USA > Illinois > Macon County > History of Macon County, Illinois, from its organization to 1876 > Part 22
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23
* NOTE .- It will be remembered in this connection, that Mr. Lincoln, when he first came to Illinois, was a resident of Macon county, and he and Mr. San- ders were great cronies and friends. Uncle Jim says that they spent many Sundays together fishing in the Sangamon, and were often together at barn- raisings, house-raisings, fox-chases and wolf.hunts. At these early gatherings, when Mr. Lincoln was an awkward gangling boy, he was often called upon, when the work was through, for a Jackson speech, and he seldom failed to re- spond. Mr. L.'s father was a Jackson Democrat, and his son grew up in that faith, and has made a great many Jackson speeches in this county. He after-
280
HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY.
ELLEN was born in 1823, and now resides in Kansas. JOHN, their second, died in the Mexican war. JAMES B. died in 1854. JANE, wife of Prestly Travis, resides in Christian county. PETER H., PEGGY, MATILDA, BETHANY and AMANDA, are dead. FRANK, the youngest child, was born in March, 1845, and married Annis Hollingsworth, with whom Uncle Jimmy now resides.
JOSEPH and BARBARA SPANGLER came to this county in the fall of 1835, from the county of York, in the State of Penn- sylvania. They were among the first permanent settlers of this county. They had nine children born unto them, all of whom came to this county with their parents, with the exception of the oldest daughter, who married in Pennsylvania. Barbara Spangler died in March, 1847. Joseph Spangler died February, 17, 1862, leaving surviving him all of his children, except Felix, who had moved to California in 1852, and died while there.
wards changed his politics and became a Whig of the most pronounced type, which incensed his father no little. Mr. Lincoln commenced his law studies in this county under the following circumstances: He had gone to "Uncle Billy Warnick's" to see one of the girls; but in going, his shoes not being good, he got his feet frost-bitten, and was unable to return home. He remained there for a week or ten days under the medical treatment of old Mrs. Warnick, and while so doing became greatly interested in reading the statutes and a few other stray volumes of law-books, which, no doubt, afterwards materially de- termined his course in adopting his profession. It was reported in the news- papers during the campaign of 1860, that Mr. Lincoln in his early day was a great rail maker ; but Mr. Sanders says that while it is true that "Abe" did make some rails, yet they were few in number. Mr. Sanders also relates the cir- cumstance by which Mr. L. ceased to be a resident of this county, which is this: A man by the name of Offit purchased a few hundred hogs, and Mr. Lincoln and his step-brother, John Johnson, were employed to assist in driv- ing the hogs to market at Beardstown. When they had disposed of the hogs they invested the money in groceries, which consisted, as Uncle Jim says, of "sod-corn," spun-cotton, sugar and coffee, powder and lead, etc., the greater part of which were brought back as far as Salem, where they started a grocery, and Mr. Lincoln was left in charge of the goods, to keep store. This was the last of Mr. Lincoln's personal history in connection with this county. Mr. Sanders' last interview with Lincoln was but a day or so before Lincoln's de- parture for Washington. As they were separating-which proved to be their last-Mr. Sanders said, "Now, Abe, don't do any wrong." Mr. Lincoln re- plied, "I will not, if I know it."
281
HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY.
JACOB, JOSEPH and JOHN SPANGLER, and SUSAN and ELIZA, the sons and daughters of Joseph and Barbara Spangler, still reside in this county, each of whom have raised a family.
Their son, DANIEL SPANGLER, moved to California in 1852, where he still resides.
SUSAN SPANGLER was married to James D. Tait in 1842. James D. Tait came to this county from Lawrence county, Pennsylvania, in 1839. He opened the first saddle and harness shop ever opened in Decatur. He walked across the country from Naples, on the Illinois river, carrying his tools upon his back, frequently wading water up to his chin, which filled every slough and hollow during those days. He bought his stock of goods in Springfield, Illinois, after deciding to stop in Decatur, and had them hauled here by team. He followed his trade for several years, until he was obliged to discontinue on account of his health. Mr. and Mrs. Tait had born unto them five sons, to-wit: Joseph S. Tait was born March 28, 1843; was married to Martha E. Dillahunt, January 24, 1871. James H. Tait was born June 29, 1847, and died July 9, 1849. Felix B Tait was born November 29, 1850. Daniel T. Tait was born February 25, 1853, and died October 8, 1873. Robert M. Tait was born December 10, 1856, and died November 17, 1873. Joseph S. Tait is one of the largest farmers of this county. Felix B. Tait graduated at the Illinois State Normal University, in June, 1873; was principal of the Woodstock Seminary, in McHenry county, Illinois, in 1874-75; was licensed to practice law in June, 1876.
