Samuel Guthrie c1830SCT – 1889IL & Catherine Stevenson
of Scotland, New Jersey, and Illinois

CONTENTS:
Origin Theories
The Family of Samuel Guthrie & Catherine Stevenson
Historical Highlights
The Guthrie DNA Project

ORIGIN THEORIES for GFG2A BRANCH M

Samuel Guthrie was born in Scotland according to the records, but documentation to prove when, where, and to whom remains unidentified.

It appears that Samuel immigrated to New Jersey where he married and raised his young family. Sometime between 1860 and 1865, he moved them to Green, Mercer, Illinois.

Mercer County, Illinois is home to several Guthrie families, some of which are close neighbors of Samuel Guthrie’s family. None of them have a New Jersey connection. Two appear to have gone from Scotland to Canada to Illnois, while a third has connections in Iowa before settling in Mercer County.

It seems likely that the Guthrie men heading these households were either brothers or closely related kin who, after establishing their families, decided to converge on Mercer County, Illinois. The documentation found only gets us so far. It may take DNA to prove their family connection.

THE FAMILY of SAMUEL GUTHRIE & CATHERINE STEVENSON

SAMUEL GUTHRIE
Parents: Unknown
Born: c1830
Location: Scotland (County/Region Unknown)
Marriage: 1 Jun 1852 Old Kirkpatrick, Dunbarton, Scotland
Occupation: Laborer, Farmer, Coal Miner
Death: 1 Feb 1889
Location: Mercer County, Illinois, USA
Burial: Viola Cemetery in Viola, Mercer County, Illinois

CATHERINE STEVENSON
Parents: John Stevenson & Elizabeth Hogg
Born: 1821
Location: Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland
Sons: Samuel George, William John
Daughters: Anna Augusta, Mary Catherine, Anna Augusta, Christina Kay
Child: 1 unknown
Death: 2 Jan 1909
Location: Bethany, Moultrie, Illinois, USA
Burial: Viola Cemetery in Viola, Mercer, Illinois, USA

CHILDREN:

UNIDENTIFIED CHILD
1852-1855

ANN AUGUSTA GUTHRIE
c1852-a1859

This daughter was born between 1852-1854. She died before 1859. Another child was later named Ann Augusta, which might suggest the name is one of significance to the family.

MARY CATHERINE GUTHRIE
1855N-1922NE

Mary Catherine was born on 17 Feb 1855 in Boonton, Morris, New Jersey. She moved with the family to Greene, Mercer, Illinois. Twice married to Benjamin Burton Walter and William Cornelius Morey. She died in Omaha, Douglas, Nebraska on 22 July 1922 and was buried in Munden, Republic, Kansas.

Children: 6
Walter Sons: None
Walter Daughters: Mary Catherine
Morey Sons: Otis B, Zenas
Morey Daughters: Florence A, Charlotte, Ollie

Family Finder Participants: No

SAMUEL GEORGE GUTHRIE
1857NJ-1918IA

Samuel George was born on 3 may 1857 in Pequannock, Morris, New Jersey. His Iowa County death record confirms his parents to be Samuel Guthrie and Katherine Stevenson. He was listed in the 1860 NJ census with them. The family moved to Mercer County, Illinois between 1860-1870. Samuel married in 1888 to Mary Elizabeth ‘Lizzie’ Blocklinger. They had 3 children and moved to Muscatine Island in March of 1905. A newspaper article mentions his plans to engage in the sweet potato raising industry. They continued to live in Muscatine. Samuel died there on 16 Jul 1918 and is buried at Greenwood Cemetery. His widow Lizzie lived to the age of 85 and died in Muscatine in 1955, also buried at Greenwood Cemetery.

