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.



TAFT, MRS. PHOEBE, whose maiden name was Davis, was born June 5, 1780, in Vermont. She was married there to Josiah Taft. They had eleven children, and Mr. Taft died Sept. 17, 1838, in Vermont. Mrs. Taft and some of her children came to Sangamon county, Illinois, part before and part after her arrival. She and two of her daughters arrived at Rochester in the fall of 1839. Of the five who came to Sagamon county--

WILLIAM W., born Sept. 7, 1803, at Vergennes, Vermont, came to Rochester, Sangamon county, in 1833 or '34, and was married Feb. 1, 1838, to Eliza Delay. They had seven children, near Rochester, namely, JOSIAH, born Nov. 12, 1838, died Oct. 21, 1866. JOHN, born March 14, 1840, died June 10, 1860. CAROLINE born Nov. 9, 1841, and HATTIE, born August 25, 1843, live with their mother. WILLIAM and ELIZA, twins, born Nov. 23, 1846. William lives with his mother. ELIZA married Dec. 18, 1873, to Dr. R. J. McNeill. See his name. HENRY, born July 20, 1850, lives with his mother.

William W. Taft died Feb. 16, 1855, and his widow resides on the farm where they settled in 1838. It is one mile west of Rochester, Sangamon county, Ill.

SARAH, born August 13, 1805, in Vermont, married in Sangamon county to Caleb Sherman, and both died; she in Sangamon county and he in Iowa.

ANN, born April 10, 1812, in Vermont, married Mr. Tracy. He died and she married Munson Carter, and resides in Rochester, Ill.

NANCY, born Sept. 5, 1819, in Vermont, married in Sangamon county to Henry Pier. They reside at Belvidere, Ill.

HARRIET, born April 18, 1822, in Vermont, married Josiah Adams. They reside near Harrel, Christian county, Ill.

Mrs. Phoebe Taft died April 2, 1861, in Rochester, Sangamon county, Ill.



Return to 1876 Biography Index
Return to Sangamon County ILGenWeb