Curran Township

Curran Township

The township of Curran is situated in the second tier of townships from the west and the third from the south, and comprises township fifteen, range six west.

Topo Graphical

The township or Curran is chiefly rolling prairie, having but little timber, and that along the banks of Lick creek and Spring creek. The soil is of good quality and the farms second to none.

Water Courses

The township is watered by Lick creek and Big Spring creek, and their tributaries. Lick creek waters nearly the entire southern tier of sections entering Woodside township, from section twenty-five. Spring creek heads on section nineteen, and leaves the township from section four. Plenty of water is found for the stock.

Railroad

The Wabash railroad passes through the center of the township, entering from Springfield on section twelve, and passes out from section nineteen. It has two stations in the township - Curran and San station.

Early Settlement

The first settlement was made in this township in 1819. Among the early settlers were Joshua Brown, Jacob Earnest, Thomas Earnest, William Archer, David Cloyd, Thomas Cloyd, Samuel Cloyd, Stephen Shelton, William T. Brawnes, Ivins Fostei*, James Parkinson, John Smith, Thomas McKee, Elisha McKomas, Mr. Lamb, John Kelly, James McKee, Barney Vanderen, Henry Alsbury, Thomas Hilliard, Thomas Foster, William Withrow, and others.

Joshua Brown was born May 20, 1V92, in Davis county, Kentucky. Nancy Wilcher was born December, 1789, in the same county. They were there married, early in 1812, and in November, 1818, moved to St.^ Clair county, Illinois, and from there to what became Sangamon county, arriving April 18, 1819, in what is now Curran township, east of Archer's creek, and south of Spring creek, and later, entered one hundred and sixty acres of land south of Spring creek, in Gardner township.

Jacob Earnest was born April 24, 1799, in South Carolina, was married there to Elizabeth Sims, who was born April 26, 1798. She was a sister of James and William Sims, one of whom was older and the other younger than herself. They moved to that part of Simpson which later became Logan county, Kentucky. In 1817, the family moved to St. Clair county, Illinois, and they moved to what became Sangamon county, Illinois, arriving in the fail of 1819, on Spring creek, in what is now Curran township,

Thomas Earnest was born June 3, 1792, in South Carolina. His parents moved, when he was a boy, to Simpson county, Kentucky. In the autumn of 1819, he came to Sangamon county, and joined his brother Jacob, who had previously arrived with his family. Thomas Earnest commenced improvements south of Spring creek, eight miles west of Springfield, and entered land when it came into market. He was married October 15, 1822, to Alletta Lanterraan.

William Archer was born July 30, 1793, in North Carolina, and in 1807 his parents moved to Tennessee, where he was married to Elizabeth Jackson; moved to Madison county, lUi- nois, where Mrs. A. died, and he married Elizabeth Holt, December 20, 1818. She was born December 3, 11 93, in Oglethorpe county, Georgia, and, losing her parents when quite young, she was taken by an uncle, Robert White, to Madison county, Illinois, in 1811. Wm. and Elizabeth Archer had twins in Madison county, and moved to Sangamon county, arriving April 80, 1820, in what is now Curran township.

William Archer died August 31, 1867, from the effects of being thrown from a horse, and his widow resides at the farm where they settled in 1820.

In the fall of 1873, Mrs. Elizabeth Archer, then eighty years of age, gave to the writer a piece of a dress made with her own hands more than sixty years before. The family of her uncle, with whom she moved from Georgia, to St. Clair county, Illinois, in 1811, 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 coiton 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 constructed for the purpose, and had just commenced weaving, when the first assassination among the white settlers, by the 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 Edwards, who authorized him to grant her request. A guai'd 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 for the first time to a quarterly meeting in 1818, just after the close of the war, and attracted universal attention as the finest dressed lady in all that region of country.

David Cloyd was born about 1766, in Botetourt county, Virginia. He was married there, moved to Culpeper county, and from there to Washington county, Kentucky, about 1815. He moved in company with his sons, Thomas and Samuel, and his daughter Polly - who married Henry Lucas - to Sangamon county, arriving October, 1825, in what is now Curran township. David Cloyd died about 1839, and his widow in 1844 or '5, both in Sangamon county.

