The Story of William H Casey
Excerpt from pg 73-76, "Genealogical History of the Casey Family of Indiana" by Otis C. Casey, Jr., dated 01 Jan 1993, Indianapolis, Ind.
(--pg 73--) WILLIAM H CASEY
"William H Casey was born September 14, 1824 in Shelby County, Kentucky and died on August 23, 1899 in Jackson County, Indiana. He was buried in the Russell Chapel Cemetery in Jackson County, with no tombstone (NOTE: tombstone erected by family in 2004). These dates and places are established by his obituary and census data. It is probably that he was named after his uncle, William Hubbard Casey. "Uncle Billy", as he was called late in life, was known to have been married four times, had nine children by his first wife, and three children by his second wife. With all these children, and hundreds of descendants, it seems ironic that the only living descendants of William H Casey that carry the Casey family name at the time of this writing are Otis C Casey, Jr and Otis C Casey III.
"There is a great deal known about this man. However, like any other family description, some may be incorrect and still other is subject to opinion. He was the son of Riley Casey, Jr and Penina Pearce. All sources show that he was born in Kentucky. The location is almost certainly Shelby County, Kentucky in the Long Run area near the Jefferson County border, east of Louisville. This is where the census records place his parents and grandparents in 1820 and 1830. His ancestors and the areas is described in the sections for Riley Casey, Sr (pgs 6-22) and Riley Casey Jr (pgs 44-47). The will of Riley Casey, Jr include the names of William H Casey, his mother, brothers and sisters.
"In 1834 the three generations moved to Indiana. They settled in Vienna Township of Scott County. They farmed and hunted and raised their families in an area only beginning to not be wilderness. The county seat of the town of Scottsburg was nearby, and many small settlements. They were Methodists and went to the Honey Run Methodist Church just west of Scottsburg. William H Casey was probably the second child of his parents. His older sister Permelia, married Thomas P Hughbanks in Scott County in 1839. The 1840 census listed his father and grandfather in Scott County. When William was nineteen years old, his father died and was buried in Craig Cemetery where the Honey Run Methodist Church then stood. His grandfather died two years later in 1845. William and his brothers were then in charge of the family. They continued to live in Scott County for several years and farm the land. On July 3, 1851, Penina Casey married James Mellon, a neighbor. The marriage did not work out and they were divorced in 1853. On July 7, 1853, William H. Casey married Mary C. Anderson in Scott County.
"William H Casey is shown by deed records to have owned land in Scott County, Indiana, which he sold on November 10, 1856 to William H Cochran. This land consisted of two parcels totaling 60 acres. His parents and other family members also owned land here since the 1830's.
"It was in the year 1854, according to William Casey's obituary, that he moved to Jackson County, Indiana, not so far from the Scott County home. William settled in the Russell Chapel area of Grassy Fork Township. It has at various times also been known as Oldtown, Sidney and Mt Sidney. It is located one and one half miles south of present day Tampico and west of Crothersville. Not far to the south is the Muscatatuck River and Washington County. The center of the area is at cross roads of Route 39 and 700 South. The Russell Chapel Church and cemetery are located here. The Mt (--pg 74--) Sidney School once was located on the corner north of the church and there were buildings and homes in the immediate vicinity. Only the church and cemetery are here now. but newer houses dot the farms and countryside nearby.
"Many histories cover Jackson County and Grassy Fork Township. Russell Chapel has also been written about by many authors but will be covered very briefly here. The first church in Mt Sidney was called Methodist Episcopal Church, but the services were held in homes. In 1858 the John Z. Russell family deeded the present land, and provided lumber to build the first structure. It was then called Russell Chapel Methodist Episcopal Church. The Casey family were living her when the first church was built. One of the first six trustees of the church was William's brother, Presley Casey. In 1884 a second structure took its place, being 36 feet by 42 feet. On March 11, 1923, this building was demolished by a windstorm and virtually all of the seats and other furniture was damaged. The present structure was then built. The Caseys and descendants that lived here, and those that continue to live here consider the church to be a major part of their lie. Here is where they worshipped were baptized married, and funerals were held. In the cemetery behind the church is where seven of William's children were buried and many more of his descendants.