Children: 3
Sons: Earl S, Claude Frank
Daughters: Dorothy ‘Dora’ Catherine

Y-DNA Project Participants: Yes
Family Finder Participants: Yes

ANNA AUGUSTA GUTHRIE
1859NJ-1949IA

Anna was born on 7 Dec 1859 in Boon, Morris, New Jersey. Note that an Iowa State Census Collection record for 1925 lists her birthplace as Canada. She was listed in the 1860 Pequannock, NJ census with her family. They moved to Mercer County, Illinois where she remained until her marriage to William James Adams on 5 Mar 1885. They later moved to Clay County, IL. and next to Buena Vista and Clay Counties, Iowa. William died in 1934 and Anna in 1949 in Clay County, IA. They are buried at Laurens, Pocahontas, IA.

Children: 3
Adams Sons: William Russell, Jesse Yocum
Adams Daughters: Sadie Henrietta

Family Finder Participants: No

WILLIAM JOHN GUTHRIE
1862IL-1921IL

William Guthrie was born on 24 Aug 1862 in Gilchrist, Illinois. An alternate source lists Aug 1863 in Bethany, Moultrie, IL. The family moved to Mercer County, IL by 1870. William continued to live there most of his life. He married Alice Mae Turner on 24 Apr 1889. They had 2 sons and 4 daughters. William died on 4 Jun 1921 in Galesburg, Knox, Illinois and was buried 8 Jun 1921 in Viola, Mercer, Illinois. Alice lived until 1957.

Children: 6
Sons: William LeRoy, Frank
Daughters: Alice Pearl, Mable M, Maude, Grace

Y-DNA Project Participants: No
Family Finder Participants: No

CHRISTINA KAY GUTHRIE
1865IL-1940IL

Tina was born on 17 July 1865 in Green, Mercer, Illinois. She lived in Mercer County her entire life marrying coal miner John H Dorman on 15 April 1893. They had 3 sons and 1 daughter. John died in 1929. Tina lived until 27 Feb 1940. She was buried on March 2nd at Viola Cemetery.

Children: 4
Dorman Sons: Clayton Green, William Wallace, Hugh Boyd
Dorman Daughters: Ruth E

Family Finder Participants: No

HISTORICAL HIGHLIGHTS

c1830-1832: BIRTH of SAMUEL GUTHRIE

The 1860 census of Pequannock, Morris, New Jersey is the first that can be confirmed as belonging to Samuel Guthrie. It lists his DOB as about 1832 based on a stated age of 28 years. The 1870 census of Greene, Mercer, Illinois lists him as being 41 or born about 1829. The 1880 census of Green, Mercer, Illinois lists him as age 50, being born abt 1830. All list his birthplace as Scotland.

1850: US CENSUS of PEQUANNOCK, MORRIS, NEW JERSEY

Since it has been established that Samuel Guthrie was living in Pequannock during the 1860 census, it is quite possible that he is also the Samuel Guthrie living there in 1850.

John Sooter 36, M Machinist, born Scotland

Margaret Sooter 37, F, born Scotland

William Sooter 13, M, born Scotland

Elisabeth Sooter 12, M, born Scotland

Samuel Guthrie 25, M, Laborer, born Scotland

William Delawh 23, M, Laborer, born Ireland

George Johnson 13, M, born Ireland

1852: OLD KIRKPATRICK, DUNBARTON, SCOTLAND

1 June 1852: Then were booked in order to proclamation of marriage SAMUEL GUTHRIE, machinist, and CATHERINE STEVENSON, both residing at Barnill [Bonhill] in this parish. Married at Barnhill [Bonhill] 1st One 1842 by the Rev WM Halley.

Later records tell us that Samuel Guthrie’s wife was named Catherine Stevenson. Their eldest known child was born about 1855, so the marriage date for this couple appears to fit perfectly–with one exception. According to that 1850 census, Samuel Guthrie was already living in New Jersey. Is that record wrong? Did Samuel Guthrie go back to Scotland to marry Catherine Stevenson? Does the marriage record refer to another couple, of similar age and name?

1852-1854: BIRTH of CHILD OF UNKNOWN GENDER

The obituary of daughter Mary Catherine Guthrie states that she was the third of seven children of Samuel and Catherine Guthrie. Only 2 children are named in the 1855 census, so this was child #1 or 2 depending on birth order.

