Biographical Sketch of Cassell Family - Putnam County, Illinois (Johannes Cassell - Christian Cassell - William) William Cassell (1784-1862) Birth: August 15, 1784, Anville Township, Lebanon Co. PA Death: December 1862, Putnam Co. IL Parents: Christian Cassell (Birth-PA) and Barbara Berry Siblings: Elizabeth (Miller) and Catherina (Byers) Marriage: March 5, 1811, Dauphin or Lebanon County, PA Spouse: Elizabeth Leidig Children: Augustus, Rosannah (Allen), Sophia (Albert), Joseph, Esther (Albert), Christian, Berry Hill, Henry, John, Michael William Cassell was born on August 15, 1784 in Annville Township, in Lebanon County Pennsylvania. He grew up in Lebanon County and was very well-educated. As a young man he taught school. William married Elizabeth Leidig around on March 5, 1811 in Pennsylvania. They lived in Lebanon County, Pennsylvania in 1813 and lived in Dauphin County between 1815 and 1828. Together they had 10 children. Augustus was born in 1813 in Lebanon County, Pennsylvania. Rosannah was born in 1815 in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania. Sophia was born in 1816 in Lebanon County. The rest of the children, except for Berry Hill, were also born in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania. Joseph was born in 1817. Esther was born around 1819. Christian was born on October 21, 1820. Berry Hill was born in 1822 in East Hanover, Lebanon County. Henry was born in 1826. John was born in 1828 and Michael was born in Harrisburg in 1824. William was 52 years old at the time of his last child's birth. William was a farmer during his life in Pennsylvania. He also was a member of the United Brethren Church. William belonged to the Whig party - then became a Republican. There are stories of him fighting during the revolutionary war but it was probably the war of 1812 because of his birth-date. William and his family lived in Pennsylvania until 1839. In 1839, William and Elizabeth’s son Berry, convinced them to join their sons, Augustus, Joseph and Christian - who were living in Illinois., They started on their journey in the fall of 1839. William and his family traveled down the canal from Harrisburg to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The water was so low that steamers could not run so the family traveled by keelboat to Louisville, Kentucky. The trip took them 21 days. In Louisville, William and his family rented a house to wait for low water. After a few weeks, they grew tired of waiting and purchased a one horse wagon. William and his family came by land from Louisville, Kentucky to Decatur, Illinois. By this time the weather was so severe that their son, Berry froze his feet during the trip. They arrived in Decatur, Illinois on the November 20, 1839. By this time the snow was 4 foot deep and the weather so severe that they couldn’t travel any further. Their son, Berry notified his brothers living in Putnam County, and one came to pick up them up to take them to their new home. William and his wife Elizabeth settled in Putnam County in the small village of Florid (which is 4 miles south-east of Hennepin). William made a living as a basket maker, while Elizabeth took care of the home.. William's wife, Elizabeth died in 1851. She had nursed the people of Florid through the cholera epidemic of 1849, but fell victim to the disease and died. William continued living in Florid, Illinois for another 11 years until his death at his home in Florid in December of 1862. He was buried beside his wife in the Florid cemetery. Resouces Death Records - County Clerks Office, Hennepin, IL 1850 and 1860 Putnam County, Illinois Census Records Genealogical Records from the Pulsifer House, Hennepin, IL Portrait and Biographical Record of Macon County, Illinois, (Biographical sketch of Berry Hill Cassell and Henry Cassell) Lake City Publishing Co. 1893 Elizabeth Leidig Cassell (1789-1851) Birth: June 20, 1789, Anville Township, Lebanon Co. PA Death: August 23, 1851, Putnam Co. IL Parents: Unknown Marriage: March 5, 1811, Dauphin or Lebanon County, PA Spouse: William Cassell Children: Augustus, Rosannah (Allen), Sophia (Albert), Joseph, Esther (Albert), Christian, Berry Hill, Henry, John, Michael Elizabeth Leidig was born on June 20, 1789 in Lebanon County, Pennsylvania