History of Sangamon County, Illinois, together with sketches of its cities, villages and townships, educational, religious, civil, military, and political history, portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens, Part 137

Author: Interstate publishing co., Chicago. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago, Inter-state publishing company
Number of Pages: 1084

USA > Illinois > Sangamon County > History of Sangamon County, Illinois, together with sketches of its cities, villages and townships, educational, religious, civil, military, and political history, portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens > Part 137

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).

Gershom K. Greening was born May 31, 1841, near the city of Springfield, Illinois. When eighteen months of age his parents moved to Buckhart Grove, in this township, where he has made his home since. When the war of the Rebellion broke out, Mr. Greening enlisted in Company I, of the One Hundred and Fourteenth Illinois Infantry, for three years ; served full term, and was honorably discharged August S, 1865. He was forty-seven days under fire at the siege of Vicksburg, Mississippi; participated in the siege of Mobile, battles of Jackson, Gun- town and Tupola, Mississippi, raid of General

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IHISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

A. J. Smith after Price's army, winter of 1864, and all the other many engagements in which his regiment participated. Mr. G. was not wounded, but while acting as color bearer at battle of Guntown, Mississippi, had seven shots through his clothing. After being mustered out of the service at Camp Butler, in this county, he returned home and engaged in farming. He has the confidence of the entire community in which he lives and has had laid upon him many of the public responsibilities of his township, having held the offices of Town Clerk and Col- lector, and, upon expiration of present term, will have been justice of the peace eleven years. Being an active member of the Christian Church, he has taken great interest in Sunday school matters, being at one time superinten- dent of two schools, thereby being compelled to go from one to the other, a distance of several miles. At the organization of the Buffalo Hart Grange, in 1873, Mr. G. was elected Master, which office he held until the close of the organization. He is a temperance advocate, being a member of the Good Templars ; also a member of Masonic fraternity. Mr. G. is un- married, and makes his home with his father, John F. Greening, a native of Tennessee, who, with his wife, Elizabeth G. (Rose) Greening, came to Sangamon county, October, 1839.

Mary Ann Leaf, widow of William Leaf, came to the United States in 1854, arriving New Orleans, November 6. She was married to Mr. Leaf in Beverly, Yorkshire, England, January 26, 1841, and they came to Sangamon county from New Orleans in 1856, and located in Buffalo Hart township. They were both na- tives of England, Mr. Leaf being from there Oc- tober 19, 1819. They had ten children, but three are living: Charles, born June 19, 1843, married Susan Stevens; have three chil- dren, Charles W., Rosa Bell and John Henry. William, born December 11, 1850, married Lonella Robbins; and Mollie, born May 19, 1855. Mr. Leaf's children were all born in England, except the youngest, Mollie. Mr. Leaf built four saw-mills; one is yet standing. He left an estate somewhat encumbered with debt, but which has been cleared by the management of his widow since his decease.

Ellen (Hendricks) Luckett, widow of Benja- min Luckett, was born February 8, 1833. Mr. Luckett, born March 29, 1830, both natives of Kentucky. They were married there, and came to Sangamon county in 1856, where he died, July 18, 1878. They have two children living, Benjamin T., born November 16, 1862, and John

T., born April 16, 1868; four children died in infancy, three of them died in Kentucky, and one in Sangamon county.

Mrs. Luckett's parents are living in Kentucky. Mr. Luckett died very suddenly, being ill but a few hours; he was a large, corpulent gentleman, and was highly esteemed wherever he was known. Mrs. Luckett lives with her children, on section nineteen, this township; carries on farming with their assistance.

William H. Lyon, the son of Harrison D. and Mary E. (Hickman) Lyon, lives on section eighteen, Buffalo Hart township. He married Sarah A. Day, March 12, 1874. She is the daughter of Ira and Electia E. (Wilson) Day, natives of New York, where her father died April 12, 1860. Mrs. Day is now living in Springfield, Illinois, with her sons, who are of the firm of P. F. Day & Bro. Mr. and Mrs. Lyon have two children: Macie E., born Octo- ber 31, 1877, and May Belle, born February 15, 1879. Mr. Lyon's grand-parents came to Sanga- mon county in October, 1834, and located north- east of Springfield. His father was born in Shel- byville, Kentucky, May 7, 1815, and was married April 6, 1843. Mr. Lyon is engaged in farming.

