DRENNAN, Mabel Louise

Other Events and Attributes:

• Education: San Jose Normal School (aka San Jose State)
• Obituary: From the Santa Cruz Evening News Mrs. Mabel D. Byrne, 67, S. C. Leader, Succumbs Funeral services for Mrs. Mabel Drcnnan Byrne, 67, one of Santa Cruz' most esteemed women, who died at 11 o'clock Monday night at a local hospital, will be held at 10 a. m. Thursday from Wessendorf's mortuary. Private interment will follow in the I. O. O. F. cemetery. She had been ill since Sept. 5, when she suffered a stroke. Prominent in the church, educational, civic and social life in her native Santa Cruz, Mrs. Byrne will be mourned by the entire community in whose betterment she maintained an active leadership. Mrs. Byrne was born in the pioneer Drennan home on Church street, which recently was razed for the Wessendorf mortuary parking lot. She was the daughter of the late Samuel and Louisa Drennan. The mother was one of the early teachers in the public schools and was a leader in the church, club and civic life. Her father was a prominent citizen and for years a leading realtor and insurance agent. Mrs. Byrne attended the schools of the city, was graduated from the San Jose State Normal school, now known as San Jdse state college, and then was recognized as a teacher of unusual ability in the Mission Hill school. LEADER A woman with a keen mind and intellect she was a leader in all that stood for the best progress of the city. She figured in civic and social life, but above all her church life was always first; As a girl she united with the Congregational church. She was as an infant baptized in this church and the baptismal robe worn by her was worn by children of her own family for the sacred ceremonial. AFTERNOON CLUB She was one of the early members of the Saturday Afternoon Club, now the Santa Cruz Woman's club. From the beginning she was a member of the Friday Shakespeare club, also of the Santa Cruz Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution, and of the Decorative Art Society. She had served a number of times on the Santa Cruz Council of the Young Women's Christian Association and was interested in all the work for young people. In this city she was married to Walter C. Byrne. The wedding was at the family home on Church street Her husband preceded her in death about a year. He was prominent in the business life of the community and was connected with the Byrne Bros, store in the Drennan block. Surviving her are children, Barbara, of the high school faculty at San Diego, Gilbert and John, Santa Cruz; Mrs. George Shreve, Redwood City; Mis. Paul Kerr, Daley City; and a sister, Mrs. R. B. H. Collier, of Berkeley.
• Occupation: Teacher prior to marrying
• Cause of Death: Complications of stroke
• Residence: 1892, 45 Church Street, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA, USA
• Residence: 1900, Santa Cruz Ward 2, Santa Cruz, California
• Census: 23 Apr 1910, 52 Walnut, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA, USA
• Residence: 1920, 28 Union Street (now 332), Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA, USA
• Arrival: 13 Jul 1922, San Francisco, California
• Residence: 1930, 28 Union Street (now 332), Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA, USA

Notes:

Birth:
Mrs. Byrne was born in the pioneer Drennan home on Church street, which recently was razed for the Wessendorf mortuary parking lot.

Residence:
Drennan, Mabel L Miss, Student, res 45 Church Street

Mabel married BYRNE, Walter Charles on 6 Jun 1899 in Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, California, USA. Walter (son of BYRNE, George Griffing and EARLEY, Henrietta) was born on 16 Feb 1868 in Jackson, Jackson Co, Michigan; died on 22 Oct 1940 in Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, California, USA; was buried on 24 Oct 1940 in IOOF Cemetery, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz Co, CA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

San Francisco Call, June 7, 1899:

Walter C. Byrne and Miss Mabel Drennan were married this morning at the home of the bride's mother, Mrs. Louisa Drennan.

The interior of the home presented a beautiful appearance. The back parlor, where the ceremony was solemnized, was decorated with festoons of smilax, woodwardia ferns and the pure white wax lily, which was the only flower used. The main parlor was decorated with sweet peas. The young couple stood in the bay-win-dow and the beautiful Episcopal service was road by Rev. James B. Orr of the First Congregational Church. The bride was gowned in a silk dress of blue— the same one used by her mother at her wedding. Miss Drennan was attended by her sister, Miss Dora Drennan, and Mr. Byrne by Thomas G. McCreary. A wedding breakfast followed the ceremony. The tables had been placed in the lawn under the trees, and in this natural garden spot with the addition of immense clusters of azaleas the breakfast was enjoyed.

