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.




LEWIS, JOHN R., was born in 1806 in Farmington, Connecticut. He studied medicine at New Haven, came West in 1831 or '2, and established himself in practice at Carlinville, Ill. He returned to his native place, and was there married Nov. 16, 1835, to Mrs. Ruth Stanley, whose maiden name was Crampton. He brought his wife to Carlinville, ceased practicing medicine, and engaged in farming. Mrs. Ruth Lewis died Aug. 28, 1839, at Carlinville, leaving one child. Dr. Lewis soon after moved to Chatham, in Sangamon county, and engaged in practice there. His son--

CHARLES H., born April 4, 1837, near Carlinville, brought up in Chatham, graduated in 1862 from the academical department of Yale college, and from the medical department of the same college in 1867. He spent the intermediate time in the army, and afterwards practiced a short time in Chatham. Dr. Charles H. Lewis was married April 11, 1869, in Oswego, Kansas, to Imogene Lewis. They have two children, EDWARD H. and FLORENCE M., and reside near Cedar Vale, Chautauqua county, Kansas. Dr. Lewis is engaged in farming and the drug business.

Dr. John R. Lewis, soon after removing to Chatham, became acquainted with Miss Sarah M. Thompson, a native of Monson, Massachusetts, whose home in the West was with her brother-in-law, Rev. James A. Clark, in Fort Madison, Iowa, where Dr. Lewis and Miss Thompson were married Aug. 25, 1844, and at once came to Chatham. They had five children. Of the three living--

MARIA L. was married Jan. 1, 1874, to Dr. Charles B. Johnston, a practicing physician at Tolono, Champaign county, Ill., where they reside.

JOHN T. and

EDWARD V., both born in Chatham, and live there with their mother.

Dr. J. R. Lewis assisted in organizing the First Presbyterian church in Carlinville, and was one of the ruling Elders as long as he lived there. He was elected to the same office in the church at Chatham, and contiuued to discharge its duties to the end of his life. He died Aug. 5, 1858, in Chatham, where his widow and two sons now reside--1876.




Return to 1876 Biography Index

Return to Sangamon County ILGenWeb