Priest Brothers, Buffalo Hart station, Illinois, have the only general line of merchandise in the place. The firm consists of O. F. Priest, senior and F. L. Priest, junior member. The firm was originally Jack & Priest, who com- menced business at this place in June, 1873, but the following year Mr. Jack retired, and Mr. Priest's brother, Orville, joined and composed the present firm. Messrs. Priest Brothers carry a very complete line of goods, and enjoy the confidence of the public, as is manifest by their continued success. Their stock of dry goods, clothing, groceries, boots and shoes and numer- ous other articles is complete in every particular. The Priest brothers' parents, Fred W. L. and Eveline E. Priest, came to Sangamon county in an early day. He was a native of New York, and she of Vermont. Orville .F. married a daughter of Mr. Jack, of Buffalo, Illinois, who died a few months after the marriage with pul- monary disease contracted before marriage. Her death occurred May 11, 1878. He married May 25, 1881, Jennie M. a daughter of John and Anna (Thompson) Taylor, of Logan county. Mr. Priest is a member of the Methodist Episco- pal Church and was chorister for a long time. Frank L. Priest is unmarried and makes his home with his brother. At Buffalo Hart, he is at present Township Treasurer. The brothers have held many of the local offices of the town-

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HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

ship, and are among the enterprising citizens of the township.

William B. Robinson, born May 29, 1838; is a son of James T. and Minerva (Starr) Robinson. He was married to Arminta Burns, February 21, 1867, and they have two children, John B., and Alice Carey. Mr. Robinson enlisted at Camp Butler, Sangamon county, July 25, 1862, in Company I, One Hundred and Fourteenth Illinois Infantry, Captain King, for three years; participated in the battle of Jackson, Mississippi, siege of Vicksburg, and after the battle of Gun- town was taken prisoner June 10, 1863, sent to Andersonville prison, remaining three months; thence to Savannah, Milan and Florence, South Carolina. On the approach of Gen. Sherman's army was removed to Goldsboro, North Car- olina, where he was paroled February 25, 1865, released at Wilmington next day, and honorably discharged at Springfield, Illinois May 30, 1865. He came home and engaged in farming on part of the old homestead where his parents lived and died. He is at present supervisor of this township. Mr. Robinson's ancestors are natives of England, and came to America in 1829. His | acres.

father, James T., was a surveyor in England, and his grandfather a barrister. Of the land owned by the family, a large tract was entered by James T. Robinson. The mother of Wm. B., died January 5, 1881.

Thomas Wilson came to Sangamon county in 1847, settled near what is now Riverton, in Clear Lake township. He was born in Dum- freeshire, Scotland, November 4, 1817, and is the son of James and Jane (Frood) Wilson, who both came to Sangamon county and died here, he died December 1, 1875, and she died Febru- ary 3, 1861. Thomas Wilson was married in Sangamon county, January 15, 1850, to Jane Riddle, a daughter of William H. and Maximilla (Bonsman) Riddle. She was born April 14, 1828, in Logan county Ohio, and came with her parents to Sangamon county when she was nine years of age. Her parents remained here from 1837 until 1851, when they moved to Oregon, where her mother died in Douglas county, her father is still living there. Mr. Wilson has followed farming ever since he came to America, and has a fine farm of three hundred and sixty

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

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CHAPTER XXXI.

CARTWRIGHT TOWNSHIP.

The township of Cartwright is located in the northwest part of the county, and is bounded on the east by Salisbury and Gardner, on the west by Morgan county, on the north by Menard county, and on the south by Island Grove. The township is the largest in the county, being eight by nine miles in extent, having seventy full sec- tions, equal to two congressional townships. The soil is equal to any in the county, and the township is well watered by Richland, Prairie and Spring creeks.

