George "Reeves" RIGHTNOWAR was born 1810 near Elizabethtown in Hardin County, Illinois. He was the son of George RIGHTNOWAR, born 1791 in Pennsylvania and Jerusha ROSE, born 1794 in Georgia the daughter of Henry ROSE, who were married on June 25, 1809 in Livingston, Kentucky. They came from Hardin County to Jefferson County in the late 1820's settling in the south end of Long Prairie somewhere near the RIGHTNOWAR Cemetery. George died November 18, 1845 and Jerusha on September 16, 1857, both at 64 years. is pioneer couple was buried at the RIGHTNOWAR Cemetery were their gravestones were recently discovered.

Elizabeth, born 1812, married King William BEAN, born 1812. Soon after George "Reeves" came to Jefferson County with his parents he married, in 1829, Nancy Sarah Overbay, in 1806 in Tennessee. They lived in McClellan Township in a log house about one half mile Northeast of the Rightnowar cemetery. After improving 80 acres in the S 1/2 SE 1/4 of Section for agricultural purposes and establishing his residence there, purchased it on December 8, 1855 from the Illinois Central Railroad Company. His log cabin was built on a small spot of the ground a short distance west of the Big Muddy Creek. When it overflowed its banks the back waters would sometimes surround the cabin but not reach it. Since there was no well at the cabin, water was carried or hauled about a quarter mile from the creek.

The known children of George "Reeves" and Sarah were:

1. Elizabeth M. J.. born 1832
2. Martha Jerusha E., born 1835, married in 1859 to James P. HIRONS and in 1886 was living in Boone County, Arkansas
3. John HARVE, born April 15, 1840, married in 1868 to Sarah E. GILES, born 1842, and lived east of RIGHTNOWAR Cemetery on a spot known as "The John Harve Hill". He died in 1906 with pneumonia.
4. George H., born 1838, married in 1862 Hannah CASEY HICKS, and had these known daughters:
   • Sallie, married Joshua SMITH
   • Martha Alice, married Jackson RUNNELS
   • Marinda Belle, married Joseph LOMAN
   • Ellen married Oliver DENNIS.
5. George "Reeves" and Sarah's fifth child was Adam W. "Little Ad", born November 27, 1844, married first in 1876 Nancy GILES born 1857 and had Sarah Mary, died in infancy; and Amanda Emily. He married second in 1879 Mary Susan SIMPSON, born 1856, and had Martha Ellen and Nellie Ann


6. Their sixth child was Shadrick Jeff, born about 1853, married in 1878 Maria SMITH, born 1857, the daughter of Absalom Smith. Born to them in Jefferson County were
   
   • Reason
   • Betty
   Near the turn of the century Jeff's family moved to Arkansas.

Just before his death George "Reeves" deeded his 80 acres other land he had acquired to his children, giving Martha and her husband, James P. HIRONS, the home place. Due to his health he was bedfast and in intense pain for sometime before his death. Because he required help to turn in bed, his granddaughters, Amanda and Martha told many times of their assisting him while they were young girls still at home. Sarah, his wife, died sometime in the 1860's. He died a widower about 1887. Although no markers can be found they are thought to be buried in the RIGHTNOWAR Cemetery.

For several years after his death his "old powder horn" used for muzzle loading guns and muskets, with his name Reeves and his birthdate which dated back to the early 1800's carved on it, was in the possession of his son "Little Ad's" family and hung around until it crumbled, split and finally deteriorated with age.

Source: Facts and Folks, Jefferson Co, Il - 1978

Submitted by: Misty Flannigan
Dec 27, 1997