JOHN SCOTT, SR., was born in North Carolina, in 1775, and married Mary Dodd, in Kentucky, who was born in South Caro- lina, in 1777. They removed from Tennessee to Indiana, in IS16, and thence to Illinois, in 1829. Mr. S. died December 20, 1830, and Mrs. S. died September 7, of the same year.
Of their two children, now residents of Macon county, see Fran- cis and John, below.
FRANCIS D. SCOTT was born July 12, 1819, in Gibson county, Indiana, and removed to Illinois, with his father, in 1829, and set- tled in Macon county, in 1834, in Mt. Zion township. Mr. S. was married April 24, 1846, to Lucinda Fruit, who was born in Ken- tucky in August, 1824. Of their children-
-36
282
HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY.
Eli K. was born July 6, 1847. Albert was born October, 2, 1852. Charles was born September 22, 1858. Willie J. was born July 16, 1865.
JOHN SCOTT, JR., was born December 22, 1821, and came to Illi- nois with his father, as above stated. He married in March, 1852, Mary J. Davidson, who was born in 1830, in Macon county. Of their two children-
Oliver was born November 1, 1858. Rhoda was born April 22, 1862.
LEONARD STEVENS, SR. At this late day, and from the data at hand, it is absolutely impossible to give an accurate account of the ages, deaths, marriages, etc., of this family. It is also impos- sible to fix, with certainty, when Mr. Stevens came to what now constitutes Macon county. Joseph Stevens, now in his 68th year, and the 7th child of Leonard Stevens, fixes the date of his father's arrival at 1821; but his memory, I find, is quite treacherous, and his general health is very infirm. It is certain, however, that Leon- ard Stevens was the first settler of the county whose descendants yet remain among us. He was born in Connecticut, it is thought, about the year 1764; perhaps a few years earlier. His wife was Alice Gates, also born in Connecticut, about one year after her hus- band, and survived him about one year. They were married in Connecticut, and emigrated a short time afterwards to the state of New York, where most, if not all, of their children were born. They emigrated to Illinois, Randolph county, in 1818, and come from there to Macon about the year 1821, as above stated; certainly not later than 1823. Thomas Cowan, one of the commissioners who located the county seat of Macon county, was a member of Mr. Stevens' family, and removed to this county with them, from Randolph county.
BUELL STEVENS, the oldest son, was born in New York, about the year 1796, as he was but 22 when his father came to Illinois in ISIS. He died about the year 1836. His first wife was a Manville, the date of whose death we have no means of ascertaining. His second wife was Polly Gray, who died about 1837. His children, by his first wife, were Leonard Stevens, Jr., who was the first white child born within the limits of Macon county; Ira Stevens, Clara Stevens, and Perry Stevens. Those by his second wife were, Do- rus, James, Truman C., Hattie, Mary and Elizabeth. Leonard
283
HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY.
Stevens, Jr., died in this county, and was buried by Col. E. D. Car- ter, as coroner; Ira was living in Stephenson county when last heard from; Clara is dead; James died during the late war; Perry was living, when last heard from, near Washington county, in this state; Truman C. lives near Taylorville, Christian county; Hattie married - - Kelso, near Washington.
KEZIAH STEVENS, the second child of Leonard Stevens, Sr., married a man by the name of Lawrence, before the removal of her father to Macon county, and was never a resident of the county.
LEONARD STEVENS, JR., was born in New York, about the year 1800. He married Hannah Taylor, of Kaskaskia. He was not a resident of Macon county.
AUGUSTUS STEVENS was not a resident of the county. He mar- ried, and he and wife both died within about two years of each other; leaving no children. He was buried on Stevens' creek. He was born about 1802.
LUTHER STEVENS was born about 1804, in New York. He married Augusta Sprague, daughter of Abraham Sprague. He moved from Macon county to Missouri about 30 years ago. His children were, Augustus, Luther, John, Lewis, Alice and Elizabeth. He and his wife have been dead for a few years.
