Antrim Family History

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Compiled by Judy Ann Godden Walsh in December 2017

JOHN CLINE ANTRIM AND ANNA (HALLAM) ANTRIM

The land was first purchased by John Cline Antrim Born October 14, 1836 son of Thomas Antrim of Clinton County, Ohio and Elizabeth (Cline) Antrim of Pennsylvania.  John Cline Antrim was the second eldest child and oldest living son of their ten children. The Antrim family was an early settler of Clinton County, Ohio. (Portrait and Biographical Album of Livingston County, Ill. 1888.)

John Cline Antrim married Anna Hallam daughter of John and Jane Hallam of Clinton County, Ohio on February 22, 1857. In 1863 they moved from Clinton County, Ohio to Amity Township, Livingston County, Illinois and purchased 60 acres in Amity Township.  “By degrees he acquired more land, becoming eventually the owner of about 800 acres.”  (Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois and History of Livingston County, Volume II, 1909.) He purchased this farmland in Rooks Creek Township, Livingston County on June 6, 1881. 

In 1864 he enlisted in the Union Army, Company H of the 44th Infantry which regiment was part of the Army of the Cumberland.  He participated in the Battles of Spring Hall, Franklin, Nashville and numerous lesser engagements.  He was honorably discharged on June 16, 1865. (Portrait and Biographical Album of Livingston County, Ill. 1888) John Cline Antrim’s original discharge papers are still in the family as is his war journal.

John Cline Antrim was a Republican and has “rendered faithful public service in local offices” (Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois and History of Livingston County, Volume II, 1909).

John Cline Antrim (October 14, 1836 – July 7, 1915)

Anna Hallam (March 15, 1837 – February 13, 1939)   Under two years short of meeting Judy (Godden) Walsh (November 21, 1940 -) her great-great granddaughter who now owns this property.

John Cline Antrim purchased the land on March 30, 1881 and deeded this land to his son William Jordan Antrim on January 19, 1886.

WILLIAM JORDAN ANTRIM  AND SUSAN KETURAH CARROLL ANTRIM

William Jordan Antrim was born March 26, 1863 eldest son of John Cline Antrim and Anna (Hallam) Antrim.  He moved with his parents in a covered wagon from Ohio to Illinois at about six months of age.  The 1850 silver half dollar that William Jordan teethed on during this journey is still in the family.  It was drilled to insert a cotton string loop – the original string is still attached to the coin. I have been told that when they reached the Vermilion Swamp (east and south of their destination), the wagon had to be driven in a zig-zag direction toward the edge of the swamp.

William Jordan Antrim married Susan Keturah Carroll a native of Pennsylvania and daughter of Simon S. Carroll and Mary J. (Gunn) Carroll on November 30, 1887. Simon S. Carroll was born in 1819 and also served in the Union Army.  The family has a copy of Simon S. Carroll’s discharge papers issued by the National Archives.

William Jordan first saw Susan Carroll singing in the choir of the Nigh Chapel Church outside of Graymont, Illinois. At the time Susan was living in Illinois and teaching school.  She received her teaching credentials from Oskaloosa, Iowa on August 22, 1884 and her Professional Certificate on April 9, 1885.

Both Jean A. Godden and Judy G. Walsh donated money to have the Nigh Chapel Church moved to the Threshermen’s Reunion site on Route 23 between Cornell and Pontiac but their donations were returned as it was too costly to temporarily remove the electrical wires along the route.

William Jordan and Susan had five children; Glenn Leo was the firstborn.

“William Jordan Antrim is a prosperous farmer in Amity Township, Livingston County, Illinois where he owns 360 acres of highly productive and improved land.  …is classed among the most substantial farmers of his locality.  Mr. Antrim is a supporter of the Republican Party but has never been inclined to seek public office.”  (Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois and History of Livingston County, Volume II, 1909).

William Jordan Antrim (March 26. 1863 – September 12, 1956) Known as “Pop” to his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Susan Kitura Carroll Antrim (February 20, 1864 – March 26, 1953) Known as “Granny” to her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

GLENN LEO ANTRIM AND ANNA ROZENA WEBER ANTRIM

William Jordan and Susan (Carroll) Antrim deeded land to Glenn Leo Antrim and Anna Rozena (Weber) Antrim on December 10, 1937. More acres were deeded to Glenn Leo Antrim with a lifetime estate to William and Susan in 1940.

Glenn was born on July 3, 1889 in Rooks Creek Township, Livingston County, Illinois. Glenn married Anna Rozena Weber daughter of Frank Weber and Mary (Pampel) Weber on December 20, 1910. The Weber family and the Pampel family had both moved to the United States of America from Switzerland. 

Glenn and Anna had one daughter, Myrna Jean Antrim (Myrna Jean Godden) (Jean Antrim Godden).