Mrs. Byrne is a native of Santa Cruz and a graduate of the local high school and the State Normal School. For a number of years she has taught in the Santa Cruz schools.

Mr. Byrne is a member of the firm of Byrne Bros.

Married:
Samuel Drennan House on Church Street

1. BYRNE, ? was born on 7 Jun 1900 in Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, California, USA; died on 8 Jun 1900 in Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, California, USA; was buried in IOOF Cemetery, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz Co, CA.
2. BYRNE, John Drennan was born on 11 Apr 1904 in Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, California, USA; was christened on 5 Nov 1904 in First Congregational Church, Lincoln and Center Streets, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA, USA; died on 7 Jan 1989 in Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, California, USA; was buried in Jan 1989 in IOOF Cemetery, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz Co, CA.
3. BYRNE, Barbara was born on 18 Jun 1906 in Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, California, USA; was christened on 20 Dec 1906 in First Congregational Church, Lincoln and Center Streets, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA, USA; died on 4 Jan 1994 in Chula Vista, San Diego, CA, USA.
4. BYRNE, Walter Fernald was born on 15 Jun 1909 in Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, California, USA; died on 20 Sep 1924 in Giant Dipper Roller Coaster, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA, USA; was buried on 23 Sep 1924 in IOOF Cemetery, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz Co, CA.
5. BYRNE, Gilbert Griffing was born on 24 Sep 1912 in Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, California, USA; was christened on 3 Mar 1913 in First Congregational Church, Lincoln and Center Streets, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA, USA; died on 30 Sep 1996 in Redwood City, CA.
6. BYRNE, Miriam was born on 24 Sep 1912 in Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, California, USA; was christened on 23 Mar 1913 in First Congregational Church, Lincoln and Center Streets, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA, USA; died on 26 Jul 1997 in San Diego, San Diego, CA.
7. BYRNE, Louise was born on 12 Aug 1914 in Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, California, USA; was christened on 4 Jul 1915 in First Congregational Church, Lincoln and Center Streets, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA, USA; died on 28 Mar 2005 in San Francisco, San Francisco, California.

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: Real Estate, General Agent
• Residence: 1850, Not Stated, Sangamon, Illinois
• Arrival: Aft Jan 1853, New Orleans, LA
• Arrival: Bef Mar 1853, Panama Isthmus, Panama
• Arrival: Mar 1853, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
• Arrival: Aft Mar 1853, Gold Fields, Mariposa County, CA, USA
• Arrival: Aft Apr 1853, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, California, USA
• Occupation: Between 1856 and 1891, Real Estate & Insurance Agent
• Membership: 1857, Grand Lodge of California, Free & Accepted Masons
• Residence: 1860, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, California, USA
• Witness: Dec 1860, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, California, USA
• Juror: Aug 1862, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, California, USA
• Residence: 1870, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, California, USA
• Residence: 1884, 45 Church Street, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA, USA

Notes:

From DAR of California Pioneers:

A member of a pioneer Illinois family ? 1822 his grandfather surveyed and marked stakes for Springfield, Ill. He left Illinois Dec. 18, 1852 and went down the Mississippi to New Orleans, thence to Isthmus which he crossed on mule back ? arrived in San Francisco, Calif March 1853. He went to mines of Mariposa County for a short time then came to Santa Cruz where he remained until his death. He served as Deputy Sheriff under the second, third and fourth sheriffs of the County. The fourth Sheriff of the County was John T. Porter. ON return from a hot dusty ride Mr. Porter and Samuel Drennan went to mouth of San Lorenzo river on Monterey Bay, disrobed and bathed in surf. They were greatly invigorated and continued the practice. Huts for dressing rooms were erected and sea bathing, now one of Santa Cruz main attractions, was inaugurated. He was a member of the Butler Guards during the Civil War. He was a member of the early Volunteer Fire Company ? the Pilots. He was instrumental in introducing bituminous rock, a native product, as a road building material. He was prominent in the business and social life of the city from 1854 until his death in 1891.

