My Genealogy Hound

RAWLINGS, JAMES, one of the earliest settlers within the bounds of Greene County, was born near Pilot Knob, Kentucky, in 1798. His father, James Rawlings, was a native of England, it is supposed, as he was a sailor on the high seas during the war of the Revolution and taken prisoner and sent to England. Emigrating to America he settled in North Carolina. He married Miss Lydia Greene, whether in England or North Carolina, nothing of a positive nature can be obtained. Moving to Kentucky, then to Tennessee, he eventually settled with his family in the timbered State of Indiana shortly after the battle of Tippecanoe. Remaining five years the family moved to Vincennes, Lawrence County, Illinois, where a settlement was made until 1826, when they moved to Greene County, and settled on land situated within a quarter of a mile of the present farm of James Rawlings, from whom this sketch is obtained. Here the old folks passed the remainder of their life. James Jr. was born in 1827, in Greene County. He married Miss Rebecca Taylor, daughter of John and Nancy Taylor. Building a hewed log cabin, rather better than the average, James Rawlings settled down to the rough life of a frontiersman. To procure the necessaries of life he frequently made trips to St. Louis. Wild game of nearly every description abounded; venison being the principal meat used in preparing the noonday meal. Over half a century has passed by since these days of stirring pioneer life. We now have a perfect network of railroads, steamboats ply the waters of the streams and other great improvements are manifest to the men who came when none save the daring adventurer or trapper were inhabitants of the west, and to whom we are indebted in a great measure for the comforts and luxuries of today. Mr. R. is one of our most substantial farmers, owning 280 acres of valuable land. His marriage was blessed with fourteen children, eight of whom are living: Lydia J., Isabel and Sarah, Melissa C., John T., Milly, Walter G., Pleasant A. and Julia Pleasant, who is a patron of this work.