Fifth Generation

283. Elizabeth G. "Betsy" Coffey was born on 17 March 1797 in Wilkes Co., NC. Betsy died on 5 December 1868 at the age of 71 in Tazewell Co., IL and was buried at Old Washington Cemetery in Washington, Tazewell Co., IL.^940,941

Elizabeth G. "Betsy" Coffey and Richard Northcraft Cullom were married on 16 March 1819.⁹⁴² They⁹⁴² appeared in the census on 6 July 1860 in Deer Creek, Deer Creek Twp., Tazewell Co., IL.⁹⁴³ Richard Northcraft Cullom⁹⁴⁴, son of William Cullom and Elizabeth Northcraft, was born on 1 October 1795 in Maryland.⁹⁴⁵ Richard died on 4 December 1872 at the age of 77 in Tazewell Co., IL and was buried at Old Washington Cemetey in Washington, Tazewell Co., IL.^946,947,948

Obituary Bio, Daily Illinois State Journal (Springfield, IL) Page: 4, Mon., Dec. 16, 1872

Death of Major Richard N. Cullom

Another of the old veterans of Tazewell county has gone.

On the evening of the 4th inst., Major R. N. Cullom, of this city, departed this life and is no more.

Frequently have we been called upon to chronicle the death of citizens of Tazewell county, but at no time have we announced the death of one whose name has been so familiar to the people of this county as the name of Richard N. Cullom.

Major Cullon was born in Clark county, Kentucky, on the 1st day of October, 1795, and was, consequently, aged 77 years, two months and three days, when he died. In the fall of 1830 he removed from Kentucky to Illinois, and settled in the country about nine miles from our city, where he entered several hundred acres of land, which he owned at his death. Major Cullom has often said that he left Kentucky because of slavery; not being willing to raise a family in the midst of such an institution. Major Cullom, from boyhood until the death of the Whig party, was a zealous Whig, and a personal friend and great admirer of Henry Clay, the leader of the Whig party.
Major R. N. Cullom was largely in public life from the time he came to Illinois until he became to [sic] feeble to take an active part. When he came to Illinois in 1830 - the Fall before the Deep Snow - and settled on his farm, he at once was promptly identified with the public interests of this county, and from time to time held positions of public trust and honor in connection with our county matters.

Major Cullom was elected to the Lower House of the Illinois Legislature in 1836, when the vapitol of our state was at Vandalia. He was afterward - in 1840 - elected to the State Senate, and during his service in the Senate was as prominent as almost any Whig in our State. About that time he became acquainted with and associate of Lincoln, Logan, E. D. Baker, Douglas, John J. Hardin, Shields, Stuart, and other public men, many of whose names have been inscribed upon the role of fame.

From the time of Abraham Lincoln's commencement as a lawyer, Major Cullom was greatly interested in his success, and was his true and trusted friend up to the time of our martyred President's assassination.

In 1852 Major Cullom was again elected to the Legislature, and served with distinction. For many years he has not been active in public life, because his health had become so unreliable that he preferred to retire to private life, and content himself with doing his duty to his family, the church, and his country, in a quiet and unostentions [sic] manner.

Major Cullor was, for forty-five years, a prominent and zealous member of the M. E. church, and for many years filled the position of steward in the denomination.

Major Cullon left a wife, two sons and four daughters to mourn his loss. His sons, Hon. Shelby M. and Henry C., reside in Springfield. - Washington, Tazewell Co., Herald

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Death Notice, Quincy Daily Whig, Quincy, IL,  Volume: XXI   Issue: 193   Page: 1  

Hon. Richard N. Cullom, father of Hon. S. M. Cullom, of Springfield, died at his home at Washington, Tazewell county, on Wednesday last, aged 77 years. His funeral takes place today.

"Cullom, Richard Northcraft, farmer and legislator, was born in the State of Maryland, October 1, 1795, but early removed to Wayne County, Ky., where he was married to Miss Elizabeth Coffey, a native of North Carolina. In 1830 he removed to Illinois, settling near Washington, Tazewell County, where he continued to reside during the remainder of his life. Although a farmer by vocation, Mr. Cullom was a man of prominence and a recognized leader in public affairs. In 1836 he was elected as a Whig Representative in the Tenth General Assembly, serving in the same body with Abraham Lincoln, of whom he was an intimate personal and political friend. In 1840 he was chosen as a member of the State Senate, serving in the Twelfth and Thirteenth General Assemblies, and, in 1852, was again elected to the House. Mr. Cullom's death occurred in Tazewell County, Dec. 4, 1872, his wife having died Dec. 5, 1868. Mr. and Mrs. Cullom were the parents of Hon. Shelby M. Cullom."

Elizabeth G. "Betsy" Coffey and Richard Northcraft Cullom had the following children: