History of the early settlers of Sangamon County, Illinois : "centennial record", Part 106

Author: Power, John Carroll, 1819-1894; Power, S. A. (Sarah A.), 1824-; Old Settlers' Society of Sangamon County (Ill.)
Publication date: 1876
Publisher: Springfield, Ill. : E.A. Wilson & Co.
Number of Pages: 824

USA > Illinois > Sangamon County > History of the early settlers of Sangamon County, Illinois : "centennial record" > Part 106

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SAMUEL, born Jan. 27, 1798, in West Stockbridge, Mass, lived with his parents

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until IS18, when he left Ithica, New York, and came West, landing at Shawneetown, and traveled through Illinois to St. Louis on foot, joining his father at Milton, where he clerked in a store for a short time, and afterwards took charge of a store at Hun- terstown (now lower Alton), for Major C. W. Hunter, a merchant of St. Louis. The goods were brought up the Mississippi river on keel boats from the latter city, as there were few steamboats, and they sel- dom went above St. Louis. Mr. Slater's health failed, and he went north to the " Sangamo" country, where his father had bought some land. His favorable

report of the country induced Major Hun- ter to fit him out with a stock of merchan- . dize for a store on Sugar creek. There was only one other store in the country, and that was kept by John Taylor, farther up on the same stream. Mr. Slater found an empty log house on the farm of Isaac Keys, just below the mouth of Lick creek, which he occupied, and among his stores were medicines and whisky, the latter be- ing indispensible. He remained on Sugar creek until 1821, when he went as super- cargo to New Orleans for Major Hunter, with some flat boats loaded with oak staves, in 1823. He went again with a lot of bacon, and remained in New Or- leans during the winter, at which time he took a lot of hogs to Havana, Cuba, and returned with the proceeds in coffee. Found a clerkship at fifteen dollars per month, with board, for three months. Afterwards, his salary was raised to five hundred dollars per year and board. He visited his friends in Illinois, and was mar- ried at Alton, Oct. 27, 1831, to Mary W. Avis. He returned to New Orleans, where they resided until 1839, he moved to Galveston, Texas, and was book-keeper a portion of the time in the United States custom House there. His health failing,

he removed in 1848 to his land in the northern part of same State, where he had ten thousand acres. They remained there twelve years. In 1860 he sold the most of his land, determined to move where there was a railroad. He went to Tyler, to settle some business preparatory to leaving, and found the people greatly excited by the news of the general elec- tions and the success of the Republican party. Mr. Slater was told hy a friend that the Vigilance Committee was trying

to find something out against him, that it had been reported he was about leaving the country, and would take a great many negroes with him. Mr. S. intended leav- ing town that night, but concluded it was safer to remain, as the mob might follow him, so he reported himself to the Vigil- ance Committee, saying he was willing to appear before them and answer any ques- tions they might ask, thinking that would end the matter; but not so, they cited him to appear at the court house. He did so, and found there about forty men, self elected jurors. There was no charge made' against Mr. Slater and of course no witnesses, but a little lawyer said: "I'll fix him!" and the trial began. After questioning him some time about where he was born, and the different places he had lived before coming to Texas, they dispatched two men twenty-five miles to search his house for abolition docu- ments, keeping him under guard at Tyler during the time. The two men returned next day with large bundles of the New York Observer, which they called those abolition documents. The trial was opened next day, and a Methodist preacher, whom Mr. S. considered his friend, and who secretly was one, was called on to testify. He stated that a third person had told him that Mr. Slater was an abolitionist, and he believed it. This settled the question. The trial closed and he was sent to the Vigilance committee of his own county for punishment, but before arriving at his destination the guard told him of a plan they had formed for his escape. A man who owed Mr. Slater met them at this point and paid him five hundred dollars, besides giving him a good mule to make out his team. He found his wife had made all preparations, and they started Aug. 17, 1$60, and traveled ten miles through the woods that night. One of the guard told Mrs. Slater that the com- mittee would have hung her husband the first day had it not been for the Methodist minister, who only testified against Mr. S. to save his own life, and was secretly doing all he could to save Mr. Slater. Some of the guard traveled with them two days and then returned. They made good marches, resting every Sabbath, and ar- rived at Alton in October of the same year Mr. Slater was in the Quartermas- ter's department early in the late war to

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suppress the rebellion, and subsequently mail agent, in place of his son, who en- listed and went as orderly sergeant. Sam- uel Slater resigned his position as mail agent in 1868, and purchased land in .Bates county, Missouri, where he is cultivating a farm, and enjoys better health than when he left New Orleans, in 1839.

