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.



PARK, JOHN, born about 1762, in county Antrim, Ireland. Sarah Mayben was born in Ireland also. They were both brought to America when quite young, without any knowledge of each other. They were married in South Carolina, and had nine children there, one of whom died young. The family moved to that part of Logan county which afterwards became Todd county, Ky., and from there to Sangamon county, Illinois, arriving Nov. 28, 1828, at Island Grove. Four of their children were married in Kentucky, but all came with them to Sangamon county. Of their children--

THOMAS, born in South Carolina, was married, Jan. 19, 1813, in Kentucky, to Jane Mayben. They had seven children there, and moved, in 1828, to Sangamon county, Ill., where one child was born. They moved to Morgan county, Ill., in 1831. Of all their children--One died young. JOHN J., born Nov. 18, 1814, was married April 4, 1839, in Morgan county, Ill., to Jane E. Caldwell, who was born in Nicholas county, Ky. They had seven children in Morgan county, and moved to Sangamon county, Ill., March 22, 1655, where three children were born. Of their children--NANCY J., born Jan. 23, 1840, was married, July 11, 1861, in Sangamon county, to Charles H. Knapp. They have two children, Fannie L. and Carrie. C. H. Knapp died in Macon county, in 1867, and his widow was married, Dec. 14, 1869, to John Carder, of Ohio. They have one child, Josie E. SARAH A., born Aug. 29, 1844, was married, July 1, 1875, to L. R. Tracy. DAVID T., JOHN H., MARY C., JAMES M., ELIZA M., SAMUEL C. and WILLIAM M. John J. Park moved to Macon county, near Decatur, April 6, 1864, and his unmarried children reside there with him. HENRY M., born Nov. 29, 1816, in Kentucky, married Nancy Miller, of same State. JAMES A., born Oct. 8, 1818, in Kentucky, is unmarried. ELIJAH M., born Dec. 10, 1820, in Kentucky, married Nancy A. Armstrong, of same State. WILLIAM R., born Aug. 23, 1824, in Kentucky, was married, Nov. 22, 1850, to Nancy E. Graham, who was born June 9, 1828. They have four children, JOHN T., ELMIRA A., WILLIAM R. and JAMES H., and reside near Harristown, Macon county, Illinois. ROBERT Y., born Sept. 20, 1828, in Kentucky, was married to Angeline Scott. SARAH J., born Oct. 8, 1830, in Sangamon county, married William M. Gaddis, of New York. Thomas Park died, March 30, 1852, and Jane Park died Dec. 6, 1873, both in Morgan county, Illinois.

MARY, born in South Carolina, married in Kentucky, April 4, 1816. They had one child, and both died in Sangamon county. Their daughter, SARAH, married A. P. Wyckoff. See his name.

HUGH, born in South Carolina, married in Kentucky, March 25, 1816, to Jane Gibson, moved to Sangamon county, in 1828, and from Sangamon to Macon county, where Hugh Park died, Sept. 28, 1845, leaving four children.

GRIZETTE, born Aug. 26, 1797, in South Carolina, married Joseph McNew, and for a second husband, married in Sangamon county, to John Hudson. See his name.

JAMES, born Dec. 25, 1799, in South Carolina, married April 25, 1820, in Kentucky, to Mary Modrell, who was born June 19, 1800. They had six children in Kentucky, and emigrated with his parents to Sangamon county, in 1828, where eight children were born. Of their fourteen children--SARAH J., born July 21, 1821, married in Sangamon county to Demarcus Gibson. They had eight children, four of whom died young. The other four reside with their parents, in Knoxville, Illinois. JOHN G., born July 7, 1822, in Kentucky, married in Sangamon county, March 1, 1855, to Elizabeth Rigg. They had five children, JAMES E., CHARLES F. and SAMUEL H. died young. HENRY A. and JOHN W. reside with their parents, four miles west of Loami, Sangamon county, Illinois. HARRIET A., born Sept. 12, 1823, in Kentucky, married in Sangamon county to Allen Short. They have nine children, and live in Marion county, Iowa. ROBERT M., born Dec. 13, 1824, in Kentucky, married Mary Reynolds. They had seven children, and Mrs. Park and six of the children died. He married Elizabeth Bowen. They have six children, and live in Macon county, Illinois. MARY L., born Dec. 25, 1825, in Kentucky, married Francis George. They have three children, MARY A., HEPSIBA E. and RACHEL A., and live near Edinburg, Illinois. ELIZABETH H., born Feb. 10, 1827, in Kentucky, married in Sangamon county, Aug. 8, 1844, to John A. Burton. See his name. Mr. Burton died, and his widow married March 8, 1860, to Wm. S. Morris, who was born June 17, 1829, in Meade county, Ky. They have two children, EMMA L. and DORA L., and live two and one-half miles northwest of Loami, Illinois. JULIA A., born April 17, 1829, in Sangamon county, married James R. Rigg. See his name. THOMAS N., born Feb. 16, 1831, married Mary Fowler. They had two children, and mother and children died. Mr. Park married Sarah E. Hudson. They had two children; one died in infancy. LURENA MAY lives with her father. Mrs. Sarah E. Park died, and Mr. Park married Elizabeth Franklin. They have one child, and reside three miles west of Loami, Ill. RACHEL G., born March 9, 1833, married Benjamin W. Burton. See his name. HUGH A., born February 2, 1835, married Elizabeth Turpin. They have four children, WILLIS C., EDWARD M., CHARLES L. and LINDA P., and reside two miles southwest of Loami, Illinois.

NANCY H., born Jan. 18, 1837, married George W. Hudson. He died, and she married James L. Short. They have one child, HUGH F., and reside in Loami township. JAMES W., born Jan. 24, 1839, married Martha Hodgerson, and he died in two weeks after marriage. MARTHA E., born July 1, 1841, married Young Hodgerson. She died, without children. WILLIAM L., born Oct. 13, 1843, married, Sept. 6, 1866, to Mary Rigg. They have two children, JAMES R. and MARY J., and reside on the farm where his parents settled in 1835, and where he was born, three miles west of Loami, Illinois. James Park died, Oct. 25, 1865, and his widow died, Feb. 7, 1869, both in Loami township, Sangamon county, Illinois.

JANE, born in South Carolina, married in Sangamon county to William Earnest, moved to Louisa county, Iowa. He died there, leaving a widow and four children.

JOHN S., born in South Carolina, married in Sangamon county to Mary A. Morrison, moved to Morgan county, brought up seven children, and Mr. Park died, in May, 1847. Of his children--ELVIRA married J. A. Haney, and lives in New Berlin, Illinois.

SARAH, born in South Carolina, married in Sangamon county to Zaza Bowen. See his name.

Mrs. Sarah Park died, Sept. 9, 1853, and John Park died, Sept. 23, 1853, both at the house of their son James, in Sangamon county, Illinois.



Return to 1876 Biography Index
Return to Sangamon County ILGenWeb