All Rights Reserved © Copyright 1999, 2000 All material contained on these pages are furnished for the free use of those engaged researching their family origins. Any commercial use, without the consent of the host/author of these pages is prohibited. We have tried to use images that were obtained from sources permitting free distribution, or generated by the author, and are subject to the same restrictions/permissions. All persons contributing material for posting on these pages does so in recognition of their free, non-commercial distribution, and further, is responsible to assure that no copyright is violated by their submission.
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.



FIREY, JOSEPH, was born Oct. 2, 1789, in Washington county, Md. He was married there, Feb. 12, 1812, to Catharine Rouch, who was born Nov. 12, 1794, in the same county. They had two children, and Mrs. Catharine Firey died July 20, 1822. Joseph Firey was married June 29, 1824, to Magdalena Beard. They had four children, and Mrs. Magdalena Firey died in Maryland. Joseph Firey, with his two eldest sons, came to Springfield, Ill., Nov. 25, 1835, and a few days later moved to what is now Cooper township. He returned to Maryland the next year, and came back to Sangamon county with his younger children, in company with his brother Jacob, Wm. Mowry and Mrs. Troxell, with their families. Of his children--

HENRY, born March 25, 1815, in Washington county, Md., married in Sangamon county, Ill., May 21, 1840, to Minerva Lord. They had eight children. MARY E., born March 16, 1841, married Sept. 26, 1861, to George L. Hoasley, have one living child, WILLIAM. SARAH C., born August 4, 1843, married Jan. 20, 1869, to Benjamin R. English, have one living child, MARY A. ANN M., born March 6, 1846, married Oct. 20, 1864, to Sherman Yaukey, have two children, EDWIN H. and CLARA E. JOSEPH. F., born Dec. 27, 1848, married Sept. 5, 1873, to Susan Thomson, and have two children, LILLIE and ELIZA. ALICE J., born July 4, 1851, married March 19, 1874, to William Daigh, and have one child, HENRY. LEWIS E., born July 12, 1854, ELIZA M., born March 2, 1857, and JOHN H., born Nov. 3, 1859. Henry Firey and family live near Grove City, Christian county, Ill.

LEWIS, born Jan. 6, 1817, in Washington county, Maryland, came to Sangamon county in 1835, is unmarried, and lives with his brother Henry, near Grove City, Ill.

By the second marriage--

CATHARINE, born May 16, 1825, in Maryland, married May 23, 1847, to George Ensminger, have eight children, CHARLOTTE, MARTHA, MARY A., SARAH M., WILLIAM, GEORGE, ARCHIBALD and LEWIS, and live near Grove City.

MARTHA ANN, born Sept. 22, 1826, in Maryland, married June 1, 1852, to Jefferson Singer. They had five children, WILLIAM, JOSEPH, LEWIS, ALFRED, JOHN and MARY. Mr. Singer died Feb., 1865. His widow and children live near Grove City.

JOHN L., born Oct. 16, 1829, in Maryland, married April 27, 1854, in Sangamon county, to Elizabeth Jones. He died Jan. 29, 1872, in Rochester, leaving a widow and one son, JAMES M.

MARY S., born July 8, 1832, in Washington county, Md., married Nov. 19, 1858, to John Troxell. See his name. She died Nov. 16, 1859, leaving one child, MARY.

Joseph Firey died August 25, 1862, near Mt. Auburn, Christian county, Ill.



Return to 1876 Biography Index
Return to Sangamon County ILGenWeb