Dorcas Seals

Dorcas Seals was the daughter of Dawson Seals and his wife Elizabeth Brewer. In 1840, her family lived near Sneedville in then Hickman/now Hancock County, Tennessee. Sometime after that, Dawson Seals and family went west to Missouri where Dorcas was born on May 20, 1843. [1]

Between 1840 and 1850, they traveled from Missouri to Kentucky, and then to Indiana. In 1850, they were living in Otter Creek, Vigo County, Indiana. In 1854, the family was living in Marion County, Indiana, and their daughter Lydia was married there.

In 1854, Dorcas's brother Kennedy received a patent for land in Vermilion County, Illinois, and the family moved to Rossville, Vermilion County, Illinois. We're not sure what happened to Elizabeth at this point. Did she die? Did she leave Dawson. Whatever happened, her name is missing from on the census rolls of 1860 in Vermilion County.

In 1857, Dorcas married a man 20 years her senior, John Smith. They had one child together, Newton Jasper Smith, who later became the street commissioner of Rossville. He also had various commercial enterprises and stores including a carousel.

After John's death, Dorcas married Samuel Reynolds. Samuel married his first wife, Rhoda Crone, in 1857. When Rhoda passed away, Samuel was left to raise their 2 children, William and Mary Anne. Samuel and Dorcas married in1863. More children followed: Frank in 1863, Elizabeth in 1866, Harriet in 1868, James in 1870, Samuel Dawson in 1872, and Harley Johnson in 1880.

Dorcas lived until May 7, 1920, when she died, "at the age of 76 years, 11 months, and 3 days." [2]

"Mrs. Reynolds was one of the charter members of the Rossville United Brethren Church, uniting under the pastorate of Reverend Anderson, the first pastor. She was a loyal, faithful member, responding to every call of the church and continued in this until failing health, which has been her lot for many years, compelled her to be less active. But she remained true in her Christ until the end. She was a loving, sacrificing mother, a good neighbor and like Dorcas of the Scripture, was always ready to help those in need."

[1] This conflicts with the reported birth date of her sister Narcissa/Susan, who was "20 years and 10 months" at her death on June 27, 1864, according to her headstone, making her birthdate August 27, 1843.

[2] Which places Dorcas' birthdate at June 4, 1843 -- not May 20, 1843.