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 iermilion and Idgar louniies, llliiiois. 
 
 XL 
 
 CONTAINING 
 
 Full Page Portraits and Biographical Sketches of .-Prominent and 
 Representative" Citizens of the Counties, 
 
 TOGETHER WITH 
 
 PORTRAITS AND BIOGRAPHIES OF ALL THE GOVERNORS OF THE STATE, AND OF THE 
 
 PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES. 
 
 CHICAGO: 
 
 CHAPMAN BROTHERS, 
 1889. 
 
1\TS11^ 
 
pF(Ep/^?E. 
 
 -■j»i^ -I^M- '^5*f-'- 
 
 5lIK yreiitcst of English historians, M acaulw, and one of the most brilliant writers of 
 the present century, lias said: "The history of a country is best told in a record of the 
 lives of its people." In conformity with this idea the Pouti;ait- and Biogkaitiical 
 Aliuiji of this County has been prepared. Instead of going to musty records, and 
 taking therefrom dry statistical matter that can be appreciated by but few, our 
 corps of writers have gone to the people, the men and women who have, by their 
 enterprise and industry, brought the county to a rank second to none among those 
 comprising this great and noble State, and from their lips have the story of tiieir life 
 struggles. No more interesting or instructive matter could be presented to an intelli- 
 gent public. In this volume will be found a record of many whose lives are worthy the 
 imitation of coming generations. It tells how some, commencing life in povertj^, by 
 industry and econoni}- have accumulated wealth. It tells how others, with limite<l 
 advantages for securing an education, have become learned men and women, with nn 
 influence extending throughout the length and breadth of the land. It tells of men who 
 have I'iseu from the lower walks of life to eminence as statesmen, and whose names have 
 become famous. It tells of those in every walk in life who have striven to succeed, and 
 records how that success has usually crowned their efforts. It tells also of many, very 
 rnanv, who, not seeking the applause of the world, have pursued "the even tenor of their way,'' content 
 to have it said of them as Christ said of the woman performing a deed of mercy — "the^' have done what 
 they could." It tells how that many in the pride and sti'cngth of young manhood left the plow and the 
 anvil, the lawyer's offlce and the counting-rooui, left every trade and profession, and at their country's 
 call went forth valiantly "to do or die," and how through their efforts the Union was restored and peace 
 once more reigned in the land. In the life of every man and of every woman is a lesson that should not 
 be lost upon those who follow after. 
 
 Coming generations will appreciate this volume and preserve it as a sacred treasure, from the fact 
 that it contains so much that would never find its way into public records, and which would otherwise be 
 inaccessible. Great care lias been taken in the compilation of the work and every opportunity possible 
 o-iven to those represented to insure correctness in what has been written, and the publishers flatter them- 
 selves that they give to their readers a work with few errors of consequence. In addition to the biograph- 
 ' ical sketches, portraits of a number of representative citizens are given. 
 
 The faces of some, and biographical sketches of manj^, will be missed in this volume. For this the 
 publishers are not to blame. Not having a proper conception of the work, some refused to give the 
 information necessary to compile a sketch, while others were indifferent. Occasionally some member of 
 the family would oppose the enterprise, and on account of such opposition the support of the interested 
 one would be withheld. In a few instances men could never be found, though repeated calls were made 
 at their residence or place of business. 
 
 , ,„„,, CHAPMAN BROS. 
 
 Chicago, September, 18»'J. 
 
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FIRST '('RESIDENT. 
 
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 HE Father of our Country was 
 born in Westmorland Co., Va., 
 Feb. 2 2, 1732. His parents 
 were Augustine and Mary 
 (Ball) Washington. The family 
 to which he belonged has not 
 been satisfactorily traced in 
 England. His great-grand- 
 father, John Washington, em- 
 igrated to Virginia about 1657, 
 and became a prosperous 
 planter. He had two sons, 
 Lawrence and John. The 
 former married Mildred Warner 
 and had three children, John, 
 Augustine and Mildred. Augus- 
 tine, the father of George, first 
 married Jane Butler, who bore 
 him four children, two of whom, 
 Lawrence and Augustine, reached 
 maturity. Of six children by his 
 second marriage, George was the 
 eldest, the others being Betty, 
 Samuel, Jo!m Augustine, Charles 
 and Mildred. 
 Augustine Washington, the father of George, died 
 in 1743, leaving a large landed property. To his 
 eldest son, Lawrence, he bequeathed an estate on 
 the Patomac, afterwards known as Mount Vernon, 
 and to George he left the parental residence. George 
 received only such education as the neighborhood 
 schools afforded, save for a short time after lie left 
 school when he received private mstruction in 
 mathematxs. His spelling was rather defective. 
 
 Remarkable stories are told of his great physical 
 strength and development at an early age. He wa:j 
 an acknowledged leader among hi.s companions, and 
 was eariy noted for tliat nobleness of character, fair- 
 ness and veracity which characterized his whole life. 
 
 When George was 1 4y ears old he had a desire to go to 
 sea, and a midshipman's warrant was secured for him, 
 .but through the opposition of his mother the idea was 
 abandoned. Two years later he was appointed 
 .surveyor to the immense estate of Lord Fairfax. Li 
 this business he spent three years in a rough frontier 
 life, gaining experience which afterwards proved very 
 essential to him. In 1751, though only 19 years of 
 age, he was appointed adjutant with the rank of 
 major in the Virginia militia, then being trained for 
 acUve service against the French and Indians. Soon 
 after this he sailed to the West Indies with his brother 
 Lawrence, who went there to restore his health. They 
 soon returned, and in the summer of 1752 Lawrence 
 died, leaving a large fortune to an infant daughter 
 who did not long survive him. On her demise the 
 estate of Mount Vernon was given to (ieorge. 
 
 Upon the arrival of Robert Dinwiddie, as Lieuten- 
 ant-Governor of Virginia, in 1752, the militia was 
 reorganized, and the province divided into four mili- 
 tary districts, of which the northern was assigned to 
 Washington as adjutant general. Shortly after this 
 a very perilous mission was assigned him and ac- 
 cepted, which others had refused. This v;as to pro- 
 ceed to the French post near Lake Erie in North- 
 western Pennsylvania. Tlie distance to lie traversed 
 was between 500 and 600 miles. Winter was at hand, 
 and tlie journey was to be made without military 
 escort, through a territory occupied by Indians. The 
 
GEORGE WASHINGTON. 
 
 trip was a perilous one, and several times he came near 
 losing his life, yet he returned in safety and furnished 
 a full and useful report of his expedition. A regiment 
 of 300 men was raised in Virginia and put in com- 
 mand of Col. Joshua Fry, and Major Washington was 
 commissioned lieutenant-colonel. Active war was 
 then begun against the French and Indians, in which 
 Washington took a most important part. In the 
 memorable event of July 9, 1755, known as Brad- 
 dock's defeat, Washington was almost the only officer 
 of distinction who escaped from the calamities of the 
 day with life and honor. The other aids of Braddock 
 were disabled early in the action, and Washington 
 alone was left in that capacity on the field. In a letter 
 to his brother he says : " I had four bullets through 
 my coat, and two horses shot under me, yet I escaped 
 unhurt, though death was levelino my companions 
 on every side." An Indian sharpshooter said he was 
 not born to be killed by a bullet, for he had taken 
 direct aim at him seventeen times, and failed to hit 
 him. 
 
 After having been five years in the military service, 
 and vainly sought promotion in the royal army, he 
 look advantage of the fall of Fort Duquesne and the 
 expulsion of the French from the valley of the Ohio, 
 CO resign his commission. Soon after he entered the 
 Legislature, where, although not a leader, he took an 
 active and important part. January 17, 1759, he 
 married Mrs. Martha (Dandridge) Custis, the wealthy 
 widow of John Parke Custis. 
 
 When the British Parliament had closed the port 
 ■~)f Boston, the cry went up throughout the provinces 
 that "The cause of Boston is the cause of us all." 
 It was then, at the suggestion of Virginia, that a Con- 
 gress of all the colonies was called to meet at Phila- 
 delphia,Sept. 5, 1774, to secure their common liberties, 
 peaceably if possible. To this Congress Col. Wash- 
 ington was sent as a delegate. On May 10, 1775, the 
 Congress re-assembled, when the hostile intentions of 
 England were plainly apparent. The battles of Con- 
 cord and Lexington had been fought. Among the 
 first acts of this Congress was the election of a com- 
 mander-in-chief of the colonial forces. This high and 
 responsible office was conferred upon Washington, 
 who was still a memberof the Congress. He accepted 
 it on June rg, but upon the express condition that he 
 receive no salary. He would keep an exact account 
 of expenses and expect Congress to pay them and 
 nothing more. It is not the object of this sketch to 
 trace the military acts of Washington, to whom the 
 fortunes and liberties of the people of this country 
 were so long confided. The war was conducted by 
 him under ever}' possible disadvantage, and while his 
 forces often met with reverses, yet he overcame every 
 obstacle, and after seven years of heroic devotion 
 and matchless skill he gained liberty for the greatest 
 nation of earth. On Dec. 23, T783, Washington, in 
 a parting address of surpassing beauty, resigned his 
 
 commission as commander-in-chief of the army to 
 to the Continental Congress sitting at Annapolis. He 
 retired immediately to Mount Vernon and resuined 
 his occupation as a farmer and planter, shunning all 
 connection with public life. 
 
 In February, r 7 89, Washington was unanimously 
 elected President. In his presidential career he was 
 subject to the peculiar trials incidental to a new 
 government ; trials from lack of confidence on the part 
 of other governments ; trials from want of harmony 
 between the different sections of our own country; 
 trials from the impoverished condition of the country, 
 owmgto the war and want of credit; trials from the 
 beginnings of party strife. He was no partisan. His 
 clear judgment could discern the golden mean; and 
 while perhaps this alone kept our government from 
 sinking at the very outset, it left him exposed to 
 attacks from both sides, which were often bitter and 
 very annoying. 
 
 At the expiration of his first term he was unani- 
 mously re-elected. At the end of this term many 
 were anxious that he be re-elected, but he absolutely 
 refused a third nomination. On the fourth of March, 
 1797, at the expiraton of his second term as Presi- 
 dent, he returned to his home, hoping to pass there 
 his few remaining years free from the annoyances of 
 public life. Later in the year, however, his repose 
 seemed likely to be interrupted by war with France. 
 At the prospect of such a war he was again urged to 
 take command of the armies. He chose his sub- 
 ordinate officers and left to them the charge of mat- 
 ters in the field, which he superintended from his 
 home. In accepting the command he made the 
 reservation that he was not to be in the field until 
 it was necessary. In the midst of these preparations 
 his life was suddenly cut off. December 1 2, he took 
 a severe cold from a ride in the rain, which, settling 
 in his throat, produced inflammation, and terminated 
 fatally on the night of the fourteenth. On the eigh- 
 teenth his body was borne with military honors to its 
 final resting place, and interred in the family vault at 
 Mount Vernon. 
 
 Of the character of Washington it is impossible to 
 speak but in terms of the highest respect and ad- 
 miration. The more we see of the operations of 
 our government, and the more deeply we feel the 
 difficulty of uniting all opinions in a common interest, 
 the more highly we must estimate the force of his tal- 
 ent and character, which have been able to challenge 
 the reverence of all parties, and principles, and na- 
 tions, and to win a fame as extended as the limits 
 of the globe, and which we cannot but believe will 
 be as lasting as the existence of man. 
 
 The person of Washington was unusally tan, erect 
 and well proportioned. His muscular strength was 
 great. His features were of a beautiful symmetry. 
 He commanded respect without any appearance of 
 haughtiness, and ever serious without being dull. 
 
SECOND PRESIDENT. 
 
 23 
 
 pi*€*"«*" 
 
 'life))...; ^,„ IT ^riN. TW7T 'Bk.V ^ ITBw ^ ^Si. BF eC^ „,-p ««^'$, 
 
 
 OHN ADAMS, the second 
 , President and the first Vice- 
 I President of the United States, 
 was born in Braintree ( now 
 Quincy ),Mass., and about ten 
 miles from Boston, Oct. 19, 
 1735. His great-grandfather, Henry 
 Adams, emigrated from England 
 about 1640, with a family of eight 
 . sons, and settled at Braintree. The 
 parents of John were John and 
 Susannah (Boylston) Adams. His 
 father was a farmer of limited 
 means, to which he added the bus- 
 iness of shoemaking. He gave his 
 eldest son, John, a classical educa- 
 tion at Harvard College. John 
 graduated in 1755, and at once took charge of the 
 school in AVorcester, Mass. This he found but a 
 "school of affliction," from which he endeavored to 
 gain relief by devoting himself, in addition, to the 
 study of law. For this purix)se he placed himself 
 under the tuition of the only lawyer in the town. He 
 had thought seriously of the clerical profession 
 but seems to have been turned from this by what he 
 termed " the frightful engines of ecclesiastical coun- 
 cils, of diabolical malice, and Calvanistic good nature,'' 
 of the operations of which lie had been a witness in 
 his native town. He was well fitted for the legal 
 profession, possessing a clear, sonorous voice, being 
 ready and fluent of speech, and having quick percep- 
 tive powers. He gradually gained practice, and in 
 1764 married Abigail Smith, a daughter of a minister, 
 and a lady of superior intelligence. Shortly after his 
 marriage, {17(15), the attempt of Parliamentary taxa- 
 tion turned him from law to politics. He took initial 
 steps toward huldin^ .a town meeting, and the resolu- 
 
 tions he offered on the subject became very populai 
 throughout the Provnice, and were adopted word for 
 word by over forty different towns. He moved to Bos- 
 ton in 1768, and became one of the most courageous 
 and prominent advocatesof the popular cause, and 
 was chosen a member of the General Court (the Leg- 
 lislature) in 1770. 
 
 Mr. Adams was chosen one of the first delegates 
 from Massachusetts to the first Continental Congress, 
 which met in 1774. Here he distinguished himself 
 by his capacity for business and for debate, and ad- 
 vocated the movement for independence against tb = 
 majority of the members. In May, 1776, he mcved 
 and carried a resolution in Congress that the Colonies 
 should assume the duties of self-government. He 
 was a prominent member of the committee of ave 
 appointed June 11, to prepare a declaration of inde- 
 pendence. This article was drawn by Jefferson, but 
 on Adams devolved the task of battling it through 
 Congress in a three days debate. 
 
 On the day after the Declaration of Independence 
 was passed, while his soul was yet warm with th:; 
 glow of excited feeling, he wrote a letter to his wile 
 which, as we read it now, seems to have been dictated 
 by the spirit of prophecy. "Yesterday," he says, "tlie 
 greatest question was decided that ever was debated 
 in America; and greater, perhaps, never was or wil. 
 be decided among men. A resolution was passed 
 without one dissenting colony, ' that these United 
 States are, and of right ought to be, free and inde- 
 pendent states.' The day is passed. The fourth of 
 July, 1776, will be a memorable e;;och in the history 
 of America. I am apt to believe it will be celebrated 
 by succeeding generations, as the great anniversary 
 festival. It ought to be commemorated as the day of 
 deliverance by solemn acts of devoiion to Almighty 
 God. It ought to be solemnized with jxjmp, shows, 
 
24 
 
 JOHN ADAMS. 
 
 games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations 
 from one end of the continent to the other, from this 
 time forward for ever. You will think me transported 
 with enthusiasm, but I am not. I am well aware of 
 the toil, and blood and treasure, that it will cost to 
 maintain this declaration, and support and defend 
 these States; yet, through all the gloom, I can seethe 
 rays of light and glory. I can see that the end is 
 worth more than all the means; and that posterity 
 will triumph, although you and I may rue, which I 
 hope we shall not." 
 
 In November, 1777, Mr. Adams was appointed a 
 delegate to France and to co-operate with Bemjamin 
 Franklin and Arthur Lee, who were then in Paris, in 
 the endeavor to obtain assistance in arms and money 
 from the French Government. This was a severe trial 
 to his patriotism, as it separated him from his home, 
 compelled him to cross the ocean in winter, and ex- 
 posed him to great peril of capture by the British cruis- 
 ers, who were seeking him. He left France June 17, 
 1779. In September of the same year he was again 
 chosen to go to Paris, and there hold himself in readi- 
 ness to negotiate a treaty of peace and of commerce 
 with Great Britian, as soon as the British Cabinet 
 might be found willing to listen to such proposels. He 
 sailed for France in November, from there he went to 
 Holland, where he negotiated important loans and 
 formed important commercial treaties. 
 
 Finally a treaty of peace with England was signed 
 Jan. 21, 1783. The re-action from the excitement, 
 toil and anxiety through which Mr. Adams had passed 
 threw him into a fever. After suffering from a con- 
 tinued fever and becoming feeble and emaciated he 
 was advised to go to England to drink the waters of 
 Bath. "While in England, still drooping anddesix)nd- 
 ing, he received dispatches from his own government 
 urging the necessity of his going to Amsterdam to 
 negotiate another loan. It was winter, his health was. 
 delicate, yet he immediately set out,' and through 
 storm, on sea, on horseback and foot,he made the trip. 
 
 February 24, 1785, Congress appointed Mr. Adams 
 envoy to the Court of St. James. Here he met face 
 to face the King of England, who had so long re- 
 garded him as a traitor. As England did not 
 condescend to appoint a minister to the United 
 States, and as Mr. Adams felt that he was accom- 
 plishing but little, he sought i^ennission to return to 
 his own country, where he arrived in June, 1788. 
 
 When Washington was first chosen President, John 
 Adams, rendered illustiious by his signal services at 
 home and abroad, was chosen Vice President, .\gain 
 at the second election of Washington as President, 
 Adams was chosen Vice President. In 1796, Wash- 
 ington retired from public life, and Mr. Adams was 
 elected President,though not without much opposition. 
 Serving in this office four years, he was succeeded by 
 Mr. Jefferson, his opponent in politics. 
 
 While Mr. Adams was Vice President the great 
 
 French Revolution shook the continent of Europe, 
 and it was upon this point which he was at issue with 
 the majority of his countrymen led by Mr. Jefferson. 
 Mr. Adams felt no sympathy with the French people 
 in their struggle, for he had no confidence in their 
 power of self-government, and he utterly abhored the 
 class of atheist philosophers who he claimed caused it. 
 On the other hand Jefferson's sympathies were strongly 
 enlisted in behalf of the French people. Hence or- 
 iginated the alienation between these distinguished 
 men, and two powerful parties were thus soon organ- 
 ized, Adams at the head of the one whose sympathies 
 were with England and Jefferson led the other in 
 sympathy with France. 
 
 The world has seldom seen a spectacle of more 
 moral beauty and grandeur, than was presented by the 
 old age of Mr. Adams. The violence of party feeling 
 had died away, and he had begun to receive that just 
 appreciation which, to most men, is not accorded till 
 after death. No one could look upon his venerable 
 form, and think of what he had done and suffered, 
 and how he had given up all the prime and strength 
 of his Hfe to the public good, without the deepest 
 emotion of gratitude and respect. It was his peculiar 
 good fortune to witness the complete success of the 
 institution which he had been so active in creating and 
 supporting. In 1824, his cup of happiness.was filled 
 to the brim, by seeing his son elevated to the highest 
 station in the gift of the people. 
 
 The fourth of July, 1826, which completed the half 
 century since the signing of the Declaration of Inde- 
 pendence, arrived, and there were but three of the 
 signers of that immortal instrument left upon the 
 earth to hail its morning light. i^nd, as it is 
 well known, on that day two of these finished their 
 earthly pilgrimage, a coincidence so remarkable as 
 to seem miraculous. For a few days before Mr. 
 Adams had been rapidly failing, and on the morning 
 of the fourth he found himself too weak to rise from 
 his Ijed. On being requested to name a toast for the 
 customary celebration of the day, he exclaimed " In- 
 dependence FOREVER." When the day was ushered 
 in, by the ringing of bells and the firing of cannons, 
 he was asked by one of his attendants if he knew 
 what day it was? He replied, "O yes; it is the glor- 
 ious fourth of July — God bless it — God bless you all." 
 In the course of the day he said, " It is a great and 
 glorious day." The last words he uttered were, 
 "Jefferson survives." But he had, at one o'clock, re- 
 signed his spirit into the bands of his God. 
 
 The personal appearance and manners of Mr. 
 Adams were not particularly prepossessing. His face, 
 as his portrait manifests,was intellectual ard expres- 
 sive, but his figure was low and ungraceful, and his 
 manners were frequently abrupt and uncourteous. 
 He had neither the lofty dignity of Washington, nor 
 the engaging elegance and gracefulness which marked 
 the manners and address of Jefferson. 
 
•'ff-^ 
 
 '-t^TZ. 
 
Till ED PRESIDENT. 
 
 27 
 
 HOMAS JEFFERSON was 
 
 born April 2, 1743, at Shad- 
 
 gvwell, Albermarle county, Va. 
 
 His parents were Peter and 
 Jane (Randolph) Jefferson, 
 the former a native of Wales, 
 and the latter born in Lon- 
 don. To them were born six 
 daughters and two sons, of 
 whom Thomas was the elder. 
 When 14 years of age his 
 father died. He received a 
 most liberal education, hav- 
 ing been kept diligently at school 
 from the time he was five years of 
 age. In 1760 he entered William 
 and Mary College. Williamsburg was then the seat 
 of the Colonial Court, and it was the obodeof fashion 
 and splendor. Young Jefferson, who was then 17 
 years old, lived somewhat ej^pensively, keeping fine 
 horses, and much caressed by gay society, yet he 
 was earnestly devoted to his studies, andirreproacha- 
 able in his morals. It is strange, however, under 
 such influences,that he was not ruined. In the sec- 
 ond year of his college course, moved by some un- 
 explained inward impulse, he discarded his horses, 
 society, and even his favorite violin, to which he had 
 previously given much time. He often devoted fifteen 
 hours a day to hard study, allowing himself for ex- 
 ercise only a run in the evening twilight of a mile out 
 of the city and back again. He thus attained very 
 hi'gh intellectual culture, alike excellence in philoso- 
 phy and the languages. The most difficult Latin and 
 Greek authors he read with facility. A more finished 
 scholar has seldom gone forth from college halls; and 
 
 there was not to be found, perhaps, in all Virginia, a 
 more pureminded, upright, gentlemanly young man. 
 
 Immediately upon leaving college he began the 
 study of law. For the short time he continued in the 
 practice of his profession he rose rapidly and distin- 
 guished himself by his energy and accuteness as a 
 lawyer. But the times called for greater action. 
 The policy of England had awakened the spirit of 
 resistance of the American Colonies, and the enlarged 
 views which Jefferson had ever entertained, soon led 
 him into active political life. In 1769 he was chosen 
 a member of the Virginia House of Burgesses. In 
 1772 he married Mrs. Martha Skelton, a very beauti- 
 ful, wealthy and highly accomplished young widow. 
 
 Upon Mr. Jefferson's large estate at Shadwell, there 
 was a majestic swell of land, called Monticello, which 
 commanded a prospect of wonderful extent and 
 beauty. This spot Mr. Jefferson selected for his new 
 home; and here he reared a mansion of modest yet 
 elegant architecture, which, next to Mount Vernon, 
 became the most distinguished resort in our land. 
 
 In 177s he was sent to the Colonial Congress, 
 where, though a silent member, his abilities as a 
 writer and a reasoner soon become known, and he 
 was placed upon a number of important cofnmittees, 
 and was chairman of the one appointed for the draw- 
 ing up of a declaration of independence. This com- 
 mittee consisted of Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, 
 Benjamin Franklin, Roger Sherman and Robert R. 
 Livingston. Jefferson, as chairman, was appointed 
 to draw up the paper. Franklin and Adams suggested 
 a few verbal changes before it was submitted to Con- 
 gress. On June 28, a few slight changes were made 
 in it by Congress, and it was passed and signed July 
 4, 1776. What must have been the feelings of that 
 
28 
 
 THOMAS JEFFERSON. 
 
 man — what the emotions that swelled his breast — 
 who was charged with the preparation of that Dec- 
 laration, which, while it made known the wrongs of 
 America, was also to publish her to the world, free, 
 Goverign and independent. It is one of the most re- 
 markable papers ever written ; and did no other effort 
 uf the mind of its author exist, that alone would be 
 sufficient to stamp his name with immortality. 
 
 In 1779 Mr. Jefferson was elected successor to 
 Patrick Henry, £.s Governor of Virginia. At one time 
 the British officer, Tarleton, sent a secret expedition to 
 Moniicello, to capture the Governor. Scarcely five 
 minutes elapsed after the hurried escape of Mr. Jef- 
 ferson and his family, ere his mansion was in posses- 
 sion of the British troops. His wife's health, never 
 very good, was much injured by this excitement, and 
 in the summer of 1782 she died. 
 
 Mr. Jefferson was elected to Congress in 1783. 
 Two years later he was appointed Minister Plenipo- 
 tentiary to France. Returning to the United States 
 in September, T789, he became Secretary of State 
 in Washington's cabinet. This position he resigned 
 Jan. I, 1794. In 1797, he was chosen Vice Presi- 
 dent, and four years later was elected President over 
 Mr. Adams, with Aaron Burr as Vice President. In 
 1804 he was re-elected with wonderful unanimity, 
 and George Clinton, Vice President. 
 
 The early part of Mr. Jefferson's second adminstra- 
 tion was disturbed by an event which threatened the 
 tranquility and peace of the Union; this was the con- 
 spiracy of Aaron Burr. Defeated in the late election 
 to the Vice Presidency, and led on by an unprincipled 
 ambition, this extraordinary man formed the plan of a 
 military expedition into the Spanish territories on our 
 southwestern frontier, for the purpose of forming there 
 a new republic. This has been generally supposed 
 was a mere pretext ; and although it has not been 
 generally known what his real plans were, there is no 
 doubt that they were of a far more dangerous 
 character. 
 
 In 1809, at the expiration of the second term for 
 which Mr. Jefferson had been elected, he determined 
 to retire from political life. For a period of nearly 
 forty years, he had been continually before the pub- 
 lic, and all that time had been employed in offices of 
 the greatest trust and responsibility. Having thus de- 
 voted the best part of his life to the service of his 
 country, he now felt desirous of that rest which his 
 declining years required, and w^row the organization of 
 tlie new administration, in March, 1809, he bid fare- 
 well forever to public life, and retired to Monticello. 
 
 Mr. Jefferson was profuse in his hospitality. Whole 
 families came in their coaches with their horses, — 
 fathers and mothers, boys and girls, babies and 
 nurses, — and remained three and even six months. 
 Life at Monticello, for years, resembled that at a 
 fashionable watering-place. 
 
 The fourth of July, 1826, being the fiftieth anniver- 
 
 sary of the Declaration of American Independence, 
 great preparations were made in every part of the 
 Union for its celebration, as the nation's jubilee, and 
 the citizens of Washington, to add to the solemnity 
 of the occasion, invited Mr. Jefferson, as the fraraer. 
 and one of the few surviving signers of the Declara- 
 tion, to participate in their festivities. But an ill- 
 ness, which had been of several weeks duration, and 
 had been continually increasing, compelled him to 
 decline the invitation. 
 
 On the second of July, the disease under whic'.i 
 he was laboring left him, but in such a reduced 
 state that his medical attendants, enteitained no 
 hope of his recovery. From this time he was perfectly 
 sensible that his last hour was at hand. On the next 
 day, which was Monday, he asked of those around 
 him, the day of the month, and on being told it was 
 the third of July, he expressed the earnest wish that 
 he might be permitted lo breathe tfe air of the fiftieth 
 anniversary. His prayer was heard — that day, whose 
 dawn was hailed with such rapture through our land, 
 burst upon his eyes, and then they were closed for- 
 ever. And what a noble consummation of a noble 
 life! To die on that day, — the birthday of a nation,- - 
 the day which his own name and his own act had 
 rendered glorious; to die amidst the rejoicings and 
 festivities of a whole nation, who looked up to him, 
 as the author, under God, of their greatest blessings, 
 was all that was wanting to fill up ihe record his life. 
 
 Almost at the same hour of his death, the kin- 
 dred spirit of the venerable Adams, as if to bear 
 him company, left the scene of his earthly honors. 
 Hand in hand they had stood forth, the champions of 
 freedom ; hand in hand, during the dark and desper- 
 ate struggle of the Revolution, they had cheered and 
 animated their desponding countrymen; for half a 
 century they had labored together for tne good of 
 the country; and now hand in hand they depart. 
 In their lives they had been united in the same great 
 cause of liberty, and in their deaths they were not 
 divided. 
 
 In person Mr. Jefferson was tall and thin, rather 
 above six feet in height, but well formed; his eyes 
 were light, his hair originally red, in after life became 
 white and silvery; his comjjlexion was fair, his fore 
 head broad, and his whole countenance intelligent and 
 thoughtful. He possessed great fortitude of mind as 
 well as personal courage ; and his commar.d of tem- 
 per was such that his oldest and most intimate fiiends 
 never recollected to have seen him in a passion. 
 His manners, though dignified, were simple and un- 
 affected, and his hospitality was so unbounded that 
 all found at his house a ready welcome. In conver- 
 sation he was fluent, eloquent and enthusiastic; and 
 his language was remarkably pure and correct. He 
 was a finished classical scholar, and in his writings is 
 discernable the care with which he formed his style 
 upon the best models of antiquity. 
 
J- (2yo<^^'^ -^>^ e<-^<^<^^ ^"V 
 
FOURTH l^ RESIDENT. 
 
 3' 
 
 I 
 
 AMES MADISON, "Father 
 of the Constitution," and fourth 
 '^'President of the United States, 
 was born March i6, 1757, and 
 died at his home in Virginia, 
 June 28, 1836. The name of 
 James Madison is inseparably con- 
 nected with most of the important 
 events in that heroic period of our 
 country during which the founda- 
 tions of this great repubHc were 
 laid. He was the last of the founders 
 of the Constitution of the United 
 States to be called to his eternal 
 reward. 
 
 The Madison family were among 
 the early emigrants to the New World, 
 landing upon the shores of the Chesa- 
 peake but 15 years after the settle- 
 ment of Jamestown. The father of 
 James Madison was an opulent 
 planter, residing upon a very fine es- 
 tate called " Montpelier," Orange Co., 
 Va. The mansion was situated in 
 the midst of scenery highly pictur- 
 esque and romantic, on the west side 
 of South-west Mountain, at the foot of 
 It was but 25 miles from the home of 
 The closest personal and 
 
 Blue Ridge, 
 
 Jefferson at Monticello, 
 
 iwlitical attachment existed between these illustrious 
 
 men, from their early youth until death. 
 
 The early education of Mr. Madison was conducted 
 mostly at home under a private tutor. At the age of 
 18 he was sent to Princeton College, in New Jersey. 
 Here he applied himself to study with the most im- 
 
 prudent zeal ; allowing himself, for months, but three 
 hours' sleep out of the 24. His health thus became so 
 seriously impaired that he never recovered any vigor 
 of constitution. He graduated in 177 1, with a feeble 
 body, with a character of utmost purity, and with a 
 mind highly disciplined and richly stored with learning 
 which embellished and gave proficiency to his subsf 
 quent career. 
 
 .Returning to Virginia, he commenced the study of 
 law and a course of extensive and systematic reading. 
 This educational course, the spirit of the times in 
 which he lived, and the society with which he asso- 
 ciated, all combined to inspire him with a strong 
 love of liberty, and to train him for his life-work of 
 a statesman. Being naturally of a religious turn of 
 mind, and his frail health leading him to think that 
 his life was not to be long, he directed especial atten- 
 tion to theological studies. Endowed with a mind 
 singularly free from passion and prejudice, and with 
 almost unequalled powers of reasoning, he weighed 
 all the argumepts for and against revealed religion, 
 until his fa.ith became so established as never to 
 be shaken. 
 
 In the spring of 1776, when 26 years of age, he 
 was elected a member of the Virginia Convention, to 
 frame the constitution of the State. The next year 
 (1777), he was a candidate for the General Assembly. 
 He refused to treat the whisky-loving voters, and 
 consequently lost his election ; but those who had 
 witnessed the talent, energy and public spirit of the 
 modest young man, enlisted themselves in his behalf, 
 and he was appointed to the Executive Council. 
 
 Both Patrick Henry and Thomas Jefferson were 
 Governors of Virginia while Mr. Madison remained 
 member of the Council ; and their appreciation of his 
 
32 
 
 JAMES MADISON. 
 
 intellectual, social and moral worth, contributed not 
 a little to his subsequent eminence. In the year 
 1780, he was elected a member of the Continental 
 Congress. Here he met the most illustrious men in 
 our land, and he was immediately assigned to one of 
 the most conspicuous positions among theni. 
 
 For three years Mr. Madison continued in Con- 
 gress, one of its most active and influential members. 
 In the year 1784, his term having expired, he was 
 elected a member of the Virginia Legislature. 
 
 No man felt more deeply than Mr. Madison the 
 utter inefficiency of the old confederacy, with no na- 
 tional government, with no power to form treaties 
 which would be binding, or to enforce law. There 
 was not any State more prominent than Virginia in 
 the declaration, that an efficient national government 
 must be formed. In January, 1786, Mr. Madison 
 carried a resolution through the General Assembly of 
 Virginia, inviting the other States to appoint commis- 
 sioners to meet in convention at Annapolis to discuss 
 this subject. Five States only were represented. 'I'he 
 convention, however, issued another call, drawn up 
 by Mr. Madison, urgmg all the States to send their 
 delegates to Piiiladel[)hia, in May, T787, to draft 
 a Constitution for the United States, to take the place 
 of that Confederate League. The delegates met at 
 the time appointed. Every State but Rhode Island 
 was represented. George Washington was chosen 
 president of the convention; and the present Consti- 
 tution of the United States was then and there formed. 
 There was, perhaps, no mind and no pen more ac- 
 tive in framing this immortal document than the mind 
 and the pen of James Madison. 
 
 The Constitution, adopted by a vote 81 to 79, was 
 to be presented to the several States for acceptance. 
 But grave solicitude was felt. Should it be rejected 
 we should be left but a conglomeration of independent 
 States, witli but little power at home and little respect 
 abroad. Mr. Madison was selected by the conven- 
 tion to draw up an address to the people of the United 
 States, expounding tl.e principles of the Constitution, 
 and urging its adoption. There was great opposition 
 to it at first, but it at length triumphed over all, and 
 went into effect in 1789. 
 
 Mr. Madison was elected to the House of Repre- 
 'icntatives in the first Congress, and soon became the 
 a\oued leader ot the Republican party. While in 
 New York attending Congress, he met Mrs, Todd, a 
 young widow of remarkable power of fascination, 
 whom he married. She was in person and character 
 i]ueeniy, and probably no lady has thus far occujiied 
 so prominent a position in the very peculiar society 
 wliich has constituted our republican court as Mrs. 
 Madison. 
 
 ]\[r. Madison served as Secretary of State under 
 [efferson, and at tlie close of his administration 
 was <:liosen President. At this time the encroach- 
 ments of England had brought us to the verge of war. 
 
 British orders in council destioyed our commerce, and 
 our flag was exposed to constant insult. Mr. Madison 
 was a man of peace. Scholarly in his taste, retiring 
 in his disposition, war had no charms for him. But the 
 meekest spirit can be roused. It makes one's blood 
 boil, even now, to think of an American ship brought 
 to, upon the ocean, by the guns of an English cruiser. 
 A young lieutenant steps on board and orders the 
 crew to be paraded before him. With great nonchal- 
 ance he selects any number whom he may please to 
 designate as British subjects ; orders them down the 
 ship's side into his boat; and places them on the gun- 
 deck of his man-of-war, to fight, by compulsion, the 
 battles of England. This right of search and im- 
 pressment, no efforts of our Government could induce 
 the British cabinet to relinquish. 
 
 On the i8th of June, 1812, President Madison gave 
 his approval to an act of Congress declaring war 
 against Great Britain. Notwithstanding the bitter 
 hostility of the Federal party to the war, the country 
 in general approved; and Mr. Madison, on the 4th 
 of March, 1813, was re-elected by a large majorit}-, 
 and entered upon his second term of office. This is 
 not the place to describe the various adventures of 
 this war on the land and on the water. Our infant 
 navy then laid the fomidations of its renown in grap- 
 pling with the most formidable power which ever 
 swept the seas. The contest commenced in earnest 
 by the appearance of a British fleet, early in Februaiy, 
 i8r3, in Chesapeake Bay, declaring nearly the whole 
 coast of the United States imder blockade. 
 
 The Emperor of Russia offered his services as me 
 ditator. America accepted ; England refused. A Brit- 
 ish force of five thousand men landed on the banks 
 of the Patuxet River, near its entrance into- Chesa- 
 peake Bay, and marched rapidly, by way of Bladen s- 
 burg, upon Washington. 
 
 The straggling little city of Washington was thrown 
 into consternation. The cannon of the brief conflict 
 at Bladensburg echoed through the streets of the 
 nietropolis. The wliole population fled from the city. 
 The President, leaving Mrs. Madison in the White 
 House, with her carriage drawn up at the door to 
 await his speedy return, hurried to meet the officers 
 in a council of war. He met our troops utterly routed, 
 and he could not go back without danger of being 
 captured. But few hours elapsed ere the Presidential 
 Mansion, the Capitol, and all the public buildings in 
 Washington were in flames. 
 
 The war closed after two years of fighting, and on 
 Feb. 13, 18 1 5, the treaty of peace was signed at Ghent. 
 
 On the 4th of March, 1817, his second term of 
 office expired, and he resigned the Presidential chair 
 to his friend, James Monroe. He retired to his beau- 
 tiful home at Montpelier, and there passed the re- 
 mainder of his days. On June 28, rSje, then at the 
 age of 85 years, he fell asleep in death. Mrs. Madi- 
 son died July 12, r849. 
 

 ^"-z^ 
 
FIFTH PRESIDENT. 
 
 35 
 
 
 g^riQES n]oi]itOE. «^ 
 
 AMES MONROE, the fifth 
 .Presidentof The United States, 
 was born in Westmoreland Co., 
 Va., April 28, 1758. His early 
 life was passed at the place of 
 nativity. His ancestors had for 
 many years resided in the prov- 
 ince in which he was born. When, 
 at 17 years of age, in the process 
 of completing his education at 
 \Villiam and Mary College, the Co- 
 lonial Congress assembled at Phila- 
 del[)hia to deliberate upon the un- 
 just and manifold oppressions of 
 Great Britian, declared the separa- 
 tion of the Colonies, and promul- 
 gated the Declaration of Indejien- 
 dence. Had he been born ten years before it is highly 
 nrobable that he would have been one of the signers 
 of that celebrated instrument. At this time he left 
 school and enlisted among the patriots. 
 
 He joined the army when everything looked hope- 
 less and gloomy. Tlie number of deserters increased 
 fiom day to day. Tiie invading armies came pouring 
 i:i ; and the tories not only favored the cause of the 
 r.iother country, but disheartened the new recruits, 
 who were sufficiently terrified at the prospect of con- 
 tending with an enemy whom they had been taugjit 
 to deem invincible. To such brave spirits as James 
 Monroe, who went right onward, undismayed through 
 difficulty and danger, the United States owe their 
 political emancipation. The young cadtt joined the 
 r.mks, and espoused tiie cause of his injured country, 
 with a firm determination to live or die with her strife 
 
 for liberty. Firmly yet sadly he shared in the mel- 
 ancholy retreat from Harleam Heights and White 
 Plains, and accompanied the dispirited army as it fled 
 before its foes through New Jersey. In four months, 
 after the Declaration of Independence, the patriots 
 had been beaten in seven battles. At the battle of 
 Trenton he led the vanguard, and, in the act of charg- 
 ing upon the enemy he received a wound in the left 
 shoulder. 
 
 As a reward for Iris bravery, Mr. Monroe was pro- 
 moted a captain of infantry; and, having recovered 
 from his wound, he rejoined the army. He, however, 
 receded from the line of jiromotion, by becoming an 
 officer in the staff of Lord Sterling. During the cam- 
 paigns of 1777 and 1778, in the actions of Lrandy 
 wine, Germantown and Monmouth, he continued 
 aid-decamp; but becoming desirous to regain his 
 position in the army, he exerted himself to collect- a 
 regiment for the Virginia line. This scheme failed 
 owing to the exhausted condition of the State. Upon 
 this failure he entered the office of Mr. Jefferson, at 
 that period Governor, and pursued, with considerable 
 ardor, the study of common law. He did not, however, 
 entirely lay aside the knapsack for the green bag; 
 but on the invasions of the enemy, served as a volun- 
 teer, during the two years of his legal pursuits. 
 
 In 1782, he was elected from King George county, 
 a member of the Leglislature of Virginia, and by that 
 body he was elevated to a seat in the E.xecutive 
 Council. He was thus honored with the confidence 
 of his fellow citizens at 23 years of age ; and having 
 at this early period displayed some of that abiiity 
 and aptitude for legislation, wliich were afterwards 
 employed with unremitting energy for the public good. 
 
36 
 
 JAMES MONROE. 
 
 he was in the succeeding year chosen a member of 
 the Congress of the United States. 
 Deeply as Mr. Monroe felt the imperfections of the old 
 Confederacy, he was opposed to the new Constitution, 
 ihinking, with many others of the Republican party, 
 that it gave too much power to the Central Government, 
 and not enough to the individual States. Still he re- 
 tained the esteem of his friends who were its warm 
 supporters, and who, notwithstanding his opposition 
 secured its adoption. In 1789, he became a member 
 of the United States Senate; which office he held for 
 four years. Every month the line of distinction be- 
 tween the two great parties which divided the nation, 
 the Federal and the Republican, was growing more 
 distinct. The two prominent ideas which now sep- 
 arated them were, that the Republican party was in 
 sympathy with France, and also in favor of such a 
 stiict construction of the Constitution as to give the 
 Central Government as little power, and the State 
 Governments as much power, as the Constitution would 
 warrant. The Federalists sympathized with England, 
 and were in favor of a liberal construction of the Con- 
 stitution, which would give as much power to the 
 Central Government as that document could possibly 
 autliorize. 
 
 The leading Federalists and Republicans were 
 alike noble men, consecrating all their energies to the 
 good of the nation. Two more honest men or more 
 pure patriots than John Adams the Federalist, and 
 James Monroe the Republican, never breathed. In 
 building up this majestic nation, which is destined 
 to eclipse all Grecian and Assyrian greatness, the com- 
 bination of their antagonism was needed to create tlie 
 light equilibrium. And yet each in his day was de- 
 nounced as almost a demon. 
 
 Washington was then President. England had es- 
 poused the cause of the Bourbons against the princi- 
 ples of the French Revolution. All Europe was drawn 
 into the conflict. We were feeble and far away. 
 Washington issued a proclamation of neutrality be- 
 tween these contending powers. France had helped 
 us in the struggle for our liberties. All the despotisms 
 of Europe were now combined to prevent the French 
 from escaping from a tyranny a thousand-fold worse 
 than that which we had endured Col. Monroe, more 
 magnanimous than prudent, was anxious that, at 
 whatever hazard, we should help our old allies in 
 tlieir extremity. It was the impulse of a generous 
 and noble nature. He violently opposed the Pres- 
 ident's proclamation as ungrateful and wanting in 
 magnanimity. 
 
 Washington, who could appreciate such a character, 
 developed his calm, serene, almost divine greatness, 
 by appointing that very James Monroe, who was de- 
 nouncing the policy of the Government, as the minister 
 of that Government to the Republic of France. Mr. 
 Monroe was welcomed by the National Convention 
 in France witn the most enthusiastic demonstrations. 
 
 Shortly after his return to this country, Mr. Mon- 
 roe was elected Governor of Virginia, and held the 
 office for three yeais. He was again sent to France to 
 co-operate with Chancellor Livingston in obtaining 
 the vast territory then known as the Province of 
 Louisiana, which France had but shortly before ob- 
 tained from Spain. Tlieir united efforts were sue 
 cessful. For the comparatively small sum of fifteen 
 millions of dollars, the entire territory of Orleans and 
 district of Louisiana were added to the United States. 
 This was probably tlie largest transfer of real estate 
 which was ever made in all the history of the world 
 
 From France Mr. Monroe went to England to ob- 
 tain from that country some recognition of oui 
 rights as neutrals, and to remonstrate against those 
 odious impressments of our seamen. But Eng- 
 land was unrelenting. He again returned to Eng- 
 land on the same mission, but could receive no 
 redress. He returned to his home and was again 
 chosen Governor of Virginia. This he soon resigned 
 to accept the position of Secretary of State under 
 Madison. While in this office war with England was 
 declared, the Secretary of War resigned, and during 
 these trying times, the duties of the War Department 
 were also put upon him. He was truly the armor- 
 bearer of President Madison, and the most efficient 
 business man in his cabinet. Upon the return of 
 peace he resigned the Department of War, but con- 
 tinued in tlie office of Secretary of State until the ex- 
 piration of Mr. Madison's adminstration. At the elec 
 tion held the previous autumn Mr. Monroe himself had 
 been chosen President with but little opposition, and 
 upon March 4, 1817, was inaugurated. Four years 
 later he was elected for a second term. 
 
 Among the important measures of his Presidency 
 were the cession of Florida to the United States; the 
 Missouri Coinpromise, and the " Monroe doctrine.'- 
 
 This famous doctrine, since known as the " Monroe 
 doctrine," was enunciated by him in 1823. At that 
 time the United States had recognized the independ- 
 ence of the South American states, and did not wish 
 to have European powers longer attempting to sub- 
 due portions of the American Continent. The doctrine 
 is as follows: "That we should consider any attempt 
 on the part of European powers to extend their sys- 
 tem to any portion of this hemisphere as dangerous 
 to our peace and safety," and "that we could not 
 view any interposition for the purpose of oppressing 
 or controlling American governments or provinces in 
 any other light than as a manifestation by European 
 powers of an unfriendly disposition toward the United 
 States." This doctrine immediately affected the course 
 of foreign governments, and has become the approved 
 sentiment of the United States. 
 
 At the end of his fecond term Mr Monroe retired 
 to his home in Virginia, where he lived until 1830, 
 when he went to New Vork to live with his son-in- 
 law. In that city he died, on the 4th of July, 1831 
 
> , - i.'t-fif=-^. 
 
 J, 5 , cMci 
 
 cu)y\J 
 
SIXTH PRESIDENT. 
 
 39 
 
 3051} QUIQ6Y J\m&>- 
 
 'lS«. -w -^IS^ s 
 
 si&*3K$«»*;i&«'$;;:$«^;;S-«'$;;;$*$x$«*;!S-*S!S# 
 
 OHN QUINCY ADAMS, the 
 sfixth President of the United 
 testates, was bom in the rural 
 home of his honored father, 
 John Adams, in Quincy, Mass., 
 on the I ith cf July, 1767. His 
 mother, a woman of exalted 
 worth, watched over his childhood 
 during the almost constant ab- 
 sence of his father. When but 
 eight years of age, he stood with 
 his mother on an eminence, listen- 
 ing to the booming of the great bat- 
 tle on Bunker's Hill, and gazing on 
 uix)n the smoke and flames billow- 
 ing up from the conflagration of 
 Charlestown. 
 
 When but eleven year* old he 
 took a tearful adieu of his mother, 
 to sail with his fattier for Europe, 
 through a fleet of hostile British cruisers. The bright, 
 animated boy spent a year and a half in Paiis, where 
 his father was associated with Franklin and Lee as 
 minister plenipotentiary. His intelligence attracted 
 the notice of these distinguished men, and he received 
 from them flattering marks of attention. 
 
 Mr. John Adams had scarcely returned to this 
 couj.try, in 1779, ere he was again sent abrpad. Again 
 ]ol.n Quincy accompanied his father. At Paris he 
 applied himself with great diligence, for six months, 
 to .-.^udy; then accompained his father to Holland, 
 v/here he entered, first a school in .Amsterdam, then 
 the University at Leyden. About a year from this 
 time, in 1781, when the manly ley was but fourteen 
 yea-s of age, he was selected by Mr. Dana, our min- 
 ister to the Russian court, as his private secretary. 
 
 Tn this school of incessant labor and of enobling 
 culture he spent fourteen months, and then returned 
 to Holland through Sweden, Denmark, Hamburg and 
 Bremen. This long journey he took alone, in the 
 winter, when in his sixteenth year. Aeain he resumed 
 his studies, under a private tutor, at Hague. 'I'hence 
 
 in the spring of 1782, he accompanied his father to 
 Paris, traveling leisurely, and forming acquaintance 
 with the most distinguished men on the Continent; 
 examining arcnitectural remains, galleries of paintings, 
 and all renowned works of art. At Paris he again 
 became associated with the most illustrious men of 
 all lands in the contemplations of the loftiest temporal 
 themes which can engross the human mind. After 
 a short visit to England he returned to Paris, and 
 consecrated all his energies to study until May, 1785, 
 when he returned to America. To a brilliant young 
 man of eighteen, who had seen much of tiie world, 
 and who was familiar with the etiquette of courts, a 
 residence with his father in London, under such cir- 
 cumstances, must have been extremely attractive; 
 but with judgment very rare in one of his age, he pre- 
 ferred to return to America to complete his education 
 in an American college. He wished then to study 
 law, that with an honorable profession, he might be 
 able to obtain an independent support. 
 
 Upon leaving Harvard College, at the age of twenty, 
 he studied law for three years. In June, 1794, be- 
 ing then but twenty-seven years of age, he was ap- 
 jjointed by Washington, resident minister at the 
 Netherlands. Sailing from Boston in July, he reached 
 London in October, where he was immediately admit- 
 ted to the deliberations of Messrs. Jay and Pinckney, 
 assisting them in negotiating a commercial treaty with 
 Gieat Britian. After thus spending a fortnight ii\ 
 London, he proceeded to the Hague. 
 
 In July, 1797, he left the Hague to go to Poitiigal as 
 minister plenipotentiary. On his way to Portugal, 
 upon arriving in London, he met with despatches 
 directing him to the court of Berlin, but requesting 
 him to remain in London until he should receive his 
 instructions. \\'hile Wc':iting he was married to an 
 American lady to whom he had been previously en- 
 gaged, — Miss Louisa Catherine Johnson, daughter 
 of Mr. Joshua Johnson, American consul in I ondon ; 
 a lady endownd with that beauty and those Tccom- 
 plishment which eminently fitted her to move in the 
 elevated sphere for which she was destined. 
 
40 
 
 JOHN QUINCY ADAMS. 
 
 He reached Berlin with his wife in November, 1797 ; 
 where he remained until July, 1799, when, havingful- 
 filled all the purposes of iris mission, he solicited his 
 recall. 
 
 Soon after his return, in 1802, he was chosen to 
 the Senate of Massachusetts, from Boston, and then 
 was elected Senator of the United States for six years, 
 from the 4th of March, 1804. His reputation, his 
 ability and his experience, placed him immediately 
 among the most prominent and influential members 
 of that body. Especially did he sustain the Govern- 
 ment in its measures of resistance to the encroach- 
 ments of England, destroying our commerce and in- 
 sulting our flag. There was no man in America more 
 faniliar with the arrogance of the British court upon 
 these points, and no one more resolved to present 
 a firm resistance. 
 
 In 1809, Madison succeeded Jefferson in the Pres- 
 idential chair, and he immediately nominated John 
 Qiiincy Adams minister to St. Petersburg. Resign- 
 ing his professorship in Harvard College, he embarked 
 at Boston, in August, 1809. 
 
 While in Russia, Mr. Adams was an intense stu- 
 dent. He devoted his attention to the language and 
 history of Russia; to the Chinese trade; to the 
 European system of weights, measures, and coins ; to 
 the climate and astronomical observations; while he 
 kept up a familiar acquaintance with the Greek and 
 Latin classics. In all the universities of Europe, a 
 more accomplished scholar could scarcely be found. 
 All through life the Bible constituted an importar.t 
 part of his studies. It was his rule to read five 
 chapters every day. 
 
 On the 4th of March, 1817, Mr. Monroe took the 
 Presidential chair, and immediately appointed Mr. 
 Adams Secretary of State. Taking leave of his num- 
 erous friends in public and private life in Europe, he 
 sailed in June, 18 19, for the United States. On the 
 i8th of August, he again crossed the threshold of hi^ 
 home in Quincy. During the eight years of Mr. Mon- 
 roe's administration, Mr. Adams continued Secretary 
 of State. 
 
 Some time before the close of Mr. Monroe's second 
 term of office, new candidates began to be presented 
 for the Presidency. The friends of Mr. Adams brought 
 forward his name. It was an exciting campaign. 
 Party spirit was never more bitter. Two hundred and 
 sixty electoral votes were cast. Andrew Jackson re- 
 ceived ninety-nine; John Quincy Adams, eighty-four; 
 William H. Crawford, forty-one; Henry Clay, thirty- 
 seven. As there was no choice by the people, the 
 (]uestion went to the House of Reijresentatives. Mr. 
 Clay gave the vote of Kentucky to Mr. Adams, and 
 he was elected. 
 
 The friends of all the disappointed candidates now 
 combined in a venomous and persistent assault upon 
 Mr. Aclams. There is nothing more disgraceful in 
 *hp vi.Tst history of our country than the abuse whi( h 
 
 was poured in one uninterrupted stream, upon this 
 high-minded, upright, patriotic man. There never was 
 an administration more pure in principles, more con- 
 scientiously devoted to the best interests of the coun- 
 try, than that of John Quincy Adams ; and never, per- 
 haps, was there an administration more unscrupu- 
 lously and outrageously assailed. 
 
 Mr. Adams was, to a very remarkable degree, ab- 
 stemious and temperate in his habits; always rising 
 early, and taking much exercise. When at his home in 
 Quincy, he has been known to walk, before breakfast, 
 seven miles to Boston. In Washington, it was said 
 that he was the first man up in the city, lighting his 
 own fire and applying himself to work in his library 
 often long before dawn. 
 
 On the 4th of March, 1829, Mr. Adams retired 
 from the Presidency, and was succeeded by Andrevv 
 Jackson. John C. Calhoun was elected Vice Presi- 
 dent. The slavery question now began to assume 
 IMrtentous magnitude. Mr. Adams returned to 
 Quincy and to his studies, which he pursued with un- 
 abated zeal. But he was not long permitted to re- 
 main in retirement. In November, 1830, he was 
 elected representative to Congress. For seventeen 
 years, until his death, he occupied the post as repre- 
 sentative, towering above all his peers, ever ready to 
 do brave battle' for freedom, and winning the title of 
 "the old man eloquent." Upon taking his seat in 
 the House, he announced that he should hold him- 
 self bound to no party. Probably there never was a 
 member more devoted to his duties. He was usually 
 the first in his place in the morning, and the last to 
 leave his seat in the evening. Not a measure could 
 be brouglit forward and escape his scrutiny. 'I he 
 battle which Mr. Adams fought, almost singly, against 
 Ihe proslavery party in the Government, was sublime 
 in Its moral daring and heroism. For persisting in 
 presenting petitions for the abolition of slavery, he 
 was threatened with indictment by the grand jury, 
 with expulsion from the House, with assassination; 
 but no threats could intimidate him, and his final 
 triumph was complete. 
 
 It has been said of President Adams, that when his 
 body was bent and his hair silvered by the lapse of 
 fourscore years, yielding to the simple faith of a little 
 child, he was accustomed to repeat every night, before 
 he slept, the prajer which his mother taught him in 
 his infant years. 
 
 On the 2 1 St of February, 1848, he rose on the floor 
 of Congress, with a paper in his hand, to address the 
 speaker. Suddenly he fell, again stricken by paraly- 
 sis, and was caught in the arms of those around him. 
 For a time he was senseless, as he was conveyed to 
 the sofa in the rotunda. With reviving conscious- 
 ness, he opened his eyes, looked calmly around and 
 said " This is Ihe em/ of earfh "Vhen after a moment's 
 pause he added, ^' I am content" These were the 
 last words of the grand " Old Man Eloquent." 
 
SE VEN 7 'li PRESIDENT. 
 
 43 
 
 
 
 i -.cjioys 4i- "^^^('^ •'- ^^^'s^^iW'f^r'W^^MpMf^' 
 
 l^jj5"in-^ ioi''^^S>i-.^ 
 
 NDREVV JACKSON, the 
 seventh President of the 
 'United States, was born in 
 Waxhaw settlement, N. C, 
 March 15, 1767, a few days 
 after his father's death. His 
 parents were poor emigrants 
 from Ireland, and took up 
 their abode in Waxhaw set- 
 tlement, where they lived in 
 deepest poverty, 
 Andrew, or Andy, as he was 
 universally called, grew up a very 
 rough, rude, turbulent boy. His 
 features were coarse, his form un- 
 gainly, and there was but very 
 little in his character, made visible, which was at- 
 tractive. 
 
 When only thirteen years old he joined the volun- 
 teers of Carolina against the British invasion. In 
 1781, he and his brother Robert were captured and 
 imprisoned for a time at Camden. A British officer 
 ordered him to brush his mud-spattered boots. " I am 
 a prisoner of war, not your servant," was the reply of 
 the dauntless boy. 
 
 The brute drew his sword, and aimed a desperate 
 Dlow at the head of the helpless young prisoner. 
 Andrew raised his hand, and thus received two fear- 
 ful gashes, — one on the hand and the other upon the 
 ■ head. The officer then turned to his brother Robert 
 with the same demand. He also refused, and re- 
 ceived a blow from the keen-edged sabre, which quite 
 disabled him, and which probably soon after caused 
 his death. They suffered muchother ill-treatment, and 
 were finally stricken with the small-pox. Their 
 mother was successful in obtaining their exchange. 
 
 and took her sick boys home. After a long illness 
 Andrew recovered, and the death of his mother soon 
 left him entirely friendless. 
 
 Andrew supported himself in various ways, si:h as 
 working at the saddler's trade, teaching school and 
 clerking in a general store, until 1784, when he 
 entered a law office at Salisbury, N. C. He, however, 
 gave more attention to the wild amusements of the 
 times than to his studies. In 1788, he was appointed 
 solicitcr for the western district of North Carolina, of 
 which Tennessee was then a part. This involved 
 many long and tedious journeys amid dangers of 
 every kind, but Andrew Jackson never knew fear, 
 and the Indians had no desire to repeat a skirmish 
 witn the Sharp Knife. 
 
 In 1791, Mr. Jackson was married to a woman who 
 supposed herself divorced from her former husband. 
 Great was the surprise of both parties, two years later, 
 to find that the conditions of the divorce had just been 
 definitely settled by the first husband. The marriage 
 ceremony was performed a second lime, but the occur- 
 rence was often used by his enemies to bring Mr, 
 Jackson into disfavor. 
 
 During these years he worked hard at his profes- 
 sion, and frequently had one or more duels on hand, 
 one of which, when he killed Dickenson, was espec- 
 ially disgraceful. 
 
 In January, 1796, the Territory of Tennessee then 
 containing nearly eighty tliousand inhabitants, the 
 people met in convention at Knoxville to frame a con- 
 stitution. Five were sent from each of the eleven 
 counties. Andrew Jackson was one of the delegates. 
 The new State was entitled to but one nieniLcr in 
 the National House of Representatives. Andrew Jack- 
 son was chosen that member. Mounting his horse he 
 rode to Philedelphia, where Congress then held its 
 
44 
 
 ANDRE \V JACKSON. 
 
 sessions, — -a distance of about eight hundred miles. 
 
 Jackson was an earnest advocate of the Demo- 
 cratic purty. Jefferson was his idol. He admired 
 -Bonaparte, loved France and hated England. As Mr. 
 Jac-kson took his seat, Gen. Washington, whose 
 second term of office was then expiring, delivered his 
 last speech to Congress. A committee drew up a 
 complimentary address in reply. Andrew Jackson 
 did not approve of the address, and was one of the 
 twelve who voted against it. He was not willing to 
 say that Gen. Washington's adminstralion had been 
 " wise, firm and patriotic." 
 
 Mr. Jackson was elected to the United States 
 Senate in 1797, but soon resigned and returned home. 
 Soon after he was chosen Judge of the Supreme Court 
 of his State, which (wsition he held for six years. 
 
 When the war of 1812 with Great Britian com- 
 menced, Madison occupied the Presidential chair. 
 Aaron Burr sent word to the President that there was 
 an unknown man in the West, Andrew Jackson, who 
 would do credit to a commission if one were con- 
 ferred ujxDn him. Just at that time Gen. Jackson 
 offered his services and those of twenty-five hundred 
 volunteers. His offer was accepted, and the troops 
 were assembled at Nashville. 
 
 As the British were hourly expected to make an at- 
 tack upon New Orleans, where Gen. Wilkinson was 
 in command, he was ordered to descend the river 
 with fifteen hundred troops to aid Wilkinson. The 
 expedition reached Natchez; and afteradelay of sev- 
 eral weeks there, without accomplishing anything, 
 the men were ordered Liack to their homes. But the 
 energy Gen. Jackson had displayed, and his entire 
 devotion to the comrfort of his soldiers, won him 
 golden opinions ; and he became the most popular 
 man in the State. It was in this expedition that his 
 toughness gave him the nickname of " Old Hickory." 
 
 Soon after this, while attempting to horsewhip Col. 
 Thomas H. Benton, for a remark that gentleman 
 made about his taking a part as second in a duel, in 
 which a younger brother of Benton's was engaged, 
 he received two severe pistol wounds. While he was 
 lingering mion a bed of suffering news came that the 
 Indians, who had combined under Tecumseh from 
 Florida to the Lakes, to exterminate the white set- 
 '.lers, were committing the most awful ravages. De- 
 cisive action became necessary. Gen. Jackson, with 
 his fractured bone just beginning to heal, his arm in 
 a sling, and unable to mount his horse without assis- 
 tance, gave his amazing energies to the raising of an 
 army to rendezvous at Fayettesville, Alabama. 
 
 The Creek Indians had established a strong ford on 
 one of the bends of the Tallapoosa River, near the cen- 
 ter of Alabama, about fifty miles below Fort Strother. 
 With an army of two thousand men. Gen. Jackson 
 traversed the pathless wilderness in a march of eleven 
 days. He reached their fort, called Tohopeka or 
 Horse-shoe, on the 27th of March. 1814. The bend 
 
 of the river enclosed nearly one hundred acres ot 
 tangled forest and wild ravine. Across the nariow 
 neck the Indians had constructed a formidable bn.a:,t- 
 work of logs and brush. Here nine hundred warr'ors, 
 with an ample suply of arms were assembled. 
 
 The fort was stormed. 'Ilie fight was utterly des- 
 perate. Not an Indian would accept of quarter. When 
 bleeding and dying, they would fight those who en- 
 deavored to spare their lives. From ten in the morn- 
 ing until dark, the battle raged. The carnage was 
 awful and revolting. Some threw themselves into the 
 river; but the unerring bullet struck their heads as 
 they swam. Nearly everyone of the nine hundred war- 
 rios were killed A few probably, in the night, swam 
 the river and escaped. This ended the war. The 
 [wwer of the Creeks was broken forever. This bold 
 plunge into the wilderness, with itsterriffic slaughter, 
 so appalled the savages, that the haggard remnants 
 of the bands came to the camp, begging for peace. 
 
 This closing of the Creek war enabled lis to con- 
 centrate all our militia upon the British, who were the 
 allies of the Indians No man of less resolute will 
 than Gen. Jackson could have conducted this Indian 
 campaign to so successful an issue Immediately he 
 was ap[)ointed major-general. 
 
 Late in August, with an army of two thousand 
 men, on a rushing march, Gen. Jackson came to 
 Mobile. A British fleet came from Pensacola, landed 
 a force upon the beach, anchored near the little fort, 
 and irom both ship and shore commenced a furious 
 assault. The battle was long and doubtful. At length 
 one of the ships was blown up and the rest retired. 
 
 Garrisoning Mobile, where he had taken his little 
 army, he moved his troops to New Orleans, 
 And the battle of New Orleans which soon ensued, 
 was in reality a very arduous campaign. This won 
 for Gen. Jackson an imperishable name. Here his 
 troops, which numbered about four thousand men, 
 won a signal victory over the British army of about 
 nine thousand. His loss was but thirteen, while the 
 loss of the British was two thousand six hundred. 
 
 The name of Gen. Jackson soon began to be men- 
 tioned in connection with the Presidency, but, in 1S24, 
 he was defeated by Mr. Adams. He was, however, 
 successful in the election of 1828, and was re-elected 
 for a second term in 1832. In 1829, just before he 
 assumed the reins of the government, he met with 
 the most terrible affliction of his life in the death of 
 his wife, whom he had loved with a devotion which has 
 perhaps never been surpassed. From the shock of 
 her death he never recovered. 
 
 His administration was one of the most memorable 
 in the annals of our country; applauded by one party, 
 condemned by the other. No man had more bitter 
 enemies or warmer friends. At the expiration of his 
 two terms of office he retired to the Hermitage, where 
 he died June 8, 1S45. The last years of Mr. Jack- 
 son's life were that of a devoted Christian man. 
 
O > J^Z^^ ^^z^-/7 U^t^^^z,^ 
 
EIGHTH PRESIDENT. 
 
 47 
 
 
 W§M. 
 
 ARTIN VAN BUREN, the 
 eighth President of the 
 United States, was born at 
 Kinderhook, N. Y., Dec. 5, 
 1782. He died at the same 
 place, July 24, 1862. His 
 body rests in the cemetery 
 at Kinderhook. Above it is 
 a plain granite shaft fifteen feet 
 high, bearing a simple inscription 
 about halt way up on one face. 
 The lot is unfenced, unbordered 
 or unbounded by shrub or flower. 
 
 There is but little in the life of Martin Van Buren 
 of romantic interest. He fought no battles, engaged 
 in no wild adventures. Though his life was stormy in 
 political and intellectual conflicts, and he gained many 
 signal victories, his days passed uneventful in those 
 incidents which give zest to biography. His an- 
 cestors, as his name indicates, were of Dutch origin, 
 and were among the earliest emigrants from Holland 
 to the banks of the Hudson. His father was a farmer, 
 residing in the old town of Kinderhook. His mother, 
 also of Dutch lineage, was a woman of superior intel- 
 ligence and exemplary piety. 
 
 He was decidedly a precocious boy, developing un- 
 usual activity, vigor and strength of mind. At the 
 age of fourteen, he had finished his academic studies 
 in his native village, and commenced the study of 
 law. As he had noj a collegiate education, seven 
 years of study in a law-office were re(|uired of him 
 before he could be admitted to the bar. Inspired with 
 a lofty, ambition, and conscious of his powers, he pur- 
 sued his studies with indefatigable industry. After 
 spending six years in an office in his native village, 
 
 he went to the city of New York, and prosecuted his 
 studies for the seventh year. 
 
 In 1803, Mr. Van Buren, then twenty-one years of 
 age, commenced the practice of law in his native vil- 
 lage. The great conflict between the Federal and 
 Republican party was then at its height. Mr. Van 
 Buren was from the beginning a politician. He had, 
 perhaps, imbibed that spirit while listening to the 
 many discussions which had been carried on in his 
 father's hotel. He was in cordial sympathy with 
 Jefferson, and earnestly and eloquently espoused the 
 cause of State Rights ; though at that time the Fed- 
 eral party lield the supremacy both in his town 
 and State. 
 
 His success and increasing ruputation led him 
 after six years of practice, to remove to Hudson, th« 
 county seat of his county. Here he spent seven years , 
 constantly gaining strength by contending in tht. 
 courts with some of the ablest men who have adorned 
 the bar of his State. 
 
 Just before leaving Kinderhook for Hudson, Mi. 
 Van Buren married a lady alike distinguished for 
 beauty and accomplishments. After twelve short 
 years she sank into the grave, the victim of consun)p- 
 tion, leaving her husband and four sons to weep over 
 her loss. For twenty-five years, Mr. Van Buren was 
 an earnest, successful, assiduous lawyer. The record 
 of those years is barren in items of public interest. 
 In 181 2, when thirty years of age, he was chosen to 
 the State Senate, and eave his strenuous support to 
 Mr. Madison's adminstration. In 1815, he was ap- 
 pointed Attorney-General, and the next year moved 
 to Albany, the capital of the State. 
 
 While he was acknowledged as one of the most 
 piominent leaders of the Democratic party, he had 
 
48 
 
 MARTIN VAN BUREN. 
 
 the moral courage to avow that true democracy did 
 not require that " universal suffrage" which admits 
 the vile, the degraded, the ignorant, to the right of 
 governing the State. In true consistency with his 
 democratic principles, he contended that, while the 
 path leading to the privilege of voting should be open 
 to every man without distinction, no one should be 
 invested with that sacred prerogative, unless he were 
 in some degree qualified for it by intelligence, virtue 
 and some |)roperty interests in the welfare of the 
 State. 
 
 In 182 I he was elected a member of the United 
 States Senate; and in the same year, he took a seat 
 in the convention to revise the constitution of his 
 native State. His course in this convention secured 
 the approval of men of all parties. No one could 
 doubt the singleness of his endeavors to promote the 
 interests of all classes in the community. In the 
 Senate of the United States, he rose at once to a 
 conspicuous position as an active and useful legislator. 
 
 In 1827, John Quincy Adams being then in the 
 Presidential chair, Mr. Van Buren was re-elected to 
 the Senate. He had been from the beginning a de- 
 termined opposer of the Administration, adopting the 
 "State Rights" view in opposition to what was 
 deemed the Federal proclivities of Mr. Adams. 
 
 Soon after this, in 1828, he was chosen Governorof 
 the State of New York, and accordingly resigned his 
 seat in the Senate. Prolxrbly no one in the United 
 States contributed so much towards ejecting John Q. 
 Adams from the Presidential chair, and placing in it 
 Andrew Jackson, as did Martin Van Buren. Whether 
 entitled to the reputation or not, he certainly was re- 
 garded throughout the United States as one of the 
 most skillful, sagacious and cunning of politicians. 
 It was supposed that no one knew so well as he how 
 to touch the secret s^)Iings of action; how to pull all 
 the wires to put his machinery in motion ; and how to 
 organize a political army which would, secreily and 
 stealthily accomplish tlie most gigantic results. By 
 these powers it is said that he outwitted Mr. Adams, 
 Mr. Clay, Mr. Webster, and secured results which 
 lew thought then could be accomplished. 
 
 When Andrew Jackson was elected President he 
 apjiointed Mr. Van Buren Secretary of State. This 
 position he resigned in 1831, and was immediately 
 appoii7ted Minister to England, where he went the 
 SI me autumn. The Senate, however, when it met, 
 refused to ratify the nomination, and he returned 
 
 home, apparently \introubled ; was nominated Vice 
 President in the place of Calhoun, at the re-election 
 of President Jackson ; and with smiles for all and 
 fiowns for none, he took his place at the head of that 
 Senate which had refused to confirm his nomination 
 as ambassador. 
 
 His rejection by the Senate roused all the zeal of 
 President Jackson in behalf of his repudiated favor- 
 ite ; and this, probably more than any other cause, 
 secured his elevation to the chair of the Chief Execu- 
 tive. On the 20th of May, 1836, Mr. Van Buren re- 
 ceived the Democratic nomination to succeed Gen. 
 Jackson as President of the United States He was 
 elected by a handsome majority, to the defight of the 
 retiring President. " Leaving New York out of the 
 canvass," says Mr. Parton, "the election of Mr. Van 
 Buren to the Presidency was as much the act of Gen. 
 Jackson as though tlie Constitution had 'conferred 
 upon hinr the power to appoint a successor. ' 
 
 His administration was filled with exciting events. 
 The insurrection in Canada, which threatened to in 
 volve this country in war with England, tlie agitation 
 of the slavery question, and finally the great commer- 
 cial panic which spread over the country, all were 
 trials to his wisdom. The financial distress was at- 
 tributed to the management of the Democratic party, 
 and brought the President into such disfavor that he 
 failed of re-election. 
 
 Wiih the exception of being nominated for the 
 Presidency by the "Free Soil" Democrats, in 1848, 
 JMr. Van Buren lived quietly upon his estate until 
 his death. 
 
 He had ever been a prudent man, of frugal habits, 
 and living within his income, had now fortunately a 
 competence for his declining years. His unblemished 
 character, his commanding abilities, his unquestioned 
 jjatriotism, and the distinguished positions which he 
 had occupied in the government of our country, se- 
 cured to him not only the homage of his party, but 
 the respect ot the whole community. It was on the 
 4th of March, 1841, that Mr. Van Buren retired from 
 the presidency. From his fine estate at Lindenwald^ 
 he still exerted a powerful influence upon the politics 
 of the country. From this time until his death, on 
 the 24th of July, 1862, at the age of eighty years, he 
 resided at Lindenwald, a gentleman of leisure, of 
 culture and of wealth; enjoyii^g in a healthy old 
 age, probably far more happiness than he had before 
 experienced amid the stormy scenes of his active life. 
 
4 
 
 'V(J'. //r )7{3y^A.y•^^m.\^ 
 
NINTH PRESIDENT. 
 
 S' 
 
 WILLI AJV| HE^NR¥ MRRrS())N;. 
 
 ILLIAM HENRY HARRI- 
 SON, the ninth President of 
 the United States, was born 
 at Berkeley, Va., Feb. 9, 1773. 
 His father, Benjamin Harri- 
 son, was in comparatively op- 
 ulent circumstances, and was 
 one of tlie most distinguished 
 men of his day. He was an 
 intimate friend of George 
 Washington, was eaily elected 
 a member of the Continental 
 Congress, and was consi^icuous 
 among the patriots of Virginia in 
 resisting the encroachments of the 
 British crown. In the celebrated 
 Congress of 177s, Benjamin Har- 
 rison and John Hancock were 
 both candidates for the office of 
 speaker. 
 
 Mr Harrison was subsequently 
 chosen (lovernor of Virginia, and 
 was twice re-elected. His son, 
 William Henry, of course enjoyed 
 in childhood all the advantages which wealth and 
 intellectual and cultivated society could give. Hav- 
 ing received a thorough common-school education, he 
 entered Hampden Sidney College, where he graduated 
 with honor soon after the death of his father. He 
 iien repaired to Philadelphia to study medicine under 
 the instructions of Dr. Rush and the guardianship of 
 Robert Morris, both of whom were, with his father, 
 signers of the Declaration of Independence. 
 
 Upon the outbreak of the Indian troubles, and not- 
 withstanding the remonstrances of his friends, he 
 abandoned his medical studies and entered the army, 
 having obtained a commission of Ensign from Presi- 
 
 dent Washington. He was then but ig years old. 
 From that time he passed gradually upward in rank 
 until he became aid to (leneral ^Vayne, after whose 
 death he resigned his commission. He was then ap- 
 pointed Secretary of the North-western Territory. This 
 Territory was then entitled to but one member in 
 Congress and Capt. Harrison was chosen to fill tliat 
 position. 
 
 In the spring of 1800 the North-western Territory 
 was divided by Congress into two portions. The 
 eastern portion, comprising the region now embraced 
 in the State of Ohio, was called " The Territory 
 north-west of the Ohio." The western portion, which 
 included what is now called Indiana, Illinois and 
 Wisconsin, was called the "Indiana Territory." Wil- 
 liam Henry Harrison, then 27 years of age, was ap- 
 lX)inted by John Adams, Governor of the Indiana 
 Territory, and immediately after, also Governor of 
 Upper Louisiana. He was thus ruler over almost as 
 extensive a realm as any sovereign upon the globe. He 
 was Superintendent of Indian Affairs, and was in- 
 vested with powers nearly dictatorial over the now 
 rapidly increasing white population. The ability and 
 fidelity with which he discharged these responsible 
 duties may be inferred from the fact that he was four 
 times appointed to this office — first by John Adams, 
 twice by Thomas Jefferson and afterwards by Presi- 
 dent Madison. 
 
 When he began his adminstration there were but 
 three white settlements in that almost boundless region, 
 now crowded with cities and resounding witii all the 
 tumult of wealth and traffic. Oneof these settlements 
 was on the Ohio, nearly opposite Louisville; one at 
 Vincennes, on the Wabash, and the third a French 
 settlement. 
 
 The vast wilderness over which Gov. Harrison 
 reianed was filled with many tribes of Indians. About 
 
52 
 
 WILLIAM HENRY HARRISON. 
 
 the year 1806, two extraordinary men, twin brothers, 
 of the Shawnese tribe, rose among them. One of 
 these was called Tecumseh, or " The Crouching 
 Panther;" the other, OUiwacheca, or "The Prophet." 
 Tecumseh was not only an Indian warrior, but a man 
 of great sagacity, far-reaching foresight and indomit- 
 able perseverance in any enterprise in which he might 
 engage. He was inspired with the highest enthusiasm, 
 and had long regarded with dread and with hatred 
 the encroachment of the whites upon the hunting- 
 grounds of his fathers. His brother, the Prophet, was 
 an orator, who could sway the feelings of the untutored 
 Indian as the gale tossed the tree-tops beneath which 
 they dwelt. 
 
 But the Prophet was not merely an orator: he was, 
 in the superstitious minds of tlie Indians, invested 
 with the superhuman dignity of a medicine-man or a 
 magician. With an enthusiasm unsurpassed by Peter 
 the Hermit rousing Europe to the crusades, he went 
 from tribe to tribe, assuming that he was specially sent 
 by the Great Spirit. 
 
 Gov. Harrison made many attempts to conciliate 
 the Indians, but at last the war came, and at Tippe- 
 canoe the Indians were routed with great slaughter. 
 October 28, 1812, his army began its march. When 
 near the Prophet's town three Indians of rank made 
 their appearance and inquired why ( jov. Harrison was 
 approacliing them in so hostile an attitude. After a 
 short conference, arrangements were made fora meet- 
 ing the next day, to agree upon terms of peace. 
 
 But Gov. Harrison was too well acquainted with 
 the Indian character to be deceived by such protes- 
 tations. Selecting a favorable spot for his night's en- 
 campment, he took every precaution against surprise. 
 His troops were posted in a hollow square, and slept 
 upon their arms. 
 
 The troops threw themselves upon the ground for 
 rest; but every man had his accourtrements on, his 
 loaded musket by his side, and his bayonet fixed. The 
 wakeful Governor, between three and four o'clock in 
 the morning, had risen, and was sitting in conversa- 
 tion with his aids by the embers of a waning fire. It 
 was a chill, cloudy morning with a drizzling rain. In 
 the darkness, the Indians liad crept as near as possi- 
 ble, and just then, wilh a savage yell, rushed, with all 
 the desperation which superstilion and passion most 
 liighly inflamed could give, upon tlie left flank of the 
 little army. The savages had been amply provided 
 with guns and ammunition by the English. Their 
 war-whoop was accompained liy a shower of bullets. 
 
 The camp-fires were instantly extinguished, as the 
 light aided the Indians in their aim. With hide- 
 j)us yells, the Indian liands rushed on, not doubting a 
 speedy and an entire victory. But Gen. Harrison's 
 troops stood as immovable as the rocks around them 
 until day dawned : they then made a simultaneous 
 charge with the bayonet, and swept every thing be- 
 fore tliem, and completely routing th^ foe. 
 
 Gov. Harrison now had all his energies tasked 
 to the utmost. The British descending from the Can - 
 adas, were of themselves a very formidable force ; but 
 with their savage allies, rusliing like wolves from the 
 forest, searching out every remote farm-house, burn- 
 ing, |)lundering, scalping, torturing, the wide frontier 
 was plunged into a state of consternation which even 
 the most vivid imagination can but faintly conceive. 
 The war-whoop was resounding everywhere in the 
 forest. The horizon was illuminated with the conflagra- 
 tion of the cabins of the settlers. Gen Hull had made 
 the ignominious surrender of his forces at Detroit. 
 Under these despairing circumstances, Gov. Harrison 
 was appointed by President Madison commander-in- 
 chief of the North-western army, with orders to retake 
 Detroit, and to protect the frontiers. 
 
 It would be difficult to place a man in a situation 
 demanding more energy, sagacity and courage; but 
 General Harrison was found equal to the position, 
 and nobly and triumphantly did he meet all the re 
 sponsibilities. 
 
 He won the love of liis soldiers by always sharing 
 with them their fatigue. His whole baggage, while 
 pursuing the foe up the Thames, was carried in a 
 valise; and his bedding consisted of a single blanket 
 lashed over his saddle Thirty-five British officers, 
 his prisoners of war, supped with him after the battle. 
 The only fare he could give them was beef roasted 
 before the fire, witliout bread or salt. 
 
 In 1816, Gen. Harrison was chosen a member of 
 the National House of Representatives, to represent 
 the District of Ohio. In Congress he proved an 
 active member; and whenever he spoke, it was with 
 force of reason and power of eloquence, which arrested 
 the attention of all the members. 
 
 In iSig, Harrison was elected to the Senate of 
 Ohio; and in 1824, as one of the presidential electors 
 of that State, he gave his vote for Henry Clay. The 
 same year he was chosen to the United States Senate. 
 
 In 1836, the friends of Gen. Harrison Ijrought him 
 forward as a candidate for the Presidency against 
 Van Buren, but he was defeated. At tlie close of 
 Mr. Van Buren's term, he was re-nominated by his 
 party, and Mr. Harrison was unanimously nominated 
 by the Whigs, with John Tyler lorthe Vice Presidency. 
 The contest was very animated. Gen Jackson gave 
 all his influence to prevent Harrison's election ; but 
 his triumph was signal. 
 
 The cabinet which he formed, with Daniel Webster 
 at its head as Secretary of State, was one of the most 
 brilliant with which any President had ever been 
 surrounded. Never were the prospects of an admin- 
 istration more flattering, or the hopes of the country 
 more sanguine. In the midst of these bright and 
 joyous prospects, Gen. Harrison was seized by a 
 pleurisy-fever and after a few days of violent sick- 
 ness, died on the 4th of April ; just one month after 
 his inauguration as President of the United States. 
 
TENTH PRESIDENT. 
 
 55 
 
 OHN TYLER, the tenth 
 I Presidentof the United States. 
 He was born in Charles-city 
 Co., Va., March 29, 1790. He 
 was the favored child of af- 
 fluence and high social po- 
 sition. At the early age of 
 twelve, John entered William 
 and Mary College and grad- 
 uated with much honor when 
 but seventeen years old. After 
 graduating, he devoted him- 
 self with great assiduity to the 
 study of law, partly with his 
 father and p.irtly with Edmund 
 Randolph, one of the most distin- 
 guished lawyers of Virginia. 
 
 At nineteen years of age, lie 
 commenced the practice of law. 
 His success was rapid and aston- 
 ishing. It is said that three 
 months had not elapsed ere there 
 was scarcely a case on the dock- 
 et of the court in which he was 
 r.ot retained. When but twenty-one years of age, he 
 was almost unanimously elected to a seat in the State 
 Legislature. He connected himself with the Demo- 
 cratic party, and warmly advocated the measures of 
 Jefferson and Madison. For five successive years he 
 was elected to the Legislature, receiving nearly the 
 unanimous vote or his county. 
 
 When but twenty-six years of age, he was elected 
 a member of Congress. Here he acted earnestly and 
 ably with the Democratic party, opposing a national 
 bank, internal improvements by the General Govern- 
 
 ment, a protective tariff, and advocatmg a strict con- 
 struction of the Constitution, and the most careful 
 vigilance over State rights. His labors in Congress 
 were so arduous that before the close of his second 
 term he found it necessary to resign and retire to his 
 estate in Charles-city Co., to recruit his health. He, 
 however, soon after consented to take his seat in (he 
 State Legislature, where his influence was powerful 
 in promoting public works of great utility. With a 
 reputation thus canstantly increasing, he was chosen 
 by a very large majority of votes. Governor of his 
 native State. His administration was signally a suc- 
 cessful one. His popularity secured his re-election. 
 
 John Randolph, a brilliant, erratic, half-crazed 
 man, then represented Virginia in the Senate of the 
 United States. A portion of the Democratic party 
 was displeased with Mr. Randolph's wayward course, 
 and brought forward John Tyler as his opponent, 
 considering him the only man in Virginia of sufficient 
 popularity to succeed against the renowned orator of 
 Roanoke. Mr. Tyler was the victor. 
 
 In accordance with his professions, upon taking his 
 seat in the Senate, he joined the ranks of the opposi- 
 tion. He opposed the tariff; he spoke against and 
 voted against the bank as unconstitutional ; he stren- 
 uously opposed all restrictions upon slavery, resist- 
 ing all projects of internal improvements by the Gen- 
 eral Government, and avowed his sympathy with Mr. 
 Calhoun's view of nullification ; he declared that Gen. 
 Jackson, by his opposition to the nullifiers, had 
 abandoned the principles of the Democratic party. 
 Such was Mr. Tyler's record in Congress, — a record 
 in perfect accordance with the principles which he 
 had always avowed. 
 
 Returning lo Virginia, he resumed the practice of 
 liis profession. There was a cplit in the Democratic 
 
56 
 
 JOHN TYLER. 
 
 party. His friends still regarded him as a true Jef- 
 fersonian, gave him a dinner, and showered compli- 
 ments upon him. He had now attained the age of 
 forty-six. His career had been very brilliant. In con- 
 sequence of his devotion to public business, his pri- 
 vate affairs had fallen into some disorder; and it was 
 not without satisfaction that he resumed the practice 
 of law, and devoted himself to the culture of his plan- 
 tation. Soon after this he removed to Williamsburg, 
 for the better education of his children ; and he again 
 took his seat in the Legislature of Virginia. 
 
 By the Southern Whigs, he was sent to the national 
 convention at Harrisburg to nominate a President in 
 1839. The majority of votes were given to Gen. Har- 
 rison, a genuine Whig, much to the disappointment of 
 the South, who wished for Henry Clay. To concili- 
 ate the Southern Whigs and to secure their vote, the 
 convention then nominated John Tyler for Vice Pres- 
 ident. It was well known that he was not in sympa- 
 thy with the Whig party in the Noith: but the Vice 
 President has but very little power in the Govern- 
 ment, his main and almost only duty being to pre- 
 side over the meetings of the Senate. Thus it hap- 
 pened that a Whig President, and, in reahty, a 
 Democratic Vice President were chosen. 
 
 In 1841, Mr. Tyler was inaugurated Vice Presi- 
 dent of the United States. In one short month from 
 that time. President Harrison died, and Mr. Tyler 
 thus found himself, to his own surprise and that of 
 the whole Nation, an occupant of the Presidential 
 chair. This was a nevv test of the stability of our 
 institutions, as it was the first time in the history of our 
 country that such an event had occured. Mr. Tyler 
 was at home in Williamsburg when he received the 
 unexpected tidings of the death of President Harri- 
 son. He hastened to Washington, and on the 6th of 
 April was inaugurated to the high and responsible 
 office. He was placed in a position of exceeding 
 delicacy and difficulty. All his long life he had been 
 opposed to tlie main principles of the party which had 
 brought him into power. He had ever been a con- 
 sistent, hone it man, with an unblemished record. 
 Gen. Harrison had selected a Whig cabinet. Should 
 he retain them, and thus surround himself with coun- 
 sellors whose views were antagonistic to his own? or, 
 on the other hand, should he turn against the party 
 which had elected him and select a cabinet in har- 
 mony with himself, and which would oppose all those 
 views which the Whigs deemed essential to the pub- 
 lic welfare? This was his fearful dilemma. He in- 
 vited the cabinet which President Harrison had 
 selected to retain their seats. He recconimended a 
 day of fasting and prayer, that God would guide and 
 bless us. 
 
 The Whigs carried through Congress a bill for the 
 incorporation of a fiscal bank of the United States. 
 The President, after ten days' delay, returned it wiih 
 his veto. He wucsested, however, that he >vould 
 
 approve of a bill drawn up upon such a plan as he 
 proposed. Such a bill was accordingly prepared, and 
 privately submitted to him. He gave it his approval. 
 It was passed without alteration, and he sent it back 
 with his veto. Here commenced the open rupture. 
 It is said that Mr. Tyler was provoked to this meas- 
 ure by a published letter from the Hon. John M. 
 Botts, a distinguished Virginia Whig, who severely 
 touched the pride of the President. 
 
 The opposition now exultingly received the Presi- 
 dent into their arms. The party which elected him 
 denounced him bitterly. AH the members of his 
 cabinet, excepting Mr. Webster, resigned. The Whigs 
 of Congress, both the Senate and the House, held a 
 meeting and issued an address to the people of the 
 United States, proclaiming that all political alliance 
 between the Whigs and President Tyler were at 
 an end. 
 
 Still the President attempted to concihate. He 
 appointed a new cabinet of distinguished Whigs and 
 Conservatives, carefully leaving out all strong party 
 men. Mr. Webster soon found it necessary to resign, 
 forced out by the pressure of his Whig friends. Thus 
 the four years of Mr. Tyler's unfortunate administra- 
 tion passed sadly away. No one was satisfied. The 
 land was filled with murmurs and vituperation. Whigs 
 and Democrats alike assailed him. More and more, 
 however, he brought himself into sympathy with his 
 old friends, the Democrats, until atthe close of his term, 
 he gave his whole influence to the support of Mr. 
 Polk, the Democratie candidate for his successor. 
 
 On the 4th of March, 1845, he retired from the 
 harassments of office, to the regret of neither party, and 
 probably to his own unspeakable lelief. His first wife. 
 Miss Letitia Christian, died in Washington, in 1842; 
 and in June, 1844, President Tyler was again married, 
 at New York, to Miss Julia Gardiner, a young lady of 
 many personal and intellectual accomplishments.' 
 
 The remainder of his days Mr. Tyler passed mainly 
 in retirement at his beautiful home, — Sherwood For- 
 est, Charles-city Co., Va. A polished gentleman in 
 his manners, richly furnished with information from 
 books and experience in the world, and possessing 
 brilliant powers of conversation, his family circle was 
 the scene of unusual attractions. ^Vith sufficient 
 means for the exercise of a generous hospitality, he 
 might have enjoyed a serene old age with the few 
 friends who gathered around him, were it not for the 
 storms of civil war which his own principles and 
 policy had helped to introduce. 
 
 When the great Rebellion rose, which the State- 
 rights and nullifying doctrines of Mr. John C. Cal- 
 houn had inaugurated. President Tyler renounced his 
 allegiance to the United States, and joined the Confed- 
 erates. He was chosen a member of their Congress ; 
 and while engaged in active measures to destroy, by 
 force of arms, the Government over which he had 
 once presided, he was taken sick and soon died. 
 
.^c 
 
EL E I 'EA' TH PRESIDE N 7 '. 
 
 5S 
 
 AMES K. POLK, the eleventh 
 
 tPresident of the United States, 
 
 was born in Mecklenburg Co., 
 
 N. C, Nov. 2, 1795. His |)ar- 
 
 ents were Samuel and Jane 
 
 (Kno.x) Poli<, the former a son 
 
 of Col. Thomas Polk, who located 
 
 at the above place, as one of the 
 
 first pioneers, in 1735. 
 
 In tiie year i3o6, with his wife 
 and children, and soon after fol- 
 lowed by most of the members of 
 the Polk famly, Samuel Polk emi- 
 grated some two or three hundred 
 miles farther west, to the rich valley 
 of the Duck River. Here in the 
 midst of the wilderness, in a region 
 which was subsequently called Mau- 
 ry Co., they reared their log huts, 
 and established their homes. In the 
 hard toil of a. new farm in the wil- 
 derness, James K. Polk spent the 
 early years of his childhood and 
 youth. His father, adding tlie jnir- 
 suit of a surveyor to thatof a farmer, 
 gradually increased in wealth until 
 he became one of the leading men of the region.' His 
 mother was a superior woman, of strong common 
 sense and earnest piety. 
 
 Very early in life, James developed a taste for 
 reading and expressed the strongest desire to obtain 
 a liberal education. His mother's training had made 
 iiim methodical in his habits, had taught him punct- 
 uality and industry, and had inspired him with lofty 
 principles of morality. His health was frail ; and his 
 father, fearing that he might not be able to endure a 
 
 sedentary life, got a situation for him behind the 
 counter, hojnng to fit him for commercial pursuits. 
 
 This was to James a bitter disajjpointment. He 
 had no taste for these duties, and his daily tasks 
 were irksome in the extreme. He remained in this 
 uncongenial occupation but a few weeks, when at liis 
 earnest solicitation his father removed him, and made 
 arrangements for him to prosecute his studies. Soon 
 after he sent him to Murfreesboro Academy. AVith 
 ardor which could scarcely be surpassed, he pressed 
 forward in his studies, and in less than two and a half 
 years, in the autumn of 1815, entered the sophomore 
 class in the University of North Carolina, at Chapel 
 Hill. Here he was one of the most exemplary of 
 scholars, punctual in every exercise, never allowing 
 himself to be absent from a recitation or a religious 
 service. 
 
 He graduated in 1818, with the highest honors, be- 
 ing deemed the best scholar of his class, both in 
 mathematics and the classics. He was then twenty- 
 three )ears of age. Mr. Polk's health was at this 
 time much impaired by the assiduity with which he 
 had prosecuted his studies. After a short season of 
 relaxation he went to Nashville, and entered the 
 office of Felix Crundy, to study law. Here Mr. Polk 
 renewed his acquaintance with Andrew Jackson, who 
 resided on his plantation, the Hermitage, but a few 
 miles from Nashville. They had probably lecn 
 sligiilly acquainted before. 
 
 Mr. Polk's father was a Jeffersonian Republican, 
 and James K. Polk ever adhered to the same politi- 
 cal faith. He was a popular i)ublic speaker, and was 
 constantly called upon to address the meetings of his 
 party friends. His skill as a speaker was such that 
 he was popularly called the Napoleon of the stump. 
 He was a man of unblemished iv.orals, genir.l ard 
 
So 
 
 /A]fES K. POLK. 
 
 courteous in his bearing, and with that sympathetic 
 nature in the jojs and griefs of others which ever gave 
 liim troops of friends. In 1823, Mr. Polk was elected 
 to the Legislature of Tennessee. Here he gave his 
 strong influence towards the election of his friend, 
 Mr. Jackson, to the Presidency of the United States. 
 
 In January, 1824, Mr. Polk married Miss Sarah 
 Childress, of Rutherford Co., Tenn. His bride was 
 altogether worthy of him, — a lady of beauty and cul- 
 ture. In the fall of 1825, Mr. Polk was chosen a 
 member of Congress. The satisfaction which he gave 
 to his constituents may be inferred from the fact, that 
 for fourteen successive years, until 1839, he was con- 
 tinued in that office. He then voluntarily withdrew, 
 only that he might accept the Gubernatorial chair 
 of Tennessee. In Congress he was a laborious 
 member, a frequent and a popular speaker. He was 
 always in his seat, always courteous ; and whenever 
 he spoke it was always to the point, and without any 
 ambitious rhetorical display. 
 
 During five sessions of Congress, Mr. Polk was 
 Speaker of the House, Strong passions were roused, 
 and stormy scenes were witnessed ; but Mr. Polk per- 
 formed his arduous duties to a very general satisfac- 
 tion, and a unanimous vote of thanks to him was 
 [jassed by the House as he withdrew on the 4th of 
 March, 1839. 
 
 In accordance with Southern usage, Mr. Polk, as a 
 candidate for Governor, canvassed the State. He was 
 elected by a large majority, and on the 14th of Octo- 
 ber, 1839, took the oath of office at Nashville. In 1841, 
 his term of office expired, and he was again the can- 
 didate of the Democratic party, but was defeated. 
 
 On the 4th of March, 1845, Mr. Polk was inaugur- 
 ated President of the United States. The verdict of 
 the countryin favor of the annexation of Texas, exerted 
 its influence upon Congress ; and the last act of the 
 administration of President Tyler was to affix his sig- 
 nature to a joint resolution of Congress, passed on the 
 3d of March, approving of the annexation of Texas to 
 the American Union. As Mexico still claimed Texas 
 as one of her provinces, the Mexican minister, 
 Almonte, immediately demanded his passports and 
 left the country, declaring the act of the annexation 
 to be an act hostile to Mexico. 
 
 In his first message. President Polk urged that 
 Texas should immediately, by act of Congress, be re- 
 ceived into the Union on the same footing with the 
 other States. In the meantime, Gen. Taylor was sent 
 
 with an army into Texas to hold the country. He was 
 sent first to Nueces, which the Mexicans said was the 
 western boundary of Texas. Then he was sent nearly 
 two hundred miles further west, to the Rio Grande, 
 where he erected batteries which commanded the 
 Mexican city of Matamoras, which was situated on 
 the western banks. 
 
 The anticipated collision soon took place, and war 
 was declared against Mexico by President Polk. The 
 war was pushed forward by Mr. Polk's administration 
 with great vigor. Gen. Taylor, whose army was first 
 called one of "observation," then of "occupation," 
 thenof "invasion, "was sent forward to Monterey. The 
 feeble Mexicans, in every encounter, were hopelessly 
 and awfully slaughtered. The day of judgement 
 alone can reveal the misery which this war caused. 
 It v/as by the ingenuity of Mr. Polk's administration 
 that the war was brought on. 
 
 'To the victors belong the spoils." Mexico was 
 prostrate before us. Her capital was in our hands. 
 We now consented to peace upon the condition that 
 Mexico should surrender to us, in addition to Texas, 
 all of New Mexico, and all of Upper and Lower Cal- 
 ifornia. This new demand embraced, exclusive of 
 Texas, eight hundred thousand square miles. This 
 was an extent of territory equal to nine States of the 
 size of New York. Thus slavery was securing eighteen 
 majestic States to be added to the Union. There were 
 some Americans who thought it all right : there were 
 others who thought it all wrong. In the prosecution 
 of this war, we expended twenty thousand lives and 
 more than a hundred million of dollars. Of this 
 money fifteen millions were paid to Mexico. 
 
 On the 3d of March, 1849, Mr. Polk retired from 
 office, having served one term. The next day was 
 Sunday. On the 5th, Gen. Taylor was inaugurated 
 as his successor. Mr. Polk rode to the Capitol in the 
 same carriage with Gen. Taylor; and the same even- 
 ing, with Mrs. Polk, he commenced his return to 
 Tennessee. He was then but fifty-four years of age. 
 He had ever been strictly temperate in all his habits, 
 and his health was good. With an ample fortune, 
 a choice library, a cultivated mind, and domestic lies 
 of the dearest nature, it seemed as though long years 
 of tranquility and happiness were before him. But the 
 cholera — that fearful scourge — was then sweeping up 
 the Valley of the Mississippi. This he contracted, 
 and died on the 15th of June, 1849, in the fifty-fourth 
 year of his age, greatly mgurned by his countrymen. 
 
TIVELFTII FRESinENT. 
 
 :i.4.i|j|C4t¥ f*Y*f « 
 
 ACHARY TAYLOR, twelfth 
 President of the United States, 
 Was born on the 24th of Nov., 
 1784, in Orange Co., Va. His 
 father, Colonel Taylor, was 
 a Virginian of note, and a dis- 
 tinguished patriot and soldier of 
 the Revolution. When Zachary 
 was an infant, his father with his 
 wife and two children, emigrated 
 to Kentucky, where he settled in 
 the pathless wilderness, a few 
 miles from Louisville. In this front- 
 ier home, away from civilization and 
 all its refinements, young Zachary 
 could enjoy but few social and educational advan- 
 tages. When six years of age he attended a common 
 school, and was then regarded as a bright, active boy, 
 rather remarkable for bluntness and decision of char- 
 acter He was strong, feailess and self-reliant, and 
 manifested a strong desire to enter the army to fight 
 die Indians who were ravaging the frontiers. There 
 is little to be recorded of the uneventful years of his 
 childhood on his father's large but lonely plantation. 
 In 1808, his father succeeded in obtaining for him 
 the commission of lieutenant in the United States 
 army ; and he joined the troops which were stationed 
 at New Orleans under Gen. Wilkinson. Soon after 
 this he married Miss Margaret Smith, a young lady 
 ^rom one of the first families of Maryland. 
 
 Immediately after the declaration of war with Eng- 
 land, in i8r2, Capt. Taylor (for he had then been 
 promoted to that rank) was put in command of Fort 
 Harrison, on the Wabash, about fifty miles above 
 Vincennes. This fort had been built in the wilder- 
 ness by Gen. Harrison, on his march to Tippecanoe. 
 It was one of the first points of attack by the Indians, 
 led by Tecumseh. Its garrison consisted of a broken 
 
 company of infantry numbering fifty men, many of 
 whom were sick. 
 
 Early in the autumn of 1812, the Indians, sleahliily, 
 and in large numbers, moved upon the fort. 'I'heir 
 approach was first indicated by ihe murder of tuo 
 soldiers just outside of the stockade. Capt. Taylor 
 made every possible preparation to meet the antici- 
 pated assault. On the 4th of September, a band of 
 forty painted and plumed savages came to the fort, 
 waving a white flag, and informed Capt. Taylor that 
 in the morning their chief would cun.e to have a talk 
 with him. It was evident that their object was merely 
 to ascertain the state of things at the fort, and Capt. 
 Taylor, well versed in the wiles of the savages, kept 
 them at a distance. 
 
 The sun went down ; the savages disappeared, the 
 garrison slept upon their arms. One hour before 
 midnight the war-whoop burst from a thousand lips 
 in the forest around, followed by the discharge of 
 musketry, and the rush of the foe. Every man, sick 
 and well, sprang to his post. Every man knew that 
 defeat was not merely death, but in the case of cap- 
 ture, death by ^he most agonizing and prolonged tor- 
 ture. No pen can describe, r.o immagination can 
 conceive the scenes which ensued, The savages suc- 
 ceeded in setting fire to one of the block-houses- 
 Until six o'clock in the morning, this awful conflict 
 continued. The savages then, baffled at every point, 
 and gnashing their teeth with rage, letired. Capt. 
 Taylor, for this gallant defence, was promoted to the 
 rank of major by brevet. 
 
 Until the close of the war, Major'J'aylor was placed 
 in such situations that he saw but little more of active 
 service. He was sent far away into the depths of the 
 wilderness, to Fort Crawford, on Fox River, which 
 empties into Green Bay. Here there was but little 
 to be done but to wear away the tedious hours as one 
 best could. There were no l-.ooks, no society, no in- 
 
64 
 
 ZACHARY TAYLOR. 
 
 tellectual stimulus. Thus with him the uneventful 
 years rolled on Gradually he rose to the rank of 
 colonel. In the Black -Hawk war, which resulted in 
 the capture of that renowned chieftain, Col Taylor 
 took a subordinate but a brave and efficient part. 
 
 For twenty -four years Col. Taylor was engaged in 
 the defence of the frontiers, in scenes so remote, and in 
 employments so obscure, that his name was unknown 
 beyond the limits of his own immediate acquaintance. 
 In the year 1836, he was seat to Florida to compel 
 the Seminole Indians to vacate that region and re- 
 tire beyond the Mississippi, as their chiefs by treaty, 
 ha.c^ promised they should do. The services rendered 
 hcLc secured for Col. Taylor the high appreciation of 
 the Government; and as a reward, he was elevated 
 tc ..he rank of brigadier-general by brevet ; and soon 
 after, in May, 1838, was appointed to the chief com- 
 mand of the United States troops in Florida. 
 
 After two years of such wearisome employment 
 amidst the everglades of the peninsula. Gen. Taylor 
 obtained, at his own request, a change of command, 
 and was stationed over the Department of the South- 
 west. This field embraced Louisiana, Mississippi, 
 Alabama and Georgia. Establishing his headquarters 
 at Fort Jessup, in Louisiana, he removed his family 
 to a plantation which he purchased, near Baton Rogue. 
 Here he remained for five years, buried, as it were, 
 from the world, but faithfully discharging every duty 
 imposed upon him. 
 
 In 1846, Gen. Taylor was sent to guard the land 
 between the Nueces and Rio Grande, the latter river 
 being the boundary of Texas, which was then claimed 
 by the United States. Soon the war with Mexico 
 was brought on, and at Palo Alto and Resaca de la 
 Palnia, Gen. Taylor won brilhant victories over the 
 Mexicans. The rank of major-general by brevet 
 was then conferred upon Gen. Taylor, and his name 
 was received with enthusiasm almost everywhere in 
 the Nation. Then came the battles of Monterey and 
 Buena Vista in which he won signal. victories over 
 forces much larger than he commanded. 
 
 His careless habits of dress and his unaffected 
 simplicity, secured for Gen. Taylor among his troops, 
 the sobriquet of "Old Rough and Ready.' 
 
 The tidings of the brilliant victory of Buena Vista 
 ;pread the wildest enthusiasm over the country. The 
 name of Gen. Taylor was on every one's lips. The 
 Whig party decided to take advantage of this wonder- 
 ful popularity in bringing forward the unpolished, un- 
 lettered, honest soldier as their candidate for the 
 Presidency. Gen. Taylor was astonished at the an- 
 nouncement, and for a time would not listen to it; de- 
 claring that he was not at all qualified for such an 
 office. So little interest had he taken in politics that, 
 for forty years, he had not cast a vote. It was not 
 without chagrin that several distinguished statesmen 
 who had been long years in the public service found 
 tl.iir claims set aside in behalf of one whose name 
 
 had never been heard of, save in connection with Palo 
 Alto, Resaca de la Palma, Monterey and Buena 
 Vista. It is said that Daniel Webster, in his haste re- 
 marked, " It is a nomination not fit to be made." 
 
 Gen. Taylor was not an eloquent speaker nor a fine 
 writer His friends took possession of him, and pre- 
 pared such few communications as it was needful 
 should be presented to the public. The popularity of 
 the successful warrior swept the land. He was tri- 
 umphantly elected over two opposing candidates, — 
 Gen. Cass and Ex-President Martin Van Buren. 
 Though he selected an excellent cabinet, the good 
 old man found himself in a very uncongenial position, 
 and was, at times, sorely perplexed and harassed. 
 His mental sufferings were very severe, and probably 
 tended to hasten his death. The pro-slavery party 
 was pushing its claims with tireless energy , expedi- 
 tions were fitting out to capture Cuba ; California was 
 pleading for admission to the Union, while slavery 
 stood at the door to bar her out. Gen. Taylor found 
 the political conflicts in Washington to be far more 
 trying to the nerves than battles with Mexicans or 
 Indians. 
 
 In the midst of all these troubles. Gen. Taylor, 
 after he had occupied the Presidential chair but little 
 over a year, took cold, and after a brief sickness of 
 but little over five days, died on the 9th of July, 1850. 
 His last words were, "I am not afraid to die. I am 
 ready. I have endeavored to do my duty." He died 
 universally respected and beloved. An honest, un- 
 pretending man, he had been steadily growing in the 
 affections of the people; and the Nation bitterly la- 
 mented his death. 
 
 Gen. Scott, who was thoroughly acquainted with 
 Gen, Taylor, gave the following graphic and truthful 
 description of his character: — " With a good store of 
 common sense, Gen. Taylor's mind had not been en- 
 larged and refreshed by reading, or much converse 
 with the world. Rigidity of ideas was the conse- 
 quence. The frontiers and small military posts had 
 been his home. Hence he was quite ignorant for his 
 rank, and quite bigoted in his ignorance. His sim- 
 plicity was child-like, and with innumerable preju- 
 dices, amusing and incorrigible, well suited to the 
 tender age. Thus, if a man, however respectable, 
 chanced to wear a coat of an unusual color, or his hat 
 a little on one side of his head ; or an oflicer to leave 
 a corner of his handkerchief danghng from an out- 
 side pocket, — in any such case, this critic held the 
 offender to be a coxcomb (perhaps something worse), 
 whom he would not, to use his oft repeated phrase, 
 ' touch with a pair of tongs.' 
 
 "Any allusion to literature beyond good old Dil- 
 worth's spelling-book, on the part of one wearing a 
 sword, was evidence, with the same judge, of utter 
 unfitness for heavy marchings and combats. In short, 
 few men have ever had a more comfortable, labor- 
 saving contempt for learnirg of every kind." 
 
^t^c^^i^i^-iyoo-zjd 
 
THIRTEENTH PRESIDENT. 
 
 67 
 
 -^^^-^ 
 
 I ^ffllLLftRn FILLMDHE.^^ | 
 
 
 
 ILLARD FILLMORE, thir- 
 teenth President of the United 
 States, was born at Summer 
 Hill, Cayuga Co., N. Y ., on 
 the yth of January, 1800. His 
 father was a farmer, and ow- 
 ing to misfortune, in humble cir- 
 cumstances. Of his mother, the 
 daughter of Dr. Abiathar Millard, 
 of Pittsfield, Mass., it has been 
 said that she possessed an intellect 
 of very high order, united with much 
 personal loveliness, sweetness of dis- 
 position, graceful manners and ex- 
 quisite sensibilities. She died in 
 1831 ; having lived to see her son a 
 young man of distinguished prom- 
 ise, though she was not permitted to witness the high 
 dignity which he finally attained. 
 
 In consequence of the secluded home and limited 
 means of his father, Millard enjoyed but slender ad- 
 vantages for education in his early years. The com- 
 mon nchools, which he occasionally attended were 
 very imperfect institutions; and books were scarce 
 and expensive. There was nothing then in his char- 
 acter to indicate the brilliant career upon which he 
 was about to enter. He was a plain farmer's boy ; 
 intelligent, good-looking, kind-hearted. The sacred 
 influences of home had taught him to revere the Bible, 
 and had laid the foundations of an upright character. 
 When fourteen years of age, his father sent him 
 some hundred miles from home, to the then wilds of 
 Livingston County, to learn the trade of a clothier. 
 Near the mill there was a small villiage, where some 
 
 enterprising man had commenced the collection of a 
 village library. This proved an inestimable blessing 
 to young Fillmore. His evenings were spent in read- 
 ing. Soon every leisure moment was occupied \\ith 
 books. His thirst for knowledge became insatiate ; 
 and the selections which he made were continually 
 more elevating and instructive. He read history, 
 biography, oratory, and thus gradually there was en- 
 kindled in his heart a desire to be something more 
 than a mere worker with his hands; and he was be- 
 coming, almost unknown to himself, a well-informed, 
 educated man. 
 
 The young clothier had now attained the age of 
 nineteen years, and was of fine personal appearance 
 and of gentlemanly demeatior. It so happened that 
 there was a gentleman in the neighborhood of ample 
 pecuniary means and of benevolence, — Judge Walter 
 Wood, — who was struck with the prepossessing ap- 
 pearance of young Fillmore. He made his acquaint- 
 ance, and was so much impressed with his ability and 
 attainments that he advised him to abandon his 
 trade and devote himself to the study of the law. The 
 young man replied, that he had no means of his own, 
 r.o friends to help him and that his previous educa- 
 tion had been very imperfect. But Judge Wood had 
 so much confidence in him that he kindly offered to 
 take him into his own office, and to loan him such 
 money as he needed. Most gratefully the generous 
 offer was accepted. 
 
 There is in many minds a strange delusion about 
 a collegiate education. A young man is supposed to 
 be liberally educated if he has graduated at some col- 
 lege. But many a boy loiters through university lul' 
 «ind then enters a law office, who is by no means as: 
 
68 
 
 MILLARD FILLMORE. 
 
 well prepared to prosecute his legal studies as was 
 Millard Fillmore when he graduated at the clothing- 
 mill at the end of four years of manual labor, during 
 which every leisure moment had been devoted to in- 
 tense mental culture. 
 
 In 1S23, when twenty-three years of age, he v/as 
 admitted to the Court of Common Pleas. He then 
 went to the village of Aurora, and commenced the 
 j)ractice of law. In this secluded, peaceful region, 
 his practice of course was limited, and there was no 
 opportunity for a sudden rise in foitune or in fame. 
 Here, in the year 1826, he married a lady of great 
 moral worth, and one capable of adorning any station 
 she might be called to fill, — Miss Abigail Powers. 
 
 His elevation of character, his untiring industry, 
 his legal acquirements, and his skill as an advocate, 
 gradually attracted attention; and he was invited to 
 enter into partnership under highly advantageous 
 circumstances, with an elder member of the bar in 
 Buffalo. Just before removing to Buffalo, in 1829, 
 he took his seat in the House of Assembly, of the 
 State of New York, as a representative from Erie 
 County. Though he had never taken a very active 
 part in politics, his vote and his sympathies were with 
 the Whig party. The State was then Democratic, 
 and he found himself in a helpless minority in the 
 Legislature , still the testimony comes from all parlies, 
 Ihat his courtesy, ability and integrity, won, to a very 
 unusual degrt e the respect of his associates. 
 
 In the autumn of 1832, he was elected to a seat in 
 the United States Congress He entered that troubled 
 arena in some of the most tumultuous hours of our 
 national history. The great conflict respecting the 
 national bank and the removal of the deposits, was- 
 then raging. 
 
 His term of two years closed ; and he returned to 
 his profession, which he pursued with increasing rep- 
 utation and success. After a lapse of two years 
 he again became a candidate for Congress; was re- 
 elected, and took his seat in 1837. His past expe ■ 
 rience as a representative gave hnii st»sngth and 
 confidence. The first term of service in Congress to 
 any man can be but little more than an introduction. 
 He was now pre))ared for active duty. All his ener- 
 gies were brought to bear upon the public good. Every 
 measure received his impress. 
 
 Mr. Fillmore was now a man of wide repute, and 
 his popularity filled the State, and in the year 1847, 
 he was elected Comptroller of the State. 
 
 Mr. Fillmore had attained the age of forty-seven 
 years. His labors at the bar, in the Legislature, in 
 Congress and as Comptroller, hud given him very con- 
 siderable fame. The ^Vhigs were casting about to 
 find suitable candidates for President and Vice-Presi- 
 dent at the approaching election. Far away, on the 
 waters of the Rio Grande, there was a rough old 
 soldier, who had fought one or two successful battles 
 with the Mexicans, which had caused his name to be 
 proclaimed in liumpet-tones all over the land. But 
 it was necessary to associate with him on the same 
 ticket some man of reputation as a statesman. 
 
 Under the influence of these considerations, the 
 namesofZachary Taylor and Millard Fillmore became 
 the rallying-cry of the Whigs, as their candidates for 
 President and Vice-Peesident. The Whig ticket was 
 signally triumphant. On the 4th of March, 1849, 
 Gen. Taylor was inaugurated President, and Millard 
 Fillmore Vice-President, of the United States. 
 
 On the 9th of July, 1850, President Taylor, but 
 about one year and four months after his inaugura- 
 tion, was suddenly taken sick and died. By the Con- 
 stitution, Vice-President Fillmore thus became Presi- 
 dent. He appointed a very abl'e cabinet, of which 
 the illustrious Daniel Webster was Secretary of State. 
 
 Mr. Filhiiore had very serious difficulties to contend 
 with, since the opposition had a majority in both 
 Houses. He did everything in his power toconiiliate 
 the South ; but the pro-slavery parly in the South felt 
 the inadequacy of all raeasuresof transient conciliation. 
 The population of the free States was so rapidly in- 
 creasing over that of the slave States that it was in- 
 evitable that the power of the Government should 
 soon pass into the hands of the free States. The 
 famous compromise measures were adopted under Mr. 
 Fillmcre's adminstration, and the Japan Expedition 
 was sent out. On the 4th of March, 1853, Mr, Fill- 
 more, having served one term, retired. 
 
 In 1856, Mr. Fillmore was nominated for the Pres- 
 idency by the " Know Nothing " party, but was beaten 
 by Mr. Buchanan. After that Mr. Fillmore lived in 
 retirement. During the terrible conflict of civil war, 
 he was mostly silent. It was generally supposed that 
 his sympathies were rather with those who were en- 
 deavoring to overthrow our institutions. President 
 Fillmore kept aloof from the conflict, without any 
 cordial words of cheer to the one party or the other. 
 He was thus forgotten by both. He lived to a ripe 
 old age, and died in Bufi"alo. N. Y., March 8, 1874. 
 
FOURTEENTH PRESIDENT 
 
 71 
 
 ^■aifite^- -^FRANKLIN PIEHEE.--^ -^^^m^-. 
 
 -,^'w^m^^ -^FRANKLIN FIEHEE.-'^ ....^.^™^^ 
 
 '"^^SF^S 
 
 RANKLIN PIERCE, the 
 fourteenth President of the 
 ^United States, was born in 
 Hillsborough, N. H., Nov. 
 23, 1804. His father was a 
 Revolutionary soldier, who, 
 with his own strong arm, 
 hewed out a home in the 
 wilderness. He was a man 
 of inflexible integrity; of 
 strong, though uncultivated 
 mind, and an uncompromis- 
 ing Democrat. The mother of 
 Franklin Pierce was all that a son 
 could desire, — an intelligent, pru- 
 dent, affectionate. Christian wom- 
 an. Franklin was the sixth of eight children. 
 
 Franklin was a very bright and handsome boy, gen- 
 erous, warm-hearted and brave. He won alike the 
 love of old and young. The boys on the play ground 
 loved him. His teachers loved liim. The neighbors 
 looked upon him with pride and affection. He was 
 by instinct a gentleman; always speaking kind words, 
 doing kind deeds, with a peculiar unstudied tact 
 which taught him what was agreeable. Witliout de- 
 veloping any precocity of genius, or any unnatural 
 devotion to books, he was a good scholar ; in body, 
 in mind, in affections, a finely-developed boy. 
 
 When sixteen years of age, in the year 1820, he 
 entered Bowdoin College, at Brunswick, Me He was 
 one of the most popular young men in the college. 
 The purity of his moral character, the unvarying 
 courtesy of his demeanor, his rank as a scholar, and 
 
 genial nature, rendered him a universal favorite. 
 There was something very peculiarly winning in his 
 address, and it was evidently not in the slightest de- 
 gree studied : it was the simple outgushing of his 
 own magnanimous and loving nature. 
 
 Upon graduating, in the year 1824, Franklin Pierce 
 commenced the study of law in the office of Judge 
 Woodbury, one of the mobt distinguished lawyers of 
 the State, and a man of great private worth. The 
 eminent social qualities of the young lawyer, his 
 father's prominence as a public man, and the brilliant 
 political career into which Judge Woodbury was en- 
 tering, all tended to entice Mr. Pierce into the faci- 
 nating yet perilous path of political life. With all 
 the ardor of his nature he espoused the cause of Gen. 
 Jackson for the Presidency. He commenced tlie 
 practice of law in Hillsborough, and was sooii elected 
 to represent the town in the State Legislature. Here 
 he served for four yeais. The last two years he was 
 chosen speaker of the house by a very large vole. 
 
 In 1833, at the age of twenty-nine, he was elected 
 a member of Congress. Without taking an active 
 part in debates, he was faithful and laborious in duty, 
 and ever rising in the estimation of those with whom 
 he was associatad. 
 
 In 1837, being then but thirty-three years of age, 
 he was elected to the Senate of the United States; 
 taking his seat just as Mr. Van Buren commenced 
 his administration. He was the youngest member in 
 the Senate. In the year 1834, he married Miss Jane 
 Means Appleton, a lady of rare beauty and accom- 
 plishments, and one admirably fitted to adorn every 
 station with which her husband was honoied. Of tlie 
 
72 
 
 FRANKLIN PIERCE. 
 
 three sons who were born to them, all now sleep with 
 their parents in the grave. 
 
 In the year 1838, Mr. Pierce, with growing fame 
 and increasing business as a lawyer, took up his 
 residence in Concord, the capital of New Hampshire. 
 President Polk, upon his accession to office, appointed 
 Mr. Pierce attorney-general of the United States ; but 
 the offer was declined, in consequence of numerous 
 professional engagements at home, and the precariuos 
 state of Mrs. Pierce's health. He also, about the 
 same time declined the nomination for governor by the 
 Democratic party. The war with Mexico called Mr. 
 Pierce in the army. Receiving the appointment of 
 brigadier-general, he embarked, with a portion of his 
 troops, at Newport, R. I., on the 27th of May, 1847. 
 He took an important part in this war, proving him- 
 self a brave and true soldier. 
 
 When Gen. Pierce reached his home in his native 
 State, he was received enthusiastically by the advo- 
 cates of the Mexican war, and coldly by his oppo- 
 nents. He resumed the practice of his profession, 
 very frequently taking an active part in political ques- 
 tions, giving his cordial support to the pro-slavery 
 wing of the Democratic party. The compromise 
 measures met cordially with his approval ; and he 
 strenuously advocated the enforcement of the infa- 
 mous fugitive-slave law, which so shocked the religious 
 sensibilities of the North. He thus became distin- 
 guished as a "Northern man with Southern principles.'' 
 The strong partisans of slavery in the South conse- 
 quently regarded him as a man whom they could 
 safely trust in office to carry out their plans. 
 
 On the 1 2th of June, 1852, the Democratic conven- 
 tion met in Baltimore to nominate a candidate for the 
 Presidency. For four days they continued in session, 
 and in thirty-five ballotings no one had obtained a 
 two-thirds vote. Not a vote thus far had been thrown 
 for Gen. Pierce. Then the Virginia delegation 
 brought forward his name. There were fourteen 
 more ballotings, during which Gen. Pierce constantly 
 gained strength, until, at the forty-ninth ballot, he 
 received two hundred and eighty-two votes, and all 
 other candidates eleven. Gen. Winfield Scott was 
 the Whig candidate. Gen. Pierce was chosen with 
 great unanimity. Only four States — Vermont, Mas- 
 sachusetts, Kentucky and Tennessee — cast their 
 electoral votes against him Gen. Franklin Pierce 
 \\as therefore inaugurated President of the United 
 States on the 4th of March, 1853. 
 
 His administration proved one of the most stormy our 
 country had ever experienced. The controversy be- 
 tween slavery and freedom was then approaching its 
 culminating point. It became evident that there was 
 an "irrepressible conflict'' between them, and that 
 this Nation could not long exist " half slave and half 
 free." President Pierce, during the whole of his ad- 
 ministration, did every thing he could to conciliate 
 the South; but it was all in vain. The confliLl every 
 year grew more violent, and threats of the dissolution 
 of the Union were borne to the North on eveiy South- 
 ern breeze. 
 
 , Such was the condition of affairs when President 
 Pierce approached the close of his four-years' term 
 of office. The North had become thoroughly alien- 
 ated from him. The anti-slavery sentimeijt, goaded 
 by great outrages, had been rapidly increasing; all 
 the intellectual ability and social worth of President 
 Pierce were forgotten in deep reprehension of his ad- 
 ministrative acts. The slaveholders of the South, also, 
 unmindful of the fidelity with which he had advo- 
 cated those measures of Government which they ap- 
 proved, and perhaps, also, feeling that he had 
 rendered himself so unpopular as no longer to be 
 able acceptably to serve them, ungratefully dropped 
 him, and nominated James Buchanan to succeed him. 
 On the 4th of March, 1857, President Pierce re- 
 tired to his home in Concord. Of three children, two 
 had died, and his only surviving child had been 
 killed before his eyes by a railroad accident , and his 
 wife, one of the most estimable and accomplished of 
 ladies, was rapidly sinking in consumption. The 
 hour of dreadful gloom soon came, and he was left 
 alone in the world, without wife or child. 
 
 When the terrible Rebellion burst forth, which di- 
 vided our country into two parties, and two only, Mr. 
 Pierce remained steadfast in the principles which he 
 had always cherished, and gave his sympathies to 
 that pro-slavery party with which he had ever been 
 allied. He declined to do anything, either by voice 
 or pen, to strengthen the hand of the National Gov- 
 ernment. He continued to reside in Concord until 
 the time of his death, which occurred in October, 
 1869. He was one of the most genial and social of 
 men, an honored communicant of the Episcopal 
 Church, and one of the kindest of neighbors. Gen- 
 erous to a fault, he contributed liberally for the al- 
 leviation of suffering and want, and many of his towns- 
 people were often gladened by his material bounty. 
 
'tly77Z^ <^^^^^' 
 
I'IFTEENTH PRESIDENT. 
 
 75 
 
 »>» 
 
 '^ C\\^•i}v'•i>^&^^^::i?C^i?. \''J^Crr al^^.^(^^^S?l^.^'y^'v^^^^^ 
 
 ''i^y.:m^^?\'^mh^mi^^^^:mi^'^'^^^'ii^^^s^^ 
 
 -w^ 
 
 \ 
 
 AMES BUCHANAN, the fif- 
 teenth President of the United 
 States, was born in a small 
 frontier town, at the foot of the 
 eastern ridge of the Allegha- 
 nies, in Franklin Co., l'enn.,on 
 the 23d of April, 1791. The place 
 where the luniible cabin of his 
 father stood was called Stony 
 Batter. It was a wild and ro- 
 mantic spot in a gorge of the moun- 
 tains, with towering summits rising 
 grandly all around. His fatlier 
 was a native of the north of Ireland ; 
 a poor man, who had emigrated in 
 1783, with little property save liis 
 own strong arms. Five years afterwards he married 
 Elizabeth Spear, the daughter of a respectable farmer, 
 and, with his young bride, plunged into the wilder- 
 ness, staked his claim, reared his log-hut, opened a 
 clearing with his axe, and settled down there to per- 
 form his obscure part in the d-rania of life. In this se- 
 cluded liome, where James was born, he remained 
 for eight years, enjoying but few social or intellectual 
 advantages. When James was eight yeats of age, his 
 father removed to the village of Mercersburg, where 
 his son was placed at school, and commenced a 
 course of study in English, Latin and Cireek. His 
 progress was rapid, and at the age of fourteen, he 
 entered Dickinson College, at Carlisle. Here he de- 
 veloped remarkable talent, and took his stand among 
 the firNt scholars in the institution. His application 
 *o study was intense, and yet his native powers en- 
 
 abled him to master the most abstruse subjects with 
 facility. 
 
 In the year 1S09, he graduated with the highest 
 honors of his class. He was then eighteen years of 
 age; tall and graceful, vigorous in health, fond of 
 athletic sport, an unerring shot, and enlivened with 
 an exuberant flow of animal spirits. He immediately 
 commenced the study of law in the city of Lancaster, 
 and was admitted to the bar in i8r2, when he was 
 but twenty-one years of age. Very rapidly he rose 
 in his profession, and at once took undisputed stand 
 with the ablest lawyers of the State. When but 
 twenty-six years of age, unaided by counsel, he suc- 
 cessfully defended before the State Senate one of the 
 judges of the State, who was tried upon articles of 
 impeachment. At the age of thirty it was generally 
 admitted that he stood at the head of the bar; and 
 there was no lawyer in the State who had a more lu- 
 crative practice. 
 
 In 1820, he reluctantly consented to run as a 
 candidate for Congress. He was elected, and for 
 ten years he remained a member of the Lower House. 
 During the vacations of Congress, he occasionally 
 tried some imixjrtant case. In 1831, he retired 
 altogether from the toils of his profession, having ac- 
 quired an ample fortune. 
 
 Gen. J.ackson, upon his elevation to the Presidency, 
 appointed Mr. Buchanan minister to Russia. The 
 duties of his mission he performed with ability, which 
 gave satisfaction to all parties. Upon his return, in 
 1833, he was elected to a seat in the United States 
 Senate. He there met, as his associates, Webster, 
 Clay, A\'right and Calhoun. He advocated the meas- 
 ures proposed by President Jackson, of making repri- 
 
76 
 
 JAMES BUCHANAN. 
 
 sals against France, to enforce the payment of our 
 claims against that country; and defended the course' 
 of the President in his unprecedented and wholesale 
 removal from office of those who were not the sup- 
 porters of'his administration. Upon this (piestion lie 
 was brought into direct collision with Henry Clay. 
 He also, with voice and vote, advocated expunging 
 from tlie journal of the Senate the vote of censure 
 against Gen. Jackson for removing the deposits. 
 Earnestly he opposed the abolition of slavery in the 
 District of Columbia, and urged the prohibition of the 
 circulation of anti-slavery documents by the United 
 States mails. 
 
 As to petitions on the subject of slavery, he advo- 
 cated that they should be respectfully received; and 
 that the reply should be returned, that Congress had 
 no power to legislate upon the subject. " Congress," 
 said he, " might as well undertake to interfere with 
 slavery under a foreign government as in any of the 
 States where it now exists." 
 
 Upon Mr. Polk's accession to the Presidency, Mr. 
 Buchanan became Secretary of State, and as such, 
 took his share of the responsibility in the conduct of 
 the Mexican War. Mr. Polk assumed that crossing 
 the Nueces by the American troops into tlie disputed 
 territory was not wrong, but for the Mexicans to cross 
 the Rio Grande into that territory was a declaration 
 of war. No candid man can read with pleasure tlie 
 account of the course our Government pursued in that 
 movement. 
 
 Mr. Buchanan identified himself thoroughly with 
 the party devoted to tlie perpetuation and extension 
 of slavery, and brought all the energies of his mind 
 to bear against the Wilmot Proviso. He gave his 
 cordial approval to the compromise measures of 1050, 
 which included the fugitive-slave law. Mr. Pierce, 
 upon his election to the Presidency, honored Mr. 
 Buchanan with the mission to England. 
 
 In the year 1856, a national Democratic conven- 
 tion nominated Mr. Buchanan forthe Presidency. 'Jlie 
 political conflict was one of the most severe in which 
 our country has ever engaged. All the friends of 
 slavery were on one side; all the advocates of its re- 
 striction and final abolition, on the .other. Mr. Fre- 
 mont, the candidate of the enemies of slavery, re- 
 reived 114 electoral votes. Mr. Buchanan received 
 174, and was elected. The popular vote stood 
 1,340,618, for Fremont, 1,224,750 for Buchanan. On 
 March 4th, 1857, Mr. Buchanan was inaugurated. 
 
 Mr. Buchanan was far advanced in life. Only four 
 years were wanting to fill up his threescore years and 
 ten. His own friends, those with whom he had lieen 
 allied in political principles and action for years, were 
 seeking the destruction of the Government, that they 
 might rear upon the ruins of our free institutions a 
 nation whose corner-stone should be human slavery. 
 [n this emergency, Mr. Buchanan was hopelessly be- 
 wildered He could not, with his long-avowed prin- 
 
 ciples, consistently oppose the State-rights party in 
 their assumptions. As President of the United States, 
 boimd by his oath faithfully to administer the laws, 
 he could not, without perjury of tlie grossest kind, 
 unite with those endeavoring to overthrow the repub- 
 lic. He therefore did nothing. 
 
 Tlie opponents of Mr. Buchanan's administration 
 nominated Abraham Lmcoln as their standard bearer 
 in the next Presidential canvass. The pro-slavery 
 party declared, that if he were elected, and the con- 
 trol of the Government were thus taken from their 
 hands, they would secede from the Union, taking 
 with them, as they retired, the National Capitol at 
 Washington, and the lion's share of the territory of 
 the United States. 
 
 Mr. Buchanan's sympathy with the pro-slavery 
 party was such, that he had been willing to offer them 
 far more than they had ventured to claim. All the 
 South had professed to ask of the North was non- 
 intervention upon the subject of slavery. Mr. Bu- 
 chanan had been ready to offer them the active co- 
 operation of the Government to defend and extend 
 the institution. 
 
 As the storm increased in violence, the slaveholders 
 claiming the right to secede, and Mr. Buchanan avow- 
 ing that Congress had no power to prevent it, one of 
 the most pitiable exhibitions of governmental im- 
 becility was exhibited the world has ever seen. He 
 declared that Congress had no power to enforce its 
 laws in any State which had withdrawn, or which 
 was attempting to withdraw from the Union. This 
 was not the doctrine of Andrew Jackson, when, with 
 his hand upon his sword-hilt, he exclaimed, " The 
 Union must and shall be preserved!" 
 
 South Carolina seceded in December, i860; nearly 
 three months before the inauguration of President 
 Lincoln. Mr. Buchanan looked on in listless despair. 
 The rebel flag was raised in Charleston : Fort Sumpter 
 was besieged; our forts, navy-yards and arsenals 
 were seized ; our depots of military stores were plun- 
 dered ; and our custom-houses and post-offices were 
 appropriated by the rebels. 
 
 The energy of the rebels, and the imbecility of our 
 Executive, were alike marvelous. The Nation looked 
 on in agony, waiting for the slow weeks to glide away, 
 and close the administration, so terrible in its weak- 
 ness At length the long-looked-for hour of deliver- 
 ance came, when Abraham Lincoln was to receive the 
 scepter. 
 
 The administration of President Buchanan was 
 certainly the most calamitous our country has ex- 
 perienced. His best friends cannot recall it with 
 pleasure. And still more deiilorable it is for his fame, 
 that in that dreadful conflict which rolled its billows 
 of flame and blood over our wholf land, no word came 
 from his lips to indicate his wish that our country's 
 banner should triumph over the flag of the rebellion. 
 He died at his Wheatland retreat, June i, 1868. 
 
<^ 
 
 G^^^^i^^^^^^^cT^ 
 
SIXTEENTH PRESIDENT. 
 
 79 
 
 < ABRAHAM > fl^|l^ < LINCOLN. > 
 
 BRAHAM LINCOLN, the 
 sixteenth President of the 
 Jnited States, w,is born in 
 Hardin Co., Ky., Feb. 12, 
 1809. About the year 1780, a 
 man by the name of Abraham 
 Lincoln left Virginia with his 
 family and moved int6 the then 
 wilds of Kentucky. Only two years 
 after thisemigration, still a young 
 man, while working one day in a 
 "■> field, was stealthily approached by 
 an Indian and shot dead. His widow 
 was left in extreme poverty with five 
 little children, three boys and two 
 girls. Thomas, the youngest of the 
 boys, was four years of age at his 
 father's death. This Thomas was 
 the father of Abraham Lincoln, the 
 President of the United States 
 whose name must henceforth fo'-ever be enrolled 
 with the most prominent in the annals of our world. 
 Of course no record has been kept of the life 
 of one so lowly as Thomas Lincoln. He was among 
 the poorest of the poor. His home was a wretched 
 log-cabin ; his food the coarsest and the meanest. 
 Education he had none; he could never either read 
 or write. As soon as he was able to do anything for 
 himself, he was com[)elled to leave the cabin of his 
 starving mother, and push out into the world, a friend- 
 less, wandering boy, seeking work. He hired him- 
 self out, and thus spent the whole of his youth as a 
 laborer in the fields of others. 
 
 When twenty-eight years of age he buill a log- 
 cabin of his own, and married Nancy Hanks, the 
 daughter of another family of poor Kentucky emi- 
 grants, who had also come from Virginia. Their 
 second child was Abraham Lincoln, the subject of 
 this sketch. The mother of Abraham was a noble 
 woman, gentle, loving, pensive, created to adorn 
 a palace, doomed to toil and pine, and die in a hovel. 
 "All that I am, or hope to be," exclaims the grate- 
 ful son " I owe to my angel-mother. 
 
 When he was eight years of age, his father sold his 
 
 cabin and small farm, and moved to Indiana. Where 
 two years later his mother died. 
 
 Abraham soon became the scribe of the uneducated 
 community around him. He could not have had a 
 better school than this to teacii him to put thoughts 
 into words. Lie also became an eager reader. The 
 books he could obtain were few ; but these he read 
 and re-read until they were almost committed lo 
 memory. 
 
 As the years rolled on, the lot of this lowly family 
 was the usual lot of humanity. There were joys and 
 griefs, weddings and funerals. Abraham's sister 
 Sarah, to whom he was tenderly attached, was mar- 
 ried when a child of but fourteen years of age, and 
 soon died. The family was gradually scattered. Mr. 
 Thomas Lincoln sold out his squatter's claim in 1830, 
 and emigrated to Macon Co., 111. 
 
 Abraham Lincoln was then twenty-one years of age. 
 With vigorous hands he aided his father in rearing 
 another log-cabin. Abraham worked diligently at this 
 until he saw the family comfortably settled, and their 
 small lot of enclosed prairie planted with corn, when 
 he announced to his father his intention to leave 
 home, and to go out into the world and seek his for- 
 tune. Little did he or his friends imagine how bril- 
 liant that fortune was to be. He saw the value of 
 education, and was intensely earnest to improve his 
 mind to the utmost of his power. He saw the ruin 
 which ardent spirits were causing, and became 
 strictly temperate; refusing to allow a drop of intoxi- 
 cating liquor to pass his lips. And he had read in 
 God's word, "Thou shalt not take the name of the 
 Lord thy God in vain;" and a profane expression he 
 was never heard to utter. Religion he revered. His 
 morals were pure, and he was uncontaminated by a 
 single vice. 
 
 Young Abraham worked for a time as a hired laborer 
 among the farmers. Then he went to Springfield, 
 where he was employed in building a large flat-boat. 
 In this he took a herd of swine, floated them down 
 the Sangamon to the Illinois, and thence by the Mis- 
 sissippi to New Orleans. Whatever Abraham Lin- 
 coln undertook, he performed so faithfully as to give 
 great satisfaction to his employers. In this adv(;;i- 
 
8o 
 
 ABRAHAM LINCOLN. 
 
 ture his employers were so well pleased, that upon 
 his return they placed a store and mill under his care. 
 
 In 1832, at the outbreak of the Black Hawk war, he 
 enlisted and was chosen captain of a company. He 
 returned to Sangamon County, and although only 23 
 years of age, was a candidate for the Legislature, but 
 was defeated. He soon after received from Andrew 
 Jackson the appointmentof Postmaster of New Salem, 
 His only post-office was his hat. All the letters he 
 received he carried there ready to deliver to those 
 he chanced to meet. He studied surveying, and soon 
 made this his business^ In 1834 he again became a 
 candidate for the Legislature, and was elected Mr. 
 Stuart, of Springfield, advised him to study law. He 
 walked from New Salem to Springfield, borrowed of 
 Mr. Stuart a load of books, carried theuT back and 
 began his legal studies. When the Legislature as- 
 sembled he trudged on foot with his pack on his back 
 one hundred miles to Vandalia, then the capital. In 
 1836 he was re-elected to the Legislature. Here it 
 was lie first met Stephen A. Douglas. In 1839 he re- 
 moved to Springfield and began the practice of law. 
 His success with the jury was so great that he was 
 soon engaged in almost every noted case in the circuit. 
 
 In 1854 the great discussion began between Mr. 
 Lincoln and Mr, Douglas, on the slavery question. 
 In the organization of the Republican party in Illinois, 
 in 1856, he took an active part, and at once became 
 one of the leaders in that party. Mr. Lincoln's 
 speeches in opposition to Senator Douglas in the con- 
 test in 1858 for a seat in the Senate, form a most 
 notable part of his history. The issue was on the 
 slavery question, and he took the broad ground of 
 ;he Declaration of Independence, that all men are 
 created equal. Mr. Lincoln was defeated in this con- 
 test, but won a far higher prize. 
 
 The great Republican Convention met at Chicago 
 on the r6th of June, i860. The delegates and 
 strangers who crowded the city amounted to twenty- 
 five thousand. An immense building called "The 
 Wigwam," was reared to accommodate the Conven- 
 tion. There were eleven candidates for whom votes 
 were thrown. William H Seward, a man whose fame 
 as a statesman had long filled the land, was the most 
 orominent. It was generally supposed he would be 
 the nominee. Abraham Lincoln, however, received 
 the nomination on the third ballot. Little did he then 
 dream of the weary years of toil and care, and the 
 bloody death, to which that nomination doomed him : 
 and as little did he dream that he was to render services 
 to his country, which would fix upon him the eyes of 
 the whole civilized world, and which would give him 
 aplaceinthe affections of his countrymen, second 
 only, if second, to that of AVashington. 
 
 Election day came and Mr. Lincoln received 180 
 electoral votes out of 203 cast, and was, therefore, 
 constitutionally elected President of the United States. 
 The tirade of abuse that was poured upon this good 
 
 and merciful man, especially by the slaveholders, was 
 greater than upon any other man ever elected to this 
 high position. In Febrciary, 1861, Mr. Lincoln started 
 for Washington, stop|)ing in all the large cities on his 
 way making speeches. The whole journey was frought 
 with much danger. Many of the Southern States had 
 already seceded, and several attempts at assassination 
 were afterwards brought to light. A gang in Balti- 
 more had arranged, upon his arrival to"get uj) a row," 
 and in the confusion to make sure of his death with 
 revolvers and hand-grenades. A detective unravelled 
 the plot. A secret and special train was provided to 
 take him from HarrisL'urg, through Baltimore, at an 
 unexpected hour of tlie night. The train started at 
 half-past ten ; and to prevent ai.y possible communi- 
 cation on the part ot the Secessionists with their Cur.- 
 federate gang in Baltimore, as soon as the train had 
 started the telegraph-wires were cut. Mr. Lincoln 
 reached Washington in safety and was inaugurated, 
 although great anxiety was felt by all loyal people. 
 
 In the selection of his cabinet Mr. Lincoln gave 
 to Mr. Seward the Department of State, and to other 
 prominent opponents before the convention he gave 
 imixjrtant positions. 
 
 During no, other administration have the duties 
 devolving upon the President been so manifold, and 
 the responsibilities so great, as those which fell to 
 the lot of President Lincoln. Knowing this, and 
 feeling his own weakness and inability to meet, and in 
 his own strength to cope with, the difficulties, he 
 learned early to seek Divine wisdom and guidance in 
 determining his plans, and Divine comfort in all his 
 trials, both personal and natioiial. Contrary to his 
 own estimate of himself, Mr. Lincoln was one of the 
 most courageous of men. He went directly into the 
 rebel capital just as the retreating foe was leaving, 
 with no guard but a few sailors. From the time he 
 had left Springfield, in 1861, however, plans had been 
 made for hisassassination,and he at last fell a victim 
 to one of them. April 14, 1865, he, with Gen. Grant, 
 was urgently invited to attend Fords' Theater. It 
 was announced that they would be present. Gen. 
 Grant, however, left the city. President Lincoln, feel- 
 ing, witli his characteristic kindliness of heart, that 
 it would be a disappointment if he should fail them, 
 very reluctantly consented to go. While listening to 
 the play an actor by the name of John Wilkes Booth 
 entered the box where the President and family were 
 seated, and fired a bullet into his brains. He died the 
 next morning at seven o'clock. 
 
 Never before, in the history of the world was a nation 
 plunged into such deep grief by the death of its ruler. 
 Strong men met in the streets and wept in speechless 
 anguish. It is not too much to say that a nation was 
 in tears. His was a life which will fitly become a 
 model. His name as the savior of his country v:;! 
 live with that of Washington's, its father; hisc<-untry- 
 men being unable to decide whirh Is tKe greater. 
 
^^':^-^-:^:i-0Z'^^ 
 
.V/j l/liiVTEENTJI PliESIJJENT. 
 
 83 
 
 NDREW JOHNSON, seven- 
 teenth President of the United 
 'States. The early life of 
 Andrew Johnson contains but 
 ^ the record of poverty, destitu- 
 tion and friendlessness. He 
 was born December 29, 180S, 
 in Raleigh, N. C. His parents, 
 belonging to the class of the 
 "poor whites " of the South, were 
 in such circumstances, that they 
 could not confer even the slight- 
 est advantages of education upon 
 their child. When Andrew was five 
 years of age, his father accidentally 
 lost his life while herorically endeavoring to save a 
 friend from drowning. Until ten years of age, Andrew 
 was a ragged boy about the streets, supported by the 
 labor of his mother, who obtained her living with 
 her own hands. 
 
 He then, having never attended a school one day, 
 and being unable either to read or write, was ap- 
 prenticed to a tailor in his native town. A gentleman 
 was in the habit of going to the tailor's shop occasion- 
 ally, and reading to the boys at work there. He often 
 read from the speeches of distinguished British states- 
 men. Andrew, who was endowed with a mind of more 
 than ordinary native ability, became much interested 
 in these speeches ; his ambition was roused, and he 
 was inspired with a strong desire to learn to read. 
 
 He accordingly applied himself to the alphabet, and 
 with the assistance of some of his fellow- workmen, 
 learned his letters. He then called upon the gentle- 
 man to borrow the book of speeches. The owner, 
 
 pleased with his zeal, not only gave him the book, 
 but assisted him in learning to combine the letters 
 into words. Under such difficulties he pressed ou 
 ward laboriously, spending usually ten or twelve hours 
 at work in the shop, and then robbing himself of rest 
 and recreation to devote such time as he could to 
 reading. 
 
 He went to Tennessee in 1826, and located at 
 Greenville, where he married a young lady who pus 
 sessed some education. Under her instructions he 
 learned to write and cipher. He became prominent 
 in the village debating society, and a favorite with 
 the students of Greenville College. In 1828, he or- 
 ganized a working man's party, which elected him 
 alderman, and in 1830 elected him mayor, whieh 
 position he held three years. 
 
 He now began to take a lively interest in political 
 affairs ; identifying himself with the working-classes, 
 to which he belonged. In 1835, he was elected a 
 member of the House of Representatives of Tennes- 
 see. He was then just twenty-seven years of age. 
 He became a very active member of the legislature, 
 gave his adhesion to the Democratic party, and in 
 1840 "stumped the State," advocating Martin Van 
 Buren's claims to the Presidency, in opposition to those 
 of Gen. Harrison. In this campaign he acquired much 
 readiness as a speaker, and extended and increased 
 his reputation. 
 
 In 1841, he was elected State Senator; in 1843, he 
 was elected a member of Congress, and by successive 
 elections, held that important post for ten years. In 
 1853, he was elected Governor of Tennessee, and 
 was re-elected in 1855. In all these resjjonsible posi- 
 tions, he discharged his duties with distinguished abi". 
 
84 
 
 ANDREW JOHNSON. 
 
 ity, and proved himself the warm friend of the work- 
 ing classes. In 1857, Mr. Johnson was elected 
 United States Senator. 
 
 Years before, in 1845, he had warmly advocated 
 the annexation of Texas, stating however, as his 
 reason, that he thought this annexation would prob- 
 ably prove " to be the gateway out of which the sable 
 sons of Africa are to pass from bondage to freedom, 
 and become merged in a population congenial to 
 themselves." In 1850, he also supported the com- 
 promise measures, the two essential features of which 
 were, that the white people of the Territories should 
 be permitted to decide for themselves whether they 
 would enslave the colored people or not, and that 
 the *'ree States of the North should return to the 
 South persons who attempted to escape from slavery. 
 
 Mr. Johnson was neverashamedof his lowly origin: 
 on the contrary, he often took pride in avowing that 
 he owed his distinction to his own exertions. "Sir," 
 said he on the floor of the Senate, " I do not forget 
 that I am a mechanic ; neither do I forget that Adam 
 was a tailor and sewed fig-leaves, and that our Sav- 
 ior was the son of a carpenter." 
 
 In the Charleston- Baltimore convention of i8uo, ne 
 ivas the choice of the Tennessee Democrats for the 
 Presidency. In 1861, when the purpose of the South- 
 2rn Democracy became apparent, he took a decided 
 stand in favor of the Union, and held that " slavery 
 must be held subordinate to the Union at whatever 
 cost." He returned to Tennessee, and repeatedly 
 imperiled his own life to protect the Unionists of 
 Tennesee. Tennessee having seceded from the 
 Union, President Lincoln, on March 4th, 1862, ap- 
 pointed him Military Governor of the State, and he 
 established (he most stringent military rale. His 
 numerous proclamations attracted wide attention. In 
 
 1864, he was elected Vice-President of the United 
 States, and upon the death of Mr. Lincoln, April 15, 
 
 1865, became President. In a speech two days later 
 he said, " The American people must be taught, if 
 ?hey do not already feel, that treason is a crime and 
 must be punished; that the Government will not 
 always bear with its enemies ; that it is strong not 
 only to protect, but to punish. * * The people 
 must understand that it (treason) is the blackest of 
 crimes, and will surely be punished." Yet his whole 
 administration, the history of which is so well known, 
 was in utter inconsistency with, and the most violent 
 
 opposition to, the principles laid down in that speech. 
 
 In his loose policy of reconstruction and general 
 amnesty, he was opposed by Congress ; and he char- 
 acterized Congress as a new rebellion, and lawlessly 
 defied it, in everything possible, to the utmost. In 
 the beginniiig of 1868, on account of "high crimes 
 and misdemeanors," the principal of which was the 
 removal of Secretary Stanton, in violation of the Ten- 
 ure of Office Act, articles of impeachment were pre- 
 ferred against him, and the trial began March 23. 
 
 It was very tedious, continuing for nearly three 
 months. A test article of the impeachment was at 
 length submitted to the court for its action. It was 
 certain that as the court voted upon that article so 
 would it vote upon all. Thirty-four voices pronounced 
 tike President guilty. As a two-thirds vote was neces- 
 sary to his condemnation, he was pronounced ac- 
 quitted, notwithstanding the great majority against 
 him. The change of one vote from the not guilty 
 side would have sustained the impeachment. 
 
 The President, for the remainder of his term, was 
 but little regarded. He continued, though impotent'7, 
 his conflict with Congress. His own party did not 
 think it expedient to renominate him for the Presi- 
 dency. The Nation rallied, with enthusiasm unpar- 
 alleled since the days of Washington, around the name 
 of Gen. Grant. Andrew Johnson was forgotten. 
 The bullet of the assassin introduced him to the 
 President's chair. Notwithstanding this, never was 
 there presented to a man a better opportunity to im- 
 mortahze his name, and to win the gratitude of a 
 nation. ^ He failed utterly. He retired to his home 
 in Greenville, Tenn., taking no very active part in 
 politics until 1875. On Jan. 26, after an exciting 
 struggle, he was chosen by the Legislature of Ten- 
 nessee, United States Senator in the forty-fourth Con- 
 gress, and took his seat in that body, at the special 
 session convened by President Grant, on the 5th of 
 March. On the 27th of July, 1875, the ex-President 
 made a visit to his daughter's home, near Carter 
 Station, Tenn. When he started on his journey, he was 
 apparently in his usual vigorous health, but on reach- 
 ing the residence of his child the following day, was 
 stricken with paralysis, rendering him unconscious. 
 He rallied occasionally, but finally passed away at 
 2 A.M., July 3r, aged sixty-seven years. His fun- 
 eral was attended at Geenville, on the 3d of August, 
 v/ith every demonstration of respect. 
 
{Zy<^^<^yC-^ 
 
EIGH TEENTII PRESIDENT. 
 
 87 
 
 LYSSES S. GRANT, the 
 eighteenth President of the 
 2^ United States, was born on 
 the 29th of April, 1822, of 
 Christian parents, in a humble 
 home, at Point Pleasant, on the 
 banks of the Ohio. Shortly after 
 his father moved to George- 
 town, Brown Co., O. In this re- 
 mote frontier hamlet, Ulysses 
 received a common-school edu- 
 cation. At the age of seven- 
 teen, in the year 1839, he entered 
 Military Academy at West 
 Point. Here he was regarded as a 
 solid, sensible young man of fair abilities, and of 
 sturdy, honest character. He took respectable rank 
 as a scholar. In June, 1843, he graduated, about the 
 middle in his class, and was sent as lieutenant of in- 
 fantry to one of the distant military post's in the Mis- 
 souri Territory. Two years he past in these dreary 
 solitudes, watching the vagabond and exasperating 
 Indians. 
 
 The war with Mexico came. Lieut. Grant was 
 sent with his regiment to Corpus Christi. His first 
 battle was at Palo Alto. There was no chance here 
 for, the exhibition of either skill or heroism, nor at 
 Resacade la Palma, his second battle. At the battle 
 of Monterey, his third engagement, it is said that 
 he performed a signal service of daring and skillful 
 liorsemanship. His brigade had exhausted its am- 
 munition. A messenger must be sent for more, along 
 a route exposed tothe bullets of the foe. Lieut. 
 Grant, adopting an expedient learned of the Indians, 
 grasped the mane of his horse, and hanging upon one 
 side of the anir»a.l, ran the gauntlet in entire safety. 
 
 From Monterey he was sent, with the fourth infantry, 
 10 aid Gen. Scott, at the siege of Vera Cruz. In 
 preparation for the march to the city of Mexico, he 
 was appointed quartermaster of his regiment. At the 
 battle of Molino del Rey, he was promoted to a 
 first lieutenancy, and was brevetted captain at Cha- 
 pultepec. 
 
 At the close of the Mexican War, Capt. Grant re- 
 turned with his regiment to New York, and was again 
 sent to one of the military posts on the frontier. The 
 discovery of gold in California causing an immense 
 tide of emigration to flow to the Pacific shores, Capt. 
 Grant was sent with a battalion to Fort Dallas, in 
 Oregon, for the protection of the interests of the im- 
 migrants. Life was wearisome in those wilds. Capt. 
 Grant resigned his commission and returned to the 
 States ; and having married, entered upon the cultiva- 
 tion of a small farm near St. Louis, Mo. He had but 
 little skill as a farmer. Finding his toil not re- 
 munerative, he turned to mercantile life, entering into 
 the leather business, with a younger brother, at Ga- 
 lena, 111. This was in the year i860. As the tidings 
 of the rebels firing on Fort Sumpter reached the ears 
 of Capt. Grant in his counting-room, he said, — 
 "Uncle Sam has educated me for the army; though 
 I have served him through one war, I do not feel that 
 I have yet repaid the debt. I am still ready to discharge 
 my obligations. I shall therefore buckle on my sword 
 and see Uncle Sam through this war too." 
 
 He went into the streets, raised a company of vol- 
 unteers, and led them as their captain to Springfield, 
 the capital of the State, where their services were 
 offered to Gov. Yates. The Governor, impressed by 
 the zeal and straightforward executive ability of Capt. 
 Grant, gave him a desk in his office, to assist in the 
 volunteer organization that was being formed in the 
 State in behalf of the Government. On the 15 th of 
 
UL YSSES S. GRA NT. 
 
 June, t86i, Capt. Grant received a commission as 
 Colonel of the Twenty-first Regiment of Illinois Vol- 
 unteers. His merits as a West Point graduate, who 
 had served for 15 years in the regular army, were such 
 that he was soon promoted to the rank of Brigadier- 
 General and was placed in command at Cairo. The 
 rebels raised their banner at Paducah, near the mouth 
 of the Tennessee River. Scarcely had its folds ap- 
 peared in the breeze ere Gen. Grant was there. The 
 rebels fled. Their banner fell, and the star and 
 stripes were unfurled in its stead. 
 
 He entered the service with great determination 
 and immediately began active duty. This was the be- 
 ginning, and until the surrender of Lee at Richmond 
 he was ever pushing the enemy with great vigor and 
 effectiveness. At Belmont, a few days later, he sur- 
 prised and routed the rebels, then at Fort Henry 
 won another victory. Then came the brilliant fight 
 at Fort Donelson. The nation was electrified by the 
 victory, and the brave leader of the boys in blue was 
 immediately made a M.njor-General, and the mifitary 
 district of Tennessee was assigned to him. 
 
 Like all great captains. Gen. Grant knew well how 
 to secure the results of victory. He immediately 
 pushed on to the enemies' lines. Then came the 
 terrible battles of Pittsburg Landing, Corinth, and the 
 siege of Vicksburg, where Gen. Pemberton made an 
 unconditional surrender of the city with over thirty 
 thousand men and one-hundred and seventy-two can- 
 non. The fall of Vicksburg was by far the most 
 severe blow which the rebels had thus far encountered, 
 and opened up the Mississippi from Cairo to theGulf. 
 
 Gen. Grant was next ordered to co-operate with 
 Gen. Banks in a movement upon Texas, and pro- 
 ceeded to New Orleans, where he was thrown from 
 (!!s horse, and received severe injuries, from which he 
 was laid up for months. He then rushed tc the aid 
 of Gens. Rosecrans and Thomas at Chattanooga, and 
 by a wonderful series of strategic and technical meas- 
 ures put the Union Army in fighting condition. Then 
 followed the bloody battles at Chattanooga, Lookout 
 Mountain and Missionary Ridge, in which the rebels 
 were routed with great loss. This won for him un- 
 bounded praise in the North. On the 4th of Febru- 
 ary, 1864, Congress revived the grade of lieutenant- 
 general, and the rank was conferred on Gen. Grant. 
 He repaired to Washington to receive his credentials 
 and enter \ipon Ih^ duties of his new office. 
 
 Gen. Grant decided as soon as he took charge of 
 ihe army to concentrate the widely-dispersed National 
 troops for an attack upon Richmond, the nominal 
 capital of the Rebellion, and endeavor there to de- 
 stroy the rebel armies which would be promptly as- 
 sembled from all quarters for its defence. The whole 
 continent seemed to tremble under the tramp of these 
 majestic armies, rushing to the decisive battle field. 
 Steamers were crowded with troops. Railway trains 
 were burdened with closely packed thousands. His 
 plans were comprehensive and involved a series of 
 campaigns, which were executed with remarkable en- 
 ergy and ability, and were consummated at the sur- 
 render of Lee, April 9, 1865. 
 
 The war was ended. The Union was saved. The 
 almost unanimous voice of the Nation declared Gen. 
 Grant to be the most prominent instrument in its sal- 
 vation. The eminent services he had thus rendered 
 the country brought him conspicuously forward as the 
 Republican candidate for the Presidential chair. 
 
 At the Republican Convention held at Chicago, 
 May 21, 1868, he was unanimously nominated for the 
 Presidency, and at the autumn election received a 
 majority of the popular vote, and 214 out of 294 
 electoral votes. 
 
 The National Convention of the Republican party 
 which met at Philadelphia on the 5th of June, 1872, 
 placed Gen. Grant in nomination for a second term 
 by a unanimous vote. The selection was emphati- 
 cally indorsed by the people five months later, 292 
 electoral votes being cast for him. 
 
 Soon after the close of his second term. Gen. Grant 
 started upon his famous trip around the world. He 
 visited almost every country of the civihzed wodd, 
 and was everywhere received with such ovations 
 and demonstrations of respect and honor, private 
 as well as public and official, as were never before 
 bestowed upon any citizen of the United States. 
 
 He was the most prominent candidate before the 
 Republican National Convention in 1880 for a re- 
 nomination for President. He went to New York and 
 embarked in the brokerage business under the firm 
 name of Grant & Ward. The latter proved a villain, 
 wrecked Grant's fortune, and for larceny was sent to 
 the penitentiary. The General was attacked with 
 cancer in the throat, but suff"ered in his stoic-like 
 manner, never complaining. He was re-instated as 
 General of the Army and retired by Congress. The 
 cancer soon finished its deadly work, and July 23, 
 1885, the nation went in mourning over the death of 
 the illustrious General. 
 
s 
 
 L^'^^J^Ji^^- 
 
NliyETEENTH PRESIDKNT. 
 
 9* 
 
 -^a 
 
 
 UTHERFORD B. HAYES, 
 the nineteeiitli President of 
 the United States, was born in 
 Delaware, O., Oct. 4, 1822, al- 
 most three months after the 
 death of his father, Rutherford 
 Hayes. His ancestry on both 
 the paternal and maternal sides, 
 was of the most honorable char- 
 acter. It can be traced, it is said, 
 as far back as 1280, when Hayes and 
 Rutherford were two Scottish chief- 
 tains, fighting side by side with 
 Baliol, William Wallace and Robert 
 Bruce. Both families belonged to the 
 nobility, owned extensive estates, 
 and had a large following. Misfor- 
 tune overtaking the family, George Hayes left Scot- 
 land in 1680, and settled in Windsor, Conn. His son 
 George was born in Windsor, and remained there 
 during his life. Daniel Hayes, son of the latter, mar- 
 lied Sarah Lee, and lived from the time of his mar- 
 riage until his death in Simsbury, Conn. Ezekiel, 
 son of Daniel, was born in 1724, and was a manufac- 
 turer of scythes at Bradford, Conn. Rutherford Hayes, 
 son of F.zekiel and grandfather of President Hayes, was 
 born in New Haven, in August, 1756. He was a farmer, 
 blacksmith and tavern-keeper. He emigrated to 
 Vermont at an unknown date, settling in Brattleboro, 
 where he estabhshed a hotel. Here his son Ruth- 
 erford Hayes the father of President Hayes, was 
 
 born. He was married, in September, 1813, to Sophia 
 Birchard, of Wilmington, Vt., whose ancestors emi- 
 grated thither from Connecticut, they having been 
 among the wealthiest and best famlies of Norwich. 
 Her ancestry on the male side are traced back to 
 1635, to John Birchard, one of the principal founders 
 of Norwich. Both of her grandfathers were soldiers 
 in the Revolutionary War. 
 
 The father of President Hayes was an industrious, 
 frugal and opened-hearted man. He was of a me. 
 chanical turn, and could mend a plow, knit a stocks 
 ing, or do almost anything else that he choose to 
 undertake. He was a member of the Church, active 
 in all the benevolent enterprises of the town, and con- 
 ducted his business on Christian principles. After 
 the close of the war of 1812, for reasons inexplicable 
 to his neighbors, he resolved to emigrate to Ohio. 
 
 The journey from Vermont to Ohio in that day, 
 when there were no canals, steamers, nor railways, 
 was a very serious affair. A tour of inspection was 
 first made, occupying four months. Mr. Hayes deter- 
 mined to move to Delaware, where the family arrived 
 in 1817. He died July 22, 1822, a victim of malaiial 
 fever, less than three months before the birth of the 
 son, of whom we now write. Mrs. Hayes, in her sore be- 
 reavement, found the support she so much needed in 
 her brother Sardis, who had been a member of the 
 household from the day of its departure from Ver- 
 mont, and in an orphan girl whom she had adopted 
 some time before as an act of charity. 
 
 Mrs. Hayes at this period was very weak, and the 
 
92 
 
 RUTHERFORD B. HAYES. 
 
 subject of this sketch was so feeble at birth that he 
 was not expected to live beyond a month or two at 
 most. As the months went by he grew weaker and 
 weaker, so that the neighbors were in the habit of in- 
 quiring from time to time " if Mrs. Hayes' baby died 
 last night." On one occasion a neighbor, who was on 
 familiar terms with the family, after alluding to the 
 boy's big head, and the mother's assiduous care of 
 him, said in a bantering way, " That's right ! Stick to 
 him. You have got him along so far, and I shouldn't 
 wonder if he would really come to something yet." 
 
 " You need not laugh," said Mrs. Hayes. "You 
 wait and see. You can't tell but I shall make him 
 President of the United States yet." The boy lived, 
 in spite of the universal predictions of his speedy 
 death; and when, in 1825, his older brother was 
 drowned, he became, if possible, still dearer to his 
 mother. 
 
 The boy was seven years old before he went to 
 school. His education, however, was not neglected. 
 He probably learned as much from his mother and 
 sister as he would have done at school. His sports 
 \. -e almost wholly within doors, his playmates being 
 his b. ter and her associates. These circumstances 
 tended, 1.0 doubt, to foster that gentleness of dispo- 
 sition, and that delicate consideration for the feelings 
 of others, which are marked traits of his character. 
 
 His uncle Sardis Birchard took the deepest interest 
 in his education ; and as the boy's health had im- 
 proved, and he was making good progress in his 
 studies, he proposed to send him to college. His pre- 
 paration commenced with a tutor at home; but he 
 was afterwards sent for one year to a professor in the 
 ^Vesleyan University, in Middletown, Conn. He en- 
 tered Kenyon College in 1838, at the age of sixteen, 
 and was graduated at the head of his class in 1842. 
 
 Immediately after his graduation he began the 
 study of law in the office of Thomas Sparrow, Esq., 
 in Columbus. Finding his opportunities for study in 
 Columbus somewhat limited, he determined to enter 
 the Law School at Cambridge, Mass., where he re- 
 mained two years. 
 
 In r845, after graduatmg at the Law School, he was 
 admitted to the bar at Marietta, Ohio, and shortly 
 afterward went into practice as an attorney-at-law 
 with Ralph P. Buckland, of Fremont. Here he re- 
 mained three years, acquiring but a limited practice, 
 and, apparently unambitious of distinction in his pro- 
 fession. 
 
 In 1849 he moved to Cincinnati, where his ambi- 
 tion found a new stimulus. For several years, how- 
 ever, his progress was slow. Two events, occurring at 
 this period, had a powerful influence upon his subse- 
 quent life. One of these was his marrage with Miss 
 Lucy Ware Webb, daughter of Dr. James Webb, of 
 Chilicothe; the other was his introduction to the Cin- 
 cinnati Literary Club, a body embracing among its 
 members such men as'^-hief Justice Salmon P. Chase, 
 
 Gen. John Pope, Gov. Edward F. Noyes, and many 
 others hardly less distinguished in after life. The 
 marriage was a fortunate one in every respect, as 
 everybody knows. Not one of all the wives of our 
 Presidents was more universally admired, reverenced 
 and beloved than was Mrs. Hayes, and no one did 
 more than she to reflect honor upon American woman- 
 hood. The Literary Cluo brought Mr. Hayes into 
 constant association with young men of high char- 
 acter and noble aims, and lured him to display the 
 qualities so long hidden by his bashfulness and 
 modesty. 
 
 In 1856 he was nominated to the office of Judge of 
 the Court of Common Pleas; but he declined to ac- 
 cept the nomination. Two years later, the office of 
 city solicitor becoming vacant, the City Council 
 elected him for the unexpired term. 
 
 In 1 861, when the Rebellion broke out, he was at 
 the zenith of his professional life. His rank at the 
 bar was among the the first. But the news of the 
 attack on Fort Sumpter found him eager to take up 
 arms for the defense of his country. 
 
 His military record was bright and illustrious. In 
 October, 186 1, he was made Lieutenant-Colonel, and 
 in August, 1862, promoted Colonel of the 79th Ohio 
 regiment, but he refused to leave his old comrades 
 and go among strangers. Subsequently, however, he 
 was made Colonel of his old regiment. At the battle 
 of South Mountain he received a wound, and while 
 faint and bleeding displayed courage and fortitude 
 that won admiration from all. 
 
 Col. Hayes was detached from his regiment, after 
 his recovery, to act as Brigadier-General, and placed 
 in command of the celebrated Kanawha division, 
 and for gallant and meritorious services in the battles 
 of Winchester, Fisher's Hill and Cedar Creek, he was 
 promoted Brigadier-General. He was also brevetted 
 Major-General, "forgallant and distinguished services 
 during the campaigns of 1864, in West Virginia." In 
 the course of his arduous services, four horses were 
 shot from under him, and he was wounded four times. 
 
 In 1864, Gen. Hayes was elected to Congress, from 
 the Second Ohio District, which had long been Dem- 
 ocraric. He was not present during the campaign, 
 and after his election was importuned to resign his 
 commission in the army ; but he finally declared, " I 
 shall never come to Washington until I can come by 
 the way of Richmond." He was re-elected in 1866. 
 
 In 1867, Gen Hayes was elected Governor of Ohio, 
 over Hon. Allen G. Thurman, a popular Democrat. 
 In r869 was re-elected over George H. Pendleton. 
 He was elected Governor for the third term in 1875. 
 _ In 1876 he was the standard bearer of the Repub- 
 lican Party in the Presidendal contest, and after a 
 hard long contest was chosen President, and was in 
 augurated Monday, March 5, 1875. He served his 
 full term, not,_hcwever, with satisfaction to his party, 
 but his administration was an average on=, 
 
.-ar* 
 
 
TiVENTIETH PRESIDENT. 
 
 OJ 
 
 
 AMES A. GARFIELD, twen- 
 tieth President of the United 
 States, was bora Nov. ig, 
 1831, in the woods of Orange, 
 Cuyahoga Co., O His par- 
 ents were Abram and EHza 
 (Ballou) Garfield, both of New 
 England ancestry and from fami- 
 lies well known in the early his- 
 3 tory of that section of our coun- 
 try, but had moved to the Western 
 Reserve, in Ohio, early in its settle- 
 ment. 
 
 The house in which James A. was 
 born was not unlike the houses of 
 poor Ohio /armers of that day. It 
 „ ds about 20x30 feet, built of logs, with the spaces be- 
 tween the logs filled with clay. His father was a 
 lard working farmer, and he soon had his fields 
 .:leared, an orchard planted, and a log barn built, 
 f he household comprised the father and mother and 
 heir four children — Mehetabel, Thomas, Mary and 
 Tames. In May, 1S23, the father, from a cold con- 
 .racted in helping to put out a forest fire, died. At 
 this time James was about eighteen months old, and 
 Thomas about ten years old. No one, perhaps, can 
 fell how much James was indebted to his brother's 
 ceil and self-sacrifice during the twenty years suc- 
 ceeding his father's death, but undoubtedly very 
 much. He now lives in Michigan, and the two sis- 
 ters live in Solon, O., near their birthplace. 
 
 The early educational advantages young Garfield 
 enjoyed were very limited, yet he made the most of 
 them. He labored at farm work for others, did car- 
 penter work, chopped wood, or did anything that 
 would bring in a few dollars to aid his widowed 
 mother in he' <=trnggles to keep the little family to- 
 
 gether. Nor was Gen. Garfield ever ashamed of his 
 origin, and he never forgot the friends of his strug- 
 gling childhood, youth and manhood, neither did they 
 ever forget him. When in the highest seats of honor, 
 the humblest fiiend of his boyhood was as kindly 
 greeted as ever. The poorest laborer was sure of tlic 
 sympathy of one who had known all the bitterness 
 of want and the sweetness of bread earned by the 
 sweat of the brow. He was ever the simple, ulain, 
 modest gentleman. 
 
 The highest ambition of young Garfield until he 
 was about sixteen years old was to be a captain of 
 a vessel on Lake Erie. He was anxious to go aboard 
 a vessel, which his mother strongly opposed. She 
 finally consented to his going to Cleveland, with the 
 understanding, however, that he sliould try to obtain 
 some other kind of employment. He walked all the 
 way to Cleveland. This was his first visit to the city. 
 After making many applications for work, and trying 
 to get aboard a lake vessel, and not meeting with 
 success, he engaged as a driver for his cousin, Amos 
 Letcher, on the Ohio & Pennsylvania Canal. He re- 
 mained at this work but a short time when he went 
 home, and attended the seminary at Chester for 
 about three years, when he entered Hiram and the 
 Eclectic Institute, teaching a few terms of school in 
 the meantime, and doing other work. This school 
 was started by the Disciples of Christ in 1850, of 
 which church he was then a member. He became 
 janitor and bell-ringer in order to help pay his way. 
 He then became both teacher and pupil. He soon 
 " exhausted Hiram " and needed more ; hence, in the 
 fall of 1854, he entered Williams College, from which 
 he graduated in 1856, taking one of the highest hon- 
 ors of his class. He afterwards returned I0 Hiram 
 College as its President. As above stated, he early 
 united with the Christian or Diciples Church at 
 Hiram, and was ever after a devoted, zealous mem- 
 ber, often preaching in its pulpit and places where 
 he happened to be. Dr. Noah Porter, Presidert of 
 Yale College, says of him in reference to his religion: 
 
96 
 
 JAMES A. GARFIELD. 
 
 " President Garfield was more than a man of 
 strong moral and religious convictions. His whole 
 history, from boyhood to the last, shows that duty to 
 man and to God, and devotion to Christ and life and 
 faith and spiritual commission were controlling springs 
 of his being, and to a more than usual degree. In 
 my judgment there is no more interesting feature of 
 his character than his loyal allegiance to the body of 
 Christians in which he was trained, and the fervent 
 sympathy which he ever showed in their Christian 
 communion. Not many of the few 'wise and mighty 
 and noble who are called' shovv a similar loyalty to 
 tho less stately and cultured Christian comnmnions 
 in wiiich they have been reared. Too often it is true 
 that as they step upward in social and political sig- 
 nificance they step upward from one degree to 
 another in some of the many types of fashionable 
 Christianity. President Garfield adhered to the 
 church of his mother, the church in which he was 
 trained, and in which he served as a pillar and an 
 evangelist, and yet with the largest and most unsec- 
 tarian charity for all 'who love our Lord in sincerity.'" 
 
 Mr. Garfield was united in marriage witli Miss 
 Lucretia Rudolph, Nov. i r, 1858, who proved herself 
 worthy as the wife of one whom all the world loved and 
 mourned. To them were born seven children, five of 
 whom are still living, four boys and one girl. 
 
 Mr. Garfield made his first political speeches in 1856, 
 in Hiram and the neighboring villages, and three 
 years later he began to speak at county mass-meet- 
 ings, and became the favorite speaker wherever he 
 was. During this year he was elected to the Ohio 
 Senate. He also began to study law at Cleveland, 
 and in 1861 was admitted to the bar. The great 
 Rebellion broke out in the early part of this year, 
 and Mr. Garfield at once resolved to fight as he had 
 talked, and enlisted to defend the old flag. He re- 
 ceived his commission as Lieut.-Colonel of the Forty- 
 second Regiment of Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Aug. 
 14,1861. He was immediately put into active ser- 
 vice, and before he had ever seen a gun fired in action, 
 was placed in command of four regiments of infantry 
 and eight companies of cavalry, charged with the 
 work of driving out of his native State the officer 
 (Humphrey Marshall) reputed to be the ablest of 
 those, not educated to war whom Kentucky had given 
 to the Rebellion. This work was bravely and speed- 
 ily accomplished, although against great odds. Pres- 
 ident Lincoln, on his success commissioned him 
 Brigadier-General, Jan. 10, 1862; and as "he had 
 been the youngest man in the Ohio Senate two years 
 before, so now he was the youngest General in the 
 army." He was with Gen. Buell's army at Shiloh, 
 in its operations around Corinth and its march through 
 Alabama. He was then detailed as a member of the 
 General Court-Martial for the trial of Gen. Fitz-John 
 Porter. He was then ordered to report to Gen. Rose- 
 crans, and was assigned to the " Chief of Staff." 
 The military history of Gen. Garfield closed with 
 
 his brilliant services at Chickamauga, where he won 
 the stars of the Major-General. 
 
 Without an effort on his part Gei? Garfield was 
 elected to Congress in the fall of 1862 from the 
 Nineteenth District of Ohio. This section of Ohio 
 had been represented in Congress for sixty years 
 mainly by two men — Elisha Whittlesey and Joshua 
 K. Giddings. It was not without a struggle that he 
 resigned hii place in the army. At the time he en- 
 tered Congress he was the youngest member in that 
 body. Ther-; he remained by successive re- 
 elections until he was elected President in 1880. 
 Of his labors in Congress Senator Hoar says : " Since 
 the year 1864 you cannot think of a question which 
 lias been debated in Congress, or discussed before a 
 tribunel of the American people, in regard to which 
 you will not find, if you wish instruction, the argu- 
 ment on one side stated, in almost every instance 
 better than by anybody else, in some speech made in 
 the House of Representatives or on the hustings by 
 Mr. Garfield." 
 
 Upon Jan. 14, 1880, Gen. Garfield was elected to 
 the U. S. Senate, and on the eighth of June, of the 
 same year, was nominated as the candidate of his 
 party for President at the great Chicago Convention. 
 He was elected in the following November, and on 
 March 4, 1881, was inaugurated. Probably no ad- 
 ministration ever opened its existence under brighter 
 auspices tlian that of President Garfield, and every 
 day it grew in favo^" with the people, and by the first 
 of July he had completed all the initiatory and pre- 
 liminary work of his administration and was prepar- 
 ing to leave the city to meet his friends at Willia.Tis 
 College. While on his way and at the depot, in com- 
 pany with Secretary Blaine, a man stepped behind 
 him, drew a revolver, and fired directly at his back. 
 The President tottered and fell, and as he did so the 
 assassin fired a second shot, the bullet cutting the 
 left coat sleeve of his victim, but inflicting no further 
 injury. It has been very truthfully said that this- was 
 " the shot that was heard round the world " Never 
 before in the history of the Nation had anything oc- 
 curred which so nearly froze the blood of the people 
 for the moment, as this awful deed. He was smit- 
 ten on the brightest, gladdest day of all his life, and 
 was at the summit of his power and hope. For eighty 
 days, all during the hot months of July and August, 
 he lingered and suffered. He, however, remained 
 master of himself till the last, and by his magnificent 
 bearing was teaching the country and the world the 
 noblest of human lessons — how to live grandly in the 
 very clutch of death. Great in life, he was surpass- 
 ingly great in death. He passed serenely away Sept. 
 19, 1883, at Elberon, N. J., on the very bank of the 
 ocean, where he had been taken shortly previous. The 
 world wept at his death, as it never had done on the 
 death of any other man who had ever lived upon it. 
 The murderer was duly tried, found guilty and exe- 
 cuted, in one year after he committed the foul deed. 
 
TWEJSTY-FIRST PRESIDENT. 
 
 9') 
 
 HESTER A. ARTHUR, 
 
 5>_ twenty-first Presi'^.^m of the 
 
 'United States, was bom in 
 
 Franklin Com' -ty, Vermont, on 
 
 thefifthofOc'ober, 1830, and is 
 
 the oldest of a family of two 
 
 sons and five daughters. His 
 
 father was the Rev. Dr. William 
 
 Artluir, a Baptistc'',rgyman, who 
 
 emigrated to tb.s country fro'n 
 
 the county Antrim, Ireland, in 
 
 [J his ]8th year, and died in 1875, in 
 
 |\ Newtonville, neai Albany, after a 
 
 ■ " long and successful ministry. 
 
 Young Arthur was educated at 
 Union College, S< henectady, where 
 he excelled in all his studies. Af- 
 ter his graduation he taught school 
 in Vermont for two years, and at 
 the expiration cf that time came to 
 New York, with $500 in his jjocket, 
 and entered the office of ex- Judge 
 E. D. Culver as student. After 
 being admitted to the bar he formed 
 a partnership with his intimate friend and room-mate, 
 Henry D. Gardiner, with the intention of practicing 
 in the West, and for three months they roamed about 
 in the Western States in search of an eligible site, 
 but in the end returned to New York, where they 
 hung out their shingle, and entered upon a success- 
 ful career almost from the start. General Arthur 
 soon afterward niarpfd the daughter of Lieutenant 
 
 Herndon, of the United States Navy, who was lost at 
 sea. Congress voted a gold medal to his widow in 
 recognition of the bravery he displayed on that occa- 
 sion. Mrs. Arthur died shortly before Mr. Arthur's 
 nommation to the Vice Presidency, leaving two 
 children. 
 
 Gen. Arthur obtained considerable legal celebrity 
 in his first great case, the famous Lemmon suit, 
 brought to recover possession of eight slaves who had 
 been declared free by Judge Paine, of the Superior 
 Court of New York City. It was in 1852 that Jon^ 
 athan Lemmon, of Virginia, went to New York with 
 his slaves, intending to ship them to Texas, when 
 they were discovered and freed. The Judge decided 
 that they could not be held by the owner under the 
 Fugitive Slave Law. A howl of rage went up from 
 the South, and the Virginia Legislature authorized the 
 Attorney General of that State to assist in an appeal. 
 Wm. M. Evarts and Chester A. Arthur were employed 
 to represent the People, and they won their case, 
 which then v/ent to the Supreme Court of the United 
 States. Cbarles O'Conor here espoused the cause 
 of the slave-holders, but he too was beaten by Messrs 
 Evarts and Arthur, and a long step was taken toward 
 the emancipation of the black, race. 
 
 Another great service was rendered by General 
 Arthur in the same cause in 1856. Lizzie Jennings, 
 a respectable colored woman, was put off a Fourth 
 Avenue car with violence after she had paid her fare, 
 General Arthur sued on her behalf, and secured a 
 verdict of $500 damages. The next day the compa- 
 ny issued an order to admit colored persons to ride 
 on their cars, and the other car companies quickly 
 
CHESTER A. ARTHUR. 
 
 followed their example. Before that the Sixth Ave- 
 nue Company ran a few special cars for colored per- 
 sons and the other lines refused to let them ride at all. 
 
 General Arthur was a delegate to the Convention 
 at Saratoga that founded the Republican party. 
 Previous to the war he was Judge-Advocate of the 
 Second Brigade of the State of New York, and Gov- 
 ernor Morgan, of that State, appointed hmi Engineer- 
 in-Chief of his staff. In 1861, he was made Inspec- 
 tor General, and soon afterward became Quartermas- 
 ter-General. In each of these offices he rendered 
 great service to the Government during the war. At 
 the end of Governor Morgan's term he resumed the 
 practice of the law, forming a partnership with Mr. 
 Ransom, and then Mr. Phelps, the District Attorney 
 of New Yoik, was added to the firm. The legal prac- 
 tice of this well-known firm was very large and lucra- 
 tive, each of the gentlemen composing it were able 
 lawyers, and possessed a splendid local reputation, if 
 not indeed one of national extent. 
 
 He always took a leading part irt State and city 
 politics. He was appointed Collector of the Port of 
 New York by President Grant, Nov. 21 1872, to suc- 
 ceed Thomas Murphy, and held the office until July, 
 20, 1878, when he was succeeded by Collector Merritt. 
 
 Mr. Arthur was nominated on the Presidential 
 ticket, with Gen. James A. Garfield, at the famous 
 National Republican Convention held at Chicago in 
 June, 1880. This was perhaps the greatest political 
 convention that ever assembled on the continent. It 
 was composed of the 'fading politicians of the Re- 
 publican party, all able men, and each stood firm and 
 fought vigorously and with signal tenacity for their 
 respective candidates that v/ere before the conven- 
 tion for the nomination. Finally Gen. Garfield re- 
 ceived the nomination for President and Gen. Arthur 
 for Vice-President. The campaign which followed 
 was one of the most animated known in the history of 
 our country. Gen. Hancock, the standard-bearer of 
 the Democratic party, was a popular man, and his 
 party made a valiant fight for his election. 
 
 Finally the election came and the country's choice 
 ,vas Garfield and Arthur. They were inaugurated 
 March 4, 1881, as President and Vice-President. 
 A few months only had passed ere the newly chosen 
 President was the victim of the assassin's bullet. Then 
 came terrible weeks of suffering, — those moments of 
 anxious suspense, when the hearts of all civilized na- 
 
 tions were throbbing in unison, longing for the re- 
 covery of the noble, the good President. The remark- 
 able patience that he manifested during those hours 
 and weeks, and even months, of the most terrible suf- 
 fering man has often been called upon to endure, was 
 seemingly more than human. It was certainly God- 
 like. During all this period of deepest anxiety Mr. 
 Arthur's every move was watched, and be it said to his 
 credit that his every action displayed only an earnest 
 desire that the suffering Garfield might recover, to 
 serve the remainder of the term he had so auspi- 
 ciously begun. Not a selfish feeling was manifested 
 in deed or look of this man, even though the most 
 honored position in the world was at any moment 
 likely to fall to him. 
 
 At last God in his mercy relieved President Gar- 
 field from further suffering, and the world, as never 
 before in its history over the death of any other 
 man, wept at his bier. Then it became the duty of 
 the Vice President to assume the responsibilities of 
 the high office, and he took the oath in New York. 
 Sept. 20, 1881. The position was an embarrassing 
 one to him, made doubly so from the facts that all 
 eyes were on him, anxious to know what he would do, 
 what policy he would pursue, and who he would se- 
 lect as advisers. The duties of the office had been 
 greatly neglected during the President's long illness, 
 and many important measures were to be immediately 
 decided by him ; and still farther to embarrass hini he 
 did not fail to realize under what circumstances he 
 became President, and knew the feehngsof many on 
 this point. Under these trying circumstances President 
 Arthur took the reins of the Government in his own 
 hands; and, as embarrassing as were the condition of 
 affairs, he happily surprised the nation, acting so 
 wisely that but few criticised his administration. 
 He served the nation well and faithfully, until the 
 close of his administration, March 4, 1885, and was 
 a popular candidate before his party for a second 
 term. His name was ably presented before the con- 
 vention at Chicago, and was received with grsat 
 favor, and doubtless but for the personal popularity 
 of one of the opposing candidates, he would have 
 been selected as the standard-bearer of his party 
 for another campaign. He retired to private life car- 
 rying with him the best wishes of the American peo- 
 ple, whom he had served in a manner satisfactory 
 to them and with credit to himself. 
 
y^^-trCC^ 
 
TWENTY-SECOND PRESIDENT. 
 
 *3se*^r$«3K$«^$«3^#S!S#$x$^$::eas!g^$;!C$«$:;:$#SiS*$;!'$^^!g^$;:C$^^jg^ 
 
 
 oC>o ■'■ 
 
 TEPHEN GROVER CLEVE- 
 LAND, thetwenty-second Pres- 
 ident of the United States, was 
 born in 1837, in the obscure 
 town of Caldwell, Essex Co., 
 N. J., and in a little two-and-a- 
 half-story white house which is still 
 standing, characteristically to mark 
 the humble birth-place of one of 
 America's great men in striking con- 
 trast with the Old World, where all 
 men high in office must be high iu 
 origin and born in the cradle of 
 wealth. When the subject of this 
 sketch was three years of age, his 
 father, who was a Presbyterian min- 
 ister, with a large family and a small salary, moved, 
 by way of the Hudson River and Erie Canal, to 
 Fayetteville, in search of an increased income and a 
 larger field of work. Fayetteville was then the most 
 straggling of country villages, about five miles from 
 Porapey Hill, where Governor Seymour was born. 
 
 At the last mentioned place young Grover com- 
 menced going to school in the " good, old-fashioned 
 way," and presumably distinguished himself after the 
 manner of all village boys, in doing the things he 
 ought not to do. Such is the distinguishing trait of 
 all geniuses and independent thinkers. When he 
 arrived at the age of-14 years, he had outgrown the 
 capacity of the village school and expressed a most 
 
 emphatic desire to be sent to an academy. To this 
 his father decidedly objected. Academies in those 
 days cost money; besides, his father wanted him to 
 become self-supporting by the quickest possible 
 means, and this at that time in Fayette/ille seemed 
 to be a position in a country store, where his father 
 and the large family on his hands had considerable 
 influence. Grover was to be paid $50 for his services 
 the first year, and if he proved trustworthy he was to 
 receive $[oo the second year. Here the lad com- 
 menced his career as salesman, and in two years he 
 had earned so good a reputation for trustworthiness 
 that his employers desired to retain him for an in- 
 definite length of time. Otherwise he did not ex- 
 hibit as yet any particular '' flashes of genius " or 
 eccentricities of talent. He was simply a good boy. 
 But instead of remaining with this firm in Fayette- 
 ville, he went with the family in their removal to 
 Clinton, where he had an opportunity of attending a 
 high school. Here he industriously pursued his 
 studies until the family removed with him to a point 
 on Black River known as the " Holland Patent," a 
 village of 500 or 600 people, 15 miles north of Utica, 
 N. Y. At this place his father died, after preaching 
 but three Sundays. This event broke up the family, 
 and Grover set out for New York City to accept, at a 
 small salary, the position of " under-teacher " in an 
 asylum for the blind. He taught faithfully for two 
 years, and although he obtained a good reputation in 
 this capacity, he concluded that teaching was not hia 
 
104 
 
 5. GROVE R CLEVELAND. 
 
 calling for life, and, reversing the traditional order, 
 he left the city to seek his fortune, instead of going 
 to a city. He first thought of Cleveland, Ohio, as 
 there was some charm in that name for him; bat 
 before proceeding to that place he went to Buffalo to 
 nsk the advice of his uncle, Lewis F. Allan, a noted 
 stock-breeder of tliat place. The latter did not 
 rpeak enthusiastically. " What is it you want to do, 
 my boy?" he asked. "Well, sir, I want to study 
 law," was the reply. "Good gracioui!" remarked 
 ihe old gentleman ; " do you, indeeJ 1 What ever put 
 that into your head? How niucli money have you 
 got.~" "Well, sir, to tell the truth, I haven't got 
 any.' 
 
 After a long consultation, his uncle offered him a 
 place temporarily as assistant herd-keeper, at $50 a 
 year, wfiile lie could " look around." One day soon 
 afterward he boldly walked into the office of Rogers, 
 Bowen & Rogers, of Buffalo, and told them what he 
 wanted. A number of young men were already en- 
 gaged in the office, but Grover's persistency won, and 
 ne was finally permitted to come as an office boy and 
 have the use of the law library, for the nominal sum 
 of $3 or $4. a week. Out of this he had to pay for 
 his board and washing. The walk to and from his 
 uncle's was a long and rugged one; and, although 
 the first winter was a memorably severe one, his 
 shoes were out of repair and his overcoat — he had 
 none — yet he was nevertheless prompt and regular. 
 On the first day of his service here, his senior em- 
 ployer threw down a copy of Blackstone before him 
 with a bang that made the dust fly, saying "Thai's 
 v.'here they all begin." A titter ran around the little 
 circle of clerks and students, as they thought that 
 was enough to scare young Grover out of his plans ; 
 but in due time he mastered that cumbersome volume. 
 Then, as ever afterward, however, Mr. Cleveland 
 exhibited a talent for executiveness rather than for 
 chasing principles through all their metaphysical 
 possibilities. " Let us quit talking and go and do 
 t," was practically his motto. 
 
 The first public office to which Mr. Cleveland was 
 ejected was that of Sheriff of Erie Co., N. Y., in 
 which Buffalo is situated; and in such capacity it fell 
 \o his duty to inflict capita! punishment upon two 
 criminals. In r88i he was elected Mayor of the 
 City of Buffalo, on the Democratic ticket, with es- 
 pecial reference to the bringing about certain reforms 
 
 in the administration of the municipal affairs of that 
 city. In this office, as well as that of Sheriff, his 
 performance of duty has generally been considered 
 fair, with possibly a few exceptions which were fer- 
 reted out and magnified during the last Presidential 
 campaign. As a specimen of his plain language in 
 a veto message, we quote from one vetoing an iniq li- 
 tous street-cleaning contract: "This is a time for 
 plain speech, and my objection to your action shall 
 be plainly stated. I regard it as the culmination of 
 a mos bare-faced, impudent and shameless scheme 
 to betray the interests of the people and to worse 
 than squander the people's money." The New York 
 Sun afterward very highly commended Mr. Cleve- 
 land's administration as Mayor of Buffalo, and there- 
 upon recommended him for Governor of the Empire 
 State. To the latter office he was elected in 18S2, 
 and his administration of the affairs of State was 
 generally satisfactory. Tlie mistakes he made, if 
 any, were made very public throughout the nation 
 after he was nominated for President of the United 
 States. For this high office he was nominated July 
 II, 1884, by the National Democratic Convention at 
 Chicago, when other competitors were Thomas F. 
 Bayard, Rosvvell P. Flower, Thomas A. Hendricks, 
 Benjamin F. Butler, Allen G. Thurman, etc.: and he 
 was elected by the people, by a majority of about a 
 thousand, over the brilliant and long-tried Repub- 
 lican statesman, James G. Blaine. President Cleve- 
 land resigned his office as Governor of New York in 
 January, 1885, in order to prepare for his duties as 
 the Chief Executive of the United States, in which 
 capacity his term commenced at noon on the 4ih of 
 March, 18S5. For his Cabinet officers he selected 
 the following gentlemen: For Secretary of State, 
 Thomas F. Bayard, of Delaware ; Secretary of the 
 Treasury, Daniel Manning, of New York ; Secretary 
 of War, WiUiam C. Endicott, of Massachusetts; 
 Secretary of the Navy, William C. Wiiitney, of New 
 York; Secretary of the Interior, L. Q. C. Lamar, of 
 Mississippi; Postmaster-General, William F. Vilas, 
 of Wisconsin ; Attorney-General, A. H. Garland, of 
 Arkansas. 
 
 The silver question precipitated a controversy be- 
 tween those who were in favor of the continuance of 
 silver coinage and those who were opposed, Mr. 
 Cleveland answering for the latter, even before hia 
 inauguration. 
 
, C^a 
 
 ^2>'7-^';!V<^-cZt?*-z^ 
 
TWENTY-THIRD PRESIDENT. 
 
 107 
 
 ••o*o.-@^<'/g)..o*o.. 
 
 iENJAMIN HARRISON, the 
 
 twenty-third rresidcnt, is 
 the dnscentlant of one of the 
 historical families of this 
 country. The head of tlie 
 family was a Major General 
 Harrison, one of Oliver 
 Cromwell's trusted follow- 
 ers and fighters. In the zenith of Crom- 
 well's power it became the duty of this 
 Harrison to participate in the trial of 
 Charles I, and afterward to sign the 
 death warrant of the king. He subse- 
 quently paid for this with his life, being 
 hung Oct. 13, 1600. His descendants 
 came to America, and the next of the 
 family that appears in history is Benja- 
 r.:in Harrison, of Virginia, great-grand- 
 father of the subject of this sketch, and 
 after whom he was named. Benjamin Harrison 
 was a member of the Continental Congress during 
 tiie j-ears 1771-5-C, and was one of the original 
 sioners of the Declaration of Independence. He 
 was tliree times elected Governor of Virginia. 
 Gen William Iliniy Harrison, the son of the 
 
 distinguished patriot of the Revolution, after a sue-' 
 eessful career as a soldier during the War of 1812, 
 and with -a clean record as Governor of the North- 
 western Territory, was elected President of the 
 United States in 1840. His career was cut short 
 by death within one month after his innuguration. 
 President Harrison was born at North Bend, 
 Hamilton Co., Ohio, Aug. •'^0, 1833. His life up to 
 tiie time of his graduation by the Miami University, 
 a| Oxford, Ohio, was the uneventful one of a coun- 
 try lad of a family of small means. His fallier was 
 able to give him a good education, and nothing 
 more. He became engaged while at college to tha 
 daughter of Dr. Scott, Principal of a female school 
 at Oxford. After graduating he determined to en- 
 ter upon the study of the law. He went to Cin 
 oinnati and then read law for two years. At the 
 expiration of that time young Harrison receiv,-,d th . 
 only inheritance of his life; his aunt dying left him 
 a lot valued at $800. He regarded this legacy as t 
 fortune, and decided to get married at once, bill? 
 this money and go to some Eastern town an ', be- 
 gin the practice of law. He sold his lot, and witli 
 the money in his pocket, he started out v/ita his 
 young wife to fight for a place in the world. Lie 
 
108 
 
 BENJAMIN HARRISON. 
 
 decided to go to Indianapolis, ^-hich was even at 
 Uint time a town of promise. He met witli slight 
 encouragement at first, making scarcely anything 
 the first year. He worked diligently, applying him- 
 self closely to his calling, built up an extensive 
 piaetice and took a leading rank in the legal pro- 
 fession. He is the father of two children. 
 
 In 1860 Mr. Harrison was nominated for the 
 position of Supreme Court Reporter, and then be- 
 gan his experience as a stump speaker. He can- 
 vassed the State thoroughly, and was elected by a 
 handsome majority. In 18C2 he raised the 17th 
 Indiana Infantry, and was chosen its Colonel. His 
 regiment was composed of the rawest of material, 
 but Col. Harrison employed all his time at first 
 mastering military tactics and drilling his men, 
 when he therefore came to move toward the East 
 witii Sherman his regiment was one of the best 
 drilled and organized in the army. At Resaca he 
 especially distinguished himself, and for his bravery 
 r.t Pcachtree Creek he was made a Brigadier Gen- 
 eral, Gen. Hooker speaking of him in the most 
 complimentarj^ terms. 
 
 During the absence of Gen. Harrison in the field 
 the Supreme Court declared the office of the Su- 
 preme Court Reporter vacant, and another person 
 was elected to the position. From the time of leav- 
 ing Indiana with his regiment until the fall of 1 804 
 he had taken no leave of absence, but having been 
 nominated that year for the same office, he got a 
 thirty-day leave of absence, and during that time 
 made a brilliant canvass of the State, and was elected 
 for another terra. He then started to rejoin Sher- 
 man, but on the way was stricken down with scarlet 
 ^ever, and after a most trying siege made his way 
 io the front in time to participate in the closing 
 Incidents of the war. 
 
 In 1868 Gen. Harrison declined a re-election as 
 reporter, and resumed the practice of law. In 1876 
 he was a candidate for Governor. Although de- 
 feated, the brilliant campaign he made won for him 
 T, National reputation, and he was much sought, es- 
 pecia^.y in the East, to make speeches. In 1880, 
 as usua', he took an active part in the campaign, 
 and w:/ elected to the United States Senate. Here 
 ne served six years, and was known as one of the 
 ablest men, best lawyers and strongest debaters in 
 
 that body. "With the expiration of his Senatorial 
 term he returned to the practice of his profession, 
 becoming the head of one of the strongest firms in 
 the State. 
 
 The political campaign of 1888 was one of the 
 most memorable in the history of our countrj'. Tlie 
 convention which assembled in Chicago in June and 
 named Mr. Harrison as the chief standard bearer 
 of the Republican party, was great in everj'^ partic- 
 ular, and on this account, and the attitude it as- 
 sumed upon the vital questions of the day, chief 
 among whiph was the tariff, awoke a deep interest 
 in the campaign throughout the Nation. Shortly 
 after the nomination delegations began to visit Mr. 
 Harrison at Indianapolis, bis home. This move- 
 ment became popular, and from all sections of the 
 country societies, clubs and delegations journeyed 
 thither to pay their respects to the distinguished 
 statesman. The popularity of these was greatly 
 increased on account of the remarkable speeches 
 made by Mr. Harrison. He spoke daily all through 
 the summer and autumn to these visiting delega- 
 tions, and so varied, masterly and eloquent were 
 his speeches that they at once placed him in the 
 foremost rank of American orators and statesmen. 
 
 On account of bis eloquence as a speaker and bis ' 
 power as a debater, be was called upon at an un- 
 commonly early age to take part in the discussion 
 of the great questions that then began ta agitate 
 the eountrj-. He was an uncompromising ant: 
 slavery man, and was matched against some of L"_e 
 most eminent Democratic speakers of his State. 
 No man who felt the touch of his blade desired to 
 be pitted with him again. "With all his eloq-'ence 
 as an orator be never spoke for oratoriea,. etfect, 
 but his words always went like bullets to the mark 
 He is purely American in bis ideas and is a splec 
 did type of the American statesman. Gifted witU 
 quick perception, a logical mind and a ready tongue, 
 he is one of the most distinguished impromptu 
 speakers in the Nation. Many of these speeches 
 sparkled with the rarest of eloquence and contained 
 arguments of greatest Aveight. Many of his terse 
 statements have already become aphorisms. Origi- 
 nal in thought, precise in logic, terse in statement, 
 yet withal faultless in eloquence, he is recognized as 
 the sound statesman and brilliant orator of the day 
 
'CU&tcOCyAy 
 
GOVERNORS OF ILLINOIS. 
 
 HADRACH BOND, the first 
 Governor of Illinois after its 
 organization as a State, serving 
 from r8i8 to 1822, was born in 
 Frederick County, Maryland, 
 in the year 1773, and was 
 raised a farmer on his father's 
 plantation, receiving only a plain 
 English education. He emigrated 
 to this State in 1794, when it was a 
 part of the "Northwest Territory," 
 continuing in the vocation in which 
 he had been brought up in his native 
 State, in the " New Design," near 
 Eagle Creek, in what is now Monroe 
 County. He served several terms as 
 a member of the General Assembly 
 of Indiana Territory, after it was organized as such, 
 and in 1812-14 he was a Delegate to the Twelfth 
 and Thirteenth Congresses, taking his seat Dec. 3, 
 i8r 2, and serving until Oct. 3, [814. These were 
 the times, the reader will recollect, when this Gov- 
 ernment had its last struggle with Great Britain. 
 The year 1812 is also noted in the history of this 
 State as that in which the first Territorial Legislature 
 was held. It convened at Kaskaskia, Nov. 25, and 
 adjourned Dec. 26, following. 
 
 While serving as Delegate to Congress, Mr. Bond 
 was instrumental in procuring the right of pre-emp- 
 tion on the public domain. On the expiration of his 
 term at Washington he was appointed Receiver of 
 Public Moneys at Kaskaskia, then the capital of the 
 Territory. In company with John G. Comyges, 
 
 Thomas H. Harris, Charles Slade, Michael Jones, 
 Warren Brown, Edward Humphries and Charles W 
 Hunter, he became a proprietor of the site of the 
 initial city of Cairo, which they hoped, from its favor- 
 able location at the junction of the two great 
 rivers near the center of the Great West, would 
 rapidly develop into a metropolis. To aid the enter- 
 prise, they obtained a special charter from the Legis- 
 lature, incorporating both the City and the Bank of 
 Cairo. 
 
 In 1818 Mr. Bond was elected the first Governor 
 of the State of Illinois, being inaugurated Oct., 6 
 that year, which was several weeks before Illinois 
 was actually admitted. The facts are these : In 
 January, 18 18, the Territorial Legislature sent a peti- 
 tion to Congress for the admission of Illinois as a 
 State, Nathaniel Pope being then Delegate. The 
 petition was granted, fixing the northern line of the 
 State on the latitude of the southern extremity of 
 Lake Michigan; but the bill was afterward so amend- 
 ed as to extend this line to its present latitude. In 
 July a convention was called at Kaskaskia to draft a 
 constitution, which, however, was not submitted to 
 the people. By its provisions, supreme judges, pros 
 ecuting attorneys, county and circuit judges, record- 
 ers and justices of the peace were all to be appointed 
 by the Governor or elected by the Legislature. This 
 constitution was accepted by Congress Dec. 30. At 
 that time Illinois comprised but eleven counties, 
 namely, Randolph, Madison, Gallatin, Johnson, 
 Pope, Jackson, Crawford, Bond, Union, Washington 
 and Franklin, the northern portion of the State be- 
 ing mainly in Madison County. Thus it appears 
 that Mr. Bond was honored by the naming of a 
 
SHAJDRACH BOND. 
 
 county before he was elected Governor. The present 
 county of Bond is of small limitations, about 60 to 80 
 miles south of Springfield. For Lieutenant Governor 
 the oeople chose Pierre Menard, a prominent and 
 worthy Frenchman, after whom a county in this State 
 is named. In this election there were no opposition 
 candidates, as the popularity of these men had made 
 their promotion to the chief offices of the S^ate, even 
 before the constitution was drafted, a foregone con- 
 clusion. 
 
 The principal points that excited the people in 
 reference to poHtical issues at this period were local 
 or "internal improvements," as they were called. 
 State banks, location of the capital, slavery and the 
 personal characteristics of the proposed candidates. 
 Mr. Bond represented the "Convention party," for 
 introducing slavery into the State, supported by Elias 
 Kelt Kane, his Secretary of State, and John Mc- 
 Lean, while Nathaniel Pope and John P. Cook led 
 the anti-slavery element. The people, however, did 
 not become very much excited over this issue until 
 1820, when the famous Missouri Compromise was 
 adopted by Congress, limiting slavery to the south 
 of the parallel of 36° 30' except in Missouri. While 
 this measure settled the great slavery controversy, 
 so far as the average public sentiment was tempor- 
 arily concerned, until 1854, when it was repealed 
 under the leadership of Stephen A. Douglas, the issue 
 as considered locally in this State was not decided 
 until 1824, after a most furious campaign. (See 
 sketch of Gov. Coles.) The ticket of 1818 was a 
 compromise one, Bond representing (moderately) the 
 pro-slavery sentiment and Menard the anti-slavery. 
 
 An awkward element in the State government 
 under Gov. Bond's administration, was the imperfec- 
 tion of the State constitution. The Convention 
 wished to have Elijah C. Berry for the first Auditor 
 of Public Accounts, but, as it was believed that the 
 new Governor would not appoint him to the office, 
 the Convention declared in a schedule that " an 
 auditor of public accounts, an attorney general and 
 such other officers of the State as may be necessary, 
 may be appointed by the General Assembly." The 
 Constitution, as it stood, vested a very large appoint- 
 ing power in the Governor; but for the purpose of 
 getting one man into office, a total change was made, 
 a)id the power vested in the Legislature. Of this 
 provision the Legislature took advantage, and de 
 
 clared that State's attorneys, canal commissioners, 
 bank directors, etc., were all '" officers of the State" 
 and must therefore be appointed by itself independ- 
 ently of the Governor. 
 
 During Gov. Bond's administration a general law 
 was passed for the incorporation of academies and 
 towns, and one authorizing lotteries. The session of 
 1822 authorized the Governor to appoint commis- 
 sioners, to act in conjunction with like commissioners 
 appointed by the State of Indiana, to report on the 
 practicabihty and expediency of improving the navi- 
 gation of the Wabash River; also inland navigation 
 generally. Many improvements were recommended, 
 some of which have been feebly worked at even till 
 the present day, those along the Wabash being of no 
 value. Also, during Gov. Bond's term of office, the 
 capital of the State was removed from Kaskaskia to 
 Vandalia. In 1820 a law was passed by Congress 
 authorizing this State to open a canal through the 
 pubhc lands. The State appointed commissioners 
 lo explore the route and prepare the necessary sur- 
 veys and estimates, preparatory to its execution ; 
 but, being unable out of its own resources to defray 
 the expenses of the undertaking, it was abandoned 
 until some time after Congress made the grant of 
 land for the purpose of its construction. 
 
 On the whole. Gov. Bond's administration was 
 fairly good, not being open to severe criticism from 
 any party. In 1824, two years after the expiration 
 of his term of office, he was brought out as a candi- 
 date for Congress against the formidable John P. 
 Cook, but received only 4,374 votes to 7,460 for the 
 latter. Gov. Bond was no orator, but had made 
 many fast friends by a judicious bestowment of his 
 gubernatorial patronage, and these worked zealously 
 for him in the campaign. 
 
 In 1827 ex-Gov. Bond was appointed by the Leg- 
 islature, with Wm. P. McKee and Dr. Gershom 
 Jayne, as Commissioners to locate a site for a peni- 
 tentiary on the Mississippi at or near Alton. 
 
 Mr. Bond was of a benevolent and convivial dis- 
 position, a man of shrewd observation and clear ap- 
 preciation of events. His person was erect, stand- 
 ing six feet in height, and after middle life became 
 portly, weighing 200 pounds. His features were 
 strongly masculine, complexion dark, hair jet and 
 eyes hazel ; was a favorite with the ladies. He died 
 April I r, 1830, in peace and contentment. 
 
id^^r-UA^) CoX^ 
 
GO VERNORS OF ILLIA'OJS. 
 
 "5 
 
 DWARD COLES, second 
 Governor of Illinois, 1823- 
 6, was born Dec. 15, 1786, 
 in Albemarle Co., Va., on 
 the old family estate called 
 "Enniscorthy," on the 
 Green Mountain. His fath- 
 er, John Coles, was a Colonel in the 
 Revolutionary War. Having been fit- 
 ted for college by private tutors, he 
 was sent to Hampden Sidney, where 
 he remained until the autumn of 1805, 
 when he was removed to William and 
 Mary College, at Williamsburg, Va. 
 This college he left in the summer of 
 iSo7,ashort time before the final and graduating 
 examination. Among his classmates were Lieut. 
 Gen. Scott, President John Tyler, Wm. S. Archer, 
 United States Senator from Virginia, and Justice 
 Baldwin, of the United States Supreme Court. The 
 President of the latter college. Bishop Madison, was 
 a cousin of President James Madison, and that cir- 
 cumstance was the occasion of Mr. Coles becoming 
 personally acquainted with the President and re- 
 ceiving a position as his private secretary, 1809-15. 
 The family of Coles was a prominent one in Vir- 
 ginia, and their mansion was the seat of the old- 
 fashioned Virginian hospitality. It was visited by 
 such notables as Patrick Henry, Jefferson, Madison, 
 Monroe, the Randolphs, Tazewell, Wirt, etc. At the 
 age of 23, young Coles found himself heir to a plant- 
 ation and a considerable number of slaves. Ever 
 since his earlier college days his attention had been 
 drawn to the question of slavery. He read every- 
 
 thing on the subject that came in his way, and 
 listened to lectures on the rights of man. The more 
 he reflected upon the subject, the more impossible 
 was it for hira to reconcile the immortal declaration 
 "that all men are born free and equal " with the 
 practice of slave-holding. He resolved, therefore, to 
 free his slaves the first opportunity, and even remove 
 his residence to a free State. One reason which de- 
 termined him to accept the appointment as private 
 secretary to Mr. Madison was because he believed 
 that through the acquaintances he could make at 
 Washington he could better determine in what part 
 of the non-slaveholding portion of the Union he would 
 prefer to settle. 
 
 The relations between Mr. Coles and President 
 Madison, as well as Jefferson and other distinguished 
 men, were of a very friendly character, arising from 
 the similarity of their views on the question of slavery 
 and their sympathy for each other in holding doc- 
 trines so much at variance with the prevailing senti- 
 ment in their own State. 
 
 In 1857, he resigned his secretaryship and spent a 
 portion of the following autumn in exploring the 
 Northwest Territory, for the purpose of finding a lo- 
 cation and purchasing lands on which to settle his 
 negroes. He traveled with a horse and buggy, with 
 an extra man and horse for emergencies, through 
 many parts of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Missouri, 
 determining finally to settle in Illinois. At this time, 
 however, a misunderstanding arose between our 
 Government and Russia, and Mr. Coles .was selected 
 to repair to St. Petersburg on a' special mission, bear- 
 ing important papers concerning the matter at issue. 
 The result was a conviction of the Emperor (Alex- 
 
ii6 
 
 EDWARD COLES. 
 
 ander) of the error committed by his minister at 
 Washington, and the consequent withdrawal of the 
 the latter from the post. On his return, Mr. Coles 
 visited other parts of Europe, especially Paris, where 
 he was introduced to Gen. Lafayette. 
 
 In the spring of 1819, he removed with all his 
 negroes from Virginia to Edvvardsville, III, with the 
 intention of giving them their liberty. He did not 
 make known to them his intention until one beautiful 
 morning in April, as they were descending the Ohio 
 River. He lashed all the boats together and called 
 all the negroes on deck and made them a short ad- 
 dress, concluding his remarks by so expressing him- 
 self that by a turn of a sentence he proclaimed in 
 the shortest and fullest manner that they were no 
 longer slaves, but free as he was and were at liberty 
 to proceed with him or go ashore at their pleas- 
 ure. A description of the effect upon the negroes is 
 best desciibed in his own language : 
 
 "The effect upon them was electrical. They stared 
 at me and then at each other, as if doubting the ac- 
 curacy or reality of what they heard. In breathless 
 silence they stood before me, unable to utter a word, 
 but with countenances beaming with expression which 
 no words could convey, and which no language 
 can describe. As they began to see the truth of 
 what they had heard, and realize their situation, there 
 came on a kind of hysterical, giggling laugh. After 
 a pause of intense and unutterable emotion, bathed 
 in tears, and with tremulous voices, they gave vent to 
 their gratitude and implored the blessing of God 
 on me." 
 
 Before landing he gave them a general certificate 
 of freedom, and afterward conformed more particu- 
 larly with the law of this State requiring that each 
 individual should have a certificate. This act of 
 Mr. Coles, all the more noble and heroic considering 
 the overwhelming pro-slavery influences surrounding 
 him, has challenged the admiration of every philan- 
 thropist of modern times. 
 
 March 5, 18 19, President Monroe appointed Mr. 
 Coles Registrar of the Land Office at Edwardsvihe, 
 at that time one of the principal land offices in the 
 State. While acting in this capacity and gaining 
 many friends by his politeness and general intelli- 
 gence, the greatest struggle that ever occurred in 
 Illinois on tlie slavery quesdon culminated in the 
 furious contest characterizing the campaigns and 
 elections of 1822-4. In the summer of 1823, when a 
 ntvi Governor was to be elected to succeed Mr. 
 liond, the pro-slavery element divided into factions, 
 I 111 I ting forward for the executive office Joseph 
 I'hillips, Chief Justice of the State, Thomas C. 
 liiowne and Gen. James B. Moore, of the State Mil- 
 iia. The anti-slavery element united upon Mr. 
 Coles, and, after one of the most bitter campaigns, 
 s'lcceeded in electing him as Governor. His jjlural- 
 ity over Judge Phillips was only 59 in a total vote of 
 
 over 8,000. The Lieutenant Governor was elected 
 by the slavery men. Mr. Coles' inauguration speech 
 was marked by calmness, deliberation and such a 
 wise expression of appropriate suggestions as to 
 elicit the sanction of all judicious politicians. But 
 he compromised not with evil. In his message to 
 the Legislature, the seat of Government being then 
 at Vandalia, he strongly urged the abrogation of the 
 modified form of slavery which then existed in this 
 State, contrary to the Ordinance of 1787. His posi- 
 tion on this subject seems the more remarkable, when 
 it is considered that he was a minority Governor, the 
 population of Illinois being at that time almost ex- 
 clusively from slave-holding States and by a large 
 majority in favor of the perpetuation of that old relic 
 of barbarism. The Legislature itself was, of course, 
 a reflex of the popular sentiment, and a majority of 
 them were led on by fiery men in denunciations of 
 the conscientious Governor, and in curses loud and 
 deep upon him and all his friends. Some of the 
 public men, indeed, went so far as to head a sort of 
 mob, or " shiveree " party, who visited the residence 
 of the Governor and others at Vandalia and yelled 
 and groaned and spat fire. 
 
 The Constitution, not establishing or permitting 
 slavery in this State, was thought therefore to be 
 defective by the slavery politicians, and they desired 
 a State Convention to be elected, to devise and sub- 
 mit a new Constitution; and the dominant politics 
 of the day was "Convention" and "anti-Conven- 
 tion." Both parties issued addresses to the people, 
 Gov. Coles himself being the author of the address 
 published by the latter party. This address revealed 
 the schemes of the conspirators in a masterly inan- 
 ner. It is difficult for us at this distant day to esti- 
 mate the critical and extremely delicate situation in 
 which the Governor was placed at that time. 
 
 Our hero maintained himself honorably and with 
 supreme dignity throughout his administration, and 
 in his honor a county in this State is named. He 
 was truly a great man, and those who lived in 
 this , State during his sojourn here, like those who 
 live at the base of the mountain, were too near to see 
 and recognize the greatness that overshadowed them. 
 
 Mr. Coles was married Nov. 28, 1833, by Bishop 
 De Lancey, to Miss Sally Logan Roberts, a daughter 
 of Hugh Roberts, a descendant of Welsh ancestrv, 
 who cam. > to this country with Wm. Penn in 1682. 
 
 After the expiration of his term of service. Gov. 
 Coles continued his residence in Edwardsville, sup- 
 erintending his farm in the vicinity. He was fond 
 of agriculture, and was the founder of the first agri- 
 cultural society in the State.. On account of ill 
 health, however, and having no family to tie him 
 down, he spent much of his time in Eastern cities. 
 About 1832 he changed his residence to Philadel- 
 phia, where lie died July 7, 1868, and is buried at 
 Woodland, near that city. 
 
^^^y/'o^i^^^^-^:--^,^ 
 
GO VEliNORS OF ILLINOIS. 
 
 -<-^-<###'^>"^ 
 
 INI AN EDWARDS, Governor 
 from 1827 to 1830, was a son 
 of Benjamin Edwards, and 
 was born in Montgomery 
 County, Maryland, in March, 
 ^^rt 1775. His domestic train- 
 "*'" ing was well fitted to give 
 his mind strength, firmness and 
 honorable principles, and a good 
 foundation was laid for the elevated 
 cljaracter to which he afterwards 
 attained. His parents were Bap- 
 tists, and very strict in their moral 
 principles. His education in early 
 youth was in company with and 
 partlyunder the tuition of Hon. VVm. 
 Wirt, whom his father patronized 
 and who was more than two years 
 older. An intimacy was thus 
 formjd between them which was lasting for life. He 
 was farther educated at Dickinson College, at Car- 
 lisle, Pa. He next commenced the study of law, but 
 before completing his course he moved to Nelson 
 County, Ky., to open a farm for his father and to 
 purchase homes and locate lands for his brothers and 
 sisters. Here he fell in the company of dissolute 
 companions, and for several years led the life of a 
 spendthrift. He was, however, elected to the Legis- 
 lature of Kentucky as the Representative of Nelson 
 county before he was 21 years of age, and was re- 
 elected by an almost unanimous vote. 
 
 In 1798 he was licensed to practice law, and the 
 following year was admitted to the Courts of Tennes- 
 see. About this tinie he left Nelson County for 
 Russellville, in Logan County, broke away from his 
 dissolute companions, commenced a reformation and 
 devoted himself to severe and laborious study. He 
 then began to rise rapidly in his profession, and soon 
 became an eminent lawyer, and inside of four years 
 he filled in succession the offices of Presiding Judge 
 of the General Court, Circuit Judge, fourth Judge of 
 the Court of Appeals and Chief Justice of the State, 
 — all before he was 32 years of age! In addition, in 
 1802, he received a commission as Major of a battal- 
 ion of Kentucky militia, and in 1804 was chosen a 
 Presidential Elector, on the Jefferson and Clinton 
 ticket. In 1806 he was a candidate for Congress, 
 but withdrew on being promoted to the Court of 
 Appeals. 
 
 Illinois was organized as a separate Territory in 
 the spring of 1809, when Mr. Edwards, then Chief 
 Justice of the Court of Appeals in Kentucky, received 
 from President Madison the appointment as Gover- 
 nor of the new Territory, his commission bearing date 
 April 24, i8og. Edwards arrived at Kaskaskia in 
 June, and on the i ith of that month took the oath of 
 office. At the same time he was appointed Sujjerin- 
 tendent of the United States Saline, this Government 
 interest then developing into considerable proportion.? 
 in Southern Illinois. Although duriug the first three 
 years of his administration he had tlie power to make 
 new counties and appoint all the officers, yet he always 
 allowed the people of each county, by an informal 
 
NINIAN En WAJi-DS. 
 
 vote, to select their own officers, both civil and mili- 
 tary. The noted John J. Crittenden, afterward 
 United States Senator from Kentucky, was appointed 
 by Gev. Edwards to the office of Attorney General of 
 the Territory, which office was accepted for a short 
 time only. 
 
 The Indians in iSro committing sundry depreda- 
 tions in the Territory, crossing the Mississippi from 
 the Territory of Louisiana, a long correspondence fol- 
 lowed between the respective Governors concerning 
 the remedies, which ended in a council with the sav- 
 ages at Peoria in 1812, and a fresh interpretation of 
 the treaties. Peoria was depopulated by these de- 
 predations, and was not re-settled for many rears 
 afterward. 
 
 As Gov. Edwards' term of office expired by law in 
 1812, he was re-appointed for another term of three 
 years, and again in 1815 for a third term, serving 
 until the organization of the State in the fall of 181 8 
 and the inauguration of Gov. Bond. At this time 
 ex-Gov. Edwards was sent to the United States 
 Senate, his colleague being Jesse B. Thomas. As 
 Senator, Mr. Edwards took a conspicuous part, and 
 acquitted himself honorably in all the measures that 
 came up in that body, being well posted, an able de- 
 oater and a conscientious statesman. He thought 
 icriously of resigning this situation in 182 1, but was 
 ix;rsuaded by his old friend, Wm. Wirt, and others to 
 continue in office, which he did to the end of the 
 term. 
 
 He was then appointed Minister to Mexico by 
 President Monroe. About this time, it appears that 
 Mr. Edwards saw suspicious signs in the conduct of 
 Wm. H. Crawford, Secretary of the United States 
 Treasury, and an ambitious candidate for the Presi- 
 dency, and being implicated by the latter in some of 
 his statements, he resigned his Mexican mission in 
 order fully to investigate the charges. The result 
 was the exculpation of Mr. Edwards. 
 
 Pro-slavery regulations, often termed "Black Laws," 
 disgraced the statute books of both the Territory and 
 .he State of Illinois during the whole of his career in 
 Jiis commonwealth, and Mr. Edwards always main- 
 tained the doctrines of freedom, and was an important 
 r.ctor in the great struggle which ended in a victory 
 for his party in 1824. 
 
 In 1826-7 the Winnebago and other Indians com- 
 mitted son-e depredations in the northern part of the 
 
 State, and the white settlers, who desired the land<; 
 and wished to exasperate the savages into an evacu- 
 ation of the country, magnified the misdemeanors of 
 the aborigines and thereby produced a hostility be- 
 tween the races so great as to precipitate a little war, 
 known in history as the "Winnebago War." A few 
 chases and skirmishes were had, when Gen. Atkinson 
 succeeded in capturing Red Bird, the Indian chief, 
 and putting him to death, thus ending the contest, at 
 least until the troubles commenced which ended in 
 the " Black Hawk War " of 1832. In the interpre- 
 tation of treaties and execution of their provisions 
 Gov. Edwards had much vexatious work to do. The 
 Indians kept themselves generally within the juris- 
 diction of Michigan Territory, and its Governor, 
 Lewis Cass, was at a point so remote that ready cor- 
 respondence with him was difficult or impossible. 
 Gov. Edwards' administration, however, in regard to 
 the protection of the Illinois frontier, seems to have 
 been very efficient and satisfactory. 
 
 For a considerable portion of his time after his re- 
 moval to Illinois, Gov. Edwards resided upon his 
 farm near Kaskaskia, which he had well stocked with 
 horses, cattle and sheep from Kentucky, also with 
 fruit-trees, grape-vines and shrubbery. He estab- 
 lished saw and grist-mills, and engaged extensively 
 in mercantile business, having no less than eight or ten 
 stores in this State and Missouri. Notwithstanding 
 the arduous duties of his office, he nearly always pur- 
 chased the goods himself with which to supply the 
 stores. Although not a regular practitioner of medi- 
 cine, he studied the healing art to a considerable ex- 
 tent, and took great pleasure in prescribing for, and 
 taking care of, the sick, generally without charge. 
 He was also liberal to the poor, several widows and 
 ministers of the gospel becoming indebted to him 
 even for their homes. 
 
 He married Miss Elvira Lane, of Maryland, in 
 1803, and they became the affectionate parents of 
 several children, one of whom, especially, is well' 
 known to the people of the " Prairie State," namely, 
 Ninian Wirt Edwards, once the Superintendent c< 
 Public Instruction and still a resident of Springfield 
 Gov. Edwards resided at and in the vicinity of Kas- 
 kaskia from 1809 to 1818; in Edwardsville (named 
 after him) from that time to 1824; and from the lat- 
 ter date at Belleville, St. Clair County, until his 
 death, July 20, 1833, of Asiatic cholera. Edwards 
 County is also named in his honor. 
 
GO VERNORS OF ILLINOIS. 
 
 @)®(SV(2)6^^f(§) 
 
 |..OHN REYNOLDS, Governor i83r- 
 4, was born in Montgomery Coun- 
 ty, Pennsylvania, Feb. 26, 1788. 
 His father, Robert Reynolds and 
 his mother, nee Margaret Moore, 
 were both natives of Ireland, from 
 which country they emigrated to 
 the United States in r785, land- 
 ing at Philadelphia. The senior 
 Reynolds entertained an undying 
 hostility to the British Govern- 
 ment. When the subject of this 
 sketch was about six months old, 
 his parents emigrated with him to 
 Tennessee, where many of their 
 relatives had already located, at the base of the 
 Copper Ridge Mountain, about 14 miles northeast of 
 the present city of Knoxville. There they were ex- 
 Dosed to Indian depredations, and were much molest- 
 ed by them. In 1794 they moved into the interior 
 of the State. They were poor, and brought up their 
 children to habits of manual industry. 
 
 In rSoo the family removed to Kaskaskia, 111., with 
 eight horses and two wagons, encountering many 
 Hardships on the way. Here young Reynolds passed 
 the most of his childhood, while his character began 
 to develop, the most prominent traits of which were 
 ambition and energy. He also adopted the principle 
 and practice of total abstinence from intoxicating 
 liquors. In 1807 the family made another removal, 
 
 this time to the " Goshen Settlement," at the foot of 
 the Mississippi bluffs three or four miles southwest 
 of Edwards ville. 
 
 On arriving at his 20th year, Mr. Reynolds, seeing 
 tliat he must look about for his own livelihood and 
 not yet having determined what calling to pursue, 
 concluded first to attend college, and he accordingly 
 went to such an institution of learning, near Knox- 
 ville, Tenn., where he had relatives. Imagine his 
 diffidence, when, after passing the first 20 years of 
 his life without ever having seen a carpet, a papered 
 wall or a Windsor chair, and never having lived in a 
 shingle-roofed house, he suddenly ushered himseK' 
 into the society of the wealthy in the vicinity of 
 Knoxville! He attended college nearly two years, 
 going through the principal Latin authors; but it 
 seems that he, like the rest of the world in modern 
 times, had but very little use for his Latin in after 
 life. He always failed, indeed, to exhibit any good 
 degree of literary disciphne. He commenced the 
 study of law in Knoxville, but a pulmonary trouble 
 came on and compelled him to change his mode 
 of life. Accordingly he returned home and re- 
 cuperated, and in r8i2 resumed his college and 
 law studies at Knoxville. In the fall of 1812 he was 
 admitted to the Bar at Kaskaskia. About this lime 
 he also learned the French language, which he 
 practiced with pleasure in conversation with his 
 family for many years. He regarded this language 
 as being superior to all others for social intercourse. 
 
124 
 
 JOHN REYNOLDS. 
 
 From his services in tlie West, in the war of 1812, 
 he obtained the sobriquet of the " Old Ranger." He 
 was Orderly Sergeant, then Judge Advocate. 
 
 Mr. Reynolds opened his first law office in the 
 winter and spring of 1814, inthe French village of 
 Cahokia, then the capital of St. Clair County. 
 
 In the fall of iSi8 he was elected an Associate 
 Justice upon the Supreme Bench by the General 
 Assembly. In 1825 he entered more earnestly than 
 ever into the practice of law, and the very next year 
 was elected a member of the Legislature, where he 
 acted independently of all cliques and private inter- 
 ests. In 1828 the Whigs and Democrats were for 
 the first time distinctively organized as such in Illi- 
 nois, and the usual party bitterness grew up and 
 raged on all sides, while Mr. Reynolds jjreserved a 
 iudicial calmness and moderation. The real animus 
 if the campaign was " Jackson " and " anti-Jackson," 
 'he former party carrying the State. 
 
 In August, 1830, Mr. Reynolds was elected Gov- 
 ;rnor, araid great excitement. Installed in office, he 
 did all within his power to advance the cause of edu- 
 cation, internal improvements, the Illinois & Mich- 
 igan Canal, the harbor at Chicago, settling the coun- 
 try, etc.; also reccmmended the winding up of the 
 State Bank, as its affairs had become dangerously 
 complicated. In his national politics, he was a 
 moderate supporter of General Jackson. But the 
 most celebrated event of his gubernatorial admin- 
 istration was the Black Hawk War, which occurred 
 in 1832. He called out the militia and prosecuted 
 the contest with commendable diligence, appearing 
 in person on the battle-grounds during the most 
 critical periods. He was recognized by the President 
 as Major-General, and authorized by him to make 
 treaties with the Indians. By the assistance of the 
 general Government the war was terminated without 
 much bloodshed, but after many serious fights. This 
 war, as well as everything else, was materially re- 
 tarded by the occurrence of Asiatic cholera in the 
 West. This was its first appearance here, and was 
 the next event in prominence during Gov. Reynolds' 
 term. 
 
 South Carolina nullification coming up at this time, 
 I was heartily condemned by both President Jackson 
 ■.nd Gov. Reynolds, who took precisely the same 
 grounds as the Unionists in the last war. 
 
 On the termination of his gubernatorial term in 
 .834, Gov. Reynolds was elected a Member of Con- 
 gress, still coiisidering himself a backwoodsman, as 
 ^e had scarcely been outside of the State since he 
 became of age, and had spent nearly all his youthful 
 Jays in the wildest region of the frontier. His firpt 
 iiove in Congress was to adopt a resolution that in 
 all elections made by the House for officers the votes 
 should be given viva voce, each member in his place 
 naming aloud the person for whom he votes. This 
 created considerable heated discussion, but was es- 
 
 sentially adopted, and remained the controlling prin- 
 ciple for many years. The exCiovernor was scarcely 
 absent from his seat a single day, during ei^ht ses- 
 sions of Congress, covering a period of seven years, 
 and he never vacillated in a party vote; but he failed 
 to get the Democratic party to foster his " National 
 Road" scheme. He says, in "My Own Times" (a 
 large autobiography he published), that it was only 
 by rigid economy that he avoided insolvency while in 
 Washington. Daring his sojourn in that city he was 
 married, to a lady of the place. 
 
 In 1837, while out of Congress, and in company 
 with a few others, he built the first railroad in the 
 Mississippi Valley, namely, one about six miles long, 
 leading from his coal mine in the Mississippi bluff to 
 the bank of the river opposite St. Louis. Having not 
 the means to purchase a locomotive, they operated it 
 by horse-power. The next spring, however, the com- 
 pany sold out, at great sacrifice. 
 
 In 1839 the ex-Governor was appointed one of the 
 Canal Commissioners, and authorized to borrow 
 money to prosecute the enterprise. Accord'ngly, he 
 repaired to Philadelphia and succeeding in obtaining 
 a million dollars, which, however, was only a fourth 
 of what was wanted. The same year he and his 
 wife made at our of Europe. This year, also, Mr. 
 Reynolds had the rather awkward little responsibility 
 of introducing to President Van Buren the noted 
 Mormon Prophet, Joseph Smith, as a " Latter-Day 
 Saint ! " 
 
 In 1846 Gov. Reynolds was elected a member of 
 the Legislature from St. Clair County, more particu- 
 larly for the purpose of obtaining a feasible charter 
 for a macadamized road from Belleville to St. Louis, 
 a distance of nearly 14 m.iles. This was immediately 
 built, and was the first road of the kind in the State. 
 He was again elected to the Legislature in 1852, when 
 he was chosen Speaker of the House. In i860, aged 
 and infirm, he attended the National Democratic 
 Convention at Charleston, S. C , as an anti-Douglas 
 Delegate, where he received more attention from the 
 Southern Delegates than any other member. He 
 supported Breckenridge for the Presidency. After 
 the October elections foreshadowed the success of 
 Lincoln, he published an address urging the Demo- 
 crats to rally to the support of Douglas. Immedi- 
 ately preceding and during the late war, his corre- 
 spondence evinced a clear sympathy for the Southern 
 secession, and about the first of March, r86r, he 
 urged upon the Buchanan officials the seizure of the 
 treasure and arms in the custom-house and arsenal 
 at St. Louis. Mr. Reynolds was a rather talkative 
 man, and apt in all the Western phrases and catch- 
 words that ever gained currency, besides many cun- 
 ning and odd ones of his own manufacture. 
 
 He was married twice, but had no children. He 
 died in Belleville, in May, 1865, just after the close 
 of the war. 
 
GOVERA'ORS OF ILLINOIS. 
 
 I ?.■] 
 
 ILLIAM LEE D. EVVING, 
 Governor of Illinois Nov. 3 
 :3 to 17, 1834, was a native 
 of Kentucky, and probably 
 of Scotch ancestry. He had 
 a fine education, was a gentle- 
 man of polished manners and 
 refined sentiment. In 1830 John Rey- 
 nolds was elected Governor of the State, 
 and Zadok Casey Lieutenant Governor, 
 and for the principal events that followed, 
 and the characteristics of the times, see 
 sketch of Gov. Reynolds. The first we 
 see in history concerning Mr. Ewing, in- 
 forms us that he was a Receiver of Public 
 Moneys at Vandalia soon after the organization of 
 tftis State, and that the public moneys in his hands 
 were deposited in various banks, as they are usually 
 -'-•'■ tht \Tesent day. In r823 the State Bank was 
 obbed, by which disaster Mr. Ewing lost a thousand- 
 dollar deposit. 
 
 Vhe subject of this sketch had a commission as 
 'rdonel in the Black Hawk War, and in emergencies 
 ne acted also as Major. In the summer of 1832, 
 ""/hen i >"as rumored among the whites that Black 
 Hawk ai.d "lis men had encamped somewhere on 
 Rock River, Gen. Henry was sent on a tour of 
 reconnoisance, and with orders to drive the Indians 
 from the State. After some opposition from his 
 rubordinate officers, Henry resolved to proceed up 
 Rock River in search of the enemy. On the igth of 
 July, early in the morning, five baggage wagons, 
 
 camp equipage and all heavy and cumbersome arti- 
 cles were piled up and left, so that the army might 
 make speedy and forced marches. For some miles 
 the travel was exceedingly bad, crossing swam[)s 
 and the worst thickets ; but the large, fresh trail 
 gave life and animation to the Americans. Gen. 
 Dodge and Col. Ewing were both actmg as Majors, 
 and composed the " spy corps " or vanguard of the 
 array. It is supposed the army marched nearly 50 
 miles this day, and the Indian trail they followed 
 became fresher, and was strewed with much property 
 and trinkets of the red-skins that they had lost or 
 thrown away to hasten their march. During the 
 following night there was a terrific thunder-storm, and 
 the soldiery, with all their appurtenances, were thor- 
 oughly drenched. 
 
 On approaching nearer the Indians the next day. 
 Gen. Dodge and Major Ewing, each commanding a 
 battalion of men, were placed in front to bring on the 
 battle, but the savages were not overtaken this day 
 Forced marches were continued until they reached. 
 Wisconsin River, where a veritable battle ensued, 
 resulting in the death of about 68 of Black Hawk's 
 men. The next day they continued the chase, and 
 as soon as he discovered the trail of tiie Indians 
 leading toward the Mississippi, Maj. Ewing formed 
 his battalion in order of battle and awaited the order 
 of Gen. Henry. The latter soon appeared on the 
 ground and ordered a charge, which directly resulted 
 in chasing the red warriors across the great river. 
 Maj. Ewing and his command proved particularly 
 efficient in war, as it seems they were the chief actors 
 in driving the main body of the Sacs and Foxes, in- 
 
128 
 
 WILLIAM L. D. EWING. 
 
 eluding Black Hawk himself, across the Mississippi, 
 while Gen. Atkinson, commander-in-chief of the ex- 
 pedition, with a body of the army, was hunting for 
 them in another direction. 
 
 In the above affair Maj. Ewing is often referred to 
 as a " General," which title he had derived from his 
 connection with the militia. 
 
 It was in the latter part of the same year (1832) 
 that Lieutenant Governor Casey was elected to Con- 
 gress and Gen. Ewing, who had been elected to the 
 Senate, was chosen to preside over that body. At 
 the August election of 1834, Gov. Reynolds was also 
 elected to Congress, more than a year ahead of the 
 time at which he could actually take his seat, as was 
 then the law. His predecessor, Charles Slade, had 
 just died of Asiatic cholera, soon after the elec- 
 tion, and Gov. Reynolds was chosen to serve out his 
 unexpired term. Accordingly he set out for Wash- 
 ington in November of that year to take his seat in 
 Congress, and Gen. Ewing, by virtue of his office as 
 President of the Senate, became Governor of the 
 State of Illinois, his term covering only a period of 
 15 dayS; namely, from the 3d to the 17th days, in- 
 clusive, of November. On the 17th the Legislature 
 met, and Gov. Ewing transmitted to that body his 
 message, giving a statement of the condition of the 
 affairs of the State at that time, and urging a contin- 
 uance of the policy adopted by his predecessor; and 
 on the same day Governor elect Joseph Duncan 
 ■ras sworn into office, thus relieving Mr. Ewing from 
 
 the responsible situation. This is the only time that 
 such a juncture has happened in the history of Illi- 
 nois. 
 
 On the 2gth of December, 1835, Gen. Ewing was 
 elected a United States Senator to serve out the 
 unexpired term of Elias Kent Kane, deceased. The 
 latter gentleman was a very prominent figure in the 
 early politics of Illinois, and a county in this State is 
 named in his honor. The election of Gen. Ewing to 
 the Senate was a protracted struggle. His competi- 
 tors were James Seraple, who afterwards held several 
 important offices in this State, and Richard M. 
 Young, afterward a United States Senator and a 
 Supreme Judge and a man of vast influence. On 
 the first ballot Mr. Semple had 25 votes, Young 19 
 and Ewing 18. On the eighth ballot Young was 
 dropped ; the ninth and tenth stood a tie ; but on 
 the 1 2th Ewing received 40, to Semple 37, and was 
 accordingly declared elected. In 1837 Mr. Ewing 
 received some votes for a continuance of his term in 
 Congress, when Mr. Young, just referred to, was 
 elected. In 1842 Mr. Ewing was elected State 
 Auditor on the ticket with Gov. Ford. 
 
 Gen. Ewing was a gentleman of culture, a lawyer 
 by profession, and was much in public life. In person 
 he was above medium height and of heavy build, 
 with auburn hair, blue eyes, large-sized head and 
 short face. He was genial, social, friendly and 
 aff.ible, with fair talent, though of no high degree of 
 originality. He died March 25, 1846. 
 
> 
 
GO VERNORS OF ILLINOIS. 
 
 i-ji 
 
 
 , jsaaitSx/MS'^zrjwiA. c; 
 
 siiTw- cj^^^a/grjnra^/^ 4 
 
 OSEPH DUNCAN, Governor 
 1834-8, was born at Paris, 
 Ky., Feb. 23, 1794. At the 
 tender age of 19 years he en- 
 Hsted in the war against Great 
 Britain, and as a soldier he 
 acquitted himself with credit. He 
 was an Ensign under the daunt- 
 less Croghan at Lower Sandusky, 
 or Fort Stephenson. In Illinois 
 lie first appeared in a public capa- 
 city as Major-General of the Militia, 
 a position which his military, fame 
 had procured him. Subsequently 
 he became a State Senator from 
 I Jackson County, and is honorably 
 mentioned for introducing the first bill providing for 
 a free-school system. In 1826, when the redoubt- 
 able John P. Cook, who had previously beaten such 
 men as John McLean, EUas Kent Kane and ex- 
 Gov. Bond, came up for the fourth time for Congress, 
 Mr. Duncan was brought forward against him by his 
 friends, greatly to the surprise of all the politicians. 
 As yet he was but little known in the State. He was 
 an original Jackson man at that time, being attached 
 to his political fortune in admiration of the glory of 
 his militaiy achievements. His chances of success 
 against Cook were generally regarded as hopeless, 
 but he entered upon the campaign undaunted. His 
 speeches, though short and devoid of ornament, were 
 full of good sense. He made a diligent canvass of 
 the State, Mr. Cook being hindered by the condition of 
 his health. The most that was expected of Mr. 
 Duncan, under the circumstances, was that he would 
 
 obtain a respectable vote, but without defeating Mr. 
 Cook. The result of the campaign, however, was a 
 source of surprise and amazement to both friends 
 and foes, as Mr. Duncan came out 64 r votes ahead! 
 He received 6,321 votes, and Mr. Cook 5,680. Un- 
 til this denoicernent, the violence of party feeling 
 smoldering in the breasts of the people on account 
 of the defeat of Jackson, was not duly appreciated. 
 Aside from the great convention struggle of 1824, no 
 other than mere local and pergonal considerations 
 had ever before controlled an election in Illinois. 
 
 From the above date Mr. Duncan retained his 
 seat in Congress until his election as Governor in 
 .August, 1834. The first and bloodless year of the 
 Black Hawk War he was appointed by Gov. Rey- 
 nolds to the position of Brigadier-General of the 
 volunteers, and he conducted his brigade to Rock 
 Island. But he was absent from the State, in Wash- 
 ington, during the gubernatorial campaign, and did 
 not personally participate in it, but addressed circu- 
 lars to his constituents. His election was, indeed, 
 attributed to the circumstance of his absence, be- 
 cause his estrangement from Jackson, formerly his 
 political idol, and also from the Democracy, largely 
 in ascendency in the State, was complete ; but while 
 his defection was well known to his Whig friends, 
 and even to the leading Jackson men of this State, 
 the latter were unable to carry conviction of that fact 
 to the masses, as mail and newspaper facilities at 
 that day were far inferior to those of the present 
 time. Of course the Governor was much abused 
 afterward by the fossilized Jackson men who re- 
 garded party ties and affiliations as above all 
 other issues that could arise; but he was doubtless 
 
132 
 
 JOSEPH DUNCAN. 
 
 sincere in his opposition to the old hero, as the latter 
 ;;ad vetoed several important western measures 
 which were dear to Mr. Duncan. In his inaugural 
 message he threw off the mask and took a bold stand 
 rigainst the course of the President. The measures 
 ';e recommended in his message, however, were so 
 desirable that the Legislature, although by a large 
 majority consisting of Jackson men, could not refrain 
 from endorsing them. These measures related 
 uainly to banks and internal improvements. 
 
 It was while Mr. Duncan was Governor that the 
 people of Illinois went whirling on with bank and in- 
 ternal impiovement schemes that well nigh bank- 
 'upted the State. The hard times of 1837 came on, 
 and the disasters that attended the inauguration of 
 ihese plans and the operation of the banks were mu- 
 tually charged upon the two political parties. Had 
 any one man autocratic power to introduce and 
 carry on any one of these measures, he would proba- 
 bly have succeeded to the satisfaction of the public; 
 oUt as many jealous men had hold of the same plow 
 nandle, no success followed and each blamed the other 
 fer the failure. In this great vortex Gov. Duncan 
 was carried along, suffering the like derogation of 
 character with his fellow citizens. 
 
 At the height of the excitement the Legislature 
 ■' provided for " railroads from Galena to Cairo, Alton 
 to Shawneetown, Alton to Mount Carmel, Alton to the 
 eastern boundary of the State in the direction of 
 Terre Haute, Quincy via Springfield to the Wabasli, 
 Bioomington to Pekin, and Peoria to Warsaw, — in all 
 about 1,300 miles of road. It also provided for the 
 improvement of the navigation of the Kaskaskia, 
 Illinois, Great and Little Wabash and Rock Rivers ; 
 also as a placebo, $200,000 in money were to be dis- 
 tributed to the various counties wherein no improve- 
 ments were ordered to be made as above. The 
 estimate for the expenses for all these projects was 
 jlaced at a little over $10,000,000, which was not 
 more man half enough ! That would now be equal to 
 saddling upon the State a debt of $225,000,000! It 
 was sufficient to bankrupt the State several times 
 over, even counting all the possible benefits. 
 
 One of the most exciting events that ever occurred 
 in this fair State was the murder of Elijah P. Love- 
 joy in the fall of 1837, at Alton, during Mr. Duncan's 
 lerm as Governor. Lovejoy was an " Abolitionist," 
 editing the Observer at that place, and the pro- 
 slavery slums there formed themselves into a mob, 
 
 and after destroying successively three presses be- 
 longing to Mr. Lovejoy, surrounded the warehouse 
 where the fourth press was stored away, endeavoring 
 to destroy it, and where Lovejoy and his friends 
 were entrenching themselves, and shot and killed the 
 brave reformer! 
 
 About this time, also, the question of removing the 
 State capital again came up, as the 20 years' limit for 
 its existence at Vandalia was drawing to a close. 
 There was, of course, considerable excitement over 
 the matter, the two main points competing for it be- 
 ing Springfield and Peoria. The jealousy of the lat- 
 ter place is not even yet, 45 years afterward, fully 
 allayed. 
 
 Gov. Duncan's term expired in 1838. In 1842 
 he was again proposed as a candidate for the Execu- 
 tive chair, this time by the Whig party, against Adam 
 W. Snyder, of St. Clair County, the nominee of the 
 Democrats. Charles W. Hunter was a third candi- 
 date for the same position. Mr. Snyder, however, died 
 before the campaign had advanced very far, and his 
 party substituted Thomas Ford, who was elected, 
 receiving 46,901 votes, to 38,584 for Duncan, and 
 909 for Hunter. The cause of Democratic success 
 at this time is mainly attributed to the temporary 
 support of the Mormons which they enjoyed, and the 
 want of any knowledge, on the part of the masses, 
 ihat Mr. Ford was opposed to any given policy en- 
 leitained in the respective localities. 
 
 Gov. Duncan was a man of rather limited educa- 
 tion, but with naturally fine abilities he profited 
 greatly by his various public services, and gathered 
 a store of knowledge regarding public affairs which 
 served him a ready purpose. He possessed a clear 
 judgment, decision, confidence in himself and moral 
 courage to carry out his convictions of rigjit. In his 
 deportment he was well adapted to gain the admira- 
 tion of the people. His intercourse with them was 
 both affable and dignified. His portrait at the Gov- 
 ernor's mansion, from which the accompanying was 
 made, represents him as having a swarthy complex- 
 ion, high cheek bones, broad forehead, piercing black 
 eyes and straight black hair. 
 
 He was a liberal patron of the Illinois College at 
 Jacksonville, a member of its Board of Trustees, and 
 died, after a short illness, Jan. 15, 1844, a devoted 
 member of the Presbyterian Church, leaving a wife 
 but no children. Two children, born to them, had 
 died in infancy. 
 
^j^^d-r^ a^/U^^ 
 
GOVERNORS OF ILLINOIS. 
 
 '35 
 
 
 
 ^%0iiHa^ \ 
 
 
 ^ %W^W^, \ 
 
 ^•a«!ii9>-*s>'S;^ 
 
 tHOMAS CARLIN, the sixth 
 Governor of the State of 
 Illinois, serving from 1838 
 to 1842, was also a Ken- 
 tuckian, being born near 
 Frankfort; that State, July 
 18, 1789, of Irish paternity, 
 e opportunities for an education 
 ng very meager in his native 
 ce, he, on approaching years of 
 oment and maturity, applied 
 iself to those branches of learn- 
 : that seemed most important, 
 i thus became a self-made man ; 
 i his taste for reading and 
 dy remained with him through 
 ;. In 1803 his father removed 
 10 Missouri, then a part of " New Spain," where he 
 died in 1810. 
 
 In 18 1 2 young Carlin came to Illinois and partici- 
 pated in all the "ranging" service incident to the 
 w;ir of that period, proving himself a soldier of un- 
 daunted bravery. In 1814 he married Rebecca 
 liuilt, and lived for four years on the bank of the 
 Mississippi River, opposite the mouth of the Mis- 
 sc.'vi, where he followed farming, and then removed 
 to Clreene County. He located the town site of Car- 
 rij' '.on, in that county, and in 1825 made a liberal 
 donation of land for county building purposes. He 
 was the first Sheriff of that county after its separate 
 or;;anization, and afterward was twice elected, as a 
 J.K kson Democrat, to the Illinois Senate. In the 
 P.Lick Hawk War he commanded a spy battalion, a 
 po,t of considerable danger. In 1834 he was ap- 
 pointed by President Jackson to the position of 
 Receiver of Public Moneys, and to fulfill the office 
 
 more conveniently he removed to the city of Quincy. 
 
 While, in 1838, the unwieldy internal improvement 
 system of the State was in full operation, with all its 
 expensive machinery, amidst bank suspensions 
 throughout the United States, a great stringency in 
 the money market everywhere, and Illinois bonds 
 forced to sale at a heavy discount, and the " hardest 
 times " existing that the people of the Prairie State 
 ever saw, the general election of State officers was 
 approaching. Discreet men who had cherished the 
 hope of a speedy subsidence of the public infatua- 
 tion, met with disappointment. A Governor and 
 Legislature were to be elected, and these were now 
 looked forward to for a repeal of the ruinous State 
 policy. But the grand scheme had not yet lost its 
 dazzling influence upon the minds of the people. 
 Time and experience had not yet fully demonstrated 
 its utter absurdity. Hence the question of arresting 
 its career of profligate expenditures did not become 
 a leading one with the dominant party during the 
 campaign, and most of the old members of the Leg- 
 islature were returned at this election. 
 
 Under these circumstances the Democrats, in State 
 Convention assembled, nominated Mr. Carlin for the 
 office of Governor, and S. H. Anderson for Lieuten- 
 ant Governor, while the Whigs nominated Cyrus Ed- 
 wards, brother of Ninian Edwards, formerly Governor, 
 and W. H. Davidson. Edwards came out strongly 
 for a continuance of the State policy, while Carlin 
 remained non-committal. This was the first time 
 that the two main political parties in this State were 
 unembarrassed by any third party in the field. The 
 result of the election was : Carlin, 35,573 ; Ander- 
 son, 30,335 ; Edwards, 29,629 ; and Davidson, 28,- 
 
 7f.S- 
 
 Upon the meeting of the subsequent Legislature 
 (1839), the retiring Governor CDuncan) in his mes- 
 
136 
 
 THOMAS CARLIN. 
 
 sage spoke in emphatic terms of the impolicy of the 
 internal improvement system, presaging the evils 
 threatened, and uiged that body to do their utmost 
 to correct the great error ; yet, on the contrary, the 
 Legislature not only decided to continue the policy 
 but also added to its burden by voting more appro- 
 priations and ordering more improvements. Although 
 the money market was still stringent, a further loan 
 of $4,000,000 was ordered for the Illinois & Mich- 
 igan Canal alone. Cli'cago at that time began to 
 loom up and promise to be an important city, even 
 the great emporium of the West, as it has since in- 
 deed came to be. Ex-Gov. Reynolds, an incompe- 
 tent financier, was commissioned to effect the loan, 
 and accordingly hastened to the East on this respons- 
 ible errand, and negotiated the loans, at considera- 
 ble sacrifice to the State. Besides this embarrassment 
 to Carlin's administration, the Legislature also de- 
 clared that he had no authority to appoint a Secretary 
 of State until a vacancy existed, and' A. P. Field, a 
 Whig, who had already held the post by appointment 
 through three administrations, was determined to 
 keep the place a while longer, in spite of Gov. Car- 
 lin's preferences. The course of the Legislature in 
 this regard, however, was finally sustained by the 
 Supreme Court, in a quo warranto case brought up 
 before it by John A. McCIernand, whom the Gov- 
 ernor had nominated for the office. Thereupon that 
 dignified body was denounced as a "Whig Court!" 
 endeavoring to establish the principle of life-tenure 
 of office. 
 
 A new law was adopted re-organizing the Judici- 
 ary, and under it five additional Supreme Judges 
 were elected by the Legislature, namely, Thomas 
 Ford (afterward Governor), Sidney Breese, Walter B. 
 Scates, Samuel H. Treat and Stephen A. Douglas — 
 all Democrats. 
 
 It was during Cov. Carlin's administration that the 
 noisy campaign of "Tippecanoe and Tyler too " oc- 
 curred, resulting in a Whig victory. This, however, 
 did not affect Illinois politics very seriously. 
 
 Another prominent event in the West during Gov. 
 Carlin's term of office was the excitement caused by 
 the Mormons and their removal from Independence, 
 Mo., to Nauvoo, 111., in 1840. At the same time 
 they began to figure somewhat in State politics. On 
 account of their believing — as they thought, accord- 
 ing to the New Testament — that they should have 
 
 "all things common," and that consequently "all 
 the earth " and all that is upon it were the" Lord's " 
 and therefore the property of his " saints," Ihey 
 were suspected, and correctly, too, of committing 
 many of the deeds of larceny, robbery, etc., that 
 were so rife throughout this country in those days. 
 Hence a feeling of violence grew up between the 
 Mormons and "anti-Mormons." In the State of 
 Missouri the Mormons always supported the Dem- 
 ocracy until they were driven out by the Democratic 
 government, when they turned their support to the 
 Whigs. They were becoming numerous, and in the 
 Legislature of 1840-1, therefore, it became a matter 
 of great interest with both parties to conciliate these 
 people. Through the agency of one John C. Ben- 
 nett, a scamp, the Mormons succeeded in rushing 
 through the Legislature (both parties not daring io 
 oppose) a charter for the city of Nauvoo which nx- 
 tually erected a hierarchy co-ordinate with the Fed ■ 
 eral Government itself. In the fall of 1841 the 
 Governor of Missouri made a demand upon Gov. 
 Carlin for the body of Joe Smith, the Mormon leader, 
 as a fugitive from justice. Gov. Carlin issued the 
 writ, but for some reason it was returned unserved. 
 It was again issued in 1842, and Smith was arrested, 
 but was either rescued by his followers or discharged 
 by the municipal court on a writ of habeas corpus. 
 
 In December, 1841, the Democratic Convention 
 nominated Adam W. Snyder, of Belleville, for Gov- 
 ernor. As he had been, as a member of the Legisla- 
 ture, rather friendly to the Mormons, the latter 
 naturally turned their support to the Democratic 
 party. The next spring the Whigs nominated Ex- 
 Gov. Duncan for the same office. In the meantime 
 the Mormons began to grow more odious to the 
 masses of the people, and the comparative prospects 
 of the respective parties for success befcame very 
 problematical. Mr. Snyder died in May, and 
 Thomas Ford, a Supreme Judge, was substituted as 
 a candidate, and was elected. 
 
 At the close of his gubernatorial term, Mr. Carlin 
 removed back to his old home at CarroUton, where 
 he spent the remainder of his life, as before his ele- 
 vation to office, in agricultural pursuits. In 1849 
 he served out the unexpired term of J. D. Fry in the 
 Illinois House of Representatives, and died Feb. 4, 
 1852, at his residence at CarroUton, leaving a wife 
 and seven children. 
 

 ^2%?^M^c^ (r(r^ 
 
GOVERNORS OF ILLINOIS. 
 
 139 
 
 
 
 -^3-K 
 
 •=H=e^ 
 
 |hOMAS ford, Governor 
 from 1842 to 1846, and au- 
 thor of a very interesting 
 history of Illinois, was born 
 at Uniontown, Pa., in the 
 year 1 800. His mother, after 
 the death of her first hus- 
 band (Mr. Forquer), married Rob- 
 ert Ford, who was killed in 1802, 
 by the Indians in the mountains 
 of Pennsylvania. She was conse- 
 quently left in indigent circum- 
 stances, with a large family, mostly 
 girls. With a view to better her 
 condition, she, in 1804, removed to 
 Missouri, where it had been cus- 
 tomary by the Spanish Govern- 
 ment to give land to actual settlers; but upon her 
 arrival at St. Louis she found the country ceded to 
 the United States, and the liberal policy toward set- 
 tlers changed by the new ownership. After some 
 sickness to herself and family, she finally removed to 
 Illinois, and settled some three miles south of Water- 
 loo, but the following year moved nearer the Missis- 
 sippi bluffs. Here young Ford received his first I 
 
 schooling, under the instructions of a Mr. Humphrey, 
 for which he had to walk three miles. His mother, 
 though lacking a thorough education, was a woman 
 of superior mental endowments, joined to energy 
 and determination of character. She inculcated in 
 her children those high-toned principles which dis- 
 tinguished her sons in public life. She exercised .1 
 rigid economy to provide her children an education; 
 but George Forquer, her oldest son (six years older 
 than Thomas Ford), at an early age had to quit 
 school to aid by his labor in the support of the family. 
 He afterward became an eminent man in Illinois 
 affairs, and but for his early death would probably 
 have been elected to the United States Senate. 
 
 Young Ford, with somewhat better opportunities, 
 received a better education, though limited to the 
 curriculum of the common school of those pioneer 
 times. His mind gave eady promise of superior en- 
 dowments, with an inclination for mathematics. His 
 proficiency attracted the attention of Hon. Daniel P. 
 Cook, who became his efficient patron and friend. 
 The latter gentleman was an eminent lUinois states- 
 man who, as a Member of Congress, obtained a grant 
 of 300,000 acres of land to aid in completing the 
 Illinois & Michigan Canal, and after whom the 
 county of Cook was named. Through the advice of 
 
140 
 
 THOMAS FORD. 
 
 this gentleman, Mr. Ford turned his attention to the 
 study of law; but Forquer, then merchandising, re- 
 garding his education defective, sent him to Transyl- 
 vania University, where, however, he remained but 
 one term, owing to Forquer's failure in business. On 
 his return he alternated his law reading with teach- 
 ing school for support. 
 
 In r829 Gov. Edwards appointed him Prosecuting 
 Attorney, and in 1831 he was re-appointed by Gov. 
 Reynolds, and after that he was four times elected a 
 Judge by the Legislature, without opposition, twice a 
 Circuit Judge, once a Judge of Cliicago, and as As- 
 sociate Judge of the Supreine Court, when, in 1841, 
 the latter tribunal was re-organized by the addition 
 of five Judges, all Democrats. Ford was assigned to 
 the Ninth Judicial Circuit, and while in this capacity 
 lie was liolding Court in Ogle County he received a 
 notice of his nomination by the Democratic Conven- 
 tion for the office of Governor. He immediately re- 
 signed his phice and entered upon the canvass. In 
 August, 1S42, he was elected, and on the 8th of De- 
 cember following he was inaugurated. 
 
 All the offices which he had held were unsolicited 
 by him. He received them upon the true Jefiferson- 
 ian principle, — Never to ask and never to refuse 
 office. Both as a lawyer and as a Judge he stood 
 deservedly high, but his cast of intellect fitted him 
 rather for a writer upon law than a practicing advo- 
 cate in the courts. In the latter capacity he was void 
 of the moving power of eloquence, so necessary to 
 success with juries. As a Judge his opinions were 
 =:ound, lucid and able expositions of the law. In 
 practice, he was a stranger to the tact, skill and in- 
 iinuating address of the politician, but he saw through 
 the arts of demagogues as well as any man. He was 
 plain in his demeanor, so much so, indeed, tliat at 
 one time after the expiration of his term of office, 
 during a session of the Legislature, he was taken by 
 a stranger to be a seeker for the position of door- 
 keeper, and was waited upon at his hotel near mid- 
 night by a knot of small office-seekers with the view 
 of effecting a " combination I " 
 
 Mr. Ford had not the " brass " of the ordinary 
 politician, nor that impetuosity which characterizes a 
 political leader. He cared little for money, and 
 hardly enough for a decent support. In person he 
 was of small stature, slender, of dark complexion, 
 with black hair, sharp features, deep-set eyes, a 
 pointed, aquiline nose having a decided twist to one 
 side, and a small mouth. 
 
 The three most important events in Gov. Ford's 
 administration were the estabHshment of the high 
 financial credit of the State, the "Mormon War "and 
 the Mexican War. 
 
 In tlie first of these the Governor proved himself 
 to be eiyjinently wise. On coming into office he found 
 the State badly paralyzed by tlie ruinous effects of 
 the notorious "internal improvement" schemes of 
 
 the preceding decade, with scarcely anything to 
 show by w-ay of "improvement." The enterprise 
 that seemed to be getting ahead more than all the 
 rest was the Illinois & Michigan Canal. As this 
 promised to be the most important thoroughfare, 
 feasible to the people, it was well under headway in 
 its construction. Therefore the State policy was 
 aliTiost concentrated upon it, in order to rush it on ti; 
 completion. The bonded indebtedness of the State 
 was growing so large as to frighten the people, and 
 they were about ready to entertain a proposition for 
 repudiation. But the Governor had the foresight to 
 recommend such measures as would maintain the 
 public credit, for which every citizen to-day feels 
 thankful. 
 
 But perhaps the Governor is remembered more for 
 his connection with the Mormon troubles than for 
 anything else; for it was during his term of office 
 that the " Latter- Day Saints " became so strong at 
 Nauvoo, built their temple there, increased their num- 
 bers throughout the country, committed misdemean- 
 ors, taught dangerous doctrines, suffered the loss of 
 theirleader, Jo Smith, ijy a violent death, were driven 
 out of Nauvoo to the far West, etc. Having been a 
 Judge for so many years previously, Mr. Ford of 
 course was no i-committal concerning Mormon affairs, 
 and was therefore claimed by both parties and also 
 accused by eacli of sympathizing too greatly with the 
 other side. Mormonism claiming to be a system of 
 religion, the Governor no doubt was " between two 
 fires," and felt compelled to touch the matter rather 
 " gingerly," and doubdess felt greatly relieved when 
 that pestilential people left the State. Such comph- 
 cated iTvatters, especially when religion is mixed up 
 with them, expose every person participating in 
 them to criticism from all parties. 
 
 The Mexican War was begun in the spring of 
 1845, and was continued into the gubernatorial term 
 of Mr. Ford's successor. The Governor's connection 
 with this war, however, was not conspicuous, as it 
 was only administrative, commissioning officers, etc. 
 
 Ford's " History of Illinois " is a veiy readable and 
 entertaining work, of 450 small octavo pages, and is 
 destined to increase in value with the lapse of time. 
 It exhibits a natural flow of compact and forcible 
 thought, never failing to convey the nicest sense. In 
 tracing with his trenchant pen the devious operations 
 of the professional politician, in which he is inimit- 
 able, his account is open, perhaps, to the objection 
 that all his contemporaries are treated as mere place- 
 seekers, while many of them have since been judged 
 by the people to be worthy statesmen. His writings 
 seem slightly open to the criticism that they exhibit 
 a little splenetic partiality against those of his con- 
 temporaries who were prominent during his term of 
 office as Governor. 
 
 The death of Gov. Ford took place at Peoria, 111., 
 Nov. 2, 1850. 
 
' ^TT-i-^^^c^-^ 
 
GO VERNORS OF JLLINOIS. 
 
 U3 
 
 Augustus €. French. 
 
 ^•:?'^i^^*j;*f, 
 
 S!,S-*SA&«8>-S'S-« 
 
 UGUSTUS C. FRENCH, 
 Governor of Illinois from 
 1846 to 1852, was born in 
 the town of Hill, in the 
 State of New Hampshire, 
 (^^ Aug. 2, 1808. He was a 
 descendant in the fourth 
 generation of Nathaniel 
 French, who emigrated from England 
 in 1687 and settled in Saybury, Mass. 
 In early life young French lost his 
 father, but continued to receive in- 
 struction from an exemplary and 
 Christian mother until he was 19 years 
 old, when she also died, confiding to 
 his care and trust four younger broth- 
 ers and one sister. He discharged his trust with 
 parental devotion. His education in early life was 
 such mainly as a common school afforded. For a 
 brief period he attended Dartmouth College, but 
 from pecuniary causes and the care of his brothers 
 and sister, he did not graduate. He subsequently 
 read law, and was admitted to the Bar in 1831, and 
 shortly afterward removed to Illinois, settling first at 
 Albion, Edwards County, where he established him- 
 self in the practice of law. The following year he 
 removed to Paris, Edgar County. Here he attained 
 eminence in his profession, and entered public life 
 by representing that county in the Legislature. A 
 strong attachment sprang up between him and Ste- 
 phen A. Douglas. 
 
 In 1839, Mr. French was appointed Receiver of 
 the United States Land Office at Palestine, Craw- 
 ford County, at which place he was a resident when 
 
 elevated to the gubernatorial chair. In 1844 he was 
 a Presidential Elector, and as such he voted for 
 James K. Polk. 
 
 The Democratic State Convention of 1846, meet- 
 ing at Springfield Feb. 10, nominated Mr. French 
 for Governor. Other Democratic candidates were 
 Lyman Trumbull, John Calhoun (subsequently of 
 Lecompton Constitution notoriety), Walter B. Scates. 
 Richard M. Young and A. W. Cavarly, — an array of 
 very able and prominent names. Trumbull was per- 
 haps defeated in the Convention by the rumor that 
 he was opposed to the Illinois and Michigan Canal, 
 as he had been a year previously. For Lieutenant 
 Governor J. B. Wells was chosen, while other candi- 
 dates were Lewis Ross, Wm. McMurtry, Newton 
 Cloud, J. B. Hamilton and W. W. Thompson. The 
 resolutions declared strongly against the resuscita- 
 tion of the old State Banks. 
 
 The Whigs, who were in a hopeless minority, held 
 their convention June 8, at Peoria, and selected 
 Thomas M. Kilpatrick, of Scott County, for Governor, 
 and Gen. Nathaniel G. Wilcox, of Schuyler, for 
 Lieutenant Governor. 
 
 In the campaign the latter exposed Mr. French's 
 record and connection with the passage of the in- 
 ternal improvement system, urging it against his 
 election; but in the meantime the war with Mexico 
 broke out, regarding which the Whig record was un- 
 popular in this State, The war was the absorbing 
 and dominating question of the period, sweeping 
 every other political issue in its course. The elec- 
 tion in August gave Mr. French 58,700 votes, and 
 Kilpatrick only 36,775. Richard Eells, Abolitionist 
 candidate for the same office, received 5,152 votf-s. 
 
144 
 
 AUGUSTUS C. FRENCH. 
 
 By the new Constitution of 1848, a new election for 
 State officers was ordered in November of that year, 
 before Gov. French's term was half out, and he was 
 re-elected for the term of four years. He was there- 
 fore the incumbent for six consecutive years, the 
 only Governor of this State who has ever served in 
 that capacity so long at one time. As there was no 
 organized opposition to his election, he received 67,- 
 •453 votes, to 5,639 for Pierre Menard (son of the 
 first Lieutenant Governor), 4,748 for Charles V. 
 Dyer, 3,834 for W. L. D. Morrison, and 7,361 for 
 James L. D. Morrison. But Wm. McMurtry, of 
 Knox County, was elected Lieutenant Governor, in 
 place of Joseph B. Wells, who was before elected 
 and did not run again. 
 
 Governor French was inaugurated into office dur- 
 ing the progress of the Mexican War, which closed 
 during the summer of 1847, although the treaty of 
 Guadalupe Hidalgo was not made until Feb. 2, 
 r848. The policy of Gov. French's party was com- 
 mitted to that war, but in connection with that affair 
 he was, of course, only an administrative officer. 
 During his term of office, Feb. 19, r847, the Legisla- 
 ture, by special permission of Congress, declared that 
 all Government lands sold to settlers should be im- 
 mediately subject to State taxation ; before this they 
 were exempt for five years after sale. By this ar- 
 rangement the revenue was materially increased. 
 About the same time, the distribution of Government 
 land warrants among the Mexican soldiers as bounty 
 threw upon the market a great quantity of good 
 lands, and this enhanced the settlement of the State. 
 The same Legislature authorized, with the recom- 
 mendation of the Governor, the sale of the Northern 
 Cross Railroad (from Springfield to Meredosia, the 
 first in the State and now a section of the Wabash, 
 St. Louis & Pacific). It sold for $100,000 in bonds, 
 although it had cost the State not less than a million. 
 The salt wells and canal lands in the Saline reserve 
 in Gallatin County, granted by the general Govern- 
 ment to the State, were also authorized by the 
 Governor to be sold, to apply on the State debt. In 
 1850, for the first time since r83g, the accruing State 
 revenue, exclusive of specific appropriations, was 
 sufficient to meet the current demands upon the 
 treasury. The aggregate taxable property of the 
 State at this time was over $100,000,000, and the 
 population 851,470. 
 
 In 1849 the Legislature adopted the township or. 
 ganization law, which, however, proved defectii'e, 
 and was properly amended in 185 1. At its session 
 in the latter year, the General Assembly also passed 
 a law to exempt homesteads from sale on executions 
 This beneficent measure had been repeatedly urged 
 upon that body by Gov. French. 
 
 In 1850 some business men in St. Louis com- 
 menced to build a dike opposite the lower part of 
 their city on the Illinois side, to keep the Mississippi 
 in its channel near St. Louis, instead of breaking 
 away from them as it sometimes threatened to do. 
 This they undertook without permission from the 
 Legislature or Executive authority of this State ; and 
 as many of the inhabitants ther& complained that 
 the scheme would inundate and ruin much valuable 
 land, there was a slight conflict of jurisdictions, re- 
 sulting in favor of the St. Louis project ; and since 
 then a good site has existed there for a city (East St. 
 Louis), and now a score of railroads center there. 
 
 It was in September, i8sp, that Congress granted 
 to this State nearly 3,000,000 acres of land in aid of 
 the completion of the Illinois Central Railroad, 
 which constituted the most important epoch in the 
 railroad — we might say internal improvement — his- 
 tory of the State. The road was rushed on to com- 
 pletion, which accelerated the settlement of the in- 
 terior of the State by a good class of industrious citi- 
 zens, and by the charter a good income to the State 
 Treasury is paid in from the earnings of the road. 
 
 In 185 I the Legislature passed a law authorizing 
 free stock banks, which was the source of much leg- 
 islative discussion for a number of years. 
 
 But we have not space further to particularize 
 concerning legislation. Gov. French's administra- 
 tion was not marked by any feature to be criticised, 
 while the country was settling up as never before. 
 
 In stature. Gov. French was of medium height, 
 squarely built, light complexioned, with ruddy face 
 and pleasant countenance. In manners he was 
 plain and agreeable. By nature he was somewhat 
 diffident, but he was often very outspoken in his con- 
 victions of duty. In public speech he was not an 
 orator, but was chaste, earnest and persuasive. In 
 business he was accurate and methodical, and in his 
 administration he kept up the credit of the State. 
 
 He died in 1865, at his home in Lebanon, St. 
 Clair Co., 111. 
 
GO VERNORS OF ILLINOIS. 
 
 147 
 
 i^el %. gfiattes0ii:. 
 
 i:OEL A. MATTESON, Governor 
 1853-6, was born Aug. 8, 1808, 
 in Jefferson County, New York, 
 to which place his father had re- 
 moved from Vermont three years 
 before. His father was a farmer 
 in fair circumstances, but a com- 
 mon EngUsh education was all 
 that his only son received. Young 
 Joel first tempted fortune as a 
 small tradesman in Prescott, 
 Canada, before he was of age. 
 He returned from that place to 
 his home, entered an academy, 
 taught school, visited the prin- 
 cipal Eastern cities, improved a farm his father had 
 given him, made a tour in the South, worked there 
 in bLiilding railroads, experienced a storm on the 
 Gulf of Mexico, visited the gold diggings of Northern 
 Georgia, and returned via Nashville to St. Louis and 
 through Illinois to his fatlier's home, when he mar- 
 ried. In 1833, having sold his farm, he removed, 
 with his wife and one child, to Illinois, and entered 
 a claim on Government land near the head of Au 
 Sable River, in what is now Kendall County. At 
 that time there were not more tlian two neighbors 
 within a range of ten miles of lils place, and only 
 three or four houses between him and Chicago. He 
 opened a large farm. His family was boarded 12 
 
 miles away while he erected a house on his claim, 
 sleeping, daring this time, under a rude pole shed. 
 Here his life was once placed in imminent peril by 
 a huge prairie rattlesnake sharing his bed. 
 
 In 1835 he bought largely at the Government land 
 sales. During the speculative real-estate mania which 
 broke out in Chicago in T836 and spread over the State, 
 he sold his lands under the inflation of that period 
 and removed to Joliet. In 1838 he became a heavy 
 contractor on the Illinois & Michigan Canal. Upon 
 the completion of his job in 1841, when hard times 
 prevailed, business at a stand, contracts paid in State 
 scrip; when all the public works except the canal 
 were abandoned, the State offered for sale 700 tons 
 of railroad iron, which was purchased by Mr. Mat- 
 teson at a bargain. This he accepted, shipped and 
 sold at Detroit, realizing a very handsome profit, 
 enough to pay off all his canal debts and leave him a 
 surplus of several thousand dollars. His enterprise 
 next prompted him to start a woolen mill at Joliet, 
 in which he prospered, and which, after successive 
 enlargements, became an enormous establishment. 
 
 In 1842 he was first elected a State Senator, but, 
 by a bungling apportionment, John Pearson, a Senator , 
 holding over, was found to be in the same district, 
 and decided to be entitled to represent it. Mat- 
 teson's seat was declared vacant. Pearson, however, 
 with a nobleness difficult to appreciate in this day of 
 
148 
 
 JOEL A. MATTE SON. 
 
 greed for office, unwilling to represent his district 
 under the circumstances, immediately resigned his 
 unexpired term of two years. A bill was passed in a 
 few hours ordering a new election, and in ten days' 
 time Mr. Matteson was returned re-elected and took 
 his seat as Senator. From his well-known capacity 
 as a business man, he was made Chairman of the 
 Committee on Finance, a position he held during 
 this half and two full succeeding Senatorial terms, 
 discharging its important duties with ability and faith- 
 fulness. Besides his extensive woolen-mill interest, 
 when work was resumed on the canal under the new 
 loan of $1,600,000 he again became a heavy con- 
 tractor, and also subsequently operated largely in 
 building railroads. Thus he showed himself a most 
 energetic and thorough business man. 
 
 He was nominated for Governor by the Demo- 
 cratic State Convention which met at Springfield 
 April 20, 1852. Other candidates before the Con- 
 vention were D. L. Gregg and F. C. Sherman, of 
 Cook; John Dement, of Lee ; Thomas L. Harris, of 
 Menard; Lewis W. Ross, of Fulton ; and D. P. Bush, 
 of Pike. Gustavus Koerner, of St. Clair, was nom- 
 inated for Lieutenant Governor. For the same offices 
 the Whigs nominated Edwin B. Webb and Dexter A. 
 Kuowlton. Mr. Matteson received 80,645 votes at 
 the election, while Mr. Webb received 64,408. Mat- 
 teson's forte was not on the stump; he had not cul- 
 tivated the art of oily flattery, or the faculty of being 
 all things to all men. His intellectual qualities took 
 rather the direction of efficient executive ability. His 
 turn consisted not so much in the adroit manage- 
 ment of party, or the powerful advocacy of great gov- 
 ernmental principles, as in those more solid and 
 enduring operations which cause the physical devel- 
 opment and advancement of a State, — of commerce 
 and business enterprise, into which he labored with 
 success to lead the people. As a politician he was 
 just and liberal in his views, and both in official and 
 private life he then stood untainted and free from 
 blemish. As a man, in active benevolence, social 
 rirtues and all the amiable qualities of neighbor or 
 citizen, he had few superiors. His messages present 
 a perspicuous array of facts as to the condition of the 
 State, and are often couched in forcible and elegant 
 diction. 
 
 The greatest excitement during his term of office 
 was the repeal of the Missouri Compromise, by Con- 
 
 gress, under the leadership of Stephen A. Douglas in 
 1854, when the bill was passed organizing the Terri- 
 tory of Kansas and Nebraska. A large portion of 
 the Whig party of the North, through their bitter op- 
 position to the Democratic party, naturally drifted 
 into the doctrine of anti-slavery, and thus led to what 
 was temporarily called the "Anti-Nebraska" party, 
 while the followers of Douglas were known as " Ne- 
 braska or Douglas Democrats." It was during thi'; 
 embryo stage of the Republican party that Abraham 
 Lincoln was brought forward as tlie "Anti-Nebraska" 
 candidate for the United States Senatorship, while 
 Gen. James Shields, the incumbent, was re-nom- 
 inated by the Democrats. But after a few ballotings 
 in the Legislature (1855), these men were dropped, 
 and Lyman Trumbull, an Anti-Nebraska Democrat, 
 was brought up by the former, and Mr. Matteson, 
 then Governor, by the latter. On the nth ballot 
 Mr. Trumbull obtained one majority, and was ac- 
 cordingly declared elected. Before Gov. Matteson's 
 term expired, the Republicans were fully organized 
 as a national party, and in 1856 put into the field a 
 full national and State ticket, carrying the State, but 
 not the nation. 
 
 The Legislature of r855 passed two very import- 
 ant measures, — the present free-school system and a 
 submission of the Maine liquor law to a vote of the 
 people. The latter was defeated by a small majority 
 of the popular vote. 
 
 During the four years of Gov. Matteson's admin- 
 istration the taxable wealth of the State was about 
 trebled, from $137,818,07910 $349,951,272; the pub- 
 lic debt was reduced from $17,398,985 to $12,843,- 
 144; taxation was at the same time reduced, and the 
 State resumed paying interest on its debt in New 
 York as fast as it fell due; railroads were increased 
 in their mileage from something less than 400 to 
 about 3,000 ; and the population of Chicago was 
 nearly doubled, and its commerce more than quad- 
 rupled. 
 
 Before closing this account, we regret that we have 
 to say that Mr. Matteson, in all other respects an 
 upright man and a good Governor, was implicated 
 in a false re-issue of redeemed canal scrio, amount- 
 ing to $224,182.66. By a suit in the Sangamon Cir- 
 cuit Court the State recovered the principal and all 
 the interest excepting $27,500. 
 
 He died in the winter of 1872-3, at Chicago. 
 
^.,^d.<d.e^^2e_ 
 
GO VERNORS OF ILLINOIS. 
 
 151 
 
 L Iff"" ^— ■■■■■ \S\ /J*/;* '''"'" •"" ^ "''^.— a<-».. 
 
 ILLIAM H. BISSELL, Gov- 
 ernor 1857-60, was born 
 April 25, 181 1, in the 
 State of New York, near 
 Painted Post, Yates County. 
 His parents were obscure, 
 honest, God-fearing people, 
 who reared their children under the daily 
 example of industry and frugality, accord- 
 ing to the custom of that class of Eastern 
 society. Mr. Bissell received a respecta- 
 )le but not thorough academical education. 
 By assiduous application he acquired a 
 knowledge' of medicine, and in his early 
 manhood came West and located in Mon- 
 roe County, this State, where he engaged in the 
 practice of that profession. But he was not enam- 
 ored of his calling: he was swayed by a broader 
 ambition, to such an extent that the mysteries of the 
 healing art and its arduous duties failed to yield him 
 further any charms. In a few years he discovered 
 his choice of a profession to be a mistake, and when 
 he approached the age of 30 he sought to begin 
 anew. Dr. Bissell, no doubt unexpectedly to him- 
 self, discovered a singular facility and charm of 
 speech, the exercise of which acquired for him a 
 ready local notoriety. It soon came to be under- 
 
 stood that he desired to abandon his profession and 
 take up that of the law. During terms of Court he 
 would spend his time at the county seat among the 
 members of the Bar, who extended to him a ready 
 welcome. 
 
 It was not strange, therefore, that he should drift 
 into public life. In 1840 he was elected as a Dem- 
 ocrat to the Legislature from Monroe County, and 
 was an efficient member of that body. On his re- 
 turn home he qualified himself for admission to the 
 Bar and speedily rose to the front rank as an advo- 
 cate. His powers of oratory were captivating. With a 
 pure diction, charming and inimitable gestures, 
 clearness of statement, and a remarkable vein of sly 
 humor, his efforts before a jury told with irresistible 
 effect. He was chosen by the Legislature Prosecut- 
 ing Attorney for the Circuit in which he lived, and 
 in that position he fully discharged his duty to the 
 State, gained the esteem of the Bar, and seldom 
 failed to convict the offender of the law. 
 
 In stature he was somewhat tall and slender, and 
 with a straight, military bearing, he presented a dis- 
 tinguished appearance. His complexion was dark, 
 his head well poised, though not large, his address 
 pleasant and manner winning. He was exemplary 
 in his habits, a devoted husband and kind parent. 
 He was twice married, the first time to Miss James, 
 
152 
 
 WILLI AM U. B/SSELL. 
 
 ot Monroe County, by whom he had two children, 
 both daughters. She died soon after the year 1840, 
 and Mr. B. married for his second wife a daughter 
 of Elias K. Kane, previously a United States Senator 
 from this State. She survived him but a short time, 
 and died without issue. 
 
 When the war with Mexico was declared in 1846, 
 Mr. Bissell enlisted and was elected Colonel of his 
 regiment, over flon. Don Morrison, by an almost 
 unanimous vote, — 807 to 6. Considering the limited 
 opportunities he had had, he evinced a high order of 
 military talent. On the bloody field of Buena Vista 
 he acquitted himself with intrepid and dis,tinguished 
 ability, contributing with his regiment, the Second 
 Illinois, in no small degree toward saving the waver- 
 ing fortunes of our arms during that long and fiercely 
 contested battle. 
 
 After his return home, at the close of the war, he 
 was elected to Congress, his opponents being the 
 Hons. P. B. Fouke and Joseph Gillespie. He served 
 two terms in Congress. He was an ardent politician. 
 During the great contest of 1850 he voted in favor 
 of the adjustment measures; but in rS54 he opposed 
 the repeal of the Missouri Compromise act and 
 therefore the Kansas-Nebraska bill of Douglas, and 
 thus became identified with the nascent Republican 
 party. 
 
 During his first Congressional term, while the 
 Southern members were following their old practice 
 of intimidating the North by bullying language, 
 and claiming most of the credit for victories in the 
 Mexican War, and Jefferson Davis claiming for the 
 Mississippi troops all the credit for success at Buena 
 Vista, Mr. Bissell bravely defended the Northern 
 troops ; whereupon Davis challenged Bissell to a duel, 
 which was accepted. This matter was brought up 
 against Bissell when he was candidate for Governor 
 and during his term of office, as the Constitution of 
 this State forbade any duelist from holding a State 
 office. 
 
 In 1856, when the Republican party first put forth 
 a candidate, John C. Fremont, for President of the 
 United States, the same party nominated Mr. Bissell 
 for Governor of Illinois, and John Wood, of Quincy, 
 for Lieutenant Governor, while the Democrats nomi- 
 nated Hon. W. A. Richardson, of Adams County, 
 for Governor, and Col. R. J. Hamilton, of Cook 
 County, for Lieutenant Governor. The result of the 
 
 election was a plurality of 4,729 votes over Richard- 
 son. The American, or Know-Nothing, party had a 
 ticket in the field. The Legislature was nearly bal- 
 anced, but was politically opposed to the Governor. 
 His message to the Legislature was short and rather 
 ordinary, and was criticised for expressing the sup- 
 posed obligations of the people to the incorporators 
 of the Illinois Central Railroad Company and for re- 
 opening the slavery question by allusions to the 
 Kansas troubles. Late in the session an apportion- 
 ment bill, based upon the State census of 1855, was 
 passed, amid much partisan strife. The Governor 
 at first signed the bill and then vetoed it. A furious 
 debate followed, and the question whether the Gov- 
 ernor had the authority to recall a signature was 
 referred to the Courts, that of last resort deciding in 
 favor of the Governor. Two years afterward another 
 outrageous attempt was made for a re-apportionment 
 and to gerrymander the State, but the Legislature 
 failed to pass the bill over the veto of the Governor. 
 
 It was during Gov. Bissell's administration that 
 the notorious canal scrip fraud was brought to light, 
 implicating ex-Gov. Matteson and other prominent 
 State officials. The principal and interest, aggregat- 
 ing $255,500, was all recovered by the State except- 
 ing $27,500. (See sketch of Gov. Matteson.) 
 
 In 1S59 an attempt was discovered to fraudu- 
 lently refund the Macalister and Stebbins bonds and 
 thus rob the State Treasury of nearly a quarter of a 
 million dollars. The State Government was impli- 
 cated in this affair, and to this day reiriains unex- 
 plained or unatoned for. For the above, and other 
 matters previously mentioned. Gov. Bissell has been 
 severely criticised, and he has also been most shame- 
 fully libelled and slandered. 
 
 On account of exposure in the army, the remote 
 cause of a nervous form of disease gained entrance 
 into his system and eventually developed paraplegia, 
 affecting his lower extremities, which, while it left 
 his body in comparative health, deprived him of loco- 
 motion except by the aid of crutches. While he was 
 generally hopeful of ultimate recovery, this myste- 
 rious disease pursued him, without once relaxing its 
 stealthy hold, to the close of his life, March 18, 
 i860, over nine months before the expiration of his 
 gubernatorial term, at the early age of 48 years. He 
 died in the faith of the Roman Catholic Church, of 
 which he har^ been a member since 1854. 
 
GOVERNORS OF ILLINOIS. 
 
 '55 
 
 ^- 
 
 ,:OHN WOOD, Governor 1860-1, and 
 the first settler of Quincy, 111., 
 was born in the town of Sempro- 
 nius (now Moravia), Cayuga Co., 
 N. Y., Dec. 20, 1798. He was 
 the second child and only son of 
 Dr. Daniel Wood. His mother, 
 nee Catherine Crause, was of 
 German parentage, and died 
 while he was an infant. Dr. 
 Wood was a learned and skillful 
 physician, of classical attain- 
 ments and proficient in several 
 modern languages, who, after 
 serving throughout the Revolu- 
 tionary War as a Surgeon, settled on the land granted 
 him by the Government, and resided there a re- 
 spected and leading influence in his section until his 
 death, at the ripe age of 92 years. 
 
 The subject of this sketch, impelled by the spirit 
 of Western adventure then pervading everywhere, 
 left his home, Nov. 2, 1818, and passed the succeed- 
 ing winter in Cincinnati, Ohio. The following sum- 
 mer he pushed on to Illinois, landing at Shawneetown. 
 and spent the fall and following winter in Calhoun 
 County. In 1820, in company with Willard Keyes, 
 iie settled in Pike County, about 30 miles southeast 
 of Quincy, where for the next two years he pursued 
 farming. In 1821 he visited "the Bluffs" (as the 
 present site of Quincy was called, then uninhabited) 
 and, pleased with its prospects, soon after purchased 
 a quarter-section of land near by, and in the follow- 
 in" fall (1822) erected near the river a small cabin. 
 
 18 X 20 feet, the first building in Quincy, of whici) 
 he then became the first and for some months the 
 only occupant. 
 
 About this time he visited his old friends in Pike 
 County, chief of whom was William Ross, the lead- 
 ing man in building up the village of Atlas, of that 
 county, which was thought then to be the possible 
 commencement of a city. One day they and others 
 were traveling together over the country between the 
 two points named, making observations on the com- 
 parative merits of the respective localities. On ap- 
 proaching the Mississippi near Mr. Wood's place, 
 the latter told his companions to follow him and he 
 would show them where he was going to build a city. 
 They went about a mile off the main trail, to a high 
 point, from which the view in every direction was 
 most magnificent, as it had been for ages and as yel 
 untouched by the hand of man. Before them swept 
 by the majestic Father of Waters, yet unburdened by 
 navigation. After Mr. Wood had expatiated at 
 length on the advantages of the situation, Mr. Ross 
 replied, "But it's too near Atlas ever to amount to 
 anything!" 
 
 Atlas is still a cultivated farm, and Quincy is ?. 
 city of over 30,000 population. 
 
 In 1824 Mr. Wood gave a Tiewspaper notice, 
 as the law then prescribed, of his intention to apply 
 to the General Assembly for the formation of a new 
 county. This was done the following winter, result- 
 ing in the establishment of the present Adams 
 County. Daring the next summer Quincy was se- 
 lected as the county seat, it and the vicinity then 
 containing but four adult male residents and half 
 
15° 
 
 TOHN WOOD. 
 
 that number of females. Sinoe that period Mr. 
 Wood resided at the place of his early adoption un- 
 til his death, and far more than any other man was 
 he identified with every measure of its progress and 
 history, and almost continuously kept in public posi- 
 tions. 
 
 He was one of the early town Trustees, and after 
 . the place became a city he was often a member of 
 the City Council, many times elected Mayor, in the 
 face of a constant large opposition political majority. 
 In 1850 he was elected to the State Senate. In 1856, 
 on the organization of the Republican party, he was 
 chosen Lieutenant Governor of the State, on the 
 ticket with Wm. H. Bissell for Governor, and on the 
 death of the latter, March 18, i860, he succeeded to 
 the Chief Executive chair, which he occupied until 
 Gov. Yates was inaugurated nearly ten months after- 
 ward. 
 
 Nothing very marked characterized the adminis- 
 tration of Gov. Wood. The great anti-slavery cam- 
 paign of i860, resulting in the election of the honest 
 Illinoisan, Abraham Lincoln, to the Presidency of the 
 United States, occurred during the short period 
 while Mr. Wood was Governor, and the excitement 
 and issues of that struggle dominated over every 
 other consideration, — indeed, supplanted them in a 
 great measure. The people of Illinois, during all 
 that time, were passing the comparatively petty strifes 
 under Bissell's administration to the overwhelming 
 issue of preserving the whole nation from destruction. 
 
 In 186 1 ex-Gov. Wood was one of the five Dele- 
 gates from Illinois to the " Peace Convention " at 
 Washington, and in April of the same year, on the 
 .J)reaking out of the Rebellion, he was appointed 
 
 Quartermaster-General of the State, which position 
 he held throughout the war. In 1864 he took com- 
 mand as Colonel of the 137th 111. Vol. Inf, with 
 whom he served until the period ^f enlistment ex- 
 pired. 
 
 Politically, Gov. Wood was always actively identi- 
 fied with the Whig and Republican parties. Few 
 men have in personal experience comprehended so 
 many surprising and advancing local changes as 
 vested in the more than half century recollections of 
 Gov. Wood, sixty-four years ago a solitary settler 
 on the "Bluffs," with no family, and no neighbor 
 within a score of miles, the world of civilization away 
 behind him, and the strolling red-man almost his 
 only visitant, he lived to see growing around him, 
 and under his auspices and aid, overspreading the 
 wild hills and scraggy forest a teaming city, second 
 only in size in the State, and surpassed nowhere in 
 beauty, prosperity and promise ; whose people recog- 
 nize as with a single voice the proverbial honor and 
 liberality that attach to the name and lengthened 
 life of their pioneer settler, "the old Governor." 
 
 Gov. Wood was twice married, — -first in January, 
 1826, to Ann M. Streeter, daughter of Joshua Streeter, 
 formerly of Salem, Washington Co., N. Y. They had 
 eight children. Mrs. W. died Oct. 8, 1863, and in 
 June, 1865, Gov. Wood married Mrs. Mary A., widow 
 of Rev. Joseph T. Holmes. Gov. Wood died June /), 
 1880, at his residence in Quincy. Four of his eight 
 children are now living, namely: Ann E., wife of 
 Gen. John Tillson; Daniel C, who married Mary J. 
 Abernethy; John, Jr., who married Josephine Skinner, 
 and Joshua S., who married Annie Bradley. The 
 last mentioned now resides at Atchison, Kansas, and 
 all the rest are still at Quincy. 
 
 Aft^lz 
 
GOVERNORS OF ILLINOIS. 
 
 '59 
 
 ilCHARD YATES, the "War 
 Governor," 1861-4, was born 
 Jan. 18, 1818, on the banks of 
 the Ohio River, at Warsaw, 
 Gallatin Co., Ky. His father 
 ^ moved in 1831 to Illinois, and^ 
 after stopping for a time in 
 Springfield, settled at Island 
 Grove, Sangamon County. Here, 
 after attending school, Richard joined 
 the family. Subsequently he entered 
 Illinois College at Jacksonville, 
 where, in 1837, he graduated with 
 first honors. He chose for his pro- 
 fession the law, the Hon. J. J. Har- 
 din being his instructor. After ad- 
 mission to the Bar he soon rose to distinction as an 
 advocate. 
 
 Gifted with a fluent and ready oratory, he soon 
 appeared in the political hustings, and, being a 
 passionate admirer of the great Whig leader of the 
 West. Henry Clay, he joined his political fortunes to 
 .he party of his idol. In 1840 he engaged with great 
 ^vidor in the exciting " hard cider " campaign for 
 riarrison. Two years later he was elected to the 
 Legislature from Morgan County, a Democratic 
 stronghold. He served three or four terms in the 
 Legislature, and such was the fascination of his ora- 
 -nry that by 1850 his large Congressional District, 
 f.iftending from Morgan and Sangamon Counties 
 . .jrth to include LaSalle, unanimously tendered him 
 ( nr-. Whig nomination for Congress. His Democratic 
 opponent was Maj. Thomas L. Harris, a very pop- 
 ular man who had won distinction at the battle of 
 Cerro Gordo, in the Mexican War, and who had 
 aeaten Hon. Stephen T. Logan for the same position, 
 
 two years before, by a large majority. Yates was 
 elected. Two years later he was re-elected, over 
 John Calhoun. 
 
 It was during Yates second term in Congress that 
 the great question of the repeal of the Missouri Com- 
 promise was agitated, and the bars laid down for re- 
 opening the dreaded anti-slavery question. He took 
 strong grounds against the repeal, and thus became 
 identified with the rising Republican party. Conse- 
 quently he fell into the minority in his district, which 
 was pro-slavery. Even then, in a third contest, he 
 fell behind Major Harris only 200 votes, after the 
 district had two years before given Pierce 2,000 
 majority for President. 
 
 The Republican State Convention of i860 met at 
 Decatur May 9, and nominated for the office of Gov- 
 ernor Mr. Yates, in preference to Hon. Norman B. 
 Judd, of Chicago, and Leonard Swett, of Blooming- 
 ton, two of the ablest men of the State, who were 
 also candidates before the Convention. Francis A. 
 Hoffman, of DuPage County, was nominated for 
 Lieutenant Governor. This was the year when Mr. 
 Lincoln was a candidate for President, a period re- 
 membered as characterized by the great whirlpool 
 which precipitated the bloody War of the Rebellion. 
 The Douglas Democrats nominated J. C. Allen of 
 Crawford County, for Governor, and Lewis W. Ross, 
 of Fulton County, for Lieutenant Governor. The 
 Breckenridge Democrats and the Bell-Everett party 
 had also full tickets in the field. After a most fear- 
 ful campaign, the result of the election gave Mr. 
 Yates 172,196 votes, and Mr. Allen 159,253. Mr. 
 Yates received over a thousand more votes than did 
 Mr. Lincoln himself. 
 
 Gov. Yates occupied the chair of State during the 
 
i6o 
 
 RICHARD YATES. 
 
 most critical period of our country's history. In the 
 fate of the nation was involved that of each State. 
 The life struggle of the former derived its sustenance 
 from the loyalty of the latter; and Gov. Yates 
 seemed to realize the situation, and proved himself 
 both loyal and wise in upholding the Government. 
 He had a deep hold upon the affections of the 
 people, won by his moving eloquence and genial 
 manners. Erect and symmetrical in person, of pre- 
 possessing appearance, with a winning address and a 
 magnetic power, few men possessed more of the ele- 
 ments of popularity. His oratory was scholarly and 
 captivating, his hearers hardly knowing why they 
 v^ere transported. He was social and convivial. In 
 the latter respect he was ultimately carried too far. 
 
 The very creditable military efforts of this State 
 during the War of the Rebellion, in putting into the 
 field the enormous number of about 200,000 soldiers, 
 were ever promptly and ably seconded by his excel- 
 lency ; and the was ambitious to deserve the title of 
 "the soldier's friend." Immediately after the battle of 
 Shiloh he repaired to the field of carnage to look 
 after the wounded, and his appeals for aid were 
 promptly responded to by the people. His procla- 
 mations calling for volunteers were impassionate 
 appeals, urging upon the people the duties and re- 
 quirements of patriotism ; and his special message 
 ill r863 to the Democratic Legislature of this Statp 
 pleading for material aid for the sick and wounded 
 soldiers of Illinois regiments, breathes a deep fervor 
 of noble sentiment and feeling rarely equaled in 
 beauty or felicity of expression. Generally his mes- 
 sages on political and civil affairs were able and com- 
 prehensive. During his administration, however, 
 there were no civil events of an engrossing character, 
 although two years of his time were replete with 
 partisan quarrels of great bitterness. Military ar- 
 rests, Knights of the Golden Circle, riot in Fulton 
 County, attempted suppression of the Chicago Times 
 and the usurping State Constitutional Convention of 
 1862, were the chief local topics that were exciting 
 during the Governor's term. This Convention assem- 
 bled Jan. 7, and at once took the high position that 
 'S& law calling it was no longer binding, and that it 
 ■ad supreme power; that it represented a virtual 
 assemblage of the whole people of the State, and was 
 sovereign in the exercise of all power necessary to 
 effect a peaceable revolution of the State Government 
 
 and to the re-establishment of one for the "happiness, 
 prosperity and freedom of the citizens," limited only 
 by the Federal Constitution. Notwithstanding the 
 law calling the Convention required its members to 
 take an oath to support the Constitution of the State 
 as well as that of the general Government, they 
 utterly refused to take such oath. They also as- 
 sumed legislative powers and passed several import- 
 ant " laws ! " Interfering with the (then) present 
 executive duties, Gov. Yates was provoked to tell 
 them plainly that " he did not acknowledge the right 
 of the Convention to instruct him in the performance 
 of his duty." 
 
 In 1863 the Governor astonished the Democrats 
 by " proroguing " their Legislature. This body, after 
 a recess, met June 2, that year, and soon began to 
 waste time upon various partisan resolutions ; and, 
 while the two houses were disagreeing upon the 
 question of adjourning ««^ die^ the Governor, having 
 the authority in such cases, surprised them all by 
 adjourning them " to the Saturday next preceding the 
 first Monday in January, 1865 ! " This led to great 
 excitement and confusion, and to a reference of the 
 Governor's act to the Supreme Court, who decided in 
 his favor. Then it was the Court's turn to receive 
 abuse for weeks and months afterward. 
 
 During the autumn of 1864 a conspiracy was de- 
 tected at Chicago which had for its object the liber- 
 ation of the prisoners of war at Camp Douglas, the 
 burning of the city and the inauguration of rebellion 
 in the North. Gen. Sweet, who had charge of the 
 camp at the time, first had his suspicions of danger 
 aroused by a number of enigmatically worded letters 
 which passed through the Camp postoffice. A de- 
 tective afterward discovered that the rebel Gen. 
 Marmaduke was in the city, under an assumed 
 name, and he, with other rebel officers — Grenfell, 
 Morgan, Cantrell, Buckner Morris, and Charies 
 Walsh — was arrested, most of whom were convicted 
 by a court-mardal at Cincinnati and sentenced to 
 imprisonment, — Grenfell to be hung. The sentence 
 of the latter was afterward commuted to imprison- 
 ment for life, and all the others, after nine months' 
 imprisonment, were pardoned. 
 
 In March, r873. Gov. Yates was appointed e Gov- 
 ernment Director of the Union Pacific Railroad, in 
 which office he continued until his decease, at St. 
 Louis, Mo., on the 27th of November following. 
 
GOVERNORS OF ILLINOIS. 
 
 ■63 
 
 #^ 
 
 ilCHARD J. OGLESBY, Gov- 
 ernor 1865-8, and re-elected 
 in 1872 and 1884, was born 
 July 25, 1824, in Oldham Co., 
 Ky., — the State which might 
 be considered the " mother of 
 Illinois Governors." Bereft of 
 his parents at the tender age 
 of eight years, his early education 
 was neglected. When 12 years of 
 age, and after he had worked a year 
 and a half at the carpenter's trade, 
 he removed with an uncle, Willis 
 Oglesby, into whose care he had 
 been committed, to Decatur, this 
 State, where he continued his ap- 
 prenticeship -as a mechanic, working six months for 
 Hon. E. O. Smith. 
 
 In 1844 he commenced studying law at Spring- 
 field, with Judge Silas Robbins, and read with him 
 one year. He was admitted to the Bar in 1845, and 
 commenced the practice of his chosen profession at 
 SuUivan, the county seat of Moultrie County. 
 
 The next year the war with Mexico was com- 
 menced, and in June, 1846, Mr. Oglesby volunteered, 
 was elected First Lieutenant of Co. C, Fourth Illinois 
 Regiment of Volunteers, and participated in the bat- 
 tles of Vera Cruz and Cerro Gordo. 
 
 On his return he sought to perfect his law studies 
 by attending a course of lectures at Louisville, but 
 on the breaking out of the California "gold fever " in 
 1849, he crossed the plains and mountains to the 
 new Eldorado, driving a six-mule team, with a com- 
 
 pany of eight men, Henry Prather being the leader. 
 
 In 1852 he returned home to Macon County, and 
 was placed that year by the Whig party on the ticket 
 of Presidential Electors. In 1856 he visited Europe, 
 Asia and Africa, being absent 20 months. On his 
 return home he resumed the practice of law, as a 
 member of the firm of Gallagher, Wait & Oglesby. 
 In 1858 he was the Republican nominee for the 
 Lower House of Congress, but was defeated by th; 
 Hon. James C. Robinson, Democrat. In i860 he 
 was elected to the Illinois State Senate ; and on the 
 evening the returns of this election were coming in, 
 Mr. Oglesby had a fisticuff encounter with " Cerro 
 Gordo Williams," in which he came out victorious, 
 and which was regarded as " the first fight of the 
 Rebellion." The following spring, when the war 
 had commenced in earnest, his ardent nature 
 quickly responded to the demands of patriotism and 
 he enlisted. The extra session of the Legislature 
 elected him Colonel of the Eighth Illinois Infantry, 
 the second one in the State raised to suppress the 
 great Rebellion. 
 
 He was shortly entrusted with important com- 
 mands. For a time he was stationed at Bird's Point 
 and Cairo; in April he was promoted Brigadier Gen- 
 eral ; at Fort Donelson his brigade was in the van, 
 being stationed on the right of General Grant's army 
 and the first brigade to be attacked. He lost 500 
 men before re-inforcements arrived. Many of these 
 men were from Macon 'County. He was engaged in 
 the battle of Corinth, and, in a brave charge at this 
 place, was shot in the left lung with an ounce ball, 
 and was carried from the field in expectation of jnj- 
 
1 64 
 
 RICHARD J. OGLESB V. 
 
 mediate death. That rebel ball he carries to this 
 day. On his partial recovery he was promoted as 
 Major General, for gallantry, his commission to rank 
 from November, 1862. In the spring of 1863 he 
 was assigned to the command of the i6th Army 
 Corps, but, owing to inability from the effects of his 
 wound, he relinquished this command in July, that 
 year. Gen. Grant, however, refused to accept his 
 resignation, and he was detailed, in December follow- 
 ing, to court-martial and try the Surgeon General of 
 the Army at Washington, where he remained until 
 May, 1864, whin he returned home. 
 
 The Republican, or Union, State Convention of 
 
 1864 was held at Springfield, May 25, when Mr. 
 Oglesby was nominated for the office of Governor, 
 while other candidates before the Convention were 
 Allen C. Fuller, of Boone, Jesse K. Dubois, of Sanga- 
 mon, and John M. Palmer, of Macoupin. Wm. 
 Bross, of Chicago, was nominated for Lieutenant 
 Governor. On the Democratic State ticket were 
 James C. Robinson, of Clark, for Governor, and S. 
 Corning Judd, of Fulton, for Lieutenant Governor. 
 The general election gave Gen. Oglesby a majority 
 of about 31,000 votes. The Republicans had also a 
 majority in both the Legislature and in the repre- 
 sentation in Congress. 
 
 Gov. Oglesby was duly inaugurated Jan. 17, 1865. 
 The day before the first time set for his installation 
 death visited his home at Decatur, and took from it 
 his only son, an intelligent and sprightly lad of six 
 years, a great favorite of the bereaved parents. This 
 caused the inauguration to be postponed a week. 
 
 The political events of the Legislative session of 
 
 1865 were the election of ex-Go v. Yates to the 
 United States Senate, and the ratification of the 13th 
 amendment to the Constitution of the United States, 
 abolishing slavery. This session also signalized 
 itself by repealing the notorious " black laws," part 
 of which, although a dead letter, had held their place 
 upon the statute books since 1819. Also, laws re- 
 quiring the registration of voters, and establishing a 
 State Board of Equalization, were passed by this Leg- 
 islature. But the same body evinced that it was cor- 
 ruptly influenced by a mercenary lobby, as it adopted 
 some bad legislation, over the Governor's veto, nota- 
 bly an amendment to a charter for a Chicago horse 
 railway, granted in 1859 for 25 years, and now 
 sought to be extended 99 years. As this measure 
 was promptly passed over his veto by both branches 
 of the Legislature, he deemed it useless further to 
 attempt to check their headlong career. At this 
 session no law of a general useful character or public 
 interest was perfected, unless we count such the 
 turning over of the canal to Chicago to be deepened. 
 The session of 1867 was still more' productive of 
 private and special acts. Many omnibus bills were 
 prop:jsed, and some passed. The contests over the 
 c3cation of the Industrial College, the Capital, the 
 
 Southern Penitentiary, and the canal enlargement 
 and Illinois River improvement, dominated every- 
 thing else. 
 
 During the year 1872, it became evident that if 
 the Republicans could re-elect Mr. Oglesby to the 
 office of Governor, they could also elect him to the 
 United States Senate, which they desired to do. 
 Accordingly they re-nominated him for the Execu- 
 tive chair, and placed upon the ticket with him for 
 Lieutenant Governor, John L. Beveridge, of Cook 
 County. On the other side the Democrats put into 
 the field Gustavus Koerner for Governor and John 
 C. Black for Lieutenant Governor. The election 
 gave the Republican ticket majorities ranging from 
 3S!334 to 56,174, — the Democratic defection being 
 caused mainly by their having an old-time Whig and 
 Abolitionist, Horace Greeley, on the national ticket 
 for President. According to the general understand- 
 ing liad beforehand, as soon as the Legislature met 
 it elected Gov. Oglesby to the United States Senate, 
 whereupon Mr. Beveridge became Governor. Sena- 
 tor Oglesby 's term expired March 4, 1879, having 
 served his party faithfully and exhibited an order of 
 statesmanship beyond criticism. 
 
 During the campaign of 1884 Mr. Oglesby was 
 nominated for a "third term" as Executive of the 
 State of Illinois, against Carter H. Harrison, Mayor 
 of Chicago, nominated by the Democrats. Both 
 gentlemen " stumped " the State, and while the peo- 
 ple elected a Legislature which was a tie on a joint 
 ballot, as between the two parties, they gave the 
 jovial " Dick" Oglesby a majority of 15,018 for Gov- 
 ernor, and he was inaugurated Jan. 30, 1885. The 
 Legislature did not fully organize until this date, on 
 account of its equal division between the two main 
 parties and the consequent desperate tactics of each 
 parly to checkmate the latter in the organization of 
 rthe House. 
 
 Gov. Oglesby is a fine-appearing, affable man, with 
 regular, well defined features and rotund face. In 
 stature he is a little above medium height, of a large 
 frame and somewhat fleshy. His physical appear- 
 ance is striking and prepossessing, while his straight- 
 out, not to say bluff", manner and speech are well 
 calculated favorably to impress the average masses. 
 Ardent in feeling and strongly committed to the pol- 
 icies of his party, he intensifies Republicanism 
 among Republicans, while at the same time his jovial 
 and liberal manner prevents those of the opposite 
 party from hating him. 
 
 He is quite an effective stump orator. With vehe- 
 ment, passionate and scornful tone and gestures, 
 tremendous physical power, which in speaking he 
 exercises to the utmost; with frequent descents to 
 the grotesque; and with abundant homely compari- 
 sons or frontier figures, expressed in the broadest 
 vernacular and enforced with stentorian emphasis, 
 he delights a promiscuous audience beyond measure. 
 
cii^ny^ (Pa 
 
 (L-^-'i^cc^ 
 
GO VERNORS OF ILLINOIS. 
 
 X .7 
 
 John M. Pal mem 
 
 — 9>s— * — "^^■tm-'iis^ » !< ■ 
 
 |:OHN Mc AUI.EY PALMER, Gov- 
 ernor 1869-72, was born on 
 Eagle Creek, Scott Co., Ky., 
 Sept. 13, 1817. During his in- 
 fancy, his father, who had been 
 a soldier in the war of 1812, re- 
 moved to Christian Co., Ky., 
 where lands were cheap. Here 
 the future Governor of the great 
 Prairie State spent his childhood 
 and received such meager school- 
 ing as the new and sparsely set- 
 tled country afforded. To this 
 he added materially by diligent 
 reading, for which he evinced an 
 early aptitude. His father, an ardent Jackson man, 
 was also noted for his anti-slavery sentiments, which 
 he thoroughly impressed upon his children. In 1831 
 he emigrated to Illinois, settling in Madison County. 
 Here the labor of improving a farm was pursued for 
 about two years, when the death of Mr. Palmer's 
 mother broke up the family. About this time Alton 
 College was opened, on the "manual labor " system, 
 and in the spring of 1834 young Palmer, with his 
 elder brother, Elihu, entered this school and remained 
 18 months. Next, for over three years, he tried 
 variously coopering, peddling and school-teaching. 
 
 During the summer of 1838 he formed the ac- 
 quaintance of Stephen A. Douglas, then making his 
 
 first canvass for Congress. Young, eloquent and in 
 political accord with Mr. Palmer, he won his confi- 
 dence, fired his ambition and fixed his purpose. The 
 following winter, while teaching near Canton, he be- 
 gan to devote his spare time to a desultory reading 
 of law, and in the spring entered a law office at Car- 
 linville, making his home with his elder brother, 
 Elihu. (The latter was a learned clergyman, of con- 
 siderable orginality of thought and doctrine.) On 
 the next meeting of the Supreme Court he was ad- 
 mitted to the Bar, Douglas being one of his examiners. 
 He was not immediately successful in his profession, 
 and would have located elsewhere than Carlinville 
 had he the requisite means. Thus his early poverty 
 was a blessing in disguise, for to it he now attributes 
 the success of his life. 
 
 From 1839 on, while he diligently pursued his 
 profession, he participated more or less in local 
 politics. In 1843 he became Probate Judge. In 
 1847 he was elected to the State Constitutional Con- 
 vention, where he took a leading part. In 1852 ht. 
 was elected to the State Senate, and at the special 
 session of February, 1854, true to the anti-slaverj 
 sentiments bred in him, he took a firm stand in op- 
 position to the repeal of the Missouri Compromise, 
 and when the Nebraska question became a part]' 
 issue he refused to receive a re-nomination for th( 
 Senatorship at the hands of the Democracy, issuinj, 
 a circular to that effect, A few weeks afterward. 
 
i68 
 
 JOHN MC AULEY PALMER. 
 
 however, hesitating to break with his party, he par- 
 ticipated in a Congressional Convention which nomi- 
 T. L. Harris against Richard Yates, and which 
 unqualifiedly approved the principles of the Kansas- 
 Nebraska act. But later in the campaign he made 
 the plunge, ran for the Senate as an Anti-Nebraska 
 Democrat, and was elected. The following winter 
 he put in nomination for the 'United States Senate 
 Mr. Trumbull, and was one of the five steadfast men 
 who voted for him until all the Whigs came to their 
 support and elected their man. 
 
 In 1856 he was Chairman of the Republican State 
 Convention at Bloomington. He ran for Congress in 
 1859, but was defeated. In t86o he was Republican 
 Presidential Elector for the State at large. In 1861 
 he was appointed one of the five Delegates (all Re- 
 publicans) sent by Illinois to the peace congress at 
 Washington. 
 
 When the civil conflict broke out, he offered his 
 services to his country, and was elected Colonel of the 
 14th 111. Vol. Inf , and participated in the engagements 
 at Island No. 10; at Farmington, where he skillfully 
 extricated his command from a dangerous position ; 
 at Stone River, where his division for several hours, 
 Dec. 31, 1862, held the advance and stood like a 
 rock, and for liis gallantry there he was made Major 
 General; at Chickamauga, where his and Van Cleve's 
 divisions for two hours maintained their position 
 when they were cut off by overpowering numbers. 
 Under Gen. Sherman, he was assigned to the 14th 
 Army Corps and participated in the Atlanta campaign. 
 At Peach-Tree Creek his prudence did much to avert 
 disaster. In February, 1865, Gen. Palmer was as- 
 signed to the military administration of Kentucky, 
 which was a delicate post. That State was about 
 half rebel and half Union, and those of the latter 
 element were daily fretted by the loss of their slaves. 
 He, who had been bred to the rules of common law, 
 trembled at the contemplation of his extraordinary 
 power over the persons and property of his fellow 
 men, with which he was vested in his capacity as 
 military Governor; and he exhibited great caution in 
 the execution of the duties of his post. 
 
 Gen. Palmer was nominated for Governor of Illi- 
 nois by the Republican State Convention which met 
 at Peoria May 6, 1868, and his nomination would 
 probably have been made by acclamation had he not 
 persistently declared that he could not accept a can- 
 
 didature for the office. The result of the ensuing 
 election gave Mr. Palmer a majority of 44,707 over 
 John R. Eden, the Democratic nominee. 
 
 On the meeting of the Legislature in January, 
 1869, the first thing to arrest public attention was 
 that portion of the Governor's message which took 
 broad State's rights ground. This and some minor 
 points, which were more in keeping with the Demo- 
 cratic sentiment, constituted the entering wedge f ir 
 the criticisms and reproofs he afterward received 
 from the Republican party, and ultimately resulteJ 
 in his entire aleniation from the latter element. The 
 Legislature just referred to was noted for the intro- 
 duction of numerous bills in the interest of private 
 parties, which were embarrassing to the Governor. 
 Among the public acts passed was that which limited 
 railroad charges for passenger travel to a maximum 
 of three cents per mile ; and it was passed over the 
 Governor's veto. Also, they passed, over his veto, 
 the "tax-grabbing law" to pay railrosri subscriptions, 
 the Chicago Lake Front bill, etc. The new State 
 Constitution of 1870, far superior to the old, was a 
 peaceful " revolution" which took place during Gov. 
 Palmer's term of office. The suffering caused by the 
 great Chicago Fire of October, 187 1, was greatly 
 alleviated by the prompt responses of his excellency. 
 
 Since the expiration of Gov. Palmers's term, he has 
 been somewhat prominent in Illinois politics, and 
 has been talked of by many, especially in the Dem- 
 ocratic party, as the best man in the State for a 
 United States Senator. His business during life has 
 been that of the law. Few excel him in an accurate 
 appreciation of the depth and scope of its principles- 
 The great number of his able veto messages abun- 
 dantly testify not only this but also a rare capacity to 
 p6int them out. He is a logical and cogent reasoner 
 and an interesting, forcible and convincing speaker, 
 though not fluent or ornate. Without brilliancy, his 
 dealings are rather with facts and ideas than with 
 appeals to passions and prejudices. He is a patriot 
 and a statesman of very high order. Physically he is 
 above the medium height, of robust frame, ruddy 
 complexion and sanguine-nervous temperament. He 
 has a large cranial development, is vivacious, social 
 in disposition, easy of approach, unostentatious in his 
 habits of life, democratic in his habits and manners 
 and is a true American in his fundamental principles 
 of statesmanship. 
 
^ - :& 
 
GCV/iRAORS OF JLLINOIS. 
 
 iTi 
 
 *5-a 
 
 E 
 
 m ^%\w^ %. % 
 
 
 "SQ- 
 
 4— 
 
 OHN LOWRiE BEVER- 
 IDGE, Governor 1873-6, was 
 born in the town of Green- 
 wich, Washington Co., N. Y., 
 July 6, 1824. His parents 
 were George and Ann Bever- 
 idge. His father's parents, An- 
 drew and Isabel Beveridge, be- 
 fore their marriage emigrated 
 from Scotland just before the 
 Revolutionary War, settling in 
 Washington County. His father 
 was the eldest of eight brothers, the 
 youngest of whom was 60 years of 
 age when the first one of the num- 
 ber died. His mother's parents, 
 James and Agnes Hoy, emigrated 
 from Scotland at the close of tlie 
 Revolutionary War, settling also in 
 Washington Co., N. Y., with their 
 first-born, whose " native land " was 
 the wild ocean. His parents and 
 grandparents lived beyond the time 
 allotted to man, their average age 
 oeing over 80 years. They belonged to the " Asso- 
 ciate Church," a seceding Presbyterian body of 
 
 America from the old Scotch school ; and so rigid 
 was the training of young Beveridge that he never 
 heard a sermon from any other minister except that 
 of his own denomination until he was in his 19th 
 year. Later in life he became a member of the 
 Methodist Episcopal Church, which relation he still 
 holds. 
 
 Mr. Beveridge received a good common-school ed- 
 ucation, but his parents, who could obtain a livelihood 
 only by rigid economy and industry, could not send 
 him away to college. He was raised upon a farm, 
 and was in his i8th year when the family removed 
 to De Kalb County, this State, when that section was 
 very sparsely settled. Chicago had less than 7,000 
 inhabitants. In this wild West he continued as a 
 farm laborer, teaching school during the winter 
 months to stipply the means of an education. In the 
 fall of r842 he attended one term at the academy at 
 Granville, Putnam Co., 111., and subsequently several 
 terms at the Rock River Seminary at Mount Morris, 
 Ogle Co., 111., completing the academic course. At 
 this time, the fall of 1845, his parents and brothers 
 were anxious to have him go to college, even though 
 he had not money sufficient; but, njt willing to bur- 
 den tlie family, he packed his trunk and with only 
 $40 in money started South to seek his fortune, 
 
172 
 
 JOHN L. BEVERIDGE. 
 
 Poor, alone, without friends and influence, he thus 
 entered upon the battle of life. 
 
 First, he taught school in Wilson, Overton and 
 Jackson Cos., Tenn., in which experience he under- 
 went considerable mental drill, both in book studies 
 and in the ways of the world. He read law and was 
 admitted to the Bar, in the South, but did not learn 
 to love the institution of slavery, although he ad- 
 mired many features of Southern character. In De- 
 cember, 1847, he returned North, and Jan. 20, 1848, 
 he married Miss Helen M. Judson, in the old Clark- 
 Street M. E. church in Chicago, her father at that 
 time being Pastor of the society there. In the spring 
 of 1848 he returned with his wife to Tennessee, 
 where his two children, Alia May and Philo Judson, 
 were born. 
 
 In the fall of 1849, through the mismanagement 
 of an associate, he lost what little he had accumu- 
 lated and was left in debt. He soon managed to 
 earn means to pay his debts, returned to De Kalb 
 Co., 111., and entered upon the practice of his pro- 
 fession at Sycamore, the county seat. On arrival 
 from the South he had but one-quarter of a dollar in 
 money, and scanty clothing and bedding for himself 
 and family. He borrowed a little money, practiced 
 law, worked in public ofiSces, kept books for some of 
 the business men of the town, and some railroad en- 
 gineering, till the spring of 1854, when he removed 
 to Evanston, 12 miles north of Chicago, a place then 
 but recently laid out, under the supervision of the 
 Northwestern University, a Methodist institution. 
 Of the latter his father-in-law was then financial 
 agent and business manager. Here Mr. Beveridge 
 prospered, and the next year (1855) opened a law 
 office in Chicago, where he found the battle some- 
 what hard; but he persevered with encouragement 
 and increasing success. 
 
 Aug. 12, 1861, his law partner, Gen. John F. 
 Farnsworth, secured authority to raise a regiment of 
 cavalry, and authorized Mr. Beveridge to raise a 
 company for it. He succeeded in a few days in rais- 
 ing the company, of course enlisting himself along 
 with it. The regiment rendezvoused at St. Charles, 
 •111., was mustered in Sept. r8, and on its organiza- 
 tion Mr. B. was elected Second Major. It was at- 
 tached, Oct. II, to the Eighth Cavalry and to the 
 Army of the Potomac. He served with the regiment 
 until November, 1863, participating in some 40 bat- 
 
 tles and skirmishes : was at Fair Oaks, the seven days' 
 fight around Richmond, Fredericksburg, Chancellors- 
 ville and Gettysburg. He commanded the regiment 
 thegreaterpartofthesummerof 1863, and it was while 
 lying in camp this year that he originated the policy 
 of encouraging recruits as well as the fighting capac- 
 ity of the soldiery, by the wholesale furlough system. 
 It worked so well that many other officers adopted 
 it. In the fall of this year he recruited another com- 
 pany, against heavy odds, in January, 1864, was 
 commissioned Colonel of the 17th 111. Cav., and 
 skirmished around in Missouri, concluding with the 
 reception of the surrender of Gen. Kirby Smith's 
 army in Arkansas. In 1865 he commanded various 
 sub-districts in the Southwest. He was mustered 
 out Feb. 6, 1866, safe from the casualties of war and 
 a stouter man than when he first enlisted. His men 
 idolized him. 
 
 He then returned to Chicago, to practice law, with 
 no library and no clientage, and no political experi- 
 ence except to help others into office. In the fall ol 
 1866 he was elected Sheriff of Cook County, serving 
 one terra; next, until November, 1870, he piacticed 
 law and closed up the unfinished business of his 
 office. He was then elected State Senator; in No- 
 vember, 187 1, he was elected Congressman at large; 
 in November, 1872, he was elected Lieutenant Gov- 
 ernor on the ticket with Gov. Oglesby ; the latter be- 
 ing elected to the U. S. Senate, Mr. Beveridge became 
 Governor, Jan. 21, 1873. Thus, inside of a few 
 weeks, he was Congressman at large, Lieutenant 
 Governor and Governor. The principal events oc- 
 curring during Gov. Beveridge's administration were: 
 The completion of the revision of tlie statutes, begun 
 in i86g; the partial success of the "farmers' move- 
 ment;" "Haines' Legislature " and Illinois' exhibit at 
 the Centennial. 
 
 Since the close of his gubernatorial term ex-Gov 
 Beveridge has been a member of the firm of Bever- 
 idge & Dewey, bankers and dealers in commercial 
 paper at 7 1 Dearborn Street (McCormick Block), 
 Chicago, and since November, 1 881, he has also been 
 Assistant United States Treasurer: office in the 
 Government Building. His residence is still at Ev- 
 anston. 
 
 He has a brother and two sisters yet residing in 
 De Kalb County — James H. Beveridge, Mrs. Jennet 
 Henry and Mrs. Isabel French. 
 
GO VERNORS OF ILLINOIS. 
 
 '75 
 
 8BELB Y M. CULLOM. 
 
 HELBY M. CULLOM, Gover- 
 nor 1877-83,13 tlie sixth child 
 of the late Richard N. Cullom, 
 and was born Nov. 22, 1829, in 
 Wayne Co., Ky., wliere his fa- 
 ther then resided, and whence 
 both the Illinois and Tennessee 
 branches of the family originated. In 
 the following year the family emi- 
 grated to the vicinity of Washington, 
 Tazewell Co., III., when that section 
 was very sparsely settled. They lo- 
 cated on Deer Creek, in a grove at 
 the time occupied by a party of In- 
 dians, attracted there by the superior 
 hunting and fishing afforded in that 
 vicinity. The following winter was 
 known as the " hard winter," the snow being very 
 deep and lasting and the weather severely cold; and 
 the family had to subsist mainly on boiled corn or 
 hominy, and some wild game, for several weeks. In 
 the course of time Mr. R. N. Cullom became a prom- 
 inent citizen and was several times elected to the 
 Legislature, both before and after the removal of the 
 caj)ital from Vandalia to Springfield. He died about 
 1873- 
 
 Until about 19 years of age young Cullom grew up 
 to agricultural pursuits, attending school as he had 
 opportunity during the winter. Within this time, 
 however, he spent several months teaching echool. 
 
 and in the following summer he " broke' prairie "with 
 an ox team for the neighbors. With the money ob- 
 tained by these various ventures, he undertook a 
 course of study at the Rock River Seminary, a 
 Methodist institution at Mt. Morris, Ogle County; 
 but the sudden change to the in-door life of a stu- 
 dent told severely upon his health, and he was taken 
 home, being considered in a hopeless condition. While 
 at Mt. Morris he heard Hon. E. B. Washburne make 
 his first speech. 
 
 On recovering health, Mr. Cullom concluded to 
 study law, under the instruction of Abraham Lincoln, 
 at Springfield,, who had by this time attained some 
 notoriety as an able lawyer ; but the latter, being ab- 
 sent from his office most of the time, advised Mr. 
 Cullom to enter the office of Stuart & Edwards. 
 After about a year of study there, however, his health 
 failed again, and he was obliged to return once mote 
 to out-door life. Accordingly he bought hogs for 
 packing, for A. G. Tyng, in Peoria, and while he re- 
 gained his health he gained in purse, netting $400 in 
 a few weeks. Having been admitted to the Bar, he 
 went to Springfield, where he was soon elected City 
 Attorney, on the Anti-Nebraska ticket. 
 
 In 1856 he ran on the Fillmore ticket as a Presi- 
 dential Elector, and, although failing to be elected as 
 such, he was at the same time elected a Representa- 
 tive in the Legislature from Sangamon County, by a 
 local coalition of the American and Republican par- 
 ties. On the organizatiou of the House, he received 
 the vote of the Fillmore men for Speaker. Practicing 
 
176 
 
 SHELB V M. CULLOM. 
 
 law until i860, he was again elected to the Legisla- 
 ture, as a Republican, while the county went Demo- 
 cratic on the Presidential ticket. In January follow- 
 ing he was elected Speaker, probably the youngest 
 man who had ever presided over an Illinois Legis-' 
 lature. After the session of 1 861, he was a candidate 
 for the State Constitutional Convention called for 
 that year, but was defeated, and thus escaped the 
 disgrace of being connected with that abortive party 
 scheme to revolutionize the State Government. In 
 1862 he was a candidate for the State Senate, but 
 was defeated. The same year, however, he was ap- 
 pointed by President Lincoln on a Government 
 Commission, in company with Gov. Boutwell of 
 Massachusetts and Cnarles A. Dana, since of the 
 New York Sun, to investigate the affairs of the 
 Quartermaster's and Commissary Departments at 
 Cairo. He devoted several months to this duty. 
 
 In 1864 he enteied upon a larger political field, 
 being nominated as the Republican candidate for 
 Congress from llie Eighth (Springfield) District, in 
 opposition to the incumbent, JohnT. Stuart, who had 
 been elected in 1862 by about 1,500 majority over 
 Leonard Swett, then of Bloomington, now of Chicago. 
 The result was the election of Mr. Culiom in Novem- 
 ber following by a majority of 1,785. In 1866 he 
 was re-elected to Congress, over Dr. E. S. Fowler, by 
 the magnificent majority of 4,103! In 1868 he was 
 again a candidate, defeating the Hon. B. S. Edwards, 
 another of his old preceptors, by 2,884 votes. 
 
 During his first term in Congress he served on the 
 Committee on Foreign Affairs and Expenditures in 
 the Treasury Department; in his second term, on 
 the Committees on Foreign Affairs and on Territories ■ 
 and in his third term he succeeded Mr. Ashley, of 
 Ohio, to the Chairmanship of the latter. He intro- 
 duced a bill in the House, to aid in the execution of 
 law in Utah, which caused more consternation among 
 the Mormons than any measure had previously, but 
 which, though it passed the House, failed to pass the 
 Senate. 
 
 The Republican Convention which met May 25, 
 1876, nominated Mr. Culiom for Governor, while the 
 other contestant was Gov. Beveridge. For Lieuten- 
 ant-Governor they nominated Andrew Shuman, editor 
 of the Chicago Journal. For the same offices the 
 Democrats, combining with the Anti-Monopolists, 
 placed in nomination Lewis Steward, a wealthy 
 
 farmer and manufacturer, and A. A. Glenn. The 
 result of tlie election was rather close, Mr. Culiom 
 obtaining only 6,800 majority. He was inaugurated 
 Jan. 8, 1877. 
 
 Great depression prevailed in financial circles at 
 this time, as a consequence of the heavy failures of 
 1873 and afterward, the effect of which had seemed 
 to gather force from that time to the end of Gov. 
 Cullom's first administration. This unspeculative 
 period was not calculated to call forth any new 
 issues, but the Governors energies were at one time 
 put to task to quell a spirit of insubordination that 
 had been begun in Pittsburg, Pa., among the laboring 
 classes, and transferred to Illinois at Chicago, East 
 St. Louis and Braidwood, at which places laboring 
 men for a sliort time refused to work or allow others 
 to work. These disturbances were soon quelled and 
 the wheels of industry again set in motion. 
 
 In May, i88o. Gov. Culiom was re-nominated by 
 the Republicans, against Lyman Trumbull, by tire 
 Democrats; and although theformer party was some- 
 what handicapped in the campaign by a zealous 
 faction opposed to Grant for President and to Grant 
 men for office generally, Mr. Culiom was re-elected 
 by about 3 r 4,5 65, to 277,532 for the Democratic State 
 ticket. The Greenback vote at the same time was 
 about 27,000. Both Houses of the Legislature again 
 became Republican, and no representative of the 
 Greenback or Socialist parties were elected. Gov. 
 Culiom was inaugurated Jan. 10, 1S81. In his mes- 
 sage he announced that the last dollar of the State 
 debt had been provided for. 
 
 March 4, 18S3, the term of David Davis as United 
 States Senator from Illinois expired, and Gov. Cul- 
 iom was chosen to succeed him. This promoted 
 Lieutenant-Governor John M. Hamilton to tlie Gov- 
 ernorship. Senator Cullom's term in the United 
 States Senate will expire March 4, 1889. 
 
 As a practitioner of law Mr. C. has been a member 
 of the firm of Culiom, Scholes & Mather, a'. Spring-- 
 field ; and he has also been President of the State 
 National Bank. 
 
 He has been married twice, — the first time Dec. 
 12, 1855, to Miss Hannah Fisher, by whom he had 
 two daughters; and the second time May 5, 1863, 
 to Julia Fisher. Mrs. C is a member of the Method- 
 ist Episcopal Church, with which religious body Mr. 
 C is also in sympathy. 
 
GO VRRNORS OF ILLINOIS. 
 
 '79 
 
 ^W^:^^X^^^>S:^^;S:<^>^<^!^^^l&^^}g:f'^?:<S:^^'^^^Xg:^^)!^^^}(^^=m^^^S:^9B<^ 
 
 I f el^ii^ 
 
 ik 
 
 \f'^>^'^}:$:^r^>^^l^}^:^f^>^^^}^%=^}S:^^}&%^}^^^}g:^^^}S:^^>^^>=^^^r^M^'S-^<»^>§:^ 
 
 ^*-^H*^ 
 
 OHN MARSHALL HAMIL- 
 TON, Governor 1883-5, ^^^ 
 born May 28, 1847, in a log 
 house upon a farm about two 
 miles from Richwood, Union 
 County, Ohio. His father was 
 Samuel Hamilton, the eldest son 
 of Rev. Wm, Hamilton, who, to- 
 gether with his brother, the Rev. 
 Samuel Hamilton, was among the 
 early pioneer Methodist preachers in 
 Ohio. The mother of the subject of 
 this sketch was, before her marriage, 
 Mrs. Nancy McMotris, who was 
 born and raised in Fauquier or Lou- 
 doun County, Va., and related to the 
 two large families of Youngs and Marshalls, well 
 known in that commonwealth ; and from the latter 
 family name was derived the middle name of Gov. 
 Hamilton. 
 
 Li March, 1854, Mr. Hamilton's father sold out 
 his little pioneer forest home in Union County, O., 
 and, loading his few household effects and family 
 (of six children) into two emigrant covered wagons, 
 moved to Roberts Township, Marshall Co., 111., being 
 21 days on the route. Swamps, unbridged streams 
 and innumerable hardships and privations met them 
 on their way. Their new home had been previously 
 selected by the father. Here, after many long years 
 of toil, they succeeded in paying for the land and 
 making a comfortahl<^ home. John was, of course, 
 
 brought up to hard manual labor, with Jio schooling 
 except three or four months in the year at a common 
 country school. However, he evinced a capacity 
 and taste for a high order of self-education, by 
 studying or reading what books he could borrow, as 
 the family had but very few in the house. Much of 
 his study he prosecuted by the light of a log fire in 
 the old-fashioned chimney place. The financial 
 panic of 1857 caused the family to come near losing 
 their home, to pay debts; but the father and two 
 sons, William and John, "buckled to'' and perse- 
 vered in hard labor and economy until they redeemed 
 their place from the mortgage. 
 
 When the tremendous excitement of the political 
 campaign of i860 reached the neighborhood of Rob- 
 erts Township, young Hamilton, who had been 
 brought up in the doctrine of anti-slavery, took a zeal- 
 ous part in favor of Lincoln's election. Making special 
 efforts to procure a little money to buy a uniform, he 
 joined a company of Lincoln Wide-Awakes at Mag- 
 nolia, a village not far away. Directly after the 
 ensuing election it became evident that trouble 
 would ensue with the South, and this Wide-Awake 
 company, like many others throughout the country, 
 kept up its organization and transformed itself into a 
 military company. During the ensuing summer they 
 met often for drill and became proficient ; but when 
 they offered themselves for the v.'ar, young Hamilton 
 was rejected on account of his youth, he being then 
 but 14 years of age. During the winter of 1863-4 he 
 attended an academy at Henry, Marshall County, 
 
t8o 
 
 JOHN MARSHALL HAMILTON. 
 
 and in the following May he again enlisted, for the 
 fourth time, when he was placed in the 141st 111. 
 Vol. Inf., a regiment then being raised at Elgin, 111., 
 for the 100-day service. He took with him 13 other 
 lads from his neighborhood, for enlistment in the 
 service. This regiment operated in Southwestern 
 Kentucky, for about five months, under Gen. Paine. 
 
 The following winter, 1864-5, ^^''^ Hamilton taught 
 school, and during the two college years 1865-7, '^'^ 
 went through three years of the curriculum of the 
 Ohio Wesleyan University at Delaware, Ohio. The 
 third year he graduated, the fourth in a class of 46, 
 in the classical department. In due time he received 
 the degree of M. A. For a few months he was the 
 Principal of Marshall " College " at Henry, an acad- 
 emy under the auspices of the M. E. Church. By 
 this lime he had commenced the study of law, and 
 after earning some money as a temporary Professor 
 of Latin at the Illinois Wesleyan University at 
 Bloomington, he entered the law office of Weldon, 
 Tipton & Benjamin, of that city. Each member of 
 this firm has since been distinguished as a Judge. 
 Admitted to the Bar in May, 1870, Mr. Hamilton 
 was given an interest in the same firm, Tipton hav- 
 ing been elected Judge. In October following lie 
 formed a partnership with J. H. Rowell, at that time 
 Prosecuting Attorney. Their business was then 
 small, but they increased it to very large proportions, 
 practicing in all grades of courts, including even the 
 U. S. Supreme Court, and this partnership continued 
 unbroken until Feb. 6, 1883, when Mr. Hamilton 
 was sworn in as Executive of Illinois. On the 4th 
 of March following Mr. Rowell took his seat in Con- 
 gress. 
 
 In July, 187 1, Mr. Haniilton married Miss Helen 
 M. Williams, the daughter of Prof. Wni. G. Williams, 
 Professor of Greek in the Ohio Wesleyan University. 
 Mr. and Mrs. H. have two daughters and one son. 
 
 In 1876 Mr. Hamilton was nominated by the Re- 
 publicans for the State Senate, over other and older 
 co;n[)etitors. He took an active part " on the stump " 
 in tiie campaign, for the success of iiis party, and was 
 elected by a majority of 1,640 over his Democratic- 
 Greenback opponent. In the Senate he served on 
 the Committees on Judiciary, Revenue, State Insti- 
 tutions, Appropriations, Education, and on Miscel- 
 lany ; and during the contest for the election of a 
 U. S. Senator, the Republicans endeavoring to re- 
 
 elect John A. Logan, he voted fox the war chief on 
 every ballot, even alone when all the other Republi- 
 cans had gone over to the Hon. E. B. Lawrence and 
 the Dernocrats and Independents elected Judge 
 D.ivid Davis. At this session, also, was passed the 
 first Board of Health and Medical Practice act, oi 
 which Mr. Hamilton was a champion, againct r; 
 much opposition that the bill was seveial times 
 " laid on the table." Also, this session authorized 
 the location and establishment of a southern peni- 
 tentiary, which was fixed at Chester. In the sessiot^ 
 of 1879 Mr. Hamilton was elected President /r^? /(?»?. 
 of the Senate, and was a zealous supporter of John 
 A. Logan for the U. S. Senate, who was this time 
 elected without any trouble. 
 
 In May, 1880, Mr. Hamilton was nominated on 
 the Republican ticket for Lieutenant Governor, his 
 principal competitors before the Convention being 
 Hon. Wm. A. James, ex-Speaker of the House of 
 Representatives, Judge Robert Bell, of Wabash 
 County, Hon. T. T. Fountain, of Perry County, and 
 Hon. M. M. Saddler, of Marion County. He engaged 
 actively in the campaign, and his ticket was elected 
 by a majority of 41,200. As Lieutenant Governor, 
 he presided almost continuously over the Senate in 
 the 32d General Assembly and during the early days 
 of the 33d, until he succeeded to the Governorship. 
 When the Legislature of 1883 elected Gov. Cullom 
 to the United States Senate, Lieut. Gov. Hamilton 
 succeeded him, under the Constitution, taking the 
 oath of office Feb. 6, 1883. He bravely met all the 
 annoyances and embarrassments incidental upon 
 taking up another's administration. The principal 
 events with which Gov. Hamilton was connected as 
 the Chief Executive of the State were, the mine dis- 
 aster at Braidwood, the riots in St. Clair and Madison 
 Counties in Mny, T883, the appropriations for the 
 State militia, the adoption of the Harper high-license 
 liquor law, the veto of a dangerous railroad bill, etc. 
 
 The Governor was a Delegate at large to the 
 National Republican Convention at Chicago in June, 
 
 1884, wliere his first choice for President was John 
 A. Logan, and second choice Chester A. Arthur; but 
 he afterward zealously worked for the election of Mr. 
 Blaine, true to his party. 
 
 Mr. Hamilton's term a? Governor expired Jan. 30, 
 
 1885, when the great favorite "Dick" Oglesby was 
 inaugurated. 
 
X 1 1 
 
 '^-^^ 
 
JOSEPH \V. FIFER. 
 
 183 
 
 
 ji'j|l^"flfc"" ...:^- 
 
 ^-"'vws^m'S 
 
 JOSEPH WILSON FIFER. This 
 distinguished gentleman was 
 'iw elected Governor of Illinois 
 November 6, 1888. lie was 
 popularly known during the 
 campaign as "Private Joe." lie 
 iiad served with great devotion 
 to his country during the Re- 
 bellion, in the Thirty-third 
 Illinois Infantry. A native of 
 Virginia, he was born in 1840. 
 His parents, John and Mary 
 (Daniels) Fifer, were American 
 born, thougli of German de- 
 scent. His fatlier was a brick 
 and stone mason, and an old 
 Henry Clay AVhig in politics. John and M.iry 
 Fifer had nine children, of whom .Joseph was the 
 sixth, and naturally with so large a family it was 
 all the father could do to keep the wolf from the 
 dooi'; to sa3' nothing of giving his children an^'- 
 thing like good educational .advantages. 
 
 Young Joseph attended school s<jme in Vir- 
 ginia, but it was not a good school, and when 
 his father remyved to the ^Vest, in 1857, Joseph had 
 not advanced much further than the "First Reader." 
 
 --v- 
 
 Our subject was sixteen then and suffered a great 
 misfortune in the loss of his mother. After the death 
 of l\Irs. Fifer, which occurred in Missouri, the 
 family returned to Virginia, but remained only a 
 short time, as during the same year Mr. Fifer 
 came to Illinois. He settled in McLean Countj^ and 
 started a brickyard. Here Joseph and his broth- 
 ers were put to work. The elder Fifer soon 
 bought a farm near Bloomington and began life as 
 an .agriculturalist. Here Joe worked and attended 
 the neighboring school. He altern.ated farm-work, 
 brick-laying, and going to the district school for 
 the succe('ding fevv j'ears. It was all work and no 
 play for Joe, yet it by no means made a dull boy 
 of him. All the time he was thinking of the great 
 world outside, of which he had caught a glimpse 
 when coming from ^'irginia, yet he did not know 
 just how lie was going to get out into it. He 
 could not feel that the wotjds ai'ound the new 
 farm and tlu^log cabin, in which the family lived, 
 were to hold him. 
 
 The opportunity to get out into the world was 
 soon offered to young Joe. He traveled a dozen 
 miles barefoot, in c(jmpany with his brother George, 
 and enlisted in Com|)any C, 33d Illinois Infantry; 
 he being then twenty years old. In a few days 
 
184 
 
 JOSEPH W. FIFER. 
 
 tlie regiment was sent to Camp Butler, and then 
 over into Missouri, and saw some vigorous service 
 there. After a second time helping to chase Price 
 out of Missouri, the .'!;5d Regiment went down 
 to Milliken's Bond, and for several weeks " Private 
 •Toe" worked on Grant's famous ditch. The regi- 
 ment then joined the forces operating against Port 
 (iibson and Vieksburg. Joe was on guard duty in 
 the front ilitches when the (lag of surrender was 
 run u|) on the 4tli of .July, and stuck the bayonet 
 of his gun into the embankment and went into the 
 cit}' with tlie vanguard of Union soldiers. 
 
 The next day, July 5, the 38d joined the force 
 after Johnston, who had been threatening Grant's 
 rear; and finally an assault was made on him at 
 Jackson, Miss. In this charge "Private Joe" fell , ter- 
 ribly wounded. He wiis loading his gun when a 
 minie-ball struck him and passed entirely through 
 his body. He was regarded as mortally wounded. 
 His brother, George, who had been made a Lieu- 
 tenant, proved to be the means of saving liis life. 
 The Surgeon told him unless lie had ice his brother 
 Joe could not live. It w.as fifty miles t(.i the nearest 
 point where ice could be obtained, and the roads 
 were lough. A comrade, alNIcLean c()unt3' man, who 
 had been wounded, offered to make the trip. An 
 ambulance was secured and the brother soldier 
 started on the journey'. He returned with the ice, 
 but the trip, owing to the roughness of the roads, 
 was very hard on him. After a few months' care- 
 ful nursing Mr. Fifer was able to come home. The 
 Md came home on a furlough, and wlien the 
 I)03'S were ready to return to the tented field, 
 3'oung Fifer was read\' to go with them ; for he was 
 determined to finish his term of three years. He 
 was mustered out in October, 18G4, having been 
 in the service three years and two months. 
 
 "Private Joe" came out of the army a tall, 
 tanned, and awkward young man of twent^'-four. 
 About all he possessed was ambition to be some- 
 body — and pluck. Though at an age when most 
 men have finished their college course, the j'oung 
 soldier saw that if he was to be anybody he must 
 have an education. Yet he had no means to ena- 
 ble him to enter school as most young men do. 
 He w:i.s determined to have an education, iiowcver, 
 and that to him meant success. For the following 
 
 four years he struggled with his books. He entered 
 \\'es ley an University Jan. 1,1865. He was not a 
 brilliant student, being neither at the head nor the 
 foot of his class. He was in great earnest, how- 
 ever, studied hard and came forth with a well- 
 stored and disciplined mind. 
 
 Immediately after being graduated he entered 
 an office at Bloomington as a law student. He had 
 already read law some, and as he continued to work 
 hard, with the spur of poverty and promptings of 
 ambition ever with him, he was ready to hang out 
 his professional shingle in 1809. Being trust- 
 worthy he soon gathered about him some influen- 
 tial friends. In 1871 he was elected Corporation 
 Counsel of Bloomington. In 1872 he was elected 
 State's Attorney of McLean County. This office 
 he held for eight years, when he took his seat in 
 the State Senate. Here he served for four j'ears. 
 His ability to perform abundance of hard work 
 made him a most valued member of the Legisla- 
 ture. 
 
 Mr. Fifer was married in 1870 to Gertie, daugh- 
 ter of ^^'illiara J. Lewis, of Bloomington. Mr. 
 Fifer is six feet in height and is spare, weighing 
 only 1.50 pounds. He has a swarthy complexion, 
 keen black eyes, quick movement, and possesses a 
 frank and sympathetic nature, and naturally makes 
 friends wherever he goes. During the late Guber- 
 natorial campaign his visits throughout the State 
 proved a great power in his behalf. His happy 
 faculty of winning'the confidence and good wishes 
 of those with whom he comes in personal contact is a 
 source of great popularity, especiallj' duringapolit- 
 ical battle. As a speaker he is fluent, his langnage 
 is good, voice clear and agreeable, and manner 
 forcible. His manifest earnestness in what he says 
 as well as his tact as a public speaker, and his elo- 
 quent and forceful language, m.akes him a most 
 valuable campaign orator and a powerful pleader 
 at the bar. At the Republican State Convention, 
 held in May, I8.sy, Mr. Fifer was chosen as its candi- 
 date for tiovernor. He proved a popular nominee, 
 and the name of " Private Joe '' became familiar 
 to everyone throughout the State. He waged a 
 vigorous campaign, was elected by a go(^d majority, 
 and in due time assumed the duties of the Chief 
 Executi\c of Illinois. 
 
Vermilion County, 
 
 ILLINOIS, 
 
 -^>fssJ 
 
INTRODUQTORY. 
 
 5HE time has arrived when it 
 becomes the duty of the 
 people of this county to per- 
 petuate the names of their 
 pioneers, to furnish a record 
 of their early settlement, 
 and relate the story of their 
 progress. The civilization of our 
 day, the enlightenment of the age 
 and the duty that men of the pres- 
 ent time owe to their ancestors, to 
 themselves and to their posterity, 
 demand that a record of their lives 
 and deeds should be made. In bio- 
 graphical history is found a power 
 to instruct man by precedent, to 
 enliven the mental faculties, and 
 to waft down the river of time a 
 safe vessel in which the names and actions of the 
 people who contributed to raise this country from its 
 primitive state may be preserved. Surely and rapidly 
 the great and aged men, who in their prime entered 
 the wilderness and claimed the virgin soil as their 
 heritage, are passing to their graves. The number re- 
 maining who can relate the incidents of the first days 
 of settlement is becoming small indeed, so that an 
 actual necessity exists for the collection and preser- 
 vation of events without delay, before all the early 
 settlers are cut down by the scythe of Time. 
 
 To be forgotten has been the great dread of mankind 
 from remotest ages. All will be forgotten soon enough, 
 in spite of their best works and the most earnest 
 efforts of their friends to perserve the memory of 
 their lives. The means employed to prevent oblivion 
 and to perpetuate their memory has been in propor- 
 tion to the amount of intelligence they possessed. 
 Th? pyramids of Egypt were built to perpetuate the 
 names and deeds of their great rulers. The exhu- 
 mations made by the archeologists of Egypt from 
 buried Memphis indicate a desire of those people 
 
 to perpetuate the memory of their achievements. 
 The erection of the great obelisks were for the same 
 purpose. Coming down to a later period, we find the 
 Greeks and Romans erecting mausoleums and monu- 
 ments, and carving out statues to chronicle their 
 great acliievements and carry them down the ages. 
 It is also evident that the Mound-builders, in piling 
 up their great mounds of earth, had but this idea — 
 to leave something to show that they had lived. All 
 these works, though many of them costly in the ex- 
 treme, give but a faint idea of the lives and charac- 
 ters of those whose memory they were intended to 
 perpetuate, and scarcely anything of the masses of 
 the people that then lived. The great pyramids and 
 some of the obelisks remain objects only of curiosity; 
 the mausoleums, monuments and statues are crum- 
 bling into dust. 
 
 It was left to modern ages to establish an intelli- 
 gent, undecaying, immutable method of perpetuating 
 a full history — immutable in that it is almost un- 
 limited in extent and perpetual in its action ; and 
 this is through the art of printing. 
 
 To the present generation, however, we are in- 
 debted for the introduction of the admirable system 
 of local biography. By this system every man, though 
 he has not achieved what the world calls greatness, 
 has the means to perpetuate his life, his history, 
 through the coming ages. 
 
 The scythe of Time cuts down all ; nothing of the 
 physical man is left. The monument which his chil- 
 dren or friends may erect to his memory in the ceme- 
 tery will crumble into dust and pass away; but his 
 life, his achievements, the work he has accomplished, 
 which otherwise would be forgotten, is perpetuated 
 by a record of this kind. 
 
 To preserve the lineaments of our companions we 
 engrave their portraits, for the same reason we col- 
 lect the attainable facts of their history. Nor do we 
 think it necessary, as we speak only truth of them, to 
 wait until they are dead, or until those who know 
 them are gone : to do this we are ashamed only to 
 publish to the world the history of those whose lives 
 are unworthy of public record. 
 
N'EUMILION COUNTY. 
 
 191 
 
 SAMES S. sconce. It is a fitting 
 3: testimonial to the worth and oh:i r- 
 BK99 acter of this citizen to i)i'esent 
 his portrait and biography on 
 these, the opening pages of the 
 Album of Vermilion County. 
 Of the many citizens of Carroll 
 Township none were better 
 known or more highly esteemed 
 than this gentleman, who was 
 l)orn near Brook's Point, Ver- 
 milion County, Nov. 14, 1831, 
 and died Sept. 21, 1888, at the 
 age of fifty-seven years. In 
 childhood he attended the pub- 
 lic schools, as well as those more 
 advanced, at Danville, receiving a liberal educa- 
 tion. His father and mother were Samuel and 
 Nancy (Waters) Sconce, both natives of Bourbon 
 County, Ky., the birth of the former occurring in 
 1802, while the mother was born six years later. 
 
 The elder Mr. and Mrs. Sconce reraiived to Illi- 
 nois in 1828, and settled in Vermilion County in 
 1829. They had three children, who grew to ma- 
 turity, namely: James S.. America J., and Thomas 
 J. America J., is the widow of Oliver Calvert, 
 and now makes her home at the residence of her 
 brother, lately deceased. Thomas J. died in this 
 county, Jan. 1, 1888, while the father passed away 
 ill January, 1874. The mother is still living, with 
 the widow of her son, at the advanced age of 
 eighty-one years. 
 
 The Sconces were prominent in the early history 
 
 of America, and more especially in Kentucky, of 
 which State they were early settlers. The great- 
 grandfather of the subject of this sketch was one of 
 the earliest settlers of Bourbon County, where he 
 lived in a log house, built especially to resist the 
 depredations of the Indians. There were eight 
 brothers, and they were among the brave settlers 
 who reclaimed that beautiful country from the sav- 
 ages, and in so doing are entitled to the thanks of 
 a grateful nation. Nearly all of these brothers emi- 
 grated South and West. There is a large family of 
 this name in Texas. James S. Sconce's father, Sam- 
 uel, was born in Bourbon Countj', Ky. He lived 
 in the county of his birth until 1828, when he 
 removed to this State, and in the following year 
 located in A'ermilion County. His wife came with 
 her parents to the vicinity of Brook's Point, in 
 1829, her marriage occurring at that place the fol- 
 lowing year. Samuel Sconce engaged in farming, 
 and from start to finish was successful. In 1852 he 
 engaged in the mercantile business in Indianola, 
 under the firm name of Bailey & Sconce. This 
 firm continued to do business until the big fire, 
 which destroyed their stock. Mr. Sconce then re- 
 tired from active life, and died Jan. 9, 1874, leav- 
 ing behind him a reputation of which any man 
 might be proud. In 1849 he took a drove of 200 
 fat cattle to Philadelphia, where he sold half of 
 them and drove the rest to New York, returning 
 the entire distance on foot. He also hauled pro- 
 duce to Chicago in the early days. 
 
 On November 14, 1831, James S. Sconce was 
 born, in this county, and was one of its first chil- 
 
192 
 
 VEUMILION COUNTY. 
 
 dren born. lie was early taught industry, and be- 
 ing reared upon a farm w:is consequently used to 
 hard work. He remained with his parents until lie 
 was twenty-four years of age, when he engaged as 
 a clerk in tlie store of Bailey & Sconce, drawing a 
 salar3r-of $300 a year for four years. In 1859 lie 
 went to Kansas, where he pre-empted 160 acres in 
 Lyon County, and at the end of three months ho 
 traded this piece of land for a similar tract in Illi- 
 nois. Here commenced his career as a stockman 
 and drover. During this time he made the ac- 
 quaintance of his estimable wife, Miss Emma San- 
 dusky, or as her father wrote it " Sodowsky." She 
 was the only daughter of the well-known Short- 
 horn breeder of Carroll Township. After marriage 
 Mr. Sconce lived one year with his father-in-law, 
 when he located on the present homestead, remain- 
 ing there until the day of his death. He worked 
 systematical!}', and to this may be attributed his 
 success. At any rate he became wealth}', and 
 when he died was the owner of 2,100 acres of the 
 most desirable land in the count}'. Upon this he 
 built an elegant home, said to be the finest country 
 house to be seen in the State. It is a large struct- 
 ure, built of brick, beautifully located on a slight 
 elevation, while the surroundings are all that an 
 admirer of the beautiful could picture. Giant 
 trees shade the grounds, and what nature has 
 omitted art has supplied. The lawns and gardens 
 are laid out artistically, adding to the beauty and 
 picturesqueness of the landscape, and making it a 
 "thing of beauty" not excelled in this great State 
 of Ill^ois. The place is called " Fairview," at the 
 suggestion of Mrs. Sconce. The house is heated by 
 the Rutan system, and every room is supplied with 
 hot and cold water, while the spacious parlors and 
 corridors are illuminated by gas. 
 
 When i^Ir. Sconce died he left a fortune variously 
 estimated at from 8200,000 to 1300,000, every 
 cent of which was accumulated by judicious farm- 
 ing and stock-raising. It will be many years be- 
 fore the recollection of this good man will fade 
 from the memories of the people. His life was 
 simjjleand his methods straightforward, his manner 
 gentle, kind hearted to the poor, indulgent to the 
 weak, charitable to the erring, and his memory like 
 a sweet fragrance ascends on high. Generous 
 
 friend, kind husband, noble citizen, and sincere 
 Christian, the world is better for thy living, and 
 the flowers of a sweet memory will ever blossom 
 upon 111}- grave. 
 
 Like his illustrious ancestors Mr. Sconce was a 
 flue looking, active man. He had keen blue eyes, 
 a personal characteristic so marked in his family, 
 and was of a sanguine temperament. A lifetime of 
 usefulness and business activity had developed in 
 him good judgment, and as he became older his 
 attention was directed closely toward the things 
 revealed in Holy Writ. He was a consistent 
 and active member of the Methodist Episcopal 
 Church. Politically, he was a Democrat from con- 
 viction and from principle. In 1 882 he consented 
 to run for the State Senate, making a brilliant can- 
 vass and running ahead of his ticket. He served 
 as Township Supervisor, and always evinced a 
 deep interest in public affairs, and especially in the 
 welfare of his township, his county and his State. 
 His library was filled with choice and valuable 
 works, especially those treating upon the tariff, a 
 question which was studied by him with deep in- 
 terest, he believing with other leading Democrats, 
 in a tariff for revenue only. 
 
 In matters pertaining to schools he took a great 
 interest. For several years prior to his death he 
 was a Regent of the Wesleyan University of 
 Bloomington, 111., which was financially favored 
 by his generosity. As a husband and father he 
 was most loving and devoted. As a result of his 
 wedlock two children were born : Anna, who was 
 a student of Morg.an Park two years, and of Wes- 
 leyan University one year; and Harvey J., a bright 
 lad of fourteen years. He was greatly attached to 
 his children, and in them was centered his great 
 love. The poor young farmer and business man, 
 who is qlmost discouraged in life, will miss in Mr. 
 Sconce a friend, for it was one of his salient char- 
 acteristics to help those who would help themselves, 
 and as an illustration of this, it may be stated that 
 his will provided that those who owed him on 
 loans, shotild be allowed to pay his estate in small 
 yearly installments, that they might not be dis- 
 tressed. 
 
 He was buried with Masonic honors at the Wood- 
 lawn Cemetery. The funeral was attended by an 
 
VERMILTON COUNTY. 
 
 193 
 
 immense throng, and the procession was headed by 
 200 Masons in mourning, and was over three miles 
 in lengtli, the largest funeral line ever seen in Ver- 
 milion County. It was remarked by one who 
 knew Mr. Sconce well that "a secret society which 
 commanded the fealty of a man like James Sconce 
 must have something in it." If he loved Ma- 
 sonry it was equally true that the Masons loved 
 him. To his faithful wife the death of her hus- 
 band was sad beyond expression. "Sorrows come 
 not single." A less noble woman would have given 
 up to despairing sorrow at the loss of her husband, 
 her father, and lier mother within the space of one 
 short year. Of true Christian grace and motherly 
 heart she bore up bravely in her bereavement, fully 
 determined henceforth to give up her life to her 
 Master, and to the welfare of her children. As 
 before stated she is the only living child of Harvey 
 Sandusky and Susan Baum. Coming from ilhis- 
 trious ancestors, an effort will be made to herewith 
 present a few facts in regard to each of her parents. 
 In the year of 1721 there came to America an 
 exile from Poland, of noble birth and proud spirit, 
 and lofty patriotism. He headed a rebellion against 
 the despotism of Russia and her allies in the dis- 
 graceful oppression of the defeated but not subdued 
 Poles. For this brave act he was exiled and came 
 to Richmond, Va. That noble man was James 
 Sodowsky, who afterward married the sister of 
 Gov. Inslip, of the Colony of Virginia, and from 
 them descended Harvey Sandusky, the father of 
 Mrs. Sconce. Men of courage .and force of char- 
 .acter, the family has been represented in every for- 
 ward movement of civilization in this great coun- 
 try for more than a century: with the gallant pio- 
 neers in beating back the savages of the wilderness ; 
 with the brave Continentals, battling for freedom 
 in the heroic days of '76; at the front in the War 
 of 1812; with Daniel Boone in the wild Kentucky, 
 where the grandfather of Harvey settled just after 
 the close of the Revolutionary War. His father, 
 Abraham Sandusky, was born there, and married 
 Miss Jane McDowell, who bore him eight children, 
 Harvey being the eldest. In 1831 he removed 
 from Kentucky to Illinois, and settled with his 
 family on the Little Vermilion River, where he 
 continued to reside until his death. His oldest son, 
 
 Harvey, was born in Bourbon County, Ky., May 
 17, 1817, and came to Illinois with his father, lit- 
 erally growing up with the country. In his twenty- 
 fourth year he was married to Susan, daughter of 
 Charles and Susan Baum, who had emigrated from 
 Ohio and settled on the Little Vermilion River. 
 After marriage Mr. Sandusky located on the es- 
 tate which has since become so famous as "Wood- 
 lawn Stock Farm." Here, by intelligent and inj^us- 
 trious use of their opportunities, he and his faithful 
 wife built up a princely home, and surrounded it 
 with an abundance that enabled them to dispense 
 the largest charity and most unbounded hospitality. 
 Mrs. Sandusky was converted to Christianity in 
 her girlhood, and rejoiced in the hope of an im- 
 mortal life. 
 
 In the old family Bible is found this record : 
 "Harvey Sodowsky this day found peace with 
 Cxod, March 15, 1858." For forty years their's 
 was a house of prayer. To them were born three 
 children: The oldest died in infancy; the second 
 is Emma, the wife of the subject of this sketch ; 
 Gilbert, the third child and only son, died at the 
 early age of twenty-three years. Harvey San- 
 dnsky died on Saturday, Dec. 18, 1886, and the 
 following Tuesday was buried by the side of his 
 son in the beautiful Woodlawn Cemetery, which he 
 had selected and donated to the public. "Uncle 
 Harvey," as he was familiarly called, was in many 
 respects a noble man. There is always good in a 
 heart that is always tender, and his was a very ten- 
 der heart. To feed the hungry, to clothe and help 
 the needy, afforded him the greatest pleasure. The 
 foot-sore itinerant, whose horse had died, was taken 
 to the stables and told to "select the best nag in 
 the lot," without pay or promise. That preacher 
 was sent on his way rejoicing, and thereby the 
 Gospel was spread to those beyond. By him the 
 homeless were sheltered, the friendless cheered, and 
 the wretched soothed. 
 
 He was a very successful man in business, was 
 enterprising and public spirited. In the stalls and 
 on the fields at Woodlawn are perhaps the finest 
 specimens of Short-horn cattle in America, if not 
 in the world. For fifty years he had been interested 
 in raising and exhibiting fine stock. No man in 
 America has been more successful than he, as the 
 
194 
 
 VERMILION COUNTY. 
 
 premium lists of ]n-incipal fairs will show. Evi- 
 dently he has added untold riches to the general 
 community by his enterprise in this particular. But 
 his work is done, and the toils of his busy life have 
 ceased. The familiar figure has dropped out of the 
 picture of this life, and let us hope that it has 
 dropped into the life that lies beyond the other 
 shore. His home is lonely without him, his fam- 
 ily mourn him, his neighbors will miss him, his 
 friends regret his absence, but "God doeth all 
 things well."' — (Extract from the Rev. G. A. Fra- 
 sier.) His wife, Susan Sandusky, came from an 
 equally illustrious family. She was the daughter 
 of Charles and Sarah (Moyer) Baum. They were 
 likewise Polish patriots, and by the Russian au- 
 thorities banished from their native land. They 
 for a few years lived in German j^, and then emi- 
 grated to the Colony of Virginia. This noble ex- 
 ile and progenitor of the Baums of Vermilion 
 County, was Charles Baum, the great-grandfather 
 of Mrs. Emma Sconce. He married Miss Barbara 
 McDonald, a relative of the brave Gen. McDonald, 
 of Marion's army. He entered the Colonial forces, 
 and served on reserve duty in protecting the 
 frontier. After the war he settled in Bucks County, 
 and the year following Wayne's treaty with the 
 Indians, sailed down the Ohio River with his fam- 
 ily. They landed at the mouth of Buliskin Creek 
 and there, close to what is now the river town of 
 Chilo, established the first settlement in the Ter- 
 ritory of Ohio. One of his sons was Charles Baum, 
 Mrs. Sconce's grandfather. He married Susan, 
 daughter of John Moyer, a Revolutionary soldier, 
 who fought many 3'ears under the immediate com- 
 mand of Gen. Washington. 
 
 .Tohn Moyer lived in Pennsylvania some time 
 after the war, then removed to Ohio, of which 
 State he also was an early pioneer. Charles Baum, 
 the grandsire of Mrs. Sconce, came to Vermilion 
 County in 1839. He lived to be ninety-six years 
 old, had prospered well, and was a consistent 
 Christian. From the Rev. G. A. Frasier we quote 
 tiie following concerning Mrs. Susan Sandusky. 
 "Our community is again called to mourn the loss of 
 a most estimable lady, who fell asleep at her home 
 ne.ar Tndianola, March 21, 1888. She was a daugh- 
 ter of Charles and Susan Baum, born in Claremont 
 
 County, Ohio, Sept. 25, 1818. She was'converted 
 and joined the Methodist Episcopal Church when 
 quite young, and was married May 20, 1840. Her 
 life was singularly pure and exemplary, and she 
 adorned those stations in which true womanhood 
 shines the brightest. As a wife, mother, friend 
 and neighbor she was indeed a model woman. 
 None doubted the genuineness of her Christian ex- 
 perience. Always consistent, always true, she was 
 a power for good in the community. Her chari- 
 ties and uniform kindness for the poor had won for 
 her the love of all who knew her. Her devotion 
 to duty, and her unswerving fidelity had won the 
 confidence and esteem of all. She was not only 
 ready, but willing to die. In a conversation a few 
 days before her death she expressed a desire to 
 'reach her Father's house.' She leaves but one 
 child to mourn her absence from the old home- 
 stead. Mrs. James S. Sconce, the only remain- 
 ing child was with her mother during her last ill- 
 ness, faithfully, lovingly attending to every want, 
 and tearfully watching the slowly ebbing tide of 
 life till all was still in death. In this great be- 
 reavement Mrs. Sconce has the sympathy of the 
 entire community. The old homestead is left deso- 
 late. A family has passed from earth. We hope 
 that on the other side of the river they are again 
 united." 
 
 Mrs. Emma Sconce was born in the old Harvey 
 Sandusky homestead, better known under the name 
 of "Woodlawn," a name suggested by her for her 
 father's large farm, which was so famous in pro- 
 ducing herds of prize-winning Short-horn cattle. 
 Here she grew up under the influences of a Chris- 
 tian home, attending Georgetown Academj' for 
 some time. Her loyalty has marked her entire ca- 
 reer from childhood to widowhood. As the wife 
 of James S. Sconce she was ever a most worthy, 
 affectionate, and loving companion; as mistress of 
 the "Fairview" mansion she is modest, kind, gen- 
 erous and hospitable; while the taste with which 
 the mansion is furnished reflects great credit upon 
 its mistress. She possesses a great deal of knowl- 
 edge, general and special, and is respected and es- 
 teemed by all who know her. She is a devout 
 Christian, and rich and poor alike are graced by 
 her favors. She deeply mourns the loss of her 
 
VERiSlILION COUNTY. 
 
 195 
 
 husband, for their marriage proved to be a most 
 happy one. She is trul)^ the type of noble Ameri- 
 can womanhood, and as a motber is fairly wor- 
 shipped by her two children, and tlioy in turn 
 are held most affectionately dear. Her modesty 
 prevents her giving further facts in regard to her- 
 self. Her attorney, however, has furnished the 
 following figures concerning her estate: Personal 
 property of James S. Sconce, deceased, ^62,000; 
 personal property of Harvey Sandusky, deceased, 
 $20,000; total number of acres of land held by Mrs. 
 Sconce, 3,600. 
 
 ^1^ IRAM ARMANTROUT. In no portion of 
 the world is there illustrated the result of 
 patient industry more forcibly than in the 
 great West. Could the youug man of fifty 
 years ago have had the power to look forward into 
 the future and discover not only what he himself 
 would accomplish, but what would be done by his 
 brother pioneers, he would have labored with 
 greater courage than he has already done; for no 
 one can dispute that the first settling up of this part 
 of the country was necessarily an experiment. Few 
 however, stood in doubt as to the final result, but 
 fewer still would have prophesied the achievements 
 which have really been accomplished. 
 
 The subject of this sketch was one of the earliest 
 settlers of Middle Fork Township, whence he re- 
 moved to Butler Township in April, 1855. He 
 took up a half-section of government land, em- 
 bracing a part of sections 2, 22 and 13, in township 
 22, range 13, before there had been any attempt at 
 cultivation. In the fall of 1856 he put up a small 
 frame house, and being unmarried, took in a tenant, 
 with whom he lived. He had, prior to this, broken 
 sixty acres. He proceeded with the improve- 
 ments of his property single-handed until the 
 spring of 1859, when he took unto himself a wife 
 and helpmate. Miss Celinda Pugh. They spent the 
 first few years of their wedded life in the little 
 house, and in due time, being prospered, our suli- 
 ject was enabled to erect a larger dwelling. He 
 ako built a good barn and planted forest and fruit 
 trees, which flourished, and he now has the finest 
 o-rove in the neighborhood. He occupied this farm 
 
 until March, 1889, when he wisely retired from 
 active labor and purchased property in Rossville, 
 where he took up liis abode and purposes now to 
 live. 
 
 Our subject was born in Montgomery County, 
 Ind., Aug. 12, 1829, and lived ttiere until 1855 
 with his father and mother. The former, Valen- 
 tine Armantrout, was born in Rockingham County', 
 Va., April 27, 1799, and removed with his father, 
 Frederick Armantrout, to Warren County, Ohio, 
 in 1808, where he was reared to manhood. He 
 married Miss Catherine Kesling, and they so- 
 journed in the Buckeye State until 1828, when they 
 removed to Montgomery County, Ind. There the 
 father engaged in farming and blacksmitiiing com- 
 bined, and lived until his decease, which took place 
 March 17, 1846. 
 
 To the parents of our subject were born seven 
 children, of whom he was the third, and of whom 
 four are living: Ambrose is a resident of Chautau- 
 qua County, Kan.; Simon lives in Waynetown, 
 Montgomery Co., Ind.; Sarah became the wife of 
 C. S. Bratton, of Rossville, and she is now de- 
 ceased. Mary Ann is the wife of James Applegate, 
 of this county ; Mellnda died at the age of seventeen 
 years; Henry died in Linn County, Kan., in 1887. 
 The paternal grandfather was a resident of Vir- 
 ginia during the Revolutionary War, in which his 
 father and two brothers fought, while he remained 
 at home. He was drafted, but Washington sent 
 him home. The famil}' is of German descent, and 
 the first representative in this country settled in 
 Virginia. 
 
 At the time of leaving Butler Township Mr. 
 Armantrout was its oldest living male resident. One 
 lady, Mrs. Pyles, had been there one year longer 
 than himself. As a farmer he was more than or- 
 dinarily successful, and also prosecuted stock-rais- 
 ing with excellent results. He was prominent in 
 local affairs, being the first Road Commissioner in 
 the township, in which office he served eleven years. 
 He olHciated as Constable four years, was Justice of 
 the Peace seven years, School Trustee nine years, 
 and School Director for a long period. Politically, 
 he is a Republican. 
 
 Of the six children born to iMr. and Mrs. Arman- 
 trout, the third child, a son, Harmon, died when 
 
11)6 
 
 VERMllJON COUNTY. 
 
 one year old, Tlie survivors are Sfott,, Celia M., 
 Drusilla, Carrie and Ida. Scott married Miss 
 Emma Walters, and li\es on the home farm; Celia 
 May is the wife of Ira G. Philips, and the mothei- 
 of one child, a daughter, Mabel; they live near 
 the homestead. The others are unmarried and 
 remain with their parents. ISIrs. Celinda (Fugh) 
 Armantrout was born in Warren County, Ind., 
 Aug. 26, 1833, and is the daughter of George 
 Pugh, who was a native of Pennsylvania. He mar- 
 ried Miss Elizabeth Anderson, and they reared n, 
 large family of children. He followed farming his 
 entire life, and after leaving his native State set- 
 tled near Lebanon, in Warren County, Ind., where 
 he spent his last days. His death occurred about 
 1 864, at the age of seventy years. 
 
 ^%, LIVER HARRISON C:RANE. The leading 
 (( I' event in the life of this gentleman was his 
 v!^^ birth, which occurred in Eountain Connty, 
 Ind., on the 4th of March, 1841, the day of the in- 
 auguration of President William Henry Harrisoni 
 and in honor of whom the infant was given his sec- 
 ond name. He is now a man of forty-eight years, 
 and one of the most substantial farmers of Grant 
 Township, being the owner of 160 acres of choice 
 land, pleasantly located on section 29, township 23, 
 range 12. 
 
 Mr. Crane spent the first eighteen years of his 
 life in his native county, acquiring a practical edu- 
 cation in the common schools and becoming famil- 
 iar with farm pirrsuits. In the fall of 1851), leaving 
 the parental roof, he came to this county and as- 
 sume<l charge of the land which his father had en- 
 tered from the Government at si'1.25 per acre. He 
 hoarded at the house of a neighbor until the spring 
 of 1861 ; then put up a house into which he removed 
 with his young wife, having been married Feb. 7 
 of that year to Miss Charlotte Bowling of liis own 
 county in Indiana. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Crane, although removing into a 
 more modern domicile, have occupied the same 
 farm which they moved upon at the time of their 
 marriage. Their labors and struggles have been 
 similar to those of the people around cliem; their 
 
 rewards likewise. Industrj' and econom3' have been 
 repaid fourfold, and now, in the enjoyment of all 
 the comforts of life and nianj^ of its luxuries, they 
 sit under their own vine and fig tree and are blest 
 with the respect of tlieir friends and neighbors. 
 For some time after Jfr. Crane settled here there 
 wci'e no neighbors north for fifteen miles, the near- 
 est being at Ash Grove. Deer, wolves and other 
 wild animals were plentiful, but these slowly dis- 
 api)cared as the country became settled up. 
 
 The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Crane, eleven 
 in number, are recorded as follows: The two eldest 
 died in infancy; Elmer E. was born May 28, 1865; 
 JolHi N., Sept. 3, 1867; Lillian L., Jan. 6, 1870; 
 Alfaretta, Feb. 11, 1872; Winifred, Dec. 4,1873; 
 Morris S.. Nov. 2, 1876; Mary A., June 24, 1879; 
 Perry D., Jan. 28. 18H3; Anna M., Oct. 23, 1885. 
 The eldest son living, Elmer, married Miss Olive 
 Keplinger, is a resident of Northwest Nebraska and 
 the father of two children. Mrs. Charlotte (Bow- 
 ling) Crane was born July 3, 1843, in Fountain 
 County, Ind., and is the daughter of AVillis P. and 
 Mary (Bruce) Howling, who were natives of Ohio. 
 The father was born in AVarren County, Jan. 25, 
 1816, and lived there until a lad of eight years. 
 His parents then removed to Indiana, and after the 
 death of his father in Fountain County he contin- 
 ued on the farm, where he reared his family and 
 spent his last d.ays. This farm is located in Van 
 Buren Township six miles northeast of Covington. 
 The maiden name of the motlier of Mrs. Crane was 
 Mary Bruce, and the parents were married in 1838. 
 Of the eight children born to them three are living — 
 Charlotte, Arthur and Morris. The two boys live 
 at the old farm in Fountain County, Ind., with their 
 father. The latter, with his estimable wife, is a 
 member of the Christian Church, and the family 
 stand high in their community. 
 
 Mrs. Mary (Bruce; Bowling was born in Law- 
 rence County, Ohio, Jan. 21, 1817, to Joshua and 
 Margaret (Innes) Bruce, the father a farmer b}' oc- 
 cupation. When Mary was a girl of eleven years, 
 they left the Buckeye State and removed to Foun- 
 tain County, Ind., where she remained under the 
 parental roof until her marriage. 
 
 •foel Crane, the father of our subject, was born 
 Jan. 28, 1817, in Warren County, Ohio, near (he 
 
VERMILION COUNTY. 
 
 197 
 
 birthplace of Mr. Bowling. He lived there until 
 1832, and then, a lad of fifteen years, migrated 
 to Fountain County, Ind., with his parents, where 
 lie was married and still lives on the old farm 
 northeast of Covington which his father took up 
 from the Government. His wife was formerly Miss 
 Elizabeth Jenkins, and they reared a family of three 
 children — Oliver H., Lewis C. and Cyrus, the lat- 
 ter two of Missouri and Kansas respectively. Mrs. 
 Elizabeth (Jenkins) Crane was born Dec. 5, 1820, 
 in Ohio, and departed this life at the homestead in 
 Indiana Sept. 2, 1853. She left the Buckeye State 
 with her parents in 1839 and remained with them 
 until her marriage. 
 
 Mr. Crane, our subject, has been a man always 
 full of business and one who lias little respect for 
 the drones in the world's busy hive. He has kept 
 himself well posted upon events of general interest, 
 and is one with whom may be spent an hour very* 
 pleasantly and profitably. His course in life has 
 been that of an honest man, while his industrj' has 
 been rewarded with a competence. 
 
 HARLES BUHL. This gentleman occupies 
 unimportant position among the self- 
 '^^ made men of tliis county who have arisen 
 by their own efforts from the foot of the ladder 
 and who by unflagging industrj' and perseverance 
 have accumulated a competence and in their later 
 years are retired and in the enjoyment of it. Mr. 
 Buhl represents a goodlj^ amount of property — in- 
 deed is recognized as a capitalist — and has contrib- 
 uted his full quota to the business interests of Dan- 
 ville and vicinity. He comes of substantial ances- 
 try and is a native of Pennsylvania, having been 
 born in Butler County, Feb. 8, 1812. 
 
 Our subject remained a resident of his native 
 place until a young man of twenty years, acquiring 
 a practical education in the common school and 
 being variously occupied. Finally resolving upon 
 a change of location, he made bis way in 1838, to 
 Detroit and for two years thereafter employed 
 himself as a teamster. In the fall of 1848, he vis- 
 ited Chicago and being favorably impressed with 
 the outlook, established himself in the hat, cap 
 
 and fur ))usiness on Lake street, second door west 
 of Clark street where he operated successfully until 
 about 1850. Then selling out he invested the 
 proceeds in a farm of 697 acres, embracing the 
 present site of Kensington and which he secured 
 for the sum of $6,000. Nine months later lie sold 
 the bottom land — about 300 acres — to the Michigan 
 Central Railway for the price which he had paid 
 for tlie whole. For about ten years thereafter he 
 engaged in farming, and then sold out and coming 
 to Danville invested a portion of his capital here 
 where he has since made his home. 
 
 Mr. Buhl has been engaged in different enter- 
 prises since coming to Danville. He invested a 
 portion of his capital in the lots embracing Nos. 1 1 7 
 to 123 or East Main street where he has put up 
 buildings, the rents from which yield him a hand- 
 some income. He has at different times owned 
 considerable land in the county and has now eigh- 
 teen acres of valuable land just outside the city 
 limits. Although a sound Republican politically 
 he has never sought office, but was twice elected to 
 represent his ward in the City Council and has 
 served as a member of the School Board. From 
 these, however, he withdrew before the expiration 
 of his term. During the Civil War his son Sidney 
 served as a soldier in the Union Army. 
 
 Mr. Buhl was married in Pennsylvania July 9, 
 1834, to Miss Eliza Ann McConaughy, and they 
 became the parents ol six children, four of whom 
 are living, namely: Sidney, Frank, Emma and 
 Laura. Mrs. Buhl was born in New Lisbon, Ohio 
 Jan. 1, 1820, and is the daughter of James and 
 Elizabeth McConaughy, with whom she lived in 
 the Buckeye State until her marriage. Mr. McC. 
 was a farmer by occupation and the parental house- 
 hold included ten children — four sons and six 
 daughters. .Sidnej' Buhl, the only son of our sub- 
 ject married Miss Sally Myers and the}' have one 
 child, a daughter, Georgia; he is in the employ of 
 the American Express Company. Frank is a resi. 
 dent of Louisiana where he operates a fruit farm and 
 nursery; Emma is the wife of William Myers to 
 whom she was married Jan. 4, 1888; Mr. M., is em- 
 ployed as a carriage salesman and they live in 
 Danville. Laura was married June 5, 1883, to Mr. 
 John Lawrence, a boot and shoe merchant, located 
 
108 
 
 VERMILION COUNTY. 
 
 at 117 East Main street. The daughters are mem- 
 bers of the Methodist Episcopal Cliurch. 
 
 Christian liuhl, the father of our subject, was a na- 
 tive of Germany, and came to America when a j'oung 
 man, and settled near Zeleinople, Pa., where lie en- 
 gaged in the manu failure of hats. He also became 
 the owner of considerable land and spent the re- 
 mainder of his life in that vicinity. lie had mar- 
 ried Miss Fredrika Gearing and they reared a fam- 
 ily of ten children, of whom Charles was about the 
 fifth in order of birth, and of whom seven are now 
 living. Mr. Biihl died in Pennsylvania at the ad- 
 vanced age of eigbty-seven years. His wife sur- 
 vived him three years and was also eighty-seven 
 years old at the time of her decease. 
 
 [OHN W. BANDY, junior member of the 
 firm of Smith & Bandy, druggists, is also 
 owner of the Bandy Block (>n A'ermilion 
 street, Danville, and is well-known to the 
 citizens of the cit^^ and vicinity as representing 
 some of its most important business interests. He 
 is a native of this place and was born April 8, 
 1844. Of his father, William Bimdy, one of the 
 earliest pioneers of this county and an ,at;ed vete- 
 ran of seventy -seven years, a sketch will be found 
 elsewhere in this volume. 
 
 The first four years of the life of our subject 
 were spent upon a farm and then the family re- 
 moved to Danville, wliere John W., acquired a 
 practical education in the common schools. When 
 approaching manhood he entered the otHce of the 
 Danville Plaindealer, then under tbe control of 
 John Leslie and with whom he remained until the 
 office was purchased by Judge Daniel Clapp. 
 Young Bandy continued with the latter until 1864. 
 That year he began the study of medicine with Dr. 
 Samuel Humphrey as preceptor and after a time 
 began practicing to a certain extent. He, how- 
 ever, concluded that he was better adapted to 
 some other business than that of a physician, which 
 resolution was strengthened by his failing haalth. 
 He spent three or four years in recuperating and in 
 ] 872 engaged as clerk in the store of E. E. Boudi- 
 not about five years. At the expiration of this 
 
 time he was admitted to partnership with his em- 
 ployer. Three years later he sold out to Mr. E. G. 
 Smith, a native of ]')anville, and the only surviv- 
 ing member of the family of Giles Smith. These 
 gentlemen have been in partnership since that 
 time and Mr. Bandy has been in the store since 
 1872. Mr. Bandy is a gentleman of great energy 
 and enterprise, and has accumulated a good prop- 
 erty, including one of the finest brick blocks on 
 North \'ermilion street which was erected in 1887, 
 and is equipped with all modern improvements. 
 
 Mr. Band}' was married in Danville, Sept. 28, 
 18G4, to Miss Margaret Humphrey, who became the 
 mother of one child and who died together with the 
 child in 1865. Our subject contracted a second mat- 
 rimonial alliance with Miss Mary A. Campbell, of 
 Lafayette, Ind., Aug. 29, 1879. Of this union there 
 was one child, a son, Claude W., who was born Aug. 
 '29, 1880, and is still living. Mrs. Mary A. 
 (Campbell) Bandy was born June 1, 1853, about 
 fifteen miles southeast of Logansport, Ind., and 
 spent her childhood and youth in Indiana. Both 
 Mr. and Mrs. Bandy are members of good standing 
 of the Kimber Methodist Episcopal Church. Until 
 about 1865 Mr. Bandy voted with the Republican 
 party but has since that time afiiliated with the De- 
 mocracy. He has never had any ambition for office, 
 preferring to give his best efforts to his business 
 affairs. His home comprises a neat residence in the 
 northeast part of the city and as the son of a prom- 
 inent family he occupies no secondary position in 
 social and business circles. 
 
 ENRY L. BUSHNELL is one of the leading 
 and successful business men of Hoopeston. 
 He is the proprietor of the North Elevator, 
 which has a capacity of 75,000 bushels. He 
 also owns several other large elevators on the line 
 of the Chicago & Eastern Illinois Railroad. He is 
 also general agent for the Brazil Block Coal Com- 
 pany, handling from 2,500 to 3,000 cars yearly, 
 besides his local trade. 
 
 Mr. Bushnell was born Oct. 2, 1843, near what is 
 now Dunlap, 111., and there remained with his father 
 until he left school to enter the army. He enlisted 
 
VERMILION COUNTY. 
 
 199 
 
 on July 2, 1862, in Company E, 77th Illinois In- 
 fantry. This regiment was assigned to the 13tli 
 Army Corps, originally under Gen. Smith, but 
 which was latterly under the command of Gen. 
 Banks, and participated in the battles of Black 
 River, Jackson, Champion Hill, Black River Bridge, 
 the siege of Vickshurg, and also in the entire cam- 
 paign which resulted in the opening of the Missis- 
 sippi River. At Vicksburg he was wounded on the 
 22d of May, 18C3, in the left knee, after which he 
 was in the field hospital until his recovery. The 
 last seventeen months of the service he was Second 
 Lieutenant of his company. While on the expedi- 
 tion with Banks up the Red River, he was cap- 
 tured at Mansfield, La., April 8, 1864, and taken to 
 Camp Ford, Tyler, Tex., and was there held until 
 the close of the war. While a prisoner of war he suf- 
 fered untold hardships, whicii impaired his health, 
 the effects of which he feels to this day. After his 
 release he joined his regiment at Mobile, Ala., Jan- 
 uary, 1 865, but remained there but a few days when 
 he proceeded to St. Louis, where he was properly 
 exchanged. Here he was detailed on Gen. Dodge's 
 staff, remaining on this dutj^ until Aug. 1, when he 
 was mustered out of the service having served for 
 several months more tlian his regular enlistment. 
 After leaving the army he returned to Peoria, 111., 
 and engaged in the lumber business with his father. 
 In this he continued for some time, having an ex- 
 tensive trade, and becoming accustomed to railroad 
 business in the mean time, he was appointed Assis- 
 tant General Freight Agent of the Cliicago & 
 Eastern Illinois Railroad, with headquarters at Ter- 
 re Haute. He continued in this capacity for five 
 years, when in July 1883, he resigned and removed 
 to Hoopeston where he has since been engaged in 
 business, and it is not too broad an assertion to 
 state that he transacts more business than any other 
 man in Eastern Illinois. 
 
 Mr. Bushnell has served his city as Mayor for 
 two terms and for one term has been an Alderman. 
 He has also served five years on the Board of Edu- 
 cation, of which he is now President. He has never 
 aspired to office but his great business talents are 
 always in request i)y his neighbors, and he cannot 
 see his way ^clear to refuse them. He is a hard- 
 working Republican, is recognized as a leader in 
 
 his party, and can be found attending all its conven- 
 tions and gatherings. He is a member of the First 
 Baptist Church and has been a Sunda3'-school Su- 
 perintendent for twenty years. 
 
 On September 18, 1867, Mr. Bushnell married 
 Miss Hattie A. Littell, of Peoria, and they have 
 become the parents of ten children, two of whom 
 only are living, six dying of diphtheria. The living 
 are William F., who was born Jan. 25, 1872 and 
 Jessie A., April 21, 1883. Mrs. Busluiell was born 
 in New York City, March 18, 1844 and is the 
 daughter of Isaac Littell, who came West in 1855. 
 In closing tiiis brief sketch, it is proper to say that 
 there are no more popular people in this section of 
 the country than Mr. and Mrs. Bushnell. 
 
 ellARLES M. P.AUM, a native of this 
 county, may usually bo found at his well- 
 regulated homestead on section 25. Be- 
 sides general agriculture, he is largelj^ interested 
 in the breeding of draft horses and has been of 
 signal service in elevating the standard of horse 
 flesh in tliis part of the State. Active, energetic 
 and industrious, he is a scion of the pioneer ele- 
 ment which located in this county at an earl}' day 
 and assisted largely in its growth and develop- 
 ment. 
 
 There are some interesting facts connected with 
 the family history of Mr. Baum which cannot by 
 any means be properly omitted from this sketch. 
 His father, Samuel Baum, a farmer by occupation, 
 was born twenty-five miles south of the city of 
 Cincinnati, Ohio, and was the son of Charles 
 Baum, supposed to have been born in Pennsyl- 
 vania, whence he removed first to Ohio and later 
 to Illinois. He was a gunsmitii by trade, but after 
 coming to this country occupied himself mostly as 
 a farmer, and died at the advanced .age of ninety- 
 eight years. Three of his seven children are yet 
 living, and Samuel, the father of our subject, was 
 the oldest of the family. Samuel Baum came to 
 Illinois as early as 1828, and located on the Little 
 Vermilion, near the present site of Indianola. The 
 country then was very thinl}' settled and Vermil- 
 ion County was considered quite a frontier. The 
 
200 
 
 VERMILION COUNTY. 
 
 journey was made overland in a Dearborn wagon, 
 and they brought with them a bug-horned cow 
 tied behind the wagon. The incidents of that long 
 and wearisome journey, during which they camped 
 and cooked by the wayside and slept in the wagons 
 at night,i»and the after experiences, replete with 
 toil and privation, if properly related, would fill a 
 good-sized volume. 
 
 The parents of our subject, however, possessed 
 the hardy spirit requisite in the pioneers of '28 
 and entered with courage upon the task. set before 
 them. The mother was in her girlhood Miss Sarah 
 Weaver, daughter of Michael Weaver, wlio also 
 came to this county in 1828, and the young people 
 were married in Ohio. Mr. Weaver prior to this 
 time had served as a soldier in the War of 1812, 
 and was greatly prospered as a tiller of the soil of 
 Illinois, becoming one of A'^ermilion County's 
 wealthiest men. Mrs. Baum was the eldest of the 
 eight children comprising tlie parental family, of 
 whom only two are now living. 
 
 Tlie parents of our subject were married in 1823. 
 Samuel Baum became a very successful farmer, 
 the owner of 1,400 acres of land, and devoted him- 
 self largely to stock-raising. After the labors of a 
 well spent life he departed hence in March, 1861. 
 The mother had passed to the silent land fourteen 
 years previous!}', in 18i7. Of the ten children 
 born to them seven are still living. Charles M. was 
 the sixth child and was born Dec. 22, 1838, at the 
 old homestead near Indianola. He pursued his 
 first studies in the district school and in due time 
 entered Bryant & Stratton's Commercial College, 
 Indianapolis, from which he was graduated and at 
 the age of twentj'-two years began work for him- 
 self on his father's farm. 
 
 Our subject operated as a general agriculturist 
 two years, then for one year turned his attention 
 to shipping stock. In the meantime he went into 
 Texas and purchased 500 Texas cattle, which lie 
 drove through the Indian Territory, in 1866, to 
 Chicago, consuming eight mouths on the journey. 
 He disposed of his stock, then returning to New- 
 town, this county, embarked in the mercantile 
 business for two and one-half years. He then pur- 
 chased ground for a sawmill and in company with 
 Robert Craig put up the necessary building, equip- 
 
 ping it with machinery and operated the mill for 
 two years. Then selling out he resumed his for- 
 'mer business as a live stock shipper and afterwar<l 
 farmed again for about two j^ears. 
 
 About this time Mr. Baum became interested in 
 fine horses and began importing Clj'desdales from 
 Canada and was thus occupied two years. After- 
 wards he began breeding fine horses, for which his 
 well-equipped farm of 200 acres affords every con- 
 venience. He has thirty head mostly Clydesdales, 
 including the Knight of Colander, imported by 
 Galbraith Bros., of Janesville, Wis., and a very 
 valuable registered mare imported by himself. 
 Mr. Baum's horses are gaining an enviable reputa- 
 tion in this part of the State. 
 
 On the 22d of March, 1869, our subject was 
 united in marriage with Miss Mary J., daughter 
 of William and Emily (Vanderin) Craig, who were 
 among the pioneer settlers of this county. Of this 
 union there have been born live children: Grace, 
 Ernest, Katie, Charles and Frank, all of whom are 
 at home with their pai-ents. Mr. Baum has been 
 active in polities since becoming a voting citizen, 
 and is proud to record the fact that his first Presi- 
 dential candidate was the martyred President, 
 Abraham Lincoln. He keeps himself well posted 
 upon the political issues of the da}', and for twelve 
 years has officiated as School Director in his dis- 
 trict. He is President of the Newtown Horse and 
 Cattle Fair and a member of the Clydesdale 
 American Association, also for the Newtown Horse 
 Protector Association. He has been for tbe last 
 three years a Road Commissioner. It will thus be 
 seeu that he has made a good record as a citizen 
 and is amply worthy of representation in the Bio- 
 OK.vriiK'AL AiAiXMi of VcrmiHon County. 
 
 LLIS ADAMS. The history to which our 
 attention is now directed is that of a man 
 , ! possessing some admirable traits of charac- 
 ter and one whose course in life has been such as to 
 command the esteem and confidence of all who 
 have known him. During the vicissitudes of life 
 he has spent many years in arduous labor, has 
 handled probably a million dollars in money, has 
 
VERMILION COUNTY. 
 
 201 
 
 dealt bonestlj' and fairly by his fellow-inen and 
 should reap a large measure of consolation from 
 ihe fact that comparatively few have made person- 
 ally so clean and admirable record. There are few 
 who have not experienced adversity in their strug- 
 gle with the world, some more and some less, and 
 while with some it h.as had the effect to make them 
 sour and cynical, others have learned wisely from 
 the lesson and in this respect at least come off con- 
 querors in the struggle. Nature endowed Mr. 
 Adams with those qualities of mind and heart, 
 which have enabled him to make the best of cir- 
 cumstances and leave the rest to Providence. 
 
 The native place of our subject was not far from 
 the New England coast in Sussex County, N. J., 
 his birth occurring Sept. 2.5, 1817. He commenced 
 the battle of life for himself at the early age of 
 fourteen years, clerking in a stoi'e from that time 
 until a young man of twenty. He then accompan- 
 ied his father's familj' to Virginia and remained 
 on a farm in the Old Dominion for a period of 
 five years. Then leaving the parental roof he emi- 
 grated to Orange County, N. Y., where he w.as 
 employed as clerk in the grocery store of Mr. 
 Reeve in Goshen. Two years later lie established 
 himself as a general merchant at Unionville in the 
 same county and sold goods there for fifteen years. 
 
 Mr. Adams finally becoming wearied of mer- 
 cantile pursuits concluded he would seek the 
 fartiier West and settle upon a farm. Coming to 
 this county, in 1857, he purchased 480 acres of 
 land south of Fairmount and put up the largest 
 residence in this vicinity. Thereafter he occupied 
 himself at farming and merchandising until 1886, 
 when on the account of the failing health of his 
 wife he removed to Kansas, living there with a 
 daughter one year and then returned to this countjr. 
 
 Our subject in 1844 was united in marriage with 
 Miss Amanda R., a daughter of Samuel King of 
 Pennsylvania and a prominent farmer in his neigh- 
 borhood. The ceremony took place at the home of 
 the bride's mother in Philadelphia. This union 
 resulted in the birth of three children, the eldest of 
 whom, Frank A., was married and died leaving lus 
 widow with two children. Anna is the wife of 
 Stanley Conklin, a member of the firm of Jarvis, 
 Conklin & Co., in Kansas City, Mo., and they 
 
 have two children. George C, married Miss 
 Nellie, daughter of Hiram Catlett of Vance Town- 
 ship, and they have two children. Mrs Adams 
 has been sorely afflicted with rheumatism, being in 
 feeble health for the past twenty years and in 1«84 
 was stricken with total blindness. She and her 
 children are memliers of the Baptist Church in 
 which Mr. Adams has been a Deacon for thirty 
 years. In politics, Mr. Adams was first a Whig 
 and later a Democrat. Although seventy-two 
 ye.ars old he is in the enjoyment of good health and 
 although having met with many reverses main- 
 tains the cheerful and genial disposition which 
 has always attracted to him numbers of warm 
 friends. He appreciates the importance of pre- 
 serving the family record and a few years ago 
 wrote up a complete history of his life placing it 
 in the hands of iiis son. 
 
 The father of our subject was Joseph Adams, a 
 native of New Jersey and a farmer by ocupation. 
 He married Miss Martha Post, a native of New 
 Jersey and they lived there until 18,39. Then 
 disposing of their interests in that State they re- 
 moved to Spottsylvania County, Va., where the 
 mother died at the age of fifty-two years. Joseph 
 Adams spent his last 3'ears in Virginia and de- 
 parted this life in July, 184.5. , 
 
 The parental household included eleven children, 
 all of whom lived to mature years. Grandfather 
 Adams was a prominent man in Sussex County, 
 N. J. and held the position of Judge for some 
 
 years. 
 
 *-S»t»-^»£^;^^<«5*f-K«5«E^ 
 
 !>HOMAS D. McKEE, of Oakwood Town- 
 ship, has for years been prominent in busi- 
 ness circles, operating as lawyer, banker and 
 farmer. His home is located on section 15, .and 
 the farm is chiefly devoted to stock-raising, an in- 
 dustry which has always proved profitable in tliis 
 section. Mr. McKee was born in New York State 
 June 9, 1833, at the old homestead of his parents, 
 John C. and Jeanette (Stewart) McKee, the former 
 of whom w.ns a native also of the Empire State, and 
 the mother of Scotland. 
 
 John C. McKee was born in 1809, .and died at 
 the age of seventy-six years. The paternal grand- 
 
202 
 
 VERMILION COUNTY. 
 
 father, Thomas McKee, was bom about 1784 in 
 Dryden, Tompkins Co., N. Y., where he spent his 
 entire life, dying at the age of sixty-two years. 
 The great-grandfather, James McKee, was born in 
 the North of Ireland, and died at the age of ninety- 
 six years. Grandfather John Stewart married a 
 Miss Mcintosh and emigrated to America, settling 
 near Dryden, N. Y., where he engaged in farmiirg 
 and died at the age of sixty-two years. Thomas D. 
 had the privilege of seeing all three of the old 
 veterans. 
 
 The parents of our subject were married in New 
 York State, and afterwards lived upon the same 
 farm which still remains in the family, and which 
 is located on the old State Road four and one-half 
 miles from Cortland, between the latter place and 
 Ithica. The mother passed away in 1877, and the 
 father in 1885. Their family consisted of eleven 
 children, all of whom grew to mature years, .and of 
 whom our subject is the eldest. Thomas U., like 
 his brothers and sisters, attended the village school 
 at McLean, and later was a student in Cortland 
 Academy at Homer, N. Y. He prosecuted his law 
 studies in the State and National Law School at 
 Poughkeepsie under the presidency' of J. W. Fow- 
 ler, from which he was graduated and then set out 
 for the West. 
 
 Mr. McKee left his home in New York State in 
 1855, and going to MaysviUe, Wis., taught school 
 there six months. Prior to this before leaving his 
 native State he had been similarly occupied at 
 South ^Cortland. In 1857 he went to Faribault, 
 Minn., and platted Morristown together with sev- 
 eral other towns. He then migrated to St. Louis, 
 Mo., and from there to Leavenworth, Kan., daring 
 the dayg of the troubles in the latter State and wit- 
 neesed many scenes of violence, enacted on the soil 
 of "bleeding Kansas." In that State he operated 
 as a surveyor, and taught the first school estab- 
 lished at Atchison. After a two-year's sojourn in 
 that region he returned home, completed his law 
 course in Poughkeepsie, and, in 1861, returning to 
 Illinois, established himself at Homer, Champaign 
 County, and began the practice of his chosen pro- 
 fession. 
 
 The next important event in the life of our sub- 
 ject was his marriage with Miss Mary Groenehdyke, 
 
 and six or seven years afterwards the newly wedded 
 pair established themselves at their present home 
 stead. While at Homer Mr. McKee, in company with 
 D. S. Pratt, established the bank at Homer, and later 
 our subject purchased the interest of his partner 
 therein. That same year through the speculation 
 of his clerk the bank was obliged to close its doors. 
 This individual had been trusted implicitly without 
 bonds, and had made away with $2.3,000 in cash. 
 
 Subsequently Mr. McKee became interested in 
 farming pursuits and began operations on 240 acres 
 of land, which amount has been augmented so that 
 the farm now embraces 080 acres all in one body. 
 It is all in productive condition, but largely de- 
 voted to stock-raising — forty to flftj' cattle in a 
 year, about 200 head of swine and numbers of very 
 fine imported Belgium horses. 
 
 To Mr. and Mrs. McKee there were born five 
 children, four of whom are living: Samuel G., 
 Stewart T., Mallie and John, all at home with their 
 parents. Our subject has been for many years the 
 School Director in his district, and has served on 
 the School Board in Homer for six years. He was 
 President of the Town Board there for several 
 terms, and it was largely through his influence that 
 sidewalks were laid and shade trees were planted. 
 He also labored assiduously in suppressing the liq- 
 uor traffic. He votes the straight Republican 
 ticket, and is uniformly in favor of those measures 
 tending to elevate society and advance the inter- 
 ests of the people. Mrs. McKee is a very capable 
 and estimable lady, with a good talent for business 
 and is a member in good standing of the Presbyte- 
 rian Church. 
 
 Samuel Groenendyke, the father of Mrs. McKee, 
 was born in Seneca County, N. Y., in 1803, and 
 married Miss Lacy Thompson, of Cumberland 
 County, Pa. In 1821 he removed with his family 
 to the vicinity of Terre Haute, Ind., and thence to 
 \'ermillion County, Ind., where he established his 
 permanent home. He finallj' became the owner of 
 nearlj' 2,000 acres of land. Later he established him- 
 self as a general merchant at Eugene, and also had 
 a branch store at Homer, 111. He was very indus- 
 trious and enterprising, and was the first pork- 
 packer in his locality. He aided largely in encour- 
 aging the various industries of the new country. 
 
Stock-Farm AND Residence of J. W.Goodwi 
 

 -■- '-^-^--^■•^>' 
 
 ,Secs. 21,22, 26,27 & 28. Pi L0TTp,VeRM1 LION Co. 
 
PORTRAIT A]S1) lilOORArHIUAL ALBUM. 
 
 207 
 
 and was prominent in liis o'ommunity, being espce- 
 ally well known by the old settlers. The parental 
 family included three children, two daughters and 
 a son, Samuel, who is now a resident of P^ugene. 
 
 _ ^^ ^ 
 
 •^l OHN ^Y. GOODWINE is one of tlie leading 
 farmers and stock-growers of ^^orrailion 
 County, and the owner of one of its largest 
 and most valuable farms, finely located in 
 the township of Pilot, his substantial residence, 
 with its attractive surroundings, being situated on 
 section 26. He is the son of a former well known 
 prosperous pioneer of this section of the country. 
 who was in his day an extensive land owner, and 
 did much toward developing the vast agricultural 
 resources of the county. 
 
 The father was a native of Kentucky, of English 
 descent, his parents having been early pioneers of 
 that State. In 1810 he went to Bartholomew 
 County, Ind., and was among its earliest settlers, 
 subsequently removing from there to Warren 
 County in the same State. In 1 826 he came to 
 Warren County while it was still in the hands of 
 the pioneers, and located on government land, buy- 
 ing at that time 200 acres. He built a log house 
 for the shelter of his family and entered with char- 
 acteristic zeal upon the development of a farm- 
 from the wild prairies, and from time to time in- 
 creased its acreage till he became the possessor of 
 2,400 acres of fine farming land at the time of his 
 death, so fortunate was he in his undertakings. He 
 died March 8, 1851. His wife, who died in 1824, 
 was a native of Germany, her maiden name being 
 Elizabeth Snyder, and she came with her parents to 
 this country when she was young. Of her mar- 
 riao-e nine children were born: James, Martha and 
 John, the only ones now living. James married 
 Sophia Buckels, of Warren County, Ind., where he 
 is engaged in farming, and they have five children 
 AVilliam, Christina, Indiana, Horace and Fre- 
 mont; Martha married Richard Lyon, of Warren 
 County, Ind., and they have three children — Jolin, 
 Martha and Thomas. 
 
 John Good wine spent the eaidj years of his life 
 in his native State, gleaning such an education as 
 
 was afforded by the pioneer schools of hose days, 
 and on the homo farm a good practical training in 
 the management of a farm. He came to Vermil- 
 ion County March io, 1848, and when he began an 
 independent life for himself he had a bettei- start 
 than nifiny farmer's sons, having inherited 300 
 acres from his tatlier's estate. But notwitlistauding 
 (•uch an advant:)ge he worked with |)ersevering en- 
 (•r;jy. and by wise niaiiageiiieiit and a judicious ex- 
 p, ndilure of money lie has become i)ossessed of one 
 of the I'lrgrst and finest estate's witiiiii the limits of 
 \'ermilioii County, owning over 4,000 acres of 
 higlily improved i.-ind, lle^i<!es having given his 
 children 2,000. i!e does an extensive business in 
 general farming, and makes a specialty of raising 
 Short-horns, having a fine herd of liighly graded 
 cattle of tliat breed. 
 
 Mr. Goodwine has been twice married. His first 
 wife was Jane Charleton, of Indiana, and to them 
 were born five children — Marion, John, James, 
 Mary J. and Fremont. Marion married Susan Sel- 
 sor, and lives in jMarysville, tliis county. They 
 li.'ive five children, one of whom is dead; the others 
 are Ilattie, Fred, Daly E. and Ary ; John married 
 i\Iary Alexander, and the}' had one child. Annie ; his 
 first wife died October, 1872, and about 1874 he was 
 again married to Miss Alice Lane, and they have 
 six children — John, ^Vilber, Nora, Ulysses, Cora 
 and Villa; James, a farmer in this county, married 
 Minerva King, of New Jersey, and they have three 
 children — Nellie, Roy and Goldie; Mary J. mar- 
 ried .lames M. Tillotson, of Warren Count}', Ind., 
 now a farmer in Louisiana, and they have three 
 children — lessie, Estella and Mabel. 
 
 Tiie maiden name of the present wife of our sub- 
 ject was Arminda Sperrv, and she was born in this 
 county Dec. 2 1, 1842. Her parents, Erastus and 
 Rutli (Rees) Sperry, were of German antecedents 
 though they were born in this country, the father 
 in Ohio June 3, 1819, and the mother in Indiana 
 Aug. I'J, 181 'J. Mr. and Mrs. Goodwine have four 
 children, namely: Martha, Helen, Dora and Grant 
 \V., all of whom are at home with their jiarents. 
 
 Mr. Goodwine possesses in a rare degree far-see- 
 ing sagacity and energy, so combined with those 
 useful qualities of prudence and steadfastness of 
 purpose, that lie could not fail to increase his wealth 
 
208 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 by legitimate means, and arvomplisli whatever he 
 attempted. His ftareei- in life has been an hoiior- 
 .a.)ile one, and his place is among tlie most useful 
 and worthy of the citizens of Vermilion County. 
 with whose interests Iris own have been so inti- 
 mately connected these many years, and whose ma- 
 terial prosperity he has greatly extended. He has 
 served on the juries of the State and county, and 
 as an intelligent, observant man is greatly inter- 
 ested in the political issues of the day, giving his 
 support to the Republican party on all questions of 
 National or local importance. 
 
 A fine large double page view of the handsome 
 residence and surroundings on the farm of ilr. 
 Goodwine is among the attractive features of the 
 opening pages of the album, and is a fitting intro- 
 duction to those which follow. It shows what can 
 be accomplished by a life of industry and energy, 
 coupled with a good business capacity. 
 
 I OIIN R. BALDWIN. There are few of the 
 older residents along the western line of 
 I this county who arc unfamiliar with the 
 I name which stands at the head of tliis bio- 
 graphical sketch. It is that of a man selfmade in 
 the l)roadest sense of the term — one who in his 
 _young manhood resolved to make life a success if 
 it could be accomplished by industry and wise 
 management. Many men who are successful per- 
 haps do not as fully realize the fact as those around 
 them who have been less so, but the present stand- 
 ing of Mr. Baldwin, socially and financially, should 
 give him an extremely comfortable feeling, for his 
 career has been worthy of emulation. It is main- 
 tained that every man has his hobby, and Mr. 
 Baldwin, a great lover of the equine race, has for 
 manj' years given his attention to tlie breeding of 
 and dealing in horses, and in tliis branch of lousiness 
 can scarcely be excelled. He is an excellent judge 
 of this noblest of the animal kingdom, and while 
 developing their fi)ie points has made of the indus- 
 try a profit as well as a pleasure. 
 
 The farm property of Mr. Baldwin is pleasantly 
 situated on section 17, ^'ance Township, and com- 
 prises a homestead furnished with all the modern 
 
 improvements, both for agricultural pursuits and 
 for stock operations. Mr. Baldwin is now past 
 sixty-one years old, having been born March 9, 
 1828, and is a native of Mason County, Ky. His 
 father, George Baldwin, who vvas born in Virginia, 
 is still living and in good health, although having 
 arrived at the ripe old age of over eighty-six 
 years. In addition to the possession of a strong 
 constitution he has for the last thirty 3'ears espec- 
 ially avoided the use of liquor in anj' form. His 
 life occupation has been that of a farmer, and he is 
 now living at a comfortable home in Fairmount, 
 where he enjo\'S the acquaintance of a large circle 
 of friends. 
 
 The mother of ovir subject was, in her girlhood. 
 Miss Rebecca Downing. She was born in Ken- 
 tucky, and was married in her native State, where 
 the family lived until 1839. Thence thej' removed 
 to Ohio, and in the fall of 1865 came to this 
 county, and settled three miles south of Fairmount. 
 They Itecame' the parents of seven children, four of 
 whom are living, and the mother departed this life 
 in 1884. 
 
 The paternal grandfather of our subject emi- 
 grated from Prince Edward County, Va., to Mason 
 County, Ky.,in 1814, during the period of its earliest 
 settlement. He there spent the remainder of his life, 
 dying in 1843. In the meantime he served as 
 a soldier in the Revolutionary War, and had a son, 
 Pleasant Baldwin, who carried a musket in the 
 War of 1812. The latter died in 1880. 
 
 The early education of John R. Baldwin was 
 obtained partly in Kentucky and partly in Ohio, 
 and he remained a member of the parental house- 
 hold until the time of his marriage. This interest- 
 ing event was celebrated Feb. 22, 1850, the bride 
 being JMiss Catherine J., daughter of Nathan Glaze, 
 of Maryland. After their marriage ^Ir. and Mrs. 
 Baldwin settled on a rented farm near Ripley, 
 Ohio, where they lived until 1856. They then re- 
 moved to a farm which Mr. Baldwin had purchased 
 on Straight Creek Ridge, Ohio, and which he partly 
 improved and sold at a good i)rofit two years later. 
 The next two j'ears he operated as a renter, then 
 purchased more land, which he sold at war prices. 
 At the expiration of this time Mr. Baldwin, de- 
 termining to see something of the Western country, 
 
PORTRAIT AND IJIOf; IJAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 2U9 
 
 came to Illinois, and after viewing the coiintr}' 
 went back home, publisiied his sale of personal 
 propertj', established his fani\l3' in Ripley, nnd in 
 May, 1865, started out on another tour of investi- 
 gation. This time he was accompanied by his 
 father, they boarding a boat at Riplej^ which con- 
 veyed them to St. Louis and thence to Rockport 
 Landing, Mo. They were prevented from landing 
 at Lexington on account of the bushwhackers, who 
 were unaware that the war was over. They next 
 pursned their travels by stage and hack to f^t. Jo- 
 seph, thence to Quincy and Chicago, 111., and from 
 there by way of Indianapolis and Cincinnati home. 
 
 Having seen so many different places, ami all 
 with some advantages, our subject newfound him- 
 self in a dilemma as to where it was best to settle. 
 He finallj' concluded to remain in Ohio until he 
 could get all bis money together. He rented a 
 farm and commenced dealing extensively in horses 
 and cattle, shipping to Cincinnati and realizing 
 handsome returns. The fall of 1868 again fouad 
 'him Westward bound, and passing through this 
 county. From here he went to Southern Missouri 
 by way of Kansas City, and gravitated back to this 
 county via St. Louis and the Illinois Central Rail- 
 road. He found nothing in his opinion superior 
 to this region, and accordingly rented a house in 
 Fairmount, and returning to Ohio had collected, by 
 the 11th of March, 1869, all his money, and re- 
 turned to this county. He did not then intend to 
 invest his capital here, and in less than two weeks 
 had loaned about $4,000. He finally purchased the 
 land comprising his present homestead, and which 
 was embellished with the best dwelling on the prai- 
 rie. His stock shipping operations have extended 
 as far East as Boston and Albany, N. Y., and he 
 has probably sold more young horses than any 
 other man in his neigiiborhood, these being shipped 
 largely to Pennsylvania buyers, who come to him 
 and make their purchases at first hands. 
 
 During the last ten j^ears Mr. Baldwin has 
 operated as a breeder, and sold four colts of his 
 own raising to Pennsylvania buyers for $850. lie 
 does no more shipping, but since abandoning this, 
 has sold sixteen head of horses for over $3,400, be- 
 sides three carloads at from $150 to $190 each. 
 One remarkable circumstance in his career is the 
 
 fact, tliat in Ohio he never lost but $10 in his horse 
 operations. Since coming to Illinois be has handled 
 large numbers of valuable horses without loss. In 
 one carload he lost !is262, but made it all right on 
 the next shipment. 
 
 Of the twelve children born to our subject and 
 his eslimnblo wife nine are living: Charles N., the 
 eldest, married Miss Susie under, is ilie father of 
 three children, and lives two and une-lialf miles 
 s<juthwe,st of Danville; IMary J., the wife of Bar- 
 Ion Ellidtt, is the mother of three children, and 
 they live a half mile east of Fairmount; J. Henry 
 married Miss Lizzie Price, is the father of six chil- 
 dren, and lives thicc miles south of P'airniount; 
 Emma Belle, Mrs. "William Hill, lives in Oakwood 
 Townshii), and is the mother of one child; Laura 
 PL married Edwin North, and they live in Sidell, 
 without children; Cora L., Mrs. Lincoln Smith, h.is 
 no children, and they live three and one-half miles 
 northwest of Fairmount; Lizzie, Oscar G. and Rob- 
 ert L. remain at home with their parents. 
 
 jMrs. Baldwin was the fifth child of her parents, 
 and was born Aug. 31,1829, in Brown County. 
 Ohio. Her father, a prominent man in his neigh- 
 borhood, came to Illinois in the spring of 1866, 
 and died in Hancock County, in 1883, in the nine- 
 tieth j'ear of his age. The mother survived her hus- 
 band five years, dying in 1888, in Hancock Count}' 
 at the advanced age of niuetj'-two. Their family 
 consisted of four daughters and six sons. Mrs. 
 Baldwin's [teople on both sides of the house were 
 largely represented, many of them living to a great 
 age. Her grandfather on her mother's side was 
 the father of nine children, four of whom lived to 
 be from eighty to eighty-eight years old; their 
 united ages being 332. Her father, Nathan 
 Glaze, served as a soldier in the War of 1812, and 
 was a yjeusioner at the time of his death. Both be 
 and his wife were members of the Christian Church 
 for the long period of sixty years. Mrs. Baldwin 
 has been a member of the Baptist Church. 
 
 Conservative in politics, Mr. Baldwin votes the 
 straight Republican ticket, and recalls the fact that 
 the largest and most enthusiastic political meeting 
 which be ever attended, was one lield in the inter- 
 ests of William Henry Harrison, in 1810, atRiplej^, 
 Brown Co., Ohio, when Mr. Baldwin -vas a lad of 
 
210 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPAICAL ALBUM. 
 
 twelve years. He has mixed very little in public 
 life with the exception of serving as School Di- 
 rector twelve years. His interests have otiicfly 
 centered in live stock, and he has been a prominent 
 worker in the County Fair Association. His con- 
 nection with this in Ohio extended from 1853 to 
 1867, and in Hlinois from 1869 to 1886. He was for 
 four years a member of the Board of Directors of 
 Vermilion County Agricultural and Mechanical 
 Association at Danville, and took an important 
 part in the discussion of the matters pertaining to 
 its best interests, lie is a Royal Arch Mason, be- 
 longing to Homer Lodge Chapter, and in Fair- 
 mount is a meml)er of lodge number 590, in which 
 he has served as Master for two years, having 
 passed all the Chairs. He is a stockholder in the 
 Homer Agricultural Fair Association. 
 
 ■^f^DM 
 \h Da 
 /IL=^ mi 
 
 IDMUND P.JONES has a valuable farm in 
 )anville Township, pleasantly located four 
 /** — ^ miles southeast of the citj' in the center of 
 a rich agricultural region. He is a line type of 
 the sturdy, intelligent, self-reliant natives of Ver- 
 milion County who were born here in the early 
 days of its settlement, reared amid its pioneer 
 scenes, and after attaining a stalwart manhood, 
 took their place among its ])ractical, wide awake 
 citizens and have ever since been active in devel- 
 oping and sustaining its many and varied interests. 
 The subject of this sketch comes of good pioneer 
 stock, and both bis paternal and maternal ancestry 
 were early settlers of Kentucky, and there his fa- 
 ther and mother, William and Jane (Martin) 
 Jones were born, the former in Harrison County, 
 Feb. 24, 1796, and the latter April 15, 1795. They 
 were united in marriage Jan. 23, 1816, and con- 
 tinued to reside in their native State till 1828, 
 when with their six children they came to Illinois 
 with a team and cast in their fortunes with the 
 early pioneers of Vermilion County, locating near 
 Danville, in Danville Township, They lived a 
 short time on section 16, and then the father 
 bought a tract of land on section 11. It was heav- 
 ily timbered, and the family lived in a rail-pen for 
 a time as a temporary slielter, and then Mr. 
 
 Jones built a log house on the place, and in that 
 humble abode the subject of this sketch was born 
 Jan. 13, 1830. The father improved a part of his 
 land, and a few j'ears later removeil to another 
 place, and resided in different parts of the town 
 till his demise, Oct. 30, 1859. A faithful citizen 
 was thus lost to the communily, one who had led 
 an honest, sober-minded life, and was deserving of 
 the respect accorded to him. His worthy wife 
 survived liim till Sept. 10, 1867, when she too 
 passed away at the home of our subject. The fol- 
 lowing is recorded of the eight children born to 
 them : John P. is deceased ; Elizabeth is the wife of 
 Henry Sallee, of Oak wood Township; Joseph M. is 
 deceased; vSarah A. married Dennis Olehy, and is 
 now deceased; William Perry and Mazy J. are 
 deceased; Edmund P. is the subject of this sketch; 
 Thomas J. lives in Oakwood Township. 
 
 The subject of this sketch remembers well the 
 wildness of the country around about as it first ap- 
 peared to him when he became old enough to 
 observe bis surroundings, and tlie beautiful seer.? 
 presented by the virgin prairie and primeval for- 
 est l)efore civilization had wrought its marvelous 
 changes, is indellilily impressed on his mind. Deer, 
 wild turkeys and other game were plentiful and 
 roamed at will, unless brought down by the uner- 
 ring aim of the hunter anxious to replenish the 
 scant larder in his humble pioneer home. There 
 were no railways for many years after our subject's 
 first recollection, and the nearest market was at 
 Chicago, 125 miles distant, till after the canal was 
 finished, and then produce was taken to Perrys- 
 villo, Ind. The farmers of those days had to con- 
 duct their agricultural operations in the most [)rim- 
 itive manner, and Mr. Jones says that when he was 
 young grain was cut with a sickle, and when the 
 cradle came into use that was considered a great 
 improvement, and the present harvesting machine 
 was undreamed of. Thresliing machines were then 
 unknown, and the grain was either tramjilcd out 
 by horses or else whipped out by flails. The plows 
 in use had wooden mold-boards, and all corn was 
 dropped by hand and covered with a hoc, while 
 grass was cut with a scythe and hay was pitched 
 with a wooden ff)rk. Nor was the work of the 
 Ijusy housewife lightened by modern impi-ove- 
 
PORTRAIT AND BI0(HIAPI11CAL ALBUM. 
 
 211 
 
 ments. The good motlier cooked the food before 
 the fire in the old-fashioned fireplace, and used to 
 sphi, weave and make all the eioth for the family-. 
 The intelligent pioneers early sought to give their 
 children educational advantages, and tlie first 
 schools were conducted in rude log school-liouses 
 provided witli seats made of puncheon witli wooden 
 [)ins for legs, and the window comprising an 
 opening from which a log had been removed 
 and greased pai)er inserted tlirough which the 
 light had to penetrate, and a large fireplace, 
 the chimney of stick and clay, for heating purposes. 
 In such a structure our subject gleaned his educa- 
 tion, lie commenced in his boyhood to assist his 
 father on the farm, and gained from him a thor- 
 ough practical knowledge of farming in all its 
 branches, lie remained an inmate of the parental 
 household till he attained man's estate and then 
 started out in life for himself by renting land and 
 carried on agriculture thereon for a while. At 
 the time of his marriage he went to Iroquois 
 County and settled on a tract of wild land there, 
 remaining till 1H.)9, when he returned to A'ermil- 
 ion County, and in IHGl he bought forty acres of 
 land on section 13 of Danville Township. It was 
 partly fenced and a few acres had been broken, 
 but aside from that uv improvements had been 
 made, not even any buildings had been erected. 
 He built a frame house on forty acres adjoining his 
 original purchase, and has since bought other land, 
 till he now lias 220 acres, under excellent cultiva- 
 tion and capable of producing large crops. His 
 rosi:^.ence, a well built house, is located on section 
 12, and he has other substantial buildings, and 
 everything about the place is cnnveniently ar- 
 ranged and well ordered. 
 
 Mr. Jones has been twice married, lie was first 
 wedded Oct. ID, I. Sol, to iSarah A. Cox, who was, 
 like himself, a native of Danville Township, born 
 May 5, 1^31. She closed her eyes to the scenes of 
 earth aftei- a brief and happj- married life, dying 
 in IrO(juois County, JS'ov. 11, ISoS. Mr. Jones 
 was married to his present wife, fornierly Mary E. 
 Villars, Feb. 21, 1861. Mrs. Jones is a native of 
 Clinton Couniy. Ohio, born Dec. 11, 1840, to 
 William and Ruth (Whitaker) Villars (see sketch 
 of ^Vill^am Villars for parental history). Mr. and 
 
 Mrs. Jones have had six children, four of whom 
 are living, as follows: Rosa Belle married Joshua 
 01ehy,of Danville Township ; John W. married Mary 
 J. Rouse, and they live in Danville Township ; Lillie 
 A. married Albert E. Villars of Newell Township; 
 Clark S. is at home with his parents. 
 
 Mr. Jones is a man of self-respecting, energetic 
 character, well dowered with firmness and decision, 
 and his conduct in all the various relations of life 
 is such as to inspire the trust and esteem of all 
 with whom he comes in contact either in a busi- 
 ness or in a social way. He and his wife belong to 
 the Pleasant Grove United Brethren Church, and 
 are active in aiding their pastor and fellow-mem- 
 bers in an\' good work, and they are always to be 
 found on the side of the right. In him the Dem- 
 ocratic party in this section of the country find a 
 stanch ally. 
 
 ^•^^S 
 
 i^«^ 
 
 )HOMAS IjEE. Among others who came to 
 Central Illinois during the period of its pio- 
 ncership was the sturdy English-born citizen 
 with the substantial traits of character handed down 
 to him by his ancestors, the qualities of industry and 
 perseverance, which were bound to win. He as- 
 sisted in the development of the soil, in the build- 
 ing up of communities, and almost without an ex- 
 ception acquired a competence. Mr. Lee is one of 
 the representative men of his nationality and an 
 early settler. He came to Illinois in 1856 and took 
 up his residence in \'ermilion County in 1874 on 
 section 32, township 23, range 12. During the pe- 
 riod of his fifteen years' residence here he has 
 opened np a good farm of 120 acres and secured 
 himself against w.ant in his old age. 
 
 Our subject was born in Devonshire, England, 
 Sept. 17, 1838, and lived there until approaching 
 the eighteenth year of his age. He was the first 
 child of the family to leave home, and the occasion 
 was one naturally mixed with regret and some ap- 
 l)reliensions. Embarking at Liverpool, he made 
 the long voyage across the Atlantic in safety, land- 
 ing in New York, and proceeded directly to Illinois, 
 locating first in Peojia County. He worked on a 
 farm there several years, and about 1860 changed 
 
•212 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUJU. 
 
 his residence to AVoodford County. In tliat county 
 lie purchased wild land, where he opened up a good 
 farm and lived about twelve years. During this 
 time he put up good buildings, planted an orchard, 
 fenced his land, and, in fact, effected the improve- 
 ments naturally suggested to the progressive agri- 
 culturist. 
 
 In Woodford County, 111., our subject was mar- 
 ried, March 8, 1862, to Miss Grace Huxtable. The 
 young people began life together on the new farm, 
 and after selling out, Mr. Lee traveled all over the 
 West and the Pacific Slope, but came back to Illi- 
 nois, not being able to find any section of country 
 which suited him better. He then came to this 
 county and purchased the farm where he now lives. 
 There were no buildings upon it to speak of, but he 
 soon provided a shelter for his family, and here he 
 has since remained, carrying on general farming 
 and stock-raising successfully. He cast his first vote 
 for Abraham Lincoln in 1860, and has since been 
 a stanch supporter of the Republican party. He 
 believes in the doctrines of the Baptist Church, of 
 which he is a member, attending services at Hoopes- 
 ton. 
 
 Seven of the eight children born to Mr. and Mrs. 
 Lee are still living — Herschel J., Lizzie, Clarence, 
 Delraer, Newton, Jennie and Morris. The eldest 
 son has been in the farther West for the past four 
 yerrs, Lizzie became the wife of Loren Briggs, 
 and they 'ive on a farm west of the Lee homestead ; 
 they have Iwn children. Clarence married Miss 
 Ada Redden and lives in Butler Township. The 
 other children are at home with their parents. Mrs. 
 Lee was likewise born in Devonshire in 1843, and 
 came to America with her father when a child of 
 nine years, the family settling on Kickapoo Prairie. 
 The father farmed there, for a time and then re- 
 moved with his family to Woodford County, where 
 Mr. Lee made the acquaintance of his future wife. 
 Mr. Huxtable, also a native of Devonshire, came to 
 America in 1852, and carried on farming in Wood- 
 ford County until 1887. Then, retiring from active 
 labor, he took up his residence in Benson, Wood- 
 ford County, where he now lives and is married to 
 his second wife. His first wife died in England. 
 
 William Lee, the father of our subject, also a na- 
 tive of Devonshire, Elngland, spent his entire life 
 
 there. He married Miss Susanna Davey, and they 
 became the parents of five sons and three daugh- 
 ters, all of whom, with the exception of two daugh- 
 ters, came to America, together with the mother, 
 who died in Benson in January, 1888. 
 
 - ♦>-^s«^-- 
 
 -$*^^"«^ 
 
 v 
 
 <| l>;ILLIAM DICKINSON, an honored resi- 
 dent and well-to-do farmer of Catlin Town- 
 ship, is numbered among the far-sighted 
 men of practical ability and cool judgment, who 
 have been instrumental in promoting its growth, 
 and making it a rich agricultural centre. He owns 
 a well-ordered farm on section 26, every acre of 
 which is highl}' cultivated, and, with its neat build- 
 ings and other appointments, it does not compare 
 unfavorably witli the many other fine farms of which 
 A'ermilion County can boast. Here Mr. Dickinson 
 has passed thirty-six of the best years of his life, 
 coming here while yet in the prime of a stalwart 
 manhood, and that these years have been well 
 spent in dilirent and cheerful labor, is shown by 
 the substantial home that lie has built up, in which, 
 now that the iufirmities of age are upon him, he 
 can rest from his toils, and enjoy its comforts with- 
 out the necessity of labor and drudgery. 
 
 Our subject is of English antecedents and birth. 
 His parents, John and Hannah Dickinson, were 
 both natives of England, and they died in Lincoln- 
 shire. Their son, William Dickinson, of whom this 
 sketch is written, was born in the old home in Lin- 
 colnshire, April 27, 1819, and amid its jdeasant 
 surroundings, he grew to man's estate. He early 
 engaged in farming, and became quite a farmer 
 before he left the old country to try life in the new 
 world, coming here in 1853, landing in New York 
 city the first day of jNIay. He came directly to 
 Vermilion County in this State, having previously 
 heard of its wonderful agricultural resources, and 
 has been engaged in tilling the land in Catlin Town- 
 ship ever since, though on account of his advanced 
 age he has retired somewhat from the active duties 
 of the management of his estate. His farm com- 
 prises 197 acres of choice land, well cultivated and 
 supplied with all the necessary buildings and ma- 
 
PORTKAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 213 
 
 chinery, and is indeed one of the most desirable 
 places in the vicinity. 
 
 .Air. Dickinson was a married man when he emi- 
 grated to this couutr}', he having been previously 
 wedded in the historical old town of Boston, in 
 Lincolnshire, to Miss Emma Barker, a native of 
 that shire. Ten children were born of their union, 
 as follows: Harriet A., wife of Frederic Jones, 
 wliose sketch appears on another page of this vol- 
 ume; Elizabetli M., wife of (leorge Stonebrakor; 
 AVilliam, who married Gallic Lafleu; Emma, the 
 wife of Artliur Jones, whose slvetch appears on 
 anotlier ]>age of this work; James; Matilda, the 
 wife of James Bentley: Henry, Hannah B., John 
 and Joseph. 
 
 Aug. 14, 188.S, she who had walked by the side 
 of our subject many a year, leaving, for his sake, 
 home and friends in the dear old England, and for 
 many a year cheering and strengthening hira in his 
 work, passed out of his life, and entered into the 
 rest that passeth understanding. 
 
 "Her work is compassed and done; 
 All things are seemly and ready 
 And her summer is just begun." 
 
 Mks Dickinson — obituary. 
 Mrs. Emma Dickinson, to whose memory this 
 notice is inscribed, was' born in, Boston, Lincoln- 
 shire, England, Sept. 22, 1823, making her age at 
 time of death, sixty-four years, ten months and 
 twenty-two days. Her maiden name was Emma 
 Barker. She was married to William Dickenson, 
 March 2, 1847. They emigrated to this country 
 May 14th, 18.'>.'!, and located within three miles of 
 where the family now reside. Her sister, Mrs. Ma- 
 tilda Clipson came over at the same time. She was 
 the mother of ten children, five girls and five boys, 
 of whom the following were born in England : 
 Harriet A., wife of Frederic Jones; Maiy E., wife 
 of George Stonebraker; Emma, wife of A. Jones, 
 and William, the eldest son. The following were 
 Ijorii in America: James, Henry, John, Joseph 
 and Matilda, wife of James Bentley, and Hannah 
 U. tlio youngest daughter. The children are all of 
 mature age, and the family have never before been 
 liL'icived by death. The deceased was a member 
 of the Methodist Episcopal Church in England, and 
 
 although she did not identify herself as a member 
 here, she was an attendant on divine services, and 
 lived an exemplaiy and Cliristian life. Her illness 
 dates back several years, however, she was not con- 
 fined to her bed until about the beginning of Sep- 
 tember, since which time she was unable to help 
 herself. Her sufferings were very great, bnt were 
 borne with a resignation which none but a Chris- 
 tian woman could possess. She was a devoted 
 wife, a faithful mother, the light of the home and 
 the pride of the family. \\'hile we must bid her a 
 fond farewell, her virtues will not be forgotten. 
 
 A short funeral service was held at the home by 
 Rev. A. C. Cummings. The music was under the 
 direction of JNIi's. Elsie McGreggor, and the follow- 
 ing persons were cliosen as pall bearers: A. G. 
 Olmstead, Cr. W. L. Church, Jno. Parker, jr., T. 
 Brady, J. M. Douglass and G. W. Tilton. 
 
 By request of the deceased, a sacred song was 
 sung during the services b}^ little Benn}- Louis, ac- 
 companied by his sister. A large procession of 
 friends accompanied the family to the Jones ceme- 
 tery, where the body now reposes. 
 
 ]\Ir. Dickinson is justly regarded as one of the 
 solid, reliable citizens of this township, as during 
 the many years that he has resided here, he has 
 ever shown himself to be faithful to his duties and 
 responsibilities in every dejjartment of life in which 
 he has acted, as a husband, father, neighbor and 
 citizen, and it niay truly be said that his character 
 is such as to inspire respect and esteem. 
 
 AMES M. (lEDDES, an Illinois pioneer of 
 '56, and a man who has been the architect 
 of his own fortune, is now the owner of a 
 fine propert}', comprising a well-appointed 
 farm located on section 7, in Ross Township. He 
 is a scion of an excellent old family of Scotch an- 
 cestiy, and the son of Joseph ficddes, whose father, 
 George Geddes, emigrated from the Land of the 
 Thistle to America about 1788. Making his way 
 to the Territory of Ohio, he located on a tract of 
 land in the wilderness, near wliere the town of 
 East Liverpool now stands, but which then for miles 
 around was destitute of any signs of civilization. He 
 
211 
 
 rORTUAlT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 had been married in Boston, Mass., to a lady wlio 
 was descended from old Plymouth stock — |)eople 
 who came over in the Mayflower — and who was 
 reared in the strict doctrines of the old Presbyte- 
 rian faith. They began their wedded life together 
 in the wilds of Ohio, where the}^ reared their fam- 
 ily, and spent the remainder of their days, each 
 attaining to a ripe old age. Of their children, 
 seven in number, Joseph, the father of our subject, 
 was the youngest, and was born in 1 805. He was 
 reared at that home in the wilderness. The coun- 
 try was gradually settled up, and among the other 
 adventurous pioneers who followed in the wake of 
 the Geddes family were William Moore, whose 
 daughter, Catherine, became the wife of Joseph 
 Geddes, and the mother of our subject. The 
 mother's parents lived just across the Ohio River 
 in Brook County, ^'a., until their deaths occurred. 
 
 Joseph Geddes and his young wife continued to 
 reside near the old folk in East Liverpool about 
 six 3'ears, and in the meantime their son, James M., 
 the subject of this sketch, was born April 21, 1837. 
 About 1839 they removed to Tuscarawas County, 
 and later to the northeastern part of Indiana, where 
 Joseph Geddes departed this life at the age of 
 sixty-five years, and the mother at the age of sev- 
 enty-six. They became the parents of twelve chil- 
 dren, all of whom, with one exception, are living. 
 The second child, Elizabeth, died when about seven 
 years old. Those besides our subject, are named 
 respectively, John, William, Marj' A., Wilson, 
 Richard, Robert, Nancy J., Lucinda, Joseph, and 
 Minerva. The latter, the j'oungest of the family, 
 is thirty-six years old. The household circle re- 
 mained undivided by death for more than fifty 
 years — a circumstance scarcely equalled in the his- 
 tory of any other family in this region. 
 
 The parents of our subject, during their younger 
 years, were identified with the Presbyterian Church, 
 but later became connected with the United Breth- 
 ren, in the faith of which they died. James M., 
 upon coming to Illinois in 1856, located first at 
 Momence, but later removed to Iroquois County. 
 There he was married, in 1862, to Miss Emma, 
 daugiiter of Thomas and Anna (Barkley) Young. 
 They lived there until the spring of 1883, engaged 
 in farming pursuits; then our subject disposed of 
 
 his interests in that section and purchased his pres- 
 ent fine farm of 160 acres, which he proposes to 
 make his permanent home. Upon coming to this 
 State he was without other resources than his good 
 health and strong hands, and like the wise man of 
 Scripture, he has increased his talent ten fold. 
 During his younger years he experienced all the 
 hardships and difficulties of life in a new country, 
 and improved his first farm from the raw prairie. 
 He cast his first Presidential vote for Lincoln, and 
 has been a steadfast supporter of Republican prin- 
 ciples, especially since the outbreak of the war, and 
 has ever maintained an ardent admiration for the 
 martjred President, Lincoln. Both he and his 
 wife belong to the Christian Church at Prairie 
 Chapel. Their seven children, who are all living, 
 were named respectively: Elmer L., Joseph F., 
 Maude, Ruby, Nellie, Grace and Nora. They 
 form a bright and interesting group, and are being 
 given the educational advantages which will fit 
 them for intelligent and worthy members of so- 
 ciety. 
 
 > '>^H<' <■ 
 
 RANKLIN BALDWIN. It must be ad- 
 mitted that although no man attains to suc- 
 cess without encountering difficulties and 
 drawbacks, life still has its compensations, espec- 
 iall3' when the individual has chosen that wise path 
 of rectitude and honor which has led him to a po- 
 sition where he is looked upon by his fellow men 
 with confid-nce and esteem. The career of Mr. 
 Baldwin has been pregnant with interesting events 
 and experiences, some of them dark and trying 
 and some of them filled in with a large meas- 
 ure of satisfaction. The former served to devel- 
 op the naturally strong points of a substantial 
 ch.aracter while the latter have shown like the sun 
 upon a rugged mountain side, rounding up the 
 whole to a complete end. 
 
 The native place of our subject was in the vicin- 
 ity of Decatur, Ohio, and the date of his birth, 
 April 26, 1832. When be was a mere child his 
 parents set out for the West and after landing in 
 Grant Countj^ Ind., stopped there and raised one 
 crop. In the spring of 1838 they folded their 
 tents for a further journey AVestward, starting out 
 
rOKTRAlT AND BIOCiUAPMlCAL ALBUM. 
 
 215 
 
 with a four-liorsc team and taking with tliem tlieir 
 household goods and a quantity ^)f provisions. 
 Arriving at the Wabash Kivi'r at C'(jvington, tliey 
 then loaded tlieir belongings on to a ferry boat. 
 The wind being strong and the river high, they 
 came very near being capsized and drowned and 
 received such a fright that oar subject distinctly 
 remembers the event to this daj'. They succeeded 
 however, in making the crossing in safety and ar- 
 rived in this county on the 30th day of jMarch, 
 stopping at Danville, that place then being a very 
 small town. The countrj^ around vvas compara- 
 tively unsettled, the cabins of the pioneers being- 
 few and far between. There was onlyone or two wag- 
 on roads and wild animals were plentiful. The fel- 
 low feeling which makes all man kin prevailed, and 
 each new comer was greeted with a heartiness 
 which made him feel welcome. The father of our 
 subject died the succeeding fall and the family 
 were left to struggle along as best as the}^ coidd 
 under the stress of limited means, and the hard- 
 ships and difficulties of life on the frontier. The 
 mother was a lady of more than ordinary capacity 
 and by careful management kept her family to- 
 gether until they were old enough to take care of 
 themselves. Finally, laying aside the cares and 
 labors of life she removed to the home of her 
 daughter in Dallas Countj% Iowa, where her death 
 took place at the age of seventy -six j'ears. 
 
 The subject of this sketch acquired his educa- 
 tion mostly in the subscription schools. When fif- 
 teen years old the mother broke up housekeeping 
 and Franklin began working out by the day, 
 month and job, and managed to maintain himself 
 very comfortably, splitting wood by the cord, 
 plowing, sowing and gathering in the harvest. In 
 the fall of 185G, he took an important step toward 
 establishing a home of his own, being married to 
 Miss Editha Jane, daughter of John and Polly 
 (Stewart) Naylor. The newly wedded pair took 
 up their residence near Yankee Point and Mr. 
 Baldwin occupied himself as before, until 1864, 
 when he purchased a tract of land from which he 
 built up a good farm and which he occupied for a 
 period of twenty-one years. In January, 1886, he 
 and his estimable wife decided, and wisely, they 
 would retire from active labor, and accordingly 
 
 leaving the' farm removed to the new village of 
 Sidell, of whi(th they have since been residents. 
 
 Mr. Baldwin m the fall of 1885, purchased from 
 Sanson Rawlings a stock of hardware and has since 
 been engaged in trade, building up a good patron- 
 age. In the year 1887, he completed a neat res- 
 idence on East Market street and with ample means 
 and all the comforts of life, is enabled to live eas- 
 ily and enjoy the fruits of his early industry. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Baldwin became the parents of 
 nine children, the eldest of whom, John M., mar- 
 ried Miss Lucy Thornton and is farming in Car- 
 roll Townshij), they have three children; Perry A., 
 married Miss Sarah E. Lawrence and occupies the 
 homestead; they have four children — Maude, Ellen 
 Lester, and Rosa; C^harles M., married Miss Emily 
 C'ricc-s, and they are the parents of one child ; he 
 conducts a grocery store in Sidell; William A. and 
 Wilbur A. were twins,' the former is farming in 
 Sidell Township, and Wilbur is with his brother 
 Charles in the grocery; Benjamin lives at the home- 
 stead; Norah E., died at the age of .eighteen months ; 
 Robert W., is in Carroll Township with his brother 
 John. 
 
 The father of our subject was in his early man- 
 hood an old line Whig, and Franklin remembers 
 the election of 1 840, when the grandfather of Pres- 
 ident Harrison was elevated to the first position in 
 the land. He cast his first Presidential vote for 
 J. C. Fremont, and, was a staunch supporter of Re- 
 publican principles. 
 
 James Baldwin, the father of our subject, mar- 
 ried Miss Rachel Parry and both were natives of 
 Brown County, Ohio. The paternal grandfather, 
 John Baldwin, came from England prior to the 
 War of 1812, and settled near Ripley in Brown 
 County, Ohio. The grandfather of our subject 
 participated in the above war, enlisting at the age 
 of twenty-one j^ears, after Hull's surrender. The 
 father of our subject came to this county in the 
 spring of 1838, and rented a part of the Draper 
 farm, but died the ensuing fall when Franklin was 
 a lad of six years. There were eleven other chil- 
 dren, one of whom, the youngest born, William, 
 died at the age of three years. 
 
 The remaining children of the parental family of 
 our subject are recorded as follows : Caroline, the 
 
216 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRArHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 eldest, is a resident of Madison Count}', Iowa, and 
 is seventy-four years old; Amanda lives in iMavys- 
 ville, this State, and is aged seventy-two; Polly, 
 sixty five 3'ears of age, is a resident of Georgetown, 
 111.; Jane, aged fifty-five is a resident of Dallas 
 County, Iowa; Thomas lives at Yankee Point, this 
 county, and is fifty-nine years old. lie and our 
 subject are the only two sons living. The other 
 children were named respectively, Elizabetli, Dari- 
 us, Jolm N., James and Elijah. 
 
 Mrs. Baldwin's father was born in Ohio, and her 
 mother in Ireland. Mrs. Baldwin was born in Ver- 
 million County, Ind., June 11, 1840, and there 
 si)ent her childhood and youth, attending the com- 
 mon school and being trained by an excellent 
 mother to those housewifely duties, u, knowledge 
 of which is essential in a well-ordered household. 
 She has stood bravelj' by her husband in his toils 
 and struggles and he .ivers that it is owing largely 
 to her good sense and wise counsels that he lias 
 been enabled to attain to iiis present position, so- 
 cially and financially. They take a natural and 
 pardonable pride in their fine family of chil<hx'u to 
 whom they have given all the advantages in their 
 power. Mr. Baldwin believes in education and 
 has carried out his sentiments in this respect in 
 providing his children with good schooling. The 
 family is widely and favorably known throngliout 
 Sidell Township and vicinity where they count 
 their friends by the score. 
 
 yjiILLIA]\l MoBROOM occupies a high place 
 among the venerable and honored citizens 
 
 W^ of Catlin Township, and though not among 
 the earliest settlers of this part of Vermilion 
 C(junty, lie may be denominated one of its pioneers. 
 He is still living on the pleasant tract of land on 
 section 35, that at the time of his purchase formed 
 a part of the wild praii'ie, and which he has since im- 
 proved into a fine farm. lie and his wife are serenely 
 passing their declining years in one of the cosiest 
 and neatest homes in this community, where they 
 are held in respect and affection by the many who 
 know them. 
 
 Mr. McBroom is a Kentuckian by birth, born in | 
 
 Preston County April 28, ISl.'i. the eldest of the 
 five children of Joseph and Phebe (Young) Mc- 
 Broom, the former a native of \'irginia and the 
 latter of Chilicothe, Ohio. After their marriage 
 they had settled in Preston County, Ky., and thence 
 they removed to Crawfordsville, Ind., in 1827, be- 
 coming early settlers of that place. Mr. McBroom 
 bought a tract of land, and cleared forty acres of 
 it where the city now stands. He was a man of 
 considerable enterprise, and besides engaging in 
 agriculture, he made brick in that locality for four 
 years, operating two brickyards at u time, and 
 making the fli'st Ijrick that was ever made in that 
 county. His useful career was closed in 1841, in 
 the home that he built up there in Montgomery 
 County, and a valued citizen was then lost to the 
 community. His wife survived him several years, 
 but for fourteen years previous to her death, which 
 occurred in Cass County, Neb., at the home of her 
 daughter, Mrs. Sarah Young, she was an invalid. 
 
 Our subject was still in his boyhood when his 
 parents took him to Crawfordsville, Ind., and there 
 he grew to maturity, developing into a strong, 
 shrewd, capable man. He learned the trade of 
 wagon-making in that county, and followed it 
 exclusively for a long term of years, finding it 
 quite profitable. He removed to Tippecanoe 
 County, and was engaged in his trade there, manu- 
 facturing wagons for some ten years. He then re- 
 turned to Montgomery County, where he resided 
 until the month of October, 1854, when he came to 
 Vermilion County, and settled in Catlin Township, 
 purposing to give his attention to agriculture on 
 this rich, alluvial soil, and he has ever since made 
 his home here. He owns 1 20 acres of land that is 
 very fertile and productive, and is supplied with a 
 good set of buildings; everything about the place 
 is orderly, and the farm is under good manage- 
 ment. 
 
 Mr. McBroom has been three times married. 
 The maiden name of the wife of his early manhood 
 was Rlioda Ann Sti>ver, and she was, like himself, 
 a native of Kentucky. She bore him one child, 
 which died in infancy, and, the mother dying also, 
 both were buried in the same grave. Mr. McBroom 
 was married a second time in Montgomery County. 
 Mrs. Elizabeth Boyd becoming his wife; she was a 
 
rORTRAIT AND H10(;RAPIIICAL ALBUM. 
 
 217 
 
 daughter of Joseph Hanks. To them tliree chil- 
 dren were born — Joseph, John and Thomas, the 
 latter dying when about a year old. Mrs. Mc- 
 Broom departed this life in Tippecanoe C'onnty, 
 Ind., in 1848. Our subject was married to his 
 present wife in that county jMarch 13, 1851. Her 
 maiden name was Emily Allen. She was the 
 daughter of the late Judge William and Susan 
 (Spurgeon) Allen, and widow of Jacob Snyder. 
 He died in Montgomery County Nov. 17, 1846. 
 She had by her first marriage four children — Sarah, 
 Susan, Ivea Ann, Amanda M. Sarah was the wife 
 of Arthur C Schocky, and she died in Kansas. 
 Mrs. McBroom's parents were natives of Ken- 
 tucky, and she was the sixth of their ten children. 
 She was born in Bourbon County, K_y., May -iO; 
 1818. By her marriage with our subject she has 
 had six children, as follows: Phcebe E., Alfred, 
 Franklin, Josephine, William and Eddie J. rhoebe 
 and Franklin are deceased. 
 
 Although Mr. and Mrs. McBroom are well ad- 
 vanced in years, the snows of age have not yet 
 chilled their hearts or deadened their sympathies 
 towards the needy and suffering. They still take 
 an active interest in the affairs of the da}-, and 
 keep well posted on topics of general interest. Mr. 
 McBroom's career in life has been a useful one to 
 himself and to the community at large, as he has 
 contributed' his quota towards its upbuilding, and 
 has always acted the part of a good citizen. He is 
 decided in his political views, and is a faithful ad- 
 herent of the Democratic party. 
 
 fINSON R. BOARDMAN. Occasionally 
 we find a man who has had tlie enterprise to 
 see something of the world before settling 
 down to the sterner duties of life, as in the case of 
 the subject of this notice. He has been quite a 
 traveler throughout the Western country, and 
 spent a number of years on the Pacific Slope. He 
 came to this county in the fall of 1840, and settled 
 on tliis farm in 1859, vvhere he has 2C5 acres of 
 choice land on section 26, township 23, range 12. 
 This has been his home for the long period of 
 thirty-five years, and he is still on the sunny side 
 
 of seventy, surrciunded by all Ihe comforts of life, 
 and blest with the esteem and confidence of his 
 fellow citizens. 
 
 Mr. Boardmaii was born in Ontario County, N. 
 Y., May 3, 1822, and there spent his youthful 
 days, acquiring a practical education in the com- 
 mon school. He was bred to farming pursuits. In 
 tlie spring of 1849, young Boardman decided to 
 visit California, and, purchasing an ox team at In- 
 dependence, Mo., started across the plains with a 
 company of 125 men. They 'crossed the Missouri 
 River at St. Joseph, and followed the usual trail 
 taken by emigrants. They were five months on 
 the road, but at the end of that time 123 of the 
 men were scattered to different places, only our 
 subject and one man reaching their destination in 
 company. The others finally drifted to the same 
 place after having wandered around north of the 
 Sacramento River. 
 
 Upon his arrival in California, our subject en- 
 gaged in mining from early in the f.all until late 
 in the winter, then went down to Nappa, when 
 there wis only one building in Sacramento but 
 acres of tents. He staid there with an attack of 
 fever, which lasted about four weeks, and then en- 
 tered the employ of the proprietor of the city, with 
 whom he remained, hauling lumber at $150 per 
 month until fall, when he made his way to Oregon, 
 where he spent the winter. In the spring he entered 
 the mines of Northern California, but with rather 
 poor success, then returned to Oregon, but finally 
 went back to California and rented land, where he 
 carried on agriculture until returning home. 
 
 This return journey was made by our subject via 
 the water route, across the isthmus to New Orleans, 
 and up the Mississippi, Mr. Boardman arriving in 
 this county again in the spring of 1853. That 
 ycai- he visited New York State. Subsequently 
 Mr. Boardman emplo3'ed himself at farming, hav- 
 ing in view the establishment of a home of his 
 own, and on the 16th of November, 1854, was 
 united in marriage with Mrs. Susan Carter. Soon 
 afterward he settled on his present farm, where he 
 has since made his home, although the farm did 
 not equal its present dimensions, having been 
 added to both by himself and his sons. 
 
 To Mr. and Mrs. Boardman there were born four 
 
■2 IS 
 
 rORTllAlT AND BlOG UA I'illCAL ALBUM. 
 
 children, all of whom ai-e living. Inez is the wife 
 of Thomas Evans, and they are residing in Grant 
 Township; Herbert A', and Ernest C. arc at home 
 with their father; Manus A. is traveling Auditor 
 for the Chicago & Eastern Illinois Railroad Com- 
 pany. Mr. Boardman has been for a number of 
 years a member of tiie rresbj-teriau Church at 
 Rossville, and politicalljr gives his siii)port to the 
 Republican party. He is a man (^uiet and^unosten- 
 tatious in his manner of living, and has been c< in- 
 tent to pursue the even tenor of his way, making 
 very little stir in the world, and never seeking po- 
 litical preferment. 
 
 The parents of our subject were Jesse C. and 
 Mary (Runyon) Boardman, tlie former a native 
 of Connecticut. When about eight or nine ye.nrs 
 old he removed with his parents to New York 
 iState, where he was married and settled on a farm 
 in Ontario County. His wife, the mother of our 
 subject, died there when the latter was four ycais 
 old. Jesse Boardman spent his hist daj's near 
 Rushville, Ontario County, and departed this life 
 when about sixty-seven j'ears old. 
 
 \T7 0HN E. smith is classed aiiiong the able 
 and highly intelligent young farmers (if \'er- 
 milion County, who are active in sustaining 
 and extending its great agricultural inter- 
 ests. His well appointed farm on section 26, Pilot 
 Township, is in all respects finely improved, and 
 compares well with other estates in tlic vicinity. 
 He has stocked it with cattle, horses and liogs of 
 fine grades, and he is cultivating it with good re- 
 sults so as to make money. He is a native born 
 citizen of this county, l^ec. 3, 1.S54, being the date 
 of his birth. His father, George (i. Smith, was 
 born in Muskingum County, Ohio, Aug. 31, 1828, 
 and he came to this county in company with his 
 parents, who were of German antecedents and 
 birth, in 1836. They thus became the pioneers of 
 X'ermilion County, and were respected residents 
 here till death closed their earthly career, the grand- 
 father of our subject dying in 1S64, and the grand- 
 mother in 1842. The following is recorded of the 
 nine children born to the parents of our subject: 
 
 P^lizabeth man-icd George ^Vilson, of Ohio, now a 
 farmer of Blount Township, and they have two 
 children; Eliiis O., a farmer of Blount Towii.'ship, 
 married Clara Smith and they have three children; 
 S;irah lives with her parents; Eva married Andrew 
 Lanham, of Blount 'rown.-hip, now of Ross Town- 
 ship, and tliey have one child; Wesley, a farmer, 
 married EmmfL Sperry, of Blount Township, and 
 they have one child; Marshall, W'oodard and Jo- 
 sephine are the otlicrs. 
 
 John Smith received the preliminaries of a sound 
 education in the public schools, which he attended 
 till lie was twent3'-one 3'ears old, and then being 
 am))itious to advance still farther in his studies, he 
 attended the State Normal School, wiiere he pur- 
 sued an excellent literary course that thoroughly- 
 fitted him for the profession of teaching that lie 
 afterward adopted. He was successfully engaged 
 at that voc'ition eight years, but after marriage he 
 abandoned it to give his attention to agriculture, 
 and bought eighty acres of finely improved farm- 
 ing land. He sul.isequently sold that and pur- 
 chased his present farm of 160 ;icres of land equally 
 good, and well adapted to general farming. It is 
 under high cultivation, and is provided with a 
 comfortable, convenienll}- arranged set of farm 
 buildings. 
 
 Mr. Smith has much financial capacity, is en- 
 dowed with good mental qualities that have been 
 stimulated by a liberal education, and he carries on 
 his farming operations with intelligent skill that 
 will one (hiy place him among the wealthy and 
 substantial citizens of this township, if he prospers 
 as he has heretofore done. In his politics he is an 
 ardent champion of the Democratic partj', and has 
 been since the days wlicn he cast his first vote for 
 Samuel J. Tilden, the great New Y(.irk statesman, 
 his last vote for president being in favor of Grover 
 Cleveland. 
 
 The marriage of Mr. Smith with Miss Mar}' E. 
 Eirebaugh, of Blount Township, occurred Jlarch 
 25, 187G. She was born Uec. 11, 18u3, in the 
 aforementioned township, her parents being \\'il- 
 liam R. and Melvia (Flora) Eirebaugh, the father 
 being of German descent. They emigrated from 
 Ohio to Indiana, and thence to Illinois. The mo- 
 ther departed this life in 1872. The father still 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRArillCAL ALBUM. 
 
 219 
 
 resides in tliis county. Tlicy wltc tlio [lareiits of 
 five c-Iiildren: Curtis married C'lirisdiia Porter, of 
 this county, and they have two children ; Elizabeth 
 married ricori;e Snyder, of tliis county, now liv- 
 ing in Oakwood Township, and they liave two 
 children; Robert, a farmer, married LeoP'airchilds, 
 of P)lount Township, and they have two children. 
 Emma married Milton Faircliilds, of Blount Town- 
 ship. The following is the record of the five chil- 
 dren born of the pleasant wedded life of Mr. and 
 3Irs Smith: Irvin ^y., was liorn June 3,1877: 
 Edwin R.. .Ian. 23, 1K7'J; Alfred (^.. .Ian 9, 1881; 
 Everett J., Sept. 5, ISSl; Alga, Nov. 6, 1886. 
 
 -E^- 
 
 ->r- 
 
 ^ELEN T. CATIIERWOOD is one of the 
 most prominent and Itusy men of IIoopcs- 
 l!' ton, having large interests in various 
 (^ branches of industry in the town. He is 
 
 one of the originators and present owner of the 
 Iloopeston Canning Factory, and is also its Gen- 
 eral INIanager. This enterprise was inaugurated in 
 1882, and at first was o[)erated on a small scale, 
 but has gradually increased until it has become 
 ,1 very important factor in the business interests of 
 Iloopeston. Last year the establishment used 
 about 2,000 acres of corn and peas, being all 
 raised by the company, which is composed of -Mr. 
 Catherwood, J. S. McFerren and A. H. Trego. The 
 concern furnishes employment to 300 people and 
 fifty teams, and the output of corn alone last year 
 amounted to 2,500,000 cans. The value of the 
 plant and stock is given at *1 60,000. 
 
 Mr. Catherwood is also engaged in the grain 
 business on the line of the Lake Erie and \Vestern 
 Railnwd, on which road he owns large elevators 
 at different points, having associated with him 
 partners at each place. lie also owns a large 
 grain farm of 1,520 acres in the State of In-, 
 diana in company with Mr. Williams. Jt will be 
 seen that JMr. Catherwood has a large business, 
 which is composed of grain handling, farming and 
 manufacturing, and, it is safe to say, that there is 
 no man in this i>art of the country better able to 
 handle these immense interests. Tie has held dif- 
 ferent public offices, and here shows his cai)acity 
 
 for doing business for others as well as for himself, 
 lie was made Chairman to investigate the differ- 
 ent plans of waterworks, witii a view to the selec- 
 tion of the best for Iloopeston. He visited differ- 
 ent places in the country, and after a decision was 
 finally reached, which practically embodied his 
 recommendations, he was given the general super- 
 vision of the erection of the waterworks. With his 
 partner, Mr. Trego, this important improvement 
 reached a successful completion. 
 
 Mr. Catherwood was born in Belmont County, 
 Ohio, Dec. 15, 1.S42. and when fifteen years of 
 age, and two years after the death of his father, 
 he, with his mother and family, removed to Chris- 
 tian County, 111., where he remained with his 
 mother on their farm until his marriage, which oc- 
 curred in Octolier, 1874. In 1876 he removed to 
 A'ermilion County, settling on a farm near Iloopes- 
 ton. He engaged in this business for awhile, 
 when he purchased a grocery store. While be had 
 no previous experience in the mercantile business, 
 his solid common sense guided him on to pros- 
 Ijcrity in his newly-chosen vocation. He continued 
 in this tr.ade, and also engaged extensively in 
 stock-raising (which he still follows) until he 
 launched into the grain business, as has been before 
 stated . ^ 
 
 Mr. Catherwood's wife's maiden name was Miss 
 Cornelia Hartwell, and they are the parents of 
 three children living — Robert, Maud and Naomi, 
 and three who died while young. ]\Ir. Catherwood 
 is a member of the Masonic fr.aternity, being a 
 Knight Templar. He is ever willing and ready 
 to aid anyone who is deserving, and, as a leading 
 man of Iloopeston, has an enviable record. It is 
 safe to assume that there are few better men in this 
 portion of the State of Illinois. 
 
 James Catherwood, father of Allen T., was born 
 in Irel.and, and when twenty years of age came to 
 this country and settled in Delaware, where he 
 married Miss Lydia Tussle. Soon after his mar- 
 riage he removed to Oliio, where all his children 
 were born, Allen being the youngest of ten. He 
 was a general farmer, and w,as considered a suc- 
 cessful man in his calling. When his death oc- 
 curred, in 1H55, his wife and her family removed 
 to Cliristian County, as before stated, where she 
 
220 
 
 rOETRAIT AM) BlOORAl'HICAL ALBUM. 
 
 purchased a farm, which she operated until the 
 marriage of Allen, when he, with the other chil- 
 dren, bought her a nice property in Taylorville, 
 where she now resides with a sin"-le daughter. 
 
 '5f|0HN Mo VEY, general merchant, of Tilton, 
 and Postmaster of Va.ndercook Post-ofBcc, 
 Vermilion Co., is one of the most prominent 
 business men in this locality, and is one of 
 the leading civic officials. He is of Celtic ancestry 
 and was born in Count}' Longford, Ireland, in June, 
 1837. His father, John McVey, was a native of 
 the same countj', find was there reared and married, 
 continuing his residence in the home of his nativity 
 till 1837. In that year he came to the United 
 States, seeking to better his fortune, leaving his 
 family behind, intending to send for them at a later 
 date after he became permanently established, lie 
 located in Schuj'lkill County, Pa.» where he en- 
 gaged in mining for several }'ears, till an accident 
 in the mines caused his death in 1852, while yet 
 scarce past life's prime. 
 
 His son John, of whom we write, was but an in- 
 fant when he had the misfortune to lose the loving 
 care of a good mother, and his father being in this 
 country, he was taken to the home of his grand- 
 parents, and was reared b}' them till 1851. In that 
 year he followed his father to America, setting sail 
 from Liverpool and landing in New York .after a 
 voyage of seven weeks, a poor boy in a strange 
 land. He hastened to join his father whom he had 
 scarce seen, he Laving been an infant when he had 
 left home, and they were reunited in Penns^ylvania. 
 Our subject soon commenced life for himself as a 
 mule driver in a coal mine. In 1857 he decided 
 that he would like to try life in the great West, and 
 making his w.ay to this State he tried to obtain work 
 in a coal mine at Danville. Not succeeding in that 
 attempt he got employment on a railway for a few 
 months, and then engaged in mining. In IMay of that 
 year he answered Lincoln's call for 90-day men, 
 and enlisting in Company C, 12th Illinois Infantry, 
 served with his regiment till the expiration of his 
 term of enlistment, when he was honorably dis- 
 charged and returned to Danville. In August,18G2, 
 
 he again wt'iit forth to aid his adopted country, 
 and enrolling his name with the members of Com- 
 pany C, 125th Illinois Infantry, he went to the front 
 with his regiment, and bravely faced the foe on 
 many a hotly contested battlefield. The most im- 
 portant battles in which he took part were those of 
 Perry ville, Ky.,and Chicamauga. On the way from 
 Chattanooga to Atlanta with General Sherman, he 
 fought in the various engagements with the rebels 
 that they encountered and in the siege and capture 
 of the latter city. He was also present at the battle 
 of Jonesboro, where he was severely wounded, and 
 was obliged to go to the hospital for treatment. He 
 rejoined his regiment that winter at Savannah. 
 After that he was unable to carry a musket, so did 
 not march with his comrades, but went by boat to 
 Washington, where he was honorably discharged in 
 May, 1,S65. 
 
 After his experience of military life, Mr. McVey 
 returned to Danville and resumed mining, which 
 occupation he continued till 1873. He then rented 
 land and engaged in farming the ensuing five years. 
 During that time he established himself in the mer- 
 cantile business at Tilton, his wife, a woman of 
 more than ordinary ability, acting as manager. She 
 proved so successful that Mr. McVey finally deter- 
 mined to enlarge the business and devote his time 
 to it, and from that small beginning has grown his 
 present prosperous business. He is the only mer- 
 chant in Tilton, and carries a large stock of general 
 merchandise, groceries, etc., and has a neat, well 
 appointed store. 
 
 July 2, 1869, Mr. McVey took a step that has 
 had an important bearing on his after life whereby 
 he secured a wife in the person of Mrs. Julia 
 (McHeney) Jlulhatton, who has been an important 
 factor in his prosperity. She is, like himself, a na- 
 tive of Ireland, born in Countjr Monaghan, and 
 is the daughter of Patrick and Ann (MulhoUan) 
 McHeney, and the widow of James Mulhatton. 
 Her parents were both natives of Ireland, and her 
 father dying when she was ver^' young, her mother 
 soon after took her children to England, and later 
 came to America, five of her children coming at 
 different times. Mrs. McVey was first married in 
 County Durham, England, when but a girl in her 
 teens, to James Mulhatton. When siie was nineteen 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOORAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 221 
 
 years of age she accompanied her husband to the 
 United States, and they lived one year in Pennsyl- 
 vania. They subsequently came to Vermilion 
 County, and here Mr. Mulliatton died while in the 
 prime of life. 
 