Glenn added more acreage to the farm and employed several hired hands over the years for whom he provided a family house.  

Glenn was a retired farmer and livestock man (from obituary). Both Glenn and Anna were active members of Livingston County.  Glenn served as Supervisor of Rooks Creek Township for 57 consecutive years and served on the County Board for 50 years and as Chairman of the Board. He was also Chairman of the Road and Bridge Committee (including the conversion of county wide mud slab roads to well-maintained gravel and blacktop roads plus he negotiated acquisition of the land from Chenoa to north of Dwight for Route 66 from all the property owners). He also served on the Board of Revenue. He was a Director of the State Bank of Graymont for 30 years, served as President and was Chairman of the Board at the time of his death.  He served on the boards of the Livingston County Health Improvement Association, the Livingston County Historical Society and served as president of the Graymont Central Telephone Company for 20 years.  He was a charter member of the Graymont Men’s Club and Chief City Saddle Club. A number of times he served as chairman of the Threshermen’s Reunion Horse Show and assisted with many 4-H Horse Shows often also serving as a judge. He helped promote and present the Diamond Horseshoe Rodeo also often serving as a judge in the arena.  He was a 50-year member of the Elks Club and a member of the Pontiac Moose Lodge for 30 years. He also served as a Deacon of the former Evangelical Church of Graymont and continued to attend the church as the Graymont Baptist Church. 

At his death the State of Illinois Eighty-First General Assembly of the House of Representatives passed House Resolution No. 475 on October 17, 1979 honoring his accomplishments. The State Bank of Graymont composed a Resolution of Respect on October 23, 1979.  The Livingston County Board adopted a Resolution of Respect adopted by Roll Call vote on December 4, 1979.

Anna taught Sunday School at Graymont Baptist church and was a member of the Missionary Society. She was a member of the Livingston County Farm Bureau, Livingston County Historical Society and the Chief City Saddle Club. She was an early member of the Livingston County Home Extension and held unit and county offices. She also kept the Rooks Creek Township Records.

Glenn Leo Antrim (July 3, 1889 – September 27, 1979) Known as “Papa” to his grandchild and great-grandchildren.

Anna Rozena (Weber) Antrim (November 6, 1887 – October 9, 1986) Known as “Mama” to her grandchild and great-grandchildren.

MYRNA JEAN (ANTRIM) GODDEN AND KENNETH BENJAMIN GODDEN

Glenn Leo Antrim deeded the land to his daughter Jean A. Godden who Is one and the same as Myrna Jean Godden in his will at his death on September 27, 1979. 

Myrna Jean Antrim married Kenneth Benjamin Godden on August 10, 1939. They had one daughter Judy Ann Godden (Judy G. Walsh).

Jean was born on April 29, 1916 near Graymont, Illinois. After graduating Iowa State College in 1939 with a B.S. in Home Economics focusing on Textiles and Clothing, she married Kenneth Benjamin Godden on August 10, 1939 in Graymont, Illinois.  Jean taught at Cornell Community High School for 28 years and also served as Assistant Principal for several years. She served on various country education committees and was the first teacher in Illinois to offer a popular class Boys’ Home Economics. She was a member of Delta Kappa Gamma, a teachers’ honorary. She served on the Cornell Library Board for many years. She belonged to the Pontiac Women’s Club and also held offices in the Chief Pontiac Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) chapter. She was an active member holding various offices of Cornell’s Senior Citizen group and both the local and county Home Extension.  She served on the board of the Cornell Baptist Church for many years. She was also a charter member of the Cornell Red Hatters which had a limited membership of twelve in order to fit their transportation for their monthly field trips.

Cornell named a street after her, planted a tree on the former Cornell High School grounds in her honor and held Jean Godden Day on October 2, 2010, the first person to be so honored.

Ken was born on August 10, 1916 near Cromwell, Iowa.  After graduating from Iowa State College in 1936 majoring in Architectural Engineering, he joined the Masonite Corporation in Chicago, Illinois. After a few years in Chicago the family moved to Huntington, West Virginia but eventually returned to Illinois due to Ken’s ill health. Ken organized the Cornell Golf Club and served as Justice of the Peace for many years.  He worked for a building company in Pontiac as an architect for several years and became a Magistrate in Pontiac in the Livingston County Court system.

Jean Antrim Godden (April 29, 1916 – July 18, 2014) Known as Grandma to her grandchildren and Grandma Jean to her great-grandchildren.

Kenneth Benjamin Godden (August 10, 2012 – October 18, 2001) Known as Mumpmah to his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

JUDY ANN (GODDEN) WALSH 

Today Judy lives in Annapolis, Maryland near her two sons, John Francis Walsh III and Kenneth Antrim Walsh and her three grandchildren.