Cooper Township

Cooper Township

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

Topographical

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

Water Courses

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

Early Settlers

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Religious

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

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

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

Patrons Of Husbandry

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

Village Of Newport

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

Oak Hill Cemetery

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

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

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

Temperance

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

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

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

Organic

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

Justices Op The Peace Village Of Berry, Or Clarksville

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Joseph E. Hoss was born October 13, 1823, in Clark county, Ohio, and came to Sangamon county in 1841. His father, John Ross, married Rachel E. Wallace in Ohio, who died there. He then married Catharine (Keyser), then widow McCurdy, and then came to this county, where they both died.

Joseph E. mariied Mary J. Fairchild, March 24, 1852, in this county. She was born in Essex county, New York, May 27, 1827, the daughter of Moses and Ada Fairchild, who came to this county in 1832, near to Rochester. They have had four children, John Henry, born August 19, 1853, and married Annie Troxell, February 22, 1876, daughter of Peter and Susan (Fiery) Troxell. Mrs. Ross was born February 2, 1849, and has three children, Wilbur, Mary and Plomer; and lives section twenty-eight, Cooper township. The other son, Cbarles Oscar, born October 27, 1862, is with his parents. They have four hundred and sixty-five acres of land, mostly under cultivation.

H. H. Jioss, a farmer, in section eighteen. Cooper township, was born in Clark county, Ohio, August 7, 1844, and came to this county March 15, 1855; the son of John Ross, born in Mason county, Kentucky, December 7, 1793, and died March 9, 1877, and Catharine Ross, who was born in Virginia, June 1, 1802, and died April 19, 1870. H. B. married Mary E. Johnson, September 23, 1868, and they have six children, all now under twelve years of age, viz: Carrie B., John E., Winn J., Daisy P., Origin C, and Orville E. - the last two are twins. Mrs. Ross was born in Sangamon county, August 29, 1848. Her parents, Zachai'iah and Delilah Johnson, are dead. Mr. Ross owns three hundred and forty acres of good land, mostly under cultivation. He inherited eighty acres from his father, and all the rest of his property he has acquired by his own means. His father died in 1877. Of his four brothers and five sisters, two are dead; one brother, Charles, enlisted in Company B, Eleventh Missouri Volunteers, and served three years, and was severely wounded in battle at Corinth, being shot through one lung, and his recovery was one of the most remarkable on record. He is now living in Shelby county, Illinois, engaged in milling. A sister, Lethe, married Dr. Lee and moved to California.

Mr. Ross has been an active citizen in his township, and at present holds the offices of school director and coramisssioner of highways, and acting the third year as treasurer. In politics they are Republicans.

William Miley Hoss was born in Rah way. New Jersey, October 3, 1809. His father, William Ross, was born in Essex county, New Jersey, February 15, 1769; married Nancy Dunn, born in Bound Brook, New Jersey, and moved to Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1813; they were the parents of thirteen children, of whom six were born in New Jersey. The father was a blacksmith and general iron worker, at the time of his death, doing an extensive business, requiring a large force of workmen. He was stricken down with the cholera, November 18, 1832, leaving a large, unsettled business. Wm. Riley Ross was appointed administrator and after closing up the estate he continued in his father's old business for two years, then moved with the family to Springfield, Illinois, in December, 1838. He soon rented and settled on a small farm in Rochester township, and in the spring of 1840, purchased part of his present farm and moved to it, where he has lived over forty-one years. Although farming has been his principal occupation, his natural love for mechanicism, has induced him to retain his shop and kit, and at intervals, indulged his tastes in using them. From 1850 'till 1854 he was engaged as foreman in plow manufactury and foundry, of Lowry, Lamb & Co., who made the first scouring plows in this part of the west. Mr. Ross had married Miss A. Flagg, in Cincinnati, Ohio, May 18, 1834. She was born in Hamilton county, Ohio, and died with consumption, February 18, 1844; was mother of three children, now all deceased. One of the daughters, Lauretta, left an infant daughter three weeks old, which was taken by her grandmother Ross, who reared her to womanhood and now married, October 26, 1881, to Joseph S. Morris, and resides in this township. Mr. Ross married again December 28, 1845, to Mary E. Crowe, of Washington county, Maryland, who came to this county in 1833. They have three sons, George R., Mordecai V., and Joseph H. The eldest son studied law, was admitted to the bar, and became a member of the law firm of Palmer, Palmer & Ross, Springfield, Illinois. He is now engaged in farming in Cooper township. The other sons still reside with their father, on the old homestead. Mr. Ross is a Democrat, and has held nearly all the offices of the township. Mr. Ross is now the only man remaining that lived on the old road between Mt. Auburn and Springfield, when he came here, in 1840.

