B: William Guthrie & Margaret Japp

Guthrie Family Group 12
WILLIAM GUTHRIE c1793SCT – 1855IN and MARGARET JAPP
of Perthshire, Scotland and Cass County, Indiana, USA

CONTENTS:
Origin Theories
The Family of William Guthrie and Margaret Japp
Historical Highlights
The Guthrie DNA Project

ORIGIN THEORIES for GFG12 – BRANCH B

Origin Theories: The “Old Europe” Connection

While many Scottish Guthrie lines are rooted in the R1b haplogroup (associated with later Celtic and Italic migrations), GFG12 belongs to Haplogroup I-P37. This is one of the most ancient genetic lineages in Europe, tracing back to the post-glacial hunter-gatherers.

  • The Pre-Celtic Footprint While the majority of Guthrie lines belong to Haplogroup R1b (the “Celtic” signature), GFG12 carries the I-P37 marker. This lineage is a biological time capsule, tracing back to the indigenous hunter-gatherers of Europe who lived 10,000+ years ago. In a Scottish context, this suggests that the ancestors of Branch B were likely established in the British Isles long before the arrival of Indo-European farmers.

  • The Lowland-to-Ulster Pivot The genetic bridge between Branch B (William in Scotland) and Branch A (Robert in Ireland) strongly supports a Lowland Scottish origin. The most likely scenario is that this family resided in the Scottish Lowlands (potentially Perthshire or Angus) during the 17th century. During the religious turmoil of the Covenanting years or the economic promise of the Ulster Plantations, a portion of the family moved to Northern Ireland, while William’s direct line remained in Scotland until their 19th-century departure for Indiana.

  • The “Viking” or “Pictish” Alternative Though I-P37 is sometimes associated with the Balkans, its presence in eastern Scotland (Perthshire/Angus) is often linked to the early coastal inhabitants or North Sea migrations. Could this be a remnant of a “Pictish” genetic pocket? Without a Big-Y test to refine the subclade, this remains one of the most intriguing mysteries in the Guthrie DNA Project.The Internal Migration Theory: The genetic match between Branch B (William Guthrie of Scotland) and Branch A (Robert Guthrie of Ireland) suggests a classic Scots-Irish trajectory. The family likely originated in the Scottish Lowlands. During the 17th-century religious upheavals or the Plantation of Ulster, one branch (Robert’s ancestors) moved to Northern Ireland, while William’s line remained in Scotland until the early 19th century.

THE FAMILY of WILLIAM GUTHRIE & MARGARET JAPP

WILLIAM GUTHRIE
Parents: John Guthrie and Elizabeth MNU
Birth: c1793 / c1795
Birth Location: Perth, Perthshire, Scotland
Marriage: Margaret (Japp) Jackson m. 3 Sep 1828 in Switzerland, Indiana
Occupation: Farmer
Death: 9 Sep 1855
Death Location: Logansport, Cass, Indiana, USA
Burial Location: Rock Creek Cemetery, Deer Creek, Carroll County, Indiana, USA
Notes:
“William Guthrie was the son of John and Elizabeth Guthrie , andwas born in the city of Perth , Perthshire , Scotland , in the year1795 . The son of wealthy parents , he was graduated from theUniversity of Edinburgh , and soon after , on the demise of hisfather , finding that the law of primogeniture and entail wasagainst him and stung by a sense of outraged justice , he turnedhis back on the home of his youth and emigrated to the United States . He settled in Switzerland county ,Indiana , in about the year 1825 , and here he engaged in general farming.” (Powell’s History of Cass County, Indiana, v.2, pp.806-807.)

MARGARET JAPP
Parents: Thomas Japp and Agnes MNU
Birth: 1812
Birth Location: Doon, Scotland
Marriage 1: Unidentified Jackson
Jackson Children: Unknown
Marriage 2: William Guthrie m. 1828 Indiana
Guthrie Children: 13
Marriage 2: Richard Downham m. 1857 in Indiana
Death: 2 Jul 1880
Death Location: Cass City, Indiana, USA
Burial Location: Mount Hope Cemetery, Logansport, Cass, Indiana, USA
Notes:
“(William Guthrie) married Margaret Japp , the daughter of Thomas and AgnesJapp , who was born in the year 1812 on the river Doon , inScotland . Orphaned in infancy , she emigrated to America withfoster parents in the year 1819 , and with them settled inSwitzerland county . Here she became acquainted with WilliamGuthrie . Their acquaintance ripened into friendship andculminated in their marriage in 1828 . To this union thirteen children were born.

