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 165
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In 1856, the district was named Oak Ridge, and the school house then erected and occupied became known as the Oak Ridge school house. It was used until 1873, when it was sold at pub- lic sale, and purchased by Charles H. Lamb, for $34, and a new and more substantial edifice was erected, which was enlarged in 1879, to meet the increasing demands for school room. From 1879, the school has been classed as a graded school, Thomas McElvain being employed as principal, and occupying the position at the present time. There are one hundred and twenty-eight children in the district, eighty-five of proper school age. The school in its grade is reported by the County Superintendent as first class.
The township is now well supplied with good school buildings, and in educational progress is equal to any in the county.
976
HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.
RELIGIOUS.
The first religious services ever held in Pawnee township was in 1819. The well known eccen- tric divine, Lorenzo Dow, while traveling in the west, and on a visit to Fort Clark, now Peoria, came to this neighborhood and preached one of his characteristic sermons. Revs. Rivers Cor- mack, William Sims, Peter Cartwright and other Methodist divines often visited the township in the early day, and preached the word of God in the cabins of the settlers before even school houses were known. There are two church edifices in the township, and over twenty in a radius of eight miles of Oak Ridge; and two re- ligious denominations represented-the Metho- dist Episcopal and Presbyterian, each having a house of worship.
The first regular preaching appointment in the Oak Ridge or Brush creek neighborhood was in 1854, at the house of J. J. Megredy. A class was soon organized, embracing the following named: Charles Nuckolls, Daniel Megredy and Katie, his wife; Mrs. Lucinda Megredy, J. J. Megredy and A. R., his wife; Jacob J. Weber and Elizabeth, his wife; Colby Smith aud Eliza, his wife. Mr. and Mrs. Smith, of the class, were members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Previous to 1857, the meetings were held at the house of Mr. Megredy, when the ap- pointment was removed to the school house and continued until 1869, when a church was built nearly opposite, on the southwest corner of sec- tion thirty-five; in size, thirty-four by forty-six feet, at a cost of $2,300. The following named have served as pastors since 1855: Elder Peter Cartwright, A. Bradshaw, Jay R. Bird, William Pallett, R. Clark, J. S. Barger, W. P. Paxton, Elder W. S. Prentice, John Burgess, A. C. Ar- mentrout, S. S. McGinnis, George Stearn, Henry C. Wallace, W. Y. Hickox, J. B. Wolf, S. W. Druegan, G. B. Wolf, B. F. Hyde, and J. Q. Roberts, the present incumbent. The following named are the stewards of the church: P. W. Weber, J. H. Colean, W. R. Lockridge, Daniel Jones, W. R. Ford, T. B. Shepherd, and Hiram Walker.
A Sunday school was organized in connection with this church about 1855, and has continued to the present time. For several years it has held sessions during the entire year. G. P. Weber is the present Superintendent.
The Brush Creek Presbyterian Church was organized Decmber 31, 1870, by Rev. W. D. Saunders, of Springfield Presbytery. Those composing the membership on organization
were, R. S. Brown, Sarah A. Brown, Charles G. Brown, Virginia A. Brown; John Brown, Mary A. Brown, William Poe, Margaret Ann Poe, Annie H. Poe, James Clark, Jane Clark, Mary A. Clark, Horace Wells, Ellen Wells, Charles H. Wells, Job Fletcher, Francis Fletcher. R. S. Brown and Job Fletcher were electsd elders. A house of worship was completed in 1870, at a cost of $2,900. It is a frame structure, thirty- two by forty-eight feet. The following named have served as pastors : Revs. William T. Tarbet, Aaron Thompson, Jones Herbut, and G. Pollock. Rev. W. A. Dunning is the present supply. The present membership is forty-four. A revival of great power was held in Novem- ber and December, 1871, resulting in about sixty conversions, some of whom united with the Methodists, Baptists, and Cumberland Pres- byterians. A Sunday school has been in opera- tion since April, 1871. Its average attendance is forty-five. Charles H. Wells is the superin- tendent ; John Brown, secretary and treasurer. The first church edifice was destroyed by fire, July 11, 1872. A second house of worship was erected the following fall, and completed January 1, 1873, at a cost of $2,700. It stands on the same foundation as the first building.
PAWNEE CIRCUIT, ILLINOIS CONFERENCE, M. E. CIIURCH.
