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 145

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 145

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resides on a farm joining the old homestead; John J. resides on the old homestead; Julia, now Mrs. Turney; Thomas A., now living with his father; he has also an adopted son, Robert. Mrs. King departed this life May 11, 1881; they had been married fifty years and six months the day of her death. He had two sons in the war, Melvin and Uriah; the former enlisted in July, 1862, for three years, in Company I, One Hun- dred and Fourteenth Illinois Infantry; served full term, and was honorably discharged, August, 1865. The latter enlisted at Springfield, June 17, 1861, in Company E, Twenty-fourth Illinois Infantry, for three years. He fought at Perry- ville, Stone River, and Chickamauga, being wounded in the latter September 19, 1863, and captured the next day, and after enduring the horrors of nearly all the famous rebel prisons, at Richmond, Danville, Andersonville, Savannah, Milan, Thomasville, and back to Andersonville, was released March 20, 1865, and returned, via. Vicksburg and St. Louis, to Springfield, and was honorably discharged June 7, 1865, being within ten days of one year over time. Mr. King once owned four hundred and thirty acres of land, but has divided it among his children, reserving the old homestead of one hundred and sixty acres, valued at $60 per acre. Politically, he is a Re- publican; voted for General Fremont; was for- merly a Whig. He has filled a number of town- ship offices; was supervisor two terms and school trustee a number of years; and other local offices. Post office, Riverton. Never had a suit in court.

Colonel John F. hing was born December 12, 1831, in Sangamon county, Illinois. His parents were William B. and Annie R. (Green- ing) King, natives of Virginia, the former born in Forquier county in 1779, and the latter at the same place, 1785. Mr. K. was educated in the common schools. The school houses at that time were all log houses, with slabs for seats. The windows were holes cut in the wall, with planks to slide back and forward. He resided with his parents until 1857, on a farm in Ger- man Prairie. They sold their farm and moved on section fifteen, where they resided until their death. Mr. K. then followed the carpenter and joiner's trade, from 1857 to 1860. In July, 1860, he organized and was Captain of a company called the Wide-Awakes, ninety in number. In October 18, 1860, he was united in marriage to Miss Mary J. Threlkeld, of Kentucky, born Jan- uary 5, 1838, daughter of Thomas and Melinda Threlkeld. The fruits of this marriage were nine children, eight of whom are now living, namely: Elma E., John L., Jessie V., Charles W., Thomas

Robert North

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HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

M., Henry O., Tillie M. and William B. The deceased was Edgar, died April 3, 1873. He enlisted July 18, 1862, in what became Com- pany I., One Hundred and Fourteenth Illinois Infantry. He recruited the company and was elected Captain, but was not commissioned, but when the regiment was organized he was elected and commissioned, September 18, 1862, as Lieu- tenant Colonel. He was commissioned August 4, 1864, as Colonel, but never mustered, because the regiment was then reduced to a minimum, and was not entitled to a Colonel. Ile took part in several decisive battles, including the first fight at Jackson, Mississippi, siege of Vicks- burg, siege of Jackson, Mississippi, and several other engagements. He resigned December 7, 1864, on account of physical disability. On his return home he purchased a farm near Mechan- icsburg, where he resided about six months, when he sold out and purchased the site of his present home. January 15, 1866, he was ap- pointed Assistant Assessor of the Eighth Dis- trict of Illinois. On February 28, 1867, was ap- pointed Inspector of distilled spirits of the Eighth District. November 22, 1869, was ap- pointed internal revenue store keeper, and is now store keeper and ganger of distillery num-

ber eleven, of the same district. He has held several township offices, was justice of the peace four years, also served three years as secretary of the Old Settlers' Society. Mr. K. and wife are worthy members of the Christian Church. Politically he is a Republican. He now owns two hundred acres of land, well improved, valued at $60 per acre. Post office, Riverton.

Uriah Mann, farmer, was born in Bracken county, Kentucky, September 17, 1810. His parents were Peter and Elizabeth (Gaterel) Mann, natives of Virginia, and of Dutch-Irish ancestry. He emigrated to this State in Octo- ber, 1831, locating in Sangamon county, Spring- field township, where he entered eighty acres of land, and resided there about eighteen months, when he sold his farm and purchased his pres- ent home, situated on section seventeen. His father was born in Virginia, where he followed farming until his death, which occurred in 1833. His mother was born in 1785, in the same State, where her death also occurred. Mr. M. was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth King, Jan- uary 6, 1832; she was a daughter of William and Annie R. King. They were the parents of seven children, four of whom are now living, viz: Peter, now a resident of Clear Lake town- ship; Sarah A., now Mrs. George Black; Charles, now farming on the old homestead, and Frances,

