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 154
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HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.
married Eli Underwood, of Missouri; Sarah, married Madison Johnson, and settled in Illinois in 1844; John, of Missouri, who was wounded and died in the Union army; Margaret, now Mrs. Lipps, of Tennessee; Elizabeth, married Leonard Bowars. Mr. William Nave emigrated to Sangamon county in 1843, where he died. Shortly after, mother returned to Tennessee, where she died about 1878. Henry Nave married May 29, 1830, Miss Margaret Bowars, a daughter of John L. and Rebecca Bowars, of East Tennessee, where she was born September 12, 1812. They have lived together as man and wife over a half century. There were two children, Martha R., born February 28, 1831, Elizabeth, born March 17, 1836, both of whom died in infancy. In 1832, he left his home in Tennessee, and went to Washington county, Indiana, where he remained seven years, when he removed to Sangamon county, and located in Fancy Creek township, where he purchased eighty acres of land and built a cabin, which stands at the present writing, where he remained until 1876, when he came to Cantrall. Mr. Nave left Tennessee with $20 in his pocket, got as far as Indiana when his means gave out and he had to stop and go to work.
He split rails for 25 cents per hundred and boarded himself. While in Indiana he accumu- lated about $1,100. Previous to coming, he sold out, taking notes, and by reason of the bankrupt law he lost nearly all he had, again being compelled to commence at the bottom. Mr. Nave was not the kind of a man to set down and fold his arms, but went to work with a good will and accumulated a fine property and home. In politics, he is a Democrat. He and wife are members of the Baptist Church.
Michael Nolan, farmer, post office, Spring- field, was born in Springfield, Illinois, May 20, 1856, son of Patrick and Ann (Grimes) Nolan, natives of Ireland, who emigrated to the States some years ago. They were married in Spring- field, about 1827. There was a family of two children, viz: Matilda and Michael. In 1861, came to Fancy Creek, where he purchased land and opened up a farm, where he remained until 1879, when he moved to Springfield, when he embarked in the grocery business. llas two hundred and ten acres of land, valued at $35 per acre; raises thirty-five acres of corn, twenty- five acres of wheat, turns out twenty head of hogs. Michael Nolan married Miss Ellen Mad- den, daughter of John Madden, of Springfield, in 1828. There is one child, Johnny, born March 6, 1881.
George Power, retired farmer, residence on section four, Fancy Creek township, town seven- teen, range five, was born in Fayette county, Kentucky, on February 18, 1798, and is the son of James Power and Eleanor Dedman. When he was ten years of age his parents moved to Bath county, where his father died three years later. Owing to this and other canses George's educational privileges were very meager. On February 10, 1820, he united in marriage with Nancy Wilcockson, who was born in Bath county, Kentucky, January 13, 1804. In the fall of 1821, they came to Illinois and settled on the farm where they now reside, having occupied it over sixty years. Mr. Power's effects when he landed in the then wild prairie State, con- sisted of a wife, one son, William, a pair of horses, a half interest in a wagon, and $5.00 in cash. His father-in-law, William Wilcockson, and family accompanied them, and settled on section nine of the same township. They erected a cabin, and both families occupied it the first winter. When the land came into market, Mr. Power bought sixty-six and two-third acres. This purchase compelled him to part from his last horse and to borrow $16 besides. In the year 1829, he erected the first frame dwelling north of the Sangamon river, in the county, locating it on the southeast quarter of section four. About two years after making his first purchase he borrowed the money to buy the eighty acres on which his present house stands. Other tracts were bought from time to time as means and opportunity offered, until the home farm contains two thousand acres, and he owns some four hundred acres elsewhere, as the re- ward of business energy and persevering toil. The present family residence he built about twenty-five years ago; and it with the other buildings comprising the homestead improve- ments cost $10,000. The home farm is estimated worth $75 per acre. Besides the twenty-four hundred acres of farming land, he owns pro- perty in the village of Cantrall valued at $6,000. Mr. Power served as Second Lieutenant in the Black Hawk war, and held the office of Major many years in the militia organization. He filled the office of justice of the peace nineteen years, during which he never had a decision reversed in the higher courts. Abraham Lin- coln tried his first case in law and made his first plea before him. He has always been a pro- nounced Democrat; voted three times for An- drew Jackson. Mr. Power was conscientiously opposed to the late war, but in favor of the pres- ervation of the Union, and contributed liberally
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to the support of war widows and soldiers' fam- ilies. Having instructed Mr. Irvin, proprietor of a flouring mill, to let soldiers families have breadstuffs whenever they applied and charge the price to him, he paid him at one time $600, besides smaller amounts on other occasions. His donations to the cause aggregated $2,000. Mr. and Mrs. Power are the parents of two sons, namely, William D. and James E. Power. William enjoyed the advantages of the primi- tive schools, in the log school house, and en- gaged in farming in early life. He read law in Springfield and practiced a number of years. He was elected County Judge in 1857, and re-elected in 1861. While serving his second term he died with typhoid fever, March 2, 1863, at the age of 42 years, having been born in May, 1821. He was very active during early years of the war in raising recruits for the army. He married Nancy J. Barnett, January 6, 1843, in Sangamon county; they had five children, two of each sex survive. James E. Power has always farmed with his father, and for years dealt considerably in live stock. He was born December 1, 1824, and married Laura Chord, November 9, 1878. She is a native of Menard county, Illinois, born in 1850. They have a son, James William, born October 16, 1879. The subject of this memoir has made provision for his son James to have one thousand acres of land, and the children of William to have two hundred and sixty each at his decease. In 1879 he constructed a beautiful family vault, on section nine, of his premises. It is built of Joliet stone, at a cost of $3.000, and is the finest sepulchre in Sangamon county.
