A couple of days ago, I shared the descendants of Michael Stufflebeam (1763-c1830) through grandson, Elza Stufflebeam, son of John E. Stufflebeam (c1795-1844).

John was the father of ten children, six by first wife Eleanor Roland, and four more born to second wife Harriet Ostrander.

Today’s family sketch covers the family of John’s daughter Mary Ann Stufflebeam, born 4 September 1821, probably in Lawrence County, Illinois.

Mary Ann was only about 8 years old when her father died c1830, but the family had already moved from Lawrence County, Illinois just over the state line and a bit north into Warren County, Indiana, where a land patent was registered in her mother Abigail’s name shortly after Michael died.

It was in Warren County, Indiana that Mary Ann grew up and married Henry Rakestraw on 3 June 1838.

The Rakestraws began married life in Warren County, but in 1841 or 1842 with two toddlers in tow, they made the decision to move back to Illinois, this time settling in Mason County, about 160 miles due west from Warren County.

Henry and Mary Ann had a very large family of twelve children, including a set of surviving triplets! However, only five of those dozen children married and had children of their own.

Children: (Rakestraw)

1. John E., born 18 May 1839, Warren County, Indiana; died 6 January 1863, Louisville, Jefferson, Kentucky during the Civil War. He enlisted as a private on 18 July 1862 in Co. K, 85th Illinois Infantry. Less than six months later he had died of consumption (TB). He was unmarried and has no descendants.
2. Rebecca Jane, born c1840, Warren County, Indiana; died c1850, Mason County, Illinois; no descendants
3. Maria L. born November 1842, Mason County, Illinois; died 3 August 1843, Mason County, Illinois; no descendants
4. Allen S., born 2 November 1844, Mason County, Illinois; died 4 June 1907, Illinois; married Rebecca Jane Simms, 20 January 1867, Mason County, Illinois. They were the parents of six children, but only two – Luetta and Chesley – married and had families.
5. Mary E., born c1846, Mason County, Illinois; died before 5 August 1886, Mason county, Illinois; married Martin Van Buren Morris, 31 March 1864, Mason County, Illinois. They were the parents of three children.
6. Henry Noble, born 17 August 1849, Mason County, Illinois; died 11 March 1925, Mason County, Illinois; unmarried and has no descendants
7. Joseph Benjamin, born 15 August 1852, Mason County, Illinois; died 2 March 1874, Mason County, Illinois; unmarried and has no descendants
8. Hiram, born 5 July 1854, Mason County, Illinois; died 19 February 1919, Mason County, Illinois; married Elizabeth Ungra, 13 April 1879, Mason county, Illinois. they were the parents of one son, Daniel Earl Rakestraw ((1882-1910) who married but had no children. Therefore, Hiram has no descendants
9. Freeman, born 5 July 1854, Mason County, Illinois; died 16 November 1932, Mason County, Illinois; married Nellie May Davis, 18 October 1903, Fulton County Illinois. They had eight children, five of whom married and had children.
10. Harriet Delith, born 5 July 1854, Mason County, Illinois; died 15 December 1920, Pekin, Tazewell, Illinois; married John Henry Hocker, 22 December 1881, Mason County, Illinois. They were the parents of three children, two of whom married and had children.
11. Douglas, born 1855, Mason County, Illinois; died 1855, Mason County, Illinois; no descendants
12. Millard Fillmore, born c1857, Mason County, Illinois; died 1906, probably Mason county, Illinois, where he lived and is buried; married Mary Elizabeth Marshall, 29 May 1878, Mason County, Illinois. They were the parents of fourteen children, eight of whom married and had children.

Henry Rakestraw died on 25 February 1878, Mason County, Illinois. Mary Ann survived him by many years, passing away on 13 September 1907 also in Mason County.

As can be seen with the large number of great grandchildren – 20 who married and also had children – this post would get extremely long.

However, if you are descended from anyone in this family, please leave a comment. I’d be happy to share a lot more research with you!