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Here is a little on Joseph Dunlap and family:

Joseph was the patriarch of the family who settled in what is now Rock Island County , Illinois . He was a cabinet maker.

He came with his son-in-law, Daniel Edgington, Dan's younger brother, John and John's new bride, Susan to this area in May 1834, from Stuebenville, Jefferson County , Ohio . Along the way they met James Robinson in Warren County, Illinois. He accompanied them the rest of the way. They came to a point a little north of Bloomington (now Muscatine ) Iowa . They stayed on the east side of the Big River ( Mississippi River ) They went past a small settlement of Druary's Landing and another small settlement of Rockport (now called Andalusia ). There was just one house at Rockport and another being built at the time of their arrival. They settled a few miles south of Rockport It was close to the woods so would have ample wood for their houses and have wood for their fireplaces. It was also near water. After building four cabins in sort of a triangle 2 1/4 miles wide at it's base and planting a crop Joseph and Daniel returned to Ohio to bring their families to their new home. James returned to southern Illinois for his family. This left John and his pregnant 17 year old bride to care for things until they could return the next spring.

The family had to leave most of their possessions behind as they had to float down the Ohio River then pole up the Mississippi . But Joseph was a good carpenter and there was plenty of wood available. They did, however, bring the clock Joseph had built of cherry and works from Germany that they just couldn't part with. When they got to Illinois they discovered that the clock was too tall for the house so they dug a pit for the clock to set in. Everyone loved that clock and settlers came from all around to set their watches. Even the Indians were fascinated by it and came to stare at it.

Those travelling to Illinois in the spring of 1835 consisted of Joseph, his wife, Sophia, her mother, Sophia Eberhart, their six children, Adolphus, twins Christiana and Anna, Charles, Margaret, Rebecca, their married daughter, Mary, her husband, Daniel Edgington and their baby, Sophia. Several of Sophia Eberhart's other children also joined them in Illinois .

Joseph and Daniel organized the first church in the area. In 1837 Joseph built a large barn and they held their Presbyterian meetings there in the summer but continued to use Joseph's double cabin for services in the winter until the Rev. John Montgomery formally organized the Presbyterian church five years later. It was another five years before a church building was built on land owned by Daniel. The Edgington Presbyterian Church is still in existence today.

Joseph and Sophia often put up new families until they could build their own cabins. When the Methodist Church was organized they also met in the Dunlap barn and cabin. Neither group met more than once a month.

A story is told in the family that one day after they had moved to the frontier Joseph and his family were gone for the day when some curious indians came into the house. Sophia (Speelman) Eberhart picked up the broom and chased them away.

Submitted By:

Andrew Jones

Illinois Ancestors