Thomas Chambers

  General Notes:

Notes
History of Macon County, Illinois. With Illustrations Descriptive Of Its Scenery, and Biographical Sketches of some of its Prominent Men and Pioneers. Published by Brink, McDonough & Co., Phildelphia, 1880. Reproduced through efforts of The Decatur Genealogical Society, 1972. p.223 [Bourbon County].

THOMAS CHAMBERS was born in Bourbon county, Kentucky, May 15th, 1827. James Chambers, his father, was also a native of the same state. He was a soldier in the war under the command of General William H. Harrison. In 1835 he moved to Indiana, where he lived eighteen months; then came to Illinois and settled in Vermillion county, and remained there six years, then came to Macon county, and settled permanently in Oakley township. He here entered forty acres of land, and purchased forty acres of school land in section 26, T. 17, R. 4 E. He remained in Oakley township until his death, which took place, August 25, 1877, in the seventy-fifty year of his age. He married Nancy Buoy. She died about the year 1855. By this marriage there were five children, three sons and two daughters; all living except Mary, who was married to Daniel Dickey. Laban is the eldest son. He was a soldier in the war with Mexico, and was wounded at the battle of Cerro Gordo, and suffered the amputation of his right arm. Thomas is the youngest son and fourth in the family. He received but an indifferent education in his youth. Confinement in school-houses was irksome to his naturally bouyant disposition. He could never bear confinement. He
wanted to roam around and enjoy the fine free air. This is his disposition yet. After the family removed to Macon county, Thomas purchased land in section 21, Town 17, Range 4. It was unimproved. Here he has resided up to the present time, and now has one of the best farms in the township. He married Miss Mary, daughter of Robert and Jennie Gates. Mr. Gates was a native of Kentucky, and his wife, of Tennessee. He died on a trip to California in 1849, and Mrs. Gates died in Missouri. There have been born to Thomas and Mary Chambers six children, five of whom are living. Their names are Margaret Ellen, wife of James K. Peck, Effie Jane, Elizabeth, Emma, and William R. Chambers. Politically Mr. Chambers is a republican. Before the formation of the Republican party he was an old-line whig, and cast his first presidential vote for General Taylor in 1848. Mr. Chambers has always followed the occupation of farming and stock raising and stock trading, in all of which he has been very successful. He started in life poor; and waht he has, has been the accumultionof patient toil, the practice of economical habits. In his manners he is pleasant and agreeable, and in his home a hospitable
gentleman.

BURIED: Peck Cemetery, Macon County, Illinois.

Portrait & Biographical Record of Macon County, IL--Published Sept. 1893 Page 514
Thomas Chambers resides on Section 21, Oakley Twp., Macon County. Native of Kentucky. Born May 15, 1826 in Pendleton County, second son of James Chambers. The family is of Irish lineage & was founded in America in the Colonial days. The father was born in 1791. Settled in Macon County, IL in 1836. Family of five: Laban, Thomas, James R., Mary, & Margaret. Thomas married Mary Yates of Scott County, IL (a lot about her family was not copied by researcher, Mabel Rea Hagan). They had five children: Margaret Ellen became the wife of J. K. Peck, died October 9, 1892. Effie C. married David
Pollard, a resident of Cerro Gordo, Piatt County, IL. Elizabeth, wife of J. K. Wheeler, who carried on farming on Sect. 21, Oakley Twp. Emma, wife of Samuel Hiser, a resident of Long Creek Twp. William Reed who resides at home with his father. Thomas was a town Supervisor & School Director, an extensive farmer & stock raiser. Kathryn Moor and Marilyn Spilker have copies of the signed Will of Thomas listing his heirs, & a description of real estate

Thomas married Mary Gates, daughter of Robert Gates and Jennie. (Mary Gates was born in Missouri.)