1852-1854: BIRTH of DAUGHTER – ANN AUGUSTA GUTHRIE

A presumed child based on the 1855 census data. This daughter would have died young between 1855 and 1859.

1855: BIRTH of DAUGHTER – MARY CATHERINE GUTHRIE

Born in Boonton, Morris County, New Jersey on 17 Feb 1855, Mary Catherine Guthrie moved with her parents to Mercer County, Illinois. She married twice. First to Benjamin Burton Walter, with whom she had a daughter, Mary, and second to William Cornelius Morey, with whom she had two sons and three daughters. Mary Catherine died in Omaha, Nebraska on 22 Jul 1922.

Her obituary, published in The Belleville Telescope on Thursday, Jul 27, 1922 (Newspapers.com) states that she was the third of seven children of Samuel and Catherine Guthrie.

1855: NEW JERSEY STATE CENSUS of PEQUANAC, MORRIS COUNTY, NEW JERSEY

State censuses were taken in NJ every ten years from 1855-1915. Records did not survive from all counties, but the data does include Morris.

SAMUEL GOTHRIE, Male, White, Residence Year: 1855, Residence Place: Pequanac, Morris, USA, Enumeration District: Hanover and Pequanac Townships, Electoral District: Boonton District in the Township of Pequanac part of the Second, Number 83, Page Number 106

Relatives: 

Wife: CATHERINE 

Children: ANN AUGUSTA, MARY C

Note that data for Ann Augusta Guthrie lists her DOB as 1859. This earlier census suggests otherwise. It could also be evidence of a daughter born in 1859 who was named for a sibling who died. Note that son, Samuel George Guthrie, who was born in 1857, is not listed.

1856: NATURALIZATION RECORDS

On 18 September 1856 in Morris County, New Jersey, Samuel Guthrie filed a Declaration of Intensions to become a naturalized citizen of the United States of America.

1857: BIRTH of SON – SAMUEL GEORGE GUTHRIE

Samuel George Guthrie was born on 3 May 1857 in Pequannock, Morris, New Jersey. His Iowa death record lists his parents as Samuel Guthrie and Katherine Stevenson. He was enumerated with the family in the 1860 census, and made the move west to settle in Greene, Mercer County, Illinois where he grew up working as a farm laborer.

Sometime in or about 1888, he married Mary Elizabeth ‘Lizzie’ Blocklinger, the daughter of Anton & Barbara (Houdek) Blochlinger. They had three children: Dorothy ‘Dora’ Catherine Guthrie (1890KS-1970IL), Earl S Guthrie (1891KS-1933IA), and Claude Frank Guthrie (1893KS-1962).

In March of 1905, The Daily Times announced that Samuel Guthrie had moved his family and household effects to Muscatine Island where he had plans to engage in the sweet potato raising industry.

The Muscatine Journal also included mentions of birthday parties, and a serious situation when son Claude Guthrie was taken to Hershey Memorial Hospital (1905) for emergency surgery for appendicitis.

Samuel died in Muscatine, Iowa on 16 Jul 1918. He is buried in Greenwood Cemetery. His widow, Lizzie, survived him. She continued to live in Muscatine during the 1920s, but by 1930 was living in Wyanet, Bureau, Illinois with her daughter, Dorothy C Olds, and family. Lizzie died in 1955 and is also buried at Greenwood Cemetery in Muscatine, Muscatine County, Iowa.

1859: BIRTH of DAUGHTER – ANNA AUGUSTA GUTHRIE

According to online trees, Anna Augusta Guthrie was born on 7 Dec 1859, possibly in Boon, Morris, New Jersey. She may have been named for an older sibling who died young, as evidenced by mentions of a daughter by this name in the 1855 census.

Anna married William James Adams on 5 Mar 1885 in Mercer, Illinois. They moved to Lincoln, Clay County, Iowa.

Anna died in Clay County, Iowa on 29 Nov 1949.

