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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.



SHORT, JOSHUA, was born as early as 1760 in Virgiana, was a soldier from that State in the Revolution, and after the war for Independence, married there, and moved with his family to Green county, Kentucky, near Muldraugh's Hill, which gave the name to one of the battles fought in suppressing the rebellion. He came with some of his children to Sangamon county, Illinois, arriving October, 1825, on Spring creek, six miles west of Springfield. If there was any relationship between him and James Short, who came from South Carolina, through Green county, Kentucky, their descendants seem not to be informed of it. Joshua Short is remembered as one of the aged men who rode in a canoe, mounted on wheels and rigged as a ship, in the procession at the Whig or Harrison political gathering at Springfield in 1840. He was then more than eighty years of age, and died a few years later in Menard county, Illinois. Some of his children came to Sangamon county, but I have sketches of two only, James and Caleb.

JAMES, born about 1787, either in Virginia or Green county, Kentucky, was the captain of a company and was about marching from that latter county to the scene of conflict when the war of 1812 and '15 closed. He was married, had some children there, and brought his family to Sangamon county, Illinois, in 1825, in company with his father, bringing his family and worldly goods in a cart. James Short died in 1827 at a place called Turkey Point, about five miles west of Chatham, Sangamon county. I have the sketches of two only of his children, Allen and Susan C. ALLEN, born Feb. 6, 1816, in Green county, Kentucky, was brought by his father to Sangamon county in 1825, and left an orphan and a cripple at eleven years of age, with younger brothers and sisters, whom he aided all he could. When he was ten years of age he says he had heard but one sermon, had only seen one pair of boots, and had never seen a newspaper, tract or pamphlet. He was married in Sangamon county to Margaret A. Campbell, daughter of Rev. Thomas Campbell. See his name. They had three children in Sangamon county. JAMES L., born Jan. 4, 1839, in Sangamon county, enlisted at the first call for 75,000 men in Co. G, 7th Ill. Inf., for three months in April, 1861, served full time and was honorably discharged. He enlisted again Sept. 20, 1861, in Co. B, 10th Ill. Cav., served until Dec. 20, 1862, when he was discharged on account of physical disability. He was married Feb. 17, 1863, to Mrs. Nancy H. Hudson, whose maiden name was Park. They have one living child, Hugh Francis, and live in Lincoln, Illinois. EDWARD J., born Oct. 18, 1840, enlisted Sept. 20, 1861, in Co. B, 10th Ill. Cav., for three years, re-enlisted as a veteran, January, 1864. He was captured July 8, 1864, at Bayon Des Arc, was kept under guard three weeks, parolled and exchanged January, 1865. He was mustered out with the regiment at San Antonio, Texas, in November, 1865, and was married May 6, 1869, to Sarah C. Dial, who was born Sept. 17, 1850, in Morgan county, Illinois. They have two children, Nellie and Minnie, and live four miles northwest of Chatham, Sangamon county, Illinois. WILLIAM, H. H., born June 29, 1843, enlisted August, 1862, in Co. B, 10th Ill Cav., for three years, served full term, and was honorably discharged June, 1865, at New Orleans, and was married Oct. 26, 1871, to Martha E. Robertson. He died June 2, 1873, at New Berlin, Illinois. Mrs. Margaret A. Short died Sept. 23, 1845, and Allen Short was married to Harriet A. Park, sister of John G. Park. They had nine childred, three died young. Of the other six, THOMAS N. lives in Auburn (with Mr. Morse). The other five live with their parents at Columbia, Marion county, Iowa. Allen Short is now a minister in the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. SUSAN C., born in 1819 in Green county, Kentucky, married in Sangamon county to John A. Campbell. See his name. Mrs. Susan C. Campbell died April 3, 1852.

CALEB, born April 19, 1790, in Green county Kentucky, was married there May 26, 1814, to Elizabeth Walters, who was born in that county Feb. 13, 1798. They had three children, and moved to Sangamon county, Illinois, in 1823, and settled in what is now Curran township, south of Spring creek, where they had three children. Of their six children, PAULINE, born March 15, 1815, in Green county, Kentucky, married in Sangamon county to William Henton. See his name. JAMES, born Nov. 23, 1816, in Green county, Kentucky, married in Sangamon county, Illinois, April 4, 1844, to Mary McPherson, niece of Robert Eachus. See his name. Mr. and Mrs. Short had five living children in Sangamon county. SARAH A. married April 10, 1873, to Martin L. Webb, who was born Nov. 12, 1844, near Cazenovia, New York. They live in Loami, Illinois--1874. ROBERT E. married Oct. 7, 1873, to Ollie A. Dawson. See her name with the Meacham family. Mr. and Mrs. Short have one child, Olive I., and live near Loami, Sangamon county, Ill. CAROLINE, ELIZABETH and WILLIAM live with their mother. James Short died, and his widow and children now--1876--reside two miles northeast of Loami, Sangamon county, Ill. JANE, born Sept. 5, 1819, in Kentucky, married in Sangamon county to Thompson Renshaw, and died leaving two children. LUCILLE, born Feb. 9, 1823, in Green county, Kentucky, married in Sangamon county July 2, 1840, to George W. Foster. See his name. He was born May 11, 1817, near Winchester, Kentucky. She died at Kirksville, Mo., leaving four children. Mr. Foster lives at Louisiana, Mo. JOSHUA W., born May 25, 1825, married in Sangamon county, Illinois, to Berlinder Robison. See her name. They had four children. Mrs. Short and one of the children died. JOHN R. died February, 1876, in Missouri. CHARLES E. married in 1873 to Lola Scripture, and live in Missouri. ANNIE M. lives near Lamar's Station, Missouri. Joshua W. Short married (???) Carson, and reside near Maryville, Nodaway county, Mo. ROWAN J., born March 10, 1827, in Sangamon county, was a soldier from that county in the Mexican war, and died in 1847 in the army. Mrs. Elizabeth Short died Nov. 1, 1856, and Caleb Short died Sept. 18, 1863, both in Sangamon county, Illinois.



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