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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.



RUCKER, THOMAS, was born Oct. 29, 1807, in Caldwell county, Ky. The first of the name in America was John Rucker, a native of France. On the voyage to America the vessel in which he sailed was wrecked about twelve miles from shore, and nearly all on board were lost. Before leaving the wreck Mr. Rucker took the precaution to tie a couple of large flasks of rum to his neck, which buoyed him up. By that means, and by taking an occasional drink of it, he was enabled to reach the shore. He settled in Amherst county, Virginia, married and raised a family there, from which has sprung, in a larger sense, one of the most numerous families in the United States. Some of his descendants moved to Caldwell county, Kentucky. Thomas Rucker, whose name heads this sketch, was married in Woodford county, Kentucky, to Diedamia Rucker, who was born in that county Dec. 12, 1805. She was also a descendant of the same John Rucker. Thomas Rucker and wife had one child in Kentucky, and moved to Sangamon county, arriving in the fall of 1832 in what is now Gardner township, where they had five living children. Of their six children--

JAMES H., born June 16, 1832, in Woodford county, Ky., died in Sangamon county, Jan. 17, 1852.

BISHOP EMERY, born Dec. 12, 1834, in Sangamon county, married Lucinda Shaver. They have two living children, and reside near Taylorville, Illinois.

PERMELIA J., born Dec. 12, 1836, in Sangamon county, married George W. Forden. See his name.

MARTHA E., born June 2, 1838, in Sangamon county, married Andrew L. Crowl. They have two children, and reside half a mile west of Sangamon Station, Sangamon county, Illinois.

JOSHUA Y., born Nov. 1, 1841, died Nov. 8, 1861.

LUCY A., born July 3, 1843, in Sangamon county, married Thomas Upton, have four children, and live near Summit, Butler county, Neb.

Mrs. Diedamia Rucker died in the autumn of 1863, and Thomas Rucker was married April 7, 1869, to Mrs. Julia A. Leonard, previously Mrs. Boatwright, whose maiden name was Russell. She was born April 7, 1813, in Murray county, Tenn. Her daughter--

MARY E. Boatwright, married John M. Green. They have two children, CHARLES L. and CALLIE M., and live in Springfield.

Thomas Rucker and wife reside near the west end of Monroe street railroad, Springfield, Ill.



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