MRS. MARIA HARLAN, Barnhill, was born September 18. 1828. on the farm where she now resides, the land having been pre-empted by her father, Daniel Kenshalo, in 1816. He was born June 2, 1780, in Harrison County, Va. He died, in 1872, in Mill Shoals, White Co.. Ill. In early life, he was educated as a lawyer, but never followed his profession. While living in Kentucky, he shipped goods and also negroes to New Orleans, to which place he made thirteen trips by flat-boat, and walking back, carrying at one time $17,000, tied up in a handerchief, back to his employers. In 1819, he came to Wayne County, Ill., where he pre-empted and deeded the land on which our subject now resides.
Daniel Kenshalo was a soldier in the war of 1812, participating in the battle of the Thames, where Tecumseh fell, securing the great chief's tomahawk, which he brought home as a trophy. His last days were spent in quiet country life.
Our subject's grandfather, Peter Kenshalo, was a native of Ireland, and came here during the Revolutionary war. His wife was Margaret Walls, a native of Germany.
The mother of our subject was Anne Van Shoik, born 1784, in Amsterdam, Holland; she died in 1842, in this county. She was the mother of twelve children, of whom our subject is probably the only one now living. Her father, David Van Shoik, also a native of Holland, was a wagon-maker by occupation. Her mother was Pyrthina Van Shoik.
Mrs. Harlan's brother, Peter Kenshalo, was a First Lieutenant in the Black Hawk war: she afterward drew his pension.
She was married twice; her first husband, Rufus Sexton, died in White County, Ill.
Her second husband, Nathaniel Harlan, was a native of Kentucky; be died February 6, 1872.
Mrs. Harlan is the mother of ten children, of whom six are now living—
Mrs. Harlan has managed her farm of 210 acres, with marked success since the death of her husband, and may be considered as one of the best farmers in Wayne County. She made a fine farm out of a waste place, and at present has mortgages on other farms and money at interest. Religiously, she is connected with the Methodist Episcopal Church.
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