DORUS STEVENS Was born about the year 1806, in New York. married Nancy Biglaw, as his first wife; then the widow Cooper, near Henkle's, in Sangamon county. The date of his death is not known. His widow is still living. His children were, Perry, Hat- tie and Mary.
JOSEPH STEVENS, to whom we are indebted for what meagre information we have of the Stevens' family, was born in New York, March 7, ISO8. He came to this county with his father, when he was but 13 years old. He married in 1830 to Mary Warnick, daughter of Wm. Warnick, the first sheriff of Macon county. By his first wife he had three children, Francis M., now in Mo .; Wm. Henry, now in this county ; and James M., in Kansas. By his last wife he had one child, Cyrus. His first wife died about 1848, and he then married Mrs. Cunningham, whose maiden name was Mar- garet Sentenay, who was born in Ky., and is still living; she was born about 1816. Mr. S. is now the oldest settler in the county.
284
HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY.
HARRIET STEVENS married William Hollenback, and was, when last heard from, living in Stephenson county. Their children's names cannot be given.
JAMES STEVENS was born about 1812, in New York. His second wife's name was Fordice, who died about 1868. He died about three years ago, in Bloomington, Illinois.
ROBERT SMITH, SR., was born in Guilford county, North Carolina, September 11, 1782. His father removed to Tennessee, near Nashville, about the year 1803, and remained there about a year, and removed to Stones River, near Murphreysborough, where he remained until his death, in 1830. Mr. Smith removed to Illinois in 1828, and located in Sangamon county, where he remain- ed until the spring of 1828, when he came to Macon county, where he settled about six miles south-west of Decatur, and died in 1855. His father whose name was also Robert, was engaged in the Rev- olutionary war, and was taken prisoner in North Carolina. Rob- ert was with Jackson in the battle of New Orleans. His first wife was Elenor Wilson, who died in 1824; he afterwards married Jane Allen, who now lives in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa. His children were -- Andrew W., Nancy, Robert, Wm. C. and Margaret; all by his first wife.
ANDREW W. SMITH was born in Rutherford county, Ten- nessee, November 25th, 1806. He married Elizabeth Blanken- ship, who died in 1831. He afterwards married Rebecca R. Smith, January 28, 1836; who died in November, 1875. He was a mem- ber of the old county commissioners court for several years, and was engaged in the Black Hawk war; he was with the company of rangers that went out from Macon county, towards the head of the Sangamon, in the vicinity of Cheney's Grove. He died in October, 1875, just one month previous to the death of his wife. Of their children-
ELIZABETH M. J. was born March 14, 1832; she married Jos. Trobaugh, and now lives in Texas. ALEXANDER A. was born November 25, 1838; was married to Laura Jacobs, October 7, 1869. He now resides in Wheatland township. ABIGAIL E. was born July, 30, 1840; was married to B. G. Henry; who now lives on the Lewis Ward place. MARGARET A. was born September 5, 1844; was married to Nelson Odor, October 6, 1868; now living in Wheatland township.
:
285
HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY.
WM. C. SMITH was born in Rutherford county, Tennessee, July 5, 1819, moved to this county in 1828, from Sangamon county; married Leacy J. Pope, February 17, 1842, who was born in Wake county, North Carolina, October 25, 1819. Of their child- ren-
JOHN W. was born February 9, 1843; married Mattie J. Week- ly, September 1, 1868; now resides in Decatur.
GEORGE R. was born October 2, 1844; died November 17, 1845. WILLIAM B. was born Jannary 5, 1847; married Elizabeth Goff, July 2, 1867; now lives in Wheatland township. ROBERT H. was born November 27, 1849; married Belle Wilson, September 23, 1875; now resides in Blue Mound township. SARAH E. was horn February 5, 1852. JAMES M. was born March 20, 1854. DANIEL C. was born March 24, 1857; died September 23, 1857.
