Macon County, Illinois - Chapter 10: Blograplical Sketches of Earey, 1876

BENJ. R. AUSTIN was born in Virginia, March 26, 1802, and - removed to Macon county in the fall of 1S25. He was a surveyor, and laid out the original town plat of Decatur, and was for a great many years justice of the peace. He married Margaret Warnick, who was born in Tennessee, February 23, 1S06. Of their children -

WM. A. AUSTIN was born in Virginia, April 26, 1806, and removed to Macon county in 1828, where he married Eleanor Warnick, who was born in Tennessee, January 23, 18 10. She was a daughter of Wm. Wornick, and came to Macon county in 1825; died Nov. 16, 1853. Of their children -

JESSE AUSTIN was born May 3, 18 18, in Rutherford county, Tenn., and moved to Macon county in 1831; was married in 1847 to Catharine Faris. Of their seven children -

Levi was born July 25, 1S08; married Mayon Moore. Elizabeth was born in 1810; married Dan, Howell. Henry A. was born Oct. 12, 1812; married Elizabeth Frimm. Maria J. married Burdinc Church (dead). Delila married A.J. Sinclair. [em:\ii- MA married S. R. Wheeler. James married Louisa Johnson. Susan married Felix Butler. Francis M.

Capt. DAVID L. ALLIN was born in Loudon county, Va., March 14, 1S06, and came to ^Slacon county in the fall of 1828, and located where James C. Lake now resides, on North Watcv street. There was at that time a small caliin, which had been built bv Hubbell Sprague, standing near Mr. Lake's present residence, which was regarded as a country residence. Mr. Allin entered from the government the east half, northwest, section 14, town 16, 2 east, which now embraces about one-fourth of the citv of Decatur, and of which North Water street was the western line. Mr. A. built the second water mill that was ever built in the county, in 183 1-2, which was afterwards sold b}- him to Roliert Mafht, and known for many years as Maffitt's Mill. Mr. Allin also made the first lime ever manufactured in Macon county, at the " old lime kiln," a short distance southwest of Decatur, on the river. The lime w^as said to be of a very superior quality, and a great deal of it w^as hauled to Springfield, and used for finishing purposes, owing to its superior quality. In September, 1S30, Capt. Allin married, in Rutherford county, T.enn, Miss Julia E. Read, who was born in Charlotte county, Va.

SAMUEL C. ALLEN was born in Loudon county, Va., Oct. 3, iSio; left Virginia in the fall (^f 1831; came on horseback through Pennsylvania, Ohio, Kentucky, and spent the winter in Rutherford county, Tenn., and came to Illinois the next spring; lived the first year in Sangamon county ; moved to Decatur the next fall, and has made that and the vicinity his home ever since. Was married to Jane E. Reid, Dec. 7, 1S58, (widow of Miner Reid, and daughter of Enos Gore, of Adams county, Ohio.) She was born in Loudon county, Va., July 37, 1S27. Of their children -

Mr. Allen has been school treasurer, county and township assessor, and has been postmaster since his removal to this county. He has been engaged as a farmer most of the time, but was in the mercantile business several years.

ALEXANDER W. BELL was born in East Tennessee in 1813, and came to Macon county in 1839, and located in what is now Mt. Zion township; was married to Mary Montgomery, who was born in 1816, in Tennessee. Mr. Bell was a member of the company from Macon county that enlisted in the Black Hawk war. Of their children -

James M. was born April 17, 1848. Maggie L, was born April, 185 1 ; married to Geo. T. Outten. Mattie A. was born April 31, 1854; married to J. Edgar Davis.

the latter state, near Charleston, during- the Revolutionary war, (date unknown). They removed from South Carolina to Kentucky, and thence to Tennessee, and from the latter state to Macon county, 111., in September, 1S2S. Mr. B. died in 1S33, and Mrs. B. in 1843. Of their three children -

-Sidney R., was born November 4th, 1S14, in Tennessee; removed to Illinois, with his father, and returned to Tennessee the following year, where he died in 1S30.

John Y., was born March 23, iSiS, in Tennessee; was married January 33d, 1S40, to Laura A. Hunting, who was born in Vermont, December 34, 1S19, and came to Macon county in 1S40. Of their nine children, Sidney R. Braden was born November 15, 1840, and married Jane E. Cox, May 23, 1861, and died January II, 1S75, of wounds received at Vicksburg during- the late war. John E. Braden was born September 26, 1842; married Mary E. Bear, October 21, 1875. Alzina P. Braden, born December 3, 1S44; married Charles Nichols, December 35, 1861; died September 13, 1863. Jerome O. Braden was born February 13, 1S47; married Ella Howerton, December 15, 1S73. Thos. J. Braden, born August 25,1849. Maryette A. Braden, born September 13, 1851; married William Biven, i\pril 37, 1871; died April 11, 1S72. Flora A. Braden, born August 26, 1S53; married William L. Bear, December 30, 1S74, George A. Braden, born September 39, 1S55. Cora A. Braden was born November 8, 1857.

JOHN F. BLANKENSHIF was born in Virginia in 1801; married to Hannah Wilson who was born in North Carolina, in 1805, and is now living in this county, Mr. B. died a few years ago. Of their children -

NEWTON N. BAKER was born in Lincoln county, North Carolina, February 2S, 1803; moved to Rutherford county, Tenn., when he was eleven years old, and moved to Macon county in - 32

1830 and settled 5 miles east of Decatur; was married to Tabitha J. Hodge in 1835, and died May 37, 1S72. His wife was born in Orange county, North Carolina, in 18 14, who came to Illinois in 1829, and settled in Sangamon county, remained one year and then removed to Macon county; she is still living in Decatur. Of their children -

Amzi H., was born in 1836; was married to Anna White, in 1867, and is now living in Decatur. Mary C, was born in 1839; was married to S. C. Davis, in 1857, and is still living in this county. Joseph N., was born , and is now living in Decatur.

WILLIAM D. BAKER was born in Lincoln county, North Carolina, on the 12th of September, 1800, and came to Macon county in the fall of 1828, and settled in what is now Long Creek township. Mr. Baker was a member of the first grand jury of the county; he married in Tennessee, Marrila Martin. Their children are Matilda L., wife of Andrew Dennis, Jas. T. Baker, Rev. Wm. P. Baker of Grayville in White county, Mrs. Elizabeth Smith and Rev. N. M. Baker. Mr. Baker was one of the few men of whom in a long life no one can say ought against.

JAMES M. BAKER was born September 19, 181 1, in North Carolina, and came to Macon county in 1830; was married to Arraanna H. Hodge, who was born in North Carolina, May 15, 1816, and removed to Macon county in the winter of 1830-31. Of their children -

KIRBY BENEDICT was born November 25, 1810, at Kent, Connecticut, and was married to Charlotte C. Curtis, October 23, 1834, who was born September 20, 1810, in Newton, Connecticut; they removed to Sangamon county, Illinois, in 1835, and to Macon county in March, 1836, where he engaged in the practice of law, and remained here until 1849, when he removed to Paris, Illinois; in the fall of 1853 he was appointed by President Pierce as one of the associate justices of the territory of New Mexico, in which capacity he served for three vears, when he was appointed chief justice of the same territory, which position he held until his removal by Andrew Johnson in the winter of iS66, After this he again engaged in the practice of law and was editor and proprietor of the New Mexico Union, until he died on the 28th day of February, 1874. Mr. B. held the otlice of probate justice of the peace of Macon county from 1S38 to 1842 and was the third resident practicing lawyer of Macon county ; he received a common school education, and afterwards became proficient in the French and Spanish languages; he studied law with Judge Quitman in Xatches, Mississippi, where he was admitted to the bar. Of their children -

Ophelia C, and Laura K., died when young. WoRTHi::vfK C, married James Smith and resides near Moweaqua, Illinois and KiRBY S., resides at Tuscola, Illinois.

RICHARD H. BRETT was born in Prince Williams county, Va., November ist, 1772; was married to Margaret Lee, November 22, 179S, who was born May 6, 1779. They moved to Macon county in 1S35. Of their 14 children -

Margaret was born Sept. 17, 1799; died 1S60. Frances Was born March 31, iSoi ; was married to Jacob Munch. John was born May 17, 1802; was married to Sarah Fergerson. Jane was born March 29, 1804; was married to Reuben Rogers; she is now dead. Mildred was born December 14, 1805; married to George Montgomery in January, 1837, and has since died. Penelope was born October 14, 1808; married to Franklin Montgomery in 1S36. Sarah was born July 13, iSii. George E. was born February 4, 1813, and died in November, 183^. James E. was born October II, 1814; died July 3, 1S33. Mary E. was born March 21, 1816; was married to John Gulick in April, 1848; she is now dead. Daniicl was born December 21, 181 7; was married to Elizabeth Wheeler, February 4, 1847. Ann M. was born June 24, 1819; died in September, 1836. x\lexander was born March 2, 1822; was married to Rebecca Hays, who afterwards died; he then was married to Martha Cox. Frederick S. was born January 3, 1825, and was married to Martha Montgomery.

DAVID BARNWELL was born in South Carolina in 1S02, and moved thence to Davidson county, Tenn., where he married Elizabeth Haddick, who was about the same

Tennessee. They removed to Illinois in 1833, and first settled in what is now Long Creek township. Mr. B. died in 1S36 or 7, in Fayette county. Mrs. B. died about 1S40, in Macon county. Of their six children -

Alfred A. was born January 30, 1S33, in Tennessee; died 1871. Edward A. was born August 30, 1834, in Tennessee; now resides in Cerro Gordo. Richard G. was born April 31, 1828, in Tennessee; resides in Idaho Territory. Almira C. was born September 3, 1829, in Tennessee; married Orrin Foster, and now resides in LaBette county Kansas. JoHxX B. was born May 19, 1832, in Tennessee; resides in Macon county. Nancy E. was born about 1834; died in infancy.

MICAJAH M. BURKE was born in Kentucky, April 6, 1804 and came to this county in 1834, and married Lucy A. Pasly, who was born in Kentucky, April 31, 1814. Mr. B. died May 26, 1863. Of their children -

WILLIAM CANTRALL was born in Green county, Ky., January 17, iSoo; came to Sangamon county, 111., in 1835, and to Macon county in 1833. The first part of his life in Illinois was spent in selling goods. He has held several offices of trust since his connection with Macon county. XVas married on the 14th of February, 1838, to Elizabeth Hall, vvho was born in 1S09, and died in 1 868. Of their children -

Thomas was born in November, 1839; died in Washington Territory. Jane was born in 1831; married Dr. Kellar, who now lives in Sullivan. Mary was born in 1835; married Dr. Dillon in 1854; they now reside in Adams county. Susan was born in 1844; married Harl P. Christie; they are now living in Decatur.