1860: US CENSUS of PEQUANNOCK, MORRIS, NEW JERSEY (Post Office: Boonton)

SAMUEL GUTHRY, 28, M, Laborer, Real Estate Value (Blank), Personal Estate Value: 200, Birthplace: Scotland

CATHARINE GUTHRY, 32, F, Birthplace: Scotland

MARY GUTHRY, 5, F, Birthplace: Morris Co, NJ

SAMUEL G GUTHRY, 3, M, Birthplace: Morris Co, NJ

ANNA A GUTHRY, 1, F, Birthplace: Morris Co, NJ

1862: BIRTH of SON – WILLIAM JOHN GUTHRIE

William John Guthrie was born on 24 August 1862 in Old Gilchrist, Illinois (Death Record), the first child born to the family while living in Illinois. He was enumerated with the family in Green, Mercer, Illinois in 1870 and 1880. He married Alice Mae Turner on 24 Apr 1889, and they became parents to 6 known children: Alice Pearl Guthrie (1890-1978), Mabel M Guthrie (1891-1976), William LeRoy Guthrie (1893-1921), Maude Guthrie (1898-1986), Frank Guthrie (b.1901), and Grace Guthrie (b.1904).

William was a teamster. His occupation at the time of his death was house mover. He died on 4 Jun 1921 at Galesburg, Knox, Illinois after 6 days in the Galesburg Hospital, and was buried at Viola Cemetery on 8 Jun 1921. His usual residence at the time of his death was Green, Mercer, IL.

1865: AGRICULTURAL SCHEDULE of GREEN, MERCER, ILLINOIS (3 Jul 1865)

SAMUEL GUTHRIE: 

White Persons 10 and Under: 2M, 4F, White Persons over 20 and not over 40: 1M, White Persons over 40 and not over 50: 1F, Total White Persons: 3 Males, 5 Females

NOTE: Samuel’s name is listed directly above the enumeration of the household for WM GUTHRIE

WM GUTHRIE: 

White Persons 10 and Under: 3M, 2F, White Persons over 10 and not over 20: 1M; White Persons over 30 and not over 40: 1F, White Persons over 40 and not over 50: 1M, Total White Persons: 5 Males, 3 Females

1865: BIRTH of DAUGHTER – CHRISTINA ‘TINA’ KAY GUTHRIE

Born either in Gilchrist or Green, Mercer County, Illinois on 17 Jul 1865. Tina married John H Dorman (1861-1929) on 15 April 1893. They were parents to 4 known children: Clayton Greer Dorman (1895-1963), William Wallace Dorman (1897-1979), Ruth E Dorman (1900-1984), and Hugh Boyd Dorman (1902-1986). Tina remained a widow after John’s death in 1929, and continued to live in Mercer County. She died on 27 Feb 1940, and is buried at Viola Cemetery.

1870: US CENSUS of GREENE, MERCER, ILLINOIS (Post Office: Viola)

GUTHRIE, SAMUEL 41, M, W, Farmer, Value of Real Estate: 2400, Value of Personal Estate: 9000, Birthplace: Scotland, Parentage: Father and Mother of Foreign Birth, Male Citizen of the US 21 Years and Up

_____ CATHARINE, 50, F, W, Keeping house, Birthplace: Scotland, Parentage: Father and Mother of Foreign Birth

_____ MARY C, 15, F, W, Birthplace: New Jersey, Parentage: Father and Mother of Foreign Birth, Attended school within the year

_____ SAMUEL G, 13, M, W, Farmer, Birthplace: New Jersey, Parentage: Father and Mother of Foreign Birth, Attended school within the year

_____ Ann A, 10, F, W, Birthplace: New Jersey, Parentage: Father and Mother of Foreign Birth, Attended school within the year

_____ WILLIAM J 6, M, W, Birthplace: Illinois, Parentage: Father and Mother of Foreign Birth, Attended school within the year

_____ CHRISTINE, 4, F, W, Birthplace: Illinois, Parentage: Father and Mother of Foreign Birth

NEXT DOOR TO:

GUTHRIE, WILLIAM, 52, M, W, Farmer, Value of Real Estate (Blank), Value of Personal Estate (Blank), Birthplace: Scotland, Parentage: Father and Mother of Foreign Birth, (Not listed as a US Citizen)

