Jefferson County Illinois Biographies

   In the early settlement of the county, the Maxey family comes next. Jesse Maxey, of Tennessee, had several children: William, Edward, Walter, John and Elizabeth. William, who was married, came to Illinois in 1818, and was appointed Justice of the Peace. He tried to marry Ransom Moss and Anna Johnson. and "broke down" completely. Some say he commenced on the Declaration of Independence; backed off and tackled the Constitution of the United States, and finally got through, but Governor Casey twitted him with saying that the Lord instituted matrimony in the days of men's "ignorance" instead of "innocence." He finally concluded with the invocation: "And may the Lord have mercy on your souls." And thus ended the first marriage ceremony ever "pulled off" in Jefferson county. Mr. Maxey was a good man, if not very learned. His children were: Clarissa, Henry B., Bennett N., Elihu, Harriet, Vylinda, Charles H., Joshua C.,William M. A. and Jehu. Burchett Maxey came in time to buy a lot and build the first house ever built in Mount Vernon. He married Peggy Taylor and their children were: Eliza, who married Col. S. G. Hicks; W. P., Thomas B., Elizabeth (married Breeze); Elihu K., John H., James C., who married Nancy Moss, and still lives in Mount Vernon; Edward K., Jehu J., Henry B., Franklin C. and Harvey M. Walter S., Henry, Oscar and Frank, are sons of James C. and Nancy (Moss) Maxey; Mrs. Sugg, her daughter.

   Henry N. Maxey was in the War of 1812, and with General Jackson at New Orleans. His children were: Emily, William H., James J., Charles H., Joshua C., Eliza and Thomas J. William and James were preachers. Elihu, the one who whipped Abbott, married Eveline Taylor, then Sarah Guthrie, built a horse mill., was a benefactor and met accidental death. He had ten children Talina, married Mervel Smith; Perrigan T., Henry, William C., Thomas, Elizabeth, Margaret and Eliza.

   Charles H. was the son of William and married Sally Bruce. His children were: Caroline, Mary, Martha, Drucilla. F. S. Parker married Caroline, Joseph Burke married Mary, C. D. Frost married Martha, G. A. Collins married Susan, and James M. Swift married Drucilla. Joshua Cannon, son of William, married Susan Criswell, and their daughters were Mrs. M. A. Cummins and Mrs. John C. Tyler and son. Thomas, who died recently.

   Dr. William A. Maxey, youngest son of William, married Edna Owens. He was both physician and preacher. His children were: Simeon W., Samuel T. (spoken of elsewhere), William C., Harriet J. (Mrs. Satterfield), Sarah C. (Mrs. S. Hill), J. Van, and Nelson, who married Miss Burgen and lives in Iowa.

   John Maxey, son of Jesse, came in 1823 with William and Jonathan Wells, removed to Wayne county and died. Such, in brief, was the Maxey families, who first came in to help make the county and mould sentiments of good citizenship, and along both lines they have been eminently successful.

Submitted By: Cindy Ford