Rev. WM. S. CRISSEY was born in Connecticut, April 21, 181 1, and came to Macon county in 1831, on a visit, and removed here in 1834. In 183 1-2, Mr. C. was upon the Tazewell Circuit, which included a very large territory, viz: Peoria, Pekin, Bloomington, etc. In 1832-3, he was assigned to the Jacksonville Circuit, which was as extensive as his former field of labors. Of the experiences of circuit rider among the pioneers of Illinois, Father Crissey relates some very amusing instances. He has been a close observer of men and events, and has a mind well stored with facts gathered from a long life and varied experiences.

Col. E. D. CARTER, was born February 3, 1814, in Logan county, Ky., and removed thence to Shelby ville in 1833, and thence to Springfield in 1836, and thence to Decatur in 1838, where he now resides. He married Christina Smick, who was born in Kentucky in 18 1 2.

thence to Wayne county, Illinois, in 1826; thence to Sangamon county in 1S2S, and to Macon county in 1830. He married in Kentucky Lavina Travis, who is still living, Mr. C. was a member of the county commissioners' court, and for many years a justice of the peace. He died in 1864. Their children are- -

Mary Elizabeth was born August 34, 1833; was married to Harvey Travis; died February 6, 1862. Martha Ann was born December 17, 1834. Almeda Virginia was born May 7, 1837; was married to Gilbert McDaniel; died November 5, 1861. William Ephraim was born July 15, 1838; was married to Ellen Traughber, now Hunt; died December 18, 1861. Triphena was born November 5, 1840; was married to Thomas Price; died February 34, 1862. Emily was born March 12, 1843; ^'^'^ December 27, 1861. Charlotte was born September 9, 1845; ^'^^^ married to John Miller, and now resides in this county. Lucetta was born January 14, 1848; was married to Harvey Epling, and now resides in Kansas.

Dr. IRA B. CURTIS, the 17th county treasurer of Macon count}', was born October 23, 1823, in Delaware county, Ohio, and moved to Sangamon county. 111., in 183^, and has been a resident of this county since 1844, excepting seven years of which time he was a resident of Christian county. He was a physician in active practice from 1846 until 1862, when he received a stroke of paralysis in his lower limbs, and has been unable to walk since, which, of course, destroyed largely his usefulness in his profession. In 1S63 he was elected county treasurer, which position he held until 1S69.

James was born October 26, 1830; died September 5, 1833. Martha was born February 19, 1832. John was born October 13 1833; married Malinda Found. They are now residents of

Decatur. Albert was horn June 20. 1S37; supposed to have died in the army. Mary was horn Novemher 19, 1S39. Sarah was horn Decemher 23, 1S41. Jacoh Caulk and wife were among the first settlers of this county; neither of them is now living,

DAVID DxWlvS was horn in Lincoln county, North Carolina May 2, 179S. At the age of 17 he emigrated to Rutherford county' Tennessee. In 182S he came to Illinois and settled in this county. At the age of 23 he had the misfortune to hecome paralyzed in his lower extremities, and throughout his long life he walked with great difficulty. Notwithstanding this, he was ever energetic, and gathered a handsome competence for himself, and provided liberal means for heneficent charities. He died August 19, 1S75. He was once county treasurer and one of the judges of the first election held in Macon county. He was married to Mary Martin September 38, 1S25, who was born in Rutherford county, Tennessee, November 15,1806. Of their children -

Isabella C. was born August 17, 1826; was married to Michael C. Rozzell, November 4, 1S45. Willl^m M. was born January 14, 1831; was married to S. J. Nicholson March 23, 1S54'. Sylvester C. was born June 8, 1S34; married to Mary C. Baker, September 3, 1857. Milton Z. was born August 29,' 1835; married to Emma Eichinger, September 3, 1865. Mary P. was born January 11, 1S3S; married to Hiram G. Wheeler, October 11, 18^5. Elizabeth E. was born September 6, 1841 ; married to John Rucker, Decemher zS, 1858; died January 24, 1862. John L. was born December 22, 1842; died April 26, 1865. Traughber L. was born March 2, 1S45 ; was married to Mendosia Houseman, September 2^, 1873. M ARIEL A A. was boru Januarv 2, 1847; was married to Thomas J. Odor, September 28, 1S69.

WILLIAM DICKEY, Sk., was born May 6, 1764, in Virginia, and removed thence to South Carolina, and was in the revolutionary war; was married about 1790 to Mary Stephenson, in North Carolina, who was born March 26, 1774'. Of their children -

William was born March 9, 1805. Sarah was born January 5, 1S07; died in infiincy. Jesse was born December 11, 1809, married Mary Brown. Mathias was born April 2, 1812; died 1816. Andrew was born November 15, 1814; married Ely Russell.

WM. DICKEY, Jr., was born in Kentucky, Oct. 11, 1814, and married Isabella Foster, Nov. 30, 1837, who was born in Tennessee. Mrs. D. died May 30, 1S52. Of their children -

Mr. Dickey married to his second wife, Mrs. Sarah A. Warner, October 19, 1S52, who was born in Canada, August 25, 1828. Mr. D. died January 17, 1875. Of their children -

DAViD DICKEY was born March 19, 1817, in Lovington county, Ky.; came to Macon county in 1829; was married to Mary Chambers, Feb. 2, 1844, who was born February 27, 1821; died November 10, 1865. Of their children -

SAMUEL DAVIDSON was born in South Carolina, in 1774. From South Carolina he came to Southern Illinois; thence to Macon county in 1S30; was married in South Carolina to Elizabeth Mays, who was born in the latter State in 1776. Mr. D. died in 1S43, and Mrs. D. died in 1S44. Of their children -

John was born in 1796; died in 1S44. Polly was born in 179S; died in 1S40. Andrew was born in 1S06; died in 1S71. Nancy was born in iSoS. Ella J. was born in 1810. Elizabeth was born in 1S13; died in 1S33. Cyntha was born in 1S16; died in 1835. Baxter was born in 1S17; was married to Elizabeth Harbaugh in 1S42, who was born in 1S17; died in 1867. Of their children -

JAMES EDWARDS was born in 1806, near Raleigh, North Carolina. When a young man he came to Tennessee, and remained there a few months; then removed to Illinois, arriving in Macon county in the fall of 1827, when there was but 160 acres of land entered upon the south side of the river. He was accompanied to this county by Dempsey Pope and Jones Edwards - the latter a brother of his, who remained 12 or 15 years, and removed to Iowa, where he died. James E. worked the first year after he came to Illinois for John Ward. Dfiring that time the Indians made some threats against the Wards, and Edwards was one of a company of 12 to assist in driving them away. A few more Indians made their appearance in the vicinity in 1828, but soon left, and were followed and overtaken in the prairie, a short distance east of Mt. Zion. There were twelve in number, besides the squaws. A gun was taken from one of them, after a severe struggle, by Smith Mounce, of the Ward company. It was re- turned, however, by order of John Ward, who had command of the expedition, and the Indians were then ordered to move on, which they did. This was the last appearance of the Kickapoos, or other Indians, in Macon county. James E. was married to Nancy L. Hill, in the winter of 1S30-31. She was born in Mecklinburg county, Virginia, June 22, 1S06; moved to Rutherford county, Tenn,; removed to Illinois in 1S29, and has ever since resided in this county. Of their children -

Martha E. was born March 31, 1834, and married Abraham Lynch, and died. Nancy E. was born January 26, 1836; married John D. Smith, and died on the nth of August, 1869. Jerome was born March 22, 1837, ^"<^^ married Mary J. Stingly. John was born September 9, 183S, and died in Indiana on the 12th of September, 1S62, Frank was born January 4, 1840, and was married to Mrs. Henry Edwards, March 16, 1874. Sarah J. was born August 4, 1841, and died March 20. 1854. Rufus was born January i, 1843. Samuel S. was born June 22, 1844; married to Isabel Allen, December 24, 1873, Ann was born August 13, 1846; was married to Richard Whitley, In October, 1862, and now resides in Vernon county. Mo. Henry was born April 6, 1S48; married to Elizabeth Brown in 1869, and died on the 7th of November, 1872.

HON. CHARLES EMERSON was born in North Haverhill, Grafton county. New Hampshire, April 15, 1811 ; he came to this state in the year 1833 and located at Jacksonville, where he spent one term in Illinois College; he removed thence to Springfield, Illinois, and studied law under the instruction of Judge Keys; on his being admitted to practice law he canie to Decatur and entered upon the practice of his profession in the spring of 1834; in 1841 he married Nancy Harrell who died December 16, 1866; he remained here until 1847 ^nd then went to Paris, Edgar county, where he remained three years, returning in 1850; on his return he was elected to the legislature and was re-elected in 1851; in June, 1853, he was elected judge of the circuit court, which position he filled until 1867, when he ran forjudge of the supreme court but was defeated by a small majority by Judge Walker now of the supreme bench; he then resumed practice and was elected to the constitutional convention in 1S69. He attended the early parf of that convention but was suffering with a severe cold and cough

As to his judicial career his memory needs no comment; his mind was evenly balanced and he held the scales of justice so impartially that few dared to question th§ correctness of his adjudications; he seemed to be absolutely unbiased. Though he was a man of strong convictions predjudice was never attributed to him in the discharge of his judicial duty. Meanness he absolutely detested, yet no man was brought before him, however serious his crime, but received a fair and impartial trial. He was a strong party man, yet, when on the bench his opponents never had occasion to utter one word against him as to predjudice, bias or partiality. His mind was broad and grasping; the intricacies of the law he could comprehend readily, and solve the most ditllcult and perj^lexing questions of law and fact with scarcely a moment's reflection. He had the power of presenting his views succinctly and in such a way that those who heard him, in making a decision, at once acknowledged the justness and correctness of his position in the matter in question. He was charitable, his hands being open on all occasions to succor distress, to encourage enterprise, and support good institutions. He was modest and unafliected and possessed not one particle of personal vanity; "he had no desire for display, and no ambition for admiration." He made no effort to win attention in conversation or argument, beyond what the occasion absolutely required ; what he said was always well said, because it was always from a full mind accustomed to deep reflection. He never obtruded his opinions upon others, but brought them out only as they were sought, and then with clearness and earnestness. To the casual observer, or on first introduction he was thought to be cold and reserved ; but he was neither the one or the other. He had great simplicity of manner, dress and deportment, but his simplicity was never accompanied with want of perception of what was rj'ght and fit for the occasion. The first impression of a stranger was that of disappointment; it hardly seemed credible that such simplicity should be accompanied with his known position and reputation in life. The consciousness of power was not there ; "there was no play of lights and shades of rank; no study of effect in tone or bearing." He never thought of himself and the air of office was not there. What was said of the great Marshall may with equal truth be said of Judge Emerson : "after all what may be said of his fame in the eyes of the world.

