Sangamon County, Illinois - Biographical sketches, 1881 (part 13 of 21)

Joseph Dickersoji, blacksmith and justice of the peace, Curran, was born in Madison county, Ohio, April 30, 1838, son of Wells and Cina (Bessett) Dickerson. His father, was a native of Delaware, and mother of German descent, both of whom are now dead. Joseph Dickerson was educated in the common schools, and raised on a farm, until seventeen years of age. He then commenced to learn his trade in the town of Newtonsville, Muskingum county, Ohio, and served three years under G. J. Keyes, for whom he continued to work for one year. He then started for a new field of labor, and located, first at Keokuk, Iowa, where he continued to work at his trade six months, and from there to Carthage, Illinois, where he remained six months, and from there to Springfield in search of a better location. Failing to find employment there, he took the train for Indianapolis, then Richmond, Indiana, thence to Newark, Ohio, and from there to Hanover, Ohio, where he spent the winter of 1858. From there he made several trips to New Orleans, by steamboat, after which he again returned to Sangamon county, Illinois, in January, 1860, where he engaged as a hand on a farm during the summer, and in the vv'inter worked at his trade for Elias Babcock, and in August, 1861, he came to the village of Curran, and commenced his trade, which he has continued, building up a large business. He first married in November, 1861, Jennette Sims, who was born in Muskingum county, Ohio, in 1839, and the daughter of Jefferson and Julia (Babcock) Sims. By this marriage they had six children. Only two are living, Lewis G. and Walter B. He lost his wife in 1872, and in 1873, married Alice Sims, a sister of his first wife, who was also born in the same county and State, in 1847. She died in 1877, and in 1878 he was again married to Clara A.

Ralston (Conkling,) who was born in 1849, in Butler county, Ohio, and was the daughter of John and Mary Burch. They have two children, Charles and John Leroy. He was elected to the office of Justice of the Peace in the spring of 1869, which office he has continued to hold since, and also school treasurer in the spring of 1875, which he still holds, and served the township as supervisor in 1879. He is the owner of eighty acres of good land, beside town property in Curran. In politics he is Republican.

S. W. Dunn, farmer, was born in Harrison county, Kentucky, December 10, 1821; son of Elijah and Sarah (Foster) Dunn, who were natives of Virginia and Kentucky, respectively. His father's occupation was that of a farmer, which he continued up to his death, in Kentucky, His mother died in Illinois, while on a visit to her son. The subject of this sketch received only a common school education in the schools of Kentucky, and was raised on a farm and remained with his father until twenty-one years of age. He then came in 1845 to Sangamon county, and engaged in farming. He was married in April, 1848, to Mary Jane Foster, who was born in Harrison county, Kentucky, December 8, 1821, and the daughter of Evans and Margaret (McKee) Foster, who also was born in Kentucky, and came to Sangamon county in the fall of 1829, and located in what is now Curran township, where he resided until their death. After their marriage they at once began to farm in Curran township. His family consisted of seven children, only one of whom is now living - Narcissa, who was born October 11,1860 - the other six died in infancy. He has accumulated since coming to the county, four hundred and fifty acres of land in Curran township, and eight hundred in Christian county. They are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. D. is a Republican.

Isaac L. Ewell, farmer, was born in Pecham, Vermont, April 29, 1819; son of Isaac W., and Lileous (Sanderland) Ewell. His father was a native of New Hampshire, and born June 10, 1763; mother of New York, born August 22, 1794, and of Scotch descent. His father was a miller by occupation, which he followed until his death, April 11, 1863. His mother still resides on the old homestead, at which place Isaac L., was born. His education was obtained in the common schools of Vermont, and he was brought up as a miller. He resided with his father until he was twenty-one years of age, after which he started out to do for himself, and secure a new home in the West. He traveled through Indiana, Illinois, Iowa and Missouri, thence back to Illinois, where he located in Springfield in 1837. He engaged in a mill as miller, which place he continued in for two years, after which he returned to his native home in Vermont, where he again took charge of his father's mill, and for five years remained with him, when he returned to Sangamon county, Illinois, in the winter of 1845, where he again worked at the milling business, and in September 3, 1846, of same year, he married Louise E. Kelley, with whom he had previously formed an acquaintance on his first settling in the county in 1837. She was born in Sangamon county, Illinois, December 4, 1824, was the daughter of Elisha and Nancy (Sims) Kelley, who came to Sangamon county in 1819, both of whom are now deceased. Immediately after their marriage, they moved to Vermont, where he again entered the mill with his father, in which he continued for three years, when he sold out and returned to Sangamon county, Illinois, in 1851, and located on the present place, and erected a mill on the creek, in which he made use of water power to, do his grinding and sawing, and for twenty years he carried on both branches of the same. At the present time he only does sawing. For the last few years he has been engaged in farming. He is now the owner of one hundred and thirty acres of land, which is under a fair state of cultivation, and worth 175 per acre. His family consisted of three children, two of whom are now living, Charles, and Emma, now Mrs. Dr. Foster; one deceased, Horace. In politics, he is and always has been a Republican.

John Foster, farmer, was born in Sangamon county, Illinois, January 29, 1833, son of Ivins Foster, who was born November 23, 1794. in Harrison county, Kentucky, Margaret McKee was born January 24, 1796, in the same county. They were there married, February 26, 1819, in Harrison county, and then moved to Gallatin county. They then moved to Sangamon county, Illinois, arriving in November, 1829, in what is now Curran township, north of Lick creek, where they continued to reside. His father died January 4, 1866, and his mother, April, 1880. The subject of this sketch received his education in the common schools of Sangamon county, and has always followed farming. He is now the owner of four hundred acres of land, which is under a fair state of cultivation, and worth $60 per acre. Politically, he is a Republican.

June 3, 1850, first son of Joseph and Caroline (Harford) Gunnett, who were natives of Beaver county, Pennsylvania, where he resided on a farm previous to moving to Sangamon county, in 1872, and located in Buffalo Hart township, where they now reside. Armer G. received his education in the common schools of Pennsylvania and Ohio, and afterwards spent two years in the Pikerton Normal school of Ohio. He came to Sangamon county in the spring of 1872, and engaged in farming; was married December 25, 1878, to Nannie E. Riddle, who was born in Sangamon county, Febuary 20, 1852, and the daughter of John and Martha (Archer) Riddle. Her father was a native of Ohio. Previous to coming to this county he died, November 6, 1878; her mother was born in Bond county, Illinois; she now resides with them on the farm. They own two hundred acres of land in Curran and Gardner townships, which is under a fair state of cultivation, and worth |60 per acre. His wife was educated in the common schools of this county; she attended the Female Seminary at Jacksonville two terras. They are both members of the M. E. Church at New Salem, and politically he is Republican.

0. S. Hotchkins., merchant, postmaster, station agent, Curran, was born in Madison county. New York, June 9, 1849, son of Herman and Mary (Hitchcock) Hotchkins, who were natives of New York. He was a farmer by occupation. His mother died in 1869, and his father still lives in Niagara county. New York. The subject of this sketch was raised on a farm and educated in the common schools of Madison county. New York; remained on the farm with his father until twenty-one years of age, after which he came to Sangamon county in 1876, where he first engaged in farming, which occupation he continued in for four years. He then sold out and engaged in merchandising in Curran. He was married in February, 1876, to Clara C. Bradley, who was born in Sangamon county in 1852, and was the daughter of Louis and Amanda (Ransom) Bradley. His family consists of one child, Albert L. He received his appointment as postmaster, in 1 880, and also ticket agent and express agent, which offices he holds in connection with his store.

James Parkinson. - An interesting reminiscence of James Parkinson, including a sketch of his life, will be found in the history of this township.

and Mary (Jarrett) Patteson. His father was a native of Campbell county, Virginia, and his mother a native of Goochland county, Virginia. His father's occupation was that of staging and United States mail contractor, which business he followed for twenty-five years. He died June 23, 1836. After his father's death his mother removed to Franklin county, Kentucky, where she resided until her death, which occurred October 23, 1845. The subject of this sketch received his early education in the common schools of his native county; later he attended the Academy of Buckingham county, Virginia, for three years, and the State University of Virginia, one year. In 1835 he began the study of medicine with William D. Christian as his preceptor. He afterwards attended the Medical College at Cincinnati, Ohio, during the years of '36, '37, '38. Upon leaving this school he immediately began his practice in Kentucky. In 1839 and 1840 he attended the University of Transylvania, at Lexington, Kentucky, and graduated from the same, March 14, 1840. After which he commenced practicing at the Forks of Elkhorn, Franklin county, Kentucky. While there he was married to Jean Wood Lewis, February 24, 1841. Mrs. Patteson was born in Spottsylvania county, Virginia, September 22, 1822. She was a descendant of Jean Louis, of a protestant family who fled from France to England about the time of the revocation of the edict of Nantes, in 1665, Jean Louis at this time joined the English army, and for his gallantry and valued services was made Field Marshal, Earl Lizonier and Baron Inniskillen. He was with Marlborough in all his campaigns, and at Fontenoy the chief honor was due to him for the intrepidity with which he led the British infantry. He was in nineteen pitched battles, and twenty-three sieges. Jean Louis was a lawyer, and had three sons who followed that profession. The youngest son settled in Wales and afterward came to Virginia. Mrs. Patteson has in her possession a complete genealogical and historical record of her family, and has a just pride in their record. Dr. Patteson continued his practice at the Fork of Elkhorn, for three years; after which he moved to Fayette county, Kentucky. He remained here until 1858, then removed to Curran township, Sangamon county, Illinois, where he practiced twenty years. He has now given up the practice of medicine and turned h.is attention to farming. He owns a farm of one hundred and twenty acres of land, under a fair state of cultivation. His family consists of nine children, viz: Augusta, now Mrs. Park- inson; Jean Frances, now Mrs. Dr. J. L. Wilcox; Alexander Lilbourn, who married Helen Robinson; Suean Archer, now Mrs. Hampton Gibson; Marion Elizabeth, now Mrs, R. P. Smith; Lucy Devereaux, Walter Lewis, Robert Mills, and Richmond Cadwallader. Dr. Patteson and wite are members of the Presbyterian church at Bates.