then came to Sangamon county, and settled in Cooper township. He married October 20, 1861, to Mary Ellen Buzley, the daughter of William M. and Priscilla (Evans) Buzley. They have had ten (.-hildren, namely: James Henry, born August 21, 1862, died October 25, 1862; infant daughter born October 25, 1863, and died same day; infant son born December 29, 1855, died same day; Priscilla Catharine, born November 10, 1866, and died December 6, 1866; Benjamin Franklin, born February 17, 1868; Jesse Davis, born November 28, 1870, died May 22, 1877, from a wound in the knee, caused by his falling on an axe, just one month after the accident; Fannie Maria, born August 23, 1873; William Otterbein, born March 10, 1876; Cynthia Viola, born February 24, 1879; Mary Josephine, born December 29, 1880.

Mrs. Sprinkel's father, William M. Buzley, was born in Kentucky; and her mother, Priscilla (Evans) Buzley, was born in Meigs county, Ohio. Two of her brothers, Joseph and Christopher C, served in the Federal army in the war of the Rebellion, and died in Federal hospital in Missouri. Her father returned to Missouri and purchased land; but before he got his family upon it, the battle of Wilson's Creek was fought, and their farm was near the battle-field. Her brother was taken prisoner, but made his escape, and with his father's family he hurriedly left for Sangamon county, where they arrived in September, 1861. One of Mrs. S's. brothers owned a nursery in Arkansas during the war, but being a Union man, he was constantly in danger, till at last his seighbors put a rope around his neck to hang him, but by some means he made his escape and reached Sangamon county in September, 1861, and afterwards returned to Missouri, where he now resides. Her father died in Missouri, in 1880, in his seventy-sixth year; and her mother is making her home with her, at the age of seventy-four.

Mr. Sprinkel's maternal grandfather was born in 1785, and his grandmother in 1786. He died in the year 1836, at the age of fifty-seven, and died in 1831, aged forty-five. Mr. Sprinkel's father was born in the year 1813, in Frederick county, Maryland, and died August 13, 1867; and his mother was born in Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, in 1815, and is living on her own farm in this township. They were married in 1835.

William P. Sprinkel was born January 7, 1846, in Arkansas; came to Sangamon county in the spring of 1860, with his parents, and married Sarah Staines, April 16, 1871; who was born May 9, 1854, in Ohio. Her parents came to Sangamon county in the fall of l8o5. William P. has four children: Minnie E., born June 27, 1872; Nora A., born February 7, 1875; Gertie A., born February 24, 1878, and Ina May, born July 24, 1880. Mr. Sprinkel's father and brother died in the Union army of the late war. Joseph M., born March 1, 1841, married Mrs. Charlotte Cre, and lives in Efiingham county, Illinois. He was a member of Company A, One Hundred and Seventy-third Regiment Illinois Infantry - three years' service. John, born June 22, 1844, and married Rebecca A. Patts, in October, 1869, and lives in Montgomery county, Kansas. Mrs. William P. Sprinkel's mother now lives in Mechanicsburg with her second husband, Hugh McCarty, who owns in Cooper township, one hundred and fifty acres of land under good cultivation, and worth $60.00 per acre. The family ai'e members of the U. B. Church, and Mr. S. is a Republican.