"When William moved to Jackson County, he brought with him his new wife; his mother; his brother, Presley; and possibly some of his sisters. A daughter was born to William and Mary Casey on May 21, 1854. This child was Elisa E Casey, and she could have been born before they left Scott County or after they arrived in Jackson County. The girl died on June 5, 1856, becoming the first family member to be buried in Russell Chapel Cemetery. There is a tombstone for her. Some have read the year of birth as 1851, but older cemetery lists state the year as 1854. Year 1854 makes sense because William and Mary did not get married until 1853. The second child was also a daughter, Alice J Casey. She would grow to adulthood, marry, and then move permanently to California to be a pioneer from a family of pioneers. Of the nine children of William and Mary, only four would make it beyond the first few years.
"Mary C Anderson was born on August 22, 1833, per her tombstone, in the state of Indiana, per census records. Her parents are unknown, but her father may have been John Anderson, who died in 1837. The will of John Anderson listed three children: Mary, Martha and Isaac Anderson. The guardian for these three children was James Houghland, the father of John Houghland, the father of Elizabeth Houghland, who was the second wife of William H Casey. James Houghland was also the father of William C Houghland, who is shown as marrying Martha Anderson on Oct 5, 1850 in Clark County. The 1850 census for Scott County shows Mary Anderson living with William B and March C Lewellen Everett. She died March 18, 1869, five days after giving birth to her ninth child, who did not survive. They were both buried in Russell Chapel Cemetery.
"The death of Mary left William without a wife, and without a mother for his children. On August 7, 1870, he married Elizabeth Houghland Cole, a widow herself, from Scott County. They were married in Scott County, but lived on the Jackson County farm. Elizabeth is described in detail in her own section (pgs 78-79). She died on September 6, 1884, and was probably buried in the Russell Chapel Cemetery. She bore six children, three by William Casey. It is probable that William knew Elizabeth because her first husband, William Cole, was previously married to Winna Jane Everett, the daughter of William (--pg 75--) B and Mary C Lewellen Everett, with whom Mary C Anderson lived when the 1850 census was taken.
"New much older, William Casey married a third time, on October 23, 1887 in Jackson County. The bride was Elizabeth Dwindle and nothing at all is known about her. There were some Dwindles in Scott County in the late 1800's. She must have died before 1892. They had no children.
"On May 7, 1892, William Casey married for the last time, again in Jackson County. She was Eliza Jane Wright, born in Harlan County, Virginia, on March 1, 1824. Her father was James Wright. She was married twice before to James McCollugh and A. D. Manion, both of whom left her a widow. Elisa Jane had seven children, all by her first husband. She lived until April 26, 1902 and was buried at Robertson Cemetery in Jackson County. She died less than three years after William.
"Some family members believe that William H Casey had a total of five wives. If so, nothing is now known about the fifth wife or what order she was among the other wives.
"William H Casey died on August 3, 1899. His obituary stated that he died at Tampico. It fortunately gave a history of his life. In the weeks prior to his death, the Brownstown Banner newspaper gave brief accounts of his illness and visits from his children. He was buried in the Russell Chapel Cemetery . No tombstone was erected for him, but as of the date of this writing current family members are planning on a stone to be erected sometime in 1993 (NOTE: the stone of erected in May 2004). His obituary described him as a good man, dedicated to his family and church. Family members have passed down knowledge of one physical problem: he was greatly overweight.
"A description of the Casey farm was provided by Marie Tatlock, as long time resident of the Russell Chapel area. She remembers it from the 1930's, but is sure that it was the same before 1900. The land was almost all farmland, flat and even. There was a small stream in the back of the property, some fruit trees behind the house, and several large trees in the yard. The house was an old log cabin, consisting of one large room on the bottom floor, and two rooms on the second floor reached by a narrow stairway. The floor was made of wood with little foundation. There was an old smoke house behind the log cabin where hogs were slaughtered and prepared, and it eventually blew down in a storm. There were no barns or other structures, except an outhouse. A well provided water. Marie believes that the log cabin was removed in the 1950's. George Casey lived here from 1899 to 1929, when she and her husband bought the property.
"Life around Russell Chapel must have been busy in those days for the (--pg 76--) Caseys and their neighbors. There was farming, canning, cutting firewood, hunting, raising hogs and chickens, trading with other farmers that had milk cows and other items, attending church, school for the little ones, raising kids until they were married and off on their own, burying the many children and spouses preparing for the winters, men's work and women's work, chores for the kids. The life they lived was hard, and yet very satisfying. Most of the people living in the area today are descendants of the residents that lived there in the 1800's."