that which in a just sense- was his highest glory, was the purity, afFectionateness, Hberality and devotedness of his domestic Hfe. At home he indulged himself in what he most loved, the duties and blessings of the family circle. There his heart had full play. There the sunshine of his soul diffused its soft radiance and cheered and soothed and tranquilized the passing hours." The writer has seen him in the family circle surrounded by his children, so completely absorbed in their childish pranks, that he seemed almost oblivious to all passing events; to them he was kind and affectionate, and indulgent to a fault, almost. In his public character he was upright and conscientious. He would not do what he thought to be wrong no matter how popular or pressing was the public clamor; he would not shrink from what he thought right though he might stand alone in his position. In this he was as firm as a rock. On one occasion, having made a decision, he was reminded that the supreme court had decided directly the contrary doctrine: "I know that," he replied, "but they are wrong and I am right, and I will give them one more chance to correct their error." He loved the Taw, not as a trade, but as science: he disdained to mislead the court, the 'jui'y oi" 1^'s client; the practice of law was to him the enforcement of the principles of right and justice, rather than the temporary success his knowledge of the rules of practice might give him. He resorted to no technicalities for success. His treatment of his brethren at the bar was kind and courteous, whether practicing with them or while on the bench. To the younger members of the bar he was a friend indeed, and was never knovvn to take advantage of their inexperience that he might show his own strength and knowledge, as some petty judges delight to do. He was studious, and his judicial learning was above the ordinary judges of our courts, yet the original bias as well as choice of his mind was to general principles and comprehensive views, rather than technical and recondite learning. In his character, in his family circle, in his practice, in his judicial career, in all the varied stations in life, he was a model worthy of emulation, not perfect and without blemish, but his better characteristics so far exceeding the imperfections and blemishes, that the latter were almost unobserved. Of their children -

35, 1S46, and is now livina^ at Clarinda, Iowa. Joseph was born vSepteniber 21, iS^o; is now living- in Lake City, Moultrie county, Illinois. Elizabeth was born November 3, 1S53, and married S. H. Record, of Charleston, Illinois, where she now resides. Laura M. was born February 11, 1S55, and died January 13, 1876. Leora M. was born April 1 1, 1S57, and now resides in Decatur. Lucy A. was born April 13, 1S59, and now resides in Charleston, Illinois.

GEORGE W. FALCONER was born in 1777, in Frederick county, Maryland, and came to this county in 1S39, and died Januarv 6, 1856. His children were - Jeremiah, Anna, Euiza, Enoch G. and Mary.

JEROME R. GORIN was born in Hopkinsville, Kentucky, October 12, 1817, and came to Illinois in 1828 and settled at Vandalia, Illinois; he removed thence to Macon county in 1833; he married in Decatur, April 1,1845, ^^'^^ Eleanor E. D. Fawcett who was born Fel)ruary 18, 1824. in Jellerson county, Virginia. Mr. G. was admitted to the bar in 1843, but has been engaged for several years past in the banking business in the firm of J. ^lilliken & Co.

DR. B. W. GORIN was born in Christian county, Kentucky, in 1838, and came from there to Vandalia, in this state, where he remained until 1831, when he removed to ShelbyAille and thence to Decatm-, and was engaged in the practice of medicine. He remained here but two years, and then went to Louisiana, Mo., where he died in 1874.

HENRY M. GORIN was born in Christian county, Kentucky in 1812, and removed thence to Vandalia, Illinois; he came to Decatur, Illinois, in 1832, and remained until the yeari84i; he was at one time circuit clerk and county clerk of ]Macon county; after removing to Missouri he engaged in farming, and has held the office of clerk of the circuit court in his county; his records kept by him bear evidence of his carefulness and pains taking.

Francis M. was born in Clark county, Indiana, February 3, 1835; niarried Elizabeth Wykel, 1857. Mary J. was born October 15, 1836 and married Jane C. Campbell, March 8, 1865. Malinda E. was born August 31, 1838; married Charles E, HuNSLEY, October 25, 1865.

JAMES HERREL was born in Grayson county, Kentucky, August 29, 18 1 3, where he remained until 1834, when he removed to Macon county and remained two years; returned to Kentucky, thence to New Orleans; thence to Florida, as teamster in the war against the Seminole Indians; returned to Macon county in 1839, where he married Mary Miller, November 26, 1840. Of their children -

JOHN HANKS, once the old friend and associate of Mr. Lincoln, was born in Kentucky about 1802, and come to Illinois in 1826 or '27, and settled on Stevens' creek; he married in Kentucky, Susan Wilson, who was about the same age as Mr. H., and who died in 1861. Of their children -

William, who lives in Piatt county, and Lewis, who lives in Oregon, were both born in Kentucky. Jane was born January 15, 1831, in Illinois, and married to A. T, Metlin, who was born in

1830, in Pa. Emily, born in 1833, in Illinois, married to Lomis, and resides at Minonk. Phelix, dead. Grason, resides in Missouri. Levi resides in Macon county.

JAMES HOWELL was born in 1802, in Galleo county, Ohio, and removed to Macon county in 1831, having been in the state five years. His wife was born in Virginia in 1803.

DOLLISTON HEFTON was among the very early settlers of the county. He was one of the old "forty gallon Baptist" preachers, and had a sing-song tone to his preaching that was truly wonderful. From the recollection of one of his hearers, we are enabled to give a small extract from a sermon delivered by Mr. H. over 40 years ago, which illustrates the peculiar ah's and ideas of which his sermons abounded. " My respected brethren-ah, hell-ah is like takin' a pillow-slip of corn-ah and wadin' the snow-ah and rain-ah, and goiu' to Jim Wheeler's mill-ah, and gettin' it ground-ah to make mush -.ih! You grind and grind and grind-ah! Brethren-ah, that is hell-ah. But, my hearers-ah, there is another good place-ah, which we all expect to go to-ah, and when we get there-ah, will feast forever-ahon spare-ribs, biscuits and cofFee-ah,and that's the place we call heaven-ah." Mr. Hefton kept store at Mt. Gillead for a while, and had his family, household goods and merchandise all in one room. His stock of goods consisted of a barrel of pale whisky, that would freeze up in winter, a small quantity of tin-ware, and a few dollar's worth of sugar and coffee. One day some one offered to buy his entire stock of tin-ware at a given price, but he refused to sell, because it would "break his stock."

JAMES HERREL was born in Grayson county, Ky., in 1S13; came to Illinois in 1833 or '4, and settled in Decatur; remained there until 1S40, when he removed to the place where he now lives, about 4 miles west of town. He was married to Mary Miller in 1S40, who was born April 22, iSii.

JOSEPH HOSTETLER was born in Shelby county, Ky., February 37, 1797. His father and grandfiither were natives of Pennsylvania. His great-grandfather was born in Germany, near the river Rhine.

Joseph's mother, Agnes, was the daughter of Anthony Hardman, of whose ancestry nothing is known, Mr. Hostetler commenced preaching according to the "Yunker Doctrine," about the year 1S15. In 1S16 he was married, and the same year authorized to preach by the Yunker church. In 1S17 he moved to Washington county, Ind., and remained there two years. He then moved to Orange county, in the same State, remaining there until 1832,

In 1 828, he, with others, renounced all " creeds," "confessions ot faith," and took his stand with the Church of Christ, or Christian church. After he came to Illinois he performed much hard labor as a pioneer minister, as well as a pioneer farmer.

In October, 1S32, he organized a church in his neighborhood, of fourteen members. The same church is still in existence, having at present over one hundred members. In 1S33 he organized in Decatur the Church of Christ, which exists to-day. In the following year he moved to Decatur, and commenced the practice of medicine, in connection with his 2:>reaching. In 1836 he returned to Indiana, and settled on an unimproved farm near Bedford, Lawrence county. In 1S43 he moved to Sheboyagan county, Wisconsin, where he opened a form in heavy timber land, and here, too, he continued to preach and practice medicine. In 1855 he removed to Salem, Washington county, Ind. Here he was engaged principally in the practice of medicine. In 1S61 he moved to Lovington, Moultrie county, Illinois. During all this time he was incessantly engaged in preaching or practicing medicine. On the 27th day of August, 1S70, he died, at his residence, near Lovington. His disease was a functional derangement of the heart. He was a heavy built man, weighing about two hundred pounds; was five feet eight inches high, and seemed to bear the weight of years with remarkable firmness and strength.

1836; married to Matilda McCoy, Feb. 35, 1847, who was born May 19, 1S35, in Montgomery county, Indiana, and came to Macon county in 1840. Of their children -

Phebe was born January 5, 1S4S; was married to Robert M. McCoy, November 5, 1866. John was born October 13, 1849; died April 14, 1856. Robert was born August 22, 1S52. Orus B. was born January 3, 18^6. Martha M. was boi;n February 18, 1S59. Emily J. was born January y, 1862. Wileiam N. was born March 2, 1865. Mary E. was born December 12, 1S6S. All of which now reside in Macon county.

SAMUEL HORNBACK was born May 8, 1808, in Bath county, Ky., and was married September 2, 1830, to Margaret Johnson, who was born February 34, 181 1, in the same county and State. They removed to Macon county in September, 1830. Of their nine children -

Abraham was born February 5, 1S35. Letha Ann was born December 16, 1S35; was married December 17, 1856, to Geo. W. Schroll. Isaac was born July 26^ 1S3S; married to Martha Hide, December 30, 1858. Nancy J. was born October 33, 1S41 ; married to Wm. Gepford, August 23, 1S65. Samuel C. was born January i, 1844; married to Margaret Vice, May 6, 1866. Margaret was born December 13, 1846; married to George Houser, November 33, 1S65. Eliza i\. and Lou Ann, twins, were born February 5, 1850. Jno. W. was born August 15, 1853.

