Darci Hayden - Aug 8, 2008

William and Mary Lewellen.   My maiden name is Lewellyn.   My Dad's dad was Joseph Homer Lewellyn.   It appears that this site is dedicated mostly to Lewellen's migrating south, but my line went into Indiana.   However, I'd be interested to find if there any other Lewellen's here that may be connected :)   William was born about 1808-09 and his wife Mary (Polly) Rector was born in 1811.   They married in Taylor Co. (West) Virginia.   According to the Genealogy of the William Lewellen Families published by the family historian, Mrs. Jerry Lewellyn, Sr. in 1976 (of which I have a copy), they moved up to Tipton County, Indiana in about 1848 with four children and the 5th being born along the way.   The fifth child was Homer Lewellyn.   His wife, Martha, changed the spelling of his name on some records and it stuck with our branch of the family.   Homer's grandson migrated to California, where I was born.   So we have strayed a bit from our roots.   According to Becky Barefoot's website.   William was the son of Samuel, who was the son of Thomas Lewellen of Virginia.   Becky's line comes from Benjamin Franklin Lewellen, brother to Homer.


Interestingly, I am also connected to a whole other line through my Mom's mother's side.   My grandmother's grandfather was Commodore Perry Lieuallen.   My great Aunt provided a history of her family for her daughter and copied my mother and this is an excerpt:

"Commodore Perry Lieuallen was born October 25, 1844, in Wales.   His parents, Frances Haggard and John Beacher Lieuallen died when he was three years old and he was raised by Mr. and Mrs. Andrew McCombs.   They brought him to Ottumwa, Iowa when he was six years old."

However, I have been communicating with a cousin and fellow researcher who has more information that has generated some mysteries for Perry's ancestry.   He married Rhoda Harris 28 Jun 1870.   This is according to my Aunt and a marriage cert. my cousin found.   According to my Aunt, Rhoda's parents where John and Lois Harris.   However, there is an ancestry book on the Obil Beach family and they are listed as William Harris and Lois Beach.   My aunt said Lois was French/Indian.   My cousin said she heard stories of a connection to the Ogallala Sioux tribe and that could fit since Rhoda was from Nebraska and there is a town called Lewallen next to Ogallala, NB.   Could be a coincidence? I have yet to examine the history of the Beaches, of which there seems to be much info.   as well as the Harris family.   The mystery stems from the fact that Perry claimed to have been adopted but my fellow researcher has information that shows he may go back to the Lewallen family from North Carolina and changed the spelling of his name.   Perry may have had the name Leander P. Lieuallen, according the the marriage certificate for Leander P. and Rhoda Harris and the Obil Beach book.   Perry fought in the Civil War, Company G. 12th Tennessee Calvary.   And, according to my Aunt:

"He was an honorary member of the Spanish War Veterans Old Glory Camp, Number 49 of Missouri and the John L. Logan Camp Number 147-GAH of Hot Springs, So. Dakota."

He migrated to Colorado with the Oldebergs (his daughter married William Albert Oldenberg) and they were all cattle ranchers and worked on the railroad around Carr (the Northeastern plains of Colorado).   My Grandmother and he doted on each other and I have some wonderful photos.   He died in the 1930s I believe.

Thanks for being patient with my long windedness :)

Billie Harris - Aug 8, 2008

I don't know if your Indiana family is connected to the descendants of William Lewelling or not, but that line went into Indiana, some into Iowa, then to Oregon and into California.   You might want to check that line out and see if you can make a connection.   In the History section, it's under - I believe - Descendants of William Lewelling and it mentions Quakers and Horticulture.  


We do have this bit of information on your line and it came from the book but the name of the contributor isn't known.   It could have been Mrs. Jerry Lewellyn, I don't know.

WILLIAM LEWALLEN, born 1811.   Buried on a farm 1 mile south of the Howard-Grant Co. line in the woods.   Wife:   Mary Polly Rector.   They had 7 children.   They came from Virginia (now W. Virginia) with some of their children, date unknown.   Children:

1.   REBECCA LEWALLEN –  Cyrus A. Swan.   Rebecca was born 1835 Virginia.   Died 1924.   Cyrus was born 1828 Ohio and died 1861.   Both buried in Normal Cemetery.   Children:
(1)   WINIFIELD WAY (Scott), born Aug. 1853
(2) MILFORD F., born Jan. 1855.   Children:   Effie born July 12, 1882; Frank born Sept. 3, 1886; Samuel born May 3, 1893; Clarence born Sept. 2, 1902; Vernie, born Sept. 8, 1905
(3) MALINDA E.
(4) WILLIAM HARMON
(5) SAMUEL D. born 1860; died 1861
(6) DARIUS A. born 1861; died 1876
(7) CYRUS born 1862
(8) CHARLES born 1866