Excerpt from pg 73-76, "Genealogical History of the Casey Family of Indiana" by Otis C. Casey, Jr., dated 01 Jan 1993, Indianapolis, Ind.
(--pg 73--) WILLIAM H CASEY
"William H Casey was born September 14, 1824 in Shelby County, Kentucky and died on August 23, 1899 in Jackson County, Indiana. He was buried in the Russell Chapel Cemetery in Jackson County, with no tombstone (NOTE: tombstone erected by family in 2004). These dates and places are established by his obituary and census data. It is probably that he was named after his uncle, William Hubbard Casey. "Uncle Billy", as he was called late in life, was known to have been married four times, had nine children by his first wife, and three children by his second wife. With all these children, and hundreds of descendants, it seems ironic that the only living descendants of William H Casey that carry the Casey family name at the time of this writing are Otis C Casey, Jr and Otis C Casey III.
"There is a great deal known about this man. However, like any other family description, some may be incorrect and still other is subject to opinion. He was the son of Riley Casey, Jr and Penina Pearce. All sources show that he was born in Kentucky. The location is almost certainly Shelby County, Kentucky in the Long Run area near the Jefferson County border, east of Louisville. This is where the census records place his parents and grandparents in 1820 and 1830. His ancestors and the areas is described in the sections for Riley Casey, Sr (pgs 6-22) and Riley Casey Jr (pgs 44-47). The will of Riley Casey, Jr include the names of William H Casey, his mother, brothers and sisters.
"In 1834 the three generations moved to Indiana. They settled in Vienna Township of Scott County. They farmed and hunted and raised their families in an area only beginning to not be wilderness. The county seat of the town of Scottsburg was nearby, and many small settlements. They were Methodists and went to the Honey Run Methodist Church just west of Scottsburg. William H Casey was probably the second child of his parents. His older sister Permelia, married Thomas P Hughbanks in Scott County in 1839. The 1840 census listed his father and grandfather in Scott County. When William was nineteen years old, his father died and was buried in Craig Cemetery where the Honey Run Methodist Church then stood. His grandfather died two years later in 1845. William and his brothers were then in charge of the family. They continued to live in Scott County for several years and farm the land. On July 3, 1851, Penina Casey married James Mellon, a neighbor. The marriage did not work out and they were divorced in 1853. On July 7, 1853, William H. Casey married Mary C. Anderson in Scott County.
"William H Casey is shown by deed records to have owned land in Scott County, Indiana, which he sold on November 10, 1856 to William H Cochran. This land consisted of two parcels totaling 60 acres. His parents and other family members also owned land here since the 1830's.
"It was in the year 1854, according to William Casey's obituary, that he moved to Jackson County, Indiana, not so far from the Scott County home. William settled in the Russell Chapel area of Grassy Fork Township. It has at various times also been known as Oldtown, Sidney and Mt Sidney. It is located one and one half miles south of present day Tampico and west of Crothersville. Not far to the south is the Muscatatuck River and Washington County. The center of the area is at cross roads of Route 39 and 700 South. The Russell Chapel Church and cemetery are located here. The Mt (--pg 74--) Sidney School once was located on the corner north of the church and there were buildings and homes in the immediate vicinity. Only the church and cemetery are here now. but newer houses dot the farms and countryside nearby.
"Many histories cover Jackson County and Grassy Fork Township. Russell Chapel has also been written about by many authors but will be covered very briefly here. The first church in Mt Sidney was called Methodist Episcopal Church, but the services were held in homes. In 1858 the John Z. Russell family deeded the present land, and provided lumber to build the first structure. It was then called Russell Chapel Methodist Episcopal Church. The Casey family were living her when the first church was built. One of the first six trustees of the church was William's brother, Presley Casey. In 1884 a second structure took its place, being 36 feet by 42 feet. On March 11, 1923, this building was demolished by a windstorm and virtually all of the seats and other furniture was damaged. The present structure was then built. The Caseys and descendants that lived here, and those that continue to live here consider the church to be a major part of their lie. Here is where they worshipped were baptized married, and funerals were held. In the cemetery behind the church is where seven of William's children were buried and many more of his descendants.
