ILLINOIS GENEALOGY EXPRESS

A Part of  Genealogy Express
 

Macon County, Illinois
History & Genealogy

< CLICK HERE TO RETURN TO TABLE OF CONTENTS >

CHAPTER X. -
Biographical Sketches of Early Settlers
who came here prior to 1836, and their families, up to the Present time; Births, Marriages, Deaths, etc.
Pages 246 - 298

AB - CD - EF - GH - IJ - KL - MN - OP - QR - ST - UV - WX - YZ
 

JAMES SANDERS.  There were but few old settlers of the county who do ot remember "Uncle Jimmy Sanders."  He was one of the noted men, and almost every one knew him, by reputation at least, for an area of a great many miles.  He was born in Spartanburg, S. C., June 15, 1800, and was taken on a pack-pony when very small, to Rutherford county, Tenn., where he remained until he was grown.  In 1823 he married Polly Wilson, who was born in North Carolina in 1797, and died in Christian county, Ill. in 1866.  In the year 1829, he removed with his family to Illinois, where he has remained ever since.  On his arrival in Illinois, he says he had a wife, five children and an "old plug of a wagon, three old plugs of horses, one good mare, 6¼ cents in money.  The money he had in his pocket with his shot and bullets a short time after his arrival, which he accidentally lost, and was thereby "broken up."  Mr. Sanders was a man of most powerful constitution, and his strength and endurance were probably not excelled by any man in Central Illinois.  On the Day of Uncle Joe Stevens' wedding, Mr. S., in a general trial of strength among those persons present, took a piece of lead, 75 pounds in weight, in each hand, raised them on a level with his shoulders, and then passed them around straight in front until they touched each other.  At one time he had been sick for some length of time, and when he had sufficiently recovered to walk to the blackberry patch, he gathered his hat full of blackberries, and then sat down and ate them all.  He returned to the house and said, "Polly, I have eat a few blackberries and feel better."      He was known far and wide as a good rail-maker, and would go as far as 15 and 20 miles and make rails for parties at 25 cents per hundred, or 37½ cents in trade, which he regarded as a very liberal price.  He was a man that possessed a great many peculiarities, a particular mention of which, would extend this sketch quite too far.  He relates to-day, with pride, as one of his greatest achievements, the fact that he at one time in a wrestling match, threw down *Abe Lincoln, who had thrown the bully of the county.  Of Mr. Sanders' children -        Ellen was born in 1823, and now resides in Kansas.  John, their second, died in the Mexican war.  James B. died in 1854.  Jane, wife of Prestly Travis, resides in Christian county.  Peter H., Peggy, Matilda, Bethany and Amanda, are dead.  Frank, the youngest child, was born in March, 1845, and married Annis Hollingsworth, with whom Uncle Jimmy now resides. --------- *NOTE:  It will be remembered in this connection, that Mr. Lincoln, when he first came to Illinois, was a resident of Macon county, and he and Mr. Sanders were great cronies and friends.  Uncle Jim says that they spent many Sundays together fishing in the Sangamon, and were often together at barn-raisings, house-raisings, fox-chases and wolf-hunts.  At these early gatherings, when Mr. Lincoln was an awkward gangling boy, he was often called upon, when the work was through, for a Jackson speech, and he seldom failed to respond.  Mr. L's father was a Jackson Democrat, and his son grew up in that faith, and has made a great many Jackson speeches in this county.  He afterwards changed his politics and became a Whig of the most pronounced type, which incensed his father no little.  Mr. Lincoln commenced his law studies in this county under the following circumstances:  He had gone to "Uncle Billy Warnick's" to see one of the girls; but in going, his shoes not being good, he got his feet frost-bitten, and was unable to return home.  He remained there for a week for ten days under the medical treatment of old Mrs. Warnick, and while so doing became greatly interested in reading the statutes and a few other stray volumes of law-books, which, no doubt, afterwards materially determined his course in adopting his profession.  It was reported in the newspapers during the campaign of 1860, that Mr. Lincoln in his early day was a great rail maker; but Mr. Sanders says that while it is true that "Abe" did make some rails, yet they were few in number.  Mr. Sanders also relates the circumstance by which Mr. L. ceased to be a resident of this county, which is this;  A man by the name of Offit purchased a few hundred hogs, and Mr. Lincoln and his step-brother, John Johnson, were employed to assist in driving the hogs to market at Beardstown.  When they had disposed of the hogs they invested the money in groceries, which consisted, as Uncle Jim says, of "sod-corn," spun-cotton, sugar and coffee, powder and lead, etc., the greater part of which were brought back as far as Salem, where they started a grocery, and of Mr. Lincoln's personal history in connection with this county.  Mr. Sanders' last interview with Lincoln was but a day or so before Lincoln's departure for Washington.  As they were separating - which proved to be their last - Mr. Sanders said, "Now, Abe, don't do any wrong."  Mr. Lincoln replied, "I will not, if I know it."