G. C. Seifert, M. D., Cantrall, Illinois, was born in Saxony, Germany, on the 22d day of August, 1846, son of John C. and Christina Seifert. They were married in Germany where two sons and three daughters were born. In 1849 his parents emigrated to the United States and located in Sheboyagan county, Wisconsin, where he bought a farm and made a home. The subject of this sketch was reared on a farm, and received an academic education, and prepared himself for teaching, which he followed two years in Wisconsin and three years in Spring- field. When twenty-one years of age he com- menced reading medicine, under William Hope Davis, M. D., at Springfield, where he remained about three years, when he attended the Eclectic Medical College, at Cincinnati, Ohio, where he graduated in May, 1871, with honors. After graduating, he returned to Springfield, where he remained a short time, when he went to Athens, where he located and remained two and a half
years. The Doctor then went to Springfield, where he followed his profession until he came to Cantrall. Married Miss Jennie Beckemeyer, who was born in Springfield, November 30, 1853. There were four children, two of whom are liv- ing, viz: Emily, born May 25, 1876; Otto H., born April 16, 1880. The Doctor is a member of the Eclectic State Medical Association. He is a member of the Christian Church, at Spring- field, and Mrs. Seifert is a member of the German Lutheran Church.
James HI. Thaxton, farmer and stock raiser, post office, Sherman, was born in Allen county, Kentucky, on the 28th day of November, 1823, son of Thomas and Hannah (Williamson) Thax- ton; natives of South Carolina. They were married in Allen county, Kentucky, where twelve children were born-six sons and six daughters -seven of whom lived to be men and women, viz: Williamson, George, Matilda, Millie, Thomas, Sarah and J. H., who is the only one living. His father died in Kentucky about 1826. The subject of this sketch came to Sangamon county, in about 1840, being out of the State but one day since. April 10, 1845, married Miss Margaret Hoffman, a daughter of Moses and Rhoda Hoff- man. She was born in Clark county, Ohio, January 2, 1827. There were nine children. six of whom are living, viz: Arminda, now Mrs. O. F. Shepard; Clarinda, Mary A., now Mrs. J. B. Van Meter, of Fancy creek; Rhoda Caroline, now Mrs. James Pittman, of Springfield, and Lewis. Mr. Thaxton came to the county when a young man, and worked for $10 per month. In after years, he bought his present farm, and has one hundred and twenty-four acres of land, all of which is under a high state of culti- vation, valued at $75 per acre. Raises forty acres of corn, fifteen acres of wheat, ten acres of oats; turns off fifty head of hogs yearly. In politics, he is a Republican.
John R. Van Meter, farmer and stock raiser, postoffice, Cantrall, was born on the farm where he now lives, on the 15th day of December, 1837; son of S. R. and Catharine (Bishop) Van Meter, who were natives of Ohio, where they married, August 5, 1834, and immediately started for Illinois, with his young wife, and located in Fancy creek township. His father gave him eighty acres of land, and afterwards he entered two hundred and forty acres, making in all three hundred and twenty acres of land, which he owned at his death, which occurred, September 6, 1866; he again married, April 3, 1860, Mrs. Mary A. E. Whitmore, whose maiden name was Kaiser. Mr. Van Meter was a soldier in the Black Hawk war,
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HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.