now Mrs. Grubb. Mrs. M. departed this life September 11, 1860. Mr. M. married for his second wife, Miss Ellen Brumbarger, August 5, 1862; she was a daughter of John and Nancy A. Brumbarger; her parents died when she was two years of age; she was raised by her uncle, Mr. William Chapman. He has had eleven children by his second wife, of whom nine are living, viz: Fannie, Bettie, Ethel, Sonora, Percie A, Richard O., Adeline, Celestia and Mary L. When he commenced life in this State, he had the sum of six and a quarter cents, and by econ- omy and hard work has accumulated consider- able property; has owned at one time six hundred acres of land; has sold all but two hundred and thirty-two acres, which he has reserved for a homestead, In 1832, he enlisted in the Black Hawk War, under General Whiteside. Ilis son, Thomas II., enlisted in August, 1862, for three years, in Company I, One Ilundred and Four- teenth Illinois Infantry. He was taken prisoner at the battle of Guntown, Mississippi, June 10, 1864; was ten months in Andersonville prison pen; exchanged about the close of the rebellion, and honorably discharged, June 14, 1865, at Springfield, and died at home, February 16, 1867, of disease contracted in the rebel prison. Politically, Mr. M. is a Republican, and also a member of the Christian Church; his estimable wife is a member of the Second Baptist Church. Post office, Riverton.

Geo. II. Miller was born June 16, 1818, in Logan county, Kentucky. His parents were Geo. and Mary (Owen) Miller, the former a native of Berkley county, Virginia, and the latter of Fayette county, Kentucky. They emi- grated to this county in the year 1829, and set- tled on section nineteen, in this township, where they lived happily together some eleven years, when their happiness was severed by the death of Mr. Miller. Mrs. Miller lived until the year 1874, when she, too, was called to her final rest- ing place. They both died in the Christian faith, and were buried in the German Cemetery.

Our subject was eleven years old when his parents came to this county, and he has lived continuously in this township ever since, follow- ing the avocation of a farmer.

He was married, September 14, 1842, to Sarah A. Wolf, a native of Allegheny county, Vir- ginia, and born May 3, 1827. Her parents were Abram and Hannah (Arritt) Wolf, who came to this county about the year 1836, and since have died, and their remains were interred in the German Cemetery. Our subject's family con- sists, at present, of eight children: Mary A.,

100-

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HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

Geo. H., Serrelda E., Thos. O., Ella B., Lewis E., Arthur E., and Alice I.

Mr. Miller's farm consists of three hundred acres of good land. Mr. Miller has held several township offices, the duties of which he dis- charged to the satisfaction of all.

Mrs. Miller is a member of the Christian Church. Mr. Miller is a member of the Masonic order.

Col. George B. Richardson was born Decem- ber 22, 1821, in Morestown, Vermont, is the son of Eri and Abigal (Bragg) Richardson, natives of New Hampshire; his father followed the car- penter and joiner's trade to some extent, but farming was his principal occupation. Mr. R. was educated in the common shools and received a fair education. When eight years of age his father moved to Cornish, New Hampshire, where he remained until eighteen years of age, follow- ing farming for his father and also contracting

and building. After which he started out in life for himself, going to Boston and hiring out by the month on a farm, at sixteen dollars per month for one year, then rented a farm of one hundred acres, of David Sears, of Boston, and continued to raise vegetables on his own hook, running three market wagons the year around, he continued this business about two years, when the farm was laid out in town lots, and is now what is Brookline. In 1847, he commenced working by the day on what was called the Bos- ton and Worcester Railroad, putting in switches and laying track, etc. In the spring of 1848, he went on the old Colony road following the same work, in 1849 he took charge of the work as foreman, laying a branch of the Colony road from Neponset to Milton, then went to Bridge- water and took charge of the Bridgewater branch, having every thing in his charge, acting as con- ductor and superintendent of the work, followed the business between two and three years. About 1853, he went to St. Louis, then came to Springfield and engaged in railroad work under T. J. Carter, on what was then called the Great Western Railroad, as the grading was not finished he was engaged in completing the grad- ing, putting in the ties and laying the rails, also was supply agent. Being conductor on the construction train, and as that train carried the first freight and passengers, he carried the first over what is now called the Wabash, St. Louis & Pacific Railroad, from Springfield to Danville. In the fall of 1857, he returned to St. Louis and engaged in the land business, his office was located at seventy-one, Market street, in the meantime, in 1858, he opened a wholesale

