Will County IL Archives Biographies.....North, Selah Perkins ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/il/ilfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Deb Haines ddhaines@gmail.com September 3, 2007, 4:53 pm Author: Genealogical/Biographical Publishing Co SELAH PERKINS NORTH was born at Monroe Falls, Ohio, August 21, 1842. He was educated at Valparaiso College, at Valparaiso, Ind., and in early life learned the miller's trade at that place, following the occupation there for six years. While working as a miller he enlisted in the Union army, in August, 1862, becoming a member of the marine artillery at Chicago, Ill. It was the original plan to assign the artillery to the Mississippi River marine gunboats, but a change was made and they were sent to Roanoke Island, thence to Newbern, N. C., and mustered out in 1863. After some months in Valparaiso, the following year Mr. North was drafted into service and entered the Seventeenth Indiana Mounted Infantry, a part of General Wilson's cavalry corps, and in this he served until the close of the war. While he was serving in the quartermaster's department at Macon, Ga., news of the close of the rebellion reached him. He was mustered out of the service and honorably discharged. Returning to Valparaiso Mr. North resumed work as a miller. In 1867 he moved to Madison, Wis., where he became a retail grocer. During his residence there he married, at Lockport, Ill., March 31, 1868, Miss Mary L. Hawley, daughter of Warren Hawley, who settled in Lockport Township, this county, in 1835. While he was in the Normal school at Valparaiso he made the acquaintance of Miss Hawley, who was a student in that institution. After their marriage they settled in Madison. After the death of Mrs. North's mother they came to Lockport Township and settled on the old Hawley homestead, caring for Warren Hawley until his death, July 1, 1898, at the age of eighty-six years. Since his removal to Lockport Township Mr. North has been connected with its farm interests. Being an industrious and capable farmer, and ably assisted by his wife, he was prospered. In 1895 he was enabled to buy the old Hawley homestead of eighty-eight acres, which is one of the best in the township. Mrs. North was born on this place, and its associations, extending back to her earliest recollections, are dear to her. She is a well-educated lady and for a number of years before her marriage taught in Michigan and Illinois, proving an efficient educator. She is one of the highly esteemed ladies of the township. Fraternally Mr. North is connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He has taken a warm interest in the work of the Republican party. The good roads in his district and township are largely due to his energy and perseverance, during the nine years that he filled the office of highway commissioner. In educational matters he has been actively interested. For twenty-one years he was a member of the board of school directors, during which time he did much to advance the cause of education. The main responsibility of managing the school fell upon him while he was a director, and to his credit it may be said that he discharged every duty faithfully and well. Mr. and Mrs. North became the parents of six children. Those living are: John E., a physician and surgeon, married and living at Rock Rapids, Iowa; William W., attorney at Lockport, Ill.; Frank E. and Selah H., at home on the farm. Sarah L., an only daughter, died at the age of sixteen years, January 13, 1889, and an infant son died when a few weeks old. Tracing the history of the North family from the time of its settlement in America, the following is the genealogical record: John North left England for America in 1635 at the age of twenty. In 1653 he settled in Farmington, Conn., and purchased a lot near the north end of Farmington street, on which he lived. He was a member of the church in that town. He died in 1690, leaving nine children, viz.: John, Samuel, Mary, James, Thomas, Sarah, Nathaniel, Lydia and Joseph. Thomas North was born in 1649. He settled in the town of Avon, Conn. He was a soldier in the Indian war, for his services in which he received a grant of land. He had ten children, viz.: John, Thomas, Hannah, Nathaniel, Mary, Joseph, Rebeckah, Lydia, Sarah and Ebenezer. He died in 1712. Thomas North, Jr., lived in Kensington, Conn. He was one of the founders of the church and was a man of wealth and influence. His eight children were Martha, Isaac, Thomas, James, Sarah, Samuel, Joseph and Hannah. Isaac North was born in 1703. He was a deacon in the church at Kensington. He died in 1788. His children, numbering eight, were named Isaac, Mary, Jedediah, Lydia, Samuel, Seth, Ruth and Lethe. Jedediah North was born in 1734, lived in Berlin and was a member of the church at that place. He married Sarah Wilcox and had eleven children, viz.: Asa, Levi, David, Simeon, Stephen, Sarah, Olive, Patience, Noah, Lydia and Hannah. He died in 1816. Simeon North was born July 13, 1765. He lived first in Berlin, then in Middletown, Conn. He was a manufacturer of arms for the United States Government. In 1786 he married Lucy Savage, who died in 1811. He afterward married Lydia Huntington (a daughter of Rev. Enoch Huntington, of Middletown, Conn.), who died in 1840. He had nine children, viz.: Reuben, James, Alvin, Selah, Elizabeth, Lucetta, Simeon, Nancy and Lydia. He died August 25, 1852. Selah North was born at Berlin, Conn., in 1791. He was killed by lightning in his own farm house at Monroe Falls, Ohio, August 13, 1850. He had thirteen children, viz.: Nancy, Julia, Egbert, George, John, Phillip, Charles, Sarah, Newell, Charlotte, Ellen, Bessie and Selah P. (the subject of this sketch), the four last mentioned by his second wife, whose maiden name was Sarah Perkins, and who died March 2, 1872, aged seventy-two years. Additional Comments: Genealogical and Biographical Record of Will County Illinois Containing Biographies of Well Known Citizens of the Past and Present Biographical Publishing Company; Chicago 1900 File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/il/will/bios/north1646nbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/ilfiles/ File size: 6.4 Kb