Sangamon County, Illinois - Biographical sketches, 1881 (part 11 of 21)

iJr. Jesse Henderson /Smith was born in Warren county, Kentucky, August 19, 1825. His parents were David and Jane Smith. The subject of this sketch was brought up under Presbyterian influence and united with that church when fourteen years old and continued with them until 1852, when he voluntarily withdrew from that church and was immersed by Elder John N. Mulkey and took membership in the Mount Zion Congregation of Disciples, four miles from his birthplace. He preached while a Presbyterian about seven years. On uniting with the Church of Christ, he continued to sound out the word of life, and has continued in the work ever since. During his first year of labor in the Church of Christ, he assisted Elder T. G. Marshall, of Kentucky, in the baptism of his aged father, then seventy-four years of age. His mother made a profession of faith in Christ about the same time, but died of paralysis a few months afterward. His preaching was chiefly done in Kentucky, Warren and adjoining counties, till the year 1865, when he reraoved"^to Carlinville, Illinois, and the next year to Girard in the same county, remaining three and a half years, preaching to that church and practicing medicine. He then removed to Chatham, Illinois, his present home, and has practiced his profession there ever since.

While residing in Kentucky he had two oral discussions with Timothy C. Frogge, a presiding elder of the Methodist Church, embracing together, ten days, and covering the ground of difference between the two churches.

His education is fair, consisting of a good English education and a few years study of the Greek and Litin languages. He began his study of medicine in 1846, and attended lectures in the E. M. Institute, at Cincinnati, Ohio, in the winter of 1847-8, and has practiced medicine in connection with preaching ever since, except four years that he served the Kentucky Christian Missionary Society as aii Evangelist.

He was married to Miss Eliza J. Norman, of Cromwell, Kentucky, November 7, 1854, and eight children were the fruit of this marriage, four sons and four daughters. During the spring of 1873, he suffered a sore affliction in the loss ot his wife and two daughters, within a few days, three of his childi'en having been called away previously, while three yet remain on earth with him - one daughter and two sons. Heart and home were greatly desolated by this sad bereavement, but the hope of a better life beyond the cold river, sustained him.

He was again married on June 27, 1876, to Mrs. Margaret A. Taylor, of Carlinville, Illinois. He is to-day in the enjoyment of health and vigor, a good home, and is surrounded with a multitude of friends and comforts for which he is truly thankful to 'the giver of all good and perfect gifts."

William JPoivell Thayer. - The effort to obtain and arrange the geneology of the Thayer family has been attended with great labor and research. The work was assigned to General B. Thayer, of Mexico, New York, and his labors have resulted in almost complete success. While we can only treat directly with the family in question, we will give a hasty sketch of the brothers Thayer, who first landed on our American shores, and to whom all bearing the name, as far as is known, owe their origin. There were two brothers - Richard and Thomas, who settled in Massachusetts. The exact time of their arrival is not known, but supposed to be about 1630. Thomas was found to have lands in 1636, and Richard in 1640. William Powell Thayer, Sr., to whom we propose directly to confine our attention, was born in Petersburg, Virginia, March 15, 1815. His father, Martin Thayer, was a native of Amherst, Massachusetts, and when a young man, located in Petersburg, Virginia, when, August 4, 1814, he married Mrs. Mary C. Mason, who^e maiden name was Russell. Mrs. Thayer died January 17, 1821. Mr Thayer closed his business and returned to Amhurst, where William, when of suitable age, was placed in a classical school, where he remained until 1830. He was then placed as clerk in a dry goods store, in New York.

In the year 1831, he engaged, with his father, in a dry goods business, in Philadelphia. In 1835, he went to Newville, Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, and began his first business for himself. He was then married, January 4, 1837 to Miss Mary Houston, she then being twenty years of age. Mr. Thayer closed out his business then, and on January 31, 1838, with his wife, an infant son, a few months old, and a servant girl, he set out for Illinois. He had fitted up a two-horse wagon, with close top, with windows on sides, and a stove. Thus they were enabled to keep warm, and to see the country as they passed. The season selected for the jouraey was, perhaps, the most inclement of the year. After six weeks' tedious travel, with many narrow escapes, from icy roads, and rapid streams, they reached Springfield, March 13, 1838. The roads were so bad that they came near sticking fast, near the southeast corner of Court House Square, the wheels of their wagon sinking to the axles in the mud. He immediately settled on his farm of three hundred and twenty acres, near the preseni village of Chatham. A few years of privations sufiiced to place them in fine circumstance^). He soon entered upon sheep raising, often having three thousand at a time. This business he followed, most successfully, for nearly twenty-five years. During this time, he gave his children a good business education, and fitted them for any business of life. In 1863, he retired from his farm to his pleasant home in the village of Chatham, where he has since engaged in no active business, only looking after his large interests, many of which are very efficiently managed by his sons.

Mrs. M. H. Thayer, after some years of ill health, died June 10, 1872, On December 31, 1873, Mr. Thayer married Elizabeth Dresser, daughter of Rev. Charles Dresser, D.D., of Springfield.

Of children, James H. was born September 19, 1837, in Pennsylvania, and died July 25; 1861, in Springfield, Illinois; Sarah F., born September 2, 1839, married October 14, 1857, Thomas P. Boone, of Kentucky, a relative of Daniel Boone, of ear'y Kentucky history, lives in Springfield; Martin R., born February 27, 1842, married Hattie Melvin, a lady from Pennsylvania, September 19, 1867. Martin R. is now managing proprietor of Chatham Flouring Mills, of which his father and himself are proprietors.

William P., Jr., born January 10, 1846, married Mollie E. Patton, of Paris, Illinois, June 26, 1873. He is proprietor of a flouring mill at Springfield.

Edward R., born September 21, 1850, is in very successful drug business at Chatham. Ed. is at present member of the Board of Supervisors, on his second term.

Cyrus W. Van Deren, the oldest of nine children, (five sons and four daughters) of Bernard and (Eliza McKee) Van Deren. Was born in Bourbon county, Kentucky, May 6,1815. He was brought up on a farm, and early learned to labor thereon. He was educated in the common schools of his native State, attending the last three months of his school days when nearly grown, a select school kept in Millerburg, Kentucky, by T. Lyle Dickey, the present Chief Justice of Illinois, and who was not much older than himself. Mr. Van Deren's first trip to Illinois was made in the fall of 1834, leaving the old home in Kentucky the l7th of September. He was twenty-four days on the road, driving a four-horse team to an old Kentucky wagon, laden with the household goods of an uncle, who afterwards settled in Morgan county, Illinois. He remained here until the latter part of November, assisting his father, (who had come through in advance on horse-back), in finishing and completing the bouse on the farm, now owned by Nathan Dennis, and to where he moved with the balance of the family the following spring, 1835. (See Old Settlers' book.) He returned with his father to the old home in Kentucky. He concluded a pre-determined contract, and on the 2d day of April, 1835, was united in marriage with Margaret, the youngest and only daughter and child of John Patten, (also of Bourbon county, Kentucky), by his second wife, Margaret McClintock Patton. His father and the balance of the family having removed to Illinois in the spring, as stated, arriving in June, and his father dying in July, only one month later. He, at the earnest request of his mother, who was so soon left a widow in a land among strangers, came on from Kentucky, and assisted her in the preliminary settlement of the estate, remaining until after the sale of personal property. And in connection with that sale, Mr. Van Deren gave us an incident that at this day is worthy of mention as an example to others. At the sale of the personal property of the estate, he, contrary to hitherto universal custom and usage of the country, refused to provide, or have provided, any spirituous liquor or beverage of any kind, except water, for those in attendance, and although the auctioneer intimated his refusal to cry the sale, and some of his friends warned him it was very likely to cause the property to sell very low. He still persisted, and backed up by his mother, and admonished by the death of his recently deceased father, who had only within a year held his sale in Kentucky without liquor of any kind. He said there should be no liquor on the grounds, if the stock did not sell at all. That a «ian that wou^d not bid because there were no drinks of that kind, was one that he did not want to have anything to do with, for neither him nor his note would be worth the paper it was written on. The sale was held without liquor, and to the surj^rise of all, aggregated in amount handsomely over the appraisement bill, and every note given at the sale was collected at maturity, one year later. Mr. Van Deren informs us he took the pledge forty-six years ago to abstain from the use of all distilled or intoxicating liquors, and also the use of tobacco in any way or form, and that he has sacredly kept it up to the present day, and is now president of the temperance organization in Chatham. The early decease of Mr. Van Deren's father after his arrival at their new home, leaving his mother with six younger brothers and sisters, (the brother next in age to him and second sister haviug died in Kentucky, when young), strangers in a strange land. He, in 1838, also concluded to remove to Illinois, and on the 14th day of May, of that year, he settled on the farm in Woodside township, which he still owns, and where he remained thirty-two years, or until he removed to Chatham. For three years after his settlement Mr. Van Deren and family were very much afflicted with fever and ague, and realized to the fullest extent the many discomforts attending those numerous visitations of the acclimating diseases.

In 1841, the quadrennial election forjus.ice of the precinct occurring, Mr. Van Deren was strongly urged, both by Whigs and Democrats, to become a candidate, and consenting, he was elected and re-elected for four terms in succession, serving sixteen years; and during the entire term of service, he never had a party to any suit commenced before him to apply for change of venue to another magistrate, nor but one appeal taken from his decision in any case, and that single case never reached the Circuit Court, the party appealing, by advice of counsel, settling as decided by him. And during those years, while acting as justice of the peace in his piecinct, as they were termed at that day, he was also elected one of the Associate Judges of the County Court, being associated with the late Thomas Moffet, as the County Judge, and the late Colwin F. Elkin as the other Associate, and constituting the County Court, with the late N. W. Matheny as Clerk (all now deceased), in which all probate and other business of the county was tranf^acted, and taking the place of one Probate Court Judge and three County Commissioners, as under the former Constitution.