of 1831 and '32; was an old line Whig, up to the time of the organization of the Republican party, with which he afterward affiliated; at the time that the Know Nothing party was organized, he with others took an active interest, holding meetings at his house. J. R. was raised on a farm, and received an academic education. Janu- ary 22, 1872, he married Miss Eliza J. Cressee, daughter of John and Sarah Cressee, now of Springfield, and came to Sangamon county in 1837; she was born in Menard county, Illinois, October 12, 1845. There are two children, Seymour, born October 29, 1872; William F., born October 31, 1875. Mr. Van Meter is one of the large and well-to-do farmers of the county; has three hundred and twenty acres of land under a high state of cultivation, valued at $65 per acre; raises forty acres of corn; twenty acres of wheat; turns out one car load of cattle, one car of hogs, yearly. Mr. Van Meter inakes a spec- ialty of Cotswold and South Downs, and turns his attention to this branch of stock; has three hundred head on his place, and turns out one hundred head per year. In politics, is a Repub- lican, and has represented his township in the board of supervisors, a number of years.
William T. Vandergrift, merchant, Cantrall, Illinois, was born in Athens, Menard county, Illinois, June 27, 1843; son of A. J. and Arminta (Barnett) Vandergrift; father a native of Vir- ginia, and mother of Kentucky; were married in Sangamon county, about 1842, where a family of five children was born, four of which lived to be men and women, Anna Bell, now the wife of F. C. Sherwood, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Thos. J., of Sheilsburg, Wisconsin; John S., of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; William T., enlisted in the Ninety- second Regiment, Infantry, Illinois Volunteers, Company I., in 1862, and participated in all the engagements of the regiment, some of the prin- cipals being the battle of Chickamauga, Atlanta campaign; with Sherman to the sea; was mus- tered out at Concord, North Carolina, and dis- charged at Chicago. In 1865, he married Miss Margaret Canterbury, a daughter of O. P. Can-
terbury, of Cantrall, Illinois; she was born June 14, 1851. By this union there are three children, Emory C., Arminta and Hardy M. Mr. Vander- grift is at present engaged in merchandising in Cantrall; carries a stock of dry goods, groceries, boots and shoes, and everything that is usually carried in a country store; handles a stock of $2,000.
In politics, he is a Republican, and cast his first vote for U. S. Grant, first term, for President of the United States.
William F. Wolf, farmer and stock raiser, post office, Sherman, was born in Mansfield, Ohio, on the 11th day of April, 1851, son of John W. and Rebecca (Wirtz) Wolf, natives of Ohio, where they were married, August 25, 1848. The fruits of this marriage was a family of five children, two sons and three daughters, two of which lived to be adults. Mary J., born Janu- ary 8, 1850, and the subject of this sketch. The family came to Sangamon county in 1857, and located one-half mile west of Sherman. Sep- tember 8, 1877, he died; mother still living with her son William F. The subject of this sketch was reared on a farm and received a common school education. When seventeen years of age went to work in the Chicago & Alton Railroad wood yard. In 1870, married Miss Sarah E. Cox. She was born in Marion county, Ken- tucky, November 17, 1847. After marrying, Mr. Wolf embarked in farming, which he fol- lowed for six years, when he commenced selling goods in Sherman. The first store was kept by John W. Wolf as early as 1860, which he fol- lowed until his death September 8, 1877. Wil- liam F. run the store until March, 1881, when he sold to Mr. McRoberts. The last year being in company with S. E. Prather, since which time he has followed farming. His property in Sher- man is valued at $2,000. Mr. Wolf affiliates with the Republican party, and was elected Con- stable, which office he held for eight years. Mr. Wolf has twenty-four acres of corn, which will average sixty bushels to the acre. Mrs. W. F. Wolf is a member of the Baptist Church.
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HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.
CHAPTER XXXVIII.
TOWNSHIP OF GARDNER.
The township of Gardner comprises township sixteen north, range six west, and is bounded on the east by Springfield, on the west by Cart- wright, north by Salisbury, and south by Curran township, and was so named in honor of John Gardner, who was for many years, and until his death, one of the principal citizens of the town- ship, and one of the three commissioners ap- pointed by the Board of Justices to divide the county into townships. The surface of the country is mostly rolling prairie, though there is much timber in the southern part. The town- ship is watered by Spring creek and other smaller streams. The soil is extremely well adapted to the raising of all cereals, especially corn.
EARLY SETTLEMENT.
