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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.



RIDGEWAY, SAMUEL, was born May 10, 1777, in Berkley county, Va., and was taken by his parents to the valley of the Yadkin river, North Carolina, when he was quite young. He was there married, about 1799, to Elizabeth Caton, who was born August 25, 1775, in Berkley county, Va., also. Shortly after marriage Samuel Ridgeway and wife packed all their worldly goods on one horse, and each rode another. Thus equipped, they set out for Kentucky, and settled near Stanford, the capital of Lincoln county. They had eight children there, and the family moved to Sangamon county, Ill., arriving in Nov., 1829, in what is now Clear Lake township, west of the Sangamon river, and five miles northeast of Springfield. Of their children--

CHARLES, born May 18, 1801, was married in Kentucky to Sally Wilson. They had two children there, and moved to Sangamon county with his parents; lived near Mechanicsburg two years, and returned to his native State. Charles Ridgeway died in 1875, at Danville, Ky., and his family reside there.

AUSBURN, born June 8, 1803, died in Kentucky, August 12, 1826, within two weeks of the time set for his marriage.

PHILIP, born Jan. 1, 1806, in Kentucky, was married in Sangamon county to Margaret Henderson. He died, Sept. 8, 1838, leaving a widow and four children, who moved to Hancock county, Illinois.

JOHN, born March 30, 1808, in Kentucky, was married in Sangamon county, and his wife died within six months. He was married again, moved to Missouri, and from there to Oregon in 1845, and died there in 1872, leaving ten children.

MARY, born Dec. 14, 1811, in Kentucky, was married in Sangamon county to James Watson. See his name.

SAMUEL L., born April 25, 1813, in Lincoln county, Ky., was married in Sangamon county, Ill., Aug. 10, 1837, to Charlotte A. Stout. See Stout family name. They had seven children, and in July, 1872, moved to Maryville, Mo. Of their children, PHILEMON, born May 11, 1839, in Sangamon county, Ill., resides in California. ELIZABETH A., born Oct. 17, 1841, died in her third year. OLIVER, born March 23, 1844, in Sangamon county, Ill., was married to Emma F. Orr, in Adair county, Mo. They have three children, GEORGE, CHARLOTTE and ARTHUR, and reside in Nodaway county, Mo. SAMUEL L., Jun., born March 7, 1847, in Sangamon county, Ill., was married Dec. 26, 1872, to Laura H. Hamlin. They have one child, SAMUEL L., and reside in Nodaway county, Missouri. See Hamlin name. MARY E., born May 11, 1849, was married Jan. 11, 1870, to George L. Drennan, of Sangamon county, Illinois. See his name. ARMENIA J., born June 25, 1851, married Sept. 4, 1876, to Edward Headley, of Sangamon county, Ill. CHARLOTTE EMMA, born Jan. 9, 1853, and FRANCIS, born March 16, 1855, reside with their parents, in Maryville, Nodaway county, Missouri.

BENJAMIN R., born Feb. 5, 1815, in Lincoln county, Ky., was married in Sangamon county June 13, 1839, to Catharine Rape. They had six children. THOMAS J., born Dec. 10, 1840, married Jane Snodgrass, has two children, and live in Springfield. JOHN B., born April 3, 1846, married Lucy E. Cullom, and live near New City, Sangamon county, Ill. ANNA E. married James L. Plummer. They had two children, and Mr. Plummer died April 30, 1871. SAMUEL N. died, aged ten years. NANCY S. died in her sixteenth year. MARTHA F. lives with her parents, near New City, Sangamon county, Ill.

LINDSAY, born Jan. 20, 1818, in Lincoln county, Ky., was married in Sangamon county Dec. 7, 1841, to Lucy M. Dawson. They had five children in Sangamon county. SAMUEL F., born Dec. 25, 1842, enlisted Aug. 12, 1862, for three years, in Co. A, 73d Ill. Inf.; served until March 26, 1864, when he was discharged on account of physical disability. He was married Jan. 2, 1868, in Springfield, to Nancy M. Logan. They have one child, JENNIE MAY, and reside in Springfield, Ill. NANCY S., born Aug. 23, 1845, died in infancy. JOHN D., born July 17, 1848, was married Dec. 24, 1872, to Mary L. McVay, who was born April 7, 1852, in Sangamon county. They have one child, CHARLES ALEERT, and reside five miles east of Springfield, Ill. BERTRAND D., born Dec. 9, 1849, and CHARLES L., born Dec. 14, 1863, both live with their parents. Lindsay Ridgeway and wife reside five miles east of Springfield, on the farm settled by his father in 1829.

Mrs. Elizabeth Ridgeway died Feb. 28, 1847, and Samuel Ridgeway died June 22, 1847, both in Sangamon county, Illinois.



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