JOHN WHITSITT OF LAFAYETT COUNTY, MISSOURI & HIS DESCENDANTS

Born about 1768 in Pennsylvania, died 1845 in Lafayette County, Missouri. He was the second surviving son of Samuel and Margaret Whitsitt of Montgomery County, Kentucky.  John had nine children by Lucy Davidson, five sons and four daughters.

This is a work in progress.  I am researching the known descendants and adding that information as I complete each generation.  This may be a lengthy process, so please be patient.

I welcome information from living descendants and other researchers.  I reserve the right to edit any material sent to me, but I will give all contributors credit for their information.  I use a stricter rule for documentation of sources than many on-line family trees.  Please include your sources of information for each person in your family tree. 

EARLY SETTLERS IN LAFAYETTE COUNTY, MISSOURI, 1881 CLAY TOWNSHIP: (no publisher), The first settlement in that portion of Lafayette County now known as Clay Township, appears to have been made on or near the present town and site of the town of Wellington, in 1819. Colonel Henry Renick, William Renick, Ruth, widow of Samuel Renick, and Young Ewing, clerk of the first County Court, were the first settlers, all from Barren County, Kentucky. Thomas Hopper and two sons-in-law, Killion and John Young, appeared at about the same date, from Indiana, and Jonathan Hicklin with three sons, James, Jonathan and John, and three sons-in-law, Reddin Crisp, Dick Edmonson and William Edmonson, from East Tennessee. The above mentioned were nearly all heads of families, and opened farms. This settlement was further increased in 1820 or '21 by the arrival of Colonel William C. Ewing, Gen. McRay, John Wallace, Baker Martin and William Young and three sons - James, William and John. Shortly afterwards another settlement sprang into existence about two miles north of the present site of Greenton, of which John Whitsett, father of William Whitsett, of Washington township, was the first settler, he having purchased the previously claim of one Michael Ferrin. In the course of a year or two he was joined by Nicholas Turner, Timothy Dunn, Elias Baker, William Hall, William and Elisha Evans.

According to the statement of Mr. Jesse Rankin, who was born March 20, 1792 in Person County, Kentucky, was a soldier of 1812, and came to Lafayette County in 1835, where he still resides, Anselm Harner, Elias Barker, William and Allen Jennings all from Tennessee; Joseph Green, Isaac Gann and Joseph White settled in Clay Township previous to 1835. Dr. Ward, from Kentucky, also settled there at about the same time and was one of the first physicians in that section. The Rev. Robert Sloan, who since died in Cass County, was among the first school teachers there, having taught in a log school house near the present site of Greenton. A water mill was erected and operated by a Mr. Cobb, on the Big Sni.

EARLY SETTLERS IN LAFAYETTE COUNTY, MISSOURI, 1881 WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP
Among the other more prominent citizens who early located in the limits of this township, mention is also made of John Jennings, Bently Barton, Nimrod Scott, Norman Pool, James S. Whitsett, Ephraim Pool, John McNeal, James Barker, Thos. Hutchison, Levi Whitsett, Henry James, Morgan Cockrell, John Ingram, Charles Smith, Judge Julius Emmons and Rev. John R. Whitsett, a Cumberland Presbyterian Minister. These settled principally in the easter, southern and northern portions of the township. John Whitsett, the father of William Whitsett (who came to this town in 1834) settled near Dover in 1819, and three years later moved to the Slaughter farm. Chatham S. Ewing settled where his son now resides, in 1836.

The following items of early history were furnished by Mr. William Whitsett, whose father, John Whitsett settled near Dover, in this County, as early as 1819. The first settlers in the region of Mr. Hebron Church, were John Ingram, of Tennessee, Charles Smith, of Tennessee, William Whitsett, of Kentucky, Richard Powell, and John R. Whitsett, of Kentucky, and Chatham Ewing, of Kentucky.

Mr. Eli Adams furnishes the following items of the early history of Washington township: The first settlers were Richard Powell, Charles Smith, Stephen Barker, Sr., James Barker, Elias Barker, John Barker, Wm. Barker, John Ingram, Julius Emmons, Wm. W. Whitsett, C. S. Ewing and Eli Adams. The first death was that of Mrs. Julius Emmons, which occurred in the spring of 1837. The first preachers were Revs. Finis Ewing, Robert and John Morrow, Robert Sloan, ??? Kavanaugh, of the C. P. Church, and Rev. John Warder, of the regular Baptist Church

 11 August, I, John Whitsett of the County of Lafayette in the State of Missouri do make and publish this my last will and testament in manner and form following, that is to say. First it is my will that my funeral expenses and all my just debts be fully paid. Second it is my will and desire that all my lands be sold should I not live to sell them myself and the money arising from the sales. First, I give and devise to Elizabeth Lillard three-hundred dollars, Second to my son William M. Whitsett, one-hundred dollars. Third I give to my daughter, Margaret Rankin, one hundred dollars. Fourth, I give to my son Samuel T. Whitsett three hundred dollars. Fifth, I give to my son Isaac E. Whitsett seven hundred dollars and it is my will and desire further that the balance of the money be equally divided between all my legatees and my further will and desire is that the good cause of Religion be made an additional legatee an equal portion with my lawful heirs my will is that Robert Morrain and Robert Sloan receive the money for H. O. additional legatee and apply it as they in their presbytery may direct. And lastly, I hereby constitute and appoint my son, William M. Whitsett and Robert H. Rankin to be the executors to this , my last will and testament and revoking and annulling all former wills by me made and ratifying and confirming this and no other to be my last will and testament. In testimony whereby I have here unto set my hand and seal this 11th day of August in the year of our Lord, Eighteen hundred and forty-one.
Signed, published and declared by the above named : John Whitsett as and for this last will and testament in presence of us, who at his request have
signed as witness to the same.
Rufus Hornbuckle                                                                                    John Whitsett (seal)
James Horn
[The Last Will and Testament of John Whitsett (Transcript of Will, Linda Gardner letter, Jan. 14, 1999)]

11 February, Be it remembered that on this 11th day of February A.D. 1845 before me, William Spratt, clerk of the Lafayette County court came Rufus Hornbuckle and Amos Horn the individuals whose names are subscribed in the foregoing instrument of writing and being each duly sworn by me to testify as to the execution of said instrument-prove and upon examination before me that John Whitsitt (the testator) executed said instrument of writing as his last will and testament in their presence by subscribing his name thereto and that he was of sound and minds at the time he signed the same and that they as witnesses subscribed their names to each in the presence and at the request of the said testator.
[The Last Will and Testament of John Whitsett (Transcript of Will, Linda Gardner letter, Jan. 14, 1999)]

WORK IN PROGRESS

GENERATION 3