JOHN SCOTT, Sr., was born in North Carolina, in 1775, and married Mary Dodd, in Kentucky, who was born in South Carolina, in 1777.  They removed from Tennessee to Indiana, in 1816 and thence to Illinois, in 1829.  Mr. S. died Dec. 20, 1830, and Mrs. S. died Sept. 7, of the same year.      Of their two children, now residents of Macon county, see Francis and John, below.      Francis D. Scott was born July 12, 1819, in Gibson county, Indiana, and removed to Illinois, with his father, in 1829, and settled in Macon county, in 1823, in Mt. Zion township.  Mr. S. was married Apr. 24, 1846, to Lucinda Fruit, who was born in Kentucky in August, 1824.  Of their children -      Eli K. was born July 6, 1847.  Albert was born Oct. 2, 1852.  Charles was born Sept. 22, 1858.  Willie J. was born July 16, 1865.      John Scott, Jr., was born Dec. 22, 1821, and came to Illinois with his father, as above stated.  He married March, 1852, Mary J. Davidson, who was born in 1830, in Macon county.   Of their two children -      Oliver was born Nov. 1, 1858.  Rhoda was born Apr. 22, 1862.

PARMENAS SMALLWOOD was born in Virginia, near Charleston, on the 27th of April, 1782; was married to Deborah Brown, in the same state, on the wed of June, 1807.  She was born near Charleston, May 12, 1792, and died Nov. 7, 1873.  Parmenas S. died in the month of December, 1851.       Yamzen B. was born May 9, 1808; married to John Murphy, Aug. 1, 1832, who is now living on Salt Creek.  Yamzen S. died Aug. 27, 1835.  George D. was born Mar. 31, 1810.  John B. was born Nov. 5, 1811; died Sept. 15, 1868.  Samuel A. was born Apr. 27, 1813, and now lives north of Decatur.  James M. was born Nov. 8, 1814; died Jun. 1852.  Daniel M. was born May 1, 1816; died July 17, 1839.   Amelia A. was born Feb. 17, 1818; married William Bennett, and now resides on Salt Creek, in Dewitt county.  Elizabeth H. was born Dec. 1, 1819; married Walter Roben, in Dewitt county.  Douglas B. was born July 6, 1821; died Sept. 25, 1844.  Susan C. V. was born Feb. 14, 1828; married Emanuel Davis, and now lives near Decatur.   Parmenas A. was born Aug. 31, 1824; now lives in Dewitt county.  Sarah J. was born July 27, 1827; died Oct. 5, 1846.  Joseph P. was born July 10, 1829, and now resides in Decatur.  Asbarinah was born Nov. 27, 1827; died in Oct., 1831.  Gideon P. was born May 16, 1833; now resides in Dewitt county. ~ pg. 285