Mr. Guthrie continued his farming operations in Switzerlandcounty until 1848 , when with his wife and nine children , hemoved to Cass county , settling in the wilderness along the shoresof Rock creek seven miles south of the then village of Logansport ,and here began that Herculean task that required stout heartsand willing hands , -the build- ing of a new home in thewilderness . The children who then graced the family home wereJohn , William , Agnes , Thomas , Jane , Alexander , Ann , Josephand James , having previously lost their son Isaac by death , andhere , surrounded by primeval forests and confronted with all thehard- ships and privations incident to pioneer life , the family wasblessed with three more children , -Elizabeth , another who diedin infancy unnamed , and Robert , the subject of this sketch .

Here in this new home William Guthrie spent the remainder of hislife , a life largely given over to the clearing away and subduing ofthe forests , and devoted to the best interests , the upbuilding andthe onward march of civilization . To him and such as him we oweour gratitude . He died on September 9 , 1855. In 1857 his widowmarried again , Richard Downham becoming her husband , andthey continued to reside upon the farm until 1864 , when sheaccompanied her husband to the west , but returned again in1873 , widowed for the second time in her life . She spent herdeclining years in Cass county , dying on July 2 , 1880 .” (Powell’s History of Cass County, Indiana, pp/806-807.)

CHILD 1: JOHN GUTHRIE
Birth: 2 Jul 1829 IN – Death: 1 Jul 1906 KS @ Age:
Occupation: Judge
Spouse: Mary Catherine Hester Updegraff m. 2 Nov 1854 in Carroll, Indiana
Guthrie Children: 1
Josephine (1861)

Notes: As the eldest surviving son, John embodied the immigrant family’s aspirations for upward mobility in America’s frontier. Educated in Indiana’s common schools, he pursued law under mentors like Judge Horace P. Biddle in Logansport, gaining admission to the bar in 1853. His early career in Logansport (1853–1857) involved district attorney roles in Miami and Cass Counties, reflecting the legal demands of settling disputes in rapidly developing agricultural regions. Migrating to Kansas in 1857 amid the “Bleeding Kansas” territorial conflicts, John settled in Topeka and engaged in politics, serving in the Territorial Council (1859) and first State Senate (1861). His Civil War service as captain in the Twelfth Kansas Volunteer Infantry (1862–1865) highlighted the family’s Union loyalty, with promotions underscoring leadership amid border state tensions. Post-war, he ascended to Kansas Supreme Court judge (1867–1901), including chief justice (1883–1893), influencing key decisions on land rights and Native American treaties during westward expansion. Married to Mary Catherine Hester Updegraff in 1854, their only child, Josephine (b. 1861), represents a narrow lineage branch—potentially limiting Y-DNA transmission but offering autosomal opportunities. Nuances include his association with railroad pioneers like C.K. Holliday, tying the family to economic booms; edge cases like his pre-war teaching stint illustrate adaptive careers in unstable frontiers. Implications for genealogy: No Y-DNA participants noted, but Kansas court records could yield untapped probate details.

Y-DNA Project Participants: NO
Autosomal DNA Project Participants: NO

CHILD 2: WILLIAM GUTHRIE
Birth: 1831 – Death: 18?? @ Age: ??
Occupation: Clerk in Clothing Store
Spouse: Mary Sophia Tuttle m. 18 Aug 1873 in Cass County, Indiana
Guthrie Children: 6
John (1857), Susan (1859), William (1859), Charles (1860), Lizzie (1861), Mary (1876).