Samuel Slater and wife attended a meet- ing of the early settlers of Sangamon county, held on Sugar creek, in 1874, near where his father settled in ISIS, but was unable to find a single per- son who knew him, and felt as though they thought he was trying to de-

ceive them. He was the Rip Van Winkle of the occasion. Mr. and Mrs. Slater had nine children. THOMAS AVIS, born February 12, 1833, in

New Orleans, Louisiana. In 1855 went to Alton, Illinois, to attend Shurtleff College. He studied law, and was ad- mitted to the bar, and soon after received an appointment in the Land Office at Washington, D. C. By too close atten- tion to business lost his health, and died at his father's house in Brighton, Illinois, Sept. 13, 1865. SAMUEL N., born Jan. 15, 1836, in New Orleans, Louisiana, attended school at Alton, enlisted May 15, 1861, in Co. I, 4th Reg. Mo. Vol. Inf., for three months, went out as Orderly Sergeant, served full time and was honor- ably discharged. He was substitute for his brother in the Land Office at Wash- ington, and afterwards, through the in- fluence of Governor Yates, was sent with appointment in the Custom House to New Orleans, remained there a year or two and returned, was appointed in the Agri- cultural Department at Washington, D. C., where he remains. He married Ida V. Tramell Nov. 16, 1871. They have one child, OLIVE MAY, and reside in Washington, D. C. MARY O., born Nov. 18, 1839, in Galveston, Texas, at- tended school in Springfield, Illinois, and Monticello Seminary, and was married August 13, 1873, to William Page, who attended college in Chicago, and graduated in the Law School of Michigan Univer- sity, at Ann Arbor. He is a practicing attorney, and resides in Butler, Bates county, Missouri. JAMES H., born March 3, 1842, in Galveston, Texas, en- listed in Missouri in the same company with his brother, Samuel N., for three

months, served full time, re-enlisted in August, 1862, for three years in Co. D, 122d Ill. Inf. He was honorably dis- charged July IS, 1865. In 1868 he was appointed Postal Clerk on the Chicago and Alton Railroad, in place of his father, (who had just resigned) which position he still retains. WILLIAM A., born Dec. 29, 1844, in Galveston, attended school in Springfield, and in March, 1865, enlisted in Co. D, 18th Ill. Inf., went out as a drummer boy, was taken sick and died at Pine Bluff, Arkansas, Oct. 20,1865, and was buried there. MARTHA, born Feb. 21, I847, at Galveston, attended school in Springfield, Illinois, and Monticello Semi- nary two sessions. She resides with her parents. CHARLES M., born Sept. 19, 1849, in Henderson county, Texas, was sent in 1861 to Boston, Massachusetts, at his uncle Charles' request, to be educated by him. He is now, and has been for several years, a traveling agent for a busi- ness house in New York City. His route is as far west as Omaha and as far south as New Orleans. JOSEPH B., born Nov. 21, 1852, in Henderson county, Texas, re- sides with his father. PERRY J., born Sept. 21, 1854, in Starrville, Smith county, Texas, is a dentist, and lives in Butler, Missouri. Samuel Slater and family re- side near Butler, Bates county, Missouri.

HENRIETTA MARIA was born in 1Soo in Berkshire county, Massachu- setts. She was married in Madison

county, Illinois, to Rev. Thomas Lippin- cott, and died in 1820. Mr. Lippincott was the father, by a subsequent mar- riage, of General Charles E. Lippincott, present Auditor of State for Illinois, who resides in Springfield-1876.

OLIVE, born in iSor in Berkshire county, Massachusetts, was married in Ithica, New York, to Joseph Torrey. See his name. They settled on Sugar creek, Sangaman county, Illinois, where she died in August or September, 1820.

