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Below is a family biography included in The Portrait and Biographical Record of Randolph, Jackson, Perry and Monroe Counties, Illinois published by Biographical Publishing Co. in 1894.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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JOSHUA and JOSEPH SPRINGER are prominent and well known farmers of Jackson County, residing on section 15, Makanda Township. Their grandfather, John Springer, prior to his marriage accompanied the famous explorer, Daniel Boone, to the then wilderness of Kentucky, whence after remaining one winter, he returned to the vicinity of Frederick City, Md., where his father’s family lived. There he married and there two children were born to the union. About 1781 he moved to Kentucky and settled near Harrodsburg, Mercer County. When the Indian War broke out, he with other neighbors sought refuge in Harrod’s Fort. After peace was declared with the Indians, he removed to the vicinity of Danville, Ky., and later went to Washington County and settled on Pleasant Run, five miles from Springfield, the county seat. There he died about 1812.

The father of our subjects, John Springer, was born in Harrod’s Fort, Ky., January 8, 1784, and moved to Madison (now Bond) County, Ill., settling near Greenville in the fall of 1810. In Kentucky he married Susan Sage, and after her death he was united with Miss Elizabeth Bird, a native of Tennessee, who became the mother of our subjects. When the War of 1812 commenced, the father with other neighbors went into Jones’ Fort, where they organized a company, William Jones being chosen Captain, and Mr. Springer First Lieutenant. They stayed there until the fall of 1814, when, the war being ended, they removed five miles northwest of Edwardsville, Madison County, Ill., and settled on section 30, township 5, range 8. In that home the children of his second marriage were born and reared. He was appointed Justice of the Peace by Gov. Ninian Edwards. In 1815 he was made a Class-leader in the Methodist Episcopal Church at Salem and served continuously as such until his death, June 25, 1849. His wife, whose membership was also in the Methodist Church, died during the same year as that in which he passed away. In politics he was a Whig.

In the parental family there were ten children, of whom six are yet living, Thomas O., Levi C, Emily Gillhone, Lucinda Irwin, Joshua S. and Joseph E. Joshua S. Springer was born in Madison County, Ill., December 15, 1841, was reared on the old homestead, and acquired his education in the district schools. He enlisted August 10, 1862, in Company F, One Hundred and Seventeenth Illinois Infantry, and served until March 18, 1863, when he was discharged on account of disability. He then returned home, where he continued until February, 1867, when, in company with his brother, he bought their present farm.

On the 15th of January, 1877, Joshua S. Springer wedded Mary Hopkins, daughter of L. V. Hopkins, who was in the gunboat service during the Civil War, and who came to Jackson County in 1865. She was born in Ft. Madison, Iowa, December 7, 1851, and died April 18, 1892, leaving two children, Edward S. and Charles F., who are now attending school. One other child died in early life.

Joseph Springer was born on the old homestead October 13, 1843, and he too wore the blue, enlisting as a private of Company H, One Hundred and Fiftieth Illinois Infantry, January 14, 1865. He was appointed Sergeant of Camp Butler, was afterwards made Second Lieutenant, and later meritorious conduct won him promotion to the rank of First Lieutenant. He went to Nashville and was then engaged in guarding railroads at Bridgeport, after which he was stationed at Cleveland and Dalton. On the 8th of July, 1865, he was ordered to Atlanta, where he did Provost duty for a month, and was thence transferred to Franklin, and afterwards to Griffin, Ga. He was mustered out January 19, 1866, and was discharged in Springfield. The Old Flag and the cause it represented found in him an able defender.

On the 29th of December, 1880, was celebrated the marriage of Joseph Springer and Adeline E., daughter of Philander Utter, a native of New Jersey, who removed west to Oakland County, Mich. She was born September 5, 1844, in Ontario County, N. Y. They have one child, William E., who has in his possession the gun carried by his grandfather in the Black Hawk War, while his cousin Charles has the sword which belonged to Lieutenant Springer.

The Springer brothers are the owners of one hundred and twenty acres of valuable land, which is highly improved and cultivated, and devote their energies to the raising of grain and fruit and good grades of stock. They are numbered among the leading agriculturists of the community. Both hold membership with the Methodist Episcopal Church and with the Masonic fraternity, and Joseph is Past Master of Makanda Lodge No. 434, A. F. & A. M. They also belong to Makanda Post No. 280, G. A. R., of which Joshua is Junior Vice-Commander. He has also belonged to the Odd Fellows’ society, and for seventeen years he has served as School Director. He is also Highway Commissioner, and Joseph has been both Supervisor and Highway Commissioner of Makanda Township. In politics they are stalwart Republicans, and Joshua is a member of the County Central Committee. The Springer brothers are men of intelligence and sterling worth, ever faithful to duty, whether public or private, and in the community where they live are highly respected.

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This family biography is one of 679 biographies included in The Portrait and Biographical Record of Randolph, Jackson, Perry and Monroe Counties, Illinois published in 1894.  View the complete description here: The Portrait and Biographical Record of Randolph, Jackson, Perry and Monroe Counties, Illinois

View additional Jackson County, Illinois family biographies here: Jackson County, Illinois Biographies

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