John N. Calvert, pioneer minister and county commissioner, was born in Elbert County, Georgia on December 12, 1796, the son of John Calvert and Mary Elizabeth McCurdy. He married first to Cynthia Simpson and later to Susannah Davis Trammell. His middle name is listed in some places as Napoleon and in others as Newton.
John and Cynthia Simpson married on February 26, 1818. She was the daughter of William Simpson and Mary “Polly” Jones.
On August 5, 1826, John N. Calvert and Cynthia Calvert, his wife of Pope County deeded property to William Baker of Pope County 20 acres, part of NE 1/4 sec 28, Township 13 South, Range 6 East where Baker lived. It was signed on November 5, 1821, and witnessed by William McCurdy, John J. Chaubliss, and W.P. Hanna and recorded on November 8, 1836 in Pope County Book A, pages 31-32.
They lived in Williamson Co., Illinois from at least 1830, possibly earlier. From about 1838 onward he served as a Cumberland Presbyterian Minister at Mt. Pleasant Church and had about 13-14 children through the two wives. In the 1830 census he and Cynthia had seven children at home, two children who did not survive childhood and Silas M., Napoleon B., Joseph L., William S., and John Bunyan Calvert.
In 1836 they moved into township 9 range 3 E in Marion. This is probably when he entered the land that he finally received in 1841 in Section 17. This is about two or three miles east if Marion, on the north side of Rt. 13 and on the east side of Norman Road.
On December 3, 1838, John N. Calvert, James A. Parks and Stephen Stilley were appointed school trustees for section sixteen in this township. The Franklin county Commissioners Court made the selection at their regular session in Frankfort.
“About November in 1840, Brother Reddin and I went on a visit to Uncle John N. Calvert’s in Marion, Williamson County, Ill … and stayed with him about a month during which time we preached by the fireside and left a very favorable impression upon his mind in regards to Mormonism. He said it was scriptural and reasonable, but he thought he could get all the salvation he needed where he was by being a strick Presbiterian (sic).” The Diary of Reddick N. Allred from the DUP Treasurers of Pioneer History Lesson for February, 1956 compiled by Kate B. Carter copy in possession of Loni Gardner
In the 1840 census they had seven boys and two girls living at home. They had lost three girls and one boy. Sometime between 1840 and 1850, Cynthia died and about 1850 John married Susannah (Davis) Trammell who was born in 1800 and died on July 18, 1860. She, and probably Cynthia, was buried in Calvert Cemetery.
On July 1, 1841, John N. received 40 acres of land located in the NWNE of sec 17 township 9 Range 3E. He was listed as living in Franklin County. I think he was living in Williamson County although when he entered the land it must have been before 1839 when Williamson County was created from Franklin County.
John N. was named pastor of the flock at Mt Pleasant church in May 1843. He was a member of the county commissioner’s court at the time and his family was established in Marion. He was county commissioner from 1841 to 1847.
A group of men who were slated to serve as president and trustees for a Marion Academy were: Joseph G. Rice, Joab B. Freeman, Archibald T. Benson, John Pascall, John Hunley, Samuel Aikman, Anderson P. Corder, Elijah N. Spiller, John G. Sparks, John N. Calvert, and John B. Hicks. The Academy never materialized.
In the 1850 census Susannah and John N. were still living in Williamson County He had a real estate value of $450. All the children were in school. He was a farmer. Susannah is listed as having been born in Illinois, George in Georgia. Children at home may have all been his and Susannah’s: George M., Martha C., Thomas A., Sarah N., and Nancy Clementine. Sarah N. did not survive childhood.
By the 1860 census, John and his youngest son Thomas A. were living alone. Susannah had died. Thomas A. joined the war on Aug 12, 1862 at Camp Anna, Illinois. He was a private in Co. H, 81st Illinois Infantry. His muster roll described him as 5’10” with light hair, black eyes and a dark complexion. His muster description says he was married and a farmer. I could find no record of a marriage. He died of a gunshot wound at Guntown, Mississippi, on June 10, 1864.
In 1867 the Cumberland Presbyterians organized their church four miles east of Marion. Among the original members were Rev J. N. Calvert and Joseph L. Calvert, his son.
In the 1870 census, John was living alone at the age of 72. He was still living in Township 9 Range 3E, next door to John L. and Nancy Calvert and children: John M. 20 and Lillie 15; Caroline 11 & Berthena 5.