Mr. Van Deren took an active part in all matters of public interest - public schools and railroads - and was, from the first organization of the schools in his district, either director or trustee the larger portion of the time he resided on his farm in Woodside township; also in railroads; and when he was really hardly able to risk or bear the loss (as it proved), he became one of the original stockholders in the now Chicago, Alton & St. Louis Railroad, and now holds a five-huudred-dollar certificate of stock, which, at the usual interest then and since paid, would amount to several thousand dollars that he has invested in that road; and, while he says the road has advanced his interests, it has also much more the interest of others more able at that time to take stock than himself.

Mr. Van Deren, politically, was identified with the Whig party during its organized existance. But in 1856, he was nominated by the American, or Fillmore, party, as their candidate for State Senator in the district composed of Sangamon and Morgan counties, and, being accepted by the Republicans as their candidate also, he was elected, and faithfully served out his term of four years, and which, with the exception of school trustee, and one year as president of the village board of trustees of Chatham, closed his official civil service, and ever since he has been identified with the Republican party.

In early life, or soon after marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Van Deren united with the church of their parents (Presbyterian), in Millersburg, Kentucky, and have maintained that relation up to this time, and since 1844, he has been one of the ruling elders of the church at Chatham, filling the same office as his father, who was an elder in the church at Millersburg, Kentucky, for eighteen years before his death. Mr. and Mrs. Van Deren have had four children born to them, all daughters, to-wit: Eliza I., Margaret E., Martha S., and Mary Luella Van Deren. Eliza I., born in Kentucky, and Jesse F. Taylor, also born in Kentucky, were married at the homestead, in Woodside, November 21, 1855; they had three children, all boys, viz: Cyrus W., Litchfield, and Jesse F. Taylor, the oldest being born in Jackson county, Mississippi, and the two youngest in Helena, Montana Territory. Margaret E., born in Illinois, died in infancy. Martha S., the third daughter, and John M. Taylor, born in Kentucky, were married November 11, 1869; they have three children, to-wit: George W., Fred V., and Luella Taylor. Mary L., the youngest, is still single, and living with her parents. Mr. and Mrs. Van Deren are also tenderly caring for and raising the two younger and motherless children of Jesse F. and Eliza I. Taylor, their mother having died in Helena, Montana Territory, October 31, 1874. Since 1872, Mr. Van Deren has resided in Chatham, where he owns a comfortable and pleasantly located house and grounds, and, we presume, financially independent, as he informs us that to-day, with the exception of a store bill and the taxes assessed for this year, |75 would pay every debt he owed in the world, and have some left.

JVehemiah Wright, M. D. - In 1G41, we find one Samuel Wright located in Springfield, Massachusetts, and from him all bearing the name have originated. Said Samuel Wright was a deacon in the early Puritan Church, at Springfield. Their first minister, Rev. William Maxon, returned to England, and Deacon Wright conducted the services, and was allowed fifty shillings per month. He was one of the first settlers of Northampton, Massachusetts, in 1656. Died in his chair, October 17, 1665, The great grandfather of Dr. N. Wright, was Rev. Job Wright; was born October 15, 1737; graduated at Yale College in 1775. He was immediately called to the charge of the Congregational Church at Bernardstown, Massachusetts, where he remained as a pastor forty years, enjoying the undivided love of an united people - discord among them was not known. He died January 7, 1823. The grandfather was Nehemiah Wright, a substantial farmer, settled at Derby, Vermont, about 1800. The father was Samuel Wright, M. D., a very efficient surgeon and physician, at Holderness, now Ashland, New Hampshire, for over thirty year-:, mostly within the limits of that section of country, although his consultation cases extended from over a much larger territory. He died September 20, 1854, aged fiftynine. The direct subject of our sketch. Dr. Nehemiah Wright, was born at Ashland, New Hampshire, February 20, 1824. His early life was passed at home and in the common school, until eighteen years of age, when he came to Springfield, Illinois, and fitted for college in the classical school of Professor Beaumont Parks, who made a specialty of fitting students for college. In 1844, Mr. Wright entered Jacksonville College, at Jacksonville, Illinois; his excellent preparation and personal effort enabled him to complete his four years' course in three years. Having coinpleted his studies, he left college without taking his degrees, and immediately entered upon his medical course. He first went through the Harvard (Mass.) school, and received his finishing course at Rush College, Chicago. Having completed that course, he returned to Jacksonville, in 1849, and received his A. M. Degree. On January 10, 1850, he located at Chatham, Sangamon county, where he has since been in most successful practice. In connection with his general practice of medicine, he has been eminently succesful in surgery. For more than twenty years he has been an active member and officer in the State Medical Society; also a member of the Americam Medical Association. Dr. Wright was one of the seven charter members of the Phi- Alpha Society, at Jacksonville, in 1845 (all now living - 1881). The society now numbers five hundred. The poetical production of Dr. Wright, read before that society in May, 1876, awards him an enviable reputation as a literary writer.

His children - M. Fannie, born June 23, 1851, married Z. T. McGinnis, November 25, 1870; Mr. McG. is Superintendent of B. F. Caldwell's mercantile interest in Chatham; Jesse F., born November 29, 1853, married Benjamin J. Detrich. May 23, 1878; salesman for Van Duyn & Co., Springfield; Charles D., born February 20, 1857, married December 30, 1880, Lizzie Felch. Dr. W. read medicine with his father, attended Rush Medical College, and is now practicing.

The township of Clear Lake comprises all of township sixteen north, range four west, and is 80 named from the lake of that name, in section twenty-two.

The town ship is almost equally divided between timber and prairie, and is quite rolling. The soil is of good quality, and large crops of corn and wheat are raised.

Clear Lake township is well supplied with streams of living water. The north fork of the Sangamon river enters on section thirty-six, and the south fork enters on section thirty-three, the two uniting on section twenty-seven, and flowing northward, emerges from the township from section five, but returns within a quarter of a mile, flows westward, and enters Springfield township from section six. Sugar creek enters the township on section thirty-one, and flowing in a northeasterly direction, unites with the Sangamon river on section twenty-eight. Clear Lake is a beautiful sheet of water, about one half mile in length and an average width of two hundred yards. On the banks of this lake, many pic-nic parties are held each summer, and boats are provided for sailing and rowing upon the lake.

Clear Lake township is traversed by two railroads, the Wabash and the Springfield & Northwestern. The former enters from Springfield on section nineteen, runs in a northeasterly direction through the village of Riverton to section ten, when it runs due east into the township of Mechanicsburg. The latter from Springfield enters on section eighteen, and runs northeast, enters Williams township from section two.

Early Settlement

The township was first settled in 1820, Hugh McGary was the first settler. He settled immediately upon the banks of Clear Lake. He was an old soldier under Harrison, and was a man highly respected, being a high-minded honorable man.

Harrison McGary, a brother of Hugh, came about the same time, and settled upon the farm where Thomas King now lives. He was dissatisfied, and returned to Indiana, from whence he came.

Samuel Danley came about the same time and settled about a mile from McGary. He was a rough man, but Avith a large heart, and was always a friend to the poor. He became a Christian some years before his death and lived conscientiously up to his profession.

Thomas J. Knox came and settled on the farm now owned by J. F. King. He was County Treasurer and Collector for one or two terms, justice of the peace for several years. He died in Springfield.

John Wilcox was born in Maryland, on the eastern shore of the Chesapeake Bay. His parents died when he was quite young, and to keep from being bound out, he ran away, em- barked on a sailing vessel, and went to the West India Islands; returning to Maryland, and when he was sixteen or seventeen years old, went with a family to Virginia, and from there to the vicinity of Danville, Kentucky. He was married in Oldham county, Kentucky, to Lucinda Oglesby. She was born in Loudon county, Virginia, and her parents moved to that part of Shelby which afterwards became Oldham county, Kentucky. Her father, William Oglesby, was a soldier in the Revolution. John Wilcox moved to Davidson county, Tennessee, then moved to Logan county, Kentucky; died in 1823. In 1818, the family moved to St. Clair county, Illinois, and from thereto what became Sangamon county, arriving in the fall of 1819, about six miles east of where Springfield now stands, and settled between the mouths of Sugar creek and the south fork of Sangamon river.

Archer G. Herndon was born February 13, 1*795, in Culpepper county, Virginia; went to Greensburg, Green county, Kentucky, when he was about ten years old, and was there married, in 1816, to Mrs. Rebecca Johnson, whose maiden name was Day. Her father was a Revolutionary soldier. Mr. and Mrs. Herndon had one child in Kentucky, and they moved to Troy, Madison county, Illinois; from there they moved to Sangamon county, Illinois, arriving in the spring of 1821, settling on what is now German Prairie, five miles northeast of Springfield.

Archer G. Herndon, Sr., was engaged in mercantile pursuits, from 1825 to 1836, in Springfield, and during that time erected the first regular tavern in town. He was one of the "Long Nine" who were instrumental in having the Capital removed from Vandalia to Springfield, having been elected State Senator in 1836. He was receiver of public moneys, from 1842 to 1842, in the Land Office, in Springfield. A. G. Herndon, Sr., died January 3, 1867, and Mrs. Rebecca Herndon died August 19, 1875.

Larkin Bryant was born November 2, 1800, in Woodford county, Kentucky. He was married there in 1820, to Mrs. Harriet Chapman, whose maiden name was Thornberry. They moved to the Missouri lead mines, and from there to Sangamon county, in the fall of 1821, and settled five miles northeast of Springfield.

John Shinkle was born in February, 1 783, in Berks county, Pennsylvania, and when he was a boy his parents moved to Brown county, Ohio. Mary M. Shinkle was born November 12, 1784, in Berks county, Pennsylvania. In May, 1805, her parents moved to Brown county, Ohio. John Shinkle and Mary M. Shinkle were there married November 7, 1805. They had ten living children in Brown county. The family moved to Sangamon county, Illinois, arriving December, 1826, in what is now Clear Lake township, north of Sangamon river. John Shinkle died August, 1827, in Sangamon county, less than one year after his arrival in the country. His widow raised her family on the farm where they settled, and now resides there. It is three miles southwest of Dawson, Illinois. She is ninety-two years old, and has been a widow nearly half a century.