Nicholas Power, grain dealer and merchant, Curran, was born in Kilkenny county, Ireland, and is the son of William and Fanny (Gorman) Power, both of whom are deceased. They came to America in 1849, and located in St. Louis, where they soon after died.

Nicholas Power came to America with his parents. His education was received in the common schools of Ireland, and he was raised on a farm. He came to Sangamon county in 1854, and engaged as a farm hand for four years; he was then employed on the old Wabash Railroad, in which place he soon obtained the confidence of the company, and remained in their employ a number of years. He then came to Cuiran, and engaged in the grocery and grain bixsiness, which occupation he has continued to carry on ever since. He was married, in 1851, to Bessie O'Brien, who was born in Cork county, Ireland, and is the daughter of Dennis O'Brien. His family consists of two children, James and Maggie. He shipped, during 1880, seventeen thousand four hundred bushels corn, twenty-one thousand three hundred and forty-one bushels of wheat, two thousand one hundred bushels of oats, and nine hundred bushels of rye. He has a splendid elevator, with capacity of shelling two thousand five hundred bushels per day.

Mather Redmond, farmer, was born May 1, 1828, in Wexford county, Ireland. He came to Sangamon county in 1859, and married in 1868, Mrs. Mary (Archer) Penney, who was born May :^4, 1822, and daughter of William and Elizabeth (Holt) Archer. She had by her first marriage one child - William - born November 3, 1844. He enlisted August 14, 1862, for three years, in Company F, One Hundred and Forty-fourth Illinois Infantry ; was captured at the battle of Guntown, Mississippi, June, 1864, and died in Andersonville prison, February 24, 1865. Alex. Penny died in 1868. They are the owners of one hundred and forty acres of land, on which they reside, and which is under a good state of cultivation, and worth |50 per acre.

of her uncle, with whom she moved from Georgia to St. Clair county, Illinois, in 18ll, brought some cotton in the bolls, for the purpose of using the seed in growing cotton in their new home. Miss Holt, as her name then was, obtained the consent of her uncle to apply the cotton to her own use. She picked it from the bolls and separated the cotton from the seed with her fingers, and spun it on a wheel, borrowed from a neighbor more than thirty miles distant. She had a rude loom consti'ucted for the purpose, and had just commenced weaving, when the first assassination among the white settlers by Indians took place, as the beginning there of the war with England. That occurred in June, 1812. She, with her uncle's family, fled to Fort Bradsby, a rude, wooden fortification near by. Appealing to the Lieutenant in command for protection, he reported the case to Governor Edward , who authorized him to grant her request. A guard was accordingly placed around the cabin, and kept there until the weaving was completed. The design was unique and beautiful. The cloth was carefully preserved, some of it bleached to snowy whiteness, and made into a dress. She wore it the first time to a quarterly meeting, in 1815, just after the close of the war, and attracted universal attention as the finest dressed lady in all that region of country.

Geo. Trimble, one of Sangamon county's early pioneers, was born April 22, 1812, in Montgomery county, Kentucky, and emigrated to this State with his father in the year 1835, locating in Morgan county, where Mr. Trimble resided a few years and then moved to Adams county, where he resided until his death . George returned to Kentucky after a few months stay, and married Miss Nettie Shumake, August 23, 1836. Miss S. was born in Bath county, Kentucky. Mr. T. started for this State the next morning after their marriage, and located in Morgan county, where they lived two years, and then located in this county, where he has resided since, except five years. He has been a resident of this township twenty-six years. Mr. T. has by his own exertions acquired considerable property. He now owns three hundred and fifty acres of good lands. They had six children, namely: Hughey T., born December 31, 1839, was married October, 1864, to Nancy A. Gibson. They had two children, one of whom survives. Eliza F., born March 28,1840; Elizabeth, born April 27, 1842; James A., born July 27, 1846; George C, born September 28, 1849. Mrs. Lydia Trimble died December 3, 1866, and Mr, Trimble was again married December 5, 1867,

Wm. H. Trimble, farmer, was born in Sangamon county, January 1, 1838; son of George and Lydia (Sumat) Trimble, whose sketch appears in this book. Wm. H., was raised on a farm and educated in the common schools, and has never yet been farther west than Jacksonville or east than Decatur, north or south, always remained on the farm with his father, until twenty-five years of age, in 1864. He was first married to Nancy Gibson, who was born in Sangamon county, and the daughter of Preston

H., and Anna Gibson, who were natives of Kentucky, and came to Sangamon county, Illinois, in an early day. They had one child. Anna E., his wife, died February 19, 1866. He married for his second wife, October 14, 1869, Helen J. McGraw, who was also born in Sangamon county, September 24, 1847. By this marriage they have two children, Dora Bell and Harry. His farm consists of one hundred and thirty-six and one-half acres of land, which is under a fair state of improvement, and worth $50 per acre. He and wife are members of the Christian Church, and politically he is a Democrat.

This township when originally organized in 1861, was named Power township, in honor of George Power, one of the oldest and most influential citizens residing in it. Objections were raised to its being thus named for one who was still living, and a petition was circulated praying the Board of Supervisors to change the name and suggesting Fancy Creek as a proper name, after its principal creek. The name was thus given it.

The soil of the township is a deep black loam, especially along the banks of the Sangamon river, Fancy and French creeks, by which it is watered. The surface of the country is gener- rolling, and timber in large quantities can be found on the banks of the streams. Originally the township was one-half timber, much of which has been cleared away, though the quantity is as great as ever.

The date of the first settlement in what is now Fancy Creek township, was 1819. Among the earliest settlers were Stephen England and his son David, William Higgins, John Cline, Robert McClelland, Levi, Wyatt and William G. Cantrall, Thomas Constant, John Strode, George Power, EliphaletHawley, John Bracson, Aquilla Davis, Thomas Hargis, Thomas Strawbridge, Garrett Elkin, William F. Elkin, Thomas Brown and Andrew Clamo.

Stephen England was born June 12, IV^S, in Virginia. His pai'ents removed to Bath county, Kentucky. Stephen was there married about 1Y91, to Anna Harper. In 1813, the family moved to Ohio, and in the fall of 1818, to Madison county, Illinois. The following winter Stephen England, with two of his sons-in-laAv, came up to the San-ga-ma country to explore it. The nearest habitation to where Springfield now stands, was on the south bank of the Sangamon river, near Avheie the Chicago and Alton railroad crosses. They found a man named William Higgins living in a cabin there, which he had built in January, 1819. They remained over night with Mr. Higgins, and crossed to the north side of the river, each selecting a spot on which to make a home. In order to prevent others who might come after from choosing the same ground, they cut a few logs, laid them across each other in three piles, and each man cut his initials on a tree near by, as evidence thai the land was claimed. That was near what was soon called Higgins' creek, but is now called Cantrall's creek. They returned to their families, and early in March, 1819, Stephen England, his son David, his sons-in-law, Andrew Cline and Wyatt Cantrall, returned to their claims for the purpose of commencing improvements. The night after their arrival snow, fell about one foot deep, and the weather was colder than it had been at any time during the winter. They commenced work, and Mr. England and his son soon had their house up, roofed, and the door and chimney place cut out. The other two men had their materials on the ground. By that time the melting snow warned them that they must cross the river at once, or they might be delayed several weeks. They returned to their families, and attempted to move them, but the ground was so soft from melting snow that their teams were unequal to the task of drawing the wagons with their heavy loads, and they again left their families. The same men returned, accompanied by two of the daughters of Mr. England. They then completed their houses, cleared land, planted their crops, and returned to Madison county for their families, bringing them to their new homes about the first of June, 1819.

solemnized quite a number of marriages in that early day, one of whom was Philo Beers and Martha Stillman, November 2. 1820, which was for a long time supposed to have been the first in Sangamon county. A couple once came to him from Fort Clark, now Peoria, to get married, and as they did not care to go to Edwai'dsville for a license, their intentions were advertised for ten days, when Mr. England performed the ceremony.

William Higgins was born in Barren county, Kentucky, in 1774, and in 1817, moved with his family to St. Clair county, Illinois. He started with his lamily, in the fall of 1818, to the Sanga-ma country. They stopped on Sugar creek, with the Drennans, until January or February, 1819, when they moved about fifteen miles north, and built a cabin on the south side of the Sangamon river, above where the Chicago & Alton railroad now crosses. While he was living in camp, before his cabin was completed, himself and wife crossed to the north side of the river on horseback. They were belated, and spent one night in the river bottom, near the mouth of Fancy creek. A few days later, Mr. Higgins went to the north side alone, found five bee trees, and killed a panther which measured nine feet from tip to tip. He went over soon after, accompanied by his wife and two daughters, one of whom is now (1876) the wife of David England. These three are believed to have been the first white women who ever crossed to the north of the river, in what is now Sangamon county. Stephen England and his two sons-inlaw came on their exploring expedition, and stopped with Mr. Higgins, who accompanied them to the north side, and led the way to the vicinity of where Cantrall now stands, and all four selected sites for improvement.

John Cline was from Ohio, though a Virginian by birth. In 1819, he prepared to visit the western country on horseback. Levi Cantrall was about moving to Illinois, and Mr. Cline engaged to drive his four-horse team, and they arrived in the American bottom in November. Mr. Cantrall purchased a supply of corn there, and moved to what became Sangamon county, arriving in December, 1819, in what is now Fancy Creek township. Mr. Cline drove the team, and arrived at the same time. He intended returning to Ohio in the spring, but when the time came he decided to raite a crop, and while thus engaged he was married, July 20, 1820, to Mrs. Lucy Scott, whose maiden name was Eng- Jand.

