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Capt. Hiram ROSENGRANTS
The Captain was born in the state of New York, October 28th, 1837. In 1851 his family moved
to Illinois, and located in Sangamon county, near the present town of Pawnee. After the lapse
of two years they changed their home to Christian county, locating eleven miles west of
Taylorsville, where Mr. Rosengrants attained his legal majority. At the breaking out of the
late civil war he responded to his country's call for troops, and entered the Union service
in the fall of 1861--33d Illinois volunteer infantry company D. He remained in the army four
years and three months, and was honorably discharged December 6th, 1865. He participated in
some of the heaviest engagements of the war, among which were Frederick Town, Missouri, Cotton
Plant, Arkansas, Siege of Vicksburg, Jackson, Mississippi, Fort Esperanza, Texas, Spanish
Fort, Alabama, and Yazoo City. Twice he was wounded, first in the leg by a musket ball, in
the rear of Vicksburg, and second in a railroad disaster on the line of the Opelousas R.R.,
Louisiana, where he received injuries deemed at the time fatal, and from the effects of which
he is not likely to recover during the remainder of his life.
Captain Rosengrants entered the army as a private and rose to the rank of captaincy during
the last thirteen months of his military experience, a promotion due entirely to gallantry
displayed on the field of action and the exercise of cool judgment amid the clash of arms.
He was popular among the officers and loved by his command, and was the same genial companion
in the army that has characterized his walks in civil life, and which has made him deservedly
one of the most popular gentlemen of his section of the county.
After the close of the war he returned home, and was in the spring of 1867, united in marriage
with Miss Sarah Mason, the accomplished daughter of John Mason, formerly of Sangamon, but then
a resident of Christian county, and by whom he has a family of bright, interesting children.
He located on his farm in Blue Mound township, this county, in the fall of the same year, and
has since been one of its most active and energetic citizens, known well as both a farmer and
trader. Twice he has served his township in the capacity of collector, and as many times as
supervisor, a position of which he is still an incumbent. In politics he is a republican, and
has been a supporter of the regular nominees of his party from the time that he was old enough
to cast a ballot.
From information available, the following is gathered with respect to their families. His
grandfather was a native of Germany, and an early settler of Pennsylvania, where Abiel L., the
captain's father was born in Herkimer county. He married Miss Almira Skinner, by whom he raised
seven children. On leaving his native state he located in St. Lawrence county, New York, and
is now residing in Kansas with one of his sons. His wife died in Pana, in 1868.
Mrs. Rosengrants' father was a native of England. He arrived in this country when about
nineteen year old, and spent some time boating on the Mississippi river. He afterwards
located a mile and a half south-east of Springfield, and was one of the first settlers of Sangamon
county. He married Miss Isabella Flemmings, and lived on his farm near Springfield till he had
eleven children. He then moved to Christian county, where he was well known as a large real
estate owner and prominent business man, and where he died in 1878, eighty-two years and a
week old. His wife is still surviving, a lady both venerable in age and in matronly and lady-like
qualities.
History of Macon Co, Illinois, 1880 - p.195
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