SIBYL, born in 1807 in Berkshire county, Massachusetts, was married Dec. 22, 1842, in Springfield, Illinois, to Dr. Gershom Jayne. See his name.

C. PERRY, born September, 1823, in Springfield, Illinois, studied medicine with Dr. Jayne, spent three years in California, returned and was married in 1854 to Susan Mather Lamb. He was a practicing phy- sician, and died in 1858 in Springfield,

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Illinois, leaving a widow and one child, HANNAH M., who was married in Chi- cago, Sept. 27, 1876, to Walter Trumbull, eldest son of Hon. Lyman Trumbull. They reside in Chicago. C. P. Slater's widow married James H. Roberts, a law- yer, and resides in Chicago, Illinois.

Elijah Slater and wife were two of the original members of the first Presbyterian church of Springfield, Illinois, formed by the Rev. J. G. Bergen. Mr. Slater was distinguished for his energy and upright life, and died July, 1836. His widow died in November, 1844, and both were buried in Springfield, Illinois.

SLATER, JAY, born Feb. 25, 1795, in Massachusetts, was married March 12, 1826, in Sangamon county, Ill., to Lucretia Carman, who was born in 1So6, in New York. They had six living children in Sangamon county-

GAMES HARVEY, born Dec. 28, 1826, nine miles south of Springfield, left home March 28, 1849, driving an ox team over the plains, and arrived in California Sept. 1I, of that year. In the autumn of 1851 he went to Oregon, and was one of the delegates to the territorial legislature of Oregon, also a member of the constitu- tional convention. He was married there in 1853 to Elizabeth Gray, a native of Georgia. They had nine children. James Harvey Slater was elected in 1870 to rep- resent Oregon in the United States Con- gress. He lives at LaGrande, Union county, Oregon.

LIMAN BEECHER, born Aug. 7, 182S, in Sangamon county, was married April 28, 1853, in Mt. Auburn, Christian county, Ill., to Angeline Bodkin. She died July 30, 1854. Lyman B. Slater graduated in the medical department of Missouri State University, in St. Louis, in 1855. Dr. Slater was married Oct. 4, 1855, to Sarah Stockwell, who was born July 15, 1830, in Vermont. They have six children, MARGARET, LYMAN T., EMMA, ALICE L., MARY T., and JAMES H., who live with their parents. Dr. L. B. Slater is a practicing physician, and resides at Taylorville, Ill.

JULIA, born Sept. 26, 1833, in San- gamon county, married William Camp- bell. They have three children, MARY, OLIVE and CHARES.

JOHN M., born Aug. 26, 1835, in Sangamon county, was married April 30

1856 to Leah Campbell, daughter of Lewis Campbell. They had eight children, LEWIS J. and IDA C., died young. LAURA L., CHARLES GRANT, LYMAN H., JOHN A., NORA E. and ROBERT O., live with their parents, half a mile north of Cross Plains postoffice, Sangamon county, Ill.

OLIVE f., born Nov. 8, 1838, in Sangamon county, was married March 2, 1858, to Samuel P. Stevens. They have four children, ENOS, SAMUEL, MA- RIETTA and LYMAN, and live near Arvilla, Jasper county, Missouri.

SOPHRONIA P., born Jan. 19, 1845, was married in 1865 to William Neer. They have two children, and live four miles west of Grove City, Christian county, Illinois.

Mrs. Lucretia Slater died July, 1853, and Jay Slater was married March 15, 1854, to Lavina Alkire, who was born Oct. 6, 1823, in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, and came to Springfield in 1838. Mr. and Mrs. Slater had two chil- dren, one died in infancy.

ALBERT Y., born Dec. 19, 1856, in Sangamon county, is a student-1874.

Jay Slater died July 19, 1860, in Sanga- mon county. Mrs. Lavina 'Slater was married Oct. 19, 1863, in Sangamon county to Frederick G. Tabler, who was born Sept. 2, 1827, in the Kingdom of Wurtemburg, Germany, and came to America in 1857. Mr. and Mrs. Tabler have two children.

GEOGE F., born Sept. 10, 1864, and

MARY E,, born Dec. 15, 1866. The two latter reside with their parents, one and a half miles northwest of Bradfordton, Sangamon county, Illinois.

