that he had to attach five horses to it. The family rode in the spring wagon to which two horses were hitched. His son Howard, years later, said, "often times as we rode or walked alongside the teams my father would find something which reminded him of his trips about the country. I re call that he made two trips to New Orleans, going by boat and returning on foot. He had a pack horse which carried food sufficient to last him until he arrived at the homes of friendly Indians who gave to him of their corn meal and game." "Our journey across the country between Circleville, Ohio and Perkin, Illinois, was a grand one. We crossed the river (Illinois) at Perkin on October 17th. (My 10th birthday), 1832, and remained overnight at the hotel at the ferry. On October 18th, we drove into the Village of Canton, and were of course greeted by the entire population. More fuss was made over new comers in those days than now". "With us in our party from Ohio, were Lewis Bidamon, who had married one of my sisters, and their children: John Hamilton, who worked his passage; my father, mother and six children, including myself and Mrs. Bidamon." "Shortly after coming here, my father purchased the entire block bounded by Spruce, Avenue A., Main and Ash Streets. He also purchased land south of Canton, where now is located the village of St. David." "We lived in a rented house for a short period while the old clapboarded house at Main and Spruce Streets was being enlarged." This became Sebree's Tavern.
"On June 18, 1835, while seventeen people were seated at the dining table in the Sebree Tavern, the fury of a storm broke over their heads. The table was blown clear across the room when the doors burst open, and all were thrown to the floor. In the Tavern the saving quality was the old stone chimney and fireplace. It as in the center of the building and kept the building from blowing away." (2) W.R.Sebree.
Because he had lived in the Daniel Boone region of Kentucky, and to their minds resembled "Dan'l", James Sebree was promptly nicknamed "Boone" by his neighbors.
In Canton James followed his trade as a cooper, and, joined by his son Howard, made barrels for the pork packing trade and for Stillman's Still House. When barrels were no longer required, they made wagons, boxes, decoy ducks, rowboats, and hunting boats. "Boone" also ran a tavern and was possibly a farmer.
"Old Boone", says Alonzo Swan, "was a genial, honest and intelligent man, a hard worker, and in all respects a good citizen." He died at age 84, in 1865 (23 Dec 1865), in the home of his eldest son, Preston, Sr.
James SEBREE's family played an important part in the affairs of Fulton Co., Indiana; and their contributions are long remembered. An enlarged version of the house that James built in Canton in 1835, now called the "Old Sebree Home", 63 West Spruce Street, was occupied (as of July 1971) by a great great grandson, Charles Tolley. (Holman, "This Old House", Canton Daily Ledger, 17 Jul 1971, page 1.)
Swan related that James B. retained his vigor to the last "...and caught his death cold by wading through swamps and lakes in the Illinois River-bottom, while hunting, only a few weeks before his death. He was 'Old Boone' to the last." (1). Lowell Vokel.
Internet search: "Cross-Trotter Family" Contact: Errol Cross. Lists the children with birth dates of James B. Sebree and wife Elizabeth Trotter.
