Sixth child of John Shawhan and Margaret "Peggy" McCune — sibling of Daniel "Cashier Dan" Shawhan (direct line, Gen 5), not himself part of the traced direct line to Spencer. Known as "Billy." Freed his slaves and moved his family from Kentucky to Indiana and finally to Champaign County, Illinois, where he became the founding settler of what is now Raymond Township.
Life events
- 2 Oct 1803Born, Bourbon County, Kentucky
- 15 Oct 1825Married (1) Rhoda Redmon, Harrison County, Kentucky
- 1827-46Son John Thomas born and died (fatal fall from a tree, age 19)
- 1834Wife Rhoda died
- 31 Oct 1839Married (2) Nancy Redmon (Rhoda's sister), Cynthiana, Kentucky
- (soon after) — Freed his slaves and moved from Kentucky to Rush County, Indiana, becoming a prominent farmer there
- (undated, following son John Thomas's death) — Gave up farming, moved into town, gradually sold his land holdings, relocated to Pike County, Indiana
- 1853A squatter, John Starkey, first settled the future Shawhan farm site in Raymond Township, Champaign County, Illinois
- 1855Billy purchased Starkey's improvement, becoming the second (and first permanent) settler of what became Raymond Township
- 13 Apr 1857Hosted the township's first public meeting (to elect school officers) in his own cabin; was elected town treasurer
- 29 Oct 1857First marriage in the township: his daughter Helen married Robert Myers
- 2 May 1875Died, Sidney, Illinois, age 71
Sources
- History and Genealogy of the Shawhan and Related Families.