GGGGGG Grandfather Abner Casey was born in County Tyrone, Ireland. Abner served as a Private in the South Carolina Militia. Public Service and father of sons who sacrificed and served for the American Cause; Colonel Levi Casey, Sergeant Randolph Casey, and Captain Moses Casey.
GGGGG Grandfather Randolph Casey was a sergeant under Francis Marion – the “Swamp Fox of the Santee”. He was present on the memorable occasion when General Marion feasted the British officers on Sweet Potatoes, roasted in his camp fire. His wife Mary Jane Pennington, and their children were (1) Levi, (2) Randolph, (3) Isaac, (4) Abraham, (5) Charity, (6) Hiram, (7) Samuel and (8) Zadok. These were all born in South Carolina except Zadok who was born in Georgia, whether the family had removed about the year 1795, and where they remained until about 1800, when they removed to Tennessee, locating in Smith County. Here the father, Randolph Casey, died. Of Randolph Casey's children, all eventually came to Illinois to reside except Hiram. He was a minister of the gospel, and made a visit here once, and while in the County reached to the pioneers with marked effect.
John Clark Casey (Randolph's grandson) was born January 1, 1795. He was married twice, his first wife being Mary Casey (some say Polly Casey) who died March 23, 1829. To this union eight children were born, vis: Abraham, who was a soldier in the Union Army and died in the fall of 1866. Isaac died in 1870. Jacob, who was a soldier in the Mexican War and also in the Union Army from 1861 to the close. Thomas T., who also was in the Mexican War; Elizabeth J. who was born March 10, 1823, and died August 8, 1903; she was married to Josiah K. Howell, February 18, 1844 in Gregon County, Missouri – they were the parents of one son, William C. Howell who was born in Miller County, Missouri, August 13, 1851 and who was a very prominent man – he was elected Sheriff and Collector and a Member of the State Board of Agriculture for several years – he was familiarly called “honest Billy”; and Nancy Casey who married William Perkins.
John Clark Casey's second wife was Polly Bingaman. To this union was born twelve children, viz: Peter, Washington, Simeon, John, James, Zadok, Vicklif, Lewis. Also Mary, Permelia, and Caroline. Zadok, Simeon, John, and Wiclif were all soldiers in the Federal Army during the Rebellion.
John Clark Casey was a noted bear hunter and because of the numerous deer and bear to be found, he, with his family moved to Oregon County, Missouri about the year 1840. He settled at a place called “Falling Springs” on Hurricane Creek. This was a county of large pine trees and tall bluestem grass, adjacent to Jack's Fork, Current, Eleven Points Rivers, and “Irish Wilderness,” and the mountains contained numerous caves.
Here he kept “Open House” and many travelers and hunters stayed at his home days and weeks as his guests. He lived for a time at Birch tree, Missouri. He was a “Rover,” and it is said at the longest time he lived at one place was seven years at the “Falling Springs.” The Caseys were fond of pranks and jokes; they liked to be together, and when one of them married, they built another cabin in the same yard. And at one time seven families used to use meat out of the same smoke house. Many bear stories are handed down from the Caseys in Oregon County to this day. John Clark Casey and his sons voted for Abraham Lincoln, and soon afterwards moved back to Mt. Vernon, Illinois, where the sons, as above stated, enlisted in the Union Army under Col. Tom Casey, 110th Illinois Volunteers.
John Clark Casey's daughter Caroline married John Robert Burks a Confederate and they settled in Miller County, MO.
| Additional Information | ||
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| Date of Birth | 1st Jan 1700 | |
| Date of Death | 1st Jan 1786 | |