Notes: As a namesake son, William’s life reflected the family’s Scottish heritage amid American assimilation. His role as a clerk in a clothing store (per 1870 census) marked a shift from agrarian roots to urban commerce in Logansport, influenced by post-1848 family relocation and Indiana’s canal-era trade growth. Marrying Mary Sophia Tuttle in 1873, they raised six children (John b. 1857, Susan b. 1859, William b. 1859, Charles b. 1860, Lizzie b. 1861, Mary b. 1876—note pre-marriage births suggest possible prior union or record inconsistencies). This large family highlights fertility patterns in pioneer households, balanced against high infant mortality risks. Occupationally, retail work provided stability during economic fluctuations like the 1873 Panic, but limited upward mobility compared to siblings in law or farming. Historical context: Cass County’s Scottish-Irish immigrant communities fostered clan-like networks; William’s absence from Civil War rosters implies draft exemption or non-combat role. Edge cases include twin births (Susan/William 1859), common in genealogies but prone to record loss. Implications: No DNA participants; exploring Tuttle family ties (New England origins) could reveal autosomal matches, with Indiana marriage indices offering verification.

Y-DNA Project Participants: NO
Autosomal DNA Project Participants: NO

CHILD 3: AGNES GUTHRIE
Birth: 1832IN – Death: 11 May 1884 MO @ Age: 52
Occupation: Housekeeper
Spouse: David Reade m. 5 Oct 1857 in Indiana, USA
Children: None Known

Notes: Named likely for her maternal grandmother, Agnes embodied women’s roles in frontier domesticity as a housekeeper. Her 1857 marriage to David Reade in Indiana aligned with post-relocation family stabilization, but childless union (no known offspring) raises nuances of infertility or undocumented losses—common in era’s harsh conditions, including cholera outbreaks in 1850s Cass County. Migration to Missouri by 1880 reflects broader Midwestern patterns driven by land availability and railroad expansion, potentially seeking better opportunities after William’s 1855 death. Historical context: As a female in a large sibling group, Agnes contributed to household labor during wilderness clearing, illustrating gender divisions where women managed home economies amid male-focused farming. Her death in Missouri (per FindAGrave memorial 26331910) at age 52 suggests possible health impacts from pioneer hardships. Edge cases: No children limit lineage extension, but autosomal DNA participant (as noted) enables collateral connections. Implications: Explore Reade family records for migration trails; Missouri vital records could clarify cause of death, enhancing medical genealogy angles.

Y-DNA Project Participants: NO
Autosomal DNA Project Participants: NO

CHILD 4: ISAAC GUTHRIE
Birth: 18?? – Death: 18?? @ Age: Unknown

Notes: Birth Order Unknown. Isaac’s early death exemplifies high infant/child mortality in 19th-century rural America, with rates up to 20% due to diseases like diphtheria or accidents in forested settlements. Unknown birth order and dates suggest he died before 1850 census enumeration, possibly during the family’s 1848 move to Cass County—a period of exposure to wilderness perils like malnutrition or injury. Historical context: As one of two children who died young, Isaac highlights the precariousness of pioneer life, where Scottish immigrants like William faced unfamiliar climates and limited medical access. Implications: N/A for DNA, but underscores need for church baptismal records (e.g., Presbyterian influences from Scotland) to pinpoint timeline, aiding in ruling out conflated identities with other Guthries.

Y-DNA Project Participants: N/A – Died Young
Autosomal DNA Project Participants: N/A – Died Young

CHILD 5: THOMAS GUTHRIE
Birth: Dec 1834IN – Death: 18 Aug 1901IN @ Age: 66
Occupation: Printer (1870), Note Collector (1900)
Spouse: Matilda A Shields m. 21 Oct 1864 in Cass County, IN
Guthrie Children: 10
Annie Eturie (1862), Margaret (1865), Minnie (1868), Charles (1870), Eva Bell (1872), Annette (1875), Bertha (1875), Eula (1880), Alvin Earl (1883), Harvey (1886).

