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 153

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 153

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).

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HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

mers of the county, owning one thousand one hundred and forty acres of land, one thousand and eighty of which is under cultivation, and valued at $65 per acre. Mr. C. has been identi- fied with the county all his life, and has seen it from its infancy to one of the best counties in the State. In politics he is a Republican.

Hardy F. M. Council, farmer, Fancy Creek township, was born in Fancy Creek township, on the place where he now resides, February 10, 1841. Son of William Council, who was born in Tarboro, North Carolina, October 1, 1790, and Mary Growes, of East Tennessee, born June 15, 1802. They were married in White county, Illinois, in 1819, where one child was born, and moved to Sangamon county in 1821, and located north of Springfield, and kept the ferry on the Sangamon river, near where Carpenter's mill now stands. There was a family of twelve children, nine of whom lived to be adults. Shortly after coming to the county, he bought a claim of Jack Cline, which had ten acres broke, and built a cabin, beginning at the lowest round of the ladder, worked up, until he had accumnu- lated a fine property, where he remained until his death, which occurred July 8, 1846.

Mother died January 25, 1869. Mr. and Mrs. Council were members of the Methodist Episco- pal Church. The subject of this sketch was reared on a farm and received academic school education. In 1870, married Miss Charity Ray, daughter of James and Susannah Ray, natives of Ohio, born January 22, 1849. There were three children, one of whom is living-Mary Frances, born November 9, 1879. In 1862, enlisted in the One Hundred and Fourteenth Regiment, Illinois Volunteer Infantry. After breaking camp at Springfield, they went to Memphis, where they remained a short time. He participated in the battle of Jackson, Miss., Vicksburg, Black River, second battle of Jackson, and was on all of the marches and fights of the regiment, with the exception of Guntown; at that time was in the hospital at Memphis. Mustered out at Vicks- burg and discharged and paid off at Springfield. Mr. Council has two hundred acres of land, one hundred and sixty under cultivation, valued at $75 per acre.

John Ray Dunlap, farmer, was born in Carter county, East Tennessee, on the 24th day of April, 1821; son of John and Catharine (Tipton) Dunlap, natives of Tennessee, where they were married and raised a family of nine children, viz: Isaac, Margaret, Sarah, Tennessee, Ruth, James T., Susannah, Mary Ann. In 1828, his parents emigrated to Sangamon county, and

located in Fancy Creek township, where J. R. now resides; moved into a log cabin sixteen by eighteen feet, where they remained one winter, where one child was born, Edna M.

He entered land, and made a home and re- mained until his death, which occurred in 1856; mother died in 1857. They were members of the Baptist church. The subject of this sketch came to the county when seven years of age, and has lived on the same farm for fifty-three years. He married Miss Emily A. Brown; she was the daughter of James L. and Jane Brown, natives of Kentucky, and emigrated to Sanga- mon county, about 1824; she was born on May 12, 1824. The fruits of this marriage was ten children, eight of which are living, Almira, now the wife of Theodore Allen, of Missouri; James A., a practicing physician of Sullivan, Illinois; Robert, now a theological student, at Lexington, Kentucky; Franklin P., a farmer of Fancy Creek; Eliza Jane, now the wife of George D. Power, of Sangamon county; John, who is attending school at Bloomington; Clarence P., and Olive L., at home.

Mr. Dunlap has been identified with the county all his life, is one of the large and well-to- do farmers of the county; has five hundred and forty acres of land, valued at $60 per acre. Mr. Dunlap has held several local offices of trust, having represented the township as supervisor two terms. Mr. and Mrs. Dunlap are members of the Baptist Church. In politics he is a Demo- crat.

