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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.



TAYLOR, JOHN, was born May 1, 1772, in Maryland. Three brothers, Isaac, James and William Taylor, came from England to America long before our Revolution. Where James and William settled is unknown to the descendants of Isaac, who settled in Maryland, and who was the father of John, whose name heads this sketch. The parents of John Taylor emigrated when he was quite young to Chester district, South Carolina, where John was married to Susan Mobley. They had seven children there, and moved in 1805 to that part of Barren which afterwards became Hart county, Kentucky, where one child was born, and Mrs. Susan Taylor died there in 1808 or '9. John Taylor was married in that county in 1816 to Susan Trotter. They had one living child there, and the family moved in 1818 to White county, Illinois. In the spring of 1819 they moved to Wayne county, where five children were born, and from there to Sangamon county, arriving in May 1829, on Wolf creek, in Williams township, where three children were born, making a total of seventeen children. John Taylor spent six years in Sangamon county, and then moved to Moultrie county, Illinois. In 1849 he settled in Davis county, Iowa. He left home in David county to tend a religious meeting in the adjoining county of Appanoose, and died there Nov. 7, 1856. His widow now resides with some of her children near Drakesville, Davis county, Iowa. Of all the children of John Taylor, three only settled permanently in Sangamon county. Simeon, the eldest, James, the fifth, and Isaac, the eighth, all by the first marriage. Of the other fourteen I shall speak first.

Elizabeth, born Sept. 27, 1796, was married in Kentucky to David Garrison. They moved to White, and from there to Wayne county, Illinois, brought up a family, and both died there.

Mary, born March 5, 1798, in South Carolina, was married in Hart county, Kentucky, to George Coats, and still lives there, near Mumfordville.

Ninian, born Dec. 19, 1799, in South Carolina, was married in Kentucky, brought up a large family, and died there in 1862.

Nancy, born Oct. 4, 1803, in South Carolina, was married in Wayne county, Illinois, to James Bowling, moved to Moultrie county, brought up a large family, and lives near Sullivan, Illinois.

John M., born April 24, 1805, in South Carolina, was married in Kentucky to Nancy Wilson, moved in 1849 to Appanoose county, Iowa, brought up a large family, and died there.

Harrison, born about 1817 in Hart county, Kentucky, came to Sangamon county with his parents, and was married in Moultrie county, Illinois, to Eliza Killian. They moved to Appanoose county, Iowa, and he enlisted in the 37th Iowa (Graybeard) Regiment. Harrison Taylor died in Iowa, a member of that regiment, leaving a large family near Drakesville, Davis county, Iowa.

Ann, born in Wayne county, Illinois, was married in Moultrie county to Albert Killian, and died in Appanoose county, near Drakesville, Iowa.

Melinda, born in Wayne county, Illinois, was married in Moultrie county to John Fleming, and both died in Davis county, Iowa.

Chester, born in Wayne county, Illinois, was married in Davis county, Iowa, and still lives near Drakesville.

Dennis, born in Wayne county, Illinois, was married in Sangamon county to Caroline Simpson, and died in Davis county, Iowa, leaving a widow and four children, one of whom died young. Of the other three, Pasco, in stepping from one railroad car to another, fell through and was killed instantly, in June 1875. Addie and Lula live with their mother near Drakesville, Iowa.

Henry, born in Wayne county, Illinois, was married in Davis county, Iowa.

Lucinda, born in Sangamon county, Illinois, was married in Davis county, Iowa, and died there.

Alvin S., born June 19, 1834, in Sangamon county, was married there August 7, 1856, to Louisa J. Wilson. They had two children in Sangamon county, and moved in 1860 to Drakesville, Davis county, Iowa, where two children were born, one died in infancy. Mr. Taylor enlisted August 9, 1862, in Co. B., 30th Iowa Inf., for three years, was appointed first sergeant at the organization of the company, promoted to first lieutenant, but before receiving his commission, was promoted to captain and commissioned by Governor Kirkwood, to take rank from May 30, 1863. He entered upon its duties in Mississippi, Sept. 2, 1864, at Resacca, Georgia. He died there in military hospital, June 7th. Of his three children, Charles W. died jan. 22, 1876. The other two, S. Leslie and Nellie A., live with their mother, half a mile south of Barclay, Sangamon county, Illinois.

Foster, born in Sangamon county, was married in Davis county, Iowa, and moved farther west in the same State.

Of the three sons of John Taylor who settled permanently in Sangamon county: (Simeon, James & Isaac - see their names.)



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