In 1819, the first settlement was made by Samuel Newhouse, A. Inyard, B. Davis, David McCoy, George Knox Hamilton, and Abraham Duff. Among other settlers were Edmond Tay- lor, Edward Robinson, Mrs. Elizabeth McMur- ray, David McCoy, Joshua Short, James Short, Edward Williams, Mrs. Elizabeth Hall, John Gardner, Hiram Gardner, William and Thomas Kirkpatrick, John Kendall, William Sims.
George Knox Hamilton was born August 17, 1798, in Davidson county, Tennessee. He came, in company with his father, four brothers and two sisters, to Sangamon county, arriving in the fall of 1819, and settled near what is now Brad- ford Station. He was married March 5, 1823, to Jane Coleman. They had three children.
Abraham Duff was born May 15, 1777, in South Carolina. Virlinda Combs was born in South Carolina also, August 6, 1781. Their parents moved on pack horses to the vicinity of Bowling Green, Kentucky. A. Duff and Ver linda Combs were married and moved to St. Clair county, Illinois, and from there moved, in
company with his son-in-law, John Sims; ar rived April, 1819, on Spring creek, at a point six miles west of where Springfield now stands.
Edmond Taylor was born October 22, 1785, in Christian county, Kentucky ; married there to Mary Pugh. She died, and he married Constant Blakey, who was born June 22, 1791, in Georgia. They moved to what became Sangamon county, arriving in the fall of 1819, on Sugar creek, and in 1822 or '23 moved to the south side of Spring creek, four and a half miles west of Springfield.
Edward Williams was born June 3, 1789, in Hardin county, Kentucky. Margaret Neal was born April, 1788, in Nelson county, Kentucky. The places of their birth were only about six miles apart, and the parents of both moved, when they were children, to Ohio county, where they were married about 1806. They moved to Sangamon county, Illinois, arriving December, 1826, in what is now Gardner township. IIe died in 1871.
Mrs. Elizabeth Hall, whose maiden name was Foster, was born in Bedford county, Virginia, and married there to John Hall, and moved to Adair county, Kentucky, and Mr. Hall died there. His widow and children moved to San- gamon county, Illinois, arriving in the fall of 1830, north of Spring creek, and six miles west of Springfield. Mrs. Hall was married there to Samuel Willis, and in 1844 or '45, moved to De Witt county, where Mr. Willis died. She now lives with her son.
John Gardner was born June 21, 1805, in that part of Gallatin that is now Trimble county, Kentucky. Mary C. Duncan was born March 27, 1810, in the same county. They were married there June 13, 1830, moved to Sangamon county, Illinois, arriving April 17, 1833, two miles west of Springfield, and early in 1834
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HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.
moved to what is now Gardner township, two miles north of Farmingdale.
VILLAGE OF SANGAMO.
The village of Sangamo at one time was a very flourishing little place, and narrowly es- caped being the county seat when the commis- sioners were appointed to permanently locate it, in 1825. It is said the commissioners, if not a majority of the people, were favorably disposed toward the place, but there being no road lead- ing to it, at least that was known to the commis- sioners, they employed Andrew Elliott to pilot them to the place. Mr. Elliott, being interested in Springfield, took them by a round about way, through swamps, and so made the commission- ers believe the place was too difficult to be reached, and they, therefore, decided in favor of Springfield. The location of the village was on the northwest quarter section two, township six- teen, range six, in the present township of Gard- ner. Moses Broadwell was the proprietor. A steam mill was erected in the village by Mr. Broadwell, one or two stores wore opened, a blacksmith shop was placed in operation, and the foundation of a flourishing village was laid. But "the best laid schemes of mice and men gang aft aglee." To-day there is no evidence that such a village ever existed, a fine farm taking its place.
RELIGIOUS.
There are, in 1881, three church edifices in the township, in which assemble for worship rep- resentatives of three denominations. The Pres- byterians have a house of worship on section sev- enteen, in the southwest corner, near the village of Farmingdale. The Baptists worship in their own house, on section thirty-two, while the United Brethren meet on section thirty-four.
FARMINGTON PRESBYTERIAN CHURCII.
The Farmington Presbyterian Church was or- ganized at Old Sangamon, on the second Sab- bath of January, 1834, with the following per- sons as constituent members: Azel Lyman, and Mary P., his wife; Azel S. Lyman, Roxana Ly- man; Alvin Lyman and Lucy, his wife; Ezra Lyman and Mercy, his wife; Ezra C. Lyman; Mary L. Lyman; Azabel Stone and Laura, his wife; William Robb and Mary, his wife; Phebe Robb, Elizabeth W. Robb, Jay Slater, Stephen Childs and Hannah, his wife; Luther N. Ransom and Zervialı, his wife; Heraldus Esterbrook and Abigal, his wife; Abel Esterbrook, Amanda Ransom, Oliver Bates and Charity, his wife; Chancy D. Colton, Francis L. Stone and Laura A. Stone. Almost all of these persons were
members of a colony that came a short time previous, from Northern New York. Henry P. Lyman and Mercy, his wife, united soon after- wards, members also of the colony.