_____CATHARINE 38, F, W, Keeping house, Birthplace: Scotland, Parentage: Father and Mother of Foreign Birth

_____CATHARINE, 15, F, W, Birthplace: Canada, Parentage: Father and Mother of Foreign Birth, Attended school within the year

_____ANN, 13, F, W, Birthplace: Canada, Parentage: Father and Mother of Foreign Birth, Attended school within the year

_____JOHN, 8, M, W, Birthplace: Canada, Parentage: Father and Mother of Foreign Birth, Attended school within the year

_____EDWARD, 6, M, W, Birthplace: Illinois, Parentage: Father and Mother of Foreign Birth, Attended school within the year

_____DUNCAN, 4, M, W, Birthplace: Illinois, Parentage: Father and Mother of Foreign Birth

_____PHILLIM S, 2, M, W, Birthplace: Illinois, Parentage: Father and Mother of Foreign Birth

William Guthrie was first married to Jean Totten in High Church, Paisley, Renfrewshire, Scotland. Their marriage record dated 17 Apr 1842 lists both as being of High Church parish. They were parents to 5 known children. Canadian immigration occurred about 1851. Jean reportedly died about 1860. This may have prompted William’s move to Illinois. He was in Green, Mercer, IL by 1865 when he was enumerated in the Agriculture Schedule next to Samuel Guthrie. William remarried in Illinois between 1868-1870 to a Mrs Catherine (MNU) McRae, who was the mother of 6 McRae children. She had an additional 2 children, Sarah and Farquhar, with William Guthrie. During his time in Mercer County, William Guthrie was both a farmer and coal miner.

NEXT DOOR TO:

GUTHRIE, EDWARD, 38, M, W, Farmer, Value of Real Estate: 3200, Value of Personal Estate: 400, Birthplace: Scotland, Parentage: Father and Mother of Foreign Birth, Male Citizen of the US 21 Years and Up

_____SARAH J, 30, F, W, Keeping House, Birthplace: Ohio

_____WILLIAM H, 12, M, W, Birthplace: Pennsylvania, Parentage: Father of Foreign Birth, Attended School within the Year

_____ELIZABETH J, 9, F, W, Birthplace: Pennsylvania, Parentage: Father of Foreign Birth, Attended School within the year

_____EDWARD H, 7, M, W, Birthplace: Pennsylvania, Parentage: Father of Foreign Birth, Attended School within the year_____MARTHA A, 4, F, W, Birthplace: Pennsylvania, Parentage: Father of Foreign Birth
_____JAMES E, 2, M, W, Birthplace: Pennsylvania, Parentage: Father of Foreign Birth
MILES, SARAH, 75, F, W, Birthplace: Pennsylvania, Cannot Write

Edward Guthrie and family may have been living in Burlington, Des Moines, Iowa in 1860. By 1863, a Civil War Draft Registration places Edward Guthrie in Green, Mercer County, Illinois. He and his family were enumerated there in 1870, but by 1880, they were in Rush, Rooks, Kansas where I have lost track of them. 

1880: US CENSUS of GREEN, MERCER, ILLINOIS (Post Office: Viola)

GUTHRIE, SAMUEL, W, M, 50, Married, Farmer, Born: Scotland, Father Born: Scotland, Mother Born: Ireland

GUTHRIE, CATHERINE, W, F, 59, Wife, Married, Keeping House, Born: Scotland, Father Born: Scotland, Mother Born: Scotland

WALTERS, MARY C, W, F, 25, Dau., Widowed/Divorced, Seamstress, Born: New Jersey, Father Born: Scotland, Mother Born: Scotland

GUTHRIE, SAMUEL, W, M, 23, Son, Farm Laborer, Born: New Jersey, Father Born: Scotland, Mother Born: Scotland

GUTHRIE, ANNA A, W, F, 20, Dau., Domestic Servant, Born: Illinois, Father Born: Scotland, Mother Born: Scotland