Levi Cantrall was born October 1, 1787, in Botetourt county, Virginia. He was taken by his parents in 1789 to that part of Mercer which afterwards became Bath county, Kentucky. He was there married November 30, 1809, to Fanny England. They moved to Madison county, Illinois, in October, 1819; moved on and arrived where Springfield now stands, December 4, 1819, and reached the north side of the river, in what is now Fancy Creek township, on the fifth, made the selection of a location on the seventh, and commenced building a cabin December 8, 1819.

Thomas Constant, a Virginian by birth, resided in Kentucky for many years, and was there married to Margery Edmonson. They subsequently moved to Ohio, and in the fall of 1820, to what is now Fancy Creek township.

The first winter that any white men spent in the township was unusually severe. Levi Cantrail, before his death, stated that the cabin he commenced December 8, 1819, about half a mile west of the present town of Cantrall, the mortar froze so that he could not plaster it. December 24, 1819, snow began to fall, and continued one snow after another until it was two feet deep on a level. The weather continued intensely cold, and a company of seven men started to the American Bottom, for provisions. They were Levi and Wyatt Cantrall, Alexander and Henry Crawford, M. Holland, a Mr. Kellogg and John Dixon, who afterward founded the city of Dixon, Illinois. They loaded their wagons with flour and meal, and started home on the 18th, and on the 20th rain commenced falling. The rain and melting snow set the whole country afloat, and when they reached the Sangamon river it was too full to cross. They sent back to Kelly's - where Springfield now stands - for tools, and obtained an axe and grubbing hoe. With these they made a canoe, and reached home twenty-one days from the time of starting. On the 6th of May, 1820, the frost killed the growing corn. The settlers thought of moving back south, but

The early settlers of Fancy Creek did not wait long before they secured the services of a schoolmaster. In the winter of 1820-21, the men living within a radius of several miles gathered together and erected a log school house. It required but little time to finish the building, as the cracks only required to be -" chinked," greased paper being used for window lights, and no plastering was required. James Bellows was the first teacher. The house was located on section sixteen, a short distance east of the graveyard known as Britton's. Sixty years have since passed and improvements have been made in the educational facilities of the settlers in Fancy Creek township. The old log school house has long since given place to the modern frame building, and the subscription school where the teacher "boarded 'round" among the scholars is now unknown. The present free school system now furnishes a good English education to rich and poor alike - to all who will avail themselves of its advantages. There are now in the township seven school houses, valued at |5,800.

The religious element in the life of a pioneer bas often been commented upon by the historian and essayist. There is something grand about it. The great, rough man, who feared no one save his God, with simple, child-like faith, toiling early and late, making many and great sacrifices for the sake of his family, and yet trusting implicitly in the pi'omise of an all-wise God. Stephen England was a Baptist minister in Kentucky, and when he brought his family to the new settlement, the people having planted their crops, wished to have religious services, so Mr. England announced that he would preach at his own house late in June, or early in July, 1819. Everybody in the entire settlement came. Two women walked five miles through the grass, wnich was almost as high as their heads. The husband of one of them walked and carried their babe. That was the first sermon ever preached north of the Sangamon river in this county, and probably in Central Illinois. Mr. England organized a church May 15, 1820, at his own house. There were eight members besides himself. The names of the persons con stituting the church were Stephen England and Anna, his wife; .Techoniah Langston and Nancy, his wife; Levi Cantrall and Fannie, his wife; Mrs. Adelphia Wood, Mrs. Sarah Cantrall, the wife of Wyatt Cantrall, Mrs. Lucy Scott (daughter of Mr. England,) afterwards Mrs. Cline. That was the first church organized in Sangamon county, and the organization has never been broken It is now known as Antioch Christian Church, and composed at present of about ninety members. It is occupying its third house of worship, which is a handsome wooden edifice situated within the limits of Cantrall. Elder Stephen England was pastor of the church until his death, in 1823.

There are now in the township five church organizations - one Christian, one Baptist, one Methodist Episcopal, one Southern Methodist Episcopal,

The Antioch Christian Church was organized May 15, 1820, a number of professed Christians meeting together and signing the following agreement:

"We, the members of the Church of Jesus Christ, being Providentially moved from our former place of residence from distant parts, and being baptised on profession of our faith, and met at the house of brother Stephen England, on a branch of Higgins' creek, in order to form a constitution, having first given ourselves to the Lord, and then to one another, agree that our constitution shall be on the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testament, believing them to be the only rule of faith and practice."

The first house of worship was one of logs erected in 182R, shortly before the death of Stephen England, on land owned by Mr. Britton. This church was erected after the manner of the first school houses, the neighbors gathering and erecting it because of its necessity. This house was used for a few years, when a more pretentious frame building was erected, which was used for a number of years. In the fall of 1872, the present church edifice was erected in the village of Cantrall, at a cost of $1,600, but on which several hundred dollars were subsequently expended in its improvement.

Elder Stephen England was the first pastor of the church and served until his death, in 1823, since which time at intervals the following named have served: James Hughes, George Sargent, Ebenezer Rhodes, William Snodgrass, Rev. Trimble, John Powell, Rev. Balls, Sr., John Hughes, Rev. Walter Balls, Rev. Morrow, Rev. Sweet, Michael Engle, George. Allkire, Robert Foster, Joel Hughes, John England, James Scott, AndreAV Scott, William Mallory, John Wilson, John Lemon, William Hally,

David England was the first elder elected, and has served the church for nearly sixty years. Carlisle H. Canterberry served for many years, until his death. The present active eldership is composed of Henry H. England, Carlisle Mitts and John J. Stevens. The present membership is one hundred and eight.

Bethel Baptist Church

The church was organized November, 1826, as near as can be ascertained from the records. It goes to show the original members were Michael Mann, Elizabeth Mann, Nicholas Steele, Isabella Stelle, Samuel Howe, Mary Howe, Charles Allsbury, Jane Allsbury, Margaret Stevens and John Crowder. The first pastor is supposed to have been Michael Mann. The first ordained Deacon was Charles Allsbury, and the same year William Keener was also ordained by Elders Bowman and Roberts. The first association held with this church was in the barn of John Dunlap. A house of worship thirty-two by twenty-six was erected in 1832, at a cost of $500 It was a frame building and erected at a time when everything was much cheaper than at present. The present ofiicers of the church are as follow^s: Elder William J. Wheeler, Pastor; Henry Nave, Deacon; John R. Dunlap, Clerk. The meetings are held the fourth Saturday and Sunday in each month.

The Methodist Episcopal congregation, meeting at the Strode school house, ha« been in existance about a half century. After John Strode settled in the neighborhood, his house was a preaching place where such men as Cartwright, B. Randall, J. G. Barger, and L. C. Kimber preached at different times. Since 1 856, the following named have served as pastors: W. F. Bennett, J. Taylor, Joseph Lane, A'. C. McDougall, G. B. Wolfe, H. C. Wallace, Mr. Demotte, S. M. Crags, Peter Stigle, C. Arnold, G. D. Furber, G. B. Goldsmitt, W. S. Clark, M. McK. Gooding, A. B. McElfresh, M. Finity, W. R. Carr, J. M. Eckman, W. W. Curnutt. The more recent Presiding Elders have been, W. S. Prentice, W. H. Webster, W. McK. McElfresh, J. L. Crane, Peter Cartwright, Peter Akers and W. H. H. Moore. Regular meetings for preaching and for class purposes, are held in the Strode school house.

The First Birth First Death

A young child of Jechoniah Langston died in the fall of 1819, being the first death in the township. It was buried near w^here Stephen England settled, and around its grave others were afterwards interred, and being near the residence of Mr. Britton, it was given the name of Britton's Graveyard.

Levi Cantrall built a horse mill in the fall of 1820. It was a band mill, with a wheel fortyfeet in diameter. It was the first mill ever built north of the Sangamon river, and people came thirty miles or more to mill. Mr. Cantrall, subsequently built a water mill on Cantrall's creek, near the present town of Cantrall. It did sawing and grinding.

True To Their Country

In the War of the Rebellion Fancy Creek township nobly did its duty without resorting to draft, or even levying a tax to pay a special bounty in order to secure enlistments.

Tannery

One of the first, if not the first orchards planted in the township, was by George Power, shortly after his arrival. On his place there is now an apple tree about eleven feet in circumference which was planted in 1824. From limb to limb it is sixty feet. It is, doubtless, the largest and jjrobably the oldest tree in the county,

Fancy Creek township was organized at the same time the county adopted the township organization law, and its first election was held the first Monday in April 1861.

Reminiscence

In 1870, David England, now the oldest citizen in Fancy Creek township, delivered an address at the Old Settlers' meeting, at Clear Lake, in which he expressed his gratitude that he had been able to attend the meeting, and to meet so many of his old acquaintances again. They had all met to talk over old and new times and things, and he would go further back than his own time. His father came to St. Louis at an early day and from thence to Edwardsville, where he wintered.