Valentine R. Mallory was born December 16, 1798, near Paris, Bourbon county, Kentucky. He was a soldier in the War of 1812, and was at the battle of the river Thames. Nancy Dawson was born September 20, 1802, in Fairfax county, Virginia, and in 1804, was taken by her parents to Bracken county, Kentucky. V. R. Mallory and Nancy Dawson were there married, June 28, 1821. They had three children, and in March, 1827, united with the Baptist Church. They moved, in company with her brother, John Dawson, (see his name) to Sangamon county, Illinois, arriving October 22, 1827, in what is now Clear Lake township.

John Dawson was born November 24, 1791, in Fairfax county, Va. His parents moved to Bracken county, Kentucky, in 1805. He enlisted in Bracken county in the war against England in 1812, and was wounded and captured at the battle of River Raisin. After being held as a prisoner in Canada by the Indians who captured him, his friend paid a ransom for him, and he returned home. Gary Jones was born May 22, 1801, in Nicholas county, Kentucky. John Dawson and Cary Jones were married in Nicholas county, October 9, 1817. They moved to Bracken county, and then the family moved to Sangamon county, Illinois, October 24, 1827, north of the Sangamon river, in Clear Lake township. John Dawson died November 12, 1850, in Sangamon county. His widow resides* on the farm where they settled in 1827. It is three miles southwest of Dawson. Mr. Dawson was Captain of a company from Sangamon county in the Black Hawk war of 1831. He was elected to represent Sangamon county in the State Legislature of 1831, and '32. He was again elected in 1835, and continued by re-election, to represent the county until 1840, and was consequently one of the "Long Nine" who secured the removal of the State Capital to Springfield at the session of 1836-'7 Mr. D. was also a member of the convention that framed the State Constitution of 1848. Theball received in

Samuel Ridgeway was born May 10, 1777, in Berkley county, Virginia, and was taken by his parents to the valley of the Yadkin river. North Carolina, when he was quite young. He was there married, about 1799, to Elizabeth Caton, who was born August 25, 1775, in Berkley county, Virginia, also. Shortly after marriage Samuel Ridgeway and wife packed all their worldly goods on one horse, and each rode ^.nother. Thus equipped, they set out for Kentucky, and settled near Stanford, the capital of Lincoln county. The family moved to Sangamon county, Illinois, arriving in November, 1829, in what is now Clear Lake township, west of the Sangamon river, and five miles northeast of Springfield. Died in 1847.

John Blue was born September 9, 1777, in South Carolina. His father was a soldier in the Revolutionary army, and was taken prisoner by the British the very day of his birth. His parents moved to Fleming county, Kentucky, when he was quite young. Elizabeth McNary was born in South Carolina, and taken by her parents to Fleming, county, Kentucky, also. They were there married about 1806. About 1823 they moved to Green county, Ohio, then moved to Sangamon county, arriving in the fall of 1830, in what is now Clear Lake township.

William Fagan was born in 1777, in North Carolina, was married there to Peninah Fruit, who was born January 29, 1774, in the fame State. They moved to Virginia, and from there to Christian county, Kentucky. In 1819, they emigrated, with four children, to southern Illinois, thence to Sangamon county, arriving in what is now Clear Lake township, in 1820. They moved next year to Buffalo Hart Grove, and from there to Springfield. In 1831 they settled on a farm three miles northwest of Springfield. He iiied in 1843.

Uriah Mann was born September 17, 1810, in Bracken county, Kentucky. He came to Sangamon county, with his sister Anna, and her husband, Thomas A. King, arriving the first Sunday in October, 1831.

He was a soldier in the Black Hawk war, in 1832, in the same regiment with Captain Abraham Lincoln, with whom he had many a wrestling match. Uriah Mann was married January 6, 1832, in Sangamon county, to Elizbeth King. He hauled all the rails and limber for improving his farm, on a wagon constructed by himself, without any iron, the wheels being hewn each from a single piece of timber, from the largest tree he could find. His house was built by himself, of round logs. His tables, cupboard and other furniture were made from wild cherry lumber. In the absence of saw-mills he split the timber into broad slabs, fastened them into a snatch block, hewed them to a uniform thickness, and after waiting a suflScient time for them to season, worked them into his household furniture. The first meal he ate in his own house, the meat was hog's jowl, and the bread made from frost-bitten corn. He hauled the first wheat he raised for sale to St. Louis, and sold it for thirty-five cents in trade. He is now among the most successful farmers of the county.

James Frazier Reed, was born November 14, 1800, in county Armagh, Ireland. His ancestors were of noble Polish birth, who chose exile rather than submission to the Russian power, and settled in the north of Ireland. The family name was originally Reedooski, but in process of time the Polish termination of the name was dropped, and the family was called Reed. James F. Reed's mother's name was Frazier, whose ancestors belonged to Clan Frazier, of Scottish history. Mrs. Reed, and her son, James F., came to America when he was a youth, and settled in Virginia. He remained there until he was twenty, when he left for the lead mines of Illinois, and was engaged in mining until 1831, when he came to Springfield, Sangamon county, Illinois. He served in the Black Hawk war, and at its termination returned to Springfield, where he engaged in mercantile pursuits, made money, and bought a farm near the latter city. Mr. Reed, was for several years engaged in manufacturing cabinet furniture at a point on the Sangamon river, seven miles east of Springfield. He employed a large number of men, and a village grew up there, which, in honor of his first name, was called Jamestown. It has since been twice changed, first to Howlett and then to Riverton, the present name. He was married, in 1834, to Mrs. Margaret AV. Backenstoe, whose maiden name was Keyes, a daughter of Humphrey Keyes. Mrs. Reed had one child by her first marriage. In April, 1846, Mr. and Mrs. Reed, with many others, started overland for California; Mr. Reed settled at San Jose Mission, California, and invested in land from time to time. He was among the first who tried their fortunes at gold hunting, in which he was very successful. Of Mrs. Reed's child by a former marriage - Mrs. Virginia E. Murphy writes me, in December, 1875, that she never was taught or made to feel, during Mr. Reed's lifetime, that she was a step-child or half-sister, and that he was the most loving and indulgent step-father that ever lived. So thoughtful was he of her feelings that he took occasion, after the death of her mother, to assure her of his continued affection, and that he knew no difference between herself and his own children, as she came to him with her mother, a little babe. He made no distinction between Mrs. Murphy and his own children in his will.

John Hoover, Mr. Howell, Solomon Blue and Uriah Blue, settled on the south side of the Sangamon river in 1824 or 1825. They all being of German descent, gave to the neighborhood the name of German Prairie.

The recollection of the first school in what is now Clear Lake township, by the " old settlers " of 1881, dates back to 1828. About this time there were two school houses built, one on the north, and the other on the south side of the river. Riley Jones taught the one on the south side of the river in the winter of 1828. This school house was similar to all others built in the county at the time, being of logs.

Time has changed the course of things. There are now no log school houses, but instead, the township has two brick and five frame edifices for school purposes, the total value of which is $6,600.

The first house of worship erected in the township was by the Baptists, in 1829, though the denomination was not the first to be represented in the preaching of the gospel. The Methodists were here previously, represented by that trio so often spoken of in these pages - Revs. Peter Cartwright, James Sims, and Rivers Cormack. Aaron Vandever was the first Baptist minister. There are now four church edifices in the township. Mount Zion Methodist Episcopal, on section twenty-four; the Christian, on section twenty-one; and the Methodist Episcopal and Catholic, in the village of Riverton.

Mineral

Coal was first discovered in this township at a very early date, and for many years surface mining was carried on, though none of the early settlers, and few of those that came at a later date, ever imagined that underneath their feet would be found thick veins of coal that would be almost inexhaustible. P. L. Howlett, an enterprising citizen of the village, that for some years bore his name, but was subsequently changed to Riverton, in 1865, conceived the idea that there was an immense bed of superior coal at a great depth below the surface. Accordingly, he employed experienced men from the Pennsylvania oil region, to erect the necessary machinery, and bored down two hundred feet into the earth, which resulted in striking a rich vein of coal about six feet in thickness. This test was made a few feet from his distillery, about eighty rods from the railroad. In order to make this matter sure, he moved his boring machinery up near the railroad switch, and bored down again with the same results. In the spring of 1866, he sunk a shaft from which he began to take a superior coal to any heretofore mined. This was the first attempt at mining coal in Sangamon county.

Village Op Riverton

The village of Riverton was laid out and platted by John Taylor, December 1, 183'7, its location being described as "the south half of the northeavSt quarter of section nine, township sixteen, range four, west." The plat was recorded under the name of Jamestown, so named in honor of James F. Reed, whose adventures are given on a preceding page, in connection with George Donner and a trip across the plains.

The village grew but slowly for some years, and until Mr. Howlett came and erected the distillery and mill adjoining. Up to this time, the village bore the name of Jamestown, but soon after it was changed to Howlett, which name it retained until 187-, when it w^as changed to Riverton - an appropriate name, it being upon the banks of the Sangamon river, the principal stream in the county.

There being already one Jamestown post office in the State, another name had to be chosen, and it was called Reed. This was one reason why the name of the village was afterward changed, as it was inconvenient to citizens and correspondents to call the town by one name and the post office by another. When the name of the village was changed to Howlett, the name of the post ofiice was also changed, it taking the name of the village. The same change was made to Riverton. Jesse Sweatman was the first jjostmaster. The large correspondence of the distillery here gives quite a large amount of mail to handle.

Riverton Alcohol Works

The most noted institution of Riverton is the large distillery of the Riverton Alcohol Works. In 1865, it w^as"owned and operated by P. L. Howlett, and was then said to be the largest in the State, with a capacity of 2,400 bushels of grain per day. It has since been eclipsed by some Peoria houses, but is yet considered a large distillery, its revenue, paid the Government annually, amounting to thousands of dollars. In connection with the distillery there is a large flouring mill, with six runs of burrs.