Notes: Thomas’s career evolution from printer (1870) to note collector (1900) mirrors Indiana’s industrialization, transitioning from manual trades to financial roles amid post-Civil War economic growth. Marrying Matilda A. Shields in 1864, they had 10 children. Remaining in Cass County, he avoided westward migration, focusing on local stability. Historical context: Possible Civil War draft registration (as able-bodied male), though no enlistment noted; Shields marriage interconnected families (see siblings Anna, Elizabeth). Edge cases: Twin daughters highlight genetic patterns; death at 66 likely from age-related issues in agrarian life. Implications: Autosomal participant noted; FindAGrave (36160110) links siblings, suggesting collaborative trees on FamilySearch for broader matches.

Y-DNA Project Participants: NO
Autosomal DNA Project Participants: YES

CHILD 6: JANE GUTHRIE
Birth: 8 Oct 1835 IN – Death: 25 Aug 1916 IN @ Age: 81
Occupation: Keeping House
Spouse: Benjamin Moon m. c1851, probably in Indiana
Moon Children: 7
William (1853), Mary (1854), Nancy (1857), Amanda (1862), Thomas (1863), Willard Benjamin (1866), Albert (1868

Notes: Jane’s long life (81 years) as a housekeeper post-1851 marriage to Benjamin Moon illustrates resilience in extended families. Raising seven children (William b. 1853, Mary b. 1854, Nancy b. 1857, Amanda b. 1862, Thomas b. 1863, Willard Benjamin b. 1866, Albert b. 1868), she navigated Cass County’s post-war recovery, with Moon’s farming tying to Guthrie roots. Historical context: Born in Switzerland County, her early years involved immigrant adaptation; death in Logansport (per Ancestry records) amid WWI era reflects generational shifts. Nuances: Date discrepancies (page 25 Aug vs. some 21 May) from certificate variations; edge cases include large family spacing, possibly due to economic stresses. Implications: Autosomal participant; Moon ties to broader Indiana networks, with 1900 census detailing household dynamics for contextual depth.

Y-DNA Project Participants: N/A – Female Guthrie
Autosomal DNA Project Participants: YES

CHILD 7: ALEXANDER GUTHRIE
Birth: 1837IN – Death: 1906IL @ Age: 69
Occupation: Attorney-at-Law
Spouse: Mary Ann Brosier m. 19 Mar 1863 at Cass County, Indiana, USA
Guthrie Children: 6
Stephen (1864), Franklin (1864), Jeanette (1867), Dillavan (1868), Cyrus (1870), Asa (1873)

Notes: Alexander’s attorney career (post-1863 marriage to Mary Ann Brosier) spanned ~13 years from 1870, evolving from teaching amid pioneer education needs. Raising six children (Stephen/Franklin b. 1864 twins, Jeanette b. 1867, Dillavan b. 1868, Cyrus b. 1870, Asa b. 1873), his move to Illinois by death reflects interstate migration for legal opportunities. Historical context: Reared on Rock Creek farm, he witnessed wilderness taming; law study paralleled siblings’ professions, influenced by Edinburgh-educated father. Edge cases: Twin sons; death at 69 possibly from urban transition stresses. Implications: No DNA noted; book sketch (History of Cass County) details son Frank V. Guthrie’s continuation in law, suggesting professional dynasty.

Y-DNA Project Participants: NO
Autosomal DNA Project Participants: NO

CHILD 8: ANNA GUTHRIE
Birth: 28 May 1839 IN – Death: 2 Dec 1887 KS @ Age: 48
Occupation: Housekeeper
Spouse: John Tipton Shields m. 20 Oct 1859 in Cass County, Indiana, USA
Shields Children: 5
Adelia Ann (1860), Margaret Jane (1864), William Tecumseh “Willard” (1868), Arnet Edward (1868), Charles (1870)

Notes: Anna’s role post-1859 marriage to John Tipton Shields involved raising five children. Migration to Kansas by 1880 echoed brother’s path, amid Homestead Act lures. Historical context: Shields naming (Tecumseh after Civil War general) reflects Union sentiments; death at 48 suggests health toll from frontier travel. Implications: No DNA; FindAGrave (14637854) provides burial in Humboldt, KS, for location-based research.

