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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.




DIVELBISS, JACOB, was born March 29, 1797, in Franklin county, Pa. He was there married, Jan. 19, 1819, to Catherine Shank, who was born Dec. 3, 1791, in Washington county, Md. They had three living children born in Westmoreland county, Pa., and moved west, traveling from Pittsburg by water to Beardstown, Ill. Mr. Divelbiss and his son Noah walked from there to Springfield, the family following in a hack, and arriving May 1, 1838. Of their three children -

Catharine, born July 8, 1822, in Westmoreland county, Pa., was married there April, 1838, to Richard Hodge. See his name.

Noah, born Nov. 28, 1824, in Westmoreland county, Pa., was married in Springfield, Aug. 8, 1848, to Cordelia Watson. They had five children. Noah, Jun., born April 27, 1849, was killed by a railroad accident at Sag bridge, near Lemont, Cook county, Ill., July 17, 1873. Abbie lives with her parents. Charles died in infancy. Freddie died in the eleventh year of his age. Nellie lives with her parents.

Noah Divelbiss came to Springfield with his father, and was deputy and acting clerk of the Supreme Court of Illinois from 1844 to 1848. He is now teller in the Marine and Fire Insurance Company's Bank, and resides in Springfield.

Amanda, born Feb. 3, 1829, in Westmoreland county, Pa., was married in Springfield, Sept. 1, 1846, to Frank Hickox. He is a brother of Virgil, but came to Sangamon county too late to be classed as an early settler. Mr. and Mrs. Hickox had eight children, two of whom died young. Alice, born June 23, 1847, was married May 26, 1864, to William Warner, and resides at Selma, Alabama. Frank, born April 4, 1849, was married June 27, 1872, to Matilda C. Bailey, a native of Newport, Indiana. They live in Springfield, Ill. Elbert W., born March 14, 1852, in Petersburg, was married in Springfield Jan. 10, 1875, to Kate Griffith, of St. Louis. They reside in Springfield. Ida May, born Nov. 9, 1854, was married in St. Louis, April 15, 1870, to William J. White. They have one child, Maggie, and reside in Springfield. Nellie and her mother reside in Springfield with Mrs. Hickox's father.

Jacob Divelbiss was elected Assessor and Treasurer of Sangamon county in 1853, serving two years. He learned the wagon-maker's trade in his native county, and prosecuted the business in Springfield for many years. He made a hand in the shop a full half century. Mrs. Catharine Divelbiss died Aug. 18, 1875, and Jacob Divelbiss died suddenly Feb. 11, 1876.




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