Charles Grandison Guthrie

Charles Grandison Guthrie was born in Bedford County, Virginia, or perhaps in that part of Bedford County that was cut off to form Franklin County in 1786. However, by the time he was eight years old the family was living in Montgomery County. Before 1820 they were living in Tennessee, probably in Claiborne County. When Charles Grandison was 26 he married Frances (Fanny) DeWitt, who was 16 at her marriage. During the early years of her life, Fanny DeWitt lived in the home of her grandfather, Thomas Crump. In Thomas Crump's will, made in 1827, he bills the "guardian of Frances DeWitt for five years $60.00". Frances and Charles Grandison were married on April 24, 1828 in Washington County, Kentucky. Consent was given for the marriage by Daniel Crump, the guardian of Fanny. Family tradition states that Fanny ran away from a boarding school in Louisville, Kentucky to marry.

Charles and Fanny Guthrie came to Pike County, Illinois by covered wagon in the summer following their marriage. They arrived on Six Mile Creek in the southwestern part of Pleasant Hill Township on Oct. 16 (4). Coming to Pike County at about the same time was Fanny's older brother, Thomas Monroe DeWitt, who marred in Pike County in 1830. Richard Crump, uncle to Fanny and brother-in-law to Charles was also in Pike County by 1830. Family tradition says that Charles and Fanny were on their way to Missouri, but were persuaded to stay and settle in Illinois.

The Guthrie's built their first home, a cabin, on the bank of Six Mile Creek about four miles northwest of the present site of Pleasant Hill, Ill. To reach this building site they cleared a road up the creek from the bluff of the Mississippi River. In 1855 their son, Henry, bought a forty-acre farm about four miles northeast of Pleasant Hill and Charles and Fanny lived on this farm the rest of their lives. Fanny died of cancer on August 15, 1874. Charles was crippled during the latter part of his life and died on March 26, 1883. They are both buried in the Rowley Cemetery, no longer used, on a farm later owned by Alvin Long. The cemetery is on the west bluff of Six Mile Creek and is in sight of their first home in Illinois.

The children of Charles Grandison and Fanny Guthrie were:

(A) James M., born September 16, 1828; died December 16, 1828.

(B) Henry Ross, born December 28, 1830.

(C) Zerilda Jane, born February 28, 1833.

(D) Ira Briscoe, born February 10, 1835.

(E) Daniel DeWitt, born December 23, 1836.

(F) Mary Elizabeth, born December 19, 1838.

(G) Nancy Margaret, born March 1, 1840.

(H) Nicholas M., born July 19, 1842.

(I) John N., born September 10, 1845; died September 13, 1847

(J) Jeremiah Newton, born December 11, 1847

(K) Frances Ellen, born September 3, 1853