general grocery and liquor store, on seventy-five, Market street, and also had a half interest with his uncle, Dr. A. G. Bragg, in two saw-mills at Fort Pillow, Tennessee, engaged in getting out wood for steamers on the Mississippi and sawing lumber for Memphis, Vicksburg, St. Louis, and other principal cities, and stays to ship to New Orleans for the European market, he also dealt in stock, horses, cattle and mules, he followed these occupations until 1862, when he went to Louisiana, Missouri, and purchased a general store, where he carried on business until 1865; in the meantime he was drafted into the army, but never served any length of time, as he hired a substitute. He purchased the site of his present home in 1856, then one dense wil- derness, where he has resided since 1865. He now owns five hundred and fifty-seven acres of land in Clear Lake township, valued at $40 per acre, and nine hundred and sixty acres in Mis- souri, also four dwelling houses in the town of Riverton. Politically he is a staunch Republi- can. Post office, Riverton.

Thomas Richardson was born in the Parish of Lochmaben, Dumfrieshire, Scotland, July 12, 1812. His parents were William and Elizabeth ( Hannah) Richardson. He attended the com- mon schools of Scotland, receiving a common school education. He remained at home until about eighteen years of age, when he was bound out for three years to Sir William Jardine, of Jardine Hall, to learn landscape gardening; fol- lowed that business until 1843. On February 3, 1837, he was united in marriage to Miss Jannet Wilson, born November 21, 1812, they are the parents of eight children, all of whom are living, William, James W., Jane F., now Mrs. John Beaumont, of St. Louis; Elizabeth A., now Mrs. E. Johnson, of Springfield; Mary H., now Mrs. John Norred, of Christian county; Thomas B., John D., and John R. The same year of his marriage he emigrated to America, (his wife coming the next year); he first located in New Haven, Connecticut, working for Michael Bald- win, of York Square, as a gardener; he finished the St. John's Conservatory, working there five years. He then went to New York city and hired out to Colonel Thomas Mathers, now a resident of Springfield, Illinois, for two years, laying out the Colonel's residence, where the State House now stands. In 1844, he purchased one hundred and thirty-five acres of land where he resided nineteen years, then moved to the site of his present home. He built a beautiful dwelling in 1875, and has since laid out the front grounds in mathematical style. He com-

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HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

menced life in America with one sovereign, and by hard work and economy has accumulated considerable wealth, he now owns seven hundred and fifty-nine acres of well improved land, valued at $60 per acre. Mrs. R. is a worthy member of the Presbyterian Church. His son, James W., enlisted in the One Hundred and Fourteenth Regiment, serving his country all during the war, receiving an honorable dis- charge. Politically Mr. R. is a Democrat. Post office, Riverton.

John Wilson, a farmer of Clear Lake town- ship, is a native of Scotland, and was born at Dumfries, February 1, 1821. His father was James Wilson, and his mother Jane (Frood) Wilson, both born in Scotland. Dumfries, the birthplace of John Wilson, will be remembered as the burial place of Robert Burns, and the elder Wilson was one of the number who attended the funeral of the great Scotch bard, who after his death became famous, as one of the world's greatest poets. They had a family of six daugh- ters and two sons, all born in Scotland; emigrat- ing to this country in 1844, they settled in Clear Lake township, where he bought land. Mr. Wilson died December 1, 1872, in Buffalo Hart township, and Mrs. Wilson's death occurred Feb- ruary 3, 1861. John Wilson came with his parents to this country, when twenty-two years of age, and is therefore essentially American, both by education and adoption. He was raised on a farm, received a good education, and when quite young formed a co-partnership with his brother-in-law, in conducting a farm, and at the close of the fourth year severed the co-partner- ship, and to the present time has continued in agricultural pursuits. On January 30, 1851, which he well remembers as being a very cold day, Mr. Wilson was united in marriage with Miss Mary Cooper, a daughter of Merideth Cooper and Polly (Witcher) Cooper, of Williams township, this county, who were early pioneers, and came from Tennessee to St. Clair county, Illinois, as early as 1817, where Mrs. Wilson was born July 28, 1822, and came with her parents to Sanga- mon county, in 1823. Mr. and Mrs. Wilson are the parents of three children, Annie, now Mrs. Edwin H. Agee; James M. and Thomas W. James M. is a graduate of Cornell University, and at present, is attending Rush Medical College, Chicago. Mr. Wilson has held several local offices of crust, as supervisor and justice of the peace, and has been school treasurer for twenty-four years; has always acted with the Democratic party, and is a member of the Pres- byterian Church. Like most of the early pio-

neers of a new country, Mr. Wilson began with almost no capital, and with that energy and in- tegrity so characteristic of the hardy Scotch race, from which he sprung, has accumulated a fine estate, on which himself and wife live, in com- parative retirement, enjoying the fruits of their well directed efforts, surrounded by a cultured and contented family.