Not liking the country he came to what is now Sangamon county, after having received a glowing description from a man who had visited it. This was in 1818. His father came and examined the country in the vicinity of Cantrall's creek, and was pleased with all he saw. When his father came through where Springfield now is, there were no signs of inhabitants, and no tracks except those of wild beasts. His father built a log house sixteen by eighteen feet, and then returned to Edwardsville for his family. Not being able to move them, he returned and put in a crop. His father's family afterwards came in July. His father plowed the first corn north of the Sangamon river. Indians were their only neighbors at this time. About 1819,8everal neighbors came in and took up land. When they first came to this country the price of salt was 86 per bushel, and pork |o to |6 per hundred pounds, while shortly after this pork would not bring $1.50 per hundred, for really they had no market for their produce. They had an abundance of everything to eat, but were obliged to raise their own cotton and make their own clothing. His father preached the first sermon on that side of the river, and a woman walked six miles and brought a child the entire distance. His father was a good gunner and they had plenty to eat. It was one of the best countries in the world until 1831. Previous to that time they raised plenty of cotton without cultivation - all they wanted - but after the deep snow, which all the old men remembered, there was a change in the climate, and it has not been the same since, as every old settler can testify. His father had to go to mill at a place about four miles this side of St. Louis, but soon after a man put up a mill near by, which was a "band mill" and driven by horse power. They ground their grain with their own horse. In this connection he referred to the fact that his father had fixed np a cotton gin, which consisted of two rollers which were turned by hand. After the deep snow there was a great change and corn did not grow well, and it was the same with cotton; in fact, other crops did not grow as well as before that noted event. The first butter made in his father's family was made with a churn which was cut from a log, the bottom of the churn being nailed in. It was made from a buckeye log. The first wheat they sent in was in 1819, and they got one bushel per day for a day's work. He once worked, reaping, three days, and got three bushels of wheat in payment. In cultivating the ground they used the old-fashioned shovel plow, and the first year they got about half a 105 - crop, but the next year the yield was nearly sixty bushels per acre. At this time the flies would sometimes so trouble the horses and the oxen that the animals had to be driven to the timi er, and sometimes a fire had to be kindled to drive the flies away. In those days when people wanted to get married they either had to go to Edwardsville for a marriage license, or have their intentions posted in a public place ten days before the event.

Village Of Cantrall

The village of Cantrall is an outgrowth of the Springfield & Northwestern Railroad, and was laid out on its completion to that point, its plat being recorded under date of October, 1872. Joseph Cantrall, Oliver Canterbury, W. H. H. Holland, Thomas Glasscock, Thomas Claypool, B. F. Holland, John T. Canterbury, and James M. Sewell were the original proprietors, in whose names the plat was recorded. It embraced the whole of the northeast quarter of the southeast quarter, part of the west half of the north part of the southeast quarter of the southeast quarter, the south part of the southeast quarter of the northeast quarter, and the southeast part of the southwest quarter of the northeast quarter of section eight; also the southwest part of the northwest quartei", and part of the west half of the southwest quarter of section nine, township seventeen, range five.

The village is pleasantly situated, but its proximity to Springfield has tended to prevent its growth to any great extent. It has now two church edifices, a school house, four business houses, and a number of dwelling houses.

Village Op Sherman

The extension of the Springfield & Alton, now the Chicago, Alton & St. Louis Railroad, from Springfield to Chicago, caused a number of villages to spring into existance, among the number being that of Sherman, so named in honor of Mr. Sherman, of Sangamon county. The village w^as platted in September, 1858, and comprised the north part of the east half of the southeast quarter of section twenty-five, township seventeen, range five.

The history of Fancy Creek township is continued by short biographical mention of a large number of the best known residents, including their ancestors, many of whom have passed away.

JIar7no7ias AlMre, farmer, post office, Sherman, was born in Bourbon county, Kentucky, in 180-i, son of Adam and Margaret (Hornbeck) Alkire. By their marriage there were eleven children, six sons and five daughters, viz: Michael, Samuel, John, David, Adam, Harraonas, Betsy, Dolly, Sarah, Margaret, Judy; mother died in 1812, and Adam married Miss Barbara Cherry, by whom he had three children, Lydia, Simon and Isaac; father moved to Ohio where he died. Harmonas left Ohio in 1828, and went to Indiana and remained one year, when he came to Springfield, where he married Miss Martha M. McLemore, and then returned to Indiana, where he remained until 1832, when he moved to Fancy Creek township, where he has followed farming since. Mr. and Mrs. Alkire were parents to fifteen children, nine of whom are living, viz: Mary, James Y., Daniel, William, Albert, Margaret, Caroline, Percilla and Martha. Mr. Alkire has been identified with the county nearly fifty years, and has lived on the same place; has seen the county from its infancy to one of the finest counties in the State. Mr. Alkire has been one of the large farmers of the county, owning twelve hundred acres of land, which he has distributed among his children. The family are members of the M. E. Church. Benjamin Bancroft^ post oftice, Cantrali, section nineteen; was born in St. Lawrence county, New York, March 3, 1821. Son of Isaac Bancroft, who was born April 29, 17*76, and Mercy Coburn who was born March 12, 1781. Native of Massachusetts, where they were married March 5, 1799, when two children was born, Mercy and Betsy. In 1803, his parents emigrated to St. Lawrence county. New York, being the first man that paid for his land in the county, where ten children were born, Jonathan C, Prudence, Lucinda, Alma S., Isaac, Joseph, Timothy, Benjamin and Harmon H., all of which lived to be men and women, with the exception of one, who died in infancy. In 1839, left his home in St. Lawrence county, New York, coming through with teams and making the trip in six weeks, and located in Springfield, where they remained until 1844, when he died. Previous to his death he purchased the land where Benjamin now resides. Mother oied February 10, 1868. The subject of this sketch was reared on a farm and recived a common school education. He spent two years in Plattville, Wisconsin, where he saved money enough to purchase seventy acres of land. September 19, 1854, married Miss Elizabeth C. Cass, daughter of John Cass, of Ohio, who was born March, 1830. There were five children, two of whom are living, Martha L., Edward T., Maggie, Lucinda C, one of which died in infancy, Edward and Lucinda, of which are living. Mrs. Bancroft died February 3, 187 1. Has one hundred and sixty acres of land valued at $50 per acre. Raises forty acres of corn, fifteen acres of wheat, turns ofl" twenty head of hogs. In politics is a Republican, and a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

Michael JBarry, farmer, post ofl&'-e, Springfield, was born in County Clare, Ireland, in 1843, son of Michael and Honnorah Barry, who came to this country in 1845, and located at St. Louis, where they remained a couple of years; thence to Alton and to Springfield, coming over the Alton Railroad - the first train that ever came over the road. His father died some years since; mother is still living, in Springfield.

The subject of this sketch married Miss Honnorah Couners; she was born in Ireland, in 1845. There are two children - Catharine and William. Has one hundred and seventy-one acres of land, all of which is under a high state of cultivation, valued at $40 per acre; raises forty-five acres of corn, thirty-five acres of wheat, turns off fortyfive head of hogs, ten of stock, four horses and two mules. Mr. Barry came to the county a poor boy, commenced at the lower round of the ladder, and by hard work and good judgment has accumulated a fine property and home.

Captain John T. Canterbu7y, retired, Cantrali, Fancy Creek township, Illinois, was born in Fleming county, Kentucky, on the 27th day of August, 1819; son of Asa and Margaret (Hornback) Canterbury; father a native of Virginia and mother of Kentucky. They were married in Ohio, but commenced their early life in Kentucky, where seven children were born: Isaac, Maria, Carlisle H., Valentine, John, Eliza J., Oliver P. In 1826, his father left his home in Kentucky for the Sangamo country, arriving in the fall, in a wagon and a five-horse team, and located in Fancy Creek township, one mile west of Cantrali, where he entered land and built himself a story and a half log cabin, being one of the finest strnctures on the prairies at that time, where he remained until his death, which occurred October 16, 1856; mother died July 8, 1857. There were four children born in Fancy Creek, as follows: Martha, Margaret, Julia and Abraham Mr. and Mrs. C. were members of the Christian Church, and took an active interest in building it up. The subject of this sketch was reared on a farm, receiving a limited education. February 22, 1842, married Miss Maranda Brittain. She was born in Fancy Creek township December 12, 1823. By this union there were six children, four of whom are living: John, born March 24, 1843, died March 10, 1864; Asa M., born November 15, 1844; Mary J., born August 1, 1846; Margaret A., born January 10, 1849; Evans E., born August 10, 1851; Wm. II., born September 7, 1853, and died in infancy. Captain C. was commissioned as Captain under Governor Ford. Mrs. Maranda M. died in 1853. He afterwards married Harriet E. Perkins. She was born in 1833. Mr. and Mrs. Canterbury are members of the Christian Church, at Cantrall. Mr. C. has been identified with the councy nearly all his life; has seen it from its wild and uncultivated state, to one of the finest countries in the world; came here a poor boy, but by hard work and fair dealing has made a comfortable property and home; has two hundred and forty-five acres of land, valued at $65 per acre; raises fifty acres of corn and fifty acres of wheat. Pie is one of the staunch Republicans of the county.

Oliver P. Canterbury, farmer and stock raiser, Fancy Creek township, post oi33ce, Cantrall, was born in Fleming county, Kentucky, July 21, 1824. He came to this county with his parents when two years of age, where he was raised on a farm. March 9, 1848, he married Miss Elizabeth Council, a daughter of William Council, a native of North Carolina, who came to Sangamon county, and located north of Springfield, in 1821 . She was born in Sangamon county, April 3, 1830. The fruits of this marriage was eleven children, Mary E., born April 10, 1849; Margaret J., born June 14, 1850; Maria, born September 17, 1852; Malissa, born October 12, 1856; Carlisle E., born October 10, 1858, died in infancy; John H., born in 1860; Annie F., born June 4, 1862; Etta J., born July 5, 1864; Wm. R., born July 15, 1868; Nellie, born October 4, 1871; Mertie, born October 31, 1873. Mr. Canterbury is extensively engaged in farming, has thirteen hundred acres of land, all of which is under a high state of cultivation, valued at $60 per acre, on which he raises six hundred acres of corn, three hundred acres of wheat, turns off fifty head of hogs, yeai'ly. Mr. Canterbury came to this county a poor boy, but by hard work and good management has accumulated a fine property and home and is one of the large and well-to-do farmers of the county. He is at present engaged in the mercantile business in Cantrall, in company with his son-in-law, William Vandergrift, where they carry a general stock. Mr. C. in politics is a Republican. Mr. and Mrs. C. are members of the Christian Church at Cantrall, Illinois.

