USA > Illinois > Sangamon County > History of the early settlers of Sangamon County, Illinois : "centennial record" > Part 124
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114 | Part 115 | Part 116 | Part 117 | Part 118 | Part 119 | Part 120 | Part 121 | Part 122 | Part 123 | Part 124 | Part 125 | Part 126 | Part 127 | Part 128
SUSANNAH, born March 2, 1815, in Hamilton county, Ohio, died in Sanga- mon county, April 12, 1834.
AMOS, born May 10, 1818, in Butler county, Ohio, was married in Sangamon county . to Caroline Dearborn. They had two children. ELIAS enlisted in the 16th Ill, Cav., in 1862, for three years, and was captured at Cumberland Gap. He was several months in Andersonville prison, was exchanged, and died a few days later. ISAIAH B. married and lives in Cincin- nati, Appanoose county, Iowa. Amos Williams went to California and died there in March, IS50. His widow lives with her son, Isaiah B., in Iowa.
Mrs. Marv Williams died May 15, 1850, and Elias Williams died August 25, 1853, both in Sangamon county, Illinois.
WILLIAMS, JAMES M., was born April 30, 1810, in Rutherford
771
SANGAMON COUNTY.
county, North Carolina. He is a nephew of Andrew Elliott. He came to Sanga- mon county in company with Terry Brad- ley, arriving at Springfield, Oct. 13, 1834. He was married October, 1851, to Mary Reford. They had six children in Sanga- mon county.
MARY E. married Luther Jones, has two children, CHARLES and MINNIE F., and live near Salisbury, Sangamon county, Illinois.
ELLEN G., married May 23, 1872, to William F. Irwin. Sce his name.
CHARLES HENRY, lives with his father.
GAMES A., died aged fourteen years. MARY 4. died aged eight years. MARTHA died aged two years.
Mrs. Mary Williams died Nov. 28, 1866, and J. M. Williams lives northeast of the Sangamon river, in Salisbury township.
Mr. W. went hunting soon after com- ing to the county, lost his way, and was escorted to camp about nine o'clock P. M. by a pack of howling wolves.
WILLIAMS, JOHN, was born Sept. 11, ISOS, in Bath county, Kentucky. His ancestors came from Wales and settled in Greenbrier county, Virginia. James Williams was born in that county and married Hannah Moppin, who was born in 1776, near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, of Scotch-Irish parents, who were Presby- terians. James Williams, moved to Bath county, Kentucky, and after partly raising his family, moved to that part of Sanga- mon which is now Menard county, Illinois, arriving in 1823. James Williams and wife lived and died in Menard county. Their son, John, whose name heads this sketch, attended school in a log school house during the winter, and in the sum- mer labored on his father's farm until 1822, when he obtained a situation in a store in Owensville, Kentucky. At the end of two years he came with some of his father's former neighbors to Illinois, and after spending two weeks with his parents he came to Springfield, Oct. 11, IS24, and entered into an agreement to clerk for one year in the store of Major Elijah Iles for ten dollars per month. At the end of the year Mr. Iles gave him $150, being thirty more than the contract called for. His salary was raised to $200 and board, which was continued without change for five years. At the end
of that time his savings amounted to three hundred dollars. Mr. Iles, wishing to retire from business, offered to sell his stock to Mr. Williams, and give him one year's time without interest. Mr. Wil- liams preferred dividing it into four equal payments. Having previously visited St. Louis, on business for Mr. Iles, he became acquainted with the wholesale merchants there, which he afterwards found to be quite advantageous. That, with his three hundred dollars, enabled him to keep up his stock. By honorable dealing he re- tained all the former patrons of Mr. Iles, and met every payment promptly.
John Williams was married March 31, IS40, in Springfield, to Lydia Porter, who was born August 28, 1821, in Lima, Liv- ingston county, New York. The wife of Major Iles was her half sister. Mr. and Mrs. Williams had six children in Spring- field, all now living, namely-
LOUISA ILES, ALBERT POR- TER, JOHN EDWARD, JULIA FATNE, GEORGE and HENRY CARTER.
LOUISA I., born Dec. 22, 1840, was married in her native city, in 1859, to George N. Black, who was born March 15, 1833, in Lee, Berkshire county, Mass. Mr. and Mrs. Black have three children, and reside in Springfield, Illinois.
