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

Thomas Strawbridge, deceased, was born February 8, 1798, in county of Donegal, Ireland and was the son of Thomas and Jane (Mitchell) Strawbridge, also natives of the same place. They came to America, landing at Baltimore in May, 1810, and went to North Umberland county, Pennsylvania, in the fall of 1811; they then moved to Clark county, Ohio, and from there to this county in October, 1823. His mother died in May, 1809, in Ireland, and his father died in September 24, 1834, in what is now Fancy Creek township, in this county, in the eightieth year of his age. The subject of this sketch learned the saddle and harness trade in Lebanon, Ohio, and engaged in that business; came to this county with his father in 1828 and followed his trade, it being the first in that line of business in the place. He made the first saddle in Sangamon county and Central Illinois. He worked at his trade many years, but during his latter years he turned his attention to farming; he owned six hundred and eighty acres of land, and continued farming until his death, in June, 1880. His sister Mary, born November 30, 1800, in Ireland, was married in this county, in April, 1824, to David Anderson, a native of York county, Pennsylvania. Mr. A. died July 16, 1825, and in October, 1839, she married Samuel Lyons, who was born near Belfast, Ireland; Mr. Lyons died in this county, October 12, 1842, and Mi's. Lyons now resides on the farm of her brother, Thomas Strawbridge, Jr., situated five miles south of Springfield, Illinois; she has no children; Thomas never married, and his property was mostly bequeathed to the Home of the Friendless, after his sister Mary's death.

Henry /S. Tisdale was born in Windsor county, Vermont, June 4, 188Y; the son of James and Rhoda (Whitcomb) Tisdale; the former died when Henry was only thirteen years of age, and the latter came to Illinois when he was in his eighteenth year. In August, 1862, he married Elizabeth Whitcomb, who was also born in "Windsor county, Vermont, in August, 1835. In 18*76, he came to this county, where he is engaged in farming with his brother-in-law; they also carry .on the dairy business. His mother came with him, and died in August, 1862. Mr. and Mrs. T. had one child, which died in infancy. Mr. T. is a Republican.

Harness Trumbo, one of the pioneers of Woodside township, was born October 9, 1816, in Bourbon county, Kentucky, where the first twelve years of his life were spent. His father was Adam Trumbo, and his mother, Mildred (Foster) Trumbo, both natives of Bourbon county, Kentucky. In company with his parents, Harness came to Illinois and settled in Woodside township, arriving in November, 1828. For two years he assisted his father on a farm, and in 1831 he returned to Kentucky, where he spent one year in a select school. From 1831 to 1835 he cheerfully labored upon his father's farm, when he again returned to Kentucky for the purpose of attending school. He remained there one year, which ended his school life. Coming back to Sangamon county he again resumed his place upon the farm and continued with his father until 1838. In July of that year he was united in marriage with Elizabeth, daughter of Dr. Samuel Hall, of Virginia, The young couple at once commenced housekeeping, moving upon the homestead upon which they yet reside. Nine children were born unto them, one of whom died in infancy. The eight that lived were: William, born April 10, 1840, died September 14, 1862; Sarah C, born January 26, 1843; James P., born January 27, 1845, married December 25, 1870, to Anna Staley; Jacob, born July 2, 1848; Maria L., died at five years of age; Harness, Jr., born November 15, 1854; Oscar, born February 7, 1856; An drew J., born August 25, 1861, died September 23, 1875.

In 1843, Mr. Trumbo united with the Methodist Episcopal Church, (North) and continued in that relation until 1865, when a class was formed in his neighborhood of those favoring the Methodist Episcopal Church, (South), with which he united. A station was formed in his neighborhood and regular preaching services were held some four or five years, when it was abandoned. Those belonging to the class then united with a like class worshiping at Sherman, Sangamon county, Mr. Trumbo being among the number.

Mr. Trumbo has been actively engaged in farming ever since he was old enough to do the work required. He is the possessor of a comfortable homestead of two hundred and sixty acres of fine land, and leads a comfortable life, having enough of the world's goods to secure him from want.

In August, 1881, he made a visit to his "old Kentucky home," his first visit in forty-five years. Everything was strange to him. In vain he inquired for the friends of his youth, his old classmates in school, but all were gone, some moving to other States, and some - the greater number - having been called to another world. Not one, in all that country, recognized him, who, forty-five years previous, had gone, a young man of twenty years, and returned a man with hair whitened by the frosts of many winters. But such is life. The youth of to-day is the old man of to-morrow

Frank P. Wiley was born in New Jersey, February 22, 1849, son of James and Hannah (Pooler) Wiley, natives of New York. In the spring of 1865, they moved to Macoupin county, Illinois, and now reside in Girard county. At the age of fourteen, Frank went into a railroad office, and began to learn telegraphy, and in one year he took charge of an office. He has been transferred to some eighty-three different offices; was for some time engaged in the counting department in St. Louis, also the train dispatcher's office at Beardstown nine months, and in 1871, to Springfield Junction, where he has been engagfid as operator and agent, also postmaster. He was married in 1872 to Emma F. French, born in Montgomery county, Illinois. They have two children. Frank F. and Harry T. In 1876, Mr, Wiley was elected township clerk, and has served in that capacity ever since. Politically, he is a Democrat.

L. B. Williams y^z.'s, born February 1^, 1844, in Pennsylvania, and was the son of John and Mary (Caine) Williams, natives also of the Keystone State; father died in 1854. In August, 1861, at the opening of the war, L. B. enlisted in the Forty-eighth Regiment, Illinois Volunteers, and served three years and four months; was discharged in August, 1864; he was in the battle of Bull Run, Fair Oaks, Virginia, and in the seven days' fight around Richmond and Malvern Hill, where he received a wound in his right leg, for which he received his discharge; he returned to Pennsylvania, and from there went to Washington, District of Columbia, where he was engaged as wagon-master until the close of the war; in the fall of 1865, he came to Springgeld with five hundred government mules, which were sold at auction; then returned to Pennsylvania, and in December of the same year, came back and worked as a farm hand for three years, after which he carried on farming for himself two years. September 28, 1870, he married Mary Louisa, daughter of Joseph and Sarah Q. (Willis) Insley, who was born in this county, August 4, 1850; her father was born October 13, 1796, in New York, and died January 24, 1868; her mother was born August 16, 1812, in Kentucky, and came to this county in 1829; was married to Mr. Insley February 8, 1846, and now resides with her daughter, Mrs. Williams, on the old homestead. Mr. and Mrs. Williams have two children, namely: Nettie A. and Little Dot.