 Our subject is a fine specimen of the genus homo 
 denominated the self-made man, as all that he has 
 and all that he is he owes to his own exertions. 
 He is a man of honor, wliose character is unblem- 
 ished, and bis standing in business and social circles 
 is of the highest. His frank, genial, and pleasant 
 manner has given him a warm place in the hearts 
 of his man}' associates and he is popular with all 
 classes. In politics he affiliates with the Demo- 
 crats, but is friendly with all parties. He has re- 
 presented Danville Township as Assistant Supervi- 
 sor of the County Board four years; has served 
 several terms as a member of the Tiiton Town 
 Council, and is at present President of that honora- 
 ble body of men. He and his wife are members of 
 the St. Patrick Roman Catholic Church, contribute 
 liberally to its support, and are active in its every 
 good work. 
 
 <:/Jx> 
 
 "S/OHN W. BOGGESS, M. D., stands high in 
 the medical profession as represented in 
 Vermilion Countj', and he has also acquired 
 a fair reputation as an intelligent, enter- 
 prising agriculturalist, owning and managing the 
 farm on which he makes his home, pleasantly lo- 
 cated on section 29, Catlin Township, he having 
 retired to this place a few years ago on account of 
 failing health. This, his native township, has good 
 reason to be proud of her son, and he has always 
 exerted his influence to elevate her citizenship. 
 
 The father of this subject, likewise named John, 
 was a Virginian by birth, Monroe County being 
 his native place. His mother, Jane G. (McCorkle) 
 Boggess, was born in Green Briar County, W. Va. 
 After marriage his parents settled either in Green 
 Briar County, or in Monroe County, W. Va., where 
 the father was eiigaged as a farmer and stock 
 raiser. In 1830 he settled up his affairs in that 
 section of the country, and with his family emi- 
 grated to the wilds of ^'ermilion County, and be- 
 came an early pioneer of Catlin Township, settling 
 
 in what is known as liutler's Point. About 1816 
 he removed with his wife and children to Wiscon- 
 sin, considering this locality, with the newly bro- 
 ken prairie sod and other miasmatic influences, 
 quite unhealthful then. He did not, however, 
 sell his real estate in this township, and after an 
 absence of three years, he returned to this locality 
 with his family, and settled on the old Elliott 
 place, just west of Catlin, living thei-e for conven- 
 ience a short time, and then went back on to his 
 farm. In 1856 they went to Danville to reside, 
 and dwelt there four years for the purpose of edu- 
 cating their children. Mr. Boggess then returned 
 again to his farm in this township, and continued 
 to live here till his death, which occurred in Feb- 
 ruary, 1871. His wife had preceded him to the 
 grave, dying in May, 1868. They had eleven 
 children; William, who died in Catlin Townshi|), 
 when about twenty-two years old; Diana M., the 
 wife of Joseph Griflith, died when she was thirty- 
 seven years old; Rebecca M. is the wife of William 
 M. Ray; Elizabeth died when about seventeen years 
 old; Harvey 11. died at the age of thirty-eight 
 years; Charles T. is a farmer in \^ermilion County; 
 America J. is the wife of James Davis; I-Cnoch P. 
 is a farmer in \'ermilion County; Julia died when 
 she was six years old; Melissfi died in infancy; 
 John W. 
 
 The latter, of whom we write, was born in Cat- 
 lin Township, Feb. 27, 1843, and with the excep- 
 tion of throe years spent in ' Wisconsin, when he 
 was but an infant, and the four years in Danville 
 when he was attending school, he was reared to 
 man's estate in che township of his birth. He was 
 educated partly in thd public schools, and in the 
 seminary at Danville, which he attended till he was 
 sixteen years old. After that ho became a teacher, 
 and was engaged in that vocation in the winter of 
 1860 and in the summer of 1861. In 1862, ambi- 
 tious to extend his education, he entered the Illi- 
 nois Wesleyan University at Bloomington, and was 
 graduated from that institution in 18C6, having 
 attained high rank for excellent scholarship. He 
 then took up the study of medicine, and while pur- 
 suing his course he taught school to pay his ex- 
 penses. He was under the tutorship of Dr. A. II. 
 Luce, a well-known physician of Bloomington, 
 
■1-2 -2 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BI( XTRAPIIICAL ALBUM. 
 
 ;unl remained with him till the fall of 1867. In 
 the winter of that year, he entered the Chicago 
 Medical College, the medical department of the 
 Northwestern University, and pnrsued his studies 
 with characteristic vigor. In the spring of 1868, 
 he resumed teaching in Catlin Township, in order 
 that he might be at homo with his mother, to whom 
 he was devotedly attached, and whose health was 
 fast failing, and his presence soothed her dying 
 hours. In the fall of 1868 he returned to college, and 
 resuming his studies, was graduated in March 1870, 
 with all honor for having attained a high standard 
 iu his class. He established himself in his profession 
 in Oconomowoc, Wis. But he did not remain there 
 long, however, as in the fall of that 3'oar he heard 
 of a good opening for an enterprising young phy- 
 sician at Coon Rapids, Iowa, and proceeding to 
 that place, he opened an ofliee there, and continued 
 there till the spring of 1872, when he located in 
 Nevada, Iowa, the county seat of Story Count}', 
 which presented a broader field, and during his ten 
 years residence there, he built up an extensive and 
 lucrative practice, becoming one of the leading 
 physicians of the county. In 1882 he retraced his 
 steps to his native county, and opening an ofHce in 
 Danville, he soon had more patients than he could 
 attend to, as his fame as a successful and skillful 
 practitioner had preceded him to his old home; but 
 under the continuous strain of overwork his health 
 gave way, and he was forced to retire from the ar- 
 duous duties of his profession, and having a nat- 
 ural taste for out-of door labor, and, as a wise phy- 
 sician fully believing in its health restoring pro- 
 perties, he came to Catlin Township in 1884 and 
 went to farming, and has ever since devoted him- 
 self to that occupation. lie owns a fine farm of 
 sixty acres, and has it under excellent cultivation. 
 The doctor was married in Carroll Count}', Iowa, 
 Dec. 29, 1872, to Miss Velora B. Piper, who pre- 
 sides over his home with true grace, and makes it 
 cosy and attractive to its inmates and to their nu- 
 merous friends, and even the stranger that hap- 
 pens under its roof is kindly made welcome. Mrs. 
 Boggess is a native of Pennsylvania, born in Bed- 
 ford County, Jan. 8, 18;);!, a daughter of Thomas 
 A. and Mary (Funk) Piper. The following is the 
 record of the four children born to her and her 
 
 husband: CIkiiIcs Wesley, born Ma]-ch 2, 1874, 
 died Aug. 8, 1874; Carrie M., born July 6, 1875; 
 Walter Thomas, April 24, 1879; Genevieve, April 
 28, 1888. 
 
 The doctor possesses, in a rare degree, those 
 noble traits of character that mark a man of honor 
 and veracity, one in whom his fellow-citizens feel 
 thej' may safely put their trust. He is a man of 
 extensive learning and information, and on his 
 retirement from active practice, the medical pro- 
 fession of Vermilion County lost one of its most 
 able members. He is greatly interested in the wel- 
 fare of his native township, and takes an active 
 part in everything that tends to promote its moral 
 elevation, educational or material status, and is 
 especially active in religious affairs, he and his wife 
 being esteemed members of the Methodist Episco- 
 pal Cliurch, and he has been an active Sunday- 
 school worker, holding the ofllce of superintendent 
 and also being a teacher. He is influential in po- 
 litical mitters, being one of the leading Republi- 
 cans in this vicinity, and a member of the Repub- 
 lican Central Committee of 1888, of his township. 
 
 : V- .---^fi.,^-^. ^ ■ 
 
 ON. CHARLES A. ALLEN, member of 
 I) the Thirty-sixth General Assembly, from 
 the Thirty-flrst District, comprising Vermil- 
 ion and Edgar counties, was elected on 
 the Republican ticket, first in 1884, and re-elected 
 twice thereafter, having entered now upon his third 
 term. He has been a member of the Judicial Com- 
 mittee and several other important committees, 
 including Insurance, and has served as Chairman 
 of the Railroad and Warehouse Committee, also of 
 Corporations and Educational Institutions. Dur- 
 inn' the Logan fight he was the first man on tiie 
 roll call, at that time a very important position. 
 He has frequently represented his district in State 
 and other conventions and is in all respects a very 
 prominent man in Eastern Illinois. 
 
 Mr. Allen was born in Danville, July 6, 1851, 
 and removed with his parents when a child of two 
 years to the Ridge where they were the earliest 
 settlers. Charles A., upon leaving the district 
 school prepared himself to become a student of 
 
y^Z-c^L^^ ^^>-£<x:^ 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 225 
 
 Michigan University from tlie Law Department of 
 whicl) tie was graduated in 1875. He commenced 
 tlie practice of liis profession at Rossville wliere he 
 remained until 1881, then changed his residence 
 to Hoopeston, which has since remained his home. 
 In addition to a lucrative law practice, he has been 
 largely engaged as a real -estate dealer, and has oc- 
 cupied many positions of trust and responsibility 
 among his fellow citizens. Socially, he is a char- 
 ter member of the K. of P. and is identified with 
 the I. O. O. F. and IMasonic fraternity. 
 
 The marriage of our subject with jNIiss Mary, 
 daughter of L. M. 'Ihompson, of Rossville, was 
 celebrated April 4, 1878. A sketch of Mr. Thomp- 
 son appears elsewhere in this volume. Of this 
 union there have been born two children — John N. 
 and Lawrence T. The father of our subject was 
 William I. Allen, one of the first settlers of Ver- 
 milion County, and a sketch of whom appears on 
 another page. 
 
 4-i-i'=^^4+-5- 
 
 OX. JOSKPII G. CANNON, Member of 
 Congress representing the Danville district 
 \\^' of Illinois. On the opposite page appears 
 '^) '-^ portrait of this gentleman, who has been 
 for many years a prominent factor in the official, 
 social and political life of this section of the State, 
 and who lias made a national reputation as a legis- 
 lator and a statesman. 
 
 Fi>r many years there was a large exodus of the 
 Society of Friends from North Carolina to the Wa- 
 bash Valley, who left their former homes to get 
 away from the curse of slavery. Among the num- 
 ber was Dr. Horace F. Cannon, who, accompanied 
 by his family, removed in 1840 to make his home 
 in Park Countj^, Ind. Thus, far removed from 
 the scenes of their youth he and his wife passed 
 the residue of life in the Northern countr}^, 
 surrounded by old friends who had also come 
 North, and by many new friends whom they had 
 met in their new home. Dr. Cannon was in early 
 manhood united in marriage with Gulielma Hol- 
 lingsworth. He was a native of Greensboro, N. C, 
 and in his early maturity practiced his profession, 
 being a physician and surgeon. After his removal 
 
 to the Wabash N^alley he passed the remainder of 
 his life in the practice of his profession, and died 
 an accidental death in 1851 when he was forty- 
 five j^earsof age. He was a man of character and 
 considerable local note, being a prominent earlj' 
 Abolitionist. 
 
 Joseph G. Cannon, of whom this brief record is 
 written, was born in New Garden, Guilford Co., 
 N. C, May 7, 1836. His education was received 
 at the Western Manual Labor School, now known 
 as Bloom ingdale Academy. At the age of fifteen 
 Ms school work ended, and for five years thereafter 
 he was engaged as a clerk in a store. 
 
 At the age of twenty-one, having a strong desire 
 for professional life, Mr. Cannon entered the law 
 office of the Hon. John P. Usher, who afterward 
 became one of President Lincoln's secretaries. In 
 1859 he was admitted to the bar to practice in the 
 courts of the State of Illinois, and located at Tus- 
 cola, Douglas Co., 111., for the practice of his pro- 
 fession, in which he continued until 1872. In that 
 year he was elected to Congress, and has since been 
 consecutively re-elected, now serving his ninth term. 
 He made Tuscola his home until 1876, when he re- 
 moved to Danville, where he has for many years 
 resided. 
 
 Mr. Cannon now stands as one of the foremost 
 men in the House of Representatives. His position 
 he owes to the confidence of his constituencj-, who 
 have given him long service, and to his industry 
 in the public service. His early preparation was 
 not all he would have desired, as he was deprived 
 of a college course, and for financial reasons was 
 compelled to enter the law practice as soon as he 
 could, so it was only by strenuous exertion that he 
 fitted himself for the responsible position he 
 occupies. 
 
 After serving for six years on the Committee for 
 Post-olBees and Post-roads, Congressman Cannon 
 was appointed a member of the Committee on Ap- 
 propriations, on which' he has served until the 
 present time. Said jNIr. Cannon, with the justifiable 
 pride and satisfaction arising from having accom- 
 plished a good work : "I had charge of the Postal 
 Appropriation Bill while on Committee, upon which 
 legislation was had reducing letter postage from 
 three to two cents, and containing other important 
 
226 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 postal revisions and reforms." During the Forty- 
 seventh Congress the Republicans had control of 
 the House. In this same Congress Mr. Cannon 
 was continued on Appropri.a.tions, having special 
 charge of the Legislative, Executive and Judicial 
 Appropriation Bill, which carries appropriation for. 
 the ofHcials of the Public Service, and upon which 
 many reforms were wrought. For many j'ears, 
 being the head of the minority on that committee, 
 it has fallen to him to make a statement of the esti- 
 mates and appropriations for and expenditures by 
 the Government. It has usually been received by 
 Congress and the country as authoritative and ex- 
 haustive. 
 
 The Republicans have a small majority in the 
 present Congress, which will organize the first 
 Monda}' of December next (1889). It seems to 
 be generally conceded that from seniority of service 
 and equipment for work, Mr. Cannon will be chosen 
 Chairman of the Committee on the organization 
 of the House, unless be is elected Speaker, for 
 which position he is a candidate. His service in 
 the House, his acquaintance with public men and 
 affairs has given him good standing with the Re- 
 publicans, and also with those of the opposite 
 party, who respect him for his sincerity and hon- 
 esty, even though Lhey differ with him in politics. 
 His partjr in the House of Representatives did 
 him the honor for six years of making him Chair- 
 man of its Caucus and of the Caucus Committee, 
 which has charge primarily of suggesting the policy 
 of the Republicans in the House touching matters 
 of legislation. 
 
 Mr. Cannon being engaged in politics, has paid 
 but little attention to law practice of late years. 
 He has business interests in the city of Danville, 
 and also owns farms both in Vermilion and Doug- 
 lass counties. 
 
 Although politics has engaged a great deal of 
 the consideration and thought of Mr. Cannon, he 
 has spared the necessary time to found home ties 
 of his own. His marriage was solemnized on the 
 7th of January, 1862, with Miss Mary P. Reed, of 
 Canfleld, Ohio. Their union has been blessed by 
 the birth of two daughters, Helen and Mabel, who 
 are now at home, having recently finished their 
 college education. Thus Congressman Cannon, in 
 
 his leisure hours, partakes of the enjoyment of a 
 beautiful home, and the society of those he loves, 
 and whose interests are ever uppermost in his 
 mind. 
 
 yALKER T. BUTLER is an enterprising 
 wheelwright of Sidell. He located in this 
 village in December, 1887, at which time 
 he erected his shop on Chicago street. He has laid 
 the foundation for a large business, which is con- 
 stantly increasing, and in the spring of 1889 he 
 enlarged his business in a substantial manner. Mr. 
 Butler is one of the solid men of his adopted town, 
 and one whose word is as good as a bank note. 
 
 On February 23, 1840, Mr. Butler first saw the 
 light of day in Edgar County, 111., about a mile 
 from Chrisman. His father, Asa Butler, was born 
 near Lexington, Ky., while his mother, Catharine 
 Porter, is a native of Madison County, that State. 
 The Butlers were originally from Virginia, and 
 came to Kentucky in an early day. The father was 
 a blacksmith, the entire male portion of the family 
 of Butlers being mechanics. One of the uncles 
 was a cabinet maker at the age of ninety-two, and 
 the subject of this sketch saw him at work making 
 spinning wheels at that great age. In 1834 Asa 
 Butler and his wife removed to A'ermilion County, 
 settling close to Innianola, erecting a shop there. 
 He left this place and went to Chrisman, where he 
 remained for a long time. This couple are the 
 parents of nine children, whose names are given: 
 Ephraim P., Elizabeth A., William F., Ellen F., 
 Walker Turner, Sanie F., Lucinda C, Rosa A. and 
 and an infant child, the two latter being deceased. 
 The father died at Indianola in 1878 at the age of 
 seventy-two years, while the mother is still living 
 on the old Butler homestead, 
 
 Ephraim resides in Richardson County, Neb.; 
 Samuel is in the employ of the Burlington &. 
 Missouri River Railroad Company at South 
 Omaha, Neb., as a billing clerk; Eliza is liv- 
 ing in Indianola with her mother; William F. was 
 accidentally killed by a traveling man who mistook 
 his head for a prairie chicken; the man after- 
 ward went insane; Ellen F. is the wife of Jamis 
 R. Adams, who is farming near Georgetown; Lu- 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 227 
 
 ciiida C. married Melvin L. Porter, who is en- 
 gaged in the clothing business at Danville ; Walker, 
 of whom this sketch is written, was reared on a 
 farm, working alternately at farming and in the 
 blacksmithshop. His schooling was obtained in 
 the subscription schools. His first attendance 
 upon the public school was in Edgar County, 
 111., where the schoolliouse was erected by sub- 
 scription, and built of logs. He worked on the 
 farm nine months, attending school the balance 
 of the year. He continued in this way until he 
 became eighteen years of age, when he went to 
 work exclusively at his trade. Ou March 26, 1861, 
 he was married to JMiss Susau J. Porter, daughter 
 of Richard Porter, and a half-sister of Mrs. Hewes. 
 Her mother was Elizabeth Howard. The Porters 
 originally came from Woodford County, Ky., emi- 
 grating to Illinois in 1834. 
 
 At the time the War of the Rebellion broke 
 out Mr. Butler was a half owner in a shop, and 
 had just passed his honej^moon. There was every 
 inducement for him to remain at home, and pros- 
 per in his business, but his duty lay in enlisting 
 in tlie Union army, which lie did in May, 1861, 
 by joining Company D, 25th Illinois Infantry, being 
 mustered into service on June 4, following, at 
 Danville. His regiment drilled at Arsenal Park, 
 St. Louis, for two months, and here he was elected 
 Captain of his company. He was young and in- 
 experienced, and being modest, he refused to 
 serve, but afterwards accepted the position of 
 Sergeant. On account of a severe wound in the 
 right foot, he was honorably discharged, after which 
 he came home, and devoted his entire attention 
 to his trade. His army record was a brilliant 
 one, and the men are very few who would refuse 
 a commission as ho did, which exhibits his entire 
 unselflshne!^s and patriotism. He remained in In- 
 dianola until 1879, when he removed to Ridge 
 Farm, there engaging in business at his trade until 
 1887, when he came to his present location. 
 
 Mr. Butler is one of the original members and 
 organizers of the Baptist Church of Sidell, which 
 came into existence May 2, 1889, and of which 
 he was elected Deacon. He has belonged to this 
 church since he was eighteen years of age, and 
 for twenty-two years was Superintendent of a 
 
 Sabbath-school. He is also Vice-President of the 
 Sunday-sciiool Association of Carroll Township. 
 Mr. Butler belongs to Vermilion Lodge, No. 265, 
 A. F. & A. M., and was its Master for three terms, 
 and also its delegate to tlie Grand Lodge at Chi- 
 cago in the years 1873, 1874 and 1875. He is 
 also a charter member of the C. A. Clark Post, 
 No. 184, G. A. R., located at Ridge Farm. The 
 office of School Director has been filled by him 
 for fifteen years. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Butler have had five children: Mel- 
 vine S., Gracie E., Adoniram J., Leslie F., Bessie 
 and Willie. INIelvine S. was educated at the Jack- 
 sonville Blind Institute. He died, and his parents 
 deeply felt his loss. Gracie E. is the wife of 
 John Fletcher, a farmer of Edgar County, 111.; 
 they have three children: Henry T., Howard and 
 Charles. Adoniram J. and the rest of the chil- 
 dren are living at home. Mr. Butler is a stanch 
 Republican, and for several years has served his 
 party on tlie County Central Committee. He has 
 always been in favor of temperance laws, and 
 tiieir strict enforcement, and it was largely through 
 his instrumentality that the sale of whisky was 
 finally abolished in Carroll Township. Mr. But- 
 ler is one of the very best men of Vermilion 
 County, and is so regarded by his neighbors. 
 
 ••O^i. 
 
 
 $, I^.ILLIAM CAST. The subject of this notice 
 is nuipbered among the pioneer residents 
 and well-to-do farmers of this county, who 
 carved out their fortunes by the labor of their 
 hands, and to whom we are indebted for the devel- 
 opment of the rich resources of the Prairie State. 
 ]\Ir. Cast has been a resident of Danville Township 
 for a lonrf period, and is held in high repute among 
 its best citizens. 
 
 Tlie subject of our sketch was born in Vernon 
 Township, Clinton Co., Ohio, April 17,1821, and is 
 the son of Aquilla and Mary -(Villars) Cast, the 
 former born in Kentucky, Dec. 7, 1799, and the 
 latter born in Pennsylvania, Dec. 13, 1798. The 
 paternal grandfather, Ezekiel Ca^t, is supposed to 
 have been likewise a native of Kenincky, whence 
 he removed to Ohio in 1805, while it was in the 
 
228 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 tliird year of its dignity as .1 State. He was one of 
 the earliest pioneers of Clinton County, and pur- 
 chased a tract of timber land in Vernon Township, 
 where he improved a farm and resided until his 
 death. 
 
 The father of our subject was quite young when 
 his parents removed to Ohio. He was reared and 
 married in Clinton Countj^, and purchased land in 
 Vernon Township, where he engaged in larming 
 until his death in September, 1831. The mother sur- 
 vived her husband for a period of twenty-five 
 years, and died in Clinton County in 1856. Her 
 father, James Villars, is supposed to have been a 
 native of Pennsylvania, whence he removed to 
 Ohio in 1806, making the journey down the river, 
 and landing" at Cincinnati, which was- then in its 
 embryo state. He also, like grandfather Cast, was 
 one of the earliest pioneers of Clinton County, 
 and like him cleared a farm from the wilderness, 
 where he spent his last days. He married Miss Re- 
 becca Davis, of Pennsj'lvania, and she also died in 
 Clinton County, Ohio. 
 
 Aquilla Cast, and his estimable wife became the 
 parents of eight children, seven of whom grew to 
 mature 3rears, and of whom William, our subject, 
 was the fourth in order of birth. lie was only ten 
 years old when his father died, but remained on the 
 farm with his mother, acquiring his education in 
 the common school and becoming familiar with the 
 labors incident to the routine of farm life. He 
 continued a resident of Clinton County until 1843, 
 then started out to seek his fortunes, his destination 
 being this county. He was equipped with a team 
 of horses and a wagon and accompanied by his 
 family, they bringing with them their household 
 goods. After fourteen days' travel they landed in 
 Danville Township, and Mr. Cast, in the fall of that 
 year, purchased 100 acres of land, the nucleus of 
 his present farm. 
 
 There were no railroads in Illinois for some j'ears 
 after Mr. Cast settled in this county, and for a long 
 period Covington and Perrysville were the nearest 
 markets. Deer, turkej'S and other game were 
 plentiful. The Cast family battled with many dif- 
 ficulties and some hardships, and underwent the 
 usual experience of life on the frontier. Our sub- 
 ject proceeded steadily with the improvement of 
 
 his property, and was greatly prospered in his la- 
 bors. As time passed on, he added to his landed 
 estate, and now has a well-improved farm of 320 
 acres. He has erected good buildings, and has 
 gathered around himself and his family all the 
 comforts and conveniences of modern life. 
 
 The marriage of our subject with Miss Rachel 
 Villars was celebrated at the bride's home in Clin- 
 ton County, Ohio, Oct. 28, 1843. Mrs. Cast was 
 born in Vernon Township, Clinton Co., Ohio, May 
 16, 1823. Her father, William Villars, was born 
 in Pennsylvania, Aug. 31, 1802, and is the son of 
 James and Rebecca Villars, who removed to Ohio 
 when he was four years old. He was reared in the 
 Buckeye State, and married Miss Ruth Whittaker, 
 a native of Clinton County. Her parents were 
 Oliver and Rlary Whittaker, natives of New Jer- 
 sej', who removed to Clinton County', Ohio, during 
 its early settlement. The father of Mrs. Cast in- 
 herited a large tract of land in that county, where 
 he carried On farming until 1843. He then came 
 to this county, purchasing land in Danville Town- 
 ship, and has been a resident here since that time, 
 and is now in his ninetj'-seventh year. 
 
 To Mr. and Mrs. Cast there were born four chil- 
 dren, the eldest of whom, James W., married Miss 
 Klla Karris, and is the father of two children — 
 Mabel and Minnie. John Oliver married Mary 
 Thayer, and has two cliildren — George and Carrie. 
 Mary is the wife of Perry Brown, of Chetopa, 
 Kan. George Aquilla died at the age of nineteen 
 months. In politics Mr. Cast has been a staunch 
 Democrat, as was also his father, and Mrs. Cast 
 also. 
 
 -5 ^^^, J^ 
 
 " NDREW H. KIMBRODGH, M. D.. was 
 born near Elizabethtown, Hardin Co., Ky., 
 on the 27th day of February, 1823. His 
 father, Richard C. Kimbrough, was a 
 native of Wexhall County, S. C, and his grand- 
 father, Goldman Kimbrough, was born in the State 
 of Virginia. The Kimbrough family settled early 
 in Virginia, and in Colonial times owned a large 
 tract of land and were extensive farmers. They 
 served with distinguished ability in the Revolu- 
 tionary War. The grandfather of Andrew H. 
 
PORTEAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 229 
 
 Kimbrough removed from Virginia to South Caro- 
 lina after the Revolutionarj- War and later to 
 Alabama, where he bought large blocks of land, 
 and where be died in 1835. He was a large slave- 
 owner. 
 
 Richard C. Kimbrough, the father of Dr. Kim- 
 brough, was under age when the War of 1812 
 broke out, and in order to enlist, he ran away from 
 home and served in the array until the close of the 
 war. He was in several battles including the 
 Horse Shoe fight and was with Gen. Jackson at 
 New Orleans. He was wounded in the former 
 battle. After the close of the war he went with 
 some of his comrades to Hardin County, Ky., and 
 there taught school until his marriage, and then 
 with a brother, he engaged in the business of tan- 
 ning. In 182.5 lie emigrated to Illinois and was 
 therefore a pioneer of Edgar County. The re- 
 moval was made with teams, bringing all the house- 
 hold goods along, camping out on the way. He 
 entered a tract of eighty acres of land in Waj'ne, 
 now Stratton Township. There was no house on 
 the place and he was compelled to rent a cabin, but 
 in the following spring he erected a house on his 
 his own land, which was surmounted b}' a stick 
 and clay chimney. There were no sawmills in the 
 county, a fact which compelled him to make his 
 own boards in order to build the doors. He had 
 no nails and so used wooden pegs instead. The old 
 f.ashioned fire-place was used to cook food in those 
 days, stoves being an unknown utensil in the 
 economy of kitchen work. The cloth with which 
 they made their clothes was constructed from yarn 
 spun entirelj' by hand. He bought another eighty 
 acres of land which added to his former purchase 
 made a good farm. He died in 1833. The maiden 
 name of the mother of the subject of this sketch was 
 Jane Morrison, a native of Kentucky. Her father, 
 James Morrison, it was thought was born in Vir- 
 ginia and removed from there to Kentucky and 
 settled in Hardin County. He was a farmer and 
 spent his last years there. The maiden name of 
 Ids wife was Mary McWilliams. She was born in 
 Virginia and removed to Kentucky with her par- 
 ents in 179L This family were pioneers of Hardin 
 County, where they brought a large tract of timber 
 land and improved a farm which Mr. McWilliams 
 
 afterward lost on an old claim. Mr. McWilliams 
 spent his last years in that State. The mother of 
 our subject was married a second time in 1847 to 
 Hall Sims and resided in Pidgar County until her 
 death. 
 
 Andrew H. Kimbrough was eleven years old 
 when his father died leaving his mother with six 
 children to care for. He resided with his guard- 
 ian until 1842, and then returned home and man- 
 aged the farm for his mother until her second 
 marriage, when he purchased her interest in the 
 farm. He continued farming until 1854. He had 
 some time before resumed the study of medicine, 
 but had to abandon that on the account of the lack of 
 funds, but later he again took up the study and grad- 
 uated from Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, 
 in March, 1858. In that year he commenced 
 practice at Georgetown, this county, and contin- 
 ued so doing until 1873, when he removed to 
 Danville and has practiced there continuously since 
 that time. He married Sarah Ashmore, who was 
 born in Clark County, April 10, 1820. She was a 
 danghter of Amos and Patience Ashmore, natives 
 of Tennessee. They were truly pioneers of Clark 
 County, 111. 
 
 Andrew H. Kimbrough is the father of three 
 children — Laura H., E. R. Eugene, and Lillie A. T. 
 Politically, he is a Democrat, and socially, is a 
 member of Franklin Lodge K. of H. He joined 
 the I. O. O. F. in 1850 and has filled all the chairs. 
 
 -»»*- 
 
 -o*o-.@>><A^..o*o.. 
 
 ENRY DAA'IS. The man who ventured 
 k^ into Central Illinois during its pioneer 
 days is worthy of more than a passing 
 mention. Few who did not undergo the 
 experience can have a full realization of the hard 
 lot of the early settlers. The distant markets, 
 the inadequate price for the crops which they 
 raised under great difficulties, the inferior educa- 
 tional advantages, and the miasma from the fre- 
 quently low, wet land, which confronted the 
 pioneers with illness — a physician miles away — 
 and the generally wild condition of their surround- 
 ings, no railroads or stage lines, and in some 
 sections scarcely a well-defined wagon track, made 
 
230 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 life in the pioneer times a dire struggle frequentl}', 
 for existence. 
 
 The subject of tliis sitetch has had a full exper- 
 ience of pioneer life in all its details, but at tlie 
 same time he has been the privileged vvitness of 
 changes almost miraculous. He was born in this 
 count}', May 5, 1841, his father, William Davis, 
 being among the earliest pioneers. The latter was 
 a native of Ohio, and descended from excellent 
 Scotch-Irish stock. He was prospered in liis labors 
 as a tiller of the soil of Illinois, and in due time 
 became the owner of 2,000 acres of land, a large 
 portion of which he gave to his children. 
 
 The father of our subject still has about 1,000 
 acres of land, all in this county, and is likewise in- 
 terested in the hardware business at Fairmount, 
 while he has considerable other property. The 
 mother, Mrs. Elizabeth' (Hayes) Davis, was a na- 
 tive of Ohio, and the parental household included 
 ten children, six of whom are living, and of whom 
 Henry is the fourth in order of birth. He, like 
 his brothers and sisters, pursued his earh' studies in 
 the old log schoolhouse, the system of instruction 
 of that day being fully in keeping with the fashion 
 and furnishings of the temple of learning, into 
 which light was admitted through greased paper, 
 and thCi seats and desks of which were made of 
 slabs, the floor of puncheon, a wide fireplace ex- 
 tending nearly across one end, and the chimney 
 built outside of dirt and sticks. Young Davis at- 
 tended school mostly on stormy days, when he 
 could not work at home. He had few companions 
 and little recreation, as the county was very thinly 
 settled, and for a distance of forty miles south 
 there was not a single cultivated farm. 
 
 Our subject remained at home working with his 
 father until about twenty-two years old, and then 
 determined to strike ont for himself. The first in- 
 teresting event which followed was his marriage 
 with Miss Nancy Cox, on the 24th of December, 
 1863. This lady remained the companion of her 
 husband less than nine j'ears, her decease taking 
 place Oct. 24, 1874, leaving no children. Their 
 wedded life had been begun in a log house on the 
 present farm of Mr.Davis, and that humble dwel- 
 ling is still standing. Mr. Davis was married a 
 second time, Sept. 7, 1875, to Miss Rebecca E. 
 
 Bnird. This union resulted in the birth of three 
 children — Fred L., born May 24, 1876; Grace 
 Elizabeth, July 30, 1877; and Sarah Mabel, Dec. 
 18, 1878. Mrs. Rebecca E. (Baird) Davis de- 
 parted this life July 18, 1880. 
 
 On the 5th of April, 1881, Mr. Davis was mar- 
 ried a third time, to Miss M. Belle, daughter of 
 Nathan B. and Mary F. (Wilson) Pemberton. Mr. 
 Pemberton was a native of Ohio, and his wife of Ken- 
 tucky. The father of Mrs. Davis left his native 
 State, when twenty-one years old, going to Ken- 
 tucky, where he engaged in farming and was married. 
 Nineteen years ago they left the Blue Grass State 
 for Indiana, where they lived on a farm for seven 
 years, then came to this count}', and settled two 
 miles northwest of Fairmount. After living there 
 two years they made another removal, and are now 
 living one and one-half mil6s west of Catlin, in the 
 enjoyment of good health, Mr. Pemberton being 
 sixt3r-seven and his wife fifty-eight j'ears old. 
 
 To Mr. and Mrs. Pemberton there were born 
 seven children, five of whom are living, and of 
 whom Mrs. Davis was the third. She first opened 
 her eyes to the light in Maysville, Ky., July 29, 
 1855. She received excellent educational advan- 
 tages, and grew up an attractive and accomplished 
 young woman, fitting herself for a teacher, and 
 pursuing this calling in Indiana prior to her mar- 
 riage. Mr. Pemberton some years ago was wounded 
 by an ax in his own hands, which struck his knee, 
 and which resulted in confining him to the house 
 for three years thereafter. He has suffered from 
 this almost continuously since that time. He has 
 been a plain and upright man and a member of 
 the Baptist Church, while Mrs. Pemberton belongs 
 to the Presbyterian Church. 
 
 Mr. Davis erected his present residence about 
 1874, and in connection with his farming opera- 
 tions gives considerable attention to live stock, 
 raising about seventy-five head of swine annually, 
 besides graded cattle and horses. His farm com- 
 prises 120 acres of land, including a timber strip 
 of fifteen acres. One year he was engaged in the 
 grocery trade at Fairmount. Politically he has 
 always been a strong Democrat, and has held the 
 office of Commissioner of Highways for the past 
 nine years. He is a School Director in his district, 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM, 
 
 231 
 
 and for Ave years past has been President of the 
 A'errnilion County Agricultnral and Mechanical As- 
 sociation. He is also a member of the Board of 
 Directors of the Fair Association, and is crop re- 
 porter for the Agricultural Department at Spring- 
 field. He has exercised no small influence upon 
 party politics in this region, officiating as a mem- 
 ber of the Central Committee, and as a, delegate 
 to the various county conventions. Both he 
 and his excellent wife are members in good stand- 
 ing of the Baptist Church, in which Mr. Davis has 
 labored faithfully in the Sunday-school, and otHc- 
 iated as Librarian. Without making anj^ preten- 
 sions to elegance, the Davis homestead is without 
 question the abode of peace and comfort, and wliile 
 the head of the family has acquitted himself in a 
 creditable manner, his very intelligent and amiable 
 partner, a lady of great worth and refinement, has 
 fulfilled her whole duty in making home the most 
 attractive spot on earth for those dearest to her. 
 
 — »> ' ^^ ' '^ 
 
 ^ ABAN GRITTEN is classed among the lead- 
 I (@ '°S farmers and stock raisers of Pilot Town- 
 jlj— ^ ship, he having contributed much towards 
 making it a great agricultural center. His farm on 
 section 22 is comparable with the finest and best 
 in this section of Vermilion County, is so cultivated 
 as to produce large harvests, and its buildings and 
 all other appointments are flrst-class. Mr. Gritten 
 has evolved this desirable farm from the wild prai- 
 ries of Illinois, as they were many years ago, before 
 they had been changed by cultivation, it having 
 been government land when he purchased it more 
 than thirty years ago, and situated in the midst of 
 a sparsely populated, scarcely civilized country. 
 
 Mr. Gritten is a Kentuckian by birth, born in 
 Mercer County, Jan. 19, 1832. His father, John 
 R. Gritten, was born in the same county in 1807. 
 He married Nancj^ Atkinson, who was born there 
 in 1806, and they came to this county with their 
 family in 1842, and located on a farm of 120 acres, 
 pleasantly situated in Blount Township, where 
 they have built up a comfortable home, and now, 
 in life's decline are enjoying the hard-earned fruits 
 of their united labor. Three of the children that 
 
 have blessed their union are still living: Ann, re- 
 siding in Danville Township, is the widow of Frank 
 Watson, of Ohio, and has five ehildien — William, 
 John, Nancy J., JNlargaret and Martha; Lloyd mar- 
 ried Sarah Gritten, daughter of one of the first set- 
 tlers of the county, and they have four children — 
 Wesley, Annie, Ella and Elisha; Laban is the 
 subject of this sketch, and we will write further of 
 him. 
 
 We have seen that his parents brought him here 
 in pioneer times, when he was a mere lad, and here 
 they bred him to a life of usefulness, and fitted 
 him for an honorable career, and to their careful 
 training he doubtless owes much of his prosperitj'. 
 He became manly, self-reliant and a good worker, 
 and in earlj^ manhood prudently invested his money 
 in government land, proposing to make farming his 
 life work, and purchased 320 acres of land at 
 twenty-five cents an acre. He now has the land all 
 under excellent cultivation, and has greatli' in- 
 creased its value by the many fine improvements 
 that he has made, including substantial buildings, 
 etc. He does a general farming business, has his 
 farm well stocked with stock of high grades, from 
 the sale of which he makes good profits, and he 
 raises a good deal of grain and other farm produce, 
 from which he derives an income amply sufficing 
 to carry on his agricultural operations in good 
 shape, and for all his personal wants. 
 
 Mr. Gritten has been twice married. His first 
 wife was a Miss Sarah Potter, who was of English 
 descent, and her father, an early settler of this part 
 of Illinois, took part in the Black Hawk War under 
 General Taylor. Five children were born to our 
 subject in that union, of whom one died; the others 
 are Orsmus, Charles, Edward and Thomas. Orsmus, 
 a carpenter in Danville, married Miss Maj^ Gritten ; 
 Charles, living with his father on the homestead, 
 married Matilda Gritten, and they have seven chil- 
 dren — Clarence, Arthur, Orsmus, Elzora, Oliver, 
 Ross and Rock. Edward, a farmer in this county, 
 married Miss Belle Davis, of Ohio, and they have 
 one child, Jesse B. ; Thomas, a blacksmith at Bixby, 
 married Alartha Schank,and they have three children 
 — Earl, Maude and Olive. 
 
 For his second wife Mr. Gritten married Miss 
 Lydia Pile, a native of Breckeuridge County, Ky.. 
 
232 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGK'APAICAL ALBUM. 
 
 and of tlieii- eleven children the following five ure 
 living: Oracena, Alvina, Jacob, Eli and William. 
 
 AVilliam and Elizabeth Pile were the parents of 
 Mrs. (rritten, the father a native of ^'irginia, the 
 mother a native of Kentucky, and both are de- 
 ceased. 
 
 Mr. Gritten may well be proud of his farm, whose 
 increased value is due to his hard labor and excel- 
 lent business capacity and management. He pos- 
 sesses sober judgment, keen discernment and a 
 resolute nature that has overcome all obstacles in 
 the path to success. In his political views he sides 
 with the Democrats, and gives his hearty approval 
 to partjr measures. 
 
 (^p'ACIIARIAII C. HOLLO WAY. Among (juite 
 /// a company of young men who came to this 
 /l'— ^ county at different times in the spring of 
 1853, was a young man named Holloway, plainly 
 attired and with no means to speak of, quiet and 
 unobtrusive in his demeanor but with the fixed pur- 
 pose of giving the Western country a fair trial in 
 the building up of a future home. He was not pre- 
 pared to purchase land and so was obliged to locate 
 upon a rented farm in Blount Township which had 
 been but slightly improved and offered few advan- 
 tages to the pioneer. Upon this amid many difH- 
 culities he prosecuted farming for a jrieriod of 
 four years, then changed his residence to Newell 
 Township where he sojourned two years. His next 
 removal was to a farm adjoining that which he 
 now owns and occupies, in the southern part of 
 Ross Township. This brought him up to 1859 in 
 which year he purchased eighty acres of wild prai- 
 rie and two years later established himself upon it 
 with his young wife in a log cabin. 
 
 Mr. Holloway began the cultivation of his land 
 with an ox team and in the meantime made his 
 home in Newell, then a very unimportant villao-e. 
 Tn the spring of 1860 he hired thirty acres plowed, 
 which he planted in corn. From that time on he 
 labored indaistriously early and late until he had 
 eighty acres under a high state of cultivation and 
 hail erected a neat and substantial house and barn 
 besides effecting other im|)rovements.'^ As oppor- 
 
 tunity pcrmitled he planted fruit and shade trees 
 and after a number of years found himself in a con- 
 dition to purcluise additional land and thus in- 
 vested his surplus capital until he became the owner 
 of 400 acres. F'or many years he has dealt in cattle 
 realizing therefrom handsome returns. 
 
 Our subject generouslj' acknowledges that he has 
 been greatly assisted and encouraged in \\\h labors 
 and struggles by his excellent wife, who bi'ro with 
 her husband the heat and burden of the day and 
 assisted him in saving as well as earning. They 
 are the |)arents of four children, all living, namily: 
 Albert, Alford, Frank, and Ivy, the wife i>f C. R. 
 Crawford, of Ross Township. 
 
 Upon becoming a voting citizen jMr. Holloway 
 identified himself with the Republican party and 
 later cordially endorsed Republican doctrines. He 
 has made a speciality of attending to his own con- 
 cerns and consequently has meddled very little 
 with public affairs, having no desire for the re- 
 sponsibilities of office. His pleasant home with its 
 attractive surroundings and his intelligent family 
 have largely supplied his social needs, although he 
 is not lacking for troops of friends among the peo- 
 ple whose intelligence always leads them to respect 
 the man who has been the architect of his own for- 
 tune and who has made the most of his opportuni- 
 ties, adding to the talent with which nature en- 
 dowed him. 
 
 John Holloway, the father of our subject, was 
 the son of Elijah Holloway, a native of Maryland 
 and one of eight children. The others were named 
 respectively, Adam, William. Elijah, Armel, Fran- 
 ces, Hettie and Mary. John also was born in Marj^- 
 land, where he was reared to man's estate and mar- 
 ried Miss Elizabeth Davis. About 1804, with a 
 party of probably eighty persons, they set out 
 across the mountains with teams and landed in Ross 
 County, Ohio, where it is believed the grand- 
 parents also settled. The journey at that time was a 
 dangerous one, the country being infested with des- 
 perate characters, who frequently murdered trav- 
 elers for their money. The trip occupit.d about 
 six weeks and the Holloway family fortunately were 
 not molested. 
 
 The parents of our subject settled in the heavy 
 timber of Ross County, Ohio, where Zachariah C. 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 235 
 
 was bom June K!, 1H24, and where the parents 
 spent their last daj's. The father died in Septem- 
 ber 1863, at the age of eighty-five years and the 
 mother at the same age, in March, 1865. Both 
 ^were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, 
 in the faith of which»they serenely passed away. 
 Many and great were the hardships endured by the 
 pioneers in the wilderness of Ross County and our 
 subject like his brothers and sisters was taught to 
 make himself useful at a very early age. He as- 
 sisted in clearing the farm and received a limited 
 education in the subscription school. His life 
 passed quietly and uneventfully during his boy- 
 hood and youtli, and like the other young men of 
 that day and place, his chief ambition was in due 
 time to have a farm and a fireside of his own. 
 
 Our subject continued a resident of his native 
 county until his marriage, in 1849. The maiden 
 of his choice was Miss Mary, daughter of Joshua 
 Shockley, formerly of Delaware, but who, like the 
 HoUoways, was an early pioneer of the Buckeye 
 State, Mrs. Holloway was born in Delaware and 
 was take by her parents to Ohio when about two 
 jears old. Her father died there, in 1841. The 
 mother later came to this county and made her 
 home with her daughter, her death occurring in 
 May, 1888. 
 
 J'OSEPH S. CHRISTMAN is emphatically one 
 of the business men of Vermilion County, 
 who has risen to prominence through his 
 own exertions. He was born on the 30th 
 day of January, 1855. He spent his boyhood days 
 with his parents until he became seventeen years 
 of age, when being of a studious mind, he went to 
 Indianapolis and attended business college in that 
 city, where he graduated. After leaving school he 
 returned to AVarren County, Ind , where his par- 
 ents were living at the time, and remained there 
 for a short period engaged in a dry goods store in 
 Attica. He returned to Indianapolis and entered 
 into the elastic roofing business at 241 Massachu- 
 setts Ave., being successfully employed for one 
 year. He then bought a grocery store on Merid- 
 ian street, where he carried on a good business for 
 
 a period of one year, when he sold out and came to 
 Rossville, 11!., where he landed in his twenty-first 
 year with about !?4,0(l(). He contemplated pur- 
 cliastng a half interest in the dry goods store of 
 Henderson & Co., but the company making arrange- 
 ments more satisfactory to themselves, our subject 
 found he could invest his money to a good advant- 
 age by loaning it and did so, in the meantime en- 
 tering the employ of the dry goods firm mentioned 
 as clerk. About this time he bought 600 acres of 
 his present home of 1,100 acres of land upon 
 which he erected his present farm buildings, and 
 where he now lives. 
 
 Joseph S. Christman is the son of Isaac and Eli- 
 zabeth Christman, who are natives of Ohio, but 
 who came to Illinois wlien they were young. They 
 were married Oct. 25, 1843, when they immediately 
 moved to Warren County, Ind.-, where they settled 
 on a farm which they conducted for two years, at 
 the expiration of which period, they came back lo 
 Vermilion County, settling here on a quarter section 
 of land where they now live. The family comprised 
 the following children — Sarah J., is at home; Su- 
 san G., is the wife of W. H. Lincoln and is liv- 
 ing in West Lebanon, Ind. ; Mary H., is the wife of 
 H. C. Swisher and they also reside in the same 
 place; Eliza E., was killed when nineteen years of 
 age by being thrown from a carriage; Maria C, is 
 the wife of William Hunter, a farmer who is living 
 in Warren County, Ind.; Josepii S., of whom this 
 sketch is written; Frank is in the real estate busi- 
 ness at York, Neb.; MahalaL., died when two years 
 of age. The mother of this family Mrs. Elizabeth 
 Christman, died July 8, 1872. She was an ardent 
 member of the Methodist Church, and sustained a 
 fine reputation in her neighborhood. Mr. Isaac 
 Christman is quietly living with his son, Joseph, 
 and enjoying his latter days in a manner which he 
 has won by hard work. He is a Republican in 
 politics, and takes great interest in his party. 
 
 Mr. Joseph S. Christman is a dealer in live stock 
 shipping considerable quantities every year to Chi- 
 cago. He makes a specialty in breeding Harable- 
 tonian horses, of which breed he owns several fine 
 specimens. Politically, IMr. Christman is a Repub- 
 lican and has held the office of Township Trustee 
 for a long time. He is also a member of the Ma- 
 
236 
 
 PORTRAIT AND lUOCiRAPIIICAL ALBUM. 
 
 sonic fraternity, having joined that order in 1876, 
 by uniting with Lodge No. 527 at Rossville. He 
 is also a member of tlie Oriental Consistory which 
 meets on Monroe street, Chicago. His career in 
 business is a good illustration of what grit anil in- 
 telligence can do, and sliould be emulated bj^ oth- 
 ers of the younger generation. Mr. Christman is 
 nnmarried, but has succeeded in making a very 
 comfortable home, and the view given in this vol- 
 ume, represents a residence that in no wise displaj^s 
 the absence of a mistress. 
 
 R. GEORG EDENS. In the person of 
 this able practitioner the biographer dis- 
 covers a gentleman in love with his pro- 
 fession*-^ — one who adopted it on account of 
 the keen interest which he has taken in it almost 
 from bo3'hood, and whose aim has been to excel. 
 He has been located in Danville for the past ten 
 years, and it is not surprising to learn that he has 
 built up a lucrative patronage among its best peo- 
 ple. He has been faithful and conscientious in the 
 discharge of his duties, and aimed to gain a full 
 understanding of the disorders which he has been 
 called upon to remedy before making the applica- 
 tion of chemicals or drugs. 
 
 Dr. Edens was born in the Province of Ilolstein, 
 German}', June 16, 1851, and remained a resident 
 of his native province until 1867. Then, a youth 
 of sixteen years, he crossed the Atlantic with his 
 parents, they settling on a tract of land in Cham- 
 paign County, this State. The father prosecuted 
 farming, while the son, who also assisted around 
 the homestead, continued the reading of medicine, 
 which he had begun when a lad of fifteen j-ears. 
 Two years later, in 1868, he began to dispense 
 medicine to his acquaintances, and there followed 
 such excellent results from his prescriptions that 
 before he had realized the fact he had quite a num- 
 ber of regular patrons. 
 
 In 1876 young Edens repaired to Chicago and 
 entered Hahnemann College, from which he was 
 graduated in 1879, after taking the special courses. 
 On the 17th of March, that year, he came to Dan- 
 ville, and commenced the regular practice of his 
 
 chosen profession, which he lias since followed 
 with really surprising results. He adopts many of 
 the customs common to the Fatherland, where the 
 students of medicine are subjected to the most 
 thorough training, and not allowed to practice^ 
 until they are masters in their profession. 
 
 The office of Dr. Edens is situated on North 
 Street, near the Chicago & Eastern Illinois depot, 
 where he has around him his books and the various 
 appliances requisite for his extensive business. He 
 not only has a large practice in Danville, but also 
 in the country surrounding it. He reJDairs to dif- 
 ferent points at regular intervals, usuallj' once a 
 month. There is every indication that he has be- 
 fore him a most prosperous future, and the pros- 
 pects of attaining to eminence in his profession. 
 He has naturally been too full of business to give 
 much attention to politics, but has become fully 
 identified and in sympathy with American institu- 
 tions, and usually votes for the men and not the 
 party. 
 
 Dr. Edens was married in Danville, March 14, 
 188,5, to Miss Frances Kcehler, who was born in 
 Posen, Germany, April 30, 1859. She came to 
 America in 1881, after having acquired a careful 
 education, and thereafter was employed as a pri- 
 vate teacher in German and French, and also in the 
 public schools of St. Louis and Chicago. Mrs. 
 Edens likewise possesses considerable musical tal- 
 ent, and is at once recognized as a very accom- 
 plished and intelligent lady. They occupy a pleas- 
 ant and attractive home, and enjoy the friendship 
 of the best citizens of Danville. 
 
 -?=7jrs==^ 
 
 r^ 
 
 (^^ AWUEL COOK, the son of a pioneer 
 _^^^ family of Vermilion County, as one of its 
 
 t^J) practical, well-to-do farmers, a man of 
 sound sense and good understanding, is 
 classed among its most desirable citizens. His 
 homestead on section 11, Catlin Township, com- 
 prising 160 acres, is one of the finest in the vicin- 
 ity, and he has 100 acres of excellent farming land 
 in Georgetown Township besides valuable property 
 in Danville. 
 
 James Cook, the father of our subject, was born 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 237 
 
 either in Maryland or Virginia, June 23, 1797. In 
 early manhood he was united in marriage to Miss 
 Susanna Moyer, their union taking place Oct. 6, 
 1822. She was born in Pennsylvania, Dec. 2, 
 1803, and is still living at an advanced age. After 
 , marriage Mr. and Mrs. Cook settled in Clermont 
 County, Ohio, living there among its early pioneers 
 till 1834, when thej' migrated across the country 
 with their family to Vermilion County and became 
 early settlers of Brook's Point in Georgetown. 
 There the father rounded out a useful life, holding 
 the respect and esteem of all about him as he was 
 in all respects a good man. The wedded life of 
 himself and wife was blessed to them by the birtli 
 of six sons and five daughters. 
 
 Our subject was the second child of the family, 
 and he was born in Clermont County, Ohio, Oct. 
 4, 1825. He was nine years old when he came to 
 Vermilion County with his parents more than fifty 
 years ago, but he still retains a recollection of that 
 memorable journey through the forests primeval 
 and over the wild prairies to this then sparsely 
 settled country. He grew to man's estate in 
 Georgetown Township, and gleaned an education 
 in the old log [school-house in which the children 
 of the pioneers were taught the rudiments of learn- 
 ing. He remained with his father and mother till 
 he was twenty-six and a half years old, when he 
 married and established a home of his own. He 
 has devoted himself principally to farming, and 
 through many years of persistent toil has accumu- 
 lated a goodly amount of property, including one 
 of the best farms in Catlin Township. He has his 
 land under fine tillage, and has erected a substan- 
 tial, conveniently arranged set of buildings, in- 
 cluding a handsome, roomy residence, replete with 
 all the comforts of life. When he was a young- 
 man Mr. Cook assisted in making five flatboats to 
 go down the Vermilion River into the Wabash, 
 and thence down the Ohio and Mississippi, and 
 once he took a trip to Memphis. 
 
 Mr. Cook has been twice married. He was first 
 wedded to Miss Amanda M. Graves, April 1, 1852, 
 in Georgetown Township. She was a native of 
 that place, born Aug. 18, 1833, to James and Mar- 
 garet (Blackbourn) Graves, who were among its 
 earliest pioneers, coming there from Kentucky in 
 
 1829, and spending their remaining days on their 
 homestead in that township. By that marriage 
 our subject became the father of siy children, of 
 wiiom the following is recorded: George W. mar- 
 ried Eliza Douglas; .James P. married Miss Eveline 
 O'Neal; Mary married John II. Wherry; Margaret 
 died when she was eigliteen years old; Charles 
 married Miss Celia Padgett; Ellen died when about 
 six months old. Aug. 19, 1866, after a happy mar- 
 ried life of fourteen years Mrs. Cook passed away 
 from the scene of her usefulness, and thus was lost 
 to her household a wife who had always striven to 
 aid her husband and make his home pleasant and 
 comfortable, a mother who was devoted to her 
 children, a neighbor who was a kind and true 
 friend. 
 
 Mr. Cook was married to his present wife, for- 
 merly ]\Irs. Martha E. (Citizen) Moreland, in La- 
 fayette, Ind., April 14,1870. Their wedded life 
 has been blessed to them by the birth of three 
 children: Bertie J., John F., and Fred. Mrs. Cook 
 was the fourth of the nine children, six sons and 
 three daughters, born to William and Esther 
 (Parker) Citizen, and her birth occurred in Dark 
 County, Ind., July 25, 1838. Her father was born 
 in Maryland, Nov. 10, 1809, and her mother in 
 North Carolina, Aug. 4, 1812, her death occurring 
 in Warren County, Ind. The father survives at 
 an advanced age. When she was two years old 
 Mrs. Cook's parents moved to Wayne County, 
 Ind., and when she was thirteen years old her 
 father brought her to this State. She was married 
 in Warren County, Ind., Aug. 25, 1854, to Joseph 
 Moreland. Of this union there was one son, 
 Charles W., an intelligent, well educated young 
 man, who has been engaged in the profession of 
 school-teaching seven years. 
 
 It is said of Mr. and Mrs. Cook that " they are 
 people whom it is a pleasure to meet, so friendly 
 and generous are they toward all who come under 
 their influence, and so kind and considerate are 
 they in their relations with all about them." They 
 are consistent members of the Christian Church — 
 of which he is an elder — contribute liberally to its 
 support, and are never backward in aiding all 
 schemes that look to the moral or social advance- 
 ment of the community. In our subject the Dem- 
 
238 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM 
 
 ocratic party finds one of its most honest support- 
 ers and the township one of the promoters of 
 education within its borders, he having held seve- 
 ral of the school offices, and also being School 
 Director for years, discharging the duties thus de- 
 volving upon him with characteristic fidelity and 
 to the eminent satisfaction of all concerned. 
 
 iffi,,s!_ 
 
 -^- 
 
 tfi OHN L. JACKSON. In the career of this 
 leading business man of Sidell, we recognize 
 the type of the live, energetic American 
 citizen, who has been peculiarly favored 
 by Providence, being the owner of a fine property, 
 the son of one of the wealthiest men in the county, 
 and one of its leading citizens, and having had the 
 happy faculty of improving all his advantages. By 
 his straightforward methods of proceed ure he has 
 fully established himself in the esteem and confi- 
 dence of all with whom he has had dealings. He is 
 at present engaged in general merchandising at 
 Sideil, and is in the enjoyment of a patronage which 
 is steadily increasing. The firm of John L. Jack- 
 son & Co. is considered A 1. 
 
 Mr. Jackson was born in Douglas County, this 
 State, Sept. 22, 1860, and is the son of Amos and 
 Sarah (Hesseler) Jackson, the former of whom was 
 born near Frankfort, Ind., and the latter in this 
 county. They were married in Michigan. The 
 elder Jackson operates as a farmer and cattle 
 raiser, and is now a resident of Danville. He is 
 represented on another page in this volume. The 
 parental household was completed by the birth of 
 four daughters and two sons, and of these John was 
 the eldest. He was twelve years of age when his 
 parents came to this county, and settled near In- 
 dianoln, in Carroll Township. Later they removed 
 first to Paris and then to Danville. At the age of 
 nineteen years our subject entered the Commercial 
 College at Terre Haute, from which he was grad- 
 uated in the class of 1879. Upon leaving school 
 he engaged in buying and shipping stock, with 
 which business he had been familiar since a bo3^ 
 He shipped his first load from Archie Station, and 
 was occupied at this business until 1883. 
 
 The marriage of our subject with Miss Eva 
 
 Gray was celebrated at the bride's home, in March, 
 1883. This lady was born and reared in Cham- 
 paign County, and is the daughter of Henry and 
 Louisa (Weisiger) Gray, who settled in the above- 
 named count}' in 1861. The father died in 1876, 
 aged about forty years. The mother was subse- 
 quently married and now resides near Kankakee. 
 The three daughters were named Eva, Cora and 
 Nettie. Mr. and Mrs. Jackson have one child, a 
 daughter, Meta J. 
 
 Mr. Jackson purchased the store and stock of 
 general merchandise belonging to William Danley, 
 the pioneer merchant of Sidell, and in addition to 
 looking after the affairs of this establishment, con- 
 tinues to deal in cattle. Politically, he is an un- 
 compromising Democrat, and socially belongs to 
 Peace Dale Lodge Number 25, I. O. O. F. He is 
 also a member of the Modern Woodmen. His farm 
 comprises 172 acres of choice land, pleasantly 
 located southwest of Sidell. 
 
 '^r^.^^r™' 
 
 l^rii* 
 
 l-IOHN MILTON DOUGLASS, a prominent 
 and honored citizen of Vermilion Clounty, is 
 classed among its leading farmers and stock- 
 raisers, he having been intimatelj' connected 
 with Its agricultural interests for many years; and, 
 the son of parents who were early settlers of this 
 part of Illinois, he may indeed be regarded as a 
 pioneer himself, as since, and even before, attain- 
 ing man's estate, he has done much to develop the 
 rich resources of this region and make it a great 
 agricultural center. He owns a farm on section 16, 
 Catlin Township, that is justly considered one of 
 the best places in the county, and here he has 
 erected a handsome commodiou^s residence that, 
 with its surroundings, beautiful lawns adorned 
 with shade trees, etc., forms an attractive scene in 
 the landscape, and in this lovelj'home he is quietly 
 passing his declining years, calmly awaiting life's 
 great change. 
 
 The subject of this sketch was born in what is 
 now Ohio County, Ind., Aug. 23, 1823, the second 
 child in a family of ten children, five sous and five 
 daughters, belonging to Thomas W. and Delilah 
 (Peyne) Douglass. The former was born in the 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 239 
 
 State of Maine, on the Penobscot River, iind tlie 
 mother was a native of tlie State of New \ ork. 
 After marriage they first settled in Dearborn 
 County, Inri., in that part of it now called Ohio 
 County, and thence journeyed to this State in the 
 spring of 1830, and located in Catlin Township, Ver- 
 milion County, where the County farm now is, and 
 where they spent their declining years, and the 
 mother closing her eyes in death in September, 1856, 
 and in October, 1865, the father departed this life. 
 They were people of solid merit, who faithfully per- 
 formed their allotted tasks in life, and , as pioneers of 
 Vermilion County, their memories will ever be held 
 in reverence along with those of other courageous, 
 self-sacriflcing spirits who came here in the early 
 days of the settlement of the country, and toiled to 
 make it a fitting home for those who came after 
 them. 
 
 Their son John Milton, of whom we write, was 
 seven years old when he accompanied his parents 
 in their migration from the home of his birth to 
 this county, and here the remaining days of liis 
 boyhood and youth were passed, and his entire 
 manhood has been spent within the limits of the 
 county. He early began his career as a farmer, 
 and has been greatly prospered in his life work, 
 being the fortunate owner of a fertile farm of 
 317^ acres that is not surpassed in point of culti- 
 vation and value of improvements by any other 
 place in the township. He has erected a commo- 
 dious, well-built house, a barn fifty feet square 
 on a stone foundation, and other necessary build- 
 ino-s, and has set out numerous beautiful shade 
 and fruit trees, and, taken altogether, he has one 
 of the finest estates in the coiinty. Mr. Douglass' 
 farm is well adapted to stock-raising, and he makes 
 a specialty of Short-horn cattle, and his fine herd 
 of that breed, highly graded, is one of the best in 
 this locality. 
 
 On the 14th of November, 1844, the marriage of 
 our subject and Miss Mahala Burroughs was sol- 
 emnized in Catlin Township, one mile west of the 
 villao-e of Catlin. Mrs. Douglass was born in Rip- 
 ley County, Ind., April 3, 1824, a daughter of 
 Jesse and Polly (Wilson) Burroughs. Of her 
 union with our subject nine children were born, 
 as follows: Judith A., wife of Joseph Trisler; 
 
 Winfield S., who married Lizzie Clark; Delilah, who 
 died when she was two j'eais old; Thomas W., 
 who died when he was eleven months old; Clarissa, 
 the wife of James Clipson; Mahala; Pamelia, who 
 died in infancy! Armilda, the wife of Richard 
 O'Conell; and Esther, who died when one week 
 old. 
 
 On the 10th of October, 1887, the pleasant 
 wedded life of our subject was brought to a sad 
 close by the death of her with whom he had 
 walked, hand in hand, for more than fortj-two 
 years. This amiable wife and companion had been 
 to him all that a true and devoted woman can be 
 to her husband, and to her children she had been a 
 wise and tender mother, and her presence is sorely 
 missed in the household where she had been the 
 home-maker so long. But our subject does not 
 mourn as one without comfort, as his Christian 
 faith points to a reunion beyond the grave. 
 
 Mr. Douglass is a man of decided character and 
 sound understanding, and his career has marked him 
 as possessing those qualities that enable man to make 
 his own way in the world without the adventitious 
 aids of fortune and birth. He and five of his chil- 
 dren are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian 
 Church, and are among its most earnest workers. 
 In politics Mr. Douglass has taken part in tlie pub- 
 lic affairs of the township as School Director and 
 Highway Commissioner. In politics he favors the 
 Democratic party, firmly believing that its policy 
 is the only safe one for the guidance of National 
 affairs. 
 
 ■^y/OHN B. CRANSON. It is a homely and 
 time-worn adage that "virtue brings its own 
 reward," but the truth of it is frequently 
 brought to mind, .as in contemplating the 
 career of Mr. Cransdn, which has been that of an 
 honest man and a good citizen, and in which he has 
 performed life's duties in a creditable manner, with 
 the exception that he is still plodding along life's 
 road single-handed and alone, although having 
 passed the fifty-second year of his age. While he 
 may not be the hero of any very thrilling event he 
 has seen much of life in its different phases, and 
 during the Civil War gave his services to assist in 
 
 w 
 
240 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 the preservation of the Union. His army record is 
 a creditable one, as has been that of his life after 
 leaving it, when he settled down to farm life 
 again in 1878 on his present farm, and has now 
 one of the attractive homesteads in his township. 
 His specialty is Jersey cattle, and he is likewise in- 
 terested in the chicken industry, having a goodly 
 number of fine fowls in which he takes a pardon- 
 able pride. 
 
 The subject of this notice is a native of Lock- 
 port, N. Y., and was born April 15, 1837. His 
 parents, Joel and Rhoda (Gray) Cranson, were 
 natives of Massachusetts and Vermont respectively, 
 and lived in New York until 1854, then removed to 
 Michigan, and from the Wolverine State to In- 
 diana, and from there came to Illinois in 1864, 
 where their death occurred; the father died in 1875, 
 and the mother in 1882. They were the parents 
 of six children, three of whom besides our subject 
 are still living. 
 
 The union school at Lockport furnished young 
 Cranson with his early education, which was com- 
 pleted at the age of fifteen years. He then began 
 an apprenticeship at the trade of tinsmith, which 
 he followed two years, and after the removal of the 
 family to Michigan he engaged in the lumber busi- 
 ness. After their removal to Indiana he became 
 interested in farming. Upon the outbreak of the 
 Civil War he enlisted in 1861 in Company B, 29th 
 Indiana Infantry, and six months later was pro- 
 moted to the post of Orderly Sergeant. The regi- 
 ment was organized at La Porte, Ind., was assigned 
 to the command of Gen. McCook, and afterward 
 participated in the battle of Pittsburg Landing, 
 after which he fell and was hurt. Upon recovering 
 sufficiently he was transferred to the veteran re- 
 serve corps, in which he remained until the expira- 
 tion of his term of service. He received his hon- 
 orable discharge in September, 1864, and after a 
 brief visit to his old home in Indiana set out for 
 Illinois with the view of permanently establishing 
 himself in this State. Prior to entering the army 
 he had purchased a farm in Indiana and sold it be- 
 fore coming to Illinois. 
 
 The domestic arrangements of our subject are 
 presided over by his two sisters, and he has one of 
 tiie jjleasaritest homes in the county. The sisters 
 
 are members in good standing of the Methodist 
 Episcopal Church, while Mr. Cranson is identified 
 with the Cumberland Presbyterian. The three op- 
 erate together in the business of raising chickens, 
 which is carried on by the natural process and by 
 incubators. They market about 800 per year, and 
 have all the modern conveniences for hatching and 
 taking care of the chickens. The whole process is 
 so systematized that the industry is pleasurable as 
 well as profitable. Their cattle are grade Short- 
 horn and full-blooded Jerseys. 
 
 In politics Mr. Cranson uniformly votes the 
 straight Republican ticket. Socially, he is a mem- 
 ber of Homer Post, G. A. R., and as a Mason be- 
 longs to Blue Lodge and the Chapter in Homer, in 
 the latter of which he is Master of Third Veil. Both 
 in social and business circles he occupies an envi- 
 able position, and is one of those men whose word 
 is considered as good as his bond. 
 
 |fl_^ENRY G. BOY'CE. Sixteen years have 
 liTjj; passed since this worthy i)ioneer folded his 
 ■^^' hands in rest from the labors of life, but 
 (^) his name will be recalled by many as that 
 of one of the first men coming to the vicinity of 
 Danville and performing some of the earliest work 
 in connection with his trade as a carpenter and 
 joiner. He came with his parents to this county 
 in 1831 and two years later established himself in 
 the embryo town of Danville, which then consisted 
 of only a few houses. With his young wi''e he 
 took up his abode in the domicile which he built 
 that year, which was weather-boarded in walnut 
 and which is still standing and the property of his 
 widow, who preserve it as a relic of the older days. 
 Opposite it was built the engine house which now 
 shelters the iire apparatus of a thriving and pro- 
 gressive modern city. 
 
 A native of New York State, Mr. Boyce was 
 born in Schoharie County, Feb. 20, 1809. Thirteen 
 months later his parents removed to Harrison 
 County, Ohio, where the father entered a tract of 
 land from the Government and where the familj' 
 lived until 1831. Then pushing still further west- 
 ward they came to this county and Henry G. 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 241 
 
 worked on a farm until 1832. That j'ear he turned 
 his attention more particularly to his trade of a car- 
 penter and until his marriage the year following 
 was in the employ of INIr. Beckwith and Gov. 
 Leander Rutledge. His marriage with Miss Eliza 
 Potter occurred on the 3d of March, 1833, the 
 Rev. Freeman Smally officiating at the ceremony. 
 
 After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Boyce estab- 
 lished themselves in a log cabin on what is now 
 Walnut street and where their first child was born, 
 Mary Jane, now Mrs. Henry Fulton of Vallejo, 
 Cal. In the summer of 1833 Mr. Boyce went to 
 Chicago when there were only two houses between 
 Danville and that now great city. After the father, 
 brother and brother-in-law of Mrs. Boyce arrived 
 there, they dug the cellar for the first brick house 
 ever built in Chicago, which was foi- a man named 
 Chapman. Mr. Boyce did the carpenter work on 
 said building. He remained there that fall in order 
 to earn money to pay taxes and later returned to 
 Danville purchased land lying along what is now 
 Walbuffstreet. He pursued his trade as a carpenter 
 and finally became a contractor and builder, put- 
 ting up many of the first buildings in the town. 
 He thus labored until about 1850 and in 1856 was 
 appointed Postmaster of Danville, prior to the 
 election of President Buchanan. He served until 
 the incoming of President Lincoln's administration 
 and later was Deputy Postmaster under President 
 Johnson. 
 
 Mr. Boyce was a man of more than ordinary 
 abilities and occupied a leading position in his com- 
 munity. He was elected Justice of the Peace, 
 serving four terms of four 3'ears each, holding this 
 office at the time of his decease. He was an active 
 member of the Methodist Episcopal Church and 
 warmly interested in the cause of temperance. Up- 
 right and honorable in his transactions he enjoyed 
 the esteem and confidence of all who knew him 
 and at his death, which occurred Dec. 3, 1873, was 
 deeply mourned not only by his own family but 
 by the entire community. 
 
 The father of our subject was Peter Bo3'ce, a 
 native of Washington County, >f. Y., and a farmer 
 by occupation. lie was reared to manhood in his 
 native State where he married Miss Jane Potter, 
 and later removed to Schoharie County, N. Y. He 
 
 was three times mari'ied and vvas the father of 
 twenty-one children. In his father's family there 
 were thirteen children and his mother died in Har- 
 rison County, Ohio. After coming to Illinois he 
 lived here only a few years, then returning to Ohio 
 settled near Springfield where he spent his last days. 
 He was a man of considerable force of character 
 and a devout member of the Methodist Episcopal 
 Church. 
 
 Mrs. Eliza J. (Potter) Boyce was born in Jeffer- 
 son County, N. Y., one half mile from Saekett's 
 Harbor, Sept. 19, 1813, and is the daughter of 
 Elijah and Lana Potter, the former of whom was 
 born in Washington County, N. Y., Sept. 4, 1787. 
 He was there reared upon a farm and was married 
 to a maiden of his own township. Miss Lana Van 
 Wormer, in 1810. Not long afterwaid the young 
 people removed to a point near Saekett's Harbor, 
 in Jefferson County. Mrs. Lana Potter was born 
 June 2, 1793 and was consequently seventeen years 
 of age at the time of her marriage. 
 
 The three eldest children of Mr. and Mrs. Potter 
 were born in Jefferson County, N. Y., Eliza J. 
 being the eldest. Six more children were added 
 to the family after they left the Empire State. 
 With one exception they all lived to mature years, 
 one being killed when about f«ur years old by the 
 falling of a tree upon him. About 1820 the Potter 
 family resolved to seek what was then the farther 
 West and accordingly removed toRichland County, 
 Ohio, settling near the present site of the town of 
 Ashland. That region was then a wilderness, 
 peopled chiefly by wild animals and Indians, there 
 being only four other white families in the town- 
 ship. Mr. Potter entered a tract of land from the 
 Government and the family endured all the hard- 
 ships and privations of life on the frontier. The 
 nearest mill was thirty miles away and the road 
 which led to it was for long distances nothing more 
 than an Indian trail. 
 
 As the country began settling up Mr. Potter 
 distinguished himself as a leading citizen and was 
 one of the first to exert himself in the establish- 
 ment of a school which was effected after much diffi- 
 culty, Mr. Potter riding three days to find a teacher 
 who could even write. The family sojourned in 
 that neighborhood for a period of seventeen yggirs 
 
■242 
 
 PORTRAIT AND P.I0GRAPHICA7. ALBUM. 
 
 and in 1 830 concluded to make another change of 
 residence, this time seeking the Prairie State. After 
 due preparation they in October set out overland 
 with a two-horse team and two cows, and their 
 household goods and provisions. They were three 
 weeks on the road, camping and cooking by the 
 wayside. They arrived near the present site of 
 Newtown, on Middle Fork Township, in November 
 following. The father three or four years later, 
 purchased land on the State road, at the edge of 
 Eight Mile Prairie, ten miles north of Danville, 
 where he opened up a good farm and lived until 
 1865. The deatli of the wife and mother occurred 
 June 17, 1856. Eleven years later Mr. Potter re- 
 moved to Missouri and subsequently made his home 
 with his son, Joseph, who was located on a farm 
 nine miles from Chillicothe. 
 
 Mrs. LanaCVan Wormer) Potter was the daughter 
 of Jacob Van Wormer, one of the early pioneers 
 of Washington County, N. Y., and a strict adher- 
 ent of the doctrines of the Methodist Episcopal 
 Church. His house for many j'ears was the meet- 
 ing place for the annual conference and was the 
 frequent resort of the itinerant. Among the early 
 preachers of tliat day was the renowned Lorenzo 
 Dow, who made for himself a name intimately as- 
 sociated with the early history of Methodism. He 
 and his wife finally removed to Jefferson County 
 and made their home with Mrs. Potter, Ins young- 
 est daughter. They intended going to Ohio with 
 the Potter famil3', but on account of the mother's 
 health they were obliged to remain in Jefferson 
 County N. Y., where they spent their last days. 
 The Van Wormer family traced its ancestry to 
 Holland. 
 
 The paternal grandfather of Mrs. Boyce was 
 William Potter one of the pioneers of Washington 
 County, N. Y., who married Miss Elizabeth Sher- 
 man and settled near Fort Ann. They became the 
 parents of nine sons and two daughters and eight 
 of their sons lived to mature years. They remained 
 residents of Fort Ann until quite aged, then went 
 to live with their son, William, near Buffalo, where 
 their decease took place. 
 
 To Mr. and Mrs. Boyce there were born four 
 children, the eldest of whom, Mary J., has been 
 already mentioned. The second daughter, Emily, 
 
 is at liome with lier mother. Sarah M. died July 
 30, 1861; William during the late Civil War served 
 three years as a Union soldier in Company A, 11th 
 Indiana Infantry and was wounded at Champion 
 Hill. At the expiration of his first term of enlist- 
 ment he re-entered the ranks and at the battle of 
 Winchester received a fatal shot and his remains 
 now lie in Winchester burying ground. Mrs. Boyce 
 and her daughter, Emily, are members in good 
 standing of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Miss 
 Emma is a well educated lady and has followed 
 the profession of a teacher fifteen years in Danville. 
 Jacob Van Wormer served in the Kevolutionarj' 
 War, Elijah Potter served in the War of 1812 and 
 Henry G. Boyce tendered his services in the Black 
 Hawk ^Var. 
 
 ^^EORGE CLARKSON. This gentleman upon 
 (if ^ coming to Vermilion County purchaser! 
 ^^^51 160 acres of land in Sidell Township which 
 is now occupied Iiy his widow, Mrs. Elvir.-f Clark- 
 son, a very capable and intelligent lady who enjoys 
 the friendshiii and esteem of all who know her. 
 Since the death of her husband she has released the 
 estate from its indebtedness and managed it in a 
 manner reflecting great credit upon her discretion 
 and good judgment. Without making any pre- 
 tentions to elegance, she lives simijly, comfortably 
 and modestly, and has a true and motherly heart, 
 full of sympathjr for all the wrongs and woes of 
 mankind. 
 
 Mrs. Clarkson was born in Kentucky where she 
 lived until a maiden of eighteen years and then 
 her parents removed to Illinois. She was married 
 in 18G5, and settled with her husband on the farm 
 which she now occupies. Mr. Clarkson had also 
 been reared in Kentucky. Of their union there 
 were born two sons and two daughters — Henr^- T., 
 Jennie M., Allie \., and George J. The youngest 
 was only two months old at the time of his father's 
 death. Mrs. Clarkson has reason to be proud of 
 her family, her sons and daughters being more 
 than ordinarily bright and attractive, the daugh- 
 ters especially handsome. 
 
 Mrs. Clarkson after the death of iier husband 
 was forced to assume the responsibilities of the 
 
» U' /^x^/^^e^ 
 
PORTEAir AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 245 
 
 f:u-ii] anil light nobly bas slie fulfilled the duties of 
 her position and reared her children in a manner 
 which shall make of them useful and respected 
 meraliers of the community. Mrs. Clarkson is an 
 active meniljer of the Cumberland Presbyterian 
 Church, in the northern part of Sidell Township 
 and comprises in her life and character the faith- 
 ful and devoted mother and the true woman. A 
 sketch of her father, James Thompson, will be 
 found on another page of this work. Mr. Clarkson 
 died Sept. 3, 1877. 
 
 %-^ ON. WILLIAM P. PEIRCE, M. U., Mayor 
 of Hoopeston,is also a practicing physician 
 and surgeon and senior partner of the firm 
 of Peirce & McCaughey, proprietors of the 
 drug store on Main street. The various titles ap- 
 pended to his name have been justly earned and 
 from them it will be readily guessed that he occu- 
 pies no secondary position in his community. 
 
 Dr. Peirce was born in C'hantauqua County, N.Y., 
 March 25, 1830, and lived there until about 1852, 
 completing his education in what was then Fredonia 
 Academy, but is now the Fredonia State Normal 
 School. Upon leaving school he commenced the 
 study of medicine under the instruction of his 
 father. Dr. Austin Peirce, beginning his readings 
 at the age of eighteen years. Later he entered 
 upon a course of lectures in the University of the 
 City of New York, from which he was gradaated 
 in the class of 1852. 
 
 In the fall of the year above mentioned j'oung 
 Peirce came to Illinois and began the practice of 
 his chosen profession in Kendall County where he 
 resided until the outbreak of the Civil War. In 
 June, 1861, he raised a company of volunteers 
 named Company D, and assigned to the 36th Illin- 
 ois Infantry and of which he was elected Captain. 
 After a year's faithful service in this capacity, he 
 was appointed Surgeon to one of the new regi- 
 ments, the 88th Illinois, with the rank of Major, 
 and remained with it until the close of the war. 
 He met the enemy in many important battles, being 
 in the fight at Pea Ridge, Bentonville, Ark., Wil- 
 son's Creek, Mo., Shiloh, Tenn., and the siege of 
 
 Corintl), at which places he was in command of 
 his company. After receiving the appointment 
 of Surgeon, he was at Murfreesboro, Chickamauga, 
 in the Atlanta campaign, and at Nashville and 
 Franklin, Tenn., besides manj' other important en. 
 gagements. The greater part of the time he acted 
 as Brigade Surgeon and discharged his duties in 
 such a manner as to gain him the friendship of his 
 subordinates and the approval of his superiors. 
 
 After the war was ended Dr. Peirce returned to 
 Illinois and located in Lisbon, Kendall Co., 111., and 
 subsequently at Lemont, Cook County, where he 
 followed his profession until 1880, when he took 
 up his residence in Hoopeston and is now in the 
 enjoyment of a lucrative business. He makes a 
 specialty of surgery and has met with unqualified 
 success. He soon afterward established his drug 
 store and being a liberal and public spirited citizen, 
 has always interested himself in the welfare and 
 progress of his adopted town. 
 
 While a resident of Kendal) County, Dr. Peirce 
 was elected on the Republican ticket to represent 
 his party in the 25th General Assembly and during 
 the sessions which followed, served on the com- 
 mittee of State Charitable Institutions and Revenue. 
 Later he was appointed a delegate from the Fif- 
 teenth District to the Constitutional Convention 
 of 1870 at Springfield. In 1871 he was elected 
 Senator from the district comprising Kendall, 
 Grundy and Will counties, living at the time in 
 Minooka, Grundy County, where he practiced 
 until his removal to Cook County. During the 
 Constitutional Convention he was on the committee 
 of Federal Relations, Revenue and Judicial Dis- 
 tricts, sometimes serving as Chairman. In the 
 Senate he was Chairman of the Committee on State 
 Charitable Institutions, Railroads, Penitentiary and 
 Education. Wherever residing he has usually 
 been a representative to district and State conven- 
 tions, having always taken a lively interest in 
 political affairs. He is a member of the County 
 Medical Society and in Masonry is a Knight 
 Templar. 
 
 In Cook County, this State, Dr. Peirce was 
 married Juh' 18, 1879, to Miss Ella Anderson. 
 The four children born of this union were named 
 respectively; William, James, Laraartine and John 
 
246 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 Logan. They are all living and form a bright and 
 interesting group, which the parents look L)|)on 
 with pardonable pride. Mrs. Peirce was born in 
 ilarrisburg, Pa., May 12, 1848, and is tlie daughter 
 of James Anderson, who removed first to Cook 
 County, 111 , and then to Kansas where he died in 
 1888. 
 
 Hon. Austin Peirce, the father of our subject, 
 was a native of Vermont and born in 1799. AVhen 
 a young man he emigrated to Chenango County, 
 N. Y., where he lead medicine with Dr. Pitcher, of 
 the town of Pitcher, and afterward took a course 
 of instruction at Geneva. He commenced the 
 practice of Ids profession at Hamlet, Chatauqua 
 Co., N. Y., where he made his home for many 
 years. His decease occurred in 1860, when he was 
 sixty- one years old. The mother in her girlhood 
 was Miss Mary Ann Sterling of Chenango County. 
 The parental household included eleven children, 
 eight of whom lived to mature years and five of 
 whom are still living. The mother also survives 
 and makes her home in Fredonia, N. Y. She was 
 born in Connecticut in 1808 and came with her 
 father, James Sterling, to Chenango County, N. Y., 
 when quite young, living there until her marriage. 
 
 The elder Peirce during his 3'ounger years be- 
 longed to the old Whig part}' and about 1842 was 
 a member of the New York Legislature. He was a 
 man of decided views and attained to much prom- 
 inence in his community, serving as Township 
 Supervisor many years. In religious matters he 
 belonged to the Presbyterian Church in which he 
 officiated as Deacon for a long period. Dr. Peirce, 
 our subject, is a member of the Universalist Church 
 at Hoopeston. 
 
 A lithographic portrait of Dr. Peirce appears 
 elsewhere in this volume in connection with this 
 brief outline of his life. 
 
 ^^ #-#^- ^^ 
 
 (|^_^^ENRY L. CHACE. The farming lands of 
 if D Vermilion County comprise its most val- 
 'iW'' uable property, and the men who have re- 
 (^ deemed them from their primitive condi- 
 tion occupy no unimportant position among a vast 
 and intelligent population. Tiie subject of this 
 
 notice may be properly classed among these, as he 
 turns in annually a handsome sum to the county 
 treasury as taxes on the property which he has ac- 
 cumulated, largely by the labor of his own hands. 
 He is a land owner to the extent of a fine farm of 
 440 acres, with the residence, on section 5, town- 
 ship 23, range 12, which, together with its build- 
 ings and improvements, forms one of the most de- 
 sirable estates in this part of Vermilion Count}'. 
 
 The native place of our subject was Newport, 
 R. I., where he first opened his eyes to the light 
 March 7, 1843. There he spent his boyhood and 
 youth, completing his education in the Hi^h 
 School. This brought him up to the time of the 
 Civil War. On the 13th day of October, 1862, he 
 enlisted as a Union soldier in Company D, 12th 
 Rhode Island Infantr}-, in which he first served a 
 short time as a private, and later received the 
 rank of Sergeant. His regiment was made a part 
 of the First Brigade, Second Division, 9th Army 
 Corps, and operated mostly with the Army of the 
 Potomac. He participated in the battle of Fred- 
 ericksburg, and was under Gen. Burnside in his 
 skirmishes through Kentucky. He left the regular 
 ranks in August, 1863, and was assigned to the 
 Quartermaster's department, and given charge of 
 two large pontoon trains, numbers 15 and 17, 
 Army of the James, and was mostly stationed at 
 City Point until the fall of 1865, when he assisted 
 in the reconstruction of the burned bridge at Rich- 
 mond after the surrender of Lee's army, when he 
 was mustered out and returned home. 
 
 Our subject for a year after leaving the army 
 engaged in business in his native town, and in the 
 meantime was married, March 26, 1866, to Miss 
 Anna E. Cogswell. Soon afterwards they removed 
 to Kendall County, this State, where he engaged in 
 farming two years, then moved to the vicinit}' of 
 Seneca, LaSalle County, where he sojourned for a 
 period of eight years. His next removal, in 1877, 
 was to the farm which he now owns and occupies. 
 Upon this he has effected many improvements, 
 gathering around him all the conveniences and ap- 
 pliances of the enterprising and progressive agri- 
 culturist. He votes the straight Republican ticket, 
 and has held the various minor offices of his town- 
 ship. As an ex-soldier he belongs to the G. A. R., 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 247 
 
 and finds liis religious liome in tlie Uiiiversalist 
 Church. 
 
 Henry C'hace, the father of our subject, was like- 
 wise a native of Newport, R. I., where he was born 
 in 1812. The paternal grandfather was Capt. 
 James Chace, who followed the sea for many years, 
 but finally settled on terra JiriiM in Newport, and 
 there spent his last days. There was a large repre- 
 sentation of the Chace family in that city, where 
 tliey were familiarly known for several generations, 
 and ti'aced their ancestors to the Puritans. Henry 
 Chace in early manhood was married to Miss Mary 
 Lyon, and for a time was engaged as a merchant 
 in Georgetown, S. C. The wife of our subject was 
 also a native of Newport. She was the daughter 
 of Aaron ,S. Cogswell, of Revolutionary fame, 
 who was the representative of an old and honor- 
 able family, which furnished a number of success- 
 ful business men to the commercial interests of that 
 time. 
 
 'I'Sit^i- 
 
 sift ft;ILLIAM BANDY. In taking this intelli- 
 \&j// S^'^^ *^^*^ gentleman by the hand, we extend 
 W^ greeting to the oldest living resident of 
 Danville. He is now approaching the seventy-sev- 
 enth 3fear of his age, having been born Jul}- 22, 
 1812, in Bedford County, Va. When a youth of 
 sixteen years, he was brought by his foster-parents, 
 Samuel and Elizabeth Howell, to this county, they 
 arriving at the present site of Danville, Dec. 13, 
 1828. There were then not to exceed nine families 
 in the town. Some men go abroad to look upon 
 great and wonderful things, but Mr. Bandy has 
 seen enough at home to satisfy the ordinary indi- 
 vidual in the almost incredible change which has 
 come over the Prairie State since his arrival within 
 its limits. 
 
 Upon leaving the Old Dominion, the little cara- 
 van of which our subject was a member, having 
 amid much preparation and speculation bidden 
 their friends adieu, set out with a four-horse team, 
 the wagon loaded with household eifects and pro- 
 visions, and traveled for thirty-six days before 
 reaching their destination. They made their bed 
 in their wagon at night, and set their table by 
 the wayside, traveling in the primitive fashion of 
 
 those days, before the time of railroads, or even 
 stages in this region. 
 
 Upon tiieir arrival here the emigrants could not 
 even rent a cabin, but finally succeeded in finding 
 shelter in a log house which already contained two 
 families of four persons each, and which was six- 
 teen feet square, and stood upon the present site of 
 the First National Bank. Thus they spent the 
 winter, being able to do but little except to make 
 preparations for the spring campaign The nearest 
 land otBce was at Palestine, ninety mile '>way, and 
 the father, after making the journey thitliL-r, was 
 not able to purchase, as the officer in charge re- 
 fused to accept the Virginia money, which was the 
 only currency Air. Howell possessed. Finally, how- 
 ever, he bridged over his difficulties, and succeeded 
 in entering 480 acres of land, upon which he erected 
 four cabins, the principal one of which was located 
 one mile southeast of the court house and con- 
 structed of rough logs, with a puncheon floor, two 
 windows and a door, using greased paper instead of 
 glass. The building was 16x18 feet square, and 
 boasted of window shutters of rived boards. For 
 the fireplace there was was made in the logs an ap- 
 erture eight feet wide, and built out three feet 
 back, and this was lined with earth, while the cliim- 
 ney was built outside six feet high and covered with 
 mortar. This contrivance lasted for years, and 
 furnished sufficient heat for cooking purposes, as 
 well as warming the building. 
 
 The furniture in this humble domicile was like- 
 wise home-made, the bedstead being riven boards 
 set up on wooden legs, and upon it there was first 
 placed a straw tick, and then a feather tick. The 
 table was constructed in a similar manner, only 
 made higher. The family had brought with them 
 two chairs, whicii were given to the father and 
 mother, while the boys had to make stools to sit 
 upon. The groceries and provisions had to be 
 transported fifty miles from Terre Haute, and as 
 may be supposed, at times the family were placed 
 upon short rations in this line, although wild o-ame 
 being plenty, they never lacked for meats, and in a 
 few years there was a surplus of cattle and 
 swine. 
 
 After the cabin was built, the Bandy family had 
 to carry water 300 yards until a well was duo-. 
 
248 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 The father and sons inade a contract to yet out 
 10,000 black walnut" rails at 25 cents per 100, and 
 ill the meantime carried on as rapidly as possible 
 the cultivation of the new farm. William, our 
 subject, assisted in breaking the first timber land in 
 this region, and harvested some of the finest corn 
 ever raised. There was, however, no market for it. 
 and he was obliged to feed it to his hogs, and sell 
 the puvk for from $1 to 11.50 per 100. A day's 
 work was equal to ten or twelve pounds of salt 
 pork, or eight bushels of corn, or from thirty- 
 seven and a half to fifty cents in wish, and the 
 latter price could only be commanded by extra 
 good men. 
 
 In this way were passed the first few years of 
 the life of our subject in this county, lie attended 
 the first school taught in his township, and re- 
 mained a member of the parental household until 
 1831. About that time he engaged with the State 
 IMilitia in the Black Hawk War, under Capt. J. 
 Palmer and Col. I. R. Moore. They went first to 
 Joliet and built a fort. Two or three of their 
 comrades were killed by the Indians. Thence the}' 
 proceeded to Ottawa, and subsequently our subject 
 joined the United States Mounted Rangers, which 
 comprised six companies. At Rock Island man}' were 
 stricken down with cholera. After operating around 
 Galena and Prairie-du-Chien, they finally' returned 
 and wintered southeast of Danville until January, 
 when tlioy were ordered to the other side of the 
 Illinois River, but there being no need of their 
 services in that region, tliey came back to tlie old 
 camp, and remained until the 1st of May. They re- 
 mained ready for duty and reconnoitering in dif- 
 ferent sections until the fall of that year, when 
 they were discharged. 
 
 Mr. Bandy now, in company with Mr. Howell, 
 commenced operating as a carpenter, and put up a 
 house on what was called Sulphur Spring Place, 
 about one mile southeast of the present court- 
 house. In the spring of 1834 they built a flat boat, 
 75x16 feet in dimensions, and upon this loaded 
 great quantities of pork, which Mr. Bandy had 
 purchased for the purpose of transporting to New 
 Orleans. The craft was propelled by hand power, 
 and when arriving at the Crescent City, the "trav- 
 eling salesman" was confronted by a cholera epi- 
 
 demic, and sold only enough to pay expenses, 
 putting the balance of his property into the bands 
 of commission men. He then returned home and 
 awaited results. One morning, two years later, 
 going to the post-office soon after the blowing of 
 the horn by the carrier on horseback, he received a 
 letter, stating that all his pork had been sold, but 
 at verj' little profit, and the proceeds were sent him 
 in a draft on a bank in Louisville, Ky. 
 
 jMr. Bandy finally succeeded in getting his 
 money, and after Ijuilding another boat, proceeded 
 as before, and carried on this business for several 
 years, conveying wheat and pork to New Orleans, 
 and building a new boat each year. He was the 
 first man to run a boat down the ISIississippi River, 
 and about 1839 or 1840 abandoned the river until 
 after the close of the Mexican War. He then se- 
 cured a sub-contract to deliver horses in New Or- 
 leans, and by this time could transport by steam- 
 boat. The business proved quite profitable until 
 the last trip, when he got as far as St. Louis, .and 
 found that the war was ended, and he was left with 
 fifty horses on his hands. He finally traded them 
 for a lot of worn-out Santa Fe horses, getting' 117 
 a piece for his own to boot, and reserving two of 
 his best animals. He returned home with the poor 
 horses, fed them up, and sold them to the Illinois 
 Canal Company, receiving therefor good prices. 
 Later Mr. Bandy furnished a large proportion of 
 the packet horses of this company, and in the 
 meantime had carried on general merchandising in 
 company with his father-in-law, William Murphy, 
 they operating together five or six years. Later 
 he engaged in the hardware trade and conducted 
 the largest business of this kind in the county for 
 a number of years. Finally selling out for a large 
 lot of Wisconsin lands, he began dealing in real 
 estate, and was at one time the owner of 1,500 
 acres. Mr. Bandy sold considerable of this land 
 afterwards, liut he and his wife own together 
 1,600 acres at the present time. 
 
 In addition to his other enterprises, IMr. Bandy 
 put up a large number of business houses and resi- 
 dences, and during the last years of his active life 
 confined himself largely to the business of real 
 estate dealer and capitalist. About 1882 he re- 
 tired, and for the last eight years has made liis 
 
PORTRAIT AN]) BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 249 
 
 liome in Danville. His iirst residence was on Nortli 
 street, ^viiere lie had a half acre of grovmd, and ef- 
 fected some fine improvements. In 183G he was 
 appointed by the Legislature as one of the com- 
 missioners to make the slack water of the ^'ermilion 
 River, but did not see it practical. Later he was 
 appointed Marshal of the P^astern District of Illi- 
 nois, with a bond of $40,000, but there beinji; 
 nothing particularlj' desirable in the office, he with- 
 drew. 
 
 Mr. Bandy has represented his township in the 
 County Board of Supervisors two terms; he has 
 served as President of the City Council, and also 
 as Alderman. He voted with the Republican party 
 until the administration of President Lincoln, and 
 has since been a Democrat. His whole career has been 
 signalized by liberality and public-spiritedness, he 
 having probably contributed as much as any other 
 man in furthering the interests of Danville and 
 vicinity. A goodly portion of his capital is now 
 invested in the live-stock business, which j'ields 
 him handsome returns. 
 
 The marriage of William Bandy and Miss Har- 
 liet .1. Murphy occurred at the home of the bride 
 in Edgar County, 111., Oct. 16, 1833. Of this 
 union there were born five sons and two daughters, 
 and six of the children are living. Samuel J., the 
 eldest, is a resident of Danville; John W. is the 
 owner of the Bandy block, and is in the drug busi- 
 ness; Bennett E. is the School Commissioner of the 
 townshi|), and interested in the Building Associa- 
 tion; Emma, the youngest born, remains at home 
 with her parents, and there is also in the household 
 circle a foster child named Bella E. Bandy. Mrs. 
 Harriet Bandy departed this life March, 1872. She 
 was born in Bedford County, Va., and came with 
 her parents to this county in 1818, about the time 
 that Illinois was transformed from a Territory into 
 a State. 
 
 Mr. Bandy, in 1881 , contracted a second mar- 
 riage with Mrs. Deborah (King) Johnson. This 
 lady was born in Kentucky, Oct. 13, 1815, and 
 when quite young was taken by her parents to 
 Indiana, they settling on the western line of the 
 State, just across from Danville. She spent the 
 ^^^■:lter part of her early life in Warren County, 
 Ind where she was married to Mr. Johnson, who 
 
 died near West Lebanon, Ind., in 1853. Joseph 
 King, the father of Mrs. Bandy, was a native 
 of A'irginia, and a farmer by occupation. He spent 
 his last years in Missouri. 
 
 The father of our subject was .James Bandy, who 
 was born in Virginia about 1790, and upon reach- 
 ing man's estate was married to Miss Nancy Brown, 
 also of the Old Dominion. Only two of their chil- 
 dren lived, and the mother died, when William, our 
 subject, was an infant of three years. A few years 
 later he was taken into the home of the Howells. 
 James B^ndy finally removsd to Tennessee to take 
 care of his father. He was married a second time, 
 and came to the southern part of Illinois, where he 
 died in 1883, at l.he advanced age of ninety-three 
 years. Ho came to N'irginia after his children, both 
 of whom were with the Howells, but the latter 
 were unwilling to give them up. He became the 
 owner of lands and slaves, which he gave to his 
 children. 
 
 • <x.>o • 
 
 ILLIAM O. CUNNINGHAM, an esten- 
 stock shipper of Newell Township was 
 on the 15th day of December, 1838, 
 in this township, and is the son of James and Blary 
 (Andrews) Cunningham, the father a native of 
 Kentucky, The mother of the subject of this 
 sketch was born in New Vork, and is deceased. 
 The father is now retired and living at State 
 Line, Ind. 
 
 William O., of whom we write, is the third child 
 of a famil}' of four children. He spent his boy- 
 hood days at home on the farm until he was about 
 eighteen years of age when the restless spirit of 
 the typical American youth seized him and he con- 
 cluded to see more of the world ; accordingly he 
 went to Nebraska where he worked for a time 
 breaking in'airic sod, but this being too slow work 
 for him he made up his mind that he would go to 
 California, which he did. He started from Nebras- 
 ka City for Pike's Peak in 1859, and from there 
 went overland to California. Here he was engaged 
 in mining and farming alternately, and worked 
 with some degree of success in this manner for 
 about four years, when he returned to Nebraska 
 where he worked for a short time and then came 
 
 w z: 
 
250 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 back to Illinois with |L200 in his pocket, cvery 
 cent of which was gained bjr reason of his indus- 
 trious and prudent habits. He invested his money 
 in land, bu^-ing his father's farm of 200 acres 
 which Avas really the nucleus of his present fortune. 
 He then married Feb. 22, 1865, Martha J. Chand- 
 ler; she is the daughter of James and Elizabeth 
 (Frazier) Chandler, who both died in one week 
 from milk sickness, also two children; at that time 
 Mrs. Cunningham was only Ave years old. Mr. 
 and Mrs. Cunningham became the parents of nine 
 children, of whom seven are living, viz; Irwin, 
 Alice, James, Porter, Sophia, Minnie and Ro}^. 
 Stella, the oldest child, died in infancy, and a baby 
 boy died unnamed, and the balance are at home. 
 Mr. Cunningham is giving his children the benefit 
 of a good education. 
 
 Mr. Cunningham is the owner of a large farm of 
 556 acres of as good land as there is in Illinois, es- 
 timated to be worth at least $70 per acre. His 
 resilience and buildings are models of convenience 
 and of these he ought to feel proud. He has dis- 
 played a great deal' of common sense in all of the 
 inprovements he has made and in none more than 
 in the erection of his buildings. Mr. Cunning- 
 iirm makes a specialty of Cotswold and Shropshire- 
 down bI- n, of which he always keeps a large 
 flock. He IS Iso engaged in buying and shipping 
 live stock to ChiLngo, a business which he has pros- 
 ecuted with success, all due to his shrewd judg- 
 ment as a buyer. He supplements his other bus- 
 iness by dealings in superior grades of fine horses, 
 and it is said that he is a most excellent judge of 
 this noble animal. 
 
 Politically, Mr. Cunningham believes that the 
 party that obliterated slavery from the American_ 
 continent is right, and he therefore votes and works 
 for the Republican party and never omits an op- 
 portunity to forward its success. He has never 
 been an active aspirant for political honors, but by 
 reason of his su[)erior judgment has held the of- 
 fice of Assessor of this township. While he was liv- 
 ing in California he made an endeavor to enlist 
 during the War of the Rebellion, his motives be- 
 ing based wholly upon the love he bore his coun- 
 try. But being disabled he was refused admission 
 to the ranks of the Union army, though he was al- 
 
 ways in hearty and active sympathy with the ob- 
 jects for which it fought. Mr. and Mrs. Cunning- 
 ham are active members of the Christian Church 
 and are always alive to any move that will uplift 
 humanity and msifce life happier. 
 
 \r RA FAUROT. Tiiis venerable gentleman was 
 
 long intimately connected with the agricult- 
 /ii ural, interests of Vermilion County, and is still 
 the possessor of one of its many valuable farms, 
 finely located in the midst of a rich farming re- 
 gion on section 34, Pilot Township. When he pur- 
 chased this farm it was wild, uncultivated land 
 with no buildings on it, and but one dwelling house 
 in sight, the country roundabout still being not far 
 removed from its primitive condition and sparselj' 
 settled. It is a fact of which he may well be proud 
 that our subject has witnessed the greater part of 
 its development, and has aided its growth as only 
 a skillful, practical farmer can do. He is now liv- 
 ing here in retirement in his comfortable home, 
 having accumulated a competency sufficient to 
 guard his old age against want in any form. 
 
 The ancestors of our subject were natives of 
 sunny France as is betokened by his name, and 
 from them he inherited those genial and pleasing 
 traits of character that liave gained him a warm 
 place in the hearts of those about him, and also the 
 thrifty and industrious habits that have led him to 
 prosperity. His parents, Joseph and Sarah (Sears) 
 Faurot, were of French ancestrjr. but were natives 
 of this country. They at one time made their home 
 in Ontario County, N. Y., whence they came 
 to Illinois, and located in Champaign County, 
 Ohio. They afterward turned their steps, and o-o- 
 ing to Steuben County, Ind., made their home 
 there till death claimed them, the father d3'ino- in 
 1836, and the mother in 1839. They were the pa- 
 rents of five children, of whom two are living: 
 Jane is the widow of David Porter, of Kentuckj-, 
 and she is now living in Missouri with her three 
 children; Benjamin, deceased, married Louisa 
 Avey, of New York, and they had two children, 
 Elmira and Harriet; Alva, deceased, was a farmer; 
 he married Louisa Farmer, of Ohio, and they had 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIO(!RAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 251 
 
 three cliildren — William H., Alva and Farmer; 
 Hemy, deceased, married Maria Wolf, of Ohio, and 
 she is now living in Missouri with her four chil- 
 dren — Sylvester, Theodore, Melvin and Mary. 
 
 Our subject was born in Ontario County, N. Y., 
 April 23, 1819, and he accompanied his parents to 
 Champaign County, Ohio, when he was young. At 
 the age of fifteen a hardy, self-reliant youth, manly 
 beyond his years, he left the shelter of the parental 
 roof to go forth into the world to fight life's bat- 
 tles on his own account, and for some years was 
 engaged in working by the month. After mar- 
 riage he commenced to rent land, but always with 
 the end in view of owning land himself as soon as 
 his means would allow. By frugality and hard la- 
 bor, at the expiration of three years, he had money 
 enough to buy sixty acres of timbered land, and he 
 lived on it the next nine years, busily engaged in 
 its clearance and improvement. In 1850 he sold 
 it, and going to Marion County, in this State, he 
 resided there the ensuing four years. Returning 
 tu this county he invested some of his money in 
 200 acres of wild land, from which he has devel- 
 oped his present fine farm, on which he has erected 
 suitable, well-appointed buildings, and has every 
 convenience for carrying on agriculture to the best 
 advantage. 
 
 To the wife who has shared his fortunes and been 
 an important factor in bringing about his pros- 
 perity, Mr. Faurot was united in marriage July 2, 
 1840. Her maiden name was Elvira Fowler, and 
 she is a daughter of Willey and Cynthia (Perkins) 
 Fowler, natives respectively of Lontlon, England, 
 and Germany. They came to this country and 
 spent their last days here. The following is the 
 record of the five children born to our subject and 
 his wife: Hannah was born June 30, 1841 ; Cyn- 
 thia, Feb. 19, 1«43; Sarah, Feb. 15, 1846; Victo- 
 ria. Aug. 21, 1849, died Oct. 10, 1851; Willie, 
 born Sept. 11, 1852; Joseph, Jan. 18, 1858. Hannah 
 married John Davidson, of Ohio, now living in this 
 county, and they have five children — Arabella, Ira, 
 Zeruah and two dead; Cynthia married Hugh V. 
 Davidson, of Marion County, Ohio, now living in 
 this county, and they have four children — Ella, 
 Josephine, James and Estella; Sarah has been 
 twice married. Her first husband was Aaron Davis, 
 
 of Shelby County, 111., and they had four children 
 — Olive, Seigel, Effle and Leona. Her present hus- 
 band is Alexander Steward, of Champaign County, 
 111., and they have four children — Lizzie, Alvina, 
 Jessie and James O.; Willie married Annie Ay, of 
 Douglas County, III., and they are living in this 
 county; they have three children — Ira, Elsie and 
 Florence; Joseph, a retired farmer living in Arm- 
 strong, married Flora Thompson, and they have 
 one child, Amy. 
 
 jMr. Faurot is a thoroughly good and upright 
 man, who is well thought of b}' the entire commu- 
 nity. His life-record shows that he is a man of 
 good capacitj' and sound discretion, always cordial 
 and kindly in his relations with others and fair 
 in his dealings with them. As consistent members 
 of the Christian Church, he and his wife and chil- 
 dren exert a good influence in the township, or 
 wherever they may be. Politically, Mr. Faurot is 
 a decided Republican, and gives his party the ben- 
 efit of his hearty support. 
 
 ^|OSEPH J. SIDELL. The son of the 
 founder of the village of Sidell, naturally 
 occupies no secondary position among the 
 people, not only of the village but the town- 
 ship at large. The late Hon. John Sidell, after 
 whom the township was named, was long recog- 
 nized as one of the leading men of Vermilion 
 County, and possessed those talents, both natural 
 and required, which distinguished him as a charac- 
 ter more than ordinarily forcible and efHcient, and 
 one who had a sensible and permanent influence 
 on the community where he was so favorably 
 known for so many years. 
 
 The father of our subject was born at Hagers- 
 town, Washington Co., Md., June 27, 1816, and 
 his early life was spent in Maryland and Ohio. 
 His father having died when he was a lad of eight 
 years the boy was thrown largely upon his own re- 
 sources, but he seemed to have within him the ele- 
 ments of success, and those years which were 
 fraught with perhaps hardship and privation suf- 
 ficed to develop a character of more than ordinary 
 excellence. At the age of nineteen years, being 
 
252 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRArillCAL ALBUM. 
 
 dissatisfied with liis condition and bis prospects in 
 his native state, he emigrated -to Ohio and engaged 
 to work out by the month in Greene County on a 
 farm at $12.50 per month. 
 
 Saving what he could of his earnings young 
 Sidell in due time purchased a horse and mounting 
 it started for the farther West. He crossed Illinois 
 and visited Iowa, but finding nothing particularly 
 desirable returned to Ohio .and took a contract to 
 cut cordwood at thirty-three and one-third cents 
 per cord. This was extremely hard work for such 
 small pay, but he persevered at it until he was able 
 to do something better. While a resident of Ohio 
 he was married Jan. 20, 184G, to Miss Elizabeth 
 Cline, who became the mother of two children and 
 died in 1854. He was then married to Miss Ada 
 B. Ransom, who also died after a comparativeljr 
 short period of married life. 
 
 Mr. Sidell came to the county in 1860, and for 
 the first few years occupied himself in agricultural 
 pursuits. Later he drifted into stock-raising and 
 became one of the leading men in this industry in 
 Vermilion County. His eldest son, George A., 
 started West at the age of nineteen years and pros- 
 pected for gold in and around Fair Play, South 
 Park, Col. He was one of the first men to discover 
 silver at Leadville, and was founder of the town. 
 He became owner of the celebrated Beaver Creek 
 Silver Mine, eight or ten miles southwest, and con- 
 tinues liis residence there. AUie E., the daughter 
 of his first wife, married Mr. C. C. Tincber, who 
 is well known in the financial circles of Danville. 
 
 Mrs. Ada B. (Ransom) Sidell, mother of the 
 subject of this sketch, was born in the city of 
 Toronto, Canada, and being left an orphan 
 when quite young, was reared to womanhood by 
 an excellent family who gave her a good educa- 
 tion. She left the Dominion when a young lady, 
 and going to Greene County, Ohio, engaged in 
 teaching, and formed the acquaintance of her fut- 
 ure husband. There were born to them two chil- 
 dren. Mr. Sidell in coming to Illinois settled near 
 Paris in Edgar County, and having some means 
 engaged at once extensively in the cattle trade. 
 He had learned carpentering early in life. Before 
 locating, however, he traveled extensively on 
 horseback in the West, crossing Illinois nine times 
 
 and through portions of Texas and Iowa. He was 
 in the Lone Star State before its admission into 
 the Ihiion. It will be remembered that Samuel 
 Houston was chief sovereign of that country at 
 that time, and John Sidell erected a residence for 
 him at Houston. 
 
 The live stock enterprise of Mr. Sidell prospered 
 very well, and not finding a sufficient area of land 
 to suit bis purpose in Edgar Oounty be came to 
 this county where in due time he became the owner 
 of 7,000 acres. LTpon becoming a. voter he bad 
 identified himself with the Old Whig party, but 
 upon its abandonment allied himself with the Re- 
 publicans. He interested himself greatly in politi- 
 cal affairs, and was elected a representative to the 
 Lower House of the Legislature, in which position 
 he acquitted himself in a manner reflecting great 
 credit upon bis good judgment and honesty. He 
 was instrumental in defining and improving the 
 road laws of Illinois, and was an influential member 
 of the General Assembly, p.articipating in most of 
 its important deliberations. In later years he 
 gradually retired from public life. 
 
 At the suggestion of i\Ir. John C. Short, one of 
 the earliest settlers of Sidell Township, it was 
 given its present name. Mr. Sidell was very lib- 
 eral and public spirited and cheerfully gave of bis 
 time and means to encourage the enterprises calcu- 
 lated for the general good. Several years ago he 
 decided to open a portion of bis lands to settlers 
 who would locate and make homes for Uiemselves, 
 and thus disposed of a large tract at a v^-ry reason- 
 able price, realizing from the sales tiie sum of 
 f 115, 000. At the same time he retained a large 
 portion of land himself and was instiumental in 
 bringing the Chicago & Eastern Illinois Riilroad to 
 this section, freely donating the right of "ay. The 
 town of Archie had been laid out and was boom- 
 ing before Sidell had an existence, but finally was 
 practically absorbed by the superior advantages 
 offered by the founder of Sidell as a businoss point, 
 and consequently enterprising men invested their 
 capital here. 
 
 Mr. Sidell at one time chartered a train and ran 
 it free from Columbus, Ohio, for the benefit of 
 those desiring to make a home in the AVest. Sidell 
 was laid out in 1884, and its illustrious founder 
 
Hazel FARMrRESiDENCE OF A G Olmsted. Sec 22.(T.19-R.I2) Catlin Township 
 
 Resi dence or Alvin STEAf?NS, .Sec 1 (Tis-R 14) VanceTownship 
 
 ^m 
 
 .^»i.!r?tB«^.-. -«5. 
 
 X.^ ,.w^y. 
 
 Residence of John R. Km5EY,5EC.23.(T.i9-R.i3) Oakwodd Township. 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 255 
 
 hved to note its phenomenal growth and prosper- 
 ity. He departed this life Jan. 29, 1889, after a 
 severe illness of eleven weeks. Although not a 
 member of any church he donated^generously to- 
 ward the erection of the various church edifices in 
 this region, giving to the Kimber Methodist Epis- 
 copal Church alone $500, this structure being lo- 
 cated in Danville. He had identified himself with 
 the Masons some years before his decease and was 
 buried with the honors of the fraternity. 
 
 To Mr. Sidell and his second wife there were 
 born three children, Jennie H., Joseph John and 
 Luella Blanche. The eldest daughter is now the 
 wife of William Southwick, a clothier of Streeter, 
 111. ; Luella married Frank Hastings, an extensive 
 cattle breeder, and they live in Essex, Page Co., 
 Iowa; Mr. Hastings makes a specialty of three dif- 
 ferent breeds of cattle, the West Highland Scotch 
 — the first ever bred in America — the Hereford 
 and the Short-horn. 
 
 The subject of this sketch was born March 14, 
 1862, at Dudley. Edgar Co., 111., and the scenes of 
 his first recollections were in connection with the 
 first cattle ranch of his father near that place. He 
 began at an early age to assist his father in looking 
 after the cattle, and mounted on his broncho 
 scoured the country for many a mile in the fall 
 enjoyment ■ \),boyish youth and strength. He at- 
 tended the schools of his home district. While a 
 boy of seven he went in charge of a train load of 
 cattle from Farimount, 111., to Buffalo, N.Y. In 
 case one of the bovines sought repose by lying 
 down at the risk of being trampled to death, lie 
 exerted himself to keep it in a standing position, 
 and if not able to do this alone would solicit the 
 assistance of a brakeman. 
 
 When a youth of seventeen our subject entered 
 the Russell Preparatory School for Yale College, 
 but he was Western in his mode of thinking and 
 in his habits and manners, and an utter stranger to 
 the mode of living of the light-headed Eastern 
 students, so he abandoned his first intention of en- 
 tering Yale, and returning home continued with 
 his father in the cattle business. He is now re- 
 volving in his mind the plan of embarking exten- 
 sively in this in the near future farther west, prob- 
 ably in Nebraska, but will make his home at the 
 
 old place, which is beautifully situated 240 rods 
 northwest of Sidell. 
 
 The marriage of onr subject with Miss Maude 
 C, daughter of Michael Fisher, of Indianola, took 
 place at the bride's home in 1884. Mr. Fisher is a 
 hardware merchant and one of the leading men of 
 his town. A sketch of him will be found elsewhere 
 in this Albdm. Mrs. Sidell was born at Indianola, 
 where she completed her studies, being graduated 
 from the High School. Of her union with our sub- 
 ject there are two children: Rozalia and Zelda 
 Luella. Mrs. Sidell belongs to the Methodist 
 Episcopal Church. Our subject, like his father be- 
 fore him, is Republican in politics and belongs to the 
 Masonic fraternity, being a memljer of Vermilion 
 Lodge, No. 265, of Indianola. He is endeavoring 
 to comply with his father's wish of having a Ma- 
 sonic lodge established in Sidell, and is a charter 
 member of the M. W. C. at this place. He is a 
 young man of sterling worth and very popular 
 both in business and social circles. 
 
 ELDER GEORGE AV. DODSON, a promi- 
 nent and influential citizen of Blount Town- 
 ship, is the owner of a farm on section 16, 
 which in regard to cultivation and neat, well-ap- 
 pointed buildings is indeed one of the best in this 
 part of Vermilion County. The Elder is one of the 
 leading members of the Regular Baptist Church, 
 and for a number of years has preached almost 
 constantly' in this and Champaign County, and as a 
 man of true piety is an acknowledged power for 
 good wherever he may be. He is also closely con- 
 nected with the management of local public affairs, 
 and has been an incumbent of some of the most re- 
 sponsible civic offices. He has held the position of 
 Supervisor of Blount Township three terms, has 
 served as Road Commissioner the same length of 
 time and has been School Director many years. He 
 has not taken an active part in political affairs, but 
 is a decided Democrat in his views. 
 
 TJie subject of this biographical review was born 
 in the vicinity of Hendricks, in Boone County, 
 Ind., Aug. 1, 1839, being the eldest son and fifth 
 child of Ihe six children, four daughters and two 
 
25(; 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 sons, born to Ruel and Mavy (Dickerson) Dodson, 
 natives, respet'tively, of Kentucky and A'irginia. 
 His parents married and settled in Boone County 
 and lived there till February, 18-18, when they 
 catne to Vermilion County and east in their lot 
 with the pioneers of Blount Township, settling 
 about a mile northeast of Hiijjginsville. They lived 
 there only three or four years, however, when the 
 father sold that farm and bought another that he 
 considered more desirable, pleasantlj^ located in the 
 Fairchild settlement in Blount Township. There 
 the mother died Aug. 8, 1860, and the father took 
 for his second wife Lucinda Walls, who survives 
 him. He died at Rickart's Corner in Blount Town- 
 bhip, Feb. 28, 1871, thus rounding out a life that 
 was a credit to himself, his friends and his com- 
 munitjf. 
 
 His son George, of whom wo write, was between 
 eio'ht and nine }'ears old when his parents brought 
 him to their new home in Vermilion County, and 
 he srew to man's estate in Blount Township, his 
 parents training him in all useful labors and care- 
 fully instilling into his mind those high and holy 
 princi[)!es that have been his guides in all his after 
 life. He attended the common schools, and being 
 an apt pupil gained a good practical education. He 
 has always paid attention to the calling to which 
 he was bred, and there is no more skillful or shrewd 
 farmer in the neighborhood than he, as is shown by 
 the appearance of his farm of 350 acres of well 
 tilled land, with its comfortable dwelling, fine con- 
 veniently arranged barn and other substantial 
 buildings, among the best in the township. 
 
 Elder Dodson has been twice married. The first 
 time in Blount Township, to Miss Sarah A. Walls, 
 who was born in Hendricks County, Ind., .July 29, 
 1812. She was a member of the Regular Baptist 
 Church and a truly good and virtuous woman, 
 whose death Aug. 8, 1867, was deplored far beyond 
 the home circle. She bore her husband three chil- 
 dren: Annie M., the wife of William G'Toole; 
 John W., who married Eva K. Fairchild; George 
 W., who married Lillie Parks. 
 
 Our subject was married to his present wife March. 
 12, 1868, and in her he has found a cheerful and 
 ready helper, and an able manager in her depart- 
 ment, she making their home cosy and comfortable 
 
 for the family and attractive to others, who often 
 share its generous hospitalities. Mrs. Dodson's 
 maiden name was Dorcas T. Pilkington. and she was 
 born in Hamilton County, Ind., Dec. 10, 1846. 
 Her marriage with our subject has been blessed by 
 the birth of eleven children, as follows: Sarah L., 
 who died when about two years old; Carrie E.; 
 Ruel F., who died when six months old; Ira W. W., 
 Dora E., who died at the age of nine months; James 
 F., Jesse R., Effie L., Bertha W., who died when 
 one year old; Lillie M. and Bessie Orella. 
 
 In all his useful and honorable career the Elder 
 has been guided bj' the highest moral sentiments, 
 and has ever shown himself to be a just, kind- 
 hearted, pure-souled man, one in whom his fellow- 
 men can safel3' place their trust, and whose sagacity 
 and wisdom eminently fit him for the part of coun- 
 sellor. He has been identified with the Regular 
 Baptist Church for many years, has filled the office 
 of Deacon, and was ordained Elder in the church 
 Kov. 28, 1874, since which time he has preached 
 regularly in this and Champaign County, as before 
 mentioned, with great acceptance to his hearers. 
 His ministry has been very successful and much 
 good has resulted from it. He has brought joy to 
 many hearts, has soothed and comforted many in 
 grief, and many have turned from the error of their 
 ways, persuaded, to do thus by his simple, earnest 
 words of warning, and by the example of a godly, 
 upright life. 
 
 jTSAAC CURRENT comes of sterling pioneer 
 I stock, his immediate ancestry on both sides of 
 /ii the house having been early settlers of Ver- 
 milion County, who figured honorably in the his- 
 tory of its settlement. He is a flne representative 
 of the native born citizens who are sustaining and 
 extending the large agricultural interests of this 
 fair land of their birth, and the farm that he owns 
 and is successfully managing in Danville Town- 
 ship compares very favorably with the best in this 
 vicinity in point of cultivation, neat and substan- 
 tial buildings and well ordered appearance, and its 
 fertile acres yield him an ample income. 
 
 Mr. Current was born in Newell 'lownship, Ver- 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRA.PAICAL AJ.BUM. 
 
 257 
 
 milion County, Nov. 17, 184.'). He is a descend- 
 ant of ^'irginia families, both his parents and their 
 parents haying been born in the Old Dominion, 
 his father, William Current, April 20, 1803, and 
 his mother, Mary Baston, Oct. 19, 1807. The pater- 
 nal grandfather of subject was a farmer in Harri- 
 son County, Va., but he finally disposed of his 
 property in that State, and coming to A'ermilion 
 County in 1827, with his family, was one of the ear- 
 liest settlers in what is now known as Newell Town- 
 ship. He entered a tract of Government land 
 and was a resident in that township till death called 
 him hence, though he did not die on that farm, 
 but on the old homestead of his father, which he 
 had entered; after the death of his father he buying 
 that farm of the other heirs. The father of our 
 subject was reared in his native State, and there 
 married Miss Mary, daughter of Henry Baston. 
 Her father was a resident of Harrison County in 
 his native Virginia till 1827, when he came with 
 others to Vermilion County, and entered a tract of 
 land and improved a farm in what is now Danville 
 Township, and lived here many years. He had 
 learned the trade of a hatter in his youth; and after 
 he came here found it very profitable to work at it 
 a part of the time, his hats finding a ready sale. 
 From this place Mr. Baston moved to Iowa in 
 1848 and became a pioneer of Marion County. A 
 few years later he came back to Illinois and made 
 his home with his children for a time, and then re- 
 turned to the Hawk Eye State and resided there till 
 his demise at the advanced age of ninety-eight 
 years. His wife lived to be about the same age. 
 They were the parents of fourteen children, ten of 
 whom grew to maturity and married. 
 
 The father of our subject continued to live in 
 Harrison County till 1827, but early that year he 
 left the State of his nativity accompanied by his wife, 
 his parents and her parents, bound for the then far 
 West, and made the entire journey with ox teams. 
 He settled in Newell Township and entered the 
 tract of Government land that is now owned and 
 occupied by his eldest son. It was wild prairie at 
 the time, with no improvements whatever, and he 
 had to erect a rude pole house for temporary shel- 
 ter, and in that the family resided a year. It was 
 then burned with all its contents, and a more sub- 
 
 stantial log house was put up in its place, and in 
 that humble abode the most of his children were 
 born. Wlien he fii-st went onto this land he did 
 not have money enough to pay for it and held it 
 as a claim till he could earn money enougli break- 
 ing prairie for others, to buy it. He had learned 
 the trade of wagon-maker before coming here, and 
 he built a shop on his place and devoted part of 
 his time to making wagons. When he had three 
 or four wagons made he would yoke his oxen and 
 start for Chicago to sell them, and at the same time 
 his wife, who was a thrifty, economical housekeep- 
 er, would send the eggs and butter that she had 
 saved, to market. There were no railways for 
 years after he settled here, and deer and other 
 kinds of wild game were plentiful and often troub- 
 lesome in the wheat fields of the pioneers, and 
 where the fiourishing city of Danville stands there 
 was then no village. Mr. Current closed a life 
 that had been a useful one and an honor to his com- 
 munity, on his old homestead Aug. 6, 1851, dying 
 while yet in his prime. His wife died in October, 
 1885. 
 
 Isaac Current of this sketch was reared and educa- 
 ted in this, his native county. He was but six 
 years old when his father died, and he continued 
 with his mother till his marriage. He then estab- 
 lished himself on a part of the homestead, and two 
 years later bought his present farm, where he has 
 built up one of the most attractive homes in the 
 township. 
 
 Mr. Current has been three times married. Clar- 
 issa E. Lynch, to whom he was wedded Dec. 14, 
 1862,was his first wife. She was born in Danville 
 Township in 1843, and died here June 14, 1869, 
 leaving one child, Rachel H. She is now the wife 
 of Isaac Bowman of Vance Township, and they have 
 one child named William Isaac. Mr. Current's 
 second marriage was to Mary (Campbell) Wyatt, 
 their union taking place Oct. 28, 1869. She was 
 born in Newell Township Aug. 1, 1845, and died 
 June 21, 1872. 
 
 Mr. Current's marriage with his present wife, 
 Mrs. Derotha (Jones) Noel, took place Jan. 
 26, 1883. Her first husband was Arthur Noel by 
 whom she had one son, Shelby P. Noel — he married 
 Hannah Lappin,they have three children, viz : Percy 
 
25 S 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 Leo, Loda Belle, and Arthur Raymond. She was 
 born in Rockville, Park Co., Ind.,Jan. 13, 1845. Her 
 father, Cornelius .Jones was born in ^"ilg■inia, and 
 when a young man went to Park County, Ind., and 
 there married Nancy Hull, a native of Ohio. He 
 lived in Park County till 1881, and then came to 
 Illinois and made his home with a son in Dougl.")S 
 Count}' till his decease in March, 1885. His wife 
 died May 10, 1860. Mr. and Mrs. Current have 
 one son, Charles R. 
 
 It may well be the pride of our subject that it 
 has been his privilege not only to witness the won- 
 derful progress of his native county since his birth, 
 but that he has had a share in advancing its mate- 
 rial prosperity and making it a great agricultural 
 centre. He has accumulated a valuable property 
 by the exercise of those faculties that mark him as 
 a man of more than usual sagacity, far reaching 
 forethought, and practical tenacity of purpose. 
 Underlying all these traits are those high princi- 
 ples that have gained him the trust and respect of 
 his fellow-citizens. Both he and his wife are act- 
 tive members of the Asbury Methodist Eljjiscopal 
 Church, as is also their son. In politics, on Na- 
 tional issues he sides with the Democrats, but in 
 local affairs the best man for the ofHce gets his 
 vote without regard to bis party affiliations. 
 
 ^ 
 
 \», OHN J. SOUTHWORTH is one of the young 
 leading and pi'Ogressive business men of one 
 of the most promising villages in Vermilion 
 County, Allerton. The town lies on the line 
 which divides ^'ermilion from Champaign Count}', 
 and was laid out in 1887. The depot was built the 
 same fall and located on lands given to that pur- 
 pose bj' Sam W. Allerton, of Chicago. 
 
 Mr. iSouth worth was the first business man who 
 located at the town of Allerton. Before coming 
 here he was engaged in the town of Archie in tlu; 
 lumber business. In 1887 be took charge of Al- 
 lerton's steam elevator, removing his lumber yard 
 here at the same time, and on July 20, 1887, he 
 bought the first load of grain purchased in Aller- 
 ton, a load of corn, from Thomas L. Miller, of 
 Champaign County. The price paid was forty cents 
 
 a bushel. As soon as the railroad was completed 
 to his town he added to his stock of lumber, salt, 
 binding twine, sand and barbed wire. Mr. South- 
 worth is a son of John R. and Anna ( Akers) South- 
 worth, the nativity of the former being at Thom- 
 aston, Mass., while the latter was born in Harris- 
 burg, Pa. 
 
 John R. Southworth was reared as a mechanic, 
 working in the woolen mills at Lowell, Mass., but 
 in 1854, thinking the broad prairies of the West 
 were more conducive to iiappiness than the 
 cramped shops of the East, he came to Champaign 
 County, III., eventuallj'. His first removal west 
 was to Ohio, where he was married. As a farmer of 
 Illinois he was fairly prosperous, and was promi- 
 nently identified with the progress of his neighbor- 
 hood. Ho died on his farm at the age of seventy- 
 four years, while his wife still lives there. The 
 maternal grandparents of the subject of this sketch 
 died while Mrs. Southworth was quite young. They 
 were natives of England, as were also the paternal 
 grandparents. The great-grandfather, Roy South- 
 worth, served with distinguished honor through 
 the entire period of the Revolutionary War, and 
 his descendants are in possession of a cane, the head 
 of which is composed of solid silver in the shape of 
 a dog's head, and inscribed thereon are the words, 
 "Southworth, 1776." The silver was taken from 
 the hilt of a British sword, which he captured from 
 the enemy. Our subject's parents had six children: 
 Addie, Julia, Frank, Lehmond, John J. and Lillie. 
 
 John Jay Southworth was born at Coldwater, 
 Mich., in 1852, and when he was but three years 
 old emigrated with his parents to Illinois, where he 
 was reared upon a farm and received his primary 
 education at the public schools. At the age of 
 twenty he entered Oberlin College, where Ife con- 
 tinued a student for some time, and afterward com- 
 pleted his education at Champaign. In 1875 he was 
 married to Miss Mar}' F. Irwin, who was born in 
 Champaign County, 111., and who was graduated 
 from the women's department of the Bloom ington 
 College. She was engaged as a teacher in her na- 
 tive county, for sometime and was reckoned as one 
 of the best teachers. Soon after their mariange the 
 young couple removed to Archie, where Mr. South- 
 worth engaged in business, and from the start has 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 259 
 
 been successful. They have had four children : 
 Grace, "W alter, Ida and Anna Mary; the latter died 
 when she was twenty months old. 
 
 Mr. iSouthworth owns a fine farm of eighty acres 
 four miles north of Ailerton. He is also engaged 
 in the hotel business, he and his wife being the pro- 
 prietors of the Ailerton House. He is a member of 
 tlie Odd Fellows lodge, and votes the Republican 
 ticket. The offices of School Director and Trustee 
 have been filled by him with ability. In all his 
 efforts of life in which he has succeeded he has 
 been ably seconded b}' his intelligent and faithful 
 wife, and it is safe to predict th.at they will go on 
 prospering. They are prominently identified with 
 the prosperity of their town, and there are no 
 better people in it. 
 
 ¥<" "WILLIAM COPEL AND is the son of Samuel, 
 whose father was likewise named Samuel, 
 a native of Ireland, having been born 
 near Dublin. He, with his brother, Robert, came 
 to the United States when young men and located 
 at Philadelphia, Pa. From tliere the brother went 
 to South Carolina, and has not since been heard 
 from by our subject. The grandfather married 
 near Philadelphia, and after a few years removed 
 to Galia County, Ohio, the subject's father being 
 then a little boy. The journey was made on pack 
 horses. The father and older brothers, Isaac and 
 Robert, were carried in a basket lashed to a horse. 
 That journey was made about 1806, many years 
 previous to the building of any railroads. Even 
 road wagons were not in general use at that time. 
 Sleds were used in all seasons of the year. The 
 only wagons in use in those parts were such as were 
 known as truck wagons, the wheels of which were 
 made of a piece, perhaps six inches, sawed off the 
 end of a round log and a hole bored in the center 
 for the axle, which was also wood. The wheels 
 were held on the axle by wooden linch-pins, in faf^t 
 the entire wagon was made of wood. The grand- 
 parents located among the hills and heavy timber 
 and there made a farm on which they reared their 
 family of eight children, of whom our subject's 
 father was the third child and only survivor. The 
 
 children were: Robert, Isaac, Samuel, James, Ham- 
 ilton, Mary A. Jane, and Mahala. The grand- 
 parents spent their last days on the Oliio farm. 
 The parents of our subject weic married in Galia 
 County, Ohio, tiie mother being Elizabeth, daugh- 
 ter of William Ham, of (ierman ancestry and eail}' 
 settlers of Ohio. 
 
 Like the grandparents, the i)arents of our subject 
 reared a large family consisting of eleven children: 
 William IL, George W., Perry, Mary A., Nancy, 
 Malinda, Andrew, Delila, Clarinda, Emily, and 
 Elizabeth. The four elder were born in Ohio. 
 In 1827, the parents of the subject of this sketch, 
 with their family, removed to this county and 
 made the journey on a keel-boat down the Ohio 
 and up the Wabash to Perrysville, Ind. The father 
 made the boat for the journey and brought the 
 household goods and also salt. Out of the profit on 
 that load of salt he made a start in life. He sold 
 it at Perrysville, where he hired a man with a team 
 to haul his goods and family seven miles north- 
 west of Danville, wliere he entered eight}' acres, 
 part timber and part prairie. His first house was 
 made by laying a pole from one tree to another 
 about ten feet apart on a fork in either tree, against 
 which poles and rails were leaned on each side for a 
 roof. In that tent thej' lived until they could 
 build a log house, and in this house the family was 
 chiefly reared. After getting the eighty acres in 
 a good state of cultivation he would buy more 
 land as he could, until he had increased his farm to a 
 considerable extent. On that farm the worthy 
 mother spent her last days. The father makes his 
 home with our subject during- the winter and with 
 his daughter, Elizabeth, now Mrs. JMilton Lamb, 
 of Danville, in the summer. The father of William 
 H. is a member of the Missionary Baptist Church, 
 in which faith his mother died. 
 
 In the wilds of Illinois educational advantages 
 were very limited, and the school which our sub- 
 ject attended at twelve years of age was called a 
 "subscription school." Each family would board 
 the teacher in proportion to the number of puplis. 
 The school-house was built of round logs, punch- 
 eon floor and slab doors. The window was made 
 with greased paper pasted over the hole cut in a 
 log. The seats were also made of puncheon. The 
 
260 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPAICAL ALBUM. 
 
 school term only lasted about three raonths of the 
 year, these being the winter months, wlien the 
 work on the farm was retarded by cold weather. 
 
 The next step of importance was the marriage of 
 our subject to Miss Rachael Sterns. Her parents 
 were Zara and Mary (Smallej-) Sterns. Thej' too 
 were pioneers in this county and came from near 
 Clarkesville, Ohio, and were among the very earl- 
 liest settlers. They died at an advanced age near 
 Williamsport, Ind. By his first marriage there 
 were ten children : Mary married James Wilson 
 and died in 1860. Mr. Wilson enlisted in the war 
 and was killed at the battle of Chickasaw. Their 
 only surviving child, William H., was reared by 
 our subject for whom he was named; Nancy, now 
 Mrs. W. H. Duncan lives in this county; E. H. ; 
 Almeda is married to Frank Johns and died 
 about 1875; Eli lives in Missouri; Andrew Z ; an 
 infant son; Elizabeth now Mrs. John B. Chambers; 
 C4eorge; Harmon; and Charles, wlio died at the age 
 of four years. Mrs. Copeland died Jan. 27, 1831, 
 a worthy member of the Baptist Church in which 
 faith she lived. Our subject was married a sec- 
 ond time to Elizabeth Kirkhart, September, 1885. 
 Her parents were also early settlers here and came 
 from Whitsell Count}', Va., in which State they 
 were born. Her mother, Ann (^Courtney) Kirk- 
 hart, died when Mrs. Copeland was about eight 
 years old. Her father, John died a few years 
 later, thus leaving her an orphan in early life. 
 Previous to her marriage with the subject of this 
 sketch Mrs. Copeland had been married to Stephen 
 Lamb, who died in 1882. 
 
 William Copeland is a member of the Baptist 
 Church, while his wife is a member of the United 
 Brethern Church. He has held the offices in this 
 county of Supervisor, twelve years; School Direc- 
 tor, twenty years; Road Commissioner, three years. 
 His politics are strictly Republican. His indus- 
 trious habits have been crowned by a splendid 
 property in the village of Potomac, where he lives. 
 He owns a large, well furnished frame house and 
 three lots, finely planted with shade and fruit trees. 
 The house has all modern conveniences, and testi- 
 fies to the neatness and taste of its owners. He 
 also owns another residence and a large business 
 house in the village. Beside these, a fine farm of 
 
 440 acres in this county, where he lived for many 
 years, and here his family was reared. He has 
 given each of his children at their marriage $2,500, 
 and still has a competency remaining to keep 
 himself and wife as long as the}' live. His pres- 
 ent prosperous condition speaks well for his good 
 management and frugality, for when first married, 
 in 1841, he was destitute of means. Mr. Copeland 
 is one of those worthy pioneers, who is now living 
 a life of peaceful retirement. 
 
 eHARLES E. WHITTON has been a resident 
 of Illinois nearly all his life, though he has 
 lived in Vermilion County but a short time. 
 He was born in Oneida County, N. Y., July 3, 
 1 847, and when a boy, came West with his parents, 
 Robert and Alary (Ferguson) Whitton. They set- 
 tled on a farm in Grundy County, 111., and the 
 father and mother are now living at Hammond, 
 Ind., near Chicago. The former is an Englishman 
 by birth, and came to this country with an elder 
 brother when quite young, while the latter is a 
 native of Oneida County, N. Y. 
 
 Charles E. Whitton was brought up on the home 
 farm in Grundy County, and when Fort Sumter 
 was fired upon, ardently desired to enter the Union 
 army, but was not accepted because of his youth. 
 On Feb. 7, 1865, however, he stole a few months 
 of the time necessary, and at the age of seventeen 
 years and six months enlisted in Company C, 1 47th 
 Illinois Infantry, and served for a year. On the 
 declaration of peace, his company was assigned to 
 Provost Marshal duty in Georgia, and was so en- 
 gaged until Jan. 20, 1866, on which day they were 
 mustered out. After his return, being still but a 
 boy, although a veteran, Mr. Whitton went to 
 school, and for two years studied with an especial 
 view of preparing himself for the profession of 
 school teaching. In this vocation he was subse- 
 quently engaged for more than twelve years, mostly 
 in Iroquois County, 111., and in Benton County, 
 Ind. In the latter county he was also Superinten- 
 dent of Schools for two years, discharging the res- 
 ponsible duties of that position satisfactorily to 
 the people, and with credit to himself. During all 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 261 
 
 the years lie was teaching he was also workhig at 
 farming- during the summer months. In the spring 
 of 1884 he began work on a rented farm in Iro- 
 quois County, but his first wife dying about that 
 time, Mr. Wliitton gave up this place, and after his 
 second marriage lived for three years on a farm in 
 Iroquois County, belonging to his [iresent wife. 
 This they sold in l«S.s, and then bought and re- 
 moved to the fine farm of 200 acres, on section 21, 
 in Grant Township, where they now make their 
 home. 
 
 As stated, Mr.Whitton has been twice married — 
 first in 1877, to Miss Salinda Jones, who died in the 
 spring of 1884, leaving two boys, Lewis and Law- 
 rence. On Dec. 16, 1884, Mr. Whitton was united 
 in marriage with Mrs. Laura B. Dunham, widow of 
 Quincy Dunham, of Logan Countj', 111. She is a 
 daughter of David and Mary (llouser) Alsop, and 
 was born in Spencer Countj', K3-., Aug. 26, 1819. 
 Both the i)arents were also born in that county, 
 wliere Mr. Alsop was a farmer. They emigrated 
 to Logan County, 111., when Laura was but nine 
 years old, and she has ever since been a resident of 
 this State. Her mother died in 1875, and her 
 father is still living in Logan County. He, too, 
 although a southerner by birth, was a soldier of 
 freedom, and served for three years in the Union 
 army as a member of Company F, 106th Illinois 
 Infantry. In fact, all of Mrs.Whitlon's connections 
 showed themselves to be true patriol;s, her father, 
 her father-in-law, her first and her second husband, 
 all having served bravely in the Union ranks. Wil- 
 liam Dunham, her first husband's father, was Cliap- 
 lain of the 106th Illinois Infantry, the same regi- 
 ment in which her fatiier was a soldier. He served 
 through the war, but contracted a disease from 
 which he never recovered, and which terminated 
 his life in 1877. 
 
 Laura B. Alsop (now Mrs. Whitton) was man-led 
 to (Quincy Dunham, Dec. 15, 1870. He, like j\lr. 
 Whitton, was a youthful soldier, having been born 
 Aug. 6, 1H47, in Warren County, Ohio, and on 
 Feb. 10, 1865, when seventeen years and six months 
 old, enlisted in Company M, 6th Illinois Cavalry, 
 serving for nine months, and was discharged Nov. 
 5, 1805. After his return from the army, young 
 Dunham was engaged in farming pursuits in Logan 
 
 County until his death. He liought the farm in 
 Iroquois County, on which I\Ii-. and Mrs. AVIiitton 
 lived after their mai'riage. but never occupied it 
 himself. The circuinstaiiecs attending his death, 
 which oocured Dt-c. 0, 1881, were very sad. A man 
 whom he had hired to work on the farm was found 
 to be suffering from smallpox, and Mr. Dunliam 
 contracted the disease, and died from it. His 
 brother, Monroe Dunham, who was married to a 
 sister of Mrs. Whitton, and a sistei- of Mrs. Lucy 
 ZoUars, with a child of Blonroe's, mimed Maud, 
 also fell victims to the same dread disease, as did 
 five of their neighbors, making nine in all who died 
 before the pest i-ould be controlled. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. (Quincy Dunham became the parents 
 of six children, all of whom are now living with 
 their mother, and are named Clarence E., Mary L., 
 William 1)., Arthur A., I'earl E. and Grace L. Mr. 
 and Mrs. Whitton have one child, a bright little 
 girl, named Estella K. Though not long residents 
 in ^'ermilion County, they have lived near its bor- 
 ders, and are well known in this part of the countj^. 
 Both are respected members of the Christian 
 Church, and he is a niera))(u- of Boswell Lodge, No. 
 486, A. F. ife A. M.,of Boswell, Ind. 
 
 Mr. Whitton is known as an industrious, hard- 
 working man, who attends closely to the duties of 
 his farm, in which lie is ably assisted by his ener- 
 getic and capable wife. The farm they now own 
 is a fine property, and unde'r their careful manage- 
 ment is being rapidly improved, and when their 
 plans are full}' carried out, it will be one of the 
 best proiierties of its size in this neighliorhood. 
 
 OHN H. PARUISH has for twenty years 
 or more been one of the leading men of 
 Sidell Township. As a farmer he is skillful 
 and successful, has a comfortable and beau- 
 tiful home, and is genial and hospitable in his 
 manner, gaining the good will of all with whom he 
 comes in contact. He is considerable of a politi- 
 cian, and in 1879 was elected Highway Commis- 
 sioner for a term of three years. He was re-elected 
 in 1«K5, and served another term. Prior to his 
 assuming the duties of this offlce the Commis- 
 
262 
 
 PORTRAIT AN]J BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 sioners had contracted for a large amount of road 
 grading, and unwisely involved the township in 
 debt to the amount of -t4,000. By careful man- 
 agement on the part of Mr. Parrish this sum has 
 been greatly reduced, so that the township finances 
 are placed upon a sound basis. 
 
 Our subject was born iMay 7, 1839, in Coshocton 
 County, Ohio. There his early life was spent, and 
 as his brother had left the parental roof when 
 about sixteen years old, John naturally assumed 
 the principal charge of the homestead. To this he 
 brought a bride in 1864, being married that year 
 to Miss Elizabeth Donnelly. This lady was a na- 
 tive of his own county — in fact they had grown up 
 together from childhood. They resided in Ohio 
 until after the birth of two children, coming to 
 this county in 1868. In the meantime the brother, 
 Joseph Parrish, had become owner of a large farm, 
 a part of which our subject rented, and upon which 
 he operated with success. He, however, with many 
 otliers at the time suffered greatly from ague, a 
 disease common among the early settlers, be- 
 fore the land had been sufficiently cultivated to 
 do away with miasma. 
 
 The first purchase of our subject in this county 
 was eighty acres, the nucleus of his present home- 
 stead, and to which he added until he had 200 
 acres. He put up a fine dwelling in 1888, and has 
 brought his land to a good state of cultivation. To 
 him and his estimable wife there were born nine 
 interesting children, the eldest of whom, a daugh- 
 ter, Giula, is the wife of Joseph Thompson, of 
 Sidell Township; Melvin P. remains at the home- 
 stead; Charles died when eighteen months old; 
 Horace C, Allie, Grace, and Harley are at home. 
 Belle died at the age of eighteen months, and Gro- 
 ver C. died when an infant. Mr. Parrish votes 
 with the Democracy, and is quite prominent in 
 local politics, frequently serving as a delegate to 
 the county conventions. He has also served on 
 the Circuit, Petit, and Grand Juries, and has offi- 
 ciated as School Director for a period of fifteen 
 years. 
 
 James and Lania (Ilardman) Parrish, the parents 
 of our subject, were natives respectively of Bel- 
 mont and Coschocton counties, Ohio. The Par- 
 rishes were originally from Pennsylvania, in which 
 
 State the mother's family also flourished quite nu- 
 merously at an early day. The parents were mar- 
 ried in Kosciusko County, where the father success- 
 fully pursued his trade of carpenter and joiner, and 
 lived to be seventy-two years old. The mother 
 died when our subject was a lad of seven, leaving 
 besides himself, an older brother, Joseph, and a 
 sister younger, Hannah, now Mrs. W. B. Shane, who 
 lives in Smithfield, Ohio. 
 
 • S-f>4"|>^ ' 
 
 /^^UY C. HOWARD. Among the most promi- 
 lll ,=1 nent merchants of Armstrong, Mr. G. C. 
 ^^4! Howard takes the lead. He is noted for his 
 success and excellent business qualifications. He 
 was the son of Joseph, whose father, Nathan, was 
 a native of Ohio, and who was of English descent. 
 This gentleman came to Illinois among the pio- 
 neers, and located three miles northeast of Dan- 
 ville. His wife, Nancy, was of Irish ancestry. 
 This worthy couple were blest with six children ; 
 Joseph, Clinton, Milton. Richard; Julia, who mar- 
 ried C. Campbell, and died in this county; and one 
 other, will) died quite young. Our subject's father, 
 who was born in Ohio, is the eldest of these chd- 
 dren. Here he was united in wedlock with Miss 
 Barbara Snyder, a daughter of Asa B. Snyder, who 
 was also a pioneer. Of this marriage there was but 
 one child, our subject. The father had been pre- 
 viously married to a daughter of Ralph Martin, 
 another pioneer of this county. It was here in 
 Vermilion County that the father died in the j-ear 
 1850, eighteen months after the birth of their son. 
 The mother lived and devoted all her attention to 
 her child, whom she reared on the farm with great 
 care and precision, and whom she has educated in 
 the district schools. When he became of age he 
 was married to Miss Emily, daughter of William 
 H. Price. This happy event occurred in April, 
 1878. He was profitably engaged in farming until 
 1887, when he found employment as a clerk for a 
 Mr. Tilton, in Potomac, for about eighteen months. 
 From here he came to Armstrong, where he has a 
 general store and where he enjoys great prosperity. 
 His stock is valued from $3,000 to 15,000. His 
 

 ''^^^ 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 265 
 
 trarlfc runs from $12,000 to ^15,000 a year. He 
 carries an unusually fine line of general merchan- 
 dise. 
 
 Mr. Howard is a Democrat, and a member of the 
 A. F. & A. M. of Potomac, his wife being a mem- 
 ber of the "Eastern Stnr'' of that lodge. When 
 our subject began business he had nothing to help 
 him on but a determined character and a pair of 
 willing hands. These, however, are effectual in- 
 struments, and never fail to prove themselves true 
 weapons in his battles with the ordinary obstacles 
 of life. From what we have already seen of his 
 energy, we cannot but predict for him a bright and 
 prosperous future. 
 
 \Y/OHN M. McCABE. This friend of the 
 laboring man has made for himself an un- 
 deniably fine record in connection with the 
 ^ important question which is to-day absorb- 
 ing the rninds of intelligent men everywhere. A 
 man of more than ordinary talent and possessed of 
 large information, he has not only studied this but 
 many other questions of political economy, and his 
 published opinions have had a marked effect upon 
 the complexion of party polities in this part of the 
 .Stale. A man of broad and liberal ideas, and with 
 the faculty of giving voice to his opinions in forci- 
 ble language, he has for years been a power in the 
 community, and has, it is evident, sought to exert 
 his influence for good and good only. Mr. JMc- 
 C'abe, while affiliating with the Union Labor party, 
 is also a strong advocate of prohibition, and fa- 
 vored a union of the two parties. 
 
 We are constrained, before proceeding further, 
 to glance at the home surroundings of Mr. McCabe, 
 who has one of the most pleasant and inviting 
 mansions in Fairmount and vicinity — a large, old- 
 fashioned house, built in the early days, and situ- 
 ated on the corner south of the Methodist Episcopal 
 Church. It stands on an eminence gently sloping 
 to the south, while stretching east is a fine orchard 
 containing large and spreading trees, a useful old- 
 fashioned garden, and twenty acres of pasture, in 
 the midst of which is a fish pond stocked with 
 German carp. Recently the School Directors have 
 
 purchased two acres of the twenty for the purpose 
 of building a fine graded school building. The 
 whole premises are both comfortable and elegant, 
 and form one of the most attractive features in the 
 landscape of this region. The tile work,~, of which 
 Mr. McCabe is proprietor, and which lie at the 
 north end of Main street, were erected in 1882, 
 and have been prosecuted successfully since that 
 time. 
 
 The subject of this sketch was born in Dearborn 
 County, Ind., Feb. 19, 1844, and is the fifth child 
 in a family of nine, the offspring of Alex and 
 Rhoda (Knapp) McCabe, who were natives respect- 
 ively of Ohio and North Carolina. The father 
 followed farming after his marriage, in Dearborn 
 County, Ind., to which he had removed with his 
 parents at an early day. Grandfather Knapp was a 
 native of New York State. Alex McCabe, after 
 his marriage, continued in Indiana until 1872, then 
 removed with his family to Stanberry, Mo., where 
 he and his excellent wife still live. Six sons and 
 two daughters lived to become men and women. 
 
 Mr. McCabe, our subject, attended school quite 
 regularly until a youth of eighteen years, mostly 
 in the winter season, and worked on the farm with 
 his father. In 1863, desirous of starting out in 
 life for himself, he left home, arriving at Fair- 
 mount with a capital of ^"2.37, and in debt |5 to 
 his mother for money borrowed to help him get 
 away. Arriving at Fairmount, he engaged in work 
 for Mr. James M. Dougherty, about one mile north- 
 east of town, and with whom he remained until the 
 fall of that year. The winter following he taught 
 school at Walnut Grove. The year following he 
 attended school at Danville a short time, and sub- 
 sequently resumed work on a farm. 
 
 In the meantime our subject had his mind in- 
 ten.t upon establishing a home of his own, and in 
 the fall of 1864 was united in marriage with 
 JMiss IMary E., daughter of Mr. Samuel Dougherty. 
 The maiden name of Mrs. JNlcCabe's mother was 
 Jane Dalby, and Miss Mary was the third child in 
 a family of seven. The newly wedded pair set- 
 tled on a rented farm, where they struggled along 
 amid many difficulties and drawbacks, Mr. McCabe 
 farming in summer and teaching school in winter 
 until the spring of 1880. He then resolved to 
 
266 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 change his occupation, and abandoning the farm, 
 secured an interest in a flour mill at Fairmount. 
 He witiidrew from this eighteen months later, and 
 turned his attention to the manufacture of tile. 
 He put up an old-fashioned Indiana tile shed on a 
 small scale, using one kiln. By the exercise of 
 great industry and energy his business advanced 
 slowly but surely, and in time he was obliged to 
 enlarge his facilities. He now has one of the most 
 extensive factories of the kind in his part of the 
 State, and in addition to the first products,' has 
 added brickmaking and roofing-tile of a new de- 
 sign known as "Donaldson's patent," which is by 
 one-half the lightest roofing-tile ever manufac- 
 tured in any country. 
 
 Mr. McCabe has now tlie only manufactory, ex- 
 cepting a flour mill, in the town, and the people of 
 this vicinity are justly proud of this enterprise, 
 which gives employment to a number of men, and 
 enters largely into the success and reputation of 
 its industrial interests. At present (June, 1889) 
 the works demand the services of fifteen men, with 
 a prospect in the near future of the number being 
 doubled. The buildings and equipments are fully 
 in keeping with the demands of the business, which 
 is not only a credit to the town, but to its instigator 
 and proprietor. 
 
 In politics Mr. McCabe always has an opinion 
 and is never afraid to express it. He was in for- 
 mer years an ardent Republican, but of late has 
 not been tied to any party. He was a delegate to 
 the National Labor Conference at Cincinnati, Ohio, 
 and was nominated for Representative in this dis- 
 trict on the Union Labor ticket in 1888. He has 
 officiated as Justice of the Peace, Village Trustee 
 and School Director, and has been for years a 
 member of the Knights of Labor, the Good Tem- 
 plars, the Grange, and the Masonic fraternity, hold- 
 ing in each organization important offices. He and 
 his excellent wife are members of the Cumberlanfl 
 Presbyterian Church at Fairmount, and for some 
 time jMr. McCabe was Superintendent of the Sun- 
 day-school. 
 
 Only two of the four children born to our sub- 
 ject and his estimable wife are living, both daugh- 
 ters. The eldest, Effie, was married in March, 
 1889, to Owen McClenathan, and they live five 
 
 miles east of I-i'airmount. Elsie, a bright child of 
 nine years, is pursuing her studies in tiie village 
 school, and is a fine amateur musician, playing well 
 on both organ and guitai'. 
 
 Among other valuable features of this volume, 
 the portraits of influential citizens of the county 
 hold no second rank. And of these portraits an 
 important place belongs to Mr. McCabe, the friend 
 of tlie laborer. 
 
 -?3- 
 
 -7"/|r-— 
 
 EV. MICHAEL OAKWOOD. The strong 
 '{(' points in the character of this most efficient 
 minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church, 
 have been his energetic and uniform advo- 
 cacy of temperance, and his devotion to the cause 
 of the Master, as exemplified in his pulpit work, ex- 
 tending over a period of thirty-five years. He is 
 possessed in a inarked degree of the gift of lan- 
 guage, and has delivered some very powerful and 
 stirring sermons, calculated to have a lasting effect 
 upon his hearers. A man's habits and disposition 
 are usually indicated by his home surroundings, and 
 the fact that we find Mr. Oakwood the possessor of 
 a fine farm, with all needful appurtenances, and 
 surrounded by the evidences of refined and culti- 
 vated tastes, indicates the efflcienc3- with which he 
 has labored and the solidity of his general character, 
 by which he has attained to an enviable position 
 socially and financially among his fellow-citizens. 
 
 The subject of this sketch was born in Brown 
 County, Ohio, Nov. 10, 1823. His father was a 
 native of Virginia, of German ancestry, and reared 
 in Tennessee. Being an only son, the name was 
 only preserved in America through him. When a 
 youth of nineteen years he emigrated to Kentucky, 
 where he afterward married Miss Margaret Remley, 
 who was also of German descent. She, with her 
 parents, had emigrated to Kentucky from Pennsyl- 
 vania, going down the Ohio River on a flatboat, 
 when the Indians were numerous along its shores. 
 The Remlej'S were a thrifty and long-lived family, 
 the mother of our subject living to nearly the 
 eighty -ninth year of her age. 
 
 Henry Oakwood departed this life at the age of 
 sixty-five 3'ears. He was a strong, athletic man, of 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 267 
 
 ver^' genial temperament, and kept himself well 
 posted upon the general events of the age in which 
 he lived, especially in the politics of the country. 
 He was a warm supporter of the Whig party, and 
 held some of the local oftices, among them justice of 
 the peace. He followed farming for his occupation, 
 and reared a family of six sons and three daugh- 
 ters. He served in the War of 1812, and partici- 
 pated in the battles of the British and Indians at 
 the fall of the celebrated chief, Tecumseh. 
 
 The father of our subject was a resident of Ohio 
 for a number of years, but in ISSS emigrated to 
 Illinois, settling in this county when Michael was a 
 lad of ten years. Ihe people around him were few 
 and far between, and located mostly along the bor- 
 ders of the timber that skirted the streams. The 
 broad prairies were occupied In' deer, wolves and 
 otlier wild animals in abundance. A village of In- 
 dians was located about *a mile from the Oakwood 
 residence, which was frequently visited by these 
 native sons and daughters of America, who seemed 
 to enjoy their contact with civilization although 
 unwilling to give up their own rude manner of life. 
 
 On account of the limited number of white peo- 
 ple in the new settlement, the early education of our 
 subject waf conducted at home, there being no es- 
 tablished school in his township for throe years. 
 This want, however, was partially compensated for 
 by the father taking the place of instructor on win- 
 ter evenings, when the children would form a semi- 
 circle around the huge fireplace, and, largely by the 
 light of the burning wood, would pursue their 
 evening studies with their books and slates. Greater 
 ambition to excel is seldom witnessed in the school- 
 room than existed in that little family circle, and 
 Michael was greatly encouraged to find himself a 
 little in advance of some of his older brothers in 
 his studies. 
 
 By the prosecution of his home studies, with the 
 aid of the later meager scliool privileges afforded, 
 our subject, with four of his brothers, became a 
 teacher, and still further anxious to excel in learn- 
 ing, mastered some of the higher branches of an 
 Knglish education, and especial!}' delighted in 
 wrestling with difficult mathematical problems and 
 investigating the principles of metaphysical science. 
 History-, both ancient and modern, received a fair 
 
 share of attention. He was much interested in the 
 history of the nations of the earth, as made in his 
 own day by their struggles, both in time of v/ar and 
 in peace, the gradual advance of human liberty, and 
 the improved condition of mankind, politically in- 
 tellectually, morally, socially and religiously. 
 
 In politics Mr. Oakwood was a Republican from 
 the foundation of the part}' through all its strug- 
 gles and took an active part in promoting its suc- 
 cess. During the Civil AVar he was frequently- 
 called upon to address large gatherings of citizens, 
 and labored as far as he was able to ''eep alive the 
 enthusiasm necessary to the success ot '''e L^nion 
 arms. Although never aspiring to political honor--, 
 he frequently held the local otlices. He was a mem- 
 ber of the board of supervisors seven years, served 
 one term as justice of the peace much against his 
 inclination, and frequently discharged the duties of 
 the other local oftice3. 
 
 Mr. Oakwood very early in life was made the 
 subject of deep religious impressions. His parents 
 were members of the Cumberland Presbyterian 
 Church, and in the pioneer days before the country 
 was supplied with church buildings, their large farm 
 house afforded a place for regular meetings for 
 preaclfing and other religious services. Being lib- 
 eral in their views, there were welcomed under this 
 hospitable roof Methodists, Presbyterians, and vari- 
 ous other religious denominations, who were all 
 permitted to seek God in the manner best suited to 
 their separate views. 
 
 Michael Oakwood, at the age of twenty-eight 
 years, united with the Methodist Episcopal Church, 
 and soon afterward was licensed to preach, but de- 
 clined entering the itinerant field. He was ambi-. 
 tious to study and to " show himself approved unto 
 God, a workman that need not be ashamed, rightly 
 dividing the word of truth," as Paul advised Tim- 
 othy. So he committed himself to a Biblical and 
 theological course of study. 
 
 In entering upon his ministerial career, Mr. Oak- 
 wood rather adopted the expository and didactic 
 style, and his gifts as a pulpit orator were speedily 
 recognized to be such as would command the re- 
 spect and attention of his hearers. On the 2d of 
 October, 1864, he was ordained deacon by Bishop 
 E. R. Ames, and on .Sept. 28, 1873. was ordained 
 
268 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 elder bj' Bishop I. W. Wiley. During his ministry 
 lie has received miiny into the church, united many 
 in marriage, preached many funeral sermons, and 
 administered upon many occasions the ordinances 
 of the churcli, baptizing- as many as fifty in a daj', 
 at other times thirty, twenty and in lesser numbers. 
 He held the office of recording steward for the long- 
 period of thirty-one years, besides many other offi- 
 cial positions in his church. 
 
 Mr. Oakwood has been twice married. In 1846 
 lie was wedded to Miss Nancy, daughter of Samuel 
 Copeland of Blount Township, with whom he lived 
 happily for six years, and at her death was left witii 
 one child — Samuel II. Their first-born, Elizabeth, 
 died in infancy. In 1853 Mr. Oalswood was again 
 married to Miss Elizabeth, daughter of Rev. John 
 P. Mills, then of Ross Townsliip. She is still liv- 
 ing, and is a higiJy-esteemed Christian lady, well 
 educated, and for some time before her marriage 
 was engaged as a teacher. The issue of this union 
 was one daughter and three sons. The daughter, 
 Belle, died at the age of twenty-five years; she was 
 possessed of superior intellectual endowments and a 
 fine Christian character, which, united to her thor- 
 ough education and usefulness as a teacher, con- 
 - spired to draw around her a large circle of warm 
 friends. Wilbur, a promising boy, died in the sec- 
 ond year of his age; Edwin, a deeply pious child, 
 and a member in full connection with the Metho- 
 dist Episcopal Church, died at the age of nine 
 years. 
 
 John M. Oakwood, the only surviving child of 
 our subject, is now (1889) twenty-three j'ears of 
 age. He was married in 1888 to Miss Ettie, daugh- 
 ter of Rev. A. G. Copeland of Danville. He has 
 been a Christian from childhood and a member of 
 the Methodist Episcopal Church. He is well edu- 
 cated, a great lover of books, and has been engaged 
 in teaching in the Champaign county schools for 
 several j'-ears, being at present principal of the high 
 school at St. Joseph. Samuel H., the son of the 
 first marriage, has likewise been a consistent mem- 
 ber of the Methodist Episcopal Church since child- 
 hdod; he is now forty years of age. He acquired 
 a good education in his youth, and followed the 
 profession of a teacher several years, after which he 
 embarked in the mercantile business at Newtown. 
 
 He lived there a few years, then removed his busi- 
 ness to Danville, where he still resides. In 1878 
 he was united in marriage with Miss Laura Bennett, 
 daughter of John Bennett of Georgetown. Two 
 sons and two daughters were born of this union, but 
 only one child is living, Belva, a promising little 
 girl of four years. 
 
 The Oakwood homestead is one of the most at- 
 tractive and beautiful in the township of the same 
 name, and our subject, at the age of sixty -six years, 
 with his faithful and estimable companion, sur- 
 rounded by friends and in the enjoyment of a happy 
 home, sees much that is desirable in life, and as op- 
 portunity occurs seeks to alleviate the afflictions of 
 those less fortunate. 
 
 Rev. John P. Mills, the father of Mrs. Oakwood, 
 was a regularly ordained local preacher of the 
 Methodist Episcopal Church, and died at his home 
 in Fairmount Aug. 20, 1882. His estimable wife 
 passed away some years before, Nov. 15, 1868. 
 The father of Mr. Oakwood died in October, 1856, 
 and the mother March 8, 1 878. 
 
 
 HILIP Y. PETERSON is one of the 
 
 younger citizens of Grant Township, living 
 on section 5. He was born in Salem 
 County, N. J., Nov. 11, 1847. His parents 
 were named Samuel and Jane (Paden) Peterson, 
 both of whom are now living in Woodford County, 
 this State. The elder Peterson is now retired from 
 active life, being seventy-two j^ears of age, and his 
 wife sixty-seven. Both are heart}^ and rugged. 
 They are natives of Salem County, N. J., and are 
 descended from Swedish ancestors who settled in 
 this country man}' generations ago. The elder 
 Peterson was left an orphan at the age of four 
 3'ears, and his mother marrying again, he was 
 brought up in the house of his stepfather, and is 
 essentiall}' a selfmade man, who has made his own 
 way in the world, and now, in his old age is enjoy- 
 ing an ample fortune, the result of years of indus- 
 try and good management. He was married in his 
 native State at the age of twenty-five, but some 
 years later he determined to try his fortunes in the 
 great West, and with his wife and family moved 
 
PORTRAIT AND BlOCHiAPHlCAL ALBUM. 
 
 269 
 
 to Jefferson County, Ind., but he stayed there only 
 six months, not liking the country, and so, taking 
 his wife, six children and household goods, he came 
 to Peoria, 111. This was in the fall of 1856, and 
 to support his family that winter he engaged in 
 hauling coal, his wife also helping to support the 
 family by her labor. Next spring he rented a farm 
 twenty miles west of Peoria and the succeeding 
 year bought a phice twenty-five miles northeast of 
 that city. On this latter place he made his home 
 till 1885, when he relinquished all active labor. 
 When he first came to Illinois, Sir. Peterson was 
 poor in this world's goods, but rich in pluck, energy 
 and ambition. He now owns three farms in Wood- 
 ford County, 111., for the poorest of which he has 
 refused $70 an acre. He owns 400 acres of laud 
 altogether. He also possesses a half interest in the 
 elevator at Benson, a handsome residence there, 
 and other property, also a farm of 160 acres in 
 Grant Township, this county, besides personal 
 l)roperty. Mr. Peterson has all of his lifetime 
 been very industrious and has taken care to avoid 
 public office, attending strictly to his own affairs, 
 lie and his wife joined the Baptist Church the year 
 after they were married, and for many years ho has 
 been an officer of his church in Benson. He was also 
 Trustee of his township. He is a man of genial, 
 liapp3' temperament and kind disposition, upright 
 and honorable in his dealings with his fellow men 
 and is held in universal esteem for his correct life 
 and conduct. 
 
 Samuel and Jane Peterson are the parents of 
 eight children, all of whom are living, the family 
 cord being unbroken by death. They are named 
 respectively: Mary P. wife of James I. Jeter, a 
 farmer in Woodford County; Simeon P., was mar- 
 ried to Sarah Jane Huxtable and is a farmer, tile 
 manufacturer and owner of three threshing ma- 
 chines and is living in Benson, 111.; Philip Y. was 
 next in order, then David C, who married Ellen 
 Deal : he is a butcher in Rossville, this county. 
 Lewis S. and Sarah Jane are twins; the former is 
 married to Emma Ray, living in Benson, where 
 Lewis S. is running an elevator, lumber yard, and 
 also operates a branch bank. Sarah Jane is the 
 wife of George Tallman, a dairyman of Grant 
 Township, this county; Annie Margaret is the wife 
 
 of Cal. Hofif, a farmer in Woodford County, 111., 
 and Maria Frances is married to James Huxtable, 
 a merchant of Benson, 111. Beside their children 
 Mr. and Mrs. Peterson have twenty-four grand- 
 children living, and an unusual case, is that they 
 have never lost a child by death, and but one 
 grandchild. 
 
 Philip Y. Peterson, was eight years of age when 
 his parents emigrated to Indiana. He well remem- 
 bers passing through Danville on their way to 
 Peoria, and says then it was but a collection of 
 small houses, principally shanties inhabited by coal 
 miners. He spent his boyhood on the home farm 
 in Woodford County, 111, receiving such education 
 as was afforded by the limited facilities of the time 
 and place. The nearest school was three and a half 
 miles away and not a bridge being built in the lo- 
 cality, when he attended school he had to wade 
 across the sloughs the best way he could. Under 
 these circumstances he got what little schooling he 
 received. He stayed on the home farm until he 
 was twenty-one, after which he began farming on 
 land belonging to his father, who furnished each 
 of his boys with a team, and boarded them the 
 first year for half the produce of their farms. He 
 lived on land of his father's for five years and then 
 bought a place of 120 acres in Woodford County, 
 and there continued to live until in March, 1882, 
 he sold out and removed to this county. Land 
 here was much cheaper, and just as good as there, 
 and he bought 120 acres of his present home, sub- 
 sequently adding forty more, and he also leases 
 eighty acres, which joins his land on the south. In 
 1886 Mr. Peterson erected the fine new modern 
 house which he now occupies and which makes a 
 comfortable and commodious home for the family 
 
 F'ebruary 23, 1872, Mr. Peterson was united in 
 marriage with Miss Allie Chaney, who was left an 
 orphan at an early age, her mother dying when she 
 was six years old, and her father two years later 
 while he was in the Union armj'. She was adopted 
 and brought up by a German couple, named Shoup. 
 She was born in Huntington Countj^, Ind., Aug. 10, 
 1854. Mr. and Mrs. Peterson are the parents of 
 four children, all at home: Katie F., Lillie Dell, 
 Bessie Jane and Myrtle Edna. Mr. Peterson has 
 never held any office in this county other than that 
 
270 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 of School Director. He .tikI liis wife nie members 
 of tlie Cliristiaii Cliurch in Grant 'I'ownship and he 
 is connected with its Sabbath-school. By his neigh- 
 bors who know him best, Mr. Petei'son is highlj' 
 respected as an honest straightforward man and a 
 good citizen. 
 
 ANIEL CAMPBELL stands among the 
 honest, manl^^, industrious farmers and 
 stock- raisers of Pilot Township wlio have 
 made its interests their own, and while 
 building up comfortable homes in this pleasant 
 localit3' have materially contributed to its advance- 
 ment. His fine well-stocked farm on section 12 
 compares favorably in all its appointments with 
 the best in the vicinity, and is sufficient evidence 
 that he has achieved success in his chosen calling, 
 although he began life as a poor man and has had 
 to work his way up from the lowest round of the 
 ladder leading to prosperity. 
 
 Our subject is a native of New York, and first 
 O) '■'^d his eyes to the light of da^' in Washington 
 County.. 20,1828. His father, Thomas Camp- 
 bell, was boru ■' Massachusetts, came to tliis coun- 
 ty in 1868. following his son Daniel to this place, 
 and died in 1879 at a ripe old age. Tlie mother of 
 our subject was Naby Swain, whose parents were of 
 Scottish birth and ancestrjr, and they came to this 
 countr3' some time early in this century or in the 
 latter part of the last one, and settled in Washing- 
 ton County, N. Y., where she was born. She died 
 in 1831, while 3'et a 3'oung woman. She bore to 
 her husband five children, two of whom are livino, 
 Marvin S. and our subject. The former, who mar- 
 ried a iliss Cole of New Y^ork, lives in Troy, that 
 State, retired from active business. 
 
 Daniel Campbell passed his boyhood and the 
 opening years of his manhood in the State of his 
 nativity, gleaning such education as was afforded 
 by the schools of the time. In 1856, being then 
 twenty-eight years of age, and in the possession of 
 a sound mind in a sound l^ody, he determined to 
 try life on the rich, virgin plains of the great West, 
 and selecting this part of Illinois as havino- in all 
 respects the characteristics of soil, climate, etc., most 
 
 desirable in the e3'es of a young farmer and neces- 
 sary to the successful prosecution of his calling, he 
 came to ^'ermilion County and bought 240 acres 
 of improved land in Pilot Township. He imme- 
 diately entered upon his task of bringing it to a 
 high state of cultiv.ation, erecting suitable build- 
 ings as his means allowed, making the place in every 
 way one of the most desirable farms in this part of 
 '\'ermilion County. By well-directed toil, close 
 economy and sagacious management he has become 
 very prosperous, and now owns 500 acres of as 
 well tilled and productive soil as is to be found in 
 this fine agricultural region, and he has erected a 
 comfortable, roomy set of buildings for all needful 
 purposes. He is engaged extensively in mixed 
 husbandry, raising grain, and other farm products 
 common to the soil, and he has his farm well sup- 
 plied with stock of good grades, comprising sixty 
 head of cattle, thirty horses, 160 sheep and forty- 
 five hogs. 
 
 Mr. Campbell has had the effective aid of one of 
 the most helpful of wives in his work, their mar- 
 riage occurring in 1854. Mrs. Campbell's maiden 
 name was IMaggie Campbell, and she was of Irish 
 birth and parentage, her parents being James and 
 Nancy (Pinkerton) Campbell. She came to this 
 country with two of her brothers. Seven children 
 have come to our subject and his amiable M-ife in 
 their pleasant wedded life, of whom the following 
 are married and settled in life: Sarah J. is the wife 
 of Marion Kirkpatrick, a tile maker, of Indiana, 
 and they have one child. Pearl; Thomas, an agri- 
 cultural implement dealer and grain buyer of Pen- 
 field, III., married Dora Kirkpatrick of Indiana, 
 and they have two children, Samuel and May; Mary 
 F. is the wife of Fred Thomas, a farmer of Wis- 
 consin, and they have two children, Otis and Reed; 
 Rosetta is the wife of Henry Kibbler, a farmer of 
 this county, and they have five children — Logan, 
 Earl, Lola, Am3', Ernest. 
 
 Mr. Campbell is gifted with keenness and tenacity 
 of purpose, and a well-balanced mind, and these 
 attributes have not only placed him with the solid, 
 representative men of the township, but they have 
 rendered his services as a civic official invaluable 
 during his incumbency of the various local offices 
 that have been entrusted to him by the votes of 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 271 
 
 his fellow townsmen, and as a juryman. In politics 
 he is a firm believer in the Republican party, and 
 advocates its policy on all proper times and occa- 
 sions. Both he and his wife are devoted members 
 of the Christian Church, and their children also 
 belong. 
 
 ■ > ' >^^< ' < ■ - - 
 
 ■^ACOB DAZEY. The present commercial 
 importance and prosperity of Hoopeston is 
 unqnestionably traceable to the wisdom of 
 her merchants, and it is a fitting tribute to 
 those who have honorably distinguished themselves 
 in the commercial arena that their names should be 
 commemorated in history. It is a fact worthy of 
 consideration that nearly all of our prominent busi- 
 ness men have struggled up from obscurity to the 
 foremost places in every branch of trade. As a 
 representative of this class, the following is a brief 
 outline of one who has attained the leading position 
 he holds to-day among the merchants of ^''ermilion 
 County. 
 
 I\Ir. Dazey is a prominent merchant of Hoopeston, 
 where he carries on an extensive business in heavy 
 and shelf hardware, agricultural implements and 
 lumber. In 1855 he came from Indiana, his native 
 State, having been born there on the 25th of March, 
 1831, near Attica. He remained with his father on 
 the old homestead until he was married, which 
 event occurred on Aug. 18, 1853. His wife. Miss 
 Sarah Whitlatch, died about one year after her 
 marriage. When Mr. Dazey came to Illinois, he 
 purchased a farm of 160 acres which he increased 
 later on to 640. Upon this tract of land he erected 
 the very best of buildings and the improvements 
 are of the very highest order. He continued the 
 business of farming until Dec. 15, 1881 when he 
 removed to Hoopeston and engaged in his present 
 business. 
 
 On April 27, 1855, Mr. Dazey married the second 
 time, taJjing for his wife, Miss Lorinda Wilkinson, 
 who was born in Montgomery County, Ind., May 
 4, 1838, where she resided until coming to Illinois 
 in 1851. She is the daughter of Abram Wilkinson, 
 one of the early pioneers of Vermilion County, who 
 married Mrs. Harriet Hawkins. They were the 
 parents of two son§ and two daughters, Mr. Ha,w. 
 
 kins came from Indiana to this county and entered 
 land upon which he resided until about 1877, when 
 he removed to Benton County, Ind., remaining 
 there until 1881, when he finally came to Hoopeston, 
 where he has lived with his wife a retired life. 
 Mr. and Mrs. Dazey are the parents of six sons 
 and one daughter, all of whom are still living: — 
 Charles ]\I., James H., .John, William, Frank, George, 
 and Elizabeth. The youngest son and daughter 
 are at home. James H. is married and has three 
 children; Charles M. married Miss Mary Fitzgib- 
 bons; they are living on a farm near Milford, 
 111., and have one child. John married Maggie 
 AVilliamson and is residing on the old homestead ; 
 they have one child. William married Miss Smith; 
 they are living on a farm and have two children. 
 Frank married Miss Eva Dobe; he is engaged in the 
 mercantile business at Hoopeston. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Dazey are members of the Metho- 
 dist Episcopal Church in which thej' take great 
 interest. He is one of the trustees of that organi- 
 zation and politically he is identified with the Re- 
 publican party. 
 
 James Dazey, father of the subject of this sketch, 
 was born in Ohio, where he married Miss Mary 
 Gobel and came from Montgomery County, Ind., 
 where he was engaged in farming. In his early 
 days he was a shoemaker, a business he carried on 
 with success, but latterly he was a farmer. He died 
 at Tolona, 111., his wife passing away at the same 
 place in 1883. 
 
 -»**- 
 
 »o*o..^;/;><A^..o*o.. 
 
 'li p-, /F REDERIC JONES is intimately connected 
 with the material prosperity of Catlin 
 Township as one of its enterprising, pro- 
 gressive, business-like farmers and stock-raisers, 
 and the farm that he possesses here, finely located 
 on section 35, is in all respects a well-appointed, 
 well-managed estate, comparing favorably with the 
 best in this region of fine farms. 
 
 Our subject is of English ancestry and birth, as 
 were also his parents, Henry and vSarah (Hough) 
 Jones. He was their sixth child and was born in 
 the city of London, England, May 28, 1844. In 
 1849 his parents brought him to America, and he 
 
272 
 
 I'ORTRAir AND 15I0GRA IMIIdAI. ALBUM. 
 
 was rcarefl to tnaiiliood in Ciitliu 'r()\viishi[), ;iii(l 
 oan scarcely renii'inbcr aiiy other home. He wjis a 
 quick sciiolar mikI ^loiuied :i w.ry good I'llucMtion 
 in the common sciiools. ^\'hcm alioul- rouileeii 
 years old he entered upon a niercanlile career, goiiiu; 
 into his father's employ at that age as a clerk. He 
 was in the store about a \ear and a half when lie 
 went to Lafayette, Ind., to learn the trade of ablaelc- 
 smith in the Lafayette and Indianapolis liailway 
 shops. He served an apprenticeshii) of two year.s 
 and two months, and at the expiration of that tinu^ 
 returned to Catlin and building a blacksmitli shop, 
 formed a partnership with S. A. Mc(iregor, Sr., 
 and carried on his trade, of which he had gained 
 a thorough mastery, the ensuing two j'ears. At 
 the end of that time he dissolvecl his paitnershi|) 
 with Mr. McGregfir and again became a clerk in 
 his brother Richard's store. He rein:iined with 
 him sixteen years, and when liis bi-otlier died he 
 entered into partnership with his liroUier Arthur, 
 and they conducted the business together about two 
 years. Our subject then sold out bis interest, having 
 decided to devote his attention to the more conge- 
 nial calling of a farmer, and at that time invested a 
 part of his capital in bis present farm, which be 
 has owned since 1880. It comprises 171 acres, nil 
 under good cultivation and finely improved, having 
 an excellent set of farm buildings and modern ma- 
 chinery for conducting agriculture after the most 
 approved methods. 
 
 The successful career of our subject is partly 
 attributable to the fact that he is blessed with a 
 wife who is in every sense a helpmate. Their mar- 
 riage was solemnized Dec. o, 1866, and to tbem 
 have come ten children — James, Emma, Richard, 
 Harriet A., Ii^lizabeth, Sarah, Frederic, Arthur, 
 Henry, Edward. Mrs. Jones' maiden name was 
 Harriet Ann Dickinson, and she is like her husband 
 a native of England, born in Lostcm, Lincolnshire, 
 Dec. 28, 1847, to AVilliam and Emma (Barker) 
 Dickinson. (For parental history see the sketch of 
 William Dickinson that appears on another page of 
 this work). 
 
 Mr. Jones is in all respects a manly, upright 
 man, is well and favorably known here, and his in- 
 fluence in the community is felt in everything that 
 tends to promote its welfare. He takes an active 
 
 |i.-irt in political niallevs, and in him the Republican 
 parly liniis one <if its truest and staunehest advo- 
 (•■■ites. Religiously both he anil liis amiable wife 
 symi)athi/,e with the teachings of the Mi^thodist 
 Episcopal Church, and eai-iy its Christian spirit 
 into their evei'yd:i,y lives. They are genial, coui-f- 
 eous peo|)le, and their al tractive lionn^ i.s the center 
 of perfect hospitality. 
 
 '''^^.-<2M/®-JcS- ■■i'ft£t^'->*®?-9>Z'^ra»-'v^'« 
 
 E01!<;E i\L E\'A\S. The Keystone State 
 [—, has e()ntribiiled largely of her best elements 
 ^Jffi to the development of the Great West, 
 numbers of men coming thither at all ages and un- 
 der all condilions, the: greater majority, perhaps, 
 those who wei'e (lependent upon tlieii- own i-esources 
 and just starting out in life to cai've their fortunes 
 by the l.-ibor of their hands. The homes of these 
 men are among the finest in Ci'uti'al Illinois. Tin; 
 farm of Mr. Iwans, lincly situated on the northern 
 line of this (M^unly, inv.ariably attracts the attention 
 of the passing traveler, and gives ample evid(Miee 
 of being under the conti'ol of a man of nnirc^ th.an 
 oi'diuary .ability. It will be acknowledged that he 
 h.as the true conception of the manner in which to 
 conduct agriculture, and he |)ossesses the cultivated 
 tastes which have enable(l him to construct a home 
 second to none in this region. 
 
 The pi'oper-ty of Mr. Evans embraces .'i28 acres 
 of l.'ind, lying on secti<in 2(1, township 2.'3, r.ange 
 I 2, whore h<' settled seven yf-'O's .ago, although he 
 purch.ased it in 1H79. He has etfected a radical 
 change in its condition, and purposes to still fur- 
 ther augment its beauty and value. He came to 
 Illinois when a young man, twenty-four years old, 
 from liei'ks (!onntj% I'a., where he was b(^rn in lKr)2. 
 He made his first trip West in 187(1, and after so- 
 journing in ("irant Townshi|) oiu^ year he ii^turned 
 to Pennsylvania, where be spent the winter follow- 
 ing and came back to this county in the spring of 
 1«77, and two years later jnirchased his picscnt 
 homestead. 
 
 The subject of this sketch was married In (irant 
 Township, to Miss Tillie Grodin, the wedding tak- 
 ing place at the bride's home, Sept. 22, 1885. This 
 lady is a native of this county. Her father, Fred- 
 
I'oirrwArr and hiock'apiiicaIv ai.bum. 
 
 27;) 
 
 Click (h'dom, cunic to llliiioi.s rroiu Eiiii'liuul, cm-- 
 I'iod on I'liriniiii;- ;i luinibcr of yciirs, .•uul (Jicii rclir- 
 iiiii: from iictive labor took up liis ulxtdc in Kossxille, 
 \vl\crc he now lives. ,Iolin Isvniis, tlic fatlicr of 
 our sulijcct. was a nati\H' of I'cniisylvani.i, wlici'c, 
 upon rcacliiug niauliood, ho uiairicd Miss Anna 
 Mitlor. Ho scttU'd on a faim in Berks County, 
 and died when his son Cicoi-M-c M. was a lad of ten 
 or twelve yeais. His widow sui\ ivcd him until 
 about four years since, her death 1,akiiig place in 
 Penusyhauia. 
 
 Mr. Evans upon becoming a naturalized citizen 
 allied himself with the Ivcpublican party, and still 
 gives to it his unqualified support. Aside from 
 servino' us School Direi^lor in his district he has iiad 
 very little to do with public affairs. 
 
 
 -{- 
 
 nil. LIP CADLE, an extensive and well- 
 known farmer of N'crmiliou County and 
 one whose career has bei'ii marked by suc- 
 cess, was born in England on the 22d of 
 February, 184!). When four years of age he came 
 to America witli his parents and is practically an 
 American bred man. His education was acquired 
 in the common schools, and until he became of 
 age, he worked for his father faithfully on the old 
 homestead. 
 
 Philli]) Cadle is the son of George and Elizabeth 
 (Saunders) Cadle, who were natives of England 
 and were living in Hradfordshire at the time they 
 concluded to better themselves by emigrating to 
 America. They sailed from the old country in 
 185:i and after landing upon American soil, they 
 immediately proceeded to Attica, Ind., where for 
 four years they were engaged in farming, at the 
 expiration of which period they removed to Iro- 
 quois County, 111., four miles north of Iloopeston. 
 Here they remained for two years nu)re, when they 
 again removed to a farm situated one an<l a half 
 miles southwest of Rossville, 111., remaining there 
 for three years. Their next removal was to Salt 
 Fork, west of Danville, where they lived for thir- 
 teen years, removing from that place to Homer, 
 III., where the elder Cadle is living in retirement, 
 with his wife, enjoying a well earned rest. They 
 
 are the parents of eight children: Emma was mar- 
 ried in Engl.-uiil to Thomas Edwards and they are 
 now living near Arinstroiig, 111.; Ann is the wife of 
 D. Young and they are residing in Idaho; .lane 
 married .laincs Tolliver, botliof whom arc deceased; 
 Rachael is the wife of C. Hayes. She died some 
 years ago; Sidney (i. is dead; Martha married 
 John Mann; Phillip is the suliject of this article, 
 while Dora is at home with her father and mother 
 at Homer, III. Mr. Cadle's lirst marriage occurred 
 in Vermilion County, III., May 30, 1H71, his wife 
 being Miss Emma Weaden, a native of N'irginia. 
 Of this union one child was born, Mary Anna, who 
 died when four months of age. The wife died 
 Oct. 23, IS72. 
 
 In 187ri Pliilliji Cadle married Miss America 
 Seymour. She is a nativi; of N'irginia but came 
 here when a \ei-y small child with her parents, who 
 are living at Oakwood, this county. Slie was the 
 sixth cluld of a family of nine children. INIr. and 
 Mrs. Cadle are the parents of four bright children: 
 Lilian, Rlaud, (ieorge and Dode, all of whom are 
 living at home and going to school. In addition 
 to his general farming Mr. C'.adle is engaged very 
 extensi\'ely in the stock business, a combination 
 which has been a success from a pecuniary point 
 of \'iew. 
 
 In 187ti lie purchased .")81 acres where he now 
 lives, and at this time, really commenced his active 
 career as a large dealer in hogs and cattle. In the 
 aggregate he owns 1U5 acres of the very chuicest 
 land that lies in ^'ermilion County, and the build- 
 ings that he has erected are nearly equal to that of 
 a small village, consisting of barns, stables, gran- 
 eries, an elevator, and in fai't everything that goes 
 to make up a well appointed farm. He has also a 
 tine system of water-works that supplies his house, 
 pastures and different barns with fresh, pure water. 
 Mr. Cadle deals in grains of all kinds, but more 
 especially in wheat. 
 
 Mr. Cadle is a consistent Republican and while 
 he has never aspired to olRce, has held local posi- 
 tions, filling them with the same lidelity which he 
 has shown in his private afl'airs. Mr. Cadle's suc- 
 cess in life can be directly traced tt) his prompt 
 business habits, his integrity and his capacity for 
 judging human nature. He is truly a self-made 
 
27f; 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 miin and the fortune he now owns has been accu- 
 mulated within the last eit;hteen years. 
 
 A view of the farm residence of Mr. Cadie is 
 sh^vn elsewhere in this volume. 
 
 ^EORGE ALLEN is the proprietor of Shrop- 
 shire Park. Ilis father, George Allen, was 
 inown to Europe and America as the lead- 
 ing breeder of Bate Short-horn cattle and Shrop- 
 liire sheep. The liistory of this extensive enter- 
 prise of breeding, dates back to the early life of 
 the father. While yet a young man lie showed a 
 desire and liking for the better grades of cattle and 
 sheep and his son has inherited this disposition to 
 an eminent degree. 
 
 George Allen, Sr., was born in Qerbyshire, Eng- 
 land, while the grandfather was a tenant farmer 
 of the same place and was liorn there also. This 
 family were all remarkable for their great stature, 
 the great-grandfather of the subject of this skc^tch 
 being a man of six feet five inches in height, and 
 measured one yard from one shoulder point to an- 
 nother. George Allen, Sr., was a remarkably 
 large and well-proportioned man and possessed 
 great vigor and unusual activity. He served in 
 the pjnglish cavalry for several years, and Mas dis- 
 tinguished as one of the finest appearing soldiers 
 in the British army. He married Elizabeth Tur- 
 ner, who was a native of England and the daugh- 
 ter of William and Sarah Turner, farmers. After 
 their marriage, they settled at Knightly, England, 
 and there began the breeding of Short-horn cattle, 
 and for the long period of thirty-five j^ears, Mr. 
 Allen continued in this business on the same farm, 
 gaining a wide-spread reputation as a most success- 
 ful breeder of the best strains of cattle and sheep 
 m England. He operated an extensive farm of 
 400 acres and here he reared a faniilj- of four chil- 
 dren — George, Robert IF., Mary Ann and Harry. 
 Robert II., is residing at Darlington, Ind., where 
 he is engaged in the mercantile business. Mary 
 Ann is residing at Stafford, lilngland, where she 
 married William Ebbern. who is an extensive man- 
 ufacturer of ladies' fine shoes and operates a very 
 large business. They have four children, Harry, 
 
 is the execLitor of the Allen estate and the firm ac- 
 cording to the father's will is to continue under 
 the same management and retain the firm name of 
 George Allen & Son. 
 
 The subject of this sketch and his father saw 
 greater fields for operations in America than in 
 England. They shipped several cargoes of sheep 
 here, exhibiting them for the first time at St. 
 Louis in 1871. This shi|)ment proved profitable 
 and fully exceeded their expectations. The entire 
 management of this enterprise was under George, 
 Jr. He exhibited his stock at Dayton, Ohio, also, 
 in 1«72, on the occasion of Goldsmith Maid's mak- 
 ing her great record. The same year he also 
 showed his stock at Indianapolis and St. Louis. 
 This plan of business was followed for several 
 years and so successfully that in 1879, George and 
 his father — including the entire family — came to 
 America, for the purpose of eng.aging in cattle and 
 sheep raising, bringing 100 head of Shropshire 
 sheep and twenty-two head of the Bate Short-horn 
 cattle. After easting about for a suitable location 
 they finally concluded that Vermilion County, met 
 all the r-equirements they were s(^eking. Ilorethev 
 purchased 960 acres of land, and at once entered 
 upon a career as breeders of cattle and sheep, which 
 in many ways cannot be duplicated inAmerica. 
 The mother died March 6, 1881, at the age of 
 fifty-six years, while the father met his death, 
 March 16, 1889, at the age of sixty-two. And so 
 passed away a couple whose reputation was of the 
 very best and who made this world the better for 
 their living in it. 
 
 George Allen, of whom this is written, was born 
 April 15, 1848 at Tean, Staffordshire, England. 
 He was reared as a stock-raiser and farmer, an oc 
 cupation which he has followed since he was twelve 
 years of age. He received a common school 
 education, which has been added to since by 
 intelligent and careful reading. At the age of 
 twenty-seven years he was married to Miss Ann 
 Elizabeth P^Usmore, who is a daughter of John and 
 Lucy EUsraore. They were farmers in England 
 and had two children that grew to maturity : Ann 
 E., .and AN'illiani T. The latter is residing at Staf- 
 ford, England, and is a shoe manufacturer. Mr. 
 and Mrs, Alien had two children born in England; 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 277 
 
 George and Plorence, who are now at home and 
 atteiuling school. Since coming to America the 
 following children have been born — Frederick C, 
 AVilliam, Elizabeth and Harr}'. 
 
 It is unnecessary to state that perhaps there is 
 no mun in this country who has a better reputation 
 as a breeder of Short-horn cattle and Shropshire 
 sheep, than Mr. Allen, who has taken more prizes 
 for the excellent qualities of sheep than anj^ other 
 man in the world, a record of which he feels, nat- 
 urally, very proud. From a financial standpoint, 
 he has been most eminently successful, and the pro- 
 ceeds of the earnings of his great stock farm is in- 
 vested in more lands and stock. He has become a 
 naturalized citizen and is a Republican in politics. 
 Mr. and Mrs. Allen worship at the Presbyterian 
 Church. 
 
 Of the celebrated Bate Short-horn cattle, the Al- 
 iens have on hand about 150 of the following fam- 
 ilies: Airdrie Duchess, Grand Duchess, Oxfords, 
 Barringtons, Wild Eyes, Waterloos, Kirk Leving- 
 tons. Fletchers, Fennel Duchess. Acombs, Places, 
 Darlingtons, Georgiannas, Elden Rose, Rose of 
 Sharon and Surmises. The Duke of Vermilion No. 
 8(1443, stands at the head of the herd. The Grand 
 Duke of Oxford holds the second place, and is the 
 son of the Duke of ^^ermilion. He will some day 
 take his place at the head of the herd. The 
 most valuable animals on the farm are the 
 Duchess of Vermilion, Grand Duchess No. 28 and 
 the Duke of A'ermilion, which in point of excel- 
 lence have never been surpassed inthe State of Illi- 
 nois or perhaps in America. They have a flock of 
 500 sheep with three celebrated imported rams at 
 the head. Goodsort No. 9904, won second prize 
 at the Royal Agricultural Society in England in 
 1888, and cost $300 delivered at Boston. True- 
 type, No. 5603, A. S. R. A., won first prize as a 
 lamb at the Shropshire Agricultural Show, at 
 Shrewsbury, England, in 1887. This animal was 
 imported the same year. T. & W. S. No. 13438, 
 A. S. R. A. was the first prize winning lamb in 
 England in 1888. Among the most valuable ewes 
 on this farm may be mentioned Lady Bradburn 
 second, and Jane L., who are great prize winners. 
 
 The horse breeding department of this farm has 
 been added lately. The celebrated English Shire 
 
 horse W^^mondham 2960 E. C. H. S. B. is considerM 
 to be as well bred a shire horse as can be found in 
 America. There are also six registered Shire 
 mares on this farm. 
 
 Shropshire Park is a most fitting name for this 
 extensive farm, which is one of the most valuable 
 in the State of Illinois It has more the appear- 
 ance of a fair ground than a farm. It is well pro- 
 vided with a multitude of houses, sheds, corn cribs 
 and implement houses. There are five windmills 
 on the farm which furnish water and grinding 
 power. In concluding this sketch it would be 
 proper to state that there are probably no more 
 intelligent stock breeders than the gentlemen who 
 compose the firm of George Allen & Son, of Aller- 
 ton, 111. 
 
 \J 
 
 KSSH; DAVIS. Although not a native of 
 Vermilion County, this gentleman, the son 
 of pioneer parents, was reared within its 
 (^// limits, and has for many years occupied an 
 important place among its enterprising, far-seeing, 
 thrifty, well-to-do farmers and stock-raisers. On 
 section 36, Catlin Township, he owns a large and 
 valuable farm, cultivated by the best methods, so 
 that it yields an extensive yearly income. He has 
 erected a fine residence and other substantial, well 
 arranged buildings, while everything about the 
 place shows every evidence of a master mind and 
 skillful hand controlling affairs. 
 
 Our subject is of Southern antecedents, although 
 a native of Ohio. His parents, Joseph and Eliza- 
 beth (George) Davis, are supposed to have been 
 natives of Virginia, but after their marriage they 
 settled in Pickaway County, Ohio, among its early 
 settlers. They remained there until 1833, when, 
 hoping to better their pecuniary condition by going 
 to a still newer country, they came with their 
 family to Vermilion County to try farming on its 
 virgin soil. They selected Catlin Township as a 
 desirable location, and thus became pioneers of the 
 township. The father's useful career was cut short 
 however, in a few years, and while yet in life's 
 prime it was closed in death, August, 1839. He 
 was a man of sound sense, a good farmer, and one 
 whom all respected for his unswerving integrity 
 
•278 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BI()( ; R A I'AICAL ALBUM. 
 
 anrl kind lieart. Ilis widciw surviveil him many 
 yenvs, dying in this township Dec. 30, l.S(i9. She 
 was a woman of trm> C'hristiaii [licty and a faithful 
 member (.)f the Prcsliytei'ian Church. Td iicr and 
 lier liusband were l)orn four sons and four daugli- 
 ters, our snljject being tlie youngest son and the 
 seventli child. 
 
 lie was born near JJarbysville, Picl?away Co., 
 01ii(.>, Oct. 21, 1H.'^2. Me was about a year old 
 when his parents brought him to A'ermilion Coun- 
 ty, and here, amid the pioneer scenes of those early 
 days in the settlement of the county, he grew to 
 be a stalwart, manly man. He had such schooling 
 as could lie obtained in those days of limited edu- 
 cational advantages when the rude log cabin was 
 the only literary institution of this section of 
 country, and its doors were only opened to the 
 children of the pioneers a few short weeks in the 
 different seasons of the j'ear. He was bred to the 
 life of a farmer, and has made the tilling of the 
 land his [)rincipal (occupation. He has met with 
 more than ordinary success in his calling, and may 
 well feel proud of what he has achieved by hard 
 labor, directed by sonnd business acumen and 
 the prudent management of his monetary affairs. 
 His farm, c(.)mprising 440 acres of land of exceed- 
 ing fertility, is well stocked and is amply provided 
 with all the necessary appliances and machinery for 
 making it one of the model places of the township. 
 Mr. Davis holds that a part of his prosperity is 
 due to the fact that he is blessed with a good wife, 
 who has actively co-operated with him in all his 
 plans. They were united in marriage in Catlin 
 Township March 10, 1859, and to them have come 
 five children, as follows: Clara J., the wife of 
 Willis Lesher ; Van C. ; one who died in infancy; 
 Scott G.; Minnie L., the wife of David McAIillin. 
 The maiden name of ]\Irs. Davis was Melvina Eliza- 
 beth Hyatt, and she is the daughter of James and 
 Martha (Rouland) Hyatt, both of whom are de- 
 ceased. Her father was born in South Carolina 
 and her mother in Kentucky, and after marriage 
 they settled in Davis County, Ky., where he was 
 engaged in farming, and there they died. They 
 had seven children, four sons and three daughters. 
 Mrs. Davis was their second child, and she wasliorn 
 in Davis County, Ky„ No\-. 21, 1838. She grew 
 
 to womanhood there, and came to N'ermilion Coun- 
 ty in the month of November, I 8.58, with hei' sister, 
 Mrs. Mary Wallace, who was an invalid. She is a 
 genial, lovable, motherly woman, wliose genuine 
 kindness has won her a warm place in the hearts of 
 tlie entire community'. 
 
 When Mr. Davis was brought here in his infancy, 
 the surrounding country presented a far different 
 appearance from what it does to-day. Tiien it was 
 a literal wilderness, savage animals and abundant 
 game roamed over the wild, uncultivated prairies, 
 or found shelter in the primeval forests along the 
 water courses, and the bold, hardy frontiersman had 
 scarcely more than begun to turn the virgin sod 
 and lay the foundations of the wealth and pros- 
 perity that obtain to-day on all sides, as evidenced 
 by flourishing and busy towns, smiling farms, and 
 many happy homes. That he has had a hand in 
 bringing about this great change may be a source 
 of pride to our subject, who is a man of eminent 
 public spirit, and has generously contributed of his 
 means to further all enterprises that will in any 
 way add to the prosperity of the community with 
 wliose interests his own are identical, and among 
 whose people he has lived in peace and friendship 
 for more than half a century. He is a man of high 
 moral character, and is gifted with many worthy 
 attributes that render him respected of all men. In 
 his political views he strongly favors the Proliibi- 
 tion party, being himself a sound temperance man. 
 He and his wife are worthy members of the Pres- 
 byterian Church, she having been a communicant 
 ever since she was thirteen years old. 
 
 "fe 
 
 ^V 
 
 ^ APT. JOSEPH TRUAX. ( )akwood Town- 
 ill - ship contains no more active or energetic 
 ^^J business man than Capt. Truax, who is in 
 the prime of life and in the midst of a prosperous 
 career. The opening years of his life were siieiit 
 in Muskingum County, Ohio, where he wa^: born 
 July 25, 18,38, being the eighth in a family of nine 
 children, the offspring of Joseph, Jr., and Nancy 
 (Robison) Truax, who were both natives of Penn- 
 sylvania, the father born in Bedford County, May 
 16, 1800, and the mother March 15, 1801. The 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 279 
 
 paternal grandfather, Joseph Trnax, Sr., was like- 
 wise a native of the Keystone State and of German 
 descent. He entered the Revolutionary Arm}' at 
 the beginning of the war and served on the side of 
 the colonists until its close. His wife was a Miss 
 Stillwell, a native of his own State, where they set- 
 tled and died. Their family consisted of four sons 
 and two daughters, all of whom are deceased. 
 
 The mother of our subject was the daughter of 
 James and IiJlen Robison, both of whom were na- 
 tives of Dublin, Ireland. Grandfather Robison 
 was a very prominent Knight Templar of Dublin, 
 and our subject has in his possession a demit once 
 belonging U> the old gentleman and signed 107 
 j'ears ago. 
 
 The parents of our subject were married in Penn- 
 sylvania and remained there until IH'M. Then re- 
 moving to Ohio they settled on a farm in Mus- 
 kingum County where they lived until the fall of 
 1854, then took up their line of march for Illinois. 
 Coming to this county they settled two miles east 
 of Pilot Grove, and in 1859 removed to Blount 
 Township, where the father died March 7,1861. 
 The mother passed away Jan. 1, 1885. Seven of 
 their nine children lived to mature years and three 
 are still living. 
 
 Our subject, upon coming to this county, had a 
 fine young horse which he sold and devoted the 
 proceeds to advance his education, attending school 
 in Danville, where he closely applied himself to his 
 studies for some eighteen months. In 1859 he be- 
 gan teaching at Collison's Point and remained there 
 through the fall and wlnU^r until spring. In the 
 latter part of lK(;i) he commenced teaching at 
 Craig's schoolhouse, and in the winter taught in the 
 old Union Church building at Blue Corner. On the 
 Sd of July, 1861, the Civil War having broken 
 out, he entered the Union Army as a member of 
 C^ompany I, .'i5th Illinois Infantry, being mustered 
 in as First Lieutenant, Aug. 24, 1861 at St. Louis. 
 
 The 35th Illinois saw much hard service. They 
 were first ordered to Jefferson City, thence to Se- 
 dalia, Mo., and from there started south on the 
 lookout for the rebel General Price. They marched 
 120 miles to Springfield, and from there to Rolla, 
 a like distance. Lieut. Trua.\ was here seized with 
 illness and sent home on a two month's furlough. 
 
 He returned to his regiment in Februaiy, 1862, 
 and was placed in command of a detachment of 
 seventy men, with which he repaired to Spring- 
 field still after (len. Price. Later he was detailed 
 with his commanfl to remnin and guard the city. 
 After the battle of Pea Ridge he rejoined his regi- 
 ment on the road to Batesville, Ark., but at this 
 place they were ordered to Cape Girardeau, a dis- 
 tance of 250 miles, which distance they covered in 
 nine days, taking one day to rest, making ten in 
 all. On account of walking without shoes the feet 
 of many of the men were sore and bleeding. At 
 Cape Girardeau they were paid their monthly sti- 
 pend by Maj. McK'ibben, an old resident of this 
 county. 
 
 Lieut. Truax, with his regiment, now l)oarded 
 the transport "Sunshine" and proceeded to Cairo, 
 and from there up the Ohio to the mouth of the 
 Tennessee, and thence to tlu! old battle-ground of 
 Pittsburg Landing. Here they joined the arjny of 
 Tien, llalleck and moved toward Corinth from the 
 east, witnessing the burning of the city. From 
 there they marched to Clear S[)rings and spent July 
 4 near Jacinto, Miss. Later the3' were placed on 
 guard at Bear Creek Bridge, near luka. Then the 
 division to which the S5th Regiment belonged cut 
 loose and crossed the Tennessee at Mussel Shoals, 
 marching through the enemy's country and joining 
 Buell's army at Alurfreeslioro. 
 
 Our subject and liis command now stai'ted after 
 the rebel General, Bragg, reaching Louisville be- 
 fore him and followed him on his retreat to Perry- 
 ville, to Crab Orchard and to Nashville, Tenn. 
 Afterward, succeeded the battle of JMurfreeshoro, 
 and the regiment then entei-ed upon the Chicka- 
 mauga campaign. Su])sequently foll(jwe<l the two 
 day's battle of Chickamanga when they fell back to 
 Chattanooga, and the November following charged 
 upon Mission Ridge driving the enemj^ before 
 them and capturing the place. Tlieir next business 
 was to relieve (ien. Burnside at Knoxville, to 
 which they hurried on a forced march, and later 
 they proceeded to Strawberry Plains and to Lou- 
 don, Tenn., where they built a, bridge in the spring 
 of 18(;4. 
 
 The 35th Regiment was then ordered to the vi- 
 cinity of Cleveland, Tenn., where they prepared to 
 
■280 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 join Sherman's Arni)- on its march to the sea, and 
 Lieut. Truax was with his regiment in every battle 
 and skirmish in which it afterward participated. In 
 LS62 he was rewarded for liis braver}' and fidelit.y 
 to duty by promotion to a Captaincy, receiving his 
 commission at Crab Orchard, and with his regi- 
 ment at liis expiration of term of enlistment, was 
 relieved from duty on the 28th of August, 1864, 
 and was mustered out at Springfield in September 
 following. 
 
 After retiring from the army Capt. Truax first 
 took his mother to Ohio, then came back and resumed 
 teaching in the same old Union Church building 
 south of Oakwood. On the 19th of March, 1S65, 
 he was married to Miss Mary E. Helmick, and set- 
 tled on a farm one and one-half miles west of Oak- 
 wood, where they lived until the fall of 1884. He 
 then bought out the firm of Stillwell iV Young, 
 general merchants, and has since been in trade, be- 
 sides handling grain qviite extensively. He owns 
 the entire block in which his store is located, and 
 has also a good residence in the northern part of 
 the city. 
 
 Capt. Truax takes an active part in politics and 
 votes the straight Republican ticket. He has served 
 as School Trustee for twenty 3'ears, Justice of the 
 Peace four years, and Commissioner of Highways 
 two terms. Both he and his wife belong to the 
 Methodist Episcopal Church, with which the Cap- 
 tain became identified in 1866, and in which he has 
 served as Steward and Trustee. Socially, he be- 
 longs to Oakwood Lodge No. 564, 1. O 0. F., in 
 which he has occupied all the offices from AYarden 
 to Past Grand. He is also identified with George 
 Morrison Post, G. A. R. The Captain and his es- 
 timable lad}' are the parents of five children, one of 
 whom, Nancy B., who was born Dec. 21, 1868, 
 died Jan. 20, 1869; Frances E. was born Feb. 10, 
 1866; Ruberta A., April 1, 1867; Charles E., 
 Aug. 9, 1872. and Josephine, March 24. 1876. 
 
 Rev. Eli Helmick, the father of Mrs. Truax, was 
 born in Randolph County, Va., May 4, 1800, and 
 her mother. May 25,1804. After marriage they 
 resided In the Old Dominion for awhile, then about 
 1832 came to this county. He was an ordained 
 minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church, a man 
 of fine abilities, good judgment and great perse- 
 
 verance, and was of essential service in the Master's 
 vlnej'ard. After the death of his first wile, Mrs. 
 Rachel (Villers) Helmick. the mother of Mrs. 
 Truax, he was married to Miss Amanda Oakwood, 
 who died about 1874. Mr. Helmick departed this life 
 July 18, 1887, at the advanced age of eighty- 
 five years. Of his first marriage there were born 
 nine children, of whom Mrs. Truax was the sixth. 
 Her birth took place in Vermilion County, 111., 
 Nov. 21, 1835. 
 
 -. ^^.^ S- 
 
 '^ OHN J. PARTLOW. The neat and well- 
 regulated home of this gentleman lies adja- 
 cent to the city of Danville, and embraces 
 l^^ twenty-six acres of land; which is In a high 
 state of cultivation, and devoted to the raising of 
 small fruits. Upon it the proprietor has erected a 
 flue residence, and each year adds something to the 
 beauty and value of the property. Mr. Partlow is 
 numbered among the steady-going and reliable citi- 
 zens of this county — one who without making a 
 great deal of stir in the world has fulfilled his obli- 
 gations to his family and society in a praiseworthy 
 manner, and deserves more than a passing notice. 
 
 A native of this count}-, our subject was born in 
 Middle Fork Township, Aug. 7,1832, and is the 
 son of James Partlow, who was born in Yirginia, 
 and was the son of Samuel Partlow, to whom fur- 
 ther i-eferencu is made in the sketch of Asa Part- 
 low, on another page in this volume. James Part- 
 low was reared in Kentucky, and learned the trade 
 of a wheelwright in his youth, which he followed 
 in the Blue Grass regions until 1831. That year 
 he came to Illinois, overland with a team, accom- 
 panied by his family and traveling after the prlm- 
 tive fashion of those days — carrying with him his 
 household goods, and camping and cooking by the 
 wayside. 
 
 The father of our subject upon his arrival in this 
 county took up a claim of (lOvernment land before 
 it had come into the market. Indians were still to 
 be seen prowling over the country, while deer, wild 
 turky and wolves were also plentiful. The land 
 which Mr. Partlow selected was part timber and 
 [lart prairie. He put up a rail pen for the tempor- 
 
-■^S-^'Sw-sW 
 
 iM*!S%a»^ 
 
 i£jU^, 
 
 '^^ 
 
 ^ z' 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 281 
 
 iiry shelter of liis family, and afterward built a log 
 bouse, in wliich structure the subject of this sketch 
 was born. The chimney of this primitive dwell- 
 ing was made of earth and sticks outside, the floor 
 was laid of split puncheon, and the roof covered 
 with clapbords. It was before the time of rail- 
 roads, and the nearest market was at the towns on 
 the Wabash River. James Partlow here spent the 
 remainder of his days, passing away about the year 
 1854. He had lived to see the wilderness around 
 him transformed into smiling grain fields and com- 
 fortable homes, and himself put up a third dwell- 
 ing, in the shape of a commodious frame house. 
 This latest structure was built prior to the con- 
 struction of the railroad through this part of the 
 county, and the doors for it were hauled from Chi- 
 cago. The weather- boarding was sawed from black- 
 walnut logs which Mr. Partlow drew to the mill. 
 He brought his farm to a good state of cultivation, 
 and in his last years was surrounded by all the com- 
 forts of life. 
 
 Mrs. Ellen (Milton) Partlow, the mother of our 
 subject, was born in Kentucky, and died at the 
 home of her daughter, Mrs. Dr. Humphrey, of 
 Danville, about 1855. Both she and her husband 
 had been twice married. John J., our subject, pur- 
 sued his first lessons in a log school-house, into 
 which light was admitted through greased paper 
 stretched along an aperture from which one of the 
 logs had been sawed away. He was at an ear\y age 
 trained to habits of industry, and as soon as large 
 enough his services were utilized in the labors of 
 the farm. At the age of fourteen he was employed 
 in a drug store two years, but later attended 
 Georgetown Academy and the Red Seminary in 
 Danville. Later he officiated as clerk in the dry- 
 goods store of E. V. & P. Leshure three years. 
 Subsequently he became the employe of Partlow & 
 Humphrey, with whom he remained one year. At 
 the expiration of this time he associated himself 
 in partnership with R. A. Short, and they engaged 
 in mercantile business together two years, when 
 our subject purchased the interest of his partner in 
 the business, and conducted it twelve years. At 
 this point, abandonin^^ merchandising, Mr. Partlow 
 entered the employ of the Chicago & Eastern Illi- 
 nois Railroad Company, with whom he continued 
 
 two years, and was then appointed .n Railway Mail 
 Clerk on the same road, running first from Chicago 
 to Danville, and later from Chicago to Terre 
 Haute, Ind. He performed in this manner faithful 
 and efficient service for a period of eleven yoais, 
 and in 188-1 invested a poi-tion of his earnings in 
 his present pi-operty. 
 
 Miss Frances L. Giddings. the eldest child of 
 William and Caroline(Kitcheuer)Giddings, became 
 the wife of our subject Nov. 5, 1857. Of this un- 
 ion there have been born two children, the eldest 
 of whom, Elmer E., married Miss Mattie Collins, 
 
 and is the father of a son and two daughters 
 
 George E., Vera and Frances. The younger son, 
 Charles, is a printer by trade, and makes his home 
 with his parents. Mr. Partlow, politically, is a 
 stanch Republican, and with his estimable wife is 
 a member in good standing of the Methodist p:pis- 
 copal Church. 
 
 I )|ILLIS B. CAUBLE, Physician and Sur- 
 \sJi geon. Among the truly successful pro- 
 W^ fessional men of this county is the young 
 man whose name initiates this sketch. He came 
 to Sidell right after his graduation from Rush 
 Medical College, of Chiengo, through the urgent 
 request of some of the leading citizens of this en- 
 terprising village. Naturally gifted to fill his re- 
 sponsible position of ministering to the health of 
 his fellowmen, and after a long and studious course 
 in the intricacies of his profession at different 
 places, he is well equipped to meet the expectations 
 of his friends. 
 
 Dr. Cauble was born at Alto Pass, Union Co , 
 111., where his father is a large land owner and one 
 of the wealthiest and most prominent men of his 
 county. Willis C. and Sei-ena, father and mother 
 of the subject of this sketch are leading people in 
 society in Union County, the native place of the 
 former. The grandfather of \Villis Jr., John F. 
 Cauble, was born in North Carolina, where he was 
 an extensive land owner. He subsequently came 
 to Illinois, where he acquired large tracts of land 
 also. His son, Willis Sr., being the only heir and 
 a good business man, became the owner of the 
 
282 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 large property left by his fatlier, and he afterward 
 engaged in the erection of a sawmill and grist- 
 mill, shipping lumber and flour to St. Louis and is 
 now very extensively engaged in growing fruits 
 and vegetables. He owns three large farms, one 
 of them being two miles and three-quarters long. 
 The parents of Willis Jr., had nine children, live 
 of whom are living, namely : Willis Benton, Cora 
 E., Adam J., Flora M., and Myrtle A. 
 
 Dr. Cauble passed his childhood da3's in rural 
 life with his parents and in his early boyhood at- 
 tended the district schools. Later on he entered 
 St. Vincent College at Cape Girardeau, Mo., 
 from which institution he graduated with distin- 
 guished honors in the class of 1885, in the scientific 
 course. While stud3'ing at college, he became 
 imbued with the idea that the medical profession 
 was one which would suit his inclinations and he 
 therefore chose that for his life work. He studied 
 under the direction of Dr. W. W. Esick of 
 Murphysboro, 111., for one year, and in the fall 
 of 1887 entered the medical department of the 
 University of Tennessee at Kasliville, there prose- 
 cuting his studies for one year. From there he 
 proceeded to Louisville, Ky., and attended for six 
 months the summer lectures at the Medical and 
 Surgical Institute of that city. He graduated from 
 those two courses, when he returned to Murphys- 
 boro and began practice under his old pre- 
 ceptor which he continued for two months. In the 
 fall of 1887 he entered Rush Medical College, 
 graduating in Feb. 1888. His thesis on "T3rphoid 
 Fever and Death from Uremic Poisoning," was de- 
 livered before the facultj^ and won the prize, and 
 was also pronounced by Prof. Ross as one of the 
 ablest productions of any student of Rush College, 
 while a letter was written by Dr. Ross to Dr. 
 Cauble's preceptor, filled with commendatory 
 language. 
 
 Dr. Cauble was born April 24, 18G6 and is one of 
 the youngest medical men of the State and the 
 youngest practitioner in Vermilion County. He 
 seems intent upon reaching the highest round in 
 the ladder of his profession, and never wearies in 
 studying and writing upon subjects connected with 
 his noble calling. He is especially proficient in the 
 subject of the diseases of women and children. The 
 
 citizens of Sidell may well congratulate themselves 
 upon the acquisition of a physician of such marked 
 ability. 
 
 The Doctor is a member of the Catholic Church 
 and votes with the Democratic party. He was ap- 
 pointed County Physician of the district including 
 Sidell, and is also the examining physician of the 
 Aetna Life Insurance Company of Hartford, and 
 he fills a similar position for other insurance com- 
 panies. It is his intention to go to Menna in three 
 or four years and there take instruction under the 
 celebrated German medical professors. There is a 
 great future in store for Dr. Cauble. 
 
 ARRY L. FREEMAN, junior partner in 
 the firm of John Jackson & Co., dealers in 
 general merchandise at Sidell, although 
 •1/1 young in years, occupies no secondary posi- 
 tion among the business interests of this thriving 
 village. He is bright, capable and energetic, and 
 is universally popular among the people who have 
 known him almost since his boyhood. He was 
 born in Fairmount, this county, and is the son of 
 Alfred C. and Mary W. (Dustin) Freeman, the 
 former a native of Washington County, Pa., and 
 the latter of St. Johusbury,Vt. Mrs. Freeman was 
 a direct descendant of Hannah Dustin, one of the 
 most notable and heroic women of her time — the 
 old Puritan days. 
 
 The parents of our subject came to Illinois prior 
 to their marriage, Mr. Freeman settling in Edgar 
 County, and Miss Dustin with her parents in this 
 county. They were married at Fairmount. The 
 father was reared to farming pursuits, but finally 
 changing his occupation, became station ngent of 
 the Wabash Railroad at Fairmount, and served in 
 that capacit_y satisfactorily several years. Finally 
 in 1868, he changed his residence to Danville, and 
 has been citj' clerk there for the last sixteen or 
 eighteen years. During this time he has made 
 many warm friends, having performed the duties 
 of his office in an admirable manner, and possessing 
 the good judgment and discretion which is so 
 essential to every individual occupying a position 
 of trust and responsibility. The wife an<l mother 
 
, ^^«w-^,^ 
 
 '^C-^r?--o-7-t/ 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 285 
 
 is still living, and is now about fifty years of age. 
 Their family consisted of five children, who were 
 named respectively Harry L., Fred D., Bert D., 
 Nettie J., and Edmund G. 
 
 The subject of this notice was born Sept. 8, 1 865. 
 lie attended school at Danville^during his boyhood 
 and j'outh, and received careful parental training. 
 When of suitable years and attainments he launched 
 out in life for himself, and at the early age of 
 seventeen years became Deputy Assessor and Col- 
 lector of Danville Township, which position he 
 held for nine years. Shortly after reaching the 
 twentieth year of his age he was married, Dec. 2, 
 1885, to Miss Jennie W. Jackson, daughter of 
 Amos Jackson, a sketch of whom will be found 
 elsewhere in this volume. 
 
 JMrs. Freeman was born in Indianola, this county, 
 Dec. 3, 1865, where she was reared to womanhood. 
 Of her union with our subject there was one child, 
 Anna J., born Sept. 6, 1887, died Nov. 13, 1888. 
 Mr. and Mrs. Freeman removed to Sidell in July, 
 1888, in which time our subject became a member 
 of the firm above-mentioned. They occupy a neat 
 and tasteful dwelling in the southern part of the 
 city, and number their friends among its best peo- 
 ple. Mr. Freeman votes the Republican ticket, 
 and sociallj% belongs to the Jlodern Woodmen. 
 He has started out in life with fair prospects, and 
 has the wishes of hosts of friends for his continued 
 prosperity. 
 
 H-Hi.^^4^-?- . 
 
 [fJLLIAM G. HERRON is the most exten- 
 sive farmer in "S'ermilion Countj', having 
 ,800 acres under his immediate super- 
 vision, all of which is in a highly improved state 
 of cultivation. The firm of Allerton & Herron vvns 
 established in 1880, when Sam W. Allerton, of 
 Chicago, purchased this extensive tract of land, 
 from J. G. Clark, of the Singer Sewing Machine 
 Company, who foreclosed the mortgage on the cel- 
 ebrated Joseph Sullivan farm, which was called by 
 the earlier settlers "Twin Grove." 
 
 Two groves of about 100 acres each on this tract 
 of land looked so much alike that the people gave 
 the farm the name quoted above. Michael Sulli- 
 
 4 fclLL 
 
 Ms 
 
 van was made trustee of the Sterling estate in 
 Kentucky and Ohio, by reason of his son Joseph 
 being one of the heirs. The father invested the 
 funds thus inherited in lands, purchasing them at 
 their regular government price, immediately upon 
 the reopening of the land ofHce after the Illinois 
 Central Railroad's time for choosing its lands in 
 the State of Illinois had expired. This period ex- 
 tended from 1849 to 1852. 
 
 William G. Herron was born in Madison County, 
 Ohio, near London. He remained on a farm until 
 lie was twenty years old, and there learned his early 
 lessons of industry. His father, Gardner Herron, 
 and his mother , Maria (Moraine) Herron, were born 
 in Dorchester County, Md. His father was a sol- 
 dier in the War of 1812, and at the age of twenty- 
 two he removed to Ohio. His mother was brought 
 to Madison County when she was four years of age. 
 His father and a brother and sister were left or- 
 phans; the sister married and died when sixty 
 years of age. Gardner Herron was a man of mod- 
 erate circumstances, owning his farm in Madison 
 County where he died, which event occurred in 
 1855. His wife is still living with a daughter at 
 jMahome't, 111. This worthy couple had ten chil- 
 dren, of whom four boys and three girls grew to 
 maturity; the others died in infancy. 
 
 William G. Herron was born April 6, 1829. His 
 educational advantages were exceedingly limited. 
 He was the oldest child of the family, and of course 
 was expected to take an important part in carrying 
 on the farm. In 1851 he left Ohio in the employ 
 of a stockman. On his first visit to Illinois, which 
 was at the time indicated, his impressions were not 
 favorable to his location in this county, for at the 
 time he remarked he would not give ten cents an 
 acre for any of the land. So he continued in the 
 occupation of drover, proceeding backward and 
 forward from Ohio on horseback and in a buggy, 
 driving many cattle from Illinois to- Ohio and 
 Pennsylvania. He became very vjell acquainted on 
 the National Road, so that he knew almost every 
 one located on that thoroughfare. He was married 
 in 1855 to Miss Evelj-n Robison, a native of Mad- 
 ison County, Ohio, and the same year he settled in 
 Piatt County, 111. His wife is the daughter of 
 Thomas and Mary (Lane) Robison, the former of 
 
286 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 whom was one of the early settlers of Madison 
 County. He was born in South Carolina, while 
 Mrs. Robison was a native of Maryland. Tiiey 
 came of good Revolutionary stock. The Robison 
 family was a leading one in the South, while the 
 Lanes were prominent in colonial times. 
 
 After marriage Mr. Herron engaged in farming 
 and stock-raising until 1860, when he bought into 
 a general merchandise business at Monticello, III., 
 continuing in this with varied results for several 
 years. He and S. W. Allerton became acquainted 
 in Chicago in 1860. Fortune had favored Mr. Al- 
 lerton, and in 1881, when he purchased this vast 
 farm, he offered his friend an opportunity that was 
 embraced, giving Mr. Herron the entire manage- 
 ment of the place. 
 
 The firm of Allerton & Herron was therefore 
 formed, and it has been a successful business ven- 
 ture from the start. The influence of this firm in- 
 duced the Chicago & Eastern Illinois Railroad to 
 forward its work, and Mr. Allerton donated the 
 right of way through his land and laid out the vil- 
 lage plat of Allerton which is yet in its infancy, but 
 on account of its fme location is destined to become 
 a good point for shipping grain, cattle and horses. 
 General trade is also bound to prosper here, and the 
 people of the town have great faith that their hopes 
 will be full}' realized. The large steam elevator was 
 put up by Mr. Allerton in 1887, and is operated by 
 John H. Herron, our subject's son, and is run in 
 the firm name of Allerton & Herron. Mr. Herron 
 gives emplojmient to about twenty-five men, and 
 runs from sixty to seventy teams. He is following- 
 general or mixed farming, and is constantly im- 
 proving his large farm. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Herron have reared nine children: 
 Fannie died when she was twenty-one years of age, 
 at the time being a student at the Weslej^an Uni- 
 versity at Bloomingtou, 111.; Emma was married 
 June 26, 1889, to Prof . F. W. Martin, of Chaddock 
 College, Quincy, 111. She is one of the faculty at 
 Chadflock College. She is a graduate of the Wes- 
 lyan University and is a Master of Arts and Pro- 
 fessor of Greek and Latin ; David W. is on a ranch 
 at Cedar Rapids, Neb., where he is conducting a 
 7,000-acre farm for Allerton. He is married and 
 has two children; William H. is connected with the 
 
 United States Geological Survey, and has charge 
 of the survey in Kansas; John H. is running the 
 steam elevator at Allerton; Una is a student at 
 Chaddock College in the class of '90; Edwin is at- 
 tending the High School at Mahomet; Clyde is at 
 home as is also Ralph, who is attending school. 
 Mr. Herron has given all of his children the ben- 
 efit of good educational advantages, and they have 
 improved them. 
 
 Mr. Herron is an uncomprising and stalwart Re- 
 publican and attends most of the conventions bis 
 party holds. He has served as a member of the Ex- 
 ecutive commitee and is President of the Republi- 
 can Club of Sidell, He has been an active mem- 
 ber of the Methodist Episcopal Church from boy- 
 hood up. He has given large sums to the Wesleyan 
 University. He and his wife have been members 
 of the Broadland Methodist Episcopal Church for 
 many years, where they take great interest in the 
 Sunday-school. Mr. Herron was Superintendent 
 of the Sabbath-school at Monticello, 111., for 
 eighteen years, and in this work he is perhaps bet- 
 ter known than in any other, as he began active 
 operations in the Sunday-schools thirty years ago, 
 and has continued in the work without flagging 
 during that long period. He assisted in the for- 
 mation of most of the Sunday-schools of Piatt and 
 Champaign counties, and also of the southern por- 
 tion of Vermilion. In all things he is a leader, 
 whether in politics or religion. As a man and as a 
 neighbor, there is none who stands higher than 
 William G. Herron. 
 
 On another page of the Album appears a fine 
 portrait of Mr. Herron, who occupies a prominent 
 position among his fellow-men, and is accordingly 
 worthj' of an important place in a book of this 
 character. 
 
 ORIN SPERRY represents the agricultural 
 interests of Blount Township as a farmer of 
 more tlmn ordinary shrewdness and practical 
 ability. He has met with marked success in his 
 chosen calling, and has a large farm on section 20, 
 which by good management he has made one of 
 the most valuable estates in this part of Vermilion 
 County. Mr. Sperry is the son of a pioneer fam- 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPAICAL ALBUM. 
 
 287 
 
 ilj', was reared here from early childhood, and lias 
 always made his home here. 
 
 Mr. Sperry is of New England ancestry on his 
 father's side, and that parent, whose name was 
 Wallace Sperry, was born in the good old State of 
 Connecticut. Sarah Watkins, the mother of our 
 subject, came of Southern parentage, and she was 
 born in Maryland. During some period in their 
 lives the parents went to Ohio, in the early days of 
 its settlement, and there he was born in Warren 
 County Sept. 4, 1828, the sixth of nine children. 
 When be was but two years old, in 1830, they 
 brought him to tiiis State, and in their new pioneer 
 home in Blount Township he was reared to a stal- 
 wart, vigorous manhood. He gleaned a practical 
 education in the district schools, and his parents 
 trained him thoroughly in the duties of life, drill- 
 ing him well in all that pertains to a farmer's call- 
 ing. When he became independent, after reaching 
 man's estate, he bought a Mexican land warrant, 
 paying $150 for 160 acres of land, which he took 
 up on section 20, Blount Township, and still re- 
 tains .it in his possession. But he has added to 
 it as he became more prosperous and wealthy, and 
 now owns 509 acres of as fine farming land as is to 
 be found within the limits of the county. He has 
 it under admirable tillage, and has a comfortable, 
 substantial set of buildings, and everything nec- 
 essary to carrying on agriculture to the best ad- 
 vantage. 
 
 Mr. Sperry has been twice married. He was first 
 wedded Sept. 23, 1852, to Mary Stewart, daughter 
 of William and Charlotte Stewart, who at that 
 time lived in Scotland, but afterward came to this 
 county. Of that marriage nine children were 
 born, of whom the following four are living: 
 Eli S., who married Sueldo Johnson ; Demna, who 
 married Wesley Smith ; Asa and Eben are yet un- 
 married. The others, who died when quite young, 
 are William A., Charles F., Clarissa J., George M., 
 and Jessie G. Aug. 30, 1883, the household of 
 our subject was bereft of the beloved wife and 
 mother, who had been devoted to the interests of 
 her family, and was in every respect a true woman 
 whom to know was to respect. 
 
 Mr. Sperry was married to his present amiable 
 wife Oct. 11, 1888. She is a good housewife and 
 
 looks carefully after the comforts of the inmates of 
 the pleasant home over which she presides. Her 
 maiden name was Ellen Cozatt, and she is a daugh- 
 ter of Henry and Nancy Wood, and widow of 
 Perry C. Cozatt. 
 
 Mr. Sherry is a man of sterling worth, one in 
 whom his fellow-citizens place the utmost confi- 
 dence. He possesses foresight, thrift and sound 
 discretion in an eminent degree, and they have been 
 factors in his prosperity. In him the United Breth- 
 ren Church finds one of its most earnest and valued 
 members, who carries his religion into the everjr 
 day affairs of life. In politics he has been a stanch 
 Republican since the early days of the formation of 
 
 the party. 
 
 - ocx> - 
 
 I^ICHAEL McCAUL. There are many 
 greater men than their garb would indi- 
 cate. We find in the person of this gen- 
 tleman a classical scholar who pursued his 
 youthful studies with the intention of becoming a 
 priest, but untoward circumstances compelled him 
 to leave college and engage in manuailabor. This 
 necessarily changed the whole course of his life 
 and we now find him a thorough-going farmer, 
 who in company with his brother owns 120 acres 
 of land on sections 1 and 6 in Sidell Township. 
 
 Probabl}' Mr. McCaul is the only man in his 
 township who has circumnavigated the globe. 
 After leaving college his mother was unwilling to 
 have him come to America on account of the 
 Civil War, so he went to Australia. He was born 
 in County Cavan, Ireland, in August, 1844, and 
 pursued his early studies in the common schools 
 until the age of fifteen years, when he entered the 
 Larrah Classical School in the same county, where 
 he pursued his studies for three years and then his 
 lack of finances compelled him to withdraw. In 
 setting out for Australia, he was accompanied by 
 his brother, Bernard. They sailed around the coast 
 of Africa, doubled Cape Hope and arrived at Mor- 
 ton Bay Colony, Queensland, where they became 
 employed on the public works, principally railroads 
 for five years. 
 
 At the expiration of this time the McCaul 
 brothers determined to come to America and set 
 
288 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 tail from Melbourne, going' up through the Pacific, 
 doubling Cape Horn and landing in Liverpool, 
 whence they embarked on a steamer to the prom- 
 ised land. They arrived in New York in the early 
 part of November, 1867, and thence made their 
 wa3' to Marshall County, this State, where they be- 
 gan farming together and operated thus several 
 years. 
 
 Our subject finally removed to Woodford 
 County, where he sojourned a few years, then 
 changing his residence to Champaign County, from 
 which he came, in 1880, with his brother to his 
 present farm. They took out their naturalization 
 papers in 1884. Mr. McCaul believes in protection 
 to American industries and consequently has iden- 
 tified himself with the Republican party. He is in full 
 sympathy with the cause of Ireland and a warm 
 admirer of Patrick Egan, Patrick Ford and other 
 who are endeavoring to free their country from 
 the oppressions of British rule. He has signi- 
 fied his sympathy in a substantial manner, donat- 
 ing liberally of his means. 
 
 The parents of our subject were Bernard and 
 Mary (McEntee) Mc(Jaul, natives of County Cavan, 
 Ireland, and the father was a farmer by occupation. 
 They spent their entire lives upon their native 
 soil, each living to be sixty-three years old. Their 
 five children were named respectively, Ann, Ed- 
 ward, Patrick, Bernard, and Michael. Ann is 
 the widow of John Reile3' and resides in Sidell 
 Township; Edward and Patrick remain in their 
 native Ireland. Bernard married Miss Mary 
 Gulcheon, a native, like himself of County Cavan, 
 and they have three children — Mary, Bernard, and 
 Maggie. Michael, our subject, continues in a state 
 of single blessedness. 
 
 RANKLIN EMMET ABBOTT, well-known 
 M as one of the most enterprising of the 
 younger farmers of Grant Township, was 
 born in Brown County, Ohio, Sept. 12, 1859, and 
 came to Illinois with his parents when but six 
 years of age,. His parents were AVilson and Sarah 
 J. (Brown) Abbott, who were natives of Ohio and 
 after their removal to Illinois, coming direct to 
 
 Vermilion County, they settled on a farm on sec- 
 tion 22 in this same township a short distance 
 from where Franklin E. now resides. 
 
 There the family lived for about three years when 
 they removed to a rented farm a short distance 
 off, and a year later Mr. Abbott bought a 40- 
 acre farm on which the family made their home 
 for many years, and on which place Wilson 
 Abbott died on Feb. 14, 1883 at the age of fifty- 
 two. He was a farmer all his Jife-time, giving his 
 entire time and attention to the work pertaining to 
 his farm, and having no dpsire for notoriety, 
 as far as possible avoided public position, never 
 holding any office, save such as school director, or 
 the like, that he could not evade. He was known as 
 one of the older settlers of the township, which was 
 comparatively new when he located here, a quar- 
 ter of a century ago. He left behind him a splen- 
 did record as a man and as a farmer. Mrs. Sarah 
 J. Abbott survived her husband nearly four years, 
 dying in the house of her son, Franklin E., on Dec. 
 16, 1886, aged fifty-two years. 
 
 Wilson Abbott and wife were the parents of eight 
 children, of whom seven are yet living as follows: 
 Frances Evelyn, is the wife of Martin Davis, a 
 farmer in Grant Township; James L., is married to 
 jMIss Maggie Schoolcraft, and is also a farmer in 
 Grant Township; Franklin E., was next in order 
 of birth ; Isodora Albertine is the wife of William 
 Trueheart, a farmer in ]Mead County, Kan.; Marj^ 
 Luella and Cyrena Belle, make their home with 
 their brother of whom this is written, and Charles 
 L. is unmarried and engaged in farm work. 
 
 Franklin E. Abbott, the subject of this sketch, 
 has spent his entire life in the county and town- 
 ship, where he now lives, since he was six years old. 
 Two or three years after the death of his father, 
 the old farm was sold and the family home has 
 since been where Franklin now lives. The elder 
 members of the family were justly regarded as the 
 very best people in the neighborhood for industrj^, 
 intelligence and straightforward conduct, and 
 the younger members are closely following the 
 footsteps of their parents. Mr. Abbott is unmar- 
 ried, his sisters keeping honse for him. He has 
 been School Director of the township, and all of the 
 family are members of the Christian Church, he 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 289 
 
 being treasurer of the Sabbalh-scliool connected 
 therewith. 
 
 Mr. Abbott belongs to that younger element of 
 of farmers of Illinois, which is rapidly coming to 
 the front, and after attaining that position is 
 sure to remain there. Ho is constructed of the 
 material that malje a useful citizen and a good 
 farmer. 
 
 •^ OHN E. THOMPSON. The people of Oak- 
 wood Township with one accord declare 
 that this is "one of the finest old gentlemen 
 ^^' within its precincts." This kindly express- 
 ion of opinion among those who liave known him 
 long and well, should in a measure compensate him 
 for the affliction from which he is suffering, he hav- 
 ing lieeome almost blind and passing many clays 
 which seem long and dreary. He, however, has w. 
 mind to direct his farming operations, and is en- 
 abled to live comfortably upon his little farm of 
 eighty acres, besides which he has eight acres of 
 timber. He raises as much stock as the place will 
 support comfortably, and in his struggles and la- 
 bors has been ably assisted by his estimable wife — 
 a lady possessing all the womanly virtues, devoted 
 to her family, remarkably industrious and frugal, 
 and who has ordered the ways of her household in 
 the most admirable manner. 
 
 The suljject of this notice is the offspring of an 
 excellent old family, and was one of a pair of twins 
 born March 5, 182-t, in Clark County, Ohio. His 
 boyhood days were spent in his native State, where 
 he received a practical education in the common 
 school, and when reaching his majority began farm- 
 ing for himself. When twenty-five years old he 
 was married in 1849, to Miss Sarah E. Simpkins, 
 and the young people lived thereafter for three 
 years at the Thompson homestead. In 1852 they 
 came to Illinois and settled first in Edgar County, 
 where they sojourned five years. Their next re- 
 moval was to their present farm, which was then 
 merely a tract of wild land with not a stick of tim- 
 ber or a shrub upon it. 
 
 Our subject set himself industriously to work for 
 the improvement of his property abl}^ assisted by 
 his faithful wife, and making each year somehead- 
 
 wky toward the desired end. After a lapse of years 
 six children were embraced in the family house- 
 hold, four of whom are living: Rowena Harriet is 
 now the wife of Silas Bean, and the mother of one 
 child by her present husband; they live in Hodge- 
 man County, Kan. By her first marriage with 
 Frank Funk she became the mother of four chil- 
 dren ; John Henry married Miss Emma Royer; 
 they live in Kansas City, Mo., and have two chil- 
 dren; Darius S. is unmarried, and has principal 
 charge of the home farm, and is a member of Lodge 
 No. 48'J, I. O. O. F.; Charles S. married Miss Re- 
 becca Hubbard, and lives In Pilot Township, hav- 
 ing no children. 
 
 Mr. Thompson cast his first Presidential vote for 
 Zachary Taylor, and was a member of the Old 
 Whig party until 1856, when he cist his lot with 
 the Republicans at the organization of this party. 
 He has officiated as Road Overseer In Edgar County, 
 and has been School Director in his present dis- 
 trict for eight 3'ears. Socially, he belongs to Lodge 
 No. 489 I. O. O. F. at FIthlan, in which he has 
 been Right Supporter and Outside Guardian. Mrs. 
 Thompson is a devout member of the Methodist 
 Episcopal Church. Her parents were D. S. and 
 Rowena Simpkins, the former of whom was a na- 
 tive of Maryland, and later removed with his fam- 
 ily to Ohio, settling in Clark County, where he be- 
 came prominent and well-to-do. The parental 
 household included eight children, of whom Mrs. 
 Thompson was the fourth in order of birth. She 
 was born Nov. 6, 1828, in JNIaryland, and received 
 an excellent education. Her parents spent their 
 last years in Clark County, Ohio. 
 
 The father of our subject was Jeremiah C. 
 Thompson, a native of Harper's Ferry, Va., and a 
 farmer by occupation. He married Miss Susannah 
 AVolfe, a maiden of his own township and a daugh- 
 ter of Henry Wolfe, a native of N'irginia and a 
 prominent man of his time, who lived till nearly 
 eighty years of age. From the Old Dominion, 
 about a year after their marriage, the parents of 
 our subject emigrated to Clark Count}', Ohio, set- 
 tling among its earliest pioneers. The father in due 
 time became owner of nearly 400 acres of land and 
 was prominent in the community, officiating as 
 Justice of the Peace and occupying other positions 
 
290 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOfiRAPAICAL ALBUM. 
 
 of trust and responsibility. He dop.arted this life 
 at the old homestead in 1851. The mother had 
 preceded her husband to the silent land eleven 
 years, her deatii taking place in 1840. They were 
 the parents of eleven children, the most of whom 
 lived to mature years, and were scattered through 
 different States. 
 
 ylLLIAM CLIPSON, deceased, was form- 
 erly an honored resident of Vermilion 
 Couniy, with whose farming interests he 
 was identified. Coming here with his family when 
 this section of the country was still in the hands of 
 the pioneers and purchasing land in Catlin Town- 
 ship, he was actively engaged in its im|)rovement, 
 and in the few years that he was spared to the 
 community he greatly increased the value of his 
 farm. His death when but a few years past the me- 
 ridian of life was a severe blow to the township 
 with whose interests his own were bound up, and 
 his name and memory are still cherished here by 
 those who knew him best. 
 
 He was of English birtii and breeding, born in 
 Lincolnshire, May 18, 1806, and reared to man- 
 hood in a town known as Minonsby, where he 
 lived till he was about eighteen years old, when he 
 went to Devonshire, England. He was first married 
 in that sliire to Jane Shaw, by whom he had eight 
 children, of whom only two lived to grow up, 
 Catherine and Jane. Catherine is the wife of Mil- 
 ligan M. Moore, of Georgetown, 111. Jane married 
 John Swanell, and died in Leavenworth, Kan., in 
 1859. After his marriage Mr. Clipson removed to 
 London, and there his wife died July 1, 1839. 
 "While in Devonshire he enlisted as a soldier in the 
 British Army, and served as messman to King 
 William. After his removal to London he served 
 on the police force of that city, and was afterward 
 inspector for the London Gas Company for some 
 ten or twelve years, and at the same time was en- 
 gaged in the management of a hotel. He was mar- 
 ried a second time in that city, his union with 
 Miss Matilda Ann Barker being solemnized Nov. 5, 
 1840. She was born in Boston, Lincolnshire, Eng- 
 land, Dec. 22, 1815, Of the thirteen children born 
 
 of hei- ni.'in-inge with our subject the following six 
 grew to maturity: William H., John C, James, 
 Harriet A., Richard, Albert. William married 
 Mirantha Tipton, and they reside in Clarinda, 
 Iowa. John C. married Margaret Hutchinson, and 
 they reside in Clarinda, Iowa. James married Cla- 
 rissa Douglas, and they reside in Catlin Township. 
 Albert married Ethlen Sanford, and they reside in 
 Catlin Township. Harriet and Richard live with 
 their mother on the old homestead. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Clipson continued to live in Lon- 
 don till the spring of r853, when they emigrated to 
 America with tiieir family, making the voyage on 
 a sailing vessel in six weeks, and landed in New 
 York, whence they came directly to Vermilion 
 County. They settled in Catlin Township, cast- 
 ing in their lot with its pioneers, and here he en- 
 gaged in farming, having purchased 160 acres of 
 wild land. He caused a good house to bp erected, 
 and made many other substantial improvements, 
 besides getting much of the land under excellent 
 cultivation, and was continually increasing the 
 value of his farm, when death closed his busy, use- 
 ful career July (J, 1862. He was a man of varied 
 experience in life; intelligent and thoughtful, and 
 his place in this township was among its best and 
 most desirable citizens. He was a fair-minded 
 man, and was possessed of ripe judgment, tact and 
 sound discretion, and was always found to be faith- 
 ful and trustworthy in his dealings, so that his life- 
 record is without stain. His venerable widow is 
 still making her home on the old homestead, sur- 
 rounded by all the comforts that the loving care of 
 her children can devise. She is a fine lady of well- 
 known English stock, is hospitable and entertain- 
 ing, and with her family occupies a high position 
 in the social circles of the community. She is a 
 valued member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, 
 and has been connected with it for more than 
 twenty years, and her (jonduct in the daily affairs 
 of life show her to be possessed of a truly religious. 
 Christian nature. 
 
 Richard and Albert Clipson, sons of our subject, 
 have formed a partnership and are extensively en- 
 gaged in the slock business. Besides having the 
 management of the old homestead, they own and 
 operate 360 acres of choice farming land. They 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 291 
 
 buy and ship a large amount of stock, having sev- 
 eral men in their employ who are engaged all the 
 time in bu3'ing for them. The firm is well-known 
 throughout this part of the West and stands high 
 in flnnncial circles, as the Clipson Bros, are known 
 to be men of honor who are always fair and up- 
 right in their dealings. They are men of large en- 
 terprise, full of energy and push, and possess a 
 marked talent for business, which they conduct 
 systematically and after the most approved meth- 
 ods. Richard Clipson is a member of the I. 0. O. F., 
 of Catlin, and Albert belongs to the Modern 
 Woodmen Camp of Catlin. 
 
 ♦»-T^K^.I > 
 
 . ■-55»^^K«— 
 
 U(rH WRIGHT is the son of William, whose 
 father, Hugh, was a native of Bourbon C'o., 
 liV^-' Ky., where he married Miss Anna Patter- 
 '^^ son. After their marriage they removed to 
 Bourbon County, Kentucky, where they located on 
 a farm and reared their family of eight children, 
 viz.: AVilliam, John, Hugh, Thomas, Margred, 
 Polly, Peggy, and our subject's father, William. 
 The four eldest died at an early age; Margred, the 
 fifth child, married a Mr. Piper, who is now de- 
 ceased, after which she was again married to Eli 
 Current, of Kentucky, who also died. She, how- 
 ever, continued to live in Kentucky. Polly and 
 her husband, Mr. Piper, both died leaving two chil- 
 dren; Peggy, the seventh, married James Looman, 
 who died. She now resides in Kansas. The sub- 
 ject's father, the eighth and last born, was married 
 in Kentucky, to Miss Ellen, daughter of Silas and 
 Margaret (Duffy) Waters. 
 
 The subject's grandfather was a native of Vir- 
 ginia but removed to Kentucky when the children 
 were young. In 1.S28 Hugh's father with his 
 family came to this county; there were at this time 
 but three children, Hugh, Silas and James. The 
 latter was born in Rush County, Ind., where the 
 parents lived one year previous to coming here. 
 Those born here are John A., William A., now de- 
 ceased, Margaret A., who died at the age of eight- 
 een years, and Elizabeth, who married John Rut- 
 ledge, Since her husband's death Jlrs. Rutledge 
 
 has lived in McLean County. The first settlement 
 made here by the father was some three miles north 
 of Danville. At the time of his location here there 
 were but three white families in the village, this 
 part of the county being chiefly occupied by In- 
 dians. The land had not yet come into market; 
 he, however, ventured to settle in the timber, and 
 reckoned that the prairies would never become 
 populated. The first bouse was made of logs, and 
 the fireplace was concocted of a substance called 
 stone-coal, which was supposed to be fire-proof. 
 This, however, proved to be a mistake, for the fire 
 was no sooner built than the stone-coal at once be- 
 gan to burn, and it was with difficulty that the 
 cabin itself was saved. After considerable exertion 
 the flames were extinguished. Immediatelj' after 
 this disaster what remained of the coal chimney 
 was torn down and it was replaced by a stick and 
 clay one. 
 
 The little log cabin was soon surrounded by a 
 nicely cultivated farm, and later, in its stead a 
 pretty house might be seeii. There the family 
 lived for ten years. During this time the vil- 
 lage of Denmark, as it is now called, was started. 
 It was a rough frontier town situated near to the 
 house of our subject's father. On account of the 
 many disadvantages arising from their nearness to 
 Denmark, the father sold his farm and removed to 
 this township, which was better suited to his taste. 
 Here he spent his last da}'s. His death occurred in 
 1845. His wife survived him by thirty-six years. 
 She died at Farmer's City, McLean Countj', in 
 1881, her daughter being with her at the time. 
 
 Hugh Wright was married first in this county to 
 Miss Manerva, daughter of Peter and Elizabeth 
 Payne, who came from New York, their native 
 citjr, to be pioneers in this county. Of this mar- 
 riage there were six children: Margaret, America, 
 Mary, Fannie, now Mrs. Henry Radymaker, Clarissa 
 and Frank. Margaret and America are no longer 
 living; Mary is now Mrs. Samuel A. Oliver, and 
 resides in Southern Texas; Clarissa married Mr. 
 Staunton Foster and lives in this township; Fannie 
 and her husband are living in Armstrong. The 
 whole family are members of the Methodist Epis- 
 copal Church, of which the father was a Class- 
 Leader for many years. Hugh Wright's fii-st wife 
 
292 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 (11(^1 in April, 188L After seven years be was 
 again married to ^Irs. Stacy (Potts) Wikoff. This 
 happy event took place in Nov. 1888. By ber 
 first busbaud sbe bad three children : Thomas, 
 Ellen and James. AVikoff is a name well remem- 
 bered among the old families of Ohio. 
 
 Mr. Wright is tbe proprietor of a fine farm com- 
 prising 400 acres all under good cultivation. This 
 be has made bis liome, adding yearly to it all tbe 
 advantages and improvements tbat suggest them- 
 selves. An important feature in his chai'acter is 
 bis business accuracy and punctuality. These 
 enable bim at any time to command the assistance 
 of any bank with wbicb he does business. Besides 
 the farm on which he lives, he is tbe owner of 800 
 acres, all ,fine farms, in this township. His mill 
 has been improved and an artesian well bas been 
 supplemented to the list of conveniences on his 
 premises. 
 
 Mr. Wright's father seems to bave been consti- 
 tutionally destitute of fear. He was made, as it 
 were, without that peculiar faculty wbicb makes 
 people take danger into the account and try to 
 keep at a distance from it. The full possession of 
 this deficiency (if the phrase is not too direct a 
 contradiction in terms) is now quite uncommon. 
 It was therefore without trepidation tbat he made 
 a friend of Wapanim, the chief of an Indian tribe. 
 They were in fact on such friendly terms that 3Ir. 
 Wright did not hesitate to allow his son I-Iugb, 
 who was then a child, to ride on the Indian's back 
 through the woods. The tribe was at that time a 
 peaceful one. 
 
 One day while talking with Mr. Wright the 
 chief requested him to report anything that a mem- 
 ber of his tribe might do which did not happen to 
 meet with Mr. Wright's approbation. This request 
 was soon to be made use of. Tbe occasion was as 
 follows: A stalwart Indian came to the house and 
 threatened to harm our subject's mother for having 
 refused to give him the eggs that he bad asked for. 
 This fact was stated to the chief, who had the In- 
 dian whipped most severely. The lash used was a 
 stout one and was plied by a strong band. The 
 result was that the poor creature's skin was broken 
 and the raw bleeding fiesh exposed. Still the pun- 
 ishment was continued so long that fully a pint of 
 
 blood must have been shed. Mr. Wright and his 
 family were called upon to witness the scene. 
 
 This little incident is given partly to direct at- 
 tention to the care and assiduity with which this 
 exceptionally good chief guarded the interests of 
 the white families against the barbarous injustice of 
 his own men. Wapinim spoke English' well, and 
 for a man of his type was unusually intelligent. 
 
 Hugh Wright was seventeen years old when he 
 got his first suit of store clothes, which he bought 
 with tbe money he himself had earned by tramping 
 out some oats with horses and hauling them to 
 Chicago, where they sold at ten cents per bushel. 
 Before this his clothes were such as his mother 
 would make by means of the old spinning-wheel. 
 He was very proud of bis new apparel, which cost 
 him $10, the price of 100 bushels of oats. 
 
 ,^^EORGE AVHEELER JONES, M. D., one 
 ij f—j of the foremost physicians of the State of lUi- 
 ^^4 nois, and who has a fine professional reputa- 
 tion beyond its borders, was born in Bath, Steuben 
 Co., N. Y., in February, 1839. Dr. Jones' father, 
 John S. Jones, also a physician, was born in High- 
 land, Kings Co., N. y., and his father, Jolui Jones, 
 was born in or near New York City. They were 
 of Welsh ancestry. Dr. Jones, father of George 
 Vi\, commenced the study of medicine while quite 
 a young man, and was graduated from the medical 
 college at Albany, after which he practiced bis pro- 
 fession in New York State until 1817, when he re- 
 moved to Indiana and settled in Covington, practi- 
 cing there manj' years. He removed from Coving- 
 ton to Danville, where be died in the fall of 1871, 
 but a few months after his last removal. Dr. 
 Jones, Sr., married Charlotte AVheeler, a native of 
 Steuben County, N. Y. Her father, George 
 Wheeler, was a native of Connecticut, and they 
 trace their ancestrj- to England. The mother of 
 the subject of this article still resides in Danville. 
 There were seven children born to her: George 
 AV., James S. (deceased), Lydia, Frank and 
 Caleb (deceased), Mary S. and Lottie E. James 
 enlisted, at tbe age of eighteen, in the 63d Indiana 
 Infantry, and was mustered in as private, but was 
 
Residence and Farm Property of John Leemqn.on 
 
Ec"5A.«.io. (23=12.) AND Sec's. 33. (24 = 12.) Vermilion <sl Iroquois Cos.. 
 
PORTRAIT ANI^ BIOfiRAPlIICAL ALBUM. 
 
 297 
 
 rapidly promoted through different grades until he 
 reached the rank of (Quartermaster. lie served 
 until the close of the war, and is now deceased. 
 
 Dr. G. AV. Jones attended the puljlic schools in 
 New York State and later in Covington, and finally 
 completed his literary studies at Wabash College, 
 and also began the study of medicine with his 
 father and uncle Caleb Jones, at Covington. He 
 attended several courses of lectures at a medical 
 college in Chicane,, during which time he received 
 private instructions from Dr. Byford, of that city. 
 In March, 1862, he was graduated, and imme- 
 diately entered the army as Acting Surgeon of the 
 26th Illinois Regiment. After a few month's serv- 
 ice in that capacity he was tendered a commission 
 with the rank of Major and Surgeon of that regi- 
 ment, but preferred to be with his brother in the 
 63d Indiana, and accepted the position of Assistant 
 Surgeon of that regiment, where he served until 
 the close of the war. For two years he was one of 
 the Surgeons in charge of the field hospital of the 
 third division of the 23d arm}' corps. He served 
 with Sherman in the Atlanta campaign, and also in 
 the operations against Hood's armj' in Tennessee. 
 He carries the scars of the wound received at 
 Pumpkin Vine Creek, caused l)y the explosion of a 
 shell. After being mustered out of the service in 
 1865 he came to Danville, and at once inaugurated 
 a successful practice. Dr. Jones has a brilliant war 
 record, and one of which he can justly feci proud. 
 
 The subject of this sketch was married in 1865, 
 to Emelyn K. Enos, of Cincinnati, Ohio, and a 
 daughter of Benjamin and Susan Enos. She is the 
 mother of one child, Hubert W. Dr. Jones and 
 wife are members of Holy Trinitj' (Episcopal) 
 Church. Politically, the Doctor is a stanch Repub- 
 lican, and for many years has served as a member 
 of the Pension Board, a position he has filled with 
 marked ability. He is a member of the following 
 medical societies: The \'ermilion County Medical 
 Society, The Illinois Central, Chicago Medical So- 
 ciety, Illinois State Medical Society, Mississippi 
 Valley, and the American Medical Association. 
 He was a delegate to the meeting of the Inter- 
 national Medical Congress which met in Washing- 
 ton, D. C, in 1888, and which was composed of 
 many of the scientific men of the world. While 
 
 Dr. Jones stands at the head of his profession in 
 his portion of the country, he is reckoned as one of 
 the best of neighbors and citizens. The Doctor is a 
 member of Lodge No. 69, I. 0. O. F., of Danville, 
 and also a prominent Mason, officiating with Ori- 
 ental Consistory of Chicago, and several other 
 secret societies. 
 
 -mm— 
 
 ^fOHN LEEMON. The man who has flowing 
 through his veins the blood of an honor- 
 able ancestry has occasion for being proud, 
 
 for he has thus been endowed with that 
 
 which is better than silver and gold. If he has like- 
 wise been endowed with the wisdom to improve his 
 talent, he is doubly fortunate, for no matter what 
 circumstances surround him, he is usually able to 
 fight his way resolutely to success. Some men are 
 met with seemingly more than their share of ad- 
 versity, while the course of others is comparatively 
 smooth, but in either event men usually have about 
 all they wish to contend with of trouble and toil. 
 Those who have succeeded in breasting the waves 
 are naturally looked up to by their fellow-men, 
 among whom they become captains and leaders. 
 
 The subject of this notice presents a fine illus- 
 tration of the results of perseverance, and what 
 man may accomplish from a verj' humble begin- 
 ning. Commencing in life without other resources 
 tiian his own energy and resolution, he climbed his 
 way steadily upward until he is now a man of 
 property and importance, owning one of the finest 
 farms in Central Illinois. This comprises 1,080 
 acres in one body, occupying the greater portions 
 of sections 4 and 10, township 23, range 12, the 
 residence being on 4, and the balance in Iroquois 
 County on the north, in township 24, range 12 
 In Fountain Creek he has 520 acres, and 120 acres 
 near East L3'nn. In Scott and Christian counties 
 he has an interest in 1,785 acres. The home farm, 
 which has naturally been under the especial over- 
 sight of the proprietor, has been brought to a high 
 state of cultivation, and mainly devoted to general 
 farming together with stock-raising. The residence 
 with its surroundings, which are represented by a 
 lithographic engraving on another page, give it 
 
298 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 the air of plenty and comfort which is delightful to 
 contemplate. The buildings and raachiner}' are 
 all that is required for the successful prosecution 
 of agriculture. 
 
 Mr. Leemon was born of Scotch parentage in 
 Countjr Armagh in the North of Ireland, May 8, 
 1829, and emigrated to America when he was 
 tweuty-two j'ears old, coming directly to Illinois 
 and settling in Jersey County. He worked out by 
 the month, first at *12, and during the winter sea- 
 son husked corn at fifty cents per day and board. 
 His wants were few, and at these small wages he 
 managed to save a little money until he had enough 
 to buy a team. This accomplished, he rented a 
 tract of land in Jersey County, where he carried 
 on farming until 1856. In the meantime he had 
 come to this county and purchased 441 acres of 
 wild land. As soon as possible he commenced its 
 improvement and cultivation at a time when there 
 was not a house in that vicinity, excepting the one 
 occupied hy Mr. Hoopes, with whom he boarded, 
 going back and forth to his place, two and one- 
 Imlf miles, night and morning. 
 
 In the fall of 1857 Mr. Leemon put up a small 
 house on his farm, and, like the bachelor of old, 
 "lived by himself," until he judged it prudent to 
 take unto himself a wife. In the meantime he 
 planted forest and fruit trees, set out a goodly 
 amount of hedge, and instituted the improvements 
 which, as time passed on, resulted in making his 
 farm a very valuable and desirable piece of prop- 
 erty. He has now two windmills and a feedmill, 
 his barn being underlaid with water-pipes which 
 lead to various tanks wherever required for the 
 convenience of stock. The wet land has been 
 thoroughly drained with tiling, which was con- 
 veyed from Bloomington. When Mr. Leemon 
 settled here wild animals of all kinds were plentiful, 
 especially deer and wolves. He has seen as man}' 
 as seventy-five deer in one herd, while men fre- 
 quently got together to hunt the wolves, which 
 hunger made altogether too familiar to suit the 
 settlers, sometimes stealing the deer meat from 
 their doors. 
 
 When the time came that Mr. Leemon felt that 
 he could justifiably assume the responsibility of a 
 family, he was united in marriage with MissLodema 
 
 Brown, of Butler Township, the wedding taking 
 place at Rossville Aug. 26, 1865. Mr. and Mrs. 
 Leemon commenced the journey of life together in 
 their own home, and in due time they became the 
 parents of six children, the eldest of whom, a 
 daughter, Izele, died at the age of twelve years. 
 The survivors are Lida, Robert A., John A., 
 Charles N. and Edith, and the}' are all at home 
 with their parents, being given the training 
 and education which will fit them for their proper 
 station in life, as the offspring of one of the first 
 families of this county. 
 
 Upon becoming a voting citizen Mr. Leemon 
 identified himself with the Democratic party, but 
 in local or State politics, votes independently, 
 aiming to support the men whom he considers best 
 qualified to serve the interests of the people. He 
 has been the incumbent of nearly every office in 
 Fountain Creek Township. He served as Justice 
 of the Peace eight years, also as School Director, 
 and Trustee, and Supervisor for four years, and 
 has uniformly distinguished himself as a man of 
 progressive and liberal ideas — one willing to give 
 his time and influence to those enterprises calcu- 
 lated for the general good. He was reared in the 
 doctrines of the Presbyterian Church. During the 
 early days he labored earl}' and late, frequently 
 plowing all night long and resting a part of the 
 day, on account of the flies. Notwithstanding this he 
 took good care of his health, never abusing himself 
 by using liquor, and is consequently still a well- 
 preserved man and able to enjoy tlie fruits of his 
 labors, now that he is in a condition to retire. 
 Many of the enterprises of Hoopestown have found 
 in Mr. Leemon a substantial friend and benefactor. 
 He is Vice President and Director of the new bank. 
 
 Thomas Leemon, the father of our subject, was 
 likewise a native of the North of Ireland, to which 
 his forefathers had been driven during the times of 
 religious persecution in Scotland. He married 
 Miss Elizabeth Thompson, and they reared a fam- 
 ily of six children, all of whom followed our sub- 
 ject to America in 1854, three years after his arri- 
 val here. They sojourned for a time in Jersey 
 County, this State, tlien removed to Christian 
 County, where the father died in 1862. The 
 mother survived her husband some years, and 
 
PORTRAIT AND HIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 299 
 
 spent her last days with her son John, passing 
 away in 1883. Samuel and William Leemon, the 
 two brothers of our subject, are residents of Chris- 
 tian County. Mrs. Leemon was born near Lock- 
 port, in Niagara County, N. Y., and when about 
 seventeen years old emigrated with her parents to 
 Indiana, where she lived until about twenty-two 
 years old. They then removed to East Lynn, this 
 county. Her father, John Brown, spent his last 
 days in Marysville, East Tenn., where he died some 
 years ago. The mother, Mrs. Catherine (Bears) 
 Brown, still lives, and makes her home with her 
 daughter, at the advanced age of eighty-one years. 
 
 \1| OHN R. THOMPSON. Few men are bet- 
 ter known throughout Oakwood Township 
 than Mr. Thompson. He owns a good farm 
 of 600 acres, on sections 24 and 25, where he 
 has effected most of the improvements upon it, 
 erecting the barn and other buildings, and himself 
 clearing 150 acres. He has made a specialty of 
 sheep-raising — Shropshires and Merinos — and has 
 probably had a larger experience in this industry 
 than any other man in the county. In this he has 
 been uniformly successful, and maintains that the 
 only money he has ever made and saved, he has 
 accumulated in this manner. He has also dealt 
 largely in cattle, swine and general farm produce, 
 and cultivates 250 acres, which, from its soil and 
 location, is classed among the best land in the 
 township. He is a lover of the equine race like- 
 wise and has four fine specimens of thorough-bred 
 Kentucky running stock, two of Harkaway, one of 
 Gloster, and one from Laurence, promising young 
 horses, who will probably make a fine record. Mr. 
 Thompson proposes retiring from active labor in 
 the near future, which he can well afford to do, 
 having an ample competence. 
 
 The eighth in a family of eighteen children, our 
 subject was born April 12, 1830, in Washington 
 County, Pa. His parents were Joseph and Nancy 
 (Stoughton) Thompson, natives respectively of 
 New Jersey and Pennsylvania. The paternal 
 grandfather was a native of Wales, whence he emi- 
 grated to America at an early day. Joseph 
 
 Thompson and his wife spent their entire lives in 
 their native State, the father dying in 1865, and 
 the mother in 1880. Thirteen of their children 
 lived to mature years, and ten are still living, mak- 
 ing their homes mostly in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Illi- 
 nois and Kansas. 
 
 The boyhood days of Mr. Thompson were spent 
 in his native county and his education was acquired 
 in the district school, after which he engaged in 
 farm work until 1851. Then, having reached his 
 majority, he started for the farther West, landing 
 in this county and for six years thereafter operated 
 as a shepherd, thus gaining his knowledge of the 
 proper care and treatment of sheep. He watched 
 his flocks on the wild prairie when the settlers were 
 few and far between and occupying farms within 
 a mile of the timber. In coming to Illinois Mr. 
 Tiiompson drove a flock of 1,300 sheep for another 
 man, being sixty -six days on the way. He attended 
 these until the spring of 1852 then returned to his 
 native State and returned with a flock of 1,500 to 
 this county, making the entire distance on foot and 
 consuming seventy-two days. 
 
 On the 27 of November, 1856, our subject was 
 united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth, daughter 
 of David C. Wright, who had died previously. 
 The young people commenced the journey of life 
 together on a rented farm which they occupied three 
 years, Mr. Thompson still maintaining his inter- 
 est in sheep, which he began to raise in goodly 
 numbers and which brought him handsome returns. 
 In due time he purchased 160 acres of land adja- 
 cent to that which he now owns. He lived upon 
 this four years, then sold it and purchased 190 
 acres, partly improved and near the timber. Three 
 years later he sold out once more and purchased 
 his present farm. 
 
 To Mr. and Mr. Thompson there were born 
 twelve children, one of whom died young. The 
 survivors form an unusually bright and interesting 
 group, of which the parents are justly proud. The 
 eldest, Joseph Morton, married Miss Molly Steen 
 and is a leading member of the G. A. R., of Dan- 
 ville. D. Lincoln married Miss Melissa Hall and 
 is senior member of the firm of Thompson Bros., 
 general merchants at Fithian; he has two children. 
 Annie, Mrs. Elijah Board, is the mother of one 
 
300 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 child and lives in Oakwood Township; Nellie F., 
 John R., Gertie E., Ul3'sses S., Franciena, Maude, 
 Harrison and DoUie, are at home with their pa- 
 rents. The firm of Thompson Bros., is conspicuous 
 for its admirable business abilities and has few 
 equals in this part of the country. The children 
 of our subject have all been given an excellent edu- 
 ciition, four of the six eldest receiving first-grade 
 certificates. Joseph M. was graduated from the 
 University of Michigan, at Ann Arbor, receiving 
 special instruction from Judge Cooley. 
 
 Mr. Thompson votes the straight Republican 
 ticket, being the onlj^ one of seven brothers who 
 cast his lot with this partj^ — the other six and the 
 tlie father being staunch Democrats. He has offi- 
 ciated as School Director most of the time since 
 coming to Oakwood Township and has been Path- 
 master for many years. Socially, he belongs to 
 the I. O. O. F. at Fithian and has passed all the 
 Chairs and through the Encami^ment. A man 
 nrver idle when there is anything to do, he has 
 made for himself a good record in point of industry 
 and perseverance. One of the most fortunate 
 tilings which has fallen to his lot is his estimable 
 and sensible wife, a lady greatly esteemed in ber 
 communitj- for her excellent qualities of character 
 and her devotion to her family. 
 
 Mrs. Thompson was the eldest child of her pa- 
 rents and was born Dec. 2G, 1837, in Champaign 
 County, 111. Of the four children born to her pa- 
 rents three are now living, one residing in Iowa 
 and one in Nebraska. Her grandfather, John B. 
 AVright, of Pennsylvania, removed first to Indiana 
 and then to this county of which he was one of the 
 pioneer settlers. 
 
 -i-##^ 
 
 ^Y ^^JLLIAM WILSON BUCHANAN, junior 
 member of the Arm of Crimmins A' Bucha- 
 nan, is with his partner operating the liv- 
 ery stable at Sidell, and is highly popular among 
 the residents of this well-regulated little village. 
 He also operates considerably as an auctioneer and 
 salesman. He is a man of undoubted ability, and 
 fine personal appearance, and possesses those correct 
 ideas in relation to both public and private life 
 
 from which spring the better elements of society. 
 He was born in Gentry County, Mo., March 17, 
 1859. 
 
 The parents of our subject were Enoch and Su- 
 san (Beard) Buchanan, the father a native of Ohio 
 and the mother of Kentucky. The paternal grand- 
 father removed from the Buckeye State ancl settled 
 in Edgar County, 111. about 1845, bringing his 
 familj^ with him. He and his father both served 
 in the vvar of 1812. The Buchanan family is of 
 Scotch ancestrjr and upon coming to this country, 
 settled in Pennsylvania where they carried on farm- 
 ing. They were a large, muscular set of people 
 and usually thrifty and well-to-do. Enoch Bucha- 
 nan was reared to manhood in Edgar Comity, this 
 State, but was married in Vermilion County, 
 whence he moved to Missouri about 1854, settling 
 on a farm near Fairview. The troubles during the 
 Civil AVar induced him to return to Illinois and in 
 the meantime his property was destroyed. He was 
 thus left without resources, but set himself to work 
 and was prospered, finally becoming the owner of 
 a farm in Carroll Township. He departed this 
 life in 1878 after an active career of flft^^ years. 
 The mother is still living and makes her home with 
 our subject; she is now fiftj'-eight jears old. 
 Their four children were named respectively, Sarah, 
 John, AVilliam Wilson and Elizabeth. The eldest 
 daughter is a resident of Carroll Township; John 
 died at the age of one 3'ear; Elizabeth became the 
 wife of Benjamin Black, one of the leading citi- 
 zens of Carroll, Township. 
 
 Our subject acquired his education in the com- 
 mon scliool and as his father's business called the 
 latter away from home, William W., being the 
 only son, necessarily assumed the responsibilitj' 
 of looking after the family, although but twenty 
 years of age. In 1878 Mr. Buchanan engaged in 
 the sewing machine business which he followed un- 
 til the spring of 1889. At the same time he super- 
 intended the operation of his farm. He was 
 married in 1881 to Miss Alice C. Gilroy at her 
 home in Carroll Township. Mrs. Buchanan is the 
 daughter of William and Elizabeth (Beard) Gilroy, 
 whose parents came to this county in 1845 and 
 were among the pioneer settlers of Carroll Town- 
 ship. The mother is still living and makes her 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 301 
 
 home in Butler Couutj', Kan.; she is about fifty- 
 two years old. Of her first marriage there was 
 born one child only — Mrs. Buchanan. After the 
 death of her first husband she was married twice, 
 having three children by the second husband and 
 one l).y the third. 
 
 Mrs. Buchanan was reared to womanhood in 
 Carroll Township, this county, and completed her 
 studies in the High School at Indianola. Of her 
 union with our subject there have been born four 
 children — Essie, Leila, Floy K. and Elraa. Mr. 
 Buchanan, politically, votes the Democratic ticket 
 and socially belongs to the Modern Woodmen 
 Camp at Indianola. Tlie firm of which he is a 
 member was organized April 17, 1889, but not- 
 withstanding the business is comparatively new, is 
 in the enjoj'ment of a good patronage. They have 
 put in an excellent stock of new buggies and 
 harness, have good horses, and, in fact, conduct 
 their enterprise in a manner which makes it ex- 
 tremely popular among the people of this region. 
 They are consequently justified in their expectations 
 of the future. 
 
 Aside from his livery business Mr. Buchanan is 
 recognized as one of the leading auctioneers of 
 this county, operating principally along its south- 
 ern line. He has been in practice for the last five 
 years, his transactions being principally in live- 
 stock deals. He is thus widelj^ known throughout 
 Western Indiana and Northern Illinois. He also 
 officiated as Constable of Carroll Township. 
 
 f,ILLIAM DAVIS. The man who has thought 
 much and studied much, and whose char- 
 acter has commended itself to his fellow- 
 men, naturally has an influence in shaping their 
 views and opinions; and tliis influence will be felt 
 long after he has been gathered to his fathers. Here 
 and there we find one far in advance of his age — 
 one whose children will probably live to see the 
 time when his prophecies will have been fulfilled 
 and his ideas adopted by a later generation. These 
 thoughts involuntarily arise in contemplating the 
 career of Mr. Davis, who is a man of more than 
 ordinary intelligence, possessing a mind filled with 
 
 those broad and philanthropic ideas which must 
 necessarily in time become of benefit to the hximan 
 race. He was born with a natural antipathy to 
 tyranny in all its forms, believing with Patrick 
 Heni-y, that death is preferable to oppression. He 
 is totally averse to trusts and monopolies and when- 
 ever opportunity occurs lifts up his voice against 
 those corporations which have proved the ruin, not 
 only of individuals, but sometimes almost of entire 
 communities. 
 
 Mr. Davis was one of the earliest pioneers of 
 Vermilion County and was at an early day acknowl- 
 edged as one of its leading men. He was born in 
 Guernsey County, Ohio, Jan. 25, 1811, and was the 
 third in a family of ten children, the offspring of 
 Henry and Rachel (Polock) Davis, both natives of 
 Pennsj'lvania and the father born in Greene 
 County. The paternal grandfather, also a native 
 of the Keystone State, was a patriot of the Revolu- 
 tionary War, after which he settled in Ohio, reared 
 two families of twelve children each and departed 
 this life about 1823. Grandfather Polock died in 
 Guernsey County about 1820. This branch of the 
 Davis family was of Dutch and Welsh descent while 
 the Polocks traced their ancestry to Ireland. Henry 
 Davis occupied himself largely as a farmer and was 
 also successfull}^ engaged in raising tobacco. 
 
 The parents of our subject after marriage lived 
 in Pennsylvania two years, then in 1807 made their 
 way to the young State of Ohio, accompanied by 
 grandfather Polock, and settled in Guernsey 
 County. The mother of our subject died in Illi- 
 nois in 1848. The father survived his wife five 
 years, dying in 1853. They came to Illinois in 
 the fall of 1836. Mr. Davis, prior to this, had vis- 
 ited Illinois four times, being determined to settle 
 here. Five of their children are still living, making 
 their homes in Illinois and Iowa. 
 
 The boyhood and youth of our subject were 
 spent amid the wild scenes of pioneer life during 
 the early settlement of Ohio and he naively states 
 that the only bear hunt he ever took part in w-as 
 when he was five months old and his father killed 
 the bear. He attended school two montiis in the 
 winter season for a few years, and after reaching 
 his majority began making arrangements for the 
 establishment of a home of his own. In the fall of 
 
302 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 1834, he was married to Miss Elizabeth, daughter 
 of David Hayes of Washington Countj', Pa. The 
 young couple thirteen days afterward started for 
 Illinois with a wagon and accompanied by an uncle 
 of our subject and his brother Azariah with his 
 wife and child. They were nineteen days on the 
 journey and Mr. and Mrs. Davis walked nearly all 
 the way. 
 
 Mr. Davis received from his father seventy-seven 
 acres of land in Vance Township, this county, upon 
 which was a hewed log cabin. The newly wedded 
 pair had brought with them a couple of beds and 
 a few things stowed away in sacks, while Mr. Davis 
 had his ax and gun. Two hours after reaching their 
 destination they were visited by prairie wolves 
 which were frequent callers for many years after- 
 ward. After obtaining some wheat which had been 
 raised on his place the year before, Mr. Davis re- 
 paired to Eugene, Ind., and selling this wheat, 
 purchased a few cooking utensils. He and his 
 wife had stools to sit upon and a table made by 
 boring holes in the log wall of their dwelling, driv- 
 ing in a couple of pins and laying a few slabs 
 across. 
 
 In those days there were only a few houses 
 between Catlin and Sidney. Homer was not in 
 existence. The Wabash Railway track was sur- 
 veyed in 1837. Our subject's little farm was 
 partly broken before it became his, his father 
 giving him the deed for it in 1837. He was suc- 
 cessful in his first farming operations, although he 
 had very crude implements with which to culti- 
 vate the soil and no help save that of his wife. 
 He struggled along in the new country and grew 
 slowly with it. He thinks the most prosperous 
 times for this "section were between 1850 and 1860 
 and the two years following the close of the war. 
 
 Ten children came to bless the union of Mr. 
 and Mrs. Davis, seven of whom grew to mature 
 years. Rachel became the wife of Daniel Roudebush 
 who is now deceased; she has four children and 
 lives near Portland, Ore.; Edith married Ben- 
 jamin Browning and became the mother of four 
 children; they live near fSacramento, Cal.; D. Cook 
 married for his second wife a Mrs. Miller of Pen- 
 field, 111., and they have six children; Henry is 
 written of elsewhere in this volume; Jemima is the 
 
 wife of Sullivan Cox, lives in Dement and has one 
 child; Lydia, E., the wife of George W. Baird, is 
 the mother of four children and they live in Vance 
 Township. 
 
 Mrs. Elizabeth (Hayes) Davis departed this life 
 at the homestead in the fall of 1861. 
 
 Our subject contracted a second matrimonial al- 
 liance Aug. 21, 1863, withiMiss Mary C._, daughter 
 of Lawrence T. Catletl and sister of Hiram and 
 Harold Catlett of Vance Township. Mrs. Davis 
 was the third in a family of twelve children and 
 was born Aug. 23, 1821, in Charlottesville, Va. 
 She attended school for a time in her native State 
 and completed a good education in Ohio. She fol- 
 lowed the profession of a teacher for some years 
 prior to her marriage. The family came to Illinois 
 in 1846 and Miss Mary taught school for some 
 time in this county. She is a most estimable and 
 worthy lady, kind, generous and hospitable and 
 especially attentive to those in affliction. She has 
 always been interested in educational matters and 
 donated $76 'from her own private purse to the 
 university at Upper Alton. She also gave $50 to 
 the Baptist Church in Danville of which both she 
 and her husband have been members for many 
 years, Mr. Davis serving as Deacon and Trustee 
 and both laboring earnestly in the Sunday-school. 
 The health of Mrs. Davis for the past two years 
 has been 'delicate, preventing her from pursuing 
 this good work as she would have liked. 
 
 Mr. Davis, more fortunate than many of his com- 
 peers, financially, received $2,500 fromhis father and 
 had the good judgment to take care of it and add to 
 it. He is now the owner of about 1,000 acres of land 
 in this county and five good houses. He has an 
 interest in the implement firm of Davis & Stearns, 
 and also in a large grain warehouse. Besides this 
 he owns fifteen or eighteen lots in Fairmount and 
 has given to each of his children $3,500. He 
 donated $1,000 to the Douglas University at Chi- 
 cago, $500 to the Wabash Railroad, $500 to the 
 university at Upper Alton and has always been a 
 liberal supporter of the schools, churches and other 
 worthy enterprises in this County. His estate is 
 valued at $60,000. While busy with the accumu- 
 lation of this world's goods for himself he has the 
 satisfaction of knowing that the needy have never 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 303 
 
 been turned empty from liis door. He s^'inpathizes 
 with those less fortunate than himself and none are 
 more ready to aid those, who will try to help them- 
 selves. ' ' 
 
 The first presidential vote of Mr. Davis was cast 
 in 1832 for Andrew Jackson, and he has been a 
 uniform supporter of the Democratic party until 
 1876, since which time he has been a Greenbacker. 
 Taking a lively interest in politics, his expressed sen- 
 timents have always been pure andupright and could 
 he have his way there would be no wire-working and 
 no political dishonesty. During the election of 
 1888 he supported the Union-Labor nominee and 
 he has favored the election of a Greenbacker. He 
 is rather opposed to secret societies and has held 
 aloof from them. He served as School Director 
 many years and for several terms officiated as 
 Road Overseer. Few men have kept themselves 
 more conversant with matters of general interest 
 to the intelligent citizen, and few have been of more 
 essential aid in supporting the various worthy en- 
 terprises tending to elevate society and benefit the 
 community. 
 
 ^p^EORGE HOAGLAND. lu the fall of 1860 
 III ^-~ there might have been seen wending their 
 ^^/| way across the new country, a young man 
 with his wife and four children, intent upon mak- 
 ing a home in a new section, and practically grow- 
 ing up with the country. Few men had settled at 
 that time in township 23, range 12, where our sub- 
 ject secured 120 acres on section 32. Upon this 
 land there was a small house, into which he moved 
 his family, and made them as comfortable as pos- 
 sible. Little of the land around them had been 
 fenced or cultivated, while deer, wolves and other 
 wild animals had scarcely learned to be afraid at 
 the approach of man. The nearest trading point 
 was at Rossville, and for anything out of the com- 
 mon line of merchandise Mr. Hoagland was obliged 
 to repair to Danville, Attica or Paxton, twenty 
 miles away. 
 
 Our subject came a long distance from his birth- 
 place to seek a permanent home, having first opened 
 his eyes to the light on tlie Atlantic coast. New 
 
 Jersey, May 1.5, 1802. There he spent the first 
 nineteen years of his life, and then emigrated with 
 his parents to Hamilton County, Ind., where they 
 were among the earliest pioneers. In due time he 
 was married to Miss Mary Van Zant, who died, 
 leaving one child. His second wife was Rachel 
 Cushman, and to them there were born five chil- 
 dren, of whom Jonathan C, who lives on the farm 
 with his father, is the only survivor. 
 
 Our subject first cleared eighty acres from the 
 wilderness, then sold out, and purchased that which 
 he now owns and occupies. He built this up from 
 the raw prairie, and has given to it the labor of 
 many years in bringing it to its present position, 
 besides a generous outlay of money. Although 
 now quite well advanced on the down hill of life, 
 he retains much of the activity of his former years, 
 and keeps himself well posted upon current events. 
 He voted for both the Harrisons, and no man lias 
 rejoiced more in the results of the war which 
 brought about freedom and preserved the Union. 
 He has been a member of the Baptist Church since 
 1828, and is of that kindly and genial disposition 
 which has made him friends wherever he has so- 
 journed. 
 
 Jonathan C. Hoagland, the only living child of 
 our subject, was born in Indiana, April 24, 1846, 
 and lived there until coming to this county, in 
 1860. Soon after the outbreak of the Civil War 
 he enlisted in Company E, 149th Illinois Infantry, 
 whifcli was assigned to the Army of the Tennessee. 
 This regiment, however, while before Atlanta dur- 
 ing the siege of the city, was not called upon to 
 do any active fighting, but was simply assigned to 
 guard duty. They received their honorable dis- 
 charge, and were mustered out in 1866. Mr. Hoag- 
 land then returned to this count}-, and engaged in 
 farming with his father, and lias since remained a 
 resident here. 
 
 Jonathan C. Hoagland, son of our subject, was 
 married on the 24th of December, 1874, to Miss 
 Rebecca Sanders, of Butler Township. The three 
 children born to them — Rose E., Mary M. and 
 Flora B. — are all living at home with their parents. 
 Jonathan C. Hoagland has been School Direc- 
 tor in his district several terms, and, like his hon- 
 ored father, is held in high esteem by his neighbors. 
 
304 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 Mrs. George Hoagland. wife of our subject, was 
 born in PennsylvMiia, July 30, 1815, and removed 
 witli her parents to Indiana when a maiden of eigh- 
 teen 3'ears. She remained under the parental roof 
 until her marriage. Her father, Thomas Cushman, 
 was a farmer bj^ occupation, and spent his last 
 years in Indiana. 
 
 Charles Barcus, the grandson of our subject, and 
 the child of his daughter, Mary, resides at the 
 homestead. John Barcus, his father, after his mar- 
 riage with Miss Hoagland, located in Grant Town- 
 ship, and they became the parents of three sons 
 and one daugliter, one older than Charles, and two 
 younger. 
 
 • — '^^^m- — - 
 
 (|t_-^ENRY LLOYD, a veteran of the late war. 
 ir' jj! wherein he did loyal service for his adopted 
 ■!^^ country, is one of the leading citizens of 
 (^; Catlin Township, prominent in the manage- 
 ment of its public affairs, and closely identified 
 with its material interests as an intelligent, pro- 
 gressive farmer, stock-raiser, and stock-dealer. 
 His farm on section 34, with its broad, well-tilled 
 acres, its orderly, commodious buildings, and pleas- 
 ant dwelling is one of the most desirable and at- 
 tractive places in this part of Vermillion County. 
 Mr. Lloyd is of good English stock, and is him- 
 self a native of the mother country, born in Berk- 
 sliire, April 5, 1841. His parents, Richard C. and 
 Susan (Wicks) Lloyd, were also born in England, 
 and were life-long residents of the old country, 
 dying in Berkshire. They were people of sterling 
 worth, well thought of by their neighbors, and they 
 trained their seven children to habits of useful- 
 ness and honesty. 
 
 Henry Lloyd was the fourth child of the family 
 and the years of his boyhood were passed among 
 the pleasant scenes of his native land. In 18,'58, 
 when seventeen years of age he left his old home, 
 ambitious to see more of life and to avail himself 
 of the many advantages offered by the United 
 States of America to the poor youth of other coun- 
 tries to make their way in the world to positions of 
 comfort and even affluence. After landing on 
 these shores he came to Catlin Township, of which 
 he has been a resident since, excepting durino- 
 
 the trying times of the great Rebellion, when with 
 a patriotism not exceeded by those native and to the 
 manor born, he bravely consecrated his young life 
 to the defence of the land of his adoption. In 
 August, 1862, tearing himself away from his little 
 family, and laying aside all business interests, he 
 enlisted, and in the following September he was 
 mustered into Company G, 125th Illinois Infantr^^, 
 and was in the army until after the war closed. 
 He took an active part in the battles of Perryville, 
 Mission Ridge, second battle of Mission Ridge, 
 battle of Dallas, and was with Gen. Sherman in his 
 famous march to the sea. During two years of his 
 service he was detailed to haul ammunition. He 
 was honorably discharged June 9, 1865, and re- 
 turning to Catlin, resumed his former vocation. 
 The first four years after coming to Catlin Town- 
 ship he was engaged in the butcher business, but 
 aside from that he has been occupied in farming and 
 in raising, buying and shipping stock quite ex- 
 tensively. He owns 240 acres of choice land, all 
 improved, and amply supplied with excellent 
 buildings for all necessary purposes and with mod- 
 ern machinery for facilitating the labors of the 
 farm. 
 
 Mr. Lloyd and Miss Sarah Church were united 
 in marriage in Catlin Township, Dec. 20, 1860, 
 and nine children have been born to them — Edu-in 
 C, who died when ten and a half months old; 
 Maria L. is the wife of Abraham Wolf; two who died 
 in infancy; Alice E., Fred R., Fannie E., Edwin 
 IL, and AYilliam R. 
 
 Mrs. Lloyd is like her husband, a native of 
 England, born in London Jan. 7, 1844. In 1850, 
 when she was six j-ears of age, lier parents, Henry 
 and Sophia (Puzey) Church, who were likewise of 
 Englisii birth, brought her to this country. They 
 cast their lot with the early settlers of Catlin 
 Township, and passed their remaining days here. 
 They had seven children, Mrs. Lloyd being the 
 youngest. She is a woman of a happj^, amiable 
 disposition, is well liked by all who know her, 
 and is a member in high standing of the Methodist 
 Church. 
 
 Mr. Lloyd is a frank, open hearted man, gifted 
 with rare energj^ and stability of character. His 
 public spirit is well known, and any good scheme 
 
v^'?^r '-^- --' 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 307 
 
 that will in any way prcjmote the best interests of 
 the township is sure to meet with his corilial ap- 
 proval and substantial support. His fellow-citi- 
 zens have often called upon him for advice in 
 weighty matters, and as a public official he ha.s 
 shown his disinterested regard for the welfare of 
 the commnnity. He has been Road Commissioner 
 three years, Township Collector two years, School 
 Director six years, and Vice-President of the 
 Vermilion Agricultural Society seven years. He 
 is connected with the A. F. & A. M. as a member 
 of Catlin Lodge, No. 285. He and his family are 
 people of high social standing in this community, 
 and their pleasant residence, situated a short dis- 
 tance from the road and close to the corporation 
 of Catlin, is the centre of a genuine hospitalit}', 
 the graceful and kindly courtesy of its inmates 
 making friends and strangers alike feel at home 
 within its walls. 
 
 IRAM YERKES. The firm of Yerkes & 
 1^) Reese conduct a flrst-class meat-market in 
 Fairmount, obtaining their supplies from 
 •j/j the farm of Mr. Yerkes, which furnishes 
 the pure article so essential to the health of man- 
 kind. The firm is one of first-class standing, and 
 enjoys the patronage of the best people of Fair- 
 mount and vicinity. The subject of this notice is 
 a man of more than ordinary abilities, with a thor- 
 ough-going business talent, while at the same time 
 he is whole-souled, genial and companionable, en- 
 joying the esteem and confidence of hosts of friends. 
 The Yerkes family originated in Germany, from 
 which country the paternal great-grandfather of 
 our subject emigrated prior to the Revolutionary 
 War. He reared a fine family, and among his sons 
 was Jacob S., the father of our subject, who was 
 born in Penns3-lvania and adopted the business of 
 a wagon-maker and farmer combined. He was 
 married, in his native State, to Miss Ann S. Shoe- 
 maker, who was born there, and not long after 
 ward they removed to Ohio, where Mr. Yerkes 
 followed wagon-making for four years. Then he 
 removed to Indiana, and remained a resident of 
 
 the Iloosier State a quarter of a century and en- 
 gaged in wagon-making and agricultural pursuits. 
 There the parents passed the remainder of their 
 livts, the mother dying in 1882, and the father in 
 the fall of 1886. 
 
 To the parents of our subject there were born 
 eight children, only four of whom reached their 
 majority. Hiram, the second in the family, was 
 born May 7, 1840, in Ohio, and was a mere child 
 when his parents left the Buckeye State for Indi- 
 ana. In the latter State his early education was 
 conducted in the primitive log schoolhouse, the 
 terms being very short and far between. He, how- 
 ever, took kindly to his books, and gained a very 
 good knowledge of the common branches. He re- 
 mained under the home roof until the outbreak of 
 the Civil "War, and in August, 1862, enlisted in the 
 Union army as a member of Company H, 63d In- 
 diana Infantry, which regiment was organized in 
 Indianapolis, first commanded by Col. Williams 
 and later by Col. I. N. Stiles. 
 
 Mr. Yerkes fought in sixteen battle* and fol- 
 lowed his regiment in all its marches, participating 
 in all the hardships and vicissitudes of a soldier's 
 life. The records indicate that he was one of the 
 bravest men of his company, and while at the front, 
 in some of the hardest fought battles of the war, 
 stood at his post without fear or flinching. He was 
 content to enter the ranks as a private, and was 
 first promoted to the post of Corporal, and after- 
 ward to Sergeant. He met the enemy in the field 
 at Resaca, Ga., Franklin and Nashville, Tenn., At- 
 lanta, Kenesaw Mountain, Jonesboro, Cassville, 
 Lost Mountain, Altoona, Chattahoochie, Town 
 Ci eek, Burnt Hickory, Buzzard's Koost, Ft. Ander- 
 son, AYilmington and Columbia, N. C. 
 
 Although experiencing many hairbreadth esr 
 capes, Mr. Yerkes never received a scratch. He 
 was at one time entirety buried in the dirt plowed 
 up by a Rebel cannon ball, escaping by a miracle 
 from being torn to pieces by the deadl}' missile. 
 He had the satisfaction of witnessing the sur- 
 render of the rebel Gen. Johnston to Gen. Sher- 
 man, but the joy of the Union array was soon sad- 
 dened by the news of Lincoln's assassination. 
 After the surrender spoken of, they remained in 
 Greensburg until July, 1865, when the regiment 
 
308 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 was dischargeil, anfl our subject, being mustered 
 out at In:lianapolis, returned to his home in In- 
 diana. 
 
 On the 21st of September, in the above-men- 
 tioned year, our subject was united in marriage 
 with Miss Hester E. Prevo, daughter of a promi- 
 nent farmer of Fountain County, Ind., and one of 
 the most lovely young ladies of that region. Mrs. 
 Hester E. Yerl<es was one of a family of six chil- 
 dren, and was born in Indiana, in October, 1839. 
 Soon after their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Yerkes 
 came to Illinois, arriving in this county Oct. 17, 
 1865, and settling upon the land which constitutes 
 the present homestead of our subject. Of this con- 
 genial union there were born six children, the 
 eldest of whom, a son, Spencer G., remains at 
 home with his father. Alice M. is the wife of 
 Charles Price, and they live on a farm two miles 
 northeast of Fairmount. Ella May, Anna L., 
 Susie and Hattie are at home with their father. 
 The mother of these children departed this life 
 at the home farm in Yance Township, on the 
 6tli day of September, 1877. She was a lady 
 greatly beloved by her family and friends, possess- 
 ing tliose estimable qualities by which she was en- 
 abled to illustrate in her life the best traits of the 
 devoted wife and mother, the kind and generous 
 friend, and the hospitable neighbor. Her name is 
 held in tender remembrance by all who knew her. 
 
 Our subject, in January, 1878, contracted a sec- 
 ond marriage with Miss Mary Olive, daughter of 
 the Rev. J. H. Noble, a prominent minister of the 
 Methodist Episcopal Church. This union resulted 
 in the birth of four children, one of whom. Pearl, 
 died in infancy. The others are Hiram N., Lola 
 G. and Winnie M. The boy Hiram is especially 
 bright, very attentive to his studies in school, and 
 maintains his position at the head of his class, 
 gaining great enconiums from his teacher. Mr. 
 Yerkes. has officiated as Township Supervisor for 
 Bve years, holding the office during the erection of 
 the County Court House (at Danville), which bears 
 his name upon its corner-stone. This was a scheme 
 in which he was intensely interested, and it was 
 largely through his efforts that the edifice was fin- 
 ished in good shape and without involving the loss 
 of a dollar to the county. So judiciously were its 
 
 affairs managed that the taxpayers hardly realized 
 that ihey were contributing to its erection, and 
 never missed the additional sum imposed. The 
 County Jail was erected about the same time and 
 under the same conditions. 
 
 Our subject has officiated as Highway Commis- 
 sioner three years, and in this, as in all other posi- 
 tions of trust and responsibility, which he has 
 occupied, bent his energies to effect those improve- 
 ments which would benefit the people and at the 
 same time prevent excessive taxation. While hold- 
 ing the above-meutioned office, he furthered the 
 introduction of the system of stone arch bridges 
 in Vance Township, and thej^ are, without question, 
 the cheapest and most durable bridge which can 
 be erected. Sewer drainage for the small streams 
 instead of the old plank culverts was also adopted, 
 through the persistent efforts of Mr. Yerkes. He 
 has been School Director in his district for many 
 years, and so well has he performed his duties in 
 connection therewith, that the Board is about to 
 purchase a site and erect a new building at a cost 
 of about $7,000. 
 
 Politically, Mr. Yerkes uniformly votes the Re- 
 publican ticket, and has frequently been sent as a 
 delegate to the County Conventions. In connec- 
 tion with this, as in all other matters, he is content 
 with no halfway- measures, and has thus been of 
 effective service to his party in this section, beino- 
 thoroughly well-informed and alive to all the po- 
 litical issues of the day. Both he and his estimable 
 wife are members in good standing of the Metho- 
 dist Episcopal Church. Socially, Mr. Yerkes be- 
 longs to Fairmount Lodge No. 590, A. F. & A. M., 
 and to George N. Neville Post, G. A. R., of which 
 he was once ^^ice Commander. In his church he 
 officiates as Steward and Trustee, and for the past 
 eighteen years has been one of the most efficient 
 workers in the Sunday-school, officiating as Super- 
 intendent nine years, as teacher of the Bible Class 
 the same length of time, and, when not chief Su- 
 perintendent, acting as assistant. 
 
 The farm of Mr. Yerkes is finely situated on 
 section 9, and comprises 320 acres of land — all in 
 one body. Being just outside the corporate limits 
 of Fairmount, on the southwest, it is naturally very 
 valuable. The whole is in a productive condition. 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOG! ilAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 309 
 
 and yields .abundantly the ricli crops of Central 
 Illinois. Mr. Yerkes feeds nearlj' 100 head of 
 cattle each year, and about sevent^'-five head of 
 swine. He keeps simply enough horses to operate 
 the farm. He has recently disposed of 185 acres 
 of coal land, seven miles west of Danville. 
 
 It is an appropriate testimonial to the wortli of 
 Mr. Yerkes that his portrait should occupy a 
 prominent place in the Album of the county, to the 
 material advancement of which he has so largelj' 
 contributed. 
 
 BENJAMIN FRANKLIN SNOWDEN. The 
 fact that this gentleman is successfullj' oper- 
 ating three farms in Sidell Township is suf- 
 ficient indication of his ability as a business 
 man and agriculturist, while his home is one of the 
 most hospitable places to be found in many a mile. 
 Although not a long-time resident of the town- 
 ship, he has established himself in the esteem and 
 confidence of its people, and is recognized as a citi- 
 zen holding no secondary place in point of sterling 
 worth, honesty and integrity. He has supervit-iijn 
 of the Ciiarles Wright farm — 220 acres in extent 
 — upon which he resides; the A. J. Baura farm of 
 340 acres, and a little farm of seventy acres, be- 
 longing also to this estate, all of which comprises 
 630 acres, and all of which, with the exception of 
 forty acres, is under the plow. The land is largely 
 devoted to the raising of corn and oats, and in the 
 operation of this extensive tract there are utilized 
 thirteen teams, with a goodly amount of machinery 
 and all the other implements i-equired for success- 
 ful agriculture. The firm of Snowden & Sons has 
 become generally recognized in this section as the 
 synonym of reliability, push and enterprise. 
 
 William Snowden, the father of our subject, with 
 his wife, formerly Miss Martha Pigg, were nativc-i 
 of Clark County, Ky., where the paternal grand- 
 father, Joshua Snowden, was also born and was the 
 son of David Snowden, a native of Virginia, whosB 
 father was also born in the Old Dominion and 
 whosegrandfatber emigrated from England. Joshua 
 Snowden served as a soldier in the War of 1812, 
 
 and the great-grandfather of our subject carried a 
 musket in the Revolutionary War. The Snowden 
 family is noted for longevity, many of them reach- 
 ing the age of ninety years and some living to be 
 over one hundred years old. The Pigg family in 
 ^"irginia owned lands and slaves. They had origin- 
 ally settled in Kentucky, and several of the male 
 ancestors of our subject on this side of the house 
 likewise served in the Revolutionary War. 
 
 The father of our subject carried on farming 
 and prosecuted quite an extensive trade in fine 
 horses, cattle and mules, purchasing them in Ken- 
 tucky and shipping to Virginia, Missouri, Illinois 
 and other States. He brought about the first Short- 
 horn cattle known in this .State, landing them in 
 Bloomington, 111. lie was born, reared, married 
 and died in Clark County, Ky., where he was a 
 prominent citizen, well known and highly respected. 
 His business relations extended to Bourbon, Fay- 
 ette, Merritt, Esther, Powell, and other counties of 
 that State, as also into various other States of the 
 Union. In addition to his extensive private in- 
 terests he served as Notary Public several years, 
 and was noted for his public-spiritedness and gener- 
 osit3-. He became quite wealthy, but finally became 
 securit}^ for large amounts and lost the whole of his 
 propert}', leaving his son, our subject, almost penni- 
 less. His death occurred April 17, 1884, at the age 
 of sixty-seven years. The mother only survived 
 her husband a short time, her death taking place 
 July 4, 1883, when she was sixty-five years old. 
 
 Nine children were born to the parents of our 
 subject, being named respectively : Benjamin Frank- 
 lin of this sketch, Thomas J., William N., John W., 
 Louisa, Joshua, Mary, Melissa, who died at the age 
 of thirteen years, and Nancy, who died when three 
 years old. Thomas J. is a live-stock commission 
 merchant at the Union Stock Yards, Cincinnati, 
 Ohio; William N. is farming in Clark County, Ky. ; 
 John W., a physician and surgeon, is located at 
 Wade's Mill in Clark County, Ky. ; Louisa is the 
 wife of Taylor Mansfield, a farmer of the above- 
 mentioned county; Joshua is farming and resides 
 on the Parkville homestead; Mary is the wife of 
 David B. Duncan, a farmer of Madison County, 
 
 Ky- 
 
 The subject of this notice was born Dec. 8, 1839, 
 
310 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 fourteen miles east of Paris in Bourbon County, 
 Ky. He was a mere chiid when liis father's family 
 removed to Clark County, where he developed into 
 manhood. He attended the subscription schools 
 before the days of public schools, and engaged in 
 farming and shipping stock. When twenty- one 
 years old he was married to Miss Amanda F. Craig 
 of Estill County, Ky., and the daughter of Olando 
 Whitney Craig, one of the first Methodist Episco- 
 pal preachers in the Blue Grass State. Her mother. 
 Miss Maria (Bellis) Craig, was a native of Estill 
 County. Mr. Craig was born in Montgomery 
 County. The progenitors of both removed from 
 Virginia at an early date. The great-grandfather 
 Craig was one of the earliest settlers of Montgom- 
 ery County, locating there about 1821, and helivec\ 
 to be one hundred and two years old. He also was 
 a preacher of the Methodist Episcopal Church. His 
 son, William, the grandfather of our subject, spent 
 his entire life in Montgomery County. 
 
 The father of Mrs. Snowden preached at various 
 places in Kentucky — in Montgomery, Clark, Estill 
 and Powell counties — and died in Estill County in 
 1848, when onlj^ forty years of age; the mother 
 survived her husband several years, dying in 1862 
 at the age of forty-two. Their children, six in 
 number, were named respectively William T., 
 Amanda F., Eliza J., John T., Mary E. and Sarali 
 E. The parents were excellent and worthy people, 
 and the father especially beloved wherever known. 
 Mrs. Snowden was born in Estill County, Ky., 
 and received a verj- good education. She finally- 
 began teaching, and followed this three years prior 
 to her marriage and for some time afterward. Mr. 
 Snowden in the meantime engaged extensivelv as 
 a stock dealer, buying and selling cattle, horses 
 and mules. He also carried on farming in Ken- 
 tuck}'. In the spring of 1887 he came to this 
 county and rented the Wright farm, where they 
 have since lived. The record of the eleven chil- 
 dren born to them is as follows: Nancy B. died at 
 the age of three years; John W. assists his father 
 in his extensive farming interests; Thomas J. is 
 also at home ; Martha M. is the wife of James W. 
 Young of Danville, and they have one child, Annie 
 Laura; William 51., Lena Rivers, Joshua IL, Mary 
 E. and Nora A. are at home with their parents. 
 
 The eighth child, Maggie L., died at the age of 
 nine years and the youngest born, Algan, died 
 when seven months old. 
 
 l\Ir. Snowden, politically, affiliates with the Dem- 
 ocratic party. Socially, he belongs to Estill Lodge, 
 No. 469, of Spout Springs, Kj'., and his wife is a 
 member of the Ladies' Aid Society. The matei'nal 
 grandfather of Mrs. Snowden served in the Revo- 
 lutionary War, and one of her uncles was in the 
 IMexican War. Two of her brothers were in the 
 late Civil War — W^illiam in the Confederate Army 
 and John in the Union Army, in which he enlisted 
 three times. The old home of Mr. Snowden is 
 located ten miles from Boonesboro, Clark Co.,Ky., 
 and was formerly the home of Daniel Boone, the 
 old i>ioneer of Kentucky and of historic fame. 
 Our subject is well acquainted with several mem- 
 bers of the Boone famil}"-, and speaks of them as 
 very worthy people, prominent in local affairs and 
 invariably Hard Shell Baptists in their religious 
 views. 
 
 ARL C. WINTER, editor of the Danville 
 Deutsche Zeitung, was born in Heidelberg, 
 Germany, April 21, 1841. He is descended 
 from a prominent and distinguished ancestry, who 
 have wielded much influence in their native land. 
 Originally the family came in tiie seventeenth cen- 
 tury from the coast of Holland, near Amsterdam, 
 settling first at Heilbronn, whence the great-grand- 
 father of our subject removed to Heidelberg in 
 1807. His grandfather. Christian Frederick' Win- 
 ter, was for many years JMayor of the Q'liy of Hei- 
 delberg, an ofHce of greater honor and respectability 
 in that country than in this, and one to which onh' 
 prominent men are chosen. He was for many 
 ^•cars also a member of the Legislature of the 
 Grand Duchy of Baden, and exercised a wide in- 
 fluence in its affairs. He introduced and procured 
 the passage of the bill inaugurating the jury sj'stem 
 in the State, and securing the liberty of the press. 
 He was afterward Commissioner of the Republic 
 of Baden during the celebrated Revolution of 
 1849, in Germany, which was the successor of the 
 abortive attempt of 1848. During the year the 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 311 
 
 Independent Republic of Baden existed, Mr. Win- 
 ter was one of the leading- spii'its in the affairs of 
 the new State, being an orator of great power and 
 influence. On the suppression of the Republic by 
 the Prussians, iNlr. AVinter was imprisoned in Hei- 
 delberg, and was compelled to indemnifj'- the gov- 
 ernment for all the official funds in the treasur}' at 
 the time of the inauguration of the Republic. This 
 cost him almost all his large private fortune. He was 
 a political prisoner for about a year and after his 
 release occupied a prominent position in business 
 life, and for several years prior to his death was 
 again Mayor of Heidelberg. He was a close per- 
 sonal friend of the leaders of the revolutionary 
 movement, and especially- of Col. Fritz Meeker. He 
 was also an intimate associate of Liebig, the chemist. 
 Humboldt, Goethe, Fichte, Schlegel, and Schlosser, 
 the celebrated German historian, with whom he was 
 engaged in literary correspondence. lie was the 
 founder of the great publishing house of C. F. 
 Winter, which printed the works of Dr. Liebig, of 
 Bunsen, the chemist, of Ilaeusser, of Fresenius, 
 Wohler's "Annals of Chemistry," and the works of 
 man}' other world renowned writers. 
 
 Christian Frederick Winter died in 1856, and his 
 wife in 1858. Of their sons several became prom- 
 inent in the State and in business circles. The eld- 
 est, Jonathan, whom in his admiration for this free 
 land his father had named after "Brother Jonathan," 
 held the position of Under-Secretary of State in 
 Baden, and was about to be promoted to the posi- 
 tion of Minister of State, when he died in 1886, in 
 Carlsruhe, being then in the prime of life. Another 
 son. Christian Frederick, afterward became a prom- 
 inent publisher in Frankfort, and printed many 
 famous works, principally on theological and agii- 
 cultural subjects. He died in Frankfort in 1883. 
 C'arl became publisher and bookseller in his native 
 city of Heidelberg, where he was a prosperous and 
 influential citizen. He died in 1871, leaving a 
 numerous family and a large estate. The remain- 
 ing son, Anton, was the father of our subject. He 
 was born in Heidelberg in 1808, and received his 
 higher education in the celebrated university of 
 that city. He succeeded to his father's business, 
 whicli he had conducted during the latter part of 
 bis father's life. He maintained the national repu- 
 
 tation of the great publishing house of C. F. Winter 
 fully up to the standard which had been, reached 
 by its founder. After his father's death he removed 
 the establishment to Leipsic, the great center of the 
 book trade of Germany, and there he conducted 
 it until his death, which occurred in 1859. 
 
 Anton Winter was married in 1840 to Miss Emily 
 Broenner, whose father, H. L. Broenner, was a pub- 
 lisher at Frankfort. She was born in that city in 
 1820, and was a highly educated ladj', a graduate 
 of the Female Academy at Rumperheim-on-the- 
 Main. She died in December, 1887. She was a 
 lady of many accomplishments, a fine painter, and 
 well versed in science, literature and art. Her 
 union with 51r. Winter was blessed by the birth of 
 six children, of whom our subject was the eldest; 
 Henrietta, the second child, died in Leipsic in 
 1885; Ludwig is a landscape gardner and florist, 
 and has an establishment of world-wide reputation 
 at Bordighera, on the Riviera, near Nice, Italy. 
 He was educated in his profession at Potsdam, is 
 royal gardener to the King of Itah', and holds a 
 position in his art second to none in the world. 
 Sophia is a noted teacher in the Female Academy 
 of Leipsic, of which she was a graduate; Ferdi- 
 nand is a merchant in London, England, being a 
 partner in and manager of the English house of 
 the Hamburg Rubber Company, the largest hard 
 rubber establishment in the world. Clara died in 
 childhood. 
 
 Carl C. Winter, our subject, passed his boyhood 
 amid the beautiful scenery in and around the city 
 of his birth. His early education was in its public 
 schools, and he was carefully trained, both mentally 
 and physically, by highly cultured parents, who left 
 upon him impressions deep and lasting. He was 
 prepared for and entered the Lyceum at Heidel- 
 berg, then under the direction of Professor Hautz. 
 He was thoroughly prepared for the University, 
 which he entered at the unusually early age of 
 eighteen. He was educated especially to fit him 
 for the business of publishing, and took a general 
 iiistorical course under Prof. Ludwig Ilaeusser, 
 author, amongst other works, of an exhaustive his- 
 tory of the Revolution of 1849. He attended a 
 course in philosophy under Prof. Kuno Fischer, 
 and a course in English and French literature under 
 
312 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 Pi'of. Dr. Emil Otto, wlio gave him private lessons, 
 a distinction shared by two other people only. On 
 account of the death of his father he left the Uni- 
 versity to assist his mother in settling up the busi- 
 ness of the estate, and, being himself too young to 
 carry it on, the publishing business was sold to an 
 association of capitalists, who still continue it at 
 Leipsic, under the original title of C. F. Win- 
 ter. 
 
 In order to become practically acquainted with 
 the printing business, our subject worked in several 
 book publishing houses in Prague, Bremen, Mar- 
 burg and in London, England. During this period 
 he contributed many articles to the Illustrirte Welt 
 and the lUustrirtes FamilienbucJi, the former pub- 
 lished at Stuttgart, and the latter at Trieste and 
 Vienna. While in London, he decided to come to 
 the United States. Me made a short visit to his 
 native land in the early part of the year 1866, and 
 in April of that year sailed for New York, landing- 
 there about the first of May. In that city he en- 
 gaged as a clerk with L. W. Schmidt, bookseller 
 and publisher, but his inclinations being toward 
 literary pursuits, he soon became city editor of the 
 New York Staats-Zeitung, under the veteran editor 
 Oswald Ottendorfer. He filled that position for 
 two years, at the same time contributing literary 
 articles to the New York Herald, and articles on 
 German and French literature to the New York 
 Nation. In 1868 he resigned from the Staats-Zei- 
 tunfj, to accept the position of editor of the Leliigli 
 County Patriot, published at AUentown, Pa. There 
 he remained for a year, and in tliat time wrote for 
 the Nation a series of articles on the Pennsylvania- 
 Dutch dialect, also contributing a series of letters 
 on American life to the Daheim of Leipsic, Ger- 
 many. 
 
 In 1869 Mr. Winter was offered and accepted the 
 position of city editor of the Daily Telegraph, a 
 German paper, publisiied in Indianapolis, Ind.,and 
 remained with that paper until 1871, when he re- 
 ceived a flattering offer from the manager of the 
 Louisville Anzeiger, tendeving him the position of 
 city editor and literary writer. He stayed there until 
 1872, when he was re-engaged by the Indianapolis 
 Telegraph to conduct its city department during 
 the exciting Presidential contest of that year, He 
 
 was also cugngcd l)y Elijah Ilalford, then editor of 
 the Indianapolis Journal, now Pres. Harrison's pri- 
 vate secretary, and also by the managing editor of 
 the Indianapolis Sentinel, to report and translate 
 for their respective papers the first speech in that 
 memorable campaign delivered in German at In- 
 dianapolis by Carl Schurz. Mr. Winter, after writ- 
 ing out his notes for the German paper, began the 
 translation into English for the two other journals, 
 using manifold paper, finishing the task in little 
 over two hours, the speech occupying nearly two 
 columns in each paper. Each of the editors, after 
 reading a few pages, paid him the compliment of 
 sending his manuscript to the printers without re- 
 vision. Mr. Schurz afterwards told Mr. AV'inter it 
 was the best translation ever made of any of his 
 German speeches. 
 
 Mr. Winter stayed in Indianapolis until 1873, when 
 he was called by telegraph to accept the position 
 of city editor of the Westliche Post, the German 
 paper published in St. Louis hy Carl Schurz. He 
 managed that successfully, and while there, also for 
 two years contributed literary articles to his Sunday 
 edition, and several times, while the Missouri Legis- 
 lature was in session, acted as its correspondent at 
 .Tefferson City, the capital. In 1875, failing eye- 
 sight necessitated a cessation of night work, and 
 Mr. Winter resigned his position, and went to Rock 
 Island, 111., where he began the publication of the 
 Volks Zeitung, a semi- weekly journal. In this ven- 
 ture he was very successful, and he conducted the 
 paper until 1882, when he sold it. He then bought 
 an interest in the Ghavipioii of Personal Liberty, a 
 paper published in Chicago in the interest of indi- 
 vidual freedom. He traveled in the interest of this 
 journal as correspondent collector and agent six 
 months, then came to Danville, where he bought 
 the good will of the journal of which he is now 
 the editor, and which had by mismanagement been 
 compelled to suspend publication. This paper he 
 has placed upon a secure basis, and it has acquired 
 much influence among the German speaking resi- 
 dents of the county, by whom it is liberally patron- 
 ized. 
 
 Another literary^ venture of Mr. Winter's was 
 the writing of a four-act comedy in German, en- 
 titled ".Bs Stimmt," which has been successfully 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 313 
 
 performed in the German theaters of Chicago. 
 Davenport, Moline, Dayton, Fort Madison, and in 
 several other places. Mr. Winter submitted it to 
 a celebrated critic at Leipsic, who spoke higlil}^ of 
 it, saying it'was a very dramatic and interesting pic- 
 ture of German-American life. This work he pro- 
 duced in 1880, while he was publishing his paper in 
 Rock Island. 
 
 Since taking up his residence in Vermilion 
 County, Mr. Winter has become a leader in its 
 German-American circles, in whicli he wields much 
 influence. He was United States Deputy Collector 
 for the eighth district of Illinois from the fall of 
 1885 until 1887, when the office was abolished. He 
 is a busj' man, for in addition to conducting his 
 paper he performs the duty of a Notary Public, 
 attends to applications for United States licenses, 
 is a fine insurance and real-estate agent, procures 
 steamship tickets, attends to European collections 
 and is the Secretary of the Germania Building As- 
 sociation of Danville. Being a man of force and 
 executive capacity, he drives his multifarious busi- 
 nesses, and does not let them drive him. He is also 
 correspondent of the Chicago Times. 
 
 The social relations of Mr. Winter are extremely 
 pleasant. He is happily married, and moves among 
 the best elements of German societj'. He is a mem- 
 ber of the Feuerbach Lodge, No. 499, I. 0. O. F., 
 and of the Danville Turner Society, of which he 
 has twice been President, and also Corresponding 
 Secretary. He is pleasant and genial in his deport- 
 ment, liberal to his friends, to whom his hand is 
 ever open, and is deservedly esteemed by all who 
 know him. 
 
 j»A/i».-v«jia2/©-^- 
 
 ®5^i^OTZr»«.'Vvv. 
 
 Vi 
 
 ■ OHN CESSNA is busily engaged in tilling 
 the soil and raising stock on his well-man- 
 aged, comfortably improved farm on section 
 10, Pilot Township. He is a representative 
 self-made man, and by industry and prudence has 
 succeeded in accumulating a competence and in 
 building a cosy iiome where he may pass his de- 
 clining years well fortified against want and pov- 
 erty, jMr. Cessna was born in Cochocton County, 
 
 Ohio, June 29, 1833, his parents being Jonathan 
 and Margaret (Divan) Cessna. His father was 
 born in Pennsylvania in 1810, his mother in Bel- 
 mont County, Ohio. 
 
 At the age of seventeen the subject of this sketch 
 accompanied his parents to another home near 
 Toledo, Ohio, where they lived but a short 
 time. They then went down the Oiiio River 
 on a trading boat to Cairo, 111., where the father 
 died in 1844. After that sad event the subject 
 with his mother and sister returned to Coshocton 
 County, Ohio, and in about two years the mother 
 married again, becoming the wife of Joseph Rich- 
 ardson. In 1848 the family once more came to 
 Illinois and located on the homestead Mr. Richard- 
 son then purchased in this county, and now occu- 
 pied bj' the mother of our subject. Mr. Cessna 
 has but one sister now, the widow of Elisha Grimes, 
 living on her husband's homestead. She has eight 
 children, namely: John M., Elisha C, William 
 and Jacob (who are deceased), Alvin, Margaret, 
 Ellen, Charles and Belle. 
 
 John Cessna, of whom we write, commenced 
 life as a farm hand. He wisely saved his earnings 
 and in a few years had money enough to buj' a 
 good farm. In 1857, smitten with a desire to ac- 
 cumulate wealth still faster, he went to California 
 by the way of New York and Panama. In the 
 Golden State he found employment on a ranche, 
 and was well paid for his work in that country, 
 where good and reliable help was scarce. Twenty- 
 two months of life in that climate satisfied our sub- 
 ject and he retraced his steps homeward, and on 
 his return invested some of his capital in an 80-acre 
 farm, which he subsequently disposed of at a good 
 advance price, and then bought his present home- 
 stead, which then comprised but 140 acres. He 
 has kept adding to his landed property till he now 
 owns 260 acres of fine land, with excellent im- 
 provements, that add greatly to its value, and he is 
 profitably engaged in a general farming business, 
 raising cattle, horses and hogs of good grades. 
 
 Mr. Cessna has twice married. The maiden name 
 of his first wife was Ann Rebecca Truax. She was 
 born in Muskingum County, ( )hio, m 1 841, and died 
 in the pleasant home she had helped her husband to 
 build up, in 1876. Her people were of Irish origin. 
 
314 
 
 PORTRAIT AND HIOGRAPIirCAL ALBUM. 
 
 ()t' her marriage with our subject seven children 
 were born, two of whom are dead ; those living are 
 William, Mar}', Charles E., Lemuel E., and Eliza- 
 beth. Mr. Cessna was united in marriage to his 
 present wife in 1877, and to them bave come six 
 children, two of whom are dead, Frank and Jona- 
 than. Tiie others are Ann R., John R., Albert B., 
 and Mont P., all being at home. 
 
 Mr. Cessna has been a hard working man, but 
 his labors have been amply rewarded, as he knows 
 well how to direct his energies so as to produce the 
 desired results. He is possessed of sound sense, 
 discretion and other good traits, is honest and 
 straitforward in his manner and dealings, and is in 
 all things a sensible man. He and his wife are es- 
 teemed members of the Christain Church, of which 
 he is one of the trustees at the time of the erection 
 of the present house of worship. He is prominently 
 connected with the Masonic order as Blaster Mason. 
 
 In politics, he is a good democrat, and is loyal 
 in everj' fibre to his country. He has held school 
 ofHces and has served on the juries of his county. 
 Our subject's mother died since the above was writ- 
 ten, her death occuring June 30, 1889. 
 
 4^ AMl'EL ALBRIGHT. The subject of 
 ^^^ this notice was one of the first men to set- 
 '\J_M tie in Ross Township, along Bean Creek, 
 taking up his abode there on the 11th da}- 
 of October, 1855. His first purchase was 240 acres 
 of land where he built a small house, and he was 
 the first man to stir the soil with a plowshare. 
 lie did a large amount of breaking himself, en- 
 closed and divided his fields with fencing, put out 
 fruit and shade trees and erected buildings as his 
 needs multiplied and his means permitted. He was 
 prospered as a tiller of the soil and invested his 
 surplus capital in additional land which under his 
 wise management became very fertile and yielded 
 handsome returns. His property lies on sections 
 19, 30 and 31, and is considered as including some 
 of the most desirable land in this part of the 
 county. 
 
 About 1875, the; first humble domicile of our 
 
 subject £!ave place to an elegant residence, while 
 adjacent is a very fine barn flanked by the other ne- 
 cessary buildings. He has the latest improved ma- 
 chinery, including an expensive windmill and an 
 artesian well which throws a running stream of wa- 
 ter two feet above the ground, with its source 130 
 feet below. In his stock operations, Mr. Albrigiit 
 breeds mostly horses and cattle. 
 
 Mr. Albright in March, 1886, rented his farm 
 and retiring from active labor, purchased a 
 pleasant home in Rossville where he now resides. 
 His has been a remarkablj' busy life, as in addition 
 to his farming operations, he has given consider- 
 able of his time to looking after the local interests 
 of his township, officiating as School Director and 
 serving as Justice of the Peace for seven years. 
 He usually gives iiis support to the Democratic 
 party and for a period of forty-five years has been 
 a member of the United Bretliren Church. He 
 has been at two different times the candidate of his 
 party in this count}' for the Legislature, but being 
 in the minority, was lu-aten as he expected. 
 
 Mr. Albright was born in Fairfield County, Ohio, 
 Sept. 12, 1816, and lived there until a lad of 
 twelve years. He then removed to Pickaway 
 County where he sojourned until his marriage, 
 which took place four miles southeast of Circleville 
 the bride being Miss Clemency Morris. Of this 
 union there were born two cliildren — John M. and 
 Mary Ellen, the latter the wife of William McMur- 
 trie of Potomac, and is the mother of four children. 
 Mrs. Clemency (JMorris) Albright died at her home 
 in Ross Township in 1865. 
 
 Our subject contracted a second matrimonial al- 
 liance, Sept. 10, 1866, with Miss Mary M. Davis. 
 This union resulted in the birth of two children — 
 Orrie Lulu and Lilly Belle. The elder is the wife 
 of William Cunningham of Rossville and the 
 3'ounger remains with her parents. Mrs. Marj' M. 
 (Davis) Albright was born in Muskingum County, 
 Ohio, February, 1836, and is the daughter of Am- 
 aziah Davis, who came to this county at an early 
 day and became one of its most prominent farmers 
 and citizens. 
 
 David Albright, the father of our subject, was 
 a native of Pennsylvania, whence he removed to 
 Ohio when quite young. He was there married to 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 317 
 
 Miss Phebe Newman anrl they reared a family of 
 nine ciiildren. Upon leaving the Buckeye State 
 they settled in Frankfort, Ind., where the father 
 died some years ago. The mother subsequently 
 came to this county and made her home with our 
 subject until her death. 
 
 y.ILLIAM H. PRICE, the son of an early 
 settler of Vermilion County, may also be 
 
 ^5^^ denominated as one of its pioneers, as he 
 had a hand in developing its great agricultural 
 resources and assisted in laying' the foundations 
 of its wealth and high standing among its sister 
 counties. He is to-day one of the foremost 
 farmers and stock raisers of Pilot Township, and is 
 a man of copsiderable importance in the public life 
 of this community. He has a large farm of over 
 700 acres of well-improved land, comprising sec- 
 tions 8, 9 and 10, whose broad fields are under high 
 cultivation, and which is amply sujjplied with roomy, 
 conveniently arranged, well made buildings, and 
 all the appliances for facilitating farm work, while 
 everything about the place betokens order and 
 superior management. 
 
 Mr. Price was born in Pike County, Ohio, July 
 4, 1827. His father, Robert Price, was a native of 
 Lexington, Ky., born of pioneer parents July 29, 
 1788. The grandparents were from Wales and 
 England. They removed to Pike County, Ohio 
 when the father of our subject was a lad of nine 
 years, and there he grew to maturity and married 
 Miss Nancy Howard, a native of Ohio. Her par- 
 ents came from England to that part of the coun- 
 try in the early days of its settlement. She was 
 born Feb. 27, 1793 and died in middle life, Dec. 22, 
 1842, some years after the removal of the family 
 to this county, which occurred in 1830. She and 
 her husband were early pioneers of tliis section of 
 the country. 
 
 The father died Jan. 6, 1850, in Vermilion 
 County, 111. They were the parents of four chil- 
 dren, of whom our subject is the only survivor. 
 The others were Lloyd H., Drusilla, and Jerusha. 
 Lloyd mai-ried Minerva Howard, of Pike County, 
 
 Ohio, whose parents came to Vermilion County in 
 an early day, and to them (Lloyd and wife) were 
 born nine children, namely: William, Robert, 
 Thomas, Sarah, Nancy, Frank, Lloyd, May, and 
 George. Drusilla was tlie wife of Joseph Dalaj^, of 
 Vermilion County, now deceased, and they left one 
 child, Nancy, who became the wife of David ('lay- 
 pole, a farmer, and they have five children. Jeru- 
 sha married Franklin Adams, of A'ermilion County, 
 now deceased, and thej'^ have three children — 
 John L., William, and Samuel. 
 
 When our subject was brought to this county, a 
 child of three years, it was a wild waste of prairie, 
 and the settlers at that time thought that the land 
 away from the streams where the timber grew was 
 worthless for settlement, so they confined them- 
 selves to the banks of the creeks and rivers. He 
 grew to a strong manhood in the pioneer life that 
 obtained at that day, and early became independ- 
 ent and self-supporting. Having determined to 
 make farming his life work, he entered 200 acres 
 of prairie land from the Government, as his keen 
 discernment foresaw the worth of the rich and 
 fertile soil to the intelligent and enterprising young 
 farmer. After his marriage in 1850, he erected a 
 house and commenced the task of upbuilding his 
 present desirable home. He is still living on the 
 land tliat he purchased from the Government, and 
 lias added more to it as his means have allowed 
 till he owns one of the largest farms in the neigli- 
 hood, comprising, as before mentioned over 700 
 acres of choice land. He has besides helped to 
 establish his children in life by giving them land. 
 He does a general farming business, raising all 
 kinds of stock, making a speciality of breeding 
 Short-horn cattle, of which he has a herd of sixteen 
 thoroughbreds, besides all other kinds of stock us- 
 ually found on a model farm. 
 
 Mr. Price and Mary A. Cazatt were united in 
 marriage in 1850. She was born in Mercer County, 
 Ky., July 4, 1833, to Henry and Susan (Gritten) 
 Cazatt, native (if the same county, her father was 
 born about 1808 and her mother Dec. 4, 1810. 
 jMrs. Prices's grandparents were Irish and Dutch. 
 They were pioneers of Vermilion County, coming 
 here in 1837, and here they spent their remaining 
 years, the father dying in 1841, and the mother in 
 
318 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPAICAL ALBUM. 
 
 1878,agerl sixty-three years. Mrs. Price has one 
 own sister — Minerva J., wlio married Otho Allison, 
 a resident of this county. The union of our sub- 
 ject and his wife has been blessed to them by the 
 birth of six children — Jernsha J., Lloyd H., Emily 
 M., Charles R., Alice N., EmmaB., the latter is 
 deceased. Jerusha married Henry J. Helmick, a 
 farmer of this county, and they have two children 
 — Charles and William E. Lloyd H., a farmer, 
 m.irried Mary J. Snyder, of this county. Emily 
 married Guy C. Howard, a merchant in Armstrong, 
 this county. Charles R., a farmer, married Delia 
 Hatfield, of this county, and they have one child — 
 Everett Lloyd. Alice married Berry Duncan, a 
 farmer of this count}', and they have one child, 
 Lola. 
 
 Mr. Price is a noble type of our self-made men, 
 who while building up a fortune for themselves 
 have been instrumental in advancing the material 
 interests of the county. He, and his wife are lead- 
 ing members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, 
 of wliich he has held the office of Steward and 
 Trustee. He has held the office of Highwa}' Com- 
 missioner for twelve years. He is prominently 
 identified with tlie A. V. & A. M. order, and is a 
 Master Mason. In politics, he is a thorough and 
 consistent Republican. He has served with credit 
 on the juries of the State and county. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Price have some valuable heir- 
 looms, which they highly prize, in the old l)ibles 
 of their fathers and mothers. 
 
 A fine lithographic view of the country resi- 
 dence and surroundings of Mr. and ISIrs. Price 
 appears in the Album, and represents a home 
 of which the owners are justly proud. 
 
 ^-^ 
 
 -<T— 
 
 W UTHER TILLOTSON, Supervisor of Pilot 
 11 (?S Township, and one of its most intelligent 
 /I'— ^, and influential public officials, is closely 
 connected with its material interests as a practical 
 agriculturist, owning and profitably managing a 
 good farm on section 30. He was born in Warren 
 County, Ind., Aug. 13, 1849, a son of E. B. and 
 Mary A. (Cronkhite) Tillotson. His father was 
 
 born in Cayuga County, N. Y., Dec. 8, 1811, and his 
 father, Luther Tillotson, was a native of New 
 York. The mother of our subject was born in 
 Hamilton, Ohio, Dec. 26, 1816. During some 
 •period of their lives the parents of our subject 
 settled in Indiana, and of their marriage twelve 
 children were born, and the following is recorded 
 of the nine now living: iSarah A. married Edward 
 Foster, a farmer living near Armstrong, this count}', 
 and they have seven children. Rebecca married 
 Jeremiah Butts, who lives retired in Potomac, and 
 they liave six children. James M., a stock dealer 
 and farmer in Calcasieu Parish, La., married 
 Mary J. Goodwine, and they have three children. 
 Buell, a farmer of Pilot Township, married Eliza- 
 beth Wiles and they have one child. AValter B., 
 a farmer of Pilot Township, married Lucetta Endi- 
 eott. Frances married J. A. Knight, a farmer of 
 tills county, and they have four children. William 
 M.,a farmer of this county, married Millie French, 
 and they have three children. Mary A. married 
 Frank II. Henry, who is living retired in Armstrong 
 Village, and they have two children. Luther is 
 the subject of this sketch. [For parental history 
 see sketch of Buell Tillotson.] 
 
 Our subject came this county in 1856 with his 
 parents. His father is deceased ; his mother resides 
 in this county. Mr. Tillotson and Mary E. Myrick 
 were united in the holy bonds of matrimony Sept- 
 ember, 1871, and five children complete their happy 
 household — Bertie, Alden, Cora E., Luther E., and 
 Charles. Mrs. Tillotson was born in Illinois Sept. 
 15, 1853, and is a daughter of Thomas P. and 
 Susanah (Firebaugh) Myrick, natives of Ohio and 
 Indiana respectively. They came from the Buck- 
 eye State to this and settfpd in Pilot Township at 
 an early day. 
 
 After marriage Mr. Tillotson rented land for 
 eleven years and carried it on to such good advan- 
 tage that at the expiration of that time he had 
 money enough to invest in eighty acres of improved 
 land, which forms his present farm. He has his land 
 well tilled, and it is capable of yielding large crops 
 in repayment for the care bestowed upon it, and 
 Mr. Tillotson has a neat and well ordered set of 
 buildings for every needful purpose. He is doing 
 well from a financial standpoint, has his farm 
 
PORTRAIT AND lilOaRAPillCAL ALBUM. 
 
 319 
 
 ■stocked with cattle of good grade as many as it 
 will carry, and displays commendable enterprise in 
 the management of his interests. 
 
 Mr. Tillotson brings a well trained mind to bear 
 on his work and fully understands how to perform 
 it so as to obtain the best results, which is the 
 secret of his success. His fellow-citizens, feeling 
 that in a man of his education, of sound and sensi- 
 ble views on all subjects, the township would find a 
 superior civic ofiicial who -vould promote its high- 
 est interests, have called him to some of the most 
 responsible olMces within their gift, and his whole 
 course in public life has justified their selection. 
 He has been Supervisor for six years, and was re- 
 elected to that office this spring, and he has also 
 been Assessor for one term, besides having held 
 the office of Justice of the Peace for eight years. 
 In politics he is a true Republican, although he 
 performs his official duties without regard to party 
 affiliations. 
 
 J.J. ARON DALBY. The late Civil War de- 
 (J^/lIII veloped some rare chai-acters, the depths 
 of which would probably never have been 
 disturbed had it not been for this revolution 
 which shook the country from turret to foundation 
 stone. There were then brought to the surface 
 that God-given quality — the love of the true man 
 for his native land — and the extent of the sacrifices 
 which he was willing to make to save her from dis- 
 memberment. Among all those who are written 
 of in this volume there was probably no truer pat- 
 riot during the war than Aaron Dalby, and he 
 justly esteems the period of his life spent in the 
 Union Armj' as one of the brightest spots in his 
 whole career. We give this matter prominence be- 
 cause it is a subject dear to his heart and he has 
 lost none of the patriotic affection which enabled 
 him a quarter of a century ago to lay aside all per- 
 sonal ties and give his best efforts to the preserva- 
 tion of the Union. We now find him comfortably 
 located in a quiet country home, embracing a well- 
 regulated farm on section 11, in Vance Township, 
 
 where, since the war, he has gathered around him 
 all of the comforts and many of the luxuries of 
 life. 
 
 In reverting to the family history of our subject 
 we find that his father, James Dalby, was a native 
 of Pennsylvania, a carpenter by trade and in politics 
 an old line Whig. He married Miss Saraii Sewell, a 
 native of Ohio, April 4, 1820, the wedding taking 
 place in Clinton County, that State. They lived there 
 about fourteen years, Mr. Dalby engaged as a gro- 
 ccryman, a farmer and an hotelkeeper, conducting 
 the old-fashioned country tavern after the mf)st 
 approved methods of those times. 
 
 About this time the lead mines near Dubuque 
 were being opened up and the demand for carpen- 
 ters was great, so the father of our subject re- 
 moved '.hither with his family in 1835, purposing 
 to work at his trade. He found the times very hard 
 and the country peopled largely with desperate 
 characters, among whom a murder was committed 
 nearly every night. This state of things made it 
 impossible for him to remain and so he established 
 himself at Quincj^, 111., where he lived three years 
 and worked at his trade. He then returned to 
 Ohio, where he sojourned two years and from there 
 removed to Peru Ind., but only remained there 
 eight months. In August, 1843, he came to this 
 county and on the 19th of October following 
 passed from earth at the age of fifty-three years. 
 He was a well educated man and especially fine 
 penman. 
 
 The mother of our subject survived her first 
 husband for the long period of nearly forty-eight 
 years. She was born March 12, 1803, and died 
 Feb. 26, 1885, when nearly eighty-two years old. 
 The parental household was completed by the birth 
 of six children, four of whom are living. Aaron, 
 our subject, was the fourth in order of birth and 
 was born in Clinton County, Ohio, April 25, 1831. 
 He attended school at Quincy, 111., and also in 
 Ohio a short time and in Indiana, and came to this 
 county in time to avail himself of instruction in 
 the subscription schools here. Being the eldest 
 son, he, after the death of his father, naturally in 
 due time assumed many responsibilities, and at the 
 age of twelve years worked out for 13 per month, 
 six months, from spring until fall. The year fol- 
 
320 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 lowing he was employed by the same man, with an 
 increase of salary of ^1 per month. 
 
 The. mother of our subject was married a second 
 time to James Elliott. Our subject was bound out 
 for a term of six years to Alvin Stearns. Becom- 
 ing dissatisfied with the arrangement he served out 
 only half his time and went to Ohio to learn a 
 trade. He came back to Illinois, however, a year 
 later and employed himself at whatever he could 
 find to do, being at one time the partner of Aaron 
 Hardin in splitting rails and cord-wood. Their 
 best week's work was forty-eight cords of wood, 
 cut, split and piled, and this was done at twentj^- 
 live cents per cord, when rails were forty-five cents 
 per 100. 
 
 The next most important event in the life of our 
 subject was his marriage, which occurred Dec. 23, 
 1.S.54, with Miss Martha E. Custer. The newly 
 wedded pair commenced the journey of life to- 
 gether at the old Custer homestead, which is now 
 the property of our subject, and Mr. Dalby there- 
 after farmed on rented land until the outbreak of 
 tiie Civil War. In 1862 he went one day to assist 
 a neighbor with his work and when he came back 
 with his pitchfork over his shoulder his attitude 
 and bearing were such that his wife exclaimed 
 when she saw him coming, "there, I bet he is going 
 to the war." He entered the house and asked for 
 some clothing, and in ten minutes was off for Ho- 
 mer, and joining some of his comrades repaired 
 with them to Camp Butler and enlisted in Company 
 E, 73d Illinois Infantrj-. 
 
 Mr. Dalby accompanied his regiment to the 
 front and first engaged in the battle of Perryville, 
 Oct. 8, 1862. In the early part of the engage- 
 ment he was in the front line of battle and had 
 only discharged six or seven shots when a rebel 
 bullet struck him in the right side of the abdomen, 
 passing through the upper lobe of the liver and 
 came out at the right of the spine, grazing the 
 point of one of the vertebrae. The ball before en- 
 tering his body struck the cap box on his belt, 
 passed through the box and his belt, through his 
 coat, the waistband on his pants then through his 
 body and returning cut through the waistband and 
 " body belt " and knocked the handle off the 
 butcher knife on his belt, leaving the blade in its 
 
 scabbard and glanced off to the rear. He pulled 
 out of the wound a bunch of the wood from his cap 
 box, some cotton-batting from his coat and a metal 
 primer which he carried in the box. He was taken 
 to the field hospital and a rubber tube pulled 
 through his body twice: He was then conveyed to 
 the Perryville General Hospital, where he remained 
 until October 1863, and was then transferred to 
 New Albany, Ind. He was discharged from the 
 hospital there, Jan. 20, 1864. 
 
 Mr. Dalby now returned to his family and al- 
 though he has been almost wholly disabled for 
 work since that time he declares he is ready to 
 fight the battle over again if the occasion arises. 
 He and his excellent wife have no children of their 
 own, but have performed the part of parents to a 
 boy and girl, the former the son of a comrade of 
 Mr. Dalby, who was discharged from the army for 
 disability and died. The boy Joe H.Summers, be- 
 came an inmate of their home at the age of seven 
 years and remained there until twenty-one. He is 
 now married and lives in Mendon, Neb. The 
 girl Mary J. Custer was taken by them when but 
 eleven months old and is still with them, now 
 grown to womanhood. 
 
 It is hardly necessary to say in view of his war 
 record that Mr. Dalby, politically, is a decided Re- 
 publican. He had two brothers in the army, one 
 of whom, Albert, enlisted in Company C. 25th 
 Illinois Infantry and at Murfreesboro was wounded 
 through the wrist and arm. At the expiration of 
 his first term of enlistment he entered the veteran 
 reserve corps from which he was honorably dis- 
 charged. Another brother, William H. H., the 
 youngest of the family, was born in 1840 and en- 
 listed in Company D, 63d Illinois Infantry. He 
 was killed by the explosion of a magazine at Co- 
 lumbia, S. C'., Feb. 19, 1865, being terribly 
 mangled and blown into a river. He had strength, 
 however, to swim ashore and was taken to the hos- 
 pital where he died. He had been i)romoted to the 
 rank of Sergeant. Mr. Dalby has officiated as Road 
 Overseer and is a member of Homer Post No. 263, 
 G. A. R. 
 
 Jacob M. Custer, the father of Mrs. Dalby, was. 
 with his wife , Elizabeth Ocheltree, a native of Vir- 
 ginia, They came to Illinois iu 1849 settling iq 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 321 
 
 this county, but later removed to Cbampaigii 
 County, where the death of Mr. Custer look place, 
 Sept. 17, 1865. His widow subsequently married 
 John L. Myers who has since died, and Mrs. Myers 
 is now living at Homer at the ripe age of seventy- 
 nine years. She is the mother of nine children, six 
 of whom are living and of whom Mrs. Dal by was 
 next to the eldest. She was born Sept. 4, 1836, in 
 Fayette County Ohio, received a fair education and 
 was married at the age of eighteen years. Slie 
 is a very estimable lady of more than usual benev- 
 olence and is a member of the Homer Woman's Re- 
 lief Corps, No. 69. She was at one time President 
 of this body and was presented with a very fine 
 gold badge as Past President by the members of 
 her corps as a token of their appreciation of her 
 worth and services. She has never missed a meet- 
 ing, either regular or special since its organization, 
 in April, 1887. In religious matters, she belongs 
 to the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. 
 
 Mr. Dalbj' during the days of his early manhood 
 was an expert hunter and has brought down many 
 a deer in this county. He is naturally possessed 
 of great courage and bearing, but is uniformly 
 kind-hearted to all except the enemies of his 
 country. 
 
 if OHN COLE. The bold, hardy, intelligent 
 sons of New England have borne a prom- 
 inent part in the settlement of Ihe great 
 West, and as a noble type of these, one who 
 was a pioneer of Vermilion Countj' in early days, 
 we are pleased to present to the readers of this 
 work a review of the life of the gentleman whose 
 name is at the head of this sketch. 
 
 In the pleasant spring month of May, 1837, just 
 fifty-two years ago, our subject, then in the prime 
 and vigor of early manhood, twenty-two years of 
 age, left his native home among the beautiful hills 
 of Vermont to see if life held anything better for 
 him on the broad prairies of this then far Western 
 State, animated doubtless, bj' the pioneer s])irit 
 that caused some remote ancestor to leave his En- 
 glish cot and seek a new home on this side of the 
 Atlantic, and still later caused one of his descend- 
 
 ants, in turn, to journey to the Green JMountain 
 State on the same quest. In that day the trip con- 
 templated by our subject was a great undertaking, 
 it being but slow traveling before railways spanned 
 the continent, and many days and weeks even 
 passed before he reached his destination. He went 
 first witli a team to Troy, and thence by the Erie 
 Canal to Buffalo, expecting to proceed on his jour- 
 ney from there on the lakes, but the ice prevented 
 further passage after the boat had gone thirty miles 
 on Lake Erie. His next course was to hire a man 
 to take him in a wagon to Chicago, paying him 
 $10. There he saw a little city, or village, rather, 
 situated in a low swamp, from which the frogs 
 would venture to sun themselves on the narrow 
 plank walks till some passing pedestrian disturbed 
 their repose and caused them to jump into the 
 water. There were no indications that one day that 
 spot was to be the site of one of the largest and 
 finest cities on the continent. From there Mr. Cole 
 proceeded on foot to the fertile and beautiful val- 
 ley of the Fox River, and after tarrying there a 
 few days to visit some old friends he walked on to 
 'V'ermilion County. He loaned what money he had 
 taking a mortgage on a piece of land which was 
 encumbered by a prior mortgage, and he soon had 
 to buy the land in order to save his money. The 
 summer of 1838, was noted among the early settlers 
 as the sickly season, and almost everybody was ill, 
 but Mr. Cole's fine constitution withstood the at- 
 tacks of disease and he remained sound and healthy. 
 Our subject found here the virgin prairie and prim- 
 eval forest scarcely disturbed by the few pioneers 
 that had preceded him ; there were still traces of 
 the aboriginal settlers of the country, and deer, 
 wolves, and other wild animals had not fled before 
 the advancing step of civilization. Settlements 
 were few and scattering, and Chicago and New Or- 
 leans were the most accessible markets, the onlj' way 
 to the former city being over rough roads by team, 
 and to the latter by flatboat, viathe Vermilion, Wa- 
 Ijash, Ohio and Mississippi rivers. Mr. Cole fre- 
 quently sent produce to those cities but did not 
 journey there himself. He was one of the first 
 wool growers in the countjr, but experienced much 
 difficulty in raising sheep in the early days here on 
 account of the wolves that would frequently kill 
 
322 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 some. of his flock in sight of the house. He had a 
 small horse that was an expert jumper and mount- 
 ed on that animal JMr. Cole pursued the wolves 
 and killed many of them. He commenced with 
 forty-nine sheep and finally had a large flock, num- 
 bering 2,200 of a fine breed. He invested in real 
 estate here and engaged in farming, and in course 
 of years met with more than ordinary success in 
 his calling and became a large land owner, and 
 now has 1,360 acres of fine land, divided into three 
 farms. The one on which he resides on sections 
 19 and 20, is one of the choicest in the county. 
 
 We must now go back to the early history of our 
 subject, and refer to his birth and ancestry. He 
 was born in the pretty town of Shaftsbury, Ben- 
 nington Co., Vt., May 27, 1815, a son of Uriah 
 Cole, a native of the same county and town. Par- 
 ker Cole, the grandfather of our subject, was a na- 
 tive of Rhode Island, of English ancestry. When 
 he was sixteen j'ears old his parents moved to the 
 wilds of Vermont, before the Revolutionary War, 
 the removal being made with one 3'oke of oxen 
 and one cow, they were guided by marked trees for 
 twenty miles, tlie road from Williamstown, Mass., 
 being a mere trail. The grandfather of our subject 
 spent his remaining days in the Green Mountain 
 ^State, buying a tract of timbered land, from which 
 he cleared a farm, and he at one time owned 1,000 
 acres of land. For some time the nearest market 
 was at Williamstown, Mass., twenty miles away, 
 and Troy, X. Y., thirty-two miles distant was also 
 a market town. The maiden name of the grand- 
 mother of our subject was Mollie Nash, and she was 
 also a native of Rhode Island. She frequently told 
 her grandchildren the story of their removal to 
 Vermont, and how when she forded the Connecti- 
 cut River,' the water was so deep that the pony on 
 which she rode had to swim. 8he died in the eighty- 
 fourth year of her age, on the old homestead, 
 and now lies beside her husband in the cemetery 
 at Shaftsbury. The father of our subject was reared 
 in his native town, and after he had grown to man's 
 estate his father gave him a farm in Shaftsbury, 
 and he bought other land till he had about 400 
 acres. He spent his entire life in his birthplace, 
 dying there when about sixty j^ears of age. The 
 maiden name of his wife, the mother of our sub- 
 
 ject, was Nancy Barton, and she was also a native 
 of Shaftsbury, coming of good old New England 
 stock. Her father. Garner Barton, was a native of 
 Rhode Island, and in early life was a sailor. He 
 was a pioneer of Siiaftsbury and buying land he en- 
 gaged in farming and also built and operated a 
 tannerjr. He was a resident there till his demise at 
 the advanced age of ninety-six 3'ears. The mater- 
 nal grandmother of our subject died on the home 
 farm at the venerable age of ninet3'-four years. 
 She was a Quaker. The mother of our subject was 
 reared and spent her entire life among the green 
 hills of A'ermont in the town of Shaftsbury. There 
 were seven children born of her marriage, namely: 
 Hiram, living in North Bennington, Vt. ; John; 
 Almira, who married George Clark, and died two 
 years later; Elizabeth, who died in infancy; James 
 B., living in A'ermilion County; Mary, wife of Jon- 
 athan C. Houghton, of North Bennington, Vt.; 
 George Byron died in Shaftsbury. 
 
 The subject of this sketch grew to man's estate 
 in the home of his birth, gleaning his education in 
 the public schools, and as soon as large enough he 
 assisted on the farm until he came West as before 
 mentioned. In the summer of 1839 ho returned to 
 Vermont, and in the following December he was 
 married to Miss Aurelia Miranda Huntington, and 
 at once started with his bride for his new home in 
 the Western wilds; traveling with a horse and a 
 covered wagon, they arrived in Vermilion County 
 six weeks and three daj's later. There was an un- 
 finished frame house on his land on sections 29 and 
 SO, Danville Township, and in that he and his bride 
 commenced housekeeping. He resided there about 
 nineteen years, and then rented his farm and moved 
 to Elwood Township where he improved a large 
 farm, and made his home there till 1877. Then 
 leaving his son in charge he went to Shelbyville, 
 111., where he bought property, and was a resident 
 of that city till 1882, when he bought the farm on 
 which he now resides in Danville Township. 
 
 Mr. Cole has been married three times. The 
 wife of his early manhood died in January, 1817, 
 leaving one child, Miranda S., now the wife of 
 James McKee, of Danville. Mr. Cole's second mar- 
 riage, which occurred in 1850, was to Miss Nancy 
 Weaver, a native of Brown County, Ohio, adaugh- 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 323 
 
 ter of Michael and Mary Weaver. She died about 
 1863, leaving one son, Henry J., who lives on the 
 Ridge farm in Elwood Township. Mr. Cole was 
 married to his present wife Sue Patterson, and to 
 them have come one child, Mary Edith. 
 
 Our subject can look back over a long life that 
 has been wisely spent, and his record is that of an 
 honorable, upright man, whose high personal char- 
 acter has made him an influence for good in the 
 county where he has made his home for over half 
 a century, and with whose interests his own are so 
 closely allied that in acquiring wealth he has fur- 
 thered its material prosperity. In politics he is a 
 Democrat. 
 
 NDREW J. SINKHORN, Supervisor of 
 Blount Township, with whose agricultural 
 and milling interests he is connected as a 
 practical, wide-awake farmer and skillful 
 miller, owning and operating a sawmill, is a fine 
 type of the citizen-soldiers of our country, who 
 saved the Union from dissolution in the trying 
 times of the Great Rebellion, and since tiien have 
 qnietly pursued various vocations and professions, 
 and have been important factors in bringing this 
 country to its present high status as one of the 
 greatest and grandest nations on earth. In the 
 early days of the war our subject went forth with 
 his brave comrades to fight his country's battles, 
 he being then but nineteen years of age, a stalwart, 
 viforous youth, and he consecrated the opening 
 years of his manhood to the cause for which he was 
 ready to give up even life itself, if need be. Not- 
 withstanding his youthfulness, he displayed the 
 qualities of a true soldier, and in course of time was 
 promoted from the ranks. 
 
 Andrew Sinkhorn, the father of our subject, was 
 born in ^'irginia. During some period of his life 
 he went to Kentucky, and was there married to 
 Frances Shannon, a native of that State, and tliej^ 
 be»an their wedded life there in Boyle County, 
 and tl?ere their useful lives were rounded out in 
 death. Thej' had a family of nine children, of 
 whom our subject was the eighth in order of birth. 
 
 Dec. 3, 1842, he was born in Ids parents' pleasant 
 home in Boyle County, Ky. He was reared on a 
 farm, and his education was obtained in the commoii 
 schools. Aug. 12, 1801, liis heart beating high 
 with youthful ardor and patriotism, he entered 
 upon his career as a soldier, enlisting at tliat date in 
 Company A, 4th Kentucky Infantry, and had four 
 years experience of life on tlie battlefield or in 
 rebel prisons. He took an active part in the bat- 
 tles of Chieaumauga and Mill Springs, Ky., and in 
 the latter contest lost a part of his index finger. 
 He was at Perryville, Ky., Mis.sion Ridge, and 
 Atlanta, and while near the latter city he was cap- 
 tured by the rebels, and was held for seven montlis, 
 during which time he was confined in Andersonville, 
 and later in Florence, S. C, suffering all the horrors 
 and hardships of life in rebel prison*. His steady 
 courage and heroic actions in the face of the enemj^, 
 and his obedience to his superiors, won him their 
 commendation, and he received deserved promo- 
 tion from the ranks to the position of Sergeant. 
 After the close of the war he was mustered -out 
 of the s(rvico and honorably discharged. 
 
 After his bitter experience of military life Mr. 
 Sinkhorn returned to his old Kentucky home and 
 engaged in farming in Boyle County the ensuing 
 two years. In the spring of 1869 he decided that 
 lie could do still better in his chosen calling on the 
 rich soil of Illinois, and coming to Vermilion 
 County, lie settled in Blount Township, and has re- 
 sided here and in Ross Township since that time, 
 engaging both in agricultural pursuits and in mill- 
 ing with great success, and he is justly classed 
 among the most substantial citizens of the township. 
 
 Mr. Sinkhorn has been three times married. 
 He was first married in his native county, to Je- 
 mima Ann Cozatt, who was also a native of Boyle 
 County. After the birth of one child that died in 
 infancy, she passed away in her native county. 
 Mr. Sinkhorn's second marriage was to Emily J. 
 Sexton, they having been wedded in Ross Town- 
 ship, this county. March 28, 1880, slie departed 
 this life. She was a sincere and active member of 
 the Christian Church. Four children were born of 
 that marriage — William 11., Edward E., Jesse O., 
 and Anna M. The maiden name of Mr. Sinkhorn's 
 present wife, to whom he was united in Blount 
 
324 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 Township, was Mary E. Pilkington, and she was 
 the widow of John Pilkington, and daugiiter of 
 William Gritton. Two children have been born of 
 this marriage, Ida E. and Girtie. 
 
 Since coming to this township Mr. Sinkhorn Las 
 proved a useful citizen, and a valuable addition 
 to the citizenship of the place. He takes an active 
 part in the administration of public affairs, and in 
 every way manifests an earnest desire to promote 
 the highest interests of the community. His pleas- 
 ant, genial disposition has made him popular with 
 his fellow-townsmen, and, what is better, he enjoys 
 their confidence. He was elected Constable of 
 Blount Township, and served to the satisfaction of 
 his constituents seven years. In the spring of 
 1886 he -was elected Supervisor of the townshiji. 
 held the office one 3'ear, and in the spring of 1 889 
 was again selected for this important office, and is 
 still an incumbent thereof. He hns a deeply re- 
 ligious nature, and in him the Free Methodist 
 Church has one of its most esteemed members, and 
 at the present time he is Class-Leader. 
 
 -^1.^- 
 
 :EV. THOMAS COX was born Aug. 6, 1829, 
 v^/ in Lawrence County, Ky. He is the son 
 of John and Polly Cox, the former of 
 ,^^ whom was born in Lawrence County, June 
 22, 1799, while his wife, Polly (Markham) Cox, 
 Orst saw the light at the same place on Feb. 17, 
 1817. John Cox served in the War of 1832 known 
 as the Black Hawk AVar, and was the father of six 
 children, Thomas being the fourth child. 
 
 John Cox and family came to this C(mnty in 
 1829, settling six miles west of Danville on the 
 Middle Fork, where he followed, with a large de- 
 gree of success, the occupation of a carpenter, and 
 also owned a fine farm. He died on May 23, 1846, 
 universally respected by all his acquaintances. Po- 
 litically he was a Democrat. Both he and his wife 
 belonged to the Baptist Church; the latter died on 
 Sept. 2, 1851. This couple were among the origi- 
 nal settlers of this county, and as such, went 
 through all the vicissitudes that surround the pio- 
 
 neer. They were faithful in everything they un- 
 dertook, and with them life was not a failure. 
 
 Thomas Cox, of whom this sketch is written, 
 came to this county with his father when he was 
 but six weeks old, and at the age of fifteen 3'ears 
 his father died leaving him to make his own way 
 in the world. He went into the unequal battle 
 with a determination to win, and his endeavors 
 have been met by success. He followed agricul- 
 tural pursuits until he was twenty-two years old 
 when he commenced to learn the carpenter's trade, 
 which occupation he followed until 1867, when he 
 purchased a farm in Newell Township and where he 
 now resides. On Nov. 28, 1850 he was married to 
 Susan Orr, daughter of John and Parthenia Orr, 
 natives of Kentucky. They came to Indiana in a 
 very early day and were united in marriage in 
 Fountain Count}', that State. Mrs. Cox was born 
 July 1, 1831, she being the fourth child of a family 
 of twelve. She resided in Indiana until she became 
 eighteen years of age, when she removed to Illinois 
 with her parents, both of whom are dead. The 
 Rev. Mr. and Mrs. Cox are the parents of three 
 children: William L., who is a farmer of this 
 county, married IMiss Kate Robinson; Martha J., is 
 the wife of A. Clapp, who is engaged in farming in 
 Newell Township, while David M. is the husband 
 of Miss Sarah Bell. They are living on a farm in 
 the same township. 
 
 Mr. Cox is the owner of 200 acres of good land 
 which lie cultivates with a large degree of success, 
 and besides this he has given all his children a farm 
 and has educated them as best he could in the pub- 
 lic schools. This is one of the beauties of the sys- 
 tem of American farming which makes it possible 
 for the parent to start his children out in life with 
 land enough to insure their comfort and even com- 
 petence, and it is within the reach of every provi- 
 dent farmer to do this to a large or small extent. 
 The industry that Mr. Cox inherited has been the 
 keynote to his success. In 1886 he was ordained 
 as a regular minister of the gospel of the Regular 
 Baptist Church. Before his ordination as a minis- 
 ter, he was actively and intelligently engaged in 
 religious work, a fact which led him up to occupy 
 a pulpit. 
 
 Mr. Cox has served his township as a Commis- 
 
o 
 
 
PORTRAIT AND BI0C4RAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 327 
 
 sioner of Highways and School Treasurer, filling 
 these offices with rare fidelity and intelligence. He 
 has always taken great interest in educational 
 matters and has consequently aided his neighbor- 
 hood in having the best of schools. Politicall\' 
 he acts with the Democratic party, but since en- 
 tering ministerial work he does not take much 
 interest in political questions. As a Christian 
 worker J\lr. Cox is very zealous. He preaches' 
 every Sabbath either at home or on a circuit, 
 which comprises Crawfordsville, Ind., Big Shaw- 
 nee and Stony Creek. The record of Mr. Cox 
 as a citizen and a preacher is of the very best. 
 
 ^"; OHN W. TURNER, M.D., Mayor of Fair- 
 mount and a practicing physician of first- 
 class standing, has been a resident of this 
 Ij^j//' city since 1881. He occupies one of the 
 finest residences in the place, and there are few 
 men more widely or favorably known in the tovvn- 
 ship. He has been prominent in politics and relig- 
 ion — a leading light in the Republican party and 
 an earnest laborer in the Sundaj'-school, the friend 
 of temperance and the uniform supporter of all 
 those measures instituted to elevate society and 
 benefit the people. 
 
 In referring to the parental history of our sub- 
 ject, we find that he is a son of John T. Turner, a 
 native of Maryland, who married Miss Catherine 
 Shane, a native of Virginia. Soon after marriage 
 the parents settled in Warren County, Ohio, then 
 removed to Clay Countjr, Ind. The father was a 
 wagon manufacturer, and the household circle in 
 due time included eight children, four sons and 
 four daughters. Of these John W. was the seventh 
 child. He was born in Clay County, Ind., March 
 24, 1839, and there spent the daj^g of his boyhood 
 and youth, pursuing his early studies in the com- 
 mon schools. 
 
 The subsequent years of Dr. Turner until a man 
 of twenty-six were occupied mostly as a medical 
 student. Then determined to see something of the 
 country in which he lived, he started over the 
 plains to Oregon, crossed the ^Mississippi at Omalia 
 
 and soon afterward bidding farewell to the haunts 
 of civilization, journeyed on the north side of 
 the Platte Riv^er, through Nebraska, Wyoming, 
 Idaho and on to Oregon. He reached Portland 
 six months after leaving home. During the trip 
 the part}' had numerous engagements with the 
 Si(jux Indians, one very serious among the Black 
 Hills. 
 
 Besides the Indians the Doctor met men from 
 most all parts of every country during his tour in 
 the wild West, and learned many interesting facts 
 in connection therewith and the habits of life on 
 the frontier, besides having an opportunity to view 
 some of the most wild and romantic sceneiy in the 
 world. We next find him officiating as a peda- 
 gogue in Oregon for six months. Pie had already 
 made up his mind to adopt the medical profession, 
 and at the expiration of this time entered the med- 
 ical department of Willamette University, Oregon, 
 from which he was graduated with honors in 1872. 
 He commenced the practice of his profession at 
 Vancouver, Wash., where he sojourned four years. 
 Here occurred the first great affliction of his life in 
 the loss of his estimable wife, which occurred in 
 1876. Soon afterward he returned to this State 
 and was located in Oakland, Coles Countj', for five 
 years. 
 
 In 1881 Dr. Turner took up his residence in 
 Fairmount, where he has made all arrangements to 
 spend at least the greater part of his life. He has 
 a most pleasant and attractive home, a fine and 
 growing practice and apparently everything to make 
 existence desirable. He was first married in 1861 to 
 Miss Harriet N., daughter of Judge William E. 
 Suiilh, of Toledo, Cumberland County, this state. 
 Of this union there were born four children, the 
 eldest of whom, a son, Alva M., married Miss 
 Phoeba A. Reese,'£!,nd is employed in the drug-store 
 of Lamon & Lamon, of Fairmount; his wife died 
 April 25, 1889, of apoplexy; Sharon C. is doing 
 a large business as a contractor at Ocean Beach, 
 Pacific Co., Wash. He is unmarried; Nancy C. 
 is the wife of Edward Busbj' and lives seven miles 
 south of Fairmount; they have no children; Will- 
 iam E. was accidentally killed on the railroad track 
 west of the depot, April 18, 1885, at the age of 
 tliirteen years. Mrs. Harriet N. (Smith) Turner 
 
328 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 departed this life at lier residence, in A'ancouver, 
 Wash., in January, 1876. 
 
 Dr. Turner contracted a second marriage in 
 April, 1877, with Miss Eliza J. Hoagland, foster 
 daughter of John 8. Cofer, of Areola, 111., the wed- 
 ding taking place at Paris. This union resulted in 
 the birth of two children, John W. and Jlarj-, Uoth 
 living with their father and attending school. The 
 mother died April 30, 1884. On the 10th of July, 
 1884, the Doctor was married to Miss Mary E. 
 Mills, one of the leading lady teachers of Vermilion 
 County. Mrs. Turner is a ladj^ of more than ordi- 
 nary accomplishments and stands high in the social 
 circles of the community. The Doctor and his 
 wife with the elder children are all connected with 
 the Methodist Episcopal Church. Dr. Turner is a 
 member of the Official Board and Vice-president 
 of the Township Sunday-school Association, which 
 latter office he has held for the last three yeai's. 
 He gives much time to the religious instruction of 
 the young, a subject in which he has entertained a 
 lifelong interest. 
 
 At the last election for the city offices, Dr. Turner 
 was reelected President of the Board of Aldermen, 
 receiving, with the exception of eleven, all of the 
 votes cast for this office. He is a pronounced Re- 
 publican with broad and liberal ideas, and belongs 
 to the A. F. & A. M., being Master of the lodge at 
 Fairmount for four years in succession. He also 
 belongs to the Modern Woodmen, in which Order 
 he is Medical Examiner and holds the same position 
 in connection with eight life insurance companies 
 doing business in this state. As may be supposed, 
 his practice and his official duties absorb a large 
 portion of his time, but he still finds the opportun- 
 ity to indulge occasionally in hunting and fishing, 
 in which he is an expert and of which sports he is 
 excessively fond. The temperance cause finds in 
 him one of its firmest advocates. Genial and com- 
 panionable by nature, he is one naturally making 
 hosts of friends. As an orator he possesses talents 
 of no mean order, and is frequently called upon to 
 address political, religious and other meetings. 
 There are always a few men who must lead in a 
 community, and Dr. Turner, of Fairmount, is an 
 admirable representative of this class of the com- 
 munity. Therefore we are pleased to present 
 
 to the readers of this volume a splendid por- 
 trait of Dr. Turner, as perpetuating the features 
 of one honored and esteemed by all, and the pres- 
 ent incumbent of the most important official posi- 
 tion in Fairmount. 
 
 ^#-# 
 
 ^^EORGE W. SMITH, who lives on section 
 III <^ ^^ '" Grant Township, Vermilion County, 
 ^^j) has resided here but six years. He for- 
 merly resided in Champaign County, 111. He was 
 born in Fairfield County, Ohio, July 11, 1833, his 
 parents being John C. and Azenith (Lewis) Smith, 
 the former a native of Delaware and the latter of 
 Pennsylvania. 
 
 The parents of John C. Smith died in Delaware 
 when he was quite young, and at the age of twenty- 
 one 3'ears, in 1808, he emigrated to what was then 
 considered the Far West. He was a carpenter by 
 trade, and located at what is now the capital of 
 Ohio, Columbus, then known as Franklin. There 
 he put on the first shingle roof ever constructed in 
 that locality. He was still there when the War 
 of 1812 broke out, and he enlisted in the army 
 under Capt. Sanderson, of Lancaster, Ohio. He 
 served during the entire time of the war, and re- 
 ceived for his services two warrants, each entitling 
 him to eighty acres of land. He was with the 
 arm}^ at Detroit, and there endured the hardships 
 suffered by that part of the army during that try- 
 ing period. At the conclusion of the war Mr. 
 Smith returned to Lancaster, staying there for two 
 or three years. He never located his land war- 
 rants, which he did not receive for many years, 
 but sold them to another party. In 1819 he 
 settled on a farm on the line that separates 
 Fail-field and Pickaway counties, Ohio, and there 
 lived for the remainder of his life, dying May 21, 
 1857, in his seventy-first year, having been born 
 March 10, 1787. He was married in Fairfield 
 County, in 1819, to Mrs. Azenith Julian, widow of 
 Stephen L. Julian, by whom she had three chil- 
 dren, one of whom yet survives, and is also named 
 Stephen L., and who is now living near Marion, 
 Grant Co., Ind., and is in his seventy-seventh 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 329 
 
 year. She owned and lived on the farm, wliere they 
 afterward both died. Mrs. Smith was born May 
 •24, 1788, and died Sept. 21-, 1852, aged sixty-four 
 years and four months. Mr. and Mrs. Smith were 
 the parents of seven children, the following four 
 being deceased: Rebecca L. was the wife of James 
 M. Stewart, and died near Logan, Ohio; Eliza H. 
 was married to Henry Dustman, and died at Beaver 
 Dam, Wis.; Mary W., who was the wife of James 
 S. McDowell, died at Tolona, 111.; and Elizabeth S., 
 who was married to John Burton, died also at that 
 place. The survivors are: Hannah A., the wife of 
 L. C. Burr, a furniture dealer in Tolona; Martha 
 J. is living with the subject of this sketch, the lat- 
 ter being the youngest of the famil3^ 
 
 George W. Smith was brought up on the home 
 farm at Tarleton, Ohio, where he lived until he 
 was twenty-five years of age. Both his parents 
 being deceased, he sold the Ohio farm in 1868 
 and removed to Tolona, 111., where he bought a 
 farm, on which he lived until 1883, when he sold 
 it and removed to his present home. His birth- 
 place was in a hilly country, and the work in clear- 
 ing and cultivating it was arduous. He, therefore, 
 had long directed his attention to Illinois as a 
 place where he could better his fortunes. AVhen he 
 came to Illinois he was accompanied hy his three 
 younger sisters, all remaining with him until the 
 the marriage of the two eldest. Mr. Smith was 
 united in marriage Feb. 14, 1865, to Miss Julia 
 H. Lock, daughter of A\"illiam and Hannah (Escot) 
 Lock, natives of England, where Mrs. Smith was 
 born March 20, 1842. Her parents emigrated to 
 Canada when she was seven years old, and in 
 1864 settled in Champaign County, 111. Both are 
 now deceased, the mother dying in Canada of apo- 
 plexy while on a visit to a son living there, in 
 1874, ageil sixty-eight. Her father died in Cham- 
 paign County, in 1885, in his eightj^-fourth year. 
 Mr. Lock came to Canada alone in 1842, and 
 bought a farm there, and then returned to Eng- 
 land, where he remained for seven years, and then 
 came back with his family. He made several 
 changes there before coming to the United States, 
 buying considerable propert}'. He ultimately be- 
 came a large land-owner, alone owning 1,500 acres 
 in Champaign County, 111. Mr. and Mrs. Lock 
 
 had eleven children, all but one of whom are now 
 living. William is a farmer in Canada; Louisa is 
 the wife of Joseph Spettigue, of London, Canada; 
 Henry is a farmer at Belmont, Canada; Eliza 
 was the wife of Corelia Fields, and died in 
 Canada; James is living at St. Thomas, Canada, 
 where he is a boot and shoe dealer ; Benjamin lives 
 in Champaign County, 111. Mrs. Smith was next 
 in Older of birth, then Daniel, a farmer in Marshall 
 Co>inty, Kan. John is also a farmer at Philo, 111., 
 and Hattie is the wife of M. L. Brewer, a farmer 
 in the same place. Frank was drowned while swim- 
 ming, when eight years of age. Mr. and Mrs. 
 Smith have no children, but the child of his sister 
 Rebecca L., Frank L. Stewart, has lived with them 
 since he was four months old, having been adopted 
 by his aunt, Miss Martha J. Smith. He was born 
 in Logan, Hocking Co., Ohio, Jan. 30, 1857. 
 
 While living in Champaign County, 111., Mr. 
 Smith was a School Director for twenty-four 3'ears, 
 and also Assessor for five consecutive terms. He 
 also held the offices of Highway Commissioner, 
 Treasurer and Clerk of the Board. He is now one 
 of the School Directors of Vermilion County, and 
 has been since the first 3rear of his residence here. 
 Mr. Smith has always sustained the character of 
 an upright man, and the people who know him 
 best are those w'ho admire him most for his good 
 qualities as a man and a neighbor. 
 
 W EWIS HOPPER. Among the notable 
 I (^ characteristics in the makeup of this gen- 
 J^^ tleman is his great self-reliance and the abil- 
 ity to take care of himself, which was evinced at 
 an carljr age and when thrown among strangers. 
 His life occupation has been that of farming, in 
 which he has been eminently successful and from 
 which it has been exceedingly difficult for him to 
 make up his mind to retire, although he has now 
 done so, and is comfortably established in a pleasant 
 village home at Fairmount. Among the other 
 fortunate things which befell him during his early 
 manhood was the careful wife and mother who has 
 stood by the side of her husband for these many 
 
330 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 years, encouraging him in liis wovtliy ambitions and 
 ably assisting bim in tlie struggle for a competence. 
 They have lived happily together for manj^ years 
 and are now reaping a mutual enjoyment from the 
 fruits of their early toil and sacrifices. Such have 
 been their lives that they have commanded the 
 esteem and confidence of the people wlierever they 
 liave lived, bearing that reputation for solid work 
 and reliability of character, which form the basis of 
 all well regulated society. 
 
 In reviewing the antecedents of Mr. Hopper we 
 find that his parents were Beverly and Sarah 
 (Miller) Hopper, natives of Virginia and the 
 father born in Culpeper County. They lived in 
 the Old Dominion after their marriage until 1829, 
 then changed their residence to the vicinity of 
 Newark in Licking Co., Ohio. Later, they re- 
 moved to Indiana, where they died after their nine 
 children were married and scattered. Of these 
 our subject, was the youngest born and six are still 
 living. He first opened his ej'es to the light in 
 A'irginia on the 13th day of February, 1827, and 
 was a child in his mother's arms when tliey 
 removed to the Buckeye State. He attended the 
 subscription school and worked with his father on 
 the farm until a youth of eighteen years. 
 
 Upon reaching his majoritjr young Hopper be- 
 gan learning the carpenter's trade, but the failure 
 of his employers soon threw him out of business 
 and he returned to the farm. He was married in 
 1 847 to Miss Margaret, daughter of Jacob Kinsey, 
 of Peru, Ind., and lived in the Hoosier State until 
 August, 1853. That year he came to this county 
 with his little family and settled four miles north- 
 east of Fairmount, residing there for a period of 
 eleven years. He then sold out and purchased a 
 farm five miles south-east of Fairmount and com- 
 prising 160 acres all prairie. He turned the first 
 furrow there and effected all the other improve- 
 ments which finally rendered it a valuable piece of 
 property, and occupied it until their removal to 
 the village. 
 
 The six children born to our subject and his 
 fii'St wife are recorded as follows: John married 
 Miss Rebecca A. Carrington, is the father of three 
 children and lives on a farm four miles south-east 
 of Fairmount; Sarah is the wife of Joseph English, 
 
 lives near Peru, Ind., and is the mother of one 
 cliild; Susannah married George Darr and is the 
 mother of four children; they live three miles 
 south-west of Fairmount; Martha Jane, Mrs. 
 Charles Pemberton, is the mother of four children 
 and lives six miles south of Fairmount; Frank 
 married Miss Cora Hall, is the father of one child 
 and lives six miles south of Fairmount; Vina, Mrs. 
 ■Tamos Smith, is the mother of three children and 
 lives near Peru, Ind. Mrs. Margaret (Kinsey) 
 Hopper departed this life at the home farm in 1876. 
 
 Mr. Hopper contracted a second marriage March 
 27, 1880 with Mrs. Lou (Stansberry) Olmstead, 
 daughter of Bonaparte and Jane (Wooden) Stans- 
 berry of Catlin this State. Mr. Stansberry was a 
 farmer by occupation and the parental household 
 included six children of whom Mrs. Hopper was 
 the fifth in order of birth. She was born at Cat- 
 lin, .Jan. 27, 1842, and grew up amid the scenes of 
 pioneer life, her parents having been early settlers 
 of that region. Mr. Stansberr}^ died when his 
 daughter Lou was a j'oung child. The mother is 
 still living and is now aged seventy-seven years; 
 she is a bright and intelligent old lady and takes 
 delight in reviewing the scenes of her early life in 
 Illinois to which her father came as early as 1812. 
 She was present at the opening of the first court in 
 Vermilion County. 
 
 Mrs. Hopper attended the common schools dur- 
 ing her childhood days and was carefully trained 
 by an excellent mother in those housewifely duties 
 which have so much influence upon the happiness 
 and comfort of a home. Altliougli not belonging 
 to any religious denomination Mr. and Mrs Hop- 
 per have made it the rule of their lives to do unto 
 others as they would be done by, and among their 
 neighbors and friends have maintained that kindly 
 Christian character, which is the true index of an 
 unselfish and benevolent heart. Their home is 
 pleasantl}' situated at the east edge of Fairmount, 
 where they have five acres of ground and a neat 
 residence, erected in 1887. The year following 
 Mr. Hopper put up a fine barn. He keeps some 
 stock and pays special attention to thcj raising 
 of swine. He has enough to keep himself com- 
 fortably busy without overtaxing his energies. 
 
 While not by any means a politician, Mr. Hop- 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 331 
 
 per keeps himself well informed upon (State and 
 National events and votes independently of any 
 party. He has offlciated as School Director and 
 Trustee in his District, also as Road Overseer, fulfill- 
 ing the duties of the latter office in an especially 
 creditable manner. He identified himself with 
 the A. F. & A. M. fraternity some years ago, and 
 is connected with Fairmount Lodge No. 590. 
 
 Sj\ OHN F. McGEE has been a highly respected 
 citizen of Blount Township since 1857, and 
 is numbered among its prosperous farmers. 
 He has a good, well-appointed farm on sec 
 tion 34, comprising eighty acres of well-tilled soil 
 that yields him rich harvests in repayment for the 
 care and skill that he expends in its cultivation. 
 In the cosy home that he has built up here he and 
 his wife are enjoying the comforts of life, and are 
 well fortified against want and privation. 
 
 The father of our subject, William McGee, was 
 a native of East Tennessee, born in one of its pio- 
 neer homes in the year 1807. He was bred to the 
 life of a farmer, and in 1831 assumed the responsi- 
 bilities of a domestic life, marrying Rebecca Hes- 
 sey, daughter of John and Sarah Hessey. Some 
 time after they removed to Missouri, and, after 
 living in St. Louis awhile, they settled in Greene 
 County. Twelve years later they went to Scott 
 County, Ark., where the father bought a farm. 
 They lived there only two years, however, and in 
 1852 departed for the Lone Star State. They 
 staid but three years in Texas, in Cook County, 
 when they again found themselves on the move, 
 and, returning to Missouri, they settled in New- 
 ton County, on Shoal Creek, eleven miles above 
 the Neosha (New Granby) lead mines. March 3, 
 1856, the father closed his earthly pilgrimage when 
 scarce past the prime of life. His wife died in 
 October, 1882. Of the ten children born to that 
 worthj' couple seven are now living, and he of 
 whom we write was their fourth in order of birth. 
 He was born during their residence in St. Louis, 
 Mo., Dec. 19, 1839. Shortly afterward his parents 
 removed to Greene Covxnty, that State, and there. 
 
 as soon as old enough, he was sent to a subscrip- 
 tion school, whicii was conducted in a rude log 
 cabin without a floor, and with rough logs for 
 benches, wooden pins in the ends serving as legs. 
 
 Our subject accompanied his parents in their 
 various removals to and fro, and, being a lad of 
 intelligence and observation, profited by what he 
 saw of the country. He remained an inmate of 
 the parental household till the year of his fa- 
 ther's death (1856), and then, in 1857, came to 
 Vermilion County and to this township. Being 
 pleased with the country around here, and the fa- 
 cilities offered to an industrious, brainy, young 
 farmer, he decided to locate here permanently, 
 and, with that end in view, two years later bought 
 his present farm. In the years of hard labor that 
 have followed his settlement here Mr. McGee has 
 greatly increased the original value of his farm, 
 and has brought it under good cultivation. He 
 has it amply provided with the necessarj' build- 
 ings, and everything about the place is in good 
 order, and betokens thrift and neatness on the part 
 of the owner. 
 
 Mr. McGee has been twice married. In 1860 
 he was wedded to Sarah Jane Watson, daughter of 
 James Watson. She was a truly estimable woman, 
 and made a good wife and a true helpmate. In 
 1866 she closed her eyes in death, leaving three chil- 
 dren as the fruit of her union — Rebecca Jane,Joseph 
 Thomas, and Precious. The marriage of our sub- 
 ject with his present wife took place in 1874. Her 
 maiden name was Elizabeth Hessey, and she is a 
 daughter of Abram Hessey. Mrs. McGee is a 
 true helpmate in every sense of the word, and of 
 her pleasant married life four children have been 
 born, two of whom died in infancy. The names 
 of the others are Mary M. and Farrin A. 
 
 During the thirty-two years that he has been a 
 resident of Vermilion County, Mr. McGee has won 
 the esteem and respect of all about him by his 
 kind, obliging ways, and by his conscientious, up- 
 right conduct in all the affairs of life. He is a 
 hard-working, capable man, and by persevering 
 and well-directed labor has established himself 
 comfortably. In politics he is a sound Democrat, 
 and, religiously, is a consistent member of the 
 Christian Church, known as the Campbellite 
 
332 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 Churcli. He was elected Road Commissioner in 
 1886, and ngain in 1889, and is performing the 
 duties of that office with credit to himself and to 
 the advantage of the township. 
 
 <X\ I^ILLIAM JUDY. This gentleman bears 
 \rJ/i the reputation of being one of the best 
 W^ farmers in Middle Fork Township, where 
 where he has resided since about 1851. Tliat year 
 he came with his parents to this county froin Hardy 
 County, Ya., the journey being made overland with 
 teams and occupjdng thirty-one days. The father 
 located a claim upon which there was a log cabin, 
 and into it the family removed, and lived there 
 several years, ^^^illiam was then a lad of thirteen 
 years.- Upon reaching manhood, he purchased a 
 half section of land in sections 19 and 20, and by 
 subsequent purchase 100 acres have been added to 
 the original purchase. The elder Judy and his 
 boys improved a good farm, and the father died 
 in 1854, at the age of about sixty-two j'ears. The 
 mother is still living, making her home with her 
 son Samuel, in Iroquois County, this State. 
 
 Our subject during his boyhood pursued his 
 studies in a log cabin on the subscription plan, at- 
 tending there two terms. Afterwards a regular 
 schoolhouse was built at Wallace Chapel, about 
 two miles from his home, which he also attended 
 for a time. Later he prosecuted his studies in 
 Danville. He distinctly remembers the time when 
 this section of the country was a wild prairie, 
 thinly settled, when deer and wolves were numer- 
 ous, mill and market far away, and when the set- 
 tlers endured many privations and hardships in 
 the struggle to maintain existence. 
 
 Y'oung Judy remained with his widowed mother 
 until his marriage, in 1862, to Miss Nancj^ A. 
 \Yood. This lady was the daughter of Absalom 
 and Melinda (Copeland) Wood, and the grand- 
 daughter of Henry A. Wood, a native of Virginia, 
 who emigrated to this county and settled in Grant 
 Township, when there was scarcely another white 
 man within its limits. (Further notice will be 
 found in the biography of Samuel Copeland in 
 
 anotiier cliaiiter of this book.) Here he reared a 
 large family and spent his last days. He was a 
 man of great energj' and industry, and improved a 
 good farm from the wilderness. The father of 
 Mrs. Judy was his eldest child, and also entered a 
 tract of land from the Government, from which he 
 built up a farm. The grandparents were members 
 of the Methodist Church. Her great-great-grand- 
 father Wood was born in England in 1739. Grand- 
 mother Wood's maiden name was Hoover. 
 
 The j'oung couple took up their abode in tlie 
 humble dwelling, and from that time on labored 
 with the mutual purpose of making a home for 
 themselves and their children. Their toils and 
 sacrifices in due time met with a reward, and, in 
 addition to developing his first land, Mr. Judy 
 added to his possessions until he now has 420 
 broad acres, the greater part of which is enclosed 
 with beautiful hedge fencing, neatly trimmed, and 
 the land all in a high state of cultivation. A fine 
 large dwelling has supplanted their first humble 
 residence, and a barn and other necessary out- 
 buildings, a flourishing apple orchard and the 
 smaller fruit trees form a most attractive picture 
 in the landscape. 
 
 There came in due time to the fireside of our 
 subject and estimable wife, twelve children, who 
 were named respectively : Lizzie Grant, now Mrs. 
 F. M. Slusher; Frank L., J. Milton, Charles, An- 
 nettie; Alta May, Robert Earl, Myrtle Florence, 
 Fanny Clarinda, Wilber Wood, Mary Melinda and 
 Grace Ethel. They are all living, and form a re- 
 markably bright and interesting group. Mr. and 
 Mrs. Judy are members in good standing of the 
 Methodist Episcopal Church, attending AVallace 
 Chapel. 
 
 Two brother of our subject, Ambrose and John, 
 during the late Civil AYar enlisted in Company E, 
 51st Illinois Infantry. John was killed in the 
 battle of Franklin, Tenn., and his friends have 
 never been able to find his resting-place. All the 
 male members of the familj- uniformly vote the 
 Republican ticket. The father, Nicholas Judy, 
 was the son of Martin Judy, who reared his fam- 
 ily in Mrginia, the State of his birth. 
 
 The father of our subject passed his boyhood 
 fvnd youth in the Old Dominion, and W9,§ married 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 333 
 
 to Miss Mary, daughter of Andrew and Mary Skid- 
 more. To them was born a family of seventeen chil- 
 dren: Jehu, John, Andrew, Rebecca, Isaac, Ellen, 
 Amos, Elizabeth. William (our subject), Gabriel, 
 Eve, Ambrose, Edward, Nannie, Samuel, and two 
 who died in infancy. Eight of these children are 
 living, and making their homes mostly in Illinois. 
 
 Our subject's grandfather, Andrew Skidmore. 
 married iSIiss Mary Stonestreet, of A'irginia. They 
 were both born in tliat State. He was a farmer 
 and stock dealer, and was the owner of slaves, and 
 died at the age of eighty-four years. Grandmother 
 Skidmore was a noble woman, and taught the first 
 Sabbath-school ever held in that county. 
 
 Grandfather Martin Judy was of German ances- 
 try and the father of twelve children, six boys and 
 six girls. He was also a farmer and stock-raiser, 
 and a member of the Lutheran Church. He lived 
 and died in Pendleton Co., Va. 
 
 Great-grandfather John Skidmore, an English- 
 man b}' birth, married a German lady, Mary 
 Hinkle. 
 
 Grandfather Stonestreet, on the mother's side, 
 married Miss Williams, an English lady. 
 
 ^-/ir=r- 
 
 JESSE LEEKA, M.D. One would scarcely 
 suppose upon meeting this gentleman that 
 he has attained to nearly his threescore 
 years, for he is still young looking and 
 more than usually active. This has been the re- 
 sult of a correct life and temperate habits and ex- 
 ercising good care over "the house he lives in." 
 He has been a resident of Oakwood Village since 
 1886 and is numbered among its most successful 
 and prominent physicians, having built up a good 
 patronage and accumulated a fair amount of this 
 world's possessions. 
 
 The first thirty years of the life of our subject 
 were spent in Clinton County, Ohio, where he was 
 born May 19, 1830. He received a common 
 school education 'and at the age of twenty years 
 began his apprenticeship to the trade of a cabinet- 
 maker, at which he worked in connection with 
 farming for many years, At the age of twenty-five 
 
 he was married, Feb. 2, 18.55, to Miss Rebecca A., 
 daughter of Francis B. Macy, of Indiana, and now 
 residing in Kokomo, that state. Afterward the 
 newly wedded pair settled in New N'ienna, Ohio, of 
 which the Doctor in due time became Mayor. 
 Subsequently he resided in Rush County, Ind., 
 where he was Constable and later in Howard 
 County, tbat State, where lie held the office of 
 Coroner two terms. After the outbreak of the 
 Civil War, he on the 12th of DecemJDer, 1863, en- 
 listed in Company E, 9th Indiana Cavalry and was 
 detailed to serve in the Quartermaster's depart- 
 ment. He was with his regiment all through 
 Hood's campaign and in the engagement at Pulaski. 
 He, however, saw little of active service but en- 
 dured the hardships and privations incident to life 
 in the army, was afflicted with rheumatism some 
 time, and in October, 1864, had a severe attack of 
 bilious remittent fever. After the close of the war 
 he received his honorable discharge with the regi- 
 ment, Aug. 28, 1865, at Vicksburg, Miss. 
 
 Dr. Leeka began the practice of his profession 
 in the spring of 1876 at Jerome, Ind. Later he 
 entered the medical college of Indianapolis, from 
 which he was graduated in the class of 1878. He 
 has practiced in Howard County, Ind., at Fair- 
 mount, this county, whence he came to Oakwood, 
 and is the only established ph5'sician in this place, 
 where he has property and a pleasant home. 
 
 The father of our subject was Philip Leeka, a 
 native of Virginia, who in early life was taken by 
 his parents to Washington County, Tenn., where 
 he was reared to manhood. The paternal grand- 
 father, Christian Leeka, was a native of Germany 
 and crossed the Atlantic as one of the body of 
 troops employed by the British Government to 
 subjugate the American Colonists. Upon his ar- 
 rival here Grandfather Leeka was ill and was con- 
 fined in the hospital until after peace was declared. 
 He settled in Southern Mrginia and married an 
 American lady of German parentage. In 1815 
 they removed to Clinton County, Ohio, where tiie 
 grandfather died a few years later. Philip, the 
 father of our subject, was the fifth of his seven 
 children. Two of the older boys served under 
 General Jackson in the Seminole War. One of 
 them, Cliristian, Jr., died while in the service in 
 
334 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 Florida. The other, Henr^', after leaving the armj' 
 settled in Randolph County, Ind., where he became 
 a prominent citizen and served as Justice of the 
 Peace for a period of eighteen 3^ears. He there 
 spent the remainder of his life, passing away at a 
 ripe old age. 
 
 Philip Leeka was born March 21, 1799, and 
 reared to farming pnrsnits. lie acquired a good 
 education and taught school considerabl3' after his 
 marriage. He maintained a warm interest in edu- 
 cational matters and officiated as a School Director 
 in his district from the time of settling there until 
 his decease. He was married in Clinton County, 
 Ohio, in 1821, to Miss Elizabeth Hodson, who was of 
 Quaker parentage and was born in North Carolina 
 in 1797. The Hodson family emigrated to Clinton 
 Count}', Ohio, about 1814. After their marriage 
 the parents of our subject settled on a farm in that 
 county, poor in purse but with strong hands and 
 hopeful hearts, and after years of industry and 
 economy, accumulated a good property including a 
 fine farm. The mother passed away at the old 
 homestead in 1842. Philip Leeka survived his 
 wife forty-two years, his death taking place near 
 New "Menna, in 1884, when he was'quite aged. The 
 household circle included ten children, nine of 
 whom are still living, and of whom Jesse, our sub- 
 ject, was the fifth in order of birth. 
 
 To the Doctor and his first wife there were born 
 five children, four sons and a daughter. The latter, 
 Cora A., died when an interesting girl of twelve 
 3'ears. Tlie sons are all living. Francis Edgar 
 married Miss Sadie Sisson, and lives in St. Joe, 
 111.; Charles Frederick married Miss Ida Ayles- 
 worth, and they live in Hebron, Ind. Of the four 
 children born to them only one is living. William 
 L. married Miss Mary Gibson, is the father of three 
 children, and lives in' Durango, Col.; Daniel 
 Cary is unmarried and a resident of Danville. 
 Mrs. Rebecca A. Leeka departed this life April 14, 
 1873. 
 
 Our subject contracted a second matrimonial 
 alliance in April, 1885, to Miss Elizabeth J. Tim- 
 raons, formerly of Carroll County, Ind. Her father 
 Elijah Timmons was a native of Ohio, her mother 
 was Mary A. (Bennett) Timmons, of Pickaway Co., 
 Ohio. This lady was one of a family of ten children, 
 
 five boys and five girls, and was born May 15, 1838. 
 Seven only are living. The Doctor became iden- 
 tified with the Masonic fraternity thirtj'-six years 
 ago and has always taken a warm interest in its 
 prosperit3^ He is Senior Vice Commander of 
 George Morrison Post, No. 635 G. A. R., Depart- 
 ment of Illinois, in which he has held the office of 
 Surgeon. He was at one time a member of the 
 Sons of Temperance, and religiousl}' is connected 
 with the Society of Friends. Mrs. Leeka finds her 
 religious home in the Methodist Episcopal Chui'ch. 
 Politically the Doctor is an ardent Republican, tak- 
 ing a lively interest in the success and principles 
 of his party and laboring as he has opportunity, to 
 advance the political doctrines which lie believes 
 are the surest means of prosperit3' to one of the 
 best governments on the face of the earth. 
 
 f^ NOCH A^ ANATCKLE. More than sixty years 
 have gone by since the subject of this bio- 
 graphical review, then a stout, manly lad of 
 fourteen years, first came to Vermilion County 
 with his parents from his early home in the Buck- 
 eye State. Here he grew to a stalwart, capable 
 manhood, and has since been identified with the 
 development and prosperity of his adopted county, 
 and has been a factor in promoting its agricul- 
 tural interests, with which he is still connected, 
 having a good farm on section 35, Blount Town- 
 ship, comprising 140 acres of as fine, tillable land as 
 is to be found in the whole precinct. B3' down- 
 right, hard and persistent labor he has brought 
 it to a high state of cultivation, it 3'ielding him a 
 good income, and he has erected suitable buildings. 
 His parents were among the early settlers of the 
 count3-, and it has been his pleasure to witness and 
 assist in almost its entire development from a state 
 of nature. 
 
 The father of our subject. Evert Vanvickle, was 
 born either in Penns3dvania or Virginia. His 
 mother, whose maiden name was Sarah White, was 
 a native of Pennsylvania, and after marriage the 
 parents settled in Butler Count3^ Ohio, from there 
 they removed to Jennings Count}', Ind., where 
 
.a.liMM.'aiCiasS,:t,li,,,^^mtA,~t-^.l^if,:r=M^J.<^-.f^.... ^n.>^»a^».l m>-.^.-.^^~i , .j..,..^ - j ^ 
 
 Residence of William Kelly, 5ec 2 Danville Township. 
 
 Residence qfMrs. ELizACASSEL,5Ec.ir(T.20-Ri3) Pilot Township. 
 
 Residence of B.C.Pate,5ec.21.(T.19tR.12) Catlin Township. 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBITM. 
 
 337 
 
 they lived till 1828. In that year tliey made an- 
 other move westward and penetrating to the wilds 
 of Illinois, came to Vermilion County and settled 
 in Blount Township. After a residence here of 
 some twenty jrears they went to Holt County, Mo., 
 where their remaining years were passed. To that 
 worthy couple were born five sons, of whom the 
 sul)ject of this sketch was the second. 
 
 Our subject was born in the pioneer home of his 
 parents in Butler County, Ohio, April 26, 1814. 
 He accompanied his parents to this county in 1 828 
 and has ever since been an honored citizen of this 
 place. After attaining man's estate he adopted the 
 calling of agriculture to which he had been reared 
 and for which he had a natural taste, and as the 
 years have rolled by he has acquired a comfortable 
 competency, and with tlie aid of a good wife he 
 has builL up a cozy home, in which they are spend- 
 ing the declining years of a life of usefulness in 
 quietness and peace, enjoying the full respect and 
 affection of their neighbors and friends. 
 
 Mr. Vanvickle has been twice married. The 
 first time in Vermilion County, in 1837, to Miss 
 Nancy White. Nine children were the fruits of 
 that union, of whom the following seven grew to 
 maturity: Ruth; Andrew, who was a soldier in the 
 army, enlisted from Indiana, and gave up his life 
 for his country at Knoxville, Tenn.; Sarah, Evert, 
 Harriet, John, and Enoch. Mrs. ■ Vanvickle de- 
 parted this life in her husband's home in Blount 
 Township. She was a thoroughlj' good, upright 
 woman, and an esteemed member of the Chris- 
 tian Church. Mr. 'S'^anvickle was married a second 
 time in Blount Township to Mrs. Cynthia (Souders) 
 Cline. She is a native of Pike County, Ohio, born 
 April 11, 1823. She has also been twice married. 
 Her first husband was Nathaniel Cline. He was a 
 native of Gallatin, Tenn., and took part in the 
 Rebellion, enlisting from Danville, 111., in Com- 
 pany A, 125th Illinois Infantry. He died at Gal- 
 latin, Tenn. By that marriage Mrs. Vanvickle 
 became the mother of eight children — Amanda, 
 Martha, Mary, Benjamin F., John B., Charles, 
 Luketta, and Emma. Amanda and Martha are 
 deceased. 
 
 Our subject is held in veneration by his fellow- 
 men not only for his pioneer labors in Blount Town- 
 
 ship, in whose welfare he has always taken a genuine 
 interest, but for those honest traits of mind and 
 heart that, mark him as a good man and a desirable 
 citizen. He is one of the few survivors of the 
 famous Black Hawk War, in which he served 
 about thirty days, being then a youth of eighteen 
 j'ears. He, and his worthy wife are esteemed 
 members of the Christian Church, with which he 
 connected himself some twenty years ago, and she 
 joined thirty years ago. Mr. Vanvickle is a true 
 Republican, and in him the party finds a devoted 
 follower. 
 
 "^oSSo" 
 
 "ji] AMES DAVIS is one of the prosperous and 
 influential farmers of ^'ermilion County, 
 who takes great pr.ide in doing all things 
 well. His father was Henry Davis, who 
 was born in Pennsylvania, He removed to 
 Ohio in 1808, and lived there twenty-eight 
 years, and in 1836 settled in Illinois, locating 
 on the farm now owned and occupied by his son 
 James. His mother, whose maiden name was 
 Raehael Pollock, was also a native of Pennsylvania. 
 Henry Davis lived in Pennsylvania but a short 
 time after his marriage, when he emigrated to Ohio, 
 and there clep,red a farm of 200 acres. After his 
 removal to Illinois he became a very large land- 
 holder, owning at one time about 4,200 acres of 
 uncultivated Illinois prairie. He was the father of 
 ten children, five of whom are now living. The 
 mother died in 1848, at the age of sixty-one, while 
 the father passed away in November, 1855, aged 
 seventy-four years. James was the youngest of 
 this family of children, his birth occurring Jan. 
 21, 1828, in Guernsey, County, Ohio. He received 
 a limited education in the old-fashioned log school- 
 house, and his boyhood was mostly employed at 
 work upon the farm. In those days he spent a 
 great deal of time hunting deer, wolves, and other 
 wild game, and refers to these times as the hap- 
 piest moments of his life. He remained at home 
 helping his father on the farm until he was twenty- 
 two years of age, when he married America J. 
 Boggess, Oct. 18, 1849. She is the daughter of 
 John Boggess, who was one of the earliest pioneers 
 
338 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 of Vermilion County. He settled at Brooks' 
 Point, and was a representative farmer of his time. 
 Eleven children were born to him, nine of whom 
 grew to maturity-. He and his wife have been 
 dead for many years. Mrs. Davis, wife of the sub- 
 ject of this sketch, was born at Brooks' Point, May 
 3, 1833. She grew to womanhood in this section, 
 where she received a limited school education. 
 
 After marriage Mr. and Mrs. Davis located on 
 his present farm, where his father gave him 397 
 acres of as good land as there is in the county. It 
 will be seen that Mr. Davis had a competency with 
 which to begin life. He possesses the common 
 ! ense and business skill necessary to keep his in- 
 herited wealth and add to it. He is a flrst-class 
 fiirmer, and raises cattle, horses, sheep and hogs. 
 In 1865 Mr. Davis erected a fine residence at a 
 cost of 1^5,000, and since that time has added to it, 
 and made many improvements in its surroundings. 
 He also owns a good house and lot in Danville. 
 ]Mr. and Mrs. Davis have had two children: John 
 T., the elder of the two, is married to Miss Katie 
 Thomas, and they are living three miles southwest 
 of Fairmount. He is the father of one son — James 
 Roy — by a former marriage. Rachel A. married 
 E. R. Danforth; they reside in Danville with their 
 three children — Jennie, Annie and James. 
 
 Mr. Davis has held many of the local offices of 
 liis township, and has given the best of satisfac- 
 tion in conducting them. For nine years he held 
 the offices of Road Commissioner and School Di- 
 rector, and is now a Trustee of his school disti'ict. 
 He is a member of Homer Lodge No. 199, A. F. & 
 A. M., of which he has been Senior and Junior 
 Warden, Junior Deacon and Treasurer. The offices 
 of King and Scribe have been held by him in the 
 lodge of Royal Arch Masons No. 94. He is also a 
 member of the commandery at Danville. Mr. 
 Davis has been a member of the Baptist Church 
 for many years, and he takes some interest in poli- 
 tics. He was born and reared a Democrat, and 
 continued with that party until the War of the Re- 
 bellion, when he changed his political belief, and 
 since that time he has invariably voted the Repub- 
 lican ticket at National and State elections, but in 
 local affairs he casts his vote for the best man. Mr. 
 Davis has been somewhat of a traveler, His first 
 
 trip was to Chicago, in 1 842, with a load of wheat, 
 and in 1848 he took a second trip to Chicago with 
 a load of apples. In 1875 he visited California, 
 and made an extended trip through that State. He 
 attended the Centennial at Philadelphia in 1876, 
 and on that journey visited many different States. 
 Mr. Davis enlisted in Company C, 71st Illinois In- 
 fantry, and served with his regiment until late in 
 the autumn of 1862, when he was discharged. 
 There is no farmer in this section of the country 
 whose judgment is better, and his record is one of 
 the best. 
 
 fMRGIL C. T. KINGSLEY, M.D. is a native 
 of New York State, having been born near 
 Utica. His father, Jedediah S. Kingsley, 
 was also a native of the same State and Utica was 
 his home for a great many years. The grandfather 
 of the subject of this sketch, Obediah Kingsley, 
 was a native of New England and traced his an- 
 cestry to England. He settled in Herkimer County, 
 N. Y. and pursued the calling of a farmer, living on 
 his first homestead for nearly a half century and 
 dying there. He was one of the earliest settlers of 
 Herkimer County, and early in the century, pur- 
 chased a tract of timber land from which he cleared 
 a farm. He built two saw-mills, was an extensive 
 dealer in lumber and furnished the lumber for the 
 large asylum at Utica. 
 
 Jedediah S. Kingsley, the father of the subject 
 of this sketch was reared to agricultural pursuits, 
 and followed farming for some time after his mar- 
 riage, when his health gave way and he turned his 
 attention to the study of medicine, a profession to 
 which he was eminently adapted, as time later on 
 demonstrated. He graduated from the University 
 of A'ermont, at Burlington, when he immediately 
 commenced the practice of his profession at Rome, 
 N. Y., and has remained there since. The maiden 
 name of his wife was Angeline Myers, a native of 
 New York State and to whom was born five child- 
 ren. 
 
 Dr. Kingsley, of whom this biography is written, 
 was educated in the common schools of Rome, and 
 was graduated from the High School there. Early in 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 339 
 
 life he concluded that he was adapted to the pro- 
 fession of medicine and surgery, and following that 
 idea, he commenced the study of medicine with his 
 father, after which he attended three years at the 
 medical department of Michigan University at Ann 
 Arbor, and graduated in the class of '83. After 
 his graduation he returned to Rome and commenced 
 practice and pursued his profession there until the 
 spring of 1884, when he removed to Danville, 
 where he has built up an extensive and lucrative 
 practice. The doctor makes a specialty of cancer, 
 tumors and chronic diseases, and has been eminently 
 successful in pursuing these specialties. Patients 
 visit him from many different states. His office is 
 well filled, a greater portion of the time, and all 
 curable diseases are treated with success. The 
 Doctor's pleasant ways and professional ability are 
 drawing cards. 
 
 Dr. Kingsley was married in 1884, to Miss Ella 
 Brown, a native of Oneida County, New Yorlt 
 State and daughter of Marv Brown. 
 
 -^nr^ 
 
 ilMOTHY PARK, who lives on section 24, 
 in Grant Township, Vermilion County, near 
 the Indiana State line, was born in Franklin 
 County, Ohio, in 1844. His parents were Silas 
 and Mary (Good) Park, both of Virginia. They 
 removed to Franklin County, Ohio, at an early 
 day, but later went to Delaware County in the same 
 State, where both died, the father in 1877, the 
 mother about twenty years ago. Silas Park was a 
 farmer by occupation, and a plain, hardworkintf 
 man who never took any part in public affairs, but 
 attended closely to the business of making a home 
 for his family, and he succeeded. They had nine 
 children, of whom five are living, namely: Ezek- 
 iel, William and Branson, farmers in Delaware 
 County, Ohio; Rose, who is the wife of William 
 Hazlett, also living in Ohio. Those deceased were 
 named respectively: Susanna, Samantha, Hardy 
 and Ashforth. 
 
 Timothy Park, of whom we write, was brought 
 up to farming, which has been his lifelong occu- 
 pation. He remained in Ohio until 1869, when 
 
 he came to this county, buying a farm on section 
 25 in Grant Township, one-half mile south of his 
 present home. He lived there but a year, however, 
 when he returned to his native State. A few 
 months later he came back to this county', was 
 married and rented a farm on section 19, town- 
 ship 23, range 10 and 11, and there he and his 
 wife lived for four years, when he bought the 
 farm which he now owns and occupies. It was 
 then but a tract of uncultivated prairie, without 
 a building, fence or tree, in fact, being wholly 
 destitute of the work of man. Now he has all 
 the improvements necessary for a well regulated 
 farm, his house being neat and comfortable, his 
 buildings ample for all his needs, and his land 
 more than ordinarily well cultivated, the trans- 
 formation being due to his untiring energy and 
 knowledge, and the picture of his broad acres with 
 their fine surroundings is one on which he can look 
 with just pride. Eighty acres of his land are on 
 the section on which his house stands, while another 
 eighty is located on section 13, adjoining it on 
 the north. Mr. Park has always been an ardent 
 advocate of thorough drainage, and was one of 
 the first to build tile drains in this part of the 
 count}', and he now has his entire farm tiled in the 
 most thorough manner. On the northern half of 
 his farm he has the biggest and deepest ditch in the 
 northeast corner of the county, and the results of 
 this careful attention to proper drainage and till- 
 age of the soil are apparent in the splendid con- 
 dition of his land and his usual good crops. 
 
 Although not one of the original settlers of the 
 county, Mr. Park located here when the land was 
 new and sparsely settled. The presence of large 
 sloughs and much low land in the neighborhood 
 had retarded the progress of this section of the 
 county, and he has witnessed its development from 
 its wild state to its present prosperous condition, 
 and has been no small factor in assisting its growth, 
 to which he has contributed his full share. The 
 first work that he did here was for his wife's father, 
 James Budd, who was largely interested in the cul- 
 tivation of broom corn, having as much as 300 
 acres planted at one time. The nearest market for 
 the product was at Lafayette, Ind., and no regular 
 and direct roads having been laid out, the wagons 
 
340 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 had to go the best way they couhl around the 
 numerous sloughs and across the prairies, making 
 the distance between here and there from fortj^-flve 
 to fifty miles. Often Mr. Park has started long 
 before daylight, sometimes as early as two o'clock 
 in the morning, in order to get to Lafayette by 
 sundown, which could only be accomplished by 
 hard driving. The next day was occupied by the 
 return trip. Farmers of the present day would 
 think this an overpowering hardship, but such trials 
 as this the pioneers had to endure in their efforts 
 to build up homes on the prairies, and their labors 
 and sacrifices have made this country what it is. 
 Without them railroads would not so soon have been 
 built to carrj' the farmer's produce so far and near, 
 and bring the articles he needs almost to his very 
 door. All honor, then, to those brave and sturdy 
 men who from the wild and bleak prairies have 
 made this country one of prosperous farms, dotted 
 with groves, among which nestle thousands of 
 comfortable homes. Theirs were the toils and sac- 
 rifices, while we in comfort and ease enjoy the 
 fruits of their labors. Among these true men, Mr. 
 Park is justly- entitled to a place. When he settled 
 licre, Hoopeston was not thought of, and he men- 
 tions as an interesting fact that he sold the first 
 dozen brooms ever disposed of in that now thriv- 
 ing town. Although yet a young man, he is to-day 
 one of the oldest settlers living in the northeast 
 corner of the county. 
 
 On April IG, 1876, Mr. Park was united in 
 marriage with Miss Nancy S. Budd, daughter of 
 James and Susanna Budd, then and now resi- 
 dents of Iroquois County, 111., who emigrated 
 from Ohio, where Mr. Budd was largely en- 
 gaged in the occupation of sheep-raising. He 
 has now a general farm, but is virtually retired 
 from active life, being seventy-six years of age. 
 Mrs. Park was born in Ohio, 1841, and is the 
 mother of one child — Elnora Jeanette, a bright 
 young miss, now attending school. Mr. Park is 
 one of the younger farmers of Grant Township, 
 who is becoming known as one of its most enter- 
 prising and go-ahead citizens. He has never been 
 an applicant for public office, but has held some of 
 the minor township ijositions. He is an honest, 
 trustworthy man, whose neighbors give him an ex- 
 
 cellent character as a citizen, and one of the sub- 
 stantial sort who contribute much to the prosperity 
 of the county. Politically he is a supporter of 
 the Democratic party in State and national affairs, 
 but in local matters party ties rest lightly on him, 
 for he believes in voting for the man best qualified 
 for the position, the proper way for those who 
 have the best interests of the community at heart. 
 
 -^r»- 
 
 ^HOMAS KEPLINGER. The snug and well- 
 regulated farm occupied by the subject of 
 this sketch comprises 120 acres of choice 
 land, located on section 29, Grant Township. 
 This, when he took possession of it in 1 870 was but 
 slightly improved, only a little breaking having 
 been done and not a shrub, post or tree upon it, 
 being all open prairie. During the nineteen years 
 of his proprietorship Mr. Keplinger has effected a 
 great transformation, there being now a fine resi- 
 dence with a good orchard and numerous shade 
 trees, together with a barn and the other outbuild- 
 ings required for the successful prosecution of farm 
 pursuits. The fields are enclosed to a good extent 
 with hedge fencing, and by a process of underdrain- 
 ing the land has become remarkably fertile and 
 the source of a handsome income. 
 
 At the time of his coming to Illinois, Mr. Kep- 
 linger found deer, wolves and all kinds of wild 
 animals in abundance. For the first few years his 
 farm was mostly devoted to the raising of grain to 
 which it seemed best adapted, but now he raises 
 all the cereals, besides the produce required for 
 family use and considerable to sell. He is at this 
 writing (April 1889) completing a handsome new 
 residence, the main part occupying an area of 
 16x24 feet with an "L" 15x26 feet and which when 
 finished, set in the midst of shrubbery as it is, 
 will form one of the most attractive homes in this 
 region. Everything about the place is indicative 
 of thrift and prosperity, cultivated tastes and the 
 refinements of modern life. 
 
 Mr. Keplinger was born in Fountain County, lud., 
 six miles east of Covington, April 7, 1829, and 
 lived there until a man of thirty-two years. He 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 341 
 
 remained a member of the parental household until 
 the death of his father, which occurred in 1859, at 
 the age of fifty-three years. The mother had died 
 when he was a lad of twelve. On the 10th of May, 
 18G0, he was married to Miss Eliza Shaffer and 
 the year following removed to the vicinity of 
 Sugar Grove, Champaign County, upon which he 
 operated ten or eleven years. In 1870 he came to 
 this county and secured the land which he now 
 owns. Since becoming a voting citizen he has 
 given his influence and support to the Democratic 
 party, but has carefully avoided the responsibili- 
 ties of office. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Keplinger have had six children, five 
 of whom are living, as follows: Nancy, born Feb. 5, 
 1860, and died Aug. 2, 1862; James married Miss 
 Ella Gvinn, is a resident of Hoopeston and is the 
 father of one child ; George, Annie and Andrew 
 are at home with their parents ; AUie, the third 
 child, is the wife of Elmer Crane and lives in Ne- 
 braska; they have two children. Mrs. Keplinger 
 was born in Fountain County, Ind., Jan. 24, 1835, 
 and is the daughter of Daniel Shaffer, a farmer of 
 that county. She received her education in the 
 common school and remained with her parents 
 until her marriage. 
 
 Jacob Keplinger, the father of our subject, was 
 born in Virginia and lived there until a man of 
 twenty-seven years. He then emigrated to Indiana 
 and was married to Miss Nancy Dedimore. To 
 them there were born three sons and two daugh- 
 ters of whom only three are living — Thomas, our 
 subject, and his brother, John, a resident of Indiana 
 and a sister Martha, who resides in Iowa. 
 
 _^^LFRED M. DIXON. This well-known 
 gentleman, who owns a farm on section 10, 
 in Grant Township, was born in Faj'ettc 
 ^ County, Pa., May 25, 1834, his parents 
 
 being William and Jane (Montgomery) Dixon, 
 both natives of the Keystone State. The father 
 was a farmer in the county where his son was born, 
 and there he died when the latter was about ten 
 years of age. Alfred was brought up to farm work 
 
 trom an early age, also drove cattle to market, and 
 worked at all such like occupations until 1861, in 
 wiiich year he removed to near Attica, in Fountain 
 County, Ind., making that his home for two or 
 three years, but spending a summer during that 
 time in ^'ermilion County, in which he settled per- 
 manently in April, 1868, at a place known as Burr 
 Oak Grove, in Grant Township. There he worked 
 for four years, when he removed to the farm on 
 which he now lives. This land was given to him- 
 self and wife by the latter's father and was then 
 nothing but a tract of raw prairie land, with neigh-- 
 bors few and far between, and to one accustomed 
 to the more densely populated communities of the 
 Eastern States it did not present a very inviting 
 appearance. With stout hearts and willing hands, 
 assisted by the labors of a faithful wife, our subject 
 set to work improving his land, and at length 
 brought it to its present state of thorough cultiva- 
 tion. Wild game was in that day plentiful in this 
 region, and Mr. Dixon mentions that he counted at 
 one time seven deer at a small creek near his 
 house. Wild fowl were also plent3'; ducks, geese 
 and prairie chickens being constant and not always 
 welcome visitors to the farmers' grain fields. 
 Prairie wolves were unpleasantly numerous, the 
 farmers' pig pens often suffering by their depra- 
 dations. 
 
 In the seventeen years that have elapsed since 
 Mr. Dixon settled at his present home, great 
 changes have been wrought, and the countr3' about 
 has been thickly settled. His own place shows the 
 work of an industrious and thrifty hand. About 
 nine years ago he put up a new frame house and 
 his outbuildings are all that the necessities of his 
 farm require. These have all been the results of 
 his own labor, and the comforts he is now en joying 
 are deserved. 
 
 In October, 1864, Mr. Dixon was married in 
 Fountain County, Ind., to Miss Serena Dunkel- 
 barger, born in that place in 1845 and a daughter 
 of John and Fanny Dunkelbarger, whose home 
 was in the county named, but who were the own- 
 ers of large tracts of land in Vermilion County, 
 comprising 900 acres in all. Both of Mrs. Dix- 
 on's parents were natives of Perry County, Pa., 
 and they removed to Indiana at an early day. 
 
342 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 The mother died a few years afterward and Mr. 
 Dunkelbarger has since been twice married, both of 
 his later wives being from Indiana, where he still 
 resides. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Dixon became the parents of ten 
 children, six of whom are yet living, four dying 
 young. The survivors are: Fannie, wife of Burn 
 Deeten, a farmer of Grant Township; John, who 
 is a machinist by trade, lives in Milwaukee, Wis. ; 
 Jennie, Emma, Ella and Dale Wallace are yet under 
 the parental roof. 
 
 Mr. Dixon takes an active interest in township 
 affairs and has held several offices. He is now 
 Highway Commissioner. He is a member of the 
 Masonic fraternity, affiliated with Star Lodge, No. 
 709, A. F. & A. M.; and with the Hoopeston 
 Chapter, No. 181, R. A. M. In ever3' position Mr. 
 Dixon has filled he has discharged the duties im- 
 posed upon him with such fidelity and judgment as 
 to win the good opinion of all, and to-day no man 
 stands higher in the respect and esteem of all who 
 know him than does he. 
 
 \T) OHN H. VAN ALLEN. In noting the men 
 of prominence who are residents of Oak- 
 wood Township and have been instrumental 
 in bringing it to its present position, the 
 subject of this notice could by no means properly 
 be omitted, and those who in the future maj^ 
 peruse the records of this countj' will recognize in 
 him one of its representative men, who, in assist- 
 ing to develop a portion of its soil and each year 
 turning in a handsome sum to the countjr treasur}' 
 from the proceeds of his taxable property, has 
 borne no unimportant part in establishing its repu- 
 tation and importance. The value of history and 
 biography are becoming more thoroughly recog- 
 nized each year among the intelligent people of the 
 great West, who realize the fact that their children 
 and their children's children in future years will 
 reap great satisfaction in noting the names of their 
 progenitors among those who contributed to the 
 development of Central Illinois. 
 
 In noting the events of the life of a prosperous 
 
 and respected citizen, the mind naturally reverts 
 to those from whom he drew his origin. The 
 father of our subject was .Stats B. Van Allen, a 
 native of New York City, who learned carpenter- 
 ing when a young man and in later j'ears operated 
 quite extensively as a contractor. The family is of 
 Scottish descent, and was represented in this coun- 
 try probably during the colonial days. Mrs. Mar- 
 garet (Hill) Van Allen, the mother of our subject, 
 was a native of Muskingum County, Ohio, and the 
 daughter of William Hill, who was born in Virginia, 
 and for a time was connected with the iron works 
 in Gilim's Falls as foreman of a forge. He also 
 carried on farming. He spent his last years in 
 Henry County, Ohio, dying at the age of seventy- 
 six. 
 
 Stats B. Van Allen, the father of our subject, 
 spent his last years in the Buckeye State, dj-ing in 
 February, 1888, at the age of seventy. The mother 
 is still living tliere, and is now in the sixty-eighth 
 year of her age. They were the parents of twelve 
 children, all of whom lived to mature years. John 
 H., our subject, was the thiid in order of birth, 
 and first opened his ej'es to the light Jan. 22, 1S43, 
 in Licking County, Ohio. His boyhood was spent 
 in his native State, and he received a limited edu- 
 cation in the common schools. He remained at 
 home with his parents, turning over his earnings 
 into the familj^ treasury, until entering the army 
 to fight the battles of the Union. 
 
 Our subject, on the 14th of August, 1862, en- 
 listed in Company G, 97th Ohio Infantry, and 
 served one year. The regiment was first ordered 
 to Cincinnati and then to Louisville to follow up 
 Gen. Bragg's army. At Wild Cat Mountain he 
 received a very severe fall and was sent to the 
 hospital at Nashville, where he was confined in the 
 Zollicoffer House. Being very discontented here he 
 left and returned to his regiment, with which he 
 remained until the battle of Murfreesboro. Thence 
 he went to Nashville, and finallj' was sent to Camp 
 Denison, Oliio, where he was obliged to accept his 
 honorable discharge on account of disability. 
 
 Mr. Van Allen now returned to his father's farm 
 and remained there about one year. On the 24th 
 of November, 1864, he was united in marriage with 
 Miss Rebecca, daughter of John Morrison, a prom- 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 343 
 
 inent farmer of his locality and one of the repre- 
 sentative men of Licking County. Mr. Morrison 
 died in March, 1889, at the age of seventy-two 
 years. He had been twice married, and by his first 
 wife, the mother of Mrs. Van Allen, was the father 
 of seven children. After her death, which occurred 
 about twenty-four years ago, he was married the 
 second time and there were born to him two more 
 children. 
 
 Mrs. Van Allen was the second child of her par- 
 ents and was born in Licking County, Ohio, Feb. 1, 
 1842. She received a very good education in the 
 common schools, and remained a member of the 
 parental household until her marriage. The newly 
 wedded pair commenced the journey of life to- 
 gether in Mt. Sterling, Ohio, and Mr. Van Allen 
 employed himself as a carpenter for two years 
 thereafter. Next he engaged in teaming three 
 years, hauling principally stoneware and crockery. 
 Finally, in 1869, he determined to seek the farther 
 West, and coming to Illinois with his familj' located 
 near Glenburn, where he established a pottery which 
 he conducted about eighteen months. Then aban- 
 doning this he turned his attention to farming, witli 
 which he has since been occupied and has met with 
 flattering success. 
 
 The property of Mr. Van Allen embraces 205 
 acres of choice land, mostly in one body and nearly 
 the whole under a thorough state of cultivation. It 
 is pleasantly located on section 26. The residence 
 was put up in 1884, and comprises a neat and sub- 
 stantial dwelling, whicii, with its surroundings is 
 indicative of the enterprising and progressive spirit 
 of the proprietor. Of the nine children born to 
 our subject and his estimable wife, seven are living 
 and all at home with their parents. They were 
 named respectively: Effie, Charles H., William E., 
 James M., Jessie F., Gracie M. and Robert S. 
 
 In politics Mr. Van Allen is a Republican both 
 by inheritance and a most decided preference for 
 the principles of this party. At the time of Gen. 
 Garfield's election as President of the United States 
 the father of our subject had the honor of casting 
 eleven votes for the Republican ticket, nine of 
 these being for his own sons and one for a grand- 
 son. Our subject has served as School Director 
 for the last twelve years, and still occupies the 
 » 
 
 office. In religious matters his views coincide with 
 those of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mrs. 
 Van Allen is a mem|Der in good standing of the ^ ^ 
 Christian Church. Socially, Mr. Van Allen belongs 
 to Newtown Lodge, No. 714, A. F. & A. M., and also 
 to George Morrison Post, No. 635, G. A. R., of 
 Glenburn. 
 
 -<*^^^^- 
 
 -^jj' LEX L. WHITE, a highly esteemed old 
 C^Oj resident of Vance Township, is without 
 « question one of the most popular men of 
 Fairmount, where he has spent many years 
 and with whose people he has been closely identi- 
 fied both in friendly and business relations. His 
 wide knowledge of human nature and his uniform- 
 ly good judgment make him the recipient of many 
 confidences, especially among the old people of the 
 place, who often solicit him for advice in business 
 matters, and he seldom fails to give them wise and 
 judicious counsel. 
 
 The native place of Mr. White was in the vicin- 
 ity of Logan, Ohio, and the date of his birth Nov. 
 2, 1849. His early education was conducted in the 
 schools of his native town, and he made such good 
 use of his time that at the age of sixteen years he 
 began teaching, and followed this profession at in- 
 tervals for a period of fourteen years. He taught 
 first in the schools of his native town, when there 
 were but two male teachers out of a corps of nine. 
 At 6ne time he was Superintendent of the Gore 
 Coal Mines. Upon coming to Fairmount he offici- 
 ated as Principal of the schools, and in 1880 took 
 the census in Sidell Township, this county. The 
 year following he journeyed to the Indian Terri- 
 tory and became superintendent of the lumber 
 business conducted by Osgood & Haywood, of 
 Indianapolis, being stationed in the Creek Nation. 
 
 In the spring of 1882 Mr. White was elected 
 Assessor and Colleclor of Vance Township, and 
 held the position two years. In 1884 he was elected 
 Township Supervisor, which office he has since held 
 by re-election each year. He was appointed Post- 
 
344 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 master of Fairmount in 1885, retaining the position 
 until 1889, wlien lie resigned on account of ill 
 health. 
 
 The marriage of our subject and Miss Angeline 
 E. Noble took place at the bride's home in Fair- 
 mount July 20, 1876. Rev. J. H. Noble, the father 
 of Mrs. White, was a leading member of the Illi- 
 nois Conference and Presiding Elder of the Dan- 
 ville district. Later he was stationed at Springfield, 
 and now, after an active service in the Master's 
 vineyard of over forty years, contemplates retir- 
 ing from his arduous duties. He is a strong and 
 eloquent expounder of the Word, and thousands 
 have listened to the admonitions which have fallen 
 from his lips and borne good fruit. In the dis- 
 charge of his pious duties he has been stationed at 
 Lincoln, Mattoon, Shelbyville and Paxton in Illi- 
 nois; and in Indiana was in Greencastle, New 
 Albany and Indianapolis. 
 
 Mr. Noble was born in Ohio in the fall of 1821, 
 and was twice married. He became the father of 
 thirteen children, ten of whom are living. His 
 first wife was Miss Angeline Simmons, and his sec- 
 ond her sister Caroline. 
 
 Mrs. White was born Aug. 3, 1857, in Indiana, 
 and received an excellent education. She was 
 married to our subject when a maiden of nineteen 
 years, and is now the mother of three children, the 
 eldest of whom, Anna Lee, was born Juljr 30, 1877. 
 The latter is a bright young girl, and takes a re- 
 markable interest in her studies, priding herself 
 upon her progress therein. The second daughter, 
 Edna Noble, was born June 20, 1879, and the only 
 son, Edgar Paul, April 14, 1885. jMr. White 
 politically is a strong Democrat, and has been quite 
 prominent in politics. Several of his male rela- 
 tives in Ohio occupied prominent positions, one 
 uncle being Clerk of the County Court, another 
 County Commissioner, and two others Auditor and 
 Recorder respectively, all holding olHce at the same 
 time. Leaving Ohio in 1873, he came to this coun- 
 ty, locating in Fairmount, with which his interests 
 have since been closely identified. For the last six 
 years he has been manager for the firm of Davis 
 & Stearns, dealers in lumber, hardware and .agri- 
 cultural implements. He only officiated as Post- 
 master six months, and when sending in his resig- 
 
 nation Mrs. White received the appointment and 
 held the oflfice until the early part of June, 1889. 
 Mrs. White is a very estimable lady and a member 
 in good standing of the Methodist Episcopal 
 Church. Our subject socially has been Master of 
 Fairmount Lodge, No. 590, for the last three years, 
 and still holds the position. 
 
 Mr. White was the third child of his parents, 
 Darius and Esther (McBroom) White, who were 
 also natives of the Bucke3'e State, and the father 
 is now principal owner of the Logan Manufacturing 
 Plant. The paternal grandparents were likewise 
 natives of the Buckeye State. Grandfather Mc- 
 Broom, also a native of Ohio, served in the War 
 of 1812 and died in 1883, when over ninety years 
 of age. His wife was a native of Maryland, and 
 died in 1882. They had lived together for the 
 long period of sixty-four years. To Darius White 
 and his estimable wife there were born nine chil- 
 dren, all of whom are living, together with the 
 parents — a circumstance seldom equalled the world 
 over, death having not yet entered this interesting 
 household circle. 
 
 ^. LBERT GIDDINGS. One of the largest 
 WlM and best- appointed conservatories in East- 
 ern Illinois, embracing 8,000 square feet 
 of glass, is owned and conducted by the 
 subject of this notice, who commands a wholesale 
 and retail trade extending into most of the States 
 from the Atlantic to the Pacific. As a florist he 
 cannot be excelled, and he is of that enterprising 
 and go-ahead disposition which is the surest guar- 
 antee of success. His life-long interests have cen- 
 tered in Vermilion CountJ^ for it is the county of 
 his birth, which took place in Danville, Dec. 3, 
 1850. 
 
 Our subject is the son of William and Caroline 
 (Kitchener) Giddings, prominent residents of this 
 county, and a sketch of whom appears elsewhere 
 in this work in connection with that of John W. 
 Giddings, their sou. Albert was reared and edu- 
 cated in his native city, although spending much 
 of his time at the farm of his father, where he con- 
 

 
PORTRAIT AND BIOURAITIIGAL ALBUM. 
 
 347 
 
 tinned until the death of the latter. He then en- 
 gaged in the gi-ocery trade in partnership witli 
 W. H. Johns, and the firm of Johns it Ciiddinn's 
 existed until May, 1KS2. Our subject then dis- 
 posed of his interests in the business to his partner, 
 and the year following established himself in that 
 in which he is now engaged. 
 
 The marriage of onr subject with Miss Mary 
 J. Cromer took place at the home of the bride, 
 Oct. 4, 1877. Mrs. Giddings was born near 
 Perryville, Ind., in February, 1859, and was the 
 daughter of Francis and Isabclle C'romer. Mrs. 
 Giddings died June 5, 1883, and our subject, on 
 Lhe 23d of March, 1887, contracted a second mar- 
 riage with Miss Ella Dill, of Danville, Ind. Tliis 
 lady was born Jan. 1, 1863, in C'learmont, Ind. 
 Mr. and Mrs. (^Jiddings are members in good stand- 
 ing of the First Methodist EpiscDpal Church, and 
 Mr. Ciiddings, politically'', is a Republican. Socially', 
 he belongs to (.)live Branch Lodge No. 38, A. F. 
 ,i' A. M.; Vermilion Chapter No. 82, R. A. M.; 
 Athelstane Commandery No. 45, Knight Temp- 
 lar, and Oriental Consistory of Cliicago. He 
 is a man intelligent and well informed, and a favor- 
 ite both in social and business circles among the 
 people with whom he has grown up from boyho'jd. 
 
 #-# 
 
 -^— - 
 
 ILLIAM CAXADAY, Sr. In giving their 
 
 UILJLIAM UAAi 
 just due to the 
 ^^^ there is requiri 
 
 )ionecrs of Central Illinois, 
 ed the pen of the historian, 
 who will perpetuate their names and deeds to fu- 
 ture generations, who as time passes on will learn 
 to appreciate them at their full value. It is doubt- 
 ful if those sturdy characters themselves realized 
 the magnitude of the work which they had begun, 
 and the results which were to follow. Not only 
 did their labors affect themselves personally, but 
 the works of each man contributed to make a grand 
 whole in the development of a rich section of the 
 country whicli is looked upon with pride by tjie 
 people to-day. The fact that Mr. Canaday came 
 to Elwood Township when there was but one cabin 
 within its limits is sufficient to establish hini as one 
 of the most prominent men of this region, and the 
 
 further fact that he has labored industriously and 
 lived worthily, forms for him one of the most en- 
 during monuments whicli can be erected to man. 
 
 There are four men in Elwood Townshiij bearing 
 the name of ^^'illiam Canaday, and of these the 
 subject of this sketch is tlie most prominent and 
 the ohlest. Of S(juthern birth and parentage, he 
 was born in Jefferson County, East Tenn., Dec. 22, 
 1809, and is the son of Henry Canaday, a native of 
 North Carolina, who removed with his family to 
 \\'nvne County, Ind., in the fall of 1820 and there 
 spent the following winter. In the meantime two 
 of the sons came to this county and put up in El- 
 wood Township a round hjg cabin near the present 
 residence of our subject and on the same section. 
 Early in the spring of 1821 the family took posses- 
 sion of the cabin, the only house in this region. 
 Indians were numerous and often visited the famil}^ 
 to beg, trade or steal. They camped on the banks 
 of the Little \'ermilion in the spring of the year to 
 hunt and fish, but never seriously troubled the 
 settlers. 
 
 The Canada3S made sugar that first spring and 
 prepared to carry on farming, but finally one of 
 the sons, Benjamin, returned to Tennessee, where 
 he bouglit a farm and soon afterwards was joined 
 by the balance of the fainil3'. The whole family 
 returned to this county the following fall, having 
 sold their Tennessee property. They were visited 
 consideralily with sickness and the nearest doctor 
 was at Clinton. They had to go to the mill to 
 Racoon Creek, in Park County, Ind., and Terre 
 Haute was the nearest trading )3oint. They had no 
 horses and broke the new ground with oxen. Wild 
 game was plentiful — deer, turkey and a few buffalo. 
 In the fall they filled the smoke-house with deer 
 hams and also had plenty' of pork. 
 
 AVhen returning to Tennessee the Canaday family 
 left thirty hogs which they had brought from 
 Indiana and which they could not well take with 
 them upon going l>ack South. So the animals ran 
 wild, and for years thereafter their progeny roamed 
 througli the woods and became so ferocious that a 
 boar would sometimes kill a cow. The Canaday 
 family occupied the small log cabin, containing one 
 room, 'for some time, and the mother did the cook- 
 ing by the fire-place. The floor was of puncheon, 
 
348 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 the roof of clapboards held down with weight poles 
 and the stick and clay chimney was built on the 
 outside. 
 
 About the second year of their resi()ence in Ver- 
 milion County, Henry Canaday, the father of our 
 subject, together with John Haworth, set up a 
 " meeting," as it was called by the Society of 
 Friends, (or in common parlance organized a 
 church). These two men and others who after- 
 wards came to the neighborhood built a log cabin 
 and worshiped therein, and afterwards built a 
 church of hewed logs. .Sometimes the attendance 
 was so small that Henrj^ Canaday and his son Ben- 
 jamin would go to "meeting" and sit through 
 the hour for worship, in order to keep up the 
 church organization as per the discipline of that 
 chui-ch. 
 
 Mrs. Matilda (Barnard) Canaday was a native of 
 Nantuckett's Island, Mass., whence she went to 
 North Carolina with her parents when a little girl. 
 Her father, Capt. Benjamin Barnard, followed the 
 sea for many years. The parental familj- consisted 
 of five children, of whom Mrs. Canaday is the onlj' 
 one living. Her brother Benjamin, died at the age 
 of seventy-eight years; John died when about fifty 
 years old; Frederick and Mary were each about 
 eighty-two years of age at the time of their de- 
 cease. 
 
 The subject of this sketch was reared at the old 
 homestead and grew up with a limited education, 
 there being no schools during his boyhood in this 
 region. His father established a tanyard in which 
 young Canaday worked, he also learned saddlery 
 and harness-making. Besides his tanyard and the 
 farm the father also conducted a tin shop. AVilliam 
 in later years turned his attention exclusively to 
 farming and stock-raising and operated largely as 
 a stock-dealer. He grew wealtiu' and is now the 
 owner of 430 acres of land, besides having given 
 540 acres to his children. 
 
 The marriage of our subject with Miss Mary 
 Haworth took place in 1831. This lady was born 
 in East Tennessee and is the daughter of William 
 Haworth, a well-known resident of this countj^. 
 This union resulted in the birth of ten children — 
 seven of whom are living, viz: Julia A., Mrs. 
 Harold ; G. Franklin; Richard II.; James A.; l\Ia- 
 
 tilda J., Mrs. Brown; Benjamin F. and Alice, Mrs. 
 Morris. Julia married AYilton Harold, of Ridge 
 Farm, but has no children; Franklin married Miss 
 Mary Jackson, who lived near Homer, and thev 
 have two children — Gertude and Edwin; Richard 
 married Miss Catherine Harold and occupies part 
 of the homestead, he has one child, William; James 
 married Miss Drusilla Diven, and lives at Burr Oak 
 Grove, in Champaign County; they have four 
 children — Mary E., Dora, Earl and Ora; Matilda 
 married Rev. Thomas C. Brown, of Elwood Town- 
 ship, and has two children — M. Alice and Oliver 
 W.; Benjamin took to wife Miss Cornelia Green, 
 and lives in P^lwood Township, and has seven chil- 
 dren — Howard W., Richard A., Anna A., Jesse, 
 Mary, Martha and an infant boy unnamed. The 
 last three are triplets; Alice married Dr. Charle.s C. 
 Morris, of Rockville, Ind., and they have three 
 children — Jesse C, Estella E. and Mary H. 
 
 Mrs. Mary (Haworth) Canaday departed this 
 life in the fall of 1855. Our subject was married 
 the second time, Oct. 30, 1873, to Miss Elizabeth, 
 daughter of Nathaniel Diament, deceased. She was 
 was born in New Jersey, Oct. 26, 1826, and is a 
 member of the Presbyterian Church. Mr. Canaday 
 was reared in the faith of the (Quakers, to which 
 he still loyally adheres. In politics he is a sound 
 Republican but has held aloof from the responsi- 
 bilities of office. A fine lithographic portrait of Mr. 
 Canada3' is shown elsewhere in this volume. 
 
 MOS JACKSON was born in Clinton 
 County, Ind., on Sept. 15, 1837. He is 
 I*' one of the largest land-owners in the 
 f^ township of Sidell. His father and mother 
 
 were born in Washington County, Pa., and Ohio, 
 respectivelj'. By his first marriage his father had 
 eleven children, of which Amos was the tenth 
 child and youngest son. The first wife died at 
 Jefferson, Ind., in 1840, when Amos was a little 
 over two years of age. His father remarried hut 
 died soon after at the age of forty -eight years. 
 
 Thus it will be seen that Amos was left mother- 
 less at the age of two and a half years, and when 
 
PORTRAIT AND HKXiRAPIIlCAL ALBUM. 
 
 349 
 
 he was ten years old he was left without a father, 
 and at this time ho began to fight the battle of life 
 alone. His father left a farm of 200 acres, but the 
 administration of the estate left but little for the 
 heirs. As before related, Amos began at the age 
 of ten years, to work for his board and clothes, 
 and under these circumstances his educational ad- 
 vantages were necessarily extremely limited. He 
 atteiided school about eight montiis in all in a little 
 log school-house, walking two miles. He continued 
 to live in Indiana until he was eighteen \-ears of 
 age, when, in 1855, in company with his uncle, 
 Johnson Ross, he came to Edgar Count}', 111., and 
 assisted his uncle in clearing up a farm. At the 
 age of twenty he returned to Indiana but remained 
 only a year when he returned to Illinois and en- 
 gaged at brick-making at Indianola. It was at 
 this place he first met his wife, ^Aliss Sarah Hesler, 
 who at that time was living with her grandfather, 
 John Gilgis, one of the earliest pioneers of Indian- 
 ola. Her father and mother were born in Ohio 
 and Kentu(;ky respectively. Mr. Gilgis was a mer- 
 chant at Indianola and a man of considerable 
 wealth. Francis Hesler, father of Mrs. Jackson, 
 was a farmer in Douglas County and the father of 
 eleven children, of whom six were girls. He was 
 married three times and had two children b}' his 
 first, two by his second and seven by his third wife. 
 Mrs. Jackson's mother was his first wife, who died 
 when Mrs. Jackson was but three or four years old, 
 and since that time and till her marriage she re- 
 sided with her grandfather. Mr. and Mrs. Jackson 
 became attached to each other while very young, 
 and at the age of seventeen years, and recognizing 
 the fact that " love laughs at locksmiths," quietly 
 crossed over into the State of IMiehigan, where 
 they were married. Returning to Indianola, the}' 
 were of course forgiven and at once launched out 
 on life's highway with the resolution of contradict- 
 ing the theory that marriage is a failure. And in 
 this they have succeeded. In the spring of 1860 
 Mr. Jackson rented a farm nortii of Indianola and 
 commenced work in earnest to earn a home. Mrs. 
 Gilgis died about two years subsequent to thcii' 
 marriage and they were called back to the home of 
 Mrs. Jackson's grandfather, and when he died he 
 left the young couple eighty acres of land. After- 
 
 ward Mr. Jackson purchased a section of land, 640 
 acres, in Sidell Township, for which he agreed to 
 pay 120,000. He sold Iiis original eighty acres for 
 ^4,000, this leaving him in debt 116,000, drawing 
 ten per cent, interest. Through prudent manage- 
 ment Mr. Jackson has not onl}' paid for that land 
 but has added tjiereto 492 acres. Reside all that 
 he had made many valuable improvements, among 
 which may be mentioned 5,400 rods of drain tile, 
 and there is not five acres of waste land on this 
 immense tract. He has also erected a splendid 
 barn for general purposes, a cattle barn 66x100, 
 a granary and feed-mill 30x30, and the other nec- 
 essary buildings for a large, well regulated farm. 
 He has 460 head of cattle and is feeding a large 
 number of hogs. Of late years Mr. Jackson has 
 begun breeding running horses and has abandoned 
 the raising of Clydesdales. He is a great lover of 
 the Morgan horse, of which he has some splendid 
 specimens. He owns the celebrated running horse 
 " King Nero," who took the four first prizes on a 
 Chicago track in the fall of 1887, amounting to 
 |1,000. He is said to be the best bred horse in 
 Illinois, being sired by " Harry Bassett," the cele- 
 brated Kentucky horse. As a stock-raiser there is 
 none who stands higher in ^'ermilion County than 
 Amos Jackson. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Jackson are the parents of seven 
 children : John L. ; Bertie, who died at the age of 
 four months; Jennie, Laura, Frank, Ada and Lula 
 B. Politically Mr. Jackson acts with the Demo- 
 cratic party and is a member of the Masonic Lodge. 
 yiv. Jackson is exceeding!}- popular with his neigh- 
 bors, and is fully entitled to enjoy the large for- 
 tune which he has ,i,ccumulated by his energy and 
 good management. 
 
 OHN S. CRANE, a resident of Vermilion 
 I County for more than twenty years, has 
 lived in Grant Township since the spring of 
 1867, and on his present place for sixteen 
 years. He is a native of Yoxford, Suffolk County, 
 England, and was born Aug. 22, 1828. He was 
 brought up in his native county, learning the trade 
 
350 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 of a shoemaker, in which lie wns engaged until his 
 removal to Illinois. After his jnai'riiigc in the fall 
 of 1852, he emigrated to Canada accompanied liy 
 his parents. They started from London for New 
 York, and on arrival there at once left for Gault, 
 in the Province of Ontario, Canada. There the 
 family- settled and John S. carried on business in 
 his trade as a manufacturer and dealer, until he re- 
 moved to the United States. His parents made 
 their permanent home in Gault where they were 
 afterwards joined by otliers of the family who 
 emigrated from lime to lime. 
 
 When he was eightv-four years of age. Grand- 
 father Crane made a trip to America alone to see 
 his descendants. Here he sta}-ed two years and re- 
 turned to his home in England where he lived to 
 be ninety-six years of age. The parents of John 
 S. Crane were named John and Maiy (Girling) 
 Crane. The father was also a shoemaker and like- 
 wise carried on business on his own account nutil 
 he was quite old. He also lived to be an old man 
 and at the age of eighty-four made a visit to his 
 son in this country-. He died four years afterward 
 in his eighty-ninth year. His wife died several 
 years prior to the decease of her husband, aged 
 about seventy-six. Of their nine children six are 
 now living, a record of whom follows: Harry, who 
 is a carpenter and builder in Gault; Geoi'ge was a 
 plumber and painier by trade in London, England 
 and is now a farmer in Kanosh, Utah; William, 
 also a carpenter and builder in Gault; Caroline is 
 the wife of John Milligan, a graindealer in Ross- 
 ville, this county ; Charles is also a resident of Kan- 
 osh, Utah, and is largely interested in sheep raisino- 
 and is President of the Wool Growers Association 
 of Utah. He is also interested in the Salt Lake 
 Tribune, the leading paper in that territory. He 
 was learning the trade of a carpenter at Lafayette, 
 Ind., when the war broke out and at the age of 
 seventeen enlisted in the 10th Indiana Infantry 
 for three months, during which time he was in the 
 battle of Rich Mountain. He afterward joined 
 the 63d Indiana Infantry, serving until the close of 
 the war and for some lime after that was Govern- 
 ment messenger on the supply trains to the South. 
 The other survivor is John S. 
 
 The three who are deceased are Clara, vvho was 
 
 the wife of James McKendiick, of Gault, and died 
 ill thai place leaving a family of four children. 
 James was a resident of New Orleans at the out- 
 break of the Rebellion, and being a Union man 
 made his escape from that city intending to go to 
 Canada, but contracted a fever and died on reach- 
 ing Lafayette, Ind., where his brother Charles was 
 then living. Adaline, the youngest sister, died on 
 her way to America and was buried at sea. 
 
 John, of whom this sketch was written, staj'ed 
 ill Gault until 1867, when he decided to give up 
 his business and move to the United Stales. He 
 had always desired to become a farmer, and the 
 year prior to his removal came to Illinois to visit 
 an uncle whom he had not seen for many years, 
 and being much pleased with the appearance of the 
 country he decided to make this State his home. 
 Returning to Canada he sold out his property and 
 in the spring of 1867 located east of where the 
 thriving city of Hoopeston now stands. No rail- 
 road was then in existence here and the site of 
 Hoopeston was an open [irairie. On the place 
 where he first settled he sta3'ed but a j^ear, when 
 he removed to a farm of the uncle named, situated 
 on what is known as the Chicago road. Having 
 bought 125 acres, a part of his present property, 
 he rented a farm east of it- while he was putting up 
 a house and other buildings. The farm was then 
 all wild prairie and the improvements upon it have 
 been made by Mr. Crane — all the buildings, fences, 
 trees, etc., being the result of his labors. To-day 
 it is as fine a property of its sizo as there is in this 
 pari of the county, and comprises in uU 247 acres. 
 Mr. Crane was united in marriage in England in 
 1852 with Miss Eliza Garwood, who was born in 
 Stratford, St. Mary, that county, March 21, 1830. 
 She was the onh' one of the family to come to 
 America. Mr. and Mrs. Crane are the parents of 
 four children, one of whom Adeline, died in Gault 
 at the age of three years. The survivors are 
 Oscar G., who is now a resident of Rossville, this 
 county; Edith is the wife of H. A. Ploover, living 
 near Oskaloosa, Iowa; Charles G. is at home with 
 his parents. Mr. Crane is a gentleman who has, by 
 his quiet, unassuming manners, and upright living, 
 won the respect of the peojile with whom he has 
 lived for now more than a score of years, and he 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 351 
 
 is justly counted as one of the most valued citi- 
 zens of the northeastern part of A'ermilion County. 
 He belongs to the Masonic fraternity, being a 
 member of Star Lodge No. 709, of Hoopeston. 
 He is a gentleman of domestic habits and tastes 
 and has never aspired to office, preferring the 
 quiet of his own home to the woriy attending 
 public position. In liis comfortable home he and 
 his estimal)Ie wife dispense hospitality to all who 
 visit them, and they are justly entitled to the high 
 measure of esteem in which they are held. 
 
 ' SA PARTLOW is a native of Danville, 
 where he was born on the 6th day of Jan- 
 uary, 1833. His father, Rueben Partlow, 
 was born in A'irginia and his grandfather, 
 Samuel Partlow, was a native of the same State. 
 The latter removed from Virginia to Kentucky in 
 an early day and located in Nelson County, where 
 he purchased a tract of land and cleared a farm. 
 In 1835, accompanied by his wife, he came to Ver- 
 milion County to spend the winter with his chil- 
 dren, who were then living here. The journey was 
 made on horseback, and in the fall of the year. 
 They stopped with their son Samuel, in Middle 
 Fork Township, where the old gentleman was 
 taken sick and died during the winter. In these 
 times lumber was very scarce, there being no saw- 
 mills in this section of the country and it was with 
 difficulty that boards could be purchased at any 
 price. At any rate, it is stated that not enough 
 lumber could be had to construct a coffin in which 
 to bury Mr. Partlow. His sons went to the timber 
 and cut down trees and split enough off them to 
 build a cofHn, and in this manner ]\Ir. Partlow was 
 interred. Soon after, and during the same winter, 
 his wife was seized with illness and followed her 
 husband to the grave. In this family there were 
 nine children, seven of whom came to this county 
 and are entitled to the appellation of [noneers. 
 There were four sons — John, James, Reuben, and 
 Samuel, and three daughters. 
 
 Reuben Partlow, the father of Asa, was very 
 young when his pax-ents removed to Kentucky, 
 
 where he was reared and resided until 1831. He 
 married, and then accompanied by his wife, came 
 to Vermilion County, making the journey on 
 horseback, carrying a few household goods with 
 them. He located at Danville, and being a wheel- 
 wright and cooper, he worked at his trade until 
 1834, when he made a claim in Newell Township, 
 upon which he built a log house. At this time 
 stoves were possessed only by the rich, but fuel 
 was plenty, and their old fashioned fire-place was 
 a lypical one. They made all their clothes of 
 homespun cloth, and were happier than many 
 who wear their fine clothes in these later days. 
 Mr. Partlow lived there about a year, when he dis- 
 posed of his claim and returned to Danville, where 
 he followed his trade for a while, afterward taking 
 another claim in Middle Fork Township. When 
 this came into market, he purchased it from the 
 Government, and this tract of land has since been 
 the old homestead. (H' course, in those days there 
 were no railroads, and for many years all supplies 
 were drawn bj' horses or oxen from Perrysville 
 and LaFayette and also from Chicago. At one 
 time Mr. Partlow took a half barrel of honej^ to 
 Chicago and supplied the whole town, returning 
 home with a good portion of it. He was a resident 
 of the old homestead until 1852, when he returned 
 to Danville and lived retired until his death which 
 occurred in May, 1866, aged sixty-two years. His 
 wife's maiden name was Flizabeth H. Humphrey, 
 a native of Kentucky. Her father, John Hum- 
 phrey was born in Virginia and was one of the 
 early settlers of Kentucky. She died in 1865. 
 She was the mother of six children — Asa, Almira, 
 who married Robert Davidson (now deceased); 
 John H. died when fourteen years of age; David 
 is also dead; Sarah A., married A. I. Draper, and 
 they are residents of Danville; Elizabeth married Z. 
 Morris, of Georgetown, this county, who is now 
 dead. 
 
 Asa Partlow, whose name initiates this sketch, 
 attended the pioneer public schools. He describes 
 the first school-house, winch he attended, as having 
 no window, but simply a log was taken out where- 
 with to admit the light. As soon as he was large 
 enough he was compelled to assist his father on the 
 farm, but at the age of seventeen he went to 
 
352 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BKM :KA i'HICAL ALBUM. 
 
 Georgetown, where he attended a seminary, and 
 after that taught one term of schooh In 1852 he 
 formed a partnership with S. A. Humphrey and J. 
 M. Partiow, under the firm name of Humphrey & 
 Co. They prosecuted a general mercantile busi- 
 ness, and financially were very successful. He was 
 in the trade until 1873, with various partners, and 
 in that year he sold out his store and engaged in 
 tlie insurance business, and has built up a fine trade. 
 He is also secretary of the Equitable Building 
 and Loan Association. 
 
 In 1857 Mr. Parilow was united in marriage with 
 Mary Murdock, who was born near LaFayette, 
 Ind., jMarch 15, 1831. She was tlie daughter of 
 John and Jane Murdock, natives of New Jersey, 
 and is the mother of the following children: Harry 
 G. married Stella Doane and resides in Danville; 
 Edwin R. and Augustus. Fannie Mabel died at 
 the age of four j'ears; Minnie Ellen died at the age 
 of ten months. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Partiow are members of tlic First 
 Methodist Episcopal Church, of which Mr. Part- 
 low has been steward and treasurer for a long time. 
 He is also a member of Danville Lodge No. Git, 
 1. O. O. F. 
 
 ■ ^Sgi; i • 
 
 ■.RUMAN WILLIAMS. The farming com- 
 munity of Catlin Township has no more 
 worthy representative than tliis venerable 
 gentleman, and it gives us pleasure to insert a 
 review of his life in this Biographical Albdm. He 
 has been a resident of this place for more than 
 forty years, and during that time has improved a 
 good farm on section 36, and has built up a cozy 
 home, in which lie and his estimable wife, who lias 
 worked by his side for more than half a century, 
 arc comfortably spending life's declining years, en- 
 joying the respect and affection of all about them. 
 Eli Williams, the father of subject, was born in 
 the good old New England State of Connecticut, 
 as was also his mother, whose maiden name was 
 Martha Aldcrmon. They first settled in their 
 native State after their marriage, but subsequently 
 removed from there to Pensyl vania, and from thence 
 to Onondago County, N, Y., and afterwards to 
 
 Gcnrsce County. Finally they returned to the 
 Keystone State and settled in Crawford County, 
 and there their earthly pilgrimage ceased, and they 
 were gathered to their fathers at a ripe ola age. 
 Ten children were born of their marriage, five sons 
 and five daughters, and of these our subject is the 
 third in order of birth and the only one now liv- 
 ing. 
 
 He was born in Onondago County, N. Y., Sept. 
 6, 1812. Those were pioneer times in that part of 
 the country, and our subject was bred to a hardy 
 manhood under their influence. He remained an 
 inmate of the parental household till he was twen- 
 ty-six years old, and then married and established 
 a home of his own. Ids marriage with ^Miss Marga- 
 ret Nelson taking place in Crawford County, Pa., 
 Oct. 30. 183.S. Mrs. Williams was born in that 
 county Jan. 29, LSI 7, the third child in the family 
 of nine children, two sons and seven daughters of 
 James and Sarali (Sloan) Nelson. Her father was 
 a native of Ireland, and came to America when he 
 was about thirteen years old. His wife was a 
 native of Virginia, and after their marriage they 
 settled in Crawford County in an early day of its 
 settlement, and lived there till death closed their 
 earthly career. 
 
 After marriage our subject and his wife contin- 
 ued to live in Crawford County until the fall of 
 1846, and then with their little family of children 
 they made their way across the country by the slow 
 modes of traveling in those days, and came to the 
 still wild and sparsely settled countrjr, embraced 
 in this part of the State of Illinois. They spent the 
 first two years after their arrival in Danville Town- 
 ship, and at the expiration of that time located on 
 the farm where they still make their home in Cat- 
 lin Township. Its 120 acres are under good til- 
 lage and many valuable improvements have been 
 made, so that as a whole it compares very favor- 
 ably with the farms around it, and it yields fine 
 harvests in repayment of the care bestowed on its 
 tillage. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Williams are the parents of ten 
 children, as follows: Blinerva; Charles, who died 
 when about six years old; Nancy, the wife of John 
 Harrin; Clarissa, who was the wife of George Jami- 
 son, aud died when about twenty-four years old; 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 353 
 
 Ann died when about ten years old; Elizabeth, the 
 wife of John Gones; Nelson married Mrs. Ida 
 (Childs) Doran; Charles married Luda Torrant; 
 Truman married Isadora Valentine; Maggie is the 
 wife of George Cook. 
 
 Mr. Williams inherited from a sterling New 
 England ancestry the thrift and wisdom that have 
 marked his course and the lionorable traits of-char- 
 acter that make him a good husband, father, neigh- 
 bor, citizen. He has borne a part in the public 
 affairs of his townsliip and has served very accept- 
 ably as -School Director and in minor offices. In 
 politics, he firmly adheres to the Republican party. 
 Religiously, both he and his wife have been mem- 
 bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church a long 
 term of years, and have always performed the 
 duties incumbent upon them in a true Christian 
 spirit. 
 
 ILLIAM WHITE, a veteran of the late war 
 * is numbered among the skilled farmers of 
 ' Catlin Township, and his pleasantly located 
 farm on section 2, with its well-tilled fields and at- 
 tractive buildings, is one of the first-class places of 
 this locality, and from its cultivation he derives 
 an excellent income that puts him among the well- 
 to-do agriculturists of his neighborhood. 
 
 James White, the father of our subject, was born 
 in Baltimore, Md., while his mother, Hannah Rodg- 
 ers, was a native of Perrysville, Vermillion Co., 
 Ind. After marriage in 1839 these people settled 
 in Perrysville, and there she died in 1845 while 
 j^et in life's prime. The father married again and 
 in 1859 came with his family to Vermilion County, 
 this State, and settling in Catlin Township, he made 
 his home here till his demise July fi, 1882. He was 
 a good man, who led an upright life, and was well 
 thought of by the neighbors among whom he liad 
 lived for so many years. He was the father of 
 three children by his first marriage, as follows: 
 William, Samuel and Hannah. 
 
 William, of whom this sketch was written, was 
 born in Perrysville, Vermillion Co., Ind., Oct. 30, 
 1841. His education, conducted in the common 
 schodlg, was necessarily somewhat limited, as being 
 
 tiie eldest of the family, his father required his as- 
 sistance. He accompanied liis father to this county 
 in 1859, and has since been a useful citizen of this 
 community. He had not attained his majority 
 when the war broke out, and in August, 1862, 
 though not yet of age, he patriotically resolved to 
 do what he could to aid the cause of his country, 
 and enlisted in Company K, 125 Illinois Infantry. 
 To his regret his eyesight became impaired so much 
 as to disable him for a soldier, and he was honora- 
 bly discharged in October of the same year. Since 
 then lie has given his attention wholly to farming 
 and stock-raising. He owns eighty acres of highly 
 fertile land, which is under admirable cultivation 
 and is well'supplied with an excellent class of build- 
 ing, including a substantially built, commodious 
 residence. He has his farm well stocked to its full 
 capacity with cattle of good grades, and is doing 
 well in that branch of agricvilture. 
 
 Mr. White has been twice married. He was first 
 wedded in Danville to Miss Susan Cook, by whom 
 he had three chirdren — Oscar, James and Susan. 
 March 19, 1872, this happy household was bereft 
 of the much loved wife and tender mother by her 
 untimely death. Mr. White's second marriage, 
 which took place in Georgetown Township, was to 
 Bliss Minerva Bowen. Three children blessed their 
 union — Elmer who died when about a year old; 
 Melvin and Dottle B. Jan. 11, 1889 the dark 
 shadow of death again fell across the threshold of 
 the dwelling of our subject, and in a few days all 
 that was mortal of her who had been the home- 
 maker was borne to its last resting place. In her 
 iiappy wedded life she had been all that a true wife 
 and mother could be; devoted to her husband's in- 
 terests, and to the motherless children that thus fell 
 to her charge she gave as much care and love as if 
 they were her own, and in her death thej' have 
 again lost a good mother, while her own darlings, 
 the youngest a dear little girl, scarce two years 
 old, have met with an irreparable loss. 
 
 Mr. White has succeeded by patient toil in plac- 
 ing himself on a solid basis financially speaking, 
 and since becoming the owner of this farm has 
 greatly increased its value by wise management 
 and a judicious expenditure of money for improve- 
 ments, He is a quiet, unassuming man, but withal 
 
354 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRArillCAL ALBUM. 
 
 has that force of character that enables liim to work 
 with a purpose, and carr)' his plans to a successful 
 issue. He has never given his fellow-citizens 
 cause to distrust him, but has always aimed to do 
 rightly by others. In politics, he affiliates with 
 the Democrats, and is ever loyal to his party. For 
 nearly nine years he has held the important office 
 of School Director, and the educational interests of 
 the township with which he has thus become identi- 
 fied have not suffered at his hands. 
 
 ■,o*o-(&^^^^-o^o.. 
 
 ylLLIAM WILLIAMS, In a record com- 
 prising the history of the principal old 
 ^^^ settlers of Vermilion County, the name of 
 Mr. Williams cannot properly be omitte<l. He es- 
 tablished himself in townshi[) 23, range, 12, in 
 1871, securing a tract of wild land, whicli, after 
 years of arduous labor, he has cmiverted into a 
 comfortable homestead. It is 160 acres in extent, 
 and pleasantly located on sections 18 and 1!», the 
 dwelling being on the latter. His career has been 
 similar to that of many of the men around him. in 
 which he has lal)ored early and late to provide for 
 the wants of coming year.s, and in all respects has 
 conducted himself as an honest man and a good 
 citizen. 
 
 INIr. Williams is a native of the Prairie Slate, 
 having been born in McLean County. Dec. l.'i, 
 1832. He was there reared to farming pursuits, 
 and remained a member of his father's liousehold 
 until reaching his majority. He was blest with 
 good common sense and excellent health, and nnade 
 the most of his opportunities for obtaining a prac- 
 tical education in the common school. At the age 
 of twenty-one years he began the battle of life on 
 his own account, operating first on rented land, and 
 within a few years purchased land and constructed 
 a farm of his own. 
 
 In the fall of 1871 Mr. Williams took possession 
 of the land which he now fiwns and occupies, at a 
 time when it was nothing but raw prairie. He has 
 effected all the improvements which we now behold, 
 and which certainly do great credit to his taste and 
 industry. He made it his business at an early day 
 
 to set out a grove of young trees, which are now 
 grown, and furnish a delightful shade for the resi- 
 dence and surroundings. Under his wise manage- 
 ment the land has become highly productive. Mr. 
 AVilliams at first purchased eighty acres, and sub- 
 sequentlj'- added to it until he is the owner of the 
 quarter-section. He has a goodly assortment of 
 live stock, and the necessary conveniences for their 
 care and keeping, besides the required machinery 
 for running the farm in a scientific and profitable 
 manner. 
 
 Shortly before reaching the twenty second year 
 of his age Mr. Williams was married, Aug. 27, 
 18.j4, to Miss Abigail Dean. The young couple 
 commenced the journey of life together on rented 
 land in a manner corresponding to their means and 
 surroundings, and worked with a mutual purpose 
 for the future. In due time the household circle 
 included six children, four of whom are living: 
 Elnora is the wife of Samuel Umbanhowar; they 
 live about one-half mile east of the AVilliams home- 
 stead, and are the parents of five children — Nellie, 
 Ccorge, Charles, JMaj' and William. James J. mar- 
 ried Miss Anna Sellers, and lives north of his 
 father's place on a farm; he is the father of two 
 children — Grace and Lula. Mary Evarilla, usually 
 called K\'a, and .Tiinathan Lee are at home with 
 their |)s.ients. 
 
 airs. Abigail (Dean) Williams, the wife of our 
 subject, was born in Knox County, Ohio, Nov. 20, 
 1K33, and is the daughter of J. M. Dean, a native 
 of [Maryland. Mr. Dean emigrated when a young 
 man to the BucUe^'e State, and was there mar- 
 ried to Miss Mary Elwell. They removed to 
 McLean County, this State, when their dangliter 
 Abigail was a maiden of seventeen years, and set- 
 tled on a farm, where the father died in 1872 at 
 the age of seventy J'cars, and the mother in Feb- 
 ruary, 1888, aged eighty-seven. They were tlie 
 parents of nine children, five of wliom are living, 
 and residents of Illinois, Kansas and Nebraska. 
 
 William AVilliams, Sr., the father of our subject, 
 was born in Tennessee, and when a young man 
 came to McLean County. 111., where he took up a 
 tract of raw land, and began farming in true pio- 
 neer style. In McLean County he married Miss 
 Kyarilla Hobson, and they became the parents of 
 
Residence ofWS!!. Hawkins , Sec. T.XT.ia.R. 12.) Catlin Township. 
 
 m^^msss^'- v- 
 
 ^S'*S:- 
 
 Residence of W^ Jurgensmeyer, Sec.23.(T.i8.-R.14.) Vance Township. 
 
PORTRAIT A^-n BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 357 
 
 one child, William, our subject. Mr. Williams 
 died when a young man, and his widow was subse- 
 quently married to J. G. Rayburn; she died in 
 1848, when her son William was a youth of sixteen 
 years. She was a native of North Carolina, when 
 she removed with her parents to Ohio, and from 
 there to McLean Count}', where her father, Joshua 
 Hobson, engaged in farming and spent the re- 
 mainder of his life. 
 
 Mr. Williams, our subject, cast his first Presiden- 
 tial vote for John C. Fremont, and while not mix- 
 ing any with political affairs, has his own ideas in 
 regard to matters and things, and gives his un- 
 qualified support to the Republican party. He is 
 one of those solid old landmarks whose word is 
 considered as good as his bond, and who can always 
 be depended upon to do as he says. 
 
 UILLIAM HAWKINS. The citizen-soldier, 
 who did so much toward saving the Union 
 
 ^f^ from destruction in the late war, lias since, as 
 is well-known, been a prominent element in further- 
 ino- the development of the vast resources of our 
 country, and has contributed largely to its material 
 prosperity. As a representative of that clement it 
 gives us pleasure to transcribe to these pages a 
 brief record of the life-work of William Hawkins. 
 He is actively engaged in tilling the soil and raising 
 stock in A'ermilion County, h.aving on section 7, 
 Catlin Township, as finely improved and well cul- 
 tivated a farm as is to be found tliroughout the 
 length and breadth of this rich agricultural region. 
 Our subject is a native of Indiana, his birth 
 taking place in Wayne County, .Ian. 1, 1831. His 
 parents, Nathan and Sarah (Wright) Hawkins, 
 were also born in that county, and there they were 
 reared and married, and in turn reared a family of 
 ten children. The good mother passed away from 
 the scenes amid which her entire life had been 
 passed, stricken by the hand of death, but the aged 
 father still survives, and makes his home in the 
 place of his nativity. 
 
 He of whom we write was the eldest of the fam- 
 ily, and was bred to the life of a farmer, and habits 
 
 of industry and frugality were early taught him by 
 precept and example. He engaged in farming^ 
 tending sawmill, and in other occupations till he 
 had obtained man's estate, and in the spring of 
 18G0 sought the fertile prairies of Vermilion 
 County, this State, accompanied by his wife and 
 child, witii a view of establishing a home here per- 
 manently. He has since been a valued resident of 
 Catlin Township, with the exception of the bitter 
 years spent on Southern battlefields, when with 
 true patriotism he heroically gave up home and 
 tore himself from his loved ones to aid his country 
 in the time of her greati'st trial. He enlisted on the 
 11th of August, 1862, in Company G, 125th Illinois 
 Infantry, and for three long and weary years served 
 faithful]}' and efficiently through many hard cam- 
 paigns, and suffered the hardships and privations of 
 a soldier's life without a miuniur. He took part 
 in all the engagements with which his regiment 
 had anj'thing to do, with the exception of that at 
 Chickanmuga. At Dallas, Ga., while on picket 
 duty, he came near being captured, but he cun- 
 ning'}- managed to elude the rebels. His gallant 
 conduct in the face of the enemy, received merited 
 commendation from his suiierior officers and he 
 was promoted to the rank of sergeant before his 
 honorable discharge at Washington, D. C. 
 
 After his experience of military life Mr. Hawkins 
 returned to this county, and resumed his interrupted 
 labors, and has since given his entire attention to 
 farming and stock-raising. He owns 170 acres of 
 choice, well-tilled land, on which he has erected a 
 fine set of buildings, including a roomy, substan- 
 tially Iniilt residence, a view of which with the 
 surrounding lawns, beautified by lovely sh.ade trees, 
 is an attractive addition to this volume. 
 
