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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.



BROADWELL, MOSES, was born Nov. 14, 1764, near Elizabethtown, N. J. Jane Broadwell was born Feb. 6, 1767, in the same neighborhood, and was Moses' second cousin. They were there married Nov. 5, 1788, and soon after moved to Hamilton County, O., to a fort situated where Columbia now stands, five miles above Cincinnati. In 1804 they moved to Clermont County, O. They had twelve children in Ohio, three of whom died young. They moved in a keel boat from Cincinnati to St. Louis in the spring of 1819, and the next spring came up the Illinois river on a steamboat, said to have been the first that ever ascended the latter stream. They landed at Beardstown in June, 1820, and came to Sangamon county in the latter part of June or early in July of that year, settling on the south side of Richland creek, about one mile east of where Pleasant Plains now stands. Of their nine children:

MARY, born April 27, 1791, in New Jersey, was married Dec. 19, 1807, to Henry S. Sweet, a native of New York. They had one child, and all the family died.

DAVID, born June 11, 1794 in Ohio, was married to Mrs. Mary A. Drake. She died in Menard county, Ill., and he died May 18, 1858, in Iowa.

SARAH, born Feb. 16, 1796 in Ohio, was married in Sangamon county, in 1837 to David Van Eaton. They had no family, and she is now a widow, residing with her niece, Mrs. A. B. Irwin.

JOHN B., born Sept. 27, 1797 in Hamilton county, O., was married March 29, 1817, in same county to Betsy Pratt. They had one child at that place, and moved with his father to St. Louis, where one child was born, and from there to Sangamon county, arriving in Dec., 1819, on the south side of Richland creek, one mile east of where Pleasant Plains now stands, where one child was born. Of their three children, JANE S., born Dec. 19, 1817, in Clermont county, O., married in Sangamon county to John S. Seaman. They had six living children: JONATHAN went to New Orleans in 1857 with a drove of horses. He sold out, and expected to leave for home in a few days, but his friends never heard of him afterwards. DANIEL married in Indiana, moved to Iowa, and died May 28, 1871 in Michigan, while on his way to Mineral Springs for his health. WILLIAM enlisted at Springfield, in 1861, in what became the 11th Mo. Inf., for three years. Both his lower limbs were broken by a falling tree, while he was lying sick in tent; one limb was amputated. He went to Iowa, married, had one child, and his wife died. He resides near Jefferson, Green county, Ia. ISAAC was a sergeant in the 64th Ill. Inf. Served three years, re-enlisted as a veteran, served to the end of the rebellion, and was honorably discharged, and resides near Jefferson, Iowa. CHARLES was a Union soldier in two Illinois regiments; served out his enlistments with honor, and resides near Fredonia, Kan. CALISTA married Charles R. Pratt and resides near Fredonia. John Seaman died in 1850 and his widow married Alexander B. Irwin. See his name. CINTHELIA, born Oct 17, 1819, in St. Louis, was married in Sangamon county, Ill., to Alexander B. Irwin. See his name. DANIEL P., was born Sept. 17, 1821 in Sangamon county, was married to Irene Holcomb. They had six children born in Sangamon county: Emma C. married in Springfield to Benjamin Trumbull, and resides in Emporia, Kan. Alonzo was married March 6y, 1874 in Bloomington, Ill., to Clara Furrow, and resides in Denver, Col. Willis married in Springfield to Sophronia Burge, and resides in Emporia, Kan. Charles resides near Pleasant Plains. Herbert and Etta reside with their father. Daniel P. Broadwell moved to Topeka, Kan., thence to Emporia, Kan., where Mrs. B. died, Dec. 25, 1869. Mr. B. married Mrs. Mary Kingston, and resides near Emporia. Mrs. Betsy Broadwell died Sept. 30, 1823, and John B. Broadwell was married March 10, 1825 to Elizabeth King, sister of John and Jeremiah King. They had six children: William married Cynthia McMurphy, and died, leaving a widow and three children in Sangamon county. They reside in California. Moses J., born March 6, 1827, was married in Iowa to Mary A. Cann, in Sept., 1862. They reside in Denver, Col. Martha married William Macon, and died in California. Harriet married A. Poppeno, and died, leaving three children in Sangamon county. Francis M., born May 15, 1836, in Sangamon county, was married in David county, Iowa, to Sarah Allen, moved to Denver, Col., and died there. Henry C. is on the pacific coast. Mrs. Elizabeth Broadwell died July 23, 1840 in Sangamon county, and John B. Broadwell resides partly near Fredonia, Kan., and with his daughter, Mrs. Irwin, in Sangamon county.

WILLIAM, was born April 27, 1799 in Hamilton county, O., was married in Sangamon county, Dec. 15, 1821 to Margaret Stevenson. They had one son, WILLIAM B., born Jan. 3, 1825, in Sangamon county. He laid out the town of Broadwell, in Logan county. He was married, and resides in Hutchinson, Reno county, Kan. William Broadwell was killed at Old Sangamo, in Sangamon county, Ill., Nov. 22, 1824, while assisting in raising a barn. His widow married Richard Latham. See his name.

CHARLES, born Dec. 3, 1800 in Hamilton county, O., was married Jan. 9, 1825 in Sangamon county, to Ellen Carman, daughter of Jacob Carman. They had eight children, Jacob, Silas, Rachel, Helen, Adelia, Margaret and Mary A. The latter married A. P. Brereton, and resides in Pekin. Charles Broadwell moved to Pekin and died in 1854. His widow resides there.

JEFFERSON, born June 9, 1805, in Clermont county, O., died Dec. 10, 1830 in Sangamon county.

CYNTHIA, born Nov. 2, 1807, in Clermont county, was married May 21, 1826 in Sangamon county to William Carson. See his name.

EUCLID, born Oct. 7, 1809, in Clermont county, O., was married in Sangamon county Dec. 12, 1833, to Laura Farrington. They had eight children, some died young, and the family moved to Iowa. LOUISA, born Aug 27, 1836, was married Feb. 21, 1861 in VanBuren county, Iowa, to D. S. Jamison, who was born Aug. 25, 1822 in Westmoreland county, Pa. They have four children, Elsworth, Cora, Sherman and Bob. They reside at Keosauqaua, Van Buren county, Iowa. ROSALINE, born March 1, 1839, was married Feb. 16, 1860 to Rev. J. W. Roe. They had six children, Allen; Clara, William, Laura, Charles and John. Mrs. Rosaline Roe died July 30, 1874, at Malvern, Mills county, Iowa. MARIA, born Sept 21, 1841, married Aug. 3, 1863 to Ephriam Farrington. They have two children, Elsie and Eva, and reside at Belle Plain, Sumner county, Kan. CHARLES, born April 28, 1846, died Oct. 1, 1875 in Denver Col. MILLIARD F., born Aug 16, 1850, resides at Niles Van Buren county, Iowa. ELLA, born Aug a5, 1853 in Macon county, Ill., was married March 31, 1872 to Dr. C. L. Crooks. They had two children Clark and Bessie and reside at Cantril, Van Buren county, Iowa. Euclid Broadwell died Feb. 12, 1874 at Niles, and his widow resides there.

Moses Broadwell is said to have built the first brick house in Sangamon county. He died April 10, 1827, and his widow died March 8, 1836, both in Sangamon county, Ill., where they settled in 1820.



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