William L. England, M. D., Cantrall, Illi- nois, was born in Bath county, Kentucky on the first day of October, 1822, son of Jesse and Hannah (Mershon) England, father of English descent, and born in Virginia; mother a native of New Jersey, married about 1798 or 1799. There was a family of nine children all of which lived to be adults; Cornelius M., who died July 18, 1833; Martha, a wife of Charles Bailey, and located in Bath county, Kentucky; Nancy, wife of Martin Honaker, of Bath county, Kentucky; Cath arine, wife of P. B. Hord, of Carter county, Kentucky; Sarah, wife of Chas. W. Honaker, of Lewis county, Kentucky; Eliza, now Mrs. Dun- lavy; Annie L., wife of Chas. N. Lewis, a repre- sentative of the State Senate, of Kentucky; Stephen J., of Kansas. Father was a farmer, who died in Carter county, Kentucky, October 12, 1859. The Doctor was reared on a farm, his mother, who was an intelligent woman and kept medical books to which the Doctor had access, got to reading and fitted himself. In 1843 and 1844, attended lectures at the Cincinnati Eclec-

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IHISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

tic Medical College, where he graduated in 1844 with honors In March, 1851, married Miss Sarah R. Everman, she was born April 14, 1828. The fruits of this marriage was eight children, three of whom are living, Laura C., now Mrs. Geo. E. Williams; Annie L., and Wil- liam L. Dr. England followed his profession in Kentucky for twenty years, when he came to Macoupin county, Illinois, where he remained three years, he thence went to Athens in Me- nard county, where he remained four years, when he came to Cantrall, where he has remained since 1873. In politics he is a Democrat. He owns a residence and six lots in Cantrall, Illi- nois.

John Moore Fisk, farmer, post office, Cantrall, section nineteen, was born in Indiana county, Pennsylvania, September 17, 1822, son of Eli and Margaret (Moore) Fisk, natives of Tolland county, Connecticut, where they were married. They commenced their early life in Massachusetts, where one daughter was born-Esther L. In about 1817 or '18, they left Massachusetts, and emigrated to Indiana county, Pennsylvania, where the subject of this sketch was born, where they lived for some years, when they removed to Cincinnati, Ohio, where another son was born -Eli C .- now of Mason county, Illinois. In 1835, came to what is now Mason county, Illinois, where he took up land and made a farm where he remained until his death, which oc- curred about 1862; mother died in 1859. In politics, he was an old line Whig. The subject of this sketch received a common school educa- tion. The country was sparsely settled, there being only seven votes polled in what is Mason county. On the 27th day of February, 1845, married Miss Sarah Ann McReynolds, of Colum- bia county, Pennsylvania, where she was born July 24, 1823. By this union there were seven children, six of whom are living-Lucinda F., now Mrs. A. M. Canterbery; Warren C., of St. Louis; Margaret J., Willis E., Esther E., who were born in Mason county, Illinois, and Elmer MeReynolds, of this county. In March, 1865, moved to Sangamon county, and located on the place where he now resides; has two hundred and twenty acres of land valued at $50 per acre; raises fifty acres of corn, fifty acres of wheat, twelve acres of oats, and turns out forty head of hogs. Mr. Fisk has held several local offices of trust in the township; has represented the town in the board of supervisors. Himself and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

Cornelius Flagg, farmer and railroad con- tractor, Fancy Creek township, was born in Ox-

ford, Butler county, Ohio, on the 17th day of May, 1831, son of Abraham, who was born March 2, 1805, and Sarah Hoffman. She was born January 23, 1801, and was married October 11, 1823. There was a family of nine children, four sons and five daughters, viz. : Anne, William, Albert, Maria, Cornelius, Jacob, Sarah, Char- lotte, and Ellen, who were born in Illinois. In 1841, he left his home in Ohio, with his family, coming through with teams, stopping at Moses Hoffman's, where he remained a portion of the winter. The following spring, moved to German Prairie, where he rented a farm, which his boy carried on, and himself working at his trade of blacksmithing, where they remained two years, when he moved to Rochester township, where they remained two years. He then moved to what was known as the Beck neighborhood, where they remained until 1850, when he pur- chased land in Williamsville, where he made a farm, and laid off a portion of it into what is now Williamsville, where he lived until his death, which occurred February 17, 1858; mother died April 24, 1872. The subject of this sketch was reared on a farm, and received an element- ary school education. October 8, 1860, married Miss Sarah Kerns, a daughter of Abner and Sarah E. W. Kerns, natives of Ohio, where she was born, December 8, 1828. By this union, there were five children, viz .: John B., born December 18, 1865, died August 26, 1866; Allie, born February 5, 1869; Kerns Abraham, born October 2, 1861; Franklin, born September 28, 1863; Sarah J., born January 30, 1867. Mrs. Flagg died March 14, 1874.

