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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.



DRESSER, REV. CHAS., D. D., was born Feb. 24, 1800, in Pomfret, Conn. He was a classmate of George D. Prentice, in Brown University, Providence, R. I., and graduated there in 1823. He then went to southeast Virginia and entered the family of Dr. Meade (afterward Bishop Meade), of Virginia, as tutor to his sons, and with him studied theology. He was ordained to the ministry in the Protestant Episcopal Church in 1829, and was married Nov. 8, 1832, in Dinwiddie county, near Petersburg, Va., to Louisa W. Withers, who was born there July 15, 1810. They had two living children in Virginia. Mr. Dresser came with his family to Springfield in April, 1838, where he became Rector of the Episcopal Parish. They had eight children in Springfield, four of whom died young. Of their six living children--

DAVID W., born Oct. 16, 1833, at Halifax Court House, Va., brought up in Springfield, graduated at Jubilee College, Robins' Nest, Peoria county, Ill., in 1851, and was there ordained to the ministry in 1855. Rev. D. W. Dresser was married Nov. 20, 1861, at Chesterfield, Ill., to Caroline Cundell, who was born there Jan. 4, 1841. He is now Rector of the Protestant Episcopal Parish at Carlinville, Ill.

THOMAS W., born Jan. 11, 1837, at Halifax C. H., Va., was brought up in Springfield. He graduated at Jubilee college in 1855, and at the Medical University of New York City in 1864. He was married in Springfield, Nov. 28, 1865, to Margaret Doremus. They have one child, CATHARINE. Dr. T. W. Dresser is a practicing physician and resides in Springfield, Illinois.

ELIZABETH, born Aug., 20, 1838, in Springfield, was married Dec. 31, 1873, to William P. Thayer. See his name.

EDMUND, born Sept. 2, 1843, in Springfield, spent several years as railroad telegraph operator, and is now master of transportation on the T. W. & W. R. R. He resides with his mother in Springfield, Illinois.

SAMUEL TREAT, born Sept. 6, 1846, in Springfield, spent several years as assistant clerk of the U. S. District Court in Springfield. Was, from Jan., 1875, to Jan., 1876, clerk in the office of Solicitor of the Treasury at Washington, D. C. He is now Deputy U. S. Marshal for the southern district of Illinois, and resides with his mother in Springfield.

VIRGINIA, born Oct. 12, 1852, in Springfield, resides with her mother.

Rev. Charles Dresser received the degree of Doctor of Divinity from St. Paul's college, Mo., in 1858, and was Rector of the Protestant Episcopal church in Springfield from 1838 to 1855. During that time, as the parish register shows, he solemnized the marriage of Abraham Lincoln and Mary Todd, Nov. 4, 1842. He was elected Professor of Divinity and Belles Letters in Jubilee College in 1855, and remained in that position for some time, when he returned to Springfield and died March 25, 1865. His widow resides at 818 West Edwards street, Springfield, Ill.



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