Darius Horton

Darius and Hannah (Olmstead) Horton: Darius Horton is listed in early Shabbona Township history, but not much is written about him or his family at Shabbona, probably due to his early death about 1843. Darius was born in Schuyler County, NY, in 1790, the son of James and Hannah Horton. Darius married Hannah Olmstead in 1818 at Catharine, Chemung County, NY. Hannah was born in 1795 at Wilton, Fairfield County, CT, where the family was among the original founders. She was the daughter of David Olmstead [Sr.] (b. 1768), who relocated west about 1852, and died in 1855. He is buried in the Smith Cemetery. She is the sister of David [Jr.] (b. 1787); Silas (b. 1790); Coleman (b. 1792); Lydia (b. 1798); Esther (b. 1800); Isaac Lewis (b. 1802); Matthew William (b. 1804); Eliza Ann (b. 1806); and Nathan Olmstead (b. 1809).

Darius and Hannah Horton arrived in Shabbona Township about the time as Hannah’s brothers, Isaac Lewis and Matthew William who arrived about 1838, having spent the first year in La Salle County. Her brother Coleman initially settled in La Salle County, but relocated to Shabbona Township about 1841. Another brother, Nathan arrived about 1837 to Shabbona Township. David Olmstead [Jr.], Hannah’s oldest brother, had settled in Manilus Township, La Salle County about 1833. Their children were Miles (b. 1819); Harriet (b. 1821); Eliza b. (1824); Dexter (b. 1825); Rebecca (b. 1826); James (b. 1828); and Julius (b. 1834). After the Civil War, Hannah relocated to the Seattle area to be with her son, and died in 1871.