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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.



CONSTANT, REZIN H., was born July 8, 1809, in Clarke county, Ky. His grandfather (John Constant) was shot in the thigh by an Indian while he was with a surveying party in Kentucky. He lived fifteen years after, but it finally caused his death. His son Jacob was the father of Rezin H. Neither this John nor Jacob ever came to Sangamon county. Rezin H. was married in his native county, July 27, 1830, to Abigail D. Constant. On the 9th of September following they started west with the family of his father-in-law--who was also his uncle, Isaac Constant--and arrived in Springfield Oct. 7, 1830, just in time to experience all the hardships connected with the "deep snow." R. H. Constant enlisted at Springfield, June 10, 1832, in Capt. Jesse Claywell's company, Col. James Collins' regiment, and Gen. James D. Henry's Brigade of Ill. Vol. Inf. He was commissioned Lieut., and was in the battle of Wisconsin, and commanded his company at the battle of Bad Axe, August 5, 1832, which terminated the Black Hawk war. Mr. Constant was one of the representatives of Sangamon county in the legislature of Illinois for 1846 and '47. They had eight children in Sangamon county, namely--

SARAH A., born Jan. 11, 1831, married in Sangamon county to Henry B. Grubb. They have five children, RICHARD, CATHARINE, ROBERT, GEORGE and HARLAND, and live in Springfield.

AMANDA, born Feb. 11, 1833, married Charles Dougherty. See his name. She died, leaving three children.

AMY, born Oct. 10, 1834, died in Sangamon county, July 25, 1852.

ALFRED S., born August 19, 1836, married in Sangamon county to Mary E. Wilson. They have four living children, JAMES R., FRANK, LUCIAN L. and HARRY W. Alfred S. Constant enlisted July 25, 1862, in Co. I, 114th Ill. Inf., for three years. Served until Jan. 16, 1863, when he was discharged on account of physical disability. He resides near Barclay.

ELIZABETH P., born March 15, 1839, married in Sangamon county to Ninian M. Taylor. See his name.

THOMAS S., born April 30, 1841, died in Sangamon county, March 26, 1857.

GEORGE M., born Jan. 31, 1844, enlisted at Springfield, June, 1862, for three months, in the 70th Ill. Vol. Inf. Served full time, and was honorably discharged with the regiment. He was married to Margaret E. Bates. They have two children, CRESSEY and PEARL, and reside at Mason City, Ill.

MARY C., born April 22, 1846, married in Sangamon county to David A. Taylor. See his name. They live near Gibson, Ford county.

Mrs. Abigail D. Constant died August 11, 1846, and Rezin H. Constant was married Sept. 27, 1847, to Mrs. Mary L. Harbert, whose maiden name was Halbert. They had three children--

CORDELIA F., born April 1, 1849, in Sangamon county, married there to Dr. Hamilton R. Riddle. See his name.

IRENA, born Sept. 7, 1851, in Sangamon county, married Dr. Isaac H. Taylor. See his name.

SABRA G., born April 5, 1853, in Sangamon county, married Feb. 21, 1872, to Russel O. Riddle. See his name.

Mrs. Mary L. Constant died May 18, 1863, and Rezin H. Constant resides in Clear Lake township, near Barclay.



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