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BOTTS, Rufus

Male 1811 - 1884  (72 years)


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  • Name BOTTS, Rufus 
    Birth 22 Aug 1811  Adair Co., KY Find all individuals with events at this location  [1] 
    CENSUS 18 Sep 1850  McDonough Co., IL Find all individuals with events at this location  [2] 
    • The Botts children are presumably Rufus' children by a first wife before Jane The first wife must have died after 1841 given Polly Botts age of 9 years. Rufus married Jane circa 1850 after the death of her first husband Joseph Higgs who died sometime after 1846. The Higgs children are daughters of Jane and Joseph. Curiously missing from the list is Sarah J. Higgs who would have been about 3 years old in 1850.
    • Occupation: farmer
      Value of real estate: $800
    1850 US Census: McDonough Co., IL p 529    		 1850 US Census: McDonough Co., IL p 529
    EVENT 15 Feb 1854  Knox Co., MO Find all individuals with events at this location  [3] 
    • The following land purchases are apparently what brought Rufus and family to Missouri
    Land Patent 28505, Rufus Botts 1854    		 Land Patent 28505, Rufus Botts 1854
    Sold to Rufus Botts of McDonough Co., IL: 40 acres at 5th PM, Township/Range 060N - 012W, Aliquots SE¼ SW¼, Section 4 (northwest of Novelty, MO) at land office in Palmyra, MO. Patent doesn't state what Rufus paid for the land.
    EVENT 5 Apr 1855  Knox Co., MO Find all individuals with events at this location  [4] 
    Land Patent 28563, Rufus Botts 1855    		 Land Patent 28563, Rufus Botts 1855
    Sold to Rufus Botts of McDonough Co., IL: 320 acres, 5th PM, Township/Range 061N - 012W, Section 33, Aliquots W½ SE¼, E½ SW¼, W½ NE¼, and E½NW¼ (this land also northwest of Novelty, MO but significantly south of land in Section 4). Again, patent doesn't state what Rufus paid for the land.
    1938 Plat of Township 6N, Range 12, West of 5th Principal Meridian, Knox Co., MO    		 1938 Plat of Township 6N, Range 12, West of 5th Principal Meridian, Knox Co., MO
    Land patents for Rufus Botts shown in yellow
    CENSUS 26 Jul 1860  Salt River Township, Knox Co., MO Find all individuals with events at this location  [5] 
    • Occupation: farmer
      Value of real estate: $2000
      Value of personal property: $700
      The Higgs girls are Jane's daughter's from her first marriage to Joseph Higgs. Thomas Gayhart is presumably an elderly boarder. No apparent relation to the family.
    1860 US Census: Salt River Township, Knox Co., MO p 137    		 1860 US Census: Salt River Township, Knox Co., MO p 137
    EVENT Apr 1865  Novelty, Knox Co., MO Find all individuals with events at this location  [6] 
    • Article or Occupation: Hog slaughter
      Quantity: 2
      Rate of tax: 10
      Total tax: 20 (presumably cents in 1850)
    1865 Tax Assessment: Missouri, Division 10, District 3, p 7    		 1865 Tax Assessment: Missouri, Division 10, District 3, p 7
    CENSUS 4 Aug 1870  Salt River Township, Knox Co., MO Find all individuals with events at this location  [7] 
    • Occupation: farmer
      Value of real estate: $4500
      Value of personal property: $1650
    1870 US Census: Salt RIver Township, Knox Co., MO p 37    		 1870 US Census: Salt RIver Township, Knox Co., MO p 37
    WILL 20 May 1879  Knox Co., MO Find all individuals with events at this location  [8] 
    Will: Rufus Botts 1879    		 Will: Rufus Botts 1879
    "...to my wife Jane Botts should she outlive me to have a living from the proceeds of the farm on which I now live and should the proceeds of the be more than will support her the surplus to be held in service for my own children and after the death of both of us I want all my seal estate and personal property to be sold and the proceeds be divided equally between five of my own children each share amounts to four hundred dollars provided the property should bring the above named amount. The names of the said children are as follows to wit my Daughter Sallie Jane River and her children also my Daughter Mary A. Spears and her children also my Daughter Martha E. Collins and her children also my son John F. Botts also my son James R. Botts and Whereas my son Henry T. Botts has already received Four Hundred Dollars. Now should the above named property amount to more than Four Hundred Dollars each to the first five children then the overplus to be equally divided between my own children above named and also to my two step-children to wit Mary E. Steipel and Josephine Murray.
    Witness: Benjamin Botts, Thomas Botts"
    EVENT 10 Mar 1880  Knox Co., MO Find all individuals with events at this location  [9] 
    A trip through Southwest Knox Co., MO 1880    		 A trip through Southwest Knox Co., MO 1880
    "From Novelty we went to Locust Hill, stopping for supper at Uncle Rufus Botts', is clever an old gentleman as there is in Salt River Township. There we listened to as fine a Greenback lecture as we ever heard, given by Prof. E. C. Kimman. A good audience was in attendance. and the strictest attention was given to the speaker."