 March 28, 1855, Blr. Hawkins and Miss Duanah 
 Burgoyne were united in the holy bonds of matri- 
 mony. Mrs. Hawkins is a native of Ohio, born in 
 Muskingum County, Aug. 20, 1835, to James and 
 Mary (Miner)Burgoyne, the former of English an- 
 tecedents. The wedded life of our subject and his 
 wife has been blessed to them by the birth of four 
 children, namely: Lizae, the wife of George Patter- 
 son; Nora, the wife of Thomas Church; Ella; Etta. 
 
 Mr. Hawkins is a valued member of this com- 
 munity, and his loyalty to his country is as 
 
358 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 iiiarljed as in the days when he courageously took 
 his life in his hands and marched forth to do battle 
 for its honor and the preservation of its integrity. 
 In him the Republican parly finds one who faith- 
 fully upholds its principles at the ballot box. He 
 and his wife belong to the Presbyterian Church, 
 and are zealous workers in the cause of religion, 
 seeking to promote the moral and social elevation 
 of the community. 
 
 « IKILLIAM JURGENSMEYER. The career 
 \/\J/l of the subject of this biography illustrates 
 W^ in fin admirable manner what may be ac- 
 complished bj- a man beginning at the foot of the 
 ladder and by force of persistent industry making 
 his way upward to a good position socially and 
 financially. Upon coming to this county, Mr. 
 Jurgensmeyer had very little means but is now 
 quite an extensive land owner and has a homestead 
 of great value embellished with fine buildings and 
 everything to make life pleasant and desirable. 
 His course in life should prove an encouraging ex- 
 ample to the young man starting out dependent 
 upon his own resources and with nothing but his 
 own hands to pave his way to a worthy position 
 among his fellow men. 
 
 The Jurgensmeyer family originated in Prussia 
 where Gottlieb, the father of our subject, served 
 as a soldier in the Prussian army three years, hold- 
 ing the rank of Lieutenant. He was married in 
 early manhood to Miss Caroline Rohlfink, a native 
 of his own Province and whom he met after com- 
 ing to this country in Lancaster, Ohio. In that 
 place they were married and lived about ten j'ears. 
 Thence they removed to Hamburg in the same 
 county and five years later changed their residence 
 to Hocking County, sojourning there also five 
 years. Their next removal was to Logan, county 
 seat of Hocking County, where they spent their 
 last years and died within a week of each other, in 
 1870. 
 
 The father of our subject began life in this 
 country without means, but was prospered in his 
 labors as a farmer and besides comfortably sup- 
 
 porting his family of ten children, managed to 
 accumulate a goodly amount of property. Nine 
 of these children lived to mature years and seven 
 are now living. William, our subject, was the sec- 
 ond ciiild and was born March 30, 1843, in Lan- 
 caster, Ohio. He received very limited schooling 
 and with the ax and mattock assisted in digging 
 out two big farms in the Buckeye State. He re- 
 mained with his father until twenty-three years of 
 age, then, in 1867, left home for Illinois, coming 
 directly to Fairmount, this county. Here he met 
 an acquaintance, Jacob Hies, whose brother was 
 well-known to his father's family. He staid with 
 him about a week, then entered the employ of 
 James Dickson with whom he worked for nine 
 months. Later he engaged for a short time with a 
 threshing machine and after that for four weeks 
 earned 818 per week cutting corn. 
 
 Our subject now sent home for money and pur- 
 chased 160 acres of land which is included in his 
 present farm and of which he took possession in 
 1868. He put up a house, then returning to Ohio 
 was married April 18, 1869, to Miss Elizabeth 
 Hengst. The young couple shortly afterward 
 directed their steps to their new home in this 
 county and began laboring hand in hand with a 
 mutual purpose in view. The young wife had 
 come from her father's homestead well supplied 
 with all modern conveniences, to a new country and 
 a home then presenting few attractions. It required 
 great courage and perseverance to meet the diffi- 
 culties with which they had to contend, as they 
 were poor and at one time they could not raise 
 enough cash to mail a letter. Mr. Jurgensmeyer 
 began breaking the sod and preparing his land for 
 cultivation as rapidly as possible. There were 
 fences to be laid and buildings erected and it re- 
 quired incessant labor to make both ends meet and 
 cany on the desired improvements on the new 
 farm. 
 
 The condition of things since that time have 
 materially changed with our subject and his indus- 
 trious and efficient wife. Their estate now com- 
 prises 640 acres of good land with as fine a resi- 
 dence as can be found in Vance Township. The 
 main barn occupies an area of 60 x 54 feet with 
 20-foot posts, being built in that solid and sub- 
 
PORTRAIT AND lUOttRAPIIlCAL ALBUM. 
 
 359 
 
 stantial manner which will insure its solidity for 
 the greater part of a century unless some very 
 unusual catastrophe destroys it. A fine apple 
 orchard of thirteen acres, more than supplier the 
 needs of the family in this direction while there is 
 a flourishing vineyard and an abundance of the 
 smaller fruits. A beautiful grove of maple trees 
 stands adjacent to the residence and the whole 
 very nearly approaches tlie ideal country home, 
 where peace and plenty abound. A view of their 
 beautiful residence is presented on another page 
 and will be appreciated by all the readers of this 
 volume. 
 
 Stock-raising forms one of the distinctive feat- 
 ures of the Jurgensmeyer farm, our subject having 
 usually about 155 head of high-grade. Short-horn 
 cattle, twenty-four head of horses and about 150 
 swine. It is conceded the world over that the 
 sons of the Fatherland have especial good taste 
 and discretion in the selection of their draft ani- 
 mals and in their care of them. Mr. Jurgensmey- 
 er's favorite breed is the Clydesdales, while he has 
 some fine roadsters of the Gold Dust strain. His 
 sleek and well-fed stock are at once an ornament to 
 the farm and a matter in which he may take par- 
 donable pride. 
 
 Of the four children born to onr subject and his 
 estimable wife onlj' two are living: Mary Eliza- 
 beth was born Sept. 18, 1871, and has received a 
 good education completing her studies in the schools 
 of Danville; she is a fine performer on the piano 
 and has an elegant instrument which adds greatly 
 to the home recreations. The son, Louis V., was 
 born Jlay 3, 1876, and is a bright and promising 
 boy still pursuing his studies. Mr. Jurgensmeyer 
 votes with the Democratic party on national issues 
 but at the local elections aims to support the men 
 best qualified to serve the interests of the people. 
 He has served as School Director for a period of 
 fifteen years, and with his excellent wife inclines 
 to the doctrines of the Lutheran Church but there 
 being no organization of that church in their town- 
 ship, thej' have united with the Methodist Episcopal 
 Church and are greatly interested in Sunday-school 
 work. 
 
 In the fall of 1864 Mr. Jurgensmeyer returned 
 to his native land where he spent several months 
 
 visiting some of the principal cities of Germany — 
 Hanover, Bremen and Berlin, also going into Eng- 
 land. This journey was a source of great enjoy- 
 ment and much useful information, and Mr. Jur- 
 gensmeyer considered the time and money well 
 spent, returning with enlarged views and noting 
 with satisfaction the natural changes occurring 
 among an energetic and progressive people. 
 
 The wife of our subject is the daughter of Lewis 
 Hengst, who with his estimable wife is still living 
 in Fairfield County, Ohio, both being in the seven- 
 tieth year of their age, having been born the same 
 year. Mr. and Mrs. Jurgensmeyer in addition to 
 tiieir own children took into their home and under 
 their protecting love about 1882, a little girl, Edna 
 Johnson, whom they purpose to keep until she 
 shall have attained womanhood and goes to a home 
 of her own. She was born Aug. 27, 1879, in Ea- 
 gene, Vermillion Co., Ind., and will be given a 
 good education with the careful training which 
 they have bestowed upon their own children. 
 Mrs. Jurgensmeyer is a verj' capable and intelligent 
 lady and has done her full share in the accumula- 
 tion of the fine estate, the taxes upon which each 
 year add handsomely to the sum in the county 
 treasurj'. 
 
 ^fiAMES HAYS. Here and there upon the 
 dusty highway of life we come across an 
 individual plentifully moistened with the 
 dew of human kindness, and of this class 
 Mr. Hays is a shining light. All his neighbors 
 testify to his generosity and hospitality, he bcino- 
 one who is ever ready to lend a helping hand to 
 those in need, never asking or expecting any re- 
 turn. He has a comfortable homestead, compris- 
 ing a good farm on section 14 in A'ance Township, 
 where he pursues the even tenor of his way, letting 
 the world wag as it will and striving to do good 
 as he has opportunity. 
 
 In referring to the parental history of Mr. 
 Hays, we find that his father, Benjamin Hays, was 
 a native of Fayette County, Ohio, and born March 
 5, 1809. The paternal grandparents were natives 
 of Kentucky, and two uncles of our subject served 
 
360 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 in the War of 1812, one receiving an honorable 
 wound in the leg, from whicli he reeovereil. 
 
 Benjamin Hays, in 1829, was married to Miss 
 Elizabeth Thompson, in Fajretle County, Ohio, 
 where he operated as a farmer and trader, and so- 
 journed there with liis family about forty years. 
 Then, emigrating to Illinois, he settled on 320 
 acres of land in the vicinity of Sydney, Champaign 
 County, 200 .acres of which he brought to a fine 
 state of cultivation. The journey hither was made 
 overland, in 1850, with teams, the travelers being 
 thirteen days on the road. The family included 
 nine children, of whom only three are living, 
 James being the eldest of these. The others are 
 Mrs. iNIartha Humes, of Sidne}^, and Mrs. Maggie 
 H.nrding, of San Francisco, Cal. The mother died 
 on the 9th of August, 1870. 
 
 After the death of his wife, licnjamin H.ays 
 broke up housekeeping, sold his farm and pur- 
 chased property in Sidne}', 111. Later, he went to 
 Ohio on a visit, which he prolonged about six 
 years. Upon returning to Illinois, he took up liis 
 abode with his son, our subject, with whom he has 
 since lived, and is now in his eightieth year. He 
 rides about the farm on horseback every da.y, looks 
 after the stock, and is in splendid health, pla3nng 
 his violin and dancing with much of the grace and 
 agility of his earlier years. He is a great lover of 
 the equine race, and has owned some valuable 
 hoi'seflesh, among which was "Buck Elk," a Ken- 
 tucky racer of phenomenal siieed, and "Cherokee, '' 
 a very fine animal which he purch.ased of Thomas 
 Eads. 
 
 The subject of this sketch was the second child 
 of his parents, and was born Dec. 10, 1830, in the 
 same house in Fayette County, Ohio, wherein his 
 honored father first opened his eyes to the light of 
 day. He received a practical education in the 
 common school, mostly under one teacher, David 
 F^astman, who died about fourteen ^-ears ago. He 
 made his home with his father on the farm, assum- 
 ing many of the responsibilities, until twenty-tivo 
 years of age, when he began the business of life for 
 himself by breaking prairie with seven yoke of 
 oxen. In the winter of l.srj2-r)3 he fed 100 head 
 of cattle for Hendrickson & Cowling. In the 
 spring of 1853, April IC, he started with these 
 
 cattle on foot for New York City, where he ar- 
 rived safely on the 11th of July. The head steer 
 of the herd was led by Henry White, of Cham- 
 paign. This errand executed, Mr. Hays returned 
 home, and in due time started with another lot of 
 cattle from Parish's Grove, near LaFXyette, Ind., 
 driving them through to Lancaster, Pa., and being 
 10.'» days on the road. Upon returning home, he 
 engaged in a store at Old Homer for two years, 
 and in the meantime shipped a load of cattle to 
 Chicago for his father. Afterward he handled con- 
 siderable stock for other parties. Fie assisted in 
 removing the first house from Old Homer to the 
 present town, and all this time watched the growth 
 and development of Central Illinois with that abid- 
 ing interest which is only felt by the intelligent 
 and thoughtful citizen. 
 
 The 6th of May, 185H, witnessed the marriage 
 of our subject with Miss ^lary E., daughter of J. 
 M. Custer and sister of Mrs. Aaron Dalbey. These 
 were the only girls in the Custer family. Mrs. 
 Hays was born Oct. 10, 1838, in Fayette County, 
 Ohio, and was ten yeai's old when she came with 
 her [)arents t(.i Illinois. She received her education 
 in both States, and grew up a very attractive 
 young w(_iman, with a large amount of practical 
 good sense. After their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. 
 Hays lived in Sidney two years, removing to their 
 present home in 1861. 
 
 The neat and well-regulated farm of our subject 
 bears very little resemblance to the uncultivated 
 tract of land upon which he and his young wife 
 settled upon coming to this county. It was then 
 an open prairie, unfenced and without buildings. 
 Although making no pretentions to elegance, they 
 live comfortabh^, and probably enjoy more solid 
 hapi)iness than manj' who make a greater dis- 
 play in the world. The five children born to Mr. 
 and Mrs. Hays are all living. The eldest, DoUie 
 E., is the wife of George T. Poage, a merchant at 
 Prairie A'iew, and they have two children; Mattie 
 E. married Amos C. Harden, who is now deceased, 
 is the mother of one child, and lives three miles 
 west of Fairmount; William S., Ella and John M. 
 remain at home with their parents. 
 
 Mrs. Hays and most of her children are mem- 
 bers in good standing of the Cumberland Presby- 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 361 
 
 terian Church, iind Mr. H., although not identiflecl 
 with any religious organization, has a full belief in 
 the doctrines of the Christian religion. He main- 
 tains a lively interest in politics, and keeps himself 
 well posted in regard to those questions of inter- 
 est to every intelligent citizen. Upon becoming a 
 voting citizen, he identified himself with the Demo- 
 cratic party, but in 1860, when Abraham Lincoln 
 had steal his way to Washington for fear of assas- 
 sination, Mr. Hays said to himself, ".James, this party 
 is not your right place." Since tiiat time he has been 
 a decided Republican. He is a strong temperance 
 man, never having used ardent spirits, and steadily 
 opposes their manufacture. Aside from serving as 
 a Road Overseer in 1864, he has steadily declined 
 becoming an office-holder. Socially, he belongs to 
 Homer Lodge No. 199, A. F. & A. M., being the 
 oldest member but one, entering the lodge after its 
 formation, and in this he officiated only as Tyler, 
 although he might have held all the other offices. 
 
 * jhJ^ ILES ODLE. This gentleman is one of the 
 most prominent and best known citizens in 
 the northeastern part of this county. He 
 was born in Warren County, Ind., Dec. 26, 
 1841, and was brought up to farming, receiving 
 in his boyhood such education as could be obtained 
 in the common schools of his native place. His 
 parents were Nathan B. and Frances (Watkins) 
 Odle, the father a farmer in the place where his 
 son vvas born. (Jur subject remained quietly at 
 the home farm until the outbreak of the War of the 
 Rebellion, when he offered his services to his 
 country and enlisted, while still under age, on 
 June 3, 1861, in Company A., 15th Indiana In- 
 fantry, commanded by Col. D. G. Wagner and on 
 the 14th of the same month, was mustered into the 
 United States service at Lafayette, Ind. For over 
 three years the young soldier did valiant service in 
 his country's cause. His regiment was first en- 
 gaged in active duty in West Virginia and three 
 months after being mustered in, was in the battle 
 of Cheat Mountain, W. Va , on Sept. 12, !861, and 
 on Oct. 3, following, was engaged at Greenbrier 
 
 Springs, W. Va., both being Federal successes. In 
 November, 1861, the 15th Indiana was transferred 
 to the army of the Ohio, under Gen. Buell, Nelson's 
 division, and herel\lr. Odle took a part in several 
 general engagements. He was in the great battle 
 of Shiloh, Tenn., begun on April 6, 18C2, his regi- 
 ment taking part on the second day, when the 
 hardest fighting was done, Buell arriving on the 
 7th in time to reinforce Grant's troops. He was 
 under fire at the siege of Corinth, Miss., and after 
 the evacuation of that place, went East with his 
 regiment to Decatur, Ala., and later from there to 
 Tuscumbia, Tenn., and was in all the toilsome 
 marches and maneuvers, undertaken to prevent the 
 return of the rebel. Gen. Bragg to Kentucky. 
 Finally the Union army fell back on Nashville, 
 Tenn., and fr(jm that point were sent to Louisville, 
 Ky. The first open battle between the opposing 
 forces fighting for the possession of Kentucky was 
 fought at Perryville on Oct. 8, 1862, and in that 
 the 15th Indiana were active participants. They 
 were then returned to Nashville, where they stayed 
 uuntil Dec. 26, 1862, when they were hurried to 
 the front, and were engaged on the last da^^ of the 
 year on the hotly contested field of Stone River. 
 The following year they were all through the Tul- 
 lahoma campaign, and were afterwards engaged at 
 the battle of C'hickamanga on Sept. 19, and in the 
 great fight at Mission Ridge, they were a part of the 
 army that marched to the relief of Knoxville, when 
 it was beleaguered by the enemy, and succeeding 
 that were in many minor battles and skirmishes. 
 The 15lh Indiana, were no holiday soldiers, but 
 during their entire term of service, were actively 
 engaged, marching and fighting, and in all their 
 trials, hardships, battles, and skirmishes, Mr. Odle 
 bore himself as a brave and gallant soldier. His 
 term of service having expired, he was mustered 
 out at Indianapolis on the 30th of June, 1864. 
 Returning then to the pursuits of peace Mr. Odle 
 engaged in farming in his native county, in which he 
 remained until he decided to make his home in 
 Vermilion County, III. He bought 120 acres of 
 land on section 3 in Grant Township, now a part 
 of his homestead, and to that place removed in 
 March 1871, and there his home has since been. To 
 this property' he has added by subsequent purchase, 
 
362 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 having now a fine farm of 490 acres, all thoroughly 
 improved and cultivated with a good house and 
 farm buildings, and worth probably about Sl8,000. 
 In addition to this Mr. Odle is the owner of a farm 
 of 320 acres in Holt County, Neb., and of other real 
 estate, and personal property, and all has been 
 acquired by his own energy, industry, and fore- 
 sight. He is a man of keen business judgment, 
 and his success is the legitimate reward of his close 
 attention to his own affairs. 
 
 Although always a farmer, Mr. Odle has been a 
 a successful merchant as well. The store in Che- 
 neyville, in this township, was his property, and on 
 Dec. 1, 1886, he took it into his own possession, 
 and under liis own immediate care and direction 
 he successfully carried on mercantile business there 
 until May 1889, when he exchanged it for a West- 
 ern farm. 
 
 The subject of this sketch has been twice mar- 
 i-ied — first on Aug. 30, 1866 to Miss Susan Hunter, 
 who was born Nov. 25, 1847 and died May 17, 
 1870, leaving two children, Ella Florence, born 
 Sept. 17, 1867, and Anna Ross, Oct. 18,1869. The 
 first wife's parents are both living in Warren 
 County, Ind., at the advanced age of seventy years. 
 
 Mr. Odle was on Jan. 12, 1872, united in mar- 
 riage with Sarah E. Hunter, born Jan. 22, 1850. 
 His present wife was a daughter of John Hunter, 
 a farmer of Warren County, Ind. He was 
 a native of Scotland, and came to this country 
 when eighteen years old, in the year 1836. He 
 staid in the city of New York for a couple of 
 j'ears, and then emigrated to Warren County, Ind., 
 of which he was a very early settler. There he 
 adopted the vocation of a farmer. He died Nov. 
 18, 1880, when nearly sixty-three years of age. He 
 was a well-informed man and took considerable in- 
 terest in public affairs, but never held office. In 
 politics he was a staunch Republican, and through 
 the Civil War an ardent supporter of the Govern- 
 ment. He was married in Warren County, Jan. 13, 
 1842, to Miss Jane Montgomery, a native of Ken- 
 tucky, born April 22, 1820. They had eight chil- 
 dren, of whom five are now living. Mrs. Hunter 
 lives with her different children but her home is 
 with Mrs. Odle. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Odle have five children, as follows: 
 
 Ilattie Letitia, born Feb. 21, 1874; John Lindsay, 
 Aug. 3, 1875; Miles Sherman, Nov. 2, 1878; Na- 
 than W., Nov. 2, 1880, and Frances J,, Nov. 3, 
 1883. 
 
 Mr. Odle is a man of mark and influence, in the 
 community in which he lives, and his sound judg- 
 ment leads his advice to be sought by his neigh- 
 bors in business affairs. From comparatively hum- 
 ble beginnings, he has raised himself to the position 
 he now occupies, and the competence he has ac- 
 quired he is justly entitled to. For a number of 
 years he has been a School Trustee in Grant Town- 
 ship, and from 1885 to 1889, was Justice of the 
 Peace. He is a member of Harmon Post No. 115, 
 G. A. R., of Hoopeston, and in politics is a staunch 
 adlierent of the Republican party in all State and 
 National affairs. 
 
 -^ ^^^ ^ 
 
 ORIN M. DANIEL is extensively identified 
 with the agricultural interests of Vermilion 
 County, and is one of its most enterprising, 
 energetic and able farmers. He has a fine farm on 
 section 20, Danville Township, comprising sixty 
 acres, pleasantly located on the Georgetown Road, 
 two and one-half miles from the court-house. He 
 also leases a large tract of land from the coal com- 
 pany, and has 1,000 acres under his personal super- 
 vision, and in addition has the contract to fur- 
 nish timber to the Grape Creek and Consolidated 
 Coal Company. 
 
 Mr. Daniel was born June 19, 1842, in Moores- 
 ville, Delaware Co., N.Y., and is a son of Aaron 
 Burr Daniel, a native of the same place, who was 
 in turn a son of Mathew Daniel. The latter was a 
 native of Scotland who came to America when a 
 young man, and so far as known, is the only mem- 
 ber of his family that came to this country. He 
 located in the wilderness at Mooresville, buying a 
 tract of timbered land, from which he cleared a 
 farm and resided there some years. He then sold 
 that place, and removing to Deposit about 1840, 
 bought a farm there on which he made his home 
 till death claimed him. The maiden name of his 
 wife was Eunice Sturgis, who is thought to have 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 363 
 
 been a native of New York State, and her last 
 flays were also passed on the homestead in Deposit. 
 The father of our subject was reared and married 
 in his native county, and then bought a farm one 
 mile from Deposit, located partly in Delaware and 
 partly in Broome County. He resided there till 
 1870, prosperously prosecuting his calling, and 
 then came to Vermilion County, where he is now 
 passing the declining years of a busy, honorable 
 life. He has been twice married, and is the father 
 of twelve children, seven by the first marriage and 
 five by the second. 
 
 Orin IM. Daniel of this brief biographical review 
 was educated in the public schools of his native 
 town, and from his father received a sound, prac- 
 tical training in agricultural pursuits. He re- 
 mained under the parental roof till he was twenty- 
 one, and then in the pride of a vigorous, self-reli- 
 ant manhood, he came West to try life in the 
 Prairie State, rightly thinking that its rich soil 
 offered many inducements for one who intended 
 at some time to become a farmer. He came to 
 Danville, but did not at first enter upon his career 
 as a farmer but was employed by his uncles in the 
 coal business. He subsequently engaged on the 
 Illinois Central Railway in some capacity for two 
 years. At the expiration of that time he returned 
 to his native New York, and was engaged in farm- 
 ing and other kinds of work in that part of the 
 country till 1872. In that year he came back to 
 Illinois and obtained employment with the Ells- 
 worth Coal Company, remaining with them five 
 years. Since first coming here he had wisely saved 
 his money, and at the expiration of that time had 
 enough to invest in a good farm and so bought the 
 one where he now resides. It is well tilled, is sup- 
 plied with substantial, conveniently arranged build- 
 ings and all kinds of machinery for conducting 
 agriculture in the best possible manner, and it is 
 indeed a model farm. "\\'e have referred to his 
 other 'interests in the first part of this sketch. 
 
 In June 2, 1868, Mr. Daniel took unto himself 
 a wife in the person of Miss Jane Thompson, who 
 has proved to him a veritable helpmate, and he is 
 indebted to her for aiding him to become prosper- 
 ous. She was born in Delhi, Delaware Co., N.Y., 
 May 8, 1841, to Robert and Nellie (Shaw) Thomp- 
 
 son. The pleasant household of our subject and 
 his wife is completed by the five children born to 
 them: Orin, Alvin, Walter F., Perry, EflBe. 
 
 Mr. Daniel is a busy man, devoting his time to 
 his many and varied interests, and while so doing 
 has done much to promote the material prosperity 
 of his township and county. He is prompt and 
 systematic in his work and knows how to conduct 
 it so as to produce the best results financially. He 
 and his wife are esteemed members of the Presby- 
 terian Church, contribute liberally to its support, 
 and are always active in advancing all charitable 
 and benevolent objects. In politics Mr. Daniel is 
 a decided Democrat. Socially he is a member of 
 Vermilion Camp, No. 244 M. W. A. 
 
 -^ — ^€'-*-P — -^^ 
 
 1^ ELTBEN JACK, Notary Public and engaged 
 'lyr in the insurance business at Fairmount, is a 
 t^% man of note in his community, possessing 
 \^ good business capacities and making for 
 himself the record of an honest man and a good 
 citizen. He was born in Carroll County, Ind., 
 March 19, 1840, and was the eldest child of Silas 
 S. and Bashaba (Elmore) Jack who were both na- 
 tives of Ohio, and the mother belonging to the So- 
 ciety of Friends. They left their native State in 
 their youth and were married in Tippecanoe Count\', 
 Ind., in 1837. 
 
 The parents of our subject remained residents of 
 Indiana until April, 1860, then came to this county 
 and located in Fairmount. Only three of their 
 children lived to mature years, viz: two daugh- 
 ters and Reuben, our subject. During the pro- 
 gress of the Civil War the father enlisted in Com- 
 pany E, 73d Illinois Infantry in August, 1862 and 
 was given the post of Orderly Sergeant. He soon 
 afterward contracted a fatal disease and died in 
 the hospital at St. Louis on the 11th of September 
 following. The mother survived her husband over 
 twenty years, remaining a widow, and died in Jan- 
 uary, 1883. 
 
 Our subject acquired his education in the com- 
 mon school of his native State and when approach- 
 ing manhood learned the trade of a shoemaker 
 
3G4 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 which he has followed continuously until quite re- 
 cently. He remained .it home with his parents 
 until after the outbreak of the Rebellion and en- 
 listed in the same company and at tlie same time 
 with his father. He was first made a Corporal and 
 later promoted to a Sergeant. He served three 
 years and engaged in all the marches and battles in 
 which his regiment participated, being at Stone 
 River, Chattanooga, Mission Ridge and all the bat- 
 tles of the Atlanta campaign, including Franklin and 
 Nashville. Aside from the natural effects of hard- 
 ship and exposure on his constitution, and a sliglit 
 affection of his eyes, he escaped uninjured, being 
 neither wounded or taken prisoner. He was under 
 the command of Gen. George H. Thomas, Phil 
 Sheridan, Granger, Rosecr.ans, Sherman, O. 0. 
 Howard and Grant, at the time when James A. 
 Garfield was Adjutant General of Rosecran's army. 
 He received his honorable discharge with his regi- 
 ment in June, 1865. Like thousands of others 
 who were willing to offer up their lives as a sacri- 
 fice to their country, he was content in knowing 
 that he had done his whole duty, standing his 
 his ground during the enemy's fire and bearing 
 with fortitude and patience the vicissitudes of a 
 soldier's life. 
 
 Upon retiring from the armj^ Mr. Jack resumed 
 work at his trade and on the 9tii of August, 1865, 
 was married in Fairmount to Miss Mar}', daughter 
 of Daniel Shroyer. This lady was born in Indiana 
 and departed this life in Fairmount, Feb. 20, 1869, 
 leaving no children. Our subject contracted a 
 second matrimonial alliance June 15, 1870, with 
 Miss Frances, daughter of Charles Ruling, of Del- 
 phi, Ind. Mrs. Frances Jack departed this life 
 March 7, 1871, without children. 
 
 Mr. Jack was married to his present wife, form- 
 lerly Miss Jennie Fellows, Sept. 17, 1872 Mrs. 
 Jennie Jack was born in Wells County, Ind., and 
 is the daughter of George and Mary Fellows, who 
 are now, the mother in Fairmount the father de- 
 ceased. This union resulted in the birth of two 
 children — George B., born June 7, 1876, and Nellie, 
 June 26, 1884. They area bright pair and will be 
 given the education and advantages suited to their 
 position in life. 
 
 Mr. Jack has been quite prominent in local af- 
 
 fairs. He was elected Assessor and Collector of 
 Vance Township, in 1884, and has been re-elected 
 each year since that time. In 1872 he was elected 
 Township Clerk, holding the office until 1881. In 
 1877 he was elected Justice of the Peace and served 
 eight years. He cast his first Presidential vote for 
 Lincoln and has ever continued a staunch supporter 
 of the Republican party. As an ex-soldier he was 
 one of the leading members of the G. A. R. at 
 Fairmount, which has recently surrendered its char- 
 tor. In this organization he was first an Adjutant 
 and later a Commander. In the I. O. O. F. he is a 
 member of Homer Lodge, No. 252, in which he is 
 I'ast <rrand. He formerly belonged to the Lodge 
 at Fairmount in which he held all the offices, until 
 it disbanded. 
 
 Our subject and liis estimable wife are active mem- 
 bers of the ]\Iethodist K()iscopal Church, in whicli 
 Mr. Jack lias been an earnest Sunday-school worker 
 for years, officiating as Superintendent of the school 
 and Trustee of the church. A man of domestic 
 tastes and correct habits, he makes it his aim and 
 object to stand on the right side of all questions 
 and give his su|)port to those projects calculated to 
 benefit the community, social!}', morally and flnau- 
 cially. In connectimi with his other business 
 already spoken of, he does some conveyancing and 
 represents as a Fire Insurance Agent, the Pha-nix of 
 Brooklyn, the Hartford and the Aitna,. He is gen- 
 tlemanly, courteous and liberal, and while not pos- 
 sessed of great wealth manages to stand square 
 with tlie world and extract ala.rge measure of com- 
 fort and happiness from life. 
 
 UY SANDUSKY. The surname of this 
 gentleman is well-known in Vermilion 
 County as that of a jnoneer family who had 
 a share in its early development and in promoting 
 its later growth. The subject of this sketch is a 
 worthy representative of his sire and grandsire, who 
 planted their homes here when the surrounding 
 country was a wilderness, and, in doing so, pur- 
 chance were more fortunate than they at first 
 deemed possible, and he of whom we write is en- 
 

 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 367 
 
 joying the result of their labors, as well as of his 
 Ovvn active toil. He was born Feb. 5, 1854, on the 
 old homestead on section 34, Catlin Township, that 
 he now owns and occupies, and liere he has erected 
 a handsome residence, one of the most attractive 
 homes in the county. He is carrying on agricul- 
 ture and stock-raising with great skill, and from his 
 300-acre farm derives a substantial income. 
 
 The parents of our subject, Josiah and Elizabeth 
 (Sandusky) Sandusky, were natives of Bourbon 
 County, Ky., where they married, and immediately 
 came to this township. The father had lived in 
 this county while a single man, having removed 
 here with his parents as early as 1819, and he went 
 back to Bourbon County, Ky., to marry. His 
 father, Isaac Sandusky, had come here in the early 
 days of its settlement, he accompanying him, and 
 had made a claim, and before his death accumu- 
 lated quite a little property. In 1837 tlje father 
 and mother of our subject, after their marriage, 
 settled in this county, and lived at Brook's Point 
 some two or three years, and then Isaac Sandusky, 
 the paternal grandfather of our subject, dying, the 
 father was appointed administrator of the estate, 
 and coming to Catlin Township .vith his family, he 
 located southwest of Catlin Village on section 34. 
 He resided with his wife on this homestead until 
 his demise Sept. 15, 1868, she surviving him until 
 Jan. 10, 1884. Of their eight children four lived to 
 maturity, three sons and a daughter. 
 
 Guy Sandusky, of whom we write, was the third 
 child of the family, and he was born and reared on 
 the old homestead where he has spent his entire life. 
 His education was conducted in the common 
 schools, and was supplemented at home by a wise 
 training from his worthy parents, and on arriving 
 at j-ears of discretion he chose farming, of which 
 he had a thorough, practical knowledge, as the pur- 
 suit best adapted to his tastes. He has a good- 
 sized farm that is complete in all its appointments, 
 and is, indeed, one of the choicest places in the 
 whole township. It is amply provided with a con- 
 veniently arranged set of buildings for every nec- 
 essary purpose, and with all kinds of machinery 
 for lightening the labors of farm life. The resi- 
 dence is one of the handsomest in the county. 
 Mr. Sandusky and Miss Ada M. Williamson 
 
 were united in marriage Nov. 12, 1876, and to 
 them has come one child, Inez. Mrs. Sandusky 
 is a daughter of Henry and Jane (Gray) William- 
 son, natives resi)ectively of Ohio and Indiana, and 
 now residents of Linn County, Kan. Mrs. San- 
 dusky was born about ten miles northwest of Dan- 
 ville Oct. 15, 1858. 
 
 Mr. Sandusky possesses an abundant and never 
 failing supply of sound sense and sharpness, cou- 
 pled with a faculty of doing well whatever he 
 attempts, so that his success in his chosen calling is 
 not at all surprising. The Democratic party finds 
 in him a steadfast supporter through fair and 
 through foul report. He is a valued member of 
 Catlin Lodge No. 285, A. F. & A. M. 
 
 J-^i AMES CLIFTON. The results of persever- 
 ance and energy have been admirably illus- 
 trated in the career of this gentleman, who 
 is one of the most prosperous citizens in a 
 prosperous community, who has been the architect 
 of his own fortune and is in the enjoyment of a 
 competence. He is approaching the fifty-seventh 
 year of his age, having been born Oct. 8, 1832, 
 and has spent his entire life in Vermilion County, 
 III., in Georgetown Township where he was born. 
 He remembers the time when wild animals abounded 
 in this region and killed deer within the limits of 
 this township as late as twenty-five years ago. 
 
 William Clifton, the father of our subject, was a 
 native of Ohio and married Miss Jane Brown, who 
 was born in Tennessee. The grandparents emi- 
 grated to Illinois about 1827, when the parents of 
 our subject were in their youth and the latter were 
 married in Vermillion County, Ind. They became 
 the parents of thirteen children, six sons and seven 
 daughters, and spent their last yeai's in Vermilion 
 County, 111., the father dying at the age of fifty- 
 seven and the mother when sixty-two years old. 
 
 The paternal grandfather of Mr. James Clifton 
 was of English birth, but came to make his home 
 under our Republican form of government. He 
 was married and became the father of two children 
 
368 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 ill Ohio. A short time before tlie birtli of his son, 
 Williain Clifton, lie started for his old home in 
 England and was never afterward seen or heard of. 
 
 The early education of our subject was con- 
 ducted in the log school house of the primitive 
 times, upon the subscription plan and carried on 
 during tlie winter season. In the summer he as- 
 sisted in the development of the new farm, grub- 
 bing out the stumps, chopping, breaking prairie 
 and sometimes flat-boating on the river. Hunting 
 formed his chief recreation — a pastime of whicii 
 he was extremely fond. He served an apprentice- 
 ship at the cooper's trade, which he followed mostly 
 for a period of fifteen yeais. In the meantime he 
 was married June 14. 1855, to Miss Martha, daughter 
 of Abraham and Sarah (Brown) Barnhard. 
 
 The parents of Mrs. Clifton removed from Oliio 
 to Indiana at an earl3' date and in that State Mrs. 
 Clifton was born, reared and married. Soon after 
 the wedding the 3'Oung people took up their abode 
 in Georgetown Township, where our subject occu- 
 pied himself at his trade but kept steadily in view 
 his intention of becoming owner of a farm. He 
 accomplished his project and is now the proprietor 
 of 205 acres. This was mostly in a wild condition 
 when he iissumed possession, but now forms one 
 of the finest farms in the townsiiip. It makes a 
 most delightful and attractive home while at the 
 same time it is the source of a handsome income. 
 
 Seven children have been born to our subject 
 and his estimable wife, the eldest of whom, a son 
 William, died when four months old. The others 
 are Ella, Stephen A. D., Olive, Laura, Alonzo, who 
 died at the age of two years, and James, Jr. Ella 
 is the wife of H. G. Canady, and resides at Ver- 
 milion Grove and has one cliild, Estella; Stephen 
 operates a fine farm of 305 acres in Georo-etown 
 Township; the other surviving children are at 
 home with their parents. Mr. and Mrs. Clifton 
 are prominently connected with the Presbyterian 
 Church and our subject, politically, is one of the 
 warmest .adherents of the Democratic partj'. Pub- 
 lic-spirited and liberal, he is ever found givino- 
 his cordial support to those enterprises calculated 
 to benefit his community, and possesses those quali- 
 ties of character which have made him a universal 
 favorite both in social and business circles. 
 
 Among the most valuable features of this volume 
 is a fine portrait of James Clifton, which is pre- 
 sented elsewhere. 
 
 R. S. A. COFFMAN, physician and sur- 
 geon, is the pioneer of his profession in the 
 the town of Allerton. He is a young man 
 of more than average ability and is rap- 
 increasing his practice. The growth and 
 development of his adopted town command his 
 earnest and intelligent attention. 
 
 Dr. Coffraan is a native of Gallipolis, Gal- 
 lia Co., Ohio. His father. Capt. Josiah Coffman, 
 was one of the most prominent river captains and 
 pilots on the Ohio and Mississippi rivers, his ac- 
 quaintance extending from Pittsburg to New Or- 
 leans. He ran his first barge down the rivers men- 
 tioned to New Orleans, when he was eighteen years 
 of age and at that time began his popularity as a 
 river man. He purchased a farm in Gallia County 
 but did not remain long in the business of agri- 
 culture. His last boat was the " Pine Ridge," one 
 of the largest steamers that navigated the Ohio 
 River. He died in 1866 at the age of fifty-two 
 years. His wife continued on the farm until her 
 death, which occurred in June 1879. She was born 
 at Slielbyville, Ind. 
 
 The parents of Dr. Coffman, had twelve chil- 
 dren of whom eight were boys and nine are now 
 living. The Doctor was born on 'Ma.y, 12, 1858 and 
 was but seven years old when his father died. He 
 was reared in Ohio, where his educational advan- 
 tages were of the best. He first attended the com- 
 mon schools at home, then the High Schools. He 
 was engaged in West Virginia for two years in 
 teaeliing. From his boyliood days his inclinations 
 were all toward the medical profession, and during 
 the time he was teaching he was studying to the 
 end that he might some day enter its ranks. His 
 first studies, medically, were under Dr. T. F. Sien- 
 cknecht, of Kingston, Tenn., with whom he con- 
 tinued his studies for eighteen months, when he 
 became destitute of means. He then came West, 
 spending one year in Missouri and from there he 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 369 
 
 went to the Indian Teri-itory, Anally landing at Os- 
 sawottamie, Kan., where he engaged in the hospital 
 for the insane. Here his preceptor was Dr. A. H. 
 Knapp, of that institution. By this tiine his means 
 were sufficient to take him through the Beaumont 
 Hospital and Medical College from which he grad- 
 uated March 15, 1888, standing near the head of 
 his class, He was married in Kansas to Miss Hat- 
 tie E. Smith, a native of Columbus, Wis. She 
 is the daughter of Asa and Mary Smith, who were 
 pioneers of Sumner County, Kan. Through the^ 
 influence of Dr. Parks and others, the subject of 
 this sketch was induced to locate at Allerton, which 
 he did in 1887 and where he is achieving success 
 to a large degree. In his practice he has met with 
 no obstructions but has steadily gained the confi- 
 dence of his clients. The Doctor is an ardent Re- 
 publican, and is always ready to do anj'thing to for- 
 ward the interests of his part}', that lies in the path 
 of honor. He is examiner for the Manhattan Life 
 Insurance Company, and is also a member of the 
 St. Louis Medical Association. 
 
 Dr. Coffman was one of twelve children whose 
 names follow: Elizabeth, Joseph C, William, 
 Harriet; Daniel M., Cyrus P., Thomas J., Cunning- 
 ham, Sylvan G., Emma, Sj^lvester and Ella. Eliza- 
 beth married Henry Irion, a farmer of Gallia 
 County, Ohio; Joseph C. served in the Union 
 Army, enlisting at the age of eighteen years, com- 
 ing out of the service with the rank of Lieutenant. 
 After the war was over he was commissioned in 
 the regular army serving at Ft. Riley, Ark., 
 and at Fort Union, N. M. He resigned from 
 the army, when he commenced the study of 
 law, graduating at Ann Arbor and is now practic- 
 ing at Quincy, 111. He married Miss Carrie Hawk ; 
 Harriet married the Rev. Rose, who is her second 
 husband, and a pastor in the Methodist Church in 
 Athens, Ohio. She had five children by her first 
 husband, James Hamilton; Daniel M. resides at 
 Rockwood, Tenn. He is an attorney at law and 
 married Miss Romaine Blazer, they have one 
 child; Cyrus P., died at the age of eighteen years; 
 Thomas is practicing law at Hume, 111. He mar- 
 ried Estasia Kerns. They have four children; 
 Cunningham died in Texas at the age of twenty- 
 eight; William, who was a twin brother to Josepli, 
 
 died when one year old; Emma is a resident of 
 Anoka, Minn.; she married J. C. Willey, a railroad 
 contractor and has three children; Ella resides in 
 St. Paul, and is the wife of W. Thornley, who is a 
 contractor in that city. 
 
 il OHN C. SALLADAY. The life-long career 
 of this gentleman is one which his children 
 will love to contemplate in future years. In 
 his make up, he is possessed of modesty, 
 good manners, sound sense and high principles. 
 He has all the qualities of a good citizen, is a kind 
 husband and father and in all respects approaches 
 the ideal of the Christian gentleman. We find him 
 situated in a comfortable home, the possessor of a 
 pretty farm, and his family relations leave little to 
 be desired. His property is pleasantly located on 
 Section 3 in Vance Township. 
 
 Mr. Salladay was the eldest child of his parents 
 and was born in Fayette County, Pa., April 16, 
 1831. When a little lad of three years he removed 
 with his parents to Ohio and acquired a good edu- 
 cation in the common schools of the Buckeye 
 State, pursuing his studies mostly during the win- 
 ter season until twenty j'ears of age. In the mean- 
 time he became familiar with farming pursuits and 
 lemained a member of the parental household until 
 reaching his majority. 
 
 In December, 1855, our subject was united in 
 marriage with Miss Mary J., daughter of Daniel A. 
 Rich of Ohio, a prominent farmer in his commu- 
 nity. There were four children of whom Mrs. Sal- 
 laday was the second and she was born in Ohio in 
 1833. Her childhood and youth passed quietly 
 and uneventfully, during which time she attended 
 the common school and received careful home- 
 training from her excellent parents. The young 
 l)eople after their marriage settled on the home 
 farm of the Salladay's, our subject working it upon 
 shares with his father until 1860. He then purchased 
 fifty acres of land and made his home upon this 
 until 186-4 when he sold out and set his face toward 
 the farther West. 
 
 Upon coming to Illinois Mr. Salladay purchased 
 
370 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 tlie land constituting his present farm and com- 
 menced at first principles to build up a homestead, 
 lie was prospered in his labors as a tiller of the 
 soil and added to his real estate until lie has now 
 163 acres in tlie home farm and 160 acres in Powe- 
 shiek Count}', Iowa. In connection with general 
 agriculture, be is considerably interested in stock- 
 raising, keeping a good grade of cattle and sliipping 
 each year to the eastern market. 
 
 Five children came to bless the union of our 
 subject and his good wife, one of whom died at tlie 
 age of eight years. Salina and George D. remain 
 with their parents; Florence is the wife of J. H. 
 Bowen and lives three miles south of the homo 
 farm; John B. remains at the latter. ]Mr. Salladay 
 cast his first presidential vote for John P. Hale and 
 is one of the most active members of the Repub- 
 lican party in this section. He keeps himself well 
 posted in relation to current events and votes with 
 his party upon the national issues. In local mat- 
 ters he aims to support the man best qualified for 
 office, irrespective of party. He has ofliciated as a 
 delegate to the county conventions and is a School 
 Director in his district which ofHce he has held for 
 twenty years. He has been Highway Commissioner 
 for six years. He and his estimable wife find their 
 religious home in the Cumberland Presl)3'terian 
 Ciiurch in which jMr. Salladay- has been an Elder 
 six years and when a younger man labored actively 
 in the Sundajr-school. 
 
 Our subject is the offspring of an excellent fam- 
 ily, being the son of George and Rebecca (Craft) 
 Salladay, who were natives of Pennsylvania and of 
 German descent. Grandfather John Salladay emi- 
 grated from the Fatherland at an earlj' period in 
 the history of this country and settled in Pennsyl- 
 vania. Upon the coming of the Revolutionary 
 War he was a baggage master in the Continental 
 Army from the beginning to its close. The ma- 
 ternal grandparents of our subject were born in 
 Pennsylvania but were of German descent. The 
 parents of Mr. Salladay were married in Pennsyl- 
 vania, where the mother died in 1833, leaving two 
 children — our subject and a younger brother. The 
 father subsequently remarried, and in 1831 removed 
 to Ohio where he sojourned for a period of thirty 
 years. Thence he came to this county in thesprinu- 
 
 of 1864, residing here until 1877. His next re- 
 moval was to Homer, Champaign County, where 
 he lived eleven years, dying in September, 1888. 
 The mother survives and makes her home with her 
 son-in-law, Mr. Bennett, near Ilolner and is now 
 seventy-six years old. Both the Craft and the 
 Salladay families were people of note in their com- 
 munity, distinguished for the high principles and 
 sturdy industry which were among the character- 
 istics of their German nationality. They were 
 uniformly well-to-do, industrious and frugal and 
 uniformly exercised a good influence upon the va- 
 rious communities in wliich they resided. The 
 subject of this sketch is one of the worthiest of 
 their descendants, perpetuating the name with dig- 
 nity and honor. 
 
 ^.^^LBERT G. OLMSTEAD is a worthy de- 
 *^0 scendant of Puritan ancestry, his fore- 
 1 m fathers having been numbered among the 
 (^ early settlers of New England. In a later 
 
 day and generation bis grandparents and parents 
 became pioneers of ^'ermilion County, and here the 
 most of his life has been passed. He has not only 
 been a witness of the marvelous growth of this 
 section of the country in the Ofty years that he has 
 lived here as boy and man, but it has been his good 
 fortune to aid in its upbuilding. For many years 
 he has been intimately connected with the material 
 prosperity of Catlin Township as a progressive 
 and skillful agriculturist, and as one of its most in- 
 fluential public officers. He owns a farm on 
 section 23, thatin all its appointments and improve- 
 ments is equal to any other in this locality, and 
 here he and his wife have an attractive home, to 
 which they welcome many friends, as the}- have a 
 warm place in the hearts of the entire commu- 
 nity. 
 
 Stanley Olmstead, the father of our subject, was 
 born in the city of Hartford, Conn., to George 
 Olmstead, Sr., and his wife, Hannah (Roberts)Olm- 
 slead, natives of New England. They came to 
 \'ermilion County from Ohio in 1839, and he died 
 here two years later. His wife did not long survive 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 371 
 
 him, dying in September, 1843. Tlieir son, Stanley, 
 married Almira Green, a native of Vermont, and 
 they began the journey of life together in James- 
 town, Chautauqua Co., N. Y., where he was 
 busih' engaged for several years in constructing a 
 farm from tlie primeval forests of that section of 
 the country. He subsequently removed from there 
 with his family to Marietta, Washington Co.. 
 Ohio, but after living there five years, he came 
 with them, in 1839, to A'ermilion County, making 
 the journey down the Ohio River, up the Wabash 
 River to Perrj^sville, and thence going to what is 
 now known as Batestown, and settling in that vi- 
 cinity among the pioneers that had preceded them 
 to this then wild, sparsely settled country. The 
 father operated a sawmill known as Olmstead Mill, 
 and besides manufacturing lumber, engaged in 
 building fl.atboats, that being the only mill where 
 such boats were built, and the most of those that 
 were made in this section of the country were 
 built there. He was a member of the Masonic fra- 
 ternitj% and quite a prominent man in his commu- 
 nity, and his death, in 1848, was considered a loss 
 to the township. His widow was re-married about 
 ten years afterwards, becoming the wife of Thomas 
 W. Douglas, and is still living in Catlin Township 
 at an advanced age. She holds to the Presbyter- 
 ian faith, and is a sincere Christian. 
 
 Of the ten children that blessed the union of 
 Stanley Olmstead and wife, our subject was the sec- 
 ond in order of birth. He was born in the vicinitj' 
 of Jamestown, Chautauqua Co., N. Y., Oct. 14, 
 1831. He was a lad of about eight years when he 
 accompanied his parents and grandparents to this 
 county, and the remaining years of his boyhood 
 and his youth were passed in Danville and Catlin 
 townships. His education was obtained in the old 
 log schoolhouse of those early days. He earlj' be- 
 gan life for himself, as he was hut seventeen years 
 of age when his father died, and the main charge 
 of the family devolved upon him, he renting land 
 and working at farming to support those depend- 
 ent upon him. AV'hen he was twenty-four years 
 old he married and rented a farm in Catlin Town- 
 ship the ensuing seven years, the place belonging 
 to Harry Sandusky. After that he bought a small 
 [)lacc in Catlin Village, and continued renting land 
 
 for three 3'ears. The second year after the pur- 
 chase of the County Farm in 1867, he was ap- 
 pointed Superintendent of it, and he was found to 
 be the right man in the right place, faithfully and 
 conscientiously discharging the duties of that oner- 
 ous position, b}' his skillful farming improving the 
 land, and treating the poor people under his charge 
 with firmness and kindness. He retained that office 
 eight years, and then tendered his resignation, as 
 he desired to invest some of his money in land and 
 go to farming on his own account. Soon after he 
 took possession of the land he now owns and op- 
 erates, it having been the homestead of the parents 
 of Mrs. Olmstead, of which she inherited a portion. 
 The balance was purchased by Mr. Olmstead. His 
 present farm consists of 180 acres of land, exceed- 
 ingly rich and productive, and he has been con- 
 stantly making improvements till the place is 
 considered one of the best in the neighborhood. 
 He has erected a good set of farm buildings and a 
 pleasant residence, finely located somewhat back 
 from the highway. 
 
 This homestead formerly belonged to Mrs. 01m- 
 stead's parents, Thomas N. and Mary Brown (San- 
 dusky) Wright, early pioneers of Vermilion County, 
 and here she was born and bred, and on this spot, 
 under an apple tree in the yard, her marriage with 
 our subject was solemnized July 22, 1855, and here 
 her life has thus far been spent happily and se- 
 renely. She has never been very far from this 
 home of her birth, and has never ridden in the 
 cars, or been beyond the limits of the county. Mrs. 
 Olmstead is a notable housekeeper, and is well 
 versed in the art of making those about her com- 
 fortable, and every one who crosses her threshold 
 is sure of a cheerful welcome. Her parents were 
 born in Bourbon County, Ky.,and when the father 
 was nineteen years old and the mother twenty, 
 they came to Vermilion County, and were united 
 in rrarriage six weeks later, in the year 1831, near 
 Indianolia, and immediately settled on the farm 
 now owned by Mr. Olmstead. Mr. Wright built a 
 log cabin, and in that humble abode they began 
 their wedded life. May 31, 1851, Mrs. Wright 
 died, leaving five children, of whom Elizabeth 
 Ann, Mrs. Olmstead, was the eldest. The father 
 was afterwards married to Nancy Dougherty, and 
 
372 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 hediud Nov. 18, 1872, on the homestead that ho 
 had eliminated from the wild prairies. Mrs. Olra- 
 stead was born Sept. 22, 1832. In this home of 
 her girlhood and womanhood five children have 
 blessed her wedded life with our subject, namely: 
 Mary B., the wife of John H. Palmer; Charles, who 
 married Agnes Emmett, who died Nov. 17, 1887; 
 William C, who married Miss Eva Beck; George 
 E.; and Albert C. 
 
 Mr. Olmstead has been a valuable citizen of this 
 section of Vermilion Countj^ since attaining man- 
 hood, as he is a man of good personal habits, is 
 just and honest in his dealings, wise and safe in 
 counsel, and has alwa3'-s exerted his influence to 
 advance the interests of his community morally, 
 socially and educationally. He has taken an active 
 part in the public life of this township, has held 
 the ofHce of Supervisor two terms, and for eleven 
 years was School Trustee. He is a valued member 
 of Catlin Lodge, No. 285, A. F. & A. M. He has 
 been Master of the lodge. In politics he sides 
 with the Democrats, and is a strong supporter of 
 party principles. Both he and his wife are faithful 
 members of the Presbyterian Church, and the acts 
 of their dail}' lives show them to be consistent 
 Christians. 
 
 A fine lithographic view of the handsome home 
 and surroundings of Mr. Olmstead is shown else- 
 where in this volume. 
 
 
 UILLIAM CESSNA, Sr., who is well known 
 throughout Vance Township as one of its 
 *Jf^ most prosperous men financially, is now 
 approaching the sixty-seventh year of his age, hav- 
 ing been born Nov. 7, 1822. He is a native of 
 Bedford County, Pa., where his father, Evan 
 Cessna, was also born. The latter, when approach- 
 ing manhood, learned the trade of a blacksmith. 
 Later he turned his attention to agricultural pur- 
 suits, and became owner of a good farm. He mar- 
 ried Miss Mary Motelena Fenstermaker, also a na- 
 tive of the Keystone State, and whose ancestors 
 were from Germany. 
 
 The parents of our subject continued residents of 
 
 Peniisylvani.i for several years after their marriage. 
 The father carried on blacksmithing and farming 
 combined, and operated with fair success. He 
 finally decided upon a change of residence, and in 
 1842 set out for Ohio with his famil}^, settling in 
 the Western Reserve in what was then Trumbull 
 but was afterward changed to Mahoning County. 
 There the parents spent the remainder of their 
 lives. The household circle originally comprised 
 nine children, eight of whom grew to mature years, 
 and six of whom are now living. A^^lliam was the 
 third child of the family, and like his brothers and 
 sisters, acquired a limited education by attendance 
 in a log school-house, under a system of instruc- 
 tion in keeping with that time and place. Upon 
 approaching manhood he learned the trade of a 
 tanner, also that of a brick and stone mason. Since 
 a bo}^ of twelve he has been mainly dependent 
 upon Ills own resources, and assisted his father con- 
 siderably until his marriage. Evan Cessna was 
 very nearly blind for many years, having a cata- 
 ract over each eye, and losing the sight of one en- 
 tirelj^ 
 
 The 18th of Maj'^, 1850, marked an interesting 
 epoch in the life of our subject, as on that da}- he 
 was wedded to Miss Sarah Jane, daughter of Rich- 
 ard Hawkins, a farmer and mechanic of Stark 
 County, Ohio. The young couple commenced the 
 journey of life together in a manner corresponding 
 to their means and surroundings, and Mr. Cessna for 
 several years thereafter followed his trade in Mahon- 
 ing County. Finall}' he removed to Stark County, 
 sojourning there probably two years, and then, in 
 1856, changed his residence to Marshall County, 
 Ind. In the latter place also he followed his trade, 
 and purchased 300 acres of land, the cultivation 
 and improvement of which he' carried on until 
 1868. 
 
 During the above mentioned year Mr. Cessna 
 moved into Champaign County, 111., and about 
 twelve months later purchased the farm upon which 
 his son William now lives, in Vermilion Countj'. 
 Later he added forty acres to it, then traded forty 
 acres for that which he now occupies. LTpon this 
 he has lived for a period of thirteen years, and ef- 
 fected very many improvements, planting a 10- 
 acre orchard, putting the fences in repair, and add- 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 373 
 
 ing the necessary buildings. He has invested his 
 surplus capital in additional land, and is now the 
 owner of 500 broad acres. His possessions are the 
 result of his own industry and perseverance, and 
 he has delved from the soil an ample competence 
 for his declining years. 
 
 Mrs. Sarah Jane (Hawkins) Cessna departed this 
 life Sept. 15, 1864, at the early age of thirty-three 
 years, four months and eleven days. Of her union 
 with our subject there were born five children, 
 four of whom are living: John W. married Miss 
 Myra Nichols, who is now deceased; he is the 
 father of five children, and lives in Mineral Point, 
 Kan.; Sarah Amelia is the wife of AVallace A. 
 Yazel; they live four miles northwest of Homer, 
 and have five cliildren ; Martha Ellen married 
 IMarion Tibbetts, and is the mother of four chil- 
 dren; they live four and one-half miles southwest 
 of Fairmount; William L. D. married Miss Sally 
 O'Shea; they have one child, and live one naile 
 west of Mr. Cessna, 
 
 Our subject contracted a second marriage Jan. 
 29, 1865, with Mrs. Lucina Melser, who was the 
 mother of two children by her first husband. The 
 result of this union was three children — Rosa I., 
 Charles M. and Mary M., who are all living at 
 home with their parents. Mr. Cessna has always 
 taken a lively interest in politics, and keeps himself 
 fully posted upon all matters of national interest. 
 He is one of the warmest supporters of the Repub- 
 lican party, believing it the party of progress and 
 reform, and the party upon which the prosperity 
 of America depends. In Indiana lie served as 
 Pathmaster three years, and in the district where 
 he now lives has been a School Director nine years. 
 Formerly he belonged to the I. O. O. F. 
 
 Mr. Cessna, with wise foretliought and care has 
 furnished us with a portion of the family record, 
 which we append as follows . Mrs. Sarah J. (Haw- 
 kins) Cessna was born in Washington County, Pa., 
 May 4, 1811. John W., her eldest son, was born 
 in Mahoning County, Ohio, Sept. 7, 1 85 1. Artiissa 
 A., the eldest daugiiter, was born Feb. 19, 1854, 
 and died in Ohio. Sarah A. was born in Stark 
 County, Ohio, Feb. 11, 1856. Martha Ellen was 
 born in Marshall, Ind., April 24, 1858. William 
 L. D, was born in Marshall County, Ind., Oct. 23, 
 
 1861. Rossa llora was born in Marshall County, 
 Ind., May 28, 1866; Cliarles M. was born in Cham- 
 paign County, 111., Jan. 20, 1869. Mary Matilda 
 was born in Vermilion County, III., Oct. 27, 1872. 
 Evan Cessna, the father of our subject, died July 
 29, 1861, at the age of sixty-eight years. His 
 wife, Mary Motelena, died Jan. 20, 1876, at the age 
 of seventy -six years. 
 
 AMUEL STARK, of Sidell, is numbered 
 among its most useful and praiseworthy 
 citizens, and performed no small part in 
 the early settlement of the place with 
 whose growth and development he has ever main- 
 tained a warm interest. In 1 885 he purchased the 
 Cleveland Hotel and from a small beginning built 
 up a good patronage and became popular among 
 traveling men generally. In connection with this 
 he operated excavating machines such as the Mould 
 Ditcher, the Plow Ditcher and Road Grader, and 
 graded several miles of road in Vance, Sidell and 
 Carroll townships, making an excellent thorough- 
 fare which is greatly appreciated by those most 
 nearly concerned. 
 
 The parents of Mr. Stark were John and Mary 
 (Cassadyj Stark, who were of Kentucky birth and 
 parentage and came to this county during its early 
 Sfttlement, locating on its southern line. Their 
 family comprised fourteen children, eleven sons 
 and three daughters. Samuel was born in Indiana 
 and was reared to farming pursuits. He received 
 a limited education in the primitive schools and 
 developed into a strong and healthful man, sound 
 in mind and bodj' and well fitted for the position 
 which he was called upon to fill as a leading mem- 
 ber of his community. He was married in Au- 
 gust, 1875, to Miss Christina Rawlings, and the 
 young people commenced their wedded life toge- 
 ther on the Amos Jackson farm. Later Mr. Stark 
 was connected with several farms as general over- 
 seer, among them being the well-known Allerton 
 farm, formerly the property of John Sidell. In 
 1881 they took up their abode in Danville, Mr. 
 Stark having purchased the furniture in the Mc- 
 
374 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 Cormick House of that city. Eight months later 
 they again removed to a farm at Garrett Grove, 
 where they remained four years. Their subsequent 
 movements we have already indicated. On mov- 
 ing to Sidell Mrs. St.ark assumed charge of the 
 Cleveland House, which she has since conducted 
 with marked success and has become very popular 
 with the traveling public. She seems admirably 
 adapted to her responsible position and possesses a 
 great deal of tact, generosity and kindness, having 
 the faculty of making welcome all who come within 
 her doors. She is a ladj' of more than ordinary 
 business abilities, and is increasing her patronage 
 perceptibly each year. 
 
 A n.ative of Lee Counly, Va., Mrs. Stark was 
 born J.an. 19, 1855, and is the daughter of Sampson 
 B. Rawlins, also a native of the Old Dominion and 
 who married Miss Elizabeth Sanford, of his own 
 State. Both were of English descent. They were 
 married in Virginia, whence they removed to Clay 
 County, Ky., about 1860. The father prosecuted 
 farming for three years, but in 1863 again changed 
 his residence, settling this time near Paris, Edgar 
 County, this State. Ten years later they came to 
 this county and located on a farm in Sidell Town- 
 ship. Finally selling this also, they removed to 
 Fiiirmount and conducted the Hall House one year. 
 Afterward Mr. Rawlings engaged in the boot and 
 shoe business of that place about a year. He re- 
 moved to Sidell in 1885 and^in 1887 established a 
 store of general merchandise at Archie. After a 
 time he was burned out, suffering a loss of $8,000. 
 He is now employed as a traveling salesman for a 
 grocery house in Chicago. 
 
 The mother of Mrs. Stark departed this life 
 March 19, 1888, at the age of flfty-six years eight 
 months and twenty-eight days. Her family con- 
 sisted of nine children, the eldest of whom, Nancy, 
 is the wife of J. P. Jackson, a farmer of Sidell 
 Township, and is the mother of two children; 
 Christina, Mrs. Stark, was the second child of the 
 family; James W. H. H., married Miss Ida Patter- 
 son and operates as a carpenter and builder in 
 Sidell; he is the father of one child. Zarilda mar- 
 ried George B. Baum, of Sidell, who operates as a 
 farmer and liveryman, and they have two chil 
 dren; Bertha is the wife of Austin Jones, a business 
 
 man of .Mt. Carmel, and they have one child; 
 Sarah J is at home with her father; John F. is 
 farming in Sidell Township; Dora is a saleslady at 
 Cerro Gordo, 111.; Fanny M. lives with her father 
 and sister. 
 
 Mrs. Stark thus in her youth lived in three dif- 
 ferent States, Kentucky, Virginia and Illinois. She 
 attended the common school and at an early age 
 evinced an aptitude for business details. At the 
 age of twenty years she was married to Mr. Stark. 
 She has contributed her full quota to the rapid and 
 thrifty growth of the village of Sidell, in the ex- 
 cellent management of her house and in attracting 
 to it a class of well-to-do and intelligent people. 
 
 A large force of builders is now (June, 1889) 
 activel}' engaged in enlarging the Cleveland House, 
 which when completed a month hence, will accom- 
 modate a large number of guests and prove an or- 
 nament to the village. Mrs. Stark patronizes the 
 worthy enterprises established in the village, 
 among them the Methodist Episcopal Church, in 
 whose erection she took a warm interest. She is a 
 lover of music and all those things which contrib- 
 ute to the comfort and satisfaction of the people 
 who may sojourn under her roof. She is a lady of 
 decided views and sympathizes with the Demo- 
 cratic party. The Ladies' Aid Society finds in 
 her one of its efficient members. To her and 
 her husband have been born four children: 
 Callie, who died in infancy; Mary Alice; an infant 
 who died unnamed; and Forest E. 
 
 lENJAMIN ZEIGLER. This gentleman is 
 ^, the oldest settler in the eastern half of 
 Grant Township, in this county, having 
 Jived there more years than any other per- 
 son now residing within its borders. He was born in 
 Cumberland County, Pa., March 5, 1830, and when 
 twenty years old came to Fountain County, Ind., 
 with his elder brother, John, making the journey 
 the entire distance in a two-seated wagon drawn 
 by one horse. They came from C'arlisle, in their 
 native county, to Indianapolis, Ind., over the road 
 then known as the National Pike, and thence to 
 
Residence: OF John Pollard, 5ec.21. Carroll Tp Vermilion Co 
 
 
 RESIDENCE OF Wr H SCONCE, 5EC 16. Si DELLTP. VeRMI LION Co. 
 
 ■■| ri^-^'^^ 't|^-i-gi|e^ 
 
 ^.».i.,>im.i«ji».»»^M»i»»^tt.p«»^fa^^^^ 
 
 Store and Residence or MichaelFisherJndianola.Vermilion Co. 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 377 
 
 their stopping place, now named Reitersburgh, then 
 known as Chatnbersburg. The trip occupied two 
 weeks and four da^-s, but it can now be made be- 
 tween those two points in sixteen hours! John 
 Zeigler had spent the previous year in Indiana, 
 and our subject made the journey West with him 
 simply as an adventure. But he liked the looks of 
 the country, and determined to stay, especially as 
 he found he could get twice as much for his labor 
 there as he could in the East. Accordingly he 
 located in Fountain County and began working out 
 by the month. He made his home there until 
 1856, when having by this time secured a life 
 partner, he came to Vermilion County and for 
 two years worked for his father-in-law. Having 
 saved a little money he had in 1852 bought 320 
 acres of Government land on section 1 5 in Grant 
 Township, and it is on this place his home now 
 stands. He was too poor, however, to build on it 
 or cultivate it, and he let it lie idle until 1858, 
 when he managed to get a house built on it, but was 
 yet unable to get it " broke," and therefore for the 
 following two years he farmed what is known as 
 the "Ann Brown" place, of 160 acres, one and 
 one-half miles east of his house. In this way he 
 accumulated some small means, and the following 
 j'ear he broke forty acres of his own lahd with a 
 team of four yoke of cattle and a twenty-four inch 
 plow. 
 
 His industry and energy soon made themselves 
 felt, and each successive year saw Mr. Zeigler a little 
 better off. Gradually more and more land was 
 brought under cultivation, fences and hedges were 
 made and planted, farm buildings were erected, and 
 after the lapse of years more land was bought, and 
 to-day our subject owns an excellent farm of 540 
 acres in one body, well fenced, drained, cultivated 
 and with good and sufficient buildings, and as he 
 looks around over his broad acres he can reflect 
 with satisfaction upon the fact that this is all the 
 work of his own hands. When he first bought 
 this land it was all bare open prairie, not a tree or 
 shrub was on the ground. Now it presents to the 
 eye a typical American western scene. The house 
 stands back some distance from the road and is ap- 
 proached from the front through an avenue lined 
 on either side with well grown maple trees; the 
 
 buildings are all that are needed, for the large fai'm, 
 the growing crops and tlie contented cattle grazing 
 in the enclosed fields, all bespeak thrift and com- 
 petence. All this is the work of Mr. Zeigler's own 
 hands. The fine grove of maples which surrounds 
 his house was raised by himself from seed and cov- 
 ers nine acres, and an apple orchard of four acres, 
 also of his own planting. The country when he 
 first came here was wild and unsettled, and his 
 nearest neighbor for sometime was two miles away, 
 and from the rising ground near his house, as far 
 as the eye could see, there were less than a dozen 
 houses. Prairie wolves were numerous, compelling 
 the settler to house his stock at night, wild game 
 was plentiful, and deer, ducks, geese and prairie 
 chickens were in such abundance that dogs were 
 kept and trained to keep tliem from the farmer's 
 grain fields, and the pioneer's table was well sup- 
 plied with delicacies, the fruit of his gun. But 
 one road was then laid out hereabouts, the settlers 
 making their way across the prairies by following 
 tracks made by others who had gone before. Not 
 a fence was up, and to leave the beaten path was 
 to run the risk of being lost on the prairie. Trad- 
 ing was done mostly at Attica, Ind., thirty miles 
 away, tlie trip to store and back consuming two 
 days. Mr. Zeigler says it was liis custom when re- 
 turning, if overtaken by darkness, to tie his lines 
 and let his horses take their own way, tiiej' never 
 failing to bring him safely home when human 
 eyesight was of no avail in finding the road. 
 
 Now how different the scene. Public liighways 
 are laid out in all directions. The country about 
 is thickly settled, and half a mile from Mr. Zeigler's 
 door is the village of Chenej'sville, a station on 
 the Lake Erie and Western Railroad. Around his 
 home is a thickly settled and prosperous commun- 
 itj', with evidence on every hand of comfort, 
 schools and churches are easy of access, and all 
 the appliances of civilization are at the farmer's 
 door. This change has been brought about by 
 the toils and sacrifices of such men as our subject, 
 and to such all honor is due. 
 
 Mr. Zeigler was united in marriage, in Fountain 
 County, Ind., Jan. 3, 1854, with Miss Verlina 
 Brown, daughter of John and Catherine Brown, 
 early settlers in that part of Indiana. The former 
 
378 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 wns born in Porrj- County, Pa., and the latter in 
 Dauphin County in the same state. After mar- 
 riage they emigrated to Indiana, where Mr. Brown 
 improved a large number of farms, certainly as 
 many as twenty, selling as soon as he could get 
 advance on his property. In this way he made 
 considerable money and during the latter years 
 was quite well-to-do. He died in Hoopeston 
 in the winter of 1884-85. His wife had passed 
 away some years previously at Otterbein, Benton 
 Countj', Ind. Mrs. Zeigler was born in Fountain 
 County, Ind., March 27, 1834. By this marriage 
 nine children were born, all except one, who died 
 ill childhood, being now living: Cyrus A., the eld- 
 est, farms a portion of the homestead half a mile 
 cast of his father's house, and is married to Miss 
 Cyrenia Leverton, and they have one child and 
 one is deceased; Peter M. is married to Susan 
 Labaw, has one child, and lives two miles east of 
 his birthplace on a farm belonging to his aunt, 
 Catherine A.Brown; John B. is married to Jose- 
 phine Stufflebeam, and lives on a rented farm 
 in the northeastern corner of Grant Township; 
 George B. is married to Mary Ann Labaw, and 
 has two children and lives on a part of his father's 
 farm; Benjamin Franklin, ^lary Amanda, Rachael 
 Mahala and William J. are unmarried and are yet 
 under the parental roof. 
 
 Mr. Zeigler has witnessed and participated in the 
 growth and increasing prosperity of this part of 
 Vermilion County. When he came within its 
 borders, growth had hardly been begun in this part 
 of t!ie county. The site of the flourishing city of 
 Hoopeston was a barren prairie which he could 
 have bonght from the Government at $1.25 per 
 acre, but he thought it dear at that, when 
 prospecting for a site, as the land was low and wet, 
 and therefore bought where he is, where the land 
 lies higher. On such small things does fortune 
 sometimes hinge. • Yet he has no reason to com- 
 plain. Starting from an humble station and from 
 small beginnings he has achieved a competence, 
 and what is still better, has gained the universal 
 respect, esteem and confidence of the communit}-, 
 a just tribute to the moral and upright life of the 
 man and to his entire trustworthiness of character. 
 For many years he has been compelled by his fel- 
 
 low-townsmen to accept office at their hands, hav- 
 ing been School Director, Town Trustee, Road 
 Overseer, etc., and he is now Assistant Supervisor, 
 and among the worthy citizens of Vermilion 
 County none stands higher in the estimation of 
 those who know him than does Benjamin Zeigler, 
 the pioneer. 
 
 - OOP , 
 — ' oiio ' — 
 
 yfelLLIAM THOMAS SANDUSKY has for 
 / more than twenty years been prominently 
 identified with the leading farmers and 
 stock growers of Vermilion County, a shrewd, in- 
 telligent set of men, and in that time he has been an 
 important factor in extending its great agricul- 
 tural interests. He has a farm on section 36, Cat- 
 lin Township, of some over 400 acres, which is 
 well cultivated, and on which he has erected a 
 substantial, roomy set of buildings, and has all the 
 needful machinery and appliances for carrying 
 on agriculture with facility and to the best ad- 
 vantage. 
 
 Our subject, although a Kentuckian by birth, 
 was reared in Illinois, and has passed the most of 
 his life here, his parents having been among the 
 earliest settlers qf Shelby County. His father, 
 William Sandusky, was a native of Kentucky, 
 while his mother, Julia (Earp) Sandusky, was born 
 in Virginia. They were married in Kentucky, and 
 there commenced their wedded life, but in 1829, 
 when our subject was a small infant, they emi- 
 grated to Illinois and settled in Shelby County. 
 In the following spring Mr. Sandusky's earthly 
 career was cut short, while he was yet in life's 
 prime, by his premature death. The wife survived 
 him ten years, when, in 1840, she too passed away. 
 
 Of a family of three children, our subject was 
 the second child and the only son. He was born 
 in Bourbon County, Ky., March 11, 1829, and was 
 consequently but a few months old when his par- 
 ents brought him to this State. He was bred to a 
 farmer's life in Shelby tlounty, and, amid the pio- 
 neer influences that surrounded his early life, be- 
 came strong, manly, self-reliant and energetic. In 
 the spring of 1848 he left the place where his life 
 had been mostly passed hitherto and came to Ver- 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 379 
 
 milion County, having in his charge a drove of 
 cattle, which he herded here till the fall of the 
 year, when he proceeded with them toward New 
 York. He only went as far as Sandusky, however, 
 when he disposed of his cattle .at a good price. He 
 then returned to Vermilion County, and for some 
 years after that was engaged in farm work and in 
 in tending cattle. In the spring of 1853, ambi- 
 tious to accumulate money faster than he was 
 doing, he determined that he would seek the gold 
 mines of California, and going there by the way 
 of the Isthmus of Panama, he pursued mining on 
 the Pacific Coast witli fair success till the fall of 
 1855. Tiring of the rough life of the camps, he 
 turned his face homeward, and, coming to A'er- 
 milion County once more, was soon active!}^ en- 
 gaged in the business of buying stock, continuing 
 that till the spring of 1859. At that time he turned 
 his attention to the hotel business, having gone 
 to Greencastle, Putnam Co., Ind., in June, and 
 building a hotel known as the Junction House. He 
 was profitably engaged in its management till the 
 spring of 1866, when he sold out, returned to 
 Vermilion County and bought the farm where he 
 now lives, having decided to turn his attention 
 once more to the calling to which he had been 
 reared, and for which he has a natural aptitude. 
 He now gives his attention wholly to agricultural 
 pursuits, and for several years, besides managing 
 his farm, was extensively engaged in buying and 
 shipping stock, and still continues to raise a goodly 
 number of cattle and hogs. 
 
 November 30, 1859, was an important date in 
 the life of Mr. Sandusky as it was the occasion of 
 his marriage with Miss Emily A. Clements, who 
 has been to him all that an intelligent, refined, 
 capable woman can be to the man b}' whose side 
 she walks the journey of life, making his home 
 pleasant and attractive, and a welcome retreat 
 from the cares of business. She is a wise and 
 tender mother to their children, of whom they had 
 four, as follows: Ada, who died in infancy; Charlie, 
 who died at the age of five months; Maggie and 
 Kate, who are left to brighten the household by 
 their presence. Mrs. Sandusky was born in Shel- 
 byville, 111., May 28, 1839, a daughter of John 
 and Emily (Livers) Clements, natives of Mary- 
 
 land. Iler parents were among the early settlers 
 of Siielby County, and there the father died. The 
 mother is living in Shelby County, 111. 
 
 Mr. Sandusky is a man of much experience, 
 gifted with firmness, sagacity, and foresight to a 
 marked degree, which traits have no doubt been 
 instrumental in gaining him a position among the 
 first citizens of Catlin Township as a substantial, 
 well-to-do farmer. He is very liberal, and never 
 hesitates to spend his money where it will do good 
 or relieve suffering. He has a mind of his own, 
 and is very tenacious in his opinions. This is es- 
 pecially true in regard to his political views, he 
 being a very strong Republican, active in political 
 affairs, and giving material support to his party. 
 He has not mingled much in public life, having 
 devoted himself strictly to his own private affairs, 
 but he has been School Director for a long term 
 of years, interesting himself greatly in educational 
 matters. 
 
 C() HARLES IllLLMAN. There are few mort 
 industrious or more conscientious and 
 ^J worthy men in Oakwood Township than 
 the subject of this notice, who is located iipon a 
 well-improved farm upon section 24. His property 
 is the result of his own unaided industry and has 
 been accumulated by years of arduous labor and 
 close economy. Modest .ind retiring in disposition 
 he is a man making very little show in the world, 
 but one whom his friends i-ecognize as possessed of 
 high principle and sound common sense, and one 
 whose word is considered as good as his bond. A 
 patriot during the late Civil War, he contributed 
 his quota in assisting to preserve the Union and it 
 is hardly necessary to say, uniformly votes the 
 straight Republican ticket. He has ever been the 
 advocate of temperance, practically and theoretic- 
 ally and with his estimable wife is a member in 
 good standing of the Methodist Episcopal Church, 
 in which he has officiated as Steward and Class- 
 Leader and held other positions of trust and 
 responsibility. 
 
 The offspring of a good family, our subject is 
 the son of Edward Hillman, a native of Eno-- 
 
380 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 land and a tailor by trade which he followed for 
 some time in London, Province of Ontario, Can- 
 ada, to which he emigrated when a young man. 
 His mother, who was of Scotch descent, died when 
 a young woman, and when her son Charles was 
 scarcely more than nine years old. Charles and his 
 eldest sister were afterward taken to the home of 
 Mr. John Bateman, of Ontario, with whom he lived 
 until coming to Illinois in October, 1857, when a 
 youth of seventeen years. 
 
 To the parents of our subject there were born 
 four childi-en, Charles being the eldest. He first 
 opened his eyes to the light March 8, 1840 and re- 
 ceived very few opportunities for an education. He 
 attended school for a time after coming to this 
 State but had liis own living to make and was 
 mostly emploj'cd on a farm. He saved what he 
 could of his earnings as years passed on, and at the 
 age of twenty-seven was owner of eighty acres of 
 land in Oakwood Township, and some personal 
 property. 
 
 Upon the outbreak of the Civil War, Mr. Hill- 
 man that same j'ear enlisted in Company I, 35th 
 Illinois Infantry, and served with his regiment in 
 the battles of Stone River, Perrj^ville and Chicka- 
 mauga. At the latter he was wounded, Sept. 19, 
 1863, being 'shot through the left thigh in a pecu- 
 liar and dangerous manner. His recovery was long 
 and tedious, he lying in the hospital until Septem- 
 ber, 1864, at which time expired his term of en- 
 listment and he received his honorable discharge. 
 Upon his recovery he again entered the ranks, Feb. 
 1, 1865, as a member of Company K, 150th Illinois 
 Infantry. He served with his regiment in Georgia 
 and Tennessee some months after the close of the 
 war, receiving iiis second and final discharge, Feb. 
 1, 1866, and now draws a pension from the Gov- 
 ernment. He went into the service as a private 
 and on account of fidelity to duty and bravery in 
 times of danger, was first promoted to Sergeant 
 and afterward to Second Lieutenant, with which 
 rank he was mustered out. 
 
 The 8th of October, 1867, witnessed the mar- 
 riage of our subject with Miss Sarah A. HiUiary and 
 the newly wedded pair settled at once upon the 
 farm which they now own and occupy. This em- 
 braces 202| acres of land all in one body, 132| 
 
 acres under cultivation and embracing jjroperty 
 formerly owned by Martin Oakwood. The four 
 children born to Mr. and Mrs. Hillman are named 
 respectively Edward J., Bertha, George F. and 
 Mary E. They are all at honae with their parents, 
 are well educated and form a most intelligent and 
 interesting group. Mr. Hillman has officiated as 
 School Director in his district for a period of 
 twelve years, and has been Commissioner of High- 
 ways three years. Stock-raising forms a leading 
 feature of his farming operations, an industry 
 which is very profitable in Central Illinois. As an 
 ex-soldier our subject is identified with George 
 Morrison Post, G. A. R., at Glenburn. 
 
 Mrs. Hillman was born March 15, 1849, in Ver- 
 milion County, 111., and is the daughter of George 
 Hilliary, one of the pioneer settlers of this county 
 and who died about 1876. His widow is still liv- 
 ing being now seventy-five years old and making 
 her home in Oakwood. 
 
 ^^°r-^ ' < • *■*- 
 
 ^ LINTON D. HEXTON, M. D., a popular 
 I physician of Yermilic 
 
 II physician of Vermilion County, was born 
 
 ^^ in Fountain County, Ind., on the 3d day of 
 August, 1831. His father, Evan Henton, it is be- 
 lieved, was a native of Virginia. He was married 
 in Ohio and in an early day moved to Indiana and 
 settled in Fountain County, where he purchased a 
 tract of land four miles from Attica. He resided 
 here until 1838, when he sold his farm and re- 
 turned to Ohio and settled in Highland County, 
 where he purchased a farm one and a half miles 
 from Hillsboro, and there resided until his death, 
 which occurred in 1856. His wife's maiden name 
 was Maria Inskeep, a native of Ohio and daughter 
 of the Rev. Daniel Inskeep. She died on the home 
 farm in 1876. She was the mother of seven chil- 
 dren, six of whom grew to manhood and woman- 
 hood and whose names follow: Eliza, Clinton, 
 Rachael, Colman, Samuel and Mary. 
 
 Dr. Henton was a lad of six years when his 
 parents removed to Ohio, where he received his 
 early education in the public schools. He also at- 
 tended Hillsboro Academ3^ At the age of six- 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 381 
 
 teen, he commenced teaching and taught and at- 
 tended school alternately. In the meantime he 
 became anxious to study medicine, and pursued his 
 studies in this direction all through the time cov- 
 ered by teaching school. In July, 1853 he came 
 to Vermilion County and inaugarated a successful 
 practice of his profession, but being anxious to 
 further post himself he went from Myersville, 
 where he lived, to Chicago, where he attended Rush 
 Medical College, graduating therefrom in 1861. 
 He returned to Myersville and practiced until May, 
 1872, when he came to Danville, where he has been 
 a successful practitioner since. In 1855 he mar- 
 ried Susan Gundy, who is a native of Ross Town- 
 ship, this county, and adaughter of Joseph Gundy, 
 (a sketch of whose life appears in another part of 
 this volume.) 
 
 Dr. Henton is a member of Olive Branch Lodge 
 No. 38, A. F. & A. M., and also of Vermilion Chap- 
 ter No. 82, R. A. M. The Doctor and wife are 
 communicants of the Methodist Episcopal Church. 
 Professionally Dr. Henton has been very successful, 
 and as a citizen, his reputation is one of the high- 
 est. He keeps well read up on current events, and 
 is what the world calls a well-posted man. 
 
 [pjVIRD C. PATE is numbered among 
 U^(^ worthy citizens of Vermilion Countv v 
 
 the 
 worthy citizens of Vermilion County who, 
 M., natives of its soil, have for many years been 
 - — ^ active in developing and extending its 
 great agricultural interests, and while so doing 
 have placed themselves in independent and pros- 
 perous circumstances. He was born and reared in 
 Catlin Township, and since attaining man's estate 
 has been a practical member of its farming com- 
 munity, owning and busily engaged in the man- 
 agement of a good farm of 200 acres of fertile land 
 on section 21. 
 
 Adam Pate, the father of our subject, was a 
 native of Virginia. When he established himself 
 in life he married Elizabeth Owens, a native of 
 Kentucky. They commenced their wedded life in 
 Dearborn County, Ind., but in 1829 they made 
 their way through the rude and sparsely settled 
 
 country to Vermilion County, and became early 
 settlers in this vicinity, locating at first about three 
 miles north-west of Catlin, and then removing to 
 this farm, which is now in the possession of our 
 subject. Here their remaining lives were spent 
 in the toil necessary to improve a farm in the wil- 
 derness, and now that they have passed'away, their 
 memory will be cherished with that of other pio- 
 neers who labored and sacrificed that they might 
 build up comfortable homes, and in so doing 
 aided in building np this commonwealth of Ill- 
 inois. The father died Feb. 24, 1867, aged seventy- 
 four years, two months and five days. The^mother 
 died Oct. 8, 1874, aged eighty years, nine months 
 and twenty-six days. They were the parents of 
 fourteen children, of whom Bird was the thirteenth. 
 He was born in Catlin Township, July 12, 1836, 
 and grew to manhood amid the primitive surround- 
 ings of those early days of the settlement of the 
 county, and on the homestead where he was reared 
 he has spent his entire life thus far, and has de- 
 voted himself exclusively to farming. 
 
 To the lady who presides over his pleasant home 
 and helps him to dispense its abundant hospital- 
 ities to whosoever comes under its sheltering roof, 
 he was united in marriage in Vermilion County, 
 Dec. 21, 1857. Her maiden name was Rebecca 
 Tanner, and she was born in this county, July 30, 
 1839 to William and Lucinda (McKinsey) Tanner, 
 early settlers of the county. Six children have blessed 
 the marriage of our subject and his wife, of whom 
 five are living — Lafayette P. married Rebecca 
 Jones, and is engaged in the coal business north of 
 Catlin ; Horace M. is unmarried and resides in Gar- 
 vanza, Cal.; Asa married Jennie Alexander, and is 
 engaged in farming in this township ; Clay and Clara 
 O., the two latter reside at home with their par- 
 ents. Their eldest child, George W., died when 
 about four years old, and thus early taken from this 
 weary world, he is "safe from all that can harm, 
 safe, and quietly sleeping." 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Pate are very pleasant people, 
 kindly and generous iu their dealings with their 
 neighbors, by whom the^^ are much liked. Mr. 
 Pate has been Road Commissioner and School Di- 
 rector, holding the latter office twenty-one years, 
 and in both capacities has served the public efflci- 
 
382 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIO(!RAPinCAL ALBUM. 
 
 ently. He is a sound Republican and earnestly 
 supports tlie principles promulgated by his party. 
 He is a man of correct moral habits, and though a 
 member of no religious society yet takes an active 
 part in the affairs of the church and does what he 
 can for its welfare. He is a member of the A. F. 
 & A. M., Catlin Lodge, No. 285. 
 
 A fine lithographic view of the homestead ami 
 surroundings on the farm of Mr. Pate is shown 
 elsewhere in this work. 
 
 #^ 
 
 -5— 
 
 \| UDGE OLIVER LOWNDES DAVIS. It 
 
 is seemingly natural, at least it is easier, for 
 mankind to wander into crooked paths 
 (j^// than to follow the straight road of recti- 
 tude and honor; but he who fortunatelj^ con- 
 fines himself to the latter, must have some realiza- 
 tion of the homely and ancient adage that "virtue 
 brings its own reward.'' Men do not realize the 
 truth of this so much as in life's decline, when the 
 shadows of the great change which is soon to come 
 are already visible; then fortunate is he who may 
 humbly feel that his life labors have not wholly 
 been in vain. These thoughts involuntarily arise 
 in contemplating the career of Judge Davis, which 
 has been perhaps, like that of a deep stream, little 
 disturbed at the surface, but with an under-current 
 whose strength has been clear and decided. A 
 native of New York City, he was born Dec. 20, 
 1819, and is the son of William and Olivia (Thomp- 
 son) Davis, who were natives respectively, of Sar- 
 atoga, N. Y., and Connecticut. After their re- 
 moval to the metropolis the father was for many 
 years engaged with varying success as a shipping 
 merchant. 
 
 The subject of this sketch pursued his first studies 
 in a select school in his native city, afterward en- 
 tered Hamilton Academy, and later was a student 
 at the academy in Canandaigua, N. Y. After la^'- 
 ing aside his books he entered the service of the 
 American Fur Company, which was founded by 
 John Jacob Astor and which was at that time un- 
 der the presidency of Ramsey Crookes. He con- 
 tinued with this company until 1841, and then, 
 
 having determined to make his home in the West, 
 came to this county and settled in Danville, where 
 he now lives. 
 
 Early in life Judge Davis had looked forward to 
 the time when he could enter the legal profession 
 and now in keeping with his long cherished desire, 
 he placed himself under the tuition of Isaac P. 
 Walker and began the stud}' of law. By close 
 application and untiring diligence he made rapid 
 progress in his studies and on the loth day of De- 
 cember, 1842, was admitted to the bar. Soon 
 afterward opening an office on his own account, he 
 began the practice of his profession, but contin- 
 ued his studies and in due time established him- 
 self as a reliable practitioner and was regarded 
 as an able advocate who signalized himself as ex- 
 ceptionally honorable and high-minded. 
 
 In 1861 upon the formation of the Twenty- 
 seventh Circuit Court, Mr. Davis was elected Judge 
 and was appointed b}' Judge Treat as United 
 States Commissioner. On the 1st of July, follow- 
 ing, he was re-elected to the former ofitice, which 
 he held until July 10, 1866, when, owing to the 
 meagreness of the salary he resigned and resumed 
 the practice of his profession, which he continued 
 with marked success until 1873. He was then 
 elected Judge of the Fifteenth Judicial Circuit 
 which office he held until 1879, and in that year he 
 was elected and commissioned Judge of the Fourth 
 Judicial Circuit. 
 
 In the meantime, on the 25th of September, 
 1877, our subject was appointed by the Supreme 
 Court as one of the Judges of the Appellate Court 
 — an office to which he was twice subsequently re- 
 appointed and in which he served with great wis- 
 dom and discretion for twelve j^earsand at the end 
 of the second appointment retired from the bench. 
 He is particularly distinguished for his legal acumen 
 and honesty, together with great purity of motive, 
 while his equitable rulings and gentlemanly bearing 
 have secured hiru the high esteem of all with whom 
 he has had dealings. As a lawyer, he has honored 
 his profession, while as a Judge, he holds the un- 
 qualified respect of both bench and bar. 
 
 In politics, Judge Davis, was originally a Demo- 
 crat, but upon the organization of the Republican 
 party he became identified with that body. He 
 

 wX'f.'fiu*'" ' 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 383 
 
 was elected to the Legislature, first in 1851, and 
 again in 1857. Aside frOQi tins he has declined 
 political preferment, finding more satisfactory oc- 
 cupation in the practice of his chosen profession. 
 In his religious views, he is a Presbyterian, having 
 united with that church in 1870: 
 
 Judge Davis was married Dec. 5, 1844, to Miss 
 Sarah M. Cunningham, a daughter of Hezekiahand 
 Mary (Alexander) Cunningham, who were natives 
 respectively of Virginia and Georgia. In the lat 
 ter State were many members of the Alexander fam- 
 ily who rose to eminence, and were particularly 
 gifted with the traits of an illustrious ancestry. Mrs. 
 Davis is a native of this county and was born Sept. 
 3, 1 827. To the Judge and his accomplished wife 
 there were born ten children, six of whom are liv- 
 ing — Mary married Charles J. Palmer; Lucy, mar- 
 ried J. B. Mann; Jennie, married S. M. Millikcn; 
 Kellie, Henry Harmon, and Fannie, E. 
 
 ^1 AMES E. WHITE is industriously pursuing 
 the calling of a farmer on section 10, Catlin 
 Township, where he owns a good farm 
 whose well-tilled acres yield him an income 
 tliat enabtes him to support his family in comfort. 
 He was born in Perrysville, Ind., Sept. 4, 1851, a 
 son of James and Frances Ann (Sanders) White. 
 The former was twice married, his first wife being 
 Hannah Rogers, the mother of William White, of 
 whom a brief account is given on another page of 
 this work. 
 
 Our subject is the oldest living son of his father 
 and mother, and was a lad of eight years when his 
 parents came to Vermilion County, this State, and 
 here the remaining years of his boyhood and youth 
 were spent, and when it became time for him to 
 settle upon some calling by which to earn a living, 
 he selected agriculture as the one for which he was 
 the best fitted. He has been quite successful thus 
 far and has alreadj' placed his 160-acre farm under 
 excellent tillage and has made many good improv- 
 ments. 
 
 June 3, 1874, was the date of one of the most 
 important events that ever occurred in the life of 
 
 Mr. White, our subject, as at that time he was 
 united in the holy bonds of matrimony to Miss 
 Emily Eliza Browne, who is faithfully co-operating 
 with him in his work. Seven children have come 
 to brighten their home, as follows: Ilemy W., 
 Eliza F., Mirriam R., Frederic J., Alice E., who 
 was taken from the home circle Feb. 2, 1888; Jes- 
 sie L., and Minnie E. 
 
 Mrs. White is a native of Catlin Township, and 
 was born Dec. 23, 1852, to William and Eliza 
 (Jones) Browne, natives of England. The latter 
 was born Feb. 3, 1829, and became the wife of 
 William Browne jAIay 16, 1850, and with him set- 
 tled in Catlin Township. On the 24th day of 
 March, 1854, he was suddenly removed by an ac- 
 cidental death, from the sphere of his usefulness 
 while yet in life's prime. On that day he was un- 
 loading hay from a wagon near the residence of 
 the late Henry Jones, on the road between Catlin 
 and Danville. He was on the ground at the rear 
 of the load unloosening the pole that bound the 
 hay, and the horses becoming frightened started to 
 run away, and while he was trying to catch them 
 he was struck by the hay ladder of the rack, across 
 the heart, and in less than a half-hour was dead. 
 He was the father of two children — Eliza and Em- 
 ily E., (Mrs. White). Eliza died when about fif- 
 teen months old. The widow of William Browne, 
 and mother of Mrs. White was afterward again mar- 
 ried, this time being united with Frederic Tarrant, 
 a native of England. Mr. Tarrant was born at 
 Stanford in the Vale, County of Berks, old Eng- 
 land, his birth occurring IMny 15, 1824. He left 
 his native land in June, 1853, coming almost im- 
 mediately to the great and growing West. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Tarrant became the parents of a 
 large family of children, whose names are given 
 below: Sarah Louisa, born Feb. 6, 1857, married 
 Charles P. Williams, Sept. 1, 1875: Frederic Rich- 
 ard, born Jan. 1, 1859, and died May 17, 1859; 
 Miriam Whitfield, born Feb. 10,1860, and mar- 
 ried Nov. 1, 1882, to Robert White; Ellen Eliz- 
 abeth, born Dec. 18, 1861, and died May 7, 1862; 
 Arthur Henry, born May 20, 1863, and married 
 June 6, 1888, to Annie Estella Ludy; Jessie Bent- 
 ley, born Dec 20, 1865, and married March 31, 
 1887, to Thomas J. Dale; Thomas Alfred, born 
 
3«l 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 Feb. 11, 1868; Alice Bertha, June 21, 1870, and 
 Elsie Kate, born Feb. 10, 1873, and died Dec. 14, 
 1874. 
 
 Mr. White is an honest, sober, hardworking man, 
 and is regarded as a useful member in the commu- 
 nity. He has served his township faithfully as 
 School Director. He and his wife are people of 
 religious views and habits, and belong to the Meth- 
 odist Episcopal Church. Mr. White is identified 
 with the A. F. & A. M. as a member of the Catlin 
 Lodge, No. 285. In politics, he is a follower of the 
 Democratic party. 
 
 -ifi^ 
 
 l^rs-s* 
 
 ¥^ "WILLIAM W. CURRENT occupies a prom- 
 inent position among the progressive, en- 
 terprising citizens of Newell Township, 
 his native place, of which he is Supervisor, and 
 with whose agricultural interests he is closely iden- 
 tified. He is a veteran of the late war, in which 
 he won an honorable record as a brave, faithful 
 soldier, ready to do or die for his country. 
 
 The father of our subject, Henry B. Current, is 
 a native of Virginia, while his mother, Martha 
 Srout, was born in Ohio. [For parental history 
 see sketch of Henry B. Current]. They had eight 
 children, three sons and five daughters, and William 
 of whom we write, was the eldest of the family. 
 He was born in this township Nov. 27, 1842. He 
 was reared to manhood in his native county, re- 
 ceiving common educational advantages in the 
 public schools. When he was sixteen years old, 
 an independent, self-reliant youth, he left the 
 shelter of the parental roof to learn the trade of 
 harness and saddlery making, serving an appren- 
 ticeship of two years. But after tliat he did not 
 follow the trade, but engaged as a clerk in a dry 
 goods and clothing house in Danville, and was 
 there for three years. During that time he had 
 been watching the progress of tlie great civil war 
 that was then raging so fiercely, and he then deter- 
 mined to cast in his lot with the noble defenders of 
 the stars and stripes and fight with them his coun- 
 try's battles. Accordingly in the prime and vigor 
 of 3'oung manhood he enlisted in the spring of 
 
 1864 in Company K, 37th Illinois Infantry, under 
 the command of Capt. J. C. Black, afterward Gen. 
 Black. He did good service on Southern battle- 
 fields for about a year, but the hardships and pri- 
 vations of a soldier's life told on his naturally 
 strong constitution, and after the war ended he 
 was discharged on account of disability. 
 
 After his experience of military warfare Mr. 
 Current returned to his native county and engaged 
 as switchman in the Danville yards for the Wabash 
 Railway. He acted in that capacity about a year 
 and was then transferred to the freight office where 
 he was employed some six or seven years. When 
 the Chicago & Eastern Illinois Railway was com- 
 pleted he was appointed conductor of a freight 
 train running from Chicago to Danville. A year 
 and a half afterwards he gave that up to accept a 
 position in the Chicago office. After working 
 there one winter he returned to Danville and in 
 June took charge of the yard. A year and a half 
 later he abandoned railroading, and then engaged 
 in the grocery business in Danville about three 
 years and then in farming. In the month of 
 August, 1886 Mr. Current returned to Newell 
 Township where his early life had been passed, and 
 has since been engaged in farming here at the old 
 homestead of his father, farming on shares. 
 
 Mr. Current has been twice married. He was 
 first wedded in this county, in Catlin Township, to 
 Miss Margaret Ellsworth, a native of the county. 
 She bore him three children — Oscar E., Harry S., 
 Ida M. July 10, 1878, the devoted wife and 
 mother was called to a higher life, leaving many 
 friends to sympathise with her afflicted household. 
 Mr. Current was married to his present estimable 
 wife in Newell Township, Feb; 15, 1880. She is, 
 like himself, a native of this place, born June 8, 
 1858, her maiden name Mary A. Makemson. Her 
 parents, Miram and Prudence (Campbell) Makem- 
 son, are residents of this township. 
 
 Mr. Current is an ambitious, wide-awake man, 
 skilled in his calling, and his ability and well- 
 known integrity have been duly recognized by his 
 fellow-citizens, who have twice called him to the 
 responsible office that he now holds as Supervisor 
 of Newell Township, electing him first in the 
 spring of 1888, and re-electing him in the spring 
 
,7%<^<J^;^ y^^v^^^'^^^^/^ 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 387 
 
 of 1889. While living in Danville he was City 
 Clerk for one year. He is a member of the A. F. 
 & A. M., Olive Branch Lodge, No. 88, Vermilion 
 Chapter at Danville and Athelstan Commandery, 
 No. 45, at Danville. He is a man of sincere reli- 
 gious principles, and an active worker in the 
 Methodist Episcopal Church, in which he has been 
 an ofBcer, and he heartily cooperates with his 
 fellow members in whatever will promote the best 
 interests of the church and of society at large. 
 Politically, he is a Democrat. 
 
 AJOR WILSON BURROUGHS. Among 
 the self-made men of Vermilion County 
 none deserve greater credit than the sub- 
 ject of this notice who is in possession of a 
 comfortable amount of this world's goods, obtained 
 by downright hard labor and wise management. At 
 the beginning, when he started out in life for him- 
 self, he made it a rule to live within his income, 
 and this resolve closely followed has given him 
 that independence than which, there is no more 
 comfortable feeling in the world. In possession of 
 a fine home and a splendid family, together with 
 the respect of his fellow men, he surely has much 
 to make life desirable. His occupation through 
 life has been principally agriculture, but he is now 
 retired from active labor and has wisely determined 
 to spend his remaining years in the comfort and 
 quiet which he so justly deserves. 
 
 The ancestors of the Major were Southern peo- 
 ple mostly, and his father, Jesse Burroughs, a na- 
 tive of Kentucky, was born in 1803. Early in life he 
 was married May 8, 1 823, to Miss Mary C. Wilson 
 who was born in 1804 in Pennsylvania, the wedding 
 taking place in Deaborn County, Ind., to which place 
 the young people had emigrated with their parents. 
 They resided in that county for sixteen years, then 
 coming to Illinois, in 1839, settled on a farm near 
 Catlin, this county, where they lived a number of 
 years, then changed their residence to Fairmount. 
 The father died on the 5th of March, 1880, aged 
 seventy-six j'ears, ten months and sixteen days. 
 The mother survived her partner less than a yenr. 
 
 passing away Feb. 25, 1881, aged seventy-six years, 
 three months and twenty- four days. 
 
 To the parents of our subject were born nine 
 children, six sons and three daughters, five of whom 
 are living, and of whom Wilson was the second 
 child. He was born Nov. 21, 1825, in Dearborn 
 County, Ind. His early education was conducted 
 in a log school-house with greased paper for win- 
 dow panes and the other finishings and furnishings 
 common to the buildings of that place and time. 
 It was never his privilege to attend a higher school. 
 He had the ordinary experience of a farmer's boy 
 in a new country, assisting in the development of 
 the farm, plowing, sowing and reaping, becoming in- 
 ured to hard work at an early age. There were 
 very few settlers in this region at the time of the 
 'arrival of the Burroughs family, there being a few 
 Indians and French on the Sault fork of the Ver- 
 milion River. 
 
 Four days before attaining the nineteenth year of 
 his age young Burroughs was married Nov. 17, 
 1844, to Miss Martha Ann Thompson, daughter of 
 John and Esther (Paine) Thompson, who came to 
 Illinois from Dearborn County, Ind., in 1830, and 
 settled on a farm in Vance Township, this county. 
 Their family included eight children, four of whom 
 are living and of whom Mrs. Burroughs the 
 second child, was born May 11, 1827, in Dearborn 
 County, Ind. Her early education was conducted 
 in a similar manner to that of her husband, and her 
 father officiated as a pedagogue for several years. 
 After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Burroughs set- 
 tled on a rented farm near Catlin, and like their 
 neighbors frequently had difficulty to make both 
 ends meet. There was an abundance of labor and 
 with but very little return. They raised their own 
 flax and wool, and Mrs. Burroughs spun and wove 
 and fashioned the garments for her family. Mr. 
 Burroughs often thinks of the time when he went 
 to church dressed in home-made linen shirt and 
 pants and a straw hat. He maintains, however, 
 that those were happy days, during which mutual 
 affection and mutual purposes enabled them to bear 
 with courage the burdens of life and sustain their 
 hopes for the future. 
 
 Our subject operated five years upon rented land 
 to such good advantage that at the expiration of 
 
388 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 this time he was enabled lo purchase 100 acres — 
 eighty acres of prairie at $5 per acre and twenty 
 acres of timber at $4 per acre. He paid cash down 
 for the timber but was obliged to go in debt for the 
 other. He put up a frame house and hauled the fin- 
 ishing lumber for it from a point east of Eugene, 
 Ind., the trip occupying three daj's. He lived at 
 tills place seven years then traded it for a tract of 
 raw land, three and one-half miles southwest of 
 Fairmount. Removing to this he went through 
 the same process as before, bringing the new soil to 
 a state of cultivation, putting up another house and 
 hauling the lumber as before from the same place. 
 This continued the home of our subject and his 
 little family until after the outbreak of the late 
 Civil War. 
 
 Although there was much to engross the time and 
 thoughts of Mr. Burroughs in connection with his 
 personal interests he, nevertheless, responded to the 
 call of his country and in August, 1862, entered the 
 army as Captain of Company E, 73d Illinois Infan- 
 try. He participated with one exception, in all the 
 battles of his regiment, being prevented by illness 
 from taking part in the fight at Murfreesboro, Tenn. 
 On the IStli of December, 1864, he was promoted to 
 the rank of Major. Although in many of the im- 
 portant engagements which followed he was never 
 wounded except, as he expressed it, " in the hat." 
 He has a vivid recollection of the battles of Perr3'- 
 ville, Chickamauga, Mission Ridge, Rocky Face, 
 Burnt Hickory, Kenesaw Mountain, Peach Tree 
 Creek, Atlanta, Jonesboro, Lovejoy's Station, 
 Franklin, the two days at Nashville and the fight at 
 Dalton and Resaca. After Lee's svirrender he was 
 mustered out in June, 1865, at Camp Butler, 111. 
 
 Upon retiring from the army Major Burroughs 
 returned to his farm which he occupied until 1867. 
 Then, removing to Fairmount, he purchased a home 
 and has since lived retired from active labor. Af- 
 ter giving to his two children each a farm he still 
 has 324 acres left. There were born to him and his 
 excellent wife four children, of whom Melissa, the 
 eldest daughter, became the wife of I. N. AVilcox, 
 who died Sept. 19, 1887, leaving his widow with 
 one child, Harrj- B; Elswovth Thompson Burroughs, 
 the eldest son of our subject, married Miss Laura 
 Custer, and is the father of two children — Fred and 
 
 P^rank — living near Westville; Esther M., is the 
 wife of William P. Witherspoon and the mother of 
 three children — Stella, Wilson W. and Myrtle; they 
 live in a home adjoining that of Mr. Burroughs. 
 The youngest child Newton W., remains at home 
 with his parents. 
 
 Mr. Burroughs usually votes the straight Repub- 
 lican ticket but further than this takes no active 
 part in politics and has avoided the responsibilities 
 of office, although serving as Director and Trustee 
 in his district. He has been a member of the 
 Town Council and as an ex-soldier, belonged to 
 George N. Neville, Post, G. A. R. until its discon- 
 tinuance. Major and Mrs. Burroughs together 
 with all their children, are members of the Cum- 
 berland Presbyterian Church at Fairmount. This 
 was organized in 1869 and the Major has been one 
 of its Elders since that time. He has always enter- 
 tained an active interest in the Sunday-school in 
 which he has held the office of Superintendent many 
 j'ears. He ranks among the foremost temperance 
 men of this community and in all his dealings has 
 preserved that honest and upright course in life 
 which as been the surest guarantee of a substantial 
 success and paved the way to a position in the 
 front ranks among the responsible men of this 
 community. He knows by what toil and struggle 
 his posessions were accumulated, and has a faculty 
 of investing his capital to the best advantage. 
 
 A portrait of Major Burroughs, which appears 
 in this volume will be valued b}' his many friends 
 in the county, and especially by his comrades iii the 
 G. A. R. 
 
 ^., LBERT VOORHES, a prominent and 
 Llll well-to-do farmer and stock-raiser of Cat- 
 
 lin Township, numbered among its most 
 ^^ benevolent and public-spirited citizens, is 
 
 a fine type of our self-made men, who while work- 
 ing hard to establish themselves in the world have 
 materiall}' added to the wealth of this county. 
 When he and his wife began life together, the}' 
 had to commence in the humblest way, having no 
 means, but by their united labors, with wise econ- 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 389 
 
 omy and prudent management, they have secured a 
 competence, and have built up one of the most at- 
 tractive homes in the township. 
 
 Mr. Yoorhes is a native of the good old State 
 of Pennsylvania, born in Washington County Dec. 
 26, 1833, the fourth child in the family of twelve 
 children, five sons and seven daughters, belonging 
 to Andrew W. and Mary (Crockard) Voorhes. 
 His father was born in New Jersey and his mother 
 in Pennsylvania, and after marriage, they made 
 their home in Washington County, Pa., and there 
 their entire wedded life was passed, and there death 
 found them well-prepared for its summons. The 
 father was a farmer and stock-raiser. 
 
 Their son Albert, the subject of this biograi^h- 
 ical review, was reared to manhood in the home of 
 his birth, remaining an inmate of the parental 
 household till he married and established domestic 
 ties of his own. That important event in his life took 
 place in his native county Sept. 12, 1857, on which 
 date he was united in the holy bonds of matrimony 
 to Miss Sarah J. Baker. Mrs. Voorhes is a daugh- 
 ter of Enoch and Margaret (Speers) Baker, who 
 were natives of Washington County, Pa., the fa- 
 ther spending his entire life there. The mother is 
 still living at an advanced age. Mrs. Yoorhes is 
 the eldest of the eight children, three daughters 
 and five sons, horn to her parents, and she first 
 saw the light of day amid the prett}' scenes sur- 
 rounding her early home Dec. 19, 1839. She was 
 reared to womanhood in Washington County, and 
 carefully trained in all the duties of caring for a 
 household, and was thus admirably fitted for the 
 part of wife and mother that she has performed so 
 well. To her and our subject ten children have 
 been born, of whom the following is recorded: 
 Emery A., died when he was six months old : Sam- 
 uel W., died when he was twenty-one, his death 
 having been caused by a horse kicking him; 
 Charles L., married Miss Cora A. McDonald ; Lin- 
 nia I., married Wallace Acree; Albert N., died 
 when four months old; Delia J. married Albert 
 Fisher; Henry H., Florence B., Kimbro E., and 
 Earl E., are at home. 
 
 In the fall of 1857, Mr. and Mrs. Voorhes, then 
 recently married, left their old Pennsylvania home, 
 and coming to Illinois, settled in Edgar County 
 
 about eight miles west of Paris. After living 
 there two years, thej- came to Vermilion County 
 where they have ever since made their home. Mr. 
 Voorhes has a farm of 243 acres on section 1, 
 Catlin Township, and eighty acres in Vance Town- 
 ship two miles south of Fairmount, on which he 
 has erected a fine set of buildings, and has made 
 other valuable improvements, besides putting the 
 land under good cultivation, and has a place of 
 which he may well be proud. At one time Mr. 
 Voorhes moved to Fairmount with his family, 
 and lived in retirement there for two j'ears. 
 
 Mr. Voorhes possesses in a large degree the 
 rugged honesty, truthfulness and steadfast char- 
 acter that mark the man of all men in whom to place 
 implicit confidence. He has good natural abilities, 
 and knows well how to work to the best advantage, 
 hence his prosperity. He and his wife are people 
 of warm hearts and genial, social dispositions, so 
 that they (\re much loved in this community with 
 whose people they have dwelt in amity and peace 
 these many years. They are devoted members of 
 the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, of which he 
 has been an Elder for more than twenty years. 
 In politics, Mr. Voorhes is a sturdy Democrat of 
 the Jacksonian style. He takes a lively interest in 
 public affairs, and has done his township good ser- 
 vice as Road Commissioner, which ofHce he has 
 held for the last six years; and as School Direc- 
 tor, he having acted in that capacity a long term 
 of years. 
 
 -i^m- ■ 
 
 y^TLLIAM P. VAN ALLEN. The subject 
 of this notice deserves more than a passing 
 „ ^ mention in noting the events in the lives 
 of the prominent men of Vermilion County, to 
 whom it owes in a large measure its uniform 
 prosperitjr and steadily increasing growth, both 
 morally, socially and financially. We find this 
 representative agriculturist pleasantly situated on 
 a fine farm occupying a part of section 36 in Oak- 
 wood Township, in the enjoyment of a homestead 
 which he has built up by his own industry and perse- 
 verance. He came to this county like many of his 
 compeers, with limited means, but was i)oss('ssed of 
 
390 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 those invahialile qualities of persistence and enero-j' 
 which are usnallji' attended by success. He was 
 soon recognized as a valued addition to the com- 
 munity, and from time to time was placed in vari- 
 ous positions of trust and responsibility, the duties 
 of which he has uniformly discharged with honesty 
 and fidelity. 
 
 In the biography of John H. Van Allen, on 
 another page in this Album, will be found the pa- 
 rental historj' of our subject, who is a child of the 
 same famil}-. He was born Dec. 20, 1840, in Lick- 
 ing County, Ohio, and there spent his boyhood and 
 youth, receiving a practical education in the com- 
 mon school. He served an apprenticeship at the 
 carpenter trade with his father and worked at this 
 until reaching his majority. After the outbreak 
 of the Civil War he entered the Union Army, Aug. 
 14, 1862, as a member of Company G, 97th Ohio 
 Infantry, with which he served three years and un- 
 til the close of the conflict. He, like his brotlier, 
 met the enemy first in battle at Perry ville, and 
 later was at Wild Cat ]Mountain, Crab Orchard 
 and Nashville, where his regiment was placed un- 
 der the command of General Rosecrans and subse- 
 quently fought at Stone River. Tliey spent the 
 winter at this point, in the meantime eng.aging in 
 several skirmishes and then proceeded to Talla- 
 homa, Tenn., and to CMiattanooga, following up the 
 rebel general, Bragg. The 97th Regiment, was, 
 with others of the brigade, ordered in company 
 with Gen. Wilder's Mounted Infantry to march 
 ten miles, pulling the artillery b}' hand up the 
 mountain, and opened fire on Chattanooga on 
 AValdon Ridge for ten days. This was in order to 
 allow Gen. Rosecrans with his armj' to cross at 
 Stevenson, forty miles below. 
 
 Our subject with his comrades was now con- 
 stantly under fire, and the 97th was the first regi- 
 ment to enter Chattanooga. They did provost 
 duty there during the battle of Chickamauga, and 
 later participated in the fight at Mission Ridge, 
 where the regiment lost over 140 killed and 
 wounded. Soon afterward they were ordered upon 
 a forced march to relieve Gen. Burnside, at Knox- 
 viUe, Tenn., and later onr subject with his com- 
 rades was assigned to the command of Gen. O. 0. 
 Howard. After this he fought at the battle of 
 
 Dandridge. The regiment then retreated back to 
 Knoxvilie. They guarded the railroad in that 
 vicinity during the winter. On the 3d of May, 
 1864, they coficenti'ated at Cleveland, Tenn., pre- 
 paring for the memorable march to the sea. 
 
 At the battle of Kenesaw Mountain, on the 22d 
 of June, Mr. Van Allen was severely wounded in 
 the right thigh by a minie ball. He was sent first 
 to the hospital at Nashville and subsequently trans- 
 ferred to Louisville, from which point his father 
 took him home. When sufficiently recovered he 
 reported at Cohimbus, Ohio, and was sent to Camp 
 Dcnnison, where he received his honorable dis- 
 charge in 1865. He had his full share of the hard- 
 ships and privations of army life, and has never 
 fully recovered from the effects of his wounds and 
 the drain upon his constitution caused by hard 
 fare, the forced marches and the sojourn among 
 the malarial districts of the South. 
 
 Upon returning home Mr. Van Allen served an 
 apprenticeship at the potter's trade and followed 
 it about three years. In the meantime he was 
 married, Nov. 21, 1866, to Miss Caroline V. Kiger, 
 who was the only child of her parents, and was 
 born in Virginia, in 1847. The young people so- 
 journed in the Buckeye State until 1869, then 
 came to Illinois, and a year later Mr. A'an Allen 
 purchased land and began the construction of a 
 farm. He put up a fine residence in 1879 and is 
 the owner of 112 acres under a thorough state of 
 cultivation. Stock-raising forms a leading feature 
 in his operations, and he makes a specialty of 
 Poland-China swine, while he has nearly twenty 
 head of draft horses and a few equines not quite 
 so valuable. 
 
 Mr. Van Allen takes a pardonable pride in the 
 fact that his first presidential vote was cast for 
 Abraham Lincoln, and he voted for Benjamin 
 Harrison with equal enthusiasm early upon election 
 day in 1888. He is a sound Republican with clear 
 and decided ideas as to the reason of the faith 
 within him. He at an early date became identi- 
 fied with the G. A. R., and has been Commander 
 of George Morrison Post, No. 635, at Glenburn, 
 since its organization. He is likewise connected 
 with Newtown Lodge, in which he has been Treas- 
 urer for jears. He represented Oakwood Town- 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 391 
 
 ship in tho County Board of Supervisors two years, 
 was Justice of the Peace four years and has been 
 School Director nine j ears. Probably no man in 
 the township has contributed in a more effectual 
 manner to its steady growth and uniform pros- 
 perity. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Van Allen are the parents of nine 
 children, four sons and Ave daughters, all living: 
 Walter, Frank, Stats, Bertie, John, Mary, Etta, 
 Nellie and Yida. Thej' are being carefully reared 
 and educated in a manner fitting them for their 
 future station in life as the offspring of one of the 
 representative families of Central Illinois. 
 
 fsHOMASC. McCAUGHEY, M. D. The med- 
 ical profession of Vermilion County num- 
 bers among its members some very able and 
 conscientious men, and among them may be classed 
 the subject of this notice. He has distinguished 
 himself as a conscientious practioner, both of med- 
 icine and surgery and has been located in Iloopes- 
 ton since 1871. He is well known as the junior 
 partner of the firm of Peirce & McCaughe^', the 
 druggists of Main street. 
 
 Dr. McCaughey is a gentleman in the prime of 
 life, in the forty-ninth year of his age, having been 
 born Jan. 20, 1841, in Sharon Center, Medina Co., 
 Ohio. He spent his youthful days there and at 
 Fredericksburg, Wayne County. His father, Rob- 
 ert McCaughey, conducted- an hotel and engaged 
 in mercantile pursuits. Thomas C. completed his 
 education at Fredericksburg and soon afterward, 
 the Civil War being in progress, he enlisted as a 
 Union soldier in Company II, 102d Ohio Infantry. 
 This was assigned to the Army of the Cumberland 
 and our subject participated in all the engagements 
 of his regiment, serving three years without wound 
 or capture while half of his comrades were killed 
 or wounded. He was frequently in the thickest of 
 the fight and upon several occasions his escape 
 seemed nothing less than a miracle. At the close 
 of the war he was mustered out at Columbus, Ohio, 
 and received his honorable discharge July 8, 1865. 
 Upon retiring from the army our subject visited 
 
 his home for a brief time, then came directly to 
 Paxton, this State, where he commenced the study 
 of medicine under Drs. Kelso and Randolph, with 
 whom he remained two years. Next he entered the 
 medical department of Michigan University at Ann 
 Arbor, being a member of the class of 18C7. This 
 was followed by another course in Rush iSIedical 
 College, Chicago, after which lie received his di- 
 ploma and established himself in Ford County, near 
 the present town of Rankin, where his rides ex- 
 tended over a large section of country. 
 
 In 1871, soon after tho laying out of Hoopeston, 
 Dr. McCaughey came to this place, being the first 
 physician to establish himself here. In 1881 he 
 associated himself in partnership with Dr. Peirce. 
 For over twelve years he has been surgeon for the 
 Chicago & Eastern Illinois Railroad Company. He 
 makes a specialty of surgery and in his office may 
 be seen the latest instruments and appliances in 
 keeping with the progress of this science. He has 
 been a close student and avails .himself of every 
 opportunit3- for information in connection with 
 this most important calling. He is a member of 
 the Board of Pension Examiners and of the Board 
 of Health in Hoopeston. He has for some years 
 been connected with the United Presbyterian 
 Church of which he is an Elder and has officiated 
 as Superintendent of the Sunday-school for seven- 
 teen years. He has always maintained a warm in- 
 terest in its prosperity and given to it a liberal sup- 
 port. He has no political aspirations, but thor- 
 oughly believes in the principles of the Republican 
 party. 
 
 Miss Mary E. Johnson, of Rankin, became the 
 wife of our subject Jan. 24, 1871, and to them 
 have been born three children, — Cora Etta, Mary 
 Isle and Robert S. Of these Cora Etta is dead and 
 the last two are living and are aged fifteen and 
 thirteen respectively. Cora Etta was the first child 
 Lorn in Hoopeston. It is the intention of their 
 parents to bestow upon them all the social and 
 educational advantages, befitting their station in 
 life. Mrs. McCaughej' was born near Bellefon- 
 taine, Ohio, Sept., 1845 and is the daughter of 
 Stanton and Jane (Stevenson) Johnson, who settled 
 in the vicinity of Rankin, where the father pur- 
 chased land from which he built up a good farm 
 
392 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 and tliere liis daughter, INIary E., lived until her 
 marriage. The fatlier is deceased. The mother is 
 still living and is now quite aged. 
 
 Robert McCaughey, the father of our snbject, in 
 early manhood engaged in general merchandising, 
 being located on the road between Medina and 
 Akron, Ohio, where also was situated his hotel and 
 where he lived until Thomas C, our subject, was a 
 lad of ten years. He then removed to Doyleston 
 •where his death took place in 1853. Politically, 
 he was an old line Whig. 
 
 W EYIN VINSON. In the life of the subject 
 11 (® ^^ ''''^ notice there are illustrated the re- 
 /J L^ suits of a strong will under adverse circum- 
 stances, and that which maj^ be accomplished by 
 steady perseverance in an honest purpose and fol- 
 lowing the impulses of a worthy nature stirred to 
 continuous action, together with the promptings 
 which fill a man with a desire to be able not only 
 to respect himself, but to secure a like sentiment 
 from his fellow-citizens. There are few men who 
 have warmer or truer friends than Mr. Vinson, 
 who, without making any great stir in the world, 
 has fully established himself in the confidence of 
 those who know him, and who is designated as 
 having a tender iieart under a rough exterior. The 
 place which he holds in this community has not 
 been secured by the amount of his wealth, but bj- 
 the possession of those qualities which are better 
 than silver and gold. 
 
 The Vinson family were first represented in this 
 country in ^Maryland, whence they emigrated to 
 Kentucky, where Henson Vinson, the father of our 
 subject, was born and engaged in farming pursuits. 
 Upon reaching manhood he was married to Miss 
 Abigail McDowell, likewise a native of the Blue 
 Grass State, wiience they removed to Park County, 
 Ind. They sojourned there until 1841, then com- 
 ing to Illinois, settled in this county, and the father 
 died seven years later, in 1848. His widow is still 
 living in this county, and has now arrived at the 
 advanced age of ninety years. They are the 
 parents of nine children, six of whom are living. 
 
 Tlie subject of this notice was the fourth child 
 of his parents, and was born in Park County, Ind., 
 Feb. 20, 1829. He received a very limited educa- 
 cation, which was mostly obtained before he reached 
 the age of twelve years. He remained at the farm 
 working for his father until twenty years old, then 
 purchased 320 acres of wild land through a sol- 
 dier's land warrant, which proved to have been a 
 forgery, and which resulted in the loss of 160 acres. 
 When approaching the twenty-first year of his age, 
 he was married, Nov. 12, 1849, to Miss Naomi Lig- 
 get, daughter of Jesse Ligget, who is represented 
 elsewhere in this volume. 
 
 The young people commenced their wedded life 
 under favorable auspices, and though their little 
 farm was undeveloped, they were blest with good 
 health, cheerful hearts and willing hands, and 
 united in a mutual purpose to built up a home for 
 themselves. They still live in the house which 
 was built thirty-five 3rears ago, and Mr. Vinson is 
 now the owner of 200 acres of thorougly cultivated 
 land. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Mnson have never had children of 
 their own, but have raised two others. The eldest, 
 whom they named Edwin Vinson, is now a man of 
 thirty-three j-ears. He married Miss Annie Rogers, 
 lives on a part of the farm, and is the father of 
 five children. The other boy was sent to Illinois 
 from a New York juvenile asylum when seven 
 years of age, was then taken by Mr. Vinson, and 
 is now a promising youth of seventeen, a good, in- 
 dustrious boy, who has been susceptible to good 
 training, and bids fair to make a worthy citizen 
 and a first-class farmer. 
 
 In 1862, during the progress of the Civil War, our 
 subject, in company with his brother John, raised a 
 company of men, which was made a part of the 125th 
 Illinois Infantry. Of this Mr. Vinson was elected 
 Captain, and served as such for nearly two 3'ears, 
 commanding his company at the battle of Perry- 
 ville and during the campaign about Nashville. 
 During the last five months of the service he was 
 quite ill and finally obliged to resign his position 
 and return home. He votes the straight Republi- 
 can ticket, and has served as School Director and 
 Road Commissioner. Socially he belongs to New- 
 town Lodge, No. 714, A. F. & A. M., in which he has 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 393 
 
 been Treasurer for several years. He is likewise 
 i<ientified witli the G. A. R., as a member of George 
 Morrison Post, No. 635, at Glenburn in whicii he 
 li.is been Quartermaster since its organization. Mrs. 
 Vinson has been connected with the Methodist 
 Episcopal Church for the last thirty-flve years, and 
 when a younger lady was greatly interested in 
 Sunday-school work, officiating as a teacher and 
 otherwise looking after the religious interests of 
 the young. 
 
 The paternal grandmother of our subject lived 
 to be one hundred and seven years old, and was 
 twice married, her second husband being Mr. Gib- 
 bons, of Marj'land. At the age of one hundred 
 she went out and held a prairie plow to which eight 
 yoke of oxen were attached, and followed it for a 
 quarter of a mile. During the last five years of 
 her life she made her home with Mr. and Mrs. 
 Vinson. 
 
 ENRY V. DAVIS owns and operates a 
 splendid farm in Vance Township. As 
 ^^ early as the year 1835 he located in Illinois, 
 ^ coming from Ohio. He and his brother 
 Abram came with their father to put in a crop. 
 They remained here while the father returned to 
 Ohio to close up his business. When he returned 
 he made the largest entry of land that is on record 
 at the Danville land-office in one man's name — 
 over 3,000 acres. 
 
 Mr. Davis, of whom this sketch is written, re- 
 ceived his education in the primitive schools in the 
 pioneer days of Illinois. When he was nineteen 
 years of age he left the schoolroom and gave his 
 attention to work on his father's farm, continuing 
 to labor in this way until after he was married. 
 On Feb. 18, 1842, he was united in marriage with 
 Miss Mary Ann Copeland, a daughter of Samuel 
 Copeland, a farmer, who lived seven miles north- 
 west of Danville. Mr. and Mrs. Davis were the 
 Itarents of six children, who lived beyond infancy. 
 Samuel H., the eldest son, was born Sept. 5, 1844, 
 and when the war broke out he enlisted, Aug. 22, 
 1861, in Company F, 26th Illinois Infantry. He 
 remained with his regiment until June, 1 862, when 
 
 he was taken sick and died, his death occurring at 
 Darlington, Tenn., June 9, 1862. He was interred 
 at the above named place. William H a farmer 
 who lives in Nebraska, married Mrs. Lilly INI. Lucas, 
 daughter of Samuel King, and widow of Rob- 
 ert Lucas. Sarah Elizabeth married George R. 
 Gamble, a photographer of Champaign, 111.; they 
 have two children. Tiie mother of these children 
 died Sept. 6, 1858. Mr. Davis continued house- 
 keeping after the death of his wife, and May 25, 
 1859, he remarried, taking for his second wife 
 Catherine, a daughter of Cornelius and Mary Calla- 
 iian, of Canada. Mr. Callahan was a farmer and 
 had seven children, of whom Mrs. Davis was the 
 eldest, having been born March 11, 1833. She re- 
 ceived her early education in Canada, and com- 
 pleted it in Union Seminary, located at Danville, 
 111. She was a very successful school teacher, and 
 is a lady of culture and refinement. Mr. and Mrs. 
 Davis are the parents of three children : Oscar 
 Harmon married Clara H. Brown ; he is a farmer 
 living in Minnesota. They are the parents of three 
 children: Ira Grant, the second son, married Mary 
 Elizabeth Palmer. They are residing on the old 
 homestead and are the parents of one child — Mallie 
 Leona, who was born on Christmas Dajr, 1888; 
 George W. is unmarried and lives at home. 
 
 Mr. Davis owns 426 acres of land in this county, 
 and 514 in Champaign County; a half-section in 
 Minnesota, and a house and four lots in Cham- 
 paign, where he lived thirteen years for the purpose 
 of educating his family. As a farmer Mr. Davis 
 has been eminently successful, and to his children 
 he has given much land and other property. All 
 of the home farm is under excellent cultivation ex- 
 cepting about fifty acres. This place he rented in 
 1854 and removed to his Champaign County farm, 
 where he remained a year, returning to the old 
 homestead. In 1852 he sold a lot of mules with 
 the intention of reinvesting the money in the same 
 kind of property, but instead, he entered 982 acres 
 of land, and he never has regretted it. His father 
 gave him 400 acres to begin life with, and he has 
 added to that until he now owns nearly 2,000 acres 
 of land. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Davis worship at tlie Baptist 
 Church, of which he has been T'ustde and Deacon 
 
394 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 for a long time. He gave $1,000 to aid in tlie 
 erection of tiie Baptist University at Ciiicago, the 
 site for wiiich was given by Stephen A. Douglas. 
 While Mr. Davis does not take an active part in 
 politics, he always attends elections, and the last 
 Democratic ballot cast by him was for Franklin 
 Pierce. The troubles in Kansas and Nebraska 
 made him a Republican, and he has since voted for 
 the nominees of that party. Mr. Davis' ability for 
 accumulating land and other property, is an evi- 
 dence of his cleverness as a sound business man 
 and a progressive farmer. 
 
 •— ^'^'Mjiac?®^^ - 
 
 ®!kg)/aa drr.-'vw. 
 
 m OHN BRADY, a veteran of the late war, is 
 I a representative of one of the early settlers 
 ^,^1 I of Vermilion County who bore an honora. 
 '^^1/ ble part in the development of its immense 
 agricultural resources. He is a native of Danville 
 Township, born Feb. 1, 1837, and the old home- 
 stead which was his birthplace is still in his posses- 
 sion, and he derives a good income from its rental. 
 He is now living in retirement in the village of 
 Tilton, having accumulated a handsome comi)e- 
 tence by shrewd management and judicious in- 
 vestments. 
 
 His father, also named John, was one of the 
 pioneers of this county, a native of Virginia, 
 whence he was taken when he was very young to 
 Ohio, his parents then becoming early settlers of 
 Brown County. There he grew to manhood and 
 married, but instead of settling there he decided to 
 come further west, making the journey hither at 
 first on horseback to prospect. He was so pleased 
 with the country that he went back to Ohio for his 
 family, and they returned Lere with team. This 
 section of the country was very sparsely settled at 
 that time, and the most of the land was owned by 
 the Government, and was for sale to whomso- 
 ever cared to buy it, at $1.25 an acre. Mr. 
 Brady very soon made a claim to a tract of land 
 three miles southwest of the city of Danville, 
 or of its present site, and entered it from the 
 Government at the land office at Palestine. He 
 first built a round log house on the place for a 
 
 temporary residence, but soon afterward put up a 
 more substantial hewed log house, in which dwell- 
 ing the subject of this sketch was born. A short 
 time after he erected a frame house, which is still 
 standing, and is one of the oldest frame houses in 
 existence in the county. The frame of this house 
 was first put up in South Town by a man who in- 
 tended it for a hotel. He failed, however, before 
 it was completed, and the father of our subject 
 bought the frame and erected it on his homestead. 
 The sideboard, casings, window frames, in fact, all 
 the finishing, was made of black walnut. Mr. 
 Brady, Sr. improved a good farm, and was a resi- 
 dent thereon till death closed his useful career. 
 The maiden name of his wife, mother of our subject, 
 was Rosanna Kratzer, and she was a native of 
 Ohio. Her father, Henry Kratzer, removed from 
 Ohio to Indiana, and was a pioneer of Marion 
 County. He developed a farm from the wilderness 
 about one mile from Indianapolis, and resided 
 there the remainder of his life. The mother of our 
 subject died on the old homestead. She and her 
 husband were people of sterling worth and were 
 influential in their neighborhood, all regarding 
 them with esteem and respect. 
 
 He of whom we write remembers well the inci- 
 dents of pioneer life here and the primitive style 
 of living necessitated by the distance from the 
 centres of civilization. He grew to be a stalwart, 
 manly lad, fond of the chase, and as soon as large 
 enough to shoulder a rifle he often went hunting 
 and killed many a deer, wild turkeys and other 
 game that were a welcome addition to the home 
 larder. He gleaned his education in the pioneer 
 school which was held in the old log school house, 
 with rude home-made benches for seats. He re- 
 sided with his parents till after the breaking out of 
 the war, and in Jul}', 1862 he answered his coun- 
 try's call for her brave and patriotic citizens to aid 
 in suppressing the rebellion, and enlisted in Com- 
 pany A, 125th Illinois Infantry. The first impor- 
 tant engagement in which he took an active part 
 was the battle of Perrysville. He afterward 
 fought in the battle of Chickamauga, and was with 
 Sherman in his campaign from Chattanooga to At- 
 lanta, engaging in all the important battles on the 
 march. After the siege and capture of Atlanta he 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 397 
 
 followed his gallant leader to Savannah, and thence 
 by the way of Richmond to Washington, and was 
 present at the grand review. He was honorably 
 discharged with his regiment at Chicago, having 
 proved a brave and efficient soldier, willing to face 
 all danger, and never shirking his duty, and ar- 
 rived here on the 3d of July, 1865. 
 
 After leaving the army Mr. Brady resumed 
 farming on the old homestead which he now owns. 
 In 1883, having accumulated a fine property by 
 years of steady industry, he retired from farming 
 and removed to Tilton, where he purchased his 
 present residence and has since made his home 
 here. 
 
 Mr. Brady was married in February, 1859, to 
 Miss Mary Conlin, a native of the State of New 
 York, and they have four children living — Mar- 
 garet, John, Charlie, Edith. Margaret married 
 William Martin, a resident of Tilton, and they 
 have two children, Mary and William. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Bradj' are very estimable people 
 and are held in the highest regard by all who know 
 them. He is a man of sound discretion and sober 
 judgment, a safe counsellor, and one who kindly 
 and unostentatiously extends a helping hand to the 
 needy and suffering with whom he comes in con- 
 tact. He is a member in good standing of the 
 Congregational Church. 
 
 JOHN N. ENGLEMANN is entitled to rep- 
 resentation in this Biographical Album as 
 an intelligent, practical member of the 
 farming community of Vermilion County. 
 He is classed among our self-made men, as he be- 
 gan life with no capital but a sturdy, self-reliant, 
 capable manhood, and has become independent 
 and prosperous, and, as old age approaches, finds 
 himself in possession of a comfortable competence 
 and well fortified against want and poverty. 
 His farm on section 22, Catlin Township, is pro- 
 vided with an excellent class of buildings, and its 
 soil is admirably tilled, yielding abundant harvests 
 in repayment for the labor and money bestowed 
 on it. 
 
 Our subject was born in Prussia, July 29, 1828, 
 
 and is the son of John Nicholas and Margaret 
 (Kimmel) Englemann. The wife died in Ger- 
 many. Tiie father subsequently emigrated to this 
 country, and after a time removed to Du Quoin, 
 111., where he died. The boyhood and youtii 
 of our subject were passed in his native coun- 
 try, but in the early years of his manhood he 
 determined to cross the Atlantic and seek in 
 the United States of America the prosperity de- 
 nied him at home. In March, 1854, he left the 
 beloved Fatherland on an Ameriean-bound vessel, 
 and twenty-eight days later the ocean was between 
 him and the familiar scenes amid which he had 
 been reared. He disembarked at New York and 
 made his way from that city to Summit County, 
 Oiiio, where he engaged in digging coal, whicli 
 employment he had followed in the old country. 
 He lived in different places in Ohio till 1857, when 
 he came to Vermilion County to avail himself of 
 the many advantages it offered a poor man to 
 make his way to comparative affluence. Liking 
 the country here, he decided to remove his family 
 to this county and settle here permanently. At 
 first they lived in Danville Township, but a year 
 later Mr. Englemann came to Catlin Township with 
 his wife and children, and rented a farm five 
 years; and at the same lime he worked in the coal 
 mines in the winter, carrying on his farming opera- 
 tions during the other seasons of the year. In 
 1864 he had been so prudent and industrious that 
 he had managed to save up quite a little sum of 
 money, and was enabled to purchase eighty acres 
 of land, whicli is included in his present farm. 
 In the busy years that followed he made many val- 
 uable improvements, erecting a substantial, well- 
 built dwelling, a good barn and other necessary 
 outbuildings, and placed his land under a high 
 state of cultivation, devoting himself entirely to 
 agricultural pursuits. He bought more land, and 
 his farm now comprises 120 acres of fine farming 
 land that compares in fertility and productiveness 
 with tlie best in the township. 
 
 During these years of toil Mr. Englemann has 
 not been without the assistance of a good wife, 
 who has been to him all that a faithful helpmate 
 could be. They were united in marriage in their 
 native Prussia, in September, 1853. Her maiden 
 
398 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 name was Maria Scluietz, and she was born Dec. 
 18, 1834. Slie is ihe daughter of Michael and 
 Maria (Graser) Schuetz, who emigrated to this 
 country and were buried in this township. Their 
 happy wedded life has been blessed to Mr. and 
 Mrs. Englemann by the birth of eight children, as 
 follows: Nicholas, Jacob, Mary F., Margaretta S., 
 John W., Sophia, Charles and Elizabeth; all are 
 living. 
 
 In our subject his fellow- townsmen find those 
 desirable qualities and manly traits of character 
 that make him a useful citizen and a good neigh- 
 bor, one in whom they may place their trust with 
 a surety that it will not be abused. In politics he 
 is a Republican, and faithfully supports his party 
 at the polls. Religiously, he and his wife are ex- 
 emplary members of the Lutheran Church, and 
 carry their Christian faith into their everyday 
 lives. 
 
 A fine lithographic view of the handsome resi- 
 dence, farm and outbuildings on the place of Mr. 
 Englemann is shown elsewhere in this work. 
 
 ^!5)E0RGE M. VILLARS, one of the best 
 [|[ I— ^ known residents of this county and the 
 ^^^Jl owner of a fine property, was born in Dan- 
 ville Township, Oct. 16, 1832, and is consequently 
 but little past the prime of life. He is the off- 
 spring of a good family, being the son of the Rev. 
 John Villars, who was born in Jefferson County, 
 Pa., Feb. 14, 1797. 
 
 The paternal grandfather of our subject was 
 James Yillars, who it is believed was also a native 
 of Jefferson County, Pa., and who was born July 
 28, 1774. His father was a native of England, 
 and it is supposed spent his last years in the Key- 
 stone State. Grandfather James Villars was there 
 reared to man's estate and married Miss Rebecca 
 Davison, April 19, 1796. In April, 1806, they 
 removed to Ohio by means of a flat-boat, which 
 landed them at Cincinnati, then but a hamlet. 
 They settled in what is now Clinton County, where 
 grandfather Villars purchased quite a large tract 
 of land and improved the farm, upon which he 
 
 resided until his death. In 1812 he put up a sub- 
 stantial double hewed-log house with a large stone 
 chimney in the center of the building and a huge 
 fireplace on each side. This structure stood for a 
 great many years and was a fitting monument to 
 the character and enterprise of its builder. 
 
 The father of our subject was piously inclined 
 from his 3'oulh and when a young man united with 
 the Methodist Episcopal Church. In 1823 he was 
 given a license to exhort, and from that time 
 labored as a local preacher. In the fall of 1830 he 
 came to this county with his family, making the 
 journey overland with teams, camping and cook- 
 ing by the wayside and sleeping in the wagons at 
 night. He had, however, visited the country prior 
 to his removal here and had entered a tract of land 
 upon which he had a log house built ready for the 
 family upon their arrival. From that time on, in 
 addition to his ministerial labors, he carried on 
 the improvement and cultivation of his land, living 
 there until 1857. 
 
 In the year above mentioned the father of our 
 subject decided to seek another home beyond the 
 Mississippi, and emigrated to Nemeha County, 
 Neb., where he was one of the pioneers and to 
 which he made the journey overland as before. 
 He lived, however, only until the following year, 
 his death taking place in March, 1858. He had 
 been twice married, the first time, March 14, 1816, 
 to Miss Elizabeth McGee. This lady was born 
 Sept. 25, 1797, and died in Vermilion County, 
 April 22, 1848. His second wife was P^lizabeth 
 Campbell, and they were married Oct. 10, 1849. 
 She was a native of Harrison County, Va., and 
 born Sept. 2, 1816. Of the first marriage there 
 were born ten children and of the second marriage 
 three. The father left the Methodist Episcopal 
 Church after a time and identified himself with the 
 United Brethren and was a preacher in the latter 
 Church at the time of his death. He was a life 
 member of the American Bible Society and be- 
 queathed to it the sum of $6,000. 
 
 Our subject still retains a vivid recollection of 
 many of the incidents of pioneer life in Illinois, 
 when deer, wolves and other wild animals abounded, 
 together with Indians who were often to be seen 
 in roving bands going across the prairie. He ac- 
 
POETRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 399 
 
 quired his education in tiie primitive schools, the 
 first of which was taught in a log house. The 
 seats and floor were made of punciieon, and writing 
 desks were manufactured from planks with wooden 
 pegs for legs. As soon as old enough, \'0ung Vil- 
 lai's began to assist his father in the various labors 
 of the farm and remained under the parental roof 
 until the time of his marriage. He then settled on 
 a tract of land which his father liad given him and 
 upon which were two log cabins. In one of these 
 our subject and his bride commenced their wedded 
 life. Their home consisted of one room sixteen 
 feet square, and in this they lived a number of 
 years and until they were able to put up their 
 present residence. The furnishing of this humble 
 dwelling was in keeping witii the fashion of that 
 day, but thty probably experienced as much hap- 
 piness and content as the young people who now 
 commence life upon a grander scale. 
 
 Mr. Villars has been a life-long farmer and still 
 owns the land upon which he settled at the time of 
 his marriage. He has now 186 acres, located five 
 miles east of Danville, on sections 7 and 12 of Dan- 
 ville Township. It has all been brought to a good 
 slate of cultivation, is well stocked, and upon it 
 Mr. Villars has erected a good set of frame build- 
 ings. His marriage with Miss Amanda Srouf was 
 celebrated at the bride's home in this township, 
 Oct. 20, 1853, and there have been born to them 
 eleven children, of whom the record is as follows: 
 John W. married Martha Marble, and is a resident 
 of Warren County, Ind.; George Henry married 
 Martha Brewer, and lives at Fort Belknap, Mont.; 
 Martha J. is the wife of William P. Lynch, of 
 this county; Rachel, Mrs. Presley Martin, lives 
 in Vermillion County, Ind.; William married Ida 
 Shaffer, and is a resident of this county; Ruth, Mrs. 
 Charles Elder resides in State Line City, Ind.; 
 Mary Frances is the wife of John Elder, of Terre 
 Haute, Ind.; Augusta is the wife _ of William 
 Gnaden, and they live in Danville Township; Ella 
 married William F. Shaffer, and resides in Warren 
 County, Ind.; Sophia and Janet remain with their 
 parents. 
 
 Mrs. Villars was born near Hanover, Hancock 
 Co., Ind., Feb. 7, 1832, and is the daughter of Se- 
 bastian Srouf, who was born in Kentucky, July 25, 
 
 1796. Her paternal grandfather, John Srouf, it is 
 believed, was a native of either North or South 
 Carolina, and his father, the great-grandfather of 
 Mrs. Mllars, was a native of Germany. John 
 Srouf removed from one of the Carolinas to Ken- 
 tucky, where he was an early pioneer, then moved 
 on into Ohio, locating in Brown County during 
 its early settlement. He served in the war of 1812 
 and spent his last years in the Buckeye State. 
 
 Sebastian Srouf, father of Mrs. "\'illars, was born 
 July 25, 1796, and was a young child when his 
 parents settled in Ohio, where he was reared to 
 manhood, and was married Sept. 11, 1817, to Vall- 
 yrier Parker. She was born in Ohio, and the date 
 of her birth was June 25, 1796. In 1830 they re- 
 moved to Indiana, settling in Hancock County, 
 where they lived until 1834. That year they came 
 to this county, making the journey overland with 
 teams, locating in what is now Newell Township. 
 The parents remained residents of this township 
 until their decease, the mother passing away Oct. 
 29, 1874, and the father less than a year later, 
 Feb. 12, 1875. 
 
 There were born to the parents of Mrs. Villars 
 eleven children, viz.: Nancy, Martha, George, 
 Mary, Wilson, Sarah, Jane, Amanda, Arie, John 
 and Christiana. Four of these, Mary, John, Arie 
 and Christiana, died young. Our subject and his 
 estimable wife are members in good standing of 
 the United Brethren Church, of Pleasant Grove, 
 in which Mr. Villars has served as Class-Leader and 
 labored in the Sunday-school. In politics at large 
 he is a sound Democrat, but in local affairs votes 
 independently, aiming to support the men whom he 
 considers best qualified for office. We invite the 
 attention of our numerous readers to a fine enorav- 
 ing of the handsome home and surroundings of 
 Mr. Villars, on another page of this volume. 
 
 ^?=5^E0RGE M. SPRY, prominent among the 
 
 ((( "Tf '^°^* '" '^^"'^' ^^°^^ "'^'"^ deserves to be 
 ^yi recorded in history is the name of the per- 
 son at the head of this sketch. He was born in 
 Vermillion County, Ind., three-fourths of a mile 
 
-too 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 from the Illinois line, on Jan. 5, 1846. Ills father, 
 David Spiy, was a native of North Carolina and 
 was reared in Tennessee and Kentucky, principally 
 the latter. The Spry family was prominently iden- 
 tified with Colonial history and were very active in 
 the struggle for independence. 
 
 Early in life David Spr}' was thrown upon his 
 own resources, but by his great force of character 
 he made a success in life. He was married to Miss 
 Patsey Cummings in Clark County, Ky. She was 
 born in that State as were also her parents. The 
 elder Mr. and Mrs. Spry, removed to Perrysville, 
 Ind., two 3'ears after their marriage, which was in 
 the fall of 1829. They settled on their farm in 
 1830, where they resided until 1857, when Mr. 
 Spry retired from active life and moved to Perrys- 
 ville, where he has since lived. His wife died on 
 the farm at the age of forty-five years, her death 
 occurring in 1854. She became the mother of 
 twelve children, nine of whom grew to manhood 
 and womanhood. Their record is herewith given: 
 Catlierine married Talt Parish, who is a farmer; she 
 died in 1855. Joseph W. is a carpenter and is 
 living at Turner, Ind.; he enlisted in the 125th 
 Illinois Infantry, serving three years; he married 
 Debora Paggett. Hester married William Hughes, 
 a wealthy farmer, who is living near Gessie, Ind.; 
 they have six children : Ella, Anna, David, Charles, 
 Albert and Ora. Nancy A. married Henry Caru- 
 thers; she died in 1863, leaving three children — 
 William, Albert and Marintha. Judia married 
 Elijah Lowe; she died in 1863. Caroline is the 
 wife of Almond Hunt, a prosperous farmer who 
 lives near Gessie, Ind.; they have one child, 
 Albert. 
 
 George M. Spry passed his early childhood on 
 his father's farm at first attending the common 
 schools, afterwards studying at the High School at 
 Perrysville, Ind., where he was at the time of his 
 enlistment in the army. He joined Company D,of 
 the 57th Indiana Infantry and served until the 
 close of the war. Among other engagements in 
 which he took part are: Pulaski, Columbia, Spring 
 Hill, Franklin and Nashville. From the latter 
 place he assisted in driving Hood over the Tennes- 
 see River, after which his regiment proceeded to 
 Huntsville, Ala., where it remained from Jan. 5, 
 
 to March 26, 1865. From here it was transported 
 via Chattanooga and Knoxville through Bulls Gap 
 to Blue Springs and Greenville, Tenn., where it 
 was expected to aid in the opposition of Lee's ad- 
 vance westward. But at this place they received 
 the news of the collapse of the Southern Confed- 
 eracy. Mr. Spry was slightly wounded by a ball 
 which struck his breast- plate at the battle of Nash- 
 ville, and Nov. 30, 1864, received two slight 
 wounds at P'ranklin, Tenn. He was seriously 
 injured at Pulaski, Tenn., by a wagon running over 
 his right instep, but this did not prevent him from 
 missing more than two or three roll calls. He was 
 at Blue Springs when the sad news of Lincoln's 
 assassination was received. Returning to Nash- 
 ville his regiment was ordered to the Southwest via 
 New Orleans and the Gulf of Mexico. They went 
 to A'ictoria, Tex., to correct some disorders which 
 were prevalent there at the time. Here on Oct. 
 20, 1865, after fourteen months of hard service, 
 Mr. Spry was mustered out of the service. He 
 arrived home on the 18th of the following month 
 and immediately took up his studies. In the spring 
 of 1866 he engaged in the general merchandise 
 business at Perrysville, Ind., doing a very large 
 busi]iess, but on account of the depression in the 
 value of goods he closed out, paying 100 cents on 
 the dollar. When he wound up his affairs he found 
 that his capital amounted to just ten cents. He 
 next directed his attention to the hedge planting 
 industry, starting a nursery on the " Shady Nook" 
 farm, and continued in that business for two sea- 
 sons, in the meantime carrying on a farm. From 
 1876 to 1878 he devoted all his time to teaching, 
 when about this time he made the acquaintance of 
 Chapman Bros., publishers of Chicago, in whose 
 employ he entered and where he has worked with 
 a large degree of success since. The publishers 
 wish to take this opportunity in expressing their 
 satisfaction of the services rendered by Mr. Spry. 
 He has proven a most valuable, reliable and effi- 
 cient agent in the discharge of whatever duties 
 imposed upon him. During these years he has 
 been placed in many responsible positions and 
 always acquitted himself manfully. 
 
 In 18G8 Mr. Spry was married to Miss Martha 
 A. Gray, daughter of Harvey M. and Susan Gray, 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 401 
 
 Mrs. Spry was born in Clinton County, Ind., com- 
 ing to Illinois with her parents when she was ten 
 years of age. Her father, Mr. H. Gray, was one 
 of the leading men of Sidell Township. Mr. and 
 Mrs. Spry have become the- parents of six children: 
 Edith died when she was three months old. Amy 
 is also deceased, dying at the age of four. Zua is 
 a successful teacher of Vermilion County. Daisy, 
 Raymond M. and Mabel are at home attending 
 school. IMr. and Mrs. Spry are living happily in 
 their unpretentious home, where they ai-e always 
 ready to dispense hospitality. In choosing their 
 home they have exhibited good judgment in locat- 
 ing in the charming and enterprising village of 
 Sidell. Mrs. Spry is a member of the Christian 
 Church and the two oldest daughters are mem- 
 bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church and 
 also of the Ladies Aid Society. Mr. Spry is a 
 member of the I. O. O. F., No. 252 at Homer, 111., 
 and belongs to the encampment. He is identified 
 with the Modern Woodmen and with Post No. 
 536, G. A. R. In his political views he is a standi 
 Republican. 
 
 ?>HORNTON K. HAGLEY. On section 24, 
 Newell Township, lies a fine farm whose fair 
 fields yield abundant harvests to careful and 
 skillful cultivation. The gentleman whose name is 
 at the head of this biographical sketch is the pro- 
 prietor of this desirable estate comprising 153 acres, 
 and here he and his family are enjoying all the 
 comforts of life in the cosiest of homes. 
 
 Our subject is a native of Ohio, the place of his 
 birth in Pickaway County, and the date thereof 
 Nov. 7, 1833. Ilis father, John J. Hagley, was a 
 native of Germany, and after his migration to this 
 country he married Rebecca Kendrick, a native of 
 Virginia. After marriage they settled in Pickaway 
 County, Ohio, among its pioneers. From there they 
 subsequently removed to Covington, Fountain Co., 
 Ind., and were early settlers there. Their remain- 
 ing years were passed in Fountain County in peace 
 and contentment till death closed their eyes to the 
 scenes of earth. To those worthy people were born 
 
 five children, of whom our subject was the young- 
 est. He was five years old when his parents estab- 
 lished a home in the wilds of Southern Indiana, 
 and his boyhood and youth after that were passed 
 in Fountain County till he was nineteen years of 
 age. Then, ambitious to make his own way in the 
 world, he resolved to ^eek the wonderful gold fields 
 in California, whose discovery a few years before 
 had caused such intense excitement throughout the 
 world. He tried life in the mines of the Golden 
 State four years, meeting with fair success, and 
 then tiring of the rough, wild life of the frontier 
 he retraced his steps to the more civilized regions 
 of this part of the country, and resided in Foun- 
 tain County, Ind., till the spring of 1864. In that 
 season he removed to Warren County, Ind., close 
 to the Illinois State line, where he lived the ensu- 
 ing seven years. At the expiration of that time he 
 came to ^'ermilion County and invested some of 
 his capital in the farm where he now makes his 
 home, and has ever since that time. He owns 153 
 acres of land that is not surpassed by any in the 
 locality in point of fertility and cultivation. There 
 is a substantial set of buildings and everything 
 about the place wears an air of thrift and order- 
 liness. 
 
 Jan. 13, 1859, Mr. Hagley took an important 
 step in his life by marriage with Miss Melinda J. 
 Diffenderfer, whereby he secured a good wife who 
 looks well to the ways of her household and cares 
 tenderly for the comfort of its inmates. Her par- 
 ents, Gotleib and Mary Ann (Rogers) Diffenderfer, 
 were born respectively in Pennsylvania and Ohio. 
 After their marriage they settled in Pickaway 
 County, Ohio, and from there removed to Foun- 
 tain County, Ind., where he died. She still sur- 
 vives at an advanced age. They had ten children, 
 of whom Mrs. Hagley was the fourth in order of 
 birth. She was born in Pickaway County, Ohio, 
 Dec. 28, 1843. Her wedded life with our subject 
 has been blessed to them by the birth of four chil- 
 dren, as follows: Clara A., who died when seven 
 years old; William W., who married Minnie By- 
 ers; they live in this township; Ida M., who died 
 when twenty-one months old; Albert G., a young 
 man aged eighteen. Sorrow has come to our sub- 
 ject and wife in the death of their little girls, but 
 
402 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 they are not without comfort in the thought of 
 what those innocent children may have been 
 spared b}'' being so early removed from the cares 
 and stains of this weary work-a-day world. 
 
 "■The sun comes up, and the sun goes down 
 
 On sorrow, and sin, and aching, 
 And to all the evil that's in the world, 
 
 Their darlings will know no waking; 
 They are wrapped in that dream of sweetness and 
 calm 
 
 That will know no cruel waking." 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Hagley stand well in this commu- 
 nity as people of kind hearts and sound heads, who 
 do what in them lies to promote the moral and ma- 
 terial advancement of their township. Mr. Hagley 
 has taken quite an interest in school affairs, and 
 while holding some of the offices has done much to 
 forward the advance of education in this locality. 
 In politics he is a Democrat, stanchljr supporting 
 his party at all times. 
 
 — *^- * ^ " ^ * ^- 
 
 has 
 
 ^/ SAAC V. GOINGS, an ex-soldier of the Union 
 Army, and who was obliged to accept his hon- 
 orable discharge for disability Feb. 14, 1863, 
 been since that time able to do but little 
 manual labor and has his farm operated by other 
 parties. This, however, yields him a comfortable 
 income and he receives a pension from the govern- 
 ment. He is thus comfortably situated and is of 
 that sanguine disposition which enables him to ex- 
 tract considerable happiness and content from life. 
 He takes a lively interest in politics, votes the 
 straight Republican ticket, and has been Constable 
 in Catlin'for two years and an Elder in the Cumber- 
 land Presbyterian Church for the long period of 
 twenty years. He thus presents a very fair record 
 and is generally respected among the people of his 
 community. 
 
 A native of Hardy County, now AVest A'irginia, 
 our subject was born Nov. 7, 1822, and was the 
 fourth in a family of twelve children, only three 
 of whom are living. His parents, Shadrack and 
 Hester (Sears) Goings, were natives respectivel}^ of 
 Virginia and^Monongahela County, Pa. The pater- 
 
 nal grandfather of our subject was born in Eng- 
 land, and upon coming to America settled in the 
 Old Dominion where he spent the remainder of his 
 life. The father of our subject was a blacksmith 
 by trade and died in 1862. The mother preceded 
 her husband to the silent land a number of years, 
 her decease taking place in 1847. 
 
 The early education of Isaac V. Goings was eon- 
 ducted in the subscription schools of his native 
 State and he made his home with his parents, work- 
 ing for his father until he was twenty-three years 
 old, and in the meantime learning the trade of 
 a blacksmith. After leaving home he became 
 overseer of negroes for a man by the name of 
 Gabriel Fox, by whom he was employed four j'ears. 
 Tlie two years after that were spent in the employ 
 of a Mr. Cunningham at the same business. At the 
 expiration of that time Mr. Goings emigrated to 
 Ohio where he first worked on a farm and then be- 
 gan feeding stock, prosecuting this business two 
 years. He was married in the Buckeye State, Sept. 
 1.5, 1854, to Miss Frances, daughter of John Price, 
 of Madison County, Ohio, and who was born in 
 that State in June, 1838. 
 
 After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Goings came 
 directly to this countj^ Mr. Goings rented a farm, 
 purchased a team on credit and thus began life in 
 Illinois on a limited scale. He carried on agricul- 
 ture for a number of years on different farms until 
 the outbreak of the Rebellion. On the 3d of Jnly, 
 1861, he entered the ranks of the Union Army as a 
 member of Companj' I, 35th Illinois Infantry, en- 
 listing as a private, and was soon promoted to Cor- 
 poral. The regiment was first sent to the Marine 
 Hospital at St. Louis, after which they repaired to 
 Wilson's Creek, at Springfield, Mo., where they had 
 a skirmish with the rebels, the Color Bearer of the 
 regiment was shot down and Mr. Goings was or- 
 dered to rescue the colors and take them to the 
 top of the court-house, pull down the rebel flag and 
 put in its place the Union ensign. He picked 
 up the banner and commenced the ascent and after 
 considerable difficulty, h.auled down the rebel flag 
 just as the enemy began to drive back the Union 
 troops. Our hero soon saw the position in which 
 he was placed and waved the stars and stripes back 
 and forth from the top of the court-house to en- 
 
POKTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 403 
 
 courage the boj'S. It had the desired effect and 
 the Union troops rallied and soon drove the rebels 
 from the town. It must be remembered that this 
 feat was performed in the face of a murderous fire 
 from the enemy, who aimed their guns at the in- 
 trepid Unionist and sought to dislodge him from 
 his retreat. 
 
 The next engagement of the 35th was at Pea 
 Ridge, and after this they went to Boonevillc, 
 where Mr. Goings was knocked down by the butt 
 of a rebel mnsket but sustained no serious injury. 
 They left Cape Girardeau by steamer and reaching 
 Hamburg Landing took part in the battle of 
 Corinth, Miss., after which followed the battle of 
 Stone River. At this point Mr. Goings was taken 
 ill and sent to a hospital where he languished two 
 weeks and was then transferred to a hospital at 
 Quincy, 111., from which he was finally discharged. 
 
 At Booneville Mr. Goings and a part of his reg- 
 iment, including the Colonel, were taken prisoners 
 by the rebels and marched about one mile when 
 the latter were obliged to take off their picket 
 guard and place them over the prisoners. Mr. 
 Goings saw an opportunity to escape and breaking 
 away ran for his life while the whole force of rebels 
 opened fire upon him. He pursued a zigzag course 
 as much as possible, but one buckshot passed en- 
 tirely through his right forearm and he received a 
 scalp wound. The only part of his gun left in his 
 hand when he reached the Union camp was the 
 metal barrel. 
 
 Upon another occasion, while assisting in guard- 
 ing a bridge across a river in Missouri, Mr. Goings 
 and his comrades were attacked by the rebels and 
 driven off. They finally rallied and compelled the 
 rebels to run, and during the skirmish Mr. Goings 
 received a gunshot wound in the left side just be- 
 low his heart. He was given up for dead and left 
 upon the ground but later rallied and partially re- 
 covered, but he still suffers from acute heart dis- 
 ease or valvular affection of the heart. 
 
 Upon one occasion Mr. Goings fought a duel 
 with a Texas Ranger. He and his foe were sta- 
 tioned on opposite sides of a large tree and each 
 endeavored to use his gun upon the other. Finally 
 by accident Mr. Goings remembered that he had a 
 navy revolver in his bell and drawing it he sprang 
 
 out and shot the Texan through the body, the ball 
 breaking his watch chain. Mr. Goings secured the 
 watch from his dead foe, but it was afterward taken 
 from him by the Commissary Sergeant. He was 
 certainljr not lacking in courage during those 
 troublous times and he takes a pardonable pride 
 in recalling the scenes of other days which often 
 " tried men's souls." 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Goings have no children of their 
 own but several years ago took into their hearts 
 and home a little girl (Lizzie Doss) who is now the 
 wife of Edwin Burroughs, (the license was issued 
 in the name of Lizzie D. Goings) but who still lives 
 with her foster parents. Mr. Goings is a member 
 of Homer Post G. A. R. and enjoys a wide acquain- 
 tance with the people of this section. His estima- 
 ble wife is a very intelligent, capable lady highly 
 esteemed in her community. 
 
 /p^EORGE W. MILLER has been a resident 
 (if '^ ^^ Vermilion County for forty- four years. 
 ^^^ He was born in ^"ermillion County, Ind., 
 Nov. 26, 1841, his parents being Andrew J. and 
 Catherine (Moyer) Miller. The father was a na- 
 tive of Kentucky and the mother of Ohio. The 
 Millers had been residents of Kentucky for several 
 generations, and Andrew Miller had been brought 
 to Indiana by his parents when twelve years old. 
 There he lived until a few 3'ears after his marriage 
 when he removed to this county, living the first 
 year near Alvan, and then coming to where his 
 son now lives. His first house was a log structure 
 in which he lived for several years before he built 
 the fine roomy residence on the opposite side of the 
 road located on section 9, which is now owned by 
 his widow. There he died on Aug. 23, 1873. 
 
 When he first came to this county, Andrew Mil- 
 ler was a poor man, having the means to buy only 
 forty acres of land, a yoke of oxen and a horse. 
 He worked faithfully and soon began to accumu- 
 late property, gradually adding to his possessions 
 until, before his death, he was the owner of sev- 
 eral farms in this county, and at one time having 
 
404 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 1,500 acres and when he died he left over 1,000 
 acres, as he bought and sold whenever he could 
 with advantage. His first .start in life was ob- 
 tained by hauling produce to Chicago with his ox- 
 teara. In this slow and laborious way he began, 
 and his success well illustrates the capacity and 
 energy of the man. When he first settled in Vermil- 
 ion County in 1845, this was an entirely new coun- 
 try and he witnessed its rapid growth and prosper- 
 ity, in which he was no small factor, and which was 
 brouglit about by just such men as he. At this 
 time there was only one house in sight of his cabiij, 
 that being another log house about three miles 
 north 'of his, and where the thriving village of 
 Rossville now stands was another cabin. Hard 
 work and plenty of it was the lot of the pioneer 
 and his family, and they literally earned their 
 bread by the sweat of Jtheir brows. Breaking 
 prairie was the first thing in order, and to the 
 struggling, poor pioneer was no easy task. Grad- 
 ually it was accomplished and he soon had his 
 forty acres under cultivation. P^encing it was a 
 necessity, but it had to be delayed for some time. 
 George W. being the eldest of the children, at an 
 early age learned what hard labor was, which contri- 
 buted largely to his own success. Not only was 
 hard work necessary in reclaiming the land but it 
 was imperative that the pioneer guard against dan- 
 ger from wild animals, the wolves, especially 
 being very numerous and daring, compelling him 
 to shelter his live stock and poultry every night. 
 Andrew J. Miller and Catherine Moyer were 
 married in Vermillion County, Ind., and became 
 the parents of twelve children. The first two 
 died in infancy before being named; the next was 
 George W.; then Cornelius, who was a farmer of 
 Ross Township, this county; Tabitha, deceased, 
 was the wife of Jesse Tomlinson, after whose death 
 she married Jonathan Prather; Nancj' also deceased, 
 was the wife of James U. Prather; Mary Isabelle, 
 .John T. and Enoch died when young; Joseph S. 
 is a farmer in Ross Township, this county; Cather- 
 ine is the wife of Maxwell Beckett, also a farmer 
 in Ross Township; and Mildred is married to Mor- 
 ton Langsdon a farmer of the same place. Mr. 
 and Mrs. Miller were well known to the old settlers 
 of this county and greatly respected. He was a 
 
 temperate and moral man, noted for his destnsta- 
 tions of obscenity and profanity, which he never 
 failed to check if uttered in his presence. He 
 refused to accept office of any kind though often 
 pressed to do so, preferring to devote all his time 
 and attention to his own affairs. His widow, now 
 in her sixty-fourth year is in good health and 
 strength, and makes her home with her youngest 
 daughter, Mildred. 
 
 George W. Miller in his youth endured the 
 hardships and privations inseparable from the life 
 of a pioneer. His first reccoUections are of the log 
 cabin which sheltered him when he was a boy. 
 There his initiation into the rudiments of an edu- 
 cation was received, the first school in this locality 
 being held in his father's house, when the settlers 
 became numerous enough to hire a teacher for their 
 children. It was a good many years before a dis- 
 trict school was established, and that was on the 
 subscription plan. In this way the children of the 
 first settlers grew up but although their actual 
 '■schooling" was little, they learned how to become 
 good men and women and useful members of soci- 
 ety. They early imbibed from their parents those 
 lessons of industry and frugality, which were the 
 general characteristics of the pioneer. George 
 assisted his father on the farm until he was thirty 
 years old when he married and settled on a part of 
 the same tract, on which he now has his home, and 
 which he subsequently bought from his father's 
 estate. In the spring of 1873 he went to Nebraska 
 with the intention of making that State his home, 
 but the last illness of his father caused his return. 
 In less than three months after he came back his 
 father died, and he settled the estate and built for 
 himself the house in which he now lives. His pres- 
 ent property was partly bequeathed to him and 
 partly purchased from the other heirs. When he 
 got it there was only one building of any kind on 
 the place, the present buildings have been erected 
 by him. He has since added more land by pur- 
 chase of adjoining propert}' and has now 410 acres 
 in all. A creek runs tlirough a part of the farm 
 making that portion especially desirable for stock- 
 raising purposes to which it is devoted. Mr. Mil- 
 ler having, on an average, about fifty head of cat- 
 tle and generally raising about 100 hogs each year. 
 
^^^^'i^\,aAj-d ^S^y^lyia 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 407 
 
 His principal crops are corn and oats, a greater 
 portion of whici:i is consumed on the farm. 
 
 On Feb. 15, 1872, Mr. Miller was united in mar- 
 riage with jMiss Vienna Catherine Ilawes, daughter 
 of Daniel and Louisa (Miller) Hawes, both of whom 
 came, from Pennsylvania to this county, locating 
 first in Danville and afterward removing to a farm 
 near Rossville. Mrs. Miller is a native of Penn- 
 sylvania, lier birth occurring on Nov. 7, 1852. Mr. 
 and Mrs. Miller are the parents of eight children, 
 one died in infancy and tlie rest are at home and 
 are named as follows: Louisa Catherine, Andrew 
 D,, Samuel J., Mary E., George H., lilsie Maj^, and 
 Annie Maud. Mr. Miller belongs to the young 
 enterprising and progressive class of farmers and 
 is deservedly achieving success. Almost his en- 
 tire life has been spent on the place which he now 
 lives and he is known by every one in this section 
 of the country, being as widely respected as he is 
 known. He has held several township offices and 
 is at present Highway Commissioner. 
 
 RS. NANCY AMIS. It can hardly be 
 questioned that women, although called, 
 with reason or without, the weaker half of 
 humanity, have always done a full share 
 of the world's work. In the opening up of the 
 Great West, especially worthy of note is the part 
 that has been taken b3' the wives and daughters of 
 the pioneers who have cleared the timber and 
 plowed the prairie. Here as elsewhere the co-oper- 
 ation of husband and wife has produced some of 
 the best results of modern civilization, homes 
 which are the seat of intelligence and refinement, 
 a society where good morals are the rule, not the 
 exception. One of these true helpmates is the 
 subject of the sketch now before us, the widuw of 
 Mr. James T. Amis — late resident of Danville 
 Township, a man of character and integrity — and 
 the daughter of Abraham Ilessey, of Virginia. It 
 is said that the father of Mr. Hessej^ came to Amer- 
 ica from Ireland when a j'oung man, the vessel in 
 which he sailed being wrecked and he being one of 
 the few passengers saved. Settling in Cooke 
 
 Count}^ Va., he there spent the" remainder of his 
 days. His son Abraham lived in Virginia till the 
 death of his parents, and then moved to Nelson 
 County, Ky. and bought a tract of wooded land, a 
 part of which was in a state of cultivation, and a 
 comfortable log-cabin, his home as long as he lived. 
 Here our subject w.as born. Her mother, whose 
 maiden name was Sarah McCormick, was a native 
 of Nelson County, Ky., daughter of Andrew Mc- 
 Cormick, a pioneer of that county from Ohio. 
 
 Nancy Hessey was six ^ears old when her mother 
 died and fifteen when her father's death occurred. 
 Mr. Hessey having contracted a second marriage, 
 she was brought up by a step-mother, and became 
 accomplished in the housewifely arts of the period, 
 learning to spin both wool and flax. Her cards and 
 spinning wheel are still preserved as precious 
 mementos of early days. In 1853 her brother, 
 Andrew Hessey, being out of health and a change 
 of climate being considered desirable, she came 
 with him to Illinois, accompanying a family, who, 
 in the absence of railways, were making the jour- 
 ney with a team. Her first home in this State was 
 with her cousin, "William Hessey, in Pilot Town- 
 ship. Being a prairie, this region had not been 
 settled as early as some other parts, and was still 
 but partially reclaimed from the wilderness ; deer yet 
 roamed at will. The marriage of Nancy Hessey 
 and James T. Amis took place Sept. 16, 1855. 
 
 Mr. Amis was born in Hardin County, Ky., June 
 18, 1831. His parents, William and P'anny (Davis) 
 Amis, natives of Tennessee, were early settlers of 
 Hardin County, and later of Vermillion County, 
 Ind. Mr. Amis was a young man when his par- 
 ents removed to Indiana, and he there grew to 
 maturity and was educated in the pioneer schools. 
 He came to this county in 1853, and settling in 
 Pilot Township, lived there till 1868, when he 
 bought the present family home in Danville. 
 When he came here the estate was but little im- 
 [iroved. He labored diligently and successfully in 
 reclaiming and cultivating the land, and in 1883 
 l)uilt a fine brick house in a modern style of arch- 
 itecture. The place is now one of tlie best im- 
 proved in the township and a monument to his 
 wise forethought and untiring industry. He con- 
 tinued a resident there till his death June 8, 1884. 
 
408 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 Mr. Amis was a man of exemplary habits and of 
 souad judgment, a kind husband and father, an 
 obliginij;- neighbor, a good citizen, and respected 
 by all who knew him. He was a member of tlie 
 United Brethren Church in Pilot Townsliip, as 
 was also his wife, a woman, be it said, in ever}' 
 way worthy of such noble eomp.anionship. Tlie 
 homestead is now occupied by Mrs. Amis and her 
 four children — Hania Edward, William D., James 
 A., and Lizzie Hessey. 
 
 A portrait of the late husband of INIrs. Amis ap- 
 pears on another page of this work and will be 
 highly valued by those with whom he was wont to 
 associate, but from among whom he has now gone 
 forever. 
 
 THOMAS WILLIAMS. The fact of a man 
 being well spoken of by those with whom 
 he has spent the greater part of his life is 
 a sufficient indication of his character, and thus Mr. 
 Williams ma}' be mentioned as a representative 
 of tlie best element of his community — a man of 
 tlie strictest integrity and one who, by a life of 
 industry, and the exercise of economy and a wise 
 judgment has obtained for himself a competence. 
 He is now living retired from active labor, in a 
 pleasant home at Hoopeston. He settled in this 
 town during its infancy and has been one of those 
 who assisted the most largely in giving to it its pres- 
 ent importance. 
 
 The first nineteen years of the life of our subject 
 were spent in Harrison County, Ohio, where be 
 was born Nov. 29, 18"28. He acquired his educa- 
 tion in the common scliool and lived with his wid- 
 owed mother until the age mentioned, when with 
 the natural desire of youth for change, he left 
 home and went to work for his uncle, Thomas 
 Hoopes, in Marion County, Ohio. (A sketch of 
 Mr. Hoopes appears elsewhere in this Aj.bum). He 
 worked bj' the month for his uncle Thomas seven 
 j'ears, and then taking 400 sheep on the shares, he 
 started on foot and drove them through from Marion 
 County, Ohio, to Hoopeston, this county, a distance 
 of 400 miles, being thirty days on the road. He 
 reached his destination Oct. 20. 1853, and made 
 
 his home that first winter with old "Uncle" Samuel 
 Gilbert. He spent the time looking after his sheep, 
 feeding them down in the timber, and in the spring 
 went on to a farm owned by Mr. Hoopes, on sec- 
 tion II, northwest of the present site of the town. 
 At that time the nearest house was two and one- 
 half miles south, on the farm which our subject now 
 owns, and the next one was eight miles north; so 
 there was no one but himself and a hand to keep 
 the wolves away from the sheep, although his dogs 
 would chase the wolves for a short distance; then 
 the latter would run the dogs back to the house, so 
 Mr. Williams had to be on his guard all through 
 the day and at night sleep with one eye open, al- 
 though he had a wolf-proof pound for his sheep at 
 night. 
 
 Mr. Williams thus operated for two years and the 
 second winter his flock was increased ))y the addition 
 of 400 more. The bad weather and the rattle snakes, 
 however, made sad havoc with his live-stock 
 and he was obliged to turn his attention in another 
 direction. He purchased five yoke of oxen, together 
 with a breaking plow, and followed breaking for 
 three years, being usually able to make 1100 per 
 month in the summer time. AVhen the weather was 
 suitable he could turn an eighteen or twentj'-inch 
 furrow. In the meantime he preempted 160 acres 
 of land in Iroquois County. This he lived upon a 
 short time, effecting considerable improvement 
 prior to his marriage. 
 
 The above interesting event in the life of our 
 subject took place on the 9th of June, 1859, the 
 bride being Miss Lavina McFarland of Iroquuis 
 County, 111. Mr. Williams about this time put up 
 a small frame house and added to it a house stand- 
 ing near, thus forming quite a comfortable abode 
 for those times and which the newly wedded pair 
 occupied until Christmas. About that lime they 
 removed to a farm in the vicinity of Hoopeston, 
 the same on which Mr. Williams had first herded 
 his sheep. He rented this until 1863 and later pur- 
 chasing seventy-five head of cattle, established 
 himself southeast of what is now the town, where 
 he lived on the creek about six years. Then he 
 purchased the Churchill Boardman farm, consisting 
 of 500 acres, and which was partially improved. 
 Our subject now began stock-raising in earnest, 
 
PORTRAIT AND UIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 409 
 
 and prosecuted this industry until tlie construction 
 of the railroad through this section, after which 
 he engaged more generally in farniiug. In 1870 
 he met wilh an accident which resulted in the 
 breaking of his leg and accordingly leaving the 
 farm, he took up his abode in Hoopeston, where be 
 commenced buying grain and operated the elevat- 
 ors in partnership with A. T. Catherwood. He was 
 thus occupied for a period of seven years, the last 
 two years operating wilh twelve different elevators, 
 then retired from active business. During these 
 years, he became the half owner of 1,525 acres of 
 land, near Ambia, in Benton Count}-, Ind., which 
 is now largely devoted to the raising of grain, 1 ,000 
 acres alone being planted in corn and 250 acres in 
 oats. Mr. "Williams visits this farm every week in 
 summer, while Mr. Catherwood attends to it during 
 the winter season. See sketch. 
 
 Mr. Williams keeps himself well posted upon 
 current events and gives his political support to 
 the Republican party. Socially, he is a Knight Tem- 
 plar and in religious matters a member of the Uni- 
 versalist Church. Upon first coming to Hoopeston 
 he purchased ground on Second street, where he 
 lived four years and later purchased property at 
 the corner of Penn and Fifth streets, where he has 
 resided for the past six years. He was the first 
 man in company with others to experiment with 
 the sugar cane here and later became interested in 
 the canning factory, putting up the corn produced 
 from 900 acres the first year, but only prosecuted 
 this two seasons. 
 
 ^SlissLavina McFarland of Marion Count}', Ohio, 
 became the wife of our subject, June 9, 1859. She 
 was the daughter of Andrew and Sarah McFarland, 
 who in 1857 removed to Illinois and settled in Iro- 
 quois County where Mrs. Williams lived under 
 the parental roof until her marriage. Of her union 
 with our subject there were born six children, of 
 whom only three are living — Charles C, Walter 
 W. and Frank. The first mentioned is occupied as 
 a bookkeeper. at Omaha, Neb.; the others remaiii 
 at home and will be given the educational advan- 
 tages suitable to their position in life. 
 
 Nathan Williams, the father of our subject, was 
 born in Bedford County, Fa., and when a young 
 man emigrated to Harrison County, Ohio, where he 
 
 taught school two years. He had prior to this 
 learned the tailor's trade. In Ohio he purchased a 
 tract of land near Georgetown from which he con- 
 structed a good farm. He married Miss Sarah, 
 daughter of Nathan Iloopes. Ten children came 
 to bless this union, of whom Thomas, our subject, 
 was the fifth in order of birth. The father died 
 when a comparatively young man, in 1841. The 
 mother kept her home in Ohio until the children 
 were grown to mature years, then, although retain- 
 ing her propert}' there, she came to the home of her 
 son in this county, where her death took place in 
 1881, when she was seventy-nine years old, having 
 been born in 1802. She, like her husband, was a 
 member of the Society of Friends. 
 
 <JT|) AMES M. STINE, Postmaster of Fairmount, 
 is without question the most popular man 
 in this community. The fact that his ap- 
 pointment as Postmaster was endorsed by 
 two of the Democratic papers in 1889, he being a 
 Republican, is sufficient indication of the estima- 
 tion in which he is held by his fellow-citizens. His 
 early educational advantages were limited, but 
 good sense and energy have proved his valuable 
 stock in trade. Under favorable circumstances 
 lie might have made for himself a reputation in 
 the literary field, as he has been a frequent con- 
 tributor both of prose and poetry to the local 
 press. He took a conspicuous part in the late 
 Civil War, and among other duties commanded 
 the flatboat which carried the rock to build the 
 dam constructed by Col. Bailey in the Red River, 
 to float down the gunboats at the time of Banks' 
 expedition up that river. Ills career has been es- 
 sentially that of a self-made man, who in early life 
 was thrown upon his own resources and whose ex- 
 perience served to develop within him a most 
 admirable character. 
 
 Our subject comes of excellent stock, being the 
 son of John and Mary (Winn) Stine, who were 
 natives respectivel_y of Pennsylvania and Virginia. 
 They became residents of Ohio in their youth, and 
 were married in Muskingum County, that State, 
 
410 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 wliere they lived until 1865. Thence they came 
 to this coiinly and settled in the vicinity of Dan- 
 ville, where the father prosecuted farming and 
 died in 1871. The mother preceded her husband 
 to the silent grave, dying in 1870. Their house- 
 hold included ten children, five of whom are still 
 living and making their homes mostly in Illinois. 
 The subject of this sketch was the seventh child 
 of his parents, and was born April 26, 1843, in 
 Muskingum County, Ohio. He learned what he 
 could in the common schools prior to the outbreak 
 of the Civil War, and made a visit to Illinois in 
 1860, working in this county on a farm for about 
 one year. Then, returning to Ohio, he, in Sep- 
 tember, 1861, enlisted as a Union soldier in Com- 
 pany D, 16th Ohio Infantry, which was organized 
 in Wooster and soon afterward proceeded to the 
 South. Young Stine was then but eighteen vears 
 old, but he performed all the soldierl}- duties of a 
 full-grown man, and engaged in all the battles in 
 which his regiment participated, being at Cumber- 
 land Gap, Tazewell, Tenn., Chicasaw Bayou, Port 
 Gibson, Raymond, Champion Hills, Black River, 
 the siege of Vicksburg; was at Jackson, Miss., and 
 in the Red River expedition. At ihe expiration 
 of his term of enlistment he was mustered out 
 with his comrades at Morganza Bend, in October, 
 
 1864. Although experiencing many hairbreadth 
 escapes, he came out without a scratch, and re- 
 mained at home that winter. In the spring of 
 
 1865, being unable to content himself at home 
 while many of his comrades were still fighting in 
 the field, he enlisted a second time, in Company B, 
 i 96th Ohio Infantry, and went with his regiment 
 to the Slienandoah Valley, remaining there until 
 the surrender of Lee at Appomattox. Soon after- 
 ward they repaired to Baltimore, and thence to 
 Camp Chase, Columbus, Ohio, where the regiment 
 was mustered out in October, 1865. 
 
 Upon leaving the army the second time, Mr. 
 Stine joined his parents in this county, and on the 
 l-2th of August, 1866, was married to Miss Eliza 
 Bates, a daughter of Joel Bates, one of the pioneer 
 Sfttlers of Danville Township. Mrs. Stine has an 
 uncle. James O'Neal, who was the first male white 
 child born in this countj', and who now resides six 
 miles south of Danville. Mr. Stine worked on a 
 
 farm for two years after his marriage; then, in 
 1870, removing to Kentucky, was a resident of the 
 Blue Grass State for the following six years. We 
 next find him in St. Louis. Mo., where he was en- 
 gineer in a rolling-mill for one year. His next 
 removal was to this county, of which he has since 
 remained a resident. For the last four years he 
 has been a butter-maker in the creamery at F'air- 
 mount. 
 
 To our subject and his estimable wife there were 
 born five children, only one of whom is living, a 
 daughter, Mary Belle, who was born Oct. 5, 1876. 
 Miss Mary is an apt scholar in the High School at 
 Fairmount, and possesses more than ordinary musi- 
 cal talent, being a fine performer on the violin. 
 They have a very pleasant and comfortable hoaie, 
 situated in the west part of the town, and enjoy the 
 friendship of a large circle of acquaintances. Mr. 
 Stine has taken an active part in political matters, 
 and is familiarly known as " Old Baldy No. 2." 
 He was a member of the Republican Central Com- 
 mittee during the late campaign, has been Village 
 Trustee two years, and the second j^ear was Presi- 
 dent of the Board. As an ex-soldier he was a 
 member of the G. A. R. Post, which was disbanded 
 in 1888, and of which he was Post Commander one 
 year. Both he and Mrs. Stine are members in 
 good standing of the Methodist Episcopal Church 
 and the daughter is prominently connected with 
 the Sunday-school. The family is well known 
 throughout Vance Township, and are amply worthy 
 of representatation in a work of this kind. 
 
 
 ^^USTAVUS C. PEARSON was born in Ra- 
 ff » venna,PortageCo.,Ohio, July 17, 1827. His 
 ^^1 father, the Hon John Pearson, was born in 
 Avon, N. Y., .Tan. 23, 1802. The Pearsons are de- 
 scendants of the Rev. Abraham Pearson of York- 
 shire, England and came to America in 1639, and 
 whose son, also Abraham Pearson, was the first 
 President of Yale College. 
 
 The grandfather of Gustavus went from Elling- 
 ton, Conn., to New York State, when a young man 
 and was married in Schenectady, Jan. 4, 1789, to 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 411 
 
 Rebecca (Waterous) Hull. He located in Duaiies- 
 burg, where lie lived on patent land until 1796. 
 He then concluded to build a home which he could 
 call his own, where the fee of the land could be 
 obtained and free of all incumbrance, and therefore 
 went to the wilds of Western New York and loca- 
 ted at Hartford (now Avon), in company with his 
 mother-in-law, Canada, purchasing 400 acres of 
 land there. He first erected a log cabin but later 
 built the first frame house in the neighborhood, 
 ■which was called "John's Industry and Rebecca's 
 Economy." He brought a grindstone with him 
 in to the country which the Indians soon found 
 would sharpen their tomahawks. Knowing the 
 fear of the family, they would strike the hatchets 
 into the logs and give an Indian whoop. They 
 however became civil and docile afterwards. He 
 also built a store and engaged extensively in mer- 
 cantile pursuits. This was long before there were 
 either railroads or canals, and his goods which were 
 bought in the city of New York and Philadelphia, 
 were transported by pack horses. He used to take 
 cattle, horses and sheep in exchange for goods, and 
 these he drove to market at Philadelphia or New 
 York, the journey occupying from four to six 
 weeks. His death occurred in Avon, Dec. 23, 
 1812, while his wife survived him many years, dy- 
 ing in Vernon Township, Pa., Dec. 10, 1861, lack- 
 ing but three years of rounding out a full century. 
 The father of Gustavus, the Hon. John Pearson, 
 was graduated from Princeton College in Septem- 
 ber, 1824, when he began the study of law with 
 the Hon. George Hosmer, at West Avon. He was 
 admitted to the bar at Ravenna, (Jhio, in the spring 
 of 1832, from which place he went to Detroit, 
 Mich., and took passage on a sailing vessel bound 
 for Chicago. Maj. Whistler then commandant of 
 Ft. Dearborn was a friend of the Pearsons, and in- 
 vited them into the fort where the family remained 
 while the father started out to seek a location, 
 as Chicago was then considered unsafe on account 
 of the Indians. In the month of July of that 
 year, the first steamer that ever floated on Lake 
 Michigan, landed at Chicago, bringing Gen. Scott's 
 troops and an unwelcome visitor, the cholera. Mr. 
 Pear-on soon removed his family to Danville on 
 account of there being a company of rangers sta- 
 
 tioned there which seemed to insure safety for the 
 settlers. In 1836, he was elected Presidential elec- 
 tor on the Van Buren ticket and was selected as 
 messenger to return the vote of Illinois to Wash- 
 ington City. During the same j'ear he was elected 
 Circuit Judge and removed his residence to Joliet. 
 His circuit included all of Cook, Will, DuPagc, 
 Kane, DeKalb, and other contiguous counties. He 
 held the office of Judge until he was elected State 
 Senator. In 1849, he went to California, making 
 the journey across the plains. He, however, did 
 not make a lengthy stop there, but returned East 
 locating in New York City, where he practiced 
 law for a time. He shortly returned to Chicago 
 and thence to Danville, whore he had large real 
 estate interests, and here resided until his death, 
 which occurred in June, 1875. 
 
 Judge Pearson, the father of the subject of this 
 sketch, in his day did more for the upbuilding of 
 Danville than any other man. To people who would 
 agree to build on lots, he gave them away, a policy 
 which showed great wisdom. Judge Pearson will 
 remain in the memories of many people as an up- 
 right and able man. His kindness to the poor was 
 proverbial. 
 
 Judge Pearson was twice married. The maiden 
 name of his flrst wife, and the mother of Gustavus, 
 was Catherine Tiffany, daughter of Judge George 
 S. Tiffany. She was a native of New York and 
 her death took place June 4, 1842. She was the 
 mother of three children, Gustavus being the eld- 
 est, and Elizabeth who is the wife of Col. William 
 C. McReynolds. George is deceased. The second 
 wife of Judge Pearson was Catherine Passage, of 
 Princeton, N. J. She became the mother of two 
 children: Fannie, wife of Dr. Morehouse of Dan- 
 ville, and Hattie, wife of Mr. Knox, of St. Paul, 
 Minn. 
 
 Gustavus C. Pearson, of whom this sketch is 
 written, is in every sense of the word an old set- 
 tler. He came to Illinois with his parents when 
 not five j'ears old, and he recalls the incidents oc- 
 curring during the residence of the family at Ft. 
 Dearborn, the Indian dances and the cholera scare, 
 which caused a temporary dei)opulation of the foit. 
 He attended the pioneer schools of Danville and 
 later the Jubilee College in Peoria County. He 
 
412 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIO(iRAPIIICAL ALBUM. 
 
 also aUended at AUeglieny College in Meadville, 
 Pa., from whic'li place lie went to Now York and 
 clerked in a store for a short time, afterwaid re- 
 turning to Danville, where he began the study of 
 law with Judge McRoberts. This occupied one 
 year, when he went to Joliet and engaged with 
 Gov. Matteson as clerk, and by hard work be- 
 came, in course of time, general manager of his bus- 
 iness, and so valuable were young Pearson's ser- 
 vices, that Gov. Matteson offered him the profits 
 of a one-half interest in the business, without capi- 
 tal, if young Pearson would remain in his position 
 and not go to California. Here he remained until 
 184;», when he started for California, having fitted 
 out one team with three yoke of oxen, with others. 
 In their journey across the plains they encountered 
 vast herds of buffalo and especiall}' in the vicinity 
 of where Lincoln, Neb., Is now situated. Guards 
 were mounted every night after crossing the Mis- 
 souri River. Along this dreary and lonely route 
 every variety of personal property was scattered, 
 from St. Joseph to California, by emigrants going 
 to the Eldorado. At Salt Lake City, where the 
 Mormons had settled, the party was induced by 
 Brigham Young and others to stop, it being 
 represented by the great apostle that the surround- 
 ing country was fully as rich in minerals as Cali- 
 fornia. The3' accordingly staid there about three 
 months, when Brigham declared that those Gentiles 
 who would not unite with the Mormon Church 
 should leave at once for California, and that in go- 
 ing they should make themselves useful to the 
 the Mormons by opening a new trail. Young 
 knew that it was too late for them to go by the 
 Northern or Humboldt route, and thought to make 
 them useful to his own people. Thus the party 
 was obliged to start and make their way 600 
 miles across a country without any trail. Mr. 
 Pearson's wagon was the first one that ever went 
 through Cahon Pass on wheels, but prior to reach- 
 ing this Pass, bis party, composed of ten j^oung 
 men who bad left their teams at Armagosa or Bit- 
 ter Waters, traversed a desert of 113 miles, arriv- 
 ing at Prudom's Ranch in an almost famished 
 condition. Capt. Hunt had the previous year gone 
 through the Pass eastward, but had taken his wagon 
 to pieces, and packed it on the backs of mules. 
 
 The i);irty stoppi'il at Prudom's Ranch for a few 
 weeks and from there went to Los Angeles, thence 
 to San Pedro, where they embarked in a sailing 
 vessel, and arriving at San Francisco pitched their 
 tent on the beach. A number of the company 
 had perished en route. At this period San Fran- 
 cisco was composed of a few adobe houses and a 
 great many tents. The party remained there a 
 few weeks, when Mr. Pearson went to the mining 
 regions and engaged in digging for gold until 
 1852, and the money thus accumulated was, in 
 1850, sent to Pennsylvania and loaned at six per 
 cent. He then returned home by the Nicaraugua 
 route, In 1853 he again visited California, and es- 
 tablished the first grape ranch on the red lands, 
 southeast of Sacramento; this land is since celebrated 
 as the best vineyard land in the State, and among the 
 finest in the United States. The land was then de- 
 clared worthless by the Spanish and Gen. Sutter. 
 During the summer of 1855, the weatlier was so dry 
 that mining was neither pleasant nor profitable, so 
 Mr. Pearson in company with nine others, formed 
 a party and started on a hunting expedition. It 
 was this compa)iy that first explored and laid claim 
 to the Yosemite Valley and made its wondrous 
 beauties known to the world. Mr. Pearson re- 
 turned East, and in 1859, commenced operating on 
 the Board of Trade in Chicago, which he contin- 
 ued until 18G9, when he went again to California, 
 and in A'allejo erected the first elevator ever 
 built on the Chicago plan in that State. He was 
 also associated with A. D. Starr, as Pearson & Starr, 
 in building flouring-mills at South '^"allejo, which 
 are at the present time the largest in the world, 
 having a capacity of 9,000 barrels a day. He 
 remained a resident of California, and aided in 
 establishing the San Francisco Board of Trade, but 
 in tlie year 1880 returned to Danville, where he 
 has since lived, retired from active life. He erected 
 a beautiful residence on the land which his father 
 purchased in 1834. 
 
 Mr. Pearson was married Sept. 13, 1864, to Hat- 
 tie P. Brown, daughter of the Hon. William and 
 Mary J. (Pearson) Brown, natives of New York 
 State. Her father was a resident of Ogdensburg, 
 where he was for many years County Judge, and 
 was always prominently identified with the up- 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 dl3 
 
 building- of that city, where he spent his last years. 
 jMr. and Mrs. Pearson have three children: John A., 
 Frances N., and Nomen N. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Pearson are members of the Holy 
 Trinity (Episcopal) Chnrch. Mr. Pearson has 
 always been greatly- interested in public affairs and 
 in politics has ever been arrayed against the mo- 
 nopolists. He wiis largely instrumental in organ- 
 izing the Grange Revolution in California, of 
 which he was a prominent member for many years. 
 He drafted the California Warehouse law, and suc- 
 ceeded in having it passed after ten years of per- 
 sistent eifort, which regulated warehouses, and 
 makes their receipts available for business purposes. 
 The entire grain trade of the Pacific Coast had 
 been controlled until then by an individual operator. 
 He has been a contributor to the Journal of Coin 
 merce, in Chicago, and also the Pacific Sural Press, 
 and other newspapers. Mr. Pearson has attained 
 high success as a business man, and this can be 
 attributed to his strict probity and his sagacity. In 
 1880, he returned to Danville for the purpose of 
 educating his children. (Jur subject is a member 
 of the Old Settler's Society of Chicago, and is also 
 numbered among the pioneers of California, being 
 (me of the settlers of '49. 
 
 J I OHN W. BREWER, a prominent citizen of 
 I Vermilion Count}-, was born in the citj' of 
 I Danville July 7, 1837. His father, William 
 ' Brewer, was one of the pioneers of this 
 county, and was born in Virginia or Ohio. The 
 grandfather of John W., whose name was John 
 Brewer, was a native of Pennsylvania, and of 
 Dutch ancestry, the name being formerly spelled 
 Brower. The latter moved from Pennsylvania to 
 Virginia, and thence to Ohio, where he spent his 
 last years in Miami Count}-. William Brewer, the 
 father of the subject of this sketch, was reared in 
 Ohio, and when a young man started for the West, 
 going to Lafayette, Ind., and there married. In 
 about 1832 he came to Vermilion County, locating 
 in D.inville. Soon after coming here he entered 
 Guvcrument land, which was situated in Danville 
 
 and Newell Townships; part of this land is now in- 
 cluded in the city of Danville. Early in manhood 
 he had learned the cabinet-maker's trade, and after 
 coming to Danville, he labored as a carpenter, and 
 has the honor of being the builder of the first 
 frame house erected in the city. The timbers were 
 hewn, and the weather boards rived or split, by 
 hand. He resided here until 1840, when he re- 
 moved to Clay County, where he lived eight years, 
 then returned to this county. His death occurred 
 in IHoT in Newell township. The maiden name of 
 his second wife, and the mother of John W., was 
 Sarah Switzer, a native of Ohio and daughter of 
 Peter and Mary Switzer, natives of Pennsylvania. 
 She was married a second time to II. B. Current. 
 
 .lohn W. Brewer had five brothers and one sister 
 who lived to raaturit}-- Mary A. married W. H. 
 Rodrick; she is now deceased. Abraham lives in 
 Danville; Richard is a resident of Oakwood Town- 
 ship, while Peter and Isaac are deceased. John W. 
 attended the pioneer schools of this county in the 
 old-fashioned log school-houses, furnished with 
 primitive seats and desks. The benches were con- 
 structed by splitting small logs, hewing one side, 
 and inserting wooden pins for legs. The method 
 of securing an education in those early days, com- 
 pared to that of these times, is a practical illustra- 
 tion of the march of civilization in the nineteenth 
 century. He resided with his parents until his 
 father's death, when he learned the carpenter's 
 trade, in which business he had received previous 
 instructions from his father. Immediately after 
 his marriage he located on the farm that he now 
 owns and occupies. This contains 180 acres of 
 well-improved land, the greater part being located 
 in Danville Township, about five miles from the 
 city. He was first married in 1858, to Harriet Kester. 
 She was born in Ohio, and died in 1862, leaving 
 one child, George. His second marriage, which 
 occurred in 1867, was to Sarah Oliver, a native of 
 Vermilion County, and a daughter of John and 
 Elizabeth Oliver. Of this union there are seven 
 children: Albert Frank, Edmund, Perry, Ben, 
 Effle, Clara and Ettie. 
 
 Mr. Brewer is a member of the Pleasant Grove 
 United Brethren Church, of which he has been 
 Steward one year. He has always taken an interest 
 
lU 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 in (jducational affairs, and lias served as Clerk of 
 the School Board. Mr. Brewer is one of the sub- 
 stantial and reliable citizens of his neighborhood. 
 In politics, he is a stanch Democrat. 
 
 (f^ IfelLLIAM KELLY, a talented business man 
 \nj// and able financier, is classed among the fore- 
 ^^^J most citizens of this part of Vermilion 
 County. He is a coal operator, and is also extensively 
 engaged in farming and stock raising, owning and 
 personally superintending a large farm on section 
 2, Danville Township. Here he has one of the 
 finest country seats in Illinois, comprising a hand- 
 some and commodious brick residence of a modern 
 and pleasing style of architecture, tastefully fur- 
 nished and replete with all the comforts and luxur- 
 ies that make life worth living, with grounds 
 around it beautifully and artistically laid out. The 
 representation of such a beautiful home as this is 
 certainly a pleasing and attractive addition to a 
 book of this character and will be appreciated by 
 all readers. 
 
 Mr. Kelly was born in County Meath, Ireland, 
 Nov. 1, 1842. His father Michael and his grand- 
 father, Bernard Kelly, the latter a farmer, were 
 life-long residents of the same county, the father 
 dying in Dec. 23, 1888. The maiden name of 
 the grandmother, a native of the same county, was 
 Shaw. The maiden name of the mother of our 
 subject was Kate Glennan, also a native of County 
 Meath, and there she died in 1859. There were 
 eleven children in the familj' of the parents of our 
 subject, nine of whom grew to maturity, and five 
 of them came to the United States, as follows: 
 Michael; Kate, who married Morace Mitchell; 
 Margaret, who married Thomas Gerahtj-; Ann. 
 who married Edward Oaks; all are residents of 
 Danville. 
 
 The subject of this biography was reared in his 
 native land, and when eighteen years of age the 
 intelligent, ambitious youth determined to see what 
 life held for him in the United States of America, 
 the goal of so many of his countrymen, and going 
 to Liverpool he embarked in a vessel bound for 
 
 these shores, and landed in New York City after 
 an uneventful voyage. He had about '^30 in 
 cash at that time, his only capital with which to 
 begin life in a new country. He went to West- 
 chester County, N. Y., and there did his first work 
 on American soil, finding employment on a farm 
 at !!*12 a month. Six months after that he made 
 his way to Vermilion County, and the ensu- 
 ing nine months worked in Danville, and then, 
 with characteristic enterprise embarked in business 
 on his own account as a coal operator by leasing a 
 bank. The first few months he did all the work 
 iiimself, but was so successful in his venture from 
 a pecuniary standpoint that he was soon enabled 
 to employ men, and is still carrying on the busi- 
 ness, often having as many as thirty men at work. 
 In 1873 Mr. Kelly turned his attention in another 
 direction, desiring to expend some of his super- 
 fluous energies in agricultural pursuits, and he 
 purchased in that year the farm which is still iu 
 his possession and under his management. It con- 
 tains 400 acres of choice land, under splendid cul- 
 tivation and yielding large harvests, and amply 
 supplied with roomy, (.-cm veniently arranged build- 
 ings, including his handsome residence which he 
 erected in 1888, and has all the modern machinery 
 and appliances for facilitating farm labors. Mr. 
 Kelly raises stock quite extensively, and has fine 
 herds of blooded cattle, horses and hogs. 
 
 The marriage of our subject with Miss Elizabeth 
 Tyiall was solemnized in 1864. She is a native of 
 County Meath, Ireland, and a daughter of Garrett 
 Tyrall. She is a woman of fine character and 
 warm heart, and unites with her husband in makin"- 
 their beautiful home attractive to their many 
 friends or to the stranger within their gates, b}' a 
 genial, gracious hospitality. Their pleasant house- 
 hold circle is completed by the seven children born 
 unto them, namely: Kate, Margaret, Lizzie, Annie, 
 Emma, Lulu, Bertie. 
 
 Mr. Kelly is a distinguished representative of 
 our self-made men whose industrious, methodical, 
 business-like habits, combined with a steadfast 
 purpose and great executive talent, have led them 
 on to fortune. It is to such men of large enter- 
 prise and liberal spirit that Vermilion County is 
 indebted for her high standing as a prosperous, 
 
'ResidenceofT,\A.O\-E.W%See.lO. Danville Township, VeTrrailion, County:^ 
 
 9^es/:de?tc& o/^ W. V. R I C KA RT Bco. 8. "Tloss Township, Vcrmdion Coy/ily. 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 417 
 
 wealthy community, with flourishing agricultural, 
 mining, manufacturing, and commercial interests. 
 Our subject possesses great weight and influence in 
 this locality, where he is looked up to as a wise, far 
 sighted, noble minded citizen, and his hand is felt 
 in all schemes that are in any way calculated to 
 benefit the township or county. 
 
 ^ IfelLSON V. RICKART. There are few 
 \^il l^omesteads in this county more attractive 
 \^ys!l or more valuable than that owned by the 
 subject of this sltetch. Without ostentation or any 
 great amount of display, it is the synonym of com- 
 fort and plenty, with all the evidences of cultivated 
 tastes and the refinements of modern life. The large 
 and well cultivated farm has been brought to its 
 present condition only b}' the exercise of the most 
 unflagging industry, together with wise judgment 
 and economy, which has enabled the proprietor to 
 invest his capital where it would yield the best re- 
 turns. He is widely and favorably known as a 
 skillful and progressive farmer, prompt in his busi- 
 ness transactions and in all respects a valued mem- 
 ber of his community. 
 
 Next in importance to a man's own person- 
 ality is the record of those from whom he drew 
 his origin. The father of our subject was Jolin 
 Rickart and his paternal grandfather was Leon- 
 ard Rickart, the latter probably a native of 
 North Carolina. It is known that John Rick- 
 art was born in that State and was one of five 
 brothers, all of whom signalized themselves as 
 efficient soldiers in the War of 1812. They, how- 
 ever, became separated during the vicissitudes of 
 tliat war and never met again. John emigrated to 
 Ohio when a young man and was married in Butler 
 County to Miss Nancy Clem, a native of Ken- 
 tucky. His parents also removed to Ohio, where 
 they spent their last days. 
 
 Twelve children completed the household circle 
 of John Rickart and his excellent wife, eight of 
 whom were born in Ohio: Susan married William 
 Allen and came with her husband to this county at 
 an early day, where her death took place about 
 
 I860; Mary J. became the wife of George Cope- 
 land and also died in this county; Lucinda married 
 Resa M. Davis, and resides in this county ; Julia 
 A. is the wife of T. B. Bleevens, of this county ; 
 Leonard is deceased ; Nancy is the wife of Charles 
 Howard, and they live in Labette County, Kan. ; 
 Maria is the wife of Robert D. Kinman, of Poto- 
 mac, this county. These, with Wilson V.. our sub- 
 ject, were natives of the Buckeye State. The 
 younger children, Jacob, Frances M., Samuel C. 
 and Elmira, were born in this county. The latter 
 died at the ago of sixteen years. 
 
 The parents of our subject came to Illinois in 
 the fall of 1838, making the trip overland by team 
 and located in Blount Township about nine miles 
 northwest of Danville. The father purchased of a 
 J\lr. Skinner a tract of land upon which some im- 
 provements had been made and built up a good 
 home, where he and his estimable wife spent their 
 last days. He was very successful as a tiller of the 
 soil and the old home farm was considered one of the 
 best in that region. The mother departed this life 
 in November, 1871, when about sixty-six years old. 
 Mr. Rickart survived his wife less than a year, dy- 
 ing in June, 1872, at the age of seventy-two. They 
 were people honest and upright and enjoyed the 
 highest respect of all who knew them. 
 
 The subject of our sketch distinctly remembers 
 that at the time of coming to this county deer, 
 wolves and other wild animals were plentiful, so 
 that whatever else the family larder lacked they al- 
 waj's had an abundance of wild meats. During his 
 bo3'hood daj'S the nearest market was at Chicago, 
 which was then an unimportant village. On his 
 first trip to the place in company with a party of 
 neighbors, they encamped the first night near the 
 present site of Hoopeston, and the wolves came and 
 howled within thirty steps of their camp, keeping 
 them awake by their noise, but doing no further 
 damage than to frighten them considerably. When 
 a family needed a fresh supply of provisions they 
 would kill a hog of about 200 pounds weight, sell- 
 ing it for whatever they could get, sometimes 110 
 and sometimes $5, and calculated that this must 
 furnish them with groceries for the year. On his 
 first trip to Chicago young Rickart took a load of 
 wheat, and when within forty miles of the place 
 
418 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 met a party of men returning who reported wheat 
 worth $1 per bushel. The day following it was 
 quoted at fifty cents. Upon his arrival there tiie 
 price had risen a little again and he obtained 
 fifty- five cents. There were then three elevators 
 in operation, but others were in process of con- 
 struction. There was only one street south of the 
 river and none of the streets were paved. A wagon 
 Wduld sink in the sand and mud to the deptli of 
 about eight inches. 
 
 About eight years later Mr. Rickart hauled grain 
 to Chicago, when there was about seven miles of 
 town south of the river. A hotel had been built 
 several miles south on the open prairie, where dro- 
 vers stopped over night and their cattle grazed 
 upon the prairie grass. Upon his second trip Mr. 
 Rickart found the city had extended to a point 
 near the hotel. After the building of the railroad 
 to Danville there was a good market at that place, 
 and farm produce was accordingly shipped there. 
 
 One of the most important events in the life of 
 our subject was his marriage, which occurred Dec. 
 29, 1859, in Blount Township, this county, with 
 Miss Hester A., daughter of Josiah and Hannah 
 (Walkins) Crawford. JMrs. Rickart was born in 
 Hocking County, Ohio, November, 1836. Her pa- 
 rents were natives respectivelj' of Virginia and 
 Maryland, whence they removed to Ohio prior to 
 their marriage. Thence in 1838 the}' came to this 
 county, locating not far from the iiome of the Rick- 
 art familv- They likewise opened up a farm from 
 the wilderness, and there the mother died, March 
 24, 1860, at the age of forty-seven years. Mr. 
 Crawford is still living at the old homestead. Five 
 of their ten children are also living: Sarah J. mar- 
 ried Vinton Lane, of this county; William, Hester 
 A. and Benjamin are the next in order of birth; 
 Mary L. married William Blaukenship, of this 
 county; Minerva died at the age of fourteen years; 
 Samuel, James, Elmira and Lucinda died prior to 
 the decease of the mother. The latter was a lady 
 of many estimable qualities and a member in good 
 standing of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. 
 and Mrs. Rickart belong to the United Brethren 
 Church. 
 
 The Rickart homestead comprises 560 acres of 
 land, which was chielly wild and uncultivated when 
 
 coming into the possession of our subject. Under 
 his careful management it has become exceedingly 
 fertile, yielding him a handsome income. He set- 
 tled upon it in the spring of 1860, and for many 
 years has made a specialty of stock-raising, chiefly 
 cattle. He uniformly votes tiie Democrat ticket 
 and has held the various township offices, includ- 
 ing that of Constable and Commissioner of High- 
 ways. The first school attended by our subject was 
 taught in a little frame house by Miss Emma 
 Palmer, of Danville, and conducted on the sub- 
 scription plan. The next teacher was Samuel Hum- 
 phrey, who subsequently studied medicine and con- 
 ducted a drug store in Danville, where he practiced 
 and died several years later. Another teacher 
 whom Mr. Rickart remembers was a Mr. Robison, 
 an old sailor. Later Elder William Webster, who 
 now lives in Danville, officiated as the first peda- 
 gogue under the free school law. The prairie grass 
 in those days grew to a height of five or six feet, 
 and the yellow blossoms of the weeds would fre- 
 quenll}' hide a team and wagon completely out of 
 sight. Mr. and Mrs. Rickart have only two chil- 
 dren living, Hatlie J. and Ella V. The first men- 
 tioned is the wife of John V. Lane, and they live at 
 the homestead. The second child, Emma C, died 
 at the age of six years. The paternal grandfather 
 of Mrs. Rickart, William Crawford, was a soldier 
 in the War of 1812. Grandfather William Watkins 
 hired a substitute for the same war. 
 
 We take pleasure in inviting the attention of 
 readers to a fine view of the country residence of 
 Mr. and Mrs. Rickart on another page of the 
 volume. 
 
 OLEHY. On section 10, Danville 
 Township, about a mile outside of the cor- 
 porate limits of the city, lies one of the 
 finest farms in this part of the county, owned bj- the 
 gentleman whose name stands at the head of this 
 sketch. He is a native of Vermilion County, born 
 in this township May 3, 1837, and a son of one of 
 its early pioneers. 
 
 His father, Dennis Olehy, was of Irish des- 
 cent and borr, near Portsmouth, Ohio, He was 
 
PORTRAir AND r.IO( UIA PI I ICA (, ALBUM. 
 
 419 
 
 quite young when his parents died so that nothing- 
 is known of their history. He was reared in his 
 native State to a sturdy, self-reliant inanh(jod, mar- 
 ried, and resided there until 1830. He then started 
 for the far West, journeying with a team to Ver- 
 milion Count}', and here made a claim to a tract 
 of land in what is now Danville Township. The 
 greater part of the land in this State was then in 
 the hands of the Government. Indians still lingered 
 around their old haunts, deer and otiier wild game 
 were plentiful in the then sparsely settled country 
 which showed but few signs of the coming civil- 
 ization. jMr. Olehy erected a pole shanty as atem- 
 porary shelter for his farailj', and thej' lived in it 
 till he could put up a round log house, the same in 
 which the subject of this sketch was born. The 
 father continued to live on his homestead till his 
 demise, which occurred March 2, 1877. He occu- 
 pied an honorable place among the brave, self-sac- 
 rificing pioneers of the county, and left to his chil- 
 dren the precious legacy of a life well-spent. The 
 maiden name of his wife, mother of our subject, 
 was Elizabeth Glaze, she was of Cieruian descent, 
 and is supposed to have been born in (Jhio, a 
 daughter of John Glaze, a pioneer of Vermilion 
 County. Her death took place on the old home- 
 stead in 1845. 
 
 Dennis Olehy, the father of our subject, was 
 twice married; his first wife was Elizabeth Glaze, 
 by whom he had seven children, viz: Nancy be- 
 came the wife of Joseph Martin, she is now de- 
 ceased; Rachel, wife of John (^. A'illars; Mar}' A., 
 wife of Martin Current; F. M., our subject; Isaac 
 Newton, (deceased), married Sarah Emily; James 
 died when a boy; Perry died in the army while 
 serving as a Union soldier of the late war. 
 
 After the death of his first wife Dennis Olehy 
 married Sarah Ann Jones, by whom he had ten 
 children. Those who lived to maturity are — Jane 
 married Henry Olehy; Adeline married Marion 
 Fagins; Elizabetli married Herbert Hall; Martha 
 married Job Marble; Ruth A., deceased, married 
 Thomas Hathaway; Joshua married Rosa Belle 
 Jones; Ellen married John Marble, and is deceased ; 
 Alice married Sherman Waits; Martin and William 
 died when they were small boys. 
 
 The subject of this sketch was educated in 
 
 the primitive pioneer schools of tiie early days of 
 the settlements of Illinois, which with their rude 
 slab benches, dirt and stick chimneys with open 
 fireplaces for heating purposes, were not much like 
 the fine educational institutions where tlie youth of 
 to-day are trained. As soon as he was able to 
 shoulder a gun he took pleasure in hunting and he 
 shot several deer in the course of his boyhood. 
 He assisted on the farm, living at home till his 
 marriage, and occasionally accompanied his father 
 to the nearest markets at Perrj'sville, Compton or 
 Lafaj'ette, on the Wabash River, quite a distance 
 from home, with produce, and once in a while he 
 made a trip to Chicago, 125 miles distant. He 
 continued to live in Danville Township for a time 
 after marriage, then went to Warren County, Ind., 
 wliere he rented land, and also leased some land 
 near Burr Oak (Irove. In 1868, he returned to 
 this place with his family and located on the farm 
 that he now owns. This homestead comprises 190 
 aares of choice land, whose finely tilled fields vield 
 a handsome return in repayment of the labor and 
 care spent upon it. It is furnished with a good 
 set of frame buildings which he has erected and he 
 has otherwise greatly increased the value of his 
 property since it came into his possession. 
 
 JMr. Olehy and Miss Minerva J. Martin were 
 united in marriage Sept. 9, 1858, and they have 
 four children living, namely: Mary the wife of 
 John Villars, of Champaign County, III.; William 
 D.; Albert and Minnie are at home with their par- 
 ents; George M., died at the age of about four 
 months. Mrs. Olehy's father, George Martin, was 
 born in Beaver County, Ohio, near Georgetown, 
 Oct. 18, 1809. His father, Hudson Martin, was a 
 native of Virginia, and his father, George Martin, 
 Mrs. Olehy's great-grandfather, spent his entire 
 life in that State. Hudson Martin moved to Ohio 
 when a young man, and was married there to Mar- 
 tha Lay cock, a native of Virginia, and a daughter 
 of William Laycock, who moved from his native 
 Virginia to Ohio among the first settlers of Brown 
 County. He took up a tract of land there, im- 
 proved a farm, and erected good buildings, only 
 to find that he had labored for nothing as he lost 
 his land by some one else having a prior claim. 
 The maiden name of his wife was Harper, and she 
 
420 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 came of an old \'irginia family that owned Har- 
 per's Ferry and gave it its name. Mrs. Olehy's 
 grandfather Hudson resided in Ohio many years, 
 but subsequently moved to Ripley County, Ind., 
 whence he came to V^ermilion County in 1827, the 
 removal being made with teams to bring tlie fam- 
 ily and household goods, while the stock was driven 
 along at the same time. He was one of the early 
 settlers of the county, locating in what is now 
 Newell Township, mal-cing a claim and entering 
 land from the Crovernment. Mr. Martin at once 
 commenced the improvement of a farm, on which 
 he resided many years. He finally sold it .and 
 moved to Washington, where his last years were 
 spent. Mrs. Olehy's grandmother died at the home 
 of her daughter in Newell Township. 
 
 Mrs. Olehy's father, was in his eighteenth year 
 when he came to this county with his parents, and 
 can remember well the incidents of their early life 
 here. Two years after coming here he returned 
 to Indiana and engaged in boating on the Ohio and 
 Mississippi rivers about four years. He then re- 
 turned to ^'ermilion County and established him- 
 self as a farmer. He worlted by the month or day 
 for awhile, and at the time of marriage rented land, 
 and later bought some, and was a resident here till 
 1875. In that 3'ear he went to California on ac- 
 count of ill health and was' gone two years. He 
 tlien came back to the old homestead, which is lo- 
 cated in Danville Township, two miles from the 
 court house. Feb. 23, 1837, was the date of his 
 marriage with Miss Mary McKee. She was born 
 in Fleming County, Ky., June 2, 1812. Her father 
 William McKee, was born in Pennsylvania Jan. 18, 
 1783, and was a son of Guian McKee, who is sup- 
 posed to have been a native of Scotland, whence 
 lie came to America in colonial times and served 
 in the Revolutionary War. He located in Penn- 
 sylvania, and from there a few years after the Rev- 
 olution he went to Kentucky and was a pioneer of 
 Fleming County. He bought a tract of land, 
 cleared a farm, and was a resident there till his 
 death. Mrs. Martin's father was young when his 
 parents removed to Kentucky, and there he was 
 reared. He learned and followed the trade of a 
 wheelwright some years, and then bought a tract 
 of timber land and built a log house in which Mrs. 
 
 Martin was born. In 1832, he sold out his prop- 
 erty in his Kentucky home, and coming to Ver- 
 milion County, located on the place where Mr. and 
 Mrs. Martin now reside. It consisted at that time 
 of 160 acres of wild land, and he improved it into 
 a good farm before his death, which occurred Feb. 
 21, 1872. The maiden name of his wife was Hes- 
 ter Adams. She was born either in Kentucky or 
 Ohio Aug. 12, 1785, and died on the home farm 
 here Dec. 1, 1866. 
 
 Mr. Olehy is a man of good habits and sterling 
 principles, and is a credit to his native county. 
 He is a hard worker and uses good judgment in the 
 management of his affairs, so that he has acquired 
 considerable property, and is numbered amono- the 
 well-to-do citizens of the township. Politically, 
 he associates with the Democratic party, and is an 
 earnest supporter of its policy. A fine lithographic 
 view of the handsome farm, residence and out- 
 buildings of Mr. Olehy is shown on another page 
 of this work, and we invite the reader's attention to 
 the same. 
 
 l!L^ K>*'R"i^ J- OAK WOOD. It is said of this 
 I jovial, practical, genial and companionable 
 gentleman that " he is the jroungest looking 
 g) old man you will And in six States,", and 
 that "he has not a single enemy on earth." It is 
 evident by this that, notwithstanding partial friends 
 may look upon him through rose-colored glasses, 
 he is a man of no ordinary stamp, and has ex- 
 ericised in a marked degree the rare qualities of 
 discretion, good judgment and temperance of 
 speech and action, which have gathered around him 
 many warm personal friends. His business quali- 
 fications are fully equal to the other distinguishing 
 traits of his character, he having been uniformly 
 successful and accuiiiulating a competence. 
 
 A native of the Buckeye State, Mr. Oakwood 
 was born in Brown County, Ohio, March 7, 1819, 
 and came with his parents to Illinois when a youth 
 of fourteen years. His education was completed in 
 Oakwood Township, in an old log school-house on 
 the land which he now occupies, and later he taught 
 school for three years in succession. In due time 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 421 
 
 he built a log cabin upon his own land, and com- 
 menced farming for himself. In 1850 he took 
 unto himself a wife and helpmate, Miss Abigail 
 Smith, but the young wife only survived until the 
 following year, dying in iHol, leaving one child. 
 This child, a son, James, came to his death by 
 drowning in the ]\liddle Fork when four years old. 
 In 1852 Mr. Oakwood contracted a second mar- 
 riage with Miss Priscilla Sailor, and continued to 
 reside at the same place, which l^j^ degrees he added 
 to, and is now the owner of 750 acres of land, all 
 in Oakwood Township, which was organized .""after 
 he came to this county, and was named in his 
 honor. He was largely instrumental in founding 
 the village of Oakwood, and contributed no small 
 amount of monej' as an inducement to have it lo- 
 cated upon its present site. He at one time owned 
 the ground occupied by the south half of the town. 
 He put up his present residence in 1877, and 
 through his careful supervision and good manage- 
 ment, he has one of the best regulated farms in this 
 part of the county. Adjoining it on the east is 
 the largest coal field in the State, belowging to the 
 Consolidated Coal Company of St. Louis. The 
 farm is largely devoted to stock-raising, Mr. Oak- 
 wood keeping about thirty head of cattle, forty 
 head of horses and 100 head of swine, of excellent 
 grades. Adjacent to the residence are the barns 
 and various outbuildings, conveniently arranged 
 for the shelter of stock and the storage of grain. 
 The latest and most improved machinery is utilized 
 in the cultivation of the land, and everything 
 about the premises indicates the supervision of the 
 thorough and progressive agriculturist. To our 
 subject and his present wife there have been born 
 nine children, one of whom died when about one 
 month old. William, the eldest child living, mar- 
 ried Miss Annie Longstreth, is the father of three 
 children, and lives on a farm adjoining Oakwood 
 on the northeast; Morgan married Miss Julia 
 Trimmell, lives south of Oakwood, and has two 
 children; Emma is the wife of Charles Smith, and 
 the mother of one child; they live three miles 
 northwest of Fithian. Thomas married Miss Etta 
 Longstreth, is the father of two children, and lives 
 a half mile west of the homestead; Mattie, Harvey, 
 Charles and Stella remain at home with their jjar- 
 
 ents. All the children' of Mr. Oakwood have ob- 
 tained a good education in the district school, 
 being more than ordinarily bright and intelligent, 
 and taking kindly to their books. 
 
 Both our subject and his estimable wife are 
 church members, the former belonging to the Pres- 
 liyterian and the latter to the Methodist, and their 
 children attend Sunday-school regularly. iMr. 
 Oakwood, politically, has been a stanch Republican 
 since reaching his majority, and has olficiated as 
 Director in his school district for the long [leriod of 
 twenty-one years. He was Road Overseer six 
 years. Commissioner of Highways seven years, and 
 represented Oakwood Township in the Count}- 
 Board of Supervisors eight years. At peace with 
 all mankind, enjoying good health, and in possess- 
 ion of a happy home and an intelligent family, it 
 would seem that he has little more to ask for to 
 make him contented with life. 
 
 The father of our subject was Henry Oakwood, 
 a native of East Tennessee and a farmer by occu- 
 pation. In early manhood he married Miss Mar- 
 garet Remle}', a native of Kentucky, and a daughter 
 of Henrjr Remley, of Penns^dvania, who emigrated 
 to the Blue Grass regions at an early period, and 
 sojourned there the remainder of his life. Henry 
 Oakwood took an active part in the War of 1812, 
 was with Hull's army at the surrender of Detroit, 
 as a member of the Kentucky Mounted Troops, 
 under the command of Col. R. I\I Johnson. Tl;e 
 parents were married in Kentucky, where they 
 lived for a time afterward, then, removing to Ohio, 
 purchased the farm and remained there until the 
 fall of 1833. Then coming to this county, they 
 settled on section 24, in what is now Oakwood 
 Township, where they spent the remainder of their 
 lives engaged in the peaceful occupation of farm- 
 ing. Indians encamped on the place now occupied 
 by the subject of this sketch, for a year after the 
 family came here. 
 
 The Oakwood family experienced all the priva- 
 tions and hardships of pioneer life upon coming to 
 this county, being the first settlers in their neigh- 
 borhood, before the time of railroads or even a 
 well defined wagon track. Mr. Oakwood became 
 the prominent man of his community, holding 
 many of the offices, serving as Justice of the Peace 
 
■122 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 for a period of twelve years, and Townsliip Treas- 
 urer for nearly the same length of time. After a 
 life well spent he was gathered to his fathers, in 
 1854, at the age of sixty-six years. The mother 
 survived her husband until 1881, dying at the ad- 
 vanced age of eighty-seven. They were the par- 
 ents of five sons and four daughters, onl}' four of 
 whom are living, and of whom Henry J., our sub- 
 ject, was the third in order of birth. 
 
 -S^i^— 
 
 -•t»- 
 
 ^., LYIN STEARNS. Among the men of this 
 lII I county who have risen from a small be- 
 ginning to an eminent position in the esti- 
 i^f mation of their neighbors, is the gentle- 
 
 man whose name initiates this biography. To be a 
 a self-made man means something. It indicates 
 that the man who has earned the honor of being 
 so called, has passed through many hardships, and 
 had seen the dark clouds of adversity when per- 
 haps despair was but a step ahead, but by persever- 
 ance and intelligence has emerged in the sunlight 
 of prosperity. 
 
 Harvey Stearns, the father of Alviii, was born 
 in Vermont, but afterward removed to New York, 
 and was there married to Fanny Lockwood, a na- 
 tive of New York. Thence he removed to Ohio, 
 in 1814, where he bought a small farm, and re- 
 mained there until 1832. He then located on the 
 site of Alvin Stearns' present home, building a log 
 house and becoming a full-fledged citizen of Illi- 
 nois. At that time there were scareely half-a- 
 dozen houses between his farm and Danville, where 
 the Government had stationed some troops to keep 
 the Indians in subjection. Harvey Stearns and 
 his wife were respected by all their acquaintances 
 for their sterling qualities. They were the parents 
 of eight children, five of whom are living. He died 
 Nov. 30, 1847, aged fifty-six years, while the 
 mother survived until Aug. 1, 1877, passing away 
 at the advanced age o*' eighty-seven years. 
 
 Alvin Stearns was the eldest of the famil)^ and 
 was born Nov. 28, 1815, in Ohio. He wiis sixteen 
 years of age when his father located in Illinois. 
 He and his brother Calvin walked the entire dis- 
 
 tance from Ohio to Illinois, driving cows, sheep 
 and hogs. Mr. Stearns obtained his education 
 partly in his native State, but finished it in Illi- 
 nois. He attended subscriiition schools, and his 
 learning was secured in the usual manner of the 
 early pioneer days. He was very studious, and al- 
 ways aimed to be at the head of his class — a posi- 
 tion he generally secured. Being the oldest son, 
 and his father being in poor health most of the 
 time, he was obliged to take the lead in the work 
 of the farm. Manj' times he has gone thirty or 
 forty miles to mill, and often was obliged to go 
 to Danville in the night, sixteen miles distant, to 
 call a physician for his father. In those days the 
 farmers in this section transported their wheat by 
 team to Chicago, bringing back supplies. Mr. 
 Stearns remained at home until he was past twenty- 
 two }'ears of age, aiding his father. 
 
 Mr. Stearns married Miss Elizabeth Lee, April 
 12, 1837. She was a daughter of AVilliam H. and 
 Rebecca Lee, who came from Ohio to Illinois in 
 182'J, and located a mile and a half west of Mr. 
 Steam's present home. Mr. Lee was a prominent 
 and prosperous citizen of the earlj^ days, and the 
 father of eight children, all of whom, except one, 
 are now dead, and the father and mother have 
 long since passed to their reward. Mrs. Stearns 
 was the eldest child, born in 1819, and at the time 
 of her marriage was nineteen jrears of age. Mr. 
 Stearns located on a part of his f.ather's place im- 
 mediatel3r after his marriage, where he built a log 
 house and commenced seriously the battle of life. 
 AVhen his father died he purchased the interest of 
 the other heirs, except that belonging to his 
 mother. The old farm consists of GOO acres, and 
 he has given each of his children a quarter section 
 of good land, and to one of them a house and lot, 
 which cost 16,000. At the time of his marriage 
 Mr. Stearns did not possess 150, but, aided by his 
 most estimable wife, he has long since passed the 
 mark that divides poverty from wealth. He has 
 now a handsome and costly residence, which is 
 represented elsewliere in this volume. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Stearns are the parents of three 
 children, all of whom are living: Lawson married 
 Amanda Izard, and they are residing in Homer, 
 III., with their three children; Ersom is unmarried. 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 423 
 
 and resides in Homer; Rocella J. is the wife of T. 
 B. Craig. They are living on the next farm east 
 of the old homestead, and have five children. Mrs. 
 Stearns, the mother of these children, died Jan. 23, 
 1887, aged sixty-seven years, nine months and 
 four days. Mr. Stearns has been an administrator 
 for many estates, among which may be mentioned 
 those of his father and the Lee estate, also Aaron 
 Hardin's, William Clutter's, Alfred Harden's and 
 the immense estate that belonged to Mr. Yount. Me 
 has successfully administered all these large trusts, 
 and with satisfaction to each of the heirs, all of 
 which constitutes a most remarkable record in this 
 line. For twelve years Mr. Stearns has been As- 
 sessor and Collector, and for six years has held the 
 office of Road Commissioner. He has also been 
 School Director for twenty years. 
 
 Politically, J\Ir. Stearns is a stalwart Republican, 
 and always votes for the candidates of that party. 
 His first ballot was cast for William Henry Harri- 
 son, and he heard that distinguished gentleman de- 
 liver two speeches — one at Wilmington, and the 
 other at Lebanon, Ohio. It is unnecessaiy to state 
 that his last vote was cast for the other Harrison. 
 Mr. Stearns has been a member of the Baptist 
 Church for the last thirty years, and the fact that 
 lie has been chosen to adjust so many estates is 
 evidence that he stands high in the estimation of 
 his fellows. 
 
 r^-e- 
 
 ' ^ EORGE N. NEVILLE. The preservation of 
 
 G choice blood in the human species has as 
 much to do with the characteristics of an in- 
 dividual, as does careful breedingin the animal king- 
 dom in determining the fine points of that portion 
 of creation; and he, who can look back upon his 
 ancestry, tracing its lines through generations of 
 high-minded and honorable people, has something 
 of which to be truly proud. The ancestry of Mr. 
 Neville is traced back to the Land of the Thistle, 
 his paternal grandparents emigrating from Scotland 
 to Virginia, in time for his grandfather, Joseph 
 Neville, to take part as a brigadier-general on tlie 
 
 side of the colonists in their great struggle for lib- 
 erty. Unlike many of those who crossed the 
 Atlantic at that time, he came fortified with ample 
 means which he invested largelj'' in land, comjjrising 
 a valuable plantation, worked by slaves whom 
 he liberated at his death. 
 
 Among the sons of grandfather Neville was 
 George, the father of our subject, who was born in 
 Moorefield, W. Xa., and was the youngest of a 
 family of twelve children. He studied law at 
 Winchester, Va., under Abrara Lock and was 
 duly admitted to the bar. His first and last case 
 in court was one in which his client, an old man, 
 in a fit of insanity killed liis wife, after they had 
 lived a long and app.arently happy life together and 
 raised a large famil3' of children, who had married 
 and settled in homes of their own in the neighbor- 
 hood. The old man was arrested and tried on the 
 charge of murder. George Neville undertook to 
 defend him and made a vow to clear him or never 
 practice again. The prisoner was found guilty and 
 sentenced to be hung which sentence was carried 
 out to the letter of the law. Mr. Neville kept his 
 vow, immediately took up the studj^ of medicine 
 and practiced that as long as he lived, his decease 
 taking place in 1822. 
 
 Mrs. Elizabeth (Wolfe) Neville, the mother of 
 our subject, was the daughter of Lewis and Catlic- 
 rine Wolfe, natives of Germany, who emigrated to 
 America and settled in Winchester, Va., where the 
 father became a very prominent man and was en- 
 gaged in mercantile pursuits the remainder of his 
 life. They reared a large family of children and 
 gave them an exceptionally fine education. One 
 son, Thomas, was a pupil in one of the German 
 Universities, and another son, Lewis, developed 
 into a promising lawyer, becoming a leading poli- 
 tician and representing his district in the State 
 Legislature. One daughter married a brother of 
 of Wade Hampton, Sr. 
 
 The parents of our subject were married in Win- 
 chester, Va., in 1798 and removed thence to Moore- 
 field, where the father spent the remainder of his 
 life. The mother in 1837 removed to Indiana and 
 died there in 1813. Their seven children included 
 two daughters and five sons and but two of the 
 family survive — our subject and his brother, Joseph 
 
424 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 B.. a resident of Sumner County, Kan. George N. 
 was the youngest child of liis parents and was born 
 Feb. 2, 1820 at Moorefleld, Hardy Co., W. \a. 
 He received a ver^' good education in the common 
 schools, attending until a youth of sixteen. 
 About that time the family came north and George 
 N. remained a member of his father's household 
 until his marriage. 
 
 The above mentioned interesting event in the 
 life of our subject took place Sept. 24, 1840, the 
 bride being Miss Mary S., a daughter of Warner 
 Throckmorton, a leading lawyer of Romney, 
 Hampshire Co., ^^a. The great-grandfather of Mrs. 
 Neville, William Throckmorton by name, emigrated 
 before the War of the Revolution from the old 
 county of Gloucester, Va., to Jefferson County, Va. 
 The Throckmorton family had been often and hon- 
 orably named in the pages of history, before tliey 
 became residents of the United States. Very few 
 of their descendants now reside in the olil home; 
 indeed all of that name have removed therefrom, 
 and collateral descendants alone remain of a former 
 influential family. Grandfather Throckmorton was 
 born and reared to man's estate in Jefferon County, 
 Va. He studied law with his uncle, John Dixon, 
 one of the ablest lawyers and most talented man 
 in the State. Under his friendly counsel Mr. 
 Throckmorton acquired legal ability, and rapidly 
 rose in the profession until he occupied a very 
 prominent position among members of the bar in 
 his own State and country. He died in the prime 
 of life, being forty-two years of age. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Neville began their wedded life 
 on a farm eight miles south of La Fayette, Ind., 
 where they lived until 1854. That year they came 
 to this county, settling on the north half of section 
 10 in Vance Township, when there were but a few 
 people located outside of the towns and prior to 
 the laying out of Fairmount. Mr. Neville evolved 
 a good farm from the virgin soil, the land becom- 
 ing highly productive, .and upon which he made 
 excellent improvements. Here with his excellent 
 wife he lived and labored until advancing years 
 admonished him it would l)e wise to laj^ aside some 
 of the sterner duties of life, and accordingly in 
 1884 he left the farm and established himself in 
 Fairmount, where, surrounded by all the comforts of 
 
 a pleasant and attractive home, he is spending his 
 later daj's in peace and quiet. 
 
 To Mr. and Mrs. Neville there were born ten 
 children, seven of wliom are living. The eldest 
 son . George Warner, during the Civil War en- 
 listed in the 25th Illinois Infantry. At the battle 
 of Kenesaw Mountain he was severely wounded 
 and was removed to the hospital at Chattanooga 
 where he died on the 11th of July, 1864, at the 
 age of twenty-one 3'ears, six months and twenty- 
 one days. The G. A. R. Post, organized at Fair- 
 mount subsequently adopted the name of this gallant 
 hoy, who was a general favorite among his young 
 associates. Miss Anna C. Neville became the wife 
 of Alvin A. Taylor, of Fairmount, and they have 
 one child; Norbourn married Miss Lizzie Price, 
 and they live on the home farm ; they have no 
 children. Mary E. is the wife of Rev. Henry Col- 
 lins, a member of the Illinois Conference of t!ie 
 Methodist Episcopal Church and they have one 
 child; Frank married JNIiss Margaret Cannon, is 
 the father of three children and lives five miles 
 south of Fairmount; Sail}' Virginia remains at 
 home with her parents; Ada is the wife of Rev. 
 D. W. Calfee, a member of the California Confer- 
 ence of the Methodist Episcopal Church and they 
 have three children; Nellie is the wife of Walter 
 G. Owen, living at Fort Smith, Ark., and tbcy have 
 two children. 
 
 Mr. Neville has held the office of Inspector of 
 Elections and School Treasurer in Indiana, and in 
 Illinois held the latter office for seven 3'ears, unti 
 resigning. He has been Road Commissioner fov 
 fifteen years, also School Director. Although not 
 an active politician, he takes a lively interest in 
 the success of the Republican party, of which he 
 has been a member since its organization, and al- 
 though born and reared in the Old Dominion, was 
 strongly opposed to the institution of slavery, his 
 views upon this question assuming definite form at 
 the early age of fifteen years and experiencing no 
 change thereafter. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Neville are devout members of the 
 Methodist Episcopal Church with which Mr. Ne- 
 \'ille has Ijeen identified since a youth of nineteen 
 years, and for many j^ears he has officiated as Stew- 
 ard and Trustee. He has always maintained a warm 
 
o/fa/r^^M tOMA^TXr 
 

 % l,t3/ur^ 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 429 
 
 interest in Sunday-school, mission and temperance 
 work, to which he has given hxrgelyof liis time and 
 means and labored as he had opportunity, to ad- 
 vance the moral and social status of the people 
 around him. His life has been one of large experi- 
 ence during which he has learned well from men and 
 things, and he possesses a fine fund of information 
 which makes him a gentleman with whom it is 
 most pleasurable and profitable to converse. 
 
 ' ZRA .1. BANTZ. The preservation of fam- 
 
 Eily historj' is beginning to assume due im- 
 portance in the minds of the intelligent 
 people of the present day, as the biographer finds 
 here and there (me who, like the subject of this 
 notice, has carefully preserved whatever informa- 
 tion he could obtain concerning the lives of his 
 ancestry. He has given to this matter considerable 
 thought and attention, and next to his personal his- 
 tory and that of the Bantz family, esteems in im- 
 portance everything connected with the history of 
 his native land. Pie is one of those patriotic spir- 
 its wlio appreciate the advantages of living in an 
 enlightened country, and who realize wh.it efforts 
 have been put forth to bring it to its present posi- 
 tion among the nations of the earth. The fact that 
 patriotism is beginning to be taught in tiic public 
 schools speaks well for the civilization of the pres- 
 ent day, and none are in more earnest sympathy 
 with this movement than he with whose name we 
 introduce this biographical record. 
 
 We find Mr. Bantz pleasantlj' located on a well- 
 regulated farm, occupying a part of section 17 in 
 Oakwood Township. He made his first purchase 
 here In 1864, and the year following took up his 
 permanent residence in this county. He has now 
 230 acres of fine farming land, located one mile 
 south of Muncie, partly prairie and partly timbc", 
 and nearly all in productive condition. Mr. Bantz 
 proposed the name of Muncie for the above-men- 
 tioned town, and out of respect for him it was duly 
 adopted. 
 
 Our subject was born Jan. 12, 1827, in Preble 
 County, Ohio, and was the eldest of ten children. 
 
 the offspring of Joshua and Elizabeth (Brenner) 
 Bantz, the former a native of Frederickstown, Md., 
 l)orn in 1805, and the latter a native of Ohio, born 
 in 1S07. Joshua Bantz was a farmer by occupa 
 tion, and lived to the good old age of seventy 
 years, departing lience in 1875. The mother had 
 l)receded her husband to the silent land in 1863. 
 The paternal grandfather, John Bantz, a native of 
 (iermany, died in Ohio at the age of seventy years. 
 His father and brothers, Solomon and Felty, emi- 
 grated to America from Prussia at an early day, 
 and settled in Maryland. Grandfather Bantz took 
 an active part in the defence of Baltimore during 
 the War of 1812. He married Miss Byerly ,of 
 Maryland, who was, like himself, of German de- 
 scent. He was a weaver by trade, but after his 
 marriage removed to Preble County, Ohio, where 
 he purchased 120 acres of land, and thereafter oc- 
 cupied himself as a tiller of the soil. He spent 
 his last days upon the farm which he opened up 
 from the wilderness. Grandmother Bantz sur- 
 vived her husband a few years, dying at the age 
 of about seventy-five. 
 
 The maternal grandfather of our subject was 
 John Brenner, a native of Kentucky, and whose 
 father emigrated from Germany during the first 
 settlement of the Blue Grass State. He built a log 
 cabin in the wilderness among the Indians, and had 
 a little square window in the rear, which also 
 served as a port hole, through which he thrust his 
 gun in time of danger and defended himself against 
 his enemies. He owned a negro slave named Ned. 
 One morning the master was aroused by the ap- 
 piuent cry of a wild turkey, and arising from bed 
 tO(jk down his gun, and was on the point of leav- 
 ing the house to shoot the game when Ned jumped 
 u|), crying out: "Hold on, Massa; let me shoot 
 that turk." The master gave him the gun, and 
 Ned going out by the front door, made a wide 
 circle around, and in a short time grandfather 
 Bienner heard the report of a rifle in the rear of 
 the cabin. Directly Ned came in with the head of 
 an Indian stuck on a pole. "Here, Massa, here is 
 your turkey." The negro understood the coming 
 of the Indian that time better than his master. 
 
 After a time grandfather Brenner emigrated to 
 Ohio, and died tliere at the advanced age of ninety- 
 
430 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 five years. His wife was in her girlhood Miss 
 ,Sarah Warren, of Massachusetts, and died before 
 reaching her tlirce-score years. Her fatlier, John 
 W. Warren, served in the Revolutionary War from 
 the beginning to the close, on the side of the col- 
 onists. He was a native of England and a cousin 
 of the lamented Gen. Joseph Warren, who fell at 
 Bunker Hill. John Warren also participated in 
 that battle, and was at Brandywine when so many 
 British were killed and fell into the creek that the 
 Americans could cross dry-shod over their dead 
 bodies. He died about 1830 at the age of eightj'- 
 five years. 
 
 The parents of our subject were married in Ohio 
 about 1825. Six of their ten children are still liv- 
 ing, being residents mostly of Indiana. The family 
 removed to Indiana in 1835, where Ezra .T. received 
 a practical education in the common schools, and 
 grew up an admirable young man of excellent 
 habits, sound principles, and a well-informed mind. 
 When twenty-one j'ears of age, he walked from 
 eastern Indiana through the woods to Logansport, 
 and at that point, on the 10th of March, 1848, en- 
 listed in the ir)th Regiment of Regulars for the 
 War with Mexico. They started for the field, but 
 the war was over bj^ the time the company of our 
 subject had reached Newport, K3'. He there re- 
 ceived his discharge, and returning to Indiana, 
 resumed work on the farm of his father until his 
 marriage. 
 
 The above mentioned event in the life of our 
 subject took place Nov. 9, 1848, the bride being- 
 Miss Nancy, daughter of Eli and Elizabeth (Forbes) 
 Thornburg. After the marri.age Mr. Bantz and 
 his young wife settled in Delaware County, Ind. 
 JMr. Bantz obtained, from the land warrant given 
 him by the Government, land in the Indian Reserve 
 in Indiana, but not long afterwards sold out and 
 purcliased land in Eastern Indiana, adjoining a 
 farm alreadj^ owned by his wife. This thej' occu- 
 pied until 18()5, and in that year, as already stated, 
 came to Illinois, of which they have since been 
 residents. 
 
 Of the six children born to our subject and his 
 estimable wife, four are living. Daniel J. married 
 Miss Sarah Ross, is the father of six children, and 
 lives on a farm in Champaign County; James mar 
 
 ried Miss Addie Dalbey, is the father of four chil- 
 dren, and occupies the faim north of the Bantz 
 homestead; Louisa E. became the wife of Erastus 
 Dow, and they live in Texas; Mary M., the wife 
 of William Ellis, is the mother of four children, 
 and they are also residents of the Lone Star State. 
 Mr. Bantz cast his first Presidential vote for Gen. 
 Cass, and has been a uniform supporter of Demo- 
 cratic principles. He enjoys a pension on account 
 of his proffered services during the Mexican War. 
 Socially he belongs to the Masonic fraternity, and 
 in religious matters is liberal. His estimable wife 
 and their children are members in good standing 
 of the Baptist Church. Our subject, while a resi- 
 dent of Indiana, ofHciated as Township Trustee, 
 and in his present district has been School Director 
 and Road Overseer. He is one of the solid and 
 reliable men of Oakwood Township — one who has 
 contributed materiallj' to her advancement and 
 prosperity. 
 
 As representatives of the worth of Vermilion 
 County, we present elsewhere in this Album fine 
 portraits of Mr. Bantz and his wife, wdiich will be 
 highly prized by all their friends. 
 
 ^ .^.^ ^ 
 
 \T RA BABB was born in the house he now occu- 
 I pies, Nov. 2, 1842. His father Levi Babb, 
 /1\ was a native of Greene County, Tenn., and his 
 birth occurred Oct. 26, 1788. The senior Babb 
 came to Vermilion County in October, 1826, stop- 
 ping near Yankee Point for a short time and then 
 settling in December of the same year on section 
 14, range 11, Elwood Township, about one mile 
 northeast of Ira's present residence. He remained 
 there about three ^^ears and a half, entering the 
 west half of the southeast quarter of the section 
 named, when he built the house in which his son 
 Ira now lives, in 1830. 
 
 During the time before specified, Levi Babb, 
 entered the following tracts of land all situated in 
 township 17, north of range 11, west of the second 
 principal meridian, viz: the east half of northwest 
 quarter and the west half of northeast quarter of 
 section 24, entered j\Iarch 20, 1827. Also the west 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 481 
 
 half of the southeast quarter of section 13, on same 
 date. The east half of the southeast quarter of 
 section 23, Dec. 8. 1827. The east half of the 
 southwest quarter of section 24, Dec. 1, 1830, and 
 the west half of northeast quarter of section 26, 
 June 6, 1831, also other smaller tracts amount- 
 ing in all to about 600 acres. The Indians had 
 their camping grounds where the old home- 
 stead is now situated. The subject of this 
 sketch has picked up many flint arrow heads on 
 his land and he also has in his possession a 
 stone axe discovered' there also. His father, 
 in the early days was obliged to go to Racoon 
 and Sugar Creeks, Parke County, Ind., to mill. 
 He endured many hardships and privations, and 
 when he emigrated to this county his means of 
 transportation was a five horse wagon, in which he 
 and his family rode a distance of 650 miles. He 
 taught a son of one of the Indian chiefs to plow and 
 in many other ways did things which made the In- 
 dians his friends forever, and he also spoke tlie In- 
 dian language fluently. Levi Babb was a tireless 
 worker and in everything that pertained to his 
 farm he spared no pains to procure the best, lie 
 used to haul his produce to Chicago and return 
 with salt and groceries and was at that place when 
 the first warehouse was being built. He was of- 
 fered forty acres of land for a yoke of o.x:en, where 
 Chicago now stands, but declined as he thought 
 the land would never be worth anything. He- 
 owned atone time 600 acres of land and left neiirlv 
 that amount at the time of his death. He was mar- 
 ried twice, his first wife being Susannah Dilhjii, 
 and by her he had ten children, two of whom are 
 living: Jonathan and Levi. She was born .luly 
 10, 1788, in Greene County, Tenn. Levi Babb 
 married for his second wife, P^lizabeth Prevo. The 
 ceremony occurred on Nov. 21, 1839. She was 
 born in North Carolina Oct. 31, 1804, near Ash- 
 boro, and was the daughter of Alexander and ILnn- 
 nah Prevo, who emigrated to Fountain County, 
 Ind., in an early day. She was the mother of throe 
 children: Ira, Hannah and Allie, the two latter be- 
 ing deceased. Allie was the wife of William Hot- 
 tel, of this township. She died .Jan. 13, 1887, at 
 the age of forty and was a member of the Cumber- 
 land Presbyterian Church. Father Babb died at 
 
 the advanced age of eighty-three years, four 
 months and twenty-seven days, his death occur- 
 ring March 23, 1872, while his wife passed away 
 on Feb. 3, of the same year, aged sixty -seven years 
 three months and two days. 
 
 Ira Babb has always lived on the old homestead. 
 He owns 409 acres of land here and twenty-two 
 acres in Vermillion County, Ind. He is engaged 
 in general farming, and in the manufacture of 
 drain tile. His stock consists of Short-horn cattle 
 and Poland -China hogs, all of a high grade, and 
 general purpose horses. He erected his tile fac- 
 tory in 1887. It is a fine frame structure 20x60, 
 two stories high, with an Lof the same dimensions. 
 He is manufacturing tile from three to twelve 
 inches in diameter, and also brick of a fine quality. 
 The factory is driven by a twenty-flve horse-power 
 engine, which is supplied with steam by a Hadley 
 <fe Wright boiler, which is fortj^-four inches in di- 
 ameter and ten feet long. The tile made at this 
 factory is of the very best quality and in great 
 demand. 
 
 On Sept. 28, 1882, our subject was married to 
 Miss Minerva E., daughter of Elihu Canaday. 
 Mrs. Babb was born in Clarke County' Nov. 19, 
 1845. lillihu Canaday, Mrs. Babb's father, was 
 married to Elizabeth McCowan. Thej- were the 
 parents of seven children, viz: Adam, Sarah J., 
 Henry D., Annie M., M.ary Jemima, Minerva E., 
 nnd Rebecca J. Elihu Canaday died Oct. 4, 1848. 
 Eh'zabeth (McCowan) Canaday died in April, 1863. 
 Annie M. (]anaday who was born April 11, 1838. 
 when two years old went blind. She was a sister 
 of Mrs. Babb. This child died at the Blind Insti- 
 tute at Jacksonville, at the age of twenty years. 
 The grandparents of the subject of this sketch, 
 Thomas and Martha (Ewing) Babb, emigrated 
 from AVinchester, Va., to Greene County, Tenn., in 
 the early settlement of tlie latter State, locating in 
 Babb's Valley. The}' had a family of twelve chil- 
 dren who are scattered throughout the west and 
 Northwest, while some remained in Tennessee. 
 Their son, Levi, the father of Ira, was a soldier in 
 the war of 1812. He also had two brothers, David 
 and Caleb, who served in the army at the same 
 time, all being under Gen. Jackson. At one time 
 they were in a party of soldiers that chased the In- 
 
4o-i 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 rtians for six days and nights with nothing to eat 
 save .1 little spoiled flour, some hickory nuts and 
 ^\veet hickory roots, and this incident, so Mr. Babb 
 says, is what gave the name of -'Old Hickory" to 
 Gen. Jackson, as he too partook of the nuts and 
 roots. 
 
 Mr. Babb has never sought official honors. He 
 is a pronounced and enthusiastic Democrat. He 
 is proud of the record his father has made and is 
 in all respects a praiseworthj^ citizen. Mr. Babb 
 lias in his possession a portion of two almanacs, 
 dated respective!}' 1828 and 1829, also implements 
 and relics of "ye olden tyme," such as a sickle, 
 and pitchfork over one hundrd years old and many 
 other things. 
 
 ?)H0MA8 A. TAYLOR, a prominent resident 
 of Catlin Township, is a man whose well 
 trained, vigorous mind and progressive 
 views place him in the front ranks of the en- 
 lightened, wide-awake agriculturists of Vermilion 
 County. He has a large farm of nearly- 600 acres, 
 whose broad, fertile fields, roomy substantial 
 liuiidings and well ordered appearance generally-, 
 mark it as'one of the best managed and choicest 
 estates in this part of the county, and here on sec- 
 tion 5 he has erected a liandsome residence that is 
 replete with all the modern comforts. 
 
 Our subject was born in Tij^pecanoe C'ounty, 
 Ind., April 25, 1847, a son of Thomas A., and Ivea 
 (Allen) Taylor, natives respectively of Ohio 
 County and Shelby Count}', Ky. After marriage 
 his parents began their wedded life in Tippecanoe 
 County, Ind., near Lafayette, wliere he followed 
 his trade, that of a tanner, hving there till 1852, 
 where they came with their famil}' to A'ermilion 
 County to settle among its pioneers, taking up 
 their abode in Catlin 'J'ownship. The father died 
 liere in September, 187C, and an upriglit and hon- 
 ored citizen was thus lost to the community with 
 whose highest interests his own had been identical 
 from the flrst hour of his settlement here. He was 
 a man of sincere piety and a wortliy member of 
 the Cumberland Presbyterian Cliurch. His wife 
 still snrvives and makes lier home in Catlin Town- 
 
 ship. She is a truly good woman and a devoted 
 member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. 
 They had eight children, of whom our subject was 
 the seventh in order of birth. 
 
 He was five years old when he accompanied his 
 parents to Vermilion Count}', and the remainder of 
 his life has since been passed here. He was given 
 the advantages of a liberal edncation, obtaining 
 the basis of it in the public schools, and he then 
 became a student at Lincoln University in Logan 
 County and subsequently took an excellent course 
 of study at Mt. Zion Academy, Macomb County, 111., 
 his studies being of a practical character such as 
 would be of benefit to him in his business relations 
 and in his work. After leaving school he devoted 
 himself to the teacher's profession for nine years, 
 meeting with great success in that vocation and by 
 his intelligent methods placing himself in the fore- 
 front of the best educators in this part of tlie coun- 
 tr}-. He has resided in Catlin, and aside from 
 teaching has given his attention wholly to agricul- 
 tural pursuits, owning and managing one of the 
 largest and finest farms in this region, as before 
 mentioned. 
 
 Mr. Taylor frankly acknowledges that he is 
 greatly indebted for mucii that is good in his life 
 to liis amiable wife, to whom he was married in 
 Catlin Township, March 11, 1869. She is in every 
 respect a true Christian, possessing much intelli- 
 gence and capacity, and a model housewife, and 
 fills tlie perfect measure of wife, mother, friend, 
 than which no higher eulogy can be pronounced. 
 In her the Christian Church finds one of its most 
 consistent members. Mrs. Taylor's maiden name 
 was Mary C. Acree, and she is a daughter of tlic 
 late Joel and Elvessa (Yount) Acree, known and 
 honored as among the earliest settlers of Catlin 
 Township, where he continued to reside till liis 
 de.ath, Nov. 27, 1880. The father was born in 
 Alabama, and the mother in Shelby County, Ky. 
 They married and settled in Catlin Township in 
 early pioneer times. He was a vakied member of 
 the Christian Church and a tlioroughly upright 
 man. Tlie mother is still living in Catlin Town- 
 ship, and she is also a respected member of the 
 Christian Church. They had two children who 
 lived to grow up, Mrs. Taylor being the eldest. 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 433 
 
 and she was born in C'atlin Township, Nov. 12, 
 1848. Ten of the twelve children that have glad- 
 dened the happy wedded life of our subject and 
 his wife are still with them, two having died in in- 
 faiicj'. The names of the survivors are Clemmer, 
 Gailen II., Elvessa, .loel, Benjamin, Robert, Mag- 
 gie, Lois, Whitticr and Catherine. Our subject is 
 prominently identified with the Republican party 
 and its councils, lie is a member of the A. F. & 
 A. M., Catlin Lodge, No. 285, Vermilion Chapter 
 and Atiielstan Commandery at Danville. 
 
 Mr. Taylor is endowed with a keen, resolute 
 nature, and by prompt, systematic methods and 
 other excellent business habits, has accumulated a 
 valuable property and is one of the moneyed men 
 of Catlin Township. He is a man of earnest relig- 
 ious feelings, and in him the Cumberland Presby- 
 terian Church has one of its most active workers 
 and influential members, he having united with it 
 early in life, and for twenty years or more he has 
 been one of its Elders. He interests himself greatly 
 in the Sunday-school, and has been Superintendent 
 for many 3'ears. 
 
 R. J. R. LTTLE, physician and surgeon 
 of Rankin, is enjoying an extensive and 
 lucrative practice in this village and the 
 surrounding country, and he has already 
 won an enviable reputation as a skillful, well-read 
 and finely educated member of the medical profes- 
 sion of Vermilion County. He is active in public 
 and political matters, and is a valued civic official 
 of this village, in which he takes a deep interest, 
 using his influence to advance its status, education- 
 ally, religiously and socially. 
 
 He comes of good old Pennsylvania stock, and 
 is himself a native of the Keystone State, born in 
 Armstrong Count}' Dec. 2, 1850. His father, 
 John Lytle, was born near Smicksburg, Indiana 
 Co., Pa., Aug. 18, 1808. His early manhood was 
 spent in clearing for himself a farm in what was 
 then a forest near Dayton, Armstrong Co., Pa. He 
 resiiled on this farm until 1860, when he removed 
 with Ills family to the place he now occupies near 
 
 Chambersville, Indiana Countj'. He is of English 
 ancestry, is well endowed intellectually and phys- 
 ically, and although he has attained the advanced 
 age of eighty-one years, he still retains his mental 
 faculties. The maiden name of his wife was La- 
 vinia Keed. She was born Jan. 26, 1816, near 
 Ligonier in Westmoreland County, Pa., and was of 
 Scotch-Ii-ish lineage. Feb. 24, 1889, she passed 
 away from the joys and cares of earth, leaving be- 
 hind to those who loved her the precious memory 
 of a good and virtuous life. Six children were 
 born of her marriage — Catherine, Robert J., John 
 P., James R., S. Jennie, and Mattie A. Robert J., 
 residing in Altoona, Pa., is a carpenter for the 
 Pennsylvania Railroad Companj'. During the 
 war he served almost three years in Company K, 
 14th Pennsylvania Cavalry. He married Sarali 
 Fleming of Indiana County, Pa., and the^- have 
 had two children — Frank Elmer and Myrtle, the 
 latter is deceased; John and Jennie live on the 
 old homestead near Chambersville, Pa. He mar- 
 ried Debbie Reeder, of Lock Haven, Pa., and they 
 have a family of children ; Catherine is the widow 
 of Ferguson Speedy, of Indiana County, Pa., where 
 she is still residing; Mattie A., married McCloud 
 Brady, of Westmoreland County, Pa., and he is 
 now engaged at his trade in a shoe factory in La- 
 trobe, Pa. 
 
 Dr. L3'tle was reared in the home of his birth, 
 and was given good educational advantages, pur- 
 suing an excellent course of study at Dayton Acad- 
 emy, and after leaving school he engaged awhile in 
 teaching. He was desirous of becoming a physi ■ 
 cian, and entered upon liis studies for that purpose 
 with Dr. Thomas McMullen of Greenville, Indiana 
 Co., Pa., and in 1 879, attended medical lectures. 
 He was graduated in the class of 1884, from Rush 
 Medical College, Chicago, 111., and at once openeil 
 an office in Paxton, this State, remaining there two 
 years. At the expiration of that time he came to 
 Vermilion County and established himself at Ran- 
 kin, where he still practices. He has a large num- 
 ber of patients and is ver^' popular with all clns.>-es. 
 
 The Doctor was married to Lauretta M. Burrell, 
 of Marshall County, 111., June 30, 1881. She is 
 a daughter of the late Jacob and Mary (W'ithrow) 
 Burrell, of Westmoreland County, Pa. Her father 
 
134 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 rliod ill LS,S3. Her motliei- now makes her home 
 with hei-. She is the mother of six children— 
 .lames W., Joseph IL, J. <L, Amos, (deceased), 
 Nannie and j\Irs. Lytle. James was a soldier for 
 the Union, survivin.n' the horrors of Southern pris- 
 ons, and is now a carpenter, residing in La Prairie, 
 iMarsIiall Co., 111. He married Mar^^ Butler, of 
 Johnstown, Pa., and they have six children; J. (t., 
 an architect and builder, married a Miss Johnson 
 of Monmouth, III., and they have two children; 
 Joseph mariied Miss Sarah Yont, and is living at 
 Thayer, Iowa; Amos was a soldier who gave up 
 his life in the late war, having received an injury, 
 from which he died just after his return home on a 
 furlougii; Nannie married William Bituer, of West- 
 moreland County, Pa., now a resident of Kansas 
 City, Mo., where he is engaged in a meat market. 
 Although Dr. Lj^tlc has been a resident of this 
 village only a very few years, he is already prom- 
 inently identified with its highest public inter- 
 ests, and is found to be a wise and safe counsel- 
 lor. As Village Trustee, he is active in promoting 
 all feasible schemes for the advancement of Rankin 
 iu every way posible. In politics, the Republican 
 party has in him one of its truest and most intelli- 
 gent upholders, who keeps himself well-posted on all 
 political issues and other matters of interest concern- 
 ing the welfare of the Nation. Both he and his 
 amiable wife are influential members of the United 
 Presbyterian Church, of which he has been an Elder 
 for some years. 
 
 ^yy(\ RS. I]MMA C. McDowell, is an exten- 
 sive land owner of Sidell Township, and 
 one of its leading residents. She also owns 
 land in Carroll Township, upon which is 
 situated a tile factorj^ Her father, William Porter, 
 was born fifteen miles from Lexington, Ky., while 
 her mother is a native of Pickaway County, Ohio. 
 Her grandfather, Samuel Porter, was a native of 
 Maryland, as was also his wife. They removed to 
 Kentucky and from there came to Vermilion 
 County in 1836, where they remained until their 
 death. Her maternal grandfather, Capt. William 
 
 Swank, \v:is :\ n-Ui\e also of Maryland, while her 
 maternal grandmother was born in Virginia. Her 
 great grandfather was killed by the Indians, and 
 his wife was left with a large family of small cliil- 
 dren. The Porter family were closely identified 
 with the early historj' of Virginia. Capt. William 
 Swank was an officer in the War of 1812. He was 
 married in Ohio and came to Vermilion Countj^ in 
 1820, bringing with hira his wife and two children. 
 He was one of the very first settlers of the county, 
 and located close to Butler's Point, at a place then 
 called Indianola, where the old salt works were lo- 
 cated. 
 
 ^Irs. McDowell's mother was one of the two 
 children referred to. She used to relate many in- 
 cidents of the early pioneer history which was 
 thrilling in the extreme, and to the people of this 
 day seemed almost incredible. Tlie hardships that 
 these old pioneers went through 's the basis upon 
 which is founded this splendid State. Mrs. Mc- 
 Dowell's grandfather went to mill in the early 
 days to the Big Racoon River, a journey which oc- 
 cupied ^n entire week's time. Capt. Swank became 
 well-to-do, owning BOO or 700 acres of land at the 
 time of his death. He laid out one of the earliest 
 town sites in Vermilion County, which was then 
 called Dallas, later he also laid out the town of 
 Indianola. He was associated iu this last enter- 
 prise with i\Ir. William Beard. The Captain died in 
 1851 and was buried in the Weaver Cemetery east 
 of Indianola. The Swanks also belonged to lead- 
 ing families in Virginia, and were of English 
 descent. 
 
 Grandfather Porter came to Vermilion County 
 in 1837, and settled about one and a half miles 
 east of Indianola, where he died in 1848. Mrs. 
 McDowell's father was born in 1813 and was of age 
 when he came to Illinois. He resided upon the orig- 
 inal homestead for some years. After selling this he 
 removed to Indianola where his wife died, which 
 occurred in 1886, since which time he has lived 
 with his daughter, Mrs. McDowell. He was the 
 father of seven children: Rosa, Mary, Pimma C, 
 William E., Cordelia. Minerva and Samuel. Rosa 
 resides in EUwood Township, this county, and is 
 the wife of Mr. W. Hay worth. They have three 
 children; Mary married A. H. Mendenhall, a 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 435 
 
 fanner of Carroll Township. Tliey are the parents 
 of six children; William E. married Zetta Blaclv; 
 Corilelia died in 1874. She was tiie wife of Paul 
 Blorriam. She died in Missouri where they re- 
 moved after their marriage; Minerva married Mar- 
 shal Curamings, a contractor of Indianapolis. They 
 have four children; Samuel is unmarried. 
 
 Mrs. McDowell was born in Carroll Township, 
 one and a half miles east of Indianola, on April 3, 
 1849. At the time of her birth the town was 
 called ChlUicothe. Here is wliere she spent her 
 girlhood days and attended school in the little log 
 structure that answered to the name of school- 
 house, her first teacher being Miss Parks, who is 
 remembered as a very genial and pleasant lady. 
 She attended school for three or four years, when she 
 was promoted to the first frame school house 
 erected at Indianola, and in this edifice she pursued 
 her studies so dilligently that she passed a success- 
 ful examination to enter the profession of teacher. 
 She began teaching at the age of seventeen years, 
 and was very successful as an educator. She be- 
 came acquainted with her husband, Mr. McDowell, 
 when she was a young girl and in 1869 was married 
 to him. 
 
 John A. McDowell was born also in Carroll 
 Township, not far from the present homestead. He 
 was the son of John B. and Eleanor (Yarnell) Mc- 
 Dowell, who were natives of Kentucky. They re- 
 moved from their native State to Palestine, and a 
 few years later came to Vermilion County, where 
 they became a prominent family. Mrs. McDowell's 
 husband was born Nov. 16, 1841, and was the 
 fourth of a family of five children. He was born 
 and educated in Vermilion County, and while yet 
 a boy he exhibited strong inclinations for business 
 and began to deal in live stock, a business he con- 
 ducted all his days. His generosity was one of his 
 salient characteristics, and when he was called awa}' 
 he was not only mourned sincerely by his relatives 
 and friends, but by the poor people of his commu- 
 nity as well. No deserving poor man ever came 
 to him and went away empty-handed. He was ac- 
 tive in matters pertaining to education and for the 
 j,eneral developement of the community. 
 
 Mr. McDowell was emphatically a self-made man 
 and wlun he died was well-to-do. He was entirely 
 
 domestic in his tastes, and his home was sweet to 
 him. He was an honored member of the Masonic 
 fraternity, and his obsequies were perhaps more 
 largely attended than any other similar event that 
 ever occurred in Vermilion County. He left behind 
 him a beautiful home and every thini:;- to make life 
 comfortable. His death occurred on Oct. 9, 1886. 
 Ho left seven children to mourn the loss of a truly 
 noble father. Their names are: Gracie, Jennie, 
 Carrie, Fred, Ray, Cullom, and Ned. But these 
 children are under the guidance of a good mother 
 who will rear them to be good men and women. 
 Mrs. McDowell is a member of the Baptist Church 
 of Indianola. 
 
 ^-^^^^^^^^^tf^y^ 
 
 *-c-V-^ 
 
 ERRY O'NEAL is one of the oldest of the 
 native born citizens of ^^ermilidn County, 
 his birth occurring Jan. 16, 1825, on the 
 homestead once owned by his father, on 
 section 27, Georgetown Township. He is a son of 
 one of the earliest pioneers of the county, who was 
 quite a prominent man in his time and did consid- 
 erable to advance its interests. He is noted as hav- 
 ing established the very first manufactory of any 
 kind in the county, a tannery, which he operated 
 successfully several years. 
 
 Thomas O'Neal, the father of our subject, was 
 born in Nelson County, Ky., a son of John O'Neal, 
 whose early history is unknown, although he was a 
 pioneer of Kentucky, and there spent his last years. 
 The father of our subject was reared in his native 
 State, and when a young man started out to seek 
 his fortune in the young State of Indiana, and lo- 
 cating in Madison Teflferson County, he worked at 
 his trade of tanner, married there, and in 1820 re- 
 moved to Edgar County. But he did not remain 
 there long, coming in the following year to what is 
 now Vermilion County, and taking a claim in what 
 is now Georgetown Township. He built a log house 
 on the place for the shelter of his family, and the 
 land, which was part timber and part prairie, he 
 commenced to prepare for cultivation. The land 
 was owned by the government and had not tlu n 
 come into the market. As soon as it was for sale 
 
430 
 
 PORTRAIT AND TUOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 lie sent a man to the l.ind ofticu to enter and pny 
 for it, but ho failed to enter the land, and another 
 man bouglit it. Mr. O'Neal then, in 1826, came to 
 Danville Township and entered eighty acres, in- 
 cluding the eastern half of the southwestern quar- 
 ter of section 27. It was heavily timbered land at 
 the time, and ho felled trees and erected a hewed 
 log hou.se. He soon established a tannery, the first 
 manufacturing industry within the limits of the 
 county. lie continued its management several 
 years, and in the meantime cleared a part of his 
 land and engaged in farming. In the comfortable 
 home that he built up by his unremitting and well 
 directed toil his eyes closed to the scenes of earth, 
 and a long and busy life was brought to an honor- 
 able end. His wife also died there, surviving him 
 (inly two years, and they who had walked the path 
 of life together more than forty years were not 
 long divided in death. Her maiden name was Sarah 
 Howfird, and she was born in Nelson County, Ky., 
 in 1794. Her father, Samuel Howard, was a pio- 
 neer of that State, and moving from there to Mad- 
 ison, Jefferson Co., Ind., he spent his last years in 
 that place. Four of the children born to the par- 
 ents of our subject grew to maturity, as follows: 
 James, living in Georgetown Township; Perr3' ; 
 Nancy, wife of Lewis IJallah, a resident of Dan- 
 ville Township; Cynthia, wife of Joel liates, of 
 Batestown. The father of our subject was a man 
 of more than ordinary intelligence, was gifted wntb 
 a just, well balanced mind, was wise in council, 
 and held a prominent place among his fellow pio- 
 neers. In 1840 he was elected Coroner of the 
 county, and held that ofHce many years to the en- 
 tire satisfaction of all people and classes. In early 
 life he was a Whig with liberal views, and he was 
 always bitterly opposed to slavery, and was one of 
 the first Republicans. He was well acquainted with 
 Lincoln and with other men of note. 
 
 The subject of this biographical review spent his 
 entire life here in his native county, and has been 
 a witness of the greater part of its development 
 from the wilderness to its present advanced state 
 of civilization. He remembers well when the abo- 
 riginal settlers of the soil made their home here, 
 and when deer, turkeys and other kinds of wild 
 game were plenty. Lafayette and Perrysville were 
 
 llio cnrly markcls, but after Chicago was founded 
 his father made an annual trip to that city with a 
 team, taking wheat which he exchanged for house- 
 hold supplies; The mother of our subject used to 
 card and si)in wool and flax, and made all the cloth 
 and clothes used in the family, even making the 
 thread with which the clothes were put together. 
 Perry assisted his father on the farm, and attended 
 the early schools that were taught on the subscrip- 
 tion plan in a log house, with rude benches made 
 of slabs with wooden pins for legs. In 1852 he 
 commenced to work a tract of land in A^ance Town- 
 ship, which lie and his father had entered from the 
 government. He built a good frame house and 
 improved 100 acres of land, and during that time 
 making his home on the old homestead. He now 
 has 180 acres of land under admirable tillage and 
 capable of producing large crops, and he has erected 
 a substantial, roomy set of frame buildings, and 
 has everything about the place in good order, de- 
 noting that he has been pros|)ered in his calling, 
 and is now in comfortable circumstanoos. 
 
 Mr. O'Neal is a man of thrifty, industrious hab- 
 its, and these with other notable traits have en- 
 abled him to lay ui) a competence, so that as old 
 age draws on apace it finds him well fortified against 
 material want. He is numbered among the most 
 estimable and highly respected citizens of his na- 
 tive county, in whose development he has had a 
 hand, and he merits the regard in which he is held. 
 In his early years he was a Whig and cast his first 
 vote for Gen. Taylor. Since the formation of the 
 Republican party he has been a firm advocate of 
 its principles. 
 
 — ^ 
 
 -^ 
 
 I ITCHELL B. G0SSP:TT, is a leading, pros- 
 /// l\\ perous, and energetic farmer of Sidell 
 
 Township. His farm consists of 160 acres 
 on section 34, and there is not one that is 
 better tilled in ^'ermilion County. He purchased 
 this farm in 1881, when but partially improved, 
 and the condition that it is now in speaks well for 
 the owner. 
 
 His father and mother, G, B. and Julia Gossett, 
 
"Meadow Brook- Farm'' Residence of Watts Finley,Secs 
 
25. 2h. 25.(123. R.I 2.) AND Sec.I9.(T.23. R.11.) Grant Tp. VERMILION Co. 
 
 jMBiailHiiritfia'iiW'iiifa^ 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGtUAPIIICAL ALBUM. 
 
 441 
 
 are natives of Highland County, Ohio, where Ihoy 
 were marrierl. In 1859 they removed to Edgar 
 County, 111., where they are still residing, enjoying 
 good health at a hale and hearty old age. The 
 maternal grandfather served with distinguished 
 ability in the War of 1812, and the ancestry on 
 both sides of tlie house is an honorable one. 
 
 IMitchell Gossett was born in Highland County, 
 Ohio, July 24, 1848. His early childhood was 
 spent in his native county, and there he began at- 
 tending school. His first work was on a farm in 
 Edgar County, 111., where he finished his education. 
 He remained at home until the year before he was 
 married, which ceremony occurred March 15, 1882, 
 the bride being Miss Josepiiine Mark, a native of 
 Edgar Count}'. Her parents, Antony and Ellen 
 (Hoppus) Mark, removed to Edgar County from 
 Ohio, and were among the early settlers of Edgar 
 Township, of that county. They are both living, 
 and are looking back upon a record of which they 
 can be proud. 
 
 Mr. Gossett is a member of the Masonic frater- 
 nity, belonging to Broadlands Lodge, of which he 
 is a charter member. He believes that the Demo- 
 cratic party is one which embodies correct political 
 principles, and consequentlj^ he is an ardent sup- 
 porter of the candidates of that organization. In 
 business affairs Mr. Gossett exhibits rare sense and 
 good judgment, and the condition of his farm and 
 its surroundings is an exhibition of the fact that 
 in the race of life he has won. His home is always 
 filled with cheerfulness, and everything in it de- 
 notes the intelligence of those who occupy it. Mr. 
 and Mrs. Gossett are uniformly in the front rank 
 in anything that will lead to the betterment of so- 
 ciety, and are ever willing to aid the unfortunate 
 in any manner they can. 
 
 y^,ATTS FINLEY. A residence of over 
 ' fifty-four years in one county is usually 
 \^^ considered long enough to establish a man's 
 character and standing among his fellow-citizens, 
 and he naturally becomes a part and parcel of the 
 community, with whicK, if he is at all worthy, it 
 can scarcely dispense. If, as in the case of Mr. 
 Finley, he has, by iiis industry and energy, accu- 
 
 mulated enougli property to considerablj' swell 
 the amount of internal revenue, he should be con- 
 sidered of no small importance as a tax-paj'cr, and 
 a prominent and useful citizen. A farm of 740 
 acres located on sections 23, 24, and 25, township 
 
 23, ranges 1 1 and 12, indicates tlie manner in which 
 Mr. Finley has improved his time and talents. His 
 residence is on section 24, and his land is largely 
 devoted to stock-raising, including cattle, horses 
 and swine. 
 
 Our subject first opened his eyes to the light 
 near Lawrenceburg, in Ripley Countj', Ind., Nov. 
 
 24, 1833, and in the early part of tlie following 
 year, when about six months old, was brought by 
 his parents to this county, they settling on a tract 
 of land south of Danville. He remained a member 
 of the parental household until some time after the 
 parents passed away, they dying not many weeks 
 apart, in 1853. In the spring of 1855, in company 
 with his brother. Miller T., and his sister, Mrs. 
 Capt. Frazier, he came to tlie farm which the for- 
 mer now occupies, and where he lived four j^ears. 
 In 1859, April 17th, he was married to Miss 
 Margaret Davis, and with his young wife took up 
 his abode at his present homestead, having then 
 purchased 240 acres of wild land. Of this union 
 there have been born three children, of whom but 
 two are living — Mary and Charles. The former is 
 the wife of Alva M. Honeywell, formerly of Iro- 
 quois County. The son remains at home with his 
 parents. 
 
 It has required no small amount of labor and 
 money to bring the valuable Finley homestead to 
 to its present condition, and this has been effected 
 solely by the present proprietor, who has aimed to 
 excel, and it cannot be denied, has very nearly at- 
 tained to the realization of his ambition. He has 
 carefullj' avoided the responsibilities of political 
 office, although a stanch supporter of Republican 
 principles. Among his neighbors and fellow- 
 townsmen he is well spoken of, which fact is as 
 much to his credit as anything which can be said 
 by the biographer. Every peaceable and law-abid- 
 ing citizen who has aided in the development of 
 this county, deserves recognition and the perpetua- 
 tion of his name in its history. 
 
 Mrs. Margaret (Davis) Finley was born in Ohio, 
 
442 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 April 16, 1834, and is the daughter of Amaziah 
 Davis, wlio came to Illinois and located in \'erniil- 
 ion County during the period of its early settle- 
 ment. He made farming his life occupation, and 
 departed this life at his homestead about the year 
 ISSl. ]\Irs. Davis is still living and a resident of 
 Rossville. 
 
 David Finley, the father of our subject, was a 
 native of Kentucky, and married Miss Nancy 
 Miller, either in Ohio or Indiana. They lived for 
 .some .years in the Miami bottoms, then, in 1834, 
 came to this county and located near the present 
 site of Catlin. lie died in 1853 at the age of sev- 
 enty-three years. The wife and mother passed 
 away when sixty-six years old. A handsome 
 litliographic engraving of Mr. Finley 's residence 
 appears elsewhere in this volume. 
 
 ^1 ESSE LIGGET. This veteran of eighty- 
 four years retired some time since from the 
 active labors of farm life, and is situated in 
 a comfortable home in Muncie, where he 
 often reviews the scenes of tlie past and the ai'du- 
 ous labors of a long life, during which he has prob- 
 ably performed more downright hard work than 
 any man within the precincts of Oakwood Town- 
 ship. He received no educational advantages 
 during his youth, having to bend his energies 
 toward making a living, but has, from first to last, 
 maintained the principles of honesty and integ- 
 rity, able to stand up before the world like Long- 
 fellow's Village Blacksmith "for he owes not any 
 man." 
 
 A native of tlie Old Dominion, Mr. Ligget was 
 born in 1805, and the following year his parents 
 removed to Ohio, which had only been converted 
 from a Territory into a State four years before. 
 The country was in its primitive condition, the 
 settlers being few and far between, and the fam- 
 ily endured all the hardships and difficulties of 
 life on the frontier. Our subject was orphaned 
 when a lad of twelve years by the death of 
 both parents, who died in the same year, and 
 without a guardian or assistance of any kind, 
 
 he was thrown u|)on his own resources, and after- 
 ward made his own way unaided in the world. 
 
 John Ligget, the father of our subject, was a na- 
 tive of Virginia, and married a maiden of his own 
 county. Miss Susannah Bennett. They became tlie 
 parents of eight children, and Jesse, our subject, 
 is the only survivor of the family. After their 
 settlement in Ohio, they were greatly annoyed by 
 the Indians. It was never their lot to accumulate 
 property, and, although they worked hard, they 
 possessed little of this world's goods. 
 
 Mr. Ligget never went to school a day in his life, 
 but he grew up very industrious and frugal, and 
 when eighteen j'ears old purchased an old farm on 
 credit, and four years later had it all paid for. He 
 was then married to Miss Polly Coddington, who 
 was born in Maryland, and who at the time of 
 her marriage was onl}^ fifteen j'ears old. They be- 
 gan housekeeping on their little farm, worked hard 
 and lived happily together until her death. There 
 were born to them twelve children, eight of whom 
 are still living. 
 
 Wilson Ligget, the eldest son of our subject, 
 married Miss Amanda Dysert; they live three 
 miles northeast of Minicie, and have four chil- 
 dien; Benjamin married Miss Mary Hughes, lives 
 seven miles northeast of Muncie, and has eight 
 children; Samuel married Miss Marj' Barrickman; 
 they live two and one-half miles west of New- 
 town, and have one child; Jesse, Jr., married 
 Miss Sadie Warner, and lives on the Middle Fork; 
 they have four children: Naomi is the wife of 
 Levin Vinson, and they live in Pleasant Grove 
 Hall; they have no children. Mary was first mar- 
 ried to Hugh Louman, who died, leaving his 
 widow with two children; she was then married to 
 Johnson Gammel, and lives in Danville; of this 
 union there have been born four children; Susan, 
 the wife of John McVicker, lives in Danville, and 
 has three children; Anna, Mrs. Asbury Young, 
 lives in Indiana, and has four children. 
 
 The second wife of Mr. Ligget was Susan Dy- 
 sert, who died about 1880 without children. In 
 1881 he was married to Mrs. Mahala Bloomfleld. 
 
 Our subject came to Illinois in 1836, and lo- 
 cated on eighty acres of land one mile northeast of 
 Newtown, In due time he purchased 160 acres, 
 
PORTRAIT AM) lUOOR A I^IIICAL ALBUM. 
 
 443 
 
 then at two different times added foitj' ncM-es to 
 his farm, later purehased anollier quarter-section, 
 and finally was the owner of (JOO acres, lie has 
 given all of his boys and two of his girls forty acres 
 each, besides other property, and is still the owner 
 of 400 acres, all in ^'ermilion County. He raises 
 cattle and swine in goodly numbers, and derives 
 therefrom a handsome income. In his old age he 
 is situated in a comfortable residence at Muncie, 
 and takes great satisfaction in reviewing the scenes 
 of other years. 
 
 Mr. Ligget cast his first Presidential vote for 
 Gen. Jackson, and continued a member of the 
 Democratic party until Abraham Lincoln was 
 made the candidate of the Republicans. Being 
 personally acquainted with honest old Abe, and 
 greatly admiring his character, he could not very 
 well do otherwise than vote for him, and since 
 that time has been identified with the party which 
 niade Lincoln President. He has served as School 
 Director in his district, and been a member of the 
 Christian Church since 1830. Prior to this he had 
 united with the Jlethodist Episcopal Church. He 
 has met with some severe accidents during his 
 battle with the world, having once had his feet 
 badly mashed, his leg broken twice, and his left 
 ankle brolten twice. This has left him a cripple, 
 but has not impaired the activitj^ of his mind, 
 which is still capable of recalling many of the in- 
 teresting events of other days. 
 
 ®fgl/2rzr2r»w.'vv^ 
 
 ^•'v>^-*ie£/5?^- 
 
 THOMAS GUTHRIE. The early pioneers of 
 this county will be held in grateful remem- 
 brance long after they have been gathered 
 to their fathers. The hardships and privations 
 which they endured during the first settlement of 
 this county, and the result of their labors, are at 
 the present day receiving greater recognition than 
 ever before, as the fact is becoming evident that 
 they are passing away, and what we learn of them 
 must be gathered at once, and put in a shape which 
 may be preserved for future generations. The 
 sturdy old veteran with whose name we introduce 
 this sketch, is a man of sixty-seven years, and one 
 
 oi the earliest settlers of Illinois, living in Edgar 
 County before locating in Sidell Township, this 
 county, of which he is now a resident. The story 
 of his life is one of remarkable interest, and the 
 scenes which he has witnessed during his sojourn in 
 the AA^est, could they be told by himself, would 
 make a most readable volume. 
 
 A man's antecedents are always of interest, espe- 
 cially in the case of him who has distinguished 
 liimself as a citizen of more than ordinary merit. 
 The parents of our subject were George and Mar- 
 garet Guthrie, natives of the town of Inniskillen, 
 County Fermanagh, Ireland. They emigrated 
 to America when quite young, settling in Penn- 
 sylvania, where they were married and after- 
 ward made their home, thirty miles south of Pitts- 
 burg, in Washington County. There they became 
 the parents of eleven children, viz: William, John, 
 Christine, Thomas, Mary, Andrew, Eliza; Cather- 
 ine, who dieil at the age of twenty-eight years; 
 James, who died when thirty years old ; .Sarah J. 
 and George. The last mentioned son went to New 
 Mexico, where he lived five years, and became a 
 leading merchant at Richmond, in Grant County. 
 The station of Guthrie, on the the Lawrenceburg 
 A' Clifton Railroad, was named after him. He was 
 elected Justice of the Peace, and in the course of 
 his duties rendered judgment against a desperado 
 who afterward murdered him in his store. There 
 was a reqLUsition for the assassin from Arizona, to 
 which place he was taken and hung fora murder com- 
 mitted in that territory. George Guthrie was mar- 
 ried, and left his widow with one child, a daughter, 
 Ettie. 
 
 Miss Eliza Guthrie became the wife of Robert 
 Black, and died at the age of forty years, in this 
 county, leaving six children — Maggie, Clara, John, 
 William, Samuel and George. A sketch of An- 
 drew Guthrie, the next child, will be found else- 
 where in this volume; Mary became the wife of 
 Thomas Metcalf, and died when about twenty -seven 
 years old, in Mohican County, Ohio, leaving one 
 child, James; Christine married Samuel Marshall, 
 and died at Palermo, at the age of fifty-eight years, 
 leaving two children, Abner J. and Maggie; John 
 died in Sidell Township in 1884, leaving six chil- 
 dren — Maggie, Mary, Renna, Charles, Irving and 
 
444 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGUAPIIICAL ALBUM. 
 
 Emma, by his second wife, and one child, Samuel, 
 by his first wife; William died in Efflngiiam 
 County, this State, at the age of sixtj'-two years, 
 leaving throe children — Thomas, William and Mar- 
 garetta; Sarah J. is the wife of George Powell, 
 and they have four children — Irving, Mary, Ilattie 
 and Oscar. 
 
 The subject of this sketch was born Aug. 11, 
 1 822, in Washington County, Pa,, where he received 
 a limited education, and was reared to man's estate. 
 Upon reaching his majority he commenced working- 
 out by the month, and later wisely devoted a por- 
 tion of his earnings to adding to his fund of learn- 
 ing, attending the academy at Merrittstown, Pa., 
 where he pursued his studies with such good suc- 
 cess that he became fitted for a teacher, and fol- 
 lowed this profession four years in Washington 
 Count}-, and one year in Greene County. Later he 
 engaged as a drover, buying stock in Western 
 Pennsylvania, and driving through to New York 
 and Philadelphia. He also handled a great many 
 sheep, selling them principally in Lancaster County^, 
 Pa. 
 
 In 1854, desirous of establishing a liome of his 
 own, Thomas Guthne was married to Miss Chris- 
 tian Keys, of Faj'^ette County, Pa. Subsequentl}^ 
 he engaged to drive 1,600 sheep to Danville, this 
 oountj-, which trip he made successfullj^, and he has 
 continued to handle stock since that time, beino- 
 one of the pioneers of the business in this section, 
 and making of it an art and a science. In the 
 meantime he has operated extensivelj' as a grain- 
 raiser, and has shipped hundreds of car loads of 
 both grain and stock to Cincinnati, Ohio, Chicago, 
 111., and Indianapolis, Ind. He resided for a num- 
 ber of years near Palermo, in Edgar County, and 
 shipped from Hume. In the meantime he was 
 quite prominent in local affairs, serving as Assessor 
 and Collector seven years. He takes s, warm in- 
 terest in polities, and is well known as an active 
 member of the Democratic party. He has served 
 as Justice of the Peace throe terms in Edgar County, 
 and one term in this county. 
 
 During the progress of the Civil War Mr. Guth- 
 rie enlisted as a Union soldier in Company K, 
 125th Illinois Infantry, being mustered into serv- 
 ice at Danville Oct. 2, 1862 for three years. The 
 
 boys comprising Company K, were mainly from 
 Catlin and Carroll townships. Mr. Guthrie en- 
 listed as a private, drilled at Covington, Ky., and 
 met the enemy in battle at Chaplin Hill, and at 
 JMurfrecsboro in January, 1863. After the first 
 mentioned he was promoted to Sergeant, and later 
 served with the Provost Guards at Nashville. 
 Mr. Guthrie was sent out as a scout nine miles 
 south of Nashville to a place called Brentwood, 
 where he received an injury from a shot, and suf- 
 fered greatly for some time, when it was thought 
 he would never recover. He received his honora- 
 ble discharge at Nashville Oct. 30, 1863, on ac- 
 count of his wound. 
 
 The three children of Mr. and Mrs. Guthrie — 
 George B., Hugh, and Sarah J. — are all at home 
 with their parents. The latter are members of the 
 Cumberland Presbyterian Cliurch in Sidell Town- 
 ship, in which Mr. Guthrie is an Elder and Trustee, 
 also an active Sunday-school worker, and contrib- 
 uted liberally to the erection of the church edifice. 
 He officiates as guardian of the children left 
 by tlie decease of Dr. Keys, of Hume, and has offi- 
 ciated as administrator of other estates of Dr. Keys- 
 He has also been Justice of the Peace, and his de- 
 cisions have been uniformly sustained. A simple, 
 plain, straightforward man, his object in life has 
 been to do good as he has had opportunity. He is 
 one who has made many warm personal friends, 
 and one who, in both his public and private life, 
 bears an irrepi'oachable character. 
 
 OSEPH B. COOK. This well-to-do and en- 
 terprising citizen, still on the sunny side of 
 forty, owns and operates a well-regulated 
 farm on section 13, in Elwood Township, of 
 which he is a native and where he has thus far 
 spent his life. He was orphaned by the death of 
 his parents when he was quite young, and is thus 
 not as familiar with the history of his progenitors 
 as he would desire. Nature endowed him with 
 those qualities of character by which he has been 
 enabled to attain to a worthy manhood and secure 
 the respect and confidence of all who know him. 
 
PORTKAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 445 
 
 Our subject was born Sept. 29, 1851, and is the 
 son of J. Riley Cook, who was born in this county. 
 The paternal grandfather, Zimri Cook, was one of 
 the pioneers of Central Illinois, and here spent his 
 last days. J. Riley Cook departed this life when 
 Joseph B., our subject, was a lad of five years. 
 The mother of the latter had died when he was an 
 infant. He was then taken into the liome of his 
 uncle, Joshua Thornton, the husband of his mother's 
 sister, and Mr. Thornton died when young Cook 
 was a lad of fifteen years. 
 
 Our subject, after the death of his uncle Thorn- 
 ton, began working for himself, and afterward, de- 
 sirous of adding to his store of knowledge, attended 
 Blooraingdale Academy, under the instruction of 
 Prof. Hobbs, in 1870-71. In 187r)-76 he attended 
 A'ermilion Grove Academy and afterward turned 
 his attention to farming pursuits. He is the owner 
 of fifty-one acres of good land, and has charge of 
 forty more belonging to his mother-in-law. He 
 was married April 5, 1883, to Miss Sicily E., 
 daughter of David and Miriam (Mills) Haworth, 
 the former deceased and tbe latter living in Elwood 
 Township. John Mills, the maternal grandfather 
 of Mrs. Cook, was a native of North Carolina, and 
 removed to Ross Creek, East Tenn., prior to the 
 War of 1812. There his daughter Miriam was 
 born, June 12, 1809, and came with her parents to 
 this county in 1822, arriving here the day she was 
 thirteen years old. 
 
 The Mills famil}' settled in the northwest quarter 
 of section 23, range 12, township 17, Elwood 
 Township, after a journey attended with many dif- 
 ficulties. There were various swamps along the 
 route, and when four or five miles south of (Quaker 
 Point the teams were unable to proceed. Miriam, 
 with two of her sisters, together with Ann Haworth 
 and Nancy Biggs, all young girls, left the wagons 
 and walked to the Point, while the teams and the 
 men, women and little children were left to follow 
 as best they could. They reached Jonathan Ila- 
 worth's about dark. He was located near Quaker 
 Point, just across the State line, in this county. In 
 due time the travelers extricated themselves and 
 proceeded on their journey. 
 
 John Mills settled among the Indians and wild 
 animals, and entered four and one-fourth sections 
 
 of land, where he put np a round-log cabin, with 
 a puncheon floor, a huge fireplace in one end of 
 the room, with a stick-and-clay cliimney outside 
 and a clapboard roof. The house contained only 
 one room, but there was a loft, in which the boys 
 slept. The nearest trading point was at Terre 
 Haute, Ind., and the pioneers went to mill on Sugar 
 Creek, in Parke Count}', Ind., with ox teams. Deer 
 were numerous, the settlers being enabled to kill 
 them almost at their own door. The wolves made 
 night dismal with their howling, and the chickens, 
 pigs and sheep had to be securely housed in order 
 to save them. The woods were full of bee trees 
 and there was an abundance of wild fruit. This 
 section of the country at that time was almost lit- 
 erally a land flowing with milk and honey, but 
 there was much sickness. The death of Hannah 
 Mills was the first which occurred in the township. 
 She died in the summer of 1823, and her remains 
 were the first to be buried in what is now Vermilion 
 Grove Cemetery. 
 
 The first wedding in Elwood Township was that 
 of Andrew Wagerman and Tabitha Lyons. There 
 came with the family of John Mills, Mr. James 
 Haworth and his family, to whose son, David A., 
 Miss Miriam was married, and became the mother 
 of eleven children. These all lived to mature 
 years, and were named, respectively: Wilison, 
 Clayborne, Maria (deceased), James W., Elvin, 
 John (deceased), Mary J., Beriah, Horace, Sicily 
 and Linley. Mr. Haworth died about fifteen j^ears 
 ago; Mrs. Haworth makes her home with her chil- 
 dren, and is remarkably active and healthy for one 
 of her years. She has been a life-long member of 
 the vSociety of Friends, to which Blr. Cook, our 
 subject, and his wife also belong. 
 
 '|pj\ 0BI:RT M. KNOX. Hoopeston, soon after 
 im? being laid out, became the home of a 
 i^\ goodly number of solid and substantial 
 \^ men, to whom it owes its progress and 
 prosperity. Among them came Mr. Knox, in Sep- 
 tember of 1871, a young ra.an, active and enter- 
 prising, and who has proved one of its most valued 
 
446 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 citizens. He is now engaged in the real estate, 
 loan and insurance business, and has become well- 
 known to a large portion of the people of this lo- 
 cality. He is regarded as a man wlio can be de- 
 pended upon in all his transactions for honesty and 
 integrity-, and has a well-equipped office located on 
 Market street. 
 
 The native place of our subject was in Salt 
 Creek Township, Wayne Co., Ohio, where his birth 
 occurred Jan. 14, 1840. He there spent the days 
 of his boyhood and youth, attending the public 
 school, and later pursued his studies at Hayesville 
 Institute, in Ashland Countj-. Upon leaving school 
 he commenced learning the trade of carriage-maker 
 and was occupied at this business until the second 
 year of the Rebellion. On the 7th of August, 
 1862, under the call of President Lincoln for'-300- 
 000 more," he enlisted in Company H, 102d (Jhio 
 Infantry, and served most of the time in the Army 
 of the Cumberland. He remained in the army two 
 years, and then, on account of disability, was 
 obliged to accept his honorable discharge in De- 
 cember, 1864. 
 
 Upon leaving the army jMr. Knox for a time 
 resumed his studies in the institute before men- 
 tioned. Thence he came to Paxton, Ford County, 
 this State, in 1865, and was engaged in teacliing 
 one year. Subsequently he taught in winter, and 
 farmed in the summer season. He also traveled a 
 part of the time for the Illinois Central Insurance 
 Companj', of Decatur, and was thus occupied until 
 coming to this county in the fall of 1871. He now 
 became interested in grain, and associated himself 
 with a partner, and they, under the firm name of 
 Given & Knox, began operations when there were 
 only four or five buildings upon the present site of 
 Hoopeston, and when thirty or forty men were 
 obliged to sleep in a large store room in pro- 
 cess of construction, making their beds upon the 
 shavings as there were no other lodgings to be 
 had. This firm was the second of the kind in the 
 place. Before winter set in there had been erected 
 enough buildings to accommodate all the people. 
 
 An estimate of the rapid progress of business in 
 the embryo village of Hoopeston at this time, can 
 be had when it is learned that the first day tlie 
 weighing scales were in operation there was a train 
 
 of wagons waiting for three blocks, as thick as 
 they could stand, sometimes as many as 100 in 
 a day, and from that time on the grain business es- 
 pecially was prosperous. Our subject and his 
 partner, after making a snug little sum of money, 
 sold out, and Mr. Knox became interested in real 
 estate, which kept him very busy as long as town 
 lots were in demand. Later he began operating as 
 a money lender. He also has charge of property 
 of many who are non-residents. He has meddled 
 very little in political affairs, otherwise than to 
 give his support to the principles of the Repub- 
 lican and Prohibition parties. He has for many 
 years Lad charge of the Cemetery Association, of 
 whieh he is Secretary, and officiates in the same 
 capacity for the Building Association. "Whether 
 in connection with these or any other body, he has 
 a thorough contempt for wire working, and for 
 any corporation which shall take advantage of the 
 people. 
 
 Nearly twenty-four years ago, in October, 1865, 
 our subject was united in marriage with Miss Mary 
 J. Given, and to them there were born three chil- 
 dren, of whom two are living — Lulu B. and Ed- 
 ward. The daughter is at Monmouth, Col., and 
 the son is at home with his father. Mrs. Mary J. 
 Knox departed this life at her home in Hoopeston, 
 Aug. 10, 1875. She was born near New Concord, 
 Muskingum Co., Ohio, and is the daughter of 
 David Given, who came to Illinois in the fall of 
 1864. 
 
 Mr. Knox, in June, 1880, contracted a second 
 marriage with Miss Jennie M. Bruce, of Wooster, 
 Ohio, who was born in 1849. Of this union there 
 are two children, a son, Kobeil R., and an infant 
 daughter. Andrew J. Knox, the father of onr 
 subject, was born in Wayne County, Ohio, in 
 1818, and was there reared to manhood and mar- 
 ried to Miss Marj' J. Richards, about 1837. The}- 
 lived on a farm in that county probably ten 3'ears, 
 the father in the meantime also operating as a 
 blacksmith. He is now retired from active labor, 
 and makes his home in F'redericksburg, Ohio. The 
 wife and mother died while a young woman, in 
 1844, leaving three children. The elder Knox was 
 subscquentlj' twice married. He has officiated as 
 an Elder of the Piesbyterian Church nearly half a 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 447 
 
 century, and as a Sunday-school Superintendant 
 twentj'-five years. 
 
 Robert M. Knox, like his father before bim, ha.s 
 been diligent in church work, holding the office of 
 Elder in the United Presbyterian Church at Hoop- 
 eston, and being connected with the Sundaj'-school 
 as .Superintendent and Assistant for many years. 
 He is quiet and unassuming in his manners, and 
 avoids placing himself before the public in an os- 
 tentatious way, perferring to transact his business 
 with little noise or display. He has occupied man}- 
 positions of trust and responsibility in connection 
 with property matters, and enjoys in a marked 
 degree the confidence and esteem of those with 
 whom he has had dealings. 
 
 AiMUEL DALBEY. In every community 
 there are lives which run still but deep, 
 the lives of men who perhaps make but lit- 
 tle stir in the world, and yet who are pos- 
 sessed of those qualities which have a sensible in- 
 fluence upon the people iiy whom they are sur- 
 rounded, and an influence uniformly good. The 
 fact that Mr. Dalbey probablj^ has not an enemy in 
 this community speaks well for his general charac- 
 ter, habits and disposition, and he is recognized as 
 a member of society who has contributed to its 
 best interests as he has had opportunity, a father 
 who has been faithful in the training and educa- 
 tion of his children, and a neighbor uniformlj' 
 kind, generous and obliging. He is conservative 
 in politics on National questions, casting his vote 
 with the Democratic party, but in local elections is 
 not governed by party lines, aiming to support the 
 men whom he considers best qualified to serve the 
 interests of the people. In his younger years ho 
 was frequently sent as a delegate to the various 
 Democratic conventions and did some good work 
 for the advancement of his party. "The boys'' as 
 he calls his brothers, are equally divided between 
 the two great political parties. 
 
 The biographer found Mr. Dalbey pleasantly lo- 
 cated on a snug farm occupying a part of section 5 
 in Oakwood Township, and comprising 160 acres 
 
 of finely improved land besides fifteen acres of 
 timber. He has himself erected most of the build- 
 ings and effected nearly all of the improvements 
 on the place. He makes a specialty of fine draft 
 horses, and in company with his son, \'erner !(., 
 owns the imported horse, '-Plowshare," a son of the 
 celebrated "Plowboy," of England, which was 
 brought over in March, 1887, and is registered in 
 the English stud book. They have in all about forty 
 head of horses and a herd of thorough-bred .Short- 
 horn cattle. 
 
 The subject of this sketch was born in Randolph 
 County, Ind., Oct. 12, 1829, and is the son of 
 Aaron and Nancy (Wright) Dalbey, who were na- 
 tives respectively of Pennsylvania and Indiana, the 
 father born in 1797, and by trade a mill-wrio-ht 
 and general mechanic. He served in the War of 
 1812, and came to Illinois in 1831, from Randolph 
 County, Ind. He .settled on the farm now owned 
 by George Jones, and the year later later purchased 
 300 acres of land comprising the present farm of 
 John McFarland and lived there until his decease, 
 which took place in 1855. He was a prominent 
 man in his community and erected the old mill lo- 
 cated on South Fork. He was three times mar- 
 ried, having five children by the first, two by the 
 second, and four now living by the third wife. 
 Our subject was the child of his second marriage, 
 and is the only one living of that union. Mrs. 
 Nancy (Wright) Dalbey, the mother of our subject, 
 died in this county in 1833. 
 
 The boyhood days of our subject were spent 
 mostly in this county to which his parents came 
 where he was a mere child. He studied his first 
 lessons in the old log school house with its stick 
 chimney, slabs for seats and desks and greased pa- 
 per for window panes, and therein learned the 
 mysteries of reading, writing .ind ciphering, lie 
 attended school only about three months in the 
 winter until he was twenty years of ao-e. The 
 country was very thinly settled and Indians still 
 roamed over it. Our subject remained on the farm 
 and worked with his father a year after reachino- 
 his majority. He was married Dec. 28, 1851, to 
 Miss .Sarah C. Watts, then rented his father's farm, 
 one year and afterward rented a farm one mile 
 north of the present site of Fithian, at a time when 
 
448 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 there was hut one house between him and Burr Oak 
 Grove. 
 
 Industry and economy on the part of our sub- 
 ject soon bore their legitimate fruits, and in due 
 time he was enabled to purchase 120 acres of land, 
 the farm upon which Owen McKnight now lives. 
 Two years later, however, he sold it, and his father 
 having died, returned to the old homestead and 
 lived with his step-mother for two years. In 
 1857, crossing the Mississippi with liis family, he 
 took up his residence in Lawrence, Kan., during 
 the early struggles in that Territorj^ and cast his 
 vote for the admission of Kansas into the Union as 
 a free State. He returned through Illinois and in 
 the fall of that same year settled in "Warren County, 
 Ind., but a year later came back to Illinois and 
 purchased the interest of one of the Cass heirs in 
 the well-known farm of that name, which he occu- 
 pied four years and which is situated near the Casa 
 School-house. Upon selling that property he pur- 
 chased his present farm. 
 
 To Mr. and Mrs. Dalbey there have been born 
 seven children, the eldest of whom, a son, Franklin 
 married Miss Seals; they have four children, and 
 live one mile north of Fithian. Theresa A. R., is 
 the wife of James Bantz; they have four children, 
 and live just south of Muncie. Verner R,, mar- 
 ried Miss Sarali Lucas, is the father of five children 
 and lives on the Fox farm; Mary E., remains at 
 home with her parents. The next born were twins 
 Ophelia and Otis. The former is at home; Otis 
 married Miss Franie Henry, is the father of one 
 child and lives southeast of Muncie; Rosa, the 
 youngest, continues under the home roof. Mr. 
 and Mrs. Dalbey and all their children, are mem- 
 bers of the Baptist Church, in which Mr. Dalbey 
 officiates as Deacon, and all are activelj' interested 
 in the Suudaj^-school. In his district Mr. Dalbey 
 has served as School Director and Trustee, and 
 socially lie belongs to the Masonic fraternity, be- 
 ing a member of Newtown Lodge. 
 
 Mrs. Dalbey was the second child of her parents 
 — John and Nancy (Jones) Watts, and was born 
 Sept. 5, 1829. Her father was a farmer by occu- 
 pation in Fountain County, Ind., and died when 
 his daughter, Sarali C, was a mere child. The 
 seven children comprising the parental household 
 
 all lived to mature years. Sarah like her brothers 
 and sisters, acquired her education in the subscrip- 
 tion schools and developed into a teacher, follow- 
 ing this profession some years before her marriage 
 in Indiana. In due time she came to Illinois on a 
 visit to her uncle Joseph Jones, who was a pioneer of 
 this county and owned the farm w4iere the village 
 of Muncie is now located. After his death his 
 widow sold the property to Edwin Corble3'. In 
 the meantime Mrs. Dalbey was married to our sub- 
 ject. 
 
 The house of Aaron Dalbey in those days was the 
 best structure of the kind in the neighborhood 
 and the only one for years which had glass 
 window panes. It was a struggle for the farmers 
 to support their families and make both ends meet, 
 as corn in the crib would onl3- sell for six and a 
 fourth cents per bushel on ayear's time. Our sub- 
 ject has hauled shelled corn to Fairmount for six- 
 teen cents per bushel. 
 
 ^/ OHN I. MoDOAVELL is one of the leading 
 young men of Sidell Township. He is the 
 son of Archibald McDowell, one of the earl3' 
 (^^' settlers of A^ermilion County, and is the 
 worthy son of a wiirthy sire. He has many ster- 
 ling qualities that place him in the front rank in 
 point of popularity. It always speaks well of any 
 man in a community who is spoken of by name in 
 an endearing manner, and the subject of this sketch 
 is known as " Johnnie " McDowell, which appella- 
 tion exhibits the popularitj' he enjoys with the cit- 
 izens of Arcliie and Sidell, and in fact in all this 
 portion of Vermilion County, as well as apart of 
 Edgar County. 
 
 Mr. McDowell was born Nov. 23, 1861, on the 
 old homestead, and is the first child by his father's 
 second wife. His parents are both living, whose 
 biography appears in another part of this Album. 
 He received his early impressions of business on a 
 farm, and was taught that if a thing is worth doing 
 at all, it is worth doing well, and this principle has 
 been his guiding star. He obtained his education 
 at the common schools, and being a bright scholar, 
 
'"•^^ 43P'>T='*"/'''.5'*''*"''''°""**-^ ' 
 
 (^^^^^^''^^^^^i^^.^. JO.XP. JQJ 
 
PORTRAIT AND BKXrRAPMICAL ALBUM. 
 
 -151 
 
 soon advanced to the head, until, at the age of 
 twent}' years, he became a \ermilion Counter 
 teacher, conducting his first t.c4iool in District Xo. 
 4, in Sidell Township. Here he was remari<ably suc- 
 cessful, as his kind ways and persuasive methods 
 endeared him to all his pupils. A\'hen he became 
 of age he engaged in the general merchandise bus- 
 iness at Archie, and fi'om the start has enjoyed a 
 large and profitable trade, a distinction he has 
 reached by reason of his fair dealings and manly 
 methods. It would not be exaggeration to say his 
 store was as well patronized as any other for miles 
 around. But a disastrous fire which was attended 
 with considerable loss destroyed his store building 
 and stock, and since this he has directed his atten- 
 tion to teaching during tlie winter months and 
 assisting on the old liomestead in summer time, 
 a fact which illustrates his capacity for turning 
 to anything which circumstances throw in his way. 
 Mr. McDowell is a member of Peace Dale 
 Lodge, I. O. O, F., which is located at Sidell, and 
 is an enthusiastic Odd Fellow. In his political 
 views he is a Democrat, and is an ardent advocate 
 of anything that will honorably promote the inter- 
 ests of his party. Being public spirited and popu- 
 lar it is a safe prediction to make that John I. Mc- 
 Dowell is a rising man. 
 
 I LPHONSO T. ARBUCKLE, A. M., M. D., 
 (pi^/ il: u. D S.. one of the uest established phy- 
 
 4) sicians and surgeons of this county, was 
 born in Symnies Township, Edgar County, 
 this State, Dec. 20, l«r;6, and is the son of Samuel 
 Ross Arbuckle, a native of Knox Country, Ohio. 
 His paternal grandfather, Samuel Ross Arbuckle, 
 Sr., was born in West Virginia and was the son of 
 Samuel Arbuckle, a native of Scotland. The latter 
 emigrated to America at an earlj' daj', when a young- 
 man, and settling in the Old Dominion was theie 
 married to a lady whose name was Elizabeth Berr^-. 
 He engaged in fai'ming pursuits and became the 
 father of seventeen sons and three daughters. His 
 son, Samuel R.,Sr.. was reared in his nati\'e county 
 and mairied iMiss Rebecca Meacher, a natii-e of 
 
 that State and of Scotch-Irish ancestry. They em- 
 igrated to Ohio daring the pioneer da^'S of Knox 
 County, and sojourned there until liS27. They 
 then changed their residence to Symmes, Hamilton 
 Co., Ohio, where Grandfather Arbuckle kept a ho- 
 tel known as the "Sixteen Mile Stand." 
 
 This property is now owned by our subject. 
 There were then no railroads in Ohio, and Grand- 
 father Arbuckle engaged in teaming from Cincin- 
 nati to Logansport and Indianapolis, driving six 
 horses to a vehicle, and transporting general mer- 
 chandise. He died in 1875 at the advanced age of 
 eighty-two years. Many and great were the 
 changes which he witnessed in his adopted State 
 where he lived to see thecountrj' developed from a 
 wilderness into farms, villages and cities, with the 
 iron horse rushing across the hills and valleys, 
 which when he .settled among them had been scarcely 
 disturbed by the foot of a white man. 
 
 Grandmother Arbuckle passed away one year 
 prior to the decease of her husband, dying in 1874. 
 They reared nine children — four sons and five 
 daughters — and Samuel Ross, Jr., the father of 
 our subject, was six years old when they took up 
 their abode in Hamilton County, Ohio. He was 
 there reared to man's estate and in 1854 came to 
 Edgar County, 111., where he lived one year, then 
 removed to INIacon County, sojourning there t'.To 
 years; at the expiration of this time he returned 
 to Pjdgar in limited circumstances, the removal 
 having been made overland with teams, to Symmes 
 Township, Edgar Co., 111. There the father of our 
 subject purchased a sawmill which he operated while 
 cle.iring the timber from his land. At the time 
 of his settlement in Illinois there was but one store 
 upon the present site of Paris. He put up a log 
 house containing one room and in that the subject 
 of this sketch was born. The father is still living 
 and is a resident of Embarrass Township, Edgar 
 County, 111. He now owns a farm of 520 acres, 
 embellished with fine buildings and well stocked 
 and there is every reason to suppose will spend 
 his declining j'ears ajnid all the comforts of life. 
 
 Mrs. Lamanda (N'andervert) Arbuckle, the 
 mother of our subject, was born in 182'.) in Fayette 
 County, Pa., and is the daughter of James and 
 Margaret Vandervert. Her family consisted of five 
 
452 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 children: The eldest daughter, Medora, became tlie 
 wife of Zolora Green, and tliey reside in Oakland, 
 Coles Co., 111. Alphonso T., our subject, was the 
 second born; Byron E., occupies the home farm in 
 Edgar County, 111.; James L., is a traveling sales- 
 man; Walter ^■. is pursuing his studies in the Wes- 
 leyan University at Bloomington, 111. 
 
 Our subject was reared in his native county and 
 acquired his classical education in Paris, 111., being 
 a graduate from the High School there in 187G 
 with the degree of A. M. There also he began the 
 study of medicine in 1881 with Dr. William H. 
 Tenbroeck, with whom he remained two years. lie 
 next entered Rush Medical College. Chicago, from 
 which, after a three years' course, he graduated in 
 1886. Two years of this time he practiced in 
 Cook County Hospital, and in the winter of 1885 
 and 1886 gave his attention especially to dental 
 surgery and was graduated. He commenced the 
 practice of his profession at Sidell on the 8th of 
 March, of that year, and eighteen months later 
 came to Danville, of which he has since been a res- 
 ident and where he has built up an extensive and 
 lucrative practice. He is popular among all classes 
 and gives that conscientious attention to the de- 
 tails of his calling which invariably brings success. 
 
 Dr. Arbuckle was married Dec. 14. 1877, at the 
 bride's home in Sidell Township, this county, to 
 Miss Mary E. Rowand. Mrs. Arbuckle was born 
 near Springfield, Ohio, in 1861, and is the daugh- 
 ter of Rev. Edward and Margaret Rowand, the 
 former deceased, while the mother still survives, 
 and lives in Sidell. The Doctor and his wife 
 occupy a neat honae at No. 821 East Fairchild 
 street, and enjoy the acquaintance of the best people 
 of the city. Our subject is a member of the 
 Medical Alumni Association of Chicago, and occu- 
 |)ies a position in the front ranks of the fraternity 
 in this part of the State. He meddles very little 
 with ])olitical matters, aside from casting his vote 
 for the man of his choice. 
 
 Mrs. Arbuckle is considered one of the most ae- 
 cf)mplished ladies in Danville, being a graduate of 
 a literary scliool, in which she ranked among the 
 best of the pupils, being ambitious in her studies 
 and quick to learn, while her retentive memory 
 easily retained what it once grasped. She is also 
 
 considered an expert in all kinds of fancy work, 
 and is a graduate of a fine art school. She occu- 
 pies a front rank in the best society of the town she 
 makes her home, and is welcomed into the most 
 select circles, which her education and refinement 
 fit her to adorn. 
 
 Mr. Arbuckle is represented elsewhere in this 
 volume by a fine portrait, which perpetuates the 
 features of a man well-known and highly respected 
 among the entire community. 
 
 eALVIN STEARNS is one of the good citi- 
 zens and prudent farmers whose industry 
 ^_^ and perseverance have placed him in an en- 
 viable position in his community. He is the third 
 child of Harvey and Fannie (Lockwood) Stearns 
 and was born in Pickaway County, Ohio, Oct. 28, 
 1820, and when he was twelve 3'ears of age re- 
 moved with his parents to Illinois, locating in Ver- 
 milion County, wliere he has since resided. 
 
 In those earlj' days education was considered a sec- 
 ondary necessity. If the parents of the pioneer boy 
 had no work for him to do, he was sent to school, 
 but on the other hand, if he was needed at home 
 for anything at all, the school was neglected. Mr. 
 Stearns was a typical pioneer boy. His limited 
 schooling was received in the old-fashioned log 
 school-house and under the inspiration of the ever 
 present birch rod. But despite all these difficulties 
 he has accumulated knowledge enough to entitle 
 him to be called a fairly educated man. The elder 
 Stearns built a sawmill on Salt Fork, and there 
 Calvin worked until he left home, which was at 
 the time of his marriage — in 1843 — taking for his 
 wife JNIiss Priscilla Lee, a daughter of Henry Lee, 
 and a sister to Mrs. Alvin Stearns. The young couple 
 began house-keeping in a small frame house on the 
 old homestead, where his father gave him eighty 
 acres of timber. Mrs. Stearns died June 10, 1850, 
 leaving one daughter, Eveline. In 1853 Mr. 
 Stearns took for his second wife Mary Rogers. He 
 then purchased his present place and improved it 
 by building a house and the necessary outbuild- 
 ings, and planting trees. By his last union Mr. 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALEUM. 
 
 453 
 
 Stearns was the father of a daughter — Mary H., 
 who married Francis Cronkliite, who lives two miles 
 and a lialf northeast of Muneie, III. Tliey have 
 five children. Mr. Stearns' second wife died in Octo- 
 ber, 1859 and her mother lived with him as house- 
 keeper until his third marriaoe, which occurred in 
 1867 to Clarinda Cronkliite. By this marriage he is 
 the father of two children — one boy and one girl, 
 William C. and Lilley M., both of whom are un- 
 married and live at home. 
 
 Mr. Stearns cultivates eighty acres of fine prai- 
 rie land and owns nineteen acres of timber. His 
 farm is a model one, though not extensive, and 
 everything connected with it denotes thrift and in- 
 telligence. He has been a sufferer financially by 
 reason of his good nature in indorsing a note for a 
 friend who betrayed his confidence, and while he has 
 had a hard time to recover from the effects of this 
 swindle, he nevertheless is prospering. The office 
 of School Director has been held by him, a position 
 in which he has given satisfaction. Mr. Stearns is 
 a member of the German Baptist Church and his 
 wife also worships in the same faith. He is a mem- 
 ber of Homer Lodge of Masons, and politically is 
 conservative, but always- votes the Republican 
 ticket at the National elections, and in local affairs 
 chooses those for the office whom he knows ai-e 
 good men, regardless of political affliliations. 
 
 --»ji/«d_ 
 
 T^-M-' 
 
 -7="/l\-^ 
 
 ^^^NTHONY LEK ANKRFM is a genial, 
 'Wiu , whole-souled farmer and stock-raiser of 
 Elwood Township, where he owns a fine 
 farm on section 29. His father, David, 
 was born in Virginia, whence he removed to Bel- 
 mont County, Ohio, in the early da^s of the Re- 
 public. He was a weaver by trade, his spccifiHy 
 being table linen, coverlets, etc. Anthony still has 
 some of the coverlets his father manufactured anil 
 which he considers very valuable as heirlooms. 
 
 The grandfather, Archibald Ankrum, was a na- 
 tive of the north of Ireland and emigrated to 
 America when a young married man. Anthony's 
 uncle, George Ankrum, was a soldier who made a 
 good record in the war of 1812. Tiie grandfather 
 
 had three sons, George, David and John. The lat- 
 ter went to New Orleans and was never heard from. 
 Anthony's mother was a daughter of Robert Boak, 
 and her name was Abigail. She was the mother 
 of tiiirteen children, seven of whom arc living: 
 George W., Anthony Lee, John, Elwood, David, 
 Wesley and Harrison. One son, Asa, whose biog- 
 raphy is printed in this work, died, leaving a fam- 
 ily; another son, Allen, passed away in his nine- 
 teenth .year; the good mother died on Feb. 18, 
 1857, while the father survived until Feb. 16, 
 1807. 
 
 Anthony L. Ankrum was born in Belmont 
 County, Ohio, on Sept. 18, 1828. He was married 
 to Miss Lydia A. Smith, on Aug. 31, 1854. She 
 was the daughter of Isaac Smith, a native of 
 Greene Count}^, East Tennessee, and a prominent 
 citizen of his county. He was born in Berkley Co., 
 Va., Feb. 18, 1832. Her mother was Martha Ross, 
 daughter of Enos Ross. He went out on the first 
 boat that ever floated on the Ohio River. The 
 vessel was lost and Mr. Ross was never heard 
 from. 
 
 Mrs. Ankrum's parents have seven children: 
 William and Mary (deceased), David, Hannah, 
 John, Mrs. Ankrum and Isaac. Mr. and Mrs. 
 Ankrum were the parents of six children, two of 
 whom are living: Martha E. and William B.; one 
 daughter, Allie B., died after she had attained ma- 
 turity; she was married to Charles Foster, and left 
 one child, who has since died. One son, Harry L.died 
 in his twenty-first year; he was physically disabled 
 and a graduate of the Ridge Farm High School ; he 
 had just begun teaching school, having taught one 
 terra when he died. Martha married James Fletcher 
 (for a record of her children see sketch of John 
 Fletcher). William B. married Alice Barker; he 
 lives with his father and assists in managing the 
 old homestead. 
 
 Mr. Ankrum owns 186 acres of land and is en- 
 gaged in general farming and stock-raising. He 
 has on his farm a fine herd of graded cattle and 
 also a lot of Poland-China hogs, each one of whicli 
 would be a prize winner. He takes great pride in 
 raising and feeding his stock, and out of them he 
 makes a great deal of money. His farming opera- 
 tions have been very successful, and since he has 
 
454 
 
 PORTRAIT AND R10( GRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 come liere be has been (levoteil lo his business. 
 IHs first pliice of settlement was vvitli his parents, 
 ill 183K, at Yankee Point, in Elwood Township, 
 where he has resided eontinuoiislj' since. His wife 
 emigrated to this township in 1836, locating near 
 Georgetown, where her parents botli died. Her 
 father passed awa^' when he was fifty-two years 
 old, while lier mother died in December, 1874. 
 
 Mr. Ankrum is a stalwart Republican in politics, 
 though he never has sought office of any sort. He 
 has lield the position of Road Overseer and with 
 satisfaction to his constituents. The office of 
 Treasuior in the Masonic Lodge has been held 113- 
 him, and he has also been a Trustee and Stewai'd of 
 the Methodist Episcopal Church at Ridge Farm. 
 Vermilion County contains no better citizen than 
 Anthony Lee xVnkrum. 
 
 M-IOMAS 11 HUMPHREYS. Few men in 
 Ross Township are more widely known than 
 this honorable pioneer and none are more 
 generally respected. He is a man ])lain in speech 
 and manners, contented with plain and comfortable 
 surroundings, but a thorough and skillful farmer, 
 and owns 200 acres of the most valuable and fertile 
 land in this vicinity. Under his careful manage- 
 ment it produces in abundance the rich crops of 
 the Prairie State, yielding to the proprietor a gen- 
 erous income and enabling him like Longfellow's 
 "Blacksmith," to "look the whole world in the 
 f:ice," as not owing any man. 
 
 The paternal grandfather of our subject, J(jhn 
 Humphreys by name, was a native of North Car- 
 olina where it supposed he was mai'ried and reared 
 his family' and where undoubtedly his son, Jonathan 
 B., the father of i.mr sulijcct. was born. The latter 
 when reared to man's estate was married about 181,5, 
 to Miss Nancy .lolinston and to them there was born 
 one child, a daughter, Deborah, before their removal 
 to the North. About 1817, they changed their lo- 
 cation to Harrison County, Ind., settling on a 
 tract of land in the w<j(jds and where their son, 
 Thomas B., onr subject, was born June 27,1818. 
 It was probably four years later, about 1822, when 
 
 they removed from Harrison to Putnam County, 
 Ind., settling in the heavy timber where the chief 
 amusement of Thomas B., in his boyhood was pick- 
 ing up and burniiig brush, alternated occasionallv 
 with the recreation of fishing. He assisted his 
 father in the clearing of the farm at a time when 
 bears and woh-es roamed through the forest, and 
 the latter often made night hideous near the cabin 
 of the pioneer. 
 
 The mother of the familj' spun and wove wool 
 and flax and manufactured most of their clothing. 
 In his boyhood our subject much of the time wore 
 ■•leather breeches," made from the skins of deer. 
 His first pair of boots were purchased when he was 
 nearly a man grown, for -^2.50. Prior to this the 
 father had made the shoes worn by the family. 
 The Indians had not then left Putnam Count}', and 
 were frequently seen skulking through the f( rest 
 stealing when they could, but offering no particu- 
 lar molestation to the famih'. The father of our 
 subject died in Putnam County, Ind., about 1832. 
 He had, prior to this time come to this county and 
 purchased a farm, building upon it a log house for 
 future occupancy, but upon returning to his fam- 
 ily, was sf>on afterward seized with the fatal illness 
 which terminated in his death. The mother and chil- 
 dren then remained in Indiana until the latter were 
 nearly grown, coming to this county in 1888. A 
 few years later the mother died leaving five chil- 
 dren, namely: Deborah, Thomas IS., our subject, 
 Barbara A., Mary J., and ^Margaret B., of whom 
 three are living. She and her husband were mem- 
 bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church. 
 
 The old home farm of the Humphreys family 
 was in Blount Township, this county, from which 
 they hauled their grain and drove their stock to 
 Chicago to market. Some times they would drive 
 their hogs to Wabash, Ind., and have them slaugh- 
 tered there, recei\ing two and one-half to three 
 and one-half cents per pound. 
 
 The subject of this sketch was married in Dan- 
 ville, this county, in 1842. to Miss Rachel, daugh- 
 ter of Albert Cossart, one of the earliest pioneers 
 of this county. Of this union there were born two 
 sons — Albert, now a resident of Barber County, 
 Ivan.; and S.'imuel, who 0])erates the home farm. 
 Mrs. Riicliel IIum|ihreys departed this life in l)c- 
 
rORTRAIT AM) B10(i RAPIIICAL ALBUM. 
 
 455 
 
 ecmhev, 1877. Shu was .n Indy possessing inany 
 excrllent qualities and was a consistent member of 
 the Christian Church. Mr. Humphreys has 160 
 ;uies in the homestead proiier, besides forty acres of 
 timber formerly belonging to the old home farm 
 of his father. He has given to each of his sons a 
 part "of liis original purchase. The home of IMr. 
 Humphreys is one to which the people of the 
 neighborhood love to resort. Although mak- 
 ing no pretentions to style or elegance, there is 
 about the dwelling an air of comfort and hospi- 
 tality which invariabl}- goes to the heart. 
 
 *-# 
 
 —*- 
 
 AN FORD S. DICKSON, one of the most 
 enterprising business men of ."\Iuncie and 
 its leading grain merchant, is numbered 
 among its most prominent citizens and is 
 vei'V popular both in its business and social circles. 
 Genial, gentlemanly and possessing more than or- 
 dinary abilities, he is following up a career which 
 thus far has been excessivel_y prosperous with a 
 fair outlook for the future. He has an- attractive 
 home, an accomplished and amiable partner, and 
 apparently everything .around him to make life 
 pleasant and desirable. 
 
 In reverting to the family history of our subject 
 we find that he is the son of Simon A. Dickson, a 
 native of this county and was born in iKoo. The 
 Dickson family was originally from Kentucky, 
 from which the paternal grandfather of our sub- 
 ject emigrated to Illinois in 1824, settling near 
 Indianola, this county. In this vicinity Simon 
 spent his boyhood and youth until the outbreak of 
 the Civil War. In 18(J2 he enlisted in Company 
 C, 12.jth Illinois Infantrj', participating in the bat- 
 tle at I'erryville and shortl}' afterward was taken 
 ill with pneumonia and died in the hospital .it 
 Nashville, Tenn., .lune 2, 1863. 
 
 The mother of our subject was in her girlhood 
 Miss Elizabeth, daughter of Hiram C. Catlin, a 
 native of Parke Countj^ Ind. He laid out the town 
 of Catlin which was nas.ied in his honor, and died 
 in 1 f'71 at the advanced age of nearly ninetj' years. 
 He riirricd on farming, and became a prominent 
 
 man in his community. After the death of Simon 
 A. Dickson, his widow was married to Dr. Samuel 
 T. Smith in 1866, and they now live in Hernando 
 County, Fla. To the parents of our subject there 
 were liorii four children — Wilbur T., (Jliver P., 
 Hiram C, and Sanford S., all of whom are living. 
 
 Tile subject of this notice was the eldest child of 
 his p.arents and was born in Indianola, this county, 
 July 22, 185."). His education was accjuired in the 
 district school, which he attended mostly winters 
 until about eighteen years old. He commenced 
 his business career as a clerk in tlie store of John 
 Littler at Filhian, where he remained about one 
 year, then took a position under Mr. J. A. Cowles, 
 who had bought out Mr. Littler. On the 1st of 
 Januiry, 1877, he became a partner of his em- 
 plo3'er and on the 27th of that month they re- 
 moved their stock of goods t(_) Muncie establishing 
 the first store of general merchandise in the place. 
 On the 1st of January, 1H«6, the firm was dissolved, 
 Mr Dicks(m pnrcliasing the interest of his partner 
 and since that time has carried on business alone, 
 making of it a pronounced success. He carries a 
 full stock of all the articles required in the city 
 and country household and, as the most extensive 
 grain dealer in this part of the county, handles 
 thousands of dollars' worth of this commodity 
 each year. He owns a three-fourths interest in a 
 farm two and one-half miles north of Fithian, 
 which is operated by a tenant and comprises 160 
 acres of good land. He also has the county agency 
 for the Davis Sewing machine, keeping two wagons 
 and two men on the road all the year round. 
 
 Mr. Dickson started out in life for himself at the 
 early age of sixteen years and is one of the fore- 
 most young business men of N'ermilion Countj-. 
 Ho was married Jan. 29, 1879, to Miss Olive, 
 daughter of M. W. Selby, of West A'irginia, tlie 
 wedding taking place in Fithian. The Selby fam- 
 ily came to Illinois in 1866 and settled four miles 
 north of Catlin, this count}', where the}- lived five 
 \'cars. Thence the}' removed to Fithian, whci'e 
 Mr. Selby became connected with the mercantile 
 business of ISooker t^' Littler, and has followed 
 merchandising since that time. The Selby family 
 for the last nine years have been i-csidents of 
 Muncie. Of their five children only two are living 
 
456 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOG i;.\ PI IKAL ALliUM. 
 
 — Mrs. Dickson and licr brother, Calvin, the latter 
 of whom is a resident of Vance Township. 
 
 Mrs. Dicl£Son was the fourth cliild of her parents 
 and was born in Palatine, Marion Co., AV. Va., 
 Sept. 6, 1856. She received the rudiments of 
 of a good education in her native State and com- 
 pleted it in the schools of this county. She 
 was a bright and ambitious girl and after leaving 
 schoid was for a time employed as a clerk in a 
 store in Munoie. She possesses considerable liter- 
 ary ability and for the last fovir years has been the 
 regular correspondent from Munoie, of the Dan- 
 ville News. Of her union with our subject there 
 have been born three children, one of whom died 
 in infancy. The eldest, Lola M., is attending 
 school at Muneie. Fred C. is a jjromising little 
 lad eight years of age. 
 
 Mr. Dickson was Postmaster at Muneie from 
 1879 to 1885 and was the Assistant-postmaster after 
 resigning the chief position. He was elected Super- 
 visor of Oakwood Township in the spring of 1888 
 and re-elected in 1889. He has officiated as School 
 Director in his district; politicallj', uniformly votes 
 the straight Republican ticket, with which party he 
 has been identified since reaching majorit3'. Soci- 
 ally, h( belongs to the I. O. O. F. and with his 
 estimable wife inclines to the doctrines of the 
 Methodist p]piscopal Church, but there being no 
 society of this denomination in Muneie they attend 
 upon other services. 
 
 Magruder W. Selby, the father of Mrs. Dickson, 
 enlisted on the 25th of February, 1864 as a private 
 in Company- L, 6th West Virginia Cavalry. He 
 was first promoted to (Quartermaster, then to Ser- 
 geant and in April, 1864, to the rank of Second- 
 Lieutenant. In October following he was promoted 
 to First-Lieutenant. The regiment was stationed 
 for a time at Moorfield, Va., and later at New 
 Creek. Some of the men including Lieut. Selby 
 were captured by the enemy, but the latter made his 
 escape. They fought with the bushwhackers in the 
 vicinity of Beverly and for a time were stationed 
 in Cumberland, Md., guarding the railroad. Prior 
 to Lee's surrender the regiment had been ordered 
 to Richmond, and afterward it was sent to Camp 
 Relief at Washington, D. C. Here they were de- 
 tailed as mounted patrol of the city, in which they 
 
 reriiaiaod until aftei- the grand review. Thence they 
 were ordered to Ft. Leavenworth, Kan., and later 
 crossed the plains to Ft. Casper, Dak., arriving 
 there in October, 1865 and were stationed as a 
 guard along the American telegraph lines over the 
 old Pony Express Route. They had several skir- 
 mishes with the Black Feet, Sioux and Cheyenne 
 Indians. 
 
 On the 1st of January, 1866, Lieut. Selby was 
 made Assistant-Quartermaster and Commissary on 
 the staff of Gen. Wheal on, and on the 1st of April 
 following they were ordered back to Ft. Leaven- 
 worth, where they arrived May 14 and remained 
 about two weeks. The regiment was then mus- 
 tered out and ordered to Wheeling, W. N'a., where 
 they received their final discharge June 1, 1866. 
 
 HARLE.S W. BAUM, of Carroll Township, 
 is the offspring of an old and prominent 
 family which three generations back was 
 of the royal blood of Poland. His paternal grand- 
 father, Chaiies W. Baum, a native of Poland, was 
 banished from his birth-place during the troubles 
 of that unhappy country and fled to Germany 
 where he sojourned until coming to America, 
 during the colonial days and about the time of the 
 Revolutionary War. It is not known just how 
 long he sojourned in the Fatherland, but he learned 
 to speak and read the (German language fluently, 
 although it is ])Ossible that he ha<l also been taught 
 this in his native countiy, as being of high birth, 
 he received a thorough education. 
 
 After coming to America, Grandfather Baum 
 served as a militia man on the reserve force in the 
 American army, protecting the frontier. During 
 that period he won and wedded Miss Barbara 
 McDonald, a relative of Gen. McDonald of Mar- 
 ion's staff. He served several years as a soldier 
 and the year after Gen. (Mad Anthony) 
 Wayne's treaty with the Indians, removed from 
 Bucks County, Pa., to the farther West. Sailing 
 down the Ohio River and landing near the mouth 
 of Bullskin Creek, he made the first settlement in 
 Ohio, From him sprang the Baums of America 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 457 
 
 and tbe first representative of the family in tliis 
 county, was Samuel Baum, a brother of the subject 
 of this sketch. 
 
 Charles W. Baum, the third of the name and the 
 the subject of this notice, was born in Clermont 
 County, Ohio, April 4, 18L5, and was the sixth in 
 a family of ten children who were named respect- 
 ively, Samuel; John; Mary, Mrs. AVeaver; Sarah, 
 Mrs. A'antreese; Catherine, Mrs. Patterson; Charles, 
 our subject; Susan, Mrs. Sandusky; Elizabeth, who 
 died at the age of seven years; Gideon N. and 
 Eliza, Mrs. Carter. Charles W., like his brothers 
 and sisters, was reared on the farm, received a 
 common-school education and was trained to hab- 
 its of industry and economy. His father was a 
 man of more than ordinary enterprise and although 
 of German parentage, learned to speak and read 
 the English language and gave much attention to 
 the education of his children. 
 
 Samuel Baum in making his journey to Illinois 
 was accompanied by his wife's father, old Michael 
 Weaver and it is hardly necessary to say, made the 
 journey overland by team, starting from Ohio, 
 Oct. 12, 1827, and arriving in this county on the 
 12th of November following. They had stopped 
 for a short time in Parke County, Ind., having in- 
 tended to settle there, but Mr. Weaver did not like 
 the appearance of things in that region and so they 
 pushed on further westward, settling among the 
 Alexanders and McDonalds of this county. In 
 due time they were joined by Charles W., our sub- 
 ject, who was the second Baum to come West. He 
 made the journej^ alone on horseback and was about 
 eighty days on the road, arriving at the house of 
 his brother Samuel, Dec. 26. 1836. 
 
 Our subject soon took up 160 acres of land from 
 the Government and made subsequent purchases 
 until at one time he was the owner of 1660 acres 
 besides 200 acres given his wife by her father. 
 When it is remembered that he came to this region 
 with very little means it must be acknowledged 
 that he was remarkably successful in the accumula- 
 tion of propert}^. After coming to this county he 
 was married March 14. 1839, to Miss Catherine 
 Weaver, who was the fourth daughter and sixth 
 child n a family of twelve children. 
 
 Mr.'. Baum like her husband was born in Cler- 
 
 mont County, Ohio, June 28, 1818, and when an 
 infant of six months her parents removed to Brown 
 County, that .State. Mr. Weaver, a very energetic 
 and industrious man, improved several farms and 
 became quite wealthy. He bore the reputation of 
 great honesty and integrity with a stern sense of 
 justice, and loaned large sums of money at six i)er 
 cent. interest,steadil3' refusing a higher rate although 
 he might easily have secured it. He sold his corn 
 at twenty five cents per bushel although he could 
 have obtained fifty cents, his motto being "live and 
 let live." He put his own shoulder to the wheel 
 and was one of the hardest workers of his time. 
 When more than sixty years old he made three 
 trips a year to Chicago, engaged in hauling bacon 
 and other produce. He was a man who attracted 
 to himself many warm friends and he lived to be 
 a few months over one hundred years old. His birth- 
 place was Washington County, Md., and he was 
 the son of a rich planter who was excessively patri- 
 otic and enlisting in the army rendered efhcieLt 
 service. He died when Michael was but four years 
 old, at tbe age of ninety-six years. He had been 
 married on the very farm whereon was fought the 
 battle of Antietam during the late Rebellion. His 
 wife, Mary Spcssard, also a native of Washington 
 County, Md., lived to be ninety years old and she 
 had a brother who lived to the great age of one 
 hundred and five years. 
 
 The childhood days of Mrs. Baum were spent in 
 her native county where she attended school and 
 became proficient in the common branches. Al- 
 though quite young when the family came to this 
 State she still remembers many of the incidents of 
 the journey and the old Alexander school-house 
 which was the first of its kind within the limits of 
 Carroll Township. It was a large, log structure, 
 1 8x24 feet square with a "cat and clay" chimney 
 •and the other finishings of that primitive time. 
 
 Of the twelve children born of this union the 
 eldest, Celestine A., is the wife of William T. 
 Hunt, and they reside in the Indian Territory; Jas- 
 per N., married a Miss Stewart and owns over 6C0 
 acres of land, his residence being in Young Amer- 
 ica Township; they have four children, Blanche, 
 Georgia, DoUie and Weaver, the two latter twins- 
 Charles Cyrus married first a Miss Gilky, and be- 
 
15H 
 
 PORTRAIT AND RIOORARFirCAL ALRUM. 
 
 cviic the father of one child — Ri'liii K. His wife 
 died and he vvas then mnrried to .Miss ,losie liaum 
 and tliey live on a hv^e farm in Carroll Township; 
 A. Jaeol), a resident of Sidell, owns a farm in Si- 
 dell Township and rankcs a specialty of breeding- 
 fine horses; lie married a Miss Rowand and they have 
 five children — Charles, Lelia C, Spessard and 
 Estelle (twins) and (Teorge Roy. (Hdeon P. mar- 
 ried a Miss Lucas and is the father of two children 
 — Lulie \V. and Earl L; he operates a large farm in 
 Carroll Townshi|). George B. McC. married a Miss 
 Rawlings and is the father of two children — Opie 
 and Wilbert; he conducts a livei'3' stable in Ridge 
 P^arm and owns a farm in Carroll Township. The 
 deceased children are Marcus I)., who died at the 
 age of two years; Orintha, who died when ten 
 years old ; James II., who died at the age of two 
 years; two infants who died u.inamed, and John 
 W. who died when two years old. 
 
 To each of his children who have started out in 
 life for themselves Mr. Ranm has given a good 
 farm. They have been provided with a practical 
 education and are well fitted to make their own 
 way in the world. The present homestead of our 
 subject and his estimable wife was given to the 
 latter by her father, Michael Weaver. Although 
 mixing very little with iiolitical affairs Mr. Banm 
 keeps himself posted upon matters of general in- 
 terest and uniformly supports the principles i.if the 
 Democratic part}'. 
 
 ||/_^ENRY J. BENNETT. The man of nerve 
 j] and muscle and perseverance, who i)ends 
 his energies to the scientific tilling of the 
 soil, is one of those forming the bone and 
 sinew of the industrial community without which 
 the world could make little progress. Here and 
 there we find one who ennobles his calling, 
 adding dignity, wealth and strength to the nation. 
 The subject of this notice operates in a skillful and 
 intelligent manner a good farm of 160 acres in 
 Sidell Township, where he is held in the highest 
 respect by all classes of citizens. He possesses 
 more than ordinary intelligence, energy and fore- 
 
 Ihongiii. and Iims the best wishes of hosts of friends 
 for conliiiucd p'rosperity. 
 
 Mr. Bennett was born in Catlin Township, this 
 county, and is the son of Philander and Sarah Ann 
 (Wolfe) Bennett, who are natives respectively of 
 New York State and ^'irg^nia. The mother was a 
 member of the old well-known Wolfe family which 
 was represented in America at an early day. Mr. 
 and Mrs. Bennett came unmarried to this county. 
 Grandfather Wolfe was one of the earliest settlers 
 hi're and located on the l.ianks of South Fork Creek, 
 where he established a home in the wilderness 
 some time pi'ior t(_) tlie tide of immigration, which 
 redeemed the wilderness around from its original 
 condition. He had many a battle with the Indians, 
 also with wild animals. He made some improve- 
 ments on his land, which subsequently became fa- 
 miliarly known as the old \\'olfe homestead. Our 
 suliject has s?en forest trees and some apple ti-ees 
 which were undoubtedly planted by the hand of 
 his grandfather, the former of which now form a 
 dense thicket. 
 
 After their marriage the parents of our subject 
 settled in Catlin Township, where the father occu- 
 pied himself as a millwright, putting up the old 
 Harris Mill and several other strnctures of the 
 kind in this county. Both he and his estimable 
 wife are still living on a farm in P>dgar County, 
 the fatlier being seventy-three years old and the 
 mother sixty-four. They have seven children 
 living: Ann E., Henry J., DeWitt C, Mary E. 
 Jac(jb F., Ida :\I. and AUie M. 
 
 Henry J. Bennett was born Feb. 16, 1847, in 
 Catlin Township, where he was brought up on a 
 farm and was never outside the county until be- 
 coming of age. When twenty-two years old he 
 began working out by the month for that well 
 known citizen, -John Sidell, with whom he remained 
 six years — a fact which speaks well for both. 
 After this he operated considerably as a carpenter, 
 In the meantime he was married in 1879 to Miss 
 Melissa A., daughter of John Stark, one of the 
 leading men of Sidell Township, where Mrs. Ben- 
 nett was born. They have three daughters: Wash- 
 tella, Fra and Sarah A. IMr. and Mrs. Bennett are 
 members in good standing of the Presbyterian 
 Church. Our subject is a charter member of the 
 
-e:5^f?ESIDENeEOP W!!3J.MANN.§Ee.11.(T18 = R13)(SA'T'IaINTP.,VERMIIaI©N(gOUNTY:^<' 
 
 -■^"■li,' ''■">" '.-^'^ " iw 'i a: \ 
 
 ^^■-s^'fiu^-A ""■ ^f'*ii»Y-!ys4i^??ii'-Kw J 
 
 ~7 — ^i-fgt-g-'g i' if'^-^.^' ' ^ 
 
 Residenoeof V/M smith. ^Ee.1.(T.18=R.14)YANeETi?,YERMiHON©ouNT^ 
 
PORTRArr AM) I'.IOCRAI'IIICAL ALBUM. 
 
 461 
 
 Modern Woodiiim Camp at Sidell and at the time 
 of its organization was installed its lirst banker. 
 He served liis term and was then elected Advisor. 
 He is also a member of Peace Dale Lodge, No. 
 2-2.5, I. O. O. F., at Sidell. 
 
 Mrs. Bennett was born in Carroll Townsliip and 
 grew to womanhood on her father's farm, being 
 married at the age of twenty-two years. Iler pa- 
 rents were natives of Kentuekj', and the mother, 
 formerly Miss Mary A. (Cassady), was horn in 
 Bourbon County, Ky. They were married in the 
 Blue (-irass State, where their two eldest children 
 were born. Thence they came to Illinois and set- 
 tled near the iilaee which was named vStark's Grove 
 in honor of the father. He became well-to-do, 
 and died at the age of sixty j^ears; the mother died 
 at the age of fifty-nine. Their fourteen children 
 were named respectively, Jerry, Jeffei-son, Henrj' 
 (who died young), Madison, William, Hannah, 
 Joel, Belle, Samuel, Monroe, Henry, Robert, Me- 
 lissa A. and Josepliine W. 
 
 -^-Hi.=^^sf+-^ 
 
 W'^dLLIAM SMITH is one of the solid, in- 
 fluential farmers of \'ance Township. His 
 parents came to Illinois in the fall of 1«21). 
 His fatlier's name was James Smith, and lie was 
 a native of Ohio, where he was engaged in farm- 
 ino-. His mother, whose maiden name was Mary 
 Sewell, was also born in the same State. 
 
 When the parents of Mr. Smith removed to ^'er- 
 milion County, three other families accompanied 
 them, but there are none of their representatives 
 living in this county except the subject of this 
 sketch. His father was the first to settle in this 
 immediate neighborhood, where he entered 800 
 acres of land and during his life improved nearl}' 
 all of it, giving each of his children a portion. 
 James Smith was a very careful man and settled up 
 all his affairs before his death. He was the father 
 of five children, four boys and one girl, of whom 
 there are three now living. He died in 1872, his 
 wife preceding him to the grave ten years. 
 
 William Smith was the third child of his family 
 and was born June 12, 1827, near Springfield, Ohio, 
 
 and when he was but two years of age, his parents 
 removed to Illinois. He I'ceeivcd his early educa- 
 tion in an old log school-house, situated on his 
 fathei-'s land. When he was eighteen years of age 
 lie ceased going to school and remained at work 
 on his father's farm until he was twenty-one. The 
 fall after he had attained his majority, he drove a 
 team, in company with sixteen others, to Austin, 
 Tex., the journey occupying ninety days. This 
 was forty years ago and he remained tliere until 
 March 1, 1849, when he walked from Austin to 
 Houston, Tex., took |)assage on a boat to Galves- 
 ton, from there across the Gulf of Mexico on a 
 steamer to New (Orleans, thence up the Mississippi 
 to the mouth of the Ohio, ascending that stream to 
 where the \\'abash intersects it, then to Perryville, 
 Ind. He then walked to Danville and from there 
 liome. In the winter of 1848-49 the cholera was 
 raging and four deaths occurred on the same boat 
 that brought him up the Mississippi River. 
 
 Mr. Smith was married May 9, 1849 to Miss 
 Lucy A. Saddler, daughter of William and Keziah 
 (Brooks) Saddler, natives of Richmond, Va. They 
 settled in this county in an early day and were the 
 parents of seven children, two of these being from 
 Mr. Saddler's second marriage, Mrs. Smith's mother 
 liaving died shortly after locating in Illinois. Mrs. 
 Smith was the fifth child of this family, and was 
 born June 8, 1829, near Richmond, \'a. She at- 
 tended school in a log house, about three miles 
 from her present home. Her father died in 1861. 
 After marriage Mr. Smith removed to tlie farm he 
 now owns and occupies; it then belonging to his 
 father who gave each of his children 120 acres of land 
 with which to start in life. Mr. Smith has made 
 four trips to and from Texas, three Ijy team, and 
 one by railroad. On one of these journeys the 
 trip was made on horseback. In 1876 he visited 
 the Centennial at Philadelphia, and March 4, 1889 
 was present at Harrison's inauguration, and while 
 on that trip, visited Mt. N'ernon; he has been a 
 great traveler and has visited nearly all points of 
 interest in this country. 
 
 Mr. Smith is now the owner of a tine farm of 
 .")20 acres in one body, and under a high state of 
 cultivation. He raises horses, cattle and hogs, and 
 conducts a general farming business. Some very 
 
4G2 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 fine horses of the Norman, Cli'desdale and English- 
 shire draft horses, and also Short-horn cattle may 
 be seen on this splendid farm. On the whole, Mr. 
 Smith has been a ver^- successful farmer. Four 
 boys and two girls constitute Mr. and Mrs. Smith's 
 family. James Everett married Laura Price, who 
 died in 18iS7, leaving three little boys to mourn 
 her loss; William E., is now living in Iowa, and 
 his son, Lester, is now living with his grandfather, 
 Smith; Byron married Emma Black, they reside on 
 the old homestead and are the parents of two girls; 
 Abraliam L. married Cora Baldwin, and they also 
 reside on the fatlier's old homestead ; Mary Belle 
 is the wife of Andy Yount; Sadie Jane lives at 
 home. ]Mr. Smith has two brothers living, his only 
 sister dying in 1850. His brother James is living 
 in San Antonio, Tex., while David is a farmer in 
 Guthrie County, Iowa; his brother John died last 
 summer in Dallas County, Iowa, leaving five chil- 
 dren, all of whom have grown to maturity. 
 
 Mr. Smith has retired from active farming and 
 by his industrious and intelligent manners has 
 earned a competency and is entitled to the rest he is 
 now enjoying. He has always taken an active in- 
 terest in politics and has invariably voted the Re- 
 publican ticket since the organization of that part}'. 
 The offices of School Director and Road Over- 
 seer have been filled by him in his usual pains-taking 
 manner. Social!}', he is a member of the I. O. O. F. 
 and is temperate in all things. In the commu- 
 nity, where Mr. and Mrs. Smith have lived sixty 
 years, they command the universal respect of all 
 their neighbors. 
 
 As representing one of the beautiful homes in 
 this count}', a view of the residence of our subject 
 and his family is given on another page of tliis 
 volume. 
 
 — -ma^- — 
 
 W.ILLIAM J. MANN. Catlin 
 no better representative of it 
 and manufacturing interests 
 
 |ILLIAM J. MANN. Catlin Township has 
 
 its agricultural 
 than this gen- 
 tleman, who has long been identified by the shrewd, 
 intelligent farmers, owning and managing a valua- 
 ble farm on section 11, and for some time he has 
 been actively engaged in the manufacture of tile. 
 
 He comes of fine old stock, and was born in what 
 is now West Virginia, in Monroe County, Oct. 20, 
 1824. His father, likewise named William, was a 
 native of the Old Dominion, one of the F. F. Vs., 
 and his mother, whose maiden name was Rhoda 
 Stodghill, was also a Virginian by birth. The par- 
 ents of our subject began their wedded life in their 
 native State, living amid its beautiful scenery till 
 1856, when they sought to establish a new home in 
 the Praii ie State, and they spent the remainder of 
 their lives in Sidell Township, where he died March 
 16, 1858, and she March 10, 1878. They left to 
 their children and children's children the precious 
 legacy uf an honorable name, and the memory of 
 exemplary lives. The}- had a family of six children, 
 of whom our subject was the eldest son and the 
 fourth child in order of birth. 
 
 He remained at home till he was twenty-one, and 
 the following year went to Alabama. Having prior 
 to that time learned dentistry, he followed that pro- 
 fession in that State for some two years. At the 
 expiration of that time he returned to the Shenan- 
 doah Valley in Eastern Virginia, and passed the 
 ensuing eight years there, actively engaged at his 
 profession. He then returned to his native county, 
 and after remaining there two years, he sought 
 green fields and pastures new in the West, and 
 making his way to Monroe County, Mo., opened 
 an office for the practice of dentistry there. Two 
 years after that, in 1859, he came to Vermilion 
 County, this State, and established himself as a 
 dentist at Fairraount, continuing there till the 
 breaking out of the war, when he gave his attention 
 wholly to agricultural pursuits. He afterward re- 
 turned with his family to Virginia on account of 
 his wife's ill-health, the entire journey being made 
 in a private conveyance, and they remained there 
 three years. After his return to this State, Mr. 
 Mann resumed farming, and now owns a farm of 
 205 acres, that is well tilled, and supplied with a 
 substantial set of buildings, including a handsome 
 dwelling beautifully located on section 11, on 
 Blue Mound. A view of this attractive farm resi- 
 dence appears on another page, and adds much to 
 the value of the Album. The place is amply sup- 
 plied with all the machinery and appliances for 
 facilitating farm labors. In 1881 our subject 
 
PUKTRAir AND lUOORAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 463 
 
 formed a pai-tuersliii) witli David Viiughn to engage 
 in the manufacture of tile, and he also operated a 
 sawmill with him. They remained together till 
 1884, when Mr. Vaughn withdrew from the firm, 
 and Mr. Mann has since carried on the business 
 alone. He manufactures a superior kind of tile, 
 which commands a large sale on its own merits, 
 and is reaping great profits therefrom. 
 
 Mr. Mann was married to Miss Elizabeth F. 
 Thompson April 2, 1851, in Augusta County, Va. 
 Mrs. Mann was a native of that county, her birth 
 taking place there in 1824. She was a daughter of 
 William and Elizabeth (Beard) Thompson, who 
 died in that count^^ Five children were born of 
 the wedded life of our subject and his amiable wife : 
 Mary, the wife of Rev. Luther Hendrick; William 
 T., who married Miss Lizzie Farrin; Walter; 
 George, who. married a Miss Conklin ; Emma and 
 an infant son, Ellis, deceased. 
 
 Aug. 3b, 1887, death crossed the threshold of the 
 happy home of our subject, and she wlio was the 
 home-maker, the loved wife and mother, was taken 
 from the stricken family-. She was a woman of 
 deep, noble character, in whom the Christian vir- 
 tues were exemplified. She was kindness itself, and 
 her charity knew no bounds, her large heart over- 
 flowing with tender sympathy toward the needy 
 and suffering. She was one of the most active and 
 prominent members of the Presbyterian Church, 
 and in early life was a Sunday-school teacher; 
 the church and society at large sustained with her 
 famil3' an irreparable loss. 
 
 Mr. Mann is a true gentleman, ever courteous 
 and genial in his intercourse with others, and his 
 frank, kindly nature has won him a warm place in 
 the hearts of his neighbors and numerous other 
 friends. In his career in life he has met with 
 assured success in the various vocations that he 
 has pursued, and is numbered among the moneyed 
 men of his township, as well as one of her most 
 trustworthy citizens. He is a man of earnest relig- 
 ious feelings, and has long been connected with the 
 Cumberland Presbyterian Church at Fairmount, 
 of which he is Deacon, and his fellow-members al- 
 ways find him ready to aid in carrying out any 
 plan for the moral or the social elevation of tlie 
 community. Politically, he is a loyal supporter of 
 
 the Democratic party. He hns held various school 
 offices, and takes considerable interest in educa- 
 tional affairs, as all intelligent, [jublic-spirited cit- 
 izens ought to do. 
 
 j^^ QUIRE H. E. P. TALBOTT is one of the 
 ^^^ most influential men in Sidell Township, 
 \A£M where he owns and operates a large farm. 
 His father and mother, Augustine and Jo- 
 sella (Parker) Talbott, were natives of Bourbon 
 County, Ky. The father was a merchant at Mil- 
 lersburg, that State, for several years, but having 
 become security for other people too largely, he 
 failed in business, when in 1826, he removed to 
 Madison County, Ohio, and there began the race 
 of life anew by teaching school in a log house, on 
 the subscription plan. He died at the early age of 
 twenty -eight, a poor man, leaving a widow and three 
 children: John Mason, Hugh A. and Henry Ed- 
 waril Parker. The mother was married a second 
 time in IMadison County, Ohio, to Marcus Garrett, 
 a farmer of that county, by whom she was the 
 mother of seven children. 
 
 In 1851 the stepfather, mother and all the 
 children but Henry, who was serving out an ap- 
 prenticeship, removed to Carroll Township, which 
 is now Sidell in this county. They prospered 
 fairly well, liut the mother died in 1864 at the age 
 of fifty-five years. The subject of this sketch was 
 born Aug. 7, 1831, near London, Madison Co., 
 Ohio. His early life was passed in much the same 
 manner as that of any farmer's boy, receiving his 
 education under difficulties. He remained at home 
 until he was seventeen years old, working for his 
 stepfather on the farm. At that age he began to 
 learn the carpenter's trade, and served an appren- 
 ticeship covering three years, and during this time 
 he saw the need of an education, and therefore he 
 attended the common schools in the winter, work- 
 ing at his trade during the summer time. He came 
 out to visit his folks in Illinois, remaining here but 
 a short time, when he went to Indianapolis, and 
 there worked at his trade for nine years prior to 
 his enlistment in the army. In 1856, he began 
 
164 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPMICAJ. ALBUM. 
 
 takiiiji' eoiil)acls and erected a number of city and 
 country residences, and as a contractor he was very 
 successful. 
 
 Up to the year lasl mentioned his sympathies 
 had been with the Whig jiarty, but at the birth of the 
 Republican party he joined its ranks and has con- 
 tinued to act with that organization until the pres- 
 ent day. 
 
 When Lincoln issued his call for 300,000 troops, 
 he laid aside his hammer and saw, .and took up the 
 musket. He enlisted in Com])any G, Tlith Indiana 
 Lifantry in Aug. 18(J2 and was mustered into the 
 service at Indianapolis as a corporal. Here they 
 were drilled for three weeks, when they were or- 
 dered to Louisville, and there learned further 
 duties of the soldier. The first engagement in which 
 Mr. Talbott was engaged was the battle of Perr\'- 
 ville, Ky., in the fall of 1862 and during their 
 pursuit of Bragg to Nasliville, he was taken ill and 
 sent to the hospital at that place, and after l3'ing 
 there for one month, he was discharged in the 
 spring of 1863, when he returned to Indianapolis. 
 After coming out of the army he was for a long 
 time unable to perform physical labor. In 18(!5 
 he removed to Illinois and engaged at his trade at 
 Catlin, building several houses that summei. In 
 1867 he was married to Miss Lucy E. Utterback, a 
 native of Rolls County, Mo., and daughter of Har- 
 mon and Lovina (Falls) Utterback. Her faUier 
 was a native of Kenton County, Ky., while her 
 mother was born in Indiana. Her parents had ten 
 children, all of whom were born in Missouri. j\Irs. 
 Talbott came to \'ermilion Count}' for the purpose 
 of attending school. She had relatives here who 
 had no children and therefore lived with tlicm. 
 After marriage Mr. and Mrs. Talbott settled on 
 their present farm, where they have resided contin- 
 uously since. They have had three children: Au- 
 gustin j\Iason; II. Hugh and Sarah E. Hugh died 
 at the age of twelve years and six months, and the 
 other children are living with their parents at 
 home. 
 
 Mr. Talbott's grandfather was born in Maryland, 
 of English ancestry. His grandmother, niaternall\-, 
 was a Sandusky and of the same family after which 
 the Ohio city was named. In the early part of the 
 idneteenth century, three bi'others came over from 
 
 Poland, one of whom settled in Ohio, and founded 
 the city of Sandusk}', another locating in Mary- 
 land, whih^ Mr. Talbott's ancestor settled in Ken- 
 tucky. Ilis paternal grandmother was a Mason and 
 a liiuvil descendant of the survcj'or Mason, who in 
 com|)an}- with Dixon, settle<l a dispute betM'een 
 Lord Baltimore and AVilliam Penn by agreeing on 
 the present State line between Pennsylvania ami 
 Mtu'yland, popularly known as Mason and Dixon's 
 line, and surveyed by them in colonial times. The 
 name of Mason, therefore, will be perpetuated in 
 the Talbott family. 
 
 Mr. Talbott has served as School Treasurer for 
 ten years and as Director for seven years. He has 
 also taught iwo terms of school in the district 
 where he li\'cs. In 1872 he was elected Justice of 
 the Peace and has served with distinguished ability 
 in that ollice since, and in the course of that time 
 has had a great many cases appealed to the higher 
 courts, but his decisions have been invariably sus- 
 tained. In 1 870 he was elected Supervisor, and 
 with the exception of one year, has served for nine 
 years consecutively. He is a member of the G. A. R., 
 and was the Hrst commander of Sidell post No. 
 o3G. He was an active man in organizing it, and 
 was one of its charter members. Mv. Talbott is an 
 uncompromising and stalwart Republican and has 
 served on the central committee of his county for 
 several 3'ears. When the Odd Fellows' Lodge was 
 started at Sidell in 1886, he was one of its charter 
 members and its first presiding oHiccr and he has 
 represented his lodge in the grand body. Our 
 subject joined the Odd I'ellows May 22, 1857. 
 
 ,f-J#^*|, 
 
 AiMEL (iURLEY. Feu- who look upon 
 this hale, heart)', bright and intelligent 
 old gentleman would suppose that he has 
 passed the eighty-lirst year of his age. His 
 has been a familiar figure among the older resi- 
 dents of this county for, lo, these many years, and 
 since the spring of 1864 he h.as been a resident of 
 Danville. He commenced in life at the foot of 
 the ladder without other resources than the excel- 
 lent qualities of mind, heart and <lisposition with 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAI^HICAL ALBUM. 
 
 I Go 
 
 which nature has endowed him, but these proved 
 an invaluable enpital, from which he has built up 
 for himself a goodlj' position amouL;- his fellow- 
 men. 
 
 Our subject was born in the town of Rupert, 
 Bennington Co., Vt., jNIarcli 3, 1808, and is the 
 son of jN'ahum (Jurley, a native of Glastonbur}', 
 Conn., and of substantial Scotch ancestry. Nahum 
 (ruriey was reared to manhood in his native State, 
 from which he removed to A'ermont, and was one 
 of tlie earliest settlers of the town of Rupert. He 
 had learned the trade of a blacksniilb in his youth, 
 but after settling in \'errnont, purchased land and 
 devoted a part of bis time to its improvement and 
 cultivation. At the same time he carried on black- 
 smithing, but in 1820 disposed of his interests in 
 tbe(ireen Mountain Sta'-e and made his wa}- to 
 Western New York, before there was either a canal 
 or railroad in that region. The journo_\' was made 
 with ox teams, and the father of our subject set- 
 tled with liis family in the vicinity- of Albion, Os- 
 wego County, where he was a pioneer. He purchased 
 a partiall}' improved tract of land, engaged in 
 farming and also worked at his trade. He there 
 spent his last days, passing awa^' about Ixi'tH. 
 
 The mother of our subject was in her maiden- 
 hood iAIiss Xellie (Goodrich, and she, like her hus- 
 band, was a native of Connecticut. The simple 
 story of her life was that of a pioneer wife and 
 mother who stood bravely by the side of her hus- 
 band in his labors and struggles, and set before her 
 children the example of virtue, tln-ift and industry. 
 She spun wool and flax, and, besides manufactur- 
 ing the cloth for the family use, made the garments 
 as well. She departed this life prior to the decease 
 of her husband at the rild homestead, in Oswego 
 County, N. Y. 
 
 The subject of this sketch was a lad of twelve 
 years when his parents removed from Vermont to 
 New York State, and he still distinctly remembers 
 many of the incidents connected with the long 
 journey, especially through the wilds of New York. 
 As soon as old enough, he was taught to make 
 himself useful, and learned the trade of a black- 
 smith of his tather. At that early day [ilows and 
 axes were made by hand, and young (nirley has 
 turned out man3- of these in connection with tlie 
 
 other general work at the forge. Along in the 
 thirties he determined to see something more of 
 the world, and made liis way to Ypsilanti, Mich., 
 and worked at his trade there and at Auburn neai'Iy 
 a 3'ear and until winter, when he started for home, 
 lie crossed the river at Detroit and walked the 
 entire distance, passing through the sparsel}^ set- 
 tled portions of Canada, and Anally ai'riving in 
 safct}' at his destination. 
 
 Soon after his return home, Mr. Gurley opened 
 a shop at Albion, where be i)r(isecuted blacksmith- 
 ing until 18G3. lie then returned to Michigan, 
 and in (inincy, Hianch County, purchased ground 
 and put up a shop. The year following he sold 
 out, and, coming to this count v, purchased prop- 
 erty in Danville. He erecte<l one among the first 
 store buildings put up on A'ermilion street, and en- 
 gaged in the liide and leather business about a 
 dozen years. He was quite prosperous in this 
 enteri)rise. and at the expiration of the time men- 
 tioned retired from active business, and has since 
 occupied himself in looking after his property. 
 
 Mr. fiuiley was first married, in Albion. N. Y., 
 to Miss Lydia Rich, a native of Middlefleld, Otsego 
 Co., N. Y.. and a daughter of Col. Moses Rich. 
 She became the mother of four children, and died 
 Aug. 4, 1H")G. Their eldest son, Franklin, is now 
 a resident of Runnels County, Tex. Hewitt re- 
 sides in La Crescent, Minn.; Jerome is a resident 
 of Wisconsin, and Nahum lives in St. Louis. The 
 second wife of our subject, to whom he was mar- 
 ried in March, IKo.s, was Mrs. Leonora (Hall) 
 Reed, a native of Ellisbnrg, Jefferson Co., N. Y., 
 and the daughter of Rufus Hall. Her father was 
 born in Belleville, Jefferson County, and was the 
 son of Giles Hall, one of the pioneers of that 
 county, who owned several large tracts of land and 
 was one of the most extensive farmers there. He 
 spent his last years at Kllisburg. His wife wa,s 
 Rachel Pier, a native of Cooperstown, N. Y., and 
 who died in IJelleville. 
 
 The father of Mrs. (Jurley was reared in Jeffer- 
 son CountiV, N. Y., where he learned the trade of a 
 blacksmith. About 1.S15 he removed to Oswego 
 County, where he carried on blacksmithing and 
 farming combined, and where he spent the remain- 
 der of his life. His wife, Mrs. Harriet (Taylor) 
 
466 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 Hall, was born in Balston Spa, Saratoga Co., N. Y. 
 Her father, James Taylor, removed finally from 
 Saratoga to Oneida County, and later to O.swego 
 County, where he died, and where also the death of 
 the motlier took place. Miss Hall was first mar- 
 ried, in the twentieth year of her age, to Benjamin 
 F. Reed, of Elmira, N. Y. Mr. Reed was a printer 
 bj' trade, at which he worked in Oswego, and 
 where his death took place Oct. 7, 1855. Of this 
 marriage there were born two children — one of 
 whom died in infancy, and a son, William Reed 
 Gurley, resides in Danville. Mrs. Gnrley has been 
 in all respects the suitable partner of her husband, 
 and is still spared to be his stay and comfort. She 
 is a lady highly respected wherever known, and 
 both nnmber their friends by the score in this 
 county. They occupy a comfortable and pleasant 
 home in the northern part of the city. 
 
 ' OHN GRIFFITH CXARK, J. P., a veteran 
 merchant and early settler of Sidell, has 
 been one of the men most closely identified 
 with the interests of this vicinity, for, lo, 
 these many years, and has dispensed justice in his 
 bailiwick for the past four years. He is of 
 that stanch and substantial character which was 
 most needed in the early settlement of Central 
 Illinois, and has borne no unimportant part in the 
 development of his township and the establishment 
 of the various enterprises which have made it a 
 desirable location for an industrious and intelli- 
 gent class of people. 
 
 The scenes of the first recollections of our sub- 
 ject were in the township of Hamilton, Warren 
 Co., Ohio, where his birth took place July 4, 1819. 
 Six or seven years later his father removed to 
 Indianapolis, Ind., which was then in its infancy, 
 there being only five or six frame houses and a 
 few log cabins upon the present site of that now 
 important city. The early education of young 
 Clark was cari'ied on under many disadvantages, 
 he attending the free schools two and one-half 
 months, and later a "rate" school. After working 
 hard during the day, he would take his book at 
 
 evening and, by the light of a dip candle and the 
 fireplace, extract such knowledge as he could. 
 During those days he wore buckskin breeches and 
 morocco hats. He plowed in the field when a boy 
 of eleven years, and made himself generally useful 
 about the farm from that time on until approach- 
 ing manhood. 
 
 After i-eaching his majority, young Clark began 
 teaching school in Indiana, and followed this pro- 
 fession twentj^-one months at one place, when he 
 resigned, much against the wishes of the School 
 Board, who full^- appreciated his faithful services. 
 In 1840, the State of Kentucky now having estab- 
 lished a free school at Alexandria, our subject re- 
 paired thither, and by a course of study qualified 
 himself still further for the duties of his chosen 
 profession. Later, he taught the first school ever 
 conducted under the free school system in Indi- 
 ana, holding certificate No. 1 and being examined 
 by Joshua Stevens and Samuel Merrill, the latter 
 subsequently becoming the first President of the 
 State Bank of Indiana. Upon his second applica- 
 tion for examination by iNIiles De Couicy, the lat- 
 ter issued him a certificate upon the strength of 
 his former one. While teaching at Alexandria, he 
 met his first wife, Miss Ann Benedict, who was 
 born in Kentucky. They were married in 1842, 
 and settled near Alexandria. 
 
 (Jur subject continued teaching, and also carried 
 on farming several years in Kentucky, becoming 
 the owner of a farm there. He also mixed con- 
 siderably in politics, and in due time was dubbed 
 "the leader of the Democratic partj^ in Campbell 
 County." He served on the County and State 
 Central Committees several times, and on the latter 
 in the campaign of 1864. Finally, becoming dis- 
 gusted with the canvass of that campaign, he re- 
 tired from the field, although serving later in the 
 same capacity as before. 
 
 Of the first marriage of Squire Clark there were 
 born nine children — Elizabeth, Sarah A., William, 
 John T., Nancy J., Hester E., and three who died 
 in infancy. The mother of these departed this 
 life, at New Richmond, in 1857. Our subject 
 man'ied for his second wife Mrs. Mary Battles, a 
 native of Campbell County, Ky., who was born on 
 the ■29th of April, 1816, and was the daughter of 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 467 
 
 John and Ellen rGillham) Fuller. Of her marriage 
 to Mr. Battles there were horn seven children, and 
 of her inarringe with our subject there are two 
 daughters — Carrie B. and Alice H. 
 
 Leaving Kentucky in 1874, our subject came to 
 this county and settled on a farm five or six miles 
 northwest of Sidell. He lived there until 1882, 
 then, coming into town, purchased a stock of 
 merchandise, the first ever exhibited at this place, 
 and established himself as a pioneer merchant. He 
 keeps a well-assorted stock of everything required 
 in the village or country household, and has built 
 up a thriving trade. He and his family occupy a 
 good position in social circles, and the Squire and 
 his wife belong to the America Missionary Baptist 
 Church. 
 
 After the marriage of Miss Gillham and Mr. 
 Battles, they settled in Hancock County, this 
 State, but later removed to Cincinnati, Ohio, where 
 the death of JNIr. Battles occurred. Their seven 
 children were named respectively: Mary E., Reuben, 
 John Stephen, America, Sarah E., Louisa and 
 NanCy Jane. Mrs. Battles after the death of her 
 husband returned to her native State of Kentucky, 
 where she formed the acquaintance of Mr. Clark. 
 They came to Sidell before the completion of the 
 Chicago, Danville & Ohio Railroad, and boarded 
 some of the laborers during its construction. Mr. 
 Clark was the first Postmaster of Sidell, and its 
 lirst grain buyer — purchasing the first load of 
 grain ever shipped ^from the place. One day, 
 while at AUerton holding an inquest, an accident 
 happened which crippled him, and he now gets 
 about with the assistance of crutches. He cast his 
 first Presidential vote for Martin Van Buren in 
 1840, and since then has never missed voting at a 
 Presidential election. While living in Kentucky, 
 he held the office of Justice of the Peace in Alex- 
 andria Precinct for a period of fourteen years. 
 
 Tlie parents of our subject were Caleb and 
 Elizabeth (Griffith) Clark, the father a native of 
 Greene County, Pa., and the mother of Campbell 
 County, Ky. They were married in the latter 
 place. Caleb Clark was a farmer by occupation, 
 and upon removing from Kentucky settled in 
 "Warren County, Ohio, where he sojourned five or 
 seven years, and then removed with his family to 
 
 Marion County, Ind. He was one of the promi- 
 ment lights of the Democratic party in that region, 
 and a member of the State Central Committee in 
 1840-44. He accumulated a very good propert.v, 
 but was finally disabled bj- a stroke of palsy, and 
 for the last ten years of his life was incapable of 
 labor, and died a poor man, in 1869, in the seventy- 
 fifth year of his age. 
 
 The mother of our subject after the death of her 
 husband removed to the home of her daughter, 
 Mrs. Hannah Parker, in this State, where she died, 
 in 1872, at the age of sevent3r-three years. Of the 
 twelve children in the parental family six grew 
 to mature years, and lour are now living, John 
 G., our subject, being the eldest. Hannah, Mrs. 
 Parker, is the mother of ten children, and lives in 
 Catlin, this county; William R., a butcher of Si- 
 dell, is married .and the father of three children — 
 Hannah, John and J. F. ; Mary A., Mrs. Reddick, 
 is a resident of Indiana, and has a family. 
 
 Caleb Clark, the father of our subject, was the 
 first man that volunteered in the city of Cincin- 
 n.ati in the War of 1812. . He was captured by the 
 British, but soon afterward paroled. The paternal 
 grandfather, John GrifHth, served four years in 
 the Revolutionary War, and was in several battles 
 under the direct conamand of Gen. Washington. 
 The Griffiths traced their ancestry to Wales, 
 
 'RANCIS MARION ALEXANDER, a thor- 
 ough, skillful, careful and prosperous farm- 
 er of Georgetown Township, owns and 
 occupies a snug homestead of eighty acres witli 
 good buildings, on section 6. He is known to 
 most of the people of this region and recognized as 
 one of the most reliable members of his commun- 
 ity. His course has been marked by honesty and 
 uprightness, and in all his worthy ambitions he has 
 received the aid and encouragement of one of the 
 best of wives. Mrs. Alexander deserves especial 
 mention as having performed her share in preserv- 
 ing the reputation of the family and assisting in the 
 accumulation of the property which has secured 
 them against future want. We find them sur- 
 
4G8 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 rounded by all the comforts of life and those evi- 
 dences of taste and refinement which are so pleasant 
 to the eye. Our subject was named after Gen. 
 Francis Marion, who was a relative on subject's 
 grandmother's side. 
 
 A native of Fountain County, Ind., our subject 
 was born Nov. 4, 1834, and was the 3'oungest in a 
 family of seven children, the offspring of Robert 
 and Margaret (Hawkins) Alexander, who were na- 
 tives of South Carolina. They emigrated to Indi- 
 ana with their respective parents in their youth, 
 and were married in Fayette County, that state. 
 Later they removed to Fountain County, where 
 the mother died at the early age of thirty-five years. 
 The elder Alexander was married a second time, 
 but died soon afterward at the age of flfty-flve. 
 Tlieir children were named respectively: .Tames, 
 William, John, Francis M. our subject, Hester, Re- 
 becca and Martha A. Five of these are living. 
 
 Soon after the death of his father our subject 
 went to live with William T. Stevens, who had 
 married his sister, Martha Ann, and in 1848 began 
 working on a farm in Georgetown Township, Ver- 
 milion County. Later he operated rented land on 
 his own account. When twenty-two years old 
 he was married, Nov. 4, 1856, to Miss Elizabeth 
 McCorkle, who was a native of Indiana and 
 a daughter of Charles jMcCorkle. She became 
 the mother of five children and departed this 
 life at the homestead in 1876. Tlieir eldest 
 daughter, Mary E., is now the wife of John 
 Girard, a merchant of Westville, and the mother 
 of one child, Bertie F.; Martha K. was married to 
 H. G. McMillan and died at the age of tvventy-one 
 years, leaving one child, Clarence E., who soon 
 followed the mother; Matilda A. is the wife of IT. 
 T. Parker, who has charge of the Alexander farm, 
 and thej' are the parents of a son, Jones N.; Mar- 
 garet E. married D. E. Beebe, a stock-man and 
 farmer near Huron, Dak., and they have one child, 
 a daughter, Blanche; Minnie D. is unmarried and 
 remains with her father. 
 
 Our subject in 1878 contracted a second mar- 
 riage with Miss Mary E. Parker, who was born in 
 Marion County, Ind., and is the daughter of John 
 and Hannah (Clark) Parker, both natives of Ken- 
 tucky. Mrs. Alexander was simply a child when 
 
 her parents came to Illinois and settled first on a 
 farm in Carroll Township, Vermilion County. 
 They are now residents of Catlin Township. Miss 
 Mary lived at home with her parents, receiving 
 careful training from an excellent mother until her 
 marriage. She attended the common school, and 
 grew up to a modest and wortiiy womanliood, 
 greatly esteemed by her young associates. Siie 
 has fulfilled the promise of her youth, and has 
 proved in every way the suitable partner of a good 
 !nan's home. Religiously inclined, she is a consist- 
 ent member of tlie Jlethodist Episcopal Church at 
 Fairview, while Mr. Alexander finds his religious 
 home in the Christian Cliurch, in which he is Elder. 
 Politically our subject advocates the principles of 
 tlie Democratic party and has served several terms 
 as School Director and Road Supervisor. Beyond 
 this he carefully avoids the responsibilities of 
 olticc, finding his chief satisfaction in looking after 
 his farm and fimily. When our subject was 
 twenty-one years of age he went to Iowa and pur- 
 chased land near Des Moines; then went into mer- 
 chandising, continuing in that three years; tlien re- 
 turned to Westville and went into business at that 
 place; sold that and bought his present place. 
 
 JIOMAS HAWORTH, who departed this 
 life May 4, 1885, at his homestead in El- 
 wood Township, was esteemed as one of 
 its best citizens and in his death it suffered an irre- 
 parable loss. He was born in this townsliip July 
 12, 18 15, and was the son of Jccl Hawortli, a native 
 of Tennessee, who came to this county when a 
 boy, settling among the Indians and wild animals, 
 as early as 1825, and in common with other pio- 
 neers of that period his career was made an item of 
 history in the publislied records of this county 
 some years since. 
 
 Young Hawortli, as may be supposed, received 
 only limited school advantages during his boyhood 
 and youth, but his naturally bright mind and 
 habits of observation conspired to make him a very 
 intelligent and thoroughly-well informed man. He 
 assisted his father in the opening up of the home- 
 

 (jiyinayV'^-. 
 
 'LOyyy^ 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 473 
 
 stead from the wilderness and upon approuulung 
 manhood learned the trade of a plasterer which he 
 followed several j'ear.s. Later he abandoned this 
 for the more conoenial ()ursuits of agriculture. He 
 was married when nearly thirty-three years of age, 
 March 28, ixlS, to Mrs Hannah M. Spray, widow 
 of Jesse Spray, who died in Indianapolis, Feb. 22, 
 1876. 
 
 Mrs. Ilaworth was born in Hendricks Country, 
 Ind., and is the daughter of David Mendenhall, 
 who is long since deceased. After the death of Mr. 
 Haworth she was married to Silas Mendenhall, 
 March 14, 1889. A sketch of Mr. Mendenhall ap- 
 pears on another page in this Album. Mr. Haworth 
 was a liberal and public-spirited citizen and in re- 
 ligious matters belonged to the Society of Friends. 
 He was a man of the most kindly Christian charac- 
 ter, beloved and respected by all who knew him 
 and none can point to an unworthj' or dishonest 
 act associated with his life. 
 
 /,., BRAHAM SANDUSKY is one of the lead- 
 lJ, ing men of Carroll Township, and was 
 
 born in Bourbon County, Ky., March 24, 
 1833. His father, also named Abraham, 
 was a native of the same county, and was born 
 March 29, 1793. His mother, Jane (McDowell) 
 was born there also, her birth occurring Dec. IG, 
 1792. 
 
 The grandparents were among the earlj' settlers 
 of Kentucky, and were there at the time the Indi- 
 ans were very troublesome. This family traces its 
 ancestr^f back to Poland's royalty. They came to 
 America in 1756, and as foreigners, were at first 
 looked upon with suspicion, but their true charac- 
 ter becoming known, they were soon in great favor 
 with the people of the colonies, and since that time 
 there have been no more loyal Americans than the 
 Sandusky family. The original forefather became 
 an Indian hunter and trader, and by them was 
 killed. 
 
 Of the eight children born to the parents of the 
 subject of this sketch, Abraham was the sixth. He 
 was the last one whose nativity was in Kentucky 
 
 and he was brought to Illinois in his mother's 
 arms, a babe of six months. He has a good claim 
 to the title of pioneer, and nobly does he sustain 
 that title. His schooling was gained at the public 
 schools of the days of his boyhood but his greatest 
 lessons were gleaned from liis father and mother, 
 who taught him industry and honesty. He worked on 
 his father's farm until he was married, Dec. 16, 
 1 869 to Miss Ellen Baird, a native of Carroll Town - 
 ship. He purchased his first land in 1862, and 
 since that time has dealt steadily in real estate, in 
 this way accumulating a great deal of wealth. He 
 speculated in cattle, horses and live-stock generally, 
 and during the war when values were much in- 
 flated, and fortunes so easily gained, he did partic- 
 ularly well. He became connected with the Ex- 
 ciiange Bank and was interested in the corporation 
 to the extent of one-fourth interest. This institution 
 transacted a general banking business for some four 
 or five years, when the railroad was projected from 
 Paris to Danville. This bank undertook the build- 
 ing and operating of the road, a bonus of loOO a 
 mile being voted for its construction by the sev- 
 eral towns through which it passed. The bonded 
 stock of this companjr amounting to $1,500,000, at 
 one time could have been sold for eighty per cent. 
 The road was sold at forced sale, and being pur- 
 chased by the Wabash, it consequently forced Mr. 
 Sandusky into bankruptcy, this occurring in 1873 
 ard sweeping his whole fortune away. At that 
 time he was worth $300,000 in money that he had 
 aciMimulated by his own efforts. Just here the 
 nobility of Mr. Sandusky's character asserted it- 
 self, and while many others attribute his great 
 losses to the delinquency of another man, yet Mr. 
 Sandusk}' remains mute, and simply says that the 
 money was lost. His farm was bought in by his 
 brother, William, and through industry and per- 
 severance Abraham has been able to regain 600 
 acres of it. 
 
 Through all his trials and losses Mr. Sandusky 
 htis sustained his honor, always appearing what 
 he really is, a public-spirited and generous citizen. 
 Nearly every church, and all other enterprises de- 
 signed for the public good, have felt the strength of 
 his liberality'. Mr. Sandusky is now following 
 general or mixed farming, and his Short-horn cat- 
 
474 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 tie are the best speciinems of their breed in tliis 
 countr}'. Politieall}', he is a, strong uncompro- 
 mising Republican, and never omits an opportun- 
 ity to aid his party. He is a member of the Cum- 
 berland Presbyterian Church, while his wife is a 
 Baptist. 
 
 Nancj' Ellen Baird, the wife of Abraham San- 
 duskj^ was born in Carroll Township. Her father. 
 Joseph, and mother Lydia (Mendenhall) Baird, were 
 early settlers of Vermilion County. The father was 
 born in Kentucky and the mother in Ohio. She came 
 here with her parents when she was eleven years 
 old, while Mr. Baird was a young man, when he 
 arrived in this county. After their marriage they 
 settled upon their farm where they became the 
 parents of eight children: John (r., David A., 
 Nancy Ellen, Elizabeth A., Lydia Jane, Emily F., 
 William S,, and Joseph, who died in infancy. Mrs. 
 Baird is residing on the old Mendenhall homestead 
 with her son, Silas, and is in good health at the age 
 of seventy-seven years. Her husband died in 1869 
 nearly seventy years old. 
 
 Fine lithographic portraits of Mr. and Mrs. .San- 
 dusky are shown elsewhere in this work, and repre- 
 sent people of fine family, prominent social position 
 and philanthropic spirit. It is the wish of the 
 Album as well as its many readers that they may 
 remain for many years among those who love them. 
 
 ai',.i. 
 
 <if, OSEPH F. COOK. Somebody has said that 
 the man who loves a good horse is generally 
 a good citizen. The converse of this propo- 
 sition in certainly true that a man who 
 abuses this noblest of all animals is certainly a bad 
 citizen. If there is anything in this world that 
 Mr. Cook likes belter than another it is a good 
 horse. He is especially proud of the fact that he 
 is the owner of as fine horses as can be found in 
 "N'ermilion County. He is a man who possesses 
 great intelligence and uses his talents freelj^ in his 
 business of putting on the market splendid horses. 
 His financial success in this direction fully attests 
 the fact that he has not failed to make for himself 
 an enviable reputation as a fair, capable and relia- 
 
 ble business man. His excellent judgment has led 
 him to select Cleveland Bays and Mambrino strains 
 as the most superior breeds for the class of animals 
 he deals in. 
 
 Mr. Cook was born in A'ermillion County, Ind., 
 about two miles from his present home on Oct. 25, 
 1859. His father. Dr. Joseph C. Cook, was a na- 
 tive of Virginia and came with his father — and the 
 grandfather of the subject of this sketch — AMlliam 
 Cook, to Parke County, Ind., where the latter set- 
 tled on new land. At this time the country was 
 overrun with wild animals and wilder Indians, but 
 they were bound to make a home and in this de- 
 termination they were successful. Dr. Cook lo- 
 cated in Vermillion County, Ind., soon after his 
 marriage, which was about forty years ago and his 
 capital at that time consisted of only fifty cents. He 
 also owned a horse, saddle and bridle, but above 
 all possessed no little ambition to make a name and 
 accumulate property. He became one of the most 
 eminent physicians in this country, and when he 
 died he was the owner of 1,700 acres of land beside 
 having |4H,000 in accounts on his books as well as 
 notes and other property. No call from the sick ever 
 went unanswered by him and the afflicted poor re- 
 ceived as much attention as those that were wealthy. 
 One feature of his philanthrophy was the giving of 
 ^600 a year to the worthy poor. He died in Ver- 
 million Township, Jan. 22, 1875, honored and re- 
 spected by the entire community. His widow who 
 was Margaret J. Dallas, before her marriage, is now 
 living on the old homestead, and is the mother of 
 twelve children, five of whom are living: William 
 C, Charles, Joseph F. Addison W. and Bertie C. 
 
 Joseph F. Cook received his education at the 
 common schools, and nearlj^ all his life has been 
 spent in the occupation of farming. He was mar- 
 ried to Miss Drusilla P., daughter of James Camp- 
 bell, who was an early settler of this township. Mr. 
 and Mrs. Cook are tho parents of four children: 
 Nettie P., Roy F., May D. and Bertie C. Mr. 
 Cook's farm is situated on section 36, range 11, El- 
 wood Township, where he owns a quarter section of 
 splendid land. As before indicated he is a breeder 
 of fine horses. He owns the Duke of Cleveland, an 
 imported Cleveland Bay, four years old, which 
 weighs 1,400 pounds and is sixteen and one-fourth 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOCRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 475 
 
 hands high. He is also the ouiier of Roy Davis, 
 whose grandsire is old Dr. Hurr, of Paris, sired liy 
 Mambrino Davis, a brother of Joe Davis, the noted 
 trotter that made a record of 2:17 a few years ago. 
 The dam of Roy Davis is Senorita Parepa. corrected 
 from volume 1, page 2r),5, of J. II. AVallace's 
 American Trotting Register, making Ro3' Davis a 
 thoroughbred. 
 
 j\Ir. and Mrs. Cook are devoted members of the 
 Cumberland Presbyterian Church and are always 
 found ready to extend financial help to any be- 
 nevolent project. Mr. C'(.iok is a wealthy man and 
 and is especially' proud of the record of bis father 
 as a physician and pliilantiiropist. 
 
 — ^ 
 
 
 sons 
 
 ^AMP:S SYLVESTER CLING AN, a retired 
 farmer and a resident of Westville, is the 
 owner of a fine body of improved land in 
 Catlin Township, which is operated liy iiis 
 He is in comfortable circumstances and has 
 been blessed with a life partner of more than ordin- 
 ar\' worth, who has been his efficient helpmate in 
 the accumulation of their property and has con- 
 tributed largely in maintaining the dignity and 
 reputation of the family. They are people held in 
 high esteem and are classed among the best ele- 
 ments of their community. 
 
 In glancing at the antecedents of our subject we 
 find that he was born in Miami County, eight miles 
 southwest of Troy, Ohio, Dec. 15, 1830, and is the 
 son of William and Nancy (Ramsey) Clingan, the 
 former a native of the same countj' as his son and 
 tlie mother born near Susquehanna, Pa. The latter 
 descended from substantial old Pennsylvania stock, 
 while the paternal grandfather of onr subject, 
 James Clingan, by name was a native of Ireland. 
 The parents were married in Dayton, Ohio, and the 
 father carried on farming in that vicinity until 
 1845. That year they came to Illinois, settling six 
 miles east of Danville and one-half mile from the 
 State line, where the elder Clingan commenced 
 opening up a farm from the wilderness, but was 
 called awaj' b\' death two years after his arrival 
 here. The eighty acres of land which he had se- 
 
 cured was only partially paid for and two-thirds of 
 it had to be sold. Our subject, then a youth of 
 seventeen years, began working out by the month 
 and assisted his mother until she no longer required 
 his filial services. She passed away Sept. 19, 1851. 
 The parental household consisted of eight chil- 
 dren, namely: William, James Sylvester, our sub- 
 ject, John, Robert, Joshua, Mason, Sarah, and 
 George. 
 
 When twenty-four years of age our subject was 
 married, in 1865 to Miss Alvira, a daughter of 
 John and Mary Olehy. The young people com- 
 menced their wedded life together on a rented farm 
 in Danville Township, where they lived seven 
 years, and then I\Ir. Clingan purchased part of the 
 estate of his wife's father. Later he sold this and 
 bought 120 acres of land in Catlin Township. He 
 subsequently added to this and is now the owner 
 of 200 acres which is largely devoted to the raising 
 of grain and stock and which yields handsome 
 returns. 
 
 To Mr. and Mrs. Clingan there have been born 
 four children: The eldest, John W., a farmer of 
 Georgetown Township, married J\liss Marj' Nesbitt, 
 and is the father of two children — Dennis A. and 
 Edna A.; Dennis R., who resides on the home farm, 
 married Miss Louisa Graves; Mary E., died at the 
 age of two 3'ears; Luther, a resident of George- 
 town Township, married Miss Martha Graves and 
 is the father of two children — Blanche and Hersch- 
 ell. Our subject and his estimable wife left the 
 farm in November, 1886, and took up their abode 
 in Westville, where they purpose living retired 
 from the arduous labors with which they were em- 
 ployed during their younger years. Mr. Clingan 
 politically affiliates with the Democratic party, but 
 has never sought office and has mingled verjr little 
 with public affairs, with the exception of serving 
 as a School Director in his district for a perod of 
 nine years. 
 
 The parents of Mrs. Clingan were natives re- 
 spectively of Virginia and Kentucky. They were 
 married in Ohio where their two eldest children 
 were born and (same to Illinois in 1833, settling 
 three miles east of Danville. There the birth of 
 Mrs. Clingan took place in 1835. Only four of 
 the fourteen children born to the parents are living. 
 
476 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 The eldest, Louisa, is tlie wife of Dennis Rouse of 
 l^anville. Alvira, Mrs. Clingaii, is tlie next eldest; 
 IMary, Mrs. Herman Clyman, lives on a farm in 
 Georgetown Township; Rebecca Jane, is the wife 
 of George Watson, a farmer of Pilot Township. 
 
 f^LIZA (SXYDER) CASSEL is the relict of 
 
 L=i] the late John Cassel, a former prominent 
 jVrz:^ citizen of Pilot Township and one of the 
 leading farmers of this part of Vermilion County, 
 owning a large farm and carrying on stock-raising 
 quite extensively during man}' years of a busy and 
 useful life. Our subject maljes her home on this 
 farm, which she helped her husband to place 
 among the best and most desirable estates in this 
 locality in point of size, cultivation and st^'le of 
 buildings. 
 
 Mrs. Cassel is a native of Muskingum, County, 
 Ohio, born in May, 1827. Her parents, John and 
 Mary (Blunt) Snyder, were natives of Virginia, 
 and pioneers of Ohio, and subsequently early set- 
 tlers of this county, coming here in 1831 and lo- 
 cating in Blount Township. The father died in 
 1848, thus ending a life of usefulness, and leaving 
 ,•1 name that is held in respect by his descendants. 
 Both he and his wife were of Irish antecedents. 
 The latter died in 1872 at a venerable age. They 
 were the parents of ten children, six of whom are 
 living, as follows: our subject, of whom we will 
 speak further; Cenith, living in New Pontiac, 111., 
 a widow, who has been twice married, Mr. Alfred 
 Lane being her first husband and Isaac Norman 
 her second husband, she having three children by 
 her last union — John, Charles and Wesley: John, 
 a farmer, married Rachel Robinson, and is the 
 fiither of ten children; Cliarles mari'ied Margaret 
 Olhand, of this county, and they have eight chil- 
 dren; Wesley, living retired in Danville, married 
 I\Iary Cunnigan, and they have seven children. 
 Murgaret married James Gillen, a farmer in Chero- 
 kee County, Kan., and they have twelve children. 
 
 Our subject was a small- child of scarcely four 
 years when her parents bronght her to Vermilion 
 County, therefore she cm have but little recollec- 
 
 tion of any previous home, and here she was reared 
 amid the pioneer scenes of those early days of the 
 settlement of this section of the country to a 
 strong, self-reliant, useful womanhood. When 
 quite young she assumed the responsibilities of 
 married life by uniting her fate with that of Henry 
 Bailey, a young farmer of the neighborhood, his 
 parents coming from South Carolina in early daj's 
 and settling among the pioneers of the county. 
 Three children blessed our subject and her hus- 
 band, namely: Melissa, Mary and William. Me- 
 lissa married ¥. M. Ogle of this county, now living 
 in Linn County, Kan., and they have ten children; 
 Mary married James Goff, of this county, now 
 living in Wilson County, Kas., and the\^ have six 
 children; William enlisted in the army in 1861, 
 and gave up his life to his country, dying at the 
 battle of Corinth, Miss., in 1862. Mr. Bailey de- 
 parted this life about 1848. 
 
 Our subject was united in marriage to John Cas- 
 sel in 1850. He was born in Georgia, his parents 
 being John and Martha (Dark) Cassel. Of this 
 marriage ten children were born, of whom the fol- 
 lowing is recorded: Columbus, a farmer in Gray 
 County, Kan., married Eva Clark, of Champaign 
 County, 111., and they have three children; Caro- 
 line married Allen Kirkpatrick, a farmer of this 
 county, and they have five children; Ann married 
 James Nichols, a farmer of this county, and they 
 have two children; Charles is at home, unmarried; 
 Alice, Frank and Martin are deceased; Martha 
 married Harrjr Canaday, of Champaign County, 
 111., now a merchant in Gray County, Kan., and 
 the}' have two children; Rosa married John McAl- 
 ister, a farmer of this county, and they have two 
 children. 
 
 Mr. Cassel came to this county when a young 
 man, and commenced life on his own account. He 
 had absolutely nothing to depend on but the labor 
 of his own hands, but in the course of a life of ex- 
 traordinary iudustr}' he accomplished a great deal, 
 and placed himself among the men of wealth and 
 solid standing in the county. He owned 640 acres 
 ol; valuable land, all well improved, with substan- 
 tial buildings, and all the appointments of a well- 
 managed farm. 
 
 In the death of Mr. Cassel, which occurred July 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 477 
 
 lo, 1880, Pilot Township sustained a severe loss, 
 as he was in every way a fine man and a desirable 
 citizen, who had taken a strong interest in the 
 township and had done a great deal to advance its 
 material prosperity. He was a considerate hus- 
 band, a loving father and a good neighbor, ever 
 just and uprii;lit in his dealings. He was a sound 
 Republican in his })olitical views, and in working 
 for the good of his party deemed that he was pro- 
 moting the highest interests of his country. He 
 was a devoted member of the Methodist Episcopal 
 Church, contributed liberally to the support of the 
 Gospel, and was prominent in tiie management of 
 the affairs of his church, holding its various offices. 
 
 Mrs. Cassel has shown herself to be in every way 
 worthy of her husband. She is a quiet, unobtru- 
 sive lad^-, who has conscientiously done her duty 
 in the various departments of life that she has 
 been called on to fill as wife, mother and friend, 
 and her place in this community is among our best 
 and most warmly esteemed people. She possesses 
 excellent judgment and sound common sense, and 
 is a wise manager, so that her husband's estate has 
 not diminished in value since it came into her 
 hands. 
 
 A view of her pleasant home is given on another 
 
 page of this volume, and is a good representation 
 
 of one of the most comfortable country residences 
 
 in the county. 
 
 ^ or>o . 
 - ooo ' 
 
 _^RCHIBALD McDowell, an honored 
 l. @7Li r citizen and early pioneer of this section of 
 * the State of Illinois, is now passing his ad- 
 vanced years in the quiet of his home, 
 looking back upon a long record of usefulness that 
 perhaps is not equaled by anj' of his compeers. He 
 was born in Todd County, sixteen miles from IIop- 
 kinsville, Ky., Sept. 4, 1813. AVilliam and Mollie 
 Nancy (Thompson) McDowell were his parents 
 and were born in Greenbrier County, Va. Shortly 
 after their marriage they removed to what was 
 then called Christian County (later Todd) Ky., 
 where all of their children were horn, whose names 
 follow: Josiah, Margaret, John D., Eliza, James, 
 Aichibild, Robert and William. All of these 
 
 came to Illinois with their parents in 1826, and of 
 whom now only two are living, Archibald and Wil- 
 liam. 
 
 William McDowell was the owner of a large plan- 
 tation in Kentucky, but a desire seized him to em- 
 igrate to Illinois, a move which he never regretted. 
 The journey was made by the means of one wagon 
 and a cart, which were drawn by oxen. He started 
 with thirty head of cattle and thirteen head of 
 horses. On the road the cattle were all seized by 
 an epidemic, as were also the horses, and when they 
 landed at their destination an inventory of their 
 stock exhibited the fact that they had one cow, one 
 ox, and one horse. He settled in Crawford County, 
 four miles from Palestine, where he lived six years, 
 when he removed to Vermilion County. It was 
 under these early circumstances and environments 
 that Archibald McDowell grew to manhood. The 
 country for a few years after his father's arrival in 
 Illinois was entirely destitute of educational privi- 
 leges, and when alleged school-houses were erected, 
 the advantages to obtain an education were not 
 very much better. The teachers of those days were 
 not chosen for their especial literary qualifications, 
 but for their physical ability. Ihe schools lasted 
 only four to six months in the year. 
 
 About two years after William McDowell re- 
 moved to this county he desired to return to Ken- 
 tucky to settle up some affairs, which he did. On 
 his return trip to Illinois he was seized with a ma- 
 lignant fever and died. Several members of the 
 family who went to see him, were also taken ill 
 with the same disease which carried off two of the 
 children, the mother and one brother recovering 
 after a long siege of illness. Archibald, William 
 and one of the younger sisters were the only ones 
 of the family who were not ill. The following 
 season the subject of this sketch and William 
 planted the crops alone and from that day Archibald 
 became the head of the household. 
 
 At the age of twenty-one, Mr. McDowell was 
 married to Miss Mary Hildreth, who is a native of 
 Bourbon Count}-, Ky., and reared in Illinois. Her 
 parents came to this State in 1833. After Mr. Mc- 
 Dowell's marriage he settled on 115 acres of land 
 which belonged to his mother and the lieirs. I!is 
 energy and industry united with his speculative 
 
478 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 genius in li.indling land, soon [jlaced him compara- 
 tively well-off. His lirst wife lived fifteen years 
 after marriage, when she died, leaving six children: 
 Columbus, Louisa, Margaret A;, William, Nancy A. 
 and Melissa. Mr. McDowell's second marriage oc- 
 curred in 18ri9 to Miss Cynthia Ann Seals, who was 
 born in Clark County, 111. She is still living and is 
 the mother of the following children: John I., Alice 
 J., George, Araanda,Thomas, Cyrus,Ora and Odbert. 
 Mrs. McDowell is tlie daughter of Ivan and Nancy 
 Seals, the former being born in Virginia, while the 
 latter is a native of Kentucky. This couple had five 
 children who grew to maturity: Henry, Jane, 
 William, Cynthia and Taylor. Henry, William and 
 Taylor, enlisted in the Union Army and onl3' one 
 of the trio returned from the war. William is now 
 farming near Preston, Kan.; Jane married William 
 Craig. They are living four miles east of Oak- 
 land, 111. 
 
 Mrs. McDowell was reared in Clark County, 111., 
 and came to Edgar County, when she was eighteen 
 years old. where her parents died, the father in 
 1878 al_the age of sixty-six years and the mother in 
 1876 at the age of sixty-three years. Mr. Mc- 
 Dowell has held several places of responsibility, es- 
 pecially those pertaining to educational advance- 
 ment, he having served for sixteen years as a 
 School Director. Politically he is in sympathy 
 with the labor movement, although raised in the 
 Democratic faith. 
 
 The Chicago & Ohio River Railroad was built in 
 1881, when Mr. McDowell gave that corporation the 
 right of way through his land. A depot was erected 
 upon his premises and the station was named Archie 
 in honor of the owner of the land. The Post-otflce 
 also goes by the same name. 
 
 ■ — '•'•' | ' S ' § «?*f»--^ 
 
 TfOHN P. CLOYD, M. D., the leading physi- 
 cian and surgeon of Georgetown, and a very 
 able practitioner, has been a resident of this 
 'jjfj place since 1869. A conscientious attention 
 to business and a more than ordinary understand- 
 ing of the duties of lT,is calling has resulted in the 
 building up of a fine patronage, while at the same 
 
 time lie is lilieinl-uiinded and public-spirited, and 
 one of the most enterprising and popular men of 
 the place. In personal appearance he is of fine 
 stature, with a pleasing address and an ever ready 
 wit, and is welcomed as a general favorite in the 
 social circles. As a business man his career has 
 been irreproachable. 
 
 Our subject was born near the old home of An- 
 drew Johnson, in Greenville, Tenn., June 28, 1838, 
 and is the son of William and Julia (Northington) 
 Cloyd, the former of whom, was born in Washing- 
 ton County, Tenn., and was the son of a native of 
 A'irginia, who carried a musket in the "War of 1812. 
 The great-grandfather, William Cloyd, was born in 
 Bellemon}', Ireland, and was of pure Scotch ances- 
 try, followers of the Protestant religion. The 
 mother of our subject was a native of ^'irginia, 
 whence she removed with her parents to East Ten- 
 nessee when a young lady. The Northingtons were 
 of Scotch-Irish blood, while the maternal grand- 
 mother of our subject, formerly a Miss Crouch, was 
 of English stock. The Cloyds were represented in 
 this countrj' during the colonial da3's and the great- 
 grandfather of our subject served in the Revolu- 
 tionary War. Grandfather James B. Cloyd was in 
 the War of 1812 under Gen. Andrew Jackson, and 
 also fought the Creek Indians in Alabama. 
 
 The parents of our subject were reared and mar- 
 ried in East Tennessee, where they spent their 
 entire lives. The father carried on a wagon manufac- 
 tory, turning out the celebrated old schooner- bed, 
 six-horse wagon, numbers of which were afterwards 
 seen making their wa^' slowly to the Great West, 
 over the trackless prairie. He was a very indus- 
 trious and energetic man and accumulated a good 
 property. He died, however, at the earl\' age of 
 thirty years, after a short illness of pneumonia, in 
 1848. He left his widow with three children: John 
 Patton, our subject, David Northington and Ja- 
 nus W. 
 
 After our subject had attained manhood his 
 mother contracted a second marriage, and there was 
 born one child. She died at Greenville, Tenn., at 
 the age of sixty-seven years. John Patton Cloyd 
 received a common school education, and as soon 
 as old enough began assisting his father in the 
 wagon shop. Later he entered Rhea Academj' at 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 479 
 
 Greenville, where he completed the preparatory 
 course, and about this time decided upon entering 
 the medical profession. At the age of seventeen 
 he became a student in Washington County, East 
 Tenn., but on account of limited means was obliged 
 to abandon his studies and engage in teaching. At 
 the close of his first term he set out for Indiana, 
 and halting in A'erniiUion County taught school 
 two years, and in 1859 came to Illinois. 
 
 Here our subject followed the profession of a 
 pedagogue until 1864. In the meantime he em- 
 ployed his leisure hours in the study of medicine, 
 which he had begun when a youth of eighteen. In 
 1864 he repaired to Chicago, and entering Rush 
 Medical College took two courses of lectures, and 
 was graduated with the class of 1869. In the mean- 
 time, however, he had begun the practice of his cho- 
 sen profession at Yankee Point, three and one-half 
 years prior to receiving his diploma from Rush. 
 After leaving the college Dr. Cloyd established 
 himself in Georgetown, where he has since re- 
 mained. He has suffered nothing else to distract 
 his attention from the duties of his profession, and 
 besides being the oldest practitioner in the place, is 
 the most skillful and successful. 
 
 In 1859 our subject was united in marriage with 
 Miss Hannah Golden, a native of this county, and 
 the daughter of Jacob and Alcie (Frazier) Golden : 
 they also were from East Tennessee and numbered 
 amono- the pioneers of Elwood Township, this 
 county. Of this union there have been born five 
 children : Richard. Belle, Frazier, Grace and John, 
 the latter now a bright lad of ten years ; Richard 
 has chosen his father's profession, and is a student 
 at Rush Medical College, Chicago, in tlie class of 
 '90. Prior to entering there he was graduated from 
 the Eastern Illinois College, and has taught school 
 five year* in this county; Belle is the wife of Rev. 
 D. G. Murray, pastor of the Methodist Episcopal 
 Church at Jacksonville, and they have one child. 
 Rose; Frazier is following the profession of a 
 teacher in this county ; Grace and John are at home 
 with their parents. The family residence is pleas- 
 antly situated in the central part of the village and 
 is the frequent resort of its best people. 
 
 Tlir Doctor, socially, belongs to Russell Lodge 
 Ko. 154, A. F. & A. M., at Georgetown, and is also 
 
 a member of Athelstan Commandery at Danville. 
 He has been Master in his lodge at Georgetown 
 since the time of his first election in 1873, with the 
 exception of three years. He is a charter member 
 of the Medical Association of Vermilion County, 
 and one of its brightest lights. Politically, he affil- 
 iates with the Democratic party. 
 
 ~- ^.^ ^ 
 
 aHARLES CO(JPER. There is probably no 
 more popular or more promising young 
 ' citizen of Carroll Township than the sub- 
 ject of this notice. Nature has endowed him with 
 those admirable qualities which constitute the basis 
 of all good society and upon which the wellbeing 
 of a community depends. He is fully in sympathy 
 with the broad, free, independent life of a farmer, 
 and is comfortably established at a neat homestead, 
 160 acres in extent and pleasantly located on sec- 
 tion 7. He makes a specialty of fine cattle and 
 horses and is able to exhibit some of the handsom- 
 est specimens of these to be found in the county. 
 His farm is finely located near the village of Indi- 
 anola, and the dwelling is just far enough from the 
 highway to insure quiet, seclusion and cleanliness. 
 In its appointments and surroundings it very 
 nearly realizes the modern idea of the countrj' 
 home. 
 
 Our subject, a native of this county, was born 
 in Georgetown Township, Dec. 30. 1857, and is 
 the son of John E. Cooper, a Virginian by birth, 
 who upon leaving his native state emigrated to 
 Ohio and in 1 840 came to Illinois. He was mar- 
 ried in Georgetown Township, this county, to Miss 
 Lucinda Cook, and after establishing a home of 
 his own, set himself to work to gain a competence 
 and become a man among men. He was prospered 
 in his labors and in due time became one of the 
 foremost men of his town and the owner of 640 
 acres of land. He kept himself thoroughly posted 
 with regard to the new methods of farming pro- 
 duced from time to time, and purchased and used 
 the first steel plow ever brought to this county. 
 
 The old Cooper homestead is a familiar feature 
 in the landscape to most of the older residents of 
 
480 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 tills region. The farm is embeliishefl wit!) a large 
 brick mansion four stories in height, with an ob- 
 servatory wliose roof is reared fifty-nine feet from 
 the grounri. John E. Cooper and liis excellent 
 wife were both consistent Christians and members 
 in good standing of the Cumberland Presbyterian 
 Church. Tlie father departed this life at the old 
 homestead in 1885 at the age of fifty-nine years; 
 the mother is still living and is now aged sixt^-- 
 one. The nine children comprising the household 
 circle are recorded as follows: George B., the eldest, 
 and John W., the second son .and third child, are 
 conducting in partnership a large livery establish- 
 ment at Greencastle, Ind.; George married Miss 
 Carrie Moreland, and is the father of three children, 
 Opie, Effort and Glenn; John married Miss Nora 
 Hill, an(l tliej' also have three children, Elmo, 
 Elgin and Jennie; Miss Jennie Cooper married 
 Russell Jones, a farmer and stock-raiser in the vi- 
 cinity of Carthage, jMo., and they have one child, 
 Bert; Sallj' was married tcFohn A. Gilkej', who is 
 now deceased, and she has two children. Signal 
 and Ora; the}' reside at the Cooper homestead with 
 the mother; Annie is also at home; Lizzie became 
 the wife of Will Moreland, and died leaving one 
 child, Johnnie; Kate married J. R. Jones, a whole- 
 sale and retail merchant of Ft. iScott, Mo.; Quin L. 
 is unmarried and operates the old Cooper home- 
 stead. 
 
 The subject of this sketch was a little lad of four 
 j'cars when his father purchased the land which he 
 afterward constructed into one of the finest farms 
 of this region. He there spent his boyhood and 
 youth, assisting his father in tiie development of 
 the land and acquiring his education in the com- 
 mon school. He remained a member of the parental 
 household until twenty-four years old, and was 
 married in September, 1882, to Miss Kate, daugh- 
 ter of Thomas and Catherine T. (Hedges) More- 
 land, who were natives of Kentucky. Thej' came 
 to Illinois at an early da}' and Mrs. Cooper was 
 born in Carroll Township, this county, in 1860. 
 The first year after his marriage our subject rented 
 the old Moreland Farm and then moved upon that 
 which he now occupies. He makes a specialty of 
 road horses and is in the habit of carrying off the 
 blue ribbons at the Danville and Catlin fairs. In 
 
 c:i:;l ' his fivviiriti' l)ri'ed is the Short-horn, of which 
 he has some excellent specimens with registered 
 pedigree. In 1884 he rented the Hedges farm 
 which he has since conducted with success. 
 
 Two bright children grace the famih' cirele, 
 Fleda and Luie, who are aged thi'ee and five re- 
 spectively. Although having little time to give 
 to politics, Mr. Cooper is a man of decided ideas 
 and gives his unqualified support to the Demo- 
 cratic party. The beautiful NVoodlawn Cemetery is 
 within sight of Mr. Cooper's home and in which was 
 built the Cooper familj' vault, largely through the 
 instrumentality of the elder Cooper, whose remains 
 now repose within it. This vault, a tasteful and 
 substantial structure, was built at a cost of 81.900 
 and adds greatly to the appearance of the cemetery, 
 which is frequently visited liy the sight-seers of 
 this region. 
 
 j|^tJ^l*ii^^ 
 
 ASSIUS M. HESTER, a young man ap- 
 proaching the twenty-eighth year of his 
 JJ age, is a son of one of the pioneers of this 
 county and was born at his father's old homestead 
 in El wood Township, Dec. ITi, 1,S61. A sketch of 
 his father, William Hester, will be found on an- 
 other page in this Album. The latter is a man of 
 note in his community and the son has apparently 
 inlierited many of the excellent qualities of his 
 sire. 
 
 Our subject studied his first lessons in the schools 
 of his native district and later attended \'ermilion 
 Academy. At the age of fifteen years he started 
 out to see the world and going to Colorado, in 
 1876, worked on a farm four months, then engaged 
 in teaming between Fountain C^ity and Colorado 
 Springs. He also engaged in hauling hay and 
 whatever else he could find to do. He returned 
 home in the summer of 1877 and remained on the 
 farm until his marriage. 
 
 The above-mentioned interesting event in the 
 life of our subject occurred on the 3d of Septem- 
 ber, 1885. the bride being Jliss Rosa, daughter of 
 Rev. James Haworth. Mr. Haworth was formerly of 
 L^uaker Hill, Ind., but is now in Ackworth, Warren 
 
PORTRAIT AND BlOCrRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 483 
 
 Co., Iowa, where he is i)reachiiig the Gospel in ihe 
 Friend's Church. Mr. and Mrs. Hester were the 
 parents of one chihl which was taken from the 
 home circle in infancy. Our subject like his fore- 
 fathers belongs to the Society of Friends, and is 
 Recorder of births and deaths in the Church at 
 \'erniilion Grove in which he also officiates as 
 Treasurer. He is one of the leading lights among 
 his religious brethren and a 3'oung man who is a 
 favorite generally in the social circles of his 
 community. 
 
 « >-:>^ ^-f- 
 
 ^^^ 
 
 jl^r'RED TILTON. Could the pioneers of 
 l^lgi forty years ago have been given the power 
 /JL, to discern the result of their long and ar- 
 
 duous labors upon first coming to this section of 
 country, they would have had everything to en- 
 courage them, and there would have been little 
 excuse for any failure which they might have 
 made. As it was, many of them were giving the 
 best part of their lives to an experiment, as it were, 
 hoping indeed that their labors would be rewarded, 
 but not being entirely assured of the fact. Too 
 much credit, therefore, cannot be given them for 
 the manner in which they persevered under many 
 difficulties, and to them is the present generation 
 indebted for the blessings which they to-day enjoy, 
 the comforts of life and many of its luxuries. 
 
 Amono- those who were willing to risk their labor 
 and their capital on a new soil during the early 
 settlement of this county, was he whose name 
 stands at the head of this sketch, and who was 
 then at the beginning of life's journey. He had 
 little capital but his own strong hands and resolute 
 will, but he entered upon the task before him with 
 that high courage which distinguished so many of 
 his compeers. As he now looks over his fine farm 
 of 400 acres, the toils and labors of those first years 
 seem to melt away in the reward of the present. 
 His home is pleasantly located on section 29, town- 
 ship 23. range 12. He purchased his land from the 
 Goveriiraent in the fall of 1852, paying therefor 
 $1.25 per acre. It was then a raw prairie, which 
 
 the plowshare had never touched,' and there wns 
 not a tree or shrub upon tlie wiiole area. 
 
 The first business of our subject after purchasing 
 his land was to provide a shelter for himself and 
 family. He purchased a small house in Iliggins- 
 ville, which he had removed to his farm, and then 
 put in his first season's crops, after which he began 
 those improvements naturally suggested to the in- 
 telligent and enterprising farmer. The only wagon 
 road through this part of the country at this time 
 was the old Chicago road, and wild animals were 
 plentiful, so that the family never lacked for meat. 
 A number of years passed before the land was all 
 brought to a state of cultivation, but in due time 
 it began to assume the proportions of a well-re- 
 gulated farm, with substantial fences and good 
 buildings. Mr. Tilton has set out good shade and 
 fruit trees, and has the latest improved machinery 
 for the tilling of the toil. He is looked upon as 
 one of the leading farmers of his township, and 
 one who has contributed his full share in develop- 
 ing its resources. 
 
 The subject of this sketch was born near the 
 town of Sherbrook, Canada, March 5, 1821, and 
 lived there until a youth of fourteen years. His 
 parents then removed to Ohio, whence they came 
 to this county in 183G. They settled at Danville, 
 where the father established a brick kiln, and also 
 operated as a contractor and builder, and among 
 other work constructed a dam across the \'ermil- 
 ion for the mill built by Amos Williams, who was 
 one of the most prominent millers in this part of 
 the State. Fred assisted his father in his labors, 
 and in 1838 was engaged in hauling stone for the 
 abutments of the Wabash Railroad, which was 
 being built by the State. He also that year for a 
 lime carried the mail from Danville to .Joliet, a 
 distance of 110 miles with about seven offices be- 
 tween. There was not a bridge between the two 
 places, and the trip occupied two days. IMany a 
 time he made it with not a thing in the mail bag. 
 A large nimiber of people in this region were then 
 suffering from ague, and not able even to get out 
 and cut the feed for the horses, so the mail-carrier 
 had to do it himself. Young Tilton was thus in 
 the employ of Uncle Sam until the fall of 1840, 
 and then, settling upon a tract of land in Middle 
 
484 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 Fork Townsliip, about ten miles north of Dnnville, 
 began farming on liis own account. 
 
 In due time our subject by dilligent labor was in 
 a condition to establish a home of liis own, and in 
 May, 1.S46, took unto liimself a wife and helpmate. 
 Miss Affa K. Horton. Shortly afterward they re- 
 moved to North Fork Township, where Mr. Tilton 
 rented land of Alvin C4ilbert, and as soon as otjier 
 land in that region came into market he purchased 
 1 60 acres. One of the first tasks to which he set 
 himself on his new farm was to plant a grove of 
 forest trees, and as the result of this he has now cut 
 from this his own fire wood for the last five or six 
 years. Ac one time he was the owner of 720 acres 
 of land, all of which he brought to a state of cul- 
 tivation. Finally he turned his attention to stock- 
 raising, which yielded him handsome profits. He 
 litis seen the time when a large hog dressed sold for 
 ^1 to $1.25, and a small one at seventy-five cents, 
 and under these circumstances Mr. Tilton, like 
 many of his neighbors, naturally met with some 
 difficulty in making both ends meet. 
 
 iMr. Tilton, in reviewing a career which has been 
 remarkablj' successful, acknowledges that lie has 
 been greatly assisted by his intelligent and sensible 
 wife, who stood by him through sunshine and storm, 
 and by her careful management of her household 
 expenses, proved a most wise and efficient iielji- 
 mate. 
 
 As the farm of our subject grew in dimensions 
 and value, so also the household circle enlarged, 
 and eight of the ten children born to him and his 
 estimable wife are still living: Mary, the eldest 
 daughter, is now the wife of Wesley Blackford; 
 they live in Butler Township, and have two chil- 
 dren ; ( leorge was first married to Miss Mary .Tud3', 
 who died after becoming the mother of two chil- 
 dren. He was then married to Miss Florence 
 Clemens, and lives on his 160-acre farm given him 
 by his father, lying east of the homestead. Sarah 
 is unmarried and remains with her parents; Charles 
 occupies a 120-aere farm given him by his father; 
 .lames is cultivating eighty acres of his own land; 
 Alice is a milliner by trade and does business at 
 Potomac; Jane is the wife of Perry Ft)wler, of 
 Red Lake Falls, Minn., and the mother of one child; 
 Jesse G. is at home with his father. The children 
 
 of Mr. Tilton have been carefully trained and edu- 
 cated, and thoroughly fitted for their future sta- 
 tions, as the representatives of one of the first fam- 
 ilies in the township. 
 
 ^Irs. Affa K. (Horton) Tilton was born in Haber- 
 sham Count}'-, Ga., April 16, 1824, and is the 
 daughter of David Horton, who was a prominent 
 local politician, and remained in Georgia during the 
 Confederate days. His daughter came north with 
 her future husband, Mr. Tilton, riding 600 miles 
 on horseback aud being on the road twenty -one 
 days. She lived with her aunt in Blount Township 
 until her marriage; her father is still living in 
 Georgia, and is quite well advanced in years. 
 Abial F, Tilton, the father of our subject, was 
 born in New Hampshire late in 1700, and when 
 leaving his native State, removed first to Vermont, 
 and later to Canada. In the Dominion he married 
 Miss Cynthia Thompson, of Massachusetts, and 
 they reared a family of ten children, six sons and 
 four daughters. Finally coming West, he settled 
 in Danville, this county, at an early day, but after- 
 ward moved to Middle Fork Township, and began 
 farming. He departed this life in 1866. His wife 
 had died in 1838. JMr. Tilton is an Independent in 
 politics, but of late years has voted the Prohibition 
 ticket. He served as Township Supervisor two 
 years, also officiated as Township Trustee, and has 
 occupied other positions of trust. He is a man 
 uniformly esteemed and respected by his fellow- 
 citizens, and is considered a representative of the 
 best elements of his community'. A lithographic 
 view of Mr. Tilton's residence appears elsewhere in 
 this volume. 
 
 -^mB^^ 
 
 '|u-^^FNRY COTTON, familiarly known through- 
 Ijf ji) out Westville and vicinity, as "Uncle 
 !^^ Harry" and --The Squire," is one of the 
 (^i) most popular men of the place, and an 
 especial favorite with the "boys." There is not a 
 more genial or companionable individual in this 
 region, and he has the facultj' of preserving, under 
 all circumstances, that equable temperament and 
 serene countenance, which is one of man's best 
 gifts. He occupies himself as a general merchant 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 485 
 
 and without being wealtliy is in comfortable cir- 
 cumstances, enjo.ying a fair income and a modest 
 home. He was one of the pioneers of this section 
 and has been prominent from the start, serving as 
 Postmaster and occupying other positions of trust 
 and responsibility. 
 
 Our subject was born in Decatur County, Ind., 
 Ma,reh 19. 1822. His father. Robert Cotton, was 
 born in the vicinity of Beardstown, Ky., and emi- 
 grated to this county in the fall of 1822, during 
 the period of its earliest settlement and when few 
 white men had ventured onto the frontier. Henry 
 was then an infant of six months and is therefore 
 one of the oldest living settlers of the county. 
 Mrs. Hannah (Howard) Cotton, the mother of our 
 subject, was a native of the same place as her hus- 
 band and was there reared and married and became 
 the mother of two children in the Blue Grass State. 
 LTpon leaving Kentucky they removed to Switzer- 
 land Count}', Ind., and not long afterward to De- 
 catur Count}', whence they came to this county. 
 The Cottons trace their ancestry to the stanch old 
 Puritan stock of Massachusetts, where John Cot 
 ten, one of its first representatives in this country, 
 settled at a very early date and figured conspic- 
 uously in pnblic affairs. 
 
 The fatherof oursubjectouly lived twoyearsafter 
 coming to this county, dying, when a young man, 
 in 1824. He left his widow with a family of seven 
 children of whom Henry was next to the youngest. 
 He, like his brothers and sisters, grew up amid the 
 wild scenes of pioneer life at a time when wild ani- 
 mals abounded in this region, deer being especially 
 plentiful, and wolves howled around their cabin 
 door at night. Frequently the broad and unhab- 
 ited prairie covered with wild dry grass, was lighted 
 up by a conflagration, started perhaps by some un 
 wary traveler dropping a spark from his pipe, 
 when the smoke and flames would sweep perhaps 
 for miles destroying animal life to a great extent 
 and threatening that of human beings. Every 
 level-headed settler made it his first business to 
 protect himself from this catastrophe by plowing 
 around his dwelling and thus destroying the food 
 or the flames which could be forestalled in no 
 other way. 
 The education of the Cotton children was con- 
 
 fined to a few months instruction each 3'ear in a 
 log school-house, with puncheon floor, seats and 
 desks made from unplaned slabs, the window 
 panes of greased paper, a huge fire-place extending 
 nearly across one end of the building and the chim- 
 ney built outside of earth and sticks. The system 
 of instruction corresponded with the time and 
 place, little being required of the teacher except to 
 lie able to read, write and -'cipher." Henry Cot- 
 ton, however, availed himself of these meager ad- 
 vantages and in 1814 began teaching and followed 
 this during the winter season for two or three years. 
 In the meantime on the 16th of January, 1845, he 
 was married to Miss Elizabeth Getty, a descendant 
 of the well-known Getty family of Pennsylvania, 
 from which the town which gained historic fame 
 during the Rebellion was named. 
 
 Upon reaching manhood, our subject, leaving the 
 farm took to the river and followed the life 
 of a flatboatman during which he made eighteen 
 trips to and from New Orleans. It was upon one 
 of tliese trips that he met his future wife at Vin- 
 cennes, Ind., where in due time the}' were married 
 and began housekeeping, residmg at Mncennes 
 eight years. When not on the river Jlr. Cotton 
 occupied himself as a carpenter. Upon coming to 
 this county, he began farming in Danville Town- 
 ship and was on the highway to prosperity, having 
 comfortable means and last but not least, a family 
 of four interesting children. This happy state was 
 broken in upon b}- the notes of war, and inres|)onse 
 to the call of President Lincoln for 300,000 men 
 for three years, our subject enlisted July 9, 1862, 
 in Company G, 125th Illinois Infantry. He was 
 mustered into service at Danville, where the 
 company remained drilling for a time, then was 
 ordered to Cincinnati, Ohio, and from there to 
 Louisville, Ky. They drilled also at the latter 
 place and then proceeded to Gallatin, Tenn., where 
 during the arduous duties assigned him, Mr. Cotton 
 was over-heated and suffered so long thereafter 
 from illness that he was obliged to accept his hon- 
 orable discharge in February, 1863. 
 
 In the fall of the year above mentioned Mr. 
 Cotton changed his residence to Knox County, 
 Ind., where be sojourned ten years. His next re- 
 moval was to Clay County, this State, and from 
 
4XC, 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 there he returned to this country in 1882 and en- 
 gaged in mercantile business at Westville. On 
 April 30, 1883 his store and stock was destroyed 
 bj' fire but he rebuilt and in time attained to his 
 old footing financially. He was appointed Post- 
 master of Westville under President Arthur and 
 served three years. For four years he has been 
 Justice of the Peace and has discharged the duties 
 of this office witii credit to himself and satisfaction 
 to all concerned. 
 
 Mr. Cotton cast his first presidential vote for 
 Henrjr Clay in 1844, being a member of the old 
 Whig party. Upon its abandonment he cordially 
 endorsed Republican principles and has since given 
 his undivided support to this party. Socially he 
 is a prominent member of Kyger Post, G. A. R. at 
 Georgetown. He is the father of six children, the 
 eldest of whom, Robert D., died Aug. 13, 1888 and 
 left two children. William I., the second son, was 
 also married, became the father of two children and 
 died Feb. 29, 1884; John H. died Sept. 30, 1888; 
 Mary J. died in infancy; George Elmer is a well- 
 to-do farmer of McLean County, this State, and the 
 father of one child; Ellen, the youngest of the fam- 
 ily, is at home with her parents. Both Mr. Cotton 
 and his estimable wife are members in good stand- 
 ing of the Christian Church. 
 
 AWRENCE V. MANNING, the veteran 
 thresiiing machine man of Sidell Township, 
 established himself at this business in Ver- 
 million Country, Ind., as early as 1863 and with 
 tlie exception of eight j'ears spent at Fairmount 
 has since been engaged therein. He has worn out 
 several machines, at first using horses, but as time 
 passed on availed himself of the modern improve- 
 ments in connection with this business and now 
 has one of the latest and most improved machines 
 in use, tiie Hubert Thresher, which is operated by 
 a 12-horse power engine, with the Shrieves Stacker. 
 This has a capacity of 3,300 bushels of oats in 
 nine hours, as demonstrated by Mr. Manning, who 
 has i)erformed with it some of the biggest day's 
 work in this line on record in Vermilion County. 
 
 Personally, the subject of this notice is a gen- 
 tleman of fine appearance, large, symmetrical and 
 well developed, and with mental powers equal to 
 his stature and muscular system. As a business 
 man ho has uniformly displayed superior judgment, 
 investing his capital wisely and has thus acquired 
 a handsome property. Politicallj-, he is a strong 
 Republican and one of the most prominent members 
 of his party in this section. A native of Tomp- 
 kins Count}', N. Y., "he was born June 24, 1 836, and 
 is the son of Charles and Harriet (Austin) Manning, 
 also natives of that county. The Manning family 
 is of Scotch and English blood and crossed the 
 Atlantic at an early day, settling in New England, 
 where the paternal grandfather of our subject was 
 born. Both he and Grandfather Austin were early 
 pioneers of Tompkins County, N. Y. Secretary 
 Manning belonged to the same family. 
 
 The father of our subject learned the carpenter 
 trade early in life and was married in Tompkins 
 County, N. Y., whence he removed in 1839 to Ber- 
 lin, this State, where he began working at his trade, 
 but died that same year, leaving his widow with 
 three children — John, Jeremiah and Lawrence Van 
 Cleark. The latter was but three years old at the 
 time of his father's death. The mother was mar- 
 ried a second time to J. M. Rogers at Springfield 
 and removed from there in 1845 to Vermillion 
 County, Ind., settling in Parisville, where Mr. 
 Rogers prosecuted his trade of cooper and finallj- 
 became owner of a farm. Of this marriage there 
 were born five children. 
 
 The earl}- life of our subject was spent on tiie 
 farm of his stepfather in Vermillion County, Ind., 
 where his time was filled in with hard work and no 
 education whatever, he being seventeen 3'ears old 
 before he could read or write. At this time he 
 started out for himself without a dollar, and when 
 the clothing on his back would not have brought 
 this sum if put up and sold to the highest bidder. 
 He had, however, been trained to habits of industry 
 and honesty and it was his good fortune to enter 
 the employ of one Mr. Lewis, a school teacher for 
 whom he worked in summer and under whose in- 
 struction he attended school winters, working nights 
 and mornings for his board. By faithful applica- 
 tion to his books he learned the common branches 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 487 
 
 and the methods of transacting general business. 
 He saved what he could of his earnings and in due 
 time was enabled to buy a team. 
 
 At the age of twentj' years our subject was 
 married to Miss Armilda J. Swisher who was born 
 in Danville, this county, and is a daughter of John 
 and Elizabeth (Hathaway) Swisher. Mr. Swisher 
 was a farmer by occupation and his family con- 
 sisted of seven children, namely: Armilda, Cerilda. 
 Alex, Orilla, Savilla, Thomas and Lawrence. Mr. 
 and Mrs. Manning after their marriage settled on 
 the J. M. Rogers' farm where they lived two years, 
 then removed to Daniel Schutze's farm where they 
 lived seven j'ears. In 1869 Mr. Manning pur- 
 chased eighty acres of land which was improved 
 and considered the best farm in that region of 
 country and which formed the nucleus of his pres- 
 ent homestead, which embraces 200 acres. He 
 labored early and late in tilling the soil and carry- 
 ing forward the improvements upon it until 1874, 
 then having contracted a painful disease, he left the 
 farm and removing to Fairmount engaged in the 
 hardware and agricultural implement business in 
 which he made large sales, but found difficulty in col- 
 lecting and thus suffered a loss approaching $2,500. 
 Withdrawing from this venture he turned his atten- 
 tion to live-stock and subsequently shipped thou- 
 sands of dollars worth. In the meantime he also con- 
 ducted a restaurant one j'ear and had been operat- 
 ing his threshing machine as before stated. 
 
 To Mr. and Mrs. Manning there have been born 
 ten children: the eldest, Elizabeth, is the wife of 
 Will Sanders, a farmer of Sidell Township and 
 they have two children — Adelbert and Bessie. 
 Ella married George Reese, a farmer of Fairmount 
 Township and they have two children — Nellie and 
 Fred. The other children — Grant, Sherman, Mar- 
 ion, Lilly, Eva, Fanny, Louis and Oscar are at 
 home with their parents. In 1887 Mr. Manning 
 erected a handsome and commodious residence, two 
 stories in height, 32 x 34 feet and which is finished 
 and furnished in modern style and forms a most 
 attractive home. He believes in extracting all the 
 enjoyment possible from life and in giving to his 
 children the advantages which shall make of them 
 good and useful citizens. He allows education, art 
 and music to occupy an important part of his home 
 
 life and gives his chief attention to the comforts 
 and happiness of his family. Both he and his esti- 
 mable wife are members of the New Light Church 
 at Danville, in which Mr. Manning has officiated 
 as chorister, possessing much musical t;ilent and 
 having a clear, strong voice for singing. 
 
 While keeping himself well posted upon political 
 matters Mr. Manning has little ambition for the 
 emoluments of ofBce, although serving as School 
 Director in his district a number of years and he is 
 at present a Trustee. Ills home is one of the most 
 hospitable in this region and no man is more kind 
 or attentive in time of sickness or trouble among 
 his neighbors. He possesses considerable skill as a 
 physician and is frequently called upon instead of 
 the regular practitioner, having excellent judg- 
 ment and quite an extensive experience in treating 
 various ailments. 
 
 .,/\y..-».»jiaC;©^. . 
 
 |->*'©5^5^ fl>'k*'\/w. 
 
 bENRY F. CANADAY. The family of 
 j this name has been prominent in this county 
 _^^ since its pioneer da^'s when they first came 
 (^; within its limits and from a wilderness 
 built up good homes, acquiring valuable property 
 and taking no unimportant part in its advance- 
 ment, sociallj', morally and financially. The sub- 
 ject of this notice has a fine estate on section 34 in 
 Elwood Township, and which in all its details gives 
 evidence of the supervision of a well-regulated 
 and intelligent mind — the mind of a man possess- 
 ing energy and enterprise in a marked degree. 
 He was born at Vermilion Grove, this count3% Dec. 
 12, 1840, and is consequently approaching the fif- 
 tieth year of his age although he would pass for a 
 man many years younger. His life is a fine illus- 
 tration of temperance and the correct habits which 
 form the basis of good citizenship. 
 
 The father of our subject was Fred Canaday, 
 late of Elwood Township who entered land within 
 its limits, about 1821-22, and built up a valuable 
 homestead upon which he spent his last years. He 
 was born in New Market, East Tenn., and left his na- 
 tive State in the fall of 1820, coming to this county 
 and settling in* the wilderness among the Indians 
 
488 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 and wild animals. His father, Henry Canaday, 
 brought his family North that same fall and settled 
 near the present city of Terre Haute whence he 
 came to this county the following spring. Henry 
 brought with him over 14,000 in gold and silver, 
 carrying it in a box in the front part of his wagon as 
 he traveled overland with a team. During that 
 journey they camped upon the present site of In- 
 dianapolis when there was nothing to mark the 
 spot of a future great city. The wagon was drawn 
 by a six-ho)'se team driven ]>y one Robert E. Bar- 
 nett and in attempting to make a short turn it was 
 tipped over. Tiie precious box burst and tlie 
 money was spilled out into a little creek. They, 
 however, after much labor succeeded in rescuing it 
 from the mud and water and proceeded on their 
 journey. 
 
 The Canadny family for several generations had 
 been born and reared in the <^iuaker faith and liad 
 the natural abhorrence of slavery peculiar to that 
 peaceable and liberty-loving sect and they deter- 
 mined to get away from the slave countrj'. Henry 
 the grandfather of our subject, upon coming to 
 this countj' entered several hundred acres of land 
 which he sold to the settlers as they slowljf came 
 in. He was recognized the county over as one of 
 its benefactors and here spent his last days. 
 
 Mrs. Charity (Haworth) Canaday, the mother of 
 our subject was, like her husband, a native of New 
 Market, Tenn., where they were married one day 
 and the next day started on horseback for A'ermil- 
 ion County. Seven of the ten children born to 
 this pair are still living — Jane, Mrs. Patterson, is a 
 resident of Vermilion County; Mary A., Mrs. Isaac 
 Larrance, lives in Topeka, Kan.; Henry F., is the 
 next in order of birth; Isaac lives in Vermilion 
 County; Sarah, Mrs. C4eorge Ankrum, lives in 
 Ridge Farm; John sojourns in X'^ermilion County. 
 The mother died while still a young woman, in 
 1840, and Frederick Canaday was subsequently 
 married to Miss Anna Haworth, in 1849. He 
 died Nov. 6, 1886. 
 
 The subject of this sketch completed his studies at 
 Vermilion Grove Academy under the instruction 
 of Gen. John C. Black. From his youth up he 
 has been familiar with farming pursuits and chose 
 these for his vocation. After the* outbreak of the 
 
 Civil War he entered the Union army as a member 
 of Compan}' A, 2;jth Illinois Infantry, in which he 
 served two years and was in many of the imfxa't- 
 ant battles which followed; viz: Pea Ridge, Spring- 
 field, Mo., Stone River, Crab Orchard and subse- 
 quently served two years in Company K, 12th 
 Kansas Mounted Infantry, being in the Red River 
 campaign and various other engagements. After 
 the war closed he returned to the peaceful pursuits 
 of agriculture. 
 
 AVhen ready to establish domestic ties of his own 
 our subject was married Sept. 26, 1875, t<j Miss 
 Maggie S. Brewer. This lady was the daughter of 
 John Brewer, deceased, late of Parke County, Ind., 
 and was born in Gurnsey County, Ohio. She 
 came with her parents to Vermillion Count}', Ind., 
 when a small child and later they removed to Parke 
 County. Our subject and his wife are the parents 
 of three children, onlj' one of whom is living. Gov- 
 ern H., who was born June 3, 1886. 
 
 The farm of our subject comprises 110 acres of 
 choice land and he also has an interest in his fa- 
 ther's old homestead. He cast his first Presidential 
 vote for Abi'aham Lincoln and continues a stanch 
 supporter of the Republican party. He has never 
 sought office bnt as an ex-soldier receiving an 
 honorable discharge, is a member in good standing 
 of the G. A. R., and also a member of the Grand 
 Woodmen of America. Mrs. Canada}- has been a 
 member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 
 for the past twenty years. 
 
 John Brewer, the father of Mrs. Canaday, was 
 born in Pennsylvania and was the son of Jacob 
 Brewer. Jr., also a native of the Ke3'Stone State. 
 The paternal great-grandfather was Jacob Brewer, 
 Sr., who spelled his name '-Brower" and who was a 
 native of Amsterdam, Holland, and the son of 
 Swybrant Brower, a millionaire of Amsterdam. 
 John Brewer married Miss Minerva, daughter of 
 John Priest and his wife, Mary A. Mercer, the lat- 
 ter a daughter of John Jacob Mercer. The last 
 named was a native of Germany and emigrated to 
 the United States in 1770. His grandfather was 
 Gideon Mercer, a very wealthy man who spent his 
 entire life in the Fatherland. John Jacob married 
 Miss Elizabeth Gower, of Hagerstown, Md., and 
 they had one child — Mary Ann, who married 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGUAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 489 
 
 John Priest in 1804. Tliese families represented 
 a wide and eminently respectable following who 
 were people generally well-to-do and prominent 
 and influential citizens. Both of Mrs. Canaday's 
 grandparents on the father's side were descendants 
 of King Philip III. 
 
 --^*-> 
 
 1 
 
 ■OHN E. BOLDEN. When the Eraancipa- 
 I tion Proclamation of Lincoln was made, it 
 i Droke the shackles of 3,000,000 of human 
 _ ; beings. These slaves had remained in ig- 
 norance for generations, and their masters had con- 
 sidered that learning was dangerous to a colored 
 man. When their freedom became one of the logi- 
 cal sequences of the great Rebellion, the question 
 arose, Will they make good citizens? Statesmen of 
 all shades of opinion have finally come to the con- 
 clusion that slavery is wrong, and that in all races 
 there are men who have made a failure in life, but 
 that the negro would in time assimilate with his 
 white bi'other. Those who have so willed, and 
 have grasped their new condition with intelli- 
 aence — other things being equal — have solved the 
 problem of life as well as a majority of other races. 
 The man whose name appears at the head of this 
 biography is one of those who, born in slavery, has 
 made for himself an honorable place among men. 
 
 John E. Bolden is a blacksmith at Ridge Farm, 
 where he enjoys a good patronage. He was born 
 in Bedford County, Va., March 3, 1836, his father 
 and mother being also slaves. Mr. Bolden was 
 reared on a plantation by William Iludnel, who 
 sold him in 1863 to one Charles Miller, at Blacks- 
 burg, Montgomery Co., Ya. During Gen. Stone- 
 man's raid, in February, 1865, the subject of this 
 sketch ran away from slavery, and was taken in by 
 Company M., 12th Ohio Cavalry. He remained 
 with this company, doing his duty well, until June, 
 1865, when he went to East Tennessee for the pur- 
 pose of entering the United States Army in a col- 
 ored regiment, hut he was too late. He then en- 
 gaged at work at his trade, in Rheatown, Tenn., 
 where he continued to labor until 1870, when he 
 came to Ridge Farm, and has there since worked 
 
 industriously at his trade, owning both his shop 
 and residence. This property he has accumulated 
 liy steadfastly minding his own business, working 
 hard and being economical. 
 
 On Feb. 6, 1865, Mr. Bolden was married to 
 Ann E. Oble. just a few days before he ran awa}'. 
 Ho left his young wife in Virginia, and while in 
 Tennessee he sent for her. He is the father of 
 twelve children, seven of whom are living — Laura 
 A., Vinnie A., John II. W., Florence L., Mabel D., 
 Joshua W. and an infant girl. L:uira married 
 Frank Davis, the barber of Ridge Farm. Mr. Bol- 
 den has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal 
 Church here for fourteen years, and his wife wor- 
 ships at the same church. He is a member of the 
 colored IMnsonic Lodge at Danville, and is a man 
 who is highly respected by all his acquaintances 
 for his many sterling qualities. The dreams of 
 Garrison, Wendel Phillips, Garrett Smith and John 
 G. Whittier are full^- illustrated as realities in the 
 person of the subject of this sketch. Tliey had 
 always maintained that the colored man would 
 some day take his place among tlie men of the 
 earth, and their predictions liave C(jme true. Of 
 course, the color line still exists in some portions 
 of this great country, but the time is fast approach- 
 ing when it will lie obliterated. 
 
 >-^^^i^^^^^:^r^^ 
 
 ■<-v 
 
 \f OHN BLAKENEY. This genial old pio- 
 neer of ^'ermilion County, although .ap- 
 proaching his three-score and ten j'cars 
 / presents the picture of a green old age, the 
 culmination of a well-spent life, during vvhicli he 
 has marked his course uprightly, lived at peace 
 with his fellow- men and gained in a high degree 
 their unqualified esteem. The picture of the sturdy 
 oak, which has withstood the storms of time and 
 maintained its strength and honor, may be well 
 compared to the life of Mr. Blakeney. He has al- 
 ways been willing to "live and let live," has helped 
 a fallen brother whenever in his power, and has 
 been satisfied in the accumulation of sufllcient of 
 this world's goods to insure him against want in his 
 declining years. Jle owns and occupies a comfort- 
 
490 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 able home comprising seventy-seven acres of good 
 farming land, lying on sections 4 and 5 in George- 
 town Township. 
 
 A native of the Blue Grass State, our subject 
 was born in Bourbon County April 26, 1820, and 
 lived there until a lad of nine or ten years. Then 
 leaving Kentucky he came with his parents to Ver- 
 milion County, 111., in September, 1829, and com- 
 pleted his education as it had been begun, in a log 
 scliool-house. His fatlier, John Blakeney, was a 
 native of Pennsylvania, and the mother, who in her 
 girlhood was Sarah Oliver, was born in Virginia. 
 The Blakeney family was noted for its strong men, 
 who were almost without exception finel}^ devel 
 oped phj'sically, and followed agricultural pursuits. 
 The parents of our subject spent their last 3ears in 
 Georgetown Township. John Blakenej', Sr., lived to 
 be sevent3--seven j'ears old, and the mother was six- 
 ty-five years old at the time of her decease. They 
 were the parents of twelve children, namely: Mar- 
 tha, William, Hezekiah, Nancj-, John, Thomas, 
 Sarah J., Polly A., Meliuda, Hugh, James and 
 Angeline. 
 
 Young Blakeney grew up amid the wild scenes 
 of life on the frontier, assisting in the development 
 of his father's farm, and also followed the river 
 transporting produce from Danville to New Or- 
 leans. He remained a bachelor until approaching 
 the twenty-eighth year of his age, and was then 
 married Feb. 10, 1848, to Miss Angeline, daughter 
 of Edward and Mary (Ashby) Bowen, of Bourbon 
 County, Ky. Mrs. Blakeney was a mere child when 
 coming to Illinois in 1829. Her father secured a 
 tract of land in Georgetown Township, \'ermilion 
 County, where he spent the remainder of his years, 
 and died at the age of seventy-four. The mother 
 died when comparatively a young woman and 
 when Mrs. Blakeney was but a child, leaving four 
 children: Angeline, Nancj^, John and James 
 Henry. 
 
 Mrs. Blakeney, after her mother's death, was 
 taken into the home of her maternal grandfather, 
 with whom she remained until his death, then re- 
 turned to her father, who was twice married after 
 the death of his first wife. Of his second union 
 there were born six children and none by the third. 
 Mrs. Blakeney still retains a faint recollection of 
 
 her native county in Kentucky. Of lier union with 
 our subject there were born ten children, namely: 
 James H., Martha J., Wesley, Mary C, who died 
 when one year old; Francis, who also died at the 
 age of one year; Alwilda, who died at the age of 
 three; Lincoln, wlio died when a promising lad of 
 fourteen years; Thomas W., who died at the age of 
 eight years; Lura, who ciied when one year old, 
 and an infant who died unnamed. 
 
 Both our subject and liis estimable wife are 
 members in good standing of the Christian Cliurch. 
 Mr. Blakenej', politically, was a Whig until the 
 abandonment of the old party, and is now a stron" 
 Republican. 
 
 James H. Blakeney, the eldest son of our sub- 
 ject, married JMiss Charlotte Bennett, and is a resi- 
 dent of Summit Grove, Ind., and the father of two 
 children, Nellie and Hazel ; Martha J. married Joiin 
 Lacy, who is a farmer of Vermilion Country, tliis 
 Slate. They liave four children — Hardy. lillbert, 
 ( ioldie and Minnie; John married Josephine Hinds, 
 and they have one child, a son, Freddie; they are 
 residents of Georgetown Townsliip. Mr. Blakeney 
 has lived on his present farm for the long period 
 of thirty-two years, and has naturally become one 
 of the old landmarks, whose name will be held in 
 kindly remembrance long after he has been gatli- 
 ered to his fathers. 
 
 ILLIAJI F. BANTA, Jr , proprietor of the 
 Ridge Farm Flouring Mill and dealer in 
 grain and hay, occupies a leading position 
 among the business men of Ridge Farm, among 
 whom he has been known from boyhood. He was 
 born in Elwood Township, Dee. 9, 1857, and is the 
 son of James 11. Banta, a well known and prominent 
 citizen, who is represented elsewhere in this work. 
 Our subject remained with his parents on the 
 farm until twelve j-ears old, then the family re- 
 moved to Ridge Farm. He received a limited ed- 
 ucation, but by keeping himself posted upon cur- 
 rent events, is at once recognized as an intelligent 
 and well informed man. He served an apprenticc- 
 shij) at the miller's trade and followed this business 
 
m 
 
 '^>mii^ ^^yyj (liA^./d 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 493 
 
 until 1882, wlieu be purcliased the mill proi)ei'ty 
 which he now owns and which is operated under 
 his supervision h^- other parties. The building was 
 put up in 1871 by Davis & Co, and was formerly 
 operated by burr machinery. It is now equipped 
 with a full set of rollers, operating by the gradual 
 reduction process, and 'in which is iitilized Isor- 
 dyke, Marmon <fe Co's system of milling, together 
 with the Eureka Seiiarator & Smith's Purifier. A 
 Burroughs engine of seventy-five horse power 
 drives the machinery, and the boiler is of steel 
 from the Atlas Engine Works of Indianapolis. 
 This boiler is 16 inches by M feet in dimensions 
 and contains sixty-two flues. The mill has a ca- 
 pacity of 100 barrels in twenty-four hours. It 
 turns out tlie very best of flour, the Peerless brand 
 being especially fine and pure. The Kidge F'arm 
 Mills is steadfastly growing in po[)ularity, and tlie 
 proprietor evidently possesses in an eminent degree 
 the secret of success. 
 
 Mr. Banta, in connection with his milling opera- 
 tions, owns and runs the clevat(jr at Ridge Farm, 
 besides a large steam hay press. He usual! \' ships 
 about 700 car-loads of grain annually and 300 cars 
 of baled hay. He gives employment to a number 
 of men and has been no unim|)i)itant factor in ad- 
 vancing the business interests of his town. He iias 
 without question inherited from his ancestors thf.ise 
 qualities of character which are inseparable from 
 the successful business man and the useful citizen. 
 He is not married. 
 
 \f AMES SANDUSKY. It is now considered 
 no small honor to have lived during the 
 pioneer days of Central Illinois, and he who 
 looked upon the wilderness ere the feet of 
 white men had made their permanent inroads into 
 this region, is viewed with more than ordinary in- 
 terest. To tiiose hardy spirits are the people of 
 to-day indebted for the great advantages which 
 they enjoy, the prosperous farms and villages 
 which have arisen from the wilderness and the ad- 
 vance of civilization, which was led by the adven- 
 turous pioneer. To this region came the Sandusky 
 
 family at a very early date, and they have left 
 their ineffaceable mark not onl}^ by 'their industr3- 
 and perseverance, but in ttie implanting of those 
 moral principles which form the basis of all good 
 society. Their children were reared to habits of 
 industry and sentiments of honor, while they ex- 
 tended to high and low that cordial hospitality 
 which is especially prized where people are neces- 
 sarily dependent upon each other for many of the 
 conveniences and comforts of life. 
 
 The subject of this notice and his estimable wife 
 form no unworthy offshoots of their respective an- 
 cestral trees, which have grown and floiu'ished and 
 the names of which will descend to coming gene- 
 rations. They endured all the hardships and pri- 
 vations of life on the frontier, labored arduously 
 in the building up of a homestead and reared a 
 family of intelligent children, all but two of whom 
 have fled from the home nest and taken their 
 places as honored members of society. The two 
 remaining it is hardly necessary to say form the 
 light and jo}' of the household. 
 
 James Sandusky was born in Bourbon Countj^, 
 K}'., Juljr 17, 1817, and has thus more than num- 
 bered his three -sqpre years and ten. His father, 
 Isaac Sandusk}', was likewise a native of the Blue 
 Grass State, where he attained to manhood and was 
 married to Miss Euphemma McDowell, a maiden of 
 his own neighborhood. Later he served in the 
 war of 1812 and was under Gen. Harrison at the 
 battle of Tippecanoe. He was a resident of Ken- 
 tucky until the fall of 1827 and then coming to 
 Vermilion County, 111., settled on a tract of land 
 near Brooks Point and built up a farm from the 
 wilderness, where he and his estimable wife spent 
 the remainder of their days. 
 
 In the Sandusky family there were eleven 
 children, who were named respectively: Sarah 
 E., Mar}^ A., Julia A., Josiah, James, our sub- 
 ject, Henry Clay, Ann Eliza, Stephen A. Douglas, 
 Thomas, Susan A. and Laura. James was a boy of 
 ten years when his parents removed to Illinois. In 
 l)reparing for the removal the father had purchased 
 large numbers of cattle, horses and sheep, to bring 
 with him. The journey was made overland in the 
 primitive st^le, the travelers camping and cooking 
 by the wayside and sleeping in a tent at night. 
 
494 
 
 PORTRAIT AN]) BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 During that journey, our subject saw a cooking' 
 stove for tlie first time, and it was viewed not only 
 b}' himself but ))y many others with great curios- 
 ity. This article was purchased by his father from 
 Rafe Lytton of Cincinnati, Ohio, and brought to 
 Vermilion County, being the first of its kind in 
 this region. 
 
 Young Sandusky prior to the removal to the 
 Prairie State had been married in Woodford 
 County, Ky. Dec. 6, 1846 to Miss Mary Ann, 
 daughter of James Green, a native of Woodford 
 County, Ky. Her paternal grandparents were 
 natives respectively of England and Germany. 
 After coming to America they were married in 
 Virginia, whence they soon afterward removed to 
 Kentuckj'^, settling in Woodford County, where 
 they spent their last days. James Green upon 
 reaching man's estate chose for his wife ]\Iiss Polly 
 Hudson, whose family had figured conspicuously 
 in the early history of the State and whose paternal 
 grandfather, Raleigh Hudson of Scotch-Irisli blood, 
 did valiant service in the Revolutionary War. 
 The Hudsons invaded the soil of Kentucky at a 
 time when Indians were plentiful and the forest 
 abounded with wild animals. The mother of Mrs. 
 Sandusky was first married to William Campbell 
 and they became the parents of six children. Of 
 her marriage with James Green there was born one 
 child only, a daughter, Mary Ann, in Woodford 
 County. Thej' were wedded in the fall of 1847 
 and the following spring emigrated to Illinois and 
 settled upon land owned jointly by Mr. Green and 
 onr subject. Mr. Green departed this life in 1845 
 and the mother di^d at the home of our subject 
 April 14, 1870. 
 
 Eleven children likewise came to bless the union 
 of James Sandusky and his excellent wife. The 
 eldest born, Sarah E., became the wife of Benjamin 
 Girard of Georgetown Township and they have 
 nine children — Emma, Delia, Mary, Julia, James, 
 Jessie, Euphemma. George and Dottie. Mary A. and 
 Julia A. are deceased; Josiah P. married Miss 
 lilmma Boughton and they have four children — 
 Ettie, Fred, James Gould and Grant; James I. 
 married Miss iNIary Engleman and is farming on 
 his father's farm in Georgetown Township; they 
 have two children — Clinton and Mattie; Henry C, 
 
 a resident of Georgetown Township, married Miss 
 Mary Pratt and they have two children — Floyd E. 
 and Annie. Ann Eliza married Thomas Bennett 
 of Georgetown Township and they have one child, 
 Bertie; Stephen A. D. is a resident of Catlin Town- 
 ship; Thomas is sojourning in Lj'ons Count}-, Neb.; 
 Susan T. and Laura H. K. are at home with their 
 parents. 
 
 As will be seen by referring to the sketches of 
 Josiah, AVilliam and Abraham Sandusky, as well as 
 that of James S. Sconce, the Sandusky family came 
 originally from Poland where they were closely 
 allied to royalty. In their native country their 
 name was spelled ''Sodowskj'." The city of San- 
 dusky, Ohio, derives its name from one of the 
 earlier representatives of this family, who settled 
 in northeastern Ohio, where the Indians had suffered 
 numerous wrongs at the hands of the white man. 
 In a spirit of revenge they vowed to put to death 
 the first white person who should venture into what 
 they esteemed their domain. This unsuspecting 
 individual proved to be an Indian trader by the 
 name of Sodowsky, an ancestor of our subject and 
 who was one of their best friends. They carried 
 out their purpose but when learning his true char- 
 acter deeply lamented the cruel deed. In order to 
 partially atone for it they gave his name to the 
 embryo town which had begun to grow up. As 
 the whites came in the more modern name was grad- 
 ually adopted. 
 
 The Sandusky's, as far back as the records go, 
 have been mostly engaged in agricultural pursuits 
 making a specialty of live stock and being very 
 successful. The father of our subject brought in 
 the first drove of good cattle from Kentucky to 
 Illinois, in the driving of which young James as- 
 sisted. He also brought in the first flock of sheep 
 which ever graced the prairies of Vermilion 
 County, driving them from the Blue Grass regions 
 in the fall of 1827. Their ox-team was likewise 
 the first driven from Kentucky to this county. 
 Thus it will be seen the Sanduskys have borne no 
 unimportant part in opening up this portion of 
 Central Illinois. 
 
 Mr. Sandusky voted for William H. Harrison in 
 1840 but in 1856 felt that he had reason to change 
 his political views and identified himself with the 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 495 
 
 democracy of whose principles he has since been a 
 strong supporter. He has never sought political 
 preferment and has never held office with the ex- 
 ception of serving two terms as Seliool Director. 
 The horses on Mr. Sandusk3''s farm are from a 
 stock of horses that have been in the Sandusky 
 family for nearly a hundred years, bronght to 
 Kentucky- by his forefathers and from there to Illi- 
 nois b}' his father. A portrait of Mr. Sandusky is 
 shown in this work and represents a worth j' member 
 of an honored family. 
 
 •» -HH-KSjjjfJt+^JS*-^-^'^ 
 
 P:RGEANT T. W. BLAKENEY. The per- 
 sonal appearance of the subject of this 
 notice must invariablj' attract attention in 
 a crowd, he being fine looking and of com- 
 manding presence, with a countenance indicative of 
 the most estimable traits of character and the bear- 
 ing which signalizes a gentleman. He is the off- 
 spring of a fine old family of Irish origin, and 
 noted for great strength, courage, endurance, hon- 
 esty and patriotism. 
 
 The paternal great-grandfather of our subject 
 was born in Ireland and crossed the Atlantic in 
 time to assist the colonists in their struggle for in- 
 dependence. He was a man of more than ordinary 
 intelligence; one who loved liberty, and whose 
 sympathies were warmly enlisted in the American 
 cause. At the rlose of tlic war the government 
 owed him *1,400 for his services ns a soldier. This 
 he refused to accept, however, claiming that an 
 Irisliman could afford to do this much for the sake 
 of citizenship and independence. He was married 
 and became the father of a faniil}^, and his son, 
 John, fought all through the war of 1812. Later 
 he served in the Black Hawk War. True to tlie in- 
 stincts of patriotism which had distinguished his 
 ancestry, the subject of this sketch, soon after the 
 outbreak of the great rebellion, proffered his ser- 
 vices as a soldier of the Union army, and, like his 
 ancestors, gave his support to the cause of freedom. 
 Mr. Blakeney is a native of this county, and was 
 born in Georgetown Township, July 19, 1842. His 
 father, William Blakeney, was born in Bourbon 
 
 County, Kentuckjr, and married Bliss Susan Ellis, a 
 native of Greene County, Ohio. The latter is the 
 oldest woman pioneer of the county, having come 
 hither when a young lad\', with her |>areut8 as early 
 as 1821. She is now seventy-four years old, while 
 Mr. Blakeney is seventy-six. The latter came to 
 this county in 1829. He traveled over the 
 State on foot, visiting the lead mines at Galena, 
 and fought in the Black IlawV \\'ar in 1832. 
 He was a splendid specimen of manhood phys- 
 ically, being of powerful frame and very 
 active. He vvas acknowledged as the strongest man 
 west of the Wabash, and could outrun any man in 
 this section, either white manor Indian. 
 
 To the parents of our subject there was born a 
 family of twelve children, eight of whom grew to 
 mature years, are still living and have families of 
 their own. Those named are as follows: John R., 
 who died young; Sarah; William Anderson, who 
 died in childhood; Thomas W., our subject; Rach- 
 ael, Ts'ancy, Wright K., Martha, Mary, [Susan, and 
 two infants who died unnamed. Thomas W. was 
 bora July 19, 1842 and had a pioneer expe- 
 rience in common with the other boys of George- 
 town Township, attending upon his studies in a log 
 school-house, and becoming at a verj' early age fa- 
 miliar with farm pursuits. Like his forefathers he 
 grew up with filmost perfect health and a muscular 
 frame, remaining with the family and assisting in 
 the labors around the homestead until the outbreak 
 of the Civil War. Then in response to the call of 
 President Lincoln for " 300,000 more" he enlisted 
 at Catlin, as a Union soldier in Companj- K, 12.'ith 
 Illinois Infantry, under command of Capt. George 
 W . Cook. He was mustered in at Danville, and 
 drilled on the old fair grounds. At the outset he 
 was elected Corporal, and after leaving Danville 
 they repaired first to Cincinnati, Ohio, and then to 
 Covington and Louisville, Ky. Later they moved 
 on to Perryville, where our subject first saw the 
 smoke of battle in an active engagement, one 
 month lacking five da.ys, from the time of his en- 
 listment. Soon afterward he was in the battles of 
 Chickamauga and Mission Ridge, and in the former 
 was wounded in the thigh by the exi)losion of a 
 shell, although not seriousl}' hurt. He accompa- 
 nied his regiment on the Knoxville campaign and 
 
496 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 participated in tlie siege of Atlanta. Wliiie cliarg- 
 inir up Kenesavv Mountain lie was seriously wound- 
 0(1. and to tliisda^' carries five buckshot received at 
 that time. This division of the army was engaged 
 fift^'-two days around Atlanta, and after the fall of 
 the city the regiment of our subject was assigned 
 to the command of Gen. Sherman and entered upon 
 the famous march to the sea. In the meantime at 
 Atlanta, on account of bravery and gallant ser- 
 vices, Mr. Blakeney was promoted to Sergeant- 
 Major, which rank he held until the close of the 
 war. After leaving Atlanta he went up through 
 the Carolinas to Washington, being present at the 
 grand review June 22, 1865, and was there mus- 
 tered out and received his honorable discharge in 
 that same month. 
 
 Upon leaving the army Mr. Blakeney reengaged 
 in the peaceful pursuits of farm life, making his 
 home with his father until his marriage. This most 
 important and interesting event of his life was cel- 
 ebrated Oct. 22, 1868, the bride being Miss Matilda 
 Brooks, and the wedding taking place at her 
 home in Catlin. The newly wedded pair resided 
 ill Georgetown Township, this countjf, a number of 
 years, then removed to Beadle County, Dak., 
 where Mr. Blakeney purchased 320 acres of land 
 and improved a farm, which he still owns. After 
 a three years residence in that place they returned 
 to this county and settled at Westville, where they 
 have since remained. 
 
 In addition to serving as Township Assessor, Mr. 
 Blakeney travels for the Bible house of Chandler 
 Bros., of Rockford, and is considered one of their 
 most successful salesmen. While in Dakota he be- 
 came a charter member of the T. O. Howe G. A. R. 
 Post at Altoona, Beadle Count3', and religiously, is 
 with his estimable wife a prominent member of the 
 Christian Church at Westville. He takes a great 
 interest in the Sunday-school work and has for 
 jcars served as Superintendent, never missing a 
 single appointment for the last ten years. Politi- 
 cally he is a strong Republican. 
 
 Mrs. Blakeney is the daughter of John and 
 Louisa (Black) Brooks, a sketch of whom may be 
 found elsewhere in this volume. They were among 
 the first settlers along the eastern line of this county. 
 Benjamin Brooks, the paternal grandfather of 
 
 Mrs. Brooks, settled at Brooks Point at a very early 
 ilay. The Point was named in honor of Benja- 
 min Brooks. His wife, Matilda Manville, was the 
 first white woman coming into the county. To our 
 subject and his estimable wife there were born 
 three children, the eldest of whom, Mabel N., died 
 at the age of eleven years and six months; Lou P. 
 is the only child surviving and lives at home with 
 her parents. A son. Brooks, died at the age of 
 three 3'ears. 
 
 SA ANKRUM, late of section 26, Harri- 
 jl son's Purchase, Elwood Township, was 
 born at Yankee Point, this county, March 
 (1^ 10, 1837, and died Jan. 25, 1886. His 
 
 father, David Ankrum, was a pioneer of this 
 count}' and a prominent man of his time. He came 
 here when land was cheap, and consequently im- 
 proved his opportunities, and when he died was 
 well-off in this world's goods. 
 
 Asa Ankrum was one of the best citizens of this 
 county, and by frugality, coupled with good judg- 
 ment, he left his family above want. He received 
 his education at the common schools incident to 
 the early days of Illinois. He spent all his younger 
 days at home with his father on the farm, where 
 he worked hard, thus aiding his father in getting 
 the competence of which he was possessed. On the 
 1st of February, 1865, he married Rhoda C. Blen- 
 denhall, whose father, James IMendenhall, removed 
 to Hamilton County, Ind., at an early da}', and lo- 
 cated in this county in 1857. Her father was born 
 in Greene County, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Ankrum 
 became the parents of ten children, five of whom 
 are living: Ollie C, Ira A., Meda M., Minnie J., 
 and Oris B. Mr. Ankrum was an ardent Repub- 
 lican, but he never sought official honors. He 
 deemed it his duty to support a party which has 
 done so much for intelligence and industry. He 
 was not connected with any church, but his purse 
 was always open to aid any enterprise which sought 
 to support the gospel or aid the poor. In 1880 he 
 erected an elegant three-story house, which contains 
 tliirteen rooms and three halls, finished in elegant 
 style throughout. It is well furnished with every- 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALEUIM. 
 