G., and Deborah (Mitts) Cantrall, natives of Virginia, who emigrated to Owensville, Bath county, Kentucky, where they were married and where one child was born - Doratha. In the year 1805-6, he moved to Ohio, where there were nine children born, viz: Ann, Elizabeth, Joshua M., Thirza, Adam M., Deborah, Mahala, Susannah, William M.

In 1824, he came to Sangamon county, Illinois, and located in Fancy Creek township, where he took up one hundred and sixty acres ot land, built a log cabin, sixteen by eighteen, where there was a family of twelve persons lived. After coming to the county, two children were born, Maranda and Andrew J. Mr. William G. Cantrall died March 6, 1868; mother died in 1855. Mr. and Mrs. Cantrall were members of the Christian Church. He held several local oflices of trust; was one of the county commissioners at the time the State government was moved from Vandalia. The subject of this sketch married Sarah Cantrall, a daughter of Zebulon Cantrall, of Clark county, Ohio, where she was born March 14, 1812. The fruits of this marriage were ten children, viz: Zebulon G., William G., Matilda, Isaac, Jacob M., Joshua G., Mahala E., now Mrs. Geo. W. Baily; SaVah, George A.; four of which are living. Mr. Cantrall came to the county a young man, and has been identified with Sangamon county over a half century, and has seen the wild and uncultivated prairies, broke and brought under a high state of cultivation; has lived on the same farm over forty-six years. Mr. C. owned a farm of three hundred and twenty acres of land which he has distributed among his children. Mr. and Mrs. C. are members of the Christian Church.

Samuel Carpenter, farmer, post office, Sherman, was born in Fancy Creek, Sangamon county, on the 12th day of November, 1824, son of William and Margaret Carpenter, who emigrated to the county in 1819. The subject of this sketch married Miss Ellen M. J. Kerns, daughter of Abner and Sarah A. Kerns, of Ohio, where she was born April 1, 1827. She died March 16, 1853. He again married Martha J. Black, daughter of Rev. Daniel and Diana Short, of Ohio. She was born September 25, 1831. She died July 17, 1873, leaving a family of six children, viz.: Annie S., now Mrs. F. P. Dunlap, born October 3, 1859; William D., born November 27, 1867; Carrie E., now the wife of James H. Reynolds, born October 10, 1863; Martha J., born February 25, 1866; Lena L., born October 23,1870; Mary M., born August 2, 1868. His present wife is Mary E. H. Meriweather, a widow of E. L. M. Johnson, by whom there was one child, Jennie H., born February 22, 1867. She died May 6, 1873. Mrs. C.was born in Springfield, Ohio, November 15, 1835, daughter of J. H. and Elizabeth J. (Hummel) Meriweather, who emigrated to Sangamon in 1838, where he embarked in general merchandising. He died October 15, 1863; mother died August 18, 1868.

Mr. Carpenter is one of the prominent farmers in the township; has nine hundred acres of land, six hundred and forty of which is under cultivation, valued at $50 per acre; raises one hundred and fifty acres of corn, twenty-five acres of wheat; turns out one hundred head of hogs and sixty head of cattle yearly. In politics, is a Democrat. He and family are members of the M. E. Church.

Thomas R. Clay pool, was born on a farm, in Champaign county, Ohio, February 19, 1826. His jDarents moved to Sangamon county, Illinois, and settled in Athens precinct, when he was eighteen months old. He remained here on a farm with his father until 1857, when he struck out for himself. He went to Menard county, Illinois, and improved a farm three miles north of Sweetwater, where he remained eight years, when he sold out and returned to Sangamon county and settled on the farm where he now lives, just north of Cantrall. He was married to Miss Fannie Holland, October 8, 1854. She was born in Sangamon county. She was a daughter of Turner Holland, and Nancy Cantrall. They were both members of the Christian Church. Mr. and Mrs. Claypool have had six children, five living, viz: Ida M., now Mrs. Van Meter, residing in Fancy Creek; Clara B., Levi B., Chloe, and Fred. Charley H. Claypool died in infancy. The father of Thomas R., Levi Claypool, was born in Greenbriar county, Virginia. He was a farmer, and died in February, 1867. His wife, Melinda Rollins, was born in Fleming county, Kentucky. She and husband were both members of the M. E. Church. She is still living at Athens, Menard county, Illinois. The subject of this sketch, Mr. T. R. Claypool, has a farm of four hundred and forty acres in Cantrall township, all under good cultivation and well stocked, growing grain, and raises stock for the market. In politics he is a strong supporter of the Republican party, and cast his first vote in 1847, for a Whig President.

John S. Council, farmer and stock raiser, post ofiice, Sherman, was born in Sangamon county, on the 19th day of May, 1822. Son of Hardy, born September 20, 1793, near Tarboro,

North Carolina, was taken by his parents to Tennessee, thence to Barren county, Kentucky, and thence to White county, near Carmi, Illinois. He was married in 1818, to Jane Hanna, who was born February 25, 1795, in Kentucky. They moved to Sangamon county, Illinois, arriving in August, 1819, in what is now Fancy Creek township, preceding his brother William two years. Mrs. Council carried a sack of wheat on the horse she rode besides many household implements. Mr. Council carried all he could in the way of tools and other articles necessary to farming. He commenced improvements by building a camp or rough cabin. He was unable to obtain a plow, but be ing anxious to raise some wheat for a beginning, he took a grubbing hoe or old fashioned mattock, and dug up about one acre and a half near the junction between the prairie and timber, and on the ground thus prepared sowed the wheat brought by his wife, and raised a good crop. When the land was surveyed and brought into market there was a line between his cabin and where he raised his crop of wlieat. He could only enter one piece, and he chose that with the house on it. The land where the wheat grew was entered by another person who never cultivated it, but allowed a growth of young cottonwood trees to start on it, which has made quite a grove that can be seen for several miles, many of the trees are more than two feet in diameter. Mr. Council came in company with Robert McClelland and they cut an ample supply of grass and stacked it for their horses and cattle. They knew nothing of the prairie fires, and before they were aware of the importance of protecting it, their hay was all burned. They kept their stock alive by cutting down elm trees so they could eat the buds. Mr. and Mrs. Council had seven children, two of which died in infancy. The living are as follows: John H., Wesley, William F., Robert and George. Robei't died September, 1881. Mr. Council came to the county a poor man but by hard work and good management accumulated a large property, owning 2,100 acres of land. Previous to his death he gave his land to his children. He died July 26, 1873. Mrs. Jane Council died March 30, 1863. The subject of this sketch was reared -s7 on a farm and received a common school educa- / 1 tion. Married Misa^^dna Lake, a daughter of Bayliss Lake. She was born on June 7, 1831. The fruits of this marriage is five children, four sons and one daughter, viz: James H., Charles F., George R., John W. and Annie F. Mr. Council is one of the large and extensive far- iners of the couuty, owning one thousand one hundred and forty acres of land, one thousand and eighty of which is under cultivation, and valued at -$65 per acre. IVIr. C. has been identified with the county all his life, and has seen it from its infancy to one of the best counties in the State. In politics he is a Republican.

Hardy F. M. Council, farmer, Fancy Creek township, was born in Fancy Creek township, on the place where he now resides, February 10, 1841. Son of William Council, who was born in Tarboro, North Carolina, October 1, 1790, and Mary Growes, of East Tennessee, born June 15, 1802. They were married in White county, Illinois, in 1819, where one child was born, and moved to Sangamon county in 1821, and located north of Springfield, and kept the ferry on the Sangamon river, near where Carpenter's mill now stands. There was a family of twelve children, nine of whom lived to be adults. Shortly after coming to the county, he bought a claim of Jack Cline, which had ten acres broke, and built a cabin, beginning at the lowest round of the ladder, worked up, until he had accumulated a fine property, where he remained until his death, which occurred July 8, 1846.

Mother viied January 95, 1869. Mr. and Mrs. Council were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. The subject of this sketch was reared on a farm and received academic school education. In 1870, married Miss Charity Ray, daughter of James and Susannah Ray, natives of Ohio, born January 22, 1849. There were three children, one of whom is living - Mary Frances, born November 9, 1879. In li62, enlisted in the One Hundred and Fourteenth Regiment, Illinois Volunteer Infantry. After breaking camp at Springfield, they went to Memphis, where they remained a short time. He participated in the battle of Jackson, Miss., Vicksburg, Black River, second battle of Jackson, and was on all of the marches and fights of the regiment, with the exception of Guntown ; at that time was in the hospital at Memphis. Mustered out at Vicksburg and discharged and paid off at Springfield. Mr. Council has two hundred acres of land, one hundred and sixty under cultivation, valued at $75 per acre.

John Ray Dunlap, farmer, was born in Carter county, East Tennessee, on the 24tb day of April, 1821; son of John and Catharine (Tipton) Dnnlap, natives of Tennessee, where they were married and raised a family of nine children, viz: Isaic, Margaret, Sarah, Tennessee, Ruth, James T., Susannah, Mary Ann. In 1828, his parents emigrated to Sangamon county, and located in Fancy Creek township, whorp J. R. now resides; moved into a log cabin sixteen by eighteen feet, where they remained one winter, where one child was born, Edna M.

He entered land, and made a home and remained until his death, which occurred in 185G; mother died in 1857. They were members of the Baptist church. The subject of this sketch came to the county when seven years of age, and has lived on the same farm for fifty-three years. He married Miss Emily A. Brown; she was the daughter of James L. and Jane Brown, natives of Kentucky, and emigrated to Sangamon county, about 1824; she was born on May 12, 1824. The fruits of this marriage was ten children, eight of which are living, Almira, now the wife of Theodore Allen, of Missouri; James A., a practicing physician of Sullivan, Illinois; Robert, now a theological student, at Lexington, Kentucky; Franklin P., a farmer of Fancy Creek; Eliza Jane, now the wife of George D. Power, of Sangamon county; John, who is attending school at Bloomington; Clarence P., and Olive L., at home.

