H. W. Waggoner, Eighth County Clerk. -- Mr. W. was born November 9, 1835,
in Perry County, Pennsylvania. He removed to Chicago in 1855, and a short
time afterwards to Macon County. He was deputy County clerk from 1855 to
1866, and in 1869 was elected clerk of that court, and was re-elected in
1873.
Smith, J. W. (1876). History of Macon County, Illinois, from its organization
to 1876. Springfield, Ill: Rokker's Printing House. P. 52. Transcribed and
annotated by Judy Rosella Edwards.
JOHN WARD, the father of the Wards who were among the early settlers of Macon
county, was born in England, in 1769. He emigrated, when a young, man, to
South Carolina, where he married Mary Ward, who was born in Ireland in 1768.
They removed thence to Tennessee, near Nashville, and remained a few years,
and removed to Logan county, Ky., where Mr. W. died in 181 1. Mrs. W. and
the family remained in Logan county, Ky., until 1819, and left in October
of that year, and removed to within 11 miles of Vandalia, Fayette county,
Illinois, where they arrived November II. They remained in the latter county
until 1824, and then removed to what is now Macon county, and settled on
the south side of the Sangamon river, and constituted what was known in early
days as the "Ward settlement." Of their children --
HIRAM WARD was born in Macon County, Illinois, January 28, 1837; was married
to Clara E. Odor, March 11, 1858, who was born in Garrard County, Kentucky,
January 7, 1843, and came to this county in 1850. Of their children --
-
Lavena E. was born June 20, 1860, and died July 24, 1861.
-
Hattie Bell was born March 10, 1863, and died July 30, 1864.
-
Laura A. was born December 27, 1864.
-
Eva May was born May 17, 1867.
-
Frank Nelson was born February 7, 1869.
-
Mirtie Luella was born April 6, 1871; died August 30, 1872.
-
Infant son was born December 29, 1872; died January 16, '73.
-
Sarah Elizabeth was born February 8, 1874.
JAMES WARD was born in South Carolina, in 1792, and was married in Logan
County, Ky. to Elizabeth Freeman; removed from Illinois to Missouri, and
thence to Texas, where both died. They had six children, none of whom now
reside here.
JERRY WARD was born in South Carolina, January 27, 1788. His wife was Dolly
Derrington, whom he married in Logan County, Ky. He removed from Macon County
to Missouri, and thence to Texas in 1832, where he died.
Smith, J. W. (1876). History of Macon County, Illinois, from its organization
to 1876. Springfield, Ill: Rokker's Printing House. P. 289. Transcribed and
annotated by Judy Rosella Edwards.
JOHN WARD, Jr., was born in South Carolina, in 1790, and married Jane Madol,
in Logan County, Ky. They had a very large family of children, 17, perhaps,
in all. Mr. W. died in 1831, and is buried at Walnut Grove. Of such of their
children as we can obtain the names of -- Margaret (see Perdue.) Mary died
in Fayette County. John, Jr., 2d, died in Fayette County. Sarah married Moses
Turner; died in the poor house. Aaron and Joseph, twins; Aaron died in Fayette
County; Joseph, dead. Lucinda married Isaac Miller, and has children living
here. Nancy married Nathaniel Murphy; now resides in Missouri. Martha died
of cholera in 1832.
LEWIS B. WARD was born in Logan County, Ky., January 17, 1809, and removed
to Illinois in 1819, and to Macon County in 1824. On the 23d of December,
1830, he married Elizabeth Walker, who was born September 8, 1813, in Rutherford
County, Tenn., and became a resident of Macon County in 1829; died June 7,
1852. Of their children --
-
Alfred was born October 16, 1831.
-
Mary J. was born November 18, 1833; married S. B. N. Vaughan.
-
Elizabeth was born March 13, 1836; married Woodson Parker.
-
Robert was born June 13, 1838.
-
Caroline was born November 14, 1840; married J. B. Moore.
-
Harriet was born November 26, 1844.
-
Rebecca was born November 29, 1846.
-
Lewis J. was born February 26, 1848.
-
Nancy A. was born May 15, 1852; died September 28, 1853.
Mr. Ward was married a second time to Matilda Parker, who was born August
14, 1832.
He sold his farm in Macon County in the fall of 1876, and removed to Girard,
Kansas, prior to which he was the second settler, in point of arrival, residing
in the county.
