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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.



FORTUNE, BENJAMIN, was born March 16, 1810, in Nelson county, Va. His parents moved in 1827, to Anderson county, Ky. He was married Nov. 24, 1830, in the adjoining county of Shelby, to Mary A. Bullard. They had one child, and moved to Sangamon county, Ill., arriving April 2, 1832, in what is now Illiopolis township, four miles east of Mechanicsburg, where they had two living children. Of their three children--

ELIZABETH A., born August 28, 1831, in Shelby county, Ky., married Oct. 2, 1851, in Sangamon county to Riley Wilkins, who was born Feb. 14, 1820, in Pickaway county, Ohio. They have two living children, MARY A. and WILLIAM B., and reside in Mechanicsburg.

THOMAS W., born July 20, 1836, in Sangamon county, enlisted June 3, 1862, for three years, in Co. A, 73d Ill. Inf. He was elected Ord. Sergt. at the organization of the company, promoted to 2d Lieut. Jan. 1, 1863, and 1st Lieut., Aug. 14, 1863. Becoming physically unable to discharge the duties of his office, he resigned Aug. 11, 1864. He was married in Mechanicsburg, June 17, 1866, to Martha J. Young, who was born July 3, 1840, in Frederick county, Md. They have three children, IDA MAY, NORMAN and THOMAS B., and reside near Mechanicsbnrg.

ELIZA J., born Aug. 7, 1838, in Sangamon county, married June, 1862, to James W. Craig. She died Feb. 23, 1871, leaving four children, CARRIE L., MABEL B., CHARLES A. and LAURA. They live with their father, who is married a second time, and resides near Jacksonville, Ill.

Mrs. Mary A. Fortune died April 8, 1841, and Benj. Fortune was married Oct. 25, 1844, to Mrs. Eliza Little, whose maiden name was Morgan. They had two living children--

JENNETTA W., born Oct. 17, 1843, in Sangamon county, married Jan. 10, 1860, to George W. Wantling, who was born Dec. 11, 1842, in Fairfield county, Ohio, and came to Sangamon county in 1854. They had three living children, FANNIE F., HATTIE and GEORGE O. reside with their parents, four miles southeast of Mechanicsburg.

ANNIE H., born Oct. 10, 1851, in Sangamon county, married Nov. 24, 1870, to William E. Barnes, who was born Oct. 27, 1848, in Chillicothe, Ohio. They have three children, BENJAMIN, OTIS and OMO, (the two latter twins,) and live in Mechanicsburg.

Mrs. Elizabeth Fortune died March 13, 1868, and Benjamin Fortune resides in Mechanicsburg.



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