(Christian Cassell - John - Christian - William - Augustus) Augustus Cassell (1813-1901) Birth: January 3, 1813, Lebanon County, Pennsylvania. Death: February 8, 1901, Cottage Hill, Hennepin Township,Putnam County, Illinois Parents: William Cassell and Elizabeth Leidig (Birth-PA) Siblings: Sophia (Albert), Rosannah (Allen), Joseph, Esther (Albert), Christian, Michael, Berry Hill, Henry, and John. Marriage: November 14, 1833, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania Spouse: Mary May Baer Children: John Henry, William Baer, Sara Ann (Foster) Allson Keeler, Rufus Lumery, Sidney, Augustus, Mary Ellen (Werling), Isadora (Pool) Augustus Cassell was born on January 3, 1813 on his father’s farm in Lebanon County, Pennsylvania. He spent his early life on his family’s farm there. Augustus and his brothers started helping their father on the farm at an early age. As young boys, they learned to swing an ax, cradle and scythe which were the principle farm implements during that time. Whenever possible during the winter season, Augustus and his brothers attended the local school which was held in a log cabin and did their lessons on a slab bench. Augustus and his brother, Joseph traveled to the wilderness of Putnam County, Illinois during the Black Hawk War of 1832. They liked it so well that they decided to stay and were considered two of the first settlers of Putnam County in 1833. Augustus was to be married, so they returned to their homes in Pennsylvania. At the age of 20, Augustus married Mary May Baar on November 14, 1833 in Pennsylvania. The first few years of their married life they resided in a small stone house owned by his aunt Esther Berry in Annville, Pennsylvania. His aunt Esther died in January 1836 and Augustus and May’s home was willed to his cousin Christian Miller. In the spring of 1836, Augustus, May and their young son John Henry joined his brother Joseph and new family in traveling back to Putnam County, Illinois. August and Joseph became two of the first settlers in the new village of Florid. Florid was established in December of 1835 and was located several miles south of Hennepin, Illinois. Only one man, had settled there before them. Near the village was Fort Cribs which was used as a block house against Indian attacks. Several months later, their brother Christian joined them and then Berry joined them in 1838. Berry liked Putnam County so well that he convinced their parents join them in Illinois. By 1845, all of Augustus’s six brothers, his parents and all of his sisters - except Sophia were living in Illinois. Augustus and May had nine children. John Henry was born on October 31, 1834 in Lebanon County, Pennsylvania. William Baar was born on November 28,1836 in Putnam County, Illinois. Sara Ann was born on April 26, 1839. Allson was born on October 10, 1841 in Putnam County, Illinois and Rufus was born in November 4, 1844 in Putnam County, Illinois. Sidney was born in 1847. Augustus was born in 1849. Mary Ellen was born in 1852 and Isadora was born in 1856. Augustus and Sidney died in childhood. Augustus and Mary settled near Florid, Illinois at Cottage Hill. There they lived out the remainder of his years. Augustus worked there as a cabinet maker. For several years, he owned and conducted a steam saw mill and was once a mercantile business at Florid, Illinois. In 1871, he also worked as an auctioneer. Augustus belonged to the Methodist Church in Hennepin, Illinois. Augustus was elected Putnam County judge in 1872 and again in 1876. He was also a Justice of the Peace for 27 years. On April 21, 1880, according to the Putnam Record, the local paper for Putnam County, "Judge Cassell" was called home by the severe illness of his wife. She had a paralytic stroke. His wife never recovered and died in 1885. In September of 1881, according to the Putnam Record there was a severe storm that did considerable damage to a number of trees in Augustus's orchard, twisting off the top of them. It also carried "twenty to thirty rods into the timber". In April of 1887, a fire broke out at a neighbor’s farm which quickly spread. Augustus lost most of his fences and a lot of his timber. In 1892, Augustus became extremely ill and had to be replaced on the bench at court. He never fully recovered and retired. Augustus passed away at his home on Friday morning, February 12, 1901. After his death, he was buried beside his wife in the Florid cemetery, Florid, Illinois. Resources 