USA > Illinois > Macon County > History of Macon County, Illinois, from its organization to 1876 > Part 21
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A. J. was born July 24, 1836. W. G. was born August 20, 1839, (no record of others). By his second wife- Jane W. was born June 4, 1853; married J. A. Vangundy. Wm. H. was born Aug. 11, 1855; died September 30, 1856. George W. was born Septem- 10, 1857; died December --- , 1862.
DAVID MILLER was born December 27, 1790, and married as his first wife MARY MUIRHEAD, who was born July 17, 1808. Mrs. M. died September 19, 1832. Of their children-
JAMES D. was born October 10, 1828. WILLIAM M. was born February 18, 1830; died March 20, 1831. THOMAS E. B. was born February 9, 1832; died February 10, 1844.
He was married a second time to MARY Y. WHEELER, widow of Henry Wheeler (See Wheeler) by whom the following children were born. Mr. M. died October 6, 1853.
MARGARET T. was born July 3, 1835. ELVIRA V. was born January 25, 1837; died February 29, 1844. MAY H. was born July 12, 1838. GEORGE S. was born July 26, 1840. JOHN H. was born August 8, 1841; died September, 1841. TRYPHOSA was born May 14, 1843; died September 17, 1844. LAVENIA M. was born July 28, 1844. LUCETTA and GENETT were born February
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26, 1848; the latter died March 12, 1848. DANIEL was born March 30, 1849. HARRETT A. was born March 30, 1853.
WILLIAM MUIRHEAD was born in Rockingham county, Virginia, in -; he came to this state in 1830 and settled at Wykles Place, 4 miles west of Decatur, where he died. He had 5 children, to-wit:
ELIZABETH, who married Thomas Strain and moved in the neighborhood of Clinton, Illinois, and died there. ANDREW S., who was born in 1804, and came here with his father. We are unable to give names and ages of the other children.
EDMUND McDANIEL was born February 13, 1800, in Ogle- thorpe county, Georgia, and removed to Robertson county, Tenn., thence to Vandalia, Ill., and thence to Macon county, in 1826. He was married in Kentucky, to Margaret Widick, who was born Jan- uary 10, 1800, in Virginia, and died November 2, 1874. Mr. M. was upon the first grand jury in this county, and would make at the present, a very efficient foreman. Of their children-
JOSEPH, born in Tenn., June 25, 1821 ; married Kittie K. Wilson, who was born January 21, 1827, in Tennessee. Of their children-
Margaret J. was born September 12, 1844; married R. B. Wil- son. David S. was born January 3, 1847. Enoch was born July 18, 1849; married C. Hammers. Mary E. was born July 28, 1854; married John L. Smith, January 10, 1877.
WILLIAM W. was born August 11, 1820, in Tennessee; married Asenith , who was born May 15, 1831. Of their children- W. E. was born October S, 1850. S. C. was born March 18, 1853. Joseph H. was born February 10, 1855. E. Y. was born June 23, 1857. M. F. was born September 18, 1859. A. A. was born December 23, 1862. H. D. and R. C. were born January 18, 1865. J. B. was born March 4, 1869.
EMANUEL was born in Macon county, May 27, 1827, and mar- ried Caroline Hill. Their children are Margaret, Benjamin, Al- bert and Adaline. FRANCIS M. and JOHN W. died when young.
HENRY was born Feb. 20, 1833, and married Elizabeth Layton. THOMAS R. was born January, 1835; dead.
ELIZABETH was born in 1838; married Wm. Boardman.
JOHN McMENNAMY was born March 10, 1793, in Ruther- ford county, Tenn., and came to Macon county in October, 1826,
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HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY.
with his brother-in-law, James Ward. He removed to Texas in 1839, and died there. Of his children-
JOHN H. was born in 1814, in Tennessee, and has been constable in Macon county for 20 years. His wife died 'some 25 years ago. He had two children-
GEORGE, who died a few years ago, and Dr. B. F. McMENNA- MY, now of Moultrie county.
LUCINDA (now Martin), who resides in Harristown township.
SAMUEL MCKINLEY was born December 23, 1816, in Ross county, Ohio, and moved to Macon county in the month of March, 1834. Was married September 24, 1840, to Anna Hanen, who was born January 10, 1822, in Morgan county, Ala. She came to Macon county in the month of March, 1830. Of their children-
WILLIAM A. was born September 3, 1841, and died in Memphis, Tenn., March 19, 1863. JOHN H. was born November 23, 1843; married to Catharine Ghear, December 30, 1869. EMMA was born April 11, 1846; was married to John Hammond, June 18, 1868. EUGENE was born January 27, 1849. AMANDA was born October 26, 1851; died September 24, 1852. ALICE was born August S, 1853; married to Joseph Baxter, October 16, 1873. ELSIE was born March 27, 1856; died April 24, 1856. MARY E. was born May 22, 1858. JENNIE was born December 6, 1860. EDWARD S. was born February 18, 1864.
WILLIAM F. MONTGOMERY was born January 7, 1812, in the State of Virginia; was married to Amelia - -, May 26, 1836, who was born January 14, 1814, and came to Macon county in 1835. Of their children-
RACHAEL was born April 9, 1837; was married to John R. Hays, March 26, 1857. MARY C. was born May 11, 1839; was married to Grason Hanks, January 16, 1862. EMILY S. was born March 12, 1841. SAMUEL K. was born December 17, 1842. JOHN F. was born February 11, 1846; was married to Ollie Campbell, September 20, 1871. PATRICK H. was born September 29, 1848. MARTHA A. was born April 9, 1851; was married to Lafayette Gulick, September 20, 1870.
JAMES MYERS was born October 4, 1804, in Grayson coun- ty, Kentucky, and was married to Mary Meeks, who was born in December, 1811, in Hardin county, Kentucky. They came to
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HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY.
Macon county in 1828, and settled the farm now known as the Henry Davis nursery farm, in Long Creek township; Mr. M. died in July, 1872, and Mrs. M. died in 1859. Of their chil- dren-
JOHN H. was born October 12, 1830; was married in 1848, to Elizabeth A. Park, who was born in 1828, in Virginia, and died in December, 1851; married a second time to Emily J. Howell, who was born June 21, 1821, in Sangamon county. Mr. M. had two children by his first wife, both dead; by his last wife has had eleven children, of whom six are living, viz: James M., Charles B., Livinda, Joseph, Daniel and Martha. JAMES B. was born in 1849, now resides in Texas. SARAH J. was born in 1836; married to Andrew Shoemaker. ANGELINA was born in 1847; married to Thomas Atchison.
MICHAEL MYERS was born about 1779, in North Carolina, and married Louisa Atteberry, who was born about the same date in Kentucky; they removed to Macon county in 1827 or 'S. Mr. M. died about 1856, and Mrs. M. about 1862. Of their child- ren-
MOSES was born about 1805, and now resides in Missouri. ELIZ- ABETH, born in 1807 (about); married to Wm. . Lacy; both dead. DENNIS, born 1809 (about), and died about 1861. His widow is now the wife of J. D. C. Travis. MINERVA, born about 18II; married John Wallace, who is dead, and she is the present wife of Henry Rhodes. NANCY, born in 1813; married Andrew Allsman ; both dead. JAMES was born in 1824; died in 1870 or '71; married Nancy Howell; also dead.
SARAH MYERS was born about 1800, in North Carolina; married in Kentucky to Joseph Davis. Came to Illinois in 1831, and died in 1875. Of their children-
MATILDA was born -; married Claiburn Jones. LYDIA was born -; married to John Kiger. JOHN was born -; now in Kansas. HENRY was born --. MARY was born --; married A. Camp. LOUISA was born --. (See Henry Davis.)
JACOB MYERS was born in 1802, in North Carolina; was married to Elizabeth Wood, who was born -. Mr. M. died November, I854. Their children were-
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HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY.
JOSEPH B., born in 1842; JOHN A., born in 1840; MARY A., JAMES WESLEY, SARAH C. and JAMES.
Second marriage in 1849, to Malinda White.
NANCY L. was born in 1851, and married James M. Bell, Octo- ber, 1871.
THOMAS NELMS came to Macon county in 1827, from Lo- gan county, Ky., and settled where William C. Smith now resides; died from the effects of a tree falling upon him, perhaps about 1830. A remarkable incident is related in connection with the tree caus- ing the death of Mr. N. After it was cut down, and before being split, there was one continuous tingling sound came from it, similar to that heard from the splinters when a tough stick of wood is being split. This continued long after the logs were made into rails and laid up in a fence. The attention of travelers was attracted by the peculiar noise, while they were passing along the road by the side of the fence. The fact of this singular and unexplainable circumstance was attested by many of the early settlers-some of whom are still living. That the strange freak had any connection with the killing of Nelms, as was strenuously insisted, is probably without foundation.
HON. R. J. OGLESBY was born in Oldham county, Kentucky, July 25, 1824. His parents died when he was but eight years old, and he was placed in charge of an uncle, and in 1836 was brought to Decatur with the family of his uncle, Willis Oglesby. He had, while in Kentucky, worked a year and a half at the carpenter's trade, and after his removal to Decatur worked six months with Hon. E. O. Smith. In 1844 he commenced studying law at Spring- field with Judge Silas Robins, and read with him one year, and was admitted to the bar in 1845, and commenced the practice at Sullivan, Illinois, and remained there until the spring of 1846. In June of that year he went as Lieutenant in Co. C, 4th regiment, to the Mexican war, and took part in the battles at Vera Cruz and Cerro Gordo. On his return he continued to study and practice law; but on the breaking out of the gold fever, in 1849, he crossed the plains to California, driving a six mule team en route, with a company of eight men, of which Henry Prather was the leading man. In 1852 he returned home to Macon county, and was a Scott elector. In 1856 he visited Europe, Asia and Africa, and was ab- sent twenty months. On his return he resumed practice, as a mem-
.
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HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY.
ber of the firm of Gallagher, Wait & Oglesby. In 1858 he ran as the Republican candidate for congress, and was defeated by Hon. J. C. Robinson. In 1860 he was elected to the State senate. On the evening the returns of this election were coming in, Mr. O. had a fisti-cuff encounter with "Cerro Gordo Williams," in which he came out victorious, and which was regarded as the first fight of the rebellion. During the extra session of the legislature in 1861, Mr. O. was elected colonel of the Sth Illinois infantry. He commanded a brigade at Fort Donelson, and was stationed on the right of Gen. Grant's army, and rendered valuable service in that famous battle, where so many Macon county soldiers fell. He was engaged in the battle of Corinth, and in a brave charge at this place, was shot with an ounce ball, which he still retains, and was borne from the field, as was supposed, mortally wounded. He had been pro- moted to brigadier-general in April previous. After his partial recovery he was promoted to major-general, as a merit for his val- iant services, ranking from Nov. 1862, and in the spring of 1863 was assigned to the 16th army corps. Owing to inability from the effects of his wound, to perform the arduous duties of his position, he resigned his command in July, 1863; but Gen. Grant refused to accept his resignation, and he was detailed, in Dec. 1863, to court martial and try the surgeon-general of the army, at Washington, where he remained until May, 1864, when he returned to his home, and was nominated and elected as the republican candidate for gov- ernor of Illinois, and served four years. At the end of his term he returned home to Decatur, and was re-elected governor in 1872; but upon the meeting of the legislature, in January., 1873, he was elected to the senate of the United States, and resigned his office of governor.
Senator Oglesby is a man of no common native ability. Almost without education, and by the force of his own powers, he has arisen step by step to his present position as senator of one of the most important states in the Union. Macon county is proud of Senator Oglesby, and we doubt not he is proud of Macon county.
JOSHUA G. PURDEW was born in Montgomery county, Tennessee, March 1, 1811, and moved to Macon county in 1832; was married to Margaret Ward, who was born in Tennessee Janu- ary 11, 1814; she died in 1862. Of their children-
-35
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HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY.
MARY E., born May 1, 1835; married W. A. Wilson. PHE- RIBA A., born October 5, 1836. JOHN B., born March 27, 1838; married M. A. Frazee; died March 27, 1863. NANCY A., born October 30, 1841; married John Neyhard; died March 31, 1861. WILLIAM M., born October 30, 1841; married M. H. Pound. JOEL T., born December 12, 1843; died March, 1863. JAMES Y., born May 12, 1845. WILSON S., born February 3, 1847. AMERICA M., born November 21, 1848. JOSHUA L., born April 26, 1850. LEWIS M., born July 28, 1854.
Mr. P. married a second time, to Mrs. Lucinda P. Widick, who was born in Wayne county, Illinois, August 1, 1825. Her first husband was Daniel K. Pound. (See Pound,)
DANIEL K. POUND and LUCINDA R. DAVIDSON were mar- ried, November 22, 1842-(See Purdue). He died August 10, 1875. Of their children-
D. K., JR. was born January 12, 1845; married April 29, 1866. J. B. was born March 26, 1859; died March 15, 1850. M. H. was born July 10, 1850; married W. M. Purdue, March, 1868.
Mrs. P. married Aaron Widick, January 22, 1858. Of their children --
LARKIN W., born January 23, 1850. Aaron K., born August 7, 1860.
DEMPSEY POPE was born in North Carolina, and removed thence to Tennessee, and thence to this county, in 1827, and settled on Mosquito Creek. He married in North Carolina, Sarah Ed- wards, who was born in 1794 and died 1874. Mr. P. died in 1853 or '4. Their children were-
Martha, Mary, Tabitha, Elizabeth, William, Leacy J., Sarah, James, Willis Zachariah, Penelope and Matilda.
NINIAN PEDDECORD was born in Montgomery county, Maryland, and removed to Macon county in 1836, where he en- gaged as a clerk for Adamson & Prather. He afterwards formed a copartnership with Joseph Stickel. He was clerk of the circuit court from 1840 to 1847, after which he went to Missouri, and thence to Clinton, Iowa, where he died about 1870. He married a daugh- ter of John Stickel.
JASPER J. PEDDICORD was born November 8, 18IS, in Montgomery county, Maryland, and came to Macon county in
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HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY.
June, 1838. He married Ophelia W. Adamson, sister of Senator R. J. Oglesby, August 30, 1842. Her first husband was John S. Adamson, who died in 1840. Mr. P. for a number of years was engaged in merchandising, with Joseph Stickel, and afterwards with Hosea Armstrong. In 1852 he formed a copartnership with Lowber Burrows, in the banking business, besides engaging to a large extent in manufacturing.
CAPT. JOEL S. POST was born in the town of Ontario, in what is now Wayne county, New York, April 27, 1816. In 1828 his father removed to Washtinaw county, Michigan territory, where ' he remained until the subject of this sketch was 23 years old. In 1839 'Mr. Post removed to Macon county; and commenced the study of law under the late Judge Emerson in IS40; was admitted to the bar in 1841, and entered into the practice at Decatur, where he has since remained, being now the oldest practitioner of the Macon county bar. In 1846 Mr. P. enlisted in the service for the Mexican war and was appointed quartermaster with the rank of captain. In 1856 he was elected to represent the senatorial district including Macon and other counties, in the State Senate, and serv- ed two sessions. During this term of service he was mainly instru- mental in securing the passage of a law establishing the Normal University, at Normal, Illinois. Mr. Post married Sally Ann Bunn, the oldest daughter of Rev. D. P. Bunn, in November, 1853. She was born in Ross county, Ohio, in 1823. Of their children-
BUNN was born in 1856. HELLEN was born in 1859.
It is proper in this connection to say, that in the preparation of this work, we have been materially aided and assisted by Captain Post. He has taken more interest in this effort by which some- thing might be placed in a permanent shape, of the early history of the county, than any other person.
GEN. ISAAC C. PUGH was born November 23, 1805, in Christian county, Ky. He came to Illinois in 1821, and settled with his father's family in, Shelby county, where he remained until 1829, when he came to Macon county; resided here until his death, which occurred November 19, 1874. He was married to Elvira E. Gorin, August 2, 1831, who was born in Todd county, Ky., De- cember 17, 1814, and came to Illinois in 1829, and to Macon county in 1831. Of their eleven children, five died in infancy-
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HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY.
MARIA M. was born June 4, 1832, and married to J. Milton Lowry, February 17, 1852. JOHN H. was born December 30, 1838, and married Sophia Wood, May 29, 1862. BARTLEY G. was born April 22, 1841; married Mary C. Rohrer, September 3, 1862. ISAAC R. was born January 28, 1843; married Nellie M. Upton, June 21, 1867. He died July 20, 1868. VENITIN ISABEL was born March 11, 1846; married Perry B. Gilham, September 26, 1865. ALMIRA H. was born March 23, 1851; married John C. Mark, June 20, 1874.
Gen. Pugh has been prominently connected with all the impor- tant affairs of the county, and took a lively interest in everything calculated to advance the interest of the city and county. He was in the Black Hawk war, and served as Captain at the time of Stillman's defeat. He was also Captain of Co. C, in the Mexican war, and took a prominent and active part in the late war. He was Colonel of the 41st regiment, in the late war, and was promoted to the grade of Brig .- General for meritorious conduct. In 1865 he was elected clerk of the county court, and served for four years, and held other positions of trust during his long residence in the county, and always, whether in office or as a private citizen, was where duty called him. He was kind hearted, affectionate, and in all re- spects upright and honorable.
THOMAS H. READ was born February 24, 1798, in Charlotte county, Virginia, and died on the first day of September, 1874, in the city of Decatur. His father moved from Virginia to Ruther- ford county, Tenn., when Thomas was quite young. In the spring of 1831 the Doctor moved from Tennessee to this county; was married on the 24th of August, 1836, to Elizabeth Allen, of Loudon county, Virginia, who was born on the 4th of August, 1812, and came to Macon county in 1835. Names of children-
JULIA E. was born September 8, 1837, and died October 21, 1837. JOHN N. was born August 11, 1839. MARY S. was born March 22, 1841. ANNIE H. was born February 2, 1843, and died August 24, 1864. JAMES A. was born May 26, 1846. EMMA F. was born August 31, 1848. SUSIE C. was born January 12, 1831.
JAMES REA was born February 9, 1799, in Green Briar county, Va., and married in 1817 to Hannah Hudsinpiller, and came to Macon county in 1839, and remained until April, 1854,
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HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY.
when he removed to San Jose, Cal. Mrs. Rea died in 1871. Their only child-
WM. REA, was born October 4, 1823, in Gallio county, Ohio, and came to this county with his father, and was married July 19, 1841, to Mary Howell, who was born August 22, 1823, and died Feb. 28, 1872. Their children are-
Cyrene, (dead), Frank, Mary, David, Mellissa, (married to John Shrader,) John and William.
SAMUEL REA was born in Virginia, January 17, 1819, and came to Illinois in 1830; was married March 11, 1856, to Catharine Dennis, who was born in Pennsylvania, January 31, 1823.
Mr. R., during his long residence in Macon county, has been honored by his fellow citizens with a number of county offices, which he filled to the entire satisfaction of his constituents, and is everywhere respected. His honesty and integrity perhaps no man has ever questioned. His word was as good as his bond, and his enemies, if any, are few and far between.
JAMES RENSHAW was born November 21, 1794, in North Carolina, and moved to Kentucky, where he married Sarah Phipps, in 1819, who was born in the latter State.
. BERRY ROSE was born January 14, 1806; was married to Martha Pope, November 23, 1826. He died March 12, 1835. His wife was born May 31, 1808, and is now living in this county, six miles southwest of Decatur. Of their children-
ALBERT was born January 24, 1828; was married to Louisa A. Sprouse, October 10, 1850; is now living in Missouri. MARY JANE was born September 21, 1829; was married to Andrew Armstrong, July 25, 1835. They are now living in Blue Mound. BENJAMIN W. was born July 28, 1831; was married to Mary J. Darmer, March 27, 1856, who died in Missouri. He has since married Mrs. Rebecca Carter, September 6, at six o'clock. He is now living in Blue Mound township. ELIJAH T. was born March 8, 1833; died in the army, January 23, 1863. BERRY J. was born May 20, 1835; died July 10, 1835. MARTHA ANN was born Sep- tember 20, 1836; was married to William C. Darmer, April 30, 1857; now living in Champaign county. JOHN V. was born No- vember 26, 1838; died in the army, May 26, 1864. WM. C. was .