A Mining Village

The village of Riverton is what might be termed a mining village, its coal mines affording employment to by far the larger part of its inhabitants. Next to the mines the distilleries and mill furnishes employment to the greater number The cottages of the miners are among the things to attract the eyes of a traveler as he passes through on the railway cars, and the question is often asked, why so many cottages, as well as the name of the town.

A Newspaper

Riverton, like many other small villages, has had its newspaper, which flourished for a time, like the mushroom, and like the mushroom, soon passed away.

The religious welfare of the villagers is attended to by the Catholic and Methodist Episcopal brethren, each of whom have houses of worship.

(J has. Beerupvi^^ born April 27, 1841, in Sangamon county. He is the son of Andrew and Mary (Maltby) Beei'up, natives of New York and Vermont, and came to this county at an early day and resided until their death, the former occurring in 1872, and the latter in 1873. The subject of this sketch was reared on a farm, and that occupation he has followed thus far through life. Mr. B. was married, January 14, 1864, to Miss Mary Babcock. Her parents were James and Jeanette Babcock, who were natives of Ohio, emigrating to this county in 1850. Miss B. was born January 14, 1843, in Muskingum, Ohio. By the union, seven children were born, six of whom are living: John R., Alice J., Leander, William R., Jennie, and jimmie. Mr. B. located in this township in the spring of 1881, on section thirty-two, where he owns fifty acres of land, worth $80 an acre.

William A. Butler, one of Sangamon county's pioneers, was born July 23, 1817, in Adair county, Kentucky. He is the son of Nathan M. and Mary (Hardin) Butler, the former a native of Virginia, and the latter of Kentucky, who emigrated to this State in the year 1824, and settled in Morgan county, ten miles east of Jacksonville, where he resided until the spring of 1831, at which time he sold out and located near Berlin, where they resided until death ; the former occurring April 4, 1842, and the latter November, 1834. Mr. Butler fought under General Jackson in the fight below New Orleans, in the year 1815. He also, in the year 1831, fought Black Hawk. So popular was he among his friends that he was elected major. Our subject was reared on the farm, and only received about eighteen months' schooling, although he has acquired a good education since he became of age. Mr. Butler began life a poor man, in the city of Springfield, in the livery business, with a capital of less than |300. By close attention to business he accumulated enough to purchase a farm, seventeen miles west of Springfield. Mr. Butler served as Marshal of Springfield the years 1860 and 1861. Mr. B. was mairied in the year 1863, to Mrs. Jane Clark, daughter of James and Mary A. Trotter, who came to this county 1827, and settled on section thirty-two, this township, where the latter still resides, the former having died many years ago. Mrs. Clark is mother of two children - Thomas and Emma. Mr. B. is holding the office of township trustee ; he owns one hundred and eightyeight acres of good land, where he carries on mixed farming.

6. S. C hiir chill wsis born June 30, 1842, in Shelby county, Kentucky. lie is the son of George and Sarah (Arnold) Churchill, both of whom were natives of Virginia, and emigrated to this county, settling near Mechanicsburg, in 1827, where they resided a number of years, and then came to this township and settled on section eighteen, where they both died. Our subject was reared on the farm, which occupation he has followed thus far through life. He was married July 31, 1845, to Miss Hester F. King. Miss King was born January 21, 1825, in Bracken county, Virginia; by this union nine children were born, three of whom are living - Henry, Parmelia A. and Amanda P. Mr. C. owns three hundred and sixty acres of good land, well improved.

Jbh7i Cromley, farmer, was born May 11, 1816, in Northamption county, Pennsylvania. He is the son of Jacob and Sarah (Hiueman) Cromley, both of whom are deceased. They were early settlers of Ohio, where they were residing at the time of their death. Our subject was reared a farmer and he was deprived of the chance for an education. Though being possessed with a limited education, he has accumulated a large amount of property. He is owning three hundred and twenty acres of good land, all made by his own exertions.

Mr. Cromley was married to Miss Sarah Frederick. By her four children were born, three of whom are living - Mary J., Jacob and Charles. Mrs. Ci'omley was called to her resting place, and to supply this loss, he'raarried Julia Lamkie, in the year 1870. Miss L. was born in Germany in the year 1839, and emigrated to this country in 1866. The fruits of this union have been three children, viz: Emma, John and William. Few have been as successful financially as Mr. Cromley.

Amos Grubh was born May 26, 1826, in Perry county, Pennsylvania. He is the son of Henry and Mary (Smith) Grubb, both of whom died in Perry county, Pennsylvania, Amos was reared to manhood in his native State, and emigrated to this county in the year 1857, first settling in the city of Springfield, where he lived a few months, and then moved one and a half miles east of Springfield. From this he moved to the present place, where he has resided eighteen years. Mr. G., until three years ago, had devoted his entire attention to farming. Since that time he, in connection with his farming, has been operating a tile mill, with good success, his sales averaging about one hundred and fifty thousand tile per annum. Mr. G., was married in June 24, 1852, to Miss Mary A. Thrasher. Miss T., wasborninPerry county, Pennsylvania, July 8, 1821. The fruits of this marriage was seven children born to them: Elizabeth A., wife of Henry Churchill; Michael, Henry, Edwin, Dora J., Mai-y C, and Emma F.

Mr. G., has held several oflices in the township, one of which he has held seventeen years in succession, that being the office of school director. He is owning one hundred and seventysix acres of good land.

Thomas A. King, farmer, was born April 22, 1809, in Clarke county, Kentucky; his parents were William B. and Annie R. (Greening) King, natives of Virginia. The former was educated for a surveyor, but never followed surveying to any extent, farming being his principal occupation; he died October 19, 1863; the latter died March 27, 1873, Mr. King emigrated to this State in October, 1831, and located in German Prairie, where he resided ten years. In 1840, he purchased one hundred and twenty acres of land, where he has resided ever since. He was united in marriage to Miss Ann Mann, November 11, 1830, daughter of Peter and Elizabeth Gaterel, of Bracken county, Kentucky. The fruits of this marriage was twelve children, of whom six are living, namely: Elizabeth, now Mrs. Todd; Melvin, now a resident of Kansas; Uriah, now resides on a farm joining the old homestead; John J. resides on the old homestead; Julia, now Mrs. Turney; Thomas A., now living with his father; he has also an adopted son, Robert. Mrs. King departed this life May 11, 1881; they had been married fifty years and six months the day of her death. He had two sons in the war, Melvin and Uriah; the former enlisted in July, 1862, for three years, in Company I, One Hundred and Fourteenth Illinois Infantry; served full term, and was honorably discharged, August, 1865. The latter enlisted at Springfield, June 17, 1861, in Company E, Twenty-fourth Illinois Infantry, for three years. He fought at Perryville. Stone River, and Chickamauga, being wounded in the latter September 19, 1863, and captured the next day, and after enduring the horrors of nearly all the famous rebel prisons, at Richmond, Danville, Andersonville, Savannah, Milan, Thomasville, and back to Andersonville, was released March 20, 1865, and returned, via. Vicksburg and St. Louis, to Springfield, and was honorably discharged June 7, 1865, being within ten days of one year over time. Mr. King once owned four hundred and thirty acres of land, but has divided it among his children, reserving the old homestead of one hundred and sixty acres, valued at $60 per acre. Politically, he is a Republican; voted for General Fremont; was formerly a Whig. He has filled a number of township oflices; was supervisor two terms and school trustee a number of years; and other local oflices. Post ofl[ice, Riverton. Never had a suit in court. Colonel John F. Ring was born December 12, 1831, in Sangamon county, Illinois. His parents were William B. and Annie R. (Greening) King, natives of Virginia, the former born in Forquier county in 1779, and the latter at the same place, 1785. Mr. K. was educated in the common schools. The school houses at that time were all log houses, with slabs for seats. The windows were holes cut in the wall, with planks to slide back and forward. He resided with his parents until 1857, on a farm in German Prairie. They sold their farm and moved on section fifteen, where they resided until their death. Mr. K. then followed the carpenter and joiner's trade, from 1857 to 1860. In July, 1860, he organized and was Captain of a company called the Wide-Awakes, ninety in number. In October 18, 1860, he was united in marriage to Miss Mary J. Threlkeld, of Kentucky, born January 5, 1838, daughter of Thomas and Melinda Threlkeld. The fruits of this marriage were nine children, eight of whom are now living, namely: Elma E., John L., Jessie V., Charles W., Thomas

M., Henry O., Tillie M. and William B. The deceased was Edgar, died April 3, 1873. He enlisted July 18, 1862, in what became Company I., One Hundred and Fourteenth Illinois Infantry. He recruited the company and was elected Captain, but was not commisfiioned, but when the regiment was organized he was elected and commissioned, September 18, 1862, as Lieutenant Colonel. He was commissioned August 4, 1864, as Colonel, but never mustered, because the regiment was then reduced to a minimum, and was not entitled to a Colonel. He took part in several decisive battles, including the first fight at Jackson, Mississippi, siege of Vicksburg, siege of Jackson, Mississippi, and several other engagements. He resigned December 7, 1864, on account of physical disability. On his return home he purchased a farm near Mechanicsburg, where he resided about six months, when he sold out and purchased the site of his present home. January 15, 1866, he was appointed Assistant Assessor of the Eighth District of Illinois. On February 28, 1867, was appointed Inspector of distilled spirits of the Eighth District. November 22, 1869, *was appointed internal revenue store keeper, and is now store keeper and ganger of distillery number eleven, of the same district. He has held several lownship ofiices, was justice of the peace four years, also served three years as secretary of the Old Settlers' Society. Mr. K. and wife are worthy members of the Christian Church. Politically he is a Republican. He now owns two hundred acres of land, well improved, valued at |60 per acre. Post oflice, Riverton.

