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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.



HILLMAN, OLIVER, born May 10, 1785, in Philadelphia, was married July 23, 1807, in that city, to Rachel Smith. They had six children in Philadelphia and New Jersey, and moved with a part of their family to Springfield, Ill., arriving in April, 1839. Of their children--

RICHARD S., born July 7, 1808, in New Jersey, was married Aug. 11, 1831, in Philadelphia, to Margaret Knorr. They had four children there, two of whom died under three years of age. The family moved to Springfield, Ill., in 1840, where two children were born. In 1846 or '7 Mr. Hillman moved to St. Louis, where twins were born, one of whom died young. Of their five living children: MARY C., born July, 1833, in Philadelphia, was married in Sangamon county, Ill., to Joseph P. Hesser. They have five children, and live in Bloomington, Illinois. RACHEL S., born Sept. 30, 1835, in Philadelphia, was married Oct. 18, 1855, in Springfield, Ill., to Daniel P. Hopping, who was born Feb. 21, 1832, in Morris county, New Jersey. They have five children, JOSEPH F., MARY E., WILLIAM P., HERBERT P. and SAMUEL M., and reside in Springfield. D. P. Hopping is a contractor and builder.

He, in connection with Mr. Henry Ridgely, established a planing mill in 1867. It was the first of the kind in Springfield. ELMIRA J., born March 11, 1841, in Springfield, Ill., was married in 1863 to William Wyatt. They live in Jacksonville, Ill. ANN E., born Sept. 7, 1845, in Springfield, Ill., married Lewis A. Wood. See his name. MARGARET, born April 3, 1848, in St. Louis. (Her twin mate, Richard, died in his third year.) She was married Jan. 22, 1868, to Francis C. Fessenden. They have four living children, FRANCIS E., Jun., BIRDIE L., GEORGIE and RICHARD P. Mr. Fessenden is a stairbuilder, and resides in Springfield, Ill.

Mrs. Margaret Hillman died May 23, 1848, in St. Louis. Richard S. Hillman was married Feb. 8, 1849, in that city, to Mrs. Eliza J. Vinton, whose maiden name was Bell. She died without children, Feb. 15, 1852, at Campbellsville, Ky. R. S. Hillman brought his family back to Springfield, Ill., in 1853, and was there married, Dec. 14, 1854, to Ann J. Williamson. They had two living children, RICHARD and MARY JANE live with their mother. Richard S. Hillman died May 31, 1862, in Springfield, and his widow married Samuel Yocom. See his name.

JOHN S., born Nov. 29, 1809, in Philadelphia. He was married three times, and all his wives and three children died there. He came to Sangamon county, Ill., in 1839 or '40, and was married in the same county to Mrs. Sarah A. Unclesbee, whose maiden name was Poffenberger. They had eleven children, three of whom died under six years. Of the other eight, RICHARD, born Sept. 26, 1843, married Dec. 29, 1874, to Elizabeth J. Rape. They have one child, EARNEST S., and live in Cotton Hill township. MARGARET A., born March 7, 1848, was married May 8, 1867, to William T. Johnson. They have two children, and live in Springfield. He is engineer at the new State house. RACHEL E., born April 20, 1849, was married March 7, 1871, to Isaac Fisher. They have one child, JESSIE, and live near Mt. Pulaski. GEORGE H. lives with his mother. WILLIAM A. married Dec. 15, 1875, to Flora E. Cooper, and lives near Williamsville. DANIEL R., MARY E., SARAH J., JOHN L. and LIZZIE, the six unmarried, live with their mother. John S. Hillman died March 22, 1872, and his widow resides in Cotton Hill township, near New City Post-office.

ALLEN, born Sept. 3, 1811, in Philadelphia, was married there and had two children. He moved to Sangamon county, Ill., and died there. His family returned to Philadelphia.

MARY, born August 29, 1813, in Philadelphia, was married there to John Unsworth. Their son, WILLIAM, lives with his third wife in Springfield, Ill.

MARGARET, born Jan. 28, 1816, in Philadelphia, was married there to John Hardin, and never came west.

FRANCIS, born Oct. 8, 1817, in Philadelphia, died in Springfield, Ill.

Mrs. Rachel Hillman died March 21, 1842, in Springfield, Ill. Oliver Hillman married Mrs. Mary A. Short, and he died March 11, 1856, in Sangamon county.



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