Thomas Cloyd, son of David, was born January 14, 1798, in Botetourt county, Virginia, and went with his parents to Washington county, Kentucky, in 1815. He was married there April 27, 1820, to Ann Withrow. They had three children in Kentucky, and in 1824 moved to Fayette county, Illinois, where they had one child, and from there to Sangamon county, arriving Oc'ober, 1825, in what is now Curran township, north of Lick creek, where they had two children. Of their six children - Samuel Cloyd, brother to Thomas, was born November 20, 1802, in Culpeper county, Virginia. He was taken by his parents to Washington county in 1815, and to Sangamon county, in 1825. He was married May 1, 1832, in Sangamon county to Eliza Clements. They had but one child.

Stephen Shelton was born 1777, in North Carolina, married there to Lydia Heath, and at once moved to Ohio, near the mouth of Sciota river; the family moved across the Ohio river into Cabel county. West Virginia. He was a soldier from Virginia in the War of 1812, and from there moved to Sangamon county, Illinois, arriving in May, 1826, in what is now Curran township. He died in 1859.

William T. Brawner, was born August 9, 1799, in Maryland. His father died when he was seven years old, and his mother moved to Madison county, Kentucky, when he was eighteen years old. He was there married, December 25, 1822, to Elizabeth Ball; the family moved to Sangamon county Illinois, arriving in October, 18 29, in what is now Curran township.

Ivins Foster, 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; 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.

Educational

The early settlers, as a general thing, looked well to the educational interests of their children. A settlement was no sooner founded with children enough to form a school, than a teacher was employed. The first schools attended by children from this township, were over the line in Chatham. A school house was erected on section thirty-two, just before the deep snow, which is supposed by the old settlers of to-day to be the first in the township.

Religious

held by William Sims. The first generallyremembered were conducted by Rev. Mr. Rice, in the summer of 1823, at the house of Thomas Smith. For many years all services were held either in the cabin of the pioneers or in the school houses. There are now three church edifices in the township - two Methodist Episcopal and one Presbyterian.

A class was formed in the southeast part of the township, of those belonging to the Methodist Episcopal Church at an early day, which met at a school house in the neighborhood. Under the ministerial care of men who feared God and loved their fellow man, it grew until it became so large the school house was too small and inconvenient to hold the number who desired to attend the services. The project of building was discussed, and on its location the class split, forming two classes, one of whom proceeded at once to the work of the erection of a building on the northeast quarter of section thirty-three. The building known as Wesley Chapel was erected in 1866, at a cost of $2,600. Mount Zion Chapel was erected in 1868, at a cost of $3,000. Both edifices are neat frame buildings and are an honor to the citizens of the township.

Railroad Station

The Railroad company has had a flag station, known as San station, on the northwest quarter of section thirteen. A large amount of grain is annually shipped from the station by the farmers of the neighborhood, for whose benefit the 8tation was made.

First Things

The first frame and plastered house in the township was built by Ebenezer Dove, on section twenty-six, in 1889. It was called the White House, on account of its being painted that color.

The first settlers were from the South. Thomas McKee started a blacksmith shop in 1821. Mr. McKee was also a gunsmith, and an excellent one. The repairing of guns was the principal part of his business.

Village Of Curran

Thomas Moffett and A. J. VanDeren, had surveyed and platted the north part of the west half of the northeast quarter of section twentyone, township fifteen noi-th, range six west, the plat bearing date September 19, 1857. To the village thus platted was given the name "Curran," in honor of one of the leading citizens of the county.

Shortly after the village was laid out, a Mr. Fox commenced the sale of merchandise in the place, being the first to engage in the mercantile trade. Mr. Fox also received the appointment of postmaster, being the first to occupy that position. He was succeeded as postmaster by James W. Gibson, Noah Richards, Mr. French, and O. S. Hotchkins, the present postmaster.

The village has made a slow growth, and has never numbered many inhabitants. Its nearness to Springfield has tended to retard its growth. At present the business of the place is represented by the following: O. S. Hotchkins, dealer in drugs and groceries; Nicholas Powers, groceries; J. W. Hammond, drugs and perfumery; Joseph Dickerson, blacksmith; William Search, wagon maker; Nicholas Powers, dealer in grain.

