DANIEL TRAVIS (c. 1760 - 1826)

Daniel Travis, Sr. was my  5th great grandfather and the oldest ancestor in this line I have been able to identify. Most of what is known about him is related to his time as a preacher and leader in the Christian Church in the early 1800s. At least, that is according to the few historical books and personal accounts that address this period.  

Daniel Sr. was probably born around 1765, possibly in New York or North Carolina.   He is recorded on the 1810 Tennessee Tax List as owning acreage in that state. He is also included on the Rutherford, Nashville, 1810 U. S. Census. William McCorkle was listed as a nearby neighbor. In 1812, Daniel Sr. is named as a witness on an Indenture of Alexander Orr to Daniel Jr. for 101 acres on the north side of the East Fork of the Stones River in Rutherford County.

Daniel Sr. moved his family north to Illinois, then later to Indiana, reportedly to avoid the practice of slavery.  This was consistent with his religious beliefs.  There is no record of him ever holding slaves, either on tax or census lists. He was part of a group that called themselves Christians. They were not a part of the original Campbell-Stone New Reformation movement but in time both groups came to recognize their similarities. They believed in baptism for the remission of sins and followed the teachings of the New Testament. 

We know that he was in Tennesee in 1804 because there is a record of him as Surety for his son, Daniel's, marriage to Rhody Gibson. Daniel Sr. may have remained in Rutherford County as late as January 1818 because he is named as Executor in the will of William McCorkle, probated at that date. McCorkle must have believed Travis would have been available to handle such duties when he wrote his will in late 1817 as McCorkle had a substantial estate. One of McCorkle's sons later relocated with Daniel Jr. to Woodford County, IL. 

For more than twenty years, "Elder Travis" traveled in Cannon, Rutherford and Warren counties in Tennessee and in Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio and Illinois, preaching and mentoring other men called to preach. There are several records of sermons he gave and marriages he performed.  There  is listed a Daniel Travis as performing at least two marriages in 1817 and 1818 in Rutherford County as "E.C.C."   Elder Christian Church? This could be Sr. or Jr. Also, a Daniel Travis solemnized the marriage of Solomon Travis and Jane Boyle October 15, 1818. 

On September 15, 1817, Daniel Sr. served on the first Grand Jury of the First Circuit Court of Crawford County, IL  in the town of Palestine, the county seat. This community grew out of twenty or so families who had taken shelter at the nearby Fort LaMott during the 1812 conflicts with the Delawares and French.  It is the oldest white settlement in Illinois.  At this time, Crawford County encompassed almost the entire east half of Illinois.  It was this frontier town that Daniel Sr. chose as his new home.

The Circuit Court met in the home of Edward N. Cullom, the Grand Jury foreman. Later, Cullom donated much of the land for the development of the town. This first session dealt with assault and battery, bringing home a hog without ears, and even murder.

In 1820, the Crawford County Tax Rolls list him as engaged in Agriculture.

Daniel Sr. was listed in 1826 as an agent in Vincennes, Indiana for The Christian Baptist Monthly. This was a publication supporting the Restoration movement.  He fell ill in July 1826 while traveling near Gallatin, TN on a preaching tour and died before he could return home.  He is buried in Gallatin but his gravestone is mistakenly inscribed with his date of death as August 1827. There are several newspaper obituaries in 1826 recording his death but, unfortunately, few details of his personal life except that he had a wife and six children.

From Christian Messenger - Volume 1 No. 1,
November 25, 1826, Pages 22,23
                                                       

From Christian Messenger - Volume 1 No. 1,
November 25, 1826, Pages 24