Line 13.7, Sarah Dyer Chubb; Pioneer Woman

Sarah was an American pioneer woman. She was born in the wilderness of Eastern New York and followed her family to the Michigan Territory, Ohio, Illinois and finally to the prairies of Kansas where she is buried. She married Joel Chubb who was more then likely had a Methodist leaning to his Christianity. They raised children who clearly demonstrated a love of God. Sarah probably became a Methodist when she married Joel but she certainly brought a Baptist and Quaker quality to the Methodist leaning of her Chubb husband.

Sarah Dyer daughter of James Dyer and his wife, was born 27 December 1726 probably in New York

Sarah Dyer married Joel Chubb on 18 November 1831 in Geouga County, Ohio. 

Sarah died 30 June 1893 in Baxter Springs, Cherokee, Kansas

Sarah and Joel Chubb had the following known children:

1.      Claret Ann Chubb born 28 September 1833 in Black River twp., Lorain, Ohio. She married Addison Jason Depuy. She died 28 May 1912 in Girard, Kansas.

2.      Philea Jane Chubb born 11 December 1834 in Sheffield, Lorraine, Ohio. She married Abiel Samuel Denison. She died in February 1920 in Baxter Springs, Cherokee, KS,

3.      James Harvey Chubb born 18 October 1836 Black River twp., Lorain, Ohio. He married Martha Braman. James died 31 July 1911 in Baxter Springs, Cherokee, KS,

4.       Horace Wheeler Chubb born 22 January 1840 in Black River twp., Lorain, Ohio. He married Rebecca Garritson. He died 23 May 1912 in Neutral, Cherokee Co, Kansas.

5.       Joseph Watson Chubb born 25 May 1842 in Black River twp., Lorain, Ohio. He married Ellen Slusser. Joseph died 18 June 1897 in Joplin, Jasper, Missouri.

6.      Rolla Alonzo Chubb born 01 October 1843 in Argyle, Winnebago, IL. He married a woman named Mary who died about 1874. Rolla died 04 June 1922.

7.      Darius Sylvester (Dye) Chubb born 26 December 1847 in Argyle, Winnebago, IL. He married 1. Anna Sherrod and 2. Millie C. Livingston. “Uncle Dye” died 03 February 1943 in Baxter Springs, Cherokee, KS,

8.      Prosper Joel (Prosser) Chubb born 03 September 1851 in Argyle, Winnebago, IL. He married Hattie Johnson. He died 14 March 1922 in Baxter Springs, Cherokee, Kansas.

Sarah Dyer Chubb probably got on the Methodist wagon when she married Joel Chubb. We can speculate that she was raised Baptist and gave a Baptist lean to her Christian beliefs. We can’t know at this point, but some of her lines did return to the Baptist denomination.

As noted in the story about her father, James Dyer, there is no recorded proof that Sarah Dyer Chubb was the daughter of James Dyer of Rockford, Illinois but there is a lot of circumstantial evidence. I strongly believe that Sarah Chubb’s eldest son, James Harvey Chubb, was named for his two grandfathers. While I have very little proof, I feel that Harvey Chubb of New York and Michigan, son of Alexander Chubb, may well have been Sarah’s father-in-law. James Harvey Chubb had a son named Joel Anson Chubb, who was named for his two grandfathers.

A marriage record was found for Sarah or Sally Dyer and Joel Chubb in Geauga County, Ohio. It reads: “The State of Ohio Geauga County; I certify that I solemnized the Marriage contract to the parties Joel Chubb and Sally Dyer on the eighteenth day of Nov. A.D. 1832.” They are next found living near James Dyer in the 1850 Hawlowe, Winnebago co. US Census. Sarah is listed as   “ Sarah CHUBB, age 42, female, born “ She is listed with Joel Chubb and seven children. In the 1860, Rockford, Winnebago Co., IL, page 302, she is listed as “Sarah CHUBEL, age 53, F, born NY” again is Joel Chub (written Chubel) as “Joel CHUBLE, age 53, Male, worth 100 personal estate, born NY State” and listed with children Darius, Philena and Prosser Chuble and Claret Depus and her two children Emma and Charles DEPUS.