George N. Black came to Springfield in October, 1850, and engaged to clerk for Colonel John Williams at fifteen dollars per month, and board himself. In 1856 he was admitted as a partner in the firm of John Williams & Co., dry goods merchants, and has continued to the present time. In addition to his mercan- tile business, Mr. Black has been one of the most persistent and efficient workers in originating and prosecuting enterprises calculated to advance the interests of Springfield. Among the enterprises in which he has taken an active part, was the organization of the Leland hotel com- pany ; the Pana, Springfield and North- western railroad company, of which he became a director and secretary. That became part of the S. & I. S. E., and is now part of the O. & M. railroad. He was one of the projectors of the G., C. & S. railroad, and was one- tenth owner of the same. He was one of the principal movers in the Springfield and Northwestern railroad, and in 1875
772
EARLY SETTLERS OF
was appointed receiver of the same. He is now-November, 1876-in charge of the road. He is one of the principal stock- holders of the First National Bank, and was cashier during the first year of its existence. He was one of the stock- holders who organized the Springfield City railway company, March 3, 1866; was elected treasurer, and continues to hold that office to the present time. He was one of the original movers in the Springfield Watch company, organized Jan. 26, 1870, and was elected treasurer of the same, etc., etc.
JULIA JAYNE was married in her native city to Alfred Orendorff. See his name, in the Omissions.
Colonel John Williams was nominated as a candidate for congress in 1856, and supported by the combined influence of the remnant of the old Whig party, under Fillmore, and of the newly organized Republican party, under Fremont; but was defeated, as he expected to be, his object being to strengthen the state ticket, with Governor Bissell at its head. He was for six years treasurer of the Illinois State Agricultural Society. In IS57 he became treasurer of the Illinois Stock Im- porting company, for the introduction of blooded stock. At the outbreak of the rebellion, Colonel Williams was appointed, by Governor Yates, commissary general of Illinois, and discharged the duties of that trust for years. He was appointed, by President Lincoln, disbursing agent of the United States government during the building of the United States court house and postoffice at Springfield. About three hundred and twenty thousand dol- lars passed through his hands in connec- tion with that trust. After the death of President Lincoln, Mr. Williams was appointed one of the escort. He at once proceeded to Washington and accom- panied the remains to Springfield. He was one of the original members of the National Lincoln Monument Association, and is now a member of its executive committee. He has been identified with the building of all the railroads to Spring- field, but more particularly with the Gil- man, Clinton and Springfield, and the Springfield and Northwestern railroads, the latter of which was built mainly through his exertions. He is now presi- dent of the Barclay coal mining company,
and also owns and operates a farm of over one thousand acres, near Indian Point, Menard county, Illinois.
He commenced private banking in con- nection with his store, by his customers depositing with him. The business grew gradually for several years. When the national banking law was enacted he united with others in organizing the First National Bank of Springfield, Dec. 12, IS63, and opened its doors for business May 1, 1864. He became president of the bank at its organization and continued in that office ten years. For more than fifty- two years he has been in the mercantile business in Springfield, and is now in his sixty-ninth year, still at the head of the mercantile firm of John Williams & Co. He has for many years been a member of the First Presbyterian church of Spring- field, Illinois.
WILLIAMS, JOSEPH, a younger brother to Colonel John Wil- liams, was born in Bath county, Kentucky, and with his parents came to Sangamon county, Illinois, in 1823. After his brother John went into business on his own ac- count, he entered his store as a clerk, and a few years later went into the mercantile business for himself at Decatur, Illinois. He was married Nov. 10, 1836, in Spring- field to Huldah Francis. See Francis family sketch. They had six sons, and Mrs. Williams died Dec. 10, 1848, in Me- nard county. Mr. Williams, with his sons, started April 3, IS51, overland for Oregon, and arrived there late in the fall. While exploring the country in May, 1853, he was killed by the Rogue river Indians in Oregon. His children were all brought back to Springfield by their uncle, Colonel John Williams. Of the six-
FAMES E., born July S, IS38, in Springfield, Illinois, was married August S, 1865, to Roscia King. They have three children, JOSEPH, FRANCIS and MATILDA. They lived at Irish Grove, Menard county, Illinois, until 1876, when they moved to Maryville, Nodaway coun- ty, Missouri.