    Greenback lecture refers to the Greenback Party that fielded presidential candidates in the 1876, 1880 and 1884 US presidential elections. The Greenback Party (known successively as the Independent Party, the National Independent Party and the Greenback Labor Party) grew from the organization and policies of the National Grange of the Order of Patrons of Husbandry, a social and political organization that encouraged farm families to band together to promote the economic and political well-being of the community and agriculture. Granges grew popular in the Midwest in the late 1880s and some still exist today. The Greenback party's name referred to the non-gold backed paper money, commonly known as "greenbacks", that had been issued by the North during the American Civil War and shortly afterward. The party opposed the deflationary lowering of prices paid to producers that was entailed by a return to a bullion-based monetary system, the policy favored by the Republican and Democratic parties. Continued use of unbacked currency, it was believed, would better foster business and assist farmers by raising prices and making debts easier to pay. In additional to supporting the use of "greenbacks," the party attempted to forge a farmer–labor alliance by adding industrial reforms to its agenda, such as support of the 8-hour day and opposition to the use of state or private force to suppress union strikes. with an anti-monopoly ideology which was active between 1874 and 1889. The part faded away in the mid-1880s, but its ideals would continue to argued by "populist" and "progressive" parties into the 1900s.
    CENSUS 15 Jun 1880  Shelton Township, Knox Co., MO Find all individuals with events at this location  [10] 
    • Occupation: farming
    1880 US Census: Shelton Township, Knox Co., MO p 17    		 1880 US Census: Shelton Township, Knox Co., MO p 17
    Death 29 Jul 1884  Shelton Township, Knox Co., MO Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Burial 2 Aug 1884  Novelty Cemetery, Novelty, Knox Co., MO Find all individuals with events at this location  [11] 
    Rufus Botts burial 1884    		 Rufus Botts burial 1884
    "Uncle Rufus Botts, and old and highly respected citizen, died and was buried a week ago last Saturday. Uncle Rufus was know by everybody in this part of the county as a good, kind hearted Christian gentleman."
    Headstone: Rufus and Jane Botts    		 Headstone: Rufus and Jane Botts
    Plot: Row 11, Plots 29 and 30, West Half
    WILL 9 Sep 1884  Knox Co., MO Find all individuals with events at this location  [12] 
    Proof of Will: Rufus Botts (Benjamin Botts) 1884    		 Proof of Will: Rufus Botts (Benjamin Botts) 1884
    ...personally appear Benjamin Botts who being duly sworn upon his oath deposes and says that he was present and saw Rufus Botts now decd sign the foregoing instrument presposting to be the last Will and testament of his the said Rufus Botts now dec'd and heard him publish and declare the same to be his last will and testament and that at the time of signing the same the said Rufus Botts was of sound and disposing mind..."
    WILL 9 Sep 1884  Knox Co., MO Find all individuals with events at this location  [13] 
    Proof of Will: Rufus Botts (Thomas Botts) 1884    		 Proof of Will: Rufus Botts (Thomas Botts) 1884
    ...personally appear Thomas Botts who being duly sworn upon his oath deposes and says that he was present and saw Rufus Botts sign the foregoing instrument presposting to be the last Will and testament of his the said Rufus Botts now deceased and heard him publish and declare the same to be his last will and testament and that at the time of signing the same the said Rufus Botts was of sound and disposing mind..."
    WILL 9 Sep 1884  Knox Co., MO Find all individuals with events at this location  [14] 
    Certificate of Probate: Rufus Botts 1884    		 Certificate of Probate: Rufus Botts 1884
    "...having heard the testimony of Thomas Botts and Benjamin Botts subscribed witness these to in relation to the execution of the of the same do declare and ajudge said instrument to be the last Will and testament of said Rufus Botts Deceased and the same is therefore submitted to Probate."
    EVENT 20 Sep 1884  Edina, Knox Co., MO Find all individuals with events at this location  [15] 
    Rufus Botts estate settlement notice 1884    		 Rufus Botts estate settlement notice 1884
    "Letters of administration with will annexed, on the estate of Rufus Botts, deceased, were granted to the undersigned on the 20th day of September, 1884, by the probate court of Knox county, Missouri. All persons having claims against said estate are required to exhibit them for allowance, to the administrator within one year after the date of said letters, or they may be precluded from any benefit of such estate; and if such claims be not exhibited within two years from the date of said letters, they will be forever barred. This 20th day of September, 1884.
    HENRY T. BOTTS.
    Admr. with will annexed."
    Person ID I245  Main
    Last Modified 20 Jun 2023 