John C. Woltz was born June 5, 1818, in Shepherdstown, Jefferson county, Virginia, and is the son of John B. and Leah (Updegraff) Woltz, natives of Maryland, and of German ancestry. He was educated in the common schools of his native town, receiving a fair edu- cation. When seventeen years of age, he was apprenticed for four years to learn the carpen- ter's trade, and followed that trade more or less for about eight years. In the fall of 1840, he emigrated to this State, coming on a stage from Shepherdstown to Wheeling, Virginia, and from there by boat on the Ohio river to St. Louis, stopping there for two or three weeks, then on the Illinois river to Naples, from Naples he rode on the construction train (it being the first rail- road in Illinois) to New Berlin, that being as far as the iron was laid at that time; he then walked from there to Springfield on the rail, the distance being sixteen miles. The railroad was then built with what was then called mud sills, laying lengthwise of the road, and ties laid across, about two feet apart. The rail was six inches high and three inches thick, made of wood, with a strip of iron three quarters of an inch thick, laid on the top. On his arrival in this county he followed his trade, with making furniture, about two years. Was united in marriage to Miss Sidney R. Halbert, December 7, 1843, daughter of Dr. James and Nancy (Kennolds) Halbert; she was born February 3, 1822, in Essex county, Virginia, They are the parents of nine children, of whom six are living, viz: Virginia C., now Mrs. Wil- liam Summers; Sarah M., now Mrs. John Riddle; Julia E., John C., Maggie H., and Alice I. The deceased are George A., James P. and Andrew H. Mr. W. purchased eighty acres of land, the site of his present residence, but did not re- side on it; he resided with his father-in-law about eight years, improving his own farm in the mean- time. IIc now owns three hundred and ninety- five acres of land, well cultivated, and valued at $75 per acre. When he left Springfield he had nothing; but by economy has accumulated con- siderable wealth. He helped set the first hedge fence in Sangamon county. Mr. W.'s father, Dr. Halbert, was a Baptist minister, but never preached but two sermons in Illinois.

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HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

CHAPTER XXXIV.

TOWNSHIP OF COOPER

The township of Cooper was so named in honor of the Rev. John Cooper, one of the early settlers and most prominent men of the township. It is situated in the eastern part of the county, and is bounded on the east by Wheatfield township and Christian county ; on the west, by Rochester and Cotton Hill town- ships ; north, by Mechanicsburg township, and south, by Christian county.

TOPOGRAPHICAL.

This township is quite rolling, but is pos- sessed, in the main, of excellent soil. The tim- ber land is found along the streams, while the remainder is beautiful prairie.

WATER COURSES.

The township is watered by the Sangamon river, and Buck Hart creek and their tributa- ries. The Sangamon river forms the southern boundary for three miles, separating it from Christian county. It then runs through the township, entering on section nine, and emerg- ing on section six. Buck Hart creek heads in Christian county, and enters the Sangamon river on section seven, in Cooper township.

EARLY SETTLERS.

The first settlement in what now constitutes Cooper township, was in 1819. Among the early settlers were, John Cooper, Jacob Cooper, Henry Giger, Philip Smith, Hiram Robbins, Benjamin Giger, John North, Stephen Sowell, Mr. John- ston, William Bragg, Mr. Litteral.

John Cooper was born June 3, 1794, in South Carolina, and was taken by his parents to Jeffer- son county, Tennessee, where he subsequently married to Susannah Peyton, who died after giv- ing birth to one child. Mr. Cooper was married

the second time to Susannah Giger. They moved to Sangamon county, Illinois, arriving April 2, 1820, in what is now Rochester township, and one year later moving to Cooper township, south of the Sangamon river. Mr. Cooper was a local minister in the Methodist Episcopal Church, and preached almost as regular as the preachers in the traveling connection. He solemnized the marriage of many couple among the early set- tlers. He was a justice of the peace, and one of the county commissioners for many years, and when the township organization was effected his name was given to the township. Mr. Cooper died January, 1860, his wife preceding him a few months.

Jacob Cooper was born December 18, 1800, in Jefferson county, Tennessee; was married there to Anna Walden. They came to Sanga- mon county, Illinois, with his brother, Rev. John Cooper, in 1820. Mrs. Anna Cooper died February 22, 1830, and Jacob Cooper was married to Jane Kelly, daughter of William Kelly, of Springfield.

