Do you have an ancestor that seems to buy and sell land just to move down the street a bit? That seems to be the case with John Minnick after his move from Pennsylvania to Kewanee, Illinois. In 1856, he made an agreement to purchase part of lot number 2 in block 11 of Tenney’s addition to Kewanee from James Huchins. (See post, Why Go Over for transcription of this deed.)

Then in 1857, there is a deed between James Hutchins and Elizabeth Hutchins for the sale of the same parcel of land to John Minnick.

Filed April 27, 1857

This Indenture, made this first day of April in the year of
our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and fifty seven, Between James Hutchins &
Elizabeth Hutchins of the County of Henry
and State of Illinois, partys of the first part and John Minnick of the same place
party of the second part
Witnesseth that the said parties of the first part, for and in consideration of the sum of five hundred
& fifteen dollars paid by the said party of the second part (the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged)
do by these presents, grant, bargain, and sell, unto the said party of the second part by his
heirs and assigns the following described tract or parcel of Land situated in town of
Kewanee county of Henry and state of Illinois to wit
sixty (60) feet off of the east side of lot no 2 two in Block
No 11 Eleven in Tenney addition to the town of Kewanee
with all appurtenances
Together with all and singular, the hereditaments and appurtenances thereunto belonging or in any wise appertaining
to have and to hold, the said premises as above described, with the appurtenances unto the said party of the second
part & his heirs and assigns forever And the said party of the first part for themselves and their
heirs, executors and administrators, do hereby covenant to and with the said party of the second part of his
hers and assigns, that they are well seized of the premises above conveyed as a good and indefeasible estate in Fee
Simple and have good right to sell and convey the sum in manner and form as aforesaid that they are free from
all incumbrance; and that the above bargained premises, in the quiet and peaceable possession of the said party of the
second part by his heirs or assigns, against the claim of all persons whomsoever, the will forever warrant
and defend.
In Testimony Whereof, the said parties of the first part have hereunto set their hands and seals the
day and year first above written
Signed Sealed and delivered in presence of
Julius A Pratt

Jas Hutchins (seal)
Elizabeth Hutchins (seal)

State of Illinois
Henry County
On this first day of April 1857, personally appeared be-
fore me, Julia A Pratt a Justice of the Peace
James Hutchins & Elizabeth J his wife to me personally known to be the person whose
subscribed to the above Deed, as having, executed the same,
that they had freely executed the same for the use and purposes therein expressed, and
Elizabeth J Hutchins wife of the said James Hutchins
to me personally known to be the person whose name is subscribed to
the same Deed, also appeared before me, and was by me made acquainted with the contents of the same and ex-
amined separate and apart from her said husband, whether she executed the said Deed, and relinquished her dow-
er to the land and tenements therein mentioned, voluntarily , freely, and without compulsion of her said husband
and acknowledged that she executed the same, and relinquished her dower in the lands and tenements therein men
tioned, voluntarily and freely, and without the compulsion of her said husband.
Given under my hand and seal the day and year aforesaid.
Julius A. Pratt (seal)
Justice of the Peace

Illinois, Henry. Deeds, 1818-1912; indexes, 1836-1903. Film #1255568 DGS 8565932. John Minnick, 1 Apr 1857 Vol. 27: page 180; digital images, FamilySearch http://www.familysearch.org : viewed online 19 July 2022.

Then, in 1861, John Minnick and his wife, Elizabeth, sold that parcel of land in lot 2 block 11 – for significantly less than he paid for it.

This Indenture, made this fifteenth day of March in the year
of our Lord One Thousand Eight Hundred and Sixty One between
John Minnick and Elizabeth Minnick his wife
of the County of Henry and State of Illinois party of the first part and
Henry Glazier party of the second part
Witnesseth that the said parties of the first part, for and in consideration of the sum of
Three Hundred & fifty Six dollars paid by the said party of the second part, (the receipt
of which is hereby acknowledged,) do by these presents, Grant Bargain and Sell unto the said party of the second part, his heirs
and assigns, the following described tract or parcel of Land, situated in the County of Henry and State of Illinois, known and described as
follows to Wit:
Sixty (60) feet off the East side of Lot No Two(2) in Block No
Eleven (11) in Township first (1st) Addition to the Town of Kewanee Henry County
Illinois

Together with all and singular the hereditaments and appurtenances thereunto belonging or in anywise appertaining: To have and to hold the said
premises as above described, with the appurtenances, unto the said party of the second part, his heirs and assigns forever. And the said
parties of the first part, for themselves and their heirs and executors and administrators, do hereby covenant to and with the
said party of the second part & his heirs and assigns, that they are well seized of the premises above conveyed, as of a
good and indefeasible estate, in fee simple, and have good right to sell and convey the same in manner and form as aforesaid; that they are free
from all incumbrances; and that the above bargained premises in the quiet and peaceable possession of the said party of the second part
& his heirs or assigns, against the claims of all persons whomsoever they will warrant and forever defend.
In Testimony Whereof, the said parities of the first part have hereunto set their hands, and seals,
the day and year first above written.
Signed, sealed and delivered
in presence of
Hamilton M Way

John Minnick (seal)
Elizabeth Minnick (seal)

State of Illinois
Henry County
On this Fifteenth day of March 1861 personally appeared before me
Hamilton M Way a Justice of the Peace
in and for said County John Minnick & Elizabeth Minnick his wife
to me personally known
to be the persons whose names are subscribed to the above deed, as having executed the same, and
acknowledged that they had freely executed the same for the use and purposes therein expressed
And Elizabeth Minnick
wife of the said John Minnick
to me personally known to be the same person whose name is subscribed tot he same Deed, also appeared before me, and was
by me made acquainted with the contents of the same, and examined separate and apart from her said husband, whether
by me made acquainted with the contents of the same, and examined separate and apart from her said husband, whether
she executed the said Deed, and relinquished her dower to the lands and tenements therein mentioned, voluntarily, freely
and without compulsion of her said husband; and acknowledged that she had executed the same, and relinquished her
dower in the lands and tenements therein mentioned, voluntarily and freely, and without the compulsion of her said husband.
Given under my hand and seal, the day and year aforesaid.
Hamilton M. Way JP (seal)

Like the first deed in 1856, these two deeds place John Minnick and his wife, Elizabeth, in Henry County, Illinois before the date suggested in the death notice for John Minnick published in Pennsylvania. The 1860 census for Henry County, Illinois also supports the fact that John and Elizabeth Minnick had migrated to Henry County prior to 1878.

Jno Minnick was listed as the head of household on the 1860 census in Henry County, Illinois. According to the census, Jno was a 38 year old shoemaker who was born in Pennsylvania. Jno owned $800 in real estate. Also listed in the household were his wife, Eliz, and Wilson, R., E., B.E., M.E., S.L. Minnick. In addition, a shoemaker, Jno Lockgrem and B. A. Merrick were listed in the household.

1860 U.S. Census, Henry County Illinois, population schedule, Kewanee, Henry County, Illinois, page 78, household 593, Jno Minnick; digital images, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.con : viewed online July 2017); NARA microfilm publication M653.