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PAST AND PRESENT OF THE CITY OF SPRINGFIELD AND SANGAMON COUNTY ILLINOIS
By Joseph Wallace, M. A.
of the Springfield Bar
The S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., Chicago, IL
1904



PETER TROXELL. - Peter Troxell, deceased, was one of the pioneer farmers of Sangamon county, having settled here in 1836. He was born May 2, 1816, a native of Clear Spring, Maryland, and a son of Abraham and Sarah (Rouck) Troxell, both of whom were natives of Maryland. The father was a farmer and spent his entire life in that state, his death occurring during the early boyhood of his son Peter. The mother afterward came west with her children and remained with them in Sangamon county until her death. She passed away at the home of her son Peter in Rochester township, March 27, 1844. None of her children are now living.

Peter Troxell acquired his education in the common schools of his native state. One of his brothers, David Troxell, had come to the west about 1835 with Joseph Firey, a relative, and settled in Sangamon county, and after the death of the father, they persuaded the others of the Troxell and Firey families to remove to Illinois, so that with his mother and the other children Peter Troxell arrived in Sangamon county in 1836. Here he began work as a farmer, making rails, performing all the tasks incident to the cultivation and development of the fields, and was thus employed until after he attained his majority. He worked very hard, and, indeed, his entire life was one of marked industry. When he had reached man's estate he settled on a farm in Rochester township, two miles east of the village of Rochester, and there began farming on his own account.

On February 18, 1841, Mr. Troxell was married to Miss Susan Firey, a native of Washington county, Maryland, born October 23, 1823, and a daughter of Jacob and Mary (Houser) Firey, who were also natives of that state. The father conducted a tavern there until 1836, when, with the Troxell family, he removed westward and purchased a farm in Christian county, Illinois, there carrying on general agricultural pursuits until his death. His wife also passed away in the same locality. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Troxell were born twelve children: Abraham, deceased; Mary, the widow of John North, of Chattanooga, Tennessee; Sarah, the widow of H. C. Neer and a resident of Edinburg, Illinois; Anna, the wife of J. H. Ross, of Springfield; Ruth E., at home; Isaac H., who married Lida Graham and is engaged in the produce business in Springfield; William P., who is engaged in the real estate business in Springfield; John J., of Edinburg, Illinois; Grace E., at home; Phoebe J., who is the widow of Louis C. Payran, and resides with her mother; Grant, who died in infancy; and Mattie C., the wife of Chester Morris, a farmer of Mechanicsburg, Illinois.

While rearing his family Mr. Troxell continued to reside upon the old home farm and as he found opportunity he purchased more land in Rochester township, placed it under a high state of cultivation, and as a reward for his care and labor, gathered good crops, which brought to him a very desirable income. He continued to engage in general agricultural pursuits until 1888, when he removed to Springfield and here lived a retired life, enjoying a well earned rest up to the time of his death, which occurred May 12, 1898. He was never a politician in the sense of office seeking, but held several minor offices in his township, and he gave an unfaltering support to the principles of the Republican party. He was a very hard working man and as the result of his careful management and untiring energy, he became prosperous, owning, in addition to his large farm of six hundred acres in Rochester township, a valuable tract of land in Christian county. In all of his business dealings he was fair and just, and he thus won for himself an honorable name. Since her husband's death Mrs. Troxell has sold all of the farming land, and she now owns a nice home at No. 108 North Walnut street, where she and her children reside. She is an estimable lady, and a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal church of Springfield.



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