"When William moved to Jackson County, he brought with him his new wife; his mother; his brother, Presley; and possibly some of his sisters. A daughter was born to William and Mary Casey on May 21, 1854. This child was Elisa E Casey, and she could have been born before they left Scott County or after they arrived in Jackson County. The girl died on June 5, 1856, becoming the first family member to be buried in Russell Chapel Cemetery. There is a tombstone for her. Some have read the year of birth as 1851, but older cemetery lists state the year as 1854. Year 1854 makes sense because William and Mary did not get married until 1853. The second child was also a daughter, Alice J Casey. She would grow to adulthood, marry, and then move permanently to California to be a pioneer from a family of pioneers. Of the nine children of William and Mary, only four would make it beyond the first few years.
"Mary C Anderson was born on August 22, 1833, per her tombstone, in the state of Indiana, per census records. Her parents are unknown, but her father may have been John Anderson, who died in 1837. The will of John Anderson listed three children: Mary, Martha and Isaac Anderson. The guardian for these three children was James Houghland, the father of John Houghland, the father of Elizabeth Houghland, who was the second wife of William H Casey. James Houghland was also the father of William C Houghland, who is shown as marrying Martha Anderson on Oct 5, 1850 in Clark County. The 1850 census for Scott County shows Mary Anderson living with William B and March C Lewellen Everett. She died March 18, 1869, five days after giving birth to her ninth child, who did not survive. They were both buried in Russell Chapel Cemetery.
"The death of Mary left William without a wife, and without a mother for his children. On August 7, 1870, he married Elizabeth Houghland Cole, a widow herself, from Scott County. They were married in Scott County, but lived on the Jackson County farm. Elizabeth is described in detail in her own section (pgs 78-79). She died on September 6, 1884, and was probably buried in the Russell Chapel Cemetery. She bore six children, three by William Casey. It is probable that William knew Elizabeth because her first husband, William Cole, was previously married to Winna Jane Everett, the daughter of William (--pg 75--) B and Mary C Lewellen Everett, with whom Mary C Anderson lived when the 1850 census was taken.
"New much older, William Casey married a third time, on October 23, 1887 in Jackson County. The bride was Elizabeth Dwindle and nothing at all is known about her. There were some Dwindles in Scott County in the late 1800's. She must have died before 1892. They had no children.
"On May 7, 1892, William Casey married for the last time, again in Jackson County. She was Eliza Jane Wright, born in Harlan County, Virginia, on March 1, 1824. Her father was James Wright. She was married twice before to James McCollugh and A. D. Manion, both of whom left her a widow. Elisa Jane had seven children, all by her first husband. She lived until April 26, 1902 and was buried at Robertson Cemetery in Jackson County. She died less than three years after William.
"Some family members believe that William H Casey had a total of five wives. If so, nothing is now known about the fifth wife or what order she was among the other wives.
"William H Casey died on August 3, 1899. His obituary stated that he died at Tampico. It fortunately gave a history of his life. In the weeks prior to his death, the Brownstown Banner newspaper gave brief accounts of his illness and visits from his children. He was buried in the Russell Chapel Cemetery . No tombstone was erected for him, but as of the date of this writing current family members are planning on a stone to be erected sometime in 1993 (NOTE: the stone of erected in May 2004). His obituary described him as a good man, dedicated to his family and church. Family members have passed down knowledge of one physical problem: he was greatly overweight.
"A description of the Casey farm was provided by Marie Tatlock, as long time resident of the Russell Chapel area. She remembers it from the 1930's, but is sure that it was the same before 1900. The land was almost all farmland, flat and even. There was a small stream in the back of the property, some fruit trees behind the house, and several large trees in the yard. The house was an old log cabin, consisting of one large room on the bottom floor, and two rooms on the second floor reached by a narrow stairway. The floor was made of wood with little foundation. There was an old smoke house behind the log cabin where hogs were slaughtered and prepared, and it eventually blew down in a storm. There were no barns or other structures, except an outhouse. A well provided water. Marie believes that the log cabin was removed in the 1950's. George Casey lived here from 1899 to 1929, when she and her husband bought the property.
"Life around Russell Chapel must have been busy in those days for the (--pg 76--) Caseys and their neighbors. There was farming, canning, cutting firewood, hunting, raising hogs and chickens, trading with other farmers that had milk cows and other items, attending church, school for the little ones, raising kids until they were married and off on their own, burying the many children and spouses preparing for the winters, men's work and women's work, chores for the kids. The life they lived was hard, and yet very satisfying. Most of the people living in the area today are descendants of the residents that lived there in the 1800's."