School Trustees

Reminiscenes of James Parkinson. - *' I was born in Ohio, near Wheeling, W. Va., Dec. 22, 1805. My parents removed from there when I was an infant to Washington county, Pennsylvania, and remained there till I was ten or twelve years old, then moved into Green county and lived there several years, and while there my father made the first printing press that was ever used in that county, he also invented a machine for rifeling gun barrels, and put one up at Harper's Ferry for the United States Government, which proved a great success for the government, and some government officials lied and swindled him out of it. That same machine is used in a manner in rifeling gnu barrels to this day. That machine was put up in about from 1815 to 1820. My grandfather (Parkinson) was a British soldier in the Revolutionary War with England, and did not return to England at the close of the war. He married a woman of Irish descent who lived to be nearly ninety years old. What little education I got, I received in the common schools of Pennsylvania. I have worked for five and eight dollars per month. My parents raised twelve children to be men and women. From Green county, Pennsylvania, we moved to what is now Marshal county. West Virginia, and the family remained there until my father died, August 11, 1848. Some time after that my mother removed to this State with one of her daughters, Mrs. Craig, near Oquawka, and died there October 24, 1853. In the fall of 1830, my elder brother and I started from home in Virginia for Illinois, on horseback, with a model of a mill that our father had invented, which would do the work of a four foot stone with a two foot one. We carried that model behind us on our horses to Sangamon county, and stopped at David Mc- Coy's, (who had a mill, and lived aboutten miles west of Springfield), and there started one of our mills and stayed there all winter, that was the winter of the deep snow. We went deer hunting before the snow got over two feet deep one day, and caught two deer on our horses, but when the snow got to its greatest depth, there was no such thing as getting about on the prairies.

"We were happily situated to what most of the people were, for we had a mill and plenty to grind and eat, while a great many had to live on hominy. It was about the last of February before people could crop the prairies, for the snow. That winter we sold our interest in the mill business in Illinois, and went back to Virginia in the spring of 1831, and remained there till the next fall, and then returned to Illinois, and stopped at the same place that I did at first. That fall the cold weather set in very early, and had frosts and freezing weather so soon that it spoiled all the corn from seed, so in the spring of 1882 we had to send south for seed corn, and pay $2 per bushel, and that did not grow well, so we had a very poor show for a crop that year, but made a light crop. In January, 1833, I went to Arkansas and stopped near Little Rock, and started a mill there, sold out, and came back to Illinois, making my home at David Mc- Coy's. I then began to think I was old enough to marry, and thought that the first girl I found, that I thought enough of and would have me, I would marry. I had formed an acquaintance with a Miss Mahala Earnest previously, and had become somewhat smitten with her, and the longer I knew her the better I liked ber, and so on November 7, 1833, Mahala Earnest, who was born December 18, 1811, in Kentucky, and was the daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth (Sims) Earnest, and I, were married. We have raised three girls and two boys, viz: Mary Jane, born November 1, 1834, and married William Baldwin; Grizella Ann, born March 22, 1836, and married W. T. Bradford; Clarinda Adeline, born Jannary 22, 1838, married Thomas B. Petefish; John. J., born January 23, 1840, married Augusta Patteson, and William H., born October -51, 1842, mai-ried Sarah Jane Bradford. Mr. Petefish and family live in Kansas. William H. and family live in Missouri. My son, John J., served three years in the war and was honorably discharged, and my son, William H., aided the cause by sending a substitute. I had the first scouring ])low ever used on Spring creek, invented and made by William Sprouse, of Rock creek. I became quite interested in the success of Mr. Sprouse and furnished the money to aid him in procuring the patent. I have served twelve years as justice of the peace, before this county adopted township organization, and was elected first and second supervisor of the town. I reside one mile from where we were married. Own two hundred and fifty acres of land, on the road leading from Springfield to Jacksonville, eight miles from Springfield, under a fair state of cultivation. My wife and I are supporters of the Methodist Church."

We have thought best to give as a part of the history of Curran township, a number of brief memoirs of the best known residents, together with many who have lived here in an earlier day and are now deceased.