 4'J7 
 
 thing calculated to produce comfort. At the time 
 of his dnath, Mr. Aiikrum owned over 220 acres, 
 but was somewhat in debt, which was liquidated by 
 his widow and sons since. They have built a 
 large barn, purchased implements, wagons and 
 carriages, and have money loaned and interest 
 coming in. They have also met with some losses 
 since the father's death, among which may be men- 
 tioned the burning of a tenant house. On the 
 whole, the father left his interest in prudent hands. 
 Mrs. Ankrum's father, .James Mendenliall, was 
 born near Xenia, Greene Co., Ohio, whence he re- 
 moved to the State of Indiana, settling in Elwood 
 Township in ISST, as before indicated, and in 
 in every move he made he bettered himself. He 
 married Rebecca Campbell, and they have five 
 children living: Priscilla, Mrs. Patten; Ira; RyanG.; 
 Mrs. Ankrum ;and .Tane, Mrs. Elliott. Three daugh- 
 ters died after attaining their maturity : Sarah, Mrs. 
 Reeve; Lydia, Mrs. Newlin; Alnieda, Mrs. Thomp- 
 son. Mr. Mendenhall was a prominent farmer, in 
 which avocation he exhibited a great deal of inter- 
 est, and he held the ofHce of School Treasurer for 
 several years. He died in 1878, while his wife 
 passed away April 5. 1886. They were consistent 
 members of the Friends' Church, and were good 
 people in all things. 
 
 ■.o*o^(&y^.^^-o4o.- 
 
 AMES J. HEALY is an excellent example 
 for young men just embarking in the field 
 of active life, of what may be accomplished 
 '^^J/ by a man beginning poor, but honest, pru- 
 dent and industrious. In early life he enjoyed but 
 few advantages, for his school days were limited, 
 and he had neither wealth nor position to aid him 
 in starting. He relied solely on his own efforts 
 and his own conduct to win for him success. He 
 is a careful, conscientious man, ever adhering to 
 the dictates of his own conscience to guide him. 
 
 Mr. Healy is the manager of the large general 
 merchandise store in Indianola, known under the 
 firm name of Pattison & Healy. He was born in 
 Bosion, Mass.. November, 1855, where his father, 
 P:!'.iii.k Healy, was a mechanical engineer on the 
 
 Pittsburg, Cincinnati & St. Louis Railroad. His 
 mother, Mary Tracey, was a native of Canada and 
 was reared upon a farm. The father is now resid- 
 ing in Chicago, while the mother is dead. They had 
 eight eliildren, five of whom grew to manhood, as 
 follows: .James Joseph, William, Thomas, Dennis 
 and Elizabeth. The subject of this sketch began 
 his life work as a brick carrier in Chicago, his 
 wages being fifty cents a day. He was thrown en- 
 tirely upon his own resources while very young, and 
 had he not been naturall}' gifted with a buoyant dis- 
 position he perliaps would have fainted b> the way- 
 side. Being conscious of the necessity of an edu- 
 cation he attended the evening schools at Chicago. 
 About this time he became connected with the 
 Chicago Post as a newsbo}', and while thus en- 
 gaged he one day happened to draw the attention 
 of a gentleman from St. Joseph, Mo., who per- 
 suaded him to go to that city, for he perceived the 
 intelligence of the lad and knew he would some day 
 become an able man. 
 
 In Missouri the boy was treated kindly by his 
 newly-made friend and his family. He was enabled 
 to take a commercial course at the St. Joseph Col- 
 lege, after the completion of whicli he returned to 
 Chicago and engaged as a book-keeper for a South 
 Water Street firm, where he had ample opportuni- 
 ties for learning the ways of the world, and to gain 
 an insight into business. After a three-years' en- 
 gagement with this firm he accepted a position with 
 a retail grocer and wholesale liquor dealer of Chi- 
 cago, and for four years faithfully attended to the 
 affairs of that concern in the capacity of book- 
 keeper. His firm seeing his bright and capable 
 abilities, induced him to accept the position of 
 commercial traveler which he did, acquiring many 
 friends and gaining steadily in the esteem of his 
 employers. Having gained the warm friendship of 
 Mr. Pattison while in Chicago, it was but natural 
 that he should make the acquaintance of his sister, 
 limma, to whom he was united in marriage. She 
 is the daughter of Elijah and Mary (Cox) Patti- 
 son, the latter of wdiom is now sixt3'-six years old 
 and living in Vermilion Count}-, where she was 
 born, oeing one of the oldest of the living native s 
 of this county. Mr. and Mrs. Healy made their 
 home in Chicago for about two years, and although 
 
-1<)8 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 beiii;^ jjcrfectly teuipei'ate in liis lifibits, yet Mr. 
 Healy found tliere was a sti'Oi)j> prejudice against 
 liquor dealing, and tliat social advantages were de- 
 nied him, that by riglit were his. He therefore con- 
 cluded to abandon the business, though ))y so doing 
 ho relinquished a good situation. 
 
 In 1«82 the firm of Pattison & Healy was 
 formed and they engaged in their present business, 
 at llisL on a small scale, but which since has steadily 
 increased until it is now paying well. On Sept. 16, 
 1885 he was appointed Postmaster of Indiauola, 
 and has proved himself the best incumbent of that 
 otHce his town has ever had. He resigned on jMarcb 
 "20, 188!», a move which was mucli regretted by all 
 regardless of politics. Lie is Secretary of the Build- 
 ing and Loan Association, and also Secretary of the 
 Masonic lodge here. Politically^, he is a strong 
 Democrat and an oflicer of the Democratic club. 
 He is serving as Collector of Taxes in Carroll 
 Township, and in all these positions he has acquit- 
 ted himself with singular fidelity' and honest}' of 
 purpose. Mr. and iMrs. Healy are the parents of 
 one child, Anna May. 
 
 •^ OHN HUMRICIiOUS, founder of the vil- 
 lage of Humrick, is recognized as one of the 
 leading farmers and stock-raisers of Elwood 
 (^^y Township, a self-made man — one who began 
 life at the foot of the ladder, and by hard work and 
 good management has arrived at a position very 
 near tlie top. Unlike many men his struggles and 
 sacrifices have not made him cold or avaricious, 
 bnt on the contrary he is accounted as one of the 
 most hospitable and public-spirited men of his 
 community. Success has attended his efforts and 
 he is now in possession of a fine property lying in 
 the southeastern part of the township on section 
 24. Llere he has all the modern improvements as- 
 sociated with the well regulated country estate, 
 besides a snug bank account, which will insure his 
 declining years against anxiety and want. 
 
 A native of York County, Pa., our subject was 
 born Dec. 30, 1823, and is the son of .lohn Hum- 
 richoiis. who was born in what was then the King- 
 
 dom of nain)vcr, and who came to the United 
 States after his marriage, about 1818. His wife, 
 formerly Elizabeth Little, was a native of his own 
 province, and to them there were born twelve chil- 
 dren, eleven of whom lived to mature years, and 
 of whom our subject was the sixth in order of 
 birth. The latter, like his brothers and sisters, only 
 enjoyed very limited school advantages, attending 
 about six months in all, paying therefor three cents 
 per da}^ 
 
 The father of our subject died when John was in 
 the sixteenth year of his age, and he then had to 
 look out for himself as well as the family. He 
 worked out bj' the month and assisted his mother 
 until after her second marriage. Later he learned 
 the carpenter trade, which he followed ten years. 
 He left his native State in 1851, proceeding to 
 Dayton, Ohio, where he sojourned two j^ears. His 
 next stopinng place was at Horse Shoe Bend, on the 
 Little Vermillion River in Indiana, and from there 
 in 1856 he went to Bloomfleld, 111. The year fol- 
 lowing he traveled through Kansas and Missouri, 
 but finally returned east as far as A'ermillion 
 County, Ind., and resided in Xewport Township 
 until the fall of 1864. He then came to Elwood 
 Township, this county, settling where he now lives, 
 and thereafter gave his attention almost exclu- 
 sively to farming pursuits. 
 
 At the age of twenty-six years, in May, 1850, 
 our subject was married to Miss Susannah Keller, 
 a native of his own county in Pennsylvania and the 
 daughter of John Keller, deceased. This union re- 
 sulted in the birth of eleven children, only five of 
 whom are living: John A. married Miss Malinda 
 JNIenges, is a resident of Ellwood Township and the 
 father of three children — Ada, John and Jonathan; 
 Susie is the wife of Charles Waggaman, of Elwood 
 Township, and they have two children, John and 
 INIyrtle; Laura married Charles Brown, of Vermill- 
 ion County, Ind; they have no children; Emma is 
 the wife of Robert Slaughter, of Bethel, this county, 
 and they have two children, Artie and an infant 
 unnamed; Melissa is the wife of George A. Collier, 
 and lives with her father; she has one child, John 
 WUliam. 
 
 The property of our subject embraces over 400 
 acres of flue land, to which he has given his main 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 499 
 
 attention, having no desire for the responsibilities 
 of office or the anxieties of a public life. He has, 
 how.iVer, served as School Director and Justice of 
 the Peace, and is recognized as a citizen of more 
 than ordinary intelligence. Socially, he belongs to 
 the aiasonic lodge of Ridge Farm, and with his 
 wife is a member in good standing of the Cumber- 
 land Presbyterian Church at Bethel. 
 
 jf^\ OSES L. LARRANCE is a wealthy pio- 
 neer of Elwood and is a man who is very 
 prominent in the affairs of his township. 
 He owns 340 acres of land, unparalleled 
 for its fertility, on section -25, range 12, where he 
 carries on in a successful manner general farming. 
 Mr. Larranee was born in Jefferson County, 
 Tenn., on May 9, 1818. His father, John Lar- 
 ranee, was a native of North Carolina. He came 
 to Edgar County in 1827 settling in Elwood Town- 
 ship, two miles north of where Moses L. now re- 
 sides. The land was then in its wild state, but he 
 had his choice of nearly the whole county, and he 
 chose well. He entered 240 acres of land for 
 which he paid the Government price, and thereon 
 erected a cabin, made of round logs and with one 
 room. The floor was constructed of logs split in 
 two, with the flat side up; clapboard roof and 
 doors of the same material. They lived hajipily 
 for one year in this house and were determined to 
 make a comfortable home though they were ob- 
 liged to suffer privations innumerable in order to 
 do it. In those days stoves could be procured 
 only by the rich, and in the cabin of the pioneer 
 they were an unknown luxur}-. The good mother 
 cooked in a long handled skillet by the flre-place, 
 and did her Laking in an old fashioned brick oven. 
 When Moses was eighteen years old, his father 
 went to Chicago and bought a cook-stove, which 
 was a curiosity to the boy, as this was the first one 
 he ever saw. They lived in a frugal manner, 
 never complaining, but happy in the enjoyment 
 of good health, and that in the future they would 
 reap iheir harvest. The mother of Moses L. was 
 Ruth, the daughter of John Mills, a pioneer of 
 
 this county. She was the mother of nine children, 
 five of whom are living, namely: Moses L., Leroy, 
 ^A'illiam, Isaac, and Lanty. Those deceased are 
 Edith, Jane, Richard, Jonathan and an infant. 
 
 Moses L. Larranee received his early education 
 in the old school-house with the greased paper win- 
 dows, stick and clay ehimnej-, slab benches and 
 wall desks, of the pioneer days of Illinois. The 
 boys of those days were fortunate if they secured 
 three months' school, as their parents were, of 
 course, unable to pay a teacher for a longer terra. 
 He was married Nov. 1, 1838 to Nancy, daughter 
 of Aaron Mendenhall, who came from North Caro- 
 lina to Greene County, Ohio, during the year 1812. 
 His father, Richard Mendenhall was killed by the 
 Indians during that war. Aaron purchased a farm 
 from the Government in 1824, settling in Carroll 
 Township, where Silas Baird now lives. JNIr. and 
 Mrs. Larranee are the parents of thirteen children, 
 nine living and grown up. The following is a 
 record of the children now alive. Their names 
 are: John, William, Betsey, Richard, Emily, Char- 
 ity, Lydia, David, and Paris. John married Mary 
 Baum,they have six children — Ella, Frank. Henry, 
 Rosa, Cass, and Cephas; William first married 
 Ella Patterson, by whom he had four children, 
 two of whom are living — Charles and Cassias. His 
 wife died and he married Betsey Frasier; Betsey 
 married Carroll Fellows and they have seven chil- 
 dren — Sylvanus, Cyrus, Louisa, Charley, Oliver, 
 Alice, and Jane; Richard married Jane Wheeler, 
 and they are the parents of seven children — Allen 
 J., Bert, Maude, Frederick, Art, Thomas, and 
 Samuel ; Emily married John Canaday, they have 
 five children — Cora, Grace, Charity J., Florence 
 and Flora; Charity married Frank Thompson, who 
 have two children — Odbert and Golden; Lydia 
 married William Nier. thej' have two children — Ida 
 and Mark; David married Caroline Tuggle, and 
 they are the parents of three children, two of whom 
 are living — Moses L. and Morton M.; Paris mar- 
 ried Martha Snyder, they had one child — Viola, 
 who is deceased. 
 
 Mr. Larranee at this time owns 340 acres of land 
 and has given 600 acres to his children, 180 acres 
 of which he entered from the Government. He 
 belongs to the Republican party and has never 
 
oOO 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 sought official lionovs. lie is a meinl)ei- of tlie 
 Friends' Church at Vermilion Grove. Mr. and 
 Mrs. Larrance began life «ith nothing; have 
 worked hard and bj- good management they are 
 now enjoying a comfortable fortune, and they de- 
 serve it. 
 
 .v ,»;ILLIAM SANDUSKY. The Sandusky 
 \J/ Bros., William and Ha 
 
 \/iJ// I^i'os., William and Harvey, are two of the 
 ^^\y most wealthy and jjrorainent men in this 
 countjr, and have distinguislied themselves as suc- 
 cessful live-stock breeders, in which business they 
 have engaged for many years, the latter bringing 
 tlie first car load of tliorougli-bredShort-liorn cattle 
 to this county in the spring of LSG2. They were 
 purchased from the celebrated breeder of the great 
 trotter ' ]Maiide S.," R. A. Alexander, wlio was at 
 that time in company with .Jerry Duncan and James 
 Hall, forming the most illustrious trio of breeders 
 at that time in America. 
 
 The subject of this notice is a gentleman largely 
 endowed liy nature with some remarkable qualities, 
 possessing sound common sense and a fine judg- 
 ment, broad and tiberal-minded in his views, an 
 ardent lover of national liberty and a strong be- 
 liever in the Republican theory of protection for 
 America and all its citizens. His native place was 
 Bourbon Count3', Ky., and he was born Nov. 19, 
 1826. When he was a mere child the family left 
 the Blue Grass State, being transported to Ohio 
 (via Cincinnati) and Indiana, whose houses were 
 mostly log cabins, and passing through Indianapo- 
 lis, their outfit consisting of three wagons, two 
 drawn by four horses each and one by an ox team. 
 The father of our subject had visited the West 
 prior to this time and started out for permanent 
 settlement in the fall of 1829. William was edu- 
 cated in a log school house and grew up amid the 
 wild scenes of life on the frontier, as Central Illi- 
 nois was then considered the far AVest. The first 
 time he went to Chicago he rode on a load of pro- 
 duce hauled bj' two yoke of oxen, which were fed 
 on a spot near the present site of the Commercial 
 Hotel. The youth of tliat period were at an early 
 
 age iuiir. il to laboi', and young Sandusky, like his 
 comrades, grew up strong and healthful and soon 
 after reaching his majority began to lay his plans 
 for a home of his own. He was married in April, 
 1848, when twenty-two years old to Miss Marj-E., 
 daughter of Samuel and Sarah (Weaver) Baum, 
 further mention of whom will be made in the 
 sketch of Frank Baum on another page in this 
 volume. 
 
 The earliest records of the Weaver family indi- 
 cates them to have been of Scotch-Irish descent, 
 who upon emigrating to this countrj^ settled in 
 Maryland. Micliael Weaver, the paternal grand- 
 father of ]\Irs. Sandnskj', served as a soldier in the 
 Ri'volutionar}' War and was a very wealthy man. 
 He was born in Maryland, whence he removed to 
 Pennsylvania and frcjm there to Ohio, after which 
 lie resided in Brc.iwn and Clermont counties. He 
 set out for lUinuis in 1H2.S, in which year the par- 
 ents of Mrs. Sandusky also came to this Slate. 
 The grandfather was a peculiar man in many re- 
 spects, possessing a high sense of honor and justice, 
 benevolent and hospitable, and was so extremely 
 conscientious that he would never .accept more 
 than six per cent, for his money, although he could 
 have loaned it sometimes at fort}^ per cent. Noth- 
 ing pleased him better tlian to assist those who 
 would try to help themselves, while he was decid- 
 edly averse to speculation of an}^ kind. He would 
 never charge more than twenty-five cents per bushel 
 for his corn under any circumstances, as he declared 
 that he could raise it for that and it was worth no 
 more. He lived to be a centennarian and jMrs. 
 Sandusky gave him a reception on the anniversary 
 of his one hundreth birthday, which was made tlie 
 occasion of a very cheerful gathering of friends and 
 relatives and will be long remembered b}' those 
 who participated in it. 
 
 To the parents of Rlrs. Sandusky there were 
 born ele\'en children, viz. : Oliver, Mary E., Susan, 
 Catherine, Francis, Charles, Emeline, Samuel, Wil- 
 liam and Angeline. After the death of the mother 
 when ]\Iary E,, the wife of our subject, was a 
 maiden probably of seventeen years, Mr. Weaver 
 was married the second time and became the father 
 of four more children. 
 
 After their marriage iNIr, Sandusky and his young 
 
mmaitttiiMSMJLiia^.^L.. "'lau ■iBBtimi'fteiiiii' -"■'-'"aiiiiytrn " 'iff- "^Hp- •—- "■— ' ■ ...rm.. 
 
 Residlnce-of J M. Current, SEC l9.(Ti8-R 13) Vance Township^ 
 
 irMniniHriiiri i i 
 
 i&A'^<'»gte-rf:;.„y'^,., -r::-^. iJ- t'tr^-:.-' -r^^^^-^W 
 
 Residence OF C.T. Caraway, Sec. 29 (T I9-R 12) Catlin Township 
 
 Residence of A .D.Owen,Sec.5.(T.23.-R.11.j GrantTownship 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 303 
 
 wife settled on tiie farm where they have since 
 Ineil, and expended their best efforts in the eon- 
 strnction of a homestead. As raa^- be supposed it 
 bears but little resemblance to its original condi- 
 tion, being then but a tract of wild land, with no 
 improvements to speak of. One of the first tasks 
 to which Mr. Sandusky set himself was the planting 
 of an orchard, the trees of which have now be- 
 come almost of giant size. (Gradually he erected 
 the various buildings needed for the general pur- 
 poses of agriculture, and for a number of years 
 labored early and late in the cultivation of his 
 land bringing about the comforts and conven- 
 iences essential to the happiness of a home. Al- 
 though almost uniformly successful, he at one time 
 met with a loss of $30,000 through one of the 
 Presidents of the Excliange Bank of Danville. He 
 has handled thousands of beef cattle, also thorough- 
 bred Short-horns and has now a very fine herd — 
 thirty head of registered animals. 
 
 As a lover of the equine race Mr. Sandusky is 
 now paying special attention to thorough-bred run- 
 ning horses, of which he has ten or twelve flue 
 animals, including the trotting stallion, " Wilful 
 Boy," a standard-bred three-year old of great 
 speed and value. Mr. Sandusky was at one time 
 the owner of 220 acres of land upon which 
 he operated largely as a general farmer and stock- 
 raiser. He keeps liiniself well posted, not only 
 upon matters connected with agriculture, but of 
 national interest and is thoroughly opposed to se- 
 cret orders. He cast his first vote for Abraham 
 Lincoln with whom he was well acquainted, and 
 frequently heard him relate some of his character- 
 istic yarns. The Rej^ublican party finds no more 
 sincere or earnest follower than Mr. Sandusky, al- 
 though he is no office-seeker and has mingled very 
 little in public affairs. 
 
 The five children born to our subject and his ex- 
 cellent wife are recorded as follows: Sarah J. died 
 at the age of two j'ears; Caroline is the wife of 
 James Snapp, a farmer of Carroll Township; she 
 has three children, two by a former husband and 
 one by Mr. Snapp. Rochester, who has inherited 
 his father's love for fine horses, is an expert in this 
 line and remains at the home farm ; Addie is the 
 wife of J. T. McMillen, a lumberman of Danville; 
 
 she has four children — William, Nell, Rochester 
 and Edmund. Caroline ami Addie were both 
 students of Illinois Female College and Miss Belle 
 attended the Female Seminary at Morgan Park, 
 near Chicago; she is now at home with her parents. 
 Rochester was graduated from Bryant & Stratton's 
 Business College. 
 
 Josiah Sandusky, the father of our subject, is one 
 of the wealthiest men in this county, owning 1,000 
 acres of land in Carroll Townshii) and dealing ex- 
 tensively in live-stock, including fine road and 
 trotting horses. He was Ijorn Sept. 11, 1837, in 
 Kentucky and is the son of Abraham Sodowsky, 
 whose forefathers were natives of Poland, whence 
 originated the name which has since been American- 
 ized into its present form. Abraham Sodowsky 
 was born in Bourbon Count}', Ky., March 29, 1793, 
 and married Miss Jane McDowell, also a native of 
 that county and born Dec. 16, 1792. The family 
 were among the earliest settlers of that county, lo- 
 cating there when Indians were still plentiful. 
 
 The earliest records of this family take us back 
 to one Sodowsky, a descendant of the Royal family 
 of Poland and a distinguished citizen who was 
 finally banished from the realm for some part 
 <vhich he had taken in political affairs. We find 
 the forefathers of our subject were first represented 
 in America in 1766 and they gained favor with 
 the Colonists on account of their high bearing r^.nd 
 strict integrity. One married a sister of Gov. 
 Inslii) and operated largely as an Indian trader. 
 He was flnallj' murdered by the Indians in the 
 vicinity of Lake Erie. He was a hunter and a 
 trader and his death was the result of a mistake, 
 as the savages had been imposed upon by the 
 whites and in the fury of their revenge attacked 
 the first white man they met, not recognizing who 
 it was at the time, as he had been their best friend. 
 They regretted their deed greatly and in order to 
 partly atone for it named the Baj' in his honor, 
 also the two towns which afterward sprung up and 
 are now familiarly known as Upper and Lower 
 Sandusky. The JMcDowell family were likewise 
 early settlers of America and pioneers of Kentucky. 
 The paternal grandparents of our subject were 
 married in Bourbon County, that State, and emi- 
 grated to Illinois in 1837, Settling on the farm now 
 
504 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 occupied by Josiali Sandusky. The old cabin still 
 stands near its original site, having for its compan- 
 ion the stately residence erected by Josiah Sandusky 
 in 1872. Eight cliildren were born of this union 
 the father of whom was successful in accumulating 
 a good property and died in 1865. His wife had 
 passed away the year previously ; Josiah, the father 
 of our subject, was the youngest of their family. 
 He grew up a sturdy and healthful youth, honest 
 and industrious and acquired a practical education 
 in the common school, finally succeeding to the 
 management of tlie farm of 500 acres which was 
 given him by his father. Upon this he and his 
 brother Abraham operated together and the parents 
 were cared for by them until their decease. Grand- 
 fatlier Sandusky was a first-class business man and 
 his sons wisely submitted to his counsels during 
 his lifetime. Religiously, he was a strong Presby- 
 terian and very kind to the poor and unfortunate. 
 His death was greatly mourned, not only by his 
 immediate family, but bj' the entire communit}-. 
 Harvey was the only one of the children to retain 
 llie Polish name of Sodowsky, the rest adopting 
 tlie Anglicised pronunciation. On the 18th of 
 December, 1873, Josiah Sandusky was wedded to 
 Miss Susan Moreland, daughter of Thomas and 
 Catherine (Hedges) Moreland who were of English 
 ancestry and coming to Illinois in 1857 settled in 
 Carroll Township. 
 
 Mrs. Susan Sandusky was born in Bourbon 
 County, Kj'., and was a child of six years when 
 her parents came to this county. She attended the 
 Sisters' school at St. ]Mar3''s, near Terre Haute, be- 
 came a musician and finely accomplished lady. In 
 1872 the father of our subject erected an elegant 
 brick residence at a cost of |20,,000, which, with 
 its surroundings made one of the most beautiful 
 homes in the county. Later he added 500 acres to 
 his farm. The Sandusky family has alwaj's been 
 noted for its dealings and successes in the live- 
 stock business and the father of our subject usu- 
 ally keeps a herd of fifty to sixty head of thorough- 
 bred cattle, numbers of which he exhibits at the 
 State and county fairs and is in the habit of carry- 
 ing off the blue ribbons. He has sold cattle for 
 breeding purposes to parties in nearly every State 
 in the Union. He also is a iover of fine horses, 
 
 keeping about thirty-five or forty head of road 
 and trotting thorough-breds, many of them being 
 very valuable and never having had a bridle on 
 them. He has a one- half-mile track and employs 
 a competent trainer to take charge of the stables. 
 Several of his horses have shown a record of 2:19. 
 In addition to his stock operations the older 
 Sandusky has swine, poultry and Merino sheep, 
 bred from the best strains and has probably done 
 more than any other man in the county to raise 
 the standard of its live stock. He is a Republican, 
 " dyed in the wool," having cast his first Presi- 
 dential vote for Abraham Lincoln, but meddles 
 very little with public affairs and has kept aloof 
 from the offices. 
 
 -^ — ^€'-*-^ ^■ 
 
 ^IDEON T. BAUM, one of the well-known 
 Baum family of Carroll Township, is rec- 
 
 ognized as a very industrious and enter- 
 prising young farmer and has a beautiful home on 
 section 29. Here with his estimable and amiable 
 wife he has built up what might be likened to a 
 little paradise, and is apparently surrounded with 
 all the good and decirable things of life. His nat- 
 ural proclivities are such as have gained him the 
 esteem and confidence of his fellow-citizens and he 
 thus occupies a good position socially as well as 
 financially. 
 
 The father of our subject was Charles Baum, a 
 sketch of whom will be found on another page in 
 this volume. Gideon T. was born Oct. 12, 1860, 
 at the old homestead in Carroll Township, and was 
 the fourth son and fifth child of his parents. His 
 boyhood days were spent in a manner common to 
 that of farmer's sons and when reaching the twenty- 
 fourth year of his age he was married Nov. 13, 
 1 884 to Miss Clara, daughter of Elijah and Susan 
 (Jones) Lucas. 
 
 The father of Mrs. Baum is a native of George- 
 town, Ky., and her mother of Harrodsburg, that 
 State. The paternal great-grandfather was of 
 Eugiish descent and closely allied to royality; ber 
 mother's people were from Maryland. Tbe Lucas 
 family removed from Kentucky in 187G and the 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 505 
 
 parents of Mrs. Baum are now living retired at 
 Arcliie, in Sideli Township. Mr. Lucas is sixty- 
 eiglit years of age and his good wife is ten }'ears 
 his junior. They are tlie parents of four children, 
 and the eldest, George, is a resident of Hume. 
 Cliarles makes his home in Archie; James likewise 
 remains with iiis parents; Clara was born at Har- 
 rodsburg, Ky., where she lived until a girl of 
 eleven years then came with her parents to Ill- 
 inois. Tliey first settled near (Georgetown and the 
 father occupied himself at farming until retiring 
 from the active labors of life. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Baum after their marriage settled 
 on the farm which they now own, and which 
 embraces 215 acres of fertile land. The residence 
 had been put up the summer previous to their 
 marriage. The two children born of this union 
 are a daughter and a son — Lulu Weaver and Earl 
 Lucas. Mrs. Baum is a member in good standing 
 of the Baptist Church. Our subject, politically, 
 supports the principles of the Democratic party. 
 
 /^ YRU.S CHARLES BAUM, the fourth "Char- 
 (I lie" in the Baum genealogy, and a member 
 
 "^^y of the popular and well-known family of 
 that name in this county, is a sober, industrious, 
 intelligent young man, and rapidly becoming 
 wealthy. He has a charming home, a very attrac- 
 tive and accomplished wife wlio possesses rare 
 music?.! talent, and, in short, is apparently sur- 
 rounded by a large portion of that wliich makes 
 life desirable and satisfactory. His well-regulated 
 farm is pleasantly located on section 29 in Carroll 
 Township, and comprises 250 acres of choice land 
 thoroughly developed. 
 
 Of Charles W. and Catherine (Weaver) Baum, 
 the parents of our subject, a sketch appears else- 
 where in this volume. Cyrus C. was the second 
 son and third child in a family of six, and was 
 born in Carroll, Feb. 18, 1853. His boyhood and 
 youth were spent in a comparatively uneventful 
 manner, first at the common school and then at the 
 graded school in Indianola, while during the vaca- 
 tions he employed himself in a useful manner 
 
 around the homestead. From boyhood up he has 
 been temperate and of correct habits, and upon 
 reaching his majority, his father presented him 
 with a large tract of land, which he traded for his 
 present farm in 1 884 To this latter he has given 
 his undivided attention for the last five years, to 
 what good purpose its present condition indicates. 
 In 1876 Mr. Baum was united in marriage with 
 Miss Emma, daugher of Allen and Alma Gilkey, 
 who were both natives of Kentucky. They left 
 the Blue Grass regions at an early date, ami set- 
 tled in this county during its pioneer days. Of 
 this union there was born one child, a daughter, 
 Leila, who is now a bright girl of ten years, and 
 is cared for with a mother's affection by the pres- 
 ent wife of our subject. Mrs. Emma (Gilkey) 
 Baum departed this life Oct. 5, 1880. 
 
 Our subject contracted a second marriage, Nov. 
 28, 1887, with Miss Josie, daughter of Josephus 
 Baum, a native of Clermont County, Ohio. The 
 maiden name of her mother was Sarah Beall, and 
 she was a native of the same county as her hus- 
 band. Mr. Baum was a blacksmith by trade, and, 
 befoie leaving Ohio, lived at Point Isabel, and in 
 Bainbridge, Ross C'ounty. He came to Illinois in 
 1S75, and settled at Ridge Farm, where he is still 
 engaged at his trade and is now probably fifty-nine 
 years old. His good wife is ten years his junior. 
 They are the parents of seven children, viz: Al- 
 bert, Josie, Jessie, Lelia, Maggie, Charles and 
 Minnie. 
 
 Mrs. Josie (Baum) Baum was born at Point 
 Isabel, Clermont Co., Ohio, Sept. 6, 1869, and was 
 a young maiden of fifteen years when her parents re- 
 moved to Bainbridge. Two years later they came 
 to Illinois, and she completed her studies in the 
 High School at Ridge Farm. She received a care- 
 ful home training from an excellent mother, and 
 api)arentlj'^ takes a loving pride in the adornment 
 of her home and making it the dearest spot on 
 earth to those immediately in its precincts. She is 
 a tasteful performer on the piano, and the home 
 circle is often enlivened by music and the pleasant 
 intercourse of friends. 
 
 Mr. Baum, politically, like his father and 
 brothers, gives ids unqualified support to the 
 Democratic party, although he meddles very little 
 
oOO 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 with public fiffairs, prefevi'ing to give his time and 
 attention to the improvement of his farm and the 
 comfort and happiness of those bj' whom he is 
 connected by the most sacred of earthly ties. 
 
 ' *f<|"_^4^ ■■ 
 
 THOMAS HOOPES. The old pioneers, who 
 are fast passing away, are naturally looked 
 upon with that interest and respect with 
 which mankind is prone to regard those things 
 which, when once departed, can never be recalled. 
 These thoughts involuntarily force themselves 
 upon the mind in contemplating the career of the 
 subject of this sketch, who was the first settler at 
 IToopeston, and in whose honor it was named. He 
 came to this county, and invested in land Aug. 9, 
 1853. Returning to Ohio, he remained there until 
 Aiiril 8, 1855, when he with his family removed to 
 this county, and endured his full share of the hard- 
 ships and privations of life in a new settlement, 
 operating as a tiller of the soil a series of years, and 
 is now enjoying the fruits of his labors amid the 
 comforts of a pleasant and well-ordered home Vu 
 the southeastern part of the village, which has been 
 the object of his fostering care. He retired from 
 the active labors of life in June, 1882, and occupies 
 a tasteful and commodious brick residence at the 
 corner of Penn and Fourth streets. He is the 
 owner of a good property, which he accumulated 
 solely by his own industry and perseverance. He 
 owns 2,233 acres of fine land, contracted to young 
 men, and upon which they pay a low interest. He 
 also controls 5,180 acres in his own name, making 
 the total of his land holdings 7,413 acres. 
 
 Mr. Hoopes was born on the 26th of June, 1806, 
 in a log cabin in the woods of what was then Jeffer- 
 son County, but is now the southeast corner of Har- 
 rison County, Oiiio, His father in 1810 removed 
 to a point seven miles distant in the same county, 
 and there our subject sojourned until 1846. He 
 pursued his studies mostly at home under the in- 
 struction of his mother, and also attended a pri- 
 vate school. He remained a member of the 
 parental household until reaching his majority, 
 
 soon after which time occurred the death of his 
 father, and the property was divided. Thomas, in 
 1829, purchased a two-thirds interest in the estate, 
 and carried on the improvements, which had been 
 begun, clearing the land of the remaining timber 
 upon it and preparing the soil for cultivation. 
 There being six cliildren in the family, the share 
 of Thomas, estimated to be 8334.04 in value, was 
 accordingly one-sixth of the estate, and in con- 
 tracting to buy out the other heirs, subject to the 
 mother's life interest, he was obliged to go into 
 debt. The task before him, he was aware, required 
 more than an ordinary amount of courage and per- 
 severance, but nature had generously endowed him 
 with these qualities, and from that modest begin- 
 ning he succeeded in building up the ample prop- 
 erty of which he is now the owner. 
 
 Our subject continued on the old farm until the 
 summer of 1846, and on the 30th of July that year, 
 was united in marriage with Miss Anna Gray, of 
 of the same county. Shortly afterward they re- 
 moved to the vicinity of Marion, Ohio, where Mr. 
 Hoopes purchased a farm of 803 acres on what 
 was familiarly known as Sandusky Plains, and 
 added 100 acres three years later. It was nearly 
 fenced and has been largely devoted by our subject 
 to pasturage. Mr. Hoopes began the improvement 
 of his property, and in 1850 put up one of the 
 first brick houses in that locality. He devoted his 
 land mostly to grazing, and gathered together a 
 large flock of sheep. He also took in cattle to 
 feed, and continued this course profitably for a 
 period of nine years. His propertv naturally in- 
 creased in value, and became the source of a com- 
 fortable income. 
 
 In 1853, however, Mr. Hoopes decided to see what 
 lay beyond, and accordingly disposed of his interest 
 in the Buckeye State, and after residing for a year 
 in Marion Village came here to buy, moving 
 here with his family in 1855. There were then 
 but few settlers in Grant Township, this county, and 
 frequently the traveler would go from fifty to 100 
 miles without passing a farm, a large proportion of 
 the land still belonging to the Government. Mr. 
 Hoopes at once bought of AV. I. Allen 480 acres, 
 upon which he established a homestead, and was 
 uniformly successful in his labors as an agricultur- 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 507 
 
 ist and a stock- raiser. He later purchased ad- 
 ditional land, and in due time became the owner 
 (;f 7,413 acres; besides this he sold several thousand 
 acres at different times. The first house which he 
 put up was a frame structure of fair proportions, 
 located at the top of a hill on the old "Chicago 
 Road,'' lying north of the present site of the town. 
 He occupied this with his family for a number of 
 years, and added other buildings as time passed on. 
 He still continued sheep-raising, and frequently 
 pastured large droves of cattle for other men. 
 From the first he made it a rule to keep out of 
 debt, live within his income, and meet his obliga- 
 tions as they became due. Mr. Hoopes, in 1863, 
 disposed of his flocks of sheep on account of the 
 difficultjr in getting help to look after them, and 
 at the same time laid aside many of the cares 
 which liad been his for many years. Since that 
 time he has taken life more easily. On the 4th of 
 July, 1871, the track of what is now the Danville 
 & Vincennes Railroad was laid across what is now 
 Main street, and the year following the Lake Erie & 
 Western began running its trains. Mr. Hoopes, 
 always a man of wise forethought, judged that 
 here would be a good site for a town, and accord- 
 ingly commenced laying out a portion of his farm 
 in town lots. He did not undertake town-making, 
 but laid out his land after it had been started. 
 Thereafter he engaged in selling these lots and 
 looking after the interests of the embryo village. 
 The town was named Hoopeston by one of the 
 prospectors of a railroad. Mr. Hoopes afterward 
 sold 1,000 acres to the firm of Snell & Taylor, who 
 had a part of the land platted, and sold town lots. 
 In 1873 Mr. Hoopes purchased a house a short dis- 
 tance west of that which he now occupies, and 
 moved into it, occupying it until 1882, when he 
 erected his present residence. In connection with 
 his dealings in real estate, he still continued the 
 general supervision of his farm, but employed 
 agents to carry on the work. In the fall of 1 874 
 he started for the Pacific Slope, arriving in Califor- 
 nia October 28, and sojourned there until the 27th 
 of March, 1875. In the meantime he traveled 
 over a large portion of the country with his wife, 
 the latter being in delicate health. 
 
 Mr. Hoopes cast his first vote in 1828 for a 
 
 defeated candidate, being then identified with the 
 old Whig party, but upon its abandonment cor- 
 dially endorsed the principles of the Republican 
 party, whom he has since for the most part given 
 his support. In local affairs, however, he is not 
 bound by party ties, but aims to support the man 
 best qualified for office. During his long residence 
 in this county, he has pursued that upright and 
 honorable course which has gained him tlie confi- 
 dence and esteem of his fellow-citizens, striving 
 always to be not only just, but also generous, as he 
 has had opportunity. 
 
 Mrs. Anna (Gray) Hoopes was born in Harrison 
 County, Ohio, July 25, 1810, and was the daughter 
 of Thomas and Hannah (Eckley) Gray, who spent 
 their last years in Fulton County. 111. To our sul)- 
 ject and his estimable wife there were born no chil- 
 dren. Mrs. Hoopes departe:! this life on the 29th 
 of April, 1886, greatly mourned by her husband, 
 and regretted by all who know her. She was a de- 
 voted wife, a lady possessing all the Christian vir- 
 tues, and who was the uniform and efficient helper of 
 her husband during his toils and struggles, and his 
 cheerful, faithful companion amid the hardships 
 and difficulties which they encountered. Her name 
 is held in kindly remembrance by all who knew 
 her. 
 
 Nathan Hoopes, the father of our subject, was 
 born in Chester County, Pa , May 5, 1765, and was 
 the son of Daniel A. Hoopes, a native of the same 
 county. He lived tliere until reaching man's es- 
 tate, and was married to Miss Elizabeth Gardner. 
 Soon afterward they removed to Ohio, and settled 
 in the woods of what was then Jefferson County, 
 about seven miles from where the town of Mount 
 Pleasant grew up. He put up a log cabin and be- 
 gan felling trees, and preparing a portion of the 
 soil for cultivation. His first property consisted of 
 only thirtj' acres, and at this little homestead oc- 
 curred the birtli of his son Thomas. 
 
 Later the father of our subject disposed of this 
 property, and purchased 160 acres of land, where 
 he opened up a good farm, and upon which he 
 spent his last days, passing away in the spring of 
 1828. The household circle was completed by the 
 birth of seven children, six of whom lived to 
 years of maturity, namely : James and Joseph, 
 
508 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 who were residents of Morgan County, Ohio, 
 until their death; Sarah, Mrs. Nathan Williams, of 
 Harrison County, Ohio; Thomas, our subject; Ann, 
 the widow of George W. Scott, living in Camp 
 Chase; and Mary, Mrs. W. Spurier, who died in 
 Harrison County, whither she returned from Mor- 
 gan County. The mother survived her husband 
 only six years, her death taking place at the old 
 homestead on May 12, 1834. She was a member 
 and minister of the Society of Friends. Mr. 
 Hoopes, our subject, is not a member of any 
 society. 
 
 Mr. Hoopes owns large tracts of land, also buys 
 any tract a young, but honest and industrious man 
 may desire, lets him have it and pay a very low 
 rate of interest, instead of rent, and avoids double 
 taxation; thus helping man}' .young men to start, 
 simply for the purpose of doing what good he can. 
 If he is proud of anj^thing, it is of that, to be con- 
 sidered a philanthropist. 
 
 -3"*-: 
 
 ^ RA G. JONES. Here and there, like a bright 
 I light on the hill top, we find a character which 
 /li convinces us that the world is by no means all 
 bad, and the subject of this notice may most prop- 
 erly be placed in this category. Not only is he the 
 wealthiest farmer in Elwood Township, but its old- 
 est living settler, and one who is known far and 
 wide for his kindly character, and as looking upon 
 the mistakes and wrong- doings of his fellow-men 
 with oharitj^ He had long been known as the 
 poor man's friend — one never seeking popularity — 
 but he has sought to help those who have tried to 
 help themselves, and has set before his fellow-men 
 an example worthy of their imitation. He is by 
 occupation a farmer, and has for many years been 
 engaged extensively in stock-raising. His large 
 possessions are the accumulation of a lifetime of 
 industry, good management, and the prudent econ- 
 omy which has been the rule of his life. 
 
 A native of Eastern Indiana, our subject was 
 born near Libert}^, fifteen miles from the present 
 flourishing city of Richmond, Jan. 11, 1826. His 
 
 father, Aaron Jones, long since deceased, was a na- 
 tive of New Jersey, and removed with his parents 
 to Fayette County, Pa., when quite small. The 
 paternal grandfather of our subject was a soldier 
 in the Revolutionary War. The wife of Aaron 
 Jones was Pliebe Watkins, a native of Fayette 
 County, Pa., who became the mother of eleven 
 children, all of whom lived to mature years, and 
 three survive, those beside our subject being Will- 
 iam and Henry. The former occupies the old 
 homestead near Quaker Point, just across the line 
 in Indiana, and the latter lives in Fremont County, 
 Minn. 
 
 Aaron Jones brought his family to this county 
 in October, 1827, settling at Quaker Point, where 
 he rented land two or three seasons. He then en- 
 tered a tract from the Government about one inile 
 east of (junker Point in Vermilion Township, Ver- 
 million Co., Ind. The first house the Jones fam- 
 ilj' occupied was a double log cabin with a stick 
 and cla^' chimney, a puncheon floor and the roof 
 made of clapboards held down with knees and 
 weight poles. Some of the pioneer bedsteads of 
 that daj' consisted of poles fastened in the wail and 
 resting on a fork in the middle of the floor; The 
 nearest trading points were Newport and Eugene. 
 "Father Jones," as he was familiarl}' called, was a 
 very hospitable man, and entertained many a trav- 
 eler under his humble roof. People came as far as 
 eight miles to the Shaw and the Eugene mills, and 
 sometimes would have to wait a week for their 
 grinding. Many of them put up with the Jones 
 family, and were never charged a cent. It was 
 common to drink whisky in those dnys, and "Uncle 
 Aaron" always had plent}' of it in his house — the 
 genuine article, made from his own grain. Not- 
 withstanding this he was a temperate man himself, 
 and never allowed liquor to get the better of him. 
 
 The early education of our subject was conducted 
 in "Hazel Brush College," a log cabin erected in 
 the same manner as the dwelling heretofore de- 
 scribed. His boyhood and youth were spent in 
 a similar manner to that of other sons of the 
 pioneer farmer, during which time he assisted in 
 tilling the soil, and upon approaching manhood 
 began to lay his plans for the establishment of a 
 home of his own. He was twenty-nine years old, 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 ,509 
 
 however, before securing unto himself a wife and 
 lielpmate. and was then married in July, 1855, to 
 Miss Ruth Connor. This union resulted in the 
 birth of seven children, four of whom are living 
 — Eineline, George, Rozella and vSeymour. One 
 daughter, Indiana, was married to Jolin Patton, 
 and died, leaving five children — Jennie, Neal, May, 
 George and Lucretia. Emeline married William 
 Arrissmitli, of Pilot Township, this county, and 
 tlioy have four children — Lilly, Ira, James and 
 Bertha; George married Miss Annie Phillips, lives 
 in Bethel, and is the father of one child, a son, 
 Claude; Rozella married Charles Busby, of El- 
 wood Township, and has two children. Mrs. Ruth 
 (Connor) Jones departed this life at the home- 
 stead, Aug. 9, 1869. 
 
 Our subject contracted a second marriage, Nov. 
 ■24, 1871, with Mrs. Rlioda J. Rice. This lady was 
 the widow of James M. Rice, and the daughter 
 of James F. Weller, of Elwood Township. Of 
 their marriage there have been born four chil- 
 dren, all sons. Pearl, Frank, Bertie and Arthur. 
 Mrs. Jones is a member of the New Light Chris- 
 tian Church. Our subject, politically, votes tlie 
 Republican ticket, and has been quite prominent 
 in local affairs, ofHciating as Road Overseer and 
 Highway C'ommissioner, and is at present School 
 Trustee and a member of the village Council. He 
 is the owner of 1,600 acres of land, most of it in 
 Elwood Township. His agricultural operations 
 have been conducted with thorougiiness and skill, 
 and his home is one whose inmates are sur- 
 rounded with all the comforts and many of the 
 luxuries of life. 
 
 J~l HENRY BANTA. Until within a few 
 I years back the subject of this notice was 
 I one of the leading business men of Elwood 
 Township. He came to this county in 1853 
 settling near Pilot Grove where he carried on farm- 
 ino- until 1869. He then came to the Ridge where 
 he has since lived. He for some time owned and 
 operated the Ridge Farm Flouring Mill and built 
 the elevator here in 1871. He dealt in grain ex- 
 
 tensively and at the same time interested himself 
 in tlie various enterprises calculated to build up 
 the town. lie is a man of excellent business capa- 
 cities and strong qualities of character, one whose 
 influence has been sensibly felt, both in the business 
 and social circles of his coijnmunity. 
 
 Our subject was born in Bourbon County, Ky., 
 Aug. 14, 1831, and is the son of Abraham Banta, 
 now deceased. The latter was born in Bourbon 
 County, Ky., whence our subject removed to 
 Nicholas County with his parents when quite 
 young. They settled on a farm two and one-half 
 miles west of Carlisle on the old Lexington and 
 Maysville pike. The maiden name of the mother 
 of our subject was Dorcas Hedges. His paternal 
 grandfather, Henry Banta, served as a soldier* of 
 the Revolutionary War. The parental household 
 included eight children, five of whom are living, 
 viz.: Scythia A., Mrs. Fulton; J. Henry, our sub- 
 ject; Margaret, Mrs. Campbell; William F. and 
 Elizabeth, twins, the latter of whom also married a 
 Mr. Campbell. The deceased were Andi-ew J., 
 Sarah, i\Irs. Collins and Annie M., Mrs. Bogard. 
 
 Young Banta commenced his education in a log 
 cabin in Bourbon County, Ky. The temple of 
 learning was a very primitive affair, with greased 
 paper for window panes, split log seats, puncheon 
 floor and clapboard roof held in place by weight 
 poles. His childhood and youth passed in a com- 
 paratively uneventful manner until his marriage 
 which occurred in April, 1852, his bride being 
 Miss Mary J. Russell. This lady was born in St. 
 Louis, Mo., and was the daughter of Andrew Rut- 
 sell, deceased. Of this union there were born eight 
 children, namely: James A., Nancy E., William F., 
 Sarah A., Margaret E., Annie D., Andre ,v J. and 
 John H. 
 
 One of the leading characteristics of Mr. Banta 
 is his steady opposition to the manufacture and 
 sale of intoxicating drinks. While serving as 
 Mayor of Ridge Farm in 1888-89, he vetoed the 
 whisky license ordinance passed by the Council, 
 and has left no stone unturned in using his influ- 
 ence to put down the liquor traffic. He has been 
 a member of the Town Council several years whicli 
 fact is sufficient indication of the estimation in 
 which he is held by his follow citizens. He is not 
 
510 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 connected with any religions organization but so- 
 cially is a charter member of Lodge No. 632 A. F. 
 & A. M., at Ridge Farm. His estimable wife is a 
 member in good standing of the Cumberland 
 Presbyterian Church. Mr. Banta, with the excep- 
 tion of inflammatory rheumatism, is usually in 
 good health and well preserved. In March, 1889, 
 he took a trip to Hot Springs, Ark., and the treat- 
 ment he received there was very beneficial. 
 
 The ancestors from whom our subject sprang were 
 first represented in this country by one Epke Jacob 
 Banta, a farmer from Harlingen, East Friesland, Hol- 
 land, who with his wife and five sons, emigrated from 
 Amsterdam in the ship " DeTrouw," which sailed 
 Feb. 13, 1639 for the New World. The account 
 of its passage and its voyagers majr be found in 
 the " Documental History of New York, vohime 3, 
 pages 52 and 53 and volume 14, page 90." Epke 
 Jacob Banta was appointed one of the court of 
 Oyer and Terminer at Bergen, now a part of Jersej- 
 City in 1679. See '■ Winfleld's History of Wood- 
 ford County, page 100." 
 
 In 1695 four of the five sons spoken of above — 
 Seba, Cornelius, Hendrick, and Dirck, with six other 
 persons, purchased from the proprietors of East 
 Jersey a tract of land extending in breadth from 
 the Hudson River to Oveipeck (English neighbor- 
 hood) Creek, and in length about two miles and a 
 quarter from north to south. (See deed recorded 
 at office of Secretary of State, Trenton, N. J.) 
 The third son, Hendrick Epke Banta, married Mar}' 
 Lubbertse Westervelt, at Bergen, Nov. 17, 1678, 
 and there were born to them six children. He 
 became a man prominent and well-to-do in his 
 community and was elected a Deacon of the Re- 
 formed Dutch Church at Hackensack, N. J., at its 
 organization in September, 1686. 
 
 Hendrick Banta, Jr., upon reaching manhood mar- 
 ried Geertruy Terhuyne, Jan. 26, 1717,and they had 
 four children, the eldest of whom was also named 
 Hendrick. This latter and his wife, Rachel Brou- 
 wer, removed about the year 1753 to Somerset 
 County, N. J., where he was an Elder in the Church 
 at Millstone. Later he removed to the northern 
 part of the county and was elected an Polder in the 
 Church at Bedminster at its organization, Oct. 26, 
 1768. In 1768 he removed with a colony to 
 
 Adams County, Pa., settling near the present site of 
 Gettysburg and was a conspicuous member of the 
 Church at Conewayu. Ten years later he became 
 one of the pioneers of Madison County, Ky., set- 
 tling near Boonesboro, but subsequently removed 
 to Mercer Connty, and finally to Shelby County. 
 In the latter he settled near Pleasureville on what 
 was known as the Dutch Tract where he died in 
 1805. 
 
 Of this latter familv there were born six children 
 of whom the fourth, Abraham, the father of our 
 subject, was born April 7, 1805. There was only 
 one familjr of the name who came to America and 
 their descendants have been people uniformly re- 
 spectable and well-to-do. The subject of tiiis 
 sketch has inherited some of the peculiar traits of 
 his ancestors and besides being totally averse to 
 liquor in anj- shape, never had tobacco in his moutli 
 and never smoked a cigar. He has done what he 
 could to advance those principles in which he con- 
 scientiously belie \'es, and his record has been that 
 of an honest man and a praiseworthy citizen. 
 
 <« MLLIAINI BARCLAY HAWORTH. late of 
 \^l/ ^■ermillion Connty, Ind., departed this life 
 wi near Ridge F.arm, 111., Oct. 12, 1867. His 
 widow, Mrs. Irene Haworth, retains possession of 
 the propertj' left her by her husband, and is a lady 
 held in high esteem in her community. She was 
 born in Wayne Count}', Ind., Dec. 12, 1827, and is 
 the daughter of Seth Mill, deceased, who was a na- 
 tive of Ohio, and who came to this count}- with his 
 family in 1828. They settled on what is now- 
 known as the Thomas Brown place, where they 
 lived seven }'ears, then removed to the Aaron 
 Glick farm, two miles east of Vermilion Grove, 
 where the father died Aug. 19, 1846. 
 
 On the 10th of August, 1845, Miss Mills was 
 to married William B. Haworth, and they at once 
 settled across the line at Quaker Point, in Vermillion 
 County, Ind., where Mrs. Haworth lived until 
 1875. She then removed to Vermilion Grove, her 
 present home. Of the thirteen children born to her 
 and her husband, nine lived to mature years, and 
 

 c4/rm.o^ @.inu^^A<ii-^ 
 
 
^, iS. ^cn^^^^l^ 
 
PORIRAIT AKD BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 515 
 
 eight are still living, viz: JNLiria, Siisau, Henry M., 
 Zimri L., Mary E., Saiali, Laura M., ai>cl Eva J. 
 One son, Setli, married Miss Martha J. Rees, and is 
 now deceased. Of the two children born to them 
 only one is living, Anna L; Maria married Amos 
 Cook, of Yankee Point; Susan is the wife of 
 Thomas L. Commons, of Wichita, Kan., and lias 
 has five childi-en — Arthur N., Adella, Walter, 
 Pearl, and Oren. Henry married Laura Hendricks, 
 and lives at Quaker Point, Lid.; the}' have five 
 chihiren — Kenneth E., Maria, Alice, George and 
 Myrtle; Zimri married Miss (Sybil Rees, lives in 
 Elwood Township, and has two children — Mary 
 and Albert C; Mary married Ezra Cook, of Yankee 
 Point, and lives in Elwood Township; they have 
 five children — Bertha, Nora, Flora, Seth and Ethel. 
 Sarah married Josiah Marsh, of Frankfort, Ind., 
 and they have one child, Charlie; Laura married 
 Newton Morris, of Elwood Township, and they have 
 two children — Orpha D. and Barclay D.; Eva mar- 
 ried Levi Saunders, of Elwood Township, and they 
 have three children — Octavia, Pulton and Estella. 
 
 Mr. Haworth was a member of the Society of 
 Friends, to which Mrs. Haworth and her family also 
 belong. The mother of Mrs. Haworth was in her 
 girlhood Rebecca Canaday, a native of Jefferson 
 County, East Tenn., and born June 23, 1806. The 
 parental family included five children: Irena, 
 Henry, Aaron, Lucinda B. (deceased) and Annie 
 M. The mother died June 18, 1888, in Elwood 
 Township, Vermilion Co., 111. She was a life- 
 long member of the Society of Friends. 
 
 ORMAN B. DOUGLASS stands in the 
 '* front rank of the enlightened, enterprising 
 agriculturists, who are active in sup- 
 porting the immense farming and stock- 
 raising interests of Vermilion County. He owns 
 one of the largest and finest improved farms in all 
 Catlin Township, beautifully located on section 2, 
 where he has a very pretty home, rendered still 
 more attractive bj' the number of shade and fruit 
 trees with which he has adorned the grounds. 
 Our subject comes of worthy New England an- 
 
 cestry on the father's side, and of good Pennsyl- 
 vania stock on the maternal side of the house. His 
 father, Cyrus Douglass, was born in Vermont, and 
 his mother was a native of Tioga County, Pa. 
 They were married about three miles north of Dan- 
 ville, in this county, and settled soon after about 
 three miles and a half south of that city, where 
 they lived for a long term of years, being very 
 early pioneers of that township. In 1865, the}- 
 retired to Fairmount to spent their last years free 
 from the cares and labors that had beset their early 
 life, whereby they had won a competence. She 
 did not long survive the removal from her old 
 home, where her married life had passed so pleas- 
 antly and peacefully, but Dec. 15, 1866, closed her 
 eyes to the scenes of earth. The father lived four- 
 teen years longer, and then. Dee. 20, 1880, he was 
 summoned to the life beyond the grave. He had 
 served under Capt. jMorgan L. Paylie in the Indian 
 War of 1831-2. He and his wife were the parents 
 of thirteen children, nine sons and four daughters, 
 all of whom lived to grow up, with the exception 
 of one son, who was injured and died when about 
 nine years old. 
 
 Our subject was the second cbild of the family 
 in order of birth, and was born in Danville Town- 
 ship, Oct. 11, 1827. He was reared to man's estate 
 in the place of his nativity in the pioneer home of 
 his birth. He gleaned his education in the primi- 
 tive schools of the early days, was bred to a farm- 
 er's life on the old homestead, and has always given 
 his attention to agricultural pursuits. He remained 
 under the parental roof till 1851, and then, buoyed 
 with the hopes and ambitions of an energetic 
 young manhood, he took his departure from the 
 scenes of his boyhood and youth, and crossed the 
 continent to Oregon to see something of the world 
 and to better his prospects in life, if he could. He 
 stayed in Oregon but a short time, and then made 
 his way to California, where he remained some time 
 engaged in mining. In October, 1853, he gathered 
 together his gains, having a great desire to see his old 
 home once more after experiencing the rough life 
 of a miner for two years, and embarked on a 
 vessel that took him by the Nicaragua route, and 
 thence made his way by New York City lo Illinois 
 and Vermilion County. On his return he resumed 
 
516 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 farming, and followed that peaceful vocation some 
 years. But life in the wild West still held a fiisci 
 nation for him, and in the summer of 1864 he 
 made another trip toward the setting sun, journey- 
 ing across the plains to Idaho and Montana. That 
 ticnehe was gone from hero about two and a half 
 years, and was variously employed as a miner and 
 at different occupatio'is. Since his second return 
 from the far West Mr. Douglass has been engaged 
 continuously in farming, and has met with more 
 than ordinary success in that pursuit. He owns 
 410 acres of as choice land as is to be found in 
 this part of Vermilion County, has it under perfect 
 cultivation, has erected good buildings, including 
 a substantial, well-appointed residence, and made 
 other valuable improvements. 
 
 The marriage of our subject with Miss Anna 
 Downing, a noble, true-hearted woman, who has 
 devoted her life to the interests of her husband 
 and children, took place in Danville Township, 
 their union being solemnized in the month of Sep- 
 temlier, 1855. Mrs. Douglass is the daughter of 
 Ellis and Louisa (Hathaway) Downing, natives 
 respectively of Virginia and Kentuck}-, and now 
 deceased. Her [larents began their married life in 
 Kentucky, and from there went later in life to In- 
 diana, and were pioneers of Logansport, where he 
 died. The mother afterward came to Catlin Town- 
 ship, and made her home here till death. Four 
 children were born of her marriage, two sons and 
 two daughters, Mrs. Douglass being the eldest of 
 the family. She was born near Washington, in 
 Mason County, Ky., Dec. 25, 1825. She is the 
 mother of five children, as follows: Samuel; Eliza, 
 the wife of George W. Cook; Allen who married 
 Maggie Byerley; Belle B., the wife of Charles Lu- 
 cas; and George W. 
 
 Mr. Douglas is a man whose frank geniality, tact 
 and readiness to oblige, have won him many fast 
 friends, and with his wife, who is of an amiable 
 charitable disposition, he stands high in the social 
 circles of this community. He is a man of wide 
 and varied experience and information, a good con- 
 versationalist, and is accordingly a pleasing com- 
 panion. He is a good financier, and also an able 
 manager, having his affairs under good control; he 
 possesses in a large degree those characteristics 
 
 without which success in life is unattainable. He 
 has mingled somewhat in the public life of the 
 township, has proved an efHcient school officer, 
 and has held some of the minor offices with credit 
 to himself, and to the benefit of the community. 
 He is an esteemed member of Catlin Lodge, No. 
 285, A. F. & A. M. He is a loyal and faithful citi- 
 zen, having the best interests of his country at 
 heart, and is in his politics a pronounced Democrat 
 of the Jacksonian type. 
 
 Elsewhere in this volume the reader will notice 
 a portrait ot Mr. Douglass, and beside it is fittingly 
 placed that of his wife, who has been at his side a 
 faithful companion for more than thirty years. 
 
 
 ^I/MOS COOK, a- representative farmer of 
 O' Elwood Township, is a hardworking, typi- 
 cal Quaker. He is a native of Elwood 
 Township, and was born Dec. 15, 1845. 
 His father, Daniel Cook, was one of the early set- 
 tlers of Vermilion County, and a man whose repu- 
 tation for everything that constitutes a model man, 
 was of the very best. The mother was Hannah 
 Hester, a daughter of Thomas Hester, also a pio- 
 neer of Eastern Illinois. The elder Mr. and Jlrs. 
 Cook had four children, three of whom are livino-: 
 Amos, P^zra and Daniel, all born in Elwood Town- 
 ship. Daniel was born on Feb. 27th, 1855. He 
 married Electa Powell. They have one child, 
 Alice, and are living on section 10 of Elwood 
 Township. Mary died after she had married and 
 become the mother of two children. 
 
 Mr. Cook enjoj^ed but limited advantages for 
 securing an education, as the common schools of 
 his boyhood had not attained to the perfection of 
 the public schools of the present day. He im 
 proved well, however, his opportunities, and re- 
 grets that he co'id not have secured better educa- 
 tional privileges. On Nov. od, 1869. Mr. Cook 
 was married to Maria, daughter of Bartley Havv- 
 orth (deceased). They have no children. The 
 brother of the subject of this sketch, Ezra Cook, of 
 Vermilion Grove, was born in October, 1848. in 
 Elwood Township. He received a common-school 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM, 
 
 517 
 
 education and has always worked on a farm. He 
 owns seventy acres of land, where he carries on a 
 general farming and stock raiging business. He 
 has been very prosperous and has accumulated a 
 competence. lie was married in September, 1875, 
 to jNIary E. Ilaworth. They are the parents of six 
 children, five of whom are living : Bertha L., Nora 
 A., Flora B., Seth H., and Ethel M. His wife was 
 born in Edgar County, 111., and reared in Vermill- 
 ion County, Ind. Ezra never has sought offlce, 
 and politically, he belongs to the Prohibition parly. 
 He and his wife are leading members of the So 
 ciety of Friends, as were also their parents. 
 
 Amos Cook owns ninety-two acres of land, most 
 of which is under a perfect state of cultivation. 
 He prosecutes a general farming and stock-raising 
 business. The stock on his farm is of the very 
 best blood, and he spares no pains to obtain the 
 best, among which may be mentioned graded Bel- 
 gian horses, Short-horn cattle and Poland-China 
 hogs. Mr. Cook is considered by his neighbors a 
 model farmer, and a survey of his farm will corro- 
 borate that estimate. He is thorough in all his 
 work, and leaves nothing undone that should be 
 done, and everything connected with his place 
 seems to be in perfect order. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Cook are members of the Friends' 
 Church, where they regularly attend divine wor- 
 ship, and of which they are birth-right members. 
 Mr. Cook has never held any offlce, nor does he 
 want one, but he votes and works for the Prohibi- 
 tion party as a matter of duty and principle. He 
 has never lived outside of Elwood Township. 
 
 — ^ 
 
 ^^EORGE W. CANADAY. Among the 
 111 ^ steady-going men of Carroll Township none 
 ^^^S are more responsible and hard-working than 
 he with whose name we introduce this sketch. He 
 pursues the even tenor of his way quietly and un- 
 ostentatiously, and is a fine representative of that 
 responsible and reliable clement which is so essen- 
 tial to the well-being of every community. He is 
 the owner of two medium sized farms, has a good 
 home and a pleasant family, including a group of 
 
 children which he and his excellent wife may be 
 pardoned for looking upon with much pride. 
 
 The son of a pioneer, our subject was born in 
 Georgetown Township near Concord, Nov. 18, 
 1842, being the youngest of three children, the off- 
 spring of Boater and Ellen (Weidener) Canaday, 
 who were married in Ohio, and came to this county 
 about 1835. They settled in Georgetown Township, 
 where they spent the remainder of their days. The 
 father, however, only lived until 1845, leaving his 
 widow with three children — William R., Sarah J., 
 and George W., our subject. She was married the 
 second time and became the mother of six more 
 children. 
 
 Mr. Canaday spent his boyhood and youth amid 
 the quiet scenes of rural life, learning to plow, sow 
 and reap. He says, "I have been plowboy thirty- 
 eight years." He attended the schools at Concjrd, 
 and grew up to a healthful and vigorous manhood, 
 with stout muscles and feeling fully equal to the 
 demands of the future. When twenty-five years 
 old he was married, in 1867, to Miss Mary Jane, 
 daughter of George W. Smith, who is now living 
 three miles south of Georgetown. The young peo- 
 ple commenced the journey of life together in El- 
 wood Township, and from that time on have 
 worked- with a mutual purpose to make for them- 
 selves a home and leave a good record to their 
 children. In the fall of that year, thinkino- he 
 would do better beyond the Mississippi, Mr. Cana- 
 day went into Worth County, Mo., and purchased 
 a farm of 100 acres, driving to it in a wagon. For 
 seven 3'ears thereafter he prosecuted farming on that 
 land, performing a great deal of hard labor with 
 encouraging results. 
 
 Mrs. Canaday finally became homesick, and the 
 family, including three children, in 1874, returned 
 to this county, making the journey overland in a 
 wagon. Mr. Canaday purchased a small tract of 
 land — seventy-two acres — near Ridge Farm, which 
 he still owns, and in 1881 purchased the 120-acre 
 farm in Carroll Township, which he now occupies, 
 and to which he gives his principal attention. 
 Their three eldest children, Emma E., Florence and 
 Cora, were born in Missouri. Ollie and Frank are 
 natives of Illinois. Our sul)ject and his estimable 
 wife belong to the Cumberland Presbyterian Church 
 
518 
 
 PORTRAIT ANJ) BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 at Concord, and Mr. Canaday, politically, viile-i tlie 
 straight Democratic ticket. lie has served as School 
 Director iu his district, and beHe\'cs in the educa- 
 tion of the young as the best means of insuring 
 good citizenship. 
 
 i\Irs. Canaday was born in Georgetown Town- 
 ship Sept. 24, 1.S45, and is the only child of her 
 father by his first wife, who in her girlhood was Mary 
 Jane Smith. After the death of bis first wife ]Mr. 
 Smith was married a second time, and became the 
 father of seven more children, five living and two 
 dead. 
 
 RANK A. BATAL one of the most popular 
 men of Carroll Township, was born and 
 reared within its precincts, and is the off- 
 spring of an old and well-known family, the son of 
 Samuel Baum, whose great-grandfather was born 
 in Poland, from which he tied during the troubles 
 of that unhappy country, and for some time after- 
 ward made his home in fiermnny. Later he came 
 to America, prior to the Revolutionary War, and 
 married an English lady by the name of Barbara 
 McDonald, a relative of the daring and gallant 
 young McDonald, fighting under Gen. Marion in 
 that war. The senior Baum was later appointed 
 on the reserve corps for special duty and the pn.i- 
 tcction of the early settlements. After the close of 
 the war he settled in Bucks County, Pa., where the 
 nine children of the family were reared, amono' 
 whom was the grandfather of the subject of tin's 
 sketch, Charles Baum, Sr. 
 
 The year following Wayne's treaty with the In- 
 dians Charles Baum and iiis family sailed down the 
 Ohio River to the mouth of Bullsink Creek, near 
 where the town of Chilo novv stands. Here tliey 
 commenced the first settlement made in the Tcrri 
 tory of Ohio. Grandfather Charles Baum ui)on 
 reaching manhood married Miss Susan Moior, of 
 Germantown, Ky. They became the pai'cnts of ten 
 children, viz: Samuel, John, M. D.; Mary, Mrs. 
 Weaver; Sarah, Mrs. \"an Treese; Charles; Cather- 
 ine, Mrs. Patterson; Susan, Mrs. Sandusky; Eliza- 
 betli, Gideon N. ; and Elizn, Mi's. C.n-tcr. 
 
 Samuel Baum was the eldest son of liis parents 
 
 (who came to this county with their children in 
 1K39), and while a resident of Ohio, was married 
 to :: daughter of old Mieliael Weaver. The latter 
 came to this county in 1827, and settled one 
 miles northeast of the present site of Indian- 
 ola. Tlicre were then but five log houses on the 
 Little \'ermilion, two of which were purchased 
 by a Baum and a Weaver. The latter gentleman 
 li\ed to be one hundred years old, the oldest man 
 on lecord in Carroll Township. He was tlie father 
 of seven children, of whom Sarah, the wife of Sam- 
 uel Baum, was the eldest. She was a native of 
 Ohio, and after her marriage became the mother of 
 two children there, Elizabeth and Oliver P. After 
 tlieir removal to Illinois there were born six more 
 children — Susan, Catherine, Cliarles M.. Samuel, 
 ^\'illiam and Angeline. The first wife died, and 
 Samuel Baum married a second time to Mrs. Polly 
 ;\Iatkins, widow of William Matkins, liy whom she 
 became the mother of two children — Theodore and 
 Mary. Of her marriage with Mr. Baum there 
 were born four childi'en: Frank, the subject of this 
 sketch; America, Winchester C. and May. Grand- 
 father Baum was perhaps as generous a man as 
 ever set foot iu Carroll Township. He possessed 
 tlie character and attributes of a true Ciiristian, and 
 was one of the pillars of the Methodist Episcopal 
 Church. 
 
 I' ncle Sam Baum, as he was familiarly termed, Avas 
 a large, powerful man, six feet one inch in height, 
 and weighing 300 pounds. He was born in Ohio, 
 and reared amid the wild scenes of pioneer life, 
 growing up good-tempered and jovial, and follow- 
 ing farming [jursuits. He took the first produce 
 which he raised in Carroll Township to Chicago, 
 driving five yoke of oxen. His sole earthh' pos- 
 ses>ii,ns upon coming to this county were a horse, 
 bridle and saddle, and at the time of his death, in 
 March, 18G1, he was the owner of 1,500 acres of 
 good land, besides personal [jroperty. During the 
 latter years of his life he belonged to the Repub- 
 b'can party, and died at the age of fifty-six years. 
 Tlie mother of our subject came to Illinois with 
 her fatlier in 1831, he settling tliree miles east of 
 Indiani.ila. She was then but thirteen years old. 
 i\lttr a time they moved to Louisville, Ky., where 
 tliey sojourned tliree years, then returned to this 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 519 
 
 (^nunty, and the mother died ahoiit 1883 :it the age 
 of sixt3'-two years. She was a woman of many ex- 
 cellent qualities, and in rclioion a Presbyterian. 
 
 The siibjecl of this sketch was born Nov. 15, 
 1851,111 Carrol! Township, where he wns reared on 
 a farm, and at an early age became familiar with 
 agricultural pursuits and stock-raising. He was 
 briglit and courageous, and at an early age as- 
 sumed unusual responsibilities for a boy. which had 
 the effect of making him self-reliant and little in- 
 clined to ask favors of anyone. His father died 
 when he was a lad of eleven years, but prior to this 
 Frank had been engaged helping his father in pur- 
 chasing cattle two or three years. With the demise 
 of the head of the family the household circle was 
 brokew up, but Frank remained with his mother on 
 the Baum homestead until two years after his mar- 
 riage. The above mentioned event in the life of 
 our subject was celebrated Nov. 18, 1S7.">. thebride 
 being Miss Eliza, daughter of Dr. iNIcHafiie, one of 
 the earliest physicians in Carroll Township. Mrs. 
 Baum was born in Indianola, and was a child at 
 school with her husband. In 1875 they moved on 
 to the part of the father's estate which fell to our 
 subject, and to which the latter subsequently added 
 by the purchase of land. There were born to them 
 five children: Harry, .Toseph, Beratice; Samuel, who 
 when sixteen months old; and Benjamin F. 
 
 Mr. Baum has given his attention largely to the 
 live-stock business, and has fed all the cattle his 
 farm could sustain. He has never sold any other 
 "■rain besides wheat. He shipped his cattle to New 
 York, Builalo, and Chicago, and began operations 
 in this business when a youth of seventeen years. 
 He has made two trips to the Far West, and is a man 
 who keeps his eyes open to what is going on around 
 him, embracing every opportunity for useful in- 
 formation. He is at present interested in the breed- 
 i'lg of Clydesdale horses, and is a life member of 
 the .Scotch and Americ.^n Clydesdale Associations. 
 He has also bred .Short-horn cattle considerably. 
 His son, Harry, a bright hoy of fourteen, is said to 
 be the best posted youth in the county in connec- 
 tion with this industry. When thirteen years old 
 he passed a successful examination for a teacher's 
 certilicate, and in 1888 was again examined and 
 ranked the highest of any applicant, Mr. Baum 
 
 thoroughly believes in education, and has given to 
 his children the best advantages in liis power. 
 
 The farm of our subject embraces 160 acres of 
 land, well improved and very fertile. Mr. Baum 
 put in the first tile ever laid in Carroll Township, 
 of which he has five miles on 120 acres. Being 
 thrown ui)on his own resources early in life, he has 
 had a stern battle with the world, and is of that in- 
 dependent and outspoken dis|)osition which might, 
 with one unacquainted with him, seem abrupt, but 
 at heart he is genuine gold, with .sympathy for the 
 unfortunate, and a tine appreciation of those senti- 
 ments of honor, which is the leading characteristic 
 of ever}' true man. He is one who naturally es- 
 pouses the cause of the persecuted and down-fallen, 
 and has more than once wrested a friend from trou- 
 ble and disaster. 
 
 Politically, Mr. Baum is a decided Republican, 
 and has very clear ideas in regard to the protective 
 system of that part}-. When assailed upon this 
 point he is always enabled to cause the most hot- 
 headed Democratic free-traders to stop and think. 
 He has been for some time Township Trustee, and 
 is Clerk of the Board of School Directors of In- 
 dianola. He was remarkably fortunate in tlie selec- 
 tion of a wife and helpmate, Mrs. Baum being a very 
 estimable and intelligent lady, one who has greatly 
 assisted her husband in his labors and struggles, and 
 very nearly- approaches the ideal of the self-deny- 
 ing and devoted wife and mother. Although not 
 wealthy, they have accumulated sufficient to shield 
 them from Avant in their ohl age, and, what is 
 better, they enjoy the esteem and confidence of 
 hosts of friends. 
 
 -^ ■> :|=i"'4< * '^^ 
 
 yjjILLIAM BROWN has been eminently suc- 
 cessful as a farmer and a citizen. He 
 ^^ resides on section 32, Elwood Township, 
 where he owns a good farm. He was born in But- 
 ler County, Ohio, on Jan. 4, 1813, and in his time 
 has seen a great luany changes in the affairs of this 
 countrj', by which he has profited. 
 
 His father, Samuel Brown, was born on the 
 "beautiful .luniata" River in Mifflin County, Pa, 
 
520 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BlOfiUAPIIICAL ALBUM. 
 
 His wife, whose maiclfii name was Polly Ilearii, is 
 also a native of Pennsylvania, but was reared to wo- 
 manhood in Kentucky. She and her husband reared 
 ten ehildren.five of whom are living: William; Mar- 
 Margaret, Mrs. Ross; C. Perry, Mary, Mrs. A. Shurk; 
 and Sidney, IMrs. Tenbrook. William came with his 
 parents to Parke County, Ind., in 1824, where they 
 settled in a counti-y that was in a wild state. Game 
 of every kind, and especially wild turkeys, was 
 abundant. They were not obliged to go hunting 
 for turkeys, but could sit in their doors and shoot 
 tliem as they passed. The early settlers of that county 
 for the first few years of their residence tliere 
 were providentially supplied with the best of meat 
 by reason of the plentitude of wild game. The 
 Brown family built their first house of round logs, 
 and in its construction not a sawed boai'd was used. 
 The roof was constructed of clapboards which were 
 split out of straight-grained timber. The doors 
 had wooden latches and hinges, and no nails wjre 
 used in building them, wooden pegs taking their 
 place. The bedsteads were made by boring holes 
 in the wall and inserting therein poles. The win- 
 dows were constructed by cutting a hole in the side 
 of the cabin and using greased paper in the place 
 of glass. All the hardships that could be imagined 
 they underwent, and at one time the water was so 
 high in that conntrj' that the mills were obliged to 
 stop grinding, and in most instances the dams were 
 washed away, and in consequence the Brown family 
 for a month and a half were destitute of flour or 
 meal, and the whole section of country was obliged 
 to use boiled corn instead. This was in the latter 
 part of the winter of 1825-'26. The river at Mon- 
 tezuma inundated the valle}* and covered the tow- 
 path of the old canal. AVilliam was present in 
 Montezuma and heard Gen. Howard make his last 
 speech just prior to his embarking on a steamboat 
 on his journey as Minister to Texas. 
 
 William Brown came to Vermilion county in 
 March, 1856, where he has since lived. In August, 
 1848, he married Lizzie, daughter of Salmon Lusk. 
 Mr. and Mrs. Brown are the parents of eight chil- 
 dren, six of whom are living: Salmon H., Commo- 
 dore P., John L., William C, Edgar D., and Benj- 
 amin P\ Salmon married Alice Coe, and is living 
 in Ridge Farm, They have one child, Herbert. 
 
 CVmii o'lcire miuried LUa Campbell. Thej' are 
 living in this township and have one child. Mr. 
 Brown owns 700 acres of land in Edgar and Ver- 
 milion counties, and 320 acres in Lyon County, 
 Kansas, independent of which he has given to his 
 children an aggregate of 1280 acres. He is engaged 
 largely in raising graded Short-horn cattle and 
 Clydesdale horses, and as a stock-raiser he has pros- 
 pered. 
 
 Mr. Brown is devoted to home and cares little 
 for popular applause. His wealth has been gained 
 mainly by sticking to the motto of minding his 
 own business, and this has been the key-note of his 
 success. He never seeks oflBce, leaving that to oth- 
 ers. In his day he has done a great deal of hard 
 work, and knows all about chopping wood, hauling 
 logs, etc. He has the old gun that his uncle car- 
 ried during the war of 1812, which has been the 
 cause of the death of more than one Indian, and 
 has slaughtered tons of Avild game. His father 
 disliked an Indian, as the redskins killed the most 
 of his relatives. William's brother, Perry Brown, 
 still lives in Parke County, Indiana, where he is one 
 of the wealthiest real estate owners in that part of 
 the country. 
 
 '^'^>^^:^^^t^^?^^^ 
 
 ,.^ AKTIN HAYWARD is one of the well- 
 '// \V educated farmers of Vermilion County. 
 He owns a most excellent farm on section 
 20 of Elwood Township, where he is en- 
 gaged in general farming and stock-raising. He 
 believes in the principle of getting the best, acting 
 intelligently, and using energy, and bj^ this sign he 
 has conquered. 
 
 Mr. Ilayward was born in Clarke County, Ohio, 
 May 5, 1836. His fatiier, Charles Hayward, of 
 Warren County, Ind., is a native of Baltimore, Md., 
 being born there April 17, 1811. He is a man of 
 iron constitution, and as active as many men are at 
 forty. He has worked for many years alternately 
 as carpenter and joiner and farmer, and is now en- 
 joying the reward of his labors in earlier years. 
 He settled on wild land in Warren County, Ind., in 
 1840, the year Gen, Harrison was elected Presi- 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 521 
 
 dent. Martin well remembers the enthusiasm that 
 was coupled with that campaign. He saw one 
 cabin drawn by twenty yoke of oxen, also Buckeye 
 log cabins with coon skins, live coons, and hard 
 cider in abundance. 
 
 Mr. Hay ward received his learning primarily at 
 the common schools, afterward attending Oberlin 
 College, and the Farmers' Institute at Lafayette, 
 Ind. He taught school for six winters in all, three 
 terms of which were in that county and of six 
 months each, beginning in the falls of 1858-59-62. 
 He also taught two winters in Warren County, Ind., 
 in the township where he was reared. He was very 
 successful as an instructor and disciplinarian. Since 
 he abandoned the profession of teacher he has been 
 engaged in agricultural pursuits. 
 
 Mr. Hayward's mother was Emily E. Vickers, a 
 native of Clarke County, Ohio. She was the mother 
 of four children, three of whom are living: Mar- 
 tin ; Celia K., Mrs. Kirkpatrick ; Ruth, Mrs. Roming. 
 The youngest boy, James AV., was a soldier in the 
 Union Army, in the 2d New York Cavalry, or, as 
 it was otherwise known, the "Ira Harris Light Cav- 
 alry." He was a bugler and served from the fall 
 of 1861 until the spring of 1864, when he was 
 taken prisoner on the Rappahannock, and placed 
 by the rebels on Belle Isle. This island was sit- 
 uated in the river nearly opposite Richmond, and 
 was destitute of anj"^ conveniences whatever to 
 protect its defenseless inhabitants from the elements. 
 Here he contracted a cold, from the effects of which 
 he died in the summer of 1865, at the old home- 
 stead in Indiana, and so passed away another victim 
 of the barbarities incident to the late Civil War. 
 
 On the 13th day of February, 1860, Mr. Hay- 
 ward married Marietta Hollingsworth, whose father 
 John, is a resident of Tippecanoe County, Ind. 
 Sh-e is the mother of four children — Lillian, John 
 H., Charles S. and \Mlliam C. Lillian married 
 John Baird, of Carroll Township, and has two chil- 
 dren — Helen and Bernice. Mr. Hayward came to 
 Iroquois County, 111., in 1864, removing in 1872 to 
 this county, locating on his present farm. He 
 owns 180 acres of land, and is doing a general 
 farm and stock-raising business. He is a thorough 
 farm3i- and does nothing by halves. 
 
 With the exception of the eldest son, the family 
 
 of Mr. Hayward belong to the Friends' Church. 
 The son referred to was born before Mr. Hayward 
 embraced the doctrines of the Quakers. Mr. Hay- 
 ward is a stanch Republican, and is a firm believer 
 in all its platforms. In all A'ermilion County there 
 is not a man who has a better record, or finer repu- 
 tation as a man, than Martin Hayward. 
 
 
 '^ OHN FLETCHER is one of the solid, sub- 
 stantial and trustworthy residents of El- 
 wood Township. He was born in Clinton 
 County, Ohio, on May 20, 1815. His father, 
 Henry, was a native of England, and a son of 
 John Fletcher, who in turn was a son of Henry 
 Fletcher. '1 he latter was a wealthy olfieer in the 
 English army and educated his son John — the 
 grandfather of the subject of this sketch — for the 
 army, but he joined the Quaker Church, and was 
 driven by his father to Ireland, where he was given 
 sixty acres of land in that country. His son, Henry 
 Fletcher, father of our subject, was obliged to leave 
 Ireland or join the army, but being a (Quaker, he 
 refused to become a soldier and came to America, 
 locating in Philadelphia. This was in 1793. He 
 was on the ocean eleven weeks and four days where 
 they drifted about, the ship being in charge of a 
 drunken captain and mate. The people on board 
 the boat were reduced to a gill of water a day and 
 to a very small amount of food. But they finally 
 rtaclied land in safety. 
 
 The father of the subject of this sketch, after 
 landing, lived three years in Philadelphia, and in 
 1796 he emigrated to the Sciota A'alley, Ohio, 
 where he worked on a farm for one season, return- 
 ing to Pennsylvania and there remaining until 
 1804, when he went to Warren County. Ohio, and 
 dug a mill race on Cnasar Creek. He bought 200 
 acres of military land in Clinton County, Ohio, 
 and then retraced his steps to Pennsylvania, re- 
 maining there until 1806, when he returned to 
 Ohio and improved his land. The Indians were 
 numerous but peaceable, in the main. 
 
 In 1806 the father of the one of whom we write 
 this sketch, married Mrs. Sarah (Duncnn) Taylor 
 
522 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOORAPIIICAL ALBUM. 
 
 TliL'v had foui- fliilrlven of whom Jolm is thL' 
 youngest, and only one livinij. The otiiers were: 
 iMnry, Hannah and Sarah. The sisters a.11 lived to 
 he o\'er seventy years of age. John Fletcher came 
 with his parents to this connty in the fall of 183C, 
 settling. on the old homestead, where he now lives. 
 He was married in October, 1835 to Rachael Ruth. 
 Tliey had seven children, six of whom are living: 
 Sarah J., Henry, Mar^' A,, John AV., Amanda and 
 James. One son, William, died in his twenty- 
 third year. ]Mrs. Fletcher died Oct. .'), 1862 and 
 her husband was again married on Nov. 1st, 1866 
 to Mrs. Lydia Haworth, widow of Eli Haworth, 
 and daughter of Gari'ett Dillon, the latter a pioneer 
 of Elwood Townsliip, and a native of Greene 
 County, Tenn. 
 
 ftlrs. Fletcher was born Dee. 5, IS 15 and was the 
 mothe)- of nine children by her mariiage with Mr. 
 Haworth. Six of these are living: Samuel, Julia. 
 Mahala, Mary. William P., and Charles F. Her 
 grandfather, Peter Dillon, removed from North 
 Carolina to Greene County, Tenn., during the Re- 
 \-olutionary War, and was a prominent citizen in 
 both States. The grandfather of Mr. Fletcher on 
 his mother's side, Samuel Duncan, was a soldier in 
 the Revolutionary '\^'ar and participated in the 
 battle of the Cowpens and others. He had holes 
 shot in his clothes and buttons taken off by ballets, 
 but was not wounded. He was known as the 
 '' fighting Quaker,'' and he sustained his reputation 
 well. He was a teamster, and the Tories captured 
 three of his horses, when he mounted the remaining 
 one, and joined the American forces, afterward re- 
 capturing one of his horses. 
 
 Mr. Fletcher has held the office of School Trustee 
 for twenty-eight years, and has served on the 
 ju'-ies a great many times. He has also filled the 
 positions of Highway Commissioner and School 
 Director but has never sought office. He was the 
 ti-easurer of the fund which was raised to procure 
 substitutes for those drafted during the late war. 
 He was very patriotic during the Rebellion and 
 had he not been so old, would have joined the 
 army. A record of his childi-en's families is as 
 follows: Sarah .)., married John Armstrong, of 
 Noblesville, Ind., and they have one child, May. 
 Henry married Mahala Haworth; they are living 
 
 in I'jhvoii'l Townsliip with six children, John, 
 Alljcrl, Marcus M., William, Lydia and Ola; Mary 
 married Larkins Lewis of Carthage, Mo., and they 
 have two children, Laura and Rachael; John 
 married Martha Price; the^r live in Cherokee, Kan., 
 and have eight children, Mary, Minnie, Amanda, 
 Oliver, Lennie, Grace, William and Irene; Amanda 
 married Lemuel V. Cupp, of Carthage, Mo., and 
 they have five children as follows: Ora, Maud, Carl, 
 Ethel, Pearl; James married Martha E. Ankrum. 
 He lives with his father with two children, Robert 
 A. and Allie. 
 
 Mr. Fletcher has alwaj'S been a strong anti- 
 slavery man having voted for AVilliam Henry 
 Hari'ison in 18.36 and again in 18 40. His Repub- 
 licanism began with the date of the birth of that 
 party and he ;iever has omitted an opportunity to 
 forward its interesls. He had the great pleasuie 
 of voting in 18M8 for Benjamin Harrison. Mr. 
 Fletcher began life poor, but is now wealthy, living 
 in ease and comfort which no one begrudges him 
 and his estimable wife. He is a man of more than 
 ordinary intelligence, and well beloved by all his 
 neighbors. 
 
 ^^f NDREW J. DARNALL, one of the lead- 
 8 ^lJ . ing merchants of Indianola and Ridge 
 // (!) Farm, is an extensive dealer in drygoods, 
 ^ boots and shoes, cloth ing, hats and caps,and, 
 
 in fact, everything that is kept in a well-regulated 
 general store. He resides at Ridge Farm, hut car- 
 ries on his extensive store in Indianola, doing a 
 very large business in both places, and by his 
 methods of dealing he has gained the respect and 
 confidence of all his patrons and neighbors. 
 
 Blr. Darnall was born in Edgar County, III, on 
 the 8th of November, 1833. His father and 
 mother, Aaron and Mary (Doke) Darnall, came 
 from Kentucky at an early day. They were mar- 
 ried at Catfish Point. The mother died when An- 
 drew was seven years old, leaving three children 
 — Daniel, Andrew J. .and Thomas, the latter dying 
 while in infancy. Daniel is a brick manufacturer 
 at Petersburg, HI. The subject of this sketch at- 
 tended the common schools in his boyhood, and 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOaRAPlIICAL ALBUM. 
 
 525 
 
 worked ou his father's furm. When he altuiiieil 
 his majority, lie engaged with William Bailey tor 
 three j'ears and a half as clerk, at Bloomfleld, III. 
 His first wages were 112.50 per month. In com- 
 pany with William Smick, he bought his employer's 
 entire stock, and continued the business under the 
 firm name of Smick & Darnall, when, in June, 
 1863, Mr. Uarnall sold out his interest in the 
 business and went to Ridge Farm, and there, 
 under the firm name of A. .1. Darnall & Co., oper- 
 ated a general store, dealing in all kinds of mer- 
 chandise. After awhile he bought out his partner 
 and ran the business alone, finally selling out en- 
 tirely in 1 884, but after some time he formed another 
 co-partnership, styled Darnall l^' Ilustead. He came 
 to Indianola in the fall of 1885, locating here and 
 inaugurating his present successful business. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Darnall are the parents of two 
 boy^s and one girl — Harley, Manfred and Minnie. 
 Mrs. Darnall is a member of the Baptist Church, 
 and one of the leading members of the society. 
 The Democratic party finds in the subject of this 
 sketch an ardent supporter, and one who never 
 flags in his devotion to its principles. He has never 
 sought office, finding in his own business plenty 
 to do, but always takes great care in his choice of 
 candidates, generally voting for the man whom he 
 believes to be the best fitted to fill the position to 
 which he aspired. He is eminently a No. 1 busi- 
 ness man, and, commencing with nothing, he has 
 ascended the scale of prosperity until he now finds 
 himself in the proud position of independence. In 
 all that the words imply, he is a self-made man, 
 and, as such is regarded by all his acquaintances. 
 His neighbors are always ready and willing to 
 vouch for him as an upright, conscientious and 
 able citizen. 
 
 . <x-x> . , 
 
 ,/W\i ARTIN PUGH. Among the self-made and 
 ///^W successful men of Carioll Township proba- 
 bly none hnve distinguished themselves in a 
 more marked degree for industry and perse- 
 verance than the subject of this notice. He occu- 
 pies a most attractive rural homestead, embellished 
 with an elegant brick residence, which with its sur- 
 
 roundings indicates the existence of cultivated 
 tastes and ample means. A finely executed view 
 of his home appears in this volume and will attract 
 the admiring attention of the many readers. His 
 family at home consists of five very bright and 
 intelligent daughters, and he has another daughter 
 who is married and a resident of Sidell Township. 
 The family met with a deep afliiction in the loss of the 
 beloved wife and mother, who departed this life 
 Sept. 7, 1887, at the age of fifty-three years. She was 
 lady possessing all the womanly virtues, wholly 
 devoted to her famil\', a faitliful wife and mother 
 and one who was laeld in the highest esteem b}' the 
 entire community. 
 
 .V native of Marion County, Ind., our subject 
 was born five miles northwest of Indianapolis, 
 March 2, 1831, and was reared to manhood in the 
 suburbs of the capital city. He began working on 
 the farm when a bo}' of eleven or twelve, holding 
 tiie plow when he could scarcely reach the handles. 
 His early education was conducted in the subscrip- 
 tion schools of his native county, and his life 
 passed in a comparatively uneventful manner amid 
 the quiet scenes of rural life until he obtained his 
 majority. Then starting out for himself he worked 
 for $13 ijer month on a farm about three months, 
 then began operations for himself on rented land 
 lying six or seven miles northwest of Indianapolis. 
 He was fairly successful in his new venture, and in 
 1859 was united in marriage with Miss Catherine 
 P)aum, daughter of Samuel Baum, one of the well- 
 known pioneers of this county. The young people 
 bean the journey of life together in Carroll 
 Township, and in 1859 took up their abode at the 
 present home of our subject. Here he has effected 
 fine improvements, putting up the dwelling in 
 1881 and adding from time to time the other build- 
 ings necessary for the prosecution of agriculture 
 and stock-raising after the most approved methods. 
 
 The seven children born to Mr. and Mrs. Pugh 
 were named respectively, Elizabeth J., Charles (who 
 died when one year old), Wilmetta, Maude, Win- 
 nie, Lulu and Helen ; Elizabeth became the wife of 
 Mr. Thomas Howard, and the}' live at the home- 
 stead; Wilmetta married Mr. Gust Rowand, one 
 of the leading horse-breeders of Sidell Township, 
 and they have one child, Dale; Maude, AVinnie, 
 
526 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 Lulu and Helen are .atli<ime with their father. i\Ir. 
 Pugh identified himself with the Methodist Episco- 
 pal Church at Indianola in 1881, and since the 
 death of his wife, for whom he sorrows with more 
 than ordinary grief, has been especially faithful 
 upon his attendance upon his religious duties. He 
 has \ery little to do with public affairs, but keeps 
 himself posted upon current events and uniformly 
 vdtes the straight Republican ticket. He has per- 
 formed jury service at different times and for 
 eight or ten j'ears has been a member of the School 
 Board of his district. 
 
 The parents of our subject were Enoch and 
 Charlotte (Martindale) Pugh, the father a native 
 of North Carolina and born a short distance from 
 the city of Raleigh. The paternal grandfather, 
 Jacob Pugh, was also a native of North Carolina, 
 and the great-grandfather was born in Scotland. 
 The latter upon leaving his native soil went into 
 England, where he sojourned for a time, then emi- 
 grated to America, settling in North Carolina about 
 the time of the Revolutionary War. His sympa- 
 thies were decidedly in favor of the Colonists, and 
 he met his death in a fray between the tories and 
 patriots, he fighting with the latter. 
 
 The father of Martin Pugh left his native State 
 with his parents early in life to make his home in 
 the woods of Marion Counij-, Ind., when few |)eo- 
 ple had migrated to that region, and when Indians 
 and wild animals were plentiful. In due time he 
 became owner of 160 acres of land, which he lived 
 upon and cultivated until his death in 1860, when 
 about fifty years of age. His wife, the mother of 
 our subject, was born in South Carolina and emi- 
 grated with her parents to Marion County, Ind., 
 when a young girl. She died at the earh' age of 
 thirty-five years, leaving seven children, namely: 
 Martin our subject, Dorcas A., Jacob, Alexander, 
 Jane, Thomas Jefferson and Clariuda. 
 
 jMr. Pugh was married a second time, to Miss 
 Susan Smith, and to them there were born four 
 children, who lived to mature years: Charlotte, 
 Joel, John and Mary. Martin, our subject, first 
 opened his eyes to the light, March 2, 1831, and is 
 consequently past fifty-eight years of age. His 
 praiseworthy manner of living and his correct 
 liabits have been the means vf preserving his fac- 
 
 ulties in an admirable manner, physically and men- 
 tally. In 1887 he identified himself with the Metho- 
 dist E[)iscopal Church at Indianola and is one of its 
 most efhcient workers. Self-made in the best sense 
 of the word, he has made for himself a worthy 
 record and feels indebted to no man for his posi- 
 tion socially and financially. As one of the rep- 
 resentative men of this county he stands second to 
 none in point of sterling integrity and those qual- 
 ities which go to make up the responsible citizen 
 and useful member of the community. 
 
 OIIN WILLIAM MILLER is a prominent 
 figure in church circles in ^"ermilion County. 
 His handsomely located and commodious 
 
 ^ country seat is situated one-half mile south 
 of Sidell, on a farm which comprises 152 acres. 
 He also leases a farm of 160 acres. He has been 
 identified with this communitj' as a dealer and 
 shipper of horses and mules for a long time. His 
 operations have been mainlj' in the southern por- 
 tion of ^'ermilion County, but he occasionally ex- 
 tends his field of operation into Edgar and Cham- 
 paign counties, where he has formed a large ac- 
 quaintance and made mani' friends. 
 
 ]Mr. Miller was born in Warren County, Ind., 
 near West Point, April 13, 1848. His father, 
 Abraham Miller, was a native of Kentucky, of 
 German extraction, and a farmer by occupation, 
 but through misfortune lost his farm. He was 
 married in his native State, and became the father 
 of four children. His second union was with Miss 
 Mary Biggs, who was born near Darlington, Ind. 
 The second wife died soon after coming to Indiana, 
 after becoming the mother of three children — Ce- 
 lecta, wnfe of Joseph Cuppy, a butcher of Bloom- 
 ington, 111.; John William, and Mary Jane. The 
 father ended his days at the home of his son Will- 
 iam, dying in 1873, at the age of seventy-four 
 years. 
 
 Mr. Miller passed his boyhood days in Indiana, 
 where poverty prevented him from getting the ed- 
 ucation he desired. At the age of eleven he began 
 to work on a farm for his board and clothes. He 
 
PORTRAIT ATS'D BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 527 
 
 worked as a day-laborer in a grain warehouse at 
 Lafayette, Ind., for three years. In the fall of 
 1869 he came to Carroll Township, where he com- 
 menced work at cutting corn At this time he met 
 his future wife, Rebecca J. Morse, who was working 
 by the week for his employer. In eight weeks after 
 making her acquaintance they were married, the 
 ceremony occurring Dec. 9, 1869. She is the 
 daughter of Joseph and Catherine Marsh, the for- 
 mer a native of Vermilion County, and is said to 
 be the first white child born in this county. Her 
 mother was born at Cieorgetown, Vermilion County, 
 and was one of the first native girls of said county. 
 Her father's ancestry dates back to the early history 
 of Pennsylvania, while hei- great-grandfather was 
 a (Juaker, and was present at William Penn's 
 famous treaty with the Indians. Mrs. Miller's 
 father, Lieut. Marsh, served under Gen. Scott in 
 the Jlexican War. He also enlisted in the War of 
 the Rebellion, but, being crippled, was not ac- 
 cepted. He lived to be a man of seventy-four 
 years of age, dying April 31, 1887. His wife is 
 still living at Sedalia, Mo., and is active and vig- 
 orous. They were the parents of fourteen chil- 
 dren, of whom eight are now living — Cynthia A., 
 Rebecca J., William, Esau, Mary E., Jesse C, James 
 and Ida G. Emma died at Sedalia, Mo.; she was 
 the wife of James Larkins, and left one child. 
 Cynthia resides in Missouri, and is married to a 
 farmer by the name of John Wyley; they have 
 three children : John M. is a dealer in lime, and is 
 married. Esau is at Sedalia, Mo., where he lives 
 with his wife, whose maiden name was Ida Bennett; 
 they have two children. Mary E. is the wife of 
 Millard Perry, who is residing in Sidell Township, 
 being one of the leading stockmen there; his sketch 
 appears in this book. Jesse C. is building a tele- 
 graph line in Texas; James is operating his mother's 
 farm at Sedalia, Mo., where Ida G. is also living. 
 At the time of his marriage, Mr. Miller had 
 $1 in money, while his wife's assets amounted 
 to twenty five cents, and from this small beginning 
 the3' have marched along, meeting every obstruc- 
 tion in the highway of life with industry and in- 
 telligence, and so have succeeded. After marriage 
 Mr. Miller left his bride at Lafayette and started 
 out, walking twenty-five miles in order to get a 
 
 job of work. After laborinj^- a while he returned 
 for his wife. They rented a farm in Warren 
 County. Ind., working for one-third of the profit. 
 The first year they made just enough to buy a cow. 
 Mr. Miller came back to A^ermilion County, and 
 in partnership with his father-in-law, Mr. Marsh, 
 rented a farm, continuing to work m this manner 
 for six or seven years. Tiie farm was located in 
 A'ance Township, and at first fortune seemed to be 
 against him. He paid $4 per acre rent, and the 
 first being a wet season, crops failed. He pur- 
 chased seventy head of hogs, and calculated to fat- 
 ten them on soft corn, but they were seized with 
 cholera, and all died but three. This left him $250 
 in debt. Although completely used u|) financially, 
 he was not discouraged. His landlord was unre- 
 lenting, and demanded the last cent of the rent due. 
 Mr. Miller prophesied that he would sometime see 
 him a day-laborer, and it came true. The next 
 year he rented a farm close to Catlin, and made 
 enough to pay back his former landlord, and from 
 this on he continued to prosper. He Brst purchased 
 a small farm unimproved, broke it and sold it. He 
 then purchased a lot of 3^oung cattle and began to 
 rent on a larger scale. He bought a farm of eightj' 
 acres, but sickness came upon him, and for three 
 years he was an invalid. He had mortgaged his 
 farm for 12,000, at ten per cent interest, and he re- 
 alized the fact that he must lose his farm, and 
 against the advice of his doctor started out and 
 began to trade horses, and although at first he was 
 scarcely able to ride a mile, he gradually grew 
 stronger, and the dark clouds of adversity began to 
 disappear. In this way he managed to raise the 
 mortgage on his farm, selling it the following fall 
 at a nice advance. At this time he intended to re- 
 linquish farming, but availed himself of an oppor- 
 tunity to buy a good farm. In the meantime, his 
 health growing better, he managed to keep on toj), 
 and has accumulated a comfortable fortune. 
 
 He is the father of twelve children: William E. ; 
 Eranklin died when he was three months old ; John 
 D. ; Edgar L.; Mabel died when three months old; 
 Cloyd C, C'lemme Thomas; Emma I. died when 
 she was one year old; the remaining children died 
 while very young. William E. is at home, and has 
 charge of the farm, assisted by his brother John D.; 
 
5-28 
 
 PORTRAIT \^D BIOGUAPIIICAL ALBUM. 
 
 the reraaimler of the ehiklren are also living at 
 home. Mr. Miller is a Prohibitionist, anil omits no 
 opixirtiiiiity of aiding the cause of temperanct'. lie 
 is serving a second terra as Counsellor (jf the 
 Modern Woodmen of Sidell, and is also an Odd 
 Fellow, hut he takes greater interest in Sa'ibath- 
 schools and cliurehes than in anything else, he and 
 his wife being members of the Cumberland Presby- 
 terian Church, where lie has served as Deacon for 
 several years. He organized the first Presbyterian 
 .Sunday-schoi.il in Sidell Township. Mr. Miller has 
 plainly demonstrated that a horse buyer can prose- 
 cute his calling and yet be a sober man and total 
 abstainer. Mr. and Mrs. Miller are among the 
 very best citizens of Sidell. 
 
 A fine lithographic view of JNIr. JMiller's beauti- 
 ful and commodious residence appears in an appro- 
 pi'iate place in the Alhi'm. 
 
 ►HK- 
 
 AMES P. COOK. This gentleman deserves 
 honorable mention among the younger mem- 
 bers of the farming community of George- 
 town Township. A native of Catlin Town- 
 siiip, he was born March 27, 1855, was reared at 
 his father's homestead, and acquired liis education 
 in the common school. His lioyhood and youtli 
 were spent in a comparatively uneventful manner, 
 he in the meantime becoming familiar with the 
 pursuits of farm life, acquiring those haliits of in- 
 dustry and being imbued with those high moral 
 principles which have made liim a man among 
 men, and one of the most highl}' esteemed citizens 
 of his t()wnshi[). He remained a member of his 
 father's household until twenty-two years of age. 
 and then, ambitious to establish a fireside of his 
 own, was married,, Se|)t. 5, ls77, to Miss Ina 
 O'Neal, the wedding taking place at the bride's 
 sister's home in (ieorgetown. 
 
 The 3'oung people began the journc}' of life on 
 the farm which they n<_iM' occu|)y, and where thej' 
 have one of the neatest homes to be found in the 
 township. Both ha\'e sprung from good families, 
 and are laboring with a mutual purpose to make a 
 record which shall be worthy of emulation. They 
 
 enj(jy the acquaintance of hosts of friends, who arc 
 watching their career with kindly interest. The 
 dwelling is surrounded with all the evidences of 
 taste and refinement, while the farming operations 
 of Mr. Cook are conducted with thai thoroughness 
 and good judgment whicli can scarcely fail of suc- 
 cessful results. The farm is ninety-two acres in 
 extent, lying on section 6, in Georgetown Town- 
 ship. The residence is near the limits of W'estville. 
 
 The parents of our subject were Samuel and 
 Meh'ina (Graves) C'ook, who were natives, respect- 
 fully, of Ohio and Kentucky, and further mention 
 of whom is made in the sketch of Samuel Cook on 
 another page of tliis work. The mother died in 
 1 867, at the early age of thirty -three years, leaving 
 live children, namely: George W., James P. (our 
 subject), Mary, Maggie (who died at the interest- 
 ing age of fifteen years), and Ciiarles F. The eld- 
 est son is a resident of Catlin Township, is married 
 and the father of three children; Mary married 
 John AVherry, a farmer of Catlin Township, and is 
 the mother of two children; Charles F. is farming 
 in Georgetown Township. 
 
 The father of ftlrs. Cook was three times mar- 
 ried, and there were born five children by the first 
 union and five by the second. Mrs. C. was the 
 third child of the second wife, and was born in 
 Danville Township, Vermilion County, March 23, 
 18.57. The family removed to Georgetown Town- 
 ship a few years later, of which she has since been 
 a resident. Of her union with our subject there 
 have been born four children — Lillian Gertrude, 
 Stella E. and Lena J. (twins), and Herman. Mr. 
 C^ook politicallj' votes the straight Democratic 
 ticket, and both he and his wife are prominently 
 connected with the Christian Church. 
 
 f NNIAS BRANHAM. This gentleman is 
 , particularly distinguisheil as having been 
 I an old soldier with a good arm)' record. 
 ^ After laying aside the implements of war 
 
 he turned his attention to tdie peaceful employments 
 of rural life and has gained quite a reputation 
 among the horsemen of the county as being a good 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 529 
 
 judge of this animal and quite skilled as a doctoi' 
 in tins line. He had ronsiderable ex[)erience in the 
 army as a veterinary surgeon and is the owner of 
 some fine horses, among them-Sam, theC'anadian." 
 
 The subject of this biography was born near 
 Bloomiiigion, in iMonroe Co., Ind., on the Bean 
 Blossom River, in the township of the s;une name, 
 Jan. "27, 1H)J0. His parents were Livingston and 
 Susannah (Meade) Branham,the former a native of 
 East Tennessee and the latter of North Carolina. 
 The paternal grand-parents were natives of Vir- 
 ginia and of Irish ancestry \\'hile the JMeadcs trace 
 their origin to Holland. The parents of our sub- 
 ject were married in Kast Tennessee whence thev 
 removed to Indiana in the latter part of 1829, set- 
 tling in Monroe County. The father carried on 
 farming in Monroe and Owen counties and died 
 near Spencer in the latter county in the year 18G.') 
 at the age of seventy years. Me served in the 
 Black Hawk War in LS32. The mother survived 
 her husband until lH7o, and passed away at the ad- 
 vanced age of eighty years. They were the parents 
 of twelve children, viz: Jonathan, .Sarah, William, 
 James. Elizabeth, Annias, Amanda. Joseph, 3Iary, 
 Milton, Elishaaiid ISiid, wlio died in infancy. 
 
 Tlie education of ovir subject was obtained by an 
 attendance at school three months, and upon 
 approaching manhood he worked fourteen years hy 
 the month, from the age of thirteen until a man of 
 twenty -seven. On the ."ith of April, IHGO, he took 
 unto himself a wife and helpmate, i\Iiss Esther E., 
 daughter of Jacob and Esther R. (Kirby) Summet. 
 The parents of Mrs. Branham were natives respec- 
 tively of North Carolina and Halifax County, Va. 
 Tliey removed to Indiana in their youth and were 
 married at Ellettsville, Monroe Co. to which (Errand 
 father Kirhy had removed as earlj' as 1(S24. There 
 was born to them ten children, the eldest dying in 
 infancy. The others were Jeremiah C, Alice C, Es- 
 ther E., William L., Sally A.. Joel IL, an infant 
 who died unnamed, J->mily and Mary D. listher E. 
 the wife of our subject was born in Monroe County, 
 Ind., April 1, 1839, and remained a member of thy 
 parental household until her marriage. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Branham began their wedded life 
 on a rented farm in Indiana. On the od of Jul\-, 
 1861, our subject entered the Union Army as a 
 
 member of Companj' I, 2 2d Indiana Infantry and 
 was mustered into the service at North Madison, 
 The i-egiment<lrilled there for a time, then repairefl 
 to St. Louis to guard the city, having for their 
 weapons 10,000 clubs and no muskets for six weeks. 
 Thence they wei'e ordered to Jeflerson City where 
 they met the enemy in battle and subsequently 
 were at Glasgow, where in the confusion and dark- 
 ness of midnight a fight took place among the 
 Union troo))s who through mistake attacked each 
 other, killing several men and ollicers. 
 
 Tills regiment next met the enemy in battle at 
 Georgetown and followed up the rebel general. 
 Price on his raid, fighting at Warrensburg, Mo., 
 and capturing 1,100 rebels, next moving upon 
 Raleigh, Springfield and Pea Ridge, Ark. Prior to 
 this ^Ir. Branham had been detailed as a teamster. 
 Later they were ordered to Cape Girardeau, 
 Mo., where they took the boats and landed at Ham- 
 burg early in the morning. In the afternoon they 
 participated in the battle of Corinth then moved 
 on to Nashville, Tenn., and I'errysville and Crab 
 Orchard, Ky. Next returning to Nashville, they 
 fought on the way to ^Mumfordsville, Ky., and af- 
 terward at Murfreesboro, Tenn., where our subject 
 with 400 other teamsters was captured by the no- 
 l(jrious Texas rangers, but they were re-taken by 
 the Union troops on the same day. 
 
 Mr. Branham participated later in some of the 
 important battles of the w.ar. including the siege of 
 Atlanta, during which time his term of enlistment 
 expired. He received his discharge in that city and 
 was muste.ed out at Louisville, Ky. He returned 
 to Indiana in the fall of mG 1 and remained there 
 till the spring of 1870. His next removal was to 
 Chrisman, 111., where he carried on farming for 
 several years, then in 1875 purchased the farm 
 which he now owns and occupies, and rents 120 
 acres besides. From these A'arious sources he rea- 
 lizes a handsome income, which enables him to sur- 
 round him-elf and family with all of the comforts 
 of life and many of its luxuries. 
 
 Seven cliildren were born to our subject and his 
 estimable wife, the eldest of whom, Emily F., is a 
 resident of Nebraska; Ellsworth, Kirby, Walter, 
 Ollie, Lossie and Frank, the baby, are all at home 
 with their parents. The lattei' are consistent mem- 
 
530 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Dallas, 
 and our subject as an ex-soldier, belongs to the G. 
 A. R. Post at Ridge Farm, of which he is a charter 
 member and in which he has held the offices of 
 Senior A'ice Commander, Sergeant and OflScer of 
 the Guard. He entered the armj' from a sense of 
 duty and it is one of his dearest wishes that when 
 he is consigned to mother earth it shall be done 
 with the honors propferly belonging to a soldier. It 
 is hardly necessary to state that he is a true-blue 
 Republican and believes in the "Union forever." 
 
 «ww«i*iC£?E~i@ 
 
 •/^^3/Zra7r>v.'w«« 
 
 ENRY C. HOLTON, M. D. There is no 
 class of men of more importance in a com- 
 munity than the physician and surgeon, and 
 i,^) none who have intrusted to them more ser 
 ions and weighty interests. He who has the deli- 
 cac}-, the honor and the fine judgment to hold these 
 interests as they should be held, is worthy of more 
 than a passing notice. No man in the profession 
 along the eastern line of the State probably has 
 performed his dut}^ with a more conscientious fidel- 
 ity than the subject of this notice. Nature has 
 endowed him with great gifts, and he lias had the 
 wisdom to make the most of his opportunities. 
 Home-loving and domestic in his tastes, he is well 
 qualified to preside at the bedside of suffering 
 humanity, and to extend that ready sympathy which 
 in most cases is more effective than drugs and nos- 
 trums. 
 
 Personally, Dr. Holton is a man of line presence 
 and superior address, cultivated, affable and pleas- 
 ant, and one who invariably commands respect 
 wherever he is known. He is the eldest resident 
 physician of Sidell, and one of those who has been 
 largely interested in building up the town. Dur- 
 ing his six j'ears' practice here he has been re- 
 markably successful. He is still young and in the 
 midst of his usefulness, having been born Oct. 23, 
 1853, at what was then Dallas, but is now Indianola, 
 this county. He was reared in his native town, 
 and received his early education in the common 
 schools. At the age of seventeen years, and after 
 the death of his father, he entered the Illinois 
 
 University, where he took a year's course, and at 
 the expiration of this time began teaching, which 
 profession he followed for a period of ten years in 
 the schools of Palermo and Indianola. In the for- 
 mer place he began reading medicine under Dr. 
 Martinie, with whom he remained two years, and 
 afterward read with Dr. Worthington, of Indianola, 
 two years. In the fall of 1881 he entered Jefferson 
 Medical College at Philadelphia, where he pursued 
 his studies until being graduated in 1883. He 
 worked his way upward unaided, earning the 
 money to pay his tuition and expenses. 
 
 Dr. Holton entered upon the practice of his pro- 
 fession at Homer, but as the town of Sidell began 
 to grow up he determined to settle at this place. In 
 the meantime he practiced at Archie until 1887, 
 and put up a fine frame residence there. Later he 
 he moved his office and barn from Archie to Sidell. 
 He was married in the fall of 1883 to Miss Ura, 
 daughter of A. L. Ames, a lineal descendant of 
 Oliver Ames, well known in the early history of 
 this country. The maiden name of her mother was 
 Urania Howell. Her father was born in Veimont 
 and her mother in New York State. After mar- 
 riage thej' went to California, where their daughter 
 L'ra was born, and where they lived from 1852 
 until 1859. Upon returning to Illinois they set- 
 tled in Belvidere, but later removed to Edgar 
 County, where Mrs. Holton developed into woman- 
 hood. Of her union with our subject there have 
 been born three children, Max, Wade and Dean, 
 who died at the age of five months. Mrs. Holton 
 is a member of the Baptist Church at Palermo. 
 The Doctor advocates the principles of the Repub- 
 lican party, but has never been active in politics, 
 preferring to give his best efforts to his profession. 
 To this he is devoting all his energies, and is meet- 
 ing vvith flattering success. He expends a large 
 sum of money each j^ear in prosecuting his re- 
 searches into the science of medicine, and has one 
 of tiie largest private libraries in the county. 
 
 Dr. Holton is a charter member of Peace Dale 
 Lodge No. 225, I. 0. 0. F., and has been through 
 all the Chairs at Palermo, being likwise a charter 
 member of this lodge. He is also a charter mem- 
 ber of the Modern Woodmen's Camp at Sidell 
 and officiated as the first Chief Consul. He was ap- 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 631 
 
 pointed a delegate to the Grand Camp at Des 
 Moines, but on account of professional duties was 
 not able to attend. He is the Examining Physician 
 for this camp, and operates in the same capacity 
 for the Union Central Life Insurance Company of 
 Cincinnati, also for the N. Y. Life Insurance Com- 
 pany. He has an unusually fine collection of sur- 
 gical instruments, and fully understands the use of 
 them. 
 
 The parents of our subject were Leonard C. and 
 Helen L. (Dudley) Holton, the former a native 
 of Chester, Vt., and the latter born in the neighbor- 
 hood of Bennington, that State. They were mar- 
 ried in Kentuckj', to which State the mother had 
 removed and taught school when a young lady. 
 Leonard Holton was Captain of a steamboat plying 
 on the Ohio River, which he followed until 1845, 
 when the whole family came to Illinois and settled 
 near the present site of Indianola. Capt. Holton 
 then engaged in merchandising, and assisted in 
 laying out the town. It was found that there were 
 two post-offices bearing the name of Dallas, so the 
 name was changed to Indianola. The father died 
 there in 1870, in the sixty-first year of his age. He 
 was very active and energetic, and contributed his 
 full quota to the building up of the town. The 
 mother, after the death of her husband, removed to 
 Danville, became identified with the public schools 
 in the fall of 1871, and for fourteen years there- 
 after was actively and prominently connected with 
 educational matters. Then, on accountof ill-health, 
 she resigned her position and is now living in 
 retirement at Danville. She has followed the pro- 
 fession of a teacher in Vermont, Kentucky and 
 Illinois, making of it an art and a science, and 
 being uniformly successful. 
 
 To the parents of our subject there were born four 
 tdiildren: Abbie, Frank D., Henry C. and William 
 James. Abbie became the wife of William Donne 
 an attorney-at-law of New York City. She died in 
 1876. leaving one child, a daughter, Lulu, and the 
 latter is now living with our subject's mother at 
 Danville. Frank D. married a Miss Shedd, and is 
 mining for gold, silver and tin in the Black Hills 
 in Dakota; he has two children — Leo Frank and 
 Leonard. William James married Miss Lizzie 
 Sanders of Danville, and operates as Chief Train 
 
 Dispatcher for the Chicago & Western Indiana, 
 with headquarters at Chicago; he has two children 
 —Abbie and Frank. The Holton family traces its 
 ancestry to England, and was first represented in 
 America during the Colonial times. 
 
 eHARLES F, HULL. Some of the finest vehi- 
 cles driven on the streets of Indianola have 
 been turned out from the shop of this citizen, 
 who is an expert mechanic, doing general black- 
 smithing and manufacturing road vehicles. He be- 
 gan learning his trade without a dollar of assist- 
 ance and has placed himself in a good position, 
 financially, by close application to business. He is 
 a fine horse-shoer— in fact, understands all the de- 
 tails of his line of business from beginning to end 
 and has hosts of friends who rejoice at his prosper- 
 ity. 
 
 The subject of this sketch is the son of Dr. 
 James S. Hull, who is well remembered by the 
 citizens of this county as one of its oldest and 
 most reliable physicians. The latter was born in 
 Ohio and was the son of a typical Pennsylvanian of 
 Revolutionary stock. He followed liis practice in 
 Indianola for a period of eighteen years and is 
 still living there, being now seventy-two years 
 old, while his wife is aged seventy. She also was 
 born in Ohio. They were married in Covington, 
 Ind., where they resided several years before com- 
 ing to this county. Five of their children lived to 
 mature years, viz : Francis Marion, Kissey, Mattie 
 A., Charles F., our subject and Edwin M. 
 
 Mr. Hull was born June 3, 1856, at Covino-ton, 
 Ind., and was a lad of eleven years when his 
 father's family came to this county. He o-ave evi- 
 dence of his mechanical genius at an early ao-e and 
 first learned the blacksmith trade. He began work 
 with Frank Miller, remaining with him nine months 
 and then engaged with Mr. Hewes for seven years 
 finishing his trade with him. He then formed a 
 partnership with T. F. Hewes and they operated 
 
 together until 1887 when their stock was destroyed 
 by fire, involving considerable loss. After this 
 Mr. Hull and Hewes established a shop at Sidell 
 
532 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 and rebuilt the one at Indianola. The partnership 
 was dissolved in the fall of 188^, Mr. Hull then re- 
 suming the shop at Indianola. 
 
 Our subject was married Dec. 11, 1883, to Miss 
 ilartha A., daughter of William and Mary A. 
 (Bartler) I'oUard. Her parents were natives of 
 Yorkshire, England, and emigrated to America in 
 1856. They spent one year in Canada, then in 1857 
 came i;o this countj' and the father put up one of 
 the first steam sawmills along its southern line. 
 They made their home in Carroll Township and 
 iMr, Pollard built up a good business and was 
 doing well when he unfortunately went security 
 for a friend with the usual result — losing nearly all 
 he possessed. He was drowned in Indianola July 
 4, 1886, at the age of sixty-six years. The mother 
 is. still living and is now sixt3f-nine 3'cars old. They 
 were the parents of four children — Paul, Jolm, 
 Sarah and ilartha A. 
 
 Mrs. Hull was born near Bradford in Yorkshire, 
 England, and was quite young when her parents 
 came to America, although she recollects many 
 scenes and incidents connected with her native 
 place. Of her union with our subject there have 
 born two children — Clarence Elmo and Rosa 
 Myrtle, aged (1889) four and two 3'ears respect- 
 ively. The familj' residence is situated in the east 
 part of town and forms a very comfortable home, 
 which is the resort of many friends of our subject 
 and his estimable wife. 
 
 Mr. Hull, politicalljr, is a sound Republican, but 
 has had no time to assume the responsibilities of 
 office, preferring to give his attention to his busi- 
 ness affairs. He is a charter member of the Mod- 
 ern Woodmen Lodge of Indianola and in religious 
 matters belongs to the Baptist Church. Mrs. Hull 
 finds her religious home in the IMethodist Episco- 
 pal Church. 
 
 The paternal grandparents of Mrs. Hull were 
 John and Ann Pollard, the grandfather a mill- 
 wright by trade and a very fine mechanic. He was 
 peculiarly trusty and faithful, and sojourned at one 
 place for the long period of forty-five years. He 
 was never ill a d.ay in his life and died at the age 
 of ninety-six j^ears. His son, \\'illiam, the father 
 of Mrs. Hull, was born in Bradford, England, 
 where he became a mechanical engineer and ope- 
 
 rated various mills in the old country, being an 
 expert. He was a prominent member of the 
 Jlethodist Episcopal Church, but his mind became 
 impaired through illness and he ended his life b}' 
 drowning. He had made three trips to America 
 and spent his last da^'S in Carroll Township, this 
 county. Mrs. Pollard is still living and is a genial 
 and pleasant lady, making her home in Carroll 
 where she has many friends. 
 
 -B^iS^- 
 
 ■LEXANDER COLLIER is one of t.he 
 111 early settlers of this country, who is now 
 living in the enjoyment of the pleasant 
 surroundings which are the result of his 
 early privations in doing his share to build up this 
 great Empire. In the career of Mr. Collier we 
 find an excellent example for young men just em- 
 barking in the field of active life, of what may be 
 accomplished by a man beginning pooi-, but honest, 
 prudent and industrious. In early life he enjoyed 
 but few advantages. His school days were limited, 
 nor had he wealth or position to aid him in start- 
 ing in the great battle. He relied solely upon his 
 own efforts and his ov^'u conduct to win for him 
 pr()S|)erity, nor has his been a success solely in the 
 sense of accumulating wealth, but in doing good 
 to others and in winning their respect and esteem. 
 He has ever strictly observed that most important 
 factor in the successful public or business life of 
 au3'one — honesty. 
 
 Mr. Collier owns 250 acres of land on section 
 19, Elwood Township, where he resides. He was 
 born in Washington County, Tenn., Nov. 12, 
 1830. His father, Leonard Collier, was a native 
 of \'irginia, and located in Tennessee in 1820, 
 where he became prosperous and influential among 
 his neiglibors. Alexander's education was received 
 at subscription schools and under difficulties. The 
 schoolhouse in which he attended school was but 
 a rude hut, with no conveniences whatever to in- 
 duce a child to seek knowledge, but, on the con- 
 trary, the surroundings of the alleged schoolhouses 
 of those daj's were repulsive to the jrouthful mind 
 and engendered hostility to learning. He came 
 

 & 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 535 
 
 to Vermilion County in tlio autumn of 1851, and 
 has lived in this neiglibovhood since, except for 
 four years, when he resided just across the State 
 line. His mother was Charlotte, daughter of John 
 Slaygle. She was the mother of ten children, 
 four of whom are living: John, (ieorge, Sarah 
 (Mrs. Moore),, and Alexander. Four of the other 
 children lived to be women before they died, viz: 
 Catherine, Eliza A., Nancy and Elizabeth. 
 
 INIr. Collier married PJlizabeth, daughter of Will- 
 iam Jennings, Dec. 20, 18.15. She was born in 
 Greene County, Tenn., and her mother's maiden 
 name was Sarah Jones. Both the parents are de- 
 ceased. Mr. and ilrs. Collier are the parents of 
 four children, three of whom are living: Francis 
 M., Phcebe J. and Sarah C. Francis married Dora 
 Moore, of Missouri, and Jives in this township; 
 they have two children — Josephine B. and Charles 
 S. Phoebe J. married Eli Stalil of this township, 
 and is the mother of three children — Bertie, Yora 
 Belle and an infant, Bessie May; Sarah is the wife 
 of James Van Duyn; they have three children — 
 Alexander, Coy and Addic Belle. 
 
 Mr. Collier rents the most of his large farm to his 
 children, who are engaged in stock-raising and 
 general farming. He has never sought office, but 
 has found that he has enough to attend to in 
 strictl}' minding his ovvn affairs. Mrs. Collier is a 
 member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 
 to which her husband is a liberal contributor. 
 
 ^^ AMUEL T. STEVENS, one of the sur- 
 ^^^ vivors of the 25th Illinois Infantry, and 
 (Ij/Jj) now a prosperous farmer of Georgetown 
 Township, is one of the most highly es- 
 teemed citizens in this communty, being upright 
 and industrious, greatly attached to his home and 
 justly proud of his army record, which is creditable 
 in the extreme. He was born in Vernon Town- 
 ship, Jennings Co., Ind., near the town of A'ernon. 
 Nov. 4, 1834, and is a son of John and Jane 
 (Thompson) Stevens, the former a native of Indi- 
 nna and the latter of Kentucky. They were mar- 
 ried at Brooks Point, Vermilion Co., 111., to which 
 
 they had come at a very early da}', and subsequently 
 took up their abode in Jennings County, Ind., 
 where the father died when his son, Samuel was 
 only five years old. The mother came back to 
 Brooks Point in 1853, and died therein 1873, when 
 sixty-two years old. She was married three times 
 after the death of her first husband by whom she 
 had four children — Sarah H., Samuel T., Francis 
 M., and Nancy. By her second husband, William 
 McCabe, she had three children. Her third hus- 
 liand was William Brown and the fourth James 
 Ogden. By the latter two she had no children. 
 
 Samuel Stevens began to "paddle his own canoe" 
 when a lad of twelve years. He learned the trade 
 of a stone mason and plasterer, serving three years 
 apprenticeship, but not liking the business aban- 
 doned it and turned his attention to farming pur- 
 suits, working out by the month. When about 
 twenty years old he returned to Illinois and on the 
 7th of June, 1861, enlisted at Indianola in Com- 
 pany D, 25th Illinois Infantry. He was mustered 
 into service at St. Louis, Mo., and fought the 
 rebels at Pea Ridge, after which he went with his 
 regiment after the rebel. Gen. Price, in the South- 
 west. In June, 1862 they joined the Army of the 
 Tennessee and fought at Corinth and Green River 
 Bridge. At Louisville they recruited, after which 
 followed the battle of Perryville, Oct 7, of that 
 year. 
 
 From Perryville, our subject went with his 
 regiment to Nashville, Tenn., where they remained 
 until the 26th of November, 1862, then entered on 
 the Murfreesboro campaign. They fought with 
 the rebels at TuUahoma and were next at Chatta- 
 nooga, after which followed the battle of Chicka- 
 mauga, Sept. 19, 20, 1863, whence they retreated 
 to Chattanooga, and later engaged with the 
 enemy at Lookout Mountain, Mission Ridge and 
 Tunnel Hill. Subsequently followed the Atlanta 
 campaign, upon which they entered May 4,1 864, and 
 while retreating through a peach orchard at Chicka- 
 mauga, Mr. Stevens was struck by a missile on the 
 left hip and knocked several yards. He suc- 
 ceeding in getting to the ambulance and was taken 
 to the hospital at Chattanooga, where he remained 
 two weeks and was sufficiently recovered to engage 
 in the fight at Mission Ridge; he was also engaged 
 
536 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 in tbe Knoxville campaign which was sent to tlio 
 relief of Gen. Biirnside, who was bottled up near 
 Knoxville. 
 
 Our subject was wounded a second time at Noon- 
 day Creek, near Marietta, Ga., by a niinie-ball 
 which passed through his leg above the knee. He 
 was taken a second time to the hospital at Chatta- 
 nooga and later to the Cumberland hospital at 
 Nashville, Tenn. Tlie term of his enlistment soon 
 expired and he was mustered out Sept. 5, 1864, at 
 Springfield, 111. From that time until 1868 he 
 occupied himself in farming pursuits and in that 
 year was married to i\Iiss Hannah Gerard, who is a 
 daughter of John and Marj- (Fisher) Gerard, who 
 came from Indiana to this State and settled in 
 1851 upon the land now owned and occupied by 
 our subject. Of this union there have been born 
 nine children, namely: Ulysses S.; Ezra A.. Lucj- 
 A., Mary J., Robert T., Willian F., Viola M., 
 Johnnie H., and Clarence E. Mr. Stevens, politi- 
 cally, is a strong Republican, and he and his esti- 
 mable wife are members of the Christian Church. 
 
 A portrait of "Mr. Stevens is shown elsewhere in 
 this work. 
 
 ^ iVILLIAM HESTER. Those middle-aged men 
 \jij// who are natives of this county, were born 
 W^J under the most primitive conditions and 
 spent their childhood and youth in the wilder- 
 ness, amid the frequently thrilling scenes of pioneer 
 life. They became inured to arduous labor at an 
 early age, and thus acquired that independence of 
 thought and character of which are made the best 
 men of this period of the world. They also ac- 
 quired the habit of viewing toil and danger undis- 
 mayed, and were fully prepared for the later labors 
 and struggles which developed the wilderness into 
 the homes of an intelligent and prosperous people. 
 Those who to-day are enjoying the blessings of 
 civilization can scarcely realize what tiiey owe to 
 those men who assisted in bringing about the pres- 
 ent order of things. 
 
 A native of Elwood Township, this count}', our 
 subject was born May 17, 1838, and is the son of 
 Thomas Hester, who was born in Guilford County, 
 
 N. C. and who removed with his parents to Clin- 
 ton County, Ohio, when a lad nine years of ao-e. 
 He left the Buckeye State in 1835, coming to Ran- 
 dolph County, Ind., settling near Winchester, that 
 county, where he improved a farm from the heavy 
 limber land in White River Township and where 
 he sojourned ten years. Next he removed to Taze- 
 well County, this State, where he lived six 3'ears 
 engaged in farming. His next removal was to this 
 county and he settled March 31, 1838, on the land 
 now occupied by his son, our subject, on section 
 24 in Elwood Township. He did his own black- 
 smithing for about thirty years, and was a true type 
 of the industrious pioneer who, by his sturdy indus- 
 try and perseverance built up a good home and 
 accumulated a comfortable property. 
 
 The mother of our subject was in her maiden- 
 hood Miss Mary Leonard. She also like her father, ' 
 Ezekiel Leonard, was born in North Carolina and 
 was of Irish ancestry. Grandfatiier Francis Hester, 
 also a native of the above mentioned State, was of 
 Scotch ancestry and followed the occupation of 
 both farmer and shoemaker. To the parents of 
 our subject there were born seven children, four of 
 whom are living, and William is the youngest. The 
 other three are Jesse, Rebecca, Mrs. Reece, and 
 John. The others lived to mature years. They 
 were Hannah, Mrs. Cook; Mary, Mrs. Larrance; 
 and Robert. All at their decease left families. 
 
 William Hester was reared to manhood at the old 
 homestead where he now lives, and completed his 
 education in Bloomingdale Academy under tiie in- 
 struction of Prof. Hobbs. He taught school two 
 winters, but with this exception has been engaged 
 in farming pursuits all his life. He is a member 
 of the Society of Friends and contributed gener- 
 ousl}^ toward the erection of their fine new church 
 and the Vermilion Academy building at Vermilion 
 Grove. The academy is under the auspices of the 
 Friends. 
 
 Mr. Hester was married March 8, 1860, to Miss 
 Maria, daughter of Ira Mills, deceased, who came 
 to this county in 1821. This lady became the 
 mother of two children one only of whom is liv- 
 ing — Cassius M. She died Jan. 19, 1863. Our 
 subject contracted a second marriage March 6, 
 1867, with Miss Rachel J., daughter of AVilliam 
 
PORTRAIT AND BlOGRAlTIICAL ALBUM. 
 
 537 
 
 Stafford, of A'errailioi'i Oi'ove, :uid of this union 
 there were born three children, only two of whom 
 are living — Rhoda J., i\Irs. Mills ami Thomas W . 
 The mother of these children died June lo, 18K5, 
 and on the 7th of March, 1887, Mr. Hester was 
 married to iMIss Martha A., daughter of Joseph 
 Hawkins, near Rardin, Coles Co. 
 
 The land possessions of Mr. Hester aggregate 24H 
 acres and he makes a specialt\' of graded horses, 
 Short-horn cattle, Poland-China swine and high 
 grade Merino sheep. He uniformly votes the Re- 
 publican ticket and keeps himself well posted upon 
 matters of State and National interest. Like his 
 honored parents he belongs to the Society of 
 Friends. The mother of ]\Ir. Hester died May 2, 
 1867, and his father Nov. 10, 1875. They were 
 most worth}' and excellent peojjle, living at peace 
 with their neighbors and doing good as the}' had 
 opportunity. 
 
 ILAS DICKSON. Few persons can sojourn 
 very long in Indianola without becoming 
 familiar with the name of Mr. Dickson, 
 who is a son of one of the early pioneers 
 of Vermilion, and one of the first children who, 
 born in this county, liave grown up with the coun- 
 try. He is now past the meridian of life. He has 
 inherited from a substantial ancestry those qualities 
 of character which have made him an entei'prising 
 business man and placed him in an enviable posi- 
 tion in his community. 
 
 Mr. Dickson was born May 25, 1830, in Carroll 
 Township, and spent his boyhood and youth amid 
 the scenes of pioneer life, becoming familiar with 
 healthy hard work and receiving his education in 
 the common school. He remained a member of 
 the parental household until a man of thirty-four 
 years, and was then married, Oct. 13, 1864, to iMiss 
 Frances Foos. The newly wedded pair settled 
 down on a farm and for a number of years there;i,f- 
 ter Mr. Dickson gave his attention to agriculture and 
 the cattle business. In the latter he became inter- 
 ested when only a boy, and since reaching manhood 
 has driven hundreds of fat cattle to New York 
 
 City, selling them to local butchers. He saw the 
 first car-load of beef cattle that were ever shipped 
 into that metropolis from Illinois, and about the 
 time there wns being agitated the advisability of 
 shippino- stock by rail. 
 
 Mr. Dickson is an extensive land owner, having 
 600 .acres in E^dgar County and a farm of 
 eighty acres adjoining Indianola. To him and his 
 estimable wife there have been born three children: 
 Robert, Lena, and Albertus. The daughter is the 
 wife 'of Ii;dwai-(1 Cannon, who is interested in an 
 electric light plant in Portland, Oregon. The sons 
 are at home with their parents. Mr. Dickson uni- 
 formly votes the Democratic ticket, but with the 
 exception of serving as a juryman several times, 
 has never mingled much in public affairs. Mrs. 
 Dickson is a member of the Methodist Episcopal 
 Church. 
 
 Mrs. Dickson is tlie daughter of Franklin and 
 Amelia (Howe) Foos, the former of whom is the 
 oldest living native of what was then Franklin, 
 but is now Columbus County, Ohio. He was born 
 July 4, 1803, and now makes his liomc in Danville. 
 l\Ir. Foos and Michael Sullivan were school bo^-s 
 together. The mother was a native of Maryland 
 and a distant relative of Elias Howe, the inventor 
 of the sewing machine. One of the memliers of 
 the firm of Foos & Co., of Springfield, Ohio, is a 
 half brother of Mrs. Dickson's father. The mother 
 died in November, 1<S83, at the age of seventy-five 
 years. She had a famil}' of eleven children, seven 
 of whom grew to mature years, viz : Louisa, Lydia, 
 Joseph, Amelia, Lovina, Francis, and Ellen. JMrs. 
 Dickson was born in Madison County, Ohio, in 
 1841, and was a girl of ten years when she came 
 with her parents to this county. She made the 
 acquaintance of her future husband in Indianola. 
 
 David Dickson, the father of our subject, is now 
 a gentleman of eight3'--three years. He traveled all 
 over this State from north to south and from east 
 to west at a very early day, when it was the ex- 
 treme frontier and there were but very few settle- 
 ments within its limits. He was born in Lewis 
 County, Ky., and married ]\liss Margaret 
 "Waters, a native of Stafford Court House, "\'a., 
 and closely allied to the F. F. Y.'s. Her ancestors 
 came from Scotland, while the Dicks<)ns were of 
 
538 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 English on'oin, and upon coming to this conntry 
 settled in Maryland. Subsequently they removed 
 ti) Kentucky. The paternal grandfather of our 
 snbject, whose name was Means, was of Irish de- 
 scent, and at an early day settled in New Jersey, 
 whence he removed to Pennsylvania, and then to 
 Kentucky during its pioneer days. He was the 
 representative of a very large and influential 
 family. 
 
 Mr. Dickson came to Illinois a single man and 
 was married in Vermilion County. He took up 
 land and settled near Paris in 1824, when it was a 
 mere trading place. He became the father of four 
 ciiildren: Silas, Robert, Permelia, and Jemima. 
 Robert died unmarried at the age of thirty-three 
 years; Permelia became the wife of Dr. Ralston, 
 and resides in Danville; .lemima, Mrs. ^'arner, lives 
 in Edgar County. The mother died in 1887. 
 
 )ENJAMIN F. LEACH. In the subject of 
 ^' this notice there is easily recognized a man 
 of high social qualities, well educated, cul- 
 '^i-^r^' tivated in his tastes, one who is public- 
 spirited and takes a warm interest in educational 
 matters. He was in former years occupied as a 
 teacher, but of late has been interested in agricul- 
 tural pursuits, and is the Grain Weigher of Hum- 
 rick. He was born in Pickaway County, Ohio, 
 Sept. 23, 1846, and is consequently a man in the 
 prime of life and in the midst of his usefulness. 
 
 By reverting to the family history of our subject 
 we tind that he is the son of William and Mary 
 (Monroe) Leach, natives of Culpeper County, Ya., 
 and the parents of fourteen children, of whom 
 live are living, as follows. Sarah A., now Mrs. 
 Parker, is a resident of Gentry County, Mo.; AVill- 
 i ira M. lives in Phillips Count}', KaTi. ; Henry C. 
 resides in Washington Count}', Ark., as does also 
 his sister, Mary C, Mrs. Carney. Benjamin F., our 
 subject, came with the family to this county in 
 October, 1852. They met with a great affliction in 
 the death of the father, which occurred less than a 
 year later, June 23, 1853. The mother and sons 
 carried on the farm as best they could until all the 
 
 children were able to take care of themselves. 
 Mrs. Leach finally went to Neosha County, Kan., 
 where iier death took place in 1873. 
 
 Mr. Leach, our subject, has been familiar with 
 agricultural pursuits since his earliest recollections, 
 and followed them exclusively with the exception 
 of the time occupied as a teacher. His early ad- 
 vantages were necessarily limited, but he made the 
 most of his opportunities for observation and in- 
 formation and came out a bright and intelligent 
 young man of more than ordinary abilities. When 
 twenty-four years old he was married, in Elwood 
 Township, March 31, 1876, to Miss Alma J., 
 daughter of Darius Baldwin, one of the early 
 settlers of Danville Township, and now deceased. 
 The four children born of this union were named 
 respectivelj', Albert W., Richard B., Mary E., and 
 Nellie C. 
 
 After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Leach took 
 up their residence in Elwood Township, where our 
 subject confined his attention to the development 
 of his farm and lived there until February, 1886; 
 then, retiring from the more arduous duties of 
 farm life, he took up his residence in Humrick and 
 now busies himself with lighter employments. He 
 has officiated as Tax Collector of the township 
 three terms; was Highway Commissioner one term, 
 and is at present Justice of the Peace. He finds 
 his religious home in the, Cumberland Presbyterian 
 Church, and socially belongs to the Masonic frater- 
 nity. 
 
 -^ 
 
 > 
 
 ^) LAYTON B. ELLIOTT. This well-to-do 
 if _ and intelligent bachelor citizen may be 
 ^^^'' found usually at his well-regulated home- 
 stead on section 26 in Elwood Township, where he 
 is successfully engaged in general agriculture, and 
 fi'om which he realizes annually a snug income. 
 His farm contains sevent}' acres and lies adjacent to 
 Yankee Point. He also has 160 acres near New- 
 man, in Douglas County, 111. He has been quite 
 an extensive traveler in the South and the West, 
 and, although possessing a limited education, has 
 made such good use of his opportunities for the 
 observation of men and things that he is at once 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 530 
 
 recognized as a well-iiifornied man of more than 
 ordinary intelligence. 
 
 Our subject was born in Wayne County, Ind., 
 INLarch 10, 1854, and is the son of Nathan li^lli- 
 ott, who is now deceased, and the brother of H. C. 
 and Wesley I^Uiott, sketches of whom appear else- 
 where in this Album. He was brought to this 
 county by his parents when an infant of ten 
 months, and after attending the common school be- 
 came also a student of Vermilion Academy and the 
 Wesleyan University at Bloomington. In the 
 fall of 1881 he set out for Washington, trav- 
 ersing the Union and Central Pacific Railroads 
 from Chicago to San Francisco and thence by 
 steamer to Portland, Ore., where lie spent the 
 winter. In the meantime he was at Puget Sound. 
 In the spring of 1882 he went up the Willamette 
 Valley, where he sojourned until after the 4th of 
 July. On that day he attended a celebration at a 
 point near l\y across the river, and saw half-breed 
 Indians and French taking part in the foot races. 
 Later he repaired to Pataha, in the southeastern 
 part of Washington, and occupied himself at lum- 
 bering in the Blue Mountains until harvest time, 
 in the month of August. He then repaired to the 
 Pataha Flats and assisted in thresliing wheat for 
 twenty-seven days, and until in September, when 
 he returned to the Blue Mountains and worked in 
 the lumber woods until the deep snow drove out 
 the men. Returning now to Pataha Flats he so- 
 journed there until the spring of 1883, then trav- 
 eled on foot to Spokane Falls and to the Big Bend 
 country, in the Columbia River region. He staid 
 over night with Wild Goose Bill, who had a squaw 
 for a wife. There he secured a pony, and, in com- 
 pany with Bill's two boys started out to see a large 
 spring near bj\ The bo\-s had a lasso, and one of 
 them exerted his skill on our subject. The latter 
 havinc money feared at first that they were intend- 
 inc to overpower and rob him, but he found that 
 they wore simply amusing themselves at his ex- 
 pense. They called him a ''tenderfoot," and had 
 great sport in lassoing his horse and a colt which 
 was following the pony he rode. 
 
 Our subject finally returned to Spokane Falls and 
 theme by the Northern Pacific Railroad to its ter- 
 minus where he took the stage and traveled 300 
 
 miles to Bozoman, Mont. We next find him at 
 Livingstone, where he remained until July 3, en- 
 gaged in a lumber-yard and &s a carpenter. From 
 there he traveled up the Yellowstone Park, enter- 
 ing it July 4, 1883, and viewing the Yellowstone 
 Falls and Canyon, the Hot Springs, and all the other 
 natural wonders of tiiat region. He spent the fol- 
 lowing winter at Livingstone, Montana, then jour- 
 ne^'ed to St. Paul via the Northern Pacific Railroad. 
 He visited Chicago on his way home. That same 
 spring he took a trip througli Southern Kansas, 
 visiting his brother Alvin,near Cedar A'ale. In 
 September following he settled on a farm and has 
 since given his undivided attention to its various 
 interests. 
 
 Mr. Elliott, politically, supports the principles 
 of tiie Republican partv, but has never sought offi- 
 cial honors. In his youth he was cxtremel}' anx- 
 ious to obtain a thorough education, but on account 
 of the death of his father when he was twenty 
 years old he was obliged to abandon his cherished 
 plan. He remained with his mother and operated 
 the farm two years. 
 
 FRANCIS GAINES. After a busy life has 
 
 ; beon nearly spent, and all the trials and 
 
 , vicissitudes incident to a pioneer's career 
 
 have been met with courage, honor and industry, 
 there is nothing more pleasant than to see a man 
 who has been faithful in all things, retire from ac- 
 tive pursuits. Here he can look back upon all his 
 actions with pleasure, and can with truth say that 
 he has done the best he could. And what more is 
 expected of any man.? And this is the case with 
 Francis Gaines. 
 
 Mr. Gaines was born in Clarke Count}', Ohio, on 
 .luly 28, 1823. His parents went to Greene County, 
 Ohio, soon after his birth, where thej^ lived contin- 
 uously until death called them awa}'. His mother 
 died in 1881, at the age of eightj'-four, and his 
 father followed her to the grave in 1886, at the 
 great age of four-score and six. They had eleven 
 children — Elizabeth, Francis, James, William Jon- 
 athan, Benjamin, Henry, Phoebe, Susan, Sarah suid 
 
otO 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 Amanda. The latter died when she was three 3'ears 
 of age, while the remaining children lived to be 
 men and vvomen. IMr. (iaines acquired his educa- 
 tion in the primitive school-houses that were scat- 
 tered all over Ohio at the time of his boyhood, and 
 being the oldest son, he was obliged to defer many 
 advantages that he could have taken to gain an ed- 
 ucation. By an inscrutable decree of mankind, the 
 oldest boy of a farmer's family has always been the 
 cart-horse that has drawn the rest of the children 
 after him. Responsibilities have rested upon the 
 oldest boy that have as a rule kept him from gain- 
 ing the education he should have, and Mr. Gaines 
 was in this position. For manj- a day, and before 
 he was ten years of age he has followed the plow 
 whose monldboard was constructed of wood. AVhat 
 would the boys of this generation think of such a 
 proceeding as this? And such things as this ought 
 to increase the respect that is certainly due to those 
 who tilled the soil in au early day, and paved the 
 way for an empire. 
 
 By the time that ftlr. Gaines became twenty-one 
 years of n.L;(! he was an expert in agricultural pur- 
 suits, and also as a woodman. At this time he se- 
 cured a job of cutting wood for twenty-five cents 
 a cord, and three or four cords a da}' was easy work 
 for him. In 1845 he was married to Miss Mary 
 Jane McFarland, of Greene County, Ohio, and in 
 1847 tlie young couple settled in Carroll Township, 
 this county, about three miles south of Indianola. 
 His wife made all their clothes from the raw ma- 
 terial, and everything that was procured in those 
 days was by hard labor. In 1871 the good mother 
 died, and out of seven childi'en born to her but 
 two were reared to maturity — Sarah A. and Ed- 
 mund. Sarah married F. D. Neblick, who is re- 
 siding on the homestead; they have two children — 
 Francis D. and ISIabel. 
 
 Mr. Gaines was married a second time in 1871, 
 to Mrs. Josephine Gaines, widow of his brother 
 "William, and by this union one child was liorn — 
 Mary E. William Gaines died in 1863. Mrs. 
 Gaines is the daughter of L. Patterson and Cath- 
 erine (Baum) Patterson, the former a native of 
 Ohio, where he was married, and cauic to this State 
 in 1839. He lived to be seventy-three years old, 
 and liis wife died at the earl\- age of thirty-nine. 
 
 She left six children: Augustus D., Josephine A. 
 (Mrs. Gaines), Emily C., Charles, John Harvey and 
 Albert, who was drowned. Mrs. Gaines was born 
 in Brown County^ Ohio, and came to Illinois when 
 she was eighteen months old. She was but four- 
 teen }"ears old when her mother died, and her 
 youngest brother, Albert, w&,s but three years of 
 age. She was obligged to assume the responsibil- 
 ity of the household, and nobly she cared for her 
 younger brothers and sisters. By her first marriage 
 she is the mother of one child — Franklin W. — 
 who is still living. 
 
 In 1883 Mr. Gaines erected a very commodious 
 and elegant house in Indianola, which is surrounded 
 with everything to make the place pleasant. The 
 highest amount of land he has ever owned at one 
 time, was 375 acres, and he owns now a half sec- 
 tion, all under a flue slate of cultivation. This is 
 all due to his own industry, excepting $400 which 
 was given him by his father, and invested in lands. 
 He has speculated somewhat in real estate, and in 
 this he has prospered. Sir. and Mrs. Gaines are 
 members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, she 
 having belonged to that organization since she was 
 nineteen, while her husband first united with the 
 church thirty-nine years ago. He was Superintend- 
 ent of the Sunday-schools in the southern part of the 
 county, and has served in various capacities in his 
 church, holding the ofHces of Trustee, Treasurer 
 and Steward. He has held the positions of School 
 Director and Trustee for a long time, and has also 
 served as Road Overseer and Commissioner of 
 Highways. Mr. Gaines has always exhibited great 
 interest in the schools and roads. He votes with 
 the Democratic party and has never sought office. 
 
 GRANVILLE PUGH. Those who have been 
 eye-witnesses of the pioneer scenes of Cen- 
 ^^4 tral Illinois are fast passing away; and 
 when we are privileged to take such an one by the 
 hand, it is an event which will be remembered for 
 many a day. jMr. Pugh is one of the oldest set- 
 tlers of this county, to which he came when In- 
 dians and wild animals abounded, and when the 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 541 
 
 foot of the white man had scarcely pressed tlie 
 soil of Ehvood Township. Here he has spent the 
 best years of his life, and his long and arduous 
 labors have been crowned with success. He owns 
 and occupies one of the finest farms in this re- 
 gion, embellished with an imposing residence, two 
 stories in height, above the basement, and not far 
 away a magnificent grove. Under his careful 
 management the land has been brought to a high 
 state of cultivation, and is imjjroved with all the 
 appliances suggested to the enterprising and pro- 
 gressive farmer. 
 
 The opening j^ears of the life of our subject were 
 spent in Jefferson County Ohio, where he was born 
 Feb. 2, 1824. His father, John Pugh, deceased, 
 was a native of Chester County, Pa., and emigrated 
 to the Buckeye State in 1823. He had been mar- 
 ried to Miss Jane Gamble, a native of Cecil County, 
 Md., and to them there were- born three children, 
 all of whom lived to mature years. Edwin is now 
 deceased; Granville, our subject, was the second 
 child; Hannah, Mrs. Kendall, lives in Ringgold 
 County, Iowa. 
 
 Tlie ancestors of our subject were born and 
 reared in the Quaker faith for many generations 
 back. His maternal grandfather, John Gamble, 
 was a native of Ireland, and crossed the Atlantic 
 in time to participate in the War of 1812. John 
 Pugh came with his family to this county as early 
 as 1830, settling on the Little A'ermilion in Carroll 
 Township. In 1836 he changed his residence, and 
 became owner of the land which his son, Granville, 
 now owns and occupies. Here both parents spent 
 their last years, the father dying in 1847, in middle 
 life, and the mother surviving her husband many 
 years, passing away in 1884. 
 
 The first studies of our subject were conducted 
 in a log cabin, with its puncheon floor, greased 
 paper for window panes, seats and desks made of 
 slabs and fastened to the wall with rude wooden 
 pins. Young Pugh took great interest in spelling, 
 and on Christmas night, in 1848, spelled down the 
 whole large school at Ridge Farm. He assisted his 
 father in the development of his homestead, and 
 remained a member of the parental family until 
 passin'.r his thirty-second birth-daj'. He was then 
 m-irriril. May 31, 1856, to Miss Lydia, daughter 
 
 of Isaac Thompson, one of the earliest settlers of 
 Elwood Township. Mrs. Pugh was born in Parke 
 County, Ind., March 7, 1836, and of her union 
 with our subject thei'e were born nine children, 
 eight of whom are living. John J., the eldest, 
 married Miss Emily Dillon, and lives in Prairie 
 Township; they have six children — Grace, Ada, 
 Bertha, Charles, Ella and Howard; Ezra K. mar- 
 ried Miss Lilly Thompson, lives in Broadland, 
 Cliampaign County, and has two children — Roscoo 
 E. and May; Paris J. married Miss Lucy lliberly, 
 and occupies a part of the homestead; they have 
 one child — Mary A.; Isaac M., Monroe, Howard, 
 Jane E. and Dolly arc at home with their parents. 
 The landed possessions of Mr. Pugh aggregate 
 350 acres, largely devoted to stock purposes, he 
 making a specialty of grnded Short-horn cattle and 
 Poland-China swine. Since reaching his majority 
 he has been a prominent man in his community, 
 and has held the office of School Director for the 
 long period of forty years. He officiated as Jus- 
 tice of the Peace and Township Supervisor one 
 year, and was Highwa}^ Commissioner several 
 years. He votes the straight Repablican ticket, 
 and his estimable wife is a member of the Cumber- 
 land Presbyterian Church. The familj^ stands sec- 
 ond to none in Vermilion County. 
 
 In 1832, during the progress of the Black Hawk 
 War, a man by the name of Isaac Mardick lived 
 upon the same section as Mr. Pugh, and in the 
 month of June was [ilowing corn. Another man 
 in the vicinity, named Laban Dillon, thinking to 
 have some sport, dressed himself up as an Indian, 
 took a gun and repnired to the field where Mr. 
 Mardick was at work, crawling along Indian 
 fasliion, until he was discovered by Mr. Mardick. 
 Then he rose and lifted his gun, as if to fire, when 
 Mr. Mardick ran home as fast as his legs would 
 carry him, leaving his horse and plow in the field. 
 Arriving there he offered another man a colt if he 
 would go and bring the horse to the house. The 
 stt)rj^ naturally leaked out. and Mr. Mardick became 
 the laughing-stock of the neighborhood. Many 
 were the practical jokes played in those times, and 
 each one was made the most of in the absence of 
 the amusements and recreations of more enlightened 
 times. None enjoyed those little incidents more 
 
542 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOORAPIIICAL ALBUM. 
 
 tli.iu Mr. Pugli, find it is safe to sny tliat lie fon- 
 tvibutorl his share to tlie general stock. He has 
 been prospered in his labors, and now, sitting under 
 his oyvn vine and flgtree, feels properly that he has 
 not lived in vain. Me has endeavored to do as little 
 harm as possible in the world, and enjoys the con- 
 fidence and esteem of many friends. 
 
 -i-^ 
 
 ^-^ 
 
 ^^ EORGE HEILEMAN, the leading carriage 
 111 ^T? ™*^"ufacturer of Indianola, is a skilled me- 
 '^i! chanie of abilitj^, active and enterprising 
 as a business man, and one who is regarded as a 
 most useful member of society, temperate, peace- 
 able and law-abiding, uniformly upholding the 
 elements which form the basis of good citizenship. 
 He has risen from an humble position to one of 
 prominence and influence in liis community, soci- 
 ally and linanciallj' ; and for a period of seventeen 
 }'ears lie has been engaged in his present business 
 in the town where he now lives. 
 
 Mr. Pleileman was born in Germantown, a 
 suburb of Philadelphia, Pa., Aug. 22, 1847, and 
 there spent the days of his childhood and youth. 
 His fathei-, John Heileman, a native of Germany, 
 was a blacksmith bj' trade and was married in the 
 Fatherland to Miss Anna Barbara Sliimp. They 
 lived one year after their marriage in their native 
 province, then about 1 843, crossed the Atlantic with 
 their first born child — Katie, and settled near the 
 City of Brotherly Love, where the household cir- 
 cle was increased by the birth of five more children, 
 viz: an infant, who died unamed, Michael, George, 
 our subject. Rose, and John. 
 
 Michael Heileman served four years in the 
 Union Army during the Civil War and after- 
 ward emigrated to Corsieana, Tex., where he 
 engaged as a harness-maker. Rose married George 
 Mebs, a carpenter and builder, and they live in 
 Columbus, Ohio; .John is a blacksmith by trade 
 and also a resident of Columbus. The father died 
 in middle life and the mother was left in straight- 
 ened circumstances, being obliged to part with 
 some of her children. Michael and George were 
 placed in the Northern Home for friendless chil- 
 
 dren, where the later remained four years. When 
 nine years old he was taken into the home of James 
 D. Lawson, of Woodstown, N. J., to whom he was 
 bound until he reached his majority. He only stayed 
 with him seven years, as Mr. Lawson retired from 
 the farm and re-bound the boy to a carriage-maker 
 of Salem, N. J. The natural inclinations of young 
 Heileman were in the line of mechanics, and he 
 never found greater delight than in using tools. 
 He served one year in the carriage-shop and then 
 the Civil War being in progress, although near its 
 close, he enlisted April 9, 1865, in Company K, 
 215th Pennsylvania Infantry, for one year and 
 was mustered into service at Camp Cadwallader. 
 
 This regiment left at once for Fairfax, \r., and 
 was mostly afterward eraplo3'ed on guard duty 
 around Washington, and Ft. Delaware, where were 
 imprisoned 5,000 rebels. These vvere paroled at 
 the close of the war and our subject received his 
 honorable discharge, Aug. 15, 1865, when less than 
 seventeen years old. He now returned to his 
 former employer, with whom he remained four 
 years. Next we find him in Williamsport, Pa., 
 emploj'ed in a carriage shop, previous to this, 
 he had made the acquaintance of T. F. Hewes, 
 through whose influence he subsequentlj' came 
 west and joined JNIr. Hewes in Indianola in May, 
 1.S72. He was in the employ of Frank Miller 
 afterward for a period of five years, then engaged 
 with W. T. Butler for one year, and in 1879 pur- 
 chased the shop standing upon the site of that 
 which he now owns and occupies and which was 
 destroyed by fire March 4, 1887. 
 
 Mr. Heileman now occupies a sung brick building, 
 the second floor of which is used as a public hall 
 and the reading room of the Modern Woodmen 
 Camp of Indianola. In it are also held the village 
 and township meetings, and in addition it is used as 
 the headquarters of the Indianola Building and 
 Loan Association, of which Mr. Heileman is a char- 
 ter member and Treasurer. In the Camp above 
 spoken of he is banker. He belongs to the A. F. 
 &' A. M. fraternity, being Master of Vermilion 
 Lodge No. 265, and with his estimable wife be- 
 longs to the Methodist Episcopal Church. 
 
 Onr subject was married Maj^ 7, 1874, to Miss 
 Emma V. McHaflfie, who was born in Indianola, 
 
RESIDENCE or JACOB FULTZ.SEC.B6.G^ORGETOWN TR, VERMILION CO. 
 
 T? 
 
 180 A 
 SEC. 30 
 
 PLAT OF 
 FARM 
 300ACRES 
 
 reside:nce of john trisl,er. 3ec.3i.,sidellt'r, vermilion CO. 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 o45 
 
 and is the daughter of Dr. J. B. McIIafiie, who was 
 one of the first physicians of this place, and com- 
 mands a first-class practice. His wife, formerly 
 Miss Elizabeth Kverhart, is a native of (Termany, 
 and is still living, being sixty-four years old. 
 Thej- have four children surviving, the eldest of 
 whom, Mary, is the wife of William Stark, who is 
 searching for gold in the mines of Colorad© ; Eliza 
 is the wife of Fr.ank Baum of Carroll Township; 
 Andrew is at home with his mother. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Hieleman have three children — 
 William Howard, (iarnet, and Leoiiidas. Mr. Hiele- 
 man is serving his seventh term as Townsiiip 
 Clerk, and his politics will readily be guessed from 
 the fact that he is one of the leading members of 
 the Indianola Democratic Club. He is also Treas- 
 urer of the School Board, and has served three 
 terms as Clerk of the Village Board, besides one 
 term as Trustee. He also officiates as Treas- 
 urer and Secretary of the AVoodlawn Cemetery 
 Association, being on the second term of six years. 
 His neat and comfortable residence is pleasantly 
 located on AVest Main street. The fact that he is 
 well spoken of by his neighbors and his fellow- 
 townsmen, is ample evidence of the estimation in 
 which he is held as a business man and a citizen. 
 
 -i^^- 
 
 d^iw) OHN TRISLER. It is usually fair to judge 
 {|| of a man's character and capacities by his 
 ll surroundings, and we would thus presume 
 IJ that Mr. Trisler is second to no man in his 
 township as a fanner and business man, while he 
 possesses the cultivated tastes wiuch have led him 
 to build up one of the most attractive homes 
 within its limits. Soon after settling upon the 
 farm which he now occupies he began planning 
 for the residence which he contemplated building, 
 and prepared the grounds accordingly. There 
 now stands upon them an elegant two-story resi- 
 dence, in the midst of a grove planted by the pro- 
 prietor fourteen years ago, and which serves to 
 make a delightful shade in summer time, while 
 protecting the dwelling from the bitter blasts of 
 winter. Interspersed with forest trees are beauti- 
 
 ful evergreens, while the buildings and appur- 
 tenances adjoining serve to complete the ideal 
 country estate. 
 
 Mr. Trisler may most properly be termed a self- 
 made man. Having been thrown upon his own re- 
 sources at an early period in life, he has worked his 
 way up by steady perseverance and industry to a 
 good position, socially and financially. He paj^s 
 strict attention to his own affairs, is rather exclu- 
 sive in his tastes and manner of living, and is well 
 respected in his community'. In his labors and 
 worthy ambitions he has found a most efficient as- 
 sistant in his industrious, business-like and capable 
 wife, who lias done her share toward the accumu- 
 lation of the property and the building up of the 
 homestead. Mr. Trisler during the stormy days 
 of the Rebellion arrayed himself most decidedly on 
 the side of the Union, and no man was more re- 
 joiced at its perpetuation and the extinction of 
 slaver}^ 
 
 Until a boy of eight years our subject spent his 
 early life in Maysville, Ky., where he was born 
 Dec. 18, 1812. Thence his parents removed to 
 Illinois about 1350, making the journey thither by 
 water and overland. During the progress of this 
 trip the boy was lost in Cincinnati, which occa- 
 sioned great distress to his parents until they 
 found him. Arriving in this State, the family lo- 
 cated in Coles County, where our subject attended 
 school until about fourteen years old, and then re- 
 moved with his parents to this county. Here he 
 attended school in Danville for two years. Later 
 the father decided to take up his residence in Cat- 
 lin Township, and John continued a member of 
 the parental household until it was disbanded, in 
 1860. He had begun work on a farm when a boy 
 of seven or eight years, and was thus employed 
 after leaving home. 
 
 After the outbreak of the Civil War, Mr. Tris- 
 ler, in 1862, enlisted as a Union soldier in Corn- 
 Company A, 71st Illinois Infantry, in the ninety- 
 days' service, being mustered in at Springfield 
 and assigned mostly to guard duty in the vicinity 
 of Columbus, Ky. At the expiration of his term of 
 enlistment, he was discharged at Chicago, but in the 
 spring of 1863 re-enlisted with the 100-day's men, 
 in Company E, 135th Illinois lufantry. The com- 
 
546 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 pany was mustered into service at Mattoon, whence 
 tliey proceeded to St. Louis, Mo., and were as- 
 signed as guard to prisoners, after which they 
 were sent to Iron Mountain. The second time 
 our subject was discharged at Mattoon, 111., four 
 weeks beyond the expiration of the time for which 
 he had enlisted. 
 
 The war not yet being ended, our subject for 
 the third time proffered bis services, this time for 
 one year or during the war, in Company K, 149th 
 Illinois Infantry. He was mustered in at Dan- 
 ville, and, going to the front, marched through 
 Georgia, Tennessee and Alabama. In 1862 he had 
 been promoted to Corporal, and in 1864 received 
 the commission of Sergeant. While along the 
 Mississippi he suffered from jaundice, from which 
 he has never been entirely relieved since. Pie was 
 finally discharged at the close of the war, in Slay, 
 1865, at Dal ton, Ga. 
 
 After retiring from the army, Mr. Trisler re- 
 turned to Catlin Township, this county, and be- 
 gan operating on rented land. On the 6th of Oc- 
 tober, 1868, he was married to Miss Abbie A. 
 Douglas, who was born at Stoughton, Dane Co., 
 Wis. In due time our subject purchased eightjr 
 acres of land, which was the beginning of his large 
 farm, now embracing 300 acres. He has made of 
 agriculture an art and a science, which fact accounts 
 for his success. Under his careful management 
 his land has become highly productive, while he 
 p.vails himself of modern methods and the latest 
 improved machinery in the tilling of the soil. He 
 keeps himself well posted both in regard to agri- 
 culture and other things of interest to the broad 
 and liberal-minded citizen, and is consequently en- 
 abled to operate to the best advantage as the re- 
 sult of observation and experience. The house- 
 hold circle includes three bright children — Veron- 
 ica T., Cushing II. and John Earl. 
 
 ojosepli and Elizabeth (Wells) Trisler, the ])ar- 
 ents of our subject, were natives respectively of 
 Ohio and Kentucky, and were married in the lat- 
 ter State. The father was a farmer by occupa- 
 tion, and came with his family to Illinois in 1850, 
 settling in Coles County. The father is still liv- 
 ino-, at the age of seventy-three years, and makes 
 his home in Milwaukee, "Wis. The mother died 
 
 April 28, 1855, in Coles County. Seven of their 
 children grew to mature years: William, John 
 (our subject), Sarah E., Mary M., Robert, Johanna 
 and Joseph. 
 
 The parents of Mrs. Trisler were Cushing and 
 Clarissa Ann (Douglas) Douglas, the father born 
 near Bangor, Me., and the mother in Indiana. Her 
 father was a near kinsman to Stephen A. Douglas, of 
 Illinois, and followed the occupation of a farmer. 
 Tliey were residents of Adams County, Wis., 
 twelve years, and from there came to this county, 
 settling in Catlin Township. Later in life they 
 removed to Catlin Village, where they now live, 
 the father being sixty-five and the mother fifty- 
 six years old. Their four children were named 
 respectively : Abbie Ann, Hortensia, Clara I. 
 (who died when one year old) and Florence. The 
 second mentioned is the widow of Ed Ruby. She 
 resides in New Mexico, and has one child — Burda. 
 Florence married Theodore Terpening, a druggist 
 of Catlin, and they have four children — Max, Don 
 D., Pussy P. and a babe unnamed. Mrs. Trisler 
 was a girl of fifteen 3-ears when her parents settled 
 in Catlin Township. 
 
 Both our subject and his excellent wife are 
 members in good standing of the Cumberland 
 Presbyterian Church, to which they have always 
 given a liberal support, especially during the erec- 
 tion of the church edifice. Mr. Trisler is an un- 
 compromising Democrat, politically, and has served 
 as Director in the school district three years. 
 
 A fine view is presented elsewhere in this work, 
 of the pleasant home and surroundings of Mr. 
 Trisler, where he lives in the enjoyment of a happy 
 family, and where his friends are ever kindly wel- 
 comed. 
 
 ■^ ACOB FULTZ. The fine farm of our sub- 
 ject, comprising 180 acres, on section 11, 
 Gorgetown Township, is a standing monu- 
 (5^// ment to his intelligent industry. Mr. Fultz 
 is a native of Indiana, having been born in Eugene 
 Township, Vermillion County, of that State, Aug. 
 17, 1830. He inherits his fine constitution from 
 his mother, whose people came from the verdure- 
 
PORTRAIT AN]) BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 547 
 
 clad shores of Ireland, bringing with them the fine 
 physique for which the natives of that isle are 
 noted. On reaching this country they settled in 
 Virginia, from which place our subject's motlier, 
 Miss Nancy Givens, came to Parke County, Ind., 
 while yet in her teens. From his father's side Mr. 
 Fultz inherited his full share of the bountiful sup- 
 ply of brain power with which that parent was en- 
 dowed. William Fultz, the father of the subject 
 of this notice, was a native of the old Keystone 
 State, his parents having come to Pennsylvania 
 from Germany. While a mere boy the family turned 
 their faces Westward and came to Ohio. On reach- 
 ing more mature years, young William followed 
 on toward the setting sun, and while in Parke 
 County, Ind., met and married his amiable wife. 
 Although Indians were plentiful in their neighbor- 
 hood, they succeeded in escaping unpleasant -cour- 
 tesies from them. In 1826 Mr. and Mrs. William 
 Fultz set up their household gods in Eugene Town- 
 ship, A^ermillion Co., Ind., where they continued 
 to reside until death, the former expiring in 1876, 
 at the ripe age of seventj'-one, and the latter eight 
 years later, in 1884, after liaving traveled life's 
 rugged [lathway for three years longer than the 
 alotted time of three-score years and ten, being 
 just seventy-three 3'ears old. Having been busy 
 bees in life's hive of workers, they had the satis- 
 faction of seeing abundant prosperity crown their 
 efforts before thej' crossed the river to the gre.at 
 beyond. Nine children came to claim their care 
 and reward their affection, as follows: Margaret, 
 Jacob, Isaac, Mary, Rebecca, Martha, William, 
 John and Isabella. 
 
 Jacob, the subject of this sketch, commenced his 
 school-life at the usual age of six years, attending 
 school the three winter months, while the rest of 
 the year was devoted to work. The school-house 
 that the children of that district attended was built 
 mostly of buckeye logs, hewn on two sides. Slabs 
 and planks surrounding the fireplace, in the center, 
 formed the seats of the youthful seekers after 
 knowledge. When necessary- to heat the building 
 a fire was built and the smoke coaxed to ascend 
 outward by means of a stick and mud chimney, all 
 not escaping by that means finding ready access 
 to the outer air through the numerous cracks in the 
 
 walls. Although his school facilities were so mea- 
 ger, yet he there laid the foundation of the love of 
 learning that has remained with him until the 
 present day, making him an authority among his 
 neighbors on many disputed points, especially in his- 
 tory, in which subject a naturally good memory, 
 kept in constant practice by abundant and judi- 
 ciously selected reading, enables him to keep abreast 
 of the times, and supplies the lack he might other- 
 wise feel of a better education in his youth. While 
 on a visit to relatives at Springfield, 111., he became 
 acquainted with Joe. Agey and Ed Randal, who 
 engaged him to drive a team for them to Kansas. 
 Border- ruftlanism prevailed in that region in those 
 days, which soon disgusted him, and he returned 
 liome, remaining until September, 1862, at which 
 time he enlisted in Company K., 71st Indiana In- 
 fantry, for three years or during the war. He was 
 mustered into the service at Penny's Mills, Ind., 
 whence they went to Terre Haute and afterward to 
 Indianapolis, at each of which places they were 
 drilled preparatory to going South for active ser- 
 vice. At the battle of Richmond, KJ^, he noblyr 
 sustained his part, fighting desperately until cap- 
 tured by the Confederates under the renowned 
 Kirby Smith. The prisoners were parolled and 
 permitted to return to Terre Haute, where they re- 
 )nained until exchanged. He was then .assigned to 
 guard duty at Indianapolis, serving faithfully- 
 through the winter of 1862-63. Owing to ex- 
 posure while there, he was taken ill with pneumonia 
 and nearly succumbed to its attack; but in the 
 providence of God he rallied sufficiently to o-et 
 about, although he was not able to do anvthino- 
 but light work for a period of about four j^ears. 
 In the latter part of April, 1863, he was discharged 
 on account of physical disability, having been in 
 the United States service a year lacking five days. 
 Coming home he operated his father's farm in Eu- 
 gene Township, Vermillion Co., Ind.. for a number 
 of years. In the year 1 873, the 3d day- of October, 
 he was married to Miss Louisa JMurrey. This lady 
 had an eventful experience in her youthful days. 
 Being born in New Orleans before the war, and 
 losing her mother while yet a child, her father had 
 her conveyed up the Mississippi River to an uncle 
 and aunt living in Mississippi. Being Unionists 
 
5\S 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRArillCAL ALBUM. 
 
 when the war broke out, they were in great peril 
 for sometime, but succeeded in escaping on a 
 steamer coming North. Reaching Eugene Town- 
 sliip, the}' settled there, and in that pleasant lo- 
 cality the amiable Mrs. Fultz blossomed into 
 womanhood. While living there she made the 
 acquaintance of the subject of this sketch, and, as 
 before stated, was united in marriage with him. 
 In the spring of 1874 thej- came to their present 
 farm, securing at first sixty acres, which formed 
 the nucleus of their present large possession. In 
 l)olities Mr. Fultz is a strong protectionist, agreeing 
 in that respect with the majority of the Republican 
 party, to which he adheres. 
 
 Believing in progress as he does, and having 
 .such a high regard for education, his neighbors 
 have shown their appreciation of his merits by 
 electing him School Trustee of the townsl)ip, a, po- 
 sition he is eminently qualified to fill. Their fam- 
 ily has been increased b}'' the addition of seven 
 children, named respectively: John, IMary E., Olive 
 M., Owen Wendel, Nancy, Lola M. and Carrie. 
 Jacob Fultz is one of the best known men in 
 Georgetown Township. Being endowed by nature 
 with a good judgment, he readily distinguishes in 
 reading between meritorious works and those of 
 little or no intrinsic worth. His happy disijosition 
 makes him an agreeable companion among friends, 
 while his generous and public-spirited actions com- 
 mend him to progressive citizens everj'where. Hav- 
 ing a profound mind as well as a retentive memory, 
 he has escaped the misery of those narrow-minded 
 men whose ideas all run in one groove, and instead 
 enjoys the blessing of the liberal-minded, who see 
 good in many places where inferior intellects see 
 only evil. Being fond of literature, he seldom lets 
 an opportunity pass of securing a good book when 
 one is brought to liis notice. He enjoys, more- 
 over, tliat great boon, a good home, and his love 
 for his family and iionest pride in their well-being 
 is fully returned, his children not only holding him 
 in affectionate regard, but respecting his honest 
 worth as well. 
 
 Following the occupation of our first parents, he 
 does not disdain to use his intelligence in directing 
 the operations of his farm, but uses his best efforts 
 to pursuade mother Earth to yiehl him her choicest 
 
 treasures. Anyone wishing to know "how doth 
 the little bus}' bee," may easily and pleasantly se- 
 cure the information by calling on Mr. Fultz, who 
 will be delighted to give them an object lesson on 
 his farm, where numbers of the little creatures 
 •• improve the shining hours," to his profit and the 
 visitor's enlightenment. A generous hospitality is 
 extended to guests by Mr. Fultz and his estimable 
 wife. A lithographic view of their home appears 
 elsewhere in this volume. 
 
 AVID S. DICKEN. Here and there we 
 find an individual who first opened his eyes 
 to the light during the pioneer days of 
 this county, and practically grew up with 
 the country. The early impressions which those 
 youths received were such as would naturally de- 
 velop within them health and strength, both of 
 mind and body, and they have almost without ex- 
 ception attained to a worthy and vigorous man- 
 hood. The subject of this notice was at an early 
 age introduced to labor, and has come out of his 
 struggle with the world with a competence for his 
 old age. He is now retired from the active duties 
 of life, and lives comfortably in a pleasant home at 
 Ridge Farm. 
 
 Our subject was born on section 1, Elwood 
 Township. May 14, 1836, and is the son of John 
 C. Dicken, deceased, the latter a native of Ken- 
 tucky. His paternal grandfather was born in Vir- 
 ginia, and coming West at an early day, was the 
 third settler on Coleman's Prairie, Vermillion Co., 
 Ind., to which Mr. Coleman and one Mr. Hopkins 
 had preceded him. In 1832 he came to this county 
 and settled in Elwood Township. The maiden 
 name of the mother was Hannah Golden, daughter 
 of William Golden, and the parental househeld in- 
 cluded ten children. Of these only threo are living 
 — David 8., our subject; Julia A., Mrs. Burchett, 
 of Paris, and Susanna, Mrs. Porter, of Prairie 
 Township, Edgar County. 
 
 The father of our subject removed to George- 
 town in the spring of 18.53, and to the Ridge in 
 the following fall. He put up a store and carried 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 549 
 
 on general merchandising several years. In 1857 
 lie went to Newman and built the first store in that 
 place. He sold goods there two years, then re- 
 turned to tlie Ridge and died in the early part of 
 1873. The mother had passed to her final rest in 
 1860. 
 
 Mr. Dicken, our subject, attended first the com- 
 mon school. In Georgetown he attended a High 
 School, which was considered the best institution of 
 the kind in the county. Later he began an ap- 
 prenticeship at harness-making, which he followed 
 several years, and finally established in business for 
 himself, conducting a large trade. During the pro- 
 gress of the Civil War, and soon after the call for 
 three years' troops, he enlisted in Company A, 
 25th Illinois Infantry, in June, 1861, going in as a 
 private. Later he was promoted to a Sergeant, but 
 on account of disability was obliged to accept his 
 honorable discharge, March 9, 1863. 
 
 Mr. Dicken assisted in raising Company E, 135th 
 Illinois Infantry, in May, 1864, for the lOO-daj's' 
 service. He was elected First Lieutenant, served 
 out his time, then enlisted, in February, 1865, in 
 Company E, 150th Illinois Infantry. While at 
 Camp Butler he was made Quartermaster Sergeant, 
 and when the first vacancy occurred was made Sec- 
 ond Lieutenant of Company F, in the same regi- 
 ment. Subsequently he was commissioned First 
 Lieutenant of Company II, 136th U. S. Colored 
 Troops. After three week's service he was elected 
 Captain, but was discharged before receiving his 
 commission. He now draws a small pension. 
 
 Our subject was appointed to the Railway Postal 
 Service in January, 1872, first on the Chicago, 
 Danville & Vincennes, then transferred to the Illi- 
 nois Central and Rock Island Roads mostly, until 
 sending in his resignation on account of ill-health, 
 Oct. 27, 1883. He was first assistant at the post- 
 office in Danville, one year under Mr. Jewell, 
 which position he held until failing health compelled 
 him to retire. He has thus been about seventeen 
 years in the United States service, during which 
 time he discharged his duties in that faithful and 
 conscientious manner which made for him many 
 friends. 
 
 The 11th of September, 1859, witnessed the mar- 
 riage of our subject with Miss Ann M., daughter of 
 
 William Crawford, one of the earliest settlers of 
 this county, and now deceased. Of this union 
 there have been born three children, the eldest of 
 whom, Ida M., mairied Charles E. Chesley, of Dan- 
 ville, and is the mother of two children — Buelah and 
 Edna; Effle R. married Dr. D. C. Hinshaw, of 
 Ridge Farm, and of whom a sketch ai)pears else- 
 where in this volume; Mark L., the youngest of 
 the familjr, makes his home with his father. The 
 mother of these children departed this life April 3, 
 1874. Our subject contracted a second marriage, 
 May 12, 1880, with Mrs. Mary F. Little, widow of 
 George C. Little, and daughter of Dudley Mc- 
 Clain (deceased), and niece of Deacon Allen Me- 
 Clain, of Urbana. Mrs. Dicken had one child by 
 her first husband, Lewis McClain Little. She was 
 born at Old Bloorafield, this State, and is a lady 
 prominent in her community, being a devout mem- 
 ber of the Baptist Church, and a busy and earnest 
 Sunday-school worker. Mr. Dicken was the first 
 Commander of the G. A. R. Post at Kidge Farm, 
 and is still connected with the organization. He is 
 widely and favorably known to most of the older 
 residents of the county, is an honest man r.nd 
 good citizen, and has contributed his full share 
 toward the development of her most important 
 interests. 
 
 #^ 
 
 -I— 
 
 ^|t-^ENRY C. ELLIOTT, Attorney-at-Law and 
 'r iT Notary Public, is also President of the 
 ■s^^ County Board of Supervisors and makes 
 (^) his home and headquarters at Ridge Farm. 
 He is now entering upon his second term as a mem- 
 ber of the Board, and is fulfilling the duties of his 
 position in a manner creditable to himself and 
 satisfactory to his constituents. He is very popu- 
 lar among his fellow citizens, a man of a very 
 bright mind and more than ordinarily well in- 
 formed. His aim is to excel in whatever he under- 
 takes, and there is a fair prospect of his attaining 
 to his best ambitions. 
 
 A native of Wayne County, Ind., Mr. Elliott 
 was born Aug. 1, 1843. and is the son of Nathan 
 Elliott, a native of South Carolina and now de- 
 
550 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 ceased. The family left the South, removing to 
 Indiana, when Henry C. vva.s a small hoy. They 
 were among the earliest pioneers of thai region, 
 settling in the woods when Indians and wild animals 
 abounded. The mother in her girlhood was Miss 
 Naomi JNiendenhall, also a native of North Caro- 
 lina. Eight children were born to the parents, 
 seven of whom are living and of whom Henry C. 
 is the eldest. His sister, Annie E., Mrs. Rork, is a 
 resident of Sullivan, this State. Wesley lives at 
 Pilot Grove; Alvin makes his home in Cowley 
 County, Kan.; Clayton B. lives in Elwood Town- 
 ship, this county; Mary E., Mrs. Stogsdill, is a 
 resident of Spencer, Iowa; Dclphia, Sirs. Ljmch, 
 resides in Ridge Farm. Prior to his marriage with 
 the mother of our subject, Natlian Elliott was • 
 married to Elizabeth Maxwell, and to them there 
 were born three children, only one of whom is 
 living — John, of Elwood Township. 
 
 The Elliott family came to Elwood Township in 
 1855, settling one and one-half miles southwest of 
 Ridge Farm, where our subject pursued his primary 
 studies in the district school. He remained a 
 member of the parental household until the out- 
 break of the war, then enlisted as a ITnion soldier 
 in Company A, 79th Illinois Infantry, under com- 
 mand of Col. Buckner. He met the' enem}' in 
 battle at Rock Face Ridge, Dandridge, Resaca, New 
 Hope Church, Kenesaw Mountain, Marietta, Rose- 
 ville, Peav^h Tree Creek, Atlanta, Chattanooga and 
 Nashville. Fie was wounded at Atlanta July 22, 
 1864, but only disabled a short time, and remained 
 with his regiment until the close of the war, re- 
 ceiving his honorable discharge in June, 1865. 
 
 After the war our subject returned to this coun- 
 ty, teaching school three winters thereafter and 
 farming in summer until 1872. Then, repairing 
 to Danville, he entered upon a regular law course, 
 and later served four years as Justice of the Peace. 
 We next find him in Newman, Douglas County, 
 where he entered upon the regular practice of his 
 profession, and remained until the fall of 1882. 
 Afterward he spent four years in Menard and 
 Sangamon counties, i>rincipal]y engaged in the in- 
 surance business. He returned to the Ridge in 
 1886 and continued his practice with excellent 
 results. He was elected S\ipervisor in the spring 
 
 of 1888, and re-elected in 1889 with little or no 
 opposition. He discharges the duties of Chairman 
 of the Board with dignity and excellent judgment, 
 and has ever evinced a genuine interest in the wel- 
 fare of his adopted county. While teaching in 
 Edgar County he served as Justice of the Peace 
 two years, and one year was the Tax Collector of 
 Ross Township. 
 
 Mr. Elliott was married on the 7th of March, 
 1867, to Miss Rebecca, daughter of William Mills, 
 one of the earliest pioneers of this county and 
 now deceased. Five of the seven children born 
 of this union are living, namely : Oliver M., Annie 
 D., aiary. Flora and Blancite. One daughtei-, Ora, 
 was taken from the home circle by death when a 
 maiden of sixteen years. In this great affliction 
 Mr. and Mrs. Elliott were given the deep and 
 and heartfelt sympathy of their hosts of friends. 
 Another daughter, Emily, died in infancy; Oliver 
 is in the employ of the Missouri Pacific Railroad, 
 with headquarters at St. Louis. Mr. and ]Mrs. 
 Elliott are members of the Friends' Church at 
 Ridge Farm and our subject is a sound Republican. 
 Socially, he belongs to the Modern AVoodmen, and 
 as an ex-soldier is a member of the G. A. R. 
 
 AMES W. FISK. In connection with the 
 history of the men who came as pioneers to 
 this county, there is more of interest, per- 
 •^^ iiaps, than can be centered in any other 
 period of its existence; and they who looked upon 
 Central Illinois when it was in effect a wilderness, 
 and who assisted in the development of its rich re- 
 sources, have made for themselves an enduring 
 name, which from this time on is destined to be 
 perpetuated, for the people of to-day realize fully 
 the importance of preserving from oblivion the 
 records, which, as time goes on, seem to increase 
 rather than diminish in value. 
 
 In the subject of this notice we find one of the 
 leading men of Ridge Farm (having served one 
 term as President of the Board of Trustees of the 
 Village, and one term as a member of that body), 
 and at present a successful dealer in agricultural 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 551 
 
 implements, buggies, carriages, wagons and farm 
 machinery. Tiie earlier years of his life were filled 
 in with arduous labor, during which time he devel- 
 oped strength of muscle, and those qualities of mind 
 which have made him one of the most reliable and 
 substantial men of his community. He was born 
 six miles north of Greencastle, Putnam Co., Ind., 
 July 10, 1834, and is the son of Col. James Fisk, 
 one of the pioneers of that county. The Litter is 
 still living, and is now eighty-four years old. He 
 was born in Virginia, and removed to Indiana as 
 early as 1825. His father, John Fisk, became a 
 resident of Montgomery County, Ky., when James 
 was a boy, and settled among the Indians, whom 
 he often met in bloody conflict. He also served as 
 a soldier in the Revolutionary War. Col. James 
 Fisk married Cassander Frakes, daughter of Jo- 
 seph Frakes, also a revolutionary soldier and a 
 great Indian fighter. The men of this branch of 
 the Fisk family were noted for their courage and 
 daring, having been engaged in every one of our 
 country's wars, and the women for their virtue and 
 common sense. 
 
 James W. Fisk began his education in a subscrip- 
 tion school conducted in a log cabin, the seats 
 made of split logs, the floor of the same, and the 
 clapboard roof held to its place with knees ;ind 
 weight poles. The master began the exercises of 
 the day by administering the rod to those boys 
 whom he considered needed it most, and among 
 them, young Fisk received his share. After coming 
 lo this State, he attended a more advanced school 
 in Paris, in 1856. and made his home in Sims 
 Township. The first house in his father's neigh- 
 borhood whose roof was constructed without 
 weight poles, was the dwelling of Joseph Albin, 
 and the roof of this, was fastened by means of 
 gimlet holes with pins driven in, and was consid- 
 ered quite stylish. 
 
 In 1857, starting out for himself, our subject re- 
 paired to Coles County, wher,e he harvested one 
 crop. He then took up his residence in Clark 
 County, of which he was a resident until April, 
 1884. In tiie meantime, during the progress of 
 the Civil War, he enlisted in Company A, 38th 
 Indiana Infantry, in which he served nine months, 
 mostly as wagon-master, participating in some of 
 
 the most noted battles of the Rebellion, and in the 
 memorable march to the sea. In May, 1865, he 
 received a sunstroke, which disabled him for three 
 months. Although not being engaged in active 
 battle, lie saw much of tiie hardships and priva- 
 tions of a soldier's life — enough to make him, like 
 thousands of others, long for the return of peace. 
 
 Prior to entering the army, Mr. Fisk was mar- 
 ried, .Tan. 25, 1858, to Miss Sarah A., daughter of 
 Emanuel and Mary J. Dodd. This lady was born 
 in Clark County. 111., April 2, 1813, and they be- 
 came the parents of four children. Of these but 
 two are living — Robert W., born Nov. 7, 1858, 
 and J.'imesE., Sept. 21, 1863. James E. married Miss 
 Maggie E. Horner, and is the father of one child. 
 Earl A.; he has been in ill health for the past three 
 years, but is at present City Marshal of Ridge Farm 
 One son, Albert S., died Oct. 4, 1880, when a 
 promising young man of twenty years. Both Mr. 
 and Mrs. Fisk are members of the Methodist 
 Episcopal Church, and formerly attended Wesley 
 Chapel in Clark County. 
 
 Emanuel Dodd, the father of Mrs. Fisk, was 
 born near Dayton, Ohio, Feb. 12, 1816. He came 
 with his parents, when a boy, to Clark County, this 
 State, they settling, in 1830, on a tract of wild 
 land at a time when Indians were plentiful and wild 
 animals — deer, panthers and wolves — abounded. 
 The father of Mrs. Fisk carried on farming, and 
 later conducted a hotel in Melrose for many years. 
 The maiden name of the mother was Mary J. 
 Wells. Their family' consisted of two children 
 only — Mrs. Fisk, and her brother, Frank, who is 
 twenty years 3'ounger than she. Mrs. Fisk became 
 the mother of two children before her brother, 
 Frank, was born. The latter is a resident of Mel- 
 rose. 
 
 Mrs. Mary J. (Wells) Dodd departed this life 
 Dec. 31, 1880, and the father of J^lrs. Fisk died 
 June 9, 1884. Mrs. Fisk has been the true pioneer 
 wife and mother in every sense of the word, and 
 has done a great deal of hard work in her time. 
 During the absence of her husband in the army, 
 she plowed with oxen, planted corn with her own 
 hands, and performed all kinds of a man's labor 
 with the exception of making rails and cradling 
 wheat. In the meantime she exerted herself in the 
 
552 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 education of her children, and bestowed upon 
 them that careful, motherly training which no con- 
 scientious woman is willing to dispense with. She 
 deserves special mention among those whose names 
 are honorably recorded in this volume. 
 
 f, j^JLLIAM H. MILLS. The farming com- 
 munitjr of Carroll Township is composed 
 
 ¥ 
 
 of a large number of more than ordinaril}^ 
 intelligent and progressive men, and among them 
 may be numbered Mr. Mills, who evidentlj^ has the 
 proper conception of life in the countrjr and the 
 advantages to be derived therefrom, as a means of 
 expanding the mind, the tastes and the intellect. 
 While an excellent business man and prosperous in 
 tne accumulation of this world's goods, he does not 
 place the acquisition of money above all other things 
 but gives due attention to those matters which 
 nourish the affections, enlarge the understanding 
 and enter into the home life, making it beautiful 
 and the condition most to be desired on earth. In 
 his worthy ambitions and his cultivated tastes, Mr. 
 Mills has a most ardent sympathizer and helper in 
 the person of his amiable and accomplished wife, 
 who has illustrated in a marked manner the influ- 
 ence which a woman may have in the construction 
 of a home and the happiness of a family. The 
 Mills farm in all its appointments very nearlj' ap. 
 proaches the ideal country estate, set in the midst 
 of peace and plenty and with the surroundings 
 which are so delightful to contemplate. 
 
 Our subject, a native of this county, was born 
 in Elwood Township Feb. 18, 1843, and spent his 
 boyhood days at the old Mills homestead. He was 
 at an early age trained to habits of industry and 
 while pursuing his studies in the district school, 
 likewise pursued an excellent course of reading at 
 borne under the instruction of his excellent mother, 
 the father having died when he was a small child. 
 He and his brother Richard, at the ages of twelve 
 and ten years respectively, practically assumed the 
 management of the farm and a few years later en- 
 gaged successfully in the live-stock business, send- 
 ing annually to market large numbers of fat cattle. 
 
 Mr. Mills and his brotlier have worked and 
 farmed together since boyhood and still continue 
 in partnership. The)' have been phenomenally 
 successful and are numbered among the substantial 
 and influential men of the county. In addition to 
 general farming and cattle-raising, they are distin- 
 guishing themselves as skillful breeders of Clydes- 
 dale horses and are able to exhibit some very fine 
 and valuable animals. William H., in 1879 was 
 united in marriage with Miss Anna Woodyard, who 
 was born in Wirt County (now West) Virginia, 
 Dec. 23, 1849. Her parents were Louis and Cath- 
 erine (Wiseman) Woodyard, also natives of the Old 
 Dominion, and who came to Illinois in April, 1865, 
 stopping in Paris, Edgar County, two weeks. Upon 
 the day of Lincoln's assassination they removed to 
 the farm which they now own and occupy in Ross 
 Township, that countjr. Their eleven children 
 were all born in Virginia. The eldest son, William, 
 is still living there and occupied as a merchant, in 
 Spencer; he has been prominent in politics and is 
 a member of the State Senate. Harriet is the 
 widow of Senator Alfred Foster of West Firginia, 
 and makes her home with her father in Ross Town- 
 ship, Edgar County. Senator Foster came to Illi- 
 nois about 1867, and died here some few years 
 later. Caleb is one of the leading farmers of Ross 
 Township; James owns a farm and resides near 
 Parsons, Kan.; Mary is the wife of Abe Pribble of 
 Prairie Township, Edgar County; Isaac is farming 
 in Ross Township, that county; John is a grain 
 bu3'er of Woodyard Station and makes his home 
 with his parents; Frank is farming in Prairie 
 Township; Emma is the wife of Louis Riffe, a dry- 
 goods merchant of Craig, Mo. 
 
 Mrs. Mills was a young girl of fifteen years 
 when her parents came to Illinois, her life prior to 
 this time having been spent among the mountains 
 of her native State. She attended school quite 
 steadil}' until the outbreak of the Rebellion, and 
 was a pupil in the district school after coming to 
 this State. She remained a member of her father's 
 household until her marriage. Afterward Mr. 
 Mills and his wife took up their abode at their 
 present homestead, the old Holiday farm which 
 Mr. Mills had purchased prior to his marriage and 
 which comprises a little over 241 acres of land. 
 
&J(ui/y4^ ^Mc^m^ 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 555 
 
 The two brothers are the proprietors together of 
 700 acres and operate under the Arm name of R. 
 & W. U. Mills. 
 
 To our subject and his estimable wife thoie has 
 been born one child, a daughter, Blanche, July 30, 
 1880. Politically, Mr. Mills affiliates with the Re- 
 publican party. He is the pronounced friend of 
 education and donated $200 to the ^'crmilion 
 Grove Academy. His father, John M. Mills, was 
 born in Knox County, Tenn., and came to Illinois 
 with his parents when a boy of five or six years. 
 He was the son of John and Charity (Mendenhall) 
 Mills who emigrated from Tennessee at an early 
 day, settling in this county when Indians and wild 
 animals were plentiful. He chose farming for his 
 vocation and when reaching man's estate was mar 
 ried to Miss Elizabeth Mendenhall. They became 
 the parents of three children, the eldest of whom is 
 a daughter, Jane, who is now Mrs. Maddock and a 
 resident of Bloomingdale, Ind. The others were 
 Richard and William II., our subject. 
 
 Mrs. Elizabeth (Mendenhall) Mills was born 
 near Xenia, Greene Co., Ohio, and is now an in- 
 telligent old lady of seventy-two years. She makes 
 her home with Richard, her son. The wife of our 
 subject is a member in good standing of the Meth- 
 odist Episcopal Church. 
 
 ^S^ HARLES S. YOUNG, a prominent citizen 
 '/(^-^ of Vermilion Count}^ and one of i^s leading 
 ^^if agriculturists, is distinguished as having 
 been one of the very early settlers of the cour.iy. 
 Coming here in 1829, he has not only witnessed 
 almost its entire growth, but has been an importai)t 
 factor in bringing it to its present high condili<.,n 
 as a wealthy and flourishing community. He 0"ns 
 not less than twenty-five farms within the limits of 
 Vermillion County, and cultivates a large nuinl/cr 
 of acres from which he derives a fine income. 
 His home for many j'ears has been on his estate on 
 section 21, Newell Township, where he has erected 
 a substantial and roomy set of buildings, includ- 
 ing a handsome residence, second to none in the 
 township in beauty of architecture and neat appoint- 
 
 ments. Mr. Young is literally a self-made man, as 
 he began life without any means, and when he 
 came here he had only an eagle, a half dollar and 
 twenty-five cents in his pocket. That small sum 
 of money handled judiciously proved the nucleus 
 of a fortune in his hands, and to-day he stands 
 among the richest men in this locality. 
 
 Our subject is a Kentuckian by birth, born in 
 AVoodford County, Sept. 16, 1809, the second of 
 five children of James and Lucinda (Baldwin) 
 Young, the former a native of Woodford Count}', 
 Ky., and the latter of Culpeper Court House, Ya. 
 They married and settled in Woodford County, 
 Kj'., where they spent their entire wedded life. 
 He died in Harrison, and then she came to Ver- 
 milion County and made her home with our subject 
 till death called her hence. Charles Young, of this 
 sketch, was reared to manhood in his native county, 
 living there until he was nineteen j'ears old. He 
 married there, and in 1829, coming to Vermilion 
 County, settled in Newell Township on the 14th 
 day of October, sixty years ago. He purchased 
 eight}' acres of wild prairie land three miles south 
 of his present residence, and lived there for manj' 
 years. In 1857 he purchased the property which 
 has ever since been his home. He has met with 
 more than usual success, as before noted. He has 
 engaged largely in agricultural pursuits and in 
 stock-raising, has bought and sold all kinds of 
 stock, and has driven horses to the Cincinnati, 
 Chicago, Racine and Milwaukee markets. During 
 the Mexican war he was operating in Cincinnati, 
 and has been extraordinarily successful in all his 
 enterprises. He has been connected with numer- 
 ous transactions involving large amounts of money, 
 although he has never signed his name to anything 
 in his life. 
 
 January 14, 1829, Mr. Young's marriage with 
 Elizabeth Leonard was duly solemnized in Har- 
 rison County, Ky. She was born in that county 
 January 27, 1810, and her death occurred in this 
 county November 21, 1871 after a happy wedded 
 life of more than forty-two years. She was a 
 pleasant, kind-hearted woman, a sincere Christian, 
 and a valued member of the Methodist Episcopal 
 Church, and always took a great interest in all 
 religious matters. To her and her husband were 
 
556 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 born nine children, six daughters and thiec sons, 
 of whom the following is recorded: Mary E. is 
 the wife of Milton Hess; Lucindian is the wife of 
 Franklin Stevens; Martha J. is the wife of John 
 Huffman; Cindicais the wife of George Claypool; 
 Noah married Mary Cunningliam ; Samantha is the 
 wife of Andrew Huffman; Leonard married Mary 
 J. Chandler, and died in Vermilion County, March 
 9, 1871; James L. married Miss Nanc}^ Silvey, 
 who died, and he afterward married Miss Elizabeth 
 Norris; Matilda C. married Dean Tomlinson, and 
 died in Vermilion County, February, 22, 1889. 
 
 In this brief life-record of our subject it will 
 be seen that he is a man of more than ordinary 
 sagacity, foresight, and shrewd business ability. 
 He has led an honorable, upright life, has wronged 
 no one in his many extensive dealings, and has 
 gained a good name as well as riches, his word 
 being as good as a bond wherever he is known. 
 He is interested in the political situations of the 
 day, and is a stanch Democrat of the Jackson ian 
 type. A portrait of Mr. Young appears elsewhere 
 in this work. 
 
 -i^^- 
 
 W EVI HENRY GRAVES, belongs to one of 
 ll (?§) the pioneer families, being the son of James 
 Ijj — ^\ and Margaret (Blackburn) Graves, and was 
 born Feb. 25, 1827, at the village of Millersburg, 
 Ky., where his father was occupied as a cabinet- 
 maker. The family came to Illinois in Septem- 
 ber, 1828, battled with the elements of life on the 
 frontier, and made for themselves an admirable 
 record as members of a settlement struggling for 
 recognition and destined to form the nucleus of one 
 of the most intelligent communities of the great 
 West. 
 
 James Graves and his excellent wife were natives 
 respectively of Mercer and Clark counties, Ky. 
 The paternal grandfather of our subject was a na- 
 tive of Scotland and crossed the Atlantic in time 
 to assist in the early settlement of Mercer County. 
 He was married and reared a family and his son 
 James, the father of our subject, signalized himself 
 as a soldier in the War of 1812, fighting under Gen. 
 Harrison on the River Thames, in Canada, and be- 
 
 coming a personal friend of the hero of Tippeca- 
 noe. He was married in Clark County, Ky., 
 whither his father had removed during his boy- 
 hood. 
 
 James Graves followed cabinet-making about 
 twelve years after coming to Illinois. He made 
 his first trip to the State in company with Isaac San- 
 dusky and they both took up land in Vermilion 
 County, about one-half mile from each other. In 
 1828 they brought their families here, settling in 
 their new homes in October of that j'ear. Mr. 
 Graves prospered in his undertaking and became 
 the owner of 400 acres of land in what is now 
 Georgetown Township. He departed this life in 
 1857 at the age of sixty-seven years. The mother 
 survived her husband thirty years, remainino- a 
 widow and passing away in 1887 at the advanced 
 age of ninety-three years. They brought with them 
 seven children from the Blue Grass State and four 
 more were added to the family circle after they 
 became residents of Illinois. The eleven were 
 named respectivelj': Greenville H., Evaline, Or- 
 ville S., Cerelda, Joseph B. and James L., twins, 
 and Levi Henry; all these were born in Kentucky. 
 The others were: Mary, who died at the age of 
 five or six years; Franklin, Melvina, and John L., 
 natives of Illinois. 
 
 The father of our subject practically abandoned 
 his trade after coming to Illinois and turned his 
 attention to farming. Levi H., our subject, was 
 brought here an infant at a time when deer and 
 other wild game were plentiful and when the set- 
 tlers still felt insecure from the Indians. On the 
 prairie the grass grew higher than the back of an 
 ordinary horse. Fever and ague added to the 
 other discouragements encountering the pioneers, 
 but they were made of stern stuff and there were 
 but few who withdrew from the contest and sought 
 their old homes in the East. All the Graves' 
 children were required to make themselves useful 
 around the homestead, and our subject when but a 
 lad commenced breaking prairie with the old-fash- 
 ioned "Kerr^" plow and cut grain with the reaping 
 hook or sickle. The introduction of the cradle 
 which he remembers well, was looked upon as a re- 
 markable invention. It was the popular opinion at 
 that time that prairie land was of little value so the 
 
PORTRAIT AKD BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 557 
 
 people settled in the timber from which they 
 cleared the trees and cultivated the soil. Very 
 little wheat was used during the first few years, and 
 the corn was ground in a mill of very primitive 
 construction and operated by horse power. 
 
 Our subject remained at home with his parents 
 until tvventy-three years old, but in the meantime 
 had been planning for an establisliment of his own. 
 On tlie 21st of Febnrary, 1850, he was united in 
 marriage with Miss Matilda, daughter of John and 
 Mary (Medscor) Cook, of Fulton County, to which 
 they had emigrated from Ohio. Mrs. Graves was 
 born in Brown County, Ohio, and was a young 
 lady when coming to Illinois with her parents. 
 
 After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Graves settled 
 upon a little farm of forty acres in Vermilion 
 County, which formed the nucleus of their present 
 homestead, upon which they have since lived with 
 the exception of three years which Mr. Graves 
 spent in improving a farm in Bureau County, 111. 
 Of this marriage there were born four children, the 
 eldest of vyhom a daughter, Olive A., married David 
 E. Moore, and lives in Montgomery County, Kan., 
 and is the mother of nine children — Milton A., 
 Levi H., Matilda, Lydia A., George W., James A., 
 Mary D., Hannah L. and Daisy; Mary M. married 
 Milton Ashby of the above mentioned county and 
 is the mother of four children— Lillie N., James 
 L., Alva M., and Maud M.; Amanda M. married 
 Samuel O'Niel, of Montgomery County, Kan., and 
 has two children — Minnie L. and Gertude. James 
 died when two years old. The mother of these 
 children passed from earth in 1859. 
 
 Mr. Graves contracted a second marriage in 1 8(1 1 
 with Mrs. Lucinda (Bayless) Chandler, daughter of 
 Samuel Bayless. Her father and motlier wen; 
 natives of the Blue Grass State, where she lived 
 until her first marriage, of which there was bor.i 
 one child, a daughter, Mary Alice. Of her union 
 with our subject there are four children — Mariha 
 B., Lou A. and Emma S., twins, and Letta. jNLirtha 
 married Luther A. Clingan, a resident of Geor_;e- 
 town Township, and they have two children — 
 Blanche and Herschell; ^Lou became the wife of 
 Dennis Clinan and is a resident of Catlin Town- 
 ship; they have no children; Emma S. and Letta 
 are at home with their parents. The farm com- 
 
 prises 340 acres of prime land upon which Mr. 
 Graves has labored industriously for years and de- 
 veloped its best resources. He has labored early 
 and late and for the first few years, before the ad- 
 vent of the mower and reaper, swung the cradle in 
 the harvest field and farmed amid the other diffi- 
 culties and disadvantages of that time. He is a 
 strong temperance advocate and in politics a 
 warm supporter of the Republican party. He cast 
 his first Presidential vote for Henry Clay, being a 
 Whig until the abandonment of the old part}' and 
 totally opposed to the institution of slaver}'. He 
 and his wife and their daughters are members in 
 good standing of the Christian Church, in which 
 INIr. Graves officiates as Elder. 
 
 >-^^^^;^^^^f^}<^ 
 
 ■<-S-' 
 
 ^liOHN BROOKS. The names Brooks and 
 Brooks Point, bring back recollections of 
 early days to all of the older settlers in the 
 lU^//' southeastern part of this county. Benja- 
 min Brooks, father of the subject of this notice, 
 came to this region in the fall of 1821. The 
 mother, Matilda (Manville) Brooks, was a native 
 of Madison, Ind., and came to this county from 
 Jefferson County, Ind. They were married in 
 Indiana. The father was a millwright by trade 
 and died from the effects of ague, while building a 
 mill on Sugar Creek. He left a widow with five 
 children, and another child was born after his 
 death. The second child, David, died in infancj'. 
 Tlie others were named respectively: Benjamin, 
 Polly, Sarah, John and Lucinda. The mother was 
 married a second time and there were born five 
 more children ; of this family six are living and 
 located mostly in Illinois. 
 
 John Brooks was born March, 20, 1824, in Ver- 
 milion County, 111. Upon the second marriage of 
 his mother he left home and thereafter "paddled 
 his own canoe." When about thirteen years old 
 he became a member of the family of John Black, 
 an old Kentuckian and pioneer and remained with 
 him seven years. Like Jacob of old, he worked 
 these seven years for a daughter of Mr. Black, Miss 
 Louisa T., to whom he was married in 1837. and 
 
558 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 afterward settled iienr Brooks Point, wliich was 
 named after liis father. This marriage resulted in 
 the birth of eight children, the eldest of wliom, 
 Tilda .7., bec.nme the wife of Thomas W. Blak- 
 eiiey, who is re|)resented elsewhere in this work, 
 and they live in Westville; Belle became the wife 
 of John Nicholas, a railroad man of Westville. and 
 they have six children — Ed, Lou, Bert, Ella, D.ycie, 
 and C)ney; John P., married Miss Josie Cunning- 
 ham and is farming in Catlin Township, they have 
 three children — CUara, Bobbie and Elsie; Robert 
 L. is farming in Dakota, he married Miss Saloina 
 l^ukes; they have three children — Ethel, Coy, and 
 ^.)^a; laiiha befaine the wife of Charles Snook, a 
 farmer of Dakota and they have four children — 
 Chester, Ada, Raj-, and John Franklin; Benjamin 
 Franklin, Rosella G., and Sarah K. are living 
 with their father. 
 
 Mr. Brooks is supposed to be the oldest pioneer 
 in Georgetown Township, if not in the county, 
 having come here as early as 1821. He saw the 
 face of the country when it was a wild, uncultivated 
 prairie abounding with wild animals, when deer 
 were plentiful and when the cabins of the settlers 
 were few and far between. He has been a privi- 
 ledged witness of the great change, which has trans- 
 formed the wilderness into cultivated farms and 
 prosperous villages, and has ai-isen from a humble 
 position in life to that well-to-do citizen, the 
 owner of two good farms, one in Georgetown and 
 one in Catlin Township. Upon becoming a voting 
 citizen he identified himself with the old Whig 
 party, remaining with it until its abandonment in 
 1856, then east his lot with the Republicans. This 
 party has his warmest support and he keeps himself 
 well posted upon currrent events. He is a man of 
 decided ideas and one justly proud of his pioneer- 
 ship. 
 
 ;f/„^ENRY FLETCHER. The farmers of this 
 V day read a great deal of literature pertain- 
 ing to their calling and they digest it. 
 _ The time has gone by when agriculturists 
 scoff at what has been popularly called " book 
 farming." The farmer who reads the most and who 
 
 , heeds what he reads, is invariably the man who suc- 
 ceeds the best in his vocation. Natural intelligence 
 can he largely supplemented by judicious reading. 
 One of the men who has brought a great deal of 
 intelligence to bear upon his business is the person 
 whose name initiates this sketch. He never omits 
 to do anything that will forward his interests, and 
 his information in this respect is gleaned by copi- 
 ous reading. 
 
 Henry Fletcher is one of the most prosperous 
 and intelligent farmers of this county. He owns 
 and operates a large farm on section 32 in Elwood 
 Township. He is a native of this county, having 
 been born at Vermilion Grove, Oct. 28, 1839. 
 John Fletcher, his father (whose biography appears 
 eisewhere in this work), removed to a farm which 
 [lis son Henry now owns, in March, 1840. Henry 
 received a common school education, which was 
 finished at the Bloomingdale Academy, under 
 Prof. Hobbs. He was always desirous of attaining 
 a good education, and consequently was studiously 
 inclined. This desire bore fruit, and therefore Mr. 
 Fletcher is in possession of a good common-sense 
 education. On the 14th of March, 1861, he mar- 
 ried Mahala Haworth, daughter of Eh Haworth, 
 an early settler of this county. She was born in 
 Georgetown, this county, Oct. 15, 1842, and re- 
 ceived her education at the public schools. She is 
 the mother of eight children, six of whom are liv- 
 ing: John Albert I., Marcus S., William R., Lydia 
 R. and Ola M.; John married Grace Butler, and 
 they are living near Hildreth, 111., with their three 
 children, Henry, Howard and Charlie H.; Albert 
 married Belle Newlin; he is living with his father, 
 woiking on the old homestead. 
 
 Mr. Fletcher owns one of the best farms in Ver- 
 milion County, everything considered. It consists 
 of 333 acres and is all under improvement. Its 
 owner has done everything to make it a good farm, 
 that intelligence might suggest. He is a farmer 
 and a stock-raiser on a large scale, and in this par- 
 ticular line he has prospered in a large degree. 
 The place is supplied with fine buildings of all 
 kinds. The residence is a model of convenience, 
 and its interior is furnished in good style. Mr. 
 Fletcher has held the ofHce of Highway Commis- 
 sioner in Prairie Township, Edgar County, for 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 559 
 
 five years, having lived just across the line for 
 eleven years. He has also been a Supervisor, fill- 
 ing these oIBces with rare fidelity. He is an influ- 
 ential member of the.Friends' Church, to which his 
 family also belongs. He is connected with the 
 lodge of Modern Woodmen. Mr. Fletcher enjoys 
 a reputation among a large circle of acquaintances 
 of being a man of good judgment and possess- 
 ing all the attributes Uiat belong to a good citizen. 
 If there is anything in his community talked of 
 that looks to the public good, Mr. Fletcher is in- 
 terested in it, and his undivided efforts can always 
 be drawn upon in any project that looks for the 
 betterment of his fellow man. 
 
 --^.4^=iL 
 
 -^ 
 
 '"/ir^=s 
 
 (|l_^ON. ANDREW GUNDY, one of the promi- 
 
 'r iV nent merchants and public men of A'ermilion 
 
 1 1 jf' 
 
 i^^ County, was born on the 20th of November, 
 
 (^) 1829. His father and mother, Joseph and 
 Sarah Gundy, were natives of Pennsylvania and 
 Ohio respectively. They were married in the latter 
 State and afterward emigrated to Indiana, where 
 they remained for a short time, when they re- 
 moved to Vermilion County and settled near 
 Myersville. Joseph Gundy was the owner of 
 about 4,000 acres of land, which he improved. 
 He was counted as one of the leading citizens of 
 the county, and sustained an excellent reputation 
 for probity and business tact. He died in 1864, 
 while his wife preceded him to the grave in 1854. 
 A stately monument is erected to their memory in 
 the Gundy cemetery, and one which this worthy 
 couple deserve, for there were no better people 
 living. 
 
 Andrew Gundy received his education at the 
 Georgetown High School. After leaving the 
 school he embarked in the mercantile business in 
 Myersville, where he also was engaged in shipping 
 grain and other farm products. He continued in 
 this business until 1877 when he gave it up to at- 
 tend to the interests of his large farm of 300 acres, 
 all of which is improved. As a farmer, Mr. Gundy 
 hns met with all the success that the most ambiti- 
 ous could desire, and he is one of the many men 
 
 who believe that agricultural pursuits are as sus- 
 ceptible of intelligent direction as any other. 
 There are many farmers in this broad land who 
 believe that " book farming" is impracticable, and 
 that the authors of the works on agriculture are 
 men who know nothing of what they write. This 
 is all a mistaken idea, as can be illustrated all over 
 the great State of Illinois, where farmers' litera- 
 ture is read and digested. As before suggested, 
 Mr. Gundy believes that it paj-s to read up on ag- 
 ricultural affairs as well as any other. 
 
 In politics Mr. Gundy is an honest hard-working 
 and conscientious Republican, and by his fidelity 
 to the party of his choice, coupled with his natural 
 abilities, he has risen to be one of the leaders of 
 the Republican party in A'ermilion County. The 
 people, recognizing in him the qualities that unite 
 in forming a good officer, have repeatedly elected 
 him to responsible positions, and they have never 
 been mistaken in their choice. In 1861 he was 
 elected to the office of Supervisor and has held that 
 oflTice a great deal of the time since. In 1874 he 
 was elected a member of the Lower House of the 
 Illinois Assembly, a position he Ijeld for two y i-. 
 giving complete satisfaction as a law-maker. He 
 served on important committees in the House and 
 always voted right. 
 
 Mr. Gundy is an attendant of the Methodist 
 Church and is prominent in the affairs of that or- 
 ganization. He never married. He divides liis 
 time between his agricultural occupation and trav- 
 eling. A^ermilion County has no better citizen 
 than the Hon. Andrew Gundy. 
 
 =:=glfe^ 
 
 AMUEL ROSS MORGAN. The man who 
 has lived uprightly, attended strictly to his 
 business, defrauded none, and advanced 
 the business interests of his community, has 
 made for himself a record which he may justly 
 look upon with pride. He has added dignity to 
 his calling whatever it may be, and shown to the 
 world what may be accomplished by steady perse- 
 verance, courage and industry. 
 
 Mr. Morgan is a leading grocer of Ridge Farm, 
 
560 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 and one who has performert no unimportant part 
 in the (development of its various interests. In poli- 
 tics he is a ,^oun(I Republican, and after the election 
 of Benjamin Harrison, in the fall of 1888, signal- 
 ized his patriotism by one of the biggest bonfires 
 of cigar boxes probably ever built of this material. 
 The flames crackled and roared, and added meas- 
 urably to the general noise and hilarity following 
 upon that glorious Republican victory. 
 
 A native of Elwood Township, our subject was 
 born March 24, 1836, and is the son of Dr. Levi 
 Morgan, deceased. The latter was a native of Vir- 
 ginia, and came to Illinois in 1834, settling in 
 Georgetown, wliere he engaged in the practice of 
 his profession, and conducted a drug store several 
 years. In 1838, while on a visit to his native 
 State he died, in Cambridge, Ohio. Samuel Ross 
 was the only child of his parents, and after the 
 death of his fatiier his mother removed to Berkley 
 County, where our subject was reared, and at- 
 tended school at Bunkerhill. His mercantile expe- 
 rience commenced when he was a mere boy, and he 
 has all his life been more or less in the channels of 
 trade. 
 
 In 1870 Mr. Morgan repaired to Baltimore, Md., 
 where he was engaged as clerk in a hardware and 
 grocery store, but later embarked in the grocery 
 business on his own account. He sojourned in 
 Baltimore four years, then came to this county, and 
 in 1883 established himself in his present business. 
 He carries a full stock of everything pertaining to 
 his line — groceries, provisions, crockery, glass and 
 queensware, cigars and tobacco, having an espec- 
 ially fine trade in the latter. He operates with a 
 capital stock of 11,800 and his annual sales aggre- 
 gate 18,000. His trade and stock are steadily in- 
 creasing, while he has a flrst-class location, and fuU^' 
 understands the art of handling goods and dealino- 
 with customers. Always courteous and obliging, 
 those who visit him once are sure to call again. 
 
 Miss Sally S. Dare became the wife of our sub- 
 ject Aug. 10, 1 870. She is the daughter of Dr. John 
 Dare, late of Baltimore, Md., and was born in Cal- 
 vert County, that State. She was reared and edu- 
 cated in the city of Baltimoie, and is a member of 
 the Episcopal Church. Mr. Morgan, aside from 
 enunciating his political principles as opportunities 
 
 occur, meddles very little with matters outside of 
 his business, although in 1888 he officiated as Vil- 
 lage Treasurer. Socially he belongs to the I. 0. 0. F. 
 The pleasant and attractive home of the Morgans, 
 situated in the east part of the town, is the resort 
 of its best people, and the abode of refined and cul- 
 tivated tastes. 
 
 R. DOUGAN C. HINSHAW. It may be 
 safe to say that there are comparatively 
 few physicians who have a full sense of 
 
 the vital importance of their calling 
 
 taken in all its phases — and to what extent the hap- 
 piness of mankind is dependent upon their knowl- 
 edge of their profession. In order to attain com- 
 plete success there must not only be a practical 
 and thorough education in the intricacies of the 
 art of healing, but a humane and sympathetic 
 understanding of the extent to which the mind 
 may influence the body. In most cases drugs and 
 medicines are of little avail unless other condi- 
 tions are equal. The subject of this notice has 
 built up a large and lucrative practice, and the 
 fact that he is uniformly popular, speaks well for 
 him as the humane physician as well as the hon- 
 ored citizen. He is a man of fine intellect, a deep 
 thinker and an extensive reader, and omits no op- 
 portunity of availing himself of the latest methods 
 connected with the practice of his profession. 
 
 Dr. Hinshaw has been located at Ridge Farm 
 since the middle of August, 1882. He established 
 himself here soon after being graduated from the 
 Medical College of Indiana, at Indianapolis, where 
 he had taken a three-years' course. For four 
 months thereafter he practiced in Vermilion Grove, 
 and thence came to Ridge Farm. He is equally 
 good in both general practice and surgery. He is 
 essentially a Western man, having been born in 
 Hamilton County, Ind., April 22, 1858, and is the 
 son of John HinshaM', a native of Randolph 
 County, N. C. 
 
 The father of our subject came North in 1851, 
 locating in Indiana, of which he is still a resident. 
 The paternal great-grandfather of our subject was 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 561 
 
 of Scotch ancestry. Dougan C. first attended the 
 common schools of Westfield, in his native county, 
 and later attended the High School, from which he 
 was graduated in 1877. Soon afterward he began 
 the reading of medicine, and in order to augment 
 his income engaged as a teacher. In 1879 he en- 
 tered upon his medical course in the college at In- 
 diana, where he paid strict attention to his bool<s, 
 with the result already indicated. 
 
 Dr. Hinshaw was married, Sept. 6, 1883, to Miss 
 Effle R., daughter of David S. Dicken, of Elwood 
 Township, and they are now the parents of two 
 children, only one of whom is living — Hazel Bes- 
 sie. The Doctor owns a good residence in the 
 western part of the town, which is the favorite re- 
 sort for the best people of his community. He is a 
 Republican, politically, and socially, a member of 
 the Modern W"oodmen. He belongs to the Society 
 of Friends, while his estimable wife in her religi- 
 ous belief is identified with the Methodist Epis- 
 copal Church. They stand high in social circles, 
 and their home is one indicative of cultivation and 
 refinement, and whose inmates are surrounded by 
 all the comforts of life. 
 
 #^ 
 
 -i^— 
 
 OATHAN J. NORRIS, M. D.,son of a pio- 
 neer family of Vermilion County, has had 
 an honorable career in life, both as a skill- 
 ful physician and as a practical, successful farmer. 
 Within a few years he has retired from the practice 
 of his profession and now devotes his time almost 
 exclusively to the management of his fine farm in 
 Newell Township, on section 26. 
 
 The Doctor is a native of Ohio, born in Brown 
 County Dec. 14, 1824. He comes of good old 
 Kentucky families, both of his parents, James and 
 Elizabeth (Carter) Norris, having been born in 
 that State, children of its early settlers. The 
 mother was reared and married there. The father 
 was reared in Ohio, but born in Kentucky, and 
 subsequently settled in Brown County, Ohio, where 
 tlicy remained till the fall of 1833. In that season, 
 animated by the pioneer spirit that had actuated 
 their sires to penetrate the wilds of Kentucky, they 
 
 set out for the rude, sparsely settled country em- 
 braced in Vermilion County, this State, to take up 
 their abode among its earliest white settlers. They 
 were among the first to settle in what is now Oak- 
 wood Township, and there the patient, self-sacviQc- 
 ing mother died in 1841. The father of our 
 subject, after the sad loss of his wife, came to 
 Newell Township and here spent his remaining 
 days, dying in 1850. 
 
 Our subject was the eldest of the ten children 
 born to him and his wife. He was a lad of nine 
 years when he came with his parents to their new 
 home in Oakwood Township, and there he passed 
 the remaining years of his boyhood and youth. He 
 gleaned his early education in the public schools in 
 Brown County, Ohio, and in this county, and in 
 1854, returning to his native county he took up the 
 study of medicine, attending lectures in Cincinnati. 
 He was graduated from the American Medical 
 College, in which institution he Ind maintained a 
 high standing among the leading scholars of iiis 
 class. After getting his diploma he began to 
 practice his profession in Georgetown, Ohio, where 
 he remained till 1864, the skill and success with 
 which he treated difficult cases securing him a la'-ps 
 number of patients. In that year he returned to 
 Vermilion County, and purchasing 110 acres 
 of fine farming land in Newell Township 
 has since lived here. For many years he was 
 in active practice, ranking high among the mem- 
 bers of the medical profession in this county, but 
 in 1886 he retired from that vocation and has since 
 given his entire time to the improvement and 
 cultivation of his farm. He now owns 153 
 acres of land, and has erected a substan- 
 tial set of farm buildings, including a well- 
 appointed dwelling, which is one of the most 
 attractive homes in the vicinity. 
 
 Dr. Norris and Miss Martha Norris were united 
 in marriage Jan. 29, 1852, in Brown County, Ohio. 
 She was born in that county Feb. 17, 1827, and 
 was the eldest of the five children of Nathan and 
 Phillis Norris, natives, respectively, of Maryland 
 and Kentucky. They married and settled in Brown 
 County, Ohio, where they passed their remaining 
 years, he carrying on the occupation of a farmer. 
 Dr. and Mrs. Norris are the parents of nine children : 
 
502 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 Nathan J. Jr., Emma P., Lizzie D., John M., Eva, 
 Mattie, Luella, William N., Jennie. John M. died 
 when about two j-ears old. 
 
 Oiu- subject has been greatly blessed in the 
 possession of a wife of high personal character, 
 much tact and amiability of disposition, at once a 
 lielpmate and companion. Their social position is 
 among the best people in the communitj^ The 
 doctor has mingled much in the public life of the 
 township, as his learning and ripe judgment make 
 him a wise counselor, and for five years he has held 
 the important office of Supervisor. He has always 
 manifested a genuine interest in the cause of edu- 
 cation, and while serving in the various local school 
 offices has promoted it as much as possible. In 
 politics he is a standi adherent of the Democratic 
 party. 
 
 -# 
 
 M^, ILTON MILLS, of Carroll Township, a 
 gentleman widely and favorably known in 
 his community, is a scion of one of the 
 pioneer families of this county and he is 
 pardonably proud of the fact that the}' bore no un- 
 important part in its early development. They 
 were simple and honest people, Quakers in religious 
 belief, and reared their children to habits of in- 
 dustry and principles of honor, impressing upon 
 their minds the importance of truthfulness, morality 
 and industry. 
 
 Mr. Mills has a countenance which indicates the 
 results of his early training, which instilled within 
 him contempt for a mean action, and the love of 
 all which is liealthful and broadening, both to the 
 heart and intellect. He is prominent in the circle 
 of Friends in this county and has taken an active 
 part in the Sunday-school carried on by them. His 
 father, William Mills, was one of the leading pio- 
 neers of Central Illinois and lived in three different 
 counties without changing bis place of residence — 
 all being at one time Edgar County and undergo- 
 ing subsequent divisions. He had come to Illinois 
 when a young man of twenty years and when this 
 region was a wilderness. He was one of the first 
 men to build a house within the present limits of 
 
 Vermilion County, and afterwards traveled forty 
 miles to mill in Indiana, driving a four-horse team 
 and occupying several days in making the journey. 
 He transported his live pork on foot to Chicago at 
 a time when Indians and wild animals were plenti- 
 ful and experienced all the hardships and privations 
 of life on the frontier. He was successful as a til- 
 ler of the soil, accumulating a comfortable prop- 
 erty and rested from his earthly labors in 1872, 
 passing awaj' at the old homestead in Elwood 
 Township when seventy-four years of age. 
 
 Mrs. Jane B. (Durham) Mills, the mother of our 
 subject, was born in Indiana, where she was reared 
 to womanhood and came to Illinois with her pa- 
 rents. She was married prior to her union with 
 Mr. Mills and became the mother of one child — 
 Dorcas D. Hunt — who married Josephus Hollings- 
 worth and lives in this county. Mr. Mills had also 
 been previously married and had become the father 
 of five children, viz: Adam M., Sarah J., Arminta, 
 Maiy A. and Rebecca. To AV^illiam and Jane B. 
 Mills there were born six children — William D., 
 Emma, Milton, our subject, Pleasant, Milo E. and 
 Everett. The mother died in 1880 at the age of 
 sixty-four years. 
 
 The subject of this sketch was born Dec. 1, 1853 
 in Elwood Township, this county. The first twenty- 
 one years of his life were spent on the farm and in 
 attendance at the district schools. Later he pur- 
 sued his studies at ^'ermilion Grove Academy and 
 continued a student there mostly during the winter 
 season for four years, in the meantime improving 
 his leisure time with his books. In November, 29, 
 1882, he was married to Miss Nora B., daughter of 
 R. W Ashbrook, of Mattoon, III. He purchased 
 his present farm of eighty acres in 1882 and has 
 operated it to such good advantage that the whole 
 is now in a good state of cultivation, there being 
 scarcely a foot of it that does not yield something 
 to the proprietor. The residence is beautifull}' lo- 
 cated three miles southeast of Indianola. 
 
 Mrs. Mills was born in Coles County, 111., Nov. 1, 
 1857 and by her union with our subject has become 
 the mother of two bright children — Bessie D. and 
 Jane B. Mr. Mills was carefully reared in the 
 Quaker faith and since reaching manhood has be- 
 come one of the most useful and active members 
 

 Jv?>M5W*-' *! W*' /'"wMMi 
 
 j^y^.y-^-^^.^j^^j^s^.jjai^g';^ ^ ~ -^-t::::^^^^^'^^^?^/^.^''^^^ 
 
 RESIDENCE OF JOHIVCOI^LIN^S, SEC- 9., SIDEIiL TE, A'TXiMIUON^ CO. 
 
 itB^IOEm^GE! OtFlVfCI^SESjRErXNOBCJOS. SjEGCS.EuWOOD TE?,"V3BIt3MlIjIO:N' C30. 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 565 
 
 of that church, serving in the double capacity on 
 the Evangelistic Committee, besides Saperintendeut 
 of the Sunday-school, of which he has been Vice- 
 President likewise for the past three years. He has 
 ever maintained a warm interest in educational 
 matters and besides being one of the most generous 
 patrons of the Vermilion Grove Academy, is serv- 
 ing on the Board of Trustees of said aoadem}'. Al- 
 though strictly a temperance man, he has not 
 thought best to identify himself with the Prohibi- 
 tionists, but maintains a warm adherence to the 
 Republican faith, believing it not the part of wis- 
 dom to encourage a third party in politics. 
 Through the influence of his honored father, Milton 
 while a boy, conceived a strong aversion to the in- 
 stitution of slavery and no man rejoiced more when 
 the land had been purged of it, together with other 
 evils which were remedied by the success of the 
 Union arms. 
 
 OSES REYNOLDS is a leading citizen of 
 Elwood Township. The Society of Friends 
 and the Vermilion Academy', which are 
 located at Vermilion Grove, have in him a 
 liberal supporter and an ardent friend. He donates 
 largely to the support of his church and the 
 educational enterprises connected with it, and the 
 sum of money that he yearly gives away to those 
 who need it more than he, is known to nobody but 
 himself, as he religiously believes in the doctrine of 
 not letting the left hand know what the right hand 
 does. Enough is known of his character to say 
 that his benevolence is proverbial. 
 
 Mr. Reynolds owns and operates a fine farm of 
 290 acres of land on sections 5, 6, and 8, 
 where he carries on an extensive business of 
 stock-raising and diversified farming. He was 
 born in Parke County, Ind., on the 6th of 
 May, 1830. His father, Mahlon Reynolds, was a 
 native of Randolph County, N. C, whence he 
 emigrated to Indiana in 1823, settling first on 
 Honey Creek in Vigo County, six miles below 
 Terre Haute, but in 1826 he removed to Parke 
 County, Ind, He was one of the pioneers of that 
 
 part of Parke County, and his reputation as a man 
 was of the highest. His wife, Ruth Rubottom, was 
 a daughter of Simon Rubottom, who was the 
 father of twelve children: Joel, Linton, Alvira, 
 Moses, Elizabeth (Mrs. Folger), Mariam (Mrs. Ila- 
 worth), Mahala (Mrs. Wright), Rachael (Mrs. 
 Smith), Susan (Mrs. Parker), David, Ruth (Mrs. 
 Newlin), and William. The mother of these 
 children died on the old homestead in Indiana in 
 1866, and the father died in this countj' ten years 
 later. 
 
 Mr. Reynolds came to this county in 1854, 
 settling where he now' lives. He is engaged exten- 
 sively in raising graded Short-horn cattle, and 
 Poland-China and Chester-white hogs. He feeds 
 and ships a great deal of stock, and in this way 
 has become independent. His farm indicates that 
 its owner is a man who understands his business 
 thoroughly, for everything around it shows thrift 
 and intelligence. On the 14th of August, 1851, 
 Mr. Reynolds married Eunice Pearson, daughter of 
 William Pearson, and to them have been born two 
 children: Mary J. and Alvira A. The latter is 
 deceased. Mary is the wife of Marion Campbell, 
 of Elwood Township. They have had three 
 children, one of whom is now living — Paul. 
 
 Mr. Reynolds meddles very little in politics, but 
 devotes his spare time to the interests of his church 
 and to the Academy of which he is a Trustee. He 
 is a Trustee of the property of the Friends' Church 
 at Vermilion Grove and holds the position of Over- 
 seer in the same society. He is also one of three 
 trustees of the funds of the quarterly meetings that 
 have been set apart for the education of worthy 
 and needy children, and in this position he is 
 eminently the right man in the right place. The 
 fund alluded to originated in the following manner : 
 An unmarried man — Richardson Henderson — died 
 leaving |500 to the Quarterly Meeting for the 
 purposes before described, and Mr. Reynolds added 
 to that sum an equal amount, making a fund of 
 1 1000, which is invested, and the interest only is 
 used. 
 
 Mr. Reynolds' son-in-law, F. M. Campbell, lives 
 on the farm adjoining him on the east, and owns 
 194 acres of very fine land. Mr. Campbell is 
 engaged in breeding fine Norman horses, and 
 
566 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 Ills other stock is similar tc) that raised by his 
 father-in-law. He is .also a member of the Friends' 
 Church, and was born in Parke County, Ind., but 
 was brought up and educated in Vermilion County, 
 and has always been a farmer. He and his father- 
 in-law are good Republicans. 
 
 Mr. Reynolds is also largely interested in Sunday- 
 school work, where he teaches a class regularly every 
 Sunday. He has also ably served as Sunday-school 
 Superintendent for many years. 
 
 On another page of this volume the residence of 
 Mr. Reynolds is presented in a fine view, justly a 
 valuable feature of the Album. 
 
 ■>~w,-'«jZi2j2'©-^' - 
 
 *®|,gJ;OTa*«-'W~. 
 
 OHN COLLINS. The Irish-American citi- 
 zen has operated largely in the growth and 
 development of Vermilion, and he whose 
 name stands at the head of this sketch is one 
 of the most worthy representatives of his national- 
 ity. He owns a good farm of 200 acres, lying 
 on sections 9 and 10 in Sidell Township, and has a 
 remarkably pleasant home and intelligent family. 
 He is one of a pair of twins, born in County Cork, 
 Ireland, June 20, 1826. His twin brother, Richard, 
 emigrated to America in 1845, and in due time 
 wrote back for John to join him here, which the 
 latter did; they located five miles south of Boston, 
 Mass., and worked in the foundries seven years. In 
 1853 they came to La Salle County, this State, and 
 worked on the Illinois Central Railroad several 
 years thereafter. On the 23d of March, 1861, our 
 subject was married to Miss Ann Cregor, born in 
 1833 in his native country. They settled on a farm 
 in La Salle County, where they lived a number of 
 years, coming thence to this county in 1881. In 
 1880 our subject had purchased the farm which he 
 now owns and occupies. He also owns 160 acres 
 in Shiloh Township, Edgar County, which is ope- 
 rated by his sons, Dennis and Michael. 
 
 There were born to Mr. and Mrs. Collins eleven 
 children, of whom the third and fourth sons have 
 been already mentioned. The others are recorded 
 as follows: Richard married a Miss Brown, and 
 died in 1884. To them there was born one chiM, 
 
 now deceased. John is at home with his parents ; 
 Dennis married a Miss Burns; Mary married Mr. 
 BroAvn, a farmer, and they have four children: Leo, 
 John, Charles, and Richard. Daniel, Bridget, 
 Juliana, Margaret, and Ann are at home with their 
 parents. The farm is devoted to general agricul- 
 ture and is carried on with that thoroughness and 
 good judgment which is characteristic of its pro- 
 prietor. He has become thoroughly identified with 
 American institutions, and is a man greatly attached 
 to his family. 
 
 The parents of our subject were John and Mary 
 (C'arty) Collins, likewise natives of County Cork, 
 where they lived on a small farm. Their family 
 consisted of five sons and one daughter, of whom 
 our subject was the third in order of birth. The 
 latter and his estimable wife are members of the 
 Catholic Church at Hume. 
 
 A view of the home of Mr. Collins is given in 
 this volume, and represents a well-kept country 
 residence with pleasant rural surroundings. 
 
 \f) AMES McMELLAN, who is one of the most 
 popular men of Carroll Township, is oper- 
 ating the celebrated Woodlawn P'arm of 200 
 (J^^ acres, where with his excellent wife and his 
 twobrightand promising boys,lie|hasoneof thepleas- 
 antest homes to be found in the county. He is 
 largely possessed of all the manly virtues, being 
 upright, temperate and faithful in the discharge of 
 his duties, both in a business and social way. He 
 is widely known as having been for years the 
 'right-hand man,' of Mr. Harvey Sandusky, a 
 wealthy and prominent land-owner of this county 
 who for sometime employed Mr. McMellan to look 
 after his agricultural interests and his fine cattle. 
 In the discharge of these duties Mr. McMellan had 
 the satisfaction of leading more prize-winners into 
 the show ring at the county and State fairs than 
 any other man in Illinois. 
 
 The subject of this notice was born in Greene 
 County, East Tenn., Sept. 17, 1853, and is the 
 son of John D. and Rachel (Rector) McMellan, 
 natives of Ter.nessee and the father a saddler by 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOIiRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 567 
 
 trade. The latter after the death of his fust wife, 
 remarried and moved to Missouri wliere he spent 
 his last days. Tlie mother of our subject died in 
 Greenville, Tenn., at the ai^e of fortj' years. James 
 R., our subject, was the eldest of her two sons, the 
 younger being John, who is now living in Mis- 
 souri. Of tlie second marriage of John D. McMel- 
 lan there were born four children. 
 
 During the Civil War the father of our subject 
 was pressed into the Confederate service and James 
 went to live with his grandfather Rector, in East 
 Tennessee, where be received only limited educa- 
 tional advantages, attending school only a few 
 months at the close of the war. He w.orked mostly 
 on the farm and finally was persuaded by an aunt 
 to come West. He made his way to Logan County, 
 this State, and worked there two and one half years 
 upon a farm. Then desirous of a change he emi- 
 grated to Indianola and entered the employ of Dr. 
 Ralston, with whom he remained one year. In the 
 meantime he formed the acquaintance of Sir. Har- 
 vey Sandusky, and in due time assumed charge of 
 his fine cattle, remaining in the employ of this 
 gentleman for a period of ten years. In tlie mean- 
 time, taking with him some of the finest specimens 
 of their fat cattle, he visited the fairs at Lafayette, 
 Indianapolis, Chicago, Kansas City, Peoria, Spring- 
 field, St. Louis, Mo., and many other places. A 
 warm attachment sprang up between the two men 
 and Mr. McMellan was at the bedside of his friend, 
 Mr. Sandusk}', at the time of his death. 
 
 The marriage of James McMellan with Miss Ida 
 Dye was celebrated in Carroll Township, in 1880. 
 Mrs. McMellan is the daughter of John Dye, a son 
 of Lawrence Dye, one of the oldest pioneers of 
 Georgetown Township. Mr. Dye was a mari pos- 
 sessing some peculiar traits of character, was a 
 strong Presbyterian in liis religious views, was 
 peculiarly kind and genial in his disposition, a 
 great lover of music and a universal favorite in his 
 community. His wife was the daughter of Col. 
 Girard of Mexican war fame and a good man in tlie 
 broadest sense of the term, strictly, temperate, hon- 
 est and upright, kind in his family and a generous 
 neighbor. Everybody knew Col. Girard and every- 
 body was his friend. 
 
 To the parents of Mrs. McMellan there were born 
 
 nine children and Miss Ida inherited from her 
 father a great taste for and love of music. It was 
 not the lot of Col. Girard to become wealthy, and 
 when a young girl Miss Ida entered the employ of 
 Mrs. Sandusky, with whom she remained the long 
 period of eleven years, her faithful and trusted 
 maid and companion. She there met her future 
 husband, our subject, a;ui they, living under one 
 roof for many jears, had a good opportunity to 
 become acquainted. Of this congenial union there 
 were born two children only — Harvey and James 
 S., who are bright and promising boys aged seven 
 and one years respectively. 
 
 Politically, Mr. McMellan is a stanch supporter 
 of the principles of the Republican party, and soci- 
 ally he belongs to the iMasonic fraternity. His 
 estimable wife is a member in good standing of the 
 Methodist Episcopal Church. It is generally con- 
 ceded that there is not a more hospitable roof in 
 Carroll Township than the house at Woodlawn 
 Farm, and no host and hostess who extend to their 
 guests a more , high-bred and hearty welcome. 
 ^Neither friend nor stranger departs from their door 
 with other than a comfortable feeling and a sen- 
 sation that it was good to be there. 
 
 KDERSON DUNAVAN. The labors of 
 this honest, upright and well-to-do citizen 
 have resulted in the possession of a well- 
 regulated farm of 170 acres, on sections 
 1 and 6, in Georgetown Township. The greater 
 part of this the proprietor cleared from the forest, 
 and labored early and late for many years in order 
 to bring it to its present condition. By the exer- 
 cise of great industiy, frugality and good manage- 
 ment, he has accumulated sufficient means to protest 
 him against want in his declining years, while his 
 career as a citizen has been such as to establish him 
 in the esteem and confidence of his neighbors. 
 
 The native place of our subject was in Mason 
 County, now West Virginia, eight miles above 
 Point Pleasant, on the Kanawha River. His parents 
 were John and Frances (Hughes) Dunavan, the 
 former a native of Culpeper County, \a.., and the 
 
568 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 latter of the same place. The mother's people were 
 of English stock, and early residents of Pennsyl- 
 vania. Her grandfather served in the Revolution- 
 ar}' War, and was shot through the breast. He 
 recovered, however, and lived to be nearly one 
 hundred years old. He was provided for during 
 his old age by a pension from the Government. 
 He traced his ancestry to Ireland, where his fore- 
 fathers were mostly linen weavers by trade. 
 
 The father of our subject, with the exception of 
 the time spent as a soldier in the War of 1812, oc- 
 cupied himself in agricultural pursuits. He and his 
 wife spent their last j'ears in Indiana. They were 
 the parents of eight children, seven of whom grew 
 to mature j'ears — three sons and four daughters. 
 Anderson, our subject, was the eldest, and was 
 born March 22, 1820. He lived in the Old Do- 
 minion until a lad of thirteen years, then emigrated 
 with his parents to Indiana, they settling near the 
 State line in Vermillion County, Ind. He remem- 
 bers the time when there but five houses between 
 Eugene, [nd., and Danville, 111. As soon as old 
 enough, he was required to make himself useful 
 about the new farm, following the breakmg plow, 
 learning to cut wheat with the cradle, and laboring 
 in the primitive style, both in sowing and reaping 
 the harvests. Upon reaching man's estate he was 
 married, May 29, 1844, to Miss Elizabeth Beau- 
 champ. 
 
 Mrs. Dunavan was born in Ohio, and removed 
 with lier parents to Perry ville, Ind., in 1830. The 
 newly wedded pair settled on a farm in Vermillion 
 County, Ind., and Mr. Dunavan in due time pur- 
 ciiased 166 acres of land. Later he sold this, and 
 crossed the State line into Illinois, purchasing, in 
 1855, the farm which he now owns and occupies. 
 Much of this was covered with timber, and he has 
 cleared all but fifteen acres. 
 
 The eleven children born to ISlr. and Mrs. Duna- 
 van are recorded as follows: James H. died when 
 a promising youth of eighteen years; John A. 
 married Miss Rebecca Mossberger, is the father of 
 four children, and resides in Douglas County; 
 Mary J. married Samuel Hines, and died, leaving 
 three children; Harriet J. died at the age of two 
 years; Charles W.. who remains at the homestead, 
 married Miss Anna J. Howard, and is the father of 
 
 one child; David A., also at home, married Miss 
 Mary Williams, and has three children; Anderson 
 J. married Miss Caroline Cravens, and is the 
 father of three children; Edward" H. married Miss 
 Holder, and lives at the homestead; Edmund H. 
 died when three months old; Lottie married Frank 
 Breesley, and is the mother of two children, they 
 live in this township; Tilda E. is the wife of Till- 
 man Wilcox. 
 
 James H. Dunavan during the Civil War en- 
 listed in an Indiana Regiment, and died of the 
 measles at home. Mrs. Dunavan is a member in 
 good standing of the Christian Church, and a lady 
 greatly respected in her community. Mr. Dunavan 
 votes the straight Democratic ticket, and has 
 served as School Director in this district several 
 years. He may properlj^ be classed as a represen- 
 tative citizen of Georgetown Township — one who 
 has assisted materially in maintaining its reputation 
 as a community of law-abiding and intelligent 
 people. 
 
 ^?=^ OLDEN PATTERSON. The gratifying suc- 
 jll Q—, cess which has crowned the efforts of the 
 ^^Ji( life of Mr. Patterson, is the more noticeable 
 and praiseworthy, because of the few opportunities 
 afforded him in the earlier days for that training 
 and other help that are sometimes considered abso- 
 lutely indispensible to a start in life and the suc- 
 cess which is desired. In the case before us, the 
 subject is one of that class of whom many worthy 
 representatives are found in the great West, which 
 is best designated bj' the term "self-made." 
 
 Golden Patterson lives on section 13, range 11, 
 Elwood Township, and was born on the old home- 
 stead where he now resides, Julj- 17, 1833. His 
 father, Andrew Patterson, came from Granger 
 County, Tenn., in an earlj' day, settling on a farm 
 which he then located and upon which his son now 
 resides. The country at that time was almost des- 
 titute of civilization, and the Indians were prac- 
 tically in possession. They roamed about at will, 
 although the land belonged to the Government. 
 The elder Patterson entered about 500 acres of 
 land, for which he paid the government price. 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 569 
 
 This land rapidly rose in value, and at this time is 
 worth a great deal of mone}'. His wife, whose 
 maiden name was Amelia Golden, was a daughter 
 of William Golden, a prominent pioneer of Ver- 
 milion County. 
 
 The subject of this biographj' is the youngest of 
 six children, five of whom are now living — Will- 
 iam, Thomas, Sarah J. (Campbell) of Georgetown, 
 Elizabeth (Campbell) of the same place, and Gol- 
 den. The mother of these children died when 
 Golden was an infant, and the father passed away 
 in 1845 at the old homestead. Golden received 
 his education at the common schools of his boy- 
 hood and at the Georgetown High School. After 
 leaving school he learned the trade of a carpenter, 
 but followed this vocation but a short time. He 
 has always been — with the exception of the short 
 lime he worked at the carpenter business — a suc- 
 cessful farmer. He owns 420 acres of land where 
 the old homestead is situated and a quarter section 
 in another part of the township, making 580 acres 
 in all. Mr. Patterson manages his farm with rare 
 intielligence, and in all his operations he has been 
 most eminently successful. He takes great care in 
 all the work he does, and therein may be attributed, 
 to a large degree, his success. 
 
 He has never held any official position, for the 
 simple reason that he never has time. Political!}', 
 he belongs to the Republican party, and may al- 
 ways be found in its ranks doing good work. Mr. 
 Patterson enjoys the confidence and esteem of all 
 his neighbors, and is known by the sobriquet of 
 " The Jolly Bachelor " of eastern Elwood Town- 
 ship. 
 
 ^^ HARLE8 LEONARD DOWNING, a suc- 
 (|f cessf ul farmer, a defender of the Union dur- 
 
 ^^/ ing the late Civil War, and a true Christian 
 gentleman, occupies a leading position in the com- 
 munity of Georgetown Township, where he has 
 been a resident for a period of twenty years. We 
 find him in comfortable circumstances surrounded 
 by a ver}' interesting family of intelligent children 
 and seemingly in the enjoyment of that which 
 makes life most pleasant and desirable. Of this he 
 
 is ampl}' deserving, having led an upright life and 
 to the best of his ability seeking to set a good ex- 
 ample to those around him. His homestead com- 
 prises eighty acres of choice land on section 7, 
 and besides this he cultivates twenty-eight acres 
 in the vicinity. His farm buildings, machinery 
 and live stock are in excellent condition and in- 
 dicative of the progress and enterprise of the 
 proprietor. 
 
 The opening years of the life of our subject 
 were spent in Mnson County, Ky., where he was 
 born March 21, 1838. His parents, Robert and 
 Susan (Haw) Downing, were natives respectively 
 of Kentucky and Ohio, the latter born a few miles 
 from the "Beautiful River." They were married in 
 the Buckeye State and lived there and in Ken- 
 tucky until their removal to INIarion County, Ind., 
 to which they removed about 1849. The father 
 opened up a farm from the wilderness, where he 
 spent the remainder of his days, dying in January, 
 1882, at the age of sixty-six years. The mother 
 still occupies the old homestead and is now about 
 sevent3'-one years old. Their five children were 
 named respectively, AUie, Lucretia, Charles L., 
 Susan A. and James Robert, who are all living. 
 
 Mr. Downing attended the common schools of 
 Ohio and Indiana, and lived with his father on the 
 farm in Marion County, the latter state, until ap- 
 proaching the twenty-second year of his age. In 
 March, 1860, he came to Illinois and engaged to 
 work by the month for William Stevens, in Vermil- 
 ion County. In December following he returned 
 home and in the spring of 1861 entered the emploj' 
 of H. H. Hall, a minister of the Methodist Episco- 
 pal Church, in Marion County, Ind., with whom 
 he remained seven years. It is proper to state that 
 he began working out summers when a lad of 
 fourteen. The winter season was devoted mostly to 
 his books, and he attended school during these sea- 
 sons until after the outbreak of the Civil War, 
 then, desirous of having a hand in the subjugation 
 of the rebels, he enlisted on the 12th of March, 
 1862, in Company D, 79th Indiana Infantry, and 
 was mustered into service at Indianapolis. He 
 drilled there witii his regiment two weeks, and in 
 less than a month after his enlistment met the 
 enemy in the battle at Perrvville. He afterward 
 
570 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 fought in some of the most important battles of 
 the war, being at Orab Orchard, Stone River, 
 Chiekamauga, Mission Ridge, Lookout Mountain, 
 Knoxville and Spring Hill, at which latter place 
 they remained several days before starting on the 
 Atlanta Campaign. On the way thither they en- 
 countered tlie enemy at Buzzard's Gap, Dalton 
 and Resaca, Ga., where on the 27th of May, 1863, 
 they lost 1,400 men in one hour out of the third 
 division of the fourth army corps. Later Mr. 
 Downing was with his comrades at the battle of 
 Kenesaw Mountain (wiiere the father of Mrs. 
 Downing was killed). After the fall of Atlanta, 
 our subiect was in the battle of Jonesboro, which 
 ended that campaign. Thence they retraced their 
 steps to follow up the rebel general. Hood, and en- 
 tered upon one of the most arduous campaigns of 
 the war, which soon afterward came to a close. Our 
 subject was mustered out at Nashville, Tenn., in 
 June, 1865, and received his final discharge at In- 
 dianapolis the same month. Although he was in 
 all the engagements of his regiment he was never 
 wounded, and with the exception of four days, 
 when he had the mumps, lie never lost a roll-call. 
 
 Upon retiring from the army Mr. Downing re- 
 turned to his old haunts in Marion County, where 
 he entered the emplo}"^ of Mr. H. H. Hall, and 
 three days after laying aside his uniform was cra- 
 dling in the wheat field. He continued with Mr. 
 Hall until 1868, then returning to Illinois re- 
 entered the employ of Mr. Stevens. In the mean- 
 time the little orphan girl whose father, Thomas 
 Guess, had been killed in the charge on Kenesaw 
 Mountain, had been legally adopted by Mr. Ste- 
 vens and had now grown to an attractive woman- 
 hood. Our subject in due time made her 
 acquaintance, and the result was a mutual at- 
 tachment which culminated in their marriage, 
 Sept. 25, 1868, at the home of the bride's adopted 
 father, in Georgetown Township. 
 
 After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Downing 
 settled on the farm which they now own and oc- 
 cupy, and the nucleus of which was purchased in 
 the spring of 1869. In 1871 he added eighty acres 
 and has since given to it his best efforts, bringing 
 the whole to a fine state of cultivation and effect- 
 ing modern improvements in the way of fences, i 
 
 buildings and the other appliances naturally sug- 
 gested to the mind of the progressive agriculturist. 
 In the meantime the household circle had been 
 gradually enlarged by the birth of eight children, 
 who were named respectively, Priscilla M., Oscar 
 J., Frank, Susan, Ella, Lottie, Reason E. and 
 Minnie. 
 
 Mr. Downing cast his first presidential vote for 
 Douglas, and has since given his unqualified sup- 
 port to the Democratic party. He has served as a 
 Director in his School District, also as Road Over- 
 seer. As an ex-soldier he belongs to the G. A. R. 
 Post at Georgetown, No. 204. He finds his relig- 
 ious home in the Christian Church, to which also 
 his wife and daughter, Priscilla, belong, and of 
 which he has been a Deacon ten years and a mem- 
 ber twelve years. All those enterprises tending to 
 the best good of the people, socially, morally and 
 financially, have found in him a steadfast friend. 
 
 ^AMES NEWTON MITCHELL. Perhaps 
 no very thrilling event has transpired in the 
 life of this steady-going and reliable citi- 
 zen, but Le is one of those forming the bone 
 and sinew of his community, and one who has as- 
 sisted in establishing its financial prosperity, and 
 upholding the standard of morality. His life occu- 
 pation has been that of a farmer, in which he has 
 been verj^ successful, accumulating a good prop- 
 erty' and fortifying himself against the days when 
 perhaps he may be found unfitted for labor. His 
 homestead lies on section 12, in Georgetown Town- 
 ship, and with its well-tilled fields, substantial 
 buildings and general air of jilenty and comfort, 
 forms a most delightful picture in the landscape of 
 that region. 
 
 Our subject first opened his eyes to the light in 
 Brown Township, Montgomery Co., Ind., April 7, 
 1S30, and remained a resident of the Hoosier State 
 until approaching manhood. His education was 
 acquired under the primitive methods, and in the 
 log school-house of that early day, and when a 
 youth of nineteen years he started out for himself, 
 taking a contract to made 5,000 rails at fifty cents 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 571 
 
 per hundred, the scene of his operations heing in 
 Parke County. There also he made the acquaint- 
 ance of Miss Sarah E. Harlam, a native of tliat 
 county, and in due time they were married. The 
 spring following they removed to Peoria County, 
 111., where they lired eight years, then, in the fall 
 of 1858, returned to Montgomery County, Ind. 
 Sojourning there until the spring of 1861, they re- 
 turned to Parke County, Ind. Their family now 
 consisted of four children, and the wife andmotlier 
 died upon the place where she spent her childhood 
 and youth. Four other children had been born 
 and died in the meantime. The eldest daughter, 
 Bashaby R., married William Skinner, and died in 
 1886, leaving three children — Louis, .Tames Nor- 
 man, now deceased, and Harriet E. CTeorge H., a 
 grocer of Ft. Scott, Kan., married Miss Laura R. 
 Rhnby, and they have two children — Harlam R. 
 and Garnett R. ; John F. is a resident of George- 
 town Township; he married Miss Cora Pickett, and 
 they have one child, Frederick A.; James ])., a 
 resident of> Vermillion County, Ind., is a wagon- 
 maker by trade: he married Miss Cora E. Holde- 
 way. 
 
 After the death of his wife Mr. Mitchell removed 
 to a 'farm of eighty acres in Vermillion County, 
 Ind., and on the 28th of September, 1869, was 
 married to Mrs. Mary (Cox) Falls. This lad}- is 
 the daughter of John Ritchie and Mary (Cox) 
 Ritchie, who were natives of Ohio. The father 
 served in the War of 1812, and subsequently occu- 
 pied himself as a farmer, carpenter and brick- 
 mason. Upon leaving the Buckeye State he set- 
 tled in Parke County, Ind., where he spent his last 
 days. The parental family consisted of twelve 
 children, ten of whom grew to [mature years, viz: 
 Elizabeth, Hester A., Joseph, Meliuda, John, Mary, 
 Eleanor, Edward, Jefferson and Robert G.; two 
 died in infancy. 
 
 The present wife of our subject was born in 
 Parke County, Ind., and was married in 1859 to 
 Mr. Jesse B. Falls, also a native of that county. 
 They became the parents of three children — Mar^' 
 E., John E., and Joseph I., and Mr. Falls died in 
 Indiana. Her wedding with our subject took place 
 in Vermillion County, Ind. In 1872 Mr. Mitchell 
 sold his Indiana property and came to \'ermilion 
 
 County, where he is now the owner of two farms, 
 the homestead embracing 166^ acres. His other 
 farm is forty-seven and one -fourth acres in extent. 
 Our subject and his estimable wife have by their 
 present marriage four children--Sarah E., Martha A., 
 Cassius L., and Josephine H.,. Mr. Mitchell votes 
 the straight Republican ticket, and has served as 
 Road Master and School Director. He comes from 
 old Kentucky stock, being the son of Gabriel and 
 Ruth (\'an Clove) Mitchell, who were both natives 
 of Shelby County, that State. Thej' were reared and 
 married in the Blue Grass regions, where the father 
 carried on farming until removing to Montgomery 
 County, Ind., in 1827. There he was one of the pio- 
 neer settlers. His was the common lot of those who 
 had ventured onto the frontier, and he labored suc- 
 cessfully in building up a home in the wilderness. 
 He was three times married, and had by the first 
 wife twelve children, namel}': Daniel H., who died 
 in Kankakee Countj^, this State, at the age of sixty- 
 three years; John W., Margery A., Polh' B., 
 James N., Martha .!•, Sally E., Robert L., Minnie 
 (deceased), Amelia S., Nancy, and Melina H. The 
 mother of these children died in 1847, at the age 
 of forty-five years. By his second marriage Gab- 
 riel Mitchell was the father of four children, viz: 
 David B., Joseph L., Ruth A. and George B. Of 
 his third marriage there were no children. He re- 
 moved to Wilson County, Kan., in 1870, and died 
 in 1879. 
 
 'I ^ ENRY MILLS resides on sections, Elwood 
 
 i Township, and was born on what is known 
 as the Thomas Brown farm, near Vermil- 
 
 ^ ion Grove, March 23, 1830. He began life 
 poor but has been eminently successful in building 
 up a competency. He gives one-tenth of his in- 
 come to the support of the gospel, and for benevoleait 
 purposes, a characteristic which entitles him to the 
 name of philanthropist. 
 
 Seth Mills, the father of the subject of this sketch 
 was born in Jefferson Countj"-, East Tenn., Oct. 
 10, 1805, and was a son of John and Mary (Davis) 
 Mills, who removed to the Miama ^'alley, Ohio, 
 in 1806, settling a few miles from Dayton. Seth 
 
57-2 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 Wills came with his parents to Wayne County, 
 Ind.. in 1815, and they were consequently among 
 the very early settlers of that region. At that time 
 there were many Indians roving about, but the}' 
 were peaceable. The heavy beech timber that cov- 
 ered that country made it difficult to clear the 
 land. The elder Mills, tanned leather and also made 
 the shoes for the family. He married Rebecca, 
 daughter of John and Julatha Canaday on the 21st 
 day of March, 1827, and to this union five children 
 were born, three of whom are living: Irena Ha- 
 worth, Henry, and Anna M. Haworth. The father 
 came to Vermilion County in tlie spring of 1828 
 raising a crop of corn that year. In the autumn 
 he brought his family here, accompanied by John 
 and Herman Canaday and families. An inventory' 
 of the effect of the elder Mills when he arrived 
 here, would exhibit that he had one horse, two 
 cows, three calves, a few sheep and fifty cents in 
 money. He bought a horse soon after his arrival, 
 giving 110 days work for it. In 1846 he wrote a 
 short sketch of his life from which the above facts 
 were gleaned. He died in this township on the 
 19th day of August, 1846, his wife surviving him 
 for many years, dying at her son Henry's house on 
 on the 18th day of July, 1888. This most estim- 
 able couple were life-long Quakers, as are all their 
 children. They were rigidly honest and when 
 they left this world, they did not leave an enemy 
 behind them. 
 
 Henry Mills received his education at the com- 
 mon schools of Illinois and has always worked 
 hard since he was old enough. All of his life has 
 been spent in this township. He is an Elder in the 
 Quaker Church at Elwood and occupies the impor- 
 tant office of ''Head of the Church" at that place. 
 On the 10th of November, 1852 he was married to 
 Mary Folger, who was born in Elwood Township 
 also, they are the parents of eight children, seven of 
 whom are living: Aaron, Alpheus, Zimri, Marietta, 
 Matilda, Seth, and Allen G. Alpheus married 
 Matilda Newlin. They are living in the State of 
 Oregon and have four children — Lewis, Ella, Jaj', 
 and an infant boy; Zimri married Miriam Newlin, 
 they also reside in Oregon and have two children — 
 Dennis C. and Foster M; Marietta married Levi 
 E. Lewis, they are living on the old homestead with 
 
 the subject of this sketch, and have two chil- 
 dren — Mary E. and Russell; Matilda is the wife of 
 Justin L. Haworth, they are living across the St.ite 
 line in Vermillion Count\', Ind., and are the parents 
 of two children — Lucj- M. and Huber; Lucy is 
 deceased; Seth married Rhoda J. Hester, they 
 live in this township and have one child — Ola R. 
 Henry Mills owns 336 acres of land, where the 
 old homestead is located, and forty-seven acres in 
 another tract near by. He is engaged in raising 
 stock consisting of Short-horn cattle and Poland- 
 China hogs. He has been very successful, finan- 
 cially, which is due to his industrious habits and 
 prudent business management. He believes that 
 the Prohibition party is right, and votes the ticket 
 upon which is printed the names of men who be- 
 lieve in temperance principles. There is not a 
 farm in his township upon which are better build- 
 ings, and there is none that is in a higher state of 
 cultivation. His wife has been a valuable help- 
 mate to him, and she has done her full share in 
 placing them in the independent position they now 
 occupy. 
 
 ^^APT. FRANK J. PASTEUR, editor and 
 (l( n Pi'oprietor of the Ridge Farm Times, foun- 
 "^^7 ded this journal in 1887, and is conducting 
 it with success. He was born near Wheeling, 
 AY. Xn., Sept. 12, 1838, and came to Illinois with 
 his parents, they settling in Griggsville, Pike 
 County. He is the grandson of Maj. John Mc- 
 Elroy of Revolutionary fame. He enlisted in 
 1862, in Company D, 79th Illinois Infantry, and 
 was wounded in the hip at the battle of Stone 
 River, Dec. 31, 1862. 
 
 After recovering from his wound, our subject 
 was assigned to duty by the Secretary of War, in 
 the Inspector General's department, on the staff of 
 Gens. Rosecrans and Thomas, Commanders of the 
 Army of the Cumberland. He participated in the 
 battles of Chickamauga, Missionary Ridge, Resaca, 
 Kenesaw, New Hope Church, Siege of Atlanta, 
 Jonesboro, Franklin, etc. He is an editor and 
 practical printer, and founded the Rossville (111.) 
 .Press, West Lebanon (Ind.) Gazette, Meredosia 
 
J^^J^L 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 (111.) Commercial, and has had a large experience 
 as a traveler. He has been nearly all over the 
 United States, and to Canada. Cuba and Mexico, 
 chief!}' in the interest of the metropolitan news- 
 papers, and is widely known in the West as a suc- 
 cessful newspaper man. 
 
 J) 
 
 1 S AAC N. BUSBY. Among the retired farmers 
 of Fairmount Village, Mr. Busb}' may be given 
 as a fair sample of the worth and respectabil- 
 ity which have so many illustrations in this countv 
 — men who have risen from an humble position in 
 life and whose characters have been developed by 
 the force of circumstances; while their innate hon- 
 esty and integrity enabled them to make for them- 
 selves a good record financially and in their busi- 
 ness relations. The second in a family of twelve 
 children, Mr. Busby was born Nov. 10, 1822, in 
 Virginia, and when a child of four years was taken 
 by his parents to Madison Countj', Ind. His child- 
 hood and youth were passed amid the wild scenes 
 of life on the frontier, as there were less than 100 
 people in that county when the Busby family took 
 up their abode there. 
 
 The early education of our subject was there- 
 fore quite limited, he pursuing his first studies in 
 a log school house, averaging about two months in 
 the year. As soon as old enough his services were 
 utilized upon the new farm, from which he assisted 
 his father in clearing the timber, and remained 
 with his parents until a young man of twenty- 
 tliree years. He was then married to Miss Sar:ili 
 Ann, daughter of Edward and Margaret (Vokn- 
 tine) Cottj', Mr. Cotty being a farmer of his O'-vn 
 neighborhood and the father of eight children, of 
 whom his daughter Sarah was the fifth in order of 
 birth. 
 
 After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Busby settled 
 upon a farm belonging to the father of our subject, 
 but six months later removed to Pendleton, Ind., 
 where Mr. Busby purchased a half interest in a 
 cabinet shop, and carried on this business for five 
 years. Then selling out he changed his residence 
 
 to Miracleville, where he purchased a store of gen- 
 eral merchandise, and conducted this two years. 
 
 Selling out once more he came to this county, in 
 1853, and purchased a farm in Catlin Township. 
 He sold this in 1858 and bought another in Carroll 
 Township, to which he removed, and still owns the 
 propert3^ In 1858 he came to the farm which he 
 now occupies and which comprises 320 acres of 
 choice land, nearly all under cultivation. He has 
 given some attention to stock-raising, and rather 
 prefers it to general farming, although perhaps in 
 the latter he has met more uniformly with success. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Busby are the parents of a fine 
 family of children, eight in number, and all living. 
 The oldest, Thomas W., married Miss Amy Ford, 
 is the father of four children, and lives in Adair 
 Count}', Iowa; Alice is the wife of Franklin 
 Swisher, of Carroll Township, and they have one 
 child; Horace C. left home some years ago, and is 
 in the great West; Mary L. is the wife of William 
 Carrington, of Carroll Township, and they have 
 three children; Margaret married Charles Cox, 
 lives in Fairmount and is the mother of one child; 
 John E. married Miss Birdie Turner, and they 
 occupy the home farm; they liave no children. 
 Ira M. and Carrie are unmarried and remain with 
 their parents. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Busby left the farm in 1886, and 
 now occupy a pleasant and attractive little home 
 in Fairmount, near that of the well-known Dr. J. 
 W. Turner. Mr. Busby owns two and one-half 
 acres of land within the corporation, and is 
 generally well-to-do, having no cause for anxiety 
 as to life's comforts in his declining years. Both 
 he and his estimable wife are members of the 
 Methodist Episcopal Church, and have been very 
 active workers in the Sunday-school. Socially, 
 Mr. Busby belongs to Fairmount Lodge, No. 590, 
 A. F. & A. M. 
 
 Our subject for the last eighteen years has been 
 Township Trustee. Politically he is quite con- 
 servative, and has a due appreciation of the privi- 
 leges of the voting citizen, which are too often 
 held in light esteem. During his early manhood 
 he belonged to the old Whig party until its aban- 
 donment, in 1856. He was not an admirer of John 
 C. Fremont, the Presidential candidate of the 
 
576 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 newly-formed Republican party, neither could he 
 eonscientioiisly vote for James Buchanan, the can- 
 didate of the Democracy. Scarcely knowing liow 
 to escape from the dilemma in which he found him- 
 self, he and an ardent Democratic neighbor finally 
 paired off and decided to dig potatoes all day in 
 their adjoining fields, and if either one jumped 
 upon a horse and left, the other one was to go and 
 vote. Thejf dug industriously all da}'', and as a 
 consequence neither voted at that election. From 
 that time Mr. Busby has voted the Republican 
 ticket. 
 
 The father of our subject was John Busby, a 
 native of Monroe County, Va., and who married 
 Miss Phebe Boggess, likewise born in the Old 
 Dominion. Grandfather Busb}- was a native of 
 Virginia and the great-grandfather was born in 
 England. On the mother's side (Jrandfather 
 Boggess traced his ancestry to Scotland. The 
 parents of our subject were reared and married in 
 their native State, where they lived until 182C. 
 They then emigrated to Madison County, Ind., 
 where the father entered 240 acres of land and 
 where he sojourned for a period of twenty-seven 
 years, enduring the toils and vicissitudes of pioneer 
 life. In 1853 he came to this county and purchased 
 160 acres of land in Catlin Township. After 
 putting in one crop he returned to the Hoosier 
 State for his family, removing them here in 1854. 
 They lived in a log house a number of years, and 
 in the meantime labored in the opening up of the 
 farm, their industrj^and perseverance meeting with 
 success. The elder Busby accumulated a good 
 property, becoming quite an extensive land-owner. 
 He rested from his earthly labors in 1880, and his 
 name is held in kindly remembrance by all who 
 knew him as having been a useful man in his com- 
 munity, and one who ever sought its best interests. 
 The mother survived her husband until 1887, 
 passing away in Winterset, where the father also 
 died. Six of their twelve children are still living 
 and making their homes mostly in Illinois and 
 Iowa. 
 
 Mrs. Busby was born in Waj'ne County, Ind., 
 May 23, 1826, and there spent the days of her 
 childhood and youth. She obtained her education 
 in the same manner as her husband, under the 
 
 primitive system of instruction in the log school 
 house, and became familiar with all useful house- 
 hold duties which fitted her for the careful wife 
 and mother who has looked after the family in- 
 dustriously and conscientiously, and who labored 
 equally with her husband in the building of their 
 homestead and the accumulation of property. 
 
 Thomas W. Busby, the eldest son of our subject, 
 entered the armj- as a drummer, during the late 
 Civil War, before he was sixteen years of age. 
 Through some misunderstanding he was not regu- 
 larly enlisted, but he served all through the war as 
 a private soldier in Company E, 73d Illinois In- 
 fantry, participating in every battle in which this 
 gallant regiment engaged. For two years he never 
 missed a roll call, but suffered later considerably 
 from illness. He remained with his regiment, how- 
 ever, and with it received his honorable discharge, 
 having escaped wounds and capture by the enemy. 
 His experience was similar to that of the common 
 soldier who suffered hardship and privation un- 
 complainingly while he never lacked in bravery, 
 being always found at his post when able, and 
 prepared to accept whatever fate should befall him. 
 
 The many friends of Mr. Busby will welcome 
 with pleasure the valuable addition to the Album 
 in a fine portrait of him whose life has been passed 
 among them as a book, the open pages of which 
 all might turn and read. 
 
 fi^^ AMUEL P. DONOVAN. Although for 
 ^^^ many years past engaged in the peaceful 
 |ll/Jj) pursuits of agriculture, the subject of this 
 notice will be remembered by a large pro- 
 portion of the old residents of this county, as one 
 of Kit Carsons' fifty-two Invineibles who distin- 
 guished themselves by their explorations in New 
 Mexico and Arizona in 1861. The romantic his- 
 tory of that enterprise and the men who conducted 
 it is almost sjmonomous with the history of this 
 country. There are, however, but comparatively 
 few living of the valiant spirits who took their 
 lives in their hands and ventured into a savage 
 country, far beyond the bounds of civilization. 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALEUIM. 
 
 577 
 
 Mr. Donovan, one of the bravest of these, made for 
 himself an honorable record. After the close of 
 the war he turned his attention to farming, and has 
 now one of the finest homes in Carroll Township. 
 This is presided over by a very estimable lady, 
 Mrs. Donovan being endowed with more than or- 
 dinary intelligence, and one who enjoys in a large 
 measure the esteem of all who know her. Thej' 
 are the parents of four children, named: Luella, 
 AVilliam O., Emma E. (deceased) and Eva A. 
 
 A son of one of the earliest pioneers of this 
 county, our subject was born on Stone Creek about 
 two miles north of Danville, Aug. 27, 1829. It 
 will thus be seen that he is among the oldest living 
 natives within its precincts. Born and reared amid 
 the wild scenes of pioneer life, he grew up healthy 
 in mind and body, acquiring a limited education 
 in the log school-house of those times, and being 
 harnessed into work at an early age. When sixteen 
 years old he left home and was emploj^ed on a 
 farm by the month until 1861, then seized with 
 the California gold fever he crossed the Rocky 
 Mountains to Pike's Peak, starting on foot and alone 
 to Fairmount, where he took the train to St. Louis 
 and thence proceeded via the Missouri River to 
 Omaha. At this point a company of eighteen 
 equipped themselves with wagons and mules, in- 
 tending to start on a land-exploring trip. After 
 traveling over Southeastern Nebraska and North- 
 eastern Kansas, the whole company finally set out 
 across the plains from Ft. Leavenworth to Denver, 
 being forty -one days on the road. Thence they 
 proceeded to Golden Citj', where young Donovan 
 worked by the day for two weeks, then started 
 over the range, wading in snow, in June, until he 
 came to Blue River. 
 
 At the above-mentioned point there was consid- 
 erable excitement concerning the prospects in 
 California, and Mr. Donovan proceeded thitliei-. 
 Taking a claim he went to mining in the snow about 
 July 1, then sold out and pocketed the snug sum 
 of 11,600 as his share of the profits for two months. 
 We next find our hero on the way to the San Juan 
 Mountains. At Taos, N. M., the party stopped to 
 lay in a store of provisions and then fell in with 
 Kit Carson, who was organizing a company for the 
 purpose of going to the southwestern part of Ari- 
 
 zona. Young Donovan eagerly embraced the op- 
 portunity to join the expedition, and they were 
 soon proceeding on their long and perilous trip. 
 They traveled through the country of the Navajo 
 Indians, where no white man had ever ventured 
 before, and met with raanj^ exciting incidents, 
 fighting with the savages and only losing one in- 
 dividual, a Dutchman, who through mistaken brav- 
 ety exposed himself unnecessarily and was shot 
 through by an arrow. 
 
 Kit Carson is described by Mr. Donovan as being 
 one of the best natured and most kindly disposed 
 men it was ever his fortune to meet. His life on 
 the frontier had naturally made him somewhat 
 rough at times in his manner and conversation, but 
 at heart he possessed the elements of true manhood. 
 The company explored the country along the Colo- 
 rado and Gila rivers and in Southern California, 
 breaking up at Ft. Garland, whence the}' returned 
 to Colorado, our subject and twelve otlieis return- 
 ing by the same route on which they went out. 
 They engaged in mining at Buckskin Joe, forming 
 a company and working on the Phillips lead and 
 sinking all the money they possessed with poor re- 
 sults. 
 
 Next Mr. Donovan proceeded to Denver and 
 Central City, where he commenced working by the 
 day, and was thus occupied nine months, making 
 $8 per day. He then invested a portion of his 
 capital in No. 3 Nottaway Lead, which he and his 
 partner worked until they made $25,000 in about 
 six months. Being satisfied with this Mr. Donovan 
 decided to return to Illinois and soon afterward 
 was married, Sept. 10, 1865, to Miss Lydia Stun- 
 kard. Shortly afterward he purchased his present 
 farm of 188 acres in Carroll Township. Of this 
 union there were T30rn no children, and Mrs. Lydia 
 Donovan died after eight years of married life. 
 
 Our subject in due time contracted a second 
 matrimonial alliance with Miss Sarah Jane, daugh- 
 ter of William Pollard, of whom mention is made 
 in the sketch of Charles Hull on another page in 
 this volume. The Pollards are of English descent 
 and for many generations have been noted for their 
 mechanical genius. The mother of Mrs. Donovan 
 was in her girlhood Mary Ann Bartcl, and was the 
 offspring of a noted English family who emigrated 
 
578 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 to America <at an early periori. Her father built 
 llio first steam saw- mill along the southern line of 
 this county, and for years thereafter operated as a 
 millwright and wheelwright. Mrs. Donovan, a very 
 estimable lady, is a member of the Methodist Epis- 
 copal Church, and our subject, politically, has 
 voted with the Republican party since its organiza- 
 tion. After voting for John C. Fremont, the first 
 Republican candidate for President, Kit Carson 
 declared that if he should live to be more than a 
 hundred years old he would never vote for so good 
 a man as Fremont. While Mr. Donovan was in the 
 mountains his wife was in her native England. She 
 was born in Yorkshire, where she attended a pri- 
 vate school, and was a girl of fourteen years when 
 coming to America. Her father had visited this 
 country twice before iiis family joined him in this 
 county. He crossed the Atlantic seven times prior 
 to his death, which took place in 1886, when he 
 was sixty-five years old. The mother, now a lady 
 of sixty-eight years, is still living and makes her 
 home in Indianola. Their five children were named 
 respectively, Paul, John, Sarah J., Peter and Mar- 
 tha A. Mr. Donovan has served as School Director 
 for a number of years, and has always signalized 
 himself as a public-spirited and liberal-minded citi- 
 zen, giving the right of way to the Chicago & 
 Eastern Illinois Railroad, and contributing in 
 other directions to the best interest of the count3'. 
 The parents of our subject were James and Mar>' 
 (Perkins) Donovan, natives of Bourbon Count}', 
 Ky., where they were reared and married. They 
 came to Illinois in 1828. The father when a youth 
 of sixteen years served in the regular army under 
 (len. Andrew Jackson as private in a Kentucky 
 company. After coming to this county he was 
 employed in the salt works near Catlin; he also 
 hauled quantities of produce to Chicago and trans- 
 ported produce down the river to New Orleans. 
 After a life of industry and many hardships he 
 departed hence when about sixty -years old. The 
 mother died in 18G1, at the age of sixty-six yeai-s. 
 'J hey were the parents of fifteen children, three of 
 whom died in infancy. The others were named re- 
 spectively, Joseph, Rebecca, William (deceased), 
 James, Cornelius, Martha. Richard, Samuel Porter 
 our subject, Sarah J., Arthur C, Jerry, Mary, 
 
 Louisa, Nellie, and Robert, deceased. The paternal 
 grandfather was born in Ireland, and was there 
 married to a maiden of his own county. Upon com- 
 ing to America thej' settled in Kentucky where 
 they spent their last daj-s. Grandfather Joseph 
 Perkins was a native of England and was married 
 in Kentucky to a lady who was born in Scotland. 
 
 -5 ^-# J- 
 
 OBERT W. FISK. This bright and prom- 
 ising young attorney is the eldest son of 
 James W. and Sarah A. Fisk, and although 
 S^only admitted to the bar May 8, 1884, has 
 already gained an enviable reputation as a member 
 of the legal fraternity and made many friends among 
 the people of this count\', especially in Ridge 
 Farm, to which he came soon after completing his 
 law course. He is possessed of a worthy ambition 
 to excel, and devotes much careful study to the 
 various knotty questions which are constantly aris- 
 ing in connection with his profession, aided by an 
 ample library, to which he is gradually adding as 
 time and opportunity permit. He has fair pros- 
 pects for the future and numbers of friends who are 
 watching his career with kindly interest. 
 
 Our subject was born at Melrose, Clark County, 
 this State, Nov. 7, 1858, and attended the common 
 school during the days of his boyhood and youth. 
 He at an early period in his life evinced an interest 
 in common law, and in September, 1883, entered 
 the law department of the Michigan University at 
 Ann Arbor, where he studied until March, 1884. 
 Then returning to Melrose he sojourned thereuntil 
 being admitted to the Indiana bar, May 8, 1884. 
 On the 8th of Ma}', 1888 he was admitted to prac- 
 tice in the courts of Illinois. He was elected Police 
 Magistrate of Ridge Farm in April, 1887, for a 
 term of four years, and at the Republican District 
 Convention in 1888, received twenty-five voles for 
 Representative out of the fifty-four required for 
 nomination. He officiates as Notary Public, and 
 is building up a practice which is steadily increas- 
 ing in extent and importance, and has recently been 
 appointed Deputy States Attorney for this county. 
 Mr. Fisk has set a worthy example for his young 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 579 
 
 men associates, being an active member of the 
 Methodist Episcopal Church, and giving his un- 
 qiialifled support to those enterprises set on foot 
 for tlie purpose of elevating the social status of the 
 community where he is destined to make his marlf. 
 He was for one year Captain of Charles A. Clark 
 Camp, No. 77 Sons of Veterans, and is at present 
 First Sergeant in that body. He possesses business 
 qualifications of no mean order, and is a general 
 favorite both in the social and business circles. He 
 remains unmarried. As an orator he is exceptionally 
 eloquent and forcible, and invariably brings his 
 oratorical powers to his support when arguing 
 questions before the courts. 
 
 ^ IfelLLIAM MILLER. In that day when 
 \/\/l/ freedom shall make up the muster roll of 
 W^ her heroes, none on the majestic list shall 
 meet witli greater honor than those who, when the 
 Secessionists sought to force our flag from its proud 
 place, sprung to its aid. The farmer bo3% the stud- 
 ent, the wealthy, all touched shoulders and marched, 
 suffered and died, that we might have a land un- 
 divided, free and prosperous. It will be an un- 
 propitious day for this country when it forgets to 
 sing the praises of her noble defenders. Let his- 
 tory make a record of the fact that the man whose 
 name heads this sketch was one of those who dared 
 to do, when that act meant something, and when the 
 dark clouds of adversity and war hovered over our 
 fair land. 
 
 William Bliller is a retired farmer of Indianola. 
 His father and mother, James and Ruth (Weiley), 
 both died when William was young, and of whom 
 he has no recollection. At the time of their death 
 there were but two children in the family — Squire 
 and William, the former going to Missouri in about 
 1834, and when the Mexicap War broke out he en- 
 listed, and that was the last Mr. Miller heard of 
 him. William was born March 15, 1816, in Giles 
 County, Va. His ancestors were leading people in 
 tlic Colonies, and his grandfather Weiley was a sol- 
 (liei- in the Revolutionary War. Soon after his 
 
 mother's death AVilliam was thrust upon the world 
 to do for himself, and so his young life was spent 
 in struggling to obtain a livelihood. The most of 
 this period of his life was spent on a farm, and at 
 the age of seventeen he came to Vermilion County, 
 without money and without friends. He was en- 
 deavoring to work his way to Missouri, where his 
 brother was then living, but inducements were laid 
 before him that were strong enough to keep him 
 here, where he worked continuousl3' for three or 
 four years. He made his first trip on a flatboat to 
 New Orleans in 1842, having rafted on the Ohio 
 before. At this time he was a man grown, and a 
 strapping fellow of six feet three and a half, weigh- 
 ing 220, and fully calculated, ph3'sically, to make 
 his way in the world. He made three trips to New 
 Orleans, and then abandoned the river. He rented 
 a farm for several years, after which he came to 
 Carroll Township, in 1845, in which year he was 
 married to Miss Mary George, who was born in 
 Hamilton County, Ohio. In 1857 he removed to 
 Indianola, and two years later went to Kansas, 
 where he purchased 160 acres of land, intending to 
 permanently remove there the next year. At this 
 time the struggle was going on in Kansas that was 
 to determine whether that State was to be free or 
 slave, and society'- was so unsettled that he gave up 
 his plan of making that his home. 
 
 When the war broke out, in 1861, he enlisted in 
 Comyany D, 25th Illinois Infantry, and was mus- 
 tered in at Danville. His regiment proceeded to 
 St. Louis, remaining at that place for a fortnight, 
 when it was ordered to Jefferson City for drill. 
 It then went to Springfield, Mo., thence south and 
 back again to the latter place, when they were or- 
 dered to RoUa, where the regiment spent its first 
 winter. In the following March the orders came 
 to go to Springfield again, whence the regiment 
 proceeded to Pea Ridge and there engaged in its 
 first fight. Mr. Miller was also in the following 
 battles: Corinth, Champion Hills, Stone River, 
 Chickamauga, Mission Ridge, Noonday Creek, 
 Pinetop Mountain, Kenesaw Mountain, Chattahoo- 
 chee, Peach Tree Creek and Atlanta. This is a 
 brilliant record. By reason of the expiration of 
 his term of service he was discharged at Atlanta. 
 During the entire term of enlistment he had been 
 
580 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 home on furlough but once to see his wife and 
 cliildren. 
 
 In 1865 Mr. Miller went to Montana, making the 
 journey with a wagon. His trip embraced Wash- 
 ington, Oregon and Idaho, touching the British 
 Possessions. He retnrned in 1867, rich inexper- 
 ience, if in nothing else. Being a good shot, he 
 enjoyed hunting in the mountains. About the last 
 of September the mines would close, when he 
 would shoulder his rifle and go into the mountains 
 in pursuit of bear, buffalo, deer, and antelope, and 
 he has killed as high as fifteen deer in one day. 
 Since he has returned he has devoted himself to 
 monej'- getting, and success has been his. 
 
 On Marcli 6th, 1889, his good ^^■ife died at the 
 age of seventy, leaving five children, whose record 
 is given: John W enlisted in the Union Army, and 
 died at GrifHn, Ga., in 1865; Sarah E.. married 
 John H. Grimes, of Villa Grove. He died in 1889. 
 and was . the father of three children — Gordon, 
 Maud and Roy; Mary C. is the wife of Van Mitch- 
 ell, a resident of Sidell and an ex-soldier. They 
 have five children — Minnie, William, Pearl, Walter, 
 and Nellie; Winfleld lives at Sidell ; Lucy is the 
 ■wife of Allen Spicer, a farmer of Carroll Township, 
 and has one child, Benjamin Harrison. 
 
 Mr. Miller is a Republican from principle. He 
 voted for William Henry Hai-rison in 1840, and 
 for Benjamin Harrison in 1888. He has never 
 sought office, but adheres to his party at all times. 
 Mr. Miller is one of the citizens of A'ermilion 
 County who is respected hj' his neighbors, and all 
 those with whom he is acquainted. 
 
 THEODORE MATKIN, an extensive handler 
 VSSW ^^'^ shipper of live stock, is one of the best 
 known men in this county. He handles 
 more cattle than any other dealer in Carroll Town- 
 ship and is exceedingly popular with the farmers. 
 He was born in this township on June 22, 1 842, 
 where he grew to manhood and gained his present 
 proud position in the esteem of those who know 
 him best. 
 
 His father and mother, William and Mary (San- 
 
 dusky) Malkin, were early settlers of this county. 
 The father was born in Kentucky and came to Illi- 
 nois in 1835, then a young man of twenty years. 
 He engaged in the mercantile business at Grand- 
 view, and while there became acquainted with his 
 future wife. His life was not to be spared long, 
 however, for in about three years after his mar- 
 riage he died at the age of twenty-seven years, 
 leaving two children: Theodore, and Mary, now 
 Mrs. Baird. The mother remained a widow for 
 some time, then she married Samuel Baum,and by 
 this union four children became men and women: 
 Frank, Winchester, America and May. 
 
 Theodore Matkin has no recollection of his 
 father, and when his stepfather died he was but 
 eighteen years cf age, after which he assumed the 
 management of the Baum farm of 1,500 acres. He 
 remained at home caring for his mother and the 
 children. During the war he prospered, as the 
 products of his farm ^Yere in great request and at 
 exorbitantly high prices. His education was lim- 
 ited to his attendance upon the public schools, but 
 he has been a constant reader and is always seeking 
 knowledge of the substantial sort. The cattle busi- 
 ness comes naturally to him. He herded stock 
 while but a mere boy and grew up among the cat- 
 tle. At the age of twenty-two years, in 1864, he 
 was married to Sallie E., daughter of William and 
 Sarah (Weaver) Raney. Her father was born 
 near Flemingsburg, Ky., and bj^ occupation was a 
 farmer. He served his country during the Mexi- 
 can War. The mother was also a native of the 
 same State and was a widow when she married Mr. 
 Raney. Her first husband, James Culbertson, left 
 four children when he died: William, Edward, 
 Amanda and John, Edward enlisted in the army 
 at the same time his stepfather did and went to 
 Mexico. Mrs. Matkin was a little girl of five or six 
 when they enlisted, and recalls how her father en- 
 treated her to be a good girl and how he promised 
 wlien he returned to bring her some presents; but 
 he never returned. The mother, in 1850, came to 
 Vermilion Count}', where in 1852, at the age of 
 iifty-one years, she passed away, universally be- 
 loved as a kind neighbor and a perfect mother. 
 She kept her family together until her death. She 
 had three children by her last marriage: John, 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 581 
 
 Thomas and Sarah E. Thomas served in the late 
 war and died in New Orleans; Jolin went to Iowa 
 when a boy of twentj' years, where he married and 
 soon after died. 
 
 Mrs. Matliin was born in Edgar County, 111. 
 Coming to Georgetown she made her home with 
 her sister, Mrs. John Grace, and thus she came to 
 attend the same school as her future husband did. 
 Cupid did effective work in a log school-house this 
 time. Mr. and Mrs. Matkin continued on the 
 Baum farm three years after their marriage, when 
 they removed to Chicago at the time the great 
 Union Stock-yards were first opened. The purpose 
 of this removal was to enter the live stock commis- 
 sion business, but not liking it there, his next ven- 
 ture was in the dry-goods trade at Indianola, re- 
 maining in that business three years. During all 
 this time his ideas were centered upon the stock- 
 dealing, and so he sold out his dry-goods and inau- 
 gurated the business of farming and dealing in cat- 
 tle. He shipped his stock largely to Buffalo, N.Y.. 
 where he became acquainted with C. F. Reynolds, 
 and in 1872 he formed a union with him under the 
 firm name of C. F. Reynolds & Co., and for twleve 
 years they transacted an extensive business in 
 Buffalo, whei-e their main oflice was located. In 
 the stock business Mr. Matkin has handled millions 
 of dollars, sometimes paying out from 150,000 to 
 $100,000 per week; but unwisely a third partner 
 was taken into the firm, and they failed for 
 $30,000. The debts, however, were paid off dollar 
 for dollar, although everything Mr. Matkiu had 
 was sold under the hammer, even to his private 
 horses and carriage. It took about five years to 
 pay their debts, but the firm kept on doing business 
 and eventually won the fight. In 1884 Mr. Mat- 
 kin retired from business and came back to Indi- 
 anola. During his business career in Buffalo he 
 became quite well acquainted with the law firm of 
 Cleveland & Bissell, and he says he found the ex- 
 President an honest lawyer. On the whole, Mr. 
 Matkin has been successful in his life work. He 
 IS now living in his elegant home, well provided 
 with everything calculated to round out his hon- 
 orable life. With music and children around 
 him. he is happy. Jessie, his little daughter, was 
 born in Buffalo, Feb. 10, 1880, while Susan first 
 
 saw the light in Indianola, Feb. 28, 1885. He is 
 at present engaged some in buying and shipping 
 stock to Buffalo, Chicago, Indianapolis and the 
 East. 
 
 Mr. Matkin is a Republican, but party ties rest 
 lightly upon him. Whenever the opposition nom- 
 inates a man he likes, he breaks through the lines of 
 his party and votes for whom bethinks to be the 
 best man — as, for instance, he voted for Cleve- 
 land, a personal friend of his, for Governor. 
 
 — Sj!«sfe-fl_ 
 
 -p-'/p^r- 
 
 -Ef- 
 
 f^ LDER URIAH FOLGER. There is no 
 ^ other religious organization that embraces 
 ^^ a greater number of consistent, true and de- 
 vout Christians than that of the Friends' Church. 
 It is proverbial that the people of this denomina- 
 tion have done more to inculcate simple honesty 
 than anj' other of equal numbers. When William 
 Penn came to this countr3^ the natives had posses- 
 sion of the most of it, and they were distrustful of 
 the whites. They had been deceived and studi- 
 ously imposed upon, and had come to think that 
 all white men were bad. But when this simple 
 Quaker told them what he would do they believed 
 him, for the sect to which he belonged was known 
 to them as people incapable of deception. A treaty 
 was made, based upon the honor of the great foun- 
 der of Pennsylvania, and its provisions were relig- 
 iously kept. It is a lamentable fact that before 
 that time the contracts made with the Indians were 
 drawn up with a view of being broken. Thus the 
 (Quakers were largely instrumental in settling tiie 
 difficulties that existed between the whites and the 
 Indians, and the foundations for a great State were 
 therefore laid. All honor to the Society of 
 Friends. 
 
 Uriah Folger is an Elder in the Friends' Church 
 and a typical (Quaker. He was born in Elwood 
 Township April 23, 1834. His father, Asa, a na- 
 tive of North Carolina, came to this county in 
 1831, settling in the Elwood neighborhood. He 
 carried on the business of tanning and shoemaking 
 for many years, and did the work for the settlers 
 who lived for miles around. He employed at times 
 
582 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 four or five men, and as a business man he pros- 
 pered. He was one of the best of men. His wife was 
 Elizabeth, daughter of Uriah .Starbuck. Tliis wor- 
 thy couple were the parents of ten children: Wal- 
 ter, Erasmus, Matilda Haworth, Lydia, John, Mary, 
 Sarah, Rachael and Thomas. Thomas, the youngest, 
 is fortj^-nine 3'ears old. The father and mother 
 died in 1850 and' 1880 respectively. 
 
 Uriah Folger received his primary education at 
 the common schools, and later he attended the 
 Bloomingdale Academj^ where he studied under 
 Prof. Hobbs. He was an apt scholar and therefore 
 received a good education. On Nov. 10, 1858, he 
 was married to Edith C. Dillon, daughter of Laban 
 and Jane (HoUiday) Dillon, both deceased. The 
 former died when Edith was an infant, while the 
 motlier passed away in 1859. This worthy couple 
 had many traits of character that endeared them to 
 their neighbors, and their death was mourned by 
 all their acquaintances. Mr. and Mrs. Folger never 
 had any children. He owns twenty acres of land 
 in Elwood Township and 640 acres in Crosby 
 County, Tex., and also a town lot in Marriette, 
 Tex. 
 
 Mr. Folger was reared in the faith of the Quaker 
 Church, while his wife united with that most ex- 
 cellent denomination at the age of fifteen years. 
 He is an exhorter of considerable note in his church, 
 and devotes the most of his time to that work. He 
 is eminently successful in his labors to make the 
 world better, and those who know him best are his 
 most atdent admirers. Mr. and Mrs. Folger never 
 weary in doing good, and the respect in which they 
 are held by their neighbors is well earned. 
 
 W EWIS ALLEN REID. It has been custom 
 I (^ ary to speak of men who have raised them 
 jl^^ selves to honorable positions in life without 
 the aid of wealth, as self-made men. There is much 
 less significance in this expression than people sup- 
 pose who use it. It would seem to imply that there 
 were some men who are not self made, that they were 
 made by others, and that the qualities necessary to 
 render the man successful in life need not be ac- 
 
 quired but might be conferred. Such is not the 
 case. All men who are made are self made, and 
 there is no exception, for it cannot be otherwise. 
 In whatever department one may enter, if he desires 
 success he must achieve it. There is no short cut, 
 no patent process. It is work that makes men, and 
 that work must be done by the man himself who 
 would be made. Hard work has made Lewis Allen 
 Reid what he now is in the estimation of his fellows. 
 
 Mr. Reid was born in Vermillion C'ountj', Ind., 
 Oct. 26, 1846. His father, David Reid, was a na- 
 tive of Mason County, Ohio, and came to Vermill- 
 ion County, Ind., in 1837, with his parents when a 
 small boy. He removed to Elwood Township in 
 1848, where he died April 7, 1865. His wife was 
 Eleanor, daughter of John Whitlock, a prominent 
 pioneer of the same township. She was born in 
 Kentucky and came to Illinois when she was a lit- 
 tle girl. She was the mother of eight children, 
 seven of whom are now living. Lewis A., of whom 
 this sketch is written ; Cynthia Henderson, Thomas, 
 Lance L., Laura Glick, Eliza Trimble and Rosa 
 Campbell. 
 
 Lewis A. Reid was primarily educated at the 
 common schools and finished his education at the 
 Georgetown High School. He taught two years 
 in this township, two terms of which were in his 
 home district, and two in district No. 4. He was a 
 soldier in the late war, having enlisted in Company 
 E, 135th Illinois Infantry. He served a term of 
 four months, his regiment being only called out for 
 100 days. On May 7, 1865, Mr. Reid married 
 Anna, daughter of Wright Cook. The latter was 
 a pioneer of Elwood Township. He emigrated from 
 North Carolina to Illinois in 1825, locating here 
 when the Indians and wild animals held almost un- 
 disputed possession of the country. His wife, whose 
 maiden name was Rachael Maxwell, was a native of 
 Knoxville, Tenn. Mr. and Mrs. Cook had twelve 
 children, eight of whom still survive : Elam, of Tus- 
 cola, Ill.,Keziah, Mrs. Rudd, of Elwood Township; 
 Hugh, of SpringGeld, Mo.; Thomas, Asa, of El- 
 wood; Sarah, Mrs. Patterson, of Montgomery 
 County, Kan.; Mrs. Reid and Rachel Thompson, 
 both of Elwood. Two of the children died after 
 they had attained maturity, viz.; Elizabeth, Mrs. 
 Smith, who left a husband and four children, and 
 
PORTRAIT ANJ) BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 583 
 
 Joel, who died at the age of twenty-two. Mrs. 
 Reid was born in Elwood, July 21, 1844. 
 
 Mr. Reid located on his present farm in the fall 
 of 1865, where lie owns and operates 110 acres of 
 land. He is engaged in raising graded cattle, 
 Clydesdale and Norman horses and Poland-China 
 and Berkshire pigs. Politically, he belongs to the 
 Republican part}'. He is a member of the Cum- 
 berland Presbj'terian Church at Yankee Point, and 
 in the Sundaj'-school lie is a great worker, where 
 lie has been Superintendent or teacher for the past 
 ten years. He is also a member of the G. A. R. 
 Mrs. Reid is a consistent member of the Cumberland 
 Presbyterian Church, and an incident will exhibit 
 that she came from plucky stock. Her mother rode 
 on horseback and drove a cow all the way from 
 Tennessee to Union Count}', Ind., where the family 
 resided for a time. 
 
 iOHN MAKEMSON, one of the good far- 
 mers of his neighborhood, is a native of 
 Kentucky, born on the 22d day of February, 
 1821. He was reared in Harrison, in that 
 State, and he married Amanda Adams, daughter of 
 Samuel and Nancy Adams, who were also natives 
 of Kentucky. Their marriage occurred on Christ- 
 mas Day, 1848, after which they settled on a farm 
 two miles south of their present location. 
 
 This couple are the parents of five children: 
 William T.; Hannah, wife of Lester Leonard; 
 Nancy, wife of John Clapp; Arena P., wife of 
 Robert Phillips; Perry is at home. Mr. Makera- 
 son owns 900 acres of good land, and he can justly 
 say that every cent he has accumulated has been 
 through his own exertions. His biography, could 
 space be given for its details, would prove truth as 
 strange as fiction, inasmuch as it would be pregnant 
 with examples of courage and will-power that 
 compel circumstances to shape themselves to events, 
 and would show the ambitious youth of today that 
 notwithstanding poverty, and the misfortunes of 
 a neglected education, a boy however poor can 
 rise as high as his ambition can carry him. In list- 
 ening to the life story of Mr. Makemson, we would 
 
 hear enough to teach us that however discouraged 
 we may be, there is always hope and assurance that 
 labor and faith will eventuallj' conquer. 
 
 Politically Mr. Makemson votes the Republican 
 ticket, though he does not care for the active life 
 of the politician, but goes to the polls and deposits 
 his ballot for the candidates of his part}', believing 
 in the wisdom of the leaders, and he is generally 
 right. His family worshiijs at tiie Methodist 
 Church, and are reckoned among the devout and 
 consistent Christians of the neighborhood. When 
 the roll of good citizens is made up, the person of 
 whom this brief biography is written, will stand in 
 the list as one of the best. 
 
 \\\ jj^K'^LEY ELLIOTT is a modest and unas- 
 """'ng man, devoted to his home and 
 
 WS family. 
 
 As a farmer and stock-raiser, he 
 has been eminently prosperous. He owns a farm, 
 which is highly cultivated, of 143 acres on section 
 26, on the Harrison Purchase, Elwood Township. 
 He was born in Wayne County, Ind., Nov. 12, 
 1848. His father, Nathan, was a native of North 
 Carolina, and came to Vermilion County in De- 
 cember, 1854, settling in Elwood Township, one 
 mile and a half southwest of the Ridge. 
 
 Mr. Elliott received his primary education at 
 the public schools, but desiring to better himself 
 in an educational way, he attended Bloomingdale 
 Academy, where, by his studious habits and his 
 determination to win, he acquired a good educa- 
 tion. He has always been a farmer, and has ascer- 
 tained the fact that the more intelligence a man 
 possesses the better farmer he is ; that labor can be 
 lightened by reading — something that in the gen- 
 eration before him would have been laughed at. 
 But this is a progressive age, and in nothing has 
 there been more progression than in agriculture. 
 "Within the last forty years all of the substantial 
 improvements in agricultural machinery have been 
 made, and now it is possible to operate a farm with 
 one-half the labor that was required in the last . 
 generation. 
 
 On the 11th of February, 1875, Mr. Elliott was 
 
584 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 married to Rebecca J., daughter of James Menden- 
 liall, who emigrated from Hamilton County, Ind., 
 to Illinois in 1858. He was a prominent citizen, a 
 man very much respected b}' everybody, and at 
 the time of his death was considered well-to-do. 
 Jlr. and Mrs. Elliott are the parents of three cliil- 
 f^i-en — Otis M., Lulu G., and Annie M. Wesley 
 Elliott's mother, Naomi Mendenhall, was a lady 
 noted for her charitable works and many lovelj^ 
 traits of character. She was the mother of eight 
 children, seven of whom are living: Henry C, Annie, 
 Mrs. Rork ; Wesley, Alvin, Clayton B., Mary I]., Mrs. 
 Stogsdill; and Delphinia, Mrs. Lynch. The father 
 was married twice, his first wife being Miss Eliza- 
 beth Maxwell, and by her he had three children, 
 but one of whom is now living — John. Mrs. 
 lilUiott's mother, Rebecca (Campbell), was the 
 mother of ten children, five of whom are living: 
 Priscilla, Mrs. Patten; Ira C, Ryan G., Rhoda C, 
 Mrs. Ankrum and Mrs. Elliott. Tbey are worthy 
 adherents of the Societj' of Friends. 
 
 Mr. Elliott is engaged in mixed farming and 
 stock-raising, a calling which has been a success 
 with him. He handles and feeds nothing but the 
 best kind of stock, and is always readj^ to try any 
 new improvement that will forward the work of 
 agriculture, and has any merit at all in it. He be- 
 lieves that the Republican party is the one to 
 which this country must look for its reforms, and, 
 while he never seeks office, has held many local 
 positions, which he has invariably filled with abil- 
 ity. Being of the Quaker persuasion, that fact is 
 guarantee enough of the stability of his character, 
 and shows that his neighbors can trust him in any 
 position in which he is placed. 
 
 -i-+#=&^54+^ 
 
 Wp^^ILLIAM JASPER OLEHY, an ex-soldier 
 of the LTnion Army and one of the best- 
 known residents of Georgetown Township, 
 is the proprietor of a snug farm of seventy-eight 
 acres on section 18, where he has effected good im- 
 pi'ovements and is in the enjoyment of a comforta- 
 ble home. He was born in Danville Township, 
 Vermilion County, July 24, 1840, and was reared 
 
 upon his father's farm, attending the common 
 school a short time — only six months — and then 
 commenced in earnest the battle of life. He worked 
 out by the month until after reaching his majority 
 and after the outbreak of the Civil War, enlisted, 
 July 17, 1862, for three years, or during the war, 
 in Company A, 125th Illinois Infantry, under the 
 command of Capt. Ralston. He was mustered in at 
 Danville where they drilled three weeks and were 
 then ordered to the front, going to Covington, Ky. 
 via. Cincinnati, Ohio. 
 
 Our subject first met the enemy in battle at Per- 
 ryville, next at Nashville, Murfreesboro and at 
 Chattanooga; after this followed the march to 
 Knoxville, whence the}' returned to Chattanooga and 
 soon afterward entered upon the Atlanta campaign. 
 In the meantime the regiment was assigned to the 
 14th Army Corps under command of Gen. Thomas 
 and with Sherman marched to the sea. Their mis- 
 sion ended in the Southeast they repaired to Wash- 
 ington, D. C, were present at the grand review. 
 May 22-25, 1865, and were mustered out. He re- 
 ceived his honorable discharge in Chicago, June 
 29, 1865. 
 
 Returning now to the farm, Mr. Olchy occupied 
 himself in agricultural pursuits and in a sawmill 
 east of Danville until his marriage. This interest- 
 ing event occurred in 1870, the bride being Miss 
 Mar}' A., daughter of William and Mary (Glaze) 
 Olehy. The young people settled in Pilot Town- 
 ship, where our subject w.as engaged in farming 
 until 1881, then purchased his present homestead. 
 Of this first marriage there were born two chil- 
 dren — Annie R. and iNIarj' E., and the mother died 
 in 1880. Mr. Olehy votes the straight Democratic 
 ticket. He has had very little to do with public 
 affairs, avoiding the responsibilities of office and 
 giving his undivided attention to his farming in- 
 terests. 
 
 The parents of our subject were .Jacob and Annie 
 (Glaze) Olehy, who were both natives of Ohio, and 
 the father born near Chillicothe. The paternal 
 grandfather, Virginius Olehy, was of English and 
 German descent. The parents were married in 
 Vermilion County, III., to which they came in their 
 youth, in 1833-34. Mr. Olehy carried on farming, 
 and both he and his wife died of cholera in 1849. 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOC-RAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 585 
 
 The,y were the parents of five children, four of 
 wliom are living. Rebecca, the oldest, is the wife 
 of Alonzo Coolc, a coal dealer of Georgetown Town- 
 ship. Dennis is a carpenter b3' trade and a resi- 
 dent of Danville. Martha R.. is the widow of -lolra 
 Martin, a mechanical engineer who died in Danville. 
 
 Vf; S. MOSES is a prominent business man of 
 Hoopeston, news dealer. Justice of the 
 Peace, and dealer in musical instruments- 
 books, stationery and notions. He was born 
 in Portsmouth, N. II., March 26, 1846, and there 
 resided with his parents outside of the city, obtain- 
 ing his education in Portsmouth, later attending 
 school at Dixon, 111. 
 
 When Mr. Moses came to Illinois he was about 
 twenty-one years of age. He located in White- 
 side County, where he taught school, following the 
 * same pursuit also in Lee County, and while living 
 there he attended school part of the time at Dixon. 
 In 1875 he first came to Vermilion County, teach- 
 ino- school for three or four 3'ears, after vvhich he 
 engao-ed in the business mentioned above, and has 
 so continued ever since. He has made a success in 
 everything he has undertaken, in a financial point 
 of view, and as an official his record is of the very 
 best. He has been City Treasurer, Alderman, 
 Justice of the Peace, and all of these offices have 
 come to him unsought, as his neighbors believe 
 that he possesses all of the attributes necessary to 
 hold any position within tiieir gift. 
 
 On the 14th of February, 1870, Mr. Moses mar- 
 ried Miss Hattie Bixby, of Am boy. 111. They 
 have had two children, of whom only one is liv- 
 ing, Fred W. Mr. Closes has built a good home on 
 Second avenue, where he has lived for some time, 
 and where it is hoped he may enjoy many years of 
 his useful life. He has done much to build up the 
 literary tastes of the people of his town, and there 
 not being any good library here, he has personally 
 expended a generous amount in maintaining a good 
 circulating library of 1 ,200 volumes. This alone 
 is a good recommendation for any man. 
 
 Mrs. Moses was born in Lee Center, Lee Co., 111., 
 
 Dec. 22, 1863, and is a daughter of L. L. Bixby, a 
 prominent farmer of that section of tlie country. 
 She remained at home, except for the time she at- 
 tended school, until her marriage. William Moses, 
 father of the subject of this sketch, was born in 
 Portsmouth, N. H., where he was reared on the old 
 homestead, which has been in the Moses family 
 since 1680. He received his education in his native 
 city, and when he attained his majority, located on 
 a farm two miles from town, where he engaged in 
 the business of general farming. His wife's maiden 
 name was Miss Abigail A. Seavey, and they are the 
 parents of seven children, oi whom only three are 
 now living: JMrs. Julia (Moses) Moses is living in 
 Portsmouth; Mrs. Augusta O. (Moses) Seavey, and 
 the subject of this sketch. The father is still living, 
 but his wife died in 1886. William Moses.has held 
 the various local offices of Portsmouth, although 
 he never was possessed of political aspirations. He 
 has voted invariably with the Democratic party, 
 and is prominent in its counsels. Religiously he 
 believes in the doctrines of the Baptist Church, 
 and is a member of the I. O. 0. F. William Moses 
 is respected in his native town as a man of many 
 good qualities. 
 
 J. S. Moses is a stalwart DemocA"at, and Has been 
 very prominent in his party. He is a member of 
 the Odd Fellows and M. W. A. He belongs to the 
 Union Church of his city, and in all social affairs 
 does his share toward making life happier and 
 better. 
 
 ATHAN WILLIAMS, a successful farmer, 
 stock-raiser and merchant, of Hoopeston, was 
 lt\/M=> born in Harrison County, Ohio, Nov. 1, 
 1834. His farm is situated on section 11, town- 
 ship 23, range 12, and near the fair grounds. 
 Beside his farming and cattle-feeding interests, he 
 is also largely interested in the drygoods business, 
 which is conducted in the firm name of Williams 
 Bros. 
 
 Mr. Williams remained in his native county with 
 his father and mother until he became of age, a,t- 
 tending the common schools and working on the 
 farm alternately. In 1854 he came to Illinois and 
 
586 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 engaged with bis brother, who was also following 
 agricultural pursuits. lie remained here but one 
 season, then returning to Oiiio, where he took e Jarge 
 of the old homestead. In 1862 he married Miss 
 Susanna Norman, of Tuscarawas County, Ohio, 
 and ill 1864, he returned to Illinois, and concluded 
 to remain here. In 1865 he bought a farm in 
 Prairie Green Township, Iroquois Co., 111., which 
 was partially- improved. Here he prosecuted the 
 business of stock-raising, handling large herds, and 
 was successful. He improved this farm by build- 
 ing the necessary houses and barns that were 
 needed, and by fencing and hedging. In 1871, 
 when Hoopeston tirst came into existence, he came 
 here and erected a large boarding house. In 1875. 
 in company with his brother John, he purchased a 
 grocery business, which was his first mercantile ven- 
 ture, but which was a successful one, notwithstand- 
 ing the financial depression that carried down other 
 firms in the vicinit}-. He continued in the grocery 
 business until 1881, when his brother sold out to 
 Mr. Catherwood, and our subject and Mr. Cather- 
 wood continued the business, going into the grain 
 business in addition. He remained in this partner- 
 ship for a short time, when he purchased the whole 
 business and has built up a large ti-ade, also in dry- 
 goods, last year amounting to $30,000. The firm 
 at tills writing is Williams Bros., his brother Joseph 
 having purchased an interest in the busmess. In 
 their emploj- as general manager is Mr. Bond, a 
 nephew of the subject of this sketch, and a man 
 of large experience. This recapitulation is given 
 merely to exhibit the business ability of Mr. Will- 
 iams and to show his capacitj' in different lines of 
 trade. He has not made a failure in anything that 
 he has undertaken, but has steadily gone forward 
 and lifted up every business he has handled. 
 
 Politically Mr. Williams is a Republican, but has 
 never cared for office, though enthusiastic in his 
 advocacy of the partj- to which he belongs. He 
 is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church 
 and also of the Sunday-school. 
 
 Mrs. Williams was born in Tuscarawas County, 
 Ohio, and is the daughter of Daniel and Dorcas 
 Norman, who was a farmer by occupation, and who 
 removed from Oliio to Indiana, where his wife died 
 in 1887. He is now residing with his daughter, 
 
 Mrs. Williams. Mr. and Mrs. Williams are the 
 parents of seven children, of whom but three are 
 living : Joseph 0., is residing with his father, while 
 James A. is a partner in the firm of Williams Bros. ; 
 Anna May is also at home. 
 
 ENRY DORUS NEWELL, owns a large 
 farm in Carroll Township, acquired by his 
 own industry, being a self-made man and 
 ^^ receiving no financial assistance in making 
 his start in life. Mr. Newell has been engaged in the 
 tailoring business for the long period of forty-five 
 years and operates considerably as a money leaner. 
 His land, 170 acres, is all prairie. 
 
 Mr. Joseph Newell, the father of our subject, 
 was a tailor by trade and conducted a general 
 merchant tailoring in Birmingham, England, where 
 he was born and spent his entire life, accumulating 
 a good property. He married Miss Jane Young * 
 who was born two miles south of Birmingham. 
 Both the grandfathers of our subject were farmers 
 and with their wives lived to be over eighty 
 years old. To Joseph and Jane Newell there 
 were born ten children, viz: An infant who died 
 unnamed, Frederick, Henry Dorus, our subject; 
 Maria, John, Herbert, William, Harriet, and two 
 more infants, unnamed, deceased. The great-grand- 
 father was a Norman Count by the name of Joseph 
 DeNewell; the "De" was dropped bj' the father of 
 our subject. 
 
 The subject of our sketch attended a private 
 school in Birmingham, prior to the era of the na- 
 tional schools. He learned rapidly, being more than 
 ordinarily bright and intelligent, and completed his 
 studies at the age of fourteen j^ears, being also at 
 that age confirmed in the Episcopal Church. Ho 
 then began working in his father's sliop, acquiring 
 the trade of a tailor readily, but he was fond of 
 adventure, and as soon as able to do journeyman's 
 work, left home and traveled through the northern 
 part of England, also going to Greenock and other 
 places in Scotland. He was thus occupied for a 
 period of nine jears, during which time he was 
 the hero of many a romance in which the fair 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 587 
 
 English girls and Scotch lassies figured quite 
 prominently. He visited the principal cities of 
 England, those containing more than 10,000 in- 
 habitants, and in 1846 became deeplj' interested 
 in politics and in the charter movement, which he 
 favored very strongly. This was his first experi- 
 ence in politics and made him strongly Democratic. 
 During the year above mentioned, he established 
 himself in business in London, where he remained 
 three years, then went to France and worked at 
 his trade in Paris six weeks. 
 
 Our subject, finally returning to his native city, 
 was married there Jan. 24, 1851, to Miss Hannah 
 Dovey, the ceremony taking place in St. Phillip's 
 Church, Birmingham. This maiden was his sweet- 
 heart when he was a boy. they attending the same 
 school and growing up together. They lived in 
 Birmingham for a time after their marri.age and 
 then Mr. Newell decided to seek his fortune in the 
 land of liberty. There had then been born to the 
 young couple one child, a son, William Henry. 
 On the 13th of August, 1854, they embarked from 
 Liverpool on the sailing vessel "Enoch Train" 
 from which they landed safely at New Orleans, 
 October 8, following. 
 
 Mr. Newell pursued his trade in the Crescent 
 City that winter, and on the 28th of March, 1855, 
 set out for Memphis, Tenn. On the waj' he fell in 
 with Samuel Grondyck, of Eugene, Ind.. who had 
 just marketed his pork in New Orleans and was 
 persuaded by him to return with him to Eugene. 
 He followed his trade there six months and in the 
 meantime became acquainted with some of the 
 leading men of Indianola. which was then Dallas. 
 So he changed his residence once more and being 
 a first-class workman, with little or no competition, 
 soon established a large trade. 
 
 Finally, Mr. Newell, changing his occupation 
 somewhat, entered the Government service and for 
 six months was stationed at Johnsonville on the 
 Tennessee River. He had become a naturalized 
 citizen as soon as the law would permit, and cast 
 his first Presidential vote for Douglas in 1860. 
 He invested his accumulated capital in land in 
 Carroll Township, which steadily increased in value 
 and in 1873 associated himself with Mr. Knipe and 
 began operating a sawmill. Later he sold out his 
 
 interest in this enterprise, but has a one-half inter- 
 est in a sawmill with Abraham Sandusky, which is 
 located on Sandusky Branch. 
 
 In 1881 Mr. Newell formed a partnership with 
 John W. Baum to build a tile manufactory at 
 Chrisman in Edgar County. This they have 
 since operated profitably. Indeed all the enter- 
 prises with which Mr. Newell has been connected 
 have resulted creditably to his good judgment. 
 He has expended a handsome sum of money in 
 law books and historical works, and frequently 
 officiates as an attorney, his readj^ speech and ex- 
 ceptionallj' good memory serving him well upon 
 these occasions and causing his opponents to look 
 well to their laurels. He is likewise well versed in 
 historjr of the world at large, especially that of 
 England and the United States. 
 
 The home of Mr. Newell is pleasantly situated 
 in the north part of the village and comprises a 
 neat and tasteful residence with attractive sur- 
 roundings, and within it, are books, music, works of 
 art and all the appliances of refined life. His 
 children are bright and intelligent, possessing much 
 musical talent, and the elegant upright piano in 
 their home is the source of much pleasure and 
 satisfaction both to them and their many friends. 
 
 jMrs. Hannah (Dovey) Newell departed this life 
 at her home in Indianola in 1857 leaving two chil- 
 dren, William IL, who died at the aged of twentjr- 
 three years, and Jennie who died at the age of four 
 months. Our subject, in 1861 , was married a sec- 
 ond time to JMrs. Laura A. (Ferrell) James, widow 
 of Elijah James by wliom she had five children, 
 Jasper L., Syrena F., B. W., Myrtle and Semour. 
 JNIrs. Laura Newell was born at Clinton, Vermillion 
 Co., Ind. Of her union with our subject there 
 have been born likewise five children, Beatrice, 
 Birdie, who died in infancy; Dixie, Harvey, and 
 Georgie, who died when one year old. Beatrice 
 is the vMife of Jasper Moore, an engineer at Sidell, 
 and they have three children, Harry D., Mossieand 
 a babe named Laura. Dixie married JNIilton Hen- 
 son, a farmer, and they reside in Villa Grove in 
 Douglas County, 111. The other child is at home 
 with the parents. Mr. Newell belongs to the 
 Episcopal Church while Mrs. Newell is a member 
 of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Indianola. 
 
588 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 Although a decided Democnit, politically, Mr. 
 Newell mixes very little in public affairs, with the 
 exception of serving twice on the County Central 
 Committe. He visited his native land in 1883 
 during the World's Exhibition at the Crystal 
 Palace in London, and attended a very interesting 
 shooting match at Wimbledon. America was finely' 
 represented at the exposition and it was a source 
 of no little pride to him that he was a citizen of the 
 United States. During this tour he made the 
 acquaintance of several noted individuals, among 
 them being George C. Miln, the famous preacher- 
 actor, who vyas one of the passengers on the steamer 
 "Parthia" on which Mr. Newell made the return 
 voyage. 
 
 -i^^l- — - 
 
 ^H LBERT HARPER, President of the Dan- 
 (^(L!| ville Commercial Company, and business 
 
 /// w manager of that establishment, was born in 
 1^ Michigan City, Ind., April 22, 1846. His 
 
 paternal ancestors, who were of Irish extraction, 
 were for several generations residents of the South, 
 and his father, Archibald Reed Harper, was born in 
 South Carolina in 1815. When the latter was 
 quite young the family removed to Rush County, 
 Ind., where our subject's father lived until 1833. 
 In that year he and an elder brother went to Michi- 
 gan City, LaPorte Co., Ind., which at that time 
 seemed destined to be the leading point of the 
 southern shore of Lake Michigan. Having estab- 
 lished a home there, the brothers sent for their 
 parents and the rest of the family, who soon after- 
 ward joined them. There the grandparents lived 
 the remainder of their lives, and both died in 1851. 
 
 Archibald Harper and his brother Asa were car- 
 penters and cabinet-makers, and worked at this 
 trade together until 1850, when the former re- 
 moved to Porter County, Ind., where he engaged 
 in farming until 1880, when he retired from active 
 life, and is now living at Chesterton, an honored 
 pioneer of Northern Indiana. He was twice mar- 
 ried, his first wife being Miss Foster, who died 
 leaving one child, O. E. Harper, now a resident of 
 Danville. The second wife, mother of our sub- 
 ject, was Miss Emily A. Atwater, who was born 
 
 Sept. 1, 1824, in Canada, whence her parents re- 
 moved first to Pennsylvania, and later to Michigan 
 City. She is living with her husband in Chester- 
 ton. This second union was blessed by the birth of 
 eight cjiildren. Two died in infancy, and one, Mar- 
 garet, after reaching womanhood. The survivors 
 are: Albert, who is the eldest; Aimer, a merchant of 
 Chesterton; Laura, wife of Irving Brush, a farmer 
 near that place; Homer S., a painter, living in 
 Pierre, Dak.; and Samuel A., a druggist in Ches- 
 terton. 
 
 The subject of this sketch spent his boyhood on 
 the farm, receiving his education in the district 
 schools. A\^hen fifteen years of age he began learn- 
 ing the trade of a printer in Valparaiso, Ind., where, 
 with the exception of one year spent in Williams- 
 port, Ind., he remained until 1869, when he came 
 to Danville, which has since been his home. He 
 began life there as acompositor on the Commercial, 
 and he has since been identified with that journal. 
 In 1870 he bought a quarter interest in the estab- 
 lishment, still retaining his position in the compos- 
 ing room. The following year the business was 
 reorganized under the name of the "Commercial 
 Company," and Mr. Harper was chosen President. 
 In 1877 he was installed as Business Manager, a 
 position for which his practical knowledge of the 
 business, and his affable and pleasing manners, pe- 
 culiarly qualify him. The success of this prosper- 
 ous journal is largely due to his careful and prudent 
 management of its financial interests. 
 
 May 29, 1873, Mr. Harper was united in mar- 
 riage with Miss Julia Pa3rton, who was born in 
 Vance Township, Vermilion County, Feb. 8, 1847. 
 Her parents were John M. and Sarah (Frazier) 
 Payton, and her grandfather, Peter Frazier, was 
 one of the first pioneers of the county, where he 
 entered Government land at a very early day. He 
 lived to an advanced age, dying in 1881, aged 
 ninety-seven years, one of the oldest white men 
 who ever lived in Vermilion County. The mother 
 of Mrs. Harper died Aug. 28, 1878, in Danville, 
 and since then her father has made his homo with 
 his daughter and our subject. He is now in his 
 sixty-seventh year. Some seven years ago he gave 
 up his farm and is now living a retired life. 
 
 The union of Mr. and Mrs. Harper has been 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 589 
 
 blessed to them by the birth of two children — Katie 
 Payton and Ernest Herbert, both attending school 
 at Danville. The parents are both members of the 
 Kimber Methodist Episcopal Church, and Mr. Har- 
 per belongs to the order of the Royal Templars of 
 Temperance and the Nalional Union. 
 
 During his residence of twenty years in Danville, 
 Mr. Harper has become widel3' known and higiily 
 respected. A gentleman of modest and unassum- 
 ing deportment, of genial manners and of real 
 merit, he has the confidence and esteem of the 
 entire community. 
 
 yTLBUR CAST, the well-known "Short 
 Stop" of the base ball nine, the Sidell 
 ^^^ Reds, is designated as the "cute hitter" and 
 with his comrades has furnished great recreation 
 for the denizens of Sidell and vicinity, displa3dng 
 in a marked degree the skill which may be attained 
 by long practice and which really amounts to a 
 science. This "nine" is the pride of the town and 
 Mr. Cast one of its most popular boys. Base ball, 
 however, occupies only a small portion of his time 
 as he is industriously engaged in the cultivation of 
 his little farm of eighty acres, where he makes his 
 headquarters and although living in an unpreten- 
 tious style, manages to extract a great deal of com- 
 fort from life. His career thus far has been signal- 
 ized by perseverance and integrity, and he is a 
 universal favorite among his townspeople. He has 
 attained to his position solely by his own efforts, 
 having been thrown upon his own resources early 
 in life. Upon coming to this county twelve years 
 ago or so, he engaged as a laborer by the month at 
 Fairmount, and by a course of industry and econ- 
 omy succeeded in making the purchase of his 
 present farm. 
 
 Mr. Cast was born in Clinton County, Ohio, six 
 miles north of Clarksville, Dec. 22, 1858, and was 
 reared to manhood in the Buckeye State, receiv- 
 ing good educational advantages. His father, 
 Ezekiel Cast, was married in early manhood to 
 Miss Martha (Francis) Berkely, a native of Clarks- 
 ville, and subsequently operated as a carpenter and 
 
 farmer. He is still living on his farm and is 
 seventy years of age. Tiie mother died in 1861 
 aged about forty years. Mv. Cast was married 
 three times after the death of his first wife. The 
 parental household included seven children, viz: 
 Mary F., Isaac William, Letta Joseph, Wilbur F. 
 L., .lennie and Charles. Our subject was only three 
 years old at the time of his mother's death and re- 
 mained in his native State until a youth of sixteen 
 years. Then coming to this county he entered the 
 employ of W. H. Bartley, now a resident of Fair- 
 mount, and he attended school two winters after- 
 ward. He was married in March, 1886, to IMiss 
 Celia,daughter of John and Rachel Frances(Collins) 
 Nugent, of Fairmount. The latter named came to 
 this county in 1861. Mrs. Cast was born and 
 reared near Fairmount, and of her union with our 
 subject there are two children, Raymond E. and 
 Katie F. 
 
 Mr. Cast purchased his present farm in the fall 
 of 1885, and is making perceptible headwaj^ as the 
 seasons pass. He is a strict Republican, politically, 
 and a favorite in both the social and business 
 circles of this community. Mrs. Cast is a mem- 
 ber in good standing of the Methodist Episcopal 
 Church. The father of our subject served in the 
 Union army from the beginning to the close of 
 the Civil War. 
 
 ^.ILLIAM P. WITHERSPOOX, Jr. Among 
 all the good things of life, there are few 
 W^ more pleasant or desirable than a neat, at- 
 tractive and well-regulated home, be it in the city 
 or country, although to most minds a home amid 
 the green fields with their peaceful and quiet scenes 
 is the most desirable. Thej^ who have a true con- 
 ception of the advantages of life in the rural dis- 
 tricts, may, as in the case of Mr. Witherspoon and 
 his estimable wife, build up a home very nearly 
 approaching the ideal, as they have done, working 
 without question, with the mutual aim in view of 
 g.athering around themselves the appliances craved 
 by cultivated tastes and refined instincts. That 
 they have succeeded in an admirable manner, is 
 
590 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 quite evident in looking about their home, which 
 is one of the most attractive spots in Vance Town- 
 ship. Their children are receiving careful home 
 training and a good education, such as will fit them 
 for their station in life and make them good and 
 worthy citizens. 
 
 The subject of this notice is a native of Indiana, 
 and was born Feb. 11, 1848, being the sixth child 
 of William P., Sr., and Permolia (Berlin) Wither- 
 spoon, the former a native of Alabama and the lat- 
 ter of Patoka, Ind. The father of our subject was 
 born in 1808, and twenty years later, leaving his 
 native State, emigrated north to Southern Indiana, 
 and since that time has lived in the vicinity of Pa- 
 toka. Grandfather Berlin was born in Germany, 
 whence he removed to Scotland, and tinallj' came 
 to America, spending his last days in Indiana. 
 William P. Witherspoon, Sr., was married in Gib- 
 son County, Ind., served in the Black Hawk War, 
 and svibsequently became a prominent citizen of 
 his county. The wife and mother died in 1878. 
 Their family consisted of nine children, eight of 
 whom are living. The father has attained the ad- 
 vanced age of eighty-three years and is in reasona- 
 bly good health. 
 
 Our subject pursued his first lessons in the 
 schools of Patoka, Ind., and later attended school 
 on the old Tippecanoe battle ground north of La 
 Fayette. He took kindl}- to his books and became 
 thoroughly well informed. He was but a lad of 
 fifteen years at the outbreak of the Civil War, and 
 three years later, in 1864, entered the ranks of the 
 Union army, enlisting in Company G, 14.3d Indi- 
 ana Infantry, in which he was made first color 
 guard and occupied a very conspicuous place in 
 time of action. He was with his regiment during 
 the battles of Nashville, Murfresboro, Tallahoma 
 and Knoxville, and from this latter place went to 
 Clarksville, Tenn., where he remained until the 
 close of the war. He was mustered out at Nash- 
 ville in October, 1865. 
 
 Three brothers of our subject also served in tlie 
 Union army. John was a member of Company H, 
 17th Indiana lnfantr3r, and re-enlisted after the 
 expiration of his first term of service. Moses and 
 James were in Company A, 80th Indiana Infantry. 
 The former was shot five times at the battle of 
 
 Resaca, Ga., receiving wounds in the left arm, hip, 
 thigh, the calf of his leg and his foot. He is still 
 living, making his home near Patoka, Ind. James 
 participated in all the battles of his regiment, ex- 
 periencing many hairbreadth escapes, but returned 
 home comparatively uninjured, and also resides 
 near Patoka. 
 
 After leaving the army our subject lived with 
 his father on the farm until in October, 1868, when 
 he came to this county and entered the store of his 
 cousin, J. R. Witherspoon, of Fairmount, where he 
 continued eighteen months. Then returning to the 
 farm he sojourned there one year, and in 1870, in 
 company with his brother Moses, opened a store of 
 general merchandise at Patoka, which they con- 
 ducted until the spring of 1872. On the 12th of 
 ^March, that year, our subject was united in mar- 
 maiTiage with Miss Esther, daughter of Maj. Wil- 
 son Burroughs of Fairmount, and a sketch of 
 whom appears elsewhere in this work. 
 
 About this time Mr. Witherspoon disposed of 
 his interest in the store at Patoka, Ind., and rented 
 the farm which he now owns and occupies. Later 
 he purchased a farm on section 19, to which he re- 
 moved and lived upon it until in December, 1875. 
 Then selling out he returned with his family to 
 Indiana, purchasing a farm near Patoka, where he 
 lived three years. Then selling out once more he 
 came back to this countj'^ and purchased his pres- 
 ent farm, which consists of 100 acres of thor- 
 oughly cultivated land. He is considerably inter- 
 ested in live-stock, horses, cattle and swine, in 
 which industry he has been fairly successful. He 
 keeps about eighteen head of horses and mules. He 
 has built a fine barn, 36x40 feet in dimensions, and 
 an ample system of sheds occupying an area of 
 16x40 feet. There is no more desirable home on 
 the south road from Fairmount to Homer. East of 
 the dwelling is the first orchard which he planted, 
 and west of it another one younger, but in good 
 bearing condition. Numerous evergreens surround- 
 ing the house add greatly to the beauty and value 
 of the homestead. 
 
 The three children born to our subject and his 
 estimalile wife were named respectivelj^, Stella Z., 
 Wilson AV. and Myrtle M. The eldest is sixteen 
 years old and the youngest six. Our subject is 
 
>•.**<. i 
 
 ^X'^ 
 
 '^[xnjwL-^^i^hyc^^ 
 
 WRITTEN AT, 83, 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 593 
 
 rather conservative in politics and has always voted 
 the straight Democratic ticket. Aside from officiat- 
 ing as School Director in his district, he has steadily 
 declined the responsibilities of oliice. Both he and 
 his wife are members in good standing of the Pres- 
 byterian Church, and his children attend the Sun- 
 day-school regularly. 
 
 AVID DICKSON. The results of a health- 
 ful, temperate and honorable life are finely 
 illustrated in the career of this sturdy old 
 veteran of eighty-three years, who still re- 
 tains his faculties unimpaired, and with whom it 
 is most pleasant and profitable to converse. He is 
 one of the oldest men in Carroll Township, and 
 preserves a distinct recollection of many events 
 occurring during the period of the early settlement 
 of this county, in which he bore a conspicuous 
 part, and assisted largely in its growth and devel- 
 opment. He was the pioneer stockman and stock 
 feeder of this region, and in all his intercourse with 
 his fellow-men preserved that upright and honor- 
 able demeanor which gained him their highest es- 
 teem and confidence. 
 
 A native of Lewis County, Ky., our subject was 
 born Dee. 13, 1806, and is the son of Robert and 
 Phebe (Means) Dickson, the former a native of 
 Maryland, and the latter of Mifflin County, Pa. 
 The paternal grandfather, David Dickson, was of 
 English descent, and grandfather John Means traced 
 his ancestry to Ireland. Upon coming to America 
 the parents of the latter settled in Bucks Count}', 
 where he was born, reared and married, his bride 
 being Miss Jemima Scudder, a native of Trenton, 
 N. J., and of Holland-Dutch ancestry. The maiden 
 name of grandmother Dickson was Jane Stephen- 
 son. She was a native of Maryland, and of Eng- 
 lish descent. 
 
 The parents of our subject were married in 
 Mason County, Ky. They were of exactly the 
 same age, being born on the same day — Dec. 16, 
 1765. Some time after their marriage they settled 
 in Lewis County, and thence came to Illinuis in the 
 spring of 1824. The mother died that year at the 
 age of forty-eight years. To her had been born 
 
 eleven children, viz.: James, who died in infancy; 
 John, Jane, James S., Amos, David, our subject, 
 Margaret, Robert, Moses, Jemima and Andrew S. 
 Mr. Dickson was married a second time to Miss 
 Hester Stretch, who died, leaving two children — 
 William T., living, and Moses B., dead. The elder 
 Dickson survived his wife only three years, his 
 death taking place in 1827, from typhus fever. He 
 was a stanch Democrat, politically, and with his 
 good wife was (irmly grounded in the doctrines of 
 the Presbyterian Church. 
 
 The boyhood days of our subject were spent in 
 his native county, where he became familiar with 
 farm pursuits, and was required to make himself 
 useful at an early age about the homestead. His 
 eldest brother was a boat builder, and when the 
 family decided upon a removal from the Blue 
 Grass State, the two boys constructed a flatboat, 
 and with the father purchased a keelboat besides. 
 Upon these they loaded their stock, farming uten- 
 sils and household goods, together with the family, 
 and set sail on the Ohio River to the promised land. 
 At Louisville, however, on account of high water, 
 they were obliged to abandon their boats after un- 
 loading their stock, consisting of oxen, liorses and 
 cows, and made their way overland "to this county, 
 settling upon the land comprising our subject's 
 present farm. The latter with his brothers, James 
 and Amos, pushed the keelboat up the Wabash 
 River, and unloaded its contents a little wa3rs above 
 Newport, Ind., at Coleman's prairie. Thence they 
 hauled their property to their destination — the land 
 which their father had entered from the Govern- 
 ment upon his first trip to the West, in the fall of 
 1823. 
 
 The education of young Dickson, like that of 
 ■his brothers and sisters, was conducted in a log 
 schoolhouse in old Kentucky, where they sat upon 
 benches made from slabs, and tried to look out of 
 the window, which had greased paper instead of 
 glass for panes. A huge fireplace extended nearly 
 across one end of the building, and the chimney 
 was built outside of earth and sticks. The teacher 
 instilled learning into his pupils largely by the use 
 of the rod, and David Dickson, it is hardly to be 
 doubted, was one of the most mischievous of his 
 students. The system of instruction was far infe- 
 
j94 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 rior to that of the present day, and one book went 
 through the family until it was worn out. 
 
 AVhen about twenty-three years of age, being 
 ready to establish domestic ties of his own, our 
 subject was united in marriage with Miss Margaret 
 Waters on the 3d of August, 1829. This lady was 
 born in Stafford County, Va., May 10, 1810, and 
 removed to Bourbon County, K3-.,witli lier parents 
 in 1814. In 1828 they came to this county, the 
 family comprising three sons and six daughters. 
 Parents and children were remarkable for their 
 healthful frames and robust constitutions. The 
 two families soon became acquainted, and it was 
 not long until David Dickson was the accepted 
 suitor (if Miss Waters. 
 
 Mr. Dickson often recalls to his mind the appear- 
 ance of the country in Central Illinois at this time 
 and prior to it. He describes it as exceedingly 
 beautiful, diversified with prairie and timber, the 
 meadows and marshes thriving with a luxurious 
 growth of prairie grass and wild flowers. At inter- 
 vals some careless traveler or thoughtless settler 
 would accidentalljr set Are to the dr3f vegetation, 
 and then would ensue a conflagration terrible to 
 behold, and frightful to those who did not know 
 how to protect themselves from it. Wild animals 
 of all kinds abounded, deer, wolves, etc., while 
 poisonous reptiles — -the rattlesnake, the blue I'acer, 
 the black and the garter snake — kept the traveler 
 on the look-out. There were also great quantities 
 of wild birds — geese, ducks and pheasants, besides 
 turkeys and pigeons. The Kickapoo and Pottawa- 
 tomie Indians iiad not yet left the country — prowl- 
 ing around until 183.5, when they were removed 
 west of the Mississippi. 
 
 The people of that time and place were noted 
 for their hospitality and the community of interest 
 which led them at all times to be regardful of each 
 other's welfare. Tliey iiad all come to build up 
 homes for themselves, and socially, as well as finan- 
 cially, were upon common grounil, very few of 
 them possessing much of this world's goods. They 
 had many difficulties in common to contend with, 
 having to go long distances to mill and market, 
 and obtaining tlieir mail at Paris, the county 
 seat of Edgar County. That connt\' then cm- 
 
 braced a large tract of land, extending from its 
 present limits to Chicago. 
 
 After the death of the father, each one of the 
 Dickson boys started out in life for himself. They 
 were all bright and energetic, but David, perliaps, 
 led the van in enterprise and perseverance. He 
 began entering land, and in due time found himself 
 the owner of 1 ,400 acres. A large proportion of 
 this was brought to a good state of cultivation 
 and he gave away 1,000 acres to his children, so 
 that he now has but 400 acres. Much of this land 
 was obtained on a Mexican warrant. In 1827 he 
 walked to Fort Clarke, now Peoria, stopping there 
 on his way to Galena. He made the journey on 
 foot on what was then called the Kellogg trace a 
 distance of 180 miles. He carried his clothes and 
 provisions in a knapsack, and saw the vessel which 
 was fired upon by the Winnebago Indians, on ac- 
 count of which, originated the subsequent troubles 
 of that time. He worked for a time in the mines 
 at New Diggings, and in the meantime became ac- 
 quainted with the founder of Fort Gratiot. Some 
 of the time he was employed for others at the rate 
 of $1G per month. In the fall of the year above 
 mentioned he worked his passage down the Missis- 
 sippi to St. Louis on a keelboat, then purcliased a 
 pony, and rode across the Slate. He was at Shelby- 
 ville when that city was laid out for the county 
 seat. At one time he was employed in the salt- 
 works north of Catlin, prior to going to Galena. 
 
 Mr. Dickson made his first trip to the little town 
 of Chicago in 1835, taking with him a load of pro- 
 duce drawn by oxen. Later, in 1839, he began 
 feeding cattle, and was the first man to engage in 
 this industry on the Little A'crmilion. In 1844 he 
 drove 100 head of hogs to Chicago, and during 
 1848. 1849 and 1850 transported in this manner 
 several herds of fat cattle to Philadelphia and New 
 York Citj'. In connection with this fact it may be 
 noted, that Carroll Township has produced more 
 and finer cattle than any otlier township in the 
 State of Illinois, and Mr. Dickson in his palmy 
 days was recognized as one of the leadeis in this 
 business. Four children came to bless the union of 
 Mr. and Mrs. Dickson, and three are living. Silas 
 is married and the father of three children — Eve- 
 lina, Robert and Bertinus; he makes his home in 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 595 
 
 Indianola, and is represented elsewhere in tbis 
 work; Robert died unmarried at tlieage of tliirty- 
 Ibree years; Permelia J. is the wife of Dr. J. W. 
 Rawlston, of Danville; Jemima is the wife of 
 Allen Yarner, a farmer of Ross Township, Edgar 
 County, and they have six children — Jacob D., 
 Mary, Margaret, Robert, William and David D. 
 
 Mr. Dickson cast his first Presidential vote for 
 Andrew Jackson in 1832, and has voted at four- 
 teen Presidential elections, never omitting one since 
 reaching his majority. He has continued from the 
 first a pronounced Democrat, and keeps himself well 
 posted upon all matters of general interest. He 
 finds his religious home in the Methodist Episcopal 
 CUiurch at Indianola. He has been an observant 
 witness of the extraordinary changes occurring in 
 Central Illinois, and his experiences, if properly 
 written up, would fill a good-sized volume. The 
 wife of his youth was spared to him until quite 
 aged, her death taking place Aug. 21, 1887, when 
 seventy-seven j^ears old. There are few men of 
 the age of Mr. Dickson whose faculties are so little 
 impaired by the flight of time, and who can recall 
 so vividly events of more than fifty years ago. 
 He is never at a loss for words with which to pre- 
 sent the contrast between the past and the present, 
 and no man has a finer conception of what has 
 been accomplished in the great West by the hardy 
 spirits who ventured to the frontier, and whose 
 labors resulted in the transformation of the wilder- 
 ness to the abode of a peaceful, intelligent and 
 law-abiding people. 
 
 A volume of this character would be incomplete 
 without the portrait of a jjioneer settler, whose life 
 and history are inseparably associated with that of 
 the county for which he has done so much. As the 
 reader turns the pages, he will gaze with pleasure 
 upon the loved face of the venerated David Dick- 
 son. 
 
 AMUEL BLAIR is a native of Vermilion 
 County and was born in Newell Town- 
 ship, Dec. 5, 1 838. His father and mother, 
 
 William G. and Christina (Braden) Blair 
 were natives of Kentucky, the former having been 
 
 born Ffb. 6. 1707, and died May 4, 18.^2, while 
 Mrs. Blair's birth occurred on April 19, i7!.>8. She 
 died Oct. 2, 1877. This venerable couple seUltd 
 in Newell Township on 120 acres of land and as old 
 settlers, are entitled to all the praise that clusters 
 around that brave class of people. They came 
 here when A'ermilion County was in its infancy 
 and lived to see it take its place as one of the 
 prominent counties of a great State. 
 
 Samuel Blair is the youngest of a family of 
 seven eliildren, and as before stated was born in 
 the township where he now resides. lie married 
 Miss Mary M. Casart, daughter of Peter and Mary 
 Casart, natives of Kentucky. Mrs. Blair was born 
 in Glass County, Mo.. March 7, 1842, and came to 
 Illinois with her parents while very young. She 
 is the sixth child of a family of nine children. 
 She is the mother of six children, whose record 
 follows: Henry M. is engaged with his father in 
 buying and shipping grain and also in the mercan- 
 tile business; Robert is the husband of Jennie 
 Watson and is a near neighbor of his father and 
 mother; Alice died at the age of ten months; Clara 
 M. is at home; Franklin F. is dead; Samuel A. 
 lives with his parents. 
 
 IMr. Blair is the owner of 420 acres of good land 
 all of which is finely improved. In his farming 
 operations he makes a specialty of breeding Short- 
 horn cattle, and the place is especially noted for 
 the fine shade trees thereon. In an early day these 
 trees afforded shelter for the emigrants, and were 
 noted and favorably commented upon from Chi- 
 cago to Cairo. They were indeed an oasis on these 
 vast prairies. During his boyhood days Mr. Blair 
 frequently drove to Chicago with apples and other 
 produce that was raised on the farm, and the 
 events of these pioneer days are related by him 
 with an evident relish. 
 
 I'olitically Mr. Blair is a Democrat, and is now 
 postmaster at Newell, where he is engaged with his 
 son in business. He has held the othces of Town 
 Clerk, Treasurer, and Road Commissioner, and his 
 conduct of these oflflces has merited the applause 
 of his neighbors. There is no person in A^ermilion 
 Count}' who is more public spirited than he, and 
 he is ever willing to do anjthing that will aid in 
 in the prosperity of his communit}-. His home is 
 
596 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 surrounderl by all that a cultivated taste and com- 
 fort could suggest, and is one of which a king 
 migiit be proud. As a business man, it goes with- 
 out saying that Samuel Blair is unqualifiedly suc- 
 cessful. Mis reputation for honorable dealing has 
 given him a large prestige, which is used with dis- 
 cretion. Religionsly Mr. Blair is an energetic 
 member of the United Brothern Churcii, an organ- 
 ization in which he figures as a leading light. 
 
 -^ 
 
 ^7(r^ 
 
 '\1/0HN L. PADGITT of Georgetown Town- 
 ship, is pursuing the even tenor of his way 
 as a farmer in comfortable circumstances, 
 tlie hero of a comparatively uneventful 
 career, and has passed the greater part of his life 
 in this region. Me has signalized himself as a 
 ))eacefu! and law abiding citizen, and has a com- 
 fortable home on section 6, where underneath his 
 hospitable roof are frequently welcomed the man}- 
 friends whom he and his estimable wife have made 
 during their long sojourn in this county. 
 
 Our subject was born in Highland Township, 
 Vermillion Co., Ind., .Tune 28, 1840, and is the 
 son of Alfred and Elizabeth (Bell) Padgilt, who 
 were natives of Kentucky, where they were reared 
 and married. The father served in the vvar of 
 1 812 and died in Indiana when his son John L. was 
 but six years old. The mother and her children 
 thereafter lived in Indiana until the latter were 
 able to look out for themselves. Her death took 
 place in Indiana inJuly, 1661. There were twelve 
 children in the family, four sons and eight daugh- 
 ters, all of whom lived to become men and womeji 
 and of whom Joiiu L., our subject, was the ninth 
 child. 
 
 Mr. Padgitt remained a resident of his native 
 county until reaching man's estate and when a little 
 over nineteen years old was married July 10, 1859, 
 to Miss Ellen O'Neal, a )naiden of seventeen. 
 They settled upon a tract of rented land in George- 
 town Township, where they lived until Mr. Padgitt, 
 in 1865, enlisted at Danville as a soldier in tjie 
 Union array in Company E, 150th Illinois Infantry 
 under Capt. Parker. From Danville thej' repaired 
 
 to Springfield, wliert; they were mustered into ser- 
 vice and were afterward ejuployed at Provost 
 Marshal duty around Bridgeport, Ala., Cleveland, 
 Tenn., Dalton, Atlanta, and Griffin, Ga. There 
 being then no further need of their services, they 
 were mustered out at Atlanta Jan. 16, 1866, and 
 received their discharge at Camp Butler, 111. 
 Afterward, Mr. Padgitt resumed farming in George- 
 town Township and in 1877 purchased his present 
 place of seventy-one acres. Mere he has made a 
 comfortable living and by his industry and good 
 qualities as a member of the community, has fully 
 established himself in the confidence and esteem of 
 his fellow citizens. 
 
 To our subject and his excellent wife there were 
 born three children, the eldest of whom, Viola F., 
 is the wife of Dr. Buford Taylor of Westville, who 
 is represented in this work. They have two chil- 
 dren — Louie and Bertha E; Celia J. is the wife 
 of Charles Cook a farmer of Georgetown Town- 
 ship; Birdie D. remains at home with her parents. 
 The latter are members of the Christian Church. 
 Mr. Padgitt politically is a sound Republican and 
 has held the office of Constable. 
 
 ]\Irs. Padgitt is the daughter of Isaac and America 
 (Lowe) O'Neal, who came to Vermilion County 
 with their parents in their youth and were married 
 here. The mother died in 1851 at the early age 
 of twenty-eight j-ear'S. Mr. O'Neal was married 
 twice afterwards. He had five children each by 
 his first and second wives. His eldest daughter, 
 Ellen, is the wife of our subject; Samuel married 
 a Miss Graves, is the father, of two children, 
 Mamie and Gertie, and resides in Kansas; Evaline 
 married James Cook, who resides at Westville and 
 the others are deceased. Mr. O'Neal was a farmer 
 by occupation and is now deceased. 
 
 •^5 #-# 5- 
 
 ENRY BASS, who is prominent among the 
 well-to-do farmers of Middle Fork Town- 
 ship, owns and occupies 230 acres of choice 
 ^ land upon which he has effected good im- 
 provements. He is a native of Buckinghamshire, 
 England, and the son of Henry and Sarah (Hart) 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOG UAPIJIC'AL Ar.BUM. 
 
 597 
 
 Bass wlici were born in Bcdfordshii-e. Tliey re- 
 moved to the first mentioned county in Uicir y'ontli, 
 where they were married and settled in tlie shire 
 town of Olney, wliere there were born to them 
 seven children, viz.: Thomas; Henry, our subject; 
 Eliza; Sarah, who marricil .lohn Cook, a native of 
 England and is now living- in Chicago; James, 
 William and Fanny. The latter was married and died 
 in England, leaving five sons and one daughter. 
 One of the sons, Bernard (iraves, is now living 
 with his uncle, our subject. Fanny lias,-, died in 
 England about 18.S4. The mother is still living 
 and is now nincty-f(_)ur years old. 
 
 (Jur subject and his father's family for years 
 used the elnirch pew, oiiginally occupied li\- the 
 poet Cowpcr in the Baptist Church of Olney, and 
 the house in wliich tlie poet lived is still standing 
 in that town. Mr. Bass was reared t(i manhood in 
 his native place and was married to Miss Harriet, 
 daughter of Thomas and Elizabetli (Stewart) 
 Bennett. The maternal grandparents of lAIrs. 
 Bass were born in Norfolk, where they were also 
 reared and married, and where their children were 
 born and reared. Her people on her father's sicie 
 of the house were mostly residents of Bedfordshire, 
 and all were Methodists in religious belief. In the 
 history of Olney the catching of eels formed one 
 of its important industries, there being a large eel 
 tr?.|) in the river and a portion was given annually 
 to the crown, according to law. This was in an 
 carl}' day. 
 
 In 1851 our subject and his wife, with father 
 Bennett and family of four sons and one daughter, 
 emigrated to the United States on the sailing vessel 
 " \'angnard," landing in Xew York City after a 
 voyage of nineteen days. Thence they proceeded 
 to Buffalo by rail, and from there by the lake to 
 Toledo, at which point they tjok a canal boat to 
 Attica, Ind., from which point they came overland 
 by team to this C(nint3' and located in Middle Fork 
 Township. Mr. Bass opened the first store of gen- 
 eral merchandise in the town of JNIarysville, Ijut a 
 N'earor two later decided he would prefer farming 
 and accordingly settled to that occupation. 
 
 In a burying ground near the old English home 
 of our subject is a stone which marks the resting 
 l)lacc of one of his ancestors, Amos Bass, who died 
 
 probably 100 years ago at the age of ninety-three. 
 The family had been for several generations resi- 
 dents of P.uckinghamshire and Bedfordshire, and 
 were peojjle generally well-to-do and universally 
 respected. Our sidtject is the father of seven 
 childi-eii, three of whom — Thomas, Samuel and 
 Hai-riet, died 3-oung. Mary is the wife of W. F. 
 lUirt of Middle Fork Township; Fanny married 
 Samuel, the son of James Gilbert of Ri.iss Town- 
 ship; Fred is selling goods in Armstrong; Arthur 
 S. is farming in Middle Fork Township. Mr. and 
 JIis. Bass have been able to surround themselves 
 with all the c(;mforts of life and are held in high 
 esteem bv their neighbors. Both are members in 
 good standing of the Methodist Episcopal Church. 
 
 Sfi AMES H. STEVENS, a gentleman very pop- 
 ular in his community and possessed of 
 more than ordinary intelligmce, is engaged 
 _ in farming on a modest scale on section 0^ 
 where he has eighty acres of well developed land 
 with comfortable buildings. He makes a specialty 
 of market gardening, his produce finding a ready 
 demand among the coal miners in that vicinity. 
 Honesty and integrity form the leading qualities 
 in a character of superior excellence, and which has 
 gained for Mr. Stevens in a marked degree the es- 
 teem and confidence of all who know him. 
 
 Our subject was born at his father's homestead 
 on section 9, near Brooks' Point in Georgetown 
 Township, \'erniilion County, Jan. 5, 1820. and 
 there spi'ut the opening years of his life. He ob- 
 tained his education in the subscri()tion schools, 
 wdiich were conductcMl in a log house built in the 
 primitive fashion of those times with puncheon 
 floor, seats and desks of slabs, greased pajier for 
 window panes, and a few other finishings and furn- 
 ishings incident to pioneer times. He was at an 
 early age taught to make himself useful around the 
 homestead. The nearest mill for a number of years 
 was at Terre Haute, Ind. There was for a long 
 time only two wagons in the neighborhood within 
 a radius of ten miles, and the neighbors for some 
 distance around used to each send a bag of corn to 
 
Tj'J.s 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 be ground, while two men would go in charge of 
 the grist. Later a mill was established half a mile 
 from the home of the (Stevens family and operated 
 by horse power. This was considered quite a lux- 
 ury, being a great saving of time and travel. 
 
 Upon approaching manhood young Stevens be- 
 gan making arrangements for a home of his own, 
 and in 1857 took unto himself a wife and helpmate, 
 Miss Elizabeth, daughter of Cliarles Rountree. 
 This lady was born in Ohio and removed with her 
 parents to Indiana when a girl. She lived at home 
 until her marriage with our subject, which took 
 place near Crawfordsville, Ind. Prior to and for 
 some time after his marriage Mr. Stevens engaged 
 as teacher in Illinois and Indiana, covering a period 
 of fifteen years. He met with success as an in- 
 structor and was proffered the professorship of a 
 seminary in Missouri. On account of the outbreak 
 of the Rebellion lie declined, feeling it his duty to 
 assist in the preservation of the Union. He raised 
 a company in Catlin, of which he was to have been 
 Captain, but upon reporting to the Governor un- 
 der the call for 75,000 men, the quota was found to 
 be full and they were not accepted. 
 
 Mr. Stevens now turned his attention to agri- 
 culture and purchased his present farm of eighty 
 acres, where he took up his abode and has since 
 resided. Three children were born to Mr. and 
 Mrs. Stevens, namely: Charles Fremont, Winfield 
 S. and Jessie F. Mr. and Mrs. Stevens are mem- 
 bers of the North street Methodist Episcopal 
 Church at Danville, and our subject politically is a 
 strong Republican. Upon becoming a voting citi- 
 zen he joined the Democratic party, but in 1856, 
 finding his party had violated their professed prin- 
 ciples, lie wheeled into the Republican ranks the 
 year of their organization, voted for John C. Fre- 
 mont, and has since labored for the success of Re- 
 publican principles. He takes a warm interest in 
 educational matters and keeps himself well posted 
 upon topics of general interest. 
 
 The parents of our subject were James and Su- 
 sannah (Thomas) Stevens, the father a native of 
 Kentucky and the mother born in Knox County, 
 E. Tenn., in the old fort of historic fame. The 
 paternal grandfather, Solomon Stevens, was born 
 in England, and when coming to America settled 
 
 in one of the Carolinas, whence he removed later to 
 Kentucky and finally came to Illinois in 1826 in 
 company with his son James. They settled near 
 Brooks' Point, and Grandfather Stevens lived to 
 be seventy years old. James Stevens was seventy- 
 six years old at the time of his death, and his wife, 
 Susannah, was seventji^-three. The latter was of 
 German descent and was an offshoot of the family 
 of the Union General, George H. Thomas, who dis- 
 tinguished himself during the late war. Grand- 
 father Stevens was an own cousin to Alexander 
 Stevens of Georgia, and one of the noted Confeder- 
 ate leaders. Both father and grandfather served in 
 the war of 1812. James Stevens was then only a 
 boy and could only enter the army under his father's 
 permission. They fought side by side in the same 
 company. The parental household included.nine 
 children, namely: Lovina, William, Polly A., James 
 H., Henderson P., John, Sarah F., Nancy and Sam- 
 uel. 
 
 ■-•«'>— -NtiZiiC/©^-" 
 
 »*gj>S)^OT'?»>~'wv« 
 
 '^l OHN R. KINSE Y. The community of Oak- 
 wood Township recognizes in the subject 
 of this notice one of its most useful and 
 worthy citizens, a man liberal and public 
 spirited, one who gives generously to his church 
 (the United Brethren), in which he is a Class 
 Leader and Steward and an active worker in 
 the Sunday-school, and who in all the walks of 
 life strives to makes the best of circumstances and 
 follow that line of conduct by which he may be 
 enabled to leave a good record for his children to 
 look upon in future years. Conservative in poli- 
 tics, he was first identified with the Old Line 
 Whigs and upon the abandonment of that party by 
 the organization of the Republicans, he identified 
 himself with the latter in whose principles he 
 thoroughly believes and votes accordingly. His 
 occupation is that of a farmer, and he operates 
 forty acres of good land on section 23, also owning 
 flfty-seveu acres in Catlin Tovv^hship. He has 
 neat and substantial modern buildings and a com- 
 fortable home, built up by his own energy and in- 
 dustry. 
 
 The native place of our subject was a few miles 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 599 
 
 west of the city of Dayton, Ohio, and his birth oc- 
 curred Oct. 20, 1831. His parents were Jacob and 
 Eliza (Ressor) Kinsey, the former a native of Ohio, 
 and the latter born in German}', whence she was 
 was brought to America by her parents in early 
 childhood. Grandfather Jolin Kinsey, of Pennsyl- 
 vania, removed at an early day to the vicinity of 
 Dayton, Ohio, and purchased land from which he 
 constructed the farm which now belongs to the 
 grounds of the Soldier's Home. There his son 
 Jacob was born about 1812. The latter was reared 
 to manhood and married in his native State where 
 he followed farming and carpentering and became 
 owner of a fine property. Later he met with re- 
 verses and had little to leave to his children at the 
 time of his death. 
 
 The mother of our subject was a lady possessing 
 all the womanl}'^ virtues, and a member of the 
 United Brethren Chnrch. There were born to her 
 and her husband, nine sons and four daughters and 
 five of these children are living. Four of the boys 
 entered the Union Army during the late Civil 
 War. Jacob was in the 35th Illinois Infantry and 
 died in the service; David passed safely through 
 the vicissitudes of army life and after the war took 
 up his abode in Spring River, Mo., where he died 
 about 1867 or 1868; Benjamin Franklin contracted 
 measles in the army, was sent home and died ; 
 Daniel, of the 35th Illinois Infantry, was taken 
 prisoner and wounded but recovered; returning 
 home, he is now a resident of Butler County, Kan. 
 The mother has long since passed away. Her 
 children cherish and revere her memory above all 
 others for she was truly a mother in every sense, 
 devoted to her husband and regarding her children 
 as her dearest treasures on earth. Mr. Kinsey, the 
 father was twice married after the death of his first 
 wife and spent his last years in Kansas. 
 
 Our subject remained a resident of his native 
 State until a youth of sixteen 3- ears, then in 1847, 
 removed with his father's family to Peru, Ind. He 
 lived there until 1853, then coming to this county 
 he located on a farm just east of his present home- 
 i-tead. He had received a common school educa- 
 tion, but was of that temperament and disposition 
 which led him to keep his eyes open to what was 
 going on around him, and he thus became a well- 
 
 informed and intelligent citizen. When ready to 
 establish a home of his own he was married at 
 Peru, Ind., to Mrs. Elizabeth Chronister and soon 
 afterward, coming to this county, purchased fifty 
 acres of land from his father where he put up a frame 
 house and became involved in debt. Then selling 
 out he rented land of his father for a year and a 
 half, after which he purchased forty acres — his 
 present farm. Here he hewed his own logs and 
 built a house and stable and since that time has 
 given his attention to the cultivation and improve- 
 ment of his land. It h.is been well tiled and 
 drained and is very productive. Besides this he 
 has fifty-seven acres in Catlin Townsliip. He rents 
 otiier land of his neighbors and besides raising 
 quantities of fruit, having a flourishing orchard, he 
 feeds each yeui- a goodly number of cattle and 
 swine. 
 
 Mr. Kinsey and his family' now occupy a two 
 storj' frame dwelling, tiiirty-six feet square and 
 which was erected in 1881. It makes a very at- 
 tractive home, beautifully located in the edge of 
 the timber, and is elsewhere represented in this 
 work. To Mr. and Mrs. Kinsey there have been 
 born five children. The eldest, Margaret A., is the 
 wife of Thomas J. Peterson, lives in Kansas and 
 has two children. Jasper N., and the youngest 
 child — Sardis II., remain at home with their 
 parents. John A., is unmarried and a resident of 
 Dakota. Sarah Ellen, Mrs. Daniel Clapp, has one 
 child and lives in Oakwood Township. 
 
 If ACOB J. ROBERTSON, the son of a well- 
 known pioneer family of Newell Township, 
 his native place, is now classed among its 
 prominent citizens and practical agricultur- 
 ists who are ably sustaining its highest material 
 and social interests. His father, Zachariah Robert- 
 son, was born in Harrison County, Ky., and his 
 mother Elizabeth (Storr) Robertson, was a native 
 of Ohio. (For further parental history see sketch 
 of Z. Robertson). 
 
 Our subject was the eldest of their large family 
 of sixteen children, eight sons and eight daughters, 
 
GOO 
 
 PORTRAIT AN J) BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 and his birth took i)laee here Sept. 22, 1848. He 
 was reared to man's estate on his father's farmi 
 gaining a thorough knowledge of the vocation that 
 he afterwards adopted as his life-work, and receiv- 
 ing his education mostly in the public schools. 
 Since attaining manhood he has devoted himself 
 exclusively to farming and stock-raising, making a 
 specialty of Short-horn cattle, and his fine herd of 
 that breed compares with the best in the neighbor- 
 hood. He owns a good farm whose 100 acres of 
 fertile soil are under the highest state of cultivation, 
 and yield him a reliable income. The buildings 
 standing on the farm are in good order, and he and 
 his family have a comfortable home. 
 
 Mr. Robertson was married at State Line, Feb. 
 6, 1872, to Miss Melissa Brithingham, who has 
 greatly aided him in his work as onlj' a capable, de- 
 voted wife can do, and to her he frankly acknowl- 
 edges his indebtedness. Her parents, Benjamin 
 and Eliza (Maechinson) Brithingham, natives of 
 Ohio, where thej' were married, were among the 
 early settlers of Vermilion County. He died in 
 Middle Park Township, and she died on the old 
 homestead in Pilot Township. They had a family 
 of six daughters and four boj^s. Mrs. Robertson 
 was the ninth child and was born on the old farm 
 in Pilot Township, Nov, 24, 1848, and has always 
 resided in Vermilion County. Five children are 
 the fruit of her happy marriage with our subject — 
 Hallie G., an infant, Charles B., CIrace M. and 
 Faj'. Charles B. died when two years old. 
 
 In our subject his native township sees one who 
 is an honor to its citizenship, both in public and in 
 private life, as bis career has been without a stain. 
 His manly, honest, straightforward disposition has 
 secured him the confidence of his fellowmen and he 
 has proved an invaluable civic official. He has 
 been Tax Collector for two j'ears, and has been 
 School Director, taking much interest in educational 
 matters. He was elected Supervisor of Newell 
 Township in the spring of 1887 and served with 
 great credit to himself and the community. Dur- 
 ing his term of office an investigation was made 
 into the affairs of some of the county offices and a 
 shortage was discovered of $3,800. One of the 
 county officials offered to compromise by paying 
 into the treasury |2,000. Our subject with but 
 
 one other of the supervisors voted not to accept 
 the amount, failing to see why a shortage of 13,800 
 should be settled for scarcely more than half of the 
 amount. Mr. Robertson had the appointment of 
 one of the grand jurors and he gave him special 
 instruction to do all in his power to find an indict- 
 ment against the guilty parties, and if unable to do 
 so, then to use his influence to have the entire 
 Board of Supervisors indicted, as all but two had 
 voted to accept the 12,000 offered in settlement of 
 the deficit. An indictment was found against the 
 guilty officials, and but one was cleared of im- 
 plication in the affair; the others reimbursed the 
 county for the full amount. Mr. Robertson is a 
 prominent member of the I. O. O. F., being \ice- 
 Grand of Illini Lodge, No. 240. He and his wife 
 are true Christians, and valued members of the 
 Methodist Episcopal Church, of which he has been 
 Trustee. 
 
 |ir^ EV. FRANCLS A. POETTKEN, pastor of 
 1!^ St. Joseph's Church, came to Danville in 
 '' September, 1886, and is discharging the 
 l%g; duties of his calling with that conscien- 
 tious fidelity which has gained him the confidence 
 and esteem of all with \vhom he is .'issociated. He 
 is a native of the Prussian province of Westphalia, 
 and was born in the town of Muenster, June 2, 
 1838. He received a thorough education in his 
 native tongue, and was ordained as a priest Nov. 
 11, 1864, at Mentz. Subsequently, until 1875, 
 he officiated as pastor of different churches in Ger- 
 many, and in September, that year, came to the 
 United States. 
 
 The church edifice in which the congregation of 
 St. Joseph's worship, is a handsome brick structure 
 located on Green street. It was first opened for 
 services in 1867, under the pastorate of Rev. M. 
 Rosenbauer. In 1 886 the building was enlarged, 
 and a steeple added. It was consecrated Aug. 1, 
 1886, by Rt. Rev. Bishop Spaulding, of Peoria. It 
 belongs to the Peoria Diocese, and has a member- 
 ship of ninety families. A parochial school was 
 established in 1875, and is now under the charge 
 
PROPERTY OF JAMES BARNETT, INDIANOLA. 
 
 
 RESIDENCE OF ANDREW GUTHRIE,SEC. 25. SIDELL TP. VERMILION CO. 
 
PORTIJAIT AND I'.IOO UAPIIICAJ. ALBUM. 
 
 603 
 
 of the Franciscan Sisters, with an (ittcniiance of 
 sixty-five pui)ils. 
 
 In connection witli St. Joseph's Church there is 
 St. Joseph's Benevolent Soeiet)-, which was organ- 
 ized in 1877. The following named priests have at 
 different times ofliciated in this parish: liev. Anton 
 Reck, now deceased, Henry Koeline, William Kucli- 
 enbuch, Thomas Frouenkefer, deceased, Peter Jo- 
 seph Schmal, Peter Joseph (ierhardy, C. Schurtz, 
 Bernhard Wenning, deceased, and Father Poett- 
 ken. 
 
 A very important institution in (connection witii 
 this church, and known as St. pjlizabeth Hospital, 
 was established in 1881, and the building it now 
 occupies was erected in 1888. This is a handsome 
 brick structure, three stories in height, with base- 
 ment, covering a area of 49x102 feet and with its 
 finishings and furnishings is a most valuable piece 
 of property. It is in charge of fourteen Francis- 
 can Sisters, and at present accommodates thirty 
 patients. 
 
 Jti AMES BARXKTT is one of the leading busi- 
 |{ ness men of Indianohi. He owns and oper- 
 l ates an extensive livery, sales and boarding 
 }j stable, and has acquired a reputation in his 
 business that is praiseworthy. He also owns a beau- 
 tiful farm of 222 acres, which he carries on in con- 
 nection with his other business. On this farm is a 
 pleasant commodious residence, which is illustrated 
 by a fine view given elsewhere in this work, and 
 which is surrounded by stately trees and gardens 
 of beautiful flowers. 
 
 Mr. Barnett is the son of James Barnett, who was 
 a native of Kentucky, and settled in Illinois in 
 1828. The father was married twice, the first time 
 to Miss Conway, by whom he had five children; 
 while his second wife, the mother of the one of 
 whom this sketch is written, was named l!osa Neil. 
 He became the owner of about 600 acres of land, 
 and was one of the most prominent farmers in this 
 part of the country. His ancestors were from Ire- 
 land, and after coming to America settled in Penn- 
 sylvania, away back in Colonial times. Tlie father 
 of James Barnett, Si., was born in the State named, 
 
 and was there married to Miss Delila Davis, of 
 Welsh lineage. The father of our suliject died in 
 1866, while his second wife died the same year, at 
 the age of sixty-seven years. She was the mother 
 of seven children, whose names follow: Emily, 
 Eliza, Lenora, Mary, AMIlis, James and Harris. 
 
 James Barnett was born April 11,1 H45, on the old 
 Barnett homestead, where lie was reared to man- 
 hood. He attended the common seliools, working 
 alternately on his father's farm, thus actjuiring his 
 knowledge of agriculture and of horses, which has 
 served him well. In 1874 he was married to Miss 
 Lucinda Martin, a native of Douglas County, 111., 
 and a daughter of John and Mary (Wheeler) Mar- 
 tin, the latter of whom were natives of Athens 
 County, Ohio. John Martin was married three 
 times, iMrs. Barnett being a child of the first mar- 
 riage. His children are as follows: Susannah, John 
 Joseph, Margaret, Nancjr, Levi, Isaac, Mary and 
 Lucinda. Mrs. Barnett was but four years old 
 when her mother died. Eight children were born 
 to her father's second union, and by his third mar- 
 riage he was the father of one child. 
 
 After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Barnett re- 
 sided on the old homestead, where they met all the 
 responsibilities thrust upon tliem with characteris- 
 tic industry and intelligence. He has since added 
 to the old farm, so that now it is a beautiful place 
 of about 222 acres. In 1878 JMr. and ]\Irs. Barnett 
 removed to Jewell Count}', Kan., where they 
 owned a quarter section of land. This move was 
 made on account of Mrs. Barnett's health, and 
 while there she improved greatly. In the mean- 
 time the Kansas land rose in value, so much so, that 
 they concluded to dispose of it, which they did to 
 a good advantage and returned to Illinois, where 
 they have since resided. They have an interesting 
 family of five children, whose names are: Rose A., 
 Wilbur J., Armilda Pearl, Edith E. and tilenwood. 
 
 Mrs. Barnett belongs to the Methodist Episcopal 
 Ciiurch, of Indianola, and is always found at the 
 front in anything that will forward the interests of 
 her chosen faith. Mr. Barnett is a member of \'er- 
 milion Lodge No. 265, A. F. & A. M., and of the 
 Modern Woodmen. Politically there is no more 
 ardent Republican in the State than he. Mrs. Bar- 
 nett is one of the best of neighbors, and tenderest 
 
604 
 
 PORTRAIT AND UIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 of mothers. .She is justlj- proud of her family, and 
 of her home, while the interior of the latter shows 
 that the hand of the mistress is never idle. 
 
 ♦♦ — S's/w* 
 
 •.-wE— *♦ 
 
 NDREW C4UT1IRIE is one of the promi- 
 nent and well-to-do farmers of Sidell 
 Township, where he owns and operates 
 i^f eighty acres of well-improved land on sec- 
 
 tion 25. His father and mother, George and Mar- 
 garet Guthrie, were born in Ireland. The poverty 
 and reign of landlordism in that country is one of 
 the great causes of its people coming to America. 
 Here if they are industrious and sober they can 
 find occupation for themselves and land for their 
 children, and in pursuance of this object, the elder 
 Guthrie concluded to leave his native country and 
 seek the more hospitable shores of America. He 
 first settled in Pennsylvania, where he was married, 
 and later, about 1860, he came to Carroll Town- 
 ship, Vermilion County, where he lived on his 
 farm until death called him away, at the age of 
 seventy-three years. His wife died at the same 
 age. They had ten children, of whom five were 
 sons and five daughters, and but three of these are 
 now living, namely: Thomas, Andrew and .Sarah. 
 Thomas resides in .Sidell Township, and is prosper- 
 ing; Sarah married George Powell, and is residing 
 at Danville. 
 
 Andrew Guthrie was born July 6, 1826, in 
 Washington County, Pa., twenty-four miles south 
 of Pittsburgh. He grew to manhood in that coun- 
 try, and married Miss Rachael Reynolds, a native 
 of Fayette County, Pa. He lived in that State two 
 years after marriage, until in 1854, he heard of the 
 wonderful resources of this part of Illinois, he con- 
 cluded to remove here, and upon his arrival settled 
 in Vermilion County, where for a few years he was 
 obliged, on account of the lack of means, to rent a 
 farm. But industry and honesty will win. In 
 1873 he found himself able to buy forty acres of 
 land, and to which he has since added another 
 forty. His farm, though not large, yields good re- 
 turns upon the investment, and is a model in every 
 respect, as its owner does nothing at all but that 
 
 which he can do well. He has erected a commo- 
 dious residence on liis homestead, and we are 
 pleased to present on another page a fine view of 
 this pleasant country home. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Guthrie have six children: Mary 
 E., Ella, Wilbur, George, Samuel and Ernest. 
 Mary E. married Abner Orr, who is a large farmer 
 of Clark Countjr, III. They have six children, and 
 all are well-to-do; Ella and Wilbur are at home 
 with their parents; George is a carpenter, and is 
 living in California; Samuel is a telegraph opera- 
 tor at Allerton; while Ernest is at home attending 
 school. Mr. Guthrie has taken a great interest in 
 educational matters, and is always found ready to 
 do an3'thing that will benefit the common schools. 
 Mrs. Guthrie was a teacher, and held a first-grade 
 certificate in Vermilion and Edgar counties, this 
 State. They are members of the Cumberland Pres- 
 byterian Church, and largely aided in building the 
 edifice in which they worship. In 1869 Mr. Guth- 
 rie had the misfortune to lose an e3'e, but other- 
 wise he is in perfect health and strength. 
 
 Mr. Guthrie is an adherent, mainly, to Demo- 
 cratic principles, but when he votes he scrutinizes 
 the candidates' record and qualifications, and then 
 invariably votes for the best man. He is one of 
 the best men of his township, and is held in high 
 esteem by his neighbors. 
 
 -. ^^^ ^ 
 
 yfclLLIAM REES. There is a goodly repre- 
 / sentation of the peaceable Friends in 
 Elvvood Township, and among them the 
 subject of this notice is one of the prominent 
 members. He is a man justly proud of his 
 ancestry, who made for themselves a good record, 
 and has inherited from them many excellent traits 
 of character. His life-long occupation has been 
 that of a farmer, and he is at present located on 
 section 24 in Elwood Township. Here by his in- 
 dustry and perseverance he has made good use of 
 his time, built up a very desirable home and accu- 
 mulated a competence for his declining years. 
 
 Our subject was born in Greene County, East 
 Tennessee, April 16, 1819, and is the son of Will- 
 
PORTRAIT AND lUOURAPHlCAL ALBUM. 
 
 605 
 
 iam Rees, Jr., who vvas born near Richmond, \'a., 
 and who died many years ii<;o. The paternal 
 grandfather of onr subject was also ^Villiam Rees, 
 who removed with his family to Guilford Count}-, 
 N. C, about 1771, when his son William was but 
 two years old and prior to the Revolutionary ^Var. 
 The family were at one time within three miles of 
 the battle-ground of Guilford Court-house and 
 heard the report of cannon and musketry at that 
 battle. The army, however, moved on, but for 
 some time the cannonading could still be heard. 
 
 AVilliam Rees, Sr., the grandfather of our sub- 
 ject, was also a native of Virginia and the son of 
 Thomas Rees, who emigrated from Wales soon 
 after his marriage and a short time before his son 
 William was born. The parents of Thomas Rees 
 were of the Saxon race. Thomas was married in 
 his nativfe country to iMiss Mary Bowen, and they 
 immediately set sail for America. Upon their ar- 
 rival they settled near Richmond, Ya. , and became 
 the parents of four sons, William, Robert, Solomon 
 and David. William married Miss Charity Dillon, 
 of Irish ancestry, and by her became the father of 
 seven children, Moses, William, James, John, 
 Mary, Margaret and a daughter whose name does 
 not appear. Thomas Roes lived to be 106 years 
 old. 
 
 The father of our subject was the second child 
 of his parents and upon reaching manhood was 
 married to Miss Susanna Jones, a native of Virginia, 
 who was taken by her parents to Tennessee when 
 but a child. There were seven other children in 
 the family, three of whom are living; Mary, iNIrs. 
 Bales; Rachel, who is unmarried, and our subject, 
 who was the youngest born; the others, who all 
 lived to mature years, were named respective)}'. 
 Charity, Deborah, John, James and Jane. 
 
 Our subject came to this county in 1830, settling 
 in Elwood Township, where he has since lived. Jn 
 the following winter occurred the deep snow which 
 fell two feet on the level and when nearly all 
 the deer and wolves were frozen to death. The 
 Rees familj' experienced all the hardships and diffi- 
 culties of pioneer life, living far from mill and 
 market and struggling for a number of years to 
 make both ends meet. Their grinding was fre- 
 quently done in a horse-mill. Three days after his 
 
 arrival our subject received a wound on his right 
 knee and still carries the scar, by reason of an 
 injury in a horse-mill. 
 
 Young Rees studied his first lessons at the sub- 
 scription schools, conducted in a log cabin, with 
 slab seats and desks set up on rude wooden legs, 
 with a clapboard roof, a huge fireplace extending 
 nearly across one end of the building and the 
 chimney built outside of clay and sticks. Win- 
 dow glass was too expensive or unattainable in 
 those days and in its place there was used greased 
 paper for panes. The system of instruction was 
 conducted in a manner corresponding to the time 
 and place. Our subject remained at the farm as- 
 sisting his father in its development until ready to 
 establish a home of his own. 
 
 The marriage of William Rees and Miss Rebecca 
 Hester was celebrated at the bride's home in El- 
 wood Township, Nov. 7, 1843. This lady was the 
 daughter of Thomas Hester and a sister of William 
 Hester, whose biography appears on another page. 
 She was born in Randolph County, Ind., Jan. 23, 
 1824, and removed with her parent to Tazewell 
 well County this State, in 1829. Six years later, 
 in 1835, they came to this county. Ten of the thir- 
 teen children born of this union are still living, 
 viz: Levi, Martha, Mary, Sarah, Thomas, Sibyl, 
 Perry O., Omar H. and Bertram. 
 
 Levi Rees was married to Miss Rebecca A. Par- 
 ker. At an early age he exhibited an uncom- 
 monly bright mind of a deeply religious turn, and 
 he is now pastor of the Friends' Church in Indian- 
 apolis; he has no children. M.artha married Mr. 
 Seth Haworth, who is now deceased, and lives near 
 her father. She is the mother of five children, 
 only one of whom is living, Anna L.; Mary is the 
 wife of Thomas Holliday, of Douglas County, this 
 State, and is the mother of three children, Grace, 
 Alice and Lizzie; Sarah is the wife 6f Pleasant 
 Cook, of Champaign County, and they have two 
 children, Lewis and Arthur; Thomas married Miss 
 Florence Elliott, and lives in Carroll Township; 
 they had one child, Lucille, deceased. Sibyl mar- 
 ried Zimri Haworth, of Elwood Township, and 
 they have two children, Mary and Albert. 
 
 The Rees homestead includes ninety -two acres of 
 choice land which, under the careful management 
 
60G 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 of its proprietor, is the source of a good income. 
 Our subject is a stanch Republican politicall}' but 
 has never sought otticc, and in religious matters 
 belongs to tiie Society of Friends. His father was 
 born in 1769 and voted for Washington at his 
 second election for President. He subsequently 
 voted for both of the Adamses and was alwa^'s a 
 Whig politically. 
 
 LEXANDER D. OWEN, a farmer widely 
 and favorabl}^ known, and living in Grant 
 Township, was born in Washington County, 
 Ohio, Sept. 6, 1845, and came to this State 
 after his marriage in 1 8G9. His great-grandmother, 
 Blary (Gardner) Owen was the first white woman 
 who ever crossed the Ohio River and set foot upon 
 the soil of the Imperial State of that name, and her 
 history is given in its annals. James Owen and his 
 wife Mary (Gardner) Owen, were the great-grand- 
 parents of Alexander ])., our subject. The}' were 
 both natives of Rhode Island and left their home in 
 South Kingston, R. I., in 1798, for the territory of 
 Ohio. Tliey settled at Fort Harmer. now the site 
 of Marietta, Ohio, lauding there June 5, 1798 — 
 in company with Gen. James Varnuni. As before 
 stated Mrs. Owen was the first white woman to 
 settle in the Northwest Territory. Her son, Daniel 
 Owen, grandfather of Alexander D., was therefore 
 one of the early settlers of Washington County, 
 Ohio, and became the owner of a farm on the Mus- 
 kingum River, on which he lived until his death 
 It was near what was then known as Ft. HarnK^r, 
 where Marietta now stands. His wife also died at 
 that place. 
 
 Their son, Vincent, was the father of the subject 
 of this sketcii and was born at the above mentioned 
 place in 1811. He likewise was a farmer and a life- 
 long resident of his native county, wiiere he died 
 in 1876 aged sixty-flve years. He was a stock 
 dealer and raiser as well as farmer, and accumu- 
 lated a handsome competency as a result of bis in- 
 dustry and correct business habits. He was mar- 
 ried to Jane Adams, also a native of Ohio, who died 
 several years before her husband's ilecease, leaving 
 
 a family of nine children, of whom but two are 
 now living — Alexander D. and a sister, Louisa, 
 wife of D. P. Adams, a plumber, now residing in 
 Washington County, Ohio. Three of the sons were 
 in the Union army and one died in the service at 
 Pulaski, Tenn. The others died after the war at 
 their homes, the one in (Jliio and the other in 
 West X'irginia. 
 
 Alexander D. Owen was reared on the farm 
 where he was born, living there until January, 
 I.SOS, when at the age of eighteen years, he too, 
 offered his services to his country, enlistiuo- in 
 Company L, 1st Ohio Cavalry, with which he 
 served until Dec. 1865. His company served as 
 Gen. Thomas' body guard and was also on detailed 
 duty as despatch-bearers, carrying messages alono- 
 the lines, especially during engagements, the serv- 
 ice being especially hazardous. They were so en- 
 gaged at Lookout iMountain, Buzzard's Roost, 
 Macon, fia,. Dallas, Ala., Peach Tree Creek, where 
 Gen. Harrison ascended the first step that led to 
 the White House: Three Forks and in all engage- 
 ments of that army down to Atlanta. After peace 
 was declared the company was ordered to Nash- 
 ville, Tenn,, where the^- were on duty until De- 
 cember, 1865, when they were mustered out. 
 Being honorably discharged, Mr. Owen returned to 
 his home and resumed work on the farm, remaining 
 there until his marriage Dec. 2, 1868, to Miss 
 Catherine Rubrake, daughter of Jacob and Cathe- 
 rine Rubrake, natives of Germany, who emigrated 
 to this country after their marriage, over forty 
 3-ears ago. T'he father died in Noble County, Ohio, 
 in ]March I«88 aged nearly seventy-five years, while 
 the mother is still living at the same place and is 
 now about sixty-flve years old. 
 
 In February following their marriage Mr. and 
 ]\Irs. Owen removed to Logan County, 111., where 
 they lived for seven years, then came to the place * 
 he now owns on section 5, in Grant Township, 
 where he has a good farm of eighty acres, on which 
 he has built a fine residence. All the improvements 
 on the place have been made by himself, as his land 
 when purchased was nothing but raw prairie. To- 
 day it is one of the best improved and most desir- 
 able pieces of property in this part of the county. 
 It is all thoroughly tiled, fenced, and in a high state 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 607 
 
 of cultivation. Beside his general farming, Mr. 
 Owen give.s considerable attention to dairying in 
 which he has met with siicces.s. 
 
 Mr. Owen is a member of Harmon Post No. 115 
 G. A. R. of Hoopeston, and both he and his wife 
 are communicants of the First Baptist Church of 
 that plnce. In politics he is a Democrat. By the 
 people who know him, Mr. Owen is spoken of as an 
 upright, honorable and trustworthy man, and a 
 good citizen, who can always be depended upon to 
 do just what he promises, and he justly merits 
 the respect and confidence of his neighbor. 
 
 We invite tlie attention of our numerous readers 
 to a handsome engraving of the elegant home and 
 surroundings on the farm of Mr. Owen. 
 
 -^^^>'^^^:i?t^^t5^^ 
 
 -t-S" 
 
 ^^!^EORGE M. SULLIVAN is the enterpris- 
 ||| j__ ing and industrious Pathmaster of Sidell, 
 ^^^ which position he has held for the long 
 period of eleven j'ears. A native of the Blue 
 Grass State, he was born Sept. 16, 1836, and there 
 spent his childhood days amid its pioneer scenes, 
 attending the subscription schools in a log house, 
 with its seats and desks made of slabs and the other 
 furnishings and finishings corresponding to that 
 period. He was harnessed into work at an early 
 age, following the plow when a lad of nine years, 
 and thus were formed within him those habits of in- 
 dustry which have made of him a wealthy and 
 successful man. 
 
 In 18.51 the Sullivan family, leaving Kentucky, 
 emigrated to Decatur County, Ind., and our sub- 
 ject engaged first in breaking land upon the new 
 farm. After a time, however, longing for a change 
 of occupation, he secured a position as Freight 
 Agent with the Indianapolis & Cincinnati Railroad 
 Company, and was entrusted with the purchase of 
 ties, timber and general construction lumber, beinw 
 in the employ of this comi)an3' about eight years. 
 In the meantime he was married, in 18GI, to Miss 
 Lucinda Ann Baker, who was then an attractive 
 young lady of nineteen years. 
 
 In 1866 Mr. and Mrs. Sullivan settled on a farm 
 in Shelby County, Ind., where they lived two years. 
 
 In 1868 they came to this countj^ and Mr. Sullivan 
 rented a farm of 160 acres in Sidell Township from 
 Mr. Oakwood. He was prospered in his labors as 
 a tiller of the soil, and in 1871 purchased forty 
 acres of raw land on section 30. Upon this he 
 effected some improvements, and three y^ears later 
 sold it to good advantage. Later he purchased the 
 100 acres on section 31, which constitutes his pres- 
 ent homestead. To this he has given his undivided 
 attention, with most excellent results. The land is 
 highly productive and embellished with a set of 
 good buildings, the dwelling being a neat frame of 
 one and one-half stories, well fitted up with the 
 conveniences of modern life. The outbuildings, 
 live-stock and machinery are what might be natur- 
 ally expected from a man of Mr. Sullivan's push 
 and enterprise, and compare favorably with those 
 of the others enterprising farmers of this section. 
 
 Seven of the ten children born to Mr. and Mrs. 
 Sullivan are still living, viz: James H., Oliver P. 
 and Henry A. (twins;, Carrie B., Home H., Charles 
 W. and Arthui- G. James H. married Miss Lucy 
 Clester, and is the father of one child. He is em- 
 ployed as salesman for Charles Forbes, the agri- 
 cultural implement dealer of Sidell, and in this 
 capacity ranks second to no man in the county. 
 The other children are at home with their parents. 
 Oliver and Henry are cultivating 120 acres of 
 rented land on section 2, making a specialty of 
 corn. Our subject, politically, uniformly votes 
 with the Democratic party, and with his wife is a 
 member of the Cumberland Presbyterian C'hurch. 
 He has held several of the township offices, giving 
 general satisfaction in the discharge of his duties. 
 
 The parents of our subject were natives lespect- 
 ively of Maryland and Kentucky, the mother born in 
 Mercer County. Her maiden name was Mary Hill, 
 and her mother was a native of Scotland. The ten 
 children of the parental family were named, re- 
 spectively, Nancy K., John H., Louisiana, Myrian.a, 
 Sarah, George Marion, our subject, Martha J., Mary 
 E., James P. and William J. Both the grandfathers 
 served in the Revolutionary War. Grandfather 
 Sullivan was a Sergeant under the direct command 
 of (Jen. Washington. A fife belonging to him and 
 used during that war, is still in possession of the 
 famil3^ The father of our subject died in Wash- 
 
608 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 jiigton County, Ky., at about the age of sixty-one 
 years, when George M. was a lad of eleven years. 
 The mother died ten years later and was also sixty- 
 one years old. 
 
 Mrs. Sullivan was born in Decatur County, Ind., 
 and is the daughter of James H. and Louisa Bovven, 
 the father a native of Ohio. They were the parents 
 of six children — four daughters and two sons. 
 
 \rUDC^E JACOB AV. WILKINS, one of the 
 Justices of the .Supreme Court of Illinois, 
 has enjoyed a large and varied experience 
 in his profession, while his learning and 
 dignity and the deep sense of justice he is gifted 
 with, especially fits him to grace this honorable 
 position. His naturally good judgment and sound 
 learning, together with his studious liabits and 
 legal ability have long since gained for him the 
 highest esteem of his fellow citizens and the respect 
 of his professional brethren, while his fidelity to 
 duty has ever been apparent in his rulings and pro- 
 ceedings. He is an Ohio man by birth, and was 
 born near Newark, Licking County, June 7, 1837. 
 When our subject was a mere child his father 
 decided to seek the farther West, and coming to 
 Crawford County, 111., settled on a farm in Licking 
 Township, where Jacob W. lived until a youth of 
 ei<^hteen years. He had up to this time pursued 
 his studies in tlie common schools, and by close 
 application prepared himself for McKendree Col- 
 lege at Lebanon, St. Clair Co., 111. He entered this 
 institution and for the following two years prose- 
 cuted his studies with his well known energy and 
 thoroughness. He left the college halls in 1861 and 
 beo-un the study of law under Judge John Scofleld, 
 who was afterward his law partner, residing at 
 Marshall. At the outbreak of the Rebellion he en- 
 listed as a Union soldier, but was soon obliged to 
 return home on account of ill liealth. His patriot- 
 ism however, would not permit liim to remain at 
 home, and soon again he presented liimself to the 
 enrolling officer and joined Company K, 130th Il- 
 linois Infantry, and was mustered in as Captain. 
 His regiment was thereafter in different divisions 
 
 of the Army of tlie Cumberland, and later in the 
 Department of the Gulf. It passed through the 
 Vicksburg campaign and participated in all the bat- 
 tles connected therewith, after which they joined 
 the armjr assigned to make the Red River expedi- 
 tion. Our subject was engaged in the battles of 
 Sabine Cross Roads, Spanisli Fort and Fort Blake- 
 ley, and was before Vicksburg during the siege of 
 that city. Later he was on duty at the headquarters 
 of Gen. Grant and served until the close of the 
 war — a little over three 3'ears — receiving his dis- 
 charge in the fall of 1865 with the rank of Major. 
 Then returning to Marshall he completed his law 
 studies, and was admitted to the bar in the spring 
 of 1866. He opened an office in Marshall and com- 
 menced the regular practice of his profession, 
 following it alone until 1867. That year he asso- 
 ciated himself in partnership with Judge Scofleld, 
 and they remained together until 1873, when the 
 partnership was dissolved bj^ the election of Judge 
 Scofleld to his present liigh position, being also a 
 member of the Supreme Court of the State of 
 Illinois. 
 
 For a time our subject continued his practice 
 singly in Marshall, then formed a partnership with 
 a 3'ounger brother and they continued together 
 until in June, 1879, when Mr. Wilkins was elected 
 Judge of the Fourth Judicial Circuit of Illinois, the 
 other two judges of that circuit being Judge 0. L. 
 Davis, of Danville, and C. D. Smith, of Cham- 
 paign. In June, 1885, he was re-elected, and, 
 Judge Davis retiring, Judge Wilkins took up 
 his residence in Danville, where he has since 
 resided. He was assigned to duty on the 
 bench of the Appellate Court of the Fourth Dis- 
 trict in LS85, and was elected to the Supreme 
 bench in June, 1888. 
 
 Politically, Judge Wilkins is a sound Republi- 
 can, and has been of signal service to his party, 
 frequently being sent as a delegate to the various 
 conventions. On the 21st of September, 1865, he 
 was married to iSIiss Alice Constable, who was the 
 daughter of Judge Ciiarles H. Constable, a man of 
 prominence and broad attainments in legal lore. 
 This union resulted in the birth of three children 
 — Harry O., John Scofleld and Jessie Belle. Mrs. 
 Alice Wilkins died at her home in Marshall in 
 
PORTRAIT AND BTOOtRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 609 
 
 March, 1883. Her cliildren are still living, and are 
 being given the best advantages in the way of ed- 
 ucation and careful training. 
 
 Judge Wilkins contracted a second marriage in 
 July, 1885, with Mrs. Sarah E. (Whitlock) Archer, 
 daughter of Judge William C. Whitlock, of Mar- 
 shall. The family residence is pleasantly located 
 in the central part of the city, and its inmates are 
 surrounded by all that ample means and cultivated 
 tastes can supply. They occupy a high social po- 
 sition in their community. The Judge has accumu- 
 lated a comfortable property. 
 
 The father of our subject was Isaac Wilkins, a 
 native of Virginia, and born July 11, 1806. AVhen 
 a^'oungman he emigrated to Licking County, Ohio, 
 where he was married to Miss Sarah Burner in 
 1827. In Ohio he operated as a contractor and 
 builder, but after his removal to Crawford County, 
 this State, turned his attention to farming and be- 
 came the owner of 320 acres of land, which he 
 brought to a good state of cultivation. He also 
 dealt considerably in live stock, and finally accu- 
 muluated a good property, so that he was able to 
 retire from active labor. He died Nov. 17, 1 8.^56. 
 His wife is still living, and a resident of Marshall. 
 She was born in Virginia Nov. 9, 1811, and is the 
 daughter of Henry Burner, who removed with his 
 family to Licking County, Ohio, about the same 
 time that the Wilkins family settled there. The 
 parental family included nine children, live of 
 whom are living. 
 
 (S IfelLLIAM T. STEVENS. Among other ven- 
 \/\l// turesome spirits who sought the frontier 
 ^^^ during the early settlement of Central Il- 
 linois came the subject of this notice, and he has 
 made for himself a record worthy of preservation. 
 We find him a well preserved old gentleman, ap- 
 proaching his three-score and ten years, having 
 been born March 18, 1821. His native place was 
 Rush County, Ind., and his parents were James and 
 Susannah (Thomas) Stevens, both of excellent 
 families, which produced names of historic fame — 
 Alexander Stevens on one side of the house and 
 
 Geu. (icorge H. Thomas on the other. In the 
 sketch of James H. Stevens found elsewhere in this 
 volume, is given a more extended notice of the 
 parental histoiy. The famil3' of ten children were 
 named respectively: Lovina, William Thomas, 
 Jamex H., Mary A., Henderson P., Nancy, Samuel 
 O., John A., Sarah and Stephen C. 
 
 J\Ir. Stevens has resided in Vermilion County for 
 the long period of sixty years, and for forty years 
 has occupied his present farm. There is nothing 
 which confers dignity and stability in a larger 
 measure than a prolonged residence in one commu- 
 nity, especially if the career of the man has been 
 such that he has found favor in the eyes of his fel- 
 low-men, as in the case of Mr. Stevens. He came 
 to Illinois a child with his parents, grew u\> on a 
 farm, was trained to habits of industry, and ob- 
 tained a limited education in the subscription 
 school. The tales which he could tell of pioneer 
 life would verifj' the adage that "truth is strano-er 
 than fiction." For several years after the settle- 
 ment of the Stevens family in this region there was 
 no mill nearer than Terre Haute, Ind., to which 
 one member of the family would travel on horse- 
 back, carr3ing his bag of corn or wheat with him, 
 and returning in the same manner with the meal or 
 flour. To guard against bad weather or accidents 
 preventing the journey to the mill, the}- made 
 ready what was called a hominy mortar block, be- 
 ing simply a large oak log, hollowed out by burn- 
 ing and scraping, in which they could pound their 
 grain and thus prepare a sort of meal which could 
 bo made into bread. If not fashionable it was at 
 least unadulterated and sweet, and formed when 
 cooked very palatable food. They made a rude 
 sieve out of a deer skin, in which they sifted their 
 meal. The finer portion of this would be made 
 into bread, and that which would not go through 
 the sieve was made into hominy. 
 
 In due time a small mill run by horse power was 
 established near Brooks Point, which later was suc- 
 ceeded by a larger mill, and the settlers felt very 
 I'ich in its possession. In order to build a school 
 house all of the people within a radius of several 
 miles, brought in two or three logs and put up a 
 temple of learning. The master who understood 
 the '-Rule of Three" was considered sufficiently 
 
610 
 
 PORTRAIT AND I5I0GRAPI11CAL ALBUM. 
 
 competent, and each head of the family wdiild pay 
 so much a quarter for each scholar. Thus the 
 teacher received a part of his salary and "boarded 
 around" for the rest. 
 
 Young Stevens, like his hrothers and sisters, was 
 required to make himself useful at an early age, 
 and as soon as strong enough followed a breaking 
 plow, the old "bar share," driving an ox team. He 
 remained a member of the parental household until 
 his marriage, which occurred in 1818, with Miss 
 Martha, daughter of Robert Alexander, who died 
 leaving no «hildren. Mr. Stevens contracted a sec- 
 ond marriage Feb. 4, 1872, with Miss Nancy, 
 daughter of William and Susan (Ellis) lilakene}-. 
 Mr. Blakeney was an old pioneer of this county, 
 and served in tlie Black-Hawk War. He was of a 
 splendidly developed frame, and bore the reputa- 
 tion of being the strongest man west of the Wa- 
 bash. He and his aged partner are still living, 
 being respectively seventy-six and sevent^'-five 
 years old. They occupy a neat and comfortable 
 dwelling a few rods from the house of their daugh- 
 ter, Mrs. Stevens, by whom they are cared for with 
 the most filial affection and their wants studiously 
 looked after. The}' are the parents of twelve chil- 
 dren, of whom Mrs. Stevens was the sixth in order 
 of birth. She was born in this township, "S^crmilion 
 County, May 16, 1843, and by her union with our 
 subject has become the mother of three children — 
 Ina J., Susanna and Savannah E. 
 
 The Stevens homestead comprises 165 acres of 
 thoroughly cultivated land, which is very valuable 
 and a portion of wliich is underlaid with a rich 
 coal deposit which has never been developed. Our 
 subject and his amiable partner ai-e members in 
 good standing of the Christian Church, in which 
 Mr. Stevens officiates as Elder. Socially, he be- 
 longs to the Masonic lodge at Catlin. He assisted 
 in the erection of the church building at 'W'estville 
 and has been Superintendent of the Sundnv-school 
 four or five years. He has served on the (irand 
 and Petit Juries, and politically is a solid Demo- 
 crat, casting his first vote for Andrew Jnckson. 
 Mr. and Mrs. Stevens some time ag() bound a little 
 girl, Matilda Ann Guess, whose mother had died 
 when she was a small child, and whose father fell 
 in the Union service at the battle of Knoxville. 
 
 The child, now a woman grown, is the wife of C. 
 S. Downing, who is represented elsewhere in this 
 work. There is no pleasanter place of resort in 
 A'ermilion County than the hospitable home of the 
 Stevens family, made so as much by the prudence, 
 good judgment and cultivated tastes of the wife as 
 by the business capacities, resolution and perse- 
 verance of the head of the house. Mr. and Mrs. 
 Stevens deserve honorable mention among the pio- 
 neers of \'ermilion County. 
 
 ^\ ILAS MENDENHALL, a peaceful and law- 
 abiding citizen of Elwood Township, re- 
 sides at a comfortable homestead on sec- 
 tion 13, where he pursues the even tenor of 
 his way, making very little stir in the world and 
 striving therein to do the least possible harm. He 
 was born in Greene County, Ohio, Mav 28, 1829, 
 and is the son of Malachi Mendenhall, wlio was a 
 native of North Carolina, and spent his last years 
 in Carroll Township, passing away years ago. 
 
 From the South, the father of our subject re- 
 moved to Ohio when a small boy, whence he came 
 to this county in 1838, and thereafter made liis 
 home in Carroll Township, where his death oc- 
 curred in January, 1880. He had married in early 
 manhood to Miss Elizabeth Stair, and to them 
 were born ten children, five of whom are living — 
 Joy, Frederick, Silas, our subject, James and 
 Lewis. The}' were given a common-school edn- 
 cation and Silas has always followed the occupa- 
 tion of a farmer. 
 
 Our subject was first married April 10, 1854, to 
 Miss Asenath, daughter of William Maxwell and of 
 tin's union there were born five children — Dora C, 
 Frank W., Kate C, Anna M., and Hattie. Dora 
 married Oscar Larrance, of Carroll Township, and 
 has three children — George S., Hugh M., and 
 Claude E. Frank married John Morris of this 
 township, and the}' have three children — Ivy A., 
 Mabel A., and Odbert A. The mother of these 
 children departed this life Jan. 8, 1885. 
 
 Mr. Mendenhall was married a second time on 
 March 14. 1«,S',» lo Mrs. Hannah M., widow of 
 
^^^^yn0^ ^uyyiP>ov)j 
 
 
PORTRAIT AND RIoaRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 613 
 
 Thomas Haworth. Mr. Mendenliall supports the 
 principles of the Republican parly, but has never 
 been an office-seeker and prefers the quiet home 
 life to the responsibilities connected witli ofHce. 
 He is a member of the Society of Friends, and has 
 followed farming all his life, giving of late consid- 
 erable attention to stock-raising. His mother is 
 still living and resides at the old homestead. 
 
 ^-^ 
 
 -^^— 
 
 JAMES THOMPSON. Many are the hours 
 which have been passed in a pleasant and 
 profitable manner by the biographer, listen- 
 ing to the stories of the pioneers of this 
 county, some of whom still survive and furnish a 
 valuable link between the past and present. In 
 looking upon them it is almost impossible to realize 
 the toils and dangers which they encountered dur- 
 ing the period of their early life on the frontier, 
 the battle with the primitive soil, the disadvantage 
 of the distant market and the numberless other 
 difficulties which beset those intent upon building 
 up a home from the wilderness. 
 
 The subject of this sketch is a man of large ex- 
 perience, and one who has watched the growth and 
 development of central Illinois, with more than 
 ordinary interest, as the friend of progress and all 
 the enterprises tending to elevate the people. He 
 has had the unspeakable satisfaction of witnessing 
 the downfall of slavery in this country and the 
 preservation of the Union, and in his day suffered 
 no little on account of his sympathy with the 
 cause of freedom. He is now quite well advanced 
 in years and has the satisfaction of knowing that 
 his life has been honest and upright, and that he has 
 lived in an age, which, perhaps, has witnessed 
 more of change and advancement than that of any 
 other period since the world began. 
 
 The first forty-five years of the life of our sub- 
 ject were spent on a plantation in his native State 
 of Kentucky, where he was born in Mason County, 
 Aug. 13, 1818, near Maysville. He attended the 
 subscription schools, and at the age of twenty-four 
 was married, in 1842, to Miss Mary A. Harrison. 
 He settled with his young wife on a plantation near 
 
 Maysville. Mrs. Thompson had taught school 
 prior to her marriage and was a lady of decided 
 ideas. Our subject, as well as his father, was a 
 strong Whig, and it finally became not only very un- 
 pleasant, but absolutely dangerous for him to 
 remain in his native State, especially after the out- 
 break of the Rebellion. He was finally obliged to 
 flee with his wife and children for safety, and 
 crossing the Ohio River made his way to Carroll 
 Township, this county. That period of his life, 
 more than any other, brought out the true charac- 
 ter of the man, and developed the fact that he 
 would sacrifice his property rather than his princi- 
 ples, and he consequently met with great loss. 
 Three or four years after coming to this county he 
 purchased a tract of land which he sold later and 
 finally removed to Sidell Township, where he now 
 owns two farms. That upon which he resides 
 comprises 160 acres and is supplied with very good 
 buildings. He has in all 344 acres of fine, well- 
 cultivated land. Mr. Thompson is spending his 
 declining years, retired from active labor and in 
 the enjoyment of a competence. 
 
 Of the seven interesting children born to Mr. 
 and Mrs. Thompson, the eldest son, John J., died 
 when a promising young man of twenty-four years; 
 Elvira is the widow of George Clarkson, who is 
 represented elsewhere in this work, she has four 
 children — Henry Thomas, Blary J., Alice B., and 
 George James; Charles M., married Miss Lucy 
 Sconce, is a resident of Sidell Township, and the 
 father of one child — Mary C; Mary J. became the 
 wife of John S. lies, a farmer of Sidell Township, 
 and has three children — Ivory V., Jacob J., and 
 Grace A. ; William H. died at the age of seven 
 years; Joseph H. married Viola Parrish and is a 
 resident of Sidell Township; he is represented else- 
 where in this work; Benjamin A. died when 
 twenty-one months old. 
 
 Mr. Thompson is now as strong a Republican as 
 he was a Whig in the early days, and has frequently 
 served as a delegate to the various conventions. 
 Both he and his wife are members of the Cumber- 
 land Presbyterian Church. Mr. Thompson has 
 served as School Director in his District and has 
 taken a warm interest in educational matters. He 
 is the offspring of an excellent family, being the 
 
614 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 son of John and Eliza (Cole) Thompson, the father 
 born in Washiiigton County, Pa., and the mother 
 in Mason County, Ky. ; they were married in the 
 Blue Grass State, and the father was a farmer by 
 occupation. He died in 1848, when about sixty- 
 five years old. Tlie mother survived her husband 
 for tiie long period of twenty-eight years, dying in 
 1876, when about eighty-four years old. Benja- 
 min Cole, the maternal grandfather of our subject, 
 served in the Revolutionary War and was wounded 
 at the battle of Brandywine. 
 
 Mrs. Thompson is the daughter of Alfred and 
 Sarah (Vice) Harrisou, the former a native of Lewis 
 County, Ky. Her paternal grandfather, John Har- 
 risou, was a native of Virginia. The parents of 
 Mrs. Thompson, spent their entire lives in Ken- 
 tucky, the father dying when a young man of 
 tliirty-five years, and the mother at the age of sixty- 
 four. They had a family of eight children, four 
 sons and four d.aughters of whom Mrs. Thompson 
 was the eldest, she being born May 13, 1825. 
 
 An excellent portrait of this worthy citizen and 
 well-known resident of Sidell Township is pre- 
 sented on another page of this AtBUM, and will be 
 highly valued both by the younger generation and 
 the sturdy old pioneers of the county. 
 
 ^ti OHN R. KEWKIRK, an insurance agent and 
 a leading undertaker of Indianola, is also 
 an old and faithful public servant, having 
 served in various capacities for many years. 
 He^has held the offices of Collector, Assessor and 
 Justice of the Peace, filling these positions with 
 ability and fidelity, and for the past thirty-one 
 years has been a resident of the State of Illinois. 
 
 Mr. Newkirk was born in Somerset Township, 
 Washington Co., Pa., on Dec. 12, 1827. His 
 father, Tunis Newkirk, and mother, Jane Rainey, 
 were also natives of the same i)lace as their son. 
 His grandfather, Newkirk, was a native of 
 Virginia, where he entered land from the gov- 
 ernment immediately succeeding the Revolu- 
 tionary War. The Newkirks are of German ex- 
 traction, while the Rainey famil}^ were English. 
 
 The elder Newkirks died in Pennsylvania, the 
 father being seventy-two years old at the date of 
 his death, while the mother was forty-two years 
 old when she died. She left eight children, seven 
 of whom grew to maturity. Their names are: 
 Isaac J., Eliza, and. Sarah A., deceased. John 
 R., Rhoda A., Carolina O., deceased, and Will- 
 iam. John R., learned the trade of cabinet-making 
 and undertaking and became very proficient in his 
 calling. His ingenuity and industry aided him in 
 soon mastering the intricacies of his trade, so that 
 he was able to start out in life, master of the 
 situation. 
 
 On Dee. 12, 1854, Mr. Newkirk married Miss 
 Elizabeth Neblick. He remained in Pennsylvania 
 until 1857. At this time he concluded that the 
 West offered a better field for his trade and in 
 pursuance of that idea, he concluded to emigrate to 
 Illinois. The journey from his native State to 
 Vermilion County was made the entire distance, in 
 wagons. He located on the east side of Sidell 
 Township, on what is now called the Rowand farm, 
 which he rented for five j'ears, afterwards bujang 
 twenty acres and living on that for five years. 
 He rented Barnett's farm for two years, at the 
 expiration of which time he came to Indianola 
 and here he has resided since, working at his 
 trade and prosecuting the insurance business 
 in a manner that has won for him success. He 
 is the father of four children: Lolie J., Wil- 
 mot, Albertis and Alaquinpa. Lolie married 
 E. E. Weaver, who is a leaduig merchant of Em- 
 poria, Kan; Wilmot married Dora Smick and is 
 I'esiding at Cushman, Edgar Co., 111. They have 
 two children — Cassius and Maud ; Albert is en- 
 gaged in the restaurant business; Alaquinpa mar- 
 ried Edward McVey, who is residing in Pittsburg, 
 Pa., where he is an expert in the electric light 
 business. 
 
 Mr. Newkirk, as before indicated, has served in 
 various public capacities, and his terms as Assessor 
 and Collector have covered the period of twelve 
 years. He is now serving as Justice of the Peace. 
 These matters of record are pointed out to exhibit 
 the esteem in which he is held by his fellow-citizens. 
 He has been a member of the Masonic Order since 
 he became of age and is enthusiastic in everything 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 615 
 
 pertaining to that ancient organization. The 
 Democratic party has no more faithful follower than 
 he, as he believes that true Uemocrac}' teaches the 
 correct principles for the administration of the gov- 
 ernment. He believes that the leaders of his party 
 are better fitted to choose candidates than anyone 
 else, and therefore, usuallj- votes the straight ticket. 
 He has inherited his honesty and patriotism for the 
 reason that his ancestors were of the very best peo- 
 ple of their section of the country. 
 
 ■«AA<-"*ec£;®i@ 
 
 -@fSi/OT7r»>~'wv- 
 
 1^^ EORGE F. SANDERS is one of the farm- 
 Ill J—, ers of Elvirood Township, who exhibit 
 ^^5! great interest in all benevolent enterprises, 
 and in matters that look to the education of the 
 rising generation. His farm, which is situated on 
 section 10, is improved by the best methods known 
 to modern agriculture, and the buildings on it are 
 of the best, the dwelling house, especiall}^ being 
 noticeable for its fine appearance and its comforta- 
 ble arrangement. The place is well tiled and 
 fenced. 
 
 Mr. Sanders was born in Pittsjlvania Count}', 
 Ya., on Feb. 11, 1836, where his father, Coleman 
 Sanders, was also born. His mother was a native 
 of the same place and was born Aug. 15, 1815. 
 They were the parents of fifteen children, seven of 
 whom are living: George F., Daniel, Elizabeth, 
 Ruth, Virginia, Amos, and Maria. One daugliter, 
 Susan, died after having attained maturity. Mr. 
 Sanders had two uncles, James and Leonard San- 
 ders, who were soldiers in the War of 1812, the 
 latter holding the commission of captain. Mr. 
 Sanders' maternal grandfather, Stephen Sea, also 
 fought in the War of 1812, and his remains are 
 interred at Yankee Point, where his grave is deco- 
 rated each Memorial Day. 
 
 Mr. Sanders came with his parents to Eugene, 
 Ind., in the fall of 1840, when Gen. W. II. Harrison 
 was a candidate for president. The excitement of 
 that memorable campaign, with its log cabins, coon 
 skins and hard cider, is vividly recalled by him, 
 and especially the ceremonies which occurred at 
 Terre Haute. He was in his fifth year at the time 
 
 and was glad to have the honor to vote for the 
 grandson of Gen. Harrison for thesaiii'' high office 
 forty-four years later. The family .' in Xax- 
 
 million County, Ind., until Feb. 1, 1855, hIjod they 
 oame to Elwood Township, settling on section lb, 
 where the subject of this sketch now resides. 
 Here he owns 240 acres of laud and is engaged in 
 general farming and stock raising. He takes gre.it 
 pride in raising the best of cattle and horses, and 
 in this way has made a great deal of money. He 
 is a thorough and energetic farmer and does every- 
 thing well. 
 
 On June the 4th, 1856, Mr. Sanders was united 
 in marriage to Nancy J. Shires, daughter of James 
 and Ruth Shires, the latter deceased. There are 
 four generations living in Mr. Sanders' house. 
 Politically he votes the Republican ticket, and has 
 held the office of Highway Commissioner for five 
 years, but has never sought an office. His famll)' 
 are members of the Cumberland Presb3'terlan 
 Church, and while Mr. Sanders is not a member of 
 any denomination, he gives liberally to the support 
 of the gospel and every charitable purpose. While 
 he was a boy he was obliged to work early and late, 
 and therefore his advantages to secure an educa- 
 tion were limited. He now sees where the benefits 
 of a school can aid the rising generation, and he 
 therefore does everything in his power to promote 
 educational enterprises. By his own efforts he has 
 risen from poverty to the position of a wealthy 
 fai-mer, as a survey of his fine farms and buildings 
 will demonstrate. Mr. Sanders is one of the best 
 citizens of his neighborhood, and by the people 
 who are best acquainted with him he is held in the 
 highest estimation. 
 
 ►^^ 
 
 ' ^ MANUEL SNYDER. One of the best regu- 
 
 Elated farms in Carroll Township belongs to 
 the subject of this notice, and where with 
 his large and interesting family he is extracting 
 much comfort out of life. Providence has blest 
 him in his labors and enabled him to accumidate a 
 good property, while he is endowed with the quali- 
 ties which have inspired him to an upright life and 
 
616 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 gained him the esteem and confidence of his fel- 
 low-men. He owns and occupies 273 acres of 
 choice land on sections 9 and 10, which with its 
 improvements constitutes a fine estate, upon wliicli 
 is paid in taxes a round sum annuall}'. 
 
 Our subject was born in Clay Township, Fair- 
 field Co., Ohio, May 6, 1830, and was there reai-ed 
 to man's estate, attending the common school, and 
 becoming familiar with the various employments 
 of rural life. When a young man of twenty-three 
 years, he was married, in 1853, to Miss Lovina 
 Glick, a native of the same count}^ as her husband, 
 and born in Bloom Township. A j'ear later the 
 young people removed to Bartholomew County, 
 Ind., where Mr. Snj'der purchased a farm, where 
 he lived five years. Later lie removed to Tippe- 
 canoe County, where he sojourned seven years and 
 came thence, in 1867, to this county, settling on 
 his present farm, to which he has since added. 
 
 Mr. Snj'der has almost rebuilt his present resi- 
 dence, which is large and commodious, admiral)ly 
 adapted to the convenience of the inmates. His 
 barns and sheds are substantial structures like the 
 dwelling, with little ornamentation, to be sure, but 
 amply adapted to health and comfort. Much of 
 the labor upon them has been done by his own 
 hands. The fences ar« kept in good order, the 
 fields well tilled, and everything about the premises 
 is indicative of thrift and good management. Mr. 
 Snyder makes a specialty of live-stock, Short- horn 
 cattle, Poland-China swine and good horses, and 
 has raised a great deal of winter wheat. He has 
 done a large amount of very hard work, and while 
 in the Hoosier State, engaged considerably in 
 threshing, log-rolling, etc. He is at present inter- 
 ( sted in bee-keeping, having about fortj'-six swarms, 
 which produce a very fine quality of honey, with 
 which the family is amply supplied the year 
 around. 
 
 The household circle of our subject and his wife 
 was completed by the birth of ten children, the 
 eldest of whom, a daughter, Catherine, became the 
 wife of Thomas Bone, of Champaign County, and 
 died in 1888; Simon married Miss Lydia Jtmes, 
 and they are living in Carroll Township; they 
 have two children — Emery and Kdith. Martha A. 
 is the wife of P. Lawrence, a farmer of Carroll 
 
 Township; Henry D. married Miss Jane Hinton; 
 they have one child, and live at the home farm. 
 Monroe is married and farming in Broadland, 
 Champaign County; Jonathan, William, P>ma, 
 I'eriy and Maude remain at home with their 
 parents. Mr. and Mrs. Snyder are members in 
 good standing of the Cumberland Presbyterian 
 Church, and our subject, politically, is an uncom- 
 promising Democrat. 
 
 The parents of our subject were Henry and 
 Elizabeth (Tosh) Snyder, natives of Germany, who 
 came to America after their marriage. The father 
 had settled in Fairfield County, that State, about 
 1840, and there both parents spent their after 
 lives, Mr. Snyder dying at the age of seventy-five 
 years, and the mother at the age of eighty, in 1878, 
 ten years after the decease of her husband. Six of 
 their children grew to mature years, viz.: Philip, 
 Henry, George, Fred, Emanuel and Elizabeth. 
 
 OHN W. NEWLIN, a native-born citizen 
 of this count}', and a veteran of the late Civil 
 AVar, in which he consecrated the opening 
 years of his manhood to the service of his 
 country, and won an honorable record as a fearless, 
 patriotic soldier, being promoted from the ranks — 
 is to-day one of the leading citizens of Catlin 
 Township and one of its most able and popular 
 civic officials. He has a good farm on section 34 
 and a fine residence near Catlin village, and is 
 actively engaged in buying, feeding and shipping 
 stock. 
 
 He is derived from worth}' parentage and comes 
 of good old pioneer stock. His father, Thomas B. 
 Newlin, is supposed to have been born in Harrison 
 County, Va., and his mother, whose maiden name 
 was Angeline Griffith, was born in AVayne Count3% 
 Ind. Her father was Stephen Griffith, one of the 
 earliest settlers of this county, coming here in 
 1826, the mother of subject being then about nine 
 years old. The father of our subject had attained 
 manhood when he accompanied his father, John 
 Newlin, to this county in 1837, coming from 
 Champaign Couiity, Ohio, and settling in Catlin 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUINI. 
 
 r,l7 
 
 Township, and thus becoming pioneers of this 
 place in an early day of its settlement. After 
 marriage the parents of subject settled in Oakwood 
 Township, where the father carried on his occupa- 
 tion as a farmer for many years, being an impor- 
 tant factor in developing the agricultural resources 
 of that township. In 1 866 he and his wife re- 
 moved to Kansas, but in 1872 they returned to 
 this county and established themselves in Danville, 
 where he died in February, 1877, thus closing a 
 life that bad been an exemplary one and leaving 
 the precious legacy of an honorable name to its de- 
 scendants. The mother of subject makes her 
 home in Kansas and is held in high respect in her 
 community as a woman of true worth and fine 
 character. 
 
 Our subject was the eldest of seven children, 
 and he was born June 13, 1840, in what is now 
 known as Oakwood Township. He was reared to 
 man's estate on his father's farm and there obtained 
 that thorough training in agricultural pursuits that 
 has contributed so much to his success in later 
 3'ears. He obtained an excellent education in the 
 common schools of Vermilion County and was 
 thus well equipped to start out in life on his own 
 responsibility. He was not twenty-one years of 
 age when the great Rebellion broke out, and while 
 watching its course with intense intei'est he longed 
 with patriotic ardor to fling himself into the cause 
 and aid in fighting his country's battles. In a 
 short time he was enabled to leave home and enter 
 the army, and in Jul}', 1861, the month following 
 that in which he became of age, he enlisted in 
 Companj' I, 35th Illinois Infantry, and served 
 with great credit till September, 1864, a period of 
 more than three years. He took part in the bat- 
 tles of Pea Ridge (Ark.), Stone River, Siege of 
 Corinth, Chickamauga, Mission Ridge, etc., and 
 was with Gen. Sherman on his famous march to 
 the sea. He was slightlj^ wounded at the battle of 
 Kenesaw Mountain, and was twice taken prisoner 
 but managed to elude the vigilance of his captors 
 and make his escape both times. That his services 
 were of value on the field is shown by the fact that 
 he was mustered out at Springfield with the rank 
 of Sergeant, he having received deserved promo- 
 lion for gallant conduct in the face of the enemy. 
 
 After retiring from the army IVIr. Newlin re- 
 turned to his native township and there engaged 
 in farming and also in teaching. After assuming 
 the cares and responsibilities of married life he 
 took his bride to Winterset, Iowa, where they 
 established their home. He engaged in agricul- 
 ture there one year, and at the expiration of that 
 time returned to this county with his family, and 
 has since resided in Catlin Township, where he 
 owns a choice farm of eighty acres, and, as before 
 mentioned, is quite extensively engaged in the 
 stock business. 
 
 Mr. Newlin has been blessed by a good wife, who 
 has not only added to his happiness but has aided and 
 encouraged him in his work, as a sensible, practi- 
 cal woman alone could do. They were united in 
 marriage Sept. 19, 1865. Iler maiden name was 
 Ivea E. Taylor, and she is a daughter of the late 
 Thomas A. Taylor, .Sr., and his wife Ivea (Allen) 
 Taylor. The}- came to this count}' in 1853 and 
 located in Catlin Township, where he died Sept. 
 19, 1876. Mrs. Taylor survives him and makes 
 her home with iier daughter, Mrs. Smith. Mrs. 
 Newlin was born in Tippecanoe County, Ind., 
 Feb. 2, 1845, and received from her mother care- 
 ful instruction in all household duties, so that 
 when she came to have a home of her own she was 
 amply able to manage it. Five children have been 
 born to her and our subject, as follows: Tempie J., 
 Nora, Mildred, Lena, Lowell T. 
 
 Mr. Newlin possesses a clear head, sound busi- 
 ness f.aculties, a strong will and a stable character, 
 which traits, with his well known incorruptibility, 
 render him oue of the best township officials, and 
 he has held some of the most important and re- 
 sponsible local public offices. He has been Super- 
 visor of Catlin Township three terms, has been 
 Assessor and Collector and has also been an incum- 
 bent ot the various school offices. He is a man of 
 exceptional public spirit, alwaj's favoring all feasi- 
 ble plans for the advancement of the township or 
 county. He is a Republican to the heart's core, 
 taking an active part in political matters, although 
 his official course is never biased by party prefer- 
 ences, and he stanchlj' supports those principles for 
 which he fought so nobly in days of yore. He is 
 identified with the A. F. & A. M. as a member of 
 
(MS 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 Catlin Lodge, No. 285 ; Vermilion Cliapter, No. 89, 
 and Athelstan Couimandery, So. 45. He and liis 
 wife are zealous members of the Cumberland Pres- 
 byterian Church and take an active interest in 
 Sunday-school work. He has been elected Elder 
 of the church but did not feel inclined to serve in 
 that capacity. 
 
 ■ ooo - 
 
 CClO 
 
 \|^ERDINAND M. HACKER. This gent 
 \t^Si came to Danville in 1853, when it wai 
 
 ntleman 
 im^ came to Danville in 1853, when it was only 
 111, a small place, and tiie country roundabout 
 
 was still in a wild, sparcely settled condition, deer 
 in the vicinity, and squirrels and rabbits and other 
 game abounding near the city. Since that time he 
 has been closely identified with the industrial in- 
 terests of this part of Vermilion County, both as a 
 practical farmer and as a skilled mechanic. He now 
 devotes the most of his time to the cultivation of 
 his highly productive, well-improved farm in this 
 township. 
 
 Our subject is of foreign birth, a representative of 
 the German nationality, born in the province of 
 Pomerania, Pmssia, Oct. 18, 1831. His father 
 John Hacker, and his grandfather, Joseph Hacker, 
 were natives of Mecklenburg, the latter being a 
 life- Long resident of that province. The father was 
 reared in the land of his nativity, and when a 
 young man was an overseer on a large estate be- 
 longing to some person of wealth. He was but 
 eleven years old when the great Napoleon invaded 
 his native place and he was drafted into the ser- 
 vice of the French, and made to drive a team a 
 short time. He went from Mecklenburg to Prus- 
 sia, and was a resident there, engaged there as be- 
 fore mentioned, till 1852. In September of that 
 year, accompanied by his wife and the four chil- 
 dren that had been born to them, be set sail from 
 Hamburg and going to Liverpool, Eng., embarked 
 on board of an American-bound vessel, and landed 
 in New York on the day of the National Thanks- 
 o-iving, after being forty-six days on the ocean. 
 The fares had been paid to Wisconsin, but the 
 family were swindled out of their tickets, and hav- 
 ing' no money concluded not to go further than 
 Chicago, and there the father and the children that 
 
 were large enough, found work. In 1853 Mr. 
 Hacker, Sr., made the acquaintance of Judge Pear- 
 son, who induced him and other families to come to 
 Danville, giving to each, who would build a house, 
 a lot, and he and his family started for this place 
 in tiie month of Julj^, that year, coming with a 
 horse and wagon and taking their household goods 
 along. The father built a log house here and was 
 a resident of this city till his death in 1881, at the 
 venerable age of eighty-two years. Thus he was 
 an interested witness of much of the growth of this 
 flourishing, busy cit}^ and aided in bringing about 
 the great change. The maiden name of his wife 
 was Dorathe Lewerenz, and she was a native of 
 Pomerania. She is now a welcome inmate of the 
 household of oui' subject, and has attained the ad- 
 vanced age of seventj'-eight years. There were six 
 children born to her and her husband: Ferdinand 
 M.; Fred C, living in Danville; Charles, in New- 
 port, Ind.; Minnie married John Balls, and after- 
 ward died. Two died in Germany. 
 
 Ferdinand, of whom we write, attended school 
 in his native place quite steadily until he was four- 
 teen years old, and as is the custom of his church, 
 was then confirmed, and was afterward employed 
 with his father. In 1847 he commenced to learn 
 the cabinet-maker's trade, his father paying $24 
 cash for that privilege, and he received his board 
 during the three years he served. At the expira- 
 tion of that time he did journeyman work a few 
 months, and then, in 1852, came to America with 
 his parents. After coming to this country he 
 worked for a time in a box-factory in Chicago, and 
 in 1853, after settling in Danville, went to work at 
 the carpenter's trade till the fall of the year, and 
 then engaged at his old calling as cabinet-maker, 
 doing journej-man work till 1855. In that year he 
 went to Fithian Station and worked on a farm a few 
 months, and then returned to town and worked at 
 his trade till 1856. After that he was actively and 
 prosperously engaged as a carpenter, and was a res- 
 ident of Danville till 1870, when he bought the 
 farm where he now resides. On this he has made 
 many flue improvements, greatlj' increasing its 
 value, has er( cted a good set of frame buildings, 
 and has brought the land to an excellent state of 
 cultivation so that it is highly productive, yielding 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 619 
 
 bounliful liarvests in repayment for his toil. Here 
 he and his family have a pleasant, cosy home, and 
 its generous hospitalities are appreciated by the 
 weary stranger who happens within their gates. 
 
 Mr. Hacker was married Aug. 13, 1854, to Anna 
 Beal, a native of Germany, who came to America 
 when quite young. To them came seven children — 
 Albert, Mary, Charles, Martin, Edward, John and 
 Emma. This happy home circle was invaded by 
 death in 1874, and the wife and mother was taken 
 from her sorrowing family and friends. 
 
 Mr. Hacker was married to his present wife in 
 1876, and their peaceful wedded life has been 
 blessed to them by the birth of three children — 
 Annie, Ferdinand B. and Ida May. Mrs. Hacker's 
 maiden name was Emma Kaley Sheets, and she 
 was born in Reading. Burks Co., Pa. 
 
 Mr. Hacker stands well in this community as a 
 man and as a citizen, and in all the relations of life 
 that he has been called on to fill, as son, husband, 
 father and neighbor, he has done his duty, and no 
 one can bring aught against his character or his re- 
 cord, which are stainless. That he has a comforta- 
 ble home he owes to his incessant industry, di- 
 rected by sound common sense and excellent 
 judgment. Mr. Hacker has a deeply religious na- 
 ture, and in him the Lutheran Church finds one of 
 its most active supporters, he having been one of 
 the first members of the denomination in Danville. 
 He belongs to the Fire Beck Lodge No. 499, I. O. 
 O. F., and to the Turner Society. 
 
 ]UFORD TAYLOR, M. D., one of the favor- 
 h^. ite sons of Georgetown Township, is now a 
 resident of Westville, and is rapidly making 
 his mark as a physician and surgeon, and 
 also as a politician. He is married to one of the 
 accomplished daughters of Georgetown, and they 
 occupy a neat and comfortable home in the village 
 of Westville, where they enjoy the warm friend- 
 sliip of many acquaintances. The Doctor has a 
 good practice, and living as he does in the midst 
 of the coal regions, has frequently the opportunity 
 to exercise his skill as a surgeon among the miners. 
 
 who often meet with accidents requiring his ser- 
 vices. In political circles the Doctor is a member 
 of the Republican Central Committee, and promi- 
 nent in the councils of the party in this section. 
 He has attained to his present position, both in the 
 profession and among men generally, by his own 
 exertions, paying his way through college and sig- 
 nalizing himself by the industry and perseverance 
 which is the surest guarantee of success in every 
 avenue of life. 
 
 Our subject was born May 15, 1862, and grew 
 up familiar with farming pursuits. He attended 
 the common school and made such good headway 
 that when but fourteen years old he began teach- 
 ing, and followed this five winters in succession. 
 In the meantime he conceived the idea of becoming 
 a physician. He began the study of medicine un- 
 der the instruction of Dr. J. E. Balch, of Westville, 
 with whom he remained two and one-half years, 
 then entered the office of Dr. W. A. Yohn, of Val- 
 paraiso, Ind. Later he became a student of the 
 Medical College at Indianapolis, from whicli he 
 was graduated Feb. 18, 1885. He commenced the 
 practice of his profession in Westville, and has 
 since been making steady progress toward the top 
 of the ladder. 
 
 A few months after receiving his diploma, being 
 prepared to establish a home of his own, the Doc- 
 tor was united in marriage with Miss Viola Padgitt, 
 the wedding taking place at the home of the bride 
 in Georgetown. July 26, 1885. Mrs. Taylor was 
 born in Georgetown Township, April 3, 1860, and 
 is the daughter of John L. and Ellen (O'Neal) 
 Padgitt, who are well known in this part of the 
 county as among its most esteemed citizens. She 
 acquired a good education, and, like her husband, 
 engaged in teaching, which she followed six j'ears. 
 After their marriage the Doctor and his bride set- 
 tled in Westville, where thej' have since resided, 
 and where our subject enjoys the patronage of its 
 best i)eople. He is pardonably proud of some of his 
 performances in surgery, especially a case which he 
 recently had in charge, where a veiy difficult am- 
 putation was required, and which he executed with 
 great skill and with successful results. 
 
 To the Doctor and his estimable wife there have 
 been born two children, bright little daughters — 
 
620 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 Louie and Bertha E. Mrs. Tiiyl(ir is a member in 
 good standing of tlie Christian Church. The poli- 
 tics of the Doctor liave already been indicated. 
 Socially-, he belongs to the Masonic Fraternity of 
 Georgetown, and is also identified with the Sons of 
 Veterans at Danville. He is serving as a School 
 Director in his district, and is recognized as a lib- 
 eral and public-spirited citizen, one always ready 
 to contribute of his time and means for the ad- 
 vancement of the enterprises calculated for the 
 general good of the community. 
 
 R. PATRICK H. SWAIM, of Ridge Farm, 
 
 is recognized by the people of Elwood 
 Township and the outlying country as one 
 of the most successful physicians and sur- 
 geons in the county. He is comparatively a 3^oung 
 man, on the sunny side of forty, having been born 
 Oct. 19, 1849. His native place was Guilford 
 Countj', N. C, from which he removed with his 
 parents in 1852 to Parke County, Ind., they settling 
 nine miles north of Montezuma, where the father, 
 Brantle}' Swaim, died in 1882. The mother, Mrs. 
 Irene (Fields) Swaim, is still living at the old 
 homestead in Indiana. 
 
 Eight children comprised the family of the pa- 
 rents of our subject, seven of whom are living, 
 viz: Byron, Christopher W., Isabelle, William B., 
 Patrick H., John B. and Milton. Our subject first 
 attended the common schools of Bloomingdale, 
 Ind.. then entered the academy conducted by 
 Prof. Barnabas B. Hobbs. When twenty-three 
 years old — in the'fall of 1871 — he began teaching, 
 and followed this profession thereafter for five 
 years in his own neighborhood. He then began 
 reading medicine, and in tlie meantime, attended 
 medical lectures in Rush College, Chicago. Later 
 he attended the College of Physicians and Surgeons 
 of Indianapolis, by which he was graduated in 1879. 
 He began the practice of his profession at Annapo- 
 lis that same year, but siiortly afterward removed 
 to Quaker Hill, Ind., and from there a year later 
 to Betliel in this county. In the latter place he 
 remained three years, and we next find him in 
 
 Humrick, 111., where he sojourned until April, 1885. 
 Thence he changed his residence to Ridge Farm, 
 where he has built up a large practice and been 
 eminently successful. In the fall of 1888 he treated 
 forty cases of typhoid fever successfully, losing no 
 case from that epidemic. In the fall of 1887 he 
 journeyed to the Pacific Slope, visiting the princi- 
 pal cities of California, and spending two months 
 very pleasantly and profitably. He is a man of 
 large observation, and leaves no stone unturned in 
 the acquirement of useful knowledge. 
 
 The marriage of Dr. Swaim with Miss Carrie 
 York was celebrated in December, 1875. This 
 lady is the daughter of Eli York, who met his 
 death on the battlefield at Spring Hill during the 
 late Rebellion. The Doctor and Mrs. Swaim are 
 the parents of two interesting children — Musa and 
 Mabel. Politically, the Doctor is a sound Re- 
 publican. He belongs to the Modern Woodmen, 
 being Examining Surgeon of his lodge at Ridge 
 Farm. 
 
 — -^^^m- — - 
 
 ^T^RANCIS P. SMITH. The young genera- 
 — V^ tion that has sprung up since the pioneers 
 \ of this country have passed off the stage of 
 action, is composed of young people, who have 
 profited by the experience through which their 
 fathers have passed. They have had before them 
 Ml object lesson that has taught them the facts 
 that nothing is gained without labor. Some 
 of them have passed through — in their early life — 
 scenes of hardship and know what privations are 
 and what it is to want for the necessaries of life. 
 They farther know what it is to procure an educa- 
 tion under difficulties. But those who have been 
 born within the last thirty years have had compar- 
 atively easy sailing on the sea of life. Their parents 
 have become able to educate them and give them 
 a start in life. This young generation appreciate 
 all these things, and none more than the man 
 whose name appears at the head of this notice. 
 
 Francis P. Smith is one of the young and enter- 
 prising farmers of Elwood Township. He is proud 
 of his father's record, (which appears in this vol- 
 ume) and he has everj' reason to be. He is resid- 
 
RESIDENCE OF UOHN M.ElalalQTT SEC 2.5., ElaWOOD CFR, VERMIlalON CO. 
 
 RESIDENCE OF WtdGRAY SEC. 30.SIDELLTR. VERMILION CO. 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAITHCAL ALBUM. 
 
 623 
 
 ing on the old homestead, which is situated on 
 section 18, range 11, where he was born Dec. 31, 
 1854. His father, George W. Smith, is a native of 
 Tennessee and a worthy pioneer of N'ermilion 
 County, having emigrated here with his father, 
 Jesse wSmith, at a time when this country had little 
 evidence of civilization. Francis received his edu- 
 cation at the common schools, and the ^"ermilion 
 Academy. He has worked on a farm since he has 
 been old enough to do anything, and he has been 
 prosperous. 
 
 On Feb. 22, 1877, Mr. Smith was married to 
 Sarah J. Canaday, daughter of Henry Canada}', 
 who was a farmer in this township. She was born on 
 a farm adjoining her present home July 15, 1856. 
 She is the mother of four children, three of whom are 
 living — Everett, Ethel, and Noble. Mr. Smith is 
 the owner of 178 acres of first-class land, all of 
 which Is perfectly cultivated. He follows general 
 farming and stock-raising, and does so intelligently. 
 His stock consists of graded horses. Short-horn 
 cattle, Poland-China hogs and Merino and Shrop- 
 shiredown sheep. He has many fine specimens of 
 good stock and is an enthusiastic admirer of blooded 
 animals. 
 
 Mr. Smith and his amiable wife are always found 
 at the front, where their duly calls them. They 
 pre enthusiastic members of the Cumberland Pres- 
 byterian Church at Sharon. 
 
 JOHN M. ELLIOTT. As a rule, if a man 
 belongs to the society of Quakers, no other 
 recommendation need be given him. It is 
 a rare thing to find a dishonest or idle man in 
 this most excellent sect. They are conceded to be 
 honorable, just and industrious, and if a person pos- 
 sesses these qualities, we place in him implicit con- 
 fidence and unbounded trust. John M. Elliott is 
 a Quaker. 
 
 Mr. Elliott owns and operates 125 acres of land 
 on section 25, Range 11, Elwood Township. His 
 father, Nathan Elliott, was a native of Guilford 
 County, N. C, and a son of Exum Elliott, who emi- 
 grated to Wayne County, Ind., when Nathan was 
 
 five years old. Indiana was a territory at that 
 time and the Indians and wild animals held almost 
 undisputed possession of the country. This was 
 just after the war of 1812. The mother of John 
 M. was Betsey Maxwell, daughter of John Maxwell. 
 She was born where Earlham College now stands, 
 and died in Indiana May 17, 1841, leaving three 
 children: Jane, (Mendenhall), Sarah (Larrance) 
 and John M. Tiie father afterward married Naomi, 
 daughter of Jonathan Mendenhall, and by this last 
 marriage he was the father of nine children, seven 
 of whom are living: Henry C, Anna E., Wesle}', 
 Alvin, Claj'tou B., Mary E. and Delphina. One 
 son, David, died in his seventh year, in 1853, and 
 another one died in infancy. 
 
 John M. Elliott was born Dec. 22, 1839, and 
 emigrated with his father to this county in 1855, 
 locating in Elwood Township, one mile and a half 
 west of Ridge Farm. He received his education 
 primarily at the public schools, he having also 
 taught two terms. Otherwise he has worked at 
 the business of farming since he was old enough to 
 do anything. He was married on Jan. 31, 1861, 
 to Miss Sarah, daughter of John Mendenhall, a 
 prominent resident of Carroll Township, where she 
 was born. Mr. and Mrs. Elliott are the parents of 
 nine children: Melbourne, Florence, Francis A., 
 Ada R., Orange, Howard J., William H., Martha 
 and Mary, the latter being twins. Melbourne mar- 
 ried Grace M. Patton and lives on the old home- 
 stead in this township; Florence is the wife of 
 Thomas H. Rees, of Carroll Township and the 
 mother of one child, born June 15, 1889, died July 
 22, 1889 ; Frank is in the Cascade Mountains of 
 Oregon, connected with a surveying part}'. 
 
 The whole family belong to the Friends' Church 
 and take great interest in religious matters. Mr. 
 Elliott has been a School Director for twenty years, 
 and is a Trustee of the Vermilion Academy being 
 one of the original incorporators of that institution. 
 Politically he votes the way the most of the people 
 who belong to his church do — with the Repub- 
 lican party — and is always willing to do what he 
 can honorably to enhance its interests. He has 
 never aspired to official honors but in religious and 
 educational affairs exhibits great solicitude. His 
 pleasant home is always open to his friends and he 
 
624 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 and his most excellent wife are liberal in their hos- 
 pitality. We present on another page of the 
 Album a fine view of the residence of Mr. Elliott, 
 where he lives in comfort and happiness with his 
 wife and those of his children who yet remain at 
 home. 
 
 (^ IfelLLIAiM GRAY is pleasantly located on 
 \rj// his valuable farm of 240 acres, and, al- 
 
 ^^ though at an advanced age, still retains 
 the active management of all its details. He was 
 born in Butler County, Ohio, about seven miles 
 north of Hamilton. His father, Louis Gray, was 
 a native of New Jersey, but came to Fort Cincin- 
 nati in 1801 and built a log cabin on what is now 
 known as Third street in the city of Cincinnati. 
 Here he purchased 200 acres of land at a shilling 
 an acre, which, upon his removal to Butler County, 
 Ohio, the so-called land of promise, he sold at a 
 small advance on the original cost. He was mar- 
 ried to Miss Mary Winnigs, this event taking place 
 in New Jersey a short time previous to their re- 
 moval to Ohio. Louis Gray was a strong sup- 
 porter of the old Whig party and an ardent ad- 
 mirer of Henry Clay, Harrison, and other men of 
 his party. When the Republican party was formed, 
 in 1856, he joined that political organization, but 
 died regretting the fact that he could never have 
 the opportunity of casting his vote for John C. 
 Fremont. At the time of his death, in 1856, he 
 was seventy-eight years old. Early in life he was 
 crippled, a fact which prevented him from enlist- 
 ing in the war of 1812. He made an endeavor to 
 join the army, but was rejected. Louis Gray was 
 married twice, his first wife being the mother of 
 William. His second wife was JMrs. Ann Collins, 
 a native of New Jersey. By his first marriage he 
 was the father of five children; Amos, who was 
 drowned in boyhood; Phcebe, Daniel, William and 
 Harvey. The grandfather of the subject of this 
 sketch was born in America, but his father was a 
 native of England, coming to this country in 
 colonial times. 
 
 William Gray's birth occurred on May 9, 1816. 
 he is the only survivor of his mother's family, but 
 
 has three half sisters living. His first boyish recol- 
 lections are of the old log house in the woods on 
 the banks of the Miama River, but this stream has 
 since washed away the site of the structure. Here 
 the happiest moments of his childhood were passed. 
 His father was a contractor for the building of the 
 Miami Canal from Dayton to Cincinnati, and 
 about the first work in which William engaged, 
 was driving a yoke of oxen on this contract, while 
 his father had charge of 100 men and about forty 
 or fifty teams of cattle. William was obliged to 
 stand on a flour barrel in order to put the yoke on 
 his oxen. His father, in common with other sturdy 
 pioneers of this country, believed implicitly in the 
 plan of rearing his sons to industry, a fact which 
 has left its imprint upon the generation succeeding 
 him. After the canal was completed, William's 
 father invested his earnings in Butler County land, 
 but in 1844 he concluded to remove to Indiana, 
 which he did, locating near LaFayette. 
 
 It was under these circumstances that the sub- 
 ject of this sketch grew to manhood. He attended 
 the subscription schools in the winter time, and 
 during the summer months worked upon the farm. 
 He also learned the cooper's trade, as his father 
 owned a cooper sho[) in connection with his grist- 
 mill. In 1841, when he was twenty-five years of 
 age, he was married to Miss Sarah A. Harman,who 
 was born three miles east of Lebanon, Warren Co., 
 Ohio. She is the daughter of Samuel and Mary 
 Harman, who came to Warren County while they 
 were children. Her grandfather, Henrj' Harman, 
 was a native of Germany, while her mother's peo- 
 ple came from an old American family of Scotch- 
 Irish descent. Her parents continued to live in 
 Warren County several 3'ears, but finally removed 
 to Tippecanoe County, Ind., and later spent their 
 declining years with Mrs. Gray, her father dying 
 in March, 1875, at the age of seventy -four years, 
 while her mother passed away In February, 1887, 
 at the advanced age of eighty-four years. This 
 venerable couple were the parents of twelve chil- 
 dren, whose names' are herewith given : Sarah A., 
 Alfred, Elizabeth, Susan, Henry, David, Rebecca 
 and Mary (twins), Samuel, Catherine, Martha and 
 Emma. 
 
 Mrs, Gray was born Oct. 14, 1822. Her early 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 625 
 
 flays were passed in a manner similar to those of 
 ber husband. They lived only twelve or fourteen 
 miles apart, and became acquainted while yet 
 children. In 1844 Mr. Gray with his family — and 
 also accompanied by his father's family — removed 
 to Clinton County, Ind., and resided there until 
 1859, when they settled on their present home- 
 stead in Vermilion County. Mr. Gray purchased 
 400 acres of land, which at the time was unim 
 proved. He staked off the foundation for his 
 house by the shadow of the sun at noontide, but 
 his watch being a little fast, the foundation was 
 not located due north and south. While in Indi- 
 ana Mr. Gray began to pack pork, working at it 
 every winter, and in company with John Blair 
 built a plant for this purpose and also for packing 
 beef. His packing house was located at Crawfords- 
 ville, and in this industry he was prospered, killing 
 about 20,000 hogs each year, for three years. Since 
 Mr. Gra}^ has lived in Illinois, however, he has 
 devoted his entire time to farming, and in this 
 occupation has been eminently successful. 
 
 IMr. and Mrs. Gray have become the parents of 
 nine children : Harvey, Mary Jane, Alfred, Will- 
 iam H., who died at the age of five years; Elizabeth 
 A.;Sarah C.,whodied when flteen years old; Milton, 
 who died when six months old; Clara and Alice. 
 Harvey enlisted in Company D., 25th Illinois In- 
 fantry, and at Chickamauga was wounded and 
 taken prisoner, but being disabled was left by the 
 rebels on the field of battle. He was taken to a 
 Union hospital at St. Louis, where he died a victim 
 of small-pox. Mary Jane married James Mills, a 
 Union soldier, and he died in April, 1879, leaving 
 three children — Alfred, Elma and EfHe. Since the 
 death of Mr. Mills his children, as well as their 
 mother, have lived at the home of Mr. Gray. 
 Alfred married Miss Vena Carroll, and is farming 
 in Sidell Township. They have two children, 
 John and William. Elizabeth A., is the wife of 
 John Wilson, also a LTnion soldier, and a farmer 
 of Sidell Township. They have two children — 
 Otto and Charles. Clara is at home. Alice mar- 
 ried Samuel Guthrie, who was also a soldier of the 
 Union army and now a farmer near Tuscola, 111. 
 They have four children — Eva, Sarah, Ola and 
 Harrison. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Gray are living in a very pleasant 
 home, which is illustrated bj' a fine view on an- 
 other page of this volume. All of the surround- 
 ings indicate the refinement and good taste of its 
 occupants, while their splendid line of books also 
 exhibits the fact that Mr. and Mrs. Gray are fond 
 of good reading. Mr. Gray has served as School 
 Director for several years, and is much interested 
 in educational matters. He has also been a Justice 
 of the Peace, holding that honorable office for six 
 years, and for many years held the position of 
 Highway Commissioner. Politically he is a stanch 
 Republican, and does good work for his party. In 
 all this section of the countrj- there is not a more 
 generous, hospitable and public-spirited couple 
 than Mr. and Mrs. Gray. 
 
 AMD JOHNSTON. It is a fact gener- 
 II ally acknowledged and widely commented 
 upon, that in the great world with its mil- 
 lions of men no two are alike, although 
 they may be possessed of many corresponding 
 traits of character. Mr. Johnston is one of those 
 who have assisted largely in the development of a 
 portion of the soil of Vermilion County, and has 
 distinguished himself by hard labor, sobriety, 
 honestj' and the other solid qualities which go to 
 make up the useful citizen. His life occui)ation 
 has been that of a farmer, and we find him com- 
 fortably located at a snug little homestead on sec- 
 tion 1, Oakwood Township. He has been reason- 
 ably rewarded for the toil and sacrifices of his 
 earlier years, and has been surrounded by all the 
 comforts of life, while at the same time enjoying 
 many of its luxuries. 
 
 The first record we have of this branch of the 
 Johnston family was the settlement in Pennsyl- 
 vania of Grandfather David H. Johnston, who sub- 
 sequently removed to Mason County, Ky., during 
 the peiiod of its earliest settlement, where he dealt 
 extensively in fat cattle, horses and mules, and be- 
 came one of the wealthiest men in that region. He 
 also owned and operated a distiller)-, but distin- 
 guished himself as a patriot, and was appointed 
 
62G 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 by the American Congress during the Revolution- 
 ary War to visit the Tories in his region and con- 
 fiscate whatever he could lay his hands upon of 
 their propertj^, which he sold, and applied the pro- 
 ceeds to the carrying on of the war. It is easy to 
 imagine that nothing pleased the old h'ero better 
 than this errand, and none rejoiced more than he 
 at the result of the Declaration of Indei)endence. 
 
 Among the sons of Grandfather Johnston was 
 John, the father of our subject, who wa.s born in 
 Mason County, Ky., was reared upon a farm, and 
 removed to Ohio about 1826. He had three sis- 
 ters — Hannah, Nancy and Polly Ann. He married 
 Miss Sarah Mathaney, a native of that State, 
 and the daughter of Elias Mathaney, who was 
 born near Harper's Ferry, in West Virginia, and 
 in connection with fanning pnrsuits became one 
 of the best breeders of fine horses in tlie Blue 
 Grass regions. He was married three times, and 
 died about 1862. 
 
 The parents of our subject after their marriage 
 visited Kentucky, then settled in Adams County, 
 Ohio, and there spent the remainder of their days. 
 Joiin Johnston was a well-educated man, and be- 
 came prominent in his communit}'. He was b}' 
 nature a polished gentleman, and a man always in 
 demand at public meetings to introduce the 
 speakers to the people, and make other various 
 little arrangements so essential to the smootli work- 
 ings of those gatherings. He departed this life at 
 his home, in 1834, and the mother followed her 
 husband to the land of the hereafter, four j'ears 
 later, in 1838. The latter frequently related the 
 incident of her father "poling" a keel boat from 
 New Orleans to Pittsburg before the days of steam. 
 
 To John and Sarah (Mathaney) Johnston there 
 were born five children, three sons and two daugh- 
 ters, of whom three are living, and of whom 
 David, our subject, was the eldest. He was born 
 in Mason County, Ky., Feb. 6, 1826, and at the 
 early age of twelve began to paddle his own canoe. 
 His education was very limited, and he worked for 
 his uncle about three years after leaving home. 
 Later he was employed by John Dalton, of Brown 
 County, Ohio, several years. In September, 1844, 
 when a youth of eighteen, he started for Illinois 
 on horseback, and upon his arrival in this county 
 
 was employed the first year on a farm for Henry 
 Florher, and he was similarly occupied until his 
 marriage! This important and interesting event 
 was celebrated Nov. 11, 185-2, the bride being 
 Miss Mary A. E., daughter of Dr. A. W. Britting- 
 ham, an old Thompsonian physician who came to 
 Illinois in 1830, and was a very prominent man in 
 his day. His grandfather, William Brittingham, was 
 born in Maryland, and married a lady whose first 
 name was Elizabeth. His parents were Jeremiah 
 and Mary (Williams) Brittingham, the latter a 
 daughter of John Williams, of Maryland. Jere- 
 miaii was born Dec. 3, 1764, and his wife, Mary, 
 Oct. 12, 1760. 
 
 Jeremiah Brittingham removed to Ohio in 1810, 
 and to Illinois in 1830, arriving in this county 
 Nov. 5, 1830. He became the father of eight chil- 
 dren, five of whom died when quite young in 
 INIaryland. The three who grew to mature years 
 were: Benjamin A., Mary and Arthur W., the lat- 
 ter the father of Mrs. Johnston. To the latter and 
 his excellent wife there were born eight children, 
 of whom five are living, viz: Mrs. Johnston, Mrs. 
 Lucreiia Osborn, Mrs. Julia Ann Osborn, Arthur 
 W., Jr., and Jeremiah. The last-mentioned is still 
 unmarried, and makes his home with our subject. 
 He is a prominent member of Oakwood I. 0. 0. F. 
 Lodge No. 564, in which he has passed all the chairs, 
 and in February, 1889, finished his term as Past 
 Grand. Arthur W. Brittingham departed this life 
 Aug. 19, 1885. The mother of Mrs. Johustou was 
 in her girlhood Miss Matilda Watson, daughter of 
 the Rev. Henry and Mary Ann Watson, who were 
 among the early settlers of this county. She was 
 born Sept. 3, 1804, and died Aug. 19, 1877. 
 
 Mrs. Johnston is a native of this county, and 
 was born Nov. 8, 1833. After their marriage Mr. 
 Johnston operated on a rented farm about seven 
 years, then entered 160 acres of land from the 
 Government, and purchased forty acres. This he 
 he sold later, and bought 100 acres, which he now 
 owns and occupies. His landed possessions com- 
 prise 297 acres, nearly all under cultivation. He 
 erected his present residence in 1876. He raises 
 considerable stock, feeding a carload of cattle each 
 year. Only a son and daughter have been born to 
 Mr. and Mrs. Johnston. The latter, Matilda Jane, 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 627 
 
 became the wife of David Young, and lived on 
 one of her father's farms until her deatii in 1880; 
 she left one child, who is being reared by the grand- 
 parents. 
 
 John W. Johnston, the only son of our subject, 
 is a veiy bright and promising young man, and re- 
 mains on the homestead with his parents, assisting 
 in the operation of the farm. He is a prominent 
 member of Lodge No. 714, A. F. & A. M., at New- 
 town, in which he has been Secretary five years and 
 Senior Warden three years, still holding the latter 
 office. He is also a member of Vermilion Chap- 
 ter No. 82, at Danville, and of Athelstan Com- 
 mandery No. 45, at Danville. He is also Record- 
 ing Steward of the Methodist Episcopal Church, a 
 School Trustee and Vice-President of the Town- 
 ship Sunday-school Association. 
 
 Both Mr. and Mrs. Johnston have been mem- 
 bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church for the 
 past six years. Mr. Johnston cast his first Presi- 
 dential vote for Zachary Taylor, and has always 
 kept himself well posted upon the political issues 
 of the day. He identified himself with the Repub- 
 lican party at its organization, in 1856, and since 
 that time has steadfastlj' remained a supporter of 
 its principles. 
 
 ATTHEW TRIMBLE, one of the sub- 
 stantial and successful men of Sidell 
 Township, and one who is well iden- 
 tified with the advancement of his com 
 munity, is now engaged in general or mixed 
 farming. He is one of the substantial men of his 
 township, and is entitled to a place in history as a 
 self-made man. He was born Dec. 27, 1827 in 
 Ohio, and was reared on a farm, and in a new 
 country. His father was one of the pioneers who 
 was obliged to hew his way through the forest, in 
 order to make a farm, and as Matthew was the 
 oldest boy of the family, he was obliged to work 
 hard at plowing and breaking among the stumps. 
 His boyhood days, as before stated, were desti- 
 tute of any of the advantages calculated to give 
 him an education, as the school teachers in those 
 
 days were on a par with the schoolhouses, exceed- 
 ingly crude. Later, as he grew to be a young 
 man. a brick school-house was built, of which he 
 aided in the construction, and there he attended 
 school for three terms. When he came from Ohio 
 in the summer of 1863, he brought with him a 
 drove of 700 sheep, driving them the entire dis- 
 tance with the aid of a boj' and a dog, and this was 
 his first substantial start in the stock business. His 
 first wife, whose maiden name was Cassandria Pig- 
 man, died in 1862, when he sold his farm and engaged 
 exclusively in the stock business. He has traded 
 and dealt in live stock of all kinds since his boy- 
 hood, and at the time of selling his farm was con- 
 sidered one of the shrewdest buyers in this section 
 of the country, and up to this time he had made 
 an even $2,000 on his sheep. 
 
 He was married the first time in 1849 and by 
 this union he was the father of four children: 
 Rebecca A., William, Rachael and James. Rebecca 
 married Scott Ilildreth, a farmer of Carroll Town- 
 ship. They have three children, Elizabeth A., 
 Joseph and Blaine: William resides in Powesheik 
 County, Iowa; Rachel married George Bennett. 
 They have four children: Clinton, Minnie, Frank 
 and an infant. Frank is a tinner by trade. Mr. 
 Trimble was married a second time in 1864 to Mrs. 
 Lydia Harvey. She was born in Pennsylvania and 
 came to Indiana when a small girl, and in 1862, 
 emigrated to Vermilion County. Her first husband, 
 whose name was Oliver W. Harvey, died in the 
 army, leaving two children — Jane and Charles W. 
 ISIr. and Mrs. Trimble have two children — Chaun- 
 cey and Luc}^ The former is at home working on 
 the farm, while Lucy married Elmer Hite, who lives 
 in Kansas. Mr. Trimble has assisted his children 
 in getting a start in the world, and thej' are the 
 pride of his declining years, lie has taken an 
 active and intelligent part in all the matters per- 
 taining to public schools, and has served as Direc- 
 tor fifteen years. He has also filled various other 
 positions in the township, although he has never 
 aspired to political honors. Mr. and Mrs. Trim- 
 ble are members of the Methodist Episcopal Churcii 
 at Sidell, and they are materially aiding in the erec- 
 tion of a new house of worship. He is an original 
 Lincoln Republican, as he considers that the prin- 
 
G28 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 ciples of that great man are the correct ones for 
 the government of politics. He belives that the 
 Union Labor party of America is, some daj-, bound 
 to succeed. Mr. Trimble since he has commenced to 
 do for himself, has been successful, which is wholly 
 due to his judgment of men and his industrious 
 habits. He takes hold of all matters of business 
 with energy, and never has known that there is such 
 a word as "fail." 
 
 ^^, ICHAEL FISHER has for the past ten 
 years been engaged in the hardware busi- 
 ness in Indianola, where he has conducted 
 a large and prosperous business. His 
 store is one of the finest in the town, and is always 
 the scene of activity. 
 
 He was born in Carroll Township, within half a 
 mile of Indianola, Nov. 6, 1835. His father, David 
 Fisher, came to this county in 1833, bought school 
 lands from the State, and also entered a tract of 
 o-overnment land in the same year, and at the time of 
 his death, which occurred in 1878, he owned nearly 
 1,000 acres of land. He was born in Ohio, his 
 father being of good old Pennsylvania stock. The 
 Fishers were of German extraction and pioneers of 
 Pennsylvania, where they settled during Colonial 
 times. David Fisher was married in Carroll Town- 
 ship to Miss Jane Weaver, who is still living. She 
 is a native of Ohio, her father coming to this coun- 
 try in 1828 and being therefore one of the very- 
 earliest pioneers. He lived to be one hundred 
 years old, while his wife was past ninety when she 
 was called away. 
 
 David Fisher was the father of five children, 
 whose names are: Michael, John W., Mary J., 
 George and Lucinda. Michael was reared on a 
 farm and received good educational advantages in 
 the schools of his childhood, which were of the 
 subscription sort. He was married in 1864 to Miss 
 Maryette Baum, daughter of John W. Baum, an 
 old settler of Carroll Township. She was born in 
 Indianola. After marriage Mr. and ]Mrs. Fisher 
 continued farming until 1877, when he engaged in 
 the hardware business, as before indicated. He 
 
 started the erection of the -'Fisher Block" in 1881, 
 completing it^^the next year. The store is 44x66, 
 and comprises two store rooms, the Masonic and 
 Fisher's Hall. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Fisher have three children: Frank, 
 Maud and Eva. Frank is attending the Univerity 
 of Illinois and is ''a member of the class of '90. 
 He is taking the civil engineering course. Maud 
 is the wife of Joseph J. Sidell — whose sketch ap- 
 pears in this volume — while Eva is at home. In 
 addition to his hardware business Mr. Fisher deals 
 largely in agricultural implements, and also owns 
 and manages two farms near Indianola. He has 
 served his neighbors in several offices, having been 
 Justice of the Peace for sixteen years and Asses- 
 sor and Collector for four years each. While liv- 
 ing in Kansas in 1857, he joined the Odd Fellows 
 fraternity to which society he has since adhered. 
 Politically he belongs to the Democratic party, hut 
 is in favor of the best man being elected to any 
 position, and in consequence he votes independ- 
 ently. As before stated he has held manjr town- 
 ship offices and with distinguished honor, but he 
 has never been an ofBce-seeker, as his neighbors 
 have recognized in him the qualities which should 
 belong to every man occupying a public position. 
 His fine education coupled with his splendid judg- 
 ment has been recognized and appreciated. 
 
 Mr. Fisher was a student at the Georgetown 
 Scminarj' where he acquired a classical education, 
 and in his younger days was a teacher, being eminent 
 in his profession. He is one of the leading citizens 
 of ^■'ermilion County and is respected and hon- 
 ored as such. A fine view of the home of Mr. 
 Fisher is shown in this volume. 
 
 ANIEL OAKES, a gentleman of unusually 
 modest demeanor, may be usually found 
 at his homestead, on section 11, in Vance 
 Township, where he carries on farming 
 and has lived since 1869. The inroads upon his 
 health, made by the rigors of war when he was hut 
 a youth, have had their lasting effect upon his con- 
 stitution, so that he has not been enabled to realize 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 629 
 
 the full measure of his ambition among the busj- 
 laborers of the world. He is, however, a man 
 highl.y respected among his fellow-citizens, possess- 
 ing that integrity of character which has enabled 
 him to live uprightly and at peace with all the 
 world. 
 
 The early tramping ground of our subject was 
 in Seneca County, Ohio, where he was born Aug. 
 26, 1843. His father, Michael Oakes, was a native 
 of Pennsylvania, a farmer by occupation, and mar- 
 ried Miss Rebecca Farner, who was born in Ohio. 
 In 1850 they moved to Clark County, 111., and 
 later returned to Ohio to make a visit, and Mrs. 
 Oakes died while on the journey thither. The 
 father was subsequently married, and after some 
 years, about 1858, returned to this county. The 
 children of his first wife comprised three sons and 
 one daughter, of whom three are living. One son, 
 Jolm, during the Civil War, enlisted in Company 
 F, 25th Illinois Infantry, and died in camp at 
 Scottsboro, Ala., in tlie winter of 1862. Michael 
 Oakes departed this life at his home in Vance 
 Township, in 1882. 
 
 The subject of this notice attended school in 
 Clark County, 111., the temple of learning being an 
 old log schoolhouse, with its primitive accommoda- 
 tions, and the system of instruction far inferior to 
 that of the present day. When a youth of seven- 
 teen, the Civil War being in progress, he enlisted 
 as a Union soldier in Company F, 71st Illinois In- 
 fantry for three months. At the expiration of this 
 time he re-enlisted in Company F, 26th Infantry, 
 for three years, and took part in many of the im- 
 portant battles which followed — Atlanta, Scotts- 
 boro, Savannah, New Hope Church, Kenesaw 
 Mountain, Grape Creek — and went with Sherman 
 in his memorable march to the sea. He had the 
 pleasure of witnessing the surrender of the rebel 
 General Johnston in North Carolina, and after the 
 surrender of Lee, repaired with his comrades to 
 Washington, and took part in the Grand Review. 
 On the 28th of July, 1864, at Atlanta, Mr. 
 Oakes received a gunshot wound in the right side, 
 but he kept on fighting, and never lost a day on 
 account of it. At Savannah he was wounded in 
 the right knee. His health was greatly impaired 
 by hardship and exposure, and it is hardly possible 
 
 that he will ever regain his former robust health. 
 Mr. Oakes was first married in 1867, to Miss 
 Melissa Morrison, who became the mother of four 
 children (two of whom are living), and who died 
 in 1880. The two children remaining are Charles 
 and Eva, who are. living with their father. Mr. 
 Oakes was married a second time in 1881, to Miss 
 Margaret Hickman, and they have one child — 
 Willie. Mrs. Oakes is a member of the Presbyte- 
 rian Churcli. Our subject takes no active part in 
 politics, but goes regularly to the polls, and votes 
 the Republican ticket, even if he has to leave a 
 sick bed, as at the last election. He is a member 
 of Homer Post, G. A. R., but on account of frail 
 health, has not been permitted to attend the regu- 
 lar meetings. The most of his time is spent on 
 his snug farm of 110 acres, which is finely located 
 on section 7, and is under a good state of cultivation. 
 
