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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.



LITTLE, THOMAS S., born March 16, 1820, in Northampton, Mass., came to Springfield. Ill., Aug., 1838, where he was married, May 30, 1844, to Ann M. Watson. They had five children, two of whom died in infancy. Of the other three children--

MARIA W., born Jan. 27, 1846, in Springfield, was married, Aug. 7, 1865, to Samuel A. Slemmons, who was born Jan. 28, 1842, at Cadiz, Harrison county, Ohio, and came to Springfield in 1859. Mr. and Mrs. Slemmons have three children, GEORGE B., ELLA L. and ALICE H. Mr. Slemmons was a member of an independent military company, of which John Cook was captain, and it was part of a regiment of which E. E. Ellsworth was Colonel. In connection with that company, Mr. Slemmons volunteered on the first call for 75,000 men, in April, 1861, but being under age he was prevented by his father from going. He returned to Ohio, in 1862, and became Lieutenant of Co. E, 88th Ohio Inf., a three months regiment, in which he served four and one-half months. During that time he was appointed Major of a three years regiment, but could not serve on account of a crippled arm. He came back to Springfield, and engaged in business. Mr. Slemmons was one of the original projectors of the Springfield Spice and Hominy Mills, and aided in building and running the same, as a member of the firm of Conkling, Slemmons & Co. He went out of the firm in April, 1876, and is now--July 1876--residing in Springfield.

ELLEN C., born Dec. 14, 1847, in Springfield, was married, Oct. 20, 1870, to William O. Converse, who was born June 30, 1840, in Painesville, Lake county, Ohio, and was brought with the family of his father, Henry Converse, to Springfield, in 1846. Mr. and Mrs. Converse have two daughters, NIANA and (???), and reside in Springfield. Mr. Converse is a farmer, and trader in stock, land, etc. He united with A. M. Garland, who first suggested it, in obtaining a pledge from the board of supervisors of Sangamon county, that they would lease the old poor house grounds to an Agricultural Society. Mr. Garland and Mr. Converse induced others to unite with them in organizing the present Sangamon county Agricultural Society, and securing the lease for the grounds for twenty-five years--from 1872. Wm. O. Converse served the society four years as secretary, and is now--1876--its treasurer, elected for two years.

EMMA B., born March 2, 1850, in Springfield, was married, Dec. 9, 1869, ?? Charles E. Blake. They have one child, PAUL, and reside at Anoka, Minn. He is cashier and manager of the Anoka Bank.

Thomas S. Little was in business as a merchant tailor and clothier, from 1844 to the spring of 1876, when he retired in consequence of impaired health, and resides in Springfield.



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