Hollister Daniels's great-grandfather, Champney Pendleton, is one of the delightful exceptions to the relative anonymity of our family tree. He seems to have been both civic minded and entrepreneurial, traits that insured mention in written records.
I’m dividing Champney’s life into two parts—the period prior to leaving for Oregon and then once he’s here.
Champney Pendleton was born in Clark County, Kentucky in 1812, three years after Abraham Lincoln was born, also in eastern Kentucky. There is a genealogy source that says that Champney's father died when the boy was 11 years old .
I’m dividing Champney’s life into two parts—the period prior to leaving for Oregon and then once he’s here.Champney Pendleton was born in Clark County, Kentucky in 1812, three years after Abraham Lincoln was born, also in eastern Kentucky. There is a genealogy source that says that Champney's father died when the boy was 11 years old .
Champney, like Lincoln, didn’t stay in Kentucky for long. There are documents dated 1833, 1834, and 1835 showing Champney Pendleton’s purchase of public lands in Sangamon County, Illinois. He married Phebe Mann in Illinois in 1830, when he was 18 years old. Phebe’s family had come to Illinois even earlier than Champney, true Illinois pioneers. Both the Mann family and Champney Pendleton are mentioned in a book History of Logan County Illinois, published in 1911.
Abraham Lincoln moved to New Salem, Illinois (also in Sangamon County) in 1831. New Salem has been preserved as a state park, the town rebuilt on the footprint of the original. I visited New Salem in July 2008 and came away with a real appreciation for the challenges Lincoln and Champney faced. Champney had one up on Lincoln, though. There were other Pendletons where he settled, giving him a support system that Lincoln lacked. Champney settled in Mt. Pulaski, not far from New Salem; he was one of the first settlers in the township.
Lincoln’s presidential history is well known, but we often forget that he began his professional life as a lawyer and circuit rider. He’d ride through fourteen counties, conducting business. Is it possible that Champney ever had legal issues that brought him into contact with Abraham Lincoln the lawyer?
Lincoln’s presidential history is well known, but we often forget that he began his professional life as a lawyer and circuit rider. He’d ride through fourteen counties, conducting business. Is it possible that Champney ever had legal issues that brought him into contact with Abraham Lincoln the lawyer?
Perhaps his in-laws, the Manns, saw Lincoln at work in the Mt. Pulaski courthouse? It’s impossible to know, as the records of the Mt. Pulaski courthouse were destroyed in a fire.
Perhaps Lincoln’s earlier work as the surveyor brought him into contact with Champney? Lincoln was most active in that job during the years that Champney was purchasing land.
All speculation, to be sure, but a lot of fun. But any possibilities for Champney and Abraham to interact end in 1847, when Champney came down with “Oregon Fever.”
Perhaps Lincoln’s earlier work as the surveyor brought him into contact with Champney? Lincoln was most active in that job during the years that Champney was purchasing land.All speculation, to be sure, but a lot of fun. But any possibilities for Champney and Abraham to interact end in 1847, when Champney came down with “Oregon Fever.”
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The courtroom is in the Mt. Pulaski Courthouse and the caretakers are immensely proud of the fact that Abraham Lincoln argued cases in this very spot.
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