 NDERSON W. ELDER. The subject of 
 this notice came to this county from Ohio 
 111 in 1878, for the purpose of taking charge 
 (^ of the large farm wliich he now operates, 
 
 and which comprises 320 acres, the east half of sec- 
 tion 34, in Sidell Township. His efficient manage- 
 ment is observable in the well-cultivated fields and 
 the general appearance of the premises. Wliile 
 operating as a tiller of the soil, Mr. Elder is also 
 engaged in the cultivation of his mental capacities 
 — a man who has read and observed much, and 
 who has decided ideas coupled with the faculty of 
 giving them expression, and with the good sense 
 which usually inspires him to temperance of speech 
 and prevents him from giving oflfense to those dif- 
 fering from him in opinion. He is in the prime of 
 life, active and energetic, and the son of one 
 of the most wealthy farmers of the Buckeye 
 State, John Elder, who was the owner of nearly 
 1,000 acres of land in Clark County, Ohio, and 
 who died May 31, 1889, at the advanced age of 
 eighty-one years, one month and nineteen days. 
 
 The subject of this notice was born near Spring- 
 Held, in Greene Township, Clark Co., Ohio, Aug. 
 26, 1852, and was there reared to man's estate on a 
 
630 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 farm. About 1877, be started on a traveling tour, 
 visiting the Eastern States, the Dominion of Can- 
 ada, also Kentucky and Missouri, after which he 
 came to this county. He was married in 1881, to 
 Miss Libby, daughter of W. B. Squires, of Sidell 
 Township. Mrs. Elder was born in Iowa, whence 
 her parents later came to Illinois, then removed to 
 Kentucky, and she was reared in these two States. 
 Of her union with our subject there have been 
 born four children, viz.: Edna, Inez, Edith an<l 
 Jolmie B., who are all living and at home witli 
 their parents, and are looked upon by the latter 
 with pardonable pride, being remarkably interest- 
 ing and intelligent. Mr. Elder, politically'-, is a 
 sound Republican, and is able to give a reason for 
 the faith that is in him. He is no office-seeker, 
 and has had very little to do with public affairs, 
 simply serving on the Circuit -Tury. 
 
 The father of our subject was a native of Harris- 
 burg, Pa. ; the mother, whose maiden name was 
 Phebe Casey, was born in Springfield, Ohio. She 
 died in 1860 at the age of fort3--five years. Nine 
 children comprised the parental family, who were 
 named respectively, Ann J., Wallace, Plndlaj', Mo- 
 linda, Samuel, Anderson W., David, Robert and 
 Charles. 
 
 iICHARD R. WORTHINGTON, M. D., 
 physician and surgeon, is one of the 
 best of the profession in his community, 
 
 ^ where he has resided for the past fifteen 
 years. He is a native of Mason County, Ky., 
 having been born near Maj'sville on Aug. 14, 
 1851. His father and motlier were also natives of 
 the same county, and were very prominent citizens 
 there. The father, the lion. Samuel Wortiiington, 
 was elected as a Whig to the State Legislature and 
 was noted as an independent, outspoken man. He 
 died in his native county, in 1862, at the compar- 
 atively early age of fifty-four, and in this world's 
 goods he was fairly well off. He was killed by one 
 of his former slaves. His wife is still living at 
 her old home and is a lady of seventy-one years of 
 age. The elder Worthington had been married 
 three times and by his first wife was the father of 
 
 two children, who grew to maturity. He had three 
 by his second wife and eight by his third, four of 
 whom grew to maturity ; the latter of whom were 
 Mary R., who died in Mason County, Ky.; Anna; 
 Richard Runyon, of whom this sketch is written; 
 and JMartha L. Anna married Elder W. G. Cox, 
 and is residing at Middletown, Ky. Martha L. is 
 the wife of J. G. Thompson, who is a prosperous 
 merchant and land-owner of Fernleaf, Ky. 
 
 Dr. Worthington was reared on a farm. He at- 
 tended the common school, and later on, the col- 
 lege at Minerva, Ky., which institution he entered at 
 the early age of thirteen. Here he continued a 
 student for three years when he relinquished his 
 studies to take charge of his father's farm, which 
 occupied his time for two years. In 1870, he 
 removed to Catlin, ^^ermilion County, where he 
 l)egan to read medicine under Dr. T. H. Run3'on. 
 He continued his studies in this manner for about 
 eight months, when he enterLd the Medical College 
 of Ohio at Cincinnati, graduating from that insti- 
 tution in the class of 1871. In October, of the 
 same year he located at Indianola, entering upon 
 a successful medical career. 
 
 He was married in 1879 to Miss Vina McMellan, 
 daughter of 'Squire William McMellan, one of the 
 leading men of Indianola, whose biography ap- 
 pears in this volume. She was born in Carroll 
 Township, and attended the common schools of her 
 town, gaining a good education. She is the mother 
 of three children — Samuel Lester, Chester Allen 
 and Anna Love. Dr. Worthington put in a stock 
 of drugs the first year he located at this place, buy- 
 ing out the store operated by Dr. J. L. Hull. His 
 practice has increased until to-day he has all the pa- 
 tients that he can attend to. He is a member of the 
 County Medical Association and is constantly 
 studying, thus keeping apace with the practical de- 
 tails in the improvements of medicine. As a physi- 
 cian he is patient, constant, sympathetic, yet in the 
 hour of extremity, cool, calm and courageous, thus 
 inspiring the sick and distressed in scenes of dan- 
 ger. He is the Examining Physician for the Little 
 Vermilion Camp of Modern Woodmen, of which 
 he is a charter member. He was a charter member 
 of the I. O. O. F., Lodge No. 584, and passed 
 through i-hairs of that order, and was Representa- 
 
^.Ofwu U^ UUrura/^n/:6 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 633 
 
 tive to the Grand Lodge. He was the first Presi- 
 dent elected under the incorporation act of the vil- 
 lage and served with fidelity and intelligence, and 
 has held that office ever since. He was elected 
 Supervisor in 1889. 
 
 Dr. Worthington is an adherent to the princi- 
 ples of the Democratic part}' and is an active 
 worker in its ranks. He was one of the original 
 projectors of the Indianola Building and Loan As- 
 sociation, being President of that organization. He 
 is very prominent in the affairs that look to the 
 improvement of his town, and a public-spirited 
 citizen in every sense of the word. 
 
 JOHN F. ROWAND, Supervisor of Sidell 
 Township, although qniet and unobtrusive in 
 manner, possesses strength of character and 
 from the fact that he has just entered upon 
 his seventh year in this capacity, it is evident that 
 he stands high among his fellow-citizens. He is a 
 farmer by occupation, owning and operating 300 
 acres of choice land, 200 on section 12 and 100 on 
 section 1. Nature has endowed him with a gen- 
 erous fund of sound, common sense, a quality des- 
 cended to him from a most excellent ancestry. 
 
 The native place of our subject w.is the present 
 site of Springfield in Clark County, Ohio, where 
 his birth occurred June 2, 1853. His parents, 
 Edward and Margaret (Smith) Rowand were nat- 
 ives respectively of Mar3daud and Ireland. The 
 father emigrated to Ohio at an early date and 
 settled on a tract of land near the present city of 
 Springfield where he cleared a farm from the wil- 
 derness. He was first married to a Miss Luce who 
 became the mother of seven children, all of whom 
 lived to mature years. Of his marriage with Miss 
 Smith there were also born seven children, viz.. 
 Edward M., John F., our subject, Isaac, an infant 
 who died unnamed, Margaret J., Mary E. and 
 Davis. Of these six are living. 
 
 The Rowand family came to Illinois in 1857, 
 and settled near Paris in Edgar County, where 
 they lived one 3'ear; then coming to this county 
 
 they located where the city of Sidell now stands. 
 The father was a very able man and especially act- 
 ive in church work. He accumulated a comfortable 
 property but finally returned East as far as Ross 
 County, Ohio, .ibout 1859. Here his death oc- 
 curred in 1861 when he was seventy-four years old. 
 The mother then came back to this count}' and is 
 now living at the old homestead, three-fourths of a 
 mile southeast of Sidell. 
 
 Our subject was in the fifth year of his age when 
 his parents came to Illinois, and after their return 
 to Ohio he attended school in Ross County. After 
 the death of his father he went to live with his 
 half-brother, William Rowand, in Clark County 
 and remained a resident of the Buckeye State until 
 1869. In the meantime, upon approaching man- 
 hood he worked on a farm'at $8 per month, during 
 the summer and attended school during the winter. 
 He earned the money for his books, notwithstand- 
 ing his father left a good property. One of the 
 half-brothers managed to hold the estate, which 
 was in litigation for a period of five years before 
 divided equally among the rightful heirs, being 
 settled in 1877. 
 
 While a resident of Illinois our subject was married 
 April 2, 1878, to Miss Elizabeth A. Cross. This 
 lady was born in Greene County, Ohio, and is the 
 daughter of Ethan O. and Nancy Ann (Webster) 
 Cross who came to Illinois in 1 862 and settled in this 
 county. The father prosecuted farming and died 
 in 1884, when about fifty years of age. The mother 
 had passed away ten years before, at the early age 
 of thirty-eight years. Their eight children were 
 named respectively, Charles E., Elizabeth Almira, 
 Sarah Matilda, Frank who died at the age of two 
 months, Fanny B., Jennie S., Bessie who died when 
 one year and ten months old and Nettie Adelaide 
 
 After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Rowand settled 
 upon 200 acres of land which fell to our subject as 
 his share of his father's estate. Upon this he has 
 effected good improvements and for the past five 
 years has been largely interested in live stock, 
 making a specialty of cattle. In 1880 he purchased 
 eighty acres of land on section 1 and in 1884 
 twenty acres on the same section, which is watered 
 lij- the Little Vermilion. The farm is well equipped 
 with good buildings and modern machinery, includ- 
 
634 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 ing a winrlmill and an artesian well, the latter 210 
 feet deep. 
 
 To our subject and his estimable wife have been 
 born four children — John F., Jr., Jennie E., (!hailes 
 D. and Hattie M., all living. Mr. and Mrs. Rowand 
 are members of the Cumberland Presbj'terian 
 Church of Sheridan in which Mr. Rowand is serv- 
 ing his fifth year as Elder. He has served as Town- 
 ship Supervisor and in politics votes the straight 
 Democratic ticket. He is quite prominent'in local 
 politics and a member of the Democratic County 
 Central Committee, also of the Democratic Club of 
 Sidell. 
 
 Nancy Ann Whit, the tfreat-grandmother of 
 Mrs. Rowand, was the daughter of a Mr. Zanes after 
 whom the town of Zanesville, Ohio, was named; 
 she was married to Mr. Maxwell at the age of six- 
 teen 3'ears and in the Revolutionary War carried 
 bullets in her apron to the soldiers, said bullets 
 being "run" by her sister. She was a courageous 
 and loyal old lady — one of the t5q3ical grandames 
 of the colonial times. A portrait of Mr. Rowand 
 appears on another page of this volume. 
 
 ARIUS BOSWELL REID, President of the 
 Village Board and Supervisor of George- 
 town Tovvnship, is recognized as one of 
 the leading men of this county, with whose 
 interests he has been closely identified for many 
 years. A Kentuckian b}' birth, his native place 
 was near Maysville, in Fleming County, and he is 
 the son of .Joseph C. Reid, who was born on the 
 eastern shore of Mar3dand. The family is of Irish 
 origin. Mrs. Rebecca (Montgomery) Held, the 
 mother of our subject was born in Pennsylvania, 
 af I^nglish ancestry. 
 
 Joseph C. Reid was first married to Miss Susan 
 Lee, in Kentucky. She was a high-born lady and 
 a descendant of old Gen. Richard Henry Lee, of 
 Revolutionary fame. Of this union there were born 
 three children, only one of whom grew U> mature 
 years — a daughter, Mary M., who became the wife 
 of Thomas Scott, and at the time of her death left 
 two children — Marion and Alexander. The former 
 
 was a soldier of the late war and died during that 
 struggle. Joseph Reid was a man highly endowed 
 l)y nature, remarkably intelligent and a great lover 
 of music in which he was quite proficient, having a 
 fine voice for singing and skillfully playing the 
 violin. He taught school during his early man- 
 hood and in the meanwhile prepared the manuscript 
 for an arithmetical text book, which, however, was 
 never published but is still in the possession of the 
 familjr. 
 
 The father of our subject likewise learned the 
 trade of a shoemaker which he followed mostly 
 during the winter season, while in the summer he 
 was engaged in the cultivation of a small farm. 
 Horn in 177.5, he fought under Gen. Harrison as 
 ensign at Ft. Meigs in 1813, and after the war re- 
 turned to his home in Kentuckj'. His first wife 
 died in the Blue (rrass State and lie was then mar- 
 ried to the mother of our subject. In 183.5, after 
 the birth of three children they left Kentucky, 
 coming to Edgar County, this State, and settling in 
 what is now Bruellet Creek Township. They re- 
 sided there until 1850, then removed to Wayne 
 County, where the father entered 120 acres of land 
 on his Avar claim. He only lived two years there- 
 after, passing away in 1852. 
 
 After the death of her husband Mrs. Reid sold 
 the farm and returned to Edgar County. Later 
 she came to live vvith her son, our subject, ami 
 tlied at his residence, Dec. 14, 1884, when seventy- 
 five years old. She had been a devoted Christian 
 for more than twenty years and was a member of 
 the IMethodist Episcopal Church. Joseph Reirl, 
 politically, first belonged to the old Whig party 
 and was true to the i)rinciples which afterward laid 
 the foundation of the Republican pavty. The pa- 
 rental household included four children, the eld- 
 est of whom, a daughter, Susan J., married Jason 
 B. Sprague, who later became Captain of Company 
 D, 29th Illinois Infantry, and was killed on the 
 battle-field of Sliiloh. He left his widow with six 
 children — Sarah A., Edgar B., Thomas, Wealthy 
 A.. Charles and Mary. IMrs. Sprague died in La- 
 bette County, Kan., at the age of forty 3fears. The 
 second daughter, Elizabeth A., married Shirley 
 Trotter., became the mother of three children and 
 died in Wayne County, this State; Sally F. is the 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 635 
 
 widow of Francis Robinson and resides in Wayne 
 County ; she lias four children. 
 
 The subject of this sketch was born July 11, 
 1833, and was but two and one-half years old when 
 brought by his parents to Illinois. His education 
 was confined principally to his own home, his fa- 
 ther being his tutor, although he attended for a 
 sliort time the subscription schools in Kdgar 
 Countj'. There he made the acquaintance of his 
 future wife. He was brought up on a farm and 
 after leaving Wayne County the last time worked 
 one year in a brick-yard and subsequently was cm- 
 ployed the same length of time on a farm. He 
 came to Georgetown in the summer of 1855 and 
 entered the employ of Pike Sprague for a term of 
 three years, at the expiration of which time he was 
 married, .Inly 1 1, 1858, to Miss Sarah A., daughter 
 of Rev. Patrick and Lurena (Wilson) Cowan. 
 
 The parents of Mrs. Reid were from A'irginia 
 whence thoy removed to Indiana and then to tiiis 
 State, settling finally in Edgar County. Their 
 family consisted of nine children, of whom Sarah 
 A . was next to the j^onngcst. She was honi in 
 Illinois, and was reared in Edgar County; Iicr 
 fatlier was one of the pioneer preachers f)f the 
 Methodist Episcopal Chnrcli in Eastern Illinois. 
 Since their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Reid have made 
 their home in Georgetown, and have a snng resi- 
 dence in the eastern part of the town. In later 
 years our subject turned his attention to carpenter- 
 ing and has built a great many fine residences in 
 and about Georgetown besides churches and school 
 buildings. He put up the academy building at 
 Vermilion Grove and the Friends' churches at 
 Georgetown. 
 
 Seven children came to bless the union of Mr. 
 and Mrs. Reid, but the first-born died in infancy. 
 Rebecca A., the fourth child, died at the age of 
 three years; Mary L., Robert J., James F., Alex. C. 
 and Luranah are the survivors. Miss Mary became 
 the wife of Enos Campbell, a blacksmith by trade; 
 they live in Georgetown and are the parents of one 
 child. Robert J. is a telegraph operator and sta- 
 tion agent of the Union Pacific Railroad Compan}-, 
 at Hayes City, Kan.; James F., an expert mechanic 
 and builder, is in the employ of the P. E. Lane 
 Bridge Company, of Chicago, making his head- 
 
 quarters at Lincoln, Neb., where he is at present 
 superintending the construction and laying of the 
 iron works on one of the public buildings of Lin- 
 coln. Aiex. has charge of Mr. Reid's farm of 
 forty acres and lives at home. Luranah is attend- 
 ing school at Georgetown, being a member of the 
 class of '91. 
 
 Politically, Mr. Reid is a strong Republican and 
 in full sympathjr with the principles advocated by 
 that party. He has held the office of Commissoner 
 of Highways with great credit to himself for the 
 past nine j^ears. He has been School Trustee a 
 number of years and for several terms has occupied 
 his present position as President of the A'illage 
 Board. In the spring of 1885 the Democrats 
 brought forward an opposition candidate for Su- 
 pervisor, but notwithstanding this Mr. Reid was 
 unanimouslj' elected to the office. He has'served as 
 juryman several times and thus has made himself 
 useful in the affairs of his community, whose con- 
 fidence and esteem he enjoys in a marked degree. 
 Both he and Mrs. Reid are members in good stand- 
 ing of the Methodist Episcopal Churcii at George- 
 town. Socially Mr. Reid has been identified with 
 the Masonic fraternity for a period of twenty years, 
 belonging to Russell Lodge No. 154, at George- 
 town, in which he has served two terms as Master 
 and is now Junior Warden. Personally Mr. Reid 
 is of large and commanding figure with a counte- 
 nance and bearing highlj^ indicative of his true 
 character — that of an honest man and a gentleman. 
 
 ellARLES F. GRAY. Prominent among 
 the manufacturers of Vermilion County 
 and a leading citizen of Sidell, is the sub- 
 ject of this notice who has been known to the 
 people of this region since his boyhood, having 
 grown up among them, being the son of one of the 
 earliest settlers of Sidell Township. His specialty 
 is the manufacture of tile and brick, in connection 
 with which he has a $15,000 plant and gives em- 
 ployment to a large number of men. In addition 
 to being a young man of more than ordinarj^ busi- 
 ness abilit}'^, he is of that generous and genial 
 
636 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOORAPIIICAL ALBUM. 
 
 temperament by wliicli he raukes friends wlierevcr 
 he jToes and is highjj' esteemed, not only by his 
 compeers, but by his subordinates. His aim in 
 dealing with his employes is to be not only just, 
 but generous. Tn appearance he would attract at- 
 tention most any where, being portly and robust, 
 while his high .sense of honor shines out through 
 his expressive countenance and is at once a pass- 
 port to the confidence and esteem of his fellowmen. 
 His business affairs necessarily demand much time 
 and attention, but these have not prevented him 
 from taking a warm interest in tlie enterprises set 
 on foot for the good of his community. 
 
 In glancing at the antecedents of JSIr. Grajr we 
 find that his father, Ilarvey M., was born near Mid- 
 dletown, in Butler County, Ohio, and was the son 
 of one of the earliest settlers of Hamilton County, 
 Ohio, Lewis Oray, who located as early as 1 800 near 
 the present site of Cincinnati and established the lirst 
 cooper shop in that place. He finally became a 
 contractor on the Big Miami Canal and accumu- 
 lated a large proj>orty, operating both a mill and a 
 distillery. During the i)anic of 18o7 he lost nearly 
 the whole of his property, but finally regained 
 partially his financial standing and spent his last 
 days surrounded by the comforts of life. He died 
 in 1856 at the age of seventy-five 3'ears at Jeffer- 
 son, Clinton Co., Ind., where he had owned and 
 conducted a hotel. He was a native of New Jersey 
 and of English ancestry. The great-grandfather 
 of onr subject lived to be ninety-six years old. 
 
 jNlrs. Susan (Harman) Gray, the mother of our 
 subject was born in Warren County, Ohio, and is 
 still living, being now a lady of sixty years. Her 
 parents were Samuel and Mary (Anderson) Har- 
 man, the' former a native of Virginia and vvh(;sc 
 parents were born in Germany. The maternal 
 grandmother of our subject was born in Now Jer- 
 sey and was of Scotch descent. Upon their re- 
 moval to Ohio the Harraans settled near what was 
 then Lebanon and eng.aged in farming pursuits, 
 and there the childhood and youth of Mrs. Gray 
 were spent until her marriage, whicli occurred when 
 slie was a maiden of seventeen. 
 
 The parents of our subject after their marria"-e 
 loaded up their wordly effects and started overland 
 for Clinton County, Ohio, wliere Mr. Gray with his 
 
 father had licc(jme the proprietor of a cooper shop 
 at .lefferson. P'ather and son prosecuted coop- 
 ing in the winter and carpentering in the summei' 
 ffir eleven years, and at the expiration of this time 
 Harvey Gray decided to strike out for the farther 
 West. By this time the household included six 
 ciiildren and he was desirous of acquiring more 
 land, also in hopes to regain his failing health by a 
 change of climate. Upon their arrival in this 
 county tliey unloaded their goods directly west of 
 the |)reseut site of Symmes' burying ground, and 
 Mrs. Gray witnessed the first burial there in the fall 
 following. They only staid there one year, then 
 renxived to what has now for many years been 
 familiarly known to the people of this region as 
 the Gray homestead. 
 
 The father of our subject was an important mem- 
 ber of the pioneer community and aided largely in 
 forwarding- the enterprises leading to its advance- 
 ment. Politically, he was a strong Whig and cast 
 his first vote for Gen. Harrison in 1840. He was 
 a man of progressive ideas and in religion was a 
 Universalist. He took particular interest in the 
 establishment of schools, and carried out bis idea 
 of Christianity by assisting those in need immedi- 
 ately around him. JMany a poor man was fed from 
 his table and received the assistance and advice 
 most needed. In his famil}^ he was remarkably 
 kind and indulgent, a lover of home who found 
 his highest enjoyment there. He improved a good 
 farm of 160 acres and left his family in comfort- 
 able circumstances at the time of his death, which 
 occurred in 1866. 
 
 After the death of her husband Mrs. Gray dis- 
 played remarkably good judgment in the manage- 
 ment of her family and her property, giving toiler 
 children a good practical education and training 
 them to habits of industry and sentiments of 
 honor. She is a bright, intelligent and well-pre- 
 served lady, with an attractive countenance, sug- 
 gestive of much beauty in younger years, and her 
 heart has never grown old. The record of her 
 twelve children is as follows: Samuel who married 
 Miss Loah Harman, is occupjing a part of the 
 homestead and is the father of five children; 
 Martha A. married G. M. Spry, of Sidell, a sketch 
 of whom appears elsewhere in this work; Hannah 
 
PORTRAIT AND BKXilRAPlllCAL ALBUM. 
 
 C37 
 
 M. became the wife of Oscar Mitcliell and died 
 leaving two children, Harvey and Birdie; Sarah 
 F. is junior partner of the firm of C'. F. & S. F. 
 Gray and presides over the domestic affairs of her 
 brother Charles; Ida K. is the wife of George T. 
 Mason of Areola, III., and tliey have four children. 
 Mr. Mason is associated with Chapman Bros., pub- 
 lishers of this work. Kmma M. was first married to 
 Henr}' Shear who was killed in a well; her present 
 husband is J. R. Morrison and they live on a farm 
 near Sidell; they have one child. Laura married S. 
 \V. Baird, a farmer near Indianola, and they have 
 one child; Frank married l\liss Lilly Harman and 
 n.'sides in Sidell; Lewis M. died when a promising 
 youth of nineteen years; Alliert at the same age 
 and Harvey when three weeks old. 
 
 The subject of this sketch was born Feb. 11, 
 1859, at the homestead where he spenthis bo3'hood, 
 remaining on the farm until twenty-four years old. 
 He then became interested in the tile business at 
 Sidell, which enterprise was first inaugurated by 
 his brother, Samuel Gray, backed by John Sidell 
 and operated under the firm name of 8. Gra}' <S[ 
 Co. In 1883 it was merged into Gray Bros. The 
 first buildings were put u{) in the fall of 1882, but 
 in July 1, 1884 a cyclone tore the building to 
 pieces and the 85,000 plant was destroyed in less 
 time than it takes to write of it. The property 
 was then sold under a mortgage and purchased by 
 Miss Sarah Gray and was managed by our subject 
 for tvyo years, at the end of which time the indelit- 
 edness was all paid and the firm became C. F. ^\; S. 
 F. Gray. 
 
 Mr. Gray has given his whole time and attention 
 to his present business since becoming part pro|)rie- 
 tor, and as a result of his enterprise the town of 
 Sidell boasts of the best tile factory in Eastern 
 Illinois. He added to it the manufacture of brick 
 in the spring of 1888. He gives employment to 
 about twenty-three men and enjoys an extensive 
 patronage throughout the county. The kilns and 
 the drying-room machinery are models in their 
 way, and constructed after the most approved pat- 
 terns. The works turn out about 150 miles of 
 tiling annually, running winter and summer. The 
 brick business is in its infancy, but there is every 
 [irospect of its complete success. A railroad 
 
 switch has been made by Mr. (iray so that he has 
 shipping facilities over two roads, the Ciiicago & 
 Eastern Illinois and the Chicago & Ohio River. 
 
 Although the personal interests of Mr. Gray 
 necessarily occupy a large portion of his time and 
 attention, he is found always willing to put his 
 shoulder to the wheel in support of the enterprises 
 calculated to promote the interests of Sidell and 
 vicinity. IIu was one of the leading men in the 
 erection of the elegant new brick school building 
 and has been a member of the l!(jard of Directors 
 for the past four years. He belongs to the Baptist 
 Church of Palermo, and is a Trustee and Treasurer 
 of the new Methodist Episcopal Church at Sidell 
 which has the finest church edifice in the county out- 
 side of Danville. He served as Town Clerk one yecr 
 and in the spring of LSrt'.) was the candidate of his 
 party fov Supervisor, but his ticket being in the 
 minorit}', he was defeated. Sociall3', he is an 
 active member of the I. (). O. F., Peace Dale, No. 
 225, in vvhicli he has filled all the chairs. He also 
 belongs to the Encampment at Homer. He is 
 likewise identified with the new Masonic lodge at 
 Indianola in which he takes much interest. Of 
 strictly temperance principles, he is a charter mem- 
 ber of the lodge in Sidell, and is a man upon 
 whom is naturally conferred man^- positions of 
 trust and responsibility. As the appointed agent 
 of the Sidell heirs he is looking after this property 
 with that conscientious fidelity to duty which has 
 marked all his transactions, and given him a posi- 
 tion as a business man and a citizen second to none 
 in his county. 
 
 ON. JACOB II. OAKWOOD, a man of 
 much prominence in public life in Vermilion 
 County, who is connected with its agricul- 
 y; tural interests, owning and managing a val- 
 uable farm on section 33, Catlin Township, is the 
 representative of a leading and well-known pioneer 
 family of this county whose record is interwoven 
 with its early history. His parents came here in 
 the early days of settlement, and the father being 
 a man of more than ordinarj- ability and under- 
 
G38 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 standing, though entirely a self-made and self-edu- 
 cated man, soon became very influential in the 
 adreiiuistration of public affairs, and was often 
 sought out for advice and counsel. Oakwood 
 Township, where he located, was named in his 
 honor, and during his life he was instrumental in 
 advancing its growth. 
 
 The Oakwood family originally came from Ger- 
 many, but so long ago that all record of their 
 arrival in this country has been lost. They were a 
 thrifty, enterprising, well-to-do people, and have 
 been land owner? and home owners from their ear- 
 liest known history. They settled in Virginia in 
 colonial times, and the first member of the family 
 of whom personal mention is made is the grand- 
 father of our subject, who owned 400 acres of land 
 in the Old Dominion near the town of Abingdon 
 and close to the Tennessee line. lie died whftn 
 the father of our subject was quite young, leaving a 
 widow, one son, and three daughters. One of his 
 daughters married the late Jacob Hickman, whose 
 family reside m this county. Another married 
 Peter Hickman, who died, leaving two sons who 
 settled in ^Missouri. The other daughter married 
 a Mr. McCracken and remained in Tennessee. The 
 grandmother of our subject married again, becom- 
 ing the wife of Peter Hickman, who owned 800 
 acres of land, lying partly in Virginia and partly 
 in Tennessee, a part of the dwelling house being 
 in each State. The grandmother is said to have 
 been a woman of many good qualities, and her 
 step-children lauded her very highly, saying that 
 slie was the best woman in the world, a praise not 
 often given to step-mothers. 
 
 Henry Oakwood, the father of our subject, was 
 born either in Virginia or Tennessee, probably on 
 the line between those States, and there he was 
 reared to a vigorous manhood, remaining at home 
 till he was twenty or twenty-one years of age, 
 when, animated by the spirit of his pioneer sires, 
 he sought to build a home for himself in the wilds 
 of the more recently settled State of Ohio, and 
 thus became an early settler of Brown County. 
 He was a volunteer in the war of 1812, and took 
 an active part in the battle in which the famous 
 Indian chief, Tecuraseh, was killed. He married 
 Margaret Remley, who was probably born in Green 
 
 County, Pa., their marriage taking place in Bracken 
 Count)', Ky., and they settled in Brown County, 
 Ohio, on land which he had previouslj' bought, 
 and there he was busily engaged at his occupation 
 of farming. In Octobei-. 1833, he and his wife 
 with their nine children came to X'ermilion County, 
 111., and located in what is now Oakwood Town- 
 ship the following spring, being among its earliest 
 pioneers, and the township was subsequently named 
 in his honor. Although he attended school but 
 six weeks in his life, Henry Oakwood was fairly 
 well educated for the times, his vigorous intellect 
 compensating him for the lack of educational ad- 
 vantages, and being a man of keen vision, and 
 well balanced mind, well dowered with firmness, 
 acti\ity and enterprise, he became a conspicuous 
 figure in the public life of the township and county, 
 and bore an honorable part in their government, 
 holding many olflces within the gift of his fellow- 
 citizens, serving as County Commissioner, Justice 
 of the Peace, etc. His death in 1855 was consid- 
 ered a serious blow to the interests of the commini- 
 it}' where he had made his home for more than 
 twent}- years, and his meuKjry is still held in honor 
 as that of a noble man, a leading pioneer, and a 
 good citizen. His wife, who was in every waj' 
 worthy of such a husband, survived him till 1877, 
 when she too passed avvaj- in Oakwood Township. 
 Of their family of nine children, six sons and 
 three daughters, all were born in Brown County, 
 Ohio, and all lived to maturity. 
 
 Jacob II. Oakwood, the subject of this biograph- 
 ical review, was their eighth child, and he was 
 born Nov. 18, 1828. He was about five years old 
 when he came with his parents to Vermilion County, 
 and he has always made his home here since that 
 time. He was reared to manhood in Oakwood 
 Township, receiving such educational advantages 
 as were afforded to the youth of his daj-. In 1857 
 he established himself in the mercantile business in 
 Catlin Village, and was successfully engaged that 
 and tlie following year, and in the years 1862, 1863. 
 Aside from that he has given his attention entirely 
 to agricultural pursuits and stock raising. He has 
 a farm of 132 acres, which is well stocked, and in 
 point of cultivation and improvements is equal to 
 the other farms in the vicinity. Here he and his 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 639 
 
 family have ;iu attractive' liome, neat in its ap- 
 pointments, and replete vvith all the comforts that 
 enhance the pleasure of living. 
 
 Mr. Oakwood has been twice married. To the 
 u ife of his early manhood, whose maiden name was 
 Isabella Caraway, he was united in marriage in 
 Catlin Township, Feb. 13,185L She was a daughter 
 of Charles and Elizabeth (McCorkle) Caraway, who 
 died in Catlin Township, of which they were early 
 pioneers. She was a native of this township, born 
 Nov. 27, 1«34, and here her life closed Feb. 15, 
 1«H2, two days after the anniversary of her wed- 
 ding that had occurred thirty-one years before. 
 Of her happy married life with our subject eight 
 children were born, as follows: Alary E. died Oct. 
 8, 18G4, aged fourteen j-ears; Charles II. married 
 Dora Smith of Georgetown Township; George W. 
 married Isabella Graves; Franklin died in infancy; 
 Emma .7. is the wife of L. AV. Jeffres; two children 
 who died in infancy; Anna, living at home with 
 her father. Mr. Oakwood was married to his pies- 
 ent estimable wife, formerly Mrs. Rosanna(Colemaii) 
 Alexander, widow of the late J. J. Alexander, in 
 Danville, 111., May 1, 1884. 
 
 Our subject bears worthily the mantle of his 
 honored sire, and since the latter's death has seemed 
 to fill his place, and has had a distinguished public 
 career. His fellow-citizens have twice called him 
 to one of the highest offices within their gift, that 
 of State Representative, being elected as the candi- 
 date of the Republican party, and his course as a 
 legislator marked him as a wise and efficient states- 
 man, who looked carefully after the interests of 
 his State and county. He was first elected to the 
 General Assembly of Illinois in the fall of 1872, 
 and served one term, and in the fall of 1876 he 
 was again elected as a member of that honorable 
 body. During his second term occurred the 
 memorable contest for the United States Senator- 
 ship between Gen. John A. Logan and Judge David 
 Davis. Mr. Oakwood has filled several of the 
 local offices very acceptably, such as Township 
 Clerk, Justice of the Peace, etc. He has taken a 
 prominent part in the movement to deepen the in- 
 terest in agriculture, to advance its growth, and to 
 promote the study of the best methods of conduct- 
 ini^ it profitably, first in his position as Secretary 
 
 <>{ the Agricultural Society of Vermilion County 
 for five years, and then as President of that organ- 
 ization, which position he filled ably and intelli- 
 gently for the long term of twenty years. He is 
 identified with the A. F. & A. M. as a member of 
 Catlin Lodge, No. 285. He is a public spirited 
 man in the truest sense of the term, has the dearest 
 interests of his county and township at heart, and 
 never neglects an opportunity to promote their 
 welfare in every way possible. His personal char- 
 acter is irreproachable both in public and in private 
 life, and he is ever courteous, considerate, and affa- 
 ble in his intercourse with all, and is held in high 
 regard by the entire community. 
 
 'RANK V. BARNETT, one of the leading 
 Si builders and contractors of Indianola, and 
 a very ra|)id and efficient workman, has left 
 the marks of his skill upon some of the most im- 
 portant buildings in this part of the county. 
 Among them are the extensive steam grain eleva- 
 tors at Sidelland Broadlands, the largest structures 
 of their kind on the Chicago and Eastern Illinois 
 Railroad, one having a storage capacit3' of 65,000 
 bushels, and a loading capacity of one car in twenty 
 minutes. Both are (itted up with the latest and 
 most improved machinery, the placing of which 
 was superintended by Mr. Barnett, he setting the 
 engines and locating the boilers. He takes pride 
 in his business and has always aimed to excel. It 
 must be admitted, he has come very near the rea- 
 lization of his hopes. 
 
 A native of Nicholas County, Ky., our subject 
 was born within two miles of the celebrated Blue 
 Lick Springs, whose name is contemporary with 
 that of the Indian hunter, Daniel Boone. His fa- 
 ther, Ambrose Barnett, was the son of John T. 
 Barneti, one of the earliest pioneers of the Blue 
 Grass State. The great-grandfather, John Barnett, 
 was a native of Maryland and a noted frontiers- 
 man, conspicuous for his bravery and daring, and 
 who bore a wound received at Fort Meigs. Indeed 
 the whole family were prominent in the govern- 
 
(140 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOORArillCAL ALBUM. 
 
 mental affairs of Kentucky, at a time when the set- 
 tlers were seldom ever secure from the ravages of 
 the Indians, and the agitation following the out- 
 break of the Revolutionary AVar. 
 
 In ISrjr) the father of our subject emigrated 
 from his native State to Illinois, settling near Paris, 
 in Edgar County. In 1863 he changed his resi- 
 dence to this county, locating on a tract of land in 
 Carroll Township, where he labored as a carpenter 
 and joiner, and departed this life in 1874, at the 
 age of sixty-three years. The men of the Barnett 
 family, as far back as the records go, were cele- 
 brated for their mechanical genius, being able to 
 handle edged tools of all kinds, and to construct 
 nearly everything required in those days. The 
 mother of our subject survived her husband a num- 
 ber of years, dj'ing in 1882, at the age of sixty- 
 nine. The iiousehold circle was completed by the 
 birtii of six children, of whom the record is as fol- 
 lows: Frank V., our subject, was the eldest of the 
 family; Elizabeth J. became the wife of Robert 
 Anderson, and lives in Western Kansas; Nancy 
 married William Spicer, and lives near George- 
 town, 111.; Mary A. is the wife of Tillman Smink, 
 a farmer of 8idcll Township; John died in child- 
 hood at Paris, Edgar County ; James A. is a 
 carpenter and blacksmith combined, and lives in 
 Indianola. 
 
 The subject of this sketch was born Aug. 30, 
 1845, and studied his first lessons in the public 
 school at May's Lick in Kentucky. He was a boy 
 of ten years when the familj' came to Illinois, and 
 distinctly remembers many of the incidents con- 
 nected with the journey, and that they were among 
 the first travelers over the new thoroughfare, 
 kno.vn as the Terre Haute, Alton & St. Louis Rail- 
 road, now the "Bee" or the Indianapolis & St. 
 Louis line. He enjoyed the journey immensely, 
 and at its end made himself useful in the building 
 up of the new homestead. Along with the hard 
 work there also came much pleasure and recrea- 
 tion, and young Barnett being very skillful with 
 his rifle was recognized as one of the most expert 
 hunters of his neighborhood, bringing down many 
 fine specimens of deer, wild turkey and other 
 game. 
 
 During those times also our subject assisted in 
 
 the plowing, the sowing of crops and the harvest, 
 besides working with his father at the trade of a car- 
 penter. His education was obtained mostly during 
 the short sessions of the winter school. In Feb- 
 ruary, 1865, the Civil War being in progress, he 
 entered the ranks of the Union Army as a member 
 of Company E, 150th Illinois Infantry, which went 
 into Camp Butler to drill, and from there jour- 
 neyed south, where the regiment was held as a re- 
 serve at Bridgeport, Ala., Cleveland, Tenn., Dalton, 
 Atlanta and GrifBn, Ga. Not long afterward fol- 
 lowed the surrender of the Confederate forces, and 
 our subject received his final discharge without 
 being required to participate in any active engage- 
 ment. He was blessed usually with good health, 
 never absent at roll call, never in a hospital, and 
 never reprimanded for any misdemeanor. 
 
 After leaving the army our subject resumed the 
 peaceful pursuits of farm life one year, then began 
 to work with a ditching machine in Edgar and 
 Vermilion counties, and was thus occupied four 
 years. In 1869 he was united in marriage with 
 Miss Isabel, daughter of John Stark, one of Ver- 
 milion County's earliest pioneers. This union has 
 resulted in the birth of seven children, namely: 
 Carrie E. ; Sissie, who died in infancy; Ella and 
 John, twins, both of whom, died in infancy; Will- 
 iam, also deceased in infancy; Melissa and Ruvilla. 
 
 Mr. Barnett has never had any weakness for of- 
 ficial preferment, although he has his political pref- 
 erences, which may be guessed at from the fact 
 that he is best known in political circles as "the 
 Democratic pole-raiser." At this business he has 
 proved himself an expert, raising liberty poles at 
 Ridge Farm, Indianola, Palermo, Catlin, George- 
 town, Hume and other places. In addition to the 
 structures already mentioned he has superintended 
 the erection of school-houses at Indianola and Si- 
 dell, besides other important structuies in different 
 parts of the county. 
 
 Sociallj', Mr. Barnett was Master of Lodge No. 
 265, A. ¥. & A. M., in 1883-1-5 at Indianola, and 
 has filled all the other offlt'cs of the lodge. He has 
 represented it three times in the Grand Lodge at 
 Chicago, and is a warm advocate of the principles 
 of the brotherhood. In business and social circles 
 he is a general favorite, being recognized as a man 
 
PORTRAIT AND BlOCiRARIUCAL AJ.BUM. 
 
 643 
 
 prompt to meet his oblii;;itions, and one whose 
 word is considered as good as his bond. 
 
 -»»»- 
 
 -o*o..^JA,<A^..o*o.. 
 
 ylLLIAM A' EST WINTERS. We find this 
 gentleman in posession of one of the most 
 attractive homesteads in this county, located 
 in the northwest corner of Sidell Township. His 
 farm is very valuable, under a high state of culti- 
 vation, and embellished with a commodious two- 
 story frame residence set in the midst of a well- 
 kept lawn, surrounded by handsome evergreens and 
 other shade trees. We present on another page a 
 fine view of this pleasant liome with its lovely sur- 
 roundings. A fine apple orciiard adjacent and the 
 well regulated outbuildings, are suggestive of the 
 plenty and comfort which is one of tlie leading 
 features in connection with tliis home, built up by 
 one of the leading men of his township. 
 
 Mr. Winters is a man of large experience and 
 great intelligence, of fine persona) appearance an< 
 unlimited hospitalit3'. He is a very strong Repub- 
 lican, politically, is fond of reading and study, and 
 in his liome are all the evidences of refined tastes 
 — music, literature and the embellishments of 
 modern art. The family is universally popular, 
 and occupies an enviable position among the intel- 
 ligent people of this region. 
 
 A native of Indiana, our subject was born Aug. 
 19, 1824, in Washington County, twelve miles 
 south of Salem. He grew up on a farm and acquired 
 his early education in the subscription schools. He 
 first visited Illinois when a youth of nineteen or 
 twenty years, but remained a member of the pa- 
 rental household until his marriage. This most 
 interesting event in his life occurred on the 27th 
 of March, 1847, the bride being Miss Nancy, 
 daughter of John and Betsey Hepburn. 
 
 After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Winters set- 
 tled on a farm in Carroll County, this State, where 
 they sojourned for a period of fifteen years. Then, 
 in 1868, they moved back to Vermillion County, 
 Ind. In 1872 they came to this county, and for 
 seven years thereafter made their home in Ross- 
 ville, after which tiiey removed to their present 
 
 farm, which comprises 160 acres of choice land 
 and which, witli its ajipurtenances, constitutes one 
 of the most desirable estates in this part of the 
 county. 
 
 Nine children came to bless the union of Mi-. 
 and Mrs. Winters, the eldest of whom, a son, Will- 
 iam, married Miss Martha CoS)^ and lives on a farm 
 in Beadle County, Dak.; they have eleven children. 
 Elizabeth is the wife of I>. W. Macklin, who served 
 through the entire Civil AVar, and is now farming 
 in Champaign County; they have six children. 
 Hannah is the wife of Blr. Harvey Thompson, 
 also of Beadle County, Dak., and they have five 
 children. John, a tinner by trade, resides in Huron, 
 Beadle Co., Dak.; ho married Miss Laura, daughter 
 of Dr. Steele of Indiana, and they have two chil- 
 dren; Martin married a Miss Braden and died, 
 leaving his widow with two little girls; James 
 married Miss Rosa Edwards, and is farming in 
 Sidell Township; David married Miss Ottie Cus- 
 ter, and lives at the hon)estead; they have two 
 children; Mary is tlie wife of Joseph Tattman of 
 1 ! Sidell Township, and has charge of the homestead; 
 Miranda, the youngest, is unmarried and remains 
 with her parents. 
 
 In religious matters our subject and his excellent 
 wife believe in an inspired religion, and Mr. Win- 
 ters has always been the friend of education, doing 
 whatever lay in his power to assist in the mainten- 
 ance and establishment of schools in his township, 
 and has occupied the unsalaried office of Director 
 several terms. 
 
 In connection vvith his farming operations; Mr. 
 Winters has followed threshing for the last twenty- 
 five years, and thereby has added a snug little sum 
 to his annual income. Tn this he is associated with 
 Benjamin Macklin and Samuel Crow, and the three 
 are iiccounted as among the leading men following 
 this business in Nerniilion and Champaign counties. 
 They have a complete Rumley steam threshing 
 outfit, which does beautiful and expeditious work. 
 
 The offspring of a good famil^^, our subject is 
 the son of Timothy and Jane (Scritchfield) Win- 
 ters, who were natives resjicctively of New York 
 and Rennsylvania. They were married in Wash- 
 ington County, Ind. The father made farming his 
 principal occupation, although lie also operated as 
 
644 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 ;i pilot on the AVhite River, flaring whicli time lie 
 landed many a cargo safely at its destination. He 
 served in the War of 1812 and spent his last days 
 in Lidiana, dying in the prime of life. The mother 
 survived her husband only one j'ear, her death 
 taking place when she was between thirty-five and 
 forty years of age. She was the second wife of 
 Mr. Winters and the mother of seven children, viz: 
 Margaret, William V., our subject, Clinton and 
 Alexander, who died in infancy, Mary, Sarah and 
 McAllen. Of his first marriage there had been 
 born six children. 
 
 ELIM O. BALL. This gentleman, a vet- 
 eran of the late war in which he did gal- 
 lant service for his country, is a fine 
 representative of the shrewd and energetic 
 members of the farming community of Pilot Town- 
 ship, who are prominent factors in upholding its 
 material prosperity, and are among its most intelli- 
 gent and public-spirited civic officials. He is 
 prosperousl}^ engaged in mixed husbandry, raising 
 grain and rearing stock, and his farm on section 
 3C is under a fine state of cultivation, and is pro- 
 vided with a neat and tasty set of buildings, in- 
 cluding a commodious and well-built residence and 
 a substantial, roomy barn, wtih all the needful ma- 
 chinery for lightening its labors. 
 
 Mr. Ball comes of sterling ancestrj', and was 
 born in West Bloonifield, Essex Co., N. J., Oct. 
 5, 1834. His father, Moses Ball was born iu the 
 same county in the month of July, 1801, and lived 
 in the place of his birth till the year 1837, actively 
 engaged at his trade as a mechanic, and then re- 
 moved to Fayette County, Ohio, with his family, 
 and is still living at the advanced age of eighty- 
 eight years, respected and esteemed as a man of 
 upright character, whose long life has been a 
 worthy one. The good wife who walked hand in 
 hand with him through so many years of his life, 
 numbering more than half a century, passed away 
 in April, 1884. Her maiden name was Jane Camp- 
 bell, and she was, like himself, a native of Essex 
 County, N. J. She was of Scotch lineage, and 
 
 among her ancestry were the founders of the city 
 of Newark, N. J. To her and her husband were 
 born eight children, six of whom grew to maturity. 
 Jolm C, deceased, married Annie Davidson, of 
 Madison County, Ohio, now living in Nebraska, 
 and they had five children; Sarah is a retired 
 school teacher, making her home in Ohio; Isaac 
 has been twice married, his first wife was Miss 
 Stitt of Ohio, and they had two children; after her 
 death he married ]\Iary Trimble, of Johnson 
 County, Mo., where he is engaged in farming, and 
 they have four children. Theodore, living in 
 Bloomsburg, Ohio, married Helen Friend, of that 
 State, and they have six children ; Hattie married 
 Mr. Allison, of \'ermilion County, 111., formerly 
 of Terre Haute, Ind , now a merchant in Cham- 
 paign Count}^, 111., and they have two children; 
 Scott, a farmer in Colorado, married a Miss Lara- 
 more of Ohio, and they have three children; Mary 
 and William died in infanc^^ 
 
 Selim liall, of this biographical review, was given 
 a common school education, and when he started 
 out in life had no capital, aside from a strong 
 young manhood, and had to make his way unaided 
 to the honoralile position he has since achieved. 
 In January, ISTiH, he came to Illinois and bought 
 fort}' acres of land in a wild state, but shortly 
 after disposed of it at an ad v^ance, and purchased 
 eighty acres of land unimproved. Selling that in 
 1864 he turned away from his personal interests to 
 offer his services in defence of the stars and stripes, 
 and enlisted in the 10th regiment of Illinois In- 
 fantry under command of Col. McWoods and 
 Captain Wilson. Our subject was with Sherman 
 on his famous march to the sea, and was honorably 
 discharged at Washington in June, 1805, having 
 done his duty as a soldier faithfully and efficiently. 
 
 After his return from the South Mr. Ball pur- 
 chased a farm near Homer, in Champaign County, 
 111. This he subsequently sold, making a good 
 profit on the sum paid for it, and then invested 
 some of his money in his present farm in Pilot 
 Township, of which he has since been a highly re- 
 spected resident, and, as before noted, has been 
 very much prospered in his vocation. 
 
 Mr. Ball has been twice married. His first wife, 
 Eleanor McCoy, of Ross County, Ohio, was born 
 
PORTRAIT AND BKXiKAPHlCAL ALBUM. 
 
 045 
 
 iu 1830, and died in June, 1867. Her parents, Al- 
 exander and Martlia (Oclieltroe) McCoy, were early 
 settlers of tlie Buckeye Stale from Kentucky. By 
 tliat union Mr. Ball became the father of five 
 children, of whom Mary and Eleanor are deceased, 
 and of the others it is recorded that Scott, a farmer, 
 married Belle Franklin, of this county, and they 
 have one child, Maggie; Jessie married Benjamin 
 Strickland, a farmer of this county, and liad four 
 children: Karl, Mabel, Estella and Hans, the latter 
 deceased. The present wife of our subject, to 
 whom he was united in marriage in 1872 was /e- 
 ruah Roberts. She was born Nov. 22, 1854, her 
 parents, Abraham and I-Clizabetli (Walters) Roberts, 
 being of Welsh and English origin. Tlie^' came 
 to this county in 1865. 
 
 The pleasant home of our subject and his wife 
 has been gladdened by the birth of four children, 
 namely: Austin A., Sadie, Elise, Arena. 
 
 Mr. Ball is prompt and systematic in tlie man- 
 agement of his affairs, and briugs to liis worli zeal 
 and a good degree of proficiency in carrying it 
 on intelligently by the most approved motho<ls. 
 These traits also render him inxaluable ;is a town- 
 ship official, as l]as been found in his incumbency 
 of tlie various local offices, and likewise as a jury- 
 man. In him the Republican party has an active 
 and stanch supporter. He and his wife are mem- 
 bers in high standing of the I'nited Brethren 
 Chui-ch, being among its most earnest workers, and 
 he has held the different offices of the church. Mr, 
 Ball is a reader of good literature, keeps himself 
 closely informed on all topics of general interest, 
 and can converse well on all subjects. 
 
 A view of the pleasant rural home of Mr. and 
 Mrs. Ball is presented elsewhere in this volume, 
 and is a fine illustration of one of the representa- 
 tive residences of Vermilion Countv. 
 
 HOMAS R. RICE, is one of the wealthy 
 and influential farmers of Carroll Township 
 and one of its largest land-owners. His home 
 farm consists of a little over a quarter of a section of 
 the productive land of Illinois, and besides this he 
 
 owns about 420 acres in other parts of the county, 
 all of which he has accunsulated through industrj-, 
 sobriety and a good use of his opportunities. 
 
 ]Mr. Rice was born June 22, 1825 in eastern 
 Tennessee. His father and mother, Charles and 
 Mary Jane (Rhea) Rice, were also natives of that 
 State. They came to Ohio when Thomas was a 
 child of two years, and in 1835 settled in Ver- 
 milion Grove, residing for a few years before that 
 in Madison Count}^ Ind. The father was a prom- 
 inent farmer and when he died was considered a 
 wealthy man. His death occurred when he was 
 seventy-four years old, and his wife was about 
 fifty-four years of age when she died. They had 
 live children — William, Thomas R., Jacob, James 
 and Mary. 
 
 Thomas spent part of his boyhood daj's in Indi- 
 ana, but most of his younger experience has been 
 in Illinois. He attended private subscription 
 schools, but never went to a free school a day in 
 his life. During his boyhood days his health was 
 extremely poor, and the early schools of the sub- 
 scription sort that obtained in Illinois, were not 
 calculated to be conducive to anybody's health. 
 Many times they were so far distant that it occu- 
 pied from two to three hours to reach them, and 
 when they wore reached they were destitute of 
 comfort and their only characteristic, perhaps, that 
 would interest the scholar was the frowns and 
 birch rod of the alleged teacher. To compare 
 these schools with those of our day, would be as a 
 comparison of Sodom and Gomorrah to Eden. Mr. 
 Rice grew up among the Quakers of Elwood Town- 
 ship, working on his father's farm until after he 
 attained his majority. In those days he hauled 
 wheat to Chicago, for which he received fifty cents 
 per bushel, and transported shelled corn by team 
 to Lafayette getting therefor a shilling a bushel. 
 
 In 1868, Mr. Rice was married to Susan Baum. 
 [See sketches of the Baums in this Album.] Af- 
 ter marriage Mr. and Mrs. Rice settled on a farm, 
 purchased by him some years before, where they 
 have prospered. They have two chlildren — Min- 
 nie May and Charles F. Their elegant brick man- 
 sion, situated pleasantly just south of Indianola, is 
 a beautiful and commodious one. This house was 
 erected in 1879 and contains everything to make 
 
646 
 
 PORTRAIT AND lilOCi RAPUICAL ALBUM. 
 
 life desirable, while the entire premises give evi- 
 dence of prosperity and good management. In 
 the pastures of this farm there can be seen some 
 of the very finest cattle and horses in this section 
 of the country. Mr. Rice is respected by his neigh- 
 bors for his public-spiritedness, and many good 
 traits of character. Politically, he acts with the 
 Democratic party. 
 
 '/vw^'XtaiZC^S^S^ I 
 
 *@J^iiZ)Zr?i»^-vv\«. 
 
 (| IfelLLIAM A. VANNEMAN. One of the 
 \sJ/l most beautiful homes in Carroll Towusliip 
 
 W^ is that of Mr. Vanneman, which is situated 
 on section 27. Everything about it, within and 
 without, gives evidence of the touch that beauti- 
 iies and the taste that refines. Thrift and pros- 
 peritj' have gone hand in hand with intelligence 
 and culture, and the result is an ideal rural home. 
 It has taken years, however, to rear this monument 
 to man's industry and woman's refined taste, and 
 the proprietor may well regard it and the broad, 
 well-tilled and fertile acres, in the midst of which 
 it is situated, with pardonable pride, for both the 
 home and farm at large are speaking witnesses of 
 the career of patient and persevering- industry 
 which have been exercised in its construction. 
 
 The life of our subject has been an extremely 
 busy one, in which he has used his brains as well as 
 his hands, and his prosperity is but the legitimate 
 outcome of well directed and intelligent effort. The 
 career of such a man cannot but prove interesting, 
 and we therefore give below the story of his labors, 
 which furnishes butanother evidence of the fact that 
 success and prosperity seldom fail to reward the 
 efforts of those who with dilligence and frugality 
 pursue their way, and are content, not only to 
 labor, but to wait. 
 
 Mr. N'anneman comes of German ancestry. Ills 
 grandparents on both sides of the house emigrated 
 to America soon after the close of the Revolutionary 
 War. His parents, Andrew and Ann (Miller) Van- 
 neman, were born in Salem County, N. J., about 
 the beginning of the present century. The father 
 was a farmer by occupation, and died while his son 
 William was but an infant, leaving besides him his 
 
 sisters, Annie and Margaret. The former is now 
 Mrs. Waddington, of Salem, N; J.; the latter mar- 
 ried a Mr. Simpkins, and died at the age of thirty 
 years, leaving one child. 
 
 The father of our subject was a fine-looking 
 tall man, with blonde comjjlexion and light blue 
 eyes. He was given a college education, and after 
 removing to Brown County, Ohio, operated as a 
 farmer and teachei-. In 1839 he came to this State, 
 and settled in Elwood Township, but a few years 
 later removed to Carroll Township. He soon be- 
 came active in public matters, and served for a 
 number of years as Township Supervisor and School 
 Trustee. During the war he was Overseer of the 
 Poor. He died suddenly of heart disease, in the 
 seventy-fourth year of his age, and until six months 
 prior to his decease was robust, hearty, and appar- 
 ently healthy in every way. 
 
 A few years after the death of Mr. ^'annenlan 
 the mother of our subject married Joseph Mapes, 
 by whom she had four children — Emily, Joseph B., 
 Thomas and Jane. William A., our subject, was 
 born March 11, 1826, and lived in Salem County, 
 N. J., until a boy of thirteen years. He then en- 
 tered a drug store in Wilmington, Del., having in 
 view the study of medicine. The lack of means 
 necessary to give him a college education com- 
 pelled him to change his plans, and accordingly, 
 returning to New Jersey, he apprenticed himself to 
 a painter and grainer. After serving the required 
 time, five years, he at the age of twenty and a half 
 began work for his instructor as a journeyman. He 
 soon became very skillful, and was given steady 
 employment at good wages. Painting, notwith- 
 standing he liked it, was injurious to his health, and 
 a change of occupation became a necessity. There- 
 fore, at the age of twenty-five years, he and his 
 brother-in-law, Joshua Waddington, came to Illi- 
 nois for the purpose of engaging in agriculture and 
 stock-raising. 
 
 Upon their arrival in this couxity our subject and 
 Mr. Waddington purchased the farm, then consist- 
 ing of 320 acres, upon which Mr. A'anneman's home 
 now stands. Before the deed conld be made out 
 ftlr. Vanneman purchased the interest of his brother- 
 in-law, and in 1853 moved his family from New 
 Jersey to this county. They proceeded by rail as 
 
PORTRAIT AND BTOCIRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 617 
 
 far as LaFayettc, Ind., Ihcu the railroad terminus 
 of the West, and the remainder of the journey was 
 made overland by team. 
 
 Being now installed in his new home, in anew 
 eountry, ^Ir. \'anneman proceeded with the task of 
 changing the virgin prairie into productive fields. 
 lie worked earl}^ and late. Dajdight was so prec- 
 ious and so necessary for pressing work, that he 
 made his needed purchases at the store after night- 
 fall. The cows were often milked before dajdight 
 and after dark. In connection with his farm work 
 Mr. Vanneman followed his trade of painting, 
 graining and decorating, and many evidences of 
 his skill as a workman, and taste as an artist, may 
 still be found in the neighborhood where he resides- 
 The interior decorations of his own handsome resi- 
 dence are highly artistic, and exhibit much origin- 
 ality. 
 
 As Mr. Vanneman prospered he added to his 
 possessions, and enlarged the home place until it 
 embraced nearly 400 acres of land. He also ac- 
 quired 400 acres in Sidell Township, and twenty 
 acres in the heart of Ridge Farm. At one time his 
 landed possessions in Illinois and Iowa amounted 
 to about 1,600 acres. When Albert, his youngest 
 son, became of age he gave him and his other two 
 children, Mar3' and Franklin, each eighty acres of 
 land. He also sold several tracts, leaving as his 
 present estate 320 acres in Sidell Townihip, and the 
 homestead in Carroll Township. The latter, when 
 Mr. Vanneman first moved upon it, in 1853, con- 
 tained much swampy land, but by intelligent ditch- 
 ing, draining and tiling, he has converted the swamp 
 into rich and productive fields, whose exhaustless soil 
 seems to know no deterioration. As the result of 
 many years of hard labor Mr. Vanneman is now in 
 well-to-do circumstances, and ranks as one of the 
 wealthiest and most influential farmers and stock- 
 raisers of this county. 
 
 In l)i49 Mr. Vanneman was married to Miss 
 Margaret E. Miller, a native of Cumberland County, 
 N. J., and when they came to Illinois, in l.srj.'J, 
 they were the proud parents of two bright little 
 girls. The first great shadow fell upon the house- 
 hold in the death of the wife and mother, which 
 occurred June 17, 1876, in New Jersey, whither 
 she had gone purposing to visit the Centennial Kx- 
 
 position at rhiladel[)hia. The home of her infancy 
 and youth was at Bridgeton, in Edgar County, 
 where her father occupied himself as a farmer and 
 tanner. Mrs. X'anneman in her youth was a Ilicksite 
 Friend, but after her marriage she and her husband 
 joined the Orthodox Friends. She had three sis- 
 ters and two brothers — Elizabeth, Margaret, Anna, 
 John and Franklin. The latter is now a blacksmith 
 in Indianola. 
 
 Mary, the eldest child of Mr. and Mrs. N'anne- 
 man, attended school at Bloomingdale, Ind.; Frank 
 and Albert were students of the Friends' Academ}', 
 at N'ermilion Grove, and later Albert graduated 
 from the Wesleyan Lrniversity, at Bloomington, 
 111; Anne M., the youngest daughter, died at the 
 age of four years; and Howard, the youngest born, 
 died when but eighteen months old ; Mary M. is 
 the wife of William 1). Brown, an active temper- 
 ance worker, and a recorded minister of the Friends' 
 Church. She is now at Long lieach. C.al. She is 
 the mother of two daughters — Ruth and Mattie, 
 aged sixteen and fourteen years respectively. 
 Franklin, the third child of Mr. and Mrs. Vanne- 
 man, is located at Hickory Grove, in Sidell Town- 
 ship; he married Miss Margaret Canady, and is the 
 father of three children. Albert, the youngest 
 child living, was gradu.ated from Wesle3'an Uni- 
 versity, at Bloomington, 111., and soon afterward 
 starting out to seek his fortune, proceeded to Da- 
 kota and engaged in teaching school. He is now 
 in the real-estate business in California. 
 
 On the 14th day of August, 1877, Mr. Vanne- 
 man contracted a second marriage with Miss Emma 
 C, daughter of Leonard and Catherine (Baum) 
 Patterson. Leonard Patterson was born in Ken- 
 tucky, but when a child of eight years removed 
 with his parents to Brown Countj\ Ohio. John 
 Patterson, the paternal grandfather, was of Irish 
 descent, and a man who in stature and presence 
 universally commanded attention, being very large 
 and tall, with a fair complexion and blue eyes, He 
 engaged in farming, and for many years was a lay 
 minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church. His 
 mother, Mary Sellers, was a native of Germany. 
 
 Mr. Patterson, politically, was a Whig until that 
 party went out of existence, when he identified 
 himself with the Republicans. He was the father 
 
648 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 of six children — Augustus D., Josephine A., Emma 
 C, John H., Charles M., and Albert W., all of 
 whom lived to mature years. The last mentioned 
 was drowned in the Little Vermilion River, when 
 about twentj'-flve years old and unmarried. Mrs. 
 Catherine (Long) Patterson was of Polish ancestry, 
 and in whose veins flowed the blood of kings and 
 princes of that unfortunate country. She was the 
 daughter of Charles Baum, who after the dismem- 
 berment of Poland was banished from his native 
 land by the Russians, and made his home in Ger- 
 many for a number of years. He came to America 
 about the time of the Revolutionary War, and 
 served with the militia on the frontier, protecting 
 the settlers from the British soldiery and their sav- 
 age allies. After the war was over Mr. Baum took 
 up his residence in Bucks County, Pa., where he 
 continued to live until the year after Gen. Anthony 
 "Wayne's treaty with the Indians. Then with his 
 familjr he moved back to Ohio, sailing down the 
 "beautiful river" in a flat boat, and landing near 
 the moutli of Bullskin Creek. Here they began 
 their first settlement, in the then new Territory of 
 Ohio. 
 
 It will be seen therefore that Mrs. Vanneman is 
 the descendant of a hardly, rugged and libcrtj'- 
 lovingrace. Her parents, Leonard and Catherine 
 (Baum) Patterson, were married in Clermont 
 County, Ohio, and she was their third child and 
 eldest daughter. She was born in I^lwood Town- 
 ship, this county, July 26, 1840. Her father owned 
 140 acres of choice land, and was in good circum- 
 stances. He was well read, and religiousl}^ in- 
 clined, though not a member of any church. He 
 died Sept. 19, 1884. 
 
 Mrs. Vanneman is a lady of culture and excel- 
 lent education. She is a lover of music, and sup- 
 plemented her early education by a judicious read- 
 ing of the best authors. The fine library which 
 adds to the attractions of this beautiful home bears 
 testimony to the tastes and inclinations of its in- 
 mates. Personally Mrs. Vanneman is very attract- 
 ive, and possesses a kindly and loveable disposition. 
 She is a member of the Methodist Episcopal 
 Church at Indianola, and takes an active interest 
 in its affairs. 
 
 Mr. Vanneman during his long career of honoi 
 
 able industry has never sought or accepted office. 
 An anti-slavery Whig, and a Republican during 
 and since the war, he has remained true to his po- 
 litical principles with neither noise nor parade, and 
 has been the stanch friend of religion and educa- 
 tion, contributing liberally in aid of both, and en- 
 dowing a scholarship in Vermilion Grove Academy. 
 He has served as School Director and on the Petit 
 Jury, and is a thorough temperance man, altliough 
 he has never allied himself with those who seek to 
 make that a question of political issue. He is self- 
 made and self-taught, energetic and progressive, 
 and is acknowledged by all to be one of the most 
 public-spirited citizens of his county. 
 
 *OHN MENDENIIALL. Although four- 
 11 score j'ears of age, this old and higlily re- 
 ^^ li spected resident of Carroll Township is still 
 (^^' a sprightl}', active and vigorous man. Of 
 him it may be said as one of old, "his eye is not 
 dimmed nor is his natural strength abated." His 
 mind, memory and body have withstood the rav- 
 ages of time. A.s the result of a temperate and 
 abstemious life, old age finds him free from the 
 decrepitude usually consequent ujjon .idvanced 
 years. His present hale appearance and rugged 
 health give promise of another decade at least, of 
 placid..ancl peaceful life. 
 
 Mr. Mendenhall is the scion of a hardy and long- 
 lived Scotch-Irish ancestry, the son of Aaron Men- 
 denhall by his second wife, L3'dia Anderson. His 
 father was born in Guilford, N. C, near the scene 
 of the battle of Guilford Court-House, and fought 
 between the British and the Continentals during 
 the Revolutionary War. His paternal grandfather, 
 Richard Mendenhall, was killed by the Indians 
 while on his way from North Carolina to Ohio, soon 
 after the opening up of that Territory, and was one 
 of the many daring and intrepid pioneers who lost 
 their lives while endeavoring to plant civilization 
 in the Western wilderness in the face of a murder- 
 ous and merciless savage foe. 
 
 At this time the father of our subject was a small 
 child. His maternal grandmother was a native of 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 649 
 
 Nantucket, Mass. After marriage she removed to 
 Greene County, Ohio, where his mother was born. 
 Prior to her marriage withRfr. Mendenhall she had 
 liuricd one husband. By the first, a Mr. Horney, 
 she became the mother of five children — Hester, 
 Paris, Deborah, Rhoda and Anderson, are all de- 
 ceased. By her marriage with Aaron Mendenhall slie 
 was the mother of six children : John, our subject, 
 was born Nov. 3, 1809; Aaron died half a century 
 ago; Lydia is the widow of Joseph Beard, and is 
 living in (,'arroll Township; Nancy is the wife of 
 M. L. Larrance, of Carroll Township; Elizabeth, 
 the widow of John Mills, also lives in this town- 
 ship, and Richard died here in May, 1889. 
 
 When Mr. Mendenhall was a youth of fifteen 
 years his parents, leaving the Buckeye State, emi- 
 grated to this county and settled upon the farm 
 now owned by vSilas Baird. llie father entered 210 
 acres of land .about the year 1821, when Illinois 
 was one vast wilderness — a prairie peopled only by 
 Indians and wild animals. Like all the early set- 
 tlers his parents endured the hardships and priva- 
 tions incident to pioneer life. They were, however, 
 brave and stout-hearted and did successful battle 
 in subduing the virgin prairie to the uses of agri- 
 culture. Being thrifty and industrious people their 
 children were early broken into farm work. J(jhn's 
 rugged frame was made strong and his muscles 
 were hardened, following the plow and tilling the 
 soil with the rude implements in use in those prim- 
 itive days. His educational advantages were few, 
 and confined to such instruction as could be ob- 
 tained in a subscription school, whenever an itin- 
 erant preacher happened along .and organized one. 
 
 Politically, to use bis own expressive language, 
 Mr. Mendenhall was "a Whig morning, noon and 
 afternoon" as long as that party was in power. He 
 cast his first vote for Henry Clay, and looked upon 
 thfit leader as one of America's gre.atest statesmen. 
 Later he became a decided Republican. He served 
 six years as a School Director and was never sum- 
 moned to attend court other than as a petit juror. 
 Religiously, he has been a Friend for twenty-five 
 years and a liberal contributor according to iiis 
 means to the support of Vermilion (irove Acad- 
 emy. Nov. 24, 1831, he was united in marriage 
 with Miss Rebecca, daughter of Joim and Charity 
 
 Mills. Mrs. Mendenhall was born Nov. 8, 1812, 
 twenty miles east of Knoxville in Jefferson County, 
 Tenn. Her parents prior to this had removed from 
 North Carolina. Her mother was a daughter of 
 Mordecai Mendenhall, and was of Scotch-Irish de • 
 scent. In this family there were eleven children: 
 Ruth died at the age of eighty-three years; Wil- 
 liams died when past seventy; Hannah died in 
 1823, when a maiden of eighteen years; Sarah died 
 in 1879, aged nearly eighty; Ira died in Missouri 
 about 1881, at the age of seventy-four; Miriam is 
 the wife of H. Hay worth, of Vermilion Grove; Re- 
 becca, Mrs. Mendenhall, was the next in order of 
 birth; Millican is living in this township, ao-ed 
 seventy-four; ,Iohn died at about the age of thirty 
 years, probably thirty years ago; Charty J. died 
 when four years old, and Lanty died in infancv. 
 
 Mrs. Mendenhall w.as nine years of age when her 
 parents, in 1«22, removed from Tennessee to this 
 State. Her educational advantages, like those of 
 her husband, were limited, but she learned to read 
 and spell at home, and was carefully trained in the 
 doctrines of the (Quaker faith. Of her union with 
 our subject there were born eleven children and 
 they can now gather about them forty-eight f'rand- 
 children and seven great-grandchildren. Their 
 eldest child, Millican, died when about fifty-five 
 years old; James died when a lad of twelve; Char- 
 ity Jane, IMrs. Thomas C. Reese, and Sarah, Mrs. 
 John W Elliott, live at Ridge Farm; Francis 
 Marion died at the age of twenty-six years of par- 
 alysis contracted in the army during the late war- 
 Rhoda died at the interesting age of eighteen years; 
 Aaron II. lives on a farm in Carroll Township; 
 Lydia died when four years old; John M. is a far- 
 mer and a resident of Carroll Township; Emelino 
 married Silas Hester and died at the age of thirty- 
 three years, leaving four children ; Louisa E. is the 
 wife of Frank E. Baird and the mother of five 
 children — Lester W., Albert C, Blanche R., Al^ia 
 M.. and an infant, Wilber J. The son, Francis 
 Marion, enlisted in Company A, 79th Illinois In- 
 f.antry, in July, 1862, and served until Aug. 20, 
 1864; he died shortly after his return home. 
 
 Mr. Mendenhall is a ruddy faced, well built and 
 well preserved old gentleman, one of the finest 
 specimens of an octogenarian in Central Illinois. 
 
GoO 
 
 PORTRAIT AND r.I0(!15AriIICAL ALBUM. 
 
 Ili-i mind is active, his memory bright and clear, 
 and his eyesiglit good. His healthful looking com- 
 plexion, sparkling eye, and vigorous, active step 
 lietoken both health and strength not usnallj' found 
 in one so agi'd. His wife is a (juiet, placid-man- 
 nered, motherlj' looking old lad}', and but three 
 years younger than her husband. She does not 
 appear to be much above sixty. There is a purity 
 of expression in her face, which reveals a mind that 
 has often communed in prayer with Him who 
 doeth all things well. Although she has known 
 so}-row, it has but made her life sweeter and her 
 hope brighter. One does not need to be told that 
 she is a sincere and earnest Christian, whose faith 
 will endure to the end. 
 
 ■^I OIIN W. FISEIER, of Carroll Township is 
 recognized as one of its most wealthy 
 farmers, who has accumulated a fine property 
 solelj' liy the exercise of his own inherent 
 industry and perseverance. His earl^- advantages 
 were quite limited, he being thrown largely ui)on 
 his own resources and obliged to fight the battle of 
 life for some time with little to encourage him. 
 The fa.ct that he is now the owner of 080 acres of 
 land is sufficient indication of the manner in which 
 he has spent his time, and illustrates forcibly wliat 
 a man may accomplish by a resolute will, prudence, 
 economy and good management. 
 
 The subject of this sketch was born Jan. 25, 
 1810, on the old Fisher homestead in this town- 
 ship whore he grew to man's estate and acquired a 
 practical education in the common school. He 
 worked on the f,arra and about the time of reaching 
 his majority, vvas married, in 1861, to Miss Mary 
 L. Dye. After marriage Mr. and Mrs. Fisher set- 
 tled on forty acres of land in Carroll Township, 
 which Mr. Fisher had purchased prior to this time, 
 and which formed the nucleus of his present large 
 estate. He later received from his father's estate 
 176 acres, and like the wise man of Scripture, has 
 been enabled to add to his talent in a marked de- 
 gree. Upon locating here, his land was a cornfield 
 without trees or buildings, and the impi'ovements 
 
 which embellish the present homestead have been 
 effected by him. 
 
 Eight children were born of the union of Mr. 
 and Mrs. Fisher, the ehlest of whom, a son, Eiver- 
 ette, died at the interesting age of fifteen years; 
 Charles married Miss Jennie Meyers and lives in 
 Sidell Township, they have one child, Charles, 
 who is farming near Sidell; Olive died when two 
 rears old; Eddie is at home with his parents; Ar- 
 meda married Douglas Miller of Carroll Township, 
 and they have one child, Winona; Mattie died 
 when eight years old; Josephine and Jacob remain 
 with their parents. Mr. Fisher votes the straight 
 Democratic ticket, but in looking after his exten- 
 sive farming interests, has little time to devote to 
 politics. 
 
 Our subject is the son of David P. and Jane 
 (Weaver) Fisher, the former a native of Ohio and 
 the latter of Massachusetts. The maternal grand- 
 father of our subject, Michael Weaver, lived to be 
 a centenarian and was one of the leading pioneers 
 of this county, to which he came from Ohio where 
 he had accumulated a large amount of property. 
 He was noted for his strict honesty and upright 
 dealings with his fellow men. The Weaver family 
 was of excellent ancestry, and various members of 
 them are revci'ted to elsewhere in this Album. 
 
 David P. Fisher, the father of our subject, lived 
 in Indiana before coming to this State and had 
 only $1 in his pocket when he came to this county. 
 By untiring industry and great prudence in living 
 he gained a solid fixiting, financialh', becoming the 
 owner of nearly' 1,000 acres of land. His career is 
 that of an upright man and a good citizen and he 
 lived to reach the age of seventy-tvi-o 3'ears, passing 
 awaj' in 1880. His wife survives and lives with 
 her son Michael, being now seventy-six years old. 
 The five children of the parental household were 
 named respectively: Michael, John W., our sub- 
 ject, Mary J., George W. and Lucinda. Mary 
 was married and died at the age of twenty-four 
 years, leaving two daughters, Jennie and Nora. 
 The other brothers and the sister of our subject 
 are still living. 
 
 Mrs. Fisher is the daughter of Lawrence and 
 Mary Ann (\'an Treese) Dye, to whom were born 
 nine children, viz.: Hiram, (deceased), Martha, 
 
PORTRAIT AND UIOdliAPHlCAJ. ALBUM. 
 
 651 
 
 Phebe, (deceased). Elizalielli, Albert who died in 
 infancy, Angeline, John, Mary L., Mrs. Fislier. All 
 but the youngest were born in Kentucky. Mrs. 
 Fisher was only one and one-half years old when 
 her parents came to Illinois and settled in George- 
 town Township. The mother died at the age of 
 forty-three years. The father lived to be seventy 
 years old. During the Civil War and when he 
 was past fifty years old, he enlisted as a Union 
 soldier from conscientious motives, feeling that it 
 was his duty to give his services to his country. 
 
 J'" OHN B. IIILDRKTH, one of the first-class 
 agriculturists of Carroll Township, owns 
 and operates a |well-regulated farm of 352 
 acres, ninety acres of which lie in Vei'niil- 
 ion Count}' and 262 in Edgar- County. The resi- 
 dence is in the former. The leading features in 
 the character of ^Ir. Ilildreth are his strict atten- 
 tion to business, his promptness in meeting his 
 obligations and his excellent understandhig of all 
 the branches of general agriculture. In person, 
 he is a man who would attract attention in a ci'owd, 
 being of commanding presence, of poitl}' figure 
 and a handsome and intelligent countenance. He 
 numbers his friends by the score in this county and 
 welcomes beneath its hospitable roof its best people. 
 He has a beautiful home where he has effected 
 modern improvements, including a commodious 
 dwelling, handsomely and conveniently arranged 
 and second to none in this part of the county. 
 His standing in society is first-class and in his politi- 
 cal affiliations he is in sympathy with the Demo- 
 cratic party. The Hildreth family prior to their 
 removal to Illinois flourished in the South, some 
 of them in Bourbon County, Ky., where Alvin K., 
 the father of our subject, and iiis wife, Sarah A., 
 Retter, were born and where they were reared 
 and married. Leaving the BlueTirass State about 
 1 832 they came to this county and settled on the 
 Little Vermilion, on the tract of new land from 
 wliich they constructed a liomestead, where they 
 spent the remainder of their lives, and where they 
 died. The father died July 19, 1871, and the mother 
 
 July 4, 1877. There were born to them eleven chil- 
 dren, viz: Mary E., William H., five who died in 
 infancj', Sarah A., John B., our subject, Louvisa and 
 Parthenia; four of these are living and residents of 
 Vermilion and Edgar counties. 
 
 The subject of this sketch was born March 19, 
 1812, in Carroll Township, this county, and here 
 has spent his entire life. He was at an early age 
 introduced to the various employments of the farm 
 and chose its peaceful pursuits as his vocation. 
 When ready to establish domestic ties of his own, 
 he was married to Miss Philetta Ross, of Edgar 
 County. This lady became the mother of four 
 children, only two of whom are living — Carrie A. 
 is the wife of \Mlliam Black, of Carroll Township, 
 and Alice remains at home with her father. 
 
 Our subject ontracted a second matrimonial 
 alliance with Miss Eliza Barnett, daughter of Rob- 
 ert Barnett, and of this union there have been 
 born two children, only one of whom is living, a 
 daughter — Daisy. The present wife of our subject 
 w.as formerly Miss Sarah A. Cook, and they have 
 four children — John ()., Emma, May Jennie and 
 Lennic L. 
 
 Ir^^OBERT S. SLAUGHTER. By 
 
 far the 
 greater portion of the solid nien of \'ev- 
 milion County have been those who com- 
 [^ menced life dependent upon their own 
 resources, and who, gathering together their posses- 
 sions little by little, were blest with the faculty of 
 being able to take care of them. It is not alone 
 the man who is able to make money that is able to 
 keep it; indeed the latter faculty seems to be one 
 of the most importance, and the ability to disburse 
 with good judgment and free from avarice is, 
 perhai)s, the best quality of all. 
 
 The snug farm of the subject of this notice 
 comprises eighty-one and one-half acres of land 
 0.1 section 25 in Elwood Township, and makes a 
 pleasant and comfortable homestead, every acre of 
 which he earned with the labor of his hands. It is 
 all under a good state of cultivation, with good 
 buildings, substantial fences, and the other appli- 
 ances necessary to the modern and well-regulated 
 
652 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOriRAPniCAL ALBUM. 
 
 estate. Mr. Slaughter is comparatively n young 
 man, having been born Deo. 28, 181i), and is a 
 native of Hardin Countj^, Ky. Mis father, George 
 R. Slaughter, also a native of that county, removed 
 at an early day to ^'ermil]ion County, Ind., wlu-re 
 lie sojourned two .years, and until 1860. Thatyear 
 he came to Edgar County. III., settling in Prairie 
 Township, where he now lives. 
 
 The boyhood and youth of our subject jiassed 
 quietly and uneventfully, while he assisted his 
 father on the farm and attended the common 
 school. At the age of twenty-five years he was 
 married, March ], 1885, to Miss Emma, daughter 
 of John Hurarichous, a well-known resident of 
 Elwood Township, and a sketch of whom appears 
 elsewhere in this work. Mr. and I\Irs. Slaughter 
 are the parents of two ciiildren, a daughter, Artie 
 Frances, born May 18, 1886; and an infant un- 
 named. Mrs. Slaughter was born m Elwood Town- 
 ship, March 14, 1867, and remained mostly witli 
 her parents iintil her marriage. She is a meiii))er 
 of the Cumbei-land Presbyterian Church, while 
 our subject guides his life by the (Joldeu Rule and 
 belongs to the Masonic fraternity. Me is firmly 
 established as a respected citizen, with the pros- 
 pect of a competence for his declininii- years. 
 
 *^ 
 
 ^- 
 
 ^jAHRISTIAN FAGNER. The character and 
 fl( standing of a man are usually determined 
 
 ^^!' by what he has .■iccomplished. The litV- 
 work of l\Ir. Fagner is finely illustrated in llu" 
 amount of property which he has accumulated and 
 the comforts by which he is surrounded. He has 
 one of the most attractive homesteads in township 
 23, range 12, finely located on section ;!;!. This 
 embraces 200 acres of choice land while he has a 
 farm in the township south. 
 
 The F'agner farm is supplied with lirst.-class build 
 
 ingsand an especially fine and commodious barn 
 
 one of the best in the township. Everything about 
 the premises ai-e kept in good shape, from the live- 
 stock to the farm machinery, and the many con- 
 veniences which the proprietor has gathered about 
 himself and family indicate the progressive charac- 
 
 ter of the man. He comes of substantial stock and 
 is a native of Pennsylvania, having been born in 
 Dauphin County, Dec. 15, 1835. When a year 
 old his parents removed to Lancaster County, 
 where he spent his youthful days until reaching his 
 majority. He received the advantages of the com- 
 mon schools and became familiar with farming pur- 
 suits as carried on in the Keystone State. 
 
 At the age of twenty-one our subject, ambitious 
 to do for himself, left the parental roof and making 
 his way to Fountain County, Ind., located in Cov- 
 ington, where he sojourned eight years, employing 
 himself for a time at anything he could find to do- 
 principally at painting. Thence he went to War- 
 ren County, one mile from the Illinois line and re- 
 mained there ten years. In 1867 he rented a farm 
 upon which he oi)erated two years; prior to this he 
 had worked six years in order to get a team. In 
 1877 he crossed over into Illinois and purchased 
 200 acres of land from which he constructed his 
 present admirable farm. The years which followed 
 were replete with labor and the exercise of great 
 prudence and economy in living, this course faith- 
 fully followed producing the results which we look 
 upon to-day. One of the most attractive features of 
 the homestead is a fine large grove adjacent to the 
 residence, while around it is choice shrubbery, and 
 near by, a fine orchard in good bearing condition, 
 with trees of the smaller fruits. 
 
 One secret of Mr. I'agner's sticcess has been his 
 faculty of attending strictly to his own concerns. 
 In political affairs he has refused to be bound by 
 party lines, and supports the men whom he consid- 
 ers best (lualifled for office, independent of Repub- 
 lican or Democrat. 
 
 The wife of our subject was in her girlhood Miss 
 Louisa Schwalen, was born in Schuylkill County, 
 Pa., Oct. 18, 1811, and they were married Feb. 7, 
 1861 in Pennsylvania. Soon a,fterward they re- 
 moved to Indiana. The three children born to 
 them are all living. Frederick E., is a resident of 
 Dakota; Alice married John Bauman, of Hoss 
 Township; Anna M,\y is their only child; William 
 H. remains at home with his parents. The father 
 c>f our subject was John Fagner, a native of Ger- 
 many and liorn in 1802. He emigrated to Americ.i 
 when a single man, settled in Pennsylvania and was 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 653 
 
 there manied to Miss Mai-g\aret Miley. He came 
 to Indiana in 1861 and purchased a farm in Warren 
 County, near the Illinois line, where he spent the 
 remainder of his life, dying in 1884, at the ad- 
 vanced age of eighty-two years. The wife and 
 mother departed hence twenty-three j^ears prior to 
 the decease of her husband, her death taking place 
 in 1861. The}' were the parents of six children, 
 five of whom are living and located mostly in Illi- 
 nois and Indiana. 
 
 '^ UTHER A. RIOGS. This gentleman has 
 11 (^ been a resident of Illinois since 1860, and 
 jl'— ^. with the exception of two years has spent 
 that entire period in ^'ermilion County. He was 
 born in AVashington Countj', Pa., Oct. 2!), 1830, 
 and is a son of Joseph Cook and Bethany (AxtellJ 
 Riggs, the former a native of New .lersey, born 
 March 28, 1788, and the latter born in Washington 
 County, Pa., April 7, 1792. Joseph Riggs was 
 about eight years of age when his paients removed 
 from New Jersey to Washington County in 1796. 
 His early life was therefore one of toil and liard- 
 ship in the dense wilderness. All of his life was 
 spent in the occupation of farming in Washington 
 County, where he died June 19, 1849, at the age 
 of sixty-two years, two months and twenty-two 
 days. He had been married three times and was 
 the father of a large family, the subject of this 
 sketch being a child of the third wife. His wife 
 died in Dec. 1863, iiged seventy years and nine 
 months. Of their seven children five are yet sur- 
 viving: Hannah, born Nov. 13, 1819, is the widow 
 of Cephas Condit, and is still living in Pennsylva- 
 nia; Eunice was born Sept. 21, 1824, and is the 
 wife of James Peden and lives in Danville, this 
 county; Sophia was born Oct. 6, 1833; she is un- 
 married and makes her home with her brother in 
 Washington County, Pa. ; Joseph was born June 
 18. 1838 and also lives in the last mentioned place; 
 Luther A., of whom this written. The deceased 
 were named: Lucinda, born Nov. 2, 1827, who be- 
 came the wife of Washington Gregory and died in 
 this county April 16, 1870, and Esenath, born 
 
 Feb. 2.'5 1,S22, vvlio was the wife of John Peden and 
 died April 5, 1852, in Washington County, Pa. 
 
 Luther A. Riggs was brought up to farming, first 
 on a farm on Ten Mile Creek in his native county, 
 which had belonged to his grandfather, descending 
 to his father. Wheji young, however, his f.ather 
 SI Id his place and removed to Greene County. Pa., 
 returning to Washington County several years 
 afterward. In these places Luther spent his early 
 life, bnt he had his thoughts turned toward the 
 broad prairies of the West, on which he believed 
 farming could be more easily and comfortably 
 prosecuted. When he was twenty-seven j'ears old 
 he made an arrangement with his future brother- 
 in-law, John Carter, to come with him to Edgar 
 County, III., where the latter had rented a farm. 
 Taking his own team and putting it in with one of 
 Mr. Carter's he made the trip alone with the four 
 horses, his wagon loaded with household goods. 
 He was on the road nineteen days, arriving in 
 Crand View, Edgar Co., III., April 10, 1857, 
 where he remained six months, returning to Penn- 
 sylvania in the fall. A strong attraction, however, 
 existed in Illinois, which brought him back to Ed- 
 gar County with a view of settling down, and on 
 A\ig 25, 1860, he was there married to Miss Debo- 
 rah Carter, whom hp had known about all his life- 
 time in his native county. 
 
 Mrs. Riggs was born in W^ashington County, Pa., 
 April 9, 1828. Her parents were Harvey and Char- 
 lotte (Clark) Carter, the former of whom lived and 
 died there in September, 1840, when he was but 
 thirty-seven years of age, having been born in the 
 year 1 HOo. The mother survived her husband nearly 
 fort}' years, remaining a widow and doing her part 
 nobly in bringing up her family of seven young 
 children, She died in A'ermilion Count}' in No- 
 veinber. 1878, full of honors and years. Her eld- 
 est son, Ezekiel, uanie to Edgar County, 111., in 
 1851, .'ind two years later she, with tiie rest of the 
 family, followed, locating near him. She was ac- 
 companied by her sons, William and Harvey, and 
 her daughters Deborah and Rebecca. They lived 
 in Edgar County, III., two years and then came to 
 Vermilion County, locating on a farm about four- 
 teen miles southwest of D.anville, and there the 
 faithful wife and devoted mother lived until her 
 
654 
 
 PORIKAJT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 doath. Four of her suns, K/.ekiel, Joliii, William 
 niid Harvey are farmers in the southwestcri) portion 
 of llie county. Her daughter Rebecca is the widow 
 of John Ross and resides in Rossville, this county. 
 Another daughter named Lottie, died in girlhood. 
 
 Mr. Riggs and his wife removed to \\'rmilion 
 County in the autumn of 1.SG2 and rented a farm 
 in Carroll Township. vvlier(^ they Ii\-ed two }cars, 
 then rented another for a year. His first purchase 
 of land was made at this time, when he liuuglit eighty 
 acres of uncultivated prairie which was destitute 
 of any kind of vegetation except a luxuriant growth 
 of grass. He built a small house into which he 
 moved in the spring of 18(j('i. At once he liegan 
 the labor of improving it, and soon had a )iart of 
 it broken, giving to it much hard labor, and the re 
 suit was a finely cultivated farm, which has nov 
 on it good buildings, is all well fenced and drained 
 and is in every respect first-class. Here he made 
 his home for twenty -one years and there his eldest 
 son, Harvey •!.. nuw lives. As llie years rolled liy 
 jirosperity came to the pioneer and his wife, and 
 easier times were in store for them. 'J'hree chil- 
 dren grew up around their hearthstone, and as they 
 got old enough, sliared and lighti'nc<l the laboi-s of 
 their parents. Oni> child died in infancy. 
 
 In the spring of ll-iH7 Mv. and Mvs. liiggs gave 
 up their old home and removed to a place of ICA) 
 acres, which he had li(>ught in Grant Township. 
 Here tliej^ have a comfortable home and good sur- 
 roundings, and are sitting in the twilight of old 
 age, enjoying what they have earned by long ycai-s 
 of ]iatient labor and thrift. Tlie farm is carried 
 on by their sons, Cyrus and Frank. The marriage 
 of Mr. and Mrs. Riggs has been blessed by the 
 birth of four children, as follows: llarve}' .1., born 
 Aug. 23, 1861, who married Miss Dora Wi'sl ; 
 Cyrus A. was born Feb. ."i, 18G4, while Frank L., 
 first saw the light of day April IT), 1S7(); John K. 
 was born Feb. 1 1, 1860, and died July 31,1,S(;(;. 
 They have alsf) an adopted daughter, Flora B. 
 Devenger, whom they are rearing as their own, and 
 who goes by her adopted parents' name. 
 
 During the more than thirty years that lia\c 
 elapsed since Mr. Riggs first came to Illinois, grenl 
 changes have occurred, and since taking up his 
 residence in X'ermilion CouuIa' he has witnessed 
 
 and participated in its growth, from its wild and 
 unsettled st-:,te to its present condition, as one of 
 the most prosperous agricultural counties of the 
 eastern [lart of the .State. Mr. Riggs has done 
 his sliare in its ti'ansformation. He has been 
 a hard-working man all liis life, and has but little 
 time or inclination for politics, and has held but a 
 few minor offices. In his fourteenth year he joined 
 the Cumberland Presb3'terian Church, and he and 
 his wife are l)Otli members of that organization at 
 Pleasant Ridge, of which for several years he was 
 an Flder. Iiy the [leople who know him Avell, Lu- 
 ther A. Riggs is spoken of as an honorable, upright 
 and trust-worthy man and most excellent citizen. 
 
 ^^^^^^^^f!^^^^- 
 
 ^^j^H.VRLKS \. BAKKR, one of the younger 
 :|( _ mcmliers of the farming community of Ross 
 '^^f' Township, is comfortably established on sec- 
 tion i), wliere he is successfully conducting a well- 
 regulated farm and has seemingly a very fair out- 
 look for tlie future. He is not yet twenty-eight 
 years old, ha^'ing been born (.)et. 19, 18(11, in Har- 
 risl)urg, Dauphin Co., Pa. A\'hen a little lad of six 
 years he went to live with his Grandmother Yost, 
 in ^V'omclsdorf. and remained witli her until four- 
 teen years old. Thence he repaired to Allentown, 
 Pa., where he attained his majority and after one 
 or two changes, came to this State in 1881 and 
 located at Rossville, this county. In his native 
 State he had gained considerable experience in 
 mercantile business, having officiated as clei'k in 
 both a grocery and dry-goods store, but after 
 coming to this county, he took up house-painting, 
 Avhich he followed a year, and later became inter- 
 ested in farming pursuits. 
 
 The paternal gramlfather of our subject was by 
 ))irth a Frenchman, wliile his grandmother was of 
 Fnglish ancestry. Their son Cornelius, the father 
 of Charles A. Baker, was born and reared in Dau- 
 phin Countj', Pa. He was there married to Miss 
 Mary Shower, a native of Lebanon County, Ta , 
 and who died in 1872 at the age of forty-four 
 years, leaving a family of eleven children. The 
 father is still living aud a resident of Reading. Pa. 
 
rORTKAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 G.05 
 
 Tlie brothers and sisters of our subject were named 
 respcetively, William B,, Silas C, Kmma, the wife 
 N. D. Redingcr, of Alleutown, Pa.; Leah, Mrs. 
 Isaac l)e Turk, of Rossvillc, this county; Edwin 
 C, Samuel D., Katie, Mrs. Chri8toi)lier Garmaii, of 
 of Pennsylvania; Harry M., Magdalena, Mrs. Will- 
 iam Rummcl, of Reading, Pa., and who died in 
 Al)ril, 1.S.S9; and Susan C'. 'I'lie fatlier married fin' 
 his second wife Miss Sally A. Snydei-, of Reading, 
 Pa. He has been a member of the Evangelical 
 Church since a lad of fourteen yenrs and since 18(!1 
 has officiated as a minister of that body. The 
 mother .also belonged to the same chuich and dieil 
 firm in the faith. 
 
 Charles A. Balvcr was mnrried Feb. 28, 1888, to 
 Miss Catherine, daughter of Thomas Armstrong, a 
 sketch of wliom will be found elsewhere in this 
 Album. The young [jeoi^le have a very nice home 
 and the wishes of hosts of friends for their future 
 happiness and prosperity. 
 
 tllOMAS REYNOLDS. Gibbon has said 
 well that everj- man has two educations, one 
 wliich is given him, and the other and most 
 imi)ortant that which he gives himself. Sir Walter 
 Scott emphasized this, when he said: The best part 
 of a man's education is that which he gives himself. 
 The mind has been endowed with no more [)owerfnl 
 ambition than that of self-improvement. The self- 
 made man carries with liira his own capital, a cap- 
 ital unaffected b\- monetai-\' crises, an investment 
 whose interest is not regulated bj' success of s[)ee- 
 ulation — a treasure v/hich none can dispute, and of 
 which no one can deprive him. Sucli a man is 
 Thomas Reynolds, the subject of tliis sketch. He 
 is the son of William and Geinima (Mead) Reyn- 
 olds, natives of England, who lived about forty 
 miles northeast of London, wdiere their son Thomas 
 was born. He is purely of English descent, his an- 
 cestors having been members of the established 
 church of that country for many generations. 
 
 Thomas Reynolds was reared in his native coun- 
 I rv. prior to the establishment of the Compulsory 
 Ivlucation Law. The father being in limited cir- 
 
 cumstances, the education of the son was com- 
 pletely negU^eted; all tlie knowledge, therefore, that 
 he has acquired, has come to him by virtue of his 
 own nntii'ing labor in its pursuit. He was married 
 in Englanil (Jeiober 1854 to Miss Ann, the daugh- 
 ter of James and Sarah Perry, who were natives of 
 the part of England, from which he himself came. 
 IMiss Perry's family, like that of her husband was 
 of old English origin, but this is not the only feature 
 of similarity between them as they were both mem- 
 bers of the same church. Of this marriage there was 
 one son, Philip by name, who was born in iMigland. 
 On June 2, in the year 1850, our subject started 
 on a voyage to America. His intention was to 
 come direct to the United States but unfortun.ately 
 the sleamship ••Canadia'' in which he set out was 
 wrc'cked. This occurred about fort3' miles from 
 (Quebec .'ifter a cruise of eleven diiys. From the 
 Canadian coist they were taken by a sailship down 
 the St. LawrcLice river. As soon as the "Canadia" 
 was taken (jff the liock on which she was wrecked, 
 she sank. It was a scene never to be forgotten, but 
 .although staitiing it was not as dangerous as might 
 have l>een ex;[)ecLeil, as the [)assengers and crew 
 were all saved, by what seemed to some, a miracu- 
 lous interposition of Providence. Having landed in 
 Quebec, Mr. Reynolds traveled by railroad to Loda, 
 111. From here he walked across the country over 
 a matter of some twenty miles, when he arrived at 
 Mr. Mann's residence, which was situated near 
 R<issville. He was offered a position by IMr. Mann 
 to work on his farm. He accei)ted the offer and 
 labored b\' the mouth for about seven j-ears. Hav- 
 ing in this manner obtained a fine start, he did not 
 rest until he had worked liis way so far as to enable 
 him to purchase for himself a fine farm of 200 
 acres. His estate is now one tliat attracts the at- 
 tention of all who pass that wa_y. Its picturesque 
 neatness and the care and taste with which it is de- 
 signed, cannot but be admired. The shade trees 
 by which his pretty residence is surrounded are 
 unusually fine and large. Before the house is a neatly 
 soilded lawn and the beautiful arrangement of the 
 whole grounds, speaks well for the skill of the 
 supervisor. The water used on the farm is con- 
 veniently furnished from the well by a windmill. 
 Notwithstanding the attention which is paid by 
 
c:i(; 
 
 PORTUAIT AND BlU(; UA PIIICA L ALIJUM. 
 
 Mr. Uoyiiolds to the ciilti\;ition (if his pi'uperty liis 
 time is not wliolly employed in that one pursuit. 
 lie talves ureat pleasure in tiie ft^isinn'Of the cattle, 
 liogs and shee|). with whicli his farm is well 
 stocked. He is also sr^^i^tly .interested in horses, 
 his favorite being the Eng'lishshire. 
 
 Our subject and his wife are members of the 
 ]\Iethodist Episco|)al ('liurch of Wallace Chapel. 
 He has eight childi-en living, their names are as fol- 
 lows: Philip; George W.; Susan, now Mrs. John 
 W. Snioek, who lives in lUitler Township, this 
 county, and is the parent of five children: Walter, 
 Ida Relle, Martha, Thomas and Minnie M. There 
 were two other children, James and Sarah, who 
 unfortunately died when \-oung. 
 
 When our subject arrived at Loda he had only 
 one cent, and was in debt 1200 to his brothers 
 Philip and Samuel. This money which they loaned 
 him had paid the expenses of his trip from Eng- 
 land. The life of this gentleman has comprised a 
 most interesting array of facts and figures ; in reading 
 it we wonder at the tact and perseverance which 
 marked his career. His trials indeed wore heavy 
 ones, so burdensome in fact that only a strong de- 
 termination and a sturdy nature, such as his 
 proved to be, could have overcome them. He is a 
 stanch Republican and a liberal contributor to the 
 interests of schools and churches. 
 
 NTIlOiN'Y LON(i is a young man of more 
 than ordinary enterprise, judgment and 
 capacity, and by those traits has already 
 won an assured success as a farmer and 
 stock-raiser, although ho began life a few years ago 
 in comparative poverty. He has a model farm of 
 200 acres of land of exceptional fertility, carefully 
 tilled and well supplied with comfortable buildings 
 and good machinery, his place being very pleasantly 
 located on section 34 of the pretty township of 
 Pilot. 
 
 Our subject is of Pennsylvania origin. His 
 father, Anthony Long, was born in the j^ear 18l).j, 
 near Harrisburg, thecaiiital of the Keystone State, 
 and lived in that region many years, being cm- 
 
 ployed as a carpenter after attaining man's estate. 
 After his marriage with the mother of our subject, 
 wliich occurred Dec. 20, 1S4;!, he moved with his 
 family to Ohio, and engaged in farming among 
 the i)ioneors of Seneca County, and was also profit- 
 ably employed at his trade. In 1863 he again took 
 up his westward march, and coming to Vermilion 
 County purchased a farm here, and devoted the 
 remainder of his life to agricultural pursuits on this 
 rich soil. He was a man of undoubted worth and 
 stability of character, and during his residence 
 here his conduct merited and received the apprecia- 
 tion of all in the community, who respected him 
 accordingly. He was twice married, and the fol- 
 lowing are las three children by his first wife: 
 Sarah, the wife of Ephraim Norris, of Seneca 
 County, Ohio; Catherine, the wife of William 
 Miller, a farmer of Wood County, Ohio; Susanna, 
 the wife of Michael Walker, a farmer of Williams 
 County, Ohio. The maiden name of his second 
 wife, the mother of our subject, was Jane Engler, 
 and she was born in Maryland, Oct. 20, 1817, and 
 died on the homestead here Nov. 27, 1879. To 
 them three children came — Samuel, Walter and 
 Anthony. Samuel was a soldier in the late war. 
 He enlisted in the 101st Ohio regiment in 1862, 
 engaged in many hard fought battles, and while in 
 the South contracted consumption, of which he 
 died March 9, 1867, thus giving up his life for his 
 country as much as if he had fallen in battle. 
 \\' alter was born March 23, 1851, and died Jnly 
 23, 1869. 
 
 Anthony Long, of whom we write, was born in 
 Seneca County, Ohio, Oct. 21, 1855, was an active, 
 wide-awake lad of eight j'ears when he came with 
 his parents to this county, and he was alread}' large 
 enough to be of great use to his father on the farm, 
 and received from him a sound, practical training 
 in the best methods of conducting agriculture, 
 which lias been of great profit to him in his after 
 career as an independent farmer. His educational 
 advantages were necessarily limited, but he availed 
 himself of what schooling he could get, and by 
 observation and reading has in great part made up 
 for the early deficiencies of his education. When 
 he first began life for himself he had no capital 
 except a stout heart, strong muscles and a clear 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 657 
 
 liead, and aftei' iiianiaije, not having the where- 
 withal to bLi3' land, he rented some for a few years. 
 He prudently saved his money till he was enabled 
 to buy eighty acres of jiartly improved land, and 
 from that time oi) lias been mucli prospered in liis 
 undertakings, so that he is now the owner of 200 
 acres of as fine farming land as is to be found in 
 this part of Vermilion County, and has it under 
 good improvement, as before noted. He engages 
 in mixed husbandry, raising considerable grain and 
 other farm products and rearing stocic of fine 
 grades. 
 
 Feb. 22, 1877, Air. Long took an imiwrtaut step 
 in his life, which has undoubtedly contributed much 
 to his success, as on that date he and Elizabeth 
 Dixon were united in the holy bands of matrimony. 
 She is a native of Kentucky, born Oct. 9, 185G, to 
 John and Elizabeth (Leeper) Dixon, who were of 
 German ancestry. They came to this country dur- 
 ing the" late war, and settled in Sangamon County, 
 III. Two children have blessed the union of our 
 subject and his wife: Alice, born May 'J, 1879; 
 Maude, born Sept. 7, 1883. 
 
 It is the united testimony of his fellow-towns- 
 men that Mr. Long is in all things a man of con- 
 scientious principles and exemplary habits, one 
 who is free hearted, kind and considerate, and 
 always willing to lend a hel[)ing hand to otiiei's 
 less fortunate than himself. He and his wife are 
 regarded as among the most worthy and consist- 
 ent members of the Christian Church, and they 
 cheerfully give of their means to its support. Mr. 
 Long takes an intelligent interest in the affairs of 
 his country, and on all political questions sides 
 with the Republican party. 
 
 'l^^' 
 
 JAMES M. CURRENT. Elsewhere in this 
 volume is presented a view of one of the 
 most inviting homes in \'ance Township. 
 It belongs to the subject of this notice, and 
 comprises a well-regulated farm, embellished with 
 a new dwelling and the other necessary buildings, 
 pleasantly located on section 19. The proprietor 
 is one of the representative men of his community, 
 
 prominent in religion and politics, liberal-minded 
 and public-spirited, and in all resiiects a first-class 
 citizen. He is a native of this county, and was 
 born Jan. 21, 1842, being the son of one of its 
 oldest and most honored pioneers, William Current, 
 who with his wife, Mary Baston, were natives of 
 ^'irginia. 
 
 The paternal grandparents of our subject were 
 natives of Pennsylvania, and Grandfather Baston 
 was one of the most prominent men in his county, 
 having much to do with ils affairs generally. Will- 
 iam and Mary Current were married in their native 
 State, and resided there five or six years after that 
 event. Coming to A'ermilion County in 1827 they 
 settled five miles northeast of Danville, in Newell 
 Township, and endured the usual experiences of 
 pioneer life. The father secured a tract of land 
 and built up a good homestead, where he and his 
 excellent wife spent the remainder of their days. 
 William Current departed this life in 1851. The 
 mother survived her husband the long period of 
 thirty-three years, remaining a widow, and dying 
 in 1884. He was born in 1803, and his wife in 
 1807. He served in the Black Hawk War, and the 
 family arrived in Illinois in time to experience the 
 rigors of the winter remarkable for the deep snow. 
 The household circle comprised fourteen children, 
 seven of whom are living. 
 
 The subject of this notice was the eighth child 
 of his parents, and received his early education in 
 the old log structure known as the Lamb school 
 house. Although his advantages were necessarily 
 limited, he improved his op|)ortunities, and by a 
 steady course of reading has always kept himself 
 well informed upon current events. He has been 
 a Bible student all his life. He started out for 
 himself in life when a youth of eighteen years, and 
 when ready to establish a home of his own was 
 united in marriage, Oct. 18, 1859, with Miss Mary 
 E. Lynch, daughter of Abraham and Sarah Lynch, 
 who were natives of Virginia. 
 
 Our subject and his young bride began tlieir 
 wedded life on the old Current homestead, in this 
 countj', where they lived until 1872; then remov- 
 ing to Danville Mr. Current engaged in the butch- 
 ering and grocery business, operating thus until 
 1875, when he established himself on his present 
 
658 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOO RAFIIICAJ. ALBUM. 
 
 farm. This comprises 170 acres of clioice land 
 in one body, and tlic wliolu is under a good state 
 of cultivation. Mr. Current makes a specialty of 
 stock-raising half or tliree-fourtli blooded Sliort- 
 horn cattle, Poland-C'ljinii swine, and graded 
 Clydesdale liorses. In tlie early days he set out an 
 orcha''d, which is now in fine bearing condition, 
 and his residence, erected in 1888, is one of the 
 finest in tlie neighborliood. All that ample means 
 and cultivated tastes can do has been brouglit 
 about in the erection of this model home. 
 
 Of the six children born to Mr. and Mrs. Cur- 
 rent two died at the ages ot three and one. Their 
 eldest son, William H., married Miss Lavina H., 
 daughter of Thomas Gibson, and tliey live one mile 
 east of tlie homestead ; tliey are the parents of one 
 child. Abraham L. married Miss Hester A., 
 daughter of Francis Roderick, of Newell Town- 
 ship; is the fathei' of one cliild, and lives lliree 
 miles south of his father. Martin A. and Fa\' Kay 
 complete the family circle. The former, a promising- 
 youth of nineteen years, is a student in the Junior 
 class of Chaddock College, at Quiney, HI., where 
 he proposes to take the full course. 
 
 Mr. Current at one time held the ottiee of Justice 
 of tlie Peace, but finally resigned. He has also 
 officiated as School Director and Eoad Overseer, 
 and in politics votes the straight Republican ticltet, 
 having been a member of this party since the late 
 war. He believes, however, in voting for princi- 
 ples and not men, and in local matters supports the 
 men whom he considers best qualified to serve the 
 interests of the people. Mr. and Mrs. Current 
 united with the Methodist Episcopal Church in 
 1856, and have lieen prominent and consistent 
 members since that time. Our subject was Assist- 
 ant Superintendent of the Sunday-school prior to 
 his marriage. In Danville he was Steward in the 
 North Street Church, and has been Class-Leader 
 for the past fourteen j^ears; likewise Superintend- 
 ent of the Sunday-school thirteen years, still hold- 
 ing the position. His excellent wife is in no wise 
 behind him in all good works, having a class in the 
 Sunday-school, and laboring as she has opportunity 
 in the Master's vineyard. 
 
 Abraham Lynch, the father of Mrs. Current, 
 came to Illinois at an early day, and was soon 
 
 recognized as one of the most worthy citizens of 
 Danville Township. His family included seven 
 children, all of whom are living, and of whom Mrs. 
 Current was the second child. She was born in 
 Newell Township, this county, March 9, 1840, and 
 like her husband pursued her early studies in a log 
 school house under the imperfect system of instruc- 
 tion given at that day. 
 
 Vf?OPIN VAN DIIVN was born in Parke 
 County, Tnd., April 28, 1835. His farm 
 which is situated on section 19 in Elwood 
 (^^7/ Township, consists of 150 acres of good laud 
 all of which is cultivated in a manner that will 
 bring about the highest results. He is successfully 
 engaged in raising graded Sliorthorns and Poland- 
 China hogs. 
 
 Cornelius V'jii Duyii, the father of Jolm, was a 
 native of New Jersey, and came with bis father to 
 Indiana, when ;i boj^ The mother was Catherine 
 Blue, a native of Pickaway Countj', Ohio. She was 
 the mother of eleven children, seven of whom are 
 living: John, Cornelius, Henry J., William, Tilgh- 
 man A. IL, Luther AV. and James C. The elder 
 A'an Duyns were leading citizens of their time and 
 were regarded- as among the best people in the 
 country. They were thrifty and intelligent, and in 
 financial matters, generally succeeded. 
 
 John Van Duyn received a limited education at 
 the subscription schools which were in vogue in this 
 country during the pioneer days. The school-house, 
 where he learned to read and write was built of 
 logs and contained a fire-place in one end, slabs for 
 seats and oiled paper for window panes. Let the 
 youth of to-day contemplate the difficulties which 
 surrounded their fathers and grandfathers in their 
 effort to get an education, and be thankful for the 
 splendid school privileges they now enjoy and 
 strive the harder to improve them. Mr. Van Duyn 
 came to Vermillion Count}', Ind., with his parents 
 in 1 853, whence he removed to this county three years 
 later. He was married March 26, 1867, to Dorothy, 
 daughter of Archibald Edinonston, a native of Bun- 
 combe County, N. C. She was born in Vermilion 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 661 
 
 County, Ind., wliere Ihm- parents located in 1831. 
 Ilei' father, an old pioneei' of Indiana, was a soldier 
 of tlie war of 1812. Her mother Melissa Ander- 
 son, was a native of Mercer County, Ky. The lat- 
 ter removed witli lier parents to Dubois County, 
 Ind., at the age of eleven years, and in 1831, slie 
 located witii her husband in Vermillion County, the 
 same State. She was the mother of eight children, 
 five of whom arc living: Thomas A., Mrs. \"an 
 Duyn, William, Leroy T. and Melissa. Mother 
 Edmonston still lives in Indiana, six miles southwest 
 of Newport and is eiglity-four years old. She is 
 possessed of extra good health for ,i lady of her 
 \ears. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Van Duyn have had five children 
 and but one is living, Melissa, who is the wife of 
 Professor Mitchell, principal of the Ridge Farm 
 school. She is also teaching there with her husband. 
 •She began work in her profession when but fifteen 
 years old, and is a graduate of the State Normal 
 School of Terre Haute. Both have State certificates 
 of Illinois. Tliey are the parents of one child — 
 ^"crrle V. 
 
 By his own efforts Mr. Van Duyn has prospered 
 financially, and is now living in ease and comfort. 
 He is generous and hospitable and is never happier 
 than when lie is smoothing the road of some un- 
 fortunate whose footsteps are handicapped in the 
 race of life. 
 
 -J^^- 
 
 GARLAUGH. The extensive tract of land 
 
 familiarly known as the Garlaugh farm 
 
 is operated in two divisions by the sub- 
 
 ^ jeet of this notice and his brother, Tay- 
 lor Garlaugh, and comprises some of the finest land 
 lying out of doors. It was purchased by the father 
 in 1873 at the time of the famous Sidell land sale, 
 which is noted elsewhere in this work. 
 
 Mr. Garlaugh, our subject, has effected many 
 valuable improvements on this property, erecting a 
 commodious two-story frame dwelling, a good barn 
 and cattle sheds, has goo<l fences and the latest im- 
 proved machinery for the prosecution of his calling. 
 A windmill forms one of the appurtenances and the 
 land is amply watered and very fertile. In riding 
 
 past the farm the traveler is at once imijressed 
 with the idea that its manager is not only a man of 
 enterprise and energy, but is one bound to succeed. 
 Mr. Garlaugh employs two men and four two- 
 horse teams in carrying on the farm an<l feeds an- 
 nually 100 head each of cattle and swine. He 
 makes a specialty of attending to his own concerns 
 and does not aspire to political honors, although 
 thoroughly in sympath}' with the princiiiles of the 
 Republican party and the watch-cry "America for 
 Americans." 
 
 In referring to the parental history of our sub- 
 ject we find that his father, Jacob Garlaugh, was 
 born in Greene County, Ohio, and remains a resi- 
 dent of that State, living near the city of Dayton. 
 The niotlier, formerly Miss Klizabeth Miller, was 
 l)orn in Vii-ginia and emigrated to Ohio with her 
 parents when a young girl. The first representa- 
 tives of the Garlaugh family in America came across 
 the water from Germany and settled in Marjdand 
 whence (irandfather (Garlaugh removed to (ireene 
 County, Ohio, in 1807. Tlie homestead which he 
 built up from the wilderness has never passed out 
 of the hands of the family and upon it the father of 
 our subject is still living with his estimable wife 
 at the ages of seventy-nine and sixty-nine years 
 respectively. 
 
 Thirteen children were born to the parents of 
 our subject — seven sons and six daughters — of 
 wliom he was the seventh. He first opened hise.\es 
 to the light Feb. 17, 1853. He attended the com- 
 mon schools and was reared to farm pursuits, re- 
 maining a member of the parental household until 
 coming to Illinois in 1871J when a man of twenty- 
 six years. He was married in this count}' in 1883 
 to Miss Nellie, daughter of Calvin and Elizabeth 
 (CoUison) Martin now of State Line. Mrs. Gar- 
 laugh was born at Bixby, 111., and completed her 
 studies in the Normal School at Danville. Subse- 
 quently she followed the profession of a teacher 
 until her marriage. She became the mother of two 
 children — Mamie E. and Ida M. and died Dec. 26, 
 1887. The young wife and mother passed away, 
 deeply mourned by her husband and a large circle 
 of friends. She possessed many estimable qualities 
 and in her death our subject received the sympathy 
 of all who had known them during the brief years 
 
662 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 of their happy mari-ied life. Mr. Garlaugh is 
 looked upon as one of the rising young men of his 
 community — one eminently worthy of a record in 
 a work designed to perpetuate the names and deeds 
 of the leading men of Vermilion County. 
 
 /i^ HARLES W.FORBES,tlie leading and pioneer 
 [if^^ agriuultural implement dealer of Sidell, car- 
 ^^^' ries an extensive stock of merchandise per- 
 taining to his line of trade, and from his long 
 residence in this locality and his substantial traits 
 of character,' is regarded as one of its leading men. 
 A native of Medina County, Ohio, he was born 
 March 17, 1853, and in consequence is on the 
 sunny side of forty and in the prime of a vigorous 
 and healthful manhood. His career has been 
 marked by success, and he possesses those mental 
 qualities which have not only been of great service 
 in the management of his business affairs, but has 
 established him in an enviable position among his 
 fellowmen. He takes a warm interest in the growth 
 of the village and as a liberal-minded and public- 
 spirited citizen, contributes as he is able toward its 
 advancement. 
 
 Mr. Forbes is the offspring of a good family, 
 being the son of Alex and Cornelia Ann (Randall) 
 Forbes who are still living and in good health, the 
 father being eighty-five years old and the mother 
 seventy-six. Charles W. was the eighth in the 
 family of ten children, five of whom are living, 
 the other four being Medwin, George, Hiram and 
 Marietta. Alex Forbes was one of the early set- 
 tlers of Medina County, Ohio; where he operated 
 prominently as a builder and contractor until he 
 retired from active labor, and still resides in Ohio. 
 
 Our subject pursued his first studies in the com- 
 mon schools, and later at a select school at Litch- 
 field, Ohio. When a youth of eighteen years he 
 became interested in a creamery at Wellington, with 
 which he was connected until coming, in 1881, to 
 Shelby County this State. He built a creamery in the 
 latter place which he operated two years and then 
 removed to Rantoul, where he prosecuted the 
 same business successfully for a time, then selling 
 
 out, established himself in Casey, Clark County, 
 this State, where he built another creamery, but 
 only sojourned six months, coming to Sidell in 
 the fall of 1885. In his business here he has been 
 successful from the start, and his progress may be 
 indicated by the fact that his sales in 1885 
 amounted to $10,000, and those of 1888 to $47,- 
 000. He has erected a commodious store with 
 ware-rooms, and now also conducts a thriving 
 trade in furniture as well as carriages and wagons. 
 He has put up a tasteful and substantial residence 
 of modern architecture at the corner of Gray and 
 English streets, which with its surroundings forms 
 a very pleasant and attractive home. 
 
 The marriage of our subject with Miss Myra 
 Fisher was celebrated at the home of the bride in 
 Clarksfield, Huron Co., Ohio, Dec. 10, 1879. Mrs. 
 Forbes was born at Rochester, Lorain, Co., that 
 State, FeBi'uary, 1857, and is the daughter of 
 Robert and Olive M. (Cunningham) Fisher, the 
 former a native of the province of Ontario, 
 Canada, and the latter of Clarksfield, Ohio. Mr. 
 Fisher left the Dominion when a young man and 
 afterward followed the trade of a harness-maker until 
 his death, which took place in 1876 when he was 
 fifty 3'ears old. The parents were married in Clarks- 
 field, Ohio. The mother is living and makes her 
 home with her daughter, Mrs. Forbes; she is now 
 fifty-three years old. Of her five children, Myra, 
 Mrs. Forbes, was the eldest born. The next one, 
 a son, Foster,- died in infancy ; Hiram Way, Frank 
 S. and Emma D. 
 
 Mr. Forbes, politically, is a stanch Republican 
 and is a member of the Masonic fraternity, belong- 
 ing to Peace Dale Lodge, No. 225. He is a charter 
 member of the Modern Woodmen of America, be- 
 longing to Sidell Camp, No. 405. The maternal 
 grandmother of Mrs. Fisher was married the first 
 times to Corydon Sheldon, and by him became the 
 mother of one child, Jairus C, who was a representa- 
 tive from the Fifteenth District of Illinois to the 
 Forty-ninth Congress and served two terms. After 
 the death of her husband, Mrs. Sheldon was mar- 
 ried to Hiram Way Cunningham, and to them were 
 born nine children, among whom was the mother 
 of Mrs. Forbes and Joseph Oscar Cunningham, 
 who is one of the leading lawyers and prominent 
 
POKTUAIT A^\) lUOOliAPlIICAl. Al.LDM. 
 
 G63 
 
 citizens of Urbaiia, 111., and was for several years 
 Probate Judge. Tlie girlhood of Mrs. Forbes was 
 spent in Glarksfield, Ohio, and she attended the 
 High School at Norvvalk. Later, at the age of 
 seventeen, she entered Baldwin University, taking 
 the classical and musical courses, and continued a 
 student there for some time. Afterward she 
 engaged in teaching in Huron County. Ohio, follow- 
 ing this profession for four years prior to her mar- 
 riage. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Forbes are members of the Metho- 
 dist Episcopal Chiircli at Sidell in which Mr. 
 Forbes is one of the Board of Trustees and is on 
 the Building Committee. This churcli has one of 
 the finest edifices in Vermilion County, outside of 
 Danville, ftlrs. Forbes was the first Pi'esident of 
 the Ladies' Aid Society, which was established f(.ir 
 the purpose of raising means to build a new church. 
 
 -^1^ 
 
 EWITT C. BENNETT, familiarly known 
 throughout Carroll Township as "Clint 
 Bennett," is one of the most popular 
 3'oung men of his community and a farmer 
 by occupation, operating a fine body of land in the 
 southwestern part of the township. He has worked 
 his way up from an humble position in life, signal- 
 izing himself liy his industry and integrity of char- 
 acter, and, aside from being on the highway to 
 success financially, has fully established himself in 
 the confidence and esteem of his fellow-citizens. 
 The fact that he was from the age of eighteen 
 years until twent3'-eight — a period of ten years — 
 the '• right band man " of the cattle king, John 
 Sidell, is sufficient indication of his true character 
 and furnishes as good a recommendation as he 
 could possibly wish for. There was also another 
 party in the employ of the same family, namely, 
 a most estimable young lady, who became the wife 
 of our subject and whose record is fully equal to 
 that of her husband in point of sterling worth of 
 character and cultivated tastes. As the wife of 
 our subject, she has been in all respects his true 
 companion and helpmate, and they are justly 
 proud of their blooming family of children, and 
 
 their attractive home, which, without making any 
 pretensions to elegance, is the place where affection 
 abides and to which they frequently welcome the 
 many fi'icnds and acquaintances who have watched 
 tlieir career with kindly interest. 
 
 The sui)ject of this notice is a native of this 
 countj', and was born in \ance 'i'ownship, .June 4, 
 1849. He was reared in \'ance and Catlin town- 
 ships, acquiring his education in the common school, 
 and left home, as we have already indicated, ;it the 
 age of eighteen years. While in the enqjloy of Mr. 
 Sidell, he drove thousands of cattle to the East, 
 frequently riding night and day, without sleep or 
 rest. His father. Philander Bennett, was a native 
 of New York State, and married Miss Sarah Ann 
 Wolf, who was born in Tennessee. In the biogra- 
 pliy of Henry J. Bennett, found on another page 
 in this N'olume, will be noted the parental histor3^ 
 Pliilandcr Bennett and his excellent wife are still 
 living, making their home in Palermo, Edgar 
 County, where the father and his younger sons are 
 operating a rented farm. Mr. Bennett is now 
 about seventy-four years old and his wife ten 
 years his junior. They are the parents of nine 
 children, the eldest of whom, Ann E., is the wife 
 of W. M. Jamison, of Catlin, and the mother of six 
 children: Charles, Kate, Mary, George, Willie and 
 Bertie. Henry J. was the second born; DeWitt 
 Clinton, our subject, was the third child; (ieoro-e 
 Franklin married Miss Rachel Trimble,and is a farm- 
 er of Dundee County, Neb., and they have four chil- 
 dren, Clinton, Minnie, Frank and a babe unnamed. 
 J\Iary E. is tiie wife of Jonah Turner, a farmer of 
 Edgar County; they have no children. William K. 
 died in boyhood; Jacob remains at home with his 
 fatlier; Ida B. married Esau Marsh, resides in 
 Missouri, and is the mother of two children; Allie 
 married Wilson Glaze, a resident of Chrisman, 
 Edgar County, and they have two children. 
 
 Mr. Bennett was married in 1877 to Mrs. Nancy 
 Jane Spellman, daughter of Jerry and Mary 
 I. Fuller. Her father was born in Illinois and 
 her mother in Campbell County, Ky. The par- 
 ents were married in the latter State and were of 
 Irish descent. They settled first in Cincinnati, 
 Ohio, where Mr. Fuller engaged in teaming, and 
 later removed on to a farm in Kentucky, where 
 
664 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 his death took place. The mother vvas sub- 
 sequently marrierl to John Clark, a sketch of 
 whom apppears elsewhere in this work, and they 
 are living' at Sidell. Of the first marriage there 
 were born seven children, viz: Reuben, John and 
 Mary (who died j'oving), America, Sarali, Louisa 
 and Nancy Jane. Mrs. Bennett was born in Cin- 
 cinnati, Ohio, but was reared in Kentucky, and 
 when nineteen years of age became the wife of 
 Thomas B. Spellraan. Of this union there was 
 born one child. 
 
 For six years after their marriage Mr. and Mrs. 
 Bennett continued with Mr. Sidell and afterward 
 began farming on rented land. They are now the 
 parents of six children, namely : Sarah I., Charles 
 Clinton, Jacob C, Bessie W. and Luella. Mr. Ben- 
 nett is a prominent member of the Modern Wood- 
 men at Sidell, and has filled most of the offices of 
 the order. Politically he votes the straight Dem- 
 ocratic ticket and has been School Director in his 
 district. 
 
 — -^^s^m- — 
 
 DAM STADLER. The armies of the 
 North — so statistics exhibit — were com- 
 posed of one-third foreigners, or their 
 direct descendants. These, or their par- 
 ents, had come from countries where tyranny held 
 them in as firm a grasp as the negroes were held in 
 America, and their condition was but little above 
 that of the slave of South Carolina. They longed 
 for that perfect political freedom that characterizes 
 this country, and in consequence fought for a prin- 
 ciple that was dear to them, and the most of these 
 people, by the peculiar laws of their native land, 
 were obliged to serve in the army. The person 
 whose name heads this sketch is one of those who 
 had seen service in his native country. 
 
 His father was Christoplier Stadler, a farmer of 
 Baden and a native of that country, while his 
 mother, Regina (Horsch) was also a native of the 
 same province. This coujile wer,e married in Baden 
 and came to America in 1854, locating in Henry 
 County, Ind., with their son Adam, who had come 
 to America before them. The father died in 1856 
 aged sixty-eiglit, and the mother is still living in 
 
 Oiiio with one of her daughters. They had five 
 children, three boys and two girls, four of whom 
 are now living in Amei'ica. The oldest boy died 
 in Germany. Adam, of whom we write, is the 
 second child of the family, and was born Dec. 28, 
 1821, in Baden. There he went to school until he 
 wasfourteen years old, receiving a very fine edu- 
 cation in the higher mathematics and engineering. 
 He finished his schooling in the military academy 
 of Carlsruhe, the capital of Baden, graduating from 
 that institution and receiving his diploma in 1844. 
 Previous to this, he served his lime as an appren- 
 tice at the cooper's trade and continued at that for 
 six years, or until he was twenty years of age. 
 
 In 1841 Mr. Stadler was drafted into the army. 
 He served six months as a private and was pro- 
 moted to the ranks of Corporal and Sergeant, serv- 
 ing in these positions for one and two years re- 
 spectively. In 1848 the rebellion broke out in 
 Baden against King Leopold, at which time Mr. 
 Stadler was serving as Quartermaster Sergeant. 
 The army in which he was doing duty was directed 
 against the rebels, hut in 1849 the soldiers became 
 disaffected and rebelled against the King. Mr. 
 Stadler was then elected as Captain of the same 
 battery of artillery in which he had served pre- 
 viously as a loyal soldier. 
 
 His company fought in every battle in 1849 in 
 the rebel army. At that time the commander of 
 the rebellious soldiers was Gen. Miroflefski, who 
 turned out to be a traitor to the cause. He was 
 succeeded by Gen. Franz Sigel. who afterward 
 distinguished himself in the Union army during 
 the late Rebellion. Gen. Sigel was in command of 
 about 25,000 men and in opposition to this small 
 army, Prussia sent 150,000 troops .and the States 
 of Wurtemburg, Bavaria and Hesse-Darmstadt fur- 
 nished as many more. This immense army of 
 troops succeeded in killing many of the rebels, but 
 failed to crush them. Sigel's army was driven into 
 Switzerland and the war closed. The remnaut of 
 tills little army two months after was dispersed. 
 The private soldiers were allowed to go where 
 they pleased, but the officers were condemned to 
 be shot whenever found on their native soil. The 
 natural place for them to seek refuge was in America, 
 and here they came, Mr. Stadler being one of 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 6 05 
 
 tliem. He came in the same vessel tliat brought, 
 Lawrence lirentano, now of Chicago and tlicy ar- 
 rivetl at New York in ?<ov. I.st9. 
 
 Mr. Stadler was manieil Ma\- 2H, 1,S46 to Sophia 
 Yazoll, daughter of John and Caroline (Swcitzer) 
 Yazell. Mrs. Stadler was the youngest of the 
 family and was born Feb. 2, 1821). She received 
 a fine education, and married Mr. Stadler while he 
 was :i Sergeant in the army of the King. While 
 the war was in progress — in which her husband 
 took so active a part — she remained at (^Trlsruhe, 
 and when the ai-my was driven into Switzerland, 
 she joined her husbnnd there and .sailed witli him 
 to America. They went to Cincinnati, where he 
 was emi)loyed at his trade, and also in a )irewer\-, 
 for one yeai-. At tliis time both i\Ir. and i\Irs. 
 Stadler were seized with typhoid fever, whicli was 
 followed by fever and ague, their illness lasting in 
 all, fourteen months. After lecovering their 
 iiealth they removed to Indiana, where Mr. Stadler 
 started a cooper's shop and remained in that busi- 
 ness for fourteen years. He then rented a farm, 
 and began the life of a farmer. 
 
 In l«fil, when the first call for troops was made 
 liy President Lincoln, JMr. Stadler enlisted in the 
 12tli battery of Indiana A^ohmteers, commanded 
 by Capt, Stallings. He went out with the l>atLery 
 as First Lieutenant, proceeding from Indianapolis 
 to St. Louis and thence to Fort Donelson. After 
 the fall of that fort, the battery was ordered to 
 Nasliville, and from there to Pittsburg Landiu"-, 
 
 am! after the battle of Shiloh, tlio 
 
 company was 
 
 changed to heavy artillery, and again returned to 
 Kashville. In the fall of 18G2Mr. Stadler I'esinned 
 his commission, because of rheumatism. He re- 
 turned home and again took up his work on the 
 farm in Indiana. He had escaped unhurt in the 
 many battles in which he was engaged both in 
 Germany and America, and wliile in the service in 
 the old country', he had three horses killed while 
 riding them. 
 
 In (Jctober, 18(!7 Mr. Stadler removed to Illinois 
 and bought his present home where he has lived 
 since. He has 125 acres of good land, and as a 
 farmer he has been successful. Mr. and Mrs. 
 Stadler have had six children, three sons and threi^ 
 daughters, five of whom are living: G('(.)rge C, a 
 
 banker, married Ada Newton; they are living in 
 Monticello, where he is Clerk of the Court, and 
 have two children; Adam A., married Anna Bell, 
 they are residing at Bement and are the parents of 
 one child; Rena is the wife of Dr. Clark Smith of 
 Cornelius, Ore.; Jacob F., married Susan Simpson, 
 and they are living on a part of her father's 
 fai-m, and have one child; Caroline lives at home 
 wifh her [tarents, and is an accomplished young 
 hid\', being noticeably proficient in painting. Slie 
 has executed many fine specimens, which adorn 
 her fathei''s parlor. 
 
 Mr. Stadler is a strong free-trade Democrat and 
 while he is not an otFice-seeker he takes great inter- 
 est in politics. He has held the office of Road 
 Oveiseer, filling the position with his usual energy. 
 Before leaving Baden Mr. and Mrs. Stadler were 
 membeis of the Evangelical Protestant Church, 
 but since coming to Ameiica they have been united 
 with no religious organization but atteaid churcb 
 regularly. They are held in high esteem by^ all 
 their acquaintances as possessing all the attributes 
 that cluslei' around good nei"hl)ors. and'law-abidins' 
 citizens. 
 
 <jf;OHN POLLARD. This branch of the Pol- 
 lard family is noted chiefly for its mechan- 
 ical genius — I he ancestoi's of our subject 
 being peculiarly gifted in this nif.nner. 
 \Villiani Pollard, the father of our subject, learned 
 mechanical engineering in his. native England 
 when (piite a young man, and the paternal grand- 
 father, John Pollard, was a wheelwright, mill- 
 wright and wood-worker of great skill. 
 
 To. William and Mary Ann (Bartel) Pollard, 
 natives of Yorksliirc-, England, there were born 
 five children in their native country: Paul lives 
 in Carroll Township; John, our subject was the 
 second child; Sarah J. is the wife of S. P. Dono- 
 van, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this 
 volume; Peter died in infancy; Martha is the wife 
 of Charles Hull, also represented elsewhere in this 
 work. The father crossed the Atlantic seven 
 times — four times before bringing his family here, 
 
G66 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRArtllCAL ALBUM. 
 
 in 1864 — when he located in Carroll Township, 
 this county. He built the first steam s.awraili south 
 of Danville, and, besides being a first class me- 
 chanic, was an excellent business man, and soon 
 found himself on the high road to prosperity. Of a 
 most generous and easy disposition, it was often 
 remarked that he "was too good for his own 
 good." He could never say "no" when solicited 
 by a friend for a favor, consequently he appended 
 his name to various notes for friends, which re- 
 sulted in the usual way, namely, the loss of a 
 large amount of his property. He lived, however, 
 to rally from this disaster, and at the time of his 
 death, July 3, 1886, left his family in comfortable 
 circumstances; he was then aged sixty-nine yeais. 
 The mother is still living, making her home in In- 
 dianola, and is of the same age as her husband was 
 at his decease. 
 
 The subject of this sketch, like his parents, was 
 a native of Yorkshire, England, and born May 3, 
 1847. He pursued his early studies under careful 
 instruction in a private school, which was held 
 under the auspices of the Methodist Episcopal 
 Church. "While still a boj^ he began working in a 
 factory as a spinner, and at the earl3' age of seven- 
 teen was given the position of overseer in the spin- 
 ning department of Scott's Woolen Mills, in Eng- 
 land. After a time, however, he conceived the 
 idea of coming to America, so gave up his position 
 and sailed across the Atlantic with his brother, 
 the rest of the family coming later. 
 
 The labors of young Pollard were only inter- 
 rupted for a comparatively brief time, and, after 
 reaching Illinois, he entered the employ of his 
 father in a sawmill, and was thus occupied until 
 thirty six years of age. Then, as proprietor, he 
 assumed the entire charge. Hundreds of thou- 
 sands of feet of lumber have passed through his 
 hands, and he has been uniformly successful in tliis 
 department of industry. He purchases the logs in 
 the rough, and from them manufactures all kinds 
 of lumber for building and other purposes, dealing 
 mostly in the finer grades — oak. walnut, and woods 
 of that description. He has built up a regular 
 patronage, doing an extensive custom business. 
 
 Mr. Pollard and his family occupy a very pleas- 
 annt and comfortable home. His farm comprises 
 
 choice land, with a neat and substantial frame 
 dwelling and tiie other buildings necessary for 
 their convenience and comfort. He was married, 
 Aug. 29, 1886, to Mrs. Fanny (Thresher) Hunt, 
 daughter of Everett Thresher and widow of Ely 
 Hunt. Mrs. Pollard was born in Pickaway County, 
 Ohio, Dec. 6, 1855. The maiden name of lier 
 mother was Elizabeth Collins, and both parents 
 were born in Pickaway County, Ohio. Mr. Thresher 
 was a farmer by occu[)ation, and when a boy of 
 eight years came with his parents to Illinois, set- 
 tling in Coles County. Later they removed to 
 Douglas County, where the parents still live, and 
 are comfortably situated upon a good farm of their 
 own. Mr. Thresher is sixty-seven years of age, 
 and his good wife fifty-nine. Of the twelve chil- 
 dren born to them ten lived to mature years, viz: 
 Sarah, Hugh, Fanny, Mary, John, Mahala, Minerva, 
 Celia, Henry and George. 
 
 Miss Ii'anny Thresher was first married in Doug- 
 Ins County, this State, to Ely Hunt, a farmer by 
 occupation, and they becaine the parents of one 
 child — Lewis, who was born in 1877. Mrs. Hunt 
 in 1882 occupied (he position of a clerk in Danville, 
 where she met our subject, and in due time they 
 were married. Both our subject and his estimable 
 wife are members in good standing of the Metho- 
 dist Episcopal Church, at Indianola, and Mr. Pol- 
 lard, politically, gives his unqualified support to 
 tlie Democratic party. 
 
 A view of Mr. Pollard's place is shown elsewhere 
 in this work. 
 
 ILISHA C. B. FITHIAN. Tlie Fithian fam- 
 ily has been widel3' known in Central 
 Illinois for many years. We find the sub- 
 
 ject of this notice comfortably located on section 
 19, in Oakwood Township, where he has followed 
 agriculture since 1854. He is the youngest of 
 three sons, the offspring of Dr. William and Orle- 
 thea T. (Berry) Fithian, who were natives of Ohio, 
 where they were reared, educated and married, and 
 came to Illinois as early as 1830. [See sketch on 
 anotiier page.] They settled at Danville, where 
 
PORTRAIT AND BTO(!RAriIICAL ALBUM. 
 
 66; 
 
 the father followed his pi-ofession conlinuously until 
 about 1879. '1 he manner in which he was prospered 
 is inrlicated from the fact that he is now tlie owner of 
 2,700 acres of land in Oakwood and Vance town- 
 ships, 400 acres being in timber and the balance 
 under a good state of cultivation. It is mostly leased 
 to other parties, and our subject is superintendent of 
 the wiiole. The parental family comprised three 
 children, only two of whom are living, the eldest son, 
 George H., having died in 1871. The son besides 
 our subject is William Henry, a resident of Fillii.in, 
 111. 
 
 The subject of this notice was the youngest of 
 his parents" three sons, and was born Nov. 8, 1837, 
 in Danville, this county. He acquired a practical 
 education in the public schools, and at the .ige of 
 seventeen years began farming for himself on the 
 land which he now occupies. He met with fair 
 success, and on the 10th of February, 1865, estal)- 
 lished domestic ties of his own by his marriage with 
 Miss Annie M. Hays. Mis. Fitl)ian was the third 
 child in the family of John Hays, who came to Illi- 
 nois from Ohio, in 1862, and settled near Homer, 
 Champaign County, where he occupied himself in 
 farming. His family consisted of twelve children, 
 eight of whom are living. Mrs. Fithian was born 
 March 15, 1840, in Athens Co., Ohio. 
 
 .Since his marriage Mr. Fithian has continued 
 the superintendence of his father's farm. The 
 Doctor is now past his ninetieth year, and is quite 
 feeble in health. He continues a resident of Dan- 
 ville. He has been a very prominent man in his 
 community — active, energetic and public-spirited — 
 and the town of Fithian, which was laid out by the 
 Indiana, Bloomington iS; Western Railroad Com- 
 pany, was named in his honor. His first wife died 
 in early womanhood, in 1837, and he was subse- 
 quentljr married to Mrs. Black, the widowed mother 
 of Gen. John C. Black, and she died in 1886. 
 John Hays, the father of Mrs. Fithian, died on the 
 7th of August, 1886. Her motlier is still living, 
 making her home in Muncie, 111., and is now 
 seventy-one years old. 
 
 Mr. Fithian is quite conservative in polities, and 
 has always been a member of the Republican party, 
 casting his first vote for Abraham Lincoln in 1860. 
 He was personally acquainted with him, having 
 
 often met liim at his father's house, the martyred 
 President regarding Dr. Fithian as one of his warm, 
 personal fi-iends, and frequently visiting him. Mr. 
 Fithian has been a School Director for many years, 
 and socially belongs to Fairmount Lodge, No. 590, 
 A. F. & A. M., with which he has been connected 
 for about sixteen years. The five children of our 
 subject and his estimable wife were named, re- 
 spectivel}': Paul H., Lalla R., Elisha C. B., .lohn 
 C. B. and David W. 
 
 DAM EATON. There is nothing in life 
 more beautiful and attractive than a se- 
 1 4 rene and quiet old age, the result of a life 
 ^ well spent, with a conscience void of 
 
 offense, and a consciousness of having lived up- 
 rightly and in a manner deserving of the esteem 
 and confidence of mankind. These thoughts in- 
 voluntarily arise in noting the career of the subject 
 of this sketch, who is in fair circumstances, and 
 occupies a comfortable homestead on section 1, in 
 Sidell Township. 
 
 Mr. Eaton is a man of large experience, a native 
 of Barren County, Ky., and born near Glasgow, 
 March 1, 1822. His earlj' studies were pursued in 
 the subscription schools of his native township, and 
 he accompanied his father's family in their various 
 removals through Kentucky to Tennessee, Missis- 
 sippi and Alal)ama. In the meantime, upon reachiuc 
 man's estate he employed himself in connection 
 with the "tobacco and the cotton and the corn," 
 and was a witness of all che phases of life in the 
 South during that period and prior to the outbreak 
 of the Rebellion. In Tennessee he found his wife, 
 being married in 1K41 to Miss Frances Giner, a 
 native of that State. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Platon, after their marriage, re- 
 • moved to Kentucky, and thence, in 1845, to In- 
 diana, where they lived seven years, and where 
 their eldest child was born. In 1852 they came to 
 this county and settled five miles east of Danville, 
 where oui- subject rented a farm of Dr. Porter, 
 upon which he remained ten years. Then, in 1871) 
 with the results of his labors, he purchased eighty 
 
G68 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOCRAPIIICAL ALBUM. 
 
 acres of land, from wliicli he constructed his pres- 
 ent liomestead. Ho has effected good improve- 
 ineuts and surrouuded himself and his family with 
 all the comforts of life. Living at peace among 
 his neighbors and. giving his chief attention to the 
 interests immediately connected with his home, he 
 has had ample time to reflect upon the vicissitudes 
 of life and draw his own conclusions therefrom. 
 The four living children of Mr. and Mrs Eaton aic 
 recorded as follows: David married Miss Rachel 
 Raflfet, and lived in Sidell; they have seven children 
 living. Malen married Miss Ida Soyer, lives in 
 this township, and is the father of one chill — Les- 
 lie; Mary is the wife of Simon Hill, of Sidell, and 
 they have two children — Elmer and Walter; Pres- 
 ton remains at home with his parents. Mr. P>aton 
 votes the straight Democratic ticket, and both lie 
 and his wife are members of the New Light Church. 
 The parents of our subject were J)avid and Eliz- 
 abeth (Thomas) Eaton, the fathei' a native of Ten- 
 nessee. The}' were married in Kentucky, and lived 
 there for a time on a farm. About LS1,5 they re- 
 moved t(i Indiana, settling in Harrison County, and 
 later came to this county, where the father died at 
 the age of eighty-six 3'ears. The mother was 
 eighty years old at tlie time of her decease. Their 
 family consisted of eleven chiklren — four sons and 
 seven daughters — of whom Adam, our subject, 
 was the second born. 
 
 =^\ AMUEL ^y. BALM is one of the many 
 well-to-do men of Carroll Township, and 
 a poi)ular stockman of Vermilion County_ 
 For several years he has been engaged in 
 breeding Shorthorn cattle, and at this writing has 
 on hand a herd of his favorite breed of cattle of 
 good pedigrees. The animal standing at the head 
 of this fine herd of cattle is the celebrated '•Com- 
 modore Barney," a well-known prize winner, and 
 was owned by the late Harvey Sodowskj-, which is 
 a guarantee of the excellence of tiiis beautiful 
 animal. 
 
 Mr. Banm is the son of Samuel Baum, wdio was 
 a very popular gentleman, and one of the old set- 
 
 tlers of Carroll Township. His mother was Sarah 
 Weaver, a daughter of Michael Weaver, who lived 
 to be one hundred years old. The elder Baum and 
 Weaver cauu' together to this county in wagons 
 drawn by o.xen. The Baums built up the oldest 
 city in the county — Indianola — and were instru- 
 mental in directing the outside world to the fer- 
 tility and resources of Vermilion C(_)unty as a 
 desirable location. The Baums were also distin- 
 guished pioneers of Bucks Count}', Pa., and of 
 C!lcrmont County, Ohio, while that country was 
 under territorial rule. The grandfather, Charles 
 Baum. was a gunsmith by trade. He volunteered 
 in the War of 1812, but was thought to be too 
 valuable a man to cuter the ranks, so he was ein- 
 ployeil in making and I'cpairiug firearms. He made 
 a gun for his own use in the army, but gave it to 
 another soldier. He was ver}- religiously inclined, 
 and respected b}' all who knew him. Samuel 
 Uaum was married twice, and by the first union 
 had eleven children: Oliver P., Mary, Elizabetli, 
 Susan A., Catherine, Francis, Emilinc, Samuel ^\'.. 
 \Villiam and Angeline. 
 
 Samuel W. was horn Feb. If), 1843, and was 
 reared to agriculture in this county. He is largely 
 eng.^ged in the steick business, and is an extensive 
 shipper. He owns several farms, the homestead 
 containing GoO acres. All his land has been im- 
 l)roved by himself, as when he bought it, it was in 
 a wild condition. His farms are all well fenced, 
 con-\'eniently arranged, and well supplied with 
 water; the banuis are commodious, and the pastures 
 are of llie very best. His dwelling is a comfort- 
 able one, and in it can be found a genial hostess, 
 whose hospitalitj' is proverbial. The stock on this 
 farm is of the very finest. Anj' one of the ani- 
 mals would take a prominent place at a fair or a 
 fat stock show. It is safe to make the assertion 
 that there are no better cattle in the State of Illi- 
 nois than those owned by Mr. Baum. 
 
 Mr. Baum was married to Miss Delia F. Stewart, 
 a daughter Of Joseph and Sarah (Cochrane) Stew- 
 art, the former being a native of Ohio, while the 
 latter was a daughter of (Jen. Cochrane, a hero of 
 the War of 1812, and who represented his people 
 in the Legislature. Mr. and Mrs. Stewart came to 
 Georgetown from Woodford County, 111., having 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIUdRAPIllCAL ALBUM. 
 
 CGI) 
 
 settled there first upon coming to this State. Tliey 
 floated down tlie Ohio and came uj) the Mississi[»i>i 
 and Illinois rivers, until they reached their des- 
 tination. Mr. and Mrs. Stewart arc both living, 
 and in this world's goods are well-to-do. They are 
 tiie parents of seven children, all girls: Tamer E. 
 and Mary M. (deceased), twins; Lovina, Sarah A. 
 (deceased), Josephine, Frances, Delphine and Dolly 
 J. Mrs. Baum was born in Georgetown, where she 
 attended the public schools, and at the age of six- 
 then entered the High School at Danville. She is 
 an accomplished lad}- and a faithful wife. Mr. 
 and Mrs. Baum have no children. 
 
 Mr. Baum is a strong Republican, a protectionist, 
 and a friend of progi'ess and prosijerity. He be- 
 lieves that his party's platforms embody political 
 wisdom, and that its candidates, as a rule, are 
 good, and, therefore, ho votes the Republican 
 ticket, though he never seeks office. Mr. Baum's 
 reputation among those who know him best is irre- 
 proachable. 
 
 ENRY B. CURRENT has a pleasant home 
 in Newell Township, and is a gentleman of 
 good family and social prominence in the 
 community in which he lives. Ilis parents, 
 William and Mary (Bastian) Current, natives of 
 Monongalia County, W. Va., emigrated to Illinois 
 in 1827, and located in Newell Township about one- 
 half mile from the place which is at present owned 
 by the subject of this sketch. Their lot was the 
 common one of all the pioneers, but as the reward 
 of industry and frugality they were enabled to 
 spend their latter years in comfort and ease, and 
 now sleep side b\- side in the silent city of the dead, 
 known locally as the Lynch Cemeter}', where their 
 final resting place is marked by a handsome monu- 
 ment which informs the passerby that the mother 
 entered into rest in the year 1855, and the father in 
 the following year, the date of his departure being 
 1856. 
 
 When Mr. and Mrs; William Current arrived in 
 Newell Township they purcluised forty acres of 
 land on which they erected such buildings as 
 
 tliey could afford, which it must be confessed were 
 built with an eye to convenience and economy, 
 rather than to minister to tlie :csthctic tastes of the 
 beholder. But in those primitive log cabins were 
 to be found people of intelligence and frequently 
 people of liberal education, who, although often 
 obliged to deny themselves many conveniences 
 and limit themselves to the barest necessaries of life 
 were yet not inhospitable but welcomed the stran- 
 ger and traveler with warm hearts, and provided 
 for his needs to the best of their ability. 
 
 ITnder such conditions and amid such people the 
 youth of our subject was passed. His parents 
 reared a family of fourteen children, of which he 
 was the eldest, and b}' the blessing of the God they 
 served the}- were enabled to add to their original 
 purchase some 3 1 2 acres, so that at the time of their 
 decease the estate which was left to their heirs em- 
 braced 352 acres, finely improved and yielding a 
 good income. 
 
 Henry B. Current was born on the 4th of July, 
 1 824, hence was a mere child when his parents be- 
 came residents of Illinois. His early life was spent 
 under the parental roof, where he received the usual 
 schooling of the times and pursued the ordinary 
 lound of duties [jertaining to a boy's life on a 
 f.arni. The monotony of life in that neighborhood 
 was broken on Feb. 10, 1812, l.iy a wedding, the 
 principal actors being our subject and Miss Martha 
 Shroff, the ceremony taking place at the home of 
 the brides's parents. Mrs. Current's parents were 
 natives of Ohio, and removed to Illinois, in which 
 State they made their home until released from 
 earth's trials and cares. 
 
 Mis. Current was an estimable woman and be- 
 came the mother of nine children, as follows: Will- 
 iam, a sketch of whom ai)pears elsewhere in this 
 work; Mary is the wife of David Cuningham ; 
 Margaret; Sarah, the wife of C. Campbell; \'allie, 
 the wife of M. Elder; Amanda (deceased) was the 
 wife of R. Elder; John died when only two years 
 and six months old; David died when two j^cars 
 old, and Rebecca died when an infant of three 
 weeks. Mrs. Current joined her de[)arted children 
 in the beautiful land of rest, leaving to the remain- 
 ing members of her family the bright example of 
 a goodly life. Our subject was again united in 
 
070 
 
 PORTRAir AND BTOaKAPIIICAL ALBUM. 
 
 marriage, taking for liis life partner Miss Sarali 
 Bewer, by wiiom lie had one child, Martlia, now 
 Mi'S. Pcny Adams. Following tlie death of his sec- 
 ond wife our subject was for the third time united 
 in the bonds of matrimony, witli Miss Emma Watts 
 Aug. 17, 1881. This amiable lady is a daugiiter 
 of David and Frances Watts, natives of Eng- 
 land, who emigrated to America while young and 
 took up land in Vermilion County, making a com- 
 fortable home in Newell Townshi[), where Miss 
 Emma was born and grew into sweet and gracious 
 womanhood, remaining in her childhood's home 
 until called to her present sphere of activity and use- 
 fulness, where she is the presiding genius of a chast- 
 ened yet cheerful family. 
 
 The farm belonging to Mr. Current comprises 
 320 acres of land under excellent cultivation, and 
 is well supplied with all necessary outbuildings 
 and a handsome, commodious residence, which is 
 the abode of peace, plenty and content. Our sub- 
 ject is a popular man in his district and has held 
 the office of Road Commissioner; the right of a 
 freeman is exercised by him in favor of the Demo- 
 cratic party. The Masonic order claims liim as a 
 brother. Mr. and Mrs. Current are consistent 
 members and regular attendants on the service of 
 the Methodist E|)iscopal Church. 
 
 BRUCE SJirril. There are few men 
 '( more widely and favorably known to the 
 '*• citizens of Danville and vicinity than the 
 ^ subject of this notice. Here have centered 
 his life-long interests, and in this city he was born, 
 Dec. 20, 1847, when the home of his |)arents was 
 at the corner of what is now Main and Franklin 
 streets, in one of the (ii'st hrick l)uildings, owned 
 by his father, Isaac P. Smith, who was one of the 
 earliest pioneers of the coiintj'. 
 
 Our subject acquired his education in (he schools 
 of his native town and entered upon his active 
 business career at the early age of fifteen years, 
 when ho commenced selling the Lafayette ('nur- 
 ier, which came in on the 10 o'clock P. M. train, 
 and whicli he would deliver afterward. Durinu- 
 
 the day he was employed at a news-stand to deliver 
 papers to regular subscribers. He next engaged as 
 clerk in a hardware store, and subsequently was in 
 the employ of T. H. Mj'ers, the first Mayor of 
 Danville, and Agent of the United States Express 
 Co. Me also operated a grocer3' and purchased 
 furs and hides. Young Smith was in the employ 
 of Mr. Myers about five years, and in the mean- 
 time officiated as clerk for the Wabash Railroad, 
 and for Daniel Gurlcy, who dealt in hides and furs. 
 
 After leaving Mr. Myers for the last time our 
 subject entered the boot and shoe store of D. B. 
 Haggard, where he remained one year. We next 
 find him in the employ of the boot and shoe mer- 
 chant, Mr. McClennathen. He next assumed the 
 management of the i)ostofficc and the book-store of 
 W. T. Cunningham, on the southwest corner of 
 the public square, and under the postmastership of 
 of Mr. McKibben. Later the ofifice was moved to 
 \"ermilion street. After the appointment of Sam- 
 uel Fairchild as Postmaster, Mr. Smith was ap- 
 pointed Deputy Postmaster, and remained con- 
 nected with the office some years. 
 
 Upon withdrawing from the postoffice J\Ir. Smith 
 established in the grocery business at the corner of 
 Main and Franklin streets, but sold out a year later 
 and became bookkeeper for Smith & Piel, butchers. 
 During 1873-'74 he was, on account of ill-health, 
 unable to engage in any arduous labor, and during 
 the latter year repaired to Chicago and underwent 
 a surgical 0])eration which resulted in the entire 
 recovery of his health. Soon afterward be was 
 solicited to become the candidate for City Treas- 
 urer. He was elected by a majority of 418, served 
 his term, and in 1875 was re-elected, beating his 
 two opponents by 187 votes. Since a youth of 
 eighteen years he has been occupying his leisure 
 time in the reading of law. In 1878 he entered 
 the office of the Danville Oniimercia!, a few weeks 
 after it was established, and the way in which 
 he wrote up the county fair so pleased the proprie- 
 tors of the [laiier and the people generally that he 
 was given the post of C'ity Editor, which he held 
 one year. Next he became .associated with the 
 Danville Neir.<;, and in due time resigned this posi- 
 tion to take one with Mayor Lawrence. 
 
 In the Spring of 1881 Mr. Smith was one of six 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 671 
 
 candidates for Justice of the Peace, and seciu-ed 
 1802 out of 1831 votes. This office he held four 
 3ears, and in the meantime continued his law 
 studies. He passed a written examination and was 
 admitted to the bar in Springfield, and as a Justice 
 of the Peace acquitted himself so satisfactorily that 
 he was re-elected, i-cceiving 1831 out of 2400 
 votes, beating the closest competitor of seven can- 
 didates by 299 votes. In the spring of 1H«9 lie 
 was elected on the Reiiublican ticket by 125 major- 
 it)'", the first time in which party politics had any 
 thin"- to do with the election of this officer. He 
 pursued his law studies first under Col. Jesse Har- 
 per eiohteen months, and then with W. R. Law- 
 rence six months. After being admitted to the bar 
 he opened an office on East Main street and prac- 
 ticed in all the courts, besides discharging the 
 duties of his office as Justice of the Peace. Ho 
 also operates as a real-estate dealer and loan agent, 
 and has just put out a Directory for the city of 
 Danville. It will thus be seen that he must pos- 
 sess great energy and has few idle hours. So 
 cially he belongs to the I. (). O. F., the K. of P., 
 and Modern Woodmen of America. In leligious 
 views he coincides with the doctrines of the Presliy- 
 terian Church. He at one time officiated as Edilor- 
 in-chief of the D.anville An/us, and as Special 
 Correspondent of the Chicago Times, and Tribune. 
 Isaac P. Smith, the father of onr subject, was 
 born near Snow Hill, in Worcester County, Md., 
 in 1792. His boyhood days were spent upon a 
 farm and his education was acquired in the com- 
 mon school. In his youth he learned the trade of a 
 carpenter, also that of a baker, and later became a 
 contractor and builder. Of his first marriage there 
 there were born eleven children, all of whom lived 
 to mature years. Finally he left Maryland and 
 took up his abode in Pickaway County, Ohio. 
 where he entered a tract of land, which he im- 
 proved, and also followed his trade. Later he 
 moved to Northern Indiana, whence he came to 
 this county in tlie summer of 1832. All these 
 jonrneyings had been made overland with teams, 
 the teams being utilized in hauling the goods, 
 while the famil}' came most of the way on foot. 
 After arriving in this county Mr. Smith entered a 
 tract of land in what is now Danville Township, 
 
 and situated six or seven miles south of tlie pres- 
 ent citj'. He set out a great many trees, especi- 
 ally sugar maples, from which he made a large 
 amount of maple sugar, and lost considerable bj' 
 the Indians. 
 
 ' coo ' 
 
 '■^^j BRAM MANN. Picture to the mind's eye 
 {@yL)|l an im|)osing and beautifully appointed resi- 
 dence situated on a gentle rise of ground 
 in the midst of shade trees and shrubbery, 
 with tasteful walks and driveway, witli the var- 
 ious needed carriage barns and outbuildiniJS in the 
 rear, a choice apiile orchard of bearing trees in 
 good ciindition and trees of the smaller fruits, 
 yielding abundantly in their season, and we have 
 the surroundings of the subject of this sketch. 
 
 The Mann familj^ originated in England prob- 
 ably several hundred years ago, and this branch of 
 it was represented in the United States about 1834, 
 by Abram Mann, Sr. 
 
 The paternal grandparents of our subject were 
 people in good standing in their community and 
 members of the Clinrch of England. Their son, 
 Abram, likewise a native of Bedfordshire, was 
 married there to Miss Mary A. Smith and they be- 
 came the parents of four children who were named 
 respectively, Mary A., Catherine, Abram, our sub- 
 ject, and John. In 1835 the whole family emi- 
 grated to the United States and coming to Illinois 
 settled at Danville. Our subject although a mere 
 boy remembers well the time when there were but 
 few liouses between this point and the then unim- 
 portant little town of Chicago. There were but 
 few families then in Ross Township. In 1837 the 
 f.amily removed Lo this latter township where the 
 parents spent their last days. The father and 
 mother were members of the Methodist Episcopal 
 Church. 
 
 Abram Mann, Jr., the subject of this sketch, was 
 born in February, 1820, in Bedfordshire, England. 
 He chose for his life occupation farming pursuits, 
 and remained a member of the parental household 
 until reaching man's estate. He was married to 
 Miss IMaigaret Dale, daughter of John J. Dale, who 
 was born in Maryland and removed to Clark 
 
672 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 C'ountj', Oliio, when quite yount;-. ITpoii rencliiiig 
 man's estate lie was mari'ied to Miss Lliznbetli 
 Davison, by whom he became the father of eight 
 cliildren in Ohio and one after their removal to 
 Indiana. In 1860 tliey came to this county, settling 
 in Ross Towushii) where the father died in 187K. 
 ]\Irs. Dale and seven of her children are still living. 
 One son, Daniel D., served in the Uni<in Army 
 dnring the late Civil War and met his death on the 
 battlefield of Murfree.sboro, Tenn. The father of 
 <)ur subject at his death left a fine estate including 
 T), (1(1(1 acres of land. Tliis splendid tract of land 
 is remarkably rich and fertile and it has most prop- 
 erly been embellished with one of the finest farm 
 residences in the county. The main building cov- 
 ers an area of f>0 x 57 fret with an " L " 40 x 20 
 feet, is two stories in height and built of brick. 
 
 In addition to carrying on general farming Mr. 
 ]\Iann for many years dealt extensively in cattle, 
 horses and sheep. The accommodations for the 
 shelter of stock and the storage of grain are ample, 
 while the farm machinery is of the latest improved 
 pattern and all the other a])pliances are fully adapted 
 to the general pur|)()ses and emiiloymenls of rural 
 life. Mr. Mann and his sister are both members 
 of the Methodist Episcopal Church in tlie doctrines 
 of which they were carefully trained from cliild- 
 liooil and in the faith of which their jjarents died. 
 
 Mr. Mann cast his first Presidential vote in lHr)2 
 and has since given his snp|)ort to the Republican 
 party. During the late Civil AVar he contributed 
 largely to the sujiport of the Union cause. To hi;n 
 and iiis estimable wife there were born two children 
 only, both sons, John and George Dale. His 
 brother John also left two children, Abrahfam and 
 INIarian who are now living with him. 
 
 ,ROF. THKODORE REYNOLDS is an 
 eminent educator of Vermilion County, 
 and is a gentleman who lakes a great inter- 
 est in anything pertaining to the educntion 
 of the youth. He is the Principal of the A'crmiiion 
 Academy, Ehvood Township, and nil his energies 
 are centered in this institution. He is a tireless 
 
 worker, .■uid one in whose hands the academy will 
 never suffer, for nothing escapes his notice that 
 will forward its material or moral welfare. 
 
 Mr. Reynolds was born in Elwood Township, 
 three miles east of Ridge Farm, on June 7th, 1855. 
 Ilis father, Linton Reynolds, was a native of Indi- 
 ana, and in his earlj' life a wagon-maker and car- 
 penter, but of late years he has followed farming 
 exclusively, and in this line of bu.siness he has 
 pros[)ered, being a man of intelligence and energy. 
 His wife was Lydia, daughter of Asa P'olger,- a 
 prominent pioneer of this county, who came here 
 from Indiana about 18.30, with her parents, when 
 she was three years of age, and therefore has been 
 practically reared in this neighborhood. Mr. and 
 Mis. Reynolds are the parents of five children, four 
 of whom are living: Theodore, the subject of this 
 sketch; Luther, Othello and Mary E. (Mrs. Lewis). 
 
 Mr. lieynolds was educated in the common 
 schools, the Bloomingdale Academy and Wabash 
 College, being graduated from the latter in June, 
 18S4, with a degree of B. S., and in l<s87 he re- 
 ceived the degree A. M, from the same institution. 
 Before being graduated from college Mr. Reynolds 
 taught school for five years, his first effort in this 
 direction being at Locust Corner, in Elwood Town- 
 ship. He made an application in LS84 for his 
 present position, but was rejected. After his rejec- 
 tion he taught the ^'ermilioIl public school for 
 eight months, commencing in September, 1884, and 
 Ijcforc the year had expired, the same Ixiard that 
 had rejected him gave him a call to take charge of 
 the academy, which he accepted, entering upon his 
 duties in September, 1885. He has remained in 
 charge of the institution since, being elected for 
 the fifth consecutive year. Mv Reynolds has 
 given great satisfaction to all the people who are 
 connected with the academy, and it is safe to say 
 that the tenure of his office rests soleh' upon his 
 will. 
 
 The \'ermilion Academy- is rapidly coming to 
 the front as a standard institution of learning. It 
 was established at N'ermilion (irove in 1874, by the 
 (Quarterly Meeting of the Society of P^riends, which 
 meets at this |)lace annually. They recognized the 
 fact that they needed a place where their people 
 could be educated in the same manner as other dc- 
 
i^ORTRAIT AND BlO(iRAPniCAI. ALBUM. 
 
 673 
 
 iiominational schools, and the rosiill. of their delibu- 
 rations in this direction 'vas the establishment of 
 tliis Academy. The building is a lari;o two-story 
 structure, built of brick, and was erected in the 
 year named by priv.atc subscriptions, and also has 
 been the beneficiary of endowments. I'lio incorpo- 
 rators were all members of the (Juarterly Meetini;-, 
 and in 1875, when the corporation was formed, a 
 resolution was [jasseil creating all mendjers of the 
 (Quarterly Meetiiii;' over twenty -one years of aye 
 legal members of the corporate body, thus making 
 the school the |)roperty of the chinch. 'I'here are 
 about seventy students in attendance, and Mr. 
 Reynolds has one assistant. 
 
 ]\lr. Reynolds married Lcivina .1., daughter of 
 Samuel Kuykendall. The latter is a resident of 
 Indiana, and a farmer living near Terre Haute. 
 Mr. and Mrs. Reynolds liave three children — 
 Cora B., Ethel L. and Bertha. Mr. Reynolds es- 
 tablished a graduating course, and nine were gradu- 
 ated this year. The commencement exiu'cibcs 
 were full of interest, each one acquitting himself 
 and herself nobl}'. As a matter of course, Mr. and 
 Mrs. Reynolds belong to the Quaker Church. They 
 are very highly respected in the community as 
 good neighbors and excellent citizens. 
 
 R8. CATHERINE T. MORELANI), widow 
 of Thomas R. JMoreland, is one of the most 
 active and cheerful of the elderly ladies of 
 Carroll Township, and is a general favor- 
 ite with all, old and young. She is the daughter 
 of Peter and Susan (Miller) Hedges, natives of 
 Bourbon Countj', K3'., where tbev passed their en- 
 tire lives, and where thci r remains were laid to rest 
 to await the resurrection morn. 
 
 Grandfather John Hedges was born near Balti- 
 more, Md., on his father's farm, the Hedges having 
 been farmers througlKjut several generations, fol- 
 lowing that occupation in Maryland and N'irginia. 
 The genealogy of the Hedges family can be traced 
 back to the person of Sir Charles Hedges, who was a 
 worthy English Parliamentarian, and graduate of 
 Oxford University, from which institution he re- 
 
 ceived his diploma in 1675. He was appointed one of 
 the chief Secretaries of State under (^ueen Anne in 
 170 0, and about the same time was returned to Par- 
 liament in which body he held a seat several years, 
 but when the Whigs obtained conti'ol of the gov- 
 ernment in 1707 he was clismidsed. At his death 
 in 1714 he left one son, Charles, who on his demise 
 divided his vast estate, by will, between his family 
 of five children which consisted of one son and 
 four daughters. This son, .Tosepli, emigrated to 
 America where he made a home, and continued to 
 reside in this eouiitry until his death which ou- 
 eurred in Prince i;eorge's County, Md. From 
 him spring the large family of Hedges in Amei'ica, 
 and a vast estate estimated at 1250,000,000 is still 
 left in England awaiting the rightful heirs to 
 l)rove their claim and secure the money. 
 
 The parents of our subject had four children who 
 grew to maturit3', namely: Henr}-, Zerilda A., 
 Catherine T., ]\[ayy A. and John T., who was ason 
 (>( Mv. Peter Hedges by bis see<jnd wife and now 
 resides in Bourliou County, Ky. Mrs. Moreland 
 is the only survivor of the children born to the 
 first wife. She was born Nov. 5, 1827, in Bour- 
 bon County, Ky., where she passed her childhood 
 and young ladyhood. She attended the best pri- 
 vate schools in the county and comi»leted her 
 education at a seminar}' taught by the Sisters in 
 Lexington, Ky. She entered that institu.tion when a 
 miss of fourteen and completed the course with high 
 honor wht'u about eighteen, having endeared herself 
 by her many good qualities and amiable traits of 
 character not only to the gentle ladies in charge of 
 the seliool, but also to her school-mates with 
 whom she was a general favorite. 
 
 Miss Catherine took upon herself the duties of 
 wifehood at the early age of nineteen yeai's in 1847 
 when she was married to Thomas R. Moreland in 
 1817. The wedding occurred during the palmy 
 days of slavery, and as the parents of Mrs. More- 
 land owned a large number of slaves, the exquisite 
 fairness of the dainty bride and her attendants, was 
 well set off against a dusky background formed b^' 
 the sable followers of the numerous guests usual 
 on such occasions, mingling with the home repre- 
 sentatives of the "peculiar institution." Although 
 the colored members of the Hedges' estate occupied 
 
G71 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BJOGKAFIIICAL ALBUM. 
 
 .1 servile jiosilion, their love aiul esteem wns lav- 
 ishly bestowed upon young "missie," and no ti'uer 
 or more heartfelt wishes for her welfare were 
 uttered, than came from the lips of the so-called in- 
 ferior race. 
 
 Mr. Moreland, a native of Bourbon Count3', 
 Kv., was born March 27, 1827. His parents Will- 
 iam and Margaret (Whaby) Moreland, were both 
 natives of Teiinsyivania, in which State they were 
 married and from whi-h they emigrated to Ken- 
 tucky, establishing themselves in the above named 
 county, and making that their home during the 
 remainder of their lives. Tliey prospered in the 
 new locality and reared their family in comfort 
 giving them an excellent education. 
 
 About ten years after marriage, INlr. and Mrs. 
 Moreland left their childhood's home and located 
 in Carroll Township, Vermilion Co., 111., the 
 date of their arrival in that State being 1857. 
 Tlieir change of location proved a fortunate one 
 as tliey [irospered finely in their new home, and 
 their bark glided smoothly over the stream of 
 life, meeting few obstacles to hinder its progress 
 until 18G4,whcn INIr. Moreland erossed over the 
 river, leaving Mrs. Moreland to continue the jour- 
 ney onward without his sympathy and companion- 
 shii). Altliough lonely and sad at times, she is, at 
 the age of sixty-two, a cheerful, active lady, a de- 
 sirable acquaintance for those in prosperity and a 
 symiiathetic friend to those in adversity. Mr. 
 and Mrs. Moreland became the parents of eiglit 
 children, seven of whom are living, their resid- 
 ences being in various places in the States of Indi- 
 ana, Missouri and Illinois. 
 
 -i.w,i 
 
 ONAM M.DAVIS. The subject of this notice 
 established himself at Ridge Farm in the 
 spring of 1855, where, with the exception of 
 ^0/1 one summer spent as a clerk in old BloomfleUb 
 lie has since lived and engaged in various branches 
 of business. He is now engaged as a furniture 
 dealer and undertaker, and from his known in- 
 tegrity and promi)tnes8 in meeting his obligations, 
 ranks among its leading business men. He is 
 
 well educated and a man of more than ordinary 
 intelligence — one who has made the most of his 
 opportunities in life, and kept his eyes open to 
 what has been going on about him. He numbers 
 his friends by the score in El wood Township, 
 where his familiar figure has been passing to and 
 fro for the long period of thirty-four years. 
 
 Our subject was born on the sea coast near Cape 
 Lookout, in Carteret County, N. C, March 2, 1824. 
 His father, Jesse Davis, was a native of the same 
 county and of Welsh ancestry. The family was 
 first represented in America on Nantucket Island, 
 whence they emigrated to different parts of the 
 country. The parents of our subject set out for the 
 North in the spiingof 1832, establishing themselves 
 at Milton, Wayne Co.. Ind., where our subject pur- 
 sued his early studies in a school carried on under 
 the auspices of the Societ3' of Friends. In due 
 time he de\'eloped into a teacher, but after teach- 
 ing two terms, desirous of adding to his store of 
 knowledge, he entered the High School of the 
 Friends at New Garden, Guilford Co., N. C, where 
 he spent the spring and summer of 1847. He 
 taught school the following winter near the old 
 homestead, and returned to Indiana in 1848. He 
 was a resident of llein-y County for nearly a year 
 thereafter, then entered the Friends' High Schojl 
 near Annapolis, now (Bloomingdale), Ind., and 
 studied while also aeting as assistant teacher a por- 
 tion of the time. The school was then presided 
 over by Frof. Harvey Thomas, its founder. From 
 this place our subject, in the fall of 1849, made his 
 way to Miami County, Ohio, where he taught 
 school a 3'ear on the Still Water, near Ludlow 
 Falls, where there is an extensive cedar grove, 
 supposed to have been planted by the Indians, and 
 which was an object of admiration to both resi- 
 dents and travelers. 
 
 Mr. Davis, in the fall of 1850, came to this 
 county and took charge of the public school at 
 Vermilion Grove, which numbered 110 pupils, 
 eonsidered at that day something remarkable. He 
 was obliged to employ assistants, and held this 
 position Ave years, after which he came to Ridge 
 Farm, and was engaged with Abraham Smith in 
 the mercantile business for a few years, and then 
 with Henry C. Smith a year or two; continuing tlie 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 (175 
 
 Imsiness in company with a, brother under the 
 flira name of Davis Bros, until tiie year 1867. 
 Merchandising was a lucrative avocation dui;ing 
 these years, which included the war of the slave- 
 holder's rebellion. In the year 1872 the brothers 
 built the Ridge Farmflouring-mill, which they sold 
 six months thereafter, and our subject retired from 
 active business life for several years. 
 
 The 9th of November, 1875, vvitnessetl the mar- 
 riage of our subject with Miss Ella, daughter of 
 Benjamin F. Jenkins, and who, like her husband, 
 was also a popular teacher prior to her marriage. 
 They have three children — Royal, Ruby and Nellie. 
 Mrs. Frances C. Jenkins, the mother (.if Mrs. Davis, 
 is a prominent minister in the Friends' Church, a 
 noted temperance worker, and an active member 
 the W. C. T. U. Mr. Davis and his wife are l.ioth 
 connected with the Society of Friends, and render 
 efficient service in every Christian enterprise, being 
 careful to devote at least one tenth of their income 
 to benevolence. 
 
 In the year 1886 Mr. Davis purchased a furni- 
 ture store in Ridge Farm, and has been pleasantly 
 employed with his congenial wife in pleasing the 
 tastes of their great host of friends far and near. 
 Mr. Davis, politically, votes with flie Republican 
 party, but has no time or inclination for the re- 
 sponsibilities of office. 
 
 WfelLLIAM H. RODRICK. As a native cit- 
 / izen of \"ermilion County, born here in 
 pioneer times, son of one of the veiy ear- 
 liest settlers, this gentleman has witnessed the 
 greater part of its development, and since attaining 
 manhood has borne an honorable part in promoting 
 its growth, and is identifled with its agricultural 
 interests. He owns and manages a good farm in 
 Danville Township, and is numbered among its 
 substantial, highly respected citizens. 
 
 He was born in Newell Township, this county, 
 April 24, 1833. His father, Solomon Rodrick, was 
 born in Ohio, Sept. 19, 1803. His grandfather, 
 Daniel Eodrick, was a native of Gerraanj^ was 
 reared and married there, and afterwards, coming 
 
 to America, settled ne;ir Chillicothe, Ohio, and was 
 a ])ioneer theie. He bought a large tract of land, 
 on which he built a log house, and then commenced 
 to clear a farm. But Hoods in the Ohio River 
 spoiled his crops and drowned his stock, and that 
 disastei', with prior claims on his land, ruined him 
 financially, and he died there a poor man. The 
 father of our subject was reared in that pioneer 
 home, and lived there until 1825. He then came 
 to Illinois, and was one of the first settlers of Yer- 
 inilion County. He entered a tract of (Government 
 land in Newell Township, improved a good farm, 
 and resided there until 1884. In that 3 ear, having 
 accumulated a com|)eteiicy, he came to Danville to 
 make his home for the futuie, and is still living 
 here in honorable retirement, free from the cares 
 and labors of his earlier years. He has been 
 three times married. The maiden name of his first 
 wife, mother of our subject, was Sarah Brewer. 
 
 William Rodrick obtained his education in the 
 primitive pioneer schools, taught in a log house, 
 the seats being made by splitting logs and hewing 
 one side and inserting wooden pins fyr legs, and 
 the rude structure was heated by a huge fireplace 
 with a dirt and a stick chimney. As soon as he 
 was large enough, the active lad began to hunt 
 deer, wild turkeys and other game that abounded 
 at that time, and he supplied the family larder with 
 delicious venison, etc. There were no railways 
 here in those early days, and his father used to 
 draw his wheat to Chicago, 125 miles distant, sell- 
 ing it for fifty cents a bushel. At first he used to 
 cut grain with a sickle, and later with a cradle, and 
 having no threshing machine his giain was trodden 
 out by horses oi- beaten with a flail. (.)ur subject 
 remained an inmate of his father's house until he 
 married and established a home of his own, settling 
 at that time on the farm he still owns and t)ccu- 
 pies. It was heavily timbered, with the exception 
 of six acres, and his has been the task of the [lio- 
 neer to develop it from the hand of nature to a 
 well-cultivated estate, all but thirty acres clearcil 
 and under tillage, neatly fenced, and provided with 
 a substantial, roomy set of frame buildings, the 
 whole forming one of the pleasantest homes in the 
 township. 
 
 Mr. Rodrick was married in 1853 to Mary A. 
 
676 
 
 FOKTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 Ei-ewci', wlio was, like liiiiiself, a native of Vermil- 
 ion County, born in Danville to William ami Sa- 
 rah (Swilzcr) Brewer. To tliom came ten cliil- 
 drcii, five of whom are living — Tlionias K., Sarah 
 C, Mary E., Francis anil Minnie May, six having 
 (lied in infancy. Death invaded the happy house- 
 hold of our snlijeet and removed the loved and 
 loving vvifc and mother. 
 
 In his life-work INIr. Rodriek has shown himself 
 to be possessed of prudence, thrift, steadiness of 
 pur|)ose, and other traits necessary to success in 
 any calling. And while laboring to gain a com- 
 petence, he has not been unmindful of his duties as 
 a good man and a reliable citizen, and has won for 
 himself a reputation for honesty and truthfulness, 
 and for considerate and kindly dealings with his 
 neighbors, who hold him in great res[)ect. 
 
 -^^vv.-\tizaa/©^@»" 5 
 
 >vf^i^yZnRrr^-\/\j^ 
 
 !)IIOMAS BRADY, living in honorable re- 
 tirement in C'atlin A'illage in one of the 
 '0' finest residences in the place, and one of the 
 pleasanlest homes in the county, was formerly- 
 largely identified with the agricultural interests of 
 this section, and still owns 500 acres of vei'y valuable 
 farming land, nearly all located in this township. 
 Our subject is a native of Vermilion County, born 
 of pioneer parentage, Oct. H. 1832, in Danville 
 Township, and he may well be jjroud of its prog- 
 ress aufl of the part that he has played in bringing 
 about his present high standing, wealth and pros- 
 perity. 
 
 The father of Thomas Erad^', John Brady, was 
 born in the old conunonwealth of Virginia, while 
 his mother was a native of Ohio. They married 
 and settled in Brown County, the latter State, and 
 remained there till 1832. In that year they de- 
 cided to try pioneer life still farther westward, and 
 pushing their way to Illinois, they located in Dan- 
 ville Township and were among its early settlers. 
 The father took up land and busily engaged in its 
 improvement till death removed him from his 
 sphere of usefulness in 1855. His wife died in 
 1818, when she laid aside the caies and toils of 
 earth to fall into that dreamless sleep that knows 
 
 no waking this side of the grave. Fourteen children 
 were the fruits of the marriage of those good peo- 
 ple, of whom Thomas was the seventh. His early 
 years were passed on his father's farm, where he 
 learned the practical part of a farmer's life, and 
 his education was gleaned in the log school-houses 
 of those days. He remained an inmate of the pa- 
 rental household till he was twenty-two years old, 
 when he married and settled in a home of his own 
 across the line in Catlin Township, and was a resi- 
 dent of his farm there till 1881, giving all his time 
 and attention to agricultural pursuits, and to such 
 purpose that his well directed labors were hand- 
 somely rewarded b}' a fine competence, and he was 
 enabled to take his place among the wealthy, sub- 
 stantial farmers of this section of the country. In 
 the year just mentioned he retired from the active 
 labors of his farm to the village, where ho erected 
 his present commodious, well-fitted up dwelling. 
 
 Mr. Brady has been twice married. To the wife 
 of his early manhood, America Finley by name, he 
 was wedded in ( ieorgetown Township. She w;is a 
 native of A'ermilion County, and a daughter of 
 Mahlon and Margaret (Falls) Finley, deceased. 
 Two children were horn to our subject by that mar- 
 riage — Clarence M. and Ocorge M. IMrs. 15rady 
 was a woman whose character combined so many 
 fine traits of mind and heart that she was an in- 
 fluence for good to those about her. She was a 
 woman of devoted Christian piety and a consistent 
 member of the Metliodist Episcopal Church. Her 
 death, which <.>ccarred in W infield, Kan., May 8, 
 1883, while on a health -seeking tour, was a loss not 
 only to her family, but to church and society, and 
 to the community at large, where she was so well 
 known and esteemed. 
 
 Mr. Brady was married to his present wife, form- 
 erly Miss Lura Williams, March 21, 1885. She is 
 a native of ^'ermilion County, born Jan. 20, 1851 
 to M3'ron and Sarah (Sterrett) Williams, natives, 
 res[)ectively, of Pennsylvania and Virginia. She 
 was the second child of their family of ten chil- 
 dren. Mrs. Brady is a woman of true refinement 
 and much culture, and is an artist of much merit, 
 many of her beautiful pictures adorning the walls 
 of the attractive home, over which she presides so 
 graciously, warmly co-operating with her husband 
 
RESIDENeE OFJdMIKlTiigM^giSEGS.gO^Sl (T 19=R IglOATKlNTp.yERMIblON ©O. 
 
 %siiDENeE OF W^W.KEMTe^Ee.25.(T.21 =R.1I.) NEWEtia T^.Vermimon eo. 
 
FORTRAI'l' AND BKKiRAPIIICAL ALBUM. 
 
 679 
 
 in extending its cliarming hospitality to friend or 
 stranger. 
 
 Mr. Brady- has accumulated wealth, not only by 
 steady industry and sound judgment in all matters 
 pertaining to his business, but by a strictly upright 
 course in all bis dealings with others has won the 
 fullest trust of his fellow-townsmen. He is a Dem- 
 ocrat in his political beliefs, but has never sought 
 office, preferring the quiet and peace of his happy 
 fireside to the turmoil of public life. Mrs. Brady 
 is connected with the Christian Church as one of 
 its most zealous workers and members. 
 
 — V ■©♦o-^;>^.<\^-.o*o.. -t,-- 
 
 y^ W. IvENT is a most affable and agreeable 
 gentleman, who is proud, as he well may 
 WW be, of his family and splendid residence. 
 Mr. Jvent was born in 1S50, on the "iflth of March, 
 and spent his boyhood days near State Line, Ind. 
 In 1868 he married Miss . Emma Cronkhite, the 
 daughter of Ilosa and Elenor(Garrettson)Cronkhite, 
 natives of New York, from which State they came 
 at an early date, and settled in Warren County, Ind. 
 Here Mrs. Kent was born and raised with her five 
 elder sisters and brothers. Ilcr union with Rlr. 
 Kent was blessed with six children: Claudie W., 
 deceased at the age of two years and six months; 
 Perrine, who attended college at Greencastle, Ind., 
 and at the De Pauw University ; Clarence, Stelle, and 
 Grace, who died at the age of four months; and 
 Inez, the last, who was twenty-three months old at 
 the time of her death. 
 
 Mr. Kent lived in Indiana until 1872, when he 
 went to Kansas and located in Coffee County. 
 Here he farmed for eighteen months, after which 
 he came back to Illinois and settled on his present 
 farm of 200 acres. Year by year he increased the 
 extent of his possessions until it now amounts to 
 460 acres, which he has improved by placing upon 
 it an unusually fine building, in which he resides. 
 This house was in fact the finest in the county at 
 the time of its erection in 1883. The arrangement 
 of his land is as artistic as it is convenient. The 
 laying of the lawns, the fixing of the shrubbery, 
 and the placing of trees and walks, speak a taste 
 
 European in its accuracy. In his stables may be 
 found studs of the finest horses, and he is the owner 
 of the celebrated stallion "Medino." He makes "n 
 specialty of fine Short-horn cattle and Percheron 
 horses. 
 
 In politics Mr. Kent is a Democrat, and his 
 views are strong and well founded, and his opinion 
 is often sought to settle a debate. Although he is 
 stanch in his i<leas he has never aspired to the hold- 
 ing of an office. Mr. Kent's education is an excel- 
 lent one, and his stock of general information is 
 unrivaled by that of any man in the township in 
 which he lived. This education was acquired by 
 hard study at the college of Crawfordsville, Ind., 
 of which he is a graduate of the business course. 
 It is not learning alone, nor is it physical power 
 that makes, a perfect man, but it is the combination 
 of both of these attributes. This fact is fully ap- 
 preciated liy our subject. He is therefore never 
 tired of aiding the workingmau to obtain the 
 knowledge necessary to his calling. 
 
 Mr. Kent has served as School Director in his 
 township for some time. He affiliates with the 
 Presbyterian Church. His home is surrounded vvith 
 every convenience and comfort, and he is generally 
 appealed to in local matters, as he takes great pride 
 in assisting in anything whatever that may serve to 
 aid or improve bis surrounding friends. 
 
 In all the township in which he lives, there is no 
 man more respected and looked up to than our sub- 
 ject. His sound judgment, his large charities, and 
 his kindly disposition, have made him loved and 
 honored by all who know him. Mr. Kent has one 
 of the finest residences in the township, a view of 
 which is shown elsewhere in this work. 
 
 «/w-*2a(2/!s~j@«- 
 
 ■■®S^OT3>^"w*^ 
 
 Vf/OIIN THOMAS is identified with the agri- 
 cultural and coal interests of Vermilion 
 County, and has a fine farm on sections 21 
 _ and 20, Catlin Township. On it there is a 
 valuable deposit of coal which he works, while at 
 the same time he is actively engaged in the culti- 
 vation of his land. Our subject is of mingled Welsh 
 and English ancestry, although his parents, Jacob 
 
680 
 
 PORTRAIT AIS'D lUOCaiAPlllCAJ. ALBUM. 
 
 and Sarah Thomas, were both natives of England. 
 After marriage they settled in tiie southern part of 
 Wales, wiiere they ultimately died, having spent a 
 part of their wedded life, however, in England, 
 and there their son John, of this biography, was 
 born Jan. 11, 1834, near the town of Bristol, in 
 Gloucestershire. His parents moving to Southern 
 Wales, he was reared to manhood in that part of 
 the country, and was early put to work to earn his 
 own living in the coal mines. In 1851, anxious to 
 better his prospects in life, he resolved to ti-y life 
 in the New World, in that part of it embraced in 
 the United States of America. According he end- 
 orated to these shores with bis wife and four chil- 
 dren in 1851, and landing in New York made his 
 way to Tioga County, Fa., and lived there and in 
 Ohio for some years. In 1857 he came from Cam- 
 bria County, the former State, to Vermilion County, 
 and has ever since resided here. He was at first 
 employed in the coal mines in the vicinity of Dan- 
 ville, but about 1859 he invested some of his 
 hard-earned savings in his present farm in Catlin 
 Township, and has built up a substantial home here. 
 He owns 160 acres of fine land, and by its cultiva- 
 tion and the mining of the valuable coal bank on 
 it, derives an income that places him among the in- 
 dependent, moneyed men of his neighborhood. 
 
 Mr. Tliomas has been three times married. His 
 first marriage, which took plae6 in Soutii Wales, 
 was to Miss Jcanette Price, by whom he had two 
 children, John and Mary Ann. The wife and 
 mother departed this life in South Wales. Mr. 
 Thomas was a second time married in South Wales, 
 Miss Ann Davis becoming his wife, and the fol- 
 lowing children were born to them : John, Tom, 
 Sarah. Emma, Anna, Shadrack, Meshack, Abednego 
 and Maltha. Abednego, Jacob G. and Anna are 
 dead. BIrs. Thomas accompanied her husband 
 acr<iss the waters from their old home, and in 1865 
 closed her eyes to the scenes of earth. Mr. 
 Thomas' marriage to his present wife took place in 
 Danville, 111., March, 18Grt. At that time she was 
 the widow of a Mr. liaker, and by her first mar- 
 riage had five children — Elizabeth J., Eva M., 
 Cora B., Mark B. and Lewis E. 
 
 Mrs. Thomas' maiden name was Paulina Will- 
 iams, and she is a daughter of Thomas and Pau- 
 
 lina (Rote) Williams, the fourth child in a family 
 of twelve children, and was born in Ripley, Ind., 
 IMarcli 21, 1835. Her father came to this country 
 from his native England when he was fifteen years 
 old, and lived to quite an advanced age, dying in 
 Catlin Township, March 15, 1889. After the death 
 of his first wife, Mrs. Thomas' mother, a native of 
 Dearborn County, Ind., who died in Ripley County, 
 Mr. Williams came to A'ermilion County in 1851, 
 and established himself permanently in Catlin 
 Township. He married for his second wife Mrs. 
 Catherine (Falls) Pate, and she dying in Catlin 
 Township, he was again married, taking to wife 
 Mrs. Margaret (Fruits) Patterson, who is still a 
 resident of Catlin Township. Mrs. Thomas is a 
 woman of more than average ability and force of 
 character, and is well endowed with sound sense 
 and good judgment, and these traits have made her 
 an invaluable helper to her husband. She is a 
 cheerful and ready giver, possessing a charitable, 
 sympathizing nature, and is highly thought of by 
 all in the community. 
 
 Mr. Thomas is a man of good standing in the 
 township, and his thrift, shrewd management of his 
 property, and methodical habits have been the 
 means of placing him among the well-to-do citizens 
 of the place. He is a worthy member of the Oak- 
 wood Lodge I. ( ). O. F. No. 564 at Oakwood. lie 
 affiliates with the Republican part^^, having cast liis 
 first Presidential vote for Abraham Lincoln, and 
 is an ardent supporter of the principles of that 
 party. Mr. and Mrs. Thomas have a comfortable 
 home, a view of which is presented elsewhere in 
 this work, and there they welcome and most hos- 
 pitably entertain their many friends. 
 
 -S>-^^H>-^{^9>«!«f- 
 
 •- <i> 
 
 ^^ HARLES T. CARAWAY is a son of one 
 (li ' fi) of the earliest pioneers of A'ermilion County, 
 ^^^ and for many years has been connected with 
 its immense farming interests. A native of Catlin 
 Township, where he was reared and the most of his 
 life has been spent, it has no better or more public 
 spirited citizen that he, one who is ever interested 
 ill its welfare, and is always glad to promote in any 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGKAPIIJCAL ALBUM. 
 
 681 
 
 way in his power, its highest interests, material, 
 social, educational, and moral. Mis well-ordered 
 farm on section 29 is conducted after the most ap- 
 proved methods, so as to produce the best results 
 witli the least expenditure of labor and time, and here 
 he has built up a home that is not rivalled in 
 pleasantness and comfort 113' any in its vicinity. 
 As representing one of the many beautiful homes 
 of Vermilion County, we are pleased to present to 
 our readers a view of Mr. C'araway s residence. 
 Mr. Carawav is a fine representative of the citizen- 
 soldiers of our country, who in tiie trying times of 
 the late Rebellion, laid aside all personal aims, and 
 leaving happy homes and loved friends, went forth 
 to Southern battle-fields to fight for the dear old 
 flag or die in its defease. For good conduct in 
 camp and field, and for bravery in the face of the 
 enemy, our subject was promoted from the ranks, 
 and won an honorable military record, of which he 
 and his maj' well be proud. 
 
 Charles T. Caraway, was born in this township 
 Oct. 22, 1838, the posthumous son of another 
 Charles Caraway, whose earthly career had been 
 untimelj' ended the month preceding that in which 
 our subject first saw the light of day. The father 
 was a son of Thomas Caraway, and was born in Green- 
 briar County, W. Va., in 1788. After attaining to 
 man's estate he married one of his neighbor's fair 
 daughters, Elizabeth McCorkle by name, who was 
 also a native of that county. They lived a few 
 years in their native State, but in 1829 ni;ide their 
 wa}' across the wild, sparsely settled country in- 
 tervening between their old home and this State, 
 and coming to Vermilion County, became very 
 early pioneers of the county. They located in 
 what is now C'atlin Township, and here a few years 
 later the stalwart husband and father met his death, 
 in September, 1838, while yet in life's prime, leav- 
 ing his desolate widow with four children and an 
 unborn babe, who on his birth was named Charles 
 T., in memory of his father. The other children 
 were Harriet, Martha, Isabella, and Ann E. The 
 mother afterward married Anson Butler, and con- 
 tinued to reside in Catlin Township until her death, 
 in 1848. 
 
 Our subject grew to a strong and vigorous man- 
 hood ■ in Catlin Township, where he has always 
 
 made his home, and when he arrived at years of 
 discretion chose the calling of agriculture, for 
 which he had a natural aptitude, and has ever since 
 made it his life-work. His farm comprises 100 
 acres of valuable land, which is well tilled, and he 
 has erected good buildings for every necessary pur- 
 pose, including a neat and pretty dwelling. He is 
 also a breeder of thorough-bred Short-horn cattle. 
 
 In the opening 3'ears of his manhood the great 
 Civil War broke out, and our subject, thrilled to 
 the heart by the deep and abiding love of country 
 th.at animated so many of the true and patriotic 
 spirits of this great Republic in those trying days, 
 and caused them to leave pleasant firesides and 
 and loving friends to go forth to battle for the 
 grand old Stars and Stripes, cast aside the hopes 
 and ambitions of a generous young mind, and the 
 bright prospects of a successful career in his chosen 
 calling, to join his brave compatriots on Southern 
 battle-fields with the solemn feeling that he owed 
 even life itself to his native land. In August, 1861, 
 he enlisted in Company I, 35th Illinois Infantry, 
 as a private, and was with his regiment in many im- 
 portant engagements with the enem3', including 
 the siege of Corinth, battle of Stone River, Chiek- 
 amauga and Mission Ridge. In the latter battle 
 he was severely wounded in the left leg, and con- 
 fined to the hospital nine months, suffering greatly. 
 Soon after the battle of Cliickainanga the names of 
 himself and a few of his comrades were placed on 
 the Roll of Honor, on account of meritorious con- 
 duct and daring in the encounter with the enemy, 
 by order of Gen. Roset-rans. Our subject also 
 received further merited mark of approval for his 
 courage and ability as a soldier, whereby he was 
 raised from the rank and Sle to the position of 
 corporal. 
 
 Shortly after the close of the war ]\Ir. Caraway 
 was united in marriage with Miss Jennie Dough- 
 erty, their union being solemnized in Decatur, 
 Macon Co., 111., Aug. 22, 1865. She is the daugh- 
 ter of William and Mary (Myers) IJoughcrty, well 
 known and highly respected residents of Catlin 
 Township, with whose interests they have been 
 identified for many years. The father was born in 
 Montgomery County, Va.. Aug. 15, 1815, and the 
 mother in Brown County, Ohio, Dec. 15, 1815. 
 
(i«2 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 After niarringe tliev lived for some time in Oliio 
 County, Intl., wlience tliey came to Vcrinilion 
 County, III., find cast in their lot witli tiie pioneers 
 that liad preceded them. That was in the fall of 
 1856, and they fust settled near Tilton, but came 
 from there iu 1858 to Catlin Township, which has 
 since been their home. Their happy, peaceful 
 wedded life lias been blessed to them by the birth 
 of six children, namely : Andrew, Sarah A., Joseph, 
 Jennie, Wallace and Maggie. Andrew and Maggie 
 are deceased. Jennie, Mi's. Caraway, born in Ohio 
 County, Ind., Oct. 20, 1844, and w;is twelve years 
 of age Avhen she accompanied her parents to this 
 county. Four children have been born of her imion 
 with our subject — an infant that died unnamed, 
 Warren E., Charles H. and Nellie B. 
 
 Mr. Caraway stands high in the estimation of his 
 fellow-men, not onlj' for his loyalty and patriotism 
 in the late war, but for his conduct in the more 
 peaceful pursuits of life before and since that time. 
 Me is a man whose honor is unquestioned, and 
 whose strict regard for wliat is right is beyond dis- 
 jinte. PL's public spirit is commendable, and leads 
 him to take a genuine interest in all that concerns 
 the material, moral, or educational welfare of his 
 native township. lie has been connected with the 
 administration of its public affairs as Highway 
 Commissioner and in various school offices. He is 
 prominently identified with the^ollowing social nr- 
 ganizations; Catlin Lodge No. 285, A. F. & A. M.; 
 ^"ermilion Chapter and Atlielstan Commandery at 
 Danville, and politically, belongs to the Union 
 Labor partj'. 
 
 ^ff AMES J. RICE, coming of good old Revo- 
 lutionary stock, is a representative pioneer 
 of Vermilion County, one of those whose 
 courageous, self-sacrificing toil in the early 
 and later years of the settlement of the coujity 
 laid a solid foundation for its present prosperity, 
 in which they have also been factors, and who have 
 lived to enjoy the fruit of the seed that they 
 planted so long ago, that has yielded so abundantly 
 in the happy homi's, smiling farms, and busy towns 
 
 ~5§ 
 
 and cities now flourishing on the once wild prairies. 
 Our subject came to Vermilion County as early as 
 1835 and in 1849 came to his present location in 
 Pilot Township. Here he has a farm of 320 acres 
 of choice, highly cultivated land, pleasantly situ- 
 ated on sections 16 and 21. 
 
 Mr. Rice was born in Chautauqua County, N.Y., 
 June 13, 1812. His paternal grandfather was of 
 Scotch descent, and he was a faithful soldier in the 
 Revolutionary War, having served seven years. 
 Silas Rice, the father of our subject, was born in the 
 eastern part of New York, and dying when he was 
 avvay from home, the dates of his birth and death 
 are unknown. The maiden name of his wife was 
 Phebe Leonard, and she was a native of Cavuga 
 County, N. Y. She died in A'ermilion County, 
 111., in 1.S57, at a ri|)e old age. She was the mother 
 of eight children, three of whom are still living, 
 Lucy, Hannah and James. Lucy, living in Dan 
 ville, this county, is the widow of Isaac Balengee, 
 who was- in the rebel armj' during the late war. 
 She has four children, namely: James H., America, 
 Minerva and Lucy. Hannah married C'harles Clifton, 
 of Piqiia Countj', Ohio, now a farmer near Omnhn, 
 Neb., and they had three children, Sarah, George 
 and Elizabeth, deceased. 
 
 James Rici', of whom we write, received a lim- 
 ited education in common with most farmers' boys 
 of his time, and in the fall of 1835, in the opening 
 years <jf his manhood, he came to this county, hav- 
 ing chosen farming as his life-work, and deciding 
 to cast in his lot with the pioneers of this section 
 of the countr}' who had preceded him, and take 
 advantage of the rich alluvial soil of the virgin 
 prairies. He lived nine 3'ears on Salt Fork, and 
 then coming to Pilot Township took up his abode 
 in the eastern jjart of it and dwelt there five j'ears. 
 At the expiration of that time he located on his 
 present farm, whose value he has greatly increased 
 by unremitting toil, wise economy and a judicious 
 expenditure of mone}', so that it is classed among 
 the first and best farms of the vicinity. Starting 
 out in life with a capital of *I00, he has thus in- 
 creased it many fold, and is now- a man of means 
 and is accounted one of the solid, substantial citi- 
 zens of the township. 
 
 Mr. Rice was fortunate in the selection of a wife 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 683 
 
 who has been to him all that a true woman can 
 he to her husband, and an important factor in 
 making his life a success, as she lias worked un- 
 weariedly at bis side for tlic highest interests of 
 their family. Her maiden name was JNlary Davis, 
 and islie was born in Pickaway County, Ohio, Sept. 
 13, 1823, her marriage witli our subject taking 
 place in Vermilion County, Sept. 11, 1845. Her 
 parents were Isaac and Elizabeth (Coyle) Davis. 
 The father was born in Kentucky in 179G, and the 
 mother in Ross County, Ohio, in .about 1799. 
 The father died in 1878 at a ripe old age, and the 
 mother in March, 1867. They were among the 
 early pioneers of Vermilion County, coming here 
 in 1832, and their memory is held in respect. 
 They were the parents of seven children, of whom 
 the following is recorded : Irene married F. M. 
 Brewer, of South Carolina, now deceased, .ind she 
 is living in Champaign County III., with her 
 two children; Emily married George AVilson, of 
 Indiana, now living In Champaign County, and 
 they have four children; Cynthia A. is the vvidow of 
 Milton Cannon, of Ohio, and she and her five chil- 
 dren are living in Champaign Count3'; Diana, liv- 
 ing in Vermilion County, near Muncie, is the 
 widow of Daniel Cannon and the mother of two 
 children; Lura J. married James H. West, of 
 Ohio, now deceased, and she and her two children 
 are living in Linn County, Kas.; Owen, a farmer, 
 married Sarah Brown, of Arkansas. Mary is the 
 wife of our subject, and they have six chil- 
 dren, namely: Bruce L., Isaac L., George C, 
 Emerctta .1., .lohn D., Mary C. ; Bruce married 
 Emeline Neff, of Indiana, and they live in this 
 county with their six children, Mary, Grant, Min- 
 nie, Oscar, Lucy, P]lmer J.; Isaac, a farmer in 
 Ilico, Benton Co., Ark., inarried Clara T. Wilson, 
 of this county, and they have two children, Carrie 
 and J. J. ; George C. is a merchant and Postmaster 
 in Charity, 111.; Emeretta married T. J. Ilarler, of 
 Indiana, now a farmer in this county, and they 
 have three children, John I., Nellie and Lillic; 
 John D., merchant and Assistant Postmaster at 
 Charit3% this countj', married Emma Todd, of 
 Putnam Count}', Ind.; Mary C. lives at home 
 with her parents. 
 
 Mr. Rice occupies a high place among the best 
 
 citizens of Pilot Ttjwnship, wherc^ so many years 
 of his life have been passed, and his strong integ- 
 rity in word and deed causes him to be regarded 
 with absolute trust bj' the entire community. He 
 is a prominent member of the Church of Christ 
 and has held the office of Elder for many jears. 
 In him the Prohibition party has one of its most 
 earnest and and consistent supporters. Mr. Rice 
 has served very acceptably on the juries of State 
 and county. 
 
 LINGER P. BAITM owns and carries on two 
 farms, the homestead containing 4G6 acres, 
 while the other embr.aces a half-section ad- 
 joining the vill.age of Sidell on the east, lie also 
 hns sixteen and three-fourths acres of timber land, 
 close to Indianola. Therefore Mr. Baum may be 
 considered one of the leading land owners. He is 
 a very extensive farmer and one whose success 
 has been steadily growing since he first started in 
 life. 
 
 His father, Samuel Baum, settled in Carroll 
 Township in 1829, in company with Michael Wea- 
 ver, and was one of the prominent pioneers. The 
 father was a very large man, weighing 365 pounds. 
 
 The grandfather, Charles Baum, was a prominent 
 man in his day, and noted for his piety. The 
 gre.at-grandfatlicr was banished from Poland and 
 came to the colonies, where he soon established a 
 reputation for patriotism and fidelity to American 
 principles. He married Barbara McDonald, and 
 settled in Bucks County, Pa., immediately succeed- 
 ing the struggle for independence in 1776. Soon 
 after Wayne's treaty with the Indians, he with his 
 family Sailed down the Ohio in a family boat, and 
 made the first settlement in that territory, close to 
 the mouth of the Bullskin Creek. He died full of 
 years .and honors in Clermont County, in the State 
 he helped to form. 
 
 The mother of the subject of this biography 
 was Sarah Weaver, the oldest daughter of Michael 
 AV'eaver, who was a man possessed of a great many 
 peculiar characteristics. He always had money to 
 loan, but would never take more than six per cent. 
 
G84 
 
 PORTRAIT AND r.TOORAPMICAL ALBUM. 
 
 foi- its use, when he could easily ask and obtain 
 foi-ty. He was a rich man when he came from 
 Oliio to this county, in 1829, and many a pioneer 
 owes to Micliael Weaver a debt of gratitude. lie 
 was as generous and open-hearted a man as ever 
 lived. He would fix the price for his corn at a 
 reasonable rate, and would not take for it eitlier a 
 higlier or a lower price. He adhered inflexibly to 
 the rule that it was not right to extort liy specula- 
 tion or any other method, and when he made a price 
 on any commodity, it was based upon actual cost, 
 with a living profit added. Mr. Weaver studiously 
 endeavored to aid the poor, but he invariably re- 
 fused to loan money to speculators. By this it will 
 be seen that his peculiarities were all virtues. At 
 the great age of nearly one liundred and one years 
 he passed away to his reward. The mother died 
 when she was about forty years old, leaving eight 
 children, of whom Oliver P. is the oldest. His 
 father was married a second time, to Mrs. J'olly 
 (Sandusky) Matkin, four cliildren being born of this 
 union. 
 
 Oliver P. Baum, was born in January, 1828, his 
 birthplace being Clermont County, Ohio. He grew 
 to man's estate in Carroll Township, and at the age 
 of thirty-three his father died, leaving him a good 
 property. He has been engaged in feeding cattle 
 for the past thirty years. The market places for 
 his stock are Chicago and Buffalo, where he is well 
 and favorably known as a business man. He also 
 feeds a large number of hogs, and in this branch 
 of stock-raising he is equally successful. As Mr. 
 Baum puts it, "nothing but prairie grass and rattle- 
 snakes were on the land in Vermilion County when 
 he came here." He passed through all the trials 
 and tribulations of a pioneer, and has witnessed 
 Illinois struggle from comparative poverty up to 
 affluence, and attain the proud position of a sov- 
 erign State. Far better than all the titles tliat roy- 
 alty can bestow, is the simple one of a pioneer. 
 The nobility has torn down, while the mission of 
 the pioneer was to build up, and when the awards 
 are given to mankind, whose will be the highest? 
 
 Mr. Baum erected the elegant mansion which he 
 now occupies in 1H75, and in its construction is 
 exhibited a great deal of (common sense. He also 
 has a large barn, 44x60, which is a model of strength 
 
 and utility. His place is laid out in a manner to 
 insure good results, and for the peifect handling of 
 stock. Taking this farm as a whole, including its 
 buildings, surroundings and everything connocterl 
 with it, it would be no exaggeration to make the 
 statement that for the purposes for which it is de- 
 signed there is not a better farm in \'ermilion 
 County. 
 
 - In 1871 Mr. Baum was married to Miss Helen 
 McClenathen, of Washington County, Pa., daugh- 
 ter of George S. and Sarah (Remley) McClenathen, 
 both natives of the Keystone State. When her 
 parents came to Danville Township, jNIrs. Baum was 
 five years old, and therefore her early training and 
 growth to womanhood occurred in this neighbor- 
 hood. Her father and motlier are both living in 
 Fairmount, retired at the ages of seventy and sixtj^- 
 four, res[)ectively. They had twelve children: 
 James, William, Helen, Lucy, John, Belle, Anna, 
 Fmma, Owen, Ethel, Volney and George Byron. 
 Mr. and Mrs. Baum, are the parents of one child — 
 Herbert. She is a member of the Kingsley Chapel, 
 Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Baum votes 
 with the Democratic party. His present fortune 
 and position in society are based upon his intelli- 
 gence and industry. 
 
 OHN J. JACKSON, a popular and energetic 
 farmer of Sidell Township, owns and oper- 
 ates 160 acres of land on section 31, town- 
 ship 18, ranch 14. He is a native of Ohio and 
 was liorn Jan. 31, 1828. His parents came to Clin- 
 ton County, Ind., when lie was a small boy. His 
 father and mother, John and Katie (Ross) Jackson, 
 were born in Pennsylvania, and before leaving tjiat 
 State were married. From there they removed to 
 Oliio, where they resided for some time and in 1829 
 emigrated to Indiana, remaining there until death 
 called them away. 
 
 'I'he father was an early settler and a leading man 
 in his county and was considered one of the best 
 farmers in his section. He died in 1846 at the 
 earljr age of forty-seven years, leaving behind him 
 eight children: Christina, Elizabeth, Martha, Henry, 
 
PORTRAIT AND BTOftRAPHTCAL ALBUM. 
 
 685 
 
 John J., Abraham, Andy and Amos. The sub- 
 ject of this skelcli received his education at the 
 subscription schools — incident to tlie days of his 
 boyhood, and therefore liis advantages for securing 
 an education were limited. Mis father, iilie all of 
 the early pioneers of Indiana, was extremely poor, 
 and his children were therefore obliged to work as j 
 soon as they were able. John J., being the oldest 
 boy, was obliged to take the lead in work, and was 
 held responsible, in a measure, for its being well 
 done, and to this fact may be traced the reason of 
 his being painstaking in everything he does. 
 
 At the age of twenty-one years Mr. Jackson was 
 married to Miss Ellen McCray, a native of ^'ir- 
 gia, but who was reared to maturity in Clinton 
 County, Ind. After marriage, the young couple 
 lived in the latter state for two years on a farm, 
 after which they removed to Coles County, 111., 
 and iu the fall of 185.3 they took up their residence 
 in Vermilion County, where they purchased 120 
 acres of land, which is a part of the quarter section 
 where they now live. There was a log house, and 
 forty acres broken on this land when they bought 
 it, and independent of this, there were no improve- 
 ments. By his first wife he became the father of 
 two children: Susan J., who died at the age of eigh- 
 teen years and five months, and Laura, who is the 
 wife of Richard Keys, the latter couple having 
 three children : John J., Grace and Lydia. jAIr. 
 Keys is engaged as a smelter and lead miner in Jas- 
 per County, Mo. Mr. Jackson's first wife died in 
 1860 and he married a second time, in 1881, Mrs. 
 Mary E. Kieffer, widow of Frank Kieffer of Ohio. 
 She was born in Crawford County, Ohio, and is a 
 daughter of Jacob and Eleanor (Montgomery) An- 
 drews. Her father's peo))le were from Pennsyl- 
 vania, and her mother was born near Baltimore, 
 Md. 
 
 Mrs. Jackson's parents removed to Greene 
 County, Pa., in 1827, where they first met each 
 other and were married. They later removed to 
 Ohio, where they resided on a farm which they 
 purchased from the Government. Here they re- 
 sided until their death, the father dying in 1878 at 
 at the age of seventy-nine, while the mother passed 
 away in 1874, sixty-eight years old. Twelve of 
 their children are living: Samuel, John, Hiram, 
 
 Robert, St. Clair, Madison, Ella, Charity, Lemon, 
 Jane, Lois and Mar3'; besides there were tw(^ 
 brothers who died in the army— Jacob and Frank. 
 Two sisters also died in infancy. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Jackson are the parents of two 
 children — Alta Marie and Lemon J. Mrs. Jackson 
 attended public school at home after which, at the 
 age of nineteen, she entered Biicyrus College, her 
 studies embracing the scientific course. She later 
 took up her studies at Oberlin College, where she 
 continued a stuflent for a short time. Mr. Jackson 
 is a leading citizen in his township, where he has 
 served as Commissioner of Highways at various 
 times for the last quarter of a century and is at 
 present holding that office. He is a member of the 
 Democratic party and an ' energetic worker in its 
 ranks, and socially he belongs to Palermo Lodge, 
 No. 646, located at Palermo, Edgar County. 
 
 \^*^ AVID LA VTON. In passing through a sec- 
 tion of country, it is not difficult to 
 determine who are the thrifty and enter- 
 prising meji, and who are the drones in a 
 community. Occupying a part of section 19, in 
 Middle Fork Township, is the Layton farm, built 
 up by the subject of this sketch, and noticeable on 
 account of the commodious and substantial brick 
 residence, which with its surroundings, compris- 
 ing all the apidiances of the well-regulated country 
 estate, forms the home of our subject, and which 
 has been erected by his own thrift and energy. He 
 is one of the many who began life poor in purse, 
 and who have presented to their community the 
 spectacle of perseverance amid difficulties and the 
 success of well-directed effort. 
 
 The Layton record leads us back to the paternal 
 grandfather of our subject, John Layton, who, it is 
 believed, was a native of New .Jel■se3^ Early in 
 life he migrated to New York State, where he lived 
 many years, and where, it is believed, he was first 
 married. Among his sons was Job, the father of 
 our subject, and the second in a family of eight 
 children, of whom the first wife was the mother. 
 After her death John Layton was married to a 
 
686 
 
 PORTRAIT AND HIOGRAPIIJCAL ALBUM. 
 
 widow lady, Mrs. Ayers, and with her spent his 
 last days in New York State. 
 
 Tlie father of our subject was reared to manhood 
 in the place of his birth — Brown County, N. Y. — 
 and was there married to Miss Rachel, daughter of 
 Alford Rounds, a native of Rhode Island. In the 
 Rounds family there were perhaps nine children, 
 who, with the exception of two, are supposed to 
 have been born in New York State. The parents 
 of Mrs. Layton, like those of her husband, spent 
 their last years there 
 
 Job Layton and his estimable wife also became 
 the parents of nine children, of whom David, our 
 subject, was the eldest. The others were named 
 respectively: John, Jacob, James E., Franklin, 
 George, Elizabeth, Harriot — these all living — and 
 one deceased. 'J'he mother was a member of the 
 Presbyterian Church. David, wlio was born in 
 1828, was reared at the homestead in Brown 
 County, N. Y., where he acquired liis education in 
 the subscription schools. In 1850 he started out 
 to paddle his own canoe, launching his little craft 
 for the far West. In making tlie journey thither, 
 he embarked on a steamboat at Dunkirk, N. Y., 
 whence he proceeded to Toledo, and from there by 
 canal to Covington, Ind., where he took up his 
 abode, and worked on a farm five years, by the 
 month, for one man, Mr. R. D. Brown. For the 
 first year he received $10 per month, and was given 
 an increase of salary each year until the fourth, 
 when he was paid 125 per nmnth for the entire 
 year. This at that time was considered a generous 
 sum, and the young man was naturally proud of it. 
 He saved his earnings, and when he left the emploj^ 
 of Mr. Brown, purchased a ditching machine with 
 which he operated profitably, earning from |1,000 
 to $1,200 per year for several years, and thus 
 laid the foundation of future competence. 
 
 Being thus prospered, it is quite natural that Mr. 
 Layton at the proper time should think about es- 
 tablishing a home of his own. A young man of 
 his acquirements was naturally a favorite among 
 the maidens of his community, and he chose one of 
 its most estimable young ladies — Miss Martha, 
 daughter of William and Sarah (Bows) Wilson, 
 their wedding taking place in Indiana. In April, 
 18C3,they settled on the farm where they now live. 
 
 Only seventy acres had been plowed, and the only 
 improvement was a little log house. Into this the 
 newly wedded pair removed, and occupied it until 
 they were enabled to do better. Our subject added 
 to his first purchase, and now has 240 acres of land, 
 all fenced and in a high state of cultivation. He 
 has now nine acres of timber. Notwithstanding he 
 has labored assiduously, and has suffered somewhat 
 from the toils and struggles of his earlier years, he 
 is still in good health, and can accomplish more 
 than many a younger man. 
 
 To our subject and his estimable wife there were 
 born four children, namely: Charles; Anna, the 
 wife of Charles Cardell; C. Grant, who is in tiie 
 grocery and hardware business at Potomac; and 
 William, who died when a promising youth of fif- 
 teen years. jMr. Layton, politically, is a sound Re- 
 publican, and in all respects a worthy representative 
 of the worth and respectability of the com m unit}'. 
 The parents of Mrs. La^ ton were natives of Penn- 
 sj'lvania, where the father learned tlie trade of a 
 cabinet-maker, which he followed until his removal 
 to Indiana, after which he engaged in farming. 
 
 <:* I^ILLIAM II. DOWNS, proprietor of the 
 \/jJ/l "Southern Hotel," of Ridge Farm, al- 
 W^J though not very long established in this 
 place — coming here in March, 1888 — is giving am- 
 ple evidence of his fitness for his present calling, 
 and has become exceedingly popular with the 
 traveling public. He is a man of liberal ideas, en- 
 terpi'ising and active, studying the comfort of his 
 guests, and attending to those details which make 
 up the sum and substance of a successful whole. 
 He is a native of this county, having been born in 
 Elwood Township, Oct. 25, 1860. 
 
 Leander Downs, the father of our subject, was a 
 native of Ohio, and came with his parents to Illi- 
 nois when a boy. They settled in Clark County 
 111., and Leander when reaching man's estate, was 
 united in marriage with Miss Maria A. Inman, 
 who was a native of that county. Of this union 
 there were born three children, only two of whom 
 

 « t 
 
 
 
 /^(^ CM-^U^;^^^ 
 
PORTRAIT AND lilOaRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 689 
 
 are living — Lilly M. and our subject. Tlio former 
 is the wife of Benjamin Cook, of Elvvooil Town- 
 ship. 
 
 Young Downs pursued his early studies in the 
 common schools, and tlien worited with his father 
 on the farm until his marriage. He followed agri- 
 cultural pursuits until March, 1888, and soon after- 
 ward purchased the "Southern Hotel." Tliis being 
 in need of many repairs he refitted it entirel)', 
 greatly improving its appearance, and instituting 
 many other reforms. In addition he has a livery 
 business which yields him good returns. Although 
 usually- voting with the Republican party he med- 
 dles very little with politics, making a specialty of 
 attending to his own concerns. 
 
 Our svibject was married on the 8th of March, 
 1881, to Miss Ella PI, daughter of 15enjamin Tur- 
 dum, of Ridge Farm, and to them have been liorn 
 three children — Maude, Bertie and Cassius. Mr. 
 Downs has an interest in his father's old homestead, 
 and from various sources is in the enjoyment of 
 a very comfortable income. 
 
 )ENJAMIN F. DOUGHERTY. The family 
 ^^ history of this gentleman, who is a success- 
 ful hardware merchant of Fairmount, A''er- 
 milion Co., III., possesses more than ordi- 
 nary interest and has fortunately been carefully 
 preserved by the latter representatives who, were, as 
 their ancestors, people of more than ordinary in- 
 telligence. This branch of the Doughertys is of 
 Scotch origin and the great-grandfather of the 
 subject of this notice was an active participant in 
 the Revolutionary War. His son, Francis, the 
 grandfather of our subject, was born in INIaryland, 
 March 29, 17C'.l,and died Sept. 29, 1860, at the ad- 
 vanced age of ninety-one years and six montlis. 
 Christian Dougherty, the wife of Francis Dougherty, 
 died April 19, 1851, aged seventy-five years, five 
 months and sixteen days. He was master of two 
 trades, those of shoe-maker and stone-mason, and 
 also carried on farming. Among his ciiildren was 
 Samuel, the father of our subject who was born 
 near Ripley, Brown Co., Ohio; and who married 
 
 Miss .lane Dalby, whose native place was near 
 NVhite River in Pennsylvania. 
 
 The mother of our subject was the daughter of 
 Aaron and Christina (Prong) Dalby, who were 
 married Oct. 12, 1H15. The mother died when a 
 young woman, and at her death was the mother of 
 five children. Grandfather Dalby was subsequently 
 married — Jan. 1, 1829 — to Nancy Kizer. She also 
 died and he was married the third time, Jan. 23 
 1837, to Henrietta Catlin. She is now living and 
 is the wife of John .McFarland, of Oakwood Town- 
 shi]i. Aaron Dalby was born July 3, 1796, and 
 his first wife, C^hristina, was born Jan. 7, of that 
 same year. Nancy Kizer was born Oct. 19. 1804, 
 and Henrietta Catlin, Nov. 16, 1821. ]Mrs. Jane 
 (Dalby) Dougherty, the mother of our subject was 
 born June 24, 1816, and was married to Samuel 
 Dougherty Aug. 20, 1835. Their wedding took 
 place at the homestead where Grandfather Dalby 
 settled in 1832. 
 
 (irandfather Dougherty after coming to Illinois 
 ^n 1832, settled on the Little Vermilion River in 
 Carroll Townslii[), about one and a half miles north- 
 west of where Indianola now stands, where he re- 
 mained over winter then purchased land from the 
 government one mile north of where Filirmount, 
 now stands. Samuel after bis marriage lived on 
 the farm with his father about one year, which 
 property is now owned by the widow of James 
 Dougherty. Later they removed to another part 
 of the homestead, which now comprises the farm 
 owned by George Price and which lies on the 
 sontli side of the State road. It was purchased 
 from the government by (irandfather Dougherty. 
 Samuel with the help of his neighbors put up a log 
 house upon the present site of Mr. Price's residence 
 and in that humble dwelling the subject of this 
 sketch was born Feb. 15, 1848. 
 
 The father of our subject commenced life in 
 true pioneer style upon a tract of raw prairie about 
 sixty rods from the timber, quite isolated and being 
 the fartherest from the timber of any other settler. 
 Their dwelling, a hewed log house, was finished and 
 furnished in the most primitive style. Their 
 slumbers were often disturbed by the howling of 
 wolves (frequently poking their noses in the cracks 
 of the house) which often lasted the greater part of 
 
690 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 the night. There was then nothing to mark the 
 present site of Danville as a town, and nothing bnt 
 tall grass and a vast prairie between Salt Fork and 
 Little Vermilion timber. ]?eing on the State road 
 the government mails, carried by stage, stopped 
 at the house and Mr. Dougherty officiated as 
 Postmaster for a number of years. The nearest 
 mill wasatPerrj'ville, to which point he frequently 
 hauled his oats, while he drove his hogs to Chicago 
 to market. 
 
 Upon this farm of 1 20 acres Samuel Dougherty 
 lived and labored until March, 1852, effected good 
 improvements, putting up building and planting an 
 orchard, which at this time was in good bearing 
 condition. His entire family of seven children 
 were born at this place. He Anally, however, im- 
 agined he could improve his condition b}' selling 
 out, and on the I6th of March, that year, removed 
 to another farm of 120 acres, located on section IG, 
 one and three-fourth miles south of Fairmonnt. 
 Here he proceeded as before, opening up a farm 
 from the raw prairie, set out anotlier orchard, ef- 
 fected various improvements then sold again, this 
 time to Ellis Adams, whose biography appears else- 
 where in this volume. 
 
 On the 20th of November, 18.56, Samuel Dough- 
 erty once more took up his line of march to another 
 fai-m of 120 acres, three miles south of Fairmonnt, 
 to'which he later added 160 acres, scarcely any of 
 which was under cultivation at the time of purchase. 
 There he continued to live until his decease. He 
 found that the labor involved in the improvement 
 of three farms was altogether too great foi- an or- 
 dinary constitution, and there followed the natural 
 result — the undermining of his health — from which 
 he suffered for years prior to his death. He had 
 also met with an accident, Nov. 21, I8G7, while 
 loading logs on a wagon with his eldest son, "Will- 
 iam; the chain breaking, the log rolled back upon 
 him and crushed one of his feet, and as a result of 
 this he was confined to his bed until TiLarch 14, 
 1868. He never fully recovered from the shock 
 of this and the debilitating effect of his other ail- 
 ments, and passed away on the 3d of January, 1871, 
 at the age of fifty-seven years, seven months and 
 six days. 
 
 The mother of our subject was a lady of fine 
 
 constitution, usually remarkably healthy and 
 weighing over 200 pounds. She survived her hus- 
 band a number of years, dying Feb. 22, 1878, aged 
 sixty-one years, seven months and twenty-eight 
 days. Five of the seven children born to them are 
 now living, and Benjamin F. was next to the 
 youngest. Nancy K. the eldest of the family was 
 was born Oct. 13, 1836, and was married Oct. 9, 
 1854 to Alonzo P. Mitchell; they have three chil- 
 dren and live in Lowry City, Mo. Harriet Ann 
 was born Jan. 27, 1838 and was married June 22, 
 1854 to John William Cass; they have six children 
 and live one mile and a half south of Muncie. 
 Mary Elizabeth was born March 22. 1840 and was 
 married Nov. 27, 1864 to John M. McCabe, whose 
 biography appears elsewhere in this volume ; they 
 have four children, two of whom are living; Will- 
 iam Aaron was born Feb. 2, 1842 and was married 
 April 29, 1868 to Miss Margaret Orr; he died Nov. 
 1, 1887 aged forty-five years, and his widow now 
 lives in Fairmonnt. Francis Marion was born April 
 13, 1844, and after the outbreak of the Civil War 
 enlisted in Company E, 73d Illinois Infantry, known 
 in the army as the "Methodist Regiment." He 
 died from the effects of a gun-shot wound at Kuox- 
 ville, Tenn., Feb. 14,1864, at the age of nineteen 
 years, ten months and one day, and his remains 
 fill a soldier's grave in the National cemetery at 
 Knoxville, Tenn. He and his brother William 
 were members of the same company, enlisting at 
 the same time — in August, 1862, leaving our sub- 
 ject, a lad of fourteen years of age, at home to work 
 the farm. The youngest child, Christian Jane, was 
 born Oct. 2, 1850, and was married to David A\^il- 
 lace, Nov. 12, 1868. Mr. Wallace served three 
 years in the 1st Indiana Cavahy, then re-enlisted 
 and continued in the army until the close of the 
 war. They are the paients of two children, one 
 living and reside five and one-half miles southeast 
 of Fairmonnt. 
 
 In December, 1562, the father of our subject 
 received this startling telegram from Nashville, 
 Tenn: "Come, Jesse dead, William sick." (Jesse 
 was an own cousin of William.) He responded .at 
 once and upon his arrival in Nashville found Will- 
 iam stricken down with typhoid fever, and nursed 
 him and some of his comrades for some time there- 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 691 
 
 after. The loss of rest and the mental strain com- 
 pletely shattered the health of Mr. Dougheity, so 
 that he never fully recovered. As soon as William 
 was able, he procured his discharge, and brought 
 him home, almost a skeleton. When Francis was 
 shot, the father was notified by telegram, and im- 
 mediately started South, bnt could only get as far 
 as Louisville, Ky., where he learned that his boy was 
 beyond his earthly aid, having gone to join the army 
 above. He left money to have the body shipped 
 home, but owing to the danger of an attack from 
 the rebels, it could not then be done, and it was 
 never done, and the money was finally returned to 
 him. 
 
 Benjamin F. Dougherty received his education 
 in the common schools of ^'ermilion County, at- 
 tending upon an average three months in the year 
 for five j'ears. His first teacher, when he was six 
 years old, was Lewis Kirkpatrick, and his last, 
 Pret. Stevens. During the last three months, hav- 
 ing completed the third i)art of Ray's Arithmetic, 
 he took up book-keeping, and, being an apt pupil, 
 made fine progress. He has been a reader nil his 
 life, and may be justly considered one among the 
 best informed men of his neighborhood. Every 
 book pertaining to the late Civil War has been 
 perused by him with absorbing interest. Being 
 the only stay of his parents, he remained with 
 them until they no longer needed his filial offices, 
 laboring twenty-three years on the last settled 
 homestead, and he has the consciousness of know- 
 ing that he smoothed their pathway down the hill 
 of life, and lightened as far as possible their afflic- 
 tions and their losses. 
 
 On the 26th of Septemljer, 187G,our subject was 
 united in marriage with Miss Lilly, daughter of 
 Thornton and Nancy (Dickson) Hubbard, at the 
 home of her uncle, James A. Dickson. Mr. and 
 Mrs. Hubbard were among the earliest settlcis of 
 this county, owning a large farm of 370 acres, one 
 and one half miles north of Muncie. Mr. Hubbard 
 was very successful as a farmer and stock-raiser, 
 and was numbered among the prominent citizens of 
 this county. He was born March 20, 1821, near 
 Chillicothe, Ross County, Ohio, and departed this 
 life at his homestead Oct. 18, 1886, aged sixty-fivi- 
 years, six months and twenty-eight days. Mis 
 
 Hubbard was born May 1, 1827, in Kentucky, and 
 passed away some years prior to the decease of her 
 husband, dying Jan. 25, 1859. They were the 
 parents of two children, of whom Mrs. Dougherty 
 was the elder, and she wag born Sept. 1. 1855. 
 
 Mr. Dougherty after his marriage continued 
 farming until early in 1880. On the 13th of 
 February, that year, he had a public sale of his 
 personal property, and on the 23d was removed 
 to Fairmount on a feather bed — the result of 
 illness from being overheated in the harvest Held 
 the preceding summer — without hope of recovery. 
 But after moving to Fairmount, his health im- 
 proved somewhat, and in the summer of 1881 he 
 drove over the county, canvassing for school seatg, 
 which farther improved his health. In the follow- 
 ing fall he purchased the hardware stock in his 
 present building, having in the meantime sold his 
 farm. He did not contemplate continuing in the 
 hardware trade, but even in poor health success was 
 the result of his efforts, and finally he changed his 
 mind and purchased the property connected with his 
 business, together with his home in Fairmouut. 
 He has been very successful in trade, and besides 
 his stove and hardware stock, handles a general line 
 of agricultural implements and lumber. 
 
 The five children born to Mr. and Mrs. Dough- 
 erty are recorded as follows: Willie was born 
 April 17, 1879, and died in infancy; Freddie M. 
 was born April 13, 1880, and died April 9, 1881, 
 aged eleven montlis and twenty -six days ; Floyd 
 Everett was l)orn May 20, 1882, and is now a 
 bright lad of seven years; Samuel E. was born 
 Jan. 22, 1884, and died Jan. 24, 1889, aged five 
 years and two days. Little Eddie was a sweet, 
 bright child, whose mind seemed far in advance of 
 his years. He uas gentle, obedient and affectionate, 
 not only with the home circle, but with all his asso- 
 ciates. A short time previous to his death he ap- 
 peared to comprehend that life for him would soon 
 be over, and told his mamma that "God loved him, 
 and would take care of him." A few minutes be- 
 fore breathing his last lie repeated his little ))rayer, 
 "Now, I lay me down to sleep," and soon the pure 
 spirit fled to be forever at rest. The youngest 
 child of Mr. and Mrs. Dougherty, Stella B., was born 
 Feb. 10, 1886. She is a hearty and iiromising child. 
 
692 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 Fortunately for Mr. Dougherty, his excellent 
 wife has alwaj's enjo3ed fine healtli, and he attrib- 
 utes the prolongation of his life to her affectionate 
 care and attention. Mr. Dougherty has never been 
 an active politician in the sense of office- seeking. 
 On the contrary, he has several times declined to 
 enter upon the responsibilities of a public position. 
 Since becoming a voter, he has uniformly supported 
 the principles of the Republican party and temper- 
 ance, and has endeavored to exert his influence on 
 tiie side of rigiit. Upon the organization of tiie 
 Fairmount Building and Loan Association, lie was 
 made a Director, and has since been connected vvitli 
 it in this capacit3'. 
 
 Mrs. Dougherty became identified with the Meth- 
 odist Episcopal Church fourteen years ago, and at 
 last succeeded in bringing iier husband into the 
 fold, he liaviug united with this cliurch quite re- 
 cently — Feb. 18, 1889. He has always been a be- 
 liever in tiie Christian religion, but his poor health 
 interfered largely with his taking part, as he de- 
 sired, in tlfe duties belonging to the church mem- 
 lier. The death of iiis little son was a severe blow 
 to him, as well as to his wife, but his new interest 
 and belief in the comforting and redeeming power 
 of the Savior, has given him strength to bear his 
 affliction, and to believe that "He doeth all things 
 well." 
 
 P' RANCIS M. ALLHANDS, of Danville, took 
 
 ; up his residence at this place in the fall of 
 „ 1866, and in the fall of the year following, 
 
 was elected County Treasurer in which office he 
 served ten years. Afterward he served six and 
 one-half years as Deputy County Clerk. He is 
 thus well known to the people of this vicinity. 
 He was born in Montgomery County, Ind., Jan. 17. 
 1832, and is the son of Andrew Allh.ands, a native 
 of Butler County, Ohio. His paternal grandfather, 
 Daniel Allhands, was born, it is believed, in Penn- 
 sylvania of German parents, and was one of the 
 early pioneers of Butler County, Ohio. 
 
 Grandfather Allhands lemoved from Ohio to 
 Indiana about 1830 and purchasing land in Mont- 
 gomery County estnblished himself there for life. 
 
 His son, Andrew was reared and married in his 
 native county and later, like his father, removed 
 to Montgomery County, Ind., where he purchased 
 land that was partially improved, and later sold it 
 at an advanced price and purchased again in that 
 locality, where he first settled in a log house and 
 remained there until 1842. 
 
 In the year above mentioned the father of our 
 subject set out for Illinois, making the journey 
 overland with teams. Upon his arrival in this 
 county he purchased a tract of timber land four 
 and one-half miles west of the present site of Dan- 
 ville and upon which was a double log house and 
 fort}' acres cleared. He proceeded with the im- 
 provement of his property and there spent the re- 
 mainder of his days, resting from his earthl}' labors 
 in 1851. His first wife, the mother of our subject, 
 was in her girlhood. Miss Margaret Swank, a native 
 of Butler County, Ohio, and the daughter of Jacob 
 Swank who W!is born in Pennsylvania, was of Ger- 
 man descent, and, like Grandfather Allhands, a 
 pioneer of Butler County, Ohio. Mrs. Margaret 
 Allhands departed this life in April, 1841, while 
 still a young woman. 
 
 Our subject was ten years old when he came to 
 this count}' with his parents. He spent his boy- 
 hood and youth in assisting to open up the farm, 
 while he acquired his education in the pioneer 
 school. This was before the time of railroads and 
 Chicago was the principal market for grain and 
 other farm produce. Francis M. resided with bis 
 parents until eighteen years old, then started for 
 Oshkosh, Wis., with a drove of horses and cattle, 
 from which trip he returned with an ox team. This 
 now flourishing town was then but a hamlet and 
 Indians were plentiful. 
 
 Later young Allhands learned the carpenter's 
 trade which he followed in this county until 1861. 
 There was now need for his services as a soldier, 
 and he enlisted Sept. 20 that year in Company E, 
 35th Illinois Infantry, after which he [larticipated 
 in many of the important battles of the war, in- 
 cluding the Atlanta campaign. He was severely 
 wounded at Rocky Face Ridge, May 11, 1864, and 
 on the 18th of July following suffered amputation at 
 Nashville, Tenn. Being unable to rejoin his regi- 
 ment he was given his honorable discharge and 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALHUM. 
 
 693 
 
 reached home on the 6tli of January, 1865. The 
 spring following he was elected Assessor of Catlin 
 Township and in 1866 took up his abode in Dan- 
 ville of which he has since been a resident. 
 
 Mr. AUhands was married in 1858 to Miss Mary 
 .1. Hilliary, a native of this oountj'. The four 
 children born of this union were named respect- 
 ively, Orviila A., Grant W., Meltie M., and Mabel 
 E. Mr. Allhands belongs to the Methodist Epis- 
 copal, Church, the Republican party, and Kenesaw 
 Post, G. A. R. 
 
 ^»j OHN J. CAMPBELL, a prominent and well- 
 informed farmer and stock-raiser of Vermil- 
 ion County, was born March 1, 1854 in 
 
 Jlj Newell Township, where he passed all his 
 boyhood days on his father's farm. When he was 
 nineteen years of age he went to college at Crau- 
 fordsville, Ind., where he spent one year, after 
 which, being equipped with a good education, he 
 began his life work, that of farming. 
 
 Mr. Campbell's father and mother Corroyan 
 Campbell and Mary (Britingham) Campbell were 
 born ill New York in 1833. The father removed 
 at an early day to Wisconsin where he engaged in 
 trade and where he was successful. The wife died 
 in 1870. 
 
 John J. Campbell married Catherine Gernand, 
 daughter of John H. and Tena (Homan) Gernand, 
 who are natives of Pennsylvania and who came to 
 Vermilion County in an early day and settled on a 
 farm one mile north of Danville, where Mi-. Ger- 
 nand now resides. His wife died Oct. 16, 1863 
 and is now resting in the Danville Cemetery. Mrs. 
 Campbell received her education in Danville where 
 she was reared to womanhood, and is the oldest in 
 a family of three children. She was born Oct. 17, 
 1856 and is the mother of three children: Charles 
 G., was born Nov. 9, 1876 and is at home; Stella 
 S. was born Sept. 12, 1878, while the birth of 
 Nellie A. occurred on Oct. 8, 1«85. XiX^QX re- 
 maining on the farm for about six years Mr. 
 Campbell removed to Danville and engaged in the 
 grocery business, which he successfully prosecuted 
 
 for about four years, when he went back to his 
 farm where he now resides, enjoying life with 
 everything comfortable surrounding him. His 
 beautiful iiome consists of 293 acres of splendid 
 land, all in a high state of cultivation and the 
 buildings which are erected iicre are of a substan- 
 tial kind. In everylliing jjcrtaining to the higher 
 grades of live-stock Mr. Campbell is an expert. 
 He is particularly interested in Short-horu cattle 
 of the Bates family :md Pomoto strains. He is 
 also devoting a great deal of attention to the im- 
 provement in the breed of horses and owns some fine 
 specimens of the Cleveland bays. As a stock-raiser 
 there is none more successful in this county than 
 he, simply because he invites intelligence to guide 
 his efforts in this direction. He reads extensively 
 and profits thereby, and therein lies the success 
 of many a man who is engaged in stock-raising 
 and general farming. 
 
 Politicall}-, Mr. Campbell is an active Democrat. 
 He is always ready and willing to make an honor- 
 able finht for his party which he does wholly on 
 principle. Mr. Campbell is a member of the 
 Methodist Church, while his wife worships with 
 tlie Presliyterians. Mr. Campbell is a member of 
 the Masonic Lodge and has belonged to the order 
 since 1852. There is not a man in N'ermilion 
 County who takes hold of any project with more 
 energy than Mr. Campbell, and of course he is 
 successful. 
 
 -5 #-# J-- 
 
 ^^^LIVER P. STUFFLEBEAM. This gentle- 
 I jj man represents property in this county to 
 ^^ the extent of over 1,000 acres of land, and 
 occupies an elegant brick residence in Rossville — 
 one of the finest in the county outside of Danville. 
 His possessions are the result of his own industry 
 and good management. During the years of his 
 early manhood he labored early and late, having in 
 view the accumulation of a competence for his 
 later years, and has arrived at a point veiy near 
 the realization of his ambition. The example of 
 his courage under difliculties, is one which may 
 well be imitated by many another young man who, 
 like himself, has been early in life thrown on his 
 
694 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BlOG RAPIIUAL ALBUM. 
 
 own rcsoiu'i'es. Wai'ren C'()ui)t3-, Iiid., was the early 
 Irnuipiiig gromifl of our subject, where his birth 
 took place Feb. 13, 1.S37. He si)ent his boj'hood 
 iind youth in his native county, acquiring a prac- 
 tical education in the tommou school. He had 
 been left an orphan at the age of seven years and 
 uiaile his home with his maternal uncle, Zebulon 
 I'oster, until reaching his majority. 
 
 BIr. Stufflebeam came to this county in 1858, and 
 in 1860 purchased a tract of raw land in Ross 
 Township. He at once set about its improvement 
 and cultivation, and in the course of time set out 
 fruit and shade trees, together with hedge fencing, 
 and instituted the improvements naturally sug- 
 gested to the enterprising ijioneer. There sprang 
 up seven miles west of it the town of Rossville, and 
 our subject occupied that farm until 1872. That 
 year he removed to another part of liis farm, lying 
 in South Branch Township, and lived there until 
 his removal to Rossville. Like most of the men 
 around him he eventually became interested in 
 stock-raising, wliich yielded him large profits. 
 
 The residence of Mr. Sufflebeam is finely located 
 and built of pressed brick, with tasteful trimmings, 
 handsomely finished, and within bears the evi- 
 dences of refined taste and ample means. A large 
 number of natural shade-trees furnish a delightful 
 coolness in summer and protect it from the chilling 
 winds of winter. Near by is a ten-acre private 
 park, heavily wooded, and the object of admiration 
 in all the countrj^ around. 
 
 The marriage of our subject and Miss Anna 
 Johnson, of Tippecanoe County, Ind., was cele- 
 brated at the bride's home, March 6, 1862. The 
 household circle was completed by the birth of 
 eight children, all of whom are living. Ilattie, the 
 eldest born, is the wife of II. H. Brown, of Grant 
 Township, and the mother of one child. The other 
 children, Caroline, Kittie, Charles, F^irl, Abner, 
 Marcia, and Myron remain under the home roof, 
 and are being carefully trained and educated. 
 
 Mrs. Stufflbeam was born May 12, 1841, and is 
 the daughter of Abner Johnson, who died in Tip- 
 pecanoe County, Ind., Dec. 1, 1885, aged seventy- 
 one. His wife, Mrs. Hannah (Fuller) Johnson, had 
 ['receded him to the silent land, her death taking 
 place in January, 1881, when she was sixty-three 
 
 years of age. The father of our subject was John 
 Stufflbeam, who was born in Scoharie County, N. 
 Y., in 1795. He lived there until reaching man's 
 estate, and then started for the West. His first 
 wife died in her youth, and he was then married to 
 Miss Harriet Ostrander, in Indiana. Subsequently 
 he removed to '\\"arren County, that State, and tak- 
 ing up new land opened a farm upon which he Jived 
 and labored until his death on May 4, 1844. Our 
 subject, who was the child of the second wife, was 
 then less than seven years of age, and his mother 
 died in January, 1845, at the early age of twenty- 
 nine years. She was born in Kingston, Ross Co., 
 Ohio. By her death four children were left in 
 orphanage, all of whom lived to mature years, and 
 of whom Oliver R. was the eldest. His younger 
 brother, Morgan, is a resident of AVarren County, 
 Ind.; Miller O. lives in Kansas; filargaret married 
 a Mr. Walters and they live in Washington. 
 
 The paternal grandfather of our subject was 
 Michael Stufflebeam, a native of Germany, who 
 upon coming to America located on land in Sco- 
 harie County, N. Y., where he operated as a farmer 
 a number of years. Later he came West, to War- 
 ren County, Ind., and spent his last days with 
 his son. He was born in 1740 and lived to a ripe 
 oM age. His wife died in Scoharie County, N. Y. 
 Our subject politically votes the straight Repub- 
 lican ticket, but otherwise than this has kept aloof 
 from public affairs, preferring to devote his time 
 and talents to his farming interests. 
 
 , INGHAM C. GREEN. There is no better 
 indication of a man's life and character 
 •J))J|/ than the fact that those nearest to him hold 
 his name in lasting remembrance and evince 
 a desire to perpetuate it in honor and affection. 
 The subject of this notice, late a resident of Ross 
 Township, this county, departed this life at his 
 homestead on section 25, March 26, 1888, and has 
 left behind him the record of an upright life, fill- 
 ed in with benevolence, honesty of purpose and 
 all the qualities whicli form a character worthy of 
 imitation. Mr. Green was a native of New York, 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 eg.*) 
 
 Ontario Count}', ami was boni in September, 1817, 
 [lis father, Benjamin Green, is supposed to have 
 been a native of New York State, and was the son 
 of Hezekiah Green, who traced liis ancestry to Eng- 
 land. 
 
 Bingham C. spent liis early jears in his native 
 county, and came to Illinois in 1810, settling in 
 this county, where lie met and married Miss .Jose- 
 phine, daughter of Alonzo and Mary A. (Hill) 
 Knight. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Green 
 settled upon the farm which has since remained the 
 home of the family. It was then only slightly 
 improved, and Mr. Green, with cljtaraeteristic energy 
 and perseverance, labored early and late in the cul- 
 tivation of the soil, and carrying forward the im- 
 provements naturally suggested to the enterprising 
 and progressive citizen. He added to his landed 
 estate, and at the time of his death was the owner 
 of 1 ,000 acres largely devoted to grain and stock- 
 raising. This property he had accumulated solely 
 by his own industry and good management, having 
 begun life without means and dependent upon his 
 own resources. 
 
 Mr. Green was an active member of the Meth- 
 odist Episcopal Church, in which he officiated as 
 Trustee and to which he contributed liberally for 
 its support. The Green homestead is excelled bj' 
 none in the county in point of beauty and location 
 and natural attractions, which have been augmented 
 by the exercise of cultivated tastes and ample 
 means. The residence stands about 200 yards 
 from the road, and is approached by a gravel drive 
 through a pretty grove, wliich lends coolness in 
 summer and protection from the blasts of winter. 
 
 The parents of Mrs. Green were natives of Ver- 
 mont and came to Illinois in their j'outh. Mr. 
 Knight for manj' years operated as a contractor, 
 and as such assisted in the construction of the 
 Erie Canal. Later he was interested in a saw-mill. 
 To Mr. and Mrs. Green there were born seven chil- 
 dren: Ellen, the eldest daughter, is the wife of 
 William A. Yeazel of this county, and they have 
 seven children; May married C'. (J. Wilber, of 
 this county, and they have two children; Maurice 
 L. married Miss Mary Thompson and they have 
 two children; Charles and Elva F. remain at home 
 with their mother; Elwood and Clark died when 
 
 quite young. Ellen belongs to the United Brethren 
 Church, and Mrs. Green with her other children is 
 a Methodist in religious belief, being connected 
 with the church at Mann's Chapel. 
 
 ■^ ^*-^- ^^- 
 
 US. Ll'CINDA COOPER is the widow of 
 John E. Cooper, who died Aug. 8, 1882. 
 She is the daughter of Larkin and Jennie 
 (Boyce) Cook; the father was a native of 
 Ohio or Virginia, the mother of Ohio. Her parents 
 were inarried in Dearborn County, Ohio, where 
 they lived on a farm for some time, when they 
 removed to Indiana. Afterward they again removed 
 in 1827 to Vermilion County, 111. Her father was 
 noted for his strict integrity, and with his amiable 
 wife, soon became known far and wide for their 
 genial dispositions. Their home became famous 
 for hospitality, and they were the leaders in all the 
 merry-making around. They had ten children, 
 Mrs. Cooper being the eighth in order of birth. 
 
 Mrs. Cooper first saw the light of da^- in Dear- 
 born County, Ind. Although but four years old 
 when she left her old home in Indiana, she can 
 remember it very well, and loves to recall incidents 
 that happened there. When twenty-three years 
 old she married Mr. John E. Cooper, a native of 
 Kentucky. Although a Kentuckian b}^ birth, Mr. 
 Cooper was reared in Greene County, Ohio. Com- 
 ing to Illinois when eighteen, he met and married 
 his wife when he was twenty-seven. Fourteen 
 years after marriage Mr. and Mrs. Cooper moved 
 on their present farm, becoming the owners of 400 
 acres. 
 
 Their union has been blessed by eleven children: 
 Roliert and Eliza, died in infancy; George, Clara, 
 Johnnie, Sallie, Anna, Charles, Lizzie, Kate and 
 Quinn. George married Miss Carrie Moreland, 
 and they live in Greencastle, Ind. He is in the 
 livery business. They have three children — Opa, 
 Everett and Glen. Jennie married Russell Jones, 
 and they reside on their farm near Carthage, Mo. 
 The}' iiave one child, Bertie. .John married Miss 
 Nora Hill, and resides in Greencastle, Ind., being 
 in partnership in business with his brother George, 
 
G9G 
 
 PORTRAIT ANJ) BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 'J'lipy have three chililrc^ii, Elrai), L. G., and Jennie. 
 Sallie marriert John Gilky, who died in l.s7i). She 
 now makes lier liome witli lier mother at the 
 C'oo|)er homestead, and hns two cliildron — Sygna 
 E. and Ora A. Anna still brightens her mother's 
 home with lier i)resence. Charles, who married 
 INIiss Katie Moreland, resides in Carroll Township, 
 A'ermilion County, where he has a fine farm. They 
 have two children — Fleda and Louis. Will More- 
 land, now of Chrisman, 111., where he is engaged 
 in the livery business, married Lizzie, who died in 
 1881, leaving one child, John. Kate married 
 Jethrow Jones, a commercial man, and they now 
 live in Fort Scott, Kan. They have four children 
 — Elgie, Lelah, J. C. and Cora, (^uinn manages 
 the home farm, and has proven an adept in agri- 
 cultural matters. 
 
 Mrs. Cooper is a lady of elegant manners and 
 refined tastes, belonging to one of the best families 
 of our country. She has the finest home in (George- 
 town Township and one that will compare favor- 
 ably with any place in the State. 
 
 ■ ^=^=^^ 
 
 4p^ USAN E. ROSS, is the widow of -lohn 
 ^^^ Ross and is operating ll;j acres of land in 
 K\/jj) Sidell Township. She is a daughter of 
 Samuel and Eleanor jMcCray, who were 
 horn in Virginia. In 1832 Mr. Mc(l'ra\- came with 
 his father to Clinton Conntj', Ind., where lie be- 
 came a farmer. He continued in that business 
 with a large degree of success until his death which 
 occurred in 1849 at the age of fifty-five years. His 
 wife died at the home of Mrs. Ross. They were 
 the parents of ten children: John C, Mary E., 
 James R., George G., Susan E., Nancj' E., ]Martha, 
 and Samuel. Two died in infancy unnamed. 
 Mrs Ross is the only one of this large family now 
 John and James enlisted during the war 
 of the Rebellion and the former was shot at Mur- 
 frccslforo, where he died, while James was drowned 
 in the Missouri River on his way to the field of 
 battle. So it will be seen that her family contrib- 
 uted its sliare to the putting down of the great re- 
 bellion. Mrs. Ross was born Oct. 17, 1831, in 
 
 living. 
 
 Rockbridge County, \'a. Her early days in hej- 
 native county were spent on her father's farm and 
 she received no schooling until she came to Indiana. 
 On March 9, 18r>4, she was married to John Ross, 
 who was born in Butler County, Ohio, and came to 
 Indiana in an early day with his parents. He con- 
 tracted his first marriage on Feb. 11, 1838, the 
 bride being Rebecca C. Davis. After his second 
 marriage Mr. and Mrs. Ross lived on a farm in 
 Indiana, for a year and a half, and in the early part 
 of 18r)6, he and his wife removed to Illinois, set- 
 tling on the banks of the Little Vermilion River. 
 They lived with Mr. Ross's brother until their 
 house on their present farm was completed, and in 
 this house Mr. Ross lived until the day of his 
 death, and ]\Irs. Ros.s has continued to reside there 
 since. They became the parents of ten children : 
 Rebecca J.; iSIary E.; Martha A.; Samuel J., who 
 died at the age of eleven months; Almeda; two in- 
 fants who died; John and Williams, twins, tlie lat- 
 ter dying at the age of two years and six months, 
 and Elizabeth. Rebecca married George 'W. Huff- 
 man. She died in 187.3, leaving two boys: Weldou 
 G. and CUiarles C. Mary E. is the wife of W. D. 
 Brad field, who is now in charge of the Ross farm. 
 They own a farm in Kansas. Martha A. married 
 Isaac M. Cundiff, a resident of Saunders County, 
 Neb. They have three children: L. I^ester, Orville 
 and Elizabeth. Almeda married J. W. McCoy, of 
 Wyandotte, Kan. Thejr have one child — Clarence 
 D. John is a student at Galesburg, 111., and grad- 
 uated in June, 1881). Elizabeth is the wife of 
 John D. Daniels, a teacher residing at Archie. 
 
 Ml-, and Mrs. Ross made all the improvements 
 on their farm, which are quite valuable. They 
 worked hard to accomplish an end and nobly suc- 
 ceeded. JMr. Ross died April 5, 1877. He was a 
 member of the Masonic fraternity and a man of 
 most excellent character, and is remembered as one 
 of the kindest men in this community. He was 
 commonly called '-Ihicle John," which is an evi- 
 dence of the respect borne him by his neighbors. 
 He and his wife early joined the Cumberland Pres- 
 byterian Church, he remaining a consistent and 
 worthj' member of that organization up to the 
 time of his death, while his wife still worships at 
 the same place. Mrs. Ross is living in the enjoy- 
 
PORTRAir AND BIOGRAPIHCAL ALBUM. 
 
 697 
 
 iiient of what slie lias eanieil by the early .sacri- 
 fices of hei' [jioneer days, and then' is not a person 
 who will begrudge lier any comfort she may enjoy. 
 Slie is one of the best of women, and by her chil- 
 dien, will be remembered always as one of the 
 kindest of motliers, while her husband's memory will 
 be cherished as long as any of his descendants 
 live. 
 
 ■« ■*^-<^itt^^i-*^-' 
 
 <f^ ASPER JAMES LANGLEY, born in Dan- 
 ilf^^_ ville Township, A'ermilion County, Feb. 25, 
 ^^^^ 1835, in the pioneer home of one of the 
 well-known early settlers of this region, is now one 
 of its representative citizens. He is one of the 
 most extensive land owners of the township, and 
 is a man of weiglit and influence in the community 
 where his life has been passed. 
 
 Nathaniel Langley, tlie father of our subject, 
 was born in Nelson County, Ky., his fatiier having 
 been a pioneer of that county, spending his last 
 years there. The father was reared in the place of 
 his birth, and was there married, continuing to live 
 there till about 1830, when became with iiis family 
 to this county, the removal being made with teams. 
 He located in Danville Township, buying seventy 
 acres of timber land on section 27. He built a 
 log house, in which the family lived about three 
 vears. He then sold that place, &nd bought over 
 200 acres on sections 26 and 27, this township, and 
 made his home thereon till death called him to a 
 higher sphere in 1 848, at which time the communitj^ 
 lost a valuable citizen — one who iiad ever taken a 
 warm interest in its welfare, and had promoted it 
 to the best of his ability. The maiden name of 
 his wife was Margaret Holtshouser. She was born 
 in Nelson County, Ky., a daughter of John Holts- 
 houser, who had gone from his native State, Norlh 
 Carolina, to Kentucky in pioneer times, and was 
 one of the earliest settlers of Nelson County. 
 There were no roads at that time, and the removal 
 was made with mules, on which the household 
 goods were packed. He cleared a farm, and was a 
 resident there till death closed his earthly career, 
 when he attained the age of nearly one hundred 
 years, his wife also attaining the same remarkable 
 
 age. The mother of our subject died on the home 
 farm in 1865. There were four children born of 
 her marriage: Elizabeth married John Stevenson, 
 and now lives in Danville Township; Thomas and 
 Charles are dead. 
 
 The subject of this sketch was the youngest 
 child of the family. He attended the pioneer 
 schools taught in a log schoolhouse, with home- 
 made furniture, the benches being made of pun- 
 cheon, with pins for legs. When he was young, 
 deer and other wild game were plentiful, and our 
 subject used to find pleasure in hunting and sup- 
 plying the table with the delicacies of the chase. 
 There were no railroads here for years, and his 
 father used to go to Chicago, 125 miles distant, 
 it taking from seven to ten days to make the 
 journey over the rough roads. Our subject was 
 thirteen years old when his father died, and he 
 continued to live with his mother and to assist 
 her in the management of the farm till her death. 
 After his marriage he settled on his present place, 
 and has been actively engaged in carrying it 
 on. He has been very much prospered, and his 
 496 acres of choice land are in a high state 
 of cultivation, and the improvements compare with 
 the best in the township. He has erected a fine set 
 of frame buildings, with all the modern conve- 
 niences, and has good machinery to carry on his 
 work. 
 
 In the wife, to whom he was married in August, 
 1865, he has found an able helpmate, one wiio has 
 co-operated with him in his work, and makes his 
 home comfortable and cosy. Their pleasant house- 
 hold circle is completed by the presence of their 
 nine children — Leona, Nora, Margaret, Hortense, 
 Isabelle, Roscoe C, Joseph, Bessie and James Blaine. 
 Mrs. Langley's maiden name was Isabelle Ander- 
 son, and she was born in Fulton County, N. Y., a 
 daughter of William and Martha (AYarner) An- 
 derson. Her father was born in the North of 
 Ireland, of Scotch ancestry', and came to America 
 in 1812. He located in New York State, and in 
 1819 married m Albany. A few years afterwards 
 he bought a farm in Fulton t'ounty, and engaged 
 in farming there till his death ,in 1851. Mrs. 
 Langle}''s mother was born in Balston, Saratoga 
 Co., N. Y'. In 1852, with her children, she moved 
 
698 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 to Perrysville, Ind., aui resided there several years, 
 flnnlly coming to ])!inville, wliere slie died in the 
 home of our subject, Dec. 16, 1877. 
 
 ]Mr. Laugley is in every way a credit to the citi- 
 zenship of his native county, as lie is a man of fine 
 personal character, whose habits are exemplary, 
 and lie deserves the confidence and respect of his 
 fellow-citizens, who have watched his career with 
 satisfaction. In him the Republican party of this 
 part of the Slate finds one of its most intelligent 
 and stanch champions. Mrs. Langley is a valued 
 member of the United Brethren Church, and is in 
 all respects a sincere Christian. 
 
 ^^-^ 
 
 -V- 
 
 jiILLIAM II. SCOXCE. Among the men 
 who looked upon A'ermilion County in its 
 pioneer days, tiie subject of this notice is 
 worthy of more than a passing mention. He has 
 occupied one farm since 1858, a period of thirty-one 
 years, having settled upon it when it was nothing 
 but raw prairie, without tree, shrub, of building. 
 He labored early and late in the improvement of his 
 property, lived economically and prudently, and at 
 the same time watched the growth and develep- 
 ment of this section of country with the interest 
 which is always felt hy the intelligent and pro- 
 gressive citizen. He lent a helping hand to those 
 in need during the early days, and has not yet 
 parted with his character for probity, benevolence 
 and kindness. Without making any great display 
 in the world, he has lived the life of an honest man 
 and a good citizen, loyal to his home and his coun- 
 try, and contributing his full share toward the 
 progress and development of his adopted countj'. 
 A native of Bourbon County, Ky., our subject 
 was born May 1, 1823, and spent his childhood in 
 the Blue Grass .State. He distinctly remembers 
 the journey to Illinois, and that the family crossed 
 the Ohio River at Cincinnati in October, 1830. 
 Later they crossed the Wabash on a cold, cloudy 
 day, and arrived at Brooks Point the latter part of 
 the month. There was an abundance of wild game 
 and a great many snakes, and in the spring the 
 horizon was darkened by the smoke of prairie fires. 
 
 In the waters of the AVabash were pike, suckers, 
 perch, bass and other choice specimens of the finny 
 tribe. 
 
 Mr. Sconce pursued his early studies in a log 
 school-house, with its huge fireplace, the chimney 
 outside of earth and sticks, and its one small win- 
 dow. The seats and desks were home-made, and 
 the school was conducted on the subscription plan 
 three months every winter. His father engaged 
 in stock-raising, selling to liome buyers. Our sub- 
 ject made three trips down the river to New Or- 
 leans with produce loaded on a flatboat or barge, 
 wliich excursions he enjoyed very much, because 
 they afforded him an opportunity of seeing the 
 country. 
 
 Our subject was mari'ied Oct. 18, 1855, to Miss 
 Catherine, born Aug. 1, 1837, in Burr, Tipperary 
 Co., Ireland, to John and Marj- O'Marrow, who 
 were natives of Ireland, where the father spent his 
 entire life. He died when liis daughter, the wife 
 of our subject, .was small, and the widowed mother, 
 with her four children, two sons and two daughters, 
 sought a home in the United States. The date of 
 her removal from Ireland was 1849, and three 
 months were consumed in crossing the ocean. They 
 settled in Xenia, Ohio, which was her home for a 
 period of more than seven years. In 1857 she 
 came to (Jeorgetown, 111., and on the 18th of Oc- 
 tober, as before mentioned, she was united in the 
 holy bonds of matrimony with William H. Sconce. 
 Mr. Sconce made his first purcliase of land about 
 this time — eighty acres — upon which he settled 
 with his young wife after his marriage, and which 
 was then uncultivated prairie. Later he purchased 
 another eighty acres, and brought the whole to a 
 good state of cultivation. 
 
 Seven children came to bless the union of our 
 subject and his estimable wife, the eldest of whom, 
 a daughter, Lucy E. L., married Charles Thompson, 
 a prosperous farmer of Sidell Township, and they 
 have one child — Mary C. The next daughter, 
 Mary M. J., married Joseph Willison, and they 
 have five children — Asil William, Norah M., Or- 
 rell G., Joseph E. and John E. ; they live on a farm 
 in Carroll Township, and are doing well. Cerro 
 Gordo married John Cheney, and they have two 
 children — Leslie G. and a babe named Treovie 0.' 
 
PORTKAIT AM) i'.lOG lU PH lOAL ALBUM. 
 
 699 
 
 they live on a ftu-m in Carroll Townshii). Lilly F. 
 mai-ried Kemp A. Catlett, a farmer and a stock- 
 breeder of Fulton County, and tlicy live near Fair 
 View; they had one child — Bessie A. Luella inai- 
 ried W. C. Layton, a farmer of Fulton County. 
 John VV. C. and Althca D. are at home with their 
 parents. 
 
 Mr. Sconce votes the straight Republican ticket 
 and is at present the Drain C(jmmissioner of liis 
 township. lie has served as School Director sev- 
 eral years. lie belongs to the JMasonic fraternity 
 at Georgetown, while his estimable wife has been 
 a faithful member of the Metliodist Episcopal 
 Church since 18G1. Their daughters Lucy and 
 Lilly completed their studies in the Ncjrnial School 
 at Danville, and subsequently engaged as teacliers. 
 
 The parents of our subject were .lohn L, and 
 Lue}' (Spicer) Sconce, the father a native of Nich- 
 olas County, Ky., born near North Middleton, and 
 the mother a native of Bourbon County. They 
 were married in the latter county, where the eider 
 Sconce carried on farming until emigrating to Illi- 
 nois, in 1830. He settled at Brooks Point, about 
 six miles soutli of Danville, where he engaged in 
 farming and was prospered. The mother died at 
 Brooks Point in 18.54, at the age of fifty-six j^ears, 
 leaving nine children, of whom only David and 
 Philemon S. are living. The others were named, 
 respectively: Minerva J., Louisa A. D., John R., 
 Elizabeth Luc}', Martha S. and Susanna A. These 
 are located mostly in this countj'. 
 
 On another page appears a fine view of the 
 pleasant residence of Mr. and Mrs. Sconce. 
 
 « IfelLLIAM II. GARDNER, editor and pro- 
 \jjJl/ prietor of tiie Rossville Weekly Press, Ross- 
 Wyl ville, III., formerly of St. Joseph County, 
 Mich., although having been only a brief time a 
 resident of this place, has already established him- 
 self in the esteem and confidence of the citizens. 
 He is a gentleman of ability, and of excellent fam- 
 ily, a native of Steuben County, N. Y., and born 
 March 15, 1830. 
 
 Hiram Gardnet, the father of our subject, was 
 
 born in Bristol County, R. I., whence he removed 
 to Steuben County, N. Y., when it was a wilder- 
 ness, constructed a comfortable homestead after 
 years of industrious laljor, and there spent the last 
 years of his life. The wife of his youth was Miss 
 Sarah Patchen, and they became the i)arents of two 
 children. Both the latter are living, the brother 
 residing at Cooper's Plains, N. Y. 
 
 The subject of this sketch grew up amid the 
 scenes of pioneer life in the Empire State, receiv- 
 ing such education as the imperfect school system 
 of that day afforded. His education was- carried 
 on mostly during the winter season, while the bal- 
 ance of the year he made himself useful around 
 the homestead, manufacturing rails and shingles, 
 driving oxen and utilizing himself in whatever 
 manner required, ^\'hen out of school he by no 
 means neglected his books, making a practice of 
 reading as time and opportunity presented. At the 
 age of nineteen years he commenced teaching, and 
 officiated thereafter as a pedagogue for a period of 
 more than twenty years. Leaving his native State 
 in the spring of 1856, he emigrated to Lee County, 
 111., where he employed himself in farming and 
 teaching, and became a prominent citizen in con- 
 nection with educational affairs. He was twice 
 elected Superintendent of Schools. During the war 
 he got out timber for the United States Govern- 
 ment, and upon one occasion seven days from the 
 time the trees stood in the forest, a bridge was 
 made of them spanning a river in Tennessee. 
 
 Mr. Gardner has been engaged in the newspaper 
 work since 1866, being formerly part owner of the 
 Grand Rapids Democrat. He withdrew from this 
 to enter the office of H. N. F. Lewis, publisher of 
 the Western Rural, at Chicago, and took the first 
 order for advertising for that paper, nailing up 
 the first office sign for it in Chicago. He con- 
 ducted the affairs of this office one year, when the 
 main office was removed from Detroit to Chicago, 
 and Mr. Gardner became traveling correspondent 
 and editor. Later he was connected with the 
 Humane Jaurnal for a period of eleven years. He 
 purchased the St. Joseph County Republican in 
 May, 1888, of which he took charge in the July 
 following. It was a spicy, six-column octavo de- 
 voted to the interests of the county and Repub- 
 
700 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 lican part}', At present lie is managing the affairs 
 of the Rossvilie Weekly Press with his cnstonmi'y 
 ability and tact. 
 
 The marriage of William II. Gardner and Miss 
 Margaret Holmes was celebrated in Homer, I\. Y.. 
 Dec. 31, 1855. This lady was the daughter of 
 Aniasa Holmes, of Homer, and of her union with 
 t)ur subject there were born two children, one of 
 whom, Frances, became the wifejof Walter Chad- 
 band, 8u])erintendent of Rosehill Cemeter}'. They 
 reside in the beautiful suburb of Roger's Park, 
 near Chicago. Mrs. Margaret (Holmes) Gardner 
 departed this life at her home, in Rogers Park, 
 March 2, 1888. She was a lad}' highly esteemed 
 b}' her acquaintances, a member in good standing 
 of the Baptist Church, and an active Christian 
 worker. 
 
 P" RA^'CIS A. RICHARDSON. In addition 
 I to being a thorough and skillful farmer, 
 ^_^ this gentleman possesses mechanical genius 
 of no mean order, is expert with tools and occupied 
 largely as a carpenter and builder. He is remark- 
 ably industrious and energetic, never content with 
 being idle, and operates successfully a good farm 
 of 2G7 acres in Georgetown Township. lie has 
 spent his entire life in this region, having been 
 born in Vermilion County, Ind., in what was then 
 called Springfield, Dec. 17, 1846. The opening 
 years of his life were spent upoii the farm where 
 he made himself useful as his size and strength 
 permitted, and acquired bis early education in the 
 district school. In the meantime, while yet a boy, 
 he began to use carpenter tools and in 1868 en- 
 gaged as a contractor. Thereafter he superin- 
 tended the building of many houses in that immed- 
 iate vicinity. He also at the same time engaged in 
 moving houses, and operated a threshing machine 
 and a steam sawmill in Georgetown Township, this 
 county. 
 
 When twenty-two years old Mr. Richardson was 
 married, in 1868 to Miss JMary E., daughter of 
 Isaac and Elizabeth (Cook) Thornton. Mi's. Rich- 
 ardson was born in Elwood Township, \'ermilion 
 County, and removed with her parents to Iowa 
 
 when a small child. They finally returned to Ver- 
 mili(jn County, where they are now living. They 
 had a family of four children — Mary E., Derinda, 
 JMatilda Esther and Edom. Miss jMary remained 
 under the parental roof, acquiring a common-school 
 education and becoming familiar with all house- 
 wifely duties. Of her union with our subject there 
 have also been born four children— Horace M., 
 Harmon A., Orpheus A. and Alvia A. Mr. and 
 Mrs. Richardson belong to the Christian Church 
 and Mr. Richardson, politically, is a sound Repub- 
 lican. He has mingled very little with public af- 
 fairs, si\nply serving as a School Director in his 
 district six years. 
 
 The parents of our subject were Adoniram Jud- 
 son and Maria (Taylor) Richardson, ^vho were 
 natives of New Hampshire where they were reared 
 and married. After marriage they emigrated to 
 Indiana, settling in the vicinity of Terre Haute 
 and later changed their residence to Vermilion 
 County, that State. They finally removed to 
 (jeorgetown Towuhhip, where they are still living, 
 both having arrived to the advanced age of eighty- 
 four years. They are the parents of nine children, 
 viz. : George T;, Mary A., deceased; Martha A;, 
 Francis K., and AVilliam II., deceased; Sarah E., 
 John T;, Ferona E., deceased and Francis A. 
 
 ^ I^ILLIAM 1. ALLEN, one of the earliest 
 \&Jll settlers of Eastern Illinois, came to the 
 V^^ State in 1841 and to this county the year 
 following. He settled in the vicinity of Danville, 
 and for three years thereafter taught the village 
 and adjoining schools. He entered land now oc- 
 cupied by the northwestern part of Hoopeston, but 
 at that time a tract of uncultivated ground, 
 over which deer, wolves, prairie chickens and other 
 wild creatures had up to this time wandered un- 
 disturbed by man. There was not a tree or shrub in 
 sight and the pioneer, after erecting his cabin, fre- 
 quently stood in bis door and counted numbers of 
 deer, sometimes as high as sixty in one herd. 
 
 Mr. Allen came to this county a single man, but 
 after becoming settled was married, Oct. 17, 1848, 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOIrRAPIIJCAL ALBUM. 
 
 701 
 
 to Miss Emily Newell. He then commenced break- 
 ing his praii-ie land, and in due time put up a 
 house and barn, set out an orchard, planted hedges 
 and proceeded with the improvements naturally 
 suggested to one of his progressive mind and in- 
 dustrious habits. He occupied his farm, during 
 the summer months and in winter taught school, 
 and studied and practiced law for a number of 
 years. Finally he sold out to iMr. Hoopes and set- 
 tleil six miles west where East Lynn now stands. 
 liy entering and purchase he acquired 3,200 acres 
 of land which was mostly devoted to grazing, 
 although he carried on agriculture considerably. 
 He put up three houses and effected other improve- 
 ments, remaining there until after the outbreak of 
 the Civil War. He then enlisted m Company C, 
 12th Illinois Infantry, which regiment was first 
 ordered to Cairo and then to Paducali, Ky. JMr. 
 Allen in due time was presented with a Captain's 
 commission, but was obliged to resign on account 
 of disability, and returned home. 
 
 Our subject now occupied his farm for a time, 
 then purchased 500 acres in the vicinity of Ross- 
 ville. A few years later he sold out once more 
 and returned to the northern part of East Lynn, 
 which was located on a part of the old farm, about 
 the time tiie railroad was built through. In 1H84 
 he went to Cherry Countj% Neb., but in 1888 re- 
 turned to Hoopeston, where he still lives. He has 
 built up for himself a good record, serving as 
 County Treasurer two terms and the same length 
 of time as School Commissioner. He usuallj- 
 votes with the Republican party, and is proud of 
 the fact that in all his life he never cast a ballot 
 for a Democrat. 
 
 To Mr. and Mrs. Allen theie were born six chil- 
 dren, five of whom are living, namely: Hugh A. 
 of Holt County, Neb.; Charles A., who is repre- 
 sented elsewhere in this work; Mary, Mrs. Thomas 
 Van Brunt; Emily IS'., who is unmarried; (Jlyde II. 
 and Martha, who died in January, 1880 at the age 
 of twenty-three 3'ears. Mrs. Emily (Newell) Allen 
 was born in Kentucky in 1M24 and came to Illinois 
 with her parents when a small child. Newell 
 Township was named after her father, James 
 Newell, who was a prominent farmer and useful 
 citizen. Our subject's father, Asaph Allen was a 
 
 
 native of Massachusetts, but reared in "S^ermont 
 and was married to Miss Sarah McCloud. They emi- 
 grated to Franklin County, Ohio, settling upon land 
 now occupied by a part of the city of Columbus. 
 Finally they removed over the line into Madison 
 County, and lived until a few years ago when the 
 father died at the age of eighty-three. The mother 
 of Mr. Allen died while he was an infant. 
 
 ^, lyiLLIAM FLEMING, editor and proprie- 
 of the Hoopeston Democrat, was born 
 urnsey County, Ohio, July 2, 1846, 
 wliere he spent a large portion of his boyhood, 
 moving from there to Birds Run, Tuscarawas 
 County, and from there to West Lafayette, Cosh- 
 octon, Co., Ohio; after a residence at the latter 
 place a number of j'ears he went to Cadiz, Harri- 
 son, Co., Ohio, where he learned the printing busi- 
 ness on the Sentinel, published by the Hon. C. N. 
 Allen. Here, Mr. Fleming worked till the war-fever 
 seized him. Being refused the privilege of volun- 
 teering on account of youthfulness, bj- ]\lr. Allen, 
 his uncle, he repaired to Tod's Barracks, Columbus, 
 Ohio, and on the 19th day of February, 1864, vol- 
 unteered for the Infantry service for three years or 
 during the war, and was assigned to Company H, 
 88th Ohio Infantry, and was on duty at Camp 
 Chase, Ohio, guarding and transporting prisoners 
 all of the term of his service. He was discharged 
 July 3, 1865, by reason of General Order, No. 136, 
 headquarters. Northern Department, Cincinnati, 
 Ohio, the war being over. One month after his 
 discharge from the army, Mr. Fleming's father died 
 leaving a family of eight children and with no 
 means of support. With characteristic energy 
 that is worthy of all praise, he went to work on a 
 railroad section at $1.50 per day, to keep his 
 brothers and sisters together. 
 
 After three years of hard service in this line his 
 brothers grevy up, so that they could take care of 
 themselves liy the older ones working out, when 
 Mr. Fleming returned to his trade, that of a printer, 
 engaging in an office at Kansas V\iy, Mo., remain- 
 ing there for some time, but finally returning to 
 
70-2 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 Crescent City, Iroquois Co., 111., where he married 
 Miss Frances Huuter, on the 26th day of March, 
 1874. From there he went to Hoopeston and 
 worked for seven years and three months as fore- 
 man of the Chronicle. He was finally induced to 
 take charge of the Hoopeston Journal and edit and 
 publish it, which he did April 27,1882. On Novem- 
 b(,'r 10, of the same year, he bought the plant and 
 ran the paper until September, 3, 1885, when he 
 sold it to a syndicate. On November 10, he flung 
 to the breezes the Hoopeston Independent, which 
 met with favor with the people. This paper he 
 publisheiT eighteen months, when he bought the 
 Hoopeston Jour7ial and merged the two papers 
 into the Hoopeston Democrat, which he still con- 
 ducts with ability and energy. 
 
 By his first wife Mr. Fleming was the father of 
 two children, one of whom is still living — Ella. 
 His first -wife died at Hoopeston, March 12, 1881. 
 He afterward married Mrs. Alice M. Ililler nei- Os- 
 born, and by this union two boys were born — 
 LeroyandJay. Thornton Fleming, the father of 
 William, was a merchant of West Lafayette, Oliio, 
 and married Miss Eliza Ann Gorseline. He died 
 at the last named place, and his wife is now living 
 at Kearney, Neb. Mr. Fleming is conducting Ins 
 paper with success, and it is looked upon as a re- 
 liable journal. His advertising patronage is good, 
 and upon the whole he is scoring a success in his 
 enterprise of maintaining a first-class paper at 
 Hoopeston. 
 
 Il_ UGH MONTGOIMERY ROBINSON, of 
 
 |i Champaign, 111., familiarly known in Fair- 
 
 mount and vicinity as "Mont Robinson," 
 
 (^) while not one of the earliest settlers of this 
 county, came here when the prairie was not con- 
 sidered suitable for human habitations, and the 
 residents were mostly timber settlors, very few 
 having yet ventured far from the woods. He was 
 born in Darrtown, Butler Co., Ohio, Sept. 7, 18.3;'), 
 and came to the Wabash Valley in the spring of 
 1853. His father was a native of Harrisburg, Pa. 
 and his mother was amember of the \'alliant(()rigin- 
 
 ally Valiant, from France) family from the eastern 
 shore of Maryland, some of whom figured conspicu- 
 ously in official positions in Baltimore and oilier 
 places in that State. 
 
 At the age of twenty years Mr. Robinson was 
 married, Nov. 28, 185;") to Miss Mary Jane, a 
 daughter of Isaac Dickason of Perrysvillc. For 
 some time afterward he worked at Danville, but 
 was deterred from moving his family to that vil- 
 lage on account of its notoriety as a milk-sick cen- 
 ter. Very few people moved to Danville in those 
 days on that account. Later, Mr. Robinson ven- 
 tured within three miles of the place and finally 
 took up his residence within it. He resided there 
 six years and in 1862 changed his residence to Sid- 
 ney. In 1865 he removed to Fairmount, of which 
 he was a resident until July, 18811. His next re- 
 moval was to Champaign, in order to establish a 
 new Democratic paper, the Champaign Or/>it. 
 
 In the meantime, in 1882, Mr. Robinson w;is 
 seized with Bright's disease and not being uble 
 to follow his trade of shoe-making, himself and his 
 daughter, Ida, started a small paper, which they 
 named the Fairmount Veto, intending only to pub- 
 lish this until the health of Mr. Robinson should 
 be restored and he could return to his trade. By 
 means of an exclusively skimmed-milk diet Mr. 
 Robinson not only regained his health, but was even 
 better than he had ever been before in all his life, 
 and indeed is practically ten years _younger than 
 when he commenced this treatment. He wishes 
 this fact recorded so that others may be benefited 
 by the experiment. 
 
 The Veto became eminently successful and pop- 
 ular and was continued until the removal to Cham- 
 paign. Miss Ida Robinson deserves especial 
 mention for the part she has borne in making the 
 Veto a signal success. In 1886, in connection with 
 this. Miss Ida and her father established the Sid- 
 ney By- Way and this too proved a fortunate ven- 
 ture. Afterward Mr. Robinson turned over the 
 establishment to his widowed daughter, Mrs. Eva 
 Stewart, who is conducting it singl3^ and alone 
 and making it a paying institution. 
 
 Mrs. Mnry Jane (Dickason) Robinson was born 
 in Fountain County, Ind., March 19, 1837. Eva, 
 the eldest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Robinson was 
 
PORTRAIT AND BrOGRAPIIICAL ALBUM. 
 
 703 
 
 born in Paris, III., Oct. 2, 1866. Tlieir eldest son, 
 Hart Benton, now married and living in Sidney 
 was born in Danville. Aug. 1.5, 1858; Ida was 
 also born in Danville, May 18, 18G0; Larkin Gray, 
 the youngest, was born in Fairmount, Aug. 13, 
 1869. Tliey now reside at No. 311, East Clark 
 Street, Ghampaign, where the}- will welcome .any 
 of their old-time friends, and hope to cultivate 
 new ones. 
 
 \f/OSEPH MOSS. In the career of the subject 
 of this notice, we find an excellent exam- 
 ple for young men just embarking in the 
 field of active life, of what may be accom- 
 plished by a man beginning poor, but honest, 
 prudent and industrious. Mr. Moss in early life en- 
 joj'ed but few advantages. His school days were 
 limited nor had he wealth or position to aid him in 
 his struggle with the world. He was obliged to rel}- 
 solely upon his own efforts to win for him success, 
 and he has reason to believe that his lalioi-s both of 
 hand and brain have not been for naught. He is 
 now in comfortable circumstances, retired from 
 active labor, and has a very pleasant home, com- 
 prising a well-tilled farm in Middle Fork Town- 
 ship. 
 
 The Moss homestead is especially noticeable on 
 account of its modern improvements, inclnding a 
 fine artesian well from which flows a constant 
 stream of water through the milk house, and to tanks 
 in the barnyard for the accommodation of tlie stock 
 and whatever other purpose required. The build- 
 ings are commodious and conveniently arranged 
 and the farm-machinery is first-class. 
 
 Next in importance to the ]jersonal history of our 
 subject is the record of those from whom he sprang. 
 His 'paternal grandfather Moss, it is believed, was 
 born in Germany and after his emigration to 
 America died in one of the Eastern States. Among 
 his sons was John, the father of our subject, who 
 spent his early 3'ears in Ohio where he was married, 
 and whence he came to Illinois when his son, .Jo- 
 seph, was four years of age. The latter was born 
 in Preble County, Ohio. The journey to this 
 county was made overland by teams, the party con- 
 
 sisting of the parents of our subject with their 
 three children, the paternal grandparents and the 
 step-grandfather, the grandmother having died 
 many years previously. John Moss and his step- 
 father entered eighty acres of land in the vicinity 
 of Georgetown, this county, where Mr. Moss estab- 
 lished a tanyard, which he operated until the fall 
 of 182(1, when his labors were cut short by his 
 death. 
 
 The widowed mother of our subject, Mrs. Cathe- 
 rine Moss, was left with three small children, — 
 Joseph, Jesse and Elmore. They experienced 
 many hardshi[)s and difficulties until Joseph was old 
 enough to assist in the support of the family. 
 When he was thirteen years old his mother was 
 married to Mr. < I eorge, Swisher, and Joseph was 
 bound out until he should become nineteen years 
 of age. Mr. and ]\Irs. Swisher became the parents 
 of three children, — John, George and a daughter 
 now deceased. The mother died in this county 
 about 1811. 
 
 Young Moss, when released from his bondage at 
 the age of nineteen years, began to paddle his own 
 canoe and engaged as a farm laborer by the month. 
 His honesty and industry secured him friends on 
 every hand and in due time he was in a condition 
 to establish a home of his own. On the 17th of 
 April, 1K45, he was married to Miss Delilah Starr, 
 who like himself was a n.ative of Preble County, 
 Ohio. The young people began housekeeping in a 
 log cabin, the chinks stopped up with mud, the 
 fire-place laid with earth and the floor of puncheon. 
 The chinmey was built outside of earth and sticks, 
 and a clapboard door was hung on wooden hino-es 
 closing with a wooden latch r.aised b^- a strino-. 
 The}' occupied this domicile one summer then re- 
 moved to a larger cabin but furnished pretty much 
 in the same style. Mr. Moss after his marriage was 
 employed for a time in a carding-mill, then began 
 farming and finally purchased sixty acres of land 
 near MyeisviUe, for which he contracted to pay 
 ^.')50. He paid cash down |150, and eighteen 
 months later sold the land at an advance of |50. 
 
 About 1850 Mr. Moss entered 160 acres of wild 
 land in Middle Fork Township, located near Blue 
 Grass Grove. He put up a sni.all frame house, 
 made some other improvements and lived there 
 
704 
 
 PORTRAIT AND HIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 until March, 1884. In that year he purchased 
 and took possession of his present home where 
 he has twenty-seven acres of choice land and 
 elsewhere has 300 acres, all improved, besides 
 property in Potomac. He has given his son, .John 
 B., eighty acres of land, thus providing him with 
 a fine start in life. His daughter, Sarah A., is the 
 wife of Benjamin Wise. These two are the only 
 children of Mr. Moss. He and his estimable wife 
 belong to the Methodist Episcopal Church in 
 which Mr. Moss has held the office of Steward and 
 Trustee. He identified himself with the church 
 when a young man, twenty-two years of age, while 
 Mrs. Moss has been a member since a maiden of 
 sixteen. They have been acquainted with each 
 other from the time when in his youth our subject 
 assisted father Starr in the harvest field and raked 
 hay with a hand rake. 
 
 Peter and Catherine (Hewet) Starr, the parents 
 of Mrs. Moss were natives of North Carolina and 
 removed to Preble County, Ohio, where they lived 
 many years and where Mrs. Moss was born. Tliej' 
 came to this county in in 1830 and located on land 
 three miles west of Slate Line City, where they so- 
 journed many years. After the parents had trav- 
 eled the journey of life together over fifty years 
 and were too old to be left alone, they took up 
 their abode with our subject. Mr. Starr departed 
 this life Feb. 20, 1862. The mother survived her 
 husband many years, passing away April 18, 1881. 
 
 •••<~J-*^ 
 
 ^^ 
 
 !•-»— ;#\/v» 
 
 APT. SAMUEL FRAZIER. This honored 
 II - old veteran or nearly eighty-three years, is 
 ^^ one of the pioneers of '33, coming to this 
 county when a young man of twenty-seven years. 
 During the long period of fifty-six yeais which 
 he has spent in Central Illinois, there has passed 
 like a panorama before his eyes the change 
 which has transformed the wide and houseless prai- 
 rie into the homes of an intelligent and civilized 
 people. The slow ox team of the early emigrant 
 has given place to the hurry and dispatch of steam; 
 three important wars have been fought, and a free 
 people each time come off victorious; men have 
 
 changed for the better in their ideas of labor and 
 their pride in progress, and the intelligent man be- 
 lieves that the world is growing better in propor- 
 tion to its increasing population. 
 
 The middle of September, 1833, found the sub- 
 ject of this sketch established on a tract of land 
 two miles northwest of what is now Catlin, but 
 was then a lonely prairie. His life prior to this 
 liad been spent in tlie Buckeye State, where he was 
 born Sept. 13, 1806, in the Township of Hubbard, 
 Trumbull County. When a lad of six years Jiis 
 father enlisted as a soldier in the war of 1812. He 
 returned home the year following, disposed of his 
 interests in Trumbull County, and settled at 
 Springfield, about flfteeen miles from Cincinnati. 
 The family sojourned there four years, then re- 
 moved to Dearborn County, Ind., wliere the father 
 secured a tract of land, and where the subject of 
 our sketch remained with them until a youth of 
 eighteen years. Then, desirous of a change, he 
 began following the river, flatboating and steam- 
 boating, and in 1824 was at Natchez, Miss., about 
 the time of tlie visit of Gen. Lafayette at that 
 place. Our subject looked upon the present great 
 city of Cincinnati before a single pavement was 
 laid. After the family came to this county he em- 
 ployed himself mostly at farming. Prior to com- 
 ing to Illinois, our subject made the acquaintance 
 of Miss Buelali Ann Finley, who was born in De- 
 cember, 1812, and to whom he was married March 
 15, 1832. 
 
 For two 3'ears after his marriage Mr. Frazier 
 rented land over the line in Indiana, raised two 
 crops of corn, and in the fall of 1833, purchased 
 200 acres of land, the product of two j'oars' work. 
 The spring following he moved upon it with liis 
 wife and one cliild, making the journey with an 
 ox team, and being fifteen days on the road. Upon 
 coming to this county Danville was a little town 
 of 400 or 500 inhabitants, but it had already been 
 made the count}' seat and a court-house had been 
 built. Upon his own land was a cabin into which 
 Mr. Frazier moved with his little family, and for 
 two years tliereafter confined his attention to tiie 
 improvement of his property, breaking eighty 
 acres, putting up a barn, and making an addition 
 to the dwelling. He then sold out for !S1,000, but 
 
PORTRAIT AND iJIOfiRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 705 
 
 afterwards raised another crop on the same land. 
 He moved into Danville in F'ebruary, 1838, set- 
 tling on Vermilion street, between Main and North 
 streets, where he lived until purcliasing property 
 on Main street. 
 
 About 1836 our subject entered a tract of land 
 in Champaign County, tins State, which he sold 
 two years later ata handsome price. He conducted 
 an hotel one year, then purchased property on 
 Main street, where he has erected a big brick block, 
 extending from the court-house to Hazel street, and 
 known as the Frazier Block. He lived there for 
 twenty-live years, carrying on his hotel five years 
 of this time. In 1840 he was elected sheriff of 
 Vermilion County, which office he held eightyears, 
 being the third man elected to this position. Upon 
 retiring from this he engaged in buying cattle, and 
 made many a trip driving tliese through to Chi- 
 cago, when the country was all open prairie. 
 
 Merchandising also formed one of the enter- 
 prises of our subject as senior member of the firm 
 of Frazier, Lamb & Co., which continued two 
 years. Then Mr. Lamb withdrew, and the firm be- 
 came Frazier it Gessie, the latter the son-in-law of 
 the Captain. After two years the latter assumed 
 sole charge of the business, which he conducted 
 probably ten years, and until' the outbreak of the 
 civil war. Strongly imbued with the Union senti- 
 ment, he then raised the first company of men in 
 this county — Companj^ C, which was assigned to 
 tlie 12th Lifantry under Col. John McArthur. Mr. 
 Frazier was elected captain, and proceeding to 
 Cairo, served three months, and then being no 
 longer needed returned home with his men, and 
 thereafter gave his attention to his business affairs. 
 
 Mrs. Buelah Ann (Finley) Frazier became the 
 mother of twelve children, and deiiarted this life 
 March 25, 1864, leaving four children, the only 
 ones remaining of that numerous familj'. Edward 
 entei-ed the army, was taken ill, returned home and 
 died ten days afterward, at the age of nineteen 
 years; Angeline became the wife of James H. 
 Phillips of Danville, and is now the mother of six 
 children; Mary F., the wife of M. A. Lapham, is a 
 resident of Springfield, Mo., and the mother of two 
 children; Florence, Mrs. W. W. Phillips, lives in 
 Danville, and is the mother of four cliildren, one 
 
 of whom is dead; De Witt C. married Miss Emma 
 Reed, and is a practicing attorney of Danville. 
 
 In 1861 Capt. Frazier disposed of his mercantile 
 interests and purchased his present home at the 
 corner of North and Pine streets, where he has 
 since resided. On the 12th of April, 1865, he was 
 married to Miss Nancy Finley, who was born 
 Sept. 17, 1823, a sister of his first wife. 
 The family residence is a fine large brick struct- 
 ure, and after standing over twenty years gives 
 little evidence of its age. At the time of its 
 erection it was considered one of the best in the 
 town. The Captain cast his first presidential vote 
 for John Quincy Adams, and was an old line Whig 
 until the abandonment of the party b}* the organ- 
 ization of the Republicans. He was well acquainted 
 with Abraham Lincoln, who often partook of his 
 liospitality in the above named block while prose- 
 cuting his law business in this part of the county. 
 Capt. Frazer reverts to those episodes with pardon- 
 able pride, and declares that Mr. Lincoln was one 
 of the most congenial and companionable men it 
 w.as ever his lot to meet. 
 
 The Captain for over half a century has been a 
 member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, to 
 which his first wife belonged, and with which the 
 present Mrs. Frazier is also connected. He was for 
 many years quite active as an official and has given 
 liberally to its support. For a number of years 
 Capt. Frazier operated as a farmer, and is the 
 owner of 700 acres of land near Catlin, which he 
 has since divided up among his children. lie was 
 one of the first directors of the First National 
 Bank, and has been interested in most of the en- 
 terprises calculated to build up the town. He con- 
 stitutes one of the old landmarks, and will be 
 kindly remembered long after he has been gath- 
 ered to his fathers. 
 
 The father of our subject was Samuel P"'razier, 
 Sr., a native of Maryland, born on the eastern 
 shore across the bay from Baltimore. He lived in 
 that vicinity until after his marriage with Miss 
 Mary Massey. They became the parents of nine 
 children, six of whom lived to mature years, and 
 of whom our subject is the only survivor, the eld- 
 est dying at the age of twenty-six. The family 
 left Maryland in the spring of 1806, and moved 
 
706 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 across the mountains into Ohio in a two-liorse cart, 
 all the property the elder Frazier possessed. There 
 n('eomi)anied him six men and one woman besides 
 liis wife. He purchased a tract of timber land in 
 Trumbull County, upon which he labored six years 
 and worked some at his trade of shoemaking, which 
 he had learned in his i\ative State. 
 
 In the meantime occurred the war of 1812, and 
 the elder Frazier joined the militia and was aj) 
 pointed to the rank of Major. After the surren- 
 der of Hull the Ohio militia was called out, and at 
 the end of three months the command was muster- 
 ed out. The Frazier family then moved to Dear- 
 born County, Ind., where they resided twenty 
 years, and upon leaving there, about l.S.'iS, came 
 to this county. The father purchased land adjoin- 
 ing that now belonging to our subject, and which 
 is still owned by one of his heirs — Mrs. Lawrence. 
 He departed this life in 1846, and his wife died the 
 following year. He was first a Whig, politicallj^ 
 and then a Republican, a man of decided ideas, and 
 and one whose opinions were generally respected. 
 
 David Finley, father of the two Mrs. P^raziers, 
 was born in Kentucky, Dec. 10, 1781, and was 
 there married to Miss Nancy Miller, who was born 
 April 14, 1787. He departed this life August 29, 
 1853, and his wife passed away four days prior to 
 his decease — August 25. He had been mostly en- 
 gaged in agricultural pursuits, but for a number of 
 years was on the river, ruuning to New Orleans. 
 His daughters, Buelali and Nancy, were born in 
 Dearl)orn County, Ind., and the latter named re- 
 sided with her parents until the time of their death. 
 
 ^UELL TILLOTSON, a skillful, practical 
 farmer, is quietly and prosperously carry- 
 ing on his farming operations on his farm, 
 one of the best and most highly productive 
 of Pilot Township, very pleasantly located on sec- 
 tion 36. He is a native of Indiana, born in War- 
 ren County, Sept. 23, 1847. His grandparents on 
 both sides of the house were pioneers of Ohio in 
 the early days of its settlement. His father, Eph- 
 raim Tillotson, was born in Miami County, that 
 
 State, in 181 1, liis ancestors being of English origin, 
 and he a descendant of the same branch of the fam- 
 ily .as that famous English divine. Archbishop Til- 
 lotson. The mother of our subject, whose maiden 
 name was Mary A. Cronkhite, was also born in 
 Miami County. After her marriage with the father 
 of our subject they 'came westward to the State of 
 Indiana and located in Warren County, and there 
 the father died in 1884. The mother survives at 
 an advanced age and makes her home on a farm in 
 \'ermilion County. Of her marriage twelve chil- 
 dren were boru, of whom the following eight are 
 living: Walter, a farmer of this county married 
 Lucetta Endicott; Madison, who lives in Louisiana, 
 married Kate Goodwiue, and they have three chil-. 
 dren; Luther, a farmer, married Mary E. Myrick, 
 and they have five children ; Wallace, a farmer of 
 this county, married Family French, and they have 
 three children; Buell is our subject; Sarah married 
 Edward Foster, of Indiana, now living in this 
 county, and the}^ >have seven children; Rebecca 
 married J. K. Buettz, a retired farmer of Potomac, 
 and they have six children; Frances married 
 Alonzo W. Knight, a farmer of this county, and 
 thej' have four children: Mary married Frank 
 Henry, a retired farmer of this county, and they 
 have two cliildren. 
 
 Buell Tillotson gleaned a good education in the 
 common schools, and a practical training at home 
 that fitted him to cope with the world when he be- 
 came independent. When he first began life he did 
 not have the wherewithal to buy the land for him- 
 self, and as he was very desirous ofcarrying on farm- 
 ing he rented a farm. He met with such good success 
 in that venture that in a few years by unremit- 
 ting toil and frugal economy he was enabled to lay 
 up money enough to buy a farm of his own, and he 
 became the possessor of one, comprising 160 acres 
 of land of unsur[)assed fertility. He now has it under 
 good cultivation, and has made many substantial 
 improvements that have greatly increased its value, 
 and he has established a cozy, comfortable home 
 for his family. He is eng.aged in mixed husbandry, 
 and besides raising grain and other products com- 
 mon to this <'limate raises stock, all that his farm 
 will carry. 
 
 Mr. Tillotson was united in marriage with Miss 
 
PORTRAIT AND RIOGRAPIIICAL ALBUM. 
 
 ro7 
 
 Lizzie AViles, whose parents were both natives of 
 Denmark, but who emigrated at an early date to 
 this county, where Mrs. Tillotson was born. Tlie 
 wedded life of our subject and his wife 1ms been 
 blessed to them by the birth of two children, one 
 alone living, a daughter, Lucetta. 
 
 C)ur subject is a quiet, unassuming man, with 
 much force and decision of cliaracter, however, 
 and his place in the community is among its best 
 and most deserving citizens. He and his wife are 
 worthy members of the Christian Church, as is 
 attested by their conduct in the every-day affairs 
 of life. Mr. Tillotson is a firm ally of the Repub 
 lican party, taking an intelligent interest in politi- 
 cal matters. He has served on several juries, and 
 is in every way fitted to perform the duties attend- 
 ant >:pon good citizenship. 
 
 QUIRK STEPHEN S. SHAW. To be the 
 founder of a town is no small honor, and 
 next to the founder is the man who has 
 made it the object of his fostering care. 
 The town of Allerton is largely indebted to Mr. 
 Shaw, who bears the honor of being the first Post- 
 master, for its incipient growth and development, 
 and for the interest which he has taken in its 
 progress and welfare. He is a man of sterling 
 worth and integrity, the owner of a good property 
 without being wealthy, and is possessed of those 
 substantial and reliable traits of character which 
 have made him a man to be depended upon in 
 whatever he says and where assistance is needed 
 in furtliering every good and worthy enterprise. 
 
 Our subject opened his infant eyes in Jefferson 
 County, Ky., August 17, 1H48, Ijut while a small 
 jhild was taken by his parents to Vigo County, 
 Ind., where he attended the common school, and 
 later entered the seminary at Farmers))urg, which 
 he attended four years, completing a normal 
 course. For the same length of time he engaged 
 in teaching in Vigo and Parke counties. He came 
 to Illinois in 1876 and rented a 100-acre farm in 
 Champaign County, in company with his brother 
 James, and where he remained four years. For 
 
 some time they kept bachelor's hall, but Stephen S. 
 finally resolved it was not good for man to be alone, 
 and was accordingly raarrieil Jan. 21, 1881, to Miss 
 Lucretia Aclters, in Douglas County. Mr. and 
 Mrs. Shaw after their marriage resided for a time 
 on a farm in Edgar County, 111. , then coming to 
 this county settled at Allerton, soon after which 
 Mr. Shaw was appointed Postmaster and also as- 
 sumed an interest in a stock of groceries and general 
 merchandise. Since that time his interests have 
 centered here, and he is looked up to as one of the 
 leading men of the place. In the spring of 1889 
 he was elected Justice of the Peace, and is dis- 
 charging the duties of his office with his usual good 
 judgment, giving satisfaction to the people. Po- 
 litically he is a strong Democrat. The father of 
 our subject was Temple Shaw, a native of Jefferson 
 County, Ky., and who married Miss Elizabeth 
 Moore, also of the Blue Grass State. Grandfather 
 Jesse Shaw was an early settler of Kentucky, and 
 his father came from Scotland. The Moore family 
 flourished in Maryland. The parents of our subject 
 moved to Indiana in 1855, where the father carried 
 on farming successfully and became well-to-do. 
 Both he .and his excellent wife are still living and 
 aged respectively seventy-four and sixty-six years. 
 Mr. Shaw has served as Justice of the Peace for 
 the long period of forty years. 
 
 Eleven children were born to the parents of our 
 subject, the eldest of whom, Julia, is the wife of 
 Jacob Ridgeway, Iier second husband and a farmer 
 of Sullivan County, Ind. She is the mother of 
 three children b}^ each husband, the first one being 
 Elijah llauger. Eliza married H. A. Pratt, a 
 barber of Waveland, Ind., and died childless in 
 1887. Alex married Miss Martha Allen, is the 
 father of two children and operates a farm in 
 \'ig() County, Ind.; Martha married Benjamin L. 
 Dowell, a farmer of Vigo County; they have no 
 children. Stephen S., of this slvetch, was the fifth 
 child; .lames W., married ]\Iiss Plina Danes and 
 they have one child; Alice married William Yaw, 
 a fa-mer of Vigo County, Ind., and they have four 
 children; MoUieis the wife of John Rowell of A'igo 
 County, and they have two children ; Theodore 
 married Miss Clara Jones, is farming in Vigo 
 County, and they have one child; CMara remains at 
 
708 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 home with her parents; Helen became the wife of 
 Samuel MeMulin, vvlio died on Ids farm in Sullivan 
 County, Ind., and she now makes her home with 
 her parents; she has one child. 
 
 Mrs. Shaw is the daughter of John and Susan 
 (Kanneer) Ackers of Pennsylvania. They removed 
 to Douglas County, 111., at a very early da}' and 
 are still living on the farm which they 0])ened up 
 from the wilderness, and which lies eight miles 
 from AUerton. Mrs. Shaw was the seventh in a 
 family of eleven children; slie was born in Penn- 
 sylvania and was a mere child when her parents 
 came to this State. Of her union with our subject 
 there have been born four children: Russell, 
 Charles P., Freddie (who died when an infant), 
 and Jennie B. 
 
 Mr. Shaw is not at present engaged in any active 
 business. The neat and shapely family residence 
 was put up in 1887, and with its surroundings and 
 furnishings, forms a \ei-y pleasant and attractive 
 jiome. Mr. Shaw socially- is a charter member of 
 Centennial Lodge, in Philo, Campaign County, 
 from which he was demitted, and now belongs to 
 Broadlands. He was active in securing a dispen- 
 sation from Broadlands. 
 
 ' — — — — *°»- " ' iy « 2 i' n '' S * ^» * •"* 
 
 ,l|r^ OBERT ELLIOTT is one of the men who 
 lt# have done much to develop the resources 
 of this county. He owns and lives on a 
 vj^; farm in Ross township, situated on section 
 7, township 23, ranges 10 and 11, which has been 
 his home since 1868. He was born in Muskingum 
 County, Ohio, about fourteen miles east of Zancs- 
 ville, on Sept 8, 1826, his parents being Francis 
 and Jane (Hunter) Elliott. His grandparents on 
 both sides came from the north of Ireland, and 
 were of the excellent old Scotch- Irish Presbyterian 
 stock, which has given to our country man}' of its 
 best citizens, possessed as they were of sturdy in- 
 dependence and honesty, traits which the majority 
 of their descend.ints inherit in a marked degree. 
 The paternal grandfather of the subject of this 
 biography was also named Robert. He emigrated 
 from Ireland many years ago, and after landing in 
 
 America came direct to Muskingum County, Ohio, 
 then considered the Far AVest. He and his wife 
 settled in the densely wooded country and there 
 literally hewed out a home in the wilderness. Years 
 afterward Robert Elliott and one of his sons re- 
 moved to Licking County, Ohio, settling on a farm 
 near the site of the present city of Newark, and 
 there the elder Elliott spent the remainder of his 
 days. 
 
 Francis Elliott, father of the one of whom this 
 biography is written, was born in Ireland, and was 
 but a year old when his parents brought him to 
 America. He was reared on a farm and followed 
 the occupation of a farmer all his life. He had his 
 share of the hard work necessary to clear the home- 
 stead farm, the country thereabout being very 
 hilly as well as heavily wooded. He did not ac- 
 company his father to Licking County, remaining 
 in Muskingum County until his death which oc- 
 curred in 1837, when he was in the prime of life, 
 and in a very mysterious manner. He left his house 
 one cold and slippery morning with a bag of grain 
 on his back, to feed his cattle. The subject of this 
 sketch and a brother noticed an hour afterward 
 that the cattle were not at their usual feeding place, 
 and going out to ascertain the cause found their 
 father on his knees by a stump, dead. It was sup- 
 posed that he had stumbled and fell, breaking his 
 neck, but as no post mortem examination was held 
 it was impossible to determine exactly the cause of 
 his death. He was married, in JMuskingum County, 
 to Miss Jane Hunter, who was born in Westmore- 
 land County, Pa., her parents being also from the 
 north of Ireland, of the same stock as her husband's 
 family. She proved herself a noble woman, a faith- 
 ful wife and devoted mother, whose memory is held 
 in veneration by her children. After lier husband's 
 untimely death she devoted herself to rearing her 
 family and saw them all happily married and set- 
 tled, and then she herself married James Howell, 
 an old friend and neighbor. She died in 1879, aged 
 about sixty-seven j'ears. 
 
 Francis and Jane Elliott had eight children. The 
 eldest, Eliza, who was married to James Herdman, 
 a civil engineer, died in Zanesville, Ohio, where her 
 husband is still living; William is married to Ethe- 
 linda Carter; he is engaged in blacksmithing at 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 709 
 
 Hamilton, Mo. The next in order is Robert, 
 James, who was married to Klecta St. Chiir, was a 
 farmer living on the old homestead when he died; 
 John is a farmer in Oregon and was married to 
 Nancy Owensbey, who died in that State; Mary 
 Jane is the wife of Johnson Morgan, a carpenter of 
 Danville, 111.; Margaret Catherine died in girlhood, 
 and Esther is married to Edward Dnnkin,a farmer 
 of Middle Fork Township, this county'. 
 
 Robert E., of whom this is written, spent his 
 boyhood in Muskingum Connty, Ohio, and early 
 learned what hard work was. He lived with his 
 parents until he was twenty-one yeurs old, and be- 
 ing then married lie bought a farm of eighty acres 
 about a mile from his old home, where he lived 
 until his removal to Vermilion County, HI., in 18G3. 
 His farm in Ohio was hilly and rocky, and its cul- 
 tivation made extremely hard labor. Making a 
 visit to this county in 1861 to his sister Mrs. Dun- 
 kin, who with her husband had settled here some 
 years before, he was so much pleased with the lay 
 of the land that here he determined to make his 
 future home. He sold his land in the East and 
 made the change at the time stated. His first pur- 
 chase in this county was a farm of 120 acres north- 
 east of State Line, on which he lived for four 
 years, when he sold it and rented for two years 
 another farm in the same neighborhood, then buy- 
 ing his present homestead of 1 GO acres, upon which 
 he has lived continuously since. When he bought 
 this place eighty acres of it was under partial cultiva- 
 tion. The outbuildings, fences, hedges, good barns, 
 commodious two-story bouse 28x28, are all there- 
 suit of his own labor and energy. A large part of 
 this land was swam p and bog,the eastern eighty acres, 
 being by many considered worthless. With thor- 
 ough and careful draining and good cultivation he 
 has not only reclaimed this land but has made of it 
 one of the most fertile pieces of soil in this section 
 of the county, producing fine crops. In fact he 
 has brought every acre of his land into thorough 
 condition, not a foot of it being waste. 
 
 Many changes have taken place since Mr. Elliott 
 settled here and he has not only witnessed the 
 growth and development of this part of the county, 
 but has himself participated in it, and to accom- 
 plish this great result, has done his part. He is an 
 
 industrious man both by nature and habit, and 
 though he has reached a position where his own 
 labor is not necessary, still his active habits will not 
 permit him to be idle, and he is always to be found 
 usefully employed about his place. 
 
 Mr. Elliott was married on tiie 1 1th of Sep- 
 tember 1848, to Miss Nancy Morgan, daughter of 
 Morgan Morgan, her mother's maiden name being 
 Nanc3r Sisly, and who died when her daughter was 
 a 3'ouug girl. Mrs. Elliott was born July 30, 1831, 
 in Westmoreland County, Pa., and a few years after 
 that date her parents emigrated to New Concord, 
 Ohio. ]\lr. and Mrs. Elliott have ten children, as 
 follows. Lewis Henry, the eldest, is married to 
 Katie Jenkins, and is a farmer in this county; 
 Nancy Jane is the wife of Dr. D. D. Webb, of 
 IToopeston; Ida May is the wife of Ed Leighton, of 
 Rossville; Carrie died unmarried at the age of 
 twenty-two years; Edson and Elda are twins, the 
 former assists his father on the home farm and the 
 latter at present teaching school in Wichita, Kan.; 
 Hubert, Morgan and Odessa are still with their 
 father and mother, while an infant son, Johnson, 
 second of the family, died before the removal 
 from Ohio. 
 
 Mr. Elliott is a member of the Presbyterian 
 Church in Rossville, of which he has for over 
 twenty years been a Deacon. Those people who 
 know him best are unanimous in the opinion that 
 Robert Elliott is a thoroughly manly man. No 
 better eulogy can be pronounced upon anyone. 
 
 oaii^ 
 
 hM ARGARET RICHARDSON is the widow 
 I \V ^^ *'^® ^^''"^ Joseph Richardson, a former 
 I IS well-known and highly esteemed pioneer of 
 * Vermilion County. This venerable lady 
 
 still lives on the old homestead, on section 10, Pi- 
 lot Township, owning 120 acres of it, which her 
 husband, with her active co-operation, wrested 
 from the wild prairies in the years of the early set- 
 tlement of this part of Illinois. She has witnessed 
 with pleasure almost the entire development of this 
 section of the country, where she has dwelt for 
 nearly sixty years, and has lived to see the uucul- 
 
(10 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 tivated pi-airie and forest land smiling vvitli abun- 
 dant harvests and the home of a prosperous and 
 eontented people. 
 
 Mrs. Richardson was born Fel). 3, 1815. She 
 received a training in all the duties pertaining to 
 the care of ;i fatnil}', and was thus enabled to act 
 well her part in the care of her own in after years. 
 In 1832 she was wedded to Jose))h Richardson, and 
 they soon came to establish themselves in the wilds 
 of ^\n■milion County, and were thus early pioneers 
 of this section. Mr. Ricliardson was a native of 
 the State of Maryland, and when he was a mere 
 lad, his parents removed to Washington County, 
 Pa., and SLi)>sequently to Ohio, where the father 
 died. The mother survived him, and coming to 
 Illinois, her life closed in \'ermilion County in 
 1851. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Richardson settled on 301) acres of 
 wild laud, purchased of the Oovernment, ami 
 passed through the usual experiences and hardships 
 that befall pioneers in a new country, but by per- 
 severance they overcame every obstacle, and by 
 indefatigable toil were enable<l to build up a good 
 home. After her liusband's death Mrs. Ricliardson 
 received as her share of the property the 120 acres 
 they had jointly accumulated, and is living in peace 
 and plenty, enjoying all the comforts of life, as she 
 richly deserves. 
 
 Mr. Richardson's death was considered a loss to 
 the community where he had dwelt so many years. 
 His whole course of life won him the thorough 
 respect and regard of all with whom he came in 
 contact, and his reputation in his adopted town- 
 ship was of the highest order. In him the United 
 Brethern Church found one of its most zealous and 
 valued members, who ably held the various offices 
 of the church at different times. In politics he was 
 a firm believer in the Democratic party, and was 
 active in its support. 
 
 In his wife Mr. Richardson found a true com- 
 panion and a useful helpmate. She is a worthy 
 member of the United Brethren Church, and her 
 daily life has always l.icen guided by true Christian 
 principles, us shown by her kindly, helpful conduct 
 towards her neighbors and others; she has won 
 a warm place in their affections, and none know 
 her but to respect her. The snows and frosts of 
 
 seventy-four winters have whitened her head, but 
 they have not affected her heart, and none appeal 
 to her in vain who need her assistance or sympathy. 
 Of the two children born to her and her husband — 
 Mickham and William — the latter is spared to her, 
 and with his children and grandchildren bless her 
 declining years and make life pleasant. "William, a 
 farmer in \'ermilion County, married Sarah A. 
 Rhodes, of Defiance, Ohio, and they have four 
 children — Joseph C, Samuel, John and Mary Ann. 
 William's son, Samuel, a farmer in Montgomery 
 County, Kan., married Miss Clara Smith, and they 
 have two children, Arthur C. and Clemence E. 
 
 1^ AN IE I 
 jY is nov 
 
 L IvICE, the subject of this sketch, 
 iw approaching his three score years 
 j^J^ and ten, and is afflicted with partial blind- 
 ness, but he has made it the business of his 
 life to rise aliove circumstances as far as possible, 
 and gain, all the comfort which men may enjoy by 
 an upright and honest life and the endeavor to do 
 unto others as he would be done by. 
 
 Blr. Rice came to this county in September, 1 8(J3, 
 settling at once in Sidell Township. He is the 
 scion of a good family, being the sou of Elijah 
 and Sarah (Rife) Rice, the former being a native 
 of Kentucky. The paternal grandfather, "William 
 Rice, was born near Centreville, Ohio, and was the 
 son of James Rice, a native of England. The lat- 
 ter was one of the earliest settlers of Centreville, 
 and upon the anniversary of his one hundredth 
 birthday his manj^ descendants assembled there, 
 and in the hilarity of the occasion the centenarian 
 ran a race with our subject, then a boy of twelve 
 or thirteen years, and came out ahead. He lived 
 to the great age of one hundred and thirty years, 
 but during the last fourteen years of his life was 
 blind. Grandfather Rice fought in the Revolution- 
 ary \Yai- in "\^irginia and on the frontier with the 
 Indians in Ohio; he lived to be nearly one hun- 
 dred years old. 
 
 The parents of our subject was married in Ken- 
 tucky; the mother was a native of "Virginia and 
 of English and Swiss descent. The maiden name 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 711 
 
 of her mother was Mary Muiico}-, a native of 
 England. Mrs. Rice removed to Kentucky with her 
 parents when a young lady, they settling in Law- 
 rence County. Later they removed to Carter 
 County and died there in 1851, at about the age of 
 sixty-five years. The mother subsequently came 
 to this county and lived on a farm near Fairmount 
 until her death which occurred in 1866, when she was 
 sixty-nine years old. All of their tliirteen children 
 — witli the exception of the eldest boy — grew to 
 mature years; nine sons and tliree daughters. Our 
 subject was the fourth child and second son, and 
 the eldest son now living. 
 
 Daniel Rice was born Oct. 21, 1820, in Lawrence 
 County, Ky., at a time when deer, bear and other 
 wild animals abounded in the eastern part of the 
 .State among the Cumberland Mountains. He 
 brought down many of these with his trust}' rille, 
 shooting one day six deer, and another day one 
 bear with four cubs. In hunting the latter animals 
 — the black bear — he experienced many narrow 
 escapes as this animal is very ferocious. His 
 opportunities for education were very limited, he, 
 attending a subscription school three months dur- 
 ing the winter, in a log school-liouse with a teacher 
 that could merely read and write. His love for fine 
 horses was developed at an early age, and indeed 
 the entire Rice family has been distinguislied for 
 its love of, and skill in training this noblest of all 
 animals. 
 
 Our subject continued a member of the parental 
 household until approaching the twenty-flfth year 
 of his age; when he was married in August, 184.5, 
 to Miss Flora Ann Jourdan. This lady was b(jrn 
 in Greenup County, Ky., and was eighteen years 
 old at the time of her wedding, which took jjlace 
 under lier fatlier's roof. They remained residents 
 of the Blue ( irass State until after the birth of six 
 children, then in September, 18G3, came to this 
 county. Their eldest son, William J., married 
 Miss Martha Pratt and they have one aliild, a son, 
 Carl ; he is engaged as a stock buyer and shipper 
 at Fairmount. Mary E. married (J. Dellart. They 
 settled in Kentuelcy where she became the mother 
 of two children — Annie and James — and died. 
 Albert R. U. has charge of the homestead, he 
 married Miss Mary E. Moore, who died leaving 
 
 no children ; he makes a specialty of horse training 
 and is remarably successful. James G. married 
 Miss Faraba .lane JMugen; they have two children 
 — Waverly W. and Robert — and live on a farm. 
 Edward A. married Josei)hinc Price and they re- 
 side on a farm in Sidcll Township; they have three 
 children — Charles, Mary E. and Walter. Lemuel 
 died in infancy. 
 
 After the outbreak of the Civil War, Mr. Rice 
 enlisted .is a Union soldier Oct. 24, 1861, from 
 Carter County, Ky., in Company D, 22d Kentucky 
 Infantry, and was mustered in at Camp Swygart 
 on the Ohio for three years, or during the war. 
 He was under the command of George Morgan, 
 and engaged in various skirmishes in the eastern 
 part of Kentucky. At Ashland he was taken se- 
 verely ill with measles, and for a time his life was 
 despaired of. He was finally sent home on a fur- 
 lough, but I'eturned to his regiment at Baton Rouge 
 in FebrLiary, 1864. His health continued poor 
 and he was obliged to accept his honorable dis- 
 charge. May 10, following. This experience ended 
 in nervous prostration and undermined his health 
 to such an extent that he has never been the same 
 man since. 
 
 In the meantime Mr, Rice while at home on his 
 furlough, brought his family to this county for 
 safety from tlie depredations of guerrillas. After 
 leaving the service he went first to Arkansas with 
 a view of looking up a location for his future 
 home, but finally returned to his family and pur- 
 chased land in this county. His first wife died 
 and lie was married to Mrs. Eliza Jane Moore, 
 daughter of William J. and Susan (Rawlings) 
 Robertson. The latter were natives respectively 
 of Kentucky and Virginia, were married in Indiana 
 and are now residents of West Mrginia. Grand- 
 father Rawlings and his wife were from Germany, 
 while (irandfather Robertson and his wife were 
 natives of Kentuckj' and of Scotch descent. Mr. 
 Moore removed to Indiana with his family where 
 he operated as a farmer and carpenter, and they 
 became the parents of five children — Martha A., 
 Eliza J., John W., Elijah R., and Catherine. 
 
 Mrs. Rice was born in Parke County, Ind., and 
 remained with lier parents until her first marriage, 
 at the age of seventeen years, to William H. Moore 
 
712 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 of tliixt county. Of this union there were born 
 five chililren— Mftvy E., Charles A., Millie S., 
 Reuben H. and ^\'illiani W. The eldest daughter 
 became the wife of Albert Rice and is deceased; 
 Charles A., a stock man is married, has one child 
 and lives at Colorado Springs; Millie S. is the wife 
 of Carl Iliberger, of Wichita, Kan.; Reuben H. is 
 a nowsi)aper man and connected with one of the 
 journals of Wichita; William W. remains with his 
 mother; the daughters were teachers prior to their 
 marriage, one of them beginning at the early age of 
 sixteen years. Mrs. Rice is a member of tlie Baptist 
 Church at Terre Haute, Ind. Mr. Rice in his 
 political views supports the principles of the Demo- 
 cratic party. 
 
 ■^IjOHN M. CRIMMINSis the senior partner 
 in the firm of Crimniins & Buchanan, livery 
 men of Sidell. They are also proprietors of 
 the feed and sale stable, which is operated 
 in connection with their livery business. He is a 
 native of Clark County, Ohio, and was born on 
 April 15, 1858. His father, Morgan Crimmins, 
 and mother, Ellen Eager, were natives of Ireland, 
 where they were married in 1848. A few days 
 after their marriage they started for America, and 
 settled first in Greene County and eventually in 
 Clark County, Ohio, where they followed farming 
 and became well-to-do, although they landed in 
 the United States, wholly without means. The 
 m-other is still living on the Crimmins' homestead 
 in Carroll Township, about three miles east of 
 Sidell, where they settled in 1851). Her husband 
 died Jan. 22, 1889, aged sixty-nine years. They 
 were the parents of five children — Robert, Honora, 
 Jeremiah, JohnM. and Maggie. Robert is a grain- 
 buyer at Hildreth Station; Honora is residing in 
 Edgar County, III., and married to Samuel Stunk- 
 ard, who is engaged in farming; Jeremiah is in 
 charge of the old homestead in Carroll Township, 
 while Maggie also resides in the same township and 
 is the wife of Thomas Ramsey. 
 
 Mr. Crimmins was but a babe when his parents 
 came to Illinois and has substantially lived here 
 
 most of the time since. His education was ac- 
 quired at the public schools, which has been sup- 
 plemented by extensive reading. He remained at 
 home until he was twenty years of age, when on 
 Christmas, 1878, he was married to Miss Ella 
 Stunkard, who was born and reared in Carroll 
 Township. She is a daughter of JRobert and liliza- 
 beth Clleavlin) Stunkard. Her father was a farmer 
 and came to A'ermilion County, settling in Carroll 
 Township, where he resided until his death, which 
 occurred when he was sixty-six years old. Her 
 mother died at the age of sixty-three. Mr. and 
 Mrs. Stunkard were the parents of twelve children, 
 ten of whom are living, as follows: Joseph, Han- 
 nah, Phd'be, John, James, Jacob, Samuel, George, 
 Ella and Sadie. 
 
 Mr. and BIrs. Crimmins are living in a quiet way 
 and are filling their mission in the world as good 
 neighbors. He is a member of the I. O. 0. ¥., 
 having been a charter member of Peace Dale 
 Lodge, No. 225. J\Ir. Crimmins is a firm believer 
 in the principles advocated by the Democratic 
 party. He is one of the rising young men of his 
 town, highly popular and possessing great business 
 capability. Morgan Crimmins, father of our sub- 
 ject, after coming to America sent money back to 
 Ireland to pay the passage of three relatives and 
 thvee friends. He located in Clark County, Ohio, 
 and when he came to Illinois, they caijie with him. 
 Some of them are still living in \'ermilion. 
 
 "ir/ OSEPH WHERRY is a worthy member of 
 the farming community of Catlin Township, 
 and is faithfully performing his share in sus- 
 taining its prosperity. His farm on sec- 
 tion 36 is under excellent cultivation, is capable of 
 producing fine harvests, and compares favorably 
 with others in the neighborhood. Mr. Wherry is 
 a Kentuckian by birth, born in Mason Count}', 
 Feb. 24, 1819, to James and Catherine (Downing) 
 Wherry, natives of Pennsylvania. After marriage 
 his parents had settled in Mason County, Ky., and 
 thence they subsequently removed to Clinton 
 County Ohio, where their last j^ears were spent. 
 
 if^ 
 
 •i^ 
 
PORTRAIT AM) lilOC; RAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 713 
 
 They were people of merit, sober-minded and in- 
 dustrious, and brought uji the thirteen children 
 born to them in the path of honesty and good 
 habits. 
 
 Our subject was tlieir seventh child, and he was 
 a year old when they crossed the Ohio to make 
 their home for the future in Clinton County, and 
 there the years of his boyhood and youth were 
 passed. At the age of eighteen he left the shelter 
 of the parental roof to begin an independent life, 
 and returning to his native fState and count}-, he 
 found employment by the year on a farm and thus 
 engaged there nearly eleven j^ears. During his 
 residence in that county he contracted a matrimon- 
 ial alliance with Harriet V. Barclay, April 1, 1847, 
 and to them five children were born; namely: 
 Catherine, CoraE., Florence B., William S. and 
 .John A.; the Srst three are deceased. Tliis wife of 
 his early years, who had been a good helpmate and 
 a tender mother to their children, departed this 
 life in Catlin Township, Oct 12, 18G0. Mr. 
 Wherry's second marriage tooli place in Catlin 
 Township, and was to Mrs. Elsie (Brady) Bur- 
 roughs, daughter of John and Rosanna Brady, and 
 widow of Jonathan Burroughs. She was a native 
 of Brown County, Ohio, born May 20, 1.S28, and 
 when young was wedded to Jonathan Burroughs, 
 who afterward died in Catlin Township, leaving 
 her with two children — Mary J. and Araminta. 
 She is the mother of two children by her present 
 marriage, Ida and Hannah. She is a capable, kind- 
 hearted woman, and makes her husband and chil- 
 dren comfortable in their cozy home. 
 
 Mr. Wherry has always devoted himself to agri- 
 cultural pursuits, and thinking to improve his 
 prospects on the fertile soil of the broad prairies of 
 this State, he came here with his family from Ken- 
 tucky in 1853, locating first in McLean County, 
 and coming to this county two years later and 
 settling in Catlin Township. He has done well 
 since he has been here, and his many years of toil 
 have been productive of good results, as he has a 
 desirable farm of 103 acres of land of exceeding 
 fertility, on which he has made many fine improve- 
 ments. 
 
 Mr. Wherry is a man of excellent character and 
 standing in this community, and as a good citizen, 
 
 and kind neighbor, and a steadfast friend is all 
 that can be wished for. In him the Democratic 
 party has a faithful follower. Both he and his 
 wife are exemplary members of the Christian 
 Church, and their daily conduct is guided by sin- 
 cere religious principles. 
 
 -* #,-# i^ 
 
 JiA HONEYWELL. The man who has 
 been a witness of the great changes occur- 
 ring in Illinois during the past forty years, 
 (^ and has given to these his intelligent and 
 
 thoughtful attention, is worthy of more tiiata pass- 
 ing notice. As one of these Mr. Honeywell stands 
 prominently among the pioneers of this region, 
 and he has been no idler during the labors which 
 have transformed a wild tract of country into the 
 homes of an industrious and intelligent people. He 
 is one of the oldest residents of the little city of 
 Hoopeston, coming here soon after its inception, 
 about 1871, and he has since been a resident here 
 most of the time. 
 
 Cayuga County, N. Y., is the native place of our 
 subject, and his birth occurred Dec. 15, 1821. When 
 a lad of twelve years he removed with his parents 
 into that part of Steuben now call Schuyler County, 
 N. Y., where he first attended the common school and 
 academy of that period, and completed his studies 
 at Oneida Institute, near Utica, then under the 
 presidency of the noted reformer and theologian, 
 the Rev. Beriah Green, and later spent several 
 years lecturing on temperance and anti-slavery, 
 meantime contributing to the several reformatory 
 periodicals of the day. He also occupied himself con- 
 siderably as a teacher in common schools and acad- 
 emies, and was one of the first to actively engage in 
 the Abolition movement. He served as a delegate to 
 the Buffalo Convention, which nominated James G. 
 Birney, the Libertj^ Party candidate for President, 
 and subsequently read law in the office of Gilbert & 
 Osborne, a prominent law firm of Rochester, N. Y. 
 During those years Mr. Honeywell made the ac- 
 quaintance of many eminent men, among them 
 Gerritt Smith, William Goodell, Alvan Stewart and 
 others interested in the anti-slavery movement. 
 
714 
 
 PORTRAIT AND ISIOCUiAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 Upon leaving- Rochester Mr. Honeywell removed 
 to New York City, and became editor of tlie New 
 York Eagle, and subsequently became connected 
 with the American Anti-Slavery Society of New 
 York City, and for four years was sub-editor of the 
 Anti-Slavery Standard, until failing health com- 
 pelled him to retire. During those years he made 
 the acquaintance of Wendell Phillips, Fred Doug- 
 las, William Lloyd Garrison, James Russell Low- 
 ell, Sidney Howard Gay, and many other men of 
 that time who, for the sake of their principles, suf- 
 fered to a large extent ostracism from society. 
 This, however, instead of discouraging either Mr. 
 Honeywell or his compeers, still more^deeply rooted 
 their principles, and while Mr. Honeywell was 
 called to other fields of labor, he rejoiced in the 
 fact that the anti-slavery cause moved on and 
 finally triumphed. 
 
 In the spring of 1H53 Mr. Honeywell made ids 
 way to Iroquois County, this State, landing at La- 
 Favette on the 1-tth of April from a packet-boat. 
 The people were then talking up the \N' abash Rail- 
 road. Mr. Honeywell located in Iroquois Count}', 
 111., purchasing 1,000 acres of laud in what is now 
 Stockland Township. He lived ui)on this three 
 years, effecting considerable improvement, and pur- 
 chased 400 acres additional. While teaching and 
 farming he never failed, wlienever opportunity oc- 
 curred, to disseminate his anti-slavery sentiments. 
 In the spring of 1856 he started out, accompanied 
 by his family, and traveled all through Minnesota 
 Territory, arriving in Chicago during Fremont's 
 campaign, and became associated with the Chicago 
 Nevjs (not the Nev's of to-day), and which was 
 edited and controlled by the Republican element, 
 which was then being brought into prominence 
 and in which year the party was organized and 
 named. 
 
 Mr. Honeywell spent that winter in Cliicago, 
 and in the spring of 18o7 removed to Logansport, 
 Ind., where he established himself as a manufac- 
 turer and dealer in lumber, and also taught school 
 for several terms at that place and LaFayette. 
 During the progress of the Civil War he was 
 offered the appointment of Adjutant in the armj', 
 but circumstances prevented his accepting it, and 
 in 1863 he returned to his farm in Iroquois County. 
 
 He proceeded with the improvement of his land, and 
 in the meantime became prominent in local affairs, 
 serving as Township Supervisor each year until 
 1869, when he was elected County Clerk for four 
 years, and served in this capacity until 1873. In 
 1871 he purchased land on the present site of 
 Iloopeston, and at the close of his term of office 
 removed here with his family. He assisted in lay- 
 ing out the town, and secured the location of the 
 Chicago railroad to the place. It was largely 
 tiirough his aid that the town grew and became 
 prosperous, being a portion of the time its Mayor. 
 He made two subdivisions, and still controls the 
 sale of lots. He assisted in the organization of the 
 sugar and canning factories located here, and was 
 connected with them until the latter became self- 
 supporting, expending 15,000, for which he received 
 no return. 
 
 Meantime and later Mr. Honeywell gave his at- 
 tention to agricultural pursuits, having a farm of 
 nearly 1,000 acres adjoining the city. He was one 
 of the founders of the First National Bank of 
 Watseka, with which he has been connected as 
 stockholder and director for a period of twenty 
 years. In addition to his Illinois property, he has 
 several hundred acres of land and a fine orange 
 grove in Florida, where he frequently- spends his 
 winters. Altogether he is the owner of about 
 3,000 acres of land, much of it rich and valuable, 
 in Iroquois, \'erniilion, Cook, Lake and Scott 
 counties. 111, and in Lake and Marion counties, 
 Fla. Politically, until about 1881, he supported 
 the principles of the Republican part}', then iden- 
 tified himself with the Prohibitionists, and lives in 
 hopes that the entire prohibition of the manufac- 
 ture and sale of alcoholic liquors as a beverage, 
 will ultimately be secured. He is a man of decided 
 views and opinions, fearless in the expression of 
 them, and while necessarily enunciating some 
 truths distasteful to some men, is nevertheless held 
 in universal respect. 
 
 Our subject was married April 3, 1851, in 
 Schuyler County, N. Y., to Miss Cornelia Andrews, 
 daughter of Dr. Anson Andrews, and they are 
 now tiie parents of four children, all living and 
 named respectively: Estella Emma, Florence An- 
 drews, Lillian Amelia, and Sarah Pjliza. The eldest 
 
PORTRAIT AND lilOCRAPMICAL ALBUM. 
 
 715 
 
 daughter is tlie wife of Jolin C. Cromer, and the 
 mother of one child, a son. Alba, named after the 
 grandfather; Florence possesses considerable talent 
 as an artist, teaching both portrait and landscape 
 painting, and is otherwise quite accomplished; she 
 remains at home with her parents. Lillian occupies 
 the Cliair of Mathematics in Hedding College, Knox 
 Co., 111.; Sarah is pursuing her studies at that in- 
 stitution. 
 
 Mrs. Honeywell was liorn • at Sodus Bay, on 
 Lake Ontario, in 1829, and lived there and in Yates 
 County, N. Y., witji her ])arents until her mar- 
 riage. The father of our subject was Enoch Hon- 
 eywell, who was born in Westchester County, N. Y., 
 in 1787. He received his education mostly in that 
 county near New York City, and upon approacli- 
 ing manhood engaged in the manufacture of patent 
 wheel heads for spinning, which proved a paying 
 enterprise. In 181G he made his way to Indiana, 
 and entered 160 acres of wild land, embracing tjie 
 present site of the city of Tcrre Haute, where he 
 established a home and lived for several years 
 until malaria drove him away. In the meantime 
 he engaged |in farming and slapped pork, via New 
 Orleans to New York City, going with his mer- 
 chandise himself. He subsequently located in 
 Cayuga County, N. Y., and engaged in chair mak- 
 ing, and lived there until 1836, when he went onto 
 a farm in Steuben County, N. Y., where he lived 
 until his death in 1887. 
 
 Mrs. Eliza (Dye) Honeywell, the mother of our 
 subject, was a native of Rhode Island, and the 
 parental household included three children, of 
 whom Alba was the eldest born. His younger 
 brother, Gilbert, is living in Schuyler County, 
 N. Y. Emma, the only sister, married a Mr. 
 Fenno; and lives on the old home farm in the same 
 county. Enoch Honej'well was a man who, under 
 favorable circumstances, would have distinguished 
 himself in the world of letters, being a ready writer 
 both in prose and poetry. Our subject came hon- 
 ' estly by his hatred of slavery and his love of tem- 
 perance, having inherited the sentiments from his 
 honored father. Our subject was at one time 
 greatly interested in the Pittman System of Pho- 
 netic Printing and Short-Hand. He was editorially 
 associated with Andrew and Boyle iu 1848, and in 
 
 the Anglo-Saxon, a newspaper in New York City, 
 advocating the phonetic reform, and printed wholly 
 in the new type advocated. He is also the author 
 of several works, the largest of which (yet un- 
 published) is an exhaustive treatise on language, 
 embracing all its departments from elementary 
 phonetics to rhetoric and logic — in all eleven books. 
 The father of our subject, in addition to his 
 other views, was directly opposed to Masonry and 
 all secret societies. He traveled over a large 
 portion of the United States, and although promi- 
 nent as an agitator, never sought political oflBcc. 
 In his early manhood he was a member of the Bap- 
 tist Churcli, but becoming dissatisfied with the apa- 
 thy of his church in regard to the slavery question, 
 he left it and identified himself with the Wesleyan 
 Methodists, remaining with them until bis decease, 
 which occurred in New York State Jan. 14, 1887, 
 at the advanced age of ninety-nine years. He re- 
 tained his faculties in a remarkable degree until 
 the time of Jiis decease, which was the result of an 
 accident. He had put forth a number of pamphlets 
 largely at his own expense, and wrote scores of 
 newspaper articles, setting forth his convictions, 
 which were widely distributed throughout the 
 country. The wife and mother departed this life 
 in 1866, when about seventy-four years old. 
 
 ?)I1E0D0RE LEMON, M. D., one of the 
 pioneers of the city of Danville, was born 
 ^ in the village of Bunker Hill, Va., Dec. 16, 
 1812, and here began the study of medicine, which 
 he completed in the cities of Baltimore, IMd., and 
 Washington, D. C. Here he turned his attention 
 to the West and decided to locate in Danville, this 
 county, for another brother, Joseph B., had been 
 for a year a resident before our subject's emigra- 
 tion. In 1835 he made the trip from Virginia by 
 horse and wagon in company with an uncle, the 
 Rev. James Chenoweth, who was on his way to 
 the West. For a year succeeding his arrival in 
 Danville, Dr. Lemon taught school in what was then 
 the Presbyterian Church building. He soon, how- 
 ever; acquired a practice in his profession which 
 
716 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BJOGKAPniCAL ALBUM. 
 
 demanded all bis time and attention, often being 
 in that day compelled to ride to a distance of 
 fifteen or twenty miles away to see a patient. His 
 snccess was assured from the very first, and he 
 became a leading piiysician in this count}', in wliicli 
 he passed a long and useful life, and in which he 
 became widely known and highly esteemed. He 
 ever evaded notoriety, but was called by his fellow- 
 citizens, rather against his will, to fill several pub- 
 lic positions. He remained a student all his life 
 and kept abreast of all of the latest developments, 
 not only in the profession of which he was an 
 honored member, but he gave much time and 
 thought to other branches of advanced studies. 
 Especially did he take great interest in mathemat- 
 ics, of which exact science lie was an ardent 
 student, and in which he was regarded as an author- 
 ity. He died Dec. 19, 1885, in his seventy-fourth 
 year. 
 
 Dr. Lemon was a cousin of Hon. Ward Lamou, 
 the friend, biographer, and counsellor of President 
 Lincoln. The family name was originalljr spelled 
 Lanion, but the people of Danville called him 
 Lemon, and the Doctor fell into that way of spell- 
 ing it, until it has now become the recognized 
 orthography. He was a quiet and courteous gentle- 
 man, who always conducted himself with a dignity 
 and self-respect which commanded the respect of 
 others, and won for him hosts of sincere friends 
 and the esteem of the entire community. During 
 his half-century's residence in Danville Dr. Lemon 
 had witnessed tlie many changes and developments 
 which transformed it from a mere hamlet to a 
 thriving city, and he was ever foremost in advo- 
 cating all measures which he believed tended to its 
 growth and prosperity, which he did his full share 
 in promoting. He was one of a farailj' of seven 
 sons and six daughters, of whom the following >-et 
 survive: Mary E. is unmarried and is a resident 
 of Danville: (!eorge is a farmer in Texas; Virginia 
 D., widow of John H. Moores, lives in Oregon; R. 
 Bruce is Judge Advocate of the Pension Depart- 
 ments at Washington, D. C; Ella E. is widow of 
 I. R. Moores, and is also a resident of Oregon, and 
 Charles E. is a practicing physician at Fairmonnt, 
 in this county. Those deceased were named re- 
 spectively: Joseph B., who died in Danville; Re- 
 
 becca R. was wife of Dr. Cromwell, who died in 
 \'iiginia; she subsequently came to this county, 
 wliere she died ; James C. went to California, where 
 lie died; Ann E., who was the wife of Carlisle 
 Turner, died in Danville; John E., who was a 
 Union soldier, fills an unknown grave in the South, 
 and Lucy A., who was the wife of W. T. Cun- 
 ningham, died in Danville. 
 
 Sept. 14, 1848, Dr. Lemon was united in mar- 
 riage with Miss Laviuia E. Sconce, who was born 
 in Bourbon County, Ky., Jan. 20, 1828. The year 
 following that of her birth her parents removed to 
 Vermilion County, where her entire life since has 
 been passed. Her father, James Sconce, was a 
 cabinetmaker by trade and carried on a shop in 
 Danville for many years. He and his wife, Mary, 
 were well known to the early settlers, they them- 
 selves ranking as pioneers of A'ermilion County. 
 The first court house, a small wooden building, was 
 erected in Danville some years after they came 
 here, and Mrs. Lemon remembers that the few 
 houses then comprising Danville were grouped 
 about the square, which was then covered with 
 hazle brush. She has since that, seen the then 
 insignificant village become the thriving city of 
 to-day. Her life for sixty years has been spent 
 here, and she is now, at the age of sixty-one, 
 calmly awaiting the summons which shall reunite 
 her with her companion of nearly fortj' years. The 
 parents of Mrs. Lemon, James and Mary Sconce, 
 made Danville their home ever after their first 
 settlement in that place. He died in 1857, at the 
 age of sixty-three, and she in 1862, when nearly 
 seventy years old. Mr. Sconce was a man of quiet, 
 retiring disposition, and never took any part in 
 public affairs, but was esteemed as an honest and 
 worthy citizen. 
 
 Dr. and Mrs. Lemon were the parents of eleven 
 children, of whom three died in infancy. None 
 are married, and when not absent from the city on 
 business all make their home with their widowed 
 mother. They are named, respectively: Albert' 
 T., who is now Town Clerk of Danville; Charles V., 
 Edward B., Theodore IL, Mary L., John James, 
 Laviuia E., and Ijafayette Fay. All of the sons 
 have adopted music as a profession, and all are 
 performers of note, being frequently called upon 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 717 
 
 to fill engagements all over the country. Their 
 musical predilections were derived from their ma- 
 ternal uncles, who were well-known musicians. 
 The family have tlie entire confidence, good-will 
 and esteem of the entire community, as well on 
 their own account, as on that of their honored 
 father. 
 
 RTHIR JONES, an enterprising, prosper- 
 ous merchant of Catlin \'illage and Super- 
 visor of the township, is one of the leading 
 business and public men in this part of 
 Vermilion Count}^ Although he was born in Eng- 
 land, the most of his life has been passed in this 
 country, and he is thoroughly, imbued with the 
 American spirit and as loyal to the institutions of 
 the United States as if he were to the m.anor born. 
 His parents, Henry and Sar.ah (Hough) Jones, 
 were born, reared and married in England, and re- 
 mained in the old home till after the birth of their 
 children, seven of whom grew to maturity. Thej' 
 then decided to emigrate to this countr}-, lioping 
 thereby to give their family ;i, better start in life 
 tlian was possible in the old country, and. with 
 that end in view the father set sail from London in 
 1849, about six weeks in advance of the remaining 
 members of the family, and after landing, made his 
 wny to this State, and, selecting Catlin Township 
 as a desirable point to locate, he was soon joined 
 by his wife and children. In his native land he 
 had been a brass and gas finisher and contractor, 
 but after coming here, he turned his attention to 
 agriculture, which he carried on till l.s.56. He 
 then entered into the mercantile business with his 
 son Richard, without, however, abandoning his 
 farming interests, lie was a valuable citizen of 
 this community, his enterprise materially .adv.anc- 
 ing its prosperity, and his death, in November, 
 1862, was esteemed a public loss. His wife pre- 
 ceded him to that "bourne whence no traveler re- 
 turns," dying in 1856. 
 
 Our subject was born in London, England, July 
 14, 1848, and he was a year old the very day the 
 family set sail for this country. He grew to man- 
 hood in Catlin Township, and being a bright, apt 
 
 scholar, received a substantial education, attending 
 first the public schools, and then becoming a stu- 
 dent at the Commercial College, at Westfleld, 
 Clark Co., 111., where he obtained a fine business 
 training that has been of inestimable service to him 
 in his career as a merchant. When he left college 
 he entered his brother Richard's store, and con- 
 tinued with him as a clerk till the latter's death, 
 whicli occurred in October, 1875. After that he 
 formed a partnership with his brother Frederic, 
 .and they carried on the business together two or 
 three ^ears, and at the expiration of that time he 
 bought out Frederic's interest, .and lias since man- 
 aged the business alone. He has a commodious, 
 well-fitted up store, carries a full stock of gener.al 
 mcrciiandise, and lias a large and profitable trade. 
 He also deals extensively in coal and stock, be- 
 sides managing a fine farm of 160 acres. 
 
 On the 22d of January, 1870, an important 
 event in the life of Mr. Jones occurred, as on that 
 date he was united in marriage to Miss Emma 
 Dickinson, daughter of William and Emma (Barker) 
 Dickinson, n.atives of Lincolnshire, England. (For 
 parental history see sketch of ^\'illiam Dickinson, 
 which appears on another page of this volume.) 
 Mrs. Jones is, like her husband, of English birth, 
 born in Lincolnshire, Doc. 25, 1852, and she was 
 but an infant of six or eight weeks when her par- 
 ents came to this country, and therefore has known 
 no otlier home. Five children have been born of 
 the pleasant wedded life of our subject and his 
 wife, namely: Edward A., A\'illiam IL, Nettie B., 
 Cora M. and Dora B. Nettie and Cora, who were 
 twins, are dead. 
 
 Our subject, possessing high and honorable traits 
 of char<acter,is classed among the most estimable and 
 trustworthy men of the county, and his fellow- 
 citizens, often entrusting to his wise guidance some 
 of the most responsible offices within their gift, have 
 found him to be an invaluable civic official, who 
 places the intcre.sts of the public above private 
 or part}' considerations. He was first elected 
 Supervisor of Catbn Township in 1880, and served 
 one year. In the spring of 1885 he was again 
 called to that important position, and has acted in 
 that capacity ever since, being re-elected in the 
 spring of ISHD. He is prominently connected with 
 
718 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGIRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 the ^'ermilion County Agricultural Society, and 
 was treasurer of that organization for several 
 years. During Gen. Giant's administration he 
 was appointed Postmaster of Catlin Township, 
 and held that office thirteen years, giving general 
 satisfaction to all without regard to party. Our 
 svibject takes an active part in politics, and is a 
 leader among the Republicans of this section. He 
 is identified with the A. F. & A. M. as a member 
 of Clatlin Lodge No. 285. 
 
 -•^*- 
 
 IRAIM MAKEMSON is the youngest of 
 four children born to Andrew and Hannaii 
 Makemson, natives of Kentucky, where they 
 were residents of Harrison County until 
 1828, when they emigrated to Illinois and settled 
 in Newell Township, about two and one-half miles 
 from where their son, the subject of tliis skctcli, 
 now resides. Mr. Andrew Makemson was a stal- 
 wart Republican, and always faithful to what he 
 considered the best interests of his country. He 
 and his wife were both worthy and sincerely good 
 members of the Methodist Church, and were highly 
 esteemed not only by tlieir religious associates but 
 also by the large circle of friends which their 
 many good qualities had gathered around them. 
 Their death was a loss to the community, and they 
 were followed to their last resting place in Lamb's 
 Cemetery by a large concourse of relatives and ac- 
 quaintances. Mr. Makemson died in 1880, and liis 
 wife in 1889. 
 
 The subject of this sketch was born in Harrison 
 County, K}'., April 2, 1825, hence was only three 
 years old when his parents removed to Illinois. His 
 youthful days were enlivened by witnessing, and 
 when old enough participating in the various hunt- 
 ing parties which were made up from time to time 
 in the neighborhood, which sometimes had for their 
 object the providing of food for tlie table, and at 
 others the dispersing of depredatory packs of wolves 
 or roving bands of Indians, which served to make 
 things lively for the settlers, and varied the monot- 
 ony of the usual routine of farm life. 
 
 Mr. Makemson remained under the parental roof 
 tree until he reached his majority, getting such 
 
 education as the short term of the public school 
 each year, assisted by an occasional term of sub- 
 scription school, afforded, and making himself use- 
 ful when out of school in whatever capacity he 
 could be employed. On April 29th, 1852, he took 
 to wife Miss Prudence Campbell, a charming 
 maiden of Newell Township, where she was born 
 Sept. 18, 1834. .She was the daughter of John and 
 Almira Campbell, natives of New York, who came 
 to Illinois in the early days of its settlement and 
 located in Newell Township, where tliey reared a 
 family of nine children, of which Mrs. Makemson 
 was the youngest. 
 
 Upon the return of Mr. and Mrs. Makemson 
 from Danville, where tlieir marriage took place, 
 they immediately entered into possession of theii- 
 present home, where they have continued bo reside 
 happily and contentedly ever since, rejoicing in 
 the addition to their family of Ave children, 
 namely: Abnira D., wlio remains at home to com- 
 fort and clieer the parents for the absence of the 
 other members of the family; Mary A., wife of 
 W. W, Current; Bertha P., wife of Morton Bird, 
 and lives in this county; Sherman T. married Miss 
 Sadie Bird, on the 4tli of November, 1886, and 
 lives on a portion of his father's farm. Mrs. Sher- 
 man Makemson is a daughter of Moser and Polly 
 Bird, and shares in tlie prosperity and excellent 
 reputation which her Imsband justl3' enjoys as a 
 resident of the township. They jiave no children. 
 Joseph C, the youngest child, is also at home, where 
 he assists his elder sister to drive dull care away 
 from the old place. 
 
 Mr. Makemson owns, and with the assistance of 
 his sons operates, an estate of 816 acres of land, all 
 lying in Newell Township, and under good culti- 
 tion. Politicall}', he votes witli the Republican 
 party, in whose principles lie is a firm believer. 
 
 ^ OHN STABLINGS, dealer in drugs and 
 medicines at Sidell, was born in Orange 
 County, Ind., June 7, 1862. His parents, 
 Samuel and Martha E. Stallings, were na- 
 tives of Indiana; the mother is now a lady of fifty- 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 719 
 
 seven years. Ten cliildren were born to tlieni, 
 nine still surviving. Tbey are named : Charles, 
 Belle (Mrs. Thompson), Zino, Reiley, Elzora (Mrs. 
 Price), John, our subject; .lames, Lelioy, and 
 Oscar. 
 
 John Stallings was a cliild of two years when liis 
 parents removed to Parke County, Ind., and in 
 1870 removed to Fairraount, 111., where the father 
 engaged in farming. Our subject went to Chicago, 
 where he entered the Chicago College of Pharmacy 
 at the age of twenty-one, having previously been 
 graduated by the Business College of Ladoga, Ind. 
 He was graduated by the Pharmaceutical College 
 witii the class of '84. He then engaged with A. C. 
 Musselwhite, No. 50 Clark street, Chicago,'and con- 
 tinued in his emplo}' until 1885, wlien he set uii a 
 store for himself at Sidell, and has done a very 
 satisfactory business. 
 
 The marriage of our subject and wife, Miss Grace 
 Cornelius, daughter of John Cornelius, toolv place 
 at the bride's home July 28, 1885. Mrs. Stallings 
 is the youngest of three children born to her par- 
 ents, namely: William, Lizzie, and Grace Amanda. 
 Our subject and wife are the parents of one child, 
 Eva Ella. Mr. Stallings has erected a fine and 
 commodious residence on Chicago street, of this 
 city. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., Peace 
 Dale Lodge No. 225, of which order he is at pres- 
 ent Treasurer. He is also a member of the Modern 
 Woodmen, Sidell Camp No. 405, and a stalwart 
 Republican; he was appointed Postmaster April .'iO, 
 1K«9. 
 
 JAMES W. ORR. Among the prominent 
 business men of Sidell is the above-named 
 gentleman, who is a lumber and grain dealer. 
 The former business is carried on under the 
 firm-name of Lyons and Orr, but the grain trade 
 is controlled solely by Mr. Orr. His father, James 
 Orr, was born in West Virginia, and his mothei-, 
 formerly Mary Ross, was a native of Greene 
 County, Pa. For ancestry see sketch of James Orr 
 elsewhere in this volume. 
 
 The parental family numbered four children, all 
 boys, of whom the subject of our sketch is the third 
 
 in order of birth; he was born in Coles County. 111., 
 April 15, 1857. When he was two years old his 
 parents removed to Edgar County, Ohio, where the 
 son grew up on a farm, and attended the common 
 schools of the township. In 1 885 he engaged in 
 business at Sidell in which he has continued ever 
 since. In 1887 Mr. Bushnell, of Iloopcstown, built 
 the largest grain elevator in the county at Sidell. 
 Mr. Orr married Miss Eliza Todd, daughter of 
 David and Maria Todd in 1884. 
 
 Mrs. Orr was born in Vermilion County, whither 
 her parents moved in 1854. Mr. and Mrs. Orr are 
 the parents of one child, Edward Lisle, two years 
 old. The wife is a member of the Methodist Epis- 
 copal Church. Mr. Orr is a charter member of the 
 I. O. O. F. Lodge No. 225. Peace Dale of Sidell, 
 which was organized in 1886, and of which he is 
 now serving as Nice Grand. Mr. Orr is the owner 
 of forty acres in the addition to Sidell, south. The 
 firm are doing a very satisfactory business as re- 
 gards the lumber interests. Mr. Orr usually votes 
 with the Democratic party, but uses his own judg- 
 ment in local elections. 
 
 ►^-^-|'^^^^f+-5— ' 
 
 ?ACHARIAH ROBERTSON, who resides in 
 3well Township, is a son of Zachariah and 
 izabeth (Jones) Robertson, natives of 
 Kentucky. Mr. Robertson, Sr., was the parent of 
 seven children by his first wife, the mother of our 
 subject. He was a Revolutionary War Veteran 
 and located near Brunswick, 111., in 1837, on the 
 land which Dr. Henderson now owns. During his 
 long life of ninetj'-four years he was associated 
 with the Democratic party and always upheld its 
 principles; he and his good wife were faithful and 
 consistent members of the Baptist Church and 
 foremost in everj^ good work. His death took place 
 in 1839 and that of his wife a year later. 
 
 The subject of this notice was born October 1, 
 1822, and passed the early years of his life in his 
 native Kentucky, then removed with his father to 
 Illinois and engaged in work on a farm, which oc- 
 cupation he followed the rest of his life. Aug. 25, 
 IK 12, he was married to Miss Abigail Starr, daugli- 
 
720 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 tor of Peter and Catharine Starr. Mrs. Robertson 
 was born July 4. 1824, in Preble County, Ohio, 
 and after a life of usefulness and faithful perform- 
 .ance of duty, was ferried over the river by the 
 boatman pale to the beautiful land beyond, her 
 earthly remains being laid to rest Dec. 25, 1879. 
 
 Mr. Robertson was the seventh in order of birth 
 of a family of fifteen children, and became the 
 father of sixteen sons and daughters. Mr. and Mrs. 
 Robertson located on their farm in 1 844, and it has 
 continued to be the family residence ever since. 
 Mr. Robertson procured a patent from the Govern- 
 ment which he still holds, it having never been 
 transferred to any other person. He owns at pres- 
 ent 105 acres of finely improved and highly culti- 
 vated land. Being a good judge of horse flesh he has 
 always kept a number of fine animals on his place 
 to either trade or for use. He has always manifested 
 a deep interest in educational matters and has filled 
 the office of Scliool Director for many years. In 
 political life he sustains the principles of the 
 Democratic party. The Methodist Church and 
 Granger Lodge are pleased to number him among 
 their most useful and influential members. 
 
 -S/AMES STEELE CATHERWOOD is the 
 present postmaster of Hoopeston, taking 
 charge of that office April 25, 1885. Hoopes- 
 ton and Danville are the only two presiden- 
 tial offices in Vermilion County. He is engaged in 
 life and fire insurance, and does a general collect- 
 ing business in connection with the firm of Allen 
 & Catherwood, the former being a representative 
 in the Legislature from this district. 
 
 Mr. Catherwood was born in Belmont County, 
 Ohio, April 12, 1845, and when a child not a year 
 old, removed into Guernsey County, C)hio, where 
 his father engaged in farming. The family resided 
 there until James was twelve years of age, when 
 they removed to Shelby County, III. Here he re- 
 mained engaged on the farm until 1859, when he 
 removed to Christian County, 111., where he re- 
 ceived his education at the common schools. 
 He enlisted April 7, in the 145th Illinois Infantry. 
 
 This regiment served in the western array under 
 Rosecrans, and was at Raleigh, Mo., from April 
 until vSeptember, when it was mustered out of the 
 service. After coming of ago, he attended school 
 at Mount Zion, and then going to Pennsylvania, 
 attended school at Concord Hill Academy. After 
 leaving this institution, he came back to Illinois, 
 and engaged as a clerk in a store for a year 
 with his older brother at Stonington. In August, 
 1869, he went to Kansas, where he was engaged in 
 the stock business, being four years in Salem, one 
 in McPherson and two in Ellsworth. He and his 
 brother worked i)i this manner, keeping ahead of 
 civilization, where their stock could feed, and in the 
 winter time retracing their steps to where they could 
 procure food for their animals. They continued 
 in this business for five years, their herd averag- 
 ing from 1,200 to 1,500 head many times, the enter- 
 prise being financially a success, until the last year 
 of their operation, when they lost about •'jiG,000 by 
 reason of an unusual panic in the business. In 
 1871 they sold out, and James came to Indianapo- 
 lis, and engaged as a commercial traveler for a firm 
 of that city, following this business for tli roe years 
 and traveling in the States of Illinois and Indiana, 
 and occasionally in Ohio. In September, 1877, Mr, 
 Catherwood removed to Howard County, Ind.,and 
 engaged in the general merchandise business at 
 Fairfield. Here on the 26th day of Decern l)er of 
 the same year, he married Miss Slary llartwell. 
 In December, 1879, he again took up his residence 
 in Indianapolis, and engaged in the retail grocery 
 business, wliich was successful, and in 1882 became 
 to Hoopeston, and engaged in the grain business 
 until he was appointed postmaster. Mr. Cather- 
 wood, from its inception, has been Secrctar^^ o' the 
 North Vermilion Loan Association, and has filled 
 the difficult duties of that office with rare ability 
 and fidelity. 
 
 Mrs. Catherwood was born on Dec. 16, 1847, 
 and was the daughter of Dr. llartwell, who died 
 when she was nine \'ears of age. She spent the 
 earljr part of her life in Ohio. Slie received a fin- 
 nished cducation,'and after coming to Danville, be- 
 gan literary work. Her first labors in that direction 
 were for Lippincott. She wrote for this house for 
 several years, when she turned her attention to 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 721 
 
 juvenile literatare, writing for the St. Nicholas and 
 Harper's Bazar. Her first story for tiie Century 
 Magazine was tlie iramonsely popular "Romance of 
 DoUard." She has written several popular books, 
 including- "Rocky Fork," "The i3ogberry Bunch," 
 "Old Caravan Days," "The Bells of Ste. Anne," all 
 of which were juveniles; and two historical ro- 
 mances, "The Romance of DoUard," and "The 
 Story of Tonty." 
 
 Dr. Marcus Ilartwell, fatiierof Mrs. Catherwood, 
 was born Oct. 13. 1821, and died on Jan. 27, 1867. 
 He received his early education at AVorthington 
 College, and after leaving school took up the study 
 of medicine at Columbus, Ohio. He practiced in 
 that State for two or three years, when, in 1854, he 
 removed to Milford, 111., and tiiere he remained 
 practicing his profession until his death. He mar- 
 ried Miss Phoebe Thompson in Fiiirfleld County, 
 Dec. 21, 1846. The result of this union was seven 
 children, of whom only three lived to mature age. 
 Mrs. Catherwood is the oldest cliild; Roxanna, 
 now Mrs. Smith, is living near Portland, Ore., 
 where her brother, Marcus, also resides. Mrs. Hart- 
 well died on Feb. 3, 1858, aged thirty-three years. 
 Dr. Hartwell affiliated with the Republican party, 
 having voted for John C. Fremont. 
 
 Mi. and Mrs. Catherwood are tlie parents of but 
 one child, a daughter, named Hazel. He is an active 
 worker in the Democratic party, but has never 
 been a political aspirant. He organized the first 
 Democratic club in Iloopeston, and through the 
 influence of Gen. Black of Danville, was appointed 
 postmaster, which position he has filled to the en- 
 tire satisfaction of all the patrons of the office. His 
 commission will expire in January, 1890. 
 
 !>HOMAS ARMSTRONG. It is usually safe 
 to judge of a man's character by what he 
 has accomplished, both as a financier and a 
 member of the community. We find Mr. Arm- 
 strong occupying one of the most beautiful farms 
 in Ross Township, where he has a choice body of 
 land well drained and very productive; indeed, it 
 
 stands second to none in this part of the county 
 and has been brought to its present condition 
 solely bj' the unflagging industry of its proprietor. 
 Mr. Anderson labored early and late during the 
 first years of his residence upon it, expending a 
 large amount of time and money, and is now enjoj'- 
 ing ample returns. At the same time, while hav- 
 ing extensive interests of his own to look after, he 
 has distinguished himself as liberal-minded and 
 public-spirited, encouraging the enterprises calcu- 
 lated for the best good of the people around him 
 and keeping iiimself well posted upon matters of 
 national interest. During the progress of the 
 C'ivil War he took an active part in raising funds 
 to prosecute the struggle for union and liberty, and 
 this in itself is a lasting honor to his name. 
 
 In looking at the .antecedents of our subject we 
 find that he springs from an excellent family, being 
 the son of Robert Armstrong, the son of James 
 Armstrong, who was born in Westmoi'cland County, 
 Pa., and wlien a young man emigrated to Kentucky. 
 A few years later he pushed on into Ohio, settling 
 in Chillicothe, where he employed himself consid- 
 erably as a carpenter and assisted in the erection 
 of the first house built in that city. He also oper- 
 ated as a surveyor and was one of the Commission- 
 ers who located the city of Columbus and assisted 
 in the laying out of the town, lie was recognized 
 as a useful and intelligent citizen, and after filling- 
 other positions of trust and responsibility, was 
 elected Associate Ju«lge of one of the courts and is 
 still remembered by his grandson as making- a 
 dig-)ufled appearance on the bench. 
 
 The parents of Grandfather Armstrong were 
 buried three miles north of Chillicothe on the old 
 Armstrong farm. Grandmother Armstrong and 
 her children were at one time captured bj^ the In- 
 dians and held prisoners three years, this being- 
 prior to the birth of her son James. Her husband 
 had gone to the mill and upon returning he found 
 his house burned to the groud and his wife and 
 four children missing. Grandmother Armstrong 
 finally made her escape and walked the whole dis- 
 stance of about 500 miles to her home in Pennsyl- 
 vania, where she and her husband were reunited. 
 After the birth of tiieir son James, the grandfather 
 of our subject, the family removed to Kentncky, 
 
722 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 and in company with a party of six men went up 
 the Ohio and vSeiota rivers in a l<eel boat to Chilli- 
 cothe, where the grandparents spent their last 
 days. 
 
 It is believed that Grandfather James Armstrong 
 was married in Westmoreland County, Pa. His 
 wife was Naney Fulton, a near relative of Robert 
 Fulton, the inventor of tiie steamboat. They be- 
 came the parrnts of seven children, namely: John, 
 Robert, the father of our subject, James, Jr., Jane, 
 Maria, Eliza and Rachel, all of whom are now de- 
 ceased. The great-grandfather was born in En- 
 gland and emigrated to America at an early date. 
 The Fulton family was of Irish ancestry. Robert 
 Armstrong was born in Ross County, Ohio, in 
 1801, on the old farm three miles north of Chilli- 
 cothe and was there reared to manhood. He mar- 
 ried Miss Elizabeth, daughter of Thomas and 
 Rhoda Earl, in 1824. The young people soon 
 afterward removed to Madison County, that State, 
 and settled upon a farm. There were born to 
 them ten children, the eldest of whom, Fulton, is 
 now the owner of the old homestead ; Thomas, our 
 subject, was the second child; Maria married Ed- 
 ward Cowling, and died in Ohio; Albert came to 
 this county, and died in 1853; Robert is a resident 
 of ]\Iissouri; Elizabeth married Jiihn iNIcMillen, 
 and lives in Kansas C'ity, Mo.; William is a resi- 
 dent of Bloomington, III. ; James lives in llenr}' 
 County, Mo.; John F. is in Livingston County, 
 this State; Mary J. married Rilej' IMcMillen, and 
 lives in Henry County, Mo. 
 
 Mrs. Elizabeth (Earl) Armstrong, the mother 
 of our subject, departed this life while a young- 
 woman, in 1844, and was buried at London, Ohio; 
 the father survived for a period of twenty-two 
 years, dying in 1866. Thomas, our subject, was 
 born April 18, 1826, and reared in Madison 
 Count3^ Ohio. In 1848 he made his way to this 
 State and settled in Hancock Clounty, where he 
 lived two years, and upon his removal thence 
 came to this county. Here he formed the .acquaint- 
 ance of Miss Nancy Smith, daughter of William 
 Smith, to whom he was married August 24, 1850. 
 They have four children living, the eldest of 
 whom, Isabelle, was first married to C'.alvin Lamb, 
 in March, 1878. He died, and she was then mar- 
 
 ried to James Alison, in March, 1888; they are 
 living at Armstrong, this county. Thomas J., 
 James L. and Catherine M., Mrs. Charles A. Baker, 
 remiin upon the homestead. The deceased are, 
 Mary, who died in the fourteenth year of her arje, 
 and an infant son who died unnamed; the wife and 
 mother departed this life, Nov. 27, 1878. 
 
 Our subject was soon recognized as a valued 
 addition to the community of Ross Township and 
 was tendered from time to time nearly all the local 
 offices. He, however, had about all he could at- 
 tend to in the management of his farm, and simply 
 discharged the duties of Tax Collector for a num- 
 ber of years, declining other responsibilities. He 
 is one of the most extensive land-owners in the 
 county, having in his home farm ],546 acres, in a 
 high state of cultivation. He came to this county 
 with a capital of $1,500 given him by his father, 
 and aside from the farm mentioned has 775 acres, 
 upon a p.art of which the village of Armstrong, in 
 Bliddle Fork Township, is now located. For the 
 last few j-ears he has been largely interested in 
 live-stock, mainly cattla and swine. On his home 
 farm are five tenement houses besides his own pri- 
 vate residence, which is beautifully situated about 
 forty rods from the road, with a handsome drive 
 and a beautiful lawn with shrubbery and ornamen- 
 tal trees. The graded road which leads from his 
 house to the village of Rossville, about one mile 
 distant, is the result of his enterprise. 
 
 Mrs. Armstrong was a member in good standing 
 of the Presbyterian Church, and in politics our sub- 
 ject is an ardent Republican. No man has done 
 more in the building up of bis township than he. 
 He put up the first two houses in the village of 
 Rossville, the site of which was donated by Alvin 
 Gilbert and Joseph Satterthwaite, in 1858. That 
 first house is still standing, but the other was re- 
 moved a few years ago. U]ion the farm of our 
 subject is a tile factory, from which Mr. Arm- 
 strong has manufactured $15,000 worth of tiling, 
 the most of which has been used in the drainage of 
 his home farm, while on his other farm he has laid 
 $10,000 worth. 
 
 On the 26th of September, 1864, at a meeting 
 held in Rossville a committee was formed to solicit 
 funds for the prosecution of the Union cause. 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 m 
 
 Alvin Gilbert was chosen Chairman and Mr. Arm- 
 strong one of the members. The committee raised 
 by subscription in Ross and Grant townships the 
 sum of $7,768.50, and Mr. Gilbert gave his 
 
 check for enough to swell the amount to 18,000. 
 We give below the names of contributors and 
 the amount they thus donated, and which is sufHc- 
 cient comment upon the spirit of that time and place: 
 
 Alvin Gilbert $60 
 
 8. D. Thompson 30 
 
 T. R. Bicknel 30 
 
 Miller Finley 50 
 
 L. S. Metcalf 30 
 
 Thomas Armstrong 60 
 
 Abram Mann 90 
 
 John Mann 90 
 
 Richard Bicknell 30 
 
 James B. Davis 30 
 
 J. J. Davison 30 
 
 Z. B. Holliway 30 
 
 Perry Cossatt 30 
 
 William Sperry 30 
 
 H. Cossett 30 
 
 Hugh McGrannahan 30 
 
 William Anderson 10 
 
 J. H. Fairchilds 5 
 
 William H. Martin 30 
 
 John Martin 30 
 
 Curtis Elliott 5 
 
 Charles Havanna . 30 
 
 John D. Collet 30 
 
 Thomas Smith 30 
 
 James Haas 30 
 
 John Cork 30 
 
 Wesley Swisher 30 
 
 Elijah Hale 30 
 
 Thomas Edward 30 
 
 William Harrison 30 
 
 P^ulton Armstrong 40 
 
 E. S. Towersen 30 
 
 Fred Grooms 30 
 
 R. B. Ray 30 
 
 William JPilkerton 30 
 
 Thomas Williams 30 
 
 James Carter 30 
 
 Parker Satterwhite 30 
 
 J. A. Bradley 30 
 
 Wesley T. Harris 30 
 
 Samuel Thomas 30 
 
 George Steely 30 
 
 Mahlon Lewen 30 
 
 George Ruth 30 
 
 William Smith 30 
 
 Frederick Tilton 30 
 
 John S. Townsend 30 
 
 Abel Tilton 30 
 
 Samuel Bennett 30 
 
 Simon Bennett 30 
 
 S. W. Gatches 30 
 
 William Edwards 30 
 
 V. R. Boardman 30 
 
 J. R. Hoover 30 
 
 Davis Pervines 30 
 
 James H. Petty 30 
 
 W. H. Compton 30 
 
 Edward Fisher 30 
 
 S. V. Davison 30 
 
 James R. Crandal 30 
 
 Johnson Henderson 30 
 
 James Conel 30 
 
 Henry Boyd 30 
 
 Isaac Cruder 30 
 
 William I. Allen 30 
 
 Thomas Campbell 30 
 
 John Yates 30 
 
 John Litle 30 
 
 Chancy Dayton 30 
 
 George R. Messic 30 
 
 John Putnam 30 
 
 Al Davis 30 
 
 Frank May 30 
 
 Ephraim Edwards 30 
 
 Samuel Merchant 30 
 
 John Bi vcns 30 
 
 John Smith 30 
 
 W.D. Foulke 30 
 
 Andrew Kerr 30 
 
 William Ludlow 30 
 
 William York 30 
 
 L. M. Tliompson 30 
 
 John Sines .'iO 
 
 Thomas McKibben 25 
 
 Van B. Hass 30 
 
 Bennet B. Crook 30 
 
 J. R. Stewart 10 
 
 C. O. Davis 30 
 
 John Ellison 30 
 
 Harrjr Brown 30 
 
 William Ross 30 
 
 Jacob Bottroff 30 
 
 William Vining 30 
 
 M. Pendergrass 30 
 
 Henry Dayton 30 
 
 Watts Finley 30 
 
 E. B. Jenkins 30 
 
 John Bridgeman 30 
 
 D. F. Baker 30 
 
 Philip Holmes 30 
 
 G. C. Davis 30 
 
 Daniel Knight 30 
 
 W. A. Boardman 20 
 
 James Dayton 30 
 
 A. H. Grenana 30 
 
 W. D. Hanley 30 
 
 A. M. Davis 30 
 
 George Inglas 30 
 
 John Davidson 30 
 
 W. W. Harris 30 
 
 E. F. Yates 30 
 
 Brien Carter 30 
 
 Jacob Dale 30 
 
 O. P. Stufflebeam 30 
 
 Miles Stufflebeam 30 
 
 George A. Collins 30 
 
 Henry Calarsttern 30 
 
 Isaac Dale 30 
 
 Josiah Rivens 30 
 
 James M. Lane 30 
 
 Andrew Lane 30 
 
 Joseph Lane 30 
 
 Enoch Watkins 30 
 
 Henry Conner 30 
 
 Isaac Clapp 30 
 
 William Kight 30 
 
 John Holmes 30 
 
 Ed Foster 3o 
 
 J. W. McKibben 30 
 
 William H. Collins 30 
 
 John W. Collins 30 
 
 M. M. Allison 30 
 
 E. McElhaney 3o 
 
 John EUwell 30 
 
 J. J. Grant 30 
 
 S. Andrews 30 
 
 Lemuel S. Bigges 30 
 
 William P. Hanah 30 
 
 J. W. McTagget 30 
 
 John A. Clapp 30 
 
 William Salmons 30 
 
 J. H. Johnston 30 
 
 F. A. Randolph 30 
 
 Enoch Bullock 30 
 
 Bernard Pullers 30 
 
 Thomas J. Jones 30 
 
 J. J. Jones 30 
 
724 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHrCAL ALBUM. 
 
 There were a few more whose names are not 
 lierein mentioned and whose contributions were 
 obtained oB the second round, nearly every one of 
 whom gave as much more as is mentioned in tlie 
 foregoing- list, until the desired sum was raised to 
 clear the township from a draft. Prior to this 
 there had been raised about $5,000 in the township 
 In the way of bounties. 
 
 Mr. Armstrong has always taken an active [)art 
 in the support of the schools and churches of Ross- 
 ville and all the other measures calculated for the 
 advancement of the people, socially, morally and 
 financially. He controls the operations of his 
 farm, hiring the men who live in his houses for 
 cash and each one paying his rent in the same way. 
 The work is let out by the job, and accordingly 
 the man who works the hardest makes the most 
 money. The plowing is done by the acre, the corn 
 cultivated in the same manner and gathered by 
 the bushel. Each man furnishes his own team and 
 implements. Mr. Armstrong pays for breaking, sj^l 
 per acre; cutting of corn-stalks, 15 cents per acre; 
 harrowing, 15 cents per acre; planting, 17 cents per 
 acre; cultivating, 35 cents per acre for each time 
 gone over. J\Ir. Armstrong determines as to the 
 time and manner in wliich all the work shall be 
 done. This simple method of transacting business 
 is at once understood by all concerned and settle- 
 ments are made without any trouble. The career 
 of Mr. Armstrong has been from the start distin- 
 guished by this systematic manner of transacting 
 business, and thus he knows at all times how he is 
 standing financially. 
 
 ,^^EORGE D. HUFFMAN. To most minds 
 there is something very praiseworthy in not 
 only the accumulation of property, but in 
 transmitting that property from one generation to 
 another; and almost invariably the homestead 
 which remains with one family is regarded by the 
 people as something possessing more than ordinary 
 interest and value. The subject of this notice 
 owns and occupies the old homestead of his father, 
 which was built up by tlie latter from a tract of 
 
 wild, uncultivated land, and which now stands as 
 an illustration of what persevering industry and 
 determination may accomplish. The Huffman 
 family are widely and favorabl}' known in their 
 community, and represent its best elements. 
 
 The subject of this sketch was born in Harrison 
 County, Ky., May 14, 1829, and was brought by 
 his parents to Illinois when a cliild four years of 
 age. He is the son of Daniel P. and Elizabeth 
 Huffman, who left the Blue Grass State in the fall 
 of 1832, and coming to this count3', settled in Newell 
 Township, not far from the present site of the fam- 
 ily residence. The father only lived four years 
 thereafter, his decease taking place in 1836. The 
 mother survived her husband twenty-one years, 
 dying in 1857. There being no burning ground 
 within ten miles, the remains of the parents were 
 laid to rest in a pleasant spot on the farm, a few 
 yards from the present residence, and a fine monu- 
 ment marks the spot. The father's first purchase 
 was 169 acres of land, and the property has never 
 changed hands except to pass from father to son. 
 
 Onr subject, after the death of his father, was at 
 an early age invested with much responsibility, and 
 remained the main stay and support of his mother 
 until her death. The farm was mostly developed 
 by him, and was literally transformed from a wil- 
 derness to a valuable homestead. In his boyhood 
 h(! attended the subscription school two winters, 
 and this comprised the greater part of his educa- 
 tion. He has, however, been a reader, and keeps 
 himself well informed upon matters of general in- 
 terest. He put up the comfortable house in which 
 he now lives, and added all the other improvements 
 which have combined to made a valuable estate. 
 
 Mr. Huffman has been a man quite prominent in 
 his community, serving as Road Commissioner six 
 years, and has been a school Director in his district 
 for a period of thirty ^ears. He has taken a par- 
 ticular interest in education, believing that the 
 young should be given all the advantages which 
 will fit them for honest and intelligent citizens. In 
 politics he is a sound Democrat, and in religious 
 matters is a member of the Christian Church. 
 
 The 18th of September, 1865, was a day memo- 
 rable in the life of our subject, made so by his 
 marriage with Miss Mary, daughter of John and 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 725 
 
 Klizabetli Cox. This lady icnioved]with her parents 
 from Ohio to Indiana, and after a comparatively 
 brief sojonrn there they came to this county. To 
 Mr. and Mrs. Huffman there liave been born seven 
 children, the two eldest of whom John F. and Daniel 
 P. died at the age of sixteen months. George D. died 
 when three montlis old ; Emily J. is the wife of 
 John F. Grider; Mary E. ma'-iied Charles Richie; 
 Edna A. died when three years old; EfBe M. re- 
 mains at home with her parents. All of the de- 
 ceased children were buried in the family cemetery, 
 and beautiful stones mark the spot. 
 
 «/vw-.'\4ii5j2/©^5@^ i 
 
 *^^WW2r»^« 
 
 ENNIS II. ROUSE. Pleasant is the task 
 of the biographer when employed in re- 
 counting the life and history of those who, 
 bravely enduring tiie hardships and priva- 
 tions of pioneer life in western wilds, have by 
 laborious industry and sagacious management of 
 affairs, secured a competence for their declining 
 years, together with the respect and conlidence of 
 their fellow-citizens. Such a career is the one now 
 given us to contemplate, and thus it began: To 
 Reason and Martha (Oleliy) Rouse, of Scioto 
 County, Ohio, Feb. 14, 1828, was born a son, our 
 subject. His father is thought to have been born 
 in Delaware, as it is known that his grandfather, 
 Solomon Rouse, supposed from the best informa- 
 tion at hand to have been a native of England, re- 
 moved in 1815 from Delaware to Ohio, lie was 
 an early settler in the Scioto Valley, where he 
 bought a tract of timber land and improved it as a 
 farm, spending thereon the remainder of his life. 
 Here his son Reason grew up and married, his bride 
 being a native of Frederic County, \a. She was a 
 daughter of Dennis Olehy, who was born in Ire- 
 land, near Kilkenny, and coming to America in 
 1790, settled in that county, and lived there until 
 his death. In 1831 Mr. Rouse sold out his interest 
 in Ohio and prepared to remove with his family to 
 Illinois. Jnst on the eve of their intended depar- 
 ture he sickened and died. Two weeks later Mrs. 
 Rouse started with her six children and made the 
 entire journey with teams, driving the stock before 
 
 them. At that time this part of the country was 
 but sparsely poi)ulated, the land being yet owned 
 by the Government, the .settlers selecting the tim- 
 ber along the streams. Mrs. Rouse bought eighty 
 acres of forest covered land, two and one-half 
 miles from the present site of the court-house in 
 Danville. The family spent the winter in a vacant 
 log cabin near by. Before the close of the season 
 the mother was taken ill, and in April, 1832, she 
 died. After that sad event Ave of the orphan 
 children returned to Ohio, and resided for the next 
 three years with uncles and aunts, at the end of 
 that time coming back to Illinois. Our subject 
 was taken into the family of his uncle, Dennis 
 Olehy, in this countjr, whose sketch appears else- 
 where in this volume. Here he remained until he 
 attained the age of nineteen years. The log house 
 in which he received his first schooling was a most 
 prijnitive structure, window glasses being conspic- 
 uously absent, a i)iuce of paper, smeared with'grease, 
 inserted in an aperture made by taking out a piece 
 of a log, admitting the light somewhat dimly. 
 Benches for scats were made of split poles fitted 
 with wooden legs. When not in school young 
 Rouse worked with his uncle on the farm, improv- 
 ing the land. He distinctlj' remembers being sent 
 out frequently in early spring to drive deer from 
 the wheat field. AVild turkeys were common, so 
 that the tables of our pioneers can hardl}' have 
 lacked for game. For many years LaFayette, 
 Ind., was the nearest market. A great deal of 
 produce was taken on flatboats to New Orleans. 
 The boats were built on the Vermilion River, floated 
 down that stream and the Wabash to the Ohio and 
 Mississippi. At nineteen our subject took a new 
 start in life by working out at 17 a month, continu- 
 ing this for the next three years. He then hired 
 land and cultivated for five years. In this way ho 
 acquired means which enabled him to obtain a 
 farm for himself. He bouglit'eighty acres of wild 
 prairie land in Catliu Township for $4 an acre. 
 On this he built a frame house, in which he lived 
 with his family until 1889, when he left the farm 
 in charge of his son Reason, and moved with the 
 other members of his household into Danville, 
 where he now resides. 
 On the 30th of October, 1850, took place the 
 
72G 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 marriage of Dennis Rouse and Louisa Olehy, of 
 Scioto County, Ohio. Two fliildren were the fruit 
 of this union — Reason A. and Dennis A. Reason 
 married Feb. 20, 1889, Dolly J. Stewart, and lives 
 on the home farm near Catliu. Mrs. Rouse was a 
 daughter of John and Mary (Ritter) Olehy, of 
 Scioto County, Ohio. A virtuous woman, looking 
 well to the waj's of her household, she has mater- 
 ially aided her husband in the building of their 
 common fortune. 
 
 Mr. Rouse has met with more than ordinary suc- 
 cess in the prosecution of his calling, and has con- 
 tinued to add at intervals to his original purchase 
 until he is now the owner of 1,090 acres of well- 
 improved farm land, besides his city propertj-. 
 Having begun life a poor boy with two strong 
 hands, a stout heart, and little more, he may point 
 to his iiossessions with pardonable pride as the rich 
 result of self-den3'ing toil. A pioneer farmer, one 
 who has taken the lead in reclaiming the wilderness, 
 causing hitherto unfilled soil to laugh with the 
 harvest, is a public benefactor. His estate is more 
 honorable than that of the luckj^ speculator in 
 Wall Street. Laboring not for selfish ends alone, 
 he has the satisfaction of knowing that he has 
 materially increased the sum of the world's wealth, 
 and has so far made it practically a better world 
 to live in. 
 
 \T^ERIAH HAWORTH resides on section U, 
 l^^. range 12, Elwood Township, Vermilion 
 I^Pi) 11 County, near the place where he was born, 
 ^^ Sept. 15, 1847. The father of Beriah was 
 named David, who is now deceased. Our subject 
 was educated in Vermilion Grove Seminary, and 
 has always foUowed farming as his occupation, and 
 has lived in this township on his present farm as 
 long as he can remember. 
 
 Our subject was united in marriage with Miss 
 Anna Lewis (Oct. 30, 1879), daughter of William 
 Lewis (deceased) a pioneer of Crab Apple Grove, 
 just across the line in Edgar County, 111., but has 
 lived mostly in this county. Three children have 
 come to brighten the home of our subject, named 
 
 respectively: Carrie M., born Sept. 13, 1882; Ho- 
 mer, Oct. 12, 1884; and Mary, Dee. 6, 1888. 
 
 Mr. Haworth owns a farm of seventy-five acres 
 of good land, and in connection with his agricultu- 
 ral pursuits is engaged in stock-raising. His favor- 
 ites are the Clj^desdale and Morgan horses, Sliort- 
 horn cattle and Poland-China swine. 
 
 Our subject and his estimable wife are devoted 
 members of the C^uaker Church. Mr. Haworth, 
 politically, votes the straight Republican ticket, 
 but has carefully refrained from the cares and re- 
 sponsibilities of office, preferring to give his time 
 and attention to his farming interests. 
 
 *w E ** r 
 
 ^^ 
 
 ^♦•— Ww* 
 
 (^p»iHOMAS PRATT. This gentleman is a suc- 
 ((^^ cessful farmer and stock-grower, and stands 
 
 among the leading agriculturists of Catlin 
 Township. He is a native-born citizen of Vermil- 
 ion County ; the most of his life has been pissed 
 within its limits, and he is one of the many who 
 have furthered its progress in various directions, 
 till it stands in the foremost rank among its sister 
 counties in this part of Illinois. He and his family 
 are living on the old Sandusky homestead, on sec- 
 tion 3, one of the pleasantest and most desirable 
 estates in the vicinity, which he purchased some 
 years ago, and has since greatly increased its value. 
 It comprises 240 acres of land of exceeding fer- 
 tilit3r, well adapted to general farming, to which 
 Mr. Pratt devotes it. He has been extensively en- 
 gaged in buying and shipping stock of all kinds, 
 and now makes a specialty of raising Short-horn 
 cattle. Our subject owns, besides his homestead, 
 seventy-three acres of fine land. 
 
 Mr. Pratt comes of sturdy Indiana stock, his 
 father, Jonathan Pratt, and his mother, Nancy 
 (Stevens) Pratt, both being natives of that State 
 the former being born in Ripley County, and the 
 latter in Jasper County. They met and were mar- 
 ried at Danville, in this county, and were among 
 the earliest settlers of this portion of the State. 
 They began their wedded life at Brook's Point, 
 but subsequently removed from there into the Big 
 Vermilion River district, and while living there, 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBTTM. 
 
 Mr. Pratt enlisted in the Rangers soon after the 
 Black Hawk War. He had served nearly a year, 
 proving to be a fearless, eflicient soldier, when he 
 died of cholera, near Galena, within six days of 
 the expiration of his term of service. The mother 
 afterward married Jolin McCarty, and removing 
 to the vicinity of Westville, spent her last days 
 there. 
 
 Our subject was the youngest of the two chil- 
 dren born to liis parents, a girl and a boy, and 
 his birth took place Nov. 6, 1831, at what was 
 then known as Brook's Point. He was reared to 
 manhood in that place and in the vicinity of the 
 Big Vermilion River, and received as good school- 
 ing as was obtainable in those pioneer days. At 
 one time he was engaged for a year in the butcher- 
 ing business in Danville, and was also interested 
 in a market in that city. He subsequently went 
 to Westville, in Georgetown Township, this county, 
 and was engaged in buying and shipping grain from 
 that point the ensuing five years. For about fifteen 
 years he was engaged in buying and shipping stock 
 of all kinds in connection with farming. He con- 
 tinued to reside in Georgetown Township with his 
 family till the spring of 1880, when he removed 
 with them to this township, having purchased the 
 old Sandusky farm, as before mentioned. He has 
 his land under admirable tillage, has a good class 
 of neat and conveniently arranged buildings, and 
 a home replete with all the comforts that add so 
 largely to the enjoyment of life. 
 
 Mr. Pratt -was first married at Brook's Point, 
 Feb. 26, 1851, to Miss Nancy Scott, who was born 
 in that place Jan. 23, 1829. There her life was 
 brought to a peaceful close ere it had fairly reached 
 its meridian, and she fell into that sleep that knows 
 no waking, Dec. 5, 1870. Eight children were 
 born of her marriage with our subject, as follows: 
 Laura, wife of J. B. Clayton; Jonathan, who mar- 
 ried Agnes Cherington; Margaret, the wife of 
 Wesley Thompson; Vista, the wife of M. D. Hut- 
 sonpillar; Henry C; Mary E., the wife of Clay 
 Sandusky; Charles IL; and Lewis. May 20, 1871, 
 Mr. Pratt was united in marriage with Miss Mary 
 E. Clayton, his present wife. She is a native of 
 Ohio, a daughter of Jonathan C. and Esther (Sny- 
 der) Clayton, the former a native of Virginia, the 
 
 latter of Oliio. They came to Vermilion County 
 from Ohio in 1854, when Mrs. Pratt was a child of 
 nineyeai-s, and they spent their last years in George- 
 town Township. Tliej' had nine children, six 
 daughters and three sons. Mary E. being the sev- 
 enth in order of birth. Slie was born in Licking 
 County, Ohio, Aug. 19, 1845. Her union wilh our 
 subject has been blessed to them by the birth of 
 two children, Esther N. and Thomas C. 
 
 Mr. Pratt is a man of strong, decisive character, 
 has a well-balanced mind, and is quite capable of 
 thinking and acting for himself, and especially is 
 this true in regard to his political convictions, and 
 he is a firm advocate of the Democrat policy in the 
 management of national affairs. He bears an un- 
 sullied reputation, and is considered in every way 
 a desirable acquisition to tlie citizenship of this 
 community. 
 
 kJl ISS SARAH WEBSTER is the daughter of 
 Reuben and Elizabeth (White) Webster, 
 natives of Indiana and Ohio respectively; 
 they eloped and were married in the former 
 State and after a short stay returned home and 
 were forgiven. The father farmed in Greene 
 County, Ohio, for some time, when he went to 
 visit a brother in Indiana, where lie suddenly died 
 attheageof about fifty-six; he was a devoted member 
 of the Baptist Church, in which faith he died. The 
 mother is still living in Dayton, Ohio; she is a de- 
 vout member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. 
 The father agreed with the rest of the celebrated 
 Webster family of which he was a member, and 
 was in politics a strong anti-slavery man, a Whig 
 and a Republican. Seven children resulted fiom the 
 union of the elder Webster and wife, named as fol- 
 lows: Nancy A., Sarah, our subject, John, Minerva, 
 Adelaide; Matilda died at the age of seventeen; 
 and George, who died, when seven years old. 
 Nancy married Mr. Ethan Cross, in Greene County, 
 Ohio. They came to Illinois and settled in Ver- 
 milion County, Sidell Township, where Mrs. Cross 
 died and was soon followed by her husband; they 
 had six children. John enlisted in the army at the 
 age of twenty-three, and was killed in the first act 
 
728 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 ive engagement in wliirli he participated; Minerva 
 became the wife of William Mullen and resides in 
 Sidell Township on a farm; Adelaide is at home in 
 Daj'ton, ()liio. 
 
 The families of the Sidells' and the Websters' had 
 lived neighbors in Ohio for some time, and a strong 
 affection grew up between the two mistresses. Mrs. 
 Sidell having no girls, our subject then a child of 
 eiglit years, was by mutual consent adopted into 
 the Sidell family, and was a lady of twenty-two 
 years of age, when John Sidell, the cattle king of 
 Illinois, removed to the township which later bore 
 his name. Mrs. Sidell died in Ohio, and Mr. Sidell 
 was a second time married, his wife dying a few 
 years after coming to this State, leaving three 
 children. Our subject continued to be the mistress 
 of the Sidell mansion until the death of the owner, 
 which occurred in Jan. 1889. She has, therefcire, 
 been almost a mother to the children by the second 
 marriage. 
 
 ]Miss Webster is very prominent in the religious 
 and social circles of Sidell, being President of the 
 Ladies Aid Society and a member of the Methodist 
 Episcopal Church. She is also prominently iden- 
 tified with the jMethodist Episcopal Sunday-school 
 of Sidell. 
 
 /p^EORGE W. SMITH, one of the worthy 
 ill ,-— , and representative citizens of Elwood Town- 
 
 II 
 
 epreseniative citizens ot Mwoocl I'own- 
 p is residing on section 18. He is a 
 native of Washington County, East Tenn., where 
 he was born, Sept. 27. 1819. His father, Jesse 
 Smith, was a native of Virginia, having been born 
 near Winchester in 1794. He followed the occu- 
 pation of a tanner and farmer and migrated to 
 Tennessee when a boy. Thence he came in 1832 
 to this county and settled on section 18 which af- 
 terward became the property of our subject. Upon 
 his settling here the land was in its primitive con- 
 dition; Indians were numerous; deer, turkeys and 
 thousands of prairie chickens could be had for the 
 shooting. Mr. Smith's entry of land consisted of 
 160 acres and which was subsequently added to by 
 the purchase of many more acres. The mother of 
 our subject, whose maiden name was Mary Carri- 
 
 ger, was the daughter of Michael Carriger, now de- 
 ceased. She was one of a family of seven children, 
 five of whom are living, namely: William, John, 
 Isaac, and Elizabeth, now Mrs. Baum. 
 
 Our subject received a limited education in the 
 subscription school held in a log cabin with its slab 
 seats, wall desks, etc. This early training was sup- 
 plemented hy attendance at the schools in George- 
 town, and \'ermilion Grove which education fitted 
 him the better for coping with life's difficulties 
 when he should launch out for himself. Our sub- 
 ject chose farming and stock raising for his occu- 
 pation and has had no reason to regret his choice. 
 In those early days there were no steam cars rush- 
 ing over the countr3' and emigrants came in wagons 
 bringing their few household effects along with 
 them. In order to find -a market for their stock 
 tlKy had to drive them to Wisconsin. Pork sold 
 for 11.50 per hundred and good cows for |10. 
 They also hauled produce to Chicago and our sub- 
 ject often drove a team to and from that now 
 great city, and on the return trip loaded his wagon 
 with salt. Upon his first trip to Chicago, that city 
 was about the size of Ridge Farm at the present 
 time. (1889.) 
 
 On the Iflth day of January, 1352, our subject 
 took a very important step in his life, namely his 
 marriage to Elizabeth Hester. Mrs. Smith's father, 
 John Hester, was a pioneer of Tazewell County, 
 this State. Mrs. Smith was born in that county and 
 bj' her union with our subject has become the 
 mother of six children, who bear the names of Mary 
 J., Francis P., Amanda, Isaac, Perry and Delia. 
 Mrs. Smith passed from earth Feb. 1, 1888. Both 
 our subject and his wife have for many j'ears been 
 active and consistent members of the Methodist 
 Episcopal Church at Ridge Farm. 
 
 Mr. Smith holds a leading position among the 
 citizens of his township and is one of its represent- 
 ative farmers, owning 1,236 acres of land. This 
 he has divided among his children, reserving eighty 
 acres for himself. During the early settlement of 
 the county, our subject sold a cow to George Geb- 
 hart for P^ and took his pay in rail making at 
 forty cents per 100. Soon after the State road was 
 laid out, our subject, his father and brother secured 
 six yoke of oxen and a team of horses and plowed 
 
PORTRAIT AND BKXaiAPHlCAL ALBUM. 
 
 729 
 
 the furrows in order to locate a. track from Elwood 
 to C'lirisman. This undertaking required all day 
 and they received from Amos Williams, the con- 
 tractor, 15. The many friends of Mr. Smith rec- 
 ognize in him such character and personal worth as 
 entitles him to a position among- the representa- 
 tive citizens of the county. 
 
 f 
 
 ^AMES F. HULL, M. D., followed his pro- 
 fession in Indianola for twenty-one years, 
 but retired from its active pursuits several 
 years ago and now lives in the quiet enjoy- 
 ment of his modest income (it his comfortable home 
 in the above named city. He is a native of Ross 
 County, Ohio, and is a son of Daniel Hull, who 
 was brought by his parents to that count}' from the 
 East, while in his early childhood. The father of 
 our subject was reared in Ross Count}', where he 
 received a good common-school education, and 
 after leaving school was apprenticed to a brick- 
 mason. Upon completing his term of apprentice- 
 ship to that trade, he returned to his favorite oc- 
 cupation of farming, which he followed during the 
 remainder of his life, varied with work at his trade, 
 which was confined principally to building brick 
 chimneys. When the United States came to blows 
 with Great Britian in 1812, he enlisted in his coun- 
 try's service and returned blow for blow, doing- 
 good service till the haughty British finally aban- 
 doned the attempt to re-conquer the vigorous 
 young Republic, which the Revolutionar}' heroes 
 had established on the soil of America. He de- 
 parted this life at the age of seventy-four, in Cov- 
 ington, Ind, whither he had removed in the fall of 
 1829. 
 
 The mother of Dr. Hull was Margaret Long, a 
 native of Pick County, Ohio; she was born 
 near Circleville, and passed her youth in that 
 county, which was also the place of her marriage 
 and residence during the early years of her wed- 
 ded life. She died when our subject was but 
 twelve years old leaving him and a younger 
 brother and sister to the care of their father, who 
 
 married a second time and became the parent of 
 two more ciiildrcn. Following the loss of the 
 second wife the father was again married. 
 
 The subject of this sketch was born May 31, 
 1821, and when eight years of age removed in the 
 care of his parents to Covington, Ind., where the 
 father entered eighty acres of laud from the Gov- 
 ernment and began farming. His early life was 
 passed in the usual manner of a farmer's boj' until 
 he reached the age of seventeen 3'ears when he was 
 apprenticed to learn the tanners and curriers' 
 trade, which occupation he followed some six or 
 seven years Iduring which time he was married, 
 Nov. 1, 1843, to Miss Gcnjima Itaum, a native of 
 Oiiio. The parents of Mrs. Hull removed to Foun- 
 tain County, Ind., when she was only one year old, 
 an<l that remained her home until her marriage as 
 above stated in Covington, Ind. to Dr. Hull. 
 
 The first records of the family of Mrs. Hull are 
 found in Pennsylvania, where her mother's father 
 figured as a German Baptist or Dunkard preacher. 
 He was a good German scholar but never learned 
 to either speak or write the English language. 
 Her paternal grandfather and mother were also 
 German scholars and confined their reading and 
 nearly all their conversation to that language. Her 
 father, Jonas Baum served honorably throughout 
 the War of 1812. 
 
 Dr. Hull began the studj' of medicine in the 
 office of Dr. Weldon, of Covington, continuing 
 there some three or four years when he began the 
 practice of medicine near Paxton, Ford Co., 111., 
 where he purchased a piece of land. He remained 
 there about three years then removed to Higgins- 
 ville, \^ermilion County, in 1859, when after a 
 short stay in that place he moved to Marysville, 
 where he followed his i)rofession until he finally 
 located in Dallas now Indianola, in 1869. 
 
 Dr. and Mrs. Hull have had eight children, five 
 of whom grew to maturitj'. They are named res- 
 pectively : Francis M., Kissy B., William W., who 
 died in infancy; Martha A.; James M. died an 
 infant; John C. Freemont; Jimma S. died when 
 four years old; and Edwin M. 
 
 Dr. Hull has had an extensive practice in his 
 profession, as large, perhaps, as any physician in 
 Indianola, and was at one time quite wealthy not- 
 
730 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 withstanding his geuoroiis liberality, but his kind- 
 ness was (jruelly taken advantage of b}' a man 
 engaged in the liusiness of buying horses for the 
 western trade. This man persuadrd Dr. Hull lo 
 endorse his notes, but after securing the horses by 
 means of the security furnished by them, decami)ed 
 taking tlie animals but leaving the debts, which, of 
 course, were (tollected off the unfortunate doctor 
 and caused him the loss of several thousand dol- 
 lars. 
 
 The subject of this sketch lias lived in retire- 
 ment for the last four or five years, advancing age 
 and delicate health compelling him to relinquish the 
 calls made upon him except those whose urgency 
 would not admit of refusal. lie and his excellent 
 wife are consistent Christians and liberal contribu- 
 ters to every good work and are worthy members 
 of the Baptist Church. The Doctor is a Mason on 
 holding his membership in the Vermilion Lodge 
 No. 265. 
 
 The pecuniary interests of Dr. Hull have all been 
 centered at Indianola. He was one of the incorpor- 
 ters of the village and has served on the A'illage 
 Board a position which afforded him the opportu- 
 nity of advancing the interests of his constituents. 
 He was an old line Whig, but at the disruption of 
 parties consequent upon the agitation of the slaver^' 
 question, and the formation of new ones based 
 upon that issue. He cast his lot with the Republi- 
 cans, voting for John C. Fremont, after whom he 
 named his son — J. C. Fremont Hull. 
 
 — }- 
 
 *^ 
 
 /p^EORGE W. ANKRUM who was born Oct. 
 (|[ (= 19, 182G, in Berkeley County, A'a., was 
 ^^/^ raised at Ridge Farm where he lived with 
 his father, who was a weaver, his mother and nine 
 brothers, six of whom are living, viz: Anthony 
 L., John, Elwood, David, \\"esley and Harrison; 
 one of these died at the age of fourteen years and 
 Asa who came to this county in 1837 settling in 
 this township, near Yankee Point, died at the age 
 of forty-seven. 
 
 The subject of this sketch received a primary edu- 
 cation in a log cabin with puncheon floor, greased 
 
 paper window panes, clapboard roof, and split-log 
 seats. When still a boy lie learned the weaver's 
 trade at which he was very apt and soon became 
 proficient in weaving ,iouble coverlets, carpets, 
 woolen and cotton goods. He followed this trade 
 until his health began to fail and then became a 
 farmer. He plowed with the old fashioned plow, 
 with wooden mold board and had to carry a paddle 
 with him to clean off the plow every few minutes. 
 
 Oct. 4, 1860, Mr. Aiikrum married Sarah Canada, 
 a daughter of P'rederick Canada, a pioneer of this 
 township. They became the parents of four chil- 
 dren. They were named as follows: Donnie E., 
 Harrison B., Lilly A., and Frederick B. Donnie 
 was married to James L. Bell of this township and 
 had one child, Georgia. Lilly married John H. 
 Davis of the Ridge and has no children. 
 
 He, of whom we write never sought official 
 honors, but passed the remainder of his life at the 
 Ridge where he had a fine residence and 250 acres 
 of land. 
 
 EURICK PATTON, late of section 29 El- 
 wood Township and now deceased, first 
 saw the light near Zanesville, Ohio, having 
 been born March 27, 1830. His parents 
 d.>ing when he was quite small he accompanied his 
 older brothers and sisters to Hamilton Couiiti", 
 Ind., to which they removed. His education was re- 
 ceived in the primitive school house so many times 
 described in this volume, with its puncheon floor, 
 clapboard roof and split-log seats. Notwithstand- 
 ing the many disadvantages which he laboi-ed under, 
 our subject acquired a fair education and later 
 turned his attention to agriculture, in which occu- 
 pation he was successfully engaged until his death. 
 The subject of this biography was married July 
 14, 1852, to Miss Priscilla Mendenhall, daughter of 
 James Mendenhall, deceased. This congenial union 
 has been blest by the birth of seven children, five 
 of whom are living. They were named respect- 
 ively: Mahlon R., Mary J. (Mrs. Lancaster), Davis 
 1!., Lilla E. and Ira E. Mr. Patton, of this sketch, 
 passed from life Feb. 15, 1870. He was a devoted 
 and consistent member of the Society of Friends, 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 731 
 
 of which Society his family were also members. 
 Our subject lived in such a manner as to command 
 the res)5ect of his fellow townsmen, and now that 
 he has gone, will always be remembered as an active 
 and useful member of tlie community. 
 
 -^>'5>^:i;^^^t5^^^^^ 
 
 0~ HARLES A. WRIGHT is a young man of 
 great promise, universally esteemed for his 
 many sterling qualities, prominent among 
 which are courtesy, good judgment, ability and his 
 exhibition of public spirit. He came from a most 
 excellent family, liis father being one of the lead- 
 ing citizens of Sidell Township. He has been par- 
 ticularly active in furthering the advancement of 
 his stirring little village, and his name will go 
 down in its history as one of its earliest and most 
 enterprising journalists. 
 
 Mr. Wright is also a young man of considerable 
 means, owning a large farm, printing office and 
 other property. He may well look forward to a 
 promising future. If Sidell ever becomes a large 
 town, its growth may be attributed in a large meas- 
 ure to the enterprise and public spirit of Mr. Wright. 
 The Sidell Journal was established May 1, bj- 
 James E. Whipple, of Cayuga, Ind., who sold the 
 plant, after operating it fourteen weeks, to Mr. 
 Wright, who took charge of it August 1, of that 
 year. It was an eight-page folio, bright, newsy 
 and well printed, and was one of the chief instru- 
 ments in the growth of the town. Mr. Wright 
 leased his office building and presses to T. M. Mor- 
 gan, who is now publishing the Sidell Wayside. 
 
 Mr. Wright is the son of Silas Wright, who 
 came to Vermilion County in 1846, and who was a 
 resident here for more than forty years. He died 
 on the 6th day of May, 1886, his wife following 
 him to the grave five weeks later. They were the 
 parents of five children: William H., Charles A., 
 Ella M., Mabel, and George A., who died at tlie 
 age of six years. William is a farmer in Sidell 
 Township; Ella M. is the wife of Charles Church, 
 a miller of the same place ; Mabel resides at home 
 with her brother William. Charles, of whom this 
 is written, was born April 15, 1860, in this town- 
 
 ship, on the old Wi'ight homestead, where his early 
 life was passed. He attended the public schools of 
 this county, and at the age of twenty-three he en- 
 tered the Normal School at Danville, where he 
 continued his studies until his duties called him 
 home to labor on his father's farm, which he inher- 
 ited after the decease of his parents. In 1887 he 
 went to San Antonio, Tex., where he purchased a 
 car-load of Texas ponies, and shipped them to 
 Sidell, and there sold them. He has also dealt ex- 
 tensively in mules, purchased at St. Louis and 
 shipped north. On Dec. 12, 1888, he was appointed 
 postal clerk on the route from Chicago to Terre 
 Haute, Ind., and in March, 1889, he resigned this 
 position. He is an advocate of temperance, hav- 
 ing been a charter member of the Good Templars' 
 Lodge at Sidell. 
 
 Although ,>oung in years, Mr. Wright has a large 
 knowledge of the world, and is therefore well fitted 
 to fill any position to which he may aspire. He is 
 an enthusiastic Democrat, and will employ all hon- 
 orable means for the success of his party, while 
 he and his newspaper are potent factors in the Demo- 
 cratic cause. 
 
 ir^-^EV. DAVID COAKE, farmer and preacher 
 IL^ of the gospel, a resident of Danville Town- 
 ship, was born in Carter County, Ky., Oct. 
 ^) 6, 1 848. His great-grandfather, of the same 
 name, came to America with his family in colonial 
 times, and fought in the War of the Revolution. 
 He settled in Scott County, W.Va., and there spent 
 his last years. The grandfather of our subject was 
 three years old when he came with his parents to 
 this country He was reared in Scott County. 
 After his marriage to Rebecca Flannery, a native 
 of Scott County, he removed to Lee County, where 
 he was engaged in farming till his death. His son, 
 Henry J. Coake, father of our subject, was born in 
 that county, Aug. 18, 1818. At twenty j-ears of 
 age, his father being dead, the young man went with 
 his mother to Kentucky. He there married Elenor 
 Rowe, daughter of Edward and Elenor (Littleton) 
 Rowe, of Carter County. Mr. and Mrs. Coake re- 
 
T.\-> 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 sided in that county till 18G3, when tliey c.ime to 
 Illinois, and purchased the farm that he and his 
 son now occupy, which is beautifullj' located on 
 section 10, Danville Township. 
 
 The subject of this present sketch was in his fif- 
 teenth year, when he accompanied his fatlier and 
 mother to this place. lie married in 1875 Miss 
 Ann Willim, a native of Carter County, Ky., daugh- 
 ter of Edward and Clara C. (Duncan) Willim. 
 Ot their happy wedded life one child has been 
 born, Bertha. David Coake united with the Chris- 
 tian Church when seventeen years of age, and Ije- 
 gan preaching at thirty-six. Bred to agriculture, 
 a lover of the country and its peaceful ])ursuits. 
 Ml'. Coake, in taking np the clerical profession, did 
 not abandon tlie plough, and has not ceased sowing 
 seed in material soil since he began the culture of 
 spiritual fields. No doubt, in practice the blending 
 of the two vocations is a benefit to both. Sharing 
 on the week day, the labors of the |)eople, yet not 
 engrossed by them, partaking of their joys and 
 anxieties, yet not bound up in worldly cares, he is 
 better fitted to give counsel to the erring, advice 
 to the inquiring, to lend a helping hand to the weak 
 and stumbling, and to s[)eak of heavenly things 
 to those who are bidding farewell to things of 
 earth. 
 
 ^^ IIARLES CHURCH, junior member of the 
 jll firm of Rice & Church, general stock buyers 
 
 ^^^- and shippers of Sidell, is also the proprie- 
 tor of the Sidell Star Feed ]\Iills. He was born in 
 Catlin Township and reared there. His father, 
 William A. Church, is one of the substantial farm- 
 ers of this township, and is a native of this county. 
 The grandfather, Alexander Church, is still living, 
 is in his eighty-seventh year and was one of the 
 first pioneers of this county, where he came in 
 1821, from Virginia. Our subject's mother is 
 Hester (Douglas) Church, a member of the Douglas 
 family from which the Hon. Stephen A. Douglas 
 came. Alexander Church and wife are the parents 
 of five children, namelj^: Sarah D., William J., 
 Annie L., Thomas W. and Charles S. Sarah is the 
 wife of J. Acree of Danville; William is farming 
 
 in Catlin Townshi[); Annie L. married L. Bushy, 
 who also farms in Catlin Township; Thomas AV. 
 lives at home with his parents. 
 
 The birth of our subject occurred Feb. 9, 1864. 
 He acquired his education in the public schools at 
 Danville. At the age of twenty-four our subject 
 met and married his wife. Miss Ella Wright. He 
 came to Sidell Nov. 8, 1888 and bought village 
 property and the feed mill the same fall. He then 
 formed a partnership with Mr. W. J. Rice and 
 they are now shipping hogs to Chicago and 
 Indianapolis. 
 
 Our subject owns a fine farm of 160 acres north 
 of Sidell, and has placed tenants on it. Mr. Church, 
 in his political sentiments, is firmly established 
 upon the Republican foundation, and is a young- 
 man of character, ability and enterprise. 
 
 ON. DAVID D. EVANS, Judge of the 
 County Court of Vermilion County, is 
 regarded as one of the ablest lawyers of 
 Central Illinois. A close student and an 
 extensive reader, he is not only well versed in the 
 duties of his profession, but in all respects is a 
 man of more than ordinary capacities. Not alone 
 has he distinguished himself at the bar, but in his 
 private life and as a citizen possesses those traits 
 of character which form the basis of all good so- 
 ciety. In politics he is a sound Republican, and 
 has had a sensible influence amid the councils of 
 his |)arty in Illinois, serving in various positions 
 of trust and responsibility. In 1876 he was a del- 
 egate to the National Republican Convention that 
 met at Cincinnati. 
 
 The subject of this sketch was born near Ebens- 
 burg, Cambria Co., Pa., April 29, 1829. His 
 grandfather on his fatlier's side was a freeholder 
 in the north of Wales. Having a large family and 
 his land being subject to the English law of entail- 
 ment, he concluded to sell his life estate to his old- 
 est sou and move to America, to give his other 
 children a chance for fame and fortune in a free 
 country. He settled in Pennsylvania about the 
 year 1780, but soon thereafter died, leaving only 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 733 
 
 an example of industry and energj', as an inherit- 
 ance to his family. David Evans, father of the 
 suliject of tliis sicetcli, learned the trade of a stone 
 mason and followed thai business as a workman 
 and contractor until about tiie year 1810, when he 
 married and settled on a farm near Ebensburg, Pa. 
 He followed the business of a farmer and contractor 
 the balance of his life, and died in Ebensliurg, Dec. 
 11), 1859. 
 
 Thirteen children were born to David Evans, 
 one of whom died in infancy. Seven are still liv- 
 ing. Ilis wife, Anna, was the daughter of Rev. 
 Rees Lloyd. Mr. Lloj'd came from Wales about 
 the year 177".), and was a fellow emigrant with the 
 father of ex-liov. Bibb. The latter went to Ohio, 
 but Mr. Lloyd settled in the woods where now 
 stands the quaint old town of Ebensburg, Pa. 
 There he chopped out a farm, fought the wolf from 
 the door, preached the Gospel and raised his fam- 
 ily. Soon after settling in these then western wilds 
 he procured the organization of a new county, and 
 caused it to be called Cambria, in honor of the an- 
 cient name of Wales. He also donated fifty acres 
 of his farm and laid out a town, which he called 
 Ebensburg in honor of a deceased son, named 
 Eben or Ebenezer, and procured its selection as the 
 county seat of the county. 
 
 In his old age Mr. Llo3'd again became smitten 
 with the spirit of emigration and the western fe- 
 ver, and started for the village of C'incinnati, Ohio. 
 Finding it only a few log huts among the hills, and 
 not liking its scenery, nor foreseeing its future, he 
 pushed on to the southern [)art of Butler County, 
 that State, where he again met his friend and fel- 
 low emigrant, Mr. Bibb. Here, with a part of his 
 family, on the ricli bottoms of Paddy's Run, ne.ir 
 the village of New London, he spent the remain- 
 der of his days, dying at the ripe old age of about 
 ninety years. 
 
 Mr. P^vans, the siibject of this sketch, worked 
 on his father's farm until he was twenty -three years 
 of age, with the exception of one summer, when 
 be was employed in a blacksmith shop with a broth- 
 er-in-law. His early education and advantages 
 were extremely limited. He was a stranger to the 
 inside of a school house until in his tenth year. 
 For a few years thereafter he attended a country 
 
 district school for about two months each winter. 
 Commencing in his twentj'-fourth year, he attend- 
 ed several terms of the Eclectic Institute at Hiram, 
 Ohio, paying his way without assistance from any 
 source, teaching school in the winter and working 
 in the harvest field during the summer vacations, 
 f )nc of his fellow students at the Eclectic Institute 
 was the late Pres. Garfield. Upon leaving Hiram, 
 Mr. Evans went to Southern (Jhio, whci-e he taught 
 school one term at West Elkton, Preble Count^f, 
 and for five years and six months in one house at 
 Miltonville, Butler County. While teaching he 
 commenced reading law, entered the law depart- 
 ment of the University of Michigan in I SCO, and 
 was graduated with his chiss in 1863. 
 
 While during the war of the rebellion, the gov^- 
 crnment had the support and warmest sympathy 
 of Mr. Iwans, his military service was of but little 
 material assistance. Soon after going to the field 
 he was attacked with a malignant type of tyi>hoid 
 fever which unfitted him for duty, and he was hon- 
 orably discharged in the fall of 18G1. After his 
 recovery he repaired to Danville, 111., taught school 
 for a few terms, and in 1865-66 he was editor and 
 part proprietor of the Danville Plaindealer. He 
 commenced the active practice of law in the fall 
 of 1866, and continued successfully until the sum- 
 mer of 1882. He then Iwcame a candidate for the 
 Republican nomination for the office of County 
 Judge. After a close and somewhat acrimonious 
 contest, he succeeded .against a very popular oppo- 
 nent, and was elected without opposition by the 
 Democrats. He found the affairs of the office in 
 exceedingly bad condition, straightened them out, 
 and revolutionized the heretofore loose [)ractice of 
 the court. At the end of the term he was renom- 
 inated without much opposition, and was re-elected 
 over a strong Democratic opponent by the largest 
 majority of any Republican on the ticket. He still 
 keeps up the business and the vigorous practice of 
 the court. lie is in excellent health, and good for 
 twenty years more of active life. 
 
 Judge Evans was married to Mrs. Edwilda A. 
 Sconce, Oct. 9, 1867. To them three children have 
 been born, the eldest of whom, Lloyd Cromwell, 
 died in the eighth year of his age. The second 
 child, Ruth Ivlwilda, died in infancy. Waldo Carl, 
 
734 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 the youngest, remains to his parents, and is now 
 (1889) in his thirteenth year. Mrs. Evans was born 
 in Berkeley County, W. Va., July 31, 1838, and 
 is the daughter of Dr. Edward and Rebecca Bruce 
 (Lemon) Cromwell. Mrs. Cromwell was the daugh- 
 ter of John Lemon, who came from Berkeley 
 County, W. Va., to Danville at an early day. Dr. 
 Cromwell practiced in Kentucky, and died while 
 Mrs. Evans was an infant. Mrs. Cromwell like- 
 wise passed from eartli many years ago. Their 
 daughter, Edwilda A. Cromwell, was first married 
 to George Fithian, a son of Dr. William Fithian, 
 who is still living, and over ninety years old. Of 
 this union there was born one child, Will E. P'ith- 
 ian, now of San Antonio, Texas. Mrs. Fithian 
 was married the second time to Lafayette H. 
 Sconce, of Danville, who only lived a short time 
 after his marriage. 
 
 Mr. Evans is a member of Olive Branch Lodge, 
 No. 45, A. F. & A. M., of Vermilion Chapter, No. 
 82, R. A. M., and of Athelstan Comniandery, and 
 is also a member of Damascus Lodge K. of P. 
 
 C. FREEMAN will be remembered as the 
 polite and efficient gentleman who for fif- 
 teen years has served the city of Danville 
 as its City Clerk. Forced to resign that 
 position, which he had creditably held for the last 
 fifteen years, on account of being troubled with 
 heart disease, he refused to again become a candi- 
 date for the office. He was born Aug. 7, 1832, 
 at Beallsville, Washington Co., Pa., eight miles 
 from Blaine's birthplace. His father, Lewis Free- 
 man, was a very prosperous merchant, who died 
 at the early age of thirty-five years. The subject 
 of our sketch attended the common school until 
 the age of fourteen, when he began to clerk 
 at different points in the county until he was 
 twenty-three years of age, when he came to Edgar 
 County, this State, and worked on a farm until 
 1861. He was subject to asthma, but the Western 
 country agreed with him and in a great measure 
 he regained his health. 
 
 Miss Jennie R. Newkirk, who became the wife 
 
 of our subject in 1851J, was the daughter of George 
 and Maria Newkirk, of Washington County, Pa. 
 She came of a family distinguished for their lion- 
 esty and patriotism. In 1859, the year of their 
 marriage, she came to Illinois with her husband. 
 In 1861 Mr. and Mrs. Freeman came toFairmount, 
 Vermilion County, where Mr. Freeman became 
 Station Agent and Postntaster. In 1867 he was 
 placed in charge of the station at State Line, Ind., 
 also on the Wabash, and continued in the employ 
 of the Wabash until 1872. In 1874 he was elected 
 City Clerk, which position he held for fifteen years. 
 His first wife lived aliout two years and left two 
 children: Charles A., an infant wlio died a fjw 
 days after the mother, and Ella Nora, now living. 
 Mr. Freeman was married a second time in 1864, 
 to Miss Mary W. Dustin, born in Enfield, N. II., 
 and daughter of Sylvester and Marilla (Wells) 
 Dustin, by whom he had five children: Harry L., 
 Fred D., Albert D., Nettie J. and Edmund G 
 
 Mr. Freeman's life and position in connection 
 with the Wabash Railroad Company, as well as 
 with the city of Danville, has implied a great deal 
 of responsibility- as the custodian of thousands of 
 dollars, both for the Wabasli and the city. Mr. 
 Freeman has been a Mason since 1854 and became 
 a Knight Templar in 1882. He is a member of 
 Athelstan Commander^ of Danville, No. 45. He 
 is also a member of the Knights of Honor, Frank- 
 lin Lodge, No. 409. A very decided Reptiblicao, 
 he with his son are the only members of the family 
 belonging to that part}'. Since liis retirement from 
 office lie has led a quiet and retired life at his liome 
 in Danville. 
 
 J" ONATHAN LARRANCE, late a resident of 
 section 35, Elwood Township, is a native of 
 this county, having spent his entire life in 
 the township where he first saw the light, 
 Jan. 7, 183f. The parents of our subject, John 
 and Ruth Larrance, emigrated to this county from 
 East Tennessee in the fall of 1827 and immediately 
 set about establishing for themselves a comfortable 
 home, which they succeeded admirably in doing. 
 The subject of this biography conned his first 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 735 
 
 lessons in Vermilion Seminary, now Vermilion 
 Academy, which was quite an improvement over 
 the primitive log cabin in which the most of the 
 youth of those days were obliged to get an educa- 
 tion. Mr. Larrance, however, upon launching out 
 in life on his own account, chose farming for his 
 vocation and had no cause for regretting his choice. 
 
 The first important step in the life of our sub 
 ject upon establishing a home of his own was his 
 marriage, Dec. 5, 1861, with Miss Hannah, daugh- 
 ter of Alexander and Mary McGee, both of whom 
 are deceased. Mrs. Larrance was born in Tuscar- 
 was County, Ohio, Jan. 28, 1837, and of her 
 union with our subject has become the mother of 
 seven children, six of whom are still living, viz.: 
 Perry M., born Aug. 22, 1862; John, May 27, 
 1865; Alice, March 5, 1867; Laura, Sept. 1, 1870; 
 Mark, April 17, 1874; Martha E., Dec. 25, 1876. 
 One son, Marion, born Dec. 10, 1868, died May 6, 
 1870. Perry married Miss Nancy E. Black, and lives 
 on a part of the old homestead; he is the father of 
 a daughter, Annie; Alice was married to Charles 
 Canady, of Georgetown Township, this count}'. 
 
 Our subject was the owner of 295 acres of excel- 
 lent farming land, which has since been divided 
 among his heirs. He also held a half interest in the 
 Ridge Farm Tile P^actory, which has since been 
 sold. He passed from earth Jan. 25, 1885, regret- 
 ted and mourned by all who knew him. He had 
 earned for himself a position among the honorable 
 and upright citizens of the county. 
 
 Mr. Larrance, although never seeking jwlitical 
 preferment, always cast bis vote and influence on 
 the side of right. Socially he was a Freemason, 
 and religiously a member of the Society of Friends. 
 
 ^^^ 
 
 JIL^ al 
 
 '^■^t- 
 
 I RSOM FRENCH was the son of George, and 
 the grandson of Henry French. The latter, 
 /lisa^ after being married to Miss Elizabeth Ersom, 
 left his home in Germany and sought a new field 
 of labor under the banner of freedom, in the land 
 of liberty. After this worthy couple had been in 
 the United States for some tlnre, there was born to 
 them a son, to whom they gave the name of George. 
 
 His birth occurred in Mercer County, Ky. Henry 
 French, when in Germany, had learned the trades 
 of blacksmith and gunsmith. Besides their son 
 George, who was the third son, they had six other 
 children — two boys and four girls. After a happy 
 and peaceful life the father and mother died, at the 
 old homestead in Mercer County. George, the 
 father of our subject, was brought up in Kentucky, 
 where he married Elizabeth, daughter of Thomas 
 Sterman, in about 1800. Miss Sterman's grand- 
 father was a reliable, trustworthy man, which is 
 evinced Ity the fact that as a guard lie was with 
 Gen. Washington for seven years during the Revo- 
 lutionary War, after which he took up his residence 
 in North Carolina, or A'irginia. In 1809 George 
 French and his wife removed to Knox County, 
 Ind., wiiere Ersom, the subject of this sketch, was 
 born, in April, 1811. At the beginning of the 
 War of 1812 the father took his family back to 
 Kentucky, left them with his parents and returned 
 to Indiana, where he became wagoner for the 
 soldiers. The road on which he traveled was that 
 extendinj^ between Forts Knox and Harrison. 
 
 On two occasions his wagons loaded with [u-ovi- 
 sions were captured by Indians. They burned the 
 wagons, took possession of the eatables, and had it 
 not been for the fleetness of his horse, George 
 Flench would not have escaped as he did without 
 injury. He drove a team of five horses, the leader 
 of which was a remarkably swift marc. After tiie 
 close of tlie war, Mr. French brought his family 
 back to Indiana and settled northeast of Vincennes. 
 After a few years, being dissatisfied with his resi- 
 dence, he removed to a place near Terre Haute on 
 the prairie, where he spent liis last days, leaving 
 eleven children, whose names were as follows: 
 Umphery. Henry, John, Ersom, Mary, Erastus, 
 Thomas, Elizabeth, George, Washington, and Mary 
 J. Mrs. George French died at the age of eighty- 
 two years; she evidently inherited in part her 
 mother's longevity, that lady having lived to be 
 ninety-three years of age. 
 
 Our subject while in Indiana, was made ac- 
 quainted with Miss Harriet Clem, whom he greatly 
 admired, and in the course of time he married her. 
 They had one daughter, named after her mother, 
 Harriet. This daughter is now Mrs. Elijah Cheno- 
 
736 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 wetli. Ilis first wife died, and Mr. French tooli as his 
 next partner in life Mrs. Eliza (Boling) Carrol, a 
 widow, by which marriage he had three children, 
 viz., Truman P., (ieorge, now deceased, and Algy 
 D. In 1852 Ersom came to Illinois and located in 
 this township, where he has since lived. In 1850 
 he traveled to Kansas, which he left later on ac- 
 count of the frontier ruffians. He naturally found 
 it difficult to live with men whose political opin- 
 ions were so diametrically opposed to his own, 
 especially on the subject of slavery, of which tliey 
 approved and wished to have extended, and of 
 which he as heartily disapproved and desired to 
 have abolished. Our subject then located on a 
 farm in this county, where he lived until the death 
 of his wife, in February, 188G. Since this event 
 his son, Dr. Truman, and his family have lived 
 witii him, at his house adjacent to the village of 
 Armstrong, which is partly on his farm. Truman, 
 after having finished his studies in the common 
 school, attended Rush Medical College, at Chi- 
 cago, and in Indianapolis, Ind. The school where 
 he commenced his studies when a child, was a pri- 
 vate one, which had been built by our subject and 
 three other men. After Truman's graduation, he 
 first practiced in Ogden seven years, but finally 
 came to this village, .January, 1880. He has now 
 had a good practice here for about seventeen years 
 and still continues to be successful. 
 
 On March 1, 1877, he was m.arried to Miss Eu- 
 genia I., daughter of Hiram and Mary A. (Blan- 
 chard) Robinson, of Peoria County, this State. 
 His two boys, George M. and Morris D., are still 
 living. The household was lasb summer increased 
 by the birth of another child, a boy who died when 
 seven weeks old. Together with two stores and 
 other buildings in the village, Truman French is 
 owner of the farm, including eighty acres on which 
 he lives. Our subject and his ancestors were mem- 
 bers of the Methodist Church, and the family was 
 well known for its knowledge and intelligence. 
 A. D., one of the sons of Ersom and brother of Tru- 
 man French, was also graduated at the Chicago and 
 Indianapolis medical colleges; he practiced at Po- 
 tomac, III., until the spring of 1889. He then went 
 to Crete, Neb., where he now is busily employed 
 with his profession. 
 
 Algy D. was married at I'otomac, 111., to Miss 
 Mamie Morse. Their only daughter Oracle E. hav- 
 ing died when two j^ears of age, the parents are 
 left childless. 
 
 Truman P. French is the much respected Master 
 of the Potomac Lodge, No. 782, A. F. & A. M., of 
 which he is a charter member. The duties of 
 Ersom French and his sons have been of a brilliant 
 nature and such as require the greatest and most 
 solid as well as useful of the civic virtues, integrity, 
 forethought, justice and steady, inexhaustible in- 
 dustry. 
 
 W'JLLIAM McMILLIX, of Carroll Town- 
 ship is a native of Somerset Township, 
 Washington Co., Pji. His father, Robert 
 McMillen, was a native of Maryland, and his 
 mother, Elizabeth (Thompson^ McMillin was a na- 
 tive 'of Washington County, Pa., and of Scotch 
 parentage. The grandfather also bore the given 
 name of Robert, which he received in his native 
 country, Ireland. The date of his emigration to 
 America is not known for certain, but it was some- 
 lime before the Revolution. 
 
 The revolution of the American Colonies was 
 completed; the Constitution was formulated and 
 accepted by the requisite number of States; a new 
 Nation aspired to a place among the Governments 
 of the \\'orld, but although the ship of State was 
 successfully launched on the ocean of progress, 
 there were yet many dangers to be encountered and 
 many difficulties to be overcome before the youth- 
 ful Republic could establish its claim to a perma- 
 nent position among the Nations of tlie earth. One 
 of the eai'liest questions to confront the new Con- 
 uress of the United States was the one relating to 
 the manner of securing a revenue adequate to the 
 requirements of the recently adopted Constitution. 
 After much consultation and mature reflection a 
 system of taxation was adopted which seemed to 
 the heads of the departments reasonable and just, 
 but which created considerable opposition in some 
 quarters; the farmers of Pennsylvania in particular 
 conceived themselves aggrieved by the tax on 
 whisky, a considerable quantity of which was man- 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 737 
 
 ufacturcd by them and constituted a large part of 
 their income; they therefore refused to pay it and 
 organized a rebellion against the enforcement of 
 tlie, to them, obnoxious tax. This event known as 
 the Wliisky Insurrection threatened to be formida- 
 ble but the President promptly sent a force, com- 
 posed principallj' of volunteers, against them, 
 which speedil}' subjugated and reduced them to 
 obedience. As a volunteer on that occasion the 
 father of Mr. McMillin took an honorable part, 
 serving in the Government ranks with great credit. 
 On being mustered out of service at the conclusion 
 of the trouble Mr. McMillin returned home and 
 resumed work at his trade. 
 
 The mother of the subject of this sketch died in 
 middle life leaving three children who were care- 
 fully reared by a sister of their father. Robert, the 
 eldest, was born in 1808, and although so old is 
 still active and enterprising. He resides in Wash- 
 ington County, Pa., and is the parent of eigbt chil- 
 dren, who .are all living. William, the second 
 child, is the subject of this notice. Elizabeth is 
 the youngest. 
 
 William McMillin was born in 1810 and reared 
 in Bentlysville, Pa. Although his father never 
 acquired possession of any land, William was eai'ly 
 put to work on a farm beginning the task of earn- 
 ing his own living when a lad of only twelve, and 
 commencing to plough at the age of thirteen when 
 he received the sum of twelve and one-half cents a 
 day, performing the work with an old fashioned 
 wooden mould-board plow. He continued to fol- 
 low this occupation as long as he remained in 
 Pennsylvania. In 1853 he was married to Miss 
 Mary Hill, a daughter of William and Annie 
 (Lindsy) Hill, both natives of Crawford County, 
 Pa. The father was a stone cutter and built many 
 an abutment and arch for the bridges which span 
 the Allegheny River. They were the parents of 
 five children, namely: John, .lacob, Sheldon, Mary, 
 and Alonza. 
 
 Mrs. McMillin was a native of Crawford County, 
 Pa., but removed to Washington County, where 
 she made the acquaintance of our subject. The 
 journey to Illinois was made overland in a wagon. 
 After a short pause in Vermilion County Mr. Mc- 
 Millin located in Edgar County, whore he re- 
 
 mained about one year, removing in the following 
 spring to Vermilion County where he purchased 
 200 acres of land close by where Sidell now stands. 
 The land was partially improved, and he continued 
 to reside on it for some years but there were no 
 schools and he had a family of children, so he sold 
 out to John Sidell and once more removed, locat- 
 ing the next time in Indianola. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. McMillin are the parents of six 
 children. For several years they kept a hotel and 
 later bought 150 acres of land two miles south of 
 Indianola, which is their present home. Mr. Mc- 
 Millin has been Justice of the Peace for the last 
 twenty years and in all that time has never had a 
 single decision of his reversed in the higher courts, 
 which shows that his ability as a jurist stands de- 
 servedly high. 
 
 ONATHAN DILLON resides on section 
 15, Elwood Township. He is a native of 
 Clinton County, Ohio, having been born 
 there Feb. 12, 1820. His father, Luke 
 Dillon (deceased), was a native of Guilford Count}', 
 N. C, and came to Ohio when seventeen years old, 
 and engaged in farming, and in the fall of 1830 
 purchased a large farm one mile north of George- 
 town, when it was a wild country inhabited by a 
 few settlers, and wild animals were many. 
 
 The subject of this sketch was reared upon a 
 farm, and received a limited education in the primi- 
 tive log schoolhouse with split-pole seats, clap- 
 board roof, clapboard ceiling, huge fireplace in 
 one end of the room ; stick and clay chimney, and 
 log out for a window. The family to which our 
 subject belonged first lived in a log house with one 
 room which afterward had a kitchen built on it. The 
 famil}' consisted of ten children, six of whom are 
 living: Naomi, James W., Hannah, Jonathan, Will- 
 iam and George. One son, John L., First Lieu- 
 tenat of a company in the 38th Illinois Infantry, 
 in the late war, was killed in the battle of Stone 
 River; the others were: Sallie, Ruth and Jesse, all 
 grown up and had been married. 
 
 The marriage of our subject occurred Oct. 13, 
 
■38 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 1841, to Charity Ilaworth, daughter of Dillon 
 Haworth (deceased). By hiT union with our sub- 
 ,iect there have been born three cliildren, named 
 respectively: Mary, Ruth (deceased) and Barclay. 
 Mary married Joseph Henderson, of this township, 
 and is the mother of five children — William, Lu- 
 eretia E., Minnie, Rosa and Josephine. Barclay 
 married Lizzie Haworth, and resides in Graham 
 Count}'; Iowa; they have become the parents of 
 six cliildren. Mrs. Dillon died May 21, 1850, and 
 subsequently Mr. Dillon was again married to 
 Mas. Permelia Henderson. Dec. 26, 1853, widow 
 of George Henderson and daughter of Charles 
 Madden (deceased), a pioneer of this township. 
 By this second union our subject has become the 
 father of seven children, six of whom are living 
 — Charles, Emily, Jane, Lucy, Lewis and Sallie. 
 Charles married a Miss Emory, and lives in this 
 township; Emily married John Pugh, of Edgar 
 County, this State, and has six children; Jane 
 married Garrett O. Heron; Lucy became the wife 
 of John Cnnaday, of this township; and Lewis 
 married Flora Wolf. 
 
 The subject of this notice owns an extensive 
 farm of 228 acres, and, in connection with his agri- 
 cultural pursuits, devotes considerable time to 
 stock-raising, tlis favorites are the Poland-China 
 swine and the .Short-horn cattle. Religiously, our 
 subject and some of his family are members of the 
 Society of Friends, and he is a stalwart Repub- 
 lican. 
 
 ILLER T. FIX LEY. In the history of 
 countries and men the world over, it is an 
 acknowledged fact that those who have 
 performed the grandest part on life's stage 
 have arisen from an humble position in life and 
 through difficulties which called forth their great- 
 est energies. He who has succeeded under the 
 stress of circumstances deserves all the credit 
 which his fellowmen can bestow upon him; for 
 where one has succtded ten have failed and relapsed 
 into obscurity. 
 
 The career of Mr. Finley is one of more than 
 ordinary interest, illustrating in a marked manner 
 
 what a man may accomplish through steady per- 
 severance and a strong will. He is one of the 
 oldest settlers in Grant Township, and occupies a 
 farm of 600 acres on section 24, township 23, 
 range 12. He also owns another farm of 800 
 acres in the same township on sections 27 and 28, 
 besides two acres of town lots and other property 
 in Rossville. He had to begin with, a land war- 
 rent for 160 acres from his brother David, who 
 died in the Mexican War, and from that he has 
 built up his present fortune with, it is hardly 
 necessary to say, the exercise of rare good judg- 
 ment and great industry and economy. He is 
 known to most of the people of this region, who 
 have watched his prosperous career with the inter- 
 est which is naturally felt in looking upon those 
 who have achieved success under many disadvant- 
 ages. 
 
 Mr. Finley was born in Ripley County, Ind., 
 Jan. 26, 1826, but while he was a small child his 
 parents came to this county, settling in 1833 near 
 the present site of Catlin. The father took up new 
 land and labored very hard to improve it. He 
 was not destined, however, to realize his hope, and 
 becoming involved in debt, a large portion of his 
 property had to be sacrificed for much less than 
 what it was really worth. Both parents died in 
 1H52 within three days of each other. Our sub- 
 ject and his sister, Nancy, remained with their 
 parents until the latter no longer needed their filial 
 offices. Then the sister lived with her brother 
 until her marriage with Capt. Samuel Frazier, of 
 Danville, a sketch of whom will be found on an- 
 other page in this volume. 
 
 Before the death of bis parents our subject had 
 begun operating on his quarter section of land 
 heretofore spoken of, and in due time added forty 
 acres, and entered in earnest upon its imju-ovement 
 and cultivation. He put up a little frame house of 
 two rooms and there later himself, his sister and 
 his brother. Watts, lived engage<l in farming and 
 stock raising. As he increased the value of his 
 land and there were furnished better facilities for 
 the transportation of produce, he gradually aban- 
 doned the live-stock business and gave his atten- 
 tion more generally to farming. He invested his 
 surplus capital in additional land, and is now one of 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 739 
 
 the leading land-owners in the township. In 1874 
 he completed a handsome and commodious resi- 
 dence — one of the finest in this part of the coun- 
 try — and upon which he expended $4,000. He 
 has a fine barn also, occupying an area of 40x44 
 feet with a solid stone basement and all the other 
 buildings and appliances necessarj' to the complete 
 equipment of the modern rural homestead. He 
 avails himself of the most approved machinery and 
 keeps himself well posted upon both agriculture 
 and politics. 
 
 Although a stanch supporter of Republican prin- 
 ciples, Mr. Finley has no political aspirations, but 
 no man rejoices more in the success of his party 
 as he declares that he would rather have lost 
 a 1500 bill than that Harrison should have 
 failed of election. Upon two different occasions he 
 left the farm and removed to Rossville, deciding 
 to retire from active labor, but found time hang- 
 ing heavy on his hands and twice went back to the 
 farm where, although not performing any of its 
 duties, he is busily employed looking after its 
 extensive interests. He is a member of the Metho- 
 dist Cliurch at Rossville, and has always con- 
 tributed to the support of churches both at Iloopes- 
 ton and Rossville. 
 
 In preparing to celebrate Independence day in 
 1867 Mr. Finley fortified himself with a congenial 
 companion on the 3d of July that year, being mar- 
 ried to Mrs. Rebecca Pate, an occasion both will 
 remember as long as life lasts. They commenced 
 their wedded lives together in Grant Township 
 and is due time there were boi'n to them three 
 children — Nannie J.,(Tertie and P2dith. They still 
 make their home with their parents and are being 
 given the educational and social advantages Itefit- 
 ting their birth and station. Mrs. Finley is a 
 member of the Methodist Episcopal Churcli of 
 Rossville to which our subject lias contributed 
 generously, especially in the erection of theii- 
 church edifice at Hoopeston. 
 
 Mrs. Finley was born in Ripley Count}', Ind.. 
 Sept. 2, 1830, and is the daughter of Jane and 
 Nehemiah Morehouse who are now deceased. She 
 remained a resident of lier native county until her 
 marriage with Mr. Pate, then came with him to 
 this county, settling near Catlin, where the dcatii 
 
 of Mr. Pate took place in 1867. David Finley, 
 the father of our subject, was a native of 
 Kentucky and lived till the advanced age of seven- 
 ty-two years. He removed to the vicinity of Law- 
 renceburg, Ohio, when a young man and was there 
 married to Miss Nancy Miller. Upon leaving the 
 Buckeye .State they settled in Ripley County, Ind., 
 whence they came to Illinois. Their family in- 
 cluded seventeen children, thirteen of which lived 
 to mature age. Mr. Finley followed farming all 
 his life, the most of which he spent on the frontier. 
 Her mother's maiden name was Henderson. 
 
 UILLIAM FITHIAN, M.D., for many years 
 a well known resident of Danville, and one 
 ^J^^ of its most popular practitioners, was born 
 in Cincinnati, Ohio, on April 7, 1799. His father, 
 George Fithian, a native of Elizabethtown, N. J., 
 was reared and married in that State. Afterward 
 he removed to the Northwest Territory, and was 
 one of the earliest settlers of Cincinnati and the 
 first to engage in mercantile business there. A few 
 years later, however, he removed to Springfield, 
 Ohio, where he lived but a short time. When the 
 town of Urbana was laid out he removed thence, and 
 erected the first house in the place. This was a 
 commodious log building, which he opened as a 
 publichouse and kept a tavern several years. 
 Finally he and his wife came to this county, and 
 spent their declining years in Danville with their 
 son, the subject of this sketch, and their remains 
 were laid to rest in Danville Cemetery. 
 
 William Fithian was but thirteen years of age at 
 the breaking out of the War of 1 812. Most of the 
 able-bodied men of the neighborhood enlisted in 
 the service, and when the Indians became trouble- 
 some the elder men were called into the service, 
 leaving the younger ones at home. These latter 
 organized themselves as homeguards, and young 
 Fithian joined them. When seventeen years old he 
 began the study of medicine under Dr. Joseph Car- 
 ter, a successful and eminent physician of Urbana, 
 Ohio. He commenced practice at Mechanicsburg, 
 eleven miles east of Urbana, and after two years 
 
740 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 formed a partnership with his preceptor, Dr. Car- 
 ter, with whom he practiced until 1830. 
 
 Dr. Fithian now decided to move to the frontier, 
 and accordingl}'', accompanied by his wife, came 
 overland by team to this county, settling in Dan- 
 ville when there were l)ut few families upon its pre- 
 sent site. Indians still lingered here, while deer 
 and other wild game was plentiful. The surround- 
 ing country was verj' thini}' settled, the land being 
 mostly owned by the Government and for sale at 
 $1.2,5 per acre. The doctor had saved some money 
 while practicing and began entering Land, acquir- 
 ing in due time a goodly area. He at once entered 
 upon a successful practice, covering miles of the 
 surrounding country, and even extending as far as 
 Chicago. He pursued this prosperous course for 
 upwards of fifty years, and became the owner of 
 land not only in Vermilion County; but indifferent 
 parts of the State. He now has a well improved 
 farm of 2,500 acres in this county, which is oper- 
 ated by his sons. 
 
 The doctor has been four times married. His 
 first wife, Francis L. Shain, died two years after 
 her marriage without children. He was then wed- 
 ded to Miss Oleatha T. Berry, a native of Urbana, 
 Ohio, who became the mother of four children, of 
 whom George and John are both deceased. The 
 survivors are Henry and Elisha C. B. Mrs. Oleatha 
 Fithian only lived eight j'ears after her marriage. 
 His fourth wife was Miss Josephine L. Black, who 
 remained his companion for a period of sixteen 
 years, and then she, too, jiassed away. 
 
 ^^ LLEN LEWIS. It is fifty- one years since 
 ■&'/L3. Mr. Lewis, the oldest living .resident of his 
 township, first set foot upon the soil of A"er- 
 milion County. He had emigrated hither 
 from his native State of New York, coming on 
 foot the entire distance, with the exception of four- 
 teen miles, being about one month on the way. 
 His purpose was to secure a tract of new land in the 
 wild West, and which he hoped in time would 
 prove to him a valuable acquisition, although the 
 prospect then was anything but flattering. He 
 
 entered ninety-seven acres on section 22. After a 
 six months' stay, he went back to New York State, 
 where he remained three ye.ars and was married to 
 Miss Jeanette Green. 
 
 Upon returning to this county for permanent 
 settlement, our subject and his young wife made 
 the tri[) from Chicago to Rossville in a " prairie 
 schooner." They sojourned near Rossville four or 
 five years, then rented an hotel, which furnished 
 one of the early stopping places for travelers com- 
 ing from Milford, and was the first house of its 
 kind in this region. Mr. Lewis officiated as " mine 
 host" three or four years. He had entered con- 
 siderable land in the meantime, but finally con- 
 chiding it was of little value, sold it at $4 or $6 per 
 acre. There were few people coming in at first, 
 and wild animals, especially deer, were plentiful. 
 Of these he believes that he has seen as many as 
 300 in one day, so whatever else the settlers lacked 
 in the wa}' of provisions, there was plenty of wild 
 meats, and in the summer season there were quant- 
 ities of gooseberries, mulberries, blackberries, etc. 
 
 Mr. Lewis during his residence in this count,- 
 has improved a great manj' acres of land. His 
 present farm cost him only $1 per acre, and he set- 
 tled upon it in 1853. Prior to the establishment of 
 a postoffice at Rossville he was made Postmaster of 
 a place called Rio, and this frequentl}' was the re- 
 sult of an income for the Postmaster of only ^1.25 
 per quarter or about $5 or |(i a year. Mr. Lewis 
 was the first Postmaster in this part of the countj% 
 and held this offlce for about four years. He as- 
 sisted in the establishment of tbe first school, and 
 has a large portion of the time officiated as School 
 Treasurer. 
 
 To our subject and his estimalile wife there were 
 born four children, only two of whom are living. 
 The sou, Sylvester, married Miss Hattie Clanahan; 
 they have four cliildren, and live three-fourths of 
 a mile north of the old farm. Isabelle, the daugh- 
 ter, is the wife of Albert Boardman, and they are 
 living in Rossville, for the purpose of educating 
 their two children. Mrs. Jeanette (Green) Lewis 
 was born in Ontario County, N. Y., and is the 
 daughter of Benjamin Green, vvho was one of the 
 early settlers of that region, and whose farm ad- 
 joined that of the Lewis family. Mr. Green died 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 741 
 
 some years ago; he was the father of Ira Green, 
 who is represenleil elsewhere in this Ahr.iui. 
 
 The parents of our subject were Sj'lvester and 
 Catherine (Dubois) Lewis, and the father was born 
 ill New York State, near tlie Hudson River. He 
 came to the West wliile it was a wilderness, living- 
 ill the woods four years before seeing a wagon. He 
 opened up a good farm upon wliieh lie spent tlic 
 remainder of liis days. He belonged to the Pres- 
 byterian Churcli, while liis wife was a Baptist in 
 religion. Tliey were tlie parents of nine children. 
 Allen, our subject, in religious matters, inclines to 
 the Presbyterian Church, of which he is a member 
 at Rossville. He is one of the oldest living resi- 
 dents of his township, and has made for himself a 
 good record as a man and a citizen. 
 
 ^ — #-# ^ 
 
 box. CHARLES A. ALLEN, member of 
 ) the Thirty-Sixth General Assembly from 
 _,y^ the Thirty-First District of Illinois, was 
 (^ elected on the Republican ticket in 1 884, 
 1886 and 1888, and is consequently serving his 
 third term. He has brought to his position fine 
 natural abilities, a large experience, and a con- 
 scientious fidelity to duty, which has enabled him 
 to study the best interests of his constituents, to 
 whom he has given uniform satisfaction. 
 
 JNIr. Allen is recognized as a gentleman of more 
 than ordinaiy ability, and has been prominent in 
 the councils of his party for years, both in Cen- 
 tral Illinois and in the Legislative halls at the 
 Capitol of the State. In 1885 he served on the 
 Judiciary Committee and with several other im- 
 portant bodies, and in 1887 was Chairman of the 
 Railroad and Warehouse Commission, being that 
 year also on the Judiciary Committee. In 1889 
 he was Chairman of the Committee on Corpora- 
 tions and Educational Institutions, while at the 
 same time remaining with the Judiciary Commit- 
 tee. During the lively discussion over the matter 
 of Gen. Logan's appointment he was the first man 
 on the roll call, at that time a very important 
 position. 
 All the interests of Mr. Allen have been centred 
 
 in this county and vicinity, and here he has spent 
 nearly his entire life. He was born in Danville, 
 July 26, 1851, and two yeiirs later the family re- 
 moved to the Ridge, in the northern part of the 
 county, where they were the earliest settlers. 
 Young Allen after leaving the district school en- 
 tered the law department of the Michigan State 
 University, b}' which he was graduated in 1876. 
 He began the practice of his profession in Ross- 
 ville, where he remained until 1881, when the new 
 town of Hoopeston began to assume encouraging 
 |ii'ui)ortions, and he, accordiiigl}', removed thither, 
 where he has since made his home. In connection 
 with his practice he has dealt considerably in real 
 estate, and is now the owner of 1,200 acres of 
 land. In the meantime he became one of the most 
 prominent attorneys of this part of the county, 
 and he has held various responsible positions con- 
 nected with local affairs. Socially, he is a charter 
 member of the K. of P., and also belongs to the 
 Masonic fraternity and the I. O. 0. F. 
 
 In Rossville, on the 4th of April, 1879, Mr. 
 ^Vllen was united in marriage with Miss Mary 
 Thompson, daughter of L. M. Thompson, a sketch 
 of whom appears elsewheie in this volume. Of 
 this union there have been born two bright chil- 
 dren, both sons — John N. and Lawrence T. The 
 family residence is pleasantly situated, and forms 
 an attractive resort for its most cultivated and re- 
 fined element. 
 
 The father of our subject is William I. Allen, 
 the first man to settle along the Northern line of 
 this county. He is still living, and is represented 
 on another page in this work. 
 
 -— V 
 
 #-# 
 
 AYID R. SMITH, one of the self-made 
 men of Elwood Township, is engaged in 
 farming on section 1 7. His native State 
 was West \'irginia, he having been born 
 there Sept. 17, 1824. His father, Isaac Smith, now 
 deceased, was a native of East Tennessee and his 
 mother, whose maiden name was Martha Ross, 
 claims N'irginia as the place of her birth. The 
 parental household numbered seven children, two 
 
742 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 of wlioin are deceased. Tliose living arc named: 
 Isaac, Jolm, Lydia A., Hannali and David R., our 
 subject. 
 
 Our subject accompanied his parents to this 
 county when a lad of ten or twelve years and re- 
 ceived his primary education in the customary log 
 school house with its puncheon floor, clapboard 
 ro(jf, slab seats and wall desks. His first step 
 towards establishing a home for himself was his 
 marriage April 8, 1856, to Lydia McNeese, daugh- 
 ter of William McNeese, who is now deceased. 
 
 To Mr. and Mrs. Smith have been born six 
 children, only three of whom are living — Alfred, 
 Pleasant and Isaac. Alfred took to \yife Mahala 
 Biggs of Georgetown, tlie}^ have no children; 
 Pleasant married Miss \'iola Biggs and resides in 
 this township; they have one child a daughter, 
 PMna. Our subject is the possessor of sixty acres 
 of good farming land and which yields him a 
 comfortable income. He has served his township 
 several years in the capacity of School Director, 
 and has also held the position of Patii Master and 
 Constable, the latter office three years. Both Mr. 
 and Mrs. Smith are members and active workers 
 of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Politi- 
 cally our subject casts his vote and influence with 
 the Republican party. 
 
 ^\ RS. MARY PATTERSON. Indianola claims 
 one of the oldest children of Vermil- 
 
 ion County in the person of Mrs. Mary 
 Patterson. She was born in what is now 
 Carroll Township, June 13, 1823, and is the daugh- 
 of Simeon and Nancy (Mundlo) Cox. Her father 
 was a native of Virginia, where in the bracing 
 mountain air he grew to manhood. While sojourn- 
 ing awhile in Pennsylvania, he met and married a 
 daughter of the Keystone State. Following his 
 occupation of a millwright, he built a number of 
 mills in his immediate neighborhood, but in the 
 year 1823 emigrated to Carroll Township. He 
 also built several mills in this vicinity, although 
 making a farm his home until his death. Mr. and 
 Mrs. Cox had thirteen children : Charles, Abner, 
 
 Lot, Thomas, George, Adeline, Melinda, Mary, 
 Jane, Louisa, Priscilla, Annie D. and Minerva E. 
 
 The subject of our sketch attained to years of 
 maturity in Carroll Township, enduring the vicis- 
 situdes and enjoying the pleasures of pioneers of 
 those days. When nineteen years of age she was 
 married to Mr. Elijah Patterson, a native of Ken- 
 tucky, but reared to manhood in Brown County, 
 Ohio. Upon reaching manhood, stories of the 
 Great West attracted him thither, but after his 
 marriage he returned to his old home in Ohio, 
 where he lived twelve or thirteen years. For a 
 second time he cast his lot with those brave pio- 
 neers of the desolate frontier, and, with his fam- 
 ily, settled in Carroll Township, which was his 
 home until death called him awa,)- in 1875, at the 
 age of sixty two j'ears. 
 
 To Mr. and Mrs. Patterson were born ten chil- 
 dren, as follows: Oeoi'ge, Simeon, Eugene D., Ann 
 E., Emma C, Franklin P., Leander, .John W., 
 Mary J. and Louella. Of these, John and Mary 
 died at the ages of four years and three months re- 
 spectively. The others reside as thus stated; George 
 lives in Chicago, being a commission merchant in 
 the Union Stockyards; his sister, Ann E., resides 
 with him. Simeon is a barber in Indianola, and 
 Eugene D. is a carpenter in the same town ; Emma 
 C. married Mr. James J. Healy, who is a merchant 
 in Indianola, and whose sketch appears in this vol- 
 ume; Franklin P., Leander and Louella are still 
 at the old homestead. 
 
 Mrs. Patterson is an intelligent and devoted 
 Christian, having been a member of the Methodist 
 Episcopal Church in Indianola for a period of 
 more than thirty years. During a long life of use- 
 fulness she has made a large circle of friends, and 
 is known and loved for miles around. Glancing 
 back through more than half a century, and com- 
 paring the condition of the country then with what 
 it is to-day, she feels that the years have not only 
 brought prosperity to the country, but have 
 brought to her the right of enjoying well-earned 
 repose in the bosom of her family. In her child- 
 hood's home she could stand at the door, and as 
 far as the eye could reach there appeared nothing 
 but the seemingljr boundless prairie, save where 
 the solitude was broken by the fleeing deer or the 
 
rORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 743 
 
 wandering liimtsman. Indians soineti:iies came 
 near the lonely cabins, but even at that early date 
 they were drifting toward the setting sun. The 
 same eliild, now grown to be a prosperous and ven- 
 erated woman, can still stand at the door of her 
 comfortable home and witness the changes which 
 time lias wrouglit on the old familiar landscape. 
 The former solitude is now as a blooming garden, 
 with prosperous people and elegant residences. But 
 among all these present residents the name of JMrs. 
 Mary Patterson will be remembered with pleasure 
 long after she has passed from among those who 
 love her. 
 
 ooo 
 
 R. JOHN HOLE, a dentist of rare talent, 
 makes his residence at Ridge Farm. He 
 was born in Belmont County, Ohio, in 
 1831, and is a son of Jonah Hole, a native 
 of Loudoun County, \a., and wlio is now deceased. 
 The mother of our subject was, Miss Elizabeth, 
 daughter of Jonathan Ellis, a distinguished Quaker. 
 Mrs. Hole was a native of Culpeper County, Ya. The 
 grandfather of our subject, Jacob Hole, married 
 Mary Thomas, sister of Col. Thomas of Revolu- 
 tionary fame. Jonah Hole, father of our subject 
 was a Quaker minister and preaclied throughout 
 Canada, the Carolinas, New England and the Mid- 
 dle States. 
 
 Our subject migrated to Champaign County, 
 Ohio with his parents in 1840, where they settled 
 on a farm. His education was received in the cus- 
 tomary log school-house of those days. He remained 
 with his parents until September 1851, at which 
 time he went to Oregon, in the northwestern part 
 of Missouri, remaining there only a year, when he 
 retraced his footsteps to Illinois, settling at Ridge 
 Farm where he has since resided, and bears the 
 dit,tinetion of being the oldest settler but one of 
 the village. 
 
 Margaret L. Rice became the wife of our subject, 
 Aug. 13, 1853. She was a daughter of Lewis and 
 p]liza Rice, both of whom are deceased. Eleven 
 children have come to bless this union, seven of 
 whom are living: Lewis W., Lydia, Oliver C, 
 Margaret L., Charles W., Louisa J. and Frank. 
 
 Lydia is the wife of Evans J. Arnold and resides 
 at St. Augustine, Fla. : she is the mother of two 
 children, Rolla and M. Pearline. Mr. Arnold is 
 Grand Master of the I. O. (). F. of Florida; Oliver 
 married Lucy Castle, is the father of one child, 
 Melvin, and makes his home in Hutchinson, Kan.; 
 Margaret became the wife of Hugh F. Gilkerson 
 and resides at Ridge Farm, where her husband is 
 Township Collector and architect; she is the 
 mother of one son. Noble. 
 
 Sociall}', Ur. Hole is a member of the Masonic 
 fraternity and was Master of the lodge five years. 
 Mrs. Hole is an active member of the Methodist 
 Episcopal Church. The Doctor sympathizes with 
 the Republican party in his political views. He 
 was Railway Postal Clerk on the Danville and 
 Cairo route for eleven 3'ears. In 1801 he estab- 
 lished himself as a dentist and has since followed 
 that profession with the exception of the eleven 
 years above mentioned. Our subject has the 
 marriage certificate of one of his ancestors — Wil- 
 loughby Warder and Mary Howell, who were mar- 
 ried June 4, 161)0. It is printed and written on 
 parciiment and bears the signatures of William 
 Penn, George Whitehead and other noted Quakers. 
 He also has in his possession a lease given his an- 
 cestors, to a part of the land where Philadelphia 
 now stands, and w4uch was executed in 1785. Of 
 sterling worth and integrity. Dr. Hole is accorded 
 that tacit respect earned by the pioneer of Illinois, 
 and is a man whose word is considered as good as 
 his bond. 
 
 — -- : : d Z o ; : ^>^ 
 
 AMUEL THOMPSON, one of the well- 
 known farmers, now residing on section 
 35, Elwood Tow^nship, was born either in 
 this or Edgar County, Oct. 6, 1835. His 
 father, James Thompson, was a native of Kentucky, 
 and came to the Blue River A' alley, Ind., when a 
 young married man, and removed to this county 
 before the subject of this sketch was born. His 
 mother was Elizabeth May, also a native of Ken- 
 tucky, and died Sept. 14, 1858. The parental 
 household numbered ten children, five of whom 
 are living, viz: William, Thomas, George, Isaao. 
 
744 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 and our suliject. William and Thomas are resi- 
 dents of this township; George lives in Prairie 
 Tovvnshi|), Edgar County, and Isaac lives in Arltan- 
 sas City, Kan. 
 
 Our subject received his first education at a sub- 
 scription school, held in a log cabin with puncheon 
 floor, split-log seats with pin legs, and liaving for 
 desks a log hewed and pinned to the wall. Greased 
 paper also served for window panes; a huge fire- 
 place in one end; clapboard roof. After receiving 
 his education our subject began to shift for him- 
 self, and chose farming for his occupation, which 
 he has always followed succcssfull3\ 
 
 Mr. Thompson was married Aug. 28, 1855, to 
 ]\Iiss Osie Grosser, daughter of Jacob Crosser, now 
 deceased, and who was also a pioneer of this 
 count}-. Mrs. Thompson was born in this town- 
 ship, and has become the mother of seven children: 
 Sylvanus, Sylvester, Flora, Charlie, Dora, Amanda, 
 and William C. Sylvanus married Lucy Mangus ; 
 lives in this township, and has two children — Frank 
 and Osie. Sylvester married Minerva Jane Hol- 
 lingsworth, and lives in this township; they have 
 one child — Verney. 
 
 Our subject never was an ofHce-seeker, and re- 
 ligiovisly is a member of the Cumberland Presby- 
 terian Church. His son, Sylvanus, is also a mem- 
 ber of that denomination. Mr. Thompson is 
 the proprietor of 175^ acres of fine land. He 
 turns his attention mostly to the raising of stock, 
 his favorites being the graded Short-horn cattle 
 and Poland China swine. 
 
 ■if ONATHAN KILBOURN was born in Ham- 
 ilton County, Ohio, in 1817. His father, 
 Joseph Kilbourn, was a native of Connecti- 
 cut. His ancestors came to America among 
 the first emigrants and became early settlers of this 
 county. The father was reared in his native State 
 and received a general education, which fitted him 
 for teaching. He removed from Connecticut in 
 the year 1805, and made the trip overland to Pitts- 
 burg, Pa,, and thence down the Ohio River to 
 Cincinnati, then a very small place. He located 
 
 near Mt. Pleasant, and bought a tract of timber 
 land and built a log house thereon. He taught 
 school during the winter and the rest of the year 
 released land, and resided in Hamilton County 
 until his death. The maiden name of the mother 
 of our subject was Miss Rebecca Howe, a native of 
 the same State as her husband, and who departed 
 this life six weeks after his death, in Hamilton 
 County, Ohio. 
 
 Jonathan Kilbourn was a lad of five years when 
 his parents died, and he was left to the care of his 
 elder brothers and sisters until he could take care 
 of himself, which he did at the age of twelve or 
 fourteen years, when lie worked out for $i a month; 
 he continued to work out for several years. He 
 saved his earnings and engaged in the mercantile 
 business in A^enice, Ohio, which he continued until 
 the year 1854, .vhen he came to Danville, \'ermil- 
 ion County, and bought sixty acres of land, en- 
 gaged in farming, and resided there until 1868. 
 He then sold it and bought where he now resides, 
 which consists of 260 acres of laud on the east bank 
 of the \^ermilion River. He has retired from 
 active labor and his sons run the farm. 
 
 Our subject was married on May 12, 1840, to 
 Susan M. Lutes, a native of Butler County, Ohio. 
 By this union there have been six children born to 
 them, viz: Sarah married J. B. Bradford, and re- 
 sides in California; Perley P. lives in Oregon; 
 Emma, Andrew, William, and Herbert are still 
 under the parental roof. 
 
 -^■1^3-^ 
 
 yTLLIAM PATTERSON is the owner of 160 
 acres of prime land on section 34, Elwood 
 ^5^ Township, Vermilion County. He was 
 born Feb. 22, 1824, in C4ranger County, East Tenn. 
 His father was Andrew Patterson (deceased), native 
 of the same State as his son, who brought his fam- 
 ily to this county in 1827. They settled at Yankee 
 Point, in this township, among Indians and wild 
 animals, such as deer, wolves, wild hogs, and an 
 abundance of turkeys, pheasants, prairie chickens, 
 and other wild fowl. The pioneers settled in and 
 along the timber, thinking the prairie could never 
 be utilized for anything except grazing. They 
 
PORTRAIT AND niOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 745 
 
 went to Sugar and C(.>iil Crei'ks, in Piirkc Count)', 
 Ind., for their milling, but later mills were built 
 over the country run by horse power. Tlie bolting 
 was done l>y turning a crank b}' hand. 
 
 Our subject endured all the hardships and priva- 
 tions incident to pioneer life. The maiden name 
 of his mother was Amelia Golden, daughter of 
 William Golden (deceased), who came from Gran- 
 ger County, Tenn., in 1824, settling in this town- 
 ship at Yankee Point. She became the mother of 
 six children, our subject being the eldest. The 
 others are: Thomas, Sarah (Mrs. Campbell), John 
 (deceased), Elizabeth (Mrs. Campbell), and Golden. 
 All live in this county, the girls in Georgetown 
 Township and the boys in this township. 
 
 William Patterson led Mar}- Patty to the mar- 
 riage altar, Jan. 16, 1853. She is the daughter of 
 Eli Patty, deceased, who came to this county from 
 Carroll (Jonnty, Ind., in 1847. They have been 
 blessed by the birth of seven children, four of 
 whom are yet living, viz: John, Pleasant, Cathe- 
 rine, and Lincoln. They are all single and still 
 under the home roof. In 18r)4 our subject went to 
 Broadland, in the southwestern part of Champaign 
 Countjs 111., improved a fine farm, and was residing 
 there when Mike Sullivan first started his noted 
 Broadland f.arm; he remained there until the spring 
 of 1861, when he returned to this township, where 
 he has since resided. Religiously, both Mr. Pat- 
 terson and his excellent wife are members in good 
 standing of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 
 where much respect is given this worthy old pio- 
 neer. 
 
 -S^f^- 
 
 J'OHN FOLGER resides on section 25, Harri- 
 son's Purchase, Elwood Township, and was 
 born in the same township on Sept. 17, 1829. 
 He was the son of Latham Folger, a whaler, 
 who was taken prisoner while in whaling during 
 the Revolutionary War, by the British, and because 
 he would not consent to fight, was taken to a small 
 rocky island, and left to starve to death, but to his 
 good fortune an American vessel soon came along 
 and rescued him. He was then a resident of Nan- 
 tucket Island. Benjaqain Franklin's mother was a 
 
 Folger, and was related to Grandfatlier Folger, be- 
 ing his first cousin. Ex-Secretary of the United 
 States Treasurer Folger, was also a member of the 
 same family. 
 
 Latham Folger, the father of the one of whom 
 we write, entered land in the Harrison Purchase, 
 and was a tanner, shoe-maker and a manufacturer 
 of horse collars. He ran a tannery, and the above 
 named trades in Elwood from the spring of 182'J 
 until 1845, when he settled on his land inthesoutli- 
 ern part of Elwood Township, where he carried on 
 farming extensively. The mother of our subject 
 was Eliz.abeth Starbuek. She became the mother 
 of ten children, namelj^: Walter, Erasmus, Matilda, 
 who married a Mr. Haworth, and is now deceased; 
 Lydia, married ;\Ir. Uevnolda, and is a twin of Ma- 
 tilda; our subject, Mary, Mrs. Mills; Uriah, Sarah, 
 (Mrs. Dubre), Rachael (Mrs. Ellis) and Thomas. 
 The father died early in the year of 1852, and 
 the mother departed this life in the fall of 1879. 
 
