The Kellar Family

 

By Carol C. Reynolds

One of the most prominent men among the old settlers was Abraham Harrods Kellar. He was a native of Virginia, born 24 Aug 1788. He married at the age of twenty-one to Nancy James Hitt who was born 10 Jun 1793. They immediately moved to Oldham County, Kentucky where their eight children were born:   1.       Joel Harrods Kellar born 13 Mar 1812 2.       William Morton Kellar born 1814 3.       James Harrods Kellar born 1816 [1] 4.       John Harrods Kellar born 1 Jun 1817 5.       Elizabeth Harrods Kellar born 13 Feb 1819 6.       Paulina Kellar born 1822 7.       Henry Young Kellar born 16 Aug 1825 8.       Abraham L. Kellar born 15 Dec 1827 Note:  Click on any picture on this page to see the enlarged, full picture. In the fall of 1831, the eldest son Joel, moved with ox-teams one mile south of what is now Lovington township. Abraham and three of his sons (William, James and John) came early in the spring of 1832, took up settlement and raised a crop of corn. That fall he returned and brought the rest of the family. They settled on section 34, in what is now Lovington township.   This pioneer was one of the first to aid and counsel in bringing about the new county of Moultrie. He served in many responsible and demanding positions in the county until his death, which occurred July 23rd, 1855, at the age of sixty-seven.   Among the first justices of the peace we can find was mentioned A. H. Kellar [father], etc. One of the first resident physicians was Dr. William Kellar [son]. At this early day the old settlers practiced among themselves, using domestic remedies, such as roots and herbs that they were familiar with. A. H. Kellar and Joseph Hostetler became famous practitioners under the Thompsonian[2] system which involved steaming the patients for all diseases under the practice then. It was as popular as bleeding used to be under the old regime. It is said they tried this steaming operation upon a case of rheumatism and it worked admirably. In course of time Dr. A. H. Kellar [father] was taken down with the malarial fever, and Uncle Joe Hostetler called in to perform the steaming process. The result was, the patient grew worse, and it was with the greatest skill that his life was saved. From this experiment they concluded that the theory might do for rheumatism, but it was not worth a continental for bilious fever.   The earliest mill built in the township was a grist-mill, by A. H. Kellar, on section 34, in the fall of 1832, soon after his removal here. It was a “Stump Mill” propelled by horse power. It was constructed over a stump, and the whole machinery revolved as the horses passed around. This mill cost about $50. In 1838 Mr. Kellar built another mill, costing about $150, as was a great improvement on the former. Again in 1844, he built still another at a cost of $250. This was constructed of cast-iron, and French burrs. This, it is said, was the best of the kind in this part of the State; people came for thirty or forty miles to have their milling done.   The first steam mill in the township was built by Colonel Allen Clore, in 1852. It was a saw-mill, and constructed on his farm. A water saw-mill was built on the West Okaw, in section 32, in 1843, by Abraham Souther.[3] It had a Parker cast-iron water wheel and a vertical saw. This was the first and only water mill in the township. The first merchandize sold in this territory was by A. H. Kellar, who kept a small stock of goods in one of the rooms of his house. This was in 1833. He bought his goods in Louisville, and had them shipped to Terre Haute, where they were carted in wagons to his place. This was the only store in the township until those established in the town of Lovington. The first fine stock introduced was a Durham bull in 1835, by William Snyder[4], since which time several enterprising men in the township have made fine stock raising a specialty.               The Lovington Cemetery [Kellar Cemetery] is situated one and a half miles south of the village, and was first owned and under the control of A. H. Kellar for a private burial-ground. It remained a long time a private place of burial, but no one was ever refused the privilege of burying their dead here. In the spring of 1880, through the local’s efforts, three acres of land was added to it and it became township property.        In 1832, A. H. Kellar, Abram Southern, Rebecca Stevens, and a few other Baptists from Kentucky, with Joseph and Solomon Hostetler and their wives from Indiana, came together in November and organized the West Okaw Church of Christ. Joseph Hostetler was an ordained minister, while his brother Solomon and A. H. Kellar were teaching elders. They were righteous men, full of zeal. The West Okaw Church may properly be called the mother of all the Christian Churches in the county. Its meetings, when the weather compelled, were held in the twenty-feet-square log school house, with stick-and-mud chimney at the west and with a log left out at the east end for a window. It had what was known as a weight-pole roof. From this point the primitive gospel began and continued to be sounded out. From Cunningham's Grove on the north to Jerry Provolt's at the forks of the Okaw on the south, the seeds of the truth were sown by this pioneer church.            (Hayes, Nathaniel S., History of the Disciples in Illinois, 1819-1914, p. 340-41) Henry Young Kellar was an elder in the local Christian Church and preached a religion very similar to Mormonism in many ways, but very much different in others. The Campbellites[5], as they were also known, adhered strictly to the teachings of the Old and New Testaments.   Other names of the area, besides the Kellars, who are associated with the William Cazier family, and who belonged to this same church were the Loves, Hostetlers, Southers, and Snyders, Bests, etc. a group totaling about forty individuals in 1840, and growing to around 160 members within the next ten years.   Notwithstanding, .  .  .  “the story of the Golden Plate revelation had been known and discussed as early as 1833. These ideas generated contempt in the minds of the more enlightened against the Mormon faith. The people had seen enough of the Mormons in their transits to and from Missouri, in the years 1833 and 1834, to form some ideas of their vagaries. Not  until 1842 did they get any hold in the Lovington congregation. It is true there was a family or two who had stopped in the neighborhood and remained a short time, who were believers in the doctrine, but being rather illiterate they commanded no attention. In 1843, one of their preachers stopped at the house of Andrew Love over night, and being zealous in the faith, he engaged Love’s attention to such a degree that hopes were entertained of his early conversion, as also of Geo. Best, Wm. Cazier and family, Charles Bryant [Bryan] and wife [Maranda, William’s daughter], most of whom were members of the Christian Church. These having embraced the new faith, became zealous defenders of its dogmas,”[6] “The consequence was the unsettling of the minds of many and the actual conversion to the faith of the persons named above. The church [Christian Church] has about 125 members in full fellowship at the present time. It has from its membership organized several different congregations, or parts of congregations, all of which will appear in proper order.  .  .  .  The church held its meetings from 1832 to 1846 in private houses and in the school-house on Allen Clores farm. In 1846 it commenced worship in the hew house of A. H. Kellar’s farm, where the church had erected a frame building 24’ x 30’. This house  .  .  .  was used until the house was built in Lovington  .  .  .  it was built by contributions of work and material, so that its cost cannot be accurately determined. “ [7]        Because Abraham and James H Kellar were so involved in these incidents I have chosen to include them at this point in the narrative. --CCR   Sidney Rigdeon        William Morton Kellar, an older brother to Henry Young, was also a preacher in the Campbellite church and a Dr. in the community.  He met an untimely death being mauled by a bear.