1840, 1850,1860,1870,1880,1900 Federal Census for Putnam County, Hennepin Township “The Putnam Record” Newspaper, April 21, 1880, September 1881, February 13 , 1901 (Obituary of Augustus Cassell) "The Record of Olden Times, Our 50 Years on the Prairie" by A. T. Purvinge,1880. “Portrait and Biographical Record”, 1893, Decatur, IL (Biography of Berry Hill Cassell) ( IL Historical Library The “Last Will and Testament of Esther Berry” Will Book B, Page 368, Lebanon County Recorder of Wills, Lebanon Co. Pennsylvania “The Henry News Republic” Newpaper, Henry, IL, Sept. 17, 1885 (Obituary of Mrs. Augustus Cassell), April 21, 1887, February 4, 1892 Mary May Baer Cassell (1814-1885) Birth: June 2, 1813, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania Death: September 10, 1885, Cottage Hill, Hennepin Twp, Putnam Co. IL. Marriage: November 14, 1833, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania Spouse: Augustus Cassell Children: John Henry, William Baer, Sara Ann (Foster) Allson Keeler, Rufus Lumery, Sidney, Augustus, Mary Ellen (Werling), Isadora (Pool) Mary Baer was born on June 2, 1813 in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania. She spent her childhood in Pennsylvania and was united with the Lutheran church at a very young age. At the age of 20, May married Augustus Cassell on November 14, 1833 in Harrisburg,Pennsylvania. Mary and Augustus had 9 children. John Henry was born in 1835 in Pennsylvania. William Baar was born in 1836 in Illinois. Mary Ellen was born in 1852 in Illinois. Allson was born in 1842 in Illinois and Rufus was born in 1844 in Putnam County, Illinois. Their other children were Isadora, Sara Ann, Augustus and Sidney. Augustus and Sidney died in childhood. The first few years of their married life they resided in a small stone house owned by Augustus’Aunt Esther Berry in Annville, Pennsylvania. His aunt Esther died in January 1836 and Augustus and May’s home was willed to his cousin Christian Miller. In the spring of 1836, Augustus, May and their young son John Henry joined his brother Joseph and new family in traveling back to Putnam County, Illinois. Mary continued living the remainder of her life in Putnam County where she was a faithful member of the Weslyan Methodist Church. In 1880, May had a paralytic stroke from which she never recovered. After her death on September 10, 1885, she was laid to rest in the Florid cemetery. Resources 1840, 1850,1860,1870,1880,1900 Federal Census for Putnam County, Hennepin Township “The Putnam Record” Newspaper, April 21, 1880, September 1881, February 13 , 1901 (Obituary of Augustus Cassell) "The Record of Olden Times, Our 50 Years on the Prairie" by A. T. Purvinge,1880. “Portrait and Biographical Record”, 1893, Decatur, IL (Biography of Berry Hill Cassell) ( IL Historical Library The “Last Will and Testament of Esther Berry” Will Book B, Page 368, Lebanon County Recorder of Wills, Lebanon Co. Pennsylvania “The Henry News Republic” Newpaper, Henry, IL, Sept. 17, 1885 (Obituary of Mrs. Augustus Cassell), April 21, 1887, February 4, 1892 (Christian Cassell - John - Christian - William - Augustus - Sidney and Augustus) Sidney Cassell (1847-1850) Birth: April,1847 Hennepin Twp., Putnam County, Illinois Death: September 28, 1850, Hennepin Twp., Putnam County, Illinois Burial: Florid Cemetery, Florid, Putnam Co. IL Parents Augustus Cassell and Mary Baer (Birth-PA) Siblings: John Henry, William Baer, Sara Ann (Foster) Allson Keeler, Rufus Lumery, Augustus, Mary Ellen (Werling), Isadora (Pool) Resources 1850 Federal Census for Putnam County, Hennepin Township Tombstone Inscription, Florid Cemetery, Florid, IL Genealogical records, “Pulsifer House”, Hennepin, IL Augustus Cassell (1850-1850) Birth: January 1850, Hennepin Twp., Putnam County, Illinois Death: September 27, 1850, Hennepin Twp., Putnam County, Illinois Burial: Florid Cemetery, Florid, Putnam Co. IL Parents: Augustus Cassell and Mary Baer (Birth-PA) Siblings: John Henry, William Baer, Sara Ann (Foster) Allson Keeler, Rufus Lumery, Sidney, Mary Ellen (Werling), Isadora (Pool) Resources 1850 Federal Census for Putnam County, Hennepin Township Tombstone Inscription, Florid Cemetery, Florid, IL Genealogical records, “Pulsifer House”, Hennepin, IL --------------------------------------------------------------------- UGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organizations or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Nancy J Piper