From him we derived most of our information in reference to the Ward family
and Ward settlement. He fixes the dates of the erection of the first houses
in the county in the following order:
-
1st, William Downing's, south of Sangamon;
-
2d, Leonard Stevens', on Stevens' creek;
-
3d, Abraham Sprague's, just south of fair-ground;
-
4th, Hubble Sprague's, on the inside of the present fair-ground inclosure;
-
5th, William King's, a short distance south of the fair-grounds.
Mr. Ward says the first mIll in Macon County was on Stevens' creek, and was
built by WIlliam King in 1826, which was afterwards owned by and known as
Renshaw's mIll; also, that the first house in the limits of the old town
of Decatur was just north of Priest's Hotel, and was built by Reuben MIller,
who sold out to James Renshaw, in which the first store was kept.
He also states that the first school house in the county was on the old Widick
place, now owned by P. M. Wickoff, three and a half miles southwest of Decatur,
and was erected in 1825, and the first school teacher was "Frozen" Taylor;
and that the second school house was on land now owned by W. C. Smith, erected
in 1828, in which one Nelson, "a little Yankee," taught. At this school house
Abraham Lincoln went to singings and spellings.
In the spring of 1826 Mr. W. raised 1,800 pounds of cotton in Macon County.
LUCY WARD was born in South Carolina, and came to Illinois in 1819, and married
Hiram Reavis. They removed to Missouri in 1832, and now reside in Vernon
County.
MARGARET WARD was born in South Carolina, in 1796, and married in Kentucky
to Elisha Freeman, who was one of the first county commissioners of this
county. They raised a large family of children. Mr. F. died in 1858, and
Mrs. F. in 1873. Their children were: Polly, William, James, John, Jerry,
Andrew, Thomas, Albert and Henry.
NANCY WARD was born in 1806, and married Lambert S. Bearden, at Vandalia,
Illinois, and moved to Macon County in 1823, and removed to Missouri in 1832,
where their children now reside.
POLLY WARD was born in South Carolina in 1798, and married Wm. Freeman, and
now resides in Missouri.
SARAH WARD was born in South Carolina, in 1794. She married Wm. Gambrel,
in Logan County, Ky.; removed to Illinois, thence back to Kentucky, thence
to Missouri, thence to Texas, where she died.
THOMAS WARD was born in 1804, and came to Illinois in 1818; married Elizabeth
Widick, daughter of Jacob Widick. They had seven children, most of whom reside
in Christian County, where Mr. and Mrs. W. died.
WILLIAM WARD was born in South Carolina in 1802, and came to Illinois in
1819, and lived here the remainder of his life. He died, and was the father
of Franklin, Hiram and John Ward, who stIll reside here.
Smith, J. W. (1876). History of Macon County, Illinois, from its organization
to 1876. Springfield, Ill: Rokker's Printing House. . Transcribed and annotated
by Judy Rosella Edwards. Pages 289-290 Transcribed and annotated by Judy
Rosella Edwards.
IRA WARNICK was born in Tennessee, August 7, 1823; he moved to this county
in 1825, and settled at the place afterwards known as the William Warnick
place, and has ever since resided in this county; was married to Julietta
Priscila Burke, April 17, 1843, who was born in Kentucky, June 30, 1822,
and came to this county in 1840. Of their nine children all of which are
now living --
-
James W. was born April 11, 1844, and married Ann E. Stevens, September 14,
1869.
-
Elizabeth E. was born May 10, 1846; and married Edward Hill.
-
Arthusa D. was born August 6, 1848.
-
Thomas T. was born December 30, 1851, and was married to Mary E. Lynch, in
February, 1874.
-
Nancy C. was born February 18, 1853, and married S. P. Falconer, September
18, 1873.
-
Major M. was born March 13, 1855.
-
Henriette L. was born December 10, 1857.
-
Julietta A. was born September 27, 1860.
-
Ira G. was born March 7, 1864.
Smith, J. W. (1876). History of Macon County, Illinois, from its organization
to 1876. Springfield, Ill: Rokker's Printing House. P. 294. Transcribed and
annotated by Judy Rosella Edwards.
WM. WARNICK, was born in 1784, in North Carolina, and married __________,
who was born the same year. He removed from North Carolina to Rutherford
County, Tenn, and thence to this county, in 1825. He was the first sheriff
of Macon County after its organization, and held the office from 1829 to
1835, and was also re-elected again for two years, in 1840.
He was in the Black Hawk war, and participated in the famous StIllman's defeat,
where he received a slight flesh wound. He was also captain of the rangers,
during the same difficulty.
It was Mr. W. who, as sheriff of the county, whipped Redmon and Wyatt, by
order of the court, giving them 39 lashes apiece. This was the only punishment
of the kind ever inflicted in the county.
