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 171

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 171

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).

George P. Sidener, Jr., a farmer, was born in Bourbon county, Kentucky, December 10, 1833, and came with his father, George P. Sidener, Sr., to Sangamon county in March, 1852, and settled near his present residence in Rochester township, where his father died in 1865, and his mother in 1866. George P., Jr., married Miss Hannah R. Elder, daughter of Samuel and Phæbe (Clinkenbeard) Elder, Feb- ruary 10, 1858, and has continued to reside in the same township ever since, farming his own tract of forty acres, worth $70 per acre, and at times renting other lands. He has had eight children, six of whom are alive: Charles Lincoln, Ada A., James G., Edward B., William A., and Freddie E., with two deaths, Phoebe, died in 1860, at two years of age, and one in

early infancy. Mr. S. and his wife are members of the Christian Church and are Republicans.

Thomas C. Smith, was born in Sangamon county, Illinois, March 31, 1848; son of Samuel B. and Mary E. (Shephard) Smith. His father was born in Virginia, June 9, 1810, and died January 22, 1880. His mother was born in Shep- hardstown, Virginia, October 31, 1813. They came to Sangamon county in the spring of 1845, and located near Chatham, on Lick creek, and about 1867, to Rochester township. The subject of this sketch received a common school educa- tion in this county, and was raised on a farm. He was married in 1876, to Anna Craig, who was born in Scotland, September 27, 1853, a daughter of William and Mary (McLaughlin) Craig, who came to Sangamon county in 1856. They have had three children, Mary E., born October 11, 1876; Samuel B., May 24, 1878; and Louella, born January 21, 1880. He resides on the home farm, consisting of two hundred and fifty-two and a half acres, which is under a fair state of cultivation, and worth $50 per acre. His mother resides with him, and has been a member of the Methodist Church fifty-three years. Mrs. T. C. Smith is a member of Christ- ian Church. In politics they are Republicans.

Lawson H. Smith (deceased), was born in Nicholas county, Kentucky, February 20, 1831; son of William and Elizabeth (Henderson) Smith, who also were born in Kentucky, and both are dead. The subject of this sketch went to Missouri at seven years of age, in 1838, where he resided for seven years, and from there went to Shelby county, Illinois, when he was twice seven years old, where he remained seven years, thence to Jackson county, Oregon, where he also remained seven years. He returned to Shelby county, where he engaged in farming in 1859, and in March, 1860, he was married to Caroline M. Bell, the daughter of Isaac and Susan (Stokes) Bell, who came to Sangamon county in 1831. Her mother died April 26, 1877, and her father in June 18, 1880. After their marriage they moved to the farm where she now resides. Mr. Smith died December 11, 1876, leaving a widow and four children, Alice, Riley, Anna and Susie. Their farm consists of two hundred and eighty acres of land, which is under good cultivation, and worth $60 per acre. She and her daughter Alice are members of the Christian Church at South Fork, and he was an elder in the same, fourteen years, to the time of his death.

Robert H. Sattley, Jr., a farmer in Rochester, was born in Sangamon county, September 18,

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HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

1837, the son of Robert Sattley, Sen., who was born in the vicinity of Vergennes, Vermont, October 27, 1788. He and his brother Archibald went with the family of Mrs. Lovina Hawley, a widow lady with two daughters and three sons to White county, near Carmi, Illinois, in the fall of 1818. He was there married in February 1819, to Eliza Hawley, who was born March 7, 1801, ncar Vergennes, Vermont. Mr. and Mrs. Sattley moved to what now is Sangamon county, in June 1819, and settled about a half mile north of where Rochester now stands, and then moved to the place where he lived until his death, March 27, 1842. His mother died June 13, 1860. The subject of this sketch received a common school education in Rochester township and was raised on a farm. He was married November 7, 1860, to Margaret J. Green, who was born in Virginia, May 10, 1839, the daughter of George M. and Mary (Miller) Green, who were natives of Vir- ginia, and now of Sangamon county, Illinois, where her father now resides. His mother died in 1879. They have had four children, two of which, Robert and Ralph, died in infancy, and Mary E., Emma J. and Louann A. yet living. He is now the owner of two hundred acres of fine farming land, which is under a good state of cultivation and worth $50 per acre. In politics, Mr. Sattley is a Republican.