James B. SEBREE was born in Orange Co., VA, a son of Richard SEBREE and Esther WATTS. His birth is given by Hand as 1781, near Lynchburg, VA, al�though Swan reports his death at "the ripe old age of eighty-three years" in 1867, putting his birth c1784. Hand states that James B. died in 1865 at the age of 84. The name Boone, often given as the word for James' middle initial B, was appar�ently not a given name. Speaking of the early days of James4 SEBREE and his family in Canton, IL, said, "Because he had lived in the Daniel Boone region of Kentucky, and to their minds resembled Dan'l, James Sebree was promptly nicknamed 'Boone' by his neighbors." He had gone as a child with his parents when the family moved from Virginia to Scott Co., KY, in 1792. James married 1) Elizabeth TROTTER in Kentucky in 1806. She was a daughter of George and Agnes TROTTER, who lived near Frankfort. Elizabeth had been born in Culpeper Co., VA. Elizabeth's brother, Robert M. TROTTER, married Sarah (Sally) SEBREE, a sister of James. George TROTTER was said by Hand to have been of Scotch ancestry, but was born and grew up in Ireland. James and Elizabeth moved to Indiana, settling in Jefferson Co., near Madison. He was on the tax list there in 1815. The census of 1820 lists him with five sons and one daughter [Salyers, R65, p.80]. Another move took them to Ohio; lo�cations being mentioned were Centerville near Dayton in Montgomery Co. [Hand, p.2] and Piqua in Miami Co. [Swan, p.87]. A final migration took James" SEBREE and his wife Elizabeth, with seven children (an eighth had died young), to the Village of Canton, where they arrived by prairie schooner and spring wagon 18 Oct. 1832. It was located in the "Military Tract" of the new state of Illinois. In Canton James followed his trade as a cooper, and, joined by his son Howard, made barrels for the pork packing trade and for a still house. When barrels were no longer required, they made wagons, boxes, decoy ducks1 rowboats, and hunting boats. "Boone" also ran a tavern and was possibly a farmer. James SEBREE's family played an important part in the affairs of Fulton Co., many of their contributions are long remembered. An enlarged version of the house that James built in Canton in 1835, now called the "Old Sebree Home", 63 West Spruce Street, was occupied (as of July 1971) by a great great grandson, Charles TOLLEY [Holman, "This Old House", Canton Daily 17 July 1971, p.1]. Swan related that James B. retained his vigor to the last, " ... and caught his death cold by wading through swamps and lakes in the Illinois River-bottom, while hunting, only a few weeks before his death. He was 'Old Boone' to the last." The date of his wife Elizabeth's death or its cause are unknown. It was reported that she underwent a very rare operation in 1839 when Dr. G.P. PERRY removed a breast cancer before anesthesia was known. (The Illinois State Journal, Springfield, IL; 12 July 1839.)
Events
| Birth | Abt, 1781 | ||||
| Marriage | Abt, 1806 | Scott County, Kentucky - Elisabeth "Betsy" Trotter | |||
| Marriage | January 25, 1840 | Fulton County, Illinois - Rachel Snell | |||
| Death | December 23, 1865 | Canton, Fulton County, Illinois |
Families
| Spouse | Elisabeth "Betsy" Trotter (1790 - 1825) |
| Child | Nancy Sebree (1808 - ) |
| Child | Preston C. Sebree (1810 - 1892) |
| Child | Robert T. Sebree (1812 - ) |
| Child | Harvey Sebree (1814 - 1818) |
| Child | Kern (or Curren) Sebree (1818 - 1837) |
| Child | Charles Wesley Sebree (1819 - 1907) |
| Child | Howard W. Sebree (1822 - 1911) |
| Child | Eliza Jane Sebree (1826 - 1893) |
| Spouse | Rachel Snell (1810 - ) |
| Child | James S. Sebree (1844 - 1929) |
| Father | Richard Sebree III (1752 - 1835) |
| Mother | Esther Watts (1753 - 1832) |
| Sibling | Richard Sebree (1771 - 1834) |
| Sibling | John Sebree (1772 - 1825) |
| Sibling | James H. Sebree (1773 - ) |
| Sibling | Reuben Sebree (1775 - 1848) |
| Sibling | Sarah "Sally" Sebree (1777 - ) |
| Sibling | Elizabeth "Betsy" Sebree (1777 - 1840) |
| Sibling | Lucy Serilda Sebree (1779 - ) |
| Sibling | Laban Sebree (1782 - ) |
| Sibling | Thomas Sebree (1784 - 1839) |
| Sibling | Noah Sebree (1786 - ) |
| Sibling | Winrod Sebree (1788 - ) |
| Sibling | Frances Anne "Fanny" Sebree (1792 - ) |
| Sibling | Uriel B. Sebree (1799 - 1870) |