Mr. Dunlap has been identified with the county all his life, is one of the large and well-todo farmers of the county; has five hundred and forty acres of land, valueil at $60 per acre. Mr. Dunlap has held several locil offices of trust, having represented the township as supervisor two terms. Mr. and Mrs. Dunlap are members of the Baptist Church. In politics he is a Democrat.

William L. England, M. D., Cantrall, Illinois, was born in Bath county, Kentucky on the first day of October, 1822, son of Jesse and Hannah (Mei'shon) England, father of English descent, and born in Virginia; mother a native of New Jersey, married about 1798 or 1799. There was a family of nine children all of which lived to be adults; Cornelius M., who died July IS, 1833; Martha, a wife of Charles Bailey, and located in Bath county, Kentucky; Nancy, wife of Martin Honaker, of Bath county, Kentucky; Cath arine, wife of P. B. Hord, of Carter county, Kentucky; Sarah, wife of Chas. W. Honaker, of Lewis county, Kentucky; Eliza, now Mrs. Dunlavy; Annie L., wife of Chas. N. Lewis, a representative of the State Senate, of Kentucky; Stephen J., of Kansas. Father was a farmer, who died in Carter county, Kentucky, October 12, 1859. The Doctor was reared on a farm, his mother, who Avas an intelligent woman and kept medical books to which the Doctor had access, got to reading and fitted himself. In 1843 and 1844, attended lectures at the Cincinnati Eclec- tic Medical College, where he graduated in 1844 with honors In March, 1851, married Miss Sarah R. Everman, she was born April 14, 1828. The fruits of this marriage was eight children, three of whom are living, Laura C, now Mrs. Geo. E. Williams; Annie L., and William L. Dr. England followed his profession in Kentucky for twenty years, when he came to Macoupin county, Illinois, where he remained three years, he thence went to Athens in Menard county, where he remained four years, when he came toCantrall, wherehe has remained since 1873. In politics he is a Democrat. He owns a residence and six lots in Cantrall, Illinois.

John Moore Fisk, farmer, post office, Cantrall, section nineteen, was born in Indiana county, Pennsylvania, September 17, 1822, son of Eli and Margaret (Moore) Fisk, natives of Tolland county, Connecticut, where they were married. They commenced their early life in Massachusetts, where one daughter was born - Esther L. In about 1817 or '18, they left Massachusetts, and emigrated to Indiana county, Pennsylvania, where the subject of this sketch was born, where they lived for some years, when they removed to Cincinnati, Ohio, where another son was born - Eli C. - now of Mason county, Illinois. In 1835, came to what is now Mason county, Illinois, where he took up land and made a farm where he remained until his death, which occurred about 1862; mother died in 1859. In politics, he was an old line Whig. The subject of this sketch received a common school education. The country was sparsely settled, there being only seven votes polled in what is Mason county. On the 27th day of February, 1845, married Miss Sarah Ann McReynolds,of Columbia county, Pennsylvania, where she was born July 24, 1823. By this union there were seven children, six of whom are living - Lucinda F., now Mrs. A. M. Canterbery; Warren C, of St. Louis; Margaret J., Willis E., Esther E., who were born in Mason county, Illinois, and Elmer McReynolds, of this couLty. In March, 1865, moved to Sangamon county, and located on the place where he now resides; has two hundred and twenty acres of land valued at |50 per acre; raises fifty acres of corn, fifty acres of wheat, twelve acres of oats, and turns out forty head of hogs. Mr. Fisk has held several local offices of trust in the township; has represented the town in the board of supervisors. Himself and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Cornelius Flagg, farmer and railroad contractor, Fancy Creek township, was born in Oxford, Butler county, Ohio, on the 17th day of May, 1831, son of Abraham, who was born March 2, 1805, and Sarah Hoffman. She was born January 23, 1801, and was married October 11, 1823. There was a family of nine children, four sons and five daughters, viz. : Anne, William, Albert, Maria, Cornelius, Jacob, Sarah, Charlotte, and Ellen, who were born in Illinois. In 1841, he left his home in Ohio, with his family, coming through with teams, stopping at Moses Hoffman's, where he remained a portion of the winter. The following spring, moved to German Prairie, where he rented a farm, which his boy carried on, and himself working at his trade of blacksmithing, where they remained two years, when he moved to Rochester township, where they remained two years. He then moved to what was known as the Beck neighborhood, where they remained until 1850, when he purchased land in Williamsville, where he made a farm, and laid off a portion of it into what is now Williamsville, where he lived until his death, which occurred February 17, 1858; mother died April 24, 1872, The subject of this sketch was reared on a farm, and received an elementary school education. October 8, 1860, married Miss Sarah Kerns, a daughter of Abner and Sarah E. W. Kerns, natives of Ohio, where she was born, December 8, 1828. By this union, there were five children, viz.: John B., born December 18, 1865, died August 26, 1866; Allie, born February 5, 1869; Kerns Abraham, born October 2, 1861; Franklin, born September 28, 1863; Sarah J., born January 80, 1867. Mrs. Flagg died March 14, 1874.

He again married Jane M. Kerns, a sister of his former wife. She was born in Ohio, August 1, 1838. Mr. Flagg has always been an active business man. In his early life, he embarked in farming, which he followed for some years without success, when he engaged in railroading, supplying the Chicago & Alton Railroad with ties, timbers, and wood between Pontiac and Alton, and afterwards followed up the road into Missouri.

Mr. Flagg has three hundred acres of land, all of which is under a high state of cultivation, and valued at 111 5 per acre. He came to the county a poor boy, but by his own exertions has accumulated a fine property, and has one of the finest residences and best barns in the county. He owns, all together, about eight hundred acres of land in Fancy Creek, Williams and Salisbury townships. He also owns property in Sherman, Illinois, and Armstrong, Missouri.

Christopher Gearity, farmer, post office, Springfield, Illinois, was born in Meath county, Ireland, December 31, 1812, son of Patrick and Bridget (Ward) Gearity, who were married in Ireland, where eight children were born - four sous and four daughters - viz: Thomas, Jane, Christopher, Margaret, Julia, Hugh, Mary and James.

The subject of this sketch came to the United States in a sailing vessel, and landed in New York, where he remained a few days, and then went to Oswego, New York, where he was employed in Kingsford & Son's starch factory, and remained three years. He then removed to Buffalo, New York, where he worked on the lakes, working at odd jobs through the winter, where he remained two years. In 1851, he came to Sangamon county, Illinois, where he worked on a farm by the month for about two years. He then rented a farm. In 183S, he married Miss Catharine Mathews. She was born in Ireland in 1815. The fruits of this marriage were eight children. They left four children in Ireland with his wife's father, viz: Thomas, James, Patrick and Bridget. The children who were born in America are: Martha, Mary, Catharine and Hugh. Mary died in infancy. In 1857 became to his present farm, where he has resided since. He has eighty acres of land, sixty-eight under cultivation, valued at $45 per acre; raises thirty acres of corn, sixteen acres of wheat and turns off eighteen head of hogs. Mr. Gearity came to the country a poor man, but has, through good judgment, accumulated a fine property and home.

Leiois F. Hoffman, farmer and stock raiser, post office, Sherman was born in Ross county, Ohio, September 21, 1829, son of Moses Hoffman, who was born in Greenbriar county, Virginia, November 24, 1798, and Rhoda Turman, born February 14, 1806, a widow of Richard Winn. By this marriage there were nine children, seven of which lived to be adults, while two died in infancy. In 1829, he left his home in Ohio, in a wagon, to which were hitched three yoke of oxen, for Sangamon county, camping out on the way, doing their own cooking, and located on the place where they now live. Their first dwelling place was a camp made out of logs, with three sides, one end being left out, where they built a fire in front, and remained there a portion of the winter. In 1830, he broke thirty acres of prairie and planted corn, which supplied them with breadstuff. The following winter came on the big snow, and the only way that he could gather his corn was to make snow-shoes out of clapboards which he tied to his feet and hauled it in on a band-slod, and, as Mrs. H. said, stowed it under her bed. Mr. Hoffman was an enterprising business man, and at his death had accumulated a property of seven hundred and forty acres of land. He died June 8, 1842. Was a soldier in the Black Hawk war, under Colonel W. F. Elkin, and was commissioned as Captain in the State militia. Mrs. Hoft'man again married Solomon Wood, in 1847. One child blessed this union, Solomon. Mr. Wood died April 18, 1848. Mrs. Wood is still living with her son on the old homestead, where she has lived nearly fifty-two years.

The subject of this sketch married Miss Hannah Ann Gamble, January 17, 1861, the daughter of James and Nancy Gamble, of Holmes county, Ohio, where she was born, November 10, 1838. There were three children, two of whom are living: Leora, born February 21, 1864; Elmer, born June 5, 1868. One died in infancy. Has four hundred and seventy-six acres of land, valued at $60 per acre; raises one hundred and twenty acres of corn; turns one hundred and fifty head of hogs; has on his place three hundred and forty-six head of hogs, fifty head of cattle, eleven head of horses. Mr. Hoffman is one of the large and well-to-do farmei's of the county, and has been identified with it all his life, and has seen its various changes. In politics, he is a Repiablican, and cast his first vote for Taylor for President of the United States. His father was an old-line Whig.