 The early life of our subject was spent in the 
 t.iii-yard, and later he worked on the farm. He ob- 
 tained his education at the A'ermilion Academ}' 
 and at Bloomingdale, Ind., under Professors Thomas 
 and Ilobbs. He then acted in the capacity of a 
 pedagogue for three winters, but finally chose farm- 
 ing for his life occupation. In September, 1852, 
 occurred an interesting event in the life of our sub- 
 ject, namely, his marriage to Miss Elizabeth, daugh- 
 ter of Mahlon and Ruth Reynolds. Mrs. Folger 
 first saw the light March 8, 1831, in Parke County, 
 Ind., and remained a resident of that county until 
 her marriage. 
 
 The union of Mr. and Mrs. Folger has been 
 blessed by the birth of nine children, all living but 
 two. Ida died at the age of twentj' -three years; 
 she was a student in the State Industrial College, 
 Champaign, 111., and a bright and accomplished 
 young lady. Her death was caused by hard study, 
 which injured her brain and ultimately resulted in 
 her death. The remaining children were named, 
 respectively: Alouzo M., Julius, Adolphus D., Ro- 
 mania J., Rachael E., Clotillie and Lottie R. The 
 eldest son, Alonzo, married Carrie Castle; they live 
 in Dana, Ind., and are the parents of one child, a 
 son, Ray. Julius was married to Annie Jordan, is 
 the father of two children, only one of whom is 
 
740 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 living, Alviii; lie makes his residence in Pontiac, 
 INIicli. Romania became the wife of Jacob M. Hol- 
 lingsvvortl), resides in Prairie Township, Edgar 
 Connty, this State, and is the mother of three chil- 
 dren — Harry, Esther and an infant girl. 
 
 Mr. Folger is the possessor of 154 acres of fine 
 farming land, and has added stock raising to his 
 farming interests. His favorites are the graded 
 >Sliort-honi and full-blooded Durhams, with regis- 
 tered pedigree. He also has some flue horses of the 
 Clydesdale, Norman and Whip breeds. His hogs 
 are the Poland-China and Berkshires. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Folger, together with their chil- 
 dren, have for many years been active members of 
 the Society of Friends, in which communion our 
 subject was a minister. He traveled quite exten- 
 sively attending the annual meetings at Philadel- 
 phia, Baltimore, and Lawrence, Kan., defraying his 
 own expenses. He also attended many of the 
 yearly meetings in Indiana and Oskaloosa, Iowa. 
 He now Alls the pulpit at various points in this 
 State and in Indiana. Himself and wife are held 
 in the highest possible regard by a large circle of 
 friends, who recognize in them such character and 
 personal worth as entitle them to a position among 
 the representative citizens of the county. 
 
 -^ 
 
 <|\ I^ILLIAM CHANDLER, a retired farmer 
 \^// and a resident of Bismarck, was cue of the 
 V^^ earliest pioneers of this county, coming to 
 this region with his parents when a bo}^ of seven 
 years. The country was but little removed from 
 its primitive condition and not man}^ years prior to 
 this w^as mostly the tramping ground of the Indian. 
 Wild animals were still plentiful and only here and 
 there was erected the cabin of the adventurous set- 
 tler. Some who came in grew discouraged and 
 moved away, usuallj- returning to their old homes. 
 The Chandler family, however, had come to stay 
 and they prepared themselves for every emergency, 
 labored early and late, endured many hardships 
 and privations and in due time reaped the reward 
 of their toil and sacrifices. 
 
 The subject of this sketch was born in Harrison 
 
 County, Ky., Sept. 5, 1821, and was the fifth in a 
 family of nine children, the offspring of John and 
 Polly (Jones) Chandler. The parents were mar- 
 ried in the Blue Grass State, but in 1828 resolved 
 to seek their fortunes in the West. and made their 
 way to this county, arriving here on the 16th of 
 November, that year. They located on a tract of 
 wild land in Newell Township, where the father 
 tilled the soil and made some improvements, then, in 
 18u3,sold out and took up his residence in the young 
 town of Danville, where he spent the remainder of 
 his life, passing away in 1859. The mother had 
 died at the farm some time previously. 
 
 Our subject remained a member of his father's 
 household until reaching his majority, acquiring a 
 limited education in the subscription schools. 
 Then starting out for himself he settled on a tract 
 of land a short distance from the farm of his father, 
 becoming the owner of fifty-one acres. Shortly 
 afterward, however, he sold this and purchased 140 
 acres which he improved and which he occupied 
 until 1864. Then selling out once more he changed 
 his residence to Danville where he remained ten 
 years. In 1874 he removed to Bismarck of which 
 he has since been a resident. 
 
 Mr. Cliandler was married at the age of twenty- 
 three years to Miss Melinda, daughter of William 
 and Mary Cunningham. Mrs. Chandler was the 
 eighth in a family of eleven children. She became 
 the mother of five children and departed this life 
 in 1863. Their eldest daughter, Mary G., is the 
 wife of Andrew Claj^pool; Emma A. married James 
 R. Hoover and is living at St. Lawrence, Dak.; 
 Rosetta C; William J. and Laura E, is the wife of 
 Howard S. Hicks of Milford, 111. In politics Mr. 
 Chandler uniformly supports the principles of the 
 Republican party and at present holds the office of 
 Justice of the Peace and Notary Public. He served 
 two years as Assessor of Newell Township and is 
 one of the representative men of this community. 
 In religious matters he is identified with the 
 Christian Church. He has been an interested wit- 
 ness of the marvelous changes going on in the great 
 West, since he came to years of discretion, and has 
 pursued the even tenor of his way as an honest 
 man and a good citizen, encouraging those projects 
 calculated for the moral elevation of the people 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 747 
 
 and lending his influence to tlie enterprises calcu- 
 lated to develop the county. The old settlers nre 
 fast passing nvtuy and in recounting their names 
 and deeds the career of Mr. Chandler can by no 
 means be allowed to pass unnoticed. 
 
 '/OSIAHS. SANDUSKY, one of the prom- 
 inent farmers in this section of Illinois, and 
 one whose operations as a stockman are 
 among the first in this great State, owns and 
 occupies 1,000 acres of land in Carroll Township, 
 where he handles all kinds of stock and line road 
 and trotting horses. His stock dealings embra(te 
 the best strains of blood that can be procured, and 
 in his selections he is aided by great experience 
 and a natural aptitude for the business. 
 
 His father r>.nd mother, Abraham and Jane (Mc- 
 Dowell) Sandusky, were natives of Bourbon 
 County, Ky., the foi'mer's birth occurring on Marcli 
 29, 1793, while the mother was ))orn on Dec. 16, 
 1792. The grandparents were among the brave 
 pioneers whose fortitude aided in the settlement of 
 Kentucky, and who were constantly in peril by 
 reason of the desperate red men of that region be- 
 ing particularly troublesome. The Sandusky 
 family contains what is commonly known as " blue 
 blood," as it descended from the nobility of Poland. 
 The original Sodowsky, as he spelled and pro- 
 nounced his name, was a distinguished nobleman 
 of that country, and by reason of his desire to aid 
 the downtrodden, he was forever banished from his 
 native land. He came to America in 1756, and 
 soon was a great favorite with the American colo- 
 nists. He married the sister of Gov. Inslip, of 
 Virginia, and later on, while in the vicinity of 
 Lake Erie, was brutally murdered by the Indians, 
 who had been imposed upon by the whites, and in 
 the fury of their revenge attacked the first white 
 man they met. This happened to be Sodowsky, their 
 best friend. They regretted their deed very much, 
 and, in order to partly atone for the crime, sought 
 to show their respect to their murdered friend by 
 naming a bay in Lake lilrie '' Sandusky," from 
 which was named the Ohio city. The mother's 
 
 |)eople were early settlers and patriots of this 
 country, and the McDowell's were a leading family 
 of Kentucky. 
 
 The parents of Josiah had five children wiien 
 Ihey emigrated to Illinois in 1837, where they 
 settled on the land now owned by the subject of 
 this sketch. The old cabin still stands close to its 
 original site, which was where the magnificent man- 
 sion, erected by .Josiah in 1872, now stands. The 
 parents continued to prosper for a long time, and 
 were indeed model farmers. Their memory will 
 be cherished by all their acquaintances as noble 
 |)cople. The father died in 186.'', while the mother 
 passed away a year previous. Eight children were 
 left to mourn their loss, whose names are herewith 
 given: Harvey, Elizabeth, Polly, Agnes (who 
 died young), William, Abraham, Euphemia Jane, 
 and Josiah. Harvey was the only one of the 
 children who spelled his name in the Polish man- 
 ner, the rest changing it to Sandusky. 
 
 Josiah Sandusky was born in this count3' on 
 Sept. 11, 1837, and in the township where he now 
 resides he grew to manhood. His father was a 
 most industrious man, and he expected his boys to 
 follow his footsteps in this regard. At the age of 
 six years Josiah was afflicted with the white swell- 
 ing which crippled him in his left leg. He attended 
 the schools of the township and his education was 
 gained from this source. He succeeded to the 
 management of the farm of 500 acres given him 
 by his father. 
 
 Josiah Sanduskjf was married Dec. 18. 1873, to 
 Miss Susan Moreland, who is a daughter of Thomas 
 and Catherine (Hedges) iMoreland, of English an- 
 cestry. The latter came to Illinois in 1857, 
 settling in Carroll Township, and were the parents 
 of eight children, who 'lived to be men and women. 
 Their names follow: Mary E., Margaret Stisan, 
 Fannie, William, Peter H., John, Carrie, and Katie. 
 Mrs. Sandusky was a native of Bourbon Count}', 
 Ky., and removed to Illinois with her parents when 
 she was a little girl of six. She attended the 
 Sister's School at St. M.ary's, near Terre Haute, 
 where she acquired a fine education, and is an ac- 
 complished lady. Before his marriage Mr. San- 
 dusky erected a brick mansion, upon which he 
 spent $20,000 in building and in beautifying the 
 
r48 
 
 PORTRAIT AND lUOCUlAPIlJCAL ALBUM. 
 
 grciinids, find since tlial time lie has added 500 acres 
 to liis farm, malving it tlie most valualile place in 
 this part of the county. His father was a great 
 stockmaij, and his inclinations all tended to the 
 breeding of fine slock. So it will be seen that the 
 snbjeet of this sketch inherited his love for the 
 business in which he is now engaged. He keeps 
 constantly on hand a large herd of thoroughbred 
 catlle and horses, which he exhibits at the fairs, 
 generally securing prizes and honors. He has sold 
 cattle for breeding purposes in nearly every State 
 in the Union, and his mind does not run to cattle 
 alone. He is a good judge of horses, and owns 
 many fine animals that are prize winners, his 
 specialty being road animals and trotters. He has 
 several horses whose record reaches below 2:20. 
 Sheep, swiue, and poultr}' are also seen on this 
 magnificent estate. 
 
 The allurements clustering around official posi- 
 tion have never had an}' charms for Mr. Sandusky, 
 and while he is a thoroughgoing, aggressive Repub- 
 lican, he never permits politics to interfere with his 
 business in an}- manner. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Sandusky are the parents of five 
 cliildren, three living, named: Pearl, born .Tan. 22, 
 1878; Abraham J., Oct. 2, 1.S83; and William H., 
 May 27, 1880. Two died unnamed. 
 
 ^!SEORGE BARNETT is the son of one of 
 • I <^wl Vermilion County's earliest pioneers and 
 ^^^Jj most highly respected citizens. He is pleas- 
 antly located on his farm of 160 acres immediately 
 west of the village of Sidell. 
 
 Robert E. Barnett, the father of the subject of 
 this sketch, was a pioneer of Vermilion County, 
 arriving there sometime in 1828 or 1830, coming 
 fi'om Bourbon County, Ky., which was the State of 
 his nativity, he having been born there in 1806. 
 'J'he mother of Mr. Barnett was Miss Rebecca 
 Moore, a native of Ohio. The farm belonging to 
 her father, on which she was born, is now embraced 
 within the limits of Columbus. His grandfather, 
 George Barnett, emigrated to Illinois with his family 
 about 1828 or 1830, and established himself on a 
 
 farm souilieast of what is now the village of Sidell, 
 at the liead of Little Vermilion timber. 
 
 Robert E. Barnett was a young gentleman of 
 tvvent3'-two or throe j'ears when he tried his fortune 
 in Illinois for the first time, but he had received a 
 good education, which was a commodity rather 
 scarce in the wilds of a new country at that time, 
 and was correspondingly highly appreciated. He, 
 therefore, found no difficulty in getting himself 
 ai)pointed to the position of teacher for the district. 
 So far as known, his was the first school to be opened 
 in the township, and he naturally felt somewhat 
 elated to find himself occupying the elevated posi- 
 tion of " schoolmaster;" however, pupils were not 
 numerous, and he soon wearied of the monotony 
 inseparable from a country teacher's life, so after 
 teaching a few terms, he abandoned the profession 
 and betook himself to a more lucrative, if not more 
 congenial calling. He engaged in the business of 
 general merchandise at Eugene, Ind. One of the 
 prettiest young ladies in town was a customer at 
 his store, and, being of an obliging disposition, he 
 frequently found it convenient to call at her father's 
 house, presumablj' to inform them of rare bargains 
 to be had at the store, but hy-and-by the services 
 of a minister were requested, and the ceremony that 
 followed secured for the enterprising young mer- 
 chant a jiartner whose interest in the business was 
 equal to his own and who engaged for life. Im- 
 mediately following their marriage the young couple 
 began housekeeping, and remained residents of 
 that city until after the birth of all their children, 
 whose names were: Jane, Alice, Thomas (died 
 unmarried at the age of forty), George, and John. 
 Mr. Barnett continued in the mercantile business 
 in Indiana until the spring of 1858, when he 
 removed to Illinois, on to the farm which had been 
 previously purchased by his father. He conducted 
 the operations of the farm with such energ}' and pru- 
 dence that he soon became quite wealthy, owning at 
 one time some sixteen or seventeen thousand acres 
 of excellent land, which was well stocked and im- 
 proved, but unfortunatelj' for the continuance 
 of his prosperity, he, through misplaced confidence 
 in a supposed friend and honest man, lost about 
 $13,000, which necessitated the putting of his estate 
 into the hands of a receiver at the time of his death, 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 749 
 
 He departed this life in 1886, at the age of eiglity 
 j'ears. The mother survives and makes her home 
 in Danville, at the home of her daughter Alice, 
 where at the age of seventy years, she occupies 
 " grand-ma's corner," and tells the little ones who 
 like to surround her easy chair, story after story of 
 the olden time, which are more fascinating to their 
 youthful minds than the most thrilling fairy tales. 
 
 Mr. George Barnett was born September 4, 1848, 
 in Eugene; Ind., and was a small boy when his 
 father moved to the farm in Illinois. The public 
 schools of Eugene numbered him among their 
 brightest pupils, but before he had advanced far 
 in his studies he was obliged to leave consequent 
 upon the removal of the family mentioned above. 
 He pursued his studies for some time longer in the 
 schools of Illinois, but was compelled to abandon 
 the study of books in any regular fashion and 
 betake himself to work at sometliing that would 
 assist the family in the struggle for a livelihood. 
 His first work was begun on his father's farm, when 
 he was abom fourteen years old. After some 
 months spent in that manner he was enabled to 
 resume his pursuit of knowledge, and entered the 
 Academ}' of INIoreland, Ind., where he continued 
 one year, studj'ing diligently and making good pro- 
 gress, then returned to the farm and settled down 
 to regular work, which he continued uninterrupt- 
 edly until he reached his majority. 
 
 Mr. Barnett and Miss Lizzie Keys, a native of 
 Washington Countjs Pa., were married in 1877, 
 at the residence of the bride's parents, William 
 and Emily (Mills) Keys, in Palermo, Edgar Co., 
 Ind. The parents of Mrs. Barnett are well ad- 
 vanced in years, and are passing the evening of life 
 in the quiet enjoyment of their pleasant home in 
 Palermo, Mr. Keys having retired from the active 
 pursuit of his business. Mrs. Barnett was one of 
 a family of eight children, their names being: Har- 
 riet, Sarah, Richard, Cassey, Seth, Hugh, Will and 
 Lizzie, who was a mere ciiild when her parents 
 removed from their home, in Pennsylvania, to 
 Illinois. 
 
 The family of Mr. Barnett has been increased by 
 the addition of three children : Lena, Alice and 
 Jane. The second daughter died when an infant, 
 the other two are at home attending school, '.vhere 
 
 their bright minds and pleasant manners make them 
 general favorites. Two years before marriage Mr. 
 Barnett formed a partnership with his brother-in- 
 law, L. T. Davis, of Palermo, and entered upon 
 the business of general farming and stock raising. 
 They operate a farm of 960 acres of land, which 
 they have managed for seven years, meeting with 
 good success. 
 
 As before stated, Mr. Barnetl's father died in- 
 solvent, but the two sons, by hard work and good 
 management, succeeded in rescuing a considerable 
 portion of the large estate from the general wreck, 
 so that they now have a tract of 580 acres clear of 
 debt and under good cultivation. In 1882, Mr. 
 and Mrs. Barnett established themselves in their 
 present home, which is one calculated to create in 
 the hearts of the dwellers in crowded cities a long- 
 ing for the delights of country life. Their home is 
 indeed a charming one, and being situated only 
 about 240 rods from the village postofHce of Sidell, 
 they enjoy all the comforts of rural life and the 
 conveniences of town. 
 
 Mr. Barnett was elected Township Clerk several 
 ye:irs ago, and has been re-elected every year since, 
 so that he is now serving his sixth term with honor 
 to himself and entire satisfaction to his constit- 
 uents. 
 
 BNER SNOW was born at Butler's Point, 
 Vermilion County, Oct. 28, 1828, where 
 he has resided continuously since. His 
 father, Marcus Snow, was born in Mont- 
 pelller, \'t., while his mother, whose maiden name 
 was Annis Butler, vvas a native of Chittenden 
 County, the same State. Marcus Snow emigrated 
 from Vermont to Ohio but did not remain there 
 long, eventually removing to N'ermilion Countj' 
 with .lames Butler in a very early day. The lattc^i-, 
 Mrs. Snow's father, settled at Butler's Point, where 
 the father and mother spent their last days. The 
 parents of Abner Snow were married in ^''ermilion 
 County and settled where Westville now stands, 
 but lived there only a few years when they re- 
 moved to Catlin Township, locating on land that 
 was situated on the .State road, near the residence 
 
750 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 of Jesse Davis. Hei-o the elder Snow anrl his wife 
 prospered, lived and died. They were among the 
 people who came here when \'ermilion County was 
 a wilderness for the pur[)ose of building up a home 
 for themselves and their children and they met 
 with success. Their reputation in their neighbor- 
 hood was that of honest, hardworking and intelli- 
 gent people. Mrs. Snow, the mother of Abner, 
 outlived her husband and became the wife of Cyrus 
 Douglas. Marcus Snow is the father of six chil- 
 dren, five sons and one daughter, Abner being the 
 second son. 
 
 Abner Snow, as has been stated, has always lived 
 in this county, a larger portion of the time in 
 Catlin Township. Here he lias successfully followed 
 agricultural pursuits, and is counted as one of tlie 
 prosperous men in this section. By his inherited 
 industry and good management he has accumu- 
 lated a fine property and now owns 285 acres of 
 good, rich soil. General farming occupied' tlie 
 most of his time. He was married in this count}' 
 to a Miss Ashman by whom he is the father of five 
 children: Albert, Jessie, William, Lucius M. and 
 Bertha A. 
 
 Mr. Snow is an active Republican, but the allure- 
 ments of office has little charms for him. He is 
 contented to carry on his fine farm, believing th.at 
 the honors gained by making a home for liimself 
 and children transcend all others. 
 
 '-^'^^:^^^^^^^y^^^--^ 
 
 THOMAS M. MORGAN. The journalistic 
 profession of Illinois finds a worthy repre.- 
 sentative in the able and popular editor and 
 publisher of the Sidell Wayside^ who is a man of 
 excellent education, cultivated tastes and literary 
 ability. Before entering upon the slretch of his 
 life, it may be well to devote some space to his an- 
 cestors. His grandfather, Daniel Morgan, was a 
 member of a family of Scotch origin, which had 
 settled in \'irginia in colonial times. He was a 
 nephew of Gen. Daniel jAIorgan of lievolutionary 
 fame, and became the grandfather of Gen. John 
 H. Morgan, who bore a prominent part in the Con- 
 federate array during the late civil war. He set- 
 
 tled in Kentucky about 1790 and resided there 
 until the time of his death in 1869. The father of 
 our subject when a young man learned the black- 
 smithing trade. During the Mexican war he en- 
 listed in the famous Kentucky regiment known as 
 the Salt River Tigers, only seventeen men of which, 
 out of an enrollment of 104, survived the san- 
 guinary contests of that conflict. He was honor- 
 ably discharged at Newport Barracks, Ky., after 
 liaving served two years and eight days. He was 
 married in 1852 to Martha 11 Watson, who, like 
 himself, was a native of the Blue Grass State, a 
 member of an old Virginia family who settled in 
 Kentucky at an early date. After following his 
 trade for a short time in Kentucky he removed to 
 Macon County, 111., and later to Wabash County, 
 Ind., where he died in the year 1882 at the age of 
 fifi3'-six. Our subject's mother is still living at 
 the age of fifty-two, and resides with her parents 
 near Moweaqua, Shelby Co., 111. She is the 
 mother of eleven children: Thomas M., Worth M., 
 who died at the .age of three; Sylvester Y., Sarah 
 J., Olive, Ida ^M., Mary B., who died at the age of 
 one and a half years; Luella, who died at the age 
 of fourteen; Delia A., Esteila and Charles W. 
 S3'lvester Y. is now connected with a prominent 
 Kansas City house; Sarah J. is the wife of Benja- 
 min Phillips, and resides in Wabash County, Ind.; 
 Olive is the wife of Wesley Pyle, a prominent 
 young farmer of WaDasli County, Ind. The re- 
 mainder of the family, with the exception of our 
 subject, are unmarried. 
 
 Thomas M. Morgan was born in Anderson Coun- 
 ty, Ky., ]\Lay 10, 1853. He was but five years of 
 age when his parents removed to Illinois, where 
 two years of his childhood were spent in Macon 
 Count}'. His parents then removed to Wabash 
 County, Ind., where his young manhood was passed. 
 Having been crippled by an accident at the age of 
 thirteen, his school days were limited to a period 
 twenty months. This accident occurring at the 
 veiy period of life when an active boy finds most 
 enjoyment, he passed man}' weary hours while his 
 youthful companions were enjoying the sports 
 fitted to their years. For three years and a half he 
 walked upon crutches, but his mind seemed to de- 
 velop more rapidly on account of his bodily in- 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 751 
 
 firmity. He piirsueri his studies at home, carrying 
 on the work with great zest, and alone and unas- 
 sisted took up the studies of algebra, geometry, 
 ancient and modern history, and carried on a 
 varied conrse of reading. At the age of twenty 
 he took up the profession of teacher, his first school 
 being at Stockdale, Wabash Co., Ind. From this 
 time until 1882, he continued in this profession, 
 teaching in different counties in Indiana and Illi 
 nois. In 1882 he entered upon a more public life, 
 taking the stump in Indiana as a Submission Dem- 
 ocrat, favoring the submission of the prohibition 
 amendment to the people. In 1885, he came to this 
 county and engaged in teaching in the district and 
 graded schools. In the summer of 1887 he became 
 city editor of the Danville Daily and Weekly Press, 
 beginning his labors with its first issue, and contin- 
 uing on the Press staff until the succeeding sum- 
 mer, when he was obliged to withdraw on account 
 of his frail health. In the spring of 1889 he took 
 charge of tl\o Sidell Wayside. It is a bright, 
 newsy sheet, a credit to southern Vermilion Coun- 
 ty, and is deservedly enjoying a good circulation. 
 Like a true journalist, Mr. Morgan conducts his 
 paper according to his own beet judgment, witii- 
 out regard to fear or favor. Politically the sheet 
 is independent, although the publisher is looking 
 forward to the time when he can publish a red hot 
 Democratic paper, he being a staunch adherent of 
 the principles of Democracy. 
 
 Mr. Morgan was married June 7, 1888, to Miss 
 Lulu Montgomery of Coles County, 111. Her 
 father. Rev. G. W. Afontgomery, now of Newman, 
 111., is a native of Tennessee and has been identi- 
 fied with the clerical profession since his twenty- 
 eighth year. He now belongs to the Foster Pres- 
 bytery of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. 
 His wife, formerly Miss Sarah A. Rankin, was also 
 a native of Tennessee, but grew up in Missouri, 
 where she was married. She was the mother of 
 twelve children, one of whom died in infancy. They 
 are named respectively: John T., Mack A., Jlary 
 E., (reorge W.. Samuel T., Laura M., U. Lincoln, 
 Lulu S., Carrie M., Donald R., Finis E., the de- 
 ceased infant having borne the name of Rosa. Mrs. 
 Morgan was born in Caland, Coles Co., III., April 
 2, 1867, and grew to womanhood in her native 
 
 State, living at various places, where her father 
 served his different congregations. She became a 
 pupil of Bethany Academy at the age of twelve and 
 was also a student in the Southern Illinois College 
 for three years. She is a most estimable young- 
 lady of refined character and cultured mind and 
 has been prominently identified with the educa- 
 tional profession in this and in Coles County. 
 
 Mr. Morgan is a verj^ well read man and having 
 decided literary tastes, covering a range from the 
 precision and accuracy of Geometry and similar 
 sciences to the imaginative and the descriptive 
 charms of poetry, though perhaps he most enjoj^s 
 historical writing. He is an ardent admirer of 
 Buckle, Draper, Hume, Macauley, Hegel, Schlegel, 
 Castelar and others. He is not only an admirer of 
 literature in various forms but himself wields the 
 pen of a readj' writer and has written dialectic, di- 
 dactic and lyric poems. Among the former we 
 mention '-Them 01' Fashioned Days;" "When the 
 Days are Groin' Warm and the Fields are Gettin' 
 Green;" "How we worshii>ed in the Forties." Of 
 his lyric poems: "Songs Unsung;" "The Reward;" 
 "Sorrow;" and "A New Year's Greeting." Among 
 his didactic poems we mention but two: "Two 
 Pictures" and "Dream-seen Days." 
 
 Mrs. INlorgan is a member of the Cumberland 
 Presbyterian Churcli, while her husband strongly 
 favors the Methodist doctrine. 
 
 ►^if^ 
 
 P" RANK CARTER is one of the most popular 
 merchants at Indianola. A prosperous busi- 
 ness man in the grocery and queenswarc line, 
 he has grown up in this neigliborhood and is known 
 and respected by everyone. His father, Abraham 
 Carter, came to Illinois at an early date and vvas 
 married, in Carroll Township, to Eliza A. Bacon, 
 sister of Sarah and Oliver Bacon, sketches of whose 
 lives will be found on another page in this volume. 
 After marrying the father removed to Peoria 
 County and resided there and in Tazewell County 
 seven years. He farmed and was engaged in the 
 butcher business at Peoria, and died in 1869 at 
 Peoria at the age of forty-five years, leaving a wife 
 
ri2 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOfiRAPHlCAL ALBUM. 
 
 and three children — Charles A., Frank A. and ^\'ill- 
 iam H., now Deputy Circuit Clerk of Vermilion 
 County. 
 
 The subject of our sketch was born Oct. 18, 18G0, 
 in Tazewell County, this State. About nine years 
 old when his father died he began life under difTi- 
 culties. His mother moved back to Carroll Town- 
 shi|), Yeruiilion Co., and our subject found a home 
 with an uncle on "Woodlawn Farm" where he re- 
 mained for twelve years. He attended school at 
 Indianola during the winters and obtained a very 
 fair education. As he grew older he became his 
 uncle's show bo3' and took great pride in leading 
 the celebrated prize-winners from "Woodlawn" 
 into the show ring. He remained with his uncle 
 until 1884, and in 1886 engaged in the mercantile 
 business with his brother, William H. The latter 
 was the manager until two years ago when his 
 brother Frank took the helm. Besides their store 
 business they purchase wool at Indianola and 
 Villa Grove, and also deal in all kinds of produce. 
 The village of Indianola may well feel proud to 
 own two brothers of the sterling qualities that dis- 
 tinguish these two estimable young men. Their 
 aged mother is well provided and cared for bj' their 
 filial love. Being 3'et in the noon of life Frank 
 Carter may well look forward to a bright and pros- 
 perous future. Mr. Carter was the choice of the 
 Republicans of Carroll Township for C'ollector in 
 1885-86-87, which position beheld with credit and 
 honor during his term of office. A member of the 
 Indianola Republican Club he was delegate to the 
 Republican County Convention. He is a charter 
 member of the Indianola Building and Loan As- 
 sociation, and is a strong Republican. 
 
 _^., ARON DALBFA". The late Civil War de- 
 (@yu|| veloped some rare characters, the depths 
 of which would prol.iably never have been 
 disturbed had it not been for this revolution 
 which shook the country from turret to foundation 
 stone. There were then brought to the surface 
 that God-given quality — the love of the true man 
 for his nativ(,' land — and the extent of the sacrifices 
 
 which he was willing to make to save her from dis- 
 memberment. Among all those who are written 
 of in this volume there was probably no truer pat- 
 riot during the war than Aaron Dalbey, and he 
 justly esteems the period of his life spent in the 
 Union Army as one of the brightest spots in his 
 whole career. We give this matter prominence be- 
 cause it is a subject dear to his heart and he has 
 lost none of the patriotic affection which enabled 
 him a quarter of a century ago to lay aside all per- 
 sonal ties and give his best efforts to the preserva- 
 tion of the Union. We now find him comfortably 
 located in a quiet country home, embracing a well- 
 regulated farm on section 11, in Vance Township, 
 where, since the war, he has gathered around him 
 all of the comforts and many of the luxuries of 
 life. 
 
 In reverting to the family history of our subject 
 we find that his father, James Dalbey, was a native 
 of Pennsylvania, a carpenter by trade and in politics 
 an old-line Whig. He married Miss Sarah Sewell, a 
 native o!' Ohio, April 4, 1820, the wedding taking 
 place in Clinton Count3',that State. They lived there 
 about fourteen years. Mr. Dalbey engaged as a 
 groceryman, a farmer and an hotel-keeper, con- 
 ducting the old-fashioned country tavern after the 
 most approved methods of those times. 
 
 About this time the lead mines near Dubuque 
 were being opened up and the demand for carpen- 
 ters was great, so the father of our subject re- 
 moved tluther with his family in 1 835, purposing 
 to work at his trade. He found the times very hard 
 and the country peopled largely with desperate 
 characters, among whom a murder was committed 
 nearl)' everj' night. This state of things made it 
 impossible for him to remain and so he established 
 himself at Quincy, 111., where he lived three years 
 and worked at his trade. He then returned to 
 Ohio, where he sojourned two j'ears, and from there 
 removed to Peru, Ind., but only remained there 
 eight months. In August, 1843, he came to this 
 county, and on the 19th of October following 
 passed from earth at the age of fifty-three years. 
 He was a well educated man and especiallj' fine 
 penman. 
 
 The mother of our subject survived her first 
 husliand for the long period of nearly forty-eight 
 
PORTRAIT AN]) BIO(iRAPUICAL ALBUM. 
 
 758 
 
 years. She was born IMarcli 12, 1803, and died 
 Feb. 26, 1885, when nearly eight3'-two years (.)ld. 
 The parental household was completed by the birth 
 of six children, four of whom are living. Aaron, 
 our subject, was the fourth in order of birth, and 
 was born in Clinton County, Ohio, April 25, 1831. 
 He attended school at Quincy, 111., and also in 
 Ohio a short time and in Indiana, and came to tliis 
 county in time to avail himself of instruction in 
 the subscription schools here. Being tl>e eldest 
 son, he, after the death of his father, naturally in 
 due time, assumed many responsibilities, and at the 
 age of twelve 3'ears worked out for $3 per month, 
 six months, from spring until fall. The year fol- 
 lowing he was employed by the same man, with an 
 increase of salarj' of '$1 per month. 
 
 The mother of our subject was married a second 
 time to James Elliott. Our subject was bound out 
 for a term of six years to Alvin Stearns. Becom- 
 ing dissatisfied with the arrangement, he served out 
 only half his time, and went to Ohio to learn a 
 trade. He came back to Illinois, however, a year 
 later, and employed himself at whatever he could 
 find to do, being at one time the partner of Aaron 
 Hardin in splitting rails and cord wood. Their 
 best week's work was forty-eight cords of wood, 
 cut split and piled, and this was done at twenty- 
 five cents per cord, when rails were forty-five cents 
 per 100. 
 
 The next most important event in the life of our 
 subject was his marriage, which occurred Dec. 23, 
 1854, with Miss Martha E. Custer. The newly* 
 wedded pair commenced the journey of life to- 
 gether at the old Custer homestead, which is now 
 the property of our subject, and ^Mr. Dalbey there- 
 after farmed on rented land until the outbreak of 
 the Civil War. In 1862 he went one day to assist 
 a neighbor with his work, and when he came back 
 with his pitchfork over his shoulder, his attitude 
 and bearing were such that his wife exclaimed 
 when she saw him coming, "there, I bet he is going 
 to the war." He entered the house and asked for 
 some clothing, and in ten minutes was off for Ho- 
 mer, and joining some of his comrades, repaired 
 with them to Camp Butler, and enlisted in Com- 
 pany E, 73d Illinois Infantr3^ 
 
 Mr. Dalbey accompanied his regiment to tiie 
 
 front, and first engaged in the battle of Perryville, 
 Oct. 8, 1862. In the early part of the engage- 
 ment he was in the front line of battle, and had 
 only discharged six or seven shots when a rebel 
 bullet struck him in the right side of the abdomen, 
 passing through the upper lobe of the liver, and 
 came out at the right of the spine, grazing the 
 point of one of the vertebras. The ball, before en- 
 tering his body, struck the cap box on his belt, 
 passed through the box and his belt, through his 
 coat, the waistband on his pants, then through his 
 bodj^ and returning cut through the waistband and 
 "bodjf belt,," and knocked the handle off the 
 butcher knife on his belt, leaving the blade in its 
 scabbard and glanced off to the rear. He pulled 
 out of the wound a bunch of the wood from his cap 
 box, some cotton-batting from his coat, and a metal 
 primer which he carried in the box. He was taken 
 to the field hospital, and a rubber tube pulled 
 through his body twice. He was then conveyed to 
 the Perryville General Hospital, where he remained 
 until (Jctober, 1863, and was then transferred to 
 New Albany, Ind. He was discharged from the 
 hospital there, Jan. 20, 1864. 
 
 Mr. Dalbey now returned to his family, and al- 
 though he has been almost wholly disabled for 
 work since that time he declares he is ready to fight 
 the battle over again if the occasion arises. He 
 and his excellent wife have no children of their 
 own, but have performed the part of parents to a 
 boy and girl, the former the son of a comrade of 
 Mr. Dalbey, who was discharged from the army for 
 disability, and died. The boy Joe H. Summers, be- 
 came an inmate of their home at the age of seven 
 years, and remained there until twenty-one. He is 
 now married and lives in Mendon, Neb. The girl 
 Mary J. Custer was taken by them when but eleven 
 months old, and is still with them, now grown to 
 womanhood. 
 
 It is hardly necessary to saj' in view of his war 
 record, that Mr. Dalbey, politically, is a decided 
 Republican. He had two brothers in the army, 
 one of whom, Albert, enlisted in Company C, 25th 
 Illinois Infantry, and at Murfreesboro was wounded 
 through the wrist and arm. At the expiration of 
 his first term of enlistment he entered the veteran 
 reserve corps from which he was honorably dis- 
 
754 
 
 PORTRAIT AND IUOOtRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 charged. Anocher brother, William H. II., the 
 youngest of the famil}^, was born in 1840, and en- 
 listed in Company D, 63d Illinois Infantry. He 
 was killed by the explosion of a magazine at Co- 
 lumbia, S. C, Feb. 19, 1865, being terribly man- 
 gled and blown into a river. He had strength, 
 however, to swim ashore and was taken to the hos- 
 pital where he died. He had been promoted to 
 the rank of Sergeant. l\Ir. Dalbey has ofliciated as 
 Road Overseer, and is a member of Homer Post 
 No. 263, G. A. R. 
 
 Jacob M. Custer, the father of Mrs. Dalbey, was, 
 with his wife, Eliznbeth Ocheltree, a native of Vir- 
 ginia. They came to Illinois in 1849, settling in 
 this county, but later removed to Champaign 
 Countjr, where the death of Mr. Custer took place, 
 Sept. 17, 1865. His widow subsequently married 
 John L. Myers, who has since died, and Mrs. IMyei's 
 is now living at Homer, at the ripe age of seventy- 
 nine years. She is the mother of nine children, six 
 of whom are living and of whom Mrs. Dalbey was 
 next to the eldest. She was born Sept. 4, 1836, in 
 Fayette County Ohio, received a f.air education and 
 was married at the age of eighteen years; She is 
 a very estimable lady of more than usual benev- 
 olence, and is a member of the Homer Womau's Re- 
 lief Corps, No. 69. She was at one time President 
 of this body, and was in-esented with a very fine 
 gold badge as Past President by the members of 
 her corps as a token of their appreciation of her 
 worth and services. She has never missed a meet- 
 ing, either regular or special since its organization, 
 in April, 18.S7. In religious matters, she belongs 
 to the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. 
 
 Mr. Dalbey during the days of his early manhood 
 was an expert hunter and has brought down many 
 a deer in tjjis county. He is naturally possessed 
 of great courage and bearing, but. is uniformly 
 kind-hearted to all except the enemies of his 
 country. 
 
 ^?^ FORGE D. HUFIiAlAN. A man is usually 
 ||( (= jiirlged by his surroundings, and if they are 
 '^J4l what he has brought about himself it is safe 
 to say they are a good indication of his character. 
 Mr. Huffman may usunlly be found at one of the 
 
 best farms in Newell Townshii), a homestead which 
 he has built up by his own enterprise, and which, 
 with its substantial improvements and thoroughly 
 cultivated fields, reflects greatly to his credit, his 
 industry and his good taste. It is evident that he 
 planted his standard high, and the evidences of his 
 skill and thoroughness are on every hand. The 
 farm buildings are neat, commodious and conven- 
 ient; he has a goodly assortment of live-stock, well 
 fed and comfortable, and he avails himself of mod- 
 ern machinery in the cultivation of the soil, which 
 yields him a handsome income. As a member of 
 the community he occupies no secondary position. 
 
 The subject of this sketch was born in Harrison 
 County, Ky., May 14, 1829, and is the son of Dan- 
 iel P. and Flizabeth (Switzer) Huffman, the former 
 a native of Virginia and the latter of Maryland. 
 The parents were taken to Kentucky when children, 
 where they attained to manhood and womanhood 
 and were married. There also their ten children 
 w^ere born, eight of whom lived to mature years. 
 In due time they emigrated to Illinois, settling in 
 what is now Newell Township, Vermilion County, 
 where the death of the father took place in Octo- 
 ber, 1836, while he was in his prime. The mother 
 survived her husband nearly twenty-one years, her 
 death occurring in January, 1857. 
 
 The Huffman family came to this region in 1832 
 where George D., our subject, reached man's es- 
 tate and where he has since lived. He acquired a 
 common-school education, and like his father before 
 ■him chose farming for his Aocation. After reach- 
 ing the twenty-fifth year of his age he was married 
 Sept. 18, 1856, to Miss Mary Cox. Mrs. Iluflfman 
 was born in Parke County, Ind., Ang. 19, ]8;il, 
 and is the daughter of John and Elizabeth Cox 
 who were natives of Butler County, Ohio. They 
 left the Buckeye State in 1830, locating in Parke 
 County, Ind., and in 1857 changed their residence 
 to Newell Township, ^'ermilion Co., 111., where 
 Mrs. Cox died in July, 1864. The father died in 
 1872. 
 
 The record of the seven children born to Mr. 
 and Mrs. Huffman is as follows: John F. was born 
 June 21, 1857, and died October 30, 1858; Daniel 
 P. was born December 1, 1858, and died April 3, 
 1.S60; George D. was born P'eb. 1, 1861, and died 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 755 
 
 April 3, following; Emily .1. was born Feb. 15, 
 1862; Mary E. May 22, 1865; Edna A. was born 
 Dec. 17, 1869, and died March 6, 1873: Effle M. 
 was born Feb. 5, 1875. Both Mr. and Mrs. Huff- 
 man are members in good standing of the Chris- 
 tian Cluiruh. 
 
 Our subject in connection with general agricul- 
 ture keeps a goodl}^ qnantity of live stock, and has 
 by a course of economy and prudence laid by suf- 
 fieient to secure him against want in his old ago. 
 He has uniformly signalized himself as a liberal 
 and public spirited citizen, taking a warm interest 
 in educational affairs, and serving as School Di- 
 rector and School Trustee for over thirty years. 
 He was Commissioner ot Highways six j'ears, and 
 has held other positions of trust and responsil^ility. 
 Without any desire for the spoils of office, he has 
 kept himself thoroughly posted in regard to mat- 
 ters of general interest, and gives his unqualified 
 support to the Democratic i)arty. 
 
 ^^EORGE DILLON, Esq., was born in George- 
 town, Vermilion Co., this State, Jan. 16, 
 1837. His father and grandfather were na- 
 tives of North Carolina and removed to Ohio in 
 the early settlement of that State. They settled 
 several miles south of Cincinnati, where tliey bought 
 timbered laud and resided there until the death of 
 the grandfather. The father, Luke Dillon, was fif- 
 teen years old when his parents moved to Ohio, 
 where he grew to manhood and married and resided 
 until 1830, when he came to Vermilion County ac- 
 companied by his wife and six children. The 
 journey was made with a six-horse team, bringing 
 his household goods, while the party cooked and 
 camped on the way. He located near the present 
 site of Georgetown and bought a tract of land, 
 where he resided in a log cabin for a time, when lie 
 built one of the first frame houses in that section 
 of the country and resided there until his death. 
 His son George attended the early schools of his 
 native county and resided with his father, assistijig 
 him on a farm until the death of the latter and 
 then remained with his brothers and sisters until 
 
 the age of twenty-one. He then brought a farm 
 near Georgetown, where he remained until enlist- 
 ing in the army, in 1862. He was a member of 
 Company D, 25th Illinois Infantry, where he served 
 until February, 1865. He was in the battles of 
 Perrysville, Ky., Chickamauga, Missionary Ridge, 
 and was with Sherman when he started from Chat- 
 tanooga to the Atlantic and served in various bat- 
 tles and skirmishes until June 7, when he was 
 wounded in the right arm and sent to the hospital, 
 where his arm was amputated close to the shoulder 
 and he returned home in February, 1865. A strong- 
 Republican in politics he has held several offices. 
 In 1866 he was elected Town Clerk of Georgetown. 
 In 1867 he was elected Assessor aud Collector and 
 re-elected in 1868. In the fall of 1868 he was 
 elected Circuit Clerk of Vermilion County, and 
 twice re-elected and held office for twelve years. 
 In April, 1889, he was elected Justice of the Peace 
 and in 1887 was elected Assistant Supervisor. 
 
 George Dillon married, in 1861, Miss Desde- 
 mona F. Martin, born in Georgetown in 1841. She 
 was the daughter of Henry and Mary Martin, who 
 were among the early pioneers of Vermilion 
 County. They had six children: Lucretia, Alma, 
 Hannah, William S., Grace, Joseph G. and Robert 
 M. Since his retirement from public life he h.as not 
 been engaged in any active business but has dealt 
 some in real estate. Mr. and Mrs. Dillon are active 
 and energetic members of the Christian Church and 
 are among the most respected and estimable people 
 in the community. 
 
 lUELL TILLOTSON, a skillful, practical 
 farmer, is quietly and prosperously carry- 
 ing on his farming operations on his farm, 
 one of the best and most highly productive 
 of Pilot Township, very pleasantly located on sec- 
 tion 36. He is a native of Indiana, born in War- 
 ren County, Sept. 23, 1847. His grandparents on 
 both sides of the house were pioneers of Ohio in 
 the early days of its settlement. His father, 
 Ephraim Tillotson, was born in Miami County, 
 that State, in 1811. his ancestors being of English 
 
756 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 origin and he a descendant of the same branch of 
 the family ns that famous English divine. Arch- 
 bishop Tillotson. The mother of the subject, 
 whose maiden name was Mary A. Cronkhite, was 
 also born in Miami County. After her marriage 
 with the father of our subject, they came westward 
 to tlie State of Indiana, and located in Warren 
 County, and from there removed to \'ermilion 
 County, 111., where the father died in 1884. The 
 mother survives at an advanced age and makes her 
 home on a farm in Vermilion County. Of her 
 marriage twelve children were born, of whom the 
 following eight are living: Walter, a farmer of this 
 eountjr, married Liicetta Endicott; Madison, who 
 lives in Louisiana, married Kate Good wine, and 
 they have three children; Luther, a farmer, mar- 
 ried Mary E. Myrick, and they have five children; 
 Wallace, a farmer of this county, married Emily 
 French, and the}' have three children; Buell is our 
 subject; vSarah married Edward Foster, of Indiana, 
 now living in this county, and they have seven 
 children; Rebecca married J. K. Buettz, a retired 
 farmer of Potomac, and they have six children; 
 Frances married Alonzo W. Knight, a farmer of 
 this county, and they have four children; Mary 
 married Frank Heniy, a retired farmer of this 
 county, and they have two children. 
 
 Buell Tillotson gleaned a good education in the 
 common schools, and a practical training at homo 
 that fitted him to cope with the world when he 
 became independent. He came to Illinois in 185G 
 with his father. When he began life on his own 
 account he did not have the wherewithal to buy 
 land for himself, and as he was very desirous to 
 carry on farming he rented a farm. He met with 
 such good success in that venture that in a few 
 years, by unremitting toil and frugal economy, he 
 w.as enabled to lay up mone}' enough to buy a 
 f.-irm of his own, and he became the possessor of 
 one comprising IGO acres of land of unsurpassed 
 fertility, and now has it under good cultivation, and 
 has made many substantial improvements that have 
 gieatly increased its value, and he has established a 
 cozy, comfortable home for his family. He is en- 
 gaged in mixed husbandry, and besides raising 
 grain and other products common to this climate, 
 raises stock, all that his farm will carry. 
 
 Mr. Tillotson was married April 8, 1885, to Miss 
 Lizzie Wiles, daughter of Aaron and Margaret 
 Wiles, residents of Vermilion County, 111. She 
 was born in this county, and was one of three chil- 
 dren, of whom two are living at the present time, 
 Mrs. Tillotson and her brother, Lankford Wiles. 
 The father, Aaron AViles, died in 1869, and his 
 widow married again in 1873, being then united 
 with Thomas P. Mryic, by whom she had one child, 
 a daughter, Myrta, now ten 3'earsold. The wedded 
 life of our subject and his excellent wife has been 
 blessed to them by the birth of two children, of 
 whom one alone lives, Lucetta. 
 
 The great-uncle of our subject, Simon Buell, 
 (who was also an uncle of Major-General D. C'. 
 Buell of the late war) was a Revolutionary soldier, 
 Indian fighter, and pioneer, and could tell many 
 interesting and thrilling stories of adventures and 
 hair-breadth escapes from Indian tomahawks, in 
 connection with the settlement of eastern Ohio and 
 western New York. When a boy he was once 
 captured bj- the Indians, but escaped in company 
 with two men, and with them traveled night and 
 da}- until they arrived at an American settlement. 
 One night the}- slept in a pit, around which some- 
 thing stealthily crept all night, peering over at 
 them with eyes like coals of fire. The lad saw and 
 watched all the movements of the animal with 
 quivering but suppressed excitement, but the 
 others slept through the danger, and he feared to 
 awaken them lest the noise would endanger their 
 lives, and as he was between the two he thought if 
 it jumped on any of them it would be on those 
 outside. When morning came the animal left with 
 wild, mournful screams that made the woods ring, 
 and then they discovered that it was a jianther. 
 Another incident illustrates the animosity existing 
 between the Tories and Whigs at the close of the 
 Revolutionary War, as well as the coolness and 
 courage of one of those brave veterans. Mr.Buell had 
 returned to his farm only to find it devastated by 
 the invading armies, and was one day walking over 
 it, viewing the ruins and thinking how best he 
 could rebuild the burned house and fences, when a 
 bullet whistled close to his ear. Fie knew at once 
 that it was from a Tory enemy, and also concluded 
 from the interval between the whistle of the bul- 
 
9dsj^de^/ice o/^JOHN N.ENGELMANN>5^tfcS-2 (TMRJ2)CcctU?y. Townships y&^-ryrUllofi (Jourttyr 
 
 '-T^sio/cr/^e o/'QEO.fAWWulMiS.jbeos. e- &I2, "-J^aravy/ys Ihwris/up., VermUcon (7oiL/jti^< 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 759 
 
 let and the report of the gun that it was at long 
 range. Instantly his mind was made up, and with- 
 out stopping or changing his gait in the leiist he 
 k'isurely sauntered Ton, wishing to make his enemy 
 believe he had not even heard the shot. The ruse 
 was successful, as the shot was not repeated. 
 
 Our subject is a quiet, unassuming man, with 
 much force and decision of character, h^owever, 
 and his place in this community is among its best 
 and most deserving itizens. He .nnd his wife are 
 worthy members of the Christian Church, as is 
 attested by their conduct in the every-day affairs 
 of life. Mr. Tillotson is a firm ally of the Re- 
 publican party, taking an intelligent interest in 
 political matters. He has served on several juries, 
 and is in every waj' fitted to perform the duties 
 attendant upon good citizenship. 
 
 'if OHN N. ENGELMANN is entitled to rep- 
 resentation in this BioGitAPiiKJAL Aliuim as 
 an intelligent, p"actical member of the 
 (^^// farming community of ^^ermilion County 
 He is classed among our self-made men, as he be- 
 gan life with no capital, but a sturdy, self-reliant, 
 capable manhood, and has become independent 
 and prosperous, and, as old age approaches, finds 
 himself in possession of a comfortable competence, 
 and well fortified against want and poverty. His 
 farm on section 22, Catlin Township, is provided 
 with an excellent class of buildings, and its 
 soil is admirably tilled, yielding abundant harvests 
 in repayment for the labor and money bestowed 
 on it. 
 
 Our subject was born in Prussia, July 29, 1828, 
 and is the son of John Nicholas and Margaret 
 (Kimmel) Engelmann. The wife died in Ger- 
 many. The father subsequently emigrated to this 
 country, and after a time removed to Du (^uoin, 
 111., where he died. The boyhood and youtli 
 of our subject svere passed in his native country, 
 but in the early years of his manhood he deter- 
 mined to cross the Atlantic and seek in the 
 United States of America the prosperity denied 
 him at home. In March, 1851, he left the beloved 
 Fatherland on an American-bound vessel, and 
 
 twenty-eight days later the ocean was between 
 him and the familiar scenes amid which he had 
 been reared. He disembarked at New York and 
 made his way from that city to Summit County, 
 Ohio, where lie engaged in digging coal, which 
 employment he luid followed in the Old Country. 
 He lived in different places in Ohio till 1857, when 
 he came to ^'ermilion County to avail himself of 
 the many advantages it offered a poor man to 
 make his way to comparative affluence. Liking the 
 country here, he decided to remove his family to 
 this county, and settle here permanently. At first 
 they lived in Danville Townshi|), but a year later 
 Mr. Engelmann came to Catlin Township with his 
 wife and children, and rented a farm five years; 
 and at the same time he woiked in the coal mines 
 in the winter, carrying on his farming operations 
 during the other seasons of the year. In 1864 he 
 had been so prudent and industrious, that he 
 had managed to save up quite a little sum of 
 monej', and was enabled to purchase eighty acres 
 of land, which is included in his present farm. In 
 the busy years that followed he made many val- 
 uable improvements, erecting a substantial, well- 
 built dwelling, a good bai'n and other neccessary 
 outbuildings, and placed his land under a high state 
 of cultivation, devoting himself entirely to agri- 
 cultural pursuits. He bought more land, and his 
 farm now comprises 120 acres of fine farming land 
 that compares in fertility and productiveness with 
 the best in the township. 
 
 During these j^ears of toil Mr. Engelmann has 
 not been without the assistance of a good wife, 
 who has been to him all that a faithful helpmate 
 could be. They were united in marriage in their 
 native Prussia, in September, 1853. Her maiden 
 name was Maria Schuetz, and she was born Dec. 
 18, 1834. She is the daughter of Michael and' 
 Maria (Graser) Schuetz), who emigrated to this 
 country and were buried in this township. Their 
 happy wedded life has been blessed to Mr. and 
 Mrs. Engelman by the birth of eight children, as 
 follows: Nicholas, Jacob. Mary F., Margaretta S., 
 John AV., Sophia, Charles and Eilizabeth; all are 
 living. 
 
 In our subject his fellow-townsmen find those 
 desirable qualities and manly traits of character 
 
760 
 
 FORI RAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 that make him a useful citizen and a good neigh- 
 bor, one in whom they may place their trust with 
 a surety that it will not be abused. In politics he 
 is a Republican, and faithfully supports his party 
 at the polls. Religioush', he and his wife are ex- 
 emplary members of the Lutheran Church, and 
 carr}' their Christian faith into their everyday 
 lives. 
 
 A fine lithographic view of the handsome resi- 
 dence, farm and outbuildings on the place of Mr. 
 Engelmann is shown elsewhere in this work. 
 
 |fZ_^ENRY PUZEY. Colonies of Englishmen 
 jjf jl,' have settled in various portions of the West, 
 /^W'' composed of people who were well-to-do in 
 (^) their own countrj' and the sons of wealthy 
 parents. In a great many instances they have 
 found the country contrary to what they pictured 
 it, and becoming discouraged, have returned to 
 their native country. The majority of the people 
 spoken of came here imbued with the idea that dol- 
 lars grew on bushes, and that it required no effort 
 to march along to prosperity. In all this they 
 were mistaken. Labor is its own reward in America, 
 as well as in other parts of this world. The man 
 whose name heads this sketch was a well-to-do and 
 representative business man of London, having 
 been connected with one of the leading dry goods 
 houses of the metropolis of the world. He is a 
 o-entleman of refinement, education, and possesses 
 knowledge of the world, and without any previous 
 experience that agriculture gives, he came here to 
 win a place as a farmer, and he has met with un- 
 qualified success. All the characteristics of Mr. 
 Puzey bear out the assertion that he is a typical 
 English gentleman. 
 
 HisT father, Joseph Puzey, was a native of 
 England and a man prominent in his country. His 
 mother was descended from France and her name 
 was Beatrice Blanche before her marriage. Her 
 people during the time of the French Revolution 
 sought safety on the British Island and eventually 
 became English subjects. The father died in Eng- 
 land, and was seventy years old, while the mother 
 
 is still residing in England and is eighty-five years 
 of age. She reared ten children to maturity, of 
 which but three are living in America: Henry, 
 Thomas and Albert. Henry, of whom this sketch 
 is written, is the oldest child, and was born Aug. 
 16, 1826, in Berkshire, England. His early educa- 
 tion was such as was obtainable in the private 
 schools of his own class and those connected with 
 the Episcopal Church. He passed his entire child- 
 hood under his father's roof on the farm in Berk- 
 shire, and as he grew up he desired to enter 
 mercantile pursuits, and under the direction of his 
 father he was apprenticed to the dry goods house 
 owned by his father's brother, Henry Puzey, at 
 Bow, London, where for five years he served an 
 apprenticeship, his father paying forty pounds ster- 
 ling as tuition, clothing him beside. Showing a 
 great deal of natural aptitude for his chosen voca- 
 tion, he remained with this house during the five 
 years of his apprenticeship and four years longer, 
 receiving an annual salary varying from twenty to 
 forty pounds sterling from his first to his last year 
 in that business. 
 
 The years of manhood were now dawning upon 
 him, and as time passed by his inclination grew 
 stronger to see more of the world, and so his at- 
 tention was naturally directed to America. His 
 experience in London was very valuable to him as 
 a business man. In the latter part of April, 1850, 
 he crossed the Atlantic, landing at Castle Garden, 
 New York City. From the metropolis of the New 
 World he came directly to Vermilion County. 
 Land was very cheap in Illinois at that time, yet 
 with all his money he could scarcely buy forty 
 acres. Here lie was, almost at the end of civiliza- 
 tion, without means and without experience save 
 as a dry goods clerk in London. He was about to 
 conclude that he had made the great mistake of his 
 life, but a determined will to succeed kept him 
 steadily and persistently following out his orio-inal 
 idea of growing up with the American West. 
 After remaining here seven j^cars he returned to 
 England, where, in 1857, he was married to Miss 
 Hannah, daughter of James and Elizabeth Rymer, 
 who were well-to-do farmers of Gloucestershire, 
 England. Both her parents were born at the same 
 place, and after a lifetime of industry and "prosper- 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 761 
 
 ity, died at seventy find sixty years respectively. 
 Mrs. Puzey was brouglit up in Gloucestershire, 
 where she was educated in i;ood private schools, 
 and her early religious instruction was in the Epis- 
 copal Cliurch. Mr. and Mrs. Puzey remained 
 ciiihteen months in tiicir native land, before they 
 tools their final departure for their new home in 
 America, where they arrived, after a pleasant jour- 
 ney, in the latter part of 1858. Through the in- 
 telligent use of liis (_>pportunities and enhanced by 
 an endowment from his wife's estate, Mr. Puzey 
 has prospered and become independent, financially 
 spealiing. lie has become a most excellent farmer 
 and is a thorough American at heart. 
 
 Mr. Puzey owns two farms, tlic homestead con- 
 taining 340 acres, and operated by liimself, and a 
 quarter section upon which he lias tenants. Mr. 
 and Mrs. Puzey have five children: Joseph, -lames 
 R., Thomas, Francis E. and Henry, all of whom 
 are at home. Mr. Puzey's career is a brilliant 
 illustration of the fact that a poor man is better off. 
 in America than in England, and that success is 
 always a reward of industry. This worthy couple 
 are members of the Episcopal Church of England. 
 
 -,>, .^.^ — 
 
 MLANSON N. ALBRIGHT. Farming, there 
 dll is little doubt, stands at the front of all 
 
 the industries, for without it men could 
 scarcely exist and carry on the multitu- 
 dinous labors of the world. As time passes it is 
 coming to be looked upon in its true light as an 
 art and a science, and is being prosecuted by some 
 of the most intelligent and able men living. AVhile 
 many are interested in other projects besides, he 
 who has a suri>lus amount of capital invests it 
 wisely when he devotes a portion of it to the 
 acqisition of landed estates and the tilling of the 
 soil. The reputation of this county as a dwelling 
 place, the richness of its resources and its standing 
 to-day is mainly due to the excellence of its farm- 
 ing population. Among the men who have assisted 
 it to its present position may be most properly 
 mentioned the subject of this sketch. 
 
 Alanson Albright represents valuable farm prop- 
 
 erty to the amount of 400 acres of land in Ross 
 Township, and occupies a well-regulated home- 
 stead on section 20. After bringing his land to a 
 good state of cultivation he turned his attention 
 largely to live-stock, and thus laid the foundation 
 of a snug fortune. His career has been signalized 
 by that honesty and iutegritj' which has gviined 
 him the respect of his fellow citizens and raised 
 him to an enviable position in his community. He 
 was born June 12, 1824, in Ohio, and is the son of 
 David Albright. His father was George Albright, 
 Jr., he was the son of (ieorge Albright, Sr., the 
 two latter natives of Switzerland, where the great- 
 grandfather of our subject reared his family and 
 spent his entire life. 
 
 George Albright, Jr., the paternal grandfather of 
 our subject, emigrated from the land of William 
 Tell with his brother Jacob, when they were boys, 
 and they sold themselves to a Lancaster County, 
 Pa., farmer, Mr. (Jrubb, for three years to pay their 
 passage across the ocean. In view of this fact it 
 is Ijelieved the}' ran away from liome. Grand- 
 father Albright served his three years and then was 
 married in Berks County, Pa., to Miss Barbara 
 Cradlebaugh, prior to the Revolutionary War. As 
 the conflict increased in importance he finally left 
 his young wife and shouldering a musket entered 
 the army and served under Gen. Anthony Wayne 
 for seven j-ears. Jacob was also in the army at the 
 same tiuie. After the close of the war Jacob Al- 
 bright located in York County, Pa. Notwithstand- 
 ing his early escapade he was piously inclined, and 
 turned his attention to religious matters, organizing 
 the Albright Church, and giving his life to the 
 ministry thereafter. He spent his last years in 
 York Count}'. Grandfather Albright settled on 
 Dunkin's Island, in Perry County, Pa., where he 
 spent the remainder of his life. At that place was 
 born his son, David, the father of our subject. To 
 the old Revolutionary hero there was awarded by 
 the Government 640 acres of land in what after- 
 ward became Ohio Territory and upon which is 
 now situated the City of Columbus. This prop- 
 erty naturally fell to David, and he, in 1 796. visited 
 it, and considering it of little value, returned liast 
 and located in Virginia, where he employed him- 
 self at his trade of distiller two years. At the 
 
7G2 
 
 rORTllAIT AND BlOfi UAl'IIICAL ALBUM. 
 
 expiration of this time, returning to Pennsylvania, 
 he was mari'ied to Miss Pliube Newman. In due 
 time there was formed a little settlement in Fair- 
 field Bounty, Ohio, and the father of our subject 
 traded his land for a mare, a, cow and |25 in money. 
 The fatnily removed to that county in the mean- 
 time, and there our subject was born, in Perrjr 
 Township, .June 12, 1821. Soon afterward his 
 parents removed to Pickaway County, in the same 
 State, where he was reared. 
 
 To the parents of our subject there were born 
 the following children, namely: Samuel, Betsy, 
 Hannah, Alanson N., Louis, Jackson, P0II3', Oliver 
 P. and Frederick. Five of them are living and 
 located mostly in this county. In 1840 the parents 
 resolved upon another change of residence, and 
 removed to Clinton County, Ind., where they ex- 
 perienced all tlie hardships and privations of fron- 
 tier life. George Albright was an expert .hunter, 
 a sport in which he took great satisfaction and de- 
 light. He lived to be about ninety years old. The 
 mother passed away at the age of eighty years. 
 
 Our subject was a youth of fifteen years when 
 he removed with his father's family from Ohio to 
 Indiana. About that time he started out for him- 
 self, and engaged by the month to drive cattle from 
 Indiana to the Eastern markets. He was then em- 
 ployed until the fall of 18r)5. In the meantime he 
 was married, Jan. 10, 1854. to Miss Jane, daughter 
 of William Beevens, of New York State. In 1843 
 he made his way to this county and herded and 
 drove cattle, prior to the time of anj' settlement 
 within its limits. It was he who named Bean 
 Creek. About 1858 he began farming in Vance 
 Township, but afterward made several trips East 
 with stock. He also visited the South, selling 
 stock in several of the Southern States, as well as 
 the Eest. 
 
 The parents of INIrs. Albright came to this State 
 probably early in the fifties. Mrs. Albright died 
 in 1859, while a young woman, leaving no children. 
 Our subject, on the 17th of November, 1861, con- 
 tracted a second marriage with Miss Ama Plevins; 
 of this there was two childi-en, one is still living. 
 Ilis second wife died in 1868. The daughter's 
 n'lme is Hannah .Tanc. His third wife was Athinda, 
 daughter of Henry and Fve (Hamaker) Groves. 
 
 This union resulted in the birth of seven children, 
 namely: Susan, Mrs. W. K. Braden of this county; 
 George W. U., Mary E. C, Frederick li., Charles 
 P., Aaron J. K. and Laura A. M., all of whom are 
 living. The paternal grandfather of Mrs. Albright 
 was George Grove, a native of Holland, where he 
 spent his entire life and reared his family. Her 
 parents were natives of Pennsylvania, their mar- 
 riage occurring in Dauphin County, Pa. Tliey 
 settled in Sangamon County, 111., in 1824, where 
 they spent the remainder of their lives. The 
 Hamaker family also located there at an early day. 
 Grandfather Grove and his wife were devout mem- 
 bers of the German Baptist Church. Grandfather 
 Hamaker was a preacher in this C'liurch. Mrs. 
 Albright belongs to the Christian Church. 
 
 Mr. Albright cast his first Presidential vote for 
 Gen. Taylor. Further than keeping himself well 
 posted upon current events, he has had little to do 
 with public affairs or the responsibilities of office. 
 ^Ile is, however, President of the Agricultural 
 Society of Ross Township, and belongs to the Ma- 
 sonic Fraternity, Lodge No. 527, at Kossville, of 
 which he is a charter member. He has been a 
 Mason for the long period of forty-five years, be- 
 coming identified with the fraternity in Circleville, 
 Ohio. 
 
 =^ \\'ILSE TILTON is a prominent merchant 
 and Postmaster in the township, in which he 
 lives. His father Enoch Tilton, was born 
 in Fayette County, Pa. His mother Elizabeth Wil- 
 son, was born in Beaver Countj', of the same State. 
 The^' settled in the place of her birth, and from 
 there moved to Ripley County, Ind., in 1844. It 
 was here that Mr. Tilton died. Not long after 
 this, his wife also died at Potomac, this county, in 
 1887, leaving a family of nine sons, of whom our 
 subject was the second. The place of his birth was 
 Beaver County, Pa., and the time Jan. 8, 1836. In 
 1862 he traveled to this county, and taught school 
 for four years. Thus far thirteen years of his 
 life had been spent in teaching, as he had been a 
 school-master nine years prior to his coming to 
 Vermilion County. He then found employment as 
 
PORTRAIT AND UloOliAPIIlCAL ALBUM. 
 
 7C3 
 
 lerk under the late Richard James. This |)Ositiou 
 e kept for two years, after which, in 1868 he 
 jrmed a partnership, and went into business for 
 imself. Eventually Mr. Tilton lioiight out the en- 
 re business, which he has since conducted in his 
 wn name. He carries an unusually fine stock of 
 lerchandise. In addition to his store at Catlin, he 
 wns one which is operated by his son. 
 
 Mr. Tilton was appointed Postmaster under the 
 dministration of Cleveland. He had held the 
 flice of Superintendent, and almost all the offices 
 1 the township. For fourteen years he was con- 
 ected with the Vermilion County Agricultural So- 
 iety, being its President for three months, and its 
 'ice-President for several years. Our subject is a 
 lember of the Catlin Lodge A. F. & A. M., No. 
 85, and was Master of the lodge five years. 
 
 Our subject's life is a noble record pf vast en- 
 rgy, untiring labor, and fervent, and unfading 
 ourage. Those who knew him familiarly, loved 
 nd valued him more and more, the longer their 
 ntercourse lasted. His marriage with Elizabeth 
 lilbright, occurred in Ripley County, Ind. They 
 ad three children: Charles Virgil, who is in com- 
 lany with his father; Elsie Venus, who is the wife 
 f A. McGregor; and Bertie Victor. Mr. Tilton 
 as been a correspondent of the Danville Nph's for 
 fteen years. Mr. Tilton is rather a reserved man, 
 nd boasts very little of the good and loveable 
 raits and sentiments which he so happily possesses. 
 
 ^1 OHN W. GIDDINGS, a prominent citizen 
 of Danville, and a native of that place, was 
 born April 21,1842. His father, William 
 ^/y Giddings, was born in Bedfordshire, Eng- 
 uid, and was there reared and married. He was 
 bie only member of the family that came to Amer- 
 ?.a. He learned the trade of a wagonmaker in his 
 ative land, and was a journeyman till 1837, when 
 [e sailed from London early in that j'eai',;and was 
 journeyman till 1837, when he sailed from Lon- 
 on early in that year, and in due time landed at 
 few York. He came directly to Danville, the 
 ourney being made by the way of the lakes, canal 
 
 and teams. Wlien he came to Danville he was 
 wealthy in everything but money, that is to say, 
 he was in the possession of good spirits and of any 
 amount of hope. The town was then a small place. 
 He at once commenced work at his trade as a 
 journeyman, and with his savings he bought his 
 employer's business, and engaged in the manufac- 
 ture of wagons and plows. The plows he first 
 made were constructed with wooden mould boards. 
 The forests were searched to find trees that had the 
 right shape for this portion of the plow. Later he 
 manufactured carriages, wagons and steel plows, 
 and in this business he built up an extensive trade, 
 in wiiich he was engaged until the time of his 
 death, which occurred in September, 1875. For 
 many years there was no railroad built to Dan- 
 ville, and he procured his supplies from Cincinnati 
 by teams. After a few years Chicago became the 
 commercial center, and he changed his place of 
 buying to that place, but still the only mode of 
 transportation was with horses or oxen. The 
 maiden name of his wife and the mother of the 
 subject of this article, was Caroline Kitchener. She 
 was born in Bedfordshire, England, and died in 
 Danville in 1874. Herself and her brother Charles 
 were the only members .of her family that came 
 to America. Charles settled near ^\'orcester, Mass., 
 and is now deceased. In the family of William 
 Giddings were nine children, eight of whom are 
 living: Fannie is the wife of John J. Partlow, and 
 lives in Danville; Caroline is dead; Charles, George 
 and Albert live in Danville; Eliza married Harvey 
 Riggs, and is now residing in Spink County, Dak.; 
 Laura is the widow of Edwin Martin, and lives in 
 Danville. 
 
 John W. Giddings was educated in the schools 
 of his native city, and when but a boy commenced 
 work in his father's shop, and thoroughlj' learned 
 the art of carriage painting. He thus continued at 
 work until May, 1862, when he enlisted in Com- 
 pany A, 71st Illinois Infantry, for the period of 
 ninety days. He was sick nearly all the time of 
 his service, and was discharged in October, 1862, 
 when he returned home, remaining ill for one year 
 after his return. He again entered the army, in 
 ]\Iay, 1864, this time enlisting in the 13r>th Illinois 
 Infantry, serving until the following fall, when he 
 
ro4 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 was discbarged on iiccuunt of the expiration of his 
 term of service. b\ 18G5, with his brotlier Charles, 
 and brother-in-law, O. S. Stewart, a partnership 
 business was formed under the firm name of Gid- 
 dings, Stewart & Co., tiie firm succeeding to his 
 father's business. This firm continued four or 
 five jrears in business, when he and his brother 
 bought the interest of Mr. Stewart, and so con- 
 tinued until 1876, when he purchased his brother's 
 interest also, and was thus the sole proprietor. In 
 1S79 he formed a partnership with James A. Pat- 
 terson, adding to the business. 
 
 On the 13th of January, 1867, Mr. Giddings 
 married Samantha A. McKee, who was born in 
 Georgetown, this State. She was the daughter of 
 Elijah and Abigail (Starr) McKee. Mr. McKee 
 was born in Fleming County, Ky. Mr. McKee's 
 father, the grandfatUer of Mrs. Giddings, was born 
 in Pennsylvania, and emigrated to Kentucky at 
 an early day. He resided there until 1838, when 
 h(^ came to Vermilion County, the trip being made 
 with teams. He settled two miles east of Dan- 
 ville, and bought timber land and built a log house. 
 He resided on the old farm until his death. The 
 father of Mrs. Giddings was eighteen years old 
 when he came to this county. He taught school 
 several terms, and at the time of his marriage was 
 learning the trade of a wagon-maker. He fol- 
 lowed this occupation until 1860, when he was 
 elected to the office of Clerk of the Circuit Court, 
 a position he held eight j^ears. His death oceurred 
 IMarch 5, 1869. Mrs. Giddings maternal grand- 
 father, Absalom Starr, removed from Ohio to this 
 State in 1821. The journey was made with ox 
 teams. T'hey remained awhile near Palestine, Ind., 
 and while tiiere the mother of Mrs. Giddings was 
 born. They came to Danville in 1821, and Mr. 
 Starr is among the first settlers of A'ermilion 
 County, his deed being the first one ever recorded 
 on the county books. The land is located two 
 miles west of Georgetown, and was originally heav- 
 ily timbered. He resided here on the old home- 
 sleatl until his death. His wife survived him 
 many years, dying at the age of eighty -seven. 
 
 John W. Giddings has inherited, in a full meas- 
 ure, the characteristics of his father. He is an 
 energetic, capable and honorable business man, and 
 
 though his father came here a poor man, and at 
 the time of his death was one of the wealthiest 
 men of Danville, there is no doubt but that the 
 junior Giddings would have followed in the foot- 
 stejjs of his worthy father had he been placed in 
 his position, Mr. Giddings has a beautiful resi- 
 dence, built in 1887, and located on Hazel street, 
 where he lives happily with his family. Mr. and 
 Mrs. Giddings worship at the Methodist Episcopal 
 Church, and he is a member of the Odd Fellows. 
 
 U 
 
 R. CHANDLER. The life of a good 
 man in a world containing so much of sin 
 and sorrow, shines out like the noonday 
 sun and redeems the earth from the gloom which 
 would otherwise envelop it. The early settlement 
 of the Great West developed many brave and cour- 
 ageous spirits who encountered untold diflflculti- 
 ties in the struggle of life on the frontier, and who 
 in addition to bravely fighting the battles which 
 immediately beset them, also lent a helping hand 
 to their fellow creatures, stimulating them to ex- 
 ertion at the time which tried men's souls and en- 
 abled them to breast the waves and reach a safe 
 harbor. 
 
 These thoughts are suggested in recalling the 
 history of JMr. Chandler, now of Bismark and who 
 has been a resident of this county most of the time for 
 the long period of sixtj^-one years, having come 
 here as early as 1828. It is hardly neccessary to 
 say that the soil of this region had then scarcely 
 been pressed by the foot of a white man. Indians, 
 prairie wolves and other dangerous creatures were 
 plentiful, also deer and wild game of all kinds. It 
 was some years before rapid settlement commenced, 
 and he, who first ventured into these wilds practi- 
 cally took his life in his hands. The extraordi- 
 nary change which has passed over the face of the 
 of the country during the last half century has 
 been witnessed by our subject with that warm 
 interest and satisfaction which can only be felt by 
 the intelligent and thoughtful mind. Now over a 
 once uncultivated waste are seen beautiful farms 
 
PORTRAIT AND lilOCi ItAPMICAL ALBUM. 
 
 765 
 
 md prosperous villages anrl a vast population oc- 
 cupying themselves with agricultural and various 
 jther industries needed to serve so great a country. 
 [n bringing about this condition of things, Mr. 
 Chandler may be properly classed among those 
 men who have contributed their full quota to the 
 present wealth and well-being of Illinois. 
 
 A native of Harrison County, Ky., Mr. Chand- 
 ler was born Dec. 5, 1821, and is the son of Jehu and 
 Polly (Swinford) Chandler, the former a native of 
 Wilmington, Del., and the latter of Harrison 
 County, Ky. The parents of our subject came to 
 Illinois in 1828, locating first in Newell Township, 
 ^'ermilion County, where they resided until 1854. 
 Then, laying aside the more active duties of life, 
 they removed to Danville, and Jehu Chandler 
 rested from earthly labors in February, 185'J. 
 The mother that same year returned to Newell 
 Township, where her death took place in April, 
 1862. Their remains rest side by side in Walnut 
 Corner Cemetery, Newell Township. 
 
 The subject of this sketch was in the seventh 
 year of his age when he came to Newell Township 
 with his parents, and tbis with the exception of 
 ten years has since remained his home. He fol- 
 lowed carpentering in Danville from 1864 to 1874, 
 then returned to Newell Township and still con- 
 tinued to work as a carpenter until 1880. In 1882 
 he commenced buying and shipping grain of all 
 kinds, paying the highest market price and realiz- 
 ing therefrom a handsome profit. In the meantime 
 he became prominent in local affairs and was rec- 
 ognized as one of the most liberal and public- 
 spirited citizens of his township. He served as 
 Assessor during the years 1859-60 and in 1860 was 
 elected Justice of the Peace, which position he 
 held four years. Prior to this he was elected 
 School Director and Township Trustee, and ever 
 maintained his warm interest in the cause of educa- 
 tion and all of those projects having for their ob- 
 ject the moral welfare of the people. 
 
 Mr. Chandler was again brought to the front in 
 1885, being elected Justice of the Peace, serving 
 his time acceptably, and was re-elected in 1889. 
 To the duties of this office he has brought that 
 sound judgment and temperance of action which 
 have gained him the eat^em and confidence of all 
 
 with whom he has dealt. From 1885 to 1889 he 
 officiated as a Notary Public. 
 
 The marriage of our subject with Miss Malinda 
 Cunningham was celebrated Nov. 21,1844. This 
 lady was the daughter of William and Mary Cunn- 
 ingham, both of whom weie natives of Pennsylva- 
 nia. The latter soon after their marriage removed 
 to Plarrison County, Ky., and thence, in 1829, to 
 Newell Township, Vermilion Co., 111., where they 
 spent the remainder of their days. The mother 
 died in September, 1844. Mr. Cunningham sur- 
 vived his wife a number of years, passing away in 
 May, 1852. Their remains were laid to rest in 
 what is known as Brierly Cemetery, in Newell 
 Township. Mrs. Chandler was reared principally 
 in Newell Township, and by her union with our 
 subject became the mother of the following children: 
 Mary J., Emma, Ann, Rosetta C, William J. and 
 Laura E., all of whom are living, but the mother 
 passed to her long home Sept. 5, 1863. She was 
 a lady of many excellent qualities and a consistent 
 member of the Christian Church, in the faith of 
 which she died. Her remains repose in Brierly Ceme- 
 tery. Mr.Chandlerhas been identified with the Chris- 
 tian Church forty-three years. In 1874 he took 
 up his residence in Bismark, which was laid out in 
 1872. He keeps himself well posted in regard to 
 State and National affairs, and is a strong Repub- 
 lican in politics. No man in the county stands 
 higher, and none are more deserving of the esteem 
 and confidence of their fellow-men. 
 
 HARLES W. WARNER, editor and pro- 
 prietor of the "Hoopeston Daily and Weekly 
 Chronicle" is conducting the only daily 
 paper in the county outside of Danville. He is 
 making of it a newsy, local sheet, pleasing to the 
 people most concerned and in connection there- 
 with is building up a thriving job department. He 
 is a gentleman enterprising and intelligent, an easy 
 and forcible writer and evidently possessed of the 
 proper idea in connection with running a local 
 paper. The interests of the people of this section 
 
TdC 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 are held uppermost and the Chronicle has become 
 one of its indispensable institutions. 
 
 The first three years of the life of our subject 
 were spent in Montgomery County, Ind., where he 
 was born Jan. 24, 1857. In 18C0 his parents re- 
 moved to West Lebanon in the same State, where 
 they lived four 3'ears, then changed their residence 
 to Rossville, in this count}-, and in this latter |)lace 
 Charles W. completed his education by attendance 
 at the High School. lie subsequently taught school 
 two terms in Champaign County, near Homer. 
 Later he assumed the duties of Deputy County 
 Clerk under John AV. Dale at Danville and from 
 there came to Hoopeston in February, 1879, and 
 became associated with the Chronicle, assisting in 
 both the editorial and mechanical departments of 
 the paper. With the exception of four months 
 spent as a Clerk in the State Legislature during 
 the session of the Thirty-second General Assembly, 
 he remained in this capacity until July, 1882. He 
 tlien leased the plant of the Chronicle, the ''Daily" 
 then having been started only three months before. 
 Its continuation was consequently an uncertainty. 
 
 Mr. Warner, however, renewed his lease from 
 year to year at the same time enlarging the circu- 
 lation of the paper and introducing new facilities 
 for the pro'ecution of job work. In 1887 he pur- 
 chased the entire concern and the prospect is that 
 the Chronicle and its appurtenances will continue 
 to prosper and grow strong. In addition to this 
 business, Mr. Warner is connected with the Illinois 
 Canning Company of which he has been Secretary 
 since its organization, in 1887. In the K. of P. he 
 stands high, being the first Commander of his lodge. 
 He has had no political aspirations for himself, 
 but labors vigorously in behalf of the Republican 
 party and is occasionally sent as a delegate to the 
 various party conventions. His industry and good 
 judgment are made serviceable in many respects in 
 local affairs, both social and political. June 15, 
 1889, he was elected by his Republican friends, pa- 
 trons of the Hoopeston post-office, to the position 
 of Postmaster. He was immediately api)ointed bj' 
 President Harrison and now holds that position. 
 
 The marriage of our subject with Miss Lillian 
 M. C^lark was celebrated at the bride's home in 
 Hoopeston, Dec. 13, 1883. Mrs. Warner is a na- 
 
 tive of Wenona, this State and was born May 9, 
 1864. She came to Hoopeston with her parents in 
 1873. The latter wer(j W. R. and Henrietta B 
 (Fitton) Clark, who continue residents of this 
 place. She is possessed of great skill as an artist 
 and decorator. 
 
 The parents of our subject were Abner and 
 Mary (Cadwallader) Warner, the former of whom 
 was liorn in Ross County, Ohio, April 11,1811. 
 He spent his boyhood and youth in the Buckeye 
 State and prior to his marriage removed to Indiana, 
 settling near Crawfordsville where he met Miss 
 Cadwallader and they were married March 9, 1851. 
 Mr. Warner was a farmer by occupation during 
 his early manhood, but after his removal to Ross- 
 ville engaged in mercantile business which he pros- 
 ecuted nntil 1876. He then retired from active 
 business and departed this life July 15, 1888. 
 He was a plain and unassuming man and a member 
 of the Society of Friends. 
 
 The mother of our subject was born near Craw- 
 fordsville, Ind., and lived there with her parents 
 until her marriage. Her union with Mr. Warner 
 resulted in the birth of four children, only two of 
 whom are living — Our subject, and Perry M., the 
 latter residing on a farm near Rossville, and the 
 mother makes her home with him. Tiie paternal 
 grandfather of our subject was Isaac Warner, a na- 
 tive of Philadelphia. Early in life he emigrated to 
 Ohio where he became the owner of land and en- 
 gaged in agricultural pursuits. He married Miss 
 Mary Winder, who also died in Ohio. 
 
 ^11 LBERT G. OLMSTED is a worthy de- 
 Lm scendant of Puritan ancestry, his fore- 
 fathers having been numbered among the 
 early settlers of New England. In a 
 later day and generation his grandparents and 
 parents became pioneers of A^ermilion County, and 
 here the most of his life has been passed. He has 
 not only been a witness of the marvelous growth of 
 this section of the county in the fifty years that he 
 has lived here as boj^ and man, but it has been his 
 good fortune to aid in its upbuilding. For many 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 769 
 
 years he has beon intimately connected with the 
 material prosperity of Catlin Township as a progres- 
 sive and skillful agriculturist, and as one of its most 
 intluential public officers. He owns a farm on 
 section 23, that in all its appointments and improve- 
 ments is equal to any other in this locality, and 
 here he and his wife have an attractive home, to 
 which they welcome many friends, as they have a 
 warm place in the hearts of tlie entire commun- 
 ity. 
 
 Stanley Olmsted, the father of our subject, was 
 born in the city of Hartford, Conn., to George 
 Olmsted, Sr., and his wife, Hannah (Roberts) Olm- 
 sted, natives of New Piingland. They came to 
 Vermilion County from Ohio in 1839, and he died 
 here two years later. His wife did not long survive 
 him, dydng in September, 1843. Their son, Stanley, 
 married Almira Green, a native of Vermont, and 
 they began the journey of life together in James- 
 town, Chautauqua Co., N. Y,, where he was 
 busily engaged for several years in constructing a 
 farm from the primeval forests of that section of 
 the country. He subsequently removed from there 
 with his family to jNIarietta, Wasliington Co., Ohio, 
 but after living there five years, he came with 
 them, in 1839, to Vermilion County, making the 
 journey down the Ohio River, up the Wabash 
 River to Perrysville, and thence going to what is 
 now known as Batestown, and settling in that 
 vicinity among the pioneers that had preceded them 
 to this] then wild, sparsely settled country. The 
 father operated a sawmill known as Olmsted Mill, 
 and besides manufacturing lumber, engaged in 
 building flatboats, that being the only mill where 
 such boats were built, and the most of those that 
 were made in this section of the country weie 
 built there. He was a member of the Masonic fra- 
 ternity and quite a prominent man in his commun- 
 ity, and his death, in 1848, was considered a lo>s 
 to the township. His widow was re-married about 
 ten years afterwards, becoming the wife of Thom.MS 
 W. Douglas, an<l is still living in Catlin Townshi|i 
 at an advanced age. She holds to the Presbyter- 
 ian faitli, and is a sincere Christian. 
 
 Of the ten children that blessed the union of 
 Stanley Omsted and wife, our subject was the sec- 
 ond in order of birth. He was born in the vicinity 
 
 of Jamestown, Chautauqua Co., N. Y., Oct. 14, 
 1831. He was a lad of about eight years when he 
 accompanied his parents and grandparents to this 
 county, and the remaining years of his boyhood 
 and his youth were passed in Danville and Catlin 
 townships. His education was obtained in the old 
 log school-house of those early days. He early be- 
 gan life for himself, as he was but seventeen years 
 of age when his father died, and the main charge 
 of the family devolved upon him, he renting land 
 and working at farming to support those depend- 
 ent upon him. When he was twenty-four years 
 old he married and rented a farm in Catlin Town- 
 ship the ensuing seven years, the place belonging 
 to Harry Sandusky. After that he bought a small 
 place in Catlin Village, and continued renting land 
 for three years. The second year after the pur- 
 chase of the County Farm in 1867, he was ap- 
 pointed Superintendent of it, and he was found to 
 be the right man in the right place, faithfully and 
 conscienciously discharging the duties of that oner- 
 ous position, by his skillful farming improving the 
 land, and treating the poor people under his charge 
 with firmness and kindness. He retained that office 
 eight years, and then tendered his resignation, as 
 lie decided to invest some of his money in land and 
 go to farming on his own account. Sooi- after he 
 took possession of the land he now owns and op- 
 erates, it having been the homestead of the parents 
 of Mrs. Omsled, of which she inherited a portion. 
 The balance was purchased by Mr. Omsted. His 
 present farm consists of 180 acres of land, exceed- 
 ingly rich and productive, and he has been con- 
 stantly making improvements till the place is 
 considered : one of the best in the neighborhood. 
 He has erected a good set of farm buildings and a 
 pleasant residence, finely located somewhat back 
 from the highway. 
 
 This homestead formerly belonged to Mrs. Olm- 
 sted's parents, Thomas N. and Mary Brown (San- 
 dusky) Wright, early pioneers of ^'ermilion County, 
 and here she was born and bred, and on this spot, 
 under an apple tree in the yard, her marriage with 
 our subject was solemnized July 22, 1855, and here 
 her life has thus far been spent happily and se- 
 renely. She has never been very far from this 
 home of her birth, and has never ridden in the 
 
770 
 
 PORTRAIT AND RIOCRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 cai's,orevcn beyond the limits of the county. Mrs. 
 Olmsted is a notable housekeeper, and is well 
 versed in the art of making tlioso about her com- 
 fortable, and everyone who crosses herthreshhold 
 is sure of a cheerful welcome. Her parents were 
 born in Bourbon County, Ky., and when the father 
 was nineteen years old and the mother twenty, 
 they came to Vermilion County, and were united 
 in marriage six weeks later, in the year 1831, near 
 Indianola, and immediately settled on the farm 
 now owned l}y Mr. Olmsted. Blr. Wright built a 
 log cabin, and in that humble abode they began 
 their wedded life. May 31, 1851, J\lrs. Wright 
 died, leaving five children, of whom Elizabeth 
 Ann, jMrs. Olmsted, was the eldest. The father 
 was afterwards married to Nancy Dougherty, and 
 he died Nov. IS, 1872, on the homestead that he 
 had eliminated from the wild prairies. Mrs. Olm- 
 sted was born Sept. 22, 1832. In this home of her 
 girlhood and womanhood five children have blessed 
 her wedded life with our subject, namely: Mary 
 B., the wife of John II. Palmer; Charles, who mar- 
 ried Agnes Kmmett, who died Nov. 17, 18H7; 
 William C, who married Miss Eva Beck; George 
 E. ; and Albert C. 
 
 Mr. Olmsted has been a valuable citizen of this 
 section of Vermilion County since attaining man- 
 hood, as he is>a man of good personal habits, is just 
 and honest in his dealings, wise and safe in coun- 
 sel, and has always exerted his influence to advance 
 the interests of his couimunity morally, socially 
 and educationally. He has taken an active part 
 in the public life of this township, has held the 
 office of Supervisor two terms, and for eleven years 
 was School Trustee. He is a valued member of 
 Catlin Lodge No. 285, A. F. & A. M. He has 
 been Master of the lodge. In politics he sides 
 with the Democrats, and is a strong supporter of 
 party principles. Both he and his wife are faith- 
 ful members of the Presbyterian Church, and the 
 acts of their daily lives show them to be consistent 
 Christians. 
 
 A fine lithographic view of the handsome home 
 and surroundings of Mr. Olmsted is sliown else- 
 where in this volume. 
 
 <^ I^ILLIAM W. BARR. This highly-esteemed 
 \aj/l oid resident of Edgar County has had a 
 W^ broad experience of Western life and dur- 
 ing his younger years spent some time in the 
 mining regions of California and Montana. He 
 suffered the usual experiences of the travel across 
 the plains in the early times, coming in contact 
 with all kinds of men and frequently encountering 
 danger from Indians and the cosmopolitan popu- 
 lation which sought that region from most all 
 portions of the civilized world. He, however, was 
 raainlyr prosperous in his undertaking and would 
 probably have sojourned there longer, but was 
 constrained to return on account of his ao-ed 
 mother for whom he cared a number of years until 
 her death. His present homestead is a well-regu- 
 lated farm of 120 acres, lying on section 1 in P^dgar 
 Township and he stands well among the people of 
 his community. 
 
 Mr. Barr was born twenty-five miles from the 
 city of Cincinnati, in Hamilton County, Ohio, 
 April 14, 1824. When a child of six years his 
 parents emigrated to Illinois overland with teams 
 of horses and oxen, crossing the Wabash River at 
 Perryville where they spent the winter. In the 
 spring of 1831 they came to Edgar County, 111. 
 and settled on a tract of wild land, that which con- 
 stitutes the present farm of our subject, and for a 
 number of years lived in a log cabin. The Pot- 
 tawatomie Indians had not yet left this region and 
 our subject has seen as many as 300 at a time. 
 There was an abundance of game including large 
 numbers of deer, also wolves, and in hunting the 
 latter the settlers frequently banded together. 
 
 Our subject was reared to manhood at the farm 
 which he now occupies, growing up with limited 
 school advantages, his studies being conducted in 
 the log cabin mostly during the winter season. He 
 remained under the iiome roof until twenty-one 
 years old, then in the spring of 1845 started on 
 foot for the Galena lead mines accompanied by a 
 friend. Sometimes they would walk nearly a whole 
 day without seeing a single house. Upon his arrival 
 at Janesville, Wis., Mr. Barr abandoned his first 
 intention of lead mining and engaged to work on 
 a farm. He remained in the Badger State until 
 the fall of the year and rode home in a wagon. 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 771 
 
 He sojourned with the family until the following 
 spring. 
 
 Our subject now set out for Piatt Countj^ where 
 he worked on a farm several months, then in the 
 fall returned home, remaining there that winter. 
 In 1846, crossing the Mississippi, he went on horse- 
 back into Mahaska Couutj\ Iowa, but staj'ed there 
 only six months, then went to Marion County and 
 assisted in the erection of a sawmill four miles 
 north of Pella on the Skunk River. In the fall of 
 1848 he engaged iu rafting and boating on the 
 Des Moines and Mississippi rivers as far as St. 
 Louis, following this one season. In the spring of 
 1850 our subject started for California with an ox 
 team taking the North Platte route, and crossed 
 the plains to Salt Lake City where he heard Brigham 
 Young preach two sermons. After a journey of 
 four and one-half months he reached Placerville 
 almost out of funds but managed to buy an old 
 shovel and pick and commenced working in the 
 mines. A few days later, however, he went further 
 south to the vicinity of Sonora on the Stanislaus 
 River and sojourned in that vicinity over two 
 years doing well. In June, 1853, he started liome- 
 ward via the Panama route and when reaching this 
 county purchased his present farm. He brought 
 his mother to his home and engaged in farming and 
 stock-raising until the spring of 1864. 
 
 Our subject now started for Montana with an ox 
 team, joining a train at Oskaloosa and once more 
 went over the plains, this time finding a few scat- 
 tering houses along the route for 200 miles west 
 of Omaha. At one time while in camp the party 
 were attacked by 700 Indians against 300 of their 
 own number. They fought from 7 a. m. until 4 
 p. M., then disbanded and left forty of their numbei 
 dead on the field. Mr. Barr and others made 
 their way to Virginia Cit}^ where he stayed four 
 months engaged in mining, then repaired to Silver 
 Bow Creek and stayed there mining until the fall 
 of 1865. He then set out for home down the 
 Yellow Stone and Missouri rivers on a flatboat to 
 Omaha, then joined a train and in due time reached 
 home and has since been engaged in agricultural 
 pursuits. 
 
 Mr. Barr lias made all his improvements on his 
 present place, breaking the first sod, building 
 
 fences, setting out forest and fruit trees and adding 
 from time to time the various conveniences neces- 
 sary to successful agriculture. He makes a specialty 
 of stock-raising, having a good quality of cattle 
 and swine and Norman draft horses. He was 
 married in Edgar Township in 1854 to Miss Letitia 
 Wood who was born in Clairmont County, Ohio, 
 and came to Illinois with her parents, William and 
 Sally (Stinson) Wood, at an early day. Mr. Wood 
 was a blacksmith by trade and the parental family 
 consisted of twelve children. 
 
 The seven children born to Mr. and Mrs. Barr 
 are recorded as follows: Sarah J. became the wife 
 of L. C. Stewart, a farmer of Champaign County, 
 111.; Mary E., is the wife of Richard Daniels, and 
 they live at the homestead; Rosetta is also with 
 her parents; J. William owns and operates 160 acres 
 of land in Gilliam County, Ore. ; Anna B., Pjlizabelh 
 and Oliver are unmarried aud at home. Mr. Barr, 
 politically, is a staunch Democrat and has been a 
 School Director in his district for many years. He 
 was Commissioner of Highways two 3fears and has 
 served as Road Supervisor. 
 
 The father of our subject was William Barr, Sr., 
 a nativ»iOf Ireland from which country the paternal 
 grandfather came and settled in Pennsylvania 
 where he spent the remainder of his life. William 
 was a lad of nine years when he crossed the Atlantic 
 and was reared in the cities of Pittsburg and 
 Philadelphia. When reaching manhood he went 
 to Ohio where he was married and engaged in 
 farming in Hamilton County. In 1830 he started 
 Avitli a team for the West and coming to Edgar 
 County, 111. entered eighty acres of the farm now 
 occupied by his son, our subject. He put up a log 
 house, brought the land to a state of cultivation 
 and purchased fortj- acres additional, owning at the 
 time of his death 120 acres. His decease occurred 
 in 1852, when he was sixty-five years old. In re- 
 ligion he was a Predestinarian Baptist and officiated 
 for a time as a Deacon. 
 
 The maiden name of the mother of our subject 
 was Mildred Carter; she was born in Virginia 
 which was also the birthplace of her father, George 
 Carter, who had the honor of occupj-ing the posi- 
 tion of overseer of the slaves of Gen. Washington. 
 Later he moved to Kentucky where he was a pi(j- 
 
772 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 iieer settler .ind where be sjient his Inst ihiys. The 
 irmther of our subject spent her last dn,ys with the 
 hitter, (lying at the a(fvaiiced aye nf ninety-three. 
 The Ave children of the parental family were 
 named respectively, Elizabeth, a daugliter of the 
 mother by a prior marriage to a i\Ir. Davis; 
 ]\Iary J., a resident of Oregon; "^Villinni W., our 
 subject; James, living near Georgetown in Vei'- 
 milion County, 111., and John C, a resident of 
 Oskaloosa, Iowa. The latter during the late war 
 served in an Iowa regiment. 
 
 IRAINI FRASIER, a well-known resident of 
 Hunter Township, owns and occupies a neat 
 iA\^' homestead on section 7, containing 160 
 'il^) acres, 440 on section 6, and forty-five acres 
 on section 8, where he has good improvements, and 
 the modern embellishments of a well-regulated 
 farm. A native of Floj'd County, Ky., he was 
 boiu Oct. 8, 1 82.5, and is the son of Weeks and Anna 
 (Sammons) Frasier, who were either natives of 
 Kentucky, or went there with their respective par- 
 ents from Virginia when very young. The pater- 
 nal grand father of our subject, William Frasier, by 
 name, was a native of Virginia, whence he removed 
 to Kentucky at a Very early daj', and lived there 
 m.any years. When quite well advanced in life, he 
 emigrated to Illinois and spent his last days in Dan- 
 ville, Vermilion Count}'. 
 
 The maternal grandfather of our subject also be 
 came a resident of the Blue Grass State at a ver\- 
 early period in its history, and there spent his last 
 d.iys. The i)arents of our subject were married 
 there, and remained there several years. About 
 1,S31 they emigrated to Illinois, and the father en- 
 tered a tract of land from the Government, located 
 in Stratton Township, where he lived many j-eai's 
 and built up a home from the wilderness. He 
 erected his log cabin in the woods, and cleared the 
 timber by degrees, bringing the soil to a good state 
 of cultivation. In these labors young Hiram took 
 an active part. The jH-esent flourishing town of 
 Paris was then a hamlet of a few log iiouses and a 
 market place. Our su'iject attended scho<.)l in Strat- 
 
 ton Township, the temple of learning being like the 
 other structures around, built of logs and finished 
 with a puncheon floor, and the seats and desks 
 manufactured from slabs, the former set up on rude 
 wooden legs. When writing, the puiiils would sit 
 with their faces to the wall, and when studying 
 would turn around and sit with their backs against 
 their writing desks, which was a long piece of tim- 
 ber fastened to the wall, and upheld by wooden 
 pins. A large fireplace extended across one end of 
 the building, and the chimney was built outside of 
 earth and sticks. The school was maintained on 
 the subscription plan, and the teacher "boarded 
 around." The "institution" was conducted about 
 three months in the year during the winter season. 
 
 Thus the boyhood and youth of our subject were 
 spent in a comparatively uneventful manner until 
 he began to make preparations for the establish- 
 ment of a home of his own. The maiden whom he 
 had chosen for his wife, was Miss Isabel, daughter 
 of Levi and Elizabeth (Bell) Mann, and they were 
 married Jan. 18, 1855. Mrs. Frasier was born near 
 Grcencastle, Ind., and came to this county with her 
 parents about 185 4. IMr. Mann was a native of 
 Ohio, and the son of aniold Virginian of German 
 ancestry. Benjamin Bell the maternal grandfather, 
 is supposed to have been a native of Pennsylvania. 
 ^^'hen leaving the Keystone State, he emigrated 
 first to Darke County, Ohio, and from there to Put- 
 man County, Ind. He sojourned in the Hoosier 
 State a number of years, then pushed on westward 
 across the Mississippi into Hamilton County, Iowa, 
 where he died at the age of one hundred and five 
 j'ears. 
 
 To our subject and his estimable wife there were 
 born six children, namely: Jackson I., Anna J., 
 Levi D., Indiola, Stephen D.,and Mary C, who are 
 all living. The Frasier homestead embraces 650 
 acres of land upon a part of which our subject and 
 his wife began housekeeping soon after their mar- 
 riage. Mr. Frasier politically is a stanch Demo- 
 ci'at, and has been quite prominent in local affairs, 
 serving as Township Supervisor, two terms, Com- 
 missioner one term, and otherwise identilied with 
 its best interests. In 1852 he crossed the plains 
 with a span of mules and a ))uggy from Omaha. 
 IN'eb., to Salt Lake Cit}', and from that point went 
 
PORTRAIT AND moaRAPIIICAL ALBUM. 
 
 r73 
 
 with a team to Sacramento, CaL, where lie remained 
 about two and one-lialf years. He retnrned via 
 tlie water route from San Francisco on the steam- 
 ship "(iolden Gate" to the Isthmus of Panama, 
 then traveled forty miles on mnleback to the Clia- 
 gres River, where he took a train to Aspinwall, and 
 thence sailed by the ocean steamer "George Law," 
 to New York City, after which he returned home. 
 He considers the time and money involved as well 
 spent. 
 
 To the pai-ents of our subject tlicre were born 
 five sons and five daughters, namely: James, born 
 in Floyd County, Ky., May 14, 1818; William, 
 Hiram, Lucinda, Thomas, Jonathan, Holly, Fannie, 
 Nancy J., and Sarah A. Four of these are living, 
 and residents of Illinois, Missouri and Dakota. 
 
 y^ILLIAM A.ZIMMERLY, a native of Grand 
 View Township, and a son of one of its ear- 
 
 W^ liost pioneers, owns and ocenpies his father's 
 old homestead, comprising a well regulated farm on 
 section 36. He is easily recognised as a man of 
 more than ordinary intelligence, and occupies a 
 good position in the community, being prominent 
 in social and business circles, and at diffeient times 
 elected to the various local otiices. His farm is 
 embellished by one of the best houses in this sec- 
 tton, a roomy and substantial structure, finely 
 adapted to all the purposes of farm life. The other 
 buildings, together with the machinery and live 
 stock, indicate the supervision of the thorough and 
 skillful modern agriculturalist. 
 
 Jacob Zimmerly, Jr., the father of our subject, 
 was a native of Virginia and the son of .lacob, Sr., 
 who was born in (lermany. Grandfather Zimmerly 
 emigrated to Illinois about fifty-two years ago, set- 
 tling in Symmes Township, this county. Father 
 and son died the same year, about forty-seven years 
 ago. The mother of our subject was in her girl- 
 hood, Miss Becky Bays, a native of Kentucky. 
 After the death of Jlr. Zimmerly, sh<i was married 
 to Atwell Sisson and became a widow a second 
 nine. She is still living, making her home with 
 
 l.i I >on, William A., our subject, and is seventy- 
 
 four yeai's old. She enjoys good health and is able 
 to relate many an intcrsting incident of life in the 
 pioneer days. 
 
 The parents of our subject were married in 
 Illinois, ill 183.'), and began their wedded life 
 together at the place now owned l)y their son, Wil- 
 lia-m A. It was then merel.y a tract of wild land, 
 and they commenced at first principles to construct 
 a homestead. The father was successful in his 
 labors as a tiller of the soil, and was recognised as 
 one of the leading men of his community. The 
 household circle was completed by the birth of 
 three children, only two of whom are living. 
 William A., the youngest of the family, was born 
 Jan. 21,1841. lie studied his first lessons in a little 
 log cabin, at a school conducted on the subscription 
 plan, and carried on in the winter season c)nly. 
 His educational advantages were thus very limited, 
 but bj' reading and observation he kept liimself 
 posted in regard to important events, and thus 
 bears fair c(miparison with the intelligent men 
 around him. He took upon himself the sterner 
 duties of life at the age of eighteen years, assuming 
 the management of the home farm, wbich he has 
 since operated, and in connection with its cultiva- 
 tion he has for many years been interested in live 
 stock, buying, feeding and shipping. 
 
 Our subject, in 1862, brought a bride to the'old 
 roof tree, lieing married to Miss Arminta, daughter 
 of Lemuel Walls, of Symmes Township. They l)e- 
 came the parents of five children, only three of whom 
 are living; and Mrs. Zimmerly departed this life in 
 l<s7;j. Horatio \ ., the eldest son, married Miss 
 Chrissy Walz, is the father of one child, and is 
 farming in Cirand View Township. The other 
 sons, Andrew A. and Jacob L., are at home with 
 their father. Mr. Zimmerly, in 1.S77, contracted a 
 second marriage with IMiss Mary Walz. daughter of 
 James Walz, late of Embarras Township. This 
 lady was born April 8, 1842, in this county, and with 
 our subject is a member in good standing of the 
 Christian Church in which Mr. Zimmerlj- officiates 
 as Deacon. 
 
 The Zimmerly homestead comprises IDd acres 
 of land, 140 acres of which are under a good state 
 of cultivation. Our subject, in 1 875, put up a two 
 story brick residence, at a cost of $2,000, which 
 
774 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 with its siirrounrlings approaches very nearly the 
 ideal rural home. Mr. Zimrnerly since becoming 
 a voting citizen has given his support to the 
 principles of the ]")emocratic"party, is quite active 
 in politics, and is frequently sent as a delegate to 
 the various conventions. He has served as Road 
 Commissioner three 3'ears, Supervisor two years, 
 School Director nine years and School Trustee four 
 3-ears, and is still holding the latter position. 
 Socially he belongs to Grand View Lodge No. 
 614 L O. O. F. 
 
 AJOR EL\7S P. SHAW is one of the very 
 oldest living residents of Paris, and since 
 1822 has resided on the property where 
 he now lives. His father came to this 
 county in that year, and entered the quarter sec- 
 tion, wliere his son is now living, before the county 
 was organizecL Smith Shaw, the father, was born 
 on the line between North and South Carolina, in 
 Guildford Countj', of the former State, January 
 20, 1784, and when a j'oung man went to Charles- 
 ton and engaged in clerking for his older brother. 
 On Feb. 12, 1805, he married Miss Elizabeth 
 McMinn, in AVilson Countj^ Tenn., Avhere he was 
 visiting at the time. He lived there until the 
 spring of 1806, when, with his father, William, he 
 wont to Christian County, Ky. The family after- 
 ward removed to St. Charles County, Mo., but the 
 Indian troubles drove him from that country back 
 to Kentuckj% where they stayed a short time, 
 removing again, this time, to Indiana. There they 
 raised one crop, when thej^ removed to Craw- 
 ford County, 111., where Elvis P: was born, 
 March 4, 1816. The father removed to Edgar 
 Count}-^ in the fall of 1822, locating the quarter 
 section on which the home of the subject of this 
 sketch now stands. 
 
 At that time there were no houses on what is 
 now called the city of Paris. The Shaws built their 
 cabin near a spring on a tract of land now near East 
 Court street, and after a short time they moved on 
 the hill where Elvis P. now resides, and there 
 erected a frame house, on the site of which Mr, 
 
 Shaw erected his present residence, in 1855, which 
 is still standing. The elder Shaw improved his 
 land and engaged in agricultural pursuits on this 
 ground until his death, which occurred April 13, 
 1838, having spent most of his time as a pioneer. 
 In the early days he was obliged to go to Vin- 
 cennes for his flour. His nearest grocery was at 
 Palestine. The ofHce of County Commissioner 
 was held by him, he being the first to fill that posi- 
 tion in Edgar County, and he was active in secur- 
 ing the location of the town of Paris on its present 
 plat. He was also a Justice of the Peace, and held 
 many other local offlces. The circuit riders of the 
 early days always found a home with Smith Shaw, 
 who was a strict Methodist, and the first sermon 
 preached in this county was at his home. He was 
 an active worker in tlie cause of Ins church. Eliza- 
 beth McMinn was also born in Guildford County, 
 N. C, July 20, 1788, removing with her parents to 
 Tennessee, where she married Mr. Shaw. She died 
 Jan. 16, 1875. 
 
 Of the children of Mr. and Mrs. Smith Shaw, the 
 following record is given: The lion. James D. 
 Shaw moved to Arkansas in 1839, where he en- 
 gaged in farming. He served in both houses of the 
 Legislature of that State; Martha Ann married 
 Amos Williams, and lived in Danville until her 
 death ; Charlotte F. married the Rev. A. L. Risley, 
 a Methodist minister. She died at Lebanon, 111. ; 
 Julia H. married I. H. Alexander, who died, and 
 her second husband was Dr. Fithian. Her death 
 occurred in 1849; William N. lived a long time in 
 Iowa. He traveled all over California and Oregon, 
 finally djdng in Bates Countj^, Mo, in 1870; our 
 subject, Elvis P; Harvey S. is a Methodist minis- 
 ter, and is now living in McPherson, Kan., with his 
 son; Mary J. is the widow of James B. Crawford, 
 who spent an active business life in Paris. She is 
 now with her son in Kansas City, Mo. ; Cornelia J. 
 married Samuel T. Newland. and removed to Cali- 
 fornia in 1850. She is now matron of the conval- 
 escent Ladies' Ward of the Insane Asylum at 
 Stockton, Cal.; Jurretta died in 1822; Albert F. 
 died March 31, 1885; Elizabeth Amanda is the 
 widow of Dr. Smith, and is now living in Paris; 
 Daniel M. died in 1847 ; Alfred M. died in 1832; Or- 
 lando C. was a victim of the late Rebellion, having 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 775 
 
 been killed in West Virginia, in 1861, while in tbe 
 army. He was thei'oungest of the fifteen children. 
 
 Elvis P. >Shaw received a practical edneation in 
 the common schools, after which he worked on a 
 farm until he was seventeen years old. He then 
 engaged in the dry goods and grocery trade, hav- 
 ing previously been in the business as a clerk at 
 Danville, Milwaukee and in Iowa. He continued 
 in that line from 1844 until 1853, and from that 
 time until his retirement in 1872 was carrying on 
 a livery, grocery and other business. He was 
 obliged to give up work on account of his health 
 in the last j'ear mentioned, and has since done but 
 little. He has held different otiicial positions in 
 the county, always filling them with fidelity and 
 intelligence. In 1861, he was commissioned as 
 Major in the 10th Illinois Cavalry, commanding 
 the Isl Battalion. He made a good record in the 
 Western Department. 
 
 Mr. Shaw married Mrs. Emily (Smith) nee 
 Street, Jan. 13, 1853. They are the parents of one 
 child, Charles E., who is now in business in Paris, 
 and lives in the same house with his father. He 
 married Miss Lillie J. Shepherd. They have five 
 children all living. The wife of the subject of this 
 sketch was born in Shelby County, K}'., March 4, 
 1823. She married Mr. Shaw at Grand \'iew. 111. 
 She is a member of the Methodist Church, and Mr. 
 Shaw politically is a stanch Republican, but in the 
 days of the Whig party acted with that party. He 
 is a member of the Masonic Order. 
 
 NDREW MERKLE. The Merkle family 
 deserves honorable mention in noting the 
 lii prominent people of Edgar County. They 
 (^ are possessed of more than ordinary intel- 
 
 ligence, are industrious, thrifty and well-to-do and 
 have contributed largely to the moral, social and 
 financial interests of this section. The subject of 
 this sketch is one of the most worthy representa- 
 tives of the name, a man who has made for himself 
 a good position among his fellow-citizens and an 
 ' 1 -'ant home in the shape of a well-cultivated farm 
 of 340 acres, finely located on section 14, in Em- 
 
 barras Township. The dwelling with its pleasant 
 surroundings is one of the chief objects of attrac- 
 tion, while the barn, outbuildings, live-stock, fruit 
 and shade liees and the improved machinery for 
 the cultivation of the soil are fully indicative of 
 the character of the proprietor. 
 
 A native of Ross County, Ohio, our subject was 
 born March 16, 1848, and is tlie son of Charles 
 Merkle, who was born in Germany and who came 
 to the United States when a young man. The lat- 
 ter subsequently married Miss Eve Slager, a native 
 of his own country, and afterward occupied him- 
 self in faiming pursuits. We find him established 
 in Embarras Township in 1853, wliere he operated 
 successfully as a tiller of the soil, building up a 
 good homestead upon which he spent the remain- 
 der of his. life. After a residence of ihirty-two 
 years in Edgar County he departed hence in Feb- 
 ruary, 1885. The mother is still living. Of tiie 
 seven children born to them five are living, viz. : 
 Andrew, our subject, Charles, Henry, Douglas and 
 Mary F. The deceased are Louisa and Jacob. 
 
 Andrew Mei'kle, like his brothers and sisters, 
 acquired his education under the disadvantages of 
 life in a new country-, but was taught those habits 
 of industry and frugality which have brought him 
 success. He chose farming for his occupation, at 
 which he began his apprenticeship when a mere 
 boy. He remained with his parents until a young 
 man of nearl}- twenty-three j'ears, and was then 
 married in February, 1871. to Miss Maggie Slager. 
 They commenced life together in a manner corres- 
 ponding to their circumstances and established 
 themselves at their present homestead" in March, 
 
 1871. There have born to them three children 
 
 Charles, Eve and Minnie, who are at home with 
 their parents. In connection with general aori- 
 culture INIr. Merkle makes a specialty of stock- 
 raising, in which industry he has been very success- 
 ful. He votes with the Democratic party, but has 
 always declined the honors and responsibilities of 
 oflSce. Flighty acres of his land lie in Shiloh 
 Township. The residence is a fine, two-story brick 
 structure, the main part occupying an area of 
 36x16 feet. There have been built to it two addi- 
 tions, also of brick, one story in height, and there 
 is a dry, light cellar 14x14 feet walled with brick, 
 
77G 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOORAPrUCAL ALBUM. 
 
 and which furnishes a fine receptacle for the ample 
 stores of fruit and vegetaLles which are placed 
 within it in the fall for winter use. North, and 
 acr(.)ss the road is a commodious barn 40x40 feet 
 in dimensions with 1-2-foot posts, with an 8-foot 
 shed on the east side and a 12-foot shed on the 
 west, thus providing ample shelter for stock. 
 There is one tenement house in Embarras Town- 
 ship and another in Shiloh. The farm is conducted 
 with that thoroughness and skill which never fails 
 to yield handsome returns, and Mr. Merkle with 
 his family enjoys all the comforts and many of the 
 luxuries of life. 
 
 -««/Vv\t2j2£'iS^^-| 
 
 [ M/S5vQ^OT7'*^'V^/^^ 
 
 ENRY WALLING. Here and there we find 
 »' a man having the proper conception of life 
 in the rural districts, and the opportunities 
 for displaying his energy, taste and skill, 
 both in agriculture and in building up a homestead. 
 Nature, which has done so much for the country 
 residents, sometimes find little assistance or appre- 
 ciation among the individuals who choose farming 
 for their vocation, and it is most gratifying to meet 
 those who aru alive to their opportunities and their 
 calling. The subject of this notice, one of the lead- 
 ing men of Elbridge Township and one of its most 
 skillful farmers and stock-growers, is pleasantly 
 situated on section 13, two miles southwest of Ver- 
 milion, where he has been established since 1869. 
 In the building up of his homestead and the culti- 
 vation of the soil it is evident that his heart is in his 
 work, and that he has been endowed with more 
 than ordinary capacities both as a farmer and a 
 man wide-awake in business matters. 
 
 The offspring of a good family, our subject is 
 the son of Lewis and Eliza (Boyd) Walling, who 
 were both natives of Franklin County, Ind., and 
 was born Aug. 7, 1842, in Bedford County, Iowa. 
 Soon afterward the family returned to Indiana, 
 where Henry pursued his early studies in the com- 
 mon school, mostly in the winter season and as- 
 sisted his father in general farm work until reach- 
 ing man's estate. Then ready to establish a home 
 of his own he took unto himself a wife and help- 
 
 mate, Miss JMary li., daughter of Stacy and Mary 
 Fenton, of Butler County. Oliio, the wedding being 
 celebrated at the home of the bride in Butler 
 County. The young people sojourned for a time 
 in the Hoosier State, and then, in 1869, came to 
 this county and settled on the farm where they 
 now live. 
 
 Three children came to bless the union of our 
 subject and his wife, all living. The eldest, Flor- 
 ence, is the wife of Walter Thompson, an enterpris- 
 ing young farmer and they live near Vermilion; 
 Jennie and Ernest are at home with their parents. 
 Mr. Availing, politically, affiliates with the Demo- 
 cratic party, and has held the office of Road Com- 
 missioner. Socially, he belongs to Lecture Lodge, 
 No. 663, 1. O. O. F., at Vermilion, of which he has 
 been a member since 1875. He is not identified 
 with uny religious denomination, but Mrs. Walling 
 is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. 
 To the parents of Mr. Walling there were born 
 nine children, six of whom are living. His father, 
 politically, was in early life an Old-Line Whig, 
 and later a Republican. Both he and his wife 
 belonged to the Presbyterian Church. She spent 
 her last days in Franklin County, Ind.: the father 
 died in Mississippi. 
 
 #^ 
 
 m EREMI AH V. LYC AN, Sii. Among the early 
 pioneers of Edgar County, 111., who ventured 
 within its limits as early as 1831 was the 
 father of our subject, a man of sterling 
 worth and one amply able to contend with the dif- 
 ficulties of life on the frontier. He made the jour- 
 ney with his family from Morgan County, Ky., in 
 October of the year above mentioned, overland by 
 wagons and ox-teams. He settled in the timber 
 when the flourishing city of Paris was but a 
 hamlet of a few houses. The nearest point for sup- 
 plies was Terre Ilaute, Ind., where the settlers ob- 
 tained their salt, while they manufactured their 
 sugar from the trees. 
 
 Mr. Lycan, Sr., in 1832, having cleared a spot of 
 ground around his cabin home set out an orchard 
 and proceeded as rai)idly as possible with the 
 
PORTRAIT AND RIO(! RAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 777 
 
 further clearing of the land and the cultivation of 
 the soil. In the meantime his apple trees flourished 
 and some years later he hauled tlie fruit from them 
 to Chicago by wagon to market. Parents and cliil- 
 dren labored together in clearing the farm which 
 he had secured on a trade, and snbsequentlj' he 
 purchased eighty acres at 11.50 per acre. Then 
 disposing of this he entered 120 acres from the 
 Government and here buijt up a homestead where 
 he and his wife spent their last days. They were 
 members of the Predestinarian Baptist Church. 
 Their family consisted of eight children, all of 
 whom lived to mature years and four of whom 
 survive. 
 
 The maiden name of the mother of our subject 
 •was Elizabeth James, daugliter of Tobias James, a 
 native of South Carolina. Thence the latter emi- 
 grated to Kentucky- and settled with Daniel Boone 
 at Boonesboro; later he removed to Montgomery 
 County, that State, and finally crossing the Missis- 
 sippi took up his abode in Randolph County, Mo., 
 where his life ended. He was married in his na- 
 tive State and there a part of his family of six chil- 
 dren were born. The others were born in Kentucky, 
 and of these Elizabeth was the eldest. Gooden 
 Lycan, the paternal grandfather of our subject, was 
 a native of Wilkes County, N. C. lie was a black- 
 smith by trade and removed to Virginia, where it 
 is believed he spent the remainder of his life. 
 
 The subject of this notice was a boy of eleven 
 years when he came to Edgar County, 111., witii his 
 parents. He attended school in a hewn log house 
 with the floor and seats made of plank, the latter 
 upheld by rude wooden legs. The structure was 
 heated by a large fireplace at each end, and the 
 chimney was built outside of brick. The teachers 
 of those days were not expected to have a classical 
 education, and enforced their rules largely by the 
 use of the birch rod. Thus amid the pioneer scenes 
 of life on the frontier our subject developed into 
 manhood, and when ready to establish a home of 
 his own was married, in Symmes Township, Edgar 
 County, to Miss Lydia Ogden. 
 
 Mrs. Lycan was born in Morgan County, Ky., 
 and is tlie daughter of Jesse and Nancy (O'Hair) 
 Ogden. Her father was a native of Virginia and 
 removed to Kentucky with his parents, Stephen and 
 
 Lydia (Cumpton) Ogden when a young man. 
 They lived there until about 1«34, then the father 
 and children (the mother having died in Kentucky) 
 emigrated to Edgar County, 111., settling on sec- 
 tion 36 in Symmes Township, where the grand- 
 father, togetlier with the parents of our subject 
 spent their last days. Grandfather Michael O'Hair 
 was a native of Ireland, and upon emigrating to 
 America located in Morgan Count}-, Ky., and died 
 there. 
 
 Mr. Lycan located upon his present farm in 1831. 
 He was at one time the owner of about 1,000 acres 
 of land but has divided the greater portion of this 
 among his children, having now the homestead of 
 240 acres. Upon this he has erected a tasteful and 
 commodious farm house, a substantial barn and the 
 other buildings necessary for his convenience and 
 the successful prosecution of agriculture. The first 
 orchard which he planted has long since given way 
 to a younger growth of trees and the farm has been 
 continuously undergoing the process of improve- 
 ment, so that it is now a very valuable piece of 
 property. Mr. Lycan when a young man was a 
 First Lieutenant in a company of militia, and still 
 has in his possession the commission then given 
 him. He served as Supervisor when Paris and 
 Symmes Townships were one. When they were 
 divided he was ousted by the Democratic element. 
 He gives his support to the Republican part}', but 
 his extensive farming interests have led him to 
 meddle but very little with public affairs. 
 
 The twelve children born to our subject and his 
 estimable wife are recorded as follows: Of John M., 
 a sketch will appear elsewhere in this work; James 
 N. is living with his father; Harvey N. is living 
 in Buck Township; Nancy A. is the wife T. M. 
 Slemons, and they live in Paris; Emily is the wife 
 of Rilen Barnett, and they live in Piatt County, 
 this State ; Sally, Mrs. W. C. Slemons, lives in Paris; 
 AVilliam Riley lives in Symmes Township; Mary 
 E. is the wife of Luther Tate and lives near Grand 
 ^'iew; Lydia B.. the twin sister of Mary, is the wife 
 of Jacob Perisho, living near Grand View; Jere- 
 miah V is married and lives on the home farm 
 with his parents; he is the owner of 295 acres of 
 land comprising a part of the original farm estab- 
 lished by his honored father. His wife was form- 
 
778 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 erly Miss Ella O'lLiir, daughter of John W. O'llair, 
 of Symmes Township, and they have two sons — 
 Chester N. and Asa B. Miss Laura Lycan became 
 the wife of S. H. Preston, of Symmes Town.ship; 
 Olivia R. became the wife of W. W. Perisho, like- 
 wise a farmer of iSjmmes Township. 
 
 OHN M. LYCAN. Among the well-to-do 
 native-born citizens of Edgar County may 
 be properly mentioned the subject of this 
 biography — one of the younger residents of 
 Paris Township — located at a well-regulated farm 
 on section 5. He was horn in Symmes Township, 
 Se|)t. 1, 1843, where he developed into mnnhood, 
 attended the district school, and made himself use- 
 ful around his father's homestead until ready to 
 commence operations on his own account. He 
 distinctl}' remembers the time when the farm 
 wliich he now occupies (and which is one of the 
 best in the township) was an open prairie where he 
 licrded cattle and frequently from morning till 
 sunset saw scarcely a traveler going on his lonely 
 journey across the country. Times have wonder- 
 fully changed since then, and the boy born on the 
 frontier grew up with the country and has become 
 one of its most praiseworthy citizens. 
 
 The father of our subject was Jeremiah X. 
 L3'can, who came to Edgar County with his jtarents 
 when a boy of twelve years, about 1831. He as- 
 sisted his father in opening up the new farm from 
 the wild prairie and after his marriage settled on 
 it. To the elder Lycan and his excellent wife 
 there was born a family of twelve children, who 
 present the remarkable spectacle of a group still 
 unbroken by death — parents and children being 
 all living and the former still occupying the same 
 homestead where they settled when beginning their 
 wedded life together. 
 
 Jeremiah Lycan, Sr., the paternal grandfather of 
 our subject, was a native of one of the Carolinas, 
 whence he removed first to Virginia and then to 
 Kentucky. Later he came to Illinois and entered 
 a tract of land, from which he built up a farm 
 where he and his good wife, Elizabeth (James) 
 
 Lycan, spent their last days, and upon which in a 
 quiet and secluded spot their remains were laid to 
 rest side by side. On the mother's side of the 
 house the grandparents were Jesse and Nancy 
 rO'Hair) Ogden, both natives of Kentuckj'. They 
 emigrated to Edgar County, 111., when their 
 daughter, Lj'dia, the mother of our subject, was a 
 mere child, but she still remembers many incidents 
 of the journey, which was made overland by team. 
 They located on a tract of Government land in 
 Symmes Township and Grandfather Ogden became 
 one of the leading landholders of this section. 
 Both he and his wife spent their last days upon the 
 old farm, where they settled first and where they 
 were buried. 
 
 Probably the most important and interesting 
 event in the early life of our subject was his mar- 
 riage, which occurred Oct. 18, 1876, the bride be- 
 ing Miss Nancy Perisho, a lady of Symmes 
 Township and the daughter of Hervey and 
 Elizabeth (Ogden) Perisho. The parents of Mrs. 
 Lycan came to Edgar County when children with 
 their respective parents. The famil}' originated 
 in France, where the paternal grandfather, Joseph 
 Perisho, was born. lie was kidnapped by a fisher- 
 man rthen three years old and brought to North 
 Carolina. Later he removed to Virginia and was 
 mra-ried to Barbara Zink, a native of Germany. 
 Thence he removed with his family to Washington 
 County, Ind., where their son, Hervej', the father 
 of Mrs. Lycan, was born in 1815, before Indiana 
 had been transformed from a teii'itory into a state. 
 
 Herve3' Perisho upon coming to Edgar County, 
 111., settled in Grand View Township, where his 
 children were reared. Later he removed to Symmes 
 Township, where he now lives and where the 
 mother died in June, 1888, at the age of sixty- 
 eight years. There were then seven children sur- 
 viving, two of whom are since deceased. To our sub- 
 ject and his wife there have been born four children, 
 only two of whom are living: Lydia I. and Laura 
 E. Jeremiah V. died when two j-ears old, and one 
 child died unnamed in infancy. Mr. Lycan is the 
 owner of eighty acres of laud, com^jrising his 
 homestead, while he operates eighty acres adjoin- 
 ing belonging to his father. Besides carrying on 
 general agriculture, he is interested in draft 
 
PORTRAIT AND BlOti RAl'IIICAL ALBUM. 
 
 779 
 
 horses and is part owner of one very fine equine of 
 English and Belgian stoek, an animal of great 
 beauty and symmetry and weighing about 1,800 
 lbs. During the progress of the late Civil War 
 Mr. Lycan enlisted as a Union soldier in Company 
 E, 66th Illinois Infantry, A\estern Sharp-shooters, 
 and served until July, 1865, going through the 
 Atlanta campaign. Later he marched from Pu- 
 laski, Tenn., to Washington, being under fire 
 almost constantly for about four months. He 
 escaped, however, without a wound and was pres- 
 ent in the grand review at the capital city. As an 
 Gx-soldier he is identified with the O. A. R., Dris- 
 kellPost, No. 209, at Paris. He is likewise a Mas- 
 ter Mason, belonging to Paris Lodge, No. 268. 
 Politically he is identified with the Republican 
 party and is serving his fourth consecutive term as 
 Assistant Supervisor of Paris Township. 
 
 ^/OHN K. BOYER. In the life history of this 
 individual we have the career of a man who 
 has made his way up from poverty in a log 
 cabin, to a position of wealth and influence- 
 while at the same time he has maintained his integ- 
 rity, and to-day he bears the reputation of being 
 an honest, upright citizen, a Christian in the true 
 sense of the term, an ardent temperance worker, 
 and the encourager and helper of all those enterprises 
 calculated to benefit mankind. A pioneer of 1824, 
 he came to Edgar Co., 111., when there was only 
 here and there a lonely cabin, while Indians still 
 lingered in this region, and wild animals were plen- 
 tiful. In fact, he was one of the two first children 
 brought within the present limits of Kansas Town- 
 ship; the other child being his brother, Ephraim; 
 and for six months they were the onlj' children in 
 the township. 
 
 The subject of this sketch was born in Oldham 
 Co., Ky., Oct. 18, 1820. and was a child of three 
 years when brought to Edgar Co., 111., by his pa- 
 rents. His father, Frederick Boj'^er, was a native of 
 Pennsjdvania, and the son of Philip Boyer, who 
 served as a soldier in the Revolutionary War. 
 When the latter was ended Grandfather Boyer set- 
 
 tled in Oldham County, Ky., when his son Frederick 
 was a child of three years. The latter was reared 
 there on a farm, and learned blacksmithing, which 
 he followed muny years. He had inherited patriot- 
 ism from his sire, and fought under (Jen. Harrison 
 in the war of 1812. He was married in Kentucky 
 and came to Edgar County, 111., in the spring of 
 1824, secured a tract of government laud, cleared a 
 little spot of land and put up a small log cabin. 
 The pioneer home was located five miles southeast 
 of the present town of Kansas. Wild animals 
 abounded and Indians frequently camped near by. 
 Our subject remembers seeing as many as flfty-two 
 deer in one herd. Wild turkeys were numerous, 
 also wildcats and catamounts, and occasionally a 
 panther, together with bears and wolves. Their 
 Indian neighbors were peaceable and quiet, and 
 offered them no molestation. 
 
 Tlie Boyer family occupied that little 14x16 
 cabin in the woods for a number of years. It 
 consisted of one room only, with a puncheon 
 floor, the door and roof made of clapboards, the 
 chimney built outside, of clay and sticks, and a rude 
 fireplace before which the mother did her cooking, 
 occupied nearly one end of the building. Their 
 wheat, was ground into flour in a mill operated by 
 horse-power, likewise their corn meal, but some 
 times not being able to get to the mill, the corn 
 was pounded in a mortar consisting of a hole 
 burned in the top of a stum)), the pounder being 
 fastened to a spring pole over it. They raised flax 
 from which the mother spun and wove tlie cloth 
 for the family garments. Some of the pioneers 
 wore clothing made from the lint of nettles and 
 others wore buckskin pants. The fashions caused 
 people very little trouble in those days, the main 
 concern being to keep warm in winter and cool in 
 summer. Whatever was the welfare and sorrow of 
 one neighbor was of interest to all. They bore 
 each other's burdens and rejoiced in each other's 
 successes. 
 
 Mrs. Naomi (Kester) Boyer, the mother of our 
 subject, was the daughter of William Kester, and 
 was born in Oldham Co., Ky. Onljr three of the 
 five children comprising the parental household are 
 now living, viz.. John K., our subject; William F. 
 and Presley P., all of whom are residents of Kan- 
 
7S() 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 sas, 111. Ephraim died wlien a lad of fourteen 
 years. The mother departed this life in 183.5, 
 when a young woman. The father was subsequently 
 married to Fann3' A. Kester, a niece of Mrs. Kes- 
 ter; to them was born one child, Frederick N., who 
 is at present a resident of Olney, 111., where he 
 officiates as general freight agent of the Chicago 
 & Ohio Railroad Co. Frederick Boyer, the father 
 of our subject, died in 1840, and his remains were 
 laid to rest at the old homestead, on the land which 
 he had entered from the government. 
 
 Although a mere child upon coming to Illinois, 
 our subject retains a vivid recollection of many of 
 the incidents attending the preparations for emi- 
 gration and those which happened on the way. Be- 
 fore leaving Kentucky he rode on horseback over 
 twenty miles, his father leading the horse, to see 
 his great-great-grandmother Kester, who knit him 
 a pair of socks, which he still has in his possession. 
 This was before he had attained his third year. 
 'J'he first representatives of the Kester family in 
 America, crossed the Atlantic with William Penn, 
 and from what can be gathered of them, they were 
 evidently people of sound moral principles, and 
 generall}' well to do flnaucially. 
 
 Ths early education of our subject was conduct- 
 ed in a log school-bouse, one of those structures 
 which have been so often described in this vol- 
 ume. 'I hat was before the days of glass, u hen they 
 studied their lessons by the light emitted through 
 greased paper for window panes. The seats and 
 floor were of split logs, and the pedagogue of those 
 times was not expected to possess a classical educa- 
 tion. Young Boyer went to mill for the family 
 when he was too young to lead a horse, and would 
 ride one horse while another was tied to the tail of 
 the one he rode, the latter carrying the sack of 
 grain. 
 
 In tbese excursions our subject was oblioed to 
 start before daylight. In the swampy places there 
 were corduroy roads— logs laid crosswise — and 
 upon one occasion when he had one horse only, 
 the animal tripped and fell, throwing boy and sack 
 headlong. The boy was too small to lift the sack 
 of corn, and while the horse was down he rolled 
 the sack on to it, then climbed on top of the sack 
 and caused the horse to get up. He was justifiably 
 
 one of the proudest boys in the State that day, to 
 think that he thus found a way out of his difficul- 
 ties, and this, too, before daylight. Upon another 
 occasion, when returning from mill with two others 
 in the night, they traveled Indian file, there being 
 no wagon track, young Boyer was separated from 
 his companions, one of whom rode in front and 
 the other in the rear from him. The latter, losing 
 his hat, stopped to recover it, and in the meantime 
 the horse of our subject left the main path, the 
 man in front being so far in advance that he could 
 not see him. The other followed, supposing that 
 his companions were all right, and young Boyer 
 was left in the woods nearly all night. He did 
 not dare to dismount on account of the wolves, so 
 laid his head on the sack of flour and slept while 
 the horse was grazing. In the meantime the 
 alarm had been given at home and the whole neio-h- 
 borhood turned out to hunt him, his uncle findino- 
 him about one o'clock in the night. 
 
 Pioneer life abounded with these little incidents, 
 which served to relieve its monotony. After at- 
 taining manhood our subject finished his education 
 in the High School at Marshall, where he attended 
 one year. Prior to this he had taught school con- 
 siderably, while he worked on the farm in the sum- 
 mer; In 1852 he established himself as a general 
 merchant at Whitesville, in Coles County, but the 
 year following removed his store to what was then 
 Midway, but is now Kansas. In the year 1872 
 he sold out and turned his attention exclusively to 
 grain and stock, with which he had heretofore had 
 considerable expei'tence. Later he wisely retired 
 from active business, and is now enjoying the 
 fruits of his early accumulations. He owns 180 
 acres of land in Shiloh Townshi|), and 2.000 acres 
 in Trigo Co., Kan. lie also has two residences and 
 a store building in the latter town, besides sixteen 
 lots in Mattoon and thirty in Brocton, which town 
 he laid out. 
 
 Among the important and interesting events in 
 the life of our subject was his marriage August ;51, 
 1843, with Miss Rachel E., daughter of Edward 
 Pinnell, a well known resident of Edgar County, 
 and long since deceased. Mr. Pinnell emigrated 
 to Illinois from Oldham Co., Ky.. settling in Kan- 
 sas Township, in 1830. This union resulted in the 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 781 
 
 birth of six children, only one of whom is living, 
 a, dniighter, Drusilla A. One son, Edward P., mar- 
 ried Miss Belle E. Steele, and was accidentally shot 
 while hunting in 1872. lie left two children — 
 Everette E. and Leona. Drusilla is the wife of 
 Jasper II. McGrew, a druggist of Kansas, and they 
 have one child, a diuigiiter, Myrtle. 
 
 Mr. Boyer, politically^ supports the principles 
 of the Republican part}'. lie is no office seeker^ 
 but under Presidents Fillmore, Pierce and Buch- 
 anan officiated as postmaster, and for six years rep- 
 resented Kansas Township in the County Board 
 of Supervisors. He is warmly interested in tem- 
 perance work, and has been instrumental in keep- 
 ing saloons out of the town. His religious beliefs 
 coincide with those of the Cliristian Church, of 
 which he is a leading member. 
 
 ►^I-^-l— 
 
 i|p]\'',ENJAi\IIN O. CURTIS, horticulturist and 
 ^l'-^ crop reiiorter, is proprietor of one of the 
 finest and oldest nurseries in the State. He 
 served an a[)prenticeship at this business in 
 his boyhood, and it seems one to which he is es- 
 pecially adapted, judging from the success which 
 has crowned his efforts. This nursery was estab- 
 lished by his father, Joseph Curtis, seventy years 
 ago, being the first industry of the kind in the 
 State, and enjoys a patronage extending far be- 
 yond its limits. 
 
 In addition to his skill in his chosen calling, Mr. 
 Curtis is one of the most popular men of Edgar 
 Township, and his domestic affairs are presided 
 over by a lady in every way fitted for her position 
 as his wife. Both occupy a high social position, 
 and entertain in their hospitable home the most 
 cultivated people of their community. The home- 
 stead comprises 1G8 acres of land, lying on sections 
 3, 12 and 14, and iMr. Curtis has forty -eight acres 
 in Hunter Townsliip. He has spent his entire life 
 in Edgar County, having been born in .Stratton 
 Township March 19, 1824, and was reared on the 
 pioneer farm during the early settlement of the 
 country, when wild game was plentiful, and re- 
 members seeing from sevmtetn to twenty deer in 
 
 a herd. In his youth he frequently joined in the wolf 
 hunts, which the neighbors instituted at stated pe- 
 riods in their efforts to exterminate this dangerous 
 and mischievous animal. 
 
 Mr. Curtis, under the instruction of his honored 
 father, commenced grafting trees when a boy. His 
 school advantages were limited, he attending a 
 few weeks during the winter season, pursuing his 
 studies in a log cabin, but was mostly educated at 
 home by the fireside, although at times attending 
 a night school. He remained with the family until 
 twenty-two j'ears old, but prior to this time had 
 been mostly in charge of his father's nursery. 
 He now started a nurser}- of his own in Paris 
 Township, which he operated ten years in partner- 
 ship with his brother, David S. Later he was the 
 owner of about 3,000 acres, entered upon a Mexi- 
 can land warrant. In 1848 he entered from the 
 Government his present place of 168 acres. 
 
 While occupied with his nursery near Paris, Mr. 
 Curtis proceeded with the improvement of his 
 land. In 1 856 he removed to his present liomc- 
 stead, where he had already established his nursery. 
 He had at time about 1,200 acres, which he leased 
 to other parties. He labored industriously, early 
 and late, in the improvement of his land and erect- 
 ing the needed buildings, besides looking after his 
 nursery business and gathering in new varieties of 
 fruit and shrubbery. In this line he excels, and is 
 credited with having the largest variety of choice 
 fruit and ornamental trees of any man in the 
 county, and it might be truthfully said, of all of 
 them taken togetlier. Twenty acres are devoted 
 to an apple orchard, while he has five acres in 
 pears, three acres in general nursery stock and 
 eight acres in young walnut trees. He pays special 
 attention to the cultivation of strawberries, and 
 by his study of the different plants has been en- 
 abled to originate not only new kinds of these, but 
 of most of the other fruits. 
 
 Mr. Curtis avails himself of the leading periodi- 
 cals peitaining to this industiy, kee|)ing himself 
 well informed and gleaning useful knowledge from 
 the experience of others. In connection with his 
 nursery, he carried on general farming until within 
 the last six years, but duiing this time has given 
 his principal atteution to the nursery. He has each 
 
782 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 year a fine exhibit of fruit at the county fairs, and 
 is in the habit of carrying off the blue ribbons. 
 Not only does he stand first at these, but at the 
 State fairs. He has disposed of portions of his 
 land from time to time, until he has now only the 
 homestead, the land of which has been brought to 
 a high state of cultivation and is valuable. 
 
 The 3d of September, 1856, witnessed the mar- 
 riage of our subject, at Paris, with Miss Jennie 
 W. Stout, who was born at that place Feb. .5, 1828. 
 
 Adriel Stout, the father of Mrs. Curtis, was born 
 in Kentucky, March 2o, 1800, and was taken to 
 Ohio in early childhood, where he was reared to 
 man's estate. The paternal grandfather, John N. 
 Stout, was a messenger boy in the American army 
 during the Revolutionary War. After his removal 
 to Ohio, where he settled in Adams County, he fol- 
 lowed carpentering, and there spent his last days. 
 His son Adriel, the father of Airs. Curtis, was a 
 potter by trade, which he folloAved in Ohio until 
 1822. Then, coming to Illinois, he located near 
 Paris, in Edgar County, and entered 160 acres of 
 land, from which he improved a farm, where he re- 
 sided until his death. He was one of the leading 
 members of the Presbyterian Church, being instru- 
 mental in its organization, and in which he offlci- 
 ated as Elder for thirtjr-three years, and signalized 
 himself as a remarkably earnest worker in the Sun- 
 day-school. 
 
 Mrs. Eliza (Means) Stout, the mother of Mrs. 
 Curtis, was born in South Carolina, and is the 
 daughter of William Means, who, upon leaving the 
 South, settled first in Ohio. In 1822 he came to 
 Illinois, and spent his last days in Edgar County. 
 He likewise served in the Revolutionary War. Mrs. 
 Stout was a member of the Presbyterian Church. 
 She became the mother of eight children, six of 
 whom grew to mature years. Nancy, Mrs. MeCord, 
 was a resident of Paris, and is now deceased; John 
 is farming in Paris Township; Hattieand James are 
 deceased; Mary, Mrs. Athon, resides in Edgar Town- 
 ship; James, the youngest, born about December, 
 1842, during the first year of the Civil War en- 
 listed in Company E, 12th Illinois Infantry, and 
 was killed at the battle of Shiloh in April. 1862. 
 
 Mrs. Curtis was born Feb. 5, 182K, and received 
 a good education, attending the High School at 
 
 Paris, and completed her studies in the academy. 
 Subsequently she engaged in teaching for a period 
 of six years. Of her union with our subject was 
 born one child only — Mary E.. who died in 1882, 
 in the bloom of womanhood. 
 
 Mr. Curtis, politically, gives his undivided sup- 
 port to the principles of the Republican party, 
 which he frequently serves as a delegate to the 
 county conventions. He has been School Director 
 several years, and also Road Supervisor, and is a 
 member in good standing of the Metliodist Epis- 
 copal Church. Mrs. Curtis belongs to the Pres- 
 byterian Church, at Paris. The horticullural in- 
 terests of this region have received a great im- 
 l)etus from the efforts of Mr. Curtis for their 
 advancement. His whole heart is in the work, and 
 he makes of it an art and a science. He was 
 appointed Crop Reporter in the year 1879, and 
 sends the results of his observations both to 
 Springfield and Washington, and gives reports of 
 the special conventions held in different parts of 
 the country. 
 
 Rev. Joseph Curtis, Jr., father of our subject, 
 was born in New Jersey, and was the son of Joseph 
 Curtis, Sr., who was of Welsh extraction and sup- 
 posed to be a descendant of one of six brothers 
 who emigrated to America during the Colonial 
 times. He was a farmer in New Jersey in the 
 early day, whence he removed to the vicinity of 
 Manchester, Adams Co., Ohio, after having served 
 in the Revolutionary War, in which he was a 
 special despatch carrier for Gen. Washington. 
 When eighty-five years old he came to Illinois to 
 live with his grandson, our subject, and died at the 
 age of eighty-eight, firm in the faith of the Quaker 
 lielief, in which he had been reared. 
 
 The father of our subject was quite j'oung when 
 taken by his parents to Ohio, and he lived there 
 until 1818. In the meantime he was married, but 
 not content with the progress he was making fi- 
 nancial!}', determined to seek the Farther West. 
 The family set out on a keel-boat to Terre Haute, 
 Ind., taking -with them 300 bushels of dried fruit, 
 which they sold at ^3 per bushel. Mr. Curtis in 
 1819 located in what was then Wayne, but is now 
 Stratton Township, entering a tract of Govern- 
 ment land — 320 acres — and paying therefor f 1.25 
 
;^ PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 783 
 
 per acre. He was the sixth man to locate in Edgar 
 County. He carried on the improvement of his 
 land and established the first nursery in Illinois. 
 
 The labors connected witli this were more con- 
 genial to his tastes, and he continued in the busi- 
 ness most of the time during the balance of his 
 life, and made sales all over the country. 
 
 Politically, the father of onr subject, upon be- 
 coming a voting citizen, identified himself with 
 the old Whig party. He was an active member of 
 the Methodist ICpiscopal Church, with which he 
 united in boyhood and officiated as Class Leader 
 and local preacher. He also traveled one ^car 
 preaching. He organized the first class meeting 
 in the count}', and labored earnestly upon the be- 
 half of souls. He passed away at the age of sixty- 
 six years. His wife, who in her girlhood was 
 Hannah Sbeib^', was born in Pennsylvania, and was 
 the daughter of David Shelby, also a native of 
 that State. The latter was of English descent, and 
 served in the Revolutionar}^ War. Later he re- 
 moved to Pickaway County, Ohio, where he spent 
 his last days. Miss Hannah received a good edu- 
 cation and taught school several years before her 
 marriage. She died in Stratton Township, 111., in 
 the ninety-fifth year of her age. The parental 
 family consisted of six children, the eldest of 
 whom, .Joseph, died when a year old; David S. is 
 a resident of Hunter Township; Harvey W. makes 
 his home in Topelfa, Kan.; Benjamin O., our sub- 
 ject, was the fourth child; Isaac H. is a resident 
 of Edgar Township; and George is deceased. 
 David Shelby was a captain in the 79th Illinois In- 
 fantry during the late Civil War, enlisting in 1861, 
 and serving until he resigned his commission. 
 
 \fl OHN N. COOPER, late of Shiloh Township, 
 was a .striking illustration of the results of 
 perseverance and energy. He came to Ed- 
 'M gar County, 111., in 1861, and began opera- 
 tions on ten acres of land, preferring to have a 
 small spot which he could call his own and clear 
 of debt than to assume the responsibility of a large 
 area unpaid for. It was mostljr covered with tim- 
 
 ber, and there was much labor involved in clear- 
 ing it and preparing the soil for cultivation. He 
 made good progress, however, was prospered in 
 his labors, and added to his possessions by degrees 
 until he had a farm of 100 acres under cultivation 
 and improved with good buildings. He departed 
 this life at the homestead which he had thus built 
 up, April 1, 1889. 
 
 Mr. Cooper was one of the oldest residents of 
 this county and a man respected by all who knew 
 him. He did a large amount of pioneer labor and 
 performed his full quota in redeeming this portion 
 of the county from a state of nature. A man of 
 irreproachable character, he possessed high moral 
 sentiments and had been a member of the Metho- 
 dist Episcopal Church since a youth of sixteen 
 years. He was diligent in Christian work, offici- 
 ating as Superintendent of the Sunday-school and 
 laboring for the Master as opportunity occurred. 
 He was an ardent Republican politically and prom- 
 inent in local affairs, serving as School Director 
 and Road Commissioner and otherwise identifyino- 
 himself with the best interests of his community. 
 He was a warm admirer of the principles of the 
 Masonic fraternity, and belonged to Bloorafield 
 Lodge at Chrisman. He was also a member of the 
 Masonic Protective Association of Edgar County. 
 
 The marriage of John N. Cooper with Mrs. 
 Margaret (Fleming) Allen occurred May 1, 1856, 
 in Parke County, Ind. This lady is the daughter 
 of Robert and Annie (Wasson) Fleming, the father 
 a native of County Down, Ireland, and the mother 
 a native of Pennsylvania. Mr. Flemino- was a 
 weaver by trade, which he followed in Ireland 
 until emigrating to America, at the age of about 
 twenty-one years. Afterward, locating near Pitts- 
 burg, Pa., he first engaged in farming there, then 
 removed to Wayne County, Ohio, where he sp'ent 
 his last days. He had been reared a Presbyterian 
 and in the principles of this faith passed away. 
 Grandfather Robert Wasson was likewise a native 
 of Ireland, where he grew to man's estate and was 
 married. He was likewise a Presbyterian in relio-. 
 ion, and after coming to America occupied himself 
 as a farmer in Pennsylvania until his death. The 
 mother of Mrs. Cooper, after the death of her hus- 
 band came to Illinois and died in Bond County 
 
7a4 
 
 PORTRAIT AND HIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 about 1879. Tbe parental family consisted of six 
 children, viz.; James and Andrew twins, deceased; 
 William, deceased; Russell and Mar^r A., residents 
 of Bond County, 111., and Margaret, Mrs. Cooper, 
 who is the youngest of the family. James during 
 the late Civil War enlisted in an Indiana regiment, 
 was captured by tbe rebels at Chattanooga and 
 taken to Libby Prison. While confined there he 
 became so feeble from the want of proper food, that 
 after being exchanged he died before he could 
 reach his home. 
 
 Mrs. Cooper was born near Dayton, Ohio, Jan. 
 .5, 1834, and in 1839 was taken by lier mother to 
 Indiana by way of the Wabash River. They set- 
 tled among the pioneers of Parke County, at a time 
 when the Indians were often to be seen and wild 
 game was plentiful. She received ver^- good 
 school advantages for those days, and being natu- 
 rally bright and observant grew up an attractive 
 young lady. She remained with her mother until 
 her lirst marriage, with Allison Allen, which took 
 place in Vermillion County, Ind., June 20,1851. 
 Mr. Allen was a native of that county, and his 
 father had served in the Black Hawk War. Mr. 
 Allen was a well educated man, and after leaving 
 his father's farm engaged as a clerk at Clinton, 
 Ind., until his marriage. Later he assisted at the 
 operation of a sawmill near Hillsdale, and died in 
 1854. After his decease his widow returned to 
 her mother and remained there until her marriage 
 with Mr. Cooper. 
 
 John Cooper, the father of Thomas, emigrated 
 from Ohio to Vigo County, Ind., where he was one 
 of its earliest pioneers. He was successful as a 
 farmer and accumulated a good property. In 1861 
 he came to Edgar County, 111., where he spent his 
 last days. Mrs. Cooper, since the death of her 
 hn&'band, has successfully managed the farm, which 
 is located in Mulberry Grove, about five miles 
 from the markets, and of which Mrs. Cooper is the 
 oldest remaining settler. She is a lady of more 
 than ordinary ability, and has kept up the home- 
 stead in its old-time style, operating successfully 
 in grain and stock — cattle, sheep and swine. She 
 keeps about ten head of horses and seventy-five 
 head of sheep. The buildings are all that could 
 be desired on a homestead, while the farming oper- 
 
 ations are prosecuted with the latest improved 
 machinery. 
 
 To Mr. and Mrs. Cooper there were born six 
 children, the eldest of whom, a daughter, Linnie, 
 married James Gunning, a farmer of Shiloh Town- 
 ship; Minerva is the wife of Perry Conrey. of Shi- 
 loh Township; Benjamin was one of the first three 
 men to settle in Greeley County, Kan., where he 
 has 320 acres of land and is well-to-do. Edwin 
 owns 160 acres of land in Greeley County, Kan., 
 and has town property in Horace. James and Hat- 
 tie remain at home with their mother. Of Airs. 
 Cooper's first marriage there were born two chil- 
 dren: Robert resides in Clinton, Ind., and Mary 
 A., wife of Charles Smith, live in Rogers, Benton 
 Co., Ark. Mrs. Cooper became a member of the 
 ]\Iethodist Episcopal Church when a j^oung girl of 
 fourteen years and has since continued with it. 
 She assisted materially in the building of the 
 church edifice at Shiloh. She is a lady who keeps 
 herself well inforired upon current events and be- 
 lieves in the prohibition party. Her children 
 have grown up around her, bright, intelligent and 
 well educated, and are proving themselves useful 
 and praiseworth}' members of society. 
 
 i^ODGLAS MERKLE. The obi Merkle 
 I jV homestead, which was established in pio- 
 ^gjl^^ neer days on section 5 in Embarras Town- 
 ship, has become one of its most familiar 
 landmarks. Upon it lives the subject of this 
 sketch, and where he first opened liis eyes to the 
 light Sept. 6, 1861. Next to the honor of being a 
 pioneer is that of being the son of one, and one 
 who has taken upon himself the dutj- of perpetu- 
 ating in a worthy manner the homestead built up 
 bjf his sire. Mr. Merkle takes pride in his farming 
 operations, and aims to excel. In addition to 
 general agriculture, he makes a specialty of stock- 
 raising, an industry which has laid the foundation 
 for much wealth in Central Illinois. 
 
 Charles Merkle, the father of our subject and a 
 native of Germany, was among those who first 
 ventured to Embarras Township after it was 
 
5^^^^^ to^^fc^io-^'^-^''''^'^ 
 
PORTRAIT AND BTOGRAfHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 78? 
 
 opened for settlement. He secured a tract of land 
 from the Government, and, with the thrift and 
 prudence characteristic of his nationality, labored, 
 economized and waited for results. He took unto 
 himself for his wife Miss Eve Slager, likewise a 
 native of the Fatherland. They lived and labored 
 many years together, and the father passed away 
 at the homestead which witnessed so many years 
 of labor and hardship, but which at the last pro- 
 vided them with all the comforts of life. The 
 mother is still living. 
 
 Our subject pursued his first studies in the dis- 
 trict school, taking kindly to his books and mak- 
 ing good progress. In due time he was prepared 
 to enter Westfleld College, where he completed his 
 studies, and then, returning to the old roof tree, 
 remained there until a little over twenty-six years 
 of age. He was then married, Sept. 29, 1887, to 
 Miss Ettie, daughter of Thomas Ferguson, of Em- 
 barras Township. This union has resulted in the 
 birth of one child, a daughter, Etoille. 
 
 Mr. Merkle is the owner of 214 acres of land, 
 and is largely interested in graded Short-horn 
 cattle, Berkshire swine and English draft horses.' 
 He has a one-third interest in the especially fine 
 animal "Old Times," which was imported from 
 England at the age of six years, and weighs 1,820 
 pounds. He also has a thorough-bred Kentucky 
 pacer, "Pert," weighing 1,200 pounds. He lets a 
 portion of his land to otiier parties, and the bal- 
 ance is largely in pasture. Politically, Mr. Merkle 
 supports the Democratic party, but, aside from 
 casting his ballot at general elections, has very 
 little to do with public affairs. He never seeks 
 ofHce, declining to spoil a first-class farmer for the 
 sake of official honors. Although not connected 
 with any religious organization, he believes in the 
 establishment and maintenance of churches, and 
 gives liberally toward the support of the Gospel. 
 
 JiOHN CUMMINS, a veteran of eighty-four 
 years, is next to the oldest man now living 
 in this county, to which he came when it 
 was practically a wilderness. On another 
 page we present a fine portrait of this pioneer and 
 
 honored citizen. He has witnessed with lively in- 
 terest the extraordinary scenes which have trans- 
 formed a wild and uncultivated tract of country 
 into the homes of an enlightened and prosperous 
 people, and has aided as best he could in bringing 
 about this marvelous change. He served as a 
 soldier in the Black Hawk War, being present at 
 the battle of Bad Axe, when the Indians were sum- 
 marily put to flight. Farming has been his occu- 
 pation through life, but in 1877 he retired from 
 active labor, and now occupies a comfortable home 
 on section 24, in Elbridge Township, about one 
 mile south of Vermilion. Here he has 220 acres of 
 thoroughly cultivated land, which yields abund- 
 antly the richest crops of Central Illinois. He took 
 possession of this when it was in its wild and prim- 
 itive state, and by the exercise of unflagging indus- 
 try brought the soil to a good state of cultivation, 
 and added each year in improvements something 
 to the value and beauty of his property. His 
 industry and frugality were in due time amply 
 rewarded, and now, sitting under his own vine 
 and fig tree he frequently reviews the events of a 
 life filled with many interesting incidents and spent 
 worthily, uprightly and in a manner that has com- 
 manded the esteem and confidence of his fellow- 
 citizens. 
 
 A Kentuckian by birth, Mr. Cummins was born 
 in Harrison County, Dec. 25, 1805, where he so- 
 journed until a man of twenty-five years, assisting 
 his father on the farm. In 1830, he started for the 
 Great West, having in view this county, where he 
 landed just one-half mile from his present location. 
 He entered a tract of land from the Government, 
 and to this devoted the best efllorts of his life, with 
 results that ought to satisfy any reasonable man. 
 In 1828, feeling that it was not good for man to 
 be alone, he was united in marriage with Miss 
 Nancy, daughter of Robert Chapman, who with 
 • his excellent wife, was a native of Tennessee. Of 
 the thirteen children resulting from this union 
 nine are still living. Joseph and Margaret are 
 deceased; Robert is farming in this Township; 
 Mary is the wife of C. Beckman of Vermilion; 
 Jane married William Reines, and they are living 
 on a farm in Montgomery County; Eunice is tlie 
 wife of B. Davis, and they live in Redmond, this 
 
r88 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 county; Julia married (5eorge Davis, and both are 
 deceased; William is married and farming in Kan- 
 sas; Leanali is tlie wife of Robert Cummins of .1ns- 
 per County, this State; Elizabeth married E. 
 Stubbs, and is now deceased; Evangeline and 
 Angeline were twins; the former is the wife of 
 William Stnbbs of Vermilion, and the latter is the 
 wife of Julian Smith, M.D., a physician of l'>l Paso, 
 Woodford County; Nancy, Mrs. Taylor Gross, 
 lives, with her husband, at the paternal homestead. 
 After forty-eight years of congenial companion- 
 ship, our subject and his devoted wife were sepai'- 
 ated by death, Mrs. C'umrains passing away in 1874. 
 She was a lady possessing many estimable qualities, 
 and was a devoted member of the Metlujdist Epis- 
 copal Church. Her remains were laid to rest in 
 Vermilion Cemetery, near the home she had occu- 
 pied for so many years. Mr. Cummins is identified 
 with the United Bretliren Church, attending ser- 
 vices at Vermilion. He cast his first Presidential 
 vote for Jackson, and is a staunch supporter of the 
 Democratic party. Aside from serving as Road 
 Commissioner, he has had little to do with public 
 affairs, and has always maintained a warm interest 
 ineducational matters, and encouraged the establish- 
 ment and maintaiuence of schools, believing this is 
 the surest road to a good and worthy cilizcnsliip. 
 
 ^SAAC H. CURTIS. In making note of the 
 I early settlers and prominent mtn of Edgar 
 '11 County, we And the Curtis family occupying a 
 leading position, and the subject of this sketeli one 
 of its finest representatives. He at one time was an 
 extensive land owner, and has now a fine large farm 
 of 452 acres, lying all in one body on section 4. 
 The lionn stead invariably attracts the attention of 
 the passing traveler, being embellished with com- 
 fortable buildings and delightful groves, and at all 
 points indicating the industry and good judgment 
 with which it lias been perpetuated. The proprie- 
 tor, like the other members of this family, is a 
 leader both in the social and business circles of the 
 community, being n man whom the people regard 
 with liig'h favoi', and one who is erainentlj' worthy 
 
 of their esteem. His ancestral history will be found 
 in the sketch of his brotlicr, Benjamin O. Curtis, 
 elsewhere in this volume. 
 
 The subject of this notice was born in Stratton 
 Township, near Paris, Aug. 7, 1826. His father is 
 one of tlie oldest and leading nursery men in Illi- 
 nois, to which he brought the first steel plow that 
 ever disturbed its soil. Isaac II., like his brothers, 
 served an apprenticeship at this business, under tlie 
 instruction of his honored father. His early edu- 
 cation w.as ac(iuired in the primitive schools con- 
 ducted on the subscription plan during the winter 
 season. He grew up with well-developed muscles 
 and mentally imbued with those sentiments of iion- 
 or and honesty which have raised liim to an envi- 
 able position among his fellow-men. He remained 
 at the jjarental homestead until twenty j'ears of 
 age, then entered into partnership with his broth- 
 ers, they operating together one year. In 1848 
 Isaac purchased 100 acres of land, including the 
 [iresent site of Wetzel Station, paying therefore ^5 
 per acre. Upon this he moved and proceeded with 
 its improvement and cultivation, making his home 
 there until the spring of 1851. He then returned 
 to the old homestead which he operated two years, 
 and in 1855 purchased his present farm of 654 
 acres, at $15 per acre. There were then upon it no 
 improvements — the whole being an uncultivated 
 prairie without a twig or tree. He began opera- 
 tions with a breaking team of four oxen, and la- 
 bored early and late from year to year until the 
 wild land began to assume the proportions of a well- 
 regulated farm. 
 
 Mr. Curtis put up a dwelling in due time, and 
 planted fruit and forest trees, devoting twenty 
 acres to an ample orchard and Ave acres to a wal- 
 nut grove. He made ditches, laid tiling and 
 [ilanteil hedge for fencing and cross fencing, also 
 made considerable wire fence around his ■ fields. 
 After a time he parted witii a portion of liis land, 
 having now 452 acres in prime condition. Atone 
 time he was the owner of 1,700 acres, all of which 
 he operated, with the assistance of twenty-five 
 teams, and devoted 1,000 acres to corn alone. For 
 some of this land he paid as high as $30 per acre, 
 and sold it at a good advance in price. Stock- 
 raising entered largely into his operations, althoug 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPIIICA'L ALBUM. 
 
 789 
 
 his hobby is grain, anrl from his well-cultivated 
 fields he seldom failed to reap abundant harvests. 
 Finally, liowever, the undue rains of several sea- 
 sons and low prices of grain, compelled him to part 
 with some of his land, although he has still sutli- 
 cient to engage all his time and attention. 
 
 Nearly forty years ago our subject was married 
 in October, 1849, at the bride's home in Edgar 
 Township, to Miss Rachel Lawrence. This lady 
 was born in Ohio, in 1829, and was the daughter of 
 John G. Lawrence, who emigrated from the Buck- 
 eye State in 1833, and settled in Eldgar Township, 
 among its earliest pioneers. He carried on farming 
 successfully, and was a prominent member of the 
 community. He served as Justice of the Peace, 
 also occupied other offices of trust and responsibil- 
 ity, and after a well spent life, departed hence at 
 Paris about 1869. Our subject is the father of a 
 family of thirteen children, the eldest of whom, Or- 
 lando, is a successful farmer of Edgar Township, 
 owning 240 acres of choice land; Joseph, the sec- 
 ond, is living in Edgar Township; Hannah, Ange- 
 line, George, and William, are deceased ; John G., 
 Charles W., Elizabeth, Maria, Rachel, Sarah, and 
 Nellie Grant, all of whom, with the exception of 
 Isaac, are at home with their parents. Sarah and 
 Maria are occupied as teachers; the latter attended 
 the musical conservatory at Indianapolis, and Ober- 
 lin, Ohio, and makes a specialty of music. The 
 wife of our subject also taught school prior to her 
 marriage. 
 
 The farm of our subject is flnelj- located cio-lit 
 miles from Paris, and forms a most delightful rnial 
 home. Tiie dwelling is neat and commodious, and 
 the barn admirably adapted to the shelter of stock, 
 and the storage of grain. Mr. Curtis has modern farm 
 machinery, including hay-scales and a windmill, 
 together with tanks from which water is made con- 
 venient for home and stock use. The whole prem- 
 ises gives ample evidence of being vmder tlie man- 
 agement of a thorough and skillful agriculturist. 
 
 Mr. Curtis, politically, is a decided Republican, 
 and has been of great service to his party in this 
 section, going as a delegate to the County Conven- 
 tions, and otherwise contributing of his time and 
 means to further the principles in which he believes, 
 one of which is, protection to American industries. 
 
 He has served as a Director in his school distrtct 
 for a niunber of yeo'S, and has given his uniform 
 encouragement to all enterprises set on foot for the 
 good of the eouimunity. His estimable wife is a 
 member in good standing of the Methodist Epis- 
 copal Church. 
 
 (JL. JACKS( )N M. SHEETS is the editor and 
 proprietor of the Paris Republican, which 
 was established Jan. 1, 1877, by Joseph M. 
 Prior, as a wceklj^ publication, and was conducted 
 by him for fifteen months. On April 1, 1878, 
 Col. Sheets purchased the plant, and has since 
 guided it on to prosperity. In 1886 he com- 
 menced the publication of a daily edition which has 
 been a success from the start. 
 
 Jackson M. Sheets was born near Baldwinsville, 
 Edgar Co., 111., Oct. 6, 1841. He lived on a farm 
 until 1858 when he engaged at work on the Wa- 
 bash Valley Blade, which was printed at Paris. 
 He continued in this occupation until the beginning 
 of the war, when he enlisted in Company I of the 
 21st Illinois Infantry. He was mustered in as cor- 
 poral, and served as such until his discharge, whicli 
 he received by reason of woimds contracted while 
 in the line of duty. The following is his war rec- 
 ord condensed, which will be found interesting. 
 
 Col. Sheets was engaged in the operations in 
 the West, and part of ;\Iissouri, in following Jeff 
 Thompson, who was mounted while our soldiers 
 consisted of infantry. His command went from 
 there to Arkansas and was then called back to Shi- 
 loh, from there it went to Cap. Girardeau. The 
 regiment was at the siege of Corinth. The 21st 
 Regiment was originally commanded by Gen. Ulys- 
 ses S. Grant and in his memoirs complimentary 
 mention is made of the old regiment, and its con- 
 nection with the siege of Corinth. Mr. Sheets was 
 on the breast works the morning the magazine blew 
 up during that siege. The regiment then joined 
 the Army of the Ohio under Gen. Buell and 
 marched through 'Tennessee and Kentucky, a dis- 
 tance of 500 miles under a sweltering soiitliern sun. 
 Mr. Slieets was in the battle of Cham[»ion Hills, 
 
790 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 his company being the first in the fight. From 
 thore he WLMit to Knob Gap where he lost every- 
 thing he had. He was wounded at tlie battle of 
 Stone River, a ball passing through tiie breast clear 
 through his body. After this he was sent to the 
 field hospital, and subsequently removed to Nash- 
 ville. From there he was sent to Louisville, 
 (Jincinnati and Camp Dennison, being seven months 
 in hospitals. He was discharged Aug. 17, 18G3. 
 
 After his return from the army he read medicine 
 for awhile, and in March, 186.5, was appointed 
 military State Agent for Illinois, with the rank of 
 colonel, holding this position until the war closed. 
 By act of legislature of January, 1865, the Gover- 
 nor appointed six Military State Agents with rank 
 of colonel, assigning them to different military de- 
 partments in the .South, to look after the interests 
 of Illinois soldiers in the field and hospitals. He 
 has held the position of Postmaster for one term, 
 and City and Township Clerk one term each, and 
 has been honored by being elected Justice of the 
 Peace serving eleven years. He was a Presidential 
 Elector in 1880, and cast his vote as such for Gar- 
 field and Arthur. Since that time he has held no 
 office, but finds that his time is fully occupied in 
 attending to the duties of editor. Col. Sheets is 
 an active member of the Methodist Episcopal 
 Cliurch, and has been since Jan. 3, 1868. He h.as 
 been the Superintendent of the Sunday-school and 
 iield the various offices of his church. He is a 
 member of all the Masonic bodies in Paris and has 
 sat in the chair of High Priest in the Chapter, and 
 is a charter member of the Commandery. While 
 not an active member, he has belonged to the Odd 
 Fellows for a long time. 
 
 Col. Sheets was married to Miss Nannie Clark, 
 May 26, 1866. She was born in Monroe County, 
 Ohio, March 12, 1846, and when quite young, came 
 to Paris, with her parents. Her father, Daniel 
 Clark, was one of the pioneer merchants of Paris. 
 Ml', and Mrs. Sheets are the parents of one daugh- 
 ter — Bessie. Reuben Sheets, father of Jackson M., 
 was born in Rockingham Connty, Va., where he 
 married Miss Rozier, who died at middle age. He 
 then married iMiss Elizabeth Henning, the mother 
 of the subject of this notice. To the first mariiage 
 were born five children and to the latter seven, all 
 
 of whom grew to maturity'. The father removed 
 to the farm where Jackson was born, near Bald- 
 winsville, in 1830, where he lived until 1850 when 
 he removed to Edgar Township, dying there in 
 May, 1857. His wife died in 1848. 
 
 (Jol. Sheets is one of the prominent men of his 
 city and count}' and is alwaj^s found at the front 
 in anything that will promote the interests of Ed- 
 gar County. He is an able and conscientious 
 newspaper writer, and his publication is a credit to 
 this part of Illinois. 
 
 ' ALEXANDER MOSS. Agriculture at the 
 *?/'~'ll P'"^^*^"*' ^'^y '* conducted as a science and 
 III I* an art and those men who have been the 
 ^ most successful in following it, are those 
 
 who have made of it a study and availed tliera- 
 selves by reading and observation of the experi- 
 ence of others and the various appliances turned 
 out by the inventor. Especially is this the case 
 in Central Illinois, whose farmers comprise the 
 wealthiest portion of the population. Among 
 those who have operated successfully in Edgar 
 Count}', is Alexander Moss, who represents landid 
 property to the amount of 730 acres in Edgar 
 Township. This is located on sections 31, 36 and 
 32, and lies on both sides of the State road, five 
 and one-half miles from the city of Paris. It is 
 amply watered by Bruellet Creek and is a tine body 
 of land, thoroughly adapted to the rich crops 
 of this region and particularly to live stock pur- 
 poses. As a dealer in cattle Mr. Moss is an un- 
 qualified success and of late years has been largely 
 engaged in buying and shipping. He has fine 
 buildings and improvements, a handsome and sub- 
 stantial residence, and a home presided over by one 
 of the most estimable and intelligent ladies of this 
 region. The family circle is the crown and sub- 
 stance of his belongings, and presents the picture 
 of a contented .and happy household, seeking their 
 chief satisfaction among themselves and bidding 
 defiance to the storms of the outside world. 
 
 In noting the ancestry of our subject we find 
 that his father, Henry Moss, was born in Rocking- 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 791 
 
 ham County, Va., in 1791. The paternal grand- 
 father, Jacob Moss, was a native of Germany, 
 where he was reared to farm pursuits. After 
 crossing the Atlantic he settled in tlie Old Domin- 
 ion, and there it is believed spent his last days. 
 Henry Moss was reared to man's estate in his 
 native county, and served in the War of 1812. 
 After its close he emigrated to Claris County, Ohio, 
 and entered a tract of timbered land near what is 
 now the city of Springfield. He was one of the 
 earliest pioneers of that region, and through tlie 
 exercise of great industry cleared three farms of 
 160 acres each. He was still not satisfied with the 
 acquirements and in 1854 disposed of his possess- 
 ions in the Buclteye State and gatliering together 
 his family and household effects started overland 
 by team for the prairies of Illinois. He located on 
 the State road adjoining Bloomtield, where he first 
 secured 277 acres of land in Paris Township, and 
 206 acres elsewhere, and carried on farming until 
 his death, which occured in 1867, at the age of 
 ninety-six years. He joined the Republican partj' 
 soon after its organization and remained one of its 
 firmest adherents. 
 
 The maiden name of the motiier of our subject 
 was Barbara Arbogaest. She was born in Pendleton 
 County ,Va. and removed with her parents to Ohio at 
 an early day. The family was of German descent. 
 To the parents of our subject there were born 
 seven children — Eliza, (Mrs. Arthur) is a resident 
 of Paris; Belmira is deceased ; Amanda, (Mrs. Crab- 
 tree) lives at Marshalltown, Iowa; Henry is de- 
 ceased; Harriet, (Mrs. Arthur) lives in Paris; 
 Harrison is farming in Edgar Township; Alexan- 
 der, our subject was the youngest born. Harrison 
 during the Civil War served in the 79th Illinois 
 Infantry and was captured at the battle of Chicka- 
 mauga. He was taken Soutli and confined in 
 Southern prisons eighteen months when he made 
 his escape, rejoining his regiment and served until 
 the close of the war. 
 
 The subject of this sketch was born near Spring- 
 field, Clark Co., Ohio, April 26, 1841. He lived 
 there on a farm of until a boy of thirteen, then in 
 1853, came with his parents to Illinois and was 
 reared to manhood near Bloomfield. He attended 
 school until eighteen years old, studying one win- 
 
 ter in the Higii School. Subsequently he was a 
 student at Antioch College, Yellow Springs, Ohio, 
 where he pursued his studies about one year. Upon 
 returning home, the Civil War being in progress, 
 he enlisted Aug. 1, 1862, in Company D, 79th Illi- 
 nois Infantry, in which he was mustered in as Ser- 
 geant at Alattoon and soon afterward went to the 
 front with his regiment. He |)articipated in some 
 of the most important battles in the war, being at 
 Stone River in 1765, latter at Liberty Gap, the 
 battles of Chickamauga and Missionary Ridge, and 
 was also under Grant during the campaign in East 
 Tennessee, when they were sent to relieve Burn- 
 side. Later, they were assigned to the command 
 of Sherman and participated in the Atlanta cam- 
 paign. Mr. Moss w.ns also in the fight at Rocky 
 Face Ridge, Resaca, Kenesaw Mountain, Dallas and 
 Peach Tree Creek. He was the only man in his 
 regiment who participated in every battle in which 
 it engaged, and in all met the enemy upon seven- 
 teen different occasions. He was mustered out at 
 Nashville, Tenn. and received his final discharge at 
 at Springfield, III., June 24, 1865, with the rank of 
 Orderly Sergeant, which was conferred upon him 
 soon after the battle of Liberty Gap, in which he 
 acquitted himself with unusual credit. 
 
 Upon his return from the array our subject began 
 business for himself, farming and handling live- 
 stock. He met with such success that in 1867 he 
 was enabled to purchase 255 acres of land which 
 he added to by degrees until he now has one of the 
 largest farms in this section. It is all under the 
 plow and enclosed with substantial fencing and 
 well supplied with running water. Mr. l\Ioss 
 planted an apple orchard and forest trees, and 
 there is an abundance of small fruits for the use of 
 the family. The residence and its surroundings 
 present the picture of an attractive rural home, 
 whose chief characteristics are peace and plenty, and 
 which is conducted in such a manner as to yield the 
 best results financially. Mr. Moss feeds annually 
 100 to 200 head of cattle. In the operation of the 
 farm he employs three teams of powerful draft 
 horses. 
 
 Our subject was married in Edgar Township, 
 Jan. 1, 1869 to Miss Sarah A. Hazel ton, who was 
 born in Chester, N. H. She received a good edu- 
 
71)2 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 cation and cnme to Edgar County to visit an aunt 
 in. 1865. She remained witli lier and engaged in 
 teaeliing until lier marriage. Her union witli our 
 subjeot lias resulted in the birth of seven children, 
 live of whom are living, viz: Frank H., Chester 
 A., Jose|)hine M., Mabel A., and Maude A.; they 
 aie at home with their i)arents. Mr. Moss, politi- 
 cally, it is hardly necessary to say, is a sound Re- 
 publican. He belongs to the G. A. R. post, and 
 has officiated as a School Director in his l^istrict 
 for many j'ears. His example of thrift and in- 
 dustry is worth}' of emulation and has been the 
 means of placing him in an enviable position 
 among his fellow citizens, both social!}' and finan- 
 icall}'. He has been the uniform encourager of 
 those enterprises calculated to benefit the people 
 and is in all respects a leading citizen, amply 
 worthy of representation in a work designed to per- 
 petuate the records of those who have been most 
 active in promoting the interests of Edgar County. 
 
 'iT[^EEFKR LAUKMAN. Among the men who 
 (S*v, have achieved financial success and like- 
 wise been prominent in social and official 
 j>; circles, tlie subject of this biography, 
 Clerk of the County Court, is entitled to more 
 than a passing notice. He spends the greater por- 
 tion of his time at a well-improved farm of 240 
 acres on section lis in Sims Township, and whicii 
 farm has been the scene of bis labors for many 
 years and until the time when, finding himself on 
 a solid basis financially, he had time to turn his 
 attention in another direction. For six years prior 
 to 1886 he represented his township in tlie Count}' 
 Board of Supervisors, and was then elected Clerk 
 of the County Court, which position he still holds, 
 and is acquitting himself with great credit and 
 satisfaction to his fellow-citizens. 
 
 A native of Franklin County, Pa., our subject 
 was born June 21, 1824, and when a lad of eight 
 years removed with his parents to Williamsport, 
 Md. Two years later, hoivever, they returned to 
 Franklin County, Pa., and thence removed to 
 Wayne County, Ohio. From there, in 1838, they 
 
 emigrated to Illinois, locating in Edgar County 
 when our subject was about fifteen years old. Since 
 that time he has been closely identified with its 
 most important interests, and has watched its 
 growth and development with the satisfaction only 
 felt by its most intelligent and efficient men. 
 
 The Laufman family in coming to Edgar Countj', 
 111., located in the heavy timber along its Southern 
 line so that the father could obtain tan bark, he 
 being a tanner by trade. Indue time he estab- 
 lished a tan yard, and in this Keefer was employed 
 until 1816, and after the outbreak of the Mexican 
 War. He then entered the army as a volunteer 
 in Company II, 4th Illinois Infantry, under com- 
 mand of Col. E. D. Baker, who later served as a 
 General during the Rebellion. Young Laufman 
 ^yas promoted to Sergeant, and saved out of $8 per 
 month enough moiiey to enter forty acres of land 
 on a soldier's land warrant. This land he still 
 owns and occupies. 
 
 jVt the close of the war, our subject resumed 
 work with his father at tanning and farming, and 
 the} thus operated together several years. In the 
 meantime the father entered eighty acres of land, 
 from which he constructed a good farm, which af- 
 forded him a comfortable home in his last days, 
 .lacob Laufman was born in Carlisle, Pa., where 
 he lived until approaching manhood, and then en- 
 tered the army during the War of 1812, volun- 
 teering in the defence of the city of Baltimore. 
 When his services were no longer required he re- 
 turned to bis native State, and was married to Miss 
 Margaret, daughter of Gideon and Susannah Keefer. 
 The paternal grandfather of our subject was Philip 
 Laufman, a native of Pennsylvania, born in 1767, 
 and a soldier in the Revolutionary War. He was 
 but a lad of fifteen }'ears when entering the army, 
 and was under the direct command of Gen. Wash- 
 ington, being present at the surrender of Corn- 
 wallis. His wife, Mary E. Pence, was born in 
 1772, and was a native of Pennsylvania. 
 
 Grandfather Laufman after the independence 
 ol the colonists had been established returned to 
 his native State and was married. He became the 
 father of eight children, of whom Jacob was the 
 second born. He followed the peaceful pursuits 
 of agriculture and, with his estimable wife, spent 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 793 
 
 his Inst days upon the soil of the Ki-ystone Statp. 
 Both wore members of tlie JAitlieran Clmreh, in 
 wliich Grandfather L. was one of the chief pillars. 
 He was always irterested in wortliy public entcr- 
 pi'ises, and was for many 3'ears a Steward of the 
 County Infirmary. The maternal great-grand- 
 father of our subject was Cliristian Keefer, a native 
 of Pennsylvania, born in 1785, where he spent his 
 entire life. 
 
 The subject of this sketch was married in Sims 
 Township, Nov. !), 1849, to Miss Harriet Sliivel}', 
 who was born in Muskingum County, Ohio, and is 
 the daughter of William and Polly (Brown) 
 Siiively. The latter were natives of Virginia, 
 whence they removed to Ohio during its earlj' set- 
 tlement. They left the Buckeje State in 1845, 
 and, coming to Edgar County, 111., here spent 
 their last da\'S. To Mr and Mrs. Laufman there 
 have been born nine children. The eldest, Ro- 
 seltha, is the wife of Garrett Suedeker, and they 
 live at Redmon, this county; Orlando was married 
 and died, leaving his widow, formerly Sarah J. 
 Morton, with six children; Edward married Miss 
 Xaney Welch, and is the father of three children ; 
 ]\Iary, IMrs. Charles McFarland, lives in Terre 
 IIaute,and is the mother of four children ; Jacob mar- 
 ried Miss Katie Lewis, and they have two children; 
 Margaret, Mrs. Goodman Forsythe, is the mother of 
 three children; William is at home; Harriet is the 
 wife of Nelson Campbell, and the mother of one 
 child; Cyrus is the youngest of the family, and is 
 at home. 
 
 During his career as a soldier in the war with 
 JNIexico, Mr. Laufman participated in the bom- 
 bardment of Vera Cruz, and was also in the ))nttle 
 of Cerro (Jordo, and for his great courage and 
 daring promoted to Second Sergeant. He is a 
 stanch Democrat, politically, and socially, belongs 
 to Elbridge Lodge No. 579, A. F. & A. M., with 
 which he has been connected many years. The 
 ample proiierty which he possesses has been accu- 
 mulated liy his own industry and peiseverance. 
 He started out in life at the fo(jt, of the ladder 
 and, without other resources than that which 
 kindly nature had given him, in the possession of 
 a willingness \,o perform any honorable labor 
 which would enable him to get a comfortable liv- 
 
 ing and something besides. He has always put his 
 own shoulder to the wheel and adhered closely to 
 the advice of Benjamin Franklin, attending as 
 niucli as possible to his own concerns, not trusting 
 to others that which he should look after himself. 
 This has been tiie secret of many a man's success, 
 and has proven a more reliable capital than an abun- 
 dance of nione\- without it. 
 
 •.o*o.-fcj;>><A^..o.«.o.- 
 
 W'lLLIAM II. HILD 
 which the subject 
 „ ,. worthy offshoot. 
 
 ^iILLIAM II. HILDRETH. The family of 
 ;'t of tills notice is a most 
 came to Edgar County 
 about 183"2, when William H. was a child of three 
 years, having made the journey from Bourbon 
 County, Ky., by team, where our subject was born 
 in 1829. His parents, Alvin K. and Sally ^Ritter) 
 Hildreth, were respectively of English and German 
 descent. They likewise were born in Kentuck3', 
 where the father was reared to farming pursuits, 
 and grew up inured to labor and trained in habits 
 of iudiistr}' and economy. He possessed all the 
 hardihood and courage of the native Kentuckian, 
 and was well fitted to enter upon the task before 
 him, when venturing into the wilds of a new coun- 
 try. 
 
 The father of our subject was born in Kentucky, 
 1802, landed in N'ermilion Count}% 111., with about 
 1400, and at the time of his death, left a lai'ge es- 
 tate consisting of over 2,600 acres of choice land, 
 nearly all in one bod}-, and the most of it under 
 cultivation. Besides this he had a large amount of 
 personal property. In his prosperity he gener- 
 ously acknowledged that in his accumidations he 
 was assisted largely liy his faithful, sensible and 
 capable wife, who was a lad}^ of more than ordi- 
 nary intelligence, and in whose good judgment and 
 womanly counsel he had the most implicit confi- 
 dence. In the days of their ])i'osi)erity they uni- 
 formlj' remembered those less fortunate, and for the 
 last twenty years of their active lives, they prac- 
 tically kept an open house for the needy, none of 
 whom were ever turned erai)t3' from their door. 
 
 Alvin K. Hiblreth, while not a member of any 
 religious organization, contvibuted liberally of his 
 
79-1 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 means tor the establishment and maintenance of 
 chnrclies. He believed in a future state, and in 
 all his dealings endeavored to follow the precepts 
 of the Golden Rule, doing unto his neighbor as he 
 would be done by. He departed this life July 19, 
 1874, and was followed by the faithful, affectionate 
 and devoted wife and mother; she was born in 
 Bourbon County, Ky., in 1810, and died July 15, 
 1876. Their names will be long held in grateful 
 remembrance in the community of which they were 
 such valued members, and where they reared their 
 family to take their places as useful and worthy 
 citizens. 
 
 The subject of this sketch was given the rudi- 
 ments of a common-school education in the district 
 where he w.as reared, and was at an early age taught 
 to make himself useful about the new farm. The 
 father was largely interested in stock-raising, mak- 
 ing a specialty of cattle and mules, and handling 
 considerable numbers of horses, sheep, and swine. 
 William at an early age was entrusted with the pur- 
 chase of live-stock, to which business he seemed 
 peculiarly adapted, and operated with excellent 
 judgment. He remained at home and worked with 
 his father until a man of thirty-seven years, and at 
 that time had a good propert}' of his own. Up to 
 this period he had remained a bachelor, but in 1869 
 he was united in marriage with Miss Mary E. Horn, 
 daughter of Dr. A. and Harriet (Linton) Horn, the 
 former of whom is a well-known veterinary surgeon 
 of Edgar County, and a very able man in other re- 
 spects. The children of William H. and Mary E. 
 Hildreth, are as follows: John, Alvin K., Henry C, 
 Alice, Minnie M., and Larina; James H. and Will- 
 iam are deceased. Mrs. Hildreth is a very indus- 
 trious and economical woman, and has extraordi- 
 nary good business proclivities, hence, is good coun- 
 sel and n helpmate for him in carrying on his business 
 successfullj'. 
 
 Mr. and IMrs. Hildreth began their wedded life 
 together on the large farm which they now occupj' 
 and which comprises 760 acres of fertile land under 
 a thorough state of cultivation, and all in one body. 
 It is entirely surrounded with a hedge fence, and the 
 fields are divided with the same, making a broad 
 and beautiful picture in the landscape. Mr. Hil- 
 dreth has laid probably 6,000 rods of tiling, and 
 
 thus thorough!}' drained, the soil is very produc- 
 tive. Forests and fruit trees serve to embellish 
 the homestead, and a new residence is now (July, 
 1889) in course of completion. This structure, 
 when finished, will be one of the finest of its kind 
 in the township. There is a fine barn and all the 
 other buildings necessary for the shelter of stock 
 and the storage of grain, while the most modern ma- 
 chinery Is used in tilling the soil. 
 
 For the past few years Mr. Hildreth has engaged 
 extensively as a dealer in live-stock, which has 
 yielded him handsome returns. The land which he 
 received from his father's estate, was mostly in its 
 primitive condition, and he lias made all the im- 
 provements which are upon it. Mr. Hildreth is re- 
 ligiously a firm believer in the Spiritualistic philo- 
 sopli}', and has one of the largest libraries in the 
 county. He is thoroughly, well informed on most 
 of the great issues of the day, and has never sought 
 or held office, except some of the minor offices of 
 his township. He is a Democrat. He is recog- 
 nized as one of the most public-spirited men of the 
 county, and was largely instrumental in securing 
 the passage of the Chicago & Ohio River Railroad 
 through this section. There was at the time a bit- 
 ter contest over this road, but the persistence of 
 Mr. Hildreth, resulted in its being built through its 
 present location, instead of three miles west. He 
 gave $1,000 in money, and the right of way, be- 
 sides weeks of hard labor. 
 
 Notwithstanding a man may have been subjected 
 to the most careful and thorough training in his 
 youth, this is given in vain unless he has within 
 him the elements of industry and perseverance. 
 Mr. Hildreth has displayed these qualities in an un- 
 usual degree, and it has been noticeable all through 
 his life since reaching years of discretion, that what- 
 ever he has undertaken, has been followed up as 
 long as there was a possibility of his attaining his 
 purpose. It is said that "all things come to those 
 who wait." Mr. Hildreth has not been content to 
 wait alone, but has labored industriously in the 
 meantime, and has perpetuated in a most praise- 
 worthy manner the honorable name of his father, 
 and his own will be held in remembrance years af- 
 ter his active mind and hand shall have ceased their 
 labors. It is to such men as he that the great State 
 
RESIDENCE OF W. K.HA R RIS. SEC. II.. PARIS TR, EDGAR CO. 
 
 —^vT. — - y; •'~ n ; ' ,.^__ — . _ — ^ — , , — __ — .„ 
 
 RESIDENCE OF P. A .CO FFMAN, SEC.4, GRANDVIEW TP, EDGAR CO. 
 
 RES. OF JAMES FORSTER. SEC. S5. E LB R IDGE TP. EDGAR CO. 
 
PORIKAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 797 
 
 of Illinois is indebted for her wealth and prosper- 
 ity, and the achievements which have given her no 
 secondary position as a commonwealth of the Great 
 West. It is gratifying to be able to preserve the 
 life history of such an individual — one which will 
 be perused with interest by not only his immediate 
 descendants, but bj^ all those who have any interest 
 in the prosperity of Illinois. 
 
 R. CHARLES W. MARTI NIE. The lit- 
 tle village of Palermo, or Hickory Grove, 
 as it is more familiarly called, is the oldest 
 village in Young America Township. It 
 lies flne mile south of the Vermilion County line, 
 and three miles east of Douglas County, west of the 
 center of the township. Besides a store or two, it 
 has had from the outset of its career that familiar 
 personage known as the "village doctor." Before 
 1870, several persons authorized to write "M. D." 
 after their names, had located in this village, ling- 
 ered a year or two, and then removed to other 
 fields. In the above mentioned year, however, a 
 new candidate for the favor and friendship, and 
 patronage of the people of Palermo and vicinity, 
 made his appearance in the person of a j^oung man, 
 who introduced himself as Charles W. Martinie. 
 He came unheralded by any reputation achieved in 
 the art of healing. His only credentials were a 
 fine appearance, a frank, open countenance, and a 
 general makeup, physically and mentall}"^, indica- 
 tive of earnestness, energy, and a fixed determina 
 tion to succeed where others had failed and fallen 
 by the wayside. He seems to have pinned his faith 
 to the old adage, that success is sure to come to 
 him who has learned to "labor and to wait." He la- 
 bored hard, patiently, steadily, and perse veringly 
 amid many discouragements, and much that was 
 disheartening, but he succeeded, and now after 
 nineteen j'ears, he not only has a lucrative and pay- 
 ing practice, but is a large land owner and a promi- 
 nent and influential member of the community in 
 which he lives. He is essentially a self-made man, 
 and a successful and skillful physician. 
 
 The following sketch of his career will show how 
 
 he has won his way by his own efforts. Charles W. 
 Martinie was born in Henry County, Ky., Nov. 7, 
 1847. His parents, David and Mary Martinie, 
 were natives of Kentucky', and were of German ex- 
 traction. At the outset of his career his father fol- 
 lowed farming. In 1850, however, he embarked in 
 mercantile business in Port Royal, Ky., in which 
 he continued until 1863. After engaging again in 
 farming, he went into the grocery business. He is 
 now at the age of sixty -three, enjoying well-earned 
 rest. His residence is in Arlington, Ky., where he 
 lives in comfort on the revenues derived from his 
 lands. 
 
 The mother of our subject died when he was 
 about ten years of age. His boyhood was spent on 
 the farm, and he early became acquainted with hard 
 but healthful work, which tended to finally develop 
 a robust form, and fit it for sustaining a vigorous, 
 active mind. 
 
 Dr. Martinie's parents had five children born 
 unto them, he being the eldest. The second born, 
 Alice I., married J. W. Churchill. She died in Au- 
 gust, 1886, near Prairie View, Champaign Co., 111., 
 leaving three children. Her husband was a farmer. 
 John, the next born, died in infancy; O. S., the 
 fourth child, resides near Fithian, 111.; Ethelbert 
 E. died March 15, 1887; he grew to manhood, 
 studied medicine and graduated from Miami Medi- 
 cal College, Cincinnati, Ohio, and practiced three 
 years in Vermilion County, this State. He died at 
 Prairie View, Champaign Co., 111. He was a young 
 man of fine education, and gave promise of an hon- 
 orable and successful career as a physician. 
 
 The subject of this sketch, after passing his boy- 
 hood on a farm, and getting such an education as a 
 few months each year at the common schools af- 
 forded, became possessed of a desire to drink still 
 deeper at the fountain of knowledge; and accord- 
 ingly at the age of seventeen commenced a course 
 of study in the Battle Ground College near LaFay- 
 ette, Ind. He remained here three years, when at 
 the age of twenty years he entered the office of 
 his uncle, Dr. C. E. Triplett in Morocco, Ind., 
 where for another three years he diligently applied 
 himself to the study of medicine. This course of 
 reading under his uncle's supervision, was followed 
 by an attendance during the winter of 1869-70, 
 
798 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 upon a course of lectures at Rush Medical College, 
 Chicago. With this preparation for his life's work, 
 he came to Palermo, and on June 20, 1870, began 
 the practice of medicine, among tlie people who are 
 now his friends, neighbors, and patrons. He came 
 among them empty handed, but not empty headed, 
 and they ^oon found him deserving of their confi- 
 dence both as a man and as a physician. 
 
 In the fall of 1873, having accumulated a little 
 means, and being desirous of still further qualify- 
 ing himself for the successful pursuit of his pro- 
 fession, he went to Cincinnati and became a student 
 in the Miami Medical College, from which he grad- 
 uated in the spring of 1874. After his graduation 
 he returneil to Palermo, and resumed his practice. 
 
 On Jul3' 2, 1871, Dr. Martinie married IVIiss 
 Blary JI. Marshall, daughter of Samuel and Chris- 
 tian Marshall. Mrs. Martinie was born in Wash- 
 ington County, Pa., Nov. 5, 1847, and is two days 
 older than her husband. Her parents were natives 
 of Pennsylvania, and of Scotch-Irish extraction. 
 They had two children beside herself — George, who 
 died in boyhood, and Abner J., who is now in Col- 
 orado. He is unmarried. 
 
 Mr. Martinie's failierdied when he was an infant. 
 His mother survived him until ten j'ears ago, when 
 she too departed this life at the age of sixty-one 
 years. Two children have been born to Dr. and 
 Mrs. Martinie — Nellie May, who died in 1.S73, at 
 the age of eleven months, and Charles A-, who is 
 now eleven years old. 
 
 Dr. Martinie has never sought or held any [uiblic 
 office. Though a Democrat, he takes no active 
 part in politics beyond voting, preferring to devote 
 all his energies to his profession. He belongs to 
 but one secret order, the I. O. 0. F. lodge, an<I is, 
 a member of Palermo Lodge No. 646. He and Mrs. 
 Martinie are consistent members of the Cumber- 
 land Presbyterian Church. 
 
 Our subject is a man of fine personal appearance. 
 He is about six feet tall, his form being well pro- 
 portioned to his height. His well poised head, 
 erect figure, firm yet elastic step betoken health, 
 vigor, buoyant spirits and manly dignity. His hair 
 is dark, beard of a slightly reddish color, his eyes 
 blue, and his complexion of a clear healthful hue. 
 He has tiie appearance of being in the very prime 
 
 and vigor of his strength, and of possessing a con- 
 stitution e(|ual to the demands of the arduous duties 
 and exposures incident to his profession. Dr. Mar- 
 tinie has not only been a student of medicine dur- 
 ing liis years of practice, but he has also kept him- 
 self abreast of all the current thought of ihe times. 
 His private library is well selected, and contains 
 the latest works of the world's best thinkers. 
 
 As the result of industry, application, prudent 
 economy and business foresight and judgment, Di'. 
 Martinie is to-day in well-to-do circumstances. Be- 
 sides his pleasant and attractive home in Palermo, 
 he owns 640 acres of rich and well -cultivated land 
 in one body in sections 26 and 35 Sidell Township, 
 Vermilion Co., 111. As has been alread}' set forth, 
 his practice is large and lucrative, and he gives it 
 the same clear and conscientious attention that he 
 did in the daj's before fortune began to favor him 
 with her smiles. The people who have known him 
 for the past nineteen years, have not only confidence 
 in liis professional skill, but have accorded him a 
 high place in their esteem because of his sterling in- 
 tegrit}- as a man and a citizen. 
 
 ■\l OHN B. GAl.WAY was born Oct. 31, 1820, 
 in East Bethlehem Township, Washington 
 Co., Pa. His father, James Galvvay was a 
 native of Chester Count}', Pa., and was born 
 in the year 1797. His grandfather, Robert Gal- 
 way, emigrated to America from the County Mon- 
 aghan, Ireland, in 1775, the year of the breaking 
 out of tlie Uevolutionar}' War. He landed at Phila- 
 delphia, and having no love for British tyranny, 
 soon joined the patriotic forces. He served in Max- 
 well's brigade, participating in a number of battles 
 and skirmishes, among which may be mentioned 
 Brandywine, Chadd's Ford and Paoli. At the lat- 
 ter place he received a bayonet wound in the side, 
 frcjm which he never fully recovered. After the 
 close of the war he visited Ireland and married his 
 second cousin, Elizabeth Galvvay, with whom here- 
 turned to America, and settled in Eastern Penn- 
 sylvania. He died in the early part of the present 
 century, at about sixty years of age. His wife sur- 
 
PORTRAIT AM) 1U0(5 RAl'llICAL AL15UM. 
 
 799 
 
 vived him twenty years, and died about tlie year 
 1835, at Mt. Pleasant, Ohio. She with her husband 
 were members ot the Presbyterian Churcii. Mr. 
 Robert Galway was a farmer. 
 
 James Galway wliom we have before mentioned, 
 was born and reared on a farm. He was educated 
 in the subscription schools, among the (Quakers of 
 Chester County. He was a close student and a 
 great teacher during his time. .James left Cliester 
 County when about twenty-five years old, and went 
 to Ohio, where he remained a year or so, when he 
 returned to Pennsylvania and began farming in 
 Washington County. In December, 1825 he mar- 
 ried Miss Margaret II. Beatty, daughter of .James 
 and Margaret Beatty. Mr. Beatty was born near 
 Sliepherdsburg,and his wife in Washington County, 
 Pa. He was of English ancestry, and she of Scotch- 
 Irish. 
 
 Tliere were born to the parents of our subject, 
 six children: John R., William B., Robert P., Da- 
 vid H., Joseph, James H., and Margaret. William 
 B. lives just east of the one of whom we write. A 
 sketch of William is given elsewhere in this work; 
 Robert P. died in 1><61, leaving a widow and one 
 child; David H., in answer to his country's call, 
 enlisted as a private in Company D, 25th Illinois 
 Infantry. He was promoted to Scrgcant-Majcjr of 
 his regiment, and would, doubtless, have won his 
 way to higher honors, had he not died very sud- 
 denly of rheumatism of the heart in December, 
 1862; James H. died when a lioy, and Margaret 
 when two years old; Joseph is a bachelor and lives 
 with our subject. 
 
 John B. Galway married Miss Elizabeth Mitch- 
 ell, daughter of John and Christy Anna Mitchell, 
 Oct. 30, 1851. Mrs. Galway was born in Wash- 
 ington County, Pa., Sept. 1, 1828. Her father was 
 a native of New Jersey, and of Irish ancestry. Her 
 mother was a native of the same county as her 
 daughter, and carae of German ancestry. Three 
 years after the marriage of our subject and wife, 
 they removed to Illinois and settled in Carroll 
 Township, Vermilion County. A year after this 
 Mr. Galway removed to this county and rented the 
 place now occupied by H. Kendall in Young Amer- 
 ica Township. In 1861, having by industry, fru- 
 gality and economy, accumulated some means, he 
 
 purchased eighty acres of land in section 13, range 
 13, Young America Township. To this modest lie- 
 ginning ho has made additions by purchase, until 
 his present estate numbers 500 aCres of well-culti- 
 vated and exceedingly fertile land. It is sulliciently 
 high to be well drained, and is one of the most pic- 
 turesque locations found in the county. 
 
 Though repeatedly solicited to run for office, 
 Mr. Galway would not consent to accept any but 
 such as connected him with township affairs in 
 which he had a personal interest. He was the first 
 Town Sui)ervisor in 1857, and served six years, 
 lie .served as Township Treasurer thirteen years, 
 and was Justice of the Peace three years. He is 
 the oldest Republican in Edgar County; was one 
 before the party was formed. When he lived along 
 the National road, which runs through Terre Haute, 
 he used to see gangs of negroes being driven to 
 JNIissouri to be sold to the slave owners of that State. 
 The sight of these unfortunates — some white to all 
 ajipearances — firmly fixed him in his anti-slavery 
 principles, and made him a Republican before there 
 was a Republican partj' in Illinois. He has been 
 an active member of his party, and has frequently 
 served on the County Committee. He is a mem- 
 ber of Burns Lodge No. 292, Knights of Honor, in 
 which he holds the office of A'ice-Dictator. He is 
 a member and Elder in the Christian Church. 
 
 Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. 
 Galway. The oldest, Roxana is the wif^ of John 
 O. Kizer, a livery man of Metcalf; they have one 
 child, James II., who farms part of the homestead, 
 married Daisey Kizer, cousin to Roxana's husband; 
 they have four children; Josephine and the fourth 
 child are deceased, the latter dying in infancy. 
 
 -**• 
 
 ^ 
 
 M IJ^iblviAM iSLALlVliUlvJN, one 
 
 \/iJ// n'^''''^''-' citizens of this county i 
 \^/y§ farmer and stock-raiser in g 
 
 ILLIAM BLACKBURN, one of the oldest 
 
 and a retired 
 good circum- 
 stances, lias his home on the outskirts of the city 
 and is passing his declining years amid the com- 
 forts which a lifetime of industry and economy 
 have insured for his old age. He was born about 
 five miles east of Paris in Stratton Township, Oct. 
 
800 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 15, 1823, and is the son of James M. and Cnssan- 
 dra (Widner) Blackburn, the former of whom was 
 born near what is now (^ynthiana, Ky., in 1797 
 and removed to Indiana with his parents when 
 quite young; Mrs. Blackburn was born on the 
 Wabash, near Vincennes, Ind., in 1799. 
 
 William Blackburn, Sr., the paternal grandfather 
 of our subject, was a farmer by occupation and a 
 pioneer settler of Sullivan County, Ind., where he 
 met his death accidentally at a barn-raising. His 
 wife, Elizabeth McClenahan, lived to a very old 
 age, dj'lng at the home of her son, James M., in 
 her ninety-second year. She was an interesting 
 and estimable old lady, one who had lived in this 
 county for many years and is spoken of with great 
 respect by her descendants. To her and her hus- 
 band there was born a numerous family of whom 
 only one son, Alexander Blackburn is living and a 
 resident of Macomb, this State. 
 
 James M. Blackburn, the father of our subject, 
 was the eldest child of his parents and he lived in 
 Indiana until he was twenty- three j'ears old, where 
 he was married. In 1820, he came to Illinois with 
 his young wife, settling on the place where he 
 spent the remainder of his days, dying in Stratton 
 Township, Sept. 21, 1883, in his eighty-seventh 
 year. He was always a farmer and stock-raiser 
 and a man of very positive and decided views. 
 His opportunities for education were limited in his 
 youth, but b3' reading and observation he became 
 an unusually well-informed man. From the teach- 
 ings of his pious mother he imbibed religious ten- 
 dencies and he was a church member for over fifty 
 years. He was one of the organizers of the Pres- 
 byterian church at Paris. During the Black Hawk 
 War he raised two companies of volunteers, which 
 were joined to others and he was elected colonel 
 of the regiment taking the field under Gen. M. J. 
 Alexander. This regiment took part in the battle 
 of Prairie du Chien, where Blackhawk was cap- 
 tured and the war ended. 
 
 Mrs. Cassandra Blackburn was one of the first if 
 not the very first white child born on the Wabash. 
 Her father, John Widner, was a pioneer of Knox 
 County, Ind., settling within twenty miles of the 
 present site of Vincennes, where there was a fort 
 which afforded partial protection from the Indians. 
 
 He was of Irish descent, while his wife traced her 
 ancestry to Wales. He lived to be quite an aged 
 man and both parents died in Knox County, Ind., 
 the mother in August 1833, fifty years prior to the 
 decease of her husband. The latter was subse- 
 quently married to Mrs. Rachael (Shelby) Webster, 
 one of the Shelby family numerous in Ohio. 
 
 To the parents of our subject there were born 
 six children: Mary Ann became the wife of Thomas 
 Patrick, now of Mattoon, III., and died at her 
 father's house in this county a year after marriage; 
 William, our subject was the second born; John 
 is practicing law in Salt Lake City, Utah; Alexan- 
 der is farming on a part of the old homestead ; 
 Elizabeth became the wife of Thomas Martin, a 
 merchant of Newton, 111., where she died; Cassan- 
 dra, the youngest is the wife of W. 0. Wilson, 
 Supervisor of Stratton Township, and lives at the 
 old Blackburn homestead. By the second marriage 
 there was one child, David S., now a farmer at 
 Buena Ventura, Cal. 
 
 The subject of this sketch was reared at the 
 place of his birth in Stratton Township, where he 
 lived until his marriage at the age of twenty-five, 
 working for his father on the farm and buying and 
 selling cattle for him. His common school educa- 
 tion was supplemented by a short course at Vena- 
 ble's Academy' in Paris and his early life was like 
 that of the early settlers in this part of the county. 
 He remembers the time when there was not a corn- 
 field a mile west of Paris, the country being open 
 prairie, and in the other direction toward his home, 
 there were little or no improvements and not a hab- 
 itation in all the six miles. The first person to 
 settle upon this w.iste was a man who built a mill 
 on Sugar Creek to which young Blackburn often 
 rode a horse with a sack of corn, bringing home a 
 sack of meal, and keeping one at the mill so as not 
 to be obliged to wait for his grist. In those days 
 there were herds of deer on the prairies; wild 
 turkeys were plentiful, and wolves were too numer- 
 ous to be agreeable, greatly annoying farmers for 
 whose poultry and young pigs or lambs they had a 
 special liking. 
 
 The difference between that time and the present 
 is shown by an incident which happened during the 
 childhood days of our subject. His father had 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 801 
 
 discovered a bee tree standing near what is now 
 the center of Paris. William and his brother 
 Alexander, now living in Macomb, took their axes 
 with several buckets and cutting down the tree 
 filled the buckets with honej', then they shot a 
 deer and returned home, being of course well loaded 
 down. Shortly afterward the family enjoyed a 
 richer feast than is often set before the present 
 residents of Paris. Upon the occasion of the fli'st 
 deatli of the neighborhood, father Blackburn rode 
 eight miles on horse back to order a coffin and re- 
 turned in the same manner, bringing it witii him. 
 Tlie land was cultivated b3' plows with wooden 
 moldboards and an iron share. The hay was 
 turned with wooden forks and all the other farm 
 implements were of a like primitive character. The 
 present generation can scarcely realize how their 
 fathers farmed in those days, but the hardships and 
 trials they endured and overcame made possible 
 the ease and prosperity enjoyed to-day b3' their 
 descendants. 
 
 After his marriage our subject settled on a farm 
 near Grand View, this county, where he lived 
 nearly twenty-two years, then removed to his 
 present home. Here he erected a commodious 
 brick residence on n lot of forty-five acres, but he 
 owns 320 acres a mile west and cultivates a part 
 of the old homestead, which is now the property 
 of his brother, Alexander M., who is not in very 
 good health. He handles about 100 head of cattle 
 annually, together with horses and swine. His 
 first wife, to whom he was married, Nov. 8, 1848, 
 was Miss Rebecca Tate, a native of Virginia and 
 who died at the homestead near Grandview, Feb. 
 19, 1856. Her parents, John and Nancy (Moffat) 
 Tate, came to this county from Virginia and set- 
 tled near Grand View, where both died. By this 
 union there were three children, namely: James 
 M., who died in 1851, when a year and three 
 months old ; Nancy M., the widow of John Gano, 
 who was a farmer near Grand View; she is now 
 living with her father; and John Tate the youngest 
 who died in infancy shortly after the death of his 
 mother. 
 
 Mr. Blackburn, Oct. 14, 1850, was the second 
 time wedded to Miss Louisa Downard, who was 
 born in Newport, Ky., in 1832. Her parents were 
 
 Thomas and Margaret Logan Downard, the mother 
 being of the same family as the celebrated Gen. 
 John A. Logan. The seven children born to this 
 union are all living: Cassandra is the wife of Ed- 
 ward Gutlirie, a resident of Paris; Milton A. is 
 farming in Edgar Township; William T. lives 
 with his parents; Margaret L. is at home; James 
 M. is married and lives on a farm given him by his 
 father, a mile from the homestead; John W. and 
 Nellie remain under the parental roof. 
 
 Mr. Blackburn was Supervisor of the township, 
 while living in Grand View and has twice held the 
 same office in Paris Township. Since twenty years 
 of age he has ueen a member of the Presbyterian 
 Church, in wiiich, while at Grand View, he was an 
 Elder for many years. Soon after removing to 
 Paris he was elected an Elder in the church at that 
 place, which office he has since held> Not only is 
 Mr. Blackburn one of the oldest native born citi- 
 zens of Edgar County, but the testimony of his 
 neighbors is, that he is rightly classed as one of its 
 most esteemed inhabitants. 
 
 ENRY H. FOUTS. There is probably no 
 more hospitable home within the limits of 
 Edgar Township, than that occupied by the 
 ■^^ subject of this notice and his interesting 
 family. He is a man who, although, like most 
 others lias met with his reverses, yet has been en- 
 abled to extract much solid comfort from life and 
 is disposed to make the best of circumstances. His 
 farm, 131 acres in extent, occupies a part of sec- 
 tions 20, 21 and 28, the dwelling being on the first 
 mentioned. The land is naturally fertile and under 
 careful management yields a comfortable living to 
 our subject and his family. 
 
 The Fonts famil}' is of German descent and it is 
 believed was first represented in America hy the 
 great-grandfather of our subject, who settled in 
 Maryland and became the father of a family among 
 whom was Andrew who upon reaching manhood 
 became owner of a plantation and slaves in North 
 Carolina. He served as a soldier of the Revolu- 
 tionary War and spent his last days in his native 
 
802 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 State. In the meantime he was mairied and be- 
 came the father of a family, among his sons be- 
 ing David, the father of our subject, who was born 
 in Guilford County, N. C, and upon reaching 
 man's estate, cleared a farm from the timber. He 
 likewise converted this in a plantation, principally 
 devoted to tobacco. He left North Carolina, how- 
 ever, and emigrating to Indiana settled among the 
 earliest pioneers of Washington County. By entry 
 and purchase he became the owner of 1,200 acres 
 of land and was prosperous. He served as a Justice 
 of the Peace during the greater part of his resi- 
 dence there and was a prominent member of the 
 Baptist Chui-ch. Politically, he was a Jackson 
 Democrat of the strongest type, He died in LSftO. 
 Mrs. Martha (Parr) Fonts, the mother of our 
 subject, was a native of Guilford, N. C, and was 
 the daughter of Judge Arthur Parr who was born 
 in Virginia a,nd when a boy removed with his 
 parents to North Carolina. Later he served under 
 Gen. Washington in the Revolutionary War and 
 participated in the battle of Princeton, where he 
 was wounded three times — in the breast, right 
 thigh and left knee — carrying the two last balls to 
 his grave. He also suffered from frozen toes. 
 After the war was ended he returned to liis native 
 State where he became owner of a plantation which 
 he operated until 1803. Then leaving the South 
 he made his way to AVashington County, Ind., 
 overland by teams, constructed a home from the 
 wilderness and became a prosperous and highly 
 respected citizen. He served as Judge and Asses- 
 sor a number of terms and there spent his last 
 days. The mother of our subject died in Indiana 
 at the early age of thirt3^-six years and the father 
 was subsequently married the second time. Of the 
 first union there were born six children, viz.. 
 Washington, Enoch and Solomon deceased; Henry 
 H., our subject; Malinda, deceased, and Martha. 
 Of the second marriage there were born seven 
 children — Melissa, a resident of Washington 
 County, Ind.; Rachel, deceased; Mary, of Washing- 
 ton County; David, a resident of Kansas; Merrill 
 of Pawnee County, Neb. ; Benton and John, the 
 two latter deceased. David during the Civil War 
 enlisted, in 1861, in the 35th Missouri Infantry 
 and served as a Captain until the close of the war. 
 
 Merrill served in an Indian regiment nearly from 
 the beginning until the close. Benton was a mem- 
 ber of the same regiment, served until the close and 
 died soon after reaching home. John, who served 
 in tiie army with his brothers, died at St. Louis, 
 Mo. 
 
 The subject of this sketch was born near Salem, 
 Washington Co., Ind., April 4, 1814. He attended 
 school a few months in the winter season until a 
 lad of fourteen years, then commenced running on 
 the Louisville canal as "grog boss." Three months 
 of this life satisfied him and returning to ten'(i 
 firma he engaged in a wholesale coffee house at 
 Louisville, K3^, where he remained two years. Af- 
 terward he ran a storeboat one year for another party 
 and at the age of eighteen years commenced flat- 
 boating down the river to New Orleans. Inl832 he 
 commenced running a snag boat in the Ohio River 
 one year, making tliirteen trips on the flat boats. 
 
 Finally Mr. Fonts determined to change his oc- 
 cupation, and going to Carroll County, Ind., in 
 1835, entered 160 acres of land. He cleared a part 
 of this and operated it until in September, 1836, 
 when he sold out and changed the scene of his 
 operations to Delphi. There he engaged as a car- 
 penter, following this business three j-ears. In the 
 fall of 1839 he started out for Vermillion County, 
 Ind., overland by team, crossing the Wabash at Cov- 
 ington. He located in Clinton, Vermilion County, 
 and for a few years worked on a farm. In 1840 he 
 repaired to Feeder Dam on the Eel River and took 
 the contract for building a dam and three miles of 
 a canal which occupied him three years. In the 
 meantime he had associated himself with a partner 
 who ran away with the money and consequently 
 Mr. Fonts returned to Clinton barren of resources. 
 
 We next find our subject on the other side of 
 the Mississippi in Lawrence County, Mo., where he 
 commenced trading with the Indians and where he 
 sojourned four years. He then came up into A'er- 
 million County, Ind., where he farmed until 1858 
 and that year changed his residence again to Young 
 America Township, Edgar Co. 111. Here he 
 rented land and began dealing in live-stock, feed- 
 ing and shipping at which he continued very suc- 
 cessfully until 1871. That year he purchased fift}^- 
 six acres of land in Edgar Township and which 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 803 
 
 was then in its wild state. He cominenced its im- 
 provement and cultivation and added to it until 
 it assumed the proportions of his present farm. He 
 labored industriously many years, bringing tliu 
 whole to a state of cultivation, building fences, 
 setting out groves and an orchard and in tlie mean- 
 time carried on his live-stock operations. He put 
 up a house and barn and instituted two fisli ponds, 
 one of which is stocked with gold fish and another 
 with German carp. 
 
 Our subject was first married in Washington 
 County, Ind., Sept. 17, 1835, to INIiss Lucinda 
 Menaugh who was a native of that county and died 
 in 1838, leaving one child. The latter, a daugh- 
 ter, Martha, is now the wife of II. M. Roush, who 
 is a prosperous farmer owning 320 acres of land in 
 Cass County, Mo. To the present wife of our sub- 
 ject, formerl}' Miss Elizabeth D. Boswell, our sub- 
 ject was married at Clinton, Ind., Feb. 27,18-10. 
 This lady is the daughter of Garret Boswell, a native 
 ofStokes County, III. Her paternal grandfather, 
 William Boswell, was a A'irginian by birth and a na- 
 tive of Albemarle County where he became owner of 
 a plantation and slaves. He was also a practical mil- 
 ler and took an active part in the whiskey insurrec- 
 tion which has become a matter of histor}'. In lW2r>, 
 leaving the South, he emigrated to "Washington 
 County, Ind., but onl}' remained there two j'cars. 
 He then removed to ^'ernlillion County, that Stale 
 where he entered a large tract of land upon which he 
 farmed untill 834. Then crossing the Mississippi he 
 located on a large farm in Lawrence County, ]\Io., 
 where he operated successfully as a stockman and 
 spent his last days. He was a Whig, politically, 
 and traced bis ancestry to England. 
 
 The father of our subject was reared and married 
 in Stokes County, N. C. whence he emigrated to 
 Vermillion County, Ind., in 1827. He entered 
 land and engaged in farming until 1843, then re- 
 moved to Lawrence County, Mo., and from tliere later 
 to Audrain County where he spent his last daj's. He 
 was a peaceable and law-abiding citizen and a meni- 
 in good standing of the Baptist Church. His wife, 
 Mrs. Martha (Dowling) Boswell, was born in Vir- 
 ginia and was the grand-daughter of Thomas 
 Dowling, a native of Ireland. The latter emigrated 
 to America when a boy and located in Virginia 
 
 where he learned tailoring. Anally operated as a 
 merchant tailor and there spent the remainder of 
 his life. The mother of onr subject died in 1876 
 in Audrain County, Mo., at the age of seventy- 
 seven years. The parental family consisted of ten 
 children, viz: Albert, a resident of Iowa; William 
 of Missouri; Thomas, deceased; David, in Washing- 
 ton; Benjamin in Oregon; Eveline, deceased; Eliz- 
 abeth, JMrs. Fonts; Margaret and ]\Iary deceased; 
 and Martha, a resident of Missouri. Thomas dur- 
 ing the Rebellion was pressed into the Confederate 
 army and was never heard from afterward. It is 
 believed he was shot for refusing to fight against 
 tlie flag of Lis country. 
 
 JMrs. Fonts was born In Stokes County, N. C, 
 Jan. 15, 1822, and was three years old when her 
 parents removed to Indiana. She learned to card 
 and spin cotton and was also taught all the other 
 housewifely duties by her excellent mother. Of 
 her union with our subject there have been born 
 fifteen children, the eldest of whom, a daughter, 
 Mary, died vvlien nine months old. Albert B. is 
 farming in Audrain County, Mo.; David W. is a 
 resident of Chrisman; John H. operates the home 
 farm ; Saraii J. became the wife of W. W. Hurst 
 and is deceased; Melissa A. is the wife of Samuel 
 Julian and resides in Bloomfiteld, III.; James T. en- 
 listed in the Union army in the spring of 1865 in 
 an Illinois regiment and died in New Orleans 
 while on his way horiie after the close of the war- 
 Joseph G. remaines at home with his parents- 
 Margaret is the wife of Silas Welsh of Washington 
 Countj', Kan.; Maiiah married George Sours and 
 resides in Neosha County, Kan.; Harriet E. is the 
 wife of A. Hawkins of Edgar Township; Nanc,- is 
 the wife of C. Stanfield of Edgar; George W. is de- 
 ceased; Andrew J. is farming in Edgar Town- 
 ship; Emma A. is the wife of John Wright, a 
 farmer of Edgar Township. Mr. and Mrs. Fonts 
 rejoice in the possession of thirty-six grandchildren 
 and five great-grandchildren. They contemplate 
 the celebration of their golden wedding in February 
 IKDO. 
 
 Mr. Fouls east his first Presidential vote for Gen. 
 Jackson and has since given his nnwaverino- ad- 
 hesion to the Democratic party. He has labored 
 as opportunity offered in the furtherance of his 
 
804 
 
 PORTRAIT AND KIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 political principles, frequentlj^ serving as a delegate 
 to the various conventions. He has served on the 
 grand and petit juries, was Justice of the Peace for 
 several years, Commissioner of Highways three 
 years, and has been a School Director for the long 
 period of thirty years. Socially, he belongs to 
 Bloomfield Lodge, No. ]48, A. F. & A. M. at 
 Chrisman, in which he has served as Deacon and is 
 also a member of Edgar Chapter, No. 32. His 
 estimable wife belongs to the Baptist Church of 
 Chrisman. Nothing seems to suit them better than 
 the entertainment of their many friends under 
 their pleasant roof tree, while the stranger likewise 
 receives cordial welcome and carries away with him 
 pleasant remembrances of the Fonts family. 
 
 «-^^^ 
 
 GRACE R. PLUMB. Among the hardy 
 spirits who established themselves on the 
 frontier in the early days, Mr. Plumb is de- 
 serving of honorable mention. He selected 
 a piece of land within the present limits of Shiloh 
 Township prior to its organization and assisted in 
 this important process. A man of sound common 
 sense, steady habits and great industry and perse- 
 verance he, from a small beginning, has accumu- 
 lated a fine property. This includes a valuable 
 farm of 200 acres, nicely located on sections 2, 3 
 and 4, where he has gatherejl around him all the 
 comforts and conveniences of modern farm life. 
 He is a man of decided views and great force of 
 character, a Democrat, politically, and has been 
 given important positions in connection with the 
 local affairs, serving as Town Clerk and Assessor 
 two terms, School Director six years, and is at pres- 
 ent the Road Commissioner of his District and a 
 member of the Democratic Central Committee. 
 
 The subject of this sketch was born in Jackson- 
 ville, Windham Co., Vt., Dec. 27, 1837, and spent 
 his boyhood and youth in his native town, pursu- 
 ing his first studies in the primary schools and 
 later attending one term in the academy in Roe, 
 Mass. In 1857, when a youth of sixteen years he 
 started for the West, proceeding by rail to Chicago, 
 
 and made his home with his maternal uncle at Elk 
 Grove, Cook County. He sojourned there on a 
 farm until 1860, which year witnessed his advent 
 into Edgar County. Here he located in Hunter 
 Township, where he lived until 1868. That year 
 he purchased eighty acres of his present farm in 
 Shiloh Township, which was then a part of Young 
 America Township, and of which our subject was 
 one of the first settlers. A large portion of the 
 country was unoccupied except by wild animals, 
 and the settlers often banded together to hunt 
 wolves. Deer were also plentiful, besides wild 
 turkey's and other game, so that whatever else the 
 pioneers lacked in the way of provisions they were 
 never without good meat. 
 
 Mr. Plumb proceeded with the improvement of 
 his farm as rapidly as possible and was prospered 
 in his labors. Afterward he purchased forty acres 
 at a time until his farm assumes its present pro- 
 portions. He has brought the whole to a good 
 slate of cultivation, built substantial fences and 
 laid tiling wherever necessary for drainage. He 
 has a substantial dwelling and a good barn, to- 
 gether with other buildings, necessary for his 
 comfort and convenience. He likewise set out for- 
 est and fruit trees, and has of late years turned his 
 attention to live stock, feeding one car-load of cattle 
 per year and a goodly number of swine. 
 
 In noting the parental history of our subject we 
 find th.at his father, Saxton Plumb, was a native of 
 Stonington, Conn., and a son of James Plumb, 
 who was also born there and during his youuger 
 years he followed the sea. He finally moved from 
 his native place to Windham County, Vt., where he 
 opened up a farm from the wilderness, became the 
 owner of a large tract of land, and there spent his 
 last days. The great-grandfather of our subject 
 wasCapt. Samuel Plumb, a native of Connecticut, 
 who likewise was a seafaring man, which it is sup- 
 posed he followed the greater part of his life. The 
 first representatives of the Plumb family in Amer- 
 ica came over from England in 1632, soon after 
 the Pilgrim fathers, and settled near the Plymoth 
 Rock. From them it is believed sprang all the 
 families of this name in the United States. The 
 great-grandfather owned his vessel and traded be- 
 tween the West Indies and New England. 
 
^^£x-i^^ ^3^'^^^<>->^ ->-v^^^^^^^ 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 80? 
 
 The father of our subject was reared to man's 
 estate in Ve'-mont, where he was engaged as a 
 clothier and manufacturer at Jacksonville. He 
 also owned and operated a gristmill there. Finally 
 removing to North Adams, Mass., he associated 
 himself with a partner and they carried on the 
 manufacture of cloth under the firm name of Handy 
 & Plumb. Mr. Plumb Anally removed back to 
 Jacksonville, Vt., where he sojourned until 1854. 
 That year he came to the West and sojourned with 
 his children in Chicago two years. In 1856 he 
 came to Edgar County and spent his last days 
 with J. Y. McCuUoch, in Hunter Township. He 
 had been a prominent man in his native place and 
 named the village of Jacksonville, of which he 
 officiated as Postmaster and put up its first building. 
 In politics, he was a stanch Democrat. 
 
 Mrs. Harriet (Roberts) Plumb, the mother of our 
 subject, was born in Whitingham, Vt., and was the 
 daughter of Hon. John Roberts, anativ^e of Green- 
 field, Mass., whence he removed to the Green 
 Mountain State with his father early in life, and 
 learned to write on birch bark by the light of the 
 fire. Beyond this his educational advantages were 
 very limited, but he was possessed of great energy 
 and industry, and in addition to becoming a skillful 
 and successful farmer, studied law in his liesure 
 hours and qualified himself for an Attorne\^ He 
 built up a successful practice, was elected to the 
 office of Sheriff and finally became Judge of the 
 County Court, in which position he served three 
 terms in succession. Still climbing upward, he was 
 elected to represent his County in the State Legis- 
 lature,jwhere he served six terms and about 1852 was 
 made the nominee of the Democratic party for 
 Governor. In religion he was a Universalist and 
 spent his last days in the Green Mountain State. 
 
 The maternal great-grandfather of our subject 
 was Hon. James Roberts, native of Greenfield, Mjiss. 
 and one of the pioneer settlers of Windham County, 
 Vt, being one of three men who obtained a char- 
 ter to enter the wilderness and clear a farm. He 
 also became prominent in political affairs. and re[)- 
 resented the County in the State Legislature. He 
 assisted in laying out the town of Whitingham, 
 and named it. He traced his ancestry to Wales. 
 He gave his children a good education, which his 
 
 granddaughter, the mother of our subject, also en- 
 joyed. 
 
 To the parents of our subject there were born 
 four children, viz: Sarah a resident of Shiloh 
 Township; Olive the wife of of J. Y. McCulloch, a 
 farmer of Hunter Township; John a chair manufac- 
 turer of Baldwinsville, Mass.; and Horace R. of 
 this sketch. 
 
 -l^^- 
 
 ,^?=^EORGE 0. DINSMORE, whose portrait 
 appears in this Album, ranks among the 
 •eminent and influential men of Boss 
 Township, where he is the owner of 320 acres 
 of choice land, lying on sections 19 and 20. 
 He has effected modern improvements, and is 
 by habit and disposition moral, frugal and indus- 
 trious, a man taking a genuine interest in his home 
 and his family, and one who lias provided for the 
 latter in the most generous and admirable manner. 
 His labors as an agriculturist have been more than 
 ordinarily successful and he has the prospect of an 
 ample competence for his old age. 
 
 Our subject is the offspring of an excellent fam- 
 il}', being the son of Hon. J. T. G. Dinsmore, who 
 was born in Windham, N. H., in 1800. The pa- 
 ternal grandfather was a native of Scotland, from 
 which he was driven in the time of Queen Anne, on 
 account of the religious persecution, and fleeing to 
 the North of Ireland, lived there until setting sail 
 to America. He located in New Hampshire near 
 the present site of Windham, and became the owner 
 of a large farm upon which he resided until his 
 death. 
 
 The father of our subject was reared to agricul- 
 tural pursuits and after his marriage purchased 
 200 acres of land near Derry, N. II., upon which 
 he operated a number of years, then removing to 
 the town and purchasing a gristmill, which he con- 
 ducted successfully until his death. He was one 
 of the most solid supporters of the Democratic 
 party and officiated as Justice of the Peace for a 
 number of years. He served nine terms in the 
 State Legislature and was at one time a Captain in 
 in the New Hampshire militia. Ilis religious 
 principles accorded with the doctrines of the Meth- 
 
808 
 
 PORTRAIT ANJ) BIOflRAPIIICAL ALBUM. 
 
 odist Episcopal Church, in which ho was a promi- 
 nent member, officiating as Steward and fonnini;: 
 one of its chief pillars. 
 
 Mrs. ^lehitable (Mellorn) Dinsmorc, the mother 
 of our subject, was likewise a native of the Old 
 Granite State, born near the city of Salem and tiie 
 daughter of Cad ford Mellorn, who followed farm- 
 ing and died in Xew Hampshire. The twelve 
 children of the parental family were named respec- 
 tively: James, deceased; Cadford INL, a resident of 
 Exter; George ()., our subject; Silas A.; Susan E. 
 and Ruth A. are deceased; Ira is a resident of Col- 
 chester, Conn.; John T. (!. Jr., of Manchester; 
 Miwtha B. (Mrs. Morse); Kate M. a resident of 
 Boston; Theodore of Parsons, Kan.; antl Hattio 
 living in Massachusetts. Rev. C. M., during the 
 late wai' officiated as chaplain and Theodore uns a 
 drummer. 
 
 The subject of this notice was born in Windham, 
 N. H., July 7, 1.S28, and spent his childhood and 
 youth among the hills of his native State, assisting 
 his father on the farm and receiving a good edu- 
 cation in the common school. He completed his 
 studies in the academy at Derry, at the age of 
 eighteen years, and then remained on the farm 
 until reaching his majority. Upon leaving home 
 he repaired to Cliicopee Falls, Mass., where he was 
 employed in a manufactory for two years. Failing 
 health compelled him to change his occupation and 
 location, and in the fall of 1852 he started to the 
 West making his way by rail and wagon to this 
 county, and at Bloomfleld was engaged as clerk for 
 two years. The next three years were occupied at 
 farming, and he then associated himself in partner- 
 ship with an other man and commenced raising, 
 grazing and feeding live stock, doing his own 
 shipping, and this occupied his time until 1857, 
 when he commenced renting land and in the spring 
 of 1 860 purchased the farm which he now owns 
 and occupies, pa3Mng for it |10 per acre. It was 
 raw prairie, the most of which he broke with ox- 
 teams, and gradually effected the improvements, 
 which has made it one of the most desirable home- 
 stead in the county. He planted a goodly quantity 
 of liedge and has given his attention to sheep rais- 
 ini;-, usually shearing a large number each year. 
 He has a goodly supply of modern machinery with 
 
 a windmill, water tank, and an artesian well from 
 which water is conveyed to whatever point needed. 
 At one time he was the owner of 500 acres of 
 land. 
 
 In October, 1852, Mr. Dinsmore was married in 
 his native State to Miss Annette E. Hazelton, who 
 was born near Chester, N. IL, acquired a thorough 
 education and occupied herself as a teacher. She 
 became the mother of five childrenand died at the 
 homestead in this county in 1866. Their eldest 
 chihl. Abbie, is the wife of A. P. Morse, a farmer 
 and miller of Chester, N. H., and is the mother of 
 two children — Leroy and Mary A. Emory H. is 
 operating a farm of eighty acres in Ross Township; 
 he married Miss Sadie Tustison, and they have two 
 children — Robert M., and Mary A. John T. G. 
 married Miss Ida Kenton, operates forty acres of 
 land in Ross Township, and is the father of two 
 children — George O., Jr., and Mark F. Bert is at- 
 tending school at Greencastle, Ind.; Sadie remains 
 at home and occupies herself as a music teacher. 
 
 Mr. Dinsmore in 1870 contracted a second mar- 
 riage with Miss Fanny Choat, who was born ,in 
 Derry, N. H. He affiliates with the Republican 
 part}- and is frequently sent as a delegate to the 
 various conventions. He has served as School 
 Trustee for the last eighteen years; Road Commis- 
 sioner eighteen years, and Assessor one year. He 
 is a member of the A. F. & A. M. fraternity at 
 Christman, and in religious belief coincides with 
 with the doctrines of the Methodist Episcopal 
 Church, being associated with the society at Mt. 
 Olive, where he is a Trustee and Steward. 
 
 ,^^EN. MILTON K. ALEXANDER, late of 
 Paris, and now deceased, was one of the 
 most eminent citizens and a resident there 
 for a great many years. The Alexander family 
 came from the north of Ireland and settled in 
 North Carolina prior to the Revolution. In 1775 
 six of them signed the celebrated Mecklenburg 
 Declaration of Independence. The father of Mil- 
 ton K. was John B. Alexander, who was born in 
 Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co., N, C, about the year 
 
PORTRAIT AND P.lOdRAPHTCAL ALBUM. 
 
 809 
 
 1765. He lived there until a short time befoie his 
 marriage, then removed to Elbert County, Ga., .ind 
 in that place was married to Miss Barbara King, who 
 was born in Scotland. In 1804 the famil}^ removed 
 to Williamson County, Middle Teim., where thej- 
 were pioneers. 
 
 In the above mentioned place Mr. Alexander 
 built a log cabin and cleared a small farm, wiiich 
 he occupied until 1811, removing in that year to 
 Lincoln County in the same State. Seven years 
 were passed in that place, when in 1818, anotlier 
 move was determined upon, this time to Lawrence 
 County, Ala., nine miles east of Moiilton, the county 
 seat. That was then an entirely new country, and 
 land had just been offered for sale. The admission 
 of Illinois as a State in 1818, drew many emi- 
 grants to it, and in 1820 the Alexanders were found 
 in the line of travel, coming to this part of Clark 
 County (within whose limits Edgar C'ounty was 
 then included) in November of that year. The 
 ensuing winter was passed on the banks of the Lit- 
 tle Vermilion River, four miles west of George- 
 town, where they had but one neighbor, Henry 
 Johnson, who had settled there two months before 
 their arrival. 
 
 John B. Alexander bought a quarter section of 
 land the next spring, near the present site of Bald- 
 wins ville, and lived there until 1825. He then en- 
 tered a large farm west of Georgetown, stajing 
 there until his numerous family were all grow^n, 
 (with the exception of a few years passed in or 
 near Paris,) and then he went to Danville, where his 
 death took place in 1850, at the age of eighty-five 
 years. Upon the division of Clark County in 1823, 
 he was elected one of the first Commissioners, and 
 as such assisted in forming the county into its 
 original five townships. In this same year he was 
 appointed the first postmaster, but soon resigned- 
 Milton K.,who was engaged in mercantile an<l ag- 
 ricultural pursuits in the new town of Paris, which 
 had been made the county seat, was appointed in 
 his stead. The elder Alexander was a man of 
 prominence, and held various positions of honor 
 and trust. His wife, Barbara, passed away in 
 March, 1847, three years prioi' to his death, at the 
 age of eighty-one. 
 
 Gen. Milton K. Alexander was born in Elbert 
 
 Count}', Ga., Jan. 23, 1796, and was the fifth in a 
 family of twelve children. Although but a boy at the 
 time he took part in the war of 1812, enlisting in 
 the Tennessee Mounted \"olunteers. He was cho- 
 sen First Lieutenant of liis company, and until the 
 taking of Ponsacola, Nov. 6, 1814, was under the 
 direct command of Gen. Jackson, who upon going 
 to New Orleans with the main part of his army, 
 left Lieut. Alexander with that part of the com- 
 mand detailed to chastise the rebellious Seminole 
 Indians. In this campaign, in the everglades of 
 Florida, he contracted a disease from the effects 
 of which lie never fully recovered. At the 
 close of the war he returned to his father's home 
 in Lincoln County, Tenn., and was married Dec. 
 16, 1819, to Miss Mary Shields of Giles County, 
 Tenn., and lived there until Nov. 1823, then re- 
 moved to Illinois, which was three years after his 
 father and familj' came. 
 
 In 1823 Gen. Alexander located in Paris, and at 
 once engaged in mercantile pursuits, in which he 
 continued for many years. Upon the resignation 
 of his father as postmaster, he assumed the position, 
 which he held for a period of twenty-five years. In 
 February, 1826, he was appointed clerk for the 
 County Commissioners, and acted in that capacity 
 until September, 1837. In 1826 he was also elected 
 and commissioned Colonel of the 19th Illinois Mil- 
 itia by Gov. Coles, and in December, 1 830, was 
 appointed aid-de camp to Gov. Reynolds. In this 
 capacity he accompanied the Governor to Rock 
 Island in 1831, at the outbreak of the Indian 
 troubles preceding the Black Hawk War. The ster- 
 ling character and ability of Gen. Alexander led to 
 his promotion in 1832 to the rank of Brigadier 
 General, commanding the 2d Brigade of Illinois 
 Volunteers. He served all through the Black Hawk 
 War, and at its close returned to his home in Paris. 
 
 While quietly attending to his business in Paris, 
 Gen. Alexander was, without solicitation on his 
 part, elected by the General Assembly a mem- 
 ber of the I5oard of Commissioners of Public 
 Works, an office of great trust and responsibility, 
 charged, as the members were, with the disburse- 
 ment of the $10,000,000 appropriated by the State 
 for a general system of internal improvements. 
 Upon the meeting of the Boai'd, Gen. Alexander 
 
810 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 was chosen its president, and retained tbe position 
 until the wliolc system of internal improvements 
 was abandoned by the State. In the cares and re- 
 sponsibilities involved in the discharge of the on- 
 erous duties entrusted to him, Gen. Alexander ever 
 displayed those qualities of keen judirnient and 
 practical ability which were his prominent charac- 
 teristics through life. No jobs were allowed to be 
 smuggled thiough while he held the reins, anil 
 upon retiring from his arduous and often trying- 
 labors, he did so with a reputation unsullied by a 
 single act which conld be termed questionable. In 
 fact, in the discharge of the many responsible du- 
 ties imposed upon him during his long and useful 
 life, no single act of his was ever performed from 
 any other motive than a desire to honorably, faith- 
 fully, and to the best of his ability fulfill the 
 wishes of the people who trusted him. 
 
 In his private life Gen. Alexander was no less 
 worthy. He was a faithful husband, a kind and 
 devoted father, and he brought up his children in 
 tlie same Christian principles in which he believed. 
 In 1830 he united with the Presbyterian Church 
 in Paris, and of this remained a consistent member 
 until his death, which took place July 7, 185(1, at 
 tlie age of sixty years. No citizen of Edgar 
 County ever left behind him a brighter record or 
 a more spotless cliaracter than did Gen. Alexander. 
 His wife, Mary, died Jan. 1, 1866, aged nearly six- 
 ty-five years. They were the parents of eight chil- 
 dren, of whom three are deceased: J. Washington 
 S. was a Union soldiei-. Colonel of the 21st lilinois 
 Infantry' (became Colonel after Gen. Grant's pro- 
 motion) and was killed on the second day of the 
 battle of Ciiickamauga, while leading his regiment 
 at the very moment he received an order to re- 
 treat. He left one child, a daughter, since deceas- 
 ed. James C. Alexander had also served in the 
 Union army, and died in Marcii. 1865, from dis- 
 ease contracted therein. Gertrude was the wife of 
 J. A. Ross, a merchant of Paris, and died there in 
 the spring of 1871. Of the surviving children the 
 record is as follows: Jane C. is the widow of Dr. John 
 Tenbrook, a sketcli of whom is given elsewliere in 
 this vohime; Angeline M., is the widow of Dr. U. 
 G. McMillan, formerly a wholesale druggist of 
 Cincinnati, and she now lives in Paris with her sis- 
 
 ter, Mrs. Tenbrook; Mary E. is the widow of 
 Fleming R. Payne, formerly a practicing physician 
 at Marshall, 111.: Jacintha A. is the wife of Wil- 
 lett H. Judson, now of Paris, but who for many 
 years was a merchant of Vicksburg, Miss.; Lucy 
 A. is the wife of R. Bruce Lamon, Judge Advo- 
 cate in the Land Department at Washington, D. C. 
 When Gen. Alexander first came to this county, 
 in November, 1823, he went to live with his father 
 on the North Arm of the Grand Prairie at Bald- 
 winsville, Edgar County, then Clark County, for 
 the winter. The following spring, when the town 
 of Paris was laid out he removed there, where he 
 spent the remainder of his life, his residence being 
 on the northeast corner of Central avenue and 
 Washington street. His first residence was a log 
 cabin, one end of which the family occupied as a 
 dwelling, the other being devoted to the store and 
 postotfice. After returning from the Black Hawk 
 War Gen. Alexander commenced the erection of 
 the first brick residence built in Paris. It is the 
 same residence now occupied by Mrs. Dr. Ten- 
 brook, and the oldest house in the city, at the same 
 time beginning the erection of his store building 
 on the southeast corner of the square on the west 
 side of Main street. The store was destroyed by 
 file, but the residence is still staniiing, and though 
 the oldest house in Paris, so thorough was its con- 
 struction that it is to-day one of the best structures 
 in the city, and is in a state of complete repair. 
 It is a commodious and comfortable dwelling and 
 many are the important personages to whom its 
 hospitality has been extended in bygone days. 
 In politics Gen. Alexander was always a stanch 
 Democrat. 
 
 OHN C. PALMER, abstracter of titles, and 
 dealer in real-estate and loans, Paris, 111., 
 has been a resident of that city for the past 
 eighteen years. He was born in Washing- 
 ton Count}', Ohio, Jan. 7, 1837, his parents being 
 James and P0II3' (Tuttle) Palmer. The father was 
 a native of New Hampshire and the mother of 
 Connecticut. The grandparents. Pemberton and 
 Mary E. (Harris) Palmer,, emigrated to Ohio in 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOCiRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 811 
 
 1821 with their faniih', and were among the pio- 
 neers of that part of the State called "the Ohio Pur- 
 chase" of the Northwestern Territory. In that place 
 Pemberton Palmer bought a farm on which he 
 passed the remainder of his life. After his death 
 his widow went to make her home with a son in 
 Iowa, and there she died at the advanced age of 
 eighty-six years. 
 
 James Palmer learned the trade of a maker of 
 tombstones and monuments, hut later in life 
 adopted the trade of a cabinet-maker, at which he 
 worked on his own acconnt in Marietta, Ohio, until 
 1855, when he sold out and removed to Mt. Pleas- 
 ant, Iowa, remaining there two j-ears. His next 
 field of labor was in Topeka, Kan., and that was 
 liis last homestead, as he preempted a farm near 
 that city and spent his remaining days there. In 
 1878 he passed away, when he was nearly seventy- 
 five years old. He had been a stirring, active man 
 all his life, and took a great deal of interest in pub- 
 lic affairs. He was in matters political an Old- 
 Line Whig, and at the disruption of that party 
 adopted the principles of the Republican party, 
 with whose platform he was in sympathy. He 
 could never be prevailed upon to accept office for 
 himself, though he would use his utmost exertions 
 to secure positions of trust for his friends. He 
 believed that every man has a right to his own 
 opinions. He was a member of the Universalist 
 Church, but sincere in his belief, and always lived 
 up to what he believed to be right. He was an 
 honest, upright man who acquired the respect of 
 and esteem of all who knew him. He was an advo- 
 cate of temperance and a member of the Sons of 
 Temperance. 
 
 James Palmer and his wife had nine children, of 
 whom eight survive: Sarah M., who was the wife 
 of H. W. Seevers, died in Kansas; Mary E. is the 
 widow of William A. Collins, who was Sergeant 
 Major in an Ohio regiment during the Civil AVar, 
 and died from the results of exposure in the army; 
 She is now living in Arizona. Luther was a cab- 
 inet-maker, and is now a resident of Topeka, Kan.; 
 Alpheus, a retired farmer, lives in Topeka; Joiin 
 C, our subject, was the next by birth; Jane T., is 
 the wife of R. A. Randlett, also of Topeka, a rail- 
 road employee; Ernest L., is interested in mining 
 
 in Colorado; Emily V., is the wife of D. W. Bout- 
 well, a car])enter in Kansas, his h(jme being in To- 
 peka; Josephine L. is the wife of Mr. Stafford, also 
 a railroad employe in Topeka. Ali)heus was in 
 Kansas dining the time of the Border War in which 
 he took an active part, in the ranks of the free- 
 soilers, fighting under the well-known Gen. James 
 11. Lane, but he was fortunate enough to keep out 
 of personal trouble. 
 
 John C. Palmer, our suliject, was eighteen years 
 of age when his parents removed to Iowa. He re- 
 mained behind them a year longer, then came West 
 to Iowa. The next year he accompanied them on 
 their removal to Kansas. There he was living at 
 the outbreak of the Rebellion, and in April, 1861, 
 he enlisted in Company A., 5th Kansas Cavalry in 
 Gen. James H. Lane's Brigane, serving during the 
 whole war. 
 
 On returning to the pursuits of peace Mr. Palmer 
 bought a farm near Topeka, Kan., on which he 
 lived from 1865 until 1871, in whicli year he came 
 to Paris, lie had learned the trade of a cabinet- 
 maker from his father, but on coming here he em- 
 barked in the grocery business, the firm being Gor- 
 don & Palmer, carrying on that business until 1882. 
 In 1 874 he also engaged in the merchant-tailoring 
 trade under the firm name of Palmer & Wieder. 
 This connection continued for two years, and when 
 it was dissolved Mr. Palmer continued the business 
 alone until 1881. During that year he sold out and 
 bought the business of the firm of F. R. Axson ct 
 Co., and the Edgar County Abstract Company. 
 Since then lie has been engaged in the abstracting 
 of titles, and dealing in real-estate and loans. 
 
 Upon reaching the age of twenty-seven Mr. Pal- 
 mer was united in marriage with Miss M. M Gordon, 
 daughter of James and May (Riley) Gordon, na- 
 tives of Kentucky, and then residents of Paris, 
 where the}' had settled at an earl}' day. Their first 
 home was in Bloomfield, this county. The father 
 died in Paris in October, 1884, having reached the 
 ripe old age of eigbly-four years. Mrs. (iordon 
 lix'cs in Paris, and is now in her eighty-third j'ear. 
 
 Mrs. Palmer was born in Bloomfleld, this county, 
 Avg. 21, 1835, and is one of a family of seven 
 children, of whom five are living, two making their 
 iiomes in Paris, J. M., a chair manufacturer, and 
 
812 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 O. B. engaged in the grocer}' business. A daugh- 
 ter, E. F., is tlie wife of Luther B. Huston, of Tay- 
 lor County, Iowa, and another daughter, E. F., is 
 the widow of John A. Feck, and is living near To- 
 peka, Kan. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Palmer have had two children., 
 l)0th of whom have, however, been removed by 
 death. Mary G. died at the age of five years, and 
 Nellie M. when fifteen years of age. Mr. Palmer 
 is a member of the City Council of Paris, also of 
 the Masonic fraternity, belonging to the Paris 
 Lodge No. 268, A. F. & A. M.; to Edgar Chapter 
 No. 32, R. A. M. ; to Young Council ,No. 9, and 
 Palestine Conimanderj^, No. 27, K. T. He is also 
 a member of Charity Lodge, No. 100, A. O. U. W., 
 and of Driskell Post, No. 209, G. A. R. A man of 
 integrity of character, upright in his business deal- 
 ings, and of good judgment, lie commands the re- 
 spect and esteem of his fellow-citizens. 
 
 ^ IJ'ILLl AM G. CULBERTSON, a wealthy, in- 
 \rJ// telligent and highly respected citizen of 
 \jy^ Buck Township, Edgar County, resides in 
 an elegant brick residence, which cost 18,000 on 
 section .31, range 12. He is a native of Kentucky 
 where he was born Aug. 22, 1817, in Fleming 
 County. His father, James Cnlbertson, now de- 
 ceased, was a native of Mason Countj^, Ky., and 
 was a son of James Culbertson, who was a native 
 of Scotland and camo to the United States in the 
 early history of our countr}', and was one of the 
 pioneers in the Washington settlement, near Mays- 
 ville, Ky. The father of our subject was a saddler 
 b3' trade and did an extensive business in Flem- 
 ingsburg. The mother of our subject was Sarah 
 ^^'eaver, daughter of Phillip Weaver, who was a 
 Revolutionary hero and was present at the sur- 
 render of Cornwallis at Yorktown. When the 
 British again made war on our infant country in 
 1812. his ardent spirit would not permit him to 
 remain at home while others put their life in jeop- 
 ardy to sustain our conntr3''s honor and he en- 
 tere<l the service and was assigned to the duty of 
 a wao'on master, which i)ost he filled honorably 
 
 until the close of the conflict. Although having 
 enjoyed the proud distinction of battling for his 
 country's life in her two earliest struggles for free- 
 dom, he was yet a modest pleasant, intelligent man 
 and an agreeable neighbor. 
 
 Our subject was one of a family of four children, 
 three of whom are yet living, the survivors being 
 besides our subject, Edward and Amanda, now 
 Mrs. Grace. After the decease of the father of our 
 subject, his mother was again united in marriage, 
 taking for her life partner Mr. William Ranney. 
 This union resulted in three children — John and 
 Thomas deceased; Sarah, now Mrs. Matkins; 
 Thomas served all through the late war in the 
 United States army under Col. Van Sellars and 
 died in New Orleans just after the war closed and 
 before coming home. 
 
 ^A'hen our subject was about six or seven years 
 old, his parents removed from Kentucky to Frank- 
 lin County, Ind., taking him with them, but he re- 
 turned to Kentucky in a few years and made his 
 home with his grandfather Weaver. In the autumn 
 of 1833 he changed his location to Warren County, 
 Ind., and remained there about three years, coming 
 to this count}' in the spring of 1836. The growing 
 period of our subject was spent on a farm, where 
 his chances of obtaining an education were exceed- 
 ingly circumscribed, being limited to such schooling 
 as was afforded by the teachers of pioneer times 
 during the few months of the year that tlie log 
 cabins called school-houses, were kept open. Not 
 only were the terms short, the seats of split logs, 
 the floors puncheon and the roof of clap boards, 
 but the teachers themselves were drawn from a class, 
 who were in general only a little better educated 
 than their neighbors. 
 
 Notwithstanding the imperfect schools, our sub- 
 ject kept his eyes open and was a close observer of 
 nature's operations and made diligent use of all the 
 advantages coming in his way. He thus secured 
 a practical education that has been of more use to 
 him in the battle of life than a classical course in 
 some of our best colleges has been to many another 
 boy. 
 
 Methods of agriculture were very primitive dur- 
 ing tlie youth and manhood of our subject. He 
 plowed with a wooden moldboard and reaped the 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 813 
 
 grain wrtli a sicklo. When our subject came to 
 this county in 1836 he located in Sims Town- 
 ship in the timber on Big Creeic. Having always 
 lived in the forest the settlers of that day thought 
 it was impossible to live with any degree of com- 
 fort or safety on the prairie, hence they selected 
 places for their ncnv homes, where the timber grew 
 the thickest. The soil of the i)rairie had never been 
 upturned and exposed to the transforming influ- 
 ences of the sun, and it had rarely had its l)osom 
 pressed by the foot of a white man before tlieir 
 coming. Besides the Indians the only other white 
 people who liad visited this regi(jn ere the pioneer 
 with his rude implements of agriculture, were the 
 scouts and hunters who had at long intervals rested 
 during the noonday sun under the shade of the 
 trees along Big Creek and slaked their thirst and 
 tliat of their faithful horses with the flowing 
 waters of the stream. 
 
 The first house that our subject was the possessor 
 of in this hitherto untrodden country was composed 
 of logs. The logs were unhewn and built so as to 
 form a double wall all around and the building was 
 completed with a puncheon floor and clapboard 
 loof. A whip saw was used in preparing tlie lum- 
 ber necefsary for tlie buildings tliat were first 
 erected. Our subject entered KIO acres in Sims 
 Township and cultivated it until 1817, when he 
 came to his present place and agnin made a set- 
 tlement on the wild prairie. Here he set diligently 
 to work and put up a temporary dwelling to shel- 
 ter himself not only from the elements, but also 
 from the droves of prairie wolves that daily passed 
 across his land, frequently coming so close to the 
 house that he could have shot them from his front 
 door. Industry, economy and enterprise have re- 
 sulted in bringing up his estate from its primitive 
 condition to its present superior ttate of cultivation 
 and prosperit}'. 
 
 J\Ir. Culbertson is a third cousin of Charles C'ul- 
 bertson, the noted farmer and line stock raiser of 
 Newman, III. He owns 662 acres of hind, which is 
 devoted to the [)arposes of general farming and 
 stock raising. His stock consists of fine Norman 
 and Hambletonian horses and Short-horn cattle. 
 
 The first Shorn-horn cattle and the first imported 
 Norman horse ever brought to Edgar County were 
 
 secured by his means. His enterprise did not stop 
 here but he also brought the first Southdown sheep 
 to this county importing them from Kentucky. His 
 shee|) are all of that breed as he believes them to 
 be the best for his purpose that can be secured. His 
 hogs are Poland-China and are kept in the same 
 fine condition that he keeps his other stock. Our 
 subject and his family live in a fine brick residence, 
 two stories high and fifty feet square with an ob- 
 servatory on the top, ten feet square. The house 
 was built during the war at a cost of over $8,000 
 and is not only an elegant structure but is well 
 planned and convenient and reflects great credit upon 
 its owner. 
 
 In 1848 Mr. Culbertson wasmarriedtoMissNancy 
 Ledgerwood, a daughter of William Ledgerwood, 
 deceased, a pioneer of Carlisle, hid., who located 
 there when Indiana was a territory and brought 
 his slaves with him from tlie South. IMrs. Culbert- 
 son was born in Carlisle, Ind., and was one of a 
 family of eight children, six of whom are living — 
 \\'illiam, Elizabeth, Blanche, Florence, Edward and 
 Samuel. The eldest daughter, Sarah C.died when 
 a young lady. She had spent the winter at Austin, 
 Tex., hoping to improve her health, but not re- 
 ceiving any benefit she started for home but died 
 on the train, when near Mattoon, III. William 
 married Pauline Townsend, a lady whose home was 
 in Austin, Tex. He has no children but lives in a 
 pleasant home in Paris. Elizabeth married Harry 
 McPhillips of Terre Haute, Ind., and has one 
 child — Letlia. Blanche married Ilugar Hodge, of 
 Paris and has one child — Walter M. 
 
 Our subject is a well educated and intelligent 
 man and owes it to his own unaided efforts, he hav- 
 ing improved his spare moments in reading and 
 studying books and periodicals of an instructive 
 nature. His family is one of unusual intelligence 
 and his children are receiving the best education 
 tliat first-class magazines, a well-filled liliraiy and 
 superior schools can afford. Politically, he is a 
 stanch and true Republican, unswerving in his al- 
 legiance to his chosen principles but has never 
 sought nor accepted .in oflice. He and his family 
 are constant attendants upon the Presbyterian 
 Church at Paris and liberal contributors to its sup- 
 port and Mr. Culbertson is a consistent member. 
 
814 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BI0GRAP[4ICAL ALBUM. 
 
 Mrs. Culbei'tson was .1 lady of strong intelligence, 
 wurm affections and of a verj' cheerful, domestic 
 turn of mind. Her death several years ago was a 
 severe loss to her family but they find consolation 
 in the hope of seeing her in the better world, 
 where partings are no more. Her last hours were 
 soothed by the consolation of religion, she being 
 a member in good standing of the Presbyterian 
 Church of Paris. 
 
 Mr. Culbertson although not so young in years 
 as when he listened to the howling of the prairie 
 wolves on the dark nights succeeding his first entry 
 into this part of the county, yet enjoys the j^outh 
 and vigor of mind that, being at peace with the 
 world, never grows old but outwears the body 
 leaving it at last as a worn out garment. His eye 
 is 3'et bright, his step as elastic and his nerves as 
 firm as in the hey day of )-outh. The neighbors of our 
 subject arc justified in liolding him in high esteem, 
 for his enter[)ri5e has been a means of greatly im- 
 proving the stock of the neighliorhood. In addi- 
 tion to his excellent strain of Hambletonian and 
 Norman horses of wbicli mention has been made 
 before, he has a fine Kentucky trotter for which he 
 paid $400. 
 
 - OOP ^ 
 ' <00 -" 
 
 allARLES NEWCOMB has resided in Prai- 
 ^ rie Township since 1 827, and is therefore 
 ' the oldest inhabitant now residing here. He 
 was born in Flemingsburg, Ky., Sept. 20, 1«22. 
 His education was received at the paj^ schools, 
 which were held in log houses with rail seats and 
 no floors. While he was very young when he came 
 to Illinois, he underwent all the hardships incident 
 to pioneer life. 
 
 His f-.ither, Daniel, was a native of Virginia, and 
 removed to Kentucky' when he was young. He 
 there engaged in farming, owning a farm of 335 
 acres of land. In 1827 he removed to Illinois, lo- 
 cating in Edgar County, on the present place occu- 
 pied by his heirs. He constructed a log house on 
 his 700 acres of land, which he purchased from the 
 Government, and from the start was successful. 
 He resided here until his death; which occurred in 
 1866, at the age of eighty-two years. His wife was 
 
 Annie Coharn, and was a native of Virginia. Her 
 ancestors came from Ireland. She died at the res- 
 idence of her son Charles in 1863. She was a 
 member of the United Brethren Church, and left 
 ten children: Jefferson, Delila, Daniel, Nancy, 
 Robert, Juda, Charles, Isabella, Mary and William. 
 The grandfather of the subject of this sketch, Dan- 
 iel N. Newcomb, was a native of England, and 
 early settled in Virginia, where he engaged in farm- 
 ing. He distinguished himself as a soldier in the 
 Revolutionary War, and held the rank of captain. 
 He removed to Kentucky, where he purchased land 
 of the celebrated Daniel Boone. Here he died in 
 the faith of the Dunkard Church. 
 
 Charles Newcomb was but a lad of five years 
 when he came to Illinois with his father from Ken- 
 tucky. The journey was made by wagon and con- 
 sumed fourteen days. At that time this county 
 was almost wlioll}^ uninhabited, and wild game of 
 all kinds was seen on every hand. He became a 
 great hunter, and where civilization now exists he 
 has killed many a deer, wolf and wild turkey: Set- 
 tlers were very scarce in those days, and therefore 
 it was difficult to build school houses for the ac- 
 commodation of the few, but within a short time 
 after their arrival, a school house was erected of 
 the most primitive kind, and in it Mr. Newcomb 
 received his schooling. At this time there were 
 plenty of Indisftis, who remained in this region for 
 six or seven years after the Newcombs emigrated 
 here, but they were entirely peaceable. At the age 
 of twenty-seven Charles engaged in farming for 
 himself. He engaged in buj'ing and raising cattle, 
 and driving them to Chicago, a town then of but 
 1,000 people. The time consumed in reaching the 
 village by the lake was fifteen days. When his 
 father died be bought the old homestead of the 
 heirs, and is residing there. He has made a great 
 many improvements on it, and has now 200 acres 
 of land highly cultivated and well drained. He 
 erected houses, barns, etc., and planted groves, 
 and orchards of apples and peaches, until his place 
 is a model in every respect. He is interested in the 
 mercantile business in Scotland, being in partner- 
 ship with his son. Mr. Newcomb has traveled a 
 great deal in search of a place that he would like 
 belter than Edgar County, but has failed to find it, 
 
■""-itass- V ^ 
 
 uyi I 1,). ^MH)'" 
 
 ■^ « ^^' 
 
 Residence or John Mason, Sec. 15. ElbridgeTownship, Edgar Co. 
 
 Residence of J. D. Scott, Sec. 24. PrairieTownship, Edgar Co. 
 
PORTRAl r AND BIOGRAPIIlCAr. ALBUM. 
 
 817 
 
 and is now satisfied that lie is well situated. Stock- 
 raising, buying and feeding cattle and hogs, and 
 shipping them to Chicago and Indianapolis now 
 employs the most of his time. He raises Durham 
 cattle and Clydesdale and Norman hoi'ses, and 
 finds it profitable. 
 
 In 1 847 the subject of this sketch married Miss 
 Mary J. Jones, who was born in this county, and 
 whose parents came to Illinois in 1825. She was 
 one of the popular teachers of Edgar County 
 before her marriage, and is the mother of four chil- 
 dren : Nancy A. married M. Inghram, who is en- 
 geged in farming; Daniel is a farmer of Prairie 
 Township ; Warren resides in Scotland, where he is 
 a merchant and holds the oflflce of Supervisor; Ella 
 is at home. She has attended high school at Paris 
 and Terre Haute, .ind has received a first grade cer- 
 tificate as a teacher. She is in the millinery busi 
 ness at Scotland, and is Assistant Postmaster. 
 
 Mr. Newcomb is a strong Republican and is one 
 who helped to build the famous Harrison and Mor- 
 ton ball, which rolled from this county to Wash- 
 ington, spreading enthusiasm [in its wake. He has 
 held the office of Township Treasurer for fifteen 
 years, and is the present incumbent. The positions 
 of Assessor and Collector have been filled by him 
 with fidelity. Mr. Newcomb is now retired from 
 active business and enjoying the fruits of a well 
 spent life and the respect of all his acquaintances. 
 
 JOHN MASON. The honest and intelligent 
 farmer is finely illustrated in the subject of 
 this notice who is considered one of the 
 best citizens of Ellbridge Township. He 
 owns 240 acres of thoroughly cultivated land finely 
 situated on sections 15 and 16, and has been a res- 
 ident of this couaty since 1838. He was born in 
 Casey County, Ky., Dec. 6, 1815, and there re- 
 ceived such education as the schools of that time 
 and place afforded. He lived with his father in 
 his native county until he was twenty-three years 
 old and then the whole family came to Illinois, 
 settling in Elbridge Township, this county, where 
 the parents sojourned until 1865. That year they 
 
 emigrated across the Mississippi into Knox County, 
 Mo., where they spent their last days. 
 
 After his parents came to Illinois our subject 
 started out in life for himself having in view the 
 establishment of a home of his own. In 1841 he was 
 married to Miss Sidney Davis, daughter of George 
 Davis, who with his wife were natives of Kentucky. 
 Of this union there were born ten children, and 
 the mother died in 1866. Her life had been such 
 as to gather around her many friends and she was 
 a consistent member of the Baptist Church. Their 
 eldest son, William W., died in the army at the age 
 of twenty one years. George is a resident of 
 Douglas County, this State; Ellis lives in Stratton 
 Township, this county ; Warren D. is farming in 
 Douglas Couut3' ; Sarah is unmarried and remains 
 at home with her father; Mary M. is the wife of T. E. 
 Pennington, living in the northern part of this 
 county; John .1. is a resident of Grand View Town- 
 ship; Roda became the wife of Charles Brown and 
 they live in Red men; and Francis M. lives in 
 Douglas County. 
 
 Mr. Mason in 1869 contracted a second mar 
 riage with IMiss Fanny, daughter of David Roll, 
 who with his wife was a native of Kentucky. 
 Later, they removed to Edgar County, where their 
 daughter Fanny was born May 15, 1828. Slie has 
 forty acres of land in her own right. Of her union 
 with Tilr. Mason there are no children. Although 
 not an aspirant for public office Mr. Mason is de- 
 cided in his views and opinions and since reaching 
 his majority has given his support to the Dem- 
 ocratic part3^ He has, however, held the office of 
 School Trustee in his Township and is always 
 found to be on the side of those enterprises calcu- 
 lated for the moral and intellectual growth of the 
 people. Religiously, he with his wife belongs to 
 the Presbyterian Church, in which he holds the 
 office of Deacon. He began life on a capital of $100 
 in money, besides a cow and pony, and has ac- 
 cumulated his property solely by the exercise of 
 persistent industry and by following the rule that 
 he laid down early in life, to live within his 
 income. He is properly classed among the solid 
 men of Edgar County, who have assisted in estab- 
 lishing its reputation and standing, and have given 
 it a position among the first-class communities of 
 
81K 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 Central Illinois. On his farm he has erected a 
 pleasant commodions residence, a view of which 
 appears in this work, and here friend and stranger 
 receive a hospitable welcome. 
 
 r tSRAEL D. .SCOTT. In the mysterious dis- 
 Ji pensation of Providence, to a small portion of 
 ii mankind are given the talents, property and 
 that winning personality^ which bring about them 
 hosts of friends and all the good things of life. 
 Ilapijy is he vvlio, instead of wasting the talents be- 
 stowed ui)on him, improves them and as far as in 
 him lies exercises a good influence upon those by 
 whom he is surrounded. Mr. Scott is a man much 
 above the average in disposition, training and in- 
 tellectual capacities, lie is one whom it is exceed- 
 ingly pleasant to meet, being well informed and 
 standing upon a broad and liberal platform, in 
 keeping with the progress of the age. 
 
 A native of the Prairie State, our subject was 
 born in Prairie Township, Edgar County, May 30, 
 1844, was reared at the farm and commenced his 
 education in a log school-house. His studies were 
 completed at an early age and then he assisted his 
 father at farm work until twenty-three years old. 
 He evinced, when quite young, an aptitude for 
 business and branched out early into the stock 
 business, buying and shipping, and thus acquired 
 the capital witii which at twenty-three years of age 
 he was enabled to purchase a farm. He did not 
 abandon his live-stock operations, however, and re- 
 sided on his farm until 1874. That year he sold 
 out and turned his attention to mercantile pursuits 
 in partnership with his brother, Robert L., under 
 tiie firm-name of Scott Bros. 
 
 This young and enterprising firm soon aunched 
 into a paying business, and in conrection with 
 merchandising, also purchased grain extensively 
 and carried on farming. They continued their 
 store until the 10th of April, 1889, then traded it 
 for land, adjoining Mt. Vernon, in Jefferson County, 
 this State, and which is operated by a renter. In 
 1888 Mr. Scott removed to his present place of 107 
 acres on section 24. This he stocked with the 
 
 cattle whicli he already owned and continued buy- 
 ing and feeding, shipping about three car loads 
 annually. 
 
 Elsewhere in this volume appears a view of the 
 i-esldence of our subject whicii is situated three- 
 fourths of a mile from Scottland, where he also 
 owns a residence and lot. He has reni^ered efficient 
 assistance in building up the place and in the 
 improvement of his own home hauled rock from 
 AVabash and put ui) the largest dwelling in the town- 
 ship. Besides ills cattle and horses he deals con- 
 sideraljly in swine and utilizes five teams in the 
 operation of his farm. He is a lover of fine horses 
 and is a member of the Scottland Horse Company. 
 
 Mr. Scott was first married in Prairie Township 
 April 25, 1868, to Miss Louisba McClure who was 
 born in Vermilion County, this State, April 9, 
 1850, and who departed this life at her home in 
 May, 1881. Of this union there were born five 
 children, viz.: William, Albert, Owen, Irwin and 
 Samuel, the latter deceased. The others remain 
 with their father and William is engaged as a 
 teacher. 
 
 Mr. Scott contracted a second marriage in Edgar 
 Township, March 5, 1883, with Miss Lucinda P. 
 McClure, daughter of Isaac McClure and who was 
 also b(.>rn in Vermilion County, near Indianola, in 
 1853; they liave two children — Ethel and Robert. 
 Isaac iNIcClure the father of Mrs. Scott, was born 
 in Pennsylvania in 1820 and wiien a young man 
 went to C)hio whence he came to Illinois and lo- 
 cated near Indianola, but later removed to the 
 vicinity of Bloomfield in Edgar Township, this 
 county, where he became owner of 300 acres of 
 land and was prospered. He died at the iiomestead 
 whicli he had built up in 1862. Politically, he was 
 a Democrat and in religious matters, a Baptist. 
 
 The mother of Mrs. Scott was in her girlhood 
 Miss Rebecca Parlcer. She was born in Brown 
 County, Ohio, and was the daughter of John Parker 
 who finally came to Illinois and died. The mother 
 is living at the old homestead in Edgar Township, 
 and is now seventy-two years old. Six of her eleven 
 children grew to mature years. Amy has since 
 died; Stephen is a resident of Kansas; John is liv- 
 ing in Paris: Louisba is deceased; Lueinda is next 
 to the youngest; Frank is on the home farm; John 
 
PORTRAIT AND U1()(;RAPIIICAL ALBUM. 
 
 819 
 
 and Stephen served in the Union army during the 
 late war in an Illinois regiment. William Scott, 
 father of our subject, was born near jNIartinsvilie, 
 Morgan Co., Ind., July 13, 1819. His paternal 
 grandfather was Samuel Scott, Sr., a native of 
 Fleming County, Ky., and of English descent. He 
 came to Indiana when a young man, where he was 
 married and purchasing land engaged in farming. 
 The town of Martinsville occupies a portion of 
 that land. He was possessed of the same feeling as 
 Daniel Boone, and wiien the country began settling 
 up, he moved further West, in 1829, and located 
 in this county. He had but limited means, but 
 being an excellent manager became wealthy by his 
 operations in farming and stock-raising. He drove 
 his cattle through to the b'ttle hamlet of Chicago, 
 disposing of them at Fort Dearborn. "Uncle Sam- 
 mie," as he was then familiarly called, was about 
 the only capitalist in this region in those days 
 and loaned money, thus assisting many to get a 
 start in life. Ho occupied the local offices and 
 lived in Prairie Township until 1859. He then 
 remove(! to Ross Township, where he became a large 
 land owner and died while on a visit to his son 
 William in Prairie Township, in December, 1869. 
 William Scott, the son of Samuel, was a boy of ten 
 years when he came to Illinois and remained with 
 his parents until reaching his majority. Then, by 
 entering and buying land he finally became owner 
 of 1,000 acres and gave the railroad company the 
 right of way besides half of the town-site of Scott- 
 land which was named after him. He dealt largely 
 in live-stock and led a busy life until 1881, when 
 he retired from the farm and removed to Paris 
 where he still resides. He is an active member of 
 the Methodist Episcopal Church and in politics a 
 stanch Democrat. 
 
 William Scott was married to Miss Elizabeth C. 
 Legate, who was born in Ohio, June 10, 1821, and 
 was the daughter of Robert Legate, a native of 
 Tennessee. The paternal grandfather was Capt. 
 John Legate, a native of the North of Ireland who 
 upon coming to America located in Tennessee and 
 later removed to Brown County, Ohio, where he 
 engaged in farming. He had served as a captain 
 in the Revolutionary War under the command of 
 Gen. Marion. Robert Legate was married young 
 
 and died in Brown County, Ohio, in 1822, at the 
 early age of twenty-three years. After his death 
 his wife was married to a Mr. Sayer and their 
 daughter, .Elizabeth came to Illinois with her step- 
 father at the age of ten years. She died Sept. 28, 
 1869, in the faith of the Metliodist Church. 
 
 With the exception of two years Mr. Scott has 
 served as a School Dii'ector continuously since 
 reaching his majority. He officiated as Collector 
 one year, was the Postmaster of Scottland four 
 3'ears and is the only Democrat ever occupying 
 this office, lie was Township Collector one year, 
 and in the various enterprises tending to advance 
 the interests of the people he has been a leading 
 spirit. He has seen considerable of pioneer life 
 and remembers the time when wild game was plen- 
 tiful in this region and when he saw as many as 
 ten head of deer in one herd during his boyhood 
 days 
 
 ^ ^-# S- 
 
 ENRV ROSS. This gentleman is a sou of 
 Mr. William Ross, a sketch of whose life 
 will be found elsewhere in this work. Mr. 
 Ross was born January 20, 1846, in Clinton 
 Count}-, Ind. His early life was spent upon his 
 father's farm, the latter moving with his family to 
 \'ermilion County, III., when our subject was but 
 six years old. His education was received in the 
 common schools wliichhe attended during the win- 
 ter months. 
 
 On May 29, 1870, at the age of twenty-live, 
 Henry Ross married Mai-tha M. Dains, daughter of 
 Josiah C. and Mary J. Dains, who are still living 
 near Hildreth Station, Young America Tovvnship, 
 Edgar County, and who are the parents of eleven 
 children, all of whom are living: Mary Ann, the 
 eldest, has been married twice. Her first husband 
 was Albert Green, by whom she had two children; 
 her second husband, W. H. Ross, is a brother of 
 our subject. Sarah J. married D. H. Mull; she is 
 the mother of three children and is now a resident 
 of Missouri; her husband is a farmer. Eli I. lives 
 in Douglas County, 111.; his occupation is farming 
 and his family consists of himself, wife and one 
 child. William H. resides in Palermo, where he 
 
S-20 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 operates his own farm ; he has a wife and two cliil- 
 flren. James G. is a prosperous farmer rcsidinoj 
 near Brocton, this county, with his family wl)ieh 
 includes a wife and five children. Prudence L. is 
 the wife of Abner Heaton, a farmer living near 
 Winterset, Iowa; they have five children. Levi is 
 a merchant at Prairie View, Champaign County, 
 111.; he is married and the father of one child. 
 Pelina is the wife of James Shaw, a farmer wljo 
 lives in the western part of Young America Town- 
 ship. They have one child. Franklin is single. 
 He is a telegraph operator in the emplo}' of the 
 (liicago & Eastern Illinois Railroad Company at 
 Villa Grove, 111. Lydia T. is the wife of Elmer 
 Lavering. She and her husband reside at Palermo; 
 thej' have one child. 
 
 Mr and Mrs. Ross have had six children born 
 unto them: Edgar A., Frankalena, Henrietta, Ben- 
 ton W., Franklin E. and Heniy Elwood. Franka- 
 lena and Henrietta died when about three years of 
 age. The others are living at home. 
 
 Mr. Ross was reared to manhood on his father's 
 farm, engaging in all the usual occupations that 
 such a life requires and improving all the opportu- 
 nities of obtaining an education which the scliools 
 of the district afforded. In 1869 he took a trip to 
 California for his health, and spent the greater part 
 of that year beneath its sunny skies. He is now 
 residing with his family on apart of the old home- 
 stead, eighty acres of which he operates. A Dem- 
 ocrat in politics he has without endeavor on his 
 part, been made the recipient of several offices and 
 positions of honor. He has served eleven years as 
 School Trustee of Young America Townsiiip, and 
 is at present a School Director of his district. He 
 has also served his party in the capacity of dele- 
 gate to its county conventions. His wife and him- » 
 self are members of the Presbyterian Church. 
 
 Mr. Henry Ross may well be described as a 
 gonial, friendly and sociable gentleman. Educa- 
 tion, travel and observation have stored his mind 
 with much useful and valuable knowledge. He is 
 a read}' and entertaining talker, though a very 
 modest and nnobtrusive one. He is a man who 
 has a deep affection for his home and for the loved 
 ones who form his happy and contented family. 
 His oldest son, helpful, intelligent, thoughtful and 
 
 industrious, is reaching towards man's estate. His 
 only daughter gives promise of becoming a lovely 
 and beautiful woman. The other children — two 
 boys — are bright and wide-awake little fellows, for 
 whom the future is full of hope and promise. 
 
 ■;^^i E. POWELL, President of the Paris Gas- 
 /// light and Coke Co., is a son of Thomas M., 
 (/^-^ and Lucretia A. (Dill) Powell, both now 
 deceased. The former was born in Kentucky, and 
 was a son of Jeremiah Powell, a farmer, who emi- 
 grated in 1834 to this county, settling at what was 
 then known as Sugar Creek Point, in Paris Town- 
 ship, two and one half miles northwest of the city 
 of Paris. Mr. Powell bought 400 acres of land, and 
 there he passed the rest of his life. Chills and fev- 
 er abounded in that region in those days and the 
 Powell famil}' suffered from its insidious attacks. 
 The pioneer head of the household finally died 
 from its effects in 1846. He was a farmer in this 
 county, as well as in Kentucky, but in the latter 
 named State, had carried on the business of a gun- 
 smith, which he abandoned on coming to Illinois. 
 He and his wife had six children, all of whom ac- 
 companied the parents to Edgar County, although 
 but one is now living there, namely: Mrs. A. A. 
 Hannah, of Paris. The only other survivor is 
 Harvey, who served as a soldier in the Union arm}', 
 and there contracted a disabling disease. After 
 receiving his discharge he settled in Iowa, wliere 
 he is now living. 
 
 Thomas M. Powell, father of our subject, was 
 born in Nicholas County, Ky., in 1814, and was 
 therefore twenty years of age at the time of the 
 migration of the family to this county. He lived 
 on the farm until the death of his father, when he 
 sold his portion of the estate, and removed to the 
 embryo city of Paris. He engaged there in team- 
 ing, and any other work which came to hand, part 
 of the time also working a faim owned by his wife's 
 father, Capt. J. Abner Dill. In tiiis way by industry 
 and energy he acquired a moderate compe- 
 tence, and was always in comfortable circumstan- 
 ces, although never what might be called wealthy. 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 821 
 
 He was an untiring worker, doing thoroughly 
 whatever he undertooi<. When the public square 
 in Paris was remodeled he removed most of tlie 
 houses, and by that venture made considerable 
 raone}'. He continued to reside in Paris until his 
 death, which occurred in 1874. 
 
 Mr, Powell was a man of positive character and 
 decided in his opinions, and he took an active in- 
 terest and prominent part in matters pertaining to 
 the welfare of the city. He served for several 
 terms as a member of the Council of the oity of 
 Paris. He was a man of strong religious feelings 
 and imi)ulses, and with his brother-in-law, the late 
 Capt. A. A. Hannah and six others, organized the 
 now flourishing Christian Cluirch in Paris, of wliich 
 he remained a member until his death, serving for 
 many years as Deacon. Conscientious and upriglit 
 in his dealings he was held in the highest esteem 
 by every one who knew him. 
 
 Thomas M., and Lucretia A. Powell were the 
 parents of three children, all yet living. Besides 
 our subject there is A B., now a farmer in Coffee- 
 ville, Kan., who while yet living in Edgar County, 
 was twice elected Clerk of the Circuit Court, serv- 
 ing two terms of four years each. He served in 
 the Union army all through the war, being Quarter- 
 Master-Sergeant of the 79th, 111., Infantry. After 
 the close of the war he was agent at Paris, for the 
 Indianapolis & St. Louis Railroad under Col. H. C. 
 Moore, and while in the service was elected Clerk of 
 the Court. On leaving the latter position he again 
 went in the service of the railroad company, resign- 
 ing to engage with his brother-in-law, C. W. Powell, 
 who was a distant cousin also, in the business of fur- 
 nishing railroad ties and timber. This connection 
 was dissolved at the end of a year, and A. B., went 
 to Kansas, there embarking in the cattle business. 
 The principal part of this he subsequently- sold, 
 and returned to Chicago, where the former busi- 
 ness partnership was resumed. Selling out his busi- 
 ness after a time he returned to Pnris and took 
 charge of the business of the Gaslight Company, of 
 which he was president for two years. At the end 
 of that time he resigned his position, and removed 
 to Coffeeville, Kan., where he built a number of 
 business blocks, which he yet owns. He was trul^r 
 a representative man, and had he remained in Paris 
 
 would have occupied a leading position in its busi- 
 ness and municipal circles. The other member of 
 the family is Sue M., now wife of tiie C. W.'Pow- 
 ell already mentioned, of the firm of Powell & 
 Lord, dealers in general railroad lumber supplies 
 of all kinds, at Chicago. He has been a very suc- 
 cessful man, and by energy and thorough business 
 abilities has accumulated a large fortune. 
 
 Z. E. Powell, subject of this sketch, was born on 
 the farm in Paris Township, Nov. 6, 1844. When 
 seventeen years old he entered the office of the 
 "Seaco?i" at Paris, to learn the trade of a printer. 
 He worked at this occupation more or less for 
 about eight years in all but not consecutively, be- 
 ing for a time engaged in railroad business with 
 his brother. On the election of the latter to hold 
 the office of Clerk of the Circuit Court, he was ap- 
 pointed agent in his stead, holding the position for 
 several years, vvhen he resigned to engage in the 
 business of furnishing timber, tics, etc., to the 
 railroad. At this he was occupied for about three 
 years, when an unfortunate business connection 
 with the Midland Railroad, which was then building 
 ■between Paris and Terre Haute, and with which 
 he became heavily involved, tied up all his means 
 for a time, and he was compelled to give up his 
 business, and again accept the position of agent 
 for the Indianapolis & St. Louis Railroad at Paris. 
 With this corporation he staid until 1881, and during 
 that time also engaged in the coal business,which had 
 been neglected by that com|)any. In this he worked 
 up quite a trade. About this same time he was made 
 superintendent of the Paris Gaslight Co., and thus 
 had his hands full of business. He was likewise 
 interested in coal mining enterprises, and in 1881 
 he resigned his position as agent in favor of Ed. 
 Buckley, and became actively engaged at the coal 
 fields. He was made General Manager of the Ed- 
 gar Coal Company's mines in Vigo and Clay coun- 
 ties, Indiana. He was in charge of those mines 
 until the company sold out in December, 1886, 
 when he came back to Paris and accepted the posi- 
 tion of President of the Gaslight and Coke Co., to 
 which he had been called in September preceding. 
 This he has occupied up to the present time, hav- 
 ing entire charge of the affairs of the company, 
 and superintending all their works, which have 
 
822 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPIIICiAL ALBUM. 
 
 been changed to what is now known as the Pratt 
 and Ryan Water Gas System. 
 
 The 8th of August, 1879 was a very iaiportant 
 date in the life history of Mr. Powell, as he was 
 then united in roarriage with IMiss C. Belle Camp- 
 bell, daughter (^f Col A. K. Campbell, who was 
 Commander of the 66th Illinois Infantry during 
 the war. This was the celebrated "Sharpshooter" 
 Regiment. He died from the effects of wounds 
 received in service. Mrs. Powell's mother, Mrs. 
 M. J. Campbell, is now living in Newton, Kan. 
 Mrs. Powell was born in Terre Haute, Ind., in 
 1847. She is the mother of three children, one of 
 whom, Zara Andrew, died in infancy. The others 
 Lou M., and Virginia Belle, remain under the par- 
 ental roof. 
 
 ]\Ir. Powell has been connected with many of 
 the secret and beneficial societies, but has with- 
 drawn from all except the Modern Woodmen of 
 America, and the Masonic fraternity. He is a 
 member of the Paris Lodge, No. 268, A. F., and 
 A. M., of Edgar Chapter, No. 32, B A. M.; and 
 of Palestine Commandery, No. 27, K. T. Since the 
 age of fourteen years he has been a member of the 
 Christian Church. He has never held any public 
 position, but is well-known in the community as 
 an enterprising man of business, upright and con- 
 scientious in all his dealings and a good citizen in 
 every respect. 
 
 "vejiafl/S-^^l 
 
 *.ggsg/3r37r>\^ 'V\-'^ 
 
 'l 
 
 ; AMES BUSHU, a thrifty, intelligent farmer 
 and raiser of graded stock, who owns a fine 
 place on section 6, township 13, range 13 in 
 Buck Township, Edgar County, is a native of 
 Perry County, Ohio, where he was born Oct. 25,1848 
 to Morand Bushu (deceased), who was a native of 
 Alsace, France, and came to the United States dur- 
 ing the time Napoleon Bonepart was revolutioniz- 
 ing France and paving his wa}' to the Empire. 
 The mother of our subject was a native of Perry 
 County, Ohio, and was so unfortunate as to lose 
 her parents in infancy. Her grandfather was Count 
 Miller of Germany, who left a large estate to his 
 heirs at his decease, but the little orphan, Mary, 
 
 was swindled out of nearly all her portion. The 
 family of which our subject was a member, con- 
 sisted of the following children: Henry, Frank, 
 Ellen, now Mrs. Mattlngly; Angeline, James, our 
 subject; Martha, Margaret, Gertrude, Cecilia and 
 Ethel. 
 
 The father of our subject died in 1877 at the 
 home of his son, who was living on this farm at 
 that time. Our subject was reared on a farm, which 
 was within four miles of the old homestead of Gen. 
 Phil Sheridan and he was personally acquainted with 
 the Sheridan family. His education was received 
 in the common schools of the district and was pur- 
 sued with as much regularity and earnestness as 
 the conditions admitted of. From his youth he has 
 continually followed the occupation of a farmer, 
 never engaging in any other business but finding 
 his time fully employed in attending to the affairs 
 of his farm. In 1874, during the fall, he came to 
 this county and established himself in Buck Town- 
 ship, working for two years as a farm hand, after 
 which his father moved here and located on the 
 farm, which our subject now owns. Mr. Bushu 
 then took up his abode in his father's house, assist- 
 ing him in the operation of the farm and continued 
 living there after his father's decease. 
 
 Miss Celia Musselman and James Bushu were 
 married January, 1878. Mrs. Bushu was a native of 
 Somerset Count}', Ohio, where she was reared and 
 obtained the education and accomplishments that 
 make her the charming and attractive lady that 
 she is to-da}'. Although not blessed with children 
 of their own, they have endeavored to take the 
 place of parents to three children who might other- 
 wise have missed such love and care. Harry 
 Hooper is now grown to manhood and fully ap- 
 preciates the kindness and consideration which he 
 always received from his foster parents; Frank 
 Musselman and Ellen Hooper, a sister of Harry, 
 are now enjoying the blessings of a good home and 
 education, through the kindness and liberality of 
 Mr. and ]\Irs. Bushu. 
 
 Mr. Bushu is in partnership with his brother 
 Henry and they own 240 acres of land, devoting 
 their attention to general farming and raising high- 
 grade stock. They have a large number of Short- 
 horns, many of them being full-blooded, and the 
 
PORTRAIT AND BTOCIRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 823 
 
 rest all high grade. Poland-China hogs and 
 graded horses make up the principal portion of tlie 
 rest of their stock. 
 
 Mr. Buslm was elected County Supervisor for 
 this township in 1888 and was re-elected in 1889. 
 Sbortl}- after making iiis home in this place, 3^v 
 subject was elected Scliool Director, which position 
 he has held ever since, giving good satisfaction to 
 the neighborhood and taking a deep interest in edu- 
 carional matters. He and liis wife are devoted ad- 
 herents of the Roman Catholic Church. Politically 
 he is an ardent Democrat. 
 
 A. G. SHOAFF & BRO., are the editors 
 I (®) and publishers of the Paris Gazette — the 
 IL^ only Democratic paper in the county — 
 which was first issued Feb. 23, 1873, by James 
 Shoaff, father of the two gentlemen who now con- 
 duct that paper. At the time of its first publica- 
 tion it sailed under the name of Shoaff's Gazette. 
 It continued by that name until April 12, 1874, 
 when it was changed to the Paris Weekly Gazette, 
 running as such until 1880. At this time it was 
 owned and operated by T. B. Shoaff & Bro. It 
 then changed hands, L. A. G. Schoaff & Co. assuming 
 control of it, calling it the Paris Gazette, under 
 which it has run since. 
 
 L. A. G. Shoaff was born in Decatur, 111., Dec. 
 21, 1851, where he was reared and educated. His 
 father at that time was engaged in newspaper work, 
 and it was therefore natural for the son to learn 
 the art of printing, which he did. He worked in 
 his father's office, in the job department, in which 
 he became very proficient. He removed to Paris, 
 when he was twenty-four years of age and eng-aged 
 in the newspaper business as before mentioned. He 
 married Miss I^eona Wiley, June 29, 1875, and to 
 this union was born two children of whom only 
 one, Stella, is now living. Mrs. Shoaff died in 
 March, 1872. Mr. Shoaff took for his second wife 
 Jessie Payne, the marriage occurring June 7, 1882. 
 Miss Payne was born near Grand View, this county 
 and is the daughter of Joseph Paj'ne, a prominent 
 merchant one time of that township. She was 
 
 reared at that place, where she spent all her life 
 until her marriage. Mr. Shoaff is not a political 
 aspirant, but believes in the doctrines of the Demo- 
 cratic party and the paper with which he is con- 
 nected voices his views clearly. 
 
 James D. Shoaff, junior member of the firm of 
 L. A. G. Slionff & Bro., was born in Decatur, 111., 
 Aug. 31, 1861. He removed to Paris at the same 
 time the balance of the family did, where he has 
 spent the most of his life. He received a good 
 common school education, when he later entered 
 his father's printing office and there learnt the "art 
 preservative of all arts." 
 
 The Shoaff Bros, are conducting a square, fear- 
 less and newsy paper and they believe in the doct- 
 rine of "hewing to the line, let the chips fall where 
 they may." The newspaper of "to-day forms public 
 opinion largely, and cannot be edited too carefully. 
 The editors of a paper have a greater responsibility 
 than a majority of the people of this country 
 imagine, and recognizing the fact that nothing 
 should enter the columns of a paper that will not 
 bear the scrutiny of a critical public, the Shoaff 
 Bros, print nothing sensational. These gentlemen 
 are prospering as their subscription list will testify. 
 
 ENRY WHITE. It is said of this worthy 
 \ citizen of Embarras Township that "he has 
 always been a hard-working, industrious 
 (^ man, attending to his own business, and 
 never involved in trouble of any kind with his 
 neighbors." Perhaps nothing more is needed to 
 establish his true character, and it is a high trib- 
 ute to his real worth. During his younger years 
 he worked as a machinist, and attained to a re- 
 markable degree of skill in his calling. Later he 
 turned his attention to agricultural i)nrsuits, and 
 may now be found comfortably situated on a well- 
 regulated farm, occupying a portion of section 29 
 in Embarras Township. 
 
 Mr. White was born in the Kingdom of Prussia, 
 May 2, 1830, and is descended from pure German 
 stock. His father, John White, w.as a native of 
 the same Province as his son, and emigrated with 
 
824 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 his family to the United States in 1850, when our 
 subject was a young man of twenty years. They 
 sojourned two years in Patterson, N. J., and then 
 changed their residence to Susquehannali, N. Y., 
 where our subject employed himself with the New 
 York & Erie Railroad Company, at blacksmithing 
 for one year, behaving served an apprenticeship 
 at this trade in the old country. In October, 1853, 
 leaving the Empire State, he emigrated to Zanes- 
 ville, Ohio, where he followed his trade for a pe- 
 riod of twenty years, being emploj'ed sixteen years 
 of this time in one shop of the Baltimore & Ohio 
 Railroad. 
 
 Mr. White now decided to push on further 
 Westward, and we find him in Edgar County, III., 
 in the spring of 1874. About this time also he 
 concluded to change his occupation, and, accord- 
 ingly, secured a tract of land, on which he settled, 
 and where he has since lived. He is now the owner 
 of 153 acres, devoted to general farming and 
 stock-raising. In the latter industry he has been 
 specially successful, keeping the fat horses and 
 cattle for which the German nationality is so 
 justly celebrated. Prior to leaving New York 
 State, our subject was united in marriage, in May, 
 1853, to Miss Mary, daughter of Jacob Isleib. 
 This lady was born in the Kingdom of Saxony, 
 Germany, and emigrated to America with her 
 father about 1850. Of her union with our sub- 
 ject there have been born four children, three of 
 whom are living — Philip, Charles and George W. 
 One son, Henry, was married to Miss Belle Ray, 
 and died at the age of twenty-eight years, leaving 
 three children — Frank, Bessie and Paul. Philip 
 married Miss Maggie Smith, and they live in Wells- 
 ville, Ohio; they have two children — George and 
 Mary. Charles married Miss Annie Conley, and 
 they live with our sul)ject at the homestead; they 
 have one child, a son, Walter. George White is 
 serving an apprenticeship at the tin and copper- 
 smith trade with his brother Philip, in Wellsville, 
 Ohio. Mrs. Mary White departed this life in the 
 fall of 1883. She was a member in good standing 
 of the Presbyterian Church, with which Mr. White 
 is also connected, and to the support of which he 
 is a cheerful and liberal giver. In farming, as in 
 business matters, he is thorough and systematic, 
 
 and forms one of the reliable men of his commu- 
 nity, whose word is considered as good as his 
 bond. 
 
 \f/OHN C. HULL was born Oct. 10, 1863, to 
 Thomas and Margaret J. Hull. His father 
 is a native of New York, and is now a resi- 
 dent in Newman, Douglas Co., 111., where 
 he owns a large Estate and is one of the most prom- 
 inent citizens in the county. The mother of our 
 subject was a daughter of J. Campbell and died 
 when her son was but two years old. Four other 
 children were in the parental family, but he alone 
 survives. His father again stood before the altar, 
 with the lady of his choice. Miss Maria B. Robison. 
 The union resulted in four children — Margaret H., 
 Louisa, Rosa and Emma. His second wife died 
 about eight years ago and he entered the marriage 
 relation the third time, taking Miss Ella Cole for 
 his partner. One child^Lewis was the fruit of 
 this union. 
 
 Our subject and Miss Carrie Cornwell, a daugh- 
 ter of William D. and EUizabeth S. (Laird) Corn- 
 well, were united in marriage, Sept 6, 1885. Mrs. 
 Hull was one of a family of nine children and was 
 born Oct. 20, 1869. Her brothers and sisters are 
 named, respectively: Lydia, who is single, and 
 resides in St. John, Kan.; John, Stella, Mabel, Ger- 
 trude, Ella and Jessie live at home near Newman 
 with their parents. 
 
 Mr. Hull, our subject, owns eighty acres of fine 
 land in the northwestern part of Young America 
 Township on the Douglas County line. It was a 
 gift to him by his father and he lias carefully and 
 faithfully improved it, and by his industry and 
 strict attention to business bids fair to become as 
 prosperous a man as his father, he having all the 
 elements necessary to succeed, in his make-up, be- 
 ing well versed in the art of agriculture and pos- 
 sessing prudent and economical habits of business, 
 there can be no doubt of his future prosperity. 
 
 He is a practical man and has \evy little time to 
 spend on questions of philosophy or other abstruse 
 problems, but he keeps well posted on the current 
 topics of the day and looks forward to the time 
 
.--<?>■ 
 
 -^^v 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOauAPIIICAL ALBUM. 
 
 827 
 
 when the cares of life will leaNr him more Uisvire 
 to devote to the so-called refinements of life. 
 
 Mrs. Hull is a practical, domestic housewife, who 
 looks well to the ways of hei- household and mana- 
 ges in the intervals of more exclusively practical 
 work to keep her well cultivated mind constantly 
 stored with information l)oth now and old. They 
 have a pleasant cozy home in Young America 
 Township, Edgar County. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Hull have three chihlren — Alfi'ed 
 C, Ella May and Thomas William. 
 
 —^^r^^^^<^^^^h- 
 
 R. LEROY O. JENKINS is a conscientious 
 physician and surgeon who takes pride in 
 his profession, and makes it his aim to ex- 
 cel. It is acknowledged l)y the people ol 
 this region that he is one of the leadinu' |)ractition- 
 ers in the northern part of this county. By his 
 proficiency in the science of medicine, as well as 
 by his genial and courteous manner, he has huilt 
 up a large practice, and fully established himself 
 in the confidence of his patrons. lie has been uni- 
 formly successful, as much, perhaps, on account of 
 his agreeable and sympathetic personality as the 
 the drugs which he has administered. In addition 
 to Ills profession he is considerably interested in live 
 stock, having a well regulated farm which yields 
 him handsome returns. 
 
 The first year of the life of our subject was spent 
 near Sinking Springs, in Highland Co., Ohio, where 
 he was b(_)rn June 4, 1851. In 1852 his parents 
 came toDe Witt County, this State, but in 1860 
 the family gathered together their possessions and 
 started out once more in search of a permanent 
 home. Proceeding overland with teams, they made 
 their way across the Mississippi to Chillicothe, Mu. 
 There young Jenkins grew up in town and attended 
 school, receiving a good education. After being 
 graduated from the high school he, 1871, entered I lie 
 State Tniversity of Columbia, where he altended 
 two years. In the spring of 1872 he engaged in 
 teaching, and devoted his leisiu-e time to the study 
 of medicine. He officiated as principal (if a school 
 one year, and later read medicint' with Drs. Borns 
 
 and J. A. Muiik, of Chillicothe. In the spring of 
 1881 he entered the Amei'ican Medical College at 
 St. Louis where he took a year's course, and in the 
 fall of 1885, came to this county, establishing him- 
 self in Scottland, where lie practiced one year. 
 Then returning to St. Louis, he took his last course, 
 and was graduated in the s|)ring of 18H8, with 
 honors, being the valedictorian of his class. Then 
 immediately returning to Scottland he entered upon 
 the career which has been phenomenally succoss- 
 fid, building up in a short time the largest practice 
 (if any physician in the place, and visiting patients 
 botli in this and Vermilion counties, both of Illi- 
 n(^iis and Indiana. 
 
 In his live stock operations Dr. Jenkins at one 
 time handled a considerable number of fine horses, 
 mostly imported Clydesdales, heavy draft horses; 
 but of late years has turned his attention to cattle. 
 His farm of 120 acres is situated in Prairie Town- 
 ship, and improved with guod buildings, while he 
 also rents eighty acres in Bruellet Township, and 
 has eighty acres in' pasture near Shiloh. He feeds 
 about twenty-five head of cattle annually. One 
 of the prominent features of his pleasant home in 
 Scottland is a fine library from which he extracts 
 much satisfaction and a great deal of learning. 
 
 Dr. Jenkins was married at I'aris, Sept. G, 1877, 
 to Miss Ada Clark, who was born there, and ob- 
 taining a thorough <M_Uication in Oxford, Ohio, fol- 
 lowed the profession of a teacher prior to her 
 marriage. The Doctor socially belongs to the Ma- 
 sonic fraternity in Scottland, is a member of the 
 Chapter and a Knight Templar, belonging to the 
 Commandery at Paris. In the Methodist Episco- 
 pal Church, of whicli he is a member, he has been 
 Class Leader, and one of its most efficient helpers, 
 a sisting in the building of tlie church edifice, and 
 otherwise acting as one of its chief pillars. He is 
 a memlier of the Eclectic State Medical Associa- 
 tion, and in politics is a sound Democrat, lieing a 
 member of the Central C(immittee, and stumping 
 the county in the fall of 1888. He was also a 
 delegate to the State conventon. 
 
 William Jeidcins, the father of our subject, was 
 a native of Tennessee, and the son of Elections 
 Jenkins, a native of England. The latter emi- ■ 
 gi'afed to America, when young, served in the War 
 
828 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 of 1812, and was a gunsmith at tlie Harper's Feriy 
 arsenal. Finally lie removed to Tennessee, and 
 later to Higliland Count3', Oliio, where he was a 
 pioneer, and where he spent his last days. Will- 
 iam, his son, became a farmer in Ohio, where lie 
 owned 200 acres of land. Later lie removed to 
 l)e Witt County, this State, and in 18G0 to Liv- 
 ingston County, Mo., settling near Chillicotlie. 
 There also he purchased land and engaged in fann- 
 ing. He is now retired from active labor, liaving 
 arrived at tlie age of seventy-nine years. He is 
 a member of the Metliodist Episcopal Church. 
 
 Tlie mother of our subject was in her girlhood. 
 Miss Mary A. Lowe, and a native of Maryland. 
 Grandfather John \V. Lowe owned a large planta- 
 tion worked by slaves, and finally sold out both 
 land and slaves, and moved to Highland County, 
 Ohio. He, like the Jenkins family, moved to Mis- 
 souri, where he died at the age of ninety years. 
 The maternal great-grandfather of our subject w.as 
 Gen. Lowe, a native of England and a man of note. 
 Upon coining to America he located in Virginia 
 and engaged in the Revolutionary War on the staff 
 of Gen. Washington, and was also Quartermaster. 
 He spent his last days in 'Washington, D. C, dying 
 at the age of seventy-five years. 
 
 The six children born to the parents of our sub- 
 ject were named respectively, Joseph, Lewis. Sam- 
 uel, Henry W., liell and Leroy O. Jos('[ih in 18(12. 
 enlisted in the .'i'Jlh Iowa Infantiy. and served 
 until he was disabled by a fall, when he received 
 his honorable discharge. Lewis joined Merrill's 
 Missouri Cavalry in 186.''i, with which he remained 
 until the close of the war. 
 
 An excellent engraving of this prominent pliys- 
 •ioian and honored citizen is a valuable addition to 
 the Album, and appears on another p.'ige. 
 
 -^. 
 
 ^(OSEPH KETTERSON. The farming com- 
 munity of Paris Township probably presents 
 no finer illustration of the self-made man 
 I than Mr. Kelterson. He was born in 
 County Tyrone, Ireland, Sejit. (',, IH3I, and came 
 to America when twenty jears of age, without 
 
 means and nothing to depend upon but his own 
 resources. By a life of great industry and frugal- 
 it}^ he has succeeded in accumulating a competence 
 and is now numbered among the leading farmers 
 of his township. He makes a specialty of stock- 
 raising, in wiiich industry lie has been remarkably 
 successful and is able to exhibit some of the finest 
 specimens of Short-horn cattle to be found in Cen- 
 tral Illinois. Unlike many men. prosperity has 
 neither made him envious or penurious, but he 
 bears the reputation of a broad and liiieral-minded 
 citizen, who votes the straight Republican ticket 
 and has always taken a warm interest in every 
 measure calculated for the good of his commu- 
 nity. The friend of education, he has served on 
 the School Board of his district; and in relii^ious 
 matters, is, with his wife and two children, a mem- 
 ber in good standing of the Presbyterian Church. 
 
 Our subject upon crossing the Atlantic landed 
 in the city of Philadelphia, a stranger in a strange 
 laud. Soon afterward he made his way to Lan- 
 caster County, Pa., where he worked on a farm 
 for one year, then went ta Bluskingum County, 
 Ohio, where he remained until October 1864. 
 Then deciding to seek the farther West he made 
 his way to this county and commenced working 
 in a sawmill in Paris. He was thus employed 
 eighteen months and at the expiration 6f this time 
 leased sixty acres of land just south of Paris. 
 Five years later he commenced bu3'ing land, and 
 is now the owner of a Bnely improved farm of 1G7 
 acres, which he built up from the primitive soil. 
 His first dwelling was a log cabin, but he now has 
 a handsome and substantial frame residence with 
 neat and convenient outbuildings and the various 
 improvements usually suggested to the mind of 
 the intelligent and progressive agriculturist. Ho 
 avails himself of modern machinery and improved 
 methods of farming, and has thus taken advantage 
 of his work in all respects — a work which at the 
 present day is carried on in a very different man- 
 ner from that of thirty years ag<.i. 
 
 On the loth of August, 1860, Mr. Kettcrson 
 took unto himself a wife and helpmate. Miss ]\Iary 
 Ann Rolstoii, who was born in County Doneo-al, 
 Ireland, March M, 1830. Mrs. Kettcrson is the 
 daughter of David and Elizabeth Rolston, and was 
 
POETRATT AKD BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 829 
 
 left an orphan when a mere child. She came to 
 America with an aunt in 1859 and one year later 
 became the wife of our subject. This union re- 
 sulted in the birth of two children, tlie elder of 
 whom, Joseph C, married Miss Ida May Hamilton 
 and lives on a farm just east of his father; they 
 have two children. . Mary E. is unmarried and re- 
 mains at home with her parents. Joseph Ketter- 
 son, Sr., the father of our subject, married a lady 
 whose first name was Elizabeth, and tliey s[)ent 
 their entire lives in their native Ireland, their 
 remains being laid to rest in County Tyrone. 
 
 ■ir AMES A. CASSLE. This gentleman de- 
 serves special mention in noting the leading 
 farmers and stock-raisers of tliis county. 
 His homestead is situated one mile east of 
 Vermillion and eight miles from I'aris, and com- 
 prises 120 acres of thoroughly cultivated land with 
 good buildings erected under the personal supervi- 
 sion of the present proprietor. 
 
 j\Ir. Cassle was born in Knoxville, Teun., April 
 7, 1836, and in 1837 came to this county with his 
 parents, they locating in Elbiidge Township. His 
 father, Hiram Cassle, with his wife Lodema Ciisick, 
 was likewise a native of Tennessee and the palciiiai 
 grandfather was born in South Carolina. ISoth 
 were engaged in farming pursuits, but the father 
 for a period of twelve ye.ars was occupied as a tan- 
 ner in his native State. After coming to tin's 
 coiHity, he in 1838 built a tannery, whicli is still 
 standing, one mile due east of Elbridge Townshii), 
 on Sugar Creek. He also entered a tract of land 
 from the Government, which he cleared, and in rluo 
 time became the owner of 360 acres, the whole of 
 which he brought to a productive condition. I'o- 
 litically Hiram Cassle was a Whig until IfsCI, and 
 then he identified himself with the Republican 
 party and became widely and prominently known 
 as one of its moving spirits in this section. A 
 strict Presbyterian religiously, he was an Elldci- in 
 the church, and after making a good record as a 
 man and citizen, passed away at a rii)e old age in 
 1874. His remains and those of his excellent wife 
 
 were buried side by side in New Providence cem- 
 etery. Eight of the nine children born to them 
 are still living. 
 
 The early education of our subject was con- 
 ducted in a log school-house, where he attended 
 mostly during a brief term in the winter. The 
 balance of the year he occupied liis time round the 
 homestead assisting his father until a young man 
 of twenty-two years. He was then married to Miss 
 Essemiah W. Revenaugh, whose parents, William 
 and Margaret Revenaugh, were natives of Ohio, 
 wlience they removed to Fayette Township, A igo 
 Co., Ind., where Mrs. Cassle was born June 
 1, 1836. She received a very good education, and 
 by her union with our subject has become a 
 mother of six children, five of whom are living: 
 Cynthia Ann is the wife of Edward White, a resi- 
 dent of Stratton Township; George W.; Julia A. 
 Hall married and lives in P^lbridge Township; Icy 
 Dora is the wife of Willis C. Shaeffer of Elbridge 
 Township; Charles B. died Sept. 15, 1870, when 
 about six years old; Laura and Henry Horton are 
 at home with their parents. Mr. Cassle politi- 
 cally is a sound Republican and has held the office 
 of Justice of tlie Peace; he has also served as a 
 School Director and takes a warm interest in edu- 
 cational matters. 
 
 Socially Mr. Cassle belongs to Lodge No. 
 563 I. O. O. F., at N'ermillion, in which he is Past 
 Grand .and has served as Secretary and in other 
 positions. His estimable wife is a member of the 
 Methodist Episcopal Church, attending services at 
 \'ermillion. T' hey have a pleasant and attractive 
 home, which is the frequent resort of the many 
 friends wdiora they have gathered around them by 
 the exercise of that kindly spirit of hospitality, and 
 generosity which invariably brings its reward. 
 
 WvILLIARI CRAIG. This quiet and unas- 
 suming old gentleman bears the distinction 
 of being one of the earliest settlers of Em- 
 barras Township. He came to this region soon 
 after the Indi.ans had left the country and when 
 wild animals were plentiful, and began the battle 
 
830 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 with frontier life which resulted in tlie acquisition 
 of a comfortable home. lie lias given his children 
 a g'ood start, and has roser\e(I fur himself a farm 
 comprising 140 acies of highly cultivated land with 
 goo'l hnildings. He has been quite an extensive 
 iraveler, and l.i}' keeping his eyes open to what was 
 yoing on around him in the world, has gathered 
 here and there a useful fund of information, which 
 makes him an interesting convcrsalionalist, and 
 with whom nn hour can always be spent pleasantly 
 and profitably. He began life for himself without 
 means, but b}^ a course of industry and prudence 
 has fortified himself against want in his old age. 
 His property is pleasantly located on section 22, 
 where his well cultivated fields yield bounteously 
 and to spare. 
 
 The first eleven j^ears of the life of our subject 
 were spent on the Delaware River, in Kew Jersey, 
 about forty-iive miles above Philadelphia, where 
 he was born Sept. 16, 1824. He came to this 
 county with his father, Thomas Craig, about 18.35. 
 The latter entered about 1,200 acres of land, a part 
 of which is stiU occupied by bis son, AVilliam, 
 and of which the latter has still in his possession the 
 patent granted at that time for 1 80 acres. Tlie 
 maiden name of the mother was Mar}' Saylor. 
 She was a native of New Jersey, and of Gciinan 
 parentage. The houseiiold circle included ten 
 children, only four of whom are living. Samuel 
 of Brownsville, Neb.; l^aniel, a bachelor, who spends 
 his time mostly traveling around among relatives: 
 Thomas, a resident of Thomas County, Kan.; and 
 William, our subject. One son, Henry, yielded u|j 
 his life in the service of his country during the 
 late Civil War. 
 
 The earl}' education of our subiect was conducted 
 in a log school house, fashioned after the primitive 
 manner of those times, destitute of lath and plaster, 
 the floor made of puncheon, the scats and (iesks of 
 slabs and the window panes of greased paper, lie 
 pursued his studies in the winter season and 
 worked on the farm in summer. When leaving 
 home he emigrated, in 1843, to Southwestern ^^'is- 
 consin, where he worked in the lead mines in the 
 winter season for about iive years. He em|)loyed 
 his summers in breaking |)i-aiiie. 
 
 Mr. Craig, in 1804, was married to Sliss Susan 
 
 M., dangliter of Eurastus E. Hall. She became the 
 mother of one child, and died in the fall of 1855. 
 Subsequently Mi-. Craig returned East and visited 
 friends in Pennsylvania a short time. In May, 
 185G, he resumed operations in Wisconsin, and in 
 June, IKo 7. returned to the old homestead, where 
 he has since lived. 
 
 In the meantime our subject contracted a second 
 marriage, April 1.5, 1858, to Miss Jane K., daugh- 
 ter of Evan Scales. To them there were boin 
 three children. The eldest, Susan M., became the 
 wife of Morey L. Sherman, now of Okiahoma, and 
 they have seven children: Amanda D., William L., 
 E^tclla A., Clara ]>., Horace C, Owen and Edgar; 
 the two latter are twins. William Craig, Jr., mar- 
 ried Miss Sarah J. Zimmerniau, daughter of a 
 family well known in this county, and thej' live at 
 the homestead; they have two children, Olethea M. 
 and Willi,am A. 
 
 Henry S. Craig is unmarried and lives with his 
 parents. 
 
 ^^BRAHAM SHANE. The Shane family 
 (@yi-ll originated in Germany, and was in due 
 I Ifi time represented in Ross County, Ohio, 
 ^J where the subject of this sketch was born, 
 
 Jan. 1(1, 1819. In 1835 his parents emigrated to 
 Indiana and lived in a log cabin in \'ermillion 
 County, a number of years. Thence the}' came to 
 Douglas County, 111., living there until 1867. 
 Their next removal was to the home of our sub- 
 ject, where they spent their last days, the mother 
 dying in September, 1868. Later the father was 
 married to Jane Liniger and they lived in the 
 house with our subject until the death of the 
 father, which took place in March, 1882, when he 
 was eighty-eight years of age. 
 
 Daniel Shane, the father of our subject, was first 
 married in Ross Countj-, Ohio, to Miss Elizahetli 
 Meanor, who was born in Pennsylvania. Grand- 
 father George Shane had emigrated to Ohio from the 
 Ke3'stone Stale during the period of its earliest set- 
 tlement, .and there spent his last days. Daniel Shane 
 when removing with his little family to Indi.ana 
 had onlj' twenty-five cents in money, but the 
 
PORTRAIT AND niOCllAPHlCAL ALBUM. 
 
 831 
 
 mother had hidden away a ^10 gold piece, in:iil<el 
 savings, which her husband laiew notiiina of until 
 he was worrying over the fact that they were out 
 of money, and as may be supposed tliis was to him 
 a most agreeable surprise. Mr. Shane, iiowever. 
 had a wagon and four horses which he traded for 
 forty acres of land, ui)on which tliey took up tlieir 
 abode and lived until laying aside tbc more active 
 duties of life. In the meantime the fatlier had 
 been prosperous, ;uul became the owner of a good 
 property which he eventually turned over to ills son, 
 our subject, who was to take care of his parents in 
 their old ago. The fatlier and mother lived har- 
 moniously together for the long period of fifty. six 
 years. Early in life they had embraced the doc- 
 trines of the Methodist Episcopal Cluircli in the 
 faith of which they reared their diiidren and in 
 which they died triumphantly. Their lives were 
 marked by that consistent Christian walk and con- 
 versation which was the surest proof of their 
 belief in that which tliey professed, and their 
 names are held in the most sacred remembrance by 
 their son, while those who knew them best esteemed 
 them the most highly. 
 
 The subject of this notice was married in Prairie 
 Township, this county, to Miss Delilali Newcomb 
 and they have one child, Delilali, who is now the 
 wife of Andrew Jennings, of Perry Townsliip. 
 One child, Elizabeth, died when twenty-one years 
 old and Ibby J., the wife of Silas Jones, died about 
 1886, leaving a family of eight children. Mrs. 
 Delilah (Newcomb) Shane departed this life in 
 June, 1888. Our subject was subse(iuently mar- 
 ried to Miss Mary ilarker, a native of Edgar 
 County and born 1850. Both are members of the 
 Methodist Protestant Church as was the first wife 
 of our subject. Daniel Nhane, the father, about 
 six months after his marriage, enlisted as a soldier 
 in the War of 1812 in which he served about one 
 year. He was a [lensioner during the later years 
 of his life. The mother of our subject traced her 
 ancestry to Ireland, the first representatives of 
 which crossed the Atlantic at a very early day 
 and became thoroughly Americanized several 
 generations back. Mr. Shane, politically, is a 
 Republican and served as Constable and School 
 Treasurer for fourteen years. He has been a Com- 
 
 missioner several years and still holds the position. 
 Socially and in business circles he is one of those 
 men whose word is considered as good as his bond, 
 and one who takes a uniform interest in all the 
 projects lending to benefit society and advance the 
 interests of tlie people. 
 
 -» .^^ s^ 
 
 ^A.MES FORSTER. There are few men in 
 Elbridge Townsliip more widely or favor- 
 ably known than Mr. Forster. He is one of 
 '^l/J its leading farmers and land owners and is 
 pleasantly located on a farm of 500 acres, while he 
 has 182 acres east of his homestead. He makes a 
 specialty of stock-raising and has probably cleared 
 a greater area of land than most of the surviving 
 pioneers of this section. 
 
 l!y reverting to the parental histoiy of our sub- 
 ject, we find he is the son of Arthur and Nancy 
 (Esry) Forster, the former a native of Kentucky 
 and both of Scotch descent. The father cut the 
 first stick of timber for the building of the pioneer 
 courthouse at Paris, and after the organization of 
 the Republican party, was its stanch supporter. He 
 survived his wife a number of years and both were 
 members of the Methodist Protestant Church. 
 Tbey were the iiareiifs of three children, James, our 
 subject, being the oldest. He was born April 15, 
 1822, at the old homestead in Elbridge Townsliip 
 and has been a life-long resident of this county. 
 He o'rew with its growth and after attaining man- 
 hood assisted in its progress and development. His 
 early studies were iinwecuted in the primitive log 
 scliool-house and, taking kindly to his books, he 
 I'-rew up an intelligent and well-informed man. 
 
 At the age of twenty-four years our subject was 
 united in marriage with Miss Nancy M., daughter 
 of Vance Parish, a native of Tennessee. Of the 
 five children born to this union, only one is living, 
 a daughter, C'atherine, who is the wife of Daniel 
 Roll and resides near Kevin's Station. Mrs. Nancy 
 M. (Parish) Forster was born in 1823 and departed 
 this life in 1856. 
 
 Our subject contracted a second marriage with 
 Miss Nancy PL, daughter of Mathew Stump, a 
 
832 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BTOGRAPfllCAL ALBUM. 
 
 nativi^ of Kentucky. There were eigbt children 
 bom to this union, six of whom are living, namely : 
 Thomas, Amanda, Els worth, ^^'illiam, who is mar- 
 ried and living just east of his father; James and 
 Elbert; Helen and Ezra died when quite young. 
 Mr. Forster politically, like his honored father, is 
 a warm advocate of Republican principles and has 
 represented his township three terms as Supervisor. 
 He has served as School Trustee for a number of 
 years, and has been connected with the Methodist 
 Protestant Church since about 1854. He has labored 
 long and industriouslj' and has himself brought 
 about all the improvements upon his present farm. 
 His dwelling is a commodious modern structure 
 and a fine view of it on another page portrays one 
 of the beautiful rural homes of Edgar County. 
 The barn and outbuildings are all that could be 
 reasonably desired by the nineteenth century 
 farmer. Mr. Forster bears the reputation of an 
 honest and upright man who looks with contempt 
 upon a mean actioii and has uniformly exercised a 
 good influence wherever he is known. 
 
 WILLIAM K. HARRIS, a resident of Paris 
 Township and pleasantly located on sec- 
 tion 11, has one of the neatest homesteads 
 within its limits and there has a beautiful residence 
 which is represented on another page by a litho- 
 graphic engraving. The well-tilled land is in a 
 high state of cultivation, much of it under-di-ained 
 with tile and very productive. It is devoted to 
 general agriculture and contains a goodly assort, 
 ment of live stock. The buildings are neat and 
 substantial and improved modern machinery is 
 used in developing the best elements of the soil. 
 
 The subject of this sketch was born in Mirshall 
 County, Va., where he lived until a jrouth of seven- 
 teen years. He then accompanied his parents to 
 Illinois where they took up a tract of land in sec- 
 tion 11 and 12, this township, a part of which is 
 included in his present farm. The father operated 
 upon this and dealt in live-stock until 1«81; then 
 removing to Paris, .he rctiicd from active business. 
 The maiden name of his mother was S:irah Keiser. 
 Both are still living and are residents of Paris. 
 
 In 1861 our subject was married to Miss Naomi, 
 daughter of Daniel and Susan (Mathews) Clay- 
 baugh and they are the parents of six children, 
 the two eldest of whom — Mary, Mrs. Ilenrj' Ogle, 
 and Lodema, Mrs. Richard C)gle, are residents of 
 Paris Township. James, Eliza, Sarah and Clifford 
 remain at home with their parents. Three children 
 died in infancy. The farm embraces 138 acres of 
 land upon which Mr. Harris has erected a good 
 frame house with a substantial barn and other 
 structures necessary for the general purpose of ao- 
 ricLilture. The life of Mr. Harris has been passed 
 in a comparatively uneventful manner, during 
 which he has acquitted himself as an honest man 
 and a good citizen, living at peace with his 
 neighbors and enjoying their esteem and confidence 
 in a marked degree. 
 
 -i-<>-«- 
 
 ENJAMIN F. A7ALDRUFF. [n going 
 around among the business men of Chris- 
 man and vicinity, the attention of the bio- 
 grapher is called to the subject of this notice 
 as one who is taking a leading part in the financial 
 affairs of Chrisman, and conducting a prosperous 
 trade in grain and hay. He is a man of substan- 
 tial worth, jiossessing those sterling qualities of 
 character which form the groundwork of all good 
 society, and whose influence is exerted in behalf of 
 those enterprises calculated to advance the interests 
 of the people, socially, morally, and financially. 
 
 Mr. Waldruff is a man who has learned much 
 from observation and contact with the world, and 
 although quiet and self-contained, exerts an un- 
 mistakable influence upon those with whom ho is 
 associated, and whose respect he commands in a 
 marked degree. He is the owner of a comfortable 
 property, having besides the business already men- 
 tioned, 120 acres of land adjoining the town limits, 
 and eighty acres at Tuscola. 
 
 Stark Country, Ohio, was the early tramping 
 ground of our subject, and he was born near Mt. 
 Eaton, Feb. IS, 1H31. His father dying when he 
 was a mere hoy, he was taken into the home of his 
 uncle, J. Corns, at Millersburg, the latter being a 
 blacksmith by trade. He attended the common 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGUAPllICAL ALBUM. 
 
 833 
 
 school, and assisted in the bhicksmith sliop until 
 twenty-one j'cars of age, and had become quite ex- 
 pert at this business. At this time, starting out 
 for himself, he repaired to New Pliiladeli)hia, Ohio, 
 where he followed blacksmithing three years, then 
 chanii'cd his residence to Hardin County. Later he 
 established a slioi) of his own at Dunkirk, and there 
 met his fate in the person of Miss Elizabetli Hraut, 
 to whom be was married in 1853. He conducterl 
 his blacksmith shiip there four years. 
 
 In 1858, Mr. Waldruff returned to W'ayuesburg, 
 Ohio, where he establislied another shoi), and where 
 he remained until the outbreak of the Civil \\'ar. 
 Upon the second call for troops, he entered the 
 ranks of the Lhiion Army as a member of Companjr 
 R, 65th Ohio Infantry, being mustered in at Mans- 
 field, and assigned to the blacksmith department. 
 After reaching Louisville, he was detailed as black- 
 smith in the 6th Ohio Independent Lattery, and 
 later was head blacksmith inthe^Vrmy of the Cum- 
 berland. He met the enemy witli his comrades at 
 the battle of Atlanta, Chattanooga, and Nashville, 
 and at Chickamanga was called upon to man a gun 
 after the regular gunner had been shot. lie went 
 with Sherman on the (Jeorgia campaign, returning 
 with the command of Gen. Thomas, and was mus- 
 tered out at Nashville in December, 1864, after 
 serving three years and four months. 
 
 Upon retiring from the army, our subject re- 
 turned to Illinois, and established a blacksmith 
 shop at Cherry Point, which he conducted veiy suc- 
 cessfully. Here he met his first great affliction, in 
 the death of his wife, which occurred October, 1866. 
 Mrs. P:iizabeth (Brant) Waldruff, was born in 
 Stark County, Ohio, and acquired a good educa- 
 tion, following the profession of a teacher prior to 
 her marriage. Of this union there were born two 
 sons: Luther, who died when about eigiiteen 
 months old, and Charles, who is now a telegraph 
 operator in Trinidad, Colo., in the employ of the 
 Texas & Rio Grande Railroad Company. 
 
 Our subject contracted a second marriage at 
 Cherry Point, 111., in 1869, with Miss Emily Hart- 
 ley, who was born in Ross Township, this county. 
 Of tins union there have been born five children — 
 Carlotta, Lulu, Eva, Harker O., and Lawrence. 
 They are all at home with their parents, and have 
 
 been given good advantages, Eva being graduated 
 from the Higji Scliool. Mr. Waldruff purchased 
 100 acres of lantl wliere he cariied on agriculture in 
 c(ninectiou witli blacksmitlung, Ijut in 1871 sold 
 out and removing to Clirismau, put up an hotel, 
 and operated as "mine host" two ycais. Later he 
 established a lumber-yard and was interested in this 
 until the fall of ISSS. In the meantime he pur- 
 chased the elovator which he still runs, and puts up 
 large quantities of hay in bales. He erected a neat 
 residence in town, where he has a veiy pleasant 
 and comfortable home. 
 
 Politically, Mr. Waldruff gives his undivided sup- 
 port to the Republican party, and in religious mat- 
 ters is a devout member of the Methodist Episcopal 
 Church, in which he serves as Steward and Trustee. 
 He has been Commissioner of Highways two terms, 
 and socially belongs to the IMasonic fraternity, be- 
 ing a member of the Chapter at Paris and Chris- 
 man, and Treasurer in the K. of P., and also K. of H. 
 He and Mv. Allen Sly did most of the work of 
 building the Methodist Episcopal Church, as far 
 as pushing the enterprise and raising the money 
 was concerned. 
 
 The father of our subject was Philij) Waldruff, a 
 native of Ohio, and a farmer by occupation. He 
 spent his entire life in his native State. The 
 mother, who in her girlhood was Miss Sidene Has- 
 kins, was born in Hardin County, that State, and is 
 still living, making her home with her daughter, 
 Elizabeth, in Taylor County, Iowa.; she is now 
 eigl)t_y years old, and a member of the Methodist 
 Episcopal Church. The daughter above mentioned 
 was the eldest child of the family. The next one, 
 Susanna, died when about ten years old ; George W. 
 lives in Taylor County, Iowa, and is the twin 
 brother of our subject. He served iu the Union 
 Army, and suffered a broken arm from a gun-shot. 
 
 i-<>.i 
 
 Oia'AL II. LINNABARY, senior partner of 
 the firm of Linnabary & Cooper, is conduct- 
 ing a thriving business as a general merchant 
 at Hume, and is numbered among its leading citi- 
 zens. He was born in Harlem Township, Delaware 
 Co., Ohio, Aug. 27, 1843, and is the son of Anan 
 
8'M 
 
 PORTRAIT ANIJ BIOGRAPHICAL ALHUM. 
 
 Linnabary, who «;is a fanner by uecupation and 
 lived in Delaware County until 1882. He then 
 removed to Paulding Count}', where his death 
 took place Feb. 11, 188(!, at the age of sixty -six 
 years. He was born in Delaware County, and 
 spent Ills entire life in the Buckeye State. Grand- 
 father Josejjh Linnabary was a native of Pennsyl- 
 vania, and the son of a native-born (iernian, who, 
 upon emigrating from the Fatherland, settled in 
 Pennsylvania at a very early date. 
 
 The maiden name of the mother of our subject 
 was Louisa Jones. She like her iiusband was a na- 
 tive of Delaware Courity, Ohio, and died there in 
 1877, when fifty-six years old. They were the 
 parents of twelve children, eight of whom grew to 
 mature years, viz. : Joseph J., George M., Orval 
 Howard (our subject), Nane\', Charlotte, Rosetta, 
 Hannah and Mattie. The deceased in early life 
 were Marj' Ann, Jolni Webster, Charles A\^else}' 
 and James Buchanan. Joseph J. carried on farm- 
 ing in Delaware County, Ohio, and at his death 
 left four children — Lj'uian, Mary, Iildson and Onnie ; 
 George M. served as a soldier in tlie L'nion Aimy 
 during the late Civil War, and was killed in a skir- 
 mish near Mill Springs, K}-., June 9, 1863, after 
 the battle at Capt. AVest's farm. lie was a daring 
 and courageous bo}', and had been promoted to 
 Serpeant, and was in ad\'ance of his conipan}' about 
 eight feet at the time of the encounter, when the 
 deadlj' missile pierced him to the heart. Nancy is 
 the wife of James Rolo, a farmer of Haniiiton 
 County, Neb. ; Charlotte is the wife of Orrin Cha- 
 pin, a farmer of Hamilton County, Ne))., and they 
 have five children; Rosetta, Mrs. Wesley Hubbell. 
 lives on a farm iu Morrow County, Ohio, and is 
 the mother of five children; Hannah is a resident 
 of Paulding County, Ohio, and the wife of James 
 Breese, l.)y whom she has one child; Mattie is the 
 wife of Emery Waldron, of Morrow County, Ohio, 
 and they have one child. 
 
 The subject of this sketch was born Aug. 27, 
 1843, in Delaware Count}', Ohio, and lived there 
 until a lad of eight years, wdien his parents re- 
 moved to Paulding County. He assisted iu open- 
 ing up a new farm, but on .account of fever and 
 ague the familj' s'jbsc((iiiMitly returned to Delaware 
 County, and settling in the woods, put up a log 
 
 cabin and once more hewed a home out of the 
 wilderness. The educational advantages of our 
 subject were necessarily limited, but he was natu- 
 rally bright and fond of his books, and improved 
 every opportunity for obtaining useful information. 
 He remained at home assisting his parents until 
 after the outbreak of the Civil War, and then, at 
 the age of nineteen years, enlisted in the Union 
 ranks under the call of President Lincoln for 
 300,000 tliree-years' men, at Centreville Aug. 4, 
 1862. He was mustered into service at Camj) 
 Chase, Cokimjius, Ohio, as a member of Companv 
 G, 45th Ohio Infantry, which was subsequently 
 mounted. They were ordered to Lexington, Ky., 
 where the)' drilled about two months, and early in 
 1863 were assigned to the Army of the Cumberland 
 under commaml of Gen. Lew Wallace. They were 
 mounted in February, 1863, at Danville, Ky., 
 under command <jf Gen. Hobson, in Wolford's 
 brigade. Not long afterward they encountered 
 the enemy at DuttoJi Hill, Ky., where Lieut. Jones 
 and our subject were the first to bounce over the 
 fence which served ,as the Rebel breastworks. From 
 that time on thej' were engaged iu skirmishing. At 
 Paris, Ky., young Linnabary captured a beautiful 
 Kwitucky charger, which he was allowed to retain, 
 and to which he became greatly attached on ac- 
 count of its intelligence and the great service which 
 it. rendered him. It was in color a shining black, 
 very docile and tractable. At the battle of Phila- 
 delphia, Tenn., Mr. Linnabary with the balance of 
 his company, was compelled to beat a h.asty re- 
 treat under the incessant fire of the [pursuing Con- 
 federates. A rail fence barred their way to a 
 thicket on the other side. This fence was partially 
 torn down in three different places — the Confed- 
 erates directing their fire to these points, where 
 horses and riders both fell under their murderous 
 aim. ( )ur subject, instead of seeking one of these 
 outlets in the hope of escape, determined to trust 
 to the sagacity and strength of his horse, fearing, 
 however, for the result. He expected that the 
 animal would be unable to clear the fence, but that 
 he, himself, in the encounter, might be thrown into 
 the thicket, and thus sheltered from the Are of the 
 encraw He spurred on his gallant steed, which, 
 to the surprise of himself and everyone else, cleared 
 
Residence of John R Honnold Sec 1. Kansas Tp Edgar Co 
 
 Residence or T. C. Brown, Sec.K. ElbridgeTp. Edgar Co 
 
 
 1?^ & 
 
 Residence of Thos. Pou lter, Sec.IO. Kansas Tp. Edgar Co 
 
PORTRAIT AND lUOGRAPlIICAL AL15UM. 
 
 837 
 
 tlie seven rail fence and gracefully bore his rider 
 to a place of safety. 
 
 Subsequently Mr. Linnabary was dt'tailed v.'itli 
 others to pursue the raider Morgan, and was thus 
 occupied for twentj'-two days and nights. He was 
 one of the advance who captured Morgan's men 
 at Bluttiington's Island, and assisted in conveying 
 the prisoners on a boat to Cincinnati, after which 
 they were transported to Camp Nelson. It was the 
 intention tD rest there for a period of two or throe 
 days, but finding Col. Pigram raiding the country in 
 that vicinity and near Riclimond, active operations 
 were begun at once. They drove the rebels back 
 into Tennessee, and crossed the mountains west of 
 Cumberland Gap, pulling the cannon by handsonie 
 of the time, in which there was frequently required 
 the aid of 200 men at a single rope. 
 
 The troops finally crossed into Tennessee and 
 joined the Army of the Cumberland under Gen. 
 Burnside, skirmishing continuall}', for the rebels 
 were in possession of the country. They engaged 
 then at Loudon, and crossed the Tennessee River 
 at that place on a pontoon bridge, after which Col. 
 Wolford's brigade was sent as an out|)ost five miles 
 west to the village of Philadelphia. After this 
 tliey went into camp for a month at ihat place. 
 For a month th(.-y were engaged almost continu- 
 ously in skirmishing and foraging. .Mr. Linnabary 
 kept a memoranda of daily events from the time of 
 his enlistment until the fight at Philadelphua. There 
 they were engaged by the rebels in numliers greatly 
 in excess of their own, sometimes as many as three 
 to one, and there were frequently very desperate 
 charges. The Union troops broke through the 
 Confederate ranks, pushing their way through 
 underbrush of burr and jack oaks, and in one of 
 these encounters Mr. Linnabary, having hispaniers 
 on one side of his horse and his haversack on the 
 other, was obliged to cut them away in order to 
 made his escape, and thus they were lost. He ex- 
 perienced many hairbreadth escapes prior to the 
 time when he was wounded, and suffered the loss 
 of his right arm. 
 
 The troops now fell back to Loudon, Tenn., 
 where they were reinforced and drove the rebels 
 thirty miles west to the lliawasse River, where they 
 met the rebel General, Longstreet, and acted as 
 
 a rear guard, keeping him and his forces in check, 
 and fighting continuously for about fifteen days. 
 They finally fell back to Knoxville, and crossed 
 the Holdston River, where they met the rebel ad- 
 vance and dismounted in the woods to act as rear 
 guards in r'alling back; The Confederates made a 
 combined charge of infantry and cavalry, but the 
 Union troops, seeing the defense was hopeless, 
 were ordered bj' the commander to "take care of 
 themselves every man." A sad tumult followed, 
 in which every man lost liis horse, and oui- subject 
 saw no more of the beautiful animal to which he 
 had become so much attached, and which had ren- 
 dered him such faithful service. 
 
 Upon the night following this eventful day Mr. 
 Linnabnr3' was the oid}' private ^to report at roll- 
 call. A few hours later, however,]many others came 
 in, while others were captured; some were wounded 
 and many were killed. Upon that day Mr. Linna- 
 bary did some of the fastest running he ever per- 
 formed in all his life, fljdng one and one-half miles 
 at his greatest speed back to the fortifications. 
 Upon the following day they recrossed the river, 
 and going west to Ft. Sanders, engaged the enemy 
 on the 17th and 18tli of November. About 3 
 o'clock in the afternoon of the 18th, after having 
 been with the troops which repulsed the enemy 
 twice, Mr. Linnabary was struck by a minie-ball 
 in his right wrist, whch shattered the arm and 
 muscles from the wrist to the elbow and above. 
 He was taken to liellevue Hospital at Knoxville, 
 and after repeated operations finally suffered ami)u- 
 tation of the arm. He left the hospital Feb. 17, 
 1864, and returned home on a furlough. Subse- 
 quently returning to Columbus, Ohio, he was given 
 his honorable discharge on account of disability. 
 Up to tlie time of being wounded he had never 
 missed a roll call, and he never flinched in his duty 
 in whatever direction it lay, whether fighting the 
 foe on the field of battle or performing service in 
 the camp and on the march. His army record is 
 similar to that of thousands whose deeds will be 
 held in remembrance by a grateful country, and 
 who will be ever recalled to mind as those to whom 
 later generations are indebted for their freedom 
 and prosperity. 
 
 Upon returning home Mr. Linnabary attended 
 
838 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 school for a time, and soon engaged as a teacher in 
 Delaware County. He remained there until after 
 Ills marriage in 1867. His wife was formerly Miss 
 Flora Cockrell, wlio was a native of that county 
 and the daughter of Monroe and Catherine (Fritz) 
 Cockrell, who emigrated to that region during its 
 liioneer days. He remained in Oliio until 1871, 
 then came to Illinois and rented a farm in Young 
 America Townsliip with the intention of following; 
 agricultural pursuits. He and his hrother-in law 
 put in 110 acres of corn that first 3'ear, and Mr. 
 Linnabarj' operated with fair success in this manner 
 until 1876. Then deciding ujion a change, he left 
 the farm and established himself at Hume, where 
 he built and operated the first hotel in the place 
 for Ave years very successfully. Later he engaged 
 in general merchandising and farming in partner- 
 ship with a Mr. Jones, under the firm name of 
 Linnabary Si Jones. After six months he pur- 
 chased the interest of his partner, and conducted 
 the store alone for two years. Then, in August, 
 1883, he sold a half-interest to Mr. Cooper, his 
 l)resent partner. These gentlemen have together 
 built up a satisfactory trade, which is steadily on 
 the increase. They carry a full stock of dry-goods, 
 hardware, tinware, stoves, clothing, hats and caps, 
 boots and shoes, trunks and valises, watches, clocks 
 and jewelry' — in fact everything called for in a 
 country store. 
 
 To Mr. and Mrs. Linnabary there, have been born 
 four children, the eldest of whom, a daughter, 
 Alma D., died in Ohio at the age of three and one- 
 half years; Rose Belle died in Edgar County, III., 
 when two years old. The survivors are Orville 
 George and Louisa C. The family residence is 
 pleasantly situated in the central part of the village, 
 and without any pretensions to elegance it very 
 nearly approaches the ideal home, inasmuch as its 
 its inmates are surrounded with all the comforts of 
 life. Mr. and Mrs. Linnabary are members of the 
 Christian church, to which they contribute a lib- 
 eral support, and our subject was largely instru- 
 tal in the erection of the church edifice. 
 
 In politics JNIr. Linnabary is an uncompromising 
 Democrat. He was ai>pointed Postmaster of Hume" 
 under the ailministration of President Cleveland, 
 holding the position three years, and then resign- 
 
 ing, in June, 1888, on account of ill-health. He 
 has served as Assessor four terms, also as Collector, 
 and has been otherwise prominently identified with 
 local affairs. Socially, he is is a charter member of 
 Hume Lodge No. 725, I. O. O. F. 
 
 There is probably no more popular man in the 
 vicinity of Hume than Mr. Linnabary. Although 
 of slight frame, he has the energy and will-power 
 which has enabled him to accomplish more than 
 many a man of larger stature and stouter muscles. 
 He is recognized at once as a man of culture and 
 refined tastes, and whether in business or social 
 circles, always has the bearing and appearance of a 
 gentleman. 
 
 W7(^ 
 
 (|t_^ENRY M. NOLAN. The subject of this 
 W))- sketch was born in Edgar County, 111., Oct. 
 '.^^ 6,1816. His father, John Nolan, was born 
 (^ July 26, 1820, in Augusta County, Xa.., 
 and when only three months old came with his 
 parents to \'ermillion County, Ind. They crossed 
 the Wabash River at what is now the site of the 
 great city of Terre Haute, then only a corn-field, 
 a cabin and a solitary spring bubbling up in a 
 barrel. Samuel Nolan, the grandfather, entered 
 nearly three sections of Government land in what 
 has since become the townships of Ilelt and Clin- 
 ton, in A'ermillion County, Ind, and Hunter, in 
 this county. At that time the Indians, princi- 
 pally of the Kickapoo tribe, were numerous, and 
 at times troublesome. The dark forests were 
 peopled by the fiercest and wildest wolves. All 
 honor to the brave pioneers who reared homes in 
 this wilderness and braved the dangers of a fron- 
 tier life through a dark and gloomy period, when 
 vigilance was the price of life. Amid such hard- 
 ships and privations, the father grew up to man- 
 hood's estate, and in 1844 was united in marriage 
 to Miss Mary Foltz, who was also a native of 
 Virginia. 
 
 Mrs. Mary (Folz) Nolan was born in Rocking- 
 ham County, on the banks of the beautiful Shen- 
 andoah River, Oct. 23, 1827. AVhen twelve 
 years old she came with her parents to Edgar 
 County, locating first on the north arm, then 
 
PORTRAIT ANJJ lilOGRAPUlCAL ALBUM. 
 
 839 
 
 in Wayne Precinct, afterward Hunter 'r(jwnsliip. 
 Her parents after a few years purcliased a large 
 farm near tlie Indiana Furnace, in N'eriuillion 
 County, and removed thitlier. 
 
 The young- couple built for themselves a home 
 in the northeast corner of Hunter Township, 
 where, in, 1H46, Henry M., the subject of the pres- 
 ent biography, was born. Two sons — Fielden C. 
 and J. Mi)nroe, and two daughters — Lizzie and 
 Lucitta, were afterward added, all of whom are 
 married, except the latter, who lives with the aged 
 mother on the old homestead. The father passed 
 from earth in 1882. 
 
 Henry M. Nolan early manifested a passionate 
 fondness for books. His first opportunites for 
 acquiring knowledge were very meagre. Not until 
 1855 were there any county officers appointed or 
 elected to examine teachers or superintend schools. 
 The earlier generation of teachers in this county 
 were in the main not school teachers, but school 
 keepers, in fact, they were called school "masters," 
 and so they proved to be in the use of the rod. 
 They believed that boys could not be taught with- 
 out whipping, and plenty of it. The old school- 
 house in which he was first taught the "three R's". 
 stood about a mile northwest of Sugar Grove 
 Church, in Bruellett Creek Township. It might 
 be cightfully called a log pen, chinked and daubed 
 and covered with clapboards. The benches were 
 puncheon with rough legs, bored in with a two- 
 inch auger. The fireplace was in one end, and 
 nearly the width of the house. 
 
 At the age of sixteen our subject entered Edgar 
 Academy, at Paris. This was the first High School 
 in the AVabash Valley. It was presided over by 
 Thomas H. Rogers, A. M., a graduate of the Mi- 
 ami University, Oxford, Ohio. At the age of 
 eighteen he taught his first school near Clinton, 
 Ind., afterward studying in the office of the Hon. 
 R. N. Bishop, in Paris. On the 17th of Septem- 
 ber, 1868, he was married to Miss Eliza Gerrish, 
 of Vermillion County, Ind. 
 
 Mrs. Nolan was born in Thetford, Vt., July 21, 
 1849. They are the parents of one child — Ivy E., 
 born Jan. 10, 1872. Mr. Nolan early united with 
 the Methodist Protestant Church, and was licensed 
 to preach in 1876. At an annual conference held 
 
 in Odin, 111., Oct. G, 1877, he was ordained to the 
 reguLar ministry. Failing health from excessive 
 study caused him to abandon continued preaching, 
 and devote himself more exclusively to Sabbath- 
 school work, in which he has been very successful. 
 He has taught^in the public schools of Edgar and 
 X'ermilion comities more than fifteen years. He 
 h.as a nice little farm and a pleasant home in 
 Hunter Township, and by industry and careful 
 management has some money invested in good se- 
 curities. His love of books has led him to collect 
 probably the largest and best library in the county. 
 Ml'. Nolan stands in the front rank as a public 
 orator in this section of the country, and his ser- 
 vices are always in demand at all religious and 
 Sunday-school celebrations and conventions; es- 
 pecially is he in demand as an open air and plat- 
 form speaker. 
 
 \T/ ACOB W. ROBINSON, who was born Feb. 
 21, 1843, in McMinn County, Tenn., is the 
 son of William and Mary (Warren) Robin- 
 i^^^/ son, who were both natives of East Tennes- 
 see. Mr. Robinson is of Irish descent on his fath- 
 er's side. In 1859 Mr. William Robinson removed 
 with liis family to Monroe County, Ky., where he 
 followed the dual occup.ation of farming and black- 
 smithing until the breaking out of the civil war. 
 He was a strong Democrat, but on the general dis- 
 ruption of parties and change of political relations, 
 which that event occasioned, he became affiliated 
 witli the newly formed Republican party, which he 
 continueil to support until his death, which occurred 
 in 1865. During life he was a consistent member of 
 the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which commun- 
 ion his wife also finds her religious home. Mrs. 
 Robinson, the mother of our subject, is still living 
 in Monroe County, Ky., at the venerable age of 
 seventy-eight years. 
 
 The parental family consisted of nine children; 
 Sarah lives in Sumner Count}-, Kan., and is married 
 to Crittendon Chism; Anna, who died in 1865, 
 aged twenty-two yeais; Charles lives in Monroe 
 County, Ky., and is married; Samuel, who died in 
 
840 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 1882; M:ir3-,who also died in 1882; Joiin lives in 
 Southwestern Kansas, and is a farmer. He is married 
 to Armilda C'hisni, and is the father of four chil- 
 dren; William lives in Richardson County, Neb., 
 with his family on a farm. 
 
 Our subject was the recipient of a good educa- 
 tion, having attended both the puLlic schools of 
 his native place, and also was sent to subscription 
 schools in the intervals arising by reason of the 
 short terms of the common school. On the break- 
 ing out of the war he enlisted in the 9th Kentuek}- 
 Infantry, serving three years, and was discharged 
 in the fall of 1864. He participated with credit to 
 himself and honor to his country in the battles of 
 Shiloh, Stone River. Chickamauga, Mission Ridge, 
 and Atlanta. He was married Sept. 11, 1870, at 
 Cherry Point., Edgar Co., to Miss Francis A. Rex- 
 road, daughter of the Rev. Solomon and Mrs. Ag- 
 nes Rexroad, both natives of West ^'irginia. 
 
 Solomon Rexroad was a son of Henr}^ and Cath- 
 erine Rexroad. Mrs. Rexroad's motlier's maiden 
 name was Catherine Drake, daugliter of George 
 and Elizabeth Drake, natives of A'irginia, and who 
 were descendants of the distinguished Sir P>ancis 
 Drake. The Rev. Solomon Rexroad was for thirty 
 j'ears a local preacher in the Methodist Episcopal 
 Church at Cherry Point. He entered the Union 
 army in 1861, serving in the 7th Virginia Infantry 
 in the army of the Potomac. He was mustered out 
 and honorably discharged in 1862. He resided at 
 Cherry Point until his demise, which occurred 
 about two years ago, when he was seventy -six years 
 of age. His widow now makes her home with Mr. 
 and Mrs. Robinson. 
 
 Four years after his marriage Mr. Robinson pur- 
 chased forty acres, which he has since increased to 
 120 acres, this forming his present home place on sec- 
 tion 24, Young America 'J'ownship, Edgar County. 
 A part of his land, however, lies in Ross Township. 
 Mr. and Mrs. Robinson have become the parents of 
 seven children, namely: William S., Mary A , Anna 
 L., Homer W., Francis II., Lucy M., who died in 
 infancy, and Dan Harrison. Mr. Robinson has 
 been Highway Commissioner, School Director and 
 Township Trustee. He is a member of the G. A. 
 R. Post at Ridge Farm. He and his wife are active 
 and efficient members of the Methodist Episcopal 
 
 Church. Mr. Robinson votes the Republican 
 ticket and assists by his influence and his means to 
 elect tlie candidates honored by his chosen party. 
 Mrs. Udliinson is a prominent member of the Wo- 
 man's Relief Corps, and belongs to James Adams 
 Post No. 72 at Cherry Point. She represented her 
 cor|)s in the State convention held at Springfield in 
 18.S8. 
 
 Ml-. Robinson's home is on the line between 
 Young America and Ross townships, part of his 
 farm being in the latter township. Mrs. Robinson 
 is a beautiful and intelligent woman, with a fine, 
 tlioughtful, kindly face. She is an excellent house- 
 wife and a conscientious, Christian woman. Mr. 
 Robinson is a medium sized man, of wiry rather 
 than muscular build, a pleasant talker, and of gen- 
 ial and hospitable disposition. His children are 
 being carefully trained, and his domestic circle is 
 is a happy and harmonious one. Books and papers 
 find ready reading in his home. 
 
 ■JONATHAN T. HALL, M.D., has been a 
 practicing physician in Palermo, Young- 
 America Township, since 1885. He is a 
 young- man who has risen by his own exer- 
 tions, and is destined to occup}' a prominent place 
 in his profession. He is very popular and very 
 successful, and his practice is growing rapidly. 
 He is energetic and determined to keep himself 
 well i)ostcd on all that pertains to his profession, as 
 well as in general matters of interest. From a poor 
 orphan boy he has worked himself upward to his 
 present position in the professional and social world. 
 He has a neat and attractive home in Palermo and 
 an interesting family of boys and girls, to whose 
 training and education he and his excellent wife 
 are devoting- themselves. 
 
 The subject of this notice was born Nov. 5, 
 1851, in Boone County, Ind.,to John A. and Sarah 
 (Burns) Hall, who were natives of Indiana. The 
 paternal grandfather was a native of Mrginia, and 
 lived near Harpers Ferry and was of Scotch- Welsh 
 descent. The mother's parents were natives of 
 Ohio, of Scotch-Irish descent. The father of our 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 841 
 
 subject followed the triple occupation of a caipen- 
 ter, machinist and millrii;lit, and built the first 
 house in Zionsville, His death occurred in 1858. 
 lie survived his wife six years, she having died in 
 March, 1852, when our subject was but four months 
 old. 
 
 The father and motlier of our subject were hotb 
 married twice. The father's first wife was Sarali 
 Burnes, Ijy whom he had two children. Tlic 
 mother's first husband was Mr. McManis, by whom 
 she had three children : Tlu)mas B. McManis, who 
 died in 18«:i, in Indianapolis, Ind., leaving his 
 wife. He was a minister in the Methodist Epis- 
 copal Church, and left five children to mourn his 
 loss. Rachel A. is single and resides in the State of 
 California; John R. resides in the State of Califor- 
 nia as the representative of the Cincinnati Buggy 
 Company. Our subject's own brother, William N. 
 Hall, is a minister of the Methodist Episcopal 
 Ciiurch, and resides with his wife, Catherine N. 
 (Farrow), and two children in Burlington, Iowa. 
 Our subject spent his childiiood and youth under 
 the roof and in the care of his paternal grand- 
 mother, in Boone County, Ind. When he had 
 reached the age of twenty-two, he began the study 
 of medicine in the oflSce of D. N. Walker, 31. D., 
 in Augustine, Marion Co., Ind. After pursu- 
 ing the study of medicine in this office for some 
 time, and feeling the need of a better general edu- 
 cation, he entered the University at Greeneastle, 
 Ind., where by diligent study and correct depcirl- 
 ment he made good progress in securing a liberal 
 education and won the esteem and confidence of 
 his teachers and fellow-students. Subsequently he 
 matriculated at the College of Physicians and Sur- 
 geons in Indianapolis, Ind., where, after pursuing 
 the full course of studies, he graduated with honor. 
 
 In 1876, our subject and Miss Julia Loftin were 
 united in marriage at the home of the bride's 
 parents, in Indianapolis, Ind. Six children have 
 entered their home, named respecti^'cly : Ora L., 
 Pearl, Roy, Payne, Bessie and Harlan. Our sub- 
 ject first began the practice of medicine at Morton, 
 Putnam Co., Ind., and continued there seven ycais, 
 building up a good practice and making many 
 friends. He then removed to Lafayette, Ind., 
 where he resided three years. While there he 
 
 oHiciated as County Health Physician for one year 
 and Countjf .lail Physician one j'car, and then filled 
 the position of T(jwnship Physician for Wabash 
 To'.vnship, continuing in this office one year. In 
 1885, he came to his present home in Palermo, 
 where he has since resided, making many friends 
 and building up an extensive and remunerative 
 practice. He and his amiable and cultivated wife 
 are consistent members and warm supporters of the 
 Methodist Episcopal Church. In politics he is a 
 good Democrat, although not taking any active 
 part in the councils of his party. 
 
 AMUEL SCOTT is one of the substantial 
 farmers of Prairie Township, where he 
 owns and occupies 160 acres of land on 
 section 25. He is a native of the township 
 where he now li\'es, and first saw the light of day 
 April 25, 1846. Here he was reared and received 
 his education. 
 
 His father, William Seott, was born near Mar- 
 tinsville, Morgan Co., Ind., July 25, 1819. The 
 grandfather, Samuel, was a native of Kentucky, and 
 of English descent. When a young man he emi- 
 grated to Indiana and located in Morgan County, 
 wnere ho purchased a tract of land and engaged in 
 agriculture. His original farm was where the 
 town of Martinsville is now situated. About the 
 time that this town was being located the grand- 
 father determined to leave the country, saying he 
 would not live so near a village, and in 1829 he 
 located in Edgar County, buying the most of his 
 land from the Oovernment, and then engaged in 
 stock business. He early conceived the idea of 
 engaging extensively in buying and feeding cat- 
 tle, and driving them through to Chicago, dispos- 
 ing of them at the fort located at that point. TJiis 
 he did, and prospered thereby. He was the only- 
 man in this pijrtion of the country of the early pio- 
 neers who had money, and more than one of the 
 early settlers owe their start in life to him. He 
 was held in high esteem, a fact that will be illus- 
 trated by his being known as "Uncle Sammie." 
 He was the "guide, philosopher and friend" of the 
 
842 
 
 PORTRATT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 early settlers of Edgar County. He resided hi 
 Prairie Township until 1859, when he removed to 
 Ross Township, where he purchased a large tract of 
 land, and at the time of his death was the largest 
 landowner in Edgar County, owning about 3,500 
 acres in this county, and 1 ,000 acres in Kansas. He 
 died while on a visit to his son William, in Prairie 
 Township, in December, 1869. 
 
 The father of the subject of this sketch was a 
 boy of ten years of age when he ^ame to Illinois. 
 He remained at home working (or his father until 
 he became of age, when he turned his entire atten- 
 tion to farming, and he was prospered. He entered 
 and bought land in Prairie Township, and owned 
 about 1,00D acres where the town of Scotland is 
 located. He donated the right of way to the rail- 
 road companj-, and one half of the town site, for 
 the purpose of inducing the railroad to locate the 
 town here. In an early day he was engaged ex- 
 tensively in buying and feeding stock, and driving 
 them to Chicago. He still owns a large block of 
 land in Prairie Township, and in 1881 retired from 
 active life and removed to Paris. He is is an in- 
 fluential member of the Methodist Episcopal 
 Church, and politically, acts with the Democratic 
 party. In 1842 he was married to Elizabeth C. 
 Legate, who was born July 10, 1821, in Ohio. 
 Her father, Robert, was a native of Tennessee, and 
 her grandfather, Capt. John Legate, was born in 
 the North of Ireland, and came to America while a 
 young man and located in Tennessee, later remov- 
 ing to Brown County, Ohio, where he pursued 
 farming. He served in the Revolutionary ^\'ar as 
 a captain under Gen. Marion. Samuel's mother 
 came to Illinois with her stepfather, when she was 
 ten years of age. She died Sept. 28, 1869, leaving 
 ten children: Israel D., Samuel, John M., Robert 
 L., Albert, Lemuel, Rebecca, William M., Norval 
 D., and Franklin. 
 
 Samuel Scott has passed through all the trials of 
 life incident to a pioneer. The school-houses in 
 which he gathered his education were built of logs, 
 the benches and floors of which were made of rude 
 puncheon, and the windows were constructed of 
 oiled paper. The teachers of those days were not 
 of the best, but were employed mainly for their 
 ability to preserve order. When he was twent}'- 
 
 three years of age Mr. Scott went to Terre Haute, 
 and attended a commercial school at that place for 
 two winters. At the conclusion of his stay at that 
 place he rented land and went to farming. Later 
 on he was enabled to purchase eighty acres, which 
 is a part of his present farm. He improved this 
 land, and from the start has been prosperous, until 
 he now owns 120 acres of the best kind of soil, and 
 fully improved. He has a good house, 24x30, and 
 a splendid barn, which is 42x60, and other build- 
 ings to match. His farm is well watered by a 
 creek, and he has also a pond in which he is raising 
 fish. His farm is embellished with nice yards, 
 hedges and large orchards, and everything in con- 
 nection with it denotes thrift. He is engaged in 
 general farming, raising cattle and hogs, buying 
 and feeding them, and ships about three cars a year 
 to the markets. Draft and road horses occupy his 
 attention, and he is a member of the Scotland 
 Horse Companj-, a corporation which deals in im- 
 ported I^nglish sliire liorses. At the head of this 
 stable is the well-known horse Sampson, whose 
 weight is 1,900 pounds, and is said to be one of 
 the very best ever brought across the water. He 
 also raises mules. 
 
 On Aug. 14, 1870, Mr. Scott married Miss Lu- 
 cretia A., daughter of Manoah Jennings, a well-to- 
 do farmer of Prairie Township, and one of the old 
 settlers. Mrs. Scott's mother was Elizabeth Roney, 
 who was born in Brown County, Ohio. Lucretia 
 was born in Prairie Township, and she is the mother 
 of three children — Otto Raj inon, Ora Delle, and 
 Olma Noah. Mr. Scott takes great interest in 
 educational affairs, and has been a School Trustee 
 for three years, and he has also held the office of 
 Assessor. He votes with tlie Democratic party, 
 and has served on its central committee. 
 
 ^^NEAL MORRIS. It is acknowledged by all 
 (( ll "''*"' have an\' acquaintance with the history 
 ^^Jf of Ohio that it is settled up by the most in- 
 telligent people who in the early part of the nine 
 teenth century ventured on the frontier. To tliem 
 is due the high position which it holds to day 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 843 
 
 among the Western States — a position wliicli is dis- 
 tinguisherl by wealth, education and those elements 
 which have established churches, schools and col- 
 leges and sent abroad, mostly to the westward, a 
 people who have surel}' left their footprints on the 
 the sands of time. 
 
 Among the early pioneers of the Buckeye State 
 were the ancestoi-s of our suliject, offshoots of the 
 Morris family which is believed to have originated 
 in Ireland. A portion of them settled in Pickaway 
 Coiint}^ and among them is the grandfather of our 
 subject who reared a fine family of children. One 
 of the sons, Henry, the father of our subject, was 
 born in Picltaway County, where he grew up amid 
 the wild scenes of pioneer life and chose for his 
 wife one of the maidens of that region, Miss 
 Charity Shelby, who was born and reared not far 
 from the home of her husband. 
 
 Ezerial Morris, the paternal grandfather of our 
 subject was a native of Pennsylvania whence he 
 emigrated to Ohio while it was still a territory, 
 and prior to the Revolutionary War. 
 
 True to the instincts of patriotism born in him, 
 he laid aside liis personal interests, and shouldering 
 his musket, marched to the relief of the colonists, 
 beino' under the immediate command of Gen. 
 AVashington. He lived tii see the triumph of free- 
 dom and independence, and it is supposed followed 
 agriculture the balance of his days. On the 
 mother's siile grandfather David Shelby was also a 
 pioneer of Ohio, settling like the Morris family, in 
 Pickaway County, where he lived many years and 
 there passed to his final rest. 
 
 The father of our stibject spent his entire life on 
 the farm where he was born, with the exception of 
 the time in which he served in the AVar of 1H12. 
 In that struggle he was under the command of 
 Gen. Harrison and alwaj's maintained a pard(jnable 
 pride in the fact that he was permitted to enjoy the 
 personal acquaintance of the hero of Tippecanoe. 
 To him and his excellent wife there were born nine 
 children who were carefully trained in the doc- 
 trines of the United Brethren Church to which tiie 
 parents religiously adhered until departing hence. 
 Six of their children are living and residents of 
 Illinois and Kansas. 
 
 The subject of this sketch was born in Pickaway 
 
 County, Ohio, Sept. 18, 1826, and passed his boj^- 
 hood uneventfully upon a farm. He attended the 
 district school mostly in the winter season and in 
 the seasons of sowing and reaping, made himself 
 useful with the other children of the parental 
 family. Upon reaching manhood his chief ambi- 
 tion was to establish a home of his own and he was 
 married May 20, 1830 to one of the most attractive 
 maidens of his neighborhood, Miss Susannah Rudy. 
 This lady was the daughter of Henry and Elizabeth 
 Rudy, who were natives, likewise, of Pickaway 
 County, Ohio. The yOung people, in the fall of 
 1855 concluded to seek their fortunes in what was 
 then the far West, and coming to Edgar County, 
 111., located in Paris Township where Mr. Morris 
 purchased 320 acres of wild prairie land. 
 
 The task of bringing the new farm to a state of 
 cultivation, making fences, erecting buildings, 
 planting, sowing and gathering in the harvests 
 each season, was by no means a light one, but it 
 was undertaken by a man possessed of more than 
 ordinary courage and persistence. These carefully 
 exercised, together with great economy and good 
 man.agement, in due time brought their legitimate 
 results and in time i\Ir. Morris was in possession of 
 one of the most valuable farms of the township, 
 the land bi'ought to a high state of cultivation and 
 the building and other appurtenances all that could 
 reasonably be required by the progressive and en- 
 terprisiiig .agriculturist. This farm, however, was 
 abondoned by our subject about twelve years ao-o 
 when he sold out and came to that which he now 
 occupies. Here he has 4 10 acres, with a fine, laroe, 
 elegantly furnished house, two large barns and 
 other outbuildings, the most approved modern 
 machinery and a goodly assortment of live stock. 
 
 When Mr. Jlorris came to this latter farm there 
 was much to be accomplished in order to carrv out 
 his ideas and make a home in accordance with his 
 dcsii'cs. It has taken no small outlay of time and 
 money, and he now has a homestead which invari- 
 bly attracts the attention of the passerby- and forms 
 one of the most pleasing pictures in the landscape 
 of that region. 
 
 Six children came to bless the union of our sub- 
 ject and his estimable wife, the eldest of whom, a 
 daughter, Eveline, is the wife of Hiram Perisho 
 
8U 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BTOGRAPIIICAL ALBUM. 
 
 and tliey live on the home fium. Henry R. lives 
 in Kansas; Elizabeth, Mrs. .Tolin Henry, is a resi- 
 dent of Paris Township; Martin L., in Paris Town- 
 ship; John W., in Paris Township, and Anna B., at 
 home. Mrs. Morris, a lady held in high esteem in 
 her own community, is a prominent member of the 
 Lutheraji Church. Our subject, politically, is a 
 staunch supporter of the Democratic party, but his 
 private interests are too weighty to allow him time 
 to run after office. For more than thirty years he 
 has made a specialty of stock-raising, which in- 
 dustry has been largely the secret of his wealth 
 and success. He buys and feeds usually about 160 
 cattle per year and large numbers of swine. The 
 farm is chieflj^ devoted to grazing, and the green 
 fields with their broad pastures and fat herds present 
 a most delightful picture to contemplate. 
 
 The parents of Mrs. Morris had a family of 
 eight children, all of whom lived to mature years. 
 Four are now living and residents mostly of Ten- 
 nessee and Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Rudy spent their 
 last years in Ohio. 
 
 * ACOB ZIMMERLY. The Zimmerly home- 
 stead, finely located on section 33, Sims 
 Township, forms one of its most prominent 
 features of interest, and is readily recog- 
 nized as the home of an enterprising and progress- 
 ive citizen. It is embellished with a tasteful and 
 commodious brick residence, a substantial barn 
 and the various otiier outbuildings essential in the 
 operations of the farm, while there are forest and 
 fruit trees, a goodly assortment of live-stock, and 
 the machinery necessary for successful agriculture. 
 The proprietor of this charming retreat is one of 
 the most prominent men of his township, a man 
 who has occupied many positions of trust and re- 
 sponsibility, and who riglitly esteems it no small 
 honor that he has been elected and re-elected to tlie 
 various offices within the gift of his fellow-citizens. 
 Honest and upright, capable, intelligent, and pro- 
 gressive in his ideas, he has borne no unimportant 
 part in bringing his community to its present con- 
 
 dition in point of morality, education, and those 
 elements which form the basis of good society. 
 
 A native of Edgar County, 111., Mr. Zimmerly 
 was born in this township, July 10, 1834, received 
 his early education in the district school, and re- 
 mained at home with his parents until reaching 
 manhood. His father, Isaac Zimmerly, was born in 
 A'irginia, and emigrated to Illinois in 1 829, locating 
 at once. In this township he was married later to 
 Miss Susan Zink, who was born in Kentucky, and 
 came with her father, Daniel Zink, to this county 
 during its earliest settlement. Later they were 
 joined by her paternal grandparents, the latter 
 spending their last days here. 
 
 The parents of our subject reared their family of 
 six children in Sims Township, of whom Jacob 
 was the second born. Both were members of the 
 Methodist Episcopal Church. The father entered 
 his first farm in the timber, where he put up a log 
 cabin and cleared the land, being very successful 
 and accumidating a good property. He gave to 
 each of his children a farm, and reserved for him- 
 self 240 acres of land. This was divided after his 
 death, which occurred in 1682. The mother died 
 in 1874. 
 
 The subject of this notice chose farming for his 
 life occupation, and was married in June, 1855, to 
 Miss Eveline, daughter of Harmon and Delilah 
 (Easton) Gregg. This union resulted in the birth 
 of ten children, two of whom, John William, and 
 Thomas B., died in infancy. The survivors are 
 Dora, the wife of J. B. Frazier; Isaac IL, Mary S., 
 Mrs. John W. Laughlin, George E., Jacob G., 
 Lilly Eveline, Charles F..and Daniel A. Mr. Zira- 
 merlj' in the fall of 1886 was appointed to fill the 
 unexpired term of K. Laufmann, as Supervisor, 
 and was re-elected to the office in the spring of 
 1887-88-89. These successive re-elections are am- 
 ple illustrations of his standing in this community'. 
 
 The farm of our subject embraces 390 acres of 
 choice land which has been brought to a high state 
 of cultivation. He also has a fine timber tract. 
 Formerly for a number of years he engaged quite 
 extensively as a stock dealer, but has practically 
 abandoned this business as it became unprofitable. 
 Both Mr. and Mrs. Zimmerly are members of the 
 Christian Church, and our subject, politically, votes 
 

I'ORTIIAIT AND BIOCRAPIIICAL ALBUM. 
 
 847 
 
 the straight Democratic ticket. He has been iden- 
 tifier! with the Masonic fraternity many years, and 
 at the present time is a member of Prairie Lodge 
 at Paris. 
 
 ^A/wv-^acans-S©' 
 
 i^f^S/zrzrairv— w^ 
 
 S|^ of 307 acres belonging to tlie subject of 
 this notice, is one which reflects great credit 
 upon his industry and good judgment, 
 comprising as it does one of tlie best regulated 
 homesteads in Stratton Township. It came into 
 his possession when a wild and uncultivated tract, 
 and has been transformed by him into a marvel of 
 beauty and fertility. In connection with its cul- 
 tivation he raises live stock in large numbers each 
 year, besides grain and other produce, and also 
 operates a steam sawmill which stands convenient 
 to the residence. 
 
 Mr. Allen has for many years been one of the 
 leading men of his township, holding the offices of 
 Justice of the Peace, School Treasurer and Super- 
 visor, aud has always maintained a warm interest 
 in educational matters, serving as School Director 
 in addition to his other duties. In politics, he is 
 a pronounced Republican, as likewise are his boys, 
 and socially, he belongs to the I. O. O. F. and the 
 Good Templars, being in the latter a member of 
 Lodge No. 662 al A'ermillion. In religion he is a 
 Universalist, and one of the Ti-usteesof that church 
 in A'erraillion. 
 
 In reverting to the ancestry of our subject «e 
 find that his father, Benjamin Allen, Sr., was born 
 in Pennsylvania, but when quite young removed 
 with his parents to Kentucky, they settling in 
 Meade County. He attended school there uiiLiI 
 the War of 1812, then enlisted in the army, but 
 owing to pressing business matters sent a subsf ilute 
 instead of serving. Meanwhile he occupied hiiii.self 
 as a farmer and trader and owned a number of 
 slaves. He transacted a large amount of business 
 in New Orleans, traveling on foot to and from there. 
 and finally became the principal stockholder in the 
 first steamer that was fjut on the river between Lou- 
 isville and the Crescent City. He mannged success- 
 
 fully for many years, and it, in connection with 
 the operation of his plantation of 640 acres, con- 
 spired to make him a very wealthy man for those 
 days, being worth 130,000. 
 
 Mrs. Mar}' (Ross) Allen, the mother of our sub- 
 ject, gave birth to the first white child born in 
 Meade County, Ky., and in all was the mother of 
 seven children. The eldest boy, Marshall, after 
 reaching years of maturitj'-, disappeared from the 
 sight of his family, who never learned his fate; 
 James died when about sixty years old; Hardin C. 
 died in Kansas some years ago; Benjamin, Jr., our 
 subject, was the next in order of birth; Delilah H. 
 lives in Kentucky; Sarah is dead; Mary died in 
 childhood. The family came to this county in 
 1825, and here the parents spent their last days. 
 Their remains were laid to rest in Blackburn Ceme- 
 tery in Stratton Township. 
 
 The subject of this notice was born in Meade 
 County, Ky., .lune 13, 1814, and lived tliere until 
 a youth of eleven years, at which time his parents 
 came to this county. He assisted his father in de- 
 veloping the new farm, breaking the sod around 
 the stumps of the newly cut trees, and performing 
 the various other labors incident to life on the 
 frontier. He was one of the early wolf scalpers of 
 this county. He was occupied in different ways 
 until nineteen years old, then began flat-boating, 
 running South more or less until 1850. In that 
 year he was married to IMiss Nancy II. Hudson, a 
 ■native of Tennessee and who died in 1865. (Jf 
 this union there were born eight children: Charles 
 A. is married and living in Gallon, Ohio, where he 
 is superintendent of railway construction ; Alonso 
 S. was killed liy an explosion on the railroad; 
 Luella is the wife of William Lee, who is engaged 
 in the lumber business near Puget Sound, in Wash- 
 ington; Delia Is tlie wife of Thomas . I. Crawford, 
 and they live in \'ermillion \'illage, this State; 
 Emma is the wife of Benjamin Morton, of El- 
 bridge Township; Benjamin W. is engaged in 
 business connected with the river and harbor, and 
 lives in Tennessee; Sarah died in infancy; Jennie 
 H. is a resident of Chicago. 
 
 The present wife of our subject, to whom he 
 was married in 1866, was formerly Miss Mary Ap- 
 pleby, a native of Indiana. This uir.on resulted in 
 
848 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 the birth of six children, namely: P^dward G., 
 Artie, Jesse B., Essie M., Freddie and Allen A., 
 who are at home with their parents. A fine por- 
 trait of Mr. Allen will be found on another page of 
 this volume. 
 
 '^^Bi- 
 
 ^1, LEXANDER BALDWIN. The splendid 
 IM farm of 600 acres wiiich for man}^ years has 
 
 been familiarly known as the"Bald win home- 
 stead," was during the early settlement of 
 this county an open, bleak prairie, and the father of 
 our subject was the first to take possession of a 
 portion of the land and begin the opening up of a 
 farm. Alanson Baldwin was a man of more than 
 ordinarily excellent qualities of character and pos- 
 sessed the sturdy perseverance which was necessary 
 at that day for those who would win in their bat- 
 tle with the elements of a new country. He labored 
 long and to excellent purpose, and was not only 
 successful financially, but was a man beloved b}' the 
 entire community. Although not a member of 
 an}' religious organization, he was liberal to the 
 church, kind to the poor, and at his decease, in 
 1874, scores of people in this county felt that they 
 had lost their best friend. 
 
 Alanson Baldwin was born in Green County, 
 N. Y., and there received a common-school educa- 
 tion and developed into manhood. He then came 
 West with his parents, -Joseph and Sarah Baldwin, 
 stopping at Evansville, Ind., where the father died 
 about eighteen months later. The widow sojourned 
 there with her children until they had arrived at 
 mature years and were married. She spent her last 
 days at Newburg, Ind. In 1830 the father of our 
 subject emigrated to this county and entered a tract 
 of land, beginning at once its improvement and 
 cultivation. In due time he made the acquaint- 
 ance of Miss L. Sophia, daughter of Alexander 
 and Lucy (McCoUoch) Conke}', and the mutual 
 attachment which followed resulted in their mar- 
 riage in 1832. 
 
 The young people began the journey of life 
 toi'cther at the village of Baldwinsvillc where the 
 father of our subject engaged in the mercantile 
 business in company with (iyv. Whitcomc of Indi- 
 
 ana, their store being the first establishment of the 
 kind in this part of the county. They carried on 
 business successfully until 1861, in the meantime 
 obtaining their supplies in the grocery line from 
 New Orleans and their dry goods and hardware 
 from Pittsburg and New York City. Some times 
 they would be obliged to have their goods unloaded 
 from the boat at Evansville and hauled thence 
 overland b}- team. Some years prior to 1861 Mr. 
 Whitcome retired from the firm and the business 
 was conducted by Mr. Baldwin alone until 1861, 
 when he decided to turn his attention to the im- 
 provement of his land and- took possession of it. 
 
 The father of our subject was a man of un- 
 bounded energy and his labors in due time met 
 with their legitimate reward. He gradually added 
 to his real estate until, at the time of his death, he 
 owned nearly 1,000 acres of land. Liberal and pub- 
 lic spirited, he was ever willing to give of his time 
 and means in the furtherance of those enterprises 
 calculated for the general good. The village of 
 Baldwinsvillc was named in his honor and he was 
 the first Postmaster, holding the office for the long 
 period of nearly thirty years. He had come to 
 this county poor in purse and his career illustrates 
 in a marvelous manner the results of industry and 
 perseverance. Not only was he successful finan- 
 cially, but he made for himself a record which may 
 ever be looked upon with pride by his descendants. 
 
 To Alanson Baldwin and his estimable wife 
 there were born four children : Emeline, now the 
 widow of William R. Nofsinger and a resident of 
 Kansas City, Mo. ; Alexander, our subject; Julia, 
 Mrs. F. D. Nofsinger, of Kansas City, and Charles 
 J., who died at the age of eighteen years. The 
 kind and indulgent husband, the revered father 
 and the good citizen, Alanson Baldwin, departed 
 this life Oct. 14, 1874, at the age of seventy-four 
 years. His widow is still living at the old home- 
 stead where she hopes to spend the remainder of 
 her days. She was born in Franklin County, 
 Mass., December, 1815, of which State her parents 
 were also natives and where they were reared and 
 married. They had a family of four children of 
 whom Mrs. Baldwin was next to the youngest. 
 Their journey from the Bay State to the Far West 
 was made after the primitive fashion of those days. 
 
1»0RTEA1T AND BIOGRAPIirCAL ALBUM. 
 
 849 
 
 they going to Buffalo, N. Y., by canal, thence by 
 lake to Toledo, Ohio, and from there down the 
 Wabash River on a keel boat landing at Durgey's 
 Ferry, Ind. Thence they came by team overland 
 to Hunter Township, this county, where the par- 
 ents of Mrs. Baldwin spent their last days. 
 
 Alexander Baldwin was reared after the manner 
 of the sons of pioneer farmers, acquiring his edu- 
 cation in the district school and the schools of 
 Paris. He was with his father in the store a large 
 part of the time vintil it was disposed of, tlien 
 going to Indianapolis' was engaged as head book- 
 keeper and later as teller in a bank. From that 
 place he emigrated to Kansas City, JMo., where he 
 spent five years engaged in pork and beef packing. 
 After his father's death he was called home to as- 
 sist in the settlement of the estate, and has since 
 continued here, managing the farm and property 
 and attending to the comforts of his aged mother. 
 The residence is a large, commodious brick struc- 
 ture, surrounded by fruit and shade trees, and con- 
 spicuous by the air of plenty and comfort whicli is 
 the usual accompaniment of the well regulated 
 country homestead. In the rear are the barns and 
 other outbuildings, arai)ly adapted to the slielter 
 of stock and the storage of grain. The home- 
 stead stands as a monument to the industrj^ and 
 perseverance of him who established it, and, it is 
 to he hoped, will remain in the family for gen(Ma- 
 tions to come. 
 
 W: 
 
 <|\ j^ILLIAM M. VAN HOUTIN. The gen- 
 ial disposition and more than ordinary 
 itelligence of this gentleman have con- 
 spired to make him one of the most popular men 
 in Edgar Township. He pursues his way quietly 
 and unostentatiously, engaged in agricultural pur- 
 suits, on a good farm of eighty acres occupying a 
 portion of section 33. Without making any pre- 
 tentions to elegance he and his family live com- 
 fortably, give a portion of their time to the culti- 
 vation of their minds and manage to extract a 
 large portion of good from life. 
 
 The subject of this sketch is a lifelong resident 
 
 of Eldgar Count}' and has spent the most of bis 
 days near the place of his birth which occurred 
 in Stratton Township, Sept. 29, 1831. His boj^- 
 hood and yonth were spent in a comparatively une- 
 ventful manner, amid the quiet scenes of rural 
 life, while he acquired a practical education in the 
 common schools. His first lessons were pursued in 
 a log house with greased paper for window panes, 
 a floor of puncheon, the seats and desks of slabs 
 and the chimney built outside of earth and sticks. 
 His recreations consisted of fox, coon, wolf 
 and deer hunts, and of the latter he has seen as 
 many as twenty-five in one drove. He grew up 
 like his companions healthy in mind and body and 
 chose farming for his future calling. He distinctly 
 remembers the advent of matches and stoves in 
 this county. 
 
 At the age of twenty years young Van Houtin, 
 in 1851, entered from the (Jovernment eighty acres 
 of land which constitutes his present homestead, 
 lie spent his time upon this thereafter during the 
 summer seasons until his marriage, and in the winter 
 developed his talent for vocal music and engaged 
 successfully as a teacher for fourteen seasons in 
 succession, adopting the Harrison S3'stem at first 
 and then the Haydon. He was thus occupied in 
 Vermillion, A'igo and Parke counties, Ind., and in 
 Edgar, Coles, Jasper, Douglas, Moultrie, Macon, 
 Christian and Clark counties, 111. 
 
 Our subject finally determined to establish a 
 fireside of his own and on the 8th of November, 
 1860, was united in marriage with Miss Sarah, 
 daughter of William T. Sims, a well-to-do farmer 
 of Sims Township and the owner of the old home- 
 stead comprising 300 acres of land. The young 
 people commenced their wedded life together at 
 their own liome and our subject proceeded with 
 the improvements, breaking the soil with oxen, 
 setting out forest, fruit trees and hedges, and at 
 first devoting the land mostly to the raising of 
 grain. He also raises live stock on a small scale, 
 cattle, horses and swine. He uses two teams in 
 the operation of his farm. He takes time to keep 
 himself posted upon the leading events of the day 
 and gives his unqualified support to the Republican 
 party. 
 
 The father of our subject was Capt. Benjamin 
 
850 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 Van Houtin -who was born in New Jersey in 1801. 
 The paternal grand father, AVilliam \'an Hontin, 
 was anew Jersey farmer in moderate circunistances, 
 but left tliat State in 1818 and settled at iVIerrim, 
 Ind. Tlie year following, however, lie pushed on 
 farther westward to Edgar County, 111., locating in 
 Stratton Township, his being the ninth family to 
 settle there. He entered land from tiie Govoin- 
 ment, 160 acres, and tliere spent the remainder of 
 his days occupied in farming. He traced his an- 
 cestry to Holland and possessed the substantial 
 traits belonging to that nationality. Two of his 
 sons served in the Black Hawk War. 
 
 The father of our subject was a yoitli of seven- 
 teen years when he left New Jersey with the family. 
 In the meantime he had learned the trade of a tan- 
 ner. The journey westward was full of interest 
 to him, a part of it being ])erformed by boat on 
 the Ohio River and after coming to Illinois he en- 
 tered 200 acres of land in Stratton Township. lie 
 was successful as a tiller of the soil and made a 
 specialty of stock-raising. He also added to his 
 income by teaming to Chicago. He erected a tan- 
 nery on a small scale on his place which he oper- 
 ated for several years and at one time was tlie 
 owner of 3G0 acres of land. lie sold 160 of this 
 and has now the farm of 200 acres where he re- 
 sides. In 1886 Mr. Van Houtiii received a [laral- 
 ytic stroke and is in consequence much of the tin)e 
 confined l(j the house. He has arrived at the ad- 
 vanced age of eighty-eight years, ^^'hen reaching 
 his raajoritj' he identified himself with the olil 
 Whig party and is now an ardent Republican, 
 thoroughly believing in its principles. He united 
 with the Christian Church in Little (Jrove many 
 years age. In 1H50 he joined a company of pros- 
 pectors bound for California with cattle, and of 
 which company he was made the Captain. They 
 were six months reaching their destination and 
 Mr. ^'an Houtin remained there until the spring of 
 l«.'jl engaged in mining. He returned by way of 
 the Isthmus. At one time he was Captain of a 
 company of Illinois State Militia. 
 
 The maiden name of the mother of our subject 
 was Hannah Morrison. She was born in 1807 in 
 Kentucky where (Grandfather Morrison carried on 
 farming and s[ient his Inst days. After his decease 
 
 his wife Mary (Williams) Morrison came in 1821 
 with her family to Illinois and entered land in 
 Stratton Township. She superintended her farming 
 o|)erations successfully until her death. The nine 
 children of the parental family were named respect- 
 ively, David K., now a resident of Goshen, Ind.; 
 William M., our subject; Mary and Benjamin, de- 
 ceased : James and John who are residing in Strat- 
 ton Township; Catherine, of Kirksville, Mo.; 
 Euphemis, of Stratton Township; and Sarepta, 
 of Clark County, this State. James during the 
 late war enlisted, in the fall of 1861, in the 7th 
 Illinois Cavalry and served until the close of the 
 war receiving a gunshot wound through his finger, 
 but otherwise escaped unharmed. John enlisted 
 that same j'ear in the First ^lissouri Engineer 
 Cor[)s and served until the close of the war. 
 
 Hall Sims, the paternal grandfather of i\Irs. Van 
 Houtin was a pioneer of 1820 after whom Sims 
 Township was ]iamed. He served in the Black 
 Hawk War and made for himself a good record 
 both as a soldier and a citizen. His son's wife, 
 formerlj' MargaVet Zimmerlj^, was born in Ken- 
 tucky. Our subject and wife are the parents of ten 
 children. The eldest daughter, Agnes, is the wife 
 of Walter Van Sickle and resides on a farm near 
 Horace. William is farming in Stratton Township 
 and Benjamin carries on agriculture in the vicinity 
 of Shiloh. IMargaret, A. D., Addie, Jennie, Mar}' 
 and Laura are .at home with their parents; they are 
 all remarkably intelligent and improved their 
 school days to such good advantage that the}' are 
 well educated. Miss Jennie is especiallj' briglit 
 and always maintained her place at the head of her 
 class. The wife and mother departed this life 
 Feb. 18, 1882 and the household is presided over 
 by the daughter, M.argarefc. 
 
 Mr. Van Houtin, politically, is a sound Republi- 
 can and takes a warm interest in the success of the 
 Ijrinciples of his iiarty. He has l>ecn quite active 
 in politics and is frequently sent as a delegate to 
 the county conventions. He serves occasionally 
 on the grand and petit juries and has been a School 
 Director in his district for sixteen 3-ears. He at- 
 tends religious services at the Christian Church at 
 Maple Grove, with which he is identified in member- 
 ship, assisted liberally in the erection of a Church edi- 
 
I'ORTRAIT AN!) 15I0( ! RAl'IlICAF. ALBUINI. 
 
 851 
 
 W 
 
 flee and has been Suporintcndent of Sunday -sehools. 
 It will thus be seen that he is a most useful man in 
 iiis community and only seeks for his reward in tiie 
 approval of his own conscience and the friendship 
 of his fellow men. 
 
 |()riN W. !\1A.]0RS was born Dec. 5, IHOl, 
 ! in Morgan County, Ind., to Caldwell and 
 Mary Majors, natives of Kentucky; the 
 mother's maiden name was Mary Miller, a 
 daugiiterof John Miller. The father of our subject 
 (vas a tiller of the soil, following that occupation 
 in Kentucky for several years. When a young 
 child he had the misfortune to lose both of his 
 parents. lie was then taken charge of by an uncle 
 living in Kentucky ,where he was kindly and tenderly 
 reared, obtaining a liberal and practical education. 
 His marriage occurred in lirown County, Ky., and 
 the union resulted in the birth of seven children — 
 Mary Ellen, Martha, John W., our subject; Will- 
 iam, Oliver, Eva and Cora. Mary Ellen died in 
 1884; she was the wife of Samuel Downey, whose 
 home was in Terre Haute. Mr. Downey was a 
 farmer and commercial traveler. Martha is mar- 
 ried to Millward Sanders, a farmer who lives in 
 Young America Township; William died in boy- 
 hood at the age of six years; Oliver married Miss 
 Ruth Brown, lie is a farmer and resides witli his 
 family in Clark County, 111.; Eva is single and 
 makes her home with Mrs. Sanders; Cora died 
 twelve years ago at the tender age of five years. 
 The parents of our subject removoil from their 
 home in Kentucky to Indiana where the.y remained 
 until he was ten years of age. They then changed 
 their abode to Eilgar County, 111., and settled in 
 Shiloh Township on a farm which they rented from 
 one of the large proprietors in the vicinity. After 
 two years they again removed, locating this time 
 in Young America Township, where after one short 
 year's residence they went back to Indiana, locat- 
 ing six miles south of Terre Haute. After travel- 
 ing along life's pathway until middle age was 
 reached, the mother of our subject quietly fell 
 asleep to take up the tangled thread of existence in 
 
 another and better world. Subsequently the father 
 of our subject took to himself another helpmate 
 who bore the bil)lical name of Leah. 
 
 When our subject had arrived at the age of 
 twenty-one 3'ear.s he started out in trie world to do 
 for himself, and located on Gossett'.s place in 
 Young America Township, where he worked twelve 
 months. He then rinited 160 acres of land in 
 Shiloh Township, living on it one year. His next 
 move was to secure 200 acres from his brother-in- 
 law, Martin Mann, which he rented and made it 
 his home for one season. He is now and had been 
 for two years [irevious in charge of 2,400 acres 
 of land owned b}' .lames Gaines. It is a stock 
 farm, 160 acres being under cultivation in the 
 [troducts of wliieli he has a share. Besides having 
 a comfortable and pleasant liinne he receives $365 
 per j'ear for superintending the management of 
 this extensive place. His intelligence, discretion 
 and nerve are frequently' taxed to the utmost in 
 conducting the oiierations required to successfully 
 handle the large number of cattle under his con- 
 trol. The slock on the place numbers from 500 to 
 700 head all of which he has constantly under his 
 charge. 
 
 Our subject and Miss Lucinda Cosset, a daughter 
 of J. B. and A. M. Gc.issett, were married at the 
 elegant residence of Mr. Gossett, Sept. 8, 1885. 
 The parents of Mrs. Majors are natives of Ohio. 
 Four children have come to brighten the cozy 
 home of our subject and his amialile wife. The 
 eldest, Owen and Ethel were twins, but to the great 
 o-rief of their parents little Ethel was claimed by 
 the pale messenger from the other world, and, 
 grieving sorely, the parents laid her little body to 
 rest under the sod. The flowers also bloom above 
 another grave, of a little one who died in early in- 
 fancy. The third child, Orian, remains to fill their 
 home with its childish prattle and innocent joys. 
 
 Mr. Majors is a member of Palermo Lodge, No. 
 646, I. O. 0. F. He and his wife are members 
 and devoted, active workers in the Methodist 
 Episcopal Church. Politically Mr. Majors is 
 allied with the Democratic party, but has never 
 sought or accepted an office, believing liis talents 
 and influence can be more usefully emploj'cd in the 
 walks of private life. Mr. Majors is a tall, rather 
 
Sl>2 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 slenderly built man, giving the impression of 
 strength and endurance. Ills blue eyes are calm 
 or siiarkle as necessity or occasion requires. In 
 social life he is genial and companionable, making 
 many friends; in business is energetic, industrious 
 and intelligent and is destined to become a solid, 
 prosperous farmer and an influential citizen. Our 
 subject's father's name was Caldwell Majors, and 
 his grandfather's name Isaiah Majors; his grand- 
 mother's name was Elizabeth Majors. 
 
 R. CHRISTOPHER C. BATES. This gen- 
 tloraan is a successful, practicing physi- 
 cian, and a popular and respected citizen 
 of the village of jAIetcalf. Tall in stature, 
 of spare build and feature, he carries about him 
 the air of culture and education. His face has a 
 thoughtful, sincere and sympathetic expression, and 
 one can easily see that behind the physician there 
 is a man keenly sensitive to human suffering and 
 animated by the most kindly and humane impulses. 
 He is not an aggressive man, but rather one who 
 entrenches himself slowly but surely in the confi- 
 dence of his fellow-men; in other words, he wears 
 well and wins lasting friends. He is quiet, studi- 
 ous, unostentatious and attentive to the duties of 
 his calling. A Kentuckian born, he carries himself 
 with ease and grace in the presence of friends or 
 strangers, and the latter never fail to be favorably 
 impressed with him. 
 
 Dr. Bates was born near Louisville, Ky., June 7, 
 1848, and is consequently but a little more than 
 forty-one years of age. He is the son of William 
 C. and Eliza Jane Bates, the former a native of 
 Kentucky, and the latter of Mrginia. His parental 
 grandfather, John Bates, was born in Pennsyl- 
 vania, and was of German ancestry. The mother 
 of our subject was the daughter of Hugh Hall, of 
 English descent. His father was one of eleven chil- 
 (jven — Joseph, George, David, James, John, Heriry, 
 Washington, Levi, William, Matilda, and Rose 
 Ann, With the exception of Washington and Will- 
 iam C, the father of our subject, all are deceased. 
 These two brothers are farmers, and reside in Jeffer- 
 
 son County, Ky. William C. and his wife belong 
 to the Presbyterian Church, and he is a Democrat 
 in politics. The mother was one of a family of ten 
 children, viz: Jacob, Clayborn, John, Hugh, An- 
 drew, Clark, Westley, Elizabeth N., Eliza Jane, and 
 Anna F. The two last mentioned are the only sur- 
 vivors. 
 
 The subject of this sketch was the eldest of nine 
 children comprising the family of his parents. 
 Cassner, the second born, remains a resident of his 
 native State of Kentucky, where he was married, 
 and has become the father of two children; Fran- 
 cis, unmarried, is living with his brother, Joseph, 
 who is a druggist at Lawrence, Kan.; he has a wife 
 and two children ; Martha is the wife of Clifton 
 Beach, a druggist of Allegheny City, Pa., and they 
 have four children; Mary A. is unmarried and 
 lives with her parents in Jefferson County, Ky. 
 
 As a youth. Dr. Bates received a common-school 
 education. After a preliminary course of reading, 
 he entered the Kentucky school of medicine at 
 Louisville, from which be was graduated at the age 
 of twenty-one. Immediately afterward he began 
 the practice of his profession at Hartford, Ind., but 
 a year later returned to his native county in Ken- 
 tucky, and practiced one year near his old home. 
 In 1872, seeking the West again, he came to Illi- 
 nois and settled in Cfarksville, Clark County. Here 
 he practiced until 1886, ttien removed to Terre 
 Haute. After a residence there of nine months, he 
 established himself at Dudlej^, Edgar County. Two 
 j'ears later he made another removal, and settled 
 this time in Metealf, where he is now enjoying a 
 growing and lucrative practice. 
 
 Dr. Bates was married at Paris, III., Oct. 1 2, 
 1876, to Miss Luella, daughter of Madison and 
 Maria Gordon. The parents of Sirs, Bates were 
 natives of Edgar County, 111., and of English an- 
 cestry, as was also his excellent wife. Mr. Gordon 
 for a number of years was engaged in mercantile 
 business in Paris, and is now running a chair fac- 
 tory. The Doctor and his wife are the parents of 
 four children — Charles, William M., Harry G., and 
 Edgar, the latter of whom died in infancy. 
 
 During the period of his residence in Clark 
 County, Dr. Bates held the office of Township 
 Trustee nine years, and was Township Supervisor 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 853 
 
 one year. He still retains his membership in Clarks- 
 ville Lodge No. 713, I. O. O. F. Mr. and Mrs. 
 Bates are members of the Mi^^thodist Episcoiial 
 Church, and active participants iu church worlc. 
 Though not a demonstrative man, Dr. Bates firmly 
 and unflinching!}' adheres to his political principles, 
 and like his honored father, is a supporter of the 
 Democratic party. 
 
 Like most country practitioners, Dr. Bates is his 
 own pharmacist. He carries a stock of drugs and 
 medicines needed in his practice, and compounds 
 all of his own prescriptions. The requirements of 
 his profession make it necessary for him to be a 
 constant student, and to spend not a little of his 
 time pouring over medical works, periodicals and 
 reviews in order that he may keep abreast of the 
 most important discoveries in therapeutics. He 
 also keeps himself informed concerning the best 
 current thoughts in literature, and the everyday 
 events of the world. In years Dr. Bates may be 
 said to be in the prime of life. He bears the repu- 
 tation of being a careful, conscientious and skillful 
 practitioner. Though faithfully attentive to the 
 duties of his profession, he is quiet and unobtrusive 
 in his calling, and content to let his practice de- 
 pend upon his merits as a physician, and his con- 
 duct as a courteous and kindly gentleman. 
 
 ^ I^JLLIAM B. GALWAY, whose splendidly 
 \jjjt equipped estate of 630 acres of rich, fertile 
 W^ and productive land is the outcome of a 
 quarter of a century of intelligent, painstaking, and 
 persevering industry. He began life with nothing 
 but a rugged frame, strong hands, hopeful courage, 
 and a determined will, ready to meet and overcome 
 all obstacles that man's mind and strength might be 
 expected to contend against. His present well- 
 deserved prosperity' may well^ serve to inspire 
 struggling young men everywhere to heed Long- 
 fellow's apt advice, "learn to labor and to wait," for 
 fall fruition is sure to follow well directed and in- 
 telligent effort, just as harvest follows seed-time. 
 A reference having already been made to Mr. Gal- 
 way's parents in the sketch of John B, Galway, to 
 
 which attention is directed, we will now confine 
 ourselves to his pers<jnal history, which is both in- 
 teresting and instructive. He was born in Wash- 
 ington County, Pa., Nov. 2.S, 1828, and is now 
 nearly sixty-one years of age. He received in his 
 youth a good common-school education, followed 
 liy a course of general reading. He taught school 
 in his native State before moving to Illinois, and 
 has the honor of being among the earliest public 
 scliool teachers of Young America Township, hav- 
 ing taught near the present village of Hume in the 
 winter of 1860-61. 
 
 In the year 1854, when our subject was twenty- 
 six years of age, he came to this county and en- 
 gaged in farming, at which he continued until the 
 breaking out of the war, when he enlisted in Com- 
 panj- K, 125th Illinois Infantry, and was mustered 
 in as Second Sergeant, and afterward promoted to 
 Second Lieutenant. He served under Gens. Buell 
 and Daniel in Hook's brigade of the 11th Corps, 
 and participated in the battle of Perryville, Ky. 
 He was with Rosecrans when that ill-fated but 
 brave commander fought the bloody and disastrous 
 battle of Chickamauga, and with Sherman under 
 Grant, when the Union forces won the splendid 
 victory of Mission Ridge. Mr. Galway continued 
 with his regiment, enduring the privations of 
 camp and march, and the dangers of bivouac and 
 battlefield until October, 1864, when, being broken 
 in health, he received an honorable discharge and 
 returned to this count}'. 
 
 Mr. Galway was united in marriage with Miss 
 Elizabeth Ilowden March 2, 1865. The bride's 
 parents, John and Elizabeth Howden, were natives 
 of Pennsjdvania, and whose grandparents, Andrew 
 and Margaret Ilowden, were natives of Ireland. 
 They were the parents of nine children. The 
 mother of our subject, Elizabeth West, was the 
 daughter of Jonathan and Frances \Ycst, who emi- 
 grated from England to Pennsylvania. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Galway were the parents of one 
 child, which died in infancj'. They are both mem- 
 bers of the Christian Church, in which the husband 
 is a Deacon. Besides being one of the most pros- 
 perous and successful farmers in Eastern Illinois. 
 Mr. Galway has been a prominent, public-spir- 
 ited and useful citizen. In 1856, upon the or- 
 
Sf)! 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOORAPIIICAL ALBUM. 
 
 gnnization of Voiiug America Township, lie was 
 chosen the lirst Township Clerk; in lKr)8 he hecame 
 the first School Treasurer of the Township, a posi- 
 tion he held until he entered the army. He served 
 several years as a Township Assessor and Commis- 
 sioner of Highvvays, and has repeatedly served 
 upon the grand and petit juries. 
 
 Socially, the sidijectof this notice belongs to the 
 Charles Clark Post (i. A. R. No. 184 at Ridge 
 Farm, and also ^"ennilion Lodge, A. F. & A. M., 
 No. 265, at Indianola, Politically, Mr. Galway is 
 a Republican. He was a delegate to the State 
 Republican Convention in 1868, and has several 
 times been a delegate to the county conventions of 
 his party. 
 
 The present farm of 630 acres belonging to Mr. 
 Calway consisted of eighty acres at the outset of 
 his career for himself. He made purchases from 
 time to time as his means increased,'nntil he stands 
 to-day among the most successful farmers of this 
 State. Impaired health, the result of his army 
 service, has made it necessary for him to use his 
 head rather than his hands, and his success is due 
 to the careful and business-like supervision of his 
 own affairs. He is of tall, square build, has a'quiet, 
 kind and pleasant face; his full beard is streaked 
 with gray, but his clear face shows but slight evi- 
 dence of advancing years. A well-filled and well- 
 selected library shows him to be a student and a 
 lover of the best literature, while his papers and 
 magazines serve to keep him posted upon the cur- 
 rent news and thought of the day. 
 
 Mrs. Galway is one of seven children. The eld- 
 est, Frances M., resides at Saltsburg, Indiana Co., 
 Pa. She is the widow of Milton McJunkin, and 
 the mother of two children; Andrew, a merchant 
 of Lawrence, Kan., married Louisa Newkirk; they 
 have a family of four boys; jMargaret (Mrs. David 
 Myers) resides in "W^ashington County, Pa. ; Lu- 
 cinda, now Mrs. Joseph Kammerer, also resides in 
 Washington County, Pa.; Maria A. is the wife of 
 Prof, Joseph Jennings, who since 1876 has been 
 Principal of the High School at Monougahela City, 
 Pa.; John Alexander married Miss Ella Riddle; 
 they reside in Washington, Washington Co., Pa., 
 and he is engaged in the real-estate business. 
 Mrs. Galway is a lady of fine presence, and is 
 
 friendly in her greetings of acquaintances and of 
 strangers who cross her threshold. Her beautiful 
 home testifies that she is a woman of refined tastes, 
 as well as a skillful and painstaking housewife. 
 Her husband and herself are living out the golden 
 hours of their ripening years, without show or os- 
 tentation, becoming contented in the affection they 
 bear for each other, to pass their remaining days 
 in the peace and retirement of well-earned rest and 
 repose, after a life of love, labor and helpfulness 
 to each other. 
 
 (^^il-IOMAS SCOTT, a veteran of seventy-three 
 years and a resident of Bruellet Township, 
 
 _ came with his parents to this county as 
 early as 1825, and remembers the time when In- 
 dians were numerous and the cabins of the white 
 setttlers few and far between. He was born in 
 Adams County, Ohio, in 1816, and may be 
 |)roperly termed a self-made man, one who has 
 been the architect of his own fortune, and who by 
 his industry and perseverance has accumulated a 
 snug properly. We find him pleasantly' located 
 on a farm of ICO acres, occu]jying a part of sec- 
 tion 15, including twenty acres of timber. The 
 residence is a neat and modern frame structure, 
 while the land, under a good state of cultivation, 
 is the source of a comfortable income. 
 
 For some time after the Scott family came to 
 this county the nearest markets were at Clinton 
 and Terre Haute, Ind., to which the pioneer 
 farmers transported their dressed pork overland, 
 receiving;^ from $1.50 to $3.00 per hundred. 
 Thomas worked with his father on the new farm 
 until reaching manhood, then entered 120 acres in 
 forty-acre lots, one b}' one, as he could pay for 
 them. His present residence stands upon the first 
 land of which he thus became possessor, and in 
 order to establish his claim to this he was obliged 
 to borrow money. His early education was ex- 
 tremely limited, he never attending school until 
 nearly a man grown. This school was conducted 
 in a log cabin upon the subscription plan. In 
 those days turkeys aud wolves were numerous, and 
 

 ^-^ ^ ^ 
 
 . , ;V> -.S^itt:^»-^Vif^^-^j.^i ,.?. --J,. I 
 
 RESIDENCE OF JOHN WESTBROOK, SEC. Z, HUNTER TR EDGAR CO. 
 
 «j*si»*a&j*s%i^ ■ 
 
 RESIDENCE OF J AMES L. HON NOLO, SEC. 1., KANSAS T'R, ED6AR CO. 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOtiRAlMIlCAL ALBUM. 
 
 857 
 
 the latter frequenll.y howled around the cabin door 
 of the pioneer. The Scott family first settled on 
 " Congress land," upon which they lived about 
 six years before the father could secure euough 
 money to enter it from the Government. In the 
 meantime the familj' suffered greatly from illness, 
 and met with many losses in various ways. 
 
 The father of our subject persevered, however, 
 amid many difficulties, and eventually became the 
 owner of -400 acres of land, which, with the excep- 
 tion of seventy acres, he divided up among his 
 children. This seventy acres comprised his own 
 comfortable homestead, where ho spent his last 
 days. His death took place Jan. 22, 1886, and that 
 of the mother in the fall of 1870. Thomas, our 
 subject, was first married April 22, 1842, to Miss 
 Mary M. Reid. Of this union there were born 
 three children. One son, Thomas M., after the 
 outbreak of the war, enlisted as a Union soldier 
 and participated in the battle of Fort Donelson, 
 Fort Henry, and other important engagements. He 
 was captured by the I'ebels, but released in \'icks- 
 burg, where he was taken ill and died. The second 
 child, Alexander, is in Montana. The first child 
 died in infancy. Mrs. Mary M. (Reid) Scott de- 
 parted this life in Feb. 1 1, 1846. 
 
 In due time our subject contracted a second mar- 
 riage, with Miss Melvina Cowan. This union 
 resulted in the birth of four children: Frank, Win- 
 fleld, Belle and Florence A. The mother of these 
 children died July 29, 1881. Their daughter, 
 Florence, became the wife of AVilliam Clowser, and 
 is now deceased. The present wife of our subject, 
 to whom he was married Nov. 30, 1888, was 
 formerly Miss Ethalinda Edgington, a native of 
 Edgar County. Mr. Scott uniformly votes the 
 Democratic ticket, and has held the office of Road 
 Commissioner, besides the various school offices in 
 his district. 
 
 AMES L. HONNOLD. This well-known 
 resident of Kansas Township is nuniliered 
 among its wealthiest and most prominent 
 (^7/ citizens, and probably has done what no 
 other man has — not only in Edgar County, but 
 possibly in the State of Illinois — having kept a 
 
 strict account of all the money he has received 
 and expended since he began life for himself over 
 thirty-seven years ago. The figures at least are of 
 much value to himself, and, no doubt, would inter- 
 est others, were he disposed to give them publicity. 
 He is acknowledged as a successful financier, and, 
 as a farmer, occupies no secondary position in this 
 portion of the State. He has done much to im- 
 prove the grade of livestock in Kansas Township 
 —his specialty being horses. His homestead is 
 embellished by an elegant brick residence, with a 
 fine lawn and choice slirubbery, and is represented 
 by a lithographic view on anotiier page. His farm 
 is accounted as among the very best in Edgar 
 County. 
 
 The llonnold family during the early part of 
 this century was prominent in old Virginia, having 
 located in Loudoun County upon first crossing the 
 Atlantic from Germany. Richard, the father of 
 our subject, was born there, and when three years 
 of age emigrated to Muskingum County, Ohio, 
 with his parents. In that count}- James L. was 
 born, Oct. 28, 1832. His paternal grandfather 
 was James Honnold, a blacksmith, who spent a 
 portion of his life in Loudoun Countj', afterward 
 removing to Ohio, where he died. Grandfather 
 James Honnold served an apprenticeship at black- 
 smithing, and transmitted the art to his son Rich- 
 ard, who was a carpenter likewise, and in after 
 years did all of his work in this line. The paternal 
 great-grandfather of our subject was the only 
 representative of the family in America. He mar- 
 ried a lady of German parentage, whose early edu- 
 cation was conducted exclusively in the German 
 tongue. 
 
 The subject of this notice began his education 
 in a log cabin schoolhouse amid the Ohio wilds, 
 and still recollects the split log seats upheld by 
 rude wooden legs, and the writing desks reposing 
 on pins driven into the wall. It is often the case 
 that the memory retains facts of the most trifling 
 moment, and loses those of greater importance. 
 One of the earliest recollections of our subject was 
 a crooked seat in the log cabin spoken of, which 
 the boys used at noon for coasting purposes. The 
 luxury of window glass was tlien beyond the 
 means of that pioneer region, and greased paper 
 
858 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 was substituted until tliey could afford the genuine 
 article. The methods of instruction were quite 
 dissimilar to those of the present day, and if the 
 teacher knew enougti to write and "cipher," he was 
 considered fully equipped for the profession. 
 
 Young Honnold being fond of his books out- 
 stripped many of his comrades, and developed 
 into a pedagogue of no mean talents for that time. 
 He was occupied in teaching three terms in Ohio, 
 receiving $13, $15 and $20 per month. In April, 
 1855, he set out for Illinois, and taught school the 
 following summer. For five consecutive winters 
 he followed teaching in Edgar County, receiving 
 $20 per month, while he worked on a farm in 
 summer. Subsequentljf, he devoted his entire 
 attention to agriculture, and has been almost con- 
 tinuously a resident of Kansas Township. 
 
 On the 1st of March, 1859, Mr. Honnold took a 
 most important step toward the establishment of 
 a home of his own, being married at that date to 
 Miss Elizabeth C. Mock, daughter of John D. 
 Mock, who came to Coles County, 111., in 1854, 
 and to Edgar County two years later. Mrs. Hon- 
 nold was born in Muskingum County, Oliio, .Tan. 
 19, 1837. and came with her parents to this county 
 in 1856, the same year that witnessed the arrival of 
 the Honnolds. Her father, John D. Mock, was a 
 native of Loudoun County, Va., but in early life 
 emigrated to Ohio, and about 1836 was married to 
 the mother of Mrs. Honnold, who was born in 
 Muskingum County in 1812. Further reference to 
 the family will be found in the biography of J. R. 
 Honnold on another page of this volume. 
 
 Of the five children born to our subject and his 
 estimable wife the record is as follows: Richard 
 married Miss Mollie Payne, and is farming in 
 Shiloli Township; they have one child, an infant 
 daughter. Cynthia R. liecame the wife of Harvey 
 De Lapp, of Indiana ; they reside in Kansas Town- 
 ship, and have a baby girl. Elsie is the wife of 
 Henry Collier, of Embarras Township; their only 
 child is deceased. Ira N. and John O. remain with 
 their parents. 
 
 Mr. Honnold votes the straight Republican 
 ticket, and, like his brother, has been prominent in 
 local affairs, serving as Higiiway Commissioner 
 and School Director each nine years, and filling 
 
 other positions of trust and responsibility. He 
 and his wife, and all of their children — with the ex- 
 ception of the youngest son — are prominently con- 
 nected with the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. 
 Honnold began operations in this county with a 
 capital of $70, and has lost 13,000 by undersign- 
 ing notes for others, meecing with the usual results 
 of such transactions. He has accumulated his prop- 
 erty by hard work and good managemement, and 
 has no use for the idler, wherever he may be found. 
 
 'if' OIIN WESTBROOK. The story of a man 
 beginning life with modest means and aris- 
 ! ing to a good jjosition, socially and finan- 
 cially is again reproduced in the life of the 
 subject of this sketch. He came to this county 
 with a capital of $42 in money, two horses and a 
 cow and calf. His father-in-law gave him $500, 
 and thus equipped he started out, and with hard 
 work and good management upon the part of him- 
 self and his excellent wife, has accumulated a fine 
 proiierty a part of which comprises 185 acres of 
 well-improved land. Besides this he has 160 acres 
 a half mile west, the whole of which is in a good 
 state of cultivation. The home farm lies on sec- 
 tion 7, in Hunter Township and with its substan- 
 tial buildings, its goodly assortment of live stock 
 and an ample supply of farm machinery, presents 
 the picture of the well regulated modern estate, 
 built up by the hand of industr3r and under the 
 supervision of a mind more than ordinarily 
 intelligent. 
 
 A native of Guernsey Count.y, Ohio, our subject 
 was born July 3, 1830 and when a boy of eleven 
 years, accompanied his parents, Martin and Joanna 
 (Charlott) Westbrook, to Putn.am County, Ind., 
 where the maternal grandparents had pi'eviously 
 emigrated and where they spent their last days. 
 The Westbrook family sojourned there until 1860, 
 then came to this county, where the decease of the 
 father and mother took place. Both were members 
 of the Presbyterian Church. The father was born 
 in Pennsylvania and the mother in New Jersey. 
 The latter went with her parents, Stephen and 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPIIICAL ALBUM. 
 
 85<J 
 
 Rachael (Peck) Cliarlott to (iuernsey County, Ohio, 
 where she was reared to womanhood and married. 
 Soon afterward the newly wedded pair went over 
 into Pennsylvania on pack horses, the wife riding 
 on a feather bed on the horses, the bed being care- 
 fully tied up with a clothesline. The husband 
 walked all the way. After a sojourn of several 
 years in Pennsylvania and the birth of three or 
 four of their children, they traveled back to 
 Guernsey County, Ohio and located in the woods, 
 where the father cleared a farm and where the rest 
 of his children were born and reared. Thence thej' 
 migrated to Indiana as already noted. They were 
 foremost in the organization of the Presbyterian 
 Church, which was then frequently called the 
 Ohio Church. 
 
 John Westbrook came to this county in the fall 
 of 1849, locating on the land comprising his pres- 
 ent farm, and upon which there had been built a 
 log cabin. Later he put up another log dwelling 
 on the site of his present residence. They could 
 stand in the doorway of the first humble abode 
 and pick hazelnuts off the bushes. Upon removing 
 into it they spent the first night without an3'^ door. 
 The couutry was infested with wild animals, tur- 
 kej'S and deer being plentiful. Our subject, as 
 soon as possible, set about the cultivation of his 
 land and his industry in due time met with its 
 legitimate reward. His three eldest children were 
 born in the first log cabin. In 1855 he put up a 
 frame house, which in 1869 was abandoned by the 
 family for the present modern and commodious 
 dwelling, which is presented on another page by a 
 fine lithographic engraving. 
 
 Our subject was first married in 1849 to Miss 
 Celia, daughter of Levi and Jane (Bell) Mann. 
 Mrs. Westbrook was a native of Putnam County^, 
 Ind., and died in Hunter Township, this county, in 
 March, 1865, leaving five children, namely: Will- 
 iam H., Levi M., Rachael B. (Mrs. Webster Collins), 
 a resident of Paris, Charles L. and Edward R., 
 (twins) and Howard A. 
 
 Mr. Westbrook contracted a second marriage in 
 1866 with Miss Susan C, daughter of Jonathan 
 and Margaret (Mayo) Crumm. Of this union there 
 were born five children, the eldest of whom, a 
 daughter, Minnie, died on the fifth anniversary and 
 
 at the ver3- same hour of her birth. Scott M., died 
 at the age often months; Joanna E. died when about 
 five years old; Walter B., and Mary F., are at 
 home. The first wife of our subject was a member 
 of tiie Baptist Church. The present Mjs. West- 
 brook belongs to the Methodist Episcopal Church. 
 Our subject politically, like the male members of 
 his family since 1856, is a warm supporter of Re- 
 publican principles. He has held the school offices 
 of his district for the long period of thirty years 
 and has always maintained a warm interest in edu- 
 cational matters. He has taken especial pains with 
 the training and education of his children and has 
 given to each of them *2,000 as a start in life. 
 They are doing well and are highly respected in 
 their community. Socially Mr. Westbrook belongs to 
 Prairie Lodge, No. 77, A. F. & A. M. at Paris, and 
 his sons who are old enough, also belong to the 
 Masonic fraternity in which Howard A. is S. W. 
 of the Lodge. Miss Margaret E. Crumm, a sister of 
 the present wife of our subject has been a helpful 
 and cherished member of the family for the past 
 twenty-two years; she is also a member of the 
 Methodist Episcopal Church and a great worker in 
 the Master's cause. 
 
 OELSON MrCOLLUM. In the career of the 
 subject of this notice we have that of a 
 gentleman who in his younger years devoted 
 himself to arduous labor, and who has realized in a 
 goodly measure the results of industry and per- 
 severance. He began life dependent upon his 
 own resources without financial aid, ar.d by his 
 courage and resolution has established himself in a 
 good position among his fellowmen. He is propri- 
 etor of one of the finest farms in Embarrass Town- 
 ship, besides owning other property, having his 
 homestead on section 29. He has given to his chil: 
 dren several handred acres of land and otherwise 
 provided for the comfort and happiness of his fam- 
 ily. His possessions all told include 720 acres of 
 land besides town property in Hume. 
 
 A native of Washington County, Pa., our sub- 
 ject was born Dec. 18, 1821, and is the son of 
 
860 
 
 PORTRAIT AND lUOlUiAPIllCAL ALBUM. 
 
 Daniel and Malissa (Hai'i-is) MuC'olliim, who were 
 like\^'ise born in ttiat eount3', and wlio became tlie 
 parents of sixteen cliildren. Nine of these lived to 
 mature years and five are still living, namely: 
 John, of Jefferson, Greene Co., I'a. ; Nelson, our 
 subject, Caleb, of Amity, Washington Co., Pa.; 
 Daniel, also within that county, and Demas, of 
 Wa3'nesburg, Pa., where he has been agent for the 
 Pennsylvania Railroad a few years. 
 
 Our subject received a limited education in the 
 subscription schools of his native county, and at 
 an early age was required to make himself useful 
 about the iiomestead. lie assisted his father in 
 clearing the land in good weather and studied his 
 books when it was raining. He remained a resi- 
 dent of his native county until a man of nearly 
 forty -three years, then in Ajiril, 186 1, set his face 
 toward the Prairie State and secured a portion of 
 tlie land wlrxli constitutes liis present farm. He did 
 a large amount of pioneer labor, enclosing his fields 
 witli fences, breaking the ground, erecting buildings, 
 setting out fruit and shade trees, providing for the 
 needs of his family and caring for his live-stock. 
 A few years of arduous labor placed him upon a 
 solid footing financially, and he began investing 
 his surplus capital in land, whicli has proved for it 
 a safe deposit, impossible of transportation by the 
 defaulting bank cashier. 
 
 In coming to Illinois our subject was accompanied 
 by his wife, formerly Miss Jane Hathaway, to wliom 
 he had been married in Pennsylvania, March 29, 
 1848. This lady was the daughter of Simeon 
 Hathaway, who is long since deceased. She like- 
 wise was a native of Washington County, Pa., and 
 was born Dec. 18, 1827. This union resulted in 
 the birth of thirteen cliildren, nine of whom are 
 now living: Floriuda became the wife of George 
 Uaber, of Indianapolis, and they have one child, 
 Nelson; Salina married George Boatman, of Paris, 
 111.; they have no children. Simeon married Miss 
 Lena Cash, and they are living on a farm in Young 
 America Township; they have two children — 
 Walter and Nettie. Nelson married Miss Hattie 
 Gossett, of Shiloh Township; they have no chil- 
 dren. Deborah was married to Albert Stephen and 
 died leaving two children, A\' alter and Flora; Emma 
 is the wife of Jolm Witt, of Bridgeport, Fla., and 
 
 they have two children — Olive and Archie; Rob- 
 ert, Hiram, Jennie and Belle are at home. Mr. Mc- 
 C(jlluni, politically, alBliates with the Republican 
 paity, but has no ambition for oflice, and conse- 
 quently mixes very little in public affairs. He and 
 his wife with four of their daughters are members 
 in good standing of the Presbyterian Church. On 
 account of his wife's health IMr. McCollura intends 
 going to F^lorida in the near future. 
 
 ^1 43-f^^ i^ 
 
 NDREW KEYSFR is one of the pioneers 
 of Edgar County, and is now living in 
 Paris. He was born June 13, 1809, in 
 Belmont County, Ohio, opposite Wheeling, 
 where he remained until 1851. Then he 
 was eiig;iged in agricultural pursuits. He married 
 Miss Ann Harris in March, 1831; she was born in 
 Wheeling March 21, 1808. The 3'oung couple op- 
 erated a farm in West Virginia for five j'ears, 
 when they came to Illinois, having become tired of 
 the hills on the Ohio River. AVhen Mr. Keyser 
 removed to this State in 1857 Edgar County was 
 comparatixely new, and there was but a small por- 
 tion of the tillable land improved. Mr. Keyser 
 purcliased 120 acres of land, partially improved, 
 on which lie lived until 1883. He was a School 
 Director for the Sugar Creek District and promi- 
 nent in the affairs of the township. His wife died 
 Feb. 11, 1883, at their home in Paris. He sold his 
 farm in 1882, and removed to town. jMr. and Mrs. 
 Key.ser worshiped at the Presbyterian Church for 
 many years. At present Mr. Keyser is not engaged 
 in any business. 
 
 Mr. Keyser is the father of ten children, of whom 
 but four are living. He gave three sons to his 
 country, two being killed in the battle of Chica- 
 niauga during the War of the Rebellion, and one 
 died at Louisville while at the hos[)ital. Sarah 
 married Frank Steward, of Bellefoiitaine, Ohio; 
 ^Margaret is the wife of Richard Davis, they are 
 residing at Elmwood, Peoria Co., III.; Eliza mar- 
 ried John M. Davis, of Paris; Samuel resides in 
 Paris Township; Oliver, the eldest son, enlisted at 
 the beginning of the war in Gen. Grant's old regi- 
 
PORTRAIT AND BI0GRAPH1(!AL ALBUM. 
 
 861 
 
 ment, the 21si Illinois. lie was one of the brave 
 soldiers of that gallant organization, and was killed 
 at the battle of Chickamauga. Reuben also enlisted 
 and while in the service died at Louisville, Ky. The 
 battle of Chickamauga carried away another son, 
 William. 
 
 William Kej'scr, father of Andrew, was a native 
 of Belmont County, Ohio, where he was engaged in 
 farming all his life. He married Miss Margaret 
 Workman and the}' reared a family of ten children, 
 of whom only one is dead. But two of these chil- 
 dren are in Illinois, Andrew and another brother 
 in Peoria. The subject of this notice is prond of 
 the fact that he was able to furnish three soldiers 
 from his family to fight the battles of his countrj'. 
 This country will always honor its brave defenders, 
 and the men who survived that terrible ordeal 
 have as true sentiments of patriotism to-day ;is 
 when they left the old home for the front. Wher- 
 ever they are found, in all questions of National or 
 State, import it springs forth. It is not spasmodic 
 in its action but constant, incorruptible and endur- 
 ing. AVealth cannot bribe it, neither ambition 
 blind it, fear cannot intimidate, nor injustice 
 change it. Mr. Keyser is a stanch and true Repub- 
 lican, and in 1810 voted for Cien. W. II. Harrison, 
 and forty-four years later cast his vote for Benja- 
 min Harrison. jMr. Keyser now draws a pension 
 from the Government. 
 
 lEN.IAMlN D. KELSIIEIMI:R. The sub- 
 ject of this sketch occupies a leading posi- 
 tion among the well-to-do farmers of Edgar 
 Townsliip, and has a homestead chiefly 
 built up by himself, consisting of 166 acres of 
 well tilled land, the residence Ijeing on section 8. 
 He is prominent both in religious and political cir- 
 cles, being an active member of the Methodist 
 Episcopal Church, in which he is District and Cir- 
 cuit Steward, also Class-leader and Superintendent 
 of the Sunday-school. He identified himself with 
 this church at the age of seventeen 3-ears and has 
 since been active in religiovis work. Politically 
 his sympathies are decidedly with the IJepublicau 
 
 party. He has served as Commissioner of High- 
 ways three years and as a Director in his school 
 district for fourteen years. Possessed of more than 
 ordinary intelligence, he is thoroughly well-in- 
 formed, and in this is wonderfully aided by a most 
 remarkable memory, especially of dates, in which 
 he is excelled by few. Personally he is a " gentle- 
 man to the manner born," courteous to all around 
 him and of that genial disposition which is inclined 
 to look on the bright side of life. 
 
 The native place of our subject was in the vicin- 
 ity of Rockville, Parke County, Ind., and the date 
 of his birth Oct. 15, 1833. His father, John Kel- 
 sheimer, was born in 1782 in the State of Delaware. 
 The paternal grandfatlier, Begandus Kelsheimer, 
 was a native of Germany and arrived in America 
 in time to take a hand in the Revolutionary War. 
 His son, .b^hn, learned the trade of a shoemaker 
 early in life and emigrated to Cincinnati, Ohio, of 
 which he was an early settler. He sojourned here 
 but a brief time then pushed on to Sullivan 
 Count}', Ind., whence later he removed to Parke 
 County and engaged in the war of 1812. After- 
 ward ne worked at his trade, and also entered 
 eighty-five acres of land which he improved and 
 lived upon until 1815. Then selling out he oi)er- 
 ated again on rented land. He did not live to be 
 a very aged man, his death taking place in 1851, 
 when sixty-eight years of age. Politically he was 
 a sound Democrat and in religious matters a mem- 
 ber of the Methodist Episcopal Church. 
 
 The mother of our subject was in her girlliood 
 Miss Harriet Edwards. She was born in the city 
 of Columbus, Ohio, and was the daughter of 
 Thomas Edwards, who was of Scotch-Irish descent, 
 and after his marriage settled in Sullivan County, 
 Ind. He met his death accidentallj', being 
 crushed by a falling building. He was one of the 
 earh' pioneers of Sullivan County, and during the 
 early days engaged in numerous skirmishes witli 
 the Indians. They finally kidnapped Winston, his 
 son, who was never afterward heard of bv the fam- 
 ily. The mother died in 1846 at the age of fifty- 
 four years. Both were prominent members of the 
 Methodist Episcopal Church. The parental family 
 included eight children, the eldest of whom, a son, 
 .Tolui, died in 1887. Two of his sons served in 
 
8(S2 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 the army fluring the late Civil War, one of whom 
 died in the service, and the latter died soon after 
 returning home; Thomas died early in life, in 
 1857; Edward is living in Edgar Township; Will- 
 iam died in 1875, and Garrett in 1851; Benjamin 
 D., our subject, was the eighth child; Margaret A. 
 died in 1863, and Harriet E. in 1852. 
 
 Until a lad of thirteen years Mr. Kelsheimer at- 
 tended school mostly during the winter season, 
 his text-books being a speller and a Testament. 
 After this he worked for his brother, William, 
 until reaching his majority. He then began farm- 
 ing for himself on rented land along Otter Creek, 
 in Vigo County, Ind., and was quite successful. 
 He lived in Indiana until 1857, then came to 
 Edgar County, 111., locating in Edgar Township 
 and being possessor of a team of horses and $865 
 in money. He purchased sixty-two acres of unim- 
 proved land and operated upon it for a period of 
 seven j'ears. He then turned his attention to live- 
 stock, and rented the Houston farm of 160 acres, 
 which he operated for two years. 
 
 In 1868 our subject returned to the old place, 
 which he rented until 1872. He then purchased 
 126 acres of it, where he began the construction of 
 a separate homestead, and later added forty acres, 
 comprising a part of sections 11 and 14. He 
 planted hedge and forest and fruit trees, set out a 
 fine orchard, and repaired house and barn, to- 
 gether with the other structures necessary. The 
 land is plentifully watered by a living spring, and 
 in addition to that which is under cultivation there 
 are seven and one-half acres of native timber. 
 Mr. Kelsheimer makes a specialty of stock-raising, 
 having good cattle and swine, and keeps about 
 seven head of excellent draft horses, utilizing two 
 teams in the operation of the farm. 
 
 Our subject was married in Parke County, Ind., 
 Jan. 7, 1866, to Miss Mary J. Lewis, who was born 
 in Chicago, III., Nov. 16, 1836. Her parents were 
 Reeden and Rebecca Lewis, the father a native of 
 Canada and the mother of Ohio. Upon emigrating 
 to Chicago Mr. Lewis engaged in teaming until his 
 removal to Rockville, Ind. Mrs. Kelsheimer was 
 brought by her parents to Parke County, Ind., 
 when a child of six years and there grew to wom- 
 anhood. Of her union with our subject there were 
 
 born three children: Edward, Frank and Ivan. 
 Mrs. Kelsheimer departed this life at the homestead 
 Dec. 2, 1888. She attached herself to the Metho- 
 dist Church, in 1868, and lived a consistent member 
 until death. 
 
 ^ AMES E. VALE, senior member of the firm 
 of J. E. & C. F. Vale, proprietors of the 
 Kansas Herald, Kansas, Edgar County, was 
 
 born in Columbiana County, Ohio, March 
 
 31, 1833, to Eli Vale, (deceased), who was a native 
 of York County, Pa., and came to Columbiana 
 County, Ohio, in pioneer days, being one of the 
 first settlers in Middieton Township, where he en- 
 tered land for himself and his father, John Vale, 
 wlio was also a native of York County, Pa. 
 
 Eli Yale, the father of our subject, enlisted in 
 the war against the British in 1812, and was as- 
 signed to duty in tlie division of the army engaged 
 in the Coast Defense Service. Like a true patriot 
 he was faithful to his trust, and when peace was de- 
 clared had the satisfaction of knowing that he had 
 done his duty and could transmit to his posterity, 
 a fitting example for them to follow. The mother 
 of our subject was Annie P. Underwood, a native 
 of York County, Pa. The parental family consisted 
 of ten children, of which our subject was the 
 j^oungest. The names of the others are: John T., 
 now residing on the old homestead in Ohio; Beulah 
 (Conkle), now of Fremont County, Iowa; Susan- 
 nah (Mrs. Booth), residing in Columljiana County, 
 Ohio; Louisa, now Mrs. Pyle, of Oskaloosa, Iowa; 
 Lewis W., at present a resident of Washington, D. 
 C. ; Frank T. B., of Saline, Kan.; and James E., of 
 whom we write. 
 
 The father of our subject died in Ohio a few 
 years ago, at the venerable age of ninety-five years. 
 His mother breathed her last in the same place on 
 April 26, 1833, when her son, our subject, was an 
 infant, but the Power that marks even the sparrows 
 fall, gave wisdom and strength to the bereaved 
 father to rear the child to a noble manhood. 
 
 Mr. Vale's early years were spent on his father's 
 farm, attending the common schools in the winter, 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBITM. 
 
 8(53 
 
 and learning what nature could teach him in the 
 woods, and employing himself usefully in assisting 
 tlie other members of the family in their work on 
 the farm. When seventeen years of age, he was 
 apprenticed to a carriage-maker in Salem, Ohio, to 
 learn the trade and served him four years. He was 
 married in Defiance County, Ohio, Jan. 5, 1855, to 
 Miss Angeline Metz, a daughter of John and Eliza- 
 beth Metz. Mr. and Mrs. Vale made themselves a 
 cozy home, and as the 3ears rolled by, their worldly 
 circumstances were improved, and they were en- 
 abled to provide the comforts of life for the ten 
 children which came to their home. The names of 
 the nine children tliat are now living, are as fol- 
 lows: Laura, Nettie, Kdmond L., Llewella, Lizzie, 
 Charles F., Jlay, Howard, and Kale. Laura mar- 
 ried William H. Geisenhof, and resides in Sioux 
 City, Iowa; she is the mother of three children — 
 Ernest, A'era, and an infant girl. Nettie wedded 
 Dr. David T. Stewart, of Hartley, Iowa, and has 
 one child, an infant girl; Edmond married Miss 
 Jennie Pugh, and lives in Sioux City, Iowa; they 
 have one child, a little girl, Nellie. Llewella and 
 Bert Holland, of this township, were united in mar- 
 liage, and have one child, Letlia; Lizzie married 
 Frank H. Anthony, who is at present working on 
 the Kansas Herald; they have no children. 
 
 Mr. Vale, the subject of this notice, came to this 
 county in the fall of 1865, and located at Vermill- 
 ion Station, where he followed his occupation of a 
 wagon and carriage-maker. He also worked some- 
 what at the trade of carpentering, and did a gen- 
 eral wood working business, uniting with his other 
 occupations the duties of undertaker. Leaving this 
 place in 1S72, he came to Kansas and purchased a 
 home, and has made this place his home ever since. 
 In connection with his son, Charles F., he estab- 
 lished the Kansas Hcraldm April, 1888. Mr. Vale 
 is a man of more than ordinary intelligence, a keen 
 observer, and a good business manager, and with 
 the able assistance of his son, who manages the edi 
 torial department, is carrying on a i)rosperous and 
 lucrative publishing business. 
 
 Mr. Xa\e is a Mason, and has been Secretary of 
 the Masonic Lodge for eight years. He is also a 
 member of the I. (). O. F. encampment, and be- 
 longs to the Improved Order of Redmen. He is in 
 
 addition to his excellent business qualifications, a 
 fine Christian gentleman, being a worthy member 
 of the Methodist Episcopal Church, although his 
 early training was according to the belief of the 
 Ciuakers. Politically, our subject exercises his 
 right of suffrage in favor of the Republican party. 
 
 I^OBERr T. BERKSHIRE is a son of Robert 
 !lwr and Mary Berkshire, and a native of 
 ii*| Illinois, in which State he was born July 
 \^ 28, 1854, in Peoria. His grandfather was 
 Anthony Beikshire, a native of Pennsylvania, in 
 which state the father of our subject was also born. 
 The mother of our subject was born in Ohio. Her 
 maiden name was Miss Mary VanFossin, and her 
 ancestors came from Germany in the early history 
 of our country. Our subject was one of a family 
 of seven children, who were named respectively, 
 Joseph, Rebecca A., Shedrick, one who died in in- 
 fancy, Robert, George and Eliza. Joseph is a 
 farmer residing with his wife and child in Edo-ar 
 County; Rebecca A., died ten years ago in Paris. 
 She was the wife of Zachariah Jewell; Shedrick lives 
 in Licking County, in Newark, Ohio, with his wife 
 and three children; George is unmarried and lives 
 in Edgar County; Eliza is Mrs. Luther Rhine- 
 smith. They live on her husband's farm, which is 
 southwest of Paris, and have a famil3' of four 
 children. 
 
 When our subject was one year old his father 
 moved to Ohio and settled in Muskingum County. 
 They resided thereabout twenty years, when here- 
 turned to Illinois and located near Metcalf, where 
 he rented a place and occupied it until his demise, 
 about fifteen years ago. The mother of our sub- 
 ject preceded lier husband to the better land, pass- 
 ing from the loving care of her children about 
 sixteen years ago. The father of our subject was 
 always an ardent Republican and dedicated his 
 ability to the service of his county. For several 
 years during his life he held a position in the 
 County Committee. He also represented the voters 
 of his district at several important conventions 
 held by his party in the county. 
 
8(>-l 
 
 PORTRAIT AND UJOGRAPIIICAL ALBUM. 
 
 December 18, 1884, Mr. Berkshire and Miss 
 Emma Bussart,' a daughter of Otis and Aim A. 
 Bussart, were united in marriage at the residence 
 oi the bride's parents. After marriage the 3'oung 
 couple toolv up their home on eighty acres of land, 
 which they leased from a gentleman in the vicinity. 
 Mr. and Mrs. Berkshire have three children, who are 
 the pride of their hearts and the delight of their 
 home. Mrs. Berkshire is a kind, alTectionate wife and 
 mother, a good neighbor and a devoted member of 
 the JNIethodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Berkshire is 
 a stalwart Republican, but takes very little active 
 part in the counsels'of his party, and has so far suc- 
 ceeded in evading the responsibilities of ofHce. Al- 
 though his educational advantages were limited in 
 his youth, he has succeeded in obtaining a fair share 
 of knowledge, principal!}' of a practical kind,and is a 
 pleasant, intelligent gentleman. His farm is located 
 about a mile and a half northwest of Metcalf, in 
 section 24, Young America Township, Edgar 
 County. Their children are named Arthur W., 
 born Aug. 6, 18,SC; Anna M., Aug. 19, 1887; Will- 
 iam H., March 16, 1889. 
 
 •~w.-'vtafi(2/E'i@" J 
 
 j-j^^^j/zrew*^ -v/v«- 
 
 ENRY HARRISON HURST. This gentle- 
 ^^ man who was born Jan. 16, 1813, in Harri- 
 son County, Ind., was named after the hero 
 
 P; of Tippecanoe, for whom he voted at the 
 Presidential election of 1836-40; with no less en- 
 thusiasm he voted for the grandson in the election 
 of 1888. He was first identified with the old Whig 
 party, and upon its abandonment in 1856 allied him- 
 self with the Rejjublicans, and it is safe to sa}' this 
 party has not a more ardent or conscientious fol- 
 lower in its ranks than he. He owns a snug farm 
 of eigiity acres on section 30, Embarras Townsliip, 
 where he has been content to put forth his best 
 efforts without ambition for office, and has conse- 
 quently excelled as a farmer. In 1887 he wisely 
 retired from active labor, and placed his son Frank, 
 in charge of the farm, by whom it is now operated. 
 
 Our subject is tlie son of Elijah and Mary (Lind- 
 say) Hurst, who were natives of ^'irginia, but who, 
 leaving the (Jld Dominion at an early date, emigra- 
 
 ted to the wilderness of Harrison County, Ind., 
 and settled among wild animals and Indians at a 
 time when salt had to be transported from beyond 
 the Alleghany Mountains. Elijah Hurst during 
 his early manhood fought in the War of 1812, and 
 was at Tippecanoe under the direct command of 
 Gen. Harrison. To him and his excellent wife 
 there was born a family of twelve children, only 
 three of whom are living, viz: AVilliam, a resident 
 of Louisville, Ky., and aged ninety-one years; 
 Henry H., our subject; and Lydia (Mrs. Boyer), 
 of Clark County, 111., who is now seventy-two 
 3'cars old. 
 
 Our subject studied his first lessons in a log cabin 
 in his native county, the floor of which was pun- 
 cheon, the window-panes of greased paper, the seats 
 and desks of slabs, and the chimney built outside 
 of clay and sticks. The school master was only 
 required to be able to write and cipher, and "taught 
 the young idea how to shoot" largely by physical 
 suasion. Young Hurst grew up on the frontier 
 with well-develoiied muscles, and the habits of in- 
 dustry which ha\'e served him so well in later years. 
 He lived in Indiana until 1852, and then at the age 
 of forty years, came to Edgar Countj', 111., and es- 
 tablished himself on a tract of land in Kansas Town- 
 ship, where he sojourned until March, 1858. That 
 year he entered 160 acres of land from the Govern- 
 ment in Embarras Township, where he built up 
 the farm which he now owns and occupies. One 
 roof sheltered him until the fall of 1888, when he 
 put up a neat new residence. 
 
 Soon after attaining his majority, Mr. Hurst was 
 married A|)ril 16, 1834, to Miss Elizabeth Boyer, 
 who was born in Kentucky, and is the daughter of 
 John Boyer, long since deceased. The Boyer fam- 
 ily emigrated to Harrison Countj', Ind., when Miss 
 Elizabeth was one year old, and there the parents 
 spent their last days. Our subject and his \'Oung 
 wife commenced the journey of life together in a 
 manner corresponding to their means and surround- 
 ings, and in due time the household circle embraced 
 thirteen children. Eight of these are living: Mary 
 M., became the wife of David Hamilton, lives in 
 Hume, and they are tlie parents of two children, 
 Sanford and Orris (twins); Joseph T. married Miss 
 Clarissa D>dey, and they live in Montgomery 
 

 i0^y<^0^ 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALP.DiM. 
 
 867 
 
 Countj'^, Kan.; they have eight children — William 
 L., Ulysses S., Ura D., Herhert A., Carrie A., Jo- 
 seph T., Elzie, and Rosa. Elijah E. married Miss 
 Sarah J. Fannha; they live in Kansas, Edgar County, 
 this State, and have four children — Dora A., George 
 M., James F., and Maggie. Anthony W. married 
 Miss Fanny Elliott; they live in Wright County, 
 Mo., and have five children — Fluta I., Ira A., Eva 
 E., Harry, and Carrie (twins). William M. married 
 Miss Mary F. Burtner, and they live in Champaign 
 County, III.; they have five children — Chaiies II., 
 Belle, Myrtie I., Ross, and Frank. Lydia A., 
 Francis H., and R. P., are living; Jane mar- 
 ried Isaac Swanson, of Morris Ciounty, Kan., and 
 they have two children, James F., and Harrj'. Mr. 
 Hurst is a member in good standing of the Meth- 
 odist Episcopal Church at Brocton. 
 
 mOMAS H. CHAPMAN. The Chapman 
 family has a numerous representation in 
 Illinois and the branch to which the subject 
 of this notice belongs has long been i-ecognized as 
 one of its most ei editable offshoots. Ili.s father, 
 Samuel Chapman, was a native of New York Stale, 
 born not far from the metropolis, reared in this 
 county, and it is believed received his education in 
 the city school. When reaching man's estate he 
 was married to Miss Nancy Dawson, a native of 
 Virginia. 
 
 In 1837 the father of our subject, accompanied 
 liy his brothers, Daniel and Wesley, his mother and 
 sister Mary, struck this county on their way to 
 Texas, stopping for the winter on Clay Prairie in 
 Hunter Township. They were so pleased with the 
 appearance of Illinois and so hopeful of its future, 
 that the trip to Texas was abandoned and the fam- 
 ily located in Jasper County, 111., about l.s.'iM. 
 They settled on Crooked Creek in what is now 
 Granville Township. Upon the outbreak of tlie 
 Mexican War Samuel Chapman raised a company 
 of which he was elected Captain and made prep- 
 crations to go to the fcene of ccmflict. Owing to 
 the surrender of Gen. Santa Anna, their services 
 were not required and they disbanded, returning 
 
 home. Samuel Chapman only lived a few months 
 afterward, his death taking place in 1848, five days 
 after the decease of his wife, and their remains 
 were laid side by side in a quiet spot on the old 
 homestead. They were the parents of five chil- 
 dren. One son, William, died when about twenty- 
 five years old; Mary is the wife of Joseph Cum- 
 mins and lives in Jasper County, this State; Louisa 
 and Emily were quite small when taken to Texas 
 where tliej' remained and nothing is known of 
 them; Thomas H., our subject, the eldest of the 
 family, was born in New York City, Aug. 15, 1832, 
 and was a little lad of five years when he came to 
 Edgar County, III. He commeiiced his education 
 in the common school and finished at Hartsville 
 College, Ind. When the CivilWar broke out, our sub- 
 ject, desirous of assisting in the preservation of the 
 Union enlisted in 1862, in Company E., 123d Illinois 
 Infantry, under command of Col. J. Monroe, with 
 the- three years' men. Shortly afterward he was 
 taken ill, sent to the hospital, and from there was 
 discharged in November, 1862. He then resumed 
 the study of medicine to which he had given some 
 attention prior to entering the army, and became 
 especially interested in diseases of the e3'e. Soon 
 afterward he began traveling through eastern Illi- 
 nois and other places as an oculist and was thus 
 successfully employed for five years. At the 
 expiration of this time he concluded to set- 
 tle down upon a farm and in due time became 
 owner of 282 acres, where he now resides, and 
 from which he has constructed one of the best 
 farms in this [jart of the county. 
 
 In 1857 our sul)ject was united in marriage with 
 Miss Sarilda, daughter of Jubal and Nancy (Maej-) 
 Meadows, natives of N'irginia, and at this time 
 residents of Edgar County, 111. Only three of th3 
 six cliildren born of this union are living, a daugh- 
 tei' and two sons. Mary Louise is at home with 
 her parents; Thomas H. Jr. married Miss Cora 
 Martin and they live at the homestead; Charles C. 
 is unmarried and a resident of Arkansas; Mr. and 
 Mrs. Cha|)man are members in good standing of 
 the Methodist Episcopal Cliurch and he is a Royal 
 Arch Mason, also a Sir Knight belonging to Strat- 
 ton Lodge. No. 108. He is also identified with the 
 G. A. R. and is a member of the Protective and 
 
868 
 
 PORTRAIT AKD BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 Detective Association, lie votes the straight Re- 
 publican ticket and is frequently sent as a dele- 
 gate to the various conventions, attending in that 
 c.Tpacity the Waterway Convention held at Peoria, 
 111., in 1887. He has been Justice of the Peace for 
 a period of eight years, and has in all respects 
 signalized himself as a wide-awake and useful citi- 
 zen, standing second to no man in this community. 
 A fine lithographic portrait of Mv. Chaiiman is 
 shown elsewhere in this work. 
 
 -^^ 
 
 ANIEL A. COFFMAN. Seldom does the 
 labor of man persistently followed with 
 one aim and object in view, fail of suc- 
 cess. He who begins life without other 
 resources than his own indomitable will and perse- 
 vering energy, learning to overcome discourage- 
 ments and finally arriving at a point approacliing 
 the top of the ladder, deserves more than a passing 
 mention. The subject of this notice, the Super- 
 visor of Grand Xiew Township, is a forcible illustra- 
 tion of what may be accomplished by a man 
 beginning poor but honest, with little education or 
 experience, but with the ambition to become a man 
 among men. We find him prominent in his com- 
 munitv. the owner of one of the best farms in 
 Grand View Township, a liberal supporter of edu- 
 cational and religious institutions and in all respects 
 a useful and praiseworthy' citizen. The fact that 
 he is highly spoken of by those who have known 
 him best for long years, is sufficient indication of 
 his true cliaracter. 
 
 Within the limits of Edgar County Mr. Coffm.an 
 has spent his entire life. He was born at his father's 
 old homestead in this township, March 21, 1844, 
 and is the son of William Coffman, a native of Au- 
 gusta County, Va., a brick mason by trade as well as 
 a contractoiM n d builder. The great-grand- 
 ijarents on both sides of the house emigrated from 
 Germany during the colonial d.ays and settled in 
 the Old Dominion, where it is believed they spent 
 the rem.ainder of their lives. The great-grand 
 father Coffman brought with him his seven sons, 
 admirable si)ecimens of pure (icrman stock, who 
 
 transmitted to their descendants their own high 
 qualities of honesty, industry and love of truth. 
 One of these, Jacob byname, was the grandfather 
 of our subject and did good service as a soldiei- in 
 the Revolutionary War. 
 
 Mrs. Lydia (Acord) Coffman, the mother of our 
 subject, was likewise the daughter of a Revolu- 
 tionary hero, who while in the discharge of his 
 duties was shot through the body just above the 
 hip. The wound was probed by having a silk 
 handkerchief run through it, and the victim re- 
 covered and lived to a ripe old age. William Coff- 
 man and his future bride grew to mature years in 
 their native State where they were married and 
 lived until 18.3G. That year, emigrating to Illi- 
 nois, they came to this county and settled near 
 Grand \'iew, where thej' lived a couple of years, 
 then changed their residence to the western portion 
 of this township, where they spent the remainder 
 of their da3's. They were among the pioneers of 
 this region, doing much labor and enduring in com- 
 mon with the people about them, the hardships of 
 life on the frontier. The father became the owner 
 of a piece of land and died April 30, 1885. The 
 mother departed this life Nov. 4, 1871, fourteen 
 years prior to the decease of her husband. 
 
 To the parents of our subject were born twelve 
 children, all of whom are living — a most remark- 
 able circumstance, perhaps not equaled in the 
 county. They were all given practical educations 
 in the common schools. Among them Daniel was 
 the seventh in order of birth; he remained with his 
 parents contributing his earnings to the family 
 treasury until he was a man of twenty-five years. 
 In the meantime near the close of the Civil War, 
 which had begun when he was a mere youth, he 
 enlisted as a Union soldier, Feb. 15, 1865, in Com- 
 pany B, 154tli Illinois Infantry. This regiment 
 was organized at Camp Butler, near Springfield, and 
 soon afterwards was ordered to Louisville, Ky.; 
 thence they were sent to Nashville, Tenn., later to 
 Mnrfeesboro and TuUahoma, returning to Nashville 
 without being required in any active engagement, 
 and soon afterward, the war being at an end, they 
 were sent home, mustered out and discharged Sep- 
 tember 29, of that same year. Four brothers of 
 Mr. Coffman were also in the service. Daniel A. 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 869 
 
 experienced many of the hardships incident to life 
 in the array, and contracted a lung trouble from 
 which lie still suffers considerably. 
 
 For some years after returning from the army 
 Mr. Coffman was in very poor health, but he la- 
 bored as much as possible on the farm and in due 
 time prepared to establish a home of iiis own. He 
 was )narried Nov. 12, 1872, to Miss Arabell, a 
 daughter of Jesse and Eliza (Willie) Perr}', origi- 
 nally from Indiana, but at that time residents of 
 Douglas Countj', this 'State. The family on both 
 sides of the house was of English descent. Mr. 
 Perry was a prominent man among the early settlers 
 of Douglas] County, a successful farmer and stock- 
 dealer, and possessed an unblemished character. 
 He died in 1884. The mother is still living, and a 
 resident of Douglas County. They were parents 
 of eight children, the eldest of whom, a son, Jef- 
 ferson, entered the Union army during the Rebel- 
 lion, was Captain of Company E, 79th Illinois 
 Infantry, and was killed at the battle of Franklin, 
 Tenn. Another son, John, was also a soldier in the 
 Union army, and is now a resident of Kansas. 
 
 Mrs. Coffman was the seventh child of her par- 
 ents and was born in Clark County, Ind., July 31, 
 1852. She received a good education and success- 
 fully passed a teacher's examination, receiving a 
 certiflcate but never using it. After their marriage 
 Mr. and Mrs. Coffman settled upon the farm which 
 they now occupy, and which our subject had pur- 
 chased a short time previously, and had alreadj' 
 made good headway towards its improvements. 
 The young people had very little money at the 
 outset, but by living economically in due time 
 found themselves financially on solid ground. 
 
 To our subject and his estimable wife there were 
 born four children, only three of whom are living 
 — Vashie E., now (1889) twelve years of age; (^ji-a 
 A., six years old, and Alonzo O., aged two years. 
 Mr, and Mrs. Coffman are both members in good 
 standing of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in 
 whicli Mr. Coffman has been Steward and Trustee 
 for many years, and to which he has been a lilicial 
 contributor, giving $400 toward the erection of a 
 church edifice, which is a fine structure, and an or- 
 nament to the town of Grand Mew. Mr. Coffman 
 politically has, since becoming a voter, been an 
 
 active member of the Democratic party, and has 
 been sent as a delegate to many of the county con- 
 ventions. He attended in this capacity the Senato- 
 rial Convention of 1888 at Paris. Sociallj^ he 
 belongs to Grand View Lodge A. F. & A. M., and 
 to Kansas Post G. A, R. In 1870 he was Town- 
 ship Assessor; he has officiated as School Director 
 and Road Supervisor and is serving his second term 
 as a member of the County Board of Supervisors. 
 The Coffman homestead comprises 240 acres of 
 finely cultivated land, situated on the main road 
 leading from Grand View to Martinsville. With its 
 buildings and appliances it constitutes one of the 
 most attractive features of the landscape in this 
 region, and those of our readers who have never 
 been so fortunate as to see it, will enjoy the fine view 
 of the house presented in this volume. It is ad- 
 mirably adapted to stock-raising, of which the 
 proprietor makes a specialty, having at the present 
 time sixty head of cattle, 200 head of fine sheep, 
 thirteen head of horses, including some very fine 
 animals, and about 100 head of hogs. From these 
 various sources Mr. Coffman realizes a handsome 
 income, and the family are surrounded by all the 
 comforts and many of the luxuries of life. The 
 maternal grandfather of Mr. Coffman was a Uni- 
 ted States Surveyor connected with the Corps of 
 Survej'ors in Tennessee. 
 
 EATON S. RICE, operates 620 acres of land 
 situated just west of Hildreth Station, 
 which he rents from the owners, Loften & 
 Patterson. He was born Nov. 22, 1834, in 
 Slielby Count}', Ky., to Strother G. and Hannah 
 (Underwood) Rice, both natives of Shelby County, 
 Ky. Grandfather Rice was a ^'irginian, but crossed 
 the mountains to Kentucky for a bride. She was a 
 fine lady of the old school, domestic in her tastes 
 and motherly in her nature. She raised three fam- 
 ilies of children. The father of our subject was a 
 cultivator of the soil liy means of which he gained 
 a livelihood for his family, but devoted his Sun- 
 days and other spare time to the edification of 
 neighlidrs and friends, ministering to their religious 
 
870 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 needs in the pulpit of the Baptist Cluircii until he 
 laid down the burden of life when about forty-five 
 years of n^e. The niotlici- of our subject con- 
 tinued in the enjoyment of good health until the 
 year 1«81, when she too was strick-i-n and passed 
 away at the age of seventy-eight. This couple had 
 ciulit chililren — Lucy Ann, the second child, died 
 in infancy; S. S., our subject. Elizabeth F., James 
 A., William T., Charles N., and John M. Lucy 
 Ann married Jesse Kenned}-, a farmer. She died 
 in Putnam County, Ind., at tlie n^e of forty years, 
 leaving five ehihh-en. Elizabeth F. is now Mrs. 
 John W. MeKee and lives in Putnam County, Ind. 
 She has three children living. James A. lives in 
 Rochedale, Putnam County, Ind., where he follows 
 the occupation of a brick mason. He is mariied 
 and has seven children. During our late war he 
 served his country in the Union army, gallantly 
 battling along with his cijinrades in an Indiana icir- 
 iment. William T. died about nine years ago, 
 leaving a widow and one child. Charles X. de- 
 parted this life when only fourteen years of at;'e. 
 John H. is single, and resides in Edgar Towiisl.'ip, 
 where he follows the occupation of a farmer. 
 
 When Mr. Rice vvas two years old his i)ai-enls 
 removed to Putnam County, Ind., where tlie>- pur- 
 ciiased land and farmed it with wisdom and en(■|■i;^•. 
 The father also preached there, and they continued 
 to make that their home during life. In Auuust, 
 1856, our subject was married to Miss Elizabetli J. 
 Catherwood,at the bride's home in Putnam County, 
 Ind. Putnam County was nlso the birthplace of 
 Mrs. Rice and her home until marriage. After 
 marriage the young couple rented a farm and op- 
 erated until August, 1S74, when tliey removed to 
 Edgar County, this State, when they again i-cnted 
 land and followed farming. Mr. and Mis. Rice 
 have liad but one child of their own. They have 
 however, reared as their own, Charles William 
 .Monzo, a son of William T. Rice. [le is now 
 about eighteen years of age and gives promise of 
 u-ell i-epaying the lo\'e . -ind care liestowed u|Kin him 
 by his uncle and aunt. They have alsoiui adopted 
 child, Ora E. King, who is bright and intelligent, 
 and no doubt will be the meajis of demonslj-aLinir 
 the words of the IIolj' Writ tliat "bread east upon 
 the waters will return .afler many da\s." 
 
 Politically ]Mr. Rice is a Democrat, and has 
 served his district as School Director and Road 
 Supervisoi'. In religi(jus life he assists in support- 
 ing the Presbyterian Church, in which communion 
 liis wife finds a congenial home. Mr. Rice is a tall, 
 well built man, with a pleasant, genial expression 
 of c(.)untenance. His nature is simple-hearted, 
 honest and sincere, and he is good, honest, up- 
 right citizen. 
 
 ,/^N HARLES P. HITCH. It is an interesting 
 ((( n ''^^''' ^^ ^'"^ histor}' of any cit^' or county to 
 ^^f' observe the different characteristics of the 
 men and women whose life records are therein por- 
 trayed, and notice the varying ways by which they 
 have mounted the ladder of success. Some seem 
 to have fortune thrust on them unawares, while 
 others after years of exertion seem to have readied 
 (uily the lower rounds of that ladder, by which we 
 would climb from (he '-lowly earth to the vaulted 
 skies." We often in a philosophic mood, inquire, 
 whence this difference.? I'sually it is the result of 
 the individual traits, which vary among us all. 
 Those who possess the greatest endurance, the 
 most patience, the highest ambitions, and the lof- 
 tiest aims, are those who are successful in life. 
 But combined with this there must be excellent 
 l)nsiness qualifications for a commercial success, or 
 winning qualities of a high order for a political 
 success. T'hese combined will make a man popu- 
 lar both with the people and tlie government. 
 
 The subject of this review is of a noble old En- 
 glish family, and inherited perhaps, some of his ex- 
 cellent qualities. Others are the lesult of years of 
 study and observation. In theory the life of a 
 man of this character is of great interest, but in 
 ])ractical life it is of the utmost importance. 
 
 fUiarles P. Hitch, U. S. IMarshal for the SouUi- 
 ern District of Illinois, and Grand Recorder of the 
 A. (), U. ^^' , for the jurisdiction <_if Illinois, is 
 one of the liest known residents of Edgar County 
 where he lived for moi'e than twenty years. He 
 was born in Clermont County, Oliio, Jan. 16. LSAO. 
 his parents being Benjamin F., and Laura A. 
 (White) Hitch. The family oi'iginally came from 
 EnghuuL and settled in this countr}'. Three broth- 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 871 
 
 ers, John, Beujainin, and Hardy Hitch came fruui 
 Kiighuid some' time aftci' Loi'rt Baltimore fouodeil 
 his colony in Maryland. John anil Benjamin 
 made their homes on tlie eastern coast of that 
 iState; Ilnrdv. who was a sea-faring man, settled in 
 New Bedford, Mass.; Benjamin, who was grent- 
 o-real grandfather of Charles P. Hitch, married 
 Mary Pitt, a member of the distiiigiiished Knglish 
 family of that name. Four childi'en were born to 
 them, the youngest, Tliomas, being great-grand- 
 father of our subject. He was born Ang. 7, 1773, 
 and died Feb. 22, 18G2, when he was in his nine- 
 tieth year. He iiad eight children, of whom six 
 lived to be more than seventj' years of age. His 
 eldest son, John, was grandfather of him of whom 
 we write. He was born in JMaryland, .June 24, 
 1794, and in 17'J7 was bi'ought by hi.-, parents to 
 Kentucky, they settling near Augusta in Bracken 
 Countj'. In tiie spring of 1813, John Hitch made 
 a journey on a keel-boat down the Licking, up the 
 Ohio to the Kanawha, then u[) tiie latter river to 
 the salt works, a venturesome trip for a youth of 
 less then nineteen years. Prtjcuring six barrels 
 of that precious article he made the return in safe- 
 ty, and then sold the salt to his neighbors for 
 twenty five cents a peck, it having before that sold 
 for fifty cents. 
 
 About this time Gov. Shelby issued his call for 
 volunteers to fight the British and Indians, and 
 John Hitch was one of the first to offer his servi- 
 ces. He fought under Gen. Harrison at the battle 
 of the Thames, where the Indian chief, Tecumseh, 
 was finally overpowered and killed. John Hitch 
 was a brave and daring soldier, and was one of ten 
 intrusted with the carrying of important dis- 
 patches, a duty which he invariably performed to 
 the entire satisfaction of his commander. After 
 the war he returned to the quiet of his home, but 
 soon emigrated to Clermont County, Ohio, wdiere 
 he arrived April 12, 1814. In January of the year 
 following lie was united in marriage with Miss 
 Nancy Simmons. In this count)- he passed the re- 
 mainder of his life, dying at Bantam, Ohio, Jan. 
 23,1876. 
 
 Benjamin F. Hitch, father of Charles P., was 
 the eldest sou of John. He was l)orn at Laurel, 
 Clermont Co., Oliio, April 18, 1818, and thus 
 
 IS now in his seventy-second year (188'J). He 
 was reared to the life of a farmer, ;uid one of the 
 earliest lessons he couned in the book of experi- 
 ence was the meaning of the term, hard work. He 
 a-sisted liis parents in building up a home in the 
 wilderness, and in clearing an ay the primeval for- 
 ests. He remained with his parents until his mar- 
 riage, which took place Dec. IS, 1838, his bride 
 being Miss Laura A. White,daughtcr of Firman and 
 I'olly \\'lute. Soon after his marriage he began 
 the business of wagon-making, which he left for a 
 time to embark in milling, at Elk Lick Hills, on 
 the East Fork Creek. He <-ontinued in the latter 
 business until about the year 18.j3, when he re- 
 moved to the village of IJantam and again engaged 
 in the manufacture <jf wagons, carriages, etc., on 
 quite an extensive scale from that time and place. 
 Attracted, however, by the greater possibilities of 
 the new West he sold his business, reserving his real 
 estate and removed to Mount Pleasant, Iowa, where 
 for a time he engage(l in farming. >vot liking that 
 counti-y as well as he had expected to he returned 
 to (Jhio, and repurchased his former business, 
 which lie carried on until 18(;5 on a large and in- 
 creasing scale. During the war he took the eon- 
 ti'act for making hames and harness for the Gov- 
 ernment, and in that business accumulated a con- 
 siderable fortune. At the close of the war he 
 changed his place of residence to New Richmond, 
 Ohio, twenty miles from Cincinnati, and there 
 erected a large manufactory for the making of 
 carriages of all kinds. He conducted that business 
 for five 3'ears, then gave it up to his elder sons 
 and returned to his old home in Bantam. But he 
 was not content to retire from active life, and so 
 established a general merchandise store, dealing in 
 all sorts of articles, trading for stock, toliacco, etc. 
 In 1887 he made a speculation in tobacco from 
 which he cleared over ^ii^ 15,000. About this time 
 his sons sold the carriage business to an uncle, and 
 they too returned to Bantam. Again the father 
 turned the business over to them and this time he 
 retired from active life, and is now devoting his 
 attention to tlie oversight of his flue, large farm 
 near Bantam. He is now seventy-one years of age, 
 his wife being sixty-nine, and on the 18th of 
 December, 1888, they celebrated their golden wed- 
 
!S72 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOCRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 ding aniiiversaiy, on which occasion a large num- 
 ber of their descendants and friends were present. 
 He has always been an active man, hut cared 
 more for his business than for public office. He, 
 however, believes in the principles of the Republi- 
 can party and uniformly votes that ticket. 
 
 Benjamin F,, and Laura A. Hitch were the par- 
 ents of six children, namely: ]Mary Elizabeth, 
 who (vas the wife of All)ert G. Justice, died at 
 Bantam ; Frank A., is a merchant of Amelia, Ohio; 
 Levi W., is a merchant in Bantam, of which town 
 lie is Postmaster under the Harrison administra- 
 tion. He carries on the store formerly conducted 
 by his father, and is also interested in farming : 
 John W., is in the stock business at Walnut Hills, 
 Cincinnati; our subject was next in order of birth; 
 the j^oungest is Anna Belle, wife of Prof. W. S. 
 Pl^'nn, Priuci]jal of the North District at Cincin- 
 nati. 
 
 Charles P. Hitch remained under the parental 
 roof until he had attained the age of fifteen years, 
 when he commenced the course at Parker's Acade- 
 near New Richmond, where he finished his educa- 
 tion. From that institution he went to New Rich- 
 mond, and entered his uncle's dry-goods store as a 
 clerk. He remained with him until 1869, then came 
 to Edgar County. His first occupation here was as 
 clerk in the dry-goods of A. C. Connely in Paris, 
 with whom he staid for years. In 1873 he was ap- 
 pointed Deputy County Clerk, wiiich position he 
 held for eight years. In 1881 he was elected 
 Grand Recorder of the A. O. U. W,, holding that 
 position up to the present time. In 1872-73 he 
 served a term as City Clerk of Paris, and in 1884 
 was elected Alternate Delegate to the Republican 
 National Convention in Chicago, which nominated 
 .Tames G. Blaine for President; and in 1888 was a 
 regular delegate to the National Convention and 
 voted for Gen. Harrison for Pjesident, on the 
 fourth ballot with two other delegates from Illi- 
 nois. He was one of the State delegates who voted 
 continuously for Harrison until he was nominated. 
 On May 24, 1889, Mr. Hitch was appointed to the 
 responsible position of United States Marshal for 
 the Southern District of Illinois, taking possession 
 of his office July 1, 1889. 
 
 For fifteen years Mr. Hitch has had a faithful 
 
 helpmate and companion in the person of his wife, 
 who has been a sharer of his joys, and a comforter 
 in time of trouble. With her Mr. Hitch was united 
 in marriage Dec. 25, 1874. She was in her youth 
 Miss Mary I. Huston, daughter of Dr. Paul Hus- 
 ton, a physician and surgeon of Paris. She was 
 born in that city Dec. 17, 1849. Their union has 
 been blessed to them by the birth of one child, 
 Lucy W. 
 
 Mr. Hitch belongs to the Masonic fraternity, is 
 a member of the Paris Lodge, No. 268, A. F. and 
 A. M.; of Edgar Chapter, No. 32, R. A. M., and 
 is likewise a member of Apollo Lodge, No, 58, K. 
 of P. and of Austin Lodge No. 664, I. (). O. F. A 
 gentleman of unblemished character and of decided 
 ability, with which he combines a genial and courte- 
 ous manner,he has hosts of friends, and wields a con- 
 siderable interest in social and political circles. He 
 faithfully discharged the many responsible duties 
 entrusted to him, and everyone who knows him 
 is pleased with his well deserved success and ad- 
 vancement. 
 
 -^-^^'^^4^-^*- 
 
 |p) PHRAIM TOWNSON. In Young America 
 |fe] Township on section 12, is located the 
 1^^ homestead of Mr. Townson who was born 
 in Winchester County, Md., Feb. 28, 1829. His 
 parents were likewise natives of that State and of 
 English ancestry. His father, Ephraim Townson, 
 died a month prior to the birth of his son. When 
 Ephraim was eight or nine years of age his mother 
 emigrated to Marion County, Ind., where she 
 married a farmer by the name of Charles Britten- 
 ham. 
 
 Mr. Brittenham came to Edgar County about 
 forty years ago and settled probably seven miles 
 west of Paris, where he rented a farm. Subse- 
 quently he removed to the vicinity of Cherry 
 Point in Ross Township, where his death took place 
 prior to the outbreak of the late Civil War. His 
 widow, the mother of our subject, survived until the 
 spring of 1865. Of her marriage with Mr. Townson 
 there were born two children only, our subject 
 and his sister, Eliza. The latter married a Air. 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOaRAPlIIGAL ALBUM. 
 
 873 
 
 Reed and died in Indiana several years ago, leav- 
 ing a family. By her second marriage the mother 
 of our subject had two more children — Samuel and 
 Nancy — who are both deceased. The former 
 served in the Union Army and died about seven 
 years ago. 
 
 The subject of this sketch, upon the outbreak of 
 the Rebellion, enlisted in an Illinois Regiment, but 
 before he could be mustered into servic'e he was 
 taken ill with typhoid fever and obliged to accept 
 his discharge. Upon his recovery, however, he re- 
 enlisted in Company K., ■59th Illinois Infantry and 
 participated in the battles of Franklin and Nash- 
 ville. He served until the close of the war and 
 received his final discharge, June 16, 186"). He 
 had been married in October, ISfiS, toMiss Martha 
 A., daughter of William and Charlotte Hawkins. 
 Mrs. Townson was born in Edgar County. Her 
 mother died in 1 857. Her father is still living 
 near old Bloomfield and is now about seventy-five 
 years of age. 
 
 Since his return from the army Mr. Townson 
 has followed farming aud is now operating on 200 
 acres of rented land. Ten children have been 
 born to him and his estimable partner, namely: 
 America, Sarah A., Charlotte, Kanada, Mary, Ida 
 A., Hattie, Nancy, William and Pollen. America 
 became the wife of Morgan Wasson by whom she 
 had two children ; Mr. Wasson died about nine jcars 
 ago; Mrs. Wasson is living near Camargo, Douglas 
 County, this State, with her second husband, James 
 Beck, by whom she is the mother of one child. 
 Sarah is the wife of John .Smith, a farmer living 
 near Cisco, in Piatt County; thej^ have three chil- 
 dren; Charlotte died when twenty-three years old; 
 Kanada is the wife of Elsie Roberts, a farmer and 
 has one child : Mary married Kelley McKee, a pros- 
 perous farmer living next to his father-in-law, Mr. 
 Townson, and they have four children; Ida mar- 
 ried Benjamin Mclvee, a brother of Kelley ; they 
 have one child and live in Ross Township; Ilattie 
 is the wife of Alfred Walls, a school teacher, resid- 
 ing in Indianola, and they have one child; Nancy 
 is the wife of Andrew Smith and lives on a 
 farm south of Metcalf; William and Ella remain 
 at home with their parents. 
 