 

 

A Note From the Combined History of Shelby and Moultrie Counties, Illinois

 

 

“The excitement created by the Mormons in separating husband and wife, and the incidents connected therewith, at the desire of parties, I will give. Andrew Love was a man of considerable intelligence and influence, who had taken up with the new religion from what was believed to be sinister motives. He had traded his property for property in Nauvoo, and had gone there with other families that had embraced the faith, most of whom had left unsettled business in the neighborhood. They had gone in the fall or winter of 1845 and 1846, intending to return in the spring, finish settlement, and take with them some property which they had left behind.   Among those who went were John Cazier and wife. Mrs. Cazier [Frances Elizabeth LeMaster] wrote to her sister-in-law, Mrs. Lamaster [LeMaster][8], about the time Love and Cazier started for Moultrie county, that Andrew Love was coming to Moultrie county, and that he said he was going to bring William Souther’s wife [Catherine Ann Bigelow][9], and that there were some who would not live long. On the receipt of this letter by Mrs. Lamaster, who lived in Macon county, south of Decatur, she gave it to her father, Uncle Jack Turpin, who came immediately to A. H. Kellar’s and showed the letter. Souther was sent for and informed of its contents, but he was incredulous, and did not believe that his wife entertained any idea of such an act, as he had not heard her express any desire to go with the Mormons for some time. Since her sister, Mrs. Love, had left he supposed she had abandoned all ideas of Mormonism. He said he would speak to his wife about the matter when he went home, but did not do so, but concluded to arouse the neighborhood and drive the Mormons out. When he returned home, to his surprise, his wife informed him of her intention to go with the Latter Day Saints [sic]. At his request, his mother [Catharine Hardin Souther] came and tried to dissuade her daughter-in-law from such an unwise step; She was, however, unsuccessful in changing her purpose. Mrs. Souther’s answer to all entreaties was, “I must go with the Lord’s people.” Mr. Souther decided at last to let her have her will, but told her she could not have her child. The child was an infant, a few months old, but so great was the infatuation of the mother that she said, “I will go if I have to leave my child.” The child being placed in the care of her mother-in-law, she interposed no objection. The mother-in-law, taking the child, turned to the mother and said: “Catharine, tie the bonnet on Angie’s head, and take the last look at your child.” She did so without an emotion, while the mother-in-law was almost overcome with grief. It was not that she was wanting in natural affection, for she was both a good wife and an affectionate mother. It was simply the influence of the pernicious teaching she had imbibed that for the time had seemingly obliterated those noble qualities which she exhibited when not influenced by Mormon fanaticism. The indignation of the people was almost uncontrollable, when it was known that Mrs. Souther had determined to leave him, and it required considerable effort upon the part of the more deliberate to prevent a resort to violence. The citizens met at James H. Kellar’s, organized an appointed a committee to give the Mormons notice to quit the country in two days. While things were transpiring Mrs. Souther had left her husband and was making her way on foot to the house of a Mormon by the name of Abbot, some three miles away, in opposition to the wishes of her husband, who desired her to remain at John Love’s until the Mormons were ready to depart. When he learned of her departure he started in pursuit, carrying a gun and overtaking her west of the Okaw timber. A. H. Kellar, being at the house of E. J. Hikes [brother-in-law][10], near by, first seeing Mrs. Souther pass, and in a short time Souther, he followed him, fearing that under the excitement of the moment he might do some act of violence. He saw Souther overtake his wife, saw her stop and step back where the fence screened her from view. He hastened forward and heard Souther say: “Did I not tell you not to go to Abbots?” He failed to understand her reply, but hastened forward and addressed her, saying: “Why Catherine, is it possible you can believe there is any religion in such conduct?” She answered abruptly: “You know nothing about it, sir.” Seeing her condition of mind, he said nothing more. Her husband then informed her that he had decided she should not go. He commanded her to take her place upon the horse behind him, which she at first refused to do, but finally acceded to his wishes, and they returned to Mr. Souther’s father’s, where she manifested no discontent or ill feeling, saying: “She had tried to do her duty, but was prevented, and she knew the Lord would accept her.” Some three years after she did escape and joined the Mormons. Her husband visited her at Salt Lake, and she went with him to California, where she died.

