All Rights Reserved © Copyright 1999, 2000 All material contained on these pages are furnished for the free use of those engaged researching their family origins. Any commercial use, without the consent of the host/author of these pages is prohibited. We have tried to use images that were obtained from sources permitting free distribution, or generated by the author, and are subject to the same restrictions/permissions. All persons contributing material for posting on these pages does so in recognition of their free, non-commercial distribution, and further, is responsible to assure that no copyright is violated by their submission.
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.



FOWKES, WILLIAM L., was born Jan. 17, 1793, in Loudon county, Va. He was married there, July 20, 1813, to Mrs. Margaret D. Saunders, whose maiden name was Saunders. She was born March 1, 1788, in the same county. She had three sons by her first marriage. See names of Presley, Asbury, John and Cyrus G. Saunders. Mr. and Mrs. Fowkes had two children in Loudon county, Va., and Mr. Fowkes served a term in the war of 1812, about the time of his marriage. They moved, in the spring of 1817, to Warren county, Ky., where they had four children, and moved to Sangamon county, Ill., arriving in Oct., 1826, and settled three miles west of Springfield, where one child was born. Mr. Fowkes taught school there in a house built of round logs, with the earth for a floor, oiled paper for window lights, and a fire place as wide as one end of the house. That house was built in 1827. In the spring of 1831 Mr. F. moved to German Prairie, four miles northeast of Springfield. Of their seven children--

ROBERT H. S., born May 2, 1814, in Loudon county, Va., married in Sangamon county, Jan. 21, 1841, to Mary G. Pettus. They had four children. JOHN T. married Sarah O. Hulbert, and reside near Grove City, Christian county. ALBERT married Adaline Barnes, and resides at Topeka, Kan. GEORGE W. enlisted in 1862, for three years, in Co. I, 41st Ill. Inf., and was killed at the battle of Jackson, Miss., July, 1863. ELIZABETH A. resides with her father. Mrs. Mary G. Fowkes died Feb. 26, 1852, and R. H. S. Fowkes was married Oct., 1852, to Mrs. Harriet Fuller, whose maiden name was Pettus. They have four children: JAMES H., MARY E., WILLIAM E. and NEWTON C., and reside near Mt. Auburn, Christian county.

ELIZABETH M., born Feb. 26, 1816, in Loudon county, Va., resides with her brother, William H., near Springfield.

HARRIET L., born April 8, 1818, in Kentucky, married in Sangamon county, June, 1841, to Simon D. Etzroth, who died in 1845, and she married James Clark, in March, 1848. They had two children. JOANNA married John Copper, and resides near Mt. Pulaski or Lincoln. HARRIET J. is married. Mrs. Clark died Jan., 1852.

WILLIAM H., born April 17, 1820, in Warren county, Ky., married in Sangamon county, Nov. 28, 1843, to Mary Riddle, who was born May 13, 1819. They had seven living children. LILLIE E. died, aged seven years. MARGARET E., MARY L., GEORGE F., SARAH A., WILLIAM D. and MARTHA J. reside with their parents, adjoining Springfield on the west. William H. Fowkes enlisted in 1861, in Co. F, 4th Iowa Inf., served nine months, and was honorably discharged on account of physical disability.

LOUISA M., born Aug. 1, 1822, in Kentucky, married in Sangamon county to Henry J. King, Nov. 5, 1840. They had four children, and live near Timber Creek Postoffice, Marshall county, Iowa.

JOSEPH F., born Oct. 8, 1824, in Kentucky, married in Sangamon county to Jane Curry. Both died; Mr. Fowkes, Jan. 6, 1866. Three of their children live at Topeka, Kan. MARY J. lives in Christian county.

MARGARET S., born March 23, 1827, in Sangamon county, died in her eighth year.

Wm. L. Fowkes died Nov. 26, 1864, and his widow died Nov. 20, 1873, both in Christian county.



Return to 1876 Biography Index
Return to Sangamon County ILGenWeb