Cannah J Walters

Cannah J Walters is the half brother of my wife's 2nd Great Grandfather, Joseph Walters.

Cannah was was born 20 December 1848 in Fulton County, Illinois.  Cannah was most likely born in Joshua Township.  He is son of John Walters and Elizabeth Jones.

Cannah can first be found in the 1850 Federal Census in Joshua Township, Fulton County, Illinois.  He is living with his parents and three half siblings, Thomas, John and Susan Walters.  Cannah is still living with his parents in the 1860 Federal Census.  They still reside in Joshua Township, Fulton County, Illinois.  There are two other individuals living with them in the 1860 Census. They are Joseph Walters, a half brother, and Mary Evans.  Mary's relation to the family is unknown.  Her occupation is listed but not legible.  I will paste it below - it appears to be something about school?  I assume she was maybe living with the family and teaching young Cannah?



Cannah marries a Mary Jane Plumer in Fulton County, Illinois on 18 August 1867.  I assume that this is Mary's second marriage because in a later census her mother is listed as living with them and her name was Susan Waltman.  I can then go backwards and find Susan Waltman living in Joshua, Fulton County, Ill with daughter Mary J.  in the 1860 Census.  So I do believe that Mary's maiden name is Waltman and not Plumer.

In the 1870 Federal Census we find Cannah living alone with his new wife, Mary J.  He is farming in Joshua Township, Fulton County, Illinois.  Living next door are his parents, John and Elizabeth Walters.  Living next door on the other side of him is a Cannah Jones - I could make an assumption that Cannah Jones could possibly be his grandfather on his mother's side.  I have not researched that though. But - Cannah is not a popular name - and his mother's maiden name is Jones.

Cannah and Mary are living in Lee Township, Fulton County, Illinois in the 1880 Federal Census.  Living with them are Mary's mother, Susan Waltman, and both of Cannah's parents.  There is also a farm laborer living with them named May Lenard.  It is unknown if May has any relation to this family.

Cannah's father, John Walters, passes away in 1883 in Fulton County, Illinois.  It was noted that Cannah inherited John's entire estate when he died.  It is unclear why John did not leave anything to his other children except for the fact that they had all moved away and Cannah was the only child that remained in Fulton County.

The next record we find of this family is the 1900 Federal Census living in Bushnell, McDonough, Illinois.  They now have a daughter, Ida Walters, living with them.  Mary's mother, Susan, is still living them although now with a different last name - Fritz.  I think this is a transcription error because I can find a marriage record for a Mrs Susan Waltman marrying a Henry Tritsch in McDonough County in 1884. 

The same family unit is still found living together in the 1910 Federal Census in Bushnell, McDonough County, Illinois, including the mother of Mary, Susan Waltman Tritsch.  Cannah is still farming.  Cannah and Mary are still found living here in the 1920 Federal Census.

Cannah J Walters and Mary Jane Waltman have the following child:

1. Ida M Walters - born 14 Sep 1889 in Fulton County, Illinois, dies 28 Jun 1982 in McDonough County, Illinois. Marries George Oplander.

Cannah J Walters dies 19 September 1924 in McDonough County, Illinois.  I have not been able to find where he is buried.

John Walters

John Walters is the 3rd Great Grandfather to my wife, Krista Ann Vorlicky.

John Walters is the youngest son of Thomas Walters and Elizabeth Sivley. I was going to start my Walters line with Thomas - but I wanted to include his Last Will & Testament that is located in the Probate Records in the Madison County Courthouse in Alabama.  I have ordered a copy of this Probate Record so I will backtrack to Thomas when I get it.  There has been much written about the Walters line by several researchers.  Thomas Walters is believed to have served under George Washington in the Revolutionary War!  More on that later.

John Walters was born 5 April 1808 in Jefferson County, Tennessee.  John lived at one time with his parents in Madison County, Alabama.  At some point John Walters moves to Fulton County, Illinois.  Most likely it is around 1826 after his father dies in Madison County, Alabama.  We know he is in Fulton County by 1831 as we can find his marriage record to Elizabeth Barker.  There are several Walters brothers already in the area including a Daniel and William Walters - who are believed to be brothers of John.

Fulton County, Illinois was what was known as the 'Military Tract' in the 1820's.  The soldiers who fought in the War of 1812 were given tracts of land in Illinois for their service during the war.  It is believed that John Walter's older brother, William, fought in the war of 1812, and that he came to Fulton County first, living on on the Military Tract there.  William, Daniel, John and other Walters are mentioned in the History of Fulton County, Illinois that was printed in 1879.  The John mentioned is believed to be the subject of this blog.

The next record we find John Walters in is the 1850 Federal Census in Joshua Township, Fulton County, Illinois.  By this time he is now married to his 2nd wife, Elizabeth Jones.  They were married in 1847.  His first wife, Elizabeth Barker, passed away in 1844. 

Between 1831 and 1844 John Walters and Elizabeth Barker have seven children.  They are:

1. John W "Jack" Walters - born 1833 in Fulton County, IL, died Apr 1900 in Lincoln County, WA.
2. Thomas Walters - born 13 Mar 1835 in Fulton County, IL, died 19 Jan 1916 in Lincoln County, WA.
3. Daniel Walters - born 1836 in Fulton County, IL, died 19 Sep 1863 in Camp Sherman, MS in the Civil War.
4. William Walters - born 1837 in Fulton County, IL, died 1840 in Fulton County, IL.
5. Joseph Walters - born 19 May 1840 in Fulton County, IL, died 6 May 1913 in Nebraska.  Married Angeline Scott.
6. Susan Ann Walters - born 9 May 1842 in Fulton County, IL, died 18 May 1908 in Fulton County, IL. Married John McCarty.
7. James L Walters - born 1844 in Fulton County, IL, died 2 Jun 1847 in Fulton County, IL.

John Walters and Elizabeth Jones had one child. 

1. Cannah Walters - born 20 Dec 1848 in Fulton County, IL, died 19 Sep 1924 in McDonough County, IL.  Married Mary Waltman.

In the 1850 Census John and his second wife, Elizabeth, have 4 children living at home.  They are John, Thomas, Susan and Cannah.  John and his two older sons are listed as farmers for their occupation.  It is unknown where his son Joseph is in 1850 as he only would have been 10 years old.

In the 1860 Federal Census John is still farming in Joshua Township, Fulton County, Illinois.  Joseph is now living with him and so is his youngest son, Cannah.  There is also a Mary Evans living with them, age 24. 

John and Elizabeth are living alone in the 1870 Federal Census, still farming in Joshua Township.  Living next door is their son, Cannah and his wife Mary.  By 1870 John has eight grandchildren.  Four granchildren each from his daughter Susan and his son Joseph.

By 1880 John and Elizabeth have moved to Lee, Fulton County, Illinois.  They are living now with Cannah and his wife, Mary, and Mary's mother, Susan Waltman.  John's wife passes away in 1880.  John lives for 3 more years and passes away in 1883 in Fulton County.  John is buried in Rigdon Cemetery in Fulton County, Illinois.