Buried:
JPG, Genealogy/Reunion/headstones/2007 10 03 002_edited-1.jpg, Samuel Drennan Headstone, HEADSTONE, JPG, Genealogy/Reunion/headstones/2007 10 03 004_edited-1.jpg, Drennan Family Marker, HEADSTONE

Samuel married FERNALD, Olive Louisa on 28 May 1868 in Pacific Ocean House, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz Co, CA. Olive (daughter of FERNALD, Oliver and ADAMS, Louisa) was born on 4 Apr 1839 in North Berwick, York, ME, USA; died on 21 Feb 1921 in Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, California, USA; was buried on 26 Feb 1921 in IOOF Cemetery, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz Co, CA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Obituary: MRS. OLIVE DRENNAN'S LONG, USEFUL LIFE, DRAWS TO CLOSE This morning, soon after three o'clock, occurred the death of an old citizen of Santa Cruz -- one of most distinguished ones -- a woman identified with the best things carried on In this city for a very long period. Mrs. Olive Louisa Drennan passed to her well-earned rest, at the age of 81 years 1 month and 21 days. She had been ill at her home on Church street, only being in bed for a week, though she had needed care for five years. She had a keen brain to the last, vividly interested in matters of world wide importance a great reader tile best in modern literature, as as that of older times. Mrs Drennan -- Olive Louisa Fernald being her maiden name -- was born in North Berwick, Maine, and received her education there and Boston, where she attended school under W. J. Rolfe, the famous Shakespearian scholar. In '63 she came to California with her sister, Mrs. Amasa Pray, Mr. Pray and their family of children. They were in Santa Barbara for a year, with a brother, Charles Fernald. In '64 Miss Fernald settled in Santa Cruz with the Prays, and she taught in Santa Cruz schools for four years. While at Mission hill's little two room building she was one of those who planted a long row of trees, a later landmark. She married in '68 Samuel Drennan, a prominent business man, and entered the Church street Home where she passed away last night, as a bride. She was a staunch Congregationalism secretary of the Ladies' society and the missionary society for years almost without number. She was the second president of the Decorative Art society and Women's exchange a charter member of the Improvement society, which closed its affairs in her home a few months ago. She was its treasurer for a long period. Other activities were the D. A. R., to the local chapter of which she belonged, an honored member, and the Saturday Afternoon club. Mrs. Drennan is survived by her four children Captain Ryland Drennan of the Pacific Mail Steamship company, at Shanghai, but at present in Calcutta; Mrs. Hazzard Gragg of San Luis Obispo; Mrs. Walter Byrne of this city, and Mrs. R. H. B. Collier of Berkeley. The funeral services will be by her own request, strictly private, and will be held at her late home, 45. Church street, tomorrow afternoon at half past 2.
• Residence: 1850, Berwick, York, Maine
• Residence: 1860, North Berwick, York, Maine
• Residence: 1870, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, California, USA
• Residence: 1892, 45 Church Street, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA, USA
• Residence: 1900, Santa Cruz Ward 3, Santa Cruz, California
• Residence: 1910, r. 45 Church street, Santa Cruz, CA
• Residence: 1910, 3-Wd Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, California
• Residence: 1914, 45 Church Street, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA, USA
• Residence: 1920, Santa Cruz Ward 5, Santa Cruz, California

Notes:

Excerpt of first person oral history of early Santa Cruz County, "My Early Childhood Memories", by Sarah Hinton Gourley.

Following the death of Gourley's grandmother in May, 1858:

"Our folks took up about eighty acres of land in Blackburn Gulch. When they moved to this farm, I went to live with Aunt Hannah Anthony, and attended the Grant School for a short time. Miss Louisa Fernald [DRENNAN] was the teacher and boarded at the Geo. Anthony home. I helped Aunt Hannah with [her] work. In the evening I sat with Grandfather by the fireplace in his room as he was so lonely. He told me stories of his early life which were very interesting."



Misc:
Though she died in 1921, her estate apparently wasn’t settled until 1938 by daughter Mabel Byrne.