Pawnee circuit was formed of the eastern portion of Chatham, Sangamon county, and the southwest of Bethel circuits, Christian county, in the year 1867, including Zion Chapel on Horse creek (an appointment of about fifty years standing, and at one time the eastern boundary of the old Sangamon circuit,) Oak Ridge, on Brush creek, and Pawnee Church, at the village of Pawnee.
Pawnee Church is the outgrowth of a revival held in the winter of 1864-5, conducted by Rev. W. M. Reed, of the Chatham circuit, and was commenced by Rev. James Guner, of Bethany circuit, and completed in 1865. Mr. Guner was succeeded by Rev. A. Orr, in 1866. These ap- pointments were in the district of which Rev. Peter Cartwright was the presiding elder.
On the organization of the circuit, Rev. George Stevens was appointed as pastor. The first quarterly meeting was held at the McMur- ray chapel, November 16, 1867, and was in the circuit of Rev. J. L. Crane, presiding elder.
The first official board of the circuit was, Rev. J. L. Crane, P. E .; George Stevens, Pastor; James J. Megredy, Secretary and Recording Steward; P. W. Weber, William H. Veatch,
977
HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.
Samuel Ridgeway, Wesley IIndgen, Iliram W. Walker, James T. Seott, J. J. Megredy, T. B. Shepherd, Stewards; W. Scott Matthew, local preacher.
In 1868, Rev. W. S. Prentice was the presid- ing elder, and Henry C. Wallace, pastor. Mem- bership, two hundred and fifty.
In 1869, John B. Wolfe was pastor, and Oak Ridge Church was built.
In 1871, A. C. Armentrout, pastor. The value of the church property this year was esti- mated as follows: Four churches, $9,800; pas- torage, $1,800; total, $11,600.
In 1872, Rev. W. MeElfresh was appointed presiding elder, with G. W. Dungan, pastor, and W. S. Matthew, local preacher.
In 1875, George B. Wolfe was pastor; James Scott and William Winters, exhorters.
In 1876, Rev. W. II. H. Webster was ap- pointed presiding elder, with George B. Wolfe, pastor.
In 1878, B. F. Hyde was pastor; membership, two hundred and five.
In 1879, J. T. Roberts, pastor.
In 1880, Rev. W. S. Prentice, presiding elder; J. T. Roberts, pastor.
In 1881, the appointments were continued. Number of members, two hundred and eleven.
Present board of stewards: P. W. Weber, W. Weber, W. R. Ford, T. B. Shepherd, A. P. Curtis, W. R. Lockridge, D. G. Jones, J. H. Co- lean, W. Stickel, William Winter.
MORAL.
In the early history of the western part of the township at Oak Ridge, on Brush creek, whisky was sold in any quantity by Jacob Greenwalt, whose house was a place of public resort, and the prominent characteristic of the people was whisky drinking, which continued until subdued by the steady, moral influence of those who afterward became citizens of the neighborhood. At the present time not one of the permanent citizens of Oak Ridge school district is in the habit of using spirituous liquors as a beverage.
OAK RIDGE POLICE.
During the war the farmers of Sangamon and neighboring counties suffered much from what was supposed to be an organized gang of horse- thieves. The citizens of Ball and Pawnee townships living near Brush creek, organized the Oak Ridge police force June 14, 1864, having for its object the suppression of theft, the recovery of stolen property, and to secure the immediate protection of the laws. Among those taking an active part in its organization
were J. J. Megredy, Joseph J. Weber, Josiah Lard, Samuel Davidson and J. Campbell. The following named were elected officers: Jacob J. Weber, Chief of Police; Thomas B. Shep- herd, Rape Funderburk, Samuel Davidson, John P. Crocker, Assistants; Josiah Lard, Treasurer; J. J. Megredy, Secretary. The organization continued to exist and held its meetings with more or less regularity until September 25, 1876. Between Auburn and Oak Ridge fourteen per- sons were arrested for stealing horses during the time of its active existence, and much good was done.
DARK DEEDS.
Pawnee township has been disgraced by two foul murders since its settlement, that of John Baker and John H. Sanders, an account of which is given in chapter XX, under the head of "Dark Deeds."
MILLS.
Justus Henkle built a small water grist-mill on section five, town thirteen north, range four west, on Horse creek, in 1822, with one run of stone. The stone was one picked up on the prairie, and was chipped with an axe. This was the first water-mill in Sangamon county. Mr. Henkle subsequently built two horse-mills for the purpose of supplying the demand.
