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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.




STILLMAN, Mrs. ABIGAIL, widow of Benjamin Stillman, came to Sangamon county, Ill., arriving in the spring of 1820, in what is now Williams township, accompanied by three sons and three daughters, all unmarried. She had a son and daughter married, the daughter came with the family, being the wife of James Stewart. The son came two years later. The descendants of Benjamin and Abigail Stillman do not know where they were born or married, but they lived in Massachusetts until four children were born. They moved in 1793 to Bloomfield, Ontario sounty, N. Y., where four children were born, and Mr. Stillman died there. The family moved to Morganfield, Union county, Ky., where Philo Beers became acquainted with the family. They moved from there to Sangamon county, Ill. Of their eight children--

STEPHEN, born in Massachusetts, came with the family to Sangamon county, selected the land where they settled in what is now Williams township, one and a half miles west of Williamsville. There was a beautiful natural grove on the land, which he called Fancy Grove. A postoffice was established there and called Fancy Grove postoffice, Mr. Stillman being postmaster. It was the first postoffice north of the river. The name has since been applied to a stream of water, and to a township. Stephen Stillman died in Peoria, between 1835 and '40.

JOSEPH B., born in Massachusetts, came with his mother to Sangamon county, and soon after went to the West India islands, and died there in 1825. He was a physician.

ROXANA, born March 22, 1786, in Massachusetts, married James Stewart. See his name.

ISAIAH, born in Massachusetts, married in New York State to Hannah Sherwood, came to Sangamon county, about 1822, and settled on the farm now owned by B. F. Fletcher, one and a half miles southwest of Williamsville. They had three children, two daughters and a son, HENRY, who is a lawyer, and resides at Canton, Fulton county, Ill. Isaiah Stillman was in command of a body of soldiers, as General Stillman, and was defeated at Rock river in 1832, in the war against the Indians, under their chief, Blackhawk. After the war, General Stillman moved to Canton, Ill., and died there in 1865 or '6. His widow still resides there.

MARY, born in New York, died unmarried at Tremont, Ill., in 1862 or '3.

MARTHA, born in Bloomfield, New York, and came with her mother to Sangamon county. She was married Nov. 2, 1820, to Philo Beers. See his name.

HENRY, born in New York, married in St. Louis, and died at Peoria, between 1860 and '65.

CAROLINE, born in New York, married in Peoria to Peter Menard. Both died at Tremont, Ill., leaving four children.

Mrs. Abigail Stillman moved with three of her children to Peoria in 1828, and died there in 1830.




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