My Genealogy Hound

HURD, TIMOTHY, Sec. 27, P.O. Rockbridge, was born in Bledsoe County, Middle Tennessee, Dec. 25, 1831. There were five children in his father’s family, of whom he was the second in order. His father’s name was Vernon Hurd; his mother’s was Rebecca Maguire. When Timothy was quite young he moved with his parents to Cooper County, Mo. Timothy left the parental roof at the age of thirteen; his mother died and his father broke up housekeeping, and Tim had to “root” for himself. Crossed the plains during his fourteenth year; drifted about a good deal; he never attended school a day in his life. At the age of twenty-two he was married to Martha Vandaveer, who is a native of Kentucky, and was born Jan. 5, 1832. After marriage, they made a trip to Texas in a wagon, making it in six weeks and three days; remained there two years, got dissatisfied, and returned to Cooper County, Mo. Remained there until the breaking out of the war, when he loaded up his family, in April, and came to Illinois, reaching Taylor’s Creek during harvest. He had used up all his provisions, and his money about gone, he could go no farther. He pitched his tent, or camped out, on the ground now owned by Norton Saunders, and worked out at whatever he could get to do. About a week before Christmas he got his family in a house. He worked until he got enough to buy him a team, and he “cropped” for three years, one year for Mr. Ballard and two for Mr. Thorpe. In the Spring of 1864 he enlisted in the 133rd I.V., and went out in the 100 day service; was gone nearly six months before he returned. The next year, went to Fayette, where he rented the land now owned by Thos. Brooks; stayed there two years. Then bought 40 acres of land of Mr. Thorpe; paid for the greater part of it by days’ work; he has since added to it another 40 acres. He has six children: Nancy L., born Dec. 14, 1854; Zachariah, born Oct. 25, 1856; Mary Jane, born Aug. 14 1858; William A., born April 11, 1860; Nettie O., born April 3, 1863; Hardin Orange, born March 31, 1866.