ORGANIC.
Pawnee township was organized in 1861, and was composed of the west half of township thir- teen, range four west, and all of township thir- teen, range five west. In 1869, some twelve sec- tions on the west were taken from it and given to Auburn. The following named have served in the offices and for the time mentioned.
1861 .- A. S. Davenport, Supervisor; James J. Megredy, Town Clerk; James Campbell, Asses- sor; Edwin Doolittle, Collector; Wm. Humphrey, C. M. Campbell, Justices of the Peace; Edwin Doolittle, John W. Nuckolls, Constables; W. B. Fox, Overseer of Poor; Garred Young, T. J. Nuckolls, Wm. Speak, Commissioners of High- ways.
1862 .- A. S. Davenport, Supervisor; James J. Megredy, Town Clerk; James Campbell, Asses- sor; Edwin Doolittle, Collector; James Benning- ton, Constable; Wm. Speak, Commissioner of Highways.
1863 .- A. S. Davenport, Supervisor; James J. Megredy, Town Clerk; James Campbell, Asses- sor; W. H. H. Bennington, Collector; Thomas Kenney, Constable; Garred Young, Commis-
114-
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HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.
sioner of Highways; C. D. Nuckolls, Overseer of Poor.
1864 .- Elisha Sanders, Supervisor; J. J. Me- gredy, Clerk; James Campbell, Assessor; R. E. Sanders, Collector; F. M. Ogden, Constable; Dr. W. C. Johnson, Overseer of Poor; James Ben- nington, Commissioner of Highways.
1865 .- J. W. Lochridge, Supervisor; J. J. Me- gredy, Clerk; James Campbell, Assessor; W. H. H. Bennington, Collector; Edwin Doolittle, HI. C. Barnes, Justices of the Peace; J. J. Warren, John McKain, Constables; Dr. John Wheeler, Overseer of Poor; James A. Able, Commis- sioner of Highways.
1866 .- James Campbell, Supervisor; J. J. Me- gredy, Clerk; S. C. Proctor, Assessor; W. H. H. Bennington, Collector; Dr. W. C. Johnson, Overseer of Poor; John McKain, Constable; Garred Young, Commissioner of IIighways.
1867 .- H. R. Davis, Supervisor; James Camp- bell, Clerk; S. C. Proctor, Assessor; Geo. Hart- sock, Collector; J. C. Griffith, Overseer of Poor; M. A. Davis, Commissioner of Highways.
1868 .- Garred Young, Supervisor; James Campbell, Clerk; Philemon Stout, Assessor; James A. Able, Collector; W. D. Patton, Com- missioner of Highways.
1869 .- J. J. Megredy, Supervisor; S. C. Proctor, Clerk; Edwin Doolittle, Assessor; W. T. McClure, Collector; Edwin Doolittle, J. L. Stephens, Justices of the Peace; J. J. Warren, Chas. L. Megredy, Constables; J. B. Ogden, Commissioner of Highways.
1870 .- Garred Young, Supervisor; J. W. Blakey, Town Clerk; S. C. Proctor, Assessor; W. J. Wheeler, Collector; H. R. Davis, Com- missioner of Highways.
1871 .- W. K. Campbell, Supervisor; J. W. Blakey, Clerk; James Campbell, Assessor; I. W. Porter, Collector; W. D. Patton, Commis- sioner of Ilighways.
1872 .- W. K. Campbell, Supervisor; J. W. Blakey, Clerk; J. B. Ogden, Assessor; M. A. Davis, Collector, W. H. Jones, Commissioner of Highways.
1873 .- Garred Young, Supervisor; J. W. Blakey, Clerk; J. B. Ogden, Assessor; Turner Saunders, Collector; J. L. Stephens, Wm. J. Wheeler, Justices of the Peace; J. J. Warren, Constable; H. R. Davis, R E. Sanders, Com- missioner of Highways.
1874 .- Garred Young, Supervisor; J. W. Blakey, Clerk; D. M. Hamlin, Assessor; J. J. Warren, Collector; H. R. Davis, Commissioner of Highways.
1875 .- J. L. Stephens, Supervisor; J. W. Blakey Clerk; James A. Able, Assessor; Joseph Christopher, Collector; James Burt, Commis- sioner of Highways.