The Story of William H Casey
Excerpt from pg 73-76, "Genealogical History of the Casey Family of Indiana" by Otis C. Casey, Jr., dated 01 Jan 1993, Indianapolis, Ind.
(--pg 73--) WILLIAM H CASEY
"William H Casey was born September 14, 1824 in Shelby County, Kentucky and died on August 23, 1899 in Jackson County, Indiana. He was buried in the Russell Chapel Cemetery in Jackson County, with no tombstone (NOTE: tombstone erected by family in 2004). These dates and places are established by his obituary and census data. It is probably that he was named after his uncle, William Hubbard Casey. "Uncle Billy", as he was called late in life, was known to have been married four times, had nine children by his first wife, and three children by his second wife. With all these children, and hundreds of descendants, it seems ironic that the only living descendants of William H Casey that carry the Casey family name at the time of this writing are Otis C Casey, Jr and Otis C Casey III.
"There is a great deal known about this man. However, like any other family description, some may be incorrect and still other is subject to opinion. He was the son of Riley Casey, Jr and Penina Pearce. All sources show that he was born in Kentucky. The location is almost certainly Shelby County, Kentucky in the Long Run area near the Jefferson County border, east of Louisville. This is where the census records place his parents and grandparents in 1820 and 1830. His ancestors and the areas is described in the sections for Riley Casey, Sr (pgs 6-22) and Riley Casey Jr (pgs 44-47). The will of Riley Casey, Jr include the names of William H Casey, his mother, brothers and sisters.
"In 1834 the three generations moved to Indiana. They settled in Vienna Township of Scott County. They farmed and hunted and raised their families in an area only beginning to not be wilderness. The county seat of the town of Scottsburg was nearby, and many small settlements. They were Methodists and went to the Honey Run Methodist Church just west of Scottsburg. William H Casey was probably the second child of his parents. His older sister Permelia, married Thomas P Hughbanks in Scott County in 1839. The 1840 census listed his father and grandfather in Scott County. When William was nineteen years old, his father died and was buried in Craig Cemetery where the Honey Run Methodist Church then stood. His grandfather died two years later in 1845. William and his brothers were then in charge of the family. They continued to live in Scott County for several years and farm the land. On July 3, 1851, Penina Casey married James Mellon, a neighbor. The marriage did not work out and they were divorced in 1853. On July 7, 1853, William H. Casey married Mary C. Anderson in Scott County.
"William H Casey is shown by deed records to have owned land in Scott County, Indiana, which he sold on November 10, 1856 to William H Cochran. This land consisted of two parcels totaling 60 acres. His parents and other family members also owned land here since the 1830's.
"It was in the year 1854, according to William Casey's obituary, that he moved to Jackson County, Indiana, not so far from the Scott County home. William settled in the Russell Chapel area of Grassy Fork Township. It has at various times also been known as Oldtown, Sidney and Mt Sidney. It is located one and one half miles south of present day Tampico and west of Crothersville. Not far to the south is the Muscatatuck River and Washington County. The center of the area is at cross roads of Route 39 and 700 South. The Russell Chapel Church and cemetery are located here. The Mt (--pg 74--) Sidney School once was located on the corner north of the church and there were buildings and homes in the immediate vicinity. Only the church and cemetery are here now. but newer houses dot the farms and countryside nearby.
"Many histories cover Jackson County and Grassy Fork Township. Russell Chapel has also been written about by many authors but will be covered very briefly here. The first church in Mt Sidney was called Methodist Episcopal Church, but the services were held in homes. In 1858 the John Z. Russell family deeded the present land, and provided lumber to build the first structure. It was then called Russell Chapel Methodist Episcopal Church. The Casey family were living her when the first church was built. One of the first six trustees of the church was William's brother, Presley Casey. In 1884 a second structure took its place, being 36 feet by 42 feet. On March 11, 1923, this building was demolished by a windstorm and virtually all of the seats and other furniture was damaged. The present structure was then built. The Caseys and descendants that lived here, and those that continue to live here consider the church to be a major part of their lie. Here is where they worshipped were baptized married, and funerals were held. In the cemetery behind the church is where seven of William's children were buried and many more of his descendants.