GUTHRIE, WILLIAM J, W, M, 16, Son, Farm Laborer, Born: Illinois, Father Born: Scotland, Mother Born: Scotland

GUTHRIE, CHRISTINA H, W, F, 14, Dau., At School, Born: Illinois, Father Born: Scotland, Mother Born: Scotland

WALTERS, MARY, W, F, 3, Granddaughter, Born: Illinois, Father Born: Illinois, Mother Born: New Jersey

NEXT DOOR TO:

GUTHRIE, WILLIAM, W, M, 59, Married, Born:(Illegible), Father Born:(Blank), Mother Born: (Blank)

GUTHRIE, CATHERINE, W, F, 49, Wife, Married, Keeping house, Born: Canada W., Father Born: Scotland, Mother Born: Ireland

GUTHRIE, JOHN, W, M, 17, Son, Farm Laborer, Attended School within the Year, Born: Canada W., Father Born: Scotland, Mother Born: Canada

GUTHRIE, EDWARD, W, M, 15, Son, Farm Laborer, Attended School within the Year, Born: Illinois, Father Born: Scotland, Mother Born: Canada

GUTHRIE, DUNCAN, W, M, 14, Son, Farm Laborer, Attended School within the Year, Born: Canada W., Father Born: Scotland, Mother Born: Canada

GUTHRIE, SARAH, W, F, 8, Daughter, At School, Born: Illinois, Father Born: Scotland, Mother Born: Canada

GUTHRIE, FARQUHAR, W, M, 7, Son, At School, Born: Illinois, Father Born: Scotland, Mother Born: Canada

1887: GUTHRIE COAL MINE (POSSIBLE MATCH)

Guthrie Coal Mine operated by Samuel Guthrie 1884-1887. a shaft mine at a depth of 41 feet with a coal seam of 4 feet to 4-1/2 feet in thickness.

1889: DEATH of SAMUEL GUTHRIE

Samuel Guthrie died on 1 Feb 1889 in Mercer County, Illinois. He was buried at Viola Cemetery.

1900: US CENSUS of GREENE, MERCER, ILLINOIS

CATHERINE GUTHRIE, 79, is living in the household of her son, William Guthrie, and his wife Alice and family. William’s record lists his father’s birthplace as Ireland rather than Scotland. Catherine’s record also lists her as having had only 1 child and 1 living child. Errors?

1909: DEATH of CATHERINE (STEVENSON) GUTHRIE

Catherine died 2 January 1909 in Bethany, Moultrie, Illinois. She was buried at Viola Cemetery in Mercer County, Illinois.

THE GUTHRIE DNA PROJECT

Guthrie Family Group: GFG2A
Group Designation: Branch M – (Undetermined Cluster)

Haplogroup: R-M269
Confirmed Haplogroup: R-Z30233

YDNA Matches:  1
Kit B276145 (+FF)
Samuel Guthrie/Catherine Stevenson > Samuel George Guthrie/Mary Elizabeth Blocklinger > Earl S Guthrie/Ella McIntyre (GGP)

Family Finder / Autosomal DNA Kits:
None

Findings:

We have 1 participant for Branch M at this point. He is a confirmed genetic match for the GFG2A YDNA profile at 111 markers.

There are 2 genetic variances compared to Group Mode DNA, both of them at ‘fast moving markers’, which usually indicates recent genetic change. Being a near match to that Group Mode DNA puts him closer to the branches from Cluster 1 – The Three Brothers whose descendants in Branches B and F include the group mode for all genetic markers at the Y111 level. This also makes sense from the perspective that Branch M reportedly immigrated directly from Scotland rather than spending generations in Northern Ireland. 

To make progress on this line we need to have Y-DNA from those lineages identified as Samuel Guthrie’s potential brothers:
1) Andrew Guthrie c1815SCT-1893IL & Susannah Thompson
2) William Guthrie c1818SCT-1895IL & Jean Totten / Catherine McRae
3) Edward Guthrie 1832SCT-c1897OK & Sarah Jane Dalson