Daniel and Anna Henthorn Kyger

The following is information about this family and how they went from Virginia to Illinois.

Daniel and Anna (Henthorn)Kyger were born and married in the Virginia when our country was just getting their independence around late 1700. After living in Monongalia County, VA (now WV), they moved to Monroe County, OH in the very early 1800's. The family settled on Sunfish Creek near Clarington in Salem Township. Some of their children had been born in WV with the rest being born in Ohio.

The first schoolhouse in the Salem Township area was built in 1815 about 2 1/2 miles up the creek on the land of Daniel Kyger. Around 1831 Daniel, Anna and most of their children, and some other families traveled from Ohio to Illinois. They settled in an area that would be called McKendree Community in Georgetown Township in Vermilion County.  Some of the children with their families moved a short distance to Grape Creek in Danville Township.

The Kygers were Methodist and after John Ritter donated land for a church, Daniel Kyger, along with other members of the family and neighbors helped, through donations and work, to get the first McKendree Church built.


Daniel Kyger was born about 1762 in Monongalia County, VA. He died on 27 April,1849 in Georgetown, Vermilion County, IL. He was buried in April,1849 in McKendree Township, Vermilion County, IL, McKendree Cemetery.

Daniel Kyger and Anna Henthorn were married on 9 February,1796 in Monongalia County, VA/WV.

Anna Henthorn daughter of James Henthorn II and Elizabeth (unknown) was born on 3 July,1780 in Pennsylvania. She died on 9 June,1859 in Danville, Vermilion County, IL. She was buried in June,1859 in McKendree Township, Vermilion County, IL, McKendree Cemetery.

Daniel and Anna Kyger came to the McKendree Township area around 1831 from Monroe County, Ohio. (The Switzerland of Ohio)

Daniel and Anna Kyger had the following children:

1. Hannah Kyger born on 3 February,1797 in, Monongalia County, VA/WV. She died on 28 December,1888 in Georgetown, Vermilion County, IL. She was buried in December,1888 in McKendree Township, Vermilion County, IL, McKendree Cemetery.

2. Nancy Kyger born 1798 near Morgantown, Monongalia County, VA now WV. Married 13 February,1817 in Washington County, OH to Sewell C. BRIGGS. (1783—1845) a Methodist minister.  Both Nancy and Sewell are buried at Hartland Ridge Cemetery, in Clarksfield, Huron, OH. They had eight children namely:

(1) Asa Briggs born 21 November,1817 in Monroe County, OH.  Died 4 January,1896 in Clarksfield, Huron County, OH.  Married 9 June,1842 Wakeman, Huron County, OH to Margaret Merriman.  They had five children, namely Charles, Clara, Asa C, Jason Madison and Margaret.  Asa Briggs served in Civil War, 166^th Regiment, Ohio Infantry, Company B

(2) Clara Briggs born 8 June,1820 in Monroe County, OH.  Died September,1902 in Huron County, OH. Never married.

(3) Daniel Briggs born 6 March,1822 in Monroe County, OH.  No other information available.

(4) Joseph Briggs born 5 January,1825 in Monroe County, OH. Died 11 February,1902 in Wapello County, IA.  Married 23 June,1860 in Hartland, Huron County, OH to Olive Rounds.  They had three children, namely Viola Jayne, Armintha C and Sewell M.  Joseph Briggs served in Civil War.

(5) Calvin Briggs born 9 October,1828 in Jefferson County, OH.  Died 9 July,1917 in Salem, Marion, OR. Married 1 August,1859 to Eliza Ellen Miner (1825—1891). They had one child, namely Ann Eliza.

(6) Sewell Chester Briggs born 18 February,1831 in Trumbell County, OH. Died 29 July,1868 in Hartland, Huron, OH.  Married 26 Oct 1854 Fitchville, Huron, OH to Sarah Maria Blakeman (1838—1905).  They had five children, namely Eliza Harriett, George W, Johnnie C, Newton and Minerva.  Sewell Briggs served in Civil War, 55^th Regiment, Ohio Infantry, Company E.

(7) Henry Briggs born 2 April,1833 in Ohio. Married 21 April,1864 in Hartland, Huron, OH to Mary E Mason.  They had one child, namely Luther.

(8) Luther Briggs born 30 June,1836 in Ohio.  No other information available.

3. John Kyger born on 6 May,1799, near Morgantown, Monongalia County, VA/WV.  Died 18 April,1883 in Georgetown Township, Vermilion County, IL.  Buried in McKendree Cemetery.  Married Mary Sheets (1799—1870) on 7 June,1821 in Grandview Township, Washington County, OH. They had seven children namely.

(1) Martin Sheets Kyger born 18 May 1822 in Grandview Township, Washington County, OH.  Died 30 April,1826 in Monroe County, OH.

(2) Priscilla Kyger born 17 September,1826 in Monroe County, OH.  Died 30 September,1826 in Monroe County, OH.