SMITH, JAMES D., born Dec. 5, 1805, in Harrison county, Kentucky, was married at Cynthiana, in that county, in 1829, to Ruth Ann Brown. They had one child in Kentucky, and Mr. Smith visited Missouri and Illinois in 1832. He purchased land in Sangamon county, and moved with his father-in-law, Colonel William Brown, arriving in the fall of 1833 at Island Grove, where nine children were born, three of whom died in infancy. Of their children-

WILLIAM B., born Dec. 6, 1832, in Harrison county, Kentucky, brought up in Sangamon county, was married near Burlington, Vermont, Oct. 13, 1873, to

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Julia B. Kinney, who was born near Bur- lington in 1845. They live two miles southwest of Berlin, Illinois.

JOHN P., born July 25, 1835, in San- gamon county, was married near Lexing- ton, Kentucky, April 28, 1864, to Anna P. O'Bannon. They have six children. HATTIE B., the fifth child, died Oct. 12, 1873. RUTH W., O'BANNON, ELIZA, JAMES D. and ANNIE P. live with their parents four miles west of Berlin, Sangamon county, Illinois, within one mile of where Mr. Smith was born.

JAMES D., fun., born Dec. 20, 1837, in Sangamon county, was married at Jacksonville, Illinois, Sept. 29, 1864, to Elizabeth B. Brown, who was born April 2, 1842, in Boonville, Missouri. They have four living children, ELISHA B., JAMES D., MARY B., and HALLIE, and live at the homestead, three miles west of Berlin, Illinois.

HATTIE B., born July 27, 1844, in Sangamon county, was married May 27, 1865, to Samuel S. Deweese. They have two children, ELIZA S. and JAMES SMITH, and live one mile north of Alexander, Morgan county, Illinois.

MARTHA D., born March 26, 1847, in Sangamon county, was married Feb. 20, 1872, to George Prewitt, have one child, HALLIE, and live in Georgetown, Kentucky.

RUTH ANN, born Jan. 25, 1850, in Sangamon county,, was married Sept. 24, 1874, to James G. Kelly. They have one child, CONWAY, and live in George- town, Kentucky.

LLOYD B., born Sept. 24, 1852, in Sangamon county, was married at Alex- ander, Morgon county, Illinois, to Lulu B. Alexander, daughter of John T. Alexan- der, Esq.

"On the afternoon of Tuesday, Nov. 7, 1871, James D. Smith, an old and hon- ored resident of Island Grove, Sangamon county, Illinois, was thrown from his buggy and killed whilst returning alone to his home from the town of Berlin. On the afternoon of the Thursday follow- ing, the large concourse of people, from town and country for miles around, which gathered at his grave, spoke impressively of the high esteem in which he was held by all who kew him. In 1833, in com- pany with his father-in-law, Col. William Brown, he emigrated to Illinois and made

his home on the farm from whence he was borne to the grave. Shunning pub- lic life, though often urged to accept posi- tions of trust and honor by his friends, he but onee yielded his personal feelings to their solicitations, and was elected and served as a member of the Constitutional Convention of 1862. During the whole of his life in Illinois, he was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and with his brother-in-law, Captain James N. Brown, who, just three years in advance of him, went into the better land, was the founder and most liberal supporter of Island Grove station, the first rural station established in Illinois Conference. An active, earnest, humble christian, he was peculiarly free from sectarian prejudice, and although warmly attached to the church of his choice, regarded with frater- nal feeling every follower of his Master. Eminently domestic and social.in his na- ture, and urbane in manner, the loved and honored companion of childhood and youth, as well as of those of mature years, his time outside the requirements of large farming and stock operations, was devoted to his family, his kindred and his neighbors, in whose welfare he ever felt the deepest interest. As illustrative of his character, it might here be stated that carly in his life at Island Grove he was commissioned Justice of the Peace, and during the whole time he held that office he had but one suit brought in his court to come to trial, having in every other case, by his personal influence with the parties, and efforts in the true interests of peace, affected an amicable settlement of differences. Decided in his convictions, and uncompromising as to the right, yet the intercourse with his fellow men was marked by the exercise of judgment so unwarped by selfishness, and was softened by such abounding charity, that he lived without an enemy. With him benevo- lenee was an ever present sentiment, fall- ing like the gentle dew into the every-day acts of life, manifesting itself alike in the sacred precincts of his family, in his deal- ings with the many in his employ, and in an open hand to the poor, the needy, the sick, and the stranger. Of him it may be truly said, " He was a good man," one whom the church, the state and society . could illy afford to lose. Living, he was the embodiment of every domestic virtue;

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dying, he has left his stricken family a treasure more valuable than his ample for- tune-the priceless heritage of a well spent life."