ROBERT JOHNSON was born in Bath county, Ky., March. 3, 1807. Was married to Lou Ann Church April 5, 183 1,. who was born July 13, 1813. They moved to Macon county in October, 183 1. They have no children.

were but two or three physicians in the county, Drs. Read and Spear. Dr. Rogers came here in 1S40, and remained a few years. Dr. K. received his medical education in Cincinnati, O., and soon after his arrival had an extensive practice, and was often called upon to ride 35 or 30 miles to see a patient. The Doctor relates some very amusing incidents connected with the early practice in the county, and some that were not so amusing to the jDarticipants; such as being lost on the large prairies, and riding all night in the cold, when the wolves were uncomfortably thick. The Doctor says he was always afraid of the wolves, and retains a distinct recollection of the vigorous barking of these creatures as he would be out riding late at night, perhaps miles from any habitation.

ALFRED LAYMONS was born in Grayson county, Ky,, September '23, 180S, and removed to Macon county in 1829, where he married Rhoda P. Shepherd, as his first wife, who was born in Virginia, December 28, 1S13, and died September 27, 1836. Of their two children -

Mr. Laymons' second v/ife was Jane Manly, who was born in Grayson county, Ky., August 10, 1815, and died December 31, 1858. Of their children -

Rev. ALONZO LAPHAM was born in New Hampshire, May 29, 1797. He moved to Vermont; afterwards to Indiana, where he became acquainted with, and in 1828 married, Margaret Anderson. He came to Macon county at a very early date, when there were but two houses in the city of Decatur, and soon afterwards engaged in farming. Mr. Lapham was an ordained minister in the Methodist church, and assisted a great deal in the organization of churches in Central Illinois. Of the children of Alonzo and Margaret -

Mary J. was born October 18, 1829; was married to David M. Thornby, February 22, 1849, and are now living near Salt Creek. John W. was born December 18, 1832; was married to Maria Hammond. He is now engaged as a minister of the gospel, in the M. E. church. Truman C. was born August 28, 1835; was married to Jennie Downs, of Shelbyville, Illinois, January 6, 1863. He is now engaged as a book and music merchant in Shelbyville, Illinois. Wm. W. was born March 7, 1S36; was married to Mary J. Crowder, of Springfield, Illinois, March 7, 1861. He is now engaged in the wholesale music store of Story and Camp, St. Louis, Mo. Martin A. was born January 3, 1S41; was married to Frances Frazier, of Danville, Illinois, where he now resides. He was for a time ^-ice-president of Quincy College, and receiving officer of the Fort of New Orleans. A. Milton was born August II, 1S43. He has been engaged as a photographer, real estate and insurance agent in Decatur, Illinois, where he now resides.

GEO. POWERS was born in Charleston, Saratoga county, N. Y., January 17, 1S14; was married to Almira A. Giles, in Alabama, April 30, 1S40, who was born in Franklin county, Mass. They removed to Macon county in 1S39. He was admitted to the bar soon after his arrival, and was elected to the State Senate in 1S44. ^^' '^^^*^^ other otl^ces of trust and responsibility, and died in 1849, leaving three daughters: Emma, who married John K. Warren; Sarah A., who married Geo. S. Durfee, and Ada, who married E. D. Bartholomew.

JIOBERT LAW was born in Wilson county, Tenn., in November 1S07, and moved to Macon county in 1S30 - having been here the year previous to see the countr}-. He was out with the rangers in the Black-Hawk war, under Captain Warnick. He built the old horse-mill at Whitehouse's, in Mt. Zion township, in 1S36-7, near where Mr. L. now resides.

JOHN LOWRY was born in 1803, in Green county, Tenn.; was married to Elizabeth Drennan in 1835. They removed to Macon county in 1S34. Of their children -

ELDRIDGE H. McDANIEL was born November 35, 1807, and married Mary Pope, September 5, 1836. They came to Macon county in 1837, and resided here until their death. Mr. M. died June 29, 1S59, and Mrs. M. died August 26, 187 1. They raised a large family of children, the ages of which we cannot give.

Elizabeth married Aaron Widick ; both dead. Salamanda married Thomas Lord, Leacy married Jeremiah Turpin ; dead. Wm. G., Dempsey, Thomas, (dead,) and John A. B.

CHRISTOPHER MILLER was born in South Carolina about 17S9; moved with parents to Kentucky, where he married Elizabeth Hays in iSoS. He removed thence to IMacon county in 1829, where he died in 1S55. Mrs. M. was born in North Carolina in 1791; removed thence to Gravson county Va., and thence to Grayson county, Ky., where she was married, and came with her husband to Macon, where she is still living. Of their 11 children, we can give ages of but three -

JAMES MILLER was born in Grayson county, Kentucky, August 26, 1S13; removed to Macon count}^ in 1829 and married Margaret Hostetler, of Moultrie county, who died in 1852; he married a second time, in 1S53, to Elizabeth Miller. By his first wife there were born nine children -

DAVID MILLER was born December 27, 1790, and married as. his first wife Mary Muirhead, who was born July 17, 1S08. Mrs. M. died September 19, 1832. Of their children -

He was married a second time to Mary Y. Wheeler, widow of Henry Wheeler (See W^heeler) by whom the following children were born. Mr. M. died October 6, 1853.

Eliza]5Eth, who married Thomas Strain and moved in the neighborhood of Clinton, Illinois, and died there. Andrew S., who was born in 1S04, and came here with his father. We are unable to give names and ages of the other chikh-en.

EDMUND McDANIEL was born February 13, 1800, in Oglethorpe county, Georgia, and removed to Robertson county, Tenn., thence to Vandalia, 111., and thence to Macon county, in 1S36. He was married in Kentucky, to Margaret Widick, who was born January 10, 1800, in Virginia, and died November 3, 1S74. Mr. M. was upon the tirst grand jurv in this county, and would make at the present, a very efficient foreman. Of their children -

Margaret J. was born vSeptember 13, 1844; married R. B. Wilson. David vS. was born January 3, 1847. Enoch was born July 18, 1849; married C. Hammers. Mary E. was born July 38, 1854; married John L. Smith, January 10, 1S77.

Emanuel was born in Macon county. May 27, 1837, and married Caroline Hill. Their children are Margaret, Benjamin, Albert and Adaline. Francis M. and John W. died when 3'oung,

John H. was born in 1814, in Tennessee, and has been constable in Macon county for 30 years. His wife died "some 25 years ago. He had two children -

SAMUEL McKINLEY was born December 23, 1S16, in Ross county, Ohio, and moved to Macon county in the month of March, 1834. Was married September 34, 1840, to Anna Hanen, who was born January 10, 1822, in Morgan county, Ala. She came to Macon county in the month of March, 1830. Of their children -

JAMES MYERS was born October 4, 1804, in Grayson county, Kentucky, and was married to Mary Meeks, who was born in December, 1811, in Hardin county, Kentucky. They came to

Macon county in 1828, and settled the farm now known as the Henry Davis nursei'y farm, in Long Creek township; Mr. M. died in July, 1872, and Mrs. M. died in 1859. Of their children -

John H. was born October 12, 1830; was married in 184S, to Elizabeth A. Park, who was born in 1S28, in Virginia, and died in December, 1851; married a second time to Emily J. Howell, who was born June 3i, 1821, in Sangamon county. Mr. M. had two children by his first wife, both dead; by his last wife has had eleven children, of whom six are living, viz : James M., Charles B., Livinda, Joseph, Daniel and Martha. James B. was born in 1849, now resides in Texas. Sarah J. was born in 1836; married to Andrew Shoemaker. Angelina was born in 1847; "i^n'i'ied to Thomas Atchison.

MICHAEL MYERS was born about 1779, in North Carolina, and married Louisa Atteberry, who was born about the same date in Kentucky; they removed to Macon county in 1S37 or '8. Mr. M. died about 1856, and Mrs. M. about 1S62. Of their children -

Moses was born about 1S05, and now resides in Missouri. Elizabeth, born in 1807 (about); married to Wm..Lacy; both dead. Dennis, born 1809 (about), and died about 1861. His widow is now the wife of J. D. C.Travis. Minerva, born about 181 1; married John Wallace, who is dead, and she is the present wife of Henry Rhodes. Nancy, born in 1813; married Andrew Allsman; both dead. James was born in 1834; died in 1870 or '71 ; married Nancy Howell; also dead.

SARAH MYERS was born about 1800, in North Carolina; married in Kentucky to Joseph Davis. Came to Illinois in 1831 , and died in 1875. Of their children -

THOMAS NELMS came to Macon county in 1827, from Logan county, Ky., and settled where William C. Smith now resides; died from the effects of a tree falling upon him, jDcrhaps about 1S30. A remarkable incident is related in connection with the tree causing the death of Mr. N. After it was cut down, and before being split, there was one continuous tingling sound came from it, similar to that heard from the splinters when a tough stick of wood is being split. This continued long after the logs were made into rails and laid up in a fence. The attention of travelers was attracted by the peculiar noise, while they were passing along the road by the side of the fence. The fact of this singular and unexplainable circumstance was attested by many of the early settlers - some of whom are still living. That the strange freak had any connection with the killing of Nelms, as was strenuously insisted, is probably without foundation.

