David married Sarah 17 Apr 1836 and was recorded at the Greene County Courthouse in Greeneville, Greene, Tennessee.
David Rollins and Sarah Ann Jackson marriage license - 17 Apr 1836
David Rollins and Sarah Ann Jackson marriage record – 17 Apr 1836
David and Sarah lived together for 3 months after marriage, then for two years she had left him. Before Sarah left, he had strong suspicion that Sarah was guilty of adultery, but no proof. David claimed in a court divorce document that she is guilty of adultery with two men and has started to live with one. He asked to dissolve the marriage bond with Sarah, valued at $500. Sarah never appeared before the court for charges by David, so David was awarded a divorce 21 Feb 1840.
David Rollins and Sarah Ann Rollins divorce record – 21 Feb 1840
After the divorce, David remained unmarried for many years. At the age of 33 he married Nancy Ricker 10 Jun 1849.
David Rollins and Nancy Ricker $1250 marriage bond - 9 Jun 1949
David Rollins and Nancy Ricker marriage license - 9 Jun 1949
David Rollins and Nancy Ricker marriage license authorization - 9 Jun 1949
David Rollins and Nancy Ricker marriage record – 10 Jun 1849
The 1850 federal census shows David, age 34, working as farmer. Describes Nancy, age 20, not able to read or write. Lists Eliza, age 5 months, female.
1850
federal census for 9th Division - East District, Greene, Tennessee (David
Rollins household)
During 1854, David and Nancy moved with children, Eliza and John and Katherine from Greeneville, Greene, Tennessee to Fulton County Illinois. During 1855 they moved to Washington, Luca, Iowa. By 1860, they were living in Hermon area of Chestnut, Knox, Illinois.
The 1856 Iowa census shows David, age 41, married, living in Iowa for one year, born in Tennessee, working as farmer. Describes Nancy, Age 26, married, born in Tennessee. Lists children, Eliza and John and Catherine and Margaret, ages 6 and 5 and 4 and 2, Eliza and John and Catherine born in Tennessee, Margaret born in Illinois.
1856 Iowa state census for Washington, Luca, Iowa (David Rollins household)
1860 federal census for Hermon area of Chestnut, Knox, Illinois (David Rollins household)
Civil War Years (1862-1865)
David enlisted in the Union Army 14 Feb 1862 in Troy, Madison, Illinois, 12th Regiment, Company D, Cavalry as a Private for a 3-year commitment. His enlistment card shows age 46, height 5'9", healthy, hair brown, eyes black, occupation farmer. David was mustered in 24 Feb 1862, Springfield, Sangamon, Illinois. He left his wife, Nancy to support herself and continue to raise their six children on the farm.
While fighting at Harpers Ferry, Virginia, he was taken prisoner 15 Sep 1862 and later released. Late Oct 1862, David was sent to Camp Douglas (Chicago, Illinois) to serve. This was a very large Union Army prisoner-of-war camp. During May 1863 he became sick while serving at the camp and was sent to Emory General Hospital in Washington, DC to recover.
While at the hospital he was diagnosed with Lumbago (lower back pain). During Oct 1863 David was transferred to Company 76, 2nd Battalion, Veteran Reserve Corps at Convalescent Camp, Virgina. The Veteran Reserve Corps allowed disabled and infirm soldiers to perform light duty. The camp was just outside Alexandria, Virgina.
David’s pension record shows Apr 1864 he contracted Neuralgia impacting sight in right eye, caused by exposure at Emery Hospital in Washington, DC. It describes how he got liver and kidney disease at Potomac in Virginia. May 1864 he was transferred to Invalid Corps (Disabled Solders Unit) at unknown location. Dec 1864 David was transferred to Company E, 9th Regiment, Veteran Reserve Corps at Memphis, Tennessee, where he was mustered out 7 Mar 1865.
Mar 1865 David traveled from Memphis, Tennessee back home to Hermon, Illinois. David and Nancy next child, George was born 3 Oct 1965, so it did not take David long to return home.
David applied for a Military Pension with no success as he always submitted it with errors in the application. He died before Military Pension application was approved.
Pottawatomie County Kansas Years (1866-1885)
David traveled to Kansas to establish a homestead claim for his family during 1866 based on family stories. The National Archives Homestead record show David Rollins filed the homestead papers 6 Nov 1868. The property was 80 acres, located 5 miles southeast of Westmoreland, Pottawatomie, Kansas and 13 miles north of Wamego, Pottawatomie, Kansas in the community of Center, now called Union at the East Half of Northwest Quarter of Section 18, Township 8S, Range 10W (1 mile south of the intersection of West Union Road and Clear Creek Road, Union, Pottawatomie, Kansas on the east side of Clear Creek Road). The homestead was at the top of a ridge with an altitude of 1,363 feet. Today the homestead land is littered with small limestone rocks and it would be difficult to farm.