(3) Henry Thornton Kyger born 27 August,1827 in Monroe County, OH.  Died 27 May,1903 in Danville Township, Vermilion County, IL. Buried in McKendree Cemetery.  (1st) Married Lucy Coburn (1836—1861) on 26 April,1860 in Vermilion County, IL.  No children.  (2nd) Married Electa Ann Redfern (1844—1921) on 8 June,1865 in Vermilion County, IL.  Henry and Electa were parents of seven children namely, Ida May, Minnie Alice, Carrie Elsie, Mary Ann, Luella, Willits Thornton and Roy Jay.

(4) Daniel Kyger born 22 January,1829 in Monroe County, OH. Died 29 July,1901 in Danville, Vermilion County, IL.  Buried in McKendree Cemetery.  Married 25 March,1872 to Sarah Ellen Green (1848—1930).  They had one child. Oaks Ames Kyger.

(5) Anna Kyger born 26 February,1831 in Monroe County, OH. Died 18 June,1906 Georgetown Township, Vermilion County, IL. Buried 20 January,1906 in McKendree Cemetery.  Married 15 April,1852 Georgetown Township, Vermilion County, IL to Eli Franklin Jenkins (1817—1885).  They were the parents of nine children namely, Tilman Samuel, Willis (Nancy Michael ancestor), Mary Alice, Matilda, Eliza Jane, John, Albert, Emma and Wilbert.

(6) Tilmon Dwight Kyger born 10 Sepember,1833 in Georgetown Township, Vermilion County, IL.  Died 24 February,1876 in Danville, Vermilion County, IL. Buried in Springhill Cemetery, Danville, IL.  He served in Civil War, Captain of Company C, Illinois 73^rd Regiment.  Married 31 Oct 1865 Georgetown, Vermilion County, IL to Sarah Elizabeth English (1840—1921).  They had two sons namely, Herbert English Kyger and John Tillman Kyger.

PREACHER REGIMENT 1862-1865 story of Illinois 73th Regiment in Civil War which Capt. Tilmon Kyger served. On file at THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS LIBRARY

(7) Sarah Kyger born 22 Oct 1836 in Georgetown Township, Vermilion County, IL. Died 10 September,1925. Buried 12 September,1925 in McKendree Cemetery.  Married 27 September,1870 to Levi Underwood (1834—916). They had three children namely, Eva June, Anna May and Everett Kyger Underwood.

4. James Kyger, later changed to Kiger because it sounded less German, was born in 1801 near Morgantown, Monongalia, VA now WV. Some census state he was born in PA. Died about 1865 in Catlin Twp., Vermilion Co., IL.  Married Lucinda Cain (1810—1858) about 1829.  They were parents of four children namely,

(1) Gooldy Jane Kiger born 7 April,1830 in Monroe County, OH.  Died 8 August,1921 in Pasadena, Los Angeles, CA. Married about 1855 to William C Anshutz.  They were the parents of one child Eugene who died young.

(2) Thomas Cain Kiger born 2 May 1834 in Georgetown Township, Vermilion County, IL. Died 30 October,1922 in Los Angeles, CA. Buried in Evergreen Cemetery, Los Angeles, CA.   Married to Jennett J Cleveland (1836—1884) on 30 July,1859. They were parents of eight children namely, Ellis Cleveland, Alice L, William Anshuttes, John Cleveland, Olive Hannah, Thomas Jehial, Jeannette January, and Earl Legrand.

(3) Hannah Kiger born about 1837. Died 9 March,1876 in Vermilion County, IL Buried in McKendree Cemetery.  Never married.

(4) Leonidas Cain Kiger born 14 February,1841 in Monroe County, OH. Died 3 May,1923 in Pasadena, Los Angeles, CA.  Buried 8 May,1923 at Mountain View Cemetery in Altadena, CA. Married 25 December,1877 to Emma Laura Parker (1860—1930) in Catlin, Vermilion County, IL. They had two children namely, Herbert Parker and Gooldy May. 

Herbert’s daughter was Esther Louise Kiger Pricer born 1912. She died 12 December,2016 at 104 years old.

5. Sidney (Sidna) Kyger born in 1802 and died 3 April,1890 in Wheeling, Ohio, WV.  She married William Carlisle Walton, (1802-1852), about 1825 in OH. They were the parents of nine children.  They had three daughters who died very young except for their oldest daughter, Caroline Elizabeth, (1827-1847), who lived to the age of twenty years old. Their other six children, all sons, were namely;

(1) James White Walton born 3 September,1830 in Woodsfield, Monroe, OH. and died 7 April,1897 at Barnesville, Belmont, OH.  He married 24 December,1861 to Martha Lavina Talbott (1840-1929) at Barnesville, Belmont, OH. They were the parents of four children namely; William Talbott, Charles C., Mary Rebecca and James Sibley Walton.