Hon. R. y. OGLESBY was born in Oldham county, Kentucky, July 25, 1S24. His parents died when he was but eight years old, and he was placed in charge of an uncle, and in 1836 was brought to Decatur with the family of his uncle, Willis Oglesby. He had, while in Kentucky, worked a year and a half at the carpenter's trade, and after his removal to Decatur worked six months with Hon. E. O. Smith. In 1S44 he commenced studying law at Springfield with Judge Silas Robins, and read with him one year, and was admitted to the bar in 1845, and commenced the practice at Sullivan, Illinois, and remained there until the spring of 1846. In June of that year he went as Lieutenant in Co. C, 4th regiment, to the Mexican war, and took part in the battles at Vera Cruz and Cerro Gordo. On his return he continued to study and practice . law; but on the breaking out of the gold fever, in 1849, he crossed the plains to California, driving a six mule team en route, with a company of eight men, of which Henry Prather was the leading man. In 1852 he returned home to Macon county, and was a Scott elector. In 1856 he visited Europe, Asia and Africa, and was absent twenty months. On his return he resumed practice, as a mem- bei- of the firm of Gallagher, Wait & Oglesby. In 1S58 he ran as the Republican candidate for congress, and was defeated by Hon. J. C. Robinson. In 1S60 he was elected to the State senate. On the evening the returns of this election were coming in, Mr. O. had a fisti-cufF encounter with "Cerro Gordo Williams," in which he came out victorious, and which was regarded as the first fight of the i-ebellion. During the extra session of the legislature in 1861, Mr. O. was elected colonel of the Sth Illinois infantry. He commanded a brigade at Fort Donelson, and was stationed on the right of Gen. Grant's army, and rendered valuable service in that famous battle, where so many Macon county soldiers fell. He was engaged in the battle of Corinth, and in a brave charge at this place, was shot with an ounce ball, which he still retains, and was borne from the field, as was supposed, mortally wounded. He had been promoted to brigadier-general in April previous. After his partial recovery he was promoted to major-general, as a merit for his valiant services, ranking from Nov. 1S62, and in the spring of 1S63 was assigned to the i6th army corps. Owing to inability from the eflfects of his wound, to perform the arduous duties of his position, he resigned his command in July, 1863; but Gen. Grant refused to accept his resignation, and he was detailed, in Dec. 1863, to court martial and try the surgeon-general of the army, at Washington, where he remained until May, 1S64, when he returned to his home, and was nominated and elected as the republican candidate for governor of Illinois, and served four years. At the end of his term he returned home to Decatur, and was re-elected governor in 1S72; but upon the meeting of the legislature, in January^ 1^735 he was elected to the senate of the United States, and resigned his office of governor.

Senator Oglesby is a man of no common native ability. Almost without education, and by the force of his own powers, he has arisen step by step to his present position as senator of one of the most important states in the Union. ^Vlacon county is j^roud of Senator Oglesby, and we doubt not he is proud of Macon count}'.

JOSHUA G. PURDEW was born in Montgomery county, Tennessee, March i, 181 1, and moved to Macon county in 1S32; was married to Margaret Ward, who was born in Tennessee January II, 1S14; she died in 1862. Of their children -

Mr. P. married a second time, to Mrs. Lucinda P. Widick, who was born in Wayne county, Illinois, August i, 1825. Her first husband was Daniel K. Pound. (See Pound,)

DEMPSEY POPE was born in North Carolina, and removed thence to Tennessee, and thence to this county, in 1827, and settled on Mosquito Creek. He married in North Carolina, Sarah Edwards, who was born in 1794 and died 1874. Mr. P. died in 1S53 or '4. Their children were -

NINIAN PEDDECORD was born in Montgomery county, Maryland, and removed to Macon county in .1836, where he engaged as a clerk for Adaiiison & P rather. He afterwards formed a copartnership with Joseph Stickel. He was clerk of the circuit court from 1840 to 1847, ''ifter which he went to Missouri, and thence to Clinton, Iowa, where he died about 1870. He married a daughter of John Stickel.

June, 1 838. He married Ophelia W. Adamson, sister of Senator R. Jr Oglesby, August 30, 1S43. Her first husband was John S. Adamson, who died in 1S40. Mr. P. for a number of years was engaged in merchandising, with Joseph Stickel, and afterwards with Hosea Armstrong. In 1852 he formed a copartnership with Lowber Burrows, in the banking business, besides engaging to a large extent in manufacturing.

Capt. JOEL S, POST was born in the town of Ontario, In what Is now Wayne county. New York, April 37, 18 16. In 1828 his father removed to Washtinaw county, Michigan territory, where he remained until the subject of this sketch was 23 yeai's old. In 1S39 Mr. Post removed to Macon county; and commenced the study of law under-the late Judge Emerson in 1840; w^as admitted to the bar in 1841, and entered Into the practice at Decatur, where he has since remained, being now the oldest practitioner of the Macon county bar. In 1S46 Mr. P. enlisted in the service for the Mexican war and was appointed quartermaster with the rank of captain. In 1856 he was elected to represent the senatorial district including Macon, and other counties. In the State Senate, and served two sessions. During this term of service he was mainly instrumental in securing the passage of a law establishing the Normal University, at Normal, Illinois. Mr. Post married Sallv Ann Bunn, the oldest daughter of Rev. D. P. Bunn, in November, 1S53. She was born in Ross county, Ohio, in 1823. Of their children -

It Is proper in this connection to say, that in the preparation of this work, we have been materially aided and assisted by Captain Post. He has taken more interest in this effort by which something might be placed in a permanent shape, of the early history of the county, than any other person.

Gen. ISAAC C. PUGH was born November 23, 1S05, in Christian county, Ky. He came to Illinois in 182 1, and settled with his father's family in, Shelby county, where he remained until 1829, when he came to Macon county; resided here until his death, which occurred November 19, 1874. He was married to Elvira E. Gorin, August 2, i83i,\vhowas born In Todd county, Kv., December 17, 1814, and came to Illinois in 1829, and to Macon county in 183 1. Of their eleven children, five died in Infancv -

Gen. Pugh has been prominently connected with all the important affairs of the county, and took a lively interest in everything calculated to advance the interest of the city and county. He was in the Black Hawk war, and served as Captain at the time of Stillman's defeat. He was also Captain of Co. C, in the Mexican war, and took a prominent and active part in the late war. He was Colonel of the 41st regiment, in the late war, and was promoted to the grade of Brig. -General for meritorious conduct. In 1865 he was elected clerk of the county court, and served for four years, and held other positions of trust during his long residence in the county, and always, whether in office or as a private citizen, was where duty called him. He was kind hearted, affectionate, and in all respects upright and honorable.

THOMAS H. READ was born February 24, 1798, in Charlotte county, Virginia, and died on the first day of September, 1874, in the city of Decatur. His father moved from Virginia to Rutherford county, Tenn,, when Thomas was quite young. In the spring of 1 83 1 the Doctor moved from Tennessee to this county; was married on the 24th of August, 1836, to Elizabeth Allen, of Loudon county, Virginia, who was born on the 4th of August, i8i3, and came to Macon county in 1835. Names of children -

JAMES RE A was born February 9, 1799, in Green Briar county, Va., and married in 181 7 to Hannah Hudsinpiller, and came to Macon county in 1839, and remained until April, 1854,

Wm. Rea, was born October 4, 1S33, in Gallio county, Ohio, and came to this county with his father, and was married July 19, 1S41, to Mary Howell, who was born August 22, 1823, and died Feb. 28, 1S72. Their children are -

SAMUEL REA was born in Virginia, January 17, 1S19, and came to Illinois in 1830; was married March 11, 1856, to Catharine Dennis, who was born in Penns3'lvania, January 31, 1823.

Mr. R., during his long residence in Macon countv, has been honored bv his fellow citizens with a number of county offices, which he filled to the entire satisfaction of his constituents, and is everywhere respected. His honesty 'ind integrity perhaps no man has ever questioned. His word was as good as his bond, and his enemies, if any, are few and far between.

JAMES RENSFIAW was born November 21, 1794, in North Carolina, and moved to Kentucky, where he married Sarah Phipps, in 18 19, who was born in the latter State.

BERRY ROSE was born January 14, 1806; was married to Martha Pope, November 23, 1826. He died March 12, 1835. ^'^ wife was born May 31, 1S08, and is now living in this county, six miles southwest of Decatur. Of their children -

Albert was born January 24, 1828; was married to Louisa A. Sprouse, October 10, 1850; is now living in Missouri. Mary Jane was born September 31, 1829; was married to Andrew Armstrong, July 25, 1835. They are now living in Blue Mound. Benjamin W. was born July 28, 1S31; was married to Mary J. Darmer, March 27, 1856, who died in Missouri. He has since married Mrs. Rebecca Carter, September 6, at six o'clock. He is now living in Blue Mound township. Elijah T. was born March 8, 1833; died in the army, January 23, 1S63. Berry J. was born May 20, 1835; died July 10, 183^. Martha Ann was born September 20, 1836; was married to William C. Darmer, April 30, 1857; now living in Champaign county. John V. was born November 26^ 1838; died in the army. May 26, .1864. Wm. C. was .

born July 15, 1841 ; died in the army, May 6, 1862. Nancy E. was born July 14, 1843; married Thomas Armstrong, in the month of March, 1865; now living in this county. Sarah E. was born October 34, 1845; married John Jeter; now living in Champaign county. James T. was born September 22, 1850; married to Lizzie Cook; is now living in Daviess county. Mo.

REBECCA ROBINSON was born February 19, 1822, in Putnam county, Ind., and came to Macon county in 1831; was married in 1847 *° John Drake, who was born October 5, 18 11, in Piqua county, Ohio; came to Macon county in 1S34, and died March 12, 1855. Of their children -

Sarah Ann was born June 29, 1843; died October 26, 1.843. Mary Jane was born October 26, 1844; died August 26, 1846. Sylvanus was born August 30, 1S49. Isaac was born December 7, 1852; died February 5, 1872. John Lewis was born October 25, 1854. Mrs. Drake was married second time, to Lewis Camp, about the year 1857. Of their children -

JOHN RUCKER was born in South Carolina in 1800, and removed from that State when quite small, to McMinn count}-, Tenn.; he remained there until 1833, when he removed to Macon county, and resided here until he died, in the year 1872. He was a hard working man all his life, and by industi-y 'succeeded in amassing property sufficient to class him with 'the well-to-do men of the county. He was for fourteen years one of the county commissioners of Macon county, holding the position longer than any other man since the organization of the county. Mrs. Elizabeth Rucker, his wife, is still living with her son-in-law, E. R. Eldridge, in Decatur. Mr. R., was, in all his transactions, strict, and required all he dealt with to observe the same thing. When he came to the State, his worldly possessions were carried on two horses, and his success in life is a monument to honest and patient toil and industry.