Asa Sterling, a farmer, Rochester, was born in County Down, Ireland, April 15, 1816; son of William and Agnes (Irving) Sterling, who also was born in County Down, Ireland, and emi- grated to America in 1824, and located at New- burg, New York, where they resided until their death. The father of A. Sterling was a merchant, from early life to the day of his death, which occurred about the year 1845. The mother died in 1824, soon after they came to America. The subject of this sketch received a common school education in New York, and at the age of sixteen learned carriage-making, which he followed until twenty-one years of age, when he entered the store, and continued in the finishing trade with his father till the death of the latter, and afterwards for a term of twenty- two years. He was married in 1839, to Phobe E. Carpenter, who was born in Newburg, New York, October 23, 1813, and was the daughter of James C. and Jane ( McVeigh) Carpenter, both of whom are now dead. They have had four children, William J., and Edmond H. yet live, while two named Edmond and Mary Irving, are dead. On account of failing health Mr. S. quit merchandising and engaged in farming in New York, until the year 1868, when he moved to

Sangamon county, Illinois, where he purchased two hundred and fifty acres of land and engaged in farming. His land is in good condition and worth $75 per acre, being well and successfully cultivated. His two sons, now reside with him on the farm. He and his wife are members of the Second Presbyterian Church, in Springfield. Politically he is a Republican.

William A. Whitesides, farmer, Rochester township, was born in Fayette county, Ken- tucky, November 5, 1815, son of Charles and Elizabeth (Graves) Whitesides. His father, Charles Whitesides, was born in 1785, in Virginia, and taken by his parents to Fayette county, Ken- tucky. They traveled in boats from Pittsburg down the Ohio river to Limestone -now Mays- ville - Kentucky. Charles Whitesides was mar- ried in 1810, in Fayette county, Kentucky, to Elizabeth Graves, who was born in 1788, in that county. They had five children in Fayette county, and in 1819, moved to Cumberland county, same State, where five children were born, and the family moved to Sangamon county, Illinois, arriving June 30, 1831, in Springfield. In 1833, they moved to the vicinity of Williams- ville, and in 1835 moved to German Prairie, northeast of Springfield, where he farmed until his death, March 31, 1836. His mother died June 25, 1855, in Logan county, Illinois. The subject of this sketch received a common school education in the State of Kentucky, and was raised on a farm. He came to this county with his parents, where he has continued to reside Fever since. He was married February 19, 1846, to Honor A. Branch, born in Nicholas county, Kentucky, March 24, 1827, the daughter of Ed- ward and Rebecca (Cassity) Branch, natives of Kentucky, and came to Sangamon county in the fall of 1830, and resided in Rochester till the death of Mr. Branch, after which the widow made her home at the house of her son-in-law, and daughter for sixteen years, prior to her death, July 25, 1876. They have had two children, Albert, born December 27, 1846, and died December 7, 1860, and Louisiana, born September 11, 1849, who was married October 13, 1870, to Edward Miller, and died November 23, 1871. Mr. Whitesides has been an active farmer, and one of Rochester's best citizens. He is the owner of one hundred and forty acres of fine farming land, which is under good culti- vation, and worth $50 per acre. He has given up farming on account of failing health, and now rents his farm, while he retires from active life, having recently purchased a good residence in the village of Rochester.

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HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

CHAPTER XLVI.

TOWNSHIP AND VILLAGE OF SALISBURY.

The township of Salisbury is one of the | knew his fate. Mrs. Coleman, with her four northern tier of townships, and is the smallest in the county, being three square miles less than half a Congressional township.

EARLY SETTLERS.

