Surname Saturday: HORNBACK

The surname of Hornback, also knownas Hornbeck, Hornbeek, van Hornbeeck (and many more variations) seems to have originated in the Netherlands. By the mid 1660s, the Hornbacks came to America first settling around Ulster, NY.

In the mid 1700s, the family started migrating to explore more of the Americas settling around Hampshire, Virginia. At the age of fifteen years, Abraham Hornback enlisted in the 8th Virginia Regiment for a two year period. He was listed as a member of the company in April & May of 1777. Abraham was mustered out of the regiment at Romney, county seat of Hampshire County, Virginia.

Following the Revolutionary War, many members of the Hornback family moved to Bourbon County, Kentucky. staying in the area until at least 1780 before moving to Bourbon County, Kentucky. In the fall of 1825, Abraham and some of his children ventured to Sangamon County, Illinois. Other members of the Hornback extended family followed. Simon and Margaret HORNBACK moved their family to Illinois settling in Sangamon County. Their 4th child, Hiram, was born in December of 1830. The winter of 1830-31 was known as the Winter of Big Snow by the early pioneers of Illinois. “A cold rain started December 20, 1830 occasionally changing to sleet or snow until the day before Christmas, when large soft flakes fell to a depth of six inches. This was followed by a furious gale and a driving snow that piled up to three feet. Then came a rain that froze as it fell, forming a crust.” Storms with high winds continued for sixty days. Families were snowbound in their homes and travelers were trapped in the open.

At the legislature session of 1838-39, Menard County was formed from a part of Sangamon County on 15 February 1839 which included the area where the HORNBACK family had settled.

Abraham died January 29, 1833 and is buried in the Hornback Cemetery just outside of Petersburg, Menard Co. then Sangamon Co, IL. Abraham set aside the land for this cemetery for family burials and he was the first to be buried in this Cemetery. His grave is also marked by the Pierre Menard Chapter of the DAR. I obtained a copy of his will in Sangamon Co, IL. The Hornback Cemetery is the burial place for only a few of the Hornback family members. The cemetery is in a secluded location and most of the stones have been demolished over the years.