"When William moved to Jackson County, he brought with him his new wife; his mother; his brother, Presley; and possibly some of his sisters. A daughter was born to William and Mary Casey on May 21, 1854. This child was Elisa E Casey, and she could have been born before they left Scott County or after they arrived in Jackson County. The girl died on June 5, 1856, becoming the first family member to be buried in Russell Chapel Cemetery. There is a tombstone for her. Some have read the year of birth as 1851, but older cemetery lists state the year as 1854. Year 1854 makes sense because William and Mary did not get married until 1853. The second child was also a daughter, Alice J Casey. She would grow to adulthood, marry, and then move permanently to California to be a pioneer from a family of pioneers. Of the nine children of William and Mary, only four would make it beyond the first few years.
"Mary C Anderson was born on August 22, 1833, per her tombstone, in the state of Indiana, per census records. Her parents are unknown, but her father may have been John Anderson, who died in 1837. The will of John Anderson listed three children: Mary, Martha and Isaac Anderson. The guardian for these three children was James Houghland, the father of John Houghland, the father of Elizabeth Houghland, who was the second wife of William H Casey. James Houghland was also the father of William C Houghland, who is shown as marrying Martha Anderson on Oct 5, 1850 in Clark County. The 1850 census for Scott County shows Mary Anderson living with William B and March C Lewellen Everett. She died March 18, 1869, five days after giving birth to her ninth child, who did not survive. They were both buried in Russell Chapel Cemetery.
"The death of Mary left William without a wife, and without a mother for his children. On August 7, 1870, he married Elizabeth Houghland Cole, a widow herself, from Scott County. They were married in Scott County, but lived on the Jackson County farm. Elizabeth is described in detail in her own section (pgs 78-79). She died on September 6, 1884, and was probably buried in the Russell Chapel Cemetery. She bore six children, three by William Casey. It is probable that William knew Elizabeth because her first husband, William Cole, was previously married to Winna Jane Everett, the daughter of William (--pg 75--) B and Mary C Lewellen Everett, with whom Mary C Anderson lived when the 1850 census was taken.
"New much older, William Casey married a third time, on October 23, 1887 in Jackson County. The bride was Elizabeth Dwindle and nothing at all is known about her. There were some Dwindles in Scott County in the late 1800's. She must have died before 1892. They had no children.
"On May 7, 1892, William Casey married for the last time, again in Jackson County. She was Eliza Jane Wright, born in Harlan County, Virginia, on March 1, 1824. Her father was James Wright. She was married twice before to James McCollugh and A. D. Manion, both of whom left her a widow. Elisa Jane had seven children, all by her first husband. She lived until April 26, 1902 and was buried at Robertson Cemetery in Jackson County. She died less than three years after William.
"Some family members believe that William H Casey had a total of five wives. If so, nothing is now known about the fifth wife or what order she was among the other wives.
"William H Casey died on August 3, 1899. His obituary stated that he died at Tampico. It fortunately gave a history of his life. In the weeks prior to his death, the Brownstown Banner newspaper gave brief accounts of his illness and visits from his children. He was buried in the Russell Chapel Cemetery . No tombstone was erected for him, but as of the date of this writing current family members are planning on a stone to be erected sometime in 1993 (NOTE: the stone of erected in May 2004). His obituary described him as a good man, dedicated to his family and church. Family members have passed down knowledge of one physical problem: he was greatly overweight.
"A description of the Casey farm was provided by Marie Tatlock, as long time resident of the Russell Chapel area. She remembers it from the 1930's, but is sure that it was the same before 1900. The land was almost all farmland, flat and even. There was a small stream in the back of the property, some fruit trees behind the house, and several large trees in the yard. The house was an old log cabin, consisting of one large room on the bottom floor, and two rooms on the second floor reached by a narrow stairway. The floor was made of wood with little foundation. There was an old smoke house behind the log cabin where hogs were slaughtered and prepared, and it eventually blew down in a storm. There were no barns or other structures, except an outhouse. A well provided water. Marie believes that the log cabin was removed in the 1950's. George Casey lived here from 1899 to 1929, when she and her husband bought the property.
"Life around Russell Chapel must have been busy in those days for the (--pg 76--) Caseys and their neighbors. There was farming, canning, cutting firewood, hunting, raising hogs and chickens, trading with other farmers that had milk cows and other items, attending church, school for the little ones, raising kids until they were married and off on their own, burying the many children and spouses preparing for the winters, men's work and women's work, chores for the kids. The life they lived was hard, and yet very satisfying. Most of the people living in the area today are descendants of the residents that lived there in the 1800's."