Mr. W's father, James Warnick, was from Ireland, landing in New Castle, August
15, 1758. Their children were John, Margaret, Polly (first wife of Joseph
Stevens), Jas., Lucinda, Betsy (married John Taylor), Clark, Ira, Robert,
Sarah (married Benj. Taylor; now dead.) Mr. W. died February 12, 1855.
Smith, J. W. (1876). History of Macon County, Illinois, from its organization
to 1876. Springfield, Ill: Rokker's Printing House. P. 295. Transcribed and
annotated by Judy Rosella Edwards.
WILLIAM WHEELER, Sr., was born in Virginia about 1790, and married Elizabeth
Hays, who was born in the same State. Mrs. W. died about 1836, and Mr. W.
in 1866. Their children were,James Wheeler was born in South Carolina in
1799 [ed., date is incongruent with father’s age], and died in
1867. His wife was Margaret Mayberry. Stacy Wheeler was born about 1800 [ed.,
date is incongruent with father’s age], and married William
Christopher, and died about 1831.
Henry Wheeler was born in 1801 [ed., date is incongruent with
father’s age], in Tennessee, and was married in Tennessee to Mary
Y. Braden, who was born January 4, 1800. Of their five children -- Elizabeth
E. was born May 7, 1826; married David Brett; died 1864. Samuel R. was born
August 16, 1827; married Jamima Abrams, who was born in 1828, in Illinois.
William E. was born October 23, 1828; married Ellen Frazee; he died 1875.
Nancy J. was born January 9, 1830; married Samuel Woodward, first husband;
Mason Packard, second husband; now resides in California. Andrew J. was born
January 16, 1832; married N. E. Cox, who was born in Scott County, Illinois,
1837.
William Wheeler, Jr., was born on the 28th of Dec, 1809, in Rutherford County,
Tenn; was married Oct 27, 1831, to Sarah A. Ward, (daughter of Jerry Ward,)
who died in August, 1869. Mr. Wheeler has been prominently connected with
the affairs of the county, and has been repeatedly elected sheriff, assessor
and collector. Of their 10 children, but two are living, viz: Mary E., who
married Thomas Inscho, now resides in San Jose, California; and Lewis Cass.
Andrew M. died in '69; Calvin R. died in '61; Lucinda K. died in '63; William
L. died in '66; Henrietta died in '62; James C. died in '51; Thomas B. died
in infancy, and Alice died in 1874.
Elizabeth Wheeler was born in 1811, and married William Ward, the father
of Franklin and Hiram Ward, well known in the county.
Raleigh Wheeler was born in 1813, and died in 1834; his first wife was Rebecca
Travis, and second Mary Fields.
Burton Wheeler was born in 1815, and resides in Moultrie County, Illinois.
Larkin Wheeler was born in 1817; died in 1838.
Nathaniel Wheeler was born in 1819; died when young.
Mr. Wheeler and family removed to Illinois and settled in Macon County, in
1828.
Smith, J. W. (1876). History of Macon County, Illinois, from its organization
to 1876. Springfield, Ill: Rokker's Printing House. P. 294. Transcribed and
annotated by Judy Rosella Edwards.
Stephen M. Whitehouse, Sixth Sheriff. -- Mr. W. was born February 8, 1821,
in Washington County, Virginia, and came to Illinois in 1846, and located
in this County. He married Mary E. Falconer, March 7, 1850, and was elected
sheriff in the fall of 1854; and served two years. He removed to Kansas in
1869, where he died, December 6, 1875.
Smith, J. W. (1876). History of Macon County, Illinois, from its organization
to 1876. Springfield, Ill: Rokker's Printing House. P. 53. Transcribed and
annotated by Judy Rosella Edwards.
EMANUEL WIDICK was born February 2, 1806, in Tennessee, and came to Illinois
and settled in Macon County, in 1826. He married Sarah A. Cox, who was born
May 23, 1811. Mr. W. died March 4, 1863, and Mrs. W. died December 10, 1863.
Of their children -- Albert was born September 3, 1835. William was born
August 8, 1837; died March 1, 1845. Margaret C. was born May 5, 1838; died
November 2, 1853. John was born February 2, 1840. Andrew was born March 27,
1842. Ephraim was born __________, 1844. Mary A. E. was born May 6, 1847.
Eliza J, and Aaron were born April 21, 1850.
Smith, J. W. (1876). History of Macon County, Illinois, from its organization
to 1876. Springfield, Ill: Rokker's Printing House. P. 296. Transcribed and
annotated by Judy Rosella Edwards.