1876 .- D. W. Porter, Supervisor; J. W. Blakey, Clerk; James Able, Assessor; Joseph Christopher, Collector; Wm. H. Jones, D. H. Starkweather, Commissioners of Highways.
1877 .- H. R. Davis, Supervisor; J. W. Blakey, Clerk; James A. Able, Assessor; C. W. Nuck- olls, Collector; Wm. J. Wheeler, C. I. Pulliam, Justices of the Peace; J. J. Warren, Constable; W. W. Scott, Constable; R. E. Sanders, Com- missioner of Highways.
1878 .- H. R. Davis, Supervisor; J. W. Blakey, Clerk; Wm. K. Campbell, Assessor; Wm. L. Keisacker, Collector; Wm. H. Jones, Commis- sioner of Highways.
1879 .- H. R. Davis, Supervisor; J. W. Blakey, Clerk; William K. Campbell, Assessor; L. A. Seely, Collector; John Dozier, Commissioner of Highways; J. B. Weber, Justice of the Peace.
May 20, 1879, M. A. Bridges was elected Justice of the Peace in place of J. B. Weber, refusing to serve.
September 25, 1879, J. R. Barnes was elected constable, in place of J. J. Warren, resigned; George Young was elected Commissioner of Highways, in place of John Dozier, deceased.
1880 .- H. R. Davis, Supervisor; J. W. Blakey, Clerk; William K. Campbell, Assessor; Michael Martin, Collector; Joseph Dodds, Commissioner of Highways.
1881 .- H. R. Davis, Supervisor; J. W. Blakey, Clerk; William K. Campbell, Assessor; Michael Martin, Collector; William H. Nichols, Justice of the Peace; Green A. Call, Constable; Duncan McTaggart, D. H. Starkweather, Commissioners of Highways.
VILLAGE OF PAWNEE.
The village of Pawnee originally comprised, according to the plat, the south part of the northeast quarter of the southeast quarter of section seven, township thirteen, range four west, and is pleasantly situated, and surrounded by a good country. Being several miles from any market, and the country being well settled, Samuel Fullinwider commenced here the sale of merchandise, in 1854, the store being under charge of J. R. Mengel, Mr. Fullinwider resid- ing at Chatham. The neighborhood, at this time, was known as the Horse creek precinct, and its school house as the Horse creek school house. The next thing after starting a store here, was to have a post office. The post office
979
HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.
department was accordingly petitioncd for the establishment here of an office, to be known as the Horse creek post office. For some cause, the department objected to the name, and wrote to James W. Keyes, then postmaster at Spring- field, asking his opinion as to the advisability of establishing an office here, and asking him to suggest a name. He suggested Pawnee, and thus it was named. Isaac Mengel was made postmaster, and held the office until the spring of 1866, when he was succeeded by J. W. Blakey, who continued to serve until October, 1869, when he was succeeded by J. F. Smith, who served until 1876, when James A. Abel was appointed. Mr. Abel was succeeded, December 1, 1877, by W. E. Purcell, who discharged the duties of the office to September 1, 1878, when Dr. Charles Kerr was appointed, and served till in February, 1881, and was succeeded by John W. McClure. The office was made a money order office in August, 1881, and Gilbert C. Drennan secured the first order, in favor of the Journal Printing Company, Springfield.
A blacksmith shop, by Newton Rape, was the next addition to the village, followed by a wagon shop, by Isaac R. Mengel.
SCHOOLS.
A log school house was built here at an early day, and succeeded in a few years by a frame building. The school here was known as the Horse creek school. The house was used by the various religious denominations who desired to hold services therein. The district was organized in 1853, since which time free public schools have been held. The present school house was built at a later day, and the school was graded upon opening in the new house, into two grades.
RELIGIOUS.
The religious element of the place is repre- sented by the Methodist Episcopal Church, รข sketch of which is given in connection with the township, as part of Pawnee circuit.
POST OFFICE.
The post office was established here shortly after Mr. Fullinwider started his store, and Isaac R. Mengel was appointed postmaster. He was succeeded by J. W. Blakey, who served from the spring of 1866 to October, 1869. J. F. Smith was then appointed, and served until 1876, and was succeeded by James A. Able, who per- formed the duties of the office until the appoint- ment of W. E. Purcell, December 1, 1877. Mr. Purcell retained the office until September 1, 1878, when Dr. Charles Kerr, the incumbent,
was appointed. The office was made a money order office, in August, 1881.
