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.



MAXWELL, ARCHIBALD - was born July 11, 1808, in Doune, Perthshire, Scotland. He crossed the Atlantic ocean in 1830, first landing at Quebec, Canada, went to Halifax, Nova Scotia, thence to New York city, landing Nov., 1831. He left there in June, 1832, while the cholera was raging. After a short stay in Trenton, N. J., he went to Philadelphia, and spent a whole day trying to find a lodging place. He had plenty of money, and could obtain all the food he wanted, but fear of cholera prevented his finding a resting place; and he was compelled to leave the city for one night, but returned the next day and obtained employment at his trade, stone cutting. In the summer of 1833, he went Raleigh, N. C., and was employed on the State House, being erected there. From Raleigh he came to Springfield, Illinois, arriving in April, 1838 and soon after went to work on the State Capitol, then in the course of construction. It is now the Court House of Sangamon county. Margaret Wilson was born Oct. 10, 1818, in Dumfriesshire, Scotland, and came to American, with her brother William C. Wilson, landing in New York in 1836 and came to Springfield, Ill., in November 1837. Archibald Maxwell and Margaret Wilson were married, Nov. 26, 1840 in Springfield. They had nine children in Sangamon county, two of whom died young. Of the other seven children -

JOHN, born Sept. 11, 1842, in Sangamon county, resides with his parents.

ARCHIBALD and MARGARET C., twins, born July 16, 1844 in Sangamon county.

ARCHILBALD is a teacher and resides with his parents.

MARGARET C., was married July 31, 1866 to Calvin L. Finley, who was born July 3, 1841, in Ohio. They have five children, MARGARET E., ETTA R., ARCHIE C., ROBERT J. and MOLLIE G., and live one mile north of Illiopolis.

ROBERT W., born Dec. 13, 1845, in Sangamon county, graduated March 25, 1874, in the law department of Michigan University, at Ann Arbor. He is now practicing law at Decatur, Illinois.

WILLIAM C., was born Oct. 21, 1850, in Sangamon county. He graduated, Feb. 26, 1874 at Bellevue Hospital Medial College, New York city and commenced practice in Chestnut, Logan county, Illinois. Dr. Maxwell is now practicing in Springfield - 1876.

ELIZABETH M., born June 18, 1852, died in her fifth year.

JAMES T., born July 15, 1859, resides with his parents.

Archibald Maxwell and wife reside two miles west of Illiopolis. Their marriage and the marriage their eldest daughter, were both solemnized by Rev. John G. Bergen, D. D.



Return to 1876 Biography Index
Return to Sangamon County ILGenWeb