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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.



WATSON, JOHN B., born Feb. 10, 1800, in York District, South Carolina, and came to Illinois with his father, settling somewhere in Randolph county. He was married in Kaskaskia, April 9, 1829, to Mary Gillis, who was born in Wilmington, Delaware, Jan. 31, 1814. They moved to Springfield, soon after they were married, Mr. Watson having been to Sangamon county, in 1827, to look at the country. Of their seven children, all born in Springfield, the eldest died in infancy.

MARGARET, born May 28, 1833, died in Springfield August 11, 1852.

MARY L., born June 30, 1836, has been a school and music teacher for twenty years. She is teaching at present--1875--near Petersburg, Menard county, Illinois.

JANE E. died in her sixth year.

ANNA L., born Sept. 11, 1842, is a music teacher in Springfield, Illinois.

ELLEN C., born April 25, 1845, died August 11, 1852.

JAMES G., born April 24, 1848, was married Sept. 2, 1875, to Lucy A. Montgomery, who was born Feb. 1, 1856, on Fancy creek, Sangamon county, Illinois. J. G. Watson, formerly a farmer, is now residing in Springfield, Illinois.

J. B. Watson taught school the first year he resided in Springfield. He was afterwards county surveyor and engineer of the Great Western railroad. He went to California in 1849 and returned in 1852. Mr. Watson and his two daughters died of Asiatic cholera, August 11, 1852. Ellen C. died at half-past one o'clock A. M.; Margaret at half-past seven o'clock A. M., and their father died at half-past nine o'clock P.M. Mrs. Mary Watson's mother, Elizabeth Gillis, belonged to the Society of Friends, and she resided with her daughter in Springfield from about 1830 until her death, which occurred in August, 1852. She was buried at Oak Ridge Cemetery. John B. Watson's mother resided with her daughter-in-law in Springfield from 1854 until her death, which occurred in August, 1860. She was also buried at Oak Ridge Cemetery. Mrs. Mary Watson was married Dec. 16, 1863, in Springfield, Illinois, to Hon. S. W. Robbins, a prominent lawyer and temperance advocate. They had two children, who died in infancy. About 1860 Hon. S. W. Robbins and wife moved to their farm, seven miles northwest of Springfield, where he died, June 19, 1871, and she died Jan. 29, 1874,



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