Uriah Mann, farmer, was born in Bracken county, Kentucky, September 17, 1810. His parents were Peter and Elizabeth (Gaterel) Mann, natives of Virginia, and of Dutch-Irish ancestry. He emigrated to this State in October, 183], locating in Sangamon county, Springfield township, where he entered eighty acres of land, and resided there about eighteen months, when he sold his farm and purchased his present home, situated on section seventeen. His father was born in Virginia, where he followed farming until his death, which occurred in 1833. His mother was born in 1785, in the same State, where her death also occurred. Mr. M. was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth King, January 6, 1832; she was a daughter of William and Annie R. King. They were the parents of seven children, four of whom are now living, viz: Peter, now a resident of Clear Lake township; Sarah A., now Mrs. George Black; Charles, now farming on the old homestead, and Frances, now Mrs. Grubb. Mrs. M. departed this life September 11, 1800. Mr. M. married for his second wife. Miss Ellen Brumbarger, August 5, 1862; she was a daughter of John and Nancy A. Brumbarger; her parents died when she was two years of age; she was raised by her uncle, Mr. William Chapman. He has had eleven children by his second wife, of whom nine are living, viz: Fannie, Bettie, Ethel, Sonora, Percie A , Richard O., Adeline, Celestia and Mary L. When he commenced life in this State, he had the sum of six and a quarter cents, and by economy and hard work has accumulated considerable property; has owned at one time six hundred acres of land; has sold all but two hundred and thirty-two acres, which he has reserved for a homestead. In 1832, he enlisted in the Black Hawk War, under General Whiteside. His son, Thomas IL, enlisted in August, 1862, for three years, in Company I, One Hundred and Fourteenth Illinois Infantry. He was taken prisoner at the battle of Guntown, Mississippi, June 10, 1864; was ten months in Andersonville prison pen; exchanged about the close of the rebellion, and honorably discharged, June 14, 1865, at Springfield, and died at home, February ]6, 1867, of disease contracted in the rebel prison. Politically, Mr. M. is a Republican, and also a member of the Christian Church; his estimable wife is a member of the Second Baptist Church. Post oflice, Riverton.

Geo. H. Miller was born June 16, 1818, in Logan county, Kentucky. His parents were Geo. and Mary (Owen) Miller, the former a native of Berkley county, Virginia, and the latter of Fayette county, Kentucky. They emigrated to this county in the year 1829, and settled on section nineteen, in this township, where they lived happily together some eleven years, when their happiness was severed by the death of Mr. Miller. Mrs. Miller lived until the year 1874, when she, too, was called to her final i-esting place. They both died in the Christian faith, and were buried in the German Cemetery.

Our subject was eleven years old when his parents came to this county, and he has lived continuously in this township ever since, following the avocation of a farmer.

He was married, September 14, 1842, to Sarah A. Wolf, a native of Allegheny county, Virginia, and born May 3, 1827. Her parents were Abram and Hannah (Arritt) Wolf, who came to this county about the year 1836, and since have died, and their remains were interred in the German Cemetery. Our subject's family consists, at present, of eight children: Mary A.,

Mr. Miller's farm consists of three hundred acres of good land. Mr. Miller has held several township offices, the duties of which he discharged to the satisfaction of all.

Col. George JB. Richardson was born Decem- \)er 22, 1821, in Morestown, Vermont, is the son of Eri and Abigal (Bragg) Richardson, natives of New Hampshire; his father followed the carpenter and joiner's trade to some extent, but farming was his principal occupation. Mr. R. was educated in the common shools and received a fair education. When eight years of age his father moved to Cornish, New Hampshire, where he remained until eighteen years of age, following farming for his father and also contracting and building. After which he started out in life for himself, going to Boston and hiring out by the month on a farm, at sixteen dollars per month for one year, then rented a farm of one hundred acres, of David Seai's, of Boston, and continued to raise vegetables on his own hook, running three market wagons the year around, he continued this business about two years, when the farm was laid out in town lots, and is now what is Brookline. In 184*7, he commenced working by the day on what was called the Boston and Worcester Railroad, putting in switches and laying track, etc. In the spring of 1848, he went on the old Colony road following the same work, in 1849 he took charge of the work as foreman, laying a branch of the Colony road from Neponset to Milton, then went to Bridgewater and took charge of the Bridgewater branch, having every thing in his charge, acting as conductor and superintendent of the work, followed the business between two and three years. About 1853, he went to St. Louis, then came to Springfield and engaged in railroad work under T. J. Carter, on what was then called the Great Western Railroad, as the grading was not finished he was engaged in completing the grading, putting in the ties and laying the rails, also was supply agent. Being conductor on the construction train, and as that train carried the first freight and passengers, he carried the first over what is now called the Wabash, St. Louis & Pacific Railroad, from Springfield to Danville. In the fall of 1857, he returned to St. Louis and engaged in the land business, his office was located at seventy-one, Market street, in the meantime, in 1858, he opened a wholesale general grocery and liquor store, on seventy-five, Market street, and also had a half interest with his uncle. Dr. A. G. Bragg, in two saw-mills at Fort Pillow, Tennessee, engaged in getting out wood for steamers on the Mississippi and sawing lumber for Memphis, Vicksburg, St. Louis, and other principal cities, and stays to ship to New Orleans for the European market, he also dealt in stock, horses, cattle and mules, he followed these occupations until 1862, when he went to Louisiana, Missouri, and purchased a general store, where he carried on business until 1865; in the meantime he was drafted into the army, but never served any length of time, as he hired a substitute. He purchased the site of his present home in 1856, then one dense wilderness, where he has resided since 1865. He now owns five hundred and fifty-seven acres of land in Clear Lake township, valued at $40 per acre, and nine hundred and sixty acres in Missouri, also four dwelling houses in the town of Riverton. Politically he is a staunch Republican. Post office, Riverton.

Thomas Richardson was born in the Parish of Lochmaben, Dumfrieshire, Scotland, July 12, 1812. His parents were William and Elizabeth ( Hannah) Richardson. He attended the common schools of Scotland, receiving a common school education. He remained at home until about eighteen years of age, when he was bound out for three years to Sir William Jardine, of Jardine Hall, to learn landscape gardening; followed that business until 1843. On February 3, 183*7, he was united in marriage to Miss Jannet Wilson, born November 21, 1812, they are the parents of eight children, all of whom are living, William, James W., Jane F., now Mrs. John Beaumont, of St. Louis; Elizabeth A., now Mrs. E. Johnson, of Springfield; Mary H., now Mrs. John Norred, of Christian county; Thomas B., John D., and John R. The same 3'ear of his marriage he emigrated to America, (his wife coming the next year); he first located in New Haven, Connecticut, working for Michael Baldwin, of York Square, as a gardener; he finished the St. John's Conservatory, working there five years. He then went to New Y^ork city and hired out to Colonel Thomas Mathers, now a resident of Springfield, Illinois, for two years, laying out the Colonel's residence, where the State House now stands. In 1844, he purchased one hundred and thirty-five acres of land where he resided nineteen years, then moved to the site of his present home. He built a beautiful dwelling in 1875, and has since laid out the front grounds in mathematical style. He com- menced life in America with one sovereign, and by hard work and economy has accumulated considerable wealth, he now owns seven hundred and fifty-nine acres of well improved land, valued at $60 per acre. Mrs. R. is a worthy member of the Presbyterian Church. His son, James W., enlisted in the One Hundred and Fourteenth Regiment, serving his country all during the war, receiving an honorable discharge. Politically Mr. R. is a Democrat. Post office, Riverton.

Jolxn Wilson, a farmer of Clear Lake township, is a native of Scotland, and was born at Dumfries, February 1, 1821. His father was James Wilson, and his mother Jane (Frood) Wilson, both born in Scotland. Dumfries, the birthplace of John Wilson, will be remembered as the burial place of Robei-t Burns, and the elder Wilson was one of the number who attended the funeral of the great Scotch bard, who after his death became famous, as one of the world's greatest poets. They had a family of six daughters and two sons, all born in Scotland; emigrating to this country in 1844, they settled in Clear Lake township, where he bought land. Mr. Wilson died December 1, 1872, in Buffalo Hart township, and Mrs. Wilson's death occurred February 3, 1801. John Wilson came with his parents to this country, when twenty-two years of age, and is therefore essentially American, both by education and adoption. He was raised on a farm, received a good education, and when quite young formed a co-partnership with his brother-in-law, in conducting a farm, and at the close of the fourth year severed the co-j)artnership, and to the present time has continued in agricultural pursuits. On January 30, 1851, which he well remembers as being a very cold day, Mr. Wilson was united in marriage with Miss Mary Cooper, a daughter of Merideth Cooper and Polly (Witcher) Cooper, of Williams township, this county, who were early pioneers, and came from Tennessee to St. Clair county, Illinois, as early as 1817, where Mrs. Wilson was born July 28, 1822, and came with her parents to Sangamon county, in 1823. Mr. and Mrs. Wilson are the parents of three children, Annie, now Mrs. Edwin H. Agee; James M. and Thomas W. James M. is a graduate of Cornell University, and at present, is attending Rush Medical College, Chicago. Mr. Wilson has held several local offices of crust, as supervisor and justice of the peace, and has been school treasurer for twenty -four years; has always acted with the Democratic party, and is a member of the Presbyterian Church. Like most of the early pioneers of a new country, Mr. Wilson began with almost no capital, and with that energy and integrity so characteristic of the hardy Scotch race, from which he sprung, has accumulated a fine estate, on which himself and wife live, in comparative retirement, enjoying the fruits of their well directed efforts, surrounded by a cultured and contented family.