Philip Smith was born about 1790, in Mont- gomery county, North Carolina. He was mar- ried there to Nancy Cooper. They had seven children, and moved to Sangamon county, Illinois, arriving in 1822, in what is now Cooper township, and the next year moved to Williams township, where five children were born.

Hiram Robbins was born December 26, 1793, in Buncombe county, North Carolina. His parents moved to Overton county, Tennessee, thence to Washington county, Kentucky, and from there to Vincennes, Indiana territory. At that place he entered the army, and served six months in the War of 1812 with England. The family, after the war, moved back to Tennessee, and from there to Pope county, Illinois, where

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HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

the father died, and the family moved to Madi- son county. Hiram Robbins was there married, December 29, 1816, to Elizabeth Dean. They moved to Sangamon county, arriving in the summer of 1821 within one mile of where Bar- clay now stands, and in 1823 moved to what is now Cooper township. He was a soldier from this county in the Black Hawk war. Mrs. Eliza- beth Robbins died August 17, 1866, and Hiram Robbins was married to Merada Gordon. For a third wife, he married, October 1, 1872, Mrs. Elizabeth E. White, whose maiden name was Strode. They reside in Cooper township, San- gamon county, Illinois.

Benjamin Giger was born July 25, 1803, in Jefferson county, Tennessee. He came to San- gamon county on a visit in 1828, returned to Tennessee, and moved, in company with his widowed mother and his brother-in-law, John North, arriving April 12, 1829, in what is now Cooper township. Benjamin Giger was married in Sangamon county, November 18, 1832, to Susannah Todd, who was born Decembr 20, 1808. Mr. Giger constructed many ingenius and use- ful implements. He would often study for days at a time, sometimes quitting his work in the daytime, would go to bed, cover up head and ears, and continue in the deepest study. When a plan or design was fully matured, he would leave his work, or arise from bed, as the case might be, and write, without stopping to eat or sleep, until his thoughts were transferred to paper. He invented a machine for heading grain ; also some plows and other agricultural implements, and was on his way to Washington with his models, for the purpose of obtaining patents. He was taken sick on board a steamer ascending the Ohio river, and died at Browns- ville, Pennsylvania, June 23, 1850. His widow died November 28, 1858, in Sangamon county.

John North was born November 22, 1806, near the village of Bent Creek, on James river, Buckingham county, Virginia. His grandfather, Richard North, was born in England, and trained to the business of a cutler. He came to America, and worked at his business at Bent Creek. His wife's maiden name was Thornton, but whether they were married in England or America is unknown to their descendants. Their third son, Peter, born in Virginia, was married there to Elizabeth Franklin, a daughter of Robert Franklin, of Campbell county, Vir- ginia. Peter North was a soldier in the war with England in 1812. In 1819 or '20, he moved to Jefferson county, near Dandridge, Tennessee, taking with him six children. The second son,

John, whose name heads this sketch, was there married, September 22; 1828, to Anna Giger, who was born November 4, 1807, in that county. They came to Sangamon county, Illinois, arriving April 12, 1829, in what is now Cooper township, north of Sangamon river.

Stephen Lowell was born February, 1785, on the river Roanoke, Charlotte county, Virginia. Jane Hannah was born September 12, 1795, in that county. They were there married and had three children, and moved to Rutherford county, Tennessee, about 1817, where three children were born, and moved to Sangamon county, Illinois, arriving April, 1828, in what is now. Chatham township, thence to Cooper township, and from there to Loami township in 1830. He died in 1863.

RELIGIOUS.

The first religious services held in the town- ship were at the house of Rev. John Cooper, on the northeast quarter of section twenty. A class was formed there from which originated the Buckhart Methodist Episcopal Society. Public services were held at the house of Mr. Cooper for about ten years, when they were transferred to the house of Elias Johnson, on the northeast quarter of section eighteen, where they were continued till a school house was built, and there held a number of years, when in 1853, a church edifice was erected, thirty by forty, of brick, which was valued at $1,500. William Johnson made the brick, in which he did the greater part of the work himself. Mr. Johnson was a local preacher, and one of the best class leaders the church ever had. He died in Monti- cello, in 1870. Among the first members of the class were John Cooper and wife, Nancy Giger, Samuel Powers and wife, Elias Johnson and family. The present membership of the society is about fifty. At one time it numbered over one hundred, its loss being occasioned principally by the transfer of membership to other and more convenient congregations.

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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 145

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