The Homestead record show David settled onto the land 1 May 1869. He worked to improve the land by building a lumber house 14x13 with a kitchen. Additional 10x8 addition with lumber and wood shingles roof. The home had wood floors, 3 doors, and 4 windows. It was described as a comfortable home. He cultivated 33 acres, 23 acres fenced. David built a hay stable, barn, and orchard. The claim was final 25 Sep 1874 and approved 4 Feb 1875. The homestead patent was issued 20 Feb 1875.
David and Nancy moved with their seven children, John (1851), Katherine (1852), Margaret (1854), Cynthia (1856), Samuel (1860), George (1865), William (1869) to Kansas during May 1869. Their oldest daughter, Eliza married Elias Goodenough 31 Dec 1868 in Fulton County Illinois and soon followed them to Kansas. When the homestead patent was issued in 1875, only two children were living at homestead, George and William.
David Rollins Homestead claim (left of road)
Clear Creek Road (looking south), Union, Kansas – 2016
David Rollins Homestead claim - Union, Kansas - 2016
The 1870 federal census shows David, age 44, farmer, real estate value $300, personal estate value $450, born in Tennessee. Describes Nancy, age 39, keeping house, born in Tennessee. Lists children, John and Cynthia and George and William, ages 19 and 13 and 4 and two, John born in Tennessee and Cynthia born in Iowa and George born in Illinois and William born in Illinois.
1870 federal census for Louisville, Potawatomi, Kansas (David Rollins household)
The 1870 federal non-population census shows David with 80 acres, farm value $300, farm equipment value $40, 1 horse, 1 mule, 3 milking cows, 2 other cattle, 3 swine, value of all livestock $300, nothing reported for farming crops.
1870 federal non-population census for Louisville, Potawatomi, Kansas (David Rollins household)
The 1875 Kansas state census shows David, age 59, farmer, real estate value $400, personal estate value $200, born in Tennessee, moved to Kansas from Illinois. Describes Nancy, age 44, keeping house, born in Tennessee. Lists children, George and William, ages 9 and 7, born in Illinois.
1875 Kansas state census for Center, Potawatomi, Kansas (David Rollins household)
David exchanged his homestead with a property owned by his son-in-law Elias Goodenough, husband of Eliza Rollins. Both properties were 80 acres and located near each other.
David sold his homestead located at the East Half of Northwest Quarter of Section 8, Township 8, Range 10 for $800 to Elias Goodenough on 27 Apr 1876. Elias Goodenough sold his property located at the Northeast Quarter of Northwest Quarter (6730 Hartwich Road) and Northwest Quarter of Northeast Quarter (6770 Hartwich Road), Section 18, Township 8S, Range 10W for $800 to David Rollins on 27 Apr 1876.
Elias Goodenough - David Rollins farm - Union, Kansas - 2016
The 1880 federal census shows David, age 65, married, working as farmer. Describes Nancy, age 50, wife, keeping house. Lists children, George and William, ages 14 and 13, both attending school, george works at home.
1880 federal census for Union, Potawatomi, Kansas (David Rollins household)
The
1880 federal non-population census shows David with 38 acres tilled pasture,
farm value $1000, farm machinery value $50, livestock value $350, estimated
value of farm production $175, 3 horses, 8 milking cows, 5 calves, 7 cattle
sold, 1 cattle died, 350 pounds butter made, 14 swine, 8 poultry, 50 eggs
produced.
The 1885 Kansas state census shows David, age 70, married, working as farmer. Describes Nancy, age 55, married. Lists children, George and William, ages 19 and 17.
5 Mar 1885 David sold his farm to Nancy for $1. Soon afer David and Nancy sold their farm to Charles Wallace on 28 Sep 1886 for $800. The property deed states David and Nancy as husband and wife. This is the last document found to include Nancy Ricker Rollins.
David pension record show him living in Nebo now called Maysville, Benton, Arkansas. It is unclear what happened to Nancy at this point. David’s pension describe him moving from Arkansas to Moran, Marmaton, Kansas Feb 1890 to live near or possible with Margaret, his daughter, and Antonia Gineste.
David died 17 Feb 1891 in Moran, Marmaton, Kansas and is buried 19 Feb 1891 at the Fairview Cemetery, Mildred, Allen, Kansas, USA.
David Rollins gravestone at Fairview Cemetery (Mildred, Kansas)