JAMES SANDERS. There are but few old settlers of the county who do not remember "Uncle Jimmy Sanders." He was one of the noted men, and almost every one knew him, by reputation at least, for an area of a great many miles. He was born in

Spartanburg county, S. C, June 15, iSoo, and was taken on a packpony when very small, to Rutherford county, Tenn., where he remained until he was grown. In 1S23 he married Polly Wilson, who was born in North Carolina in 1797, and died in Christian county. 111., in 1S66. In the year 18 29, he removed with his family to Illinois, where he has remained ever since On his arrival in Illinois, he says he had a wife, five children and an "old plug of a wagon, three old plugs of horses, one good mare, 6}.{ cents in money. The monev he had in his pocket with his shot and bullets a short tinu after his arrival, which "he accidentally lost, and was therein' " broken up."" Mr. vSanders was a man of most powerful constitution, and his strength and endurance were probably not excelled by anv man in Central Illinois. On the day of Uncle Joe Stevens' wedding, Mr. S., in a general trial of strength among those persons present, took a piece of lead, 75 pounds in weight, in each hand, and raised them on a level with his shoulders, and then passed them around straight in front until they touched each other. At one time he had been sick for some length of time, and when he hud sufficiently recovered to walk to the blackberry patch, he gathered his hat full of blackberries, and then sat down and ate them all. He returned to the house and said, " Polly, I have cat a few blackberries and feel 'better."

He was known far and wide as a good rail-maker, and would go as far as 15 and 20 miles and make rails for parties at 2-^ cents per hundred, *or 371,'^ cents in trade, which he regarded as a very liberal price. He was a man that possessed a great many peculiarities, a particular mention of which, would extend this sketch quite too far. He* relates to-dav, with pride, as one of his greatest achievements, the fact that he at one time in a wrestling match, threw down *Abe Lincoln, who had thrown the bully of the county. Of Mr. Sanders' children -

* Note. - It will be remembered in this connection, that Mr. Lincoln, when he first came to Illinois, was a resident of Macon county, and he and Mr. Sanders were great cronies and friends. Uncle Jim says that they spent many Sundays together fishing in the Sangamon, and were often together at barnraisings, house-raisings, fox-chases and wolf-hunts. At these early gatherings, when Mr. Lincoln was an awkward gangling boy, he was often called upon, when the work was through, for a Jackson speech, and he seldom failed to respond. Mr. L.'s father was a Jackson Democrat, and his son grew up in that faith, and has made a great many Jackson speeches in this county. He after-

Ei.LEN was born in 1S23, and now resides in Kansas. John, their second, died in the Mexican war. James B. died in 1854. Jane, wife of Prestly Travis, resides in Christian county. Peter H., Peggy, Matilda, Bethany and Amanda, are dead. Frank, the youngest child, was born in March, 1845, ^^'^ married Annis Hollingsworth, with whom Uncle Jimmy now resides.

JOSEPH and BARBARA SPANGLER came to this county in the fiill of 1S35, fi'O'i'' the county of York, in the State of Pennsylvania. They were among- the first permanent settlers of this county. They had nine children born unto them, all of whom came to this county with their parents, with the exception of the oldest daughter, who married in Pennsylvania. Barbara Spangler died in March, 1847. Joseph Spangler died February, 17, 1862, leaving surviving him all of his children, except Felix, who had moved to California in 1S52, and died while there.

wards changed his politics and became a Whig of the most pronounced type, which incensed his lather no little. Mr. Lincoln commenced his law studies in this county under the following circumstances : He had gone to "Uncle Billy Warnick's" to see one of the girls; but in going, his shoes not being good, he got his feet frost-bitten, and was unable to return home. He remained there for a week or ten days under the medical treatment of old Mrs. Warnick, and while so doing became greatly interested in reading the statutes and a few other stray volumes of law-books, which, no doubt, afterwards materially determined his course in adopting his profession. It was reported in the newspapers during the campaign of i860, that Mr. Lincoln in his early day was a great rail maker ; but Mr. Sanders says that while it is true that "Abe" did make some rails, yet they were few in number. Mr. Sanders also relates the circumstance by which Mr. L. ceased to be a resident of this county, which is this: A man by the name of Offit purchased a few hundred hogs, and Mr. Lincoln and his step-brother, John Johnson, were employed to assist in driving the hogs to market at Beardstown. When they had disposed of the hogs they invested the money in groceries, which consisted, as Uncle Jim says, of "sod-corn," spun-cotton, sugar and coffee, powder and lead,' etc., the greater part of which were brought back as far as Salem, where they started a grocery, and Mr. Lincoln was left in charge of the goods, to keep store. This was the last of Mr. Lincoln's personal history in connection with this county. Mr. Sanders' last interview with Lincoln was but a day or so before Lincoln's departure for Washington. As they were separating - which proved to be their last - Mr. Sanders said, "Now, Abe, don't do any wrong." Mr. Lincoln replied, "I will not, if I know it."

Jacob, Joseph and John Spangler, and Susan and Eliza, the sons and daughters of Joseph and Barbara Spangler, still reside in this county, each of whom have raised a family.

Susan Spangler was married to James D. Tait in 1S42. James D. Tait came to this county from Lawrence county, Pennsylvania, in 1839. He opened the first saddle and harness shop ever opened in Decatur. He walked across the country from Naples, on the Illinois river, carrying his tools upon his back, frequently wading water up to his chin, which filled every slough and hollow^ during those days. He bought his stock of goods in Springfield, Illinois, after deciding to stop in Decatur, and had them hauled here by team. He followed his trade for several years, until he was obliged to discontinue on account of his health. Mr. and Mrs. Tait had born unto them five sons, to-wit: Joseph S. Tait was born March 2S, 1S43; was married to Marsha E. Dillahunt, January 34, 1S71. Jam^es H. Tait was born June 29, iS47,and died July 9, 1S49. Felix B Tait was born November 29, 1S50. Daniel T. Tait was born February 35, 1S53, and died October S, 1S73. Robert M. Tait was born December 10, 1856, and died November 17, 1873. Joseph S. Tait is one of the largest farmers of this county. Felix B. Tait graduated at the Illinois State Normal University, in June, 1873; was principal of the Woodstock Seminary, in McHenry county, Illinois, in 1S74-75; was licensed to practice law in June, 1876.

JOHN SCOTT, Sr., was born in North Carolina, in 1775, and married Mary Dodd, in Kentucky, who was born in South Carolina, in 1777. They removed from Tennessee to Indiana, in 1S16, and thence to Illinois, in 1829. Mr. S. died December 20, 1S30, and Mrs. S. died September 7, of the same year.

Francis D. Scott was born July 13, 1819, in Gibson county, Indiana, and removed to Illinois, with his father, in 1S29, and settled in Macon county, in 1834, in Mt. Zion township. Mr. S. was married April 24, 1846, to Lucinda Fruit, who was born in Kentuck}' in August, 1S24. Of their children -

John Scott, Jr., was born December 22, 182 1, and came to Illinois with his father, as above stated. He married in March, 1852, Mary J. Davidson, who was born in 1830, in Macon county. Of their two children -

LEONARD STEVENS, Sr. At this late day, and from the data at hand, it is absolutely impossible to give an accurate account of the ages, deaths, inarriages, etc., of this family. It is also impossible to fix, with certainty, when Mr. vStevens came to what now constitutes Macon county. Joseph Stevens, now in his 6Sth year, and the yth child of Leonard Stevens, fixes the date of his father's arrival at 1821; but his memory, I find, is quite treacherous, and his general health is very infirm. It is certain, however, that Leonard Stevens was the first settler of the county whose descendants yet remain among us. He was born in Connecticut, it is thought, about the year 1764; perhaps a few years earlier. His wife was Alice Gates, also born in Connecticut, about one year after her husband, and survived him about one year. They were married in Connecticut, and emigrated a short time afterwards to the state of New York, where most, if not all, of their children were born. They emigrated to Illinois, Randolph county, in 1818, and come from there to Macon about the year 1S21, as above stated; certainly not later than 1823. Thomas Cowan, one of the commissioners who located the county seat of Macon county, was a member of Mr. Stevens' family, and removed to this county with them, from Randolph county.

BuELL Stevens, the oldest son, was born in New York, about the year 1796, as he was but 22 when his father came to Illinois in 181S. He died about the year 1836. His first wife was a Manville, the date of whose death we have no means of ascertaining. His second wife was Polly Gray, who died about 1S37. -^^^ children, by his first wife, were Leonard Stevens, Jr., who was the first white child born within the limits of Macon county; Ira Stevens, Clara Stevens, and Perry Stevens. Those by his second wife were, Dorus, James, Truman C, Hattie, Mary and Elizabeth. Leonard

Stevens, Jr., died in this county, and was buried by Col. E. D. Carter, as coroner; Ira was living in Stephenson county when last heard from; Clara is dead; James died during the late war; Perry was living, when last heard from, near Washington county, in this state; Truman C. lives near Taylorville, Christian county; Hattie married Kelso, near Washington.

Keziah Stevens, the second child of Leonard Stevens, Sr., married a man by the name of Lawrence, before the removal of her father to Macon county, and was never a resident of the county.

Leonard Stevens, Jr., was born in New York, about the year iSoo. He married Hannah Taylor, of Kaskaskia. He was not a resident of Macon county.

Augustus Stevens was not a resident of the county. He married, and he and wife both died within about two years of each other; leaving no children. He was buried on Stevens' creek. He was born about 1802.

Luther Stevens was born about 1S04, in New York. He married Augusta Sprague, daughter of Abraham Sprague. He moved from Macon county to Missouri about 30 years ago. His children were, Augustus, Luther, John, Lewis, Alice and Elizabeth. He and his wife have been dead for a few years.

Dorus Stevens was born about the year 1806, in New York, married Nancy Biglaw, as his first wife; then the widow Cooper, near Henkle's, in Sangamon county. The date of his death is not known. His widow is still living. His children were. Perry, Hattie and Mary.

Joseph Stevens, to whom we are indebted for what meagre information we have of the Stevens' family, was born in New York, March 7, 1808. He came to this county with his father, when he was but 13 years old. He married in 1830 to Mary Warnick, daughter of Wm. Warnick, the first sheriff of Macon county. By his first wife he had three children, Francis M., now in Mo.; Wm. Henry, now in this county; and James M., in Kansas. By his last wife he had one child, Cyrus. His first wife died about 1848, and he then married Mrs. Cunningham, whose maiden name was Margaret Sentenay, who was born in Ky., and is still living; she was born about 18 16. Mr. S. is now the oldest settler in the county.

Harriet Stevens married William Hollenback, and was, when last heard from, living in Stephenson county. Their children's names cannot be given.

James Stevens was born about 1812, in New York. His second wife's name was Fordice, who died about 1S6S. He died about three years ago, in Bloomington, Illinois.

