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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.




MEREDITH, ABSALOM, born about 1785, in Virginia, was married there about 1807, to Mary Royal, a native of the same State. They moved to Butler county, Ohio, where they had four children, and then moved to Miami county, where two children were born. The family moved to Sangamon county, Ill., arriving Oct. 27, 1829, in what is now Ball township. The company in which they came numbered sixty-three persons. Of their six children--

THOMAS, born in Butler county, Ohio, was married in Sangamon county to Priscilla Fields, who died, and he married Jane Basil. They had two children. DAVIS was a soldier in an Ill. Reg., and was killed at the battle of Resaca, Georgia, May 15, 1864. NANCY E. married a Mr. Buck. He was a Union soldier, and died in the army. His widow resides with her mother. Thomas Meredith was drowned in Sacramento river, Cal. His widow and widowed daughter reside near Elizabeth, JoDaviess county, Illinois.

AMY, born in Butler county, Ohio, was married in Sangamon county to William B. Lawley. See his name.

DAVIS, born June 14, 1812, in Butler county, Ohio, was married June 29, 1836, in Sangamon county, to Mary Newcomer. They had eight children; one died in infancy. Of the other seven--SUSANNAH, born May 4, 1837, married Drury Jones. See his name. CHARLES N., born July 23, 1839, enlisted in Co. E, 114th Ill. Inf., August 11, 1862. He was taken sick at Camp Butler, and was out of the service six months. He was married March 8, 1863, to Laura Wagoner, who was born Sept. 3, 1841, in Menard county, Ill. He rejoined his regiment, March 20, of same year, and after the siege of Vicksburg, was sent to Memphis, where he was detailed as Orderly at headquarters of the Sixteenth Army Corps. Charles N. Meredith was honorably discharged, Oct., 1864, at Memphis, Tenn. Mr. and Mrs. Meredith have two living children, MARY F. and IDA J., who live with their parents. C. N. Meredith is engaged in the clothing business at Taylorville, Ill., and resides there. MARY J., born Dec. 3, 1842, was married Jan. 1, 1863, to John R. Kincaid, who was born Nov. 14, 1833, in Virginia, and brought up in Gallia county, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Kincaid have four living children, LUTHER E., JAMES W., CATALINA MAY and FRED CARROLL, and live five miles north of Pawnee, Sangamon county, Ill. SARAH A., born Nov. 2, 1844, was married Oct. 19, 1865, to Lewis R. Hedrick. They have three living children, namely, MARY S., FRANCIS R. and ALICE J., and live in Taylorville, Christian county, Ill. CHRISTOPHER C., born June 3, 1848, resides with his parents. LUTHER OSBORN, born July ??, 1851, was married Sept. 4, 1873, to Eliza A. Poffenberger. They have one child, CHARLES NOAH, and live in Cotton Hill township, Sangamon county, Illinois. FANNIE L., born Jan. 27, 1857, lives with her parents. Davis Meredith lives in Ball township, ten miles southeast of Springfield, Ill. He remembers that, after the deep snow, when it had entirely disappeared except on the roads, where the snow had been packed down, they looked like ribbons stretched over the prairie, and the sight was beautiful. These strips were from one to three feet wide, and it was weeks after the other snow was gone before they disappeared.

WILLIAM, born in Butler county, Ohio, brought up in Sangamon county, is a minister in the United Brethren church, and lives at Fort Scott, Kansas.

SARAH A., born in Miami county, Ohio, was married in Sangamon county, Ill., to James Dillon. They have two children, OLIVER and DAVIS, who live with their father. Mrs. S. A. Dillon died at Hittle's Grove, McLean county, Illinois.

JOSEPH, born in Miami county, Ohio, was married in Sangamon county, Ill., to Susan Dillon, who died, leaving five children, SARAH A., LESLIE C., THOMAS J., CHARLOTTE J. and MARY C. live with their father. He married Mary Adams. They have one child, MELISSA. Joseph Meredith and family live near Taylorville, Ill.

Absolom Meredith died in Rochester township, Sangamon county, Ill., in 1842, and his widow died in 1844, in Ball township, Sangamon county, Illinois.




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