John S. Lake, farmer, post office, Cantrall, section sixteen, was born in Sangamon county, Illinois, January 9, 1840, a son of Bayliss G. and Eliza Lake. The subject of this sketch married Miss Mary C. Brittan ; she was born in Fancy Creek township in 1848. The fruits of this marriage is three living children, Dora, James, and Edith May. Mr. Lake enlisted in the army in 1862, in the One Hundredth and Fourteenth Regiment, Illinois Volunteer Infantry, Company G; was in the Fifteenth Army Corps, under General Sherman, The first general engagement was at Jackson, Mississippi; then at the siege of Vicksburg, and capture; then to Black River, where they went into camp on Bear creek, from thei'e went to Memphis, where they were put on guard duty, where they remained until the spring of 1863. From there went to Guntown under General Sturgis, where they participated in the fight, when he was wounded and taken prisoner, and taken to Mobile, where he laid in the hospital two months, where he had to dress his own wounds for some time, when the wounded had to wash their own bandages, scattering gangrene through the whole hospital. From there were removed to Cahaba, Ala., three hundred miles up the river, where they received better treatment, where they were kept a couple of months. Mr. Lake, with others, was sent to Vicksburg, where he was exchanged, October 24, 1864. He received thirty days' furlough, after which he was ordered to report to Camp Butler, Springfield, where he remained until the spring of 1865, when he was discharged. He has one hundred and sixtythree acres of land, all of which is under a high state of cultivation, valued at $60 per acre. Raises seventy-five acres of corn, thirty acres of wheat; turns off twelve head of hogs; keeps twenty cattle. In politics he is a Republican.

Uriah T. Lawrence^ farmer, post office, Sherman, was born in Morgan county, Missouri, August 5, 1848, son of Walter and Charlotte (Watkins) Lawrence; he was born in Wales, she in Pennsylvania. They were married in Ohio, and two children were boin - Julia and Jane. About 1840, his parents emigrated to Iowa, where he remained three years. He then removed to Morgan county, Missouri, where he remained seven years, when he came to Williams township, where he rented land and afterward purchased a farm and lived a few years, when he sold out and purchased the property where Mr. Lawrence now lives, and remained until his death, which occurred in 1873; mother died the same year. Mr. L. has one hundred and twenty acres of land, eighty acres of which is under cultivation, valued at $50 per acre. Raises fifty acres of corn, ten acres of wheat, and turns off fifty head of hogs. The children of Charlotte and Walter were as follows: Julia Ann, born April 18, 1838; E. Jane, born September 27, 1840; William IL, born July 14, 1843; Walter P., born December 15,. 1845; Uriah T., born August 5, 1848; John J., born September 18, 1852; Albert D., born February 16, 1855; Mary K., born May 1, 1857; Joanna B., born August 19, 1859. E. Jane, died April 20, 1873. The family are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. In politics, he is a Re publican. His father wa** an old line Whig. He was a member of the Masonic and I. O. O. F. lodges.

George McClelland^ farmer and stock raiser, post office, Cantrall, was born on the place where he now resides, on the 27th day of February, 1832; father a native of Ohio, and mother of North Carolina. His father, Robert, was born in 1780. His mother died when he was quite young, and his father died a few years later. He went to White county, Illinois, when he was a young man. Charlotte Council, his mother, was born about 1797, and was taken to- White county, Illinois, where they were married and two children were born. They moved to Sangamon county, arriving August, 1819, and locating in Fancy Creek township, where he took up land and made a farm, where there were thirteen children born, twelve of whom lived to be adults.

Mr. McClelland came to the county a poor man and lived in a log cabin, and by good judgment accumulated a fine property, on which he remained until his death, which occurred October 31, 1858. In politics, was an old line Whig, and afterwards joined the Republican party. Mother died May 15, 1868. Mr. and Mrs. McClelland was among the earliest settlers of the county. George McClelland was reared on a farm, where he now resides. Married Miss Mary C. Brown, a daughter of Benjamin F. Brown, of Kentucky. She was born in Fancy Creek township, July 20, 1837. There were six sons, Fred, Frank, Paul, Arthur, Melvin and Roy.

Has two hundred and thirty acres of land under a high state of cultivation, valued at $65 per acre. Raises one hundred acres of corn, ninety acres of wheat, and has on his place two hundred head of hogs.

Mr. McClelland is one of the large and wellto-do farmers of the county and has been identified with its interests all his life; has seen the prairies from their wild, uncultured state to one of the finest farming countries in the world.

Martin McCoy ^ farmer, was barn in Licking county, Ohio, Jannary 4, 1848, son of Mathew and Margaret (Yates) McCoy, natives of Pennsylvania, where they were married, and three children were born, George, Robert and Eliza. His parents emigrated to Ohio about 1836, where six more children were born; Mary, Lucinda. Martha, Roenna, Catharine and Martin. In the spring of 1835, he removed to Sangamon county. Shortly after arriving he returned to Ohio on business, when he died. Mrs. Margaret died some years before. They were members of the M. E. church. Martin married Miss Annie F. Brown, a daughter of Benjamin F, Brown. She was born in Fancy Creek township, June 17, 1853. By this union there were two children living, Walter O. and Irena. Mr. McCoy has one hundred and twenty-one acres of land, valued at $75 per acre. Raises fifty acres of corn, twenty acres of wheat, twenty-eight head of stock, eleven head of horses. In the fall of

1862, enlisted in the Seventy-seventh Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Company C,and participated in the battles of Fort Donalson, Shiloh, Jackson, Mississippi, siege of Vicksburg, and was on the march to the sea, and march to Washington and review, was mustered out at Louisville, Ken tucky, and discharged at Camp Chase, Ohio; was in the service nearly three years.

David McRoherts, merchant and farmer, was born in Williams township. May 19, 18£3, son of John and Sarah (Gibson) McRoberts, natives of Ireland, who came to this country in 1849 or 1850, and located in Springfield where they remained a short time, when they moved to Fancy Creek township, where he rented a few years and then purchased property in Sherman and embarked in the merchandising of goods, which occupation he followed until his death, which occurred in 1869. Mother still living in Sherman. There was a family of twelve children, five of whom are living, four sons and one daughter, viz: John, Samuel, Hugh, David and Mary. The subject of this sketch embarked in the mercantile business in 1869, and carries a line of dry goods, groceries, boots and shoes, and everything that is usually kept in a country store; carries a stock of $2,500 and does a business of $10,000 per year. Mr. McRoberts has a farm of one hundred and ten acres of laud tinder a high state of cultivation valued at $V5 per acre. Raises twenty-five acres of corn, twenty acres of wheat, ten acres of oats. In politics is a Democrat.

Samuel Millenger, farmer. Fancy Creek, post office, Cantrall. Son of Henry and Polly (Mickel) Millenger, natives of Franklin county, Pennsylvania, where he was born January 27, 1832. There was eleven children of his father's family, five sons and six daughters, ten of whom lived to be adults, Susannah, Polly, Nancy, William, Elizabeth, Jacob, Henry, Sarah, Harry, Samuel and Catharine. His father died in Franklin county about 1860, at the age of one hundred and one. In 1851, Samuel left Pennsylvania and came to Ohio where he remained one year, and in 1852, came to Sangamon county, where he married Miss Almira Cantrall. She died in 1857, leaving one son, Samuel I. He again married Maranda Cantrall, a widow of Wm. Snelson, by whom one child was born, Chas. H. Mrs. Millenger was born in Fancy Creek township. May 12, 1826. There was four children, viz: Wm. C, Mahala, Debbie and Lucy E. In 1869, enlisted in the One Hundred and Fourteenth Regiment, Illinois Volunteer Infantry, Company C. His first engagement was at the battle of Jackson, Mississippi, siege and capture of Vicksburg, battle of Guntown, Tupelo, Spanish Fort, Ft. Blakely - and served three years - and was honorably discharged at Camp Butler. Has eighty acres of land valued at $50 per acre. Raises twenty acres of corn, twenty-five acres of wheat, turns off twenty-five head of hogs.

Carlisle Mitts, farmer and stock raiser, post office, Cantrall, was born in Sangamon, Fancy Creek township, on the 12th day of March, 1830, son of Cyrus and Martha (Burbridge) Mitts, who emigrated to Sangamon county from Ohio, in 1828; father a native of Pennsylvania and mother of Kentucky, where they were married, where there were two children born, James M. and Jesse. He afterwards moved to Ohio, where tvv'o daughters and one son were born, Jane, Roland, and Elizabeth. In 1829, came to Sangamon county, where there was six children born, viz: Cyrus, Robert, John, Joseph, Martha and Mary. Mr. Mitts purchased land and made a farm in Fancy Creek township. In August, 1852, was accidentally killed a short distance from his home, by a runaway team, by the tongue of the wagon striking him in the back. Mr. Mitts was an elder in the Christian church, and done much in building up the same; mother died in 1862.

The subject of this sketch married Miss Margaret Hall, of Athens, Menard county, Illinois, June 7, 1863. The fruits of this marriage was three children, all of which died in infancy. Mr. Mitts has ninety-eight acres of land, all of which is under a high state of cultivation, valued at $65 per acre. Mr. Mitts was born here and has seen the county from its infancy to one of the best cultivated counties in the State; can remember when there was not a family living between here and Elkhart. Mr. Mitts has a fine farm and beautiful home, and is one of the well-to-do farmers of the township.