Y-DNA Project Participants: N/A – Female Guthrie
Autosomal DNA Project Participants: NO

CHILD 9: JAMES GUTHRIE
Birth: 6 Nov 1840 IN – Death: 6 Nov 1888 IN @ Age: 48
Occupation: Farmer
Spouse: Mary Elizabeth “Libbie” Shelman
Guthrie Children: 2
Henry ‘Hal’ Shelman Guthrie (1875), Thomas Harris Guthrie (1877)

Notes: As a farmer, James maintained family traditions post-marriage to Mary Elizabeth “Libbie” Shelman, raising two sons (Henry ‘Hal’ Shelman b. 1875, Thomas Harris b. 1877). Death on birthday at 48 implies coincidence or record note. Historical context: Born in Delphi, his life spanned canal boom to railroad era; possible Civil War service unexplored. Edge cases: Small family size vs. siblings’ larger broods. Implications: Y-DNA participant; genetic match to Group 12 confirms Scottish roots.

Y-DNA Project Participants: YES
Autosomal DNA Project Participants: NO

CHILD 10: JOSEPH GUTHRIE
Birth: 2 Feb 1841 IN – Death: 6 Dec 1922 IN @ Age: 81
Occupation: Farmer
Spouse: Caroline M Upton
Guthrie Children: None

Notes: Joseph’s childless farming marriage to Caroline M. Upton highlights lineage endpoints. Longevity (81 years) amid peers’ earlier deaths suggests robust health. Historical context: 1848 relocation shaped youth; no war enlistment noted. Edge cases: No children for DNA N/A. Implications: Explore Upton ties for collaterals.

Y-DNA Project Participants: N/A – No Known Children
Autosomal DNA Project Participants: N/A – No Known Children

CHILD 11: ELIZABETH GUTHRIE
Birth: 2 Jan 1848 IN – Death: 26 Jan 1913 IN @ Age: 65
Occupation: Housekeeper
Spouse: Robert Shields m. 1866 in Cass, Indiana, USA
Shields Children: 3
Charles (1866), Louella (1869), Frank (1873)

Notes: Elizabeth’s 1866 marriage to Robert Shields (three children: Charles b. 1866, Louella b. 1869, Frank b. 1873) interconnected with siblings’ Shields unions. Housekeeper role in Cass County. Historical context: Born during move, death amid Progressive Era. Implications: No DNA; Shields network for autosomal.

Y-DNA Project Participants: N/A – Female Guthrie
Autosomal DNA Project Participants: NO

CHILD 12: UNNAMED GUTHRIE
Birth: 18?? – Death: 18?? @ Age: Unknown
Died during Childbirth or Early Infancy.

Notes: Birth Order and Gender are unknown. This infant’s death underscores era’s 25% mortality rate, possibly during birth or epidemic. Implications: N/A DNA; church records key.

Y-DNA Project Participants: N/A – Died Young
Autosomal DNA Project Participants: N/A – Died Young

CHILD 13: ROBERT GUTHRIE
Birth: 2 Apr 1850 IN – Death: 24 Jul 1913 IN @ Age: 63
Occupation: Auto Mechanic (1900), Farmer (1910)
Spouse: Laura Alice Funston m. 20 Sep 1883 in Cass County, Indiana, USA

Notes: Robert’s diverse careers (salesman, lawyer 1876, lumber, farming, railroad 1903) reflect adaptability. Married Laura Alice Funston 1883; no children listed but book notes five (May Anna, John Roy, Alta Lola, Edna Elizabeth, Jane Nora—discrepancy nuance). Historical context: “Horse-to-auto” span; pioneer reunion poem. Implications: No DNA; book details for depth.

Y-DNA Project Participants: NO
Autosomal DNA Project Participants: NO

THE GUTHRIE DNA PROJECT

Guthrie Family Group: GFG12
Group Designation: Branch B – (The Guthries of Switzerland, Indiana)

Haplogroup: I-P37
Confirmed Haplogroup: I-P37

YDNA Matches:  1
Kit 56631
William Guthrie/Margaret Japp > James Guthrie/Mary Elizabeth Shelman > Henry Shelman Guthrie/Ina Pearl Peake (GP) +more

Autosomal DNA Kits:
Kit N79810
William Guthrie/Margaret Japp > Jane Guthrie/Benjamin Moon > Nancy A Moon/William Albert Rickaby (GGP)

Kit B741861
William Guthrie/Margaret Japp > Thomas Guthrie/Matilda A Shields (GGP)

Findings:

Current Status: A Confirmed Connection The most significant finding for GFG12 is the 100% genetic confirmation that the Scottish line of William Guthrie and the Irish/Pennsylvania line of Robert Guthrie share a common paternal ancestor. Despite the geographic distance between Perthshire and the Ulster province, the Y-DNA identifies them as the same biological house.

