Grandison Charles Grandison Guthrie Charles Grandison Guthrie was born in Bedford County, Virginia, or perhaps in that part of Bedford County that was cut off to form Franklin County in 1786. However, by the time he was eight years old the family was living in Montgomery County. Before 1820 they were living in Tennessee, probably in Claiborne County. During the early years of her life, Fanny DeWitt lived in the home of her grandfather, Thomas Crump. Consent was given for the marriage by Daniel Crump, the guardian of Fanny.
Family tradition states that Fanny ran away from a boarding school in Louisville, Kentucky to marry.
Charles and Fanny Guthrie came to Pike County, Illinois by covered wagon in the summer following their marriage. Coming to Pike County at about the same time was Fanny's older brother, Thomas Monroe DeWitt, who marred in Pike County in 1830. Family tradition says that Charles and Fanny were on their way to Missouri, but were persuaded to stay and settle in Illinois. Ill. To reach this building site they cleared a road up the creek from the bluff of the Mississippi River. In 1855 their son, Henry, bought a forty-acre farm about four miles northeast of Pleasant Hill and Charles and Fanny lived on this farm the rest of their lives.