JOHN WIDICK was born in Rockingham County, Virginia, and removed to Macon
County, in 1826. He married Cohorine Traughber; but what was the date of
the births and deaths of each we cannot ascertain. Mrs. W. died perhaps,
about November 1, 1832. Their children were William, Margaret (See McDaniel),
Emanuel (dead), Michael, Elizabeth (married Lemuel Walker), Rial (of Homer,
Iowa), Aaron (dead), Eli (Saxton Station, Mo.), Edmund (Moultrie County),
Henry Widick was born September 30, 1828, in Macon County, and was married
to Elizabeth Mathews, October 30, 1850, who was born May 2, 1833. Of their
children -- Wm. H., born July 14, 1852. Sarah E., born June 8, 1854. Laura
E., born August 9, 1856, Arminda E., born August 4, 1859. Lavena A., born
October 12, 1863. Ida M., born July 29, 1867. George C, born August 23, 1872;
died September 7, 1874 and Josiah.
Samuel, Jacob, George and Joseph Widick were all brothers of John Widick,
above mentioned, and removed to this county in 1825, at least the former
and latter did. Joseph settled at the old Caulk place, recently purchased
by P. M. Wyckoff, Samuel on the old Wm. Young place and Jacob the place where
Robert H. Smith now resides. Joseph was accidentally killed by falling on
a pitchfork, and Samuel died at Jefferson Barracks, during the late war.
Smith, J. W. (1876). History of Macon County, Illinois, from its organization
to 1876. Springfield, Ill: Rokker's Printing House. P. 297. Transcribed and
annotated by Judy Rosella Edwards.
LAVINA WILLIAMS, daughter of J. D. Long, was born December 26, 1826, and
married Jackson Williams, who was born December 4, 1826. Of their children
--
-
Lafayette was born July 17, 1852; died 1873.
-
Jerome was born August 21, 1854; died 1856.
-
Walter L. was born February 26, 1856.
-
Laura M. was born September 12, 1857.
-
Joseph W. was born November 6, 1859.
-
Mary C. was born May 11, 1861.
-
Edward was born August 25, 1864.
-
Jasper was born January 2, 1867.
-
Effie was born March 12, 1869.
Smith, J. W. (1876). History of Macon County, Illinois, from its organization
to 1876. Springfield, Ill: Rokker's Printing House. P. 296. Transcribed and
annotated by Judy Rosella Edwards.
ANDREW WILSON was born March 3, 1785, and was married to Mary Ann Wilson,
who was born January 30, 1788. They removed from East Tennessee to Macon
County about 1830. Mr. W. died August 10, '44, and Mrs. W. September 17,
'72. Of their children --
-
Thomas B. was born July 26, 1807; died July, '73.
-
Alexander M. was born May 6, 1809.
-
Eliza D. was born April 15, 1811; died September 13, '15.
-
Katharine was born __________, 21, 1816; died January 7, '55.
-
John A. was born January 9, 1819; died December 18, '21.
-
James J. was born November 12, 1822; died April 28, '54.
Smith, J. W. (1876). History of Macon County, Illinois, from its organization
to 1876. Springfield, Ill: Rokker's Printing House. P. 293. Transcribed and
annotated by Judy Rosella E
BENJAMIN WILSON was among the early and prominent citizens of Macon County,
and came here in 1827, and was one of the county commissioners who assisted
in the county organization. He held the position for a great many years.
He was born at Guilford Court House, in North Carolina, and removed thence
to Tennessee, and afterwards to Illinois. He married Jane Warnick in the
state of Tennessee, who was a sister of "Uncle Billy" Warnick, the first
sheriff of the county. Their children were Polly (see Sanders,) Rachel (see
Hill,) Peggy Smith (see John Smith,) Robert, Nancy, Hannah (see Blankenship,)
and John Wilson.
John Wilson was born in Rutherford County, Tenn, in 1813, came to Illinois
in 1828, and was married to Nancy Wilson, March 1, 1832, who was born July
6, 1813, in Greene county, Tennessee, and became a resident of Macon County
about 1830, Of their Children --
-
Benjamin T. was born August 19, 1836; died February 5, 1854.
-
Mary A. was born October 23, 1833, and married Joseph M. Dawson, who was
born April 5, 1828. Of their children --
-
John A. was born July 8, 1853.
-
Thomas M. was born April 6, 1855.
-
Nancy A. was born January 19, 1857; died December 29, 1857.
-
Luella B. was born August 4, 1859.
-
C. E. was born January 18, 1863.
-
Edwin P. was born December 17, 1864.
