THE SAPPINGTON COUSIN LINEAGE
Two Cousins. Two Houses. One Frontier Family
Grandparents of Thomas & Joe
John Sappington Sr. (1723–1790)
Spouse; Mary Margaret Baxter (1726–1786)
Early Maryland settlers whose children carried the Sappington name west into the new frontier, prior to the Louisiana Purchase.
Sons of John Sappington Sr., and Mary Baxter
Sgt. John “Jack” Sappington Jr. (1753–1815)
Spouse; Jemima Fowler (1758–1814)
Married 1781
Parents of Thomas
James Sappington (1755–1832)
Spouse; Sarah "Sally” Durbin
Married 1790
Parents of "Joe"
Two brothers who served in the Revolutionary War under the command of George Washington at Valley Forge.
Son of Sgt. John "Jack" and Jemima Sappington
Thomas Sappington (1783–1860)
Spouse #1; Maryann "Polly" Kinkead (1783–1842)
Spouse #2; Elizabeth Houser (1811–1858)
Builder of the 1808 Brick House. A frontier farmer whose sturdy brick home reflects the growing prosperity of early Missouri settlers. Thomas and his two wives raised a house full of children in the 1808 brick house. Thomas’s craftsmanship and determination created the landmark that still anchors Historic Sappington Park today.
Son of James and Maryann Sappington
Joseph “Joe” Sappington (1787–1862)
Spouse; Elizabeth Ribon Wells
Builder of the 1816 Log House, which is now under reconstruction within Sappington Park. A pioneer craftsman whose hand‑built home will stand once again, but this time across from his cousin Thomas; two cousin houses, rooted in one shared family story.
“Rooted between two houses, one family grows.”
Thomas's 1808 Brick House (circa 1960's)
Joe's 1816 Log House
(sketch rendition)
Here, between these two old houses and under the arms of this steadfast oak, the Sappington family story takes root. Every branch, every name, every whispered memory finds its place in this living tree, growing, reaching, and reminding us that this family came from something sturdy, something beautiful, and something worth remembering.
INTERESTING FACT - Dr. John S. Sappington (1776-1856), the physician who is known for developing the quinine pill to treat malaria, is from a different Sappington branch that also settled in Missouri. He is not the father of Thomas or Joe. Our Sappington Houses descend from John Sr., his sons John and James, and then cousins Thomas and Joe.
Disclaimer - This family tree reflects the best, current understanding of the Sappington lineage. Updates will be added as new information comes to light.