He again married Jane M. Kerns, a sister of his former wife. She was born in Ohio, August 1, 1838. Mr. Flagg has always been an active business man. In his early life, he embarked in farming, which he followed for some years with- out success, when he engaged in railroading, supplying the Chicago & Alton Railroad with ties, timbers, and wood between Pontiac and Alton, and afterwards followed up the road into Missouri.

Mr. Flagg has three hundred acres of land, all of which is under a high state of culti- vation, and valued at $115 per acre. He came to the county a poor boy, but by his own exer- tions has accumulated a fine property, and has one of the finest residences and best barns in the county. He owns, all together, about eight. hundred acres of land in Fancy Creek, Williams and Salisbury townships. He also owns property in Sherman, Illinois, and Armstrong, Missouri.

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HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

Christopher Gearity, farmer, post office, Springfield, Illinois, was born in Meath county, Ireland, December 31, 1812, son of Patrick and Bridget (Ward) Gearity, who were married in Ireland, where eight children were born-four sons and four daughters-viz: Thomas, Jane, Christopher, Margaret, Julia, Hugh, Mary and James.

The subject of this sketch came to the United States in a sailing vessel, and landed in New York, where he remained a few days, and then went to Oswego, New York, where he was em- ployed in Kingsford & Son's starch factory, and remained three years. He then removed to Buf- falo, New York, where he worked on the lakes, working at odd jobs through the winter, where he remained two years. In 1851, he came to Sangamon county, Illinois, where he worked on a farm by the month for about two years. He then rented a farm. In 1838, he married Miss Catharine Mathews. She was born in Ireland in 1815. The fruits of this marriage were eight children. They left four children in Ireland with his wife's father, viz: Thomas, James, Patrick and Bridget. The children who were born in America are: Martha, Mary, Catharine and Hugh. Mary died in infancy. In 1857 he came to his present farm, where he has resided since. He has eighty acres of land, sixty-eight under cultivation, valued at $45 per acre; raises thirty acres of corn, sixteen acres of wheat and turns off eighteen head of hogs. Mr. Gearity came to the country a poor man, but has, through good judgment, accumulated a fine property and home.

Lewis F. Hoffman, farmer and stock raiser, post office, Sherman was born in Ross county, Ohio, September 21, 1829, son of Moses Hoff- man, who was born in Greenbriar county, Vir- ginia, November 24, 1798, and Rhoda Turman, born February 14, 1806, a widow of Richard Winn. By this marriage there were nine children, seven of which lived to be adults, while two died in infancy. In 1829, he left his home in Ohio, in a wagon, to which were hitched three yoke of oxen, for Sangamon county, camp- ing out on the way, doing their own cooking, and located on the place where they now live. Their first dwelling place was a camp made out of logs, with three sides, one end being left out, where they built a fire in front, and re- mained there a portion of the winter. In 1830, he broke thirty acres of prairie and planted corn, which supplied them with breadstuff. The fol- lowing winter came on the big snow, and the only way that he could gather his corn was to make snow-shoes out of claphoards which he tied

to hisfeet and hauled it in on a hand-sled, and, as Mrs. H. said, stowed it under her bed. Mr. Hoffman was an enterprising business man, and at his death had accumulated a property of seven hundred and forty acres of land. He died June 8, 1842. Was a soldier in the Black Hawk war, under Colonel W. F. Elkin, and was commis- sioned as Captain in the State militia. Mrs. Hoffman again married Solomon Wood, in 1847. One child blessed this union, Solomon. Mr. Wood died April 18, 1848. Mrs. Wood is still living with her son on the old homestead, where she has lived nearly fifty-two years.