Residence:
Also residence Edith, Mabel

Residence:
Precinct 8-44 Drennan, Mrs. Louisa Republican Homekeeper 45 Church Street, Santa Cruz-

Notes:

History of William Drennan and Mary Thomas in Sangamon County, IL

William and Mary were married about 1790. Six of their children were born in the Pendelton district (South Carolina), and they moved to Caldwell county, KY, about 1803, where they had six children. In the fall of 1817, they moved to Illinois, first stopping on Wood river, about two miles from Alton, in Madison county. Their destination was the San-ga-ma country, but it was more economical to remain idle that winter than to move up, and thus incur the necessity of hauling provisions for themselves and stock. Early in 1818 William Drennan, his half brother, Joseph Drennan, his son-in-law, Joseph Dodds, and George Cox, left their families near Alton, and, with their teams, farming implements, provisions, and all the young men and boys belonging to the families who were able to assist in making a home, started, piloted by a white man named William Moore, who had belonged to a company that had been over the country before, in fighting the Indians. He was called an Indian Ranger. Arriving at Sugar creek, they took a day or two for exploring, and on March 10, 1818, drove to the spot on which William Drennan built his cabin and which proved to be section 32, town 14, range 5 west, when the government made its survey. It is on the northwest side of Sugar creek, and about twelve miles nearly due south of Springfield, and near where the Sugar creek Cumberland Presbyterian church now stands. Immediately after their arrival they built two cabins. One was occupied by George Cox alone. The other was occupied for the summer by William and Joseph Drennan and Joseph Dodds. That was the one spoken of as belonging to William Drennan. As they had not the slightest idea of cultivating the prairie, these three men agreeed to clear all the land they could in one body, and have a crop from it that year in common, with the understanding that before another year they were all to work together until an equal sized piece was cleared for the other two. They cleared the timber from about fifteen acres, fenced it, plowed as well as they could among the roots and stumps with a little short wooden mould board plow, and planted it in corn and pumpkins. The soil in the timber was very light -- so much so that in some places they would almost sink in over their shoes. In fencing this land, they inclosed about three-fourths of an acre of prairie. After they had plowed and planted their crop, one of the men suggested that it was quite a waste to have that under fence and nothing growing on it, and proposed that they break it up and plan something on it. In order to make sure work, they uncoupled one of their wagons, hitched four horses to the forward wheels, and fastened their wooden mould board plow to the axle. They soon found this was a failure.

Try as they would, the plow would not center the sod, and they reluctantly gave it up. While they were taking off the team and plow, one of the boys, full of fun and mischief, took up a hoe and began to shave the grass off, saying he could break the prairie with his hoe. That suggested an idea to one of the men, and he, also, took a hoe and began shaving the grass. It was the work of but a few minutes to remove the sod from a spot several feet in diameter. He then called one of the othermen, and proposed that, as they were well advanced with their work, and there were seven or eight of them, and all had hoes, that they call all hands together , and shave the grass from the whole piece, plant something on it, and see what would be the result. The man spoken to first, laughed at the idea as ridiculous, but after studying a moment, he fell in with it, and the men and boys were all called up, and the grass shaved off, holes dug, and corn and pumpkin seed planted. They did not tought it any more; that killed the grass. The crop was fully twice as much in proportion to the area, as that planted among the stumps, and the next spring it broke up the nicest of any land they had ever seen. This taught them an important lesson, and caused them to make greater exertions to induce some one to invent a plow that would break up the prairie. I have this account from the venerable William Drennan, who was one of the young men that assisted in doing the work, and who has lived in sight of the spot to the present time. Several years elapsed before a plow was invented that would do good work at breaking. In the mean time the early settlers continued clearing their land, that they might have it to cultivate, and were always uneasy for fear their timber would be exhausted.

There can be but little doubt that the same labor required to destroy the timber on one acre would have shaved the grass from two acres, with no better implements than a hoe. They could, by that means, have had better land to cultivate, twice the quantity of grain raised, and saved their timber, but the probability is they never thought of it. After the provisions they brought with them were exhausted, one fo their number would return south, load a couple of horses with provisions, salt, and other indispensibles, in regular pack saddle style, and bring them to their new home. The distance was between sixty and seventy miles. They brought cows in the spring, and had plenty of milk. Wild honey was abundant, and Mr. Drennan told the writer that two of their number would cut down a hollow tree where bees had stored their wealth, and with a few hours work, would bring in from two to five gallons of honey. While they were doing this, others of their number would be looking for more bee trees, so that they always had four or five trees ahead, and knew just where to go when they needed more honey. For meat, they would hunt as the necessitieis required, some times one, and often all would hunt. In warm weather they would take venison, the breast of turkeys and geese, cut the meat into thin slices, sprinkle a small quantity of salt on it, and dry it on a frame work of sticks about three feet hight, setting the frame in the sun, with a smouldering fire underneath. In this way the meat would soon be cured, and ready for use at any time. This they called jerked meat, a considerable supply of which could be kept on hand. Fresh meat, jerked meat, milk, honey and bread, constituted their bill of fare during the first summer. As trips were made back and forth, some fo the younger sons and those who had families were brought to the new settlements. After the crops were cultivated, the men who had families returned to them, leaving the unmarried men and boys to take care of the property. The four men who came up in the spring, all brought their wives and childern in the fall of that year. Mr. Cox arrived first, Joseph Drennan next, and, William Drennan, with his son-in-law, Joseph Dodds, came together, arriving Dec. 3, 1818. Of the twelve childeren of William Drennan, Sen.---