The first settlement in Salisbury township was made in 1820. Among the early settlers were Solomon Miller, Marshal Duncan, Mrs. Abigail Coleman, William Yoakum, Fielding Harrison, William Kirkpatrick, Amos Batterton, Rev. John Antle, Christopher Mosteller, Job Ratcliff, Jacob Miller, James Fisher, John Duncan, Aaron Miller, Isaac Carlock, John Goodman, John Davis, Tobias Goodman, V. Crite, George Mil- ler, and Clawson Lacy.

Solomon Miller was born about 1796, in Adair county, Kentucky. Ile was married there to Nancy A. Antle. They moved to St. Clair county, Illinois, and from there to Sangamon county, arriving in the spring of 1820, at what is now Salisbury. He died in 1858.

Marshal Duncan was born in 1783, or 1784, in North Carolina. He was brother to Rice and John. He went, when young, with his parents to Cumberland county, Kentucky. He left Ken- tucky with three children, and came to Sanga- mon county, Illinois; arrived in 1820 or 18z1, in Salisbury township. He was there married to Hannah Miller, a daughter of John Miller. Died in 1858.

Mrs. Abigail Coleman, whose maiden name was Robertson, was born in Surry county, North Carolina, and was married there to Theophilus Coleman, who was born in Virginia. They had four children in North Carolina. Mr. Coleman became a soldier in the war with England in 1812. He never returned, and his family never

children, moved, in 1815, to Cumberland county, Kentucky, and to Sangamon county, Illinois; ar- rived in the fall of 1820, on Richland creek, in what is now Salisbury township.

William Yoakum was born in 1791, in Vir- ginia, and when he was an infant his parents moved to Claiborne county, Tennessee, where his father died His mother moved her family about 1810, to Madison county, near Edwardsville, Illinois. They moved next to Montgomery county, and then to Sangamon county, arriving June 10, 1819, at the north side of Richland creek, in what is now Salisbury township. Wil- liam Yoakum was married in 1821 to Sarah Simmons.

Fielding Harrison was born about 1777, in Rockingham county, Virginia. Anna Quinn was born about 1779, in Culpepper county, Virginia. They were married in Culpepper, and made their home in Rockingham county, until they had one child. They moved about 1805 to Christian county, Kentucky; from there moved to Sanga- mon county, Illinois, arriving November, 1822, at the north side of Richland creek, in what is now Salisbury township. Died in 1829 or '330.

Amos Batterton was born May 3, 1772, in London county, Virginia. Nancy Guthrie was born about 1776, in North Carolina, and her parents moved, when she was a child, to Madison county, Kentucky. They were there married and had one child, who was drowned in Kentucky river. They moved to Adair county and then moved to Madison county, Illinois, in 1818, and from there to Rock creek, in what is now Menard county, in 1820, thence to what is now Salisbury township, Sangamon county, in the spring of 1822, and settled one and a quarter miles north-

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HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

west of where Salisbury now stands. He died Angust 4, 1835,

Rev. John Antle was born April 15, 1789, in Cumberland county, Ky. Elizabeth Buchanan was born in Cumberland county, Pennsylvania. Her parents moved to Lincoln county, Ken- tucky, when she was seven years old. Her father died in that county, and she went to live with a married sister in Cumberland county. John Antle and Elizabeth Buchanan were there married. The family then moved to Morgan county, Illinois, in 1829, and from there to San- gamon county, arriving January 9, 1830, in what is now Salisbury township. Mrs. Elizabeth Antle died September, 1844, and John Antle died August 30, 1864; she in Menard county and he in Salisbury.

Rev. John Antle preached to five churches, called Separate Baptists. One each at Salisbury and McKinnie Settlement, in Sangamon county; Baker's Prairie and Sand Ridge, in Menard county, and one in Morgan county. The only pay he received or expected was the hope of a reward in a better world.

Christopher Mosteller was born in Buncombe county, North Carolina; went to Butler county, Ohio, when a young man, and was there married to Phobe Sackett. They moved to Union county, Indiana; returned to Butler county, Ohio, and from there came to Sangamon county, Illinois, arriving in the spring of 1830, in what is now Salisbury township. He died in 1834.