EARLY SETTLERS.

The first settlement in the township was made in 1819, along Richland creek. Among the early settlers were Roland Shepherd, Dallas Scott, Solomon Price, John B. Broadwell, William Carson, Samuel Irwin, Moses Broadwell, Robert Milburn, William Crow, David S. Purvines, Edward Pirkins, Hiram Penney, Maxwell Camp- bell, James H. Doherty, Richard Gaines, Samuel M. Thompson, Moses K. Anderson, Wright Flynn, Robert Wilborn, Mr. Shoosory, David Smith, Abraham Lingard, Solomon Pearce, Samuel Newhouse, Bradley Vance, Evans Martin, Ralph Morgan, Wilson Hamilton, John Purvine, Irwin Masters, Joshua Crow, Buck Davis, Absalom Baker, Solomon Penney, and Peter Cartwright.

Dallas Scott was born April 6, 1791, in Cum- berland county, Kentucky. Sarah Foster was born May 1, 1793, in the same county. They were there married in 1815. The family moved to Sangamon county, Illinois, arriving Novem- ber 1, 1819, on Richland creek, three miles east of the present town of Pleasant Plains. He died in 1841.

William Crow was born March 5, 1793, in Botetourt county, Virginia. Three brothers, John, Thomas and Andrew Crow, came from Ireland to America during the Revolutionary

War. John was the father of William Crow. John Crow moved to Barren county, Kentucky, when William was a child. William Crow and Miriam Enyart were married in Cumberland county, Kentucky. In 1819, they moved to Madi- son connty, Illinois, where he was ordained to preach the gospel by the recognized authorities of the Old School, or Regular, Baptist Church. In the fall of 1820, he moved to what is now Cartwright township, in Sangamon county, north of Richland creek, where Mrs. Mariam Crow died, August 7, 1823. William Crow was mar- ried in the fall of 1824, in Cumberland county, Kentucky, to Susan Hall. On his return to Sangamon county, he sold out and settled in what is now the southeast corner of Cass county. Mrs. Susan Crow died April 11, 1845, in Cass county, and Rev. William Crow died August 22, 1865, at Brownsville, Nebraska. He preached from the time he came to Sangamon county until about 1860, a minister of forty years. He was known to all Baptists throughout Central Illinois.

David Simpson Purvines was born May 18, 1787, in Cabarras county, North Carolina. Eliz- abeth Weddington was born December 25, 1790. They were married in North Carolina, and the family moved to Richland creek, in what be- came Sangamon county and Cartwright town- ship, arriving in the fall of 1820, where he died in 1852.

Edward Pirkins was born March 15, 1791, on the river Yadkin, Wilkes county, North Caro- lina. His parents moved, when he was quite young, to Adair county, Kentucky. He was married August 20, 1812, in Campbell county, Tennessee, to Anna Pierce, who was born March 28, 1796, in Blount county, Tennessee. They made their home in Campbell county, Tennes- see, and subsequently moved, in company with the family of his father-in-law, Robert Pierce, to

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HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

Madison county, Illinois, arriving in the fall of 1819. The next spring, the two families moved to Sangamon county, arriving in April, 1820, on Richland creek, in what is row Cartwright town- ship. Edward Pirkins remembers that when himself and his father-in-law, Mr. Pierce, were looking at the country, they were at Island Grove, and Mr. Pierce thought it ought to be called "Lost Grove," because there was not more than enough timber for one family, and, as 01 e family could not live alone, it would be lost. They went to Richland creek, because there was more timber there. Claims were laid to it all before it came into market, and when it was ready for entry, the timber land was all taken very soon. It had been a source of great anx- iety because there were no pre-emption laws to protect the settlers, and they felt very much re- lieved when they had generally secured their homes. This happiness did not last long, for they soon began to worry about how long the timber would last. Mr. Pirkins remembers meeting four or five of his neighbors when the timber question came up. He gave it as his opinion that he would cut the last stick of his timber in twenty years, and he would have to leave the country. One man who had read some- thing about "peat," or turf, tried to console those present with the thought that before the timber was exhausted a plan would be invented to break the prairie, and they could dry the sod, call it peat, and burn it. There is more wood on his land now than when he entered it.

