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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.




HERNDON, ARCHER G., born Feb. 13, 1795, in Culpepper county, Va., went to Greensburg, Green county, Ky., when he was about ten years old, and was there married, in 1816, to Mrs. Rebecca Johnson, whose maiden name was Day. Her father was a revolutionary soldier. Mr. and Mrs. Herndon had one child in Kentucky, and they moved to Troy, Madison county, Ill., where one child was born; from there they moved to Sangamon county, Ill., arriving in the spring of 1821, settling on what is now German Prairie, five miles northeast of Springfield, where two children were born, Of their four children--

WILLIAM H., born Dec. 25, 1818, in Green county, Ky., was married in Sangamon county, March 26, 1840, to Mary J. Maxcy, who was born July 27, 1822. They had six children. JAMES N., born April 26, 1841, in Springfield, Ill., married Mary Dunlap, and lives in Fancy creek township. ANNIE M., born April 9, 1843, in Springfield, was married June 26, 1863, in her native place, to Frank Fleury, who was born Sept. 28, 1840, in Meadville, Penn. They have one child, ANNIE MAY. Mr. Fleury was city clerk during 1868, '69, '70 and '71. He is now engaged in the drug business, in Springfield, where he resides. BEVERLY P., born Dec. 30, 1845, lives in Colorado. ELIZABETH R., born Nov. 11, 1849, married, Aug. 27, 1867, to James S. Cooper, who was born July 16, 1842, in Belleville, St. Clair county, Ill. They live in Springfield, Ill. LEIGH W., born Oct. 22, 1852, lives with his father. MARY N. lives with her sister, Mrs. Fleury. Mrs. Mary J. Herndon died Aug. 18, 1860, and W. H. Herndon was married July 31, 1861, to Anna Miles, who was born March 1, 1836. They have two children, NINA BELLE and WILLIAM M., and live in Fancy Creek township, six miles north of Springfield, Illinois. Wm. H. Herndon was for many years a practicing attorney in Springfield, Ill., and was the law partner of Abraham Lincoln, from 1848 to the death of Mr. Lincoln.

ELLIOTT B., born Aug. 1, 1820, at Troy, Madison county, Ill., has practiced law in Springfield since 1842. He was city attorney during 1854 and '5, and county attorney in 1856. He was United States District Attorney, under President Buchanan, and was corporation counsel during 1874 and '5. E. B. Herndon was married, Sept. 30, 1875, to Mrs. Jerusha Lee, whose maiden name was Palmer. She was born April 16, 1833, in Ogdensburg, St. Lawrence county, N. Y. Mr. Herndon is a practicing lawyer, and resides in Springfield, Ill.

ARCHER G., Jun., born Nov. 29, 1825, in Sangamon county, Ill., was married in DeWitt county, Oct. 15, 1846, to Roanna R. Robbins, who was born April 17, 1829, in Campbell county, Ky. They had eleven children, three of whom died under two years. Of the other eight--WILLIAM FRANCIS, born April 9, 1848, was married Sept. 14, 1871, to Mary H. Bryant, who was born Sept. 21, 1852. They have one child, EDGAR BRYANT, and live in Springfield, Illinois. NONA R. died Jan. 17, 1876, from burns, caused by the explosion of a lamp. LOAMI D., ELLIOTT G., RODELIA A., MOLLIE E., ROMEPEER R. and ELMA R.; the six latter live with their parents. Archer G. Herndon, Jun., and family, reside near the southeast corner of Rochester township.

NATHANIEL F., born in 1827, in Sangamon county, Ill., died there, in 1834.

Archer G. Herndon, Sen., was engaged in mercantile pursuits, from 1825 to 1836, in Springfield, and during that time erected the first regular tavern in town. He was one of the "Long Nine" who were instrumental in having the capital removed from Vandalia to Springfield, having been elected State Senator in 1836. He was receiver of public moneys, from 1842 to 1849, in the Land Office, in Springfield. A. G. Herndon, Sen., died Jan. 3, 1867, and Mrs. Rebecca Herndon died Aug. 19, 1875, both in Springfield, Illinois.




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