(2) Daniel Walton born 1 January,833 in Woodsfield, Monroe, OH and died 18 1 1 December,1901 in Wheeling, Ohio, WV.  He married Elizabeth Ann Gadd (1835-1908) 18 November,1855, at Woodsfield, Monroe, OH.  They were the parents of ten children namely; Caroline Elizabeth, William C., John D., Clifford W., Mary Emily, Martha Ella, Ella Martha (Martha and Ella were twins), Franklin T., Alice M., and Stephen.

(3) William Carlisle Walton born in 1838 and died 11 November,1890 at Clarington, Monroe, OH.  He served in the 25^th Ohio Volunteer Infantry as a surgeon during the Civil War.  He married (1) Mary Grimshaw, (1840-1865), 25 April,1860 at Woodsfield, Monroe, OH. They were parents of two sons; James Grimshaw and Samuel C. Walton.  William Walton married (2) Mary Virginia Randolph (1833-1910), 18 September,1867, at Woodsfield, Monroe, OH. They were parents of three sons: William W., Randolph Wilson and Thomas E. Walton.

(4) John Walton born 14 December,1840 in Woodsfield, Monroe, OH and died 19 August,1898 in Wheeling, Ohio, WV.  John served as a Lieutenant in Company K 25^th Ohio Infantry in Civil War. He married (1) Mary Alice Ebbert (1847-1877), about 1872-73. They had two children, namely; Charlotta May and French Davenport Walton. He married (2) Mary E. Harrison, (1853-1880), in 5 September,1878, no issue.  He married (3) Minerva Mozena (1844-1917) 25 March,1890 in Wheeling, Ohio, WV, no issue.

(5) Thomas Walton born about 1844-45 in Woodsfield, Monroe, OH and died 3 June,1895 in Weston, Lewis, WV.  Thomas Walton served in Company E 41^st Ohio Infantry in Civil War.  He married Mary Ella Handlan (1851-1931) in Wheeling, Ohio, WV.  They were the parents of one daughter; Mary Lee (1875-1904).

(6) Walter Walton born 1847 and accidently shot himself while cleaning his gun and died 20 February,1866.

6. Henry Kyger born on 23 June,1804, Salem Twp. Monroe Co., OH and died 22 Novemberr,1891 in Grape Creek, Danville Twp. Vermilion Co, IL at age 87yr, 4mo, 29days.  He is buried in McKendree Cemetery, Vermilion Co, IL. He married Elizabeth S. Sims, (1811-1851), on 15 November,1827 in Washington Co., OH. They were parents of eight children, namely; Malissa Ann, Catherine, Charles, Daniel, Mary Jane, Adam, Henry, and Terrisa.

(1) Malissa Ann Kyger born 26 January,1829 in Salem Twp., Monroe Co., OH and died 12 January,1907 in Danville Twp., Vermilion Co, IL. Malissa was married 3 times. (1) 7 March,1850 to William Hepburn and they had two daughters Eveline and Martha January, Hepburn. Malissa divorced William 6 November,1861. (2) Malissa married William Frazier 2 May,1863 and they had one daughter Terrisa Jane, Frazier.  (3) William Rose 21 April,1870 no children.

(2) Catherine Kyger born 2 March,1832 in Salem Twp., Monroe Co, OH and died 20 November,1853 Georgetown Twp., Vermilion Co, IL Never married.

(3) Charles Kyger born 21 July,1834 in Georgetown Twp., Vermilion Co, IL and died 18 August,1878 Danville Twp., Vermilion Co, IL.  He served in Company K 125^th Illinois Infantry Regiment during Civil War. He married Susannah Force 16 September,1858. They were parents of two children; William Henry and Mary (who died a infant).

(4) Daniel Kyger born 8 April,1836 and died 25 December,1879 in Georgetown Twp., Vermilion Co, Ill.  He never married.

(5) Mary Jane Kyger born 11 August,1838 in Georgetown Twp., Vermilion Co, IL and died 15 November,1878 in Danville Twp., Vermilion Co, IL. She married Franklin Kyger (1835-1877) 9 June,1859.  They were parents of three children, namely; Jesse Lincoln, Charles Frank and Laura Ann.

(5) Adam Kyger born13 September,1840 in Georgetown Twp., Vermilion Co, IL and died after joining Company F 35^th Illinois Infantry Regiment during the Civil War of remittent fever on 12 October,1861 in California, Moniteau, MD. He never married.

(6) Henry Kyger born 16 March,1843 in Georgetown Twp., Vermilion Co, IL and died 28 November,1911 in Danville Twp., Vermilion Co, IL. He served in Company K 125^th Illinois Infantry Regiment during Civil War.

(7) Terrisa Kyger born 14 February,1846 in Georgetown Twp., Vermilion Co, IL and died 15 July,1930 Danville Twp., Vermilion Co, IL. She never married but raised Charlie Frank, son of her sister, Mary January Kyger, after Mary’s death.