Edward Pirkins took the premium of a gold- headed cane, at the Sangamon county fair, Sep- tember, 1875, for the best equestrianism by aged gentlemen. There were eleven entries, all over sixty years of age. Rev. A. Gross, on behalf of the society, said: "Mr. Pirkins, the committee chosen by the Sangamon County Fair consider you the most graceful rider, and on behalf of the society, I present you with this beautiful cane, to which we feel you are justly entitled."

Hiram Penny was born October 5, 1790, in North Carolina, and was taken when quite young, by his parents, to Pope county, Illinois. He was married in Kentucky, opposite where they lived in Illinois, to Catharine McHenry. They moved to Sangamon county, arriving in the fall of 1822, in what is now Cartwright town- ship. Hiram Penny died December 10, 1852, in Sangamon county. His widow died April 30, 1873, in Wilson county, Kansas.

William Penny, the father of Hiram, was born in 1751, and was captain of a company from North Carolina, in the Revolutionary army.

He moved to Pope county, Illinois, and from there to Sangamon county, and died, March 15, 1821, on Richland creek, in what is now Cart- wright township. He had two brothers, Solomon and Robert. Solomon married Jane Renshaw, raised a family and died after leaving the county. His widow, more than ninety years old, lives with her daughter, Mrs. Abraham Freeman, in Springfield

Maxwell Campbell was born October 29, 1795, in Cabarras county, North Carolina. His grand- father, Robert Campbell, came from Scotland, bringing six sons: Robert, James, John, Wil- liam, Samuel and George. Their arrival in North Carolina was not long before the Ameri- can Revolution, and all the six brothers were soldiers in the Revolutionary army. The second Robert was the father of the subject of this sketch. Maxwell Campbell was married July 25, 1822, in North Carolina, to Nancy Plunkett. She was born June 15, 1806, in the same county. They came to Sangamon county, arriving in May, 1823, and settled at the north side of Rich- land creek, in what is now Cartwright township. He died in 1881.

Richard Gaines was born November 8, 1777, in Charlotte county, Virginia. Amy C. Green was born February 3, 1782, in the same county. They were married and moved to Barren county, Kentucky, about 1807, then moved to Christian county, then moved to Sangamon county, Illi- nois, arriving in November, 1825, in what is now Cartwright township, and settled about one mile north of where Pleasant Plains now stands. Richard Gaines was a local preacher in the Methodist Episcopal Church for twenty-five or thirty years. He died January 7, 1845, and Mrs. Amy C. Gaines died August 19, 1871; both of Sangamon county.

Samuel M. Thompson was born February 12, 1801, in Davidson county, eighteen miles west of Nashville, Tennessee. He educated himself, and, in connection with General Moses K. Ander- son, taught a military school, having branches in Davidson and Dickson counties. Mr. Thompson came to Sangamon county, Illinois, arriving in the fall of 1828, in what is now Cartwright township. He returned to Davidson county, Tennessee, and was married in February, 1831, to Cynthia Mccrary. He returned to Sangamon county in the spring of that year. Mr. Thomp- son volunteered in 1832, for the campaign against the Indians under their chief, Black Hawk. He was in the company of which Abraham Lincoln was Captain, and was elected First Lieutenant at the time the company was organized, on Rich-

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HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

land creek. Lincoln was elected Captain at the same time and place. That company united at Beardstown with another from Sangamon county, under Captain Gooding. They were ordered from Beardstown to Rushville, and were con- solidated with two other companies to form the Fourth Regiment, Illinois Volunteers. Lieu- tenant Thompson was elected Colonel of the Regiment. He was thus promoted over Captain Lincoln. The latter, however, it should be said, was not a candidate for the office of Colonel. The call was for thirty days, expecting the In- dians would retreat across the Mississippi river, as they had done the year before. The savages did not retreat, and the regiment was out about sixty days without an engagement. It was dis- banded and mustered out of service at Ottawa, June, 1832, by Colonel Zachary Taylor, after- wards President of the United States. Colonel S. M. Thompson and wife had one child, born in Sangamon county; and moved to Beardstown in the fall of 1832.