Charles Stafford, an old settler of Sangamon county, born October 12, 1820, in Essex county, New York He came to this county in July 13, 1825, with his parents, who settled in Rochester township the same year, and then married Julia A. Stafford, March 21, 1847. They had one child, Julia A., born December 6, 1847, who married Mitchell Dickerson. Mrs. Stafford died December 17, 1847, and Mr. Stafford was again married to Mrs. Sarah A. (Wallace) Stafford, September 27, 1848. She was the widow of John Stafford, and the cousin of Charles. She was born December 24, 1822, in Culpepper county, Virginia. They have had ten children, Mary A., born February 12, 1854, and married G. Woyce; Albert R., born September 17, 1856, and married Liza Ramond, September l7, 1878; Ida L., born January 4, 1860, and died May 26, 1874; Wm. W., born April 6, 1868. Mrs. Sarah Stafford had two children when married to Mr. Stafford: Thomas Oliver, the oldest, born April 18, 1844, in Wapella county, Iowa, and was killed in the battle of Stone river, or Murfreesboro, December 31, 1862, while a member of the Thirty-eighth Regiment, Illinois Infantry Volunteers.

Mr. Stafford's father, Jewett Stafford, was born January 13, 1795, in Kent county, Rhode Island, was a soldier in the War of 1812, and fought in the battles of Plattsburg, Boquet River, etc. He was also Colonel of the Fifth Regiment of Illinois Militia, in 1834. His mother, Harriet (Eggleston) Stafford, was born in New York. He farms about eighty acres of land, but, having also the largest store in Clarksburg, and other interests in care. His first crop of corn was sold In Springfield, 111., at six and one-fourth cents per bushel, and says that another year he burned part of his crop rather than gather it at the market price. Mr. Stafford is a public spirited man, and looks into all the improvements of the age with confidence and success,

Geo. W. Taylor, a farmer, in section four, Cooper township, was born December 10, 1836, in Wayne county, Indiana, and married the widow of Isaac T. Darn all, the daughter of Joseph and Mary Ann Crowl, who was born in Maryland, October 18, 1831, and died September 29, 1881, at home; was married in Sangamon county, December 14, 1852, to Isaac Darnall, who died September 10, 1870.

The homestead was settled by Hiram. Robins, and Mr. Darnall located upon it in February, 1857, and remained there till his death. He came to this county in 1840. The children are H. W., Benjamin F., Charles A., and Maryland. Jos. E. is a practicing physician at Mechanicsburg. The farm upon which Mr. T. resides belongs to the heirs of Robins, and consists of four hundred and fifty acres, about the half of which is under cultivation.

JJcmiel Waters, was born in Loudon county, Virginia, September 14, 1830, and came to Illinois in 1852, and settled in Round Prairie, in what is now Rochester township. He is the son of Levi and Sarah Waters, who are both dead. Mr. W. came to the county a poor man, and commenced farming and working at the carpenter business, which he continued ten years, and thereby accumulated a small capital. He married Harriet V. Miller, February 9, 1862, who was born in this county October 13, 1840, the daughter of Jno. C. and Melvina (Sattley) Miller, "who settled in this township, and so remained till the death of Mr. Miller, January 13, 1853. Mrs. Miller is now living in Rochester, where she lived before her marriage. Mr. and Mrs. Waters have had five children, two of whom are dead, George C, born February 17, 1864, and died in his third year; and Lulu, born January 29, 1878, and died in infancy. The three living ones are Anna A., born December 17, 1862; Charles M., born February 28, 1867, and Lilla M., born January 29, 1870 - twin to Lulu, and lives with her parents. Anna is now pursuing her studies at Wesleyan University, at Bloomington, Illinois.

Mr. and Mrs. Waters have accumulated a fine property, owning a farm of two hundred and forty acres, well stocked and handsomely improved, where they reside and enjoy their pleasant home, and are highly respected wherever known. He has long been associated in the township government, holding in turn several of the important oflices, and for some years trusted and honored as treasurer of the school funds. Both are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and politically Mr. Waters is a Demociat.

John W. Wigginton was born in Kentucky, January 12, 1835. Son of Sidney and Elizabeth Wigginton, who were born, raised and died in Trumbull county, Kentucky. Mr. W. married Melissa Taylor, daughter of William E. and Susan Taylor, September 27, 1866, in Sangamon county. He came to Illinois in 1854, first locating in Logan county, where he farmed till 1866; then moved to Cooper township, and has here farmed and raised stock. His land adjoins the village of Breckenridge, which he assisted in making, and has held most of the town oflices, and is now supervisor of the township. He is a Democrat, and a member of the Masonic order.