The first officers in the church were, Azel Ly- man, Heraldus Esterbrook and Luther N. Ran- som. Since then the following persons have been officers in the church, Joel Buckman, Jay Slater, Henry P. Lyman, William B. Brown, Samuel H. Jameson, James E. Hopper, Aaron VanPatton, Ezra C. Lyman, David Brainard Pond, James A. Stone, Henry C. Miner.
The first minister in the church, and the man who organized it was Rev. J. G. Bergen, who was succeeded by the following persons, in their order: Revs. Whitney, Gault, Porter, Plummer, Barton, Blood, Watson, Wood, Kerr, McFarland, Peck and Leard.
The church has always kept up an active Sab- bath school. The total membership since the organization, has been about three hundred and twenty-five. The present house of worship was built in 1859. There is now a very fine parson- age, and ten acres of land added to the church property, principally through the munificent be- quest of Dr. Lyman, who, during his life, was one of the church's strongest pillars. The church has enjoyed many seasons of revival, and is to-day, as it has been since its organization, a great power for good in the community.
EDUCATIONAL.
The earliest settlers united with those of Cur- ran in school privileges, which, of course, were none of the best. Gardner township, to-day, is one of the best in the county in this respect. There are now ten good frame school-houses, val- ued at $6,700, school being held on an average of eight months in the year in each.
NOTED MEN.
In 1850, James H. Slater moved from this county and township to Oregon. He was then comparatively unknown, and it was not supposed that he would ever become eminent. His father was poor, and he only obtained the educational advantages of the common school. He now rep- resents the State of Oregon in the United States Senate.
James M. Bradford was a member of the legis- lature fram this county, in 1840 and 1841, and served with credit to himself and the county.
RAILROAD.
The Ohio & Mississippi Railroad passes through the township from east to west, almost on a direet line, entering from Springfield, on
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HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.
section twenty-four, and entering Cartwright from section nineteen. It has two stations in the township-Farmingdale and Bradfordton.
POST OFFICES.
Cross Plains post office was established in 1871, with J. M. Slater as postmaster. Richland post office was established at an early day, on the west line of the township, with Constantine Foster as postmaster. On the completion of the Ohio & Mississippi Railroad, it was removed over the line into Cartwright township, at Rich- land station. In 1876, an office was established at Bradfordton, with George Shaw as postmaster. The present postmaster is Lewis Tomlinson. The office is at Bradfordton station, on the Ohio & Mississippi Railroad. In addition to these, Farmingdale has an office.
ORGANIC.
Gardner township was organized in 1861. The annual elections are held the first Monday in April, of each year.
George Gregory, post office, Bradfordton; son of Benjamin and Catharine Gregory, who were both natives of England, where they both died. They had eight children, viz: Hannah, born 1806; George, born 1808; Bessie, born 1810; Joseph born 1812; May, Catharine and Emma, dite unknown. The subject of this sketch was the second child, and was born January 8, 1808, and was apprenticed to the machinist trade. After becoming free, he came to America in 1836, and followed his trade in the city of Springfield, having purchased a shop, and carried on the business until 1840, when he began to run on the Northern Cross Railroad from the Illinois river to Springfield; continued that business until it was sold to Dunlap and Lamb and be- came the Great Western. He spent two winters in Louisiana, making sugar. He purchased land where he now lives, and in 1830, married Miss Sarah Nohls, daughter of John and Sarah Nohls. She was born in England in 1810. They have ten children, viz: George I., born February 2, 1832; Isaac, November 6, 1834; Samuel, September 30, 1836; Jacob, September 23, 1838; Benjamin, January 12, 1842; Elizabeth, January 25, 1844; Mary, April 24, 1848; Emma, April 13, 1852; Eliza, January 6, 1854; George J., December 28, 1856. George was killed by a horse running away with him, January 1, 1842; Samuel was killed by being thrown from a horse January 11, 1868; Benjamin died in his fifth year. The subject of this memoir owns three hundred acres of land, worth $100 an acre. Mr.
Gregory ran the first engine that brought a train of cars to Springfield.
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