The subject of this sketch married Miss Han- nah Ann Gamble, January 17, 1861, the daugh- ter of James and Nancy Gamble, of Holmes county, Ohio, where she was born, November 10, 1838. There were three children, two of whom are living: Leora, born February 21, 1864; Elmer, born June 5, 1868. One died in infancy. Has four hundred and seventy-six acres of land, valued at $60 per acre; raises one hundred and twenty acres of corn; turns one hundred and fifty head of hogs; has on his place three hun- dred and forty-six head of hogs, fifty head of cattle, eleven head of horses. Mr. Hoffman is one of the large and well-to-do farmers of the county, and has been identified with it all his life, and has seen its various changes. In poli- tics, he is a Republican, and cast his first vote for Taylor for President of the United States. His father was an old-line Whig.

John S. Lake, farmer, post office, Cantrall, section sixteen, was born in Sangamon county, Illinois, January 9, 1840, a son of Bayliss G. and Eliza Lake. The subject of this sketch married Miss Mary C. Brittan; she was born in Fancy Creek township in 1848. The fruits of this marriage is three living children, Dora, James, and Edith May. Mr. Lake enlisted in the army in 1862, in the One Hundredth and Fourteenth Regiment, Illinois Volunteer Infan- try, Company G; was in the Fifteenth Army Corps, under General Sherman. The first gen- eral engagement was at Jackson, Mississippi; then at the siege of Vicksburg, and capture; then to Black River, where they went into camp on Bear creek, from there went to Memphis, where they were put on guard duty, where they remained until the spring of 1863. From there went to Guntown under General Sturgis, where they participated in the fight, when he was wounded and taken prisoner, and taken to Mobile, where he laid in the hospital two months, where he had to dress his own wounds for some time, when the wounded had to wash

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HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

their own bandages, scattering gangrene through the whole hospital. From there were removed to Cahaba, Ala., three hundred miles up the river, where they received better treatment, where they were kept a couple of months. Mr. Lake, with others, was sent to Vicksburg, where he was exchanged, October 24, 1864. He received thirty days' furlough, after which he was ordered to report to Camp Butler, Springfield, where he remained until the spring of 1865, when he was discharged. He has one hundred and sixty- three acres of land, all of which is under a high state of cultivation, valued at $60 per acre. Raises seventy-five acres of corn, thirty acres of wheat; turns off twelve head of hogs; keeps twenty cattle. In politics he is a Republican.

Uriah T. Lawrence, farmer, post office, Sher- man, was born in Morgan county, Missouri, August 5, 1848, son of Walter and Charlotte (Watkins) Lawrence; he was born in Wales, she in Pennsylvania. They were married in Ohio, and two children were born-Julia and Jane. About 1840, his parents emigrated to Iowa, where he remained three years. He then re- moved to Morgan county, Missouri, where he remained seven years, when he came to Wil- liams township, where he rented land and afterward purchased a farm and lived a few years, when he sold out and purchased the prop- erty where Mr. Lawrence now lives, and re- mained until his death, which occurred in 1873; mother died the same year. Mr. L. has one hundred and twenty acres of land, eighty acres of which is under cultivation, valued at $50 per acre. Raises fifty acres of corn, ten acres of wheat, and turns off fifty head of hogs. The children of Charlotte and Walter were as fol- lows: Julia Ann, born April 18, 1838; E. . Jane, born September 27, 1840; William H., born July 14, 1843; Walter P., born December 15,. 1845; Uriah T., born August 5, 1848; John J., born September 18, 1852; Albert D., born February 16, 1855; Mary K., born May 1, 1857; Joanna B., born August 19, 1859. E. Jane, died April 20, 1873. The family are members of the Metho- dist Episcopal Church. In politics, he is a Re publican. Ilis father was an old line Whig. He was a member of the Masonic and I. O. O. F. lodges.