DAVID SMICK was born in 1798, in Lincoln Co., Ky.; came to this county from Kentucky in 1834, where he has ever since resided; was married Nov. 5, 1829, to Eliza Ann Ferris, who was born in Kent county, Va., Dec. 6, 1812.  Of their children -      Emily A. was born April 10, 1838; married to Dr. Carr, Apr. 28, 1859, who was born May 13, 1832 in Sussex county, N. J.  They are now living in Newburgh, this county.  Of their children -      Aura was born May 25, 1860.  David E. was born Mar. 22, 1863.  Chas. W. was born Sept. 5, 1865.  Mary E. was born Nov. 25, 1867.  Robert F. was born Nov. 21, 1870.  Walter S. was born July 14, 1874.      Martha L. Smick was born ___.  Now living in Decatur.  Aaron was born Dec. 7, 1840; married to Florence E. Hawkins, who was born in Clinton county, O.  They now reside in the city of Decatur.  Of their children -      Walter C. was born May 17, 1870.  Mabel Clare was born Feb. 12, 1874.  Elmer was born Oct. 22, 1876. ~ pg. 286

ANDREW W. SMITH was born in Rutherford county, Tennessee, Nov. 25th, 1806.  He married Elizabeth Blankenship, who died in 1831.  He afterwards married Rebecca R. Smith, Jan. 28, 1836; who died in November, 1875.  He was a member of the old county commissioners court for several years, and was engaged in the 'Black Hawk war; he was with the company of rangers that went out from Macon county, towards the head of Sangamon, in the vicinity of Cheney's Grove.  He died in October, 1875, just one month previous to the death of his wife. Of their children -      Elizabeth M. J. was born Mar. 14, 1832; she married Jos. Trobaugh, and now lives in Texas.       Alexander A. was born Nov. 25, 1838; was married to Laura Jacobs, Oct. 7, 1869.  He now resides in Wheatland township.       Abigail E. was born July, 30, 1840; was married to B. G. Henry; who now lives on the Lewis Ward place.       Margaret A. was born Sept. 5, 1844; was married to Nelson Odor, Oct. 6, 1868; now living in Wheatland township.  ~ pg. 285

MRS. L. CATHARINE SMITH was born May 2, 1829, in Windsor county, Tenn., and married Rev. J. C. Smith, Jul. 22, 1845, who died Jan. 4, 1872.  Of their children -      M. R., born Apr. 19, 1848; married Joseph Wood, Sept. 19, 1872.  Z. L., born Aug. 16, 1851; died July 11, 1852.  A. L. born Aug. 29, 1853.  F. A., born Apr. 14, 1855; died June 28, 1858.  L. L., born Oct. 13, 1866. ~ pg. 286

JOHN SMITH was born June 28, 1796, in Rutherford county, Tennessee; where he married Margaret Wilson, who was born in Guilford C. H., North Carolina, July 25, 1801.  They removed to Illinois about 1829 or '30, and settled at Mt. Zion, where he died, a few years since, loved and respected by all who knew him.  Of their children -      Mary J. was born Nov. 10, 1822; died at 18.  George A. was born Apr. 6, 1825; died July 29, 1873; married Elizabeth Wilson and as second wife Martha Wilson.  Louisa C. was born May 2, 1829; married Rev. J. C. Smith.  Candor R. was born Nov. 17, 1832; died at 13.  Nancy M. was born Nov. 20, 1837; married W. S. Parr. ~ pg. 286

ROBERT SMITH, SR., was born in Guilford county, North Carolina, Sept. 11, 1782.  His father removed to Tennessee, near Nashville, about the year 1803, and remained there about a year, and removed to Stones River, near Murphreysborough, where he remained until his death, in 1830.  Mr. Smith removed to Illinois in 1828, and located in Sangamon county, where he remained until the spring of 1828, when he came to Macon county, where he settled about six miles south-west of Decatur, and died in 1855.  His father whose name was also Robert, was engaged in the Revolutionary war, and was taken prisoner in North Carolina.  Robert was with Jackson in the battle of New Orleans.  His first wife was Elenor Wilson, who died in 1824; he afterwards married Jane Allen, who now lives in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa.  His children were - Andrew W., Nancy, Robert, Wm. C. and Margaret; all by his first wife. ~ pg. 284