From an old newspaper article, we know that Joel Chubb was severely injured in an election celebration. A family legend says he died in a Fourth of July accident. Other later newspaper have been searched by no mention of his “death” can be found. We do know that by the 1870 census, Sarah was listed with her son James Chubb as head of household in Washington County, Illinois.

Sarah was listed with another son, Rolla A. Chubb in the 1880, Hoyleton, Washington Co., IL, US Census. She was age 71, born in New York of parents born there. A few years after this census was taken, Sarah, the pioneer woman, got into her wagon train and went to Cherokee County, Kansas. She probably went with one or more of her sons, as most of them were in Cherokee County by the 1890s. Her son, Darius, was there by the early 1980s. Unfortunately, most of the 1990 US Census was destroyed in a fire.

 An obituary for Sarah was found in a Cherokee County newspaper: “Obituary: Columbus Courier, 6 July 1893. DIED--On   Friday, June 30, 1893, SARAH CHUBB, mother of Mrs. Dennison and J. H.   Chubb and brothers, age eighty-four years, seven months and five days.” A Black bordered funeral notice recorded the following information:  Sara Dyer Chubb's . . . black bordered funeral notice had these words - 'Died, on Friday June 30, 1893 SARAH CHUBB mother of Mrs. A. B. Denison and J. H. Chubb and brothers, aged eighty-four years, seven months, and five days. Funeral services at the residence of J.  H. Chubb, Sunday July 2, 12:10 o'clock am. Friends of the family are invited.'"  The Funeral Directors, 1893, wrote "Remains of Sarah Chubb by order of Chubb Bros., died June 30, buried July 2; casket $45.00.

Sarah’s Christian leanings are not documented. Cousins of mine have found the family Bible of her son, James Harvey Chubb whose grandson became the pastor of one of the largest Methodist church in the world during the middle part of the Twentieth Century. There have been Methodist pastors and circuit riders in the Chubb line for over two centuries. I feel that Sarah of Quaker and Baptist background, joined the Methodists when she married Joel Chubb. More discussion on the Methodist will be done when I discuss my Chubb line.

Sarah was buried in the Baxter Springs Cemetery where her tombstone reads:  “ Sarah Dyer, wife of Joel Chubb, 1808-1893" Many other Chubb family members have been buried in this century old cemetery.

***SOURCES***

1.  Obituary, Columbus Courier, 6 July 1893

2.  U.S. Census, 1850

3.  Baxter Springs Cemetery (Tombstone)

4.  Family Connections by Dell Davidson

5.  Rolla Chubb letter, April 1955

6.  Funeral Directors, 1893

7.  1880 US Census

8.  Marriage Register for Joel Chubb and Sally Dyer

9.  1860 US Census

10. 1870 US Census

Line 13.6 James Dyer: On the Edge of the World

James Dyer, son of James Dyer Sr. and his wife Mary, lived on the edge of civilization. His New York years are difficult to map but as an early settler of the Rockford area of Winnebago Co., IL, he was a little easier to find.

James Dyer son of James Dyer and his wife Mary  Marcy, was born 15 April 1781 in Dudley, Worcester, MA

James married 1. An unknown woman

He married secondly 2. Susan (surname unknown) who died April 1850 in Rockland, Winnebago, IL.

James died after 1860 in Rockford, Winnebago, IL

James and his unknown first wife had:

1.      Sarah Dyer born 25 November 1808 in New York. She married Joel Chubb. She died 30 June 1893 in Baxter Springs, Cherokee, Kansas

2.      John Dyer born 22 August 1813 in Stockton, Chautauqua Co., NY. John married Mary Jane Courtright. John died 14 November 1875 in Winnebago County, Illinois

3.      William Dyer was living in Roscoe twp., Winnebago Co., IL with his wife Lovisa. Nothing more is known of this William Dyer. He may or may not have been a son of James Dyer.

4.      Horace Dyer born 19 September 1816 in Stockton, Chautauqua Co., NY. He married Clarissa Tripp daughter of Steven and Jemima Tripp. Horace died 28 January 1893 in Winnebago, Illinois. Horace was a California Gold Rush 49er. He was also a Civil War Veteran.

