Someone wrote on the internet that the family was originally fromIrela nd where the name was Whooley and went on to say: "A N.OoleyHerman re counts a William Whooley (Botetourt Co. VA). On Sept 8, 1788signing hi s name Whooley and moving to Kentucky. While in KY his namewas spelled i n different ways such as Wooly, Wholy, Wooley, Owley,Ouley. etc. The W hooleys that remained in KY spell their name Wooleyand those that move d to Indiana and Illinois ended up with Ooley,which is what our corres pondent has today."
Residences & events:
KY
11/10/1817 White Co, IL. Listed as John Wooley in land records, hewa s already a resident when he bought 160 acres there at a federalsale, p aying $2.00/acre. The land was located at SW S29 T04S R09E.
1818 White Co, IL. At the state's first census there were 2 Wooley(Oo ley?) families. In the same neighborhood was Enoch Berry, JamesShiple y (likely the family of his first wife) and Alexander Mahan(relationsh ip yet unestablished but could be a McMahan). Also livingin the same c ounty was another Enoch Berry.
1820 Fox River Twp, White Co, IL, where the census taker found himwit h a new family. There were besides himself 5 other members in thehous e....Elizabeth and 4 step-children. Next door was Henry Ooleyand next t o him was George Berry. Three 3 doors down were hisex-in-laws, the Sh ipleys followed by Daniel Alexander, John'sbrother-in-law. Farther dow n on the other side were Enoch and JoelBerry.
Sangamon Co, IL. He probably followed the Berry families but theexact d ate is unknown.
10/27/1827 Sangamon Co, IL. He was taxed $3.20 for 80 acres at W1/2N W 34 of T15 R5 patented by Ezekial Drennen.
12/28/1827 He paid more tax:
$1.20 for 80 acres at W1/2 SW 35 of T15 R5 originally patented byJ ohn Fowler.
1.60 for 80 acres at W1/2 SW 26 of T15 R5 patented by John MCur tis
1830 Sangamon Co, IL. John Ooley had a family of 11 at census time:1 m ale under the age of 5, 1 age 5-10, 1 at 10-15, 1 was 15-20, 1 was20-3 0, John was 40-50, 1 female under 5, 2 age 5-10, 1 was 15-20 andhis w ife, also 40-50. They were the only ones by the name in thatcounty.
5/2/1835 Sangamon Co, IL. John and William Purvis were among thename s mentioned in the file on the estate of Barlet Haley who diedintestat e. Their relationship to deceased and reason for being namednot state d but they were probably purchasers at the estate sale.
1840 Sangamon Co, IL. Where was this family at census time? Theonly O oley left in Sangamon was Henry.
Abt 1846 Iowa Co, Wi. Relatives said he and Elizabeth moved thereabo ut then.
8/9/1850 Waldwick, Iowa Co, WI. At census time John was a 67 yearold w idower, a farmer without property, and living with him were sonWilliam a nd 7 year old John Berry, Elizabeth's grandson. Next doorwere daughte r Matilda and James Walker
9/1/1852 From the Wisconsisn Land records is an item with the namesof J ohn Ooley and Elihu H Noyes, both local Moultrie/Coles Co, IL.names, i n the remarks column. It was a cash sale of 40 acrespatented by John H H arper and located at S14 T4N R4E.
