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.



UNDERWOOD, REUBEN, was born March 17, 1798, in Nicholas county, Kentucky. He was married in Bracken county, Kentucky, December 5, 1822, to Margaret Dawson, a sister of John Dawson. See his name. She was born August 31, 1796, in Fairfax county, Virginia. Mr. and Mrs. Underwood lived for some time in Harrison county. Kentucky. Then moved with four children to Sangamon county, Illinois, arriving in the fall of 1833 in what is now Mechanicsburg township. Of their five children--

ELIZA, born Sept. 7, 1823, in Kentucky, died Sept. 28, 1825.

JOHN H., born July 31, 1825, in Harrison county, Kentucky, was brought up in Sangamon county, and married in 1859, at Rushville, Illinois, to Jane E. E. Smith. They had six children, CHARLES E., JOHN R., SARAH M., ADELIA E., ARTHUR A. and ALBERT E., the latter twins. J. H. Underwood and family reside at Carrollton, Green county, Illinois.

WILLIAM D., born Jan. 14, 1828, in Kentucky, died in Sangamon county, August 4, 1835.

THOMAS J., born Oct. 30, 1829, in Harrison county, Kentucky, was married at Mechanicsburg, Sangamon county, Illinois, Oct. 28, 1858, to Margaret D. Bondurant. They reside at the homestead, where his parents settled in 1833. It is three miles southeast of Dawson, Sangamon county, Illinois. Thomas J. Underwood enlisted August 6, 1862, for three years, in Co. I, 73d Ill. Inf. He was elected second lieutenant, on the organization of the company. After the battle of Perryville he resigned in consequence of failing health.

ADELIA, born Feb. 29, 1832, resides at the family homestead.

Reuben Underwood died Feb. 10, 1844, and his widow died Jan. 9, 1875, both at the homestead where they settled in 1833. Reuben Underwood's widowed mother came with him to Sangamon county, he being the only child. Her maiden name was Sarah Conway. Her parents were among the earliest settlers in Kentucky. They had taken refuge from the Indians either in Randall's or Martin's station, and when those fortifications were captured and destroyed, June 22, 1780, by the combined forces of the British and Indians, she was separated from her parents and adopted by an Indian and his squaw. She was then about seven years old. They took her to Detroit, Michigan, and after a search of three years, her father, learning where she was, secured an order from the British officers for the Indians to restore her to her father. They also advised Mr. Conway to make the Indian a present to prevent his injuring her. Acting on their advice, he paid them forty dollars. She died at her son's residence, Sept. 19, 1845, aged about seventy-three years.



Return to 1876 Biography Index
Return to Sangamon County ILGenWeb