Moses Henry Alexander Usher

Possible parents: David Usher and Rebecca Irvin - this information as well as siblings is from one of the Smart Matches above.

Siblings: James Harvey Usher, Francis C Usher.

Moses served in the Black Hawk War, enlisting May 20, 1832 in Galena, Jo Davies Co., IL under Col. James M. Strode, 27th Regiment, Illinois Volulnteer Militia. On May 15, 1832 the 27th Regiment was called into service of the United States by Governor's order, and I found Moses' name listed on this roster, led by Captain Milton M. Maugh. (Source: Record of the Services of Illinois Soldiers in the Black Hawk War 1831-32, prepared & published by authority of the 32nd General Assembly, by Isaac H. Elliott, Adjutant -General of the State of Illinois, Springfield, IL; Journal Company, Printers & Binders, 1902). A stockade at Galena was constructed under a declaration of martial law, issued by Col. Strode, and Moses Usher was likely to have been involved in the construction, as all able-bodied men were required to participate. Moses served for 3 months and 19 days. The 27th Regiment was mustered for discharge on September 6, 1832, and mustered out September 8, 1832.

(A book about the Black Hawk War that I would like to find is "The Sauks and the Black Hawk War: With Biographical Sketches, Etc., Perry A. Armstrong, 1887, 726 pgs.)

Moses was entitled to land grants as a result of this service, but apperently did not claim them right away. In 1851, Moses & his second wife Mary moved the family to Franklin Co., MO where he filed an affadavit on March 26, 1851, outlining his service in the Black Hawk War and requesting bounty lands for his military service. On April 20, 1855 he filed another claim for additonal land in Oregon Co., MO where the family lived at that time. In this affadavit he proclaimed that he had sold his original tract granted by an act of Congress on September 28, 1850, and was requesting the new land under another act of Congress dated March 3, 1855. He was still seeking that land in April, 1856 when he filed another application in Texas Co., MO. From 1856-1859, he received 5 land grants in Goldsberry township, Howell Co., MO, which totaled 320 acres.

One of the researchers I have been in contact with for Usher/Schoolcraft lines is Millie Usher Shanklin (jesseshankin@webtv.net). I have not researched these lines myself. Jesse descends from Moses & his first wife Polly Hickey, and is their 2nd great-grandson. I descend from Moses and his 2nd wife Mary Ann Schoolcraft, being their 3rd great-grandaughter. Millie Shanklin said (per email to me in May, 2006): "There is a family Bible that belonged to Moses that documents his first family with Polly Hickey and his second family with Mary Ann Schoolcraft. We also have Moses' will." I would love to obtain copies of these Bible records and Will - perhaps my next research project can focus on this!

Moses first married to Polly Hickey on March 22, 1834 in Madison Co., IL (per copy of marriage record in possession of Dr. Ellis, Madison Co. IL Marriage Book, Record 61, Book 6, pg. 27); she died in 1838 (source: family Bible record in possession of Georgia Collette). Moses & Polly had 4 children: John Henry, Mary, William, and Daniel, with only the first two surviving to adulthood.

Moses is found in the 1840 Census, Indian Creek & Rattans Prairie District, Madison Co., IL, pg. 105, line 12, household with 1 male age 1-5, 1 male age 5-10, 1 female agee 1-5, and one male age 20-30. Names aren't listed. There is no one enumerated that would be a wife, so I conjecture he and his 2nd wife were married after 1840. Researcher Dr. David Ellis (dr.ellis@physics.org) has tried to help me with this family... ***need to re-examine this census record as Mary Ann's parents may be enumerated nearby***

Another researcher of Usher/Schoolcraft, Peggy Hankins (amethyst@fidnet.com) gave further information: children of Moses and Polly (Hickey) were (1) Mary b. Madison Co., IL, m. Ignation Goldsbury on April 2, 1856 in Oregon Co., MO. (2) John Henry Usher (Peggy's great-grandfather) b. April 3, 1839 Madison Co., IL, d. Dec. 18, 1882 in Steelville, Crawford Co., MO, married Susan Massey. lived in Cook Station, Crawford Co., MO. NOTE: If Moses Usher's famiy Bible record is correct in that his 1st wife Polly died in March, 1838---John could not be her child? Who was his mother, or is his dob recorded wrong? (3) Nancy b. circa 1848. Millie further notes Moses had documentation showing he was in West Plains, Howell Co., MO sometime after 1840, in Franklin Co., MO by 1851, Oregon Co., MO 1855,Texas Co., MO 1856, Howell Co., MO 1860, with a deed recording the sale of property there on March 31, 1860. Millie also has found a record of probate for Moses in West Plains, Howell Co., MO, listing minor children as George, David, Sarah, Elizabeth, Lee, & Lydia. The date of probate was January 24, 1870.

In Lamar Co., TX marriage records is listed a Moses Usher marriage to Mary Ann Schoolcraft on March 30, 1845 Need to write for a copy of this marriage bond). (Source: Texas Marriage Collection, 1814-1909, Original data - Dodd, Jordan R, et. al. Early American Marriages: Texas to 1850).

The 1850 census of Franklin Co., MO shows: Moses Usher, 35, W, M, farmer, b. IL; Mary Ann, 30 (suspect this should be 20), W, F, b. IL; John, 15, W, M, b. IL; Mary, 12, W, F, b. IL; and Nancy, 2, W, F, b. IL.

In the 1860 census for Howell Co., MO, (Golesberry township), is found Moses H. age 46, farmer b. TN, Mary A. age 28/9? b. IL, Nancy A. age 21, George age 8, David age 5, & Sarah age 3.

A 2nd researcher I have contact with in 2006 is Georgia Collette (georgiac2@juno.com). Moses and Mary Ann (Schoolcraft) Usher were her grandparents. She says that her grandparents had several children, with her father Lee being the 7th child, and that she could remember several of her aunts and her Uncle Dave (David Usher). She said her dad married twice, 1st to Ellen Sherrill who died after they were married 17 years and had 7 children (only 3 survived). She is the only survivor of Lee & his 2nd wife Delphia Marler Usher who had 11 children. Georgia went on to say: "I heard so much about Aunt Nancy over the years but did not know her personally....I did not know that Grandpa Moses died when my father was so young-6 years old. He never mentioned a stop-father who, I understand, was Sampson J. Harper, appointed guardian of the children and estate of Moses." She continued to say: "Grandpa Moses could not write.....family members entered information in the family Bible as follows: Moses H. Usher married Polly Jones in March, 1832." Dr. Ellis said that "Jones" was Polly's middle name. The family Bible further transcribed: "Polly died January 28, 1838."

In 2006 Georgia was 89 years old and computer literate, doing research online and emailing, responding to other researchers in our quest for knowledge of our ancestors! Georgia's address: 10700 Mount Vernon St., Taylor, MI 48180-6941, phone # 313-295-3678?

Georgia said (per email of 4/10/2006): "I have a copy of the settlement of Grandpa Moses' estate.....The guardian of the children and the estate of Grandpa Moses was a man named Sampson J. Harper. I have a detailed, hand written report of the settlement of the estate, dated Jan. 20, 1870. A census record dated a few years later indicates a Sampson J. Harper, wife Mary Ann, and daugher Lydia, age 15 yrs." The speculation is that Sampson married Mary Ann Schoolcraft Usher and he assumed the role of father for Lydia who was approximately 4-6 years old when Moses died.

Find A Grave Memorial # 45251771.