 Mr. Townson has been a hard-working man all 
 
 his life. Since his return from the army his health 
 has been delicate, but he has nevertheless been a 
 persistently industrious man. Theii married chil- 
 dren have done well and are comfortably situated 
 in good homes. Although receiving but a limited 
 education, on account of his father's early death, 
 Mr, Townson is nevertheless, a man of good general 
 knowledge. He is honorable and fair in his deal- 
 ings with his fellow men and of very correct and 
 frugal habits. He gave to his children a practi- 
 cal education and taught them habits of industry, 
 together with those high moral sentiments which 
 have made of them upright and praiseworthy citi- 
 zens. In politics, he is a sound Republican. He 
 has held no public office, being content to quietly 
 meet and discharge the duties of a private citizen 
 and give such attention to his home and his family 
 as will secure the most comfort and happiness 
 there. 
 
 
 !-?S. 
 
 tfZj^ ON. WASHixrrroN Alexander is 
 
 one of the early pioneers of Edgar County, 
 S^ and has played well his part in shaping its 
 'i^ history. He came here at the age of 
 twelve, in 1820, His father, John B. Alexander, 
 was a native of Mecklenberg County, N. C., where 
 he was born in 1765 and where he lived untila short 
 time before his marriage to Miss Barbara King, 
 who was a native of Scotland. He then moved to 
 Elbert County. Ga. Ii\ his youth he learned the 
 fulling business but after attaining his majority he 
 followed farming. In 1804 he removed from 
 Georgia to Williamson County, Tenn, where lie 
 was one of the early pioneers. 
 
 Washington Alexander w^as born June 3, 1808 
 and was the eleventh of a familv of twelve children. 
 In 1811 his father removed to Lincoln County, 
 Tennessee, where he continued farming, and there 
 Washington commenced attending a private school. 
 In 1818 his father again changed his location to 
 Lawrence County, Ala., that being the second year 
 that land was placed on the market there. The 
 family only remained in Alabama two years, when 
 the\' embarked in a '•prairie schooner" or covered 
 wagon and started for Illinois. When they arrived 
 
87 4 
 
 PORTKAIT AND BIOGKAPIIICAL ALBUM. 
 
 in Edgar County, the land bad not been surveyed 
 by the Government. Tbey finally located on the 
 Little Vermilion River, four miles west of George- 
 town, there being but one family in that locality 
 at the time. Henry Johnson had been there two 
 months. There the Alexanders constructed a cabin 
 and lived the first winter. The country at that 
 time was overrun with wild game. In the spring of 
 1821 they removed to near where Baldwinsville now 
 stands. Here the elder Alexander purchased a 
 quarter section of land, on which he remained until 
 1825, making the usual improvements. He then 
 went four miles west of where Georgetown now is, 
 and there entered a farm, remaining on this place 
 until the children were grown. He then went to 
 Danville and spent his last years, dying there in 
 1850. He was a prominent factor in the develop- 
 ment of this section of the country, and in the 
 early days held many responsible positions. He 
 was at one time Commissioner of Clark Count}-, 
 and in 1823, he was commissioned as the first Post- 
 master at Paris. He was elected to the Legislature 
 in 1826 as the candidate of the Democratic party. 
 Mr. Alexander was eighty-flve years old at the 
 time of his death, while his wife was eighty-one 
 years of age when she was called away. 
 
 Washington Alexander lived witii his fatlier at 
 the various places mentioned above, until he was 
 twenty-six years of age, when he began selling 
 goods at Georgetown. He afterward removed to 
 Paris, then a town struggling for existence, and 
 containing but a few families, and on his removal 
 carried with him a stock of general merchandise, 
 latterly building up a good trade. He was in 
 partnership with his brother, Gen. Alexander. 
 The postofflce was connected with the store, but 
 the mails in those days were not overloaded. The 
 postage ranged from six and a quarter cents to 
 twenty-five cents and the mail arrived at Paris 
 every two weeks, not over a dozen letters being in 
 each mail. In 1832 Mr. Alexander enlisted in the 
 Black Hawk War. His first enlistment occured in 
 Vermilion County, 111. He then went to Joliet 
 and joined the command there, but for some rea- 
 son was mustered out of the service. He subse- 
 quently enlisted in the regiment that was formed 
 in this county, which was stationed at that time at 
 
 the mouth of the Little Vermilion River, where it 
 empties into the Illinois River, then known as Ft. 
 Wilburn. The command was then ordered to Dixon, 
 from there it marched toP't. Hamilton up the Peca- 
 tonica River in the Galena lead mine district, from 
 Ft. Hamilton went up Rock River and on this 
 march they got short of provisions. They finally 
 marched over to the Portage between Fox and Wis- 
 consin rivers, thence returned to Gen. Atkinson's 
 headquarters on Rock River, then pursued the In- 
 dians and took part in the battle of Bad Axe, from 
 there returned home. All of this occurred from 
 May to August. After being mustered out, Mr. 
 Alexander the next year began merchandising 
 in Georgetown and the following year came to 
 Paris and remained until 1845. He was elected to 
 the Legislature on the Democratic ticket in 1 844, 
 and served one term. 
 
 In 1833 Mr. Alexander in companj- with his 
 brother-in law. Col. I. R. Moores, made a journey 
 to Philadelphia on horseback. They also went to 
 New York, the object of the trip being to buy 
 goods, aud at this time they took their first ride on 
 a railroad. The goods were shipped to Chicago by 
 canal and lake and then transported to Georgetown 
 by team. In 1850 Mr. Alexander crossed the plains 
 with ox-teams, starting in the middle of March 
 and arriving at Placerville, Cal., August 28. He 
 stopped in the mines and engaged in digging for 
 gold until 1854, when he came home by the way of 
 the Isthmus and New York. After his return he 
 engaged in farming quite successfully. He origi- 
 nally owned ten acres of ground, where the second 
 ward of Paris is now located, which is known as 
 "Alexander's Addition" and on this land Lincoln, 
 Douglas, Cassius M. Clay, Owen Lovejoy and 
 ^'oorhes spoke at different times. Mr. Alexander 
 was well acquainted with these distinguished gen- 
 tlemen and knew Lincoln when he was practicing 
 in the courts here. 
 
 For several years Mr. Alexander has not been 
 actively engaged in business except in the sale of 
 real estate. He never has sought office, being of 
 a retiring nature, and very modest. He held the 
 oflflce of Deputy Internal Revenue Collector dur- 
 ing the war, this appointment being tendered him 
 by reason of liis special fitness for the position. He 
 
Residence of W, D, Marley,5ec.3. Elbridge Tr, Edgar Co. 
 
 Residence of J. Y. M-.Culloch ,Sec.9. HunterTownship, Edgar Co. 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 877 
 
 lias been a member of the Presbyterian Church for 
 years, and is ever found ready to do his share in 
 alleviating the sorrows of this world. He was 
 married to Miss Sarah Young, of Paris, March 25, 
 1841. By this marriage live children have been 
 born, of whom two are living — Ravilla C. and 
 Frank R. They are at home with their father. 
 Mrs. Alexander was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, Sept. 
 29, 1821, where she received her education. Her 
 father, Jonathan Young, was a native of New Jer- 
 sev, where he married Miss Sarah McFarren and 
 removed to Cincinnati, and from there to Edgar 
 County, where he entered a section of land just 
 west of Paris. He lived in town until his death 
 which occured in August, 1868. His wife died in 
 December, 1880. 
 
 LjfelLLlAM D. MARLEY. For more than 
 \ fifty years Mr. Marley has been a resident 
 ^^^ of this county, and is now numbered among 
 its wealthiest and most prominent citizens. Like 
 many of bis compeers, he has arisen from a modest 
 position in life, and practically without means com- 
 menced the struggle in the pioneer days, which has 
 resulted in his becoming one of the largest land- 
 owners in this county, and closely identified with 
 its growth and development. His homestead is 
 finely located in the vicinity of Marley's Station, 
 where he first settkd in 183G, on eighty acres of 
 land lying on section 3, Elbridge Township. Later 
 he traded it for a 160-acre farm in Jasper County, 
 this State, where he resided two years, but not be- 
 ing satisfied with the country in that section, re- 
 turned to this county, of which he has since been a 
 resident. He first farmed on rented land two sea- 
 sons, then purchased eighty acres east of where his 
 residence now stands, and to it he has added until 
 he holds the warranty deeds to 1,500 acres, all in 
 Elbridge Township. 
 
 Mr. Marley has been uniformly successful in his 
 labors as an agriculturist, and of late years has made 
 a specialty of cattle-raising, shipping mostly to 
 Indianapolis. For the proper carrying on of this in- 
 dustry his farm is equipped with all modern con- 
 
 veniences, while he avails himself of modern 
 machinery and the appliances requisite for farming 
 and stock-raising in the most economical and profit- 
 able manner. He is a stock-holder in the First Na- 
 tional Bank at Paris, and has given his uniform 
 encouragement to those measures adopted for the 
 moral and financial growth of the people among 
 whom he has attained prosperity, and with whose 
 interests he has been closely allied during the period 
 of his long residence in the county. 
 
 Randolph County, N. C. is the native place of 
 our subject, his birth occurring July 31, 1818. He 
 attended the common schools, acquiring a limited 
 education therein, but what he lacked in advantages 
 was supplied by his habit of observation and the 
 faculty of keeping himself well-informed upon 
 what was going on around him in the world. His 
 parents, John and Lillie (Fields) Marley, were like- 
 wise born and reared in Randolph County, N. C, 
 and were of Irish descent. John Marley was a 
 shoemaker by trade, and two or three of his broth- 
 ers served as soldiers in the Revolutionary War. 
 AVilliam learned shoemaking of his father, and 
 worked with him until a youth of eighteen years, 
 manufacturing foot gear for the slaves of one man, 
 for which he was paid forty to fifty cents per day. 
 
 Finally becoming dissatisfied with his condition, 
 and his prospects, young Marley struck out for the 
 North, reaching tliis county Nov. 27, 1 836. Not 
 long afterward he abandoned shoemaking altogether 
 and turned his attention to farming pursuits. 
 AVhen ready to establish a home of his own, he was 
 married, in 1838, to JSIiss Julia A. Yeargin, a na- 
 tive of his own county, and who came to Illinois 
 with her parents when quite small. The family of 
 the latter comprised nine children, of whom Mrs. 
 Marley was the fifth in order of birth, and of whom 
 five are now living. 
 
 Twelve children came to bless the union of Mr. 
 and Mrs. Marley, only four of whom survive. 
 George is operating a mill in Paris; Henry is a 
 resident of Vermilion; Firman is farming in El- 
 bridge Township; James also operated a farm there 
 and officiates as Township Supervisor. Politically, 
 Mr. Marley supports the principles of the Republi- 
 can party, but has had very little to do with public 
 affairs, simply holding the office of Supervisor one 
 
878 
 
 PORTEAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 year. Tlie standard of agriculture and stock-rais- 
 ing has undoubtedly been greatly elevated through 
 the efforts of Mr. Marley, who entertains a justifi- 
 able pride in his achievements in this line. 
 
 In his pleasant home, a view of which appears in 
 this volume, Mr. Marley lives quietly and happily 
 in the society of a devoted wife, and surrounded 
 bv all the comforts of a rural home. 
 
 'OHN Y. McCULLOCH, one of the most 
 prominent men and successful farmers of 
 Hunter Township, occupies a homestead of 
 
 / 400 acres which possesses for him a far more 
 than moneyed value, as it was here he was born Jan. 
 \2, 1826. Besides this be is the owner of 400 acres 
 near, all of which is in productive condition and is 
 the source of a handsome income. The McCulloch 
 family came to this county at an early day and are 
 numbered among its most prominent and influential 
 citizens. They are people of more than ordinary 
 intelligence and have exerted no small influence 
 in elevating the moral and social standard of so- 
 ciety. 
 
 The parents of our subject were Otis and Ann 
 (McCulloch) McCulloch who emigrated from Mas- 
 sachusetts to Illinois about 1820, making the jour- 
 ney by canal and lake to Ft. Wayne and thence 
 down the Wabash to Dukes Ferry, Ind., and from 
 that point to Hunter Township, this county, where 
 the father entered a part of land comprising the 
 present homestead. The mother lived only a few 
 years thereafter, passing away in 1828 when her 
 son, our subject, was a little over two years old. 
 Later the father returned East and was married to 
 Miss Zeruah Crocker, a native of New York State, 
 who only lived four years after her marriage, dying 
 also at the home farm. Of the first marriage there 
 had been born four children, of wliom John Y. was 
 the only one who lived to mature years. 
 
 The third wife of Otis McCulloch was Mrs. I. B. 
 Keys and they became the parents of one daughter, 
 Ann, who is the wife of ^Villiam II. Lamb, of Tus- 
 cola. The father died in 1860 at the age of seventy 
 years and his last wife died in 1875. Mr. McCul- 
 
 loch was the first to come directly from New Eng- 
 land to Illinois without stopping on the way. The 
 land in this region was then chiefly owned hy the 
 Government and the present farm of our subject 
 included the original town site of Cambridge which 
 town long since became a thing of the past. Our 
 subject remembers when the Indians often passed 
 through the country and wild animals of all kinds 
 were abundant. The nearest market during the 
 earlier days was at Tcrre Haute, Ind., where they 
 purchased whatever they needed for the farm and 
 family, including salt and nails. 
 
 The maternal grandfather of our subject was 
 James McCulloch, who enjoj^ed the personal 
 acquaintance of Gen. AYashingtonand was a soldier 
 of the Revolutionary War. He married Miss Sarah 
 Otis, the daughter of a prominent family and while 
 serving in the Continental Armj- was at the sur- 
 render of Burgoyne's army at Yorktown. There 
 he got possession of a young horse which he kept 
 until it was thirt3'-six years old, and our subject now 
 has a pair of saddlebags made from the hide of the 
 animal. Prof. Hurty of Paris took these saddlebags 
 to New Orleans during the late exposition, where 
 they were gazed upon by thousands as a valuable 
 relic of the past. 
 
 On the mother's side, the great-grandfather of 
 our subject was John Otis of Scotch ancestry in 
 which country also originated the McCullochs. 
 John Y.,our subject, was married in Cook County, 
 111., to Miss Olive H. Plumb, daughter of Saxton 
 and Harriet (Roberts) Plumb. Mr. Plumb was a 
 native of Connecticut and when a child of two years 
 was taken by his parents, James and Eunice 
 (Minor) Plumb to A'^ermont where he was reared 
 and where the grandparents died. After the death 
 of the mother in Vermont the father of Mrs. 
 McCulloch came to this county and died here. 
 Our subject and his estimable wife are the parents 
 of eight children, the eldest of whom, a daughter, 
 Mary is the wife of J. T. Butler of Dakota. Otis 
 and Hattie died at the ages of eighteen months and 
 twenty-six years respectively. The survivors are 
 James, George, Esther, John and Julia. 
 
 The old barn which the father of our subject 
 built six months before the birth of the latter and 
 in which were held religious services many years 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAl'IIJCAL ALBUM. 
 
 879 
 
 ted. 
 
 ago, stood until 1H67 when it was destroyed by fife. 
 At the time of its raising men came fi'oni thirty 
 miles away to assist. The country was thinly set- 
 tled and few people had neighbors nearer than 
 several miles. The parents of our subject were 
 members of the Presbyterian Church in which the 
 father was an active and zealous worker. 
 
 On another page of the Album will be found a 
 lithographic view of the residence of Mr. and Mrs. 
 McCuUoch with its beautifal and homelike sur- 
 roundings. 
 
 NDREW JACKSON BARTH. In noting 
 the career of the leading men of Young 
 America Township, that of the^subjeet of 
 this notice cannot with propriety be omit- 
 He bears the reputation of being one of its 
 most energetic and industrious citizens, intelligent, 
 a first-class business man, prudent, frugal and 
 careful in his expenditures, by which means he has 
 built up one of the neatest homesteads in his 
 township, the land thoroughly tilled and well im- 
 proved, yielding to the proprietor not onl}' a 
 comfortable income for the present, but some- 
 thing to lay up for a rainy day. It is finely 
 located on section 24. and is the object of admira- 
 tion by all who pass by it as denoting more than 
 ordinary thrift, good management and cultivated 
 taste. It stands prominently among the substan- 
 tial landmarks which the old and respected resi- 
 dents of Edgar County will leave, together with 
 their honorable names, as a rich legacy to their 
 children. 
 
 The subject of this biography was born in Pick- 
 away County, Ohio, on the 18th of September, 1848, 
 and is the son of Andrew and Catherine (Barth) 
 Barth,the families bearing no relation to each other. 
 Both were of German descent and natives of C4er- 
 many. They were married in Columbus, Ohio, 
 and afterward came to Edgar County, 111., where 
 the father was first employed as a weaver, but sub- 
 sequently occupied himself in farming. The pa- 
 rental household included twelve children, of 
 whom there are living: Henry, Andrew Jackson 
 
 (our subject), Jacob, Henrietta, Francis A., Mary 
 Ann, Nellie and Carolina (deceased). The others 
 died in infancy and youth. Henry is a stonemason 
 by trade, and is married; he resides at Chrisman, 
 and is the father of three children. During the 
 late Civil War he was a member of Company A, 
 25th Illinois Infantry, and fought in the battles of 
 Pea Ridge, Murfreesboroand Mission Ridge, being 
 wounded at the former place. Jacob, who is mar- 
 ried and the father of four children, is farming 
 near Cherry Point; Henrietta is the wife of Jacob 
 Williams, a farmer of Brooks County, Kan., and 
 they have one child; Francis A. is married, and 
 farming near Chrisman. Mary Ann and Nellie 
 are unniarrie.l, and reside with their father north 
 of Chrisman. Carolina became the wife of Mark 
 Tuckei-, a farmer in the vicinity of Cherry Point, 
 and died at the early age of twenty-eight years, 
 leaving four children. 
 
 i\lr. Barth, like his brothers and sisters, received 
 a common-school education, and when reaehinw 
 man's estate, chose the pursuits of agriculture for 
 his vocation. When ready to establish a home of 
 his own, he was married, March 14, 1874, to Miss 
 Cynthia Ellen, daughter of William and Nancy 
 (Ilenrey) Tucker, who were natives of Kentucky. 
 The young people after their marriage settled on 
 farm near Cherry Point, where they lived until 
 1882. That year our subject purchased 111 acres 
 on section 24, in Young America Township, and 
 besides this he leases forty acres. Five children 
 have been born to him and his excellent wife, viz: 
 Cora, Ann, Clara Belle, Walter F., Lottie Ellen and 
 William A. 
 
 A Democrat in politics and a man of decided views 
 and opinions, Mr. Barth has been prominent in local 
 affairs, and represented his township in the County 
 Convention of 1888. He is at ])resent a member 
 of the Township Committee, and is likewise Com- 
 missioner of Highways and Drainage, and very 
 ellicient in the discharge of his duties. He is 
 highly in favor of thorough drainage, and is active 
 in the encouragement of the enterprise involvino- 
 the letting of contracts for over fifteen miles, in 
 which it is proposed to construct a canal fifteen 
 miles long, twenty- to thirty feet wide and eight to 
 nine feet deep. It is estimated that the cost of 
 
880 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 this will agg'rei>'!ite probably over ^25,000, but the 
 results to be obtained, it is believed, will amply 
 justify the outlay. Mr. Barth has been Township 
 Collector of Young America, and for many 3'ears 
 has served as School Director in his district. Loth 
 he and his excellent wife are prominently connected 
 with the Methodist E[)iscopal Church. Mr. Barth 
 keeps himself thoroughly posted upon current 
 events, and is a gentleman with whom it is both 
 pleasant and profitable to converse. 
 
 f/OHN RHOADS, Esi>., Justice of the Peace 
 of Embarras Township, is worthy of more 
 than a passing notice. A son of one of 
 (^7/ its earliest settlers, he vvas born in Sims 
 Township, Edgar County, on the 13th of March, 
 1828, and practically grew up with the country. 
 Wiiile he was securing a limited education in the 
 pioneer log school-house the immigrants were 
 slowly settling up this section of Illinois, and as 
 soon as he was old enough to be of service he 
 joined them in their labors of reducing a portion 
 the wilderness to the abode of a civilized and en- 
 lightened people. He is pardonably proud of the 
 fact that he has been a resident of tliis count}' for 
 the long period of sixty-one years, having sojourned 
 here almost uninterruptedy during his entire life. 
 Mr. Rhodes has made for himself an admirable 
 record as an honest man and a good citizen, and 
 one who has been closelj* identified with the best 
 interests of his county. He has discharged with 
 fidelity the duties of the various local offices, has 
 accumulated a comfortable property and reared a 
 very intelligent family of sons and daughters. He 
 comes of excellent Kentucky stock, Ijcing the son 
 of Jacob Rhoads, who was born in Muhlenburg 
 County, where he lived until 1822. Then, when a 
 young man grown, he emigrated to the West and 
 settled five miles south of Paris, in what is now 
 Sims Township, Edgar County, taking up his abode 
 among the Indians and wild animals. The red men, 
 however, were peaceable and he experienced no 
 molestation from them. He battled with the ele- 
 
 ments of life on the frontier, being (.iLiliged to get 
 his mail and do his trading at Terre Haute, Ind., 
 fifteen miles distant. Besides deer, turkeys and 
 other game, there were wolves, bears and p'lnthers 
 roaming amid the heavy timljer where he estab- 
 lished his cabin home, but he escaped all dangers 
 from these, felled the ti'ees, prepared the soil for 
 cultivation and opened up a good farm, where he 
 spent the remainder of his days. He departed this 
 life May 2, 1857. ^ 
 
 The maiden name of the mother of our subject 
 was Elizabeth Ripple; she was the daughter ot 
 Daniel Ripple, one of the earliest pioneers of Edgar 
 County. To the parents of our subject there were 
 born nine children, three only of whom are living, 
 viz.; Letitia, Mrs. Mapes; Alney M.,and John, our 
 subject. The eldest child, Eve, married a Mr. Fos- 
 ter, and went to Iowa forty years ago and has not 
 been heard from since during the war. The mother 
 was born in 1788 and died in Oct(.)ber, IS.JO; she 
 was a native of Pennsylvania and probablj- of 
 German ancestry, as she fluently spoke this lan- 
 guage with a mixture of the Pennsylvania Dutch. 
 
 The subject of this sketch was reared at the old 
 lionK'itea<l, pursuing his early studies in the winter 
 season, mostly in a log cabin school-house, with 
 puncheon floor and seats and desks made of the 
 same, these upheld b}' wooden pins driven into the 
 wall; greased paper for window panes, clapboards 
 for the roof, a huge fireplace occupiying nearly one 
 end of the building, and the chimney outside built 
 of earth and sticks. The plan of instruction was 
 in keeping with the surroundings, the teacher noi 
 being expected to possess a classical education. 
 Young Rhoads lived contentedly on the farm with 
 his parents, seldom going outside the limits of his 
 own township, and never living outside of the 
 county. 
 
 Remaining under the home roof until a man of 
 twenty-three years our subject was then married, 
 April 13, 1851, to Miss Sydney, daughter of Leven 
 ^Valls, who is long since deceased. The young 
 couple spent the first few years of their wedded life 
 in Sims, then in 18G3 established themselves on a 
 farm in Buck Township. Later, in the spring of 
 1880, they removed to the vicinity of Hume, where 
 they sojourned two years, and from there moved 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 n 
 
 to the present homestead. This comprises sixty 
 acres of well-tilled land vvhicli is highly productive, 
 siipiilied with good buildings and is in all res[)ects 
 a neat and comfortable home. 
 
 To Mr. and Mrs. Rlioads tliere have been born 
 eight ciiildren, tiie eldest of whom, a daughter, 
 Rosella, became the wife of Bruce Nnys, of this 
 county, and they have four children — Arthur C, 
 Bhmche, Fred and Claude S.; Laura is the wife of 
 Ira N. Lilley, of Buck Township; their one child is 
 deceased. Clara E. is the wife of Steplien Lamb- 
 din of INLarsl.all, Clark C'o., III., and they have three 
 children — Edna V., Tessie C. and Mabel X. Isa- 
 bclle F. married Willis (). Miller, of Shiloh Tovvn- 
 ship, and they have two children — Omar L. and 
 Ethel. Emily C. is the wife of Gilead Honeywell, 
 of Bucks Township, and they have two children — 
 Ivan H. and Beulah F. ; John R. and Henry H. are 
 with their father. Mrs. Sydney- Rhoads departed 
 this life March 2G, 1.S8I). She was a very estimable 
 lady and a consistent member of the Christian 
 Church for a period of twenty-eight years. Our 
 subject is also connected with this church, and is 
 numl)ered among its chief pillars. Politically, he 
 votes the straight Democratic ticket, and has. held 
 the office of Township Collector, Supervisor and 
 Highway Commissioner. He was elected Justice 
 of the Peace in the spring of l«Hy,and is evidently 
 well qualified for the office. 
 
 iLIJAH W.ANDREWS. The popular idea 
 that anybody can carry on farming success- 
 fully, has long been exploded, and we find 
 that, as in other channels of industry, farming has 
 become an art and a science, and is being carried 
 on by the most intelligent portion of mankind. 
 Those who are blessed with intellectual gifts find 
 here full scope for their imagination, and amid 
 the peaceful shades of rural life have been penned 
 some of the finest tlioughts ever given to the world. 
 Mr. Andrews has long been known as a writer of 
 prose and poetry of more than ordinary talent, and 
 through the columns of the Cincinnati JE/iqii/rer, 
 under the nom de plume of ■' Poliuta," lias olitaiiied 
 
 a national reputati(m, and the most complimentary 
 notices probably' ever given to any man in this sec- 
 tion of the Prairie State. He loves the country, 
 and has established one of the pleasantest and most 
 attractive homes in the rural regions, occupying a 
 portion of section 9, Embarras Township. This 
 comprises 200 acres of choice land on section 9, 
 the greater part of which is operated by his sons. 
 His residence is specially an object of attention, 
 standing as it does, on a fine elevation, command- 
 ing a broad view of the surrounding country, and 
 being in the midst of those pure airs so beneficial 
 to the health and spirits. 
 
 The native place of our subject was in Warren 
 County, N. J., and the date of his birth Sept. 7, 
 1819. His father, Jacob Andrews, was a native of 
 the same State, and of German parentage. He was 
 .'I blacksmith by trade, at which he worked in New 
 Jersey, and where he married Miss Elizabeth Tway, 
 who was born in that State. They became the pa- 
 rents of eight ciiildren, only three of whom are 
 living, viz.: Ann, Mrs. Warman; Catherine, Mrs. 
 Hendrickson, and Elijah W., our subject. The pa- 
 rents spent their last years in New Jersey. 
 
 Our subjtect learned the trade of carriage and 
 wagon maker from his father, ssrving his appren- 
 ticeshi|) early in life and working at it for sevei-al 
 years. In the meantime he became a skilled work- 
 man, and once made a wagon in Paris which sold 
 in St. Louis for §17.5. He had been reared to 
 man's estate on the farm, receiving an ordinary ed- 
 ucation but having the habit of observing what was 
 going <in around him in the world, and a taste for 
 reading and study by which he became well in- 
 formed, and carefull.y cultivated his literary tastes. 
 
 In 1845 our subject, leaving his native State, mi- 
 grated to Dayton, Ohio, where he sojourned nine 
 years, then, in 1854, changed his residence to Ed- 
 gar County, 111., settling in Paris when it was only 
 a small village. Afterward, during the Civil War, 
 he entered the Union service as one of the sappers' 
 and miners' regiment, with which he remained some 
 months, operating mostly around Cape (iirardeau, 
 Mo. In 18C5 he became a resident of his present 
 place in Embarras Township. 
 
 The 10th of June, 1849, witnessed the marriage 
 of our subject with Miss Elizabeth, daughter of 
 
B8-2 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 Abel Johnson, who is long since deceased. This 
 nnion resulted in the birth of five children, the 
 eldest of whom, a son, Francis M,., married Miss 
 Lucy Crawford, and lives in Buck Township. 
 They have six children: Lizzie B., Trevor C, 
 Edna, Clara M., Clarence E., and Howard M. Clara 
 is the wife of Douglas Hybarger, of Buck Town- 
 sliip, and thej' have two children: Flo3'd and Flos- 
 sie E. Ella is the wife of Halleck McCulley, of 
 Buck Township, and they have one child, Arthur. 
 Mrs. Elizabeth (.Johnson) Andrews departed this 
 life Jul}' 16, 1881. Mr. Andrews lives easily and 
 sensibly, giving largely of his time to literary pur- 
 snits, and carefull}^ avoiding the responsibilities of 
 office. Politically he advocates the principles of 
 tlie Piohihition party at the present time. 
 
 ^Y OHN R. HONNOLD. Kansas Town.=hip 
 I contains many wealth}' and enterprising 
 I men who have proved their industry and 
 (i^// progress by their surroundings, and who 
 have given to the world a fine illustratibn of what 
 may be accomplished by steady perseverance amid 
 difficulties and drawbacks. Few travelers passing 
 through this portion of Edgar County fail to ob- 
 serve the Honnold farm, which occupies 320 acres 
 on section 1, and forms one of the most beautiful 
 homesteads of that region. The dwelling is a neat 
 and substantial modern structure and is represented 
 in this volume by a lithographic engraving. The 
 barn adjacent fulfills the modern idea of what such 
 a building should be in all its appointments, and 
 is a marvel of the builder's art especially in point 
 of the interior, being complete in its arrangements 
 for the storage of grain and hay and the shelter of 
 stock. Of the latter Mr, Honnold keeps none but 
 high-grade animals; and in the cultivation of the 
 soil he employs the most improved modern ma- 
 chinery and in consequence realizes handsome 
 returns. As a man and a citizen he has led an irre- 
 proachable life, is progressive, liberal minded and 
 the uniform encoiiragcr of those measures set on 
 foot for the general good of the people. 
 
 The native place of our subject was near the 
 
 town of Otsego in Muskingum County, Ohio, 
 where his birth occurred Aug. 17, 1834. His 
 father, Richard Honnold, was a native of Loudoun 
 County, Va., and was born May 17, 1812. His 
 paternal grandfather was James Honnold, also a 
 native of Loudoun County and of German parent- 
 age. The family consisted of seven brothers, one 
 of whom crossed the Atlantic and settled in the Old 
 Dominion. It is believed that they followed agri- 
 cultural pursuits and^the character of their de- 
 scendants is sufficient evidence that they were 
 honest, substantial people who paid their just debts 
 and made a comfortable living for their families. 
 
 The father of our subject learned blacksmithing 
 in his early manhood and, being skillful with edged 
 tools, also followed carpentering considerably, 
 doing all his own work in these lines. "When es- 
 tablishing a home of his own he was married to 
 Miss Hannah Bradford, the daughter of John Brad- 
 ford, direct descendant of Gov. Bradford of Vir- 
 ginia. Ml-. John Bradford settled in Loudon 
 County, that iState, where his daughter, Hannah, 
 was born Jan. 25, 1812. Of her marriage with 
 Richard Honnold there were born twelve children, 
 nine of whom lived to mature years and eight yet 
 survive, namely: James L., John R., our suliject; 
 Hannah J., Mrs. Sutton; Benjamin W. of Winfield, 
 Kan; Sarah E., :\Irs. Stradley of Hume, 111.; Samuel 
 F., Elizabeth M.', ]\Irs. Yenawlne; and Mary F., 
 Mrs. Fell. AVith the exception of Benjamin and 
 Mrs. Stradley they are all residents of Kansas 
 Township. One son, Jefferson, during the Civil 
 Wor, enlisted in Company H, 59th Illinois Infantry 
 and met death on the battle field at Huntsville, 
 Ala. The deceased children died in infancy. Ben- 
 jamin also served in the late war and receives a 
 pension from the government as a partial compen- 
 sation for services rendered and injuries sustained. 
 Mr. Honnold took up his residence in this 
 county in September, 1855, settling first with his 
 parents on section 3 in Kansas Township. At the 
 homestead which they then built up, the father 
 died in 1877. The mother is still living there, hav- 
 ing now attained the age of seventy-eight years. 
 John R., like his brothers and sisters, acquired his 
 early education mostly in the chimney corner by 
 the light of the evening fire, attending school only 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 883 
 
 about two months each for a few winters. The 
 school house, was a log cabin built in the most 
 priuiitive style, with split log seats and floor, 
 greased paper for window panes and the writing 
 desks held to the wall by rude wooden pins. The 
 teacher was usually in keeping with his surround- 
 ings and generally enforced his precepts by the free 
 use of the rod. 
 
 Being fond of his books young Honnold managed 
 to secure a fair amount of practical knoweldge 
 and finally developed into a teacher, which profes- 
 sion he follovved for seven winters, fivo terms of 
 which were in the building now used by Mr. John 
 IMcAdams for a cow stable. During the summer 
 season he assisted his father on the farm. He has 
 always been fond of agriculture and chose this for 
 his vocation. Shortly after his twenty-fourth birtii- 
 day he took unto himself a wife and helpmate, 
 being married Sept. 23, 1858, to Miss Frances B , 
 daughter of Joiin D. Mock, and a native of Nor- 
 wich, Muskingum Co., Ohio, where she was born 
 Oct. 7, 1«38. Mr. Mock came to Edgar County in 
 1854 and is now a resident of Kansas Township. 
 (Jf this union there were born six children, five of 
 whom are living: Susan is the wife of Millard 1j. 
 Rhodes, a farmer of Kansas Township, and they 
 have one child, Jesse B. Ezra was first married to 
 Miss Mary Kilgorc, who died leaving one child — 
 J. Harlan. His second wife was formerly Miss Ella 
 Meadows and they reside in Kansas Township. 
 Anna L. is the wife of Mansfield Rhodes of this 
 township. Carrie V. and Ora E. are at home with 
 their parents. 
 
 The property of Mr. Honnold includes 320 acres 
 of choice farming land which is largely devoted to 
 live-stock. In cattle his preference is for high- 
 grade Short-horns, while he makes a specialty of 
 English and Norman draft horses and Poland-China 
 swine. He cast his first I'residential vote for John 
 C. Fremont, the first Republican candidate for 
 President, in tlie fall of 1856, and has since sup- 
 ported the principles of that party. He has iield 
 most of the local offices, being Township Assessor 
 for two years, Scliool Trustee nine years. School 
 Director twelve years; is serving his second term as 
 Commissioner of Highways and is Treasurer of the 
 Board. His religious views coincide with the 
 
 doctrines of the Methodist Episcopal Church with 
 which he is identified as is also his estimable wife 
 and children. In this church Mr. Honnold is a 
 leading member, officiating as Steward, Cla.ss 
 Leader and trustee, is an exhorter of no mean 
 talent and for a number of years was Superintend- 
 ent of the Sunday-school. Socially, he belongs to 
 Kansas Lodge, No. 280, A. F. and A. M. 
 
 John D. Mock, the father of Mrs. Honnold, was 
 born in Loudoun County, Va,, May 17, 1812, and 
 lived there until reaching his majority. AVhen 
 starting out in life for himself he migrated to 
 Muskingum County, (Jhio. in 1833 and thence came 
 to Coles County, III. From there in 185G lie came 
 to Edgar County. He was a life-long farmer and 
 a man greatly respected in his community. The 
 mother, Mrs. Hannah (Fell) Mock, was a native of 
 Pennsylvania and the daughter of Amos Fell. Mr. 
 and Mrs. Mock became the parents of quite a large 
 family of children, of whom only three lived to 
 mature years. Elizabeth C. married James L Hon- 
 nold, the eldest brotlier of our subject and Susan- 
 nah ^V., married a Mr. James H. Shiveley. Mr. and 
 Mrs. Mock are still living, occupying the old home- 
 stead, and are luimbei'ed among the honored 
 pioneers of Edgar Count}'. 
 
 WLLLIAM McCORD. There is an excellent 
 representation of Southern people in Ed- 
 „ „ gar County, among whom is the subject of 
 this notice, who was born in Greene County, Tenn., 
 JMay 26, 1819, and is now one of the well-to-do 
 farmers of Paris Township, occupying 117 acres 
 of land on section 2. 
 
 David McCord, the father of our subject, died 
 in I'ennessee when the latter was a child of seven 
 years. The mother, Esther (Berry) McCord, emi- 
 grated in the fall of 1833 to Johnson County, Ind.. 
 and there spent the winter with her little family. 
 In tiie spring of 1834 they moved to Coles County, 
 111., where one of the sons, David, Jr., entered a 
 tract of land including the present site of Oakland. 
 He put up a log house which the family occupied 
 laitil in February, 1835. The same year he removed 
 
884 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 to Macon County, 111., returning in the fall to 
 Edgar County. Then the mother and children com- 
 ing to Kdgar County, February, 1836, located south- 
 east of Paris, and the mother diud there in 1842, 
 leaving seven children. Two other children had 
 died prior to the decease of the mother. 
 
 William McCord was the youngest child of his 
 parents. In August, 1 845, he purchased from John 
 S. McConkjf the land which comprises his present 
 farm, and upon which the only improvement was 
 a rail fence. The task of bringing the land to a 
 state of cultivation, dividing the fields, planting 
 forest and fruit trees, erecting buildings, and gath- 
 ering about himself and his family the appliances 
 of modern life, has been no light task, and has 
 absorbed the time and labor of years. It now pre- 
 sents the spectacle of a well regulated farm, em- 
 bellished with a commodious brick residence, a good 
 barn and all the other outbuildings required for 
 the shelter of the stock and the storage of grain. 
 Tlic soil is tilled with the aid of modern machin- 
 ery, and a goodly assortment of live stock adds at- 
 tractiveness to the scene. 
 
 The j'ear after our subject had taken upon him- 
 self the dignity of a land owner, he was married 
 in October 1847, to Miss Nancy, daughter of 
 Adriel ana Eliza (Means) Stout. Mrs. MeCord 
 was born in Manchester, Ohio, June 13, 1822, and 
 in the same year, was brought by her pa- 
 rents to Edgar Countj^, 111. Here she was reared 
 to womanhood and married. Her father and 
 grandfather, William Means, located in Paris Town- 
 ship among the Indians, and to which place they 
 had Ijeen preceded by only one family. The town 
 of Paris was not then in existence, nor had it even 
 been laid out. All the country west of this was an 
 open prairie, abounding with wild animals — deer, 
 turkeys, wolves and Indians. Father and son im- 
 proved each a farm and here spent their last days 
 together with the mother of Mrs. McCord. Adriel 
 Stout departed this life in 1858. His wife Eliza 
 had preceded liim to the silent land, her death 
 taking place in 1855. 
 
 John N. Stout, the paternal grandfather of Mrs. 
 McCord, was probably a native of Kentucky, and ' 
 he reared his family in the Blue Grass State. 
 Grandfather William Means was a resident of Ohio 
 
 many years, and came to Edgar County, HI., in 
 1822, within whose limits he resided until depart- 
 ing hence. To our subject and his estimable wife 
 there were born four children, viz.: Josephine, 
 Eliza, the wife of Dr. Z. T. Baum, who is repre- 
 sented elsewhere in this volume; Adriel S., and 
 Shelby H.N. The latter, a bright, promising and 
 worthy young man, and a true Cliristian, died on 
 the 5th of October, 1887. He was a member of 
 and an earnest worker in the Presbyterian Church, 
 and his death was deepl}' mourned not only by his 
 immediate family, but by a large number of asso- 
 ciates and friends. 
 
 David McCord, the father of our subject, vs^as 
 horn and reared in North Carolina. His wife, 
 Esther, was a native of A'irginia, where she was 
 reared to womanhood, and where, it is supposed, 
 she was married. John BIcCord, the paternal grand- 
 father, was born in Pennsylvania, and when a young 
 man migrated to North Carolina. The great- 
 grandfather of our subject was David McCord, a 
 native of the north of Ireland. There he learned 
 the trade of a weaver, and in compan3^ with a bro- 
 ther emigrated to the United States prior to the 
 Revolutionary War. He occupied himself at his 
 trade and met his death at the hands of the Indians. 
 
 On the mother's side of the house the great- 
 grandfather, Thomas Berry, was likewise a native 
 of Ireland, born in 1718. He also crossed the At- 
 lantic in the colonial times, and was twice married, 
 first to a Miss Buchanan, by whom he became the 
 father of five children. His youngest son, Will- 
 iam, was killed at the battle of Guilford in 1778. 
 His second wife, to whom he was married in 1795, 
 was Estlier Ward, a native of Pennsylvania. To 
 them there were born seven children, and Esther, 
 the mother of our subject, was next to the 3-oung- 
 est. The family of Grandfather Berry was reared 
 in Augusta County, Ya. One daughter, Barbara, 
 by his first marriage, became the, wife of Jonathan 
 Drydcn, and the3' settled in Middle Tennessee, 
 where their son David was born. The latter came 
 to Coles County, 111., about 1832, where he reared 
 his family and died. The anniversary of his birth 
 is still celebrated each j'ear, at which time a collec- 
 tion is taken up and the proceeds applied to the 
 education of some member of the family for the min- 
 
POETRAIT AND BIOORAPIJICAL ALBUM. 
 
 istry of the Presbyterian Cluircli, with wliicli the 
 family has been connected as far bacii as known. 
 Mrs. McCord departed this life at her home in Paris 
 Township Aug. 8, 1889. 
 
 OHN McKEE. The McKee homestead of 
 300 acres in Edgar Township is a remark- 
 ably fine piece of propertj^, the laud being 
 ' thoroughly cultivated and embellished with 
 all the modern improvements. It was purchased in 
 1864 b}' the subject of this sketch who labored suc- 
 cessfully in transforming it from its almost primi- 
 tive condition to its present state. He put np a 
 house in 1874, the present large and commodious 
 structure wiiich is illustrated on another page bj^ 
 a lithographic engraving, planted forest and fruit 
 trees, evergreens and shrubbery, and added by 
 degrees the other embollisliraents which make it 
 one of the most deliglitful homes in the township. 
 The master hand ceased its labors after a long 
 career of usefulness, Mr. McKee departing hence 
 on the 24th of April, 1888. 
 
 John McKee was born in Edgar Township this 
 county. March 28, 1836 and was the son of John 
 and Rachel (Ellsberry)' McKee, the former a native 
 of Virginia and the latter of Kentucky. John Sr,. 
 left the Old Dominion at an early date and lived in 
 Kentuckjr until coming to this county' and settling 
 in Edgar Township. Here he was one of the ear- 
 liest pioneers and entered a tract of Government 
 land, upon which he labored to such excellent pur- 
 pose that in due time he became tiie owner of 1,200 
 acres; all of this he brought to a good state of cul- 
 tivation and improved with substantial Iniildings. 
 In the meantime, during the earlier yeais of his 
 residence here, he occupied himself as a teacher and 
 was a prominent man in the community. His 
 death took place at the old homestead in 1879, 
 where also his estimable wife spent her last days. 
 They were the parents of ten children of whom 
 John was tlie eighth in order of birth. 
 
 Jt>hn McKee was reared to farming pursuits and 
 on the 20th of August, 1857, was united in mar- 
 riage with Miss Amanda J. Osborn. This lady was 
 
 burn in Urbana, Champaign Co., Ohio, and was 
 the eldest child of Levi and Frances (Williams) Os- 
 born, the father a native of Virginia and the mother 
 born in Fleming County, K3'. The paternal grand- 
 father, Joseph Osborn, was also a native of the Old 
 Dominion, where he farmed during his younger 
 years, then moved to Fleming County, Ky., of 
 which he was an early pioneer. Finally, however, 
 he sought the Western country settling in Cham- 
 paign, 111., where he still prosecuted agriculture, 
 then removed to the vicinity of Rochester, in Ful- 
 ton County, where he spent his last daj's. He was 
 of Irish descent, a man of much force of character 
 .and prominent wherever he resided. 
 
 Levi Osborn was reared to man's estate in Ken- 
 tuclvy and upon coming to Illinois engaged in 
 farming on rented land in Champaign County. 
 Later he branched out as a dealer in live stock, 
 mostly horses and mules, large numbers of which 
 he purchased and drove south into Mississipjji, 
 Louisiana, Georgia and Florida. He was thus oc- 
 cupied until 1851, when he changed his residence 
 to Ross Township and purchased 160 acres of land 
 on the State Road north of Chrisman. He im- 
 proved a good farm and made it his home until 
 his death which occurred in March, 1858, when he 
 was flfty-two years old. Lie was a conscientious 
 and high-minded man, a member of the Methodist 
 Episcopal Church and a strong adherent of the 
 Republican party. 
 
 On the maternal side of the house grandfather 
 Mordaca Williams owned a plantation and slaves 
 in Kenlucky where his death took place. After 
 the death of her husband, the mother of Mrs. Mc- 
 Kee made her home with the latter and died in 
 1881 at the age of seventy-six years. She was a 
 member of the Missionary Baptist ('hurch. The 
 parental family included six children, viz: Amanda 
 J., William and Francis M., deceased, America 
 A., a resident of Kansas City Mo., Levi H., a mer- 
 chant in GarneLt Kan., and Henry C, a farmer of 
 Anderson County, that State. During the late 
 war AVilliam erJisted, in 1861, in the 42nd Illinois 
 Infantry of vvhieh he became Captain and after 
 serving his first term entered the ranks a second 
 lime. He finally resigned his commission on ac- 
 covint of ill health. After the war he moved to 
 
888 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 Murfreesboro, Tenn., and commciioed tlie prac- 
 tice of law; lie was considered a very able and ac- 
 complislied lawyer. Francis was graduated from 
 Rush Medical t'<)llen;e, Cliicago, and subsequently 
 enlisted in tlie same regiment with his brother, be- 
 ing; aiipointed surgeon. He was promoted to the rank 
 of Major General and w.as killed b\' guerrillas at 
 Memphis Tenn. 
 
 Mrs. McKee received the advantages of a common 
 school education and was a m.aiden of sixteen years 
 when she .accompanied her parents to Illinois. 
 They made the joui-ney overhmd with teams, cross- 
 ing the Wabash at Terre Haute and coming thence 
 directly to Edgar County. Amanda .1., made her 
 home with her parents until her marriage wliich 
 occurred under her father's roof, Aug. 20, 1H,")7. 
 After marriage they rem.ained up<in the paternal 
 homestead until 1861, then removed lo the farm 
 wliich Mis. McKee now occupies. This is largi^ly 
 devoted to stdck-raising. 
 
 Mr. McKee invested a goodly portion of his cap- 
 ital in land and accumulated 650 acres. He was 
 one of the most enterprising and public-spirited 
 men of his community, officiating ns School-Direc- 
 tor, Cnmraissioner of Iligliwaj'S and serving on the 
 grand and petit juries. 'J'he doctrines of the liap- 
 tist Church coincided with his religious views nud 
 in this he was a chief pillai-, serving .as Deacon for 
 many years, as Suiierintendent of the iSun<1ay- 
 school and contributing liberally to its support. 
 Politically, he supported the Roi)uhlican parfy, be- 
 lieved in woman suffrage and was an ardent advo- 
 cate of temperance. 
 
 Since the death of her husband Mrs. McKee has 
 sui)erintended the operations of the farm, wliich is 
 lar'>-elv devoted to Ihc raising of grain and stock, 
 the latter iucluding cattle, swine and first-class 
 draft horses. Three teams are utilized in the farm 
 operations. The seven children born to Mr. and 
 Mrs. McKee are recorded as follows: Kmnia died 
 when twenty-one yeais old; Flora is the wife of 
 .lacob Wyatt, a farmer of Ross Township; EfFie 
 A. married Milton Blackburn and lives in Edgar 
 Township; Robert married Miss Lottie IloUings- 
 worlh and remains at the home farm; Marion died 
 in .TanuMiv, 1888; L. Orion and Fred are at home 
 with their mother: Emma was the wife of A, I'.oomcr 
 
 of Prairie Township and died in March, 1889. 
 As an appropriate addition to the Album of Edgar 
 Countj^, we present elsewhere a line |)ortrait of Mr. 
 McKee, and thus perpetuate the features as well as 
 the history of him whose life is so intimately a.sso- 
 ciated with the growth of his native county. 
 
 #-# 
 
 -*— 
 
 ]l-^ EROD N. CRAWFORD. As an illustration 
 ij] of the results of steady perseverance, eco- 
 nomical living and wise management, the 
 P career of Mr. Crawford is amply worthy of 
 mention. He came to this county about 18;5o and 
 purchased ;>50 .acres of partially improved land 
 upon which there was a little old frame house but 
 nothing else to mark it as a spot which had ever been 
 the habitation of man. There was no fencing and 
 not a fruit or forest tree upon the place, in fact 
 simiily nothing but the little structure referi'ed to. 
 The passing traveler now looks upon a well-regulated 
 farm under a good state of cultivation, embellished 
 with groves, orchards, .and substantial buildings, 
 includinga commodious frame residence and a good 
 barn .and the other appurtenances usually belonging 
 to the well-to-do agriculturist. 
 
 'J'lic subject of this notice w.as born in Clark 
 County, Ohio, Feb. 27, 1814, and is the son of 
 Abel Cr.awford, whose birthplace was in the vicin- 
 ity of Brownsville, Pa., where he was reared and 
 for some years was engaged in fl.at-boating, con- 
 veying produce to New Orleans where he would 
 likewise dispose of his craft and return to Pennsyl- 
 vania on horseback or on foot. He was rn.arriedin 
 his native State, but shortly afterward remo\ed to 
 Kentucky and later to Clark County, Ohio, settling 
 in the latter State among the Indians and upon a 
 tract of heavily timbered land. He hewed a farm 
 out of the wilderness and became the father of four 
 sons, of whom Herod N., our subject, was the 
 youngest born. The maiden name of the mother 
 of our subject w.as M.ary Newland, also a native of 
 Pennsylvania, .and she with her husband spent her 
 Last d.ays on the old homestead in Ohio. 
 
 The mother of our subject died when a young 
 woman and when Herod N. was a l.adof eight years. 
 
POETRAIT AND BTOGRAPIIICAL ALBUM. 
 
 889 
 
 The father was subsequently marrieiJ to Mrs. JMnry 
 Pierce, but of this union no children were born. 
 The father and both liis wives were memliers of 
 the Methodist Episcopal Church, in the faith of 
 which they passed away. Young Crawford was 
 reared to man's estate in his native county, and 
 (here married to Miss Margaret Arthur, wlio was 
 born in Pennsylvania. They became the parents 
 of four children: Mary, Mrs. Samuel Sidenbender, 
 and Caroline, Mrs. James Oliver of Paris Town- 
 ship; Joseph, of Paris Township, and Abel wlio 
 died when forty-eiglit years old. The mother of 
 these cliildren departed this life at their home in 
 Clariv County, Ohio, and Mr. Crawford subse- 
 quently married her sister. Miss Mary Arthur. 
 She died without chiklren in 1886. 
 
 Mr. Crawford has virtually divided his land 
 among his children, retaining ownership of it dur- 
 ing his lifetime. Altliough not a member of any 
 religious organization lie endeavors to follow tlie 
 Christian precepts of the Golden Rule, and if tlie 
 reports of his neighlwrs be true, lie h.-is succeeded 
 in an admirable manner. He cast his first Presi- 
 dential vote for Gen. Jackson, and continues an 
 unvarying supporter of tlie principles of tlie ])cmo- 
 cratic party. 
 
 EORGE W. FAIR. Tliere is probably no 
 
 Gmore popular man in Ross Township than 
 Mr. Fair, who owns eiglity acres of land on 
 section 22, and operates eiglitj' acres elsewhere. 
 He possesses the proper spirit of enterprise to 
 aeliieve success, and there is every prospect that lie 
 will continue to advance both as an agriculturist 
 and a citizen. He lias already built up a very nice 
 home from the prairie, which speaks well for his 
 industry and patience, and to the beaut3f and value 
 of which he is adding each year. He keeps himself 
 well posted in regard to current events, votes the 
 straight Republican ticket and is frequently sent 
 as a delegate to the county conventions. At pres- 
 ent he is a Director in his School District, and is a 
 member of the Baptist Church, at Chrisman. He 
 is one of the men usually consulted in regard to 
 
 the various matters which naturally' arise in a com- 
 munity, and in which each intelligent citizen is in- 
 terested. 
 
 Our subject is a native of this county, having 
 been born at Steam Point Feb. 25, 1853. He was 
 but a boy when his father died, and later removed 
 to Bloomfleld with his mother, where he attended 
 tlie common school. In the meantime his mother 
 was married a second time, and he removed witli 
 the family to a point near Horace, this county, and 
 reirained a member of the household until reach- 
 ing his majority. 
 
 Young Fair, now starting out for himself, es- 
 tablished the first store at Horace, which was con 
 ducted under the linn name of G. W. Fair <k Co. 
 About that time he was made Deputy Postmaster 
 and Railroad Agent, and operated there success- 
 fully two years. In 1876 he disposed of his in- 
 terest in his store to his partner, and for a year 
 thereafter engaged in farming. Next he took up 
 Ills residence at Cherry Point, where he was em- 
 |)loyed as a clerk for Tucker & Jenness, and with 
 whom he remained two years. On the 18th of 
 April, 1878, he was married to Miss Dorotha L. 
 Iloult, who was born near Chrisman, and who only 
 survived her marriage six years, dying in 1881. 
 
 In 1879 JNIr. Fair moved on to liis present farm 
 of eighty acres, which, with the exception of fenc- 
 ing, was unimproved. He has now brought the 
 whole to a goo<I state of cultivation, put up a 
 house, a barn and the other buildings necessary, 
 planted an orchard of two acres, together with 
 forest, fruit trees and hedge, and is liow consider- 
 ably interested in livestock, keeping about 300 
 sheep and a goodly herd of Poland-China swine. 
 He has seven head of horses, graded Normans and 
 Clydesdales, and utilizes two teams in the farm 
 work. 
 
 The second marriage of Mr. Fair took place 
 March 18, 1886, in Edgar Township, with Miss 
 Emily, daughter of William Hoult, who was born 
 in this township, where her father carries on farm- 
 ing. They have one child, Susie, born Feb. 18, 
 1887. The father of our subject was Richard Fair, 
 who was born in Fayette County, Ky., in October, 
 1816, and remained there on a farm until after his 
 father's death. He came to Illinois in 1835, bring- 
 
890 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 ing with him his brother and the rest of the fam- 
 ily, and located in Carroll Township, Vermilion 
 County. In 18-17 lie removed to a point near 
 Bloonifiehl, and ci)ga;;e(l in buying cattle and 
 horses for a number of years. He then purchased 
 a farm near Steam Point, but only lived a short 
 time thereafter; he was a member of the ]5a|)list 
 Church. 
 
 Grandfather James Fair was a native of \U-- 
 ginia, and a soldier in the War of 1812. During 
 the early settlement of the .State of Kentucky he re- 
 moved there and located in Faj'ette County, where 
 he engaged in teaming for a short time, then em- 
 barked in the grocery trade, bnt soon went on to 
 a farm, which he operated very successfully, accu- 
 mulating a good property, and there spent his last 
 days. He was the son of Edward Fair, a native 
 of Virginia, who spent his last daj's in Kentucky, 
 where he was one of its earliest pioneers. 
 
 The maiden name of the mother of our subject 
 was Susan Baird, wh(_i was born near Paris, this 
 county, where her father was one of the earliest 
 settlers. After, the death of Mr. Fair she was 
 married to Osborn Tucker, and died at Horace 
 about 187-1. Mr. Tucker is still living, residing in 
 Paris. She became the mother of three children 
 by her two marriages, those of Mr. Fair being 
 Charles E. and George W., our subject. The 
 other was Lucy I. Tucker, who is now a teacher 
 in Paris. 
 
 'i«fe?^i' 
 
 'J^jOBERT G. McCLIBBINS. The pioneers of 
 Edgar County are slowly but surely passing- 
 ing away, but they should comfort them- 
 ^P selves with tlie reflection that they will by 
 no means be forgotten, and their names will be 
 held in kindly remembrance as an illustration to 
 future genei-ations of what may be accomplished 
 through great difficulties by a courageous and pa- 
 tient perseverance. Mr. McCubbins is one of those 
 who located here as early as 1840, and while watch- 
 ing with warm interest the growth and develop- 
 ment of the great State of Illinois, may comfort 
 himself with the thought that he has contributed as 
 far as in him lay towards bringing it to its pres- 
 
 ent position, inasmuch as the faithful labors of one 
 man corjtribute essentially to the great whole. 
 
 Our subject was born in Athens, McMinn Co., 
 Tenn., Sept. 15, 1823, and lived a part of the time 
 in Claibourn and Granger counties, Tenn., until a 
 youth of seventeen years, attending the common 
 school and occupied in farm pursuits. He came 
 with his mother and a younger brother to Illinois, 
 making the journey overland with a team, and being 
 on the road two weeks. It was the fall of the year, 
 and they sojourned at Col. Mayo's that winter. 
 The following summer our subject purchased a 
 partially improved farm, one and one-half miles 
 south of Paris, upon which he labored ten years. 
 During the California gold excitement he crossed 
 the plains in 1350, di'iving his own team and taking 
 with him several others. He sojourned in Sacra- 
 mento until the spring following, then went up the 
 mouth of Rabbit Creek on the Featlier River, where 
 he staid one and one half years. Later we find him 
 in Virginia City, where he worked in the mines 
 with very good results. He was on the Pacific 
 Slope about ten years, and then settled in Virginia 
 City, Xev., where he staid five years, engaged in 
 mining and carpentering, and was very prosperous 
 most of the time. In March, 1865, he returned to 
 Tennessee, and on the 4th of July followincr was 
 married to Miss Martha Huddleston. Then return- 
 ing to tliis county, he settled on the old farm here- 
 tofore spoken of, where he lived until 1882, then 
 retired from active labor and took up his abode in 
 Paris, where he now lives. He retains ownership 
 of the farm, where he has effected good improve- 
 ments, and which comprises 270 acres of land. He 
 has land elsewhere, and in all is the owner of 400 
 acres. His property was accumulated solely by his 
 f)wn energy and industry, and he had the good 
 judgment to invest his capital in paying enter- 
 prises. 
 
 Mr. McCubbins votes the straight Republican 
 ticket, and the fact that he is well spoken of by 
 his neighbors is sufficient indication of his true 
 character. In the early days he marketed his pro- 
 duce in Chicago, which was then an unimportant 
 town, giviug no indication of its future greatness. 
 To him and his estimable wife there were born four 
 children, all of whom are living, viz.: Lnlu Belie, 
 
POKTRAIT AND 15I0G RAPIHCAL ALBUM. 
 
 891 
 
 John, Robert and Mary, who form a bright aiul in- 
 teresting grouii, enjoying all the advantages which 
 ample means can afford. 
 
 Mis. jNIcCubbins was born in Union County, 
 Tenn., Ma}' 27, 18.'58, andis the daughter of John 
 F. and Mary (Smith) Huddleston, witli wlioni she 
 lived in her native State until her marriage. Her 
 father was a farmer by occupation and died in Ten- 
 nessee. The mother is still living tiiere. Tiie 
 father of our subject was William McCubbiu.s, a 
 native of Central Tennessee, and the mother in 
 her girlhood was Miss Phebe Duncan. Tliey had 
 a family of four children, only two of whom lived 
 to mature years, our subject and his brother Zack 
 II. The latter was for some yenrs a resident of 
 Jasper County, 111., where he engaged in business, 
 but for the last eight j-ears has lived in Rogers, 
 Ark. He served three years in the Union army. 
 William McCubblns died when his son Robert (I. 
 was a small boy in Tennessee. The mother died 
 at the old homestead in this county in December, 
 1875. 
 
 !)HOiAIAS C. BROWN. The subject of this 
 notice may be properlj' mentioned among 
 'f' the leading farmers of Elbridge Township. 
 He makes a specialty of stock-raising, and has all 
 the facilities for carrying on agriculture after the 
 most approved methods of the present day. His 
 homestead is finely located on section 14, and com- 
 prises 175 acres of thoroughly cultivated land, 
 situated in the western part of the township. It 
 possesses a far more than moneyed value to the pres- 
 ent proprietor, as upon this land he was born, in a 
 log house, March 17, 1836.. 
 
 Joseph Brown, the father of our subject, came 
 to this county during the pioneer dn3-s, and contrib- 
 uted his full share to its growth and development. 
 He was a native of Tennessee, whence he 
 emigrated to Illinois as early as 1826, and settled 
 first in Sangamon County. Four years later he 
 changed his residence to this county, where he and 
 his good wife. Nancy, spent the remainder of their 
 'I'lys, the father dying in 1840 and the mother in 
 1844, Mr. Brown, politically, affiliated with the 
 
 Democratic party, and in religious matters was a 
 member of the Baptist Church. 
 
 Our subject, left an orphan at the tender age of 
 eight yeais, was bound ont to Samuel \'ance of 
 Paris Township, for whom lie did farm work and 
 all other kinds of labor until a youth of fourteen 
 jears. He then commenced learning the lilack- 
 smith tiade of his brother, and followed this until 
 1860. Jn 1854 he was married to Miss Lucy 
 Ycargin, who was also born in this county, and was 
 the daughter of Peterson and Patience Yeargin, 
 natives of Virginia and North Carolina. The pa- 
 rents of Mrs. Brown came to this county in 1836, 
 and settled in Elbridge Township, where theii- 
 daughter, Lucy, was born in 1837. 
 
 The young people began their wedded life on a 
 farm in Elbridge Township, and in 1 854 took posses- 
 sion of a part of that which they now own and 
 occupy. The household circle was gradually en- 
 larged by the birth of twelve children, eleven of 
 whom are living. The two eldest, A'iolet A. and 
 Joseph P., still remain under the home roof. 
 Charles married Miss Rhoda, daughter of John 
 Mason, a sketch of wliom appears elsewhere in this 
 volume, and they are residing ;n Redmon, 
 where he follows the profession of a teacher. 
 Six of the children hold certificates for teach- 
 ing. Cynthia I. died wlien about six months 
 old; William R. remains at home with his 
 parents; Thomas J. is in Colorado; Nancy ()., 
 Lucy J., Robert E., Bernice, Susan, and Augusta 
 continue under the parental roof. 
 
 Mr. Brown, politically, like his honored father, 
 adheres to the principles of the Democratic party, 
 and finds his religious home in the Baptist Church. 
 He has alwnys taken a warm interest in educational 
 matters, and has given his children the best ad- 
 vantages to be obtained in the township. He iden- 
 tified himself with the Masonic fraternity many 
 years ago, and is \'ice Dictator of Burnes Lodge, 
 No. 292, K.of H. in Paris. He is a reader and a 
 thinker, and keeps himself thoroughl^f posted upon 
 leading events the world over. As a convci'sation- 
 alist he is fiuent and interesting — one with whom 
 an hour may always be spent with profit and pleas- 
 ure. Mr. and Mrs. Brown attended to all the wants 
 of Mr. and Mrs. Ycargin during the latter part of 
 
«:i-i 
 
 POKTRAIT AND lUOGllAPIlICAl. ALBUM. 
 
 their livts, and made their last days pleasant and 
 agreeable. On another page is presented a fine 
 view of the home of Mr. and Mrs. Brown, and 
 under its hospitable roof they welcome their many 
 friends, and pleasantly entertain the associates of 
 their children. 
 
 •./w/V,»\t4J2i27®^@* 1 
 
 >>.'^^i/3zr?ra-.^ -vy^i/~ 
 
 ir^) IGMAliD I). IIONNOLD. If a man's snr- 
 V-^ roundingsare indicative of his trne charac- 
 ter that of Mr. Ilonnold is of the best 
 quality. He has one of the most finely 
 cultivated farms in Shiluh Township, a body of land 
 160 acres in extent, enclosed with neatly trimmed 
 hedge and embellished with good buildings. The 
 residence occupies an elevated position, one quar- 
 ter of a mile from the common highway and is 
 picturesquely located, commanding a fine view of 
 the surrounding coiintrj'. It is flanked by a good 
 barn and other neatly constructed outbuildings, and 
 in all its surroundings indicates cultivated tastes 
 and ample mean^. The proi)rietor, [ler.sonally, is a 
 very pleasant gentleman, courteous alike to friends 
 and strangers, easy in his manners, industrious and 
 energetic, working with both brain and hands, and 
 is popular both in the social and business circles of 
 his community. 
 
 A native of Edgar County, our subject was born 
 Dec. 15, 1859, and is the son of James L. and 
 Klizabeth C. (Mock) Honnold, who were both born 
 in Ohio. The maternal grandparents, John and 
 Hannah Mock, are still living and residents of Edgar 
 County, having attained to their fourscore years. 
 Grandfathei' Honnold died in Edgar County, Oct. 
 28, 1877. His wife is still living near Kansas, 111. 
 To the parents of our subject there were born five 
 children, all of whom are living, and of whom 
 Richard D. is the eldest. Cynthia became the wife 
 of Harvey Delapp, a farmer living near Kansas, 
 and they have one child ; Elsie is the wife of Henry 
 Collier, and resides near Redmon; Ira and John are 
 unmarried and reside at home. 
 
 Richard D., our subject, was wedded to Miss 
 Mary Payne, Oct. 2, 1881. This lady is the daugh- 
 ter of James H. and Hanna (Dickson) Payne, who 
 
 live on a farm adjoining that of our subject. 
 They are natives of Ohio, and the parents of six 
 children. Their eldest daughter, Delia, is the wife 
 Marion V. Winn, and the mother of three children; 
 they live in Edgar County. The others, with the 
 exception of Mrs. Honnold, are at home with their 
 parents. Mr. and Mrs. Payne live on a farm near 
 Brocton. Our subject has been Highway Commis- 
 sioner and School Director, and as a working 
 Republican has been frequently sent as a delegate 
 to the County Conventions. He and his good wife 
 arc both members of the Methodist Episcopal 
 Church. 
 
 Mr. Honnold was born and reared a Republican, 
 and clings to the faith in which he has been 
 grounded from boyhood. In connection with mixed 
 farming he makes a specialty of stock-raising. All 
 his operations are carried on in the most syste- 
 matic and thorough manner, aided by improved 
 machinery and the appliances required by the 
 progressive agriculturist. He frequently serves as 
 a delegate to the Keijublican Conventions and is a 
 member of the Township Central Committee. He 
 serves as a School Director in his district, and with 
 his wife belongs to the Methodist Episcopa urch 
 attending services at ]>rocton. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Honnold are the parents of one 
 child, a daughter, Edith M., born July 27, 1888. 
 They also have adopted a child, named ^^'illiam 
 E., born Sept. 5, 1882. 
 
 THOMAS ELLIOTT. Of sturdy Scotch an- 
 cestry, Mr. Thomas Elliot has, during a 
 long life of honorable toil, established for 
 himself a reputation for geniality and gentlemanli- 
 ness, unblemished moral conduct and unswerving 
 integrity such as will long endure after "his pale 
 form is laid to rest withm anj^ tears." The memory 
 of such a man is certain to be cherished and the 
 example of his life to be emulated by all who de- 
 sire to leave behind them a record of well-doino- 
 and correct living. 
 
 ]\Ir. Elliot's life has been marked by earnest, 
 honest and continuous toil. He was born in Aber- 
 
PORTRAIT AND B10( ) liAl'lIICAL Al.i;Ui\r. 
 
 8 9, '5 
 
 (Icon, Scotland, Auy. 1-2, 1822. His father, Pfii-cival 
 Klliott, was the son of Rowland Elliott who lived 
 to the remarkable, not to sa}- phenomenal age, of 
 one hundred and twenty- live years. When one 
 hundred and twenty years of age be went into 
 the harvest Held and built a stack of oats, and he 
 was ill the habit of walking to and from churcli, a 
 distance of one and one-half miles, every Sunday. 
 lie was mentally and physically active up to the 
 time of his death, about 1820, and was ill only 
 about a week before the occurrence of that event, 
 lie was a native of France, to wliich countrv, 
 doubtless his aneestcus fled during the troublous 
 times in England and Scotland. He removed from 
 France to ^Vberdeen, Scotland, when? he spent the 
 remainder of his life. His wife, Mary (C'assid}') 
 Elliott, was born in the North of Ireland. She 
 lived to be nearly one hundred years old and died 
 after a very brief illness. Grandfather Elliott was 
 a large stout man and followed the occupation of 
 farming. 
 
 Fercival Elliott was likewise born in Aberdeen, 
 Scotland, and was reared to agricultural pursuits. 
 lie married Miss Mary, daughter of Thomas and 
 Margaret Farker, who were of P!!nglish parentage 
 and ancestry. He combined farming with preaching, 
 otliciating as a minister of the Methodist Episco- 
 pal Church. Some time after his marriage his wife 
 inherited property in County Fermanagh, Ireland, 
 whither he moved with his family and there spent 
 his last days. He was the father of eight children, 
 viz: Margaret, Thomas, John, Caroline, Maiy Ann, 
 Lena, William and Robert. Margaret became the 
 wife of Joseiih Haslit, and died in 1876 in Clark 
 County, 111., leaving seven children; John is mar- 
 ried, has a family and is farming in Clark County; 
 Caroline, Mrs. Medley, is a widow and resides in 
 Kansas; Mary Ann died in infancy; Lena was mar 
 ried to Rev. William (iranville Seliurk, a minister 
 of the Baptist Church of Harrington, 111., and died 
 about 1881; William is chief of the detective force 
 of (Uasgow, Scotland, where he inakes his home; 
 IJobei't was in the employ of the British (ioveni- 
 inent, having charge of government bridge work in 
 Scotland, and died about 1863. 
 
 The early education of our subject was limited 
 to such time spent in the common schools as could 
 
 be spared from work at home. He remained a resi- 
 lient of his native place until a man of thirty-two 
 years, then resolved (o (juit the land of his an- 
 cestors and seek his fortune in the United States. 
 Making the voyage across the Atlantic in safety he 
 landed iu Ne^v York City with no ea|)ital save a 
 healthful, rugged frame, strong hands and a will- 
 ingness to woik at any honorable eiiiiiloymout. 
 Tills he first found in a stone quarry near Newark, 
 N. J. In due time he turned his face toward the 
 new and growing West, halting first at 'i'erre 
 Haute, Ind., where he took charge of a livei-y 
 stable. He remained there se\eral months, proving 
 himself very capalile and efficient, and was finally 
 cneouiaged to go to Chicago and enter upon the 
 training of horses for the race course. Finally he 
 emigrated to iMuuston, a northern suburb of the 
 city, and here met his fate'iu the |)erson of Miss 
 Annie Cook, daughter of Christopher and Nancy 
 Cook of Bradford, England. The mutual affection 
 which succeeded, culminated in the marriage of the 
 }'Ouiig |>eople, Aug. 21, 1858. 
 
 Soon after his marriage Mr. Elliott came with his 
 young wife to Edgar County, 111., and rented a 
 farm in Kansas Township. Upon this he remained 
 five years, then transferred his operations to a 
 rented farm in Douglas County. Having now ac- 
 cumulated some means he purchased a farm in I'iatt 
 County to which he removed, but here his fortune 
 was changed, sickness visited him and being unable 
 to complete the payment for his [lurchase, he was 
 obliged to .abandon it and become a renter .again. 
 Then, about four years ago, ho moved upon his 
 l)rescnt placi.^ which oceui)ies a portion of section 
 2 in Youn.g America Township. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Elliott are the parents of three 
 children. Their eldest, a daughter, Mary Ann, is 
 the wife of Charles Frecsch, a farmer living near 
 Metcalf in Edgar County; they likewise ha\-e three 
 children. Parker, a young man grown, lives at 
 home and assists his father in the cultivation of his 
 land; Nellie, a young lady of education and reflne- 
 ment, occupies herself as a teacher .and is very suc- 
 cessful. In perso'.ial appearance Mr. Elliott is tall 
 in stature, rather sparely j^et strongly built, with 
 dark hair and full beard streaked with gray. His 
 eye retains much of its youthful fire, while his firm 
 
894 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 step and hardened muscles indicate tliat his capacity 
 for working is not j'et departed. His manner is 
 frank, open, and unostentatious and he bears an 
 excellent reputation among his neighbors, who en- 
 tertain for him a high respect on account of his 
 blameless life and his firm adherence to the prin- 
 ciples of honesty and honor. 
 
 The wife of our subject is a quiet, modest, 
 motherly-looking lady wliose kindly eye betokens a 
 gentle, generous and loving nature. Mr. Elliott 
 has never sought nor held office. In politics, he 
 is a stanch Democrat and places a high value upon 
 the advantages of education. He has given to his 
 children such schooling as he was able and has been 
 a liberal buyer of good books, a generous number 
 of which may be found in his modest but carefully- 
 selected librarJ^ Botli he and his wife are members 
 in good standing of the Methodist Episcopal 
 Church and active participants in its work. 
 
 -« #># ^ 
 
 ^/ AMES WATSON. This gentleman, now the 
 owner of nearly 600 acres of land in Hunter 
 Township, all of which is well improved 
 and under a high state of cultivation, began 
 life in this county on forty acres of rented land in 
 the woods upon which was a little log cabin minus 
 a roof and destitute of any other furnishings. He 
 put a roof on the structure and built a chimney, 
 then turned his attention to the cultivation of the 
 soil. In the course of over two years he had pur- 
 chased the land and a span of horses, one cow and 
 sixteen small shoats. 
 
 It is proper to say here that Mr. Watson jirior 
 to tills time had accumulated 1800 which he lost. He 
 Hhen borrowed money to obtain seed wheat for sow- 
 >ing his first crop. It is hardly necessary to state that 
 the years which followed were distinguished by the 
 most arduous industry and the best management, 
 and in due time he fovind himself on solid ground 
 and with the prospect of a competence for the 
 future. Self-made in the broadest sense of the 
 term, he from the first was compelled to rely upon 
 his own resources and although the waj' seemed 
 rough at the outset, the experience of those years 
 
 developed in iiim those traits of cliaracter whi(!h 
 have made him a man among men and practically 
 independent, financially. His land is more than 
 ordinarily productive, he having, in 1886, realized 
 from it 3,600 bushels of wheat besides other produce. 
 From the first he made it the rule of his life to be 
 honest with all men and this course steadily pursued 
 gained him the esteem and confidence of liis fellow 
 citizens so that he could always obtain security on 
 his paper without even asking for it, if his friends 
 suspected that he needed it. 
 
 Our subject was born in Bullitt County, Ky., 
 May 2, 1835, and there was reared to man's estate. 
 His father, James Watson, Sr., was a native of Lan- 
 caster County, Pa,, whence he removed to Ken- 
 tucky when a young man and was there married to 
 Miss Rachel Younger, a native of that State. They 
 became the parents of nine children of whom our 
 subject was the seventh in order of birth. The 
 parents spent the remainder of their lives in the 
 Blue Grass State. The paternal grandfather of our 
 subject was born and reared in the city of London 
 and trained in the doctrines of the Church of Eng- 
 land. He emigrated to America when a young 
 man and located in Pennsylvania, where he was 
 married, reared a family and spent his last days. 
 
 On the mother's side. Grandfather Henry 
 Younger was a native of France and, upon coming 
 to America, located in Kentucky and died there. 
 He married a lady of German birth andparentagc 
 whose first name was Rachel. Lie served as a soldier 
 in the Revolutionarj' War under the command of 
 Major Oldham, and was at the battle of Llorse 
 Shoe Bend in November, 1791. 
 
 The subject of this sketch was a lad of eight 
 yep.rs at the time of his father's death, which 
 took place in January, 1843 and the mother died 
 one year later. James, Jr., thereafter made his 
 home with a neighbor until he was nineteen years 
 old. He then began working bj' the month and a 
 year later, leaving Kentucky, he came to this 
 county and operated as a farm laborer for about 
 two years. At the expiration of this time he rented 
 a tract of land which he cultivated until 1860, and 
 was then married to Miss Nancy J. Dean. This 
 lady was born in Vermillion County, Ind., and like 
 her husband, is a believer in the Bible and u 
 
Residence OF John B. Kerrick. Sec. 11. ElbridgeTownship. Edgar Co. 
 
 Residence or Miles Rogers , Sec. 3. Edgar Township, Edgar Co. 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOCRAPIIICAL ALBUM. 
 
 897 
 
 member of the Cliiisliaii Chiircli, in tlie faith of 
 which the parents of our subject died. Mr. and 
 IMrs Watson have eiglit children, six living, as fol- 
 lows: Mary Belle, William J., Charles B. Y., 
 John A., Gracy and James L. 
 
 The Watson homestead is embellished with a com- 
 modious frame residence which with its outbuild- 
 ings,forest and fruit trees and the other appointments 
 of the modern rural estate, bears fair comparison 
 with anything of the kind in the county. This place 
 was formerly known as the James Bruce farm and 
 lies on the State line. It is well watered and finely 
 adapted to agriculture and stock raising, Nothing, 
 however, less than the excellent management to 
 which it has been subjected by Mr. Watson could 
 have brought it to its present condition. It is very 
 valuable and yields to the proprietor a generous 
 income. 
 
 VfOHN B. KERRICK. The traveler passing 
 the Kerrick homestead, on section 11 in El- 
 bridge Township, has his attention invaria- 
 ^^1/ bly attracted to the elegant residence and the 
 surroundings, which betoken the existence of cul- 
 tivated tastes and ample means. A lithographic 
 engraving of this residence is presented elsewhere 
 in this volume, and represents one of the many 
 happy homes of Edgar County, the abode of peace 
 and plenty. The farm comprises 300 acres of 
 thoroughly-cultivated land, adorned with fruit, 
 forest and shade trees, improved with first-class 
 buildings, well stocked with a choice assortment of 
 domestic animals, and supplied with modern ma- 
 chinery, which produces the best results from a 
 naturally fertile soil. 
 
 The subject of this notice is a native of this 
 county, and was born at his father's homestead in 
 Elbridge Township, Oct. 28, 1834. He attended 
 the primitive schools until a youth of nineteen 
 years, and then took a three months' course at 
 Marshall. He remained a member of the parental 
 household until twenty -two years old, and was mar- 
 ried in October, 1856, to Miss Margaret, daughter 
 of Martin Kay, a native of Tennessee. The young 
 biide survived her marriage only eleven months. 
 
 and her remains were laid to rest in Providence 
 Cemeter}'. 
 
 Mr. Kerrick contracted a second marriage with 
 Miss Elizabeth A., daughter of James W. and Mary 
 (Hlcklln) Parish, natives of Tennessee, and among 
 the earliest settlers of this county. They are de- 
 ceased. Mrs. Kerrick was born Dec. 13, 1831, in 
 Sims Township, Edgar Co., 111., and received a 
 common school education. The union of ]\Ir. and 
 Mrs. Kerrick resulted in the birtli of four children, 
 one of whom, Jacob, died when twenty-six months 
 old. Mary, Frank, and Gusta are at liorne with 
 their parents. The present residence was put up 
 in 1 879, and the brick of whicji it is built was man- 
 ufactured by our subject. Mr. Kerrick is a Demo- 
 crat politically. He has represented his township 
 in the County Board of Supervisors and has held 
 the offices of Assessor, and Collector. Socially he 
 belongs to the Masonic fraternity. 
 
 Stephen and Maria (Hadden) Kerrick, the parents 
 of our subject, wei'e natives, respectively, of A'ir- 
 glnla and North Carolina. The}' were married in 
 Tennessee in 1830, and two years later emigrated 
 to Illinois, settling in Elbridge Township, this 
 county, where the father farmed one year, tlien 
 entered forty acres, which comprises a part of the 
 present homestead. The parental household was 
 completed by the birth of seven children, of whon\ 
 five are living, making their homes mostlj' in Illi- 
 nois and Indiana. The father In early manhood 
 Identified himself with the old Whig party, and 
 later became a Republican. He passed to his rest 
 in 1863. The mother is still living, at the advanced 
 age of eighty-five years, and makes iier home in 
 Elbridge Township. She is a member In good 
 standing of the Presbyterian Church. 
 
 -^^^||C=:-- 
 
 ik^\ II-ES ROGERS, who is the owner of 640 
 acres of land, in Edgar Township and 
 •200 acres In Ross Township, Is one of the 
 most extensive farmers of this region as well 
 as one of the most prominent and popular citizens 
 of the county. He came to Central Illinois during 
 
8'J>S 
 
 PORTRAIT ANJ) BIOGRAPHICAI. ALBUM. 
 
 its pioneer days, as earl}' as 1826, settling at once 
 in Edgar Township, of which he has since been a 
 resident. Not only has he been the architect of 
 his own fortune but has been tlie uniform encour- 
 u,i,'er of all the enterprises calculated to advance 
 the interests of the county. 
 
 A native of Louisville, Ky., our subject was 
 born .luly 23, 1824, and is the son of Elias Rogers, 
 a native of Vermont. The paternal grandfatlier 
 was Elias Rogers, Sr., who was likewise born in the 
 (ireen Blountain State, and was of Pinglish descent. 
 He carried on farming during his early manhood 
 in his native state, tlien emigrated to New York 
 Slate, settling near Honeoye Lake. Later he re- 
 niDvcd to Hardin County, Ky., where he became 
 owner of 1,000 acres of land and a number of 
 slaves and where he lived until 1836. That j-ear 
 lie eame to Edgar County, 111., and entered a tract 
 of eiglity acres.from the (lOvcrnment, opening up 
 a farm where he spent the remainder <jf his life. 
 
 The fatlier of our subject was a young man 
 when he went to Kentucky and thence came to Illi- 
 nois in 1825. He made the journey overland l)y 
 ox team and located in Edgar County. While 
 tiie family were residents of New York State 
 he served in llie War of 1812, being stationed at 
 Niagara Falls after Hull's surrender had turne<l 
 the arms and men over to the English. Mr. Rog- 
 ers with his comrades recaptured the arms in the 
 dark, but their boat was stranded on a sandbar and 
 pickets were left in charge. While defending the 
 island from the British Mr. Rogers received a flesh 
 wound in the hip and carried the scar to his dying- 
 day. He had many a light with the Indians after 
 ct)ming to this Stale. He first operated a distillei-y 
 in the State of New York, then turned his atten- 
 tion to farming and stock-raising, and becan:e 
 owner of 800 acres of land in Edgar Township, a 
 part of which he improved. Upon first becoming 
 a voting citizen he identified himself with the old 
 Whic party, but upon its abandonment joined the 
 Republicans and died firm in the faith in 18G8. 
 
 The maiden name of the mother of our subject 
 was I'ermelia Holden ; she was born in New York 
 State and was the daughter of Rev. Thomas Holden, 
 a native of the same State and a minister of the 
 L^nited Brethren Ciiurcii. When approaching old 
 
 age he turned his attention to farming. He was a 
 man of commanding stature. In middle life he re- 
 moved to Hardin County, Ky., where he labored 
 in his Master's vineyard until 1825. That year he 
 came lo Illinois and purchased 120 acres of land in 
 Ross Township. He organized a congregation 
 and was instrumental in liringing a large number 
 of persons into the fold. He built a log house on 
 his farm and there spent his last days. Mrs. I'er- 
 melia Rogers survived her husband a number of 
 years and died in Edgar Township in 1878 at the 
 age of seventy-five years. 
 
 The eleven children of the parental family were 
 named respectively Lavina and Almira, deceased ; 
 Miles our subject; Silas, who died at the age of six- 
 teen years; Emily and Newell, also deceased; 
 Asaph, a resident of Nebraska; Louisa, deceased; 
 Asel, a resident of Kansas; Daniel is in Colorado, 
 and Harvey is a resident of Edgar County. Asel 
 during the Civil War enlisted in 1861 in the 25th 
 Illinois Infantry and served three years and six 
 months; Daniel enlisted in 1864 in the 64th Infan- 
 try and served until the close of the war. 
 
 'i he subject of this sketch was brought by his 
 parents to Illinois when an infant, they making the 
 journey overland from Kentucky with an ox team. 
 He was reared on the frontier and can remember 
 the time when Indians roamed over the country 
 and wild game abounded. He has seen .as many as 
 fifty deer in one herd and fifteen wolves at a time. 
 The settlers frequently banded together to hunt 
 the latter, which made themselves obnoxious b,- 
 howling at night and were particularly fond of 
 young pigs. The education of young Rogers was 
 conducted during the winter season in the loo- 
 school-house with its i)uneheon floor, the seats and 
 desks made of slabs, a huge fire-piece across one 
 end, and the chimney built outside, of earth and 
 sticks; light was admitted through the doorway 
 and from window panes of greased paper. Youn<> 
 Rogers attended school only one winter, the bal- 
 ance of his education being acquired through his 
 habits of observation and reading. He assisted his 
 father in the development of the farm, joined in the 
 wolf hunts on the prairie (the settlers chasing the 
 animals on horseback through the woods and 
 underbrush). He became an expert hunter an<l 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 s'jy 
 
 frequently wont out and killorl :i Ijuck before 
 breakfast. 
 
 Remaining at tlie Lome farm until leacliing bis 
 majority youni>- Rogers then purchased eighty acres 
 of wild land, the nucleus of his present farm. He 
 put up a log house on the banks of the Bruellet 
 and was prospered in his labors as a tiller of the 
 soil. lie soon had a little spare money which he 
 wisely invested iu additional land adjoining his 
 first purchase, which lie secured for $1 per acre on 
 a Mexican land grant. He purchased direct 440 
 acres from the Government and the remaining 200 
 from other parties. For some he |)aid as high as 
 150 per acre. He has effected all the improvements 
 upon his farm, planting with his own hands a large 
 proportion of the hedge with which the fields are 
 fenced and cross-fenced, setting out forest and 
 fruit trees, and has always assisted more or less in 
 the erection of his buildings. He made a specialt}* 
 of raising swine, which yielded him iiandsome re- 
 turns and which lie drove to Clinton to market. 
 He is now interested in stock-raising, an industry 
 which has been very eifective in improving his 
 financial condition. He has a large area of pasture 
 land and raises and feeds large numhersof cattle 
 each year. He has eighteen head of liorses. Of 
 late years he has rented a large proportion of his 
 land and is gradually retiring from the active la- 
 bors which characterized his 3'ounger years. 
 
 The marriage of Miles Rogers and Miss JNIary 
 Brittenham was celebrated in Edgar Township, 
 TIL, in 1854. Mrs. Mary Rogers was born in In- 
 diana, and by her union with our subject became 
 the mother of five children, four of whom are de- 
 ceased, viz., Eliza, Julia, Susie and Janie. Eliza 
 was married to Mr. M. Henderson, and Susie was 
 the wife of J. Glick; Janie married John Watson 
 and became the mother of two children; Albert is 
 farming in Edgar Township. The mothor of these 
 children died in 1878. 
 
 Our subject contracted a second marriage in 
 1879, with Miss Mary A. Clouse, a native of \'ir- 
 ginia. Thej' have two children, Russell and Hense. 
 Mr. Rogers votes the straight Republican ticket 
 and Mrs. Rogers is a member of the Methodist 
 Episcopal Church. Our subject has served several 
 years as a School Director and has been Road 
 
 Supervisor. In 1888 lie set out for the farther 
 West, and traveled through Nehraska, Colorado, 
 Utah, Kansas and Dakota, but searched vainly for 
 a second Illinois. He is convinced that there is 
 no better country to live in than the Prairie State 
 and its environments. 
 
 Elsewhere in this volume we present a fine litho- 
 graphic engraving of the pleasant home of Mr. 
 Rogers and its beautiful surroundings. 
 
 #^ 
 
 ^ IfclLEV THOMP.'- 
 
 flLjf of Liuiiig- one of 
 W^ count}-, is that ( 
 
 j^.ILEV THOMPSON. Next to the honor 
 >( the earliest (Honeers of the 
 of being the son of one, as 
 is the subject of this sketch, who operates 427 acres 
 of fertile land on section 1 in Prairie Township. 
 He was born in what was then the hamlet of Scott- 
 land, in Prairie Township, Aug. 29, 1845, to 
 (ieorgc and Lena (Aslier) Thompson, both natives 
 of Indiana, tlie father born in 1804 and the mother 
 in 1807. They wore reared and married in their 
 native State and came to Illinois early in the '20's 
 overland by team, bringing with tliem their 
 worldly possessions and settling on section 2G, on 
 Salt Fork, where the fatliei- entered land and occu- 
 l)ied himself in farming and .stock-rai.sing. 
 
 liy a course of i)ersevering industrj' George 
 Thompson became well-to-do, and in due time was 
 the owner of 1,000 acres of land. He was jiromi- 
 nent in local affairs, holding many positions of 
 trust and responsibility, and spent the last yeais of 
 his life at the homestead which he had built up 
 from the wilderness, passing away in 1868. The 
 mother survived her husband until 1872, and like- 
 wise died at the homestead. She was a lady pos- 
 sessing many estimable qualities, and belonged to 
 the United Brethren Church. 
 
 The paternal grandfather of our subject was 
 James Thompson, a native of Kentucky, and one 
 of the earliest settlers of Owen County, Ind. He 
 entered a tract of laud from the government and 
 engaged in farming until his death. He was of 
 Scotch-Irish ancestry, and possessed all the hardy 
 elements of his^race. To the parents of our sub- 
 ject there were born three children, Wiley being 
 
90(1 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 the youngest of the family. The others, Simpson 
 and Julia are deceased. The boyhood and youth 
 of our subject were spent in a manner similar to 
 that of the sons of pioneer farmers, during which 
 he was trained to habits of industry, and acquired 
 a good education in the schools of his native town- 
 ship. During his younger 3'ears wild game was 
 [ilentiful in Prairie Township, and Mr. Thompson 
 states that he has seen as many as fifteen to twenty 
 deer in one herd. When not employed at his 
 studies he made himself useful around the home- 
 stead, and comple'ted his education in the high 
 school at Paris. He worked with his father until 
 twenty years old; then engaged in farming and 
 stock-buying on his own account. He shipped 
 numbers of cattle to this county to feed, and also 
 raised full-blooded Durhams. 
 
 In 1868 Mr. Thompson became the possessor of 
 330 acres of land adjoining Scottland, which he 
 operated until 1H79. In March of that year he 
 sold out and removed to the farm which he now 
 occupies. In the meantime he has traveled ex- 
 tensivelj' in the Territories. lie has been quite 
 successful with sheep, having about 400 head, 
 including some thoroughbred Shropshires. He is 
 also interested in horses, beuig a member of the 
 Scottland Horse Association. 
 
 Mr. T'hompson was married in Prairie Township, 
 Dec. 10, 1805, to Miss R. Jennie Riley, who was 
 born in Ross Township, and is the daughter ol' 
 Rev. Zach Riley, of Ohio, and a minister of the 
 Metliodist Ei)iscopal Church. This union resulted 
 in the birth of four children, the eldest of whom, 
 a daughter, Louie, is the wife of Louis Wallace, a 
 farmer of Prairie Township; Alice I)., Pearl, and 
 Clarence are at home with their parents. Mr. and Mrs. 
 Thompson are members of the Society of Friends, 
 attending services at Wesley Chapel, and our sub- 
 ject is Secretary of the Sunday-school Union. He 
 has decided views upon the political issues of the 
 day and uniformly gives his support to the Repub- 
 lican party. He has been quite prominent in local 
 politics, and is frequently sent as a delegate to the 
 various conventions. He has several times offi- 
 ciated as a juroi-, and was on the first jury bring- 
 ing in a verdict of guilty in the case of one J. M. 
 Casey, who had murdered his wife in this county. 
 
 Mr. Thompson has for a number of years been 
 Highway Commissioner in his township, and has 
 always maintained a warm interest in its general 
 welfare and prosperity, encouraging the enterprises 
 set on foot for the general good of the people. 
 
 '->^>^^^k^^^7<f^ 
 
 -r-V 
 
 \f7 ARKIN D. NEWLON, a well known resi- 
 I (^ dent of Stratton Township, is a son of one 
 ii'—^Vi of its earliest pioneers, and was liorn here 
 Oct. 19, 1834. He was reared on a farm, attended 
 the common schools and Avorkcd with his father at 
 the homestead until a man of twentj'-seven years, 
 and now resides within two miles of the place of 
 his birth. In 1861, he was married to Miss Kate 
 Ashley, daughter of Noah Ashley, a native of Mas- 
 sachusetts. Of this union there were born two 
 children, only one of whom is living, a son, Hiram, 
 who remains with his parents; the daughter, INIarv, 
 died when twenty- one months old. 
 
 31 rs. Kate (Ashley) Newlon was born in Knox 
 County, Ind., and died in Emporia, Kan., in 1866. 
 Mr. Newlon was then married to Mrs. Dorinda 
 Purdon, widow of Luke Purdon, a native of this 
 State. Three children were born to this union 
 only one of whom is living, Dora, who is at home. 
 The homestead comprises 105 acres of good land, 
 well improved, with substantial buildings and all 
 the other appliances for prosecuting agriculture suc- 
 cessfully. Mr. Newlon is a peaceful and law-abid- 
 ing citizen, pursuing the even tenor of his way. 
 absorbed with his farm and his family, and has 
 never been prevailed upon to accept the respon- 
 sibilities of office. Politically he is Republican; 
 socially a Mason. 
 
 Hiram Newlon, the father of our subject, was 
 born April 13, 1794, at a noted place in Virginia 
 called Goose Creek Meadows, in Bedford County. 
 He lived there until about twenty-three years of 
 age, when his father sold his property there and 
 IJiram, in company with his iiarents, removed to 
 Washington County, Ind., settling on a farm in the 
 vicinity of Salem. There was much to do in bring- 
 ing the soil to a state of cultivation, and Hiram 
 assisted his father at this one ^ear. Then startino 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 901 
 
 out to seek his fortune, lie first went to Louisville, 
 Ky., vvlieve lie obtained a position as clerk and later 
 entered into a contract for the building of pike 
 roads. In that locality he met IMiss Margaret 
 Fields, tlie result of which was a mutual attach- 
 ment, and they were married Dec. 9, 1819. 
 
 Mrs. Margaret (Fields) Newlon was the daugh- 
 ter of John and Lavina (Shortridge) Fields, who 
 were natives of Kentuckj' and spent their last 
 vears, the father in Kentucky, the mother in Illinois. 
 This union resulted in the birth of eight children, 
 three of whom are deceased. John F.. died and was 
 buried in Oswego, Kan.; Benjamin F.,died and was 
 buried in Hancock Countj^, 111.; C^'rus S.. married 
 Janet Middleton, and is connected with an agricul- 
 tural implement warehouse at Atlantic, Iowa; Wdl- 
 iani S., is a practicing physician of Oswego, Kan.; 
 Hiram P., also a member of the medical profession, 
 resides in Tulsa, Ind. Ty.; Larkin D., was the next 
 in order of birth; Malissa M., who married J. N 
 Sochenour, died and was buried at Oak Grove, 
 tiiis township; Dorinda L., is the wife of A\ill- 
 iam Newcomb, and lives in Vermillion, this county. 
 The wife and mother departed this life Aug 21, 
 1884, and the father Jan. 18, 1887. Their remains 
 lie side by side in Oak Grove Cemetery. 
 
 Hiram Newlon came to this county in 1823, land- 
 ing with a capital of $1.50 in money and a cow and 
 calf. He settled on section 26, but a year later w.is 
 appointed bj^ Gov. Edward Coles the first Gover- 
 nor of the State, Justice of the Peace, and was 
 required to take an oath that he would suppress 
 duelling. He was re-appointed to the oflBee by ( !ov. 
 Ninian Edwards, and later was elected to County 
 Commissioner for two terms. About the close of 
 the second term occurred the mobbing of Elijah 
 Lovejoy at Alton, when his printing press was 
 thrown into the river, and after this occurrence Mr. 
 Newlon would never become a candidate for office. 
 He was a strong Anti-slaveiy man, and one of a few 
 men in the place who entertained these sentiments, 
 or who at least dared to express them, jjrior to the 
 breaking up of the Whig party. 
 
 The first man to call a meeting designed to streng- 
 then the Anti-slavery cause in this section was Hiram 
 Newlon, and he assisted in the organization of the 
 Republican party in Edgar County. He never 
 
 failed upon any occasion to speak for the^down- 
 trodden, and he uniformly extended substantial aid 
 to the needy and the oppressed. He lived to see the 
 extinction of the peculiar institution, and no man 
 living experienced a deeper joy on account of this, 
 and the preservation of the Union. Larkin D., our 
 subject, has preserved the old land patents obtained 
 by Ills father and signed by Presidents Monroe, Van 
 Buren, .lackson and Pierce. They are carefully 
 preserved as valuable relics of a time long past, and 
 will increase in value as time goes on. The name 
 of Hiram NcwIqu is held in kindly remembrance 
 by the friends who have survived him, as a man 
 wielding a most important influence in his com- 
 munity and an intlnence which was always on the 
 side of right and justice. 
 
 EORGE WASHINGTON TRIPPLETT. 
 In the person of this gentleman we have 
 ^^^jj that of an active and enterprising man in 
 the prime of life, prominent among the prosper- 
 ous agriculturalists of Ross Township, and the 
 owner of 319 acres of choice land on sections 32 
 and 33. Ho has a fine family, consisting of an 
 intelligent and capable wife and three interesting- 
 children. Their home is without question the 
 abode of plenty and comfort, and they are blest 
 with the esteem and confidence of a host of friends. 
 The career of an ui)right man and a good citizen 
 is am|)ly illustrated in the life of Mr. Trii)plett, 
 who is esteemed as one of the most useful and 
 reliable men of the community. 
 
 Our subject, the only child of Daniel M. and 
 Emeline (Rogers) Tripplett, was born at the home- 
 stead which he now occupies (Jet. 2r), 1847. He 
 was deprived by death of the affection.ate care of 
 his mother when a child of two years, and was taken 
 into the home of his aunt, Elizabeth Jennings, in 
 Centreville, Ind., where he lived until a boy of 
 seven years. Afterward he became an inmate of 
 the home of Christopher Middle of- Vermillion 
 County, Ind., where he remained and attended the 
 common school until a youth of sixteen years. 
 
 In the spring of 1864, the Civil War l)eing in 
 
002 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRArmCAL ALBUM. 
 
 progress, our subject enlisted iu Company K, 129tb 
 Indiana Infantry, and was mustered intotlie service 
 at Indianapolis. The company drilled there one 
 month and were then ordered Soutli to Chattan- 
 ooga, where they joined Sherman's command. Mr. 
 Tripplett was taken ill at Chattanooga and confined 
 iu the hospital for a time, but on his recovery 
 rejoined his regiment, and among other engage- 
 ments participat(>d in the battle of Marietta, (ia.. 
 and was at the siege of Atlanta, after which he was 
 sent back with Gen. Thomas to Nashville. Later 
 followed the battles of Columbia, Franklin and 
 Nashville, Tenn., after which they were sent to 
 North Carolina by boat and later participated in 
 the battle of Kin_gston, soon after which the war 
 was ended by Lee's surrender. At RoUa our sub- 
 ject was seized with pneumonia, from which lie 
 suffered a short time, and was then sent to David's 
 Isle, New York Harbor, where he remained until 
 receiving his honorable discharge, in June, 186.5. 
 
 Soon after leaving the army !Mr. Tripplett made 
 his way back to Indiana, whence he came to Illinois 
 and assisted his father in operating the home farm 
 until the fall of that year. Then, desirous of ad- 
 vancing his education, he attended the Paris High 
 School, and after leaving it worked for his uncle 
 four years on a farm. At the expiration of this 
 time he began operating on rented land in Ross 
 Township, and later settled in Young America 
 Township, where he farmed four years. Tn 1878, 
 be returned to the homestead and remained there 
 until the death of his father, which occurred in 
 1886. 
 
 In 1886, Mr. Tripplett received his share of his 
 father's estate, 123 acres, which he improved and to 
 which he has added until he has a fine, large tract of 
 land, all under a good state of cultivation. It is sup- 
 plied with good buildings and running water and 
 admirably adapted to stock raising, to which it is 
 lai'gely devoted. Mr. Tripplett keeps al)Out seventy 
 head of cattle, twelve head of horses and a goodly 
 number of swine, shipping of the latter a car load 
 annually. 
 
 Our subject was mariicd on April 2ri, 1868, in 
 Ross Township, to Miss Nancy P.., daughter of 
 John Elsberry, the latter a native of Clark County, 
 Ky. Grandfather Elsberry owned a large planta- 
 
 tion and kept slaves and died in the Blue Grass 
 State. His son, John, left there in 1856, coming 
 to this county and locating in Edgar Township, 
 where he engaged in farming. His wife in her girl- 
 hood was Miss Elizabeth Ilulett, also a native of 
 Kentucky and the daughter of Jacob Hulett, a 
 farmer of that State, who came to Morgan County, 
 III., where he died some months later. The mother 
 made her home with our subject thereafter and died 
 at the age of seventy 3'ears. She was a lady pos- 
 sessing many estimable qualities and a consistent 
 member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. 
 
 The seven children of the parental family were 
 named respectivelj' Benjamin, Ellen (deceased), 
 Jane, Joseph, Nancy, John, Rachel and James 
 (deceased). Benjamin and Joseph served in the 
 64lli Illinois Infanty, and the latter was wounded 
 at the battle of Kenesaw Mountain. Mrs. Trip- 
 plett was born near Winchester, Ky., July 7, 1849, 
 and was a child of seven years when her parents 
 came to this State. She remained under the home 
 roof until her marriage, and by her union with our 
 subject has become the mother of three child; en: 
 Daniel AV., Norah F. and Julia G. 
 
 The father of our subject was Daniel M. Trip- 
 plett, a native of Virginia and born in 1800. His 
 paternal grandfather carried a musket in the War of 
 1812. Daniel M. was reared to farming pursuits, 
 which lie followed in the Old Dominion, and later, 
 during the above mentioned war, served as a team- 
 ster. Upon leaving his native State he settled near 
 Clirclevillc, Ohio, where he engaged in farming 
 until 1832, then came to this county. Locating 
 near Paris he became overseer in the employ of 
 Mr. Neff of Chrisman, and a few years later 
 entered eighty acres of land in Ross Township, of 
 which he was one of the earliest settlers. He im- 
 proved a good farm and remained upon it until his 
 death, which occurred in April 11, 1886. He was 
 a stanch Democrat politicall^r, and served as Com- 
 missioner of Highways a number of j'ears. 
 
 ISIrs. Eineline (Rogers) Tripplett, the mother of 
 oiu- subject, was born in New Y'ork State, and was 
 the daughter of Elias Rogers, a native of the same 
 State, and who participated in the War of 181 2. 
 He came to Illinois in 1829 and entering land in 
 Edgar Township prosecuted farming and stock rais- 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBTTM. 
 
 903 
 
 ing very successfully, :ind invested bis capital in 
 land until lie became the owner of 700 acres. He 
 (lied in 18G9, surviving liis daughter twenty years, 
 The mother of our subject having passed away in 
 1849. 
 
 Mr. Tripplett cast his first Presidential vote for 
 IT. S. Grant, and is one of the most ardent adher- 
 ents of the Republican party. Socially, he belongs 
 to the Rlasonii' fraternity, being a member of chap- 
 ter No. 32. at Paris, and Treasurer of the lodge at 
 Chrisinan. lie has served on the petit jury, liut 
 has never sought olHce, having all lie could pro- 
 perly attend to in ihe management of his large 
 farm and its various interests. 
 
 ?'^SHER O. COLSON is one of the popular 
 young business men of Paris, and a man 
 who is very popular among his fellows. He 
 is the proprietor of a confectionery, restaurantand 
 bakery business on the south side of the square, 
 where he lias carried on a successful trade for the 
 last nine years. He is obliging, and always atten- 
 tive to his business. 
 
 Mr. C'olson was _ born in Charleston, Coles 
 Co.. 111., Aug. 2.5, 1856, and when but a boy 
 lie removed to Mattoon, III., there receiving his 
 education at the common schools. After le.i\ing 
 school he learned the printer's trade in the Mattoon 
 Jovrnal office, working there for nine years faith- 
 full v, and was considered an expert in the art of 
 printing. After quitting the printing business he 
 engaged in the mainufacture of candy, having be- 
 come proficient in the business in IS7G. He located 
 at Paris in 1880, where he has been in the business 
 indicated since. He commenced with a small stock 
 of goods, but has enlarged his establishment, 
 until now he has a very complete stock of confec- 
 tionery, and is prosecuting an exceedingly prosjjer- 
 ons business. Politically, he belongs (o the Repub- 
 lican party, but official honors have never had anj' 
 charms for him. 
 
 Mr. Colson is a Royal Arch JNIason, and belongs 
 to the K. of P., and I. O. O. F., and worships with 
 the Methodist Episcopal Church. His honest deal- 
 
 ings and strict integrity has made for him a name 
 that is better than gold. He has been the architect 
 of his own business since nine years of age and has 
 made his way unassisted'^in the world. 
 
 Mr. Colson married Ada Gordon, of \'incennes, 
 Ind., Nov. 19, 1879. Mrs. Colson is a native of 
 Indiana, where she was born in 1861. 
 
 1-0-! 
 
 ^ ft)ILLIAM ROSS. A sharer in the pioneer 
 \sJ// life of three States, this sturdy veteran is, 
 iyW at the age of seventy-one years, a splendid 
 specimen of the robust anil rugged manhood to 
 which Illinois stands indebted for her raiiid de- 
 j velopment from a savage-peopled wilderness, to 
 the fiist among the commonwealths of the Middle 
 j Union. Born in Ohio, Jan. 8, 1818, takeii by his' 
 j parents to Indiana in 1828, where his boyhood w.as 
 j spent with Indian children for playmates, he early 
 became inured to all the hardships and privations 
 incident upon pioneer life. During that jjeriod was 
 laid the foundation of his future success in hab- 
 its of industry and toil, such as the environment of 
 I frontier life made necessary in order that existence 
 itself might be maintained. 
 
 Nature gave to William Ross a frame which de- 
 veloped into almost gigantic size and streiio-fh. 
 To-day he stands over six feet in height and weighs 
 210 pounds. His rugged features are stamped with 
 the strong individuality of his character, and one 
 reads in the firm, massive jaws, the overhangino- 
 eyebrows, and the keen, fl.ashing eyes, the evidences 
 of a strongly energetic nature, and a self-reliant 
 and firm will. Such men were the fit forerunners 
 of civilization in the West, and their names and 
 memories arc deserving of reverence and perpetu.i- 
 tion. 
 
 As already intimated, Mr. Ross is a native of 
 Ohio. He was born near Jacksonburg, Butler 
 County, in th.at State, Jan. 8, 1818, his birthday 
 being the thiid anniversaiy of Gen. Jackson's vic- 
 tory over the British at New Orleans. His father, 
 John Ross, was a native of Greene County, Pa., and 
 married Christina Conrad, a native of Washing- 
 ton C'ounty, that State. His paternal grandfather 
 was a native of Scotland, from which he emi- 
 grated to Pennsylv.ania prior to the Revolutionarv 
 
90 4 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 W.ir. He married after coming tu America, and 
 emploj^ed liimself asa farmer and miller, owning an(l 
 operating a mill near Waynesbiirg, Pa., for a num- 
 ber of years. His children were bred to farm work 
 and had but limited opportunities for an education, 
 a few months now and then at the subscription 
 schools being all that could be given them. 
 
 John Ross, the father of our subject, was a farmer 
 and drover combined. Shortly after the TerritO'-y 
 of Ohio was opened up, he went to Butler County, 
 Ohio, after his marriage in Pennsylvania. They 
 became the parents of nine children — Abraham, 
 Catherine, jMary, Henrj', John, Jacob, Johnston, 
 William, and Elizabeth. Abraham died in Edgar 
 County, 111., in 1877, leaving a widow and grown 
 up children; Catherine was the wife of John Jack- 
 son, a farmer, and died in Clinton County, Ind., 
 wlien about forty years of age, leaving ten chil- 
 dren; Mary was married to Stephen Allen, and died 
 about 1878, leaving seven children; Henry died 
 about 186;* in Champaign County, III., where he 
 was a farmer; lie left a wife and eight children. 
 John died in 1879, in Vermilion County, 111., leav- 
 ing a wife and Ave children ; Jacob moved to Los 
 Angeles, Cal., where he died probablj- in 1879, 
 leaving a wife and five cliildren ; Johnston is the 
 owner of a large stock ranch in Bee Count\', Tex.; 
 he is married, and the father of eleven children, 
 only four of whom are living. Elizabeth is the 
 wife of Francis Green, of Chrisman; out of nine 
 children born to herself and her husband, onl}^ three 
 are living. The father of our subject died Sept. 2, 
 1849, aged sixty-eight years, five months, and two 
 days. The mother of our subject died Jan. 7, 1869, 
 aged sixty-nine years, seven months, and two days. 
 
 Our subject received his education in the sub- 
 scription school. When he was ten years old, his 
 father removed to Clinton County, Ind., and set- 
 tled among the Indians, there being at that time 
 only seven white families in the county. At the 
 age of twenty-three years, Mr. Ross was married to 
 Miss Asenath Crull, daughter of William C'ridl who 
 was of English ancestry; ten children resulted from 
 this union — Rebecca, Henry, Rhoda, Lewis C, El- 
 mira, Philetta, William, Elizabeth, Asenath, and 
 one who died in infancy. 
 
 Rebecca, the eldest child of our subject, was first 
 
 married to Jacob Brinkerhoff, by whom she had 
 two children. Her second husband, Ralph Smith, 
 is a grain buyer in Metcalf, and by him siie had one 
 child. Henry, whose biography appears on another 
 page, resides on the home farm ; Rhoda married 
 John Smith, and died in Kansas in 1888, leaving 
 five children; Lewis C. married Miss Alice Pound, 
 and lives in Beeville, Bee Co., Tex., being a wealthy 
 ranchman, and the father of four children; Elmira, 
 Mrs. Milton Julian, is living in Danville, 111.; she 
 has two children; her husband is a farmer. Phil- 
 etta married John B. Hildreth, of Carrol! Town- 
 ship, Vermilion County, and died about fourteen 
 years since, leaving four children; William married 
 Miss Susan Reese, lives on the home place, and has 
 two children ; Elizabeth became tlie wife of H. Law- 
 rence Reed, and died in Vermilion County, Aug. 1, 
 1 888, leaving four children ; Asenath married Wash- 
 ington Reed, a brother of II. Lawrence Reed, and 
 they are living in Kansas; they have four children. 
 
 Our subject remained in Clinton County, Ind., 
 until 1852, when he came to Illinois, and settled in 
 Carroll Township, Vermilion Count3', wheie he 
 purchased 280 acres of land. Tliat same year he 
 also entered 800 acres in Young America Town- 
 ship, Edgar County, a part of which constitu.tcs 
 his present homestead, and to which lie removed 
 in 1856. His first wife died ten years later, and in 
 187(1 he was married to JNIrs. Mary (Ritter) Reed. 
 This lady at the time of her marriage with our sub- 
 ject, was a widow of George Reed, by whom she had 
 three children. Two of her sons, Lawrence and 
 George AVashington, married Elizabeth and Asen- 
 ath, daughters of William Ross. Her other son, 
 Martin, is unmarried, and living in Bee County, 
 Tex. Mrs. Ross has had no children by her second 
 marriage. 
 
 Since coming to Illinois, Mr. Ross has ranked as 
 one of the most prominent and prosperous farmers 
 of Edgar County. At one time his landed poses- 
 sions amounted to over 1,600 acres. He has di- 
 vided land among his children, until he has but 320 
 acres left. This in itself is a large farm, and under 
 the careful cultivation to which it is subjected, it 
 yields a revenue adequate for its owner and his two 
 married sons who reside on it, and assist in its till- 
 age. 
 
ll,-ka?l^. 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 907 
 
 Caring nothing for office, exeeiit wiierein lie can 
 serve liis township, Mv. Ross has not withstanding 
 filled all of the local offices one or more terms, as 
 Township Supervisor. Assessor, School Treasurer, 
 and Commissioner of Highways. He and iiis ex- 
 cellent wife are consistent members of the Christian 
 Church. Mr. Ross is a Mason in good standing, 
 and in politics a sound Democrat, who has fre- 
 quently served as a delegate to the various conven- 
 tions. 
 
 The residence of William Ross is pleasantly situ- 
 ated in about the center of section 9. Though of plain 
 exterior it is tastefully and comfortably furnished, 
 contains a well-selected library, and a generous list 
 of papers and periodicals which furnish recreation 
 to the mind after the toils of the day and the week 
 are over. The four children of his deceased daugh- 
 ter, Elizabeth, brighten his home by tbeir childish 
 mirth and happy faces, and are the objects of his 
 warm affection and protecting care. Mr. and Sirs. 
 Ross pass their lives quietly and pleasantly, evi- 
 dently being conscious of having lived to leave the 
 world better for their sojourn in it. They have 
 been privileged to see their children grow to man- 
 hood and womanhood, and some of them to win 
 for themselves honorable places. Others laid down 
 the burden of life in the vigor of their years, with 
 the bright promise of their youth scarcely realized. 
 The sorrows of bereavement have only served to 
 make the hearts which have suffered more gentle, 
 and the mind more charitable, while their joys have 
 not been unappreciated as the gift of One who in 
 wisdom, love and mere}' has chastened them, and 
 in whom they have an enduring and confiding 
 trust. 
 
 *wW-'v<ajZfl;©^ . 
 
 ^j^Si5«r»-'w«/> 
 
 |r%OBERT R. BENNEFIEL, late of Shiloli 
 ■pif Township and now deceased, was nnmbeieil 
 'ii W. among its early pioneers, having settled here 
 ^^"about 1846. He made the journey with his 
 little family from the vicinity of Carlisle, Sullivan 
 Co., Ind., journeying overland by team and set- 
 tling on a rented farm of 120 acres which he occu- 
 pied three years. He then removed to a tract of 
 wild land in Buck Township, from which he con- 
 
 structed a good farm, his home until 1870. That 
 year he sold out purchasing the farm now occupied 
 by his widow, Mrs. Mary J. Bennefiel, and children 
 and which comprises 314 acres on section i9. Here 
 he engaged successfully in farming and stock-rais- 
 ing and instituted many improvements, putting up 
 a house and barn and planting fruit and forest 
 trees. His death, which occurred March 23, 1882, 
 was caused by the kick of a horse. He was then 
 sixty-five years old, having been born in 1817, in 
 Carlisle, Ind. 
 
 Mr. Bennefiel was numbered among the liberal 
 and public-spirited men of his county and was fore- 
 most in all good works. He officiated as a Steward 
 and Trustee of the Methodist p4)iscopal Church and 
 in politics was an ardent Republican. He served 
 as a School Director in his district and occupied 
 many other positions of trust and responsibility. 
 After his death, his widow operated the f.arm until 
 1886, then rented it to her sons and moved to 
 Paris. In 1888 she returned to the old homestead 
 of which she owns seventy acres and which she 
 carries on in company with her sons. The land is 
 fertile and well watered by Bruellet Creek. The 
 farm lies four miles from Metcalf and with its im- 
 provements, forms a very attractive rural home. 
 It is largely devoted to grain and stock-raising and 
 three teams are used in its operation. Mrs. Benne- 
 fiel was born in Carlisle, Ind., June 16, 1819, and 
 received a good education in her native town. 
 Her father, Chester Ingram, was a native of Con- 
 necticut and after emigrating to Sullivan Countj', 
 Ind., engaged in mercantile pursuits until his death. 
 The mother, whose maiden name was Diana Hall, 
 was born in New York State and also died in Car- 
 lisle, Ind. 
 
 John Hall, the paternal grandfather of Mrs. 
 Bennefiel, was a native of England. Emigrating (o 
 America, he located first in New York State, then 
 removed to Carlisle, Ind., where he engaged as an 
 hotclkeeper and operated a stage line. He was one 
 of the first settlers of Sullivan County. He served 
 in the war of ] H12 .and died in Carlisle many years 
 'ago. 
 
 After their marriage which occurred Feb. 13, 
 1842, ^Ir. and Mrs. Bennefiel lived in Indiana until 
 1846, then came to Edgar County, III. There were 
 
908 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 born to them eight children, tlie eldest of whom, 
 Francis M., died when nearlj' tvvent}' years old ; Belle 
 is tlie wife of Mr. Lewis Reed, a druggist of C'eii- 
 tralia, III.; Addison L. is at home with his mother; 
 Laura is the wife of A. F. Long, a prominent 
 farmer of Edgar Township; William and Clar- 
 ence are at home; Edward D. and Sarah died at the 
 ages of fourteen months and four weeks. IMrs. 
 Benneflel is a member in good standing of llic 
 Methodist Episcopal Church at Paris and her sons. 
 like their father, vote tiie straight Republican 
 ticket. 
 
 Although forever passed from the midst of liis 
 friends, Mr. Benneflel lives in their loving memo- 
 ries, and thus they will welcome with pleasure the 
 addition to this volume in a fine portrait of him, 
 whose life was devoted to the upbuilding of his 
 county and the development of its resources. 
 
 f I ESSE MOORE. Edgar Connty has been 
 iargeiy settled up I)}' natives of the Blue 
 (Jrass State. They have been a hardy race 
 / of men, possessing the elements most needed 
 in order to battle suc'Ccssfidly witii ihe toils and 
 hardships of frontier life. The subject of this no- 
 tice, a veteran of sevent3'-scvcn years, was born 
 near Dry Ridge, Scott Co., Ky., May 30, 1812, and 
 came to Edgar Count}-, 111., during the period of 
 its earh' settlement, lie has seen many years of 
 arduous lal)or, but battled succt'ssfully with tlie 
 new soil and the other disadvantages attendant 
 upon pioneer life, and is now comfortably situated 
 at a good homestead on section 17, Edgar Town- 
 ship. This property has been accumulated by his 
 own industry, and forms a very attractive home, 
 one of its distinctive features being n beautiful 
 large walnut grove, a part of which was planted by 
 his own hand ovei' forty years ago. 
 
 Our subject is the offshmjt of a suiistajjtifd S(jutli- 
 ern family, being the son of .lesse I\Ioore, Sr., a 
 native of Virginia, and the grandson of an old 
 Hevolutionai'v soldier, lil<ewise liorn in the Old 
 Dominion. The latter subsecpiently removed to 
 Kentucky, where he labored successfully as an agi-i- 
 
 culturist, and died in good circumstances. The 
 records indicate that he came of a hardy race, 
 which originated in Ireland. Jesse Moore was a 
 young man when he accompanied his father's fam- 
 ily t<i Scott County, where he engaged in farming 
 and spent the remainder of his life. He possessed 
 in a marked degree some of the substantial traits 
 of his progenitors, was very fearless and outspoken 
 in his opinions, and a Jackson Democrat of the 
 deepest dye. lie stood up and voted for \Villiam 
 H. Harrison in 1836 and in 1840, and upon several 
 occasions felled a man to the earth for speaking 
 disparagingly of the hero of -'Tippecanoe." 
 
 The mother of our subject was in her girlhood 
 Miss Margaret Hedger, and the daughter of Reu- 
 ben Hedger, who was born in Virginia, and at an 
 early daj' removed to Scott County, Ky., which 
 was the birthplace of his daughter, Margaret. He 
 farmed extensively in Scott County, but later re- 
 moved to Harrison County, where he spent his last 
 days. This family was likewise of Irish descent. 
 The mother S|)ent her entire life in her native 
 connty, and died a member of the Baptist Church. 
 Of her mariiagc with Jesse Moore, there were born 
 eleven children, nine of whom are deceased, viz: 
 Jefferson, the eldest; Lncinda, the third child; 
 Sally, Polly, Catherine, ISIary, Eliza, Annie, Phehe, 
 and Sanford, who were born in the order named. 
 .lesse, onr sidjject. was next to the eldest. The only 
 two living besides himself, is Thirza, and Amanda 
 a resident of Edgar Township. 
 
 The subject of this sketch assisted his father on 
 the farm during his boyluxMl, and until a youth of 
 eighteen years. Then starting out for himself, he 
 made his wa}' to Clermont County. Ohio, where he 
 worked on a farm two ycirs. then returned to the 
 old Kentucky home. After a few week's sojourn, 
 howcyer, he set out again, in the fall of 1831, and 
 traversing the Stntes of Ohio and Indiana, came to 
 Edgar County, this State, making the journey over- 
 land, accompanied by his uncle. Thej' crossed the 
 Ohio River at C'incinnati, and the Wabash at Terre 
 Haute, and locating at Steam Point, our subject 
 worked one year for §.j per month. He continued 
 the employe of others until J s37, then commenced 
 making rails at twenty cents per 100, and chopped 
 wood at twenty-five cents a cord. He was an expert 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 909 
 
 in this lino, sometimes getting out 500 mils a day and 
 five coi'ds of wood in the same time. It is iiardij' 
 necessary to say that lie was excelled by fevv intiiis 
 line. In !h;)7 he made his first purciiaso of land — 
 forty acres — witliout any improvements. The re- 
 creation of the settlers in those days included the 
 wolf hnnts, in which they engaged at stated periods 
 and i\Ir. Moore has himself killed as many as five 
 in a day. 
 
 Upon taking possession of his land, Mr. Moore 
 first put up a log cabin, got in his first season's 
 crops, and then began making improvements. He 
 set out fruit and forest trees, including the walnut 
 grove spoken of, which is acknowledged to be the 
 finest in the county, and in due time the log cabin 
 was abandoned for a commodious modern residence. 
 The land is watered by a living spring, and when 
 his means permitted, Mr. Moore added to his real es- 
 tate so that he is now the owner of 115 acres, the 
 greater part of which is under the plow. He makes 
 a specialty of horses, and from this source alone, 
 realizes a good income. 
 
 The mairiage of our subject witii jMiss Uannali 
 Morgan was celebrated at tiic liride's homo in New- 
 port, Ind., in 1833. Mrs. Moore is the daugiiter of 
 Wells Morgan, one of the earliest si'ttlcrs of Edgiir 
 County. (She whs born in Morgan County, Ky., in 
 1815, and came with her parents to Ulinciis when a 
 child of seven years. She became the mother of 
 ten children, and departed this life June 13, l.SSI). 
 Their eldest daughter, Mnigaret, Mrs. Conover, 
 lives on a farm in Edgar Township; Samuel, a 
 horseman and farmer combined, resides in Chris- 
 man; Catherine, Mrs. Lemuel Sayre, lives in Tus 
 cola; .lefferson is a carpenter by trade, and makes 
 his headquarters at Terre Haute, Ind.; There-a is 
 the wife of Benjamin McKee, a farmer of Edgar 
 Township; John and Scott are twins, the former 
 is at home, and Seotit "opeiates a feed stable in 
 Montgomery County, Kan.; Mary died at the age 
 of about twent3'-five years; Taylor is at home with 
 his parents; his twin brother, INIarion, died when 
 three years old. 
 
 Mr. Moore finds his religious home in the Baptist 
 Church at Bloomfield. He voted for Oen. William 
 II. Harrison in 1840, and in 1866 he identified liim- 
 self with the Republican part\', of which he has 
 
 been a strong supporter. The grandson of old 
 Tippecanoe, received his enthusiastic support in the 
 election of 1888. Aside from serving on the jury, 
 he has had very little to do with public affairs, giv- 
 ing his principal attention to his farming interests, 
 liesides their own child, l\Ir. and Mrs. Moore reared 
 a grand-daughter, Annie Heinman, who is still in 
 the family, and another child, Elmyra Wallace, who 
 is now deceased. 
 
 \15*:. R. JOHN MILLS l)cars the distinction of 
 being the pioneer pliysician and surgeon 
 of Kansas, having located within the town- 
 ship at a time prior to the regular estab- 
 lishment of roads, when he traveled over the 
 country on horseback and ministered to the people 
 from the contents of liis' saddle bags. He rode 
 through the woods on dark nights, through rain 
 and snow and cold and heat, enduring frequently 
 hunger and thirst and weariness, but his sympathy 
 and fidelity in time were rewarded bj' the esteem 
 and confidence of the entire community. We now 
 find him established at a comfortable and |)le.asant 
 home in the town of Kansas where he is numbered 
 among her first citizens. 
 
 A native of the Old Ciranite State, our subject 
 was born in the city of Concord, May 10, 1819. 
 His father, Hon. John Mills was a native of the 
 same place and lived at a time when there were 
 seven John Mills in the township The father of 
 our sid)jeet was a man of fine abilities and prom- 
 inent in New Hampshire, serving for six years as 
 a member of the Legislature. He was, however, 
 fond of agricultural pursuits and carried on farm- 
 ing in connection with his other interests. P^inally, 
 in 1838, leaving his native hills he emigrated with 
 his family to Kalamazoo County, Mich., where the 
 early educntion of our subject was begun. The 
 motliei-, Mrs. Susannah (Church) Mills, was born 
 not far from the early home of her husband and 
 was the daughter of John Church who died in 
 New Hampshire at the age of one hundred and 
 three years. To the parents of our subject there 
 were born ten children, only three of wliom are 
 
910 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 living, viz. : John, our subject, Dr. Charles H.. a 
 resident of Champaign, 111., and David M., who at 
 one time was a resident of Dakota but is now farm- 
 ing twelve miles north of Sioux City, Iowa, 
 lie was a member of the Territorial Assembly for 
 several terms. Two sons, Ambrose and William, 
 adopted the medical profession. The former died 
 in Kalamazoo, Mich., when thirty-two j'earsold; 
 William died in Chillicotiie, Ohio, at the age of 
 twenty-eight; one daughter, Margaret, died when 
 an interesting young lady of twenty years ; Susan- 
 nah died when a child of eight years; another son, 
 Frederick, the youngest of the family, was at one 
 time a practicing attorney in the city of Philadel- 
 phia, Pa., but not having been heard from for 3'ears, 
 it is supposed that he is dead. 
 
 Dr. Mills attended school quite regularly during 
 his boyhood and after leaving the High School 
 went, in 1841, to Zanesville, Ohio, and commenced 
 the reading of medicine under the instruction first 
 of Dr. Workman, and later of Dr. Holston, who 
 subsequently became Gen. Grant's family physi- 
 cian. While in Zanesville he cast his first Presi- 
 dential vote for James K. Polk. He began the 
 practice of his profession in November, 1843, at 
 Adamsville, Muskingum County, and remained 
 there ten j'ears. In December, 1853, deciding to 
 seek the farther West, he came to Edgar County, 
 III. and settled in what was then Warrenton, now 
 a defunct town of Kansas Township. In the fall 
 of 1855 he changed his residence to Kansas, III., 
 which was just then struggling into existence and 
 which was known as Midwaj- Station, being located 
 halfway between Paris and Charleston. With the 
 exception of two yrars spent in Paxton, Ford 
 County, he has since continuously followed his 
 practice in Kansas and vicinitj-. During those 
 years he rode all over the western jjart of Edgar 
 and the eastern part of Coles County, and for a 
 long period was associated in partnership with 
 Dr. O. Q. Herrick, who was a surgeon during the 
 late war and who died in Kansas, III., in August, 
 1 873. Dr. Mills has been particularly successful 
 in the department of surgery and has performed 
 some very difficult operations, especially in cases 
 of skull fracture, in which he never lost a jDatient. 
 The marriage of Dr. John Mills and Miss Rebecca 
 
 AVheeler was celebrated at the bride's home in Mus- 
 kingum County, Ohio,Oct. 3, 1843. Mrs. Mills was 
 born in Muskingum County, Ohio, April 22, 1821, 
 and was the daughter of Henry Wheeler, who spent 
 his last years in Ohio and is now deceased. Of this 
 union there have been born four children, only two 
 of whom are living, namely: Franklin W., a tele- 
 graph operator of Paris and Ellen A., who married 
 Rev. William Downs, and she has three children. 
 Franklin married Miss Mell Jones and is the father 
 of one child, a son, Herbert. The Doctor also had 
 a daughter, Mary Frances Barry, deceased, who left 
 two children, Tessie and Ellen. 
 
 The Doctor, while a resident of Ohio officiated 
 as Justice of the Peace for six years, but since 
 coming to the West has preferred to give his whole 
 attention to the duties of his profession. He is an 
 Elder in the Christian Church. Mrs. Mills died 
 Aug. 26, 1880, and is buried at Harmony Church, 
 four miles north of Kansas. 
 
 <JY)OSIAH D. SAYRE owns and operates 250 
 acres of land on section 30 in Prairie 
 Township. He is one of the most promi- 
 nent and influential men of his neighbor- 
 hood, and is ever found taking an active part in 
 public enterprises for which his good education and 
 fine judgment eminently fits him. He is familiarly 
 known to his acquaintances as "Dick Sayre," which 
 exhibits the respect in which he is held. 
 
 His father, Israel D. Sayre, was a native of Ohio 
 and a cabinet-maker bj' trade. When a young 
 man he concluded to abandon his chosen vocation 
 and engage in farming. So, in January, 1829, he 
 emigrated to Illinois, locating in Edgar County, 
 where he bought land of the Government, im- 
 proved his opportunities and did well. He was noted 
 for his strict temperance views and was held in high 
 respect by his entire circle of acquaintances. He at 
 one time owned 1,800 acres of land, and was con- 
 sidered one of the most extensive farmers in the 
 county. He died in the prime of life in 1849, at 
 the age of forty-two years. Politically, he was a 
 prominent Whig, and belonged to the Methodist 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 911 
 
 Episcopal Church, of which he was a Class-Leader. 
 His wife was born in Brown County, Ohio in 1799 
 and died on Uie homestead, July 19, 1888. Her 
 first husband was named Legate, by whom she had 
 two children, John M., and Elizabeth C. She and 
 Mr. Sayre wore tlie parents of ten ciiildron, five of 
 whom grew to manhood: Robert L., Lemuel B., 
 David C, Israel B. and Josiah D., of wiiom this 
 sltetch is written. The latter was born in Edgar 
 Connty, Jan. 28, 1831. He was reared on a farm 
 and attended subscription schools. He remembers 
 well when wild game was plentiful in this section 
 of the country, and especially that noblest of Amer- 
 can game birds, wild turlvey. Deer and bear were 
 also plentiful. When he was ten years old, in 
 18-10, and in company with his father, lie returned 
 to Brown County, Ohio, in a wagon, a journey he 
 remembers very well. That was in the fall of 
 the Harrison campaign and lie distinctly recalls the 
 excitement of that period. They remained there 
 but a little while and after their visit was ended, 
 returned home. When he was twenty-two years 
 of age he tools cliarge of his present place, upon 
 which there were no improvements. He went to 
 worli with five yolie of cattle and a twenty-two 
 inch plow and broke his land. He has now a 
 splendid place with orchards, hedges and all the 
 appurtenances that are connected with a well regu- 
 lated farm. In 1885 he erected a fine house, 
 28x32, and two stories in height, which is sur- 
 rounded by a lovely yard. In connection with 
 raising grain he operates extensively in feeding 
 stoclc. He has a fine lot of graded Clydesdale 
 horses, in which he takes a great deal of pride. 
 
 On June 30, 1853, he was married to Miss Ruth 
 A. McFerren, who was born in Adams County, 
 Ohio. She died Jan. 27, 1855, leaving two chil- 
 dren — Altamira and Abbie. The latter married 
 Daniel Fulton, a farmer of Prairie Township. Mr. 
 Sayre took for his second wife Miss Eliza McFer- 
 ren, being married on Dec. 26, 1856. They are 
 the parents of eight children: Luella, Ruth A., 
 Matilda, Estella G., William S., Ocalla, Mary F., 
 and Alforetta. Ruth A., married Robert Yelton, 
 a farmer of Prairie Township; Matilda is the wife 
 of James Welman, who is a farmer; Estella is 
 married to Charles Lee, a carpenter, of Prairie 
 
 Township; William S., married Maggie E. Carson, 
 they are on the old homestead ; Ocalla, now Mrs. 
 Smith, is at home, her husband is deceased. The 
 balance are residing at home. 
 
 Mr. Sayre is identified with the Republican 
 party and is a prominent member of its conven- 
 tions. He has held the office of School Director 
 and has been Collector for six years and Constable 
 for four years. Ho belongs to the Masons and is 
 recognized by those who know him best as a man of 
 charitable inclinations. 
 
 ■^1 AMES HANKS. The business interests of 
 Kansas and vicinity find a wide-awake repre- 
 sentative in the person of Mr. Hanks, who 
 is conducting a thriving grocery and drug 
 trade at its center, and whose popularity in social 
 and business circles is only equal to his deserts. A 
 Kentuckian by birth, his native place was in Mor- 
 gan County, that State, and the date of his birth 
 Sept. 7, 1827. His father, William Hanks, left the 
 Blue Grass country in 1828, and coming to Edgar 
 County, 111., settled in the wilderness of Sims Town- 
 ship, where he built up a good home, and was recog- 
 nized as one of its best citizens. 
 
 The subject of this sketch was the only child of 
 his parents at the time of their coming to Illinois. 
 The father came to this section without means, hav- 
 ing no money and little personal property with the 
 exception of an old gray mare. He began as the 
 employe of others, labored early and late, finally 
 secured a tract of land, and was prospered as a tiller 
 of the soil. In due time he turned his attention to 
 stock-raising, also feeding and shipping, and in- 
 vested his surplus capital in real estate, so that at 
 one time he was the owner of over 1,000 acres of 
 land. In addition to this he provided for a family 
 of thirteen children out of fourteen who were born 
 to him, and of whom ten are still living — these lat- 
 ter being James, our subject, Berry, Nancy J., Mrs. 
 Swango; Sibby, Mrs. Wells; Caroline, Mrs. Size- 
 more; Mary E., Mrs. Baber; Michael, Nelson, Eva- 
 line, IMrs. McAlister, and Sarah, Mrs. Quinn. The 
 mother, Mrs. Mary (O'Hair) Hanks, wasanative of 
 
'j:-2 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 Kentuck}', unci a sister of John, Mieliaul, .himes, 
 William, and Wasliin.uton OTIair. Slie still lives 
 iK'ai- Paris. 
 
 The deceased of the parental family were Will- 
 iam, Jaekson, and (ireen, besides a daughter who 
 died in infancy'. The survivors are residents prin- 
 eiiially of lidgar County. James, like his brothers, 
 obtained a limited education in the log cabin school- 
 house which he attended mostly during the winter 
 season. For a number of years the people in that 
 region had their corn and flour ground at a mill 
 belonging to Rlike O'Hair, which was operated ))y 
 horse-power, and located at Elbriilge. In the labor 
 of opening up a farm, all hands were made useful, 
 the children being required to do their part as they 
 were able. Mr. Hanks lived with his parents until 
 his marriage, and then took possession of a log 
 cabin of his own. This structure contained oue 
 room, and was finished off witli a puncheon floor, a 
 clapboard roof and door, the former held in its 
 placfc liy knees and weight i)oles, and the latter by 
 wooden hinges. ,V huge flre-place extended across 
 one end of the building, before which the bride 
 performed her cooking operations. 
 
 Our subject followed farming until 1855, then 
 established himself at Grand View as a general mer- 
 chant, where he remained one year. Thence lie 
 removed to Kansas, 111., and in company with two 
 partners prosecuted merchandising under the firm 
 name of Hanks, Zink & O'Hair. Since that time 
 he has never left the channels of trade, this business 
 proving more congenial to him than anything else 
 which he has followed. He in due time purchased 
 the interest of his partners, and has since conducted 
 the business alone, carrying a full line of groceries, 
 flour, drugs and medicines, making a specialty of 
 Hour, of which he sells more than any other house 
 in the town. This being the New Douglas Extra 
 Fancy, outsells all others on account of its superior 
 quality. Mr. Hanks has a baker}' in connection 
 with his other interests, which, however, he ope- 
 rates only a portion of the time. 
 
 On the 7th of September, 1817, our subject was 
 united iu marriage with Miss Mary Zink, at the 
 home of the bride in Grand View Township. This 
 lady is the daughter of Emanuel Zink, who is one 
 of the earliest settlers of Edgar County, and is now 
 
 deceased. Seven children were born of this union, 
 five of whom are living, viz: Delilah, Lindes, 
 Emanuel, Emily, and Angle. Delilah is the wife 
 of Samuel Smith, of Kansas, HI.; the one child 
 born to them is deceased; Lindes married Jliss 
 Caroline Brown; they live on a farm in Kansas 
 Towiiship, and have four children, Emanuel mar- 
 ried Miss Mamie Redmond; they live in Kansas 
 Township, and have one child. Emily married 
 Charles Owens, of Kansas, 111., and they have three 
 children; Angle is the wife of Vance Arterburn, of 
 Kansas, and they have one child. 
 
 The mother of Mr. Hanks is still living, making 
 her home on the old farm five miles south of Paris, 
 and is now in her eighty-first year. The father 
 died several years ago, an honored and wealthy 
 citizen. He gave at one time $300 to the building 
 of a church, and was always a liberal and philan- 
 thropic man. Mrs. Hanks, the wife of our subject, 
 belongs to the (_'hristian Church. Mr. Hanks, al- 
 though not a professor of religion, believes in its 
 efficacy, and donates liberally to the support of the 
 ( rospel. 
 
 
 \ ARION STEWART, of Shiloh Townshii), 
 occupies a good position socially and finan- 
 cially, being numbered among its most 
 worthy and respected citizens. A native 
 of Fayette County, Ind., he was born Feb. 14, 
 1843, and is the son of David and Martha (Wiles) 
 Stewart, who were born in Indiana. The paternal 
 grandparents were from Pennsylvania. The father 
 of our subject received but an ordinary education 
 in his youth, and followed farming the remainder 
 ef his life. The parental household included five 
 children, our subject being the eldest. Perry is 
 farming in Blue Mound Townsliip, near Paris. He 
 married Miss Etta Guthrie, and has six children. 
 Keziah became the wife of William Hanks, and died 
 at Walnut Grove in 1872, leaving four children; 
 Petei' was married, and his wife died leavino- four 
 children, and he lives in Indianapolis, Ind. The 
 father |)olitica]ly was first a Whig and later a 
 Republican; he died in 187(5. 
 
 The subject of this sketch was reared in Sims 
 
PORTRAIT AND lilOGUAPllICAL ALBUM. 
 
 913 
 
 Tovviislii() on a farm, iiiid oilucated in the district 
 school. After tlic ontbreak of the Civil N\'ar he, 
 at the age of eighteen yeai-s, enlisted in Conii)an3' 
 B, "Engineers Regiment," which went from Illin- 
 ois, but was credited to Missouri, and wah engaued 
 in engineering and building bridges trestles along 
 the railroads and over rivers. The regiment wns 
 familiarly known as Bissell's Kngineers, and with it 
 young Stewart remained until receiving his h(.(n- 
 ourable dischnige at Nashville, in (»et. 31, 1<S(;|. 
 
 Upon his return home, our subject began to take 
 up the more serious business of life and was mar- 
 rieil Aug. 31,1 HGri, to Rliss Isahelle Rotroff, daugh- 
 ter of John and Elizabeth Rotroff, who were 
 natives of Ohio. Mrs. Stewart was liorn Feb. 15, 
 ]h44, in Ohio. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. 
 Stewart lived for two years on the old houiesteadi 
 live miles south of Paris, and aftei'vvard lived one 
 year north of Metcalf, in Young America Town- 
 ship. They rcmtived to their present farm on sec- 
 tion 14, in Shiloh Township in l.s6'J, which our 
 subject purchased that year and which comprises 
 320 acres, he having doubled the original purchase. 
 Of this union there were lioru ten children, viz. : 
 David, Grant, Minnie, Eeziah, Alice, Marion (i., 
 Olive, who are now living; and Arthur, Grace and 
 James R., deceased. Mrs. Isabel Stewart departed 
 this life at the homestead Nov. t, 1876. Our 
 sidiject contracted a second marriage with Miss 
 Isabelle Moore, (_)ct. 27, 1877. 
 
 The father of our subject upon leaving Indiana, 
 about 1854, came to Edgar County, 111., and settled 
 near Paris, where he lived until 1865. Thence he 
 removed to Young vVmerica Township, north of 
 Metcalf, where his death toi^k place Sept. H, 1876. 
 The mother had passed aw:iy twenty-four years prior 
 to the decease of her husband, her death taking- 
 place Nov. 8, 1852, in Indiana. Mr. Stewart, after 
 living alone twenty years, was finally married a 
 second time, in October, 1872, to Miss Nancy 
 McNees, and to them there were born three chil- 
 dren, Elva, Ettie and one who died in infancy. 
 David Stewart married Miss IjoU.y Julian, and is 
 farming in Young America Townshii) : Minnie is 
 the wife of Thomas Braiding of Shiloh Township. 
 
 (Jur subject politically is a sound Re|niblican, 
 and is a man useful to his party, bein^ a member 
 
 of, the Central Committee, and is frequently sent 
 MS a dell-gate to the County Conventions. He has 
 olliciated as Highway Commissioner and as School 
 Director in his district. Socially he belongs to 
 Ozark Lo(l,;.;e, Xo. 280, I.O.O.F., at Brockton, and 
 Ivansas Post, No. 405, G.A.R. 
 
 ui has his hobby and that of Mr. 
 1^ Scott is live-stock, especially horses. There 
 l^/ are few better judges of equines than IMr. 
 
 _S<'(_>tt;. lie lakes pride in his pi(^)fession in this 
 line and has met with unciualified success. He is 
 one of the extensive land-owners of the county 
 his possessions aggregating fully 760 acres, lying 
 in three townships. His accumulations have 
 been acquired through downright hard work, to- 
 gether with good management, and he is in posses- 
 sion of the secret of knowing how to take care of 
 what he has. 
 
 Ill noting the antecedents of Mr. Scott we find 
 that he is of English ancestry and the son of Samuel 
 Scott, a native of Fleming County, Ky. The latter 
 emigrated to Indiana when a young man, locating 
 in Morgan Count}', where he was married and 
 became the owner of 160 acres of land, embracing 
 the present site of Martinsville. In 1829 soon 
 after the town was established he sold out and 
 pushed on further Westward with a team, overland 
 to this county, settling among the earliest pioneers 
 of Prairie Township. He entered the most of his 
 land from the Government and engaged extensively 
 in live-stock business. He came to Illinois without 
 means, but being an excellent manager, made 
 good headway. He purchased his cattle in the 
 South and put them to grazing on the rich grass of 
 Prairie Township before the land had been all 
 taken up. When in the desired condition he drove 
 both cattle and horses through to Chicago, where 
 he disposed of tlcm at ^i good I'ound sum. 
 
 " Uncle Sammie ScoU" became widely and favor- 
 ably known, was everybody's friend and the onlj' 
 man in the county at that day who had money to 
 loan. Many another man owes his start in life to 
 
914 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 his generosity anil forbearance, as he never pushed 
 anyone in money matters and was always anxious 
 to assist those who would try to help themselves, 
 lie was a man of almost unerring judgment and 
 was at an early date called to the local offices, the 
 duties of which lie discharged with great credit to 
 himself and satisfaction to the people. They came 
 to him for advice from all parts of the country. 
 He resided in Prairie Township until 1859, then 
 removed to Ross Township where he owned a large 
 tract of land. He was in fact the largest land- 
 owner in the county, having at the time of his 
 death SJ)t)0 acres in this count3' and 1,000 .acres in 
 Kansas. While on a visit to his son William in 
 Prairie Township he was taken ill and died in 
 December, 1869. 
 
 I\Irs. Rebecca (Tabor) Scott, the mother of our 
 subject, was born on the White River in Brown 
 Co., Ind., and w.as the daughter of Robert Tabor, 
 also a native of Indiana and who served in the 
 War of 1812. He cleared a farm from the wilderness 
 and put up a log house. When the Indians became 
 troublesome he removed his family to the fort 
 where the}' staid until the outbreak of fever com- 
 pelled them to return to their cabin home, where 
 the father protected those dependent upon him 
 from' the Indians by four fierce dogs and an old 
 rifle. He died in Brown County, Ind. The 
 mother of our subject was a lady of large stature, 
 in fact was considered the stoutest woman in the 
 county. She was very active and industrious and 
 did all her own house work, having frequently 
 cooked for from twelve to fifteen extra men. After 
 the death of Mr. Scott she was married to David 
 Light, an old settler, and died in Bruellet Township 
 in 1885. Slie was a member of the United Brethren 
 Church. 
 
 The twelve children born to the parents of our 
 subject are recorded as follows: William is a resi- 
 dent of Paris; John lives in Prairie Township; 
 LaFayette and Sarena are deceased; Calvin is a 
 resident of Jackson County, Iowa; David lives in 
 Uoss Township; Josephine lives at Chrisman; 
 Franklin is deceased; Andrew J., our subject, was 
 the ninth child; LaFayette, second, is deceased; 
 Sarena lives in Ross Township and Isaac in Chris- 
 man. Franklin served through the late war as a 
 
 member of the 25th Illinois Infantry under com- 
 mand of Col. A^an Sellars. 
 
 The subject of this sketch was born in Prairie 
 Township, June 1, 18.33 and is one of its oldest 
 residents. He received limited school advantages 
 in the log school house conducted on the subscrip- 
 tion plan and at an early age was required to make 
 himself useful about the homestead. Before atleiid- 
 ing school he and his brother for some time fed 
 150 cattle daily. At the age of six or seven he 
 was put to herding cattle and his first " horse back 
 ride " was on a steer's back. He broke prairie 
 with five yoke of cattle and plowed with one yoke 
 with a wooden mold-board plow and harrowed 
 with a wooden harrow. In those days wild game 
 was plentiful and our subject has seen as many as 
 twenty head of deer in one herd. AVolves also 
 frequently made their appearance. 
 
 Young Scott herded cattle for years on the 
 prairies and remained under the iiome roof until 
 twenty-four years of age. He then received the 
 deed for 200 acres of his present farm upon which 
 stood a small frame house. He first began as a 
 general farmer, then branched out into stock-raising 
 which netted him handsome returns. He purchased 
 additional land from time to time upon which he 
 made most of the improvements himself. He at 
 one time was the owner of 1,000 acres, but in 1883 
 sold all but 700, which is now ail fenced and under 
 good cultivation. On one part of his land is a well 
 150 feet deep and the water within three feet of 
 the surface of the ground. Mr. Scott has erected 
 commodious and convenient buildings and has all 
 the machinery necessary for prosecuting agricul- 
 ture on a large scale. His main barn covers an 
 area of 56 x 60 feet and is divided off into stables 
 and graneries after the most approved system. 
 Some years he has fed as high as 500 cattle, feeding 
 the produce of 500 acres of land. At a horse sale 
 in the fall of 1873 he realized about $13,000, this 
 being the largest sale of the kind in the county. 
 He has been the owner of a large number of valua- 
 ble horses, including Ontario Chief, the best Clydes- 
 dale ever brought into the county. He is a 
 member of the Scottland Horse Company which was 
 organized by his son, Victor, and which brought 
 the above-mentioned horse to this county. He has 
 
Residence: of Mrs. Amanda J. Mr Kee,5ec.4. EdgarTownship, Edgar Co 
 
 Residence of Jacob M-. Vay,Sec.12. Embarrass Township, Edgar Co. 
 
PORrRAIT AND HIOGUAI'HICAL ALBUM. 
 
 917 
 
 in all about sixty-live licad of horses aud tliirty 
 brood marcs. At present he rents the most of liis 
 land. He likewise Iceeps a lart;o number of swine. 
 
 Mr. Seott was married in Edgar Tnwnsliip in 
 1857 to Miss Amy MeClure, notice of whose family 
 will be found in the sketch of I. H. Scott on an- 
 other page in this work. She was born in Vermil- 
 ion County and died in February, 1870. Of this 
 union there are five children, all living. Flora 
 Belle is the wife of Dr. A. L. Burson, a pliysicia]i 
 of Garnett, Kan.; Victor M., Samuel A. and Luella 
 are at home with their parents. William O., who 
 is next to the youngest, is in Kansas. 
 
 Our subject contracted a second matrimonial 
 alliance, Oct. 2, 1872, in Danville with IVIiss Nancy 
 O'Neal. She was born in Vermilion County and is 
 the daughter of James O'Neal, one of its earliest 
 pioneers. She became the mother of two children, 
 Ada C. and Russell F. and died in 1 880. Mr. 
 Scott represented his township in the County Boaid 
 of Supervisors two terms and is President of the 
 School Board of his district in which he has been a 
 Director for many j^ears. He has also served on 
 the Grand and Petit juries. Politically, he votes 
 the straight Democratic ticket. 
 
 'il'AC(^B McVAY. Upon coming to Kdgar 
 County, III., in 1851, Mr. JNlcA'ay settled 
 upon a tract of wild land, which he trans- 
 formed into his present comfortable home- 
 stead. It embraces 100 acres on section 12. in 
 Etnbarras Township, and he paid for it $8 per 
 acre. Besides this he has other large landed in- 
 terests, being in all the owner of iiOO acres, which 
 is largely devoted to stock-raising — graded Here- 
 ford cattle, Poland China swine, and Shropshire 
 and Southdown sheep. Mr. JNIcVay has ample 
 reason to be proud of his success as an agricult- 
 urist, and as one of the most prominent and wealthy 
 men of his township; he is likwise one of the most 
 active Republicans in the county. His politics are 
 closely allied to his conscience, and although he 
 has been an earnest worker for the success of the 
 principles of his party, he has held aloof from office. 
 
 preferring to work quietly in his own wa_y, confi- 
 dent that results fully as important may be ob- 
 tained. His ])opularity maj' be guessed at from 
 the fact that when a candidate for the position of 
 Highway Commissionei' he van 150 votes ahead of 
 his ticket, and was elected l)y a majority of seventy 
 over his opponent, who had the greater numerical 
 strength to begin with. 
 
 A Pennsylvanian by birth, our subject first 
 opened his eyes to the light in Washington County, 
 that State, July 28, 1823. His father. Reason Mc- 
 Vav, long since deceased, was likewise a native of 
 Washington County, where he carried cm farming 
 during his younger years, then, in 1826, emigrated 
 to Guernsey Count}', Ohio. There he settled among 
 the Inilians and wild animals, put up a log cabin in 
 the midst of the forest, and literally hewed out a 
 farm from the wilderness. Amid the wild scenes 
 of that region our subject attained to a lusty man- 
 hood, with limited education it is true, but forti- 
 fied with those habits of industry and sentiments 
 of honor which resulted in his success later in life. 
 
 While a resident of Ohio our subject was mar- 
 ried, Nov. 24, 1847, to Miss Phebe Williams. 
 This lady was the daughter of Nimrod Williams, 
 who spent his last years in Ohio. She became the 
 mother of three children, all of whom died young, 
 and she passed from earth Oct. 3, 1853. Mr. 
 McVay was married the second time Nov. 24, 
 1851, to Miss Mary, daughter of Zadoc Hollis. 
 This union resulted in the birth of six children, viz : 
 Jerome, Lincoln, Wiley, Reason O., Jennie and 
 Herman. Lincoln married Miss Lilly Ross, daugh- 
 ter of Charles Ross, of ISrocton ; they live at that 
 place and have one child, Jacob C. R. The other 
 children are at home with their parents. 
 
 Mr. Mc\^a3' held the office of Highway Com- 
 missioner three years. His estimable wife is a 
 member in good standing of the Methodist Epis- 
 copal C'hurch. He has been a continuous resident 
 of Edgar County since first coming here, in 
 1854. His present residence is a fine two-story 
 frame structure, conveniently arranged and neatly 
 furnished, while he has large barns and ample 
 facilities for the shelter of stock and the storage of 
 crain. He takes advantage of the most modern 
 machinery and the most approved methods of cul- 
 
918 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALliUM. 
 
 tivatiiig the s(^il, :uid both as an agriculturist and a 
 uic'inber of tiie community, stands second to none 
 in liis township. His paternal grandfather was a 
 native of Scotland. His mother, Rachel, was the 
 daughter of Samuel House, who was born in IIol- 
 liuul, and upon emigrating to America located on 
 Ruff's Creek, in Greene County, Pa., where bis 
 daughter Rachel and sevei'al other children were 
 born. To Reason and Rachel McN'ay there were 
 born eight children, seven of whom are living, 
 viz.: Cassander, Mrs. Sinclair; Samuel, Jactib; 
 Leah, Mrs. Shamhart; Hannah, Mrs. Stewart; Ra- 
 chel, Mrs. Denns; and Cynthia, Mrs. Jarvis. 
 Father BlcVay died July 16, 1867. The mother 
 survived her husband until May, 1873. A litho- 
 graphic view of ]Mr. McVay's residence appears 
 elsewhere in this volume. 
 
 (fl IfclLLlAM A. WO/ENCRAFT located in 
 \rj// Paris in June, 1865, when it contained 
 ^^ very few houses. He engaged in the busi- 
 ness of dealing in stove and tinware, continuing in 
 this successfully until 1887, when he retired from 
 active pursuits. He had built up an exceedingly 
 large trade, and one that was lucrative. He was a 
 man of strict business principles, and mad« friends 
 of everybody. 
 
 Mr. Wozencraft was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, 
 July 4, 1832, where he lived until he was twenty 
 years old, finishing his education in that city. 
 After he learned his trade he went into business 
 for himself at Dayton, Ohio, for a short time when 
 he associated himself with a partner. The part- 
 nership continued for about two years, and was 
 then dissolved. Mr. Wozencraft then removed 
 from Dayton to Paris. He was for a number of 
 years Alderman of his ward, and Mayor of the 
 City of Paris for several terms, and he took great 
 interest in the fire department, being one of the 
 founders of the first fire company in the city. 
 One hose company is now perpetuating his name, 
 the organization being named for him. He was 
 Chief of the fire department for a number of years, 
 and an active and iionored member of the volun- 
 
 teer force. He usually voted with the Democratic 
 part}'. 
 
 Mr. Wozencraft married Miss Amanda A. Bick- 
 ford at Dayton, Ohio, Dec. 11, 1854. To this 
 union came three children, of whom one son an<l 
 one daughter are living: (Jliva, now Mrs. F. P. 
 Yergin, of Paris, where John Alexander, the son, 
 also resides. ]\lrs. Wozencraft was born Dec. 24, 
 1832, at Exeter, N. H. She is the daughter of 
 Daniel and Hannah Bickford, who came to Day- 
 ton, (Jhio, when Amanda was five years of age. 
 She remained at Dayton until her marriage. Her 
 father was in the mercantile business in that city 
 until a few years before he died. He removed to 
 Troy, Ohio, and in 1862 his death occurred. His 
 wife passed away some years previously. Mr. 
 Bickford was born in Exeter, N. H., Dec. 24, 
 1805. He was married in Haverhill, Mass., the 
 birthplace of his wife. They reared six chddren, 
 four of whom are still living. Mr. and Mrs. Bick- 
 ford worshiped with the Universalist Church. 
 
 John J. AVozencraft, the father of our subject, 
 was born at Milford., near Cincinnati, Ohio, lie 
 has always remained there, engaged in dealing in 
 stoves and tinware. Mr. Wozencraft was born in 
 August, 1807, and is still living. He married Miss 
 Olivia King, who bore him sevi-n children, of 
 whom three are still living. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. ^^'illiam A. A\'ozencraft for mtiuy 
 years have been among the representative families 
 of the city of Paris, and respected by all who had 
 had the pleasure of their acquaintance. Mr. Wozen- 
 craft died Aug. 6, 1888, sincerely mourned ]>y his 
 multitude of friends, and when he passed away a 
 uood citizen went to his reward. 
 
 IIILIP J(JNES. Seldom does the biog- 
 jjj rapber encounter a more pleasant or genial 
 !S^ gentleman than Mr. Jones. He is firmly 
 ,; \ established in Bruellet Township as one of 
 its representative citizens and the sou of one of its 
 pioneer families. He was early taught to make 
 himself useful around the homestead, and care- 
 fully trained in those sentiments of honor and 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAL'HICAL ALHUM. 
 
 919 
 
 principles of Ifiith which iuave developed a ehai'- 
 actev of more than ordiuar}' excellence. lie is the 
 owner of a moderately-ijuiiroved farm of 100 acres 
 on section 30, and which comprises a part of the 
 old William Allen estate, which was among the 
 first tracts of land improved in the township. 
 
 Mr. Matthew Jones, father of our subject, was 
 liorn ill North Carolina ahout 1818, and. was the 
 son of Philip and Sarah (lloswell) Jones, who emi- 
 grated from North Carolina to Vermillion County, 
 Ind. They settled upon a tract of wild laud, and 
 Matthew, when reaching man's estate, was married 
 to Miss Mary, daughter of Harmon and Mary 
 (Drennen) Ilutson. She was born in Virginia, 
 and removed with her |)arents in ISISS to N'ermil- 
 lion Countj', Ind., when a child of two years. Tlie 
 young couple soon after their marriage moved 
 across the line into this county, where the father 
 died in ]March, 18H9. The mother is still living. 
 
 Grandfather Jones was a great hunter, and our 
 subject has often seen the gun which he used upon 
 first coming to this country. It was then an old 
 flint-lock rifle, but is now changed to a shot gun, 
 and is in the possession of our subject. The old 
 gentleman wore his buckskin pants, and took de- 
 li"ht in roaming the woods and fields for game, 
 especially deer. Both the parents of our subject 
 were members of the United r>rethren Church for 
 many years, and died engrafted in the faith. 
 
 Our subject remained on the old home farm 
 until the outbreak of the Civil War, and enlisted 
 in Company A, 149th Indiana Infantry, with 
 which he did garrison duty simply, and after nine 
 months' service was discharged, in September, 
 1865. The most of his time he was in Decatur, 
 Ala. Politically, he is a Democrat, and, as an ex- 
 soldier belongs to Harrison Bates Post No. 341. 
 He has served as Township Assessor two terms, 
 and Commissioner one terra, and is a man gener- 
 ally respected wherever kuovvn. 
 
 Philip Jones was married in this county, 18(J7, 
 to Miss Martha Henry, and there were born four 
 children, namely: William .'ind John, deceased; 
 Bert and IMollie are at home with their father. 
 The mother died in February, 1873. Mr. 
 Jones contracted a second marriage with Miss 
 Emma Foncannon, who was born in Vermillion 
 
 Comity, Ind., and is the daughter of Tilinan and 
 Sallie Foncannon,. who were natives of Pennsyl- 
 vania and of Gei'man descent. They emigrated to 
 Indiana at a very early day, and are residents of 
 \'ermillion County, that State. To our subject and 
 his present wife there have been born three cliil- 
 dre:i, all sons— Daniel, Moses and Karl, who I'e- 
 main with their parents. 
 
 --M-i<^^t-i-S- 
 
 XDRKW MILLHvIN, Steward of Kdg.ir 
 County Infirimiiy. .assumed the duties of 
 his present office in 18S9 and by his exeel- 
 {0 lent management lias effected many im- 
 
 pr<.)vcments in this institution. He has been a 
 citizen of Edgar County since 1851 to which he 
 came from Preble County, Ohio, where his parents 
 settled when he was a lad eight j^ears of ao-e. He 
 was born, however, in Butler County, that State, 
 March 9. 1837, and is the son of Thomas B. and 
 Caroline P. (Tapscott) Millikin, the latter of whom 
 died in Butler County when our subject was seven 
 years old. 
 
 Thomas Millikin married for his third wife Mrs. 
 Fidelia (Cruikshank) Danton, daughter of Dr. 
 Cruikshank, a physician of good repute whi.i spent 
 his last years in the city of Harrison on the line of 
 Indiana and Ohio. This lady came to this county 
 with her second husband and died here Oct. 16,1859. 
 Later the elder Millikin was married to Mrs. Eliza 
 (Hodge) Patton, who still lives in Paris. Mr. Mil- 
 likin died in Edgar County when sixty-five years 
 old. The paternal grandfather of our subject was 
 Dr. Daniel Millikin who served in the War of 1812 
 under the direct command of Gen. Harrison. After- 
 ward he practiced his profession many years very 
 successfully in Butler, Ohio, and obtained an envi- 
 able reputation throughout that portion of the 
 Buckeye State. He had four lirothers. also resi- 
 dents of Butler and viciuit}^ who were men of note 
 in their community and whose descendants are yet 
 living and .are numbered among the prominent 
 people there. 
 
 The iiaternal great-grandfather of Mr. IMillikin 
 was a native of Ireland and emigrated to America 
 
920 
 
 'ORTRAIT AND lilOCJRAPHlCAL ALBUM. 
 
 in time to distinguisli liimself as a soldier in the 
 Revolutionary War. His descendants ueie prom- 
 inent in the councils of the old Whig party, and 
 upou its abandonment those since living are fully 
 as ardent Repu-blicans as were their forefatheis, 
 lovers of liberty and equality. 
 
 To ]\Irs. Bldelia Millikin, tlie third wife of the 
 father of our subject, the latter yields a most grate- 
 ful and affectionate tribute of remembrance. She 
 reared him from a child of eight years and had he 
 been her own she could not have extended to him 
 more loving or watchful care than that which fol- 
 lowed his youthfid steps until her mission on earth 
 was ended. She was a lady of more than ordinary 
 intelligence and great kindness of heart — one who 
 was ever ready to assist those in affliction and es- 
 pecially the sick, to whose bedside she was often 
 called and to whom she ministeied with that deli- 
 cacy and attention which in most all cases is more 
 efficient than medicine. In her younger j'ears she 
 had taught school in Kentucky and there observed 
 the workings of that peculiar institution — slavery, 
 which she learned to view with a noble hatred as 
 the source of great cruelty and wrong. 
 
 Under the careful training of his step-mother our 
 subject approached an honorable manhood fully in 
 sympathy with her views in regard to slavery, and 
 during the agitation of this question in later years, 
 became a strong Abolionist and one of the warmest 
 advocates of Republican principles. This exi-ellent 
 woman died of cancer, the result of virus received 
 into her system while ministering to others. Her 
 last days were spent at the home of her husband in 
 Prairie Township and she passed away Oct. IG, 1850. 
 
 Mr. Millikin chose farming for his occupation 
 early in life and was married in lidgar County, 
 Jan. 1, 18G0, to Miss Harriet A., daughter of Will- 
 iam and Nancy (Pritcliard) Rush. Mrs. Millikin 
 was left an orphan by the death of botli parents 
 when about three years old, and was reared by her 
 uncle, Allen Rush, mostly in this county to which 
 she had come with her uncle when quite young 
 from Indiana, where she was born Sept. 26, 18-tl. 
 IJer parents were natives of Darke County, Ohio, 
 whence they removed to Vermillion County, Iiid., 
 where they died. Mr. and Mrs. Millikin are the 
 parents of two children — a sou and daughter — 
 
 Thomas A. and Caroline, the latter of whom married 
 Alonzo Francis and is Jiving in Dudley, Edgar 
 County. 
 
 Jn addition to general farming Mr. Millikin 
 iiifdies a specialty of stock-raising which has proven 
 a prolitable industry'. He was appointed to his 
 present position as Superintendent of the Count}' 
 Inlirmary in 1889. He is one ofthose men who take 
 pride in preserving their family history and keeps in 
 mind the fact that he also will have a record to 
 leave to his posterity, while he is determined that 
 it shall be one which the}' can look upon with pride. 
 While perhaps he has not been the hero of any very 
 thrilling event, he has acquitted himself as an hon- 
 est man and a good citizen, and this in itself is 
 worthy of record. His brother, Henr}', during the 
 late Civil War, was a member of the 71st Indiana 
 Infantry and met death on the battle-field at Rich- 
 mon<l, Ky., in 18()2. Mrs. Millikin and her daugh- 
 ter are members of the Presbyterian Church at 
 Dudley. 
 
 ^ JMLIAAU T. WILKIN, one of the best 
 \/jJ/ known residents of Bruellet Township was 
 W^ born within one mile of where he now 
 lives, Feb. 28, 1842 and reared upon the same 
 farm. His life has been spent in a comparatively 
 uneventful manner, during which he has been con- 
 tinuously engaged in farming pursuits vvith the 
 exception of the time which he spent as a soldier 
 in the Union Army. During that period he made 
 for himself the record of a brave and faithful 
 patriot and has the satisfactron of feeling that he 
 contributed in effecting the peace and freedom 
 which the nation enjoys to-day. The name of 
 no soldier, however humble, should be omitted 
 from the list of those who cheerfully volunteered 
 to risk their lives in the service of their country. 
 Our subject is the offspring of a good family, 
 being the son of Abraham Wilkin, who was born 
 in Highland County, Ohio. His paternal grand- 
 father first opened his eyes to the light in the 
 Shenandoah \'alley, Va., whence he emigrated with 
 his parents when hut a boy to Ohio, settling 
 among the earliest pioneers of Highland County, 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 921 
 
 where he was reared to manhood, was married and 
 became the father of a family. Fie lived there 
 until 1837, then coming to tli is county, purcliMsed 
 a farm after which he returned home and sold 
 his Oliio farm to a Kentuckian. He sent his son, 
 Abraham, to Kentucky to get the money with 
 which to pay for a farm in this county, to which 
 the family emigrated overland in wagons. Tbey 
 were soon joined by Abraham with the money, he 
 having come on horseback from Kentucky. This 
 money was invested in a tract of wild land, the 
 only improvement upon which was a log cabin 
 which for some years afterward remained the abode 
 of the family and until they could put up a frame 
 house. 
 
 Upon reaching man's estate Abraham Wilkin 
 was united in marriage with ISIiss Hannah, daugh- 
 ter of Samuel- Littlefield, also a pioneer of this 
 county. William T., our subject, was their first- 
 born and three other children completed the house- 
 hold circle. He and his sister, Mary K., are the 
 only survivors. The mother died at the home- 
 stead abotit 1847. Mr. Wilkin later was married 
 to Miss Julia Stanfield and to them there were born 
 two children, both now living. The second wife 
 died at the home farm. 
 
 Tiie father of our subject married for his third 
 wife Miss Elizabeth Morgan and they became the 
 parents of eight children, four of whom are living. 
 The father died Dec. 10, 1885 at the age of sev- 
 enty years. Our subject remembers hearing his 
 grandfather Littlefield tell of the time when In- 
 dians were numerous in this region and the white 
 settlers few and far between. He worked on the 
 farm with his father until of marriageable age and 
 then took to himself a wife and helpmate, Miss 
 Catherine A., daughter of Levi Houston. Seven 
 children were born to then and named respectively, 
 Oliver M., Mary, Albert, Levi A., Gene vera, (i ray 
 B., and Coral E. 
 
 Mr. Wilkin is the administrator of his father's 
 estate comprising a farm of 170 acres which is not 
 yet divided. Besides his interest in this, his farm 
 embraces 247 acres of well-improved land which 
 he has transformed from a wilderness to a high 
 state of cultivation and embellished it with mod- 
 ern buildings and all the conveniences required l)y 
 
 a progressive agriculturist. He cast his first Pres- 
 idential vote for (!en. Grant and is a stanch sup- 
 porter of Republican princi))les. As an ex-soldier 
 he belongs to Driskell Post, No. 20\) of Paris. 
 
 The army exiieiience of our subject commenced 
 on the 24th of August, 1861, when he enlisted in 
 Company II., '2'Mh Illinois Infantry as a Corporal 
 and served four years and three months. In the 
 meantime he was promoted to Second Lieutenant 
 and i>articipated in many of the important battles 
 of the war. He witnessed the attack upon Fort 
 Donelson, although ill at the time and not being 
 permitted to enter the ranks. Later he was at the 
 battle of Shiloh and received a flesh wound in the 
 neck. He went through the siege of Corinth and 
 the second battle there, and was in many skirmishes 
 in Tennessee. At Holly Springs, Miss., he was 
 captured b.y the Rebels, but the latter were so 
 closely pursued by the Union Cavalry that the 
 prisoners were paroled and our subject among 
 others was sent to St, Louis. After the surrender 
 to Grant at Vicksburg, he joined his regiment and 
 was C)n guard duty along the Mississippi thereafter 
 for about one year. Subsequently he joined in 
 the Mobile campaign and was present at the capt- 
 ure of Fort Blakely and Spanish Fort and the sur- 
 render of Mobile. Next his regiment was ordered 
 to Texas, remaining in that region until their 
 final discharge and participating in various skirm- 
 ishes. 
 
 The paternal grandparents of Mrs. Wilkin were 
 Joseph and Delilah Houston, pioneers of this 
 county, where they spent their last days. 
 
 ^ ^^^ ^ 
 
 ARCELLUS KEYS. The time-worn maxim 
 that " honesty is the best policj'," is as 
 truthful and forcible to day as when it was 
 first uttered. It was taught Mr. Keys at 
 his mother's knco, and it has been his watchwm-d 
 through life. While he is the possessor of a good 
 property, and is surrounded by all the comforts of 
 life, he finds his chief satisfaction in the reflection 
 that he has never defrauded any man, and through- 
 out his whole career has sought to do unto others 
 
'.)■>■! 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOmUPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 as be would be done by. He is iu the prime of life 
 and in the midst of lii's usefulness, having been 
 born Nov. 22, 1828, and is a native of Vermillion 
 County, Ind. 
 
 When our subject was but an infant, death Cftlled 
 away his father, Isaac Keys, who had come with 
 his newly married wife to Western Indiana dur- 
 ing the period of its earliest settlement, from his na- 
 tive State of Virginia. In the Old Dominion he had 
 been married to Miss Ingabou B. Spangler. Mrs. 
 Keys, after the death of her first husband, was mar- 
 ried to Otis M. McCulloch, a sketch of whom ap- 
 pears in the biography of John Y. McC'uUoch, 
 elsewhere in this volume. Isaac Keys had been a 
 recruiting officer in the Black Hawk War, and 
 served from the beginning until the end of the 
 struggle. He was the father of tliree sons and 
 three daughters, of wliom Marcellus was the fifth 
 in order of birth. 
 
 Mr. Keys lived with his mother and step-father 
 until a lad of ten years, then went to the home of 
 his uncle, Thomas Keys, in ISond County, 111., with 
 whom be sojourned about five years. Next he en- 
 tered the store of Col. Baldwin, of Baldwinsville, 
 as a clerk, and remained with- him the long period 
 of fourti'cn years. During this time he s:ived what 
 lie could of Ills earnings, and finally purchased his 
 present liomestead of his employer. With the 
 latter be had engaged for tlie salary of $60 pe'r 
 year, but at tlie close, such had been liis faithful- 
 ness and efflcieucy, that Coi. Baldwin gave him 
 *100. 
 
 The year following young Keys contracted with 
 liis employer to receive •tl25 for liis year's labor, 
 and the Cokmel paid him $175. This circumstance 
 is a forcible illustration of the distinguisliing traits 
 of his character. In 1851, desirous of establishing 
 a home of his own, he was united in marriage with 
 Miss Eliza, daughter of Harrison Moss, who came 
 to this county from Kentuclvy. The young couple 
 started in life witliout an\- money, but by industry 
 "■ood management and close economy, our subject 
 soon found himself on the higli road to prosperity. 
 He has now a fine farm of 240 acres, well imiiroved, 
 besides 110 acres in the same lot'ality, and a farm 
 of 200 acres elsewhere in the township. On the 
 home farm is a tile factory, wbicli Mr. Keys has 
 
 conducteil six yeais very successfully, and which 
 is patronized largely by the farmers around. -His 
 land is largely devoted to stock-raising, Mr. Keys 
 feeding his grain mostly to his cattle and swine. 
 To this estimable couple there were born six 
 children, viz.: Henry A., Erasmus S., Abraham L., 
 Thomas J.; Lucy, Mrs. John Arthur, a resident of 
 Paris Township, and Mary E. His married children 
 are located near the old homestead, and the fam- 
 ily is recognized a3 amougthe best element of this 
 community. 
 
 J/ F,\l R. POWER.S was born Sept. 13, 1850, 
 I (^ ''*"* Daniel B. and Maria (Reynolds) Powers; 
 /I^YN the father was a native of Butler County, 
 Ohio, and the grandfather of Irish and German 
 parentage, but a native of the United States. The 
 father of our subject was one of the numerous 
 class who tilled the soil for a livelihood. While 
 not entirelj' abandoning his farm, he yet engau^ed 
 in the business of general merchandise in the town 
 of Crawfordsville, Ind., commencing this venture 
 in 1826 and pursuing it for about a year and a half. 
 fie sold out and traded his house and lot for 160 
 acres of land adjoining Oakland, Coles Co., 11'., 
 iu 1828, where he has made bis home ever since, 
 living there in peace and contentment at the ad- 
 vanceil age of eighty-two years. 
 
 The mother of our subject was married at her 
 home in Butler County, Ohio, and filled all the 
 duties of a wife and mother until her death, which 
 occurred April 17, 1861, at Oakland, whither she 
 had come with her farnily. Some time after her 
 death the father of our subject was again united in 
 marriage to Mrs. Phicbe Lumbreck. This lady 
 still sni'vives, at the age of seventj'-two years, lo 
 clieer and comfort her husband's declining years. 
 The family of which our subject was a member 
 consisted of eleven children: Jonathan, Nanc\-, 
 Ellen, Oeorg(>, Ira, David, William, Sarah, Anna, 
 John, and Levi. Jonatlian lives near Hinesborougli. 
 III., with his wife and three children; N.ancy died 
 five years ago, leaving her husband, Gideon Minor, 
 and one child to mourn her loss; Ellen married 
 .Tonatban Newman in 185.'), but to the great rrief 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALlillM. 
 
 9-2n 
 
 of her friends breathed hei- last only three months 
 <after marriage. ,lohn lives one and three-fourths 
 miles east of Oakland, following the occupation of 
 a farmer. Believing it was not good for man to be 
 alone he took to himself a wife^ Miss Eliza Han- 
 nah, a lady who is fully capable of fulfilling the 
 arduous duties of a farmer's wife. All the rest of 
 their children, except our subject, died in early in- 
 fancy. At one period tiie grim monstei', death, 
 entered their home three times within the short 
 space of one week and carried out a lamb of the 
 flock at each visit. Mr. and Mrs. Powers are 
 living happily and contentedly together, spending 
 their old age in the calm contemplation of nature 
 and quietly awaiting the signal that shall jiid them 
 cross the dark river to the better land o» the other 
 side. Mr. Powers has had no children by his 
 second wife. 
 
 Levi R. Powers, the one of whom we write, was 
 reared to manhood on his father's farm, attending 
 the common schools at Oakland, where he dilli- 
 gently applied liiraself to secure the rudiments of a 
 sound education. At the age of twenty-one he 
 started out in life to make a career for himself. He 
 secured 160 acres of land two miles cast of his |)res- 
 en': place, which he operated with unflagging in- 
 dustry and prudent economy. 
 
 Our subject and Miss Elizabeth C'lapp were united 
 in the bonds of matrimony on the 19th day of 
 March, 1.S74. Mrs. Powers is a daughter of John 
 and Jane (Neal) Clapp. Her father is a south- 
 erner by birth, l)eing a native of North Carolina. 
 Her mother is a native of the Iloosier State, claim 
 ing Sullivan County as the place of her nativity. 
 
 Mv. and Mrs. Powers have had six children, of 
 whom four survive and are still under the parental 
 roof: John 1).; Charles W. died in infancy; Maria 
 J.; James R. also died in infancy; Thomas G., and 
 Nancy E. Politically Mr. Powers and his father 
 are both stanch Democrats, the father taking (|uite 
 an active part in the affairs of his party, and has 
 been honored by his fellow-citizens of Oakland 
 with the important position of Townshii) Super- 
 visor. He has also served as Township Clerk, Tax 
 Collector, and Justice of the Peace. Daniel Pow- 
 ers is the owner of a large estate, comprising some 
 600 acres of well-cultivated land near Isabel and 
 
 Oakland. This place has been improved with fine 
 buildings, g<.)od fences, and a large variel-y of fruit 
 trees; and beautified, especially in the vicinity of 
 his fine residence, by smoothly kept lawns, orna- 
 mental shrubboiy, and a profusion of various 
 colored flowers. 
 
 Mrs. Powers, who presides over the happy and 
 contented home of our subject, is a lady in the 
 prime of life, possessing a cheerful disposition, 
 attractive manners, and a cultivated intellect, which 
 well fit her to be a Mentor to her band of grown, 
 wide-awake children. In religious matters Mr. and 
 Mrs. Powers throw the weight of their influence 
 and support into upholding the Baptist Church, of 
 which Mrs. Powers is a consistent member. 
 
 The farm and residence of Mr. Powers is located 
 in the southwestern part of Sliiloh Township, 
 Edgar County, on section 22. The farm embraces 
 160 acres of land, and he declares it is all he wants; 
 that to cultivate it well keeps him busy. That it 
 is well cultivated is evident to all beholders, for 
 the land seems to fairly smile with plenty. Every- 
 thing about the place is kept trim and neat. 
 Grains, fences, buildings, ti-ees, and crops are well 
 looked after and abundantly repay their owner's 
 care by the fine appearance which everything 
 wears. Mr. Powers keeps a full supply of fine 
 stock on his farm, both to assist in the operation of 
 his own place and to dispose of in the market. In 
 .addition to th'! usual productions of a farm of this 
 extent he also pays considerable attention to the 
 subject of horticulture, raising largo quantities of 
 fine fruit for sale, and supplying his own table with 
 the choicest productions that his trees and vines 
 yield. Blr. Powers is sociable and kind-hearted, 
 and has many warm and devoted friends. 
 
 VflA.MES K. MASON is a native of (Jrecne 
 jj County. Pa., where he was born on the 
 ll 23d of January, 1818. He is the son of 
 John and Rachael (Ross) Blason. His boy- 
 hood was passed on a farm, but he managed lo 
 .acquire sufficient education to become a school- 
 tieacher in his early manhood and also to follow 
 
924 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 surveying. His life-work, iiowever, was tilling 
 the soil. In 1853 he moved to Harrison County, 
 Va., where he farmed two years, and in 18.55 re- 
 moved to Coles County, 111., ten miles east of 
 Areola. Here he bought 320 acres of land. Two 
 years later he sold out and removed to Hocking 
 County, Ohio, where he bought a farm of 140 
 acres near Nelsonville, to which he has since added 
 fifteen acres. John Mason is a man who has al- 
 ways been fond of reading and consequently is 
 well informed. He has served six years as County 
 Commissioner of Hocking County, is a member of 
 the Christian C4iurch and lias been Sunday-school 
 Superintendent for a number of years. He has 
 also been a Mason and an Odd-fellow for several 
 years. In politics the father of our subject has 
 always been a Democrat; he is still livingin Hock- 
 ing County. The grandfather of our subject, James 
 INIason, was born in Ireland, and on first coming to 
 America settled in Oreene County, Pa., on a farm, 
 wliere the subject of this sketch and his father 
 were born. He was a man of good education, a 
 great reader, and h.ad (what was looked u])on in 
 those days) a large library. He was a Democrat 
 and did not belong to any church. He died in 
 1869 at the advanced age of eighty-eight years. 
 His widow. Grandma Mason, survived him several 
 years, dying at the age of ninety-seven in Greene 
 County, Pa. 
 
 John Mason, of whom we have heretofore 
 spoken, was one of six children. The oldest, 
 William, died about twelve years ago in Pennsyl- 
 vania, leaving a family; he was a farmer. George, 
 also a farmer, is married and lives in Virginia; 
 Charlotte, now ftlrs. John Scott, resides in Greene 
 County, Pa.; May married William Sears, and 
 resides on a farm in Greene County; Rachael, wife 
 of John Mason, was tlie daughter of Timothy and 
 Rachael Ross and one of eight children. She had 
 five brothers and two sisters, viz., John L., Hiram, 
 Timothy, Benjamin, Thomas, Mary and Phwbe. 
 John L. married C^atherine Ross, and resides in 
 this State and is a farmer; Hiram lives in Coles 
 County, 111., and was married to Miss Lucy Din- 
 moore; they have two children. Timotliy, who 
 was a physician and surgeon, died about ten years 
 ago; Benjamin was killed in n sawmill; Thom.as 
 
 lives near Waynesburg, Greene Co., Pa., on a 
 farm and has a family; Mary married .James Orr, 
 a farmer, who resides at Sidell, Vermilion Co., 
 111., and they have a family of four grown chil- 
 dren; Phcebe died about twenty-five years ag(;. 
 The mother of these children lived to be forty-seven 
 years of age, and died in 18G4, in Hocking County, 
 Ohio. She was an earnest and consistent member 
 of the Methodist Episcopal Church. She came of 
 German descent and belonged to one of the old 
 pioneer families. 
 
 Our subject, James K. Mason, was one of nine 
 children, seven boys and three girls: Mary, Abi- 
 gail, William, Phosbe J., Hiram, James K., Jacob 
 R., George Thomas and Timothy. Mary is the 
 wife of Mr. Lennox Fisher and resides on a farm 
 near Zanesville, Ohio; tliey have no children. 
 Abigail married James Austin, and they have two 
 children; she lives in Hocking Countj^ Ohio; 
 Plnebe is the wife of James Conway, and she also 
 has two children; Hiram is a blacksmith, lives 
 in Nelsonville, (Jhio, is married and has a family 
 of five children; Jacob R. died in 1883 near Des 
 Moines, Iowa, leaving a wife and one child; 
 George T., now in the employ of Chapman Bros., 
 Chicago, lives in Areola, III., is married and has a 
 family of four children. Timothy resides at Sugar 
 Grove, Ohio; he is a practicing physician and sur- 
 geon and has a wife and three children. 
 
 The one of whom we write passed his boyhood 
 on a farm. He attended the public schools. When 
 about seventeen years of age he began to learn 
 blacksmithing near Waynesburg. He worked at 
 his trade in Pennsylvania and Ohio until he was 
 twenty years old. Mr. Mason was married in Nel- 
 sonville, Ohio, July 2, 1868, to Miss Mary E. 
 Snyder, daughter of J. D. and Mary Ann Snjder. 
 Mrs. Mason was born Feb. 10, 1852, and was one 
 of eleven children. Lutie, the youngest girl, now 
 Mrs. Ed Coolcy, is the wife of a farmer, and lives 
 near Palermo, this county, and is a fine musician; 
 she has one child. Jennie (Mrs. Samuel Dress- 
 back) is the wife of a merchant and the mother of 
 one child; thejr reside in Nelsonville, Ohio. Ho- 
 mer is a confectioner at Los Angeles, Cal., and is 
 unmarried; Mac is a clerk in Mv. Tilton's store at 
 Palermo; Earl resides in Nelsonville and is at- 
 

 I c<1 
 
 '-.*; 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOORAPIIICAL ALBUM. 
 
 927 
 
 tending seliool; Dora mariied C. K. Sands, and 
 died in Portsmoutli, Ohio, in July, 1881, leaving- a 
 husband, who has since died; he was a telegrapli 
 operator; two cliildren survive them. Mertie died 
 when fifteen j-ears of age; one sister and one 
 "brother died in infancy. Mr. Sn3nler was a mer- 
 chant and a foremost citizen of Nelsonville, Oliio; 
 he was also a large property holder and a man of 
 public spirit and enterprise. Mr. Snyder was bom 
 in New Jersey in 1824 and came with his parents 
 to Nelsonville; he died in 1875. He was a mem- 
 ber and Class-leader in the Methodist Episcopal 
 Cliurch for many years. All his daughters re- 
 ceived a good education. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Mason have seven children: Min- 
 nie M., Ross M., Gertrude D., Frederick S., Charles 
 Iv., Jennie L. and Lula M. Minnie, the eldest 
 daughter, has been carefully educated .and is a 
 fine musician. jNIr. Mason is the blacksmith at 
 Hildreth. He votes the Democratic ticket but 
 is too busy to devote much time to politics. 
 He is a member of Palermo Lodge No. 646 and 
 has filled all the chairs and has been a representa- 
 tive of the Grand Lodge four different times. He 
 .and ]\Irs. Mason are members of the Cumberland 
 Presbyterian Church. Ross, the eldest son, is a 
 clerk. 
 
 '^t MOS G. COOK. Farming, which has be- 
 WllM come an art and a science, has been adopted 
 by some of the most able and intelligent 
 men to be found anywhere. Especially 
 is this noticeable in Central Illinois, a section 
 ^of Country possessing rich resources wliich could 
 have been properly developed only by this class of 
 men. Among them .the subject of this notice 
 stands in the front ranks, being possessed of more 
 than ordinary capabilities, a thorough business 
 man, a skillful farmer and usually successful in 
 whatever he undertakes. We find him located on 
 a well-tilled farm of 240 acres, (occupying a portion 
 of sections 11 and 12, the residence being on 
 the southwest quarter. Under the careful super 
 vision of the proprietoi the land has become ex- 
 
 ceedingly fertile, a mine from which may be 
 gathered almost inexhaustable stores. 
 
 Mr. Cook has spent nearly his entire life in this 
 county, having been born in Stratton Township, 
 Aug. 6, 1859, and lived with his parents on the 
 farm until a youth of eighteen years. In the mean- 
 time he had pursued his studies in the common 
 schools, but at that time entered Earlham College 
 at Richmond, Ind., and after completing his stud- 
 ies remained at home until reaching his majority. 
 He then started out for himself and began farming 
 on rented land until purchasing, in 1888, that 
 which he now owns and occupies. In the meantime 
 he labored in partnership with his brother, and 
 the two together operated a larger extent of land 
 than any one man in this part of the county. For 
 this purpose they supplied themselves with the best 
 modern machinery, and Mr. Cook then, as now, 
 kept himself thoroughly posted in regard to the 
 devices which are constantly appearing in connec- 
 tion with agriculture, and which makes farming 
 to-day pleasurable as well as profitable. 
 
 In addition to general agriculture Mr. Cook has 
 given much attention to stock-raising, and has been 
 considerably engaged in threshing, being owner of 
 a J. I. Case separator machine. In the interval he 
 has effected many improvements upon his farm, 
 repairing the buildings, making fences and laying 
 a goodly amount of tiling. He has the whole un- 
 der a good state of cultivation, with forest and 
 fruit trees, and around the residence are the vari- 
 ous little comforts and conveniences, which have 
 so mucli influence in the happiness of a home. He 
 raises large quantities of grain and stock, also buys 
 and feeds cattle, making a specialty of Clydesdale 
 horses. 
 
 In addition to the home farm Mr. Cook also 
 operates, in company with his brother, a farm of 
 300 acres elsewhere, and employs sixteen horses 
 and mules to operate the same. Considering the 
 fact that he began life dependent upon his own 
 resources and has received no financial assistance, 
 it must be acknowledged that he has made excel- 
 lent headway. He has never aspired to offlcial 
 preferment, but keeps himself posted upon National 
 affairs and votes the straight Democratic ticket. A 
 man of decided views and opinions he is not easily 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 turned when once his mind is made up, and in social 
 and business life exhibits tliat firmness and self- 
 reliance of character whicii invarialil}- commands 
 respect and admiration. 
 
 The great-grandfatlier of our subject was Eli 
 Cook, a native of North Carolina, and the owner 
 of slaves and a large plantation. Isaac Cook, tlie 
 father of our subject, was a native of Butler Count3'. 
 Ohio, and the son of James Cook, a Noith Caro- 
 lina planter, who emigrated lo the Buckeye State 
 at the age of twenty-one years, locating in Butler 
 County, where he was one of the earliest pioneei'S. 
 He was successful in his labors as a tiller of the soil, 
 and became owner of a large farm, near which 
 grew up the prosperous town of Hamilton. He had 
 been reared in the doctrines of tne Quaker faith, 
 to which he clung tenaciously his entire life. The 
 father of our subject came to this county in 1859, 
 and died at the advanced age of eighty-two j'ears. 
 The family is of English descent. The journey 
 from Ohio to Illinois was made overland bj' team, 
 the father of our subject bringing quite a quantity 
 of live-stock with him. He first purchased land in 
 Clark County, near the present site of Marshall, 
 but lived there only about two years, selling out 
 then and coming to this county. Here he located 
 in )Stratton Township, where he purchased 100 
 acres of land and lived upon if until 18G1. Then 
 selling out once more he changed his residence to 
 Praiiic Township, where he carried on farming un- 
 til near the time of his death, Sept. 9, 1887, at the 
 age of seventy-two years. He was reared a Qua- 
 ker, and in politics was a strong Democrat. He 
 had been prominent in his coinmunilv, ofHeiating 
 as Justice of the Peace and holding other positions 
 of trust and responsibili'L,y. 
 
 Mrs. Susannah (Shannon) Cook, the mother of our 
 subject, was born in Preble Couuly, Ohio, in Febru- 
 ary, 1824, and is the daughter of James Shannon, 
 a native of North Carolina, where he owned a large 
 plantation. Upon leaving the South he settled in 
 Butler County, (Jhio, and later served as a soldier 
 in the War of 1812, receiving an honorable wound 
 in the side. Prior to this he had fought on the 
 side of the colonists in the Revolutionary War. 
 The Shannons were of English descent. In 18.jl) 
 the fathci- of iMrs. Cook left Ohio, and coming to 
 
 this county located in Elbridge Township, where 
 he accumulated some property £ind died at the ad- 
 vanced age of eighty-five years. He was an active 
 member of the Baptist Church, an honest man and 
 a good citizen. jMrs. Coukis still living, making her 
 honi3 with her son, our subject, and is now sixty-five 
 \ears old. The parental family included eight 
 children: A. Jackson, a resident of Bruellet Town- 
 ship; Ellen (Mrs. Wright), and Elizabeth, residents 
 of Prairie Township; Eli and Catherine, living in 
 liruellet Township;William F. of Prairie Township; 
 Amos G. and John E., of the same. The many 
 readers of this Album will be pleased to find else- 
 where a valuable portrait of Mr. Cook. 
 
 \T/ACOB Sl'NKEL. The substantial German 
 pioneer made his appearance in Central Illi- 
 nois very soon after its first settlement began 
 ^^Jj and he has borne no unimportant part in 
 developing its best resources. He brought with 
 him those sturdy qualities which were most needed 
 on the frontier and has steadfastly maintained his 
 position among tlie best elements of its population, 
 'i'he subject of tliis notice is one of the most worthy 
 re[)resentatives of his nationality, a man who has 
 achieved success financially, through his persever- 
 ing industry, and has in no less degree established 
 himself in the esteem and confidence of his fellow- 
 citizens. 
 
 A native of the kingdom of Bavaria, our subject 
 was born Aug. 19, 1845, and is the son of William 
 and Margaret (Heinz) Sunkle who emigrated to the 
 United States in 1847 when their son Jacob was 
 little more than an infant. They had united with 
 the Presbyterian Church in the Fatherland, in which 
 tlicv had been carefully trained and the doctrines 
 of whicli had been faithfully followed by their an- 
 cestors for generations. They became the parents 
 of five children, four of whom are living and of 
 whom .lacob, our subject, was the third in order of 
 
 birth. 
 
 ^Villiam Sunkle in his native country followed 
 farinino- pursuits, but after coming to America 
 lived in the city of Zanesville, Ohio, a number of 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOaRAPIirCAL ALBUM. 
 
 929 
 
 years. Later lie removed to :i farm, llicn returned 
 to town whove lie still sojourns. Jacob acquired 
 liis education at the primitive schools of the l?uck- 
 e3e State and upon reaching manhood began laying 
 his plans for the establishment of a home of his 
 own. In 1869 he was married to Miss Margaret 
 Burkey, a native of Muskingum County. Ohio, and 
 whose parents were natives of Germany and Swit- 
 zerland. In the spring of 1869 Mr. Sunkle made his 
 way to Illinois and located on a rented farm in Buck 
 Township, this county, where he operated several 
 years. He commenced with a capital of ^.'ifM and 
 Is now the owner of "280 acres of valuable land upon 
 which he has made excellent improvements. 
 
 Our suliject, like his forefathers, was reared in 
 the doctrines of the Presbyterian Church, to which 
 he faithfully adheres. Mrs. Sunkle was reared a 
 Catholic which remains the church of her choice. 
 Of this her parents were members in Crermau}-. 
 Our subject and his estimable wife are the parents 
 of eight children, one of whom, Frederick A., died 
 at the age of four years. The survivors are John 
 W., Rosa, Frank, Alonzo. Margaret, Josephine and 
 Jacob. Mr. Sunkle votes the straight Democratic 
 ticket and has held the office of Road Supervisor 
 since the spring of 1887. 
 
 ^jp;()RGE F. IIOWAliD, editor .and proprie- 
 ._, tor of the Paris Daily and Weekly liparmi. 
 ^jl is a native of Camberwell, Surrey Co., Kiig- 
 land, and was born April 24, 1851. His education 
 was commenced at the Elnathan Academy, Bri.Ktou, 
 in his native county, and finished at Rev. C. II. 
 Spurgeon's Metropolitan College in London, liolli 
 his parents were <it English birth, and were named 
 resiiectively Thomas Cumpton and Emma (Parker) 
 Howard. The former, who was a solicitor attoriiey- 
 at-law by profession, died when his sou, George F., 
 was but four years of age. The mother is yet liv- 
 ing in England. After leaving college George 
 secured em|jloymeiit in a wholesale paper ware- 
 house, but at the age of seventeen determined to 
 try his fortune in America, and accordingly came 
 
 to New York. There he engaged in various kinds 
 of work, trying his hand, among other occupations 
 at newspaper work and farming. He emigrated to 
 Illinois in 1871, and locating in Paris, entered the 
 employ of the Paris & Decatur Railway, which had 
 then just commenced operations. With this corpo- 
 ration he remained, occupying different positions, 
 until 1 880, being promoted through the various 
 grades from timekeeper to storekeeper, and finally 
 filling the responsible position of purchasing agent. 
 In the year mentioned he resigned to accept the 
 position of S|)ecial railroad and traveling agent for 
 the Travelers' Insurance Company, of Hartford, 
 Conn., afterward giving that up and purchasing an 
 insurance .agency business in Paris, ^tl^f^:^,h he con- 
 tinued until 1883. 
 
 Mr. Howard in 1878 became interested in the A. 
 0. U. W., and succeeded in wovkin^ up Charit}' 
 Lodge No. 100, of which he was the first P. M. W. 
 He attended the Grand Lodge of Illinois in 1881, 
 when he was appointed Assistant Grand Recorder, 
 and has filled said position ever since. At the sol- 
 icitation of friends in the order he bought, in 1883, 
 their oflicial organ, the Illinois Foreman, then pub- 
 lished at Roodhouse, 111. He removed the office 
 and business to Paris, changing the name to the 
 Anchor and Shield, but in consequence of the pres- 
 sure of business he gave the paper up in 1888. In 
 -ianuary, 1886, Mr. Howard had bought the Paris 
 Beacon, which journal was established in 1848, and 
 is the oldest paper published in Paris. Its original 
 title was the Valley Blade. On the 12th of M.arcli, 
 l«8,s, Mr. Howard issued the first number of his 
 daily edition, named the Daily Beacon, which 
 he has made a successful and influential journal. 
 It is edited by himself with the assistance of a 
 bright young newspaper man, Mr. William II. 
 MacBeth, as local editor. 
 
 The bachelor life of Mr. Howard came to an end 
 September 14, 1877, when he was united in mar- 
 riage with Miss Sophia A. Smith, daughter of Rev. 
 George J. Smith. Both of the parents were of 
 English birth, and had emigrated to Canada, where 
 the inotlier died. -The rest of the family came to 
 I'aris some time after that event, in 1872. The 
 father subsequently emigrated to Moorhead, Minn., 
 where he yet lives. Mrs. Howard was born at 
 
930 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 Whiteparish, Wiltshire Co., England, Jan. 2, 1851. 
 She is the mother of two children: Emma Ada and 
 Edgar George. 
 
 Our subject has taken great interest in secret and 
 beneficial societies, and is a member of several, as 
 tiie K. of P., A. O. U. W., and I. O. (). E. In the 
 latter body he has been Grand Master of the State 
 of Illinois, holding that rank in 1887-1 .S88, after 
 passing through otlier responsible otilces in tlie 
 same body. He is now Junior Warden of Paris 
 Lodge, No. 268, A. E. & A. M., and Senior War- 
 den of Palestine Commandcry, No. 27, K. T. lie 
 is also a member of the Eirst Baptist Cliurch of 
 Paris, of which he is a Deacon, and has heen Super- 
 intendent of its Sunday-school for tlie past ten 
 years. 
 
 A gentleman of unblemislied character and up- 
 right life, Mr. Howard is highly respected in tlie 
 community, in which personally and through his 
 newspaper he wields an influence for good. 
 
 \I7 EA'I HOUSTON, a pioneer of 1 83.5, and who 
 11 (@ became one of the liest-known citizens of 
 jl'— ^, Bruellet Township, was born in Bracken 
 County, Ky., and emigrated to Illinois with his 
 parents, Joseph and Delilah (Weldon) Houston, 
 who were natives of Maryland. The latter accom- 
 panied their parents to the Blue Grass State early 
 in life. Grandfather Levi Houston was a native 
 (if Maryland and spent his last years in Kentucky. 
 Levi Houston, Jr., was reared to manhood in this 
 county and married Miss Lovina, daughter of 
 Daniel and Catherine (Kline) Canieier. Mr. Cam- 
 crer was born in Clermont County, Ohio. His wife's 
 ])arents were natives of Westmoreland County, Pa., 
 whence they emigrated to Ohio about 1807, five 
 yearn after it had been admitted into the Union as 
 .■1, State. The father cleared .1 farm from the heavy 
 timber, in the meantime occupying a log cabin for 
 many years. 
 
 The Camerer family left the Buckeye State in 
 Uie fall of. 1829, and once more took up their abode 
 on the frontier, building up another farm from the 
 wilderness. Eor some years thereafter this region 
 
 was infested by Indians, especially in the fall when 
 they were oat on their hunting expeditions, camp- 
 ing along the creeks. Chicago was at that time 
 the nearest market and their milling was done on 
 tlie Wabash River in Indiana. Our subject after 
 his marriage located upon a tract of wild land from 
 which he constructed a good farm, and there spent 
 the remainder of liis dnys. passing awaj' in Eebru- 
 ary, 1887, at the age of seventy-three years. He 
 had been greatl}' prospered, and at his death left a 
 large farm of 800 acres, well improved, and upon 
 which the widow and her son Daniel are still liv- 
 ing. 
 
 To Levi Houston and his estimable wife there 
 were born six children, viz.. Vachel E.; Catherine, 
 now Mrs. Wilkin, a sketch of whose husband appears 
 elsewhere in this volume; Daniel J, Delilah ; Frances 
 Mrs. Martin Stratton, and Charles. The father was 
 a member in good standing of the Baptist Church, 
 while the tnother inclined to the doctrines of tlie 
 Methodist Episcopal Church, with which she has 
 been identified for many years. In 1850 Mr. 
 Houston crossed the plains to California and was 
 absent two years. He was a quiet, peaceable, order- 
 loving citizen, respected by his neighbors, voting 
 the Republican ticket, and unambitious of office, 
 although he represented Bruellet Townsliip in tlie 
 County lioard of Supervisors and also served as 
 Commissioner. 
 
 Dai^iel Houston is numbered among the substan- 
 tial farmers of Brnellet Township and owns about 
 400 acres of the old home farm. lie is largelj' en- 
 gaged in breeding cattle and swine, and his land is 
 imiiroved with very good buildings, the residence 
 being especially comfortable and substantial, with 
 plenty of room. There is a good barn, and the other 
 outbuildings are amply adapted for general farm 
 imrposes. JNIr. Houston acquired liiseducationin the 
 district school and was trained to habits ofj'ndustry 
 and econom3^ He was married, in Bruellet Town 
 ship, to Miss IdaKipps, whose parents, .lohn and Mar- 
 tha Kipps were natives of Ross County, Ohio, where 
 they were reared and married. They came to Illi- 
 nois at quite an earl^^ day, where their family was 
 reared and of which Mrs. Houston was among 
 the younger members. .Slie was born in 1868 in 
 Edgar County, and of her union with our subject 
 
PORTRAIT AND BICX; RAPIIICAL ALBUM. 
 
 931 
 
 there are two interesting children — Kdithand l^tliel. 
 Mv. Houston, is a Republican, politically, and is 
 serving his second term as Road Commissioner. 
 Ilis estimable wife Is a member of the United 
 Brethren Church. 
 
 \t?<^ R. SAMUEL IL BRADLEY, physician 
 and surgciin, is one of the pioneers of 
 Hume, 111., having been identified with the 
 growth and development of the village 
 since its inception. His father. Dr. John Bradley, 
 was a native of Sohau, England, and his genealogy 
 can be traced back to the twelfth century, to the per- 
 son of Sir Walter Temple. The vast estate left 
 by Sir Walter, which for some reason has not yet 
 been claimed by his heirs, amounted to more than 
 70,000,000 poumis sterling in 1872, and is await- 
 ing distribution pending the proper legal steps ne- 
 cessary to be taken. The mother of our subject, 
 Ruth M. Patrick, was a native of Bardstown, Nel- 
 son Co., Ky., her parents having come from Cork, 
 Ireland,- and settling in America in the early days 
 of our history. In 1830, when a young woman, 
 !-lie came with her parents to Edgar County, set- 
 tling on Clay's Prairie, where she remained until 
 her marriage to Dr. John Bradley, then a rising 
 young i)hysieian giving good promise of future 
 usefulness. 
 
 Tlie father of our subject came to Edgar County 
 when a young man and engaged in the business of 
 cabinet making at Paris. After following this oc- 
 cupation for some time he entered the office of Dr. 
 Hopkins, one of the earliest physicians in the com- 
 munity, and studied medicine. On the conclusion 
 of his studies lie located at Clay's Praii-ie, engaging 
 in the practice of his profession. He built up a 
 good practice at this place, but family troubles in- 
 tervening caused a separation of himself and wife, 
 she continuing', to reside on Clay's Prairie while 
 he went to Missouri, where he built up an 
 extensive practice and continued in his profession 
 until his death. This union resulted in three chil- 
 dren: William Thomas, Samuel H. and Stephen B] 
 William T. is a farmer residing near Marysville, 
 
 Iowa; Ste|jhen B. enlisted in the arm}^ and died in 
 tiie service. The mother of our subject was again 
 united in marriage to Mr. Reynes, the union result- 
 ing in the birth of four children: Augustine, 
 Henry, Ellen and Emma. Although about seventy 
 years of age she still suVvivcs residing near Mo- 
 nience, 111. 
 
 Samuel 11. Bradley, the one of whom we write, is 
 a native of Illinois. He was born Oct. 25, 1839, at 
 Cl.ay's Prairie, this county. His early years were 
 spent on a farm under the protection of his mater- 
 nal grandparents, to whose care he was committed 
 at the time of his mother's second marriage. His 
 recollection of his father is conflned to a single in- 
 stance. Througli the general lack of the apprecia- 
 tion of the value of an education on the part of his 
 grandparents, his schooling was limited to less than 
 one year in the common schools. He studied well 
 at home, however, and at the age of twenty years 
 began to study medicine undei- the direction of Dr. 
 Young of Highland, Ind., continuing under him 
 two years. About this time the war broke out 
 and in response to Lincoln's call for 75,000 three 
 months' men he enlisted in the 18th Indiana Regi- 
 ment, Infantry. The quota being filled before the 
 organization of the regiment was completed, it was 
 not accei)ted under the first call, but by consent of 
 its members was among the first of the Indiana 
 regiments to enlist for three 3'ears. They were 
 mustered in at Indianapolis Aug. 16, 1861, remain- 
 ing in that city thirty days to drill, before being 
 ordered to St. Louis, Mo., vvhere they were drilled 
 thirty days more in Lafayette Park. They were 
 then ordered to Jefferson City, where the regiment 
 did guard and scouting duty. From Jefferson City 
 the Regiment went to Southwest Missouri. It first 
 engaged the Confederate forces at Pea Ridge, Ark'., 
 in which battle Dr. Bradley was struck by a minie- 
 ball where his shoulder strap and belt crossed. 
 After penetrating these two thicknesses of leather 
 belts, it lost a large portion of its force and buried 
 itself just beneath the skin at his back, after having 
 splintered the right lumbar vertebra. He was ren- 
 dered insensible, and left on the field for dead, but 
 soon afterwards recovering consciousness, he pro- 
 ceeded to follow up his command. His comrades 
 were not a little surprised at his appearance in their 
 
93i 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 midst, and he won their admiration for his courage 
 by continuing to fight with tliem during the three 
 da3-s the engagement histed, notwithstanding the 
 fact that he still carried the bullet in his body. In 
 the absence of a surgeon his captain attempted to 
 remove the ball, but failing, it was not until sev- 
 eral days after the b^.ttle that it was taken out by 
 the regimental surgeon. Dr. Bradley continued in 
 Southwest Missouri and Southwest Arkansas, par- 
 ticipating in all the skirmishes and fights of that 
 campaign, coming in frequent contact with the 
 forces of Gens. Sterling Price, Mcintosh, Van 
 Dorn and Gen. Ben McColloch. This regiment 
 was then ordered to Helena, Ark., where it arrived 
 in time to participate in the \'icksburg campaign. 
 It was actively engaged in the battles of Magnolia 
 Hill, Jackson, Champion Hills, Edward Station and 
 Black River Bridge, and the siege of ^'icksburg. 
 At Champion Hills a minie-ball struck him in the 
 region of the breast. Being a smoker he carried a 
 tobacco pouch in his inside blouse pocket. The 
 passage of the ball through this tobacco so impeded 
 its progress that although passing through his aj)- 
 parel it did not pierce the flesh. Its force, however, 
 felled him to the earth, wiiere he remained uncon- 
 scious for several houi's. For many montiis after- 
 ward he carried a reminder of it with him in tbe 
 shape of a black and blue spot the size of a teacup. 
 At Edwards Station the impetuous and fiery Gen. 
 John A. Logan, in his desire to be in the front of 
 the line of battle, rode his horse through the ranks 
 knocking down and severely injuring one of Dr. 
 Bradley's comrades. This aroused his indignation, 
 and, Logan attempting anotiier similar act, Dr. 
 Bradley leveled his gun and threatened to shoot 
 him off his horse unless he remained in the rear of 
 the rank, where he belonged. A few years ago at 
 a re- union at Tuscola, the Doctor met and shook 
 hands with Gen. Logan. During the conversation 
 that ensued he reminded him of the above incident. 
 Gen. Logan replied: " I have good reason to re- 
 member you, my boy." During the siege of Vicks- 
 burg Dr. Bradley formed a part of the detail which 
 did the tunneling under the Confederate works, 
 called by the soldiers "ground hogging." He par- 
 ticipated in the bloody engagement which followed 
 the explosion of these underground mines on the 
 
 22d day of May, 1863. His command remained 
 with the beseigers until the surrender of Pember- 
 ton on the 4th day of July, which day was cele- 
 brated by tlie victorious Union troops under their 
 unfaltering leader, whose motto was "unconditional 
 surrender" by their triumphal entry into that ill- 
 fated Confederate stronghold. The next service 
 seen by him and his regiment was at Port Hudson, 
 after the fall of which they were ordered to New 
 Orleans. Then tliey were ordered to Berwick Bay, 
 La. On reaching this place they embarked for the 
 mouth of tbe Rio Grande. Shortly after their ar- 
 rival they engaged the Confederates at Mustang 
 Island. They were next ordered to Indianola, 
 Tex., where they went into camp for the winter- 
 While there the regiment, including our subject, re- 
 enlisted for three years or during the war. After 
 their re-enlistment they returned to New Orleans. 
 Here they were given the choice of going with 
 Banks up the Red River and on their return 
 taking a ninety days' furlough, or relieving the 
 detachment at Baton Rogue and taking a thirty 
 days' furlough. They chose the latter. 
 
 In the spring of 1864 Dr. Bradley came home 
 on the long sought furlough with the rest of his 
 regiment. Coming up the Mississippi on a boat 
 he was stricken with pneumonia, which assumed an 
 alarming type, and upon arriving at Indianapolis 
 he was in a delirious condition in which state he 
 remained for twenty-five days. His recovery was of 
 necessity slow, and it was not until January, 1865, 
 that he was able to rejoin his regiment, which was 
 then at Savannah, Ga. During the time of his ill- 
 ness Ins regiment had been re-organized and as- 
 signed to the command of Phil. Sheridan in the 
 Shenandoah Valley, Va.: after which it was ordered 
 to Savannah, Ga., to relieve Sherman's men. Dr. 
 Bradley b^ing still in delicate health and unfit for 
 active service, was detailed as Hospital Steward 
 and placed upon detached duty. In this capacity 
 he had opportunities to render favors and gain 
 friends. An incident of more than ordinary im- 
 portance happened to him at this time. Dr. C. II. 
 Todd, a Confederate surgeon and brother of Mrs. 
 Abraham Lincoln, wife of the martyred president, 
 being a prisoner in Savannah and desirous of ob- 
 taining a speedy parole, w&s assisted in doing so 
 
PORTRAIT AND 15I0GRAPIIICAL ALBUM. 
 
 933 
 
 by Dr. Bradley. As a mark of appreciation of 
 this kind act he i>ave Dr. Bradley an order upon a 
 fi'iend for a pannier containing;' sundry surgieid in- 
 strnnients and medical works. The officer in com- 
 mand, a Frenchman, Dr. Boschie, learning that our 
 subject had these things in his possession, ordered 
 them sent to iieadqnarters. The doctor, however, 
 retained three of the medical works, which are 
 now very highly prized by him as relics of the late 
 war. A fly leaf in one of the volumes contains 
 the following inscription in autograph: " C. H. 
 Todil, C. S. A., 6th Louisiana Regiment, ILays' 
 Brigade, Camp Raccoon Ford, Army of Northern 
 Virginia." 
 
 The war closing. Dr. Bradley was mustered out 
 at Darien, Ga., and received liis final paj' and hon- 
 orable discharge at Indianapolis. After more than 
 four years of service Dr. Bradley returned to the 
 pursuits of peace, broken down in health. Until 
 within a year he has been a sufferer from frequent 
 hemorrhages of the lungs, the right one of vrliich 
 is nearly gone and partially useless. Being, bow- 
 ever, of a clear and energetic nature. Dr. Br;idlej', 
 notwitiistanding his delicate health, resumed the 
 study and practice of his chosen profession, study- 
 ing under Dr. Davis of Paris for eighteen months. 
 He received his first license as practicing physician 
 in the winter of 1867. He entered into partner- 
 ship with Dr, Grimes, of .lones, Ind., practicing 
 with him for three years, exhibiting great aptitude 
 and proficiency. His next step was to go back to 
 Clay Prairie, where he opened an office and began 
 practicing for himself. 
 
 Dr. Bradley was married April 14, 186'J, to Miss 
 Sarah Crimes, daughter of Dr. Grimes. Mrs 
 Bradley was born in Sarahsville, Noble Co., Ohio. 
 The family removed to Missouri before tlie war, 
 on the breaking out of which they were compelled 
 to flee for safety, and took refuge at Jones, Ind. 
 During the war Mrs. Bradley taught school before 
 leaving Missouri. Whenslic was but fifteen years 
 old she became a teacher in the public schools of 
 that State, but left it with her father in 1861. 
 After her marriage she continued teaching more 
 or less for some years. Before the depot was 
 located at Hume Dr. Bradley was induced to come 
 and locate, which he did, and is thus the pioneer 
 
 pliysician of Hume. The Doctor has ever taken a 
 deep interest in the development of tlie village. 
 He has buiU his office, and th e store immediate!}' 
 north of it which is occupied by the milliner. He 
 has also built a nice plain residence wliich is lo- 
 cated near the central part of the town. 
 
 Dr. and Mrs. Bradley are the parents of seven 
 children, three of whom are living — Daniel Vor- 
 lices. Rosebud Anna and Ruth. In his medical 
 practice the Dr. has been very successful, and he is 
 now at the head of a large and satisfactory 
 practice. The Doctor expends every year a great 
 deal of his earnings in increasing his large and 
 valuable library, containing nian^- standard and 
 medical works, and also in furthering medical and 
 surgical science. He is well supplied with surgical 
 apparatus, and has had marvelous success in the 
 treatment of cases aiising in an extensive general 
 practice. The Doctor is a prominent member of 
 the Alexander G. A. R. Post. No. 413. He has 
 held the position of surgeon in it ever since its 
 being chartered. In matters pertaining to local 
 politics the doctor aims to vote for men and meas- 
 ures. In national issues he casts his ballot with 
 the Democratic party. He has many and warm 
 friends. 
 
 ON. GEORGE E. BACON, Attorney-at- 
 Law and Senator from the Tliirty-flrst Dis- 
 trict, has been a resident of Edgar County 
 since 1857. He was born in Madison, Ind., 
 Feb. 4, 1851, and is the sou of Alfred and Emma 
 (Salmon) Bacon, lioth descendants of exx;ellent 
 families. The Bacon family was represented in an 
 early day in New Jersey', vvhere James Bacon, the 
 paternal grandfather of our subject, was born, and 
 whence he removed to Madison, Ind., where ho 
 engaged as a butcher and spent the remainder of 
 his days, passing away in 1858. 
 
 Grandmother Eliza (Brown) Bacon, was a native 
 of Kentucky, the Blue Grass State, and is still living, 
 at the age of seveaty-seven years, in Madison, Jef- 
 ferson Co., Ind. Her three children living are: 
 Nathan and James, who are farming in the vicinity 
 of Madison, and Eliza, the wife of Wade Melton, 
 
1)34 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BlOnRAPIIICAL ALBUM. 
 
 who ;',rc residents of that eity. Alfred Bacon, the 
 father of our subject, was liorn at a place called 
 Rykcr's Ridge, near Madison, Ind., June 27, 1824. 
 lie was brought up on a farm and learned the trade 
 of butchering from his father. He lived with his 
 parents until liis marriage, and for a short time 
 before removing in the spring of 1855, to Coles 
 County, 111., was in business in Madison. Finally 
 he purchased a farm, which he occupied two years, 
 then removed to Kansas, Edgar County, where he 
 resumed butchering, in which he was engaged until 
 his death, which oecured on July 2G, 1889. 
 
 In Madison, Jefferson Co, Ind., occurred the 
 marriage of Alfred Bacon, in 1849, with Miss 
 Emma Salmon. Mrs. Bacon w^s born, in 1834, in 
 Covington, Ky., where her father, Jacob Salmon, 
 operated as a reirf-estate dealer. She died in Kan- 
 sas, this county, June 11, 1882. Alfred Bacon was 
 a plain everj'd.aj" man, an excellent representative 
 citizen, thoroughly honest, upright and straight- 
 forward in all his dealings. He has never taken a 
 leading part in public affairs and has never held, or 
 wished to hold, political office, although a stanch 
 supporter of the Republican party, which he joined 
 at its formation. He was a member of the Christian 
 Church, with which he united under the adminis 
 trations of the Rev. W. F. Black. 
 
 To Mr. and ]Mrs. Bacon there was born a family 
 of ten children, seven of whom are deceased: Olive, 
 became the wife of Sylvester Oar, a blacksmith of 
 Kansas, where she died Nov. 14, 1876, and where 
 Mr. Oar is yet living; Alfred J., died in Coles 
 County, in childhood; Eliza, Charles, Laura, 
 Orson i}. and Lillie May all died young. The sur- 
 vivors are our subject; Clarence Logan, who is a 
 horse buyer and living in Kansas, this county, 
 where he has a large establishment, also in Newark, 
 N. J , supplying horses for the New York market; 
 James Edgar, a resident of NeAvark, in his brother's 
 employ as manager of his barns. 
 
 George E. Bacon was a lad of but four j'cars 
 when his parents came to Illinois, and spent his 
 youth in Kansas, attending school there, after 
 which he became a pupil of the Northwestern 
 Christian University at lndianai)olis and P^uroka 
 College in Woodford County. In 1877, he was 
 Assessor of Kansas Township and afterward studied 
 
 law in th(! office of Col. H. \'an Sellar, in Paris, in 
 1878. Next he attended the Union College of 
 Law at Chii^ago, and was admitted to practice by 
 the Supreme Court of Ottawa, June 19, 1879. Re- 
 turning to Paris, he began the practice of law in 
 1880, and on June 14 that same year was ;ioiiiinated 
 by acclamation by the Republican County Conven- 
 tion for the office of State's Attorney, without his 
 solicitation, lie not being a candidate. The county 
 has about 300 Democratic majority, but Mr. Bacon 
 came within 160 votes of election. He has been 
 engaged in the practice of his profession at Paris 
 since his admission to the bar. 
 
 In 1882, Mr. Bacon was elected Police Magistrate 
 of Paris for a term of four years, but at the expir- 
 ation of three years resigned the office in order to 
 give his entire attention to his increasing practice 
 In the fall of 1886 lie was nominated by the Repub- 
 licans of the thirty-first Senatorial district, com- 
 prising the counties of Edgar and Vermilion for 
 the honorable position of State Senator, and has 
 just completed his term, serving in the sessions of 
 the General Assembly of 1887 and 1889. He was 
 on a large number of committees, serving upon 
 nine of these during the first session. Me acted as 
 chairman of the Committee on State Library and of 
 the Committee to visit State Charitable Institutions. 
 The other committees upon which he served were 
 the Judiciary and Judicial Departments, Appro- 
 priations, State Charitable Institutions, Penal and 
 Reformatory, Railroads, and Mines and Mining. 
 
 In the session of 1889, Mr. Bacon was Chair- 
 man of the Senatorial Caucus, and was, therefon^, 
 also Chairman of the Joint Republican Caucus 
 which re-nominated United States Senator Cullom. 
 He was Chairman of the Committee on Printing; 
 was on the Judiciary Committee, the Committee on 
 Judicial Departments, Penal and Reformatory, 
 Mines and Mining, Federal Relations, Agriculture 
 and Drainage. Mr. Bacon bore during his legis- 
 lative career an excellent reputation as a careful, 
 painstaking and hard working senator, jealous of 
 the rights of his constituents, whom he served ably 
 and faithfully with credit to himself and ver^' 
 satisfactoril}' to the people he represented. 
 
 Our subject was married Nov. 30, 1880, to Miss 
 Ida May, daughter of O, 0. and MoUie M. (Mit- 
 
;'/4.lvf 
 
 F\esidence OF W.F. Banta, Sec. 3^., Prairie Township. 
 
 Residence of A.W.Mark, Sec. f5.. Edger Townshir 
 
PORTRAIT AM) BIOCRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 937 
 
 cIk'II) Reed, of Paris, 111,, but who aio now living 
 in Kansas, tiiis cmnity, wliei'o Mr. Recil is engaged 
 in business as a pliotogvapher. Mrs. Bacon was 
 born in Grand A'iew, Ind., May 4, 1860. Tlicy liave 
 tvvo children, Paul iSreese and Ruth. 
 
 Mr. Bacon is a member of Austin Lodge, No. 
 6G4, I.O.O.F., of Paris, and was representative of 
 his lodge to the Grand Lodge two terms; he also 
 belongs to Charity Lodge, No. 100, A.O.U.W., and 
 is its present representative to the Grand Lodge. 
 lie and his wife are members of the Christian 
 Church at Paris, and he bears among his fellow 
 citizens tlie reputation of an honorable, upright 
 and straightforward man. Yet a young man, Mr. 
 Bacon has a future before him, wliich his many 
 friends hope may be filled with lienors and g(>od 
 repute. As a political speaker Mr. Bacon stands 
 in the front rank in the State of Illinois, and is also 
 a favorite speaker at soldier's re-unions throughout 
 the State. 
 
 ^^NTHONY \V MARK. The early sur- 
 TlJI i ronndings of an individual arc most likely 
 to determine his character for the future. 
 The youth who is compelled by circum- 
 stances to work his own way up in the world, is 
 the one who usually develops into the most worthy 
 and honorable manhood. The experience at the 
 time maj' have seemed somewhat hard, but it 
 usually brings to the surface those qualities which 
 make a man strong and self-reliant, enabling him 
 to breast the storms of life with courage and en- 
 durance. These are the men who form tlic bone 
 and sinew of a community, and from which spring 
 its best elements. 
 
 We find Mr. Mark a selfmade man, and one of 
 the leading citizens of Edgar Township, the owner 
 a fine property compi'ising 200 acres of land on 
 section 16, eight acres on section 17, 131^ acres in 
 Shiloh and 160 acres in Osborn County, Kan. 
 When it is remembered that this property is the 
 accumulation of his own industry, and that he re- 
 ceived no financial assistance from any source, it 
 umst be admitted that he has made good use of 
 
 his time and opportunities. He was Ijurn near 
 Washington, Fayette Co., Ohio., Feb. 6, 1«l'G, and 
 here spent his earl}-^ life, being put to work on a 
 farm as soon as he was able to carry a bundle of 
 brush. His education was obtained during ihe 
 winter season in a log cabin, built in the most 
 primitive style, and under a system of instruction 
 far inferior to that of the present day, and con- 
 ducted on the suljseripti(.in plan. He grew up 
 familiar with all the hardships and privations of [lio- 
 neer life, and remained under the home roof until 
 .'i young man of twenty-four years. 
 
 Young Mark began business for himself on a 
 tract of rented land in his native township, where 
 he operated two jears. By arduous industry and 
 the most economical manner of living he in due 
 time found himself on the road to prosperity. In 
 tlie meantime he was married, June 6, 1850, in 
 Fayette County, Ohio, to Miss Mary E. Hoppes, 
 who like himself was a native of Ohio, where her 
 father, Jacob Hoppes, was occupied as a farmer. 
 The mother, Mrs. Nancy (Wilkinson) Hoppes, was 
 a native of N'irginia, and the daughter of William 
 Wilkinson, who was also born in the Old Domin- 
 ion, whence he removed to Faj'ette County, Ohio, 
 and was engaged in agricultural pursuits. He 
 served in the War of 1812, and afterward removed 
 to the vicinity of Benton, Ind., where he spent his 
 last days. Grandfather John Hoopes removed 
 from Virginia to Fayette County, Ohio, where he 
 died at a very old age. Tlie father of Mrs. Mark 
 died when a young man, and the mother died near 
 Homer, III., where she had resided for years, in 
 1875, at the age of sixty. Mrs. Mark, their only 
 child, was born in Fayette County, Ohio, Nov. 15, 
 1831, received a common-school education, and 
 remained with her parents until her marriage. 
 
 Two years after that event Mr. and Mrs. Mark 
 set out for Illinois with a team, bringing with 
 them their household effects, and located in Edgar 
 Township. In the spring of '1853 our subject pur- 
 chased his present place, pa^-ing $8.50 for 120 
 acres, anil ^3.75 for eighty acres, and buying the 
 whole on time. It was a great undertaking, and in 
 addition to making a living for his family and en- 
 deavoring to pay for his land, it was necessary in 
 the meantime to proceed with improvements as 
 
■j;i,s 
 
 rOiriRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 I'jipidly u? piissiblf. Wild .inimals then abounded 
 in this i-pgioi), and the wolves frequently came up 
 to tlieir cabin door. Deer furnished a frequent 
 taruet for the huntsman's ritle, and although the 
 f.nmily larder often lacked in other provisions, they 
 could at all times obtain wild meat. 
 
 Mr. iMark proceeded with the cultivation of his 
 land and effected improvements ui)on it until after 
 tlie outbreak of the Civil War. He was very desirous 
 of entering the ranks at the beginning of the con- 
 fiict, but restrained his patriotic impulses on account 
 of his family. In the fall of 1864 he was drafted 
 into Comi)any D, 12th Illinois Infantry, mustered 
 into the service at Danville, and sent south with 
 his comrades to Chattanooga on Hat cars. They 
 were assigned to guard duty until the following 
 spring, when they were sent to Baltimore, and sub- 
 sequently joined the army of Gen. Slierman at 
 (Joldsboro near Raleigh, and soon afterward were 
 greeted with the news of Johnston's surrender. A 
 week later they were in Washington, D. C, at the 
 grand review, which Mr. .Mark states vvas ^tlie 
 hardest day's work of his life. Thence repairing 
 to Louisville, he was mustered out, and in July, 
 18G5, received his discharge at .Springfield, 111. 
 
 Our subject now returned to his farm, and since 
 that time has been uniformly prosperous. A 
 lithoLM'apbic view ai^pears elsewhere in this volume 
 of his convenient and substantial residence, which 
 is 32x34 feet in dimensions, and he has a good 
 barn 40x68 feet. A stream of running water assists 
 in the fertility of the land, which was of excellent 
 quality originally, and its cultivation is carried on 
 by the latest improved machinery. The fields are 
 enclosed and cross-fenced to a large extent with 
 hedo-e, which presents a beautiful appearance, es- 
 pecially in the summer season. The Kansas farm 
 is a flue hoAy of land, well improved and lying 
 near the city of Osborn. The Edgar County farm 
 is largely devoted to stock-raising, Mr. Mark 
 havino excellent grades of cattle, sheep and swine. 
 He also buvs, feeds and ships to a large extent, 
 which induslry has proved very profitable. He 
 has ten head of splendid, well-kept liorscs, and em- 
 ploys three teams in operating the farm. 
 
 To our subject and his excellent wife there have 
 been born eight children, the eldest of whom, a 
 
 daughter, Jane, is the wife of Joseph ^'an Dine, 
 a stockman, and they reside near Newman, 111.; 
 Josie is the wife of i\Iitcliell Gossett, a farmer of 
 X'ermilion County; Mary married Morris Little, 
 a farmer of Edgar Township; Lewis is a conductor 
 of the Southern Pacific Railroad, and makes his 
 headquarters in Arizona; Margery E. is the wife 
 of William Glass and lives in Edgar Township. 
 The next three children — William 8., Joseph IL, 
 and Cary H. — are at home with their parents. 
 Lewis in the pursuit of his duties has traveled all 
 over the Western country, and at one time was 
 seriously injured in a railroad disaster, having 
 several ribs broken, and suffering in other ways. 
 
 Mr. Mark cast his first vote for Zachary Taylor, 
 and later identified himself with the Republican 
 party, of which he is a very strong adherent. He 
 has served as School Director for many years, and 
 socially, belongs to i.he I. O. O. F. at Chrisman, in 
 which he is Past Grand, is a member of the G. A. R. 
 at Chrisman, and is identified with the Blue Lodge, 
 A. F. & A. M. He assisted in the building of the 
 IMcthodist Episcopal Church edifice at Edgar, and 
 is at jjresent one of the Trustees. 
 
 The paternal grandfather of our subject, Peter 
 Mark, was a native of Maryland, whence he re- 
 moved to Pennsylvania at an early day and en- 
 gaged in farming. Subsequently he pushed on 
 into Ohio, locating in Ross County as early as 
 1812. He farmed there for a time, then changed 
 his residence to Fayette County, where he died 
 leaving a good property. He was a man of com- 
 manding appearance, being of large stature and 
 great muscular strength. The great-grandfather, 
 Joseph Mark, was likewise a native of Mar^dand, 
 and of German descent. He served in the Revolu- 
 tionary War, and spent his last days with his son in 
 Fayette County, Ohio, where he died at a ripe old 
 age. 
 
 Joseph Mark, the father of our subject, was born 
 in Pennsylvania in 1800, and during liis younger 
 years cleared a farm of 1 75 acres in Fayette County, 
 Ohio, and besides this was the owner of other land 
 in that county. He deeded the greater portion of 
 this to his children, and at the time of his death 
 had a farm of 175 acres. He was a prominent 
 man in his community, serving as Township Treas- 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 939 
 
 iirer and Comity Commissioner, and belonged to 
 the Methodist Episcopal Church, in vvhieh ho offi- 
 ciated as ChihS-Leader and gave to it a liberal sup- 
 port. He departed this life June 13, 1886. His 
 wife, the mother of our subject, was in her girl- 
 hood Miss Xaonji Bush, and was born in Virginia 
 about 1800. and died in 1880. Her father, Leo- 
 nard Busli, w.ns a native of (rerman}', and upon 
 emigrating to America settled on a farm in the 
 Old Dominion, but later removed to Fayette 
 County, Oliio. He labored in true pioneer style in 
 the opening up of a farm on the frontier, and after 
 a long and industrious life passed away at the age 
 of eighty-five years. He was the father of fourteen 
 children, who presented the remarkable spectacle 
 of all living to be about eighty years of age, and 
 some of them over. The mother of our subject 
 had been, for many j^ears a member of the Metho- 
 dist E|)iscopal Church. 
 
 'J'o the parents of our subject there were born 
 eight children, viz.: Cynthia A., a resident of 
 Highland County, Ohio; Anthony W., our sul)ject; 
 Mary, a resident of P'ayette County, Ohio; Har- 
 riet, deceased; Henry, Huldah J., Louis and Rachel, 
 these four all residents of Fayette County. Henry 
 and Louis served as members of the militia during 
 Morgan's raid in Ohio. Louis was a Lieutenant in 
 the three-month's service operating mostly around 
 Cynthiana, Ky. 
 
 y^ltLlAM F. BANTA. At intervals the 
 biographer comes in contact with an indiv- 
 WW idual wiio has wisely preserved the record 
 of his ancestry and takes satisfaction in the perpet- 
 uation of the faniil}' name, which in a large major- 
 ity of cases has obtained prominence and has ac- 
 complished that of which the descendants may 
 reasonably feel proud. With most men next to 
 the thought of going hence, is the dread of being 
 forgotten; but the individual of to-day stands in 
 far less danger of this than lie of a century ago, as 
 the importance of biography is rapidly becoming 
 recognised among the more intelligent portion -of 
 mankind. These thoughts have been involuntarily 
 
 engendered in a friendly conference with the sub- 
 ject of this notice, whose brother, James H. Banta, 
 is represented on another page. 
 
 We find Mr. Banta pleasantly located on a snug 
 farm of eighty-five acres, on section 32, in Prairie 
 Township. He is a gentleman in the prime of life, 
 having been born May 28, 1841, and his boyhood 
 home was on a farm near Carlisle, in Nicholas 
 County, Ky. His father, Abraham Banta, was a 
 native of Bourbon County, this State, and the son 
 of Henry Banta also a native of that county. The 
 latter was reared on the frontier, engaged in agri- 
 cultural pursuits and while clearing the timber was 
 shot through the shoulder by Indians and badly 
 wounded. Knowing that his only hope was in the 
 celerity of his movemenls,lie fought off his suffering 
 bravely and struggled to his cabin door, where he 
 fell exhausted, just as the savages rushed up, utter- 
 ing shrieks of disappointed rage. He was drawn 
 in by his wife, who barred the door and kept out 
 the treacherous foe. Grandfather Banta in due 
 time partially recovered, and as soon as able to 
 use one hand resumed his clearing operations, 
 opened up a large farm and became well-to-do. 
 He was a stanch Democrat politically, and died at 
 an honorable old age at the homestead which he 
 had established. 
 
 The paternal great-grandfather of our subject 
 was Hendrick Banta, a native of Hackensack, N. J. 
 and born July 27, 1740. He married Maria Stry- 
 ker, in his native place, and afterwards removed 
 to Somerset County, N. J., where he sojourned 
 until 1769. His next removal was to the newly 
 opened territory of Ohio, and he settled in Adams 
 County near Gettysburg, and carried on agricul- 
 ture ten years. Next he removed to Kentucky, 
 locating on a farm in Madison County; from there 
 he removed to Mercer County, but eventually took 
 up his abode on Dutch Tract, near Pleasureville, 
 in Shelby County, where he died in 1805. He was 
 a man of great force of character, and was a prom- 
 inent citizen wherever he made his home. 
 
 The father of our subject took up his abode in 
 Nicholas County, Ky., in 1840, where he acquired 
 360 acres of land and a number of slaves. He was 
 very prosperous and died wealthy in February, 
 1883, at the age of seventy-four j'ears. He had 
 
940 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 for a long period bowi a. raomber of the Cliristian 
 Church. He traced his ancestry to Holland, from 
 which counti'v the first representative of the 
 family, Epke Jacob Banta, emigrated to Amcrioa 
 soon after the landing of the Pilgrim Fathers. 
 The subject of this sketch is a descendant in tire 
 ninth generation from his above mentioned pro- 
 genitor. Epke Jacob Banta was born in East Fries- 
 land, Holland, where he was a farmer, and was mar- 
 ried. After the birth of five sons, he set out from 
 Amsterdam, Feb. 13, 1659, on the ship " De 
 Trow," and upon reaching America located at 
 Bergen, N. J. He became the owner of land 
 near Hackensack, where he was prominent and 
 well-to-do. He was a leader in the Dutch Re- 
 formed Church, and died full of years and honor. 
 
 The maiden name of the mother of our subject 
 was Dorcas Hedges. She was a na.tive of Bourbon 
 County, Ky.. and died Feb. 6, 18.S7. Her father 
 was James Hedges, a native of England ; who upon 
 emigi'ating to America, located in Bourbon County, 
 whence he removed later to the vicinity of Bath, 
 and engaged in farming until his death. To the 
 parents of our subject there were born eight chil- 
 dren : Cyntliia A. and James H., residents of Ridge 
 Farm, Vermilion County ; Margaret L., who lives 
 in Nicholas County, Ky.; Andrew J., who was a 
 soldier in the Confederate Ami}', and died a Union 
 prisoner at Indianapolis, Ind., (he was under Mor- 
 gan and was captured at Cynthiana, Ky.); Sarah 
 F. Mrs. Collins, is deceased; William P\, our sub- 
 ject, and Elizabeth J., Mrs. Campbell, his twin 
 sister, the latter a resident of Nicholas County, 
 Ky. ; Amy M., Mrs. Bogart, who died at Beebe, 
 Ark. 
 
 Our subject remained under the home roof until 
 twenty years of age, becoming familiar with farm 
 pursuits and acquiring a limited education in a log 
 school house, under the primitive methods of in- 
 struction of that day. After the outbreak of the 
 Rebellion he enlisted, in tlie fall of 1861, in the 1st 
 Kentucky Mounted Rillemcn in the Confederate 
 Army, and was mustered into service at Presten- 
 hurg. His first engagement was at Pikcville, Ky., 
 and the next at Princeton, Va. Later he engaged 
 in several skirmishes, after whicli followed the 
 battle of Perry ville and others of minor impor- 
 
 tance. One day while out of camp his regimenl 
 received orders, and he with ten of his comrades 
 being left behind, went into Kentucky on a raid, 
 and all except himself and one William Boaz, 
 now of Ridge F^arm, were captured. These two 
 dodged around from one place to another in mak- 
 ing their escape, and finally landed at Ridge Farm, 
 III., on Oct. 3, 1863. 
 
 In the meantime a brother of our subject had 
 settled in the vicinity of the above mentioned 
 place, and AN'illiam F. worked for him the follow- 
 ing 3'ear. At the expiration of this time he came 
 into possession of the eighty-five acres comprising 
 his present homestead, and located upon it in 
 1865, commencing immediately to make improve- 
 ments. Besides building fences, putting up a 
 house and barn and other needed structures he 
 ditched and laid tiling, set out fruit and forest 
 trees, and effected the other improvements natnrallj- 
 suggested to the wide-awake and progressive agri- 
 culturalist. His land is made productive l}y run- 
 ning water, and is in all respects a most desirable 
 piece of property, lying two miles fi'om the town of 
 Ilumrick and five miles from Ridge Farm. 
 
 On May 7, 1865, our subject was married at 
 Bethel, 111., to Miss Sarah E. Long. This lady 
 was a native of that place and the daughter of 
 James B. Long, who was born in Kentucky, and 
 was one of the earliest settlers of A'ermilion County, 
 where he cleared a farm and accumulated a good 
 property. Of this union there are nine interesting- 
 children, all living and at home with their parents: 
 Andrew J., James A., \'inie, Betty, Annie, Amy, 
 William H., Grace and Nettie. Mr. Banta belongs 
 to the Presbyterian Church at Betliel, in which he 
 was an Elder for several years and is still a trustee. 
 Politically he votes the straight Democratic ticket. 
 He has oflilciated as School Director two terms and 
 socially' is identified with Lodge No. 632, A. F. 
 A A. M., at Ridge Farm. 
 
 Mr. Banta is fond of field sports, delights in 
 hunting, and for this purpose keeps horses and 
 hounds. He has a bullet pouch made in New Jer- 
 sey in 1701 from a leopard skin, a relic handed 
 down to him through three generations. He also 
 has a silver ladle which his grandfather made from 
 sixteen and a half silver dollars. These heirlooms. 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 941 
 
 it is hardly necessiivy to s;ij', are higlily valuerl by 
 the family and art' frequently the objects of great 
 interest to both friends and strangers possessing a 
 love for antiquities. A fine view of the cozy liome 
 of Mr. and Mrs. Banta is presented elsewhere in 
 the Ai.iUiM, and in it they welcome and hospitably 
 entertain tluir many friends, including both old 
 and young, for miles around. 
 
 \/jJ/! terprising farmer 
 ^^ of Ross Townshi 
 
 f I>.ALTK:1 G. BEALL, '''liis young and en- 
 
 although a resident 
 iship but one year, is 
 recognized as one of its most useful and enterpris- 
 ing citizens and it is evident that he will con- 
 tribute Ins full quotn toward its general prosperity 
 and advancement. Nature has endowed him with 
 more than ordinary capacities, with an excellent judg- 
 and sound common sense, and the perseverance 
 which almost invariably leads to success in wjiat- 
 ever his judgment justifies him in undertaking. He 
 has a fine farm of 240 acres lying on sections 1 1 and 
 12 with his liome on the latter, and seems to have a 
 thorough knowledge of the best manner in wliich 
 to conduct his farming operations. 
 
 Mr. Beall was born near Elrod, Ripley Co., 
 Ind., Feb. 23, 1858, and spent his boyiiood and 
 youth amid the quiet scenes of farm life, attending 
 the common school and remaining under the lidnie 
 roof until a youth of sixteen years. In 1H74, de- 
 termined to see something of the w(jrld, he set out 
 and crossing the Mississippi into Clai-k County, 
 Mo., engaged to work on a farm but only staid 
 there one montli. We next find him in Hancock 
 County, 111., near Nauvoo, engaged as before until 
 the fall of 1874. From tliere he emigrated to.T.asper 
 County, Iowa, where he sojourned until January, 
 1879, still following agricultural pursuits. He now 
 returned to his home in Indiana, but in the fall of 
 that year repaired to the vicinity of Philo, Cham- 
 paign Co., 111., where he engaged f>n a farm until 
 the spring following. 
 
 At this time, changing his occupation somewhat, 
 our subject became a contractor on the Indianapo- 
 lis, Cincinnati & 8t. Lonis Railroad, a narrow 
 
 guage, putting up bridges from A'etersburg, Ind., 
 to Oakland. In 1881 he engaged in farming 
 near Metcalf for two years, spending his winters 
 in Danville as clerk in a hotel. In the fall of 1886 
 he established himself in a restaurant at Ridge 
 Farm, operating with a partner under the firm name 
 of Gault & Beall about one year. He next went to 
 Dunning, as clerk in a hotel. In the spring of 1888 
 he located on his present place, which was given 
 to his wife by her father, containing 190 acres and 
 later securing fifty acres adjoining. His land is all 
 under a good state of cultivation and watered by 
 ilie north fork of the Bruellet's Creek. He Iras a 
 fine residence and all his other buildings are sub- 
 stantial and in good repair. He 0[)erates tliree 
 teams in his farm work, raising large quantities of 
 grain which he feeds mostly to his stock, including 
 graded cattle and swine. 
 
 Our subject was married in Covington, Ind., 
 June 6, 1887 to Rliss Luella Clark. This lady was 
 , born in Ross Townsliip and acquired a good edu- 
 cation, being graduated from St. Mary's at Terre 
 Il.iute, Ind. Tliej' are the parents of one child, a 
 daughter, Elsie. Mr. Beall, politically, is a straight 
 Democrat and, socially, belongs to the Masonic 
 fraternity at Ridge Farm in whicli he is a Master 
 Mason, and is a member of the Modern \A'oodmen 
 in the same place. 
 
 The father of our subject was William Beall, 
 a substantial farmer of IJi|)ley County, Ind. His 
 paternal grandfather was of Scotch ancestry and 
 one of the first settlers of RiiJey County, where he 
 labored successfully as a farmer and accumulated a 
 good property. In the spring of 18G3 William 
 Beall was drafted into tlie n.rmy and served in an 
 Indiana regiment until the close of the war. He 
 contracted an incurable disease and died in I8G6. 
 He was also a stanch Democrat and an active 
 member or the Baptist Church. 
 
 The mother of our subject was, in her girlhood. 
 Miss ElizabeCli Whitcomb and was born in Ripley, 
 Ohio. She canio to Indiana with her step-father 
 and is still living in Ripley County, that State, 
 being now sixty-five years old. The nine children 
 born to the parents are named respectively, James, 
 Eliza, (ieorge, Hamilton, (ilcceased), jM(.i\y R., Me- 
 lissa, Walter G., our subject; John, (deceased), and 
 
,»4-i 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 Lewis. Jnmes served in an Indiana regiment dur- 
 ing tlie late war from 1861 until its close. All tlie 
 children living with the exception of our subject 
 and Lewis, are residents of Ripley County, Ind. 
 The latter lives in Edgar County, 111. 
 
 ^5 #-# 5^ 
 
 ^ YRLS LEWIS. Many admirable characters 
 , are developed amid the peaceful surround- 
 
 ^^J ings ol rural life, who sometimes are un- 
 discoverable until some great emergency calls 
 them forth from their retreat. Their leading 
 qualities, however, may be guessed at by their sur- 
 roundings, and to a great extent, the amount of 
 their possessions. Mr. Lewis owns and operates 
 320 acres of land, finely located on sections 19 and 
 29, and which under liis careful management as- 
 sume the proportions of one of the best regulated 
 f.arms in Ross Township. 
 
 Mr. Lewis was born near Terro Haute, Ind., .Tan. 
 1, 1834, at the modest homestead of his parents, 
 where he became familiar with farm pursuits and at- 
 tended district school two months in the year. His 
 first studies were conducted in a log house with slab 
 benches and puncheon floor and the sj'Stem of in- 
 struction was largely in keeping with the temple of 
 learning and its surroundings. There was little of 
 elegance or style in those days, and the sons of the 
 pioneer farmers were at an early age introduced to 
 hard work, but they grew up strong and self-reliant 
 and well fitted for the battle of life. 
 
 Young Lewis remained a member of his lather's 
 household until twenty-two years old, then com- 
 menced farming for himself on rented land. In 
 1861 he determined upon a change of location and 
 started out overland with a team for this county 
 with a capital of *7()0. He purchased 240 acres of 
 land on section 27, in Ross Township, where he 
 eno'aged in farming two years, then sold out and 
 b(jught eighty acres of his present homestead. He 
 wa.s prospered and gradually added to his real estate 
 until it assumed its present proportions. His land 
 is finely watered by ]}ruellet's Creek, and is fenced 
 and cross-fenced with hedge which presents a most 
 beautiful appearance, especially during the summer 
 
 season. He has underlaid a goodly portion of his 
 land with tile and the whole produces in abund- 
 ance the rich crops of this region. He has a neat 
 and comfortable residence, the main part occupy- 
 ing an area of 22x32 feet with a wing 16x24 feet. 
 The barn is 40x48 feet. There is a corn crib of 
 goodly dimensions and all other appliances for the 
 shelter of stock and the storage of grain. Mr. 
 Lewis makes a speciality of graded Short-horn cat- 
 tle and Norman draft horses, of which he keeps about 
 twenty-four head, utilizing thi'ee teams on the farm, 
 and also raises a goodly number of swine each year. 
 He is as thorough and skillful in his operations .as a 
 farmer, as he is upright and prompt in his business 
 transactions. 
 
 In Parke County, Ind., Mr. Lewis was married 
 March 1, 1860 to Miss Margaret Overpeck. This 
 lady was born there and died at her home in this 
 county in 1874. Of the three (-hildren born of 
 this union, the eldest, Laura J., is the wife of 
 Charles Hoult of Ross Township; Ella M. and 
 Sadie A. are at home with their father. Mi-. Lewis 
 contracted a second matrimonial alliance, July 29, 
 1875 with Miss Margery M. Law, who was born in 
 Shelby County, Ind, acquired an excellent educa- 
 tion and thereafter followed the profession of a 
 teacher. Of this marriage there were also born 
 three children — George C, John A. and Maggie L. 
 
 The warm interest which IMr. Lewis has always 
 taken in the temperance movement finally resulted 
 in his identif^'ing himself with the Pi'ohibition 
 partJ^ He has served as Assessor and Collector 
 one j'ear each, and been a Director in his School 
 District for several 3'ears. In religious matters he 
 inclines to the doctrines of the Methodist Episco- 
 pal Church, in which he officiates as Class- Leader 
 at Cherry Point, and Assistant-Superintendent of 
 the Sunday-school. He has also been Steward and 
 Trustee and contributed liberally to the support of 
 the church. He keeps himself well posted in re- 
 gard to matters generally of interest to the intelli- 
 gent citizen and is of that genial and compan- 
 ionable disiiosition which naturally attracts to him 
 a great many friends. 
 
 Isaac Lewis, the father of our subject, was a na- 
 tive of Virginia, and the son of -lonatiian Lewis, 
 who was a Virginia farmer, and who emigrated to 
 
PORTRAIT AND RTOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 943 
 
 Highland County, Oliio, during the earlj^ settle- 
 ment of that State. lie took up a tract of Gov- 
 ernment land, whore he farmed for a few years 
 then pushed on further west to Vigo County, Ind., 
 where he settled in 1829 on rented land. Thence 
 he removed to Parke County, in the same State, 
 where lie secured 160 acres of land and spent his 
 last days, living to attain the ago of seventy-six 
 years. He was of Welsh descent. 
 
 The father of our subject, when a young man 
 settled first in NMgoCount}^, Ind., but later entered 
 land in Parke County, where he carried on farming 
 and stock raising, driving his stock to Chicago be- 
 fore the daj's of railroads. He became the owner 
 of 360 acres of improved land, and died in 1867 at 
 the age of sixty-seven j'ears. He was a s(nind 
 Republican, politically, and a prominent member 
 of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in whicli he 
 served as Class-Leader and which he gave a cheer- 
 liberal support. The mother, Mrs. Margaret 
 (Shoumaker) Lewis, was of German descent and a 
 native of Airginia. She died at tiie homestead the 
 same year as her husband, and like him was a mem- 
 ber of the Methodist Episcopal Church. They 
 were the parents of twelve childi-en, nine of whom 
 lived to mature years. Mary A. is deceased; San- 
 ford and Melinda are residents of Parke Countj-, 
 Ind; Cyrus, our subject, was the sixth child; Emily 
 resides in Wilson County, Kan.; John is deceased; 
 Margaret and Phebe are residents of Parke County, 
 Ind.; David, who was next to the youngest, lives 
 in Moultrie County, this State; he served in an 
 Indiana Regiment tliree years dui'ing the late Civil 
 War. 
 
 "^ AMES D. BARR, Deputy County Treasurer 
 of Edgar County, is a son of one of its old 
 native residents and the grandson of Michael 
 Barr, an earl_y settler, who came here in 
 1829. He and his wife were born in Bourbon 
 County, Ky., where they lived until 1812. That 
 year they emigrated to Davis County, Ind., and 
 thence came to this count}', settling upon a tract 
 of wild land in what is now Grand ^'iew Township, 
 where they improved a farm. Mr. Barr departed 
 
 this life March 17, 1873, at the age of seventy- 
 three years, having been born in the opening year 
 of the nineteenth century. 
 
 Grandfather Barr was the fii'st Supervisor of 
 Grand View Township, and was an active man in 
 everything tending to the public good. Like his 
 brother pioneers he endured many hardships and 
 trials , the relation of which to his descendants in 
 later years, proved not only of interest to them but 
 a source of satisfaction to himself. In the early 
 days he frequently drove through to Chicago with 
 produce when that now great city was an unim- 
 portant village, giving no indication of its future. 
 Grandmother P.arr died many years before her 
 husband. The worthy couple were the parents of 
 nine children, of whom five are living. James oc- 
 cupies the old farm in Grand View Township; 
 Michael V. is a grain-buyer living in Buck Town- 
 ship; Hugh is farming near the old homestead, 
 where he was bom; Hannah is the wife of Rev. Silas 
 Moffatt, of Kansas; Susanna married Thomas 
 JMays, in honor of whom was named the station on 
 Terre Haute & Peoria Railroad. 
 
 Andrew J. Barr, the father of our subject was 
 born at the old homestead in Grand ^'iew Township 
 March 25, 1839, audlwas educated in the common 
 schools of that day and in his earlier years oceu- 
 pied himself as a teacher. He also assisted his 
 father on the farm and lived witli his parents until 
 his marriage at the earl}' age of twenty years. 
 Soon afterward young Barr began farming on forty 
 acres of land given him ]<y his father, and which 
 the latter had entered fur him in Embarras Town- 
 ship, as the boy, not being of age, could not enter 
 it himself. There he erected a house containino- 
 one room sixteen feet square, and entered upon the 
 career which placed him among the leading men 
 of his neighborhood. He possessed a large frame 
 of great strength and was lamiliarly known by the 
 name of " Hickory." He worked hard, lived with- 
 in his means and added fo his real estate until he 
 owned a handsome and well improved farm of 160 
 acres, which is still in possession of his heirs. 
 There he spent his years until liis election to the 
 office of County Treasurer, when he removed to 
 Paris, where his death took jjlaec Dec. 23, 188,5. 
 
 For some years prior to his death the father of 
 
944 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPJIICAL ALBUM. 
 
 oiu' subject had been engaged as a grain-buyer at 
 Redmon, where he became prominent in tlie com- 
 munity and assisted largely in building up the 
 town. He held many of the township oflices, the 
 Qrst being that of Collector, in which he officiated 
 several terms. Later he represented the county a 
 number of terms in the County Board of Supervis- 
 ors. He was popular among all classes and an ar- 
 dent adherent of the Democratic party, by which 
 lie was nominated in 1887 for the position of 
 County Treasurer. He filled this acceptably, and 
 two years later was re-elected. Under a change in 
 the law he held over a year, thus serving as Treas- 
 urer five years, with great credit to himself and 
 satisfaction to bis constituents. He was successful 
 in all his business adventures, honest, upright and 
 conscientious, and accumulated a competence. Al- 
 though not a church member he was a supporter 
 of all moral and religious movements, and was 
 ospeciall3' a friend of the Young Men's Christian 
 Association, to which he contributed regularly and 
 liberally. Socially he belonged to the Masonic 
 fraternity. 
 
 Andrew J. Barr was married Oct. 2, 1859, to 
 Miss Mi;ria R., daughter of Barnett and Ann M. 
 (Morrow) Thomas, the former born in Hamilton 
 Count}', Ohio, and the latter a native of Kentucky. 
 The Thomas family' were early settlers of Clark 
 County, this State, whence they removeil to Edgar 
 County. Mrs. Barr was born in that county in 
 1812. She is making her home in Paris, her un- 
 married children living with her. To her and 
 her husband there were Iwrn five children, one 
 of whom died in infancy, and Charles Edgar died 
 at the age of eleven years. The survivors are: 
 James D., our subject, Lillic M. and Harry I., the 
 two latter living with their mother. 
 
 The subject of this sketch was born on the home 
 farm in Embarras Township, Sept. 8, 18G1, and 
 lived there until seventeen years of age, attending 
 school in the neighborliood. Upon the removal 
 of his parents to l\'iri8 lie began attending the High 
 School, which he afterward left to assist his father 
 in the Treasurer's office, being employed there b\' 
 the latter during tiie last three years of his term, 
 which ended in 1882. In this place he acquired a 
 good business education. After leaving it he took 
 
 charge of the farm ior his father until the latter's 
 death and then administered upon tiie estate. In 
 December, 188G, he v/as appointed Deputy County 
 Treasurer by J. B. Wood, a position for which his 
 previous experience had peculiarly fitted him and 
 which he still holds. 
 
 The marriage of our subject with Miss Hattie 
 Wilson was celebrated at the bride's home in Paris 
 March 15, 1883. Mrs. Barr was born April 25, 
 1864, in Edgar Township, and is the daughter of 
 Thomas and Elizabeth Wilson. The two children 
 born of this union are a son and daughter, Karl 
 and Edna. The family occupies a neat home in the 
 southeastern part of the city and enjoys the esteem 
 and confidence of its best people. 
 
 OHN STAFFORD. The name of this gen- 
 cannot he [)roperly omitted from a woi'k de- 
 signed to represent the solid and represen- 
 tative citizens of Edgar County. He has 
 been a life-long agriculturist, gleaning his first 
 experience in the Blue Grass State where he was 
 born, in Johnston Count}', Feb. 17, 1821. There 
 likewise he received his early education and was 
 married. His parents, John and Poll}' (Davis) 
 Stafford, were natives of Giles County, Va., whence 
 they removed to Kentucky at an early day where 
 they spent the rem.ainder of their lives. They 
 were devoted members of the Methodist Episcopal 
 Church, most worthy and excellent people who 
 trained their children carefidly and exercised a 
 good influence in their community. 
 
 The paternal grandfather of our subject, Ralph 
 Stafford, it is believed, was of Irish ancestry and 
 he served as a soldier in the Revolutionary War. 
 He was wounded in a cavalry charge from the ef- 
 fects of vvhich he died a few years later. John 
 Stafford, of this sketch, was married in hisnative 
 county to Miss Mary Gaviet whose father, Ezckiel 
 (iaviet, a native of New York State, changed his 
 residence to Kentucky when a young man. Later 
 he married Miss Sarah Chapman and they spent 
 their last years in Kentucky. They were members 
 of the Baittist Church. To our subject and his es- 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 9J7 
 
 tiraable wife there were born seven children, nil 
 natives of Kentucky, namely: Sarali, (Mrs. Jacob 
 Dawson), Kzeliiel, Mary J. and Lyrlia D., deceaseil ; 
 John, Julia II., now Mrs. Henry David, of Briiel- 
 let Township and Williaui D. 
 
 In 1875 our subject with his family came to tliis 
 county and located on the farm which has since 
 been the homestead. It is 160 acres in extent and 
 under the wise management of the proprietor 
 yields in abundance the richest crops of Central 
 Illinois. Mr. Stafford is assisted in its operation 
 and management by his son William, who has forty 
 acres adjoining. Mr. and INIrs. (Stafford are mem- 
 bers in good standing of the Methodist Episcopal 
 Church. Tlie father of our subject was a Justice 
 of the Peace for forty-five years and originally he- 
 longed to the old ^^'hig■ party. 
 
 ,OHN V. SUDDUTH. The subject of this 
 sketch is pursuing the even tenor of his way 
 ! at a comfortable homestead on section 3, 
 Hunter Township, where he is recognized 
 as a peaceful and law-abiding citizen, content to 
 perform tlie duties of every-day life, making little 
 stir in the world and striving to exert a good influ- 
 ence over those by whom he is surrounded. A 
 native of old Virginia, he was born Maj' 14, 1803, 
 and when a mere child was taken by his mother, 
 Leanna (Young) Sudduth, to Kentucky, where he 
 was reared to manhood, and where the mother 
 spent her last days. His father, George .Sudduth, 
 had died in Virginia. 
 
 After her removal to Kentucky the mother of 
 our subject was married a second time, to a Mr. 
 Crigler, who died a few years later, leaving his 
 widow witli a family of five children, all by the 
 first marriage. These she kept together until they 
 were able to do for themselves. John Y., our sub- 
 ject, was mostly employed in farming pursuits, and 
 when reaching man's estate was married, in Ken- 
 tucky, to Miss Sarah Crow, a native of that State, 
 and his mother thereafter made her home with 
 them until her decease. The paternal grandfather 
 of our subject was George Sudduth, Sr., also a 
 
 native of Mrgiuia, and who spent his last days in 
 that State. 
 
 In Kentucky there was born to our subject and 
 his wife one cliild, a son, Walter. They continued 
 residents of the Blue Grass State until 1831, then 
 emigrated to Indiana and located in Danville, where 
 Mr. Suddutli engaged in the manufacture of wagons 
 and cnrriages about four years. He then changed 
 the field of his operations to Greencaslle, Ind., fol- 
 lowing tlie same business, but in 1840 came to this 
 county and located on a rented farm. In due time 
 he enterccl from the government apart of the land 
 which he now owns and occupies. He has now 200 
 acres, which he has brought to a good state of cul- 
 tivation and upon which he has made all the im- 
 provements which now embellish it. It was mostly 
 a timber tract with large quantities of undergrowth 
 when he took possession, and it has required no 
 small amount of time and labor to bring it to its 
 present condition. 
 
 After the removal of our subject and liis wife to 
 this countjr the household circle was enlarged by 
 tlu" birth of eleven more children. Besides Walter, 
 alieady spoken of, and now a resident of this town- 
 ship, Benjamin was born in Indiana, and is now in 
 Edgar County; Matilda is the widow of Bartholo- 
 mew Whalen, and since the death of her husband 
 has lived with her father; Letitia and Garrett are 
 deceased; William lives in Edgar County, and 
 Alonzo in Hume, 111.; Sarah A. became the wife 
 of John T. Craig, and is now deceased ; Margaret 
 married Dr. Darby, and is a resident of Hunter 
 Township; John is deceased; Otis lives in this 
 township; Emma is deceased. John, Garrett, and 
 Walter served as Union soldiers during the late 
 Civil War, and the first mentioned met his death 
 on the battlefield at Franklin, Tenn. Walter was 
 in the army over three years, and his health was 
 undermined by hardship and privation. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Sudduth have traveled the journey 
 of life together for the long period of fifty-nine 
 years, and labored with one mutual purpose in 
 building up their home, ever keeping in view the 
 best interests of their children. Without display 
 or ostentation, they live peaceably and comfortably, 
 and have sufficient to maintain them in their old 
 age. Politically Mr. Sudduth is a Democrat, and 
 
948 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 cast his first Presidential vote for Jackson, having 
 steadily maintained his (list princi|)les since that 
 time. He identified himself with tlic Masonic fra- 
 ternity more than twenty years ago, and is an 
 ardent advocate i>f tlie principles of the hrother- 
 hood. 
 
 A fine portrait appears elsewhere in this work of 
 the aged man, the honored pioneer, the venerated 
 citizen, whose life record has been thus briefly out- 
 lined. 
 
 Tjj^lRST NATIONAL BANK of Paris, 111. 
 '^=^^ The organization of a bankina: institution 
 
 in any community, is usually indicative of 
 its growing prosperity and importance; and it is 
 usually effected by its most enterprising and ener- 
 getic men — men, who possessed of forethought 
 and an abundance of mental resource, are willing to 
 risk their capital and give their time to that which 
 does not benefit themselves only, as many suppose, 
 but, which is of equal benefit to their community. 
 No town or city of any importance can transact 
 any degree of business without the aid of a bank 
 of deposit and exchange, and to those men who 
 have been foremost in establishing such an enter- 
 prise, there is due much credit as being public bene- 
 factors. 
 
 The First Nationnl Bank of Paris was organized 
 for business Aug. 12, 1H6.5, with a capital of 
 $80,000, having for its first President, Hon. Rich- 
 ard 1!. Sutherland, and for its cashier Asa J. Baber. 
 It enj03red the confidence of the people from the 
 st^rl. Business accumulated so rapidlj^, that in 
 1870 it was thought advisable to increase the capi- 
 tal to 112.5,000, which was done. In .Tanuary of 
 that year, however, Mr. Sutherland had resigned 
 his position as President, and Mr. Baber was pro- 
 moted to the place vacated by hiin. Mr. Wilham 
 Siebert was then elected cashier, being promoted 
 from the position of book-keeper, which he had 
 hekl since the organization of the bank. 
 
 Among the successful business men of Paris and 
 vicinity who have served as directors of this bank 
 from time to time, are the names of James A. Eads, 
 Alexander Mann, Hon. Richnrd B. Sutherland, 
 
 Judge James Steele, Lewis Shrader, John K. Boyer, 
 Elvis P. Shaw, A. J. Baber, Adin Baber, William 
 Siebert, and Hon. William P. Dole. Asa J. Baber 
 being one of the charter members of- the bank, was 
 made cashier at that time, and served in that capa- 
 city until 1870, and as President until August, 
 1885. A new organization was then effected with 
 the same amount of capital, when Mr. Baber was 
 again elected President, and JMr. William Siebert, 
 cashier, which positions they still hold. James A. 
 Eads was made Vice-President of the bank in 1870, 
 and still retains that position. 
 
 In August, 1885, when the charter of the old 
 bank had expired, quite a number of the original 
 stockholders had died, and some had sold out, thus 
 leaving very few of the charter members of the old 
 bank to take stock in the new. Although the former 
 had operated with marked success, it is excelled 
 l)y the new, which is now one of the most promi- 
 nent and solid institutions of its kind in Eastern 
 Illinois. At the time of its re-organization, stock 
 was secured by about thirty of the prominent busi- 
 ness men and farmers of Paris and vicinity. Among 
 them are Asa J. Baber, James A. Eads, E. P. Shaw, 
 (ieorge Dole, Jacob Sholem, Williain Siebert, D. S. 
 Schenck, Simon Hamburger, James Stewart, Adin 
 Baber, William D. Marley, A. J. Barr, (5eorge W. 
 Hughes, Charles W. Powell, L. A. Augustus, Will- 
 iam II. Moss, Harrison Moss, Newton Stewart, Will- 
 iam J. Hunter, Philip Bibo, R. G. Sutherland, Jesse 
 Swango, D. D. Huston, I. (I Huston, Eunice C. 
 Steele, A. B. Huston, Joshua Davis, and Edward 
 Perkins. 
 
 The following is a list of the directors of the 
 new bank elected Aug. 13, 1885, and still holding 
 their offices : A. J. Baber, James A. Eads, E. P. 
 Shaw, Adin Baber, William D. Marley, Charles W. 
 Powell, and AVilliam H. Moss. The new bank has 
 continued to grow in popularity, and with the in- 
 crease of business has been able to add quite a 
 respectable amount to its surplus fund, and its de- 
 posits have gradually increased until they now 
 amount to over |500,000. Its present employes 
 are Walter S. Burt, assistant teller and general 
 book-keeper; and the individual book-keepers arc 
 Albert Geohegan and Abraham Risser. Amos Ba- 
 ber attends to the collection department, and ofTi- 
 
PORTRAIT AND BTOrxRAPITICAL ALBUM. 
 
 949 
 
 ciates as general clerk, assisted by Master Fred, son 
 of A. J. Eaber. The bank owns the large brick 
 building on the east side of the public square, wliere 
 it does businiess, and in which it has one of the 
 largest and most solidly constructed vaults in tlie 
 Wabash A^alley. 
 
 ^U(iENE B. CRANDALL. This gentleman 
 deserves honorable mention among the 
 ^ promising young farmers of vSliiloh Town- 
 ship as one who, by liis integrity and correct hab- 
 its, has secured the respect of his neighbors, and 
 by his industry and skill as a farmer, bids fair to 
 accumulate a good share of this world's belongings. 
 He is successfully operating eighty acres of land on 
 section 6, Shilob Township, where he has made 
 good improvements, having a very neat residence, 
 and a good barn with neat and substantial fences, 
 ^nd the other appliances of the well-regulated mod- 
 ern estate. Being in the drainage district, it is 
 well tiled, and the land exceedingly fertile. With 
 its improvements his land has cost him over $70 
 per acre. It is all under the plow and very fertile. 
 Stock-raising comprises his chief employment, and 
 the grain which he raises is mostly used for feed. 
 The homestead is located nine and one-half miles 
 from Paris. Mr. Crandall rents other land, and in 
 all operates 140 acres, using three teams. In the 
 fall he adds to his cash account by operating a 
 steam thresher. 
 
 Our subject has been quite prominent in local 
 affairs, and is serving his second term as Commis- 
 sioner of Highways. He has been Constable one 
 year, is serving as School Director, and in politics 
 votes the straight Democratic ticket. Socially, he 
 belongs to the A. O. U. W., and attends the JMcth- 
 odist Episcopal Church, of which his estimable wife 
 is a member. 
 
 Mr. Crandall was born in Sims Township, Edgar 
 County, Aug. 29, 1849, where he lived until twelve 
 years old. His father then removed tc Crand 
 View Township, where the boy had ample oppor- 
 tunitj' to develop his muscles on the farm, while 
 his education was conducted in the winter school. 
 
 He assisted in grubbing stumps and rolling logs, 
 and in the other labors incident to opening up a 
 new farm. When sufficiently advanced in his 
 studies, he entered the academy at Paris, and there 
 completed his education. lie remained at home 
 until twenty-one years old, and then started out in 
 life on his own account, farming on rented land. 
 
 The life of our subject thus passed in a compara- 
 tively uneventful manner until his marriage, which 
 occurred Aug. 20,1871. The maiden of his choice 
 was Miss Lj'dia Becker, daughter of Varney Becker, 
 a native of New York State, and a shoemaker by 
 trade. Mr. Becker was an early settler of Paris 
 when its present site vsas occupied by a very few 
 houses. He opened up a shop, and followed his 
 trade for a number of years, then invested a por- 
 tion of his capital in a stock of groceries. He finally 
 branclied out as a merchant, and became one of the 
 leading business men of the city. He accumulated 
 a good propert}', and retired from active business 
 about four years prior to his death. He was a 
 sound Democrat, politically, and a prominent mem- 
 ber of the Baptist Church. 
 
 Mrs. Catherine (Hurst) Becker, the mother of 
 our subject, was born in Virginia, and was the 
 daughter of Nathaniel Hurst, a blacksmith by trade 
 and who served in the War of 1812. He came to 
 Illinois at an early period in its history, and lo- 
 cated in Grand \'iew, Edgar County, where he fol- 
 lowed his trade until his decease. The mother is 
 still living, and makes her home in Paris. The pa- 
 rental family consisted of three children — Robert, 
 John, and Lvdia. Robert died when about nine 
 diiys old, and John died at the age of twent3'-eight 
 years. Lydia, Mrs. Crandall, was born in Paris, 
 and there reared to womanhood, remaining with 
 her mother until her marriage. 
 
 John Crandall, the father of our subject, was a 
 native of the Empire State, where he was reared to 
 manhood, and thence emigrated to Illinois, locating 
 first in Whiteside County. He lived there a num- 
 ber of years, and was engaged in selling clocks. 
 Later he became interested in the patent right busi- 
 ness, and began traveling quite extensively. lie 
 finally concluded that Edgar County was the 
 garden spot of Illinois, and accordingly established 
 himself in Sims Township, where he wns one of the 
 
950 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 early settlers. Not long atlerwurrt he located on a 
 farm, operating as a renter until IHd]. Thence he 
 removed to Grand View Township, and purchased 
 forty acres of forest wliich he cleared and improved 
 and whereon lie eslalilished a home wiiich he occu- 
 pied until his death, in February, 1882. His genial 
 and obliging disposition always made fiiends for 
 him wherever he went. He had l)een icured a 
 Quaker, and steadfaslly adiiered to the principles 
 of his early training as long as he lived. 
 
 The mother of our subject, was in her girlhood 
 Louisa Cassaday. She was born in Kentucky, and 
 was the daughter of Daniel Cassaday, a native of 
 Virginia. Mr. Cassaday, upon leaving his native 
 State, removed into Kentucky, wliere he was one of 
 the earliest settlers, and engaged in farming. Later 
 he pushed on westward, and coming to Kdgar 
 Connty, III., secured land in Rims Township, and 
 in a few years, by adding to his real estate, became 
 one of the most extensive land owners in this re- 
 gion. He was likewise successful as a farmer, and 
 as a business man. possessed more than ordinary 
 ability. He departed this life in Sims Township, 
 about lsi.50. The mother is still living upon the 
 old homestead, and is a member in good standing 
 of the Methodist Episcopal Church. The parental 
 family included three children onl}' — Eugene B , 
 our subject; Frank, a resident of Grand \'iew Town- 
 ship; and DeWitt, who died when about eight years 
 old. 
 
 To our subject and his estimable wife there have 
 been born six children, viz: Fred, Bessie, Gertrude, 
 Ethel, Clara L., and Nellie. 
 
 ^| C^ --^— 
 
 V^^DWARD P. KNIGHT. A well-tilled farm 
 jIU] of fifty-eight acres on section 24, Shiloh 
 /*' — ^ Township, comprises the homestead of this 
 gentleman, who is a Pennsylvanian by birth, his 
 childhood home being in the vicinity of Phil.a- 
 delphia, where he first opened his eyes to the light 
 Dec. 25, 1835. He was given very good school 
 advantages, and when a youth of sixteen years 
 commenceil an ap|)rcntici'ship at the miller's trade. 
 
 which he followed almost continuously until 1865, 
 having during the last few yearg a mill of his awn. 
 
 Finally', leaving his native State, our subject 
 removed to Parkersburg, Va., wliere lie prosecuted 
 milling two years. At the expiration of this time, 
 he turned his steps toward the Farther West, and, 
 crossing the Mississippi with his family and his 
 houseliold effects, established himself on a farm in 
 Crawford County, Mo. Not being quite satisfied, 
 however, with that enterprise, he, in 1872, made 
 his way to Edgar County, 111., and located on the 
 partially improved farm where he now resides. 
 Without making any pretentions to elegance or 
 display, he lives comfortably and at (leace with his 
 neighbors, and manages to extract considerable 
 pleasure therefrom. 
 
 "Mr. Knight, while a resident of the Old Do- 
 minion, was mai-ried. Aug. 1, 18G!». to Miss Eliza, 
 daughter of Daniel AVilkinson, who was a native 
 of Annapolis, ^Id. Mr. Wilkinson was reared to 
 manliood in his native place, and contracted a taste 
 for mercantile pursuits, which he followed in 
 ^^'heeling and Parkersbui-g, \'a.,a number of j'ears. 
 Finally, however, desirous of a change, he aban- 
 doned merchandising and invested his capital in 
 land, which he leased to other parties for cultiv.a- 
 lion. In the meantime he officiated as County 
 Clerk of Wirt County, W. Va., for a period of 
 seventeen years. He had received a good educa- 
 tion in his native citj', and was thus well qualihed 
 for the duties to which he was afterward called. 
 
 Mr. Wilkinson, however, in 1865 resigned his 
 clerkship, sold his land during the oil excitement 
 and, coming to Illinois, purchased 686 acres of land 
 in Edgar Count}'. After fai'ming one year in the 
 Prairie State, he rented his land and went over into 
 Crawford County, Mo., where he purchased land, 
 and, with th.at which he operated,controlled 300 acres 
 until 1871. Then, disposing of his possessions in 
 that State, he returned to Illinois, located on his 
 farm in Edgar County, effected considerable im- 
 [jrovement, and here spent his last days, dying 
 May 1, 1874. He was a man of decided views and 
 great force of character, and a stanch adherent of 
 the Democratic party. 
 
 Mrs. Eliza (Wilkinson) Knight was born in 
 Parkersburg, Wood Co., W. V.a., March 18, 1844. 
 
PORTRAIT AND BlOORAl'lIJCAL ALBUM. 
 
 961 
 
 Her mother died wlicn she was not quite two weeks 
 old, and she was adopted by a cousin, with whom 
 she lived until her marriage. Her union with our 
 subject h'ls resulted in the birth of seven cliildren, 
 viz: Bernard and Daniel ^twins), Elizabetli, Julian, 
 Carolina, James and Edward. Mr. Knight, politi- 
 cally, is a sound Democrat, but has never liad a 
 desire for tlie spoils of office, lie was upon one 
 occasion elected Justice of the Peace, but declined 
 to serve. 
 
 Paul Knight, the father of our subject, was a 
 native of Pennsylvania and the son of Daniel 
 Kniuht, likewise a native of the Iveystone State. 
 The latter followed farming and died tlnTc. The 
 family is of Englisli descent, and (^)uakers in re- 
 liaious belief. Paul Knight, after reaching man's 
 estate, became tlie owner of a farm, together with 
 a saw and gristmill, and, in connection with his 
 lumber business, was occupied with these his entire 
 life. He owns considerable real estate, having 
 land on the Black River, in Blichigan, and else- 
 where. Politically, iie affiliated with the Demo- 
 cratic party, and in religion, like his forefathers, 
 was a (Quaker. 
 
 The maiden name of the mother of our .subject 
 was Elizabeth Perry. She was born in Pennsyl- 
 vania, and was the daughter of Edward Perry, a 
 Pennsylvania (Quaker of English descent and a 
 farmer by occupation. Mrs. Knight came West, 
 and died in Young America Township, Edgar Co., 
 ill., in 1885, at the age of seventy-four years; she 
 was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. 
 There were born to herself and husband two chil- 
 dren, of whom our subject was che younger. The 
 elder son, Allen, died when five years old. 
 
 ^mfm^ 
 
 el-lARLES L. HOLLEY, ex-Sheriff of Edgar 
 County, and one of the most [jiominent men 
 within its i)rccincts, is the owner of a good 
 property, and has a pleasant liome in the vicinity 
 of Ferrell Station, Elbridge Township. He was 
 born in Vigo County, Ind., July 26, 1840, and is 
 the son of John and Sarah (Kirby) HoUey, the 
 former a native of Ohio, and the latter of Ken- 
 
 tucky. Tliey were married in \'igo County, Ind., 
 and settled in that State in 183G. They became 
 th(! parents of three children, of whom Charles L., 
 was the second born. The other two are deceased. 
 
 John IloUey was a blacksmith by trade, and was 
 foully murdered while in his shop at night, by a 
 man named Eli Sparks, in 1842, near Swango Sta- 
 tion, in Edgar County. The assassin was afterward 
 sent to the penitentiary. The mother did not long- 
 survive her husband, dying in Elbridge Township, 
 this county. Roth were members of the Methodist 
 Episcopal Church. (Jur subject was thus left an 
 orplian nt a very early age, but he possessed great 
 energy of character, and learned the blacksmith 
 trade, which lie followed for many years. In 18(J5 
 he was married to Aliss Emily, daughter of Isaac 
 Elk'dge. one of the pioneei's of Sini-i Township, this 
 county, and a minister of the Christian Church. 
 Mrs. Ilolley was born in Sims Township in 181C, 
 and of her union with (lur subject, there were born 
 four children of whom only one is living, a soi'., 
 William v., who is book-keeper for a wholesale 
 firm in Austin, Tex. The deceased children are; 
 Frank, Martha, and Isaac. The mother of these 
 died in 1873, and their remains are peacefully re- 
 posing in EUedge cemetery. Mrs. Ilolley was a 
 devout member of the Christian Church. Our sub- 
 ject in 1871 contracted a second marriage with Miss 
 Cornelia, daughter of Hailey Shirar, of Ohio, and 
 contiiuied blacksmithing until 1870. That year he 
 was elected Sheriff of P^dgar County, aiul re-elected 
 at the expiration of his first term. When with- 
 drawing from tlie olHce, he turned his attention to 
 agriculture, and |)urcliased his present farm of 300 
 acres, which he has improved with good buildings 
 and fences, and brought to a flue state of cultiva- 
 tion. 
 
 Mr. Ilolley politically, uniformly votes the Dem- 
 ocratic ticket, and has held the various township 
 offices including that of Supervisor and Collector 
 for two terms each. To whatever position he has 
 been called, he has given it his conscientious atten- 
 tion, and proven a faithful and efficient officer. 
 There are few enterprises in his township tending 
 to better the conditio;! of the people, to which he 
 has not given a cheerful and cordial assent and 
 assistance. Sociallv, he is identified with the Ma- 
 
952 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 sonic fraternity, belojigiug to Edgar Lodge No. 91, 
 at Paris, and has been sent as a delegate to the 
 State Conventions. His religious views coincide 
 with those of the Baptist CImreh. 
 
 "ifjAMES SHANE, a brother of Abraham 
 Shane, who is represented elsewhere in this 
 volume, is one of the most highl}' esteemed 
 citizens of Bruellet Township, and is the 
 the owner of a well-developed farm on section 19, 
 where he has labored to excellent advantage since 
 1849. His mind, like tjjat of his father and brother 
 lias been piously inclined from his boyhood and he 
 takes more satisfaction, perhaps, in his religious 
 record than in that of an}' other ar^hievement in 
 life. He was born in Ro.'s Countj', Ohio, six and 
 one-half miles southeast of Chillicothe, April 28, 
 1817, and lived there until a youth of seventeen 
 years of age. Then he came with his parents to 
 Vermillion County, ind., living there with tiiem 
 until 1849, in which year he removed to ICdgar 
 Countv, this State. The parents established a good 
 home there where they sojourned a few years, then 
 took up their abode with their son Aliraham, where 
 the father died at the age of eighty-nine years 
 the mother having died in this county Sept. 14, 
 1868, aged eighty-one years. 
 
 Upon coming West the parents of our subject 
 were poorlj' equipped as to this world's goods, hav- 
 ing only a few household articles, four horses and 
 a wagon. The father in due time secured forty 
 acres of land in Indiana upon which was a log 
 cabin into which they removed. Later they built 
 a larger dwelling of the same description and added 
 to their landed estate. The father became owner of 
 a large amount of land and finally turned over his 
 property into the hands of his son Abraham, who 
 was to take care of his parents until their decease. 
 The household circle originally included nine child- 
 ren of whom but four are living. Susan became 
 the wife of Ephraim Dressback and is a resident of 
 Douglas County; Mary is tlie widow of Andrew 
 Conner; Abraham has been already mentioned. 
 
 The subject of this sketch was married In Ver- 
 
 million County, Ind., to Miss Rachel Clearwater 
 and they have one son Jacob, who lives near Coon 
 Rapids, Iowa, and has become quite wealthy. Mrs. 
 Rachel Shane depai-ted this life many j'ears ago and 
 our subject later was married to Miss Mary Jack- 
 son, a native of Kentucky with whom he has lived 
 for more than forty years. His snug little farm of 
 sixty -six acres is well improved and is under a high 
 state of cultivation. Eor many years Mr. Shane 
 speculated in real estate and was quite successful. 
 Both he and his wife are members in good standing 
 of the Methodist Protestant Church in which Mr. 
 Shane has served as Class-Leader and Steward and 
 aided as he has been al)le to put up not only this 
 but other church edifices. His house has always 
 been a home for tlie preachers. 
 
 Mrs. Shane has been for some time in delicate 
 health and with her husband is at present 
 boarding with a family occupying their house. 
 Our subject keeps no stock except one driving 
 horse and is taking life quite easily, enjoying the 
 fruits of his earlier labors. Daniel Shane, the father 
 of our subject, served as a soldier in the War of 
 1812, leaving his wife six months after their wed- 
 ding to join the army and rlrive the British once 
 more from American soil. Later he drew a pen- 
 sion from the government many years. Both he 
 and his wife were almost life-long members of the 
 Methodist Episcopal Church, living and working 
 together in the same Christian faith for more than 
 half a century. In that faith their children 
 were reared and with the parents became members 
 also of that church. This united family exercised a 
 wide influence for good in their community and 
 aided largely in building up the church in this re- 
 gion. 
 
 - OOP - 
 
 y-^ "^ILLIAM I. S. PINNELL. This sturdy old 
 veteran, a pioneer of 1830, came to Edgar 
 Count}' with his parents, Abraham and 
 Frances M. (Pastes) Piunell locating in Kansas 
 Township, while Indians still roamed over the coun- 
 try, and desperadoes sought protection in this re- 
 gion from the consequences of the misdemeanors 
 which they had committed elsewhere. The only 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALISUM. 
 
 953 
 
 public road in this part of the county ran through 
 the farm upon which Mr. Pinnell now lives, and 
 vvhicli he built up from the wilderness. A stage- 
 line ran to St. Louis, which formed one of the near- 
 est markets, the others being Chicago, Terre Haute, 
 and Louisville, Ky. The settlers had their milling 
 done at Terre Haute, and there transported most of 
 their pork. Corn in tiiose days sold at six and one- 
 fourth cents per bushel, and that whicii was re- 
 quired for seed by tiie settlers, cost them $1 per 
 bushel. 
 
 Tlie subject of this sketch was born Nov. 14, 
 1828, in Olden County, Ky., and acquired his early 
 education in a log cabin with puncheon seat and 
 floor, and a slab laid across on pins driven in tiie 
 wall under a window for a desk. An aperture was 
 sawed out of the logs, and over it greased paper 
 was pasted in lieu of window-panes. The teacher 
 was only expected to be able to read, write and 
 "cipher," and the school was conducted in the win- 
 ter season, mostly on the subscription plan. Young 
 Pinnell was at an early age required to make him- 
 self useful around the homestead, and was taught 
 those habits of industry and frugalitj' to whicli he 
 owed largely his success later in life. Upon reach- 
 ing man's estate, he took unto himself a wife and 
 helpmate, Miss Martha J., sister of Harrison Poul- 
 
 ter, a sketch of whom will be found elsewhere in 
 
 > 
 
 this work. The three sons living of this union, are 
 Jacob E., Willis O., and Harrison F., all residents 
 of Kansas Township. 
 
 John H., when a little lad of three years, fell into 
 an open stock well, and was drowned. A daughter, 
 Erao, died at the age of eleven years ; Leroy was 
 taken from the housejiold circle when an interest- 
 ing youth aged fourteen years, one month and one 
 day. Mrs. Pinnell and her sons, Willis and Harri- 
 son, are member of the Christian Church. Our 
 subject, politically, votes the straight Republican 
 ticket, but has never sought ofHce, preferring to 
 give his attention to liis farming interests. 
 
 The father of our subject was a native of ^'ir- 
 ginia, whence he emigrated with his parents to Ken- 
 tucky when a lad of ten years. He was the son of 
 William and Anna (Murphy) Pinnell, who came to 
 Ed^ar County, III., in 1830, and spent their last 
 days in Grand View Township. Grandfather Pin- 
 
 nell died at the age of ninety-four years, and six 
 months. He served as a soldier in the Revolution- 
 ary War, and was also in the War of 1812. He 
 was fond of music, and when (juite aged, whistled 
 the tunes played by ihe regimental band in the 
 army. Abraliam and Frances Pinnell were mem- 
 bers in good standing of tlie Christian Church. 
 
 Our subject performed a large amount of labor 
 in tlie cultivation and improvement of his farm, 
 240 acres in extent, and where he erected a sub- 
 stantial and commodious dwelling, with a good 
 barn, and tlie other buildings necessary for the 
 shelter of stock, and the storage of grain. He 
 sometime since retired from the active labors of 
 life, dividing up his land among his children, giv- 
 ing the home farm loan unmarried son, with whom 
 he lives, surrounded by all needful comforts. His 
 son, Harrison F., owns forty acresQof the farm 
 opened up by ihe father of our subject, and 240 
 acres besides. During the early dnys wild animals 
 were plentiful in this region, and among the recrea- 
 tions of the young men were the wolf hunts which 
 were joined in by individuals for miles around, and 
 at which great hilarity frequently prevailed, as they 
 rushed over the ground and through the brush af- 
 ter the troublesome and mischievous animals, who 
 carried off their small stock, and made night hide- 
 ous with their howling. 
 
 
 ■ m > ww 
 
 SAUL BUTT.S, Llie efficient Postmaster of 
 Dudley, where he is also engaged in mer- 
 chandising, is one of the most energetic 
 and wide-awake citizens of the place, who 
 began life without other resources than his own 
 industry and perseverance, and who has now be- 
 come prominent, especially in church and Sunday- 
 school work. He votes the straight Republican 
 ticket and is an uncompromising advocate of tem- 
 perance. 
 
 The father of our subject was Benjamin D. Butts, 
 a native of New York State, and who married Miss 
 Mary B. Schultz, who was born in West Virginia. 
 Both the grandfather, John Schultz, and his wife are 
 Still living in Dudley, aged eighty-fourand eighty- 
 
t 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BJ(J(;RAPII1CAL ALBUM. 
 
 one yearS; I'Rspectively. They arc in the enjoy- 
 ment of t>oo(l health for persons so aged. The graud- 
 "paronts on the father's side arc also living, having 
 their home in Lake County, Ind. Grandfather Albert 
 G.Butts, was born in New York State in 1810 and 
 his wife, Elniira, a native of Vermont, was born in 
 1807. They were the parents of one child only — 
 Benjamin D. 
 
 Benjamin D. Butts was the second iuisband of 
 our subject's mother, and tbeir union resulted in 
 the birtli of six children, all of whom are living, 
 and of whom Saul, the third of the famil3', was 
 born Jan. 14, 1861, in Lake County, Ind. When 
 a boy of twelve he, in company with bis brother 
 Alphonzo, started out on foot to seek their fort- 
 unes and walked most of the way to this county. 
 They were bright boys, ambitious to advance their 
 education and attended school the first winter, pay- 
 ing their way by doing janitor work in the school- 
 house and church, and sawing wood. This admirable 
 move on tbeir part naturally made for them many 
 friends. In the spring Saul went to work on a 
 farm, and for five summei-s thereafter was in the 
 employ of Horace B. (.iriswold, a fact which speaks 
 well both for master and man. 
 
 In December, 1878, our sul)ject repaired to liis 
 native county on a visit, and later at Grant I'ark, 
 III., the two boys went to work in a gristmill 
 owned by their fatlier. Saul subsequently spent 
 about a year in Kankakee County, as the employe 
 of Mr. Sol Kendrick. Afterward, when ap|)roacii- 
 ing manhood he operated a rented farm one sum- 
 mer in Lake County, Ind., but flnall}' returned to 
 Dudley and worked another year for his old friend, 
 Mr. Griswold. At the expiration of this time he 
 and his brother opened a general store at Warren- 
 ton, which they conducted for eighteen months, 
 then Saul purchased his brother's interest and car- 
 ried on the business ten months longer. Later, 
 selling out, he visited one summer in Newton 
 County, Ind., and in December, 1885, opened a 
 store in Dudley, where he has resided since that 
 time. 
 
 Mr. Butts identified himself with tlie Presbyter- 
 ian Church in 1874, and in 1889 was chosen Dea- 
 con. He is assistant Superintendent of the Sunday 
 school, lie likewise holds tlie position of Treasurer 
 
 and is especially active in tlie religious iustruction 
 of the young. Socially, he belongs to the Improved 
 Order of Red Men at Kansas, and has held some of 
 the offices in the lodge. He received his appoint- 
 ment as Postmaster in April, 1889. and is awarded 
 much credit for the manner in which he is discliarg- 
 ing his duties. 
 
 '«'w~'<£i2j2r©'ig-«-| 
 
 ■^^ayiTZrai^^-w— 
 
 ^^EORGE B. TUCKER. It is gratifying to 
 III (—, note a young man starting out in life equip- 
 ^^/^ ped with energ}', enter|)iise and the other 
 (jualities which go to make up a worthy citizen. 
 In connection with this Mr. Tucker deserves special 
 mention. He is comfortably located on section 33, 
 Edgar Township, where he operates forty acres of 
 land, and is considerably engaged in stock buying. 
 lie has very good improvements on his place, and 
 as a member of the communit}' is a general favorite. 
 Our subject was born near Carlisle, in Nicholas 
 County, Kj^, Oct. 4, 1856, and grew up deprived 
 of many of the advantages extended the youth of 
 to-day. He met with a great misfortune in the 
 l(.)ss of his mother when a child of two years, and 
 was then taken into the home of a paternal uncle, 
 .lames C. Tucker, a farmer, with whom he remained 
 four years. He then returned to his father and 
 remained with him until a j'outb of sixteen. In 
 the meantime, in ll-i71, they emigrated overland to 
 Illinois, Ijcing on the journey about eighteen days, 
 (ieorge B. engaged in farming in Edgar County, 
 and acquired a little more learning in the district 
 school, which he attended winters until reaching 
 his majority. After that he was employed as a 
 farm laborer ))y the month until 1889, when he 
 purchased his present place. This was partially 
 improved, and he has since added much to its 
 value by repairing tlie old buildings and erecting 
 new ones. The land is watered by a never-failing 
 spring, and the whole is under a good state of cul- 
 tivation. It is located nine miles from Paris, and 
 well adapted to stock-raising. Mr. Tucker lias a 
 taste for fine horses, and his stables contain, among 
 other fine animals, "Billy Wilson," a Hambletonian 
 of 1,300 pounds, and eligible for registry. In all 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOORAPIIJCAL ALBUM. 
 
 U:>7 
 
 he has eleven heail, and engages largely in buying 
 and selling. He ships a goodly number of swine 
 each year, and from his stoek operations realizes a 
 snug income. 
 
 The marriage of our subject with Miss Emma J. 
 Collins took place at the bride's home in Edgar 
 Township March 29, 1879. They are now the 
 parents of two children — Etiiel Zoe and Freddie 
 C'larence. Mr. Tucker has served as School Di- 
 rector and Constable, occupying the last mentioned 
 office for the past four years. His choice, relig- 
 iously, is the United Brethren Church, of which 
 his estimable wife is also a member, attending ser- 
 vices at Prairie Chapel. Mr. Tucker has officiated 
 as Superintendent of the Sundaj'-school, and gives 
 as he is able to the prosperity of the church. Po- 
 litically, he is a strong Republican, and is frequently 
 sent as a delegate to the count\' conventions. 
 
 The mother of our subject died in Kentucky in 
 1IS58. She was a woman of many excellent quali- 
 ties, and a member in good standing of the Baptist 
 Church. The parental hcjusehold com()rised the 
 following children, viz.: John, a resident of ^Mis- 
 souri; Ellen, Mrs. Barth, of Edgar County; Nancy, 
 Mrs. Ellis, of Danville; George, our subject and 
 Henry, of Shelby County, Ind. 
 
 .^ ^-^ — 
 
 S7 ANGE BROS. The farming and stock rais- 
 I (S, ing interests of Shiloli Township are admir- 
 JL^ ably represented by this enterprising firm, 
 . who own and operate together 800 acres of land 
 all adjoining on sections 21, 22 and 15. In point 
 of reputation and business integrity they are un- 
 excelled by any men in Central Illinois. Of Ger- 
 man ancestry they possess in a marked degree the 
 substantial and reliable traits peculiar to the sons 
 of the Fatherland and are distinguished by great 
 industry and perseverance, which have assisted them 
 in overcoming many obstacles, so they are now on 
 the high road to prosperity, and are classed among 
 the wealthiest farmers of this part of the county. 
 The brothers, Frederick W. and Charles G., are the 
 only children of their parents, and were born in 
 Graefenhayuiciien, Prussia, the former April .20, 
 
 1834, and the latter Aug. 2(1, 1836. Tliey had 
 very good school advantages, living in a land 
 practicing compulsory education. Tliey were 
 placed in school at the age of five years and con- 
 tinuing their studies until fourteen. Fre<lerick 
 ^V. then learned the trade of a butcher, which he 
 followed until a young man of twenty years. lie 
 then determined to seek liis fi>rlune on the other 
 side of the Atlantic, of wliich he ha<l heard great 
 things. Accordingly bidding adieu to his [)arents 
 and friends he set out alone, Feb. 12, 1854, and 
 boarded tlie] sailing vessel "Joan" at Bremen, 
 wiiich after a voj'age of forty-two days landed iiim 
 safely in New York City. He was thus a stranger in 
 a strange land, without friends, and with two cents 
 in Ills pocket representing liis cash capital. It is 
 hardly necessary to say he made it his first business 
 to seek employment. His honest face soon gained 
 for him what he wished and he engaged- with a 
 farmer in New Jersey at the munificent salary of 
 |7 per month. 
 
 liciuaining East until the following September, 
 our subject set out by rail for Terre Haute, Ind., 
 and thence walked to Paris, Edgar Count}-, a feat 
 with which he was greatly delighted. He liegan 
 working on the railroad and was thus emploj'cd 
 six months; afterward he secured a job with a 
 butcher in Paris, remaining there until 185G. In 
 the meantime he had been joined by his father, 
 mother and only brother, and purchased eighty 
 acres of land, comprising a part of his [)resent 
 liomestead. It was then an open prairie abound- 
 ing in wild animals. The)' put up a frame cabin 
 and the father and son operated together until the 
 death of the former. Our subject then formed a 
 partnership with his brother, Charles (!., which 
 has existed to the present time. 
 
 The Lange homestead was , first (.)pcrated upon 
 with oxen and by the aid of tlie most primitive 
 implements. By degrees the fields were enclosed 
 with substantial fences while the first humble 
 dwelling gave way to a fine brick residence of 
 modern architecture. The brothers planted forest 
 and fruit trees and carried on the cultivation of 
 the soil profitably and sucessfnllj'. There are now 
 lovely groves on the place, principally walnut, also 
 fruit of all kinds. They have added to their pos 
 
958 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 sessions bj- degrees and now h;ive 800 acres, and 
 are numl)ered among the leading land owners of 
 the connty. The large brick residence with it 
 suroundings has about it the air of comfort and 
 plenty only obtained by the hand of thrift and 
 industry. Seven acres are devoted to apple trees 
 and five acres to walnut trees. The most of these 
 were set out by the Lange Bros. The hcmiestead 
 lies four and one-half miles from Hume and 
 800 acres are in one body. Stock-raising <'om- 
 prises an important part of their operations. They 
 usually feed about 175 head of full-blooded Short- 
 horn cattle annually and keep twelve head of draft 
 horses, using three teams in the operation of the 
 farm. 
 
 Frederick Lange votes the straight Democratic 
 ticket and for the past six 3'ears lias been one of 
 the Trustees of his School District. He was the 
 first Road Commissioner of the township and as- 
 sisted in its organization. As one of its earliest 
 settlers be has been a witness of the remarkable 
 changes occurring in Central Illinois, and may 
 justly feel that he has done his part toward bring- 
 ing it to its present proud position. 
 
 Charles G. Lange had the same school privileges 
 in the Fatherland as his brother, and in the spring 
 of 1855 accompanied his parents to America; com- 
 ing toShiloh Township the year following he asso- 
 ciated himself in partnership with his brother and 
 beo'an the farming operations which have made 
 them practically independent. Unlike his brother 
 who remains a bachelor, he was married in Shiloh 
 Township, Dec. 25, 1876, to Miss Mary Miller, a 
 jiative of his own country and born in the city 
 Lnckenwalde, Province of Brandenburg. They are 
 the i)arents of four interesting children — Daniel, 
 Franz, Carl and Albert. Charles G. is also a Dem- 
 ocrat in political views. 
 
 The father of tlie Lange Bros, was Frederick W. 
 Lange, Sr. likewise a native of Prussia and born in 
 1805. He owned a small farm in the old country, 
 and lived there until 1855. Then having received 
 favorable accounts of life in America from his son, 
 Frederick W.. he was persuaded to dispose of his 
 possessions and seek that promised land. He made 
 his way directly to Edgar County, and purchased 
 eighty acres in Shiloh Township, which he operated 
 
 with the assistance of his sons until his death, in 
 1858. A man simple in his habits, industrious and 
 lionest, he made very little stir in the world but 
 was respected by those who knew him. He was a 
 Lutheran in religion. The mother, Mrs. Rosina 
 (Miller) Lange was a native of the same province 
 as her husband and sons and accompanied them to 
 America. She survived her husband until 1873, 
 and died at the homestead in Shiloh Township. 
 
 We invite the attention of our numerous readers 
 to a fine lithographic view of the handsome resi- 
 dence and farm of the Lange Bros, on another 
 page. 
 
 — -^s^m- — - 
 
 (^^IIOMAS POULTER, a life-long resident of 
 f/^^^^ Kansas 'I'ownship, was born on the farm 
 ^^Jf' where he now lives, March 1, 1841. His 
 father, William R. Poulter, was a native of Ken- 
 tuck3-, and came to Illinois at a very early day, 
 locating on a tract of land in the wilderness. 
 U[)on this he built a log cabin and constructed a 
 comfortable home, but which, however, he was 
 destined not long to occupy. His hopes and plans 
 were broken in upon by the death of his wife, 
 Eliza A. (Doing) Poulter, which occurred March 
 10, 1817, when aged only twenty-seven j'ears, two 
 months, and twenty-eight days. 
 
 After the death of his wife the father of our 
 subject was compelled to sell his little farm of 
 forty acres in order to pay the doctor's bill con- 
 tracted during her long illness, and he was thus left 
 without resources. He then removed southeast 
 about six miles and rented land, upon which he 
 operated until enabled to save some money. Then 
 returning to the old neighborhood he purchased 
 twenty acres, to which he later added until he 
 became the owner of 195 acres. He rested from 
 his earthly labors Aug. 30, 1877, at the age of 
 fifty-eight years, six months, and twelve days. 
 His remains were laid by the side of those of his 
 wife, in a quiet spot on the old farm, where also 
 repose the remains of John Poulter, the paternal 
 grandfather of our subject. 
 
 After the death of his first wife the father of our 
 subject was married to Mrs. Rachel H. (Gibbons) 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 959 
 
 Musgrave, who is still living at the old farm in 
 Kansas Township, and a sketch of whom appears 
 elsewhere in this' volume. Thomas, our subject, 
 has spent his entire life in this township, and here, 
 upon reaching manhood, was married, March 6, 
 1867, to Miss Mary F., daughter of Abraham Pin- 
 nell, a well-known pioneer, and of wliom further 
 mention is made in the sketch of W. T. S. Pinnell, 
 on another page in this volume. Of this union 
 there were born eight children, viz: Henry G., 
 deceased; Alvin T., Myrtle L., Forest R., Marshall 
 A., Ada P., Amelia A., and Mary A. 
 
 After the outbreak of the Civil War Mr. Poulter, 
 in August, 1861, entered the ranks of the Union 
 army as a member of Company H, olith Illinois 
 Infantry, and served as a private until .September, 
 1864. He participated in some of the principal 
 battles of the war, including I'ea Ridge, Corinth, 
 Perryvillc, Stone River, Lookout Mountain, Buz- 
 zard's Roost, Rock Face, Mui'freesboro, the siege 
 of Atlanta, and other battles. Our subject, although 
 experiencing many hairbreadth escapes, came out 
 of the army without a wound, llpon one occasion 
 his knapsack was shot from his back, and completel}' 
 destroyed, by a cannon ball. Upon another occasion 
 a hole was shot tiirough his hat, and several bullet- 
 holes were made in his overcoat. He saved most 
 of the money which he received in the employ of 
 Uncle Sam, sending home $216 to his father, as 
 the difference between a forty-acre tract of land 
 which his father had given him, and a more desira- 
 ble tract of the same extent upon which his house 
 now stands. Later he purchased another forty 
 acres of his father, paying therefor 11,200. He is 
 now the owner of 250 acres, the greater part of 
 which is in a high state of cultivation. 
 
 Mr. Poulter cast his first Presidential vote for 
 Lincoln, and is a stanch supporter of the Repub- 
 lican party. He belongs to Kansas Post, No. 406, 
 G. A. R., and has served as Road Commissioner of 
 the township six terms. He and his estimable wife 
 find their religious home in the Christian Church 
 at Hitesville. A man unobtrusive in his life, he 
 has been content to make very little stir in the 
 world, while at the same time he has by his exam- 
 ple encouraged the maintenance of law and order 
 and given his support to those enterprises calcu- 
 
 lated to elevate society and benefit the county. 
 Mr. Poulter has a briglit and intelligent family, 
 who are much attached to their pleasant home and 
 commodious residence, a lithographic engraving of 
 which appears elsewhere in this volume. 
 
 ^ #-# ^ 
 
 EV. JOSEPH 8KEETERS, a minister of 
 the ISaptist Church, is a resident of Edgar 
 Township, where he owns a snug home 
 P with five acres of land and is numbered 
 among the most prominent citizens. He is the 
 offspring of a good family, being the son of James 
 Skeeters, a native of Hamilton County, Ohio, to 
 which the paternal grandfather removed from 
 North Carolina, his native State, at a very early 
 d:iy and when Hamilton County was a wilderness. 
 He assisted in its survey and purchased 120 acres 
 of land upon which was built up the city of Cin- 
 cinnati. He there followed li is trade of a shoemaker, 
 putting up the first shop in that vicinity and re- 
 ceiving a generous patronage from the boatmen. 
 In the meantime the Pottawatomie Indians came 
 .and captured his wife and child carrying them 
 nortliwest to Rock River where thej' remained in 
 captivity four years. At the expiration of this 
 time the mother made her escape, while in camp 
 near Kankakee, 111., from which she found her 
 way to Cincinnati. The mother and son had been 
 separated and did not see each other until the latter 
 was a youth of fifteen years when his exchano-e 
 was effected througli the agency of the French 
 traders. The grandparents thereafter li ved together 
 in Cincinnati until the death of the grandmother 
 and then Grandfather Skeeters removed to Lexino-- 
 ton, Ky., where he followed his trade until his 
 death. He was a Frenchman by birth and upon 
 emigrating to America located first in Virginia. 
 
 The father of our subject was reared in Kentucky 
 where he engaged in farming. He fought in the 
 War of 1812 under Gen. Gaines, and afterward 
 settled in Lexington where he lived until his mar- 
 riage. He then removed to a farm in Boone 
 County and from there in December, 1823, emi- 
 grated to Parke County, Ind.. settling within one 
 
960 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 and one-lmlf miles of the Chief of the Cherokee 
 Nation and opening up from the wilderness a farm 
 of eighty acres. In 1834 he sold out and coming 
 to Coles County, 111., prosecuted farming a few 
 years, then becoming discouraged returned to In- 
 diana and purchased the old home in Parke Cou)ily. 
 Retaining this until 1861 he sold out once more 
 and purchased a farm near Middleport, in Iroquois 
 County, where he sojourned until his death. He 
 had been a member of the Baptist Church for the 
 long period of fifty years, much of tlie time offi- 
 ciating as clerk. 
 
 The maiden name of the mother of our subject 
 was Lucy Aldridge. She was born in Crab ( )rchard, 
 Ky., to which her father had removed at an early 
 day from his native State of Maryland. He pur- 
 chased Government land and engaged in farming 
 until his death. The Aldridge family is of English 
 descent. The tvvelve children of the parental fam- 
 ily were named respectiveljs ^^'dliam, a resident of 
 Neoslia Falls, Kan.; James H. and Mar^-, deceased; 
 Joseph, the subject of this sketch; Lucy, a resident 
 of Irocjuois County, 111.; Elizabeth and Martha, 
 residents of Wood County, Kan.; Daniel P., de- 
 ceased; Louisa of .Iroquois County; Willis R., 
 deceased; Greenbury W. in Iroquois County and 
 Nancy, deeensed. 
 
 Daniel P. Skceters served in an Indiana regiment 
 during the C'ivil AVar and was captured at two 
 different times. His exchange was effected and he 
 died soon after the battle of Pea Ridge. Joseph, 
 the subject of this sketch, was born near Big Bone 
 Lake, Ohio, Feb. 14, 1822 and lived there with his 
 parents nntil their removal to Indiana, which was 
 made overland with an ox team. He still remem- 
 bers that pioneer iiome in Parke County, when the 
 cabins of the settlers were few and far between, and 
 Indians were plentiful, mostly Cherokees. He at- 
 tended school with the sons of the chief and with 
 Dagnet, now the present chief. His boyhood and 
 youth were spent in the occupations common to 
 frontier life, during which time he received a very 
 limited education in tlie log school iiouse and re- 
 mained a member of the father's household until 
 nineteen years old. 
 
 The life of our subject passed in a comparatively 
 uneventful manner until his marriage which oc- 
 
 curred Dec. 3, 1840, in Parke County, Ind., the 
 maiden of his choice being Miss Sarah McFerrin. 
 This lady was born in Shelby County, K3^, and 
 was the daughter of Jonathan McFerrin who was of 
 Scotch-Irish ancesti'y and an early settler of In- 
 diana. After his marriage Mr. Skeeters engaged 
 in farming on rented land until 1861, when he pur- 
 chased land in Posey Coiiuty, Ind., where he lived 
 three years, then selling out, purchased the home- 
 stead which he operated for a period of seventeen 
 years. 
 
 Our subject, in 1849, began preaching in the 
 Ba[)tist C'hurch and since then has devoted about 
 half his time to the ministry in Indiana, Illinois, 
 Kentucky, Ohio and jMiss<mri. In 1853 he was 
 ordained near Montezuma, and took charge of the 
 home congregation besides three other charges. 
 Thereafter for a period of forty years he devoted 
 the greater part of his time to the Master's work, 
 frequently walking ten miles or more to meet his 
 congregation. At the same time he cultivated his 
 farm receiving no assistance from the people whom 
 lie sei'ved. He lived on his farm m Indiana until 
 1H78, then moved to Montezuma, where he lived 
 until Sei)tember, 1882. Tlien selling his farm and 
 renting his home in the town., he purchased his 
 l)rescnt place in Edgar Township, where he has put 
 up good buildings and made all the improvements 
 upon it. In the meantime he has had rharge of 
 the Bloomfield Church and preaches regularly to 
 his old congregation. 
 
 Mr. Skeeters suffered a stroke of paralysis and in 
 two hours lost the use of his eyes, so that he has 
 not been able to read since that time. Notwith- 
 standing tiiis he prosecutes his pious duties and is 
 greatly aided by his remarkable memory. He 
 contracted a second marriage at Paris, April 3, 
 1876, with Mrs. Mary McConkey, daughter of 
 Jacob Wildman, who with his father, John Wild- 
 man, was a native of Virginia. The great-grand- 
 father, Jacob Wildman, was born in England, 
 reared a (Quaker and upon crossing the Atlantic 
 settled in the Old Dominion. He served in the 
 Revolutionary War and later became the owner of 
 a plantation of 700 acres and twenty slaves on the 
 Potomac River. In religion he was a Baptist. 
 
 The father of our subject carried on farming in 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 9G1 
 
 Virginia until emigrating to Illinois whan he lo- 
 .cated near the present site of Paris in P^rlgar 
 County. Like liis fatiicr before him, he was suc- 
 cessful in the accumulation of tliis world's goods 
 and was an active member of llie Baptist Church. 
 He was prominent in local affairs and a Justice of 
 the Peace for many years. The motlier, Mis. 
 Mary (LaFaber) Skeeters, was born in Virginia 
 and was the granddaugliter of Henry LaFaber, a 
 native of France. Tlie latter was a stone mason 
 ))y trade which he followed in Virginia after emi- 
 grating to America and died tlie possessor of 1,000 
 acres of land. He also was a member of the Bap- 
 tist Churcli. His daughter, Mary, tlie motlier of 
 our subject, joined the Presbyterian Church and 
 died in the Old Dominion. 
 
 The nine children of the parental familj' were 
 named respectively, John, Joseph, Jacob, Lewis, 
 Ellen, Elizabeth, Frances, all of whom are deceased ; 
 Mary, Mrs. Skeeters, and Anna, who lives in Paris 
 Township. The wife of our subject was born in 
 Loudon County, Va., in 1822 and came "West with 
 lier parents when a j'oung lady, remaining, with 
 them until her first marriage to Mr. George Lang- 
 ley. The latter was a native of Kentucky and died 
 at his farm in Elbridge Township in 1849. Mrs. 
 Langley was subsequently married to Capt. John 
 McConkey, a native of Tennessee and one of the 
 earliest settlers of Edgar County. He served as a 
 Captain in the Mexican War and was wounded at 
 the battle of Buena \'ista, but recovered and car- 
 ried the bullet until his death. After leaving the 
 army he engaged in farming a number of years. 
 Then he removed to Paris and purchased property, 
 residing there until his death in 187 1. He belonged 
 to the Christian Church and was a prominent man 
 in his community. His widow lived there until 
 her marriage with our subject and still owns 100 
 acres of land adjoining the town, besides two resi- 
 dences in Paris and property in Montezuma. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Skeeters are the parents of ten 
 children, the eldest of whom, a daughter, Mary J., 
 is the wife of Samuel Heath, and Rebecca married 
 William White, l)0th are farming in Edgar Town- 
 ship. William J. is conducting a meat market at 
 Marshal, Ind.; Nancy, (Mrs. McLean,) is a resident 
 of Parke C'ounty, Ind.; James M. is manager nnd 
 
 Steward of Parke County, (Ind.) Hospital; TMlman 
 A. H. operates as clerk in a store in Edgar County; 
 Jonathan V. is farming in the vicinity of LeRoy, 
 111.; Samuel B. remains at home witli his parents; 
 Ellen S., (Mrs. Paine) lives on a farm in Edgar 
 Township; Lucj^ is deceased. 
 
 Mr. Skeeters, politically, is a sound Democrat. 
 He has served as a School Director for years, and 
 for two years was Assessor in Putnam County, Ind. 
 He was at one time solicited to become the candi- 
 date for Representative for the State Legislature, 
 but felt that he was called to higher duties. In 
 the pursuance of these Mr. Skeeters traveled from 
 10.000 to 20,000 miles per year. 
 
 ^'5 ^fe-#» i- 
 
 I^OAH W BEAUCHAMP, editor and proprie- 
 I /) *•'"' '-'^ ^'"^ Kansas Journal, Edgar County, 
 \e\JlL) was born in North Manchester, Wabash 
 Co., Ind., on May 4, 1846, being a son of Asa 
 Beauchamp (deceased,) who was a native of Ohio, 
 but a pioneer of North Mnnchester, Ind. Mr. Asa 
 Beauchamp was an educated and intelligent man, 
 well read in law and a good business manager. 
 For many years he performed the duties of an at- 
 torney at law, to the complete satisfaction of his 
 clients, and also carried on a brisk trade as a mer- 
 chant. The mother of our subject, whose maiden 
 name was MarthaWilliams, was a native of Ohio. She 
 now resides in Rawlins County, Kan., at the ad- 
 vanced age of seventy-five years. The parents of 
 our subject had a family of ten children, of whom 
 three are living — our subject and two sisler.s — 
 Sarah A. (Long) and Mary A. (Brown), he be- 
 ing the only survivor of the seven brothers. One, 
 Clark W. lost his life while gallantly fighting in the 
 support of the "starry- flag' during the late war. 
 One sister, Ellen, died when twenty -seven years old, 
 being at the time of her death the wife of William 
 H. Wampler, who died at the Soldiers' Home at 
 Dayton, Ohio, a few months later. 
 
 Mr. Beauchamp was reared to manhood and edu- 
 cated in his native place. When he was sixteen 
 years old he entered a printing office in Wab.ash 
 and learned the trade, and has continued in the 
 
9G2 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 printing business ever since, covering a period of 
 twenty-seven years. His first venture was pub- 
 lisliing the Wabash Tribune, from 1866 to 1867, 
 when he removed to North Mancliester and resided 
 on a farm nearly two years, hoping to regain his lost 
 health. Finding his strength still abated he went 
 to Ottawa, Kan., in the autumn of 1868 and se- 
 cured employment on the Ottawa Journal. He 
 sta>'ed there until 1871, and returned to North 
 Manchester and bought the Journal, which he car- 
 ried on until 1882, then sold out and bought the 
 Kansas, 111. N<^ii-'s. Changing the name and in- 
 creasing the facilities of the office he established 
 the Journal in its place and has conducted it suc- 
 cessfully ever since. It is a spicj' and well editeil 
 pajjer, is an eight column folio, and is iiublislied on 
 strictly business principles. He occupies his own 
 two story brick. 
 
 Our subject was married Dec. 12, 1 866 to Cynthia 
 J. Spradling, a native of Wabash Count}', Ind. and 
 daughter of William J. Spradling (deceased). This 
 couple have had an interesting family of seven 
 children, of whom five are living and are receiving 
 the best education and advantages of culture that 
 the place affords. They are named respectively, 
 Lorena, Charles A.,Maudie, Jessie, and Oron Milo. 
 
 During the Civil War Mr. Beauchamp offered 
 his services to the defense of his country and en- 
 listed in the 14th Indiana Battery. During all the 
 engagements in which he participated he exhibited 
 intrepid courage, great coolness in time of danger 
 and unswerving attention to duty. His battery 
 participated in the battles of Spanish Fort, Gun 
 Town, Miss., where our subject was wounded, the 
 tliree days before Nashville, Tenn., and various 
 other engagements of that long and hotly contested 
 campaign. After doing his duty as a soldier until 
 the expiration of his term of enlistment, he was 
 mustered out and honorably discharged and re- 
 turned once more to the walks of private life. 
 Although a brave soldier, he in common with 
 thousands of his comiades, has no desire to see 
 another war in this country, believing that "Peace 
 hath her victories as well as war.'' Our subject is 
 a Past Post Commander in the G. A. R. and is an 
 honorable Christian gentleman, being a worthy 
 member of the Methodist Episcopal Church in this 
 
 place. His Christianity is of a kind that does not 
 permit him to hide his light under a bushel, but 
 prompts him to place it where it can enlighten 
 others and assist them on their heavenly wa}'. 
 Holding such views he has accepted the position 
 of Class-Leader and exhorter in the Methodist 
 Episcopal Church and has for many j-ears given 
 public testimony to the faith that is in him. Mr. 
 Beauchamp belongs to the ranks of enterprising 
 Americans, who have begun life poor, but have 
 succeeded in securing a competence. He and his 
 family are now in good circumstances and are able 
 to enjoy the pleasures and secure the comforts of 
 life. 
 
 yiJiOHN W. TATE. The Tate family is widely 
 and favorabl}' known throughout Grand 
 View Township and vicinity and amply vvor- 
 ^ thy of record in a work designed to be han- 
 ded down to future generations. The subject of this 
 sketch is one of its most worthy representatives 
 and occupies a finely cultivated farm on section 
 22. He was born in this county Dec. ], 1846, and 
 has since remained a resident of Grand View 
 Township, growing with its growth and bcino- 
 closely identified witli its most important interests. 
 Here he received his education and here have cen- 
 tered his best thoughts and labors. 
 
 The father of our subject was Robert M Tate, a 
 native of Rockbridge County, Va., and a farmer by 
 occupation. The family is of Scotch — Irish de- 
 scent and was represented in the old Dominion at 
 a very early day. Grandfather John Tate was 
 born there and had several male relatives -^rho 
 served as soldiers in the Revolutionary war. In 
 September 1837, leaving the place of his birth, he 
 made his way to Illinois with a colony and set- 
 tled on a tract of wild land, one-half mile west of the 
 present site of Grand View, where he constructed a 
 comfortable homestead and sojourned until his 
 death which took place in 1854. He left a family 
 of five children, one of whom was Robert M., the 
 father of our subject. 
 
 Robert M. Tate was but twenty-two years of age 
 at the time of his mother's death and had hut 
 
PORTRAIT AND BI0C4RAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 963 
 
 a short time prcviouslj' been married to Miss Susan 
 Gold, who like himself, was born in Virginia, 
 where her people wore prominent, both in social, 
 l)iisiness and political circles, and where her father 
 lived to celebrate his ninetieth birthday. In due 
 time, Robert M. Tate put up a substantial residence 
 which is still standing, one of tiie central features 
 of tlie old homestead comprising nearly 400 acres 
 of land, which under the careful management and 
 thorough cultivation given it, became exceedingly' 
 valuable. To the parents of our subject there 
 were born five children all of whom are living. 
 The father departed this life Jan. 21, 1886. The 
 mother is still living, being seventy-one years old, 
 is in fair health and making her home in Grand 
 View. 
 
 The subject of this sketch is the second child of 
 his parents and was given a good education, be- 
 ginning in the schools of his native township and 
 ending at Kidgar Academy at Paris, where he pur- 
 sued his studies two years, taking the scientific 
 course. Upon leaving school he returned to the 
 farm and worked with his father until his marriage. 
 This important and interesting eventVas celebra- 
 ted Feb. 20, 1883, the bride being Miss Julia, 
 daughter of Samuel Utter, who entered land near 
 tiie present site of Paris as early as about 1825. 
 The maternal grand father by law of Mrs. Tate was 
 Samuel A'ance, who emigrated to Illinois from 
 Tennessee, entering land including tiie present site 
 of Paris, and later laid out tlie town. The fatlier 
 of Mrs. Tate was twice married and she was the 
 eldest of four children born of the second mar- 
 riage. Her father died in 1863 at the age of sev- 
 enty-two years. He became very wealthy and was 
 one of the most prominent citizens of Paris Town- 
 ship. 
 
 John W. Tate, our subject, began in the world 
 practically without means but by a course of 
 industry and sobriety has attained to a good posi- 
 tion socially and financially. He purcliased his pres- 
 ent farm in 1885 and is steadily effecting improve- 
 ments which tend to increase its value. In politics 
 lie is a sound Republican, and with his estimable 
 wife is a member in good standing of the Presby- 
 terian Church which was founded by Grandfather 
 Tate in 1837 and in which our subject is one of 
 
 the Elders. He is also very active in the Sunday- 
 school in which he has been Superintendent and 
 teacher for many years. Both he and his estima- 
 ble wife are warmly interested in the temperance 
 question and lend> their influence whenever possi- 
 bly in discountenancing both the manufacture 
 and sale of ardent spirits. 'J'hey are the parents 
 of two bright children, both daughters— Susan 
 born May 20, 1884, and Eliza Aug. 3, 1886. 
 
 -^i-t-^:^^^^+~h 
 
 I^ARION W. HALE. The younger farmers 
 11 iV of Edgar County are generally making 
 I 1* a good record for industry, energy 
 and enterprise, and among them mav be 
 properly mentioned Mr. Hale, who is. pleasantly 
 located on section 18 in Hunter Township. A na- 
 tive of Hendricks County, Ind., he was born Dee. 
 4, 1852, and came with his parents to this county 
 wlien about four years old. They took up their 
 abode in a log cabin in Hunter Township, where 
 they sojourned about four years, then removed to 
 Vermillion, living there about the same length of 
 time. Their next removal was to the neighbor- 
 hood of the homestead of our subject, where they 
 lived until 1885, and then removed to Ashland, 
 Boyd Co., Kjr., where they now reside. 
 
 Vincent and Eliza J. (Miller) Hale, the parents 
 of our subject, were natives of \'irginia, where 
 they were reared and married and where they 
 lived a few years afterward. The journey from 
 A'irginia to Kentucl<y was made in a wagon drawn 
 by oxen, and upon arriving at their destination 
 the father traded the oxen for apiece of land. He 
 only staid a short time, however, then started for 
 Indiana in a one-horse wagon. From there to this 
 county he rode on horseback, and drove his cow 
 all the way, and upon his arrival here he worked 
 by the day a number of years, then bought forty 
 acres of land, and in due time sold the forty acres 
 to liis son, our subject, for the sum of $2,000. 
 
 Marion W. Hale, on the 7th of October, 1879, 
 was married to Miss Lora D., daughter of Isann 
 Hurst, whose father was one of the early pioneers 
 of Grand View Township. The mother of Mrs. 
 
9(14 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 Male was in her oirlhood Eliza Hunter, daughter 
 of John Hunter of Paris. (She died when Mrs. 
 Hale was a young girl of twelve years. Upon his 
 marriage Mr. Hale was the possessor o*" two horses 
 and a buggy, and the young ^jeople began their 
 wedded life on a farm in this township. By in- 
 dustry and the closest management he has thor- 
 oughly improved his laud, erected a good house, 
 and has an orchard and the outbuildings required 
 for his farming operations, which, although not ex- 
 tensive are carried on in that methodical manner 
 which inevitably yields good returns. Mr. Hale 
 makes a specialty of Short-horn cattle, Poland- 
 China swine and good grades of horses. Politi- 
 cally, he is a sound Rei>ublicaii. He is the father 
 of three bright children — Arthur. Clyde and Cecil 
 — in whose education and training the parents 
 maintain the liveliest interest. 
 
 •^pfiti* 
 
 ^?=^EORGE H. .SHANK. The city of Paris 
 11 (=j, contains no individual of more gentlemanlj' 
 ^^41 instincts or higher moral |)rinciples than the 
 subject of this sketch. He is in good circumstances, 
 retired from active labor, and occupies a very 
 pleasant home at the intersection of Central avenue 
 and Edgar street, where have been gathered many 
 of the evidences of refined tastes and ample means. 
 The dwelling is well shaded by handsome and well- 
 kept forest trees, with a smooth lawn in front, and 
 in the rear the smaller fruits with grapes, in abun- 
 dance. Half city and half country, the home is 
 replete with the comforts and conveniences of mod- 
 ern life and is the freqnent resort of the many 
 friends which Mr. Shank and his estimable family 
 have gathered about them. They occupj- a high 
 social position and are numbered among the lead- 
 ing residents of the town. 
 
 A native of Greene County, Ohio, our subject 
 was l)orn June 2, 1821, and there spent his boyhood 
 and youth, receiving careful home training and a 
 practical education. His father, Henry Shank, was 
 a native of Maryland and married JNHss Barbara A. 
 Crumbaugh whose birthplace was not far from 
 that of her husband. As early as 1812 they re- 
 moved to Greene County, Ohio, where the}' opened 
 
 up a farm from the wildeinessand spent the remain- 
 der of their lives. Both were members of the 
 Lutheran Church. They reared a family of seven 
 children who became good and worthy members of 
 the community. The Shank family is of German 
 ancestr}' and the Crutnbauglis flourished in Mary- 
 land for many years. Some of them emigrated lo 
 Kentucky and later the family was represented in 
 iMcLean County, this State, during its pioneer days 
 and where the I'emains of many of them have l)een 
 laid amid the quiet dead. 
 
 The subject of this notice was married in his na- 
 tive county 10 Miss Rebecca Hawkins, who was also 
 born there and they began housekeeping on the old 
 Shank homestead in Ohio, which the father of our 
 subject had assisted in clearing from the heavy 
 timber. There also their two children were born 
 — Davis H. who is represented elsewhere in this 
 volume, and INIary F., now Mrs. A. J. Crumbaugh, 
 a resilient of McLean County, 111. Mr. Crumbaugh 
 is a farmer by occupation and the father of two 
 children — Eddie and Clara. 
 
 The parents of Mrs. Shank were natives of "S'ir- 
 ginia and removed to Ohio aljout 1812. (.)ur sub- 
 ject came with his famil}- to Edgar County, 111., 
 about 1866 and purchased the farm now occupied 
 by his son, Davis. He lived thereuntil 1873, then 
 took up his residence in Paris. After coming to 
 Edgar County he purchased 400 acres of land but 
 has now only 200 acres, having divided up the bal- 
 ance among his children. Mr. and Mrs. Shank were 
 reared in the doctrines of the Lutheran Church but 
 there being no society of that denomination in 
 Paris, they united with the Presbyterian Church to 
 which they contribute a liberal support. 
 
 In politics he is a stanch Democrat. 
 
 -KV>- 
 
 s^ AMLIEL W. IGO, of Bruellet Township, 
 may usually be found pursuing the even 
 tenor of his way at his farm on section 20, 
 where he has a comfortable home which lie 
 built up from a tract of partially improved land. 
 He was born in Highland County, Ohio, Aug. 14, 
 18.'')1, and was there reared, acquiring his educa- 
 tion in the district school. He chose farming for 
 
-^A %y^^y^ 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 967 
 
 his vocation, and to this has given his principal 
 attention throngh life. 
 
 Lewis Ig(^ the father of our subject, was likewise 
 a native of Highland County, Ohio, and the son of 
 William Igo, one of the earliest settlers of that 
 region. The Igo famil^y traces its ancestry to Scot- 
 land, while the paternal grandmother of our subject 
 was of German descent. The old home farm in 
 the Buckeye State is now occupied by two of his 
 brothers and mother. The maiden name of the 
 mother of our subject was Loace McCoy. The par- 
 ents were married in Ohio, where were born to 
 them nine children, of whom Samuel was the sixth. 
 Lewis Igo died in (Jhio in 1885, and the mother is 
 still living there. Her father, Daniel McCoy, 
 served all through the War of 1812. 
 
 Our subject came to Vermillion County, Ind., 
 about 1872, sojourning there three years, and in 
 the meantime was married, Oct. 12, 1873, to Miss 
 Nancy J., daughter of Alexander Skidmore, a na- 
 tive of Indiana. Soon after his marriage he pur- 
 chased forty acres of land, which is now included 
 in his present farm and which was then covered 
 with brush and timber. He put up a log house 
 lGxl8 feet square, and as be was able, added to it 
 until he had constructed a verj' comfortable dwell- 
 ing. He cleared his land by degrees and added 
 to his real estate until he was the owner of 101) 
 acres, the most of which he has brought to a good 
 state of cultivation. His first forty acres cost him 
 8l2.H;j per acre, and it is now considered at least 
 worth ^iSf) per acre. J\Irs. Igo has twenty acres of 
 her father's old farm. Both our subject .and his 
 excellent wife are members in good standing of the 
 Methodist Episcopal Church. Thej' are the par- 
 ents of seven children, namely: Blanch, Ward, Ida, 
 Grace. Sadie, Orin and A'eranda. They live quietly 
 and comfortably, at peace with all the world and 
 enjoying the respect of their neighbors. 
 
 i^ILLIAM H. LAMB. In noting the prom 
 inent men and pioneers of Edgar County, 
 the subject of this sketch can scarcel}' with 
 propriety be omitted from the category. The 
 reader will find elsewhere in this Ar.iuM a fine por- 
 
 trait of Mr. Lamb, a valuable and essential feature 
 in the history of a county, with whose upbuilding 
 he has been so prominently associated. By great 
 •liligence and perseverance he has constructed a 
 well-regulated farm from the primitive soil, and is 
 now pleasantly located on section 8, Stratton Town- 
 ship. His property embraces 160 acres of im- 
 proved land, which, with its building and other 
 appurtenances, presents the picture of an attractive 
 country home where peace and plenty abound. 
 Mr. Lamb's entire career is that of a quiet and 
 unostentatious citizen, retiring in his habits, but at 
 the same time he has signalized himself as an intel- 
 ligent and useful member of his community. He 
 is a stanch supporter of the Republican party, and 
 is frequently sent as a delegate to the county con- 
 ventions. LTsually he has declined the responsi- 
 bilities of office, but has served as Road Commis- 
 sioner and in other positions of usefulness. In 
 religious matters he is liberal, while his good wife 
 is a i)ro™inent member of the Methodist Episcopal 
 Church. 
 
 The town of West Union, Clark County, this St.atc, 
 was near the earl^' tram ping ground of our subject, 
 and here his birth took place May 5, 1820. The 
 school privileges of that time and place were very 
 limited and principall3' carried on during the win- 
 tei- season. The temple of learning was a rude log 
 cabin, where our subject sat astride a bench made 
 of a slab, and studied his books with the aid of 
 the light struggling throngh window panes of 
 greased paper. When at home he assisted his 
 father in fypening up, the new farm, and became 
 familiar with all the other employments of pioneer 
 
 life. 
 
 At the age of twenty-one years our subject, 
 was nrarried, April 4, 1841, to Miss Mahala A., 
 daughter of William .and Nancy Vansickle. The 
 parents of Rlrs. Lamb were natives of Indiana, 
 whence they emigrated to Illinois .at a very early 
 day, settling upon the land which constitutes the 
 present farm of our subject. The young people 
 commenced their wedded life in this county, and as 
 years passed by a family of nine children gathered 
 around the hearth stone. Two of these are now 
 deceased. Herman, the eldest living, is a resident 
 of Oliic, Kan.; Is.aac J. is farming in Stratton 
 
968 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 Township, this county; Jnsper N. is a resident of 
 Vermilion; Louisa is the wife of AVilliam Sovern 
 of Hunter Township; William II. and Samuel are 
 at home with their parent; Anna is the wife of 
 William A'olkers of this Township. 
 
 jVhner and Abigail (Trogdon) Lamb, the parents 
 of our subject, were born, reared and married in 
 North Carolina, and came West in 1814. locating 
 in Orange Count}', Ind., where they resided four 
 years. Abner Lamb was born in 1791, and his 
 wife, Abigail, in 1793. They resided in Indiana 
 four years, as above stated, then came to Clai-k 
 County, III. Later, in 1H27, they came to this 
 count}', and located in Elbridge Township, where 
 the father carried on farming and spent the remain- 
 der of his days, dying Aug, 18, 1 867. Tlie mother 
 survived her husband nearly fourteen years, her 
 death taking place in January, 1H81. Of the seven 
 children born to them only two are living: William, 
 ovir subject, and Mahala, the wife of William Davis 
 of Nebraska. 
 
 =^fe 
 
 <f^OHN C. EPPERSON, M. D., a young and 
 energetic physician and surgeon f)f Kansas, 
 Edgar County, was born in Coles County, 
 (|^j/y III., adjoining the Edgar County line, on 
 the 2nd day of January, 1849 to Green Epperson 
 (deceased,) a native of Graj'son County, K}'., who 
 emigrated to Illinois in 1 H33 and established him- 
 self in Coles County. The, house he erected to 
 shelter his family, was the same one which our sub- 
 ject fli'st saw the light and where (ireen Epperson 
 laid aside the duties and responsibilities of this 
 life in 1850, and entered into the enjoyment of his 
 reward in the regions beyond. The grandfather of 
 our subject, was a '.'irginian of Scotch extraction 
 and no doubt much of the success of Dr. Epiierson 
 is due to qualities inherited from that sturdy r.ace. 
 whose love of country and freedom is prover- 
 bial. The mother of our subject was Thirza 
 Wood, whose father was a soldier in the War of 
 1812 and was wounded in battle. The parents of 
 our subject had a family of eleven children, of 
 whom eight are living — Brutus C, Cassius C, Sid- 
 
 ney, Green, Joseph, Martha (Mrs. Lawson) of Terre 
 Haute; Kate, (Mrs. Artnrburn) resides in Coles 
 County, and John C, the subject of this biography. 
 Brutus, Cassius and Green are in California; Sidney 
 is in Omaha, Neb.; Joseph is on the old homestead. 
 Another son of this family, named Rhodes, was in 
 the late war and was wounded while gallantly 
 charging the enemy in battle. He is now deceased. 
 Dr. Epperson was reared upon a farm until he 
 had reached the age of thirteen years, when he was 
 placed in the Westfleld school to be educated and 
 remained there two years, applying himself dilli- 
 gentl}' to his studies and making many friends 
 amongst both teachers and scholars. At the 
 exi)iration of his term in Westfield he entered 
 the Mattoon School, where he pursued his edu- 
 cation two years longer. He then obtained 
 employment as a clerk in a dry-goods store in 
 Alattoon, remaining there three years, when, his 
 health being poor he went to California, hoping to 
 be benefited by the change of air and scenery. He 
 remained there nine months and then returned to 
 Mattoon, very much improved in health, and en- 
 tered the ofHce of J. M. Hinkle, M. D.,and studied 
 medicine one and one-half years under his direc- 
 tion. In 1874 Drs. Hinkle and Allen opened a 
 branch surgical institute in San Franci.sco, Cal., 
 and our subject accompanied them and was placed 
 in charge of one department, receiving a suitable 
 salary. He pursued his studies while there and in 
 1878 graduated from the Pacific Medical College 
 of San Francisco. Not being entirely contented 
 with the progress which he had made and desirino- 
 to further increase his usefullness as a phj-sician, 
 he took a course of studj- in the Cooper Medical 
 C^ollege of San Francisco, graduating from it with 
 high honor in 1882. He stood at the head of the 
 class and got the first diploma ever issued from the 
 new College. The expenses attending his courses 
 of study at these two colleges, were provided for 
 by the salary he received as a practitioner in the 
 Surgical Institute, which h.as been mentioned above, 
 with which he remained connected until Decem- 
 ber 1882, when he severed relation with them and 
 went to Weston, Ore., where he opened an otlice 
 and followed the practice of medicine five years. 
 His aged mother being in frail health and wishin<r 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 969 
 
 to see him, before departing this life, induced liini 
 to return to liis native State. Shortly after his ar- 
 rival in Illinois in 1 887, he located in Kansasi, 
 where his eminent abilities have been recognized 
 and rewarded with a large and increasing and re- 
 munerative practice. 
 
 The aged mother of our subject geutlj' rolled off 
 the burden of life Oct. 7, 1888. She was a native 
 of Bcurbon Count}', Ky., where she was born Dec. 
 6, 1807. Although her departure was a great grief 
 to her family, yet they were resigned, feeling that 
 their loss was her gain. The subject of this notice 
 was married Dec. 18, 1878 to Miss Helen (JritHn, 
 a daughter of Hiram B. Griflin, of Pendleton, Ore., 
 Their union has been blessed by the birth of three 
 children — Thirza, John and Hiram. He is a mem- 
 ber of the I. O. O. F. and of the Modern Wood- 
 men. 
 
 Dr. Epperson is not only a j'Oung and successful 
 pratictioner, a graduate of two medical colleges, 
 but is a man of more than ordinary intelligence 
 and culture. In his method of treatment in chronic 
 cases and in surgical practice, especially in those 
 cases requiring delicate manipulation, he ii.as been 
 eminently successful. 
 
 (^^AMUEL B. KILT/tORE. A goodly pro- 
 ^^^ portion of the younger men of Edgar 
 I1I//I1) County are its native-born citizens, sons 
 — of its earliest pioneers. Among them is 
 the subject of this notice who is living retired from 
 active labor in Vermillion and owns a good farm of 
 seventy-six and one-half acres in Stratton Town- 
 ship. He was born in this township July 9, 1845, 
 and after leaving the district school entered West- 
 field College of which he was a student one year. 
 Afterward he embarked in farming, being at that 
 time owner of his present property which lie lias 
 brought to a fine state of cultivation. This he now 
 rents to other parties and realizes from it a hand- 
 some income. 
 
 Mr. Killgore is a bachelor, and spends some of 
 his time traveling. He identified himself with the 
 United Brethren Church this year but was formerly 
 
 a Methodist. Politically he is a pronounced Prohi- 
 bitionist. He has from boyhood been familiar with 
 agricultural pursuits, spending the early part of his 
 life on the farm with his father in Stratton Town- 
 ship, where he was reared to habits of industry and 
 admirably fitted for the later duties of life. He 
 h.as practically grown up with the country which 
 during his cliildiiood was in its infancy and has 
 been the privileged witness of the extraordinary 
 changes occurring, not only throughout Central 
 Illinois, but the entire West. 
 
 The parents of our subject were Joseph and 
 iMary (Meadows) Killgore, the former of whom was 
 born Nov. 3, 1817, and came to Illinois in 1832, 
 settling in Stratton Township, this county, with his 
 parents. He was the eldest of a family of five 
 children and the sou of Anthony Killgore, who was 
 a soldier in his day, serving with old Tippecanofe 
 and was on the battlefield where Tecumseh was* 
 slain. He was born near Gerraantown, in Mason 
 County, Ky., and after coming to this countj', be- 
 came prominent and popular, being possessed of 
 fine business abilities and the integrity of character 
 which drew around him many warm friends. He 
 became identified with the Republican party at its 
 organization and occupied many positions of trust 
 and responsibility, serving as Township Supervisor 
 and otherwise making himself useful in local affairs. 
 He was a devout member of the Methodist Episco- 
 pal Church and close<l his eyes upon the scenes of 
 earth May 1, 1888. 
 
 Mrs. Mary (Meadows) Killgore, the mother of 
 our subject, was born in Kentucky and came with 
 her parents to this county, in 1831, they settling in 
 Stratton Township. The family consisted of nine 
 children, of whom Mary was the eldest born. She 
 first opened her eyes to the light in Breckenridge 
 County, Ky.,in Dec. 8, 1818. Of her union with 
 Mr. Killn'ore there were born seven children, one 
 of whom is deceased. Samuel B., our subject, was 
 the eldest of the family. William A. is a resident 
 of Stratton Township; Elizabeth A. remains at 
 home with her mother; Talitha; Carrie is the wife 
 of Rev. C. Galeener, of Springfield, 111., where Mr. 
 Galeener has cliarge of the Methodist Episcopal 
 Church ; INIary A. died when twenty-seven years old; 
 Josepli (!., M. D., is a resident of Huffmansville, 
 
970 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 this county. Mrs. Killgore is now in tiie seventieth 
 year of her age her, liome is in N^ermillion, this 
 county. She is an intelligent and sprightly old 
 lady, held in high esteem b}' all who know her and 
 belongs to the Methodist Episcopal Church. The 
 family is widely and favorably known throughout 
 the county and have contributed in no small degree 
 to its growth and prosperity. 
 
 ^^EORGE RING LAND, M. D., physician and 
 if <^w7 surgeon, Kansas, Edgar County, was born 
 '^^^ in Washington County, Pa., Sept. 5, 1823. 
 His father was the Hon. Thomas Ringland (de- 
 ceased), a native of County Down, Ireland, where 
 he was born in August 178.'i. Braving the dangers 
 of an ocean voy.age in 1795, William Ringland, ac- 
 companied hy his son Thomas, then a lad i^f twelve 
 years, turned his back on the p]merakl Isle and 
 crossed tlie stormy Atlantic to the liospitalde shore 
 of the United .States and settled in Washington 
 County, I'a., whore he followed his favorite occu- 
 p.ation of a tiller of the soil. His son, Thomas, as- 
 sisted him during j^outh and in mature years 
 followed his father's footsteps iji the same occupa- 
 tion. The mother of our sul)ject was Anna McCol- 
 lum, a daughter of Samuel McCollum, (deceased). 
 She was born in New Jersey, which also vvas the 
 native place of her father. 
 
 The father of our subject was a major of a Penn- 
 sylvania regiment during the war of 1812. His 
 regiment was under the command of Gen. Willi'im 
 Henry Harrison and assisted to build Ft. Me'gs at 
 the mouth of the Maumee River. He commanded 
 a regiment of Pennsylvania militia for some time 
 after the war and became its colonel. Being .an in- 
 telligent and enterprising man and popular in his 
 political district he was elected to the Legislature 
 and served nine years, four of which were in the 
 up[)er house; the last two years of his membership 
 in the Senate were sijcnt in the president's chair. 
 During the lime he was president of the Senate his 
 decisions were able and gave satisfaction to the 
 members. He was an ardent supporter and one of 
 the originators of the law establishing the public 
 
 school system of Pennsylvania. In 1858 he left 
 the Keystone State and came to this county, lo- 
 cating in Grand View Township, where he resided 
 until called hence, Jan. 1869, his wife following 
 him into the shadowy land one year later. This 
 couple had both reached a good old age, the father 
 being in the eighty-sixth and the mother in her 
 eighty-third 3'ear. They were the parents of nine 
 children, of whom three are living — George, Ben- 
 jamin A., of Oakland, and Alec H., of Dudley, 111. 
 The names of the deceased children are: William, 
 John N., father of the noted Dr. Ringland of Riv- 
 erside Health Institute of Hamilton, 111. ; Mary, who 
 married Jacob Braden of Dudley; Samuel, Nancy 
 and Anna. All were married except Samuel and 
 Nancy. 
 
 The subject of this biography was reai-ed on a 
 farm anri during the early years of his life attended 
 the common school of the'district. When reaching a 
 suitable age he was placed inCarmichaels Academv 
 in the eastern part of Greene County, Pa., where 
 l>y diligent application he made good progress in 
 his studies, and, on com[)letion of the course, en- 
 gaged in teaching. He followed the profession two 
 years, teaching in Greene. Washington and Fayette 
 counties. Pa., then entered the office of Dr. Strouse 
 of Amity and began the study of medicine. After 
 a few months spent in this office he left it and en- 
 tered the olfiee of Dr. Culver of Jefferson, Greene 
 Co., Pa., where he remained one 3'ear. Afterwards 
 he studied in the offlce of Dr. Neff of Masontown, 
 Fayette Co., Pa., remaining there nearly a 
 year, when he left to attend a course of lectures at 
 Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, following 
 which he, in the same year, 18 16, opened an office 
 in West Libertjr, F.ayette Co., Pa., and pract- 
 iced there a few months, then removed to McClel- 
 lan in the same county and pr.acticed four years. 
 In 1850 he removed to Greene Count^^, Pa., 
 where he practiced until 1857, when he left the 
 State and, in company with his brother. Alec 
 H., removed to this State, locating where Newman 
 is at present situated. In order to secure a place 
 to reside they were obliged to rent a farm, which 
 was managed by his brother Alec. Temporary 
 buildings were put up for their use and conven- 
 ience and he ]n'acticed there some two years. In 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 'J71 
 
 tlic meantime the town of Newman was laid out 
 and in 1859 he built a house there, it being one of 
 the first dwellings to he erected in the town. He 
 built up a large practice in that place and was pros- 
 pering finely, but in 18G1 he once more removed, 
 coming to Kansas, where he has since made his 
 home. Since locating here he has built up a large 
 and lucrative priictice. 
 
 Dr. Ringland's success has been owing to tlie 
 fiict that he attends strictly to business, and never 
 wastes time meddling in politics or seeking oHicial 
 lienors, believing that those wiio give such subjects 
 their exclusive attention are the ones best fitted to 
 manage its affairs. 
 
 On Feb. 7, 1843, our subject and Miss Martha 
 Rea were united in marriage at the home of the 
 bride's father, John Rea. Mrs. Ringland is a native 
 of Greene County, Pa. Dr. and Mrs. Ringland 
 have had their home blessed by the appearance of 
 six bright intelligent children, of whom four sur- 
 vive to cheer and comfort their parents, and aie 
 named respectively: William F., Ray C. Mary and 
 Margaret. The deceased are Hannah, who died in 
 her seventeenth year and John T., who died when 
 at the age of sixteen years. 
 
 William and Miss Caroline McCorkle were mar- 
 ried and reside in Hastings, Neb., with their two 
 children — Paul F. and George L., where he is Pres- 
 ident of Hastings College; Ray married Josephine 
 Phillips and lives in Decatur, 111., and is the father 
 of two children — George L. and an infant boy. 
 
 Dr. Ringland is a member of the Esculapian So- 
 ciety of the Wabash Valley and was its president 
 during the year 1888. He is a R. A. M. and was 
 Master here one year. Dr. Ringland and his entire 
 family are devoted members of tiie Presbyterian 
 Church, the Doctor having been connected with 
 the church since 1842 and now serves the congre- 
 gation in the capacity of Elder, an office which im- 
 plies a high degree of christian activity and moral 
 rectitude. 
 
 William Ringland, the oldest son of Dr. Ring- 
 land, reflects great credit upon his parental care 
 and training. He early manifested an ardent de- 
 sire for knowledge and showed great aptitude in 
 acquiring it. His parents determined to permit him 
 to follow the natural bent of his mind so after 
 
 completing the curriculum of his native town he 
 was placed in Wabash College at Crawfordsville, 
 Ind., from which institution he graduated with 
 high honors in 1877 and afterward entered the 
 McCormick Theological Seminary of Chicago, grad- 
 uating from it in 1880. After being ordained to 
 the niinistiy he returned to his native town and 
 [)rea('hed f(jr the home congregation fui' some time, 
 l)ut was .afterwards scnl to Hastings, Neb., and in- 
 slalled i)astor of that churcl;. His pastorate there 
 was eminently satisfactorj' to the congregation, 
 but the authoiities in charge of the college [ire- 
 vaiied upon him to relinquish his charge and take 
 the presidency of that institution, which position 
 he now holds, altliough not entirel}' retiring from 
 the ministry. 
 
 During the course of liis honorable and success- 
 ful career, Dr. Ringland has been a sorrowing wit- 
 ness of the evil effects of alcohol in its multitudi- 
 nous forms and has dedicated the powers of his 
 s|)lendid understanding to the suppression of the 
 traffic, and in order to secure the consummation of 
 this desirable result has thrown himself heart and 
 soul into the arms of the third or Prohibition party, 
 believing that they alone are sincere in endeavor- 
 ing to overthrow the rum power. 
 
 RN()J>D P. ADAMS. Among the neat 
 homesteads of Bruellet Township, that be- 
 longing to this gentleman is worthy of 
 more than a passing notice. It is pleas- 
 antly situated on section 7, and with its neat build- 
 ings and other improvements, reflects great credit 
 upon the taste, industry and good judgment of the 
 proprietor. Mr. Adams is accounted one of the 
 most worthy men of his community, and is of that 
 centlemanly and courteous bearing which at once 
 impresses itself upon the stranger as that of a man 
 possessing those traits of character which form the 
 basis of all good society. 
 
 Our subject was born in Venango County, Pa., 
 April 8, 1837, and when fifteen years old, removed 
 with his parents, James and Letitia (Cannon) 
 Adams, to Perry County, Ohio. They lived there 
 
972 
 
 PORTRAIT ANJ) BJOGRAPIIICAL ALBUM. 
 
 alioiit two ;ind one-half years, llieii in the fall of 
 1854, came lu this eount^', ;ind located in Edgar 
 Townsiiip. The mother, however, had died in her 
 native State of Pennsylvania, in June, 1851. There 
 was a family of thirteen children, twelve of whom 
 lived to mature years, one having died in infancy. 
 'I'he father only lived about four 3'ears after com- 
 ing to this county, dying in Ross Township, in 
 June. 1858. 
 
 Our subject was the sixth child of his parents, 
 and eight of the children are still living. He re- 
 members man}' of the incidents of the journey from 
 Pennsylvania to Ohio, and from that State to Illi- 
 nois, both of ■which were made overland by teams. 
 In this county the bo^'s farmed on rented land dur- 
 ing the father's lifetime, after which Arnold P. 
 worked out b}' the month until after the outbreak 
 of the Civil War. That same year, 1861, he en- 
 listed as a Union soldier in Company D, 25th Illi- 
 nois Infantrjr, entering the ranks as a private, and 
 being promoted to First Lieutenant. He served 
 three years, and participated in man^' of the im- 
 portant battles of the war. At Stone River he re- 
 ceived a flesh wound in the right side, and at 
 Chickamauga was shot in the right arm. He did 
 not suffer these wounds to disable him, however, 
 but entered upon the Georgia campaign with his 
 regiment, and atKenesaw Mountain, was wounded 
 in the left iiand. This was more serious than the 
 other two, and he was off duty until his final dis- 
 charge. He experienced all the hardships and pri- 
 vations of a soldier's life, but never regretted that 
 he had thus given his assistance in the preservation 
 of the Union. 
 
 After leaving the army, our subject returned to 
 this county, and in November, 1865, was married 
 to Miss Eliza, daughter of John Legg, a native of 
 Ohio. Of this union there was born one child, a 
 daughter, Letitia, now Mrs. Michael Sowers, who 
 is living in Bruellet Township. Mrs. Eliza Adams 
 departed this life in June, 1868. Our subject, in 
 1871, was a second time married to Miss Mary J. 
 Vice, and thej' became the parents of eight chil- 
 dren, viz: Anna, deceased; Vara; George T., and 
 bis twin brother, who died in infancy; America, 
 Horace H., Estella, and Caroline. 
 
 The snug little farm of our subject embraces 
 
 sixty-six acres of well-tilled land, which he pur- 
 chased with his own earnings, and which now 
 affords him a comfortable living. He and his wife 
 are members in good standing of the Methodist 
 Protestant Church. The first Mrs. Adams belonged 
 to the Methodist Episcopal C^hurch. Mr. Adams, 
 l)olitically. is a Democrat, and has held the offices 
 of Township Supervisor and Collector, foui- and 
 three years respectively. The paternal grandfather 
 of our subject was Weldon Adams, who was born 
 and married in Eastern Pennsylvania, and who re- 
 moved to ^'enango County during its early settle- 
 ment. On the mother's side Grandfather James 
 C'annon, was a native of Ireland, and crossed the 
 Atlantic with his little family when a young man. 
 One of his children died at sea, and was committed 
 to an ocean grave. That branch of the family were 
 also members of the Methodist Episcopal Churcii. 
 
 ( )X. SILAS H. ELLIOTT, is one of the prom- 
 Yi inent men of Edgar County, who has aided 
 largely in its development. He is now re- 
 tired from active pursuits, on Prairie street, 
 Paris, where he has a fine home. The farm on 
 which he lived for many years and where he made 
 his record as a pains-taking and successful farmer, 
 is located two miles north of town and contains 
 800 acres of fertile land. 
 
 Mr. Elliott was born in Butler County, Ohio, 
 Dec. 19, 1812, and resided in different parts of 
 his native county, until he removed to Illinois. 
 After becoming of age he engaged in farming for 
 himself, and so continued until 1853 when he re- 
 moved to the farm north of Paris. That place he 
 improved or caused to be improved, entirely him- 
 self, erecting a good house and all the necessary 
 outbuildings for carrying on an extensive farming 
 business. In 1858 he won a gold medal which 
 was given for the best improved and most highly 
 cultivated farm in the State. He continued to live 
 on that farm until 1872, when he removed to town, 
 and there built a home on Central avenue, in the 
 meantime supervising the work on the farm until 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 973 
 
 1876. He resided on Central avenue until 1880 
 when he purchased his present beautiful home. 
 
 In 1859 Mr. Elliott was honored by an election 
 to the Legislature ou the Republican ticket, which 
 he always votes. He served on the committees on 
 railroads, swamp lands, etc. He was the author of 
 the Paris School Bill,* which by his efforts became 
 a law, and he was largely interested in amendments 
 to railroad charters, and in securing the incorpo- 
 ration of the Paris Coke and Gas-light Company. 
 Mr. Elliott was consi)icuous in forwarding the san- 
 itary work during the late war, bearing all his own 
 expenses and spending four years of time. lie was 
 with the army a great deal of this period engaged 
 in the work of caring for the wounded, bringing 
 home the dead, and conveying provisions and cloth- 
 ing to the front. His operations were mainly in 
 Tennessee, where he went through acres of hos- 
 pitals and miles of battlefields searching and hunt- 
 ing for those who were in need of help. He had 
 three sons in the service, two of whom were badlj* 
 wounded, and one of them gave up his life for his 
 country. There were only three sons in this fam- 
 ily. This record of Mr. Elliott is one deserving of 
 special mention, and one which his countrymen 
 will never forget. 
 
 Mr. Elliott has always been an acti\e and influ- 
 ential Republican worker and high in the councils 
 of his party. In all of his political work he has 
 been conscientious, doing everything for the sake 
 of principle. In 1887 he was stricken with mus- 
 cular paralysis and for a time it was feared by his 
 multitude of friends that the results would be ser- 
 ious, but he has gradually regained his health until 
 he is, at this writing, able to be about with his 
 mental vigor unimpaired. He has led an exemplary 
 life, and is a total abstainer from tobacco and in- 
 toxicating liquors. In 1851 Mr. Elliott vvas instru- 
 mental in organizing the Edgar County Agricul- 
 tural Society, was elected its first President and in 
 the following year, was chosen secretary of the 
 society. Since that time he has taken an active 
 part in sustaining it, giving largely of his means 
 to that purpose, until now Edgar County can boast 
 of one of the healthiest agricultural societies in the 
 Slate. The Edgar nemetery which is one of the 
 most beautiful in this section of the State, was ori- 
 
 ginated by Mr. Elliott, who ploughed the grounds 
 and planted the first shrubbery and liedges that 
 now adorn that lovely city of the dead. The cem- 
 etery' was incorporated thirty years ago, and but 
 one man is now living who was then associated 
 with Mr. Elliott in its incorjioration — Dr. Euston. 
 All projects that have tended to beautify Paris and 
 its surroundings, have been guided on to success 
 by the mnster hand of Silas II. Elliott and the 
 pjoplu are indebted to him mow than they realize. 
 
 I\Ir. Elliott has been an active ofliecr in the 
 Methodist Episcopal Church for fifty-eight years, 
 and now holds the positions of Steward and Trus- 
 tee. On every hand praise of the warmest kind is 
 heard of him as a charitable, public-spirited and 
 model christian citizen.and in commemoration of the 
 virtues and christian character of his father who 
 was an old pioneer preacher, the large Methodist 
 church is called Elliott Chapel. It was constructed 
 in 1850, and cost |; 15,000. In the erection of this 
 splendid house of worship Mr. Elliott spent a large 
 amonnt of money and nearly two years of time. 
 He has been a member of the Masonic Order for 
 half a century, and that ancient institution honors 
 itself by counting as one of its members such men 
 as Mr. Elliott. 
 
 On February 18, 1835, Mr. Elliott was united in 
 marriage to Miss Rhoda M. Magic, a native of Ohio, 
 and of this union there were born five children, of 
 whom all but Theodore, the youngest son, are liv- 
 ing. Theodore died from wounds received in bat- 
 tle during the late Rebellion. David B. is now in 
 the grain and elevator business in Paris. He mar- 
 ried Emma Murphy, and they have three children. 
 George W. married Miss Rachael Kyle and they 
 are residing in Paris. Mary married Theodore T. 
 ^"an Horn. The}" have two children, and are also 
 living in Paris. Sarah Elizabeth is an invalid. On 
 May 1,1885, Mrs. Elliott passed to her reward. 
 She was an active christian lady, a devoted wife 
 and loving mother. Six weeks before her death, 
 she celebrated her golden wedding, which com- 
 memorated fifty years of happy and useful wedded 
 life. She was born in Warren Counter, Ohio, Aug. 
 28, 1813, and removed with her parents, when 
 young, to Butler County, that State, where she 
 lived until her marriage. Her father, Benjamin 
 
974 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOaRAPIIICAL ALBUM. 
 
 Magie, was boni and reared in Elizabeth, N. J. 
 He there married Miss Sarah Bi'own, and afterward 
 removed to Lebanon, Ohio, where he engaged in 
 stock-raising. He hiter removed to Butler Countj, 
 tlie same State, where he spent his last years. He 
 was born March 9, 1779, and died Jan. 16, 1842. 
 His wife died Aug, Lj, 1855. They were most 
 estimable people and members of the IMethodist 
 lilpiscopal Churcli. Arthur W. Elliott, father of 
 the subjeut of this sketch, was born in Baltimore 
 County, Md., Feb. 22, 1784, and died Jan. 28, 
 1858, in Edgar County, Illinois. His wife, Mary 
 (Pierce) Elliott was born June 1 1, 1782, and died 
 in August 1857, in Hamilton, Ohio. 
 
 ..o»o..@JA><\233..o*o.. 
 
 lEORGE W.CHAMBERS. The career of 
 Mr. Chambers, who is a well-known resi- 
 dent of Stratton Township, 'has been one 
 marked by many vicissitudes during which he has 
 sometimes felt that he has had more than bis share 
 of difficulties to contend with along life's journey. 
 However this may be, there has been developed 
 wiihin liim those best qualities of manhood which 
 have made him a highly resi)ected citizen and a 
 useful member of the community, one who has been 
 the uniform encourager of those measures which 
 must form the basis of all good society. Without 
 making any great stir in the world, he has pursued 
 the even tenor of his way in a praisworthy and 
 conscientious manner, fighting against odds some- 
 times but in the main coming off a victor in jioint of 
 moral strength and with the fixed determination to 
 make the best of life under all circumstances. We 
 find him occupying a snug homestead of sixty-five 
 acres on section 7, Stratton Township, where he 
 has a neat and substantial residence, with well ap- 
 pointed outbuildings and all the other appliances 
 conducive to the comfort of himself aiid family. 
 He has never had any assistance financially since 
 starting out for himself early in life, save that of 
 his estimable partner who still remains his faithful 
 and devoted companion and who has aided him in 
 all his worthy endeavors. Both are consistent 
 members of the United Brethren Church, and po- 
 
 litically. Ml-. Chambers is a stanch adherent of the 
 Republican party. 
 
 In reverting to the parental history of our sub- 
 ject we find that he is the son of David and 
 Phebe (Cruze) Chambers, the former of whom 
 was born in Lancaster County. Pa., where he lived 
 until the outbreak of the ^\'at of 1812. Tlien en- 
 listing he served in the army until the British were 
 a second time driven from American soil, and later 
 was married. The mother was born in Lancashire, 
 England and came with her parents to America when 
 but a child. They settled near Philadel[)hia, Pa., 
 where she was reared to womanhood. Of her mar- 
 riage with David Chambers there were born eight 
 children — George W., being the fifth in order of 
 birth. 
 
 (.)ur subject was left an orphan by the death of 
 both parents when about eight years old, and being 
 bound out to a severe task-maker he experienced 
 ten years of vei'j' hard usage with scarcely 
 anj' education. His guardian was brutal in the 
 extreme, frequently beating him and requiring him 
 to perform all the drudgei'}' about his place. Fi- 
 nally he was released by the death of his tyrant 
 and hoped for better times. The mistress after 
 the death of her husband proved equally severe 
 but he managed to staj^ with her two years longer. 
 One day he made up his mind that he had borne 
 enough of abuse and tying his clothes in a bundle, 
 started out in the world of which he had little 
 knowledge and less experience. He obtained a 
 situation as an apprentice in a cooper shop and 
 learned the trade in a short time, acquiring a 
 thorough knowledge of the business and being 
 able to command a fair salary. 
 
 Our subject now feeling justified in establishing 
 a home of his own, was married in 1843 to Miss 
 Martha Brubaker. This lady was born in Penn- 
 sylvania and was the daughter of Jacob and Ehza- 
 beth Brubaker, who were also born and reared in 
 that State. This union resulted in the birth of 
 fourteen children, twelve of whom are living. 
 Anna is the wife of Joseph Lambert, a minister of 
 the Mormon Church, and they reside in Iowa; 
 Abram is a resident of Kansas; Mary A., Mrs. 
 Kirkendal, is a resident of Iowa; Margaret is the 
 wife of E. Baden, and they live in Paris, this 
 
Residenceof Firman James , Sec. 15. ElbridgeTownship, Edgar Co. 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 977 
 
 county; Elias is a resident of Vermillion, this 
 county; .losepli lives in Mattoon, 111.; George is 
 farming in Stratton Townsliip; Eleanor is the wife 
 of John Ilusong and they are living- in Indiana; 
 John is also a resident of that State ; Hattie is the 
 wife of John Day, of Denver, Col.; Alice is un- 
 married and at home with her parents. 
 
 Mr. Chambers followed the cooper's trade for 
 ten years after his marriage, then removing, to In- 
 diana, i)urcluiscd a farm in Clay County where he 
 sojourned ten years. Then selling out at a good 
 figure he came to Illinois and Invested part of his 
 capital in a farm of 100 acres, where he soon had a 
 comfortable home. Finall}' through an unwise 
 business transaction he lost a large amount of 
 property, then sold out ouce more and purchased 
 the farm which he now occupies. This is devoted 
 to general agriculture and a goodly amount of live- 
 stock, and forms one of the pleasantest homes in 
 this part of the country. The Chambers family 
 occupies a good position in the community and are 
 amply worthy^ of representation in a work designed 
 to perpetuate the lives of the older settlers of Ed- 
 gar County. 
 
 PTRMAN JAMES. The career of many of 
 J the leading men of Edgar County- should 
 prove a source of encouragement to the 
 
 young man starting out in life without other re- 
 sources than his good health and strong hands. 
 Among its self-made men none have presented a 
 more creditable record than he whose name stands 
 at the head of this sketch. He began in life a poor 
 boy at the foot of the ladder, but was endowed by 
 nature with those qualities which enabled him to 
 persevere amid many discouragements until he at- 
 tained ultimate success. 
 
 Mr. James is now in possession of a fine prop- 
 erty and as one of the leading farmers of p]lbridge 
 Township makes a specialty of live-stock — sheep, 
 cattle and swine — large numbers of which he ships 
 annually to Indianapolis although selling princi- 
 pally to the home market. He has handled a large 
 amount of money in his day and has dealt consid- 
 
 erably in real estate, investing a large amount of 
 capital as a nionej'-lender and taking I'eal estate se- 
 curity. We find him occupying a beautiful home, 
 and having an elegant residence, which with its 
 surroundings is represented by a lithographic en- 
 graving elsewhere in this volume and compares fa- 
 vorably- with anything of the kind in this i)art of 
 the county. Time and money have evidently been 
 employed liberally in bringing the farm to its 
 l)resent high state of cultivation, in erecting the 
 various buildings and gatliering together the ma- 
 chinery necessar}' to successful agriculture. 
 
 A native of Allegany Ciiunty, Md., our subject 
 was born Dec. 27, 1813, and is the son of Evan 
 and Lydia ( \Volf) James, who were natives respect- 
 ivel}' of Maryland and Virginia, the father of Ger- 
 man descent and the mother of ^^'elsh and English 
 ancestry. In 1815 the parents, leaving Mar3'land, 
 emigrated to Muskingum County, Ohio, where 
 they sojourned for a period of twenty-five years. 
 There our subject acquired his education in the 
 common school and worked with his father on the 
 farm until a young man of twenty-one years. In 
 tlie meantime the father operating ati a saw-log 
 contractor, Firman occupied much of his time in 
 hauling logs from one place to another, and re- 
 mained a member of the jjarental household until 
 his marriage. 
 
 The above-mentioned interesting and important 
 event in the life of our subject took place in 1839, 
 the bride being Miss Mary A. Hanks. Mrs. James 
 was born in Virginia, Oct. 18, 1817, and was taken 
 by her parents to Ohio when less than a year old. 
 Her early education was acquired in the Buckeye 
 State where she lived with her parents whose fam- 
 ily consisted of thirteen children, she being the 
 third in order of birth. After their marriage Mr. 
 and INIrs. James settled on a farm in Muskingum 
 County, where they lived one and one-half years 
 then turned their faces to the farther West. They 
 arrived in this county on the 18th of October, 
 1842 and settled on a very new farm just opposite 
 where they now live and which comprised 240 
 acres of land. 
 
 Mr. James and his estimable wife lived in true 
 pioneer style and labored industriously for many 
 years until they had obtained a flrni foothold finan- 
 
978 
 
 PORTRAIT AND HIOGRAPIIICAL ALBUM. 
 
 cially, and coiilfl parlially lay aside life's sterner 
 duties. Mr. James wisely invested his surplus 
 eapital in additioual land and is now the owner of 
 1800 acres, lying in Clark and Edgar counties, this 
 State, and in Muscatine County, Iowa. The whole 
 is fairly improved and under a high state of culti- 
 vation. Mr. and Mrs. James have no children. 
 
 Until the troul)Ies incident upon the effort of 
 the Southerners to mske Kansas a slave State, Mr. 
 James had voted the Democratic ticket. The scenes 
 enacted upon the soil of bleeding Kansas led him 
 to ciiange his views, and he identified himself with 
 tlie Republican party of which he has since been a 
 stanch supporter. He has never sought office but 
 at the solicitation of his party in Elbridge Town- 
 ship, consented at one time to represent the town- 
 ship in tiie County Board of Supervisors and 
 acquitted himself in a most creditable manner. He 
 is a member in good standing of the Methodist 
 Episcopal Church, attending services at Asbery. 
 They number their friends b}- the score in this part 
 of the county with whose most important interests 
 tliey have been closely identified for so many 
 years and in whose material growth and develop- 
 ment they have borne a cons[)icuous part. 
 
 ~3-*~ 
 
 AMES M. STEELE, Ji;., son of Ihe well- 
 Ij known Dr. James M. Steele, an old resident 
 of this county, is one of the few inheriting 
 a fine property at life's outset. He has one 
 of the most beautiful homes within the limits of 
 Grand Mew Township, and a fine engraving of his 
 residence is presented elsewhere is this Album. He 
 is in fact one of the wealthiest men of his county, 
 is well educated and very popular; a member of 
 the Kansas base ball nine, the heaviest batter in it, 
 fond of athletic sports and the life of the social 
 circles of his community. 
 
 Dr. James M. Steele, the father of our subject, 
 was born in Monroe County, Va., May 6, 1806, and 
 lived there until 1835, whence he removed to War- 
 ren County. ()hio. In the fall of 1836 he came to 
 Illinois and took up his residence in PMgar County, 
 
 of which he afterward remained a resident until 
 his death, which took place May 23, 1887, after he 
 iiad reached the advanced age of eighty-one j'ears. 
 He began the study of medicine when a young man 
 of twenty-six, completed a course in Pennsylvania 
 L'niversity, and practiced in this count3' for the 
 long period of forty-two years. He did much work 
 among the poorer classes, responding to every call 
 even when he knew he would never receive any 
 pay. Especially was he the friend of young and 
 wortliy ])iiysicians striving to gain a foothold in 
 their profession. He was a close reader and when- 
 ever it was possible attended the local and State 
 medical conventions. 
 
 The marriage of Dr. James M. Steele and Miss 
 Margaret I. Tate, of Augusta County, \a., occurred 
 at the bride's home in this county, Sept. 12, 1838. 
 This union resulted in the birth of four children, 
 threeof whom are living: Nancy T.,Mrs. H. Baker of 
 Salina, Kan.; Anna E., Mrs. J. B. Lord, of Chicago; 
 and James M., the subject of this sketch. John M. 
 died Jan. 12, 1864. The mother is still living, 
 making her home with her son, our subject, and is 
 in the enjoyment of good health at the age of sixty- 
 nine years. Dr. Steele was very liberal and public 
 spirited, and could always be depended upon in 
 assisting in any new and worthy enterprise. He 
 gave to his children a thorough education, his 
 daughters being college graduates. As a physician 
 he was remarkably successful and accumulated a 
 large property. 
 
 The subject of this sketch was the youngest child 
 of his parents and was born Feb. 12, 1862, in this 
 township, this county. After leaving the primary 
 schools he entered Wabash College in Indiana, 
 where he took a scientific course and studied four 
 years, withdrawing in 1882. Upon returning home 
 he turned his attention to farming and assumed sole 
 charge of the homestead. On the 4th of October 
 of that year he was married to Eda, daughter of 
 William and Louise Juntgen, of Kansas, 111. The 
 father of Mrs. Steele is a prominent stock dealer 
 and extensive land owner in this county. Mrs. 
 Steele, like her husband, is well educated and musi- 
 cally inclined, being graduated in music from the 
 school at Warren, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Steele are 
 the parents of three children: Louise, born Oct. 16, 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAFUICAL ALBUM. 
 
 979 
 
 1883; Anna T., FfU. 14, 1885, and Earl Ledger- 
 wood, Dec. 6, 1887. 
 
 The vSteele estate comprises 547^ acres of land, 
 thoroughly cultivated and improved, and is largely 
 devoted to stock-raising. Mr. Steele is a lover of 
 fine horses and is one of the owners of "Union Jack 
 •>," said to be the finest draft animal in the county. 
 Politicall}', our subject is a sound Republican, with 
 which party he has voted and worked since assum- 
 ing the right of suffrage. He has been a School 
 Trustee for a period of seven years, and with his 
 estimable wife is a member in good standing of the 
 Presbyterian Church at Kansas. Both are active 
 in Sunday-school, and Mrs. Steele is organist at the 
 regular services in church and Sunday-school. 
 Their benutiful and hosintable home is the frequent 
 resort of the scores of friends whom they number 
 in this countj'. There is probably no more attract- 
 ive home within its limits, or more indicative of 
 intelligence, culture, and the finer elements of life. 
 
 lOHN MOSS, Ex-County Treasurer and 
 Mayor of Chrisman, is recognized as one of 
 its leading citizens and one who has entered 
 fj largelj' into tiie building up of the town. 
 He is a man of property and influence and carries 
 on agriculture and the live-stock business at a fine 
 farm of 200 acres adjoining the city limits. He also 
 has a goodly amount of land in the vicinity of 
 Olney. He is well educated and possessed of more 
 than ordinary business abilities, while his value as 
 a citizen is acknowledged generally by the people 
 of this section. His native place was near Sher- 
 bourne, Fleming Co., Ky.,and the date of his birth 
 Sept. 7, 1840. 
 
 The early education of Mr. Moss was conducted 
 in the common school and, in 1853, when a youth 
 of thirteen, he came to Illinois, driving overland 
 with a team. From that time he occupied himself 
 at farming in this county during the summer and 
 attending school during the winter. Perhaps the 
 most interesting and important event which fol- 
 lowed was his marriage on the 8th of January, 18G8, 
 to Miss Nancy Sousley, which was celebrated at 
 
 the home of the bride near Elizaville, Ky. This 
 lady was the daughter of Harrison Sonsley, a 
 planter and slave owner, but a strong Union man 
 and a native of Fleming County, Ky., where he 
 spent his last years. 
 
 In the spring of 1869, our subject, in partner- 
 ship with his brother became owner of 200 acres 
 of land in Edgar Township, where he operated two 
 years, then purchased the old farm of his father in 
 Hunter Township, and which embraced 400 acres. 
 He operated this one year and was then elected 
 County Treasurer, when he moved into Paris and 
 resided there two years. Tiien returning to the 
 farm he continued upon it until 1873, when he 
 traded it for 200 acres adjoining Chrisman and lost 
 about •'i^lO,000 in the trade. He now commenced 
 farming and stock-raising, also bought and shipped 
 largely until 1884, when he sold out once more 
 and purchased the farm which he now owns and 
 which is situated on sections 34 and 35. Besides 
 this property he has a modern residence and lots in 
 the city. His live-stock includes a flock of 200 
 sljeep and, from these various resources he realizes 
 a handsome income. 
 
 Politically, Mr. Moss is an uncompromising 
 Democrat and is prominent in the councils of his 
 party, frequently being sent as a delegate to the 
 various conventions. He was a member of the first 
 Town Council, with which body he continued for 
 six years and has been a Trustee nine years. He 
 was one of the committee during the erection of 
 the school building and is an Elder of the Pres- 
 byterian Church, to whose support he has always 
 contributed liberally. Socially, he belongs to the 
 I. O. O. F., the A. O. U. W. and has ever been 
 foremost in encouraging the enterprises calculated 
 to build up his town. 
 
 To Mr. and Mrs. MosSijthere have been born Ave 
 children, the eldest of whom, a daughter, Grace is 
 the wife of William Holt, a resident of Prairie 
 Township. Rosa, Edward and Mamie are at home 
 with their parents. The father of our subject was 
 William H. K. Moss, likewise a native of Flemino- 
 County, Ky., and the paternal grandfather, Will- 
 iam Moss, was born in Scotland. He emigrated to 
 America in early life and located in Fleming 
 County, Ky., before the Indians had left that region 
 
980 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 ;indwlien tliey committed many depredations ui)on 
 tlic white settlers. The whites liad many conflicts 
 witli them and, during one of these, Grandfather 
 Moss was captured and iield a prisoner two years. He 
 liually made his escape and returning to Kentucky 
 engaged in farming and tliere spent liis last days. 
 
 The father of our subject received only three 
 month's schooling in his j'outli, but by hi.s own 
 efforts afterward developed into a very good 
 sciiolar. lie was an excellent business man, skillf d 
 as a farmer and successful as a stock raiser, and be- 
 came owner of 320 acres of land in Fleming 
 County. lie left the Blue Grass State in 1851 
 and, coming to this county, purchased 640 acres 
 of land near Baldwinsville. Later he returned to 
 Kentucky to make some collections, and died there 
 in 1S53, at the early age of thirty-seven years. 
 
 Mrs. Mary (Chrismaii) Moss, the mother of our 
 subject, was likewise, a native of Fleming County, 
 Ky.,and the daughter of John Chrisman, who was 
 horn in Germany. He emigrated to America, set- 
 tling in Kentucky, and acquired a good property. 
 In I cS52 he came to the present site of Chrisman and 
 secured 700 acres of land. His wife was Jane 
 Somerville, a native of Ireland and of Scotch-Irish 
 descent. The mother of our subject is still living, 
 making her home with her daughter, Mrs. Belle 
 Gray, at Chrisman, and is now seventy. seven years 
 old; she is a member of the Presbyterian Church. 
 
 To the parents of our subject there were born 
 eight children: Eliza, Mrs. Keyes, is a resident of 
 Baldwinsville; Margaret is deceased; William lives 
 in Edgar Township; John, our subject, was the 
 fourth child; Mathias was accidentally killed hy a 
 runaway team; H. Clay is a resident of CUu-isman; 
 Harrison is deceased ;" Belle, Mrs. Gray, also lives 
 Chrisman. 
 
 — -i^m- — 
 
 QUIRE JOHN VV. McGEE, is one of the 
 extensive and [)opular farmers of Prairie 
 Township and one of its largest land 
 holders. His father, William McGee, was 
 a native of Berkley County, Va., and came to Oliio 
 in an early day, locating on the Muskingum River, 
 afterward removing to Logan County, where he en- 
 
 gaged in farming. At a later day he removed to 
 Fulton County, Ind., '-here he died at the age of 
 sixty-three years. He was a Democrat and a mem- 
 ber of the United Brethren Church. His wife, Su- 
 sannah Dawson, was also born in Virginia and is 
 now residing with her son, John W., at the age of 
 eighty-one. She is the mother of six children: 
 John W.; Sarah, now Mrs. Briggs, of Logan 
 County, Ohio; Mary (Jwens, who is living in Ful- 
 ton County, Ind.; Elijah, who was a soldier during 
 the Civil ^Var, and is now a farmer of the last 
 mentioned place; Samuel and Moses also of the 
 same place. 
 
 John W. McGee was born near Bath, Berkley 
 Co., Va., on Oct. 19, 1827, and while very young, 
 came with his parents to Ohio, where he grew up 
 on a farm and attended school in log school-houses. 
 He remained at home until he was twenty years of 
 age when he started out in life on his own account 
 by renting land. In connection with his farming- 
 he also operated a saw and gristmill at Quincy,Ohio. 
 In 1852 he came to Illinois and entered land in 
 Edgar County, a pai-t of which comprises his pres- 
 ent farm. After doing this he returned to Ohio, 
 and continued his milling business until 1855, 
 when he returned and immediately set to work 
 in making improvements on his Edgar County 
 land, which he had increased then to 200 acres. He 
 since purchased 120 acres adjoining his original 
 farm. Here he is engaged in raising cattle and 
 horses and in general farming. His faim is under 
 a high state of cultivation, well fenced and well 
 drained. On his place is situated the school-house 
 for his district, and also two residences and the 
 necessary buildings for a farm of such extensive 
 proportions. He raises a great many Poland hogs. * 
 He is engaged in breeding a superior kind of draft 
 horses and in fact he raises none but the best stock, 
 and he finds that it pays. 
 
 In 1847 he was married to Miss Sarah Arnold, a 
 native of Ohio. They have seven children: Felix, 
 William, Matilda, Martha, John A., Arthur and 
 Otis. Felix married Miss Canady and is at home 
 following farming; William is a telegraph operator 
 at New Lenox, 111.; Matilda is the wife of Amos 
 McCourtne}'; Martha married Mr. Southard. They 
 are farming on the homestead. The rest of the 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 981 
 
 children are at home. Mr. McGee has been called 
 to several local otfices and has filled them witli abil- 
 ity. He has iicld the office of Justice of the Peace 
 for nine years, School Director over thirt}' years 
 and has been Supervisor of Roads. He is Chaplain 
 of the Masonic Lodge at Ridge Farm and a mem- 
 ber of the Methodist Church, of which he is a Class- 
 Leader and Steward. He has also served as (Super- 
 intendent of the Sundaj'-school for a great many 
 years. 
 
 The Republican party has a no more faithful 
 adherent than JNIr. McGee, and he generally at- 
 tends its conventions and gatherings He is a man 
 of great inHuence, and during the War of the Re- 
 bellion, though physically inciapacitated for the 
 duties of the soldier, he did all in his power to 
 prosecute the war, raising money to fill the quota 
 of his township. 
 
 ,'AMES A. KERRICK. The unsurpassed 
 I school system of the State of Illinois, the 
 I pleasant, and in many instances, grand and 
 ^^jl/ magnificent school buildings which are 
 thickly scattered throughout its borders, stand as 
 enduring monuments to the ennobling character 
 and beniflcient labors of the element of society to 
 wliich the subject of this sketch belongs. 
 
 Mr. Kerriek is Superintendent of Schools for 
 P^dgar County, which office he has held since 1K86. 
 He was born in Cumberland County, Tenn., Aug. 
 21, 18G2, but when he was eight months old his 
 parents removed to the southeast part of this 
 county, locating in Elbridge Township, where they 
 lived two or throe years. James 4. acquired his edu- 
 cation at the common schools, supplementing it at 
 the Teachers' Institutes and at the Training 
 School, which is located at Oregon, Ogle Co., 111. 
 He has been for eight years continuously in school 
 work, having taught six years. 
 
 Mr. Kerriek married Miss Lizzie Asher, of 
 Hume, September, 1881, and to them have been 
 born one boy — Irvin. Mr. Kerriek has always 
 been associated with the Democratic party, be- 
 ing enthusiastic in upholding its principles. He 
 
 is a member of the I. 0. 0. F. and belongs to 
 Austin Lodge No. 91. The successful life of Mr. 
 Kerriek, although a young man, can be traced to 
 his iiabits of industry and his strict probity. He is 
 painstaking in all his work, and in educational 
 affairs he is well informed. His ability is sure to 
 lead a successful career. 
 
 John W. Kerriek, father of James A., was born 
 in Fauquier County, Va., in March, 1832, and 
 when he was a boy, his parents removed to Cum- 
 berland County, Tenn., where the^^ were engaged 
 in farming. His father, Edwin, the grandfather 
 of James A., was an oflBcer in the War of 1812. 
 He was a Baptist minister and teacher. John W. 
 marriei! Miss Sarah L. Deatherage, and the former 
 is now living in this county, owning and operating 
 a farm. Nine children were born to them, of 
 whom seven are living, and five of them have been 
 teachers. Catherine married J. D. Waters, and 
 they are living at Lincoln, Neb.; Henry C. is a 
 physician in this county; James A., subject of this 
 sketch; Lizzie and Charles L. are teachers; William, 
 and Sally E. reside in this county; Mary E. and 
 Bushrod T. are deceased. Bushrod was twenty- 
 seven years old when he died and was a success- 
 ful teacher. The mother has been dead for about 
 ten years. 
 
 Mrs. James A. Kerriek was born in Indiana in 
 1863 and when a young girl came to Douglas County 
 where her father was a farmer. She received a 
 gooj;! education and became a ver}^ [)opular teaclier, 
 following that profession for three j'ears in the 
 Hume School, in Edgar County. She was a daugh- 
 ter of Newton and J uretta (Dodds) Asher. The 
 former was a native of Indiana but spent the last 
 twelve j'ears of his life in Illinois. His wife is 
 still living. 
 
 \f ASON W. HOWELL, C^ity Attorney and Jus- 
 tice of the Peace in Paris, was born in Henry 
 County, Ind., Aug. 29, 1849. His parents 
 were Hillery and Fanny (Bedwell) Howell, 
 and his paternal grandfather was Jason Howell, 
 who was liorn in one of the Carolinas. The latter 
 emigrated to Wayne County, Ind., at an early day; 
 
982 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 was a Duiikard in religion and a farmer by occu- 
 pation. He was married in Indiana to Miss Mary 
 Small and lived to be eighty-eight years old pass- 
 ing away about 1860, many years after the death 
 of his wife. 
 
 Hillery Howell, the father of our subject, was 
 born in A\"a3me County, Ind., in 1814, and like the 
 sons of farmers of that day was early inured to hard 
 work. That part of the country was heavily tim- 
 bered, and the early settlers literally iiewed their 
 homes out of the wilderness. Young Hillery How- 
 ell lived with liis parents until reaching his majority, 
 and for a few j^ears afterward carried on farming 
 with his uncle near La Porte. Finally he took up 
 140 acres of Government land lying on Stony 
 Creek near Blountsville, and here constructed a 
 homestead, where he settled after his marriage and 
 wliere his ten children were born. About twenty 
 years before his death he sold his property and 
 purchased the farm of liis father-in-law, adjoining 
 Blountsville on the north. He lived there for some 
 years, and until advancing age disqualified him for 
 labor, when he sold out again and purchased a 
 home in Blountsville, where he spent the remainder 
 of his days. He died suddenly March 6, 1888, 
 from heart disease. A son living with him, upon 
 returning home the evening of that day, found 
 him lying dead upon the floor, death having been 
 apparently painless and instantaneons. He had 
 that evening been out to visit another son and had 
 evidently just returned home, his cane being luing 
 up on the wall but his hat was still on his head. 
 His life had passed in a comparatively uneventful 
 manner. He united with the Christian Church in 
 middle life and remained connected with it until his 
 death. In his habits he was industrious, temperate, 
 strictly honest and upright in all his dealings and 
 was held in high esteem by his entire community. 
 A man of genial temperament he made many 
 friends. He was a kind and indulgent father and 
 gave his children all the advantages of education 
 within his power. His wife, Fanny, preceded him 
 to the tomb but a few weeks, dying Feb. 19, 1888. 
 
 Of the family born to Hillery and Fanny Howell 
 nine are yet living. The deceased daughter, Sarah 
 Jane, was the wife of Silas Haynes, a farmer living 
 near Blountsville, lud., and she died in 18G8; Ke- 
 
 turah is the wife of George Russum, a farmer of 
 Linn County, Kan. ; Osborn G. lives near Arba, Ind., 
 and is connected with the postal service; Jonatiian 
 B. is a merchant of Montpelier, Blackford Co., 
 Ind.; Jason W., our subject, was the next in order 
 of birth; Caldwell R. is farming near Blountsville, 
 Ind.; Serena A. is the wife of A. "W. Jordon, living 
 near Blountsville; Leroy T. is employed as a clerk 
 at Burney, Ind.; Alonzo G. is also a clerk; and 
 Orange L. W. is a stone-mason by trade; both arc 
 residents of Blountsville. 
 
 'I'he subject of this sketch spent his boyhood 
 and youth on the farm where he was born, acquir- 
 ing his education in the district school and becom- 
 ing familiar with the various employments of rural 
 life. At the age of twenty years he left home, and 
 coming to Coles County, this State, engaged in 
 teaching scliool for a time at Hitesville. Later he 
 returned to Blountsville, where he taught school 
 one year, then came to this county and taught 
 school in the western part of it. Finall3f crossino- 
 the Mississippi he visited Iowa, Nebraska and Mis- 
 souri, teaching a term in the Hawkeye State in the 
 summer of 1871, and the following winter taught 
 in Missouri. In the spring of 1872 Mr. Howell 
 came back to Edgar County, and was engaged as a 
 pedag(}gue three years. Then with his wife and 
 a child lie lemoved to Blountsville, Ind., where he 
 conducted a school two years in the same buildino- 
 where he had attended when a ho}'. In Ma\', 1877 
 he came to Paris, which has since been his home. 
 In the meantime he had improved his leisure hours 
 in reading law, and now entered the office of Jo- 
 seph E. Dyas, Esq., where he commenced the regu- 
 lar study and applied himself to such good purpose 
 that he was admitted to the bar July 3, 1879, before 
 the Supreme Court in session at Mt. Yernon. He 
 commenced the practice of his profession in Paris, 
 and has met with uniform success. He was elected 
 Justice of the Peace in 1881, re-elected in 1885 and 
 entered upon his third term in 1889. In 1887 he 
 was electiMl City Attorney of Paris and re-elected 
 in 18«9. None other than a conscientious atten- 
 tion to duty could have retained him in the posi- 
 tion which he now occupies. 
 
 Jason Howell was united in marriage with Miss 
 Ida I'atton Feb. 8, 1871. This lady is the daugh- 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 983 
 
 ter of Robeson M. and Nancy (Hamilton) Pattfin, 
 the father a mason by trade and living near Kan- 
 sas, this county', although he owns a farm near what 
 is called Donica Point. Mr. Patton came to this 
 county from Hamilton, Ohio, about 1857. Both 
 he and his estimable wife are now deceased, lie dj'- 
 ing in 1884 and the mother about 1887. Mrs. 
 Howell was born in Hamilton County, Ohio, Nov. 
 29, 1850, and is the youngest in a family of seven 
 children, all of whom are yet living except one. 
 Of her union with our subject there have been 
 born seven children, two of whom are still living — 
 Fannie F. and Herbert II. Mr. Howell, politically, 
 is a Republican, and socially belongs to Austin 
 Lodge, No. 664. I. O. O. F. and is also a memlicr 
 of the jNIasonic fraternity. 
 
 RANCIS J. MADDOCK. The subject of 
 this notice is one of the most solid citizens 
 of Bruellet Township, and operates a farm 
 of 780 acres in extent on section 35. He was born 
 Nov. 15, 1846 in West Elkton, I'reble Co., Ohio and 
 in 1858 came with his parents to this county, 
 where his father, Joseph Maddock, died in 1860. 
 The mother died in July 17, 1889. 
 
 The mother of our subject was in her girlhood 
 Miss Irene Macey and of her union with Joseph 
 Maddock there were born eight children, viz: 
 Phebe C, Stephen, Isaac, who is deceased, Mary, 
 Francis J., our subject; Lorenzo, Ely C. and Ver- 
 linda, who died in infancy. The paternal grand- 
 father, was also named F'rancis, was born in North 
 Carolina, and early in life moved to Preble County, 
 Oliio, during the first settlements of that State. He 
 opened up a farm upon which he spent the re- 
 mainder of his life, becoming a substantial and 
 well-to-do citizen. He was married in North C'ar- 
 olina to Miss Phebe Cook, and they became the 
 parents of a fine family of sons and daughters 
 among whom Joseph, the father of our subject, 
 was one of the older children. 
 
 The subject of this notice was married in Prairie 
 Township, Dec. 4, 1870 to Miss Serena Scott, a 
 native of Illinois, and of this union there hg,vc been 
 
 born two children — Terrence and Nettie, aged 
 se\'enteen and nine, respectively. Mr. Maddock 
 cast his first Presidential vote for Grant and 
 uniformly supports the principles of the Republi- 
 can party. 
 
 •~^/\'-'\tjiiia^^iS^ 
 
 <^t&V^m^'\A/>i>. 
 
 I^LI CHARLLEEN TURNER. There are 
 few men younger than Mr. Turner repre- 
 sented in this work, as it requires years of 
 experience for a man to establish himself in any 
 business and to build up a reputation among his 
 fellow-citizens. The subject of this notice is a 
 gentleman of more than ordinary cai>acities, who 
 improved his early years in the acquirement of an 
 education, and now in addition to farm pursuits 
 occupies himself as a teacher. He makes his home 
 with his father, Isaac Turner, at a well regulated 
 homestead on section 1 in Shiloli Township. 
 
 Mr. Turner was born near Dudley, (irand Mew 
 Township, Aug. 4, 1858, and thereafter during his 
 Ijoyhood and youth divided his time in attendance 
 at the district and graded schools and working on 
 the farm during vacations. He made such good 
 use of his time at school that at the early ao-e of 
 seventeen years he began teaching, which profes- 
 sion he has since followed continuously durino- the 
 winter season. When twenty one years old he at 
 tended Hurley's Academy in Paris. 
 
 Our subject removed with the family to Shiloh 
 Township in 1875, where he has since made his 
 home. As an instructor he bears the reputation 
 of being a decided success, and his whole heart is 
 in the work. He attends all the institutes of the 
 county and has taught in nearly every township 
 along its northern line. This is sufficient indica- 
 tion of his success and popularity. Durino- the 
 summer season he assists his father in operatin"- 
 the farm. He is a strong Republican politically, 
 and at various times has been made a candidate 
 for the various local offices, and although receiv- 
 ing a hearty support, his party being in the minor- 
 ity, failed of election as he expected. He is very 
 poj)ular in social circles and a great favurite amon<>- 
 the young people of his neighborlioud. Eli C. 
 
984 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 Tunier married Lydia Ellen Boulger, Aug. 11, 
 1889; she is tlie daughter of Jeremiah and Martha 
 Boulger. 
 
 Isaac Turner, the father of our subject, was born 
 in Manchester, England, Aug. 6, 1825. The pa- 
 ternal grandfather, William Turner, was likewise a 
 native of England, and during his younger j'ears 
 employed himself as a silk manufacturer near the 
 city of Manchester. In 1829, however, he dc • 
 cided to seek his fortunes on the other side of the 
 Atlantic, and locating in Philadelphia, Pa., fol- 
 lowed his old-time occupation until his death, 
 which occurred from cholera in 1832. Grand- 
 mother Mary (Kaj^) Turner, a native of the same 
 county as her husband, came with him to America 
 and passed away in 1831 ; she was a member of tlie 
 Methodist Episcopal Church. 
 
 The father of our subject was the youngest of 
 fourteen children born to his parents, nnd is tlie 
 only survivor of the whole family. He was a little 
 lad of four years when he was brought to America 
 by his parents and at the age of seven years was 
 left an orphan in the city of Philadelphia. For 
 ten years thereafter he made his home with one of 
 his sisters, and then at the age of seventeen years 
 began his apprenticeship at the blacksmith trade. 
 At the age of twenty he commenced working as a 
 journeyman and was thug employed twelvemonths 
 in New York City. Later he worked for a time 
 in Newcastle, Del. From there he returned to 
 Philadelphia where he sojourned until the S|)ring 
 of 1849. 
 
 The father of our subject now having an oppor- 
 tunity to see something more of the world, em- 
 barked on a sailing vessel and subsequently went 
 as second engineer on a steamer bound for Central 
 America. It was a small steamer used to run up 
 the Jagers River. The vessel not being ready he 
 employed himself at blaeksmithing in the vessel 
 until the fall of tlie year, when he set out for Cali- 
 fornia from I'anama on a'steamer and locating on 
 the Uba River began prospecting for gold. He 
 remained there two years, meeting with success. 
 In the spring of 1852 he returned to Philadelphia, 
 and shortlj' afterward was married to Miss Re- 
 becca Charlleen. She was born in Delaware 
 Count}^, Pa., July 18, 1822, and is the daughter 
 
 of Eli Charlleen, also a native of Pennsylvania, 
 and by trade a carpenter and joiner. He came to 
 the West in 1854 and made his home with his 
 daughter until his decease. 
 
 In the fall of 1852 Mr. Turner came to Cincin- 
 nati, Ohio, looking for a location, but not finding 
 anything desirable pushed on into Illinois and se- 
 cured a tract of land in Cirand View Township. In 
 the course of time he had improved two farms. 
 In the spring of 1869 he went to California in- 
 tending to locate, making the journey via the Isth- 
 mus of I'anama, and preempted 160 acres of land 
 in Fresno Countj^, Cal. He had gone there with 
 his money in greenbacks, but was not able to stand 
 the discount of thirty per cent in exchange for 
 gold, so returned that same fall, leaving his claim. 
 He then located in Dudley, III., where he engaged 
 in buying and shipping grain. He was successful 
 in his enterprise and in due time purchased a tract 
 of raw land in Shiloh Township, upon which he 
 built up a good farm and where he instituted mod- 
 ern impro\'ements. It is now largely devoted to 
 grain-raising and high-bred horses. Mr. Turner 
 votes the straight Republican ticket and is a mem- 
 ber in good standing of the Masonic fraternity. 
 The mother is a member of the Presbyterian 
 Church. Their family consists of two children, 
 Eli Charlleen, and Jennie, the wife of C. ( ). Rogers, 
 of Hume. 
 
 >^^3-e- 
 
 ^Yl (JHN II. HARRIS of Paris Township, enjoys 
 the reputation of being one of the most 
 prominent stock dealers of Edgar County. 
 He owns and occupies a beautiful home- 
 stead upon which has been effected all the modern 
 improvements. The residence is a commodious 
 and tasteful frame structure in front of which ex- 
 tends a well-kept lawn and around which are 
 planted shade and ornamental trees. The barn 
 adjacent is of ample dimensions, while the other 
 outbuildings, tlie live-stock and the farm machinery 
 give to the premises that air of plenty and solidity 
 which is delightful to contemplate. 
 
 Mr. Harris was born in Wheeling, now AVest 
 Virginia, and when a boy of ten j^ears, came, in 
 1857, with his parents to this county. The latter, 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPIIIOAL ALBUM. 
 
 987 
 
 Joseph and Sarah (Keyser) Harris, were both 
 natives of Bellaire, Ohio. The father secured a 
 tract of land from which he opened up a farm and 
 there with his family spent many years. Finally 
 retiring from active labor lie removed to Paris, 
 of which he and his estimable wife are still resi- 
 dents. The paternal grandfather of our subject 
 was Reuben Harris, who took up his abode in Bel- 
 laire, Ohio, when there was nothing to indicate a 
 future town. The house which he built and lived 
 in for many years, is still standing and for some 
 time it was the only dwelling in the place. 
 
 Grandfather Harris became owner of a large 
 tract of land now covered by the city of Bellaire, 
 and where he built up a good farm from the wilder- 
 ness. At that homestead the father of our subject 
 was born and reared, and ran the ferry across the 
 Ohio River for several years. He was married 
 near the place of his birth, but soon afterward le- 
 moved across the river into A'irginia with his 
 young wife, where they sojourned until their family 
 of nine children were born. Of thcHC John H. was 
 was the fifth. Two more children were added to 
 the household circle after their removal to this 
 State, one now deceased. 
 
 The subject of this sketch was educated in the 
 district schools of his native township and early in 
 life, became familiar with farming pursuits. When 
 reaching man's estate he was married Oct. 31, 1872, 
 to Miss Mary J., daughter of John and Eliza 
 (Moss) Arthur. The young people began their 
 wedded life in a manner corresponding to their 
 means and surroundings, making it a rule to live 
 within their income, and employing their time in- 
 dustriously in obtaining a competence. This course 
 pursued a series of years could scarcely fail of good 
 results. Mr. Harris is now the owner of 410 acres 
 of land. Upon the home farm of 200 acres he has 
 effected the improvements which invariably attract 
 the eye of the passing traveler. Besides this he has 
 two other improved farms in Paris Township. He 
 has for years been engaged in buying, feeding and 
 shipping stock, principally cattle, of wliich he 
 usually feeds about 100 head per year. This in- 
 dustry alone has been the source of a handsome 
 income. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Harris are the parents of eight 
 
 cjiildren, seven of whom are living, viz: Leonard, 
 Charles, John, Myrtle, Irma, Hazel and Amelia. 
 One child died unnamed in infancy. Noah Harris, 
 a brother of our subject, diu'ingthe late Civil War 
 served in the Union army a member of the 7th 
 Illinois Cavalry. Reuben, another brother, en- 
 listed in the tiiree-month's service, in the 12th 
 Illinois Infantry and died of starvation at Paducah, 
 Ky. Albert Harris served six months in an Illinois 
 regiment and is now a resident of this township. 
 
 -€^^- 
 
 ILLIAM M. SMITH. For a man compar- 
 atively young in years, this gentleman has 
 
 "made a, fine record both as an agriculturist 
 and a business man, and is already in independent 
 circumstances. Personally he is a "gentleman to 
 the manor born," a fact which must be at once 
 recognized by both friend and stranger. In all he 
 is the owner of 303 acres of land, 247-J^ lying on 
 section I.'!, where he resides, fifty and two-thirds 
 acres in Bruellet Township, and five acres in A'er- 
 million County, Ind. The farm is embellished by 
 a commodious residence, a lithographic engraving 
 of which is presented on another page, while ample 
 and convenient outbuildings add to the conven- 
 ience of the farmer. The land has been thoroughly- 
 drained with tile and brought to an exceedingly 
 productive condition. The fields are largely en- 
 closed with hedge, which adds greatly to the beauty 
 of the landscape. There is an abundance of im- 
 proved farm machinery and a windmill with tanks 
 for supplying water wherever needed. Mr. Smith 
 makes a specialty of stock raising-Seattle, horses 
 and swine — ships about two cars annually, and has 
 some of the finest roadsters and draft horses to be 
 found in this part of the county, mostly Normans, 
 two teams of which are utilized in the farm opera- 
 tions. 
 
 Our subject, like his honored father, is a native 
 of this county, and was born at the homestead 
 which he now owns and occupies, Dec. 25, 1858. 
 His father, Shephard Smith, was the son of Dr. 
 Abraham Smith, a native of Washington County, 
 Tenn., and born May 17, 1796. In 1821 he left 
 
988 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 his native State and established himself on a tract 
 of land in the vicinity of Plainville, Hendricks Co., 
 Ind. While a youth in Tennessee he had studied 
 medicine under the instruction of his maternal 
 grandniother, Mrs. I^aine, who was a physician and 
 surgeon in the hospital during the Revolutionary 
 War. In Indiana Grandfather Smith commenced 
 the practice of medicine, and living among Lhe In- 
 dians and associating with them, he gained much 
 valuable information in connection with the use of 
 roots .and herbs, mainly from a Pottawatomie 
 Chief. 
 
 In 1823 Grandfather Smith crossed over into 
 Illinois, and located near Georgetown in Vermilion 
 County, where he resided until 1832. That year 
 he made another removal to this county, locating 
 in what is now Ross Township, and entering land 
 including the present site of Chrisman. He became 
 the owner of 769 acres and engaged in farming 
 and stock-raising, making a specialty of trotting 
 horses, and was thus occupied until 1852. Then 
 selling out his interests in Illinois he crossed tiie 
 plains to Oregon, where he engaged in farming 
 until 1859. That j'ear he returned to the " East- 
 ern country,'' as he called it, and located in Bloom- 
 ington, Ind. where he followed his profession, 
 established a large practice, and engaged in distill- 
 ing oil. In 1881 he retired from active labor with 
 limited means, having deeded his property' awa\-. 
 He now makes his home with his grandson, our 
 subject. He is a man of commanding stature, o\cv 
 six feet in height and remarkably intelligent, keep- 
 ing himself well posted upon current events. Po- 
 litically he votes the Repul)lican ticket, and in 
 religious matters belongs to the Christian Church. 
 
 The great-grandfather of our subject was Absa- 
 lom Smith, a native of Frederick Count}-, '\\'. A'a,, 
 and an own cousin of .Tuhn C. Calhoun. He was a 
 man of fine abilities, and ranked among the largest 
 farmers in the Old Dominion. In 1794 he removed 
 to Tennessee, where he spent his last days. lie 
 traced his ancestry back to the English John Smith 
 whose life was saved by the Indian maiden, Poca- 
 hontas. 
 
 The father of our subject remained with his pa- 
 rents until a youth of nineteen years, then leaving 
 the farm engaged in operating a ditching machine, 
 
 which occupied his attention until 1849. That 
 year he purchased loO acres of land in Prairie 
 Township, from which vvas constructed the present 
 admirable homestead of William M. Smith. He 
 became an extensive stock dealer; and invested his 
 capital largely in additional land, the most of which 
 was brought to a good state of cultivation. In 
 1«G0 he crossed_the Mississippi into Nodaway Coun- 
 tj% Mo., whei'e he invested in land to the extent of 
 400 acres, operating it two years and then return- 
 ing to this county. In 1868 he disposed of his Mis- 
 souri property, and two years after, Nov. 19, 1870, 
 departed this life, when but forty years of ao-e. 
 IIehad))eena prominent man in his community, 
 voting the straight Republican ticket and holding 
 some of the local offices. 
 
 The mother of our subject, was, in her girlhood 
 Miss Matilda A. Wood, and was a native of this 
 county, born near Logan. Her father, David 
 Wood, was one of the earliest pioneers of this county 
 entering land near Logan, where he carried on 
 farming until his death. Mrs. Matilda (Wood) 
 Smith became the mother of eight children and 
 departed this life at the homestead in Prairie Town- 
 ship, Aug. 17, 1868, at the early age of thirty-four 
 years. She was a lady possessing many excellent 
 qualities, and a devoted member of the Methodist 
 Episcopal Church. Luna, the eldest son of the fam- 
 ily, is now a resident of Prairie Township; Marion 
 is deceased; William M., our subject, was the third 
 child; the next infant died unnamed; Viola J. 
 (Mrs. Roberts) lives in Brnellet; John G. is farm- 
 ing in Prairie Township; JMiUigan and Matilda A. 
 (Mrs. Ross) are residents, respectively, of Ross 
 Township and Bruellet Township. 
 
 William M. Smith was a lad of eleven years only 
 at the time of his father's death, and soon after- 
 ward commenced the battle of life working out on 
 a farm. His education was mostly acquired dur- 
 ing the winter season, he attendingj the com- 
 mon school until he reached his majority. In 
 1879 he rented forty -seven acres of land, but 
 continued as a farm laborer for two years before 
 locating on his property. In 1881 he purchased 
 land adjoining, which made him the owner of 200 
 acres, upon which he operated until the fall of 1882. 
 when he changed the scene of his labors to Logan, 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 and commenced to buy and ship stock. Tliis [iioxed 
 a veiy fortunate venture, but in the fall of liSSo 
 he repaired to Chrisman and embarked in general 
 merchandising, in company with a partner, under 
 the firm name of Roberts A' Smith. They contin- 
 ued together until the fall of 1 888, when the part- 
 nership was dissolved on account of the ill health 
 of both, and in the spring of 1889 our subject re- 
 turned to his farm. In the meantime lie had pur- 
 chased additional land, and is now in the midst of 
 a successful farming business which jields him a 
 handsome income. 
 
 The 18tb of October, 1881. witnessed the mar- 
 riage of our subject with Miss Katie N. Roberts, a 
 native of Bruellet Township, well educated and 
 employed as a teacher. She only remained the 
 companion of her husband a little over a year, her 
 death taking place Nov. 7, 1882. Mr. Smith con- 
 tracted a second marriage, Feb. 2, 1887, at Chris- 
 man with Miss Minnie Gray, a native of Paris 
 Township, and the daughter of Di. S. R. Gr.ay, of 
 Chrisman. IMrs. Smith attended school at .Jack- 
 sonville one year and was graduated from the 
 Chrisman high school. She is a lad}' greatly re- 
 spected in her community, and a member in good 
 standing of the Methodist Episcopal Church. JMr. 
 Smith, politically is a strong Republican, and has 
 been Township Clerk one year. He is a man looked 
 up to in his community, and one whose opinions 
 are generally respected. Socially he belongs to the 
 I. 0. 0. F, at Chrisman, and religiously attends 
 services at Wesley Chapel. 
 
 ^^EORGE W. KIMBLE. In mentioning the 
 jll ,--, leading citizens of Paris Township, the 
 ^^j) name of Mr. Kimble can by no moahs be 
 omitted. He has from the start been prominent 
 in his community, and for the last nine years has 
 held the office of Road Commissioner by successive 
 re-election. By occupation he is a life-longagrieul- 
 turalist. His home farm embraces 230 acres of 
 land originally belonging to his father, while he 
 also has 150 acres in Young America Township. 
 A course of industry and piudence has resulted in 
 
 the accumulation of a competence, while his liber- 
 ality as a citizen and his progressive ideas as a 
 man have raised him to a good position in his com- 
 munity. 
 
 A native of Paris Township, this county, our 
 subject was born .Tan. 15, 1831, and thus far has 
 spent his life in the place of his birth. His par- 
 ents, Lawsonand Elizabeth (Chaplin) Kimble, were 
 natives of Washington County, Ohio, and Essex 
 County, Mass., respectively. They were married 
 in Lawrence County, Ohio, whence they came to 
 Illinois, in 1830, and located upon the land now 
 occupied by their son, our subject, and in this 
 home the latter was born. His paternal grand- 
 father, a native of Xew .Jerse3^ emigrated to the 
 Territory of Ohio about 1800, as did also the ma- 
 ternal grandfather. The latter was obliged to 
 keep his cows on the opposite side of the river, in 
 Virginia, as on the Ohio side there was nothing but 
 heavy forest, and the girls crossed the river in 
 a skiff to milk. Amid these pi'imeval solitudes 
 Grandfather Kimble settled in a little log cabin, 
 began felling the trees around him, and finally suc- 
 ceeeded in clearing a farm. He there spent his last 
 days. 
 
 On the mother's side of the house, Grandfather 
 Moses Chaplin was a native of Massachusetts, and 
 the house on the old farm where he was born was 
 still standing a few years ago. He and his family 
 of seven emigrated to Ohio with the Xew England 
 colony at a very early date, settling at Marietta, 
 and from there moved to Lawrence County, Ohio, 
 where he spent the remainder of his life. His 
 father, the great-gr.andfather of our subject, served 
 in the Revolutionary War. 
 
 Lawson Kimble upon coming to this county 
 located on the edge of the prairie, in Paris Town- 
 shi[), where he opened up a fine farm at a time when 
 Indians were numerous, and were often seen stray- 
 ing over the country, and sometimes camping on 
 the creek near bj'. The nearest market for fruit 
 and otiier produce in those days was Chicago, where 
 our subject hauled several loads of apples prior to 
 the time of railroads. These sold from fifty cents 
 to |1 per bushel. They conveyed their pork to 
 market to Clinton and Terre Haute, Ind. 
 
 The early education of our subject was prose- 
 
990 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 ciited in a log cabin, with puncheon floor, with 
 seats and deslis made of slabs, the former set up on 
 rude wooden pins for legs and the latter sustained 
 by pins driven in the wall, across which the slabs 
 were laid. A huge fireplace extended along one 
 end of the building, and the chimney was made 
 outside, of earth and sticks. With the exception 
 of a couple of years spent at school in Paris, our 
 subject here completed his education. lie was 
 married April 13, 18.54, to Miss Sarah J., daugiiter 
 of Tliomas Ilannali, a native of Delaware County, 
 N. Y. The grandparents of Mrs. Kimble on both 
 sides, as well as her mother, were natives of Scot- 
 land. She was born in Delaware Countj', N. Y,. 
 and was taken by her grandmother to Schenectady, 
 N. Y., remaining there until seventeen years of 
 age, when she came to this count3' with them. 
 The young people began their mari'ied life on a 
 tract of land in Paris Township, taking possession 
 of their present farm in 18.")4. They are the 
 parents of five children: Clarence C, Willis P., 
 Amelia G. (now Mrs. .Tames McCulIoch), William 
 L. and .John D. 
 
 Clarence C. Kimble was married April 1, 1888, 
 to Miss Catharine Keifer of St. Catharine, Canada, 
 and they are now residents of Chicago, Willis P. 
 married Miss Sarah Gates, is employed as a civil 
 engineer and surveyor, and lives in Marceline, Mo. 
 lie ran the first line of r.ailroad into Northern 
 Mexico from the United States. William L. and 
 John D. are at home. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Kimble own and occupy a fine 
 residence, which is represented in this work by a 
 lithographic engraving, and their many friends 
 always meet with a warm and cordial reception 
 i'i their pleasant home. 
 
 ^*==^REDERICK GUMM. The elements of in- 
 
 Pi) dustry and perseverance in the make-up of 
 this gentleman have resulted in his success 
 financially, while as a man and a citizen he occu- 
 pies an enviable position in his community. His 
 native place was on the other side of the Atlantic, 
 in the village of Horn, Prussia, and he was born 
 
 Dec. 25, 1827. He emigated to America in 1848 
 when a young man of twenty-one years and, in 
 July following, established himself as a resident of 
 Edgar County, 111. lie is now numbered among 
 the well-to-do farmers of Paris Township, a self- 
 made man who began at the foot of the ladder, de- 
 pendent upon his own resources and is making 
 excellent progress toward the top. 
 
 In noting the parental history of our subject we 
 find he is the son of George and Maria E. (Harter) 
 Gumm who were natives of the same province as 
 their son. Tliey sprang from an excellent ancestry 
 and for generations were identified witli the Evan- 
 gelical Church. The father of our subject served as 
 a soldier in the Prussian Army and spent his last 
 days in his native land. The maternal grandfatiier 
 was Jacob Harter, also a Prussian by birth, who 
 spent liis entire life upon his native soil. 
 
 The voyage to this country was made by our 
 subject on the sailing vessel "Antwerp" and con- 
 sumed about sixty days. Most of the time the sea was 
 very rough and the wind in the wrong direction so 
 that tlie ship could only make very slow progress. He 
 finally landed in safet3' in New York City and 
 tlience made his way, via the Hudson River to Al- 
 bany. From there he traveled by canal to Buffalo 
 and thence by lake to Sheboj'gan, Wis., where a 
 few of his old acquaintances had settled. A few 
 days later he p'-oceeded to Milwaukee and from 
 there to this county as before noted. 
 
 Our subject now commenced working on a farm 
 by the month and was thus occupied two and one- 
 half years. At the expiration of this time, he had 
 with genuine German thrift and prudence accumu- 
 lated sufficient means to begin operations on his 
 own account. He began farming on rented land 
 and in due time took unto himself a wife and helj)- 
 mate. Miss Anna Graff, a native of Switzerland, to 
 whom he was married in Paris Township, Jan. 6, 
 18.59. Mrs. Gumm came to the United States with 
 her uncle, Jacob Pfister, a brother of her mother, 
 who had died in Switzerland. Her people, like 
 those of our subject, were members of the Evan- 
 gelical Church. 
 
 Mr. Gumm continued to farm on rented land 
 until he had accumulated sufficient to purchase 
 forty .acres to which, later, he added forty more 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIORRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 991 
 
 wliere his buildings now stand, and whicli joins liis 
 first purchase. As his means accumulated be in- 
 vested bis spare capital in additional land and is 
 now the owner of 240 acres. He has brought this 
 to a high state of cultivation, laid a considerable 
 quantity of tiling and iniprovetl it with good build- 
 ings. Such lias been his career that lie enjoys Uie 
 unlimited confidence of his neighbors, who consider 
 his word as good as bis bond. 
 
 To our subject and his excellent wife there have 
 been born nine children. The eldest, a daughter, 
 Anna E., is the wife ot Jacob H. Zise and the}' re- 
 side in pjnglewood, this State. Mary became the 
 wife of Charles Hanes and died in Paris in Febru- 
 arj', 1889; Edward lives in Buclc Township; .lohn 
 T., William P., Albert D., Jennie V. and Pearl B. 
 are at home with their parents. Ella S. died when 
 twenty months old. Mr. and Mrs. Oumni are mem- 
 bers of the Presbyterian Church and our subject, 
 politically, giv^ his unqualified support to the 
 Democratic party. He has served as School Di- 
 rector in his district about twelve years, but asiile 
 from this has avoided the responsibilities of office. 
 A half-brother of our subject, Peter Pross, and one 
 of his own brothers, George, accompanied him to 
 this country. Mr. Pross enlisted as a Union soldier 
 during the late Civil War and died of measles at 
 Nashville, Tenn. Mr. George Gumm is a resident 
 of Buck Township, Edgar County. 
 
 -^^-^^^^4-1-^^— 
 
 Vf/ OSIAS F. ATHON is one of the old settlers 
 of Edgar County. He located two miles 
 north of Paris in 1851, which at that time 
 ^^ was the only farm, with one or two excep- 
 tions, between Paris and Mulberry Grove. Mr. 
 Athon bought an improved farm, where he lived 
 for seventeen years, making the place a very de- 
 sirable one. He planted trees, shrubbery, and or- 
 chards, and otherwise improved it. He was one of 
 the first School Directors and aided in forming tlie 
 first district in his neighborhood. 
 
 In 1868 Mr. Athou removed to Paris, where he 
 engaged in the hotel business. He added forty- 
 two rooms to the Paris House, making it the finest 
 
 liotel in Eastern Illinois. This venture was not a 
 financial success, although he continued in the 
 business for ten years. lie has been Assessor for 
 the city and township for nine years, filling this 
 difficult position to the satisfaction of the tax- 
 pajers. Mr. Athon was born in North Carolina, 
 ftlarcii 9, 1817. He lived there but a short time, 
 wiien iiis parents emigrated to Paoli, Ind., and 
 aftcrwai'ds to Bedford, when that place consisted 
 of three log cabins. His learning was received in 
 tlie common schools of his boyhood, and after 
 gaining a limited education be followed farming. 
 Our subject was married to Miss Serene Ganey, 
 June 25, 1835. He lived in Indiana until 1851, 
 when he purchased 200 acres of land, as before 
 stated. At that time he also owned 600 acres in 
 Indiana. Mr. and Mrs. jVthon are the parents of 
 thirteen children, of whom ten are still living. 
 John W was killed in the war of the Rebellion in 
 front of Atlanta; Henry married Miss Clara 
 Boucher; she died, and be took for his second wife 
 Mrs. Osborne; Flavins J. is now living six miles 
 north of Paris on a farm ; William is a clerk in a 
 hotel at Terre Haute Ind.; Nathaniel D. is living 
 in Paris; Margaret married C. E. Carpenter, of 
 Topeka, Kan.; Catherine is at home; Fletcher is 
 now living in Topeka, Kan.; Clara married D. II. 
 Jenkins, of Los Angeles, Cal.; Susan is now Mrs. 
 A. S. Lamb, of Aspen, Col.; Charles L. is living 
 in this State. Two children died in infancy, named 
 Winfield and Mary. 
 
 Mrs. Athon was born in Pulaski County, Ky., in 
 1818, and when a babe of eighteen months her par- 
 ents removed to near Springville, Ind., where she 
 lived until her marriage. She was the daughter of 
 Aden and Margaret Ganey, who were among the 
 first settlers in that part of Indiana. Joseph 
 Athon, father of Josias, was born in Maryland, 
 Nov. 9, 1764, where he lived until he became of 
 age. He taught school in Washington, Baltimore, 
 and other places in the latter part of the last cen- 
 tury. While in Maryland he married Miss Mary 
 ^^'olverton, of Fredericktown. He was thirtj^-four 
 years old at the time of bis marriage, and bis wife 
 was seventeen. The early part of their married 
 life was spent in Rockbridge County, Va. ; from 
 there they removed North Carolina, remaining in 
 
992 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 tli.at State seven years, when they came to Indiana 
 and located near Springville, where he died in his 
 oighty-t'onrtli year. Tlie mother (iied in 1852, 
 when the cholera was epidemic in Indiana. This 
 worthy couple were members of the Methodist 
 Episcopal Cluirch for more than fifty years, and 
 their house was the home of the circuit riders. 
 "When only a boy of eighteen years, Peter Cart- 
 wright, the eccentric Methodist preacher, delivered 
 a sermon in Mr. Athon's house, which was a regu- 
 lar preaching place where he preached every four 
 weeks. 
 
 Josias F. Athon is one of the substantial citizens 
 of his county, and takes great pride in doing well 
 tlie work allotted to him. As Assessor he has the 
 reputation of handing in the best books to the 
 county authorities, of any oflicial in this county. 
 He belongs to the Methodist Episcopal Church, of 
 which he has been a member since 183.S. Pdliti- 
 cally he was in the early da} s a Whig, and his first 
 Presidential vote was cast foi' William Henry Har- 
 rison and on the formation of the Republican party 
 he became a stanch Republican, and a strong Union 
 man during the war. At the last presidential elec- 
 tion he voted for Gen. Harrison. 
 
 ll^\ ARK KOWE, M. 1)., Physician and Sur- 
 ll ll\ S*^'^'"' ^^^^ ^^^'^ follows the occupation of a 
 jl 'A farmer and stock- raiser on section 22, town- 
 " ship 14, range 13, Buck Township, Edgar 
 
 County, was born in Yorkshire, England, April 29, 
 1834. Ur. James Rowe, (deceased), the father of 
 our subject, was a native of the same place as his 
 son. He brought his family to the United States 
 in 1852, and located in Dubuque, Iowa, where he 
 resided a few years, hoping to regain his lost health 
 in the dry and bracing air of that climate, but was 
 doomed to disappontment, his health remaining 
 poor and growing worse until he was finally laid to 
 rest in that place. 
 
 Dr. Rowe received the rudiments of an educa- 
 tion in a select school wliile a 3(>uth in England. 
 On arriving in this countiy, he was placed in the 
 Cedar Valley Seminary, Cedar A'alley, Mitchell Co., 
 
 Iowa, where he pursued his studies, and on com- 
 pleting the course in that school, entered the 
 Homoipathic Institute in Brooklyn, N. Y., where he 
 received the degree of doctor of medicine, and be- 
 gan the practice of medicine under the rules of 
 that school. Becoming dissatisfied with this school 
 of practice, he matriculated in the medical college 
 of Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1865, taking the Eclectic 
 course of studies in Materia Medica, which he pur- 
 sued with unfaltering ardor and diligence through- 
 out the entire course, and received his diploma in 
 1865. His first location under the rules of tlie 
 Eclectic schools of medicine was in Grand A'iew, 
 where he built up a large practice in that town and 
 vicinity. In 1867 he removed to Dudley, and re- 
 mained there until 1875, when he came to his pre- 
 sent place. 
 
 Dr. Rowe's practice while a resident of Dudley, 
 was not only large in the number of his patients, 
 but extensive in the distances he had to travel from 
 his home. During a stay of about fifteen years in 
 tliat place, he was obliged to do as much, if not 
 more riding than any other ph3'sician in Edgar 
 County, averaging about 10,000 miles a year for 
 ten years of that time, but during recent years he 
 has endeavored to diminish his practice by degrees, 
 with a view of totally abandoning it. Coveting a 
 life of rural delights, and having an experience in 
 agricultural matters, he purchased the large estate 
 which is the present home of himself and family, 
 and on which he has erected an elegant dwelling. 
 In addition to his home place of 240 acres, he owns 
 320 acres in Wichita County, Tex. Cropping the 
 luscious herbage on the broad acres surrounding 
 the commodious dwelling place of Dr. Rowe, may 
 be seen hundreds of fine cattle, and other blooded 
 stock, enjoying the present, and fitting themselves 
 to fill the coffers of their owner in the future by- 
 securing the highest market price when sold. 
 
 Our subject and Miss Elizabeth P. Kennedy, 
 daughter of Guy Kennedy (deceased), were mar- 
 ried in June, 1855. Mrs. Rowe was a native of 
 Dubuque, Iowa, and has become the mother of two 
 children, Anna E., and Charles K. Anna married 
 Dr. Frank Sweney, of St. Paul, Minn. He is a 
 graduate of Rush Medical College, Chicago, and ,a 
 brother of Senator Sweney. They have two chil- 
 
PORTRAIT AND lUOORAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 993 
 
 dren, Kate, and Mavcia. Charles married Miss 
 Belle McNeill, and niaktvs his home in Philadeli)lii!i, 
 Pa. He is a graduate of the Medical Deitartment 
 of the University of Pennsylvania, from which in- 
 stitution he received his diploma, and takes high 
 rank in his chosen profession in Uie Quaker City. 
 
 In 1861 Dr. Uowc suffered the loss of his wife, 
 and after four years of loneliness was again united 
 in marriage in 1865, taking for his life partner, 
 Mrs. Rosanna E. Adams, a daughter of Israel Ilonse 
 nud widow of Anson Adams. She was a native of 
 Berlin, Vt., and the fruit of this second union was 
 one child, Herbert B. Mrs. Rowe had four chil- 
 dren by her first husband, of whom one survives — 
 Nellie — who is married to Randolph White, of Car- 
 bon, Ind., and is the mother of two children, Har- 
 riett and Randolph. 
 
 Although our subject has not neglected any of 
 tlie duties pertaining to the successful prosecution 
 of his life-work, he has kept up his interest in the 
 general affairs of the world, and is well informed on 
 all the subjects of the hour, also following out an 
 extensive course of reading in the literature of his 
 own profession, and his eminent aliilities make him 
 a valuable member of the Eseulaidan Medical So- 
 ciety, and of the American Medical Association. 
 He is also a member of the Masonic fraternity, 
 holding his membership in Kansas Chapter, in 
 Grand A'iew Lodge and Palestine Commandery at 
 Paris. Our subject has views of his own on the 
 political and economic questions of the day, but 
 does not spare much time to discuss them, being 
 satisfied to exercise his right of a freeman at the 
 periodical elections, casting his ballot in favor of 
 the Democracy. 
 
 Wj OHN M. LEOATE, is one of the old settlers 
 I of Edgar County, where he is held in uni. 
 I versal respei t for his rugged honestj' and 
 (^jl/ great energy of character. He owns and 
 occupies 400 acres of as nice land as the sun ever 
 shone upon, and upon which is built all the struct- 
 ures that are essential to the operation of a well- 
 regulated farm. He has accumulated his compe- 
 
 teiic\' wholly by his own endeavors, and can be 
 called, in truth, a self-made man. 
 
 His father, Robert Legate, was a native of Ten- 
 nessee, from which State he removed to Brown 
 County, Ohio, being one of the earlier settlers 
 there. He died at the age of twenty-one in the 
 yeir I 823, respected as a model young man. He 
 was a Presbyleiian. His paternal grandfather, 
 C:i|>l. John Legale was a native of the north of 
 Ireland and came to America when a young man, 
 locating in Tennessee. He afterward removed to 
 Brown County, Ohio, where he i)urchased 160 
 acres of land. He was a captain in the Revolution- 
 ary War and served under Gen. Marion. He died 
 on his farm in Ohio, respected by all who knew 
 him. The mother of John M., was Catherine 
 Mearse, a native of Ohio. Her father, David 
 Mearse, was born in Ireland, where he married, 
 whence he came to Kentucky in an eai'ly day and 
 bought a small farm. He later moved to Brown 
 Count)-, Ohio. \\'hile going down the Ohio River, 
 himself and family were captured by the Indians 
 at Three Islands, where they were bought by the 
 whites and taken to Detroit and sent back to Ken- 
 tucky. They remained in the latter State but a 
 short time, when the family removed to Ohio, set- 
 tling on a quarter section of land. There the 
 grandfather lived until death called him away. 
 
 The mother of the subject of this sketch was 
 born and reared in Ohio. Her second husband was 
 Israel D. Sayre. She died in Edgar Township, 
 July 19, 1888, and was the mother of two children, 
 John M. and Elizabeth. The latter married Will- 
 iam Scott of Prairie Township and is dead. John 
 M., of whom this sketch is written, was born in 
 Brown County, Ohio, Oct. 14, 1819. He was 
 reared on a farm, and while yet a babe, was left 
 fatherless. His Grandmother Legate took charge 
 of him and gave him good school advantages. 
 In the spring of 1830 he came to Illinois with his 
 step-father, by wagon. The country was then en- 
 tirely new and destitute of anything that would 
 indicate civilization. Wild game of all kinds, deer, 
 wolves and turkeys abounded in profusion, and he 
 recalls the fact of seeing forty-two deer in one 
 herd. He stayed at home until he was twenty-two 
 years old and, in August, 1842, he bought a farm 
 
;>;) 1 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 ill Edgar Townsbip containing 1(!() acres improved. 
 He remained on tliis place about twelve years, 
 when he sold it and located where lie now is, in 
 Prairie Township. His present farm consists of 
 225 acres, ^vhich he originally bought and to which 
 he has added enough to make 400 acres. This is 
 all well improved with fences, hedges, etc., and is 
 abundantly watered by a creek. Good springs are 
 also plentiful on the place. General farming en- 
 gages his attention and also feeding and buying 
 cattle, sheep and hogs. On Sept. 5, 1886, he had 
 the misfortune to lose his house by fire, and it was 
 supposed to have been tlie work of an incendiary. 
 He soon rebuilt his house on a larger and finer 
 scale. Groves and orchards are interspersed on 
 this model farm and everything c(>nnected with it 
 indicates thrift. 
 
 On March 10, 1842, ftlr. Legate married Miss 
 Susan Clark, a native of Oldham County, Ky. She 
 came to P^dgar County when she was six years of 
 age — early in the fall of 1831. She is the mother 
 of eleven children: Francis ^I. is operating the 
 home farm; Edmund lives in Paris, this county; 
 William H. is at home; Nancy married Joseph 
 Limger and is residing in Prairie Township; 
 Catherine is the wife of R. B. McFerren, a farmer 
 of Osage County, Kan; Malinda married Arvill 
 Boz of Prairie Township; Emma and Sarah are at 
 home; Mary and Ellsworth are deceased. 
 
 Mr. Legate is a prominent and stanch Republi- 
 can and has held the ottices of School Director, 
 Constable and Supervisor of Roads for a long time 
 and has given great satisfaction in the conduct 
 of these positions. Mrs. Legate worships at the 
 Friends' Church. 
 
 f^ZRA H. HONNOLD was born Sept. 27, 
 ^ 1860, in Kansas Township, Edgar Co., 111., 
 ,. ^ — ^ just a short time prior to the election of 
 Abraham Lincoln to the Presidency of the United 
 States. The house in which the subject of this 
 notice was born is now the property of James H. 
 Shivel}', and is used for a wash-house and wood- 
 shed. He is a young farmer of thrift and enter- 
 
 prise, and in all respects a model agriculturist and 
 a first-class citizen. His beautiful little farm com- 
 prises eighty acres on section 2, township 13, range 
 14 west, Edgar County, 111. He is also a stock-raiser, 
 making a specialty of Norman and English draft 
 horses. Short-horn cattle and pure breed Chester- 
 white swine, and in the latter is especially inter- 
 ested and uniformly successful. As to his political 
 views, he is a Republican, having cast his first vote 
 for James G. Blaine. He is the second child of 
 John R. and Frances B. Honnold, and has one 
 brother, Ora E., and three sisters — Sue C, Anna 
 L. and Carrie \'. Our subject is a member in good 
 standing of the Harmony Methodist Episcopal 
 Church, of which his grandfather, Richard Hon- 
 nold, was a consistent member, and gave it the 
 name of Harmony. He is a lover of old relics, 
 having in his possession an old stone Indian tom- 
 ahawk found by his father a number of years ago 
 upon the Indian battle-field near Cambridge, Ohio. 
 He spent his school days at what is known as the 
 Honnold School-house, in District No. 1, section 
 2, and a \'iew of it will be found in this volume 
 in connection with the engraving of his father's 
 hdinestead. Our subject received excellent instrue- 
 tion and a good education, his teachers being as 
 follows: Daniel Brading, John B. Holland, Will- 
 iam Allen, Edward Shy, Maggie Snyder, Dora Mc- 
 Christy, Frank Ault, M. B. Bloffett, W. C. Morris, 
 Nelia Hite, and John Snyder. He is the namesake 
 of the Rev. Ezra Starkey, of the East Ohio Con- 
 ference, a man of note in the church, and who 
 died April 20, 1886. Our subject is of German 
 descent and of the fifth generation of the only one 
 of the seven Honnold brothers who came from 
 Germany to America. 
 
 The parents of him of whom this biographical 
 review is written, were John R. and Frances B. 
 Honnold, nee Mock, and were born in Muskingum 
 County, Ohio. They came to Illinois in 1855, 
 and were united in marriage Sept. 23, 1858, by the 
 Rev. E. Hook. Our subject was first married to 
 Mary A. Killgore, the youngest daughter of the 
 late Joseph Killgore, this event being solemnized 
 March 15, 1882, and the ceremony was performed 
 in ^'ermillion, Edgar Co., 111., by the Rev. Chris 
 Galeener. One son was born of this union, J. 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 995 
 
 Harlan, the date of bis birth being May 20, 1883. 
 The wife (lied Nov. 13, 1887, airl tlie little one 
 was left with the father and gran di)a runts Honnold. 
 Our subject was again married, March 7, 1889, 
 to Ella Meadows, the daughter of James and Mat- 
 tie Meadows, the ceremony being performed by 
 the Rev. A. L. Plowman. Mrs. Honnold was born 
 near Vermillion, Edgar Co., 111., April 29, 1865, 
 and is the second child of her parents. Besides 
 herself, there were three others in her father's 
 familj', viz: William, James, and a sister, Gracie, 
 who died in infancy. James Meadows, the father 
 of Mrs. Honnold, was born near Vermillion, Ed- 
 gar Co., 111. Her mother, Mattie Meadows, nen 
 Cole, was born near Casey, Clark Co., 111. Mr. 
 Honnold's grandfather, John I). Mock, was one of 
 the F. F. V.'s, and is the only person living in 
 Kansas Township who has ever seen Gen La 
 Fayette. 
 
 - OOP - 
 
 "if AMIiS WYATT. This gentleman is recog- 
 nized as one of the leading farmers of 
 Ross Township and is tlie proprietor of a 
 snug homestead comprising eighty-fo'jr 
 acres of land on section 36 while he has forty acres 
 in Edgar Township and thirty five acres in 
 Prairie Township. He is a member of one of the 
 best families in this region, further mention of 
 whom is made in the sketch of his brother William 
 Wyatt on another page in this volume. 
 
 The subject of this notice was born in Edgar 
 Township within one half mile of where he now 
 lives, Sept. 22, 1826. He was reared on the farm 
 and received a limited education in the common 
 schools, in the meantime assisting his father in the 
 development of his land and the improvement of 
 the homestead. He remembers the time when wild 
 game abounded in this region and when the hunt 
 for deer and wolves was one of his most exciting 
 pastimes. He commenced plowing when a boy with 
 the old fashioned wooden moldboard plow, and for 
 his first month's overwork he proudly received the 
 sum of |5. He drove a breaking team of seven 
 yoke of oxen and thus grew up strong of muscle 
 and healthy in mind becoming well fitted for the 
 
 battle of life. He still lias in his possession a 
 scythe snatlie, which liis father presented him in 
 1845 and wliicli he hag used every year since. He 
 has taken good care of it and it is in as good con- 
 dition to-day as when it was first manufactured. 
 Mr. Wyatt maintains that he would not Lake a 
 horse for it. 
 
 Mr. Wj'att remained at Imnie until after the 
 death of his father which dceurred in 1846, operat- 
 ing the farm one year, then l)egan working out, 
 and was thus occupied until a man of twenty-live 
 years. In 1851 he began farming for himself and 
 purchased land gradually until he secured his pres- 
 ent property. His first dwelling was a log house, 
 wliich is still standing and well preserved. In the 
 constructing of this he was principally his own 
 carpenter and builder, and occupied it until 1865. 
 That year he put up the more modern dwelling, 
 which is pleasantl3r situated upon a rise of ground 
 and commands a fine view of the surrounding 
 country. Mr. Wyatt from time to time, set out 
 fruit and forest trees, carrying forty of the latter 
 across the prairie and transplanting them around 
 his homo, where they have developed into fine 
 large trees, making a grateful shade for man and 
 beast. The land is plentifully watered from a nev- 
 er failing spring and is largely devoted to stock 
 raising. Mr. A^■yatt keeps good grades of Short- 
 horn cattle and is particularly fond of fine horses, 
 having fourteen head of these and emidoying two 
 teams in operating the farm, of which he is sole 
 superintendent. 
 
 The marriage of James Wyatt and Miss Eliza- 
 beth Scott took place at the bride's home in 
 Cherry Point, (.)ct. 24, 1851. Mrs. Wyatt was 
 born in Marshall, 111., and was the daughter of 
 Daniel Scott, a farmer of Cherry Point and who 
 was killed by a runaway team, April, 2, 1851. 
 Mr. Scott was one of the early settlers of this 
 county and a worthy' citizen. Of this union there 
 were born two children: Mary A., who died when 
 twenty-three years old and Jacob E., who remains 
 at the homestead. Mrs. Elizabeth (Scott) Wyatt 
 departed this life at her home in Ross Township 
 in May, 11, 1883. Our subject contracted a second 
 marriage Sept. 6, 1888, with Miss Periza Edging- 
 ton, a native of Ohio and the daughter of Lyman 
 
996 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAnilCAL ALBUM. 
 
 Edf^ington, also a native of the Buckeye State and 
 one of the early settlers of Edgar Township, this 
 county. Rolitically Mr. Wyatt is a straight for- 
 ward Democrat and religiously belongs to the Bap- 
 tist Cluirch at C'lirisman in which he holds the 
 ofHce of Deacon. He assisted materially in the 
 erection of the church edifice and is numbered 
 among its chief pillars, 
 
 ■^mBi^ 
 
 ifJ 
 
 "WW 
 
 \f;()SEPIl R. PINNELL. This gentleman 
 bears the reputation of being one of the 
 most wide-awake and energetic farmers of 
 Shiloh Township. He is comfortably lo- 
 cated on 160 acres of land, occupj'ing the east 
 quarter of section 15, where he has a neat frame 
 residence, a good barn, fruit and shade trees, plenty 
 of green grass, and all the other surroundings 
 whicli complete the attractiveness of rural life. 
 Witli the exception of three years he has been a 
 resident of Shiloh Township since 1876. In 1881 
 lie rented his land and removed to Hamilton 
 Countjr, Neb., where he engaged in farming on 
 on rented land in the vicinity of Aurora. In 1884 
 he returned to the old place, where he has since re- 
 sided. A selfmade man in the best sense of the 
 term, he has arisen from a modest position in life 
 solely 1)3' his own efforts, has accumulated a com- 
 fortable property, and likewise secured the esteem 
 of his neighbors. 
 
 The native place of our subject was in Grand- 
 View Township, Pxlgar County, and the date of 
 his birth July 16, 1850. When quite young our 
 subject removed with his parents to Kansas 
 Township, where he spent his boyhood and youth 
 receiving veiy little schooling. His father hav- 
 ing died when he was a lad of twelve years, he 
 assisted his mother in the farm work and was thus 
 occupied until ^sixteen years old. Then, leaving 
 home, he worked out by the month five years, and 
 at the expiration of this time embarked in business 
 on his own hook as a renter of land in Kansas 
 Township. He thus operated upon different farras 
 in that vicinity until 187(5, when he located on liis 
 present place in Shiloh Township, which then com- 
 
 prised 140 acres without any improvements. Tak 
 ing possession he erected a dwelling, commenced 
 breaking the sod, and was successful in his efforts 
 to build up a farm. In due time he purchased 
 twenty acres adjoining, and has now an even quar- 
 ter section of well cultivated land. He lias set out 
 groves and an orchard — maple and willow trees — 
 enclosed and cross-fenced his fields and now makes 
 a specialty of grain and stock. In cattle his favor- 
 ites are high-grade Short-horns, of which he feeds 
 and ships one car annually. He has Poland-tlhina 
 swine and about nine head of draft and road 
 horsee, using two teams on the farm. He has laid 
 considerable tile for drainage purposes, and nearly 
 all his land is exceedingly fertile, yielding in abun- 
 dance the rich crops of this region. 
 
 In Kansas Township. Jan. 30, 1876, our subject 
 was united in marriage with Miss Mary I. Cash. 
 This lady was born in Kansas Township July 9, 
 1857, and is the daughter of Jacob Cash, one of its 
 earliest settlers and most prominent citizens., 
 owning a well-regulated farm of 120 acres. This 
 
 union has resulted in the birth of two children 
 
 Osborne R. and Josepji H. Mr. Pinnell is a stanch 
 supporter of Republican principles, and officiates as 
 a School Director in his district. He was at one 
 time identified witii the Grange movement, and his 
 religious ideas coincide with those of the Christian 
 Church, of which his wife is a member in good 
 standings. 
 
 The father of our subject was Elijah Pinnell, a 
 native of Virginia and the son of John Pinnell, 
 who fought in the Revolutionary War and after- 
 ward settled down on a farm in the Old Dominion. 
 He was a man of excellent traits of character and 
 justifiably proud of his substantial Scotch an- 
 cestry. Finally, leaving his native State, he emi- 
 grated to Kentucky, of which he was one of the 
 early pioneers, locating in Oldham County. He 
 was there employed as an overseer and inspector at 
 a distillery, and had under him the negroes em- 
 ployed about it. Subsequently leaving Kentucky, 
 he came to Edgar County, 111., and located on 
 rented land in Grand View Township. Later he re- 
 moved to Kansas Township. In 1860 he pur- 
 chased ten acres of land in the latter, where he 
 established a home and spent his lastyears, dyingin 
 
PORTRAIT AND lilOGRAPlJlCAL ALBUM. 
 
 rty? 
 
 1862 at the ao-eof seventy-tlirce. When becoming 
 a voting citizen he identilied himself with the W'lufj; 
 party, and upon its abandonment became a stanch 
 Republican. 
 
 Mis. Mary (Ongles) Pinnell was born in Oldliam 
 County, Ky., and was the daughter of Joseph H. 
 Ongles, a native of Maryland and a blacksmith by 
 trade. lie was one of the earliest settlers of the 
 Blue Grass State, where he followed his trade and 
 spent his last days. Mrs. Pinnell is still living, 
 being now seventy-five years old, and makes her 
 home with her son, our subject. She is a lad^' of 
 many estimable qualities, and an active member of 
 the Christian Church at Hume. 
 
 To the parents of our subject there were born 
 ten children, nine of whom lived to mature years: 
 Eliliii is a resident of Allen County. Kan. ; Ann E. 
 is living in Coles County, this State; Lucy died 
 when about twenty-live years old; John II. is a 
 resident of Sheridan County, Mo.; William II. li\ts 
 in Hamilton County, Neb.; Melinda B. sojourns 
 in Taney County, Mo.; Joseph R., our subject, was 
 the next in order of birth; Sarah E. is a resident 
 of Paris, Edgar County; Willis O. lives in Elk 
 County, Kan. Elihu, during the late Civil War, 
 enlisted, in 180 1, in Company E, 12th Illinois In- 
 fantry, and served three years. He was woiinded 
 by a car running over his foot. .John H. likewise 
 served three j'ears in Company H, 79th Illinois 
 Infantry, in which he enlisted in 1862. William 
 entered the ranks of the Union Army in the spring 
 of 1864, and served in Company II, loOth Illinois 
 Infantry until the close of the war. 
 
 IfclLLIAM WYATT. This gentleman bears 
 '/ the distinction of beini»- one of the oldest 
 
 settlers of Ross Township, and is supposed 
 to be the oldest native-born citizen of this county. 
 He is an easy-going farmer in comfortable circum- 
 stances, renting his land to other parties and enjoy- 
 ing in the wisest manner the proceeds thereof. He 
 has eighty-four acres on section 24, and forty acres 
 of timber in Prairie Township. 
 
 The father of our subject was Col. William 
 
 Wyatt, a native of Monongalia County, (now 
 West) Ya., and was born in 17;n. Grandfather 
 Jasper Wyatt was a native of Delaware, and when 
 reaching man's estate removed to the above men- 
 tioned county in Virginia where he engaged in 
 farming until the outbreak of the War of 1812, 
 when he was employed as a spy in the American 
 army. He spent his last days in ^'irginia. Col. 
 William Wyatt served likewise in the IJlack Hawk 
 \\:n-, and subsequently engaged in agricultural 
 pursuits in West Virginia. He was married there 
 ami started for the \V\'st, making his way by boat 
 to Vineennes, Ind., where he sojourned until the 
 fall of the year. Next he went to Otter Creek, 
 and January 21 journc3ed to this county by 
 team. He settled in Hunter Township and entered 
 the employ of Col. Blackburn, with whom he 
 remained a short time; he then entered land on 
 section 4, Edgar Township, where he began the es- 
 I tablishment of a home, putting up a log house and 
 cairying on gradually such improvements as he 
 could until the outbreak of the Black Hawk War. 
 He then ^■olunteercd his services and was mustered 
 in as Second Lieutenant under Gen. Alex.ander. 
 Soon after he was promoted Lieutenant Colonel 
 and commanded a regiment until the close of the 
 struggle. 
 
 After leaving the service the father of our sub- 
 ject returned to his farm in a region of country 
 where he was one of the first settlers. In fact he 
 was the first man to locate in Edgar Township, and 
 there he spent the remainder of his days. He was 
 an active member and supporter of the Methodist 
 Episcopal Church, and became widely known for 
 his manjf excellent traits of character. His friends 
 were everywhere, among the poor as well as the 
 rich, and his death, which occurred in July, 1846, 
 was mourned and regretted by all who knew him. 
 Mrs. Elizabeth (Prickett) Wyatt, the mother of 
 our subject, was born in Virginia and came to this 
 county with her familjr. After the death of her 
 husband she removed to the vicinity of Monroe, 
 Wis., where she resided wath her daughter, Mrs. 
 Elizabeth Austin, until her decease, which occurred 
 about 1877. The family circle was completed 
 by the birth of fourteen children. Slielby, a resi- 
 dent of Edgar Township, this county; Jacob and 
 
91)8 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 Elizabeth, deceased; Zacbariah, of Clark County, 
 lovva; Jemima, deceased ; Catlierine, living- in Iowa; 
 William, our subject ; James, of Ross Township; 
 Casaudi'a, of Cherry Point, Ross Township; Ely 
 living- in Oregon; Ananias living in Idaho; John, 
 deceased; Augustus located near Ft. Scott, Kan., 
 and Polly, deceased. Zacbariah during the late 
 war served iu an Iowa regiment, and Augustus 
 served in a Kansas regiment. John enlisted in a 
 Wisconsin regiment and was wounded at tlie siege 
 of Vicksburg; he suffered the amputation of an 
 arm, from the effects of which he died soon after- 
 ward. 
 
 The suljject of this sketch was born in Edgar 
 Township, this county, March 24, 1824, in the 
 primitive log cabin built by his father on the new 
 farm, and grow up health}' in body and mind, re- 
 ceiving a limited education, principally in the win- 
 ter season, in a log school-house with slab benches, 
 puncheon floor and greased paper for window 
 panes. For some 3'cars there was not a house be- 
 tween the home of the W^'atts and the present 
 flourishing city of Paris, which was then but a 
 hamlet of a few houses. The youth of those daj's 
 were early inured to hard labor, and our subject, 
 when a boy of ten, drove a l)reaking team, plowing, 
 and performing such other labor as his strength and 
 size permitted. He also assisted in giading the 
 State Road when there was not a fence on the prai- 
 rie for miles. He was an expert hunter when but 
 a boy, and nothing delighted him better than join- 
 ing in the wolf hunts about four times a year, dur- 
 ing which he brought down numbers of these 
 mischievous animals, and was voted the champion 
 shot. He also killed many a deer, besides prairie 
 chickens, and wild turkeys, wildcats and coons, 
 and made considerable money selling the hides. 
 
 Our subject remained under the home roof until 
 a young man of twenty-four years, then engaged iu 
 farming for himself. In 1850 he entered from the 
 Government the land which he now owns and oc- 
 cupies, paying therefor •Tl.2o per acre. It lay in 
 its primitive condition without any improvements 
 whatever, and he broke the prairie with oxen, put 
 up a frame house, planted hedge and made other 
 fencing, set out fruit and forest trees and inaugu- 
 rated the many other improvements suggested to 
 
 his active and progressive mind. The first dwell- 
 ing was abandoned in 1871 for a more modern 
 residence, which occupies an area of 1 6x36 feet, 
 with an L 18x20. He has a commodious barn 
 52x60 feet in dimensions. In 1881 while engaged 
 in threshing he suffered a broken ankle, and for the 
 last eight years his land has been tilled by other 
 parties. 
 
 Mr. Wj-att has always been interested in horses 
 and has given considerable attention to the breed- 
 ing- of fancy Kentucky roadsters, having at the 
 present time nine of these, some of which are quite 
 valuable. He has uniformly signalized himself as 
 a liberal-minded and public-spirited citizen, en- 
 couraging the enterprises set on foot for the gen- 
 eral advancement of the community. He has been 
 for years identified with the Baptist Church at 
 Chrisman, and in politics is an uncompromising 
 Democrat. He lias had no desire for the responsi- 
 bilities of office, although serving as County Com- 
 missioner and on the Grand and Petit juries. He 
 has also been a Director iu his school district for 
 years and was Commissioner of Highways for six 
 years. 
 
 The first marriage of Mr. Wyatt, in 1849, was 
 with IMiss JMinerva Manning, of Edgar Township. 
 The three children born of this union were: John, 
 now deceased ; Franklin who is farming in Kansas, 
 and James, who deals in horses and lives in Chris- 
 man. Mrs. Minerva (Manning) Wyatt departed 
 this life in January, 1856. The present wife of our 
 subject, to whom he was married in 1862, in Ross 
 Township, was formerly Miss Catherine Painter, a 
 native of Kentucky. 
 
 •^ 
 
 ■^OHN W. N. DOAK, late a resident of 
 Paris and now deceased, was born in Wash- 
 ington County, Tenn., Dec. 10, 1838, and 
 was descended from ancestors who occupied 
 a high position in that part of the country. His 
 great-grandfather, Samuel Doak, D. D., a graduate 
 uf Princeton, was the founder of Washington Col- 
 lege, at Greeneville, Tenn., which was chartered in 
 1795, and which was the parent of the present 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 999 
 
 Greeneville and Tuscuhim College, this institution 
 being the outgrowth of that and Greeneville Col- 
 lege, chartered in 1794, and founded by Hezekiah 
 Balcli, D. D.; and of Tusculuni College, founded 
 in 1844 bj' Samuel Doak and liis son, Samuel \V. 
 IDoak, D. D. 
 
 In 1868 these institutions were united, the first 
 presidejit -being W. S. Doak, D. D., grandson of 
 the founder of the old Washington College, and a 
 cousin of the subject of this sketch. Samuel Doak 
 was an eminent Presbyterian minister, and had a 
 wide reputation for great ability as a pulpit orator. 
 lie died in Tennessee, and the old records speak 
 of him as a man who exercised a vast influence for 
 good. John W. Doak, a son of Samuel, was an 
 eminent and eloquent Presbyterian minister, wlio 
 labored for many years in East Tennessee. lie 
 was married to Miss Alexander, a sister of A. A. 
 Alexander, D. D., of Princeton Theological Serai- 
 nary, and to them was born a family of several 
 sons and daughters, among whom was John Newton 
 Doak, M. D., who was graduated from Washington 
 College in 1817. 
 
 The parents of our subject were John Newton 
 and Martha (Payne) Doak, both of whom were na- 
 tives of Tennessee. The father was a physician 
 and surgeon, practicing in Greeneville, but at an 
 early day, about the year 1832, he came to this 
 county and both entered and purchased land in 
 Paris and Simras townships, besides some town lots 
 in Paris. He was here but a few j'ears when his 
 first wife died, and he then returned to Tennessee, 
 where he spent the remainder of his life, dving in 
 1 840. After his return to Tennessee he was mar- 
 ried to Martha Payne, the mother of our subject. 
 She, some years after his death, removed to Mis- 
 souri, and was there married to William Jordon. 
 In consequence of the troubles in that State at the 
 beginning of the Rebellion, they thought best to 
 leave Missouri, and coming to this county, settled 
 on a farm which belonged to the father of our 
 subject. They occupied this until the fall of 1865 
 (after the close of the war), and while they were 
 preparing to return to Missouri, Mrs. Jordon was 
 was taken ill and died Oct. 14, 1865, just three 
 days prior to the decease of her son. 
 
 John W. N. Doak was reared in Tennessee and 
 
 educated in tiie college founded by his great-grand- 
 father. He accompanied his motiier to Missouri, 
 and about the year 1859 he and a brother named 
 William came here to look after the land which 
 had belonged to their father. Some of it had been 
 sold, but on a part of the remainder they settled. 
 This was situated about two miles southwest of 
 Paris, and here our subject continued farming 
 until 1861. He then enlisted in Company E, 66th 
 Illinois Infantry, for three years, served his entire 
 time, and proved a bravo and gallant soldier, givinty 
 his life for- his country as truly as though he had 
 died on the field of battle, as his death was caused 
 by exposure, primarilj' from a heavy cold caught 
 in the trenches at Ft. Donclson. 
 
 Mr. Doak participated in the fight at the above- 
 mentioned place in a corps of sharpshooters. He 
 was also engaged in the desperate battle of Shiloh, 
 and many of the otiier battles fought in the souih- 
 west. Although frequently exposed in the front 
 he was never wounded or taken piisoner. At the 
 expiration of his term of enlistment he was mus- 
 tered out, receiving an honorable discharge, nnd 
 returned to his farm in Paris Townsiiip. There 
 the remainder of his life was passed, and iherc the 
 brave soldier died Oct. 17, 1865, three days after 
 the decease of his mother. 
 
 A man of quiet and reserved disposition, Mr. 
 Doak was a true Christian, carrying his religion 
 with him, wherever he went. He was conscientious 
 in ail his transactions a man of spotless character, 
 a fact recognized by his old comrades, some of whom 
 are yet living in Paris and its immediate vicinity. 
 He was a member while here of the Presbyterian 
 Church in Paris, and by those who knew him was 
 held in high esteem. He was united in marriage 
 with Miss Emily, daughter of William andLucretia 
 (Henderson) Guthrie, June 13, 1865. Tiic father 
 of Mrs. Doak was born in Ross County, Ohio, 
 Nov. 25, 1 808, and her mother in Lancaster County, 
 Pa., Aug. 20, 1815. They were married in Ross 
 County, where the Guthries settled in and near 
 Chilicothe at an early day, and where the father of 
 William Guthrie built the first State house. The 
 latter with his wife emigrated to Cass County, Ind., 
 about 1837, remaining there about three j'ears, 
 then, coming to this county, thej^ purchased a farm 
 
1000 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPfllCAL ALBUM. 
 
 in Hunter Townsliip upon vvhicli they lived for 
 thirty years, removing thence to l-'aris, wliere the 
 cleatli of Mr. Guthrie tools place March 26, 1874. 
 The wife and 'mother died in Vermilion County, 
 this State, May 23, 1886, while on a visit to a 
 daughter, and was laid hy the side of her husband 
 in the Kdgar Cemetery of Paris. 
 
 Mrs. Doak was born Oct. 6, ISSs, near LogLins- 
 port, in Cass County, Ind., and of her marriage 
 with our subject there was born one child only, a 
 son, John W., March 14, 1866. He is an attorney 
 and resides in Paris. 
 
 -if 
 
 -5 ^pt^ 
 
 UTLLIAM N. WILSON. The man who 
 takes pride in the preservation of his fara- 
 *J^^ ily history is one who is most likely to 
 order his own life in that manner which shall reflect 
 honor upon his posterity. The subject of this 
 notice was born in Fleming County, Ky., which 
 was likewise the native place of his parents, John 
 and Margaret (Newcomb) Wilson. There the lat- 
 ter were reared .and married, and later emigrated 
 to Monroe County, Ind. After a few years' so- 
 journ in that region they once more gathered 
 together their worldly possessions, about 1824, 
 and, coming to Edgar County, 111., settled among 
 the Indians in Hunter Township. Here the father 
 constructed a farm and reared his family, and they 
 together endured all the hardships and privations 
 of life on the frontier. Tlieir industry and perse- 
 verance, however, were in due time rewarded in 
 the possession of a comfortable home, while their 
 children took their places in the community and 
 were recognized as forming a portion of its best 
 element. 
 
 " The paternal grandfather of our subject was 
 Andrew AVilson, a native of the city of Dublin, 
 Ireland, where he was reared, educated, and learned 
 the trade of a tailor. About 1785 he emigrated to 
 America, a poor boy without money, friends, or 
 influence, having not even enough cash to pay his 
 passage across the Atlantic, but working it on the 
 ship. After landing he made his way into Ken- 
 tucky, where he sui)ported himself by the labor of 
 
 his hands, finally married, reared a family, and 
 spent his last days in the blue grass regions. 
 
 On the other side of the house, the maternal 
 grandfather of our subject was William Newcomb, 
 a native of Fleming County, Ky., where he was 
 reared to man's estate and married to Miss Eliza- 
 beth Bell. They removed to Monroe County, 
 Ind., and later to Edgar County, 111., being among 
 the earliest pioneers of this region. In a few 
 .years, however. Grandfather Newcomb decided 
 upon another change of residence and moved with 
 his family into Macon County, where he spent the 
 remainder of his life. John, the father of our 
 subject, .accompanied his parents in their different 
 removals until ready to establish a home of his 
 own. William N. distinctly remembers the time 
 when Edgar Township was mostly a wild tract of 
 country, and when but few settlers had ventured 
 into this region; when Indians were plentiful and 
 wild animals abounded. Large droves of deer 
 were frequently seen crossing the prairie not far 
 from the cabin home of the Wilsons, and the wolves 
 frequently made night hideous howling around 
 their door. The nearest market for a number of 
 years was at Clinton, Ind., from which point the 
 principal products were transported to New Orleans 
 b^' flatboats. The primitive schools were con- 
 ducted in log cabins, and likewise the church ser- 
 vices, these often being held also in private houses. 
 Our subject during his early manhood served as 
 constable for a period of fifteen years, and durino- 
 that time enjoyed a personal acquaintance with 
 nearly every man in the county. 
 
 Roared amid the wild scenes of life on the fron- 
 tier, young Wilson grew up strong in body and 
 imbued with those excellent moral sentiments which 
 were characteristic of regions where vice is almost 
 wholly unknown. His chief aim in life was to 
 attain to an honorable manhood and a home of his 
 own. After due preparation he was married in 
 Johnson County, Ind., in 1843, to Miss Mary A., 
 daughter^ of Meshack and Sarah (Tucker) Turner. 
 The young people, full of courage and hope, entered 
 upon the journey of life together upon the farm 
 where they now live, and labored with one mutual 
 |)nrpose in view. There were born to them three 
 children, the eldest of whom, a daughter, Louise, is 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 1001 
 
 now the wife of William Darling, and lives in 
 York County, Neb. ; John T. is married to Ann 
 Malony; Margaret is the wife of Elias 1!. Sheets, 
 and they live in Serlalia, Mo. 
 
 The paternal grandfather of Mrs. Wilson was 
 James Turner, a native of Spottsylvania County, 
 Va., where he lived until reaching man's estate and 
 niari'ied Miss Sarah Fanner. Later they removed 
 to Georgia, where they spent the remainder of their 
 lives. The great-grandfather. Dr. James Turner, 
 was a native of England, where he received a good 
 education and emigrated to the United States early 
 in life. He settled in Virginia and died there. 
 His sons were named Meshack, Shadrack, Abed- 
 nego, John, and James. They also had a daughter 
 who married a Mr. Ogeltree, and who were direct 
 heirs to the large estate of the Turner family in 
 England. Mrs. Wilson is a very estimable lady, 
 and a member in good standing of the Christian 
 Church. Around their present dwelling is one acre 
 of ground, which makes a snug home, and in con- 
 nection with which are modern conveniences and 
 improvements. Mr. Wilson also has forty acres else- 
 where in Hunter Township. 
 
 ^-vv^afifir©^ 
 
 ^^^3}/^^ZrSlf\^'\/yy^ 
 
 AVIS H. SHANK. That the career of 
 , ,,, this gentleman has been filled in witii in- 
 IjSy^^ dustry and signalized by success, is evi- 
 ^'^ dent in his surroundings, which comprise 
 a well-regulated farm with excellent modern im- 
 provements. He has followed agriculture all his 
 life, and may certainly feel that he has not labored 
 in vain. His property, comprising 120 acres of 
 land, is pleasantly situated on section 20, in Paris 
 Township, and the fact of his long residence here 
 and that he has uniformly performed his part as an 
 honest man and a good citizen, has placed him in an 
 enviable position among his fellow-men. 
 
 Our subject claims as bis native State, Ohio, 
 which has furnished so many of the men wiio have 
 labored to good purpose in the development of 
 the Great West. He was born in Greene County, 
 in 1843, acquired his early education in the dis- 
 trict school, and in later years attended a commer- 
 
 cial school at Dayton. In the meantime he made 
 his headquarters at the old homestead, where ho 
 learned the principles of farming and occupied 
 himself with his father until reaching man's estate. 
 In 1864 he was married to Miss Mary J, Steel, and 
 in 1866 he came with his wife and his parents to 
 this county. They purchased about 400 acres of 
 land and erected the first tile factory in the county. 
 The people of this region were slow to adopt the 
 system of tiling, as it was difficult to make them 
 understand how the water could be drained from 
 the ground in this manner. In due time, however, 
 by great patience and perseverance on the part of Mr. 
 Shank, they became converted, and the enterprise 
 proved an immense success. 
 
 After operating the tile factory a number of 
 years Mr. Shank sold out and invested a part of 
 his capital in the lumber business at Paris. Finally 
 he returned to the farm, to whicli he has since de- 
 voted his attention, and engaged laro-ely in stock 
 and fruit raising. He has the largest herd of 
 thorough-bred Berkshire swine in the county, and 
 which is familiarly known as the " Glenwood 
 Herd." In the fruit line he has a fine vineyard 
 with a goodly assortment of the smaller fruits and 
 berries, and raises (dioice varieties of potatoes. 
 The family residence is a fine large frame structure 
 set in the midst of a large, beautifully sh.aded yard, 
 which forms a delightful retreat in summer, while 
 the buildings are protected from the bitter blasts 
 of winter. There is an ample supply of outbuild- 
 ings, including a large barn with sheds, pens, 
 etc., and a mill for grinding feed. All of these 
 improvements have been instituted by tlie present 
 proprietor. He has 120 acres of land, which pro- 
 duces in abundance the rich crops of Central Illi- 
 nois. 
 
 Mr. Shank took an active part in the construc- 
 tion of the pike road, which runs past his farm 
 
 in fact, with the assistance of G. W. Kimble, was 
 chiefly instrumental in Ijringing it into existence. 
 The various other enterprises having for their 
 object the general good of the people and the up- 
 building of the township, have ever received his 
 heartjr co-operation. His home is one of the 
 most pleasant to be found in the county. His fam- 
 ily circle includes five interesting children, viz.: 
 
1002 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 Cora E.; John A. is a member of the first Congre- 
 gational Church; Jessie S., Nellie E., and Nettie P. 
 Millie was taken from the household by death at 
 the age of seven weeics. The wife and eldest daugh- 
 ter of our subject are members in good standing of 
 the Presbyterian Church. Mr. Shank, socially, 
 belongs to Edgar Lodge No. 91, I. O. O. F., at 
 Paris. While a resident of his native State he was 
 a member of the militia. 
 
 Mrs. Shank is the daughter of Jacob Steel, like- 
 wise a native of Greene County, Ohio, and the son 
 of Ebcnezer Steel, one of the earliest pioneers of 
 that region. The latter was a native of Maryland, 
 and emigrated to Ohio during its pioneer days, 
 settling on a tract of heavil^y timbered land and 
 literally chopping out a farm from the wilderness. 
 He there spent his last d.ays. Henry Shank, the 
 paternal grandfather of our sulijeet, likewise set- 
 tled in that region, in the western part of Gi-eene 
 County, not far from Dayton, when that now flour- 
 ishing city was but a hamlet. Tie was a saddler In- 
 trade and manuf.actured saddles and iiarness, which 
 he traded for work to the settlers, and thus man- 
 aged to clear his farm. He was married to Miss 
 Barbara Crumbaugh. They reared a fine family of 
 children, and spent the remainder of their lives in 
 the Buekej'e State. Tiieir son, the father of our 
 subject, married Miss Rebecca Hawkins, in Greene 
 County, and to them there were born two children 
 only; our subject and his sister, Mary F., now 
 Mrs. Andrew Crumbaugh, a native of McLean 
 County, this State. 
 
 -^ ^-^ — 
 
 yfclLLIAM IT. DOWNS. One of the most 
 beautiful farms in Embarras Township is 
 W^ that belonging to the subject of this 
 sketch. It is finely located on section 25 and is 
 embellished with a large two story frame dwelling 
 around wliicli have been planted fruit and shade 
 trees, and which is flanked by a commodious liarn 
 with sheds and other necessary outbuildings, the 
 whole situated in a commanding position with a 
 good view of the surrounding country. The farm 
 is largely devoted to stock-raising and its various 
 
 departments bear evidence of being under the 
 supervision of a man of more than ordinary in- 
 telligence. Mr. Downs is largely self-made, a man 
 who has arisen to an enviable position, socially 
 and financially, by his own efforts. 
 
 A man now in the prime of life, our subject was 
 Jjorn Aug. 26, 1848, at the family homestead in 
 Paris Township and is the son of James B. and 
 Bets3' A. (Metcalf) Downs, the former a native of 
 Loudon County, Va., and the latter of Jefferson 
 Count}', Ky. The father of our subject came to 
 Illinois in 1838 and until 1850 lived in Paris 
 Township. That year he changed his residence to 
 Embarras Township of which he was a resident 
 for the long period of thirty-five years. Two 
 uncles. Noble and Benjamin Downs, served as 
 soldiers in the Mexican War. To the parents 
 there were born three children oitAy — William IL, 
 James N. and Anna M., (Mrs. McLean,) the two 
 latter are residents of Paris. 
 