George Mc Clelland, farmer and stock raiser, post office, Cantrall, was born on the place where he now resides, on the 27th day of Feb- ruary, 1832; father a native of Ohio, and mother of North Carolina. His father, Robert, was born in 1780. His mother died when he was quite young, and his father died a few years

later. Ile went to White county, Illinois, when he was a young man. Charlotte Council, his mother, was born about 1797, and was taken to White county, Illinois, where they were married and two children were born. They moved to Sangamon county, arriving August, 1819, and locating in Fancy Creek township, where he took up land and made a farm, where there were thirteen children born, twelve of whom lived to be adults.

Mr. McClelland came to the county a poor man and lived in a log cabin, and by good judgment accumulated a fine property, on which he remained until his death, which occurred October 31, 1858. In politics, was an old line Whig, and afterwards joined the Republi- can party. Mother died May 15, 1868. Mr. and Mrs. McClelland was among the earliest settlers of the county. George McClelland was reared on a farm, where he now resides. Married Miss Mary C. Brown, a daughter of Benjamin F. Brown, of Kentucky. She was born in Fancy Creek township, July 20, 1837. There were six sons, Fred, Frank, Paul, Arthur, Melvin and Roy.

Has two hundred and thirty acres of land under a high state of cultivation, valued at $65 per acre. Raises one hundred acres of corn, ninety acres of wheat, and has on his place two hundred head of hogs.

Mr. McClelland is one of the large and well- to-do farmers of the county and has been identified with its interests all his life; has seen the prairies from their wild, uncultured state to one of the finest farming countries in the world.

Martin Mc Coy, farmer, was barn in Licking county, Ohio, Jannary 4, 1848, son of Mathew and Margaret (Yates) McCoy, natives of Penn- sylvania, where they were married, and three children were born, George, Robert and Eliza. His parents emigrated to Ohio about 1836, where six more children were born; Mary, Lucinda, Martha, Roenna, Catharine and Martin. In the spring of 1835, he removed to Sangamon county. Shortly after arriving he returned to Ohio on business, when he died. Mrs. Margaret died some years before. They were members of the M. E. church. Martin married Miss Annie F. Brown, a daughter of Benjamin F. Brown. She was born in Fancy Creek township, June 17, 1853. By this union there were two children living, Walter O. and Irena. Mr. McCoy has one hundred and twenty-one acres of land, valued at $75 per acre. Raises fifty acres of corn, twenty acres of wheat, twenty-eight head of stock, eleven head of horses. In the fall of

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HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY

1862, enlisted in the Seventy-seventh Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Company C, and participated in the battles of Fort Donalson, Shiloh, Jack- son, Mississippi, siege of Vicksburg, and was on the march to the sea, and march to Washington and review, was mustered out at Louisville, Ken tucky, and discharged at Camp Chase, Ohio; was in the service nearly three years.

David McRoberts, merchant and farmer, was born in Williams township, May 19, 1853, son of John and Sarah (Gibson) McRoberts, natives of Ireland, who came to this country in 1849 or 1850, and located in Springfield where they remained a short time, when they moved to Fancy Creek township, where he rented a few years and then purchased property in Sherman and embarked in the merchandising of goods, which occupation he followed until his death, which occurred in 1869. Mother still living in Sherman. There was a family of twelve children, five of whom are living, four sons and one daughter, viz: John, Samuel, Hugh, David and Mary. The subject of this sketch embarked in the mercantile business in 1869, and carries a line of dry goods, groceries, boots and shoes, and everything that is usually kept in a country store; carries a stock of $2,500 and does a business of $10,000 per year. Mr. McRoberts has a farm of one hundred and ten acres of land under a high state of cultivation valued at $75 per acre. Raises twenty-five acres of corn, twenty acres of wheat, ten acres of oats. In politics is a Democrat.

