Over years of research a long tome ago from history books to library microfilm findings I read up on the founder of Canton Isaac Swan and found out his wife Elizabeth Addis was related to us distantly through the Suydam and Addis line. This blog is history on him, Canton also the Addis family of Fulton County, Illinois.
Isaac Swan was the founder of Canton, Fulton County, Illinois. He originally came from the state of Vermont. He moved to New York where he served in the War of 1812. In about 1818 he and his brother in law Nathan Jones came to Illinois, first to St. Clair County, then to Montgomery County in 1820. While there Swan sold i0 acres of his patent to Jones.
Isaac arrived in the Canton area in 1824. He presented a Military title to land of Theodore Sargeant. Though some mistake in the records in Vandalia, this quarter section had been listed as "unentered" land. Sargeant left immediatley, moving to Farmington,where he died in 1871. Swan realized that his land was suitable for a town site, so Canton was laid out on December 10, 1825. The name was chosen because the site was suppose to be diametrically opposite of Canton, China.
One of the first buildings was Swan's " Catch- all", a log cabin of the northest corner of Chestnut and Second Avenue. This building was designed as a Carpenter shop, and a stopping place for new settlers until they could build. A man named Kinney came about the same time as Swan, and the two were in a partnership for a while. However, John Coleman came with a military title to Kinney's land, and like Sergeant, Kinney had to give up his claim. Kinney remained in Canton for a while, but when he approached Swan with a plan for manufacturing bogus silver, Swan gave him twenty four hours to leave town so Kinney disappeared from history.
Isaac Swan on January 16, 1828 married Elizabeth Addis, the ceremony being performed by Squire John Orendorff of Orion Township. Elizabeth was the daughter of Richard and Jamina ( DeHart) Addis. Her siblings were Eleanor (Addis) Stephens/Stevens(?), Aaron Dean Addis ( whoses second wife was Jane Suydam whoses father Joseph was brother to my great great great Grandfather Peter H. Suydam), Richard Addis, Simon Addis, Ann Addis, Mariah Addis and Henderick Addis. The source of marriage was found in a history book but the marriage license states Isaac and wife married on December 30, 1827.
On the evening of June 18, 1835 Isaac Swan and an infant son were killed in the great tornado of 1835. The storm killed a total of five people including Swan and son. On March 13, 1836 his widow Betsy Addis Swan married George W. Gould, who also lost a spouse in the tornado. Later on in history there was an Elizabeth Swan that married A.J. Roosa on April 21, 1861. If she is the same one or maybe a daughter I have no idea. There is debate on where Swan is buried but he is suppose to be buried in the Greenwood Cemetery in Canton where a big stone.
Pictures are of the City of Canton in modern day:
Now onto Elizabeth Swan's parents and siblings. Her brother married a Suydam so that's how my line fits in. Its very distant ofcourse.
Richard Addis (II) was born September 3, 1766 in New Jersey and was the son of Simon & Mariah ( Hollingshead) Addis. He came from Middlesex County, New Jersey near New Brunswick in 1802 to 3 miles from Vienna, New Jersey as a surveyor. He also surveyed much land in Illinois. He also built the first frame house in Canton, Illinois. Richard came early and identified himself with the infant village of Canton.
While subject to the malarial atmosphere to a new Country, he soon afterwards succumbed to it's deadly influence and died. He died April 9, 1827.
Richard married Jemina DeHart on March 26, 1789. Jemina DeHart was born December 7, 1767 and survived him many years. She died in 1853.
Richard and Jemina DeHart Addis children:
1. Eleanor Addis was born May 6, 1790 and died August 3, 1833 in Ohio. She married Richard Stephens II on June 1, 1815. They had five known children: Sarah H, Nancy, Elizabeth, John Wesley and Lorenzo Dow Stephens.
Richard Stephens Ii remarried after Eleanor to Nancy Mount on May 5, 1834 in Ohio. He had a store in Canton in the 1830's before moving to Ohio.
2. Aaron Dean Addis was born April 22, 1803 in Middlesex County, New Jersey and died January w3, 1873. He and second wife are buried in the Orendorff Cemetery in Orion Township in Fulton County, Illinois. His first wife was Mary Schmock and they produced a son John Addis (born in 1829). Mary died before 1835. Aaron married Jane Suydam daughter of Joseph Suydam. They had six children: Richard, Simon, Mary, Josrph, Sarah and Ferdinand Addis.
3. Elizabeth Addis who married Isaac Swan founder of Canton in 1827. Her husband and son were killed in a tornado of 1835. The child died in her arms. Her second husband was George W. Gould.
4. Richard Addis
5. Mariah Addis
6. Ann Addis
7. Simon Addis
8. Henderick Addis.
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