Chatham Township (part 2 of 2)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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