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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.




ILES, WASHINGTON - was born July 18, 1800 in Bath county, Ky. At eighteen years of age, he visited Illinois on business for another man, traveled over the country along the Sangamo river, and found that the land was very rich. A wealthy man from Kentucky had brought out a drove of horses, sold them on credit, and when the money was due, came to collect it, but found his customers unprepared to pay. It was then lawful to imprison men for debt, and he threatened to collect his money in that way. His creditors combined and convinced him that it would not be very pleasant to attempt it, and he left the country in haste. On reaching home he offered Mr. Iles one half the amount of the claims if he would collect them. The offer was accepted He found the men were honest, and by kind treatment he succeeded in collecting every dollar. Mr. Iles returned to Kentucky, and was married in Flemingsburg, May 21 1822 to Ann Foster, who was born there Dec. 3, 1804. They lived near Owensville, Bath county Ky., for sometime, and then with two children, moved to Sangamon county, Illinois, arriving at Springfield in the year 1825. Nine children were born in Sangamon county. Of their chldren -

MARTHA H., born June 14, 1823, in Kentucky, died Aug. 26, 1827, in Sangamon county, Illinois.

MARY E., born Aug. 4, 1825, in Bath county, Ky., was married in Sangamon county to Jacob G. Loose. See his name.

CORDELIA M., born May 25, 1827 in Sangamon county, Ill., married Obed Lewis. See his name.

MELINDA A., born April 23, 1829, in Sangamon county, was married there to William H. Bourne. They have five chidren, namely: CARRIE, ANNIE, KITTIE, VIRGINIA and BENJAMIN. W. H. Bourne and family till recently lived near Sharpsburg, Bath county Ky. Removed in 1876 to Springfield, Illinos, and reside one mile south.

WASHINGTON T., born April 6, 1833 in Springfield, Ill., was married in Bath county Ky., Dec. 6, 1864, to Emily Jones, who was born in that county April 4, 1844. They have three children - JULIA J.,LINNA L., and BENJAMIN and live four and one-half miles southeast of Springfield.

NANCY V., born July 23, 1835, in Sangamon county, was married there Nov., 1856, to Norman M. Broadwell, who was born Aug. 1, 1825, in Morgan county, Ill. Of their seven children - Two died young. ANNA, LOUIE, LUCY, STUART and VIRGINIA live with their parents in Springfield. N. M. Broadwell served one term in the State Legislature of Illinois. In the spring of 1862, he was elected County Judge, to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Judge William D. Power, and served until Dec. 1865. He was mayor of the city in 1867 and again in 1869, and is a practicing attorney in Springfield.

ELIJAH F., born Feb. 18, 1838, in Springfield, was married, Oct 6, 1863, in Lincoln county, Mo., to Mildred Steele, who was born in that county, Feb. 16, 1844. They have four children born in Sangamon county, LEWIS W., DAVID S., ELIJAH F., jun., FRANK B., and a boy, and live two and one-fourth miles south of Springfield, Illinois.

EDWARD, born Oct. 1, 1841, in Sangamon county, is an extensive importer and breeder of thoroughbred cattle. He is unmarried, and resides two miles south of Springfield, on the farm where his father settled in 1826.

JULIA E., born Feb. 9, 1843, died in 1857.

MARIA, born Nov. 11, 1845, died in her third year.

Mrs. Ann Iles died Aug. 25, 1866, and Washington Iles died July 4, 1871, both near Springfield, Illinois.

Washington Iles was a soldier in the Winnebago and Black Hawk wars. He aided in bringing the steamboat, Talisman, up the Sangamon river, opposite Springfield - the only steamboat that ever ascended that stream so high.




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