WM. C. SMITH was born in Rutherford county, Tennessee, July 5, 1819, moved to this county in 1828, from Sangamon county; married Leacy J. Pope,  Feb. 17, 1842, who was born in Wake county, North Carolina, Oct. 25, 1819. Of their children -      John W. was born Feb. 9, 1843; married Mattie J. Weekly, Sept. 1, 1868; now resides in Decatur;      George R. was born Oct. 2, 1844; died Nov. 17, 1845.       William B. was born Jan. 5, 1847; married Elizabeth Goff, July 2, 1867; now lives in Wheatland township.       Robert H. was born Nov. 27, 1849; married Belle Wilson, Sept. 23, 1875; now resides in Blue Mound township.       Sarah E. was born Feb. 5, 1852.       James W. was born Mar. 20, 1854.       Daniel C. was born Mar. 24, 1857; died Sept. 23, 1857. ~ pg. 285 (See Note 1 below)

JOSEPH and BARBARA SPANGLER came to this county in the fall of 1835, from the county of York, in the State of Pennsylvania.  They were among the first permanent settlers of this county.  They had nine children born unto them, all of whom came to this county with their parents, with the exception of the oldest daughter, who married in Pennsylvania.  Barbara Spangler died March, 1847.  Joseph Spangler died Feb. 17, 1862, leaving surviving him all of his children, except Felix, who had moved to California in 1852, and died while there.      Jacob, Joseph and John Spangler, and Susan and Eliza, the sons and daughters of Joseph and Barbara Spangler, still reside in this county, each of whom have raised a family.      Their son, Daniel Spangler, moved to California in 1852, where he still resides.      Susan Spangler was married to James D. Tait in 1842.  James D. Tait came to this county from Lawrence county, Pennsylvania, in 1839.  He opened the first saddle and harness shop ever opened in Decatur.  He walked across the country from Naples, on the Illinois river, carrying his tools upon his back, frequently wading water up to his chin, which filled every slough and hollow during those days.  He bought his stock of goods in Springfield, Illinois, after deciding to stop in Decatur, and had them hauled here by team.  He followed his trade for several years, until he was obliged to discontinue on account of his health.  Mr. and Mrs. Tait had born unto them five sons, to-wit:      Joseph S. Tait was born March 28, 1843; was married to Martha E. Dillahunt, Jan. 24, 1871.       James H. Tait was born June 29, 1847, and died July 9, 1849.       Felix B. Tait was born Nov. 29, 1850.       Daniel T. Tait was born Feb. 25, 1853, and died Oct. 8, 1873.       Robert M. Tait was born Dec. 10, 1856, and died Nov. 17, 1873.       Joseph S. Tait is one of the largest farmers of this county.  Felix B. Tait graduated at the Illinois Sate Normal University, in June, 1873; was principal of the Woodstock Seminary, in McHenry county, Illinois, in 1874-75; was licensed to practice law in June, 1876. ~pg. 284

WILLIS STALLINGS was born in Oct., 1807, in Smith county, Tenn., and came to Macon county in 1832; married in 1830 to Jane Law.  Their children are -      JAMES M., who now resides in Atchison, Kansas, THOMAS B. and R. M. HILL, residing in Macon county. ~ pg. 286

