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EARLY SETTLERS OF SANGAMON COUNTY - 1876
By John Carroll Power

These biographies were submitted by a researcher and evidently abstracted from the 1876 History of Sangamon County, IL. Errors could occur, so one should always verify the correctness by obtaining copies of vitals and performing all necessary research to document what is contained herein.



ALEXANDER, THOMAS, was born about 1768, in Ireland, and his parents came to America when he was about four years old, landing at Charleston, S. C. Lynna Goodlett was born Oct. 11, 1780, in Greenville District, S. C. They were there married, and had three children, all of whom died under eight years. In 1806 they moved to Christian county, near Hopkinsville, Ky., where they had two children, and moved to Sangamon county, Ill., arriving in Oct., 1828, three miles east of Auburn. In 1829 they moved to what is now Chatham township, south of Lick creek. Of their two children,

MARY ANN, born in 1810, in Kentucky; married in Sangamon county to

John L. Drennan. (See his name.)

DAVID, born Oct. 3, 1814, in Christian county, Ky.; came to Sangamon county in 1828; married March 13, 1833, to Catharine Darnielle; had 14 children, all born in Sangamon county, six of whom died in infancy, and LYNNA died at 13 years. Of the other seven, JOHN T., born Dec. 25, 1835, enlisted on the first call for 75,000 men, April, 1861, for three months, in Co. A., 2nd Kansas Cavalry, served full term, and enlisted Nov., 1861, in Co. D., 2nd Mo. Art., for three years. Reenlisted as a veteran Jan., 1864. He lost his right hand April 13, 1865, at St. Charles, Ark., by the premature discharge of a cannon, while firing a salute on hearing of the surrender of the rebel forces under Gen. Lee. He now (1873) resides with his parents. DAVID S., born Nov. 20, 1842, enlisted August 13, 1861, in Co. B., 30th Ill. Inf., for three years; served until August 9, 1862, when he was discharged on account of physical disability, at Memphis, Tenn. He was brought home, and, after a lingering illness, died, March 10, 1866.

CATHARINE, born Dec. 20, 1844; married May 29, 1862, to Lafayette Beach. (See his name.) Had one child, CHARLES D. HIRAM, born March 30, 1847; enlisted March 14, 1864, in Co. C., 11th Mo. Inf., for three years. Served until July 14, 1865, when he was discharged on account of physical disability. He was married March 9, 1873, to Mary M. VanDoren. They reside five miles southwest of Chatham. WILLIAM, born Oct. 1, 1849; married March 14, 1872, to Emma Price, and reside in Chatham township. MARY BELLE and CYRUS reside with their parents, six miles southwest of Chatham, on the farm where the family settled in 1829.

Thomas Alexander died Dec. 18, 1835, and his widow died August 12, 1844, both in Sangamon county.



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