El Paso Area Pioneers

This list has been assembled by Mr. Kingdon over many years of data gathering. With a few exceptions because of some special interest, we include only those families who lived in El Paso, Greene, Kansas, Palestine or Panola Townships prior to 1860. To pass that date would get into greater population than we could attempt to list.

We leave a space after each letter so you may add names known to belong on the list and inadvertently omitted. We know the listing isn't perfect, but we feel it is the most complete ever compiled to date.

Please note we have included the wife's name when we could find it, desiring to honor those brave women of pioneer days whose hardships cannot now be visualized. We're sorry, but we can publish only brief bits about each family listed.

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ADAMS, John Sr. – Lived in Panola operating a blacksmith shop and a wagon factory about 1856.

ADAMS, Rev. William T. and Mary – Rev. Adams was a Presbyterian Minister, Pastor of El Paso's first church in 1857, which he helped organize May 11, 1857. Had arrived in Woodford County as early as 1841 when he was preaching in Low Point area. He (or another of this same name) purchased the NE 1/4 of Section 24 in eastern Panola Twp. April 22, 1858, and Lot 8, Block 33 in El Paso July 26, 1864. He lived at 113 N. Adams St. at one time.

ADAMS, Dr. John Quincy and (1) Chelnissa D. Cassell (1823- 1887), (2) Mrs. Mary (Tyire) Dorward – Dr. Adams was born at Cadiz, Ohio, February 18, 1818, and came to Illinois in 1855; although he did not settle in El Paso until 1865, he became the father of prominent El Pasoans, including Melville A. Adams, Dr. J. Cassell Adams, later of Gridley, and seven others. He studied medicine at an Ohio Medical School, graduating in 1847. His first wife was a sister of Attorney Robert T. Cassell, and an aunt of former Postmaster M. H. Cassell who was killed in the Chatsworth wreck. They lived many years where Mrs. Beshers now lives at 51 N. Adams Street. Chelnissa died March 3, 1887, and the Dr. contracted his second marriage Nov. 29, 1888. He was a prominent physician here until his death July 17, 1895. He was a Republican and Presbyterian, and served on the City Council.

ALLEN, Horace G. – First Panola Township town clerk in 1855.

ALLEN, Isaac – Came from Tennessee and was living in Kansas Twp. area about 1833.

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