Holbrook line: Libbeus Stanard 1785-1858

 What's not to like about Libbeus Stanard, Jr.?  He was the son of a Revolutionary War vet who served with Ethan Allen's Green Mountain Boys and was on the expedition to Quebec, he himself served in the War of 1812, and he moved to Illinois not long after the Black Hawk War there. 

Libbeus was the son of Libbeus and Eunice Pomeroy Stannard, and was born in Rupert, Vermont on January 23, 1785. (For an explanation of the difference in the spelling of their last names, I've noted in another blog post that it was due to challenges a sign-maker faced in trying to fit "Stannard" on a store sign.  True or not, that's the family story.)  Libbeus was one of at least five children born to the couple, and the oldest known son.  I think it's possible that there were other children born to the couple, because there are two people in the 1800 census that are not accounted for by the records I have, but these may have been relatives-aunts, uncles or cousins, rather than siblings of Libbeus.  

Although the 1810 census is not clear, or perhaps incorrect, it appears that both the father and the son, and perhaps a Roswell Stannard (identified only by first initial, and someone I haven't identified; could he be one of the mysterious two noted in the 1800 census?) were in Smithfield, Madison County, New York by the time of the 1810 census.  Libbeus had married Luceba (also seen as Euzebia) Fay, daughter of David and Marcy or Mercy Perrrin Fay, on March 21, 1810.  I'm still trying to confirm the location of the wedding but it was most likely in Madison County, where her parents also lived.

Libbeus and Luceba lived in Madison County, New York, for 30 years.  The most eventful part of their life there was probably his service in the New York Militia during the War of 1812.  He served in the 129 Regiment of the New York Militia, under the command of Colonel Elisha Farnham, entering and leaving as a private.  This regiment served along the shores of Lake Ontario, the St Lawrence River, and the Niagara Frontier.  They were fighting not only the British, but also native tribes that had joined the British.  There were numerous skirmishes and some battles, but I can't say for sure which ones Libbeus would have participated in.

The other thing that Libbeus and Luceba did was have children, 12 of them.  The 1840 census shows them at Eaton, still in Madison County, New York, with a total of 10 persons in the houshold.  The four oldest seem to have moved to their own households by then.  One would think that Libbeus and Luceba would have settled down to finish raising their children and to watch grandchildren grow up around them.  But wait, there's more!

Shortly after the census was taken, Libbeus and Luceba and most of their family moved from Madison County to Clarion Township, Bureau County, Illinois.  Their most likely mode of travel would have been by ship over the Great Lakes, perhaps arriving in Chicago, but it's possible that they traveled on land.  Either way, the trip would have taken weeks or months, and again there are stories we don't know.

Sadly, Luceba died on January 3, 1842, a member (as was Libbeus) of the Lamoille Baptist Church..  I don't know the cause of death but she must have been weary, after having twelve children and moving half way across the country with most of them.  Libbeus may have been weary, too, and he still had small children to raise (Joseph would have been about 7 years old.)  He married Sarah D Bellows that same year.  

Libbeus farmed, and we are fortunate to have him listed on the 1850 farm schedule, which gives us a good picture of his farm.   He owned 165 acres of land, 100 acres of which was improved (cleared and possibly drained), with a cash value of $3700.  His implements and machinery were valued at $150, and he had three horses, 5 milk cos, 19 other cattle, and 24 swine, valued all together at $500.  When the census was taken, which would have been before the fall harvest, he had 300 bushels of wheat on hand, 300 bushels of Indian corn, and 600 bushels of corn.  

 He was appointed postmaster of Perkins Grove in 1851 and was still postmaster there in 1856, so perhaps he had moved to town by then.   I've often wondered if he ever saw Abraham Lincoln, in his early years as a country lawyer. Would he have a story to tell about that, if it happened? 

Libbeus died October 10, 1858 and is apparently buried with his two wives (picture shows three headstones close together but not the words so this is just a guess on my past).     

Libbeus lived an interesting life.  He would have known stories of his father's life fighting the Revolutionary War, and he served himself in the War of 1812.  We can wonder about the moves he made, and we can wonder how he felt about the Louisiana Purchase, and the Mexican-American War of 1846-1848, and the whole issue of slavery. As I said, he lived in interesting times.

The line of descent is

Libbeus Stanard-Luceba Fay

Hiram Stanard-Susan Eddy

Louis E Stanard-Mary Alice Hetrick

Etta Stanard-Loren Holbrook

Gladys Holbrook-Richard Allen

Their descendants