Waterford Township

Waterford Township

The town of Waterford, which is on Spoon river, just below where John Eveland settled, is one of the oldest places in the Military Tract. It was laid off bv John Jackson Mar. 24, 1825, and although at one time promised to become quite a point, never grew to any prominent position. Few cabins are all that mark the place of Waterford at present.

Personal Sketches

Elis Bowman was born in Adams Co., O., in 1823, son of Joseph and Sarah (Swangum) ; emigrated to Fulton Co. in 1835; in 1849 he married Sarah Cox, and they have had two daughters and one son, all married. Son lost his wife a few months ago. Coming to this section in the early time that Mr. Bowman did, he saw pioneer life in all its phases. He has seen as many as 100 deer in one gang ; has killed 5 in one day.

John W. Brechenridge came to Fulton Co. in 1854, and is engaged in farming upon sec. 1 ; was born in Canada July 18, 1836, and is the son of John and Margaret (Eaton) B. He married Adaline Preyir in 1858, who bore him 4 children, - 3 boys and 1 girl - 2 of the fitrmcr only are living. He and his wife are both members of the M. E. Church. Mr. B. has been School Director 12 years. Town Clerk 6 vears, etc.

Wm. Dickson was born in Kentucky April 17, 1826, son of Alexander and Mary (Musett), of English ancestry ; came to Fulton Co. in 1834; is a farmer on sec. 1, owning 400 acres; in 1849 he married Xancy Jane Arnett, and had 3 boys and 1 girl ; in 1873 ho married M:iry Ashby, by whom he has had '2 daughters. Names : John W., Charles M., David L., Anna A., Minnie M, and Francis C. Mr. Dickson has been a local preacher in the M. E. Church for 20 years.

T. li. Gibncy is the son of Henry and Sarah Ann (Franks) G., both natives of Penn. Mr. G. is the owner of a farm on sec. 6, Waterford township. In 1862 he enlisted in Co. H, 103d 111. Inf., under Capt. Wriglit ; was in 26 battles. He was struck twice by rebel bullets and once by a piece of a shell and had a rib broken ; served 3 years. He was in every battle and skirmish the 103d was except one. He was married in 1860 to Harriet Davis. They have 3 children living : Wm. H., George Warren and John F.

John S. Hardin wsLS born in North Carolina March 23, 1816, son of Richard M. and Spicy A. (Lafo), emigrated to this county Oct. 11,1848, settling on sec. 10; this township; occupation varied; Oct. 22, 1848, he married Sarah Hamilton, and they have had 6 boys and 6 girls; has 300 acres of land.

I). M. Jenkins, born in Hamilton county, in 1832, is the son of Thomas S. and Mary A. (Shelton), the latter of Kentucky, the former of Tennessee; is a farmer on sec. 2; was married in March, 1859, to Mary Jane (Peterson) ; has 3 boys and 2 girls living; father was a Methodist preacher; in 1862 he enlisted in the famous 103d, Co. H, and was discharged August, 186."), having fought the battles of Vicksburg, ^lissionary Ridge and Resaca, and wounded in the latter, and was in many other celebrated engagements.

Findley Krugan was born in the Buckeye State April 29, 1818, the son of Joseph and Eleanor (Bennett) K., natives of Virginia; he was left an orphan at 1 1 years old, and never attended school ; he is a farmer on sec. 4, owning 260 acres. In 1842 he married Maria Johnson; of their 12 children 8 are living. He came to Fulton county in 1840. In 1862 he enlisted in Co. A, 103d 111. Inf ; was wounded at Atlanta and discharged in 1865.

Samuel Jackson, farmer, see. 2; was born in Tazewell county, 111,, March 17, 1839; his parents were George and Sudner (Tanner), natives of Virginia; came to Fulton county in 1865; July 8, 1862, he enlisted in the 85th Regt., Co. A, and was discharged May 25, 1865 ; was in all the battles of his Regt. except one. Of his marriage in 1869 is one boy, and of that in 1878 one girl.

Wm. P. Miles, was born in this tp., on sec.'6, July 12, 1854, son of Joseph and Isabel (Porter) ; attended the Lewistown high scliool ; by occupation is a farmer. March 6, 1868, he married Ilattie Evelaud. They have a son.

to Fulton county; is a farmer and brickmaker; owns a farm on sec. 12, 3 east. In 1828 he married Rachel Elrod ; of his 11 children only 2 are ^irls : Eliza Jane, born March 27, 1834, and Mary F., Oct. 22, 1845, both married.

John Tidfe, son of James and Sarah (Cautrhrey), was born in Pennsylvania, Nov. 3, 1828 ; father a native of Ireland and mother of Penn.j-emip-ated to Fulton Co. in 1864; was a carpenter 20 years; is now farming on sec. 4; has also taught school some, and been a local M. E. Preacher for 12 years; in 1848 he married Catherine Martin, and they have had 3 boys and 4 girls.

David Warner, farmer, sec. 1 ; is a native of Madison Co., O., where he was born April 2, 1815. His parents, Charles and Chloe (Johnson) Warner, were natives of Mass. and Conn., respectively. He has owned and run two saw-mills for 10 years. He came to Fulton Co. in May, 1837, and has lived in Waterford township ever since, 4 years of which time he has taught school. He was the first Assessor under the township organization and has been for 8 years since. School Director for 15 years, and Trustee for 5. He was married April 8, '45, to Mary Baudlc, in Cook Co. 111. They have 5 children living of 8 born to them. Mr. W. is a member of the M. E. Church. He was a member of the Presbyterian Church for 30 years, and Superintendent of Sunday-school for that long. He is now Class-Leader.

Samuel Warner, farmer, was born in Madison Co., O., Xov. G, 1816, the son of Charles and Chloe (Johnson) W. He was married to Isabel Heslep in 1858. Chloe Belle was born to them June 21, 1860. Mrs. AV. died Feb. 22, 1873. Mr. W. and daughter are members of the Presbyterian Church, and Mrs. W. was before her death. His daughter is a graduate of the High School at Lewistown.

Louisa William.'ion was born in P^rie Co., X. Y., in 1811. Her parents were Samuel and Mary (Waite) ^letcalf. She was married in 1838 to Christopher B. Miles, son of Jk^njamin M. Mrs. W.'s parents emigrated to Knox Co., 111., in 1835, and Louisa was married at Knoxville in 1838, when she and her husband came to Fulton Co. He died on his farm, sec. 6, this tp., in 1868. In 1879 she was married to David K. Williamson, a native of 111.