Mattie, born in South Carolina, married in Kentucky.

Samuel

William, born Oct 15, 1797, in Pendleton district, SC, came to Kentucky, and from there to Sangamon county with his father, arriving March 10, 1818 in what is now Ball township. He was married May 30, 1822, in Sanagamon county to Margaret Anderson. They had twelve childern, all born in Sanagmon county, viz: James A., born Aug 6, 1828, married Dec 8, 1853, to Rachel Cannan. They have six children, Jannetta F, Mary E, Robert W, Minnie W, Ira and Frederick, and reside in Ball township, five miles northeast of Auburn. Samuel, born Oct. 30, 1829, went to the Pacific coast in 1852, and was married there May 28,1868 to Lousia Fernald, who was born April 4, 1839 in North Berwick, Maine. They have three children, Edith A., Mabel L, and Dora A, and reside in Santa Cruz county, Ca. John T, born Jan 14, 1832, enlisted August 9, 1862 at Chatham, in Co. I, 73d Ill INf, for theree years. He was wounded at the battle of Chickamauga, Sept 20, 1863, lay five days on the battlefied, before medical aid was given. He recovered, but is permanently disabled. He was dischard on account of physical disability, June 16, 1864, and resides with his parents in Ball Township...

"History of the Early Settlers, Sanagamon County, Illinois, "Centenial Record"" 1876

William married ANDERSON, Margaret L on 30 May 1822 in Sangamon Co, IL. Margaret (daughter of ANDERSON, James and FLETCHER, Nancy) was born on 28 Mar 1806 in Rockbridge, VA, USA (Alt Botetourt Co, VA); died on 28 Aug 1881 in Sangamon, IL, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: Blacksmith & Farmer
• Residence: 1 Jun 1840, North Berwick, York, Maine, USA
• Residence: 1850, Berwick, York, Maine
• Residence: 1860, North Berwick, York, Maine
• Residence: 1880, North Berwick, York, Maine

Notes:

Maine death records have his date of death as March 30, 1883. Headstone shows March 31, 1883 as his date of death, which is used in this record as his death date. Interesting/odd that his granddaughter, Mabel Drennan Byrne, used a different, earlier date (2 Mar 1882) in a 1927 DAR account on early California pioneers.

Oliver married ADAMS, Louisa on 6 Dec 1832 in North Berwick, Maine. Louisa was born on 1 Apr 1804 in Maine; died on 22 Aug 1842 in North Berwick, Maine; was buried in Fernald Cemetery (private), West Beech Ridge Road, North Berwick, York, ME, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Military: 1812, Pvt S.C. Mililitia, War of 1812

Notes:

William and Mary were married about 1790. Six of their children were born in the Pendelton district, and they moved to Caldwell county, KY, about 1803, where they had six children. In the fall of 1817, they moved to Illinois, first stopping on Wood river, about two miles from Alton, in Madison county. Their destination was the San-ga-ma country, but it was more economical to remain idle that winter than to move up, and thus incur the necessity of hauling provisions for themselves and stock. Early in 1818 William Drennan, his half brother, Joseph Drennan, his son-in-law, Joseph Dodds, and George Cox, left their families near Alton, and, with their teams, farming implements, provisions, and all the young men and boys belonging to the families who were able to assist in making a home, started, piloted by a white man named William Moore, who had belonged to a company that had been over the country before, in fighting the Indians. He was called an Indian Ranger. Arriving at Sugar creek, they took a day or two for exploring, and on March 10, 1818, drove to the spot on which William Drennan built his cabin and which proved to be section 32, town 14, range 5 west, when the government made its survey. It is on the northwest side of Sugar creek, and about twelve miles nearly due south of Springfield, and near where the Sugar creek Cumberland Presbyterian church now stands. Immediately after their arrival they built two cabins. One was occupied by George Cox alone. The other was occupied for the summer by William and Joseph Drennan and Joseph Dodds. That was the one spoken of as belonging to William Drennan. As they had not the slightest idea of cultivating the prairie, these three men agreeed to clear all the land they could in one body, and have a crop from it that year in common, with the understanding that before another year they were all to work together until an equal sized piece was cleared for the other two. They cleared the timber from about fifteen acres, fenced it, plowed as well as they could among the roots and stumps with a little short wooden mouldbourd plow, and planted it in corn and pumpkins. The soil in the timber was very light -- so much so that in some places they would almost sink in over their shoes. In frencing this land, they inclosed about three-fourths of an acre of prairie. After they had plowed and planted their crop, one of the men suggested that it was quite a waste to have that under fence and nothing growing on it, and proposed that they break it up and plan something on it. IN order to make sure work, they uncoupled one of their wagons, hitched four horses to the forward wheels, and fastened their wooden mould board plow to the axle. They soon found this was a failure.

Try as they would, the plow would not center the sod, and they reluctantly gave it up. While they were taking off the team and plow, one of the boys, full of fun and mischief, took up a hoe and began to shave the grass off, saying he could break the prairie with his hoe. That suggested an idea to one of the men, and he, also, took a hoe and began shaving the grass. It was the work of but a few minutes to remove the sod from a spot several feet in diameter. He then called one of the othermen, and proposed that, as they were well advanced with their work, and there were seven or eight of them, and all had hoes, that they call all ahands together , and shave the grass from the whole piece, plant something on it, and see what would be the result. The man spoken to first, laughted at the idea as ridiculous, but after studying a moment, he fell in with it, and the men and boys were all called up, and the grass shaved off, holes dug, and corn and pumpkin seed planted. They did not tought it any more; that killed the grass. The crop was fully twice as much in proportion to the area, as that planted among the stumps, and the next spring it broke up the nicest of any land they had ever seen. This taught them an important lesson, and caused them to make greater exertions to induce some one to invent a plow that would break up the prairie. I have this account from the venerable William Drennan, who was one of the young men that assisted in doing the work, and who has lived in sight of the spot to the present time. Several years elapsed before a plow was invented that would do good work at breaking. IN the mean time the early settlers continued clearing their land, that they might have it to cultivate, and were always uneasy for fear their timber would be exhausted.

There can be but little doubt that the same labor required to destroy the timber on one acre would have shaved the grass from two acres, with no better implements than a hoe. They could, by that means, have had better land to cultivate, twice the quantity of grain raised, and saved their timber, but the probability is they never thought of it. After the provisions they brought with them were exhausted, one fo their number would return south, load a couple of horses with provisions, salt, and other indispensibles, in regular pack saddle style, and bring them to their new home. The distance was between sixty and seventy miles. They brought cows in the spring, and had plenty of milk. Wild honey was abundant, and Mr. Drennan told the writer that two of their number would cut down a hollow tree where bees had stored their wealth, and with a few hours work, would bring in from two to five gallons of honey. While they were doing this, others of their number would be looking for more bee trees, so that they always had four or five trees ahead, and knew just where to go when they needed more honey. For meat, they would hunt as the necessitieis required, some times one, and often all would hunt. IN warm weather they would take venison, the breast of turkeys and geese, cut the meat into thin slices, sprinkle a small quantity of salt on it, and dry it on a frame work of sticks about three feet hight, setting the frame in the sun, with a smouldering fire underneath. In this way the meat would soon be cured, and ready for use at any time. This they called jerked meat, a considerable supply of which could be kept on hand. Fresh meat, jerked meat, milk, honey and bread, constituted their bill of fare during the first summer. As trips were made back and forth, some fo the younger sons and those who had families were brought to the new settlements. After the crops were cultivated, the men who had families returned to them, leaving the unmarried men and boys to take care of the property. The four men who came up in the spring, all brought their wives and childern in the fall of that year. Mr. Cox arrived first, Joseph Drennan next, and, William Drennan, with his son-in-law, Josephy Dodds, came together, arriving Dec. 3, 1818. Of the twelve childeren of William Drennan, Sen.---