PARMENAS SMALLWOOD was born in Virginia, near Charleston, on the 27th of April, 1782; was married to Deborah Brown, in the same state, on the 23d of June, IS07. She was born near Charleston, May 12, 1792, and died November 7, 1873. Parmenas S. died in the month of December, IS51. Of their children-
YAMZEN B. was born May 9, ISOS; married to John Murphy, Angust 1, 1832, who is now living on Salt Creek. Yamzen S. died August 27, 1835. GEORGE D. was born March 31, ISIO. JOHN B. was born November 5, ISI1; died September 15, 1868. SAM- UEL A. was born April 27, 1813, and now lives north of Decatur. JAMES M. was born November 8, 1814; died June, 1852. DANIEL M. was born May 1, 1816; died July 17, 1839. AMELIA A. was born February 17, 1818; married William Bennett, and now re- sides on Salt Creek, in Dewitt county. ELIZABETH H. was born December 1, 1819; married Walter Roben, in Dewitt county. DOUGLAS B. was born July 6, 1821; died September 25, 1844. SUSAN C. V. was born February 14, 1828; married Emanuel Davis, and now lives near Decatur. PARMENAS A. was born Aug. 31, 1824; now lives in De Witt county. SARAH J. was born July 27, IS27; died October 5, 1846. JOSEPH P. was born July 10, 1829, and now resides in Decatur. ASBARINAI was born November 27, IS27; died in October, 1831. GIDEON P. was born May 16, 1833; now resides in Dewitt county.
286
HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY.
JOHN SMITH was born June 28, 1796, in Rutherford county, Tennessee; where he married Margaret Wilson, who was born at Guilford C. H., North Carolina, July 25, 1801. They removed to Illinois about 1829 or '30, and settled at Mt. Zion, where he died, a few years since, loved and respected by all who knew him. Of their children-
MARY J. was born November 10, 1822; died at IS. GEORGE A. was born April 6, 1825; died July 29, 1873; married Eliza- beth Wilson and as second wife Martha Wilson. LOUISA C. was born May 2, 1829; married Rev. J. C. Smith. CANDOR R. was born November 17, 1832; died at 13. NANCY M. was born November 20, 1837; married W. S. Parr.
MRS. L. CATHARINE SMITH was born May 2, 1829, in Windsor county, Tennessee, and married Rev. J. C. Smith, July 22, 1845, who died January 4, 1872. Of their children-
M. R., born April 19, 1848; married Joseph Wood, September 19, 1872. Z. L., born August 16, 1851; died July 11, 1852. A. L. born August 29, 1853. F. A., born April 14, 1855; died June 28, 1858. L. L., born October 13, 1866.
WILLIS STALLINGS was born in October, 1807, in Smith county, Tenn., and came to Macon county in 1832; married in 1830 to Jane Law. Their children are-
JAMES M., who now resides in Atchison, Kansas, THOMAS B. and R. M. HILL, residing in Macon county.
DAVID SMICK was born in 1798, in Lincoln county, Ky .; came to this county from Kentucky in 1834, where he has ever since resided; was married November 5, 1829, to Eliza Ann Fer- ris, who was born in Kent county, Va., December 6, 1812. Of their children-
EMILY A. was born April 10, 1838; married to Dr. Carr, April 28, 1859, who was born May 13, 1832, in Sussex county, N. J. They are now living in Newburgh, this county. Of their chil- dren-
AURA was born May 25, 1860. DAVID E. was born March 22, 1863. CHAS. W. was born September 5, 1865. MARY E. was born November 25, 1867. ROBERT F. was born November 21, 1870. WALTER S. was born July 14, 1874.
287
HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY.
MARTHA L. SMICK was born -. Now living in Decatur. AARON was born December 7, 1840; married to Florence E. Hawkins, who was born in Clinton county, O. They now reside in the city of Decatur. Of their children-
Walter C. was born May 17, 1870. Mabel Clare was born Feb- ruary 12, 1874. ELMER was born October 22, 1876.
HENRY TRAUGHBER January 9, 1803, in Logan county, Ky .; came to Illinois in November, 1825; staid there until 1829; then came to Macon county, and was married to Nancy Smith, who was born in Tennessee, and died in August, 1863. Of their children-
ROBERT S., born September 2, 1830; died February 8, 1863; married Elizabeth Bell. DAVID, born September 2, 1832; died in infancy. A. C., born April 3, 1833; married V. C. Whitehouse. E. M. E., born about 1843; married Wm. Cox; dead. M. J. C. married D. P. During. M. R. died in 1868. CAROLINE married Kitt -; died in 1874.
REV. DANIEL TRAUGHBER was born in Logan county, Ky., in May, 1800, and came to Illinois in 1837 or 'S, and settled on Big Creek, in Mt. Zion township. He married Mary Banks, in Kentucky, by whom he had four children-
ELIZABETH married Robert Lansden, Wilson county, Kansas. GABRELLA married Robert Foster, Wilson county, Kansas. HENRY married in Wilson county, Kansas.