7. William Marmaduke Duke Kyger, called Duke by many, was born on 2 March,1806, in Salem Twp., Monroe Co., OH and died 16 October,1865 in Danville Twp., Vermilion Co, IL. He married Maris Jenkins (1813-1879) on 24 April,1834 in Vermilion Co., IL. They were parents of eight children, namely: Franklin, William, Keren, John, Adam, Elizabeth, Thomas and Eli.

(1) Franklin born 5 February,1835 in Georgetown Twp., Vermilion Co., IL and died 20 November,1877 in Gessie, Vermillion Co., IN.  He married Mary Jane Kyger (1838-1878) 9 June,1859.  They were parents of three children, namely; Jesse Lincoln, Charles Frank and Laura Ann.  Franklin was in Company E 35^th Illinois Infantry Regiment during Civil War.

(2) William Kyger born 5 December,1836 in Georgetown Twp., Vermilion Co., IL and died from fever while serving in Company F 35^th Illinois Infantry Regiment during Civil War at Jefferson City, Cole Co., MO.

(3) Keren Kyger born 19 March,1838 in Georgetown Twp., Vermilion Co., Illinois and died 9 November,1911 at Westville Rural Route, Vermilion Co., IL.  She married (1) James C. Moreman (1834-1869) 10 December,1861. They had an infant son who died very young.  She married (2) Robert James Black (1830-1884) 3 July,1873.  They were parents of two daughters, namely; Elizabeth January and Martha Louiza.

(4) John J. Kyger born 15 May,1841 in Georgetown Twp., Vermilion Co., IL and died 1841 at age six months.

(5) Adam Kyger born 11 July,1842 in Georgetown Twp., Vermilion Co., IL and died 1851 at nine years old.

(6) Elizabeth born 29 February,1846 in Georgetown Twp., Vermilion Co., IL and died 6 November,1863 in Danville Twp., Vermilion Co., IL.  She never married.

(7) Thomas Kyger born 19 June,1849 in Oskaloosa, Mahaska, IA and died 14 March,1917 McKendree Twp., Vermilion Co., IL. He married Mary Elizabeth Trosper (1860-1933) 1 June,1878.  They were the parents of eight children, namely; James Hardy, William, Ona May, Carrie Ann, Taylor Lincoln, Luna Blaine, Hollie Pleasant and Hulda January.

(8) Eli Kyger born 7 July,1854 Danville Twp., Vermilion Co., IL and died 22 August,1863 Danville Twp., Vermilion Co., IL.

8. Elizabeth (Eliza) Kyger born on 29 February,1808 in Salem Twp., Monroe Co., OH and died 2 January,1894 and was buried 4 January,1894 in McKendree Cemetery, Vermilion Co., IL. She married William Sheets (1806-1879) 3 September,1829, in Salem Twp., Monroe Co., OH.  History book states they had six children, namely; Angeline, Infant, Daniel N., John M., Matthias W. and one may have died in Ohio.

(1) Angeline Sheets born 29 July,1832 in Grandview Twp., Washington Co., OH and died 7 July,1911 in McKendree Twp., Vermilion Co., IL. She never married.

(2) Infant Sheets born in Georgetown Twp., Vermilion Co., IL. No date on birth.

(3) Daniel N. Sheets born 24 November,1838 and died 18 September,1839 in Georgetown Twp., Vermilion Co., IL.

(4) John Mc Sheets born 23 October,1841 in Georgetown Twp., Vermilion Co., IL and died 26 December,1862 at hospital in Nashville, TN while serving in the Civil War. Regiment unknown.

(5) Matthias W. Sheets born 24 November,1843 in Grape Creek, Vermilion Co., IL and died 19 October,1920 McKendree Twp., Vermilion Co., IL. He married Melvina Isabell Buchanan on 20 December,1866 at bride parent home in Georgetown Twp., Vermilion Co., IL.  They were the parents of five children, namely; Hortinse Estella, Fredreck Buchanan, Mahala Gertriede, Jessie Mildred and Grace Alice.

9. Daniel Kygar/Kyger Jr. born 4 February,1810 in Salem Twp., Monroe Co., OH.  He married Susan Housh, on 11 August,1835, Vermilion Co., IL. Daniel died November 22, 1887 in Siloam Springs, Benton, AR.  They were parents of seven children, namely; Mary Ann, William Henry, Susan Ellen, Daniel Webster, Sarah Jane, America Francina and Andrew Housh.

(1) Mary Ann Kygar born 7 August,1837 in Washington Co., IN and died 4 February,1874 in Saline Co., IL She married Robert Wilson Sherrod (1827-1887) 3 March,1856. They were parents of four children, namely; Emma, Robert W., Daniel Sherman and John Wesley.