LEONARD STEVENS, SR.  At this late day, and from the data at hand, it is absolutely impossible to give an accurate account of the ages, death, marriages, etc., of this family.  It is also impossible to fix, with certainty, when Mr. Stevens, now in his 68th year, and the 7th child of Leonard Stevens, fixes the date of his father's arrival at 1821; but his memory, I find, is quite treacherous, and his general health is very infirm.  It is certain, however, that Leonard Stevens was the first settler of the county whose descendants yet remain among us.  He was born in Connecticut, it is thought, about the year 1764; perhaps a few years earlier.  His wife was Alice Gates, also born in Connecticut, about one year after her husband, and survived him about one year.  They were married in Connecticut, and emigrated a short time afterwards to the state time afterwards to the state of New York, where most, if not all, of their children were born.  They emigrated to Illinois, Randolph county, in 1818, and come from there to Macon about the year 1821, as above stated; certainly not later than 1823.  Thomas Cowan, one of the commissioners who located the county seat of Macon county, ws a member of Mr. Stevens' family, and removed to this county with them, from Randolph county.      Buell Stevens, the oldest son, was born in New York, about the year 1796, as he was but 22 when his father came to Illinois in 1818.  He died about the year 1836.  His first wife was in Manville, the date of whose death we have no means of ascertaining.  His second wife was Polly Gray, who died about 1837.  His children, by his first wife, were Leonard Stevens, Jr., who was the first white child born within the limits of Macon county; Ira Stevens, Clara Stevens, and Perry Stevens.  Those by his second wife were, Dorus, James, Truman C., Hattie, Mary and Elizabeth.  Leonard Stevens, Jr., died in this county, and was buried by Col. E. D. Carter, as coroner; Ira was living in Stephenson county when last heard from; Clara is dead; James died during the late war; Perry was living, when last heard from, near Washington county, in this state; Truman C. lives near Taylorville, Christian county; Hattie married ______ Kelso, near Washington.      Keziah Stevens, the second child of Leonard Stevens, Sr., married a man by the name of Lawrence, before the removal of her father to Macon county, and was never a resident of the county.      Leonard Stevens, Jr., was born in New York, about the year 1800.  He married Hannah Taylor, of Kaskaskia.  He was not a resident of Macon county.      Augustus Stevens, was not a resident of the county.  He married, and he and wife both died within about two years of each other; leaving no children.  He was buried on Stevens' creek.  He was born about 1802.      Luther Stevens was born about 1804, in New York.  He married Augusta Sprague, daughter of Abraham Sprague.  He moved from Macon county to Missouri about 30 years ago.  His children were, Augustus, Luther, John, Lewis, Alice and Elizabeth.  He and his wife have been dead for a few years.      Dorus Stevens was born about the year 1806, in New York, married Nancy Biglaw, as his first wife; then the widow Cooper, near Henkle's, in Sangamon county.  The date of his death is not known.  His widow is still living.  His children were, Perry, Hattie and Mary.      Joseph Stevens, to whom we are indebted for what meagre information we have of the Steven's family, was born in New York, Mar. 7, 1808.  He came to this county with his father, when he was but 13 years old.  He married in 1830 to Mary Warnick, daughter of Wm. Warnick, the first sheriff of Macon county.  By his first wife he had three children, Francis M., now in Mo.; Wm. Henry,  now in this county; and James M., in Kansas.  By his last wife he had one child, Cyrus.  His first wife died about 1848, and he then married Mrs. Cunningham, whose maiden name was Margaret Sentenay, who was born in Ky., and is still living; she was born about 1816.  Mr. S. is now the oldest settler in the county.      Harriet Stevens married William Hollenback, and was, when last heard from, living in Stephenson county.  Their children's names cannot be given.      James Stevens was born about 1812, in New York.  His second wife's name was Fordice, who died about 1868.  He died about three years ago, in Bloomington, Illinois.