    Family 1 FISHER, Jane Iona,   b. 15 Jan 1818, Pennsylvania Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 1 Oct 1906, Novelty, Knox Co., MO Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 88 years) 
    Marriage 26 Aug 1850  McDonough Co., IL Find all individuals with events at this location  [16] 
    Children 
    +1. BOTTS, Henry Thomas,   b. 11 Jul 1851, McDonough Co., IL Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 12 Jan 1942, Novelty, Knox Co., MO Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 90 years)  [Birth]
     2. BOTTS, Isaac Benjamin,   b. Abt 1853, Illinois Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 1862 (Age 9 years)  [Birth]
     3. BOTTS, George Allen,   b. 29 May 1853   d. 1857 (Age 3 years)  [Birth]
    +4. BOTTS, John Franklin,   b. 16 Sep 1857, Hurdland, Knox Co., MO Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 9 Dec 1931, Kirksville, Adair Co., MO Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 74 years)  [Birth]
     5. BOTTS, James Rufus,   b. 3 May 1860, Missouri Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 1945 (Age 84 years)  [Birth]
     6. AUSTIN, Rachel Alice,   b. 31 May 1856, Iowa Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 6 Jun 1938, Locust Hill, Knox Co., MO Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 82 years)  [Adopted]
    Family ID F64  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
    Last Modified 26 May 2023 

    Family 2 Wife 1, Jane   d. 1841-1850 
    Children 
     1. BOTTS, Sallie Jane,   b. Abt 1832, Kentucky Find all individuals with events at this location  [Birth]
     2. BOTTS, William T,   b. Abt 1836, Illinois Find all individuals with events at this location
     3. BOTTS, Mary A.,   b. Abt 1839, Illinois Find all individuals with events at this location  [Birth]
     4. BOTTS, Martha E.,   b. 25 Dec 1842, Macomb, McDonough Co., IL Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 21 Dec 1927, Sheldon, Vernon Co., MO Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 84 years)  [Birth]
    Family ID F373  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
    Last Modified 24 Jan 2009 