Joh?i 61 Woltz was born June 5, 1818, in Shepherdstown, Jefferson county, Virginia, and is the son of John B. and Leah (Updegraff) Woltz, natives of Maryland, and of German ancestry. He was educated in the common schools of his native town, receiving a fair education. When seventeen years of age, he w.;s apprenticed for four years to learn the car})enter's trade, and followed that trade more or less for about eight years. In the fall of 1840, he emigrated to this State, coming on a stage from Shepherdstown to Wheeling, Virginia, and from there by boat on the Ohio river to St. Louis, stopping there for two or three weeks, then on the Illinois river to Naples, from Naples he rode on the construction train (it being the first railroad in Illinois) to New Berlin, that being as far as the iron was laid at that time; he then walked from there to Springfield on the rail, the distance being sixteen miles. The railroad was then built with what was then called mud sills, laying lengthwise of the road, and ties laid across, about two feet apart. The rail was six inches high and three inches thick, made of wood, with a strip of iron three quarters of an inch thick, laid on the top. On his arrival in this county he followed his trade, with making furniture, about two years. Was united in marriage to Miss Sidney R. Halbert, December 7, 1843, daughter of Dr. James and Nancy (Kennolds) Halbert; she was born February 3, 1822, in Essex county, Virginia, They are the parents of nine children, of whom six are living, viz: Virginia C, now Mrs. William Summers; Sarah M., now Mrs. John Riddle; Julia E., John C, Maggie H., and Alice I. The deceased are George A., James P. and Andrew H. Mr. W. purchased eighty acres of land, the site of his present residence, but did not reside on it; he resided with his father-in-law about eight years, improving his own farm in the meantime. He now owns three hundred and ninetyfive acres of land, well cultivated, and valued at S75 per acre. When he left Springfield he had nothing; but by economy has accumulated considerable wealth. He helped set the first hedge fence in Sangamon county. Mr. W.'s father. Dr. Halbert, was a Baptist minister, but never preached but two sermons in Illinois.

The township of Cooper was so named in honor of the Rev. John Cooper, one of the early settlers and most prominent men of the township. It is situated in the eastern part of the county, and is bounded on the east by Wheatfield township and Christian county ; on the west, by Rochester and Cotton Hill townships ; north, by Mechanicsburg township, and south, by Christian county.

This township is quite rolling, but is possessed, in the main, of excellent soil. The timber land is found along the streams, while the remainder is beautiful prairie.

The township is watered by the Sangamon river, and Buck Hart creek and their tributaries. The Sangamon river forms the southern boundary for three miles, separating it from Christian county. It then runs through the township, entering on section nine, and emerging on section six. Buck Hart creek heads in Christian county, and enters the Sangamon river on section seven, in Cooper township.

The first settlement in what now constitutes Cooper township, was in 1819. Among the early settlers were, John Cooper, Jacob Cooper, Henry Giger, Philip Smith, Hiram Robbins, Benjamin Giger, John North, Stephen Sowell, Mr. Johnston, William Bragg, Mr. Litteral.

John Cooper was born June 3, 1794, in South Carolina, and was taken by his parents to Jefferson county, Tennessee, where he subsequently married to Susannah Peyton, who died after giving birth to one child. Mr. Cooper was married the second time to Susannah Giger. They moved to Sangamon county, Illinois, arriving April 2, 1820, in what is now Rochester township, and one year later moving to Cooper township, south of the Sangamon river. Mr. Cooper was a local minister in the Methodist Episcopal Church, and preached almost as regular as the preachers in the traveling connection. He solemnized the marriage of many couple among the early settlers. He was a justice of the peace, and one of the county commissioners for many years, and when the township organization was effected his name was given to the township. Mr. Cooper died January, 1860, his wife preceding him a few months.

Jacob Cooper was born December 18, 1800, in Jefferson county, Tennessee; was married there to Anna Walden. They came to Sangamon county, Illinois, with his brother. Rev. John Cooper, in 1820. Mrs. Anna Cooper died February 22, 1830, and Jacob Cooper was married to Jane Kelly, daughter of William Kelly, of Springfield.

Philip Smith was born about 1790, in Montgomery county. North Carolina. He was married there to Nancy Cooper. They had seven children, and moved to Sangamon county, Illinois, arriving in 1822, in what is now Cooper township, and the next year moved to Williams township, where five children were born.

Hiram Robbins was born December 26, 1793, in Buncombe county. North Carolina. His parents moved to Overton county, Tennessee, thence to Washington county, Kentucky, and from there to Vincennes, Indiana territory. At that place he entered the array, and served six months in the War of 1812 with England. The family, after the war, moved back to Tennessee, and from there to Pope county, Illinois, where the father died, and the family moved to Madison county. Hiram Robbins was there married, December 29, 1816, to Elizabeth Dean. They moved to Sangamon county, arriving in the summer of 1821 within one mile of where Barclay now stands, and in 1823 moved to what is now Cooper township. He was a soldier from this county in the Black Hawk war. Mrs. Eliza beth Robbins died August 17, 1866, and Hiram Robbins was married to Merada Gordon. For a third wife, he married, October 1, 1872, Mrs. Elizabeth E. White, whose maiden name was Strode. They reside in Cooper township, Sangamon county, Illinois.

Benjamin Giger was born July 25, 180-3, in Jefferson county, Tennessee. He came to Sangamon county on a visit in 1828, returned to Tennessee, and moved, in company with his widowed mother and his brother-in-law, John North, arriving April 12, 1829, in what is now Cooper township. Benjamin Giger was marrit d in Sangamon county, November 18, 1832, to Susannah Todd, who was born Decembr20, 1808. Mr. Giger constructed many ingenius and useful implements. He would often study for days at a time, sometimes quitting his work in the daytime, would go to bed, cover up head and ears, and continue in the deepest study. When a plan or design was fully matured, he would leave his work, or arise from bed, as the case might be, and write, without stopping to eat or sleep, until his thoughts were transferred to paper. He invented a machine for heading grain ; also some plows and other agricultural implements, and was on his way to Washington with his models, for the purpose of obtaining patents. He was taken sick on board a steamer ascending the Ohio river, and died at Brownsville, Pennsylvania, June 23, 1850. His widow died November 28, 1858, in Sangamon county.

John North was born November 22, 1806, near the village of Bent Creek, on James river, Buckingham county, Virginia. His grandfather, Richard North, was born in England, and trained to the business of a cutler. He came to America, and worked at his business at Bent Creek. His wife's maiden name was Thornton, but whether they were married in England or America is unknown to their descendants. Their third son, Peter, born in Virginia, was married there to Elizabeth Franklin, a daughter of Robert Franklin, of Campbell county, Virginia. Peter North was a soldier in the war with England in 1812. In 1819 or '20, he moved to Jeffei'son county, near Dandridge, Tennessee, taking with him six children. The second son,

John, whose name heads this sketch, was there married, September 22} 1828, to Anna Giger, who was born November 4, 1807, in that county. They came to Sangamon county, Illinois, arriving April 12, 1829, in what is now Cooper township, north of Sangamon river.

Stephen Lowell was born February, 1785, on the river Roanoke, Charlotte county, Virginia. Jane Hannah was born September 12, 1795, in that county. They were there married and had three children, and moved to Rutherford county, Tennessee, about 1817, where three children were born, and moved to Sangamon county, Illinois, arriving April, 1828, in what is now. Chatham township, thence to Cooper township, and from there to Loami township in 1830. He died in 1863.

The first religious services held in the township were at the house of Rev. John Cooper, on the northeast quarter of section twenty. A class was formed there from which originated the Buckhart Methodist Episcopal Society. Public services were held at the house of Mr. Cooper for about ten years, when they were transferred to the house of Elias Johnson, on the northeast quarter of section eighteen, where they were continued till a school house was built, and there held a number of years, when in 1853, a church edifice was erected, thirty by forty, of brick, which was valued at 11,500. William Johnson made the brick, in which he did the greater part of the work himself. Mr. .Johnson was a local preacher, and one of the best class leaders the church ever had. He died in Monticello, in 1870. Among the first members of the class were John Cooper and wife, Nancy Giger, Samuel Powers and wife, Elias Johnson and family. The present membership of the society is about fifty. At one time it numbered over one hundred, its loss being occasioned principally by the transfer of membership to other and more convenient congregations.

A class was organized from the Buck Hart congregation about 1856 or J 857, known as the Nebo class, which met for worship in a school house on the northeast quarter of the northwest quarter of section thirty-three. When the villages of Berry and Breckenridge were laid out, the class divided and organized, one at each place, erecting church edifices at each, at a cost of about $1,800 for the one in Berry, and $2,000 for the one in Breckenridge. These churches are supplied with preaching services from the Rochest'^r circuit.

A society of United Brethren was organized, and a church built on the southeast quarter of section four, about 1856. The society flourished for some years - until the Patrons of Husbandry were formed, and several of the members uniting with the order, caused a division in the church, resulting in its almost entire dissolution.

Cooper Grange, Patrons of Husbandry, was organized March 31, 1874, by John McConnell, Deputy, with the following named as charter members and officers: Dauiel Waters, Master; W. R. Ross, Overseer; Benjamin A. Giger, Lecturer; J. M. Cooper, Chaplain; George Hicks, Steward; S. J. Prather, Assistant Steward; E. F. Saunders, Treasurer; Squire Campbell, Gate Keeper; W. B. Prather, Secretary; Mrs. Harriet Waters, Ceres; Mrs. Sarah Hicks, Pomona; Miss Mary Alice Miller, Flora; Miss Gittie Prather, Assistant Steward. The Grange continued in successful operation until 1876. A Grange was also organized at Berry Station, January 21, 1874, with W. J. Cooper, Master, and Alexander Lokin, Secretary. The Grange held weekly meetings until 1878, when they met but once or twice only, that year; since which time it has ceased to exist. It was organized by Jno. Mc- Connell.

Village Of Newport

Few of the present generation know there was ever a village laid out in Cooper township, bearing the high-sounding name of Newport. In the spring of 1838, Rev. John Cooper had surveyed and platted, the east half of the northwest quarter of section twenty, township fifteen, range three. The platting was nearly all that was done; only two houses were put upon it. A poor man by the name of Moses Wood, came along, and Mr. Andrew Crowl bought a lot and said he would build a tabernacle for Moses, and did so. Another poor man, named Parish, needed a parsonage, and a kind owner of another lot put up a house for him. So that the new village embraced a whole parish, and had in it the parsonage for the rector. But neither continued a long time, and long since, all vestiges of the anticipated city of Newport have disappeared.

