Another map locates land owned by more families surnamed Williamson after 1840.

This area was hunting grounds to several Indian tribes, including Oneida, Onondaga, and Cayuga.

In 1780 veterans of the Revolution surveyed and divided land into 640 acre plots. For their work they received land, but most sold to settlers.

In 1794 the land inside the circle between two lakes was called Spafford Corners. It was situated where two old military roads intersected. The first settler came with his son that same year.

1805 Spafford Corners welcomed more settlers. Heads of household of these pioneer families were, Peter Knapp, Samuel Smith, Otis and Moses Legg, Jethro Bailey, Elias Davis, Abel Amadown, Job Lewis, Capt. Dan Tinkham, and John Hullibut.

1806 Other settlers followed and settled nearby; Levi Foster, James and Cornelius Williamson, John Woodward, Benjamin Homer and Benjamin Stanton.

In 1811 The citizens of Spafford held at the home of Elisha Sabins their first town meeting.

The following town officials were elected: John Babcock, supervisor; Sylvester Wheaton, town clerk; Benjamin Stanton, Asahel Roundy, and Elijah Knapp, assessors; Jonathan Berry, and Adolphus French, commissioners of highways; James Williamson and Asa Terry, overseers of the poor; Levi Foster, constable; Sylvanus Learned, Cornelius Williamson, commissioners of public lands; and Elisha Sabins was Poundkeeper.

Ebenezer W. Legg was captain of the militia from this town in the war of 1812, in which Phineas Hutchins served as lieutenant. Hutchins was later promoted to Colonel of militia.

Other veterans of the War of 1812 were Cornelius Williamson, Samuel G. Seeley, Kelly Case, Jabez Melvin, William Dedrick, Silas Randall, Samuel Gale, Stephen Applebee, and Samuel Parker.

In 1823 John Chauncey Williamson is born. His biography of 1889 records his birthplace was Spafford, Onondaga County New York. His parents were John and Nancy Williamson, born in New York.

In 1831 John and Nancy Williamson with son John Chauncey (and there may be siblings) left Spafford.

They spent the winter in Pennsylvania and in early 1832 settled in Monroe twp, Ashtabula County, Ohio.

Early Background on Spafford area follows.

Land sales in Manlius 1783-1799. Manlius is NNE of Spafford.

Mapquest estimates that from Detroit to Council Bluffs is   750 miles and can be driven in 14 hours. In 1850 such a trip would have taken about one month.

On the map at the left one may track Chauncey from Detroit, skirting lower Lake Michigan near Chicago, then west through, Illinois, Burlington, Iowa to Council Bluffs where he decided to stay in Iowa.

The trail west from Burlington would pass through Fort Des Moines on the way to Council Bluffs.

In the spring of 1850 Chauncey left for California.

NOTE: The bio does not say if his parents went with him.

He stopped at Council Bluffs, Iowa and decided to settle in Iowa.

In 1851 he married and raised a family of seven children.  

After his marriage the family lived in several counties and finally settled in the LDS enclave at Galland's Grove,  Iowa where he lived the rest of his life.

He was a priest of the LDS church for 26 years.

Some of his children left Iowa, but it appears most stayed in Shelby County.

The Galland's Grove area was a haven to members of the reorganized LDS church.

NOTES:

1. Cornelius and James came together, but there was no mention of wives or children. Burial records name their wives and some of their children.

2. Which was our direct ancestor? Cornelius was a name passed down to many descendents in our direct line. James was seven years older than Cornelius. John mush also was younger than his brother by seven years. John also must be considered for obvious reasons.

He was 60 years old when he died in 1834, so was the oldest brother of Cornelius and James.

He was 50 years old when Chauncey was born, so he was probably the grandfather.

Chauncey's dad was John as was Chauncey himself.

Until otherwise documented Cornelius could be our ancestor, but even more likely was his older brother John.

The end of this journey can best be described by his biography written in 1889.

Chauncey Williamson submitted by Dick Barton

Chauncey Williamson,  a native of Onondaga County, Town of Spafford, New York, was born May  23, 1823. 

He is the son of John and Nancy Williamson, natives of New  York.  When he was eight years old his parents removed from New York to  Pennsylvania, remaining there one winter; they then went to Monroe,  Ashtabula County, Ohio, and here our subject dwelt until he was twenty  years old, receiving a common-school education. 

When he left Ohio he  went to Oakland County, Michigan, remaining there about six years; here  he was employed in various pursuits, and in the spring of 1850 he started to California. 

On reaching Council Bluffs he stopped, and  concluded to remain in Iowa.  Mr. Williamson  was married April 15,  1851, to Miss Elizabeth J. Liston. 

After the marriage Mr. Williamson resided in  Mills County, then Harrison County, and in 1854 came to Shelby County,  and purchased 160 acres of land in Grove Township, which he still makes  his home.  

Seven children were born to them -  George H., Matilda (deceased), Henry (deceased), John, Nancy, wife of  David Baughman; Mary, wife of C. A. Beebe, and David. 

Mrs. Williamson  was called to the other life in October, 1869, at the age of thirty-nine  years.  Mr. Williamson was again married February 22, 1872, to Leanah,  the widow of Milton M. Beebe, and daughter of William and Polly  (Headrick) Van Ausdell. 

She was born in Lawrence County, Ohio, May 29,  1826, and was married to Milton M. Beebe in Lee County, Iowa, in 1850.  They resided in Shelby County from 1851 until 1857, and during this time  Mr. Beebe figured quite prominently in business and political circles of  the county.  He was engaged in the mercantile trade in Manteno, and was  elected the first sheriff of the county. 

In 1857 he removed to  Missouri, and died there before the close of the Rebellion. 

In 1866  Mrs. Beebe and five children returned to Shelby County; the children are  - Luella G. (deceased), wife of Isaac Fauts; Georgianna V., wife of  George Williamson; Cornelius A., Kate I., wife of Henry Urfer; Mary M.,  wife of Marion Hawley. 

Mr. Williamson and Mrs. Beebe were married  February 22, 1872. This formed a family of about 12 children, several of which in turn married each other.

He has made many valuable improvements, erecting a residence  and barns for stock and grain.  Mr. Williamson has done much toward the advancement and growth of this part of Shelby County, and has held many  positions of trust among the people.  He assisted in the organizing of  the school districts in his section. 

In politics his sentiments find  expression in the principles of the Republican party.  Mr. and Mrs. Williamson are consistent members of the reorganized church of Jesus  Christ, or the Latter-Day Saints, he having served as priest in this  body for twenty-six years.  They have been zealous workers in their  church, and have done much for the religious element of the community,  and are deserving of the regard in which they are held.