2.   BRUCE LEWELLEN born July 14, 1839 Ohio; died 1865.   Wife Sarah Ann Lennington, born oct. 10, 1841 Henry co; died 1/4/1913 Howard County.   Children:
(1)   MARY JOSEPHINE born Grant Co 9/28/1863; died 12/7/1921; married William Bryan born 9/6/1852; died 11/18/1921.   Children:   1.   Vernie born 8/8/1881; married Ben Craig born 2/9/1874.   Children:   Kenneth born 3/16/1903, Carl born 6/22/1905; Mildred born 1/6/1908, William born 2/16/1915.   2.   Love born 6/12/1833?; married Albert De Long, born 9/24/1879.   Daughter Bernice born 3/21/1906 married Russell Rhodes.   3.   Gretchen born 6/5/1891 married Ed Thomas.
(2) JOSEPH F. born Grant Co 9/20/1865; died 6/15/1935; married Maude Marie Rosebugh, born 9/18/1872; died 1923.   Children:   Ruby born 1890 and married George Durham; Raymond Bruce born 1892 and died 1894; Ernest H born 4/25/1895 and died 12/5/1952, married Lily Mason; Marguitte born 2/13/1899 and died 1969, married Walter Whipple; Columbus Earl born 1903 and died 1952 married Violet Mason; roscoe born 8/10/1906 and died 5/7/1966, married Dortha M. Croll; Sarah G born 6/24/1908 and married Edgar Sarver; Joseph born 10/25/1913 and died 12/16/1961, married Ebba Olson

3.   MELISSA LEWALLEN born 1841 Virginia; married Jonathan P. Harris born Ohio.   Children:
(1)   VICTORIA born 8/6/1860; died 3/25;1933; married William Platt.   Children:   Frank married Pearl Foding; Kathern married Albert Ronk; Otto; Orville; Blanche
(2) KING born 1/20/1861; married Alice Polk.   Children:   Alvin George born 1/21/1895, roscoe Robert (married Mable Lewellyn), Vada born 2/21/1897, Edith born 10/9/1901, Foster born 3/9/1911
(3) HOMER
(4) JOE, born Feb. 1867
(5) CHARLES born 1/19/1866
(6) SARAH ESTER

4.   JOSEPHUS LEWALLEN born 7/6/1844 Taylor Co. Va.; died 1/7/1921 Tipton Co.   Married Haddacha Jane McCann, born 7/14/1853 Adams Co., Ohio; died 8/10/1899 tipton Co.   Children:
(1)   Jefferson w. BORN 12/4/1869 Howard Co; died Aug 1912 Madison Co; married Lucy House born 1/14/1874 Tipton Co; died 6/2/1910 Tipton Co.   Children:  
(2) Elizabeth A. married Willard House.   Children:   Infant born and died 2/26/1891; Ethel M born 6/11/1893 and married Omar C. Galbreath; Josie L. born 11/14/1896 and married Todd O. Warner; Clarence R. born 8/20/1900 and married Hazel L. Harting
(3) Albert L. born 7/22/1874, wife Jennie.   Children:   Joseph L born 2/24/1907 and Ellen Ruth born 10/15/1909
(4) Delbert S. born 10/14/1876 and died Mar 1925; wife Marie Cole.   Child:   Lee born 3/7/1897
(5) Calvin O. born 12/18/1878; died 1/24/1881
(6) Sarah Ellen born 12/15/1882; married Clarence Hinds and had children:   Mildred married Earl Ragl; Lois Alrene born 6/8/1916; Mabel Helen born 11/25/1919
(7) James Harvey, born 2/11/1885; married Illie Mae Daver.   Children:   Roama Larue born 3/5/1905 and married Ester Ruth Weismiller; Harvey Lee born 10/21/1906 and married Dortha Josephine Hughes; Gartland Deloy born 9/13/1908 and married Mary Francis Ratherford; Robert Paul born 6/20/1914 wife Blanche Shockney (divorced); Amanda Haddassah born 7/5/1917 married Kenneth Posey; Ella Mae born 3/29/1920; married Freddrick M. Plummer; Lillie Lucille born 4/19/1922, married Arice Levaugh Rominger; James T. born 5/19/1925 and died 12/31/1928; Eva Lou born 7/11/1927 and married Charles LeRoy Imler
(8) James Harvey Lewellen married Ethel Hughs; then married Elizabeth Phillnot, then married Dora Mae Skillman Wood
(9) Benjamin F. Lewellen born 4/24/1889; died 6/30/1961; married Jessie Rae.   Children:   Eula M. born 8/8/1917 and married Ralph Leininser; Geneva Bell born 7/1/1927 and married Paul Macy
(10) Homer J. Lewellen born 8/23/1893