(2) William Henry Kygar born 22 December,1840 in Georgetown Twp., Vermilion Co., IL and died 1 April,1919 in Hewins, Chautauqua, KS.  He married (1) to Eliza Ann Good (1848-1879) 25 February,1865 in Saline Co., IL. They were parents of six children, namely; John Barrett, Mattie Ann, Daniel Webster, Maude, Jesse Wilson and Mary Jo.  He married (2) to Mary Susan Harris (1859-1938) 17 Julyy,1879 in Chautauqua Co., KS. They were parents of eight children, namely; Georgia Ann, Miles, Charles, Clyde, Edna Earle, Grace Leona, Hebert and Lois Merle.

(3) Susan Ellen Kygar born 16 January,1843 in Georgetown Twp., Vermilion Co., IL and believe to have died 1874 in Saline Co., IL. She married George Washington Kendrick (1833-1900) 12 June,1862. They were parents of two children, namely; James Allen and Daniel Francis.

(4) Daniel Webster Kygar born 10 November,1844 in Kirkville, Wapello Co., IA and died 19 March,1931 in Vici, Dewey, OK.  He married Mary Joan Bowen (1853-1945) 10 March,1870 in Oswego, Labette, KS. They were parents of eight children, namely; Daniel William, Andrew Clint, Charles, Sidney Francis, Elva Della, Harry, Barney and Quincy.

(5) Sarah January Kygar born 6 June,1847 in Kirkville, Wapello Co., IA and died 30 April,1875 in Harrisburg Twp., Saline Co., IL.  She married Elijah Bush (1846-1914) 4 July1867 in Saline Co., IL.  They were the parents of three children, namely; Clarrisa F., Daniel E. and Robert Wilson Bush.

(6) America Francina Kygar born 26 January,1849 in Waukee, Dallas, IA and died 31 July,1913 in Hewins, Chautauqua, KS.  She married (1) to John Bybee (1845-1878) 22 September,1867 in Saline Co., IL.  They were the parents of four children, namely; Dank, John W. and two infants that died right after birth.  She married (2) to William Barney Mann (1847-1932) 15 September,1879. They had no children.

(7) Andrew Housh Kygar born 15 March,1855 in Washington Co., IN and shot to death 4 February,1897 in OK.  He married Susan Sarahas (1859-1903) 30 June,1884. They were parents of five children, namely; Dolly Jane, Minnie, Pearl, Andrew and Estelle.

10. Mary Ann Kyger born 5 February,1812 in Salem Twp., Monroe Co., OH. and died 1893 in Kirkville, Wapello Co., IA. She married John Kirkpatrick (1808-1893) 9 September,1830 in Salem Twp., Monroe Co., OH. John Kirkpatrick died 1893, in Kirkville, Wapello, IA. They were parents of seven children, namely; Mary Ann, Hannah Jane, Eliza A., Henry Kyger, Daniel W., Thomas W.B. and John Morgan.

(1) Mary Ann Kirkpatrick born 24 October,1831 in Guernsey Co., OH and died 9 January,1856 in Kirkville, Wapello Co., IA.  She married Cyrus Sinnard (1827-1889) 28 February,1850.  They had one daughter; Charlotte L.

(2) Hannah January Kirkpatrick born 8 December,1833 in Georgetown Twp., Vermilion Co., IL and died 6 January,1911 in Kirkville, Wapello Co., IA.  She never married.

(3) Eliza A. Kirkpatrick born 9 August,1837 in Georgetown Twp., Vermilion Co., IL and died 10 August,1839 in Georgetown Twp., Vermilion Co., IL and buried at McKendree Cemetery.

(4) Henry Kyger Kirkpatrick born 29 June,1842 in Georgetown Twp., Vermilion Co., IL and died 21 September,1921 in Walsenburg, Huerfano Co., CO.  He married Agnes Wilson Lamme (1848-1912) 16 December,1868 in Wapello Co., IA.  Henry served in Company B 36^th Iowa Infantry Regiment during Civil War. They were parents of five children, namely; Daniel Webster, Effie R., John, James Lamme and Leighton Henry.

(5) Daniel Webster Kirkpatrick born 1844 in Georgetown Twp., Vermilion Co., IL and died 25 April,1864 while serving in Company B 36^th Iowa Infantry Regiment at the Battle of Marks Mill in Cleveland Co., AR during Civil War.

(6) Thomas W.B. Kirkpatrick born 29 May,1849 in Kirkville, Wapello Co., IA and died 29 July,1923 in Manistee, Manistee Co., MI.  He married Martha Hirst (1854-1932) 22 January,1874 in Kirkville, Wapello Co., IA.  They were parents of five children, namely; Lillian, Grace, Wilbur, Lena “Mamie” and Lester.

(7) John Morgan Kirkpatrick born 19 January,1852 in Kirkville, Wapello Co., IA and died in 1934 in Anaconda, Deer Lodge, MT.  He married Elizabeth January Zentz (1853-1928) 10 April,1872 in Kirkville, Wapello Co., IA.  They were parents of five children, namely; Harland, Infant (no date), Minnie Jane, Maize and Forrest Israel.

11. Brooky Kyger born on 17 August,1817 in Salem Twp., Monroe Co., OH and died 8 May,1852 in Georgetown Twp., Vermilion Co., IL. 11 days after giving birth to her eighth child.  She married Thomas Scott Morgan (1808-1869) 20 February,1834 in Georgetown Twp., Vermilion Co., IL. They were parents of eight children, namely; Sylvester, William, Levi, Achilles, Eliza S., John, Caroline and Mary.

(1) Sylvester Morgan born 3 March,1835 in Georgetown Twp., Vermilion Co., IL and died 15 March,1912 in Georgetown, Vermilion Co., IL. He married Mahala Canaday 23 August,1857.  They were parents of eight children, namely John Henderson, Rosetta A., Brookey A., William Sheets, Thomas Henry, James, Milton, Mary E. and Ora Ethel.  Sylvester served in Company D 125^th Infantry Regiment during the Civil War.

(2) William Morgan born 6 December,1837 in Georgetown Twp., Vermilion Co., IL and died 9 December,1852 Georgetown Twp., Vermilion Co., IL.

(3) Levi Morgan born 7 August,1841 in Georgetown Twp., Vermilion Co., IL and died 3 June,1915 in Severy, Greenwood Co., KS.  He married Lydia January, Holeman 23 April,1864 in Missouri.  They were parents of thirteen children, namely; Phoebe Ann, William Thomas, John Mathis, Mary Elizabeth, Brooky January, Eliza Angeline, Tilman L., Elisha Andrew, Achilles Sylvester, Daniel Elmer, Infant Daughter, Nancy Belle and Nellie Mae.  Levi served in the 2^nd MO Light Artillery during the Civil War.

(4) Achilles Morgan born 27 August,1843 in Vermilion Co., IL and died 16 October,1924 in Preston, Hickory Co., MO.  He married (1) Nancy Dollarhide (1843-1868) in 1867. They had one son Jesse born and died 18 April,1868 in Preston, Hickory Co., MO.  He married (2) Samantha Louisiana Bullard (1838-1923) 31 December,1871. They were parents of three children, namely; Nancy Eliza, Thomas Wilson and Cora Ellen.

(5) Eliza S. Morgan born 14 October,1845 in Georgetown Twp., Vermilion Co., IL and died 1 April,1847 in Georgetown Twp., Vermilion Co., IL.

(6) John Morgan born 2 January,1848 Georgetown Twp., Vermilion Co., IL and died 15 February,1933 in Preston, Hickory Co., MO.  He married Matilda Lane (1851-1927) 4 January,1872. They were parents of eight children, namely; Cynthia Elnora, Lyman, Raymond, Rachel Elvora, Arthur, Ethan, Thomas Simpson and Ora Ellen.

(7) Caroline Morgan born November,1850 Georgetown Twp., Vermilion Co., IL and died January,1851 also in Georgetown Twp., Vermilion Co., IL.

(8) Mary Morgan born 27 April,1852 Georgetown Twp., Vermilion Co., IL and died also in Georgetown Tsp., Vermilion Co., IL

12. Adam Kyger born on 23 June,1819, in Salem Twp., Monroe Co., OH and died 30 April,1904 in Georgetown Twp., Vermilion Co., IL   They were parents of eight children, namely; Angeline, Walter, Taylor, Joseph Elisha, Amanda, Mary, John Calhoun Fremont and Sarah Eliza.  He was the only son of Daniel and Anna Kyger to serve in the Civil War. Company D, Hickory County Battalion, Osage County Regiment, Missouri Home Guard at Black Oak Point, Hickory County.

(1) Angeline Kyger born 1845 in Georgetown Twp., Vermilion Co., IL and died in 1885 in Texas.  She married Samuel Hill (1849-1934) about 1871 in Hickory Co., MO.  They were parents of two children, namely; Lucy A. and John M.

(2) Walter Kyger born 6 April,1847 in Georgetown Twp., Vermilion Co., IL and died 14 August,1930 in Bruner Twp., Christian Co., MO.  He served in the Civil War, Company D, Hickory County Battalion, Osage County Regiment, Missouri Home Guard at Black Oak Point, Hickory County.  He never married.

(3) Taylor Kyger born 21 February,1849 in Georgetown Twp., Vermilion Co., IL and died 23 February,1904 in Douglas Co., MO.  He never married.

(4) Joseph Elisha Kyger born 5 July,1850 in Georgetown Twp., Vermilion Co., IL and died September,1934 in Ongo, Douglas Co., MO.  He married Elizabeth Rebecca Stillings (1858-1902) 5 March,1888 in Douglas Co., MO.  They were the parents of six children, namely; Fred Elisha, Mary Catherine, Sarah Laura, John Frank, Charles McKinley and Amanda Belle.