Jacob Miller came in 1820, and settled on sec- tion twenty. Moved to Iowa in 1845, and after- wards died in 1852.

James Fisher settled on the farm now owned by widow Simmes and Mr. Hover Hess; went to Arkansas from here.

Aaron Miller settled on farm now owned by Mr. W. H. Rhodes. Moved to Iowa and died there in 1858.

Isaac Carlock settled on farm now owned by the widow Marshall. Moved away and his whereabouts are unknown.

John Goodman bought Carlock's place and died on the farm in 1843.

John Davis came in 1827, and died in the vil- lage in 1881.

Tobias Goodman came and settled on the creek on the farm now owned by Mr. E. Walker. Moved to Iowa and from thence to Oregon where he died.

V. Crite settled on the Rhodes farm and died there about 1851.

George Miller came about the same time with the rest of the family and died in 1880, died at Lincoln, Logan county, Illinois.

SCHOOLS.

The first school house was of logs and erected in 1823, on the place now owned by Mr. Bat- terton. Cassell Harrison was the first teacher; John F. Harrison was the next teacher. There are now three school houses in the township, valued at $4,000.

RELIGIOUS.

Rev. James Sims has the honor of being the first to proclaim the gospel in this township. The exact date is unknown, but it was as early as 1822. Rev. John Antle was . probably the next. The first church building was erected by the Baptists, in the village. There is now one church building in the township, represented by three denominations, Methodist Episcopal, United Baptists and Christians.

MILLS.

William Kirkpatrick built a horse-mill on his place in 1821, which was the first mill of any description in the township. Robert Fielding and Reuben Harrison built a water-mill, for saw- ing lumber, on Richland creek, about a mile and a quarter from the village, at a very early date, which was of great convenience to the settlers. In 1833, Milas Goodman, John Sackett, and a man by the name of Holmes, built a saw and grist-mill on the creek, about a mile east of the village. After undergoing several changes in ownership, it is now owned and run by John Miller. The grist-mill has one run of burrs. In the winter of 1839, Thomas Kirkpatrick built a water-mill on Richland creek, half a mile south of the village, and sawed lumber. He abandoned it about five years after.

ORGANIC.

The township was organized in 1861, at the time the county adopted the township organiza- tion law. It was first given the name of Sackett, in honor of one of the leading citizens of the county, but subsequently changed to that of Salisbury, from the village of the same name.

VILLAGE OF SALISBURY.

The village of Salisbury was originally owned by Solomon Miller, who had it surveyed and platted January 9, 1832. Previous to this time a settlement had been formd here, and as it was several miles to any other village, it was thought a good place in which to build one up.

A public sale of town lots was held shortly after it was laid out, which resulted in the dis-

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HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

posal of a fair number, and a free fight by some who had indulged a little too freely in the spirits provided on the occasion.

Simeon Clark erected a building for a dwelling and store in the spring of 1832, and here sold the first merchandise in the place.

George Davis, in 1825, started a blacksmith shop about three-fourths of a mile from the present village, and was the first in the township to engage in blacksmithing. In the fall of 1832, he removed his shop inside the village limits and became the first of his trade in the village as well as in the township.

Henry Davis, a brother of George, commenced the manufacture and repair of wagons in 1832, and was the first of that occupation in the village.

Mathew Morehead came to the village in 1833, and opened a cabinet shop, the first here. At this time nearly all the furniture used by the settlers was made by hand, and according to order. The modern style of running a furniture store was then unknown. Henry Shepherd was the second cabinet maker in the place.

POST OFFICE.

A village without its post office is like the play of Hamlet, with the part of Hamlet omitted. On petition of a large number of the citizens living in the vicinity of the village, the postoffice department established here an office, in 1833. David McMurphy was the first post- master. Among those who have since held the office are George McMurphy, Marion Duncan, Jason Miller, G. W. Miller, George Brahm and Thomas Yoakman, the latter being the present Incumbent.