John N. Calvert died on March 4, 1878 at the age of 80 years and was buried in Calvert Cemetery.
Notes on the Children:
Silas M. Calvert, 1819 – 1877. He was a corporal in Company B, 1st Regt. Ill. Vol., which was raised in Williamson and surrounding counties. The company contained 82 men including officers. The company was mustered into service at Alton, Ill on the 28th of May, 1847, and was mustered out October 11, 1848 in Alton when the war with Mexico was over. His wife was named Mary. They had at least two children: John N. Calvert (1851) and Mary (1863)
Napoleon Bonaparte Calvert, 1822 – 1882. N. B. married first Sarah Reynolds on Aug 25, 1842and second Nancy unk. He was father of the following children: Cynthia E. (1843), Mary J. (1844), Edward (1858-1950), Charles (1863) and Blanche (1871) , Jerome B. (1846-1904), William W. (1848), Clarissa A. (1850), Eola Rebecca (1854-1917) and Albert Clark Calvert. For more information, see the post Napoleon B. Calvert
Joseph Lewis Calvert, 1824 -xxxx. Joseph married Nancy Louisa Bouyer/Bowyer. He and Nancy had the following children: Ann Elizabeth (1846 – 1910), George N. (1849 – 1850), John Marshall (1851-1924), Thomas T. (1854 – 1857), Lilly (1855), Cyrus R (1856), Mary M. (1859), Cyntha Caroline (1861-1938), Nannie (1863) and Berthena (1865). For more information, see the post Joseph L. Calvert
William Simpson Calvert, 1828 – 1875. He was born May 28, 1828 in Johnston City, Illinois. W. S. married Emily Perry on Feb 18 1851. They had: Mary Jane “Mattie” (1852-1947), Sarah Virginia (1856-1905), James Herman (1859-1941), Isabelle “Belle” (1861-1920), Emily M. (1866-1942). Gertrude “Gertie” (1869), William Thomas “Willlie” (1871 – 1932) and John Walter (1875-1954). William S. died November 24, 1875 at Marion, Williamson County, Illinois. He is buried in Aikman Cemetery.
John Bunyan Calvert, 1830 – 1871. J. B .married Mary Jane Brim on April 27, 1854. She was born in 1827 and died 1920. They had the following children: William A. (1854-1942), James I. (1856), E. A. Calvert (1857), Melissa A. (1857-1931), Elizabeth Catherine (1859-1939), Cyrus (1862), Willis Smith (1863-1943), Lucy (1866), Abigail (1868) and Charles C. Calvert (1869-1932).
George Marion Calvert, 1835 – 1910. George married Sophia J. Woodall on January 10, 1854. They had the following children: Calhoun C. (1859), Walter B. (1861-1885). Frank (1864), James (1866-1936), Jefferson B. (1868), Claude (1870), and Mont G. (1872-1938). He married second Mary E. unk and they had: Thomas (1884), Reid (1886-1980), David (1889), Don Pedro (1890), May S. (1896) and Emma (1900)
Martha Caroline Calvert, 1837 – 1928. Martha C. married William L. Owens on September 27, 1853. He was born 1828 and died 1923. They had the following children: Douglas T. (1860-1937), William Sherman (1865-1946), Newton Sylvester (1868), Cynthia Jane (1870-1940), Joseph L. (1873) and Nancy Caroline (1877-1919).
Thomas A Calvert, 1838 – 1864. He died of a gunshot wound at Guntown, Mississippi, on June 10, 1864 while serving as a private in Co. H, 81st Illinois Infantry.
Sarah N Calvert, 1840 – xxxx.
Nancy Clementine Calvert, 1842 – 1900. She married Jefferson G. Parks on February 18, 1858. They had John L. (1861), Sara (1865), Lula (1868), Jeff T. (1870), Lucinda (1873), Josephine (1875), Willie E. (1884), Susan L. (1886) and Daisy C. (1890).
(Sources: U.S. Census records, Illinois Muster and Descriptive Rolls; History of Gallatin, Saline, Hamilton, Franklin and Williamson Counties; Pioneer Folks and Places; Erwin’s Williamson County, Illinois; Historical Souvenir of Williamson County. Compiled by Colleen Norman)