Henry C. Barnes, post office, Virden, Ma- coupin county, was born in Devonshire, England, March 18, 1835; his father, Arthur Barnes, was also a native of Devonshire, England, and was born in 1792; he served under Wellington in the battle of Waterloo, as a commissioned officer; his mother, Mary (Clark) Barnes, was born in 1808, in the same place; she belonged to the same family of Adams as did John and John Quincy Adams; they were married in England, in 1822, and had six children, as follows: Wil- liam C., John C., Mary J., James, Henry C. and Emily. Henry C. came to this country in 1846; landed at Quebec; came to Chicago, and from there to Grafton, Jersey county; thence to Jack- sonville, where he engaged in the marble busi- ness, attending school a part of the time; then went to Shurtleff College, where he took a class- ical course, and afterwards taught school at Alton, and elsewhere, April 11, 1861. He mar- ried Miss E. J. Dobbs, daughter of John W. and Martha Dobbs, and their six children were: John L., born February 16, 1862; Annie E., March 5, 1865; Arthur E., August 24, 1866; Mary Jane, July 4, 1868; George W., September 21, 1870, and Bertha R., February 14, 1873. Mrs. Barnes died June 5, 1878, and February 2, 1879, Mr. Barnes married Elizabeth Dayton, nee Brockman, daughter of Zurrath and Isaac Brockman; they have one child, Emily H., born March 8, 1880. Mr. B. owns three hundred and twenty acres of valuable land, and is engaged in general farming and feeding cattle and hogs for market.
John W. Blakey, post office, Pawnee, was born December 30, 1341; his parents were John M. and Frances Blakey, natives of Culpepper county, Virginia; they were married and moved to Missouri about 1839; they had seven children, four sons and three daughters, all living, one of whom was a physician, two merchants, and one farmer. John W. was the sixth child, and was born in Howard county, Missouri; he remained there until July, 1864, then went to St. Louis to attend Commercial College; he graduated in October, 1864, having previously attended Cen- tral College, and was within six months of grad- uating when the war broke up the college. In 1865, he came to this county and settled at Paw- nee, where he engaged in mercantile pursuits; this he has continued to the present time. May 7, 1867, he married Amanda E., daughter of Philip W. and Amanda E. Weber, who was born in this county March 3, 1846, and was educated at
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HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.
Pawnee. They have had three children, Annie May, born April 22, 1868, and died September 5, 1868; Edgar L., born April 16, 1871, and Charles L., born May 4, 1875. Mr. B. was elected town clerk in 1870, and at each succeed- ing election since.
William K. Campbell, post office, Pawnee, is a son of Charles M. and Agnes (Shank) Campbell, natives of Princeton, New Jersey. The father was born in September, 1796. The date of the mother's birth is unknown. Their children were John, born in New Jersey about 1820; James, 1822; William K., 1824; Charles M., 1828, and Cornelia, 1833. The subject of this sketch was the third child, and came to Jersey county, Illinois, about 1840; remained there until about 1853, when he came to this county, bought land, and made a farm. Mr. Campbell has been three times married. His first wife was Miss Abbie Minier, who died May 5, 1847, leaving one child, Agnes, born April 15, 1847. The second wife was Mary E. Noble, who died July 12, 1859, leaving five children, viz .: Julia P. Agnes K., Charles A., William II., and John S. Mr. C. married Miss Clara E. Gale, July 12, 1860. She was the daughter of Gard- ner and Sophronia Gale, natives of Vermont. The father was born in 1804, and the mother in 1806. The children of Mr. Campbell's third marriage are: Archibald A., born February 9, 1861; Mary S., August 3, 1863; Gardner G., April 1, 1865; Gardner W., March 21, 1867; Walter E., January 31, 1869; Philip W., March 21, 1871; Clara Lorena, December 13, 1873. Agnes died April 6, 1849; Mary S., January 19, 1866; Gardner G., January 29, 1866; Gardner W., August 25, 1872, and Julia, September 1, 1874. Mr. Campbell is of Scotch and German origin, and Mrs. C. of English. She had good educational advantages, having attended the Bor- dentown academy. His son, Archie, attends mostly to the farm. Mr. C. was supervisor of Pawnee township for two years, and is at pres- ent filling his third term as assessor.