EDUCATIONAL.

The villagers early set about the erection of a school house, which was built the first year after the platting of the village. The building was of logs, and served the purpose for several years. The second building was of brick. It was used until it became too small to meet the wants of the district, when it was torn down and a larger one erected of like material. The building has two rooms, and has been graded since 1868.

RELIGIOUS.

There is now but one church building in the village, and three organizations-United Bap- tist, Methodist Episcopal, and Christian.

The Baptists organized a congregation in the fall of 1831, composed of the following named members: Solomon Miller and wife, Catharine Davis, Mollie Miller, Sallie Duncan, George Miller, Henry Miller, James Miller, Elizabeth

Miller, and Polly Miller. In 1835, the congre- gation erected a house of worship, in which they continued to worship for many years. They now incet in the Christian Church building, holding services.

A class of Methodists was organized in 1837, by Rev. Mr. Knoll, since which time they have continued to meet with more or less frequency. Salisbury is now in Athens circuit, and preach- ing services are held here once a month. A class meeting is held each Sunday. Rev. Kennett is the present pastor. The congregation worships in the Christian Church building.

BUSINESS OF SALISBURY.

Salisbury is represented in business as fol- lows: General merchandise, T. S. Duncan, J. Keltner, D. Stevenson; blacksmith, J. K. Mc- Murphy, John Stroh; carpenter, S. T. Duncan; physicians, J. B. Wescott, A. F. Purvines.

BIOGRAPHIICAL.

Geo. W. Bailey was born on a farm near Rogersville, Hawkins county, Tennessee, March 12, 1823. He lived there with his father until nearly twenty-one years of age, when he was married to Miss Louisa A. Jones, in 1841. She was born in Tennessee, and was a daughter of Elisha Jones and Nancy Harmon. Mrs. Bailey died in 1851. When twenty-two years of age, Mr. Bailey enlisted in the Mexican War, under Colonel McClernand, in the Fifth Tennessee In- fantry, and at the close of the war, in 1848, he came to Illinois, and settled in Rochester town- ship, Sangamon county, where he remained twelve years, when he moved on the farm where he now resides in Salisbury township. In 1860, he built a saw-mill here on the creek, which he ran fifteen years. He then ran a portable mill three years, farmed two years. In 1879, took charge as a partner and superintendent of Primm's saw and grist-mill in Menard county, where he is still engaged. He was married to Eliza E. Sexton, August 21, 1852. She was born in North Carolina, and was a daughter of Thos. Sexton and Rena Sykes. Mr. and Mrs. Bailey had six children, five living, viz .: Thos. D., John J., Mary E., Chas. W., and Vashti Bailey. Mrs. Bailey was a member of the United Brethren Church. She died October, 1871. Mr. Bailey was married to his present wife, Miss Haley E. Cantrall, October 9, 1872. She was born in San- gamon county, Illinois, and was a daughter of Joshua M. Cantrall and Sallie Cantrall. Mr. and Mrs. Bailey have one child, viz., Sarah A. Bailey. Mr. Geo. Bailey raised Company H, One Hun- dred and Fourteenth Illinois Infantry Volun-

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HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

teers, in 1862; was appointed captain of this company. He has held the position of justice of the peace since 1861, a position he still re- tains. He has held many other township offices. He is at present school director in his township. In politics, he is a Democrat. Mr. Bailey has his farm of one hundred and two acres, on which he resides, all under good cultivation. His father, Thomas Bailey, was born in Hawkins county, Tennessee. He was a farmer, and died in 1831. His wife, Melvina Moore, was born in Tennessee. She was a member of the Baptist Church and the mother of six children, three living. She died in 1862.

William Batterton, post office, Salisbury, was born in Kentucky December 14, 1801. His father, Amos Batterton, was born in Loudon county, Virginia, 1781. His mother, Nancy Batterton, was born in North Carolina, 1784. They were married in Kentucky, and were the parents of the following named children: David, Nelson, Anderson, William, Polly, Levi, Susan, Priscilla and Enoch George. Of whom David, Nelson, Polly, Anderson, Susan and Priscilla are now deceased. Father and mother both died in 1834.