REV. DANIEL TRAUGHBER was born in Logan county, Ky., in May, 1800, and came to Illinois in 1837-or'8, and settled on Big Creek, in Mt. Zion township.  He married Mary Banks, in Kentucky, by whom he had four children -      Elizabeth married Robert Lansden, Wilson county, Kansas.  Gabrella married Robert Foster, Wilson county, Kansas.  Henry married in Wilson county, Kansas.      Mr. T. married a second time to Elizabeth Foster, by whom the following children were born -      Cyrus lives at Ottawa, Kansas.      Mr. T. married a third time to Eliza Smalley, by whom the following children were born -      Mary A. married John Edwards; lives in Wilson county, Kan.  Daniel B.; dead.  Harris lives in Wilson county, Kan.      Mr. T. moved to Fredonia, Kan., in 1872, and now resides there.

HENRY TRAUGHBER, Jan. 9, 1803, in Logan county, Ky.; came to Illinois in November, 1825; staid there until 1829; then came to Macon county, and was married to Nancy Smith, who was born in Tennessee, and died in Aug., 1863.  Of their children -      Robert S., born Sept. 2, 1830; died Feb. 8, 1863; married Elizabeth Bell.  David, born Sept. 2, 1832; died in infancy.  A. C., born Apr. 3, 1833; married V. C. Whitehouse.  E. M. E., born about 1843; married Wm. Cox; dead.  M. J. C. married D. P. During.  M. R. died in 1868.  Caroline married Kitt _____; died in 1874 ~ pg. 287

ALLEN TRAVIS was born May 18, 1789, in York District, South Carolina.  In 1805 his father removed with the family to Livingston county, Ky., where Allen was married, Oct. 5, 1820, to Margaret Campbell, who was born March 5, 1801.  They removed to Wayne county, Illinois, perhaps in the spring o 1821, and to Macon county in March, 1829, in company with his brothers Finis and Thomas, James D. Campbell, Andrew and John David.  Mrs. Travis died some five or six years ago.  Of their children -      John B. was born Jan. 9, 1823, in Wayne county, Illinois.  James D. C. was born Mar. 7, 1825, in Wayne county, Illinois.  Presly A. was born Apr. 24, 1827, in Wayne county, Illinois.  Rebecca was born Feb. 24, 1829, in Sangamon county, Ill.  Wm. H. was born Mar. 30, 1831, in Macon county, Ill.; died Jan. 5, 1863.  Samuel H. was born Sept. 14, 1836, in Macon county, Ill.; died Jan. 9, 1863.  Ulysses D. was born Mar. 5, 1839, in Macon county, Ill.; died Apr. 27, 1863.  Margaret Z. was born Feb. 3, 1841, in Macon county, Illinois.  Thomas C. was born Mar. 23, 1844, in Macon county, Ill.          ~ pg. 288

FINIS TRAVIS was born in Kentucky, in 1810, in what is now Crittenden county, and was married in 1840 to Nancy J. Foster, who was then the widow of Wm. Foster, maiden name Bell.  She died, and he married a second time to Nancy Mahollen.  Both are now dead. ~ pg. 288

HARVEY TRAVIS was born in Wayne county, Illinois, in 1823, and removed with the family to Macon county in 1830.  In 1851 he married Elizabeth Cox, who died in 1862, and he married a second time to Harriet M. F. Campbell; now resides in Decatur. ~ pg. 288

JOHN TRAVIS was born in South Carolina in 1768, where he married Rebecca Travis, born in South Carolina in 1777.  He died in Wayne county, Illinois, in 1824, and Mrs. T, in Macon county, in 1850.  Their children were Allen, Thomas, Finis and Harvey, mentioned below. ~ pg. 288

THOMAS TRAVIS was born in South Carolina, and was married before removing to Illinois, to Sarah Davidson, and settled one and a half miles northwest of Mt. Zion. ~ pg. 288

EDMUND TURPIN was born in 1811.  The two latter brothers are still residents of the county. ~pg. 289

MATTISON TURPIN was born in 1813, and came to Macon county with his brother William. ~ pg. 288

WM. TURPIN was born in Grayson county, Ky., in 1809, and came to Macon county in 1831, and settled on Big Creek. ~ pg. 288

NOTES