Samuel Millenger, farmer, Fancy Creek, post office, Cantrall. Son of Henry and Polly (Mickel) Millenger, natives of Franklin county, Pennsylvania, where he was born January 27, 1832. There was eleven children of his father's family, five sons and six daughters, ten of whom lived to be adults, Susannah, Polly, Nancy, William, Elizabeth, Jacob, Henry, Sarah, Harry, Samuel and Catharine. His father died in Frank- lin county about 1860, at the age of one hundred and one. In 1851, Samuel left Pennsylvania and came to Ohio where he remained one year, and in 1852, came to Sangamon county, where he married Miss Almira Cantrall. She died in 1857, leaving one son, Samuel I. He again married Maranda Cantrall, a widow of Wm. Snelson, by whom one child was born, Chas. H. Mrs. Millenger was born in Fancy Creek town- ship, May 12, 1826. There was four children, viz: Wm. C., Mahala, Debbie and Lucy E. In 1869, enlisted in the One Hundred and Four- teenth Regiment, Illinois Volunteer Infantry, Company C. His first engagement was at the

battle of Jackson, Mississippi, siege and capture of Vicksburg, battle of Guntown, Tupelo, Span- ish Fort, Ft. Blakely-and served three years- and was honorably discharged at Camp Butler. HIas eighty acres of land valued at $50 per acre. Raises twenty acres of corn, twenty-five acres of wheat, turns off twenty-five head of hogs.

Carlisle Mitts, farmer and stock raiser, post office, Cantrall, was born in Sangamon, Fancy Creek township, on the 12th day of March, 1830, son of Cyrus and Martha (Burbridge) Mitts, who emigrated to Sangamon county from Ohio, in 1828; father a native of Pennsylvania and mother of Kentucky, where they were married, where there were two children born, James M. and Jesse. He afterwards moved to Ohio, where two daughters and one son were born, Jane, Roland, and Elizabeth. In 1829, came to Sangamon county, where there was six chil- dren born, viz: Cyrus, Robert, John, Joseph, Martha and Mary. Mr. Mitts purchased land and made a farm in Fancy Creek township. In August, 1852, was accidentally killed a short dis- tance from his home, by a runaway team, by the tongue of the wagon striking him in the back. Mr. Mitts was an elder in the Christian church, and done much in building up the same; mother died in 1862.

The subject of this sketch married Miss Margaret Hall, of Athens, Menard county, Illi- nois, June 7, 1863. The fruits of this marriage was three children, all of which died in infancy. Mr. Mitts has ninety-eight acres of land, all of which is under a high state of cultivation, valued at $65 per acre. Mr. Mitts was born here and has seen the county from its infancy to one of the best cultivated counties in the State; can remember when there was not a family liv- ing between here and Elkhart. Mr. Mitts has a fine farm and beautiful home, and is one of the well-to-do farmers of the township.

Henry Nave, retired, Cantrall, Illinois, was born in Carter county, East Tennessee, on the 22d day of December, 1812; son of William and Martha (Williams) Nave, natives of East Tennessee, where they were married, and twelve children were born, with the exception of one, which was born in Sangamon county. The children were as follows: Eliza, wife of James Jenkins, of Tennessee; Abraham, married Eliza Bowars, and settled in Missouri; William, married Jane Crow, and settled in Illinois in 1839; Mary, now Mrs. Godfrey Crow, of Tennessee; Catharine, married Henry IIarden and came to Illinois in 1843; Vina, married Eli Fletcher and resides in Tennessee; Delilah,

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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 153

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