5.      Lucinda Dyer born 23 October 1817 in Stockton, Chautauqua Co., NY. She married Charles Oliver Reckhow Dufoe born 23 August 1817 in Trois-Rivieves, Quebec, Canada. Lucinda died 14 April 1859 in Union Township, Delaware County, Iowa

6.      James Dyer was born about 1822 in Ohio. He married Harriet Ann Easton, sister of his half-sisters, Mary and Amanda’s husbands. James died August 1906 in Winnebago Co., Illinois

James and his second wife, Susan had:

7.      Mary Dyer born 23 May 1831 in Ohio. She married David Easton who was the brother of her sister’s husband, Walter Easton. Mary died 07 June 1908 in Rockford, Winnebago, Illinois

8.       Lorenzo P. Dyer was born about 1832 probably in Ohio. He married Caroline Feakins. He died before 1874 when his widow remarried.

9.       Amanda was born January 1833 in Britain, Lorain, Ohio. She married Walter Easton born 22 January 1833 in New York. Amanda died 21 June 1903 in Harlem, Winnebago, Illinois.

James’ birth record is recorded in James Dyer, s. James and Molley, apr. 15, 1781.

James Dyer probably married an unknown wife before he married Susan ?  as Susan would have been a very, very young mother to the oldest known child of James. Susan would have only been 14 at Sarah's birth. She was 19 by the time the second known child, John, was born and he named a daughter, Susan, which is a good pointer toward him being her son. James and Susan were married by 1828 when he and Susan signed a deed. “Book 7-104. Indenture of 18 Mar 1828 between James Dyer of Chautauqua Co. NY and wf Susan of first part and Samuel Hicks of 2nd pt. $700 for a tract or township made for persons commonly known as the Holland Land Co., by Joseph Ellicott. Twp 4, Range 13, of 100 acres. Signed James Dyer Jr., Susannah Dyer.  Witnesses; T.A. Osborne, Ortemis (?) Hearick.”

The United Census records leave a broken trail for James. In 1810 he can be found in Jefferson, Scholhaire Co., New York, which is near enough to his father’s homestead in Albany to make it a reasonable guess that this is the right James, that and the age of James and the age of the others in the household fit best of all the James Dyers in New York at the time. James Dyer of Jefferson was in a household that included one male age 26-44 [James]; two females less then ten years old [Sarah and one other child] and one female 16-25 [James’ wife].

We know from other records that the James Dyer in Chautauqua County, New York in the 1820 census was ours. He as listed with three males less then ten years old [John age 7, Horace age three and William]; one male age 26-44 [James age 37]; two females less then 10 years old [Sarah and one other girl]; one woman age 16-25 [possibly Susan or possibly another female relative] and one female age 26-44 [again possibly Susan age about 26]

James left several records in Chautauqua County, New York. In “the Holland Land Company” for Chautauqua County, James Dyer was listed as an innkeeper. He probably kept built a large log house with several rooms and a tavern for feeding the guest and as a gathering place. The inn sat on Peacocks Road. He had purchased land in Stockton in 1811. In the records he is listed with other new landowners: “Stockton, Chautauqua, NY in 1811. Purchases of Township 4, Range 13. 1811 (year) June, Roswell Ladd, 2. August, Thomas Smith, 4. James Dyer, 1. David Waterbury, I. Peleg Scofield, 7.”

"Book 7-104. Indenture of 18 Mar 1828 between James Dyer of Chautauqua Co. NY and wife Susan of first part and Samuel Hicks of 2nd pt. $700 for a tract or township made for persons commonly known as the Holland Land Co., by Joseph Ellicot. Twp 4, Range 13 of 100 acs. Signed James Dyer Jr, Susannah dyer. Witnesses; T.A. Osborn, Ortemis Hearick."  "Book F121, Agreement between Richard W. Hart of Saybrook, Conn. and James Dyer of Sheffield, Ohio, to sell tract in twp 7 R 17 of Conn. Western Reserve, known as Lot #109 in Sheffield twp. containing 129 acs for $903, and has given a promissory note, payable in 1, 2, and 3 yrs. 29 Apr 1833." [HLLR] "Bk F-122. This is to certify that I have this day deposited to the Lorain Iron Co., a bond for the above tract. Wits; L. Burnell. S S: James Dyer."