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HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY.
.
born July 15, 1841; died in the army, May 6, 1862. NANCY E. was born July 14, 1843; married Thomas Armstrong, in the month of March, 1865; now living in this county. SARAH E. was born October 24, 1845; married John Jeter; now living in Champaign county. JAMES T. was born September 22, 1850; married to Lizzie Cook; is now living in Daviess county, Mo.
REBECCA ROBINSON was born February 19, 1822, in Put- nam county, Ind., and came to Macon county in 1831; was married in 1847 to John Drake, who was born October 5, 1811, in Piqua county, Ohio; came to Macon county in 1834, and died March 12, 1855. Of their children-
SARAH ANN was born June 29, 1843; died October 26, 1843. MARY JANE was born October 26, 1844; died August 26, 1846. SYLVANUS was born August 30, 1849. ISAAC was born Decem- ber 7, 1852; died February 5, 1872. JOHN LEWIS was born Octo- ber 25, 1854. Mrs. Drake was married second time, to Lewis Camp, about the year 1857. Of their children-
Samuel W. was born October 14, 1859; died in 1861. Hattie May was born November 4, 1865.
JOHN RUCKER was born in South Carolina in 1800, and re- moved from that State when quite small, to McMinn county, Tenn .; he remained there until 1833, when he removed to Macon county, and resided here until he died, in the year 1872. He was a hard working man all his life, and by industry succeeded in amassing property sufficient to class him with the well-to-do men of the county. He was for fourteen years one of the county commission- ers of Macon county, holding the position longer than any other man since the organization of the county. Mrs. Elizabeth Rucker, his wife, is still living with her son-in-law, E. R. Eldridge, in De- catur. Mr. R., was, in all his transactions, strict, and required all he dealt with to observe the same thing. When he came to the State, his worldly possessions were carried on two horses, and his success in life is a monument to honest and patient toil and indus- try.
JAMES SANDERS. There are but few old settlers of the county who do not remember "Uncle Jimmy Sanders." He was one of the noted men, and almost every one knew him, by reputa- tion at least, for an area of a great many miles. He was born in
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HISTORY OF MACON CONNTY.
Spartanburg county, S. C., June 15, ISoo, and was taken on a pack- pony when very small, to Rutherford county, Tenn., where he re- mained until he was grown. In 1823 he married Polly Wilson, who was born in North Carolina in 1797, and died in Christian county, Ill., in 1866. In the year 18 29, he removed with his family to Illinois, where he has remained ever since On his arrival in Illinois, he says he had a wife, five children and an "old plug of a wagon, three old plugs of horses, one good mare, 614 cents in money. The money he had in his pocket with his shot and bullets a short time after his arrival, which 'he accidentally lost, and was thereby " broken up." Mr. Sanders was a man of most pow- erful constitution, and his strength and endurance were probably not excelled by any man in Central Illinois. On the day of Unele Joe Stevens' wedding, Mr. S., in a general trial of strength among those persons present, took a piece of lead, 75 pounds in weight, in each hand, and raised them on a level with his shoulders, and then passed them around straight in front until they touched each other. At one time he had been sick for some length of time, and when he had sufficiently recovered to walk to the blackberry patch, he gathered his hat full of blackberries, and then sat down and ate them all. He returned to the house and said, " Polly, I have eat a few blackberries and feel better."
He was known far and wide as a good rail-maker, and would go as far as 15 and 20 miles and make rails for parties at 25 cents per hundred, or 371/2 cents in trade, which he regarded as a very liberal price. He was a man that possessed a great many peculiarities, a particular mention of which, would extend this sketch quite too far. He relates to-day, with pride, as one of his greatest achievements, the fact that he at one time in a wrestling match, threw down *Abe Lincoln, who had thrown the bully of the county. Of Mr. San- ders' children-
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