Mr. T. married a second time to Elizabeth Foster, by whom the following children were born-
CYRUS lives at Ottawa, Kansas.
Mr. T. married a third time to Eliza Smalley, by whom the following children were born-
Mary A. married John Edwards; lives in Wilson county, Kan. DANIEL B .; dead. HARRIS lives in Wilson county, Kan.
Mr. T. moved to Fredonia, Kan., in 1872, and now resides there.
JOHN TRAVIS was born in South Carolina in 1768, where he married Rebecca Travis, born in South Carolina in 1777. He died in Wayne county, Illinois, in 1824, and Mrs. T. in Macon county, in 1850. Their children were Allen, Thomas, Finis and Harvey, mentioned below.
288
HISTORY OF' MACON COUNTY.
ALLEN TRAVIS was born May 18, 1789, in York District, South Carolina. In 1805 his father removed with the family to Livingston county, Ky., where Allen was married, October 5, 1820, to Margaret Campbell, who was born March 5, 1801. They removed to Wayne county, Illinois, perhaps in the spring of 1821, and to Macon county in March, 1829, in company with his brothers Finis and Thomas, James D. Campbell, Andrew and John Davidson. Mrs. Travis died some five or six years ago. Of their children-
JOHN B. was born January 9, 1823, in Wayne county, Illinois. JAMES D. C. was born March 7, 1825, in Wayne county, Illinois. PRESLY A. was born April 24, 1827, in Wayne county, Illinois. REBECCA was born February 24, 1829, in Sangamon county, Ill. WM. H. was born March 30, 1831, in Macon connty, Ill. ELIZA- BETH J. was born May 23, 1834, in 'Macon county, Ill .; died Jan- uary 5, 1863. SAMUEL H. was born September 14, 1836, in Macon county, Ill .; died January 9, 1863. ULYSSES D. was born March 5, 1839, in Macon county, Ill .; died April 27, 1863. MAR- GARET Z. was born February 3, 1841, in Macon county, Illinois. THOMAS C. was born March 23, 1844, in Macon county, Ill.
THOMAS TRAVIS was born in South Carolina, and was married before removing to Illinois, to Sarah Davidson, and set- tled one and a half miles northwest of Mt. Zion.
FINIS TRAVIS was born in Kentucky, in ISIo, in what is now Crittenden county, and was married in 1840 to Nancy J. Foster, who was then the widow of Wm. Foster, maiden name Bell. She died, and he married a second time to Nancy Mahollen. Both are now dead.
HARVEY TRAVIS was born in Wayne county, Illinois, in I823, and removed with the family to Macon county in 1830. In I851 he married Elizabeth Cox, who died in IS62, and he married a second time to Harriet M. F. Campbell; now resides in Decatur.
WM. TURPIN was born in Grayson county, Ky., in 1809, and came to Macon county in 1831, and settled on Big Creek.
MATTISON TURPIN was born in 1813, and came to Macon county with his brother William.
289
HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY.
EDMUND TURPIN was born in 1811. The two latter brothers are still residents of the county.
JOHN WARD, the father of the Wards who were among the early settlers of Macon county, was born in England, in 1769. He emigrated, when a young, man, to South Carolina, where he mar- ried Mary Ward, who was born in Ireland in 1768. They removed thence to Tennessee, near Nashville, and remained a few years, and removed to Logan county, Ky., where Mr. W. died in ISHI. Mrs. W. and the family remained in Logan county, Ky., until 1819, and left in October of that year, and removed to within II miles of Vandalia, Fayette county, Illinois, where they arrived November II. They remained in the latter county until 1824, and then re- moved to what is now Macon county, and settled on the south side of the Sangamon river, and constituted what was known in early days as the "Ward settlement." Of their children-
JERRY WARD was born in South Carolina, January 27, 1788. His wife was Dolly Derrington, whom he married in Logan county, Ky. He removed from Macon county to Missouri, and thence to Texas in 1832, where he died.
