William Daniel Toler (1835 - 1924)

Born 14 Oct 1835 in Stokes Precinct, Union, Illinois, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Hiley (Miles) Toler — married 2 Mar 1854 in , Union, Illinois, United States

Descendants

Died 10 Jan 1924 at age 88 in Johnson, Illinois, United States

Biography

William Daniel Toler was born on 14 Oct 1835 in Stokes Precinct, Union, Illinois, United States, son of Lewis Toler and Elizabeth Gwinn.

William married Hiley Miles on 2 Mar 1854 in Union, IL.

Their children were:

• Elizabeth Jane Toler (1855–1942)
• James Matthew Toler (1857–1937)
• George W. Toler (abt. 1861– )
• Sarah Ann Toler (1864–1917)
• William Toler (abt. 1866– )
• N. Mark Toler (abt. 1869– )
• John L. Toler (1870– )
• Mary B. A. Toler (1873–1922)
• Martha Ellen Toler (1875– )
• Nora Luettie Toler (1879–1880)

William died on 10 Jan 1924 in Johnson. He was buried in Toler Cemetery, Goreville, Johnson County, Illinois.^[1]

"Uncle Bill had two charactristics well known to all who knew him, his word, which he kept inviolate and his priveleges and duties as a citizen. Uncle Bill was one of the few remaining pioneers who attended the debate of Lincoln and Douglas at Springfield."
~Source Citation Vienna Times, 17 Jan 1924 obituary Goreville News

Excerpts from epistle by William H. Obel (Family album in Vienna Library)

"Uncle Will Toler: is the way my Mother, Sarah Nova Barnett, and Grandmother Civil (Gurley) Barnett referred to him . He was born in Union County, Illinois, the 2nd eldest of eleven children born to Lewis Toler (6 /13/1812 - 5 /30 / 1859) and Elizabeth Guinn Toler (6/22/1815 - 5/31/1899). Martha Toler Gurley, my (Obel's) great-grandmother was the oldest of Lewis's children, born in Union Co. Ill., October 17, 1834." "Being the oldest male child of a family of twelve children, Will's schooling opportunities were very limited. He did attend school for a short time in the Stokes Precinct, but his father Lewis, took him out of school to help on the family 480 acre farm in Union County. (This seems to conflict with land records that have not yet disclosed that Lewis was a landowner). Due to a lack of schooling, Will began life as a functional illiterate until after marriage to Hiley at age 18. With the help and tutoring of Hiley and with SELF-HELP, Will made a change in his life. (Probate records of WDT's will dated 19 Aug 1919 show him signing by hi s mark (x) and witnessed by R.G. Stanley and Thomas A. Bradley) By our (Obel's) family, Will Toler was said to be a compassionate individual, a leader of men, articulate, logical with Piety and Congeniality, honest, and hardworking ; a good Farmer. Everyone was his friend. He didn't hesitate to stand up for what he believed in."

Different versions of the following excerpt from Obel's writing has circulated in the family since I (Larry) remember . (This is Obel's version)
"At the time of the Civil War i n 1861, Will was very sympathetic to the Southern Cause and demonstrated the fact by joining and helping organize th e Knights-of-the-Golden-Circle; a Rebel Organization that was formed into Companies on a semi-military basis, with it' s roots in Union County……. The Government infiltrated this Organization with it's own men, Rebel Uniforms and all . General Van Dorn, a Rebel Officer, sent word to the Knights that he was going to attack Cape Girardeau, Missouri and they were to assist him from the Illinois side. Genera l Grant, who at the time, had his headquarters in a hotel at Cairo, got word of the plan and sent a Company of Calvary Troops and picked up all the leaders, Will Toler included . Some of the more prominent leaders such as Judge Duff; Judge Mulkey; Preacher Albright; and his Son, were sent t o Washington D.C. as prisoners-of-war and remained there for the duration. General Grant locked Will Toler on the third floor of the hotel and kept him there for about three months. Grant saw a potential leader in Will and tried to convince him to join the Union Cause, but Will wouldn't budge . A group of Will's friends rode down to Cairo on horse-back and convinced Grant to let him go. Grant relented with the stipulation that Will would steer clear of the Knight s and quit espousing the Rebel Cause. Will agreed."
~ Tim Casey Toler Family History

Sources

1. ↑ Find A Grave: Memorial #16671504 with gravestone photo for William D. TOLER.