(5) Amanda Kyger born 13 January,1853 in Georgetown Twp., Vermilion Co., IL and died 16 March,1932 in Revise, Whitman, WA.  She married George W. Breeden (1834-1933) about 1877.  They were parents of four children, namely; Fremont, Infant (no name), Adam Lonzo and Dora M.

(6) Mary Kyger born 7 March,1856 in Georgetown Twp., Vermilion Co., IL and died 7 April,1891 in Greene Co., MO.  She married Jacob Clifton 14 May,1884 in Douglas Co., MO. They only had one child named Richard Mansfield Clifton.

(7) John Calhoun Fremont Kyger born 26 April,1860 in Hermitage, Hickory Co., MO and died 5 March,1957 in Houston, Harris Co., TX.   He married (1) Emma Hightower (1865-1883) in Whitesboro, Grayson Co., TX They were parents of one child named Clay Melvin.  He married (2) Ellen Eugenia Bryan (1870-1950) 24 June,1889 in Lake Charles, LA.  They were parents of four children, namely; Evelyn Eugema, Bryan Halbert, Lera Dee and Ardis Elaine.

(8) Sarah Eliza Kyger born 1862 in Georgetown Twp., Vermilion Co., IL and died November,1886 in Douglas Co., MO.  She married Arthur Augustus Brake (1859-1932) 7 April,1881 in Douglas Co., MO.  They were parents of four children, namely; Mary E., Kittie, Bessie and Weaver Leroy.

13. Angeline Minerva Kyger born 18 March,1823 in Salem Twp., Monroe Co., OH and died 1 March,1904 in Vermilion Co., IL and was buried 2 March,1904 in McKendree Cemetery, Vermilion Co., IL.  She married Michael Ritter 23 Sep 1841 in Georgetown Twp., Vermilion Co., IL. They were parents of three children, namely; Nancy Ann, Theodore and Amanda January.

(1) Nancy Ann Ritter born 29 August,1842 in Vermilion Co., IL and died 12 March,1922 in Georgetown, Vermilion Co., IL.  She married Heram Yoho (1836-1924) 15 May,1866 in Georgetown, IL.  They were parents of four children, namely; Marquis Randall, Ophelia, Thaddeus Houston and Alden Brown.

(2) Theodore Ritter born 28 November,1844 in Georgetown Twp., Vermilion Co., IL and died 11 August,1920 in McKendree Twp., Vermilion Co., IL.  He never married.

 (3) Amanda January, Ritter born 9 March,1847 in Georgetown Twp., Vermilion Co., IL and died 10 May,1930 in Catlin Twp., Vermilion Co., IL.

Vermilion pioneers' descendants honor them with new tombstone

Fri, 07/20/2018 - 7:00am | Noelle McGee

Photo by: Stephen Haas/The News-Gazette

Nancy Michael of Georgetown talks about the condition of the headstones of her ancestors, Daniel and Anna Henthorn Kyger, on Monday, July 16, 2018, at McKendree Cemetery east of Westville.

Around 1831, Daniel and Anna Henthorn Kyger left their home in Ohio and headed west before putting down roots in McKendree Township in southeastern Vermilion County.

 "They weren't the first pioneer family in the county, but they were one of the earliest," said Nancy Michael, a descendant who lives in Georgetown, several miles from where her ancestors lived and farmed. 

Daniel died in 1849 around age 87, and Anna died in 1859 around age 79. They were buried in McKendree Cemetery, near what's long been the Forest Glen Preserve.

 Today, their old limestone headstones are broken and covered with black mold. 

On Sunday, the couple's descendants will gather for their annual Kyger family reunion — and dedicate a new tombstone, marking their final resting place.

 "We decided since they were the first ones out here and our families stemmed from them, we needed to put something more permanent there," said Frank Kyger, another descendant. 

"We want to mark this place, so we and future generations will know where their family is and where they came from."

 The reunion is at the Maple Grove Lodge at Forest Glen. A brief dedication ceremony will be held before a potluck dinner, which starts at 1 p.m. 

All Kyger family descendants are invited to attend.

 Daniel, who is of German ancestry, was born in Virginia, and Anna was born in Pennsylvania. They had seven sons and six daughters. 

"They lived in Virginia, then West Virginia before moving to the northeastern corner of Ohio. Around 1830 or 1831, we see land being sold," said Frank, 80, of Chatham, whose fourth great-grandfather was the couple's seventh child, also named William[FK1] Kyger.

"Some came in covered wagons pulled by oxen. Some came down the Ohio River. They took ropes and pulled themselves up the Wabash" River, added Michael, 71, of Georgetown, whose fifth great-grandfather was John Kyger, the couple's third child and oldest son.

"They loved the farmland of Vermilion County, so they settled there," Michael continued, adding some of the family's land was donated to the Vermilion County Conservation District for the forest preserve.

* * *

While the patriarch and matriarch settled in what would be called McKendree Community, some of their children and their families lived a short distance away in Grape Creek in Danville Township, said Michael, who has studied her family's genealogy for nearly 40 years.