-
Oscar W. was born April 26, 1867.
Smith, J. W. (1876). History of Macon County, Illinois, from its organization
to 1876. Springfield, Ill: Rokker's Printing House. P. 292. Transcribed and
annotated by Judy Rosella Edwards.
D. K. WILSON was born March 27, 1825, in Rutherford County, Tenn; came to
Macon County in 1835, and was married to Mary J. Dickey, February 25, 1845,
who was born July 31, 1827, in Florence, Alabama, and came to Macon County
in 1829. Of their children --
-
Samuel was born. April 17, 1846; was married to Eveline Dresback in September,
1868, and died January, 1877.
-
Margaret C. was born December 17, 1847; was married to S. B. Betz in March,
1869.
-
Eliza J. was born October 8, 1849; died April 16, 1866.
-
Andrew was born September 1, 1851; was married to Ella Bundy April 13, 1875,
who was born April 26, 1859, in Piqua County, Ohio [ed., probably Pickaway
County, Ohio]; came to this county in 1875, and died December 15, 1876.
-
Sarah A. was born October 25, 1852; was married to R.J. Ross December 9,
1874.
-
Mary E. was born January 17, 1858; was married to Marian Ranabarger, February
27, 1876.
-
Zaritha M. was born December 3, 1859.
-
William A. was born December 8, 1862.
-
John W. was born April 27, 1865; died September 17, '67.
-
George W. was born July 28, 1868.
Smith, J. W. (1876). History of Macon County, Illinois, from its organization
to 1876. Springfield, Ill: Rokker's Printing House. P. 292. Transcribed and
annotated by Judy Rosella Edwards.
ROBERT WILSON was born October 4, 1779, in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina,
and moved to Murray County, Tenn. [ed., probably Maury County, Tennessee],
when about 18 years old. He moved thence to Wilson County, Tenn., where he
married Jane Donald, who died in 1829. Of their seven children --
-
Thomas F. was born July 26, 1813; died August 29, '35.
-
Mary B. was born June 14, 1815; died August 17, '39.
-
Nancy E. was born September 28, 1817; died April 6, '34.
-
Sarah G. was born November 1, 1819; died November 1, '52.
-
William A. was born August 22, 1822.
-
Martha J. was born June 10, 1825; died __________, 1850.
-
Cyntha E, was born July 9, 1828; died __________, 1846.
Mr. Wilson's second wife was Mrs. Sallie Hodge, widow of Joseph H. Hodge,
and who was born April 26, 1792, in Orange County, North Carolina. By her
first husband the following children were born : --
-
Henry J. Hodge, born March 11, 1813; died August 30, 1838; married P. Traughber.
-
Talitha J. Hodge, born December 9, 1814; married N. N. Baker.
-
Arraanna H. Hodge, born June 25, 1816; married J. M. Baker.
-
Margaret C. Hodge, born February 1, 1819; died -- , 1864; married John Hanson.
-
Joseph J. Hodge, born February 10, 1822; died September 7, 1872; married
M. A. Ferriss.
-
Eli L. Hodge, born October 24, 1824; died March 26, 1849.
After the marriage of Mr. Wilson and Mrs. Hodge, in 1829, they removed to
Sangamon County, Illinois, and came to Macon County in 1830, where Mr. W.
died, March 4, 1873, and Mrs. W. January 20, 1872. By the last marriage there
were three children --
-
Robert D. was born October 18, 1830; married Mary Outten.
-
Sarah A. was born January 5, 1833; married John H. Davidson.
-
James A. was born September 5, 1835; married Sarah Jones.
Smith, J. W. (1876). History of Macon County, Illinois, from its organization
to 1876. Springfield, Ill: Rokker's Printing House. P. 292. Transcribed and
annotated by Judy Rosella Edwards.
George M. Wood, Thirteenth Sheriff. -- Mr. W. was born in Hart County, Kentucky,
in May, 1828, and came to Illinois in 1835, and settled in Greene County.
He remained there until 1849, and went to Texas and staid [sic] two years.
Thence he returned to Illinois and located in Springfield, and came to Macon
County in 1854, and engaged in the sale of dry goods. He was elected sheriff
in November, 1870, and served two years, and was then appointed deputy under
Mr. Jennings, and served in that capacity until November, 1875, when he was
elected County treasurer, which position he now holds.
Smith, J. W. (1876). History of Macon County, Illinois, from its organization
to 1876. Springfield, Ill: Rokker's Printing House. P. 54. Transcribed and
annotated by Judy Rosella Edwards.
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