• U.S. Appointments of U.S. Postmasters 1832-1971 v53 1878-1893 post-office=Regent, Johnson, Illinois appointed=04 Jan 1886 for William D. TOLER.

• Illinois Statewide Marriage Index Illinois State Archives: Groom Bride Date Volume Page Lic No. County
  TOLER, WILLIAM D MILES, HILEY 1854-03-02 2 37 UNION

• 1850 United States Federal Census: Census Place: District 2, Union, Illinois; Roll: M432_130; Page: 157B; Image: 29
  Name: William Toller [William Daniel Toler] Age: 14 Birth Year: abt 1836 Birthplace: Illinois Home in 1850: District 2, Union, Illinois, USA Race: White Gender: Male Family Number: 173 Household Members: Name Age Lewis Toller 37 Eliza Toller 33 Martha Toller 16 William Toller 14 Haywood Toller 10 Mary Toller 8 Carroll Toller 6 Larkin Toller 4 Needham Toller 2

• 1870 United States Federal Census: Census Place: Stokes, Union, Illinois; Roll: M593_284; Page: 569B; Family History Library Film: 545783
  Name: William D Toler [William Daniel Toler] Age in 1870: 37 Birth Year: abt 1833 Birthplace: Illinois Dwelling Number: 315 Home in 1870: Stokes, Union, Illinois Race: White Gender: Male Post Office: Lick Creek Occupation: Farmer Male Citizen over 21: Y Personal Estate Value: 700 Real Estate Value: 2500 Inferred Spouse: Hila Toler Household Members: Name Age Martin V B Hileman 7 William D Toler 37 Hila Toler 30 Eliza J Toler 15 James M Toler 12 George W Toler 9 Sarah A Toler 6

• 1880 United States Federal Census: Census Place: Goresville, Johnson, Illinois; Roll: 217; Page: 513D; Enumeration District: 054
  Name: Wm. D. Toller [William Daniel Toler] Age: 45 Birth Date: Abt 1835 Birthplace: Illinois Home in 1880: Goresville, Johnson, Illinois, USA Dwelling Number: 117 Race: White Gender: Male Relation to Head of House: Self (Head) Marital status: Married Spouse's name: Ira Toller Father's Birthplace: Illinois Mother's name: Liza Toller Mother's Birthplace: Tennessee Occupation: Farmer Months Not Employed: 4 Cannot Read: Yes Cannot Write: Yes Household Members: Name Age Wm. D. Toller 45 Ira Toller 42 James M. Toller 21 Sarah A. Toller 16 Wm. O. Toller 14 N. Mark Toller 11 John L. Toller 9 Mary Toller 7 Martha Toller 5 Norah Toller 5/12 Nancy Toller 16 Liza Toller 60

• 1900 United States Federal Census: Name: Census Place: Goreville, Johnson, Illinois; Page: 1; Enumeration District: 0041; FHL microfilm: 1240309
  William D Toler [William Daniel Toler] Age: 64 Birth Date: Oct 1835 Birthplace: Illinois Home in 1900: Goreville, Johnson, Illinois Sheet Number: 1 Number of Dwelling in Order of Visitation: 8 Family Number: 8 Race: White Gender: Male Relation to Head of House: Head Marital status: Married Spouse's name: Hila Toler Marriage Year: 1854 Father's Birthplace: North Carolina Mother's Birthplace: Illinois Occupation: Capitalist Can Read: No Can Write: Yes Can Speak English: Yes House Owned or Rented: O Home Free or Mortgaged: F Farm or House: F Neighbors: Household Members: Name Age William D Toler 64 Hila Toler 62

• "John Adam Cruse & Rosanna Cress Family" by Paul D. Dillow.