His widow, Mrs. Ruth A. Smith, sur- vived her husband exactly ten months, and died Sept. 7, 1872. The remains of both are interred in Wood Wreath Ceme- tery, near where they spent so many years of their lives.

SMITH.GEORGE M., was born April 23, 1785, in Virginia. His parents moved when he was a child to Henry county, Ky. Matilda Dowdall was born in Culpepper county, Virginia, Feb. IS, 1793. Her mother died when she was two years old, and her grandfather Holmes soon after moved to Shelby county, Ken- tucky, taking Matilda and another sister and brother with him. George M. Smith and Matilda Dowdall were mar- ried Aug. 14, 1810, in Shelby county, and afterwards lived some time in Henry county, Ky., where they had four chil- dren and moved in 1824 to Jennings county, near Vernon, Indiana, where one child was born, and they returned to Henry county, where one child was born. They then moved to Sangamon county, Ill., arriving in March, 1834, in what is now Island Grove. Of their eight chil- dren ---

JACOB H., born Dec. 23, 1815, in Henry county, Ky., came to Sangamon connty, Illinois, with his parents in 1834, and was married in Hennepin, Ill., Dec. 19, 1838, to Joanna Higgins. They moved to Saline county, Missouri, and had five children there. JACOB H. SMITH and his eldest son, GEORGE, were both soldiers in the Union army. They reside at Marshall, Saline county, Missouri.

JOHN W., born July 10, 18IS, in Henry county, Ky., was married in San- gamon county June 1, 1845, to Ann E. Fox, who was born June 7, 1827, in Lou- don county, Virginia. She was the eldest daughter of Dr. J. B. Fox, lately deceased, in Springfield. Mr. and Mrs. Smith had eight children in Sangamon county, three of whom died young. Of the other five, AMANDA was married Sept. 14, 1871, to George Parish, and lives in Oskosh, Wisconsin. MARY M., JOSEPH B., WILLIE and CARRIE live with their relatives. Joseph B. Smith is a clerk in a

mercantile house in Quincy, Illinois. Mrs. Ann E. Smith died May 21, 1871, in Springfield. John W. Smith filled many important positions of honor and trust in Sangamon county. He discharged the duties of census commissioner in 1845, by appointment from the county court. In 1848 he was elected one of the repre- sentatives of Sangamon county in the State Legislature, and was again census com- missioner in 1855. He was elected sheriff of the county in 1860 for two years, and mayor of the city of Springfield in 1863. He was appointed by the United States government, commissioner on the board of enrollment for military duty for the eighth congressional district in 1864, but soon re- signed to accept the position of collector of internal revenue for the same district. He was one of the commissioners named in the law of Feb. 25, 1867, to manage the building of the new state house, and re- mained on the board until the laws of March 11 and 27, 1869, reduced the number from seven to three. He was elected Mayor of Springfield in 1871, and re- elected in 1872. He was appointed by Gov. Beveridge in 1873 warden of the state penitentiary at Joliet. While dis- charging the duties of that office he was on his way from Chicago to Joliet on the night of Saturday, Aug. 16, 1873. The train on which he was traveling col- lided with a freight train near Sag Bridge, a few miles southwest of Chicago. He was in the smoking car at the time and was terribly scalded by the escaping steam from the broken pipes. He, with a number of others, were taken to Chicago, and died there at eight o'clock on the morning of the 18th. His remains were brought to Springfield and buried at Oak Ridge cemetery, Aug. 19th.

ELSIE A., born Dec. 30, 1821, in Henry county, Ky., was married in San- gamon county to Stephen Butler-brother of William Butler, recently deceased-in Springfield. They have ten children, two of whom are married. The family reside at Mondamin, Harrison county, Iowa.