Randolph M. Calliss, post office, Virden, is a son of Randolph W. and Hester Calliss, the for- mer born in Virginia, March 16, 1817, and the latter in Pennsylvania, September 4, 1820; they were married in Ohio in 1838, and had seven children, as follows: Randolph M., born August 30, 1839; Joseph J., born June 30, 1841, and died April 8, 1868; Elizabeth E., born April 18, 1844, died July 4, 1874; Margaret M., born August 30, 1846, died April 26, 1874; Robert S., born March 20, 1849; John V., born June 13, 1851; James W., born October 2, 1853. They came to Jersey
county, Illinois, in 1846. The father died January 25, 1855, and the mother October 9, 1870. Ran dolph M., was the first child and came with his mother to this county November 15, 1858, where he married Elizabeth, daughter of Andrew and Honor Orr, February 6, 1868, the former born in Virginia May 29, 1814, and the latter in Ten- nessee, May 7, 1815. They had five children, viz: Cora H., born March 4, 1869; Honor E., born October 13, 1871, died June 7, 1880; Fred- die, born March 26, 1874, died April 12, 1874; Edwin J., born August 26, 1875, died May 13, 1880, and Maggie A., born January 23, 1878, died April 24, 1880. Mr. Calliss is of English and Scotch origin, and Mrs. Calliss of Welch and German. IIe owns eighty acres of land, valued at $50 an acre. Mr. C. was in the One Hundred and Twenty-second Illinois Volunteer Infantry, during the war.
James Clark, post office, Virden, was the only child of John and Janet (Garrow) Clark, natives of Scotland; the mother was born about 1783. He came to America with his mother, in 1853, and landed at New York; went to New Jersey for three years; came to Jersey county, this State, in 1856, and in 1857, came to this county, where he has since resided. June 20, 1843, he married Miss Jane Whyte, in Scotland, daughter of David and Jane Whyte. They have had four children, namely: James W., born July 26, 1844; Jane, March 7, 1847; Mary A., August 8, 1851; Lizzie, July 31, 1859, died, August 24, 1866. Mr. Clark was naturalized in 1860, and cast his first vote for Abraham Lincoln. He owns two hun- dred and eighty acres of valuable land; buildings large and commodious; makes a specialty of raising and feeding cattle for market; also deals in stock on speculation; both himself and wife had good educational advantages.
Moses A. Davis, post office Pawnee, son of Luther and Annie M. Davis, the former born in Vermont, the latter in New York. Moses A. was the fifth child, and born in Erie county, Pennsylvania, from there came to Indiana, thence to Tazewell county, thence to Jersey county, finally locating in Sangamon county, in 1854, in Pawnee township. He was married in February, 1861, to Miss Emma Lough of Jersey county; they are of English extraction. Their children are, Frederick, born October 20, 1862; Charles, born September 25, 1864; Addie E., born November 26, 1869; Fannie, born Deceni- ber 26, 1871; Mary, born May 26, 1876. He owns three hundred and twenty acres of land, worth $50 an acre. The advantages of edu- cation of himself and wife were limited.
HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.
981
Henry R. Davis, post office, Pawnee, was born in St. Lawrence county, New York, Octo- ber 14, 1832. His parents were Luther and Anna M. Davis; the father born in Chittenden county, Vermont, and the mother in Herkimer county, New York. They were married in St. Lawrence county, New York, and had eight children, six sons and two daughters. They came to Tazewell county, this State, in 1841, re- mained there three years, then moved to Jersey county, residing there ten years, and in 1854 came to this county, where they entered land and made the farm adjoining where the son now resides. November 10, 1859, Henry R. married Miss Susan Williamson, who was born in Ohio, February 1, 1837. She was a daughter of Ben- jamin and Catharine S. Williamson, natives of Pennsylvania. Children, Luther K., born Janu- ary 8, 1863; Olive J., November 19, 1865; Flor- ence N., February 9, 1868; Ida Mary, July 14, 1871; Benjamin F., February 1, 1875; and Edna, January 26, 1880; Benjamin F. died March 21, 1877. Mr. Davis is supervisor of his township, and has been for several terms. He owns six hundred and fifty acres of land, valued at $40 an acre. Mrs. Davis, and infant son, died Au- gust 18, 1881, and are buried in Horse Creek Cemetery.
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