JEREMIAH H., born Nov. 14, 1839, in Decatur, Illinois, was married Sept. 6, 1866, to Cynthia Scott. They have two children, SAMUEL and JOHN. Mr. Williams is a stock raiser, and resides near Sweet Water postoffice, Menard county, Illinois.
773
SANGAMON COUNTY.
SIMEON F., born July 12, 1841, in Menard county, Illinois, and after the death of both his parents he went to live with his uncle, Charles Francis, at Laporte, In- diana. He enlisted in 1861 in the 20th Ind. Inf., and died April 17, 1863, at Laporte, of disease contracted in the army.
WILLIAM BUCK, born May 29, 1843, in Menard county, Illinois, was mar- ried Nov. 1, 1870, to Ann M. Whitney. They have two children, ANNIE I. and WILLIAM H. W. B. Williams was en- gaged in farming and stock raising near Middletown, Logan county, Illinois, until March, 1876, when he moved to Mary- ville, Nodaway county, Missouri.
NEWTON A., born Oct. 17, 1845, in Menard county, Illinois. He was married Oct. 17, 1871, to Mary C. Cox. They have two children, CHARLES and LYDIA, and reside near Maryville, Mis- souri.
JOHN C., born Dec. 28, 1846, in Me- nard county, Illinois. He is a shipper and resides at Indian Point, Sweet Water post office, Menard county, Illinois.
WILLIAN, THOMAS, was born Feb. 21, 1797, in Kent county, Dela- ware. When he was two years old his parents moved to Green county, Kentucky. He was there married March 18, IS19, to Mary Crowder. They had two children in Kentucky, and moved to Sangamon county, Illinois, arriving late in 1829, first stopping where the family of Hon. Jesse K. Dubois now resides, west of Spring- field. He entered land on Horse creek, in what is now Cotton Hill township, and moved on it in 1831. They had three children in Sangamon county. Of their five children-
MATILDA f., born Dec. 21, 1819, in Green county, Kentucky, was married in Sangamon county to Jackson Stout. See his name. He died, and she was married May 10, 1842, to Samuel Haines. See his name.
WILLIAM C., born Jan. 4, 1822, in Green county, Kentucky, was married Oct. 27, 1858, in Sangamon county, Illinois, to Samantha C. Chapman, who was born July 5, 1828, at Elsworth, Trumbull coun- ty, Ohio. William C. Willian died Feb. 19, 1875, and Mrs. Samantha C. Willian died April 1, 1875, both in Cotton Hill township, Sangamon county, Illinois. They left an adopted son, EDWARD L. WIL-
LIAN, who lives in Cotton Hill town- ship.
SARAH A., born August 29, 1833, in Sangamon county, married William H. Vigal. See his name ..
NANCY Y., born March 4, 1837, in Sangamon county, was married Sept. 12, 1861, to Walter J. Barnes. They have five children, namely, LOUIS M., CAREY E., THOMAS W., WILLIAM J. and MARY O. W. J. Barnes and family reside near Edinburg, Christian county, Illinois.
THOMAS Y., born June 25, 1840, in Sangamon county, Illinois, enlisted April, 1861, in Co. G, 7th Ill. Inf., for three months, on the first call for 75,000 men, and served full time. He re-enlisted Au- gust, 1862, for three years in Co. K, 124th Ill. Inf., and was commissioned first lieu- tenant at the organization of the company. He was taken sick at Camp Butler, and died in Cotton Hill township, Nov. 5, IS62.
Mrs. Mary Willian died July 29, 1856, and Thomas J. Willian married Sarah Lambert. They have one child.
CHARLES ALBERT was born Oct. 7, 1861, in Sangamon county, resides with his sister, Mrs. Barnes, near Edin- burg, Christian county, Illinois.
Mrs. Sarah "Willian died Oct. 30, 1868, in Christian county, Illinois, and Thomas Willian lives with his daughter, Mrs. Barnes, near Edinburg, Christian county, Illinois.
Day Willian, the father of Thomas Wil- lian, and Day Willian's brother, John, came to Sangamon county with their fam- ilies about 1829, remained a year or two, became dissatisfied and returned to Ken- Kentucky.
