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- (Research):Thomas Senteney has been a resident of Coles County for more than thirty years. His estate, located on section 27, North Okaw Township, contains eighty acres of choice land. He was born May 16, 1819, near Maysville, Ky., and is the son of Joab and Elizabeth (Doing) Senteney. His great-grandfather, John Senteney, was of German parentage, although born in the United States. He married Miss Mary Hyde, a native of England, and they made their home in the East, dying in the vicinity of New York City. His grandfather, John Senteney, was born in 1761, in New Jersey, and his marriage to Miss Elizabeth Houghton took place there. She was likewise a native of New Jersey. In the year 1790 he moved West with his young wife, and purchasing land near Maysville, Ky., made his permanent home there. After a long life of usefulness his death occurred in 1835 at a ripe old age. His widow survived him several years, and passed away in 1845. Both are buried in the Lawrence Creek Cemetery, near Maysville. Their family consisted of seven children Thomas, Joab, Nancy, Catherine, Charity, Mary and Elijah, all of whom attained maturity and married. John Senteney J; and his wife were, during their lifetime, members of the Baptist Church, and were actively engaged in promoting its interests and building up the cause of Christ.
Joab Senteney was born in 1794, near Maysville, Ky. At that early day the educational advantages of the West were very limited, and he had little opportunity for mental cultivation. Business affairs required his father's absence from home most of the time, and at the age of twenty-one Joab took charge of the farm, and remained on the homestead until his father's death. His marriage to Miss Elizabeth Doing took place in the year 1816. Mrs. Senteney was the daughter of Thomas Doing, and was born in Virginia.
At the time of his father's death Joab Senteney was forty-four years of age, and, taking his share of the estate, went to Franklin County, Ind., where he purchased eighty acres of timber land, which he cleared and cultivated for about five years. He then disposed of his interests in Indiana and removed to Morgan County, Ill. Renting land near Jacksonville he carried on a successful farming business there for about fourteen years, and in the autumn of 1855 removed to that part of Coles County which is now included in Douglas. He there entered forty acres, which he improved and cultivated, making that place his home for life. Mr. Senteney was active and industrious in business, and successfully passed through the hardships and privations incident to pioneer life, in two different States. He was retiring in disposition, and devoted to the interests of his home, never desiring to mingle in public affairs. With his wife he was a member of the Christian Church. Having finished his life work he died in 1863. His widow survived him several years and died in 1875, and they both lie at rest in the old Humbolt burying-ground.
The parental family consisted of nine children: John, deceased, was married to Elizabeth Bobbet; Thomas, the subject of this sketch; Elizabeth, the wife of Oliver Huckstep; Nancy died at the age of sixteen; Robert married Miss Jane Fleming, and resides in Guthrie County, Iowa; William married Miss Minerva Christman, and both died, leaving a family of six children; Jacob married Miss Elizabeth McNealy, and both also died, leaving a family of four children; Peter G., deceased, was married to Miss Ellen Hosteller; Mary is the wife of Martin Lathrop, and resides in this State.
Thomas Senteney attended the subscription schools in the early days, which afforded but meager advantages for education. He was a bright, intelligent boy, and possessed a natural talent for mechanical work. He had often worked with his grandfather in his shop, and became very skillful in the use of tools. Circumstances, however, led him to follow the occupation of agriculture rather than mechanics, and he remained on the homestead assisting his father on the farm until his marriage with Miss Ann Fleming, which took place April 27, 1842. Mrs. Senteney was born Sept. 8, 1824, in Parke County, Ind.,and is the daughter of Stephen and Jane (Kerr) Fleming. After his marriage Mr. Senteney removed to Morgan County, Ill., and engaged in farming on rented land until 1847, when he purchased forty-seven acres in that township. In the autumn of that same year he accidentally cut his foot while chopping wood, inflicting a severe wound, which has ever since disabled him to some extent. In 1853 he disposed of his property in Morgan County, and entered eighty acres in North Okaw Township, on the day after Franklin Pierce was elected to the Presidency. He took possession of the place with his family the February following, and has since made his home here. He also owns a small tract of timber land.
Mr. and Mrs. Senteney have a family of eleven children, recorded as follows: George W., born in July, 1843, enlisted in 1864 for 100 days' service in the Civil War, and was stricken down with the measles during his absence, and died Nov. 9, 1865, soon after reaching home; Melissa died in infancy; John T. married Miss Louisa Kelly, and resides in Humbolt County, Cal.; Martha died in infancy; Sarah is the wife of William Beatty, and a resident of Douglas County, Ill.; Mark married Miss Martha A. Trout, and resides on the homestead, managing his father's farm; Joab died in infancy; James L. married Miss Ida Walker, and resides in this county; Julia, Samuel and Emma all reside at home.
Mr. Senteney's farm is well improved, and mostly fenced in ten-acre lots. His farm is considered one of the best in the State. He has some tiling on the place and a substantial frame residence with good farm buildings. With his wife he has been throughout life a consistent member of the Christian Church. In politics Mr. Senteney is a Republican, and is active in sustaining the principles of that party. He is interested in educational affairs, and has been School Trustee for ten years; he is also serving his second term as School Director, and has been Assessor one term.
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1765 - 1836 (70 years)
