Mary Hollenbeck Greenleaf

Fulton County Heritage

GREENLEAF FAMILY

Peter Greenleaf was born in Bergen Co., N.J. in the year 1787. He married Mary Hollenbeck Dec. 24, 1804 in Bergen Co., N.J. Pastor Cornelius made a notation that the couple were of "Three Pigeons". An old 1776 map shows Three Pigeon Tavern on a road 3/5 mi. NE of Bergen and Hoboken in Bergen Co., N.J. Old records show that Hollenbeck and Greenleaf families lived in that area.

Peter served in the War of 1812. He enlisted Sept. 21 or 22, 1814 in New York. The term of enlistment was 5 years or until the war ended. His age was given as 27 years. He was discharged at Greenbush Cantonment, or Greenleaf Point, Sept. 15, 1815. The discharge shows his height as 5 ft. 7 1/2 or 11 inches. Both figures are shown on records. He had brown hair, blue eyes, dark complexion.

On Feb.24, 1818 a patent for 160 A. of land in the Military Tract in Illinois was issued to Peter Greenleaf, warrant no.1699, signed by President James Monroe. The 160 A. was in Fulton Co.; Lewistown the County Seat. All lands in the Military Tract of Illinois were given as bounty to the soldiers of the War of 1812. The Tract included all lands between the Illinois and Mississippi Rivers, extending north 160 miles to the 40th principal meridian from the mouth of the Illinois River.

The known children of Peter and Mary Greenleaf were: Peter Greenleaf, 1805-1857, married Mary Ferguson Morrell (widow of Benjamin Morrell); and Joseph Greenleaf, 1818-1905, married Sarah Dale, 1824-1867, Aug.29, 1841. His second wife was Mariah Moses Miller. These boys were orphaned when Joseph was 6 months old. They were reared by the John Sturges family in Hoboken, N.J.

In the fall of 1836 the two sons of Peter Greenleaf arrived in Beardstown, Ill. They crossed the river and made camp near Frederick. When they awakened in the morning their blankets were covered with snow. That day they built a log cabin of some sort. On Dec. 12, 1836 they filed their claim to the 160 A. granted to their father. The legal description is as follows: 160 A. tract, Town-ship 3 N., Range 1 East of the 4th principal Meridian, Section 6, State of Illinois, County of Fulton.

Peter and Joseph became farmers. Each made two trips to the gold fields of California, according to family tradition. In 1849 or 1850, Joseph and some of his wife's relatives were in the woods cutting wood when his brother Peter found him. Peter was joining the gold rush and asked Joseph to join him. Without going back to the house, Joseph left. When he returned two or three years later, he found a little daughter whom he had not known was expected. This sounds exactly like the Greenleafs I have known.

When the brothers returned they were able to buy tickets to return by stage. They bought two tickets but just one seat was available so they took turns. one riding and the other holding to the back of the stage and walking. The one riding kept their bag of gold between his knees. Stage horses walked in spite of how they are pictured in Western movies. Of course both brothers carried guns.

Joseph and Sarah Dale Greenleaf were parents of 9 children, born in Fulton co.: Nathaniel, 1844-1925; Peter, 1845-1924; Samuel, 1847-1919; Demaris, 1850-1931 (This is the little girl who was walking when her father returned from the gold fields); Louia Alice, 1852-1918; Stephen Edgar, 1860-1940; Merrit, 1863-1865; Sarah, 1867-1867; Alonzo, 1853-1913?

In 1867 Joseph sold his land to Andrew Bates and the C.B. and Q. Railway. He bought land near Birmingham in Schuyler Co. All of his children scattered from Fulton Co.; all went farther west.

Peter sold his share of land to David Corbitt in 1843. He move to Brown Co., where he married. When he died in 1857, he and his wife owned 500 A. of land in Brown Co. He was the father of 4 children, born in Brown Co.

This very brief account of the family was written by the great-great granddaughter of the first Peter Greenleaf.

by Vernice Morrell Dees

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