WILLIS, Mrs. HENRIET- TA, whose maiden name was Earnest, a sister to Jacob and Thomas Earnest. She was born Sept. 15, 1783, in South Caro- lina, and married in Simpson county, Ken- tucky, to William Willis. They had seven children, and Mr. Willis died in Kentucky. Mrs. Willis, with her children, came to Sangamon county about 1825. Of her children -
RICHARD, spent ten or twelve years in Sangamon county, and went to Iowa. He left there in 1849 or '50, and was last heard from in California.
ELIZABETH, born in Simpson
774
EARLY SETTLERS OF
county, Kentucky, married William Simp- son. See his name.
STARLING, born in Kentucky, married in Sangamon county to Sarah Halliday, had children, moved to Knox county, Illinois, and from there to Oregon.
WILLIAM went from Sangamon county to Wisconsin, married there, and died from injuries by a threshing machine.
MARTHA married in Sangamon coun- ty to Samuel Jones, moved to Knox coun- ty, had three children and he died. She married Benjamin Sims, and she died.
THOMAS went from Sangamon coun- ty to Iowa on business, and died there.
DRUCILLA, born in Kentucky, mar- ried in Sangamon county to Asher Simp- son. They have eight children, and reside near Clinton, Dewitt county, Illinois.
Mrs. Henrietta Willis died August 10, 1846, in Sangamon county, Illinois.
WILLIS WILLIAM, was born Sept. 23, 1775, in North Carolina. His father, Jacob Willis, was born in Wales, but whether he was married he- fore or after coming to America is not known to his descendants. He enlisted in the Revolutionary army and was killed in battle about 17So, leaving a widow and the son, whose name heads this sketch. His widow married James Phillips, and about the year 1783 moved to the vicinity of Crab Orchard, Kentucky, taking William with them. He grew to man- hood there, and then went to Adair coun- ty, Kentucky, where he was married to Elizabeth Steel. They had eight chil- dren, and Mrs. Willis died October, 1822. Mr. Willis was married to Martha Morri- son. They had three children, and moved to Sangamon county, Illinois, arriving in the fall of 1830 in what is now Gardner township. He brought all his children except the three eldest sons. Of all his children ---
HENRY, born April 20, 1803, in Ken- tucky, married June 7, 1825, to Rhoda Cooley, had six children, and eame to San- gamon county in the fall of 1836. He moved back to Kentucky one year later, had three children there, and all returned to Sangamon county in 1848, except their only daughter, who died young. Of their eight sons, JACOB married, and he and his wife died, leaving a son, now in Texas. JOHN married, has five children, and lives in De Witt county, Ill. GEORGE
W. went to California in 1852, and has not been heard of in eight . years. WILLIAM T., born Feb. 6, 1834, en- listed August, 1862, in Co. B, 114th Ill. Inf., for three years, was wounded at the battle of Guntown, Mississippi, June 10, 1864, and died ten days later. EDMOND, born Nov. IS, 1835 married June 7, 1869, to Ellen M. Pitcher, have two children, ADAM F. and CARLOS E., and live near Salisbury, Illinois. JAMES D., born June 10, 1838, enlisted in Co. D, 33d Ill. Inf., August, 1861, for three years, served full term, re-enlisted as a veteran in 1864, married Elizabeth Hall, and died on ship- board May 15, 1865, between Mobile and New Orleans. ADAM C., born Jan. 10, 1840, enlisted August, 1861, in Co. D, 33d Ill. Inf., for three years, served full term, re-enlisted as a veteran January, 1864. He was wounded by a railroad accident near New Orleans, March 1, 1865, and died March 5, 1865. About three hundred Union soldiers were killed and wounded at the same time. PAR- KER H., born Nov. 19, 1842, married Mary A. R. Ward, have three children, and live in Salisbury township. Henry Willis and wife reside near Salisbury, Sangamon county, Illinois.
LAVINA, born March 31, 1805, mar- ried in Kentucky to John Cooley. They came to Sangamon county with her father and had eight children. Two of their sons, WILLIS and JOSEPH Cooley, were soldiers in the 114th Ill. Inf., and both died of disease in the army at Mem- phis, Tennessee. Three sons and three daughters, all married, live in Kansas. John Cooley died in Sangamon county, and his widow lives with her children in Kansas.