Oak Hill Cemetery

The first interments made in what is now Oak Hill Cemetery, were before the land was in market by the United States government; the first one being that of Mr. A. Giger, son of Henry and Nancy Giger, August 1, 1823. Its location is about the center of the township, and the section line between section twenty, and twenty-one passing through the lot. From the year 1823 to 1876, it was known as Cooper grave yard, and about the time of the former date, Mr. Cooper entered a part of section twenty and by tacit consent burials continued to be made till about the latter date, the then inclosed lot became filled with graves, when the people of the vicinity conferred together and agreed to enlarge the lot by procuring more land, and bought one acre of Robert North, who then owned the contigious portion on section twentyone, which was soon after accomplished by the organization of what is now known as Oak Hill Cemetery Association, and Mr. North deeded it one acre for the purpose, receiving therefor the sum of $50. The part previously used consisted of one acre, one half of which was presented by Mr. North and the other by the heirs of John Cooper, so that now there were inclosed two acres and placed under the care of five trustees, who at once sold a number of lots at public auction to individuals at |10 each, the fund thus accruing is to be placed at interest, as a source of revenue to meet necessary expenses in maintaining the organization in its legitimate outlays. The first trustees were: R. A. Hazlett, Benjamin A. Giger, Edmund Miller, W. B. Prather and Joseph E. Ross. At a subsequent election there were chosen as the present board the following: Albert North, John M. Ross, Samuel J. Prather Benjamin A. Giger and Daniel Waters. Mr. Waters is President and Mr. Giger Secretary of the Association, and Mr. Prather Treasurer.

The first school in this township was taught by Mr, and Mrs. Literal, about 1828. There are now three whole and three fractional school districts in the township, with six school houses, valued at |3,200.

Benjamin Giger built a saw and grist-mill on the Sangamon river, on section nine, in 1830, which was run by him and others twenty-two years, doing a large amount of grinding meal and flour, and sawing timber for the community around, and even sent flour to the city of Springfield. It was re-built, and subsequently burned down, when the property passed into the hands of Daniel Powers, who again built and operated it.

Temperance

The township of Cooper is emphatically a temperance town. It has never had in it a saloon. A division of the Sons of Temperance was organized in 1858, which existed about four years, until so many of the members enlisted in the army that regular meetings could not be held.

The Lodge was given the name of Buck Hart Lodge, No.' 295, I. O. G. T. It is now in quite a flourishing condition, with regular weekly meetings in the Buck Hart Methodist Episcopal Church.

About eight years prior to the organization of this Lodge, another Lodge was organized here known as 486, which continued in active existance about three years, when it forfeited its Charter.

The township of Cooper was organized as a political division of the county, by the Board of Justices, in the spring of 18G1, its first election being held in April, of that year. From 1861 to 1881, are given the principal officers elected:

Justices Op The Peace Village Of Berry, Or Clarksville

Robert E. Berry, and is located upon a portion of sections thirty and thirty-one, township fifteen, range three. It is upon the line of the Ohio & Mississippi Railroad, and twelve miles from Springfield.

On the establishment of the post ofiice, there being one Clarksville post ofiice in the State, another name had to be taken. It was therefore called Berry, in honor of the proprietor of the place. In due time, the village began to be known and called by the same name.

Horace Stafford started a store here in the summer of 1871, the first in the place. He subsequently sold to E. E. Berry, who, in time, disposed of it to Batty & Hammer, the present proprietors. The village has now two stores carrying stocks of general merchandise, the second being owned by Charles Stafford, w^ho commenced business in July, 1881. Mr. Stafford has also a blacksmith and wagon shop, but has associated with him in the former, John T. Evans.

This village was so named in honor of Hon. Preston Breckenridge, its village plat being recorded in May, 1870, being described as the "north half of the northeast quarter of section five, township fourteen, range three." John W. Wigginton was the original proprietor.

The first house was built by C. C. Breckenridge, and occupied first by Friend & Seligman, as a general store. It is now, in 1881, occupied by Dr. H. G. Wheeler, as a drug and grocery store.

A post office was established here shortly after the village was laid out, Alexander Breckenridge being the first postmaster. W. T. Cooper is the present one.

In 1872, II. Breckenridge erected a flour-mill in the village, and in 1876, in connection built an elevator large enough for the storage of four thousand bushels of grain. Both the elevator

Breckenridge is quite a shipping point for grain and stock. There w^ere from the harvest of 1880 to July 1 1881, shipped seventy-five thousand four hundred and ninety-three bushels of grain.

William G. JBroion was born in Jefferson county, Illinois. Son of James 11. and Hannah D. Brown, who are now living in Colciado. He was married to Maria A. Lewis, August 17, 1876, in Taylorville, Christian county, Illinois, the daughter of Alfred and Eliza Jane (Obeli) Lewis, of the same place, but formerly of Cooper township. Mr. and Mrs. Brown have two chil dren, Alfred L. and Esther Eliza. He lives on Mr. Lewis' farm, and superintends four hundred and twenty four acres, where the old homestead stands, section six of this township. He formerly edited a newspaper at Taylorville, Illinois, but sold out his whole interest, and now gives his whole attention to farming.

His father served through the Mexican War under General Taylor. Mr. Brown and his wife are members of the Christian Church, and in politics they are Democrats. From 1869 to 1880, he was an earnest and efficient school teacher in this State.

Levi J. Jhirchani was born August 9, 1830, in West Virginia, and moved to Sangamon county in 1839, thence to Plattsburg, Clinton county, Missouri, in 1851, where he lived eight years; thence, in 1858, to Grayson county, Texas, a short time; thence to Nodaway county, Missouri, four years, till 1863; returned to Sangamon and settled on section five. Cooper township. Here he married Lydia McCorkle, boi-n in Clay county, Missouri, May 25, 1836. They have two children: Charles, born March 31, 1856; Mamie Emma Lord and Nannie Z., born in Kansas, May 4, 1862. All live in this township, Nannie, with her parents. Mr. Burcham and family came from Missouri as refugees, having been financially ruined by the Rebellion. His parents, Reuben and Nancy (Wheeler) Burcham, came to Sangamon county in 1849. Of their nine children, six are living in Sangamon county. Mrs. Burcham's parents, Archibald and Zerilda (Short) McCorkle had nine children. Reuben Burcham died April 9, 1879.

sannah Giger) Cooper, who came to Sangamon county from Jefferson county, Tennessee, on April 2, 1820, and settled near Rochester, and in 1821, came to wliat is now Cooper township.

Lewis W. died July 19, 1872; his widow lives at Breekenridge, with her son. She left Tennessee at the age of seven years, and ten years later came to this county, and was married to Mr. Lewis, October 12, 1840. He had spent most of his life in farming, but at the time of his death, was a merchant in Breckeni'idge. They had two sons and two daughters, Mary A., married Peter Danitz, and they live in Lynn county, Kansas; Jno. D., died in 1870; Henrietta, married S. L. Neer, and lives in Breekenridge; W. T. Cooper, continues the business commenced in Breekenridge by his father, and resides there, and also buys and ships large quantities of grain. He -is a man of business capacity and energy, and has the confidence of all who deal with him. They are members of the M. E. Church.

Mary Ann Crowl, widow of Joseph Crowl, was born February 22, 1804, in Kent county, Maryland. She married Mr. Crowl in Washington county, Maryland, January 1, 1818. He was born September 3, 1794, in Shepherdstown, Virginia, and died in this township, September 8, 18G5. They came to Springfield, this county, in the fall of 1834, and the next spring to what is now Cooper township.

Mordecai, the eldest son was born in Maryland, July 20, 1820, and married in Springfield, Illinois, in December 1869, to Catharine E. Crowl, of Berkley county, Virginia, and now lives in Clarksville, this township. He is a capitalist, stock dealer, and farmer, and one of the most successful men of Sangamon county. His brother, Upton Crowl, was born February 7, 1822, in Maryland, anddied attheold homestead, this township, March 8, 1872. His widow, Sarah E., daughter of James and Jane Taggart, was born in Shelbyville, Kentucky, in 1834, and came to Greene county, Illinois, in 1835, and married Mr. Crowl in 1850. She makes her home with her only daughter, Mary J., who was born April 22, 1858, and her son-in-law, Eugene W. Renshaw, who was born in Decatur, Illinois, Jline 25, 1851, and married Februury 10, 1874; they have three children. Upton Crowl, served in the Mexican war, and his father, Joseph Crowl, served in the War of 1812. Mrs Crowl has been a member of the M. E. Church more than sixty years, and Mr. Crowl was a patron of the same, and contributed liberally to charitable institutions.

where he was born, January 8, 1827. His father, Henry Giger, was born May 14, 1799, and died November 22, 1844, and Nancy (Todd) Giger, Benjamin's mother, was born May 7, 1798, and now lives with her daughter, Ann Gore, in Mechanicsburg, this county. Nancy Giger married Mr. Giger in Jefferson county, Tennessee. They left there February 14, 1820, and reached this county on April 2, same year, locating a few miles north of Rochester, and soon moved to Cooper township, and were the first to settle on Sand Prairie. They had eight children, four of whom are dead. Those yet living are, Anna, now Mrs. Gore, born April 4, 1821, and lives with her husband at Mechanicsburg ; Alexander T., born June 23, 1824, settled in Jewell county, Kansas; Martha D. Eyman, born January 30, 1831, lives in Macon county, Illinois. ' Mr. Giger's grandmother, Anna Giger, was born in Pennsylvania, November 19, 1765, and came to this county with his uncle, Benjamin Giger, and died October 12, 1837. The subject of this sketch married Mary A. V. Kirk, November 30, 1848. She was born in Bath county, Kentucky, April 15, 1S20, and died May 10, 1853. They had two children, who died in infancy. He again married, October 26, 1853, to Margaret J. Kirk, a sister of his former wife, born October 6, 1825, and died May 19, 1869 ; by whom three children were born - Ida Luella (now dead), William Edward, born September 7, 1857, and Henry Douglas, born September 18, 1861. The last two named live with their father. Mr. Giger, was again married, March 1, 1870, to Mary Ellen Johnson, who was born in Springfield, Illinois, May 14, 1845, but spent a large part of her life in Arkansas. By this marriage one child - Nola B. - was born, but died in infancy. Mr. Giger inherited land from his father, which was entered by him, August 1, 1826, the patents of which were written upon parchment and signed by John Quincy Adams, then President of the United States. The land is still owned by Mr. G.