Mattie, born in South Carolina, married in Kentucky
Samuel
William, born Oct 15, 1797, in Pendleton district, SC, came to Kentucky, and from there to Sangamon county with his father, arriving March 10, 1818 in what is now Ball township. He was married May 30, 1822, in Sanagamon county to Margaret Anderson. They had twelve childern, all born in Sanagmon county, viz: James A., born AUg 6, 1828, married Dec 8, 1853, to Rachel Cannan. They have six children, Jannetta F, Mary E, Robert W, Minnie W, Ira and Frederick, and reside in Ball township, five miles northeast of Auburn. Samuel, born Oct. 30, 1829, went to the Pacific coasat in 1852, and was married there May 28,1868 to Lousia Fernald, who was born April 4, 1839 in North Berwick, Maine. They have three children, Edith A., Mabel L, and Dora A, and reside in Santa Cruz county, Ca. John T, born Jan 14, 1832, enlisted August 9, 1862 at Chatham, in Co. I, 73d Ill INf, for theree years. He was wounded at the battle of Chickamauga, Sept 20, 1863, lay five days on the battlefied, before medical aid was given. He recovered, but is permanently disabled. He was dischard on account of physical disability, June 16, 1864, and resides with his parents in Ball Township...

"History of the Early Settlers, Sanagamon County, Illinois, "Centenial Record"" 1876

William married THOMAS, Mary in 1790. Mary was born on 13 Jan 1771; died on 21 Oct 1856 in Sangamon, Illinois, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Marriage
Date: 1790
Place: Pendleton Dist, South Carolina, USA«s103 Online publication - Ancestry.com. OneWorldTree [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc.»

James married FLETCHER, Nancy in 1802 in Rockbridge Co., Virginia, USA. Nancy was born in 1786 in Rockbridge Co., Virginia, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

From Early Settlers of Sangamon:

ANDERSON, JAMES, was born in 1784 in Botetourt county, Va. Nancy Fletcher was born in 1786, in Rockbridge county, Va. They were there married, in 1802, and had two children in Virginia.

Other Events and Attributes:

• Also Known As: Archelus Fernald
• Also Known As: Hercules Fernald
• Military: Private, Massachusetts Militia, Revolutionary War
• Residence: 1830, Berwick, York, Maine

Notes:

Some discrepancy in deaths, and Old Kittery and Her Families lists as 27 Oct 1833. Have changed from prior records I had which listed death 22 Jul 1836, which I believe came from DAR records by Olive Fernald / Mabel Drennan. Also, a close look at his headstone reads what looks to be “81” or “811”(!) yrs, so still a bit of a mystery.

Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors in the War of the Revolution, 17 Vols:

Fernald, Archelaus, Pepperellborough. Capt. Samuel Leighton's co.; pay abstract for travel allowance from home to Dorchester Heights in Aug., 1776; also, same co.; company receipts for wages for Aug.-Oct., 1776, dated Dorchester; also, Capt. Leighton's co., Col. Ebenezer Francis's regt.; pay abstract for travel allowance from Dorchester Heights home; warrant allowed in Council Nov. 29, 1776; credited with 7 days allowance; also, same co. and regt.; company receipt for wages for Nov., 1776, dated Dorchester; also, Private, Capt. Elisha Shapleigh's co., (late) Col. Joseph Storer's regt.; enlisted Aug. 14, 1777; discharged Nov. 30, 1777; service, 123 days, travel (300 miles) included; roll sworn to at Kittery.

From Miriam Fernald Bancroft’s DAR entry:

Hercules Archelaus Fernald, 1776, enlisted in Capt. Samuel Leighton’s company, and in 1777 served under Capt. Elisha Shapleigh. He served at the siege of Boston, in the Burygone campaign, and was detailed to guard prisoners after the surrender. He was a pensioner when he died in North Berwick in 1836, aged eighty seven.

Hercules married PERSLEY, Miriam on 30 Jan 1772 in York, Maine, USA. Miriam was born about 1747 in York, York, ME, USA; died on 22 Jul 1826 in North Berwick, York, ME, USA; was buried in Fernald Cemetery (private), West Beech Ridge Road, North Berwick, York, ME, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Also Known As: Miriam PURSLEY
• Residence: 1771, York, Maine, USA

Notes:

Married:
Married by Rev Sam. Langton