JACOB, born Jan. 24, 1807, in Adair county, Kentucky, married there Jan. 29, IS28, to Lueinda T. Barger, a sister to Rev. John S. Barger, of Bloomington, Illinois. She was born May 20, 1814, in West Virginia. They had two children in Kentucky, and they moved to Sangamon county, Illinois, arriving Oct. 8, 1833, in what is now Gardner township, between Riehland and Prairie creeks, where they had seven children. Of their children, ANN E., born Nov. 4, 1829, married James R. Stone, have four children, and reside at Wichita, Kansas. JAMES S. B., born July 9, 1833, in Kentucky, married
775
SANGAMON COUNTY.
in Sangamon county to Mary A. Camp- bell. They have four children, and live near Clinton, Illinois. SARAH E., born May 30, 1835, married Jason Miller. See his name. FRANCIS M., born Oct. 30, 1837, married Milicent Ann Turner, have two children, and live at Wapella, De Witt county, Illinois. JOHN W., born July 10, 1842, married Danelia W. Sayre, have two children, and live near Wapella, Illinois. LAURA B., born Feb. 9, 1844, married William B. Capron, have three children, and live near Wapella, Illinois. MARY A., born Oet. 9, 1846, married Henry C. Porter, have three children, and live near Clinton, Illinois. VINCENT H., born Oet. 9, 1846, married Helen M. Wadleigh. He is a traveling preacher in the M. E. church, and wason Twin Grove cireuit, near Bloomington, in 1873. EL- BERT F., born Jan. 15, 1851, married Oct. 8, 1872, to Laura A. Jameson, have one child, and live in Gardner township. Mrs. Lucinda T. Willis died Oct. 20, 1866, and Jacob Willis was married June 29, 1869, to Mrs. Charlotte R. Laborence, who was previously Mrs. Capron, and whose maiden name was Dodge. She was born April 7, 1814, at Albany, New York, and came to Sangamon county in 1854. She had three children by her first marriage, and five by her second. Of her children, CATHARINE D. Capron married Jacob Perlier, have six children, and lives near Wapella, Illinois. WILLIAM D. Cap- ron married Laura B. Willis, and resides near Wapella. CHARLES S. Capron married Mary Batterton, and lives near Palmer, Illinois. RACHEL Laborence married Oliver Ross. See his name. CHARLOTTE D. married Edward East. They had one child, and Mrs. Charlotte D. East died Jan. 2, 1874, in Bates county, Missouri, and her remains were brought to Salisbury, Illinois, and buried there. John A. Laborance lives at Colorado Springs, California. Laura W. married David East, and lives in Missouri, near Metz, Kansas. Annie E. Laborance was married Feb. 17, 1875, to Charles V. Durgy, and lives ten miles south of Bloom- ington, Illinois.
Jacob Willis died March 31, 1876, and his widow lives at the homestead near where Mr. Willis' father settled in 1833, in Gardner township, near Cross Plains post office, Sangamon county, Illinois.
WILLIAM, Fun., born May 22, 1809, married Melinda Thurman. They had seven children, and she died March 24, 1852, and he married Tasty Daniels. They had ten children, and he died. The family reside in Logan county. William Willis, Jun., has but one child living in Sangamon county, namely, NANCY J., by the first wife, married Asa W. Plunkett. Sce his name. His son, JOHN M. Willis was a soldier in Co. F, 114th Ill. Inf., and died at Memphis, Tennessee.
ELIZABETH, horn Oct. 27, 1812, married James M. Brown. See his name.
CLARISSA, born Dee. 28, 1814, mar- ried Lewis Campbell. They have eight children. Their daughter LEAH married John Slater. See his name. Lewis Campbell and family live near Athens, Menard county, Illinois.
FOHN, born Jan. 5, 1818, married Car- oline Pierce, had eight children, and lives near Kirksville, Wapello county, Iowa.
NANCY, born Nov. 20, 1820, married C. R. Pierce, have ten children, and lives at Greenview, Menard county, Illinois.
MARY, born May 3, 1824, married Joseph Staklin, and she died at Beards- town, Illinois, in 1846.
YANE, born July 19, 1825, married Archie Town, have five children, and live near Lincoln, Logan county, Illinois.
PARTHENIA, born April 15, 1827, married John Moore, have three living children, and live at Wichita, Kansas.