He has been a prominent and influential actor in the local affairs of the township government, and has been honored in the appointment to most of the offices therein. He is now serving in his third term as justice of the peace ; and was personally conspicuous in forming the Oak Hill Cemetery Association, of which a full report will be found in the history of the township. All are members of the M. E. Church, and he has been so since 1841, and has held offices in the church the last twenty years. All are Democrats.

Dr. A. F. Hammer was born and raised in Taylorville, Christian county, Illinois, and came into Sangamon county, June 20, 1877, son of A. W. and Rebecca A. (Langly) Hammer, and married Alice Dickerson, formerly the widow of Jno. W. Allen, and was born and raised in this county. Her parents were natives of Kentucky. Dr. H. has one child, Pearl. He is practicing medicine as a homoeopathist, at Clarksville, post office. Berry, and at present is post master in the village, and also one in the firm of Batty & Hammer, general dealers in merchandise. He has a large and lucrative practice and is an enterprising and popular citizen.

Sarah A. Hicks was born November 5, 1827, in Loudon county, Virginia, and now the widow of Charles J. Hicks, who was born September 24, 1824, and died November 6, 1858. Mrs. Hicks moved to Ohio, with her parents, in 1835, and thence to Sangamon county in the fall of 1851. She owns two hundred and ten acres of laud, one hundred and seventy under cultivation, and conducts the management of the same as a farmer.

James Lamun was born December 12, 1802, in Ross county, Ohio, near Chillicothe, and is one of the oldest men in Cooper township. He married Ann McCafferty, May 25, 1822, in Ohio, where she died. They had three children. Mr. Lamun never married again; has been a widower over fifty years. He came to Springfield in 1839. His son, John Lamun, was born July 2, 1823, in Chillicothe, Ohio, and came to this county in the fall of 1843; he remained in Sangamon until August, 1847; he returned to Ohio and remained there until October, 1855, when, in company with his wife and two children, came to this county by the 28th of the same month and settled here. He was married to Nancy Ann Carson, of Allen county, Ohio, August 19, 1852; she here died May 21, 1867. His children who came West with him, were: Emery P., born July 18, 1853, and Leslie G., born October 20, 1854. They are married and farming in this township. The children born here, are: Zodith A., born March 8, 1857; Anna B., born November 12, 1861; Mary E., born July 29, 1864; James E., born July 6, 1859, and John F., born June 28, 1867 (died in a few days after). Mr. John L. married his second wife, Mary Ann Hammel, in this county, August 6, 1869. She was born October 8, 1824, in Fairfield county, Ohio, and came to this county the fall of 1854. She was the widow of Samuel Hammel and had six children. In 1865, Mr. L. settled on forty acres of timber land and has added on until he has now one hundred and sixty acres of fine farming land. In the faU of 1856, his father gave him forty acres of prairie land three-quarters of a mile north of what he now owns. He remained there until 1864 or '65, and then settled on the land he now owns - one hundred and sixty acres of choice land - all in timber when he took it, and it is now nearly all cleared, and worth about $50 per acre. His politics are neutral, and she is a member of the M. E. Church. James E. and Mary E. are at home.

Jacob C. Miller was born April 9, 1824, in Loudon county, Virginia, and married Mary Charlotte Prather, in this county, June 10, 1869. She was born January 4, 1843, in Washington county, Maryland. Mr. Miller is the son of Christian and Sarah (Neer) Miller, who were born in Loudon county, Virginia; and he came with them to Sangamon county, January 20, 1835. Her parents. Perry and Elizabeth ( Troxell ) Prather, wei-e natives of Washington county, Maryland, and came to Sangamon county, June 1, 1850. Mr. and Mrs. Miller have four children, Samuel J., Don W., and Edith E., and Lotta Mabelle, born September 13, 1881. He entered two thousand one hundred and forty acres of land when he came to this county, of which Jacob C. inherited four hundred and twenty, and has added by purchase, one hundred and fortyeight. His wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. In politics, they are Liberal. James W. H. Neer, a farmer, living in section thirty-three, in Cooper township; son of Henry and Lydia (Derry) Neer, who came from Loudon county, Virginia. He was married to Sarah E. Zimmerman, daughter of David and Matilda Zimmerman. They have three children, Isaac H., born May 24, 1867; Freddie Artiiur, born July 29, 1872; and Ira Elton, born December 28, 1875. Mr. Neer was at one time engaged in mercantile business at Breckenridge. His parents and brothers live in this county. Both parents are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and are, in politics, Republican.

Robert North was born October, 1814, in Buckingham county, Virginia, and taken by his parents to Jefferson county, Tennessee, when he was a boy. He came to Sangamon county with his brother, John North, who had been back to Tennessee. They arrived in September, 1832, in what is now Cooper township. Robert North was married in Sangamon county, March 29, 1838, to America Schmick, She was born February 10, 1816, in Lincoln county, Kentucky, and came to Sangamon county in company with her mother, brother-in-law - John demons, one brother, two sisters and two nephews, arriving in the fall of 1829, and settled three miles south of Springfield. Robert North and wife had six living children in Sangamon county, all of which are married and reside in the county. His first farming in the county was on Magor Elijah lies' farm, south of Springfield on which he continued six years. In the meantime he purchased one hundred and twenty acres of land in Cooper township, which he moved on to in 1844, and on which place he continued to live up to his death, September 24, 1880. His first start in the farming and house-keeping was on a small scale, but by hard work and close economy he accumalated thirty-five hundred acres of land, all of which was in Sangamon county. After his death occurred his property was appraised at $185,000, leaving to each of his children 130,000. His wife still resides on the homestead with her daughter.

John North was born November 22, 1806, in Buckingham county, Virginia, and came to Sangamon county, Illinois, April 12, 1829, where he died December 15, 1880. He was married to Anna Giger, September 22, 1828, who was born in Jefferson county, Tennessee, November 4, 1807, and died February 24, 1844. Their four children were: Benjamin H., born November 19, 1832, and married November 15, 1855, to Minerva A. Miller, born May 18, 1836, in Loudon county, Virginia; Nancy N., born January 26, 1835, married to Sarah E. Prather, November 13, 1856; John W., born November 9, 1837, married to Maria McDaniel, March 8, 1866, and entered the Union army, August 7, 1862, in Company A., Seventy-third Regiment Illinois Infantry Volunteers, for three years. Was captured at Chicamauga, and was confined in Lib]^y and Andersonville prisons, in turn, from March 20, 1864, to December, 1864; Andrew J., born March 18, 1841, and died April 26, 1857. All live in this State, except B. H., who is in Kansas. Mrs. Anna North died February, 1844, and Mr. North married again September 19, 1844, to Susannah Eckels, who also died July 1, 1855, and on February 19, 1856, he married a third time to Mrs. Pemelia Woodruff", widow of Erastus Woodruff. She was born in Spencer county, Kentucky, May 16, 1824, and was first married to Mr. Benjamin West, an exlawyer and member of the Illinois Legislature in 1846-7, who died of consumption at Rochester, June 21, 1847. Two of her children met with violent deaths - her daughter, Fanny West, who was choked to death by her artificial teeth getting into her throat while asleep, and her son,

Mrs. North was the daughter of Francis Taylor, of Kentucky, and came to Sangamon county, Illinois, in 1834. Her eldest daughter, Mrs. Rice, lives in Massachusetts, and another, Mrs. Mary E. Wilson, resides in Illiopolis township. By her third marriage, with Mr. North, she had four children: Peter F., died in infancy; Robert F., born March 31, 1859, lives on the old homestead, and has full charge of the estate, and evidently is a success in life; Edward E , born January 14, 1861; and Pemelia A., born .January 24, 1864. The last two are living with their mother on the home place.

Mr. John North was one of the early settlers of this county, and in early days labored hard to buy land, mauling rails for his neighbors and otherwise, before old age came upon him, and then farmed the whole of his large farm of one thousand, seven hundred acres. He is one of the stoutest men in the community. In politics, Mr. North was always a Democrat. For a number of years Mr. and Mrs. North have been Adventists, and he resided on the same tract of land to the day of his death, for moi-e than fifty years, being widely and favorably known.

Elizabeth Prather^ widow of Perry, daughter of Abraham and Sarah (Rout) Troxell, all natives of Washington county, Maryland. She was born October 29, 1813. Her husband. Perry Prather, was born April 2, 1798, and died November 2, 1858. They were married August 1, 1830, and had twelve children, six sons and six daughters, all of whom are living. Abraham P., Wm. D., and Isaac R. live in Arizona, near Prescott. The other sons - Washington B., a soldier in the late war, married Marietta Kline, and lives in Cantrall, this county; Samuel James married Mary Alice Miller, and has one child, Chas. Marshal, born February 3, 1879, and live on the old homestead; and John L. lives at home, also single. Of the daughters, Sarah E. married Harry H. North, and lives in Christian county; Ruth A. married Mr. Sadler, and lives in Taylorville, Christian county; Mary C. married Jacob A. Miller; Gretna married John F. Loe; and Rachel T. lives at home with her mother; Jemima J. married Wm. Troxell, and lives in Norton county, Kansas.