Wm. Batterton came to Sangamon county in 1818, and was married January 1, 1833, to Eliza Gaines, daughter of Richard and Amy Gaines, who came from Virginia to this county in 1822. They had thirteen children, viz: Madison, born October 20, 1833; John, born January 8, 1835, died September 7, 1835; Richard, born July 19, 1836; Amy, born February 19, 1838; Robert, born August 4, 1839, died August 13, 1868; May, born February 27, 1841, died July 6, 1844; Henry C., born November 6, 1843; Mildred P., born May 4, 1846; Maria, born October 3, 1848; Sarah Eliza, born March 19, 1851; Charlotte, born January 29, 1853; George M., born May 19, 1854. Mr. B. owns two hundred acres of land, valued at $50 an acre. His sons, Robert and Madison, were members of the One Hun- dred and Fourteenth Regiment Illinois Volun- teer Infantry. His educational advantages were such as the subscription schools of his day afforded.

Joseph S. Cantrall, was born on Cantrall creek, near Cantrall, Sangamon county, Illinois, Octo- ber 16, 1841, where he remained until twenty years of age, when he went into the cattle trade, feeding and shipping until 1872, when he and two others laid out the town of Cantrall, Illinois. He then furnished ties and lumber for the S. & N. W. Railroad, from Petersburg to Springfield, and, in 1874, built the Cantrall Elevator, and

went into the grain trade, his present occupation. He is now building a large corn-crib, at Can- trall, with a capacity of 75,000 bushels of ear corn; it is two hundred feet long and thirty-five feet wide. J. S. Cantrall was married to Miss Margaret A. Canterbury, January 16, 1868; the fruits of this marriage are two children: Daisy and Hattie. Mr. and Mrs. Cantrall are members of the Christian Church. In politics, he is a Republican; having cast his first vote for A. Lincoln. Mrs. Cantrall was born in Sangamon county, and is a daughter of John F. Canterbury, born in Fleming county, Kentucky, August 27, 1820; he was married in Sangamon county, February 22, 1842, to Miranda M. Brittin, who was the mother of six children.

The father of Joseph S., Levi Cantrall, was born in Botetourt county, Virginia. He was taken by his parents to Bath county, Kentucky, in 1789, where he was married to Miss Fannie England, November 30, 1809, and in 1811, moved to Madison county, Ohio, and to Madi- son county, Illinois, October, 1819, and Decem- ber 4, 1819, moved where the city of Springfield now stands; on the 5th he selected a location, and commenced building a cabin December 8, 1810; they had seven children; he died Febru- ary 22, 1860, and she resides with her son, Joseph S., who is a Mason, and a member of Lavely Lodge, at Williamsville, Illinois.

Francis M. Duncan, was born on a farm in Menard county, Illinois, two miles northwest of Salisbury, Illinois, October 1, 1831. He lived there and in Hancock county until eighteen years of age, when he moved with his parents to the head of Richland creek, in Cartwright town- ship, Sangamon county, where he remained two years. December 30, 1852, he married Miss Martha J. Yoakum; she was born in Sangamon county, Illinois, and was a daughter of William Yoakum, born in West Virginia. He was a farmer. He died April 26, 1880. His wife, Sarah (Simmons) Yoakum, born in Kentucky. She was the mother of ten children; she died December 5, 1865. Some time after Mr. and Mrs. F. M. Duncan were married he bought a farm of one hundred and eighteen acres in sec- tion seventeen, where he resides. He and wife are members of the United Brethren Church and have had eight children, viz .: Charles U., Laura H., William R., and James F., (who are twins) Jenetta A., George H., Louisa E. and Mary J. Duncan. Mr. F. M. Duncan was a son of James T. Duncan, born in Kentucky, who came to Illi- nois at an early day and was one of the first settlers in Salisbury township. He was a farmer

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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 171

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