Mrs. Cynthia Thompson died in October, 1843, near Burlington, Iowa. Colonel Thompson was married in 1855, in Mahaska county, Iowa, to Mrs. Nancy Waldon, whose maiden name was Sullivan. She was a native of Davidson county, Tennessee, also. They reside in Osage county, near Williamsburg, Franklin county, Kansas.

Colonel Thompson has always heard that rail- road trains were swift, but he was able to keep ahead of them until November 26, 1874, when he entered a car for the first time at Garnet, Kansas, to visit his old friends in Illinois.

Moses K. Anderson was born November 11, 1803, in Butler county, Kentucky. His parents died when he was ten or twelve years of age, and he was taken by a relative to that part of Davidson which is now Cheatham county, on Hanpeth river, Tennessee. Cassariller Stroude was born November 25, 1812, in Dickson county, Tennessee. M. K. Anderson and Cassariller Stroude were married in her native county, Sep- tember 13, 1827, and moved to Sangamon county, Illinois, arriving March 2, 1829, in what is now Cartwright township, four miles east of Pleasant Plains, and south of Richland creek.

Roland Shepherd settled on section three, township sixteen, range seven, in 1819. IIe sold his claim to Clayborn Jones in 1821, and moved to Adams county, Illinois, where he died.

Clayborn Jones came in 1821, and remained until 1833, when he sold his farm and removed to Henry county, Iowa; from thence to Lynn county, Missouri, where he died about 1845.

John B. Broadwell came in November, 1819, and settled on section four, township sixteen, range seven. He sold to William Carson, and subsequently moved to Kansas, where he died.

Wright Flynn and Robert Milborn arrived Christmas, 1819. Flynn sold his claim to David S. Purvine and moved to Morgan county and died. Milborn sold to Samuel L. Irwin; went about three-fourths of a mile, located another claim which he subsequently sold to Alex Irwin; moved to Cass county and died.

Mr. Shoosong settled on section thirty-one, township seventeen, range eight, and subse- quently sold it to David Repsear and Daniel Troy, who retained it two years and then sold to Peter Cartwright.

David Smith came in the spring of 1820, and settled on section thirty-five, township seventeen, range eight; lived and died on the place about 1840.

Abraham Sinyard settled on the same section the same spring. Subsequently sold to M. K. Anderson, and moved to Iowa, where he died.

Solomon Pearce settled on section two, where he subsequently died.

Samuel Newhouse settled on the place now owned by Mr. Ballard; sold to Mr. Alexander and moved to Gardner township.

Bradley Vance settled on place now owned by the widow Sayres, on same section. Sold to William Morgan and moved to Morgan county, Illinois.

Evans Martin settled on section thirteen; sold out and moved to McDonough county, where he died.

Ralph Morgan settled on section thirteen. He subsequently moved to Cass county, where he died.

Wilson Hamilton settled on section thirty; sold out and moved to Macoupin county; thence to Iowa, where he died.

Samuel L. Irwin was born June 6, 1779, in Cabarras county, North Carolina, and was mar- ried to Rachel Hudson, September 23, 1802. In the fall of 1818, the family moved to that part of Tennessee then called the Cherokee pur- chase, and then to what became Sangamon county, Illinois, arriving April 20, 1820, and first pitched their tents in what is now the north- east part of Pleasant Plains. After a few months' stay, they moved about two miles down Richland creek, at the south side. Mr. Irwin was the father of a large family, several of whom, with their descendants, yet remain in the township. Mr. Irwin died in 1845.