I have not been able to locate a James Dyer in New York that fits this family in the 1830 census. In 1836, James brother lists his father’s heirs in James Dyer Sr.’s estate papers. James is listed, numbered (3), as “James Dyer of State of Michigan.” Michigan became of territory of the United States in 1828. The Michigan Territory included what is now the State of Michigan and buts up next to the state of Ohio on its Southeast border where James’ daughter Sarah was married in 1832. Also, in the 1860 US Census, James’ daughter Mary is listed as having been born in Ohio.

In 1840 James is in Hawlowe, Winnebago Co., Illinois, listed with three males 20-30 (John, Horace, and James Jr.) one male 10-15 (Lorenzo) two females 40-50 (Susan and another female relative) one female 20-30 (daughter Lucinda who was about to marry Charles Oliver Reckhow Dufoe in June), one female 10-25 (Mary) and 1 female 5-10 (Amanda).

In the 1850 US Census for Harlowe, Winnebago Co., IL; he is listed as  James Dyer, age 67, male, farmer, born in Mass.  On the same page are Sarah CHUBB and her family. Because of the of many other clues including a son named “James” and that in all of “Sarah Chubb’s” census records she is listed as having been born in New York, I made an “educated” guess that James Dyer is her father. Also found on the page is a Clarissa DYER, who in the 1860 census is listed with her husband Horace. Sarah also has a son named Horace and Horace the brother has a son named James H.   Also listed with James are Susan, age 56 born in NY; Mary DYER, age 21 born in PA; and Amanda DYER, age 19, born in Wisconsin.) The 1860, Rockford, Winnebago, IL lists:  James DYER, 77, M, worth 800 real estate, 200 personal, born MASS; David EASTON, 26, M, Laborer, born OH; Mary EASTON, 28, F, born OH; William EASTON, 10, M, born IL; Sonla EASTON, 3, F, born IL; Rose EASTON, 5/12, F, born IL; Lorenzo P. DYER, 28, M, born NY

By 1839 this family was almost certainly in Harlem twp., Winnebago Co., IL. In Katherine E. Rowland’s book about Winnebago county she writes: "James and Susan DYER] came to Winn. Co. before 28 Oct 1839 when he bought 80 acres of land in Harlem Twp. from the government." The Domain Land Tract Records for Illinois lists: “Dyer James, ID #173548 E2 S3, S25 Twp 45 N, R02E, Winnebago 10-28-1839 Winnebago, 80 acres at 1.25 an acre, total $100.00; and  #173549, E2SW, S30 twp 45 N, R03E, Boone 1839, 6 miles E. of tract listed above, 80 areas at 1.25 an acre total $100.00.”   In the 1859/60   Rockford, IL city directories James was listed as: Dyer, James, farmer, nwc East and Rock es.

I haven’t found church records for James Dyer or a family Bible. Whether the James followed the Lord is unknown but the potential is clearly there in his ancestors and in his descendants. James must have been a man looking for the Promised Land, moving further into the frontier and producing adventuresome but faithful children and grandchildren.

***SOURCES****

1.  1810 US Census

2.  1820 US Census

3.      1840 US Census

4.      1850 US Census

5.      1860 US Census

6.      "The Pioneers of Winnebago and Boone Counties, Illinois who came before 1841" by Katherine E. Rowland, C.G., Gateway Press, 1990

7.   Grace Dyer Mellander, 30 May 1989, Land record for James Dyer

8. "History of Chautauqua Co" by Andrew W. Young, Printing House of Matthews and Warren, 1875. G974.71 CHA 1650-2. Chapter on "STOCKTON", page 554-557.

9.   July 1994 from Lorain Co., Ohio land record book F-121

10. 1859-60 Rockford Directory, City Guide and Business Mirror (Vol. 1) Published 1859 FHC #6044417

11. State of Ill., Archives Division Public Domain Land Tract Records

12. History of Chautauqua Co., and its People, Vol. 1, Downs and Hedley, pg 239

13. Dudley, MA Vital Records

14. "Sketches of the History of Chautauqua County" by Emory F. Warren, Jamestown, NY, published by J. Warren Fletcher, 1846

15.  "Indenture" of 18 March 1828, land records of the Holland Land Co.