1 1 Casteel, Jacob Israel (1789- 1860) Parents and birth Jacob Israel Casteel's2 parents were Francis Casteel (1755-1833) and, presumably, Mary Peck (1758-after 1831.)3 According to Lois Allen, land records show that Francis moved in 1792 into Knox Co., Tennessee. The Knox Co. Tennessee State had only existed since 1786 and Knox County was created in the same year Francis took up residence in the area. He probably married prior to that time. To the union of Francis and Mary were born seven children, possibly more.4 Jacob was the fourth. The children, their known birth dates and places, and death dates and places are as follow: Abraham Casteel b. 1780-90, , Knox, TN m. 20 Feb 1816 Polly Nowland/Nowlin Isaac Casteel b. 1793 , , Knox, TN d. abt. Jan 1833 Rebecca Casteel b. 1795 , , Knox, TN d. before Apr 1844, , Pike, ILL Jacob Israel Casteel b. abt 17975, , Knox, TN d. May 1860, San Bernardino, CA Elijah Casteel b. 1799 , , Knox, TN d. after 1850 Mary Casteel b. abt 1801 , , Knox, TN d. 1844 Charity Casteel b. 1805 , , Knox, TN d. before 14 Mar 1843 Daniel Casteel 6 b. abt 1791, , Knox, TN d. abt 1831, 1834, Bond, ILL 1 See also Family Tree Document sketches for Margaret J. Casteel (Jacob’s daughter), and William D. Kartchner (Jacob’s son-in-law). Perhaps the best study of the Casteel family was prepared by Lois Allen in 1976. Her book, The Casteel Family, can be copies at the LDS Family History building in Salt Lake City. The call number is 929.273/C275a. Another booklet, History of the Casteel Family, by Phyllis Casteel Louden and updated by Mary Jean Johnson Lehman, focuses on another bronch of the Francis Casteel family, but includes much information about earlier Casteels. It, too, is available for copying at the LDS Family History building. Its call number is 929.273/C275L 2 The surname has also been written as Edmond du Chastel de Blangerval. Apparently the earliest Casteels of whom we have record came from Flanders, which included present-day Belgium and parts of France and the Netherlands. Some have speculated that Casteel comes from the Spanish “Castillo” or “Castile”, but apparently the origin of the name is more French than Spanish. 3 Lois Allen argues that while Mary appears as the wife on Francis Casteel’s Will, she may be a second wife. She affirms that no hard evidence has come forth showing Mary to be the mother of the seven Casteel children. Allen writes: “It should be noted here that Francis Casteel could have very possibly married more than one time, and so it would be unjust to say Mary is the mother of these children without finding further proof, such as a marriage certificate or Bible record, or court records.” (p. 1.) 4 Allen is of the opinion that Francis had more children. She bases her assumption on a phrase from Francis’ Will. After naming seven children: Abraham, Jacob, Elijah, Isaac, Rebecka, Mary, Charity, he adds, “the balance of my children I have portioned them of heretofore.” (Allen, p. 7) 5 This date was determined by calculating back from Jacob’s death date. Grundvig reports that” the San Bernardino County California 1860 Mortality schedule states Jacob’s age was sixty-three.” 6 Daniel Casteel is not listed on Francis Casteel’s Will. However, Daniel’s descendants claim to be part of Francis’ progeny. 2 As is evident from the above, all were born in Knox County, Tennessee. Some family group sheets specifically identify the town as Timbercrest, which is now a suburb on the west side of Knoxville, about 5 miles from the University of Tennessee. Grundvig and Allen state that Francis Casteel’s will was filed in the Knoxville courthouse of Knox County, TN, and it bears out the fact that Jacob is the son of Francis Casteel. “In October of 1833 and again in February of 1834 the court records show Jacob I. and his brother Elijah from Pike County, IL, were selling their father’s land in the county of Knox, Tennessee, which land was conveyed to them and their sisters from their father by his will of 1833. Allen writes: “No doubt Jacob’s brothers and he traveled back and forth from Illinois to Tennessee by the easily accessible waterways to visit their homeland and family. It seems apparent that Jacob and his brother took their three sisters back to Pike County when they returned home after selling the Tennessee property for there are no further court dealings in Knox County, Tennessee of this family after 1841. Two of Jacob’s sisters’, Mary and Charity, marriage records are in Pike County, Illinois. The