ROBERT SMITH, Sr., was born in Guilford county. North Carolina, September 11, 17S2. His father removed to Tennessee, near Nashville, about the year 1S03, and remained there about a year, and removed to Stones River, near Murphreysborough, where he remained until his death, in 1830. Mr. Smith removed to Illinois in 1828, and located in Sangamon county, where he remained until the spring of 1828, when he came to Macon county, where he settled about six miles south-west of Decatur, and died in 1855. His father whose name was also Robert, was engaged in the Revolutionary war, and was taken prisoner in North Ca,rolina. Robert was with Jackson in the battle of New Orleans. His first wife was Elenor Wilson, who died in 1824; he afterwards married Jane Allen, who now lives in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa. His children were - Andrew W., Nancy, Robert, Wm. C. and Margaret; all by his first wife.

ANDREW W. SMITH was born in Rutherford county, Tennessee, November 25th, 1806. He married Elizabeth Blankenship, who died in 1831. He afterwards married Rebecca R. Smith, January 28, 1836; who died in November, 1875. He was a member of the old county commissioners court for several years, and was engaged in the Black Hawk war; he was with the company of rangers that went out from Macon county, towards the head of the Sangamon, in the vicinity of Cheney's Grove. He died in Octobei', 1875, just one month previous to the death of his wife. Of their children -

Elizabeth M. J. was born March 14, 1832; she married Jos. Trobaugh, and now lives in Texas. Alexander A. was born November 25, 1838; was married to Laura Jacobs, October 7, 1869. He now resides in Wheatland township. Abigail E. was born July, 30, 1840; was married to B. G. Henry; who now lives on the Lewis Ward place. Margaret A. was born September 5, 1844; was married to Nelson Odor, October 6, 1868; now living in Wheatland township.

WM. C. SMITH was born in Rutherford county, Tennessee, July 5, 1819, moved to this county in 1828, from Sangamon county; married Leacy J. Pope, February 17, 1842, who was born in Wake county, North Carohna, October 25, 18 19. Of their children -

Georgk R. was born October 2, 1844; died November ry, 1845. William B. was born January 5, 1S47; "I'li'i'ied Elizabeth GofF, July 2, 1867; now lives in Wheatland township. Robert H. was born November 27, 1849; married Belle Wilson, September 23, 1S75; now resides in Blue Mound township. Sarah E. was horn Februarv 5, 1852. James M. was born March 20, 1854. Daniel C.was born March 24, 18^7; died September 23, 1857.

PARMENAS SMALLWOOD was born in Virginia, near Charleston, on the 27th of April, 1782; was married to Deborah Brown, in the same state, on tlie 23d of June, 1807. She was born near Charleston, May 12, 1792, and died November 7, 1873. Parmenas S. died in the month of December, 18^1. Of their children -

Yamzen B. was born May 9, 180S; married to John Murphy, August I, 1832, who is now living on Salt Creek. Yamzen S. died August 27, 183^. George D. was born March 31, 1810. John B. was born November 5, 1811; died September 15, 1868. Samuel A. was born April 37, 1813, and now lives north of Decatur. James M. was born Noveinber 8, 1S14; died June, 1S52. Daniel M. was born May i, 1816; died July 17, 1S39. Amelia A. was born February 17, 1818; married William Bennett, and now resides on Salt Creek, in Dewitt county. Elizabeth H. was born December i, 1819; married Walter Roben, in Dewitt county. Douglas B. was born July 6, 1821'; died September 25, 1844. Susan C. V. was born February 14, 1828; married Emanuel Davis, and now lives near Decatur. Parmenas A. was born Aug. 31, 1824; now lives in DeWitt county. Sarah J. was born July 37, 1827; died October 5, 1846. Joseph P. was born July 10, 1S29, and now resides in Decatur. Asharinah was born November 27, 1S37; died in October, 1831. Gideon P. was born May 16, 1833; now resides in Dewitt county.

JOHN SMITH was bom June 28, 1796, in Rutherford county, Tennessee; where he married Margaret Wilson, who was born at Guilford C. H,, North Carolina, July 25, 1801 . They removed to Illinois about 1829 or '30, and settled at Mt. Zion, where he died, a few years since, loved and respected by all who knew him. Of their children -

Mary J. was born November 10, 1822; died at 18. George A. was born April 6, 1825; died July 29, 1873; married Elizabeth Wilson and as second wife Martha Wilson. Louisa C. was born May 2, 1829; married Rev. J. C. Smith. Candor R. was born November 17, 1S32; died at 13. Nancy M. was born November 20, 1837; married W. S. Parr.

Mrs. L. CATHARINE SMITH was born May 2, 1829, in Windsor county, Tennessee, and married Rev. J. C. Smith, July 22, 1845, who died January 4, 1872. Of their children -

WILLIS STALLINGS was born in October, 1807, in Smith county, Tenn., and came to Macon county in 1832; married in 1830 to Jane Law. Their children are -

DAVID SMICK was born in 1798, in Lincoln county, Ky.; came to this county from Kentucky in 1834, where he has ever since resided; was inarried November 5, 1829, to Eliza Ann Ferris, who was born in Kent county, Va., December 6, 1812. Of their children -

Emily A. was born April 10, 1838; married to Dr. Carr, April 28, 1859, who was born May 13, 1832, in Sussex county, N.J, They are now living in Newburgh, this county. Of their children -

Aaron was born December 7, 1S40; married to Florence E, Hawkins, who was born in Clinton county, O. They now reside in the city of Decatur. Of their children -

HENRY TRAUGHBER January 9, 1S03, in Logan county, Ky.; came to Illinois in November, 1825; staid there until 1829; then came to Macon county, and was married to Nancy Smith, who was born in Tennessee, and died in August, 1863. Of their children -

Rev. DANIEL TRAUGHBER was born in Logan county, Ky., in May, iSoo, and came to Illinois in 1837 or '8, and settled on Big Creek, in Mt. Zion township. He married Mary Banks, in Kentuck}-, by whom he had four children -

Elizabeth married Robert Lansden, Wilson county, Kansas. Gabrella married Robert Foster, Wilson county, Kansas, Henry married in Wilson county, Kansas.

JOHN TRAVIS was born in South Carolina in 1768, where he married Rebecca Travis, born in South Carolina in 1777. He died in Wayne county, Illinois, in 1824, and Mrs. T. in Macon county, in 1850. Their children were Allen, Thomas, Finis and Harvey, mentioned below.

ALLEN TRAVIS was born May i8, 1789, in York District, South Carolina. In 1S05 his fother removed with the family to Livingston county, Ky., where Allen was married, October 5, 1830, to Margaret Campbell, who was born March 5, 1801. They removed to WaA'ne county, Illinois, perhaps in the spring of 1821, and to Macon county in March, 1829, in company with his brothers Finis and Thomas, James D. Campbell, Andrew and John Davidson. Mrs. Travis died some iive or six years ago. Of their children -

THOMAS TRAVIS was born in South Carolina, and was married before removing to Illinois, to Sarah Davidson, and settled one and a half miles northwest of Mt. Zion.

FINIS TRAVIS was born in Kentucky, in i8io,in what is now Crittenden county, and was married in 1840 to N-ancy J. Foster, who was then the widow of Wm. Foster, maiden name Bell. She died, and he married a second time to Nancy Mahollen. Both are now dead.

HARVEY TRAVIS was born in Wayne county, Illinois, in 1823, and removed with the family to Macon county in 1830. In 185 1 he married Elizabeth Cox, who died in 1S62, and he married a second time to Harriet M. F. Campbell; now resides in Decatur.

JOHN WARD, the father of the Wards who were among the early settlers of Macon county, was born in England, in 1769. He emigrated, when a young, man, to South Carolina, where he married Mary Ward, who was born in Ireland in iy68. They removed thence to Tennessee, near Nashville, and remained a few years, and removed to Logan county, Ky., where Mr. W. died in 181 1. Mrs. W. and the family remained in Logan county, Ky., until 18 19, and left in October of that year, and removed to within 1 1 miles of Vandalia, Fayette county, Illinois, where they arrived November II. They remained in the latter county until 1834, and then removed to what is now Macon county, and settled on the south side of the Sangamon river, and constituted what was known in earlydays as the "Ward settlement." Of their children -

JERRY WARD was born in South Carolina, January 27, 1788, His wife was Dolly Derrington, whom he married in Logan county, Ky. He removed from Macon county to Missouri, and thence to Texas in 1832, where he died.

JOHN WARD, Jr., was born in South Carolina, in 1790, and married Jane Madol, in Logan county, Ky. They had a very large family of children, 17, perhaps, in all. Mr. W. died in 1S31, and is buried at Walnut Grove. Of such of their children as we can obtain the names of -

Margaret (see Perdue.) Mary died in Fayette county. John, Jr., 2d, died in Fayette county. Sarah married Moses Turner; died in the poor house. Aaron and Joseph, twins; Aaron died in Fayette county ; Joseph, dead. Lucinda married Isaac Miller, and has children living here. Nancy married Nat'l. Murphy; now resides in Missouri. Martha died of cholera in 1832.

JAMES WARD was born in South Carolina, in 1792, and was married in Logan county, Ky., to Elizabeth Fre^nan; removed from Illinois to Missouri, and thence to Texas, where both died. They had six children, none of whom now reside here.

SARAH WARD was born in South Carolina, in 1794. She married Wm. Gambrel, in Logan county, Ky,; removed to Illinois, thence back to Kentucky, thence to Missouri, thence to Texas, where she died.

MARGARET WARD was born in South Carolina, in 1796, and married in Kentucky to Elisha Freeman, who was one of the first covnity commissioners of this county. They raised a large family of children. Mr. F. died in 185S, and Mrs. F. in 1873. Their children were : Polly, William, James, John, Jerry, Andrew, Thomas, Albert and Henry.

LUCY WARD was born in South Carolina, and came to Illinois in 1S19, and married Hiram Reavis. They removed to Missouri in 1833, and now reside in Vernon county.

WILLIAM WARD was born in South Carolina in 1802, and came to Illlinois in 18 19, and lived here the remainder of his life. He died, and was the father of Franklin, Hiram and John Ward, who still reside here.

THOMAS WARD was born in 1804, and came to Illinois in 18 18; married Elizabeth Widick, daughter of Jacob Widick. They had seven children, most of whom reside in Christian county, where Mr. and Mrs. W. died.

NANCY WARD was born in 1S06, and married Lambert S. Bearden, at Vandalia, Illinois, and moved to Macon county in 1823, and removed to Missouri in 1832, where their children now reside.