In 1835, Williams Sheet, husband of the Kygers' daughter, Eliza, and Thomas Morgan, husband of daughter Brooky, built a grist mill on the bank of the Vermilion River near Grape Creek. They later built a saw mill and distillery.

In 1860, three of John's sons — Daniel, Tilmon and Henry T. Kyger — bought the mill and later built a gravel pit, cooperage for making barrels to ship flour and an oxen team. Tilmon, a Union captain in the Civil War, later became a lawyer. But the family continued to run the mill — which drew people from a 40-mile radius — until 1901, when the mill, weakened by age, fell into the river from its own weight.

Michael said her ancestors were Methodist. After another settler donated land for a church, Daniel and other family members helped build McKendree Church, which stood next to the cemetery.

"It was started around 1840. It burned down twice. They rebuilt it," she said.

When people left the rural area for jobs in town, Michael said the congregation dwindled and finally closed. Eventually, kids vandalized the building.

"So, they tore it down. The only thing you see now is the cemetery," she said, adding some of the people buried there never had a headstone. "And a lot of them are broken."

That's what happened to the thin slabs of limestone that mark Daniel and Anna's graves. Frank believes they became weathered over time and broke due to their age. Michael suspects they were also vandalized.

"Frank really pushed and worked hard to get the new stone," Michael said.

Frank — who grew up across the state line in Horseshoe, Ind., and lived in Georgetown before moving to Chatham — said he and other relatives also started researching their family tree and traveling to various cemeteries at some point.

"When we saw Daniel and Anna's tombstones, we noticed they were decaying. You can still read the names, but you can see where the foundation was broken," Frank said.

The new granite stone will have Daniel and Anna's names and birth and death dates etched on the front, and the names of all their children on the back. And their old markers will be placed on either side of the new one.

"We have wanted to do this for a while, and this was kind of the year," Frank continued, adding the dedication will be extra special for him and his sisters because it happens to fall on the birthday of their late father, Russell Kyger.

* * *

From the couple came many descendants, who are spread throughout Illinois, Missouri, Texas, Oklahoma, California and Washington state. Some of their family names: Adams, Arrasmith, Black, Bolin, Coil, Hawn, Henk, Jenkins, Johnson, Jones, Kirkpatrick, Lusader, Lynch, Madden, Maggard, Morgan, Ritter, Shaw, Sheets, Shields, Sollars, Sprouls, Trosper, Underwood, Walton and Williams.

"I would say we're in the thousands," said Michael, who made books for each of the 13 children and recorded their descendants’' names "right up to the present."

She added that the first two generations of Brooky's family alone probably had close to 100 members. She had eight children before dying during childbirth. While her four daughters died young, her sons lived to adulthood.

"One son had 13 children, and one of those children had 17 children," Michael said. "You can imagine how many descendants from just that one family are out there ... and they're still being born."

Michael has tracked down distant relatives throughout the country.

"I found one in Pennsylvania," she said. "He was 84. He drove all the way from Pennsylvania to Georgetown to bring me the family bible. There were all these tin-type photographs in there. I took them to Cunningham's (a now-closed photo shop in Danville) and had them make copies.

"I found another one who was 104 and living in a nursing home. She was highly intelligent, but she slept a lot and her hearing was gone. I took a dry erase board and wrote questions on it, and she would read them. ... Today, communication has changed. So many people have people calling them, trying to get information. You don't know who to trust now."

She and Frank said family reunions have also changed. Theirs used to draw 100-plus people, but now only 50 to 60 attends.

"People don't have time for reunions like they used to," Michael said.

However, they're hoping that more people show up for this special one.

"We have one couple from Springfield, Mo., coming," Frank said. "We just found them about three years ago," he said, adding their family stemmed from Adam Kyger, Daniel and Anna's twelfth child. He and another brother moved to Missouri in the 1880s.

"We've been going to their reunions, and they've been coming to ours."

Daniel and Anna (Henthorn) Kyger

Dedication and 65^th Kyger Reunion

July 22, 2018

The Kyger family met and dedicated the new monument for Daniel and Anna Kyger at the McKendree Cemetery, Georgetown, Illinois.  For those who couldn’t attend, you missed a wonderful day.  We were few but had a great day remembering our great-great-great-great-grandfather and grandmother. The new monument along with the originals will provide the Kyger family with an approximate location where our ancestors first settled in Illinois. 

The final cost of the installation was $2,350, and we have donations of $1,350 to date.  We had to pay the full amount on July 24, 2018.  The 2018 reunion group donated $237 after reunion expenses. What a wonderful family, but the account is short $1000. 

We truly thank all those who have donated and are asking other members to step up and help in this family monument project.  It is important to preserve and honor our ancestors and the family history. 

Your donations will be greatly appreciated no matter how small or great.  Please send all donations to our reunion president Ruth Johnson, 4038 North 1500 East Road, Ridgefarm, IL 61870.