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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.



VAN METER, SEYMOUR , was born Feb. 14, 1807, in Champaign county, Ohio, came to Sangamon county in the fall of 1830, and lived in the family of his brother, Abraham. He was a soldier from Sangamon county in the Blackhawk war of 1831 and '32, and afterwards returned to Ohio, where he was married August 5, 1834, to Catherine Bishop, who was born April 8, 1810, in Clarke county, Ohio. He came to Sangamon county with his bride, in the fall, and settled in Fancy Creek township, where they had four children, namely,

JAMES H. died in his second year.

JOHN R., born Dec. 15. 1837, married Jan. 22, 1872, to Elizabeth J. Cresse, of Menard county. They have one child, SEYMOUR, and reside on the farm settled by his father in 1834, five miles west of Williamsville, Sangamon county, Illinois--1874.

WILLIAM H., born Oct. 28, 1839, enlisted in 1862, in Co. F, 73d Ill. Inf., for three years. In consequence of impaired health he was transferred in 1863 to the Veteran Reserve Corps, in which he served to the end of the rebellion and was honorably discharged. He married Kate Clarey. They have one child, ABRAHAM, and live three miles northwest of Elkhart, Logan county, Illinois.

CHLOE, born Jan. 6, 1843, married George Prescott. They have one child, MARY E., and live four miles northwest of Elkhart, Logan county, Illinois.

Mrs. Catharine Van Meter died April 2, 1858, and Mr. Van Meter was married April 3, 1860, to Mrs. Mary A. E. Whitmore, whose maiden name was Kaizer. Seymour Van Meter died in Fancy Creek township, Sept. 4, 1866, and his widow resides in Logan county, Ohio.



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