LEWIS B. WARD was born in Logan county, Ky,, January 17, 1809, and removed to Illinois in 1819, and to Macon county in 1824. On the 33d of December, 1830, he married Elizabeth Walker, who was born September 8, 181 3, in Rutherford county, Tenn., and became a resident of Macon county in 1S39; died June 7, 1852. Of tjieir children -

Alfred was born October 16, 1831. Mary J, was born November 18, 1833; married S. B, N, Vaughan. Elizabeth was born March 13, 1836; married Woodson Parker, Robert was born June 13, 1838, Caroline was born November 14, 1840;

Mr. Ward was married a second time to Matilda Parker, who was born August 14, 1832. He sold his farm in Macon county in the fall of 1876, and removed to Girard, Kansas, prior to which he was the second settler, in point of arrival, residing in the county. From him we derived most of our information in reference to the Ward family and Ward settlement. He fixes the dates of the erection of the first houses in the county in the following order: 1st, William Downing's, south of Sangamon; 2d, Leonard Stevens', on Stevens' creek; 3d, Abraham Sprague's, just south of fair-ground; 4th, Hubble Sprague's, on the inside of the present fair-ground inclosure; 5th, William King's, a short distance south of the fair-grounds. Mr. Ward says the first mill in Macon county was on Stevens' creek, and was built by William King in 1S26, which was afterwards owned by and known as Renshaw's mill; also, that the first house in the limits of the old town of Decatur was just north of Priest's Hotel, and was built by Reuben Miller, who sold out to James Renshaw, in which the first store was kept. He also states that the first school house in the county was on the old Widick place, now owned by P. M. Wickoff, three and a half miles southwest of Decatur, and was erected in 1S25, and the first school teacher was "Frozen" Taylor; and that the second school house was on land now owned by W. C. Smith, erected in 1828, in which one Nelson, "a little Yankee," taught. At this school house Abraham Lincoln went to singings and spellings. In the spring of 1826 Mr. W. raised 1,800 pounds of cotton in Macon county.

HIRAM WARD was born in Macon county, Illinois, January 28, 1837; was married to Clara E. Odor, March 11, 1858, who was born in Garrard county, Kentucky, January 7, 1843, ^^^'^ came to this county in 1850. Of their children -

TIE LuELLA was born April 6, 1871; died August 30, 1873. Infimt son was born December 29, 1873; died January i6,'73. Sarah Elizabeth was born February 8, 1874.

ROBERT WILSON was born October 4, 1779, in Mecklenburg county, North Carolina, and moved to Murray county, Tenn., when about 18 years old. He moved thence to Wilson county, Tenn., where he married Jane Donald, who died in 1839. Of their seven children -

Mr. Wilson's second wife was Mrs. Sallie Hodge, widow of Joseph H. Hodge, and who was born April 36, 1793, in Orange county. North Carolina. By her first husband the following children were born : -

After the marriage of Mr. Wilson and Mrs. Hodge, in 1839, they removed to Sangamon county, Illinois, and came to Macon county in 1830, where Mr. W. died, Maixh 4, 1873, and Mrs. W. January 30, 1S73. By the last marriage there were three children -

Robert D. was born October 18, 1830; married Mary Outten. Sarah A. was born January 5, 1833; married John H. Davidson. James A. was born September 5, 1S35; married Sarah Jones.

D. K. WILSON was born March 37, 1825, in Rutherford county, Tennessee; came to Macon county in 1835, and was married to Mary J. Dickey, February 25, 1845, ^^""^ ^'^^ born July 31, 1827, in Florence, Alabama, and came to Macon county in 1839. Of their children -

Samuel was born April 17, 1S46; was married to Eveline Dresback in September, 1S6S, and died January, 1877. Margaret C. was born December 17, 1S47; was married to S. B. Betz in March, 1S69. Eliza J. was born October S, 1S49; died April 16, 1866. Andrew was born September i, 1851; was married to Ella Bundy April 13, 1S75, who was born April 26, 1859, in Piqua county, Ohio; came to this county in 1875, and died December 15, 1876. Sarah A. was born October 2t^, 1853; was married to R.J. Ross December 9, 1S74. Mary E. was born January 17, 1858; was married to Marian Ranabarger, February 27, 1876. Zaritha M. was born December 3, 18=59. William A. was born December 8, 1862. John \V. was born April 27, 1865; died September 17, '67. George W. was born July 28, 1868,

BENJAMIN WILSON was among the early and prominent citizens of Macon county, and came here in 1827, and was one of the county commissioners who assisted in the county organization. He held the position for a great many years. He was born at Guilford Court House, in North Carolina, and removed thence to Tennessee, and afterwards to Illinois. He married Jane Warnick in the state of Tennessee, who was a sister of "Uncle Billy" Warnick, the first sheriff of the county. Their children were, Polly, (see Sanders,) Rachel, (see Hill,) Peggy Smith, (see John Smith,) Robert, Nancy, Hannah, (see Blankenship,) and -

JoHX Wilson was born in Rutherford county, Tennessee, in 1813, came to Illinois in 1S28, and was married to Nancy Wilson, March I, 1S32, who was born July 6, 1813, in Greene county, Tennessee, and became a resident of Macon county about 1830. Of their Children -

Benjamin T. was born August 19, 1S36; died February 5, 1S54. Mary A. was born October 23, 1833, and married Joseph M. Dawson, who was born April 5, 1S28. Of their children -

WILLIAM WHEELER, Sr., was born in Virginia about 1790, and married Elizabeth Hays, who was born in the same State. Mrs. W. died about 1836, and Mr. W. in 1866. Their children were, James, Stacy, Henry, William, jr., Elizabeth, Raliegh. Burton, Larkin and Nathaniel. Mr. Wheeler and family removed to Illinois and settled in Macon county, in 1828.

Henry W^heeler was born in 1801, in Tennessee, and was married in Tennessee to Mary Y. Braden, who was born January 4, 1800. Of their five children- Elizabeth E. was born May 7, 1826; married David Brett; died 1864. Samuel R. was born August 16, 1827; married Jamima Abrams, who was born in 1828, in Illinois. William E. was born October 23, 1S2S; married Ellen Frazee; he died 1875. Nancy J. was boi"n January 9, 1830; married Samuel Woodward, first husband; Mason Packard, second husband; now resides in California. Andrew J. was born January 16, 1832; married N. E. Cox, who was born in Scott county, Illinois, 1837.

William Wheeler, Jr., was born on the 28th of Dec, 1809, in Rutherford county, Tennessee; was married Oct 27, 1 831, to Sarah A. Ward, (daughter of Jerry Ward,) who died in August, 1869. Mr. Wheeler has been prominently connected with the affairs of the county, and has been repeatedly elected sheriff, assessor and collector. Of their 10 children, but two are living, viz: -

IRA WARNICK was born in Tennessee, August 7, 1833; he moved to this county in 1835, and settled at the place afterwards known as the William Warnick place, and has ever since resided in this county; was married to Julietta Priscila Burke, Ajoril 17, 1843, who was born in Kentucky, June 30, 1S33, and came to this county in 1S40. Of their nine children all of which are now living-^

James W. was born April 11, 1844, and married Ann E. Stevens, September 14, 1869. Elizabeth E. was born May 10, 1846; and married Edward Hill. Arthusa D. was born August 6, 1848. Thomas T. was born December 30, 1851, and was married to Mary E. Lynch, in February, 1874. Nancy C. was born February 18, 1853, and married S. P. Falconer, September 18, 1873. Major M. was born March 13, 1855. Henriette L. was born December 10, 1857. Julietta A. was born September 37, i860. Ira G. was born March 7, 1864.

North Carolina to Rutherford county, Tennessee, and thence to this county, in 1S35. He was the first sherifli" of Macon county after its organization, and held the ofiice from 1S39 to 1835, '^""^^ was also re-elected again for two years, in 1S40. He was in the Black Hawk war, and participated in the famous Stillman's defeat, where he received a slight flesh wound. He was also captain of the rangers, during the same difficulty. It was Mr. W.

who, as sheriff of the county, whipped Redmon and Wyatt, by order of the court, giving them 39 lashes apiece. This was the only punishment of the kind ever inflicted in the county. Mr. W's father, James Warnick, was from Ireland, landing in New Castle, August 15, 1758. Their children were -

LAVINA WILLIAMS, daughter of J. D. Long, was born December 36, 1826, and married Jackson Williams, who was born December 4, 1826. Of their children -

EMANUEL WIDICK was born February 2, 1806, in Tennessee, and came to Illinois and settled in Macon county, in 1826. He married Sarah A. Cox, who was born May 23, 181 1. Mr. W. died March 4, 1863, ^"^^ Mrs. W. died December 10, 1863. Of their children -

JOHN WIDICK was born in Rockingham county, Virginia, and removed to Macon county, in 1826. He married Cohorine Traughber; but what was the date of the births and deaths of each we cannot ascertain. Mrs. W. died perhaps, about November I, 1S32. Their children were -

Henry Widick was born September 30, 1828, in Macon county, and was married to Elizabeth Mathews, October 30, 1850, who was born May 3, 1833. ^^ their children -

Samuel, Jacob, George and Joseph Widick were all brothers of John Widick, above mentioned, and removed to this county in 1835, at least the former and latter did. Joseph settled at the old Caulk place, recently purchased by P. M. WykofF, Samuel on the old Wm, Young place and Jacob the place where Robert H. Smith now resides. Joseph was accidentally killed by falling on a pitchfork, and Samuel died at Jefferson Barracks, during the late war.

HENRY PRATHER was born November 26, 1802, in Montgomery county, Maryland, and removed to this state in 1836, and settled in Macoupin county. His first wife was a Miss Ratcliff, whom he married before leaving Maryland, who died in Macoupin county. He came to Macon county in 1837, and in 1838 married *Amanda Oglesby, who still resides in Decatur. He was killed accidently by being thrown from a buggy in 1869. He was an honest, upright citizen, prominently connected with all the public enterprises tending to advance the interests of Macon county and the city of Decatur. He was public spirited, and nothing calculated to advance the material prosperity of the city or county escaped his earnest solicitation and support in both means and influence. He was a member of the legislature in 1853. He left no children. A fond recollection in the hearts of the people with whom he associated will last during their lives.

with Draper, P. D. Williams and Epperson. Was married to Isabella Wright, who was born in Virginia. One child was born of this marriage - Jerome, who was born in 1838, now resides in Macon county. Was married a second time to Rachael RiTTENHOUSE, who was born in 1S26. Of their children -