and spent her childhood in Lebanon County. She married William Cassell on March 5, 1811 in Pennsylvania. Together they had 10 children - 7 boys and 3 girls. Elizabeth and her family lived in Pennsylvania until 1839. There, Elizabeth taught her daughters the art of processing and weaving cloth. Then in the fall of 1839, Elizabeth with her husband, and their sons, Henry, Michael, John and Berry traveled to Illinois to join their sons, Augustus, Christian and Joseph who had settled in Putnam County, Illinois. Elizabeth wasn't given the opportunity to enjoy life in their new home for very long. There was a cholera epidemic in 1849 and she nursed the people of Florid through the epidemic. She, unfortunately, herself, succumbed to the disease. She died in Florid in on August 23, 1851 and was buried there in Florid, Illinois. Resouces Death Records - County Clerks Office, Hennepin, IL 1850 and 1860 Putnam County, Illinois Census Records Genealogical Records from the Pulsifer House, Hennepin, IL Portrait and Biographical Record of Macon County, Illinois, (Biographical sketch of Berry Hill Cassell and Henry Cassell) Lake City Publishing Co. 1893 Letter from Charles A. Hunter describing family’s way of life (Christian Cassell - William Cassell - Henry Cassell) Henry Cassell (1826-1906) Birth: February 29, 1826, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania Death: July 15, 1905, Florid, Putnam Co. Illinois Parents: William Cassell (Birth-PA) and Elizabeth Leidig (Birth-PA) Siblings: Augustus, Joseph, Berry Hill, Christian, Sophia (Albert), Rosannah Allen, Esther Albert, John and Michael. Marriage: September 15, 1847, Putnam Co. IL Spouse: Sara Bashore Children: Katy and Charles (Both died in infancy) Henry Cassell was born on February 29, 1826 in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania. He spent his early life on his family’s farm there. Henry and his brothers started helping their father on the farm at an early age. As a young boy, he learned to swing an ax, cradle and scyth which were the principle farm implements during that time. Whenever possible during the winter season, Henry attended the local school which was held in a log cabin and did his lessons on a slab bench. In 1839, Henry’s brother, Berry, convinced his parents to join their brothers, Augustus, Joseph and Christian - who were living in Illinois., They started on their journey in the fall of 1839. Henry and his family traveled down the canal from Harrisburg to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The water was so low that steamers could not run so the family traveled by keelboat to Louisville, Kentucky. The trip took them 21 days. In Louisville, Henry and his family rented a house to wait for low water. After a few weeks, they grew tired of waiting and purchased a one horse wagon. Henry and his family came by land from Louisville, Kentucky to Decatur, Illinois. By this time the weather was so severe that his brother, Berry froze his feet during the trip. They arrived in Decatur, Illinois on the November 20, 1839. By this time the snow was 4 foot deep and the weather so severe that they couldn’t travel any further. His brother, Berry notified his brothers living in Putnam County, and one came to pick up them up to take them to their new home. In Putnam County, Illinois, Henry began to earn a living as a farm hand and as soon as he had enough money, he bought his own farm. At the age of 21, he married Sarah Bashore on September 15, 1847 in Putnam County, Illinois. They had two children, Katy in 1848 and Charles in 1850. Both children died before their second birthday. Henry and Sara lived in Putnam County until 1854. They then moved to Decatur, Illinois and lived on a farm owned by Henry’s brother, Berry Hill. They started their life in Decatur with a team of horses, 5 head of cattle and $60 in cash. Ten years later, Henry bought 50 acres of farmland on Section 12 of Decatur Township. By 1893, he had purchased a total of 130 acres and was considered one of the most prominent citizens of the Decatur area. Henry served as Decatur Township Commissioner for 9 years and took a prominent part in Decatur’s development and growth. He supported the Whig party until 1861, then voted for Lincoln. After