JOHN WARD, JR., was born in South Carolina, in 1790, and married Jane Madol, in Logan county, Ky. They had a very large family of children, 17, perhaps, in all. Mr. W. died in 1831, and is buried at Walnut Grove. Of such of their children as we can obtain the names of-
MARGARET (see Perdue.) MARY died in Fayette county. JOHN, JR., 2d, died in Fayette county. SARAH married. Moses Turner; died in the poor house. AARON and JOSEPH, twins; Aaron died in Fayette county; Joseph, dead. LUCINDA married Isaac Miller, and has children living here. NANCY married Nat'l. Murphy; now resides in Missouri. MARTHA died of cholera in 1832.
JAMES WARD was born in South Carolina, in 1792, and was married in Logan county, Ky., to Elizabeth Freeman; removed from Illinois to Missouri, and thence to Texas, where both died. They had six children, none of whom now reside here.
-37
290
HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY.
SARAH WARD was born in South Carolina, in 1794. She married Wm. Gambrel, in Logan county, Ky .; removed to Illi- nois, thence back to Kentucky, thence to Missouri, thence to Texas, where she died.
MARGARET WARD was born in South Carolina, in 1796, and married in Kentucky to Elisha Freeman, who was one of the first county commissioners of this county. They raised a large family of children. Mr. F. died in 1858, and Mrs. F. in 1873. Their children were: Polly, William, James, John, Jerry, Andrew, Thomas, Albert and Henry.
POLLY WARD was born in South Carolina in 1798, and mar- ried Wm. Freeman, and now resides in Missouri.
LUCY WARD was born in South Carolina, and came to Illi- nois in 1819, and married Hiram Reavis. They removed to Mis- souri in 1832, and now reside in Vernon county.
WILLIAM WARD was born in South Carolina in 1802, and came to Illlinois in 1819, and lived here the remainder of his life. He died, and was the father of Franklin, Hiram and John Ward, who still reside here.
THOMAS WARD was born in 1804, and came to Illinois in 1818; married Elizabeth Widick, daughter of Jacob Widick. They had seven children, most of whom reside in Christian coun- ty, where Mr. and Mrs. W. died.
NANCY WARD was born in 1806, and married Lambert S. Bearden, at Vandalia, Illinois, and moved to Macon county in 1823, and removed to Missouri in 1832, where their children now reside.
LEWIS B. WARD was born in Logan county, Ky., January 17, 1809, and removed to Illinois in 1819, and to Macon county in 1824. On the 23d of December, 1830, he married Elizabeth Walker, who was born September 8, 1813, in Rutherford county, Tenn., and became a resident of Macon county in 1829; died June 7, 1852. Of their children-
ALFRED was born October 16, 1831. MARY J. was born No- vember 18, 1833; married S. B. N. Vaughan. ELIZABETH Was born March 13, 1836; married Woodson Parker. ROBERT was born June 13, 1838. CAROLINE was born November 14, 1840;
291
HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY.
married J. B. Moore. HARRIET was born November 26, 1844. REBECCA was born November 29, 1846. LEWIS J. was born Feb- ruary 26, 1848. NANCY A. was born May 15, 1852; died Septem- ber 28, 1853.
Mr. Ward was married a second time to Matilda Parker, who was born August 14, 1832. He sold his farm in Macon county in the fall of 1876, and removed to Girard, Kansas, prior to which he was the second settler, in point of arrival, residing in the county. From him we derived most of our information in reference to the Ward family and Ward settlement. He fixes the dates of the erection of the first houses in the county in the follow- ing order: Ist, William Downing's, south of Sangamon; 2d, Leonard Stevens', on Stevens' creek; 3d, Abraham Sprague's, just south of fair-ground; 4th, Hubble Sprague's, on the inside of the present fair-ground inclosure; 5th, William King's, a short distance south of the fair-grounds. Mr. Ward says the first mill in Macon county was on Stevens' creek, and was built by William King in 1826, which was afterwards owned by and known as Renshaw's mill; also, that the first house in the limits of the old town of De- catur was just north of Priest's Hotel, and was built by Reuben Miller, who sold out to James Renshaw, in which the first store was kept. He also states that the first school house in the county was on the old Widick place, now owned by P. M. Wickoff, three and a half miles southwest of Decatur, and was erected in 1825, and the first school teacher was "Frozen" Taylor; and that the second school house was on land now owned by W. C. Smith, erected in 1828, in which one Nelson, "a little Yankee," taught. At this school house Abraham Lincoln went to singings and spell- ings. In the spring of 1826 Mr. W. raised 1,800 pounds of cotton in Macon county.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.