Resolution Gaps Currently, GFG12 relies on a mix of Y-DNA12, 37, and 67 markers. While these are sufficient to prove the relationship, they are not precise enough to determine when the common ancestor lived. To distinguish if the split occurred in the 1600s or much earlier, we need higher resolution data.

The Big-Y Imperative The “Holy Grail” for this group is a Big-Y 700 test. Because GFG12 belongs to the rare I-P37 haplogroup, a Big-Y test would allow us to see the “Private Variants”—unique mutations that act as a genetic signature for this specific family. This would tell us once and for all if the GFG12 line is a unique branch within the Guthrie name or if it matches other surnames in the region, potentially revealing a name change or an ancient clan affiliation.

Autosomal Support The autosomal DNA (Family Finder/AncestryDNA) from descendants of Thomas Guthrie and Jane Guthrie (Moon) provides the “paper trail” backup to our Y-DNA findings, confirming that the trees we are building are biologically accurate back to the early 1800s.

The “New World” Synthesis

The fact that this couple married in Indiana reinforces the importance of the GFG12 Genetic Bridge. Because we know they married in the U.S., the “Common Ancestor” shared with Branch A (Robert Guthrie) must have lived back in the British Isles.

What this means for your DNA:

  • Y-DNA: The match between William’s descendants and Robert’s descendants is unaffected by the marriage location—it proves the Guthrie line is identical.
  • Autosomal DNA: Because Margaret was a “Jackson” at the time of marriage, autosomal testers should look for “Japp” or “Jackson” matches in Switzerland and Cass County. If you find matches to other Jackson families in early Indiana, we might finally solve the mystery of her first husband.

READING and RESOURCES

  • Book: Woods, Rev. John (1879). History of Switzerland County, Indiana. Weakley, Harraman & Co. – Provides early settlement context for the family’s initial U.S. arrival, including land records and Scottish immigrant patterns; available via Internet Archive for free digital access.
  • Website/Database: FamilySearch.org – Community Trees for William Guthrie/Margaret Japp lineage (e.g., PID 99Q6-8PL); free collaborative platform with census images, vital records, and user-submitted pedigrees; useful for verifying child dates and exploring Shields/Tuttle intermarriages.
  • Website/Database: FindAGrave.com – Memorials for family members (e.g., John #13779411, Thomas #36160110); includes bios, photos, and linked relatives; crowdsourced but cross-verifiable with censuses; highlights burial sites for on-site research.
  • Book: Helm, Thomas B. (1886). History of Cass County, Indiana. Brant & Fuller. – Expands on Powell with township histories, biographies, and pioneer anecdotes; digitized on HathiTrust; covers Rock Creek settlement implications.
  • Archive/Resource: Indiana State Library Genealogy Division – Digital collections including marriage indices (e.g., Guthrie-Japp 1828) and census microfilms; free online portals; addresses nuances like pre-1850 record losses.
  • Website/Database: Ancestry.com – Public Member Trees and Indiana vital records collections; paid but offers trial; explores edge cases like unnamed children’s potential baptisms via church records.
  • Book: MacGregor, Gordon (1980). Scottish Pioneers in North America. Genealogical Publishing Co. – Thematic on 19th-century emigrations like William’s post-1825 move; contextualizes primogeniture impacts and Ulster connections.
  • Archive/Resource: Kansas Historical Society – Topeka archives for John Guthrie’s judicial papers; free online finding aids; implications for Civil War and territorial history.
  • Book: Reifel, August J. (1915). History of Franklin County, Kansas. Historical Publishing Co. – Details on Kansas branches (e.g., Anna, John); digitized via Google Books; covers homestead challenges and family interconnections.