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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.



WILSON, SAMUEL M. was born Sept. 30, 1806 in Harford county, Maryland. He received his literary education at Jefferson College. Cannonsburgh, Pennsylvania, graduating there in 1831. He pursued his theological studies at Princeton College, New Jersey, and in April, 1836, was licensed to preach by the Presbytery of New Castle, Pennsylvania. In June, 1836 he took charge of the Presbyterian Church at Lithopolis Fairfield county, Ohio, and was ordained by the Presbytery of Columbus, Ohio, in September, 1837. Jane Elder was born March 1, 1814, in Centre countv, Pennsylvania. Rev. Samuel M. Wilson and Jane Elder were married Dec. 27, 1836 in Franklin county Ohio. They had seven children at Lithopolis, Ohio, and after a pastorate of twenty-two years over that church moved to Clinton, Dewitt county Illinois; in response to a call from the Presbyterian Church at that place In August, 1858 Rev. Mr. W ilson received a unanimous call to the Centre Church in Sangamon Illinois. He accepted the ca11, removed thither and entered upon its duties. Of their children

MARGARET F.., born March 8, 1838, in Ohio, married in Sangamon county, September 1859 to Rev. C. W. Finley of New London, Ohio. She died March 15, 1861 while on a visit to her parents in Sangamon county.

ANDREW, born Oct. 1,1839, in Ohio, married in Sangamon county, August 10, 1864, to Georgic K. Watts. They have four children, WILLIAM E., M. ANNIE, JENNIE and ANDREW, Jun., and reside at Kingsville, Shawnee county, Kansas - 1874.

WILLIAM E., born May 28, 1841 in Ohio, died Feb. 17, 1866, from injuries received by an accident on the Toledo, Wabash and Western Railroad, at Meredosia, Illinois.

THOMAS and MARTHA reside with their father.

MARY F., died Dec. 6, 1848, in her fourth year.

JANE died Feb. 3, 1861 in her eleventh year.

Mrs. Jane E. Wilson died July 29, 1868, in Sangamon county, and Rev. Samuel M. Wilson resides three and a half miles south of Pleasant Plains, Sangamon county, Illinois.

The Society of Old Settlers of Sangamon county elected Rev. S. M. wilson as president of the society at their annual meeting at Pleasant Plains August 29, 1873. He served one year and until his successor was chosen at Crow's Mill, in September 1874. He thus became an old settler by brevet.



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