 Mr. Downs after leaving the district school pre- 
 pared himself for entering Eureka College in 
 Woodford County, where he pursued his studies 
 for a time and then entered the law department of 
 ftlichigan University at Ann Arbor. After beinc 
 graduated he crossed the Mississippi into Wichita, 
 Kan., and commenced his law practice there in 
 about 1873. Six months later, however, he en- 
 tered 160 acres of land in Sedgwick County and 
 in 1874 returned to his native haunts and resumed 
 teaching which profession he had followed prior to 
 this time. He was thus occupied five winters 
 while in the summer season lie employed himself 
 at farming. In the fall of 1850 the elder Downs 
 had entered 320 acres of land and upon this our 
 subject settled in 1879 and has since remained. 
 The first dwelling on this place was built by set- 
 ting posts in the ground to which boards were 
 nailed and the whole finished off with a shed roof. 
 The Downs family lived in true pioneer style for 
 a number of years, careful to keep their expenses 
 within their income and in due time found them- 
 selves on solid ground, financially. William H. is 
 the owner of 250 acres of the old farm which he 
 has operated with such admirable results. 
 
 In the December following his twenty-first birth- 
 day Mr. Downs was married, in 1869, to Miss 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOCIRAPIJICAL ALBUM. 
 
 100.3 
 
 Ellen A. jNIiils. This ladj- is the daughter of Dr. 
 John Mills of Kansas, Edgar County and by her 
 union witii our subject has become the mother of 
 five children, three only of whom are living, 
 namclj': Tessa M., Valetta R. and Roscoe F., all of 
 whom are at home with their parents. Mr. Downs 
 polilicalljr, is an uncompromising Democrat. He 
 cares very little for official honors but has been 
 prevailed upon to serve as School Director and to 
 represent Embarras Township in the County 
 Board of Supervisors. He is a worthy member of 
 the Christian Church and in the Masonic fraternity 
 has advanced as far as to become a Knight Temp- 
 lar. He also belongs to the INIodern Woodmen of 
 America. 
 
 SIDEON MINOR, one of the oldest mer- 
 chants of Edgar County, is postmaster at 
 ^5^^^ Edgar, and although quite well advanced in 
 years is remarkably active and has always been 
 recognized as an honest man and a good citizen. 
 He has had his full share of tiie difticidties of life 
 with which to contend, but has maintained his in- 
 tegrity and is held in great respect by tlie people 
 wiio have known him for a lifetime. He served as 
 a School Director twelve years and in politics is a 
 very strong Democrat — a man who lias been of 
 great service to his party in this section and who 
 is frequently sent as a delegate to tlie various con- 
 ventions, has also been a member of the Central 
 Committee. 
 
 The boyhood of our subject was spent in Clermont 
 County, Ohio, where he was born Dec. 8, 1811. lie 
 was raised on the frontier, receiving limited edu- 
 cational advantages in the subscription school, and 
 left home at the age of seventeen to engage -as 
 general merchant in a store at Felicit}-, ( )hio. He re- 
 mained in that place until a man of thirty-six jears 
 and in 1840 became a resident of ISutlei- County 
 and was still employed as a clerk at Darrtown. 
 The year following he came to Illinois, bringing 
 with him a stock of goods and locating in r.loom- 
 field. In due time, business proving good, he en- 
 larged his store and remained there until 1873. 
 That year he came to Edgar and jiut up the first 
 
 dwelling in the town of Edgar. He likewise 
 brought to it the first stock of goods and for a time 
 all went well. In 1879 he met with reverses, but 
 partially recovered his losses and established a 
 grocery on a small scale, later adding to his 
 stock in trade boots and shoes. Although not in 
 affluent circumstances, he owns his dwelling and 
 store and has many of the comforts of life. He 
 was appointed Postmaster in December, 1872 and 
 has since held the office. 
 
 (;)nr subject was married in Mason County, Ky., 
 in 1839 to Miss Leonora Holton, a native of Ver- 
 mont, who received a good education and taught 
 school for some time prior to her marriage. Of 
 this union there have been born eight children of 
 whom the two eldest, Thomas and Anna, are de- 
 ceased; Mary is the wife of Albert G. Bates, a 
 farmer and they live near A'evaj', Ind.; Charles 
 operates the grocery store for his father and is also 
 in the coal business; Robert, Judith and John are 
 deceased. Mamie is the wife of John F. Stephen- 
 son who was formerly County Surveyor and is now 
 a resident of Edgar Township. 
 
 / AMES M. PKRISIIO. The simple and con- 
 tented home life possible amid the quiet 
 scenes of the countr}^ is happilj' illustrated 
 ^^jli in the surroundings of this genial and com- 
 panionable old gentleman who owns and occupies 
 a well-regulated farm on section 24 in Grand View 
 Township. He has spent his entire life in this 
 county, being the son of one of its representative 
 families and was born in Grand View, three miles 
 from the homestead where he now lives, Jan. 30, 
 182(1. He was the youngest child of his parents, 
 Josepli and Barbara (Zink) Perisho, the former of 
 whom was born in North Carolina, Dec. 27, 1780. 
 The father of our subject left his native State 
 when a lad of fourteen years, going into Kentuckj' 
 and thence removed to Indiana where he was mar- 
 ried in 1814. He sojourned in the Hoosier State 
 until 1825, then coming to this county took up a 
 tract of wild land from wliich he constructed the 
 homestead now occupied bj' his son and where his 
 
1004 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 death took place in 1838 while he was still a young- 
 man. He became prominent in local affairs and 
 was in all respects a highly esteemed and reliable 
 citizen. The mother survived her husband for a 
 period of thirty-four years, passini^' away in 1872. 
 They were the parents of eight children, all of 
 whom grew to mature years and seven of whom 
 are living. 
 
 Tlie i)aternal grandfather of our subject was 
 Jos'-iph Perisho, a native of France who emigrated 
 to America at an early day, probably during Revo- 
 lutionary times, and settled in North Carolina. 
 On the other side of the house, (irandfather Daniel 
 Zink was born in Germany and upon coming to 
 America settled in Washington County, Va., where 
 his daughter, Barbara, the mother of our subject, 
 was born July 27, 17"J2. Later the family renioved 
 to Kentuckj', thence to Indiana and finally to Illi- 
 nois in 1825. James M. was the youngest child of 
 his parents and like his brothers received a limited 
 education in the subscription schools of this count}', 
 which were mostlj' conducted in the winter season. 
 He assisted liis father in develo[)ing the new farm 
 and when a youth of eighteen years, began busi- 
 ness on his own account. There were many In- 
 dians in this section during his luiyhood days and 
 wild game of all kinds was plentiful. Yt)ung 
 Perisho grew up with the country and has been 
 one of the privileged witnesses of its transformation 
 from a wilderness into the homes of an intelligent 
 and enlightened people. In the successful care 
 and culture of a portion of the soil lie has thus 
 contributed his quota to the value of the taxable 
 property of his native county. 
 
 Mr. Perisho rerpained a bachelor until approach- 
 ing the thirty -seventh year of his age and was then 
 married Jan. I, 1863, to Miss Sapora Ann, daugh- 
 ter of Robert Anderson of Coles County, this 
 State. They became the parents of five children, 
 only three of whom are living — Emanuel M., 
 Catherine R. and Carmelia A., all at home with 
 their father. The mother died Dec. 8, 1876. Our 
 subject contracted a second marriage June 4, 1878, 
 with Miss Sarah Ann, daughter of John and Susan 
 Schultz, who are now residents of Dudley this 
 county and quite aged, the father being eighty-five 
 years old and the mother eighty-one. Of the ten 
 
 children born to them, seven are now livi 
 Sarah Ann, (Mrs. Perisho) was the fourth child 
 the family and was born July 2, 1835 in Virgir 
 The year following they all came to Illinois, s 
 tling in this county. 
 
 The farm of our subject embraces 167 acres 
 land and is still under his suijervision, although 
 son, Emanuel, attends to the plowing and the hef 
 ier work. The home surroundings are pleasant 
 the extreme, the dwelling being surrounded w 
 innumerable flowers, indicating the fine tastes 
 Mis. Perisho, who is a ver^- estimable lady, entire 
 devoted to the comfort and happiness of her fami 
 She is a member in good standing of the Presl 
 terian while Mr. Perisho belongs to the Method 
 Episcopal Church. In years past he was a leadi 
 Granger. He cast his first Presidential vote f 
 James K. Polk and since that lime has uniform 
 given his support to the Democratic partj'. I 
 keeps himself well posted upon State and Xati(n 
 issues and has always borne the reputation of 
 peac^eful and law-ahiding citizen, one who h;is ev 
 given his cordial support to the enterprises be 
 calculated for the general good of the peoj 
 around him. Such has been his life that he scarce 
 has an enemy in the world arid his name will 
 held in kindly remembrance long after he has bei 
 gathered to his fathers. 
 
 BRAHA]M F. LONG. Living upon t 
 theory that a "rolling stone gathers : 
 lii moss," the subject of this notice still clin 
 (^ to the old homestead where he was boi 
 
 Feb. 25, 1851. This is a fine body of land, 1 
 acres in extent, and pleasantly located on secti^ 
 24 in Edgar Township. Here were spent the ho 
 hood and youth of our subject, who received I 
 education in the district school and woi-ked wi 
 his father until a man of twenty-one years. The 
 having had a practical experience in farming, 
 assumed charge of the place, which he has ma 
 aged since that time, and which became his abo 
 1885. 
 
 !\lr. Long himself made the improvemeii 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOORAPIIICAL ALBUM. 
 
 1005 
 
 w'lich are now viewed with much interest liy tlie 
 passing traveler, and which consists of a sub- 
 stantial dwelling and barn, slieds, and the other 
 buildings required for the successful prosecution 
 of agricultural pursuits. The land is watered by 
 Brueliet Creels, and spring water besides, while 
 there is an abundance of native timber, an orchard 
 of apple trees in good bearing condition, and the 
 smaller fruits for the use of the family. In addi- 
 tion to general farming, Mr. Long makes a specialty 
 of Norman and C'lydesdale horses, keeping on hand 
 from fifteen to twenty head. Most of his land is 
 operated by a renter. Besides this property, Mr. 
 Long owns 160 acres four miles south of Osborne 
 City, Kan. He remembers the time when deer and 
 wild turkeys were plentiful in this region, and one 
 of his 3'outhful recreations was hunting. 
 
 The 20th of October, 18H7, marked an interest- 
 ing event in the life of our subject, lieing the date 
 of his marriage with Miss Laura J. Bennetiel. This 
 lady was born in Shiloh Township, Edgar Co., 
 111., March 16, 1865. A sketch of her parents, 
 Robert and Mary J. ISi-nnetiel, will be found on 
 another page of this Albtih. The early life of 
 Mrs. Long was spent quietly under the parental 
 roof, where she was trained in those liousewifely 
 duties and accomplishments which have well fitted 
 he to preside gracefully over her pleasant and 
 tasteful home. She is very intelligent and well- 
 informed, and adorns her position as the wife of a 
 leading citizen. For some time past she has been 
 a member of the Methodist Episcopal Chuieb, at 
 Paris. Mr. Long, politically, is a strong Repub- 
 lican and an active member of his party, frequently 
 being sent as a delegate to the county and State 
 conventions. He assisted in the nomination of 
 "Dick" Oglesby for Governor, and has served on 
 the Central Committee. Fi'anklin (Church, which 
 was called after him, was removed by him from 
 Bloomfield to its present site, near our suliject's 
 farm. 
 
 The father of our subject was Andrew Long, a 
 a native-born Virginian and the son of .John Long, 
 who was also born in the Old Dominion, and 
 served in the War of 1812. Later, he was in the 
 employ of the Government in the United States 
 Arsenal at Harper's Ferry, and was thus occupied 
 
 at the time of his death. The great-grandfather was 
 William Long, a native of England, who, upon 
 emigrating to America, settled in Virginia, where he 
 spent his last dsiys. Andrew Long was reared by 
 one of his uncles, and early in life removed with 
 him to Ohio, settling in Fayette County, where he 
 engaged in farming. In 1837 he set out for Illi- 
 nois overland by team, and upon his arrival in 
 Edgar County purchased a claim of 160 acres of 
 laud, which he improved, and upon which he re- 
 mained until his death, July 1, 1K86. He was a 
 prominent man in his community, and identified 
 with its educational affairs. For the long period 
 of fifty years lie has been a consistent member of 
 the Methodist Episcopal Church. 
 
 The maiden name of the mother of our subject 
 w.as Margaret INIark. She was born in Hunting- 
 ton County, Pa., of which State her father was also 
 a native, whence he removed with his family to 
 Fayette County, C)hio. He participated in the War 
 of liSl2 as a commissioned officer, in which he bore 
 himself with great credit, being well versed in mili- 
 tary tactics. The Mark family was of German de- 
 scent, and first represented in this country prior to 
 the Revolutionary War, in which the great-grand- 
 father of our subject carried a musket and lived 
 through it, to be killed at the first celebration of 
 the Itli of July, on Manhattan Island, by the 
 premature explosion of a piece of artillery. The 
 mother of our subject accor.jpanicd her family to 
 Edgar Countj', III, and died at the homestead now 
 occupied by Abraham F., our subject, in Septem- 
 bei-, 1878, at the ago of sixty-eight years. The ten 
 children of the parental household were named re- 
 spectively: jMartha, John F. and William A., de- 
 ceased; Lavonia II., Mrs. Calvin, of Paris; Mary 
 C, IMrs. Price, of Champaign County, III.; Stroder 
 M., a banker of Newman, 111.; Samuel L., a resi- 
 dent of Douglas County; Mahala .1., living at New- 
 man; Alpheus C, an inventor of some note, being 
 the inventor of a patent lifting jack, and also a 
 patent wagon coujiling, of Paris; and Abraham F., 
 our subject. 
 
 Mr. Long has served as Justice of the Peace 
 four years, and was appointed Notar}' Public, 
 first under (iov. John Hamilton, next under Gov. 
 Oglesby, and finally by Gov. Joe Filer. He is of 
 
1006 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 that genial and obliging disposition wliich has 
 made him a universal favorite both in business 
 and social circles, and he believes in extracting all 
 the good attainable from life as he goes along. 
 The home of the Longs is consequently a very 
 pleasant place of resort, and under its hospitable 
 roof the proprietor and his amiable wife frequently 
 entertain their many friends. 
 
 -< #-# ^ 
 
 * felLLIAM C. DICKEN, late a well-known 
 \jij/l resident of Ridge Farm, departed this life 
 W^ at the former place. May 26, 1885, and all 
 that was mortal of him was consigned to its peace- 
 ful repose -in Ingram Cemetery. He was a man 
 widely and favorably known throughout this 
 county where he had distinguished himself as a lib- 
 eral and public-spirited citizen, one who acciiniu- 
 lated a fine property and at the same time inter- 
 ested himself in the general welfare of those around 
 him. 
 
 i\[r. Dicken was born in Vermilion County, this 
 State, May 4, 1834, and was the son of John 
 Dicken, a native of Tennessee, who upon coming to 
 Illinois located in the vicinity of Georgetown and 
 engaged in farming. Later, selling this propert_y 
 he purchased land adjoining Ridge Farm and took 
 up his abode in that town, where he officiated as 
 Justice of the Peace and where he spent his last 
 days. He had been engaged as a merchant at New- 
 man a few years and was a member in good stand- 
 ing of the Baptist Church. He was married after 
 coming to Illinois to IMiss Maiy Golden, whose pa- 
 rents belonged to the Society of Friends. 'Williani 
 C. was their second child and coini)leted his educa- 
 tion in the High School at Georgetown. He chose 
 farming for his vocation and was married on 
 Nov. 24, 1860, in Paris to Miss Serena Scott, 
 sister of A. J. Scott, whose biography a|)pears 
 elsewhere in this volume. 
 
 After marriage the young couple located in 
 Prairie Township, where Mr. Dicken owned and 
 operated a farm of 210 acres. I^ater he sold this 
 and purchased 100 ncicson section 11 adjoining, 
 where he prdsccuted farming and stock-raising 
 
 until 1871. In November of that year he rented 
 his farm and removed to that which the family 
 now occupy in Ross Township. Upon it there had 
 been effected comparatively' few improvements and 
 Mr. Dicken for several years thereafter put 
 forth his noblest efforts in the construction of a 
 homestead. In the meantime he also engaged ex- 
 tensively as a dealer in live-stock, buying, feeding 
 and shipping with marked success. He added to 
 his real estate and in due time became the owner 
 of 1,810 acres of land in Edgar County, 1,030 in 
 Ross and Prairie townships and 780 acres in the vi- 
 cinity of Metcalf. 
 
 The Dicken home farm was purchased for $28 
 per acre and for his other land Mr. Dicken paid a 
 good round sum. While his own extensive inter- 
 ests naturally absorbed much of his time and 
 thoughts, he was ever ready to assist those who 
 would try to help themselves and started many 
 a man on the road to prosperity. By these 
 his name is now held in grateful remembrance. 
 Such was his genial and obliging disposition 
 that he was an universal favorite both in business 
 and social circles. He alw.a^'s maintained a warm 
 interest in the establishment of schools, giving lib- 
 ei'ally to these enterprises and also in building 
 churches. Politically, he was a Democrat until 
 1 880 and then feeling that he had reason to change 
 his views, voted for Garfield and subsequently was 
 a strong supporter of Republican principles. Al- 
 though unambitious of office he served as High- 
 way Commissioner for a number of j'ears. also as 
 a School Director. 
 
 The Dicken homestead invariably attracts the at- 
 tention of the passing traveler as one evidcntlj' 
 having been built up under the supervision of ;i 
 man possessing cultivated tastes and ample moans. 
 It embraces 360 acres of finely improved land, 
 with a tasteful and commodious modern residence 
 in the midst of ample grounds, flanked by fruit 
 and forest trees, beautifully situated on a knoll on 
 the banks of the north fork of the Bruellet Creek 
 and commanding a fine view of the surrounding- 
 country. With its outbuildings, machinery and 
 live-stock, it very nearly approaches the ideal 
 country estate. Since the decease of her husband 
 Mrs. Dicken, with the assistance of her children has 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 1007 
 
 managed the farm and maintained its reputation 
 for excellence and fei-tility. The land is wateicd 
 liv a living spring and a branch of the North Fork 
 and is largely devoted to live-stock, inchiding 
 thorougli-bred sheep, graded draft horses and com- 
 mon swine. Two teams are utilized in the opera- 
 tion of tlie farm. 
 
 .Mrs. Dickeu, a lady of more than ordinaiy intcli- 
 oence, was born at her father's farm embracing the 
 the present site of Scottland, Dec. 15, I<s;i7. She 
 attended the common scliool and was ti'ained 
 bv an excellent mother in all housewifely du- 
 ties and also assisted in out-door employments 
 whenever necessary', at a time wiien wild game was 
 plentiful, when deer were often to be seen in the 
 neighborhood of their home and wolves prowled 
 around the house at night. Her early stiulies were 
 conducted in a log scliool-house and later she at- 
 tended the High School at Georgetown. She re- 
 mained under the parental roof until lier marriage, 
 and by her union with our subject became the 
 mother of six children, the eldest of whom, Mel- 
 vin S., is administrator of the estate; he married 
 Miss Ida Reed and is farming in Prairie Township. 
 Laura E., the third child, is the wife of Wort C. 
 McKinley, a mail clerk on the Cairo, Vincennes ife 
 Chicago Railroad, and is a resident of Danville; 
 David M. died at the age of thirteen years; John 
 C, William A., and Ada R. are at home with tlieir 
 mother. Mrs. Dicken is a member of the Methodist 
 Episcopal Church and assisted liberally in build- 
 ing the church edifice in this township. 
 
 ihM, ORRIS LITTLE, Supervisor of Edgar 
 Township, is a practical farmer and good 
 business man and one of the most promi- 
 nent citizens of the township. Genial, 
 whole-souled and obliging, he has made friends 
 wherever he is known and exerts no small influ- 
 ence in the affairs of his community where he is a 
 leader in the Republican party. He is prominent 
 in the L O. O. F. Lodge at Chrisman, occupying 
 the post of Junior Past Grand, was the representa- 
 live to the State Grand Lodge and is frequently 
 
 sejit as a delegate to the Republican county' con- 
 ventions He was one year a member of the Cen- 
 tral Committee and has always been active in pro- 
 moting his party's interests. His occupation has 
 been that of a farmer and his homestead of 160 
 acres is located on section 16. 
 
 'J he family history of Blr. Little |)ossesses many 
 points of interest. He is the son of Alpheus Little, 
 who wns born neiir Hamilton, Butler Co., Ohio, of 
 which (iiandfalher Ezra Little was also a native, 
 and the only child of his parents. When a young 
 man Grandfather Little moved with his family to 
 Montgomery County, Ind., where he cleared a farm 
 from the forest and as the result of great industry 
 and econoiii}', became the owner of (iOO acres of 
 land. He was a man of excellent abilitie? and an 
 active member of the Close Communion Baptist 
 Church. The paternal great-grandfather of our 
 subject was Job Little, a native of New Jersey^ 
 He went to sea when a boy and followed the life 
 of a sailor until forty years old, remaining to this 
 time a bachelor. He was then married to Miss 
 Joanna Miller who was born in Ohio and was an 
 aunt of Gov. Oliver P. Morton. He located in 
 Butler Count}', Ohio, but later removed to Indiana, 
 where he spent his last days. 
 
 The Little family are of Scotch ancestr}-. The 
 father of our subject was four years old when he 
 went with his parents to Indiana. He obtained a 
 a common school education and when a young man 
 engaged in teaching. In due time he purchased 
 land in Montgomery County, Ind., where he op- 
 perated until 1853. He then removed to Clinton 
 County, where he puichased another farm of 160 
 acres, but in 1857 sold this and came to Edgar 
 County, locating on his present farm of 160 
 acres. In connection with farming he engaged 
 successfully in stock-raising and became the owner 
 of too acres of land, which with the exception of 
 160 acres, he divided among his children. He was 
 a active member of the Christian Church in which 
 he officiated as an Elder, and contributed liberally 
 to its support, furnishing the greater part of the 
 funds to erect the church edifice. 
 
 The maiden name of the mother of our subject 
 was Cynthia Butcher. She was born in iMont- 
 gomery County, Ind., and was the daughter of 
 
loos 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 John Butcher, a native of Virginia. The latter 
 upon leaving the 01(1 Dominion, removed to the 
 vieinit}' of Newark, Ohio, and from the latter to 
 Montgomery Count}-, Ind., where lie was one of 
 the pioneer settlers and became a horse-dealer of 
 great repute. He was also an expert liunter and de- 
 lighted in this sport. He traveled throvigh Illinois 
 when it was a wilderness, but made his home in In- 
 diana where he spent his last days. In addition to 
 farming he operated as a veterinary surgeon. He 
 was a prominent and popular man and familiarly 
 known as ''Uncle John." When a child he lost all 
 of the fingers of his right hand by being burned, 
 but notwithstanding this he could perform a man's 
 labor and was considered the best shot in the 
 country. 
 
 Tne great-grandfatlier Butclier emigrated from 
 Newark, (_)hio, to Indiana, where he spent his last 
 days. This family was of German descent. The 
 motlier of our suljject is still living and is fifty- 
 nine j'cars old. Tiiere wereonl^' three children in 
 the parental fanuly, Morris, onr subject; Sarah E., 
 JNIrs. Manning, of Edgar Township; and Hannah 
 M., jMrs. Moyer. Morris Little was b(.)rn near 
 Darlington, Montgomery Co.. Ind., Oct., is, 1861, 
 in an old log house. He was taken to Clinton 
 C'ounty when an infant and resided there until 
 the spring of 1857, when his j)arents came to 
 Illinois overland with teams. He pursued his 
 studies in the common schools a few weeks in the 
 winter seasons until twentj'-one years old, then en- 
 tered the High School at Chrisman from which he 
 was graduated. He taught school thereafter for 
 two winters, then turned his attention exclusively 
 to farming, in which he has since been engaged. 
 
 Our subject when commencing work on his own 
 account rented his father's farm, but in the winter 
 of 1874-75 conducted a general store in Edgar, 
 having 82,000 worth of stock. He located upon 
 his present place in the spring of 1884. There had 
 been deeded to him from his father's estate eighty 
 acres of this and he had purchased eighty acres ad- 
 ditional. A portion of the soil had been broken, 
 but aside from this there was no improvements. 
 He put up a house and stable besides other less im- 
 portant structures, planted hedges for fencing and 
 cross-fencing and for the first few years was en- 
 
 gaged mostly in the raising of grain. In the mean- 
 time he has laid considerable tiling and the land is 
 well watered by the .South fork of Bruelett Creek. 
 Stock-raising now forms a part of the general oper- 
 ations of the farm including cattle, horses, sheep, 
 and swine. Of the latter Mr. Little ships a car- 
 load annually. These are full-blooded mostly, 
 while his horses are Norman and Clydesdale; he 
 utilizes three teams on the farm. 
 
 Our subject was married on the 6th of March, 
 1882, at Paris, to Miss Mary Mark. This lady was 
 born in Edgar Township and is the daughter of A. 
 W. Mark, one of its most prominent farmers and 
 well-to-do. A sketch of him appears on another 
 page in this volume. The three children born of 
 tliis union are James IMaine, Edna Blanche and 
 Cary Morton. Mr. Little is serving his third term 
 as Supervisor and has occupied nearly all the other 
 local olHces, being Collector and Assessor two 
 years each and Township Clerk one term. He was 
 School Trustee for a period of nine years. 
 
 ■^ ;- AMES STEWART is a native of Edgar 
 County, and was born in Sims Township, 
 live miles south of Paris, July 11, 1841. He 
 spent his youthful days on his father's farm , 
 and received a good education at the common 
 scliools. \Mien he was twenty years of age he en- 
 listed in the defense of his country, joining Com- 
 pany B, 1st jNIissouri Engineers, July 27, 1861. 
 His regiment was assigned to the Western army, 
 and was engaged with Gen. Pope in tiie reduction 
 of Island No. 10, then at New Madrid, going from 
 there to Vii'ksburg, aiding in the siege of that city. 
 The regiment was also at the siege of Corinth, and 
 for some time under Gen. Grant in different parts 
 of the West and South, performing the duties of 
 an engineer regiment. Mr. Stewart served faith- 
 fully and well until Aug. 5, 1864, when lie was 
 mustered out of the service at Nashville, Tenn. 
 
 After the war was over Mr. Stewart engaged in 
 farming, locating seven miles northwest of Paris. 
 He continued working on his farm until 1881. He 
 had 280 acres of land and improved it thoroughly. 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 1009 
 
 In the j'uar rnentioned he engaged in the milling 
 business with Laiiglilin, Marl^' it Stewart, in vvliat 
 is known as the "Paris City Mills." He continued 
 in this business for three years, and in the mean- 
 time, in 1882, he was elected Sheriff of Kdgnr 
 County, that being the first year the dflice was ex- 
 tended to four years. He filled this position with 
 credit to himself and honor to the county. He 
 was nominated for the office of County Treasurer, 
 but as the Democratic party was united, he was 
 defeated. .Since the expiration of his term of 
 office as Sheriff, he has purchased 420 acres of 
 timber land in this county, and with a partner is 
 engaged in the lumber, wood and tie business very 
 extensively. One-third of the land has already 
 been put into cidtivation, and sometime the whole 
 tract will make a splendid farui. 
 
 Mr. Stewart is at present an Alderman for the 
 1st Ward of the city of Paris, and he has held 
 other offices of trust. He is a prominent member 
 of the Masonic fraternity and of the G. A. 1!. He 
 belongs to the Odd Fellows and United Workmen, 
 and in all of these societies he is very popular. 
 Mr. Stewart and wife are members of the Metho- 
 dist Episcopal Church. On Feb. loth, 1866, the 
 subject of this sketch was united in marriage with 
 Sally K. Middleton. They are the parents of five 
 children, three of whom are still living: Ulysses (i., 
 Claude A. and Otto M. I'lysses married Miss Bessie 
 Green, of Paris, and they have one child, Josiah. 
 Ulysses is living on his father's farm north of 
 town. Mrs. Stewart was born in Edgar County, 
 March 30, 1845, and is the daughter of Josiah 
 Middleton, who was a farmer of Elbridge Town- 
 ship. James Stewart, father of the subject of this 
 sketch, was born in Ross County, Ohio, in 1805, 
 where he lived until he attained his majority. 
 In 1839 he removed to this county, locating on a 
 farm south of Paris, which was partif.lly improved. 
 There he made himself a good home, and when he 
 died, in 1868, was respected by all his acquaintances. 
 His widow still lives. They reared a family of 
 elfeven children, all of whom attained maturity, 
 and eight are now living. The following is a 
 record of all the children: Adam and Rebecca are 
 dead; Jane is the wife of Benjamin Morton, a 
 farmer of Elbridge Township; Rachael is the wife 
 
 of John A. Sims, a resident of this county; New- 
 ton is a farmer in Buck Township; Mary Ann 
 married John Ryan; James is the one of whom we 
 write; Alexander died when he was twenty-three 
 years old; Sr.rih married L. Snedicker, and they 
 .'lie residing in Buck Township; Angeline is the 
 widow of John Cryder, who was a farmer. She is 
 living in Paris; Lucretia is the wife of Samuel 
 North, of Nims Township. 
 
 All of the living members of the family are in this 
 county, and are thrifty and representative people. 
 The father of this estimable family was interested 
 in the organization of district No. 4, township 14, 
 range 12, at an early date in the history of Edgar 
 County. He was a member of the Christian 
 Church, and laigeiy through his efforts the church 
 building was erected in the neighborhood last men- 
 tioned. He married Mary Ann Henderson, a na- 
 tive of Washington County, \'a. Her parents were 
 from England. 
 
 ^^BRAM C. HAWKINS. This gentleman 
 \.@7LII, ranks prominently among the native-born 
 (iitizens of Edgar Township, and w as born 
 gf near Bloomfield, July 16, 1850. He was 
 
 reared to farm pursuits and given a good practical 
 education in the common school. His boyhood 
 and youth were s[)ent in a comparatively unevent- 
 ful manner under the home roof, where he reniiiined 
 until a young man of twenty-two j'ears. We now 
 find him comfortably located on the well-regulated 
 farm of eighty acres on section 5 and he also oper- 
 ates 240 acres adjoining. T'his in itself indicates 
 his industrious habits and the worthy ambition to 
 provide against his old age. His farm lies in the 
 northwestern part of Edgar Township, two and 
 three-fourths miles from Metcalf. 
 
 Upon first leaving home our subject started out 
 overland by team, in 1872, and a month later 
 landed in Oak Grove, Seward Co., Neb. He pur- 
 chased a claim of 160 acres in Butler County, se- 
 cured his title to it by remaining there the required 
 length of time, then sold it and returning to Illi- 
 nois bought forty acres of land on Cherry Point 
 
1 f) 1 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 road in Eflgar Tiiwiisliip upon which he operated 
 until 1881. During that \'eai- he sold tliis also 
 and purchased his present farm which was a tract 
 of eighty acres partially improved. He has en- 
 closed the field with fences, put up a barn 40 x 48 
 feet in dimensions, also a carriage shed, has laid 
 tiling and planted hedge and also set out an orch- 
 ard. He makes a specialty of stock-raising, having 
 beside his cattle and swine twenty head of valuable 
 high-grade Xorman and Clydesdale horses. He 
 employs three teams in working the farm. The 
 dwelling is located two and three-fourths miles 
 from Metcalf. 
 
 Mr. Hawkins was first married Jan. 30, 1873, to 
 Miss Mary E. Ward, the wedding taking place at 
 the bride's home in Bloomfield. Mrs. Hawkins 
 was born in Indiana and received a good educa- 
 tion. She was later employed as a teacher. She 
 onl}' survived her marriage ten months, dying that 
 same ^-ear. She was a lady of gre.at culture and 
 refinement and her hjss was doeplj' mourned. She 
 left one child, a son, William W., now a promising 
 young man who remains at home with his father. 
 
 Our subject contracted a second marriage in 
 Edgar Tovvnship in September, 1878, to Miss Mattie 
 E. Eouts, daughter of H. H. Eouts, whose sketch 
 appears elsewhere in this volume. She also was 
 born in Indiana Nov. 26, 1 854 and taught school 
 there prior to her marriage. This union has re- 
 sulted in the birth of four children — (Jtis, Albert, 
 Myrtie E. and Edith M. Mr. Hawkins is an active 
 Democrat, politically, and is frequently sent as a 
 delegate to the coantj^ conventions. He served as 
 Constable for four years. Assessor one year and 
 has been a Director in his school district for a 
 period of eight years — in the meantime officiating 
 as President of the Board. Personally, he is a very 
 pleasant and agreeable gentleman and invariably 
 makes a good impression upon those with whom he 
 comes in contact. 
 
 William Hawkins, the father of our subject, was 
 born in Hardin County, Ky., and was the son of 
 David Hawkins, who served in the War of 1812 
 and later operated as a farmer in the above-named 
 county. Later he emigi'ated to Illinois, locating 
 near the present town of Bloomfield when its set- 
 tlers were few and far between. He carried on 
 
 farming thereafter until his death. William was a 
 young man upon coming to Illinois and operated 
 in Edgar County as a farmer and carpenter, also 
 as a teamster. He frequently drove through to 
 Chicago, and in the pursuance of his trade found 
 employment there and put up a number of build- 
 ings in the pioneer days. Finall}^ he located on a 
 farm of seventy-seven acres in Edgar Township 
 where he spent his last da3's and died at the age of 
 seventy-seven years. Politically, he was a stanch 
 Democrat and his religious views harmonized with 
 those of the " Hardshell " Baptist Church. 
 
 The maiden name of the mother of our subject 
 was Charlotte Drake. She was likewise a native 
 of Indiana and died in Edgar Township, 111., in 
 1863. The six children of the parental family 
 were named respeetively, Martha, a resident of 
 Young America Township; William H., living in 
 Nebraska; David S., deceased; Sarah A. in Dan- 
 ville; Edward L. of Fairmount, 111., and Abram 
 C, the subject of this sketch. 
 
 — '»/v-\«;ZIie/g^^«-| 
 
 ; **^f^/^^7T>Vw'\/Vy^y* 
 
 (| felLLIAM NAY. After a series of well- 
 \tJ// ^1'^"'' years emi)loyed in honorable toil he 
 \^y^ with whose name we introduce this bio- 
 graphical outline, practically retired from active 
 labor and lives comfortably on a snug farm of 
 seventy-five acres on section 36, in Kansas Town- 
 ship, Edgar County. He was at one time a large 
 land-owner, having 290 acres in the farm which 
 he now occupies, and 240 acres in another part of 
 Edgar County and in Coles County. This he has 
 disposed of by dividing it among his children, to 
 each of whom he has given a farm. He is a man 
 justly pioud of his family record, the main points 
 of which we give as follows: 
 
 Mr. Nay was born in Oldham County, Ky., Jan. 
 14, 1824, of which county his father, Sanford Nay, 
 was one of the earliest pioneers, emigrating thither 
 from ^'irginia, his native State, with his parents. 
 He was there reared and married, the maiden of his 
 choice being Miss Nancy, daughter of Sanford and 
 Anna Bennett, who were natives of the Blue Grass 
 State. Not long afterward the newly wedded pair 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIO( J IJAPllICA L ALHUM. 
 
 loll 
 
 made tlieii' way lo Illinois and suLtlcd in Kans;xs 
 Township, Edgar County as early as ly.'Sl, when 
 Indians still lingered in this [jait of the eountry. 
 The journe}' was made overland with an ox team 
 and as soon as it was completed Mr. Nay established 
 himself in a log labin and commenced opening up 
 a farm. Avoiding the fate of the " rolling stone 
 which gathers no moss," he remained persistently 
 upon his first possession where were born the (en 
 children, seven uf whom lived to mature years. t)f 
 these there are now only three survivors, William, 
 our subject; Ezra, a resident of Kansas Township, 
 and Lavina, the wife of Jasper N. I'innell, who oc- 
 cupies the old home farm upon which the parents 
 spent their last days. Both were members of the 
 Christian Church, with which thej' had been con- 
 nected many years, and in which the father served 
 as a Deacon. They came to Illinois poor in purse, 
 but by industry, economy and good management 
 the father became the owner of 200 acres of land 
 and a goodly amount of personal property. 
 
 The i)aternal grandfather of our subject was 
 Joseph Nay, a native of Cul|)eper County, ^'a., 
 where he married Miss Frances Maharney, who was 
 also born in the Old Dominion. Subsequently 
 they removed to Kentucky and then came to Illi- 
 nois, joining their children in Edgar County where 
 they spent the remainder of their lives. Both were 
 members of the Baptist Church. The maternal 
 grandparents were natives of ^'irginia from which 
 they removed to Kentucky it is believed, prior to 
 1789, as they had one child born in a fort in April 
 of that year. That child, Reuben Bennett, is still 
 living in Kentucky. The family nas noted for 
 longevity. Two of them lived to be ninety years 
 old and the youngest died at the age of seventy- 
 eight years. 
 
 William Nay, our subject, attended school three 
 months in his native county and later studied his 
 lessons in a log school-house in Edgar County, 111. 
 The floor of this building was covered with punch- 
 eon and the unplaned seats and desks were made 
 of the same material, upheld by rude wooden legs. 
 For writing desks pins were driven into the wall 
 and slabs laid across them. Instead of glass the 
 window panes were made of greased paper. A huge 
 fireplace extended nearly across one end of the 
 
 building. The neaiest market for stock in those 
 days was at Teri'e Haute, [nd., while they also 
 transjiorted produce to Chicago and St. Louis. 
 AVitli the exception of timbers l.ieing laid across 
 the sloughs, a road was scarcely nuxrked out ,ind 
 there were few fences to Ije seen. At times the 
 travelers had to go considerably out of their way 
 to avoid being swamped. 
 
 Amid these scenes and surroundings the boyh(jod 
 and youth of our subject were spent, while he was 
 trained to habits of industry and grew up strong 
 and self reliant. His chief ambition was to estab- 
 lish a homo of his own and he was accordingly 
 married, .Jan. 17. 1<S47, in Kansas Township, to 
 Miss Harriet E., daughter of Jonathan W. and 
 Elizabeth (Aiken) Brown. Mrs. Nay was born in 
 Edgar County, Jul}^ 20, 1827. Her |)arents emi- 
 grated from Connecticut to this county at a very 
 early date and here reared their family- of seven 
 childi'en, of whom Mrs. Nny was the youngest bom 
 and of whom only two survive. Mrs. Nay has the 
 honor of being the first white girl born in Kansas 
 Township. Here she has spent her entire life and 
 is now living within one mile of her birthplace. 
 
 The six living children of Mr. and Mrs. Nay 
 were named respectively. George B., William H., 
 Nancy E., the widow of Levi Slierer, and now with 
 her parents; Charles E., Mary L., Mrs. Jacob Glo- 
 vier, also living near her parents and Ira E., who 
 operates the home farm. Those deceased are San- 
 ford W., who died at the age of four 3'ears, Willis 
 H., who was called from the home circle at the 
 early age of twenty-five years, and Hattie L., who 
 died in the bloom of womanhood when only about 
 nineteen years old. Mr. and Mrs. Nay are members 
 in good standing of the Christian Church in which 
 our subject has been Deacon and Elder for many 
 years. 
 
 During the progress of theCivil War ]\h\ Nay 
 enlisted as a Union soldier, Sept. 28, 1864, in 
 Company H, 59th lUinios Infantrj'. He partici- 
 pated in the battle of Nashville, Tenn., and served 
 until June, 1865, after the close of the war when 
 he received his honorable discharge. His brother 
 Harrison, was a member of Company H, 79th Illi- 
 nois Infantry and was captured by the rebels at 
 the battle of Chickaraauga. He was conveyed to 
 
1012 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUxVI. 
 
 Libby prison and tlien to Danville, Vii., where ho 
 died in prison. Mr. Nay, politically, supports the 
 principles of the Republican party. As an ex-sol- 
 dier, he belongs to the Kansas Post, G. A. R. His 
 life has passed in a comparatively uneventful man- 
 ner, during which he has been content to pursue 
 the even tenor of his way and is looked upon as a 
 peaceable and law-abiding citizen — one who enjoys 
 the entire confidence and esteem of his neighbors. 
 
 ^/ILLIAJM JONES, one of Illinois' success- 
 'ul and prosperous farmers, owns 880 acres 
 '^^^ of valuable land, of which 640 acres are 
 on section 22, 160 acres on section 23, and 80 acres 
 on section 24. This extensive estate he operates 
 as a feeding farm, reserving a portion for the pur- 
 [loses of general farming. He attends to the feed- 
 ing of 150 head of his own cattle, and about as 
 many more for several other persons. 
 
 In 1865 Mr. .Tones came to Eldgar County and 
 lented a small place from Mr. James Gains and 
 made that his home for about five years, working 
 industriously and economizing prudently, so that 
 in 1870 he was able to purchase 320 acres of land, 
 which formed the nucleus of his present extensive 
 possessions. The land first i)urchased was located 
 on section 22, and to this he has added at various 
 times until he now owns his present large estate. 
 
 The subject of this notice was borri Feb. 28, 
 1834, in Clark County, Ohio. His father was David 
 Jones and his mother Jane Ellis. His paternal 
 grandparents were from Maryland, in which State 
 his father was born, His mother was a native of 
 Ohio, the daughter of a farmer and of Welsh ex- 
 traction. The parental family consisted of thirteen 
 children, named, respectively, Eveline, who mar- 
 ried Daniel Martin; she died in Springfield, Ohio, 
 about fifteen years ago, leaving a grown family of 
 four children. Mary Ann lives in Clark County, 
 Ohio, and is the wife of Abraham Weaver, a farmer; 
 they have eight children; Ellis died in Texas in 
 1865, leaving a widow and two children; Philura 
 is single, and resides in Clark County, Ohio; Dan- 
 iel lives in Sidell, where he follows the occupation 
 
 of a butcher; he has been married twice and has 
 six children; Harvey resides at Ilildreth: he is a 
 wealthy and prosperous farmer and lives in a pleas- 
 ant home with a family of five children; Jonathan 
 is a widower and lives in California; Isabelle J. is 
 married to Mr. Frank Ward, and resides near Lon- 
 don, Ohio; Sylvester enlisted in Company G, 94th 
 Ohio Infantry; he was fatally wounded at the bat- 
 tle of Crab Orchard, Ky., and died shortly after- 
 ward, leaving another chair vacant in his father's 
 household: Sandusky is unmarried, and resides in 
 the State of Kansas; Celestine is married to Mr. 
 Thomas Shafer, and resides in Ohio ; Sarah E. died 
 ten years ago unmarried. 
 
 The boyhood of our subject was spent on the 
 farm in Ohio, where he enjoj-ed only the limited 
 educational advantages that were afforded bv the 
 common schools of country districts. In August, 
 1862, he eidisted in Company G, 94th Ohio Infantry, 
 and went forward with the rest of his command 
 to meet, and if possible vanquish the enemy. 
 Shortly after entering the army he was raised to the 
 rank of C()r[)oral, which office he held until his 
 honorable discharge in June, 1865. He partici- 
 pated in the battles of Reseca, Kenesaw Mountain, 
 and Peach Tree Orchard, also fighting gallantly to 
 sustain the Stars and Stripes in the campaign be- 
 fore Atlanta. On receiving his discharge he went 
 to Clark County, III., where he engaged in the cat- 
 tle trade and farming until August, 1865, when he 
 came to Edgar County. 
 
 On November 12, 1867, onr subject and Miss 
 Charity E. Planchard were united in marriage. 
 Mrs. Jones is a daughter of Horatio and Rebecca 
 Blanchard, who were natives of Ohio. She was 
 born and reared near Chrisman. III. No children 
 have come to bless the home of our subject and wife, 
 but they raised Martha E. Snell, who, upon arriv- 
 ing at the age of eighteen, married William S. 
 Breeding, and is now a resident of Custer County, 
 Neb. They also have with them a lad of fifteen, 
 whom they have raised as their own, and who 
 bears the name of Don A. Jones. 
 
 Mr. Jones lost his father in 1867, and his mother 
 in 1882, both lying beneath the sod and calmly 
 sleeping, awaiting the resurrection morn. They 
 died as they had lived, in full communion with 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 1013 
 
 the New Light Christian Church. Politically tiie 
 elder Jones was a Whig until the war, when he 
 threw in his ballot for the Republican candidates. 
 
 (3ur subject has held no public office except that 
 of School Director, which position he occupies 
 more by virtue of his great interest in educational 
 matters than as a party man. He is a member of the 
 Democratic Township Committee, where his sa- 
 gacity, integrity and public spirit, make him a 
 valued helper in their councils. Mrs. Jones is a 
 lady who is active in every good work, and is a 
 consistent, earnest and devoted member of the 
 Baptist Church. 
 
 Our subject and his family reside in a beautiful 
 home, situated in the midst of highly ornamented 
 grounds in the center of section 22. His farm is 
 all under fence, in first class cultivation, and well 
 ada[ited to the purposes to which it is devoted. 
 Closely planted and trimmed hedges and good build- 
 ings serve to give an additional attractiveness to 
 this fine estate. Mr Jones' present prosperity is 
 owing to his habits of industry, frugality and good 
 business foresight. Socially he is a genial and 
 friendly man, hospitable and liberal to all good 
 works. 
 
 j)ILLIAM II. PATKICK. Could the pio- 
 Ij'l neers of forty years ago have been permit- 
 ted to look into the future and note the 
 outcome of their labors and privations, they would 
 have felt amply repaid for the scenes through 
 which they passed during tlie period of life on 
 the frontier. Some of them, it is true, have been 
 permitted to view the result of their labors, while 
 others passed to their long home in the midst 
 of their usefulness. They came from all portions 
 of the East and South, and among the States which 
 sent their delegations of emigrants Kentucky was 
 one of the foremost. The Patrick family flour- 
 ished in the Blue Grass State in the early part of the 
 present century and were recognized as among its 
 best elements. In that State was born Thomas 
 C. Patrick, the paternal grandfather of our subject, 
 who did valiant service in the War of 1812 and 
 afterward settled down on a farm near the place of 
 
 his birth, where he remained until about 1835. 
 In the meantime he made the acquaintance of many 
 eminent men, being himself prominent and of more 
 than ordinary ability, and numbered among his 
 personal friends the immortal Henry Cla}'. F'i- 
 nally in the year above mentioned. Grandfather 
 Patrick had his attention attracted to the young 
 and growing State of Illinois and decided to come 
 hither. Halting in Kdgar County he entered a 
 tract of land in Bruellet Township which he se- 
 cured from Henry Clay and upon which he oper- 
 ated successfully until his earthly labors were 
 ended. He traced his ancestry to Scotland and 
 possessed the force of character and strength of 
 frame which is characteristic of tliat nationality. 
 
 Among (lie cliildren born to Thomas C. Patrick, 
 Sr., was Thomas C, Jr., the father of our subject, 
 who was a youth of sixteen years when he accom- 
 panied the family to Illinois. After ; sojourning 
 a wlule with them in Edgar County he went into 
 Jasper County and entered land, upon which he 
 began operating succcessfully and added to his 
 possession until he was at one time owner of 1,(100 
 acus. He became largely interested in live-stock 
 and remained there until 18.)8. Then selling out 
 lie removed to Mattoou, where he invested in land 
 and town property' and where he still resides. He 
 is recognized as among the prominent men of that 
 region, is one of the lights in the Republican party 
 and a conscientious member of the Methodist Epis- 
 copal Church. 
 
 The mother of our subject, whose maiden name 
 was Eliza Chrisman, was born in Nelson County, 
 Kentucky, and is the daughter of Nathaniel Chris- 
 man, likewise a native of that county, and who 
 carried on farming there in his younger years. 
 He, too, finally joined the caravan coming West- 
 ward and entered a tract of land from the Govern- 
 ment on the Chicago road in Edgar Township. 
 He labored in true pioneer style in the openino- up 
 of the farm and upon it spent the remainder of his 
 life. Ills daughter Eliza remained a member of 
 the parental household until her marriage. Her 
 death took place in Mattoon 111., in January, 1889, 
 when she was sixty-nine years of age. She, like 
 her husband, was active in the Methodist Episco- 
 pal Church, of which she became a member in 
 
1014 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 chil'lhood. To the parents of our subject there 
 were born four children: Cynthia, deceased, Will- 
 iam II. our subject, John T., who is farming near 
 Mattoon, and Walter A., a merchant of Montgom- 
 ery, Ala. 
 
 The subject of this notice was born near New- 
 ton, Jasper Co., 111., Nov. 6, 1845. lie made him- 
 self useful around the homestead as soon as of 
 suitable age and strength, and pursued his studies 
 in a log school-house during the winter season. 
 The first schools were conducted on the subscrip- 
 tion plan, and later free schools were established. 
 Yoiing Patrick wlien sulliciently advanced entered 
 the High School at Mattoon and there completed 
 liis studies. He left home when a youth of eight- 
 een years and began clerking in a drj^-goods store 
 at Newton, where he remained two years. After 
 this be bc'came interested in live-stock, which he 
 began buying and shipping to Chicago and from 
 which he realized iiandsome returns. lie made his 
 first purchase of land in 1868, 240 acres, for which 
 he paid $5 and ^8 per acre. It was all prairie 
 with no improvements, and indeed there were few 
 inipiovements in the whole township. This prop- 
 erty' ho still retains and has added to it until he is 
 now the owner of 320 acres, all lying on section 1. 
 He commenced breaking with ten yoke of oxen, 
 and in addition to the cultivation of the soil pro- 
 ceeded with the improvements as rapidly as possi- 
 ble, making fences, putting up buildings, and 
 gathering around himself and his family the com- 
 forts of life. In connection witli general agricul- 
 ture he has operated continuously as a dealer in 
 live-stock, and usually ships two car-loads of cat- 
 tle annually besides large numbers of swine. He 
 keeps good horses and utilizes four teams in run- 
 ning the farm. 
 
 Our subject remained a bachelor until 1882, 
 and was then married in Hudsonville, Crawford 
 Co., 111., to Miss Mattie Jeffers, who was born in 
 that county, acquired a good education and occu- 
 pied herself as a teacher prior to her marriage. Of 
 this union there has been born one child, a son, 
 Roy Thomas, March 2.5, 1883. Mr. Patrick polit- 
 icall}' is a straight Republican, and has served as a 
 School Director in his district, also as Clerk of the 
 School Board, and was at one time Commissioner 
 
 of Highways, but resigned the office. Mrs. Patrick 
 belongs to the Christian Church. The farm is 
 finely located on the Buck Township line and occu- 
 pies the west half of section 1. No travelo' pass- 
 ing through this region fails to notice the air of 
 enterprise and thrift surrounding it, the beauty 
 and fertility of its fields and the evident comfort 
 and iilenty which is a feature of the immediate 
 home. As a citizen who has redeemed a large 
 area of the soil from its original condition and 
 pays over each year a snug sum in the County 
 Treasur3' in the way of taxes, while at the same 
 time encouraging all the enterprises calculated to 
 benefit the people morally and flinancially, Will- 
 iam H. Patrick is fully wortlij^ of representation 
 among the leading men of Edgar County. 
 
 OSCAR HUFFMAN. If a man's general char_ 
 actermay be determined by his surroundings, 
 that of Mr. Huffman is first-class in every 
 respect. We find him occupying one oi the finest 
 farms in Hunter Township — a thoroughly culti- 
 vated body of land, comprising 140 acres on sec- 
 tion 19, while he has 150 acres elsewhere, the 
 whole of which is in a productive condition and 
 improved with good buildings. 
 
 Our subject was born in Hunter Township, this 
 county. May 23, 1846, and received his rudimenl- 
 ar3' education in the district school. Later, he at- 
 tended the Commercial College at Terre Haute, 
 Ind. He is the offspring of an excellent family, 
 being the son of David Huffman, who was born in 
 A'irginia, and who, in 1811, emigrated to Licking 
 County, Ohio. He there learned the trade of a 
 blacksmith at Zanesville, and was married to Miss 
 Catherine Stover, daughter of Samuel Stover, also 
 a native of the Old Domiiuon and a pioneer of the 
 Buckeye State. The grandparents on both sides 
 of the house were all rhembers of the Baptist 
 Church, and are long since deceased. The paternal 
 great-grandfather of our subject served in the 
 Revolutionary War, and was the son of a native 
 of Germany wiio emigrated to the United States 
 when a young man. His father had embarked on 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 1015 
 
 the ship with him, but died on the voynge, and 
 was l)iiried at sea. 
 
 The parents of our subject came to this county 
 in 1837, and tije father entered a tract of Govern- 
 ment land in Hunter Townsliip, where he made a 
 permanent settlement and constructed the home- 
 stead now occupied by liis son D. A. Paris was 
 tlien simply a cluster of little log cabins. The 
 nearest marltet for the pioneer farmers was at Clin- 
 ton, Jnd., and the father afterward hauled liis i>ro- 
 duce to Chicago, bringing back witli him salt, 
 leather and such other articles as were required 
 by his family or his neighbors. The land which 
 he tooJJ^ up was covered witli heavy timber, 
 from which he made charcoal, wliich was then 
 used for fuel at tlie old Indiana P\irnace. He 
 felled the trees, prepared tlie soil for cultivation, 
 and here spent his last days, dying about 1882. The 
 mother had preceded her husband to the silent land, 
 dying in 1876. She was a most worthy and excellent 
 lady, and a devout member of the Baptist Church. 
 David Huffman held the office of Justice of the 
 Peace a number of years, served as Road Commis- 
 sioner twelve years, and as School Treasurer fif- 
 teen years. The parental household included eight 
 chihlren, of whom our subject Avas the sixth in 
 order of birth, and only three are living. 
 
 During the second year of the war our subject 
 enlisted in the tlu'ee months' service, in the 7tli 
 Illinois Infantry, serving his time, and the following 
 February re-enlisted in Company E, 66th Illinois 
 Infantry, known as "Wcstei-n Sharpshooters," with 
 which he remained until the close of the conflict. 
 He participated in many important battles, includ- 
 ing that of Kenesaw iMouutain, and was at the siege 
 of Atlanta, where he received a gunshot wound in 
 the left thigh and still carries the ball. Upon sev- 
 eral occasions his clothes were perforated by bul- 
 lets. He escaped injury, however, and at the close 
 of the war received his honorable discharge. 
 
 After his return home from the armj', our sub- 
 ject began to make arrangements for the estab- 
 lishment of a fireside of his own, and in 1868 was 
 married to Miss Ella, daughter of Joel and Lucy 
 (Gideon) Dyer. This union resulted in the birth 
 of four children — Harry, Sivola (deceased), Bertie 
 M. and Bessie (deceased). Mi-. Huffman votes the 
 
 straight Republican ticket, and has been School 
 Treasurer in his district for a period of fifteen 
 years. Both he and his estimable wife are prominent 
 members of the INIethodist Episcopal Church. Mr. 
 Huffman, socially, belongs to Driskell Post No. 
 209, G. A. R., of Paris. He has served as Town- 
 ship Clerk one term, but otherwise has been mostly 
 engaged in farming pursuits. From 1871 to 1873, 
 however, he was occupied as a general merchant at 
 Vermilion. 
 
 NTIIONY TWEEDY. It has been truly 
 said that — "There is a tide in the affairs of 
 
 III 14 men, which taken at the flood leads on to 
 
 ' fortune." A review of the histories of 
 
 many whose life-records are given herein, illustra- 
 tes the truth of this s.aying. Perhaps with some 
 the tide comes in so slowly that only the fast re- 
 ceding waters cause the mind to grasp the truth of 
 the flood time of fortune. But whether slowly or 
 i-apidly, bearing fortunes of money or happiness or 
 peace, it will surely present to all tlie golden o|)- 
 portunitj^ 
 
 A study of the life of Anthony Tweedy gives a 
 fitting illustration of this principle. He did not at 
 one sudden bound reach the acme of human desires, 
 but gradually, slowly and surely attained his pres- 
 ent comfortalile position. He is at the present 
 time a lesident of Paris, where he removed from 
 his farm in 1886 in order to secure educational and 
 social advantages for his famil}'. 
 
 Anthony Tweedy is the son of James and Pha- be 
 (Fisher) Tweed^'. The father was a native of 
 North Carolina, where he was reared to the life 
 and employment of a farmer, but afterward often 
 changed his place of residence. First he moved to 
 East Tennessee, into Knox County, where he con- 
 tinued to farm, but later emigrated to Fayette 
 County', Ind., of which he was one of the first 
 settlers. When he went there it was a wilderness 
 of forests, uninhabited save by the beasts of the 
 field, and the birds of the air. He lived in that 
 county from 1812 until 1833, all his time being 
 taken up in clearing the timber, and farming on 
 his land, which was situated near ConnersviUe, 
 
1016 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 Jnd. He also engaged in stock-raising, but at last 
 sold the 160 acres of land, which he had entered, 
 and coming to P^dgar County, located in Strat- 
 ton Township. Here he entered another 160 acres 
 of land, which he operated some years when he 
 rented his farm and removed to the vicinity of 
 Clinton, Ind. There he bought 120 acres of land, 
 which he managed until his return to the old home- 
 stead. He died Aug. 1, 1850, having reached the 
 advanced age of eightj' -seven j'ears. In politics, 
 he was a strong Democrat. 
 
 The mother of Anthony Tweedy was a native of 
 A'irginia, and was early left an orphan. She was 
 raised as one of the family of A. Fisher, in West 
 Virginia. After the death of her husband she went 
 to Iowa, where she made her home witli her son, 
 John ]>., in AVayne County, near the village of 
 .Seymonr, and there passed to her final rest in 1872. 
 She was a firm believer in the doctrines of the 
 Methodist Episcopal Church. 
 
 To James and Phcebe Tweedy there were boin 
 six children, vvhosc record is thus stated: James F., 
 who lives in Muncie, Ind.; John D., who lives in 
 Kansas; Anthony, the subject of this record, Sarah 
 a resident of Posey County, Ind; Margaret and 
 Ph(L'bc, who are deceased. 
 
 Anthony Tweedy was born near C(jnnersville, 
 Ind., in thejear 1819, May 13. Like his fatber, 
 lie was reared on a farm and early became familiar 
 with the details of farm work,_and the requirements 
 of a well-regulated estate. When only ten j'ears 
 of age he commenced to assist his father in (he 
 lighter work, suited to his physicial strengtii, and 
 thenceforward he^ was a valuable factor in the 
 carrying on of the home place. The early school 
 experience of this boy was similar to that of all 
 others who lived in that pioneer land. The famil- 
 iar log-cabin was the temple of learning, while 
 greased paper over the apertures admitted light and 
 prevented the entrance of rain, slab seats and 
 puncheon desks were regarded as vei-y comfortable 
 for the- children. He, however, never attended 
 a free school. 
 
 In 1833 he came west to Illinois with his father's 
 family, crossing the Wabash River at Dergyes 
 Ferry. The trip occupied nine days time, and was 
 made in true iiioneer style, with wagcm and a team 
 
 I 
 
 of horses, while the oxen (two yoke) were driven 
 ahead. He remained with his father at the old 
 homestead until he was eighteen years of age, 
 when he engaged in working out one summer. He 
 afterward purchased forty acres of land, while he 
 received anotlier forty from his father. This 
 property he improved, putting up a log house, and 
 later, on the same homestead he erected a comfor- 
 table frame residence. He afterward purchased 
 another forty, thus making an entire estate of 120 
 acres, seventy of which he has succeeded in clear- 
 ing. He continued to reside there until 1855, 
 when he rented his home place, and removed to 
 Edgar Township, buying 160 acres of prairie land. 
 This he broke with six yoke of oxen, and made it 
 his home. It was school land, and sold at 11.25 
 and s<l. 50 per acre. In 1861 he traded his farm 
 in Stratton Township for 160 acres adjoining. 
 Here, he engaged in the stock business in 1863, and 
 fed from 100 to 150 head of cattle which he ship- 
 ped to eastern markets. The next year he bouo-hl. 
 160 acres adjoining, making altogether three- 
 fourths of a section, all of which was situated to- 
 gether. This land he has improved to a great 
 extent, until he now has one of the most attractive 
 residences in all the country around, with tno 
 orchards, and groves, and fences of green hedo-e. 
 lie has it all under the plow, and keeps it well- 
 tilled. On one corner of his property a Christian 
 Church has been erected, the ground for the church 
 and the surroundings having been generously' do- 
 nated b)' Mr. Tweedy. 
 
 It is said tliat every man rides a hobbby, and if 
 this is true, it must be admitted that one of Mr. 
 Twcedy's hobbies is his pride in his horses. Of 
 these he has two stables, some of them being fine- 
 blooded. Among the latter may be mentioned the 
 following: "Prince Tito," weight 1800, age five 
 years; "Mike," weight 1400, age four years. 
 
 Mr. Tweedy has been twice married, the first 
 being in 1839 in A'ermillion County, Ind., when 
 he was united to Miss Elizabeth Cole, born in 
 Steuben County, N. Y. She was a school-teacher 
 of high standing before her marriage. She died 
 April, 1847, leaving two children — Amander G., 
 and Richard W., both of whom are now deceased. 
 These sons served in the defense of their country. 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 1017 
 
 and for its success they gave themselves willing 
 martyrs Amandcv Ci. was in tiie 7th Illinois 
 Cavalry, enlisting in 18G1, and was fatally injured 
 in a skirmish near Point Pleasant, in March, 1862. 
 From the effects of the wonud received lie died the 
 day after the battle. The secoud son, Richard, 
 also enlisted in 1861, serving in Company A, 25th 
 Illinois Infantry, with whom he was sent to the 
 South. In 1863 he was captured after lighting in 
 some of the hardest battles in the Soutli, and was 
 taken to Libby Prison, where he died Dec. 12, 
 1863. 
 
 Our subject was married the second time to Miss 
 Elizabeth White, a native of Wayne County, Ind. 
 Slie became the mother of seven children, and died 
 March 10, 1872, near Edgar, this county. The 
 following is the record of the children: Chnrity 
 (deceased), PhaVue, Emma, Mattie (deceased), Har- 
 riet and Grant. Phcjebe is the wife of J. Liest, a 
 farmer of Edgar Township; Rosa was a teacher 
 and married James Tucker, a farmer in Young 
 America Township; Emma is at home in Paris; 
 Harriet also at home; C!rant is in OklalK>ma. 
 
 Mr. Tweedy is a strong Republican, and has 
 been School Director for years, also served as 
 Township School Trustee. He is a meml)er of Lodge 
 No. 77. A. F. & A. M. in Paris. 
 
 -..JV •.o»o.-(c5v><V^-<>*0' *» *- 
 
 \tfOIIN CONDON. Edgar County has been 
 assisted in its growth and development l)^' 
 a goodly number of the sons of Erin, who are 
 ^^7/ recognized as representing its best element. 
 None have labored more industriously or to better 
 purpose than they. Sanguine and generous by 
 nature, it has taken a large amount of hardship and 
 toil to discourage them, and they are usually found 
 in comfortable circumstances and in harmony with 
 the institutions of their adopted country. Among 
 those who have labored and prospered and have 
 established themselves in the confidence and es- 
 teem of their fellow citizens, John Condon is num- 
 bered with the foremest. He is operating a large 
 farm, comprising a whole section of land, which is 
 under good cultivation and thoioughly equipped 
 
 with the outfit necessary for carrying on agriculture 
 after tiie most approved modern methods. Mr. Con- 
 don is a favorite ill business and social c'ircles, and 
 has fulfilled all the duties of citizenship with the 
 exception that he has never taken to himself a wife 
 and helpmate. Living with him on his farm are 
 his brothers, Patrick and Richard, and his sister, 
 Catherine. 
 
 In noting the parental history of our subject we 
 find that his father. Mathew Condon, was a native 
 of County Watcrford, Ireland, and the son of 
 Richard Condon, who was born in the same coun- 
 ty, and bei^ame well-to-do following agricultural 
 pursuits. He spent his entire life u[)on his native 
 soil, as likewise did his son Mathew, who operated 
 as his father had done before him, as a farmer. 
 They lived and died in the Catholic faith. The 
 mother was in her girlhood Miss Alice Anglum, 
 also a native of County Watcrford, and she died in 
 Ireland in ISoH. The six children of the parental 
 family were named, respectively, Patrick, Thomiis, 
 John, Catlierine, Richard, and James. Four are 
 residents of Shiloh Township, and James a police- 
 man of Pana, 111. 
 
 The subject of this sketch, like his father and 
 grandfather, was a native of County Watcrford, 
 and was born near Dungarvin about lS4.'j. He 
 had limited school advantages, and at an early a<>-e 
 was introduced to hard work, and acquired those 
 habits of industry and economj' which have served 
 him so well in later life. In 1861, when a youth 
 of sixteen years, having worked two years for 
 himself, he decided upon a change of location and 
 crossed the Atlantic, hoping to better his condition. 
 He made the voyage on the ocean steamer " State 
 of Louisiana," embarking at (^ueenstown and land- 
 ing in New York City after a voyage of nineteen 
 days. During this voyage they had encountered 
 several storms, which at times threatened to send 
 them to the bottom of the ocean. 
 
 For two years after landing in America Mr. Con- 
 don was employed on the New York & Harlem 
 Railroad, making his headquarters in the citv. In 
 1868 he came to Paris, Edgar Co., 111., by rail, and 
 associating himself in partnership with his uncle, 
 Edward Sheehey, engaged in farming on eighty 
 acres of land in Buck Township. Two years later 
 
lOl.S 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 he moved on a rciited farm in that vicinity, this 
 comprising 120 acres and farmed there likewise 
 two 3'ears. He then secured a tract of 400 acres 
 in Slnloh Township upon whicli he remained one 
 3'ear. Next lie moved to the Hedge Farm of 220 
 acres in Shiloli Township, near Newman, and so- 
 journed there also two years. Still extending his 
 field of operations he located in 1875 upon his pres- 
 ent farm of 640 acres. 
 
 He has made nearly all the improvements upon 
 this, and besides raising grain and stock in large 
 quantities, buys and ships cattle in connection with 
 the owner of the farm to the extent of two or 
 three car loads annually. He has also obtained a 
 fine reputation as a horse-breeder, and keeps about 
 thirty head of fine draft animals. In the operation 
 of his farm there are required from eight to ten 
 teams. After the busy summer season is over he 
 operates a steam threshei-, and from the whole en- 
 joys a handsome income. 
 
 Upon becoming a voting citizen Mv. Condon 
 identified himself with the Democratic party, of 
 whose principles he is a vigorous advocate and is 
 frequentlj' sent as a delegate to the various con- 
 ventions. He was trained b}' his excellent parents 
 in the doctrines of the Catholic Church, to which 
 he loyally adheres, and has materially assisted in 
 the building of the church edifice at Hume. He 
 has never had time to run after oJHce, ))referring 
 to give his attention solelj' to his farming interests. 
 
 - — -i^m^r — 
 
 "iY'ESSE C. BUCKLER. Thousands of men 
 are passing along the thoroughfare of life, 
 comparatively luinoticed, yet possessing 
 those traits of character which form the bone 
 and sinew of a well-regulated ctimmunit}', and 
 whose strength if withdrawn would entail an almost 
 irreparable loss. Oi such is the subject of tliis 
 notice, a plain, unassumi)ig man who has puisued 
 the even tenor of his way, making little stir in the 
 world, but accumulating a comfortable property, 
 and establishing himself in the esteem and confi- 
 dence of his fellow citizens. He may usually be 
 he found at his liomeste.'ul on schMIou 15 Embarras 
 
 Township, the chief features of which are plenty 
 to eat, drink and wear, with a comfortable outlook 
 for the declining years. 
 
 A native of Nelson County, Ky., our subject 
 was born .June 1, 1836, and is the son of Thomp- 
 son Buckler, who brought his family from the 
 Blue C4rass State in 1850 and settled on Sugar Creek, 
 five miles southeast of Paris, in Elbridge Town- 
 ship. Two years later, not being satisfied with his 
 condition or his prospects, he removed to Grand 
 View Township, and there Jesse C. acquired a lim- 
 ited education in the district school, and was first 
 initiated into the mysteries of farm work. Later 
 he learned bricklaying which he followed for a 
 time. In 1860 he took up his residence in Coles 
 County, where he lived seven years, then returning 
 to Edgar established himself on a tract of land in 
 Kansas Township. In 1876 we find liim experi- 
 menting witli a farm in Douglas County, but in 
 1HS2, returning to Edgar, he settled on tlie land 
 which he now owns and occupies. This has been 
 subjected to considerable improvement under his 
 supervision, and although he makes no pretensions 
 to style or elegance, there is an air of peace and 
 plenty about the place which at once recommends 
 it as a good and comfortable home. 
 
 The .31st of May, 1857, formed an interesting 
 date in the life of our subject, at which time he was 
 united in marriage with Miss Martiia A. Kester. 
 William Kester, the father of Mrs. Buckler, was a 
 pioneer settler of Edgar County, and is long since 
 deceased. Five children were born of this mar- 
 riage, the eldest of whom, a son, William R., mar- 
 ried Miss Sarah Casebear, and is farming in Shiloli 
 Township. They have four children: Walter S., 
 Leroy, Jessie and JNIaud. Lawrence Y. married 
 Miss Annie Russell, and lives at Kinney, 111.; they 
 have one child, Frank. George B. married Miss 
 Maggie Campbell, and makes his home in Isabel; 
 ICdmond V. and Edna M. are at home with their 
 parents. Mr. Buckler belongs to the Predestina- 
 rian Baptist Church, and in ids political s^'mpathies 
 is deciiledly with the Democratic party. 
 
 The maiden name of the mother of our subject 
 was Susan Coyle. She, like her husband, was a na- 
 tive of Kentucky, and their family consisted of 
 eight children, six of whom are living, viz.. Rich- 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 1019 
 
 ard, Jesse C, our subject, William, James, Albert 
 and Henry. John and Mary (Rlrs. Shields) are 
 deceased. The father departed this life in Febru- 
 ary, 18r)2. The mother survived her Ijusband a 
 period of thirty-seven years, and departed hence 
 March 29, 1889. Aside from representing Embar- 
 ras Township two years in tlie County Board of 
 Supervisors, Mr. Buckler has carefully avoided the 
 responsibilities of the office-holder. 
 
 OHN SCOTT. There is compensation in 
 
 J accumulated years notwithstanding man nat- 
 urally dreads becoming old, but when the 
 life has been upright and honorable and 
 blest with the esteem of many friends, a man must 
 surely derive a satisfaction denied those starting- 
 out anxious for tiie future and feeling tliat time 
 alone can tell what will be the result of their strug- 
 gles. John Scott was one of the oldest settlers of 
 Prairie Township and almost reached his threescore 
 and ten years, having been born Sept. 6, 1820. 
 and dying Aug. 8, 1889. lie was a native of 
 Morgan County, Ind., his childhood home being 
 near Martinsville. He lived there until nine years 
 of age, then came to Illinois with his parents and 
 since that time has mostly been a resident of Prai- 
 rie Township, where he was numbered among its 
 leading citizens, although shortly before his death 
 he had retired from active labor, being not strong 
 in health. At his deatli he owned a fine farm of 
 320 acres in Prairie Township and twenty acres in 
 Bruellet. 
 
 Mr. Scott remembered that journey overland 
 from Indiana to this county, when deer were iiKmi- 
 tiful and the country was infested with wolves, he 
 being able to count sometimes as many as 100 
 wolves at a time. The journey was made over- 
 land with teams, the travelers camping and cooking 
 by the wayside and sleeping in their wagons at 
 night. Wolf-hunts in those days furnished great 
 sport for the youth of this region, and John Scott 
 was one of the leaders, riding old "Rube," the best 
 and largest horse on the prairie, and usually accom- 
 
 panied by his favorite chum, Abraham Smith. 
 They killed ten wolves one day, and shot a great 
 many deer besides other game, including prairie 
 cliiclvens. Mr. Scott used to sa^- those were jolly 
 times. He pursued his early lessons in the log 
 school-house, with slab benches and imncheon floor, 
 mostlj' in tiie winter season, while in summer he 
 worked on the farm, herded cattle and occasionallj- 
 took a journey to Chicago during the infancy of 
 that now great city. 
 
 Our subject worked with his father until twenty- 
 two years of age, tlien began for himself, locating 
 on eight}' acres of land near Scottland. LTpon this 
 he effected considerable improvement, then with a 
 Mexican land- warrant secured that which he owned 
 at the time of his deatli. To this he removed in 
 1848, putting up first a shanty, which he occupied 
 for a number of j^ears. He planted a large 
 amount of hedge, together with fruit and shade 
 trees, erected the necessary buildings for the shel- 
 ter of stock and the storage of grain, and at one 
 time was the owner of 800 acres of land. He made 
 a specialty of feeding cattle and swine, wliich he 
 shipped himself, and later purchased in large num- 
 bers horses and mules, shipping tliese to Cincin- 
 nati to be used in the Government service. The 
 home farm, which has two residences, is operated 
 by his boys. 
 
 The marriage of John Scott and Miss Charlotte 
 Light was celebrated at the bride's home in Bruel- 
 let Township, March 26, 1843. This lady, the 
 daughter of David Light, was born in New Rich- 
 mond, Clermont Co., Ohio, Dec. 24, 1825, and was 
 thirteen years old when she came to Illinois. Her 
 father, David Light, also a native of that county, 
 was born in 1 800. Her paternal grandfather, 
 Jacob Light, was born in Germany, and upon 
 coming to America located first in Pennsylvania. 
 Thence he removed to Michigan, settling in the 
 wilderness where he almost starved to death, and 
 finally homesick and discouraged returned to Penn- 
 sylvania. Later he engaged in the Indian War 
 and was wounded in the shoulder, from which he 
 never entirely recovered. He, however, had the 
 faculty of excellent management and became 
 owner of a large farm in Pennsylvania. Finally 
 he sold out and removed to Clermont County, 
 
1020 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 Ohio. He laid out the town of New Riehmoiid 
 and resided there until his death. 
 
 The father of our subject, upon reaching man's 
 estate, carried on farming in Ohio until 1836. 
 That year he came to this county and entered land 
 in Bruellet Township, upon wliich he labored very 
 successfully and in due time became the owner of 
 800 acres. He built up a valuable liomestead, 
 where his death took place in September, 1888. 
 He was a Republican in politics and a member of 
 the United Brethren Church. 
 
 The mother of our subject was in her girlliood 
 Miss Harriet Dickinson. She was born in New 
 York State and died at the homestead in 
 Bruellet Township, this count}', in 1873. Her 
 father David Dickinson was a millwright by trade. 
 Tlie parental houseliold included eight cliildren, 
 viz.: Charlotte, Charles D., and Benjamin F., de- 
 ceased; Oliver P., a resident of Kansas; Reuben S., 
 Catherine A., Samuel H. and William W. Benja- 
 min, Oliver, Samuel and William served in the 
 Union Army all through the late Civil War. 
 
 —^ — -► ^ ■■ ef; . V— 
 
 \fl UCIUS B. BACON. This gentleman is 
 counted one of the most extensive stock 
 shippers in Edgar County. He has a fine 
 farm, comprising a quarter section of land and the 
 latest improved machinery for its profitable culti- 
 vation. Skillful and thorough as an agriculturist, 
 he has been deservedly prosperous financially, and 
 in social and business circles occupies an enviable 
 position. He enjoys a large acquaintance in the 
 county, and the fact that he is a favorite wlierever 
 known is sufficient indication of his true character. 
 No man in Ross Township is more n-ortliy of 
 representation in a work designed to perpetuate 
 the names and deeds of its leading citizens. Mr. 
 Bacon has particularly distinguislied himself as the 
 champion of temperance and a high morality, and 
 takes a warm interest in forwarding all religious 
 movements. Politicall}' lie is a sound Republican. 
 The subject of this sketch was the youngest of 
 twelve children, the offspring of Elijah and Jolima 
 (Bolding) Bacon, and was born in the township 
 
 where he now lives Dec. 10, 1845. Elijah Bacon 
 was born in Schuyler County, N. Y., in 1797, and 
 was the son of Elijah Bacon, Sr., a native of Mas- 
 s.achusetts. The latter served as Drum Major in 
 the Revolutionary War from the beginning to the 
 end, being then a 3-oung man. Upon leaving his 
 native State lie settled in Schuyler County, N. Y., 
 where he experienced all the privations and hard- 
 ships of pioneer life. He, however, was physicall}' 
 well fitted for the duties which he had undertaken, 
 being of large and commanding stature and of 
 great strength. He was descended from a hardy 
 line of ancestors, who traced their descent to Eng- 
 land and who for many generations were identified 
 with the Presbyterian Church. 
 
 The father of our subject was a silversmith and 
 watch repairer by trade, which he followed in con- 
 nection with operating his small farm in Schujder 
 County, N. Y., at a time when he was surrounded 
 by Indians. His kindness to the red men gained 
 their good will, and thus, far from suffering mo- 
 lestation at their hands, they proffered him many 
 acts of kindness. He was a man of decided views 
 and resolutely opposed to human slavery. He 
 emphasized his sentiments in this respect during the 
 long period of twent}' years, by traveling all through 
 the Southern States and preaching against the 
 peculiar institution, from the time he was a young 
 man of twenty-three years until approaching fifty. 
 While in Charleston, S. C, he was brougiit into 
 council with the leading slave-holders, but through 
 his great ingenuity and temperance of speech, suc- 
 ceeded in allaying their anger, making friends of 
 them. He went on with his good work, devoting 
 to it his whole time without any recompense. He 
 acquired his education in tlie chimney corner, and 
 under the circumstances it is hardly necessary to 
 say, was acknowledge}' as a man of more than 
 ordinary ability. 
 
 Elijah Bacon, in 1844, made his way to Illinois, 
 traveling by boat to Clinton, and locating in 
 Ross Township, of which he was one of the 
 first settlers. He entered about 400 acres of lanii. 
 whicli he improved, and engaged extonsivel}' 
 in fruit raising, being the leading man in 
 this industry in the Township. He became prom- 
 inent in social, business and political circles. 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 1021 
 
 and was made the congressional candidate of 
 the anti-slavery part}'. He was also nominated 
 for the Legislature, but his party being in the 
 minority he was defeated, as he expected. He 
 possessed rare judgment and high prinoiples, be- 
 sides excellent health, the result of a temperate life 
 and correct habits. At one time he was a member 
 of the JNIethodist Episcopal Church, but later be- 
 came more liberal in his views and was not identi- 
 fied with any religious organization. Politically 
 he was a straight Republican, and lived to see the 
 triumph of the principles which he so faithfully 
 advocated during his young manhood. After a 
 well spent life he departed hence in 1877. 
 
 The mother of our subject, Mrs. .Tolima (Bold- 
 ing) Bacon, was born in Steuben County, N. Y., 
 and was the daughter of Jacob Bolding, also a na- 
 tive of the Empire State. The maternal great- 
 grandfather of our subject was one of the early 
 settlers of Steuben County, locating in the Wabash 
 Valley, and becoming one of its leading farmers. 
 About 1820 he removed to the vicinity of Terra 
 Haute, where he became a large land owner and 
 carried on agriculture extensively, there spending 
 liis last days. The mother of our subject passed 
 away ten years prior to the decease of her husband, 
 dying in 1867. She, like him, at that time was a 
 member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. They 
 were the parents of twelve children: Fannj', de- 
 ceased; Samuel T., living in Missouri; Elizabeth, 
 Amanda, Henry, James and Lydia, all deceased; 
 Sarah, a resident of Vermilion County, this State; 
 Benjamin, living in Danville; Mary and Mercy 
 A., deceased; Lucius B., of this sketch ; and two 
 dying in infancy. Henry and Benjamin, during the 
 late war enlisted as Union soldiers inl862, in tlie7[)th 
 Illinois Infantry. Henry died at Nashville, Tenn., 
 and Benjamin received his honorable discliargc 
 prior to the close of the war on account of ph} sical 
 disability. Lucius B., our subject, was born Dec. 
 10, 1845, and received-his primitive education in 
 the primitive log school house of Ross Township. 
 He, however, when a youth of nineteen years. 
 studied for one winter at the Paris High School, 
 then attended the Commercial College at La 
 Fayette, Ind., from which he was graduated in 
 March, 1868. Afterward returning to the farm, 
 
 he sojourned there briefly, and then commenced 
 renting land of his father, upon which he operated 
 until the death of the latter. In 1878, he made his 
 first purchase, eighty acres of land, upon which he 
 began at first principles to effect the improvements 
 which have now brought it to a well regulated and 
 valuable estate. He planted hedge, enclosing and 
 cross fencing his land, and put up a house, 20x30 
 feet in dimensions, with a wing 12x20. He lias a 
 good barn and added to his real estate until he was 
 the owner of 160 acres, all in one body. He set 
 out forest and fruit trees, has fine grounds around 
 the dwelling, and has labored to such good pur- 
 pose that the premises in all respects form a most 
 attractive home, and yields to the proprietor a com- 
 fortable income. The land is largely devoted to 
 grain raising, while JMr. Bacon is extensively en- 
 gaged in the buying and shipping of live stock of 
 all kinds. 
 
 The live stock purchases of Mr. Bacon are made 
 mostly in Eastern Illinois and Western Indiana, 
 while he also obtains goodly numbers from South- 
 ern Illinois. He ships to Buffalo, New York and 
 other eastern cities. He has attained considerable 
 reputation as a breeder, his favorites being fall- 
 blooded Jersey cattle, and in sheep he has the 
 Shropshire and Southdowns. In draft horses he 
 handles Cl^^desdales and Norman, of which he has 
 at the present time thirteen head. He has for 
 years made a studj' of the equine race, and fre- 
 quently occupies the position of judge at the county 
 fairs. 
 
 Our subject was first married at Paris, Jan. 29, 
 1869, to Miss Nancy J. Bolding, who was born near 
 Terre Haute, Ind. This union resulted in the 
 birth of two children, Charles G. and George E., 
 and the mother died in October, 1885. The elder 
 son is a student of Wabash College, at Crawfords- 
 ville, Ind., while the younger remains at home with 
 his parents. 
 
 Our subject contracted a second marriage Nov. 
 24, 1886. in Richland County, this State, with Miss 
 Annie B. Waxier, a native of Ohio, and they have 
 one child, a son, Blaine. Mr. Bacon has been quite 
 prominent in local affairs, officiating as Township 
 Collector one year. Clerk six years, and is at present 
 School Director in his district. Socially he belongs 
 
1022 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 to the T.O.O.F., at Chrisman. He united with the 
 Methodist Episcopal Church when a j'outh of six- 
 teen years, and has been one of the most liberal 
 contributors to its support, donating also a hand- 
 some sum to the erection of the church edifice. He 
 has officiated as Steward and Class-Leader, likewise 
 as Superintendent of the Sunday-school. It will 
 thus be seen that he has been a useful man in his 
 community, and the uniform encourager of tliose 
 measures calculated to elevate society and benefit 
 the people. 
 
 ^^ 
 
 -{— 
 
 ■if) ASPER N. BAUM. No family is more widely 
 or favorably known than the one of whom 
 the subject of this notice is a most worthy 
 representative. Thej- were among the first 
 to venture into the wilds of Central Illinois, and 
 right nobly have they performed their part in the 
 development of its resources. They brought with 
 them the elements of a substantial and honorable 
 ancestry, and have left footprints on the sands of 
 time in this region, which will be recognized in 
 generations to come. Jasper X. is one of the worth- 
 iest representatives of the family, numbers of whom 
 are yet living in Vermilion County, and are invari- 
 ably people of note and prominence. Several of 
 them are mentioned elsewhere in this volume. 
 
 The subject of this notice, in addition to being a 
 first-class farmer, is a keen-eyed financier, losing 
 no opportunity to drive an honest bargain, is 
 thrifty and energetic, while at the same time cau- 
 tious and prudent, and "looks well before he leaps." 
 He is shown to possess cultivated tastes, dwiilling 
 in a large, commodious and handsome farm house, 
 which crowns the highest points on the ridge in the 
 northwestern part of Young America Township, 
 and commands a fine view of the surrounding coun- 
 try' in all directions. It stands half a mile from 
 the iniblic highway on the northern line of section 
 14, and with its ad jace}it outbuildings, trees, shrub- 
 bery and green grass, is without question a most 
 ntlractive spot. The most appi'oved machinery is 
 employed in the cultivation of the land, which is 
 exceedingly fertile and well-watered. 
 
 The subject of this notice was born in Carroll 
 Township, Vermilion Co., 111., Nov. 25, 1857, and 
 was the second child born to Charles W. and Cathe- 
 rine Baum, who were numbei'ed among the earliest 
 pioneers of Vermilion County. He remained un- 
 der the home roof until reaching his majority, and 
 then formed a partnership with his father, and car- 
 ried on agriculture thus for a period of seven years. 
 He was then presented by his father with 400 acres 
 of land, upon which he settled in the spring of 
 1879, after his marriage, and to which in due time 
 he added 200 acres more. He thus now has a fine 
 estate embracing 600 acres, and which comprises 
 one of the largest and most valuable farms in the 
 county. 
 
 In the meantime, in November, 1876, our sub- 
 ject was united in marriage with Miss Josephine, 
 daughter of Joseph and Sarah (Cochrane) Stewart, 
 who were natives of Ohio, and of Irish descent. 
 Mrs. Baum was born in Elwood Township, Vermil- 
 ion County, Aug. 27, 1857, and was one of five 
 children comprising the parental household. Her 
 sister, Tamar, became the wife of Thomas Patrick, 
 of Vermilion County, and they have seven living 
 children; Vina is the wife of Clark Maddox, a 
 farmer of Sidell Township, and they have eight 
 children; Delia married S. W. Baum, a sketch of 
 whom appears elsewhere in this work; Dolly J. is 
 the wife of Reason Roush, and a resident of Catlin, 
 III., near which place he carries on farming. 
 
 In addition to general agriculture, Mr. Baum has 
 operated as a successful breeder of Short-horn cat- 
 tle and Hambletonian horses, an industry' in con- 
 nection with which he has obtained an enviable 
 reputation throughout this part of the State. As 
 may be supposed, in consideration of his extensive 
 farming interests, he has little time to devote to 
 outside matters, and otherwise than giving his sup- 
 port to the Democratic party, has very little lo do 
 with politics, or offices, simply officiating as a 
 School Director in his district. 
 
 To our subject and his estimable wife there have 
 been born four children — Blanche, Georgia V., 
 Dolly, and Weaver. Mr. and Mrs. Baum, when 
 first married, resided in Carroll Township, Vermil- 
 ion County, until removing to their present farm, 
 in the spring of 1879. Ten years have worked a 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 1023 
 
 remarkable transformation in its condition, and it 
 is tlie means of yieWing a snug sum to the county 
 treasury in the way of taxes. Tiie man who lias 
 thus contributed his quota toward redeeming a por- 
 tion of the soil from its primitive condition, and 
 establishing a homestead, where once was a wilder- 
 ness, is worthy of having liis name recorded for tlie 
 perusal of coming generations. 
 
 We append to the biography of J;\spcv Banm, a 
 few important facts in the history of his father, 
 Charles W. Baum, whose sketch is published in the 
 Ai lU'M of Vermilion County. Charles W. Baum 
 traces his ancestry back to the royal blood of Po- 
 land, whence his grandfather of the same name as 
 himself, was compelled to flee during the vicissi- 
 tudes and troubles of his countrj'. An exile from 
 his home, he remained in Germany until about the 
 time of the Revolutionary War, when he emigrated 
 to the United States, and served as a militia man 
 on the reserve force in the Colonial Army. After 
 peace was made with England, Grandfather Baum 
 removed with his family down the Ohio River, and 
 settled in the State of Ohio. Charles W. Baum, the 
 father of our subject, was born in Clermont 
 County, Oiiio, April 4, 1815, and was the 
 sixth in order of birth among ten children. 
 He grew to a hardy and robust manhood, well 
 fitted to take his place among the pioneer residents 
 of Kansas, whither he emigrated as far back as 
 1836. Preempting a claim of 160 acres, this was 
 in due season increased by purchase, until he be- 
 came the owner of 1,660 acres of fertile soil, be- 
 sides 200 acres given his wife by her father. 
 
 Mr. Charles W. Baum was united in marriage, 
 March 14, 1839, to Miss Catherine Weaver, a na- 
 tive of Clermont County, Ohio. She is a woman 
 of unusual strength of character, combined with 
 sweetness of disposition, versatility of mind, and 
 soundness of judgment. To her and her husband 
 were born a family of twelve children, namely: 
 Celestine A. (Mrs. William T. Hunt), Jasper N., 
 our subject, Charles Cyrus, A. Jacob, Gideon P., 
 George B. McC, Marcus D., Orintha, James H., 
 John W., and two infants who died unnamed. The 
 six first enumerated are living at the present writ- 
 ing, while the others died in childhood. Mr. Baum 
 g;ive his children excellent educations, and upon 
 
 their starting out in life, gave each of them finan- 
 cial assistance. He will leave behind him a record 
 of which his children may be justly proud, and his 
 life will be an example for them to guide their foot- 
 steps ariglit down the pathway we tread but once. 
 
 -^-*-^ m 
 
 OIIN H. CARAWAY, a well-to do bachelor, 
 and a resident of Chrisman, o|)erates a very 
 large tract of land, the joint property of 
 himself and four sisters, who have about 
 13,000 acres; the whole of which was left them by 
 their late fathei'. He makes a specialty of live 
 stock, in which he takes great pride, and which 
 yields him a fine income. He is a favorite both in 
 social and business circles, and stands well among 
 the leading men of his township. 
 
 Our subject has spent his entire life in Ross 
 Township, of wiiich he is a native born citizen, 
 first opening his eyes to the light August 30, 185.5. 
 He was at an early age taught habits of industry 
 and frugality, and received his principal education 
 in the common schools. At the early age of sev- 
 enteen years he commenced renting land from his 
 father, and at the same time engaged in the live- 
 stock business, which he has since followed, and in 
 which he is excelled by none in this region. 
 
 In 1879 Mr. Caraway purchased 160 acres of 
 land in Young America Township, which he im- 
 proved and sold two years later at a good advance. 
 Next he purchased 140 acres further west. Then 
 he sold this and purchased a store in Chrisman, 
 and in the latter put in a stock of hardware, which 
 he operated six months; then on account of too 
 much business disposed of it, and not long after- 
 ward was appointed administrator of his father's es- 
 tate. The management of this occupied the greater 
 part of his time until the spring of 1889, when the 
 property was divided. Mr. Caraway owns 300 
 acres adjoining the town, the most of which he 
 rents. His favorite cattle are thoroughbred Ilere- 
 fords, of which the celebrated "Arnold " stands at 
 the head of the herd. He has five head of full 
 bloods, and also breeds Poland-China swine in 
 goodly numbers, His pasture lands are supplied 
 
102t 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 with running water, and ho has all the conveniences 
 for prosecuting his business after the most approved 
 methods. 
 
 Mr. Caraway, politically, affiliates with the Pro- 
 hibitionists, and is frequentlj' sent as a delegate to 
 their various conventions. (Socially he is the Past 
 Grand in the I. O. 0. F. Lodge at Chrisnian, while 
 he also belongs to the Masonic fraternity and the 
 Modern AVoodmen. He is a very active member 
 of the Baptist Churcli, and one of the leading men 
 of his town in encouraging the enterprises calcu- 
 lated for the advancement of its people. 
 
 <xrx> 
 
 \l'ACOB SIIUMAKER. Fortunately for him, 
 Mr. Shumaker selected some of the best land 
 in Edgar Connty upon which to build up a 
 homestead in 1867, some fifteen years after 
 his advent into the count}'. The result is a valua- 
 ble farm which he has brought to a thorough state 
 of cultivation and which yields him golden harvests 
 for his labor. He is another illustration of the 
 self-made man who began at the foot of the ladder, 
 and by his perseverance and energy has established 
 himself in a position very nearly the top. As a 
 citizen he is all that could be desired, being pro- 
 gressive and liberal-minded, and one upon whom 
 t!ie people can depend in encouraging the enter- 
 prises uhich should be for the best good of the 
 community. Politically, he is a sound Republican, 
 keeps himself well informed upon the current top- 
 ics of the da)-, and represents in a worthy manner 
 the intelligence and moral worth of his section. 
 His farm comprises 240 acres of land on section 12 
 in Kansas Township, and is largely devoted to 
 stock-raising, graded Norman and English draft 
 horses, Short-horn cattle and Poland-China swine. 
 The (Jld Dominion contributed some of the best 
 of her sons to the early settlement of Illinois, and 
 among them was the subject of our sketch, who 
 was horn in Loudoun Counter, March 17, 1831. 
 When a young man of twenty-one 3'ears he came 
 to Illinois with his fathci-, George Shumaker, who 
 was also a native of Loudou.i County, Va., and who 
 established himself in Grand View Township in this 
 
 county, in 1852. Not being satisfied, however, 
 with his progress financially, he removed to Coles 
 Count}' in the spring of 1856, but returned to Ed- 
 gar County in 1857 and settled in Kansas Town- 
 ship one mile south of where our subject now lives. 
 He and his family endured the hardships and pri- 
 vations incident to pioneer life, and he spent his 
 last years in Edgar County, dying in 1860. The 
 mother departed this life the same j'ear, six weeks 
 after her husband. 
 
 The paternal grandfather of our subject was 
 George Shumaker, likewise a native of Loudoun 
 County, Va., and a son of Jacob .Shumaker. a native 
 of German}', who emigrated to the L'nited States 
 when a young man and settled in Virginia, where 
 he spent hib last days. His grandson, George, the 
 father of our subject, when reaching man's estate 
 was married to Miss Christina Brill, a native of his 
 own county and the daughter of Samuel Brill, who 
 was also born there, and who, like the Shumaker 
 family was of German descent. To the parents of 
 our subject there were born eleven children, of 
 whom .Jacob was the fourth in order of birth, and 
 seven of whom are living, viz: Elizabeth, Mrs. 
 Shirer; Solomon, Jacob, Mary, William, Ann and 
 Samuel. 
 
 Jacob Shumaker, like his brothers and sisters, 
 received a limited education, and as soon as large 
 enough was required to make himself useful in the 
 development of the new farm. He took to agri- 
 culture cheerfully, and has made it his life voca- 
 tion. When approaching his majority his chief 
 ambition was to excel in all the arts pertaining to 
 the cultivation of the soil, and it must be admitted 
 the he has ver}' nearly attained to the standard of 
 excellence which he then set before himself. He 
 remained a bachelor until approaching his thirty- 
 flfih year of his age and was then married, Nov. 
 25, 1866, to Mrs. C. A. Ogdeu, daughter of Cephas 
 Hanks, who spent his last years in Ohio. Mrs. 
 Shumaker was born in Muskingum Countj', Ohio, 
 Aug. 20, 1830. She was married to Mr. Ogdon in 
 Muskingum County. Ohio, and they became the 
 parents of three children — Marj' V., Carlos A. and 
 Iva A. Mr. Ogden lost his life in the service of 
 his country. Of her union with our subject there 
 have been born two_children, only one of whom is 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 1025 
 
 living, a son, Cowan C, now seventeen years old. 
 Mr. and Mrs. Shnmaker and all the children are 
 members in good standing of the Methodist Eiiisco- 
 pal Church. They occupy a high position in the 
 social circles of their community, and our subject 
 forms a portion of the bone and sinew of Ed^iar 
 County, which he has assisted in elevating to its 
 present condition. 
 
 fpw^ 
 
 "iT/ACOB WETZEL, deceased. The Wetzel 
 uimily came to Edgar County during its 
 early settlement, and in honor of one of 
 them, AVetzel Station was named. The father 
 of the subject of this notice, located in Edgar 
 Township in 1851, and purchased 400 acres of land 
 upon which he operated successfully a number of 
 years, then, retiring from active labor, took up his 
 abode in Paris. Our subject, on the 28th of Feb- 
 ruary, 1888, while attempting to board a train at 
 Paris, missed his footing, and falling under the 
 wheels, was instantly killed. Thus Paris lost one of 
 its most honored citizens, and Edgar County a man 
 wlio had assisted materially in its growth and de- 
 velopment. 
 
 The subject of this notice was born in Columbus, 
 Ohio, Sept. 29, 1832, and lived there until a young 
 man of twenty-two years. He then came with his 
 father's family to Illinois, and they located in Ed- 
 gar Township, and renting the land comprising the 
 present homestead, engaged in farming. The Wet- 
 zel family was of German descent, and Jacob, Sr., 
 the father of our subject, and in his native country 
 a shepherd of Lorrain. after coming to America, 
 located in the embryo town of Columbus, Ohio, 
 where he occupied himself as a gardener, and spent 
 the remainder of his days. In his own country he 
 had served as a soldier, and was captured by the 
 enemy. 
 
 Mr. Wetzel was married in Columbus, Ohio, to 
 Miss Christina Barth, who was of French descent, 
 and whose father, Nicholas Barth, was born and 
 leared in France. He received a good education 
 in German, English, and French, and learned tail- 
 oring, wliich he followed as a journeyman until 
 
 coming to Amerit^a. After crossing the Atlantic, 
 he located in New York (Jity, following his trade 
 for a time, and joined the State militia. In 1840 
 he established himself as a merchant tailor at Co- 
 lumbus, Ohio, where he became owner of five acres 
 of land inside the corporation, and was in comfort- 
 able circumstances at the time of his death, which 
 took place in ISll. He was prominently identified 
 wiLh the Democratic party, and was a member of 
 the church. 
 
 The maiden name of the mother of Mrs. Wetzel 
 was Anna Eva Wise. She was born in France, and 
 was the daughter of Henry Wise, who emigrated 
 to America, and located in New York City, where 
 he died. Their French ancestry was intermixed 
 with German. The mother died at Columbus, in 
 1855. Their family (tonsisted of three daughters 
 and one son, viz: Catherine, a resident of Cherry 
 Point; C'hristina (Mrs. Wetzel); Henry living at 
 Bloomfleld, and Louisa, at Cherry Point. 
 
 Mrs. Wetzel was born in New York City, July 
 16, J 832, and lived there until a child of eight 
 years. In 1840 the family removed by boat to Co- 
 lumbus, where Christina was reared to womanhood, 
 and educated in the German and English schools. 
 She remained at home with her parents until her 
 marriage. Her wedded life commenced on a farm 
 in Edgar Township, which remained her home until 
 1889, when it was disposed of by administrator's 
 sale, and Mrs. Wetzel comtemplates buying that 
 which she now occupies. The land of this has been 
 subjected to thorough cultivation, and the fields are 
 enclosed with hedge and watered by Willow Creek. 
 The residence is a commodious structure, 40x36 
 feet in dimensions, flanked by a large barn, sheds, 
 and the other necessary buildings. Forest and fruit 
 trees have been planted in goodly numbers, and the 
 farm is devoted to the raising of grain and stock. 
 Three teams are used in carrying on its various 
 departments. 
 
 To Mr. and Mrs. Wetzel there were born eleven 
 children, the eldest of whom, a daughter. Charlotte, 
 is the wife of A. Rinesmith, a farmer of p]dgar 
 Township; Emma is deceased; Nicholas is farming 
 in Edgar Township, where he has also officiated as 
 Assessor; Charles is a telegraph operator and sta- 
 tion agent at Wetzel; Harry is farming in Edgar 
 
1026 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 Township; Xellie is the wife of Joseph Johnson, a 
 farmer of Edgar Township; Anna is the wife of 
 Maroe Athon, of Edgar Township; Jesse. Walter, 
 Ola, and Rolland remain at the homestead with their 
 mother. Mr. Wetzel took a great interest in the 
 construction of the railroad through Edgar Town- 
 ship, and donated the right of way. He was the 
 first Postmaster at AVctzel iStation, and held the 
 office from the establishment of the same, until 
 January, 1888. He was also Township Collector 
 two terms, and served as School Director. His re- 
 ligious belief coincided with those of the Presby- 
 terian Church. In politics he was a member of the 
 Democratic part^-. Mrs. Wetzel intends buying in 
 the near future 154 acres adjoining the homestead. 
 The farm is beautifully situated and finely adapted 
 to the rich crops of C'entral Illinois. 
 
 Mrs. Charlotte (Anthony) Wetzel, the mother of 
 our subject, was born in what vvas formerly the 
 French Province of Lorrain, and spent her last 
 years in Paris, 111. There were only three children 
 in the family : Jacob, our subject; Louis and Nicho- 
 las, who are residents of Paris, 111. 
 
 EORGE D. MITCHELL on 
 
 Gl 19 acres on section 34, in E( 
 His father and grandfather 
 
 ^ EORGE D. MITCHELL owns and operates 
 
 Edgar Township, 
 jer were both na- 
 tives of Pennsylvania, and both bore the given 
 name of William. The former was born in Mifflin 
 County and the latter in Adams County. Grand- 
 father Mitchell served in the Revolutionary AVar, 
 fighting at Brandywine under Lafayette and Wash- 
 ington, in 1777. At the conclusion of the war he 
 returned home, and in 1780 took for his life part- 
 ner ]\Iiss lilizabeth Hamilton. Shortly' after mar- 
 riage the young couple mounted their horses and 
 followed the bridle path to Mifflin County, finallj' 
 settling in Dry Vallej^ where he purchased 300 
 acres of forest, which by indefatigable work he 
 cleared, making a fine home. 
 
 The great-grandfather of our subject, John 
 Mitchell, was a nntive of the North of Ireland, 
 where he grew to manhnod. Being a gentleman 
 of flue appearance and of sterling worth, he suc- 
 
 ceeded in wooing and winning the daughter of 
 Lord Ross, of Ireland. On discovering his daugh- 
 ter's marriage, Lora Ross became furiously en- 
 raged, and offered a reward of £100 for the head 
 of John Mitchell, who had presumed to aspire to 
 his daughter's hand. T'his state of affairs obliged 
 them to seek refuge, finding it in America. Thej' 
 first sojourned at Philadelphia, but soon afterward 
 removed further West, settlingnear Carlisle, Adams 
 Co., Pa., where they remained until the close of life. 
 AVilliam Mitchell, the father of our subject, was 
 born in 1798. In his chosen occupation of farm- 
 ing he was quite prosperous, owning about 300 
 acres of land. P"or a number of years he was a 
 captain in the Pennsylvania State Militia, and in 
 all the affairs of the county took a prominent and 
 active part. 
 
 Some time along in the fifties the father of our 
 subject came to Illinois and bought land, but never 
 made it his home. He retained the 300 acres of 
 land in Pennsylvania until his decease. During 
 life he was a member in good standing of the 
 Methodist Episcopal Church. The mother of our 
 subject was Margaret Clayton, a native of the 
 same county as her son, and a daughter of Alex- 
 ander Clayton, a native of Mifflin County, where 
 he followed the occupation of a miller. His ma- 
 ternal great-grandfather, Peter Hackenberry, and 
 his wife, Polly, were both natives of Huntington 
 County, Pa. Mrs. I lacken berry's mother was 
 Priscilla Mingen, a native of Wales, a land made 
 famous in song and story as the home of Prince 
 Arthur and his merry Knights of the Round Table. 
 
 After the death of George Jlitchell's father 
 mother Mitchell removed to Lincoln County, Kan., 
 in 1879, remaining there until she sweetly fell 
 asleep. The parental family consisted of eight 
 children: John, now in Saline, Kan.; the Rev. 
 William, a Methodist Episcopal minister now lo- 
 cated at Areola, 111.; Priscilla, iSIrs. All bright, of 
 Lincoln County, Kan. ; Amos W. resides in Saline 
 County, Kan.; Matilda E., now Mrs. McClure, is 
 residing in Lincoln County, Kan.; Hamilton R. 
 also lives in Lincoln Countj', Kan.; George D.,our 
 subject, and jVllen P., of Lincoln County, Kan. 
 Hamilton R. Mitchell was in the 1st Pennsylvania 
 Cavalry, enlisting in 1861; he served three years 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 1027 
 
 with the rank of Sergeant; Allen P. was also a inA- 
 dier in the late vvar, enlistini;- in 1862. He sei'ved 
 nine months in the I3Ist Pennsylvania Infantry, 
 Ijeing a member of Company D. 
 
 On October 26th, 1838, Mr. Mitchell opened his 
 eyes to the light of day neor Shady Gap, in Tiis- 
 carora Valley, Huntington Co., Pa. He was reared 
 in Mifflin County, Pa., attending the common 
 schools of the district until his eighteenth year, 
 when he entered the Lewiston Academy, which he 
 attended three winters. Feeling himself capable 
 of teaching, he followed that profession until 1»(;2. 
 In August of that ya-ar he enlisted in the lolst 
 Pennsylvania Infantry, Company D., going to 
 Harrisburg, where they were mustered into the 
 United States service, young Mitchell receiving the 
 rank of Sergeant. His regiment was almost im- 
 mediately sent to the front, where they were shortly 
 afterward engaged in a conflict at Arlingtonlleights. 
 Making a forced march noithward, they were in 
 time to participate in the battle of .Vntietara. Fol- 
 lowing the success of our arras in that engagement, 
 the ^Vrmy of the Pcitomac. of which it was now ;i 
 member, went slowly southward, remaining in 
 the vicinity of the Potomac River, during a long- 
 period of comparative inactivity, wliich, preceding 
 the gallant and bloody but indecisive assault on 
 Fredericksburg, where Burnside got stuck in the 
 mud resulted in checking the further march of 
 our arms toward Richmond. Following this he 
 engaged in the battle of Chancellorsville under 
 Gen. Hooker, and also participated in several other 
 skirmishes. At Antietam he was on the disabled 
 list, serving in the 1st New York Light Artillery, 
 Capt. Barnes, Company C, acting as Corporal. He 
 was mustered out and honorably discharged at 
 Harrisburg in June, 1863, returning home imme- 
 diately. Six weeks later he enlisted in the Penn- 
 sylvania State Militia and was sent to Huntington 
 County to guard the approach of the enemy from 
 Gettysburg. While in this service he was com- 
 missioned First Lieutenant, and remained with his 
 fellow-soldiers in that vicinity until they were no 
 longer needed, when they were disbandoned, in the 
 fall of 1863. Thereupon our subject returned home 
 and employed himself upon a farm until September, 
 1864:, when he removed to this county, having (he 
 
 good fortune to have a railroad to carry him speedily 
 to his destination. He located at Vermillion, Stratton 
 Township, and again took up the profession of 
 teaching, following that occupation through the 
 winter. In 1866 he began farming, working on 
 the farm of his father-in law. 
 
 Mr. Mitchell and Miss Mary C. Driskell were 
 united in marriage Nov. 30, 1865. Mrs. Mitchell 
 was a daughter of Joseph Driskell, of Brecken- 
 ridge County, Ky. Her grandfather, Joseph, Sr., 
 was also a native of Kentucky, where he was an ex- 
 tensive farmer, owning slaves, as was the custom, 
 and engaged in boating on the Mississippi River. 
 Reaching New Orleans on one of his trips, he there 
 fell a victim to the yellow fever. The great- 
 grandfather of Mrs. INIitchell, David, when a mere 
 babe came with his parents from Ireland and set- 
 tled in Kentucky. Joseph was a lad of fifteen 
 when he came to Illinois, accompanying his mother 
 in 1858, and locating in Stratton Township, Edgar 
 County, where he engaged in farming when of a 
 suitable age, his mother, Nancy A. (Rile3') Driskell, 
 entering the land in Stratton. In 1840 she went to 
 McDonough County, residing there until her death, 
 which took place in 1850. 
 
 Mr. Driskell prospered in his adopted home, 
 securing over 300 acres. In 1876 lie removed to 
 Paris, where he now resides, he having been born 
 in the memorable year of 1812.. He is a Repub- 
 lican in politics and subscribes to the principles of 
 the Methodist Episcopal Church, although not 
 being a member in that communion. The wife of 
 iSIr. Driskell was Judith Mayo, a native of Ken- 
 tucky and daughter of William J. Ma3-o, a Revolu- 
 tionary hero, who left his native State of Virginia 
 at the close of the war to take up his residence in 
 Kentucky. Having enjoyed the advantages of a 
 good education in his youth, he employed a portion 
 ot his time instructing the youth of the neighbor- 
 hood, also following his profession of a civil engi- 
 neer, .as well as overseeing the operations of the 
 farm. Partaking of the restless disposition of 
 those times, he left Kentucky, coming to Edgar 
 County in 1825, and locating in Huuter Town- 
 ship, Wayne Precinct, where he bought 160 acres 
 of land, building the first frame house in the town- 
 ship. Mr. Mayo was a fine classical scholar, and a 
 
1028 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 warm jjersonal friend and admirer of Kentucky's 
 great statesman, Henry Cla}-. He served bis native 
 rounty as clerk, also performing the duties for a 
 number of years of a local minister of the Metho- 
 dist Episcopal Church, in which communion he 
 died, in 1849, at the advanced age of eighty years. 
 ( Ireat-granilfather Mayo was Jacob, a native of 
 A'irgiuia, having been born in that State Aug. 1, 
 1744, of English parentage. 
 
 The mother of Mrs. Mitchell, an educated and 
 accomplished lady, was born July 11, 1813, in 
 Eord County, Ky., where she grew to womanhood. 
 Following the varying fortunes of her husband, she 
 at length fell asleep in 1841 in Stratton Township. 
 During her married life she became the mother 
 of seven children: William died at the age of 
 seventeen; J. M. is at present a resident of Clark 
 Countj', Kan ; Elizabeth A. is a resident of Paris; 
 George W., also deceased; Mary C, wife of our 
 subject; Caroline, deceased; and E. B., who re- 
 sides in Paris. 
 
 Jobn M. was one of the earliest ones to answer the 
 first call of President Lincoln for troops in 1861, 
 enlisting in Company E, 12th Illinois Infantry. 
 At the expiration of four months he came home 
 sick. The second of the family to enter the war 
 was George W., who enlisted in 1862 in the 79th 
 Illinois Infantry. In July, 1863, he died of a 
 wound received in the battle of Liberty Gap. On 
 making an examination of the body a minie-ball 
 was found embedded in the leaves of a bible which 
 he carried in a pocket over his heart. The G. A. R. 
 Post at Paris was named Driskell Post No. 168 in 
 honor of him. 
 
 Mrs. George D. Mitchell, the wife of our sub- 
 ject, was born March 18, 1843, in Stratton Town- 
 ship, receiving a good common-school education 
 and teaching one term in the home school. Since 
 coming here our subject, George D. Mitchell, has 
 secured 119 acres of land, and has built a new 
 house of nine rooms, planning it with reference to 
 convenience and comfort. It is situated in the 
 midst of finely improved grounds. In addition to 
 raising grain extensively he also supplies the market 
 with hogs and fine horses. The family of Mr. 
 Mitchell has been increased by the addition of 
 five children: Clayton, Walter M., Francis J. K., 
 
 Florence M. and A\'illiam J. Clayton attended the 
 Commercial College at Terre Haute, Ind., two 
 winters, and hiis since been employed as a book- 
 kee|)er in Paris; Walter is at home with his par- 
 ents. After finishing a course of instruction at the 
 home school, Francis J. R. attended the High 
 School at Paris two years, where he has since re- 
 mained. Mr. Mitchell is a member of the G. A. R. 
 Post at Paris, and is also a member of the A. F. & 
 A. M. at Chrisiuan. Both himself and wife are con- 
 sistent members of the Methodist Episcopal Church 
 at Pine G rove. Believing that the responsibility of 
 the good government of this country rests with its 
 citizens, he has always taken an active part in 
 politics, being a delegate to the County Conven- 
 tions of the Republican party. 
 
 \f?'fc. A\TD WAUD. The subject of this notice 
 deserves special mention among the lead- 
 ing farmers of Edgar Township. A self- 
 made man in the strictest sense of the 
 term, he has arisen to a good position, socially and 
 financially, over the disadvantages of his boyhood 
 and youth. He received only a limited education 
 but has kept his eyes open to what was going on 
 around him in the world, and by a course of read- 
 ing has gained much useful information. In con- 
 versation he is pleasing and has the happy faculty 
 of discoursing intelligently upon the current topics 
 of the day. His attractive homestead of 113 acres 
 occupies a part of sections 11,15 and 33, the resi- 
 dence being on section 33. The dwelling, although 
 built of logs, has been made an attractive domicile 
 and provides an exceedingly safe shelter for its 
 inmates. The other improvements are fully in 
 keeping with the progress and enterprise wh'ch 
 have distinguished its proprietor. 
 
 Our subject is of Southern birth and parentage, 
 being the son of John Ward, who was born in 
 North Carolina and was of English descent. He 
 employed himself as a cabinet-maker in the early 
 days, and remained in his native State until 1833. 
 That year he set out overland for Owen County, 
 Ind., where he entered land which he improved, 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 1029 
 
 and in connection witii it also worked at his trade. 
 He was a very fine worlcman and commanded nearly 
 all the patronage in this line in his locality. He 
 lived in Owen Count\', thirty years, then, in 1863, 
 changed his residence to Vigo County, Ind., where 
 he jjiirchased forty acres of land six miles from 
 Terre Haute. He lived upon this until 1872, then 
 changed his residence again, this time to Edgnr 
 Township, where he purchased a small farm and still 
 resides upon it. He is a member of the Christian 
 Churcli, in which during his more active manhood 
 he officiated as Elder. He is now seventy-five years 
 old. 
 
 Mrs. Jemima (Humble) Ward, the mother of 
 our subject, was the daughter of Uavid Humble, 
 who was of German ancestry and who hx-ated in 
 North Carolina, where he spent his last d:iys. The 
 great-grandfatlier was a native of Germany and a 
 man of large frame and very strong constitution. 
 David Humble owned a large plantation in North 
 Carolina. He participated in the War of 1812, and 
 in 1834 removed to Owen County, Ind., where he 
 became a large land owner and where he died. The 
 mother of our subject is now eighty-one years old. 
 David was the eldest of the three children. The 
 others were Eli W. and Jane (Mrs. Ashley), both 
 residents of Edgar Township. Eli during the late 
 war enlisted, in 1861. in the 71st Indiana Infantry, 
 which was afterward mounted and changed to the 
 6th Cavalry. He was but a youth of sixteen when 
 he entered the army and he served until the close 
 of the war. 
 
 The subject of this sketch was born in Mont- 
 gomery County, N. C Feb, 16, 1832. He was but 
 one year old when his parents removed to Owen 
 County, Ind. He acquired a limited education in 
 the public schools, and as soon as able was required 
 to make himself useful around the homestead, 
 where he remained until a young man of twenty- 
 four years. He then began farming for himself 
 and in the meantime purchased forty acres of land 
 which he retained possession of until 1862. Then 
 selling out he removed to a point in A'igo County, 
 six miles from Terre Haute, where he purchased 
 eighty acres and lived until October,1864. The Civil 
 War being then in progress with no immediate 
 prospect of its close he enlisted in Company E, 67th 
 
 Indiana Infantry, and being mListeicd in at Pulaski, 
 Tenn., was sent with his comi-ades to the front 
 under the command of Gen. Thomas. He jjartici- 
 bated in the battles of S[iring Hill, Franklin and 
 Nashville, and after several other engagements with 
 the enemy was sent with the regiment to Texas to 
 guard the frontier. He was mustered out in the 
 Lone Star State, and repairing to New Orleans re- 
 ceived his honorable discharge. 
 
 After returning to civil life Mr. Ward resumed 
 farrhing at the homestead until 1873. Then sell- 
 ing out he crossed the jNIississippi with a team and 
 established himself in Marion County, Iowa. After 
 a l)rief sojourn there he came back to Edgar County, 
 111., and purchased the farm which he now owns, 
 whei'e he has cleared over 100 acres, fenced it and 
 put up a hotise and barn and makes a specialty of 
 grain and stock, especially Poland-China swine. 
 He has six head of good horses, and his farm op- 
 erations are generally conducted with thoroughness 
 and skill. He votes the straight Republican ticket 
 and is a member in good standing of the Baptist 
 Church at Horace. 
 
 Our subject was married, in the fall of 1856, in 
 Owen County, Ind., to Miss Artie A. Creach, who 
 was born in Clay County, that State. They have 
 six children, viz. : John L. Joseph B., Thomas 
 Franklin, Sadie, Otis B. and Emma. John G. is 
 farming for himself in Edgar Township; the others 
 are at luimc with their parents and form a bright 
 and interesting group, who have been well trained 
 and thoroughly educated. 
 
 A\TD S. CURTIS. One of the oldest Uv- 
 jii ing native-born residents of Hunter Town- 
 '^ ship, is naturallj' looked upon with more 
 than ordinary interest, as in the case of 
 the subject of this notice. He has jusf rounded up 
 his three-score years and ten, and such has been his 
 career, that he, is affectionately viewed as one of 
 the old landmarks whose name will be preserved in 
 kindly remembrance long after he has departed 
 hence. We find him the owner of a large and val- 
 
1030 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 liable farm, einbellislied with a commodious frame 
 d'velliug, neatly painted very white, and kept in 
 good repair, with a large grassy yard, with hand- 
 some shade trees and evergreens, a substantial barn 
 and other modern improvements. He likewise has 
 a nursery forty acres in extent, and as a fruit- 
 grower, lias gained an enviable reputation. He 
 has been a prominent man in his community, is a 
 stanch Republican, politically, and a member in 
 good standing of the Methodist Episcopal Church. 
 
 Mr. Curtis was born in Hunter Township, J\i\y 
 1 , 1 819, at a time when the face of the country bore 
 little resemblance to its present condition, being a 
 wild and uncultivated district, abounding in wild 
 animals, and over which the Indians frequently 
 passed from one place to another. His early studies 
 were conducted in a log school-house, with punch- 
 eon floor, seats made of slabs and upheld by rude 
 wooden legs, and desks made of puncheon laid 
 across pins driven into the wall. Light was admit- 
 ted through the doorway and window-panes made 
 of greased paper. The system of instruction cor- 
 responded with the surroundings, but the boys of 
 that day grew up strong of muscle, and healthj- in 
 moral principle, well fitted for the duties which lay 
 before them. 
 
 Young Curtis received careful training from his 
 excellent parents, and assisted his father in the de- 
 velopment of ills new farm, becoming familiar with 
 agricultural pursuits. When approaching manhood 
 his chief ambition was to establish a home of his 
 own, and July 27, 1848, he took unto himself a 
 wife and helpmate, being married at the bride's 
 home in Hunter Township, to Miss Frances R. 
 Dickenson. She was born in Virginia, and came 
 to this county with her parents, Robert N., and 
 Cynthia (Rives) Dickenson, when a young girl. 
 They are the parents of five children: Alice; Belle, 
 wife of A. D. Siders; David S., Joseph W., and 
 Jennie L.; all are at home. 
 
 Our subject and his brother Benjamin, associated 
 themselves in partnership, and engaged in farming 
 and the nursery business for several years. In the 
 meantime they furnished capital for a mercantile 
 business at Paris, which was conducted by George 
 Hoge. Farming, merchandising, and the nursery 
 business have thus occupied the life of Mr. Curtis 
 
 with the exception of nine months which he spent 
 in the army during the late Civil War. He organ- 
 ized a company of the 79th Illinois Infantry, of 
 which he was made Captain, and served until he 
 was obliged to accept his discharge on account of 
 ill-health. He has been a man of great persever- 
 ance and energj', and these qualities have enabled 
 him to accomplish far more than many men blessed 
 with a robust constitution, but of lesser qualities 
 of resolution and industry. Politically, he is one 
 of the warmest adherents of the Republican party, 
 and has been honored by his fellow-citizens with 
 various local offices. 
 
 Joseph Curtis, the father of our subject, was a 
 native of New Jersey, whence he was taken by his 
 parents to Virginia, in childhood. Later they left 
 the Old Dominion, and removed to Adams County, 
 Ohio, and Joseph, upon reaching manhood, there 
 made the acquaintance of Miss Hannah Shelby, and 
 they in due time were married. The mother of 
 our subject was born in Pennsylvania, but at the 
 time of lier marriage was a resident of Pickawa}^ 
 County. The parents left the Buckeye State in 
 1818, and coming to Edgar County, 111., located in 
 Hunter Township, where Joseph Curtis established 
 the first nursery in the State that same vear. He 
 also inaugurated the root-grafting process in this 
 county, and was highly successful in his business 
 as a nurser3'man, enjoying a patronage extendino- 
 throughout the county, and a large area of the 
 country adjoining. 
 
 The father of our subject organized the first 
 Methodist Episcopal Church of Hunter Township, 
 of which both he and his excellent wife were devoted 
 members, and died firm in the faith. The paternal 
 grandfather, Joseph Curtis, Sr.. was likewise a na- 
 native of New Jersey, where he was married, and 
 later removed to Ohio, where his wife died. After 
 her decease he came to Illinois, and spent his last 
 days with his son, Joseph, Jr., dying at the age of 
 eighty-eight years. He was an honored veteran 
 of the Revolutionary War, and enjoyed the per- 
 sonal acquaintance of Gen. Washington. The Cur- 
 tis family traces its ancestry to England, and was 
 first represented in America during the Colonial 
 days. The meagre details which have been gleaned 
 of their history, denote that they were people of 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 1031 
 
 eminent respectabilitj', there being among them 
 many men of repute, who made for themselves a 
 record reflecting lionor upon their descendants. 
 
 ^~r,/^^yeeJi£/^f^- -^^P^*S|^W'OT»'«-VV~' 
 
 OL. GEORGE DOLE, late a well-known 
 and highly respected citizen of Paris, was 
 
 a resident of this place with the exception 
 of the four years which he served in the army, 
 from the time he was eighteen years old until his 
 death, which occurred near Baldswinville, in this 
 county, Feb. 14, 1888. He was born in Rockville, 
 Ind., Jan. 19, 1834, and was thus approaching, at 
 the time of his decease, the flfty-fourth year of 
 his age. The circumstances attending the death of 
 Col. Dole wei-e peculiarly sad and distressing. On 
 the day preceding he attended the funeral of an 
 old friend and brother Elder in the church, Mr. H. 
 A. Conkey, about six miles northeast of Paris. He 
 was one of the pall bearers and assisted in convey- 
 ing his friend's remains to the hearse. He had but 
 a short time before remarked that he was feeling 
 unusually well, but after entering his carriage and 
 when not more than a hundred yards from the 
 residence, he said to a friend, b}- whom he was sit- 
 ting that he felt strangely and would get out. At- 
 tempting to do so he fell against his friend in a 
 helpless condition and was at once taken back to 
 llie house whence he liad so lately helped to carry 
 all that was mortal of his brother in the church, 
 and it was found that he was suffering from a 
 stroke of paralv sis. The next day another shock 
 was received, and the brave Christian soldier and 
 esteemed citizen, rendered up his soul to Him who 
 gave it. 
 
 The life of George Dole was one full of encour- 
 agement to young men and well worthy of emula- 
 tion. By the death of his father, Franklin Dole, 
 ho was left without paternal care or guidance at the 
 age of four years, and his mother, who was in 
 limited circumstances, removed with her two boys 
 to Napoleon, Ohio, where the earliest years of our 
 subject were passed. A part of his time was spent 
 with his consin William P. Dole, one of the leading 
 merchants of Paris, and at eighteen years of age he 
 took up his residence permanently in that place. 
 
 At this time he had only acquired the rudiments of 
 an education which he set about obtaining with an 
 energy and perseverance wliich had its legitimate 
 reward. Disdaining no honest labor he began his 
 career in Paris by cutting wood at fifty cents a 
 cord, and while engaged in this hard labor, gave 
 all his spare moments to diligent studj\ Husband- 
 ing carefully bis scanty resources he accumulated 
 some little means and soon acquired sufficient ed- 
 ucation to enable him to teacli a district school. 
 His salary was carefully saved and he thus became 
 enabled to enter the academy at Paris, after which 
 he for some time alternately attended and taught 
 school. By slow degrees his means grew until lie 
 had saved enough to enable him to attend Wash- 
 tion (now Washington and Jefferson) College, in 
 Washington County, Pa., where he was graduated 
 with high honors in the class of '61, of which he 
 was one of the foremost members. 
 
 In the meantime had occurred tiie outbreak of 
 the Civil War and upon the day of his graduation 
 j'oung Dole was summoned to Washington by his 
 cousin, William Dole, who had been appointed by 
 President Lincoln, Commissioner of Indian Affairs. 
 The war brought to Mr. Dole as to many others, 
 the opportunity to show the metal of which he was 
 made and it gave out the true ring. Through the 
 induence of his cousin he was appointed adjutant 
 of the 3d Indian Regiment of United States 
 troops, which was recruited from the friendly In- 
 dians of Kansas and the Indian Territory. In this 
 command he served until the close of the wfir, be- 
 ing commissioned Lieutenant-Colonel of the regi- 
 ment in 1863. During his service he participated 
 in several hard fought battles, among them that at 
 Shirley's Ford, Cane Hill, Fort Davis, Prairie 
 Grove, Greenleaf Prairie, Honey Springs, Mays- 
 villc, and Webber's Falls, besides many skirmishes. 
 His soldier life was characterized by the same 
 arace which distinguishes his entire career. He 
 gave his best to his country's service and every 
 duty undertaken was thoroughly and conscien- 
 tiously performed. His heart was in his work and 
 his country numbered among its defenders no 
 braver or more patriotic spirit or one more willing 
 to endure for her sake the hardships and privations 
 or risk the dangers of a soldier's life. 
 
1032 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 During t\w four years uf his service Col. Dole 
 w.as absent from his command only twenty days, at 
 which time he obtained a furlough to come home 
 and be married to a lady who remained his loving 
 and faithful companion for nearl}- a quarter of a 
 century. For two years of his service he never 
 slept or ate in a house and the God of battles, 
 whom he sincerely worshipped, preserved him amid 
 all the dangers to which he was exposed. Upon 
 tiie return of peace he was honorably discharged 
 and mustered out at Ft. Gibson, Indian Territory, 
 in June, 1865. 
 
 Col. Dole had prepared himself thoroughly for 
 the practice of law and coming back to Paris, he 
 in May, 18G6, formed a partnership with Col. II. V. 
 Sellar, tlien a.nd now an eminent member of the 
 Edgar Countj' bar. This connection remained un- 
 broken until it was severed by death, a period of 
 twenty-two years, during all of which time the 
 most implicit and unbounded confidence and the 
 closest personal friendship existed between the 
 partners — a fact which wrll illustrates the honora- 
 ble and upright character of both men. 
 
 In Greencastle, Ind., March 24, 1864, Col. Dole 
 was united in marriage with Miss Anna E. Osborn, 
 a daughter of Col. John and Emily (McCorkle) 
 Osborn, the father a prominent member of the bar 
 of Putnam Countj', Ind. Both parents were na- 
 tives of Kentucky, Col. Osborn of Maysville, Ma- 
 son County, and his wife of Flemingsburg, Fleming 
 County. The father died in Greencastle and the 
 mother at the home of her daughter in Paris. Mrs. 
 Dole was born at Bowling Green, C'lay C'o., Ind., 
 Jan. 11, 1840. Her union with Col. Dole was 
 blessed by the birth of four children. The eldest, 
 Milton O., died in Paiis, Jan. 28, 1889, aged 
 twenty-three years. He was a young man of most 
 exemplary character and his untimely death left his 
 widowed mother doubly bereaved. The second 
 child and only daughter was Mary a lovely girl, 
 the pride and J03' of both parents, from whom she 
 was taken by death, Nov. -14, 1885, at the age of 
 nine years. The two living children are named 
 respectively: Alfred Emmett, now a student in Wa- 
 bash Collage, Ci-awfordsville, Ind., and eighteen 
 years of age; and George, eleven years old, who is 
 at home with his mother. 
 
 The domestic relations of this family were of a 
 peculiary happy character. To their children the 
 parents set an example of Christian love and char- 
 ity, beautifid to behold end worthy of emulation. 
 The home circle was the dearest place on earth to 
 him, who was its head, and the lessons there 
 taught by the jDatents left their impress upon the 
 children. Especially was this shown in the case of 
 the eldest son, who during the long and tedious 
 illness preceding his death, when he was battling 
 for life with that dread foe consumption, never 
 murmured against the decree which had gone forth 
 and which he well knew meant for him at best an 
 early death. He endured and suffered patiently 
 and died as he had lived, a sincere Christian, firm 
 in the belief of a better and brighter world where 
 sickness and sorrow are unknown. 
 
 George Dole was a man of a quiet and rather re- 
 tiring character. The success which attended his 
 business career was gained not by loud self-asser- 
 tion but by genuine worth, and grew'out of the in- 
 flexible devotion to duty, which characterized him 
 all through life. No charge ever committed to his 
 care was neglected, nor was a word ever whispered 
 against his integrity. Honorable public position 
 was within his reach but he preferred to devote 
 himself to those duties which were directly in the 
 line of his [u-ofession in which he won the confi- 
 dence and esteem of those with whom he came in 
 contact. He was appointed by the court Receiver 
 of the Illinois Midland Railroad, holding that posi- 
 tion for two years and by li is judicious and able 
 management of its financial affairs, did much to save 
 the property of its stock-holders. It was his just 
 boast that during those trying times for the road, 
 there was no trouble with its employes nor "strikes" 
 to embarrass its operations. We append the follow- 
 ing clipped from the liailway Age: 
 
 The Receiver of the Illinois Midland Railroad, 
 iMr. George Dole, has been relieved from that office 
 at his own request. This is unprecedented. In 
 Illinois the position of receiver of a railroad is con- 
 sidered one of the "fattest" things out. Thousands 
 cry for it; no one was ever known to decline it. 
 The simple word of the man who happens to sit on 
 the bench throws the absolute control of millions 
 of dollars' worth of property into the hands of the 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 1033 
 
 man whom he may take the humor to select, and 
 instead of charging and compelling him to handle 
 the property for the interests of its owners, the 
 court virtually says to him — ''go in and get all you 
 can." This is the meaning of the monstrous pro- 
 vision giving the receiver two and a half per cent of 
 all money which he receives and pays out. It 
 means -'make the receipts as big as you can no 
 matter if you have to give losing rates, pay out 
 all the money 3'ou can find any pretext for. 
 P^or every *ilOO you handle 3'Ou may keep $^2S^0." 
 The history of receiverships in this State show 
 bow faithfully these hints have been followed. 
 Mr. Dole says he resigned because the road 
 cannot be made to pay expenses. As this 
 would be no objection to the man who simply 
 wanted to grab his two and a half per cent., since 
 he could get it from a losing road rather better 
 than from one that did not have to pay out all that 
 it earned, we judge that Mr. Dole was a good man 
 to keep as receiver, and that the road may not gain 
 by his retiring. 
 
 The social life of Col. Dole was also a success. 
 He was a member of several organizations all of 
 whom sorrowed for his sudden death. Resolutions 
 of regret and sympathy for the bereaved family 
 were passed by the county bar; by the Paris Board 
 of Underwriters; by Driskell Post No. 209, 
 G. A. R. ; by John A. Logan Republican Club; by- 
 Edgar Council 0. C. F.; by Austin Lodge No. 604, 
 I. O. O. F., and others. He had publicly united 
 with the Presbyterian Church at Paris, Dec. 20, 
 18.56, and remained a devout and faithful follower 
 of the jVIaster until the day of his death. In 1871 
 lie was chosen an Elder, filling that office accepta- 
 bly the remainder of his life. For thirteen years 
 he was .Su])erintendent of the Sunday-school, dur- 
 ing which his close attention to it was marked. He 
 resigned this position at length to take charge of a 
 class of young men, many of whom through his 
 intluence became devout and consistent Christians. 
 
 Taken in every relation the life of our subject 
 was one worthy of all praise. In business he wms 
 honorable and trustworthy; as a soldier he was un- 
 flinching; in the domestic circle he was a faithful 
 husband and a kind and devoted parent, and in the 
 church he was all he professed. To him may be 
 
 well applied the words of thc^ Psalmist, "Mark the 
 perfect man, and behold the upright, for the end of 
 that man is peace." 
 
 -^^^^^^^^:^<^ 
 
 ■<-v*~ 
 
 if^ ILL ARD B. TUCKER. The State of Illi- 
 is owes her prosperity to the men who 
 rst emigrated hither, and who came from 
 all parts of the East and South. That she 
 is classed among the leading States of the Union 
 is due to the energy and industry of her pioneer 
 settlers, no less than to their rare intelligence and 
 the excellent moi-al traits of character which dis- 
 tinguished them as a peculiarly honorable and law- 
 abiding people. Among this class of people the 
 Tucker family deserves honorable mention, and 
 especially Osborn Tucker, the father of our subject, 
 a native of Ohio, and of English descent, born 
 Sept. 11, 1802. 
 
 The father of our subject was reared to man- 
 hood in Kentucky, whither his parents moved 
 where he lived until the spring of 1856. Then, 
 with the desire to see something of the Great West 
 he made his way to this State, and cmplo3'ed him- 
 self as a carpenter and painter, at which trades he 
 had served an apprenticeship. The first years of 
 his sojourn in Illinois he lived in Edgar County, 
 then changed his residence to Logan County, where 
 he carried on farming until retiring from the active 
 labors of life. He afterwards made his home with 
 our subject, and is stout of his age. He has reached 
 the advanced age of eighty-seven years. The wife 
 and mother was in her girlhood Miss Cynthia Bat- 
 tershell, a native of Kentucky, and who died in 
 Kentucky about 1850. The parental family in- 
 cluded thirteen children, viz.- William, a resident 
 of I^dgar Township, this county; Polly, deceased ; 
 John, residing in Falls, Iowa; Emily (Mrs. Smick) 
 lives in Ross Township, this county; Elizabeth 
 (Mrs. Roberts) is a resident of Paris; Conoway re- 
 sides in Missouri; Dillard B., our subject, was the 
 seventh child; Henry is deceased; J\Iark is a resi- 
 dent of Douglas County, 111.; Peter is deceased; 
 Sarah lives in Ottawa City, Kan. ; Ann lives in 
 Missouri, and Charles is deceased. Jlark and Con- 
 
1034 
 
 PORTRAIT AND RIOGRAPIIICAL ALBUM. 
 
 oway served as soliiiers in the late Civil War. 
 Henry was in a Kentucky regiment, and while at 
 home sick on a fnrlongh the rebels captured him 
 while in his bed and forced him to march, during 
 which he died on the way. 
 
 The subject of this sketch was born in Paris, 
 Bourbon Co., Ky., Dec. 5, 1810, and spent his boy- 
 hood and youth upon a farm, receiving his educa- 
 tion in the common schools. He came with his 
 father to Illinois when a youth of seventeen years, 
 and completed his education by a few months' 
 attendance at school during the winter season. 
 Prior to this he had only attended one term in his 
 native township. In the spring of 1859 he set out 
 for Pike's Peak. The route was by Leavenworth, 
 Kan., where he obtained a team and went across 
 the State to Denver, which occupied thirty days. 
 Upon reaching the Peak Mr. Tucker engaged in 
 mining in Russell Gulcli, where he operated until 
 fall, and then, being satisfied with his venture in 
 the far West, returned by team to Omaha, Nob., 
 and thence by stage to St. Joe, and from there 
 home by rail. He was then but nineteen years of 
 age. Aside from this his life passed in a compara- 
 tively uneventful manner until the opening of the 
 Civil War, and then, at the age of twenty years, 
 under the call for 300,000 troops, he enlisted in 
 August, 1861, in Comi)any A, 7th Illinois Cavalry, 
 and was mustered in at Camp Butler. Thence 
 the}' were sent to Cairo, and later furnished with 
 their equipments at Bird's Point on the Mississippi. 
 They first engaged with the enemj- at Point Pleas- 
 ant, Tenn., and later at Tiptonsville, Ky., where 
 they captured a number of rebels. Next they were 
 ordered to Shiloh, and there our subject was taken 
 ill and confined in the hospital. 
 
 In the spring of 1862 Mr. Tucker was allowed to 
 go home on a furlough. When sufficiently recov- 
 ered re-entering the ranks, he was stationed in the 
 convalescent camp at Louisville, and in January, 
 1863, rejoined his regiment in Mississip[)i. The 
 first two years the boys liad their own horses, but 
 afterward were furnished animals by the Govern- 
 ment. Our subject subsequently participated in 
 many of the important ba,ttles which followed, 
 being at Jackson, Miss., Baton Rouge, La., and 
 ?ilemphis, Tenn. Thence they worked their waj- 
 
 east, to La (i range, that State, which was made their 
 headquarters until 1863. Young Tucker, in the 
 meantime, had some narrow escapes, and upon one 
 occasion his hat was shot off by a spent ball. He 
 went by the name of '■ Sergt. Tuck." He and his 
 cousin, Sanford Battershell, enlisted at the same 
 time, and upon starting out resolved to stay 
 together through thick and tliin. They were 
 familiarly known to their comrades as " Tucker- 
 shell and Bat." They shared with each other the 
 hardships and privations of a soldier's life, and had 
 the happiness of realiizng their hope of remaining 
 together until the close. 
 
 In the winter of 1863-4 our subject, with his com- 
 rades, met the enemy in ba^le at West Point, Miss., 
 also at Aberdeen, and tlienee went into Alabam.., 
 where they were largely engaged in skirmishing. 
 He participated in the battle of Nashville in Dec- 
 ember, 1864, and witnessed, with a feeling of deep 
 satisfaction, the routing of the rebels at that place. 
 From that time on until Christmas they were 
 nearly continually under fire and our subject 
 wound ui) his term of enlistment in the rear of the 
 battle of Franklin. He re-entered the ranks at La 
 Grange, Tenn., in the spring of 1863. Soon after- 
 ward the regiment was sent to Alabama, and re- 
 mained in the vicinitj^of Tuscunibia until Novem- 
 ber, 186:'). The war having now closed, Mr. Tucker 
 was mustered out at Nashville, and received his 
 honorable discharge at Springfield, 111., November, 
 16. after a faithful service of four years and three 
 months. He escaped injury otherwise than having 
 his left wrist somewhat mangled b}' the falling of 
 a iiorse upon it. Mr. Tucker purchased the farm 
 which he now owns and occupies in February, 
 1866, eighty acres, for which he iiaid $15 per acre. 
 It was a tract of cultivated prairie, and he began at 
 first principles in the construction of a farm. First 
 securing a shelter for himself and family, he got in 
 his first season's crops, and by degrees planted 
 forest and fruit trees and instituted the other im- 
 provements necessary to the well regulated home- 
 stead. He laid tiling, planted hedge, purchased 
 scales and other farm machinery, got together a 
 goodly assortment of live stock, and in due time 
 began to enjoy the fruits of his labors. He has 140 
 acres in the home farm and eighty acres elsewhere 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 1035 
 
 in the same township; tlie latter is likewise iiu- 
 proveil with buildings, which he rents. Besides 
 grain raising, he is largely interested in live 
 stock, cattle, sheep and swine, making a speciality 
 of the latter. lie has fourteen head of good horses. 
 After the war our subject was first married in 
 Edgar Township, Dec. 31, 1865, to Miss Lovina 
 Brothers, a native of Ohio. To them there were 
 born two children, Julia and Ida, who are at home 
 with their father. The mother died at her home in 
 1882. Our subject contracted a second marriage, 
 Nov. 30, 1882, in Edgar Townsiiip, with Mrs. Mary 
 Parks, daughter of William Hoult. This lady was 
 born in Edgar Township, and is the sister of W. 
 F. Hoult, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in 
 this Album. Of this union there are four children: 
 David and Dolly, Carl (deceased) and one un- 
 named. Mr. Tucker is a sound Republican polit- 
 ically, and has served as a School Director in his 
 district for ten years. He has been identifled with 
 the Baptist Church since a youth of eighteen years, 
 and is at present one of the Trustees. As an ex- 
 soldier in good standing, he belongs to the G.A.R. 
 at Chrisman.- Genial, obliging and courteous, he 
 has friends wherever known, and is a most worthy 
 representative of an excellent ancestrj^. 
 
 U ELLINGTON W. TROVER. It is said 
 that a gentleman may be detected by his 
 *J^^ conduct in a crowd away from home; and 
 a gentleman may also as surely be detected by his 
 treatment of the stranger whom he meets and who 
 has no special claim upon him. The gentleman 
 with whose name we introduce this sketch was one 
 whom the detective biographer pronounced a gen- 
 tleman at the first meeting. Genial, accommodat- 
 ing and courteous in his manner and possessed of 
 more than ordinary intelligence, he at once estab- 
 lished himself in the confidence and esteem of that 
 humble individual, as he has also done in the confi- 
 dence and esteem of his fellow citizens. He is 
 worthy of special mention as one of the leading 
 politicians of Edgar Township and one specially 
 devoted to the interests of the Republican party. 
 
 As an ex-soldiei' of the Union army, he has since 
 retiring from the ranks fought for his Republican 
 principles with all the natural strength of his 
 cliai'acter, and nothing gratifies him more than to 
 ex|)end his time and his talents in upholding them. 
 
 We find Ml'. Trover occupying a snug farm of 
 seventy-four acres on sections 6, 7 and 8 in Edgar 
 Township, within whose limits he was born July 
 12, 1843. He was reared to farm pursuits and 
 being the child of a family in moderate circum- 
 stances, received his education mostly by the fire- 
 side and at the age of thirteen commenced the 
 battle of life by working out on a farm. He was 
 thus occupied until after the outbreak of the Civil 
 War and ^theu, a youth of nineteen years, enlisted 
 in Company I, 8th Illinois Infantry. He was mus- 
 tered into service at Camp Butler and went with 
 the three months' men to Washington City, whence 
 they were ordered to Alexandria, where young 
 Trover with his company was mostly on patrol 
 duty until the expiration of their term of enlist- 
 ment, in July following. Thereafter, until the 
 spring of 1863, Mr. Trover occupied himself again 
 as a farm laborer, then re-entered the army as a 
 member of Company K, 62d Illinois Infantry, 
 soon after which he was sent to Little Rock, Ark., 
 and later met the enemy in several skirmishes, 
 after which he went with his comrades into the 
 Indian Territory, to keep the red'men at a respect- 
 able distance. In the meantime our subject was 
 detailed as mail carrier between Ports Gibson and 
 Smith and had only one horse to perform the duty. 
 He was kept at this until the close of the war and 
 performed fully as important and responsible work 
 as many who fought in the ranks. In the spring 
 of 1866 he was mustered out of service at Little 
 Rock, Ark., after an armj' life of three years and 
 three months. 
 
 Upon returning home our subject worked as a 
 carpenter with his father until 1871. That year 
 he resumed agricultural |5ursuits and purchased 
 eighty acres of land on section 5, Edgar Township. 
 He engaged in stock raising successfully until 
 1874, then sold out and removed to his present 
 place. The first purchase was seven acres upon 
 which he moved his parents and which they made 
 their home. He still follows stock-raising success- 
 
1036 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 fully, making a, specialty of swine and buys and 
 sells largely on commission. He put up the house 
 which he now occupies, also the barn and has the 
 other buildings necessary for his convenience. 
 His land is well watered by Spring Branch and 
 under thorough cultivation, has become very ! 
 fertile. 
 
 The marriage of our subject witli Miss Rachel 
 Lustison was celebrated at the bride's home in 
 Edgar Township in January 1871. This lady was 
 born in Ohio. Nine children have been born of 
 this union, viz.: Edgar, (deceased); Lucy, and 
 Sarah, (deceased); \'iola, Bert, jMamie, Gertrude, 
 (deceased); Bertha and B., all of whom are at 
 home with their parents. Mr. Wellington Trover 
 was elected Supervisor in 1886 and re-elected the 
 spring following, thus serving two terms. He has 
 also officiated as Township Collector two years. 
 He is a member of Driskell Post, No. 209, G. A. R. 
 He has served on the grand and petit juries and 
 officiated as a delegate of the countj' conventions 
 several times, while he has been likewise a member 
 of the County- Central Committee. 
 
 The father of our subject was David Trover, a 
 native of Virginia, and the son of a farmer of Eng- 
 lish descent who emigrated to the United States at 
 an early day and spent the balance of his life in 
 the Old Dominion. David served an apprentice- 
 ship at carpentering and in due time operated as a 
 builder and contractor. He emigrated to Clinton 
 County, Ind., at a very earl}' day, when a young 
 man and unmarried. Thence he came to Edgar 
 County, 111. and settled in Edgar Township, where 
 he was married and was successful in business, ac- 
 cumulating a good propert}'. He voted the 
 Democratic ticket until the candidacy of James 
 Buchanan, in 1856, during which year the Repub- 
 lican party was organized, when he cast his ballot 
 for John C. Fremont, the candidate of the latter, 
 and thereafter was a decided Republican. He was 
 a man of more than ordinary intelligence, thor- 
 ouo'hly well informed, although having had very 
 limited advantages for an education. He departed 
 this life in 1873 in the Universalist belief. 
 
 The maiden name of the mother of our subject 
 was Elizabeth A. Sheets. She was bom in Ohio to 
 which State her father had removed from his na- 
 
 tive ^'irginia at a very early day. After a few 
 year's residence in the Buckeye State he came to 
 Edgar County, 111. and entered about 200 acres of 
 land in Edgar Tijwnship. This was mostly timljer 
 which he cleared and improved and built 'up a 
 good homestead, where his death took place in 
 1881 at the advanced age of eighty-two years. 
 Politically, he was a sound Democrat and lield 
 most of the local offices, including that of Road 
 Commissioner and School Trustee. He was an en- 
 terprising and reliable citizen and influential in 
 his communit}'. The mother of our subject died 
 at her homestead in Edgar Township. The nine 
 children of the parental family were named re- 
 spectively, Louisa, deceased; ^N'ellington W., our 
 subject; Singleton, a resident of Missouri; Alfred, 
 living in Edgar Township; Jane, a resident of 
 Missouri; Joseph, of Edgar Township ; Llewellyn; 
 David, deceased ; and Delila, in Missouri. Singe- 
 ton and Alfred during the late Civil War enlisted 
 as Union soldiers, in 1862, in the 62d Illinois 
 Infantry and served until the close. 
 
 _j #-# 5- 
 
 AVID HANLEY. In the year 1819, it is 
 hardly necessary to say, very few white 
 '^^ people had ventured into Central Illinois or 
 into anypart of the State. Among them that 
 year came Mr. Hanlej% who is probablj^ one of the 
 oldest living residents of the count}'. Deer, wild tur- 
 key, wolves and Indians were plentiful, the latter prin- 
 cipally the Cherokees and they often camped near 
 the cabin of the white man. Our subject had Indian 
 boys for his playmates and although they fre- 
 quently differed in their ideas, he seldom had any 
 serious conflict with them. He often recalls the 
 time when the farmers threshed their grain will a 
 flail, the grain being laid on rails with linen slieets 
 underneath to catch the kernels. For ten years 
 after coming here they drove through with a team 
 to Chicago, making the trip with four yoke of oxen 
 and consuming one month. They kept this up as 
 late as 1838. For their recreations the settlers had 
 log rollings, corn huskings and dancing. 
 
 The subject of this notice was born in Muhleu- 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBITM. 
 
 1037 
 
 berg County, Ky., July 5, 1818, and a year later 
 his parents set out by wagon for Illinois. The 
 scenes of his first recollection lie in Edgar County, 
 where he began work on a farm when a bo}-. His 
 early education was conducted in a log school- 
 house with the ground for the lloor, slabs for seats 
 and desks, greased paper for window panes, a huge 
 fireplace extending nearly across one end and the 
 smoke coaxed through a chimney built outside of 
 mud and sticks. Young Hanley remained at home 
 until twenty-one years old and then until twenty- 
 five employed himself as a farm laborer. He then 
 in 1843 entered 160 acres of land in vSims Town- 
 ship. This was mostly covered with timber. He 
 had before entering, worked it in order to g-et 
 money to secure it for his own. He procfeeded 
 successfully with its improvement and purchased 
 eight}- acres adjoining. In due time he became the 
 owner of 240 acres and lived upon it eight years. 
 Then selling out he rented land in Paris Township 
 five years, then purchased 240 acres adjoining 
 Redmon, which was unimproved and upon which 
 he labored industriously until 1877. Then selling 
 out he removed to his present place, a well-culti- 
 vated farm of 160 acres. In 1878 he rented this 
 and removed to the northwestern part of Shiloh 
 Township and followed agriculture there five 3-ears 
 as a renter. In 1883 he returned to his old farm 
 which had been greatly run down in the meantime 
 and which he has improved, building fences, put- 
 ting in tile and planting walnut and mulberry 
 trees. He has 120 acres under the plow. The soil 
 is very fertile and moistened by a running stream. 
 The homestead lies fourteen miles from Paris. Mr. 
 Hanley has good cattle and swine with fourteen 
 head of draft horses and uses about four teams in 
 his farm work. 
 
 The marriage of our subject with Miss Hannah 
 Patterson occurred in Sims Township, Maj' 5, 1842. 
 Mrs. Hanlejr is the daughter of William Patterson, 
 a native of Pennsylvania and born near the city of 
 Pittsburg. His father, William Patterson, Sr., was 
 a native of Ireland and upon coming to America 
 located in Pennsylvania where he spent his last days. 
 Willliam, Jr., removed from Pennsylvania to AVar- 
 ren County. Ohio, when a lad of ten years. There 
 he grew to man's estate and worked in Cincinnati 
 
 in a rope faotoiy until his marriage. Afterward he 
 engaged in farming in Southern Ohio, and lived 
 there until the fall of 1833. Then coming to Illi- 
 nois he located at Walnut Grove, in Kansas Town- 
 ship, where he engaged in farming and milling. 
 
 Subsequently, however, he returned East, as far 
 as Lake County, lud., where his death occurred. 
 He was a Republican, politically, and in religious' 
 matters a member of the Methodist Episcopal 
 Church. 
 
 The maiden name of the mother of Mrs. Hanley 
 was Nancy Hamilton. She was a native of Virginia, 
 born near the town of Moresfleld and was the 
 daughter of Thomas Hamilton, who was born in 
 England. He served in the English army and as a 
 soldier of that army was brought over the Atlantic 
 to fight the colonists. This he did not wish to do, 
 so deserted the ranks and located in Virginia and 
 lived in Palmyra, Warren County, the remainder 
 of his da3's. The mother of Mrs. Hanley was reared 
 to womanhood in Ohio and died in M >mence, 111. 
 in 1884, when eighty-four 3'ears oi ^ ■' the nine 
 
 children, born to the parents, six arc : jg, viz.. 
 Sarah, a resident of Wellington, 111. ; Catherine, liv- 
 ing in Will County, 111; Hannah, Mrs. Hani.. y; 
 Caroline is deceased; Russell, a resident of Will 
 County; Henry H. and Leander, of Danville. Le- 
 ander during the late war enlisted in 1861 in the 
 42d Illinois Infantry and served until the close. 
 The deceased are William, Caroline and Emma. 
 
 Mrs. Hanley was born near Palmyra, Warren 
 Co., Ohio, Jan. 16, 1828. She came to Illinois 
 with her parents when a child, they making the 
 journey overland with teams. She was fond of her 
 books and by close application obtained a good 
 education. She learned thoroughly all housewifely 
 duties and was particularly expert at weaving. She 
 has kept up her interest in reading and study and 
 is thoroughly well informed. The twelve children, 
 born of her marriage with our subject were named 
 respectively: Sarah J., deceased; Savilla; Nancy 
 deceased; Caroline; William; Ellen deceased ; Lean- 
 der, Henry, Thomas, Emma, Lizzie and Hannah. 
 Sarah J. became the wife of Condy O'Donnell and 
 they are both deceased ; Savilla married Stephen 
 Jump, who is now a retired farmer and they live at 
 Brocton; Nancy was married to George Wood- 
 
1038 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL AEBUM. 
 
 Caroline was the wife of George Coffer, of Baxter 
 Springs, Cherokee Co., Kan,; Ellen married a Mr. 
 Massey and at her death left three children ; Leander 
 is a house carpenter and lives in Ft. Gihson, Indian 
 Territory; Henry is farming in Crocker County, 
 Kan.; Thomas is farming in Shiloh Township, Ed- 
 gar County ; Emma, Mrs. Massey, is a resident of 
 Champaign County, 111. ; Lizzie, Mrs. Russell, lives 
 in Hendricks County, Ind.; Hannah is the wife of 
 Abner Russell and they occupy the home farm; 
 they have two children — Everet Lee and Emma. 
 
 Mr. Hanley for years affiliated with the Demo- 
 cratic party, but in the election of '88 cast his bal- 
 lot for Benjamin Harrison and intends hereafter to 
 support the Republican party. He was Path blaster 
 in the early days and has for man^' years served as 
 School Director. In religion he is a member of the 
 United Brethren and a regular attendant upon the 
 services at Prairie Chapel. He is a man who has 
 made a gi-eat deal of money, but has likewise lost 
 much on account of appending his name to notes 
 for friends. In this way he has parted with a small 
 fortune. He has given eighty acres of land to his 
 son, Henry, and helps his other children as much as 
 possible. He intends putting up ?i new residence 
 in the near future. He and his estimable wife have 
 lived together happilj- for many years and are of 
 that genial temperament which has drawn around 
 them hosts of friends. 
 
 The father of our subject was Samuel Hanley, a 
 native of Pennsylvania, and his paternal grand- 
 father was born in Ireland. The latter crossed the 
 Atlantic at an early day and thereafter farmed in 
 Pennsylvania the remainder of his life. Samuel 
 served an apprenticeship at shoemaking and early 
 in life established himself on a farm in Muhlenberg 
 County, Ky., where he became well-to-do. He con- 
 tracted the western fever, however, and in 1819 
 came to Illinois and entered land in Sims Town- 
 ship, Edgar County. He put up a house and estal»- 
 lished the first mill in this region. He afterward 
 improved four different farms and likewise estab- 
 lished the first distillery in the connty. He was a 
 man of great energy and industry and died in Paris 
 at the advanced age of eighty-five years. 
 
 The maiden name of the mother of our subject 
 was ]Mary Ripple. She was a native of Pennsyl- 
 
 vania and the daughter of Michael Ripple, who 
 was likewise born in that state and is of German 
 descent. He served through the Revolutionary 
 War under the direct command of Gen. Washing- 
 ton and afterward established himself on a farm in 
 Kentucky whence he removed to Illinois in 1825. 
 He spent his last days in Sims Township, passing 
 away at a ripe old age. The mother likewise died 
 in Paris; both were members of the Christian 
 Church. Their large family of fifteen children 
 grew to mature years, were never sick a daj-, never 
 had a doctor and never lost a meal until after they 
 had grown to manhood and womanhood. Joseph, 
 Matthew. William and Lj'dia are deceased. Mary 
 is a resident of Clark County, 111.; Michael, Cyn- 
 thia, Samuel, Anthony and Ephraim are deceased. 
 John is a resident of Paris Township. David, our 
 subject, was the nest in order of birth. Elizabeth 
 and Sarah are deceased, Savilla is a resident of Paris. 
 
 %ins^ 
 
 V'>.>v>T.'-^->'>.-l.-i.->--V.-il 
 
 »P5-?* 
 
 ■^j OSEPH H. MURPHY. It cannot be denied 
 that a continued residence in one place, con- 
 fers upon a man importance and standing in 
 his community. Mr. Murphy has spent his 
 entire life in Bruellet Townsliip,and was born within 
 one mile of his present home. He was reared upon 
 a farm, and educated in the district school, and at 
 an early age began reading law at home. He prac- 
 ticed in Eastern Illinois and Vermillion County, 
 Ind., having been admitted to the bar in Indiana, 
 in 1884. In the meantime, however, he maintained 
 his partiality for rural life, and established himself 
 on a farm occnpying a part of section 16, in Bruel- 
 let Township, where he has effected good improve- 
 ments, and gathered about himself and his family' 
 all the comforts of life. 
 
 Thomas IMurphy, the father of our subject, was 
 born in County Antrim, Ireland, where he remained 
 until reaching manhood, acquiring a good educa- 
 tion. Upon leaving his native isle, he set sail for 
 Nova Scotia, and was occupied there as a school 
 teacher several years. There also he found his 
 bride, a native of that island. Miss Xancy A., 
 daughter of Alexander Thompson, and after their 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 1039 
 
 marriage the}'' lived tiieie until foiii' children were 
 born. About 183G, they came to tlie States, land- 
 ing on the present site of Chicago, whence they 
 made their wa}' to this count}^ by means of an ox- 
 team. They settled in the vicinity of Scottlnnd, 
 where there father taught school about two years, 
 then seemed a tract of land, which lie (^inverted 
 into the farm now occupied by his son, Joseph 11. 
 
 Tills secticm was then a dense forest, and Mr. 
 Murphy taught school, and worked upon liis land 
 alternatel\' until his death, Maj- 12, 1844, when he 
 was killed by a falling tree. He had been educated 
 for the priesthood, iiis parents being members of 
 the Catholic Church, but this being not in accord- 
 ance with his tastes, he declined to enter upon the 
 course marked out for him, and later became a 
 Protestant, and identified with a Protestant Church. 
 He left a widow with eight children, and she sur- 
 vived until 1881. Their eldest daughter. Gazelle, 
 is now the wife of Daniel MeCoUey; Hannah mar- 
 ried John Carnes; William and Alexander are next 
 in order of birth; Catherine married Daniel Hum- 
 rickhouse, and is now deceased; Thomas, Joseph H., 
 and John ^^'., complete the list. In the late Civil 
 War, John was a drum-major, and died in 1863 in 
 Helena, Ark.; William served four years in Com- 
 pany A., 43d Indiana Infantry, was captured by 
 the rebels, and confined fifteen months in Tyler, 
 Tex. ; he escaped twice, and was twice re-taken by 
 blood hounds. He finally returned home without 
 a wound. Thomas served in the army four years 
 in Company C, 18th Indiana Infantry, and re- 
 ceived a gun-shot wound in the left hand; Joseph, 
 our subject, enlisted in Company K, 34th Illinois 
 Infantry, in which he served from March until Au- 
 o-ust, 1865, when he was mustered out thirty days 
 after the regiment was disbanded, at the hospital in 
 Cumberland, Md., where he had been confined since 
 the June previous from typhoid fever and rheuma- 
 tism. After receiving his discharge, he returned 
 home, and was occupied as a farm laborer until his 
 marriage. 
 
 The above mentioned important and interesting 
 event in the life of our subject, was celebrated at 
 the bride's home in 1869, the lady being Miss Mary 
 Edgington. She had been teaching the district 
 school, and making her home with her brother, at 
 
 whose house our subject had been boarding, and 
 the result was what migiit naturally be exiaected. 
 i)i this union there have been born four children 
 — John W,. James, Nettie and Carrie. Mr. Mur- 
 phy's farm comprises eighty acres of choice land, 
 which lie cleared from the timber. When his health 
 began to fail, he took up the study of law, and 
 after entering upon his i)ractice, followed it success- 
 full}' until the present time. He was elected con- 
 stable ill 18G9, and served eight years. He is quite 
 prominent in local affairs. Later he was elected 
 Township Supervisor, serving four terms, and after 
 an intermission of two terms, was re-elected, and 
 served two terms. He has been the Treasurer of 
 his school district six years. 
 
 Mrs. Murphy is the daughter of Lyman Edging- 
 ton, a native of Oiiio, where he was reared, and 
 married to Miss Mary Philips, who was also born 
 there. They came to this county at an early day, 
 and located in Hunter Township, where Mrs. Mur- 
 phy was born and reared. There also her father 
 died, leaving his widow with four children, of 
 whom Mrs. Murphy was next to the youngest. 
 The mother is still living, and makes her home with 
 her daughter, Mrs. Thomas Scott, of Bruellet Town- 
 ship, a sketch of whose husband appears in this 
 volume. Mrs. Murphy is a member of the Protest- 
 ant Methodist Church. 
 
 — ■> ■•o»o^^y^<A^..o»c.. Sr'>. 
 
 OLIVER BELL, a son of James S. and Jane 
 I (Stewart) Bell, was born Oct. 4, 1842, in 
 Muskingum County, Ohio. His parents were 
 both natives of Ohio. His father was born in 
 Muskingum County. The paternal grandfather of 
 our subject was a farmer and had a pleasant home 
 in the State of Ohio, to which place his parents 
 came from England. The mother of our subject 
 was of Irish extraction. His father was one of a 
 family of nine children, and became the parents 
 of nine children, named respectively: Catherine, 
 Oliver, Mar}- Ellen, Sarah Ann, Ira, Harriet, Jane, 
 Vernon and Sumner. Catherine married Isaac Skin- 
 ner, a farmer; they have five children; Mary Ellen 
 was married near Kansas, 111., and lives in Newman, 
 
1040 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALT3UM. 
 
 111. Her husband's name was Shoemaker; he was 
 an old soldier, having served in the 1 2th Illinois In- 
 fantry. She is the mother of two children. Sarah 
 Ann was married to a farmer named Jackson Barnes 
 and resides in Hiuesborough, Douglas Co., 111. 
 They are the parents of one child ; Ira is married to 
 Catlierine Reed; they have three children, and their 
 home is on a farm. Harriet is married to Samuel 
 Hopkins, and with their tAvo children lives on a farm 
 near Newman, 111.; Jane lives near Newman with 
 her husband, "William Stillwell, and two children; 
 A'"ernon operates a farm near Newman, Douglas 
 C' ntj, this State. He is married to Emma Blair, 
 and is ilic father of three children; Sumner lives 
 near Nc; n on a farm with his wife and three 
 children. 
 
 The subject of this notice was three months old 
 when his mother departed this life, and he was left 
 to the care of his aunt, Mrs. Catherine Bell, who 
 afterward married Mr. Shiveley, and who filled a 
 mother's place to him to the best of her ability un- 
 til he reached the age of six years, at which time 
 he was removed from her care and home in ^'inton 
 County, Ohio, to his father's home on the farm, his 
 father having married a second time, where he re- 
 mained until his eighteenth year. He then started 
 out in life for himself, working at whatever he 
 could find to do until the breaking out of the war 
 in 1861. This event stirred hig patriotic aspira- 
 tions, and he enlisted in Company H. 59th Illinois 
 Infantry, and served with credit to himself until 
 November, 1862, when he was honorably discharged 
 and returned home. He remained at home over a 
 j^ear, assisting in the work of the farm and being 
 an interested observer of the course of the war. In 
 1865 he re-enlisted in Company C, 150th Illinois 
 Infantry. During the time of his Srst enlistment 
 he was a gallant participant in the battles of Pea 
 Ridge, Arkansas and Farmington, Miss. ; shortly 
 after his second enlistment he was injured by being 
 thrown from a horse and was incapacitated from 
 service. He served his term out and returned 
 home. Feb. 4, 1864, our subject led Miss Charity 
 E. McCown to the altar. Mrs. Bell is a daughter 
 of Jonathan and Olive T. McCown, who were na- 
 tives of Edgar County, where they spent their youth 
 and married life. The grandparents of Mrs. Bell 
 
 were among the first settlers of the county and ex- 
 perienced all the hardships and vicissitudes of pio- 
 neer life. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Bell have become the parents of 
 eight children, named respectively, Sherman, Will- 
 iam, Elmer E., James Corwin, Olive J., Elsie E., 
 Bert and Bessie. William and Elmer E. died when 
 at the age of about fifteen years and Olive J. at 
 fourteen years. The rest of the children still sur- 
 vive and are under the roof of their parents. 
 
 air. Bell started with sixty acres, which by fru- 
 gality and industry he has succeded in increasing 
 to IGO acres. He is engaged in general farming, for 
 which his varied experience and general intelli- 
 gence make him well fitted, and he also raises 
 horses, cattle and hogs, taking care in selecting his 
 stock to secure the best, and watching the market 
 closely in order to sell to the best advantage. 
 
 Our subject is a member of Lowe Post, No. 323, 
 G. A. R. at Newman, also of Newman Lodge No. 
 469 I. O. O. F. In politics he is a stanch, uncom- 
 promising Republican. He has never sought for 
 nor accepted any public office, but devoted his tal- 
 ents to the service of his party in the position of 
 delegate to the different county conventions, and 
 by his clear head and wise counsels made himself 
 and his advice so valuable to his associates that he 
 has been appoin ted to take charge of the Central 
 Committee. In 1888 he attended the National en- 
 campment of the G. A. R. at Columbus, Ohio. 
 
 Mr. Bell was not only a soldier himself but is the 
 son of a soldier, who fought gallantly during the 
 late war for three years. James S. Bell, the father 
 of our subject, enlisted in the late war in the 79th 
 Illinois Infantry and participated gallantly and 
 fearlessly in the battles of Murfreesboro and Nash- 
 ville. During his three years' service he never 
 faltered in his duty or showed the white feather. 
 His last years were soothed by the consolations of 
 religion, he being a member in full standing of the 
 Methodist Episcopal Church. He came to Illinois 
 in 1857 and located near Oakland, in Coles County, 
 where he followed the occupation of our first par- 
 ents, changing what was raw prairie at his advent, 
 into a flourishing, well-cultivated farm of 200 acres, 
 which he secured by purchase. He died in 1873. 
 
 Mr. Bell, the gentleman whose name heads this 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 1041 
 
 notice, is a man of flrm convictions, quiet, unob- 
 trusive demeanor, and a good farmer. His place 
 is under tine cultivation and lie takes pride in hav- 
 ing good wells of pure, cold water, fine horses and 
 cattle, and tasty and substantial buildings. Mr. 
 Bell inherited a rugged constitution, and was a 
 gentleman of good physique, capable of enduring 
 great strains until the injurv he received during the 
 war, since which time he has been in more delicate 
 health. Winter's snows have also touched his dark 
 hair and board lightly, but his sparkling brown eye 
 is as bright as in his early youth. The home of 
 Mr. and Mrs. Bell, although modest in appearance, 
 is the abiding place of domestic happiness, comfort 
 and content. 
 
 "iYl OHN T. STAFF, proprietor of the Kansas 
 Canning Factory, is conducting an enter- 
 prise of which he is justifiably proud. This 
 is numbeied among the useful industries of 
 tlie town and is finely illustrative of the energy 
 and push of one man, who, on account of these 
 qualities and other admirable traits in his make up, 
 is exercising no small influence in his community. 
 It is the custom sometimes in building up a charita- 
 ble institution for each one interested to contri- 
 bute a brick toward its erection, and in the 
 building up of Kansas as a business center Mr. 
 Staff has contributed a whole nheelbarrow full of 
 this indispensable material. 
 
 The native place of our subject was Raysville, 
 Henry Co., Ind.. and the date of his birth Aug. 4, 
 1851. He is of German parentage and ancestry, 
 being tlie son of Frederick Staff, a native of Heidle- 
 berg, who emigrated to America in 1824, and mak- 
 ing his way to the wilds of Indiana settled upon 
 the present site of Raysville wlicn the country was 
 in a comparatively wild state and peopled princi- 
 pally by Indians and the animals, who had not 
 learned to fear the approach of man. 
 
 The father of our subject was a baker and con- 
 fectioner by trade, which he followed in Raysville 
 nfter it became of any importance, until his death, 
 ■which occurred in November, 1853. The mother. 
 
 iAIrs. Catherine (Knapp) Staff, was a native of the 
 same city ns her husband, add they became the par- 
 ents of nine children, seven of whom are living. 
 The eldest, Mrs. Frances Barnaby, is a resident of 
 Rnysville, Ind. The others are: Christine, Mrs. 
 Carr; Henry, Peter, Frederick, John T, and Law- 
 lence. Two daughters, Mary (Mrs. Barnaby) and 
 Lizzie, the lattei' a young lady, died of cholera in 
 Indianapolis in 1872. 
 
 Our suliject was reared in his native town and 
 educated in tlie Quaker school established there. 
 He employed himself at farming until a youth of 
 eighteen years, and later until 1888 was occupied 
 as a commercial traveler, having his headquarters 
 at Terre Haule. In April of that year he came to 
 Edgar County, anrl put up the building in which 
 is established the canning works. This building oc- 
 cupies an area of :)50x40 feet, and is two stories 
 in height. Besides this are the boiler and process 
 rooms 60x30 feet, also two stories, a corn-crib 
 125x20 feet, a repair shop 20x14 feet, with offices 
 in a one-story building,14xl8 feet. There is a scale 
 room 14xlH feet along the north side and a platform 
 of 24x100 feet on the north side, and on the south 
 side a platform of 60x60 feet, likewise a shed 14x60 
 feet. Mr. Staff uses a corn-cooker and filler of which 
 he is the inventor and patentee, nnd which is an in- 
 genious cnntrivance. automatic in its action. Into 
 this the corn runs, is cooked and conveyed out into 
 cans which arc placed under the filling nozzles, all 
 beint,' operated by steam power simultaneously. It is 
 probable that the fortune of Mr. Staff is assured 
 through this invention alone, and he has already 
 been offei'ed ^25,000 for a half interest in it. At 
 this writing Mr. Staff is completing a new build- 
 ing, 75x40 feet, lo be used for tlie manufacture of 
 empty cases and labeling and stamping all the filled 
 cases after leaving the process room. Tha ca- 
 pacity of the factory is 45,000 quarts per day, and 
 gives emploj'ment to 450 persons. Thus it will be 
 seen that the enterprise is of inestimable value to 
 the town, bringing to it not only a large amount of 
 business but a large number of people to be fed and 
 clothed. 
 
 The home of Mr. Staff is pleasantly located in 
 tlie eastern part of town, and he enjoys the society 
 and the friendship of its best people. He was mar- 
 
1042 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 ried May 14, 1872, to Miss Lyda Shomberg. This 
 lad}' was born in Edinbiirg, Ind., and they have 
 five cliildren — Marry, Estella, John, Anna and 
 Katie. Mrs. Staff is a member of St. .Stephen's 
 C'liurch at Terre Haute, and our subject, socially, 
 belongs to the A. O. U. W. 
 
 — W-f^^:f-M- 
 
 •^ OHN T. CUSICK. This gentleman, who is 
 on the sunny side of forty, occupies a lead- 
 ing position among the j'ounger members 
 of the farming community of Edgar Town- 
 being the owner of sixty-six acres on 
 section 21. He was born in Vigo Count}-, Ind., 
 May 4, 1850, and has spent the most of his life in 
 this count}'. At an early age he became familiar 
 with farming and pursued his studies in the com- 
 mon schools, mostly in the winter season, until a 
 youth of seventeen years. In 1867 the family re- 
 moved to Indiana, where our subject remained 
 with them until 1869. Then entering Westiield 
 College, TIL, he pursued his studies industriously 
 two years, returning to the farm to spend his vaca- 
 tions. Upon one of these occasions, while follow- 
 ing a threshing-machine he met with an accident 
 by which he lost an eye, which put an end to his 
 studies. 
 
 Our subject now remained upon the farm with 
 his father for a time, then rented the old place and 
 operated it until 1881. That year he removed to 
 his present homestead. He has made all the im- 
 provements upon it, has laid considerable tile 
 draining, set out trees and built fences, besides the 
 house, barn and other outbuildings, and although 
 his farm is not extensive it yields handsome re- 
 turns. He makes a specialty of graded stock, 
 raising the grain for their consumption and the 
 produce for the needs of the family. He has about 
 eight head of horses and utilizes two teams on the 
 farm. 
 
 Mr. Cusick was married in Clark County, 111., 
 Nov. 12, 1877, to Miss ]Mary J. Crowther. Mrs. 
 Cusick was born in Terre Haute, Ind., and is the 
 daughter of Edward and Elizabeth Crowther, na- 
 tives of Leeds, England. Her father is a mechani- 
 
 cal engineer, but is fond of agricultural pursuits 
 and owns a farm in Clark County. Of this union 
 there have been born four children, Myrtle E., 
 Mattie E., Hortensia and Maudie E. Our subject 
 politically votes the straight Democratic ticket and 
 was a School Director in Indiana four years. Here 
 he is quite prominent in local politics and is fre- 
 quently sent as a delegate to the county conven- 
 tions. 
 
 Anderson Cusick, the father of our subject, was 
 born near Knoxville in East Tennessee, and was 
 the son of David Cusick, a native of the same 
 State, who was a farmer by occupation and served 
 in the War of 1812. The latter emigrated to Illi- 
 nois in 1818, during the year of its conversion 
 from a Territory into a State, and located in El- 
 bridge Township. Eldgar County. By entry and 
 purchase he in due time became the owner of 250 
 acres of land the most of which he brought to a 
 good state of cultivation. His son Anderson, the 
 father of our subject, was a boy when coming to 
 the Prairie State and spent his after years in a 
 manner similar to that of the sons of pioneer farm- 
 ers. He followed the occupation of his forefathers 
 and in due time purchased eighty acres of land in 
 Stratton Township, upon which he labored a num- 
 ber of years, then selling out established himself in 
 Edgar Township on a tract of 160 acres. After- 
 ward he made his way across the Mississippi and 
 purchased the same amount of land in Wayne 
 County, Iowa. Finally, however, he returned to 
 Edgar Township. In December, 1867, he rented 
 this farm and going to the vicinity of Vigo, Ind., 
 purchased 240 acres of land, upon which he estab- 
 lished himself, engaging in farming and stock- 
 raising, and there spent the remainder of his days, 
 passing away about 1877. 
 
 Mrs. Martha (Tucker) Cusick, the mother of 
 our subject, was born in Tennessee, and was the 
 daughter of Joel Tucker, a native of South Caro- 
 lina, who removed first to Tennessee and then to 
 Vigo County, Indiana. He was a farmer by oc- 
 cupation and spent his last days in Vigo County. 
 Mrs. Cusick died at the homestead in that State; 
 she was a member of the Congregational Church. 
 The seven children of the parental family were 
 named respectively, Jane, now deceased; Joseph, 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 1043 
 
 a resident of Vigo County. Ind ; Kiincy A., Mrs. 
 Horsley, of Edgar Township; Sarah E., deceased; 
 America, a resident of Clark County, this State; 
 John T. our subject; and David A., doceased. 
 
 travels the biograplier comes across a vet- 
 eran of the late war, who is always an 
 object of interest to the intelligent and pa- 
 triotic citizen. Many of them have lost none of 
 the spirit which fired them in their youthful days 
 and led them to go forth and fight the battles of tlieir 
 country, as one of the stern duties whieli they had 
 no thought of evading. IMr. Stipp performed his 
 part in that bitter conflict, and has been permitted 
 to live and rejoice over the many blessings wliich 
 followed the preservation of the LTnion and the ex- 
 tinction of slaver}'. We now find him comfortably 
 situated on a well-regulated farm of 210 acres of 
 land on section 7 in Elbridge Township, where lie 
 took up his residence more than twenty years ago. 
 He is widely and favorably known throughout this 
 part of the county as one of its most substantial 
 men and most useful citizens. 
 
 A son of one of the earliest pioneers of this 
 county, our subject was born in Elbridge Town- 
 ship, April 12, 1842, and scarcely left its limits 
 until after the outbreals of the Rebellion. Early 
 in the conflict he entered tlie LTnion army as a 
 member of Company C, 70th Illinois Infantry, was 
 mustered into service at Mattoon, and thence went 
 to the front in the latter part of August. He soon 
 met the enemy in active conflict, taking part in tlie 
 battle of Stone River, Tenn., next at Liberty Gap 
 and later at Chickamauga under tlie command of 
 Gen. Thomas. At this place lie experienced a very 
 narrow escape from being captured by the rebels, 
 and he next fought at Missionary Ridge, near 
 Bragg's headquarters, where they made a success- 
 ful charge upon the enemy, routing them com- 
 pletely. 
 
 This division of the army next moved upon 
 Dalton, Ga., where the Union arms were again vic- 
 torious, and where our subject barely escaped with 
 
 his life from the sharpshooters. At the battle of 
 Resaca, which followed, he was wounded in the leg 
 just above the knee, which confined him in the hos- 
 pital for six months. When he was sulHciently 
 recovered, he was sent first to Chattanooga, and 
 then to Nashville, and later was given a furlough 
 and was sent home. AVhen able to rejoin his regi- 
 ment, he was transferred to the Infantry Reserve 
 Corps of Veterans, and detailed to guard the pris- 
 oners at Rock Island, 111. On the 1st of Marcli 
 the prisoners were taken to A^irginia, our subject 
 being one of those accompanying them, returning 
 from the- expedition the latter part of that montli. 
 Later, he revisited the Old Dominion, and thence 
 went to New Orleans with prisoners, Remaining 
 there the following winter. His term of enlistment 
 having now expired, he was mustered out and re- 
 ceived his lionorable discharge. He experienced 
 all the hardships and privations of life in the army, 
 and b}' his bravery and fidelity to duty gained the 
 esteem of his comrades and the approval of his 
 commanding officers. 
 
 Upon retiring from the armj', Mr. Stipp re- 
 sumed farming, and in 1867 was united in marriage 
 with Miss Mary E., daughter of Thomas and Nancy 
 (Van Kirk) Williams. Mr. and JMrs. AA'illiams were 
 natives of Indiana and Pennsylvania respectivel}', 
 and after their marriage took up their abode in 
 Ripley County, Ind. They became the parents of 
 seven children, of whom Mrs. Stipp was the third, 
 and vvho was born Dec. 26, 1844. She received a 
 good education in the common school, and re- 
 mained a member of the household circle until her 
 marriage. Mr. Williams died in Indiana about 
 1852. The mother was subsequently married, and, 
 coming to this county, made her home in Stratton 
 Township until her death. 
 
 To our subject and his good wife there have 
 been born six children, the eldest of whom, Eliza 
 E., died at the interesting age of fifteen years. The 
 others — John T., William. Jeanette and Clara A. 
 remain under the home roof. Mr. Stipp purchased 
 his present farm in 1867, to which he has since 
 added until it now embraces 210 acres, and has 
 brought the land to a high state of cultivation, 
 besides making first-class improvements. The resi- 
 dence is a roomy and convenient brick structure. 
 
1044 
 
 PORTRAIT ANO BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 while the barn and other outbuildings are amply 
 adapted to the various purposes of agriculture. 
 Politically, Mr. Stipp votes the straight Repub- 
 lican ticket, and has always taken a warm interest 
 in the establishment and maintenance of schools, 
 serving on the Board two terms and encouraging 
 the measures instituted for the proper training of 
 the young. Both he and Mrs. Stipp are members 
 in good standing of the Christian Church, and 
 socially, Mr. .Stipp belongs to Vermilion Lodge 
 No. 563, I. O. O. F. 
 
 The parents of our subject were John and Ellen 
 E. (Ballou) Stipp, the father a native of Ohio and 
 the mother of Tennessee. John Stipp came to this 
 county when a young man, and here met his fu- 
 ture wife. They settled upon land constituting 
 the present homestead of our subject, and from 
 which the father constructed a fine farm, which he 
 occupied until his death, in 1855. The mother is 
 living, making her home with her son, George 
 W., in this township. They were the parents of 
 four children: Peter, Abraham, (leorge AV. and 
 Zackariah. Without making any great show in 
 the world, they were looked upon as honest, in- 
 dustrious and worthy people, possessing those ele- 
 ments which form the ground-work of all good 
 society. Both were members of the United Breth- 
 ren Church, and the father, politically, was first 
 an Old-Line Whig and later a Republican. 
 
 
 ?LZA N.BLAIR. There is probably not a 
 more public-spirited or liberal-minded citi- 
 
 zen within the environments of Embarras 
 
 Township than Mr. Blair. Uniforml}^ interested 
 in educational and benevolent institutions, he con- 
 tributes of his means to the establishment and sup- 
 port of these as opportunity occurs and likewise to 
 the churcli, although not connected with any re- 
 ligious organization. By occupation, he is a life 
 long agricultuvist and in this as in business chan- 
 nels, has been uniformly successful. He owns 1 20 
 acres of highly-cultivated land and looks after the 
 122 acres owned by his wife. The homestead is 
 pleasantly located on section 30 and with its build- 
 
 ings, its pasture lands, its fruit and shade trees, live 
 stock and farm machinery, leaves very little more 
 to be desired in the wa}^ of a complete rural estate. 
 It forms one of the valued land-marks of this part 
 of the county, inaugurated and perpetuated by a 
 citizeji whose name will be held in grateful remem- 
 brance long after he has been gathered to his fath- 
 ers. 
 
 Our subject has never wandered very far from 
 the place of his birth, which occurred April 24, 
 1858 in Embarras Township, 111. His father, 
 Thomas Blair, a native of Indiana, came to Edgar 
 County over fifty years ago when a boy and accom- 
 panied by his father Thomas, Sr. The latter was 
 one of the earliest pioneers of Kansas Township, 
 establishing his cabin home in the wilderness, 
 among Indians and wild animals. He was a man 
 of brave and courageous spirit and having once 
 put his hand to the plow never turned back. He 
 persevered amid the difficulties and dangers of life 
 on the frontier and lived to see the march of civil- 
 ization and the establishment around him of an 
 intelligent and prosperous people. Grandfather 
 Blair departed this life about June 27, 1856. 
 
 Thomas Blair, Jr., grew to manhood and took 
 for his wife and helpmate Miss Diana Hicke3r. 
 He, like his father before him, reduced a portion 
 of the soil to a state of cultivation and built up a 
 comfortable home. To him and his estimable part- 
 ner there were born four children — Elza N., Sam- 
 uel II., Emma L., and Ida M., all of these are liv- 
 ing, those besides oursuliject being located two in 
 Edgar and two in Douglas County. The father died 
 in Oct. 30, 1864, at the homestead in Coles Couuiy 
 where he had established himself about 1859. The 
 mother was subsequently married to John Laugh- 
 er son of Frederick Laugher. Of this union there 
 were born three children — John W., Charles B., 
 and Leroy, and who are now living near Oakland 
 in Coles County, with the mother and father. The 
 subject of this sketch was bred to farm pursuits 
 and obtained his education in the common school. 
 About the time of starting out in life for himself, 
 he vvas married March 6, 1879, to Miss Amanda 
 E., daughter of Samuel II. Ashmore, who was one 
 of the pioneers of Coles County, 111., and is now 
 deceased, Mrs. Blair was born February 12, 1858, 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 lots 
 
 in Oakland Township, Coles County, and remained 
 a member of the parental houschohl until her 
 marriage; of this union there is no children. Mr. 
 Blair, politically, gives his support to the- Demo- 
 cratic party but otherwise than performing the 
 duty of an American citizen at the polls, meddles 
 very little with public affairs. He keeps himself 
 posted upon current events the world over and is 
 a man who makes very little stir in the world, but 
 nevertheless is one exercising a marked influence 
 in his community and one whose opinions are gen- 
 erally respected. 
 
 ^/OIIN ROLL, Among the wide-aw.ake and 
 successful men of Embarras Township none 
 h.ave started out with prospects more flat. 
 (^^/' tering than Mr. Roll, the present supervisor 
 of that township. He is comparatively young 
 in years, having been born Oct. 17, 1857, and 
 occupies a farm adjacent to the old homestead 
 where he first opened his eyes to the light, and 
 which is pleasant!}' located on section 17 in Em- 
 barras Township, Edgar County. In his farming 
 operations his aim is to excel, and it must be ad- 
 mitted that few men in his vicinity are prosecut- 
 ing agriculture with more praiseworthy results. 
 As a financier, he is a decided success, likewise. 
 In the meantime, while operating as a tiller of 
 the soil, he has given to his mind that careful culti- 
 vation which has made him a man of more than 
 ordinary intelligence and one with whom .an hour 
 may always be spent in a pleasant and profitable 
 manner. 
 
 The early education of Mr. Roll was conducted 
 in the district school and he made his home with 
 his parents until ready to establish a fireside of his 
 own. The 13th, of October, 1881, was appropriately 
 celebrated by his marriage with Miss Mary E., 
 daughter of Charles Merkle, who was one of the 
 early pioneers of Edgar County and who is now 
 deceased. The Merkle family is widely represen- 
 ted in this section of Illinois and recognized as 
 comprising a portion of its best element. Mrs. 
 Roll was born at her father's old homestead, Nov. 
 
 1, 1858, and was reared to an attractive woman- 
 hood, being well educated and fitted for her future 
 position in life .as the wife of a leading citizen. 
 Mrs. Roll has in her own right 160 acres of land 
 which our subject operates in addition to his own 
 farm of 480 acres. He is a lover of fine horses 
 and has an interest in those described in the bio- 
 graphy of Douglas Merkle, elsewhere in this vol- 
 ume. As a stock-breeder he has gained an envia- 
 ble reputation and in this as in his general farm- 
 ing operations, is content with nothing less then 
 the best. He is the father of three children — 
 Charles A., John D , and Hannah E. 
 
 Politically, J\Ir. Roll gives his uniform support 
 to the Democratic party. He at present represents 
 his township in the County Board of Supervisors. 
 He lias officiated as School Director six years and 
 is a member in good standing of the United Bi-eth- 
 ren Church. His father Abraham Roll, was one of 
 the earliest pioneers of Edgar County, being born 
 in Sims Township when it was peopled largely by 
 Indians and wild animals. He constructed a home 
 from the wilderness and spent his last yesirs in 
 peace and comfort, departing hence about 1877. 
 He was a conscientious Christian man and a devo- 
 ted member of the United Brethren Church. The 
 mother in her girlhood was Miss Hannah, daugliter 
 of Thomas McDon.ald, who likewise ventured on 
 to the frontier during its early settlement. Thej'- 
 were the parents of five children. Our subject's 
 sister Mary, Mrs. Hathaway, wlio is now a widow, 
 with her only child, Lilly F., fourteen years old, 
 lives at the old homestead. 
 
 To the parents of Mrs. Roll there were born five 
 children, of whom three are living. IMiss Sally 
 Roll, a younger sister of our subject, makes her 
 home with her mother on the old homestead. Re- 
 becca and David died at the ages, of about eight 
 and twelve years respectively. 
 
 ♦ >■ »<-' 
 
 ARRISON POULTER. One of the chief 
 I characteristics in the makeup of this gen- 
 tleman is his natural-born patriotism; an- 
 ^ other is his regard for iiis ancestral history 
 in which he takes a justifiable pride. He has al- 
 
1046 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 ways kept himself well posU'd in regard to war 
 history and lias in general kept the run of national 
 events, aided hj' good memory and moie than or- 
 dinary intelligence. A farmer by occupation, he 
 may be usually found at his headquarters, a well- 
 conducted homestead on section 15 in Kansas 
 Township.- In this township he was born May 6, 
 1837, near where he now lives, being the son of 
 John Poulter who settled in this region during its 
 pioneer days. 
 
 The father of our subject was a native of ]\Iid- 
 dletown, Ky., and born about twelve miles above 
 the city of Louisville. There he was also reared 
 and married, and thence soon set out with liis bride 
 on a wedding tour. The medium of transportation 
 was a wagon drawn by one yoke of oxen and a 
 yoke of cows. Landing in Edgar County, III., 
 they settled among the heavy timber of Kansas 
 Township, having for their only neighbors Indians 
 and wild animals, both of whom visited the Poul- 
 ters nearly every day. Their dwelling was a small 
 log cabin and their Indian neighbors were friendly, 
 frequently inviting the white man to share their 
 hospitality. Upon one occasion the father of our 
 subject accepted and sat down to a repast, a part 
 of which consisted of soup made from a deer's 
 head without removing the hair. Mrs. Poulter, 
 who was also invited, was unable to partake. The 
 Indians laughed at her and brought her some veni- 
 son and Johnnycake baked on a board. 
 
 For several years the Poulter family had their 
 corn and wheat ground in a mill operated by horse 
 power, and when young Harrison was of suitable 
 age he went to the mill on horseback, when so small 
 that the sack had to he tied on the horse and he 
 lifted on top of it. It was necessary to start early 
 on these excursions and upon one occasion he 
 reached the mill before daylight, being the first 
 one there and was thus entitled to the first grind- 
 ing. A man, however, came soon afterward and 
 before the miller could reach the mill, this man 
 poured his grain into the hopper and hitching his 
 team to the sweep commenced operations. Young 
 Poulter said nothing but watched his chance to 
 speak to the miller privately and the latter com- 
 pelled the man to take his team away and his corn 
 out of the hopper. The Poulter grist was then 
 
 substituted and our hero- marched away with it in 
 triumph. 
 
 .Mrs. Mary (Arturburn) Poulter, the mother of 
 our subject, was likewise a native of Kentuck}' 
 and of her union with Frederick Poulter there 
 were born ten children, six of whom are living, 
 viz.; Eliza A. and Martha J,, both of whom mar- 
 ried into the Pinell family; Lucy, (Mrs. Wright,) 
 John D.. Harrison and George W. The subject 
 of this sketch spent his boyhood and youth under 
 the parental roof, acquiring his education in the 
 pioneer schools. He was bred to farm pursuits at 
 which he employed himself mostly until the out- 
 break of the Civil War. He then enlisted in 
 Company H, 79th Illinois Infantry, the regiment 
 being under command of the noted Col. Buckner, 
 and participated in the battles of C'rab Orchard, 
 Murfreesboro, Stone River, Liberty Gap, Kenesaw 
 Mountain, Chattanooga and Rock Face Ridge, in 
 the latter of which the Colonel was wounded. 
 Of this our subject had a presentiment at the time 
 and although not seeing him, hunted for him and 
 found him badly shot through the body. He had 
 him conveyed to the hospital and was his close at- 
 tendant for six weeks thereafter, bringing him out 
 in good shape. Col. Buckner was naturally deeply 
 grateful for this service which he often alluded to 
 in his re-union speeches, saying that " to Harrison 
 Poulter he owed his life." 
 
 Our subject also fought in the siege of Atlanta 
 and at Columbia, Franklin and Nashville, Tenu., 
 besides other important engagements with the 
 enemy. After the close of the war he returned 
 home and resumed the peaceful pursuits of farm 
 life. With the exception of that period and two 
 years in Vernon County, Mo., and in the vicinity 
 of Decatur, 111., he has spent his entire life in 
 Kansas Township. In this township he was mar- 
 ried Aug. 14, 1856, to Miss Anna, daughter of 
 A\'illiam Waite, one of its earliest pioneers. Mr. 
 A\'aite was born in England and crossed the Atlantic 
 when quite 3'oung; he spent his last years in Kan- 
 sas Township. Mrs. Poulter was born in Kansas 
 Township March 18, 1837. She is now the mother 
 of four children only two of whom are living — 
 John 11. and Mary J. William E. died when a 
 promising young man in the tweutj^-flrst year of 
 
PORTRAIT ANp BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 1047 
 
 his age; Lovina was taken from the home circle by 
 death in tlie bloom of womanhood ; she had been 
 married to William Stoddard and left two children, 
 Lilly and Bessie, who make their home with their 
 grandfather Poulter. John II. Poulter married 
 Miss Martha Burgess and they live in Douglas 
 County; they have two children — Frederick II. 
 and George E. Miss Mary Poulter became the 
 wife of John T. Lee and lives in Westfield, Clark 
 County; thej^ have two children — Anna May and 
 Ciiarles Clyde. 
 
 l\Ir. Poulter, politically, affiliates with the Re- 
 publican party. He has held the various local 
 offices and for the last tliree 3'ears has been Town- 
 ship Assessor. Sociallj', he belongs to the Masonic 
 fraternity and the G. A. R., while his rehgious 
 views are in harmony with the Christian Church, 
 being a member of the societj^ at Hitesville, Coles 
 Count}'. His farm comprises eighty acres of well- 
 tilled land and he gives special attention to graded 
 stock. 
 
 ENRY FREI. As an example of stirring 
 energy, perseverance and resolution, the ca- 
 reer of Mr. Frei is worthy of more than a 
 passing notice. He occupies a high position 
 as one of the leading merchants of Kansas, III., and 
 one who began in life without other resources than 
 those which lay within- him. He has seen much of 
 life in its various phases, has had a wide experience 
 as a traveler, and has alwaj s kept his eyes open to 
 what was going on around him in the world. He 
 has always found honesty to be the best pol^CJ^ 
 and has adhered to this maxim in his dealings with 
 his fellowmen. In his merchandising oi)erations 
 he deals in dry-goods, clothing, hats and caps, boots 
 and shoes, carpets, etc., nnd has built up a large 
 and flourishing trade. 
 
 A native of what was then the Kingdom of Wur- 
 temburg, Germanj% our subject was born Feb. 7, 
 1830, and is the son of i\Ieir and Nina (Frei) Frei, 
 who were also natives of that Province. The 
 mother died when lier son Henry was in the ninth 
 year of his age. The father spent his entire life in 
 German}' and died there a few years since. Henry 
 
 was reared and educated in his native town and 
 served an apprenticeship of three years at the 
 turner's trade. This, however, was not congenial to 
 his tastes, and he therefore did not follow it. In 
 1852, when a young man of tweniy-two years, he 
 decided to seek his fortune on the other side of the 
 Atlantic. After setting foot upon American soil 
 befitted himself out with a pack of Yankee notions 
 which he peddled through New Hampshire and 
 Connecticut one year. Next we find him in the 
 city of Baltimore, Md., where he worked one year 
 for |4 a month and his board. 
 
 It is not to be wondered at that Mr. Frei was 
 dissatisfied still with his condition and his pros- 
 pects, so leaving the East he made his way to Illi- 
 nois in 1854 and halted in Danville where he 
 secured employment as clerk in a small store. A 
 month later he went to Beloit, Wis., where he 
 clerked one year for the same man, and later was 
 in a number of stores all over the country. In the 
 meantime he was swindled out of two j-ear's wages 
 and was turned out again in the cold world with 
 only $5 in his pocket. His next objective point 
 was Cincinnati, Ohio, where he landed without a 
 cent. He [jawned his watch and spare clothing to 
 pay his board until he could find work. He fort- 
 unately met a friend who secured a position for 
 him with a party who had a branch store in Oska- 
 loosa, Iowa, and who sent 3'oung Frei there, where 
 he remained until establishing a branch store in 
 Albia. Here he did an extensive business for the 
 firm, remaining there ni,ie months. Then under 
 instruction he took the goods in a wagon and 
 sold them at auction in the little towns over the 
 southwestern part of the State, for which service he 
 was paid $50 per month and expenses. He wns 
 now becoming quite an expert as a salesman and 
 had laid up $600. 
 
 The next enterprise of Mr. Frei was to take a 
 car-load of flour, meat, tobacco and whiskey, and 
 start farther westward, to Pike's Peak. He had 
 with him several other men, but one old Germnn 
 in the company persisted in getting drunk, so Mr. 
 Frei and another man concluded to withdraw from 
 the corporation. '1 hey divided the goods, giving 
 to the other parties the whiskj' and most of the to- 
 bacco. Mr. Frei and his partner kept the flour, 
 
1048 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 merit and some of tlie tol)acco, and with it made 
 their way to Nebraska City. They had "'reat diffi- 
 culty in crossing the river on account of higli water, 
 but after reaching Cbillicothc, Mo., the}^ were fort- 
 unate in selling out everything, merchandise as 
 well as teams. After this they made their way back 
 to the river and thence to St. Louis at which point 
 they set out for Pilot Knob, with tlie expectation of 
 establishing a store at that point. They found no 
 opening, however, and tlience retraced their steiis 
 to Beardstown, 111. Here tlie partner was taken 
 ill and Mr. Frei, leaving lum went to Cincinnati. 
 He has never heard from him since and cannot 
 even recall his name. 
 
 In 1858 Mr. Frei established himself at Paris, 
 111., and thereafter for one year he was clerk in a 
 store at §12.50 per month and liis board. His em- 
 ployer borrowed hismonej' and lost it in gambling, 
 finally becoming bankrupt. Mr. Frei attached the 
 goods and thus recovered his loss. In the fall of 
 1 859 he went to Berlin, Md., and was clerk in a dry- 
 goods and grocery store for about eighteen mouths. 
 At the out'oreak of the Rebellion he was solicited to 
 enter the Confederate army, but he very sensibly 
 left the country with his money, and walking about 
 twenty-five miles to the nearest railroad station took 
 a train for New York City. 
 
 One day while walking along Broadway Mr. 
 Frei heard some one call his name, but thinking 
 perhaps some one else was meant paid no attention 
 to it. Presently a person tapped him on the shoul- 
 der, and looking around he saw Mr. Jake Sholem, 
 of Paris, who solicited lum to return to Paris as his 
 clerk. He consented and remained with him until 
 the fall of 1863. He then engaged in the buying 
 and shipping of poultry, eggs, etc., on his own ac- 
 count, which be followed up for nine months alone. 
 Then he associated himself in partnership witli 
 Austin Ernest. They prosecuted this business in 
 Paris on the south side of the square. They first 
 purchased a small grocery store, from which they 
 sold their goods in this line and later put in a stock 
 of dry-goods and clothing. Mr. Frei was in Cin- 
 cinnati after new stock at the time Richmond was 
 taken and when goods dropped nearly one-half. 
 He purchased largely and the next week there was 
 a rise and he made a profit of 300 per cent. His 
 
 sales were all cash and ran from .$50 to $223 per 
 day, which did not have to be shared with any 
 clerk, unless Ernest stood in the store while Mr. 
 Frei was absent at his meals. In 1865 i\Ir. Frei 
 was in partnership with Mr. Barlow, and in April, 
 1866, they dissolved and he went to Kansas, 111. 
 In this latter place he established himself as a dry- 
 goods merchant and clothier, and while having 
 mada some money has also at various times met 
 with serious losses. He is now, however, the owner 
 of a fine property, including his store and residence. 
 His store is fitted up in a tasteful and convenient 
 manner, and his patronage embraces the best people 
 in the township. 
 
 Mr. Frei w.as married, Jan. 9, 1867, to Miss 
 Caroline Beer, who, like her husband, was born in 
 Wurtemburg, and who came to America in 1862. 
 Her father, Ilirsh Beer, spent his last j'ears in Ger- 
 many. Mr. and Mrs. Frei have no children of their 
 own, but some time since adopted an orphan child, 
 Rachel, wlio was liorn in Merjphis, Tenn., about 
 1871. Her parents died of the yellow fever. 
 
 Upon becoming a naturalized citizen Mr. Frei 
 identified himself with the Republican party. He 
 believes in union and freedom and is thoroughly in 
 sympathy with the institutions of his adopted 
 countrJ^ He is a Roj'al Arch Mason, was for sev- 
 eral years treasurer of his lodge in Kansas, and has 
 been secretarj- of the chapter since 1882. He also 
 belongs to the I. O. O. F. 
 
 -^^50=j-.i.- 
 
 -5»^'{W«' 
 
 -•i-5*^-««- 
 
 'ILLIAM NUCKLES. There is nothing in 
 the world more pleasant to contemplate 
 than a well-spent life — the career of a man 
 who has done good as he has had opportunity and 
 who presents an example worthy of emulation. These 
 thoughts involuntarily arise in reviewing the career 
 of Mr. Nuckles, a man scarcely having an enemy 
 in the world and who is well spoken of bj' the 
 people of his commnnity. He is one of the pioneer 
 settlers of this county, coming within its limits 
 when it had been invaded by comparatively few 
 white men and the greater portion of its land la}' 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 1049 
 
 in its priiniti\u condition. He came hitlier witlnout 
 resources otlier tli.in liis own resolute will and the 
 habits of industry which had been taught him 
 from hi.s childhood, but these proved the qualities 
 most needed and which have enabled him to secure a 
 good homestead and spend his later years in com- 
 parative ease. His farm comprises 160 acres of 
 well-cultivated land on section 16, where Mr. 
 Nuckles has effected good improvements and adde<l 
 measurably to the taxable property of his town- 
 ship. 
 
 Our subject is the offspring of an old New Eng- 
 land family and the son of Robert Nuckles, a na- 
 tive of Virginia who, when a young man, emigrated 
 to jNIercer County, Ky., where he was married. 
 Later he removed to Vermillion County, Ind., where 
 he purchased land and sojourned a few years, then 
 sold out and came to this county. Here he became 
 the owner of land in Ross Township, where he 
 opened up a farm and was one of the first settlers 
 iu his neighborhood. Later he removed to a point 
 on the State Road north of Chrisman, where in con- 
 nection with farming he opened his house to trav- 
 elers and for several years officiated .as "mine host." 
 Finally selling out he removed to Ridge Farm 
 and established a grocery business in connection 
 with a meat-market, which he conducted until once 
 more selling out and removing to the vicinity of 
 Urbana. In that vicinity he purchased another 
 farm upon which he remained until his death, sev- 
 eral years ago. He was for many years a member 
 of the Presbyterian Church and prior to the war 
 affiliated with the Democratic part3\ During the 
 conflict between the North and the South, be con- 
 sidered that he had reason to change his political 
 views and wheeled over into the Republican ranks. 
 
 Mrs. Rachel (JMartin) Nuckles, the mother of our 
 subject, was a native of Rhode Island, and died in 
 Ross Township, this county, prior to the decease of 
 her husband. They were the parents of eight chil- 
 dren — Fanny, deceased; Jefferson, now a resident 
 of Kansas; Elijah, deceased; William, the subject 
 of this notice; John, living in Oregon; Rhodn, Mrs. 
 Loop, of Metcalf; Rachel, living in Ridge Farm, 
 this State, and James, a resident of Missouri. Jef- 
 ferson and Elijah served as Union soldiers during 
 the late Civil War. William, our subject, was born 
 
 near Montezuma, Vermilion Co., Ind., Dec. 9, 1829, 
 and lived there with his p.arents until a lad of ten 
 years. He then came with them to this county and 
 was reared to manhood in Ross Township. He re- 
 members the time when wild game was plentiful 
 and when he traveled to mill with a sack of grain 
 on his horse's back. He remained under the home 
 r<)(.)t until a youth of nineteen years, then starting out 
 for himself, worked by the month for several years. 
 
 In 1849, our subject crossed the Jlississippi into 
 Jackson County, Iowa, making the journey by- 
 team and purchased a claim. This subsequently he 
 traded for a horse and resumed his labors of farm- 
 ing for other p.i,rties one year, then went south into 
 Mississippi. lie chopped wood there during one 
 winter and in the spring came up the river pre- 
 pared to establish a home of his own. On the 7lh 
 of February, 1850, he was married in Ross Town- 
 ship to Miss Elizabeth Pierce; this lady was born 
 in A'ermillion County, Ind., and onl^;- survived her 
 marriage but a brief time, dying in 1853. Of this 
 union there were born two children — Caroline who 
 is now the wife of Mr. Brownfield, of Missouri, and 
 Lucretia, who died when about fourteen years old. 
 
 From this time on until 1859 Mr. Nuckles en- 
 gaged in farming on rented land iu this township, 
 but that year purchased his present farm which 
 was then a tract of school land without any im- 
 provements. In the meantime he had been married 
 again, Nov. 8, 1855, in Prairie Township, to Miss 
 Elizabeth, daughter of Edmond Clark, a native of 
 N^ermont. Mr. Clark left the Green Mountain 
 State at an earl}' d.ay, emigrating to Flemino- 
 County, Ky., where he sojourned until 1831. That 
 year, coming to Illinois, he entered a tract of land 
 in Prairie Township, this county, upon which he 
 labored very successfully and became well-to-do 
 and the owner of a large extent of land. He had 
 married jMiss Nancy Graves, a native of Virginia 
 and whose father emigrated to Kentucky, where he 
 engaged in farming and met his death at the hand 
 of Morrell's gang, who at the time were committing 
 many acts of violence in that region. Mrs. Nuckles' 
 father died in Prairie Township, and the mother 
 some years after in the same place. She was a 
 woman of many estimable qualities and a member 
 of the Baptist Church. Her family consisted > ' 
 
1050 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 eight children — Alex, deceased; Mary, a resident 
 of Oregon; Marinda, in Kentuclt}'; Susan, living in 
 Edgar County, 111. ; Elizabeth, Mrs. Nuckles; Emily, 
 deceased ; James, a resident of Chrisman and Lucy, 
 residing in Prairie Township. 
 
 Mrs. Nuckles was born in Fleming County, Ky., 
 jVpril 4, 1827, and was four years old when her 
 parents came to this State. >She remained under the 
 home roof until her marriage and by her union 
 with our subject has become the mother of nine 
 children. The eldest, a daughter, Mary, is the wife 
 of H. Wood, a well-to-do farmer of Ross Township ; 
 Dorinda is at home with her parents; Charles mar- 
 1 ied Miss Lanra Womack and is farming in Bruellet 
 Township; Edgar married ]\[iss Jennie Black- 
 burn and is engaged in hop-raising in Oregon; 
 .Tohn died when a child; William is farming in liuss 
 Township; Albert, Nannie, and James II. remain 
 under the parental roof. 
 
 On the 7th of March, 1865, Mr. Nuckles laid 
 aside li:s personal interests in order to assist in 
 the preservation of the Union. Enlisting in Com- 
 pany G, 28th Illinois Infantry, he was mustered 
 into service at Danville, soon after which the regi- 
 ment was sent South to Mobile. Next they were 
 ordered to Ft. Blakeley and from there into Texas. 
 At Brady's Island, our subject was taken ill and 
 confined in the hospital for some time. Upon his 
 recovery he was assigned to the duty of a nurse in 
 the hospital at Sedgwick, La., and was thus occui)ied 
 until being mustered out at Springfield, HI. He 
 received his honorable discharge in April, 186tJ. 
 
 Upon his return from the army Mr. Nuckles re- 
 sumed in earnest the cultivation of his land and ef- 
 fecting the much-needed improvements around his 
 homestead. He is a warm advocate of temperance 
 and some since time allied himself with the Prohibi- 
 tion party. Both he and his excellent wife are active 
 members of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Mt. 
 Olive and Mr. Nuckles contributed liberallj' toward 
 the erection of a church edifice. He has officiated 
 as vSteward and Trustee, also as Class-Leader and 
 for some time has been Superintendent of the Sun- 
 day-school. Although his life has been compara- 
 tively uneventful, he has ever maintained that 
 uniform regard to duty andJDrinciple which have had 
 a sensible influence upon those around him. His 
 
 land is largely devoted to the raising of grain and 
 he is especially interested in good horses, of which 
 he owns about fifteen head, mostly draft animals. 
 He uses two teams in his farm operations. 
 
 V 
 
 ILLIAM FRANCIS HOULT. Here and 
 
 there in his peregrinations, the biographer 
 meets a character of more than ordinay 
 interest, as in case of the subject of this sketch. 
 He finds him located amidst the most attractive 
 rural scenery in a beautiful home, situated in a se- 
 cluded spot along the forest banks of Bruellet 
 creek, the residence, a tasteful brick structure 
 which both within and without is indicative of 
 cultivated tastes and abundant means. The pro- 
 prietor of this charming homestead is full}' in 
 keeping with his surroundings, both mentally and 
 physicall}', being a man of classic education and 
 pleasing exterior, of fine presence and luxurious 
 tastes. He has chosen for his companion, a lady 
 well fitted for her position, one of refined and 
 cultivated tastes and, like himself, the offspring of 
 an excellent famil}-. Their lives have unquestion- 
 ably thus far been cast in pleasant places and tiiey 
 have hosts of friends whose esteem and confidence 
 testify to their genuine worth and excellence. 
 
 Mr. Hoult, a native of Edgar Township, this 
 county, was born near Bloomfield, Aug. 1, 1865. 
 He was brought up on the farm and attended the 
 common school until fifteen years old. Soon after- 
 ward he was graduated from the Chrisman High 
 School and in the fall of 1881, entered Wabash 
 College at Crawfordsville, Ind., where he was a 
 student four years,"taking the classical course and 
 remaining until the spring of 1885. In the fall 
 of that year he commenced teaching in Ross Town- 
 ship and followed this profession three 3'ears in 
 succession. In the spring of 1888 he located on 
 his present place, where he has sixty acres of choice 
 land which is especially adapted to the raising of 
 grain and stock and is finely located on section 30, 
 Prairie Township, and 160 acres on section 25 in 
 Ross Township. 
 
 The 8th of July, 1887, witnessed the marriage 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 1061 
 
 of our subject at C'lirisman, with Miss Grace, 
 daughter of John Moss, a prominent citizen of 
 this county and who is fully represented elsewhere 
 in this volume. Mrs. Hoult is, like her husband, 
 a native of Edgar County, and completed her edu- 
 cation in Jacksonville Female Academy. Later 
 she engaged as a teacher in the Chrisman High 
 School. This happy home has been still further 
 l)rightened by the birth of one child, Geneva 
 Francis. Mrs. Hoult is a member of the Presby- 
 terian Church at Jacksonville, and our subject in 
 his political views is wholly in accord with the 
 principles of the Republican party. 
 
 The father of our subject was William Hoult, 
 the third in a family of twelve children, and who 
 was born near Fairmount, Marion County, (now 
 West) Va., Oct. 27, 1814 and lived there until a 
 youth of eighteen years. He then accompanied 
 his father to Illinois, making the journey by boat 
 to Clinton and thence by team to Edgar Township 
 this county. He remained in the Prairie .State 
 until 1836, then returning to the Old Dominion 
 employed himself as a carpenter about a 3'ear, after 
 which he again sought the Prairie State. In 1840 
 he went back to Virginia, where he occupied him- 
 self, principally as a cabinetmaker and sojourned 
 three years. 
 
 William Hoult on the 17th of February, 1848, 
 was married in Edgar Township, to Mrs. Rebecca 
 Smith. This lady was born in INIontgomery County, 
 Ky., Aug.' 26, 1824, and was the daughter of John 
 McKee, also a native of the Blue Grass State. The 
 father of Mr. McKee was a native of Ireland. In 
 1 829 John McKee came to Illinois without means 
 and commenced the struggle of life in the West as 
 a school teacher. As soon as able he secured a 
 tract of government land and as years passed on, 
 such was his industry and good management that 
 he had acquired at the time of his decease in Edgar 
 Township, 2,000 acres of land. He departed this 
 life many years ago leaving his family in comfort- 
 able circumstances. 
 
 After his marriage William Hoult engaged in 
 farming and purchased the farm in Edgar Town- 
 ship, which he still owns and operates. Upon it 
 he has made all the improvements which attract 
 the admiring eye of the passing traveler and like 
 
 his father-in-law Mr. McKee, has become one of 
 the largest land owners in the county. He has been 
 an excellent citizen, is independent in politics and 
 in religion belongs to the Methodist Episcopal 
 Church. To him and his estimable wife there were 
 born eight children, the seven besides our subject 
 being: .John, a farmer of Ross Township; Mary, 
 (Mrs. Tucker,) living in Edgar Township; Dorothy 
 L., (Mrs. Fair,) deceased; Emily, (Mrs. Fair,) a 
 resident of Ross Township; James, a farmer of 
 Prairie Township and Rachael E., (Mrs. Keys) in 
 Hunter Township, and an infant, deceased. 
 
 '1^^ R. LYSANDER PORTER. The subject 
 I jY of this sketch is a practicing physician 
 (fiJ^^ and surgeon of Bloomfield, residing in his 
 comfortable home in the midst of exten; 
 sive grounds, comprising some twenty acres. His 
 father was a native of Cayuga County, N. Y.^ 
 lieing named John after his father, the grandfather 
 of our subject, who, originally from England, came 
 early to America, and made his home in New 
 York, following the honorable occupation of a 
 farmer. The father of Dr. Porter served with 
 creditas a Sergeant in the memorable War of 1812. 
 Some time after the conclusion of that conflict he 
 removed to Indiana, locating in Vermillion County, 
 coming there in the early days, while settlers 
 were yet few and far between, and the land was in 
 almost undisputed possession of the original for- 
 ests, Indians and wild animals. Nothing daunted 
 he entered 160 acres of land, and set bravely to 
 work clearing his land and building a home. 
 
 Being fitted by nature and education to occupy 
 a more prominent position in the community, he 
 was early called by the suffrages of his fellow citi- 
 zens to the office of Associate Judge, and was 
 never afterwards permitted to retire to private 
 life for any great length of time, being successively 
 elected Justice of the Peace, County Surveyor, 
 Associate Judge, and crowning all, was elected Rep- 
 resentative from his county to the Indiana State Leg- 
 islature. He also served as Auditor one term, was 
 County Commissioner a number of years, never 
 
1052 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 succeeding in escaping public duties until liisdeatli, 
 which occurred in the court-house in 1844, when 
 he had just reached tlie allotted period of three- 
 score years. During the time he served as County 
 Surveyor he made a map of the county, being the 
 first man to get a correct one. In addition to his 
 other duties, he also served bis county as attorney 
 at law. 
 
 The mother of our subject was Miss Phoebe 
 Hedges, who was born and reared in Cayuga 
 Count}', N. Y., her father being a supposed descend- 
 ant of a relation of Joe Hedges of Maryland, 
 who had a fortune le^t to him in P^ngland. While 
 living in Clinton our subject had the great misfort- 
 une to lose his mother in death. The parental 
 family consisted of nine children: Elizabeth, 
 Charles, Amos and Clarinda, all deceased. Lysnn- 
 der, of whom we write, was the next in order of 
 birth. William and Jane are deceased; John re- 
 sides in Coffee County, Kan., on a farm; Emily, 
 also deceased. John fully sustained the reputation 
 of our Northern boj's for gallantry during his two 
 years service in the Civil War, fighting under the 
 banner of the Kansas Regvilars until its close. 
 
 Our subject first saw the light of day on his fath- 
 er's farm, two miles west of Clinton, Ind., his 
 birthday being April 23, 1823. He was reared on 
 the farm, enjoying only such limited advantages 
 in the way of education as were afforded by the 
 common schools of those days. The school house 
 was one built in the usual style of pioneer times, 
 having a log out on each side to serve for windows. 
 The slab seat and puncheon floor made a substan- 
 tial if not elegant house, and one which he attended 
 until his eighteenth year. The seven succeediug 
 j'ears of his life were spent in the profession of 
 teaching, which he then left for a time to follow 
 the farm. In 1846 he removed to Illinois, locating 
 in Edgar Township, Edgar County, working on 
 the farm a short while, then securing work in a 
 carding mill. He operated a carding machine for 
 several years, then concluded to study medicine. 
 Entering the office of Dr. Cary he studied under 
 him one year, then finished his studies under Dr. 
 Whitcomb, with whom ho went into partnership, 
 remaining with him two 3'ears. In the fall of 1849, 
 he entered the Ohio Anatomical & Medical College 
 
 at Cincinnati. Pursuing his studies there one year 
 he graduated in the spring of 1850. He returned 
 to Bloomfield, remaining one year, when he removed 
 to Oakhall, Champaign County, establishing a 
 practice, but only remaining there one year. In 
 the spring of 1853. he went to Georgetown, 111., 
 where he practiced one year, then changed to Par- 
 isville, Ind., entering into partnership with Dr. 
 Kemp. After practicing there about one year. 
 Dr. Whitcomb left Bloomfield, following which our 
 subject returned to Bloomfield, where he has re- 
 sided ever since, having established a gocd prac- 
 tice. 
 
 In the fall of 1850 Dr. Porter was married in 
 Bloomfield to Miss Eliza Wood, daughter of Will- 
 iam Wood of Ohio, one of the early settlers of 
 Edgar County. Farming, varied with occasional 
 work at his trade of blacksmithing, formed his oc- 
 cupation. During the brief but sanguinary Black 
 Hawk War, he gallantly bore his part, never flinch- 
 ing in the hottest of the fight. Mrs. Porter was a 
 native of Ohio, being one of a family of four chil- 
 dren. 
 
 Following the advent of our subject into Bloom- 
 field the second time, he bought the spacious 
 grounds on which his present elegant home is situ- 
 ated, improving and beautifying it until he has 
 brought it to its present fine condition. Not the 
 least attractive feature of the place, especially on a 
 warm summer day, is the fine spring of clear cold 
 water that bubbles up from the bosom of mother 
 earth, bringing health and refreshment to all who 
 partake of it. Dr. Porter has also some fine stock 
 on his place, keeping only the best. 
 
 Dr. and Mrs. Porter are the parents of four chil- 
 dren: Sarah A, was married to Nelson Barkly, a 
 telegraph operator at Robinson, III. ; she is since 
 deceased; William is a farmer in Edgar Township; 
 Mary B. is married to E. Adamson, of Rosedale, 
 Ind., who is employed in the service of a railroad 
 company; James is farming in Edgar Township. 
 Appreciating the power derived from knowledge, 
 our subject has always taken a deep interest in edu- 
 cational matters, and has very properly been elected 
 School Director. He is also a member of the A. F. 
 & A. M. The Baptist Church of Bloomfield num- 
 bers him among its most intelligent and active sup- 
 
PORTRAIT AND BTOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 1053 
 
 porters. Politically he votes and works witti tiie 
 third party, believing the prohibition of the liquor 
 traffic to be the most important subject now claim- 
 ing the attention of the voters of this country. He 
 was a delegate to the last county convention. He 
 has frequently spoken in public in behalf of cher- 
 ished political principles. His first vote was cast 
 for Henry Clay. His youthful enthusiasm prompted 
 him to assist in the erection of a Clay pole. He 
 voted the Whig ticket until the Republican party 
 was organized, when he voted for Fremont, after- 
 ward throwing in his lot with the Republican 
 party, until 1884, when he voted for St. John. 
 
 ^EORGE M. JETER, Attorney-at-law and 
 Justice of the Peace at Paris, was born in 
 New Albany, Ind., July 4, 185.5, amid the 
 explosion of the national artillery which heralded 
 in the anniversary of colonial freedom. He is the 
 offspring of a good family, being the son of Will- 
 iam and Elizabeth (Albertson) Jeter, the former a 
 native of Virginia and the latter of Indiana. 
 
 The paternal grandfather of our subject was 
 Patrick Van Dine, a native of County Tipperaiy, 
 Ireland; the mother's ancestors came from Amster- 
 dam, Holland, many generations ago, and were 
 Quakers in religious belief. She throughout her 
 life adhered to the religious faith which had been 
 taught her in her j'outh. Grandfather Van Dine 
 made his way alone across the Atlantic wlien a 
 boy of fifteen years and secured employment in 
 Virginia with a German farmer named Jeremiah 
 Jeter. The latter had one child, a daughter, and 
 tlie young emigrant proving industrious and faitli- 
 ful, was adopted by Mr. Jeter and his wife, who 
 gave him their name, after which lie married their 
 daughter, and they willed to them their property. 
 He was married in the Old Dominion and there 
 spent the remainder of his life. He reared a fam- 
 ily of five sons, the youngest of whom was William 
 the father of our subject. 
 
 William Jeter was educated at Louisville, Ky., 
 and later studied medicine and was graduated from 
 the medical college in that city. lie commenced 
 
 the practice of his profession in New Albany, Ind., 
 but died quite suddenly in 1857 at the early age of 
 twenty-seven years. His father had conferred 
 upon him the advantages of a good education, but 
 had not left him much of his property, and his 
 early death left his widow and young childi'en in 
 limited circumstances. His wife, Elizabeth, to 
 whom he had been married in New Albany, Ind., 
 when very young, in 1848, belonged to a family of 
 Quakers, and was left an orphan when a mere child. 
 She was educated by the Society of Friends for a 
 teacher in the Friends' Seminary for Girls in New 
 Albany. Mr. Jeter was a Roman Catholic, and 
 his marriage with Miss Albertson caused the lat- 
 ter to be expelled from the ranks of the Friends. 
 Upon the death of her husband she was left 
 with four young children, to whom she devoted 
 herself for several years, maintaining herself and 
 children by teaching in a public seminary in New 
 Albany, Indiana, and when they were partly grown 
 she married a man named Yearling, with whom 
 she removed to Columbus, Tex., where her death 
 took place. 
 
 The subject of this sketch was the youngest of 
 his father's three sons, and he was reared by Jere- 
 miah Harris, of Hunter Township, this county, with 
 whom he made his home until he was of age. He, 
 however, began to look out for himself early in 
 life, acquired a good common school education and 
 enjoyed the comforts of an excellent home, being 
 treated by Mr. and Mrs. Harris as though he were 
 their own child. His early years were spent upon 
 the farm, but his inclinations from his youth were 
 toward the law as a profession, which he steadily 
 kept in view until he could put his desires into a 
 substantial form. When a youth of fifteen years 
 he was employed by a company of Scotch coal- 
 miners as a sort of interpreter and salesman, they 
 not speaking English fluently. At the age of sev- 
 enteen he became a traveling salesman for Bnell & 
 McLean, dispensing patent medicines principally 
 in this county. 
 
 During the three years and more that Mr. Jeter 
 was thus employed he accumulated some means 
 and when twenty-one years old embarked in the 
 timber trade along the line of the A'andalia & 
 Midland Railway. While thus employed he met 
 
1054 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 with a severe accident on the railroad by wliich he 
 was badly crippled, both ankles being broken and 
 one arm disabled. This caused an enforced rest 
 and also enabled Mr. Jeter to put bis cherished 
 plans into execution. Coming to Paris, this 
 countj', he employed a private teacher to carry on 
 and supplement his early education, and soon en- 
 tered the office of J. W. Howell, Esq., where he 
 read law for six years. Subsequently he was ex- 
 amined before the Appellate Court at Mount Ver- 
 non, which examination he passed with honor, 
 receiving 100 per cent, in all his studies, and was 
 admitted to the bar in February, 1889. 
 
 Since his residence in Paris Mr. Jeter has taken 
 an active part in politics. He was renred under 
 Democratic influences, Mr. Harris being a member 
 of that party, but on reaching his majority he 
 identified himself with the National Greenbackers, 
 remaining with them until 1870, then resumption 
 having been .accomplished by the Republicans, he 
 considered the mission of the Greenback party 
 ended and since that time has given his undivided 
 support to the Republican Party. In the spring 
 of 1885 lie was nominated by this party for the 
 office of Justice of the Peace, receiving every vote 
 cast in the convention and was elected bj- a major- 
 itj' in advance of the balance of ticket. He served 
 his term of four years acceptably and in 1889 was 
 unanimously re-nominated and elected by a ma- 
 jority of 333. 
 
 The marriage of George M. Jeter and Miss 
 Nettie Sizemore, was celebrated at the bride's 
 home in Sims Township, Nov. 17, 1886. This 
 hidy is the daughter of Martin and Margaret 
 (Priest) Sizemore, the father a well-to-do farmer 
 and a leading citizen of Sims Township, where he 
 settled in the pioneer days and accumulated a large 
 propertJ^ He died in 1872, and his widow now 
 makes her home in Paris. Mr. and Mrs. Jeter are 
 the parents of one child, Cieorge M., Jr., born 
 Nov. 20, 1888. They occupy a neat residence on 
 East Court Street and enjoy the friendship of a 
 large circle of acquaintances. The position which 
 Mr. Jeter has made for himself in social, business 
 and political circles is one of which he has reason 
 to be proud. Reared among the hills with limited 
 advantages he lu.s certainly made gooti use of his 
 
 later opportunities. He is decided in his political 
 views, but never offensive in advancing them, be- 
 lieving in the right of every individual to think 
 and act for himself. He is well known throughout 
 the county and has many friends who will be 
 pleased at his further advancement which may 
 reasonably be expected in the near future. So- 
 ciall}' he belongs to Austin Lodge No. 664, 1.O.O.F. 
 at Paris. 
 
 EV. DA\'1D COAKE, farmer and preacher 
 of the gospel, a resident of Danville Town- 
 ship, was horn in Carter County, Ky , Oct. 
 I 6, 1848. His great-grandfather of the same 
 name, came to America with his family in colonial 
 times, and fought in the war of the Revolution. 
 He settled in Scott County, W. A'a.,and there spent 
 his last years. The grandfather of our subject was 
 three 3-ears old when be came with bis parents to 
 this country. He was reared in Scott County. 
 After ills marriage to Rebecca Flannery, a native 
 of Scott Count}', he removed to Lee County, where 
 he was engaged in farming until his death. His son, 
 Henry J. Coake, father of our subject, was born in 
 that county, Aug. 18, 1818. At twenty years of 
 age, his father being dead, the young man went with 
 his mother to Kentucky. He there married Elenor 
 Rowe, daughter of Edward and Elenor (Littleton) 
 Rowe, of Carter County. Mr. and jSIrs. Coake re- 
 sided in that county until 1863, when they came to 
 Illinois, and purchased the farm that he and hi's 
 son now occupy, which is beautifully located on 
 section 10, Danville Township. 
 
 The subject of this present sketch was in his fif- 
 teenth year when he accompanied his father and 
 mother to this place. He married in 1875 j\Iiss 
 Ann Willira, a native of Lewis County. Ky., 
 daughter of Edward and Clarissa (Duncan) Wil- 
 lim. Of their hajipy wedded life one child has 
 been born. Bertha. David Coake united with the 
 Christian Church when seventeen years of age, and 
 began preaching at thirty-six. He removed to Ivan- 
 sas in 1879, and there being no organized Christian 
 Church ne-.r, he attached himself to the Society of 
 Friends. On bis return to Illinois in 1886, he 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 1055 
 
 fi<iaia uuited with the Church of Christ. Bred to 
 agriculture, a lover of the country and its peaceful 
 pursuits, Mr. Coake, in taking up the clerical pro- 
 fession, did not abandon the plough, and has not 
 ceased sowing seed in material soil since he began 
 the culture of spiritual fields. No doubt in prac- 
 tice the blending of tlio two vocations is a benefit 
 to both. Sharing on the week day the labors of the 
 people, yet not engrossed by them, jwrtaking of 
 their jo3'S and anxieties, yet not bound up in 
 worldly cares, he is better fitted to give counsel to 
 the erring, advice to the inquiring, to leud a help- 
 ing hand to the weak and stumbling, and to speak 
 of heavenly things to those who are bidding fare- 
 well to things of earth. 
 
 -»-'>-^>'<*<Lac/!?i-^- 
 
 SJ^)/OT7r>«v-w«. 
 
 0~ APT. SAMUEL MITCHELL. Gov. Ogles- 
 by said of this sturdy veteran upon pre- 
 ^ . senting him, during the encampment at 
 
 Danville, that he was "a man who had seen more 
 active service in the array than any other in the 
 State of Illinois." He served four years during 
 the late Civil War, and was one year in the 
 i\Icxican War. He looks upon his army re- 
 cord with pardonable pride and for his daring and 
 gallant services, received not onl3' the admiration 
 of his comrades, but the high approval of his su- 
 perior officers. He bears the still further honor of 
 being one of the earliest settlers of Edgar Town- 
 ship, and has the prettiest residence within its 
 limits and which forms the most attractive feature 
 of a well-regulated farm of 220 acres lying on sec- 
 tions 25 and 26, adjacent to the town limits of 
 Horace. 
 
 This branch of the IMitchell family traces its an- 
 cestry to Scotland and was prol)ably represented 
 in America b^' the great grandfather of our sub- 
 ject who settled in New York State where his son 
 Ensign, the grandfather of our subject was born, 
 grew up on a farm and distinguished himself later 
 as a soldier in the Revolutionary War. Subse- 
 quently he emigrated to the vicinity of Darby Plain, 
 in (3hio, where he was a pioneer settler, farmed on 
 1^0 acres of land and officiated as a local exhorter 
 
 of the Methodist Elpiscopal Church. He was a man 
 of great energy and prominent in his community 
 and his name is still remcmbei-ted in and about 
 Mechanicsburg where he died at the advanced age 
 of ninety years. 
 
 P^nsign Milchell. Jr., the father of our subject, 
 was reared to manhood in his native State of New 
 Yoi'k and sei'vcd in the ^Var of 1812. Wliile a 
 young man and unmarried, he removed to Ohio 
 :iiid liecume interested in the salt works in the vi- 
 cinity of Kenawa, and afterwards removed to 
 Georgetown where he accumulated a fine property, 
 l)ecoming the owner of 640 acres of land and was 
 largelj' engaged in pork-packing and shipping pro- 
 duce on flat boats to New Orleans. Unfortunately 
 however, by signing notes for friends he lost the 
 greater part of his property, and in 1820 left the 
 State, setting out for the West overland with a 
 wagon and two j'oke of cattle bringing with him his 
 family and household effects. He located on the 
 State Uoad in E()gar Township, wliere he entered 
 160 acres of land and established a home which he 
 occupied until his death. He was a strong Aboli- 
 tionist and a leading member of the Methodist 
 Episcopal Church, organizing the first societj' in 
 the township and serving for many years as Class- 
 Leader. 
 
 Mrs. Elizabeth (Calvin) Mitchell, the mother of 
 our subject, was born in Brown County, Ohio, and 
 was the daughter of Hiram Calvin, who was of 
 P^rench descent and carried on farming successfully 
 in that county. The mother of our subject died in 
 1846 when a young woman. The parental family 
 included nine children, of whom Calvin, Joseph, 
 Chandler and Elizabeth are deceased. The surviv- 
 ors are Lucy, Mrs. Ralston, of Bloomheld, 111.; 
 Nancy, a resident of Rapid City. Dak.; Polly, of 
 Newman, and John, a resident of Washington; 
 Samuel, our subject, was next to the youngest 
 born. John during the late war enlisted in 1862 
 in the 79th Illinois infantry and was captured by 
 the rebels at the battle of Chiclvamauga, Sept. 19, 
 1863. He suffered imprisonment at Libby and 
 Andersonville, and in the latter prison was the 
 leader in digging a tunnel for the escape of himself 
 and comrades. When it was completed he was so 
 weak that he was unable to travel and was obliged 
 
1056 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 to retrace bis steps ; later he became very ill and 
 remained in prison until the close of the war. He 
 had been given the commission of First Lieutenant 
 with which ranli he was mustered out. The suffer- 
 ings and privations which he endured affected his 
 health to sucli a degree that he has never fully re- 
 covered. 
 
 The subject of this sketch was born in George- 
 town, Brown Co., Ohio, IVIarch 4, 1827, and was a 
 child three years of age when he was brought by 
 liis parent to Illinois. He grew up on the frontier 
 in the vicinity of Bloomfield and wore moccasins 
 to the log school-house where he obtained his early 
 education. In 1840, when a youth of nineteen 
 years, he enlisted, June 6, as a Soldier in the 
 Mexican War in Companj^ H, 4th Illinois Infantry. 
 He was mustered into the service at Springfield 
 and went with his comrades to Jefferson Barricks, 
 Mo., where they drilled two weelis. They then re- 
 ceived marching orders and joined the command 
 of Gen. Zachary Taylor, after which for six months 
 thej' saw considerable sldrmishing and some fight- 
 ing, and later were assigned to the command of 
 Gen. Win field Scott who led them in the battle 
 of Vera Cruz and Ccrre Gordo. Our subject an- 
 ticipated entering the City of Mexico with his 
 regiment but before this could be accomplished his 
 term of enlistment expired at Pueblo, and he re- 
 ceived his honorable discharge. He was mustered 
 out at New Orleans in June, 1847, bearing the dis- 
 tinction of being the youngest man in his company. 
 During his service he was severely injured in the 
 leg, being run over by a company of cavalry, the 
 horses of which tramped upon him before he could 
 make his escape. 
 
 Upon his return home Capt. Mitchell remained 
 with his father until reaching his majority. In 1850 
 he traveled overland to Wisconsin with horses and 
 after making his sales in Milwaukee, proceeded to 
 the vicinity of Baraboo and exchanged his land 
 warrant for 160 acres which he subsequently traded 
 for forty acres of land in Edgar County, 111. He 
 returned to the latter place a few days later and 
 taking possession of his property commenced farm- 
 ing and making imp''0vements, and purchased 
 forty acres additional. He operated upon this until 
 1861, and then the outbreak of the Civil War con- 
 
 strained him to lay aside his personal plans and in- 
 terests and in June, of that year, he organized 
 Company A, of which he was made Second Lieu- 
 tenant and which was assigned to the 25th Illinois 
 Infantrj'. The company proceeded to St. Louis 
 where they were mustered into the service and 
 thence were ordered to Jefferson City. They had 
 an unimportant skirmish with the enemy at Spring- 
 field and participated in the battle of Pea Ridge. 
 Lieut. Mitchell later was tendered a Captain's com- 
 mission on account of his meritorious service at 
 this battle. Prior to this he had been sent out to 
 reconnoitre and discover the enemy's position 
 which lie carefullj^ noted and reported at head- 
 quarters and which resulted in the Union troops 
 winning the fight the next day. 
 
 Later followed the battle of Corinth, Miss., and 
 Champion Hills, in which our subject was staff of- 
 ficer and where his horse was wounded. By hold- 
 ing up the head of the animal he managed to o-q 
 some distance. Later, in the battle of Stone River 
 thirteen men of his company were killed and 
 wounded. Next he fought in the battle of Chick- 
 amauga, one of the most desperate engagements of 
 the war, and which occurred Sept. 19 and 20, 1863. 
 On the 18th of the month he made six charges and 
 was beaten back eacli time. On the 19th he started 
 out with eighteen or twenty men only, having lost 
 the others the day before. Capt. Mitchell was 
 wounded in the breast and shoulder by a falling 
 missile and in this way lost all but three of his men. 
 He fought his way through the thickest of the 
 fight, but on the skirmish line was knocked on the 
 head with a gun and fell unable to go further. He 
 was taken with bleeding at the lungs, and at Chat- 
 tanooga was sheltered in a private house where he 
 remained about two weeks. He then joined his 
 regiment in time to participate in the battle of 
 Missionary Ridge when his left arm was tied up, 
 and against the order of Gen. Wood he led his men 
 and made a charge up the Ridge within thirty feet 
 of the rebel breastworks. The concussion of a 
 rebel gun, fired almost in his face, produced deaf- 
 ness of the left ear, from which he has not re- 
 covered. 
 
 Capt. Mitchell besides the battles mentioned, 
 fought at Noonday Creek (July 18, 1864), Pine 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 1057 
 
 Top and Kenesaw Mountains, Chattaboocbio, 
 Beacli Tree Creek and Atlanta. At Champion 
 Hills be was taken prisoner by the rebels but by 
 strategy effected his escape. 
 
 At the expiration of i\is term of enlistment he 
 was mustered out at Springfield, in September, 1864. 
 He returned home, intending to remain, but the 
 following spring he organized Company B, which 
 was assigned to the 154th Illinois Infantry and of 
 which against his inclination he was made Ca|)tain. 
 He was finally mustered out at Louisvilie, Ky., in 
 November, 1865 with the rank of Captain. During 
 his army service he participated in twenty-seven 
 battles and about 150 skirmishes during both wars. 
 
 Retiring to civil life a second time, our subject 
 resumed operations on his farm and gave consider- 
 able attention to stock-raising. He was unable to 
 do manual labor himself and he was obliged to pay 
 out considerable for hired help, but notwithstand- 
 ing this he was prosperous and purchased addi- 
 tional land until he is now the owner of 250 acres. 
 He made all the improvements upon it and resided 
 there till 1882, and removed to his present resi- 
 dence. He gave to the Chicago, Vinecnnes & 
 Cairo Railroad Company the right of way besides 
 $200. His farm is mostly carried on by bis son 
 and is devoted largely to stock-raising and feeding 
 cattle and swine. Capt. Mitchell is also largely 
 interested in draft horses and roadsters, of which 
 he has about twelve head. His cattle are full- 
 blooded Short-horns and his swine Poland- China 
 and Berkshire. 
 
 The marriage of Capt. Mitchell and Miss Martha 
 M. Long occurred at the bride's home in Edgar 
 Township in 1852. Mrs. Mitchell was the daugh- 
 ter of A. F. Long, a sketch of whom will be found 
 elsewhere in this volume. She died about 1858. 
 The Captain in 1865 contracted a second matri- 
 monial alliance with Miss Harriet J. daughter of 
 David Calvin and a native of Edgar Township. 
 Mr. Calvin was one of the largest farmers in this 
 region. Mrs. Mitchell obtained a good education 
 and taught in the graded schools of Paris prior to 
 her marriage. There was born of this union a son, 
 Herman, who is now going to school in Tennessee. 
 
 Capt. Mitchell, politically, is a sound Republican 
 and has been prominent in local affairs, serving on 
 
 the Central Committe and as a delegate to the 
 county conventions. He has officiated as Collector, 
 Assessor and School Director and socially belongs 
 to the Masonic Lodge at Paris and the G. A. R. 
 Mrs. Miteboll, an accomplished, refined and intel- 
 ligent lady, is liighly spoken of in her community, 
 I and is a prominent member of the Baptist Church 
 at Iloi-ace. 
 
 -^■^~ 
 
 11 
 
 ^ SRAEL N. ARCHBOLD, is one of the most 
 prosperous farmers of Edgar County. His 
 father, the Hon. Edward Archbold, was born 
 in Wasliington, D. C, 1805, and studied law under 
 Gen. Jackson of Clarksburg, Ya. When he was 
 about twenty-three years of age he was admitted to 
 the bar, after which he commenced a lucrative 
 practice in Woodsfleld, Ohio, until 1868. He served 
 two terms in the Ohio Senate and was a prominent 
 member of the convention that framed the present 
 State Constitution of Ohio in 1850. He was 
 originally a Democrat until the formation of the 
 Republican party in 1855, when he united his 
 fortunes with the new organization. In 1868 he 
 removed to Paris, 111., where he resided for one 
 year, and in 1869 he located in Nebraska City, 
 Neb., and engaged in the practice of his profession 
 until his death in 1873. He was considered one of 
 the most eminent men of his profession and sus- 
 tained a good reputation as a man. 
 
 The grandfather of the subject of this sketch 
 was James A. Archbold. He was born near Dublin, 
 Ireland, and traced his ancestry to England. He 
 came to America and located at Washington and 
 was employed as a clerk in one of the departments, 
 under the administration of John Adams. Later 
 he removed to West Virginia, where he engaged in 
 farming and died there in 1818. His wife was 
 named Canadj', whose people were prominent in 
 the Revolution, and of Irish descent. The mother 
 of Israel N. was Rachael Nicklin, who was born in 
 Loudoun County, ~\'a., and the daughter of John 
 Nicklin, a native of Philadelphia, and a prominent 
 physician in Eastern Virginia, who later removed 
 to Tyler County, W. Va., where he practiced his 
 
1058 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 profession until bis death in 1839. Mrs. ArcLibold 
 removed to Oregon in 1874 and remained there 
 until lier death, which occurred at Hillsboro, on 
 June 2, 188G, when she was eighty-four )'ears of 
 age. She was a member of the Methodist Episco- 
 pal Church and was the mother of five children, 
 whose records are given: Alston C, lives in Ore- 
 gon and was a Probate Judge there; John was 
 a captain in the 25th Ohio, in which he enlisted in 
 1861 as a lieutenant and was killed at the battle of 
 Hone3' Hill, S. C, in the spring of 18C5. Eliza- 
 beth married Capt. Jones, but died after her mar- 
 riage in 1862. Mar}- resides in Hillsboro; Alston 
 C. was lieutenant in the 25th Ohio Infantry. Ho 
 enlisted in 1861 and resigned the following year, 
 when he went to Boise mines and from there to 
 Oregon. 
 
 Is'-ael N. Archbold was born in Woodsfleld, 
 Monroe County, Ohio, on July 6, 1833, where he 
 received good educational advantages, finishing his 
 education at the Barnesville Institute at the age of 
 eighteen years. He then engaged in teaching in 
 Monroe County, commenced, but abandoned the 
 study of law. In 1860 he came to Illinois and ac- 
 cepted the position of principal of the schools at 
 Ridge Farm, a position he filled during the winter 
 term of 1860. He located on his present farm im- 
 mediately succeeding his engagement in the school. 
 In Oct. 1864 he entered the 18th Illinois Infantrj^ 
 and was mustered in at Danville, whence he was 
 sent to Little Rock, Ark., and there assigned to 
 duty. Here he was discharged on account of dis- 
 ability, and several 3'ears after his discharge, he 
 suffered from the effects of his army life. 
 
 It will be remembered that during the campaign 
 of 1888, a ball was built for use in the Harrison 
 campaign. The famous Harrison & Morton ball 
 was constructed at Ridge Farm by Mr. Archbold 
 at the cost of some $400, he bearing most of the 
 expense. This ball was started rolling for Indian- 
 apolis on Sept. 27 and created a great deal of en- 
 thusiasm, in the county through, which it passed. 
 It is made of wood and weighs 3,500 pounds, per- 
 fectly round and i)ainted red, white and blue, with a 
 view of the old log cabin, which cut such a figure in 
 the old Harrison C'ani[)a,iun. The ball is sixteen feet 
 in diameter and is supported from the ground by 
 
 means of flanges nineteen feet high. An iron 
 gudgeon extends from each side of the ball and re- 
 volves within the iron rings of the shafts, which 
 project forward to a wagon as the motive power. 
 The ball is constructed of half-inch poplar lumber 
 and is so built that it can be opened and explored 
 by the curious. It is now at Brazil, Ind., and it is 
 expected that it will be eventually taken to In- 
 dianapolis. 
 
 In 1840, when Mr. Archbold was a boy of seven 
 years, he saw a ball that was built by the admirers 
 of William Henry Harrison. This was about six 
 feet in diameter over all, and the lad then thought 
 that it was too small and vowed, that if another 
 Harrison ever ran for president he would build a 
 larger one. Circumstances threw it in his way to 
 do so and, immediately upon the nomination of 
 Benjamin Harrison, he began working at his hobby 
 with the result above stated. It was a great scheme 
 and reflects credit upon the projector. It is un- 
 necessary to state that Mr. Archbold is a strong 
 Republican. He is a member of the A. F. & A. M., 
 No. 632, and is a man universally respected for his 
 sterling qualities as a citizen. 
 
 -^ : -^^ ^^ 
 
 "iflOHN TENBROOK, M. D., was a leading 
 phj'sician and surgeon in Paris, 111., where 
 he was actively engaged in practice for over 
 (^^ forty-five years. His paternal ancestors 
 were of Holland extraction, the name being spelled 
 original " Tenbroecke." They settled first in New 
 Amsterdam, as New York was then called, and 
 from there the family subsequently spread over the 
 Eastern States, principally in New York, along the 
 Hudson River, in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. 
 Andrew Tenbrook, the father of John, was a farmer 
 in Northumberland County, Pa., spending his en- 
 tire life there. The mother's maiden name was 
 Eleanor Curry, a native of Scotland, who also died 
 in Northumberland County. The family of which 
 she was a member settled in Greene County, Ohio, 
 where they are quite numerous. 
 
 The subject of this memoir was born on his fath- 
 er's farm, a few miles from Milton, Northumber- 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 1059 
 
 land Co., Pa., on Dec. 21, 1808, at a place known 
 as Warrior's Run Meeting House. lie received bis 
 academic education at Milton, and was graduated 
 afterward at La Faj'ette College, Easton, Pa., wliicb 
 he attended from 1832 to 1836. While there he was 
 the first president of the La Fayette Temperance 
 Society as early as 1832, the year in which he en- 
 tered. On leaving college he began the studj^ of 
 medicine under Dr. McDougal at Milton, Pa., was 
 afterward graduated and received bis diploma from 
 Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, in 1838. 
 Later he received the honorary degree of M. D. 
 from Rush Medical College, Chicago. In March, 
 1840, became to Paris, 111., and here established a 
 practice which, as the years went by, increased 
 greatly, and he became one of the most widely 
 known and respected physicians in this part of the 
 county, as well on account of his high personal 
 character as his ability as a physician. He loved 
 his profession, and was always a student, keeping 
 abreast of the modern developments in the science 
 of medicine. He was elected to the Illinois Legis- 
 lature in 1862 without any effort on his part to se- 
 cure either the nomination or the election. In fact, 
 it was rather against his wish that his name was men- 
 tioned in connection therewith, as he was in no way 
 a politician. When the battle of Sbiloh was 
 fought. Gov. Yates telegraphed for volunteer phy- 
 sicians, and Dr. Tenbrock was among the first of 
 those who went. Most of them soon returned to 
 their homes and their practice, but our subject re- 
 mained six weeks, attending to the sick and 
 wounded in the hospitals at Savannah, never re- 
 ceiving a penny for his services, and not even hav- 
 ing his railroad fare paid. 
 
 Dr. Tenbrook was a man of deep and strong re- 
 ligious feeling, was a lifelong member of the Pres- 
 byterian Church, and for many 3'ears a Trustee of 
 that church in Paris. While firm in his own be- 
 lief, he was tolerant of that of others, believing in 
 the fullest liberty and never controverting the sin- 
 cere opinions of those who differed with him. He 
 was always a warm advocate of the cause of tem- 
 perance reform, to wliich he gave his earnest efforts 
 from his earliest manhood. His life was one filled 
 with good works, and he died as he had lived, a 
 Christian in the highest sense of the word. He 
 
 passed from earth, after much suffering, in the sure 
 and certain hope of immortality, Aug, 8, 1885, at 
 the age of seventy-six years. His ailment was 
 brain disease resulting, probably, from a fall from 
 his carriage sometime previoush'. 
 
 On the 23d of April, 1840, Di, Tenbrook was 
 united in marriage with Miss Jane C, daughter of 
 Gen. Milton K. and Mary (Shields) Alexander, of 
 whom a sketch is given elsewhere in this volume. 
 Mrs. Tenbrook was born in Giles County, Tenn., 
 Dec. 12, 1820. This union resulted in the birth 
 of six children, two only of whom are living, 
 namely: Nellie, the wife of Stephen Bird, a rail- 
 road man living in Paris, and DoUie T., the Avife 
 of O. S. Jones, a real estate dealer in the same 
 place. John, the eldest in the family, died in 1844, 
 when three years old. Nettie died unmarried in 
 1870, aged twenty years. Zacliary died in I860 at 
 the age of thirteen years. Elizabeth, the youngest, 
 died in 1854, when two years old. 
 
 An interesting incident in connection with the 
 history of Mrs. Tenbrook is that the substantial 
 and commodious brick house in which she lives and 
 where she has passed many years, is the oldest 
 dwelling in the city of Paris, and in a state of ad- 
 mirable repair. In that house she first met her 
 husband and was there married to him. It was the 
 home of her parents, and she had lived there up to 
 the time of her marriage. For several years prior 
 to the death of the Doctor, it was the home of him- 
 self and his family. Mrs. Tenbrook is likewise a 
 member of the Presbyterian Church, and her name 
 is associated with many good works. 
 
 ^TnVENJAMIN McKEE is a son of Benjamin F., 
 Jl^Vi ^"^ grandson of John and Rachel McKee 
 ^M)])'/ both natives of Kentucky the former born 
 ^^ April 7, 1819, the latter in 1794. Grand- 
 father McKee was a farmer and like a true yeoman 
 shouldered his musket and marched to the front 
 in the War of 1812, answering British gun pow- 
 der with his trusty rifle until surrounded by the 
 Indians when he was taken prisoner and confined 
 on ship board on Lake Erie. He ran th« Indian 
 
1060 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 gauntlet and gained his liberty. On securing his 
 liberty he returned to the farm, which he after- 
 ward partially abandoned, preferring the more lu- 
 crative occupation of flat-boating on the Ohio and 
 Mississippi rivers. In 1829 he came to Illinois, 
 locating in Edgar Township. The journey was 
 made in the usual style of the time, wagons and 
 horses conveying the family and household goods 
 across the country to their new home on the bound- 
 less prairie. Bringing 1700 with him he was com- 
 paratively well off, and being industrious he ac- 
 cumulated a snug fortune before his death which 
 occurred in 1877. Besides his other work he 
 taught school for some time and filled the position 
 of Surveyor for the district, surveying not only 
 the land^he entered or purchased for himself, but 
 also that of his neighbors. Before his death, of 
 which mention is made above, he secured tlio un- 
 disputed title to over 2000 acres in Edgar and Ross 
 townships, leaving a fine inheritance to his family. 
 
 The great grandfather of our subject was Samuel 
 McKee, a native of Yirghiia and a hero of the 
 Revolutionary war, fighting under Washington 
 and being present at the surrender of Cornwallis 
 at Yorktown. On the close of the war he removed 
 to Kentucky, then in possession of the Indians and 
 assisted his fellow pioneers in their man^' cam- 
 paigns against the savages, and it is said that he 
 killed one Indian certain. Tlie McKces are of 
 Irish descent and come of good fighting stock, some 
 of their ancestors having been in the siege of Sou- 
 dan. 
 
 Benjamin F. McKee spent his youth in Edgar 
 Township and on his maturity engaged in farming, 
 assisting in the management of his father's place. 
 He was a consistent member of the Baptist Church 
 until his death, which occurred Sept. 5, 1842, 
 being only twenty-three years old. The mother 
 of our subject, Dorothy Hoult was a native of jMar- 
 ion County, Va., where she was born in 1822, being 
 the daughter of Elisha Hoult, who was also a na- 
 tive of Virginia, and followed farming there until 
 1832, when he came to Illinois. Leaving A'irginia 
 in the spring of that year he brought his family by 
 boat to Clinton Ind., finally locating in Edgar 
 County, on the state road. He bought a squatter's 
 right in Edgar County, entered land and engaged 
 
 in farming; being fond of good living and his cir- 
 cumstances, owing to his successful industry, per- 
 miting him to enjoy it, bis home became a synonym 
 of hospitality and good cheer. He was a member 
 of tlie Episcopal Church and an active Democrat, 
 taking a prominent part in all the public meetings, 
 his party services being rewarded with the office of 
 County Commissioner, whicli he held one year. 
 His death occurred Sept. 3, 1851. 
 
 The mother of Benjamin McKee entered the 
 marriage relation the second time with Thomas 
 Wynu one of the early settlers of the county. 
 They passed their life on a farm in Edgar Town- 
 ship where Mrs. Wynn died in July 26, 1875. 
 Throughout her life of useful activit}^ she found a 
 religious home within the fold of the Methodist 
 Episcopal Church. During her first marriage she 
 became the mother of one child — Benjamin McKee. 
 Her second union resulted in the birth of three 
 children — Jonathan, now in Texas; Newton and 
 Elisha, also in Texas. 
 
 Our subject was born in Edgar Township, and 
 after the death of his father was taken into 
 the family of his grandfather Hoult, where he re- 
 mained until nine years of age. While there he 
 attended the common school of the district and 
 also, during vacation, a subscription school. Wlien 
 he had reached the above named age he was re- 
 moved to his grandfather McKee's home, where he 
 remained until of legal age, earning a good name 
 for obedience and industr}-. While a youth he en- 
 gaged in some of the many hunting parties of the 
 neighborhood. In September 1864 he was drafted in- 
 to the United States service, entering the 59th Illi- 
 nois Infantry, being assigned to Company E. His 
 regiment was mustered into service at Danville, 111. 
 He joined his regiment at Athens, Ala. They 
 were placed in Scofield's division, and ordered back 
 to Nashville. Meeting the confederates at Frank- 
 lin, they engaged in a fierce struggle but suc- 
 ceeded in forcing their wa^' through the enemies 
 line3 and reached Thomas at Nashville. Shortly 
 after when Hood invested Nashville, he was in 
 the ranks of those who sallied out and drove him 
 across the Tennessee River. Our subject was 
 with the wing of the army that pushed on to 
 HuntsviUe, Ala., with his regiment and in the cam- 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 1061 
 
 paign following reached East Tennessee and North 
 Carolina. While they were in Tennessee, Rich- 
 mond fell before Grant's army and they were 
 shortly afterward sent back to Nashville, where 
 they were mustered out and honorably discharged, 
 June, 14, 186,5. On receiving his discharge he 
 immediately left for home, and commenced work 
 on his grandfather's farm. In 1881 the estate was 
 divided and he took possession of 300 acres, being 
 his share. The land was fenced but otherwise un- 
 improved. He has put up a dwelling 20x28 feet 
 and all the other necessarj^ buildings. Although 
 engaged somewhat in general farming he pays 
 most attention to grass and stock. He has cattle 
 and cows and raises horses for the market, having 
 at present seven head, including three teams. In 
 addition to his farm he owns three lots in the town 
 of Clirisman, 111. Since he has resided on his 
 place he has set out a fine orchard from which he 
 is now reaping the benefit having plenty of fruit 
 for his family and the market. 
 
 On the nth day of July, 1867 in Edgar County, 
 Mr. McKee led Miss Theresa Moore to the mar- 
 riage altar, the fruit of which union is one ciiild — 
 Miss Mary E. Mrs. McKee is a native of Edgar 
 County, and was born July, 11, 1844. Their 
 daughter is an affectionate and cultured young 
 lady, a graduate of their home school, from which 
 she has received a diploma of honor. 
 
 Mr. McKee has served his district as School Di- 
 rector for two years and Supervisor of Roads for 
 one term. Politically he adheres to the Republican 
 party. 
 
 - <X'X> - 
 
 o<5o" 
 
 ^ILLIAM M. LAUHER, senior member of 
 the firm of W. M. Lauher & Co., is with 
 his partners transacting an extensive busi- 
 ness in agricultural implements, farm machinery, 
 buggies, wagons, etc., at Kansas, and is numbered 
 among the leading men of the place. Intelligent, 
 benevolent and upright in his dealings, he has been 
 no unimportant factor in upholding the standard of 
 morality and encouraging the enterprises calculated 
 for the best good of the people. He has had a 
 large experience in life, and has labored incessantly 
 
 with hands and brain and to good purpose. ' He 
 profited from the experience of his early life which 
 was marked by rather limited advantages, and 
 filled in with habits of industry and econom}', 
 whicii have proved to him excellent capital in his 
 later years. 
 
 Our subject was born in Clark County, this 
 State, Aug. 19, 1834, and is tlie son of Frederick 
 Lauher, a native of Berne, Switzerland. The lat- 
 ter emigrated to America when a young man, set- 
 tling in the vicinity of Bellaire. Ohio, where in 
 due time he was married to Miss Anna Kellar. 
 This lady was a native of his own country, and first 
 opened her eyes to the light near the foot of the 
 Alps. Soon after their marriage the parents of our 
 subject came, in 1 830, to Illinois, locating in Clark 
 County, and the father afterward served as a sol- 
 dier in tlie Black Hawk War. The household circle 
 was completed by the birth of ten children, viz: 
 Margaret and Jacob, now deceased; Elizabeth, 
 Mrs. Roberts; William M., our subject; John F. ; 
 Evan S., Mary J., (Mrs. Coons), James K., Nancy 
 M., (Mrs. Allen) and Benjamin F. 
 
 The Lauher (the name was originally spelled 
 Locher) family changed their residence from 
 Clark to Edgar County, 111., in 1836, and on the 
 19th of August, 1849, William M. commenced his 
 apprenticeship at the blacksmith trade, at which he 
 served five years in Sims Township, five miles 
 south of Paris, working at 13.50 per month, serv- 
 ing five years with James S. O'Hair. Later he 
 operated as a journeyman about two years, then 
 took charge of the shop in which he had learned 
 the trade, and which he conducted until Oct. 6, 
 1859. That day found him in Kansas, in which 
 town he ran a shop until 1884. Then wisely resol- 
 ving to retire from the arduous labors involved 
 therein, invested a portion of his capital in the 
 business in which we now find him engaged, and 
 in which he became interested in 1880. 
 
 In addition to the merchandise mentioned at the 
 beginning of this sketch, Mr. Lauher also sells the 
 Abbott buggy, of Chicago, and the Studebaker 
 wagons and other road vehicles, as well as those 
 produced from other leading manufacturers. They 
 do an annual business of from $10,000 to $12,000 
 and by their promptness in meeting their obliga- 
 
loc-i 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRArillCAL ALBUM. 
 
 tioiis and also in attending to their customers, have 
 established themselves at the head of the trade. 
 Mr. Lauher owns and occupies a home in the soutli- 
 eastern part of the city. He was married Jan. 6, 
 18r)9, to Miss Martha A., daughter of Capt. Rob- 
 ert GrilBa, who obtained his title during his gallant 
 service in the Black Hawk War. Of this union 
 there were born no children. Mrs. Martha (Grif- 
 fin) Lauher remained the companion of her hus- 
 band for a period of twenty-four years, departing 
 this life June 6, 1883. Mr. Lauher contracted a 
 second marriage April 6, 1884, with Miss Caroline 
 Shuman, daughter of Charles G. Shuman, who set- 
 tled in 1857 m Dudley, Edgar Co , 111., where his 
 decease took place. Of this latter marriage there 
 have been born three children, only two of whom 
 are living — Maude, boi-n April 18, 1887, and Mary, 
 July 4, 1889. The boy, Roscoe, died when six 
 months old. He lias an adopted son, Edward W. 
 Lauher, who is a traveling salesman of the house of 
 (^uinn & Gray, Little Rock, Ark. 
 
 Mr. Lauher, politically, is a firm adherent of the 
 Democratic party, but has never evinced any de- 
 sire for office. He is a warm admirer of the prin- 
 ciples of Masonry, in which he has attained to the 
 R. A. degree, and he also belongs to the I. O. (.). F. 
 In his religious views he harmonizes with the doc- 
 trines of the Christian Church, of which lie is a 
 member, receiving baptism by the well-known and 
 talented divine, Prof. Black, an Evangelist of great 
 talent and power, and who has made for himself a 
 wide reputation in Chicago. Mrs. Lauher is also 
 identified with the same church. 
 
 ^l/AMES H. MoCULLOCH. There Ls upon 
 the face of the globe a no more pleasant 
 sight to the eye, than a j'oung man starting 
 out in life with worthy ambitions to do 
 something and be somebody in the world of men. 
 He who has the proper conception of that which is 
 worthy and honorable, is never ashamed to labor 
 with his hands or to perform the duties assigned 
 him, with patience and courage. These thoughts 
 
 involuntarily occur in contemplating the surround- 
 ings of Mr. McCulIoch, one of the enterprising 
 young farmers of Shiloh Townsliip who owns eighty 
 acres of land on section 11, and operates in addi- 
 tion 3G0 acres adjoining and belonging to his 
 father. Having been bred to farm pursuits from 
 boyhood he has had ample experience, and being 
 wide awake and enterprising there seems nothing 
 in the way of his complete success. He has a pleas- 
 ant liome, his domestic affairs being presided over 
 by a very accomplished lady, who is capable, well- 
 educated and possesses refined and cultivated 
 tastes. 
 
 Our subject is tlie offspring of a good family, 
 being the son of John Y. McCulloch, who was born 
 in Hunter Township, Edgar Co., 111., and grew up 
 amid tlie wild scenes of pioneer life during its 
 early settlement. The paternal grandfather, Otis 
 McCulloch, was a native of Massachusetts and one 
 of the very first men to enter land in the Sucker 
 State. He there became owner of a large farm, 
 aggregating probably 400 acres, and established 
 the first store at Baldwinsville. He conducted 
 this a few years, but died at his homestead when 
 quite aged. 
 
 The father of our subject was reared in Edgar 
 County, 111., cliose farming for his vocation, in 
 which he engaged on his own account as soon hs 
 rcacliiiig man's estate, and likewise operated as a 
 dealer in live-stock, buying cattle in large numbers 
 and driving them through to Chicago and the East, 
 even as far as Massachusetts. This industry proved 
 quite profitalile and he invested his capital in land, 
 finally becoming the owner of 400 acres in Hunter 
 Township and 360 acres in Shiloh. He brought the 
 whole to a good state of cultivation, and established 
 his homestead in Hunter Township, where he still 
 lives. He is still vigorous and active, and super- 
 intends his farming operations. He keeps himself 
 well posted upon current events, and votes the 
 Republican ticket. 
 
 Mrs. Olive (Plumb) McCulloch, the mother of 
 our subject, was born in Jacksonville, \t., and was 
 the daughter of Saxton Plumb. The latter was a 
 native of Stonington, Conn., but removed with his 
 father, James Saxton, when a boy, to Vermont, 
 where he later operated as a cloth manufacturer 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 10G3 
 
 and became well-to-do. .lames Plumb was a sea- 
 faring man, and the son of Capt. Samuel Plumb, a 
 native of Connecticut, who also followed the sea 
 and worked his way from before the mast until 
 becoming Captain and finally owner of a vessel, 
 and traded between the United States and the West 
 Indies. 
 
 The grandfather of our subject became a pros- 
 perous merchant, and was a prominent man in his 
 county, largely concerned in its growth and de- 
 velopment. He laid out the town of Jacksonville, 
 \'t., giving to it its name after the ex-President, 
 Andrew Jackson, and was the first man to be ap- 
 pointed Postmaster, which office be held until re- 
 signing it. Later in life be removed to North 
 Adams, Mass., where he resumed his old business 
 as a cloth manufacturer, but remained there, how- 
 ever, onl3' a few years. Finally- be returned to Jack- 
 sonville, and continued the manufacture of cloth 
 until 1854. That year he set out for the \\'est, 
 •and halting in the young town of Chicago, sojourned 
 there with his family until 1856. During the 
 latter year he came to Edgar County, 111., and 
 spent his last days with bis son, Jobn Y., in Hunter 
 Township. 
 
 (Grandmother Harriet (Roberts) Plumb was born 
 in Whitingham, ^'t., and was the daughter of Hon. 
 John Roberts, a native of Greenfield, Mass., who 
 removed to Vermont with his fath.er when a boy. 
 His advantages for a education were extremely 
 limited, but by his own exertions he learned to 
 read and write on birch bark, and after mastering 
 the common branches took up the study of law, 
 and became one of the most prominent attorneys 
 liis count}'. He was successful as a money-getter, 
 and invested a large portion of his capital in land. 
 He was elected to theolflce of Sheriff in AVindhara 
 County, in which he served a year, and later was 
 Judge of the count}- court three successive terms. 
 Finally, he was elected to the State Legislature, in 
 which he served six terms. In 1862 he was made 
 the nominee of his party for Governor. 
 
 Hon. James Roberts, maternal great-grand- 
 father of our subject, was born in Greenfield, 
 iMa.ss., and was one of the earliest settlers of Wind- 
 ham County, Vt., being one of the three men to 
 enter the wilderness and redeem a portion of its 
 
 soil. He likewise became an extensive landowner, 
 and laid out Whiting Township in Windham 
 County. The Roberts family was of Welsh des- 
 cent, and all through were distinguished for those 
 traits of character which invariably made of them 
 substantial and reliable citizens. 
 
 The mother of our subject was reared to woman- 
 hood in the Green [Mountain State, whence she re- 
 moved to Chicago, 111., and there remained until 
 her marriage. The parental family consisted of 
 eight children, viz.: Otis, deceased; Mar}', a resi- 
 dent of LaMoure, Dak.; Hattie, deceased, James 
 H., our subject; George B., Esther, John P., and 
 Julia, tiie latter four all at home with their par- 
 ents in Hunter Township. At the old homestead 
 there James II. was born, Feb. 20, 1862, and there 
 he spent his boyhood and youth on the farm, at- 
 tending the common school until sixteen years of 
 age. He then entered the State Normal School, 
 where he pursued his studies for three years, and 
 later followed them in the Gem City Business Col- 
 lege at Quiucy, from which he was graduated in 
 the spring of 1887. He then returned to his 
 father's farm, and soon afterward began operating 
 the land which he now owns, but did not move to 
 it permanently until 1885. He bas made all the 
 improvements observable upon it, having a neat 
 dwelling, sheds, pens, and machinery, with neat 
 fences and the other appliances of the well-regu- 
 lated homestead. He makes a specialty of live- 
 stock, which yields him good returns. In the fall 
 of 1888 he purchased eighty acres adjoining on 
 section 11, which in itself was an improved farm 
 with a residence, grove and orchard. In cattle 
 Mr. McCulloch favors high-grade Short-horns, 
 while all bis stock is of good quality and well 
 cared for. 
 
 The 27th of October, 1 886, witnessed the mar- 
 riage of our subject in Paris Township with Miss 
 Gertrude Kimble. Mrs. McCulloch was born in 
 that township, and is the daughter of George W. 
 and Sarah (Hannah) Kimble, who are numbered 
 among the leading citizens of that locality. Mrs. 
 McCulloch was carefully trained and completed 
 her education at St. Mary's, Ind., and like her hus- 
 band is a favorite in the social f.ircles of their 
 neighborhood. A sketch of the Kimble family 
 
1064 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 will be found on another page in this volume. 
 Mr. McCuUoch, although not mingling very much 
 with political affairs, has his own decided views, 
 and uniformly supports the principles of the Demo- 
 cratic party. 
 
 *-# 
 
 -*t- 
 
 I^^ICHARD STOKES. The man who forms 
 \i^ his opinions and abides by them conscieu- 
 / 4!> 'A, tiously cannot fail to command respect, 
 \^ even though the majority of men may 
 differ from him. One of the leading character- 
 istics of Mr. Stokes is his Democracy, "dyed 
 in the wool," and which it would take a mira- 
 cle to eradicate; another is his firm belief in 
 the doctrines of the Close Communion Baptist 
 Church with which he has been connected since 
 his youth. An honest, hardworking, upright and 
 intelligent citizen, he has enunciated his principles 
 by his example and has no use for the drones in 
 the world's great hive, but nevertheless no man 
 l»osesses kindlier impulses or gives a more hearty- 
 aid to those who will try to help themselves. 
 
 On section 11 in Embarras Township may be 
 seen the homestead of Mr. Stokes, which comprise* 
 188 acres of land with good improvements and 
 twenty acres elsewhere which make all told 208 acres. 
 At the age of nearly fifty-nine years, having been 
 born Sept. 15, 1830, Mr. Stokes is still able to 
 superintend his farming operations with his old 
 time thoroughness and energy. He is a native of 
 North Carolina and the son of John Stokes who 
 was born in Virginia, but who was brought by his 
 parents to Illinois when a small boy and is now a 
 resident of Oakland 111. The latter had a full ex- 
 perience with tlie difficulties of life on the frontier, 
 to which he came when the present flourishing city 
 of Paris was designated simply by a few log huts, 
 near which he settled. 
 
 The Stokes family finally changed their residence 
 to Embarras Township where they sojourned a few 
 j'ears near the present site of Isabel. Since that 
 time Richard has been a resident of this township. 
 The maiden name of his mother was Lutitia Allen 
 and the parental family included ten children, six 
 
 of whom are living, viz: Richard, John W., Su- 
 san, Ellen, James and Alma. One daughter. Mar}' 
 A., died in the bloom of womanhood, and a son, 
 Levi died when a promising young man of over 
 twenty years. The survivors besides our subje('t 
 are residents of Illinois. 
 
 The education of Mr. Stokes was conducted in a 
 log cabin under the primitive methods of instruc- 
 tion peculiar to that day. The floor of the temple 
 of learning was made of split logs with the flat 
 sides turned up, the roof covered with clapboards 
 held in their place by weight poles, a huge fire- 
 place occupied nearly one end of the room and the 
 chimney was built outside of sticks and clay. The 
 seats and writing desks were manufactured of the 
 same material as the floor, the former upheld by 
 rude wooden legs and the latter fastened to the 
 wall with wooden pins. The birch rod was freely 
 used in order to enforce the lessons from the 
 elementary spelling book which passed from child 
 to child through the family until it would no longer 
 hold together. 
 
 The schools were conducted in the winter season 
 and during the summer our subject like his com- 
 rades, was required to make himself useful on the 
 farm. He began plowing when a lad of ten 3'ears 
 and prided himself upon his accomplishments. He 
 remained a single man until twenty-five years old 
 and in the fall of 1855 was married to Miss Mary, 
 daughter of Joseph Bradbury who was a pioneer 
 settler of this county, and is long since deceased. 
 This union resulted in the birth of three children, 
 two of whom are living. Sarah is the wife of 
 James Lauher of Edgar County, 111., and has three 
 children — Norah, Frederick and William. Mary 
 is the wife of Henry Wilson of Shiloh Township 
 and they have two children Flora and Mary S. ; 
 Sophronia married Francis Collins and died 
 leaving two children, Clarence and Bertie. The 
 mother of these children passed to her long home 
 several years ago. 
 
 Mr. Stokes contracted a sejond matrimonial alli- 
 ance with Miss Rebecca A., daughter of John 
 Galbreath. Their six children were named respec- 
 tively John R., James W., Mahala, Clara B., 
 Jarret and Joseph C. Mrs. Rebecca J. Stokes died 
 also and Mr. Stokes was married the third time, Oct. 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 1065 
 
 3, 1879, to INIiss Sarah E. Sisk. Ansel Sisk, the 
 father of Mrs. Stokes, came to Edgar County about 
 forty years ago, performed his share of pioneer 
 labor and rested there from Feb. 4, 1887. The 
 three children born of this union are Delia L., Es- 
 tella v., and Jesse Cleveland. Mr. Stokes has 
 never sought oflice, preferring to remain a private 
 citizen and perfect himself as a farmer, whicii with- 
 out question he has fully accomplished. Without 
 making any pretentions to elegance, his home dis- 
 plays comfort and plenty and will compare favora- 
 bly with that of any of his neighbors. 
 
 ENRY S. MERKLE. This gentleman is a 
 III ^t*''^^*y I'epresentative of a family well 
 known and highly respected in Edgar 
 'j/j County. We find him pleasantly located 
 on section 6 in Embarras Township, not far from 
 the old homestead where he was horn, April 6, 
 1856. Of his father, Charles Merkle, a sketch ap- 
 pears elsewhere in this volume. The latter is one 
 of the most honored pioneers of this county, and 
 has contributed his full share to the development 
 of its best resources. Schools, churches, and other 
 worth}' institutions have uniformly received his 
 moral and financial support, he building up a good 
 record, to whicli his descendants may refer with 
 pride. 
 
 Mr. Merkle has spent his entire life within the 
 limits of his native county, and he remained a 
 member of the parental household until approach- 
 ing the twentj'-sixth year of his age. In the mean- 
 time he had obtained a thorough knowledge of 
 farming, and adopted this for his vocation in life. 
 When establishing a fireside of his own, he was 
 united in marriage with Miss Ella Gillis, at the 
 bride's home in Embarras Township, March 23, 
 1882. This lady is the daughter of George Gillis, 
 one of the pioneers of this section, and who de- 
 parted this life many years ago. Two (daughters 
 have been born of this union, onl}' one of whom is 
 living — Eva A., who was born Nov. 15, 1884. 
 Baby Ethel died Jan. 8, 1889, aged eight months 
 and seven da3'S. Mrs. Merkle, like her husband, is 
 
 a native of Embarras Township, and was born 
 Sept. 14, 1865. She is a very estimable lady, and 
 is a member in good standing of the Methodist 
 Episcopal Church, at Broctou. 
 
 The farming operations of Mr. Merkle are eon- 
 ducted after the most approved methods. He owns 
 and operates a Garscott steam thresher, in connec- 
 tion with which he uses a Thorntown straw stacker, 
 and by this means has built up a large patronage 
 throughout this part of the county. He makes a 
 specialty of live-stock, and has a third interest in 
 the fine horses mentioned in the biography of his 
 brother, Douglas Merkle. Besides his farm prop- 
 erty, he owns a house and lot in Brocton. His 
 favorites in the cattle line are the graded Short- 
 horns, numbers of which he disposes of annually 
 at handsome profits. Politically, Mr. Merkle is a 
 sound Democrat. He keeps himself well posted 
 on State and National events, and possessing more 
 than ordinary ability and intelligence, is a man 
 naturally looked up to in his community as one 
 representing its best elements. 
 
 "">.SJ2/^^^—M 
 
 '■m^MUBTTt' 
 
 W EROY WILEY has retired from the active 
 III ^ '^'uties of life, and is now enjoying the rest 
 ili^^ to which a busy career entitles him. He 
 was born in the vicinity of Paris, March 14, 1827, 
 and when he was eight years of age his father re- 
 moved to Charleston, Coles Co., III. There he 
 finished his education, and in 1846 enlisted in the 
 Mexican War with two brothers. He was in the 
 battles of Vera Cruz and Cerro Gordo. While in 
 the service he contracted a lameness, obliging him 
 to use crutches for a long time. His period of ser- 
 vice covered a little over a year. 
 
 When he returned from the army he was almost 
 a physical wreck, and therefore traveled to re- 
 cuperate his health. In 1853 he returned to 
 Charleston, where he married Miss Rebecca Linder, 
 June 1, of that year. After his marriage he en- 
 tered the mercantile trade, continuing in that busi- 
 ness until 1865. In 1873 he came to Paris and 
 purchased a large woolen mill, which he operated 
 
106G 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BrOGRAPIlICAL ALBUM. 
 
 for three years until the plant burned to the ground 
 in September, 1876. Immediatelj' succeeding this 
 loss he was elected Justice of the Peace, a position 
 which he held for eight j'ears, giving satisfaction 
 to his constituents. About the time last mentioned 
 he was elected Grand Reporter for the Knights of 
 Honor, his jurisdiction embracing I llinois. He filled 
 the duties of this office satisfactorily for nine 3'ears. 
 In 1887 he retired from business. He is interested 
 in city and farm propert}' in Edgar and Coles 
 counties. His wife died Feb. 27, 1873, and to 
 them were born five children. The eldest, Leona, 
 died in March, 1872. She was the wife of L. A. 
 Shoaff, editor of the Gazette, and left one daughter, 
 Stella. Ellen married Ezra Link, of Charleston. 
 Clifford is a member of the firm of Merkle, Wiley 
 & Co., manufacturers of brooms at Paris. Hor- 
 ton is a member of the class of '91, Dartmouth 
 College; and Warren is now a student in the Paris 
 High School. 
 
 Rebecca Linder was born in Rush County, Ind., 
 while her parents were en route from Virginia to 
 Illinois, March 7, 1831. The family located in the 
 vicinity of Charleston, 111., where Rebecca re- 
 mained until her marriage, in 1863. Her father 
 was a leading farmer. Mr. Wiley took for his 
 second wife Mrs. Mary J. Hall, of Butler, Hamil- 
 ton Co., Kj'. The marriage occurred in August, 
 1885. Mrs. Hall, nee Fisher, was born in Cincin- 
 nati, April 29, 1827. S'le resided there until 1843, 
 when her parents removed to Kentucky. By her 
 first marriage she is the mother of four children, 
 all of whom are married. 
 
 James Wiley, the father of the subject of this 
 sketch, was born in Brackon County, Ky.. in the 
 last year of the last century, where he lived until 
 his marriage to Rebecca Parker, who was born in 
 the same county in 1797. After their marriage, 
 in 1827, they located in the vicinity, of Paris, 
 and consequentlj' were among the vcr}' earliest 
 settlers. The elder Wiley was at that time a brick, 
 stone and plastering mason. He removed in 1834 
 to Charleston, where he lived and carried on his 
 trade. He was the contractor for the building of 
 the Court House at that place, and in this line of 
 business was counted successful. He died April 
 11, 18G5, at exactly the same day, hour and min- 
 
 ute that Abraham Lincoln was assassinated. His 
 wife died some years later at the home of her son 
 Leroy. 
 
 Leroy Wiley is one of the best known men of 
 Edgar County, and his long life within its borders 
 has been one of ceaseless activity^ He is one of 
 those men whose character is admired, and his 
 friends are counted by the thousands. 
 
 OBERT EMMET CRIMMINS, of Young 
 America Township, is a j^oung man 
 who owes his success in business to 
 *g) his own tireless energy, ceaseless in- 
 dustry and level headed judgment. For years 
 he has combined farming and grain - buying, 
 and as the result of prudent business meth- 
 ods has a snug bank account, besides a valu- 
 able business experience to guide him in fut- 
 ure years. As is indicated by his manner Mr 
 Crimmins, though of American birth, is of Irish 
 ancestrj^ He was born Dec. 23, 1853, in Greene 
 County, Ohio. 
 
 Our subject's father, Morgan Crimmins, and liis 
 grandfather Robert Crimmins, were natives of 
 County Kerry, Ireland, as also were his grand- 
 mother and his mother Ellen (Eager) Crimmins, 
 to wliom his father was married in 1848. A short 
 time after their marriage they I)ade farewell to Ire- 
 land and sought freedom and fortune in the United 
 States under the protection of the Stars-and-Stripes. 
 His ancestors were peasant farmers in Ireland, and 
 after his father landed in New York he sought and 
 obtained employment as a farm hand in Massachu-. 
 setts, being employed in that capacity by Col. 
 Woodbury, of that State, with whom he remained 
 one year. He then removed to Greene County, 
 Oliio, where he bought a farm of forty acres close 
 to Yellow Springs. From Ohio his father removed 
 to this St.ate about 1856 and settled at what was 
 then known as "Patch Grove," now the site of the 
 village of Hume, this county, upon the Jeff Bun- 
 ton place, which he rented and where he lived one 
 year. He next removed to the southwestern part 
 of Carroll Township, Vermilion County, where he 
 
'0i 
 
 '/' .'-•; 
 
 '4f>' . 
 
 ^yp>^j^ 
 
 ofcxr^ 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 1067 
 
 bought two acres of land, which he afterward in- 
 creased to eighty-two acres by purchase and on 
 which he lived until his death in 1889. 
 
 The parents of whom we write had live chil- 
 dren, three boys and two girls, Robert E. being 
 the eldest; Jeremiah lives in Vermilion County, on 
 the old place; he married Miss Lj'dia Stringer, and 
 is the father of two children. Hanora, now Mrs. 
 Samuel Stunkard, resides in Shiloh Township. 
 She is the mother of three children. Her husband 
 is a farmer. John lives near the old homestead; 
 he married Miss Ella Stunkard. He runs a farm in 
 Carroll Township and a livery stable in the vil- 
 lage of Sidell. Margaret is the wife of Mr. Ram- 
 sey, a prosperous farmer residing in Carroll 
 Township, Vermilion County. They have three 
 children living. Our subject was born in Greene 
 County, Ohio, Dec. 23, 1853, and is now in his 
 thirty-sixth year. He was educated in the public 
 schools wliat time he could be spared from assist- 
 ing his father on tlie farm. 
 
 November 23, 1878, Mr. Crimmins was united 
 in marriage withMiss PartLenia Home, daughter 
 of Dr. A. and Hariette Home. Miss Home is 
 one of ten children, eight of whom are living: 
 Marj' E., Francis M., Cinderella, Parthenia, Dora 
 v.. William, Sarah E., Jennie, John and Margaret. 
 Mary E. is the wife of William Hildreth, who re- 
 sides at Hildreth and after whom the village is 
 named. He is a prominent and wealthy farmer, 
 his estate consisting of 700 acres of land. He is 
 the father of six children. Francis M. is a widower 
 and a traveling man ; he has three children living. 
 Cinderella is the wife of William Corley; her home 
 is in Kansas and her husband is a traveling man. 
 She has four children, three of whom are dead. 
 Dora V. (Mrs. George Christleib) resides in Philips 
 County, Kan. William lives near Clinton, Iowa; 
 he is unmarried. Sarah E. is the wife of John 
 Durr, a farmer who lives near Newman, Douglas 
 Co., 111. Jennie, who is unmarried, lives with 
 her sister, Mrs. Christleib. John and Margaret 
 died in infancy. 
 
 By this union Mr. and Mrs. Crimmins have be- 
 come the parents of five children: Anna, Ginevra, 
 Harriet E., Mary E. and an infant yet to be named. 
 Mr. Crimmins is the present postmaster of Hil- 
 
 dreth and the Supervisor of Young America Town- 
 shiii: he has also served as School Director. 
 Socially he is a member of Palermo Lodge No. 646, 
 f.O.O.F. Poltically Mr. Crimmins is an advocate 
 of the Democratic party. He has been a resident 
 of Hildreth twelve }'ears and has in addition to 
 farming followed the business of buying grain. 
 He contributed 150 towards securing the Chicago 
 & Ohio River Railroad through Hildreth and 
 helped with his own hands to grade and lay the 
 side-track at the station. He lias been foremost in 
 every enterprise tending to advance the interests 
 of the village. He owns a nice little home and 
 three lots. He is talking of building a handsome 
 residence that will be adequate to the requirements 
 and comfort of his growing farailj^. Mrs. Crim- 
 mons is a quiet, lad3rlike and refined little woman, 
 who enters heartily into all her husband's efforts 
 to make his life successful in business and worthy 
 of the respect and esteem of his fellowmen. 
 
 UILLIAM SCOTT. Tiie branch of the 
 Scott family to which the subject of this 
 W^ notice belongs, was represented in the 
 Prairie State at a very early day, and uncle Samuel 
 Scott, the father of our subject, was one of its most 
 prominent and beloved pioneers. A native of 
 Fleming County, K3'., he there spent his boyhood 
 and j'outh, and upon leaving his native State emi- 
 grated at first to the vicinity of Bloomington, Ind. 
 He was married in that State to Miss Rebecca 
 Tabor, who was born there and whose parents 
 were early pioneers. Her father, William Tabor, 
 served in the War of 1812 and distinguished him- 
 self as an expert hunter. On account of his uner 
 ring skill with his rifle the Indians stood in great 
 awe of him. He came to Edgar County, 111., but 
 remained here only a short time returning to Indi- 
 ana, where he died at an advanced age. 
 
 Samuel Scott spent his last da3fs at the old farm 
 in Prairie Township, amidst the comforts of a home 
 which he had built up from the wilderness. He 
 was held in great esteem by high and low, rich and 
 poor, and Scottland was named in lionor of him. 
 
1068 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 During his sojourn at Bloomington, Ind., the sub- 
 ject of this sketch was born, July 13. 1819. While 
 William was a mere child the parents removed to 
 Martinsville, Ind., which town the father had been 
 mainly instrumental in laying out. Prior to this 
 he had entered land, a part of which he chared, 
 and upon his farm was later located the county 
 seat, Martinsville, Ind. Leaving Indiana about 
 1830, Samuel Scott came to Prairie Tijwnship. 111., 
 where by enti-y and purchase he secured a large 
 tract of land, and after giving to each of his ten 
 children about .300 acres had about 1,000 acres left 
 in the State of Kansas. Probablj^ there was not a 
 man in the whole county more widely or favor- 
 ably known. He was possessed ol a large and 
 generous heart and tiiat high sense of honor which 
 prevented him from ever defrauding any man and 
 which ever inclined him to assist those less fortun- 
 ate than himself. 
 
 Amid the kindly influences exercised ))y such 
 a father, our subject grew up to a worthy manhood, 
 and was married in Prairie Township to Miss Eliza- 
 beth C. Legate, who was born in Ohio and died 
 upon the farm and in the same house where Sam- 
 uel Scott had looked his last upon earth. He died 
 at the residence of his son William. Of this union 
 there were born ten children, viz.: Israel D., Sam- 
 uel, John M., Robert L., William Milton, Lemuel, 
 Albert (deceased), Rebecca, Mrs. Charles Smith of 
 Scottland; Norval; P'ranklin is deceased. Our sub- 
 ject contracted a second marriage with Mrs. Addie 
 (Burr) Jaquith; she had three children Ij}' her first 
 husband, viz, jMerton P., Arthur D., and Cyrus V 
 Arthur is deceased. Mr. Jaquith was born in New 
 Hampshire, and died in California, to which State 
 ho had gone during the gold excitement of 1849. 
 
 Our subject has now more than 700 acres, com- 
 prising his valuable homestead, of which he has 
 now been in possession for several years. He and 
 his wife have for their use a part of the large dwell- 
 in"', furnished in accordance with their tastes and 
 convenience, and wheie they spend a portion of 
 their time. Mr. and Mrs. Scott are taking life 
 comfortably, their chihlren all being settled in 
 pleasant homes in the midst of plenty. Mr. and 
 Mrs. Scott are prominentl}* identified with the 
 Methodist Episcopal Church, to which our subject 
 
 has always given a liberal support. He largely 
 contributed to the building of two churches on his 
 land. He has never meddled very much with pol- 
 itics, but keeps himself posted in regard to matters 
 of general interest and votes the Democratic ticltet. 
 He has been no office-seeker, and otherwise than 
 serving as one of the first collectors of Prairie 
 Township, has avoided the responsibilities of pub- 
 lic life. He also has a residence on W^est Chestnut 
 street in Paris. Mrs. Scott during her widowhood 
 vv.'is a teacher for twenty years. 
 
 ■-^w^=^ 
 
 Vl 
 
 H. JONES, proprietor and manager of the 
 Metcalf Tile Works, began his career as a 
 worker in clay in his father's brickyard at 
 Marietta, Ohio. He is of fine phsique, and, 
 although fifty-one j'ears of age, is capable of en- 
 during as iiard work as at any time during his 
 active and busy life. His calm, placid, yet reso- 
 lute face, bespealis a quiet, thoughtful, and earnest 
 nature. He is a man of few words, prompt to de- 
 cide and fearless to execute. He makes up his 
 mind only after due deliberation, and then final]3- 
 adheres to what his judgment sanctions. One 
 easily recognizes in him many of the dominant 
 traits of character of the late Gen. U. S. Grant. He 
 is a silent man, so much so that for many months 
 after his arrival in Metcalf many of his neighbors 
 could claim scarcely more than a passing acquaint- 
 ance with him. His personal affairs and business 
 concerns he kept to himself, being content to pur- 
 sue the even tenor of his way without fuss, noise 
 or parade. The people of Metcalf soon found that 
 this quiet, silent, unobtrusive tile burner was a man 
 of sterling qualities and great force of character, and 
 that he was certain to prove a useful and valuable 
 member of their little community. Without his 
 seeking the position, the}' elected him School Di- 
 reetor, and shortly afterward discovered that he 
 possesssed executive ability equal to any emer- 
 gency. One of the first things he did after becom- 
 ing a member of the Board was to propose the 
 levy, all in one year, of a tax sufficient to build an 
 addition to the village school building and to em- 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 1069 
 
 ploy an extra teacher. The proposition staggered 
 the taxpayers of the rlistriet, who thonglit tliey 
 saw a grievous burden in the proposed tax. Mr. 
 Jones, with quiet persistence and determination, 
 and the aid of a fellow-member of the board, levied 
 the tax, contracted for the building of the addi- 
 tion and the employment of the extra teacher. In 
 answer to those who objected, he replied that if 
 the people were not satisfied with his course they 
 needn't re-elect him. The tax was collected, and 
 the taxpayers were surprised to find that it did not 
 materially increase their assessment. The school 
 building was enlarged to double its former size 
 and capacity, and tlie teacher employed. Every- 
 one suddenly realized that Mr. Jones had done a 
 sensible, timely and judicious thing, and the tax- 
 payers, instead of bouncing him from the board, 
 elected him for another term as a tribute to his 
 foresight, common sense and courage. 
 
 The story of the life of this quiet, resolute man 
 is the story of a career of hard work. His early 
 education was obtained in the common schools of 
 Washington County, Ohio, where he was born Jan. 
 12, 1838, but his practical experience, to which he 
 owes his business success, began in his father's 
 brickyard in Marietta, Ohio, where he worked dur- 
 ing his boyhood years. He is the son of Thomas 
 F. Jones, now at the advanced age of seventj'- 
 one years, actively engaged in business as a con- 
 tractor and builder in Columbus, Ohio. Mr. 
 Jones' father and mother were both natives of 
 Pennsylvania and of Welsh descent. They had 
 eight children born to them, our subject being 
 the eldest. Charlotte, the second-born, married 
 Charles Davidson, and now resides in Washington 
 County, Ohio; Alexander enlisted in Company A, 
 77th Ohio Infantry during the late war, and died 
 while in the service of his country; William A. is 
 married, and resides in Missouri; Mary M. became 
 Mrs. John Bratton, and died about eight years 
 ago, leaving three children; Thomas F. is a resi- 
 dent of Kansas, where he is engaged in brickkmnk- 
 ing. Samuel died in childhood, and David resides 
 in Columbus, Ohio; he is a carpenter and builder. 
 In 1868 Mr. Jones' mother died, and in 1872 his 
 father received a contract for building the Central 
 Insane Asylum, at Columbus, Ohio. Thither he 
 
 moved with his family-. Ho resumed brickmaldng 
 in Columbus, and continues to follow a general con- 
 tracting and building business. While a resident 
 of Marietta, he was a member of the City Council 
 for a number of years. He was a very prominent 
 member of the Masonic Lodge at Marietta. In re- 
 ligion he is a Methodist, and in politics a Repub- 
 lican 
 
 In 1876 our subject went into business for him- 
 self in Columbus, where he conducted a brickyard. 
 He afterward followed brickmaking in Lancaster, 
 Ohio. After remaining in Ohio until the summer 
 of 1884, he turned his face westward, and joined 
 his brother, William A. They engaged in the 
 manufacture of drain tile and brick at Sydney, 111. 
 After familiarizing himself with the manufacture 
 of tile, Mr. Jones, April 1, 1885, came to his pres- 
 ent location. In the operation and management 
 of his factor}' he has brought to bear a lifetime of 
 valuable experience. The result is a satisfactory 
 measure of success and a constantly growing and 
 increasing business. Being a man of unimpeach- 
 able private character, unassailable integrity and 
 unblemished reputation, Mr. Jones stands high in 
 the esteem not onlj' of his neighbors and friends, 
 but of all who have business relations with him. 
 He is a safe, reliable, prudent man of business, with 
 a reserve force equal to every emergency. 
 
 Mr. Jones was married, Dec. 15, 1857, to Miss 
 Sarah Lancaster, daughter of James L. Lancaster. 
 His wife's parents were natives of Pennsylvania. 
 Ten children have resulted from this union: W. 
 A., James A., Mary, Lillian, Olga, Agnes, Pearl, 
 Edward, Josephine and Maud. W. A., the eldest 
 of the family, was killed on the railroad about six 
 years ago; James A. and Edward reside at home, 
 and assist in the factory; Mary is the wife of W. 
 W. Biddleman, a farmer; they have three children. 
 Lillian resides in Columbus, Ohio; her husband, 
 Harland Randall, is a raiload engineer. She is the 
 mother of three children. Olga is married to 
 Charles Schreller, who works with i\Ir. Jones in 
 the tile factory; Agnes, who is single, remains at 
 home. Mr. Jones is a member of Hume Lodge, 
 No. 725, I. O. O. F., and at present holds the office 
 of Inside Guard. He is a member of the Board of 
 School Directors of Metcalf, and is serving his 
 
1070 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 second term. Though not an active politician, 
 Mr. Jones is an earnest Republican, and might, 
 were lie a little more aggressive in his own behalf, 
 be an influential member of his part3^ 
 
 Mr. Jones' Tile Factory is located in tiie western 
 part of the village of Metcalf, and contains ma- 
 ciiinery, kilns, etc., for turning out large quantities 
 of drain tile. The clay is abundant and of fine qual- 
 ity, and the factory is kept busy suppl3'ing the 
 demand that comes to it from a large drainage 
 area. 
 
 ->^^3-&- 
 
 T. BAUM. M.D., is one of the leading 
 physicians and surgeons of the city of 
 /t^—^, Paris, 111. He is a native of Indiana, be- 
 ing born in White County, Dec. 15, 1847. His 
 parents were Henry and Harriet (Cross) Banm, 
 the former born in Pennsylvania, in 1806, and the 
 latter in Ohio in 1814. He comes of a race of 
 pioneers, his grandfather, Daniel Baum, being one 
 of the first six men who settled in what is now 
 Carroll County, Ind., in 1825, coming with his 
 family from where the cit}' of Chillicothe, Ohio, 
 now stands, down the Scioto River on a flat boat 
 to the Ohio, then down the latter to the mouth of 
 the Wabash, thence up the latter to the site of the 
 present citj' of Delphi, in Carroll County, Ind, 
 He carried his family and household goods with 
 him, while the stock was driven overland. The 
 joniney was tedious and hazardous, but the hardj' 
 spirit which animated the early pioneers sustained 
 him, and on arriving at his destination Daniel 
 Baum at once took up a f.arm, which he improved; 
 there he passed the remaining years of his life and 
 there he died, an honored citizen, at the age of 
 seventy-seven years. His wife, whose maiden 
 name was Asenith Rothrock, survived him several 
 years, dying at the advanced age of eighty-nine 
 years. 
 
 Henry Baum, father of our subject, was nineteen 
 years old when the removal to Indiana took place, 
 and in that new country adopted the life of a 
 pioneer farmer, remaining in that occupation all 
 of his life. He removed to White County, Ind., 
 and wa^ there married, in 1832, to Harriett Cross, 
 
 whose family had come from Ohio to Parke County, 
 Ind., in which place her parents died. The quiet 
 life of a farmer did not entirely satisfy Henry 
 Baum, who was of a somewhat adventurous spirit, 
 and he made what was considered in those days 
 very long journeys, going as far south as Texas 
 and New Orleans. In 1841, he removed with his 
 family to Missouri, but not liking the country, 
 returned to White County, where he bought 
 another farm near his old home, which he had sold 
 before going away : at this place he passed the 
 remainder of his life, dying in 1854, aged forty- 
 eight years. His widow is still living at the age 
 of seventy-five, and makes her home in Paris. 
 Aside from his penchant for traveling, Henry 
 Bnum lived a quiet life, but never accumulated a 
 lai-ge property, as his travels consumed a large part 
 of his earnings. In politics he was an ardent sup- 
 porter of the Whig party. 
 
 Henry Baum and his wife were the parents of ten 
 children, two of whom died in infancy and the 
 remaining eight lived to years of maturity. Mary,- 
 the eldest, is the widow of John McBeth, a Union 
 soldier, who died in the loathsome rebel prison pen 
 at Andersonville. She now lives in Paris, and has 
 one son, William H., local editor of the Beacon. 
 Rachel is the widow of Robert Cornell, and lives 
 in White County, Ind. Belle is the wife of U. B. 
 Stigers, and lives near Oskaloosa, Iowa. Charles 
 S. died in 1866, from the effect of disease con- 
 tracted while in the Union Army, in which he 
 served for three years, in the 46th Indiana Volun- 
 teers. Adam P. is farming in Dawes County, 
 Neb. He was also a patriot soldier, serving eight- 
 een months in the 20tli and in the 116th Indiana 
 Infantry, and, being taken prisoner during this time 
 was confined in the famous Libby Prison at Rich- 
 mond. John Clay, another brave soldier, gave his 
 life for his country, dying in 1869, from disease 
 contracted in the army. He served three years 
 and eight months in the 20th, 72d and 116th 
 Indiana Infantry. Martha M. is the wife of 
 S. D. McCarthy, and is a resident of Paris. 
 The youngest of those who lived to maturity was 
 the subject of our sketch. 
 
 Z. T. Baum lived in his native count}' until he 
 was thirteen years old, when his father being dead 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 1071 
 
 his mother removed to Carroll Count}', Incl., where 
 he worked at farming in the summer and attended 
 school in the winter until 1863, when he, too, fol- 
 lowed the patriotic example of his elder brothers, 
 and at the age of fifteen years and six months 
 became a soldier of the Union, enlisting in Com- 
 pany E, 11 Gill Indiana Infantry for six months. 
 Upon the expiration of this time, he enlisted in the 
 135th Indiana for one hundred days, and when tiiat 
 time had expired lie re-enlisted in the 150th Indi-ma, 
 where he served until the close of the war. He 
 was mustered out of service Aug. 5, 1865, and 
 then resumed his farm work in the summer and 
 teaching school in winter, until the fall of 1867, 
 when he began the study of medicine in Pittsburg, 
 Carroll Co., Ind., under Dr. J. L. Morrow, also u 
 war veteran, wlio had been Surgeon of the 72d 
 Jndiana. In his office Mr. Baum read medicine 
 for three years and attended courses of lectures in 
 Chicago and Cincinnati, and was graduated at the 
 Miami Medical College, at the latter city. He com- 
 menced the practice of his profession at Transit- 
 ville, Tippecanoe Co., Ind., staying there until his 
 removal to Paris, April 1, 1873, since which time 
 he has lived at the latter place, and has built up a 
 large and lucrative practice. 
 
 A faithful assistant and companion of Dr. Baum 
 for the past eleven years has been his wife, formerly 
 Miss Eliza E. McCord, with whom he was united 
 in marriage Dec. 12, 1878. This lady is the daugh- 
 ter of William and Nancy (Stout) McCord, early 
 settlers of Sims Township, whence they removed 
 from their old home in Tennessee. Mrs. Baum 
 was born in Paris Township, Edgar County, June 
 17, 1852. This union has been blessed by the birth 
 of one child, Ralph A., who was born June 16, 
 1881. 
 
 Since taking up his residence in Paris, Dr. Baum 
 has occupied a prominent position in its public 
 affairs and social life. IIo served two years as 
 Alderman of the 2nd Ward, and in 1888 was re- 
 elected, serving but one year, however, when he 
 resigned. He was Supervisor from 1881 to 1886, 
 serving full five years in that capacity, and in 
 1 885 he was elected Mayor of the city of Paris after 
 a heated contest, the Doctor accepting the nomin- 
 ation late in the canvass, after the declination of 
 
 the candidate previously nominated. He and his 
 friends, however, made a stirring canvass, and he 
 was triumphantly elected. Dr. Baum was also 
 from 1877 to 1885 United States Examining Sur- 
 geon for Pensions, but lost that i)osition under the 
 Cleveland administration because of his " offensive 
 partisanship," he being a life-long Republican. He 
 has, however, been re-appointed by Commissioner 
 Tanner, one of the Board of Examining Surgeons, 
 wliicli he was instrumental in having appointed for 
 this county. 
 
 Dr. Baum is Commander of the Driskell Post, 
 No. 20y. G.A.R., of Paris; is also a member of 
 the Apollo Lodge, No. 57, Knights of Pythias, 
 and of the Paris Lodge, No. 268, A.F. & A.M.. of 
 which he is W.M. ; he is also a member of the 
 Order of Modern Woodmen of America. He is a 
 public spirited and energetic citizen and wields 
 no small influence in the affairs of the thriving city 
 where he has made his home. 
 
 A feature of the family history of which the 
 Doctor may well be proud, is the fact that every- 
 one of the family of suitable age was in the Union 
 army, not only himself and his brothers, but all 
 his near relatives to the number of over twenty, 
 a bright record of patriotism of which their des- 
 cendants may well be proud. 
 
 ^11 OHN ALLEN, Jr., Postmaster and general 
 merchant at Grand View, is one of its lead- 
 ing men and politicians and began business 
 1]^/' in this place in 1880 with modest means. 
 He was successful from the start, and besides ac- 
 cumulated a snug sum of money has fully estab- 
 lished himself in the esteem and confidence of the 
 people, who have given him many expressions of 
 their friendship and good will. Politically, he is 
 an enthusiastic Repuljlican, giving freely of his time 
 and means whenever opportunity occurs to be of 
 assistance to his party. 
 
 Lebanon, Warren Co., Ohio, was the native place 
 of our subject, and the date of his birth April 14 
 1845. He attended the district school during his 
 boyhood, but at the early age of fourteen years 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 began life ou his own account, winking on a farm 
 first at ?4 per montli. He was thus occupied until 
 a youth of nineteen 3ears aud until the outbreak 
 of the Civil War. Then desirous of having a hand 
 in the subjugation of the Rebels, he enlisted in 
 Company C^, 1.50th Illinois Infantry at Paris, and 
 was soon sent with his comrades to the front. 
 Their first objective point w.as Nashville, Tenn., 
 and they next went to Bridgeport, Ala. Later, 
 they were at Cleveland, Term., and Dalton, Ga., 
 whence they went to Spring Place, Ga., then re- 
 turned to Dalton; they reached Westpoint, Ga., 
 Aug. 7, aud on the 10th of January, 1866, returned 
 to Atlanta after the close of the war, whence they 
 were ordered home and mustered out without par- 
 ticpating in .any active engagement, although en- 
 during the hardships and privations of army life. 
 
 Upon laying aside the weapons of war, our sub- 
 ject resumed tlie implements of agriculture, at 
 which he was occupied until 1880. He then |)ur- 
 chased the store aud stock of Robert IMoseley, at 
 Grand "\'iew, since whicli time he has prosecuted 
 general merchandising with great success, building 
 up an .excellent trade which is steadily increasing. 
 ()n the 1st of October, 1867 he was united in mar- 
 riage with ]Miss .lenny, daughter of John W. Bur- 
 ton, who later removed to Missouri and died there. 
 In the family of Mx. Burton there were six chil- 
 dren, of whom Mrs. Allen was the third in order 
 of birth. She was born Apiil 5, 1861, in Mrginia, 
 and received a common-school education. Of her 
 union with our subject there have been born three 
 children, one of whom, JMary died in 1876 at the 
 age of four j^ears; Zella, the elder daughter, is an 
 interesting j'oung i.a,c]y of nineteen years, and Ida 
 is a bright girl of eleven years. Both are at home 
 with their parents. 
 
 Mr. Allen owns eighteen acres of land near 
 Grand View, and has a pleasant home in the village. 
 He has officiated for the past ten years as School 
 Director in his district, and before receiving his 
 appointment as Postmaster, in 1889, had officiated 
 .as Assistant-Postmaster for a number of years. 
 Both he and his estimable wife are members of the 
 Methodist Episcopal Church, in which ]Mr. Allen 
 for several years has liccn Steward and Trustee. 
 Mrs. Allen is a teacher in the Sunday-school, 
 
 which the two daughters attend regularly. Socially 
 our subject belongs to Grand View Lodge, No. 614, 
 I. 0. O. F., in which he has held all the offices and 
 for the last ten years has represented it at the vari- 
 ous conventions of the Grand Lodge. He is also 
 a member of Kansas Camp I. O. 0. F. and Kansas 
 Post No. 405, G. A. R. In the latter he was 
 elected an Alternate of the Convention held at 
 Springfield in February, 1889. Upon the inaugu- 
 aration of President Harrison, March 4, 1889, he 
 visited Washington and witnessed this ceremonial 
 among other interesting sights at the National 
 Capital. 
 
 "ffOHN DAVIDSON. Tlie thoughtful in. 
 I dividual i annot fail to look upon the early 
 ^.^ I pioneer with more than ordinary interest. 
 (^^ To those having the faculty of drawing out 
 from them a relation of their experiences on the 
 frontier, there is presented a picture of toil, strug- 
 gle, sacriQce and courage seldom known to the peo- 
 ple of to-day. Among those whose experiences, if 
 properly written down would make a good-sized 
 volume of rare interest, may be mentioned Mr. 
 Davidson, who is one of the old residents of Edgar 
 County, and who trod on the soil of Shiloh Town- 
 ship soon after the Indians had left it and while 
 wild animals, deer, wolves and other creatures 
 roamed almost unrestrained by the fear of man. 
 We find him pleasantly located on a finely improved 
 farm of 150 acres occupying a portion of section 
 3, near the edge of Mulberry Grove, where he es- 
 tablished himself in 1854 and has a good home- 
 stead. 
 
 A native of Sullivan County, Ind., our subject 
 was born at the modest homestead of his parents 
 near Carlisle, Nov. 13, 1830, and lived there on a 
 farm until a young man of twent3'-four years. He 
 received very limited school advantages, pursuing 
 his studies in the log cabin under the primitive 
 methods of instruction incident to that time and 
 place. At the age mentioned, determining to see 
 something more of the world, he in the fall of 
 1854, set out overland with a team to Illinois and 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 1073 
 
 locatecl in what was tlien Buck, but is now Shiloh 
 Townsliip. Besides liis team, he came empty 
 handed, and for a time engaged as a farm laborer. 
 As soon as able he began operating on rented land 
 and finally purchased eighty acres of his present 
 farm. Young and active, labor seemed light as 
 long- as he was reasonably rewarded and, although 
 the recreations of the young people of that time 
 were not strictly classical, they probably' enjoyed 
 those they had. fully as much as the rising genera- 
 tion. Young Davidson took part in the wolf hunts 
 and the various other kinds of amusements indulged 
 in by the young people of those times, such as corn 
 huskings, apple parings and similar gatherings. At 
 the same time he proceeded with the improvement 
 of his purchase. JMulberry Grove was at one time 
 a timber tract comprising several thousand acres. 
 It was somewhat misnamed, as it never contained 
 but very few mulberry trees. Once in the earlj' 
 days an emigrant encamping here happened to 
 pitch his tent under one large mulberry tree and, 
 naming the place JMulberry Grove, the name has 
 clung to it since that time. 
 
 Mr. Davidson while cultivating the soil set out 
 forest and fruit trees and first put up a log house. 
 Later he added as he was able the structures most 
 needed. It hardly seemed possible that he could 
 leave home and assist in subjugating the rebels dur- 
 ing the Civil War, and he watched the conflict until 
 in February, 1865. He then decided that he must 
 have a hand in the strife, and enlisted in Companj- 
 C, 150th Illinois Infantry. He vvas mustered iuto 
 service at .Jacksonville and sent South to Nashville 
 and later to Dalton, Ga., where the regiment was 
 drilled and assigned principally to guard dutj'. 
 Thence they went on to Atlanta and wintered at 
 Spring Place in Georgia. They endured many 
 hardships and great exposure from which ]Mr. 
 Davidson suffered greatly, but he managed to re- 
 main with his regiment until it was mustered out 
 in February, 1866. He received his honorable dis- 
 charge at Camp Butler and as soon as possible 
 thereafter returned to his farm and his family. 
 
 The 25th of December, 1856, was appropriately 
 celebrated by our subject in his marriage to Miss 
 Mary Myers. This lady was born in Shiloh Town- 
 ship, August, 1840, and is the daughter of Archie 
 
 Myers, a native of South Carolina and one of the 
 earliest settlers of Edgar County. Mr. Myers be- 
 came very successful as a farmer and in his busi- 
 ness transactions, and accumulated 400 acres of 
 land. He spent his last days at the home of his 
 son-in-law, our subject, dying about 1874. His 
 wife, Lucinda Dillinger, a native of Indiana, like- 
 wise died in Shiloli Township. Mrs. Mary (Myers) 
 Davi.Ison departed this life at her home in Shiloh 
 Townsliip, in February, 1888 leaving seven child- 
 ren, viz: AVilliani, Archie, George, Sarah, John, 
 Jr., :Mark and liessie. They are all at home vtith 
 their father. Our subject, politically, votes the 
 straight Democratic ticket, and has been Director 
 in Ills school district fora period of twenty years. 
 He has also officiated as Road Supervisor and 
 served on the petit jury. He has little ambition 
 for official honors, being absorbed mostly by his 
 farming interests. 
 
 The father of our subject was George Davidson, 
 a native of Jessamine County'-, Ky., and of English 
 descent. He was reared in the Blue Grass State, 
 where he engaged in farming in his younger years, 
 then emigrated to Sullivan Countj\ Ind., and ac- 
 quired land near which was afterward built up the 
 town of Carlisle. He was very successful as a 
 farmer and spent his last days upon the old home- 
 stead, dying, however, at the early age of forty 
 years. The mother, Mrs. Cynthia (Port wood) 
 Davidson was likewise a native of Kentucky, of 
 which her parents were early pioneers, and her 
 mother, Blrs. Lizzie Portwood, was well acquainted 
 with the old Indian fighter, Daniel Boone. She 
 also died at the homestead near Carlisle, Ind. She 
 was a woman possessing many excellent qualities 
 and was a conscientious member of the Baptist 
 Church. There were born to the parents ten chil- 
 dren; viz: Mary of Greene County, Ind.; Eliza, 
 deceased; Susan; Paulina, Mrs Milam of Metcalf; 
 William of Sullivan County, Ind.; John, our sub- 
 ject; Anna of (h*eene County, Ind.; George of Sul- 
 livan County; Dudley of Greene County, and Lucy 
 of Texas County, Mo. George, during the late 
 Civil War, was a member of the 59th Indiana In- 
 fantry in which he served over three years. He 
 was at one time captured by the Rebels, but was 
 exchanged at St. Louis a few days afterward. 
 
1074 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 W.: 
 
 John, our subject, served in the army one year and 
 contracted rheumatism, from which he has since 
 suffered greatly and is unable to do any labor. He 
 is very obliging and so'/iable and held in esteem 
 by his neighbors. 
 
 '-^^^:^^^^^^^^^<f^^-^^ 
 
 J. BLACKSTOCK, editor of the Chrisman 
 ourier and Leisure Moments, besides be- 
 a gentleman of large experience and 
 considerable travel, especiall}' in the West, is a 
 journalist of marked ability, and both as a business 
 man and a citizen is amply worthy of representation 
 in a work of this kind. He was born in Allegheny 
 City, Pa., Aug. 14, 1848, and is the son of James 
 Blackstock, a native of Scotland and born near 
 the city of Edinburgh. 
 
 The paternal grandfather of our subject was 
 Joseph Blackstock, likewise a native of Scotland 
 and a contractor and builder by occupation. He 
 emigrated to America at an early date and located 
 first on Prince Edward Island, whence he removed 
 to Quebec, Canada, and there prosecuted his call- 
 ing. In Scotland he had been quite an extensive 
 land owner and a man of importance. James 
 Blackstock, like his father before him, also ope- 
 rated as a contractor and builder which he followed 
 in the Smoky City, although not living there. He 
 became well-to-do and was prominentlj^ identified 
 with the Presbyterian Church. He married Miss 
 Mary Richie, a native of Bedford County, Pa., 
 and who had two brothers killed in the Mexican 
 War. Grandfather Richie was of German descent, 
 but born in Pennsylvania. He followed school 
 teaching and farming combined and was at one 
 time owner of 2,500 acres of land in Bedford 
 County. He is still living in Pittsburg and al- 
 though sixty-five years old, has not a gray hair on 
 his head. To the parents' of our subject there 
 were born three children the two besides himself 
 being sisters — ]\Irs. Maria Hancock and Mrs Lizzie 
 Eriedenrich, both of Pittsburg. 
 
 The early advantages of our subject were quite 
 limited but he made the most of his opportunities 
 
 and is recognized as a thoroughly well informed 
 man. When a lad of fifteen years he engaged as a 
 boat-hand on the Ohio, Mississippi and Missouri 
 Rivers which he followed three years, being pro- 
 moted in the meantime from cabin boy to steward. 
 In 1866 we find him in Dakota, roughing it among 
 the Indians, hunting and chopping. He learned 
 to speak the Sioux language fluently and at one 
 time for the period of twenty-one days was in 
 Sitting Bull's camp near the place where Gen. 
 Custer was killed. He sojourned in Dakota and 
 Montana, until 1873, ranching it, being employed 
 in a woodyard. and at whatever came to hand. 
 Upon leaving that region he, that same year, lo- 
 cated at Pine City, Minn., where occurred his first 
 newspaper venture. He began reading and study- 
 ing without a tutor, conducting his paper, became 
 interested in real estate and claims and held vari- 
 ous county offices, being Register of Deeds, Clerk 
 of the Court and Justice of the Peace. 
 
 In the fall of 1877 Mr. Blackstock returned to 
 Pittsburg, Pa., and began publishing the semi- 
 weekly Tribune, running in connection therewith a 
 job office and the Hotel Reporter. He was afterward 
 connected with difJerent papers in Pittsburg, in- 
 cluding the Gazette and the Daily Dispatch. In 
 1874 he became connected with the Allegheney 
 Evening Mail and thereafter continued on one of 
 the dailies until March , 1887. That year he emi- 
 grated to Chicago, where he was in business until 
 September and whence he came to Chrisman and 
 purchased the Adcance. He changed the name to 
 that of the Courier and instituted manyr improve- 
 ments. It is a six column quarto and one of the 
 handsomest papers in the countj^, filled with gen- 
 eral and local news. Mr. Blackstock also pub- 
 lishes Lesiure Moments a four column quarto and 
 and has a well-equipped job office with steam 
 power press and other necessary adjuncts. 
 
 Our subject was married in Pittsburg, Pa., June 
 27, 1880, to Miss Ella Grey, a native of Phila- 
 delphia, and the daughter of Joseph Grey a prom- 
 inent resident of the Quaker City. Mr. Blackstock 
 politicall}', is a sound Republican and while a resi- 
 dent of IMinnesota was quite prominent in politics. 
 He is at present serving as Police Magistrate. So- 
 cially, he was at one time connected with the K. of 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOaRAPIIICAl. ALBUM. 
 
 1075 
 
 P. and tlic K. of II. In religious matters liis pref- 
 erences are witli the Methodist Hlpiseopal Chureli. 
 A person.al sketch of Mr. Blaekstuek woiiUl 
 hardly be complete without mention of his pet dog 
 Judge, a mixture of the Gordon Setter, Scotch 
 Collie and Spaniel. This animal is recognized as 
 one of the most intelligent canines in the county, 
 obedient, docile, courageous and seeming to under- 
 stand everything that is said to him. In being 
 written up by the Chicago Daily News he was des- 
 ignated as "the dog who thinks." It is hardly nec- 
 essary to say that he possesses a far more than 
 nominal value in the estimation of Mr. Blackstock, 
 from whom he could scarcely be purchased at any 
 price. 
 
 -^-O-i- 
 
 "iflAMES SOMMERYILLE, of Ixlgar Town- 
 ship, with his sisters, Molly, Nancy, and 
 iNIargaret, owns and operates 100 acres of 
 land on section 18, adjoining the site of 
 Bltomfield, the family also owning considei'able 
 real estate in "Washington. The conveniently 
 arranged homestead is very pleasantly situated, 
 the dwelling and adjacent buildings being lo- 
 cated near the cross roads, and commanding a 
 fine view of the surrounding countr}'. Mr. Som- 
 merville was at one time among the largest stock- 
 buyers in Edgar County, and has been prominent 
 in local affairs. He was elected a School Director 
 before reaching his majority, in which office he 
 served five years. He was Township Clerk and 
 Collector two years each, Assessor one year, and 
 represented his township in the County Board of 
 Supervisors four years in succession. Politically, 
 he is an uncompromising Democrat, active in the 
 councils of his party, and has been for years sent 
 as a delegate to the various conventions. 
 
 The eldest of a family of eight children, our sub- 
 ject was born in Edgar Township, Dec. 30, 1840, 
 and received a practical education in the common 
 school. He remained at home assisting in the la- 
 bors of the farm until reaching his majority, and at 
 that early age developed more than ordinary good 
 business talent. He began buying and shipping 
 stock to the Eastern markets — Indianapolis, Chi- 
 
 cago, and New York City, and in the pursuance of 
 his business, has visited nearly all the large cities 
 east of St. Louis. He is a man observing of what is 
 going on around him in the world, and in his vari- 
 ous travels has picked up a useful fund of informa- 
 tion. 
 
 The father of our subject was Alexander 8om- 
 merville, a native of County Donegal, Ireland, and 
 born in August, 1798. The paternal grandfather, 
 John Sommerville, also a native of County D,one- 
 gal, carried on farming there for a number of years 
 after reaching his majority, in the meantime be- 
 coming married, and the father of a family. He 
 finally decided to east his lot on the other side of 
 the Atlantic, and in 1802 made the voyage with his 
 family, landing in the city of Philadelphia, July 4. 
 Thence he proceeded to Fleming County, Ky., 
 where he was one of the earliest pioneers. He set- 
 tled in the wilderness, from which he constructed 
 a comfortable home, and there spent his last days. 
 It is believed that he was of Scotch-Irish descent, 
 as he was reared in the Presbyterian faith, to which 
 he firmly adhered during his entire life. 
 
 The father of our subject was reared to man's 
 estate in Fleming County, K3'., where ht, like his 
 father before him, cleared a farm from the wilder- 
 ness, and lived until 1836. He then decided to 
 seek the Great West, and made his way overland by 
 team to Illinois, settling on the eastern line of 
 Edgar Township. Notwithstanding his early sur- 
 roundings, he had acquired a good education, 
 largely supplemented b}' his own efforts in his stu- 
 dious application to his books at home. He entered 
 and purchased land in Edgar Township, where he 
 lived three years, then, in 1839, sold out and pur- 
 chased land of .Tames Gordon, adjoining Bloom- 
 field. He added from time to time to his real estate, 
 until he became the owner of 400 acres. In addi- 
 tion to operating his farm, he conducted an hotel at 
 Bloomfield until the building of the railroad to this 
 point. He was a prominent man in the commu- 
 nity, a decided Democrat, politically, and served as 
 Constable for years. His death occurred Dec. 17, 
 1883, at the homestead, which he had built up. 
 
 The maiden name of the mother of our subject 
 was Rosa Cochran. She was born in Fleming 
 County, Ky., in 1815, and was the daughter of James 
 
1076 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 Cochran, a native of Virginia. The latter, upon leav- 
 ing his native State, removed to Fleming County, 
 Ky., where he became owner of a large farm and 
 •slaves. In addition to prosecuting agriculture, he 
 engaged in flat-boating down the Ohio and Missis- 
 sippi rivers to New Orleans. He was a man of 
 great energy and perseverance, one who was looked 
 up to in his community, and at his death left a good 
 property. He spent his last years in Kentuckj', 
 dying in the faith of the Methodist Episcopal 
 Church. The mother of our suliject was reared a 
 Methodist, of whicli church she remained a member 
 many years, and until her death, which occurred in 
 Edg.ar Township, Nov. 16, 1886. 
 
 To the parents of our subject there were born 
 eight children, viz: James, Molly, Nancy, Melinda 
 (IMrs. Sommerville), and a resident of Rush County, 
 Ind.; John W., living in Garfield County, Wash- 
 ington; Joseph H., a resident of Columbia County, 
 Washington; Rosa, (Mrs. Hoult), of Edgar Town- 
 ship, and Margaret. 
 
 Mr. Sommerville is a man of much originality of 
 thought, whicli finds expression in such unique lan- 
 guage and forcible metaphors, as to render him a 
 most entertaining companion. He recalls some amus- 
 ing experiences of his early days, which when told 
 by himself, gain much in the relation, as he is an 
 inimitable raconteur. At one time his father kept 
 a tavern at which travelers were accommodated for 
 the small sum of a "bit," or twelve and one-half 
 cents, for a meal, and a "picayune," or six and one- 
 fourth cents, for horse feed. Even these trifling 
 bills appear to have been too high for the pocket- 
 books of some of the guests, as they sometimes 
 tried to evade payment by slipping away very early 
 in the morning. In every case however, the land- 
 lord followed and brought them back, giving them 
 their dinners and a fresh start, and making sui-e of 
 his pay before they again departed. With all this, 
 he was a kind-hearted, benevolent man, who never 
 turned the needy wayfarer from his door. 
 
 Our subject was brought up under religious in- 
 fluences, and in his youth was to use his own words, 
 "one of the best boys on earth, and never failed to 
 attend Sunday-school and religious exercises when- 
 ever opportunity offered." His sense of right and 
 wrong, received however, a severe shock as he ad- 
 
 vanced in years. The reasons cannot be better given 
 than in his own graphic words, so we let him relate 
 his own stor}'. "As I grew older, I grew smarter,and 
 disposed of about all my religion for good reasons. 
 After I became of age, and was doing business on 
 my own hook, there was a j'oung preaclier who 
 gave out that he would preach a sermon on the 
 'Immorality of Dancing.' He drew a terrible pic- 
 ture of the evil, and told how it would lead to dis- 
 honesty. However, he had sold a bunch of cattle 
 to be weighed the following morning, and it turned 
 out that tiiey were the worst "stuffed" lot of cattle 
 that ever went out of Edgar County. I always 
 thought that sermon was prepared for the express 
 purpose of stuffing that drove of cattle, so I have 
 never been in a church since, but have often been 
 deceived the same wa)'. Another time, I bought 
 a bunch of cattle of a man that was worth $50,000, 
 and had no children. I was satislied he was going 
 to stuff those cattle on me, so I did not let him 
 know when I would take them, until late the eve- 
 ning previous. But to make sure of it, 1 went and 
 sat up with the cattle until 2 a. ji., and accidentally 
 went to sleep, and before I woke up, he had come 
 two miles, fed, salted, and watered the cattle on 
 me. I always believed that he found me that night 
 and mesmerized me. 
 
 "On another occasion I bought a lot of hogs from 
 a rich old farmer that had the reputation of mak- 
 ing everything weigh heavy at home, and light in 
 market. It was very cold weather, and I knew his 
 slop would be frozen up, but he seemed to be a lit- 
 tle late getting to the scales, so I concluded to walk 
 over and assist him in driving, but when I arrived 
 on the scene of action, I found the honest old farmer 
 boiling water and soaking a lot of old damaged 
 wheat to sell to me at about $4 per bushel. I came 
 very near fainting, but couldn't see tliat it affected 
 him in the least. I reckon he had been boiling salt 
 and water all night, and for the life of me I cainiot 
 see why such men as those will vote to retain the 
 tariff on salt, one of the greatest necessaries of life, 
 wealth, and happiness, to the honest old farmer." 
 
 In 1873, Mr. Sommerville having proved him- 
 self a true Democrat, was given the nomination for 
 Township Supervisor, the party having at that time 
 about forty majority in the township, although as 
 
PORTRAIT AND BrOGRAPHICAL A [.BUM. 
 
 1077 
 
 he remarks, in those days elections were run on 
 high moral principles, and the two parties would 
 often agree to vote for the best man. He ^-an 
 ahead of his ticket, and was elected. The next 
 year he was again a candidate, but the Granger 
 party having been organized in the meantime, his 
 majoritj' was cut down, although he was successful 
 as before. The two succeeding years he was again 
 elected. That the demoralization of politics had 
 already begun, is evidenced by the statement, tiiat 
 in those daj's "floaters", were to be found, although 
 they could be "counted on your fingers, and cost 
 only $1 to ^2 apiece, a $5 man being called a 
 thorough-bred. Since those da3's, the men whose 
 votes can be bought, have become more numerous, 
 and more expensive, costing all the way from $10 
 to $25." 
 
 ]Mr. Sommerville is fully alive totiie crying evils 
 of the day, and while somewhat pessimistic in his 
 views, very clearly sees the injurious effects upon 
 the community of the lax methods of administer- 
 ing justice, and the wrong uses to which political 
 power is put by unscrupulous demagogues. He is 
 thorouglily Democratic in his anxiety to see tax-pay- 
 ers relieved of the many burdens placed ujjon them, 
 and in desiring and working for a purer system of 
 government, in which tlie weiglit of the purse will 
 not overbalance the demands for justice, and the- 
 greatest good to the greatest number. He has 
 moreover the courage of his convictions, and does 
 not hesitate to speak out his sentiments in regard 
 to politics in his immediate neighborhood, and ex- 
 presses himself thereupon in his own quaint way as 
 follows: "The township stands 190 Republicans, 
 170 Democrats, 15 Prohibitionists, and 40 float- 
 ers. While the Democrats use a little money, the 
 Republicans use both money and liquor, and the 
 Prohibitionists keep a full supply of eloquence, 
 wind, and water on liand, with which they barely 
 hold their own. While the county is Democratic, 
 the majority of the Board of Supervisors are Re- 
 publicans. This makes the Grand Jury decidedly 
 Republican; then we have three nice tender-hearted 
 Republican Judges; they look like Justices of the 
 Peace from Kentucky. The first thing the Judge 
 does is to select the foreman, and generally from 
 Paris, or one that is reliable. There a long iron- 
 
 clad oath is administered to him, and the Judge 
 gives the jury long, windy instructions on "bucket- 
 shops," when they would not know one if tliey were 
 to see it. Then the jury retire to their room, and 
 about the first thing they do, is to pass a resolution 
 to have nothing to do with election matters. The 
 Republicans all vote solid for that amendment to 
 the constitution, in order to give tliem equal chances. 
 Then they indict all the saloon keepers on three 
 cases, and send a Republican committee around to 
 confer with them, and they finally agree to let up 
 on them, provided they will give their votes and 
 influence to the Republicans in the next election. 
 After this they set for about two weeks, drawing 
 their pay and selling out occasionally on good 
 cases, and finally reluctantly adjourn with about 
 100 indictments to make a good showing, mostlj^ 
 against Democrats that haven't got the money, or 
 won't put up. About one case out of ten, stands 
 the test, and then it is very amusing to see the 
 Judge put on his judicial countenance, and hear 
 him pour about two volumes of compliments in the 
 ears of the jury for their great and successful efforts 
 in keeping the people civilized, and, he should add, 
 in keeping the Republican party organized. This 
 piece of machinery costs the tax-payers in full, 
 from $3,000 to $4,000 at each term, and the wheel 
 goes round twice a year." 
 
 
 ILLIAM HOULT, JR., one of the younger 
 members of the farming community of 
 Ross Township, owns and operates 115 
 acres of improved land located on section 34 and 
 which, under his excellent management, is the 
 source of a comfortable income. This property has 
 to him a far more than moneyed value, for it is his 
 birthplace and where he first opened his eyes to the 
 light, Sept. 22, 1852. He received his education 
 in the common school and, when reaching his ma- 
 jority, commenced farming for himself on rented 
 land. After a few years he associated himself in 
 partnership with liis father with vvhom he operated 
 until 1883 and then, coming into his share of the 
 
107! 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOCiRAPIIICAL ALBUM. 
 
 property, is now turning his whole attention to its 
 improvement hesides buying, feeding, and raising 
 cattle and draft horses. 
 
 Our subject is the son of the well-known Malhew 
 Iloult, who was born in Fairmount. Marion Co., 
 Xa., and was the son of Elisha Hoult, also a native 
 of that connty, where he carried on farming and 
 spent his last days. The father of our subject came 
 to Illinois in 1832 and, locating in Edgar Town- 
 ship, operated as a farmer and accumulated a fine 
 property. His wife, INfrs. Dorothy (Prickett) 
 Hoult, vvas a native of the same county as her hus- 
 band and the daughter of Jacob Prickett, and of 
 German descent. They became the parents of 
 twelve children, of whom Matthew was the seventh 
 in order of birth and he was born Sept, 26, 1818. 
 He was reared on a farm with limited school ad- 
 vantages and was fourteen years old when the 
 family came to Illinois. They made the journey 
 by boat to Clinton, Ind., and thence by ox team to 
 lUoomfleld at a time when few wliice men had ven- 
 tured into this region to settle and wild game of all 
 kinds was plentiful. 
 
 About 1840 Matliew Hoult rem()ved to a point 
 near Louisburg, Ark., where he was a pioneer set- 
 tler, and engaged in the nurser}' and general fruit 
 raising business. After two and one-half years 
 lie returned t» this countj' and lived in the same 
 house with his father until 1847 when he [mrchased 
 the present homestead. He was one of the first 
 settlers of Ross Township and first secured 109 
 acres of land with a log house. He was prospered 
 in his labors, effected fine improvements, but 
 finally rented his farm and retired from active 
 labor. He was married at Danville in March, 184/, 
 to Miss Lorena Elizabeth Hartley; who was born in 
 Marion County, Va., and who departed this life at 
 the homestead April 22, 1882. He is an active Pro- 
 hibitionist and a member of the Methodist Episco- 
 [lal Church. 
 
 Of the five children born to the parents of our 
 subject only three are living — William, Jr., 
 Prentice, a resident of Ross Township, and Laurie 
 PI, now Mrs. John W. Law of Ross Township. 
 The deceased are: Mary E. and Amos A. William 
 Hoult, Jr., was married June 14, 1874, at the 
 bride's home in Edgar Township to Miss Catherine 
 
 E. Brothers, a native of Ohio and they are now the 
 parents of seven children, viz: Albert, Clara B., 
 Wilbur. iNIiibel G., Sylvester, Barbara E. and Law- 
 rence. Mr. Iloult votes the straight Democratic 
 ticket, but aside from serving on the jury, has 
 mingled very httle in public affairs. 
 
 ILLIKIN SMITH. The young man who 
 begins life earlj' with one definite object 
 in view, seldom fails to meet with success, 
 and ere approaching the noontide of life 
 may accumulate sufficient of this world's goods to 
 relieve him from anxiety as to the future, and en- 
 able him to spend his later years in the enjoyment 
 of life's best gifts. The subject of this sketch is 
 recognized as one of the most enterprising young 
 men of Bruellet Township, where he has a good 
 farm on section 26 which, under his careful man- 
 agement has become a valuable estate. It is 200 
 acres in extent and embellished with a well-iiuilt 
 house and a commodious barn, together with the 
 other buildings and the machinery required for the 
 successful prosecution of agriculture. There fell 
 to him from his father's estate about seventy acres 
 of land and a little money, and, like the wise man 
 in the Scripture, he has improved his talents and 
 added to his possessions. 
 
 Our subject was born in Praii-ie Townshi]), this 
 county, Oct 24, 1866, and was left an orphan by 
 the death of both parents when only about three 
 3'ears old. He was reared by friends of the family 
 and lived with different parties until a lad of four- 
 teen years. Afterward he made his own "wa}^ in 
 in the world mostly, and the experience, although 
 seeming hard at the time, developed in him those 
 qualities which have best fitted him for the sterner 
 duties of life. His father, Shepard B. Smith, came 
 to this county with his parents when a child, it is 
 supposed, although it is possible he w.as born here. 
 The grandfather, Abram Smith, is still living in 
 Chrisman at the advanced age of ninety four years. 
 Upon coming to this county he entered a large 
 tract of land, including the present site of Chris- 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 107 
 
 man, and performed bis part in tlie growth and de- 
 velopment of the county. 
 
 Tlie maiden name of the motlier of our subject 
 was IMatilda Wood and she passed away prior to 
 tlie decease of her husband. Tlieir family consisted 
 of six cliildren. Millil\in, our subject, was married 
 December 21, 1888, to Miss Ida, daughter of A. 
 M. Koons, now a resident of Chrisman and a car- 
 penter by occupation. Mr. Koons was born in 
 Maryland and came to this county at an earlj- daj-, 
 with his parents, they locating at Vermilion County 
 when he was a mere child, and afte'-wards removed 
 to Chrisman. Upon reaching man's estate he 
 worked as a carpenter, became prominent in his 
 community and was speciailj' interested in the 
 cause of temperance. He was an active member of 
 the Baptist Church and a teacher of the Bible Class 
 in the Sunday-school for many years. After the 
 outbreak of the rebellion he enlisted in the Union 
 army and gave to his country a brave and faithful 
 service of three years in Company A, 71st Illinois 
 Infantry. He was at one time President of the 
 Temperance Society and organii;ed a lodge of I. O. 
 G. T. at Chrisman. He departed this life Jan. 8, 
 1882. The mother is still living and a resident of 
 Chrisman. Mrs. Smith under careful parentartrain- 
 ing united with the Baptist Church some years ago 
 and still remains a member. 
 
 ■^-^:^3"&r 
 
 \f; AMP^S M. RICE, of Prairie Township, took 
 possession of his present farm, of 160 acres, 
 on section 30, in 1887. It was then little 
 more than a wilderness, but three years 
 of skillful and well directed labor have worked 
 wonders, and it is now fast approaching a point 
 which will place it second to none among the best 
 regulated farms of the Township. Improvements 
 are being carried on as rapidly as possible, while 
 at the same time Mr. Rice raises quantities of 
 grain and live stock and is considerably interested 
 in trotting horses. He has made fences, repaired 
 the buildings, constructed a flsh pond, set out an 
 orchard and forest trees, and all these, which will 
 be developed in the course of a few years, will in 
 
 time contribute toward the completion of one o 
 the most desirable homesteads in this region. Mr 
 Rice in his labors has been ably seconded by hii 
 excellent and amiable wife, a lady of more thai 
 ordinary worth and intelligence, well educated anci 
 in all respects the most suitable partner of her hus- 
 band. 
 
 The native place of our subject was Taylors- 
 ville, Warrick Co., fnd., and the date of his birth 
 April 29, 1844. He has been familiar with farm 
 pursuits since lioyhood, and obtained his education 
 mostly in the common school, although he attended 
 the High School for a time. Later he assisted his 
 father around the homestead until after the out- 
 break of the Civil War. Then, when but a youth 
 of nineteen years, he, in February, 1863, enlisted 
 in Company D, 143d Indiana Infantry, being mus- 
 tered in at Evansvillo. The regiment was soon 
 sent to the front, and after skirmishing consider- 
 ably in Middle Tennessee was ordered to Tulla- 
 homa, where our subject met with an accident by 
 which he suffered the loss of his left little finger, 
 He was principally on guard duty afterward until 
 the close of the war, and in May, 1865, was mus- 
 tered out at Indianapolis, where he received his 
 honorable discharge. 
 
 Upon leaving the army Mr. Rice resumed farm- 
 ing, and in due time purchased 100 acres of land, 
 which he sold in 1867. We next find him in 
 Champaign County, 111., where he engaged in the 
 cattle business until March, 1868, and afterward 
 for a time farmed on rented land. He was married 
 Aug. 7, 1373, at Paris to Miss Tamar E. Cook, 
 This lady was born in Butler County, Ohio, Nov, 
 29, 1849, and is the daughter of Isaac Cook, alsc 
 a native of the Buckeye State. A sketch of hei 
 brother, Amos Cook, and further notice of the 
 family will be found on another page in this 
 volume. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Rice are the parents of one child 
 a son, Charlie M., and some time since they adopter 
 one John R. Scott from the New York Juvenih 
 Asylum. The boy is the son of John Scott, ol 
 English descent, and who served in the late Civi 
 War. His mother was a Miss Welsh, a native ol 
 England. <Jur subject politically is a stanch Dem- 
 ocrat, and has served as Road Supervisor. He hai 
 
1080 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 little time for the cares of office, and lias conse- 
 quently declined the responsibilities connected 
 therewith. 
 
 The parents of our subject were Thomas J. and 
 Rebecca (Hull) Rice; the father a native of War- 
 rick County, Ind., and the mother of Kentucky. 
 The paternal grandfather held a Colonel's commis- 
 sion in the War of 1812, and was shot through the 
 ankle. He was born in Virginia, and upon leaving 
 his native State settled in Warrick County, Ind., 
 among its earliest pioneers, and where he spent his 
 last days. He traced his ancestry to England. 
 The father of our subject when a youth of seven- 
 teen years entered land from the Government, 
 which he improved and still lives upon. He is 
 well to-do, owning about 400 acres of land in War- 
 rick County, Ind., and is a prominent man in his 
 community, uniformlj^ voting the straigiit Demo- 
 cratic ticket. John Hull, the maternal grandfather 
 of our subject was a native of Kentucky and a 
 farmer by occupation. He spent his last years in 
 Kentucky. Mrs. Rebecca (Hull) Rice is still living 
 and is now fifty-two years of age. The six chil- 
 dren of the parental family were named respec- 
 tively George M., who continues a resident of 
 Warrick County, Ind.; James M., our subject; 
 Elizabeth, living in Spencer County, Ind.; Mis- 
 souri C, Marinda J. and Sarah Y., the latter three 
 residents of Warrick County, Ind. 
 
 p^HOMAS HEFFELFINGER. This genial 
 and companionable old gentleman is known 
 all over the county where he has hosts of 
 friends and where he has arisen from a modest 
 position in life to one of independence. He car- 
 ries on general merchandising at ScottJand and is 
 also interested in farming. He owns altogether 
 687 acres of land embracing two farms in Edgar 
 Township of 380 acres, 201 acres in Bruelett Town- 
 ship and 106 acres in Prairie Township, all of 
 which is in productive condition with fair im- 
 provements. 
 
 The native place of Mr. Heffelfinger was near 
 Carlisle, Cumberland Co., Pa., where he was born 
 
 in March, 1814, was reared on a farm and received 
 limited school advantages. He studied his early 
 lessons in a log school house with slab benches 
 and puncheon floor, and early in life started out 
 for himself, beginning an apprenticeship at cabinet- 
 making when a lad of fifteen years. Later he 
 took up wheelwrighting and subsequently operated 
 as a carpenter in Western Pennsylvania. In 1829 
 he emigrated to Ohio and later operated as a con- 
 tractor and builder in various cities. In 1849 he 
 took up his abode in Attica, Fountain Co., Ind., 
 where he occupied himself as a carpenter and 
 builder until the spring of 1854. Then coming to 
 Bloomfleld, this county, the journey to which 
 point he made by canal and wagon, he established 
 himself as a general merchant and was successful 
 from the start. 
 
 Our subject soon began investing his surplus 
 capital in land in the vicinity of Bloomfleld and 
 hired men to cultivate it. In 1876 he moved his 
 stock of goods to Scottland and has been prospered 
 here as elsewhere. His store building is 18 x 36 
 feet in dimensions, with a wing 22 x 15 feet which 
 is a ware room. He also has a residence property 
 in Chrisman and farm property in Prairie Town- 
 ship. 
 
 On the 15th of October, 1836, Mr. Heffelfinger 
 was married in Wood County, Ohio, to Miss Sarah 
 Bernthisel, who was born in Perry Countj', that 
 State, in 1818. The fruit of this union was two 
 children, Sarah and Luc}', both born in the Buck- 
 eye State. Sarah is the wife of A. J. Culver, a 
 mechanic of San Diego County, Cal., and they 
 have one child, Clinton. Lucy married Joseph 
 Stanfield, a native of this State, and they reside at 
 Chrisman. They have three children, Otis, Milo 
 and OUie. Mrs. Heffelflnger is a member of the 
 Baptist Church. 
 
 Our subject when first becoming a voter was 
 identifled with the old Whig party. He voted for 
 Harrison in 1836, when he was defeated and again 
 in 1840. He voted for his grandson in the fall of 
 1888 and is one of the most zealous adherents of 
 the Republican partj'. His political ideas were 
 shaped bj' those of his honored father, Thomas 
 Heffelflnger, Sr., the place of whose nativity was 
 near the birthplace of his son, near Carlisle, Pa., 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 1081 
 
 where he was reared to farming pursuits and lived 
 until removing to Ohio. Tliis journey was made 
 in wagons overland and lie settled in Wayne 
 County. He traced his ancestry to Switzerland 
 and was a devout member of the Lutheran Church. 
 The maiden name of the mother of our subject 
 was Eva Weaver. She also was born in Cumber- 
 laad County-, Pa., and died in Wayne County, Ohio. 
 The parental household consisted of twelve cliil- 
 dren. The eldest, John, is deceased; Joseph and 
 Elizabeth live in Indiana; Samuel died in Pennsyl- 
 vania; James died in Indiana; William died in 
 California; Benjamin died in Ohio and Archibald 
 died in California. Thomas, our subject, was the 
 ninth in order of birth; Robert, Isabelle and 
 David are living in Ohio. John served as a soldier 
 in the War of 1812. 
 
 ^ AMES M. WILLIAMS. There is probably 
 no more popular man in Edgar Township, 
 than the subject of this notice. He owns 
 and occupies flfty-flve acres of choice land, 
 lying on sections 14 and 15, which comprises a part 
 of the homestead where he was born, March 14, 
 1837. He remembers many of the incidents of the 
 early days of this county when wild game was plen- 
 tiful. He assisted in herding cattle in the open 
 country when a lad of eight or nine years and 
 when thirteen years old traveled overland to Chi- 
 cago with a team. That was in the year 1840, when 
 the now flourishing city was a village without side- 
 walks and giving no indication whatever of its fu- 
 ture importance. 
 
 Young Williams assisted his father in the culti- 
 vation of the farm, remaining under the home roof 
 until nineteen years old. In 1856 he drove a lot 
 of cattle to Minnesota, being forty-two days on the 
 road, after which he went into Dakota and so- 
 journed one winter engaged in trapping and hunt- 
 ing, which yielded him very good returns. It was 
 a period very enjoyable in other respects also, and 
 he was considered one of the best shots in the coun- 
 try. From that time until 1859 he engaged in farm- 
 ing in Illinois; next he purchased eighty acres of 
 
 land in Edgar Township for which he paid |23 per 
 acre. He cultivated the soil, erected good build- 
 ings and instituted various other improvements 
 and at the same time was very successful in his 
 farming operations. In 1880, he purchased eighty 
 acres adjoining, which he retained until 1887, and 
 then sold it with the exception of fifty-five acres, 
 which he still owns. This is enclosed with neat and 
 substantial fencing, mostly of hedge, and is embel- 
 lished with groves and an orchard, a stream of 
 running water, with good springs, and the land has 
 been made fertile by thorough drainage. Mr. Wil- 
 liams in 188(j sustained considerable loss by the 
 burning of his barn. In addition to general agri- 
 culture he makes a specialty of stock-raising and 
 also buys and feeds considerably. He keeps six 
 good draft horses and utilizes two teams in his 
 farm operations. 
 
 The marriage of our subject with Miss Olive 
 Collins, took place at the bride's home in Edgar 
 County in 1860. This lady was born in Edgar 
 County, 111., and is now the mother of two children 
 — Alice and Hester. Tiie elder attended the city 
 schools at Paris and for six years has been a suc- 
 cessful teacher. Hester remains at home with her 
 parents. Mr. Williams politically is a solid Demo- 
 crat and one of the most active members of his 
 party in this vicinity. He frequently officiates as 
 a delegate to the county conventions and labors 
 as he has opportunity for the success of its prin- 
 ciples. He served as Constable for a period of ei^lit 
 years and has been a School Director. 
 
 The father of our subject was Reason Williams, 
 who was born in Brcckenridge County, Ky., and 
 was the son of an old Virginian, who emigrated 
 from his native State to Kentucky in the pio- 
 neer days. He purchased land, engaged in farm- 
 ing and there spent the remainder of his life. The 
 father of our subject, like his honored sire, also 
 chose agriculture for his life occupation, but 
 elected to prosecute it on the soil of Illinois. Jour- 
 neying overland by means of an ox team, he in 
 1834, came to Paris Township and purchased land 
 which he improved with oxen, having no horses 
 for several years. He finally parted with his 
 first purchase and entered fortj^ acres of land in 
 Edgar Township. He also purchased a like amount 
 
1082 
 
 PORTRAIT AND HIOGRAPIIICAL ALBUM. 
 
 adjoining and added to his real estate until lie was 
 at one time the owner of 211 acres. He cnti-aged 
 quite extensively in the live-stock l)usiness driving 
 his fat cattle through to Chicago in the early days. 
 He departed this life full of years and honors in 
 1878. He was a man well known throughout this 
 coinmunitj', was first a Whig and then a Democrat, 
 and a member of the Hardshell Baptist Church. 
 
 jNIrs. Maria (Seaton) Williams, the mother of our 
 subject was born in Virginia and was the daughter 
 of William Seaton, a native of that State and who 
 there spent his entire life. The daughter, B'laria, 
 went to Kentucky prior to her marriage. She is 
 still living, occupying a part of the homestead, and 
 is quite well advanced in years. Her son, .lames 
 M., looks after her needs carefully and sees that 
 she wants for nothing. 
 
 The parental household included eleven children 
 of whom Henr^', William and George are deceased. 
 James M. was the fourth in order of birth; Albert is 
 ceased; Harrison is a resident of Kansas; Sarah, 
 Mrs. Collins, lives in Edgar Townsliip; Juda, Maria, 
 and Erailj' are deceased; Lucy lives in Kansas; 
 George, during the late Civil War, served three 
 months in 1861 in a regiment of Hlinois Infantry; 
 Albert enlisted in 1861 in a Wisconsin regiment 
 and died in one of the Southern hospitals. 
 
 AVID SCOTT. The Scott family every- 
 where are recognized as among the lead- 
 /fi^J^ ing citizens of this county and the subject 
 ^'^ of this notice, one of its most worthy off- 
 shoots, is located on a fine farm of 320 acres on 
 section 15 in Ross Township. He was one of the 
 pioneer settlers and is a man possessing great in- 
 tegrity of character, reliable and prompt in meeting 
 his obligations, and a member of his community 
 which it could not well do without. A sketch of 
 his father, Samuel Scott, will be found in the biog- 
 raphy of Andrew Scott elsewhere in this volume — 
 David and Andrew being brothers. 
 
 The subject of our sketch was born in Moorcs- 
 ville, Morgan Co., Ind., Feb. 24, 1824, and was 
 reared to manhood on a farm, mostly in this 
 
 county, as his parents in 1829 left Indiana and 
 came to Illinois. He consequently remembers very 
 little of his early home, but recollects some inci- 
 dents of the journey, which was made overland 
 and consumed several weeks. Wild animals of all 
 kinds abounded in this region at that time, and 
 young Scott at times, has seen as many as fift3' deer 
 in one herd. His education was limited by a few 
 weeks each year in the log school house, the school 
 being conducted on the subscription plan. 
 
 Our subject was at an early age introduced to 
 farm labor and, when a boy of ten, herded cattle 
 on the prairies and became a fearless rider. He 
 frequently accompanied his father, driving cattle 
 through to Chicago, which was then an unimportant 
 town, and he took part in the wolf hunts which 
 were frequently organized in order to exterminate 
 that disagreeable and mischievous animal. He re- 
 mained at home until twenty-two years old and, in 
 1851 , crossing the Mississippi, he located in Mon- 
 mouth Township, Jackson Co., Iowa, where he 
 purchased 120 acres of land and a farm ten miles 
 west of jMaquoketa. He lived there for a period 
 of twentj' years and, in 1871, came back to this 
 county and located upon the farm which he now 
 occupies. 
 
 Mr. Scott has five houses on his farm occupied 
 bj' his men, and is largelj' engaged in stock-raising, 
 feeding and shipping cattle, disposing of from 
 five to six carloads annually. Seven teams of 
 horses are utilized in the farm labor, these being 
 graded draft animals of excellent breeds. The 
 farm lies about two and one-half miles north of 
 Chrisman and is considered a ver}' valuable piece 
 of property. 
 
 The marriage of David Scott with Miss Emma 
 Lock took place at the home of the bride's parents 
 at Anamosa, Jones Co., Iowa, in the fall of 1853. 
 This lady was born in Coles County, 111. Mrs. 
 Scott departed this life at her home in Edgar 
 County, 111., May 2, 1880. Their eldest child, 
 Sylvester, operates the home farm, where he lives , 
 with America L. and David M., his sister and 
 brother. Columbus is also on the home farm; 
 Serena is the wife of Ted Coslett, a farmer of 
 Young America Township. 
 
 Mr. Scott is a very strong Republicf^n, and is 
 
] "V?"^'^ ^'•r;,"""-'-^5?^ 
 
 ^¥^1/ ^- 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 1095 
 
 quite prominent in party politics in this section, 
 frequently' serving as a delegate to the county con- 
 ventions. He liiis served on the Grand and Petit 
 juries a number of times; has also served as School 
 Director, and in Iowa was Constable for many 
 j'ears. He assisted in building the first school 
 house in the Hawkeye State and has all his life been 
 interested in educational matters. In Iowa he was 
 a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. 
 There, also, he was a member of the Vigilance Com- 
 mittee who made it their business to look after 
 horse thieves, and attended the first trial of one of 
 these, which was held on the open highway. Dur- 
 ing those days the Indians encamped in large num- 
 bers along the banks of the Maquoketa River and 
 Mr. Scott frequently traded horses with tliem. He 
 has watched with lively interest the changes oc- 
 curring during a period of thirty years and has 
 contributed his full quota to the development of 
 one of the richest sections of country in the Great 
 West. 
 
 -3'i*~ 
 
 R. ABEL HORNE, Veterinary Surgeon, is 
 a gentleman of recognized ability, not only 
 in connection with his profession, but one 
 who is thoroughly well informed, and pos- 
 sesses mental gifts of a high order. A native of 
 Wayne Count}', Ind., he was born Jan. 16, 1852, 
 and is the son of AVilson and Clarkey (Henby) 
 Home, who were natives of Wa\'ne County, N. C, 
 the father born in the j'ear 1800, and the mother in 
 1801. They were of English and Scotch ancestry, 
 respectively, and carefully reared in thu Quaker 
 faith. They spent their childhood and youth in 
 their native State, where they were married, and 
 whence they removed to Indiana in 1822. They 
 were among the pioneer residents of Wayne County, 
 and built up a homestead from the wilderness, 
 where they spent the remainder of their lives, the 
 mother passing away in 1866, and the father two 
 j'oars later. To Wilson Home and his excellent 
 wife, there was born a family of twelve children, 
 only four of whom are living: Dr. A., our subject ; 
 Hannah, Mrs. Cammack, of Xenia, Ind.; Eliza, 
 
 Mrs. Canady, of Amboy, Ind.; and Clarkey J., 
 Mrs. Lamb, of Richmond, Ind. 
 
 The subject of this sketch, in common with his 
 brothers and sisters, acquired his early education 
 in the district school, and remained with his father 
 upon the farm until reaching man's estate. In 
 18;j0, before attaining his nineteenth year, he was 
 united in marriage with Miss Harriet Linton. 
 The}' remained in Indiana for six years thereafter, 
 and in 1 856, started for the Great West, their 
 destination being Omaha, Neb. Our subject there 
 engaged as a real-estate dealer three years, then re- 
 . turned to his native county in the fall of 1859. 
 He had always been fond of horses, and a close 
 observer of their habits and needs, and determined 
 to turn his attention to the study of their diseases. 
 Repairing to St. Louis, he entered the ^'eterinary 
 College, which was under the superintendence of 
 the well-known Dr. Keller, and was graduated that 
 same year. 
 
 In the spring of 1861 Dr. Home established 
 himself in Edgar County, III. and commenced the 
 practice of his profession which he continued with 
 but shght interruptions, in Edgar and Vermilion 
 counties until 1880. During this time he acquired 
 an enviable reputation in this line of practice do- 
 ing an extensive business and which proved the 
 source of a fine income. It is estimated that in 
 eleven cases out of thirteen ho was successful in 
 the treatment of tetanus or lockjaw by a remedj' 
 of his own discovery and his novel manner of ad- 
 ministering the same won for him much praise. 
 He also saved the lives of six or seven very valu- 
 able animals by an operation called tracheotomj', 
 which consists of making an artificial opening in 
 the windpipe. He also saved a number of cattle 
 and horses by inserting a trocar into the animal's 
 flank and thus liberating the carbonic acid gas. 
 He has indeed made a specialty of animal surgery, 
 performing many critical operations and being 
 almost uniformly successful. 
 
 Since the year 1880 Dr. Home has been engaged 
 in quite another field of labor in the connection 
 with the publication of biographical and county 
 history, but in the meantime his leisure htmrs have 
 been employed in a close study of all the late pub- 
 lications, French, English and American, in relation 
 
1096 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 to the veterinary science, the results of whicli lie 
 proposes to give to the world by resuming his 
 practice in the near future. He is now established 
 at Hildreth with a choice stock of drugs and medi- 
 cines and the instruments necessary to iiis chosen 
 calling. At the same time he will officiate as auc- 
 tioneer, a profession which he has followed success- 
 fully for twenty-five years and he will also act as 
 attorney whenever required, having by a course of 
 law stud}' perfected himself so as to be able to 
 conduct any ordinary case. It will thus be seen 
 that he has spent few idle hours since reaching 
 years of manhood and his ambition has kept pace 
 with his mental acquirements. 
 
 During the first year of the late Civil War Dr. 
 Home entered the Union army as a membei' of 
 Company E, 1.50th Illinois Infantry in which he 
 was first Orderly Sergeant and later received a 
 Captain's commission. Ill health, however, ol)liged 
 him to leave the army before receiving his com- 
 mission and he reluctantly returned to his old 
 field of labor. To him and his estimable wife 
 there have been born ten children, the eldest of 
 whom, a daughter, Mary E., is the wife of William 
 H. Hildreth, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere 
 in this volume; Francis M. is a commercial trav- 
 eler; Cinderella; Parlhcna is the wife of Robert K. 
 Crimmins, who is represented elsewhere in this 
 work; Dora V. married George Christlieb of Kan- 
 sas; Willie, Sarah E., Jennie L., deceased; Mar- 
 garet and John are deceased. The mother of 
 these children died in August, 1876. 
 
 The Doctor contracted a second marriage in 
 1877 with iMiss Lund Flemming, and to them were 
 born two children, Carrie and .John, the latter of 
 whom is deceased. The present wife of our sub 
 ject, to whom he was married in 1882, was form- 
 erly Miss Frankie Y. Young, daughter of Omega 
 and Nancy (Staytor) Young anil niece of Gov. 
 Wise of Virginia. She was boin in Brown 
 County, Ohio, Sept. 2, 1853, and is a sister of W. 
 W. Young, a law partner of Gen. Bl.ackhurn, of 
 Ohio Mr. Young is considered one of the ablest 
 criminal lawyers in the Buckeye State. Another 
 brother, W. D. Young, is the Mayor of Ripley, 
 Ohio, and likewise a prominent attorney. Her 
 father was a minister of the Now Light Chnrch 
 
 during his younger years, but later became a 
 Freethinker. Both he and his wife are deceased. 
 Mrs. Frankie V. Home was well educated, being 
 graduated from Lebanon C'ollege, where subse- 
 quently she was engaged as a teacher. 
 
 Dr. Horne was reared in the ("Quaker faith, but 
 when eighteen years old identified himself with 
 the Methodist Episcopal Chnrch and later officia- 
 ted as a minister for a period of four years. Since 
 th.at time his religious views have changed and he 
 is (juite liberal. Although his school education 
 was quite limited, his inclinations have always 
 heen toward literature and science, and by improv- 
 ing his leisure hours he has become well informed 
 upon most of the leading topics of the day. His 
 researches constrained him to enter the lecture 
 held, the result of which has been many interesting 
 addresses upon the subject of electrical psychology, 
 physiology, geology, natural philosophy, the horse 
 and his diseasss, and ether topics. He has like- 
 wise been a debater of no mean talent, and in the 
 field of theology has met some very able public 
 speakers. His remarkable memory gives him great 
 advantage in these contests, while his natural elo- 
 quence and gift of logic makes him an exceed- 
 ingly interesting speaker. 
 
 A self-made man. Dr. Horne deserves more than 
 a passing mention. He who amid the disadvant- 
 ages of his early life climbs up unaided the ladder 
 of knowledge, forms a part of that element which 
 has given to the world some of its most valuable 
 men. Not only should it prove a stimulus to oth- 
 ers, but it has opened up many channels of 
 thought and assisted the world's progress intellect- 
 ually; and inasmuch as the mind becomes enlight- 
 ened and the tiioughts elevated, it must follow in 
 the nature of things that the world is to be made 
 better. Every man who is the means of instruc- 
 tion to his fellows has contributed something to 
 the general good, and is the means of exerting an 
 influence which will remain effective long after he 
 has been called hence. 
 
 In closing this l)rief sketch, the publishers of 
 this Albuji wish to express in this public man- 
 ner their appreciation of the ability and faith- 
 fulness of Dr. Horne. Long and close business .ac- 
 quaintance with him gave us ample opportunity 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 1097 
 
 of. knowing him well. A kinder-liearted man 
 is seldom met. He is generous to a fault, unless it 
 be a fault to be too open handed. His friendships 
 are strong and no malice toward one who has in- 
 jured him ever finds lodgment within his breast. 
 A genius in the use of language, almost a prodigy 
 for remembering all he either reads or hears, a lire- 
 less worker, Dr. Home is in many respects a re- 
 markable man. We take pleasure in presenting his 
 portrait in this volume. 
 
 -+-|«^^54+-^ 
 
 ■..ENJAMIN F. MANNING. The father of 
 our subject was born in Clermont County, 
 Ohio, where he grew to maijliood. Coming 
 to Edgar Township in 1829, he located on 
 eighty acres of land. Being one of the first set- 
 tlers of the township, he and his family experi- 
 enced the usual vicissitudes of pioneer life, fighting 
 as occasion required Indians or wolves. Using his 
 best efforts to improve this farm of eighty acres, he 
 succeeded iu making a home for his family, and had 
 the satisfaction of seeing the boundless prairie dot- 
 ted all over with farms and villages. He followed 
 this active and useful life till ho quietly fell asleep 
 at the age of seventy years. The mother of our 
 subject was Elizabeth Day. She was born in Ohio, 
 where she married John Manning, and with her 
 husband name to Edgar Township, where she con- 
 tinued to reside until her death. The parental 
 family consisted of thirteen children, namely: 
 Minerva, deceased ; Alonzo. deceased, he enlisted 
 in the 54th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, in 1861, 
 and served with credit to himself until he was taken 
 prisoner at the battle of Chickamauga, and was sent 
 to Andersonville, where after one year's suffering 
 he died of starvation. Edward J., the next son, 
 enlisted in the 54th Illinois Infantry in 1861; 
 altliough wounded in the limb he served until the 
 close of the war, and now lives in Bates Countj^, 
 Mo. ;Cina, deceased; Melvin, is now living in Bour- 
 bon County, Kan. ; he served in the war in the same 
 regiment as his brothers, Edward and Alonzo; 
 while fighting bravely he was wounded by the ex- 
 plosion of a shell. In 1863 Wesley and Oliver 
 
 enlisted in the Illinois Cavalry, serving fearlessly 
 until the close of the war. The remaining mem- 
 bers of the family are: Eliza, still at the old home- 
 stead in Edgar County: Thirza, deceased; John, is 
 living in Barton County, Mo. ; Wesley, is in Walla 
 Walla County, Wash.; Alfred is in this county; 
 Oliver is living in Decatur, 111.; Joseph is in 
 Huron County, Ohio; and Benjamin, our subject. 
 
 The youngest member of this family and the 
 subject of tiiis sketch was born in Edgar Town- 
 ship Nov, 27, 1850, growing up on the farm. Even 
 in his early years he was obliged to work, follow- 
 ing the plow as soon as he was old enough to hold 
 one. His educational advantages were limited, 
 being confined to the meagre course of instruction 
 afforded by the common schools of those days. 
 He can remember the times when wild game, deer, 
 and wolves roamed over the prairie, obliging the 
 settlers to guard their lives and their crops. When 
 a boy he took part in the many wolf hunts on the 
 prairies, enjoying the exciting rides with all the 
 ardor of youth. 
 
 The architects of those days did not build houses 
 for show, but for comfort and endurance, so that 
 our subject was enabled to live in the same house 
 his parents had first built until he was twenty years 
 old, when he left home to do for himself. He 
 rented land in Edgar Township, and followed farm- 
 ing until 1 878, wht n he started a store in Edgar, buy- 
 ing out the stock of Robert Wasson. ICngaging in 
 general merchandise, he carried on the business one 
 year and then sold to Morris Little, going back to 
 his present place of eighty acres. Since returning 
 ho has made improvements, amongst others having 
 planted a fine orchard. While raising the usual 
 quantity of grain and stock, he also pays attention 
 to fine cattle and hogs, having plenty of water, his 
 farm being located on both sides of the Bruellet 
 Creek. He has two teams of horses and a large 
 apiary. 
 
 October, 1870, in Pklgar Township, Mr. Man- 
 ning was united in marriage with Miss Sarah E. 
 Little, an account of whose life appears in Morris 
 Little's sketch. Mrs. Manning is a native of Clin- 
 ton County, Ind., where she was born April 12. 
 1854, and came to this State in 1858, growing up 
 in Edgar County. Mr. and Mrs. Manning have 
 
1098 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 seven children, named respectively: Otis IMarion, 
 Lnlu Maud, Inez Mead, Eflfle Mabel, Artlia 
 Ethel, and the twins, Jessie Hila, and Bessie Nila. 
 Our subject is Constable of the county at present, 
 and has been a School Director for six years. In 
 politics he is a Republican, and was a delegate to 
 the Coiinty Convention. His wife is a devoted 
 member of the Christian Church. 
 
 ^yjsu 
 
 -^ 
 
 ( OSEPH D. HUNTER. The individual who 
 has assisted in maintaining the reputation of 
 his township as the abode of an intelligent 
 nd progressive diss of people deserves to 
 have his name preserved among the annals of its 
 most worthy and useful men. Not alone as a money- 
 making factor does a man become of value to 
 his community, but he who assists in upholding 
 the. standard of moralitv, and gives due weight to 
 tlie finer elements of life, should not be passed un- 
 noticed. 
 
 The surroundings of an individual determine in 
 a large measure tiie salient points of his character. 
 In passing among the beautiful homes of Hunter 
 Township, to none is the attention of tiie passing 
 traveler more agreeably attracted than that which 
 belongs to the subject of this notice. The well- 
 <loveloped farm of 2,50 acres is under a thorough 
 state of cultivation, enclosed with neat and sub- 
 stantial fences and embellished with modern build- 
 ings. Tlie dwelling is a large and elegant house, 
 beautifully furnished, set in the midst of a fine 
 lawn, surrounded by shade trees and shrubbery, 
 and forming one of the most attractive pictures in 
 the landscape of this region. The land is well cul- 
 tivated by the most modern and approved machin- 
 ei'v. while the well-fed live stock contributes its 
 quota to the general appearance of comfort and 
 plentj'. Personally the proprietor of this elegant 
 home is one of tiie most popular men, both in the 
 social and business circles of his community. 
 
 The Hunter homestead possesses more than a 
 mdueyed value to our subject, for it was here that 
 he first opened his eves to the light in 1849, and 
 amid its quiet surroundings, cngnged in rural pur- 
 
 suits, developed into manhood. In the meantinje 
 he acquired an excellent education, entering the 
 Paris Academy after leaving the district school, 
 and later he was a student in a school in Indiana 
 one year. He completed his studies in a commer- 
 cial college in Chicago. His habits of industry 
 were thus fortified by an intelligent knowledge of 
 business methods, and he was fully prepared to en- 
 ter upon a successful and honorable career. 
 
 When prepared to establish a fireside of his own 
 our subject was united in marriage, October, 1874. 
 in Vermillion County, Ind., with Miss Ella, daugh- 
 ter of William C. and Elizabeth (Bogart) Groves. 
 The young people began their wedded life in their 
 present residence which had been recently built, 
 find under the most favorable auspices Mr. Hunter 
 proceeded with tbe cultivation of his land, while 
 he still carried on the improvements on his farm. 
 There have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Hunter five 
 children, namely : Collett; Maude, now deceased, 
 Florence, William C, and Blanche, who is dead. 
 Both Mr. and jNIrs. Hunter are members in good 
 standing of the Methodist Church, and Mr. Hun- 
 ter gives his political support to the Democratic 
 party. About 1879 he was elected Township 
 Commissioner, served two years, was re-elected 
 in 1885 and still holds the office. He has also 
 served as Township Clerk and School Director. 
 His aim has been to raise the standard of agricul- 
 ture in Central Illinois, and for the past two 3'ears 
 he has served as Superintendent and Vice-Presi- 
 dent of the Agricultural Society. During the 
 construction of the county jail in 1888, Mr. Hun- 
 ter was Chairman of the Board of Supervisors, 
 and is still a member of the Building Committee. 
 For a number of years Mr. Hunter has been largely 
 interested in live-stock, buying, raising and ship- 
 ping cattle and swine in large numbers. For a 
 period of four years he was connected with a pack- 
 ing house at Newport, Indianapolis and Danville, 
 being associated with Mr. Collett as junior mem- 
 ber of the firm, and they carried on a large and 
 profitable business. 
 
 Spencer K. Hunter, the father of our subject, 
 was a native of Tennessee, and lived there until ap- 
 proaching manhood, when he came about 1827 to 
 this county with his parents. In due time he en- 
 
PORTRAIT AND RTOGRAPllICAL ALBUM. 
 
 109£ 
 
 tererl a tract of land and later in company with 
 his brother, John, purchased two sections of Henry 
 Clay, which property still remains in the family 
 and from a part of wliich the farm of Joseph was 
 cut off. Spencer K. Hunter is still living and a 
 resident of this county. 
 
 The parents of Mrs. Hunter were natives of 
 Tennessee, whence they removed to Indiana durin<r 
 its pioneer days in their youth, with their respect- 
 ive parents. After marriage they began house- 
 keeping in true pioneer style, the father securing a 
 tract of land from which he opened up a farm which 
 still remains their home. The family traces its an- 
 cestry to Germany. Mr. Hunter had the manage- 
 ment of iiis father's farm, comprising about 700 
 acres of choice land, and is the guardian of Harr^' 
 and Amy, orphan children of his deceased sister, 
 Hannah, who married AVilliam Hunter, a native of 
 Ireland. The latter emigrated to the United States 
 when quite 3'oung. It is not supposed that he is 
 any relation to the Hunter family to whicli his 
 wife belonged. These children were given a farm 
 of 120 acres by their maternal grandfather Hunter^ 
 and this is managed by Joseph D. 
 
 ILTON A. BLACKBURN, a young man 
 who has just passed the the thirtieth 
 3'ear of his age, is accounted oue of the 
 most enterprising farmers of Edgar Town- 
 ship, and has a quarter section of land which under 
 his wise management is becoming a valuable piece 
 of property. The farm with its neat and conve- 
 nient buildings makes a very attractive homestead, 
 and the proprietor is a general favorite both in tlie 
 social and business circles of the communit}'. He 
 is married to an accomplished and intelligent lady, 
 and in their journey of life, comparatively just be- 
 gun, they have the good wishes of hosts of friends. 
 The Blackburn family may properly be ac- 
 counted as one of the old landmarks of Edgar 
 County to which they came during its pioneer 
 days, first being represented by Col. James Black- 
 1)11 rn, the paternal great-grandfather of our sub- 
 ject. His son, William, the father of Milton A., 
 
 our subject, was born in Stratton Township and is 
 fully represented on anotiier page in this volume. 
 Grandfather Blackburn entered land in Stratton 
 Township and later served as a colonel all through 
 the Black Hawk War. Upon returning to civil 
 life he resumed the cultivation and improvement 
 of his land, becoming well-to-do, and left at his 
 decease property estimated to be worth $100,000. 
 The father of our subject was bred to farm life 
 ;iucl after reaching man's estate engaged in stock- 
 raising. After his marriage he located in Grand 
 View Township where he sojourned many years, 
 then abandoning the active labors of farm life, 
 took up his abode in Paris, where for a time he 
 conducted a clothing store. He owns a large 
 amount of real estate adjoining the town and 800 
 acres of land besides, being, like his father before 
 him, well-to-do and having the faculty of turning 
 everything he chooses into hard cash. In his politi- 
 cal views he is a decided Republican and in relig- 
 ious matters an Elder of the Presbyterian Church 
 at Paris. He was married in earlj' manhood to 
 Miss Tate, and of this union there was born one 
 child, who is now Mrs. Gano. Of his second 
 marriage with Louisa Downard there were born 
 seven children, viz., Cassie (Mrs. Guthrie), Mil- 
 ton A., our subject, William, Jr., Maggie, James, 
 John and Nellie. Most of them are under the home 
 roof and all are residents of Paris Township. 
 
 ' The subject of this notice was born at the old 
 homestead in Grand View Township, June 11, 
 1859. He remained there until a lad of twelve 
 years, then removed with his parents into Paris 
 where he completed the ordinary branches of study 
 in the High School. In 1878 he entered the Uni- 
 versity at Champaign, remaining two 3'ears and 
 completing his studies. Upon leaving the univer- 
 sity he resumed farming near Paris and grad- 
 ually drifted into stock-raising. Afterward he 
 operated 1,300 acres of land in partnership with his 
 father. In the spring of 1882 he purchased bis 
 present homestead of 160 acres of improved land, 
 for which he paid the snug sum of $9,000. It is 
 very pleasantly located about six miles from Paris 
 and embellished with a convenient modern dwell- 
 ing, set in the midst of ample grounds, with 
 groves and an orchard adjacent and an ample barn 
 
lino 
 
 PORTRAIT AND RIOGRAPIIK'AL ALRUM. 
 
 50x60 feet in rliraeiisions. ile has wisely supplied 
 himself with the most approved machinery and 
 makes a specialty of Short-horn cattle, draft horses 
 and roadsters, Hambletonian, Percheron and Eng- 
 lish Shiro. He takes a pardonable pride in his 
 horses, wliicli frequentl3' are awarded the premiums 
 at the various fairs. He is a stockholder in the 
 County Fair Association, having its headquarters 
 at Paris and has served on the committee of awards 
 for horses. 
 
 Mr. Blackburn was married at Chrisman, Dec. 22, 
 1881, to Miss Effie McKee, a sket(;h of whose 
 father, will be found on another page in this vol- 
 ume. Mrs. Blackburn is a native of Edgar Town- 
 ship, and is the mother of three children, Ralph, 
 Fred and Marie. Our subject politically gives his 
 unqualified support to the Republican party. He 
 is a member of the Scliool Board and prominently 
 identified with the Pi'csbyterian Church at Paris. 
 Mrs. Blackburn belongs to the Baptist Cliurch at 
 Chrisman. 
 
 ^ IKILLIAM R. POULTER. The memory 
 \/iJ// '^^ *'''* excellent man, who dei)arted this 
 V^^ life at his homestead in Kansas Township, 
 Aug. 28, 1877, is held in kindly remembrance by 
 a large portion of the residents of this part of the 
 count}'. He was a native of Jefferson County, 
 K}^, and was for many years a prominent man in 
 Kansas Township, which he represented in the 
 County Board of Supervisors three years in suc- 
 cession, and was Commissioner of Highways for a 
 period of six years. He took an active interest in 
 all the enterprises calculated to benefit the people, 
 socially, morally and financially. Especially was 
 he interested in the estalilishment and maintenance 
 of schools, and under his watchful care the sj'stem 
 of instruction was greatly improved. His remains 
 were laid to rest in the famil)- cemetery on the old 
 home farm, which is now occupied by his son 
 Thomas. 
 
 In 1838 our subject was married to Eliza Doing, 
 she dying. Mr. Poulter, in 1847, was married in 
 Ed«ar County to Mrs. Rachel H. (Gibbons) Mus- 
 grave. This lady was born in Lancaster Couaty, 
 
 Pa., Dec. 12, 1824, and when a child of eighteen 
 months was taken by her parents, James and Eliza 
 A. (Scott) Gibbons, to Columbiana County, Ohio. 
 They lived there eight years, then, in 1833, emi- 
 grated to Terre Haute, Ind., where they sojourned 
 seven years. In 1847 they came to Edgar County, 
 III., and settled on a tract of land about three 
 miles from the town of Grand View. There the 
 father cultivated his land and made a comfortable 
 home. Miss Rachel was first married at the old 
 farm near Terre Haute to Nathan Musgrave, and 
 they lived in that vicinity four years, in the mean- 
 time becomiug the parents of one child, a son, 
 Henry. Mr. Musgrave died in April, 1845. 
 
 In 1840 James Gibbons removed with his family 
 to Clarke County, this State, where he purchased a 
 farm, upon which he operated many years, and 
 whei'e the mother died. Mrs. Musgrave after the 
 death of her husband returned to her father's 
 house and lived with the family in Clark County 
 until after her marriage with Mr. Poulter. Soon 
 afterward Mr. and Mrs. Poulter took up their abode 
 in Kansas Township, Edgar County, where the 
 death of Mr. Poulter took place and where she 
 still lives. Of this marriage there were born eleven 
 children : Eliza Jane was first married to William 
 Timmons, who is now deceased, and she then be- 
 came the wife of W. J. Ward, and now lives in 
 Bates County, Mo. ; Amelia, Mrs. N. E. Hurst, is a 
 resident of Vernon County, Mo.; Rosa, Mrs. A. S. 
 Davis, lives in Bates Countj-; Lucy, the wife of 
 iMariou Hurst, lives in Vernon County, Mo. ; Fill- 
 more lives in Kansas Township; he married Miss 
 Mary Thomas, and to them have been born two 
 children — Claude and Clyde; Walter Scott married 
 Nettie M. Redmon, and resides in Clark County. 
 The next child died in infancy; Mildred is the 
 wife of William Clutters, and Martha is the wife of 
 James Smith; both are living in Bates County, Mo.; 
 Franklin lives with his mother; Belle is the wife of 
 William Ambers, of Kansas Township. 
 
 Mrs. Poulter was left a fine property by her late 
 husband, consisting of 196 acres of choice land, 
 which is opei-ated by her son Franklin. Her 
 father, James Gibbons was born in Pennsylvania, 
 which was also the native State of her paternal 
 grandfather, Samuel Gibbons. There the latter 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOCiRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 no: 
 
 was married and reared his family of sixteen chil- 
 dren. At the age of seventy years he emigrated to 
 Ohio, where he died when ninety years old. Her 
 grent-grandfather, David Gibbons, lived many 
 years in Pennsylvania and died there; the place of 
 liis birth is not known. 
 
 The mother of Airs. Poulter was born in New 
 York City, and was the daughter of Dr. Rodney 
 Scott, one of the most noted [jhysicians and sur- 
 geons of his time. Tlie maiden name of his wife 
 was Hannah Gildersleeve. The maternal great- 
 grandfather of Mrs. Poulter was Robert Scott, a 
 native of Scotland, who crossed the Atlantic dur- 
 ing tlie Colonial times. Mr. Musgravc, the first 
 husband of Mrs. Poulter, belonged to the Society 
 of Friends, while Mr. and Airs. Poulter were iden- 
 fied with the Christian Church. The Poulter fam- 
 ily' is widely represented in Central Illinois, and are 
 recognized as forming a portion of its best social 
 elements, while their industiy and thrift have made 
 them generally well-to-do. 
 
 THEODORE SCIIANCE. There is probably 
 in the whole of Edgar County no man hav- 
 
 ing a better understanding of general me- 
 chanics and blacksmithing than the subject of this 
 sketch. Of this business he has made a study and 
 a science, and takes pride in his acquirements. He 
 is far above the average in intelligence and natural 
 abilities, a man who has read and thought much, 
 and one with whom it is most pleasant and profit- 
 able to converse. He has forty acres of fine land 
 on section 33 in Ross Township, and 364 acres 
 elcsewhere, some of it lying in Young America 
 Township. 
 
 A native of Christianstadt, Sweden, our subject 
 was born Dec. 24, 1826, and until a youth of six- 
 teen years remained on the farm with his parents, 
 in the meantime attending the common school. He 
 then began his apprenticeship as a machinist, and 
 was in the employ of one man for a period of 
 eight years. He, however, was ambitious for some- 
 tling better than it appeared he might attain in 
 bis native land, and in 1851 set sail for America 
 
 on thegood ship "CHiristiana," whicli landed him it 
 New York City after a voyage of ten weeks anc 
 four days. 
 
 From the metropolis ouc subject proceeded tc 
 .Jamestown, N. Y., and thereafter for six years was 
 in the employ of one man, officiating the greatei 
 |)art of the time as foreman of machinery. Wher 
 leaving the Empire State, in 1857, he came to this 
 county .ind located in Bloomfield, where he es- 
 talilislied a shop for himself, conducted it one }'eai 
 and then sold out. His next removal was to Cherry 
 Point, of which he has since been a resident. He 
 put up a shop, and was prospered from the start, 
 engaging in general blacksmithing and as a ma- 
 chinist. 
 
 In 1863 Mr. Seliance built the first store at the 
 Point, assisted in organizing the town and was in- 
 strumental in establishing tlie Postoffice. He pur- 
 cliased forty acres of land in 1858, and followed 
 his trade until 1873. That year he removed to the 
 farm in Ross Township, where he established his 
 residence and improved his land. He operated 
 there until 1883, then returned to Cherry Point, 
 and is now considerably engaged in the fruit busi- 
 ness. He has constructed a fish pond, which is 
 stocked with German carp, and in which be justly 
 takes much pride. He at one time engaged in 
 feeding and shipping stock, handling sometimes as 
 many as 250 annually. 
 
 Our subject was married in Sugar Grove, War- 
 ren Co., Pa., in March, 1853, to Miss Caroline 
 Jones, a native of Northern Sweden, who came to 
 America in 1851. Of this union there were born 
 two children: Clarence E. married Miss Helen 
 Riddle, of Mattoon, and is farming in Ross Town- 
 ship; John G. took to wife Aliss Allnnie Brant, of 
 Chrisman, and he is engaged in farming and as a 
 stock-dealer at Cherry Point. Mr. Schance is one 
 of the most earnest advocates of the principles of 
 the Republican party, and has officiated as School 
 Director for the past nine years; he has also served 
 as Highway Commissioner three years. He has 
 served on the grand and petit juries, and, socially, 
 belongs to Bloomfield Lodge No. 148, A. F. & 
 A. M., and also the lodge at Chrisman. His song 
 are both members of the Masonic fraternity and 
 the I. O. O. F. Mrs. Schance, a very estimable lady 
 
1102 
 
 PORTRAIT A^D BKKiRAPIllCAL ALBUM. 
 
 is a member of the iMetliodist Ejiiscopal Chnrcli. 
 In the spring of 1873 our subject returned to 
 his native land and spent a few weeks very pleas- 
 antly among the scenes of his childhood and with 
 his parents and old friends. He has a marked 
 affection for tlie land of liis adoption, which is ever 
 ready to recognize talent and true worth, and upon 
 whose soil tliere has been developed so many ad- 
 mirable characters coming from the other side of 
 the Atlantic. 
 
 The father of our suliject was Olaf P. Schancc, 
 also a native of Christianstadt and the son of a 
 gentleman of Frencii birth, who was an officer of 
 the French armj*, with which he went to Sweden, 
 and thereafter spent iiis life. lie died at the ad- 
 vanced age of one hundred and four years, and his 
 wife was one hundred and three years old at the 
 time of her decease. The father of our subject 
 spent his entire life in his native Sweden, engaged 
 largely as a stock-dealer, and departed this life at 
 the advanced age of eight3'-niue years. His wife, 
 Annie, also lived and died there. Tlie five chil- 
 dren of the parental household were named respect- 
 ively: Olaf and Peter, deceased: Theodore, our 
 subject; Jolin, deceased; Andrew and Anna, wlio 
 remain in Sweden. John emigrated to America, 
 and during tlie late war enlisted in Company A, 
 79th Infantry, and met his death on the battlefield 
 of Stone River in the spring of 1862. 
 
 m 
 
 -^^^p- 
 
 \ll EWIS AV. BOLEN. The mercantile in- 
 terests of Edgar County find a worth\' rep- 
 esentative in the subject of this notice, 
 whose patronymic in former times was ''Bowling." 
 In order to simplify the name this representative 
 of the family changed it to its form as above given, 
 lie is one of those progressive characters, who 
 delight in the march of civilization and recognize 
 the importance of preserving the family record. 
 In his case this is something of which to be proud, 
 as his ancestors were people who left their indis- 
 putable footprints upon the sands of time. His 
 father, Lewis Bo'vling, long since deceased (July, 
 1872) was a native of Stafford County, Va., and 
 
 served as a soldier in the War of 1812. He was 
 among the troops which marched out of Washing 
 ton in time to escape the British, who entered and 
 blew up the Capitol. The paternal grandfather, 
 Simon Bowling, served in the United States Army 
 prior to and during the War of 1812. He died at 
 Sacketts Harbor, probably about the time the war 
 closed, or soon afterward. Two of his brothers 
 also participated in this conflict and died of mumps 
 while in the service. 
 
 The subject of this notice was born in Notting- 
 iiam Township, Harrison Co., Ohio, June 15, 1832. 
 To this place his parents had emigrated from their 
 native Virginia — the mother, who in her girlhood 
 was Margaret Helfling, having also been a native of 
 Stafford County, Va., and born near what was 
 known as the "wood cuttings." She spent her last 
 days in Owen County, Ind., dying about 1866, at 
 the age of eightj'-seven years. The parental fam- 
 ily consisted of six children, three of whom are 
 living, and of whom Lewis W. is the youngest. 
 His sister, Sarah, (Mrs. Staneart) lives near Porac- 
 ro3', Meigs Co., Ohio; Louisa, (Mrs. Brock) is a 
 resident of Owen County, Ind. 
 
 The early education of our subject was con- 
 ducted in a log-cabin amid the Ohio wilds, where 
 he sat on split-log seats and conned his lessons by 
 the indifferent light admitted through window 
 panes of greased paper. The roof of this structure 
 was made of clapboards and kept in its place 
 with knees and weight poles. A huge fireplace 
 occupied nearly one end of the building and fuel 
 was plenty and to be had for the chopping. The 
 chimney was built outside of sticks and clay. The 
 writing deSks of those times were manufactured 
 from a slab or a piece of puncheon and upheld in 
 their place by wooden pins driven into the wall. 
 The teacher was not required to have any classical 
 education and enforced his percepts largely by the 
 use of the birch rod. 
 
 Thus life passed in a comparatively uneven 
 manner until the removal of the family to Indiana, 
 in March, 1851, when our subject was approaching 
 his nineteenth year. They sojourned in Owen 
 County, that State, until Ma}', 1870, then coming 
 to Edgar County, 111., Lewis W. purchased 160 
 acres of land at Five Points in Shiloh Township. 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 1103 
 
 He occupied this four years, then established him- 
 self at Isabel, purchasing tlie stock and store of 
 J. W. & C. D. Pierce, general merchants, and con- 
 ducted the business nine years. Hitherto he had 
 been quite snccesssul, but now misfortune and 
 sickness overtook him and he repaired to French 
 Lick Springs, Ind., for his health. This change 
 had the desired effect and in due time he pur- 
 chased his old business and since 1 884 has con • 
 ducted it uninterruptedly and successfully. He 
 knew nothing about merchandising when he em- 
 harked in the business and although paying out 
 over $2,200 for goods, he sold them at a profit 
 and has since been uniformly^ successful. He now 
 carries a capital stock of 14,000, consisting of 
 groceries, light liardware, drugs, medicines, paints 
 and oil, boots and shoes, hats and caps, dry-goods, 
 notions, willow and wooden ware — in fact every 
 tlung usually found in a first-class general store. 
 His honesty and integrity- are proverbial and he 
 has consequently built up a large and lucrative 
 trade. 
 
 The 18th of May, 1851, witnessed the mar- 
 riage of our subject with Miss Eliza A., daughter 
 of Nelson Pa3aie, which took place at the bride's 
 home in Owen County', Ind. There were born of 
 this union seven children, four of whom are living, 
 viz: George W., Daniel W., James I. and Adella 
 A. Mrs. Eliza A. Bolen departed this life March 
 25, 1883. Mr. Bolen contracted a second marriage 
 Sept. 20, 1883, with ]\Irs. Eliza (Payne) Anderson, 
 daughter of Lemuel Payne, and who by her first 
 husband became the mother of two children — 
 Marion and Anna, the latter is now the wife of 
 Lewis Fiddler. 
 
 Mr. Bolen officiated as Postmaster of Embarras 
 for a period of nine years and when withdrawing 
 from this office refused further positions of trust 
 and responsibility. After the outbreak of the 
 Civil War, he enlisted in Company H, 97th Indi- 
 ana Infantry, and was under fire ten or twelve 
 days at the siege of Jackson, Miss., during which 
 time the city was captured by Union troops. His 
 arm^r service covered a period of one year and 
 thirteen days, during which be gained a good in- 
 sight into the hardships and privations of life in 
 the army. Politically, he is a sound Republican, 
 
 warmly devoted to the intei'ests of his party and 
 keeping himself well [xjsted upon political events, 
 (jleorge W. Bolen, the eldest son of our subject 
 traveled all over the western and southern States 
 and is now established as a stock merchant of Kan- 
 sas City, Mo. He formerly belonged to the A. F. 
 & A. M. fraternity. Daniel is a merchant of Isabel; 
 James carries on merchandising and the lumber 
 business in Conwa\'; Adella is the wife of Marry 
 Scott, a telegrapher, and they live near Garden 
 City, Kan. Mrs. Bolen is a member in good stand- 
 ing of the Blethodist Eipiscopal Church as was also 
 the first wife of our subject. 
 
 THER K. BURTON. The business interesis 
 of Isaliel find a worthy representative in 
 this gentleman who operates successfully at 
 its business center in grain, farm implements, &c. 
 He is a native of the Prairie State, having been 
 born in Ashmore, ('oles Co., Jan. 13, 1861. His 
 father, Albert Burton, yielded his life in defense 
 of the Union during the late Civil War, dying in 
 about 1862 amid the horrors of Andersonville 
 Prison. The mother, whose maiden name was 
 Sarah A. Tinsley. was the daughter of Henr\- 
 Tinsley, a native of Kentucky, She survived her 
 husband until 1877, spending her last years in 
 Coles County. 
 
 The parents of our subject came to Edgar County 
 in 1861 when the latter was an infant of six 
 months. They located in Kansas Township and 
 with the exception of seven years spent in Oak- 
 land Township, Coles County, Edgar County has 
 since been the home of our subject. He prose- 
 cuted farming until 1884, then engaged in the dry- 
 goods trade at Oakland in company with his 
 father-in-law. Six months later, however, Mr. 
 Burton, removed to Isabel where he established a 
 branch store and the partnership was dissolved in 
 the fall of 1885. Mr. Burton then engaged in 
 general merchandising until the fall of 1888 when 
 selling out once more he embarked in the grain 
 and implement trade. This he is prosecuting 
 successfully with a good outlook for the future. 
 
1104 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 In adflitioii to the articles alreadj' inentioned, be 
 deals in Rushford wagons. Besides liis residence 
 and other property in Isal.)cl he owns seventy acres 
 of land which under his supervision is operated 
 with profitable results. 
 
 l^he marriage of our subject with Miss Sarah J. 
 Kees was celebrated in the bride's home, .Tan. .31, 
 1884. Tliis lad J' is the daughter of Lewis Kees, 
 deceased, late of Oakland. She, like her husband, 
 was born in Coles Countj^, 111., but was reared in 
 Isabel. Of this union there have been born three 
 children^ — Louie, Annie M. and Earl K. Our sub- 
 ject, politically, belongs to the Democratic party 
 and socially, is a member of the Modern A\"oodmen 
 (if America. He has no desire for ofticial honors, 
 jircferring to give his attention to his business in- 
 terests. Both he and his wife are prominently 
 connected with the Methodist Episcopal Church. 
 They are worthy representatives of the education 
 and intelligence of their community and popular 
 in its social circles. 
 
 f¥;OHX ARTHUR. Probably no county in 
 the Prairie State has Ijeen more fortunate in 
 the character of its early residents than Ed- 
 gar; and among those who came here in 
 '50s equipped perhaps with little except their 
 stout hearts and well-developed muscles, was the 
 subject of this notice. He was a man well fitted to 
 battle with the elements of a new soil, having that 
 patience and persisteuce which ensured his success. 
 Settling in Paris Township, in 1 854 soon after his 
 marriage, he went in debt for a part of his first ] 60 
 acres, and the fact that at his death which occurred in 
 1881, he was the owner of 1,500 acres of well- 
 im[)roved land with a record as one of the most 
 successful stock-dealers in the county, is ample in- 
 dication of the manner in which he must have 
 labored and managed. 
 
 Mr. Arthur was the son of .loseph Arthur, a na- 
 tive of Pennsylvania, who emigrated to Ohio at an 
 early day witli his family, where he and his wife 
 spent tiieir remaining years. The family was of 
 Irish descent and pc>ssesse(l in a large measure tlie 
 
 kindly and generous traits of that nationality. 
 The boyhood and youth of our subject were spent 
 in his native county, where he acquired a common- 
 school education and employed himself around his 
 father's homestead until his mai'riage. The maiden 
 of his choice was Miss Eliza C. jNIoss, who was born 
 and reared in Clark County, (Jhio, and was the 
 daughter of Henry jMoss, a native of Augusta 
 County, Va. 
 
 Ileiuy Moss when a young man removed with 
 his parents, Jacob and Mary Moss, to Ohio, wiiere 
 he was married to Miss Barbara Arbogast. The 
 latter had emigrated to Ohio from "Mrginia with 
 lier fathei-, David Arbogast, wlieu a little girl. 
 (Trandfather Arbogast was a native of Germany, 
 but left the Eatherland in his youth, and after- 
 ward follovved agricultural pursuits until his earthly 
 career was ended. To the parents of Mrs. Arthur 
 there were born six children, all of whom lived to 
 mature years, being reared in Ohio and all came 
 to this county in 1854 with Mr. and Mrs. Arthur. 
 The parents spent their last days in Paris Town- 
 ship. 
 
 The land which Mr. Arthur first purchased had 
 undergone but very little improvement, and its 
 only building was a small log-house. LTnder this 
 humble roof the newly wedded pair began the 
 journey of life together, strong in courage and 
 hope and worked with the mutual purpose of gain- 
 ing a home for themselves and a competence for 
 the future. In due time the little log house was 
 exchanged for a neat frame residence, which re- 
 mained the home of Mr. Arthur until he was called 
 hence. Mr. Arthur, although not a member of anj? 
 church, was the uniform friend and encourager of 
 every institution having for its object the social 
 and moral good of the people. He was also a 
 peaceable and law-abiding citizen, never having a 
 law-suit with his neighbors or any difficulty in his 
 business transactions. Kind and devoted in his 
 family, he was "deepl}- mourned by his wife* and 
 children and regretted by the entire community as 
 one of its most useful men. 
 
 iMrs. Arthur after the death of her husband left 
 the farm and removed to Paris, where she occu ■ 
 pies a neat and comfortable residence on North 
 Main Street. Her children are all married, and 
 
PORTRAIT AND I5I()«RARIIICAL ALBUM. 
 
 nos 
 
 with one exception, live near lier. Atlieliiida, is 
 tlie wife of George W. Brown, a well-to-rlo farmer 
 of Paris Townsliip; Daniel; Mary J. is the wife of 
 John H. Harris, (a sketch of whom appears else- 
 where in this work); Henry H., John D., and 
 Arthur; Acldie is the wife of (Simon Risser, of 
 Paris Township. The children have been well 
 educated and carefully trained in those principles 
 which have given solidity to their character and 
 which will enable them to perpetuate the family 
 name in dignity and honor. 
 
 UILLIS O. PINNELL. A residence in Edgar 
 County of thirty -six years has caused this 
 
 ^^^' gentleman to be well known by the greater 
 portion of its older residents and, judging from 
 the manner jn which they speak of him, he has evi- 
 dently made a good record. He first located on a 
 farm near which grew up the town of Kansas and 
 engaged in agriculture until 18y2. In tlie mean- 
 time he had become identified with the most im- 
 portant interests of his township, signalizing him- 
 self as a liberal-minded, public-spirited citizen and, 
 in the spring of tiie year above mentioned, was 
 elected Clerk of the County court and changed his 
 residence to Paris. After serving liis term accept- 
 ably he withdrew from the office and engaged in 
 the stock commission business at Indianapolis, 
 which he still follows. He spends the most of his 
 time in the city with the exception of Sundays, 
 when he is at home with his family. He still re- 
 tains ownership of the old farm in Kansas Town- 
 ship and which comprises a fine body of land, 500 
 acres m extent. He has 200 acres in another tract 
 and 160 acres in another His residence in Paris is 
 a handsome and commodious frame structure, 
 pleasantly situated on West Court street, and, with 
 its surroundings, is an ornament to the place. 
 
 The subject of this notice was born in Oldham 
 County, Ky., Jan. 24, 1824, and pursued his first 
 studies in the district school. He was raised to fai'm 
 pursuits and spent his boyhood and youth in his 
 native county. There, also, he was married to Miss 
 Margaret, daughter of Thomas Wilhite, the wed- 
 
 ding taking place at the bride's liome, Juno 2, 1848. 
 Of this union there was born one child, a son. 
 WiUiam C. Mrs. Pinnell came to Edgar County 
 with her husband, but died in 1856 wliile still a 
 young woman. She was possessed of many excel- 
 lent qualities and was a member in good standing 
 of the Christian Church. 
 
 Mr. Pinnell contracted a second marriage with 
 Mrs. Louisa (Wilhite) De Haven. To them there 
 wns born one child who died in infancy. The 
 second wife died at the homestead, in Kansas Town- 
 ship in 1867. Our subject was married a tliird 
 to Mrs. Glawvina (Shaw) Wilhite, by whom he has 
 two children — Brent II. and Exia. In 1862 during 
 the progress of the Civil War, Mr. Pinnell enlisted 
 in Company H, 79tli Illinois Infantry, which com- 
 pany he organized in the vicinity of Kansas, and 
 of which he was elected Captain. He was obliged 
 to tender his resignation in 1863 on account of ill- 
 ness in his family. In the meantime he had been 
 operating with his regiment and saw active service. 
 Mr. Pinnell as an ex-soldier belongs to Driskell 
 Post, G. A. R. at Paris. Both he and his wife are 
 prominently connected with the Christian Church. 
 
 The father of our subject was George Pinnell, a 
 native of Virginia who, when a young man, emi- 
 grated to Kentucky at a time when the latter State 
 was divided up into three counties. He was thus 
 one of the earliest pioneers of the Blue Grass 
 regions, and built up a home in the wilderness 
 where he spent the remainder of his days. He 
 married Miss Lucy, daughter of Benjamin and 
 Anna (Christopher) Clore, and who like her par- 
 ents, was a native of the Old Dominion. The 
 paternal grandfather, John Pinnell, was likewise a 
 native of Virginina, where his father lived during 
 the Revolutionary War in which he participated, 
 rendering good service as a brave and faithful 
 soldier. 
 
 Mr. Pinnell, our subject, was the sixth in a family 
 of eleven children born to his parents, eight of whom 
 are living. They were all reared at the old farm 
 in Kentucky where the parents spent their declining 
 years. Most of them are engaged in agricultural 
 pursuits, and all are honored and praiseworthy citi- 
 zens, enjoying in a high degree the respect of their 
 friends and neighbors. Mr. Pinnell may be classed 
 
110(5 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 among the representative citizens of Edgar 
 Count}', anil especially of Pai'is, where his oJtieial 
 career has been creditable in the extreme and whose 
 people hoUl liim in the highest esteem. 
 
 j^^ TEPliEN W. THAYER. Very few per- 
 ^^^^ sons remaining for any length of time in 
 (jl/jj) Edgar County, fail to become familiar with 
 the name of Mr. Tliayer, who is very pop- 
 ular in this county and ranks among the leading 
 farmers of Ross Township. His property- embraces 
 293 acres of choice land, to which In later years he 
 has given his undivided attention, so that it has be- 
 come remarivably productive and yields to the in- 
 dustrious hand of the husbandman handsome 
 returns. Mr. Thayer has wisely spent a portion of his 
 means in travel, having visited all the important 
 cilies of the East. He attended the inauguration of 
 President Harrison, March 4, 1889, also the inaug- 
 ural ball and Jlaj. Powell's reception, during which 
 lime he with several others had their headquarters 
 witli Gov. Fiter, of this State. Mr. Thayer also 
 visited the International Exposition at New Orleans 
 on his second wedding trip, and those travels with 
 his natural habit of reading pursued since hoyiiood, 
 have resulted in making him an exceedingly well in- 
 formed man — one with whom it is both pleasurable 
 and profitable to converse. 
 
 In glancing at the parental liistory of our subject 
 we find that he is the son of Eli S. Thayer, a na- 
 tive of Boston, Mass., and the grandson of Prof. 
 John S. Tiiayer, the only son of his parents and 
 likewise a native of the Hub. The latter obtained 
 a good education, liaving been graduated from an 
 Eastern college, after which he engaged in the 
 jewelry trade. In later years he came to Illinois 
 and spent his last days with his son, Eli 8. 
 
 The great-grandfather of our subject was a na- 
 tive of France. EV\ S. Thayer, when a j'oungman, 
 taught school considerably. Upon leaving his na- 
 tive State he went to the Western Reserve in Ohio, 
 where he otticiated as pedagogue for a time, then 
 migrated to Tennessee and finally, coming North, 
 located at Charleston, III., and entereda small tract 
 
 of Government land. He finally became quite nn 
 extensive dealer in lands and live-stock. He be- 
 came owner of two far}iis in Coles County, 111., but 
 eventually sold out and removed to a point near 
 Areola, in Douglas County, where he purchased 
 land. F^ventually he took up his residence in Ar- 
 eola, where he spent his last days, d3'ing in 1876 at 
 the age of fifty -six years. He was for many years an 
 Elder in the Presbyterian Church. 
 
 Mrs. Mary E. (Bovell^Thayer was a native of Ten- 
 nessee, a daughter of a minister of the Presbyterian 
 Cliurch. The father was a graduate of Washington 
 College, Tennessee, of which he subsequently be- 
 came President. He suffered much from 111 health 
 during the latter years of his life, which were spent 
 in Paris, this county. He died at Paris at the early 
 age of thirt3r.six j-ears. The Bovell family was of 
 French descent. Mrs. Mary E. Thaj'er is still liv- 
 ing and a resident of Areola, being now sixty-nine 
 years old. 
 
 To the parents of our subject there were born 
 six children: John S., a traveling man, makes 
 his headquarters in Kansas City, Mo.; A. J. is 
 a prominent farmer of Douglas County, this State, 
 owing 640 acres of land; Stephen AV., our subject, 
 was tiie third child; James L. is a leading merchant 
 of Sullivan, 111.; Hannah C, Mrs. Cawood, is a res- 
 ident of Janesville, 111. ; Mar}' O. lives in Areola. 
 
 The subject of this notice was born near Charles- 
 ton, Coles Co., this State, Nov. 6, 1851, and lived 
 there until a youth of fifteen years, attending the 
 Common schools. Then, in 1866, he removed with 
 his parents to Douglas County and later became a 
 student in the seminary at Loxa, in Coles County, 
 where he remained until 1869. Subsequently for 
 three years he was occu|)ied as a teacher in Douglas 
 County, then became a clerk and bookkeeper in 
 in Areola and had charge of a store there for six 
 months. We next find him in the dress goods de- 
 partment of a dry-goods establishment in Cincin- 
 nati — William II. Andrews & Co. — for seventeen 
 months. Thence he went to the firm of Lockwood, 
 Nicholas & Tice. wholesale dealers in hats, caps and 
 gentlemen's furnishing goods, and was connected 
 with this house as a salesman three years, traveling 
 through Illinois and Indiana. 
 
 Mr. Thayer established himself at Chrisman, June 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 1107 
 
 29, 1876, ns .a general merchant, having secured a 
 stock of goods in exchange for a farm. In 1879 
 he (stablished a branch store at Clinton, Ind., and t 
 conducted the two establishments until the fall of 
 that year, when he sold both and purchased his 
 present farm. Later he engaged in buying stock 
 and in 188fi disposed of his town property and took 
 u|) his residence in the country where he has since re- 
 mained. Here he has effected good improvements 
 and makes a specialty of Short-horn cattle, feeding 
 probably 100 head annually. 
 
 Our subject was first married Nov. 19, 1879, at 
 Chrisman, to Miss Susie Kenton who vvas born here 
 and vvas the daughter of Samuel Kenton, one of 
 the largest farmers of Edgar County. Of this union 
 there was born one child, a son, Freddie, and the 
 mother died in 1883. Mr. Thayer contracted a 
 second marriage at Bucklej^, 111., Feb. 24, 1885, 
 with INIiss Nellie H., daughter of John Newlin. 
 Mr. Newlin was born in Chatham County, N. C, 
 Sept. 12, 1813. In 1830, when a youth of seven- 
 teen years, he traveled on foot from his home to 
 Parke County, Ind. Three years later he repaired 
 to Georgetown, 111., wliere he learned the trade of 
 a saddler, at which he worked for sometime in that 
 place. Later he became interested in politics and 
 w.as appointed Postmaster and elected Justice tif 
 the Peace. In 1874 he changed his residence to 
 Bucklej' and for some j-ears was the only lawyer in 
 that place and also officiated there as Justice of the 
 Peace. He moved to Danville in 1888, and his 
 death took place May 9, of the following year. He 
 was a man of high moral character and in politics 
 a stanch Republican Self educated, he had only 
 attended school three months in his life, but by his 
 own efforts succeeded in gaininga goodly amount 
 of book knowledge and became an excellent pen- 
 man. He married Miss Virena E. Newlin (no rela- 
 tive) and like himself, a native of North Carolina. 
 She was a member of the Methodist Episcopal 
 Church, and died Jan. 12, 1873, at her home near 
 Buckley, 111. 
 
 To the parents of Mrs. Thayer there were born 
 nine children — Mary I., Mrs. Balch; Emma, Mrs. 
 Cowan; Arabella, a resident of Danville ; Charles 
 S., deceased; Eli V., a merchant of Chrisman ; Alice 
 C, deceased; Nellie H., Mrs. Thayer; John F., a 
 
 resident of Chrisman, and Annie E., living at Ridge 
 Farm. Mrs. Tha^'er was born April 6, 1862, and 
 received a good education, completing her studies 
 at Onarga Seminary. Of her union with our subject 
 there are three children — Jessie E., Robert Lin- 
 coln and Benjamin Harrison. Mr. Thayer, politic- 
 ally, is a sound Rei)ublican and during the campaign 
 of 1888 canvassed tlie county for Harrison. He 
 has served as Justice of the Peace one term and is 
 frequently sent as a delegate to the Republican 
 conventions. He has also been a member of the 
 Grand and Petit Juries. A man prompt to meet 
 his obligations and tlie encourager of all worthy 
 enterprises, he stands second to none in his com- 
 munity. 
 
 ^^S^-x- 
 
 LLEN SLY. There are few men able to 
 present to the world a more forcible illus- 
 tration of what man ma^' accomplish by a 
 ^^/ resolute and preserving will, than the sub- 
 
 ject of this notice. His success has been phenome- 
 nal, as he commenced life in the United States 
 without a cent of money and in debt. In the course 
 of twenty-one years he had made ^21,000, and in 
 the meantime had educated himself by hard study 
 after his day's work was done. He is possessed 
 of more real, solid information than many a col- 
 lege-bred man, is an extensive reader and ready 
 with his pen, being able to transact all ordinary 
 business with ease and facilit}'. 
 
 It is said that ]\Ii-. Sly has more mone}' invested 
 in imported horses than any other man in Edgar 
 County, and he is extensively engaged in the 
 breeding of fine draft animals. These animals are 
 his hobby and their breeding an industry which he 
 excels. As connected with local affairs, he is 
 liberal and public-spirited, the friend of religious 
 and educational institutions and foremost in en- 
 couraging the enterprises calculated for the general 
 good of the community. 
 
 Our subject was born in Northamptonshire, Eng- 
 land, Aug. 1.5, 1827, and as soon as old enough was 
 introduced to hard work on the farm, having no 
 schooling and growing up with no advantages. 
 His father, Allen Sly. Sr., was a native of the same 
 county as his son. and spent his entire life upon 
 his native soil, dying in 1855. The mother, Mrs. 
 
108 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 Lizzie (Ciiurcli) Sly, also of Knglish birth and 
 parantage, lived and died in iier native county. 
 Tiiere were eightchildren in the parental household, 
 four of whom lived to become men and women. 
 John died in Chrisman; Rebecca and Betsy are in 
 England; Allen our subject is next to the young- 
 est of the survivors. 
 
 At the age of twenty-four years, greatly dissat- 
 isfied with his condition and his prospects, our sub- 
 ject set out for America, leaving Liverpool on the 
 25th of December, 1851, on board the sailing ves- 
 sel "St. .John" bound for New York City, where he 
 landed on the 1st of February, following. Thence 
 he proceeded to Schuylkill County, Pa., where he 
 sojourned until the 10th of June engaged on tlie 
 publii; works. He now started for the West, and 
 coming to this count}' located in Prairie Town- 
 ship, and for two j'ears thereafter was in the em- 
 ploy of Samuel Scott. Later, he began renting 
 land and feeding stock. In 1856 he purchased 
 forty acres in Prairie Township, where he put a 
 frame house and operated suceessfullj' until 1861, 
 when he purchased forty acres adjoining. This he 
 improved, and in the course of time added still 
 further to his landed possessions until he had 240 
 acres, all improved and brought to a fine state of 
 cultivation. 
 
 For some time after Mr. Sly came to this county, 
 wild game of all kinds abounded and he killed a 
 large number of ducks and geese, probablj' more 
 than any other man in the county, selling them in 
 Paris b)' the wagon-load. One season he shot 
 seventy-five dozen quails and in one week 186 
 worth of prairie chickens. In April, 1873 he vis- 
 ited England witii his wife and remained there un- 
 til the following fall amid the pleasant scenes of 
 his boyhood days. In 11S75 he sold his farm and 
 removed into Chrisman, where for two years he 
 lived retired from active labor. The long habits 
 of imlustry, however, could not be laid aside, and 
 in 1877 he purchased a farm of 320 acres in Young 
 America Township. Of this he still retains posses- 
 sion, but it is operated by a tenant, and he has 
 sixty acres of valuable land elsewhere adjacent to 
 the town. He has also forty acres in Vermilion 
 County, 111., near Horse Shoe Bend, which pro- 
 duces a fine quality of coal. 
 
 Tlie fine residence of Mr. Sly universally attracts 
 attention and here he has three barns which fur- 
 nish stabling room for his horses. In 1872 he 
 bought the first Norman stallion brought to this 
 county and which was valued at 13,000. This he 
 kept seven years. He has now three imported ani- 
 mals — "Chicago," imported from France; "Norman 
 Prince No. 21,000," three years old; and "Young 
 Champion." He has without a question the largest 
 stock of horses in the county in whicii he has in- 
 vested fully $6,000 in imported animals alone. He 
 has taken the blue ribbon six years at the annual 
 fairs for horses and colts. 
 
 Our subject was married in Cambridgeshire, 
 England, Jan. 8, 1818 to Mrs. Eliza (Boone) Bates, 
 who was born in Cambridgeshire, Nov. 13, 1822, 
 and is the daughter of John and Betsy (Peck) 
 Boone, who were the parents of six children — Sarah, 
 Betsy, Nancy, John, Susan and Eliza, of whom 
 the latter is the only one living. She remained 
 with her parents until her marriage and first be- 
 came the wife of Thomas Bates, who died in Eng- 
 land. She came to America about the time that 
 Mr. SI}' crossed the Atlantic. 
 
 Our subject has always been a warm advocate of 
 temperance and is now identified with the Prohi- 
 bitionists. He frequently serves as a Delegate to 
 the various conventions of his party, and has 
 served as County Commissioner. He attended the 
 State Convention at Springfield in 1884. and keeps 
 himself generally posted upon matters of interest 
 to the intelligent and enterprising citizen. He has 
 contributed to the erection of every church build- 
 ing for ten miles around, probably disbursing 
 ^^l, 800 in this direction. He has served as School 
 Director about six years, also as Road Supervisor. 
 He has been Class Leader in the Methodist Iilpisco- 
 pal Church since 1861, officiating as Superintendent 
 of the Sunday-school for ten years, and was one of 
 the Building Committee during the erection of the 
 chuich edifice at Chrisman. 
 
 -1-^-1- 
 
 ILLIAM II. REED, an ex-soldier of the 
 ion Army and a native of Bruellet 
 Township, makes his home on section 80, 
 where he has a fine farm of 160 acres, well- 
 
 v« ll^ILLI 
 W- Tov 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOOrRAPHrCAL ALBUM. 
 
 1109 
 
 improved, with good buildings and supplied willi 
 tlie requisite machinery for the successful prosecu- 
 tion of agriculture. He is looked upon as one of 
 the most liberal and public-spirited citizens of 
 this section and intensely interested in church 
 work. To the latter he was carefully reared, 
 receiving liy the parental fireside those early teach- 
 ings, which will leave their im[)ress upon his mind 
 and heart until mind and memory fail. 
 
 The father of our subject was Michael F. Reed, a 
 native of North Carolina, who, when a lad of four- 
 teen years removed, in 1832, to Vermillion Couiitj-, 
 Ind., accompanied by his parents, .Jacob and Eliza- 
 beth (Smith) Reed. Tiiey settled in the wilder- 
 ness on a tract of Government land, where they 
 opened up a farm and where the parents spent the 
 remainder of their lives. Micliael F. was the 
 second born in a family of six children of whom 
 only one is living, Andrew, a resident of Edgar 
 County. 
 
 Upon reaching man's estate IMichael Reed was 
 married in Bruellet Township, this county, to Miss 
 Eliza A. Engle, whose father was one of the early 
 pioneers of this region. Of this union there were 
 born twelve children, nine of whom are living, and 
 of whom "William H., our subject, was the fourth 
 in order of birth. The parents for a number of 
 years occupied a log-cabin upon apart of the land, 
 which Grandfather Reed had entered from the 
 Government, and tliere Michael Reed spent his last 
 days, dying at the age of sixty-six years, in Jan- 
 uary, 1884. They experienced in those early days 
 all the toils and privations of life on the frontier, 
 the nearest market being at Clmton, Ind. The 
 Reed family making the journey from North Car- 
 olina to Illinois traveled overland with teams, 
 camping wherever night overtook them, cooking 
 b3' the wayside aud sleeping in their wagons. Thej' 
 were eminently religious and the father of our sub- 
 ject at an early period in his life uniteci ^Y\th the 
 Methodist Trotestant Church, in which he was a 
 Trustee and cme of the most active workers. He 
 was usually the leader in enterprises requiring funds 
 or other assistance, and conscientiouslj' performed 
 every known duty in connection therewitli. He 
 was active and industrious, possessing excellent 
 judgment in regard to business affairs, and upon 
 
 his death left a fine legacy to his heirs, including; 
 700 acres of choice land. The old homestead era- 
 braces li)l acres and there the widowed mother 
 still lives, being now sixty-five years old. 
 
 The subject of this sketch spent his boyhood and 
 youth asssisting his father around the homestead 
 and acquiring a limited education in the primitive 
 schools of Illinois. He was married in Vermillion, 
 County, Ind., June 20, 1869 to Miss Nancy J. 
 Green, daughter of Rev. Jeremiah and Chloe 
 (Daly) Green. This union resulted in the birth of 
 nine children, five of whom are living — Alice M., 
 James H., Albert, \'ernerl. and Benjamin L. The 
 four deceased are Chloe A., Nancy E., Irena A. and 
 Melvin. The father of Mrs. Reed was born and 
 reared in Ohio, where he joined the Methodist 
 Protestant Church. After coming to Illinois he 
 entered upon his ministerial duties and thus 
 labored in the Master's vineyard many years and 
 until advancing age obliged him to retire. He 
 then took up his residence in Jonestown, Ind, 
 where he engaged in mercantile pursuits some years 
 and finally came to live with his daughter, Mi-s. 
 Reed, where his death took place Jan, 7, 1881. 
 The mother died at the home of her son, John D., 
 in Lawrence County, this State. 
 
 Near the close of the late Civil War our subject 
 enlisted in Company C, 150th Illinois Infantry in 
 February, 1865 and served until January, 1866. 
 He was mustered out at Atlanta, Ga., after having 
 been chiefly assigned to garrison duty. He had 
 become a member of the Methodist Protestant 
 Church when a youth of eighteen years. Mrs. Reed 
 joined this church when a young girl of fifteen 
 years. In 1886 they united with the United Breth- 
 ren Church, of which thc^ have since been mem- 
 bers. JMr. Reed, like his father, has always been 
 prominent in church circles, holding the different 
 offices wherever lie has been located and is now 
 officiating as Steward and Trustee. From early 
 manhood he has been a faithful . laborer in the 
 Sunday-school, most of the time as Superintendent; 
 he is also President of the Township Sabbath- 
 school organization. 
 
 Politically, Mr. Reed is a solid Republican. He 
 mixes very little in public affairs, however, pre- 
 ferring to devote his time and attention, aside 
 
no 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 from his religious duties, to his family and farm. 
 He is considerably interested in stock-raising, 
 making a speciality of oattle and swine. He lias a 
 sorghum factory on his farm, where he manufac- 
 tures from 1,000 to 1,800 gallons of syrup per 
 year. 
 
 Mr. Reed assisted in the organization of the 
 Methodist Protestant Church at Coal Creek, the 
 meetings being held in a school house, where also 
 services were held for a time by the brethren. 
 Later, Mr. Reed obtained a preacher and finally by 
 continued efforts and solicitation among the peo- 
 ple, raised enough money to build a church at 
 that point in Stratton Township. Mr. Reed hav- 
 ing sold his property in Stratton Township, re- 
 moved to Bruellet Creek Township, organized a 
 Sabbath-school at the Jones sehoolliouse, and there 
 raised money, and also built a chureii at tliat place, 
 the people of the vicinity contributing liberally to- 
 ward the enterprise. In this work he had the 
 hearty co-operation of Messrs. Huston and Jordon 
 and others. 
 
 .^^g*J^L*4e 
 
 ^^EORGE WASHIXGTOX TRIPLETT. In 
 
 III I—- the person of this gentleman we have that 
 ^^s4 of an active and enterprising man in the 
 prime of life, prominent among the prosperous 
 agriculturists of Ross Township, and the owner of 
 319 acres of choice land on sections 32 and .33. 
 He has a fine family, consisting of an intelligent 
 and capable wife and three interesting children. 
 Their home is without question the abode of plenty 
 and comfort, and they are blest with the esteem 
 and confidence of a host of friends. The career 
 of an upright man and a good citizen is amply 
 illustrated in the life of Mr. Triplett, who is es- 
 teemed as one of the most useful and reliable men 
 of the community. 
 
 Our subject, the only child of Daniel RI. and 
 I'^neline (Rogers) Triplett, was born at the home- 
 stead which he now occupies Oct. 25, 18 17. He 
 was deprived by dcatii of the affectionate care of 
 his mother when a child of two yeais, and was 
 taken into the home of his aunt, Elizabeth .Ten- 
 
 ninus, in CentreviUe, Ind., where he lived until a 
 boy of seven years. Afterward he became an in- 
 mate of the home of Christopher Hiddle of Xev- 
 miUion County, Ind., where he remained an<l at- 
 tended the common school until a youth of sixteen 
 
 j^ears. 
 
 In the spring of 1861, the Civil War being in 
 l)rogress, our subject enlisted in Company K, 129th 
 Indiana Infantry, and was mustered into the service 
 at Indianapolis. The company drille<l there one 
 • month and was then ordered South to Chatta- 
 nooga, where they joined Sherman's command. Mr. 
 Triplett was taken ill at Chattanooga and confined 
 in tlie hospital for a time, but on his recovery 
 rejoined his regiment, and among other engage- 
 ments participated in the battle of Marietta, Ga., 
 and was at the siege of Atlanta, after which he was 
 sent back with Gen. Thomas to Nashville. Later 
 followed the battles of Columbia, Franklin and 
 Nashville, Tenn., after which they were sent to 
 North Carolina by boat and later participated in 
 the battle of Kingston, soon after which the war 
 was ended by Lee's surrender. At RoUa our sub- 
 ject was seized with pneumonia, from which he 
 suffered a short time, and was then sent to David's 
 Isle, New York Harbor, where he remained until 
 receiving his honorable discharge, in June, 1865. 
 
 Soon after leaving the army Mr. Triplett made 
 his way back to Indiana, whence he came to Illinois 
 and assisted his father in operating the home farm 
 until the fall of that j^ear. Then, desirous of ad- 
 vancing hi'' education he attended the Paris High 
 School, and after leaving it worked for his uncle 
 four j'cars on a farm. At the expiration of this 
 time he began operating on rented land in Ross 
 Township, and later settled in Young America 
 Township, where he farmed four years. In 1878 
 he returned to the homestead and remained there 
 until the death of his father, which occurred in 
 1886. 
 
 In 1886 Ml-. Triplett received his share of his 
 father's estate, 123 acres, which he improved and to 
 which he has added until he has a fine, large tract of 
 land, all under a good state of cultivation. It is 
 supplied with good buildings and running water,and 
 admirably adapted to stock-raising, to whicli it is 
 largely ilevoted. Mr. Trii)lett keeps about seventy 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 nil 
 
 head of cattle, twelve head of horses and a goodly 
 number of swine, shipping of the latter a car load 
 annually. 
 
 Our subject was married on April 25, 1868, in 
 Ross Township, to Miss Nancy B., daughter of 
 John Elsherry, the latter a native of Clark County, 
 Ky. Grandfather Elsberry owned a large planta- 
 tion and kept slaves and died in the Blue Grass 
 State. His son, John, left there in 1856, coming 
 to this county and locating in Edgar Township, 
 where he engaged in farming. His wife in her girl- 
 hood was Miss Elizabeth Hnlett, also a native of 
 Kentucky and the daughter of Jacob Hulett, a 
 farmer of that State, who came to Morgan Connt\-, 
 111., where he died some months later. The mother 
 made her home with our subject thereafter and died 
 at the age of seventy 3-ears. She was a lady pos- 
 sessing many estimable qualities and a consistent 
 member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. 
 
 The eight children of the parental famih' were 
 named respectively: Benjamin, Ellen, (deceased), 
 Jane, Joseph, Nancy, John, Rachel and James 
 (deceased). Benjamin and Joseph served in the 
 64th Illinois Infantry, and the latter was wounded 
 at the battle of Kenesaw Mountain. INIrs. Trip- 
 lett was born near Winchester, Ky., July 7, 1849, 
 and was a child of seven years when her parents 
 came to this State. She remained under the home 
 roof until her marriage, and by her union with our 
 subject has become the mother of three children: 
 Daniel W., Norah F. and Julia G. 
 
 The father of our subject was Daniel M. Trip- 
 lett, a native of 'S'irginia and born in 1800. His 
 paternal grandfather carried a musket in the War 
 of 1812. Daniel M. was reared to farming pur- 
 suits, which he followed in the Old Dominion, and 
 later, during the above mentioned war, served as a 
 teamster. Upon leaving his native State he settled 
 near Circleville, Ohio, where he engaged in farm- 
 ing until 1832, then came to this county. Locat- 
 ing near Paris he became overseer in the employ 
 of Mr. Neff of Chrisman, and a few years later 
 entered eighty acres of land in Ross Township, of 
 which he was one of the earliest settlers. He im- 
 proved a good farm and remained upon it until his 
 death, which occurred in April 11, 1886. He was 
 
 a stanch Democrat politically, and served as Com- 
 missioner of Highways a number of years. 
 
 Mrs. Emeline (Rogers) Triplett, the mother of 
 our subject, was born in New York State, and was 
 the daughter of Elias Rogers, a native of the same 
 State, and who participated in the War of 1812. 
 He came to Illinois in 1829 and entering land in 
 Edgar Township prosecuted farming and stock-rais- 
 ing very successfully, and invested his capital in 
 land until he became the owner of 700 acres. He 
 died in 1869, surviving his daughter for twenty 
 years, the mother of our subject having passed 
 away in 1849. 
 
 Mr. Triplett cast his first Presidential vote for 
 U. 8. Grant, and is one of the most ardent adhei'- 
 euts of the Republican party. Socially, he belongs 
 to the Masonic fraternity, being a member of chap- 
 ter No. 32, at Paris, and Treasurer of ihe lodge at 
 Chrisman. He has served on the petit jury, but 
 has never sought office, having all he could prop- 
 erly attend to in the management of his large farm 
 and its various interests. 
 
 ^' I AMES ORR. This life has been compared 
 in its flight to the quick passing of a me- 
 teor, the changing sands in the hour-glass, 
 the ceaseless waves beating on the sea-shore, 
 and then forever lost to view, the falls whirling 
 and tossing and then moving on the great ocean, 
 onl^- to be swallowed in its edd3'ing currents. Not 
 only is the earthly sojourn brief, but it is also un- 
 changeable. The meteor never retraces its path, 
 the water never comes back again, the sands pass 
 out and return no more. So in human life, we 
 cannot retrace our footsteps, but must forever 
 ad vance. 
 
 " The moving finger writes, and having writ. 
 Moves on; nor all your piety nor wit 
 Can lure it back to cancel one-half line. 
 Nor all your tears wipe out a word of it." 
 
 Those who can look back on a life well spent, in 
 acts of kindness and deeds of charitj^, have much 
 to be thankful for. Their thoughts turn to a past 
 quietly and usefully- spent, and no remorseful, re- 
 
1112 
 
 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 gretful recollections mingle with those happy 
 thoughts. He of whom we write is able to turn 
 with perhaps greater pleasure than the majority of 
 his fellow men, to review the actions of a life which 
 is now approaching its twilight. How many hearts 
 crushed and broken he has soothed, how nianj' 
 lives he has changed, doubtless he could not tell, 
 even if willing to do so. But for many years he 
 has officiated as a minister, doing his duty in a 
 quiet, unpretentious way, and not at the same 
 time neglecting his farming interests. He thus imi- 
 tated in his own way the example of the apostle 
 Paul. 
 
 Mr. James Oir, was for many years a resident of 
 young American Township, Edgar Co. 111., but is 
 now living in Sidell, Vermilion County. He has 
 served f(jr some time as local minister at Hickory 
 Grove.jKdgar County. He was one of the first preach- 
 ers of his (Baptist) denomination in Edgar Caunty, 
 and was the meansof accomplishing much missionary' 
 work among the i)ioneer settlers there. He is now 
 in his eighty-first year, having been boi'n Jan. 1, 
 1809 in what is now West Virginia, but was in 
 those days a part of the old Dominion. Of one of 
 the old plantations of that State, among its moun- 
 tains and hills he grew to manhood. Tlie educa- 
 tional opportunities of the earlier part of the 
 nineteenth century were not so extended as now, 
 but the children usuallj^ attended school during the 
 winter session, and were always proud of that 
 privilege. Then, perhaps, the happiest days in 
 the life of the girl and boy were when with books 
 under the arm and lunch in the pocket, the little 
 (mes start off through rain and snow to con their 
 lessons on hard benches, with insiiflicient light, and 
 no ventilation. Such was the experience of our 
 subject between the ages of five and eighteen years. 
 At that period of his life he commenced to impart 
 instruction to others, and was far above the aver- 
 age teacher of the time. For from early boyhood 
 he liad high ideals of existence, atid nas not con- 
 tent with the knowledge he had attained but was 
 ever striving upward and onward in the path of 
 learning. Not alone in matters moral and social 
 but also in religious enterprises he was foremost. 
 He showed the eifects of Christian instruction, for 
 he was born of Christian pai'enls, wlio endeavored 
 
 to train him not only for this life but for some- 
 thing bej'ond. 
 
 John Dale Orr, the father of the subject of this 
 notice, was born near the city of Baltimore, Balti- 
 more Co., Md. He was united in marriage with 
 Elizabeth .Johns, a native of Bucks Co., Pa., the 
 wedding being soleraized near Uniontown, Pa. 
 After this important event in his life, Mr. Orr re- 
 moved to Virginia, and in Preston County, that 
 State, engaged in farming. The remainder of his 
 existence was passed in this home with the wife of 
 his youth, and surrounded by a devoted, happy 
 family. Wlien he died, he had reached the age of 
 eight3'-four years, and his wife also passed to I'est 
 at the same age. This husband and wife were con- 
 sislent members of the Baptist Church, and their 
 lives were characterized by sincerity and purity of 
 action. Tliev left a name which their children 
 rngard as a most precious legacy, and were univer- 
 sally esteemed and honored. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. John Dale Orr were the paients of 
 six children who lived to manhood and woman- 
 hood, viz.: Catherine, John, Ruth, Hiram, (Tcorge 
 and James. It is of the last mentioned that we 
 write, and he nluue remains of this family. 
 
 As has been before mentioned, James ( )rr was 
 reired to manhood in West A'irginia, and made that 
 his home until he was forty years of age. He then 
 followed the tide of emigration westward. He did 
 everything possible to assist the church even before 
 he cast his lot with any denomination, and prepared 
 to minister to their spiritual necessities. When 
 fifty-three years of age he joined the Baptist Church 
 and in it has laliored ever since. As a ministsr he 
 has been persevering, ardent, eloquent, and above 
 all he has been sincere and earnest. He organized 
 the Baptist Church of Hickory Grove in 1858, and 
 at first they had a membership of onlv nine. 
 
 ( )yu' subject has not been without the as>-isi,ance 
 of a helpmate in his ministerial labors. His first 
 marriage occurred in West Virginia, June .5, 1834, 
 the bride being i\Hss Margaret Fortney, a native of 
 A'irginia, where she .also died. By this wife Mr. 
 Orr had four children, namel}: James A., who was 
 accidentallj' shot at the age of sixteen years; Louise 
 J.; John D. and Margaret. Louise J. became the 
 wife of William H. Ross, but died and left Ave 
 
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. 
 
 1113 
 
 cliildren who live with their father in Becville, 
 Tex. John D. is uiimanied. Margaret mariied 
 and afterward died, leaving no children. Mi-. Orr 
 was married a second time in 1845 lo MissJMar)- A. 
 Ross, a native of Pennsylvania, near ^^'nyn^sbul■g■h, 
 ill Greene County. She was the daugliter of .lac()b 
 and Abigail Kns?, and has been a faithful compan- 
 ion of her iiusband in his earnest efforts to promote 
 the gospel, and si)read tlie joyful tidings of salva- 
 tion. After the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. On-, 
 they made their home in X'irginia for a time, but 
 in 1854 came to Illinois and settled on a farm in 
 (Joles County. This was only a temporary home, 
 and soon after they removed to Young America 
 Township, Edgar Counlj-, whicli was until recently 
 their home, and where they number their friends 
 among the best people of the community and en- 
 joy the esteem and respect of all who know them. 
 To Mr. Orr by his second wife ha\'e been born 
 six children, namel}': Abner Ross, Thomas J., 
 Timothy W., Hiram E., James W. and B. Franklin. 
 The first born, Abner R.. resides in Claris County, 
 111., where he is a prosperous fai-mer. He married 
 Mary Elizabeth (iuthrie, daiighter of Andrew Gu- 
 thrie of Vermilion County. They are the parents 
 
 of six children, viz: Maude, Esther, Mabel, Myrtle, 
 Harry and Abner Ross, Jr. Thomas J., the next 
 in order of birth, lives in Cumberland County, HI. 
 lie married Miss Mary Elizabeth Lowderback and 
 has two children by this union — Iva M. andj^Fran- 
 cis; the third son. Timothy ^V., died when six years 
 of age; Hiram E.. the next by birth, died when 
 only two years of age; James W. is a grain buyer 
 of >Sidell, and married Eliza Todd, by whom he has 
 one ( hild, a son, Edward Lyle. The youngest in 
 this large family of sons is Benjamin Franklin, who 
 is a resident of Kansas, where he is a successful 
 ranchman and cattleman. He married Miss Lettie 
 Ross. 
 
 Mr. Orr, the subject of our sketch, as is fitting 
 for the father (_)f so manj- sons and a consistent 
 Christian, is a strict temperance man and is in fa- 
 vor of anything which will improve the social con- 
 dition of those around them. He is benevolent, 
 kind-hearted and hospitable. Manjr suffering and 
 wronged ones have owed to him what happiness 
 they enjo3'ed on earth, and unite with others in 
 wishing for him and his estimable wife all the joys 
 of this life and the greater ones that remain unto 
 the faithful. 
 
BIOGFJfl^PpI^fllx. 
 
 Abbott, Franklin E 288 
 
 Adams, A. P 971 
 
 Adams, Ellis 200 
 
 Adams, John 23 
 
 Adams, John Q 39 
 
 Albright, Al.uison N 761 
 
 Albright, Samuel 314 
 
 Allen, George 276 
 
 Allzn, Benjamin, Jr 8^7 
 
 Allen, Hon. Charls A 741 
 
 Allen, \Vm I 700 
 
 Allen, John, Jr 1071 
 
 Allhands. F. M 692 
 
 Alexander, F. M 467 
 
 Alexander, Gen. Milton K-,..8o'i 
 
 Alexander, Hon. W 873 
 
 Amis.James 1' 4o7 
 
 Amis, Mrs. Nancv 4=7 
 
 Andrews, E. W 881 
 
 Ankrum, Asa 49' 
 
 Ankrum, A. L 453 
 
 Ankrum, George W -,3° 
 
 Arbuckle, A. T 45i 
 
 Archbold.I. N '057 
 
 Armantrout, Hiram I95 
 
 Armstrong, Thomas 721 
 
 Arthur Chester A'. 99 
 
 Arthur, John "04 
 
 Athon, J.F 991 
 
 B 
 
 Babb, Ira 430 
 
 Bacon, Hon. George E 931 
 
 Bac3n,L. B io«o 
 
 Baker, C A 654 
 
 Baldwin, Alexander 848 
 
 Baldwin, F. _. SM 
 
 Baldwin, J. R 208 
 
 Ball.S.O 644 
 
 Bandy,' John W 198 
 
 Bandy, William 247 
 
 Bank, First National 948 
 
 Banta, J.H S09 
 
 Banta, William F 49° 
 
 Banta, W. F 939 
 
 Bantz,Ezra J 429 
 
 Barnett, Geo 74* 
 
 Barnett, R. E 748 
 
 Rarnett, F. V 639 
 
 Earnelt, James 603 
 
 Earth, A. J 879 
 
 Barr, J ames D 943 
 
 Barr, W. W 770 
 
 Bass, Henry 59^ 
 
 Bates, Dr. C. C 852 
 
 Baum, Jasper N 1022 
 
 Baum,Z.T.,M. D 1070 
 
 Baum, C. C 5°5 
 
 Baum, Charles M 199 
 
 Baum, Charles W 456 
 
 B.ium, Frank A 5'8 
 
 l')auni. G. T 504 
 
 naiini, Oliver P 683 
 
 Baum,S. W 668 
 
 Beall, W. G 94i 
 
 Eeauchamp. N. W q6i 
 
 Bell, Oliver 1039 
 
 Bennefiel, Robert R 907 
 
 Bennett, D. C (163 
 
 Bennett, Henry J 45^ 
 
 Berkshire, Robert 803 
 
 Beveridge, JohnL 171 
 
 Bissell, William H isr 
 
 Blackburn, M. A 1099 
 
 Blackburn, William 799 
 
 Blackstock, W.J ro74 
 
 Blair, E.N 1044 
 
 Blair, Samuel 595 
 
 Blakeney, T. W 495 
 
 Blakeney, John 489 
 
 Boardman.V.R 217 
 
 Boggess, J. W., M. D 221 
 
 Bolden,John E 489 
 
 Bolen,L. W 1102 
 
 Bond, Shadrach iir 
 
 Boyce, Henry G 240 
 
 Boyer, John K 779 
 
 Brady, John 394 
 
 Brady, Thomas 676 
 
 Bradley, Dr. S. H 931 
 
 Branham, A 528 
 
 Brewer, J. W 413 
 
 Brooks, John 557 
 
 Brown, T. C 891 
 
 Brown, William 5^9 
 
 Buchanan, James 75 
 
 Buchanan, W. W 3°° 
 
 Buckler, J. C 1018 
 
 Buhl, Charles i97 
 
 Burroughs, Major Wilson ...387 
 
 Burton, O. K 1103 
 
 Busby, I. N 575 
 
 Bushnell, H. L 198 
 
 Bushu, James 822 
 
 Puller, W. T 226 
 
 Butts, Saul 953 
 
 Cadle, Philip 275 
 
 Campbell, D 270 
 
 Campbell, J.J 693 
 
 Canaday, G. W 517 
 
 Cnnaday, Henry F 487 
 
 Canaday, William, Sr 347 
 
 Cannon, Hon. J. G 225 
 
 Caraway, C.T 680 
 
 Caraway, J. H 1023 
 
 Carlin, Thomas 135 
 
 Carter. Frank 75' 
 
 Cassell, Eliza S 476 
 
 .Cassle, J ames A B29 
 
 Cast, Wilbur 589 
 
 Cast, William 227 
 
 Catherwood, A. T 219 
 
 Catherwood, J . S 720 
 
 Cauble, William B 2Br 
 
 Chambers, George W 974 
 
 Chapman, Thomas H 867 
 
 Cessna, John 3^3 
 
 Cessna, Wm 372 
 
 Chace, Henry L 246 
 
 Chandler, Wm 74S 
 
 Chandler, W. R 764 
 
 Christman, J. S 235 
 
 Church, Charles 73" 
 
 Clark, John G 466 
 
 Clarkson, George 242 
 
 Cleveland, Grover S 103 
 
 Clilton, James .367 
 
 Clingan, J. S 475 
 
 Clipson, Wm 290 
 
 Cloyd, j. P., M.D 478 
 
 Coake, Rev. David 1054 
 
 Coffman.D. A 868 
 
 Coffman,S. A., M. D 368 
 
 Cole, John 3=' 
 
 Coles, Edward ris 
 
 Collier, Alexander 532 
 
 Golhns, John sn6 
 
 Colson, U. O 903 
 
 Condon, John 1017 
 
 Cook , A . G 927 
 
 Cook, Amos 516 
 
 Cook, J. F 474 
 
 Cook, James P 528 
 
 Cook, Joseph R 444 
 
 Cook, Samuel 236 
 
 Cooper, Charles 479 
 
 Cooper, Mrs. Lucinda 665 
 
 Cooper, John E 695 
 
 Cooper, John N 783 
 
 Copeland,Wm 259 
 
 Cotton, Henry 484 
 
 Cox, Thomas 324 
 
 Craig, William 829 
 
 Crandall, E. B 94) 
 
 Crane, John S 349 
 
 Crane, O, H 196 
 
 Cranson, John B 239 
 
 Crawford, Herod N 888 
 
 Crimmins, John M 71a 
 
 Crimmins, Robert E jo66 
 
 Culbertson, W. G 812 
 
 Cullom, Shelby M 175 
 
 Cummins, John 787 
 
 Cunningham, W. O 249 
 
 Current, H.B 669 
 
 Current, Isaac 256 
 
 Current, J. M 657 
 
 Current, W. W ,84 
 
 Curtis, B. O 781 
 
 Curtis, D. S 1029 
 
 Curtis, Isaac H 788 
 
 Cusick, John T 1042 
 
 D 
 
 Dalbey, Aaron 752 
 
 Dalbey, Samuel 447 
 
 Daniel, O. M 362 
 
 Darnall, A. J 522 
 
 Davidson, Fohn 1072 
 
 Davis, Henry 229 
 
 l.)avis, H, V 393 
 
 Davis, James 337 
 
 Davis, Jesse S77 
 
 Davis, Jonah M 674 
 
 Davis, Judge O. L 38a 
 
 Davis, William 301 
 
INDEX. 
 
 Dazey, Jacob 271 
 
 Dicken, David S 548 
 
 Uicken, William C 1006 
 
 Dickinson, William 212 
 
 Dickson, David. 5Q3 
 
 Dickson, Silas 537 
 
 Iiickson,S.S 455 
 
 Dillon. Jon.ithan 73? 
 
 Dillon, Geo 755 
 
 Dinsmore, George O S07 
 
 Dixon, Alfred M 341 
 
 Doak, John W. N 998 
 
 Dodson, Geo. W 255 
 
 Dole, Col. George 1031 
 
 Donovan, S.P 57^ 
 
 Dougherty, B. F 689 
 
 Douglass, D. B ■■■5*5 
 
 Douglass, J. M 238 
 
 Downing, C. L 569 
 
 Downs, W. H 686 
 
 Downs, W, H 1002 
 
 D u navan , A 567 
 
 Duncan, Joseph 131 
 
 E 
 
 Eaton, Adam 667 
 
 F.dens. Dr. Geo 236 
 
 Edrt'ards, Ninian iig 
 
 Elder, A. W, 629 
 
 Elliott, Clayton B 538 
 
 Elliott, H. C 549 
 
 Elliott, Hon. S H 973 
 
 Elliott, John TVI 623 
 
 Elliott, Robert 708 
 
 Elliott, Thomas 892 
 
 Elliott Wesley 583 
 
 Engelmann, John N 759 
 
 Epperson, Dr. J. C 968 
 
 Evans Geo. M 27a 
 
 Evans, Hon. David' D 733 
 
 Ewing, William L. D 127 
 
 Eftgner, Christian 652 
 
 Fair, George W 889 
 
 Faurot, Ira 250 
 
 Fifer, Joseph... 183 
 
 Fillmore, Millard 67 
 
 Finley, M. T 738 
 
 Fin ley. Watts 441 
 
 Fisher, Jno- W 650 
 
 Fisher, Michael 628 
 
 Fisk, J. W 550 
 
 Fisk. R. W 578 
 
 Fithian, E. C. B 666 
 
 Fithian, Wm., M. D.. 739 
 
 Fleming, W 701 
 
 Fletcher, Henry 558 
 
 Fletcher, Jno 521 
 
 Folger, John 745 
 
 Folger, Uriah 581 
 
 Forbes, C. W 662 
 
 Ford. Thomas 139 
 
 Forster, James 831 
 
 Foutz, Henry H 801 
 
 Frasier, Hiram 772 
 
 Frazier, Samuel 704 
 
 l''jeeman, A. C 734 
 
 Freeman, H. 1 282 
 
 Frei, Henry ....1047 
 
 French, AiigListiis t.. .. ,...143 
 
 Frencli . Krsom 7 •■$ 
 
 Fultz, Jacob ' 546 
 
 G 
 
 Gaines, Francis 539 
 
 Gal way, John B 798 
 
 Gahvay. W. B 853 
 
 Gardner, Wm. H 699 
 
 Garfield, James A 95 
 
 Garlaugh, H 661 
 
 Geddes, J. M 213 
 
 Giddings, Albert 344 
 
 Giddings, Jno. W-. 763 
 
 Goings, I.V 402 
 
 Goodwine, J. W 207 
 
 Gossett. M. B 436 
 
 Giaut. U. S 87 
 
 Graves, Levi H 556 
 
 Gray, C. F 635 
 
 Gray, William 624 
 
 Green, Bingham C 694 
 
 Gritten , La ben 931 
 
 Grundy, A 559 
 
 Gumm, Frederick ggo 
 
 Gurley, Daniel 464 
 
 Guthrie, Andrew 604 
 
 Guthrie, Thomas 44; 
 
 H 
 
 Hacker, F. M 61S 
 
 Hagley, T. K 401 
 
 Hale,M. W 963 
 
 Hall, J. T., M. D 840 
 
 Hamilton, Jno. M 179 
 
 Hanks. James 911 
 
 Hanley, David 1036 
 
 Harper, A 588 
 
 Harris, John H 984 
 
 Harris, W. K 832 
 
 Harrison, Benj. F: 107 
 
 Harrison, William Henry 51 
 
 Hawkins, A. C 1009 
 
 Hawkins, William 357 
 
 Haworth, Beriah 726 
 
 Haworth, Thos 468 
 
 Haworth, W. B 510 
 
 Hayes, R. B gi 
 
 Hays, James 359 
 
 Hayward, Martin 520 
 
 Healy, James J 497 
 
 Heffelfinger, T 1080 
 
 Heileman, Geo 542 
 
 Henton,C. D ^ ., ^So 
 
 Herron, William G ■■285 
 
 Hester, Cassius M 480 
 
 Hester, William 536 
 
 Hewes, T F 713 
 
 Hildreth, John B ....651 
 
 Hildreth, William H ^..793 
 
 Hillman, Charles 379 
 
 Itiiishaw. Dr. D. C 560 
 
 Hitch, Ch.iiles P 870 
 
 lion gland, Geo 303 
 
 \ii 1.', Dr. John .- 743 
 
 Ho! ley. C. L 951 
 
 Hohoway, 2, C 232 
 
 Helton, Henry C. M .D 530 
 
 Honeywell, A 713 
 
 Honnold, James L 857 
 
 Honnold, John R 882 
 
 Honnold, R. D 892 
 
 Honnold, E. H 994 
 
 Hoopes, Thomas 506 
 
 Hopper, Lewis 329 
 
 Home, Dr. A 1095 
 
 ^'olllt, Williapi, Jr T077 
 
 Hoult, W. F 1050 
 
 Houston, D.J 930 
 
 Houston, Levi 9 jo 
 
 Howard, George F 929 
 
 Howard, GuyC 262 
 
 Howell, Jason W 981 
 
 Huffman. Oscar 1014 
 
 Huffmnn, Geo. D 754 
 
 Hull, C. F 531 
 
 Hull, J. F., M. D 729 
 
 Hull, John C 814 
 
 Humphreys, Thomas B ....454 
 
 HumrichoMS John 49S 
 
 Hunter, J.D .1098 
 
 Hurst, Henry H 864 
 
 Igo, Samuel W , 
 
 .964 
 
 Jack, Reuben 363 
 
 Jackson, Amos 348 
 
 Jackson, Andrew 43 
 
 Jackson, Jno. L 238 
 
 Jackson, J- L 684 
 
 James, Firman ... .977 
 
 Jefferson, Thomas 27 
 
 Jenkins, L. O 827 
 
 J eter, George M 1053 
 
 Johnson, Andrew 83 
 
 Johnston, David 625 
 
 Jones, A 717 
 
 Jones, E. P 210 
 
 Jones, F .271 
 
 Jones, Geo. Wheeler, M. D..292 
 
 Jones, Ira G 508 
 
 Jones, J. H 1068 
 
 Jones, Philip 918 
 
 Jones, William 1012 
 
 Judy, William 333 
 
 J urgensmeyer, William 3 o< 
 
 K 
 
 Kelly William 414 
 
 Keltheimer, H. D 861 
 
 Kent, W. W 6;g 
 
 KepUnger Thomas, .340 
 
 Kerrick, James A gSi 
 
 Kerrick, John B 897 
 
 Ketterson, Joseph 8i!8 
 
 Keys, M 921 
 
 Keyser, Andrew. 860 
 
 Kilbourn, Jonathan 744 
 
 Killgore, Samuel B 969 
 
 Kimble, George W 989 
 
 Kimbrough, A. H., M. D 2:^8 
 
 Kingsley, V. C. T., M. D.... 338 
 
 Kinsey,Jno-R 598 
 
 Knight, E. P 950 
 
 Knox, R. M 445 
 
 Lamb, William H 967 
 
 Lange, C. G 957 
 
 Lange, F. W 957 
 
 Langley, Casper J 697 
 
 Larrance, Jonathan 734 
 
 Larrnnce,^L L 49-) 
 
 Laiifman, K 792 
 
 Lauher, \Villiam M 1061 
 
 Layton , D 685 
 
 Leach, Benj . F 538 
 
 Lee, Thomas 211 
 
 Leeka, Dr. Jesse 333 
 
 Leemon, Jno 297 
 
 Legate, John M-, 993 
 
 Lemon, TheodoreM. D 715 
 
 Lewis, Allen 740 
 
 Lewis, Cyrus 942 
 
 Ligget, Jesse 442 
 
 Lincoln, Abraham 79 
 
 Linnabary. O. H 833 
 
 Little, Morris 1007 
 
 Lloyd, Henry 304 
 
 Long, A. F 1004 
 
 Lone, Anthony G«;6 
 
 Lycan, John M 778 
 
 Lycan,J. V 776 
 
 Lytle, J. R., M. D 433 
 
 M 
 
 Madison, JameS; 31 
 
 Maddock, F.J 983 
 
 Majors, J. W .• 851 
 
 Makemson, Hiram....' 7:8 
 
 Makemson, John — •583 
 
 Mann, A 671 
 
 Mann, W. J . .462 
 
 Manning, B. F 1097 
 
 Manning, L. V 486 
 
 Mark, A. W 937 
 
 Marley, W. D 877 
 
INDEX. 
 
 Martinie, Charles W., M. D..797 
 
 Mnson, Jamea K 923 
 
 Mason, John 817 
 
 Matkin, T 580 
 
 Matteson, Joel A 147 
 
 McBroom, William 216 
 
 McCabe, John M 265 
 
 McCaughey, T.C., M. T>. . 391 
 
 McCaiil, Michael 287 
 
 McCord, Wil'iam 883 
 
 McCubbins, R. G 890 
 
 M cC III loch , James H 1062 
 
 McCulloch, John V 878 
 
 McCiillum. Nelson 859 
 
 McDowell, Archibald 477 
 
 McDowell, J. 1 448 
 
 McDowell, Mrs. E. C 454 
 
 M cGee, J ohn F 331 
 
 McGee, John W 980 
 
 McKee, Benjamin 1059 
 
 McKecJohn S87 
 
 McKee. T. D ....201 
 
 McMtllan, James 566 
 
 McVa\'. Jacob 917 
 
 McVej. John 2:0 
 
 A cUillin, William 736 
 
 Mendenhall, John 648 
 
 Mendenhall, Silas 610 
 
 Merkle, Andiew 775 
 
 Merkle, Douglas 784 
 
 Merkle, HenryS 1065 
 
 Miller, Geo. W 403 
 
 Miller, J. W 526 
 
 Miller, William -■•.^79 
 
 Millikin, Andrew gig 
 
 Mill,. Dr. John gog 
 
 Mills, Henry 571 
 
 Mills, MiUon 162 
 
 Mills, William H 552 
 
 Minor, Gideon 1003 
 
 Mitchell, Capt. Samuel 1055 
 
 Mitchell, G. D .1026 
 
 Mitchell, James N 570 
 
 Monroe, James 35 
 
 Moore, Jesse 908 
 
 Moreland, Mrs. C. T 673 
 
 Morel. iTid, Thomas R 6/3 
 
 Morgan, S. Ross 559 
 
 Morgan, T. M 750 
 
 Morris, ONeal 842 
 
 Moses, J. S 585 
 
 Moss, Joseph 703 
 
 Moss, Alex 790 
 
 Moss. John 979 
 
 Mnrphy. J.H 1038 
 
 N 
 
 Nay, William loio 
 
 Neville, Geo. N 423 
 
 Newcomb, Charles 814 
 
 Newell, Henry D 586 
 
 Newkirk, Jno. R 614 
 
 Newlin. Jno. W 616 
 
 Newlon, L. D goo 
 
 Nolan, H. M 838 
 
 Norris, N. J., M D 561 
 
 Nuckles, William , 1048 
 
 o 
 
 Oakes, Daniel 628 
 
 Oak wood, H.J 41^0 
 
 Oakwood, Hon. J.H 637 
 
 Oakwood, Michael 26b 
 
 Odle, Miles -jfti 
 
 Oglesby, Richard J 16; 
 
 Olehy, F. M 4'8 
 
 Olehy, William I 584 
 
 Olmsted, A. G 760 
 
 O'Ntal, Perry 435 
 
 Orr. lames W 7ig 
 
 Orr. James 1 1 11 
 
 Owen, Alexander D ("06 
 
 Padgilt, JohnL 5g6 
 
 Palmer, JohnC 810 
 
 Palmer, John M 167 
 
 Park, Timothy 33g 
 
 Parrish, John H 261 
 
 Partlow, Asa 351 
 
 Partlow, John J 280 
 
 Pasteur, F. J 572 
 
 Pate, 13. C 381 
 
 Patterson, Golden 568 
 
 Patterson, Mrs. Mary 742 
 
 Patterson, William 74^ 
 
 Patton, Merrick 730 
 
 Patrick, W. H 1013 
 
 Pearson, G ustavus C 410 
 
 Peirce, Hon Wm- P 245 
 
 Perisho, James M •1003 
 
 Peterson, Philip V -ztS 
 
 Pierce, Franklin 71 
 
 Pinnell, Joseph R 9g6 
 
 Pinnell,W. I. S 952 
 
 Pinnell, W. O 1105 
 
 Plumb, H. R 801 
 
 Poeltken, Rev. F, A 600 
 
 Polk, James K 59 
 
 Pollard, John 665 
 
 Porter, Lysander, M. D 1051 
 
 Poulter, Harrison ii>45 
 
 Poulter, William R iioo 
 
 Poulter, Thomas 958 
 
 Powers, L. R 922 
 
 Powell, Z. E S20 
 
 Pratt, 'i'homas 726 
 
 Price, W. H 317 
 
 Pugh, Granville 540 
 
 Pugh, Martin 525 
 
 Puzey, H yto 
 
 R 
 
 Reed, William H iio3 
 
 Rees, William 604 
 
 Reid, D. B 634 
 
 Reid,L. A 582 
 
 Reynolds, John 123 
 
 Reynolds. Moses 565 
 
 Reynolds, Theodore 672 
 
 Reynolds, Thomas 655 
 
 Rhoads. John 880 
 
 Rice, Daniel 710 
 
 Rice, J. J 682 
 
 Rice, James M 1079 
 
 Rice, S. S 869 
 
 Rice, T. R 645 
 
 Richardson, F. A 700 
 
 Richardson, Joseph 709 
 
 Richardson, Margret-... 709 
 
 Rickart, W. V 417 
 
 Rlgjjs, Luther A 653 
 
 Ringland, Or- George 970 
 
 Robertson, J, J 599 
 
 Robertson. Zachariah 719 
 
 Robinson, H M 702 
 
 Robinson, Jacob W 839 
 
 Rodrick, WilFunn II 675 
 
 Rogers, Miles 897 
 
 Roll, John 1045 
 
 Ross, Henry 8ig 
 
 Ross, John E 696 
 
 Ross, Mrs. Susan E 696 
 
 Ross, William 903 
 
 Rouse, Dennis H 7^5 
 
 Rowand.John F 633 
 
 Rowe,Dr. Maik 992 
 
 SalHday, Jno. C 369 
 
 Sanders, George F 615 
 
 Sandusky, Guy 364 
 
 Sandusky, A . . . .: 473 
 
 Sandusky, James 4g3 
 
 Sandusky. J. S.. -■ 747 
 
 Sandusky, William 500 
 
 Sandusky, W. T 37S 
 
 Say re, J. D 910 
 
 Schance, Theodoie 1 101 
 
 Sconce, Mrs. Emma 191 
 
 Sconce, James S 191 
 
 Sconce, William H 6g8 
 
 Scott, A. J 913 
 
 Scott, David 1082 
 
 Scott, I. D 818 
 
 Scott, John 1 01 9 
 
 Scott, Thomas 854 
 
 Scott, Samuel -. 841 
 
 Scott. William 1067 
 
 'Shane, Abraham. . 830 
 
 Shane, James 952 
 
 Shank. D. H 10 1 
 
 Shank, George H 964 
 
 Shaw, Maj. E. P 774 
 
 Shaw, S. S 707 
 
 Sheets, Col. J. M 789 
 
 ShoafiF, J. D 824 
 
 Shoaff, L. A. G 824 
 
 Shiimaker, Jacob 1024 
 
 Sidell. J, J 251 
 
 Sinkhorn, A. J 323 
 
 Skeeters, Rev. Joseph 959 
 
 Slaughter, R. S 651 
 
 S'y, Allen 1107 
 
 Smith, David R 741 
 
 Smith, F. P 620 
 
 Smith, Geo. W, 328 
 
 Smith, George W 728 
 
 Smith, Jno. E 218 
 
 Smith, Millikin 1078 
 
 Smith, R. B 670 
 
 Smith, William 461 
 
 Smith, William M 987 
 
 Snow, Abner 749 
 
 Snowden, B. F 309 
 
 Snyder, E 615 
 
 SommerviU.-;, James 1075 
 
 Southworth, J . ] 238 
 
 S perry, O a86 
 
 Spry, G. M 399 
 
 Stndler, Adam- 664 
 
 Staff. John T 1041 
 
 Stafford, John ....944 
 
 Stallings. J 718 
 
 Stark, Samuel 373 
 
 Stearns, Alvin 422 
 
 Stearns, Calvin 452 
 
 Steele, James M 978 
 
 Stevens, J as. H 579 
 
 Stevens, Samuel T ... '' 535 
 
 Stevens., W. T 609 
 
 Stewart, James i 1008 
 
 Stewart, M 912 
 
 Stine, James M 409 
 
 Stipp, Abraham 1043 
 
 Stokes, Richard 10^4 
 
 Stufflebeam, O. P 693 
 
 Sudduth,J.Y 947 
 
 Sullivan, Geo. M ' .to? 
 
 Sunkel, Jacob 928 
 
 Swaim,Dr.P. H 620 
 
 Talbott, n. E. P 463 
 
 Tate, John W gc-a 
 
 Taylor, Buford, M, D 619 
 
 Taylor, Thomas A- 452 
 
 Taylor, Zachary 63 
 
 Tenbrook, John, M. D 1058 
 
 Thayer, S. W noti 
 
 Thomas, John Cyg 
 
 Thompson, James 613 
 
 'I'hompson, John E 289 
 
 Thompson, J. R agg 
 
 Thompson, Samuel 743 
 
 Thompson, Wiley 899 
 
 Tillotson, Buell 755 
 
 Tillotson, Luther 318 
 
 Tilton, Fred 483 
 
 Tilton, G. W 762 
 
 Townson, Ephraim 873 
 
 Trimble, M 627 
 
 Triplett, George W mo 
 
 Trisler, John 545 
 
 Trover, W. W 1035 
 
 Truax. Capt. Joseph 278 
 
 Tucker, D. B 1033 
 
 Tucker, G. B 954 
 
 Turner, E. C 983 
 
INDEX. 
 
 Turner, Dr. Jno. W 327 
 
 Tweedy, A 1015 
 
 Tyler, John 55 
 
 \ 
 
 Vale, J. E 852 
 
 Van Allen, Jno. H 342 
 
 Van Allen, William P 389 
 
 Van Buren, Martin 47 
 
 Van Diiyn, John 658 
 
 Van Houtin. William M 849 
 
 Van ne man, Wm. A 64b 
 
 Vanvickle, Enoch 334 
 
 Vlllars, G M 398 
 
 X- 
 
 Adams, John 22 
 
 Adams, John Q 38 
 
 Allen, Benjamin, Jr 846 
 
 Amis, James T 406 
 
 Arbuckle, A. T 450 
 
 Arthur, Chester A 90 
 
 Bantz, Ezra J 427 
 
 Bantz, Mrs. E. J 426 
 
 Bennefiel, Robert R 906 
 
 Beveridge, John L 170 
 
 Bissell. Wm. H 150 
 
 Bond, Shadrach no 
 
 Buchanan, James 74 
 
 Burroughs, Maj. W 386 
 
 Busby, Isaac N 574 
 
 Canady, William 346 
 
 Cannon, Hon.J.G 224 
 
 Carlin, 'J'hos 134 
 
 Cauble, Willis B., M .D 281 
 
 Chapman, Thomas H 866 
 
 Vinson, Levin 392 
 
 Voorhes, Albert 388 
 
 w 
 
 Waldruff, B. F 832 
 
 Walling, H 776 
 
 Ward, David 1028 
 
 Warner C. W 765 
 
 Washington, George 19 
 
 Watson, James 894 
 
 Webster. Miss Sarah 727 
 
 Westbrook, John 858 
 
 Wetzel, Jacob 1025 
 
 Wherry, Joseph 712 
 
 White, A. L 343 
 
 White, Henry 823 
 
 White, James E 383 
 
 White, William 353 
 
 Whitton, Chas E 260 
 
 Wiley, Hon. LeRoy 1065 
 
 Wilkin. W. T 920 
 
 Wilkins, Judge J. W 608 
 
 Williams, J. M. 1081 
 
 Williams, Nathan 585 
 
 Williams, Thomas 408 
 
 Williams, Truman 352 
 
 Williams, Wliliam 354 
 
 Wilson, William N 1000 
 
 Winter, Carl C 310 
 
 N\inters, W.V 643 
 
 Witherspoon, W. P ...589 
 
 Wood, John 155 
 
 Worth ington, R. R ^30 
 
 
 -•-^^H 
 
 Cleveland, G rover S 102 
 
 Clifton. James 366 
 
 Coles, Edward T14 
 
 Cook , Amos G 926 
 
 Cullom, Shelby M 174 
 
 Cummins, John 786 
 
 Davis, O. L 3B2 
 
 Dickson. David 592 
 
 Dinsmore, George O 806 
 
 Dougherty, Benjamin F 683 
 
 Douglas, Dor man B 513 
 
 Douglas, Mrs. D. B 1512 
 
 Duncan, Joseph 130 
 
 Edwards, Ninian ti8 
 
 Ewing, William L. D 126 
 
 Ford. Thos 138 
 
 Fifer, Joseph W 182 
 
 Fillmore, Millard 66 
 
 French, Augustus C 142 
 
 Garfield, Tames A q8 
 
 Grant, Ulysses S 
 
 Hamilton, John M. . . 
 Harrison, William H . . 
 Harrison, Benjamin .. 
 Hayes, Rutherford B 
 
 Hcrron, W. G 
 
 Home. Di. Abel. .. . 
 Jackson, Andrew. .. . 
 
 Jefferson, Thos 
 
 Jenkins, Dr. Leroy O. 
 
 Johnson, Andrew 
 
 Lamb, William H 
 
 Lincoln, Abraham. ... 
 McCabe, John M-. ... 
 
 Madison, James 
 
 Matteson, Joel A 
 
 McKce, John 
 
 Monroe, James 
 
 Ogelsby, Richard J .... 
 Palmer, John M 
 
 .. 86 
 ..178 
 .. 50 
 
 100 
 .. QO 
 ..284 
 1095 
 
 . 26 
 .826 
 . 82 
 966 
 . 78 
 .264 
 
 ■ 30 
 146 
 
 .886 
 
 ■ 34 
 . 162 
 
 .166 
 
 Wozencraft, W. A .918 
 
 Wright, Chat les A /...73t 
 
 Wright, Hugh 291 
 
 Wyatt, James 995 
 
 Wyalt, William. ; 097 
 
 Y 
 
 Yates, Richard 159 
 
 Yerkes, Hiram 307 
 
 Young, Charles S 555 
 
 z 
 
 Zeigler, Benjamin 
 
 Zimmerly, Jacob 
 
 Zimraerly, WiUiam A . 
 
 ■374 
 .844 
 
 ■773 
 
 Peirce, Hon. W. P 244 
 
 Pierce, Franklin 70 
 
 Polk, James H 58 
 
 Reynolds, John 122 
 
 Rowand, John F. 630 
 
 Sandusky, Abraham 470 
 
 Sandusky, Mrs. A 471 
 
 Sandusky, James .-... ^y? 
 
 Sconce, James S 190 
 
 Scott, W , 1067 
 
 Stevens, Samuel T 534 
 
 Sudduth, John y 946 
 
 Taylor Zachary 62 
 
 Thompson, James 612 
 
 'I'urner, John W 326 
 
 Tyler, John 54 
 
 Van Buren, Martin , 46 
 
 Washington, George 18 
 
 Wood, John i^^ 
 
 Yates, Richard 158 
 
 Yerkes, Hiram 306 
 
 Young, Charles S 554 
 
 Ball, Selim, 642 
 
 Banta, William 936 
 
 Barnett, James 602 
 
 Browa, Thomas C J. ..835 
 
 Cadle, Philip 274 
 
 Caraway, Charles T 502 
 
 Casselli Eliza S 336 
 
 Coffman, Daniel A 795 
 
 Collins, J 564: 
 
 Christman, Joseph S 234 
 
 Current J. M 502 
 
 Elliott, J. M 622 
 
 Engelmann, J. N 758 
 
 Finley, Watts . . /. 438-439 
 
 Fisher, Michael 376 
 
 Forster, James 795 
 
 Fultz, Jacob 544 
 
 Goodwine, John W 204-205 
 
 Gray, William 622 
 
 Guthrie, Andrew 602 
 
 Harris, William K 795 
 
 Hawkirs, William 356 
 
 Honnold, James L 856 
 
 HonnoId,J. R 835 
 
 James, Firmnn 976 
 
 Jurgensmeyer, W 356 
 
 Kelly, William 336 
 
 Kent. W. W 678 
 
 Kerrick.John B 896 
 
 Kimble, George W. gB6 
 
 Kinsey, John R .-254 
 
 Lange, Bros 956 
 
 Leeinon, John 294-295 
 
 Mann, William J 460 
 
 Mark, Anthony W 936 
 
 Marley, William D 876 
 
 Mason, John S16 
 
 McCulloch, John Y 87b 
 
 McKee, Mrs. A. J ..916 
 
 McVay, Jacob 916 
 
 Miller, J. W 524 
 
 Olehy, F. M 416 
 
 Olmsted, Albert 254 
 
 Owen, A. D 50a 
 
 Pate, Bird C 336 
 
 Pollard. John 376 
 
 Poll Iter, Thomas 835 
 
 Price, Wm. H 316 
 
 Pugh, Martin 524 
 
 Reynolds, Moses 564 
 
 Rickhart, W.V 416 
 
 Rogers, Miles ...896 
 
 Sconce, W. H 376 
 
 Scott, Israel D 816 
 
 Smith. William 460 
 
 Smith, William M 986 
 
 Stearns, Alvin 254 
 
 Steele, James 976 
 
 Tilton, Fred 482 
 
 Thomas, John 678 
 
 Trisler, John 544 
 
 Villars, G. M 758 
 
 Westbrooke, John 856 
 
 Winters, Wm. V 641 
 

 
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