Excerpt from pg 73-76, "Genealogical History of the Casey Family of Indiana" by Otis C. Casey, Jr., dated 01 Jan 1993, Indianapolis, Ind.
(--pg 73--) WILLIAM H CASEY
"William H Casey was born September 14, 1824 in Shelby County, Kentucky and died on August 23, 1899 in Jackson County, Indiana. He was buried in the Russell Chapel Cemetery in Jackson County, with no tombstone (NOTE: tombstone erected by family in 2004). These dates and places are established by his obituary and census data. It is probably that he was named after his uncle, William Hubbard Casey. "Uncle Billy", as he was called late in life, was known to have been married four times, had nine children by his first wife, and three children by his second wife. With all these children, and hundreds of descendants, it seems ironic that the only living descendants of William H Casey that carry the Casey family name at the time of this writing are Otis C Casey, Jr and Otis C Casey III.
"There is a great deal known about this man. However, like any other family description, some may be incorrect and still other is subject to opinion. He was the son of Riley Casey, Jr and Penina Pearce. All sources show that he was born in Kentucky. The location is almost certainly Shelby County, Kentucky in the Long Run area near the Jefferson County border, east of Louisville. This is where the census records place his parents and grandparents in 1820 and 1830. His ancestors and the areas is described in the sections for Riley Casey, Sr (pgs 6-22) and Riley Casey Jr (pgs 44-47). The will of Riley Casey, Jr include the names of William H Casey, his mother, brothers and sisters.
"In 1834 the three generations moved to Indiana. They settled in Vienna Township of Scott County. They farmed and hunted and raised their families in an area only beginning to not be wilderness. The county seat of the town of Scottsburg was nearby, and many small settlements. They were Methodists and went to the Honey Run Methodist Church just west of Scottsburg. William H Casey was probably the second child of his parents. His older sister Permelia, married Thomas P Hughbanks in Scott County in 1839. The 1840 census listed his father and grandfather in Scott County. When William was nineteen years old, his father died and was buried in Craig Cemetery where the Honey Run Methodist Church then stood. His grandfather died two years later in 1845. William and his brothers were then in charge of the family. They continued to live in Scott County for several years and farm the land. On July 3, 1851, Penina Casey married James Mellon, a neighbor. The marriage did not work out and they were divorced in 1853. On July 7, 1853, William H. Casey married Mary C. Anderson in Scott County.
"William H Casey is shown by deed records to have owned land in Scott County, Indiana, which he sold on November 10, 1856 to William H Cochran. This land consisted of two parcels totaling 60 acres. His parents and other family members also owned land here since the 1830's.
"It was in the year 1854, according to William Casey's obituary, that he moved to Jackson County, Indiana, not so far from the Scott County home. William settled in the Russell Chapel area of Grassy Fork Township. It has at various times also been known as Oldtown, Sidney and Mt Sidney. It is located one and one half miles south of present day Tampico and west of Crothersville. Not far to the south is the Muscatatuck River and Washington County. The center of the area is at cross roads of Route 39 and 700 South. The Russell Chapel Church and cemetery are located here. The Mt (--pg 74--) Sidney School once was located on the corner north of the church and there were buildings and homes in the immediate vicinity. Only the church and cemetery are here now. but newer houses dot the farms and countryside nearby.
"Many histories cover Jackson County and Grassy Fork Township. Russell Chapel has also been written about by many authors but will be covered very briefly here. The first church in Mt Sidney was called Methodist Episcopal Church, but the services were held in homes. In 1858 the John Z. Russell family deeded the present land, and provided lumber to build the first structure. It was then called Russell Chapel Methodist Episcopal Church. The Casey family were living her when the first church was built. One of the first six trustees of the church was William's brother, Presley Casey. In 1884 a second structure took its place, being 36 feet by 42 feet. On March 11, 1923, this building was demolished by a windstorm and virtually all of the seats and other furniture was damaged. The present structure was then built. The Caseys and descendants that lived here, and those that continue to live here consider the church to be a major part of their lie. Here is where they worshipped were baptized married, and funerals were held. In the cemetery behind the church is where seven of William's children were buried and many more of his descendants.