      Illustration from Harper’s Weekly, date & artist unknown.

“In early 1832 opposition took a violent turn. On Saturday, March 24, Joseph was dragged from his bedroom in the dead of night. His attackers strangled him until he blacked out, tore off his shirt and drawers, beat and scratched him, and jammed a vial of poison against his teeth until it broke [chipped his tooth]. After tarring and feathering his body, they left him for dead. Joseph limped back to the Johnsons’ house and cried out for a blanket. Through the night his friends scraped off the tar  until his flesh was raw.”  (Bushman, Rough Stone Rolling, p. 178)

 

“On Tuesday, the day appointed for the Mormons to leave Moultrie county, the whole neighborhood for ten miles up and down the timber came to see them depart. The principal part of them were to start from the house of John Love, where the citizens had assembled. Andrew Love was talking to his brother, when Souther came up and spoke to some one in the company, saying: “Boys, I want the best gun you’ve got.” William Stevens handed him a gun, assuring him it was as good as could be found in the county. He took the proffered gun, raised it to his face, taking deliberate aim at Love. When John Love saw Souther’s act, he said: “See that rascal,” which gave his brother the timely warning that saved his life. He sprang behind the house and escaped the intended shot by mounting his horse and riding for dear life.
 

“J. J. [John Jefferson] Hudson, brother-in-law of James Cazier, who had left his wife [Juliet Catherine Hudson] for the new faith, was in the company, and had decided that he would give Cazier a new coat, one that would enable him to get as many new wives as he desired, said coat to consist of tar and feathers. Cazier, getting word of the honor intended him, fled, and, being vigorously pursued, ran into the house of a German by the name of Westafer, and begged of the good housewife to secrete him, who upon learning the cause of his trouble, refused him any assistance and bade him get out of her house. He was caught by his pursuers and would have received the intended coat had he not begged with tears and many protestations to be spared the punishment, asserting his innocence of any desire to go with the Mormons and promising to return and live with his wife and family. He did return, and remained one night, but proved so disagreeable that his wife was glad to be rid of him. He left the next day and returned to the Mormons. Some three years after this he came back, pretending that he had left the Mormons and was farming near St. Joe, Mo., and desired his wife and family to go with him. He told his story so well, that his wife believed him and consented to go with him, and also to the selling of the farm, which she had before refused, it having been purchased with her means. He sold the farm to his brother-in-law, who was also deceived in him, and took the money and family and departed. Pen cannot picture the wife’s astonishment and regret, on reaching her destination, to find he had another wife [Elizabeth Spurgen], and that she must take up her residence in a shed attached to the dwelling occupied by the favored wife. Cazier’s treatment of his wife and family was such that she, by the aid of a friend, informed her relatives, who sent two men, L. J. Berry and E. D. Cleveland, and rescued her, and brought her and her children to their friends. He had accomplished his purpose, and gave no trouble, as the money was his only object.”[11]

 

 Moultrie County Courthouse                                      

A Second Note From the Combined History of Shelby and Moultrie Counties, Illinois

 

“Probably the first case on which Governor [Richard] Oglesby tried the point of his legal spear, was the following. Among the first settlers in this part of the county were A. H. Kellar and William Cazier, both emigrants from the same place in Kentucky. It seems that Cazier became infatuated with the Mormons on their advent here. He was known as a very honest man until this faith took hold of him, when it suddenly was revealed to him that a debt due a Gentile was not worth regarding. Kellar had stuck to him through thick and thin prior to him Mormon alliance. The result was that he, Kellar, had become largely involved in the debts of Cazier. The latter was about to leave, to join the Mormons, when his creditors levied on the most of his property. Among this property was a large four-horse wagon, and it appears there was some doubt of the legality of the sale of said wagon. Cazier accordingly secreted the property out in the tall prairie-grass, about five miles from his place. Kellar learning of this, proposed to his neighbor friends that they take a hunt for wolves – wolves were plenty then, in the country – with that