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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.




FRANCIS, CHARLES B., was born Oct. 30, 1799, in Pittsfield, Mass., and was there married to Roxanna Goodrich. They had two living children, and moved to Springfield, Ill., in 1835. He was for several years engaged in the manufacture of cabinet furniture with his brother Josiah. They were distant relatives of Simeon Francis and his brothers, founders of the Illinois State Journal. Charles B. Francis united with others in building, under contract, fifteen miles of the Northern Cross railroad--now Toledo, Wabash & Western railroad--from New Berlin to Springfield. Of his children--

MARIETTA, born Nov. 29, 1826, in Pittsfield, Mass., was married Feb. 11, 1846, in Springfield, Ill., to James L. Riggs. They have one daughter, ALICE, born July 16, 1853, was married in Peoria, Ill., to Alexander G. Tyng, Jun. Mr. Riggs died June 30, 1859, in Brimfield, Ill., and his widow and daughter reside in Peoria.

JANE A., born Oct. 23, 1830, in Pittsfield, Mass., was brought up in Springfield, Ill., and married Dec. 11, 1851, at Brimfield, Ill., to Robert A. Smith. They have seven children, and reside in Peoria, Ill.

Charles B. Francis died Oct. 10, 1843, in Jacksonville, Ill., while in attendance at the Illinois Baptist Convention. Mrs. Roxanna Francis, after living a widow twenty-nine years, was married in Pittsfield, Mass., Oct. 7, 1872, to Jirah Stearns, and resides in Newberg, N. J.




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