"When William moved to Jackson County, he brought with him his new wife; his mother; his brother, Presley; and possibly some of his sisters. A daughter was born to William and Mary Casey on May 21, 1854. This child was Elisa E Casey, and she could have been born before they left Scott County or after they arrived in Jackson County. The girl died on June 5, 1856, becoming the first family member to be buried in Russell Chapel Cemetery. There is a tombstone for her. Some have read the year of birth as 1851, but older cemetery lists state the year as 1854. Year 1854 makes sense because William and Mary did not get married until 1853. The second child was also a daughter, Alice J Casey. She would grow to adulthood, marry, and then move permanently to California to be a pioneer from a family of pioneers. Of the nine children of William and Mary, only four would make it beyond the first few years.
"Mary C Anderson was born on August 22, 1833, per her tombstone, in the state of Indiana, per census records. Her parents are unknown, but her father may have been John Anderson, who died in 1837. The will of John Anderson listed three children: Mary, Martha and Isaac Anderson. The guardian for these three children was James Houghland, the father of John Houghland, the father of Elizabeth Houghland, who was the second wife of William H Casey. James Houghland was also the father of William C Houghland, who is shown as marrying Martha Anderson on Oct 5, 1850 in Clark County. The 1850 census for Scott County shows Mary Anderson living with William B and March C Lewellen Everett. She died March 18, 1869, five days after giving birth to her ninth child, who did not survive. They were both buried in Russell Chapel Cemetery.
"The death of Mary left William without a wife, and without a mother for his children. On August 7, 1870, he married Elizabeth Houghland Cole, a widow herself, from Scott County. They were married in Scott County, but lived on the Jackson County farm. Elizabeth is described in detail in her own section (pgs 78-79). She died on September 6, 1884, and was probably buried in the Russell Chapel Cemetery. She bore six children, three by William Casey. It is probable that William knew Elizabeth because her first husband, William Cole, was previously married to Winna Jane Everett, the daughter of William (--pg 75--) B and Mary C Lewellen Everett, with whom Mary C Anderson lived when the 1850 census was taken.
"New much older, William Casey married a third time, on October 23, 1887 in Jackson County. The bride was Elizabeth Dwindle and nothing at all is known about her. There were some Dwindles in Scott County in the late 1800's. She must have died before 1892. They had no children.
"On May 7, 1892, William Casey married for the last time, again in Jackson County. She was Eliza Jane Wright, born in Harlan County, Virginia, on March 1, 1824. Her father was James Wright. She was married twice before to James McCollugh and A. D. Manion, both of whom left her a widow. Elisa Jane had seven children, all by her first husband. She lived until April 26, 1902 and was buried at Robertson Cemetery in Jackson County. She died less than three years after William.
"Some family members believe that William H Casey had a total of five wives. If so, nothing is now known about the fifth wife or what order she was among the other wives.
"William H Casey died on August 3, 1899. His obituary stated that he died at Tampico. It fortunately gave a history of his life. In the weeks prior to his death, the Brownstown Banner newspaper gave brief accounts of his illness and visits from his children. He was buried in the Russell Chapel Cemetery . No tombstone was erected for him, but as of the date of this writing current family members are planning on a stone to be erected sometime in 1993 (NOTE: the stone of erected in May 2004). His obituary described him as a good man, dedicated to his family and church. Family members have passed down knowledge of one physical problem: he was greatly overweight.
"A description of the Casey farm was provided by Marie Tatlock, as long time resident of the Russell Chapel area. She remembers it from the 1930's, but is sure that it was the same before 1900. The land was almost all farmland, flat and even. There was a small stream in the back of the property, some fruit trees behind the house, and several large trees in the yard. The house was an old log cabin, consisting of one large room on the bottom floor, and two rooms on the second floor reached by a narrow stairway. The floor was made of wood with little foundation. There was an old smoke house behind the log cabin where hogs were slaughtered and prepared, and it eventually blew down in a storm. There were no barns or other structures, except an outhouse. A well provided water. Marie believes that the log cabin was removed in the 1950's. George Casey lived here from 1899 to 1929, when she and her husband bought the property.
"Life around Russell Chapel must have been busy in those days for the (--pg 76--) Caseys and their neighbors. There was farming, canning, cutting firewood, hunting, raising hogs and chickens, trading with other farmers that had milk cows and other items, attending church, school for the little ones, raising kids until they were married and off on their own, burying the many children and spouses preparing for the winters, men's work and women's work, chores for the kids. The life they lived was hard, and yet very satisfying. Most of the people living in the area today are descendants of the residents that lived there in the 1800's."
Inscription
William H Casey Sept. 14, 1824 - Aug 23, 1899.
Family Members
Parents
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