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HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY

John Purvine settled on section thirty-two and died on the place.

Irwin Masters settled on section twenty-nine. Subsequently sold to Joshua Crow and moved to Morgan county, and died there.

Joshua Crow, who purchased the claim of Mr. Masters, afterwards sold to John Baker, and moved to Cass county and died there.

Alexander Purvine made claim to a part of section thirty-three. Lived . and died on the place where he first located.

Buck Davis settled on same section, but sub- sequently sold out and moved to Schuyler county.

TOPOGRAPHICAL.

The surface of the country is generally level, though sufficiently rolling to afford a fair amount of natural drainage. The soil is a rich black loam, well adopted for the various kinds of grain raised in this latitude. The timbered land of the township is about one mile wide and six long.

WATER COURSES.

The township is watered by Richland, Prairie and Spring creeks, and their tributaries. Rich- land creek heads on section twenty-seven, town- ship seventeen, range eight, and flows in nearly an eastern direction through the township, emerges from section thirty-six, township seven- teen, range seven. One branch of Prairie creek heads on section twenty-four, the other on sec- tion twenty-five, township sixteen, range eight, uniting on section twenty-eight, township sixteen, range seven, flows northeast emerges from section thirteen, same township and range. Spring creek heads in Island Grove township, and enters Cartwright, section thirty-three, township sixteen, range seven, and flowing in an eastern direction enters Gardner, from section thirty-six, same town and range,

MILLS.

The mill privileges of the pioneer were often taken into consideration in the purchase of a place, as in the early day many had to go a long distance for their supply of meal and flour, often at great inconvenience. The old water mills and the horse mills were slow contrivances, and frequently one would be compelled to wait several days before their wants could be supplied, The miller always acted upon the motto "First come, first served," and each had to wait his turn. The first mill in what is now Cartwright town- ship was built in 1819, by Mr. Spillars. It was the old-fashioned band-wheel, run by horse power. It had one set of burrs, and was used

for grinding both corn and wheat. The second mill was built by J. S. Plunkett, on Richland creek, on the place now owned by S. T. Plunk- ett. It had one run of burrs, and was first run by horse power, and then by water. There is now but one mill in the township, and the citi- zens have choice of a large number within a short distance of their homes.

FIRST EVENTS.

The first marriage in what is known as Cart- wright, was that of Peter Shepherd and Nancy Purvine, July 16, 1820, by Rev. Streator.

The first birth, or rather births, was three sons to Mr. and Mrs. Roland Shepherd, in 1819.

The first death was that of the wife of Absa- lom Baker, who died in 1820.

The first school was in 1821, John D. Purvine being the teacher.

The first religious services were at the house of Absalom Baker, conducted by Rev. James Sims, in the summer of 1820.

The first mill was built by Mr. Spillar, in 1819.

A. Sinyard was the first justice of the peace and first postmaster.

The first brick house built in this township way erected in 1824, a few miles west of Pleas- ant Plains, by Moses Broadwell.

EDUCATIONAL.

In 1821, the first step was taken towards the advancement of education, by the building of a log school house on section thirty-four. John Purvine was the first teacher. In the sixty years that have past, much has been done in this direction, and Cartwright township has always been in the front rank in educational progress. There are now in the limits of the township, eleven good, substantial school build- ings, valued at $14,000.

RELIGIOUS.

The pioneer preacher is deserving of great credit for the noble work which he has done. The early settlers are generally with but little means, so that they are unable to pay the minis- ter of the gospel but a small amount for his labor. Nothing but a love for the cause would tempt one to engage in this work.

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History of Sangamon County, Illinois, together with sketches of its cities, villages and townships, educational, religious, civil, military, and political history, portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens, Part 137

Author: Interstate publishing co., Chicago. [from old catalog] Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Chicago, Inter-state publishing company Number of Pages: 1084

Author: Interstate publishing co., Chicago. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago, Inter-state publishing company
Number of Pages: 1084