that he was a loyal Republican. Henry was a faithful member of the First Methodist Episcopal Church of Decatur for 22 years. Henry retired from farming in 1893. He continued living in Decatur until March of 1899. After that, Henry and Sara moved back to Putnam County and settled in the village of Florid, Illinois. Henry lived out the remainder of his years in the little village of Florid. In 1901, Henry and Sara spent the winter in California but returned to their home in Florid the following spring of 1902. Their home in Florid was considered to be very beautiful. In 1903, Henry had a contractor from Missouri erect a large horse barn for the house. Three years before his death, his health began to fail. Henry died at his home in Florid on Saturday, July 15, 1905. He was laid to rest the following Monday in the Florid cemetery. Resources Marriage Records - County Clerks Office, Hennepin, IL 1850 Putnam County, Illinois Census Records Genealogical Records from the Pulsifer House, Hennepin, IL 1860,1870 and 1880 Macon County Illinois Census Records The Putnam Record Newspaper (Feb 28, 1898 and July 19, 1905) Portrait and Biographical Record of Macon County, Illinois, (Biographical sketch of Henry Cassell) Lake City Publishing Co. 1893 The Henry News Republic Newspaper, Florid News, 1902 and 1903 (Henry Cassell’s spouse) Sara Ann Bashore Cassell (1830-1924) Birth: August 2, 1830, Lebanon County, PA Death: May 3, 1924, Florid, Putnam Co. IL Parents: Unknown Siblings: Elizabeth (Cramer) Marriage: September 15, 1847, Putnam Co. IL Spouse: Henry Cassell Children: Katy and Charles (Both died in infancy) Sara Bashore was born on August 2, 1830 in Lebanon County, Pennsylvania. Sometime before 1847, her family moved to Putnam County, Illinois. At the age of 17, on September 15, 1847, Sara married Henry Cassell. They had two children, Katy and Charles. Both died before their second birthday. Sara and Henry made their home in Florid until 1854. They then moved to Decatur, Illinois where they remained for almost 45 years. At the age of 50, Sara was converted during a revival meeting in Decatur, Illinois. She remained faithful to her religion the rest of her life. In 1899, Sara and Henry moved back to Florid. Henry died in 1905. After that Sara lived by herself until 1911. Her niece, Ella Danley then moved in and was her companion for the remainder of her life. On July 31, 1912, a unique birthday party was reported in the local paper, The Putnam Record. It stated, "On last Friday, there was quite a unique and unusual gathering at the home of Mrs. Sara Cassell. It being her 82nd birthday, she invited four ladies to eat with her. The four are cousins of Mrs. Cassell and are as follows, Mrs. Eliza Beck, Mrs. Elizabeth Dissenger, Mrs. Mary Willis, and Mrs. Eliza Henderson. Mrs. Beck, the eldest of the five, will be 87 her next birthday and Mrs. Henderson, the youngest is 72 and all are widow ladies. It is unnecessary to say that these ladies enjoyed themselves to the fullest. In February of 1924, Sara fell on the ice outside her home. After that she never recovered and died three months later at 7 PM on Saturday May 3, 1924. She was laid to rest beside her husband in the Florid cemetery. Resources Marriage Records - County Clerks Office, Hennepin, IL 1850 Putnam County, Illinois Census Records Genealogical Records from the Pulsifer House, Hennepin, IL 1860 and 1870 Macon County Illinois Census Records Portrait and Biographical Record of Macon County, Illinois, (Biographical sketch of Henry Cassell) Lake City Publishing Co. 1893 The Putnam Record Newspaper, July 31, 1912 and May 7, 1924 (Christian Cassell - William Cassell - Sophia) Sophia Cassell Albert (1816-?) Birth: November 23, 1816, Lebanon County, PA Death: Unknown, PA? Parents: William Cassell (Birth-PA) and Elizabeth Leidig (Birth-PA) Siblings: Augustus, Joseph, Berry Hill, Christian, John, Rosannah Allen, Esther Albert, Henry and Michael Marriage: Yes Spouse: Joseph Albert Children: David Sophia Cassell was born on November 23, 1816 in Lebanon County, Pennsylvania. Sophia married Joseph Albert in Pennsylvania. She had at least one child, a son named David. Sophia lived her entire life in Pennsylvania. 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