Carroll Archer, farmer, was born in St. Clair county, September 30, 1819, and is the son of William and Elizabeth (Holt) Archer. His father was a native of North Carolina, and born December 3, 1793, and his mother in Oglethorpe county, Georgia, in December 1791. They moved from Madison county, Illinois, in April, 1820, to Sangamon county, in what is now Curran township, where they resided until their death. His father died August 31, 1867, from the effects of being thrown from a horse. His mother died in March 1878.

Carroll Archer came to the county when quite young, and his educational advantages were limited, which has been a great trial to him all through life. He was brought up on a Tarm and might be termed one of Sangamon county's early settlers. He remained with his father until he was married, November 24, 1842, to Delilah Eenshaw, who was born in St. Clair county, Illinois, in 1822. They have three children, Martha T., now Mrs. Lorenzo Stillman, and resides in Curran township; Ann E., now Mrs. Edward Robinson, and resides in Linden, Kansas; Sarah C, now Mrs. Henry Gaines, and resides near Odell, Illinois. His wife died May 31, 1865, and he again married September 4, 1866, Elizabeth Houton, who was born October 25, 1 830, in Menard county. They have two children, Edwin, and Maria Belle. He owns one hundred and sixty acres of land, on which he resides. He cast his first vote for General Harrison, in 1840, for President, and he is an ardent supporter of the Republican party.

tucky. He was married about 1819, in Posey county, Indiana, to Nancy Wilkinson, a native of Kentucky, also. Mrs. Barbre died there, in 1828. Mr. Barbre moved to Edgar county, Illinois, and was married there January 17, 1829, to Anna Wilson. They moved to Sangamon county, Illinois, arriving in the fall of 1835, in what is now Island Grove township, where they continued to reside on a farm until his death, which occurred at Waverly, Illinois, in the fall of 184t>. His mother afterwards married William Withrow, and died in the fall of 1871. The subject of this sketch was brought up on a farm and was deprived of the school privileges on account of having to help support the remainder of the family.

He came to this county with his parents, and was first married January 15, 1845, to Rebecca Smith, born October 21, 1828. She was the daughter of John and Jane (Drennan) Smith, who now reside in Curran township. They had two children - Nancy and Jane - the latter now Mrs. James McKee. He lost his wife October 18, 1847, and was again married, February 6, 1849, to Lucy M. Smith, sister to his first wife, who was born April 17, 18 23. They had a family of nine children, six of whom are now living - Mary A , Johnnie E., James W. Richard S., Samuel M., and Martha C. - three dead. Came to the township soon after marriage, and has continued to reside in the same ever since. He enlisted in the late war, September, 1861, in company B, Tenth Illinois Cavalry, for three years. He was wagon-master and veterinary surgeon, and underwent many trials ; was in several skirmishes in Missouri, and received a sunstroke at the battle of Pilot Knob, Missouri, in 1862, and was disabled on account of same. He was honorably discharged, in June, 1863. He is now the owner of four hundred and forty acres of land in Curran township ; is well improved, and worth $60 per acre. In politics, is a Democrat.

Caldwell. - The origin of the Caldwell family, now living in the town of Curran, can be traced back to the fourth generation removed. Thomas Caldwell, the great-grandfather, was born in Ireland, but emigrated to America prior to the Revolutionary War. The name is Scotch, and it is quite probable there was a union of Scotch and Irish blood in the family. Thomas Caldwell married in Ireland, Betsy Harris, a Welsh lady, and the couple decided to remove to the New World, where they would have a better opportunity of making for themselves and family, a borne. They landed at Charleston, South Carolina, where they remained a short time, and then moved to Virginia. Here they remained a few years, and here William Caldwell was born, December 15, 1779. When the latter was but a youth, his parents removed to Jessamine county, Kentucky, where they subsequently died, at the house of their son, William. William Caldwell was a man of more than ordinary ability, and while living in Kentucky held several important public positions, being elected and serving as sheriff of Jessamine county, and representing the county several terms in the State legislature. William Caldwell was married in Jessamine county, Kentucky, to Nancy Robards, a native of Virginia. Six children were born unto them: George L., John, Jane R., Elizabeth, Charles H., and William, Jr., all of whom are now dead.