MARIA MORRISON, step daughter to William Willis, Sen., married in Ken- tucky to William Ross. See his name.
Mrs. Martha Willis died in 1842, and William Willis, Sen., died July 9, 1866, both in Garden township, Sangamon coun- ty. He was ninety years, nine months and sixteen days old.
WILLS, JOHN Q. Benoni Bell married his daughter, and she died. Dr. Jones married another, and she died. An- other daughter, Mrs. Inslee lives in Sanga- mon county.
WILSON, ROBERT L., was born Sept. 11, 1805, in Washington county, Pennsylvania. His parents were Scotch- Irish, their ancesters having emigrated from Scotland and settled near the city of Belfast, soon after the conquest of Ireland by Oliver Cromwell in the sixteenth een- tury. In 1778 they sailed for America, settling in York county, Pennsylvania.
776
EARLY SETTLERS OF
In 1782 they moved to Washington coun- ty, Pennsylvania, on pack horses, as there had not then been any roads made across the Allegheny mountains. From Wash- ington county, where the subject of our sketch was born, the family moved in ISIO to the vicinity of Zanesville, Ohio, where his father died in 1821, and Robert L., then sixteen years of age, determined to educate himself. He first qualified himself for teaching a country school, and taught until he laid up some money with which he entered Franklin College, Ohio. He sustained himself during his college course in the same way, and graduated in four years. In the fall of 1831 he went to Ken- tucky, where he taught an academy and studied law. He was married March 28, 1833, in Sharpsburg, Bath county, Ken- tucky, to Eliza J. Kincaid, and admitted to the bar as an attorney at law. They soon after moved to Sangamon county, Illinois, arriving in the fall of 1833 at Athens. That not now being a part of Sangamon county, he would not properly be included as an early settler of this coun- ty, but his having been one of the " Long Nine " is a sufficient reason for including his sketch here. Mr. Wilson was elected in August, 1836, as one of the seven repre- sentatives of Sangamon county, who, with the two Senators, made up what was known as the " Long Nine" who served in the legislature of 1836 '37, and secured the removal of the capital of Illinois from Vandalia to Springfield. See sketch " Long Nine." He moved with his family from Sangamon county in 1840, to Sterling, Whiteside county, where they now reside. Mr. and Mrs. Wilson had six children.
MARY JANE died, aged seven years. SILAS R. died, aged thirty-four years. LEE died, aged seventeen years.
ANN ELIZA, born Dec. 20, 1841.
EMMA E., born Nov. 10, 1843.
ROBERT H. born Nov. 27, 1847. The three latter in Sterling, Illinois, where they now reside.
Soon after Mr. Wilson moved to Sterl- ing he was appointed clerk of the circuit court, to which office he was elected five times, serving continuously until Dec. 1, 1860. Eight years of that time he served as probate judge. He was in Washington, D. C., when Fort Sumter fell, and enlisted as a private in a battalion commanded by Cassins M. Clay, and called the Clay
Guard. It numbered four hundred, most- ly non-residents, and acted as night police, guarding the city at the most critical time in its history. As soon as the New York 7th regiment reached Washington, the Clay Guard was relieved and mustered out. Mr. Wilson returned to Sterling, Illinois, and assisted in raising Co. A, 34th Ill. Inf., and was elected captain, but de- clined in favor of the first lieutenant. He started for Washington on the 4th of July, and called on President Lincoln on the 7th to tender his services in any capacity where he could be useful. Mr. Lincoln said he had made out a list of his old friends be- fore leaving Springfield, that he might ap- point them to office, and said, " I have ap- pointed all down to your name. Now, what do you wish?" Mr. Wilson said he thought he could discharge the duties of quartermaster. Mr. Lincoln said, "I can do better than that for you," and made him pay master. His appointment was made out on the 6th, and he was confirmed by the senate August 7, 1861. He was placed on duty at Washington City, and was soon after ordered to St. Louis. In the two succeeding years he paid out nearly four million dollars, principally in the west and south. After the fall of Vicksburg he was ordered to Springfield, Illinois, and pro- moted to the rank of colonel for merito- rious services. He was mustered out Nov. 15, 1865. During his four years and four months service he received and disbursed about seven million dollars, to near one hundred thousand soldiers, without a shadow of suspicion against his character.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.