Henry Nave, retired, Cantrall, Illinois, was born in Carter county, East Tennessee, on the 22d day of December, 1812; son of William and Martha (Williams) Nave, natives of East Tennessee, where they were married, and twelve children were born, with the exception of one, which was born in Sangamon county. The children were as follows: Eliza, wife of James Jenkins, of Tennessee; Abraham, married Eliza Bowars, and settled in Missouri; W^illiam, married Jane Crow, and settled in Illinois in 1839; Mary, now Mrs. Godfrey Crow, of Tennessee; Catharine, married Henry Harden and came to Illinois in 1843; Vina, married Eli Fletcher and resides in Tennessee; Delilah, married Eli Underwood, of Missouri; Sarah, married Madison Johnson, and settled in Illinois in 1844; John, of Missouri, who was wounded and died in the Union army; Margaret, now Mrs. Lipps, of Tennessee; Elizabeth, married Leonard Bowars. Mr. William Nave emigrated to Sangamon county in 1843, where he died. Shortly after, mother returned to Tennessee, she died about 1878. Henry Nave married May 29, 1830, Miss Margaret Bowars, a daughter of John L. and Rebecca Bowars, of East Tennessee, where she was born September 12, 1812. They have lived together as man and wife over a half century. There were two children, Martha R., born February 28, 1831, Elizabeth, born March lY, 1836, both of whom died in infancy. In 1832, he left his home in Tennessee, and went to Washington county, Indiana, where he remained seven years, when he removed to Sangamon county, and located in Fancy Creek township, where he purchased eighty acres of land and built a cabin, which stands at the present writing, where he remained until 1876, when he came to Cantrall. Mr. Nave left Tennessee with $20 in his pocket, got as far as Indiana when his means gave out and he had to stop and go to work.

He split rails for 25 cents per hundred and boarded himself. While in Indiana he accumulated about $1,100. Previous to coming, he sold out, taking notes, and by reason of the bankrupt law he lost nearly all he had, again being compelled to commence at the bottom. Mr. Nave was not the kind of a man to set down and fold his arms, but went to work with a good will and accumulated a fine property and home. In politics, he is a Democrat. He and wife are members of the Baptist Church.

Michael Nolan, farmer, post office, Springfield, was born in Springfield, Illinois, May 20, 1856, son of Patrick and Ann (Grimes) Nolan, natives of Ireland, who emigrated to the States some years ago. They were married in Springfield, about 1827. There was a family of two children, viz: Matilda and Michael. In 1861, came to Fancy Creek, where he purchased land and opened up a farm, where he remained until 1879, when he moved to Springfield, when he embarked in the grocery business. Has two hundred and ten acres of land, valued at $35 per acre; raises thirty-five acres of corn, twentyfive acres of wheat, turns out twenty head of hogs. Michael Nolan married Miss Ellen Madden, daughter of John Madden, of Springfield, in 1828. There is one child, Johnny, born March 6, 1881.

George Power, retired farmer, residence on section four. Fancy Creek township, town seventeen, range five, was born in Fayette county, Kentucky, on February 18, 1798, and is the son of James Power and Eleanor Dedman. When he was ten years of age his parents moved to Bath county, where his father died three years later. Owing to this and other causes George's educational privileges were YQvy meager. On February 10, 1820, he united in marriage with Nancy Wilcockson, who was born in Bath county, Kentucky, January 13, 1804. In the fall of 1821, they came to Illinois and settled on the farm where they now reside, having occupied it over sixty years. Mr. Power's efl^ects when he landed in the then wild prairie State, consisted of a wife, one son, William, a pair of horses, a half interest in a wagon, and $5.00 in cash. His father-in-law, William W^ilcockson, and family accompanied them, and settled on section nine of the same township. They erected a cabin, and both families occupied it the first winter. When the land came into market, Mr. Power bought sixty-six and two-third acres. This purchase compelled him to part from his last horse and to borrow $16 besides. In the year 1829, he erected the first frame dwelling north of the Sangamon river, in the county, locating it on the southeast quarter of section four. About two years after making his first purchase he borrowed the money to buy the eighty aci'es on which his present house stands. Other tracts were bought from time to time as means and opportunity offered, until the home farm contains two thousand acres, and he owns some four hundred acres elsewhere, as the reward of business energy and persevering toil. The present family residence he built about twenty-five years ago; and it with the other buildings comprising the homestead improvements cost $10,000. Thehomefarmis estimated worth $75 per acre. Besides the twenty-four hundred acres of farming land, he owns property in the village of Cantrall valued at $6,000. Mr. Power served as Second Lieutenant in the Black Hawk war, and held the office of Major many years in the militia organization. He filled the office of justice of the peace nineteen years, during which he never had a decision reversed in the higher courts. Abraham Lincoln tried his first case in law and made his first plea before him. He has always been a pronounced Democrat; voted three times for i^ndrew Jackson. Mr. Power was conscientiously opposed to the late war, but in favor of the preservation of the Union, and contributed liberally to the support of war widows and soldiers' families. Having instructed Mr. Irvin, proprietor of a flouring mill, to let soldiers families have breadstuffs whenever they applied and charge the price to him, he paid him at one lime $600, besides smaller amounts on other occasions. His donations to the cause aggregated $2,000. Mr. and Mrs. Power are the parents of two sons, namely, William D. and James E. Power. William enjoyed the advantages of the primitive schools, in the log school house, and engaged in farming in early life. He read law in Springfield and practiced a number of years. He was elected County Judge in 1857, and^re-elected in 1861. While serving his second term he died with typhoid fever, March 2, 1863, at the age of 42 years, having been born in May, 1821. He was very active during early years of the war in raising recruits for the army. He married Nancy J. Barnett, January 6, 1843, in Sangamon county; they had five children, two of each sex survive. James E. Power has always farmed with his father, and for years dealt considerably in live stock. He was born December 1, 1824, and married Laura Chord, November 9, 1878. She is a native of Menard county, Illinois, born in 1850. They have a son, James W^illiam, born October 16, 1879. The subject of this memoir has made provision for his son James to have one thousand acres of land, and the children of William to have two hundred and sixty each at his decease. In 1879 he constructed a beautiful family vault, on section nine, of his premises. It is built of Joliet stone, at a cost of $3,000, and is the finest sepulchre in Sangamon county. G. G. Seifert, M. D., Cantrall, Illinois, was born in Saxony, Germany, on the 22d day of August, 1846, son of John C. and Christina Seifert. They were married in Germany where two sons and three daughters were born. In 1849 his parents emigrated to the United States and located in Sheboyagan county, Wisconsin, where he bought a farm and made a home. The subject of this sketch was reared on a farm, and received an academic education, and prepared himself for teaching, which he followed two years in Wisconsin and three years in Springfield. When twenty-one years of age he commenced reading medicine, under William Hope Davis, M. D., at Springfield, where he remained about three years, when he attended the Eclectic Medical College, at Cincinnati, Ohio, where he graduated in May, 1871, with honors. After graduating, he returned to Springfield, where he remained a short time, when he went to Athens, where he located and remained two and a half years. The Doctor then went to Springfield, where he followed his profession until he came to Cantrall. Married Miss Jennie Beckeraeyer, who was born in Springfield, November 30, 1853. There were four children, two of whom are living, viz: Emily, born May 25, 1876; Otto H., born April 16, 1880. The Doctor is a member of the Eclectic State Medical Association. He is a member of the Christian Church, at Springfield, and Mrs. Seifert is a member of the German Lutheran Church.

James IT. Thaxton, farmer and stock raiser, post office, Sherman, was born in Allen county, I\entucky, on the 28th day of November, 1823, son of Thomas and Hannah (Williamson) Thaxton; natives of South Carolina. They were married in Allen county, Kentucky, where twelve children were born - six sons and six daughters - seven of whom lived to be men and women, viz: Williamson, George, Matilda, Millie, Thomas, Sarah and J. H., who is the only one living. His father died in Kentucky about 1826. The subject of this sketch came to Sangamon county, in about 1840, being out of the State but one day since. April 10, 1845, married Miss Margaret Hoifman, a daughter of Moses and Rhoda Hoffman. She was born in Clark county, Ohio, January 2, 1827. There were nine children, six of whom are living, viz: Arminda, now Mrs. O. F. Shepard; Clarinda, Mary A., now Mrs. J. B. Van Meter, of Fancy creek; Rhoda Caroline, now Mrs. James Pittman, of Springfield, and Lewis. Mr. Thaxton came to the county when a young man, and worked for $10 per month. In after years, he bought his present farm, and has one hundred and twenty-four acres of land, all of which is under a high state of cultivation, valued at $75 per acre. Raises forty acres of corn, fifteen acres of wheat, ten acres of oats; turns off fifty head of hogs yearly. In politics, he is a Republican.

Johii R. Van Meter, farmer and stock raiser, postoflice, Cantrall, was born on the farm where he now lives, on the 15thday of December, 1837; son of S. R. and Catharine ( Bishop) Van Meter,who were natives of Ohio, where they married, August 5, 1834, and immediately started for Illinois, with his young wife, and located in Fancy creek township. His father gave him eighty acres of land, and afterwards he entered two hundred and forty acres, making in all three hundred and twenty acres of land, which he owned at his death, which occurred, September 6, 1866; he aga-n married, April 3, 1860, Mrs. Mary A. E. Whitmore, whose maiden name was Kaiser. Mr. Van Meter was a soldier in the Black Hawk war, of 1831 and '32; was an old line Whig, up to the time of the organization of the Republican party, with which he afterward affiliated; at the time that the Know Nothing party was oi'ganized, he with others took an active interest, holding meetings at his house. J. R. was raised on a farm, and received an academic education, January 22, 1872, he married Miss Eliza J. Cressee, daughter of John and Sarah Cressee, now of Springfield, and came to Sangamon county in 1837; she was born in Menard county, Illinois, October 12, 1845. There are two children, Seymour, born October 29, 1872; William F., born October 31, 187.5. Mr. Van Meter is one of the large and well-to-do farmers of the county; has three hundred and twenty acres of land under a high state of cultivation, valued at $65 per acre; raises forty acres of corn; twenty acres of wheat; turns out one car load of cattle, one car of hogs, yearly. Mr. Van Meter makes a specialty of Cotswold and South Downs, and turns his attention to this branch of stock; has three hundred head on his place, and turns out one hundred head per year. In politics, is a Republican, and has represented his township in the board of supervisors, a number of years.