My Ancestors

by Clifton Duffy

The Duffys are of Irish descent. John Duffy, my great great grandfather came from Ireland to Pennsylvania. His son, Anthony was born in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, but when Anthony was a small boy they moved to Cumberland county, Pa., where Anthony, my great grandfather received his education. I have found that my great grandmother on my motherÂ’s side also went to this same school in Cumberland county and at the same time that Anthony went.

Anthony Duffy, my great grandfather, married Matilda Spangler, daughter of Samuel Spangler, a veteran of the war of 1812. The Spanglers were of French and German descent. Anthony came from Cumberland county to Illinois about 1836. They spent about two months and a half on the journey, crossing the river at Peoria, on a flat boat. They settled in Hancock township about two miles south of Webster. Anthony and Matilda had several children, Samuel, the oldest, being my grandfather. There also were Mary, Ellen, Joe, Robert, Will, John and Scott. Joe and John enlisted and fought in the Civil war, John being only seventeen.

Samuel Duffy was born in 1836. He was the first white child born in Hancock township. He was very fond of hunting deer. He also hunted fox, having as many as twelve hounds at a time. He married Francis Meek in 1862. They first lived in a log cabin, then built and moved into a brick house, the bricks of which were made in the brick kiln on the Duffy farm. My grandfather spent the earlier part of his life working in the kiln. They later moved into the frame house, which now stands on the Duffy farm and he remained there until 1904, then moving to Fountain Green. My grandfather, Samuel and wife, Frances, had six children, John, Benjamin, Matilda, Sarah, Verdelia and James Anthony, my father.

Next I shall give you a few facts in the Huston records, my motherÂ’s family.

The Hustons are of Scotch Irish descent. The family name was originally House Son. The remotest member of the family, whose name has come down through the family register was Robert House Son. He was of Celtic origin and was born in Dublin, Ireland, 1450, where he lived and died a merchant. Later the Hustons dwelt in the lowlands of Scotland. They took decided stands in favor of the Reformation, favoring Calvin and Knox. They were persecuted for their rigid adherence to the Bible and many of them emigrated to the northern part of Ireland.

Christopher Huston, my great, great, great, great grandfather came from Ireland to America about 1740. He settled in East Pensora township, Pennsylvania, where he was an active and prominent citizen. He was tax collector for east Pensbora township in 1784. His fifth child, John married Margaret Huston, a daughter of Samuel and Isabella Sharon Huston. Margaret is a descendant of Abnor Huston.

Now turning to Abner Huston. Abner Huston and his brother were living in Ireland at the time that the Reformation had given rise to violent religious controversy, and the two brothers decided to change their surname which was then House Son. Alfred changed his name to Houston, while Abner changed his name to Huston. Alfred came to America first, then Abner followed in 1612. Abner, being a business man, soon made the acquaintance of John Rolfe, the Englishman, who married Pocahontas, and with him Abner entered into trade with the Indians and colonists and transported goods to England. Alfred and Abner learned the Indian language in order to trade with them and to preach the gospel to them in their native tongue.

When Sir George Yeardley selected twelve men to draw up the code of laws for the colony at Jamestown, Alfred and Abner were among the delegates. This was the first legislative body of white men that ever met on American soil. There is no doubt but that all the families in United States who spell their name Huston are descendants of Abnor Huston.

John and Margaret Huston lived in west Pensboro township, Pennsylvania. The tenth child of John and Margaret — Samuel, was born in 1797. He married Anne Fulton. They had ten children, the oldest, John Wilson, being born September 11, 1826, and died January 31, 1893. He married Katherine Weims Black of Newville, Pennsylvania. In 1851 they came in a covered wagon part of the way and by boat part of the way. They landed at Warsaw on Christmas day 1851. They settled on a farm five miles southeast of Fountain Green in Hancock township. He was a prominent citizen of the vicinity until a very old age. He was a charter member of the first Presbyterian church in Fountain Green, where every member of his family belonged. In those days he had to haul his grain and other products to Warsaw, the nearest trading post. It usually took him about three days to make the trip there and back. There was a small tavern called the "Half Way House" just east of Elvaston, in which they would stop for lodging. The first Huston home was a large log cabin, which although very rude, was one of the best to be had in those days. John and Katherine had eight children. Thomas the oldest was born in 1850, just a year before they came to Illinois. The other children are Harriet, Samuel, John, Peter, Amos, Edward and Francis. John Calvin, the third child was my grandfather.

John Calvin was born February 7, 1857. He married Alma McCall in 1881. They located on a farm one half mile west of Fountain Green. He was instrumental in establishing the Woodman lodge in Fountain Green. In 1916 he and his wife left their farm to the management of their son and moved to Carthage. He had two children, Lawrence McCall and Anna Myrtle, my mother. Myrtle married Anthony Duffy in 1903. There are my sister, Frances, now Mrs. Carl Phipps and myself in our family.

Source of My Material

My knowledge of the Duffy side of my ancestors came from J. T. Spangler, who is a neighbor of my folks, living in Hancock township.

My material on the Hustons came from a book owned by S. F. Huston, who resides east of Carthage.

The Carthage Republican
Carthage, Illinois
Wednesday
January 31, 1934
Page 6
Columns 1, 2, 3, 4