5.   JOSEPHUS LEWELLEN married Anna Green (NOTE:   Could this be right?   See number 4 above.)

6. HOMER LEWELLYN born 10/26/1846; died 11/14/1917; married Martha Crabb.   Children:
(1)   Elmer Elsworth born 8/26/1870; died 6/16/1957; married Mary Katherine.   Children:   Laurence born 2/21/1893; Mabel born 10/10/1896; Hazel born 12/22/1897; Anna Josephine, born 12/18/1901; Ernest Herrel born 6/20/1899; Jerry born 8/19/1907
(2) Mancil Franklin born 8/16/1872
(3) William H. born 1/3/1874; died 8/23/1876
(4) Josephus born 5/17/1877
(5) Clarence born 3/18/1880
(6) Earl born 7/21/1887

7.   EMILY LEWELLEN married William T. Spencer

8. MARTHA JANE LEWELLEN born 5/26/1848; died 10/15/1919; married Saul Spencer.   Children:
(1)   Charles, born 10/18/1872
(2) Stella born 1/17/1877
(3) Earl born 9/25/1882; died 9/28/1934
(4) William Alford born 10/1886; died 3/1/1935


In looking for a given name of Perry, there was a son of John and Polly Lewallen of Banks County, Georgia who was born 1813 and his name was Perry.   Then there was a Perry who was a son of John and Mary Lewallen of Illinois.   The 1840 census for Morgan County Ohio shows a Perry Llewelen.

Lieuallen is a bit different way to spell the name and there is quite a bit in the book on that spelling to see if you can find a connection with your Perry.

I have Haggards in one of my other lines and will look to see if I can find anything that might help with your Perry Lieuallen in that info.

Incidentally, Lewallen   Nebraska was named for a Frank Lewallen.   Would that connect with yours maybe?

Darci Hayden - Aug 13, 2008

Thanks for all your information!   Yes, I believe your posted history of William and Mary is from Mrs. Jerry Lewellyn, Sr.'s book.   The only way I have gotten information earlier than William and Mary, other than that book, is through Becky Barefoot.   I believe I saw her website posted here somewhere.   She is related to William's oldest son, Benjamin Franklin, who was not listed in Mrs. Lewellyn's book for some reason.   According to Benjamin's line (Becky and another researcher) William's father was Samuel, who was son to Thomas from Wales/Virginia (who was married to Tabitha).   I believe I saw information on that Thomas here, but can't find it again :)   I think that is where you listed the link to Becky's website.   Who Thomas' father is, is apparently not confirmed, though it is thought to be another Samuel Lewellen who was married to Hannah Wilkes Jones.   This Samuel was born in Wales and came over with his sons, one of which was Thomas.   This Samuel supposedly had a ferry business in the Cheat Neck area of Virginia along the Pennsylvania border, all according to what Becky has recorded on her website.   I believe this is a separate family line than William Lewelling.

It always amazes me how many colonial Lewellen families there were.   I do have a Welsh So. Carolina connection (Cabarras County) on my Dad's mom's side.   They are the Voiles/Voyles/Voils.   I understand So. Carolina had a large Welsh colonial population.   Being from California, it was very exciting to trace my ancestry back to colonial times and begin to appreciate the history.

Thanks also for the information on Perry Lieuallen.   There is much here to sort out and share with my fellow researcher/cousin and see if more pieces fit.   Do you happen to have any records on a Leander Lieuallen (or Lewellen)?   That was possibly Perry's real name.   My great aunt even said "he was known by the name of Perry" but never said what his real name was supposed to be.   I always thought that was an interesting way to phrase that.   My cousin has been doing extensive research on this line.   Her father and my grandmother grew up together and were close to grandpa Lieuallen.   Would a photo help do you think?   Maybe someone will recognize a family resemblence.   Unfortunately, both of them are gone now and we are missing very valuable sources of information.   My great aunt (the original historian) was much older than her baby sister as were most of the cousins, but I think my cousin still has some old Aunts left she is trying to get information from.   Hope she succeeds :)

Thanks again.