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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.



CANTRALL, WM. G., was born Sept. 6, 1784, in Botetourt, Va. His parents moved to Bath county, Ky., in 1789. He was there married, in 1804, to Deborah Mitts, who was born Nov. 16, 1785, in Virginia. Soon after marriage they moved from Bath county to the vicinity of New London, Huron county, O., and then moved to Pickaway county. They had ten children in Ohio, and the family moved to Sangamon county, Ill., arriving Nov. 1, 1824, in what is now Fancy creek township, on what was then called Higgins creek, but now called Cantrall's creek. Two children were born in Sangamon county. Of all their children--

DOROTHY, born March 15, 1805, in Ohio, married in Sangamon county to Charles Snelson. They had seven children, moved to DesMoines county, near Burlington, Iowa, where Mrs. Snelson died. The family live there.

ANN, born Aug. 1, 1806, in Ohio, married in Sangamon county to John W. Snelson. They had eight children, and moved to Keokuk county, Iowa, where Mrs. Snelson died. The family live there.

ELIZABETH, born Aug. 29, 1808, in Ohio, married in Sangamon county to Joseph D. Langston. See his name.

JOSHUA M., born Dec. 17, 1810, in Pickaway county, O., was married in Sangamon county, Jan. 14, 1834, to Sarah Cantrall. She was born March 14, 1812, near Urbana, O. They had eight children in Sangamon county; six died under eight years. Of the other four: ZEBULAN G., born May 7, 1835, married Elizabeth J. Lilly, a native of Augusta county, Va. They have six children, MARY A., MELISSA E., ARMINTA and AMELIA (twins), CELIA J. and NOAH MATHENY, and live in Fancy creek township. WILLIAM G., Jun., born Feb. 20, 1837, married Mary J. Randall. They have four living children, MARCUS N., SARAH M., MARY L. and LOUISA M., and live in Fancy creek township. JACOB M., born Dec. 25, 1841, married Marian J. Tufts., who was born near Buffalo, N. Y. They have one child, ADDIE E., and reside in Fancy creek township. MAHALA E., born Oct. 4, 1845, married Oct. 9, 1873, to George W. Bailey, being his second wife. He was born in Hawkins county, Tenn. He was a soldier in the 5th Tenn. Inf. in the Mexican war, in 1846 and '7; came from Mexico to Sangamon county in 1848. He enlisted in 1862 for three years, in Co. H, 114 Ill. Inf.; was commissioned as Captain at the organization of the regiment. His health failing, he resigned in May, 1863, and lives in Salisbury township. Joshua M. Cantrall resides in Fancy creek township, eight miles north of Springfield.

THIRZA, or THERESA, born Nov. 8, 1812, in Ohio, married in Sangamon county, to Edward Guyott. She died Oct. 7, 1851, three months after marriage. He married again, and lives in Springfield.

ADAM M., born Feb. 27, 1815, in Ohio, married in Sangamon county to Delilah Smith. They had nine children. JEREMIAH married Etta Drone, and live in Fancy creek township. HARRIET married Wm. Brisentine; moved to Dallas county, Texas, in 1853. She died there, leaving one child. WM. L. BRISENTINE lives with his granduncle, Joshua M. Cantrall. See his name. Adam Cantrall and his wife live at Riverton.

DEBORAH, born Feb. 16, 1817, in Ohio, married in Sangamon county to Marshal S. Randall. They have twelve children, and reside near Blue Mound, Christian county. Their daughter, Mary J., married Wm. G. Cantrall, Jun. See his name.

MAHALA, born Dec. 4, 1818, in Ohio, married in Sangamon county to Newton Street. She died, and he resides in Montgomery county.

SUSANNAH, born Nov. 23, 1820, in Ohio, married in Sangamon county to Leonard Mitts. See his name.

WILLIAM M., born Dec. 22, 1822, in Ohio, married in Sangamon county to Adaline Claywell. They had nine children; two died under six years. JULIA A. married Leander Jones, have three children, and reside in Salisbury township. MIRANDA married Rollin V. Mallory. See his name. JAMES M., PERCY--DEBORAH J. is a cripple, having had eight inches of bone taken from one of her lower limbs -- LEWIS E. and SARAH E. The latter is a deaf mute, and is being educated at the State Institution at Jacksonville. The five unmarried reside with their mother. William M. Cantrall enlisted July, 1862, for three years, in Co. C, 114 Ill. Inf.; was appointed Sergeant at the organization. Disease was brought on by over-exertion at the battle of Guntown, Miss., June 10, 1864, and he died in hospital at Memphis, Tenn., July 9, 1864. His widow and unmarried children live in Fancy creek township, eight miles north of Springfield.

MIRANDA J., born May 12, 1826, in Sangamon county, married William Snelson. They had one child, CHAS. H. SNELSON, and William S. died March 9, 1853. His widow was married March 4, 1858, to Samuel Mellinger, who was born Jan. 27, 1832, in Franklin county, Pa. They have four children, WILLIAM C., MAHALA A., DEBORAH A. and LUCY E., live with their parents in Fancy creek township. Mr. Mellinger had one child by a former wife, SAMUEL I. He lives with his father. Samuel Mellinger enlisted Aug. 12, 1862, in Co. C, 114 Ill. Inf., for three years; served full term, and was honorably discharged Aug. 3, 1865.

ANDREW J., born Jan. 4, 1829, in Sangamon county, died March 15, 1842.

Mrs. Deborah Cantrall died March 15, 1856, and William G. Cantrall, Sen., died March 6, 1867, on the farm settled by them in 1824, in Fancy creek township.



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