third sister, Rebecca, is on the 2840 census of Pike County, where also he5r will was proved on 4 April 1844.” (Grundvig, p. 1) Marriage In about 1818 Jacob married Sarah Jane Nowlin7 in Cooper County, Missouri. What prompted Jacob to move to Missouri is unknown. Allen does mention that a Shadrach Casteel was a Methodist minister there in 1824-27. (Allen p. 3) However, Jacob's stay in Cooper County was short. By the time his first child, Mary Ann Casteel, was born 25 Apr 1819, he was living in Washington County, Illinois. The birth dates and places of Jacob's six known children are as follow: Mary Ann Casteel b. 25 Apr 1819, Washington Co. ILL Stephen Francis Casteel b. 1820 or 1821, Pike Co, ILL Emeline Catherine Casteel b. 1823, Pike Co. ILL Margaret Jane Casteel b. 1 Sep 1825, Cooper Co. MO Sarah Casteel b. 1828 or 1829, ILL Joshua Oglesby Casteel b. 1830, Pike Co. ILL James Nowlin Casteel b. 12 Jan 1833 Springfield, ILL The above dates are possible and perhaps probable. However, several Family Group Sheets differ considerably as to birth dates and even birth places. One FGS has Stephen Francis (or Frank Lewis, or "Frank") born in "Canada." Another lists Sarah's birthplace at Essex, Vermont. 7No marriage record has been found for Jacob and Sarah. The 1818 marriage date is an estimate since their first child was born early in 1819. Also, Grundvig adds that the Monroe County, Illinois census of 1818 shows Jacob I Casteel with one female in his home. (Grundvig, p. 2) Find a Grave gives Sarah's name as Sarah Knowlin Casteel. It’s interesting that Jacob’s oldest brother, Abraham, also married a Nowlin. According to the record he married Polly Nowland/Nowlin 20 Feb 1816 at Madison Co., IL. 3 Given the geographic proximity of several of the births, it would seem that the children were born either in Missouri or in Illinois. Illinois map showing the counties where Jacob and wife lived from 1819-1833 and later. Washington Co. Pike Co. Hancock Co. (Nauvoo) Sangamon Co (Springfield) 1830-1848 1830 Census Jacob I. Castell appears on the 1830 census of Pike County, Illinois. The specific line item for Jacob reads: Male Under 5: 1 5-10: 1 30-40: 1 Females Under 5: 1 5-10: 1 20-30: 1 As additional corroboration as to the whereabouts of the Casteels 1830-40, Lois Allen has found evidence that they were living in Pike County, IL, in 1834. 1838: Daughter’s marriage, Jacob’s land purchase In 1838 the oldest Casteel daughter, Mary Ann, married Alexie or Alexander St. Mary (Marie) in Pike Co.8 Also, the following year, the fourth child, Margaret Jane, joined the Mormon Church, at age fourteen. She, too, was living in Pike Co. at the time. It is very likely that others in the 8 Grundvig states that the 1840 census shows Jacob and Sarah living in Hancock County, IL with two of their daughters and two sons. (p. 2) (Grundvig’s sketch can be found on new.familysearch, Family Tree: Jacob I. Casteel). 4 Casteel family were baptized that same year and in the same location.9 Land purchase documents of 1838 and 1840 also document that the Casteels were living in the vicinity of Quincy, Illinois during those years. The above land documents state that Jacob Israel Casteel purchases 40 acres of land on 6 Aug 1838 and another 40 acres on 3 Nov 1840 in Pike County “at Quincy, Illinois.” 1840-1844 In addition to the 1840 land purchase, the census of that year (Hancock County), gives the following information: Males 5-10: 2 40-50: 1 Females 10-15: 1 15-20: 1 30-40: 1 The next mention we have of the Casteels is in 1844. William D. Kartchner, who was living in Nauvoo at the time, wrote 9 Grundvig adds: “…we know that they were members by 1841 because Sarah Nowlin Casteel did baptisms for her parents in Nauvoo then according to Nauvoo baptism for the dead records.” (Grundvig, p. 2) 5 During the winter [1843-44] I became acquainted with Brother Jacob I. Casteel's family, and became familiar with Margaret Jane Casteel, and was married to her by Elder James B. Hamilton, on the 17th of March 1844.10 I moved my shop and lodgings to my father- in-law's. The mob was threatening the settlers, and I stood guard the greater part of the winter, and during a very wet spring my father-in-law was called on a mission in company with Alfred D. Young to go to Tennessee.11 About that time my brother John came to see me from [Washington Co.] Illinois and visited Nauvoo. I was taken with rheumatism, caused by exposure, standing guard at night with a continued rain for six weeks.