Pgs 412-686 - Illinois Ancestors

OF ESSEX TOWNSHIP. 511
ing and at times worked at the cooper's trade. In 1831 he moved to
Ohio, and settling near Columbus, followed farming. Here, in 1844,
he passecl to his last long sleep, ancl in 1850 mas followed by his wife.
Philip is the sixth chilcl of their family of nine children. After hismother's
death lle ~vorlied by the month for his brother for about a year. He
then being twenty -one years of age, came to Illinois in 1851. He came
to Stark county and began as a hand for his brother-in-law in the
stunliner and attended school in the minter. On February 21, 1853, he
married Amanda F. Sheets, da~ugliter of Peter and Elizabeth (Weigal)
Sheets. This lady was born Apr.11 11,1834. Her parents were natives
of Virginia, ~vllo removecl to Tncliana, ancl thence, in 1836, to Illinois,
settling in Essex tomnsl~ip, where they remained until death, Mr.
Sl~eets (lying in 1880 ancl Mrs. Sheets in 1674. After his marriage Mr.
Eal>hnl-t began farming. In 1868 he purchased eighty acres on section
17, wliere he still resicles. Three children came to his home, all of
nrllonl still live-Larina S., Eilllna S., nncl Alva 31. On July 9, 1864,
Hrs. Ear21i~i't, having been in poor health for a number of years, passed
awav, being then ill her thirty-first year. On September 7, 1865, Mr.
~arf~nrt m;rrrietl Miss ~ucret'i:~ J. Dolison, a daughter of Andrew and
DOL'C~LS (Long) Doilison, born Wovelnber 3, 1843. Her parents were
natives of l'ennsylrnnia, who remofecl to Ohio, ancl in 1856 to Illinois,
~vl~en t'liey settlecl in Starli county. Later they purchased a farm in
Peoria, county, ~vhere her father diecl in 1811, being then fifty-fire years
of age. IIer niother now inakes her home ~vith Mr. and Mrs. Earhart,
and although now nearly seventy-one years of age, is quite active. Two
cl~ilclren liave been born to them- George F. and Jay &I. Politicdly ,
Mr. Earhart is a Republican. He has held the offices of supervisor,
assessor, collector. ancl school trustee, which he has filled with credit
to l~iluself and profit to the townsllip.
iMrs. E7Zizn Eclzullrd8, wife of E. J. Eclwards, born in Pennsylvania
in 1S31, died in Essex township, June 18, 1880.
hal~c 12. Esscx, the pioneer of Starlc county, mas born in Vir inia
in 1500, movecl to Ohio, ancl thence to Peoria, Ill., under Rev. f esse
Walker, the Metl~oclist itinerant. In lb28 lie selectecl his home in this
township, nncl settlecl here permanently in 1899 with his family. In
IS31 liis parents, Thomas ancl Elizabeth Essex, their four sons, their
clwugliter, Mrs. Dnvicl Cooper, ancl her husband. arrived. The father,
Thomas, died at David Cooper's house on sec. 10, hlay 15, 1853, and
the mother, Elizabeth, January 26, 1853. Thomas Essex was born in
Virginia January 13, 1711, ancl Elizabeth, his wife, in 1773. Joseph,
brother of Isaac B., died in 1876, as related in the history of Toulon;
Tholnas resides in Peoria county, David is in California, Isaac B.
lnovecl to Dongola, Ill., John ren~ainecl in tlze district, also Mrs. Cooper,
while William lnovecl to Knox county. Whether to credit the statement
that Isaac B. Essex joined the ilfonnons to Mr. Baldwin, of
Peoria, Capt. EIaaclie, of Peoria, Hartin Shallenberger, of Toulon, or
an olcl record of i\for~non circuits in Illinois, the writer cannot determine.
It i:: certain, however, that the statement vas made on what
appeared to be good authority. At the close of this volume a complete
sketch of the Essex family and of their settlement in Illinois is given.