THOMAS D., born Ang. 24, 1823, in Henry county, Ky., was married in San- gamon county Jan. 1, 1851, to Julia A. Maxwell. They had seven children in Sangamon county, and moved from Berlin to. Humboldt county, Kansas in 1869. T.

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D. Smith died there March 10, 1873, and his family reside there.

MARY Y., born April 24, 1825, near Vernon, Indiana, was married in Henry county, Ky., Dec. 21, 1847, to Owen T. McCormick. They lived in Shelby county, Ky., until November, 1849, when they moved to Island Grove, Sangamon county, Ill., and had five children there. SARAH A. was married Oct. 29, 1842, to Benjamin R. B. Weber. See his name. JOSAPHINE A., OWEN T., Jun., MOLLIE E. and GEORGE R. live with their mother. Owen T. McCormick, Sen., died Oct. 27, 1865, and Mrs. McCor- mick resides at Pawnee, Sangamon coun- ty, Ill.

MARTHA M., born Dec. 24, 1827, in Henry county, Ky., was married April 12, 1849 to John Foutch. See his name.

HARRIET O., born Sept. 19, 1830, married Addison Gibson, of Gallatin county, Ky. They left there in July, . 1864, on account of the rebellion and came to New Berlin, where Mrs. Harriet O. Gibson diel April 24, 1865, leaving six sons, all of whom live with their father in Kentucky.

GEORGE W., born May 10, 1833, in Kentucky, brought up in Sangamon county, went to Weston, Missouri, mar- ried Fannie King, and died there.

George M. Smith died Feb. 27, 1842, at Island Grove, and his widow lives with her children.

SMITH, GREENBERRY, was born Feb. 5, 1793, in Washington county, Kentucky, and was married there to Nancy Killen, who was born in ISoo in the same county. They had one child there, and moved to Sangamon county, Illinois, arriving in the fall of 1830, in what is now Springfield township, where they had one child. Of their two chil- dren --

ETHELINDA f., born Dec. 21, 1826, in Washington county, Kentucky, married Nov. 21, 1844, in Sangamon county to John Prince. They had six children, WILLIAM P., JAMES L., NANCY J., GREENBERRY, JO- SEPH and CHARLES, and live in Springfield, Illinois.

LAFAYETTE, born Nov. 21, 1834, in Sangamon county, married Jan. 1, 1857. in Springfield to Harriet A. Buchanan. They had seven children, two of whom

died in infancy, and ALBERT G. died at fourteen years of age. FRANK B., EDWIN F., HARRY L. and FRED- ERICK WORRALL, reside with their parents in Springfield, Illinois. Lafayette Smith is the senior member of the firm of Smith & Hay, wholesale grocers, in Springfield.

Greenberry Smith died April 23, 1871, and Mrs. Nancy Smith died May 21, IS73, both in Springfield, Illinois.

SMITH, JONAS, was born April 10, ISIO, on Long Island, New York. His father moved to Monroe county, Illinois, about 1820. In 1831 Jonas visited his sister Mrs. Ebenezer Colburn at Loami, and in July, 1836, came from Cincinnati to put up and run mill machinery for William and Ebenezer Colburn. He has been engaged in milling from that to the present time as owner and builder of mills on Lick creek and other parts of the country. Jonas Smith was married in 1839, at Loami, to Char- lotte Colburn. They had six children, two of whom, Adam L. and Millard F., died young. Of the other four --

MARY Y., born Dec. 27, 1842, mar- ried Dr. Stephen N. Sanders. See his name. She died in 1867, leaving one child, ANNA.

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History of the early settlers of Sangamon County, Illinois : "centennial record", Part 106

Author: Power, John Carroll, 1819-1894; Power, S. A. (Sarah A.), 1824-; Old Settlers' Society of Sangamon County (Ill.) Publication date: 1876 Publisher: Springfield, Ill. : E.A. Wilson & Co. Number of Pages: 824

Author: Power, John Carroll, 1819-1894; Power, S. A. (Sarah A.), 1824-; Old Settlers' Society of Sangamon County (Ill.)
Publication date: 1876
Publisher: Springfield, Ill. : E.A. Wilson & Co.
Number of Pages: 824