  • Event Map
    Link to Google MapsBirth - 22 Aug 1811 - Adair Co., KY Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsMarriage - 26 Aug 1850 - McDonough Co., IL Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsCENSUS - 18 Sep 1850 - McDonough Co., IL Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsEVENT - 15 Feb 1854 - Knox Co., MO Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsEVENT - 5 Apr 1855 - Knox Co., MO Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsCENSUS - 26 Jul 1860 - Salt River Township, Knox Co., MO Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsEVENT - Apr 1865 - Novelty, Knox Co., MO Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsCENSUS - 4 Aug 1870 - Salt River Township, Knox Co., MO Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsWILL - 20 May 1879 - Knox Co., MO Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsEVENT - 10 Mar 1880 - Knox Co., MO Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsCENSUS - 15 Jun 1880 - Shelton Township, Knox Co., MO Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsDeath - 29 Jul 1884 - Shelton Township, Knox Co., MO Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsBurial - 2 Aug 1884 - Novelty Cemetery, Novelty, Knox Co., MO Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsWILL - 9 Sep 1884 - Knox Co., MO Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsWILL - 9 Sep 1884 - Knox Co., MO Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsWILL - 9 Sep 1884 - Knox Co., MO Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsEVENT - 20 Sep 1884 - Edina, Knox Co., MO Link to Google Earth
     = Link to Google Earth 
    Pin Legend  : Address       : Location       : City/Town       : County/Shire       : State/Province       : Country       : Not Set

  • Sources 
    1. [S117] 1880 US Census, Missouri , (Ancestry,com), 15 Jun 1880, Roll: T9_697; Family History Film: 1254697; Page: 610.1000; Enumeration District: 78; Image: 0182 (Reliability: 2).

    2. [S602] 1850 US Census, Illinois , (Ancestry.com), 18 Sep 1850, McDonough Co., p 529 (Reliability: 2).

    3. [S710] Bureau of Land Management, General Land Office Records, (US Department of the Interior), 15 Feb 1854, Certificate No. 28505 (Reliability: 3).

    4. [S710] Bureau of Land Management, General Land Office Records, (US Department of the Interior), 5 Apr 1855, Certificate No. 28563 (Reliability: 2).

    5. [S121] 1860 US Census, Missouri, (Ancestry,com), 26 Jul 1860, Salt River Township. p 137 (Reliability: 2).

    6. [S707] IRS Tax Assessment Lists, 1862-1918, (Ancestry), Apr 1865, Missouri, Division 10, District 3, p 7 (Reliability: 3).

    7. [S119] 1870 US Census, Missouri , (Ancestry,com), 4 Aug 1870, Salt River Township, p 37 (Reliability: 2).

    8. [S709] Missouri Wills and Probate Records, 1766-1988, (Ancestry.com), 20 May 1879, Knox Co., Vol. 1-4, p 14 (Reliability: 2).

    9. [S706] News articles: The Edina National, Edina, MO, (The Edina National, Edina, MO), 10 Mar 1880, p 4 (Reliability: 2).

    10. [S117] 1880 US Census, Missouri , (Ancestry,com), 15 Jun 1880, Shelton Township, p 17 (Reliability: 2).

    11. [S704] News articles: The Edina Sentinel, Edina, MO, (The Edina Sentinel, Edina, MO), 14 Aug 1884, p 3 (Reliability: 2).

    12. [S709] Missouri Wills and Probate Records, 1766-1988, (Ancestry.com), 9 Sep 1884, Knox Co., Vol. 1-4, p 15-17 (Reliability: 2).

    13. [S709] Missouri Wills and Probate Records, 1766-1988, (Ancestry.com), 9 Sep 1884, Knox Co., Vol. 1-4, p 16 (Reliability: 2).

    14. [S709] Missouri Wills and Probate Records, 1766-1988, (Ancestry.com), 9 Sep 1884, Knox Co., Vol. 1-4, p 17 (Reliability: 2).

    15. [S708] News articles: The Knox County Democrat, Edina, MO, (The Knox County Democrat, Edina, MO), 25 Sep 1884, p 2 (Reliability: 3).

    16. [S592] Illinois, County Marriages, 1810-1940, (Illinois State Archives, Springfield IL), 26 Aug 1850, McDonough Co. Vol. 00A, License No. 46 (Reliability: 3).


 

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