William Caldwell moved from Kentucky to Greene county, Illinois, in 1831, and to Sangamon county in 1836, locating in Auburn township. Subsequently he moved to Curran township, where he died, August 1, 1844, his widow surviving him something over fourteen years. When he moved to Curran township, there was near him no place for holding public worship. In order to afford temporary accommodations, he constructed his residence in such a manner that it could be used for that purpose. It consisted of a large central room, with three other large rooms opening into it. Plans were laid, before his death, for building a church, and on his death bed he requested that it be calkd Bethel, which was done. He was a man of great public spirit, and was Captain of a company from Jessamine county, Kentucky, in the War of 1812, After his removal to Sangamon county he served one term in the legislature.

John Caldwell, the second son, was born January 21, 1807, in Kentucky, and came to Carrollton, Illinois, in 1827. He was there married, January 23, 1834, to Mary J. Davis, likewise a native of Kentucky, who was born near Danville, in that State, January 16, 1816. Five children was the result of this union; William C, Jane, Betsy, Henry C, and Ben. F., three of whom are now dead - Jane, Betsy, and Henry C. John Caldwell and family came to Sangamon county in April 1853, and located on the farm purchased by his father some years previous, on section thirty-six, Curran township, one and a half miles from the village of Chatham, and eight miles from Springfield. This farm Mr. Caldwell further improved, and here died after a painful illness, August 1, 1863. His widow and youngest son, yet reside upon the farm. Mrs. Caldwell when a young lady took a journey that few in this year, 1881, w^ould care to take. She Tode on horseback from Danville, Kentucky, to Tallahasse, Florida, returned the same way, and after a short stay, continued on to Carrollton, Illinois, a distance of about two thousand miles.

William C, first son of John and Mary J. Caldwell, was born in Greene county, Illinois, March 15, 1835, and came with his parents to Sangamon county, in 1853. He was raised on a farm, and attended the common schools of the county at intervals, obtaining the rudiments of an English education, and subsequently from Shurtlelf College, Upper Alton, Illinois. He has been twice married, and now resides in Chatham township. No children came from either union.

Benjamin F., fifth child of John and Mary L. Caldwell, was born August 2, 1848, in Greene county, Illinois, and came with his parents to Sangamon county, Illinois, in 1853. In the common schools of the neighborhood in which he was raised and in the graded schools of Chatham, he laid the foundation of a thorough business education, which in later years has served him in good stead. On the 27th of May, 1873, Benjamin F. Caldwell, and Julia F., daughter of Matthew Cloyd, an old citizen of the county, were married, and immediately started upon a wedding trip which occupied several months and traveling a distance of fourteen thousand miles, going and returning. They first went to New York by way of Detroit and Suspension Bridge, where, on the 4th of June, they took steamer for Queenstown, Ireland, where they landed June 14. Passing through Ireland to Belfast; thence to Scotland; down through the center of England to London; from there through Holland, Belgium and the smaller German States to Berlin; thence to Vienna, where they took in the great World's Exposition; across the Alps to Italy, meeting with the unexpected pleasure of an audience with Pius the IX. Returning, they passed through Mount Cenis tunnel; thence by Geneva to Paris; from Paris back to London; thence to Liverpool, wJ ere they took steamer for Boston, arriving October G, of the same year. Two children have been born unto Mr. and Mrs. Caldwell - Mary Jane, born March 20, 1874, and John Harvey, born September 9, 1877.

Mr. Caldwell, since arriving at man's estate, has been an active business man. Securing quite a competency from the estate of his father, by careful and judicious management he has added largely to his possessions. For some years after the death of his father, he personally managed the large farm, but since 1871 he has rented the land and turned his attention to other business, principally the loaning; of money, and dealing in western unimproved lauds, lie has bought and sold many hundreds of acres of land in Kansas and Missouri.

In January, 1878, he began the mercantile business in Chatham, and the same unvarying good fortune has attended him in this line of trade. In 1879, he set about the organization of a bank in the village of Chatham, for the accommodation of the villagers and neighboring farmers. On the election of its first officers he was elected president of the institution, and in 1881 was re-elected to the same position.

Politically, Mr. Caldwell is a Democrat, and has been an earnest worker in that party. He has served a term and a half as a member of the board of supervisors, and was selected by that body as its chairman, notwithstanding he was one of the youngest members on the board, and had no previous experience - an honor seldom conferred. In 1874, he was nominated as a reform candidate for the legislature, but was defeated.

Mr. Caldwell, on arriving at his majority, united with both the Masonic and Odd Fellow lodges of Chatham and Springfield, and has since been an active worker in these truly benevolent orders, having filled the chair of W. M., in the Masonic lodge, and N. G., in the Odd Fellows.

In 1876, Mr. Caldwell and mother erected upon their farm a dwelling house, at a cost of 120,000. It is conceded to be the best farm house in the county, and is furnished with every modern convenience, being lighted with gas, the rooms all supplied with water and heated with steam. Few houses, even in the larger cities, are so well or conveniently constructed or elegantly furnished. Here with his family and mother he lives and enjoys life, and where he entertains in a royal manner friends as they call.

E. D. Canfield, broom manufacturer, was born in the Geneseo Valley, New York, April 17, 1837, Son of John and Mary Ann (Blair) Canfield. His parents moved to Ohio and thence to Cambridge City, Indiana, where he resided until his death. His mother afterwards moved to Minnesota Avhere she resided previous to her death. The subject of this sketch received only a common education in the common schools of Indiana, and moved to Minnesota with his mother with whom he resided until twenty-two years of age. He then came to Illinois and enlisted in the Thirty-fifth Illinois Infantry, in August, 1861, and served three years and five months. After he received his discharfife he returned to Minnesota and followed farming. In 1866, he married Harriet Kelley, who was from Sangamon county, Illinois, and daughter of Jonathan and Sarah Kelley, who were residents of Sangamon county in 18*73. He moved to this county where he resides, and carries on the business of growing broom corn, which consists of fifteen acres each year. His family consists of two children, Jonathan and Wellington. His first wife died in 1878, and he was a second time married to Elizabeth Rogers, who was born in Ohio. They own a small farm of twenty-five acres of land on which they reside. In politics he is Republican.

Charles W. Canfield, farmer, Curran township, was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, February 22, 1826; son of Robert and Helen Canfield, who were natives of New Jersey. In 1815, they moved to New Orleans, where he engaged in the dry goods business, in which position he continued until his death. Both he and his mother are now dead. The latter died with cholera, while on a steamboat.

Charles W. Cantield received a common school education, and worked in the store until the breaking out of the Mexican war. He volunteered under General Taylor and served until the close of the war, after which he entered the New Orleans Custom House, which position he held three years, and then concluded to come to Illinois, and engage in farming. The people of New Orleans feeling that they were losing a faithful servant and companion, presented to him a silver pitcher in token of their respect toward him which he still holds as an emblem of gratitude to them. He was married in 1864, in Sangamon county, to Mary Ann Parker, who was born in New Orleans. Their family consists of twelve children, now living. He is now the owner of four hundred and fifty acres of land, on which he resides. Politically, he is a Democrat.

John C. Cloyd was born September 6, 1821, in Washington county, Kentucky. When he was four years old, came with his parents to reside in Vandalia, Illinois, and in the spring of 1826, removed to Sangamon county. He was employed on a farm, in Woodside township, about five years. At the expirat.on of that time, his father purchased a farm in Curran township, where he settled with his family. John C. remained with his father on the farm until his marriage with Miss America Clements, which event occurred in Sangamon county, March 25, 1841. They now have two children, the eldest, Thomas, born June 2, 1844, and died May 7, 1848. Dicey Ann Cloyd was born

October 16, 1846, and married James H. Jones, and now resides in Plenry county, Illinois. Mrs. America Cloyd died, and J. C. Cloyd was married, September, 1848, to Sophia L. Lanterman, They have eight children, viz : Charles, married to Elizabeth J. Brauham ; they have one child - Eliza M. - and are residents of Curran township ; Eleanor, was married to Ashbury M. Branham. They have three children - William C, Cord F. and a daughter, and live in Curran township. Nancy J., Cordelia, Wallace E.., Gordon, Amanda M. and John